Mavin Media Guru

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2012-02-02T17:10:00.000+08:00

Now that the Oscar'sare coming at a close, several movies nominated in that prestigious Awardgiving body has not yet been shown here in the Philippines. One of which is TheGirl with the Dragon Tattoo which seemed to have gathered a lot of attention frommoviegoers and critics alike. Recently opened here in our country, the moviehas been released for quite sometime overseas. Here is an opener for the OscarSeason.

We may have passed alot of times on our local bookstore and we always notice a yellow paperback intheir display section with the title "The Girl with the DragonTattoo" and dismiss it eventually. I, for one is guilty of such and hasbeen ignoring such novel, diverting my attention to lighter novels instead.When news came out that there will be a movie to be made based on the novel, itsparked my interest to read the book, however, my attention was usurped by abook I have to read a long time ago. Now that the film was released, still Iwas not able to read the novel.

Critics raved about thebook and it is not surprising that the movie will also garner great reviewsfrom Top critics in Hollywood and eventually be nominated for Best Picture atthe Oscars.

The Girl with theDragon Tattoo follows Mikael Blomkvist, portrayed by Daniel Craig, a journalistwho lost a libel case against Hans-Erik Wennerstrom, putting his magazine into financial jeopardy. He was contacted then byHenrik Vanger to investigate the disappearance of his niece in exchange ofinformation against Wennerstrom thatwould regain his magazine. On the other hand, Lisbeth Salander, played byRooney Mara, was a computer hacker and at the same time works as a researcherfor Milton Security has her own problems as her legal guardian suffered astroke and her new guardian now takes control over her finances and exchangesmoney for sexual acts. The paths of these two individuals meet after an hourand a half of the movie. They developed a relationship as they uncover themystery of Harriet Vanger, the lost niece of Henrik Vanger.

As Iwatch the movie, it reminded me on my experience as I watch Mystic River 7-8years ago. There is a lot of things that is going on. The movie requiresthe moviegoer to be attentive in every detail since each has a role to play toadvance the story. What made this movie to generate the interest of those whoare watching is the way it was presented. The mystery surrounded in the plotwill keep you guessing if Harriet is still alive or was killed. Who could bethe killer? What was the cause of the disappearance of Harriet? Who kept onsending the pressed flowers to Henrik? These are just some of the questions inthe movie that were addressed in the movie.

TheGirl with the Dragon Tattoo not only has one mystery but has two. The characterof Lisbeth is a mystery itself. All the angst and isolation that caused her tobe diagnosed to have mental incompetency is an attention grabber. However,Lisbeth's character is still a puzzler since she will be explored more on thesucceeding novels, and hopefully, sequels.

DanielCraig, in his non-Bond film, is great in portraying a curious journalist hungryfor information that would save his magazine. Christopher Plummer and StellanSkarsgard proved that they are veterans in Hollywood, whether they portray thevillain or the hero. Rooney Mara gives Lisbeth Salander the mysterious auraperfectly that her Oscar nomination for Best Actress is well-deserved. DavidFincher, the director, provided Lisbeth's character a shell that is yet to beopened on the next feature, although, we have seen a peak at the end of themovie.

Althoughrunning for 2 hours and a half, it follows perfectly a sequence of events thatwould actually interest you in uncovering the truth behind the mystery. If youare the type of moviegoer who can't sit through lengthy dialogues then this isnot the movie for you. For those who are interested to see this, watch italone. Free yourself from distractions of your seatmate asking you questionsabout the movie.

TheGirl with the Dragon Tattoo succeeds in combining a crime-thriller and perplexcharacters which could be a reason why it has been nominated for Best Pictureas well...

GRADE: B+

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1st Mental Health Psychiatric Nursing Film Awards 2012

2012-01-30T15:17:00.002+08:00

Back in college, I am very engrossed with the abstract concept of Psychiatric Nursing. Now that I am a professional, I wished I have ventured in that area, however, I am more equipped with concepts of Medical and Surgical Nursing but then I always have an inkling with Psyche Nursing. January 24, 2012, the Level 3 Nursing Students invited me to be a part of their 1st Mental Health Psychiatric Nursing Film Awards. An event that would not be possible if not for the perseverance of my batch-mate, Ma. Krizia Ledesma. And so, here are the films that took part in this first event.

Angeli Salutares Caeli 2013 with the Level 3 Team.

Film Number 1: Carnival

Carnival portrays Pediatric Psych Cases which focused more on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Louie Forro provided a very natural performance of a kid suffering the disorder. Although there were lighting issues and shaky camera, they were able to provide a solid story line. Acting-wise, the students were able to give the ample effort that their characters needed.

the students preparing for the movie presentations

GRADE: B

Film Number 2: Bella's Body

Bella's Body depicts eating disorders. The students were able to present a very cohesive presentation and a clever injection of the facts on Bulimia and Anorexia. Mr. Lelis was very good in portraying as a fashion manager. Ms. Panadero was graceful throughout the film. Cinematography-wise, it is surprising to see these students who has no background on videography and make such shots by themselves.

GRADE: A-

Film Number 3: In The Darkness

In the Darkness is somewhat a very sensitive film about Sexual Disorders. Although most of the disorders were presented like Sadism and Masochism, Multiple Sexual Partners, the primary focus was on Fetishism which was depicted without malice. This would be a very hard project to be presented especially that SPUI is a Catholic institution and I would commend the students for succeeding of presenting without malice.

GRADE: B+

the media guru together with Ms. Krizia Ledesma

Film Number 4: Norma

Norma depicts the deep emotional journey of those who are affected with Schizophrenia. The group presented it as a creepy presentation of what is going on the mind of those who have this disorder. The presentation is eccentric and unconventional that it succeeds to transmit the true message of those who are inflicted by this disorder and I commend on the concept. However, technical problems made this presentation to be a failure since we have to watch the feature with gaps. As a whole, Norma finds a way to become the most artistic feature among others.

GRADE: A-

The Darkest Hour

2012-01-28T23:18:00.001+08:00

When Independence Day came out in 1996 and became one of the biggest blockbusters because of its eye-candy special effects, over blown story and cheesy lines, it paved the way for Hollywood to create a whole new genre that would be at par with Godzilla and other city-destroying monsters. However, it has been more than 16 years since Independence Day and yet Hollywood seemed to have forgotten to generate fresh new ideas out of the concept and what we have with The Darkest Hour is a mixture of every single Alien-invading movies that you have seen with the lack of pizzazz or even ingenuity.

The Darkest Hour follows the premise of 4 teenagers who met in Moscow, Russia and happened to be, in all unlucky circumstance, in an alien invasion. They struggle to survive. They survived. They knew how to beat those nasty aliens. Two were dead. And if you can do the math, you would eventually know there are two survivors and according to the rule book on alien invasion/horror/zombie movies: ONLY TWO OF YOUR CHARACTERS WILL EVENTUALLY SURVIVE (or even one depending on the number of people involved, but usually, the sexually-inclined character get their heads chopped off). The Darkest Hour is not an exception to such rule.

One of the reasons I went to see this movie is that the trailer made a great promise that this will be an interesting film since it features a rather mysterious villain. However, once again, trailers can be misleading at times. The Darkest Hour has the laziest plot there is. It borrows themes from War of the Worlds, down to Independence day that I felt like I was in a "SCARY MOVIE" - movie. The purpose of the aliens invading our world is also pathetic. If the aliens have extensive research on our biological composition, they could have not messed up with the microwave (SPOILER!!). The way how the movie ended was also a complete dismay. The resolution was out of the blue. "BITIN" is the right word and it feels so right to use it in Tagalog.

The movie is a waste of Emile Hirsch's acting abilities. If this is Emile's defibrillator to a dying career, well, this movie gave him a 30cc bolus of Potassium Chloride that would completely kill him and his career.

It is a good thing I did not pay the extra 140php for the 3D version, my dismay would have been greater. The Darkest Hour is a waste of your 1 hour and 30 minutes. Go home and pop in your War of the Worlds DVD and surely you will have a better story and over-all entertainment experience.

GRADE: D

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A Mother's Story

2012-01-12T21:27:00.001+08:00

It was way back in the 90's when Vilma Santos starred in a film that tackles the life and hardships of Overseas Filipino Workers.The film was a success as it presents a realistic view of the life of those who work outside of the country and the family that was left here. Several years later, another film is made but it stars a comedian but has experienced first hand the journey of an OFW.

Star Cinema embarks once again in familiar waters as it presents another tearjerker of a very familiar plot. The mother needs to go outside the country and work hard for a financially-ailing family. The children feels that they are abandoned by their mother and becomes rebellious against her and the spouse ends up having an affair. She feels that her children has grown up apart emotionally. In words to describe this movie, it is a deja vu of "Anak."

