HIFF Review: The Hawaiian International Film Festival 2011

Things have been quiet here at the blog but we had a good reason. October 13 through October 23 was the 31st Hawaiian International Film Festival. Since my work was a major sponsor for a category of films, I was lucky enough to attend all the festivities and see as many films as I possibly could.

With the event running less than a week and half, it’s really hard to cram as much as you can in those days. But I think I did a great job! So I’d love to recap my experience.

First, let me start by saying that if you have never attended a film festival, you simply must. Every major city should have some sort of cinematic annual gathering, you just need to check into it. And you don’t always need to be a member of their organization. Trying checking things out as a general member. If you like it, then sign up to be a member for the following year’s event (remember, your dues help support these film festivals as well as an array of other scholarships and programs. Members will get privileges like early line-up and advanced ticket sales.) But I cannot explain the energy at a film festival. It’s unique and very different. These are movie enthusiasts and they take these events very seriously. So the rule is, buy early and get there early. Just a little taste of what I went through: I showed up an hour and 15 minutes early with tickets already in hand and ended up in the second row to the screen. Yeah, I don’t know what went wrong but that sucked. So, again I can’t stress. People who attend these screenings LOVE film!

But I digress....

Now to start! The opening night gala was held at the Halekulani Hotel, a beautiful hotel located in Waikiki. The fun thing about these gatherings is that you can make it as formal as you want and if you did go, you were given a ticket to the opening film with a shuttle from the hotel to take you there and back. I choose not to see the opening film but had a great time at the gala.

I seriously ate everything that was offered. I know!! I have no shame! But it was extremely fun and the view from the event was gorgeous. Free drinks and free food. Come on!! How could I not go? Opening Night Gala was by far my favorite of the hosted events. 

Next, I attended “An Afternoon with Hawaii Five-O”. This was held on October 16 at the Halekulani as well. Basically it was a panel of the show’s producer, director and stars. We got to ask them questions, hear their thoughts on Season 2 and how they came about the concept of the revised hit show. I could listen to Alex’s Australian accent all day long. 

Photo by Rae

There are several things I love about Hawaii Five-O. 1) It’s filmed here in Hawaii and uses local actors as extras. No, I’m not an actor but I was a background extra for one day. Big props to CBS! 2) I was a huge LOST fan, so to see another show with Daniel Dae Kim is just awesome. 3) Alex O’Loughlin. Isn’t he handsome? 

HIFF did award the producers of the show the “Mahalo Nui Loa” Award for promoting the film industry  in Hawaii. 

Moving on...

The films that I were able to screen: Kaasan’s, A Mom’s Life (Japanese film), Red Dog (Australian film), Eye of the Whale and Minds in the Water (Documentaries), and the Descendants (American film). 

I will be posting reviews on each of the titles listed above in the weeks to come. They were all great and all worth seeing. But if I had to call a favorite film from this year’s festival it would be Red Dog. But let’s talk about that later because it really needs its own post. 

In addition, we also attended the closing night ceremonies and Governor’s reception at Washington Place.

Photo Nonstop Honolulu

The NETPAC Award was given to HANAAN, directed by Ruslan Pak. The NETPAC Award is presented to an Asian director for their first or second feature film.

The Halekulani Golden Orchid for Best Documentary was given to SPLINTERS, directed by Adam Pesce. Finally, the Halekulani Golden Orchid for Best Feature was given to PATANG, directed by Prashant Bhargava.

K. Peacock, J. Anderson and me

To end a rush of festivities and movie screenings, we watched the Hawaii premiere and Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, The Descendants. In addition, Director Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt) received the Visionary Award. Filmed in Hawaii, this movie is cinematically stunning. 

*Sighs* Well, that was just a little taste of my experience at HIFF. I look forward to next year and leave you with this, “Go see an independent film!”

