Movie Review – The Boat that Rocked
The Boat that Rocked Poster
That does it, it’s official, I love British movie more that I love American, French or even Indonesian (excepting the Naga Bonar which I still think is one of the best masterpiece ever !!! ).
The latest establishment is of course The Boat that Rocked, which is not only uproariously fun and hilarious, but also heart warming and crowd pleaser in a real sense.
Written and directed by Richard Curtis, a name you’ve probably heard from a like such as Mr. Bean’s Holiday and Love Actually, the movie which is loosely based on the real Radio Caroline, tells a story of a Radio Rocks, a pirate radio that transmit from an old merchant vessel off the northern coast of the United Kingdom during the age of rock and roll.
The story started as Young Carl (Tom Sturridge) who was sent by his mother to stay with his Godfather, Quentin (Bill Nighy) to straighten up after he got himself expelled from his school for smoking, something that Quentin not surprisingly claimed as a spectacular mistake.
Soon on board the ship, Young Carl get acquainted with the rest of the ship crew, who are no other than the Dj’s and operators who run the Radio Rock 24 hour a day, non stop. Characters who were played by a like such as Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rhys Darby, Nick Frost, Chris O’Dowd and many more, promised nothing less than excellent acting play as well as smart yet funny dialogue, complete with a mixed British accent.
It was the age of the hippies, hence Young Carl adventure on board the ship will ultimately evolve around booze, drug and sex, especially sex. But make no mistake, if you think this is just another happy go lucky movie, who presents stupidity, like most Hollywood comedies do, as it main attraction you are catastrophically wrong.
This movie is not for the faint hearted. There are plenty of heart break moments, emotional scenes and some element of surprise here and there, that were embedded as a part of the story. There were the antagonists too, suitably played by Kenneth Branagh and Jack Davenport who posed as a government suits, aimed to close down the Radio Rock.
What complete this movie more than anything else (i.e. pretty girls, festive environment and nudity) is of course an excellent sound tracks from the names of the decades such as Beach Boys, Smokey Robinson, Skeeter Davies and many others. What makes them special, is that the music are more than just running at the back, but instead complement the story and helps incite the emotion, relating the scene with our own experience (which only happens only if you are either coming exactly from that decade, or well verse with the rock n roll music).
All in all The Boat that Rocked will make an excellent weekend movie, one that you can watch many times over. The story line is light, yet meaningful, well balanced by smart dialog, catch quotes and convincing play from its casts. Now, I’m not so much inclined to quantify my judgment by passing score, but if I must, I will gladly gives this movie 8.5 out of 10. And yes, its that good.
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I like the movie themes like this but unfortunately we do not have cinema in my town anymore because everything is closed
btw, why do you not like Naga Bonar?
Hi BI, thanks for visiting. Where are you living anyway ?
Oh well, perhaps I need to clarify this, it’s not that I don’t like Naga Bonar, what I meant to say is off all Indonesian movies, Naga Bonar is one of the best and that I love it so much, even compared to the Hollywood, Brits or French. So ya that does it. I might need to edit my article though, Thanks again dude.
On behalf of BI, I’ll answer your question. BI (a.k.a Dudi) lives in Jayapura. Here in my hometown (Kudus) cinema is part of the town’s history. Malls are damn hipper! That’s what the authority thought when they closed cinemas. But mostly it was due to local people’s shift of taste. Playing DVD at home offers greater privacy, you can pause while you’re interrupted by other businesses and you can replay your fave scenes over and over again! Recently, however, there’s a mini-cinema offering a very comfy and private atmosphere because the seats number is less than the regular cinemas (around 10-12 seats in each room)
Your remark about mini cinema made me recalled that back when I was studying in Brisbane there is a couple mini cinema that spreads across the city. These establishment can usually handle up to 50 viewer in each of its theater and plays festival movies, movies that you couldn’t find in the more mass and Hollywood cineplex. I guess it’s a very cultural things back in Brisbane so more than just movie, it;s also media for niche movie fans to meet up and socialize.
I wonder if someone could build the same thing in Jakarta. Wouldn’t it be nice ?
Festival movies? Sounds like fun. We here don’t really know what festival movies look like as you know…pop culture has been taking over lots of idealism in most parts of the country. When the word ‘festival movies’ is mentioned, I automatically associate it with a type of movie that is valued and appreciated based on serious, artistic, and less profit-oriented criteria. Am I right? or not?