What sets this movie apart from Anak is that it is more personal than the latter. To cast someone who has personally experienced all the hardships of being an OFW brings out the sincerity of the story making it more believable and engaging. Medy, who is played by Pokwang, is a mother of two children who went to the States for a week engagement as a Make-up artist for a celebrity. She decided to stay in the US as an illegal immigrant when her youngest child needed medical assistance, jumping from one job to another with the help of her friend (Beth Tamayo) until she landed a job as a housekeeper in a family who treated her miserably. After 7 years, she went back to the Philippines after escaping from the clutches of her demeaning employers only to face another challenge of regaining the love of her children and husband.

A Mother's Story is a heavy drama which Filipinos adore so much. It is heavily injected with tear-jerking moments but somehow did not feel cliched at all. The lines are cliched but then there is something genuine on how those lines were uttered. Pokwang provided a very consistent display of acting that it does not feel so awkward. If "Anak" tackled the relationship of a mother and daughter, A Mother's Story tackled the multidimensional aspect of the family, however, somehow lacked depth and focuses more on the problem rather than the root of it. The scene in which Daria Ramirez asked Pokwang what really happened to her in the US is the most heartbreaking moment between two mothers as they weigh their decisions and the outcomes of it. Ana Capri, although has very little screen time provided a very powerful confrontation scene with Pokwang.

A Mother's Story may feel like reboot from Anak but it is like eating a slice of pizza years back and tried the same thing again, the only difference is that the flavors stays longer in your tongue.

GRADE: B+

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The War Horse

2012-01-12T20:41:00.002+08:00

Steven Spielberg is known to make eye-popping movie hits but it is not in eye-candies that Spielberg earned the respect of everyone as a notable director but in movies that tackles sensitive plots. Spielberg made 2 movies this year, Tintin and The War Horse. Both of these movies, in my own opinion, are not publicized widely that very few people know that these movies exist. Tintin was a spectacle and was a great execution of the technology which Robert Zemeckis (Polar Express, A Christmas Carol) was trying to perfect over the years. In The War Horse, Spielberg gains a momentum of his artistry as he tries to tackle a genre which I believe to be the least among other genres to be an avenue for film making in Spielberg's caliber: Animal Movies.

Although Spielberg made Jurassic Park, you might contradict my previous remark. Jurassic Park is a Sci-Fi movie which usually belongs to the upper genres of movies along side with Action and Drama. In The War Horse, we expect to see a Charlotte's Web-type of movie, however, it is the majesty of the novel in which this movie is based that it succeeded as a film and not just your average B-movie.

The War Horse tells about the story of a colt who came upon a struggling family after being won in an ill-bidding auction. This resulted for Albert to take the responsibility from his alcoholic father to take care of the horse which he trained to do the ploughing of their field. The story of the horse continued when it was chosen to be one of the horses to be used during 1st World War and was separated from Albert.

The movie is a surprise for me since I was expecting a feel good movie about a horse's journey from being a plough horse to a war horse. I, for one, was not able to read the novel, and so the surprises never end. One of the best thing about this movie is that it made us care to the horse as a character and makes us involve in his journey through the fields to the war. It is like watching Homeward Bound but with a more emotional depth. It simply shows that if a horse can touch other people's lives then surely as an individual we make the same mark to the people we meet everyday. Although Joey did not utter any words, Spielberg was able to draw out silent messages which were captured strategically making it a very effective story-telling technique.

What I admire most is that it was able to capture the provincial life back in the late 1910s. There is also subtlety in the war scenes which involves a very low profile violence compared to Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg re-enacted a PG-13 violence in one of the war scenes and it was perfect. The cinematography is superb and there were some reference with Gone With The Wind in scenes which involves the sunset.

The War Horse is a movie to be seen not because Spielberg made it, it should be seen because it has a story to tell. There is a pure heart in this movie that most of the animal movies we have seen lack.

GRADE: A-

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Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story

2011-12-30T17:03:00.001+08:00

For the past 10 years, the Metro Manila Film Festival has provided with several repeating genres that would surely make money. It is sad to say that most of the entries in the festival are recycled every year, from the Ina series, to Panday, to Enteng, Agimat and Shake Rattle and Roll series - Mano Po at least rested this year. It is just frustrating to know that we are out of good ideas when there are actually good ones just waiting to be discovered. Asiong Salonga is not even fresh, it is more of a re-envision of the classic Asiong Salonga movies back in 1961 when Joseph Estrada once had the role. However, it is also timely to bring back the series after it has been long-forgotten in this fantasy-driven festival.

Nicasio "Asiong" Salonga is a notorious gang leader back in the late 40s to 50s in Tondo, Manila. Having been feared by most of the people there, he also have gang rivals and one of the most noted nemesis is Totoy Golem. The movie Manila Kingpin, depicts the life of Asiong and his struggle to power to become the most feared Gang leader of Tondo up to his murder in October of 1951.

The film is presented in black and white, which is a first in Philippine Cinema. I would like to coin the word "presented" since I believe that this movie is shot entirely in full color and was digitally altered to black and white which is totally different on how Schindler's List was shot. This alteration was very obvious on some scenes where instead of having a total black and white frame, one can see that it sometimes shift in Sepia tone.

Asiong is like a breather from the usual fantasy, comedy and horror movies that are shown during MMFF. It is the first time that I was drawn in an action movie in a festival. The last entries of the action genre seemed to lack the ability to convince me to watch their flicks (Lapu-lapu, etc.). What made me decide to watch this 2 weeks ago is the promise of a good movie from its trailer. This, ladies and gents, is a perfect example of good advertising.

Manila Kingpin as a film is a classic. Director Tikoy Aguiluz provided a new door for the fading Action genre of Philippine Cinema with this film. It has reignited a dying flame of action heroes we once had. We have Joseph Estrada, FPJ, Rudy Fernandez among others who are considered to be our heroes and not the flashy ones. This is an indication that Filipino Action movies are not yet dead. With the right people working on a project, they can come up with a great picture and that is what Manila Kingpin is all about. I am impressed primarily with the cinematography. I particularly love the Karetela Scene. The movie is treated with much attention with every frame. It is surprising enough that with good cinematography, it has also provided a very cohesive story that would not drag their viewers.

It also fresh to see Jeorge Estregan Jr. to play the character of Asiong Salonga. As for my childhood memories of Estregan, I always see him as the nymphomaniac/psycho/villain in most of FPJ's movies and with Manila Kingpin, I saw a different actor. Carla Abellana and Phillip Salvador also gave solid performances as Asiong's wife and older brother. Baron Geisler provides a natural performance having been acting the same role for most of his movies or television appearances. Ping Medina, on the other hand, could have more frame time if I were to ask. John Regala's performance as Asiong's rival Totoy Golem stole the show as he deliver a consistent sinister gang rival. With a cast of veteran actors, the movie could never go wrong.

But what do we really want during the MMFF? Quality movies. We need a good story. We need an effective story telling whether it is Comedy, Action, Fantasy or Drama. Manila Kingpin has quality. It may not be as good as Himala or Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang but it sure has achieved a goal to be called as a classic Filipino movie.

GRADE: A-

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Enteng ng Ina Mo

2011-12-29T17:45:00.002+08:00

Spin-offs are trending right now. It seems that we are also affected of lack of fresh new ideas that we have to recycle great ideas from the past. It all started last year when Panday and the Enteng Kabisote series tied up to make Si Enteng at ang Panday, and this idea is not that far-fetched since they both have shared a common theme: Fantasy. With Enteng ng Ina Mo, it would be really hard to combine two genre which seemed to have very little in common, and that is a feat that the writers of the film will have to surpass.

Enteng Kabisote is originally a Filipino version of the US television show Bewitched which was shown back in the 90's as Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! Ina, on the other hand, is a series of movies made after the success of the first movie. This unlikely combination of themes is considered to be impossible, not until Vic and Ai-Ai, both considered to be Blockbuster Royalties during Festival Seasons, decided to team up to make the blockbuster movie that would surpass their own movies.

I won't be spilling up the plot. It is predictable. Nonetheless, what makes this movie special is that it pays tribute to classic Filipino comedies by returning to the basics of what makes our comedies really amusing. Although the movie does not contain much of the slapstick humor that the usual comedies that we have, it managed to retain its crowd with witty lines and perfect comedic timing provided by its lead characters. Yes, some lines are very old and cliched, yet I commend Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai Delas Alas with their perfect comedic timing which somehow lacked in most of the comedies we have seen during the past years. There was a song number but it was not awkward. There is a central theme about family but it was not overrated.