The Quiet American by Graham Greene

Genre: Adult Fiction, Political
Publication Date: 1955
Publisher: William Heinemann - London

My Summary: Set in the backdrop of Saigon, Vietnam during the early fifties, the novel is narrated by British war correspondent, Thomas Fowler. Starting with the ending (Fellow American, Alden Pyle's murder), the book works its way backwards and recounts the events that led up to the assassination. Though there appears to be a love triangle of sorts between the American and the Englishman, the author's characters are symbolic for his personal views on the fighting going on in Vietnam and America's early involvement.

My Review: The one thing I love about school, is the fact that you are forced to read classic literature, whatever that may be deemed by the professor. What is classic to you, may not be classic to others (I'm sorry, I cannot read Catch 22 for the life of me.) I sort of feel that a lot of it has to do with the way the author writes and if one is able to tolerate that writing.

So without straying too far from my point, let me just say that Graham Greene's novel is very easy to read. In fact, the entire time I read the novel, I kept picturing Michael Cain as the narrator (2002 film adaption). This made it very hard to dislike the narrator in any fashion because I love Michael Cain and seem to find sympathy in his actions. But, more so... I'd attribute this fact to the simple conclusion that the author's work is timeless and still relevant in these modern times.

To begin, the author himself was a war correspondent and did spend time in Vietnam during the early fifties (1951-1954). There's a certain expertise lent to the protagonist and the story felt factual.

Basically, the novel begins with the murder of an American government official. As the narrator flashes back on his relationship with the American, we learn of how the two met, their ideologies toward the French/Communist involvement in Vietnam, and more so, their intentions.

All of this is played out between the fight over Phuong's affections, Fowler's live in girlfriend. Pyle shows up on the scene and immediately decides to "save" Phuong from the environment that she lives in and decides he is going to marry her. Without divulging details, the just of it is that Fowler represents England, Pyle represents America and Phuong represents Vietnam. As you read the conversations and dive deeper into the love/hate relationship that Fowler and Pyle have, you begin to understand the author's political stance on American involvement in Indo-China. As with Pyle, America is perceived to be young, naive and aggressive--consequently looking back, our early involvement did drown us in the Vietnam conflict.

Without getting too historical, the novel does a very good job of intriguing you. What did America do during the early fifties, what were our intentions? Many of these questions (remember it was written prior to the Cuba crisis and Vietnam War) are brought up through Fowler's questioning of Pyle and what he is actually partaking in. (At this point, America is believed to be involved with third forces, supplying materials for these third forces to manufacture bombs.)

It's really an excellent read and one that I recommend to anyone that likes to add a classic to their read list.

If you are really interested in this topic (as I am, since my father was an American Intelligence during the Vietnam War), you can also watch the 2002 Phillip Noyce Film adaption, titled the same (the 1958 Joseph Mankiewicz film adaptation is completely inaccurate and took liberties of eliminating any American involvement or political conspiracies. In addition, it changed the ending between Phuoung and Fowler. )

Graham Greene's novel was extremely thought provoking and considering that we are able to look back and reflect while reading this, made it more relevant. I enjoyed reading this novel.

Real Steel Directed by Shawn Levy

Real Steel 

Rated PG-13

My Review: Hesitantly, I was not sure if the subject matter of sparring robots would actually be entertaining for two hours but surprisingly, "Real Steel" was more than entertaining; it was genuinely a hit.

"Real Steel" centers on a deadbeat father and ex-boxer, Charlie (Hugh Jackman), and his consistent attempts to make money fighting bots in underground venues. Unfortunately, he seems to lose more than he wins and is consistently late on his rent with his estranged girlfriend Bailey (Evangeline Lily), racking up numerous unpaid debts.

As if things couldn't get any worse, Charlie then learns of the death of his son's mother and is asked to appear in court regarding the custody of the child, Max (Dakota Goyo). But Charlie has worked with bots too long, and becomes callous to the whole affair, selling off his rights to the boy's Uncle. Compromising, he agrees to keep his son temporarily for the summer and thus begins their adventure together on the road.

