Christina Aguilera and Cher Join Forces in ‘Burlesque’

After Britney Spears’ snooze-fest called Crossroads and Mariah Carey’s near-career-suicide Glitter, Christina Aguilera makes an attempt to debunk the seemingly true idea that contemporary singers are not welcome in the silver screen. I love Britney and Mariah to bits but their performances in their respective first topbilled flicks really disappointed me. (Thank God, Mimi was able to redeem herself in Precious.) This is why I can’t help but be scared for Christina Aguilera, whom I adore as well.

Christina Aguilera’s fourth studio album Bionic was not well-received and there’s just too much undeserved negativity going on around her so I’m starting to fear that Burlesque might even worsen the situation. By the way, here’s the trailer:

After watching the trailer, I had this feeling that it would be a small town girl living in a lonely world going to Hollywood to wear almost nothing on stage cliche. But like what a friend told me, many musicals today are formulaic — Moulin Rouge is cliche as hell, Dreamgirls is freakin’ cliche, even Glee is cliche. What will make  or break this movie is the execution.

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Top 10 Movie Sound Effects

Note: I originally wrote this article for Crunkish.com. It was first published in April 2007. Three years later, allow me to post this on my own blog.

Watching a movie without sound effects is like not watching at all. Even back in the early 1900s, when films were all silent, people have tried to simulate real-life sounds by producing sound effects live, while the movie was being projected. Sound effects make a better movie-viewing experience by producing sounds that we hear in real life. They also add to the emotions and effectiveness of the scene.

image courtesy of pic.leech.it

Usually, sound mixers and editors record sound for a particular scene. These recordings are then archived to be used in other films that they can be useful to in the future. As years go by, some of these recorded sound effects have been used over and over again that they have become ubiquitous. In fact, a few of these sound effects have found a following with many observant movie fans and editors. Others find these repetitive sound effects annoying and absurd.

Whether you are pleased or irritated, here are the top 10 most famous and most commonly used sound effects in Hollywood movies that will surely make you go “Why haven’t I noticed that before?”

10. Animal Sounds

In movies, animals always make noise. Dogs always bark. Cats always meow. Cows always moo. What is absurd is the idea that they still make sound even when they are not supposed to. This is because animal sounds are used to set the mood.

If you have a very good attention to details you would realize that the animals actually make the same noise. In many films:

• Snakes rattle even when they are not rattlesnakes.
• Dolphins make the same “chatter” sound when jumping, spinning and whatever they do — it’s the same sound.
• Insects always sound like they are all wet.
• In open fields, the sound of a red-tailed hawk screeching is heard even when the bird being shown is actually an eagle or a falcon.
• Many horror films also use the same sound of a wolf or owl howling in the distance.
• The sound of kookaburras, an Australian kingfisher, is also often heard even when the film is set in North America.
• Finally, haven’t you noticed that it is the same scream that cats let out over and over again in many movies?

Hmmm. Well?

9. The Martial Art Swish

Another commonly used sound effect is the funny “swish” sound that martial artists make when doing their moves. This swish sound is always used every time they jump, hit or kick. They also always tend to let out a high-pitched scream before the fighting-action.

image courtesy of www.jkd.com.au

The next time you watch a Chinese or Western martial art film, notice how their movements produce exaggerated sounds that don’t occur in real life. Moreover, notice how they all sound the same.

8. Explosion

If you are fond of watching action films, you might have noticed how common explosion scenes go. Another thing that you might have noticed is how sound effects are used in such scenes. Most of them sound alike.. Another unrealistic use of explosion sound effects is in space movies such as Star Wars.

image courtesy of scrapetv.com

In real life, explosions in space do not produce sound. Sound needs a medium, like air, to be heard. Since there is nothing but vacuum in space, there should be no sound. For the purpose of entertainment, however, sound effects are employed.

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Move Over Y’all, Christina Aguilera is Back!

Oh yeah, the Queen is back.

Just when the music industry is full of  artists trying to surround themselves with controversies just to get attention, somebody genuinely talented will come and remind you what talent really sounds like. Oh yeah, Christina Aguilera is bringin’ it.

Four agonizing years of waiting after her last studio album was released, the small girl who owns the greatest voice of this generation finally gave some sneak peek of her upcoming album Bionic (out June 8th) through the single “Not Myself Tonight.” As expected, she reinvents herself once again and this time offers futuristic electropop music. It’s a club banger, something I’d kill a DJ for if not played within a night.