Although the movie was able to achieve its goal to entertain, there are some points which I find to be disappointing. First and foremost, I would like to point out the greatest problem in in-movie endorsements. We know that movies need product endorsement in order for them to have considerable amounts for movie production but please, do not make it so obvious. I cringe every time that there are products slapped in my face while watching a flick, and if there is really a need, do it with subtlety. Second: Improve the special effects. How much time do you need to perfect the craft when this is already the 5th Enteng Kabisote film.

It was nice to have Tony Reyes direct this film and was not given to Wenn Deramas who is obviously tired of the Ina Series (the third film is the worst). Reyes, together with the screenwriters did a good job by providing a very cohesive plot. Kudos to Eugene Domingo who provided one of the humorous scene in the movie - The Wall Scene.

Indeed Enteng ng Ina Mo succeeded in combining two themes without making it awkward to watch.

GRADE: B-

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Segunda Mano

2011-12-29T11:41:00.000+08:00

The Metro Manila Film Festival kicked off last December 25 and sadly, I was in Aklan and I was not able to give out first hand reviews of the movies shown in the Festival. All I have is twitter to update me on how good the movies were and by the likes of it, Segunda Mano has been trending my timeline with retweets from Ms. Kris Aquino herself with the praises from the moviegoers who have seen the movie. This was enough to build up a hype that the movie is good and yes, it was a great strategy - it hurled me into the cinema where Segunda Mano was shown.

This is my first acquaintance with Joyce Bernal doing a horror movie and I am very prepared to scrunitize her way of directing a movie by a director known to make good romance-comedies in the past decade. One thing crossed in my mind while watching it: I could not help to compare the film with The Road and they do not measure up with the same level - Segunda Mano fell short in various aspects.

One of my complaints with the film is that it was poorly written. The whole 2 hours was spent in misconstrued numbers of scenes that does not even add up to the plot. I hate how horror movies nowadays are made with startling scenes from a cat, a hand, from someone who just walked through the frame and occasional appearance in the window panes. This gimmick has got to stop. Learn from The Road when good cinematography, acting and direction meets halfway to tell a good story.

The story and the plot also has flaws. While the screenwriters are busy finding ways to startle the crowd, they missed to leave points for their twist at the end. Twists are good but that does not make the entirety of the movie to be great. I can still recall "The Sixth Sense" on how effective it was able to leave obvious hints during the movie however leaves the audience still amazed on how they dismissed those hints which actually plays a vital role in the whole plot. In Segunda Mano, the twist is hurriedly written and that it does not have a good foundation. It seems that the idea for the twist was just at the spur of the moment while they were making the movie.

I commend Dingdong Dantes' performance as the psychotic (ooops! Spoiler) boyfriend of Kris. He reminds me of Richard Guttierez's performance in a Maricel Soriano movie back in the 90's where Richard plays the psychotic killer. Bangs Garcia provides a comic relief and has been well received by the audience. Angelica Panganiban may have very little screen time but she made it sure that she shi Kris Aquino, on the other hand, remains her usual acting performance ever since she was nominated for Mano Po for Best Supporting Actress - tired and weary. It is utterly unconvincing to see Kris play a role as the introvert type. However, I give credit to Kris for the effort of controlling her usual tactless persona - that may be acting but it is painful to watch.

Cinematography-wise, Bb. Joyce Bernal tried various attempts for good cinematography and she succeeded somehow on the mirror approach, however, there might be more than that and I know she can deliver more.

Segunda Mano may have hyped everyone. Dingdong Dantes may have bagged the award for Best Actor this MMFF but Kris Aquino, as @krisaquinoSTD may put it into her tweets bagged the Best in Retweet awards for the most number of retweets that may caused me and some of the other people to join in the hype.

GRADE: C+

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2011 Movie Poll

2011-12-24T08:44:00.000+08:00

Now that the year 2011 is about to end in a matter of 7 days, let us go back where we were bombarded with a lot of eye-candies, sequels and surprising new plots. I will be giving a list of my best movies of 2011 but what matters is the views of my readers as well, who has been inspiration in writing more about the movies I watch. So, here is a simple poll of movies for 2011 and vote for them as I give out the viewer's choice list for 2011. If the movie you like was not on the list, simply place a comment for your nominations.... Happy Holidays everyone! MWAH

survey services

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol

2011-12-16T23:42:00.000+08:00

It's been 5 years since the last Mission Impossible movie and I find the previous movie very insignificant. I can remember that I was barely amazed with MI:3. When it was announced that an MI:4 is in the works, I have no feeling of excitement whatsoever towards the franchise since it failed to enticed me with the previous film. However, due to good words handed over by my friends over the new movie, I said, I might give this movie a chance.

Set after the event of MI:3, MI:4 picks up where Ethan Hunt is still in the mourn of the death of his wife, well, most of the people around him assumes that he still do so. Ethan is now faced with a mission to stop a nuclear war between Russia and the USA. Simple plot, right? Yet with its simplicity, director Brad Bird was able to engage the audience with elaborate fight scenes and cliff-hanging situations.

What sets this movie apart from the other films is that, it was made to impress the audience with it action scenes with the absence of motion sickness due to shaky camera movements. The movie also try to be very basic by returning to its roots by providing only a type of storytelling that merely involves a focus on the conflict at hand and not introducing a web of plot lines which somehow can distract the viewers like what happened to the Pirates of the Carribean Series.

Moviegoers will be amazed on the different gadgets used in the movie. I particularly fancy the one used against the guard. (NO spoilers! I will never allow to deny you the fun I had while watching it) Although the film does not show off a lot of fancy cars and hot women, the gadgets and the breathtaking scenes are more than a compensation.

I always have faith in Brad Bird and when I knew that he was about to direct this film, well then, the franchise is in good hands. Brad Bird is the director of The Incredibles and with MI:4, he has delivered his craft perfectly. Michael Giacchino also provided a very subtle and not so overriding score for the movie. And as for Tom Cruise, he is getting older by the minute but still he showed us that he can still endure the stunts that he made in the film.

It was a good sign that I haven't noticed that the movie is already running for 1 hour and a half. For fans of the franchise, this latest installment is such a good catch you should never ever miss.

GRADE: A-

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New Year's Eve

2011-12-15T12:11:00.000+08:00

I have been a fan of Garry Marshall. Ever since I set my eyes on Pretty Woman back in the 90's, I could say that Marshall is considered to be the king of Chick Flicks. He's got Romance written all over him and he has made a lot of interesting films. When Princess Diaries came out, he was able to relate to a younger generation and that was a remarkable feat. In 2010, Marshall released an ambitious project - bringing A-list stars in one movie, and that was Valentine's Day.

New Year's Eve is rumored to be a sequel of Valentine's Day, it was however confirmed that this would be a different movie. Set in New York during New Year's Eve, the movie tells the story of various characters and how they are interrelated with each other. This plot allows Marshall to make an ensemble of A-list Hollywood actors once again, and that is where the problem starts.

The cast includes a number of great actors, each has their own greatness when it comes to acting. Pfeiffer, Berry, Breslin, De Niro, Duhamel, Efron, Heigl and Parker are just a few of the names connected with the movie. With such A-listers, it is very hard to give them the amount of characterization and if so, it would take more than 4 hours just for character build up.

The movie started weak, jumping from one character to the other. It was in the last half of the film that it tries to spark up that emotional tingle from its audience but it was a bit premature. I admire the attempt and somehow it was Hillary Swank's final part of the story that really touched me.

Garry Marshall should go back making romantic films that are sincere and human just like Julia Robert's character in Pretty Woman or Anne Hathaway's Princess Mia. This is where Marshall's strength in film making lies.

The movie feels like meeting someone on a blind date and you go on dating without even knowing who really the person are. There is fun but not chemistry. The characters are so one-dimensional that you feel disconnected from. New Year's Eve may have failed as a movie but if I were to pick between this one and Immortals, I'd rather sit through this one and endure 2 hours of seeing big stars doing almost nothing interesting.

GRADE: C-

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GLEEorious: The Grand Finale

2011-12-11T17:14:00.001+08:00

When the US television series GLEE hits the boob tube in 2009, immediately it has caught the attention of the public. Kids, teenagers and young adults became very engrossed with the said series and has become a hit. It has enticed the viewing public with its realistic plots about high school and their covers of Broadway and pop hits. With its recent success, a play was produced by Sikat Academy of Iloilo showcasing the talents of local Ilonggo artists.

