Heto na ang second part ng list na ‘to. If you missed the first part, click here.

15. ANG TV

4:30 NAAAA! ANG TV NAAAAAA! Doo waa didi didi dum didi dumm…

Ang sabi ng mentor ko, who happens to be WikiPedia (hahaha), “Ang TV was the first kids’ gag-variety show in the Philippines. Prior to 1992, Director Johnny Manahan enlisted a group of multi-talented kids (& pre-teens) to create the first ever gag-variety show for youngsters in the Philippines.

Most of the country’s current stars can point their humble beginnings to Ang TV. Popular celebrities like Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Rica Peralejo, John Prats, Camille Prats, Paolo Contis, Angelica Panganiban, Patrick Garcia, Kaye Abad, Roselle Nava, Angelu De Leon - to name a few - all jump-started their careers as mainstays of the variety show…”

Esmyuskee, si Sarah Geronimo din pala ay dito rin nagstart. Akalain mo. At pati ang magkakapatid na sina Gio, Luigi at Guila Alvarez.

At grabe marami pa kong paborito dito na nami-miss ko nang bonggang bongga. Hmmm. Lailani Navarro. Lindsay Custodio. Jan Marini Alano. Marnie Arcilla. Sarji Ruiz. Jason San Pedro. Haaaaaaaaay.

14. VICTIM!

Oo na, nakakairita si Carlos Agassi na minsan parang trying-hard maging Ashton Kutcher pero pinapanood ko pa rin ‘to dati. It was first a segment on ASAP Mania but was later developed into a new primetime show to replace “Buttercup.”

Naaalala ko pa yung ibang pranks like yung pinasabog nila yung bahay na malapit sa set ng Lukso ng Dugo at syempre kabadong-kabado si Bernadette Sembrano. Pati yung pinabitin nila sa kawayan a la lechon si Alma Moreno para sa isang dance number.

Sige na, second-rate Punk’d pero what the heck. Sana ibalik nila ‘to. Palitan na lang nila yung host.

13. WHATTAMEN

Sabi nga ng professor ko sa Comm 100 dati, ito na yata ang pinakamaingay na show. (But then again, wala pang Wowowee nun na kahit na naka-mic na eh sigawan pa rin nang sigawan ang hosts.) Grabe, si Ai-Ai delas Alas dito, talak na lang nang talak. (MAAAATTTIIIII!!!!) Nakakatuwa rin si Marvin Agustin dito bilang tatanga-tangang probinsyano, hehe. At saka si Melanie Marquez na mortal na kaaway ni Ai-ai!

Pero I liked the show. Or maybe twas just Rico Yan. Haha.

(more…)

I grouped the programs by genre. So the rankings don’t really matter. Ehehe. Sa batch na ‘to, yung talk shows, drama anthologies, and youth-oriented shows.

25. MAGANDANG GABI, BAYAN!

As my friend Dam-dam pointed out, there were two things that really made this show very, very interesting and enjoyable.

Halloween Special. As in. I swear, magkamatayan na tayo but I would not miss their Halloween episode. It was just sinisterly spooky. The reenactments were desperately haunting I couldn’t understand why I would always want to watch it even if I knew that I would be so totally afraid to be alone in the days to come. Tipong ihing-ihi ka na, ayaw mo pa rin mag-wiwi kasi nakakatakot. Grabe lang yung “black lady na nangangalampag ng pinto.” Hanggang ngayon she stars as the lead in my nightmares.

New Year Special. To quote Dam-dam, “yung New Year’s episode nila na pinapakita ang mga naputukan, naputulan ng kamay at tinamaan ng bala. Walang panama ang Grey’s Anatomy at ER sa masabaw na dugo na take note, walang konsepto ng blur at pixel.”

24. ALAS SINGKO Y MEDIA

“Alas singko y media na, paboritong palabas ko sa umaga. Halina’t gumising na. Tayo na’t manood ng Alas singko y media.” Hihi,

Missing alas singko y media is almost tantamount to missing my childhood. The show was a significant part of my life then — a part of my routine. Tumututok ako dito while getting ready for school. Peborit ko ang traffic report ni Aida Gonzales kahit na taga-Batangas ako at wala namang kinalaman saken kung traffic sa Maynila (eh traffic naman araw-araw pag umaga, paulit-ulit lang yung report nila.) And I would wait until Cheryl Cosim had done the weather forecast (I was in love with her) before I would finally turn the TV off and leave for school. And I witnessed the Julius-Tintin love story blossom. Yeeeh.

