Hillary Lo Hin Chin - Wonder [Review]

Published: 
By Hillary Lo Hin Ching, 13, Sha Tin College
Listen to this article
By Hillary Lo Hin Ching, 13, Sha Tin College |
Published: 
Comment

Latest Articles

Hong Kong student achieves dream of conquering the Seven Summits

Face Off: Should lab-grown meat replace traditional animal farming?

We asked our readers to write a review of a movie they think deserves an Oscar. Here is one of the entries. It has not been edited.

As we’ve all been a child before, I’m sure we would give Oscar worthy ‘Wonder’ a round of applause for being the film that promotes inner beauty in a relatable way.

Wonder’ follows the life of a boy named August, an average science geek who loves Star Wars, except for one thing makes him special - his birth defects. August has always found it hard to fit in everywhere due to his looks. At the beginning of the movie his parents plan to finally send him to a school. The story revolves around August’s journey through school life as the odd one out and not only August’s perspective on his life, but people around him. In school, August faces bullies - a problem that most kids nowadays still relate to, and he is absolutely crushed by the realisation that he is regarded as a ‘freak’. But underneath August’s face, there is a beautiful soul and spirit, and with belief it is strong enough to get through anything. With the support of others, August might have slowly evolved from lost new student and victim to a extraordinary school hero and role model for all.

This movie’s heart-tugging storyline, accompanied by witty jokes, precepts on life, tear-jerking scenes and of course, the underlying message behind this all combines as an all-rounded movie. It’s one of those movies which you can’t avoid loving and definitely should win an Oscar. Not to mention adorable young child star Jacob Tremblay’s portraying of August, but also previous Oscar winning actress Julia Roberts’ on-point acting as the encouraging but sometimes helpless mother of August. As a movie deprived from a book, ‘Wonder’ did not lose its attractiveness it had on paper, and had moved everything to big screen exceedingly well - including the transitions between the perspectives of the different characters which added to the plot as it promotes empathy and to understand situations from others’ point of view. Whether to watch with family or friends, ‘Wonder’ is an inspirational and motivational movie where we should all learn from the characters and #choosekind as Mr Browne’s precept says. We are all unique inside and out, but it’s the inner beauty that matters. I will end this review with an August Pullman precept: “Everyone deserves a standing ovation because we all overcometh the world.” That’s right. If there’s one thing I learned from this movie, it’s that we’re all Wonders.  

Check out all the other entries here.

Sign up for the YP Teachers Newsletter
Get updates for teachers sent directly to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Comment