The Map Reader 2008

NO PROBLEM WITH THE PACE OF THIS FILM.. This is an art film not a violent car chase.

 5

AND no I haven't been coerced into manipulation of the ratings or any such NONSENSE. (I don't
't even KNOW the director!

Just read some of the other reviews and needed to balance some ignorant and negative attitudes.

By Joan Brown

WHAT's WITH THE NEGATIVITY IN THE REVIEWS - jealousy?

 5

This film is a UNIQUE and WELL MADE genuine NZ film.

Not some rehacked TV soap imitation! NO CONTEST!

By JoanJett

GREAT NZ FILM

 5

Enough other reviews - don't need to add anything except
REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE FILM IS SHOT IN KAIPARA COLLEGE WARKWORTH NORTHLAND!!

By sonicjett

works for me

 2

wasnt the fastest paced movie , but a very servicable effort ,, its a New Zealand effort not to be ranked with word wide rankings , more on a homeland basis ,, i gave it three stars and it possible was a 3.5 ,,,loved Rebecca gibney , she does very servicable work jeff

By jeff

Wayne, I know who you are

You should drop me a line, would like to catch up.

By Halle Berry

Disappointing...

 1

Not only am i unimpressed by this painfully slow and cliche film, I'm equally disappointed by it's producer manipulating the ratings on this site! Unprofessional bordering on desperate. John you have unfortunately been pulled into a no win argument that i believe you would have gained allot more credit by ignoring... A positive: Some nice focus pulls...

By wayne

worst film I've seen in ages

 1

I think Deb went a bit soft on this film. Never in a drunken fit would I give it 4 stars, even if it was edited better, which, God knows, it really needed. Films like this give NZ films a bad name. Uneven, hokey acting, cheesy script, implausible story line, boring and painfully drawn out. I've never written a review before, but this film was so bad I was driven to warn others.

By Nick

Sarah, did you see...

...that the editing you did not like was nominated for a NZ Film award?

By Antony

could be better, could be worse!

 2

I had been waiting to see this film a long time when I finally got it out on DVD the other day. I would have given it a 4 rating if it weren't for one major issue I had with it.
The story worked. The acting worked (mostly - despite what everyone is saying, I found Jordyn a bit self inhibited/stiff at the start of the film). The music was beautiful and the cinematography really great (especially for the budget!).
But. The editing! It wasn't that there were bad cuts. It was that the whole film should have been a quarter shorter. I noted that Brodie edited it himself. I know it was his baby, but there should have been someone else sitting there saying "WHAT IS THIS DOING FOR THE STORY!!!!"
The worst thing was young Michael putting the kite together at the end. Dear God. I lost years of my life watching him fumble around with that thing. It doesn't have to be a montage but it doesn't have to be real time.

I also felt that at the beginning, sound needed to kick in sooner. Instead the music kept being the only audio, and that became distracting and annoying. That happened on a variety of occasions throughout the film. The music was pretty (talented guitarist!), but what was happening underneath it picture wise was dull dull dull after a while. I just wanted to get on with the story and it didn't.

It wouldn't take away from the story to cut some stuff, and the cinematography could still be shown off. I know it's a common problem for directors to cut their own work to not really be able to see what isn't working because they love it. But this could be a really great film if it was just a bit tighter!

By Sarah

DVD release is July 15

For rental stores. To own a copy, 3 months later in any retail outlet.

By John Davies

When can we get the DVD?

 4

I saw it almost all on a plane but never got to the end. Frustration! No one not even Alice in Videoland has got a copy. So where does one buy or rent a copy? If any one says Bit Torrent , wash your mouth out with soap.

Anthony Lealand

By Anthony Lealand

Deb Arkles

Dearest, kindest Deb

Leaving you to bury yourself in your own hot burning slime seems to have worked quite well. I've had a busy wee period including picking up Best Picture for "The Map Reader" at Las Vegas Film Festival. Over a dozen festival invites now. Carry on burning in you own fuming bile.

Cheers
John

By John Davies

 3

re the film's website, deb, i was referring to overseas festivals where it has quite a few selections. i did not refer to the reviews on the website, which of course would be positive. maybe if you properly read what i wrote, you wouldn't misquote and then insult me. your credibility will suffer if you can't get facts straight.

