Boses - 2008

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Indie

Director: Ellen Ongkenko- Marfil

Writer: Rody Vera, Froilan Medina

 Cast: Coke Bolipata, Julian Duque, Ricky Davao, Meryll Soriano, Cherry Pie Picache and more


I saw a trailer of this indie film over TV some 2 weeks ago, and it got me curious. I never wouldve imagined that I would be meeting the Director and 2 actors of the said movie right here in Davao City.

I got an invitation for a film showing over at Cinematheque, and since two offices invited me, Tuburan Institute and Happy Team(Councilor Avila of Davao), I grabbed the chance. But, I didn't realize the title was "Boses". All I saw at the invite was: "The Heart Speaks", cocktails and live violin by The Cast.

And I was pleasantly surprised to realize it was a film showing of Boses.

This film is about a child who is being abused by his Dad...

I find this movie simple yet very moving and it sure is worthy of your time. It has multi-dimensional aspects of the film from child abuse, to child welfare, how to run a shelter, isolation rooms, bullying, suicide, dreams, family, father & son, depression, music, therapy and so on and so on. There are so many points of discussion. It's educational. More films like these should be made. :)

Guess Who - 2005

Category: Movie

Genre: Comedy / Romance

Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Writer: William Rose, David Ronn

Producer: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Regency Enterprises, 3 Art Entertainment

Cast:  Ashton Kutcher, Bernie Mac, Zoe Saldana, Judith Scott, Hal Williams, Kellee Stewart and more

Tagline: His daughter's Mr. Right just turned out to be... Mr. White.

Theresa(Zoe Saldana) brings home her boyfriend Simon (Ashton Kutcher), to meet her parents who will be renewing their vows for their anniversary. And both Theresa and Simon planned to announce their engagement over the weekend. There's one thing, the Jones' family is black and Theresa neglects to tell them Simon is White. Percy, Theresa's father has a general mistrust of any boyfriend for Theresa and let alone... Simon being white.


It is a very funny, light and family oriented film.  My Beloved Boo made me watch this and I always admire how he chooses his films. It's always light and fun. And very family oriented. You are the best sweetheart! It's a simple film about "meeting the parents" of your wife-to-be and how to get along with the "parents".

Best take from the movie, was this line.....

"Pride aint nothing when it comes to the matters of the heart".

After Earth - 2013

Category: Movie

Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Drama

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Writer: Gary Whitta, M. Night Shyamalan

Producer: Columbia Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, Blinding Edge Pictures

Cast: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, David Denman, Sophie Okonedo, Zoe Kravitz, Glenn Morshower, Kristofer Hivju, Sacha Dawan, and more

Tagline: Danger is real. Fear is a choice.


I didn't realise this was an M.Night Shymalan ... until I saw the credits... on the first opening scene! Wooot.

One thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity's escape from Earth, Nova Prime has become mankind's new home.  Cypher Raige returns from an extended duty to his family and ready to father his son, Kitai, but then a crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.

I loved the film!

I first read about the film about an article saying this film's got something to do with Will Smith's dedication to Scientology. Well, it pretty much looks like it.

Scientology or not... it strikes a chord for us who just attended IkePono. This reminds me of the Pono battle. How to just connect with your pono, thus eliminating fear. Specially, the ending.

The kneeling part is one way of getting grounded, and being in touch with self and going back to Pono.

Also, it has elements of LES (Doc Andre's seminar), about staying in the present moment, becoming aware of everything around you. And a bit of a Peaceful Warrior. Elements of Workshop:Courage and Aletheia was also shown.

This is once again something about the future, yes, another apocalyptic view, about fathers and sons, childhood traumas, getting out of the box, relying on intuition, and well, pretty much the journey of the hero. :)

Photo source: HD Wallpapers

Warm Bodies - 2013

Category: Movie

Genre: Comedy / Horror / Romance

Director: Jonathan Levine

Writer: Jonathan Levine, Isaac Marion

Producer: Summit Entertainment, Make Movies, Mandeville Films

Cast: Nicolas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich, Analeigh Tipton, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Cory Hardrict

Tagline:  Bros before brains

The world's population is slowly becoming an undead horde, however R, is a young and odd zombie who thinks. While feeding on humans one day, R meets Julie (still human) and suddenly has an urge to protect her. What happens is the start of a very strange and warm relationship that allows R to begin having his human side back. Soon, this strange phenomenon is spreading in the undead population.... which brings about another issue they have to challenge that would threaten their friendship.

