>> First Potter 5 official pics!!

Warner Bros. had started the heads up and now they have released the very first 5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix production pictures, letting us Potter-maniacs take a glimpse into the darker film beyond. Whoah, my nerves are rushing man, Order of the Phoenix looks cool, and Daniel Radcliffe, although supporting a new haircut (hmm, not so much like Harry, as what was said in the book, his hair was getting more unruly than ever), he still looks like...well, Harry. We got different new actors here also, aside from always gawking at the usuals like Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith and the rest. Academy-award nominated Imelda Staunton play Dolores Umbridge here, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and rather looking very pink, just as what I expected. It also has Helena Bonham Carter playing the dark witch Bellatrix Lestrange. And Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, my fave character and fave actor, is making a comeback. Wohoo! They brought up also the Dumbledore's Army lessons here (oops, hope I'm not spilling out too much). Alright, alright, I'll leave for the rest of you all to ogle.
Potter 5 opens at the theaters June 13, 2007. Damn straight, that long.





comments (0)

+-+BEST MOVIE TRAILERS I'VE COME ACROSS!

Oscar season is drawing to a near, and upcoming movies seemed to have felt the need to launch their trailers so here it is. These are just a few of the movies that I am looking forward to watch this year.

>>Frank Miller's 300

300 promo trailer is just drop-dead awesome! Looks like Sin City is being fused with Gladiator, and it involves so much ravishing cinematography. Gerard Butler looks really solid in this film. I could predict this would be the epic film of 2006.

>>Blood Diamond

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Honsou, Blood Diamond looks like an Oscar bait.

>>The Good Shepherd

Directed by Robert de Niro, produced by Francis Ford Copolla, focused on the history of CIA, with Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon - who could say no?

>>Fur

Nicole Kidman is destined for the Oscars this year, and it would be completely ridiculous if she wouldn't get a nomination. Steven Shainberg delves into Diane Arbus history and made an imaginary portrait. Robert Downey looks creepy and awesome. It's about mood and settind, dude. Filmmaking.

>>The Fountain

Critics are riveted by it, and they gave The Fountain very high praises in the Venice Film Festival. As for me, I knew this film was in the making ages ago and it's a Darren Aronofsky creation. I suppose he's inspired with the eternal love film, after Rachel Weisz gave birth to his son. Hugh Jackman could get an Oscar nod, I hope. Oh by the way, JoBlo offered The Fountain "the most astounding visuals you'll ever see this year... and the most poetic story too."

>>The Prestige

Another Hugh Jackman film, and to add to that, one of my most favourite actors in the world, Christian Bale and the young and respected Scarlett Johansson. 2 bestfriends, 2 wizards who became rivals. Sounds like magic to me.

>>Bobby

The would-be Best Ensemble of the year, Bobby boasts so many fine talents: Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, Elijah Wood, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Fishburne and many more... Directed by Emilio Estevez. It had already gathered high praises in the Venice Film Festival

>>Children of Men

So far, Alfonso Cuaron's works had not yet flagged down. He has done the bravest thing to Harry Potter 3. And now he's focusing to the world without a child. Clive Owen stars and Julianne Moore. A from the critics, sure-fire as hell.

>>Little Children

Another film entitled Children. Little Children gained reputation with its screening calling it a dark side of romance. They say Kate Winslet is outstanding in this one.

>>Babel

One movie that I can't wait to watch. Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu's 21 Grams, as I believe, is one of best films I've ever seen in my life. And with this, Babel, critics are already calling it moving. Even Brad Pitt was praised with "his finest performance up to date."

>>Pan's Labyrinth

This is so far JoBlo's highest rated film of 2006. It's 9 out of 10. Critics at Venice Film Festival are calling it "a flat-out masterpiece" and "a cinematic feat, one could be marked in history."

>>Flags of Our Fathers

I think my year wouldn't be complete if I wouldn't see this film. Clint Eastwood is back directing an Oscar contender. From the trailer itself, I knew it would be an Oscar turn.

