Very cute little piece of offbeatness
Added 11/6/2009
I had no idea what to expect when I started watching "Son of Rambow," but am happy to say that I got much more than I expected. A touching little coming-of-age story about friendship and loyalty that makes you chuckle along the way and root for that awkward little kid in all of us.
The Good: Adorable lead cast - particularly Will Poulter does a fantastically mature job creating a sympathetic character with true feelings and realism. The film has a light, wonderful, and adventurous spirit like The Goonies with a deeper sense of friendships and relationships like The Outsiders. It's all wrapped up in a thick layer of 80's nostalgia that works pretty well. There are some very cute moments that cause you to giggle and they're played out with subtlety and charm. The camera-work and audio are first-rate, the sets are spot-on, and the use of animation to portray the child's imagination is done well. The skillful way that such a charming little tale is all based on Rambo shows the cleverness and thought behind it.
The Bad: Jessica Hynes as the mother just never worked. The script hinted at inner turmoil and struggle, but the actress played it entirely one-dimensionally. She nullified the effectiveness of most of her scenes. There was a brief couple minutes involving a teacher shoving a pair of scissors up his nose that did not work at all and shouldn't have made it past the editing room. Like most films set in the 70s or 80s, nobody really looks like anybody looked in the 70s or 80s.
The Verdict: It would be very hard to not enjoy this film. I think anyone from 12-70 years of age would enjoy watching it with the widest appeal to those of us who were kids in the early 80s. If you're looking for a light, funny, coming-of-age drama, you can't go wrong with Son of Rambow. A solid 4½ out of 5.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Received in good condition!
Added 10/12/2009
The product was received on a little bit late, but when I open the product my daughter was fully satisfied product was in perfect condition and it match the description of the my order, I rate this seller as good and reliable.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Future classic of movies about childhood
Added 9/14/2009
If you enjoy "coming-of-age" and childhood reminiscence tales in
the HOPE AND GLORY and MY LIFE AS A DOG vein, this is a film that
you should add to your "must-see" list. This is a sweet, endearing
comedy about boyhood, friendship, and the joys of filmmaking. Will
(Bill Milner), a lonely boy who spends most of his free time drawing elaborate adventure stories, meets up with school bully
Lee Carter (Will Poulter), a felonious little thug whose only
non-criminal activity is his amateur film project. Discovering Will's vivid illustrations, he strongs-arms Will into collaborating
with him on his movie, an ambitious sequel to the "Rambo" series.
Their efforts to complete this epic make for some genuinely hilarious episodes, while at the same time their growing friendship
gives this film some truly touching moments.
Not only is this film funny and moving, it's also intelligently
done and doesn't resort to the kind of crude would-be humor typical
of most recent comedies; despite centering on the world of pre-adolescent boys, there's not a hint of the kind of vulgarity that's
assumed to be popular with that age group--no cheap jokes about
flatulence or other bodily functions, puerile sexual humor, etc.
The friendship of the boys is handled well, too, without any forced
sentiment or insincere emotions. This movie would be ideal for nearly any age group.
The DVD includes some wonderfully funny commentary featuring director Garth Jennings and the two young stars. Another bonus
feature is an actual short film that Jennings wrote, directed and
starred in as a child! Don't miss this fun, inventive film!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Quaint, and perfect for those who grew up in the 80s
Added 8/9/2009
When I saw the first trailers for Son of Rambow, I couldn't wait to see it. Unfortunately Portland never gets these limited releases, so I was forced to await the eventual DVD release. Now that the DVD is out and I've digested the movie, I've come away with some more mixed feelings than I anticipated.
Don't get me wrong: Son of Rambow is a fantastic movie. For the right crowd. Centering around two young lads with a desire to remake the Stallone classic themselves, the movie has an unquestionable charm and presence which will make any audience go "Awwww!" in appreciation. Unfortunately, outside of the charm a good majority of the humor and connectedness with the characters is achieved only by two audiences: men old enough to remember when Rambo came out, and children young enough to relate to the two protagonists, Will and Lee.
For the rest of us, the movie is an entertaining ride with a fresh outlook on friendship and a nice heartwarming attitude, but not quite the comedy juggernaut one might suppose from the pre-release trailers.
Even for the 15-25 crowd, however, Son of Rambow is still a good, solid film if you're willing to see it for what it is. Like Bridge to Terabithia, Son of Rambow mixes several genres and morality lessons together throughout the entertainment. (Although there's nothing quite as sad as the twist in Bridge...) It has surprisingly deep messages for a movie about two younger boys, which completely go against the shallow appearance on the surface.
While it's obviously a tale of friendship, the lessons under the skin of the movie are relevant for all ages and people, regardless of time, locale, or culture. And while those in the 15-25 crowd may not have as many laughs as the younger or older audiences, there's still no denying the fact that Son of Rambow offers an invigorating reminder of the power of imagination, and the challenges of growing up.
