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Damaged Care (2002)
Is this really how health care works in America?
I saw this movie again recently. The first time I saw it I was incredulous, and the second time, even more so. Is this really truly how health care is funded in America?? Isn't there any kind of public system at all?
I just can't get over the apparent fact that a country that claims to be the most advanced of the so called developed countries would only have private health care. It's ridiculous.
Here only elective surgery is rationed, hip replacements, cataract surgery, that kind of thing. If you've got insurance, then you can go private, but otherwise, if you've got enough points, you get put on the waiting list and you eventually get your op for free. (The thing with the heart transplant would *never* happen here, that sort of thing isn't covered by our main health insurance company, as it's fully funded by the government.)
Although people are constantly winging and moaning about expensive doctor visits, (about NZ$50-$60 for an unsubsidised adult) if you need to go to A & E, you just go. In an ambulance, or otherwise. You don't have to ask permission.
What, prey tell, do people do if they can't afford health insurance?
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Tugs at the Heartstrings somehow
This isn't a movie that can be described as a classic by any stretch of the imagination; it's not even a particularly good movie, and yet it really strikes a chord with me for some reason. I am a bit of a fan of Julia Roberts, but this definitely won't be regarded as one of her better performances. Her characterization was *very* askew, costume, attitude etc, she was more 1970's than 1950's, even for a very liberal 1950's character. Yet despite all that, (methinks I sound a bit like one of Betty's editorials ;-)) I really do like this movie.
I think that the reason why I like this, very average, movie so much is probably to do with way that feminine ideals, and what was expected of women in those days was portrayed. This movie is a bit of a reminder of just how far we women have come since the 1950's and I'm constantly amazed at the thought of people being deadly serious in the 1950's view of a woman's "place".
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
Star Wars rocks
This is my favourite movie of the original trilogy, probably because its the one that I remember the best. I was 9 when I first saw it and 7 when I first saw "Empire"; and of that movie all I really remember, from when I first saw it, is the huge fight between Luke Skywalker & Darth Vader at the end of the film. I never saw "New Hope", when it first came out, because I was considered by my parents to be too young, which is probably fair enough, as I was only 4 at the time. Anyway, as I now own the DVD of the trilogy, I can now watch them whenever. :-D
But to get to the main point of what I want to say, I do wish that George Lucas wouldn't keep fiddling with the movies all the time. Fair enough to tsuj them a bit with regards sound etc, and at a stretch, the special effects too, once, for the re-release, although, for the most part, I can tell when Lucas has added CGI characters etc, and it doesn't look right, because it's not the same. But now Lucas has tsujed them again for the DVD release. Temuera Morrision re-voicing Bobba Fett in "Empire" I can probably live with because of his role as Jengo Fett in "Clones" & consistency etc, although the person who did the original voice must be a bit annoyed. But to have a different Anakin Skywalker; Hayden Christensen(?), appearing at the end with Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi seems to me to be somewhat unnecessary, not to mention rather complicated. There are now 4 people appearing as/voicing Darth Vader/Anakan Skywalker in the one movie. David Prowse & James Earl Jones doing Darth Vader, as per usual, Sebastian Shaw doing Anakin Skywalker, in the scene where Luke removes Vader's mask & helmet, and now Hayden Christensen(?) doing Anakin Skywalker in the scene right at the end where Anakin appears with Yoda & Obi-Wan Kenobi. 4 people doing basically the one character appearing in the one movie??? Wayyyy too complicated George.
Fly Away Home (1996)
Great showcase for kiwi talent
This is a nice wee movie. I think that this is the only movie that our Anna's done, thus far, where she's actually been able to be a kiwi. I can empathize with her character a bit too, having been dragged to Vancouver by my Canadian born mother at the age of 12 when my parents separated.
I'm just wondering about one thing though, the opening scene. I'm not sure if it was filmed here or in Canada. It seem to me that it would be a bit illogical for the producers to bring over Transit NZ signs and a right hand drive car etc, especially just for one quite small scene. However the ambulance wasn't right. We only have one ambulance service here, St Johns. (Except in Wellington, where they have the Wellington Free Ambulance instead.) That ambulance was not a St Johns ambulance. So can anyone tell me where that opening scene was filmed?
Once Were Warriors (1994)
Just like to clear up some misconceptions.
I've been reading the comments that people have made on this brilliant piece of film making that makes me proud to be a kiwi. Although I'm not Maori, I have somewhat of an understanding of, and a very deep appreciation for Maori culture. It is after all a major contributor to the uniqueness of New Zealand, and it's what a lot of the tourists come here to see/experience.
Some people have commented that the character of Beth is "descended from Maori royalty" and that the character of Jake is "descended from slaves". That's not quite correct. Although there is a Maori monarch; (Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the current Maori queen lives at the Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia, her official residence.) the Maori monarchy only goes back to the 19th century, and its not really representative of all Maori as it only really affects Waikato iwi/hapu, (tribe/sub tribe) It is more likely that Beth would be descended from chiefly linage, and hence she and her whanau, (extended family) would be very much aware of and in tune with their whakapapa or ancestry. Beth's line near the end of the movie that her people "once were warriors" is an indicator of this.
(The facial and body tattoos, or Moko that one sometimes sees Maori wearing are in fact representative of their whakapapa. Also, the carvings that feature on Marae and other carved Maori buildings/gates etc are representative of tribal ancestors, much like Indian Totem poles.)
Jake on the other hand is obviously urbanized. He would most probably know little or nothing about his whakapapa, and in addition he probably would not even be able to identify with an iwi or hapu. This would explain why he makes several references to "Maori bulls***". He is disenfranchised from his culture, and probably doesn't even speak Maori that well. (Although Temurera Morrison himself speaks fluent Maori.) His family have obviously been living in Auckland for so long, and there has been such tribal intermingling, that he doesn't know whether he's Arthur or Martha. And what's more, he doesn't care either.
(For those of you who are interested, the motorway shown at the start of the movie is the Southern Motorway which runs right through South Auckland, which is where *a lot* of Maoris and Pacific Islanders live.)
As other people have said, this kind of thing is sadly not unique to Maori, as American/Canadian Indians and Australian Aborigines can testify. Likewise domestic violence itself is not only limited to minority ethnic groups.
This is easily one of the best movies that I have ever seen. So if you haven't had the privilege of seeing it yet, then I highly recommend that you do so. George Henare's stirring Taiaha scene alone is well worth the cost of getting the movie out.
(A Taiaha is a Maori spear. To use one of these, one must have immense mana, or importance. As Henare's character said, the British *feared* the highly skilled Taiaha warriors.)
Metal Mickey (1980)
Metal Mickey rocks!!!!!
I stumbled on this one as I was looking up Me & My Girl, (currently being shown on weekday avo's here) and I was immediately taken back some 20 odd years. Memories of coming home from school and blobbing out in front of the telly, watching Ollie Ohlson's latest offerings. Any kiwis out there remember "Keep Cool 'Till 'After School'"? Anyway, how dare *anyone* diss Metal Mickey, he was *cool*!!!!! "Metal Mickey, dumm dum dum de dum Metal Mickey, dumm dum dum de dum." :-)