>>Marie Antoinette

Names. Sofia Copolla. Kirsten Dunst. There is one name to remember this year. Marie Antoinette. Imagine Renaissance fused with rock soundtrack. Awesome.

>>The Queen

Helen Mirren had already won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival. Who says this film's not royalty?

>>Sherrybaby

I am definitely watching this film. I am so definitely watching this. This indie would be a biggie. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a tour de force indeed.

>>Stranger Than Fiction

Will Ferrell would quit comedies. This is his new dramedy. At least there's drama, and critics are already giving way to their knees to this so-called "magnificent film ."

>>The Reaping

A solid looking horror-thriller. Hilary Swank lays a feast and she battles with the plagues that happened in Egypt ages ago.

>>Flyboys

James Franco looks cool in dramas, and Flyboys would prove that. Good-looking filn about the men who first flew the planes back in WW2.

>>Driving Lessons

Rupert Grint's breath of fresh air from Harry Potter. Looks like a very good indie drama with Julie Walters and Laura Linney. An adoslescent escapade of our lives.

>>Haven

Orlando Bloom's conquering indie. This movie will prove he's more than just a pretty face. Critics were calling this Romeo and Juliet in the Havana, a revenge filled conquest to the human heart. Written by Bob Yari, from last year's Oscar-winning Crash.

>>Eragon

I wasn't so amazed by the trailer but it looks decent enough to be seen this year. Even the dragons looked so much computerized. Hmm, we shall see.


Enjoy watching!

comments (0)

..:: Grave of the Fireflies [1988]

There's never been an animated movie so powerful, so gripping, so emotionally compelling that exalts in the level of Saving Private Ryan and other war opuses in history. While most war films talk about war itself, Grave of the Fireflies shows to us the real effects of war, shakes us open our eyes and see everything clealry that dispute in country could mark a terrible loss, mostly on the innocent ones. Imagine, a hard, biting truth - a stark reality - all told in a 2D Japanese animation. Well, you couldn't probably imagine until you see it with your own sight.
It devastates and moves us as well, and the emotional impact would surely hit even right from the very first scene where the brother suddenly whispers the name of her younger sister in utter hopelessness. Grave of the Fireflies focuses on the story of Seito and her younger sister for about 5-year old, Setsuko, trapped in a country torn in war, Japan. It did not try to delve into the political side of the story but more on the human side, and trust me, this is one of the most human cartoons I have ever seen. We are being presented with two protagonists, whose parents died due to war, and their struggle, their instinct to live and to survive between hardships, loss of food, becomes a cinematic feat that it becomes inevitable make the audience shed tears. Seita, a young teenager, battles everything, including to swallow his pride and even steal food just to feed his younger sister. Setsuko, a 5-year old girl, lives the days with her innocence becoming increasingly lost, due to the events that is happening around her. No one could protect the child from their lost of innocence and war opened their eyes, even in a very young age.
One could really speak that Grave of the Fireflies is made up of very simple animation. It does not boast the quality that animations have nowadays. It's not as visually stunning as Disney films, but it extracts its power from its simplicity, withholding that certain miraculous pedestal that even a modern animated movie can do. The film is filled with silence, but only in this silence that the characters seemed to express themselves, trying to evoke their own emotions, becoming transformed into the brave icons that we must become today. There are so many haunting images in the film, so devastating and heart-wrenching, especially that scene where Setsuko discovered her mother is suffering from a 3rd degree burn, and that Seita refused to tell her and break her innocence. The two of them sat in the sand as Setsuko cried silently. All Seita could do is to make a happy diversion by doing acrobatic tricks around a hanging steel bar. This scene alone gives us a mighty impact, a scene that defines what cinema is all about.
I must admit, it's hard not to shed tears in this film.

