| Whale Rider - 2 Stars (Average) | | | | making it sometimes difficult to follow. I would |
| "Whale Rider" is the story of an 11-year-old Maori | | | | see this movie again, which is saying something |
| girl who must overcome the prejudice of her | | | | when I rate a film as average. |
| grandfather and tribal tradition to fulfill her destiny | | | | Glory - 2 Stars (Average) |
| and become the leader of her ancient aboriginal | | | | "Glory" shows the bravery of the American Civil |
| tribe in New Zealand's North Island. | | | | War's first all-black volunteer company of soldiers |
| Only the eldest son becomes the designated heir | | | | as they fight the prejudices of both their own |
| to carry forward the timeless knowledge from | | | | Union army and their enemy the Confederates. |
| one generation to the next, but "Pai" (Paikea | | | | The 54th Massachusetts is trained and led into |
| played by Keisha Castle-Hughes) is determined to | | | | battle by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew |
| do so in spite of the odds. | | | | Broderick), a young idealist and abolitionist from a |
| Pai's twin brother, who was supposed to fulfill the | | | | wealthy family. Gould, like the 54th, is pretty |
| role as the next tribal leader, dies at birth with | | | | much hung out to dry by all concerned. He is |
| their mother. Her father is so distraught that he | | | | supported by Sergeant Major John Rawlins |
| leaves the island and tradition, and it is left to her | | | | (Morgan Freeman), the highest ranking African |
| grandfather Koro (Rawiri Paratene) and | | | | American soldier, and Private Trip (Denzel |
| grandmother (Vicky Houghton) to raise Pai. Her | | | | Washington), a runaway slave. |
| grandfather Koro's belief system will not allow him | | | | Washington won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar |
| to compromise centuries of tradition. | | | | and a Golden Globe for his performance. Glory |
| On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara | | | | also won Oscars for Best Cinematography and |
| people believe their presence there dates back a | | | | Best Sound, Oscar nominations for Best Art |
| thousand years or more to a single ancestor, | | | | Direction and Film Editing, and Golden Globe |
| Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe | | | | nominations for Best Director (Edward Zwick), |
| capsized by riding to shore on the back of a | | | | Best Score (James Horner) and Best Screenplay |
| whale. | | | | (Kevin Jarre). |
| This was not just about a film, but actual tradition. | | | | Glory is long overdue. America is full of people |
| Because Pai was doing traditional Maori things that | | | | wanting to take credit for things they did not do; |
| women are not supposed to do, the film cast and | | | | it is good to see credit and recognition being given |
| crew performed special Maori chants to ward off | | | | to Americans who did do something honorable |
| any bad luck that might arise. | | | | with bravery. |
| Whale Rider will test your composure, melt your | | | | Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker - 2 Stars |
| heart and make you want to scream. Child | | | | (Average) |
| actress Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for | | | | This is a classic, stand-up comedy routine at the |
| a Best Actress Oscar for her incredible | | | | famous Apollo Theater in New York City by the |
| performance (won by Charlize Theron in | | | | very best comedian in America in 1999, Chris |
| "Monster"). Whale Rider had 29 other winning | | | | Rock. Rock, who is billed as a comedian only, |
| awards and 28 other nominations. | | | | actually delivers social insight and relationship truths |
| The whales in the movie were depicted using a | | | | wrapped up in the "f-k" word in what seemed like |
| combination of footage of real whales, life-size | | | | a 1,000 repetitions in 65 minutes onstage. |
| models with humans creating movement and | | | | Chris Rock delivers his sharp opinions and |
| some computer-aided help. Castle-Hughes said the | | | | truth-of-his-time in the cultural vulgarity that is |
| key whale riding scene took place 15-20 miles | | | | common ghetto talk in metro area African |
| offshore and was terrifying. | | | | American communities. Cut through the language |
| This film should get a good rather than an | | | | (ignore the method of delivery) and Chris Rock is |
| average rating (the story line is THAT good), but | | | | very impressive as a comedian and social |
| it suffers from terrible sound management | | | | observer in 1999. |