The Legend of Johnny Lingo

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.]

If you're looking for a clean cut family film with lots of symbolic undertones (good messages) then "Legend" could serve the purpose. It offers good location filming, some very good actors amongst what seems like a mostly amateur cast. The real star of this piece is most certainly the music score by respected composer Kevin Kiner. Mr Kiner's written several moving pieces all treated to unexpectedly lush orchestral arrangements. Some good ethnic pop songs also help to set the scene.

Director of photography is the highly regarded New Zealander Allen Guilford and features some very good looking locations. The film is directed and edited by first time feature director Stephen Ramirez. It won't please hard bitten audiences but anyone looking for the style of matinée movie from yesteryear should be fairly well pleased (although the girls unpleasant drunkard father could be seen as a tad unsettling for some). This movie is an extended version of an earlier short film (Johnny Lingo 1969) from a story by Pat Mcgerr. Seen better - but sure seen worse! (just off the cuff, the promo posters don't particularly suit this version)

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 ...

This movie was surprisingly good. The story is engaging and well told. The plot does have some holes, but they are not really relevant to enjoying the film. The scenery is absolutely incredible - the locations were this was filmed was great. I spent a good bit of the first part of the movie trying to place the date and location, which is doable. I like the fact that they used actors and actresses that actually were from the islands and looked the real part.

This is also a great film to watch with your family - there are not a lot of good films you can watch with your young kids and all enjoy. The entire story was suitable for all audiences.

I never saw the original - so not sure about the comparisons with the older version.

The leads and the supporting characters that get the most screen time are solid (a couple of them appeared in "Whale Rider", where they were outstanding, so you know that they were capable of more than they were given here) -- the shortcomings are primarily in the script, I think. Some of the supporting cast are a bit wooden, and the script is often a little cliched, but it's very sweet and the locations are beautiful.

It's a very gentle film with its heart in the right place, so I would recommend it for younger kids, and I think that most adults won't mind watching it with their kids. If you're a softie like my wife, you'll actually enjoy it...