Rating: A+

comments (0)

..:: Cars [2006]

After the long and arduous effort that Disney's Pixar Studios had exerted to produce history-worthy animations, only a named few had made out to the all-time favourite list. This includes the unforgettable Finding Nemo, Toy Story - the animation that made my childhood days awesome, the heartfelt Monsters, Inc. and finally the brilliantly structured The Incredibles. Everytime Pixar would launch another animated film, audiences would expect that it would be better than the last. Question was, did Cars made it through the light? My verdict. No.
Cars is actually bright to the eyes, filled with wonderful animations, captivating Western sceneries and engaging characters - it's all a Pixar stamp pad. It contains a lot of moral lessons that Pixar films had been advocating for over a few years now, lessons for the family, friends and enemies alike. Lessons like bravery, humbleness, perseverance, belongingness, courage and love. Cars has it all, and it is a good film for the family to watch and enjoy. Now what it lacks, is the heart. It is not as powerful a Finding Nemo, or The Incredibles. I'm not comparing here but I since we're talking about the whole Pixar 'scenario', let's just get this over with. Cars surely lacks the emotional edge that Finding Nemo struck us mightily, or Monsters, Inc. had shown us subtly. Lightning McQueen (Cars' protagonist) didn't do a collosal heroic act like what the tiny Marlin did to find his son Nemo around the whole blue ocean. There are great things provided in Cars like what Lightning McQueen did at the end of the film, learning that winning isn't everything, but great isn't majestic.
The talents behind the characters were good but not really inspired. Owen Wilson behind Lightning McQueen felt like a rookie indeed, and everone else were too ordinary. Well, as for me, I just glued myself into my seat and did enjoy the last racing sequence in the film, that's about two-fifth of the whole movie. At the end, you'll somehow realise that Cars was worth the watch at all.

Rating: B

comments (0)

..:: Over The Hedge (2006)

Quite enjoyable, filled with interactive characters, Over The Hedge as I thought was still a good way to put out a Friday night. It has humor, entertainment, a plot that's a bit cleverly conceived, a pinch of drama and wild raucous party of animated animals. The film only misses one thing - that certain 'thing' that makes movies unforgettable. Afterwards, after having been ogling at this film, it swirls in your mind and leaves you untouched.
I simply like the voice talents, since they kept the whole movie so playful and bright enough to cheer even a gawking 5-year old kid. The animation was just fine, and it didn't really made a history-defining event. It boasts Bruce Willis, Avril Lavigne, Steve Carrell, and Wanda Sykes on its facade although Avril Lavigne was a pretty novice in this business and of all films that she should be first appearing, an animation. Look how considerable. But anyway, there could be moments that you realize how hilarious the plot is, especially when audiences are being thrown into the point of view of animals being stunned by how humans live (well, most of food.) The climax was a seat-wriggler as it's combines plenty of action and funny sequences.
That's all folks. Just watch the film. I'm not really in the mood for writing now and I'm just writing this to get this done. I mean, I have watched this film for like 3 weeks ago and now the enthusiasm felt like melting over some silly nonsense. And probably, this the shortest review I have ever written here, so there's the record! Haha!
Honestly, it's a pleasure watching this film and it's enjoyable. Kids should see it, and adults should see it with their kids.

Rating: B

comments (0)

..:; American Dreamz (2006)

