Saturday, October 29, 2011

The Wedding Date - 2005



Category: Movie

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Clare Kliner

Writer: Elizabeth Young, Dana Fox,

Producer: Gold Circle Films, 26 Films, VisionView Production

Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Amy Adams, Sarah Parish, Jeremy Sheffield, Peter Egan, Holland Taylor, Jolyon James and more.

Tagline: Love doesn't come cheap.


Kat Ellis (Debra Messing) an airline executive, returns to her parents' home in London to attend her sister's wedding. Knowing her ex-fiance, who dumped her two years before, she then hires first class male escort named Nick Ercer (Dermot Mulroney) to pose as her new boyfriend (deffo not your ordinary gigolo.. someone who does not come in cheap). However, everyone is in for shocking surprises along the way....


I enjoyed this film. If only male escorts were like Nick Ercer! HAHAHA. If you just want light, entertaining flick then this one is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is good chemistry between Debra and Dermot during the whole film. It can make you giggle and wish for your own happy ever after. Sweet and funny.

Quotes I Like:


Nick Mercer: Close your eyes. Close your eyes. Close... your... eyes. You're safe. You can relax. I'm not going to kiss you. He's gonna be so sorry he lost you, so stop worrying. Forget the past. Forget the pain. And remember what an incredible woman you are. You do that and he'll realize what he lost.
Kat Ellis: Holy crap. You're worth every penny.

Kat Ellis: You know what pisses me off? I've been spilling my guts all weekend and I don't know a thing about you.
Nick Mercer: [pause] I'm allergic to fabric softener. I majored in comparative literature at Brown. I hate anchovies. And I think I'd miss you even if we never met.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Vanity Fair - 2004

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama History

Writer: Matthew Faulk

Director: Mira Nair

Producer: Focus Pictures, Granada Film Productions, Epsilon Motion Pictures

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Romola Garai, James Purefoy, Gabriel Byrne, Tony Maudsley, Rhys Ifans, Ruth Sheen,

Tagline: On September 1st, a heroine will rise.

The orphaned daughter of a painter, Becky Sharp, who has wit, good looks, fluent French and her eyes for her social status to advance leaves a home for girls to become a governess. With exotic colors of India and British flowers, during the whole movie makes the movie eye-appealing.
This is a long narrative which follows her life for 20 years, and even through marriage.

This is an adaptation of William Thackery's novel. I haven't read the novel, and they say it is entertaining for those who haven't read the novel. ;) and I found it, quite so. There were times where I would cringe with Becky's choices, in her desire to advance socially. The cinematography of the film is good though. :)

Now, I am intrigued with the book... mhmmm....



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Aleph - Paulo Coelho

Category: Book

Genre: Literature / Drama


Author: Paulo Coelho



This book describes the journey Paulo Coelho took from March to July 2006 via the Trans-Siberian Railway to meet his readers across Russia. Coelho had mentioned that this has been one of his most personal novels to date. It starts with Coelho asking his master "J" about his struggles and the spiritual crisis he is going through and he feels stuck in his spiritual growth.This is also similar to the beginning of his previous work: The Valkyries.

I finished reading this while listening to Tomatis (an audio therapy I am taking).

It's an interesting read this time about his journey to the past. And its not just about the past which happens in the current life but of something regarding a previous lifetime, that still haunts him. It's about the mystical term called the "Aleph", a Jewish Kaballah mystical term. It mixes different spiritual traditions as always with a Coelho.

This book also makes me want to go on an outward journey on my own to make my inward journey unfold! The question... where to? :P

Sunday, October 23, 2011

The Last Song - 2010

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama

Director: Julie Ann Robinson

Writer: Nicholas Sparks, Jeff Van Wie


Producer: Touchstone Pictures, Offspring Entertainment,

Cast: Miley Cyrus, Liam Hensworth, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman, Hallock Beals, Kelly Preston, Nick Lashaway, Carly Chaikin, Kate Vernon and more

Tagline: Do you ever really forget your first heartbreak?



The parents of Ronnie (Miley Cyrus) and her younger brother, Jonah were divorced. Ronnie and Jonah(Bobby Coleman) lives with their mom ever since but until this summer they were sent to live with their father (Greg Kinnear) in a small town on the beach. Ronnie has become rebellious since then. But, things begin to change on that fateful summer as their mutual love for music reconnects Ronnie and her father.