23. MORNING GIRLS WITH KRIS AND KORINA

What I loooved about Morning Girls with Kris and Korina was that unlike many of our talk shows back then (and even today), they actually got to talk sensibly. At first, I thought their tandem would not work. But boy was I so wrong. Kris’s chismosa-factor blended well with Korina’s ruthless criticisms, all against a Talk TV backdrop. My fave segment was K2K, where the hosts comment on the various issues that bannered most newspapers. Kung sana ganito ang mga local talk shows natin ngayon, eh di masaya manood ng TV. But noooo, just look at Sis! It’s a frakkin’ circus!

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PINOY DREAM ACADEMY (Season 2)

This season’s finals will prove to be much more exciting because it’s really a very close fight among the scholars. Unlike last season where it was such an easy win for Yeng Constantino, who had always been the crowd favorite.

Here are the Top 6 Scholars: Bugoy Bugayon, Cris Pastor, Laarni Losala, Liezel Garcia, Miguel Mendoza, and Van Pojas.

It’s hard to guess who’s gonna emerge victorious. If online polls are any indication, Laarni is most likely to grab the title. But Bugoy also has a huge fanbase. Van has the so-called Cebu votes. It’s gonna be a very unpredictable PDA finale.

Personally, I want Liezel to win. But somehow, a part of me thinks that ABS-CBN wants Van to get this one. I dunno.

I LOVE BETTY LA FEA

I’m disappointed with the pilot episode. It wasn’t as “glam” as I imagined it to be. I was expecting it could foster an Ugly Betty-ish atmosphere. That’s what I want. But what ABS-CBN is giving me is a franchise that looks so ABS-CBN (if you know what I mean).

And I don’t understand why local series always have to start the story with childhood scenes. Ugh.

Haaay. But I looove the cast. And for what it’s worth, it’s still much better than most teleseryes we have today. It’s not a bad show. I’m just disappointed.

Maybe I just expected too much.

NOT THAT I DON’T LIKE THE SHOW. I still love it. Would still watch it. Just that I’m a little disappointed.

DYOSA

Oh, don’t get me started with Dyosa. I love Anne Curtis (and Sam Milby and Zanjoe Marudo, haha) but heck, this show is a complete and utter crap.

The concept was very promising when it first gave my eardrums a roll, but the execution is just totally suicide-inducing. The show is far from heavenly.

If it weren’t for seeing Sam half-naked every night, I would’ve launched an anti-Dyosa campaign in our village. But I’m only human, you see. Haha. Sam’s body is just too convincing.

Why does the director have to be Wenn Deramas anyway?

IISA PA LAMANG

My ultimate guilty pleasure today. Combine all the clichés in Philippine TV drama and what do you have? Iisa Pa Lamang. Haha.

It’s not a secret that I adore, adore, adore Claudine Barretto. But what really keeps me watching this formulaic drama are its unforgettable lines and the performances by Cherry Pie Picache (Isadora) and Angelica Panganiban (Scarlet). Even Gabby Concepcion and Diether Ocampo are good here. But Angelica is THE revelation.

I’m hooked to this show the way I was to the first season of Maging Sino Ka Man. Also for the same reasons. Isadora is my new Corazon with a humourous twist. Scarlet is my new Celine with bigger boobs.

Here are some lines that made me go whoah, and then whoah, and then WHOAH!

Scarlet: Pati ba naman sa pagsuswimming, naka-diamonds ka pa rin?
Katherine: Siyempre, diamonds are forever, like me!

Scarlet: Luluhod ka sa harapan ko at magmamakaawa ka na tanggapin kita ulit!
Miguel: Kumain ka na. Gutom lang yan!

Isadora: Oh aren’t you excited to see me?
Scarlet: Excited? Alam mo bang mas excited pa akong magpunta ng dentista at mag pa root canal kesa ang makaharap ka?
Isadora: Ikaw naman, nagpapaka-funny. Kung ang lahat ng bulok na ngipin ay kasing ganda ko, o di wala ng bibili ng toothpaste… I’m so witty
Scarlet: Ano ba talagang pakay mo? I’m sure hindi naman ang kapakanan ng dental industry ang pinunta mo dito di ba? Business? Monkey business?
Isadora: Oo, at napaka disenteng monkey business — Politics.