By Antony

"issues.."

brilliant. you saw THE MAP READER... you felt so ambivalent about it that you didnt even bother posting a rating for it...but you feel that some one else who saw it, and actually has an opinion about it (negative, boo hiss!) has issues?
so even tho, the rave 'peoples reviews' have been outed as being fake, you still fly the flag because the films website has glowing reviews? jesus h...i spose to you, that Flight of The conchords invented comedy.
too?

I have issues? Get a worldview...asap.

By deb

i have seen the movie, deb. it wasn't awesome, but it wasn't bad either. you sound like someone with issues well beyond this film. btw have you noticed that it has done some good at overseas festivals, looking at the film's website. so maybe deserves some credit. but not from you, clearly.

By Antony

I'd say by the box office figures...

that it's THE MAP READER isn't coming off well.

But never mind, as long as there are sites like flicks which allow local film makers to post 5 star reviews of their own films to boost the 'peoples reviews' ratings of their own films, as long as their are idiots like Brian, who thinks this is reason enough to add their two cents worth on the worth of a film they hsvent even bothered to see yet, I'll keep 'coming off badly' pointing out that as a member of the public who aactually PAID to see money to see a home movie that potential renters should take the so-called 'peoples reviews' here with a kilo of salt.

maybe you shouldnt shoot the messenger, Antony, until you've actually seen seen the film in question.

btw, if, as your memory serves you, the MAP READERs producer wrote originally that 90% of the comments were NOT from friends and family then why, oh why has his comment stating that been REMOVED from this forum? Doesnt make any sense as to why flicks'd do that. Eric Blair'd applaud yr skills , mate.

Oh, thats right, I forgot, here in New Zealand, any personal opinion that contradicts a press release is tantamount to treason, or (groan) tall poppyism. And any effort, regardless of quality should be lauded, like bored parents, suffering thru a school production. At least they gave it a go, right guys?

God forbid anyone have an actual opinion here on Mars.

By deb arkles

deb - i remember the producer's deleted comment - and he did not say that 90% of the comments were written by friends and family. in fact i believe he said the opposite was true. and anyway, he has invited you to speak to him privately, so why don't you take him up on that, and do yourself (and us) a favour, because you are not coming off well here.

By Antony

ha, ha nice one 'Brian'

or is that John, or Gina or maybe even 'ed'?

Sadly, you didnt have the opportunity to read the post wherein the producer of THE MAP READER went thru all the 'readers reviews' of his boring little film and finally admitted that 90% of them written by were friends and family. He said that even tho they didnt mention this, the reviews were still ' honest'.

Me, I'd rather trust a site that doesnt allow shameless (and lame) p.r. from film makers to push their own films. But hey, here's an idea...why don't you pay money to rent THE MAP READER and then get back to us with an honest opinion. do you really think its worth all raves its getting here from the director and producers family?

Have you even seen the film in question? To post a comment in the readers review section without mentioning what you think of the film? ...now thats REALLY sad. Keep up the good work "Brian'. I'll sleep tight, you just keep on dreaming...

By deb arkles

Been waiting to see this film, BUT

and having just looked at the reviews I'm even keener, however, on reading the reviews, and noting especially the penultimate to this, I can only believe deb arlkles (whoever he/she is) is a somewhat precious and perhaps sanctimonius tired old trudge.
Maybe some have been trying to promote, who knows?? but so what, there are enough other reviews to get a good feel, and of course "flicks " own review and synopsis does a good job.
Better to concentrate on the job, than becoming a joke yourself trying to change the world. Sleep tight deb??

By brian

FLICKS ed, what's 'offensive'...

...about the producer of a local film admitting that 90% of the 'people's reviews' for THE MAP READER on this site are written by friends and family of the filmakers? Was the offended 'reader' the MAP READER's producer. did you get an aggrieved email from john , did you?

So Ed, it does n't bother you that distributors of films post 5 star reviews of their own films (that they hope to make money off), without disclosing that fact? So what % of the flicks' so called 'readers reviews' can the general public take to be distributor-based P.R? Based on THE MAP READER's comments, its 80%.

Why don't you tighten up your posting rules to dissaude such activity in the future to encourage 'robust debate' rather than covering yr own arse by deleting [in]'offensive posts'/?

This site is a joke.

p.s. No, "Sandy" (you aren't a friend or family of the filmakers, are you?), I dont have an axe to grind...i just don't think that filmakers should post rave reviews of their own films in a public forum. Its disingenuous, or, as THE MAP READER's producer John Davies would like to say 'honest'. (before his admission got removed for being 'offensive'?)