Based on the hit series, GLEEorious brings our beloved show choir from Mckinly High to the stage. Avid fans of the series will immediately notice that most of the lines in the stage are similar with the series which brings joy to the fans of the series.I have high expectations with the play. It has been staging for more or less 3 months and I was hoping for a near perfect performance, however, I was proven wrong.

One of the problems of the play is the audio itself. It seems that the audio was not able to showcase the total package of the voices of the ones who are singing. The microphones are not even enough for all the characters in the play and because of this, the actors resorted to some awkward exchanges of microphones during the song productions.

Another observation is that some of the songs that were on the play were not placed strategically. I have a problem on how the Christmas Songs were injected in the play. I know that Christmas is just around the corner but it seems off key that it was included in the shortlist of songs.

The cast, on the other hand, has undeniably have beautiful voices. The kid who portrayed Rachel gives power vocal and acting performances. The other members of the show choir also showed good vocal showdown. I am very impressed with the teachers as they sing "Hallelujah" and the way I see it, that number is the best among all of the performances. The problem with the cast is that the other actors upstaged Finn and Rachel who were supposed to be the star of the show choir. This is evident at the final song where Finn and Rachel was not able to show much of their vocal prowess as compared to the series.

There might have been a lot of lapses with the production, however, the singing talents of the kids -- and the teachers who were involved in the play is worth the watch. It was a bit disappointing that the imperfections were not addressed, after all they have been staging for 2 months. The grand finale was a success not because it has exceeded the expectations on the technicalities but because it was able to showcase the talents of the youth and boost their self-confidence.

GRADE: C

Immortals

2011-12-11T16:04:00.001+08:00

One of the great things about Greek Mythology is its richness in terms of content and the grandness of its scale. Quite a few movies has embarked in telling the different myths under it - there was Disney's Hercules, the Clash of the Titan's Remake, Percy Jackson and the original Clash of the Titans which I feel bested among all others. This year, another movie about the gods of Olympus hits the theaters and everyone is talking about it. But why?

"Immortals" tells the story about Thesius, a mortal who is destined to stop Hyperion from obtaining the Epirus Bow which is used to free the Titans who would destroy the gods. The plot is simple but what matters with movies is how it was told. With Immortals, it has focused more on how magnificent their 3D environment was that it failed to deliver realism and has become more of a painted background design. Simply, the filmmakers has trouble in making the movie coherent and accurate. Fans of the Greek Myth will find themselves dumbfounded as they sit through the whole movie as much as I did or maybe even worse.

Let me point out some inaccuracies. First, the gods are immortals. I find it ironic that the Gods can be killed. When Zeus said, "If any of you will aid the mortals, it is punishable by death." What? Is this even for real? Second, the Titans are the dethroned rulers of Olympus by Zeus.One of the original Titans is Hyperion, in the movie, he is a mortal who seeks for revenge against Zeus. Third, Zeus is not even powerful as he should be. No lightning bolts?! One of the problems of the movie are the actors themselves. The actors who portrayed the gods does not even show command or respect that their characters are required of them. Thesius is not even likable as a character that even during the second half of the film, I simply don't care about his character.

Greek Myth is such a beauty as described by Hesiod in his poems. Immortals is trash collected from every house, was recycled but still looks like trash. The subtext which contained "From the producers of 300" is misleading in every way. If you want to spend the afternoon doing something worthwhile, then watching this movie should not be part of your list. Now that could be the reason why everyone is talking about it.

GRADE: D-

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Won't Last A Day Without You

2011-12-06T20:09:00.001+08:00

I have never been a fan of all those mushy Filipino movies that usually depicts high school girl fantasies wrapped in fragrant package. I never believed in their ability to heighten my senses, very few did. When I first saw "A Special Love" back in 2008, i never believed in Sarah Geronimo to bring out in the silver screen a character that may be loved by the masses, but it did, and with this new movie, she came out with the character we are all familiar with.

Won't Last A Day follows the life of DJ Heidi aka George who runs a segment about listeners asking for help on how to mend their broken hearts. George wittingly answers their problems and becomes a hit. Andrew, on the other hand, is a womanizing cutie who happens to have a girlfriend who called in on the show and caused their break-up which follows a series of events that lead to the acquaintance of George and Andrew.

One thing that I have noticed with the movie is that it was made with effort but less than what I expect, but an effort nonetheless. Gerald came in strong and has improved his acting by a mile, although there are some scenes that I see him as his TV character Budoy. Sarah seemed to have only one acting style and that's what she has been using ever since "A Special Love." It all seems like deja vu for Sarah. I have seen the girl from A Special Love, I have seen it all.

One thing that I liked about this movie is that it did not rely too much on heavy drama to exaggerate the conflicts.It was able to maintain a feel good atmosphere. I have no problems with the cheesiness of the plot or the scenes, this is a typical feel-good movie, and after watching it, I felt good.

One of my complaints is that there are no character build ups. Why do Andrew speak sometimes in Bisaya? What caused him to womanize? Where is George's mother? Character development seemed to have left off which makes me feel a bit disconnected with the characters. But who cares? Most of the people who went there are either Sarah's fan or Gerald's fans, or even friends who were dragged in there without a choice.

Hailed to beat box office records, this movie is one feel good movie that people who are depressed should watch (not suitable for broken-hearted ones). Somehow this movie has uplifted my mood a bit and that is something for a moviegoer like me.

GRADE: B

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The Adventures of Tintin

2011-12-01T01:32:00.001+08:00

Who is Tintin? This might be the first question a teen may ask. Tintin may not be recognized by a generation who grew up watching Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Johnny Bravo and Naruto. But if you are a couch potato, you will know that Tintin can also be viewed in Cartoon Network back when they still have the Boomerang segment which is usually aired around midnight, but who are the target audience? Answer: Adults who grew up reading and watching the Herge masterpiece.

Tintin was first published in 1929 and ended in 1976 which explains why most of today's generation may not be familiar with the beloved reporter. With its success, it resulted to a cartoon which usually derived from the comic books that were released. Together with Tintin is his adorable dog, Snowy and the grumpy and alcoholic, Capt. Haddock. It took 80 years for Tintin to have his silver-screen debut and no one can do a better translation than Steven Spielberg himself.

The opening credits for Tintin is more like a tribute to the series as it features the original artwork which is best known for its clean and expressive drawings. If you were able to watch the opening credits of Catch Me If You Can, one of Spielberg's film, you may see the resemblance. This opening sets the tone of the movie and as every fan, one might feel nostalgic over it. The plot used in this movie is based from the book, "The Secret of Unicorn." This book also has an animated feature and can be viewed in Youtube. I saw the first part of the cartoon and I might say, Spielberg made a lot of improvements.

In the movie, Tintin is faced with the mystery that surrounds a miniature ship and as he uncovers the secret of the ship, Capt. Haddock also uncovers the family treasure which has been kept secret until now. It was the start of a daring adventure as they discover hidden clues and a bond that would seal the friendship of Tintin and Capt. Haddock. Each fan may be satisfied on how their beloved meddling reporter was translated into the big screen. The movie is filled with action, chases and mishaps that would test the ingenuity of Tintin and Snowy.

Tintin is shot with motion capture technology with the likes of King Kong and Gollum in the LOTR series. In this movie, it proves that Peter Jackson, who produced the movie, was able to perfect the said technology as compared during the technology's use in the movie "The Polar Express." The character movements were smooth. With this, Spielberg was able to do more with every frame. His ingenuity with camera shots was maximized especially during the action scenes. Hence, it provided a more heart-racing, pulsating adventure. One could compare the scenes and the pacing with that of Indiana Jones and that is Spielberg mark.

With the relaunch of the Tintin series, it will surely attract a new fanbase aside from those who grew up watching and reading the series. Tintin is also a reminder on how great Spielberg is as a director and with his collaboration with another meticulous director, Tintin soared high on this movie.Tintin is a movie where both adults and children will surely enjoy whether they know Tintin or they don't.

GRADE: A-

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The Road

2011-11-30T17:00:00.001+08:00

It seems that the horror genre has been left off since there were a handful of Filipino Horror movies which were released and did not make enough box office tickets to surpass the success of Feng Shui and Sukob. Villa Estrella is just one of those movies who are just both commercially and critically failed as a movie - Cinco is even worse. Shake, Rattle and Roll has failed to deliver the substance the series once have during those early years. In the upcoming MMFF, I will not be surprised that they will be releasing a new installment. With all the horror movies that has been released, they follow the same formula of scaring its audience and every time they do, moviegoers like me would already anticipate what will happen next and then lose the anticipation. With the release of another horror movie, we are hoping for something new, and it was delivered by an unlikely film producer - GMA Films.

