[Mini-Micro-Review] Whale Rider

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Here are some good things about Whale Rider! First, it has some extremely gorgeous photography. Though, after nine hours of Lord of the Rings, the concept of pretty pictures coming from New Zealand might ring a little cliche at this point. Also, it has that chick! The twelve year old! Having just watched the greatest performance in modern cinema, by Charlize Theron, I can say that this broad (Keisha Knight-Pulliam? No, that's Rudy Huxtable. Well, you know who I'm talking about) could give ol' beer-belly-face a run for her money! One scene in particular reminded me of the singular moment from Mulholland Drive -- a heart-wrenching moment of a song being sung in a language we don't understand, to devastating effect. And this one takes place during a school play, so extra points for that. Excellent. BIG UPS for whatsername.

Here are some not so good things! It's a story so telegraphed and obvious and hackneyed that about five minutes into the movie you're ready to say, "Okay, we know what happens. Let's move it along."

Also, the whole movie is bullshit, because people can't talk to whales.

You know what, I'm going to have to give this movie two and a half stars. You know what that means? That means I liked Matrix Reloaded better than Whale Rider.

Sorry, Keisha.

[Worm]

Wouldn't that make this a nano review?

[bruce]

Wouldn't that make this a nano review?

No, that'd be a milli-micro review.

Bruce

[the Kiwi race]

2-and-a-half stars.

For one of our culture's founding ledgends.

:)

:)

:)

[Point of Order]

Also, the whole movie is bullshit, because people can't talk to whales.

Not true. Anyone can talk to a whale if they can get in a proper location: IE; small boat on the ocean

THE WHALES CANNOT UNDERSTAND HUMAN SPEECH is what you meant

People lets keep things on a Dick -and- Jane level here.

[Worm]

You know "talk" doesn't have just one definition right?

Forms: 3 talkien, -kin, 4 -ken, 4-7 talke, 4- talk, (6 talcke, taulk(e, tawlke; also Sc. 5 tawke, 6 tak, 8 tauk, tawk). [ME. talkien, talken: a deriv. vb. from TALE n. or TELL v. Cf. EFris. talken to talk, chatter, prattle, speak quietly, whisper; also other deriv. vbs. in -k, with a diminutive or frequentative force, as stalk, walk, lurk.]

I. Intransitive senses.

1. a. To convey or exchange ideas, thoughts, information, etc. by means of speech, especially the familiar speech of ordinary intercourse; ‘to speak in conversation’ (J.); to converse.
talk about..., often used colloq. to contrast something already mentioned with something still more striking; don't talk to me about (something), an exclamation against some new topic of conversation of which one has bitter personal experience.

b. By extension: To convey information in some other way, as by writing, with the fingers, eyes, etc.

c. Of a ship, etc.: to communicate by radio.

2. a. talk of: to speak of, about, or in reference to (anything); also, = talk about in colloq. use, sense 1a; often in indirect pass., to be talked of. to talk of (doing something), to speak somewhat vaguely, so as to suggest a notion, or express one's probable intention, of doing it. talking of.., apropos of..; also joc. introducing an unconnected subj.

b. to talk over: see 9c.

3. a. To exercise the faculty of speech; to speak, utter words, say things; often contemptuous: to speak trivially, utter empty words, prate. to talk to, to address words to; colloq., to rebuke, scold, reprimand; (U.S.) dial., to court or woo (a woman); also to talk up to. Of a woman: to accept a man's attentions. to talk at RANDOM, at ROVERS: see these words.

b. To say something as a rumour or matter of gossip; hence, to indulge in idle or censorious gossip. (Formerly also trans. with obj. clause.)

c. to talk big, tall, etc., to talk boastfully; to indulge in inflated language; see also BIG a. 8b; (colloq. or slang). to talk down (to an audience), to lower one's discourse to the assumed level of their intelligence; also transf. (in quots., of writers). to talk through one's hat: see HAT n. 5c; to talk through (the back of) one's neck: see NECK n.1 3e; to talk turkey: see TURKEY2 2d.

d. to talk at, to make remarks intended for some one but not directly addressed to him.