Another Nicholas Sparks novel turned into movie, huh? :) At first I was thinking it was Disney but when i saw the credits it was a Nicholas Sparks movie. That's why it's quite loaded with drama involving heartaches and reconnection...

I actually did not get to read the book .... but I'm sure its not somewhere close to the book.. as always the case. One thing, I like about the film was the acting of Bobby Coleman playing Jonah and Greg Kinnear. There were predictable moments.... I did cry in some of the moments. :) But, according to most reviews the book is way better... but like a new saying goes: "Don't judge a book by it's movie."

But, it could have been given more depth... 


FUNNY LINES

Jonah Miller: Mom says its because she has PMS.
Steve Miller: Do you even know what PMS is, Jonah ?
Jonah Miller: Of course I do dad, I'm not a little kid anymore. It's the Pissed At Men Syndrome.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Tourist - 2010

Category: Movie

Genre:  Mystery / Comedy

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Writer: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Christopher McQuarrie

Producer: GK Films, Spyglass Entertainment, Birnbaum/Barber

Cast: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton, Steven Berkoff, Rufus Sewell, Christian De Sica, Alessio Boni, Daniele Pecci, Giovanni Guideli and more.

Tagline: The Perfect Trip - The Perfect Trap

Elise (Angelina Jolie) sits next to an American tourist, Frank (Johnny Depp), on a train going to Venice. She has chosen him as a decoy, making believe that he is her lover who is wanted by police. Not only will they need to evade the police, but also the mobster whose money her lover stole.

It's like watching the film Red... only this time it's younger with a romantic setting - Venice. It has a dose of mystery and action with a lot of dash of comedic, humorous scenes. It's light not heavy or dark. So those who were expecting a loaded story or expecting that it is an intellectual film with eye popping action you will be heavily disappointed.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Ghajini - 2008


Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Mystery

Director: A.R. Murugadoss

Writer: Piyush Mishra, A.R. Murugadoss

Producer: Geetha Arts

Cast: Aamir Khan, Asif Ahmed, Tinnu Anand, Asin, John Cardiel, Vibha Chibbher, Sunil Grover and more.

Tagline: Remember December 25.


This is a Bollywood Film... which is a remake of a 2005 Tamil movie of the same title.

A medical student named Sunita is curious about the case of Sanjay Singhania who is said to have a short-term memory loss. Eventhough she was warned, she makes friends with Sanjay and begins to uncover the mystery which baffled many police of the area... she then is involved in drugs, crime and gangsters......

Another muscle movie! Haha. Aamir Khan is too hot here. Although I irked at some gory scenes... it was quite confusing at the beginning. Its a love story mixed with crime, gangs and murder... plus a short term memory loss case. It's both heavy and light. I enjoyed the light moments though.. can we have more of that?

Lead Actor and Actress made an exceptional job! Very believable..cuts to the core! This movie sure captures the emotions of the viewers you would almost forget that it's just a movie.

The skit with the detective was comical though...also sometimes you get annoyed with the role of the medical student wanting to punch her.... there were a few flaws in the script though...  :)

Fast Five - 2011

Category: Movie

Genre: Crime / Action

Director: Justin Lin

Writer: Chris Morgan, Gary Scott Thompson

Producer:  Universal Pictures, Original Film, One Race Productions

Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Joaquim de Almeda and more


Dominic (Vin Diesel) partners with Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) and the rest of the elite team of top racers. They find themselves on the wrong side of the law once again as they try to switch lanes between a ruthless drug lord and a relentless federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson).

Too much muscle!!!! Vin and The Rock??? At the beginning it was kind of.... a wrinkle in the nose... however I enjoyed the ending and the end scene. It wanted to surprise you.. but was predictable in their surprises though.

Im sure the fans of the F&F films will enjoy this because it collated all the stars from part 1 to 4. :) A lot of eye popping action can be seen all through out but don't expect that much from the story which can be a mix of other movies tis and tat. :) 

Friday, October 14, 2011

Made of Honor - 2008



Category: Movie

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Paul Weiland

Writer: Adam Sztykiel, Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont

Producer: Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Original Film

Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kadeem Hardison, Chris Messina, Richmond Arquette, Busy Philipps, Whitney Cummings, Emily Nelson, Selma Stern and more

Tagline: It takes a real man to become a maid of honor

Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) have been platonic friends for 10 years now. Tom is a serial dater and Hannah wants to marry but did not get to find Mr. Right - YET. Just when Tom wants to go series in being in a relationship with Hannah, Hannah gets engaged. And Hannah asked Tom to be her "maid" of honor.