I never believed in GMA Films in terms of how they work with movies. They have actors whom I am not familiar with, plots that seemed to be used again and again, and the same formula of cheesiness that makes me go cringe. They do not have a "few"" successful films, they only had one - Jose Rizal. What lacks this film company to come up with a decent movie is a good screenwriter and a skillful director who can transform what was written in a screenplay to appropriate images on screen. With "The Road," they hit the jackpot.

Written and directed by Yam Laranas, The Road follows the story of 2 missing children in 1998 and the mystery that surrounds the incident. The plot is simple yet Laranas was able to delve more with the story which has provided a very constructive story making its audience understand the whole scenario. While it depends mostly on flashbacks, it has provided a construe of events that makes it easier to feel the villain.

While Laranas was able to establish a well-thought plot, he also has a way with the camera. Laranas' experience in Hollywood has paid off with the scenic shots, unconventional camera movements and a delicate eye with contrasts and colors. The actors were also commendable. I have seen Rhian Ramos act on television and she is different with this one. Some of the young actors like Barbie Fortaleza steals the scene from the others and provided a very concrete emotional prowess on her scenes. Carmina Villaroel played the antagonist's mother and Marvin Agustin as the father. Both of them are neurotic in the movie. While Carmina plays the extrovert neurotic, Marvin is the silent one. It really takes a good director to bring out the sleeping talents of these actors. Carmina played genuinely as the triggering factor to the whole scenario and for that she has delivered a sinister character. Alden Richards who played the villain demonstrated that acting is not measured on how you deliver your line but by how your eyes communicate with the audience.

When I first heard about the movie, I had my thoughts. Seeing this movie, Laranas and his team was able to recreate a genre which has lost its essence. If you are the type of moviegoer who wants to scream the whole time, then this movie is not for you. It may have its scary moments but this film makes you care with the characters.

The Road is definitely should be seen as a movie and not some cheap horror film which may provide the scream but has no logic whatsoever.

GRADE: B+

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Happy Feet 2

2011-11-27T22:24:00.001+08:00

One of the greatest wonders of our films today is 3D animation. Ever since Pixar made Toy Story back in the 90s, it has developed so rapidly that we are currently enjoying this technology in its full potential. Along with Pixar's greatest films, there are some who managed to be at par with them. Back in 2006, Happy Feet was released and has garnered very positive reviews. What made the film so special is the theme of self-discovery and a very timely topic which concerns global warming. Happy Feet 2 is the follow up to the blockbuster and critically-acclaimed animated film.

Happy Feet 2 follows the story of Mumble and Gloria who are now the leaders of the Penguin Empire. They have a son named Eric who happens to have the same issue as Mumble during his childhood years. To make matters worse, the empire is also threatened by glaziers that are quickly melting which separated Mumble from Gloria and the rest of the Empire. It is up to Mumble to help the other penguin as all of them struggle for survival and at the same time winning his son's affection.

Mainly, the story sways too much of the things that are happening to the empire and somehow loses coherence on which is the ultimate conflict. It seems that the plot is all over place and the main reasons why the subplots are there just for the sole purpose to support the soundtrack. Much of it was centered mostly on survival at the end of the plot. The impact of the film would have been greater if the current climate change played a vital role in the plot - that would have been better. I also dislike the idea of putting Will and Bill's character into the movie since they do not affect to the plot whatsoever.

While the plot has been my main concern for the whole film, it has, on the other hand, was able to surpass expectations in their 3D animation. The colors were very bright and the details were intricate. The soundtrack was smart and was placed strategically in each scene. Pink served as Gloria's voice replacing the late Britanny Murphy and has provided a better and more powerful voice to the character. Elijah Wood seemed to be a little laid back with the character. Robin Williams is ever delightful in delivering his voice to the character while Sofia Vergara's Columbian accent is not annoying as it should be.

Happy Feet is both a delight to youngsters without dragging the parents or its adult audience. The film also contains some cute scenes that can make you go "aaaaw. "Although it is not as great as its predecessor, Happy Feet 2 manages to stand both in its two feet but barely hanging on.

GRADE: B-

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Breaking Dawn Part 1

2011-11-19T17:28:00.001+08:00

I will not let this day be over without giving my insights with the latest installment of The Twilight Saga. Following the trend that Harry Potter has started - splitting a book into two movies, The Twilight Saga proved to be a copy cat of the latter. Call me bias but I also adore some characters of the Twilight Saga and that only include the Volturis, which I have seen only 3% of the entire film. Yes, they were there. I guess you were one of the 90% who went outside the cinema right after the ending credits started rolling, well, sucks for you, there were scenes in the middle of the credits.

Anyways, Breaking Dawn started where we were left off in Eclipse. Edward and Bella are planning to get married. Now that all three villains from Laurent's team were killed, the Volturis are the ones left in the scene that would put Bella in danger, however, another comes in when Bella got pregnant. Let us say that this movie is the less funnier version of Knocked Up but cheesier. The baby has four names, "thing", "fetus", Edward Jacob and Renesme. Ok, so much for combing names, we Filipinos are better in combining names. Just to be fair, I also hated Albus Severus but Renesme is just plain bad.

Breaking Dawn has its strengths. The choices of the locations where most of the scenes were shot are just amazing. The scenes with the werewolves are done with finesse and I am referring with the 3D animation. The soundtrack is just appropriate for scenes that needs its service.

One of my complaints as a viewer is that most of the scenes are overblown. The whole movie could have been compressed in 45 minutes and just go on with the 2nd part. Although, I agree that the part where Part 1 has left off is the most strategic place to leave a viewer in a cliffhanger.Breaking Dawn is the book that should have not been separated into two parts and somehow the decision to split it into two is shamelessly because it would collect more money from the viewing public. The attempt for characterization is there especially with Edward's part however, Bella seemed to fall apart and that it was very hard for me to feel the main reason why she wanted a child. One of the problem with this movie is that Kristen Stewart has not improve the way she acts and that cost the whole movie. But who pays attention to her anyway when most of the audience are teen girls who are there to swoon over Edward and Jacob. Guys who were dragged in the movie house may cringe and find themselves lost as to why this vampire film is just so hot.

Breaking Dawn maybe the hottest pancake these days but just like pancakes, they are just good while they are still hot. The film will never be able to match up with Vampire movies like Dracula or An Interview with a Vampire. The book may be a literary success but the films are just plain bland. Still, its better than Twilight. By the way, where is Dakota Fanning when you need her?

GRADE: C-

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The Best of Archie/Pugad Baboy 23

2011-11-09T13:34:00.000+08:00

One of the best places inside the mall is the bookstore. You might think I am the nerdy type but I don't go to the bookstore to look for books about Advanced Physics or Noetic Science, I go to bookstores because of my passion of reading novels and comic books.

I had my first encounter with Archie Comics back in 1992 when I had my visit to a dentist. I was waiting impatiently for the dentist to come when I first had a glance of a very curious looking little comic book in one of the shops near the clinic. Immediately, I asked my mom to buy one for me and she did. From that time on, I become an avid reader of Archie Comics. I have 5 Archie Comics by the end of that year courtesy of my aunt. After 19 years, I have 162 Archie Comics in my collection and still counting. I read them not only once and has been my childhood companion when I am bored, when I eat breakfast, lunch or dinner, when I just feel like reading one of Jughead's adventure with food and even during my private moments in the men's room. One of my frustration as a fan is that I never get to own any Best of the Americana Series of Archie Comics which usually showcases the best Archie Comic Strips of the decade (Americana Series are compiled according to decade) since our local bookstore does not have one. And so, when I came across with The Best of Archie Comics last week, I did not hesitate to buy the book.

The Best of Archie Comics is a compilation of one of the most memorable strips during from the time it was published in the 30s up until this year. One of the highlights of the book is the first strip of Archie in Pep Comics #22. That was my first time to read the first strip and I imagine how readers accepted it. The strip is very detailed in terms of artwork. The story is simple and truly marks the typical Archie Comic strip that its fanbase really loved. This is the strip that marks the start of a strip that lasts until now.

This comic is both intended for its old readers and for those who wishes to embark on a journey with Archie and the Gang. One of the greatest wonders of this comic is that it has made a lot of teens be identified with its characters. With this compilation, it made me fall in love again with Archie and the rest of Riverdale's elite.

