Movies and Music - Teen Takes
-- School Library Journal, 11/18/2009
Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara
The movie Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara (Viz Pictures, distributed by Warner Home Video, September 2009, not rated) was not one of the most exciting films I have seen recently. It was very hard to get into this film. It was slow-moving and at times confusing and hard to follow. It was more of a documentary and therefore geared more for a young adult audience. Yoshitomo Nara’s art style is very original, and he has done extensive work in the cartoon world. I really love his artwork and this was a big motivation for me to see this film. If you like documentaries and Yoshitomo Nara, then this film may appeal to you. I’d recommend you check it out.—Sara F., Gr 11, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
Resolved—Two Teen Takes
Resolved (Image Entertainment, January 2009, PG-13) is a fascinating movie about forensics. Forensics is a form of debate and Resolved accurately shows how debates work. As a debater in forensics, I found this movie to be very interesting, and I liked the focus on CX debate, which is when two debaters face another team in a certain topic that lasts all year. The movie gives you a sense of how hard forensics is. You see debaters gathering information, practicing speeches, and taking part in tournaments.
Although the movie is excellent at showing these parts of debate, there are a few slow parts to the movie – viewers may find themselves hearing information again that was previously presented, or not understanding something because the movie didn’t explain it well enough such as the fact that there are many forms of debate like public forum and Lincoln-Douglas.
Overall, Resolved is a great documentary. If you’re interested in forensics, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the competition and the people involved in it.—Loren L., Gr 9, Golden (CO) High School
Take Two
Resolved was unfortunately so incredibly boring that I had a difficult time getting into it. The language was complicated and very technical so I found the video hard to follow. This video was meant for educational purposes not for entertainment purposes, but still, I didn’t feel it spoke to students. The dialogue was fast and I had to rewind portions of the film more than once to get an idea of what it was talking about. That said, I think the movie would appeal to students who are on a debate team or those who are thinking of joining one. They will get the most out of it and hopefully learn some important techniques in the process.—Sara F., Gr 11, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
New Moon Soundtrack
With the much anticipated November 20 release of the movie New Moon, devotees will get find great satisfaction in listening to this soundtrack. Like the soundtrack of Twilight, the music in New Moon (Wea, October 2009, AN: BECDATL051942) is moody, dark, and a perfect fit for the romantic turmoil that’s so much a part of the story. Delivered by some of the best bands in alternative rock, this soundtrack is top-notch from start to finish. Fans will have a lot to sink their teeth into especially Death Cab for Cutie’s “Meet Me on the Equinox,” Muse’s “I Belong to You,” and the Killers’ “White Demon Love Song.”—Ellie R , Grade 11, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