It’s refreshing to see Aguilera without the 1930s look. It’s like she’s bringing back the Christina that most of us fell in love with. Been a fan since Genie in a Bottle.

The old Christina is gone. She feels brand new. And if you don’t like her, Fudge You!

And as always, Christina also proved that mad singing skills and club music can marry each other to produce an A-list dance tune. Her signature belts are present. Love it. Love it. Love it.

I must admit that I wasn’t hooked the first time I heard it; wasn’t that catchy for me. But it’s a grower. The more I listened to it, the more I got addicted. The lyrics are also off for me at first. Was a bit thrown off by the bisexual slant. A bit too pushed for me. Too attention-seeking, haha. But from someone who gave us Dirrty and Nasty Naughty Girl, I wonder why I was even surprised. Haha.

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Movie Review | Miss You Like Crazy (2010)

Genre: Romance, Drama
Director: Cathy Garcia-Molina
Stars: John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo

When I first heard that John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo would be doing a movie together after three years, my first reaction was “How in the world are they gonna top One More Chance?!” Not that One More Chance is a perfect film. But it was perfect for John Lloyd and Bea. It was one of the best mainstream Pinoy romantic drama movies I’d seen in recent times — well-acted, well-directed, well-shot, mature and surprisingly solid.

That said, Miss You Like Crazy is bound to be compared to its predecessor. But looking at the new movie as is, this has a lot of refreshing things to offer.

First, there was a deliberate effort to deviate from conventional Star Cinema movies and it was pretty apparent. The treatment is way different from other Cathy Garcia Molina films. For instance, there was an attempt to play with the timeline. We all know how formulaic studio romantic movies are and they seldom mess up the narrative flow. Also, how they “sectionalized” the film was not something that usual mainstream romance does. Each section is set in a different time and has its own premise, conflict and closure (but not really a resolution). These sections feel like incomplete short films but weaved together make up a good, insightful movie.

Second, the narrative veers away from the explain-it-all/show-it-all school of storytelling. When one section ends and another starts, the audience is left in a vacuum. A long time has been skipped and the audience is left wondering how much time has passed and what happened in between. It doesn’t assume that you are too stupid to assume or to discover for yourself what you missed. There’s a downside, though. It has a happy ending, yes, but that’s not the problem. The issue is how it gets there comes out of nowhere. It’s not established enough; it felt forced. It felt thought out in the last minute just so they could give the audience a happy ending. That’s the problem.

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‘Miss You Like Crazy’ Full Trailer

Well, it’s not really a secret. I’m a big John Lloyd Cruz-Bea Alonzo fan. Not the type who storms to the premiere night armed with a tarpaulin, shouting “We looove you Lloydie! We looove you Bea!” But I have seen all their movies and TV series. Hehe.

What I love about their team-up is that they do not really resort to fooling the public, declaring they love each other or that they are an item. The viewers are well aware that they are not a couple. But whenever they are together on screen, they are able to make scenes natural, believable and effective (in terms of kilig and entertainment value). No gimmicks required.

One More Chance is one of my most-loved local romance dramas and I was sure thrilled when Star Cinema (ABS-CBN Film Production) announced that Bea and John Lloyd is having a reunion movie as the studio’s Valentine offering.

Call me jologs. Call me baduy. Call me whatever. I love them. I love Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina. I am seeing this movie. Opening day.

Sorry, fan lang.

Criminally Overlooked | Top 10 Famous Yet Underrated Actors and Actresses in Hollywood

Note: I originally wrote this article for Qool Media in 2007. And since it’s awards season once again, I figured it’s time for me to publish this on this blog. Just edited it a little for updates. Remember that this is a PERSONAL list and that it was written in 2007, three years ago. But feel free to add other actors that you think are underrated.

Life isn’t fair. Some people get too much while others get so much less that what they deserve. Like life, Hollywood is unfair, too. It is home to many celebrities who enjoy fame for absolutely no remarkable work. And then, there are those who have exerted so much effort and unparalleled talent but never really received any significant recognition.

From brilliant actors who are refused to be given a break to those who rock their roles no matter how small they are, you can produce a list of celebrities who are not given what they are due. Here is a list of ten FAMOUS actors and actresses in Hollywood but criminally underrated.

