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Top 10 National Stereotypes


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The Promil Kid Drops the Bomb


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•••••

Movies

My Top 50 All-Time Favourite Films (Part 1)*

Posted on September 3, 2007 by Yoshke in Lists, Movies, Reviews |

Status: Tweetums, ehehehe
Music: Always Come Back to Your Love - Samantha Mumba

The American Film Institute has just released an updated version of their 100 Greatest American Movies list. And Ayn has just completed her Top 70 Favourite Films. So I guess it’s my turn to publish my own list — my Top 50 All-Time Fave Films.

Hmmm. Why Top 50? I don’t know. It was originally 40. Then changed it to 44 to give slots to a few films I had forgotten about. And now it’s 50 because I broke some of the tie-ups — you know, multiple films sharing one rank. So now it’s final. Fifty. Final. Promise. But then of course, when I change my mind again, blame my fickle-ness. Whatever.

Anyway, a few notes: I haven’t seen Schindler’s List, Memento, A Clockwork Orange and Requiem for a Dream yet so don’t expect to see them on this list. And remember that this is not a countdown of the best films in history but my personal favourite films — movies I enjoyed the most.

OK, here we go.

50. The Lord of the Rings – Trilogy (2001-03)
Genre: Epic, Fantasy
Director: Peter Jackson
Based on: The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis
Plot: A young Hobbit has been entrusted with an ancient Ring. Now he must embark on an epic quest in order to destroy it.
Top Critics’ Average Mark: 98%

“One ring to rule them all, One ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.”

To be honest, when the first film The Fellowship of the Ring was released, I wasn’t excited. The whole Lord of the Rings thing did not appeal to me in any way. Not even Orlando Bloom. Haha. I even said that the only thing that I might like about it was Cate Blanchett. I never read the book. I never even bothered to see this in a theatre. I only began liking it when I watched The Two Towers, which became my fave film in the trilogy. And since then, I’d considered this trilogy as one fantastic film.

49. Citizen Kane (1941)
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Director: Orson Welles
Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore
Plot: Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance: ‘Rosebud.’
Top Critics’ Mark: 100% WOW

“Some called him a hero. Others called him a heel…”

OK, film critics, you can cringe now. The film that every film organisation in this world considers The Greatest Film of All Time is only my #49. The film is brilliant. But sadly, I didn’t make any connection to the story, and that’s always a big thing for me. I need to relate. But it is a very entertaining and artistic film. And yeah, classic. Might really be the greatest film ever made. Every scene and shot was well-thought out. Every element means something. Every camera angle. Every prop. Every movement. Every space used, and unused. Greatest. But maybe I prefer something uh contemporary.

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Movie Review: The Invasion (2007)

Posted on August 30, 2007 by Yoshke in Movies, Reviews |

Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jackson Bond

I am a big sci-fi fan. And an even bigger Nicole Kidman fan. For me, there’s nothing more entertaining than seeing a sci-fi film. And there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing moving images of Nicole Kidman (die Keith Urban, die! nah, I love Keith, too) projected on the big screen. So imagine how ecstatic I was feeling yesterday when I was just about to watch “The Invasion,” the third remake of the 1956 film “The Invasion of Body Snatchers.” And when I finally did, ah, it was just heaven. I felt like leaving Earth for an hour and a half and felt happier upon coming out of the theatre.

A lot of people might throw rocks at me now. The movie is not perceived by many as good. In fact, they say it’s horrible. Seeing these reviews, I might be the only one in this planet who actually liked this film. But I really did. It is not the best film of the year, but it’s good.

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Movie Review: A Love Story (2007)

Posted on August 26, 2007 by Yoshke in Movies, Reviews |

Genre: Drama, Romance
Director: Maryo J. Delos Reyes
Stars: Aga Muhlach, Angelica Panganiban, Maricel Soriano

This was the first local movie of the year that I swore I would definitely watch. Although I already knew what the twist was weeks before its first screening, I was still as excited as hell. In fact, I promised Tonet to watch it with her but since she couldn’t find time, I forgot about the promise and saw the movie alone. And when I went out of the theatre after watching this latest Star Cinema offering, all I could say was “WOW.”

The film is not just impressive, it’s excellent. And there are many factors that contribute to its brilliance. First, the story is simple. As the title conspicuously tells us, it’s a film about love. But more specifically, it carefully discusses marriage. It’s the usual couple-mistress story but tackled in a way that will make you think and ask so many questions. What is right? What makes me happy? Will the right make me happy? Is choosing what makes me happy right? What do I choose? This film is a great proof that sometimes, it’s not the story that matters but how we tell the story.