American Dreamz is a kind of film that strives hard for the audience to be pleased. It tackles subject matters that are mostly thought-provoking and both socially and politically challenging. I don't want to say directly whether American Dreamz is a pleasure to watch or disappointing because it would be truly unfair if I would say this has been deliberately devastating.
Let's balance this all. American Dreamz is a comedy. For a comedy, it's a so-so. It doesn't really gets your nerves, like the way you laughed in most comedy films, although I smiled and chuckled in some of the scenes. Especially that scene where Omar's cousin was so upset about having his dreams stolen, and when his mum told him 'We love you," he retorted back, 'Is that going to make me famous?' A simple line like this is brutally true these days, but as what was mentioned all throughout the film, it doesn't perform very well. The writing only strives to become acceptable, not really respectable.
American Dreamz is a pop demonstration. Doing the 'American Idol' show spin-off is great, and showcasing talents singers all over the country seemed realistic enough. I also enjoyed Omar's ridiculous a la William Hung rendition of the song 'Impossible Dream'.
American Dreamz is directed by Paul Weitz, whose brother worked with him in the very brilliant About A Boy. In this film, he almost failed. There was no absolute assurance that this film could be in the top, or maybe critically accepted, and Paul Weitz seemed powerless enough to save this film from its horrendous fate.
American Dreamz is filled with stars. Mandy Moore is delicious enough portraying a bitchy role. Hugh Grant felt like the thinner figure of Simon Cowell. Dennis Quaid looked corny as the President of the U.S. of A.
Now, what I liked in the film was its being a political and social satire. It's very true indeed that there are more people voting for Americal Idol and for the country's future stars than voting for the President. This is where American Dreamz felt strong enough as a film. Also, socially speaking, people who had ambitions do anything just to reached their dreams, especially the character of Mandy Moore in here. The finale of the show was literally explosive, and terrorist plot had been all over the scene - done in a funny way. Terrorist had never been so stupid, really. And the President was even portrayed as a daft Texan who acted like a puppet under the strings of a the Speaker of the House, played by Willem Dafoe, who really looked like a double persona of Dick Cheney.
All in all, American Dreamz is just halfway of being a good film and a bad film. One thing I knew for sure, it could be easily forgotten. Hilarious? Yes. But as a film, nah, it all felt too much like a sitcom.

Rating: B-

comments (0)

..:: Serenity (2005)

I am no fan of sci-fi flicks. Yet, Serenity earns that hard-earned respect that it deserved. With very picturesque and almost real visuals, it capticates the eye and pleases sci-fi the geekdom. I once heard the whole idea of Serenity came from the recently-cancelled TV series Firefly. Joss Whedon, the brain behind the TV series Angela and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created Serenity with the use of his own wits and style. So now, after watching Serenity, I think it's not a bad movie, and it did pleased me with some high-flying action and amazing visuals that looked so impossibly real. It's hard to call this the new Star Wars, but it's an epic on its own filled with intriguing characters, full of humor and at the same time, a good-natured space opera.
But sad to say, I couldn't rate this movie any higher than B because it is a B movie indeed. I swear I was never a fan of sci-fi flicks and believed that movies like these are for dorks. I haven't even watched the first two Star Wars flicks and only happened to check out the recent one, The Revenge of the Sith. I hate to say this but I am not a digger of this, which is really ironic, because as I'm a movie fan, I should not be biased on any genre. OK, I guess I'm starting to learn, but Serenity is an entertaining film. One that could be watched on a Friday night. (Anyway, why it's always Friday night? Is it movie night?)
The plot is like this. Life on Earth is not non-existent, but rather over existent. Humans had now ventured throughout the space to search for other solar systems to live in. Now, a super-deuper-great council of all solar systems had been established to put humans under an organized system. Of course, there are still lawbreakers. The crew of Serenity for instance (yes, Serenity is a spaceship) - they're thieves. They rob banks for running their own system, their own spaceship. Until their own adventures led them to misadventures. They stumbled across the Reavers, horrible looking creatures in space that eats humans literally. In a very wild but comic sequence, they also stumbled upon a girl which was a psychic, who sees things... a secret weapon that the council was planning to use. There is betrayal, there is disloyalty and there is revenge. Serenity touches on serious matters like demolishing the whole race of humanity, and its theme interesting enough to chill your senses up. Right, Serenity is effective.