Isadora: Ano ba Katherine, wala na akong panahon makipag-balagtasan sayo. Tapos na ang linggo ng wika! Hindi ka ba naabisuhan?

(more…)

Writing a review of a movie is very different from that of a TV series. Yes, both the technique and the entertainment value must be considered. When reviewing a film, a huge fraction of my judgment is based on how solid the story is. When it comes to TV programs, I usually ask myself how engaging the episodes are.

Anyway, here are the programs I started and finished watching since June this year.

Kyle XY | Seasons 1-2
Genre: Sci-Fi, Family Drama; Creators: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
Stars: Matt Dallas, Marguerite MacIntyre, Bruce Thomas, April Matson, Jean-Luc Bilodeau

HEARTWARMING. I must admit that the only reason I decided to watch this was Matt Dallas. He’s hot and I love him. And when the show opened with Matt Dallas nude and sweaty in the middle of the forest, I knew I made the right decision. Haha. But Kyle XY is more than Matt’s hotness.

Most of my friends didn’t like this show because there isn’t anything novel about the premise. Although I agree with them, I still think that this is a pretty good show. I was expecting a sci-fi with lots of fight scenes but it is actually a family drama. It may not be as cool as other sci-fi/fantasy shows but it is a very effective family drama with solid characters and moving narrative turns.

And yeah, Matt Dallas is just so hot. Both seasons: 4.0

…

Prison Break | Seasons 1-3
Genre: Action, Thriller; Creators: Paul Scheuring
Stars: Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Amaury Nolasco, Sarah Wayne Callies

INGENIOUS. Looking at the poster, Prison Break did not appeal to me in any way. That’s why I only started watching this year even though my friends had been raving about it as early as my last year in college. The only reason I decided to watch it was because there was nothing else to watch. I didn’t know what the series was about and I didn’t find Wentworth Miller attractive. But when I read the synopsis on the back cover, I was blown away. And that was the start of my addiction.

Prison Break manages to keep its audiences hooked even though the story takes place within the perimeter of a prison. I mean, come on, it could’ve been boring. But Michael’s character assures that nothing is predictable inside. The characters are all driven and motivated, and their relationships to one another make it even more exciting. More riveting than the concept is the execution. It’s well-shot, well-edited and well-directed. The only problem I had with the first season was that I knew they couldn’t successfully break out until the season finale and I was getting really — as in REALLY — impatient, which, I believe, was what the creators wanted audiences to feel in the first place. 5.0

On with Season 2. Still exciting. Still engrossing. Seeing the brothers together in the outside world was somewhat refreshing. (And now, I’m rhyming. Haha.) Alexander Mahone is one very interesting character and I think, together with Michael, he kept the series together. If I was being impatient the previous season, this time I was sooo tired for the characters. I just wanted them to stop running. And they have been making stupid decisions (like Michael trying to kick T-Bag back into jail). But then again, everything is justified. 4.5

And then, there’s Season 3. And everything went downhill. The problem with Season 3 is that it actually feels like Season 1 all over again. The only difference is that Michael is less smart and Lincoln is a bit smarter, and that it is set in Panama. Although it’s far from boring, the ingenuity is absent here. Nevertheless, I still can’t wait for the next season. 4.0

…

Heroes | Season 2
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller; Created by: Tim Kring
Stars: Milo Ventimiglia, Ali Larter

BOOORING. I’m having a huge problem with Heroes. It seems like the only adjective I can think of to describe it is “interesting.” That’s it. Other than that, nothing. The show, like what Bebs said, is boring. (Oh wait, that’s another adjective, haha.)

But I don’t get the hype. I don’t know what this show tries to be. The narrative is loose and weak. Maybe because there are too many characters. (But I’ve seen many ensemble-type shows that aren’t boring. Lost, for example.)

And because I didn’t really like this season or the entire series, allow me to just quote cellblocknutter of TV.com:

I can’t help but think the idea for it was ripped from The 4400… Whilst in this day and age very few shows can truly be called original, and most shows can be accused of this, Heroes doesn’t really do anything beyond being glamourous. Heroes is easy to like because it plays its safe; everything it does is tried and tested. It has cherry picked the successful elements of many recent popular American TV shows….

…This show feels as if it was made by a bunch of businessmen in a boardroom thinking how best to make money, rather than some talented person who had such a good story and idea worth sharing with the world, and being realised as best as possible. This is another show where you find yourself watching 45 minutes in which it spends about 15 minutes telling you something you don’t want to know, 5 minutes repeating old news, and 10 minutes doing absolutely nothing.