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Harry Potter & Cinemalaya News

Posted on July 23, 2007 by Yoshke in Movies |

Status: Sleepy
Music: Out of Reach – Gabrielle

Yey! I’m sooo happy. Three of my most loved actors are joining the cast of the next movie installment of Harry Potter. According to this site:

“Joseph Fiennes, Stuart Townsend and Naomi Watts are the latest addition to the 6th Harry Potter movie ‘Half-Blood Prince.’ Schedule for a late November 2008 release, the new Harry Potter movie will start shooting in September…”

Naomi Watts might play Narcissa Malfoy. Stuart Townsend and Joseph Fiennes? Hmmm. I don’t know yet. But this is great news! Ahlove’t.

UPDATE: FALSE NEWS!

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Movie Review: Paano Kita Iibigin (2007)

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Yoshke in Movies, Reviews |

Genre: Romance
Director: Bb. Joyce Bernal
Stars: Piolo Pascual, Regine Velasquez

I was able to watch this film last week for free. To be honest, I really had no plan of watching this movie. Let’s just say that Tonet, a friend who was a part of this production, was very persistent and forceful, and she gave me a movie pass so I could watch it for free. It’s actually hard for me to write this review because everybody knows I love Direk Joyce Bernal but it doesn’t necessarily mean that I loved all her flicks. And Paano Kita Iibigin is one of those films — the ones I didn’t love. Not even like.

Piolo Pascual is Lance, a man who succumbed to his guilt after his wife and two other friends died in a car accident just hours after their wedding. Since then, he has tried to kill himself again and again. Until he meets Martee, Regine Velasquez, a struggling, lonely single-mom desperately trying to raise her much-loved asthmatic son.

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A Bitter Man’s Whining

Posted on May 29, 2007 by Yoshke in Career, Emo, Movies, Rants |

Status: Hopeful
Music: 4 in the Morning – Gwen Stefani

I am not a fan of film festivals and competitions. Er… well… I am. But only up to the spectator level. I’m not really into joining them. Unlike my friend Tonet, who joins every contest imaginable (and won some), I am not the type who really watches out for film festivals.

Yes, I have joined some. Our class project “Comfort Zone” has been to a number of competitions, too. But it wasn’t really my decision. My groupmates took care of the application, requirements and everything. “Sangang Daan” has never exited my room to participate in any contest, primarily because my thesis partner Jerwin and I are too busy and too lazy to actually move a muscle. “Bad Trip,” the documentary I filmed with Nep, made it to ABC5′s TV show “Dokyu” because it was Nep who practically did everything. I didn’t have the drive. I didn’t have the motivation. I didn’t have the passion. And I was just too lazy.

The truth is, long before I graduated from UP, I had already given up Film as a career. So then, I could not see the point of joining competitions and winning any. Back then, I knew I wanted to become a diplomat. I tried looking for Film-related jobs not because I was planning to pursue a career in it, but because I need fillers. I need something to do while waiting for the Foreign Service exam.

But if there’s one thing I could not give up about Film, that’s screenwriting. I’ve always enjoyed writing and I always will.

Last year, Tonet dragged me with her to ABS-CBN for a pitch for CinemaOne Originals. She initially wanted Leo to join her but realising Leo was too busy to be her chaperone, she chose me instead. I never really liked being the second choice but that was Tonet. I could not let her down. She’s a great friend.

CinemaOne Originals had a theme: modern Filipino family. Tonet already had a concept. Although I did not really love her storyline, I helped her in developing it. Though it was Tonet’s project alone (I was just a sabit), I felt proud that Tonet made it to the semi-finals – or finals – the part where you get to pitch. Our pitch was terrible. There were too many flaws in the story. Right there and then, I felt sad. We would not make it. And unfortunately, we were right.

When the winners were announced for that season last year, I was aghast. There were too many big names — film directors, advertising people, and one of our professors back in college. All I could say was, “Oh-key.” But disappointment eventually turned into anger upon realising that their concepts were not really about modern Filipino families — fake identities, boobies falling in love in Rome, metlogs? I mean, come on. So much for having a theme.

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Movie Review | Gray Matters (2007)

Posted on May 1, 2007 by Yoshke in Movies, Reviews |

Genre: Comedy, Romance
Director/Writer: Sue Kramer
Stars: Heather Graham, Thomas Cavanagh, Bridget Moynahan

I have to admit that I didn’t really want to watch Gray Matters. I was just about to get tickets for Sunshine when I found out that it was Heather Graham who stars in this lesbian flick. I have always loved Heather Graham since she starred opposite Mike Myers in Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me. She has this irresistible charm that whenever I see her face on a movie poster, I always end up watching that movie. But enough of Heather. Let’s talk about the film —- it was bad.

Yes, if there’s only one word that could best describe Gray Matters, that would be it: bad. As in BAD. But first, what is the film all about? It’s about Gray (Heather Graham) who has a brother, Sam (Thomas Cavanagh), whom she is very close to that they are often mistaken as a couple. Both in their thirties, they live in the same apartment, share secrets, are perfect dance partners, etc. And then they met Charlie (Bridget Moynahan), an oh-so-perfect creature of God — beautiful, sexy, smart, successful, lovable, perfect. After their first date, Sam asked Charlie to marry him and she said “yes.” The night before the wedding, Charlie, drunk and unaware of what she’s doing, kisses Gray and this messes up Gray’s sanity and turns her life inside out. Gray is bothered and has not forgotten about it, and then realises she’s a lesbian… and that she’s madly in love with Charlie.