It was in 1992 when I discovered Archie, after 10 years, Pugad Baboy made its way on my coronary arteries where it clogged like cholesterol making me ask for more. Pol Medina Jr. was successful in making an obese community be an effective satire to the current trends in our country. The first strips were a bit bare and has greatly improved on the next compilations with intricate details which was greatly seen in Pugad Baboy 4-8. Sagas were part of the Pugad Baboy Legacy as they embark on different adventures but still injecting recent truths on the economic and political status of the country. What sets Pugad Baboy unique among the local comic industry is its subtle but fearless display of the author's opinion.

As Pugad Baboy reaches its 23rd compilation there has been a decrease in its "enjoyability" and Pen Medina seems to steer out of the usual humor which made its fan asking for more. There was less exposure for Brosia whom I adore among them, Polgas falls after her. Her wisecracks are what I have missed in the entire series. Although there were a few funny moments in the book, they are not as memorable as the previous early compilations. The book tried very hard to inform the public during the first 2 frames of a strip and inject humor in the last 2 frames like a misplaced car key in an ash tray. It seems that Pol is running out of ideas and must rest for 2 years to get the creative juices flowing once again.

This two guilty pleasures has been my companion for the past week and yes I enjoyed reading them more than once including the ones I already own. The pleasures of reading a book is indeed priceless for it does not allow you to enjoy but also to entice a dormant mind.

Best of Archie: A-
Pugad Baboy 23: B-

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In Time

2011-11-01T19:26:00.000+08:00

Hollywood is out of fresh, new ideas when it comes to originality. Concept is one of the vital part of a movie that would make its viewers interested with the movie. Inception was the last movie which I consider to be fresh. In Time is fresh but somehow there are some plots that seem to be vaguely familiar.

The movie stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. Set in the near future where everyone is 25 years old forever. Once a person reaches his/her 25th birthday, a biological clock turns on which contains a year amount of time. Once the clock reaches to zero, the person dies. However, time can be bought thus prolonging a man's life. Time can also be acquired through work and has become a mode of payment for all the necessities, therefore it determines your financial status as well.

Justin, in this movie, is framed from a murder in which he did not commit. Seyfried is the daughter of one of the wealthiest man, having the possession of 1 million years in his vault, he is almost immortal. Seyfried robs his father and becomes the modern Robin Hood together with Timberlake.

The plot is simple and so easy to follow, the movie also seemed to have the feel of Robin Hood and Bonnie and Clyde. However, the main plot makes this film watchable. The main essence in which the filmmaker is trying to push through is from the most fundamental concept that Time is precious to be wasted. That time can easily be wasted but very hard to regain. I like the idea that time can be stolen that easily just like when you wait for a person and you still have things to do aside from waiting.

As for the actors, personally, I do not adore Justin as an actor and even in this movie he seemed to be monotonous. I think he has to exert more effort in conveying what he wants the audience to feel. Seyfried, on the other hand, plays the character well with her eyes.

This may not level with Inception in terms of grandeur, however, this is one movie worthy of your time. Surely, you won't have your time wasted sitting in a cinema watching this flick.

GRADE: B+

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Praybeyt Benjamin

2011-10-27T14:03:00.000+08:00

Vice Ganda has been an icon since he has invaded the boob tube with his sarcastic remarks. Vice has been considered one of the best stand up comedians the country has ever had. He may be the most successful among those who ventured in showbiz. With 1 successful movie listed in his resume, he is sure to come back for another adventure. Now he is back as Praybeyt (Private) Benjamin in this new comedy by Viva and Star Cinema.

Praybeyt is a movie about a gay man trying to regain his family honor. His ancestors were war heroes dated back during the time of Lapu-Lapu to the revolutions during the Spanish and Japanese invasion. Lolo Benjamin (Grandpa Benjamin) played brilliantly by Eddie Garcia is in need of a successor for the legacy that the Bejamins had for centuries, however, this line is severed when he knew that his only grandson (Vice Ganda) is gay.When the terrorists kidnapped all the generals, Vice had no choice but to join the army and save not only his grandfather but a country torn by war.

Judging by how the movie is made, it is a product of what they call "pito-pito." (Movies done in a span of 7 days). No new plots were introduced and can be as generic as any movie could get. This modern day MULAN is a disgrace to the Disney classic. The plot is so similar except for some of the subplots. Disney may not be able to sue Star Cinema and Viva since they change the characters but then... With underdeveloped script, this movie is an epic fail. The jokes are even less funny than Petrang Kabayo. It was Vice Ganda's usual antics that saved the movie. His epic comedic timing tried to save what the movie has left. Jimmy Santos is such a sight. To see him back in the silver screen and bringing back the traditional Filipino comedic stints is refreshing. Kean Cipriano and Nikki Valdez's characters are enjoyable to watch.

I have no problem with Vice Ganda's antics, this is his signature as a comedian, however, how long will this trend last? This antic may still be a hit today, but in the next movies that Vice will be having, I hope he will give out something fresh, something new. He is still enjoyable to watch and that makes this movie very bearable.

Wenn Deramas has been regarded as a good director for comedy since the release of Ang Tanging Ina but after the success of the latter, he seemed to be lazier with his succeeding films and fails to deliver a movie with the highest quality. There are some scenes that are shot carelessly (i.e. take a good look at the scene where Andrew Wolfe was shot and was lying dead, you could see him swallow his saliva). How is that for careless editing and direction?

The movie may deliver a lot of laughs. The comedy is the diversion of how bad this movie was. Vice Ganda was the beauty behind the trash of which this movie is made. I blame Wenn Deramas for not properly executing the justice the actors deserve to have. There are a lot of potential for the characters, the director just don't know where to start with. With this I am compelled to make a grade separate from the movie and the actors who has done their part well.

Movie: D-
Actors: B

Paranormal Activity 3

2011-10-27T11:51:00.000+08:00

I have always been a fan of horror movies since the release of The Ring somewhere 2003. From that time on, I managed to develop a certain resistance to horror movies. Paranormal Activity 1 never failed me on my first viewing and I consider it as one of the most successful horror films ever made. The first installment was only made with only $10-15k and was able to make money in the box office. No one dared to touch the film until Spielberg's Dreamworks decided to put the film into the test and eventually they made a lot of profit from the movie. Now, they are turning it into a franchise, just like Halloween and Friday the 13th. The first film was a success both on the box office and delivering a chilling horror film. PA2 (Paranormal Activity 2) was then released with heightened anticipation however, I personally do not find the sequel that good, it is watchable but not certainly a movie you can put on a shelf as part of your DVD collection.

Paranormal Activity 3 is somewhat different from the previous 2 films which consist mainly of events which happened on a single timeline. PA3 on the other hand, has back stories and has more characters in it and allowed more in depth character development. It seems that the producers wants to tell a story and not just report the events that has happened inside the house. PA3 dwells on a family of 4 who recently settled into their brand new home. A typical family until things become a bit creepy. They filmed the whole house for the whole time and found out eerie situations.

The first 30 minutes of the movie consists of character build up however, it has become so disconnected that I find it boring. Everyone wanted to get scared and I was waiting for the moment. It was not until on the second half that I was able to feel the tension. Unlike in the previous PA, this one dwells too much on building up familial relations which has no connection to the story whatsoever. The events that lead to the climax does not even follow the relationships that was established in the first part of the movie.

The actors who played in the movie could've been more believable.This is one of the weakness of the franchise: selecting unknown actors who could not play the part that well. One exception are the kids who played in this movie.

Although there is an incorporation of twists in this movie which is somewhat new to the franchise, PA3 succeeded in its mission to scare you out.

GRADE: C+

Real Steel

2011-10-14T14:25:00.000+08:00

I have been a fan of Robot movies since I was in grade school. I first fell in love with the genre back when I first saw Short Circuit with Number 15. I don't know if you can still remember him. Then there was the adorable David from Artificial Intelligence, and Andrew from Bicentennial Man, which was, by the way, the first robot who made me shed a tear.

When I first saw the trailer for Real Steel, I was a bit skeptical with the title, which I believe could've been improved in one way or another, but then, the title won't speak of the entirety of the film.With its lead, Hugh Jackman, the film could attract more viewers without even looking at the title of the film.

The movie is set in the near future, around 2020 or even later, where Boxing is an obsolete sport for men but a trend for robots.Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) is a former boxer who now works with Robots to compete on underground boxing matches. During his road trip, he encountered two men with news that his wife is dead and he was left with his 11 year-old child whom he had not seen since birth. He was prepared to give up the child from his custody and decided to leave the child with his aunt for a price.Charlie is set for a challenge when he has to take care of his child for the entire summer along with 100 grand. After a series of losses and Charlie nearing to declare bankruptcy, they accidentally stumbled upon a sparring robot, who, by the determination of his kid, Max, was able to conquer the impossible and that is to become one of the best fighter.

