Movie Review: Little Boy – 2015 Film

Review: Little Boy (Film) – A Movie Fan Review

I am not a fan of classic war movies or should I say throwback movies moving my imagination to the past but when I saw the trailer of this movie “Little Boy”. The one that got my attention was the scene that the boy was trying to move the mountain, were in the trailer, the boy succeeded. Thinking that this movie is some kind of a magical movie and a story of a wonder child. I did gave some of my time to watch it. haha!

I am really not expecting that I will be able to finish watching the movie. Since I know that I easily get bored on classic movies. After watching, I am surprised that I do liked the movie. It has a deep meaning for me. It is a story of a son who really loves his father and his undying hope that his father will return to him. The story telling of the movie was clear and precise. Though some parts of it are predictable. It is not a magical movie as I was expecting. All throughout the movie, you will be finding yourself asking if the child really had the power to make his father come back from the war. If the child’s best effort will make the impossible possible. The child does became a wonder child in the movie as I hunched before watching the movie. And has become a part of a legend in the town.

In the end, I may say that it is an amazing and touching story. This film has all the ingredients to conquer the hearts of the public of all ages and become a great classic film.

My Personal Rating: 7/10

Would I recommend this movie?
Yes, but if you are not into classics. You better think twice.

Facts about the Movie: (from Wikipedia)
Little Boy is a 2015 Mexican-American war drama film produced by Eduardo Verástegui and Leo Severino, edited by Joan Sobel and Fernando Villena, directed by Alejandro Gómez Monteverde with music by Stephan Altman and Mark Foster and written by Monteverde and Pepe Portillo. The film stars Jakob Salvati, Emily Watson, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Michael Rapaport, David Henrie,Ben Chaplin, Eduardo Verástegui, Ted Levine, Abraham Benrubi, Tom Wilkinson. The film was co-produced by Metanoia Films and Santa Fé Films. The film was released on April 24, 2015, by Open Road Films and was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 18, 2015 by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Movie Plot: (from Wikipedia)
The story centers on a 7-year-old boy, Pepper Flynt Busbee (Jakob Salvati), who is devastated when his father enlists in the army during World War II. The title is a reference to Little Boy, the code name for the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima as well as a reference to Pepper’s height. Pepper has an extremely close relationship with his loving father. It begins from the very moment he is born when his father cradles him in his arms and mentions how small he is. When Pepper is examined by a doctor the physician is asked if the child is a midget. However, the doctor says that the term is offensive and suggests that he is just a “little boy.” However, when World War II begins, Pepper’s older brother is declared ineligible for military service because of flat feet and his father joins in his place.[3] Not long after his father leaves for war, Pepper hears the Bible verse, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move” (Mt. 17:20), he becomes determined to get enough faith to bring his father home. Nevertheless, as his friend and mentor Father Oliver tells him, faith is useless to anyone who harbors hatred. The film highlights the tremendous hatred against Japanese-Americans that was rampant in America at this time. Father Oliver tells Pepper to befriend a Japanese man named Hashimoto. At first, the racism Pepper has internalized from society makes him hesitant to follow this advice, but as he gets to know Hashimoto, he begins to value their friendship and learns from Hashimoto to stand up to those who bully him about his height. The plot then takes a turn when Pepper’s father is reported missing in action. Pepper’s mother (Emily Watson) struggles to keep her family together in the face of these overwhelming hardships.

Movie Casts: (from Wikipedia)
Jakob Salvati as Pepper Flynt Busbee
David Henrie as London Busbee
Kevin James as Dr. Fox
Emily Watson as Emma Busbee
Ted Levine as Sam
Michael Rapaport as James Busbee
Ali Landry as Ava
Ben Chaplin as Ben Eagle
Tom Wilkinson as Fr. Oliver
Toby Huss as Colonel Bob
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Hashimoto
Abraham Benrubi as Teacup
Kelly Greyson as Tyra
Sam Kindseth as Ronnie
Eduardo Verástegui as Fr. Crispin
James DuMont as Harvey
Candice Azzara as Bertha
Lukas Behnken as Leonard Rice
Mary Stein as Martha
Winston James Francis as Bukha
Masami Kosaka as Commander Tokyo Joe
Theodora Greece as Eliza