By deb arkles

An American who really enjoyed this movie

 5

Saw the description of the storyline while on a flight back to LA from Auckland. I gave it a shot. I was fascinated at how much I could relate to the main character. The way it depicted the maps as his escape, as well as his coming of age in relation to those around him, reminded me of parts of my adolescence. This movie spoke to me like few others have. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to see the whole thing since my plane landed before it ended. I'm hoping I can see it at the Las Vegas film festival next month. It would be nice if it played in theatres in the US. Otherwise, it's going to be tough for me to find unless I come back to New Zealand.

By Drew

great debate, good movie

this is really funny - i encourage people to read below. seems 'deb arkles' has an axe to grind, that's for sure. 'john davies' is sticking up for the film and good on him.

it's not a life changer by any means - but it's a really enjoyable watch, made all the more impressive by the obviously tight resources.

so well done THE FILMMAKERS.

By sandy

We here at Flicks.co.nz encourage robust debate, the kind we're seeing here in the Map Reader's forum (a cool little flick - check it out). Unfortunately the previous two posts were deemed offensive by one of our readers, and we've removed them. We hope this doesn't discourage user comments... so please, as you were...

By Ed, Flicks.co.nz

Im not the one...

...posting anonymously here R, you are. Let's go down the list of reviews here - starting at the bottom:

Carole - no idea who she is
Helen - yes, my Director's mother, I can't control an enthusiastic mother
Karl - I think this is probably Karl Burnett, ex Shorty Street actor. He was at the prem so that's my guess.
Harry - I accused the director of the film of being Harry, he said he wasn't, so I'll take his word for it.
Florian - acclaimed NZ film maker Florian Habicht I am guessing, not many Florian's around and I saw him at the Prem and I know he enjoyed it
Stephanie - I think a local short film maker
Jon - I must know who it is as was at the prem but there were a lot of John/Jon/Jonathan's there so I dunno
Gregor Cameron - is a regular patron at the Paramount in Wellington, I know because I got in touch with them when I read his lack of quality comments and I'm off to Wellington this weekend to look at projection there for myself
Susan - well she agrees with you R, so I doubt I jacked that up
Doug Humby - no idea, sorry
Arkles - that's you R, and you come back with variations on the theme - so clever to come up with debarkles, I do admire your wit even if I do think you're a great big chicken
Matt, Paul & Stewart - no idea who they are
Vic Carson - no idea, but what nice comments, he must be another jackup right R?
And then it's just you and me having our little tit for tat.

Now let's just go along with your charade that you're not who I think you are, and of course we'll never know as you lack the decency to talk from a point of honesty, unlike me who is happy to come out and say who I am (I guess it helps my ego to chat away like this and feeds my paranoia to imagine it's you) but you are clearly someone well connected to my business. There are not that many people so intimately aware of my business as to be able to link all my films to me and then to my cinema and then to my business partner Gina. Gina has given out some reviews, again with her full name, does not hide anonymously, and offered today when I showed her this little battle of words to go back and locate her reviews and say who she was, and in future will say that clearly. Being as one eyed as you are you're not going to believe that until I saw her review of Waltz with Bashir I was totally unaware she was posting reviews and I actually wrote to her that day and asked her not to write reviews of my films, to just review films from other distributors. But you're not going to believe that so I'm not sure why I bothered to say it, but she will be more open in future about just who she is.

Have a lovely day in your anonymous vat of bile and bitterness. I'm sad I've caved and given in and answered your questions but really, you wanted to win and I could not see the point in the end of letting you do so by not answering the question. I'm not ashamed of asking people if they liked the film to say so, and I was happy to read people's reviews from all over, both people I knew and people I didn't. I also delighted in the high quality reviews from totally authentic reviewers like the DomPost, the ChCh Press, the Waikato Times, the NZ Women's Weekly and others. Only one newspaper reviewer so totally went the other way...wonder who that was DeboRah?

By John Davies

check, mate...

John, you seem to have painted yourself into a quiet wee corner here by remaining silent. The burden of proof is upon you solely. Remember when you wrote

'I don't mind if regular people want to post their feelings about the film and I welcome all input...'?

All well and good, but is it a conflict of interest, or sheer dishonesty, for a 'reviewer' to post a rave review without disclosing they have a financial stake in the said film doing well? Its hardly 'open and honest' , is it?