I don’t agree that it’s ripped from The 4400. But if you think about it, The 4400 actually has a much better and more interesting premise. Although my review wouldn’t have been that harsh, it’s kinda close to it. Hehe. Anyway, should have watched X-Men reruns instead. 2.5

(more…)

Note: I was supposed to write a full-blown genre criticism of The Dark Knight but I figured writing something too Film-graduate-ish is uncalled for. So here are some random thoughts about it and the other Batman movies. For what it’s worth, I saw the following movies again recently. You know, just to refresh my memory.

The Dark Knight (2008)
Genre: Action, Thriller; Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman

One of the things I hate the most is too much hype. This unsolicited noise has always spoiled fine movies such as Brokeback Mountain and Atonement for me, not appreciating them because they did not reach the high bar that the hype made me set for them. And this is precisely the reason I want to watch movies on its opening day. And yes, I saw The Dark Knight on its opening day. Haha.

The Dark Knight is the first uberhyped film ever that I could swear deserves all the noise around it. It gave me everything I expected and hoped for in a Batman movie, and then some. And with all my biases aside (being someone who worships Christian Bale and Batman himself), I can say that this is the best mainstream superhero movie ever to grace the silverscreen.

Director Christopher Nolan surprised me with Batman Begins, giving me exactly what I wanted — a realistic approach. After all, Batman has no superpowers and did not hail from some faraway planet. And like its protagonist, the film fosters a cinematic atmosphere that is believable yet alarming. A superhero movie in which every character is justified, motivated, and above all, human.

With this very credible headstart, Nolan managed to expand and intensify the story with The Dark Knight. Just when you think you’re seeing a formulaic action flick — gripping chase scenes, breathtaking fight sequences, jaw-dropping stunts— it destroys the sub-genre’s many conventions. Like in all Batman movies, the America-as-the-world-superhero idea is absent here. The superhero admits he can’t do things on his own and not for long. The superhero is willing to sacrifice his reputation for the greater good. It is indeed a superhero movie but Batman isn’t the only superhero here. We see superheroes in the political arena, in the judicial system, in law enforcement, and of course, in the people, as represented by Harvey Dent, Jimmy Gordon and Batman. All bear a potential to beat the menacing times.

The movie isn’t about Batman. It is about Gotham and how its people struggle to make their city a better place. But I couldn’t help but feel like watching a Batman movie in a “Godfather” setting. But what awes me most is that its moral subtext sneaks up on you that you’d forget that it is a superhero movie. It poses ethical dilemmas and redefines heroism through Joker, a man who has an unrelenting passion for mayhem. Joker is everything we want in a villain — opaque, heavy, and “immovable.” He shakes our definition of evil, questions our self-righteousness, and challenges our moral social decisions to a massive degree.

It has to be expected that Heath Ledger steal the show. Ledger’s Joker is so insanely awesome and genuinely frightening that I would never see clowns the same way again. If he receives an Oscar nomination for this performance, it will not be because it’s such a pity he passed away but because he earned it. And, of course, the rest of the cast are also highly commendable. Lucky for Ledger he had the most challenging role.

Oh Gawd, why am I so serious? 5.0

…

Batman Begins (2005)
Genre: Action, Thriller; Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Katie Holmes

Prior to The Dark Knight, I considered Batman Begins the best superhero movie ever. Actually, I thought it was a toss between this and Batman Returns (though I enjoyed Begins a bit more). I’m a writer and what I want the most when seeing a film is some emotional connection even when there is no way I could relate to the character. And there had never been a superhero movie with excellent character development until Batman Begins. Christopher Nolan dug deeper into Bruce Wayne to let the audience see what made Batman the Caped Crusader. It makes the audience understand where he’s coming from and explains what drives him. The movie is action-packed as expected but what sets it apart is that it offers a thrilling psychological tour into the mind and soul of a troubled superhero. 4.5

…

Batman and Robin (1997)
Genre: Action, Thriller; Directors: Joel Schumacher
Stars: George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Silverstone, Uma Thurman, Chris O’Donnell

Batman and Robin is my least favourite of all the Batman movies. Why? Simply because it has an undernourished story covered with the glamour of its cast, on which it capitalises. The plot is just sooo lame and loose. Take away Batman and it wouldn’t feel like a Batman movie.