It's light and fun... with a  good dose of comedic scenes. It has likeable characters.  While this may seem so-so to some but still nothing beats a light, fun film during night time. If you are looking for something original or unique in a romantic flick, this is not the film for you. :)

P.S. I Love You - 2007

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Romance

Director: Richard LaGravanese

Writer: Richard LaGravanese, Steven Rogers (based on a book by Cecilia Ahern)

Producer: Alcon Entertainment, Grosvenor Park Productions and Wendy Finerman Productions

Cast: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Harry Conick Jr, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, James Marsters, Kathy Bates, Nellie McKay, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Christopher Whalen, Dean Winters, Anne Kent and more.

Tagline: Sometimes there's only one thing left to say.

A young widow, Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) discovers that her late husband, the passionate, funny and impetuous Irishman named Gerry (Gerard Butler) has left her 10 messages when she turned 30 in the form of a cake intended to help ease her pain and start a new life when he died. All letters were delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way; P.S. I Love You.

It's heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. How something so great can end and how to start another equally magical journey is altogether shown in this movie. I enjoyed this romantic comedy slash drama film. Oh and its from a novel by Cecilia Ahern. Mhmm I haven't tried reading her books yet. I just might try one of her novels one day. :)


This is the most heartbreaking.... touching letter I've ever heard:

Gerry Kennedy: Dear Holly, I don't have much time. I don't mean literally, I mean you're out buying ice cream and you'll be home soon. But I have a feeling this is the last letter, because there is only one thing left to tell you. It isn't to go down memory lane or make you buy a lamp, you can take care of yourself without any help from me. It's to tell you how much you move me, how you changed me. You made me a man, by loving me Holly. And for that, I am eternally grateful... literally. If you can promise me anything, promise me that whenever you're sad, or unsure, or you lose complete faith, that you'll try to see yourself through my eyes. Thank you for the honor of being my wife. I'm a man with no regrets. How lucky am I. You made my life, Holly. But I'm just one chapter in yours. There'll be more. I promise. So here it comes, the big one. Don't be afraid to fall in love again. Watch out for that signal, when life as you know it ends. P.S. I will always love you

It's amazing how a guy can love a woman like Gerry does. Oooffff... why do I always fall in love with book characters and movie characters??? Because they give me the luxury to feel things  while watching or reading.... in  a magical... way...........

Lines:

Patricia: So now, all alone or not, you gotta walk ahead. Thing to remember is if we're all alone, then we're all together in that too.

Holly Kennedy: Dear Gerry, you said you wanted me to fall in love again, and maybe one day I will. But there are all kinds of love out there. This is my one and only life, And its a great and terrible and short and endless thing, and none of us come out of it alive. I don't have a plan... except, it's time my mom laughed again. She has never seen the world... she has never seen Ireland. So, I'm taking her back where we started... Maybe now she'll understand. I don't know how you did it, but you brought me back from the dead. I'll write to you again soon. P.S... Guess what?




Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Scent of a Woman - 1992

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama


Director: Martin Breast

Writer: Giovanni Arpino, Bo Goldman

Producer: City Light Films, Universal Pictures

Cast: Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Venture, Bradley Whitford, Rochelle Oliver, and more

TaglineCol. Frank Slade has a very special plan for the weekend.


Charlie (Chris O'Donnell) needs money and agrees to "babysit" a blind retired Lt. Col in the US Army named Frank (Al Pacino) man who is impossible to get along with
A prep school student needing money agrees to "babysit" a blind man, but the job is not at all what he anticipated. This movie involves travel, women, good food, good life, fine wine, the tango and a loaded forty - five.



Gosh, I never thought I would cry so much while watching this. Super drama. It says it is about a woman but it was more than that. It is a film brought with frankness minus the sugar coating. I love the character development of the film, the dialogue of each actor. The film is both emotional and intellectual without lacking the moral value it gives. 

Great Lines I Like:

Lt. Col. Frank : Oh, uh, Charlie - about your little problem - there are two kinds of people in this world: those who stand up and face the music, and those who run for cover. Cover is better.

