FILM REVIEW: "The 5th Wave", A Tide Not High Enough

The 5th Wave is a 2016 American science fiction thriller film, directed by J Blakeson, with a screenplay by Susannah Grant , Akiva Goldsman, and Jeff Pinkner. The movie is an adaptation of Rick Yancey's young adult book of the same title. Before we go forth with this article, I must mention that I have not read the book at all, therefore this review will be based solely on the film elements of "The 5th Wave" and no reference to the book shall be considered.

The film follows the life of Cassie (Chloe Grace Moretz) who starts off living a "normal" life with her parents  Oliver Sullivan (Ron Livingston) and Lisa Sullivan (Maggie Siff ) and her little brother Sam (Zackary Arthur). Like a typical teenager, she goes out partying and drinking, swoons over boys (particulary one Ben Parish played by Nick Robinson) and gives grief to her younger sibling. This is until a mysterious object appears in the sky over earth. They are attacked by aliens referred to as 'The Others'. The attacks come in different stages of 'waves'. The first wave is an electromagnetic pulse that kills power across the globe and leaves earth covered in darkness. The second wave is a series of tsunamis and earthquakes that destroy the coastal areas. The third wave is a virus that kills more people. Cassie's mother is killed by the virus. The fourth wave involves snipers who stalk and kill the surviving humans still left behind. The fifth wave is unknown and Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to survive and save her little brother who was taken away to a military camp at some point.

My biggest reaction to the movie was disappointment at how non-refreshing it is, but instead, it is quite typical and seems like a weak version of something I have seen before. Although in the narrative above, it sounds like there is a lot going on in the storyline, there is not nearly enough to make the plot interesting. The whole film lacks substance and fails to draw the viewer in. Cassie runs through the woods, she is shot by a sniper, rescued by a farm boy and gets reunited with her high school crush, and yet none of the scenes will engage us emotionally. Not even when her mother dies. The entire movie is just good for a mental escape but it leaves no room for emotional play whatsoever, which I think is the biggest mistake that the writers may have committed. The cast ensemble consists of amazing actors and yet they are not given enough to sink their teeth into. For a heroine in the movie, Chloe seems to have a terrified face most of the time and I am a little bothered by her constant fresh look when she is actually on the run, in the woods for weeks on end. That is a mistake made by the make-up and continuity departments though. She, herself, makes for good actress.

The production designer, Jon Billington, did an incredible job especially with the wasteland scenes where a highway is filled with crashed cars, dead bodies and blazing fires. Cinematography was also well done, giving a dark and grim feel to the film where necessary and just enough light when needed. These are the only elements of the film that come to life really while the rest of the movie is as good as dead.

For a typical, generic story, "The 5th Wave" is a good watch, but certainly not something to write home about.

TOP LIST: 9 Movies That Celebrate Black History

 Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in America, is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February. I have decided to join them in this celebration of the rich and resilient history and culture of people of color by offering a go-to cinematic resource for learning about African/African-American history without having to leave your couch.

I have picked out 9 of my best movies that portray black history either by telling the story of an individual or nation. Most of them are based on true stories while some may tell fictitious stories based on true concepts or eras. I have also decided to limit the list to 9 movies (don't ask why), but there are other great films such as "Roots", "49", "Amistad", "Glory" and "12 Years a Slave" that you may enjoy. February is a long month, don't be afraid to explore beyond this list if you can.

 Here is my list of 9 movies that celebrate black history month:

1. Mandela: A Long Walk To Freedom

The remarkable life of South African revolutionary, president and world icon Nelson Mandela (Idris Elba) takes center stage. Though he had humble beginnings as a herd boy in a rural village, Mandela became involved in the anti-apartheid movement and co-founded the African National Congress Youth League. His activities eventually led to his imprisonment on Robben Island from 1964 to 1990. In 1994, Mandela became the first president of democratic South Africa.

Release date: November 29, 2013 (USA)

Director: Justin Chadwick

Cast: Idris Elba, Naomi Harris, Terry Pheto, Tony Kgorokge, Deon Lotz 

2. Malcolm X

A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.

Release date: November 18, 1992 (USA)

Director: Spike Lee

Cast: Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Angela Bassett, Al Freeman Jr, Delroy Lindo

3. Selma

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Release date: December 25, 2014 (USA)

Director: Ava DuVernay

Cast: David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth 

4. Hotel Rwanda

Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a Hutu, manages the Hôtel des Mille Collines and lives a happy life with his Tutsi wife (Sophie Okonedo) and their three children. But when Hutu military forces initiate a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Tutsi minority, Paul is compelled to allow refugees to take shelter in his hotel. As the U.N. pulls out, Paul must struggle alone to protect the Tutsi refugees in the face of the escalating violence later known as the Rwandan genocide.

Release date: December 22, 2004 (USA)

Director: Terry George

Cast: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Desmond Dube 

5. Django Unchained

Two years before the Civil War, Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave, finds himself accompanying an unorthodox German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) on a mission to capture the vicious Brittle brothers. Their mission successful, Schultz frees Django, and together they hunt the South's most-wanted criminals. Their travels take them to the infamous plantation of shady Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), where Django's long-lost wife (Kerry Washington) is still a slave.

Release date: December 25, 2012 (USA)

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Quinton Tarantino 

6. The Butler

After leaving the South as a young man and finding employment at an elite hotel in Washington, D.C., Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is hired as a butler at the White House. Over the course of three decades, Cecil has a front-row seat to history and the inner workings of the Oval Office. However, his commitment to his "First Family" leads to tension at home, alienating his wife (Oprah Winfrey) and causing conflict with his anti-establishment son.