(b) to talk over (another person), to override or talk simultaneously with (another speaker) on a tape recording, broadcast programme, etc.

e. To say something to the purpose, esp. in colloq. phr. now you're talking. Also fig. of money: see MONEY n. 6a.

f. In various colloq. phrases stating or implying that someone is in no position to criticize another, exemplified by the types: you can't talk!; (look, hark) who's talking!; who am I to talk?; I should talk!

g. to talk back: to answer back; to indulge in ‘back-chat’. N. Amer. colloq.

h. With alcoholic drink as subj.: used to excuse or explain uncharacteristic sentiments supposedly brought on by the drink consumed. Chiefly in pres. pple. colloq.

i. To disclose information, spec. to the police (or another authority), esp. incriminating oneself or others; to confess; to turn informer or ‘squeal’. slang.

j. With advb. accusative. to talk one's way in: to gain admission by persuasion. Similarly with out.

4. To utter words, or the sound of words, unconsciously, mechanically, or imitatively, as to talk in one's sleep, etc.

5. fig. Of inanimate things: To make sounds or noises resembling or suggesting speech. spec., of an anchor which is dragged (see DRAG v. 1c).

II. Transitive senses.

6. a. To utter or speak in familiar language (words, a tale, etc.); to express in talk or speech (matter, opinions, etc.). Also with obj. clause.: see 3b. to talk out, to utter freely, give full utterance to.

b. To use as a spoken language, to speak conversationally: as to talk French, German, Somerset, slang. So to talk sailor (= to use nautical language), etc. to talk Greek, Hebrew, Double-Dutch, gibberish, etc., to use language unintelligible to the hearer.

7. To discourse about, speak of, discuss. Now colloq. to talk shop, to talk about matters pertaining to one's own business or profession.

(b) to talk a good game: to discuss a topic convincingly (with implication that no action is taken). Also, to talk a great ball game. U.S. colloq.

8. To bring or drive (oneself or another) into some specified state by talking.

9. a. With adv. or prep.: To influence, move, or affect by talking; as to talk down, (a) to put down by talking; to out-talk; (b) to reduce or diminish by talking; to denigrate or belittle; (c) Econ., to depress the value of (a currency) or the price of (a commodity) by making tactical public statements; similarly, to talk lower; (d) see sense 9d below; to talk (a person) into or out of, to persuade into, or dissuade from (something) by talking; to talk out, to talk to the end of; to carry on the discussion of (a bill in Parliament, etc.) till the time for adjournment is reached, and so frustrate its progress by preventing its being put to a vote; to talk (a person) over or round, to win over, or into compliance, by talking; to talk (a person) through (something), to provide with a commentary on (some event); to take through with helpful explanation; to talk (a thing) up, (a) to talk strenuously in support of, to ‘crack up’; (b) to discuss favourably; to stimulate interest in by talking, esp. exaggeratedly; to praise or advocate (chiefly U.S.); to extract from (a person) by persuasion; to talk (a person) up to, to bring (him) up to the point or level of (something) by talking.

b. To spend or pass away (time, and the like) in or by talking.

c. to talk (a thing) over, to talk over (a matter): to discuss it in familiar conference or conversation.

d. to talk down: to provide (an aircraft) with directions by radio communication which enable it to land, esp. in overcast or emergency conditions. Also with in: chiefly applied to ships seeking landfall. Hence with the pilot or navigating officer as subj. Occas. with other advbs. and preps.

10. Colloq. phrases. to talk the hind leg off a donkey (horse, etc.), applied to one who: (a) talks with unflagging and wearying persistence, or: (b) is said to have the power to persuade another by eloquent or charming speech; to talk (someone's) ear off: to talk incessantly or until one is tired of listening (U.S.).