Content - 3.5/5
What you get out of Son of Rambow depends entirely on who you are, and how close you are to the culture/age of the two protagonists. The 15-25 crowd may see a heartwarming tale of friendship with some underlying lessons, while an older and younger crowd will f ind much more laughs. No matter which grouping you belong to, expect a unique movie with a refreshing take on friendship, and two very promising young actors.
Video - 3/5
I can't tell if I'm spoiled by Blu-Ray or not, but the colors seem to reflect more of the amateur nature of the kids' film and less of a real modern movie. While it certainly adds to the effect, it takes away slightly more than it gives, drawing you out of the moment from time to time.
Audio - 4/5
While there's 5.1 audio and some nice post production present, many of the sound effects rely too heavily on the front speakers, creating an overbalanced feel. The dialogue and other audio factors are all spot-on, but the front-heavy sfx can also draw you out of the moment if you're utilizing 5.1 speakers (or a 5.1 headset) while watching.
Replay - 4.5/5
It's one of those movies you could watch time and time again with new people. The humor may get old and lose "the funny" after a few watchings, but the core tale is more than enough to ensure that this will be a cult classic for many years, and a favorite of many young boys and teens to come.
Overall - 4/5
Watching Son of Rambow is like playing darts on a jumbo sized target. No matter where you throw the dart you're going to hit the board, but some people are going to be much closer to the bullseye than others. The humor and amount of funny moments in the movie directly relates to your age and gender, but no matter which gender you are and when you were born, the tale of friendship, growing up, and the overpowering effect of a youth's imagination offers something anyone can relate to.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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What d'you mean you can't swim?
Added 7/13/2009
This charming story of two misfits turned film makers is touching, as well as funny. Definitely touching on sadness in both of their lives, the film focuses more on how they both attempt to rise above their circumstances despite family efforts to quell them. It is a genuine family film, and the extras on the DVD are worth the watch.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Very cute little piece of offbeatness
Added 11/6/2009
I had no idea what to expect when I started watching "Son of Rambow," but am happy to say that I got much more than I expected. A touching little coming-of-age story about friendship and loyalty that makes you chuckle along the way and root for that awkward little kid in all of us.
The Good: Adorable lead cast - particularly Will Poulter does a fantastically mature job creating a sympathetic character with true feelings and realism. The film has a light, wonderful, and adventurous spirit like The Goonies with a deeper sense of friendships and relationships like The Outsiders. It's all wrapped up in a thick layer of 80's nostalgia that works pretty well. There are some very cute moments that cause you to giggle and they're played out with subtlety and charm. The camera-work and audio are first-rate, the sets are spot-on, and the use of animation to portray the child's imagination is done well. The skillful way that such a charming little tale is all based on Rambo shows the cleverness and thought behind it.
The Bad: Jessica Hynes as the mother just never worked. The script hinted at inner turmoil and struggle, but the actress played it entirely one-dimensionally. She nullified the effectiveness of most of her scenes. There was a brief couple minutes involving a teacher shoving a pair of scissors up his nose that did not work at all and shouldn't have made it past the editing room. Like most films set in the 70s or 80s, nobody really looks like anybody looked in the 70s or 80s.
The Verdict: It would be very hard to not enjoy this film. I think anyone from 12-70 years of age would enjoy watching it with the widest appeal to those of us who were kids in the early 80s. If you're looking for a light, funny, coming-of-age drama, you can't go wrong with Son of Rambow. A solid 4½ out of 5.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Received in good condition!
Added 10/12/2009
The product was received on a little bit late, but when I open the product my daughter was fully satisfied product was in perfect condition and it match the description of the my order, I rate this seller as good and reliable.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
Future classic of movies about childhood
Added 9/14/2009
If you enjoy "coming-of-age" and childhood reminiscence tales in
the HOPE AND GLORY and MY LIFE AS A DOG vein, this is a film that
you should add to your "must-see" list. This is a sweet, endearing
comedy about boyhood, friendship, and the joys of filmmaking. Will
(Bill Milner), a lonely boy who spends most of his free time drawing elaborate adventure stories, meets up with school bully
Lee Carter (Will Poulter), a felonious little thug whose only
non-criminal activity is his amateur film project. Discovering Will's vivid illustrations, he strongs-arms Will into collaborating
with him on his movie, an ambitious sequel to the "Rambo" series.
Their efforts to complete this epic make for some genuinely hilarious episodes, while at the same time their growing friendship
gives this film some truly touching moments.
Not only is this film funny and moving, it's also intelligently
done and doesn't resort to the kind of crude would-be humor typical
of most recent comedies; despite centering on the world of pre-adolescent boys, there's not a hint of the kind of vulgarity that's
assumed to be popular with that age group--no cheap jokes about
flatulence or other bodily functions, puerile sexual humor, etc.
The friendship of the boys is handled well, too, without any forced
sentiment or insincere emotions. This movie would be ideal for nearly any age group.
The DVD includes some wonderfully funny commentary featuring director Garth Jennings and the two young stars. Another bonus
feature is an actual short film that Jennings wrote, directed and
starred in as a child! Don't miss this fun, inventive film!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
