Die Legende von Johnny Lingo

I saw this movie a couple of days after it opened. The theater was packed. It is not a movie with deep twists and plots, it's a child's movie. A visually beautiful movie. I lived in Hawaii for three years as a child and this movie brought back memories of how beautiful the islands in the South Pacific are. It also reminded me of the good clean action movies that used to come on TV on the Wonderful World of Disney. Anybody remember watching those movies growing up? Hollywood doesn't make many movies like this anymore. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

That's not how I felt about it the first couple of times I watched it, but seeing it again recently, I realized: I really, really like this movie.

You need to see it several times.

Okay, so Alvin Fitisemanu's acting is awful in this film.

Okay, so it's a rolling commercial for Tahitian Noni Juice.

Okay, so it's weighed down by its share of clichés, including one scene that appeared to have been stolen directly from Chicken Run.

In the end, I just don't care. In the end, I am overcome by the story, the music and the characters in this film. I LIKE Johnny Lingo, I LIKE Toma, and I LIKE Mahane.

No, there are no Academy Awards here - but what we DO have is a good clean film with some positive things to say and a fun way to say them. For us, that was enough. And after several times of seeing The Legend of Johnny Lingo over the past few years, what seemed to be glaring flaws the first few times around have faded. I really like what's left.

[Edit: We just watched this again after many years. And I thought, "I really love this movie." So I went to read reviews, and was reading a review, and thought, "Yeah, I agree." Then I noticed... I wrote the review! 15 years ago!

15 years later and after a long absence, I feel the same. Even the obvious flaws in this movie are endearing. In fact, I upgraded my rating from an 8 to a 10.]

It is so easy to criticize it. it is so naive, the performances are not the best, the music is awfull and the moral lesson almost childish. but it has one virtue - it represents the right choice for the gray periods. after a busy day, after difficult events, after a not happy period. if you are tired. or far to be yourself. like a tea cup. sure, it is a sort of propaganda. sure, its story is not exactly credible but too predictable. but it is the expected fairy tale. soft, sweet and...lovely. so, a nice film. for every family member.

I saw this movie on opening day with about 20 other people (total in the theater); I took my kids & wife to see it today (theater filled this time). It is a nice update to the old campy movie. Although inexpensively done it is well acted, funny, interesting, compelling and fun. It is still campy, however. The central message (that we can influence the self-esteem of others by the way we treat them, whether good or bad) has been expanded nicely. There are a few BIG plot holes and silly movie mistakes (nobody but the main characters seem to age; how did all the cows get there in the end? etc.) but overall it is quite enjoyable. It didn't move me to tears but it was moving; the ending, though contrived, is quite satisfying. And best of all, my favorite line from the old movie ("Mahana, you ugly! get down from that tree") is also in this version. Hey, it won't win any awards, but it was good enough just the same. A definite 7 or 7.5 out of 10.

On a hunch I decided to see what I knew was destined to be a much overlooked flick entitled "The Legend of Johnny Lingo". This turned out to be the finest movie I've personally seen in the past decade. The movie lacks foul language. It also lacks blatant sex. Further, it will not be classified as an action movie ... and yet ... well, as a teaser I will just say that it is perhaps best described as a human corollary of that old "Ugly Duckling" story. Take your date or the entire family too. Even though it won't, in my humble opinion THIS movie should receive the highest awards ever bestowed upon the industry and it's actors.

Bottom line: DON'T MISS THIS ONE! 'NUF SAID!

the humble recluse ...