So just admit here and now that employees and or/partners in either/or The Academy Cinema/Arkles have done the above for previous films (in which case why should anyone believe ANY of the rave reviews here for THE MAP READER?) Surely you agree that its a disingenuous habit at best and an underhanded practice at worst?

John, this is a site for regullar people to post film reviews, not a forum for film distributors to push their wares through non-disclosure. (I really don't want to start posting quotes and links to previous reviews in which this has happened)

By deb arkles

Stop posting anonymously

and you'll get answers to any question you care to ask Deborah (LOL).

By John Davies

your silence is deafening, John...

...on the subject of whether you or your staff/partners have been posting rave reviews for your own releases here on Flicks.

"...I'm man enough to be open and honest."
no, you're not.

By debarkles

You stop posting anonymously

 4

and I'll answer any question you care to come up with. Cheers, John

By John Davies

dear John...

I can assure you that I am not the 'Russell' that your egomania and paranioa assume. But John, can you assure flicks readers that no one who works for your company, or cinema, has ever posted a 5 star review on this site, for a film that you have released or have screened?

By debarkels

authentic slice of kiwiana

 4

Just over in Auckland from Oz for a conference, snuck out to catch this little number on a day of torrential rain.

Attracted to it by Rebecca Gibney in the lead, was somewhat surprised to see her as exec Producer- was she the mysterious source of funding, I wonder?

Even though she received top billing it really is the discovery of "leads" Jordan Selwyn & the remarkable Mikaila Hutchison that hits home.

Where do you Kiwis uncover all this previously unknown talent?

Don't think this film has distribtion in Australia which is a pity, I think it would do very well there.

By Vic Carson

Anonymous Posters

 5

So deb, or should I call you Russell? How long you going to hide there you great big chook. Oh and no more 3 stars either. If you insist on trying to bring the average rating down, I'll just keep putting it up. I'm man enough to be open and honest. You worried you might get fired if your employers could see how personally and vindictively you handle things?

By John Davies

cringe

oh John,
You really crack me up. No,you'd never post a rave review for one of the films you've released on this site. Never. And your partners wouldn't either.

i mean, imagine if the distributor of WALTZ WITH BASHIR posted a 5 star review for it,without a disclaimer. bias? nahhhhhh...never.

By deb arkles

Sorry, ChCh Press was 3 stars

 3

Freudian slip. LOL. John Davies

By John Davies

Hilarious

 3

I just looked at this today. I'm John Davies, the self-promoting producer of the film. Yes, everywhere I've been at a screening I've asked people who like the film to pop a comment here. But I haven't put comments here myself until today. Deb Arkles or Arkles or whatever you call yourself, feel free to get in direct contact with me. I'm easy to find if you go to www.arklesentertainment.com. No one had their arm bent to put comments here. Yes, I encourage, but that's it. And besides that, why do I need to bother. The NZ Woman's Weekly, Flicks.co.nz and the Dominion Post all gave the film 4 stars. The Waikato Times gave it 3 and a half stars and the ChCh Press 4 stars. Films are always going to engender a personal opinion. Just like a bottle of wine. I don't mind if regular people want to post their feelings about the film and I welcome all input. I did object to the NZ Herald's review, only on the basis that it was so out of step with everyone else's reviews nationally and that their overt influence in the market causes so much damage. Anyway, feel free to take this up with me directly, and as for you know I'm posting 4 star reviews, that's just unfounded garbage. And I gave myself 3 stars as the middle of the road average we seem to be getting from people so as not to upset the balance here.

By John Davies

Dear Mr Davies...

could you please stop posting 4 star reviews in response to any other reveiws that didnt love your film THE MAP READER. I know you are doing this so that the 1st review at the top of the post is a positive one, but your actions are cringe-worthy.

give it a rest.

By Deb Arkles

A good movie

 4

Very well acted, professionally done, doesn't look like a low budget local film at all. No need to go out of your way to support local films, just see a good one, like this.

By Stewart

UNINVOLVING

 2

in between the suspicious 4 star 'raves' for this film and the 1 star summations slamming of it, lies the truth- namely, that this very slight film may well be a decent effort by a struggling filmaker, he still has along way to go before making a feature film that works.

personally, i get irritated when i am told i must enjoy a film in order to support the local biz.

This belongs on dvd on the 'Granny' shelf

By paul

Paid for it and liked it

 4

I'm a member of the public too. This was a nice film which has gotten some good reviews as well.