10. Sandra Bullock

Although many people would disagree that Sandra Bullock is overrated for all the fame and glamor she enjoys right now, it has to be noted that she CAN act. All the talk about her in tinsel town was not about how good an actress she was. Aside from her dazzling beauty and head-turning attitude that always make her top every most beautiful celebrities list there is, she is a total scene-stealer when it comes to acting.

Unfortunately, not all people realize that. Her portrayal of a woman in jeopardy in Speed isn’t a performance that Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson or Jennifer Aniston can deliver. She even completely kicked out Matthew McConaughey from the spotlight with her outstanding performance in “A Time to Kill.” Heck, even her very tiny role in “Crash” was well-celebrated.

(Update: Thanks to The Blind Side, Sandra got a challenging, heavy role in a good material and hopefully it pays off this year and be regarded as among her contemporaries such as Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman in the acting department.)

9. Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Jason Leigh may have lost a number of important roles in huge movies like The Terminator (to Linda Hamilton) and Hannibal (to Julianne Moore) but she’s definitely here to prove her worth as an actress. She has shown her acting prowess in several films, from Mrs. Parker and eXistenZ but she is surprisingly still not well-known in Hollywood and is yet to reach the dizzy heights of Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts. Still, she continues to give us brilliant performances but most of them are barely noticed.

8. Gary Oldman

Another great mystery in Hollywood is why Gary Oldman has never received any nod from either the Golden Globes or the Oscars. He isn’t named “The Chameleon” for no reason. Like Johnny Depp who looks so different in all his movies, Gary has already made a name for portraying a wide range of unusual characters varying international backgrounds. He delivers every performance with unmatched intensity that overpowers those of his co-stars every single time.

He is an incredibly talented actor who is still waiting for that moment when his formidable acting skills be recognized by any major award-giving body. Before that day comes, he will continue giving life to supporting characters and will remain one of the most underrated actors in the history of cinema.

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Movie Review | ‘The Hangover’ and the Headache That Didn’t Come With It

Last Thursday, Globe and Warner Bros Pictures invited me to the special screening of “The Hangover” at Greenbelt 3 in Makati City. The people were friendly. The cocktails were fantastic. The movie was entertaining.

Entertaining. Hmmm. A good friend asked me if “entertaining” was enough for me to actually like a film. I answered him with a confident “of course.” “Sometimes,” I told him, “I just want to see a movie to be entertained. I have a habit of checking my Film graduate self at the theater door before watching. I don’t expect to be bothered or hope that the movie would have a potential to change the world. Sometimes, I watch movies because I just need to laugh.”

The Hangover is one of those movies.

This Todd Phillips-laughtrip was something that could hit 11 in the 1-10 entertainment scale. Yes, I did not expect anything from this seemingly-another-Vegas movie but it turned out to be outrageously funny. It lacks depth, yeah, but what the heck. When you’re stressed out, all you need is a good comedy. And this film provides two hours of temporary escape to the horror-realities outside the theater. Props for that.

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Movie Rundown | Star Cinema (January – June 2009)

I was at the French Film Festival a couple of weeks ago to see one of my all-time fave films “The 400 Blows,” directed by the French New Wave director that I more than worship — Francois Truffaut. It was the nth time I’d seen it; I lost count already.

The night before, Shy Guy and I went to see L’Esquive, and we really enjoyed it. Waaah. It’s such a shame that the French Film Fest is over. I guess I just need to wait for Eiga Sai 2009 (Japanese Film Festival) this July. I’m a sucker for foreign film festivals like that. Coz the films are really good. And it’s one of the rare times that I go back to my Film roots. And yeah, coz it’s free most of the time.

Anyway, so now that I’m film-happy and since we’re talking about national cinemas here, I’ll be listing the local films that I have seen this year and what I think about them. These are not film reviews, just some random thoughts.

BFF: Best Friends Forever (2009)
Genre: Comedy; Director: Wenn Deramas
Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Ai-ai Delas Alas, John Estrada

Have you seen the trailer? If you have, then don’t bother watching the film. Once you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen it all.

Seriously.

It’s funny, alright. But in between laughs you wonder, “My God, why am I laughing? Am I that shallow?” When the laughter subsides, you realize that the joke is empty, the scene is pointless, the movie is insulting you, and yeah, you’re shallow. I certainly laughed. But then again, I’m always shallow.

Sayang, after Crying Ladies, I was sooo excited to see Sharon Cuneta do comedy again. But the word “disappointment” won’t even match the way I feel after seeing it.