There you go. Okay, on with the bashing. This movie is writer/director Sue Kramer‘s first. And I just have to say this: if your up & coming movies are all gonna be like this, then please don’t bother us with them anymore. Find another planet and bore them with your crap. The screenplay is trashy and so unrealistic. Getting married after one date? Oh come on. That’s obnoxious. If you want the mainstream audience to relate to this film, you should’ve done better than coming up with that, er, idiocy.

There are many attempts to make the audience laugh (because hey, it’s a comedy) but only a few work because they lack wit and sensibility. And those scenes which turned out to be funny, however, like that frappuccino on the wedding dress scene, are so unoriginal. You see, it’s always either not-funny or funny-but-unoriginal. Plus, the characters all talk like they were writers rejected by every publishing house there is in this world. The script is filled with metaphors that make you go, “huh?”. And they all speak so fast you just want them to shut up.

The cinematography lacks dynamics. (Gawd, I hate the composition of the shots.) The production design is just OK. The editing is average. The only good thing about this ridiculous flick is Heather’s character Gray. She’s the only one that looks and sounds like a human being here. The others are just mere caricatures you barely notice them.

But if you’re gonna watch this film because of the gay/lesbian element, then go ahead. It’s not everyday that a gay film with a happy ending is produced.

But really, this movie is so bad, not even Heather Graham’s charm can save this flick.

1.5

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And the Oscar Might Go to…

Posted on February 16, 2007 by Yoshke in Movies |

Status: Excited
Music: Be Without You – Mary J. Blige

It’s awards season once again. And after the Grammy and the Golden Globe, here comes the Oscars. The Oscars remains to be my favourite award-giving body because the people and films that I want to win usually grab the major awards. For example, last year, when everyone was rooting for Brokeback Mountain, I was confident that it would be Crash which would bag the Best Picture award. (My next favourite last year was Munich.) And my bets for the Best Actress and Best Actor awards (especially these past years) usually go home smiling — Nicole Kidman, Adrien Brody, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellwegger, etc. Some major disappointments that I got from the Oscars are: when Chicago won over The Hours for Best Picture; Moulin Rouge losing to A Beautiful Mind; and Halle Berry stealing the Best Actress award from Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge) a few years ago. But you know, I easily move on.

This year, it’s harder to predict who would go home with the golden statuettes and who would go home with utter frustration. But here are some of the nominees, my faves, and my predictions:

Best Picture:
Babel
The Departed
Letters From Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen

What I want to win: Little Miss Sunshine
What might win: Little Miss Sunshine
What actually won: The Departed

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Blood Diamond”
Ryan Gosling, “Half Nelson”
Peter O’Toole, “Venus”
Will Smith, “The Pursuit of Happyness”
Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland”

Whom I want to win: Ryan Gosling
Who might win: Forest Whitaker
Who actually won: Forest Whitaker

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:
Penelope Cruz, “Volver”
Judi Dench, “Notes on a Scandal”
Helen Mirren, “The Queen”
Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada”
Kate Winslet, “Little Children”

Whom I want to win: Meryl Streep
Who might win: Kate Winslet / Helen Mirren
Who actually won: Helen Mirren

Best Supporting Actor:
Alan Arkin, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Jackie Earle Haley, “Little Children”
Djimon Hounsou, “Blood Diamond”
Eddie Murphy, “Dreamgirls”
Mark Wahlberg, “The Departed”

Whom I want to win: Alan Arkin
Who might win: Eddie Murphy
Who actually won: Alan Arkin. YAY!

Best Supporting Actress:
Adriana Barraza, “Babel”
Cate Blanchett, “Notes on a Scandal”
Abigail Breslin, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls”
Rinko Kikuchi, “Babel”

Who I want to win: Adriana Barraza / Rinko Kikuchi
Who might win: Jennifer Hudson
Who actually won: Jennifer Hudson

I really, really love Little Miss Sunshine and Babel and I know it’s going to be a tough battle between them. Babel has an edge now that they’ve just won the Golden Globe. (Not that it matters.) But I liked Little Miss Sunshine a little better than Babel. Besides, I want a comedy to win this time.

As for Meryl Streep, I’ve adored her since the beginning of time (hehe). Her performance for The Devil Wears Prada is definitely not her best but damn, it still deserves an Oscar nod.

I’ve never seen Dreamgirls yet so it’s somewhat unfair to Jennifer Hudson for me to root for the two Babel stars. But watching the film alone, I was deeply moved by these two actresses. I am 70% sure that Adriana Barraza will take home the statuette. I just hope my instict is right.

So there. On February 25, will I be satisfied or will I be right? Hmmm…

*pictures courtesy of pbs.org, hispanicbusiness.com, and apple.com.

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