One of the strengths of the movie is that it has provided enough characterization for the lead. This is not the type where metals are clinkering like junk from a metal shop. The conflict with Charlie's character, as he struggles with financial problems and his fatherly responsibilities is very convincing. Atom (the robot), also provides a human-like charisma. This is one underdog story where its viewer may not be aware of. Dakota Goyo who played Max is even better as the sarcastic, stubborn kid who can outshine Jaden Smith.

Real Steel is not your typical action movie. It combines a witty comedy and an exceptional combination of technology with a satisfying character development with its protagonist. Though the film may feel so generic, this movie excels in making the audience feel involved with the characters. It is also satisfying to see that the robots featured in the movie does not have that 3D feel, they were actually animatronics, and from that point, they have succeeded. This is one robot film that could kick the last 2 Transformers movie. I have more fun with Real Steel than Transformers 2 and 3 combined.

The credit goes to Shawn Levy, whom I mistakenly identified as "Eugene Levy." Shawn made good movies like Date Night, which I adore a lot, and Cheaper by The Dozen and the not so good Night at the Museum series. Real Steel is the movie for those who still have hangovers with the Summer movies. I, for one, is very impressed with the message of the movie which is the importance of family but most of all the concept where human intelligence and capacity is far greater than any machine we are now dependent with.

GRADE: A-

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No Other Woman

2011-10-01T13:45:00.000+08:00

There is a new fad in the Philippine Cinema - it's infidelity. For the past 5 years or so, we are bombarded with cheesy romantic-comedies from Star Cinema featuring the hottest love teams and they were a hit most of the time. The formula is all the same, they only differ in terms of the plot and the actors but the story ends up how fantasy goes. During those years, we see movies with titles like Dubai, and Milan. It is a good thing it did not push through. Star Cinema could've made 80 movies or so of all the countries you can find.

After the success of the Korea-novela Temptations of Wife and Fierce Wife, movie producers discovered that this plot has caught public attention. With the release of Neighbor's Wife, Star Cinema released their own version of infidelity with No Other Woman which stars Christine Reyes, Derek Ramsay and Anne Curtis.

The story is so generic. They hype did its job well. I watched the movie because it has generated rave reviews from people who watched the movie. The formula: married couple + liberal woman = chaos. Christine is casted as the legal wife of Derek and Anne is the liberated heiress who is up for enjoyment. She had a rule: Never fall in love, but as usual, laws like this are made to be violated - basing on how movies work. Derek and Anne are both tormented by family which eventually made them find themselves comfortable with each other. Christine, however, is totally a miscast among them. I have one critic with Christine, she has to improve pronunciations and it seems she is a bit uncomfortable with her role. Anne definitely lives up with her role and give justice to which the role requires her. Carmi Martin provided comic relief with the funniest, most realistic lines in the movie.

The movie started strong but the confrontations between Anne and Christine combines almost all telenovela's made and somehow made it more "pang-masa." I have problems with cinematography. It made me feel nostalgic in some scenes especially the scene where Derek was hit by Anne with a jet ski where the camera took an aerial shot, it was so 80s. If the cinematography was to be translated on how a singer sings a song, I would describe it pitchy.

I was not able to finish the movie to its conclusion. I find myself looking at one scene where it happened to me and made me uncomfortable. It seems that the reactions of all parties are so common and I immediately knew how each character react to the situation. The movie conveyed a very powerful message it sank right through me. The movie may be remembered for a short period of time but it will not take hold of the position that Filipino classics are now enjoying.

GRADE: C+

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Horrible Bosses/Bridesmaids

2011-09-30T11:01:00.001+08:00

Since the success of The Hangover, Hollywood has to come up a comedy that would surpass it. Bridesmaids is the female counterpart of The Hangover, however, it does not dwell on the things that happen on a Bridal Shower rather what most of the brides and bridesmaids worry the most - the preparation. The films focuses on how Kirsten Wieg's character battles for affection and attention from her lifelong friend (Lillian) played by Maya Rodulph, which is usurped by another friend - only richer, more beautiful and sophisticated.

Annie (Kirsten Wieg) is Lillian's friend. Lillian is getting married, Annie is in the dumps - work is unsatisfying, love and relationship is just zero, and what is left is her friend and somebody is trying to steal her. The upstaging of Annie and Megan led to a series of misadventures. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments in the movie, touching ones and even awkward ones. One of the strength of the movie is that it was able to inject humor without losing its essence of friendship. Bridesmaids as a movie is even better than The Hangover II. Though I never approve of toilet humor but this one is an exception.

Horrible bosses, on the other hand, is a star-studded comedy and it does not fail its viewers. It is funny though that most of the villain are the A-listers while the protagonists are B-listers. Horrible bosses, as the title suggests are about... ummm Horrible bosses? Colin Farell, Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Aniston are the bosses. Their employees plots a way to get back at them after each of them are given a hard time at work. Kevin Spacey bullies Jason Bateman. Colin Farell is just being a jerk who replaced his father's position right after his death. Jennifer Aniston is the unrealistic "Horrible boss" as she sexually harass Jason Sudeikis.

They hire Motherf** Jones, played by Jamie Foxx to assist them in planning their revenge. The plan however set them into a web of events making it more complicated for them to escape the entanglement. The three protagonists levels with the antagonists and did a good job without irritating the audience. The three heroes are both lovable, on way or another.

There are a lot of comedies right now, and for this season, these 2 are exceptional and should not be missed. I saw it in the comforts of my home but I think the effect is greater in the silver screen.

GRADE:
BRIDESMAIDS: B+
HORRIBLE BOSSES: B+

Trailers:

Avril Lavigne's Goodbye Lullaby

2011-09-14T10:30:00.000+08:00

I fell in love three times - and two of them are my past relationships, the other one, I fell for Avril Lavigne in 2003 when I first set my ears on "Complicated." When I listened with the whole album, I decided to marry her (in my dreams) - that is how powerful the way Avril writes a song. The emotions on "I'm with You" makes it the best ballads ever written by a punk. Avril is a contradiction of the usual pop that once ruled during those times. When Britney was high above her horses and Christina is being trampled on even with her enormous talent. Avril came and decided to trample Britney with real talent. I can still remember her stiff competitors - Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton. I love Branch but she is of different genre and she is more of a "girl next door on crisis" artist while Avril is the rebel. Vanessa Carlton is good but she seemed to be one of the one-hit-wonders who never recovered and released only 2 good songs: Ordinary Day and A Thousand Miles.

Avril's second album lives up with the first and Avril becomes more in-depth with her songwriting with good songs like Nobody's Home and Don't Tell Me. It was the third album which made her a Pop-princess Wannabe when I first seen and heard the song Girlfriend. It destroyed her completely and lost faith on her. It took a long time before she was able to regain my respect and that was when she released her Fourth Album Goodbye Lullaby. It was in this album when she returns to her roots as an artist. The songs written are so sincere and full of passion. Although "What The Hell" is a generic punk song, the other singles that were released are simply better than the other. "Smile" mellows down and probes on a high school crush type song but with subtlety. "Push" is a more personal song but nothing could compare with "Wish You Were Here" which somehow reflects her failed relationship, which is also present in songs like "Goodbye, Everyday Hurts and Not Enough"

This is the classic Avril that us fans are waiting for. I recently seen Avril's new music video for "Wish You Were Here" and you can see that she really poured her heart out which is very effective. Avril is back from the dead and she made sure that she will be enticed once more with her songwriting skills and melody.

GRADE: A

Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington

2011-09-10T14:14:00.000+08:00

For its title, it may seem a turn off for the usual moviegoer especially that the formula is somewhat strange. How could a Zombie and gay movies be actually turned into a flick? This would also breed an idea that this would turn out to be nuisance film if not given to a handful of good writers and a director as well. However, the cast is the magnetic force that attracts the audience towards this movie.

We have longed for a very good Filipino comedy which was not that evident recently and was last seen in movies like Here Comes the Bride and Ang Tanging Ina (the first movie, the second one kinda suck and the third one was like Shrek 3). The idea is fresh for Zombadings especially that the Philippine Cinema is bombarded with gay-themed indie movies which spefically shows a recurring theme of being misunderstood and hyper-sexuality. Zombadings, on the other hand, also tackles the same theme but also a deeper meaning of homosexuality and how it affects family relationships. Although injected with humor, the movie focused on how a straight man accepts homosexuality. This has been the debate eversince if homosexuality is indeed a choice or a fate that leaves you with no choice at all.