Somebody should really brainwash Wenn Deramas into quitting showbiz. I still don’t forgive him for ruining “Dyosa,” a TV series concept that could have been good but turned out insufferably ridiculous because it fell in the hands of a director who just loves slapstick and DJ Durano.  1.5

…

T2 (2009)
Genre: Horror; Director: Chito Rono
Stars: Maricel Soriano, Derek Ramsay, Mica Dela Cruz

Arguably the weakest among the Chito Rono horror trilogy, T2 started strong only to reach an anti-climactic twist. It was oh-so-well until the characters arrived at T2. That’s when it all came crashing down.

Sayang din. I like it’s horror road-trip feel. I love the entire going-to-Samar-and-back sequence. But gaaaah, why do they have to enter the Engkanto world?!

Even Maricel Soriano‘s flawless acting can’t save the last parts of the film — especially the “school” finale; that was really lame and lousy.

Something is lacking in T2 that Sukob and Feng Shui have. No, it’s not Kris Aquino. 3.0

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Finally An Update

Wuhooooo! After a seems-like-forever hiatus, I’m back, blogging.

The hell week is finally over.

I filed a week-long leave of absence for the Foreign Service Oral Examinations. It was tough, intense, and mind-blowing. Very. Waaaaah, I really hope I could make it.

One of the questions they asked me was, “Who’s your favorite Hollywood director?”

And I just stared at them for 10 seconds. I was beyond nervous. I didn’t know what to say. I don’t even have a fave Hollywood director. Wong Kar Wai and Francois Truffaut, yes, but they’re so not Hollywood.

The first name that came to my mind was David Fincher but I was worried they would think my choice was too violent. And then Steven Spielberg, and I thought they would think I was too juvenile.

And so I said, “Stephen Daldry.”

Poor me. Can’t even think of a much more famous director. But come to think of it, he really is my favorite right now. “The Hours” remains my all-time fave film, after all. And I really liked “The Reader.”

Another question they asked me: “Brilliante Mendoza has just won Best Director at Cannes Film Festival for his film about a young cop who raped and killed a woman and chopped her to pieces. What can you say about this?”

My answer? Hmm… I think I’ll just keep it to myself. Ehehe. My opinion is not very pretty.

…

Of course, days before the Exams, I was brushing up on my International Affairs. Was at Gloria Jeans Coffee in Tomas Morato/Timog a number of times. (Free Wi-Fi!)

On Monday, we saw Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. Yum Yum. Haha.

…

Last Tuesday, we finally found a new home! So later this month, my friends and I will be moving to GA Tower along EDSA, a stone’s throw from my workplace.

…

Yesterday was our Barrio Fiesta in Lemery, Batangas. Perfect, perfect. After a gruelling, almost suicide-inducing Foreign Service Exams, it was time to PIG OUT!

I love fiestas. Basically because I love to eat.

Kudos to the Spaniards for injecting the fiesta tradition to our culture. Ahahaha.

…

So right now, I’m back in the violently jolting metropolis. Work’s piled up. So I gotta split now.

Two Tags

Hey guys, work-related lang. Please post your own top 3 things by commenting on this post. Please, please, please. Or you may also post it on your own blog. 

Just write down the Top 3 stuff that the category asks. Thanks. Heto saken.

TOP 3 FEEL-GOOD MOVIES (HOLLYWOOD)

1. Love Actually
2. Slumdog Millionaire
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
OR The Devil Wears Prada
OR My Best Friend’s Wedding (andami, ahaha)

TOP 3 FEEL-GOOD MOVIES (ANIMATION)

1. Finding Nemo
2. Monsters Inc.
3. Wall E!

TOP 3 FEEL-GOOD MOVIES (PINOY)

1. Crying Ladies
2. Got 2 Believe
3. Jologs / You Changed My Life

TOP 3 FEEL-GOOD MOVIES (FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

1. Amelie
2. My Sassy Girl
3. Love of Siam — hindi masyado happy ending pero eeeh, feel good pa rin

TOP 3 BEACHES YOU’VE BEEN TO AND WHY

1. Puerto Princesa, Palawan — clear water, awesome place. not crowded
2. Matabungkay, Batangas – Mababaw lang ang tubig sa ibang parts, tas ok mag snorkel sa iba
3. Sorsogon – may butanding! ahihihi

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