Rating: B

comments (0)

..:: Underworld: Evolution (2006)

Comic-fun coolness, gothic world goodness, with wham bam action sequences and dark interesting storyline - that was the first Underworld movie, three years ago. Underworld: Evolution however seemed to not have been reached the statuette that I was expecting for. It's not a disappointment, I mean, technically, it still looks cool and pretty gothic, but its own storyling made the movie more convoluted than it already was.
Alright, sequels rarely work. Look at Hollywood franchises, you just have to be as tough as Johnny Depp or adventurous as Jerry Bruckheimer to make sequels work and well, cash in some gazzing! But although Underworld 2 is full of blood gushing, sword slashing, butt kicking action sequences, it doesn't seem to fill up that empty space that the first Underworld film left, in which the sequel is supposed to suffice.
The plot, my God, I did get the whole story as I am not daft, but it seems to me that they made everything so complex that the whole plot did became somehow too intricate, too confusing for an ordinary moviegoer. The first scene was a bit effective though, trying to go way back centuries and trace the war between vampires and lycans (werewolves) and that two brothers were warring alongside with each other. As the movie developed, the character of Markus, the first vampire to have ruled the world, was left underdeveloped. The filmmakers apparently didn't know what to do with him, and his character felt too sympathetic for a king vampire, for his own brother which was also the grand master lycan. The character of Alexander Corvinus was poorly done. I though he was this powerful a la Godfather Don Vampire but he disappointingly weak.
Without the uber compelling Kate Beckinsale, I don't think this movie would have worked. Laden with supercool gadgets in a very tight black outfit, she surely kicks more asses. I could even imagine her in the role of Diana, the Wonder Woman (yes, she's been chosen to fit in the role). She maintains the character very well and she gives intense command every single second she's on the screen. Scott Speedman was alright, acceptable in fact. But anyway, what do the stars have to boast when their own movie that revolves around them seemed to be confused which way to go to? I think some people would like it, especially those who crave for cinematic fake blood. But for me, I don't know how to do with it. I even wanted to scream at the filmmakers, the director (which was Kate Beckinsale's husband, Len Wiseman) what they have done at the film. I love the first Underworld film, and I wish they had better on the second.

Rating: C

comments (0)

..:: Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

For once in a while, there comes a stone - grey, hard, almost too common to notice. But if we try to crack, we could find a little gem inside - shining, precious, beautiful and awe-inspiring. This is how Akeelah and the Bee felt like, too ordinary at the beginning, yet sparkled extraordinarily at the end. This is one of the year's finest films, one of the year's most touching movies, and specifically the best family movie so far this year.
And I wouldn't have said that if I didn't love it.
We try to ask, what is really a dream? Is worth to dream even though the people around you doesn't believe at what you do at all? Is it arresting to know that you've been travelling such a difficult road alone, or perhaps weakening? It all takes one thing, and you couldn't believe in a dream unless you believe in yourself. It may be too mediocre in a plotline, but believe me, Akeelah and the Bee takes you into a journey that would surely tug your emotional strings.
It follows the story of girl named Akeelah, an 11-year old girl with an uncommon talent: she knows how to spell words, and she's good at it, way good that would even make your tongue turn out of the mispelled words you're making by yourself. It has the same underdog formula, where a girl has her own dreams but nobody believes in her, and inspite of that, she shows her pure talent. Until there came a person who really believed in her and helped her in every way possible a mentor could teach to her student. She becomes hesitant at first, a lack of confidence, but then, after a few heartaches and realizations, she learns about one thing that's important for a dream to exist - courage. This is where Akeelah delivers: it gives us brilliance out of mediocrity. It teaches us moral lessons in life, and most of all, let us realise that there are many people out there who really cares for us and that we just lacked the real determination to show what we got and let them believe that we can. When Akeelah shines bright in its story, its performances glows even brighter. Keke Palmer as Akeelah Anderson is a wondrous talent. She may even inspire a 9 year old kid to want to join in a spelling contest. Angela Bassett is superbly marvelous as the mother who refrains Akeelah to join contest, but actually loved her daughter but just too afraid of risking any more loss in the family. Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Larabee is also equally magnificent with his emotionally-stoned character.
The scenes were mostly unforgettable, especially that first time when Akeelah was being asked by Dr. Larabee the spelling of "Prestidigitation". I didn't know that word myself. But Akeelah did, she told it aloud and regretted that she did, fearing that people may call her a brainiac, fearing the power of her own self. Also, the contests scenes were absolutely engaging. Even the character of Dylan also was great, especially his transformation. Most of all, I really can't forget the scene where Akeelah confronts her own mother about her abilities and her lack of beliefs and also where the mother explained to Akeelah why she was restraining her to join the National Spelling Bee. She said, "Look around you, you've got 50,000 coaches." Of course, if we were there with her, we just want to support her.
I love this film, and I enjoyed it both visually and emotionally. It tugs your heartstrings and gives you weak knees. Of course, it's a movie that's very hard not to love. It's joyfully uplifting and heartwarming too. The script was written so well and the dialogues go straight into ou hearts. Especially this one, an inspiring quote from Marianne Williamson (I don't know who this writer is, but good for her for writing such a splendid quote):

