Reviews of Eliki 13

• 
  TO BE CONTINUED -- YES!
  A review of Eliki
  by brokenarrow on 12/03/2010
  First run through I felt some scenes could have been brightened in editing, like the bar/pool hall or night scenes. Strained to see some captions, a couple went by a little to fast for me to read, but that is to be expected with a small screen trying to focus on the writing and movie itself. At first Eliki seemed more or less just there not doing or saying much, and to tell... First run through I felt some scenes could have been brightened in editing, like the bar/pool hall or night scenes. Strained to see some captions, a couple went by a little to fast for me to read, but that is to be expected with a small screen trying to focus on the writing and movie itself. At first Eliki seemed more or less just there not doing or saying much, and to tell the truth, wasn’t that interesting. When the father took him by the shirt collar and began speaking of the legend, he brought life to the story, I liked him.
  
  Up to this point it looks to be a well made short so I am now going back for a second run through to pause and read the captions and get the rest of the story. Between rereading the synopsis and pausing to read the captions, I am up to dad telling Eliki of hiding the treasure in the theater -- And having missed all that the first time, the whole story fell into place and if this short has not been taken from a feature length movie, I can see it being made into one. As the key opens the theater door, the story could go in any direction or world from there. Well done!
  
  Only other thing that was a little off that I noticed was the sound of feet slapping ground and the waves breaking on shore. read
• 
  Review
  A review of Eliki
  by jdzone2001 on 11/18/2010
  What a great location. The boy did a great job. He was very natural in his acting. The sound was good along with the camera work. The editing worked well and kept the pacing flowing nicely. I felt the story was somewhat weak. But I did like the idea of the treasure being the cinema. Good luck in the festival.
• 
  Key to the Treasure?
  A review of Eliki
  by jmdsbussrv on 11/05/2010
  A very enjoyable piece, and the fact you shot it in just a few hours is incredible by any standards (for seven minutes long). Overall, I think it was well done and well told. As always, it's tough when you are trying to add text to contrasting backgrounds. I hate trying to do that. (i.e. What color do you choose?) The only thing that I might mention is that I am NOT a... A very enjoyable piece, and the fact you shot it in just a few hours is incredible by any standards (for seven minutes long).
  
  Overall, I think it was well done and well told. As always, it's tough when you are trying to add text to contrasting backgrounds. I hate trying to do that. (i.e. What color do you choose?)
  
  The only thing that I might mention is that I am NOT a fan of the "camera shake" action or whatever. Certain films do it well, but for the most part, it becomes distracting.
  
  In Bourne Identity, it was well placed and flowed well. In Behind Enemy Lines, it was overdone, (in my opinion), and really frustrating, especially when trying to see what was going on at the climax when the protagonist was trying to retrieve the camera data.
  
  In your film, it wasn't bad, but I was a little curious why you placed it there. No answer necessary. Like I said, I really enjoyed this piece, and I think it had a very nice tone to it. Just perhaps something to consider for the future.
  
  The other thing I liked about this was your facial close up shots. Well done.
  
  Other than that, not too much input. I was surprised by the key in the egg. Interesting. Gave it a kind of mysterious fantasy type tone. I liked it.
  
  Well, thanks for reading and I wish you well.
  
  JIM read
• 
  Eliki
  A review of Eliki
  by **DELETED ACCOUNT** on 10/13/2010
  The ending is awesome. I wanted to start with those words, because the final breath of Eliki as he finds hope is magic and it cuts at just the right time. The drumming that leads up to the final second is pure Fijian. Beautiful. The concept is of the average child wishing to step out from under the dark cloud of his parents. The story and execution make the average concept... The ending is awesome. I wanted to start with those words, because the final breath of Eliki as he finds hope is magic and it cuts at just the right time. The drumming that leads up to the final second is pure Fijian. Beautiful.
  
  The concept is of the average child wishing to step out from under the dark cloud of his parents. The story and execution make the average concept spectacular.
  
  The cinematography had the feel of a documentary early on. It seemed to transition into more deliberate shots later. The egg on the table, etc. Great work.
  
  Good sound. The soundtrack and speaking parts sounded full.
  
  The acting was incredible especially considering the short time that it took to film. The young man who played Eliki was wonderful. Again, the last one second of the film showed his potential as an actor. Excellent!
  
  Overall, this film was far above average. Great work. Good luck in the competition. You deserve it. read
• 
  Good Feeling!
  A review of Eliki
  by Antonfischer on 10/12/2010
  The film has an overall good feeling to it, and i think (after reading the info) the good times the makers had with the local fiji people really shines through, which is excellent! The beginning of the film, which also holds the opening credits, unfortunately didn't really catch my interrest as much as i would have wanted it to. I think you could have made this scene longer... The film has an overall good feeling to it, and i think (after reading the info) the good times the makers had with the local fiji people really shines through, which is excellent!
  
  The beginning of the film, which also holds the opening credits, unfortunately didn't really catch my interrest as much as i would have wanted it to. I think you could have made this scene longer and stayed on Eliki while he is woundering about his surroundings, which would also present one of the big problems for Eliki sooner in the movie. Because i didn't really get what it was about (the existential question that he has) until his father began explaning about the snake and the first men, where Eliki still didnt give any real feedback, so you dont really know whats on his mind.
  
  A really good thing was that you really early in the movie get what kind of a life he is living, where he is a young and curious child, but the people arround him simply doesn't care and just sits around (the pooltable scene).
  
  A nice movie with some really nice parts, and leaves you with a nice and slightly wondrous feeling.
  