On the good side, of all the Batman movies, this might be the one that children would enjoy best. After all, everything in it is kinda, er, what’s that word? — Immature.

Thank God George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell, Alicia Silverstone and Uma Thurman are SOOO HOT. They made all the points here. 2.0

…

Batman Forever (1995)
Genre: Comedy, Action, Thriller; Director: Joel Schumacher
Stars: Val Kilmer, Chris O’Donnell, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman

Batman Forever is pretty enjoyable and makes more sense than Batman and Robin. But this Schumacher’s movie pales in comparison to its predecessor Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. I have a number of issues with it.

1. Tommy Lee Jones’s Two Face is very much like Jack Nicholson’s Joker. It shouldn’t be the case. Two Face is one heck of a conflicted character whose past is well-known to the public (the public in the movie and the public in the real world). I would have loved it had I felt for Two Face even just a little in this film. But sadly, na-uh. He’s an empty character. Or seems like it.

2. The Riddler and Two Face look like twins. Nuff said.

3. Bruce Wayne’s trauma wasn’t given much attention. It should’ve been explored and exploited. It’s a good dramatic mechanism that could’ve driven the entire plot.

But because Nicole Kidman is in it, I still enjoyed it a lot. Haha. 2.5

…

Batman Returns (1992)
Genre: Comedy, Action, Thriller; Director: Tim Burton
Stars: Michael Keaton, Michell Pfeiffer, Danny DeVito

The bat, the cat and the penguin. Batman Returns is one heck of an effective comedy that I almost forgot it was a Batman movie. Haha. It’s just sooo hilarious. But aside from its entertainment value, there are two things that I love, love, love about this Batman movie — the cast and the subtext.

1. The Cast. Michael Keaton was my fave Batman until my Christian Bale tried the batsuit on. I just love his jaw and lips. Haha. I also fell in love with Michelle Pfeiffer as the the Catwoman. Feisty much. And Danny De Vito is just fantastic as the Penguin. Very, very convincing.

2. The Subtext. Batman Returns is “semiologically” rich and politically loaded. It’s full of signs and representations. The bat. The cat. The Penguin. The penguins. The circus. The sewer. Each character seems to represent a social group struggling to work their way to the top of the food chain. Uh, power. Meow. 4.5

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Wanted (2008)
Genre: Action, Thriller; Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Stars: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman

I love love love this film. In fact, of all the movies I’ve seen this year, this is my favourite. Although many would have expected a complex plot, Wanted has a simple, solid, brave storyline which is executed beautifully. Technically, prepare for a visual orgasm. Might be a bit overdone, the editing and camerawork are stunning.

It kinda felt like I was watching a David Fincher masterpiece. (I actually thought he directed it.) I felt like watching Fight Club with more suspense, more violence but less ideologies. I was oh-so-prepared to be mesmerised by James McAvoy but it was Angelina who got me. I’ve always considered her hot but in this film, she’s HOTTT. Damn. I guess it’s time to update my fave films list. 5.0

…

Get Smart (2008)
Genre: Comedy; Director: Peter Segal
Stars: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway

I must admit that I only watched this film because of Steve Carell (and Anne Hathaway but primarily Steve). I like his brand of comedy and I love many of his films — The 40-Year Old Virgin, Little Miss Sunshine, Dan in Real Life. But Get Smart is not smart at all. It’s disappointing. It’s funny, alright. But I felt like I missed 30 minutes of the movie. Everything happened in a breeze. For example, Smart and Agent 99 falling in love made me go “What?! Where did that come from?!” It is established poorly and the entire process of falling isn’t really shown. The flick is wildly entertaining but that’s just it. It’s empty. 2.0

…

Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Genre: Comedy; Directors: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
Stars: Jack Back, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Ian McShane

Of all the 3D films I’ve seen, this flick left a mark on me — as the most predictable. Really. I kinda knew what would happen in its every twist and turn. Nevertheless, it is still very solid and effective. Yeah, Kung Fu Panda is solid albeit formulaic. It’s nowhere near Shrek, Ratatouille or Finding Nemo but everyone will still surely give this panda a high-five. It cracked me up big time. And to be honest, that’s good enough for me. 3.5

…

Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)
Genre: Comedy; Director: Michael Patrick King
Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon

I know it’s one heck of a lengthy movie but it seemed short to me. I wanted more, more, more. And mind you, I was never a fan of the TV series. But I really really enjoyed it. I actually kinda regret that I only saw one season and still not religiously. I know the film is not as solid and cohesive as any decent film should be (more like a 3-hour TV season finale, if you ask me) but I enjoyed it. Immensely. 3.5

*images courtesy of shaggy4do.wordpress.com, apple.com, blog.indiewire.com, buzzsugar.com

So we’ve come to the end of the road. After almost a year of counting down my 50 all-time favourite films, we have now reached the end. If you missed the first 49, here’s help: Top 50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11, 10-4, 3-2.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, I give you my #1 favourite film of all time.

