Customer Reviews

Eagle vs. Shark [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Lilly (Loren Horsley) works in a fast food restaurant and garners the respect of no one. But she takes it on the chin and remains curiously sweet. She's got a crush on Jarrod, a narcissist geek with a horrible mullet played by Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame. Jarrod and Lilly hook up at a party one night. (Do you want to have sex? OK.) Jarrod has a mission-to crush a samoan lad who tortured him in school. He returns home to fight his nemesis. I won't give it away, but the ending to this movie had me laughing hysterically. This is a completely original script absent banal comedy and full of emotional depth. You won't see films like this coming out of Hollywood these days. Thank you Taika and the NZ Film Commission.

Many people have compared Eagle to Napoleon Dynamite, but I find the comparison lacking. Yes, Lily and Jarrod are geeks, but the similarities with Napoleon end there. This isn't a geek revenge movie though the plot may seem like that on the face of it. The movie is titled Eagle vs. Shark but it could be titled man vs. woman. Neither Lily or Jarrod run to each other as solace from the outside world. Lily has a warm home life with her brother and Jarrod is pretty solidly convinced of his stature and his ability with women until the end of the movie. It's interesting to see how Lily turns Jarod around. This film is about the balance of power between Lily and Jarod, not geeks vs the world.

There are a lot of good minor characters in this film including Jarrod's sister and her husband and Lily's brother. Jarrod's daughter is played brilliantly by an eccentric little girl whose name I can't find on the DVD. She's cute to watch. I liked Lorena's performance. She brings strength to her role as Lily but doesn't come off aggressive. It must have been a difficult role to play right.

Good extras on the film including some nice deleted scenes. The commentary with Taika was a little off putting. He seems a bit over it. His girlfriend, Lorena Horsely who plays Lily calls from NZ and they talk a bit about the film, but neither one of them seem very into it. It seems like the commentary was added a long long time after the film was made and maybe thrown in because of the success of Conchords. The most interesting commentary comes from the guy that plays Jarrod's brother in law. Taika says things like "that scene comes from the Sundance film workshop" but doesn't explain what that is or why he was there. Flight of the Conchords fans don't buy Eagle to hear any interviews or commentary with Jemaine. He is curiously absent from all the extras here as he was with Conchords. Jemaine seems more over it all these days than anyone. I doubt HBO will get a season 3 out of him unless they throw him mad mad money.

There are a lot of great views of NZ in this film. Loved the camera shot on the playground with Lily running in the mouse wheel with the bay out the back. Gorgeous. Good music from the Phoenix Foundation Horsepower, Pegasus that works well with the film. The soundtrack wasn't chosen for marketing purposes, it actually works with what's going on in the film.

When I see a good film like this, completed for under a million dollars, you wonder what is going on in Hollywood these days that more films like this aren't made. Hollywood is good at throwing money into a lot of dumb scripts with hot actors, but it takes someone like Taika to come along and demonstrate how a good movie is really about a good script, not special effects and pretty people.

Being a torturously huge fan of Flight of the Conchords, and Jemaine Clement, I looked forward to this film with a jubilant anticipation I haven't felt since high school. Since my love is full-on, I didn't give much thought to the actual content of Eagle vs. Shark before sitting down to view it. I was deeply surprised at the emotional depth of the story and the pronounced portrayal of the characters. Lily's yearning angst and Jarrod's tenderly obnoxious pain was palatable. I still feel the lump of wax in my chest (perhaps Jarrod, using his noble skills, could create a candle with it!). The hilarity here is fulfilling, as well. Taika Waititi doesn't take you on the predictable path of the lonely losers attempting to find solace in their absurd-yet-natural, brutal world. These twists and unexpected subtleties bring out some eye-bugging, ankle-hugging laughter. This film can hold it's own in any venue, with men and women, chicks and dudes, whether or not you've any knowledge of Clement's other pursuits. If you've ever been wronged, if you've ever felt like an outsider, if you've ever cried out, silently, for attention, you'll be able to identify with this story. If not, and you've lived a glorious life, check it out anyway. You'll love it, if only for the stop-action animation and the be-atching soundtrack. Are you keen, fool?

This is a sweet little movie starring JEMAINE CLEMENT (of Flight of the Conchords fame) and LOREN HORSLEY (of...being Taika Waititi's girlfriend fame?). Not sure why Amazon doesn't have them listed anywhere as the stars...

The film follows Jarrod (Clement) and Lily's (Horsley) budding romance, from her crush on him as she works at a fast food restaurant he frequents, to their hook-up at a dress-as-your-favorite animal party, to visiting his hometown as he takes revenge on someone who bullied him in school. They are unlikely soul mates, bonded by similar facial moles.

The film includes beautiful shots of the New Zealand coast, a little stop-action animation, and Clement sporting a really choice mullet! Like a lot of stuff that has been coming out of New Zealand lately, it is heavy on the quirk but also has some funny and heartfelt moments. And fans of Clement will enjoy a scene in which he is wearing a Speedo.

You WILL call all of your enemies "foolish, foolish sucka" after seeing this movie!

Just one look at the cover art of the DVD case is enough to let you know this isn't just another movie! The likable cast keeps this sweet little romantic comedy fresh. It's got a Napoleon Dynamite vibe with it's cast of off the wall characters. The main character of Lily is played with honesty and you can't help but feel sorry for her all the while laughing through this quirky little film. It's nice to see a romantic comedy that I didn't know the ending to ten minutes after it started.

If you liked Me And You And Everyone We Know, then you should like this. This is very funny, and sweet and at times creepy. The characters say very random things, sometimes just stupid stuff but it's funny. Not as thought provoking as Miranda July's work but very entertaining nonetheless. It's not a big budget film obviously and some scenes look like a sketch comedy setup, which kinda gives it a true indie feel.

