The Thai football team and their coach spent 18 days in the flooded Tham Luang cave, which is much shorter than the 18 days that the poor souls trapped inside those dark confines, I, had snacks at hand, a comfortable sofa to lie back on, and a pause button to tap every time I needed a break from their trauma.
In “The Boys in the Boat,” author Daniel James Brown tells the story of a group of boys who, despite their differences, band together to achieve success at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Brown’s book is an inspiring reminder that no matter what life throws our way, we can all find common ground and be grateful for what we have. ..
Despite your ‘discomfort’ when sitting down for too long, thirteen lives is a thrilling and gripping movie, so despite your concerns about the time you will spend sitting down, you are unlikely to come away from this thinking your time has been wasted.
The movie is based on the true story of Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, two British divers who set out to rescue 13 people trapped inside a cold and dark labyrinthine cave system that became flooded after a heavy rainfall. The divers were able to successfully navigate their way through the treacherous cave system, but as they got closer to the trapped group, they realized that there were too many obstacles and challenges ahead of them. They had to work together in order to overcome these obstacles and save the lives of the hostages.
The football team entered into the caves in the June of 2018 to celebrate one of the boys’ birthdays but the torrential rain meant that their celebrations were cut short when they found themselves underground with no means of escape. After the boys failed to return home, their concerned parents called the local authorities and a rescue mission was then put in place to save the lives of the young footballers before further flooding happened.
A number of groups are involved in the mission, including the Thai Navy Seals, the Beijing Peaceland Foundation, the Australian Specialist Response Group, and the British Cave Rescue Council. ..
Despite the best efforts of the Chiang Rai Governor and his team, the mission to save the thirteen lives lost inside the cave wasn’t an easy one. Despite assurances from the governor that the boys would make it out alive, it was clear that there was no guarantee that they would. The risks were high and even if they did make it out alive, there was a very real chance that they would be injured or killed.
If you’re familiar with the true story of this movie, you know the outcome. But if you’re not, you’ll likely feel a sense of dread when watching, as the initial attempts by the Thai Navy Seals to rescue the boys go awry. The fact that this tale takes place during the Monsoon season will amplify any feelings of dread you feel as the rising floodwater starts to make life even more difficult for the people trying to bring the children and their coach back to safety. ..
The story of the boys trapped in a Thai cave is gripping, and even if you know how it ends, you should still be captivated by the events that unfold. Howard focuses more on the intricacies of the rescue attempt than the backstories of the trapped boys and those who tried to rescue them. We learn little snippets about their lives – Volanthen has a family back home and Stanton has a liking for custard creams – but nothing too detailed so as not to distract from the complexities of the mission at hand. ..
The lack of any backstory makes the movie feel more heart-wrenching because it feels like we are not privy to the characters’ innermost thoughts or feelings. The sight of the football team huddled together within the cave is enough to cause tears to flow due to their terrible plight. And as Stanton, Volanthen, and the rest of their crew battle valiantly against the treacherous flood waters, it is easy to become emotionally invested in their lives as we know one wrong move could lead to a watery grave for any one of them.
This is a tense story with a lot of potential for drama and suspense. The diving team is tasked with carrying the boys through the complicated cave system to safety, but things quickly become complicated when they are not sure how the story will end. The suspense builds until the end, when the team is finally able to bring the boys safely back to safety.
The scenes of the divers underwater are often dark and difficult to make out, but this isn’t necessarily a misstep within Howard’s direction. These scenes are probably close to reality. The rescue team had to make their way through underwater tunnels where visibility was obviously an issue, so it’s only expected that some of the watery scenes are a little confusing. This isn’t to say every water-based scene is unclear, however, as there are times when the underwater photography ably captures the nail-biting aspects of the diving mission.
The real stars of this rescue were the actors who took part in it. Farrell and Mortensen convincingly portrayed the cave dive experts, whether they were talking about the difficulty of their mission on dry land or navigating the waters within the cave system. It was easy to forget that they are actors and not the real cave divers who took part in the rescue.
The film is well-made and has a strong story line. The acting is excellent and the young actors are very good. The only downside is that it can be a bit slow at times.
Howard’s “Theres No Place Like Home” is a heartwarming story of a group of boys who are stranded in the wilderness after their bus crashes. The boys are led by their football coach, Teeradon Supapunpinyo, who gives an achingly real performance as the man who feared backlash from the boys’ parents, despite being a heroic figure himself. The quality of the acting adds to the sense of realism that Howard is trying to create and as such, it is easy to become immersed in the rescue attempt as it unfolds on the screen. ..
The film tells the story of thirteen people who are killed in a car accident, and the subsequent investigation that is conducted by the state. The film is based on the true story of a man named Mark Fuhrman, who was charged with manslaughter for his role in the accident. The film is also based on the book thirteen lives by John Grisham.
In the United States, thirteen lives ended in 2018 due to gun violence. This statistic is alarming and must be addressed by lawmakers and the public. Gun violence is a problem that needs to be solved, and it starts with us as individuals taking action to make our communities safer. ..