On the surface, the movie is filled with action and fight sequences using some very realistic robots - some that we have to say are pretty cool on the big screen. But beneath, this is a story about a father and son attempting to connect after years of abandonment. In addition, there are Charlie's issues with his own inner turmoil and his once successful boxing career.

Through the gentle nudges of Bailey, who is very nurturing towards the young boy, and the discovery of a G2 late model robot, things become tangible for the father-son duo, bringing them straight to the top in a boxing match for the coveted belt.

For me, this was a pretty complete package. It was entertaining, funny and surprisingly heartfelt at times. I certainly heard loud cheers of approvals from the group of boys behind me who were clearly rooting for the underdog, and understood the message of what it meant to be small and unassuming. But as with Max, the robot, too, becomes a symbolic object that represents the fight in those of us who refuse to lose; even if it is heavily unmatched. The point of the movie is that at least you fought for something.

If you're looking for a great family film, I give this one an enthusiastic nod of approval. Just be warned that it is inevitable that karate chops will ensue the minute your children leave the theatre. “Real Steel” opens in theatres today.

Cast and Credit:
Directed by Shawn Levy
Hugh Jackman - Charlie
Dakota Goyo - Max
Evangeline Lilly - Bailey

1911 Directed by Zhang Li and Jackie Chan

1911 Revolution
Rated R

My Review:  At the beginning of the 20th century, China is in a state of crisis. The country is divided into warring factions and people are starving. After 250 years of unquestioned power, the ruling Qing Dynasty, led by a 7-year-old emperor and his ruthless mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen), has become completely out of touch. With the citizens beginning to revolt, the Qings are creating a powerful, modern army (the "New Army") to quash any rebellion. But foreign weapons are expensive, and so the Qing leaders are trading away anything they can get their hands on to try and raise funds. China's future is being mortgaged away in exchange for guns.

Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) has recently returned from Japan, where he has studied the art of modern warfare. When he finds his country falling apart, he feels he has no choice but to join the opposition, leading a series of violent rebellions against the powerful Qing Dynasty. As his plans begin to succeed, the Qings turn the might of the New Army towards him and his fellow revolutionaries.

With the intention to produce the story as historically accurate as possible, Jackie Chan spared no expense in his epic cinematic depiction. The set locations are phenomenal as are the intricate and elaborate costumes. With this being Chan's 100th film, it was clear that he set out to create a movie experience that would be timeless yet convey a story that was important to him. It essentially focuses on the rise of Sun Yat-sen as the leader of the revolutionaries and the compromising efforts of Yuan Shikai, a Qing military strongman, who would lead to the abdication of the Dynasty's power.

If you are not familiar with the revolution of 1911, the film does an excellent job of accounting the details that lead to the overthrow of old school Feudalism and backlash against foreign powers looking to China with gluttonous eyes. The revolution not only ends the Qing Dynasty but establishes the Republic of China, and of course, modern day China as we know it. 1911 vividly chronicles the events in an epic fashion and if you are fan of historic films, you will be delighted by Chan's adaptation. My only closing critique is in the size of font used for the subtitles. Be warned, they were hard to read and at times flashed too quickly for my liking.

Cast and Credit:
Directed by Zhang Li and Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan - Huang Xing
Lee Bing Bing - Xuzong Han
Winston Cha - Sun Yat-Sen

Books Making It To The Big Screen! Chaos Walking

Photo courtesy of Slash Film

According to the Hollywood Report (via Slash Film), Lionsgate has picked up the feature rights to the award-winning novel series, Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness.

Doug Davison (How To Train Your Dragon) will produce the film. 

Here is the synopsis of the first book, The Knife of Never Letting Go:

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

“These are books, much likeThe Hunger Games, that we feel truly beg to be brought to life on film,” said Lionsgate co-COO and Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake. “A sense of urgency and momentum permeates these stories — it makes the books ones you can’t put down, and will make the movies ones you can’t miss on the big screen.”

Wait, who's excited for the film version? I'm excited to just stumble across these novels. I'm so buying Chaos Walking!! No word yet on a projected premiere date.