Tomorrow When The War Began

[bop_radar]

On Monday I went to see the Australian movie Tomorrow When The War Began. I have conflicted feelings about it, to say the least. I don't know how big a splash it has made or will make overseas, but here it's a Big Deal to a lot of Australians of my generation and younger. It's probably safe to say it was the first blockbuster Australian YA series,

Comments

[brokenmnemonic]

This sounds like one of those series of books that could be good to read at a particular age, as a primer for being fed into other series. I know I still have books on my shelves that I keep because of how much I liked them when I first read them, even though I can recognise now that they've got some pretty fundamental flaws.

Is the film something where the dialogue improves if beer is applied to the viewing audience? Any idea as to how much similarity it bears to movies like 'Red Dawn'?

[bop_radar]

Yeah, that's right--it's one of those series that can definitely capture the imagination if you read it at the right time, even if it is flawed. I kind of wish I had?

the dialogue improves if beer is applied to the viewing audience
I think to say yes would give the wrong impression--the dialogue is not ALL bad. In fact, I'd say it's 90 per cent fine, certainly a lot better handled than I'd expected, and it's more a case of me flinching more than I usually would because it's an Australian movie, not an American one. I'd eyeroll at the same stuff in an American one but I wouldn't really notice that much. Compared to most blockbuster American flicks, the dialogue was good. :p

Haven't seen 'Red Dawn' (I know, I know!) so can't say.

[nushanakt]

Having seen both Red Dawn and Tomorrow I can say there is a startling amount of resemblance - the invading enemy in Red Dawn I believe is some sort of Central or South American dictator, playing on the same racial tensions as Tomorrow except in the case of the US, the fear of invasion comes from the South. These films are, in a strange way, quite smart to tap into pre-existing fears in a society (although I found the marking of the invaders in Tomorrow as Asian as extremely awkward and cringe-worthy). But great to see a slick, well-produced Australian film with Aussie actors and contexts! (I say this as a Canadian living in Australia, of course.) :-)

[bop_radar]

*g* Ohh, thanks for the fill-in details! I'm glad I'm not alone in my cringe and also the simultaneous appreciation for a well-made Australian film.

[bop_radar]

Yup. That's it exactly. It makes us feel squirmy and uncomfortable and we'd rather say it's not 'the point'. Except sometimes it IS the point, or at least should be acknowledged as part of the picture.

[fjm]

Good post. I have just cited it (as I didn't have time to read the books again.)

Thank you.