Release date: August 16, 2013 (USA)

Director: Lee Daniels

Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, Mariah Carey, Jane Fonda

7. Shaka Zulu: The Last Great Warrior 

The film is based on the true story of the legendary African warrior and his struggle to unite his people against the largest empire in the world. As England expands its colonies into Africa, a new nation is forming around the strength of Shaka Zulu's rise to power through bloody civil wars. His fight for freedom is full of thunderous action, heroism and heart. From the creator of the original epic mini-series.

Release Date: 2001 (South Africa)

Director:  Joshua Sinclair

Cast: Henry Cele, Roger Alborough, James Fox, Kenneth Marshall, David Hasselhoff, Nicola Farron, Linda Batista, Karen Allen, Grace Jones, Omar Sharif

8. Cry The Beloved Country

Reverend Stephen Kumalo (James Earl Jones) is a back-country Zulu preacher in South Africa. When his son (Eric Miyeni) is accused of robbery and murder, Kumalo journeys to Johannesburg, where he is helped by a local priest (Vusi Kunene). He eventually meets James Jarvis (Richard Harris), the father of the murder victim, who is a prominent white supremacist. However, they discover common ground, and their mutual respect becomes a symbol of apartheid's eventual demise.

Release Date: September 14, 1995 (South Africa)

Director: Darrell Roodt

Cast: James Earl Jones, Richard Harris, Charles S. Dutton, Vusi Kunene, Leleti Khumalo 

9. The Color Purple

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.

Release date: December 18, 1985 (USA)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Okosua Busia

Credit: IMDb, Wikipedia

TV REVIEW: "The Voice South Africa" Starts Off On A High Note

A musical competition show based on a quest to find a great singer and turn them into a superstar is not necessarily the most innovative concept that one could come up with in 2016. Not only is it  an exhausted idea, it is quite typical and predictable. So in August 2015, when Mnet announced that international reality show, "The Voice", was coming to South Africa, it got many excited at the idea, but a lot also questioned how it would differ from the various singing competition shows that we had seen on our screens before, such as "XFactor" and especially "Idols".

"The Voice" is a reality television singing competition based on the original "The Voice Of Holland". The concept of the series is to find new singing talent (solo or duets) contested by aspiring singers, ages 18 and over, drawn from public auditions. The winner is determined by viewers' votes and the series employs a panel of four coaches who critique the artists' performances. Each coach guides their teams of selected artists through the season. They also compete to ensure that their act wins the competition, thus making them the winning coach. The four coaches on season 1 of "The Voice South Africa" are Lira, Kahn Morbee from The Parlotones, Karen Zoid and Bobby Van Jaardsveld.

Like most viewers, my initial concern when I first saw the coaches was the issue of diversity. Not necessarily in terms of race ( as some would argue) but in terms of taste in music. We have two Afrikaans singers, a punk rock musician and an afro-soul sensation. Are we going to see a narrow choice of Afrikaners, rockers and afro singers? What about RnB, Hip Hop, Jazz, Reggae or even Gospel? Will they have a chance? Well, I am happy to say that the very first episode of the show managed to wipe those doubts out of my mind. Sunday night's contestants took us through a rollercoaster of soothing RnB vocals to edgy punk rock sounds and husky contemporary music. There was diversity in genre and in voice articulation, creating a pleasantly refreshing mood with each performance.

The show opened with a performance of Johnny Clegg's "Spirit of the Great Heart" by the coaches, which they rendered splendidly; reassuring us that they are certainly most qualified for the task at hand. When the first contestant delivered his performance, we immediately knew that the show was serious about talent and nothing less. It was interesting to see Kahn not turning his chair when Marcel Due Almeid sang The Parlotones' "Push Me To The Floor", making me wonder if he really didn't enjoy the performance or he didn't want to seem bias, and if Marcel chose the song in hope that Kahn would be his coach.

The chemistry between the coaches is a thrill to watch and their different personalities bring an exciting element to the production. Karen is easy going and wastes no time in deciding if she likes a voice or not. I think she turned for all the contestants. She is the nicest of them all. Bobby brings a certain cool to the table, like pressing the buzzer with his foot. Lira on the other hand is quite too selective in her choices. She took forever to bag a contestant and had every excuse under the sun to justify herself... "I'm too obvious for her", "I waited until too late", blah blah blah. And Kahn? Well, Kahn just won't turn his damn chair!!! By the end of the episode all the coaches were on two contestants and Kahn was sitting at one.

Lungile Radu makes the perfect presenter for the show, but then again he would probably make a great presenter for  any music show. He has the edge, he has the vibe and he most certainly has the experience. He handles those presenting duties like a pro, something we wouldn't say for his co-host, Stacey Norman. For a while she was a no show on screen and then she turned up when we discovered that she is responsible for the backstage interviews as a 'v-reporter'. A first time TV presenter with vast experience in radio. It shows in her skills. She was like a deer in headlights, not quite sure whether to stop or run. She didn't know what to do with her hands or where to look. Her interviews with the contestants were dry and her body gestures make for a rather confusing watch; we don't know if she is coming or going. She makes the whole thing seem painful really.

With all that been said, The Voice South Africa is off to a great start. Very refreshing and entertaining. African television has a tendency of downgrading most international adaptations, so it is amazing to see this show maintain standard. From set design to overall production. "The Voice South Africa" also competes in the same time slot as Mzansi Magic's "Clash of the Choirs", a big contender of the same audience, to which it managed to come out top on ratings according to twitter trends.

"The Voice South Africa" airs on Mnet (channel 101) every Sundays at 1730.