If you don't want mainstream, or just looking for something different but not too far out, I would say check it out. It's cool

Comedy isn't absolute. Not everyone enjoys the same thing. With that said, I enjoyed this movie enough to buy it, watch it, re-watch it, and spread the word to friends. I've been told I have a warped sense of humor, so that may have played a roll in my enjoyment of this film and others' comments about the film.
I had to laugh when I read another reviewer write, "I could have done without the scene where the protagonist beats a wheelchair-bound rival with nunchuk sticks."
It's the type of movie that you have to watch more than once. The first time you watch this movie you'll get caught up in the plot, and the second time you'll catch the subtle humor that you missed the first time.
Everyone seems to compare this film to ND, but, in my opinion, this movie is much better all around. If you like FOTC type humor (deadpan) you will probably like this film. Plus, it has a great soundtrack. Worst case, you can take a break from watching Will Ferrel, Steve Carell, Ben Stiller, and similar comedians for a few hours and try something new. Who knows, you might like it!

Eagle vs Shark is reminiscent of quirky films like Harold and Maude and blends together the sensibilities of Napoleon Dynamite - Like, the Best Special Edition Ever! and Me and You and Everyone We Know with oddball outsiders that lead colourful lives. Eagle vs Shark doesn't follow the traditional narrative beats and instead follows its own unique rhythm. Director Taika Waititi gives his film all kinds of personal touches that separate it from other motion pictures. It helps that the film is set in a specific locale with actors who don't try to mask their accents and this adds to the motion picture's exotic appeal. Eagle vs Shark has a hand-made feel and employs old school stop-motion animation in a way that evokes the work of Director's Series, Vol. 3 - The Work of Director Michel Gondry. It is one of the many joys of watching a film so obviously made outside of the studio system with no perfect looking movie stars.

There is a collection of deleted scenes with an optional commentary by writer/director Taika Waititi. A lot of this footage showcases more of Jarrod's relationship with his family. There is also more of Jarrod getting ready for his showdown with a bully. We also see more of Lily interacting with Jarrod's family.

Also included is an "Outtakes" reel featuring the cast blowing their lines as they crack each other up.

The music video for "Going Fishing" by the Phoenix Foundation is a catchy indie song featuring lots of clips from the film.

Finally, there is an audio commentary by Waititi. Early on he gets Loren Horsley on the phone and they talk about an alternate opening credits animation that they ultimately rejected. They also point out all of their friends that populate the backgrounds of various scenes. Waititi recounts several filming anecdotes, delivering a very personable commentary for a very personal film.

The comparisons to Napoleon Dynamite are somewhat fair. Jemaine Clement's character, Jarrod, is painfully awkward and shows some of the same stiff mannerisms of Heder's notorious character (plus, the kooky glasses and bad hair only foster the seeming similarities). But, here's the thing ... I thought Napoleon Dynamite lacked both relevance and a heart; moreover, its "randomness" tends to amuse the college-crowd, but not full-fledged adults. So, let's consider Eagle Vs. Shark as sort of Napoleon Dynamite (with a touch of Little Miss Sunshine, but only the good aspects) for "grown-ups."

Jarrod is a complex character (unlike the flat Dynamite). He lives in the shadow of his dead brother-- whose ribbons, trophies and awards festoon his father's home (a little reminder to Jarrod of the man he can never become). His desperation to please his stoic father leads him to hurtful decisions. Frequently, the viewer is alienated from Jarrod, disdaining his selfish cruelty. Still, director/writer Taika Cohen allows Jarrod great sympathy. The viewer hopes for a transformation ... if only for Lily's sake.

Loren Horsley's character, Lily, shares a quiet life with her brother. The relationship is sweet and nurturing ... unlike Jarrod's relationship with his family which revolves around vulgar name-calling (underscoring the arrested development of the family). Lily is opened hearted, but not a fool ... as Jarrod will soon learn.

The film's mise en scene is gorgeous ... the opening sequence (alone) stole my breath. I very much enjoyed the playfulness of the cinematography ... I wish we would see more this risk-taking in American film. Furthermore, the stop-motion animation is initially jarring, but becomes crucial to the over-all message. Surprisingly cute and oddly compelling.

Yes, some elements of this work are predictable, but that's true of most films. And entirely forgivable.

If you're into swishy jogging suits and off-beat romance, give this film a chance. But, a note of caution, rent this work before buying it. (It's quirkiness will not appeal to all).

This is a very hard movie to label. It's a quirky drama. A romantic comedy. A depressing, truthful look at real life.

If you're looking for Napoleon Dynamite 2, keep looking. ND was an amazing comedy full of caricatures... but not real life-characters.

Both have geeky, anti-social leads, but Eagle Vs. Shark is about a real family, real problems, real life.

What I love about this film, are the funny bits that keep us from going crazy, in between all the tough bits.

There's also this darling little girl Vinny (played by Morag Hills), who says very little, but given her situation, your heart just goes out to her.

It's a bunch of people, just living their lives, dealing with what's given to them, and even if you don't like them at first, you eventually realize they're people just like all of us, and they have a story.

I discovered this little gem after getting into HBO's series Flight of the Conchords late after its initial run when I picked it up on DVD. I enjoyed everyone who was part of that cast and this film was great to have considering Conchords is over. It's not the same as Flight of the Conchords but if you liked that show's humor and subtlety you should enjoy this. It's a quiet little film, kind of a dark romantic comedy but it has a lot more cruel reality in it than the typical love story or comedy. Unfortunately this one doesn't appear in Blu-Ray format but has the 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is important if viewing on a flatscreen.