Can’t agree more…Absolutely there must be more places playing great and inspiring movies in this republic.
Ya…you got the idea. Although to be honest the term festival movie is some kind unofficial term that me and some thousand others use to reps such movies.
Never been to Kudus though, I bet its beautiful. Can you post some picture the city and the landscape on your blow ?
Make sure you come here on your next vacation. It normally takes us only 1hour and a half to reach Kudus from Semarang. Unlike other cities or towns in Central Java, its size is considerably small because it’s named the smallest regency in the province, pal. If I were you, I’d never miss the chance to climb Muria mountain located just in its northern part. The view is kind of amazing. Since Kudus is land-locked, don’t you ever wish to find a shore there (you love swimming right?). Although the northern coastal area of Java is notorious for its intolerably scorching weather, you can enjoy cool breeze up there in the mountain slope.
You want some snapshots? Hmm..I’m afraid I can’t promise you that but whenever I get a chance, I certainly will.
If you officially and proudly declare that you’re a huge fan of Briton movies, I then claim myself a devotee of Korean movies and dramas.
I love simplicity, which is why I don’t really like ‘absurd’ and overly ‘imaginative’ movies involving too much visual effects or ‘ridiculous’ prophecies like 2012 (I believe in the coming of the Judgement Day, but the prophecy is totally overrrated and people are arguing over this endlessly, which in fact promotes the movie’s popularity). I love subtle conflicts although sometimes I find physical blows intriguing enough. To me, having a down-to-earth plot and ‘logical’ story line is what a good movie ought to present to its audience.
I still remember a Korean movie aired on Metro TV, whose title I completely fogot. It tells about a simple and plain life of a Korean woman. A widower wants to marry her and the story’s conflict arises when the widower’s son (who is a half Filipino and half Korean) seems to be against the idea of having a stepmom. The woman made her best efforts to win the stubborn son’s heart almost to no avail. This boy, in the movie, is depicted as a lonely boy who keeps his emotions for no one but himself. He has to endure bullying classmates at school just because he looks darker than his fellow Korean students do (his mom is a Filipino, she left both her husband and son in Korea and died in her homeland). To cut the story short, the stepmom (who at first hates her stepson) understands what the poor boy needs. He needs a mom who loves him, something that reminds the stepmom of her own bitter past (being treated badly by her stepmom).
My favorite scene is when the woman is called by the principal of the school where the boy goes. The boy is bullied and mocked on a daily basis by his classmates, and being exiled from the rest of the class. So he resorts to violence to defend himself. He beats anyone who mocks him ‘dark’ or ‘black’. There, at school, in front of so many other students’ mothers who get outraged to know their sons got beaten and hurt, she defends her stepson just like a biological mom does her own. She sets aside her resentment towards the rebellious and mischievous boy despite the fact that this boy almost always makes trouble for her, both at home and at work.
Ahhh, you should see it yourself and sob after that….Make sure you bring a hanky and lock the door as you won’t others to find out you sobbing ^_^
I get it man, there was a time when I buy dozens of Korean movie dvd’s. It’s okay for me, I enjoyed most of them, especially the comedy and romantic genre such as “marrying the mafia – 1, 2 and 3″, “My Sassy Girl”, and three dozens more – give and take – similar genre, of which the titles I couldn’t recalled. I even watched Juno in Korean version long before the Hwood version created and eventually won the Oscar.
It were and still are good. Though admittedly I’m pretty fed up with the sad, sob, and gloomy ending, which in my opinion, kinda of over generously presented on the K movies. And after a while, I get bored and take a break from anything Korean, and haven’t bother to start watching again.
But yes, definitely, Korean movies are very much lovable, and I can completely understand if even a guy like you or me spent hours in front of tv, and sobbing shamelessly. I guess in away, Korean movies are very much like the much more matured Japanese movie. Even the dialogue, and the way the storyline moves are quite similar with those of Japanese, though I find that in the more serious drama genre, the Japanese are lil bit more innovative and creative. What do you reckon ?
2012 though is entirely different matter though, I might write a piece about that hehehe…
It was a really nice thought! Just wanna say thank you for the selective information you have diffused. Just continue writing this kind of post. I will be your loyal reader. Gives Thanks over again.