#3 on my list is Second Hand Lions
PLOT
Walter is dropped off at his uncles farm by his grandmother who wants him to find the supposed millions that the uncles are hiding. Walter feels like he’s being punished and the uncles don’t want him but eventually they bond and the uncles tell Walter stories about their past, some being more truthful then others.
SHOTS
Tim McCanlies, the director, used lots of close up and medium shots throughout the movie, only using wide shots to show lots of action or important scenes or scenes with great detail such as scenes with animals in them or times when the uncles would use their plane. There is lots of panning shots and I assume some VFX for shots such as plane tricks and some of the animals.
INTERPRETATION
The movie could be called “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” because that’s what this movie is all about. Both the boy and his uncles don’t see any value in a relationship and just want their time together to be over. The boy thinks his uncles are boring but through outings and events in the opening scenes of the movie he learns that his uncles are very interesting. The uncles played by Robert Duvall and Michael Caine tell crazy stories about the war and their early life. While watching the movie you can believe that many of these stories are made up but some events that happen at the end of the movie contradict this and you are left to come to your own conclusion. The movie highlights the way that showing someone even a little bit of love and making them feel welcome can change the way they act and who they become. Once a shy boy, Walter becomes very open and because of the stories he becomes very creative and ends up writing comics as his job.
EVALUATION
This is one of the few movies that made me cry at the end. I love these types of movies and I like to see movies about old types of transportation, war, and adventure. Tin Tin is another good movie that does the same thing. The characters are compelling and you become attached to them through the great acting by both the uncles and Walter, the boy. The movie leaves a lot for you to imagine which is a good thing, and makes you wonder what the rest of Walters life will be like. The ending of the movie keeps you dreaming and the story line is well produced and easy to understand even though there’s lots of cut scenes. I would watch this movie again and would show my friends if I got the chance.