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we subconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

When Akeelah reads this, she realised that she wasn't afraid of anything. She was afraid of her self, of her own true power to stand there in the podium, believe in her own self and prove to the world that she can.

Rating: A

comments (0)

..:: The Godfather II (1974)

Mafia had never been this dark, deep, moody and absolutely arresting while Al Pacino delivers his supreme magnificence of his career in this Francis Ford Copolla once-in-a-lifetime haunting masterpiece. Never will the filmmakers could helm another Godfather movie, and even doing a remake could be downrightly foolish.
One of the most important films of all time, The Godfather II, isn't better than the first but comparatively on the same level. I loved the first one, and Copolla proved the world that he was a master of moods, dark crimes, atmosphere and brooding filmmaking. The Godfather II however is a film of equal greatness. And Al Pacino is worth every single scene in it. His exposition of Michael Corleone is phenomenal and he's very good in controlling emotions behind a very troubled and corrupt character. One figure that would haunt history as one of the most tragic characters of all time in movie history. Way back in The Godfather, we were presented with the family of Corleones, but we never knew the whole background. We got acquainted with Don Vito, as the supreme head of the powerful bloodline, and also with Michael Corleone, the best and brightest of Don Vito's sons. We knew the bits then that Don Vito chose Michael as his heir, even though he's the youngest sibling, he was chosen and that his father believed in him. But in The Godfather II, the once intelligent, the one who went into college and enlisted himself in the marines, became a cold and cruelly ruthless man, who never forgive disloyalty and a man obsessed with power. In this film, once again compellingly delivered, gives us a glimpse of how power corrupts a human being, and how it blinds one to forget the whole past.
The Corleone saga is at its triumph here, and so far, as I've known, of the best sequels in Hollywood history. What is actually awesome in this film was that it's both a sequel and at the same time, a prequel. It continues Michael Corleone's life a dominant figure of the family, the head of the mafia and continuing family traditions and business. His heart had grown colder every single year and even his estranged wife felt betrayed by all the sufferings they all are going through. Even his own brother, Michael condemns. Even his own wife, he abandons - all for the sake of power. And speaking of the prequel, it gives us the story of Don Vito, on his earlier life, played brilliantly by the younger Robert de Niro. We were able to know what his humble beginnings were and how he battled with mafias before, like the death of his own mother back in Sicily. We also know that he travelled to New York at the age of nine and was then acquainted by the powerful stronghold of violence in the faces of the streets he lived in.
Francis Ford Copolla handles the material very well, and it never flags like most sequels do. It has a very astounding narrative force and all the performances are stunning. Love this film, and as what was mentioned, Pacino made it a defining motion picture history.

