Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
CJ7........, August 30, 2008
I like Asian films, don't get me wrong. Nearly all of them, I have, are horror movies, unfortunately. What in the world would possess me to pick up CJ7? Well, someone very dear to me asked me if I had seen it. Seeing as I hadn't, I said no. Then, they went on to tell me what it was about. A movie about a man who desperately struggles to keep his son fed, clothed, and educated despite his struggle to stay employed. When his son asks for a toy that he can't afford, he sets out to find a suitable substitute that's cheaper(i.e. that doesn't cost anything). He returns from the garbage with CJ7, who is no more than a green ball at first. When his son activates this new ball, his son discovers that his new toy is much more than a toy but a magical solution to his family's struggles. Needless to say, I still wasn't sold on it so they went and rented it out. We watched it and, I got to admit, it is one of the best Asian films I've seen in awhile. I ended up purchasing it for my very own. It is one of the most hilarious, imaginative, and smart films to come out in quite a long time. Definitely one I'd recommend for families to watch.
However, be forwarned-parents, there are a few scenes that you might want to see first before letting your kids watch that involve..um, how can we say this...poo. They're not that offensive, mind you. In fact, they are downright funny. Yet, in all fairness, you might want to scope the scenes out before letting them watch. Chow's movies, as you may have seen before with Kung Fu Hustle, are not immediately for everyone.
DVD features include: "The Story of CJ7 " - A behind the scenes look at the making of the film, Anatomy of a Scene" - an in-depth look at how a scene with the adorable "CJ7" was shot, "How to Bully a Bully" - A lesson on how to stand your own ground against the school bully, "Make Your Own Giant Lollipop" - A how-to on making your very own lollipop prop,"The Making of CJ7" International Television Special - A more technical behind the scenes look at the making of the film and visual effects, CJ7 Mission Control Game - See how far you can launch "CJ7" into space!, CJ7 Profiles - Learn more about your favorite CJ7 characters!, and Cast and Crew commentary.
CJ7 is, literally, the star of the movie. He's Asian's version of ET. Again, I highly recommend this movie to all. It's an endearing tale that families will love for years to come.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quirky feel-good SF, September 8, 2008
This amusing Chinese import appeals at many levels. Dicky (the boy's name in the subtitles, at least) lives with his widowed father. The father struggles to make ends meet, while sending Dicky to the best school that he can afford, determined that Dicky will have all the chances in life that the father never had. Dicky struggles too. Poverty makes him odd kid out at school, and small size makes him an easy target for the school bullies. Almost everything more than essentials in Dicky's life comes from his father's knack for salvage - including an odd little toy ...
It would be easy to say too much about this charming movie's plot, especially if you've seen *Batteries Not Included. I leave it to you to watch this self-consciously cute story unfold, all the way to the smiles-all-around ending. The movie's style seems heavy handed, by western standards. Acting and character stereotypes come across as blunt instruments, and the "flying warriors" idiom makes an improbable appearance in the schoolyard. A few things might grate on Western sensibilities, too, like what constitutes good parenting - although generally kid safe, a few scenes might not work for very young or very skittish children. If you can take it in its own terms and ignore a bit of saccharine, you'll find some charming fun in this one.
-- wiredweird
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best movie I've seen this year, December 20, 2008
I stumbled across this movie as a pay-per-view rental while looking for something for my family to watch on a Friday night. My kids were a little put off by the notion of subtitles, but that concern was gone within the first 90 seconds of the movie. I went into the movie with no preconceptions (never heard of Stephen Chow) and was pleasantly surprised by the movie. I laughed so hard I cried, and I just plain cried. It is the little details in this movie that are surprising, funny, and touching. Just see it, with an open mind. Your kids have to be at least old enough to read the subtitles, and probably should be a bit older to really get the most out of the movie. It is NOT primarily about the cute little character, CJ7. It is more about the relationships between Dicky and his father and classmates, and how they are affected by what happens after CJ7 arrives. I am here to buy many copies for friends.
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