The Cloud Atlas - Liam Callanan

Category: Book

Genre: Historical Fiction

Author: Liam Callanan

It is the mid 1940s, set against the magnificent backdrop of Alaska during the days where the World War II is waning. The Cloud Atlas is an enthralling debut novel, a story of adventure and awakening—and of an eighteen year old soldier, trained under bomb disposal on an extraordinary, top-secret mission…and found a world that would haunt him forever.

At first I thought this was the famed "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell, but a few chapters went by, with the same setting and I knew this wasn't Mitchell's. I finished the book, only because it was interesting and I was already halfway the book when I realized it's not Mitchell's. [yes, it was an ebook I got somewhere. only because I couldn't find a copy of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas in the bookstores!!]

With all the references to shamans, magic, palm reading, astrology, tuunraq, balloons containing bombs and the impending war.... its a dazzling unique love story, or this enchantment of the 18 year old soldier with the Yup'ik woman named Lily. It's also a good look of Alaska and it's culture.

A literary art piece. Lovely all on it's own. 

Photo Source: Good Reads

Perfume: The Story of A Murderer - 2006

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Fantasy

Director: Tom Tykwer

Writer: Andrew Birkin, Bernd Eichinger

Producer: Constantin Film Production, VIP 4 Medienfonds,

Cast: Ben Whishaw, Fransesc Albiol, Dustin Hoffman, Simon Chandler, David Calder, Richard Felix and more.

Tagline: He lived to find beauty. He killed to possess it.

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille was born with a superior olfactory sense in the stench of eighteenth century Paris, which would come of use to him by creating the world's finest perfume.
But, then this tale turns into a dark turn as he tries to create the "ultimate perfume".


This film was artistically done, and I just learned earlier that a famed national artist enjoyed this film so much that he watched it at least 5 times. o_O

It has this epic unique storyline, and the way everything was made, cinematography, musical score was just perfect. However, there were scenes near the end that can be quiet disturbing, that I wouldn't want to dare watch it again. It left me... uh... errrmm.. surprised.... heavens there was this shock-value involved.

Anyhoo, for people who likes unique films and is not bothered by a few disturbing scenes.. you would enjoy it. :) 

Photo Source: Tumblr

Rurouni Kenshin - 2012

Original Title:  Meiji kenkaku roman tan

Category: Movie

Genre: Action

Director: Keishi Ohtomo

Writer: Nobuhiro Watsuki, Kiyomi Fujii

Producer: C&I Entertainment, IMJ Entertainment, RoC Works Co. and more

Cast: Sato Takeru,Emi Takei, Yu Aoi, Teruyuki Kagawa and more

Tagline:

When the Bakumatsu war ended in 1868, former assassin Kenshin Himura disappears and promises to defend those who need without killing and became a wanderer throughout Japan with a sword that has an inverted blade during the transition of the samurai age to the New Age. Kenshin comes across the idealistic Kaoru Kamiya and began helping her. Meanwhile a killer "Battosai" is murdering police officers and various innocent individuals leaving messages attached to their bodies.


Oro. Ororo. What a funny term for "aguy" or "ouch" it is. (Well, I think it's his own expression of "ouch") Haha.

What?? Sato Takeru is hereeee? After watching Bloody Monday, i find him... being the lead role in this movie!!!

Wala na. Crush ko na sya. Totoo! HAHA. Let's see, i bet he'll do well, as I fit him, Skylar and Miura (Bloody Monday).

It's not that gory, well... uhmmm... some parts are. But, it's actually a good one as it brings life to Samurai X the infamous anime. This was one of the animes I used to watch back in the old days. Boohoo. And was delighted to see it now "live" and what better than a promising actor as the lead? Haha. Okay. Enough about Sato Takeru.

It has good cinematography and an excellent choreography on the fight scenes. To die hard fans of Samurai X (the manga) there might be a few changes as his character or personality was slightly turned to emo-ish and reflective. A tweaking done by the makers of this film, which is actually good.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Cloud Atlas - 2012

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Mystery / Sci-Fi

Director: Tom Tyker, Andy Wachowski

Writer: David Mitchell, Lana Wachowski

Producer:
 
Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgees, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, Keith David, James D'Arcy, Xun Zhou, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, Robert Fyfe, Martin Wuttke and more

Tagline: Everything Is Connected

This film is based on a novel by David Mitchell. It's an exploration of how each action of individual lives impacts one another in the past, present and future. Everything is indeed connected in this film.


It has been quiet sometime that I have waited to watch this film. When I saw the trailer... all i can say was: "I should not miss this! and I know this film will be epic!" True enough, it is indeed considered an epic... and one of the best films in 2012! It was even considered ambitious because the novel is supposed to be "unfilmable". But, they did it!!

I watched this with my whole family.

You should not blink when you are watching this. Each scene is equally important as it weaves through the whole story. Six stories are being interwoven to create the whole magical tapestry that is Cloud Atlas.  This film will take you anywhere, and you will find yourself in unexpected scenes, oftentimes delving to deja-vu.

It is visually stunning, the make-up were good although I'm sure the make-up artists had their own challenging moments by changing an actor's features to fit a certain race, age and era.

It was quiet gory, well not exactly too much, just a few disturbing scenes. The love affair between Somni and Keanu was the one I liked best. There's something about being protected... that makes me go ... swoonybeanoo.

Also, the musical score is one of the best. I loved the Cloud Atlas sextet.  As I am writing this the soundtrack is actually playing at the background.

Cloud Atlas is something different among other movies. It emanates creativity and a whole range of imagination. It's epic, and even layered and you'd be expecting most people to watch it again over and over. :) (I still have to read the novel though.. our local bookstores ran out of it... even before the movie was released. Gah! Maybe im settling with an ebook or whatever. )

Photo Source: David Belbin

The Red Tent - Anita Diamant

Category: Books

Genre :Historical Fiction

Author: Anita Diamant

In the Bible, Dinah's life only hinted a brief and violent detour in the book of Genesis. This exquisite novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob.


One of the best novels about the feminine I've ever read. Although, it's pretty much a historical fiction, you can't help but consider that, maybe just maybe it can be true.

It fills you with love and can sometimes crush your heart as what Dinah has to go through... ahhh i love it. I had my bouts of crying and most of the time wonder of the olden times as I read and devour the book. I enjoyed the often mystical way of passing on the tradition about womanhood. Anita Diamant is also a very good story teller and I love how she strings the words and stories.

Photo Source: Sluiternation

The Help - 2011

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama

Director: Tate Taylor

Writer: Tate Taylor, Kathyrn Stockett

Producer: Dreamworks SKG, Reliance Entertainment, Participant Media

Cast: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Howard, Jessica Chastain, Cicely Tyson

Tagline: Change begins with a whisper.

Skeeter (Emma Stone) an aspiring writer and a southern society girl during the civil rights movement (1960s), set in Mississipi decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids' point of view about the white families that they work with and the hardship that they all go through on a day to day basis.


It's a very moving story about racism and the challenges about the "colored" maids in the past. I love the story. Simple but moving.  I like Emma Stone! All the acting in the film were all superb!
It's a beautiful film, one that is made realistic and able to depict what happened in the 1960s. It has a bit of funny moments included and can make you cry in some. Definitely, an Oscar worthy film. :)

Photo Source: Studio Briefing