Rating: A

comments (0)

..:: Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber (2005)

Jennifer Love Hewitt was a major movie star - but now, why all her movies become almost nonexistent? To ask this straight, what has become of her now?
She starred in one of the biggest flops of Hollywood, and starred in the two horrible films of Garfield. She also made a love-tragedy-story If Only, which wasn't really a breakout hit, and also starred in All About Love which was really all about movie-that-wasn't-recorded-in-history. I hate to think now that she continues to spread her own malignant disease of making nonexistent movies like this.
Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber isn't a kind of film that you wanted to watch for a cinematic kind of experience. It felt like a sitcom, a movie made for a lowkey TV channel. I abhor the kind of moviemaking that was used in here, and I don't really appreciate the efforts of the filmmakers here because to think, after watching this film, it doesn't really gets into your brain and swell down as an unforgettable one but rather makes you forget it at an instant like you had some short-term memory loss. If not for the story, I dunno, maybe the film had sunk into the very impenetrable depths of regrets.
The movie did convey a good message, especially for people who wanted to climb in the social ladder - and that's the only thing in the movie that I roughly appreciate. The story of Katya Livingston, an obnoxious, ambitious, cruelly greedy ad sales exec, who would do anything just to get a statuette in the pedestal of San Franciscan socialites. She buys imitation bags and claim it as truly and originally expensive. She does everything that a socialite would do to conquer pride and vanity.
There wasn't so much kind of popcorn fun in this film, because I rarely enjoyed it. Please, Ms Hewitt, use your talents, do not waste yourself in such movies like this. Make real movies, oh puhlease. But anyway, sometimes bad films convey good messages. Socialites are the main focus of the bantering done here. Paris Hilton, are you listening? Are you still crying when you listen to your own CD?

Rating: D

comments (0)

..:: Howl's Moving Castle (2005)

Another animated film from Hayao Miyazaki, an Oscar Best Animated Film nominee, and an adaptation from Dianne Wynne Jones's children's novel of the same title, Howl's Moving Castle offers a rich fantasy of adolescent escape, filled with sheer imagination and wonderful cinematic artistry - but yet, compared to Miyazaki's former works, Howl's Moving Castle isn't as moving, as emotionally inspired as Miyazaki's ultimate masterpiece Spirited Away. Miyazaki may have not achieved the level of Spirited Away, but so far, Howl's Moving Castle works its own wonders.
There are still many things that were to be loved in this film. One was the animation: Miyazaki has created a world that is so inviting, so full of complex fantasy, that it was nearly impossible for a person not to watch it. The feat that was the titular castle itself was an animated marvel. The landscapes in the film were breathtaking too. Secondly, the voices behind the characters. Like Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle is chock-full of interesting characters but unlike Spirited Away, in Howl's, the characters weren't as inspired as the former. But they do generate a well-received part of the story. A distinguished cast of actors, under the direction of Pixar’s Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.), lend their vocal talents to this English-language version of the film. Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer), an average teenage girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome-but-mysterious wizard named Howl (voiced amazingly by Christian Bale), and is subsequently turned into a 90-year old woman (voiced by screen legend and two-time Oscar nominee Jean Simmons) by the vain and conniving Wicked Witch of the Waste (voiced by the also screen legend and Oscar nominee Lauren Bacall).
Embarking on an incredible odyssey to lift the curse, she finds refuge in Howl’s magical moving castle where she becomes acquainted with Markus, Howl’s apprentice, and a hot-headed fire demon named Calcifer (voiced by Billy Crystal). Sophie’s love and support comes to have a major impact on Howl, who flies in the face of orders from the palace to become a pawn of war and instead risks his life to help bring peace to the kingdom. It was Christian Bale that rocked the house. He had given Howl such a brilliant command over this film.
Howl's Moving Castle is for older children, for teenagers and adults. It appeals to a more mature audience, than Spirited Away. I did enjoy watching this film. It's a not a masterpiece, but it's indeed a filmgoing experience.