1. The Hours (2002)

Genre: Drama
Director: Stephen Daldry
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Ed Harris
Plot: The time to hide is over. The time to regret is gone. The time to live is now.
Top Critics’ Average Mark: 80%

“A woman’s whole life in a single day. Just one day. And in that day her whole life.”

If you haven’t seen this film yet, here’s the trailer. Prepare to be blown away.

And here’s a clip from this stunning piece of work.

That’s arguably the most troubling among the many unforgettably affecting scenes in the movie. It’s actually very hard to choose one outstanding scene from the film because almost every scene is important and effective.

Anyway, I’ve seen this film exactly 20 times. I memorized probably 80% of its dialogue. Haha.

Let me enumerate the things I adore about this superb film and the reasons it’s on the top of my list:

• Its quietness. It’s a very, very quiet movie but it moved me. Thanks to the awesome screenplay.
• Its musical score. Although often dubbed ‘the weakest aspect’ of this film, I was totally haunted by the score.
• It’s not preachy. It tackles life, death and everything in between with so much depth but without any attempt to force the audience to believe it. It gives enough space for the audience to think for themselves. Very insightful.
• It’s liberating. Although many who have seen this think that this is one heck of a depressing film, I believe otherwise. Yes, it creates a sad atmosphere but it actually urges us to breakaway from sadness and just live life the way we want to.
• Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep… How can you not love this movie?
• Ed Harris delivers a poignant performance here, earning him an Oscar nomination although he was in only two scenes.
• It’s the film that gave Nicole Kidman her first Oscar. Just how amazing Nicole is in this movie? See for yourself.

For the longest time, “The Hours” was considered “unfilmable.” Now it’s a real masterpiece.

Here’s the COMPLETE LIST of my top 50 all-time favourite films. (more…)

I know this post is long overdue. It’s been seven months since I posted the last installment and I think it’s just time to reveal my top 3 favourite films of all time. You may view the rest of the list here: 50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11 and 10-3.

Again, usual disclaimer: this is not a list of the BEST movies for me. This is a favourites list — films that I can watch over and over again, regardless of how many awards they swept.

…

3. Love Actually (2003)

Genre: Romantic Comedy
Director: Richard Curtis
Starring: Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson
Plot: Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas.
Top Critics’ Average Mark: 60%

“Christmas is a time for people with someone they love in their lives.”

This is the ULTIMATE romantic comedy. If you want to feel good and believe that one day, you’ll find the right person for you, watch this movie. Wahaha. This is extremely enjoyable and, er, romantic. In fact, since its release, watching this film on Christmas Eve has become a tradition in my room. Haha.

What I love about it is that it is entertaining and touching. Despite the huge cast and the Altmanesque approach, each storyline actually managed to create a connection to the audience (at least, to me). I especially liked the line of action of Jamie (Colin Firth) and Aurelia (the Portuguese girl).

I also fell in love with the scene above. It’s just moving but poignant. Emma Thompson is also effective here. I felt her pain. Laura Linney’s struggle, too. And oh, that worse-than-the-agony-of-being-in-love kid is love.

Can’t wait for Christmas Eve. Hehe.

..

(more…)

Across the Universe (2007)
Genre: Musical; Director: Julie Taymor
Stars: Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood

It’s so hard to review this film. Whenever I’m asked what I think about this movie, I can’t give a straight answer. It’s not bad but it’s not great, either. What I’m sure of is that I enjoyed it immensely. 99.9% of that — music. If you love the Beatles‘ songs, you’ll enjoy it. But that’s beside the point. We all know that films are not just about music.

The problem with Across the Universe is that it doesn’t have much of a story. Or, there are too many subplots. Unlike many musicals today, this Taymor film is cluttered and in total disarray. The filmmakers obviously wanted to squeeze all the Beatles songs they could into the film that everything is just all over the place. Loopholes everywhere.

