alexandral: (Wallace and Gromit - Stare)
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"Happy feet" Our family went to see it with our friends.

Story: Emperor Penguins find their mate through song. A little penguin, Mumble, is born without singing voice and consequently is an outsider among his friends and family. Natural habitat of Emperor Penguins and their fish supply is robbed by humans. Mumble grows up and tries to find a solution to this problem.

Strange things

Age ratings Sasha cried all the way through "Happy Feet" and watched it sitting on my lap hiding away, crying and saying "I don't like it". At first I could not figure out what was wrong. I wanted to leave, but we were with our friends and also I wanted her to see that everything would have a good ending. Then I thought more and I noticed that the balance between good things happening/bad things happening on screen was shifted in favour of bad things. When good things happened, some of it was shown very quick for a 7-year old to fully enjoy. When bad things happened, they were happening spectacularly, like killer whales or leopard seal chases. And music. It was a little too mournful. I was expecting happy-tap-dancing music, but most of the music had sad undertones. I think may be Sasha was feeling this.

Political undertones Just to preface, I think the state of the planet we live on is quite desperate and if we don’t do something NOW to save the planet tomorrow could be too late. Though I am not sure yet what we can do!!, because all our natural functions (breathing, eating, etc.) are polluting the world and there are too many of us doing our natural functions.
But all this said, I was quite surprised by the answer to the world’s problems as given in "Happy Feet". Tap-dancing penguins!!! Sorry, I know I am exaggerating, but what about other non-tap-dancing species? And to be honest, I am not sure if an obvious political agenda should be in something for very young, though children didn’t seem to notice this part of the film so much. Children have to grow up a little to make their own mind about everything, this is just my view.

Gooooooood things

Personally I enjoyed this film very much. There was lovely originality in story and visual presentation, and very valuable message that “To be different is fine”. And there was plenty of fabulous humour. I particular loved the little penguins (and I am in love with Ramon) and ex-guru Lovelace (both Ramon and Lovelace have Robbie William’s voice). The scene of graduation of young penguins was spectacular, they were jumping so into the water with much joy..

Lovelace, ex-guru:


Overall: this is not quite the same as "Babe" for me.

PS Good news/bad news: Whilst in the cinema I saw and advert for "White Noise 2", starring Katee Sackhoff and Nathan Fillion. I saw the first "White Noise" some years ago, and it was OK and in parts quite interesting horror, but nothing to write home about.


Date: 2006-12-22 10:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] trailer-spot.livejournal.com
Sorry to hear that your daughter didn't enjoy the movie. I'm a little bit angry at myself that I didn't use stronger words when I told you what I've heard about the movie. But I didn't expect that it would be that difficult.

I had to laugh a bit when I saw this morning that there will be another 'White Noise' movie. I haven't seen the first one, but I didn't get the impression that there was need for another one. :D

I was tempted to show you this trailer before but now that you mention Oklahoma in the comments above: The Last Standing Ovation (http://download.ifilm.com/qt/portal/2755332_300.mov). :)

Date: 2006-12-23 01:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Oh, please don't worry! You actually alerted me that something could be wrong, otherwise it would have been a total surprise. My friends were the ones who wanted to watch this film because it was marketed as a "happy story". I think they were disappointed, they didn't think marketing was quite right.

I was the one who seemed to like "Happy Feet" the most, but I am very fond of unusual music and clever jokes. And music was a little more then normal Disney variety. But considering it carefully, I thought it was giving more "serious" atmosphere to the film.

Sasha is happy, I think she missed few points in film, but now we explained them to her. In a strange way this experience was an eye-opener for me. Children can be very emotional over things like films. No wonder they changed the ending in the "Little Mermaid" story. :D You will laugh, but I had similar experience to Sasha's when reading original Andersen's "Little Mermaid". Even more. I was sad for days. :D

I had to laugh a bit when I saw this morning that there will be another 'White Noise' movie

It is also starring one of the main leads in the latest cult TV show, "Battlestar Galactica". This makes it even stranger.

Thank you very much for the link!

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January 2012

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