Rating: B

comments (0)

.:: Spirited Away (2002)

A downright statement: Spirited Away is one of the most moving animated film ever made. And to mention, it's a Japanese animation, from the direction of Hayao Miyazaki, which grabbed the Oscar triumph of Best Animated Film beating out Hollywood animated-biggies like Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron, Treasure Planet, Ice Age and Lilo & Stitch. This is what movie magic is all about and Spirited Away proves us that even a 2D-animated film could be as powerful a movie with substance.I watched Spirited Away 4 years ago, when I was still in 2nd year High School, in which a friend introduced it to me. And after watching the film, I made a vow. A kind of I-swear-I-would-watch-this-movie-again-before-I-die-on-Earth vow, and four years later, I was still stunned by the magic of the film. It ranks as a contender for the all-time Disney classics, and as I grow up, I will surely not forget it and it will remain as a treasure to me forever. The simple story of a girl named Chihiro, a spoiled little clumsy brat, who hated her parents more than ever. They were moving to a new house, and she hated them for it. She hated moving to a new school, hated her parents' indifference, and hated everything she is about to face in their new life in a new house. She's annoyingly hard-headed, and surely demands everything she wants. But their journey towards their new home led them to a detour in a wild forest. They stumbled upon a theme park and they wandered around they found food served upon tables without anyone in sight cooking. Of course, when you're hungry, it's the stomach that's speaking - and so Chihiro's parents ate rather voraciously. Chihiro demanded them to stop and go back to the car but they won't listen. With heated head, she wandered around to see the sight, which was an abandoned park, and noticed it was becoming increasingly late. But when she went back to her parents, she could see nothing but two large swines in the clothes of her parents, sitting just where her parents had just eaten. Chihiro's parents turned into pigs, due to their greed. And what Chihiro was about to face would test her mind, body and soul to find a way to pick a decision: to escape from the place and leave her parents or battle everything to save the two people who had been with her with all her life. This movie is hard to resist. Although it's a 2D animation, it still sparks with magic and it's unmistakably visceral. But the reason why I call this film a moving experience was the movie's message for humanity. It appeals to everyone of us, children and adults, as long as we knew we raised by people whom we call parents. Chihiro, a formerly bad kid, had her faith, courage and love for her parents are being tested, and because of this happening, she was able to learn about determination, what courage really is, what is perseverance, responsibility, honor, and most of all, love. It was in her hands that the fates of her parents lie, and her unwavering determination leads her to do her best in saving her parents' life. A wonderful, beautiful portrayal that all of us are basically good, it's just that we are being blinded by our own greed, and misdeeds. Chihiro is in fact a reflection of all of us humans, fragile souls being turned around by hate yet had our eyes being opened by a life-changing experience that would change our beliefs forever. Even though we are adults, we somehow go back and look at our past and wish we could turn back time and straighten everything we wanted to change, learn more about respect for our parents and love them deeply. Spirited Away gives us a majestic reason to be able to change for good, or for better. Spirited Away had done the remarkable breakthrough that an Alice in the Wonderland had done way back decades ago. It is now being compared even to the legendary Wizard of Oz. Say, who might have never been captured by this soul-stirring, emotionally-moving animation. One of the most enchanting film of the years that had came by and it defines perfection. I even struggled to find imperfection in this film. Even the characters shine so brilliantly. Characters that are so unforgettable like your household-names of Cinderella, Ariel, Hercules, Snow White and Alice. Chihiro or named as Sin becomes an ultimate icon. Even the witch in the film was astoundingly created portraying evil necessarily. And Haku, the witch's apprentice, was a brilliant character too, a soul lost in his own absolution yet had a destiny to be remembered by his own courage and
strength to fight for his own will. Finally, the witch's baby, a large one, was definitely lovable. Anime lovers should rejoice for this, bringing a powerhouse to all-time greats. It is a beautiful experience watching this film, and it's musical score is as fluid as the story itself. It combines magic, folklore, legends, and as what have mentioned, it felt like it was Alice in the Wonderland but just taken so seriously with moral lessons one could take for all his life. It is a masterpiece. It's like Steven Spielberg, with Tim Burton, and Lewis Carroll all spun afresh with childlike wonder. It's impossible not to be spirited away with this movie. Mark my words: 10 years from now, film students would study this film and examine it for all its worth. It is a kind of film that has the resonant power to change what's wrong in this world that we live in.


Rating: A+

comments (0)

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)