Isolated (2013)

One of my all time favorites.

Load of rubbish!!

Let's be realistic.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

I've read some rather obtuse reviews about this movie. The "Natives" that are boring and the TFB's that are there to surf and witness the atrocities...that is the point. Without awareness, when the world is blind to such matters, we fail. This, to Melanesia/West Papua, was a chance to inform others. Of course the TFB surfers were there. We need them to get the word out, because nobody listens to those with little status and no money. In accordance with UN and West Papua Decolonization, the stance from Kobe Oser was this, "focusing on the politics of decolonization and the UN Committee, as West Papua Melanesia is unfinished UN business (we were until 1962 as a Melanesia nation on the UN non-self governing territories list). I also addressed the producer (Geoff Clark) of the Isolated movie to congratulate them with the fantastic picture of Ryan Phillipe (see attachment) wearing a West Papua t-shirt! To get our struggle for independence and political justice recognized by the Hollywood entertainment industry and publicly by Ryan Phillipe is a huge boost! I also brought to their attention a big West Papua Rally which our friends from the advocacy organization ETAN." So I suggest that before anyone speaks hastily, they may want to learn about why it was done and how West Papua feels. Also, check out James Cameron's AvaTar Sands...another means to address a global problem. Don't criticize before you actually know. What is happening is not boring. It's real and perhaps parts are boring. Personal opinion. West Papua hopes that others will see and care.

The entitlement displayed in this film is very troubling to me. This kind of "dropping in" on a culture and feigning understanding and bonding with the people who live there is disrespectful and ethnocentric. I could not continue watching it - heard "they were like family" one too many times. Also, featuring the woman cast member in her bikini in every other shot, when the native women were covered, was painful to watch. Did these people not do any kind of basic research on Papua, New Guinea and its culture before they made this trip? Or did they not care? The lack of responsibility and awareness is just astounding.

I will confess to being neither a surfer nor a surfer fan. I decided to watch this documentary on Netflix to expand my understanding of surfing and the people who pursue it as a lifestyle. It is not my first surfing documentary, but it may be my last.Most of this film is a home movie about the exploits of young people who have managed somehow to jump out of their societies to become tropical vagabonds. They have tapped into some income stream in some cases apparently by writing and filming things related to surfing. I suppose they are surfing entrepreneurs. Mind you, they come from capitalist societies which have obviously afforded them with early nutrition, dental care and education. These are not street waifs by any means.Now, I have seen "The Beach". I know the great spiritual depth that is claimed by beach bums. I suppose some of this can be attributed to sacrificing creature comforts of one kind for their obsessive pursuit of creature comforts of another kind. A rush on a wave. A tropical beach around a fire at night and all that may entail with adequate drinking and flirting.The cast of "Isolated", however, seemed less enlightened than childishly naïve. When confronted with the brutal oppression of Papuan peasants by Indonesian authorities on behalf of international monetary interests, their reactions were a slight notch above "Bummer." In other words, I found the political slant added to this film somewhat offensive. What contribution, real contribution, are you making to human rights by floating from one thrill destination to another? Is making a room of surfer fans all say "Bummer." together while they discuss this film enough? I seldom fast forward a film out of respect for the makers of it. This was an exception. Not only does this film have little to contribute to the Papuan situation other than milking it for politically correct marketing, but it seems outright exploitative.

A bunch of trust fund babies take a HUGE amount of expensive surfing equipment to remote beaches around New Guinea. Then talk about the conditions of the people living there. Add in some dramatic music to make it seem as if they are making ANY kind of contribution to these people's lives and then leave to go surf some more.I can't get over how arrogant this all is. Most people have to work for a living. Your mission was to SURF?!>?!?! really? You took a film crew and half a dozen surfers across the world to find some WAVES>?!>!>!> the hubris of this is unbelievable. Then I see the budget was 1.1 million dollars.. GRRRRRRRR... maybe you could have made a real contribution to these people and not just made a self aggrandizing film about how great you are for filming people living in fear of genocide and other atrocities.Phew.. I feel better. Thank you for your time. and if you made this movie and are reading this, please re-evaluate your priorities in life.