Yes, there is no other treatment that best suits this concept other that surrealism but it’s a bit over the top, too. Nevertheless, it’s a cinematic feast (bordering on visual masturbation). There are a lot of memorable scenes. Excellent cinematography, production design and editing. It’s not the best musical in the world but it is tremendously entertaining. 3.5

…

Atonement (2007)
Genre: Drama; Director: Joe Wright
Stars: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan

After watching Atonement, I was reminded of Brokeback Mountain. Not that there are gay cowboys in this film but I muttered “All that hype for this?” Don’t get me wrong. The film isn’t bad. It’s excellent. It’s just that I don’t think it deserves all the buzz that has been around it. I don’t know, maybe I just expected too much. I had been waiting for this film for, like, forever. I remember feeling the same way about Brokeback two years ago. I set the bar too high. After watching it, I immediately declared my desire for Crash to snatch the Oscar.

Going back to Atonement, it is great. Screenplay, production design, cinematography and musical score — stunning. It kinda tends to be a little dragging at times but it’s tolerable. Nice, nice, nice. But, ugh, I’m still disappointed. Hehe. Too much expectations, darn it. 4.5

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A Mighty Heart (2007)
Genre: Drama; Directors: Michael Winterbottom
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman

I admit, unlike Atonement, I wasn’t really expecting much from this film. I just wanted to see if Angelina Jolie deserved the Oscar snub. And, er, after seeing it, yeah, Jolie not being nominated is a travesty. But heck, the film is bigger than Angelina. I LOVE IT. Simple. Piercing. Poignant. It tells the story of a French wife excruciatingly waiting for the release of her husband Daniel Pearl, a Jewish American journalist captured by terrorists in Pakistan. What’s amazing about it is that I knew exactly how it would end because heck, everyone knows about what happened to Daniel Pearl, but I was still moved. The simplicity of the film is its key asset. It just revolves around a desperate woman’s staggering dedication and struggle to “wait” for a potentially devastating “uncertain.” Compelling. Riveting. Breathless. 4.0

The Kite Runner (2007)
Genre: Drama; Director: Marc Forster
Stars: Khalid Abdalla, Zekeria Ebrehimi, Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada

Watching this movie is very much like flying a kite. When the kite takes off, it gets so high and exciting. The film can be divided into three parts; the first of which is brilliant. It revolves around the friendship of two Afghan boys. I’ve never been touched by a movie in a long time. It’s truly heartwarming and piercing at the same time. However, somewhere along the way, the string of the kite snaps and everything comes crashing down. The second and third parts of the film are utterly disappointing. I really wish they did not jump onto another period. The story of the two boys can stand alone.

Technically, it’s fantastic, too. Quite believable production design. Impressive cinematography. I didn’t really notice anything about the score or sound (which is a good thing, I guess). It’s a good film.

3.5

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3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Genre: Western; Director: James Mangold
Stars: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale

I’m not really a fan of the Western genre but I really, really enjoyed watching this film. I admit, I only decided to see it because of my Christian Bale but I didn’t expect much from the movie itself. Surprisingly, it was one hell of a ride. I was literally gripping on the edge of my seat. Never a dull moment. I felt like I was traveling with the characters and that anytime, some gay cowboy (redundant, I know) would shoot me. It is really effective. Not to mention the superb performances by Bale and Crowe. The ending isn’t as moving as the filmmakers might have intended it to be. In fact, it was kinda lame. Ehehe. Anyway, awesome, awesome sound design, editing, production design and cinematography. Really enjoyable.

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The Eye (2008)
Genre: Horror; Directors: David Moreau, Xavier Palud
Stars: Jessica Alba

I like watching horror films at the cinemas because I love screaming inside the theatre. But this film— It’s terrible. All I could let out were my expressions of disappointment. Not even a single “waaah.” This movie is not creepy or scary. It relies heavily on the element of surprise and not fear. It relies heavily on sound to freak out its audience and not the story. I didn’t enjoy it. Everything is forgettable. I can’t pick a single scene that gave me goosebumps. It’s like a one-night stand. Everything feels good at the moment. But once you step out of the theatre, there’s nothing you would remember. Unlike “The Ring,” “The Others,” or other contemporary horror films, it won’t haunt you once the film is over. There’s nothing to remember. And mind you, I haven’t even seen the original Hong Kong movie. Awful horror flick. Waste of time. Waste of money.

1.0

*gif icons courtesy of myemo.com