Beyond Paradise

I saw BP at AFI Fest 98 in Santa Monica. It was a sold out showing and the crowd responded enthusiastically. I think it deals with cross cultural relationships in a very subtle but profound way. It is beautifully filmed and has a lot of great moments.

I loved "To End All Wars", and I really wanted to see this, since it was David Cunningham's first movie. I finally got a chance to see it a couple weeks ago, and... Well, it shows that this is his first, because it is very rough...

I'm sure a lot of the crew came from his Film production school and other students at the University of the Nations (even used it in the movie!)I'm just wondering if the actors are from his school, too... The acting isn't the best...

Still, this is a very entertaining movie, and even got darker than I expected it to. The big event at the end was a bit surprising to me. The story was very good, and it was supposedly very loosely based on Cunningham's experiences growing up in Hawaii. I would be interested in finding out the extent of the movie that was true, which brings me to my last point.

The movie was mostly good when you accept it for what it is, but the DVD is unforgivable... No documentary stuff, no subtitles, few chapter breaks, and no other special features... This may have been a first generation DVD, because a DVD made now should never be so bare that there isn't even a subtitle track! There was a lot they could have put on this DVD, considering it was considered a promotional thing for Hawaii...

I just wanted to say that this movie was fantastic. It was honest without being insulting(as most films about Hawaii are)and the camera work was superb. The thing that stood out the most was the exceptional performances by Lorenzo Callender(Ronnie Boy), Daryl Bonilla(Keao) and Kalani(Zulu), with Bonilla stealing the show with natural depth and comedic timing. Hopefully Hollywood's "big wigs" will look into these fine young actors. Great movie!!!

I may be a bit biased, since I've worked with some of the actors in this film.

Nah, they no care what I say. And David Cunningham charged us for the lunch we 'treated' my colleagues to, but that's another story.

Suffice to say, I hated the first third of the film. Tired stereotypes of local boys bullying the poor haole guy.

And then something happened.

As soon as the jellyfish stung Roy, (not a great actor, but I stuck with it), the plot took another turn.

These local boys became real. This is where the movie should have started. Even the local girls become more interesting. The characters lived the world of this film. If only Kalani and Roy were the central characters focusing on their church life.

Kalani made up for Roy's shorcomings as an actor and was far more believable.

Props also to Daryll Bonilla, Lorenzo Callendar and Garret Sato, all friends and colleagues who cut their teeth in this production. They are the real stars of this film, and I'm sure everyone in Hawaii agrees.

Beyond Paradise is a movie that not only shows the side of Hawaii not much people see... but it also shows how prejudiced people can get. The movie had a good meaning. Topped off with good acting and nice story line.. TWO THUMBS UP!