 ---------

Okay, seems like today is filled with really interesting films that is infused with something deeper.

This film may seem comedic on the surface but if you actually look past or go "exhume" the film... you get to see that it's actually deep.


Being a Zombie is a metaphor for people living a life without color, without passion, and a life that takes it as it is with no questions, cautionary. It's also a life where one forgets who he/she really is.

Being a bonie on the other hand are people who gave up or can be that part of self which buys fear, our shadow, the dark force.

This is actually beyond apocalyptic but is actually an awakening veiled.

There are many references to remembrance, forgetting, triggers, and the 100th monkey concept plays as well, and that change can often just come from one person and a small group of individuals who are crazy enough to challenge the norm and who does not fit the "norm".

Also, music plays an important role to the person here...

And this also shows that whenever there's change, there's always a counter-force, when your Imaginal self steps in.

this movie reminds me of this: "“Burnout is nature's way of telling you, you've been going through the motions your soul has departed; you're a zombie, a member of the walking dead, a sleepwalker. False optimism is like administrating stimulants to an exhausted nervous system. ” - Sam Keen

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Category: Books

Genre: Sci-Fi

Author: Suzanne Collins


Once again, Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, has survived. Even though District 12 has been destroyed after the operations at the arena. Gale has escaped, while the family of Katniss remains safe and is heading for District 13. They do exist. Peeta was captured by the Capitol.

The success of the rebellion is on Katniss', and to accept responsibility and to be willing to save countless lives for the future of Panem.

Finally, I finished the whole trilogy!

But, the last book has this nagging effect on me. Is it separation anxiety? Or maybe because, I wanted something more? The Gale part at the end also nags me!!! Why, is there no flashback of Gale? :(( I know, it's all Katniss' side that we are reading. But, but, I would've wanted something more from Gale.

I didn't get to sleep when I finished reading the book though, because I was imagining Panem and all that still. This book, still manages to keep you on the edge, making you want to finish the whole book in one seating. I stayed until the wee hours of the morning, just to finish the whole thing.

And Alas! The Hunger Games is over and done with.

Photo Source: FVHS 

Rating: 4 & Half Stars

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Category: Book

Genre: Sci-Fi

Author: Suzanne Collins


After Peeta and Katniss wins the 74th Hunger Games, they are now preparing for the Victory Tour. Where they will be touring each district until they reach the Capitol. However, Katniss' got a visit from President Snow who was not pleased with how the Games turned out. However, the Victory Tour is currently disturbing other districts and may even cause some rebellious outbreak which the Capitol has been keen on putting out.



I cried most of the time in this book! Gah. I just read the 2 books straight while I'm on a bed rest!! Which is actually good. Teehee.

I like the way it was written because of its utter simplicity yet vivid narrative and yet emotionally filled action scenes. It pierces your heart at exactly the right time and gives you shivers now and then.

I want to read book 3 already!!!!!

Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Category: Book

Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama / Dystopian / Adventure / Action

Author: Suzanne Collins


The Hunger Games is a dystopian novel for young adults. North America is now run by the powerful Capitol and is now divided into 12 districts (originally 13 but District 13 was destroyed), and is now called Panem. In the 12th District, there's Katniss Everdeen (16y/o) and Gale who hunts for a living. In order to keep the status quo and to remind the 12 Districts not to rebel, every year they hold a game of death, chosing 2 tributes per district via "draw". Katniss' sister was picked to be the tribute but then Katniss exercises her option to volunteer for the games. With Katniss comes Peeta, the baker's son.  Together, they must fend for themselves and survive.


I got hooked with reading this because it has an interesting plot. Although, it's something that is socially and  uhmmm morally not sound. The Hunger Games, I mean.

But, what I particularly liked about it was the love triangle between Gale, Katniss and Peeta. Can someone hand me at least a Gale or a Peeta? *giggles*

Anyway it was a breeze reading it. The author did not use any big words. It was simple but enough to give you the hand or play with imagination. The book tackled many things that can actually make people relate to: love, honor, freedom, rebellion, poverty, family, friendship and particularly survival. In the arena, you'd want to move from page to page since the suspense builds up and introduces many new creatures that came with technological evolution.