Lt. Col. Frank Slade: No, I'm just gettin' warmed up. I don't know who went to this place, William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bryan, William Tell, whoever. Their spirit is dead, if they ever had one. It's gone. You're building a rat ship here. A vessel for seagoing snitches, and if you think you're preparing these minnows for manhood, you better think again, because I say you are killing the very spirit this institution proclaims it instills. What a sham. What kind of a show you guys are putting on here today? I mean, the only class in this act is sitting next to me, and I'm here to tell ya this boy's soul is intact. It's non-negotiable. You know how I know? Someone here, and I'm gonna say who, offered to buy it. Only Charlie here wasn't selling.  

Lt. Col. Frank: Boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there isn't nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are... executin' his soul! And why? Because he's not a Bairdman. Bairdmen. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, FUCK YOU TOO!

Lt. Col. Frank Slade: I'm not finished! As I came in here, I heard those words, "Cradle of Leadership". Well, when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And it has fallen here. It has fallen. Makers of men, Creators of leaders. Be careful what kind of leaders you're producing here. I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong. I'm not a judge or jury, but I can tell you this: He won't sell anybody out to buy his future! And that, my friends, is called integrity. That's called courage. Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of. Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the crossroads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey. You hold this boy's future in your hands, committee. It's a valuable future. Believe me. Don't destroy it. Protect it. Embrace it. It's gonna make you proud one day, I promise you.

Funny Lines:

Lt. Col. Frank Slade: Thank you Randy. You still with Snowqueen Sugar?  
Randy: Snowflake. How come you always get that wrong?
Lt. Col. Frank Slade: Because it's not important for me to get it right.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Last Time I Saw Paris - Elizabeth Adler

Category: Book

Genre: Drama / Romance

Author: Elizabeth Adler

When Lara Lewis turned forty-five she began to feel like she lost herself and she is becoming a miserable woman day by day. Even more so, now that she's forty-five. She looked in front of the mirror, asking herself: "Where did you go?" Her relationship with her husband of twenty-five years is also hitting rock bottom as she realized that her husband is ignoring her day by day.

For their anniversary she booked a second honeymoon trip with Bill (her husband), to relive the moment they were married. But, discovers that Bill is having an affair with his secretary.

Lost, and miserable..... will she finally discover the real Lara that was slowly disappearing?

With the help of friends, she begins to take a step. It's a dramatic story, however you'd enjoy the scenic reads as Elizabeth Adler takes us to Paris in this tale. Not Adler's best novel but it's okay... I think its Adler's attempt to make a simple story. :P


Friday, October 7, 2011

Inside Job - 2010

Category: Documentary Movie

Genre: Economics

Directed By: Charles Ferguson

Written By: Charles Ferguson / Chad Beck

Narrated By: Matt Damon

Tagline: The global economic crisis of 2008 cost tens of millions of people their savings, their jobs, and their homes. This is how it happened

This documentary movie provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008,  caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse.

Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, the film traces the rise of a rogue industry which has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia. It was made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore, and China.(from IMDB)



I got intrigued... about this movie due to the outburst of the Occupy Wall Street which is currently spreading across the globe. However, is getting little or no media attention at all (because apparently, the mainstream media is controlled by the 1%).


Anyway, for the ordinary person who would watch this movie who is not familiar with global economic jargon or jibberish like moi... just read between the lines... and carefully watch the emotions of Wall Street players which I'm sure you would come to the conclusion that they have been eaten by the system... programmed to be heartless... its a bit sad... but well, there's hope. 


How? By becoming aware and come up with a creative solution that will sustain the society. One that is win, win... 


Sunday, October 2, 2011

No Other Woman - 2011



Category: Movie

Genre: Drama

Director: Ruel S. Bayani

Writer: Keiko Aquino, Ricardo Fernando III, Kris Gazmen

Producer: Star Cinema, Viva Films

Cast: Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsey, Cristine Reyes, Tirso Cruz, Carmi Martin, John Arcilla, Ricci Chan, Nina Dolino, Ron Morales, Kat Alano, Kitkat and more




The film revolves on Ram Escaler's journey (Derek Ramsey) by becoming a successful working husband married to Charmaine (Cristine Reyes), whose perfect marriage becomes complicated when he commits into an adulterous affair with Kara Zalderiaga (Anne Curtis)that changes his life.

Uhmm... It's a good film. Specially if you can relate to the movie. Specially the women... Overall it had a good ending and it shows how people can shift from the "need" mentality and forgive. There are many good strong lines and were really trending on twitter and facebook statuses already...

Watched it at Abreeza with an aunt and one of her colleagues.