  Thank you for a nice film! read
• 
  The snake god's garden (spoilers alert!)
  A review of Eliki
  by DebbieG on 09/20/2010
  This is a free will review. My assignments can wait, because Eliki is a beautiful film, and deserves to be seen. Don't be put off by an environment remote to many. Yes it takes place on Fiji, but Eliki's story is one known from Idaho to Indonesia; a lonely kid, disappointed in his father and bullied by those around him, looks for escape and finds something special. Then we... This is a free will review. My assignments can wait, because Eliki is a beautiful film, and deserves to be seen.
  
  Don't be put off by an environment remote to many. Yes it takes place on Fiji, but Eliki's story is one known from Idaho to Indonesia; a lonely kid, disappointed in his father and bullied by those around him, looks for escape and finds something special. Then we get the elements that make this so unique; Degei the snake god, his friend the cockerel, the creation of men and women and of course, the treasure. I watched the cracking of eggs and minute hands emerging with a kind of hypnotised satisfaction; it reminded me of dreams I had when I was a small girl.
  
  Eliki's father makes it clear that the treasure is not gold or silver or diamonds, these, he says, are nothing in Degei's world. So we are being warned that what we call treasure is not what the snake god values, and we're gently set up for a revelation of intangible value. Whether it's a crock of gold or a door to Narnia, or Tukunawa with his head stuck in a bottle of Jack Daniels, it's not for us to know what Degei reveals behind the theatre door; after all, we never made a pact with him, and our own treasure hunt is a different story.
  
  Instead we get to see Eliki's face light up and that's our reward, a powerful magic full of potential. Like wandering an ordinary world and one day finding a key in an egg... read
• 
  Spoiler!
  A review of Eliki
  by Christopher Smith on 08/15/2010
  My first thought after immediately seeing the film is - don't leave me hanging. Your story has no conclusion. I know we're supposed to make our own conclusions as to what we think the treasure may be, which I would normally be OK with, but your story does not lend itself to that kind of ending. The culture of Fiji is so foreign to me (as the viewer) that I have no idea what... My first thought after immediately seeing the film is - don't leave me hanging. Your story has no conclusion. I know we're supposed to make our own conclusions as to what we think the treasure may be, which I would normally be OK with, but your story does not lend itself to that kind of ending. The culture of Fiji is so foreign to me (as the viewer) that I have no idea what might be considered as treasure to the character in the story and I have no idea how that might change his life. The father eludes to the treasure not being valuables so - what is it? The ending leaves me with an unsatisfied feel for the film.
  
  Now that I've bashed the story (hopefully constructively and really only the ending) I thought you layed the story out well and I felt for Eliki. It is the compassion you have built for the character that makes the ending as unsatisfying as it is. I feel that I want Eliki to break the cycle and make better for himself because of the excellent build-up you gave. Good camera work and a lot of story to cram into a little over 7 minutes. Well done (especially the egg hatching effect) but let's see the pay-off for Eliki's hopes and troubles. read
• 
  Snake+Chicken=Key or People
  A review of Eliki
  by highrollingfilms on 08/14/2010
  Nice opening, and average cinematography and editing. The location was great and acting was average, which is actually believable at times. Interesting storyline until the dad left the story to the kid. That is where the storyline spiked downward. The kid is not that great of an actor (one time he stares into the camera), actually they both were not that great, but together... Nice opening, and average cinematography and editing. The location was great and acting was average, which is actually believable at times. Interesting storyline until the dad left the story to the kid. That is where the storyline spiked downward. The kid is not that great of an actor (one time he stares into the camera), actually they both were not that great, but together they were believable. I am happy that you left the ending to our interpretation. I imagined a theater full of snakes and chickens that lay special eggs with keys and small people inside, both happen to be something the boy could sell I guess. read
• 
  Beautifully Done
  A review of Eliki
  by oth on 08/11/2010
  A deceptively simple magical realist tale about childhood hopes in the face of adult disillusionment. Clever but unfussy camera-work and engaging performances, particularly in the lead role. Avoiding accusations of exoticism by largely focusing on universal themes, it just shows what can be done on a low budget with a small, willing crew and a strong idea, backed up by an effective... A deceptively simple magical realist tale about childhood hopes in the face of adult disillusionment. Clever but unfussy camera-work and engaging performances, particularly in the lead role. Avoiding accusations of exoticism by largely focusing on universal themes, it just shows what can be done on a low budget with a small, willing crew and a strong idea, backed up by an effective script. A film that would reward repeated viewings. read
• 
  Visually interesting and effective
  A review of Eliki
  by Xerces on 06/27/2010
  Eliki was a visually interesting short film with effective cinematography throughout. However, the narration was a bit obscure, yet the main character (the young boy) was an easy protagonist to cheer for. -------------------------------- Acting: The actors were very convincing in this film, particularly the lead character (the young boy.) The acting was effective throughout... Eliki was a visually interesting short film with effective cinematography throughout. However, the narration was a bit obscure, yet the main character (the young boy) was an easy protagonist to cheer for.
  --------------------------------
  
  Acting:
  The actors were very convincing in this film, particularly the lead character (the young boy.) The acting was effective throughout.
  
  Plot/Storyline:
  The spiritualism and connections with nature are apparent and obviously are a part of the Fijian culture. The director may have done well to de-mistify some of these references, however. Ultimately the basic story of the boy retrieving the key was straightforward enough.
  
  Cinematography:
  The cameraman certainly has an eye for quality images which are plentiful in this film. Most of the angles/closeups and other techniques are used effectively.
  
  Audio:
  The audio throughout this film was clean, effective, and complimented the story.
  
  OVERALL:
  Eliki was a visually interesting and effective short film. The protagonist was a hero the audience could easily root for. All of the production values throughout this film were good quality.
  I enjoyed it.
  
  --Xerces
  read