Anyway, this ain't something "intelligent", if you want to argue.. but it was successful enough to the audience it aimed for. And it's a good book to start or recommend if one wants to get into "reading". :)

Photo Source: NPR

Touchback - 2011

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama

Director: Don Handfield

Writer: Don Handfield

Cast: Brian Presley, Kurt Russell, Melanie Lynskey, Marc Blucas, Sarah Wright, Drew Powell, Steve Turner, Kevin Covais, James Duval,

Producer: Freedom Films, Palo Verde, Hannibal Classics

Tagline: Would you give up everything you love for a shot at everything you've ever wanted?

On the biggest game of his life Scott Murphy (Brian Presley), the best High School Football player in the nation injures his knee which destroyed his college dreams and professional career. 15 years later, he gets a flashback and a chance to go back and change his-story. 


It is an inspiring film and I enjoyed it's unique storyline. It has a metaphysical ring to it. Great character development. This plays on some sort of a near death experience thing. It's also about family and making choices and making the "right now's" count.

It's pretty much about teamwork... but more on a man's journey to life specially one's that could change one's life forever, what will you do with a second chance?

"the future is just a bunch of right now's strung together."

I feel more films like these should be made. It's simple and it started off slow... and yet very moving and gets better by the near end. 

Quotes:

Coach Hand: Do you know what the future is Scott? The future is just a bunch of what you do right now strung together. And what you are doing now is giving up. And trust me there is no future in that. Scott, I hope you don't give up this easy in life, because it gets a hell of a lot harder than football.

Coach Hand: Gentlemen, some players have talent, others have heart, but tonight I've seen players with talent who I didn't know had any, and others that have heart who I thought only had talent. The quality and standard of your life will not be determined by how well you play football, but by how well you confront adversity. Attitude! Gentlemen, if you keep playing like this I promise you, you will leave this field winners. Get in here.

Photo Source: Ace Showbiz

Jemima J - Jane Green

Category: Book

Genre: Chick Literature

Author: Jane Green


Jemima Jones is an overweight writer for a small-circulation newspaper, Kilburn Herald in England, who is hopelessly in love with his handsome colleague Ben Williams who later became her friend. She has two social-climbing roommates who gets to treat her as a maid rather than a friend.



It's a good enough light read. It's about re-invention and finding oneself. It's almost similar to the film called A Cinderella Pact. It's one of the books that comes out as a "comfort read". Nothing memorable or notable, just enough to get you through the night/day? :) But, it's a good one.

Photo Source: Book Space

An Education - 2009

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Romance

Writer: Nick Hornby, Lynn Barber

Director: Lone Scherfig

Producer: BBC Films, Finola Dwyer Productions, Wildgaze Films

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Olivia Williams, Alfred Molina, Cara Seymour, William Melling, Connor Catchpole, Matthew Beard, Peter Sarsgaard, Amanda Fairbank-Hynes, Ellie Kendrick and more

Tagline:  Innocence of the Young

A story of a sixteen year old Jenny Mellor(Carey Mulligan) in the 1960's living with her parents in the London suburb. But, her life changes when a playboy nearly twice her age arrives.

It was a good film. About choosing education and how sometimes a whimsy romantic love can detour a girl. But, good thing she was able to uphold herself and was given a second chance to do it all over again. Some sort of a coming of age film. This film explores issues such as social class, education, racism, being a woman and more.

Photo Source: GeorgianEye

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

Matrix - 1999

Category: Movie

Genre: Epic / Thriller / Sci-Fi

Director: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Writer: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Producer: Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, and more

Tagline: The Future isn't User Friendly

A computer hacker named Thomas A. Anderson and who goes by the name Neo(Keanu Reeves), learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.He has always questioned reality but then the truth is far beyond what he imagines.

Morpheus, a legendary computer hacker who was branded a terrorist by the government began to initiate contact with him and the FBI was suddenly after him. Morpheus begins to awakens Neo to the real world.... and there the journey begins...

This is probably my 3rd time to watch the film. And it's amazing how you can watch the Matrix from many different levels:

1.) as a guns and technological movie (or sci-fi)
2.) as something about a Messiah in a religious point of view.
3.) or a metaphor of how we all see through the veils of illusion

and many different levels one can see... but so far, that's how I saw it. It's pretty similar to our Workshop:Courage the concept of taking the red pill or the blue pill and there's no turning back. Every journey begins with a Question... and it's what started his Quest.

Classic. Epic. Everytime you watch it, something is always revealed that wasn't there before. Effects, acting... plot... ahhh everything is just so right.

If you haven't watched at least once... then you are missing out one of the best sci-fi films ever! :)

Photo Source: Freewebs

Limitless - 2011

Category: Movie

Genre: Sci-Fi

Writer: Leslie Dixