movie review: Life Translated
Based on a novel by Jennifer Li, she stars in her debut movie and also writes the screenplay for it. She tells her experience in London, after staying and studying for 3 months. Her memories and how she changed those around her, with her spunky attitude.
I had nothing to do at home and thought i could use the spare time to watch my new DVDs. Browsing through the titles i thought "Life Translated" could be interesting since there is the theme of cross-culture. And guess what...The perfect arrival is not arriving there at all...
Frankly i didn't like the movie. But i don't hate it either. Some parts entertained me but that's all. And pretty much it is a typical story. A transferee arriving in a school, will be bullied and change them miraculously in no time. I've seen this before. Many times. But one of the character's situation actually inspired me and gave me a new story in my head. DJ's (Edison Chen) fingers are insured, they have to be taken care of very well, for they are the emotion that brings the piano keys life. At least for DJ's Teacher. And i thought this makes a pretty good plot, only if the topic was broaden to a better understanding.
One of the most noticable elements in a film is the acting. And i must say, Life Translated got the worst cast of supporting characters. The supporting casts' acting is very script, its as if there's no feeling. No force. If you're a bully and said that you're nasty, then a convincing actress must make this character be hated by the audience, even if in just the beggining. Here, i thought the nasty girl is just a plastic bitch who is all talk. Really, i feel sad that because of the bad acting of the supporting cast, it didn't compliment the performance of the main characters.
There is the motivation of bringing inspiration through a single soul, being able to live up your dreams and uniting two cultures which is English and Chinese. Life Translated is Bi-lingual. What i can't understand is why are the London students in that school know Mandarin so well? They fluently speak it. Perhaps because DJ is Chinese and 10 % of the student population is, coming from different parts of China? There wasn't a real explanation for this, like they were put there just so a scene will be completed according to plans. It's not normal. And another one is having DJ in the Rugby team and finally winning it after he joined, i mean, come'on! It's not realistic! What, DJ is superman who saves the day? He's the only one in the team who can play Rugby and actually win it? Stupid. One of the unexplained situation is Jen's friend situation. Said she is rich but she steals and is aloof to others. She doesn't like talking about her parents either and she steals. This problem could've been explained and gave an insight about teen problems, since it is a teen movie.
I wouldn't recommend the movie. But if you have the time to spare, go on. Just watch.
I had nothing to do at home and thought i could use the spare time to watch my new DVDs. Browsing through the titles i thought "Life Translated" could be interesting since there is the theme of cross-culture. And guess what...The perfect arrival is not arriving there at all...
Frankly i didn't like the movie. But i don't hate it either. Some parts entertained me but that's all. And pretty much it is a typical story. A transferee arriving in a school, will be bullied and change them miraculously in no time. I've seen this before. Many times. But one of the character's situation actually inspired me and gave me a new story in my head. DJ's (Edison Chen) fingers are insured, they have to be taken care of very well, for they are the emotion that brings the piano keys life. At least for DJ's Teacher. And i thought this makes a pretty good plot, only if the topic was broaden to a better understanding.
One of the most noticable elements in a film is the acting. And i must say, Life Translated got the worst cast of supporting characters. The supporting casts' acting is very script, its as if there's no feeling. No force. If you're a bully and said that you're nasty, then a convincing actress must make this character be hated by the audience, even if in just the beggining. Here, i thought the nasty girl is just a plastic bitch who is all talk. Really, i feel sad that because of the bad acting of the supporting cast, it didn't compliment the performance of the main characters.
There is the motivation of bringing inspiration through a single soul, being able to live up your dreams and uniting two cultures which is English and Chinese. Life Translated is Bi-lingual. What i can't understand is why are the London students in that school know Mandarin so well? They fluently speak it. Perhaps because DJ is Chinese and 10 % of the student population is, coming from different parts of China? There wasn't a real explanation for this, like they were put there just so a scene will be completed according to plans. It's not normal. And another one is having DJ in the Rugby team and finally winning it after he joined, i mean, come'on! It's not realistic! What, DJ is superman who saves the day? He's the only one in the team who can play Rugby and actually win it? Stupid. One of the unexplained situation is Jen's friend situation. Said she is rich but she steals and is aloof to others. She doesn't like talking about her parents either and she steals. This problem could've been explained and gave an insight about teen problems, since it is a teen movie.
I wouldn't recommend the movie. But if you have the time to spare, go on. Just watch.
Page created: August 8th 2005 06:10 PM