The credit goes to everyone who are involved in this movie. The actors did well in their particular roles. Martin Escudero as Remington provided a very well-versed character especially during the pivotal scene where Remington transforms from being a straight guy to a homosexual. Lauren Young played as Remington's love interest however was usurped by his bestfriend, who in turn likes him too. John Regala returns to the silver screen and was able to get away with his usual "kontrabida" characters he portrays in his previous movies. The supporting cast is exceptional even the cameos are also hilarious. Eugene Domingo steals every scene where she is in and still able to inject humor without effort. Roderick Paulate has been my comedic hero eversince and its refreshing to see him portray one of the genre he is good at.

The movie may have a corny start but regains a very subtle and strong middle and ending with laughs and sweet moments. Some may be disgusted in the other scene but it was delivered with pure art. Do not get turned-off with the title, the whole movie is more than the title itself, and for a Filipino movie, this is one of the films that can be considered a classic

GRADE: A

Crazy Stupid Love

2011-09-05T14:55:00.000+08:00

This may be a delayed blog entry, however, the quality of the film deserves a review from my site. I have seen Crazy Stupid Love, almost 3 weeks ago and I made an entry on my site but failed to be publish. To my astonishment, the whole review was not even saved in my drafts, and i really hate rewriting everything I wrote since most of the thought I write came in spontaneously. Anyway, here it is:

Feet. The movie's intro sums up the whole relationship of Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julliane Moore) through the language of their feet, and yes they are in chaos as compared to those who reside on the other tables. It can be seen on how close their feet are. It is in that night that Emily blurts out that she wants a divorce and that she slept with one of her co-workers (Kevin Bacon). On the other hand, Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) is a certified lady's man. He charms everyone with his smooth talks and his dazzling smile. And while he was in his debonair exploits, he spots Cal who is depressed in a bar, talking to himself. In that moment, Jacob decided to help Cal and turn him into a man he lost along his relationship with Emily.

The movie is beautiful in its simplicity. What is striking in this movie is how realistic are the reactions of its characters dealing with loss of a relationship and how they are trying to cope with it. While Jacob's character presents the fantasy world in which men indulge themselves to have, Cal, on the other hand, presents a reality that long-term relationship usually have.

There are some interesting moments in the film that each viewer that had a failed relationship can relate to. One of which is during the Parent-teacher meeting where Cal and Emily has to see each other and they feel the awkwardness of the situation making them resort to small talks. What impressed me most is how this scene is delivered with passion - that there is no need for exaggeration just to send the message of awkwardness, that a simple avoidance of eye-contact and small talks can tell you that they want to talk but they hesitate. Another powerful scene is when Emily called Cal on the phone pretending that she needed help from him when in fact she only wants to hear his voice not knowing that Cal was just outside the house watching her on her window.

Jacob's character provided realism when he met Hannah (Emma Stone). He was the fantasy of men. He is the perfection that guys would always wanted to have - the sophistication, etc. Jacob shines as a teacher and mentor of Cal. He shines even brighter when he developed his relationship Hannah.

The humor in the film was superbly done. No slapstick humor from Carell but rather the intelligent ones.Crazy Stupid Love may have a lot plots to develop but has never wandered off to its principal core which is love against trials. This is one Romantic-Comedy not to be missed. If you have a chance to watch it in your local cinemas, then do so, if not just wait for the release of the DVD.

GRADE: A-

Harry Potter 2001 - 2011

2011-07-15T01:18:00.000+08:00

"It seems only yesterday when your mother and father are here buying their first wands" - Ollivander

I can say almost the same. It seems only yesterday when I first flipped the pages of my new book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.I remember discovering Harry Potter in a newspaper back in 3rd Year high school. I immediately asked my mother to buy me one of the three books and she bought me Book 3 unknowingly that they have to be read in chronological order. Nevertheless, I was astonished and amazed on how detailed the books was. It was then and there that my childhood beliefs on magic, wandlore and ferocious beasts was reignited.It was also the same year when Philosppher's Stone was released. Since we don't have any cinemas in Kalibo during that time, i resorted in buying pirated vcds in the market just to see how the movie went (I have no idea about the story). Shameful as it is, I enjoyed the whole movie, occasionally affected on Snape's character especially during the Quidditch match. I could remember myself cheering as Harry caught his first Snitch with his mouth. I watched it over and over again. It was then I realized, I was a child again.

When my father discovered this new joy in the series, he immediately bought me Books 1,2 and 4 since they are the only books released during that year. I was so surprised at myself having to read a number of books with a hefty amount of pages with limited pictures. Harry Potter made me love reading even more. When Books 5,6 and 7 were released, I was always first in line outside the malls waiting for it to open so that I can grab myself a copy and read it at once. I can still remember the joyous weekends spent inside my bedroom reading and transported in the world of Hogwarts. My literary journey with Harry ended in 2007.

The sad part on watching Deathly Hallows Part 2 is that this is the last Potter movie to be made. It would be hard for Potter fans to adjust. The 1 year and a half wait is now vanished and there is nothing to look forward on that amount of time.

This is hard for others to understand as to why we Potter Fans are so obsessed with the franchise. It is because, one way or another it has touched our lives... our hearts. That during the time that we flip the pages of the books or just simply watching it in the cinemas, we care for the characters like they are family. When Sirius died, it seemed to us that we lost an uncle. When Dumbledore died, its like we lost a father who took care of us during the 6 long years at Hogwarts. That when Professor McGonagall was attacked by ministry of Magic on Book 5 during OWLS, we feel like our mother or sister has been betrayed. This is the strength of the series: it made us care and be part of the whole Journey. During the final battle on Deathly Hallows Part 2, I am already holding back the tears. The horror of Hogwarts being desolated by Voldemort is just horrific beyond understanding. It is like my school is being attacked and that feeling of empathy is important.

It is in this moment I say that the series has ended. It may come back but the joys of the books and the movies that has given me for the past ten years is far more than enough to say THANK YOU J.K. ROWLING. The ten year journey is done and it all ends here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

2011-07-15T00:48:00.000+08:00

The anticipation is almost over, well 8 hours ago and it was the longest 8 hours I ever had. This last installment of the Harry Potter franchise has taken much of my time for anticipation alone. Last night, i declared to myself to have a marathon of all the movies and ended only with Prisoner of Azkaban since my eyes could not resist from closing into deep sleep. However, I managed to watch Part 1 before heading to the cinema for the FINAL installment of the series in which I grew watching.

As every second comes close to the opening of the movie, I can't help myself to be excited to see how the pages of the book will turn into images in the silver screen. As the Warner Bros. logo flashes in the screen coming closely little by little in our 3D glasses one could not help but be mesmerized. We are again flashed back to Part 1 where Voldemort acquires the elder wand from Dumbledore's tomb and the title sequence begins.

The experience is breathtaking. When we say finale, the movie mean it well. As the plot uncovers until to the final battle of Hogwarts, the tension which is being built up can be felt. It merely shows that the final Harry Potter does not linger with its cuteness during the Sorcerer's Stone, this time, we mean battle. When you read the book, the final battle of Hogwarts seems to pass so fast, there are so many things that are happening, in the movie, we see an epic in the making. Deathly Hallows Part 2 now holds the throne that Return of the King once taken. What struck me most is that even with all the tension, the movie was able to dwell on the emotions of all the characters. There has been quite a lot of deaths in the movie, I am just surprised that Fred's death was given a little less of importance. On other hand, Snape's death scene and the Pensieve scenes has been one of the most heartbreaking among all others. As a reader, it is important that Snape, being one of the most important characters must be given justification in the finale, in my own opinion, HE IS THE FINALE and my salute goes to Alan Rickman who had been not only great but purely exceptional in the entire series. Towards the end of the battle, Deathly Hallows has redefined "breathtaking" that not even Transformers can define.

This finale is also a reunion of almost all of the characters who were present on the last 7 films. We see once more Professor Sprout, who was only seen on Chamber of Secrets, Trelawney, Madam Pomfrey and all other professors. This is one of the best asset of the franchise: casting veteran actors for the supporting cast, and what would you get? An ensemble that matches what you have read in the book. Professor Mcgonagall is kick ass in this finale as she assumes the role of the Headmistress as Snape was forced out of the castle. Ralph Fiennes provided us with a Voldemort who is both effective and realistic. Helena Bonham Carter who has literally translated Bellatrix Lestrange's madness. Michael Gambon's Dumbledore who was not that lovable at first but manages to take on the role since Half Blood Prince. These supporting cast stole the show.

The end of the series is a bittersweet moment for a Potter Fan like me. No one but a fellow Potter fan would understand the feelings I had during the movie, and I personally would give my gratitude to its director David Yates for translating a book that has been part of me. As the last words written in the book, All is Well...

GRADE: A++