By Matt

somnabulistic

 1

kudos to the tireless self-promotion to the producer of THE MAP READER for enlisting his pals' (all nine of 'em) to write the above glowing 'reviews' for his turgid wee misfire.

As a memeber of the public who has actually SEEN the film, i can honestly tell readers that it is flat, mediocre and uninvolving. frankly, its dull and pointless, and no amount of flag-waving pr b.s from the filmakers can hide the fact. there is not enoughgoing on in this to fill a single frame of a short film, let alone a feature length drama.
my advice, to all those who have not yet sene THE MAP READER... wait til it comes out on dvd...and then avoid it like the plague.

By Arkles

Low budget, high performance!

 5

Typical kiwi budget, typical kiwi storyline but such enthusasim by up and coming kiwi actors with professionalism displayed throughout. A reflection of great directorship and production guidance and encouragement along the way. The filming of the kite scene, from a photographer's point of view, was just brilliant with the cast perfomance not letting up at the end either. Each of them are to be admired for their stickability. Here's to future exposure, can't wait! By Doug

By Doug Humby

Did I watch the same film?

 2

I really want to support our local films, but this just wasn't worth the ticket price.

By Susan

Stirring memories and creating terrific images

 4

The Map Reader offered me a chance to return to the obsessions and awkward coming of age moments of my own boyhood. Small town New Zealand is evoked without ever creating the impression that it is a place to get out of- those stirrings belong only to the characters. Brodie has managed his talent extremely well and the performances seem authentic. Gibney goes against type and plays vulnerability in the most sympathetic tones, Soper's blind sex kitten makes the most of that slightly outsider naivete that many challenged people carry as they try to navigate a world that try as they might still eludes and confounds them- her struggle to fit-in illustrated by each agonising burst of laughter. And these performances are nicely balanced by the young leads who without exception conjure that last year of school with truth and passion and with out ever seeking to make their characters into cliches.
Perhaps the only sad thing of my theatrical experience was going to the Paramount Wellington and being forced to watch this film sourced badly from DVD on the big screen- a highly unsatisfying experience since clearly the images and pace could deliver far more than its budget suggests but is ultimately let down by the mode of delivery.
All in all a terrific small film and a treasure to find at a theatre near you if you can- beware a digital source though.

By Gregor Cameron

I saw it at the Premiere too

 5

All of us there seemed to enjoy it - lots of laughs at the mother-son dynamics and so much reality breathes through the story. It really makes you think about our kids and how they see the bigger world and what might trigger them into their adult lives.

By Jon

A nice little kiwi film

 4

It is a really good little kiwi film that needs our support. It's been well received overseas and that's understandable. It was enjoyable to watch, good acting, and just amazing to see people in NZ going the extra mile to make films that matter.
If you want to see a nice kiwi independent film, this is a must see!

By Stephanie

Go and see it!!!

 4

They've done a really nice job! Didnt think it was gonna be my kind of film when i saw the poster, but i walked out of the premiere feeling pretty inspired about a lot of things.

By florian

Went to Premiere!

 5

Being at the premiere was a fantastic experience, and I throughly enjoyed the film. Being a small New Zealand film n a rather tight budget, it has done extremely well. I like how the story is so sort of typical New Zealand, and yet the story has lots of twists. The Best part is right at the end in the grass. The filming is phenomenal, and is overall a great movie to see with anyone.

By Harry

A real winner

 5

I wasn't holding up much hope for the Map Reader - not because I knew who was behind it - I didn't, I had no idea who or what the film was about but I was expecting the usual "arty farty" BS that is so common in New Zealand, especially when it comes to indie films.

The Map Reader, however was a pleasant surpise. It is brilliantlly written and beautifully shot. The dialogue is second to none and like all good dramas there is the odd bit of humour thrown in for good measure. In fact there are some huge laughs in this film - the writer has a brilliant mind for comedy as well as the tear jerking.

The cast are a bunch of relative newcomers with the exception of Gibney and Hurst but they easily match the Director's talent as there isn't a single weak link among them.

On the whole, well shot, cleverly written and filled with a fantastic cast. What more could you want?

By Karl

Awesome

 5

Very small budget. Totally awesome movie.
Great story, directing, cast, and original soundtrack.

By Helen

Saw this in the US!

 4

My husband and I were in Texas and read about this film so went to see it at Austin. Loved hearing the accents after such a long time in the U.S. Really impressive acting - proud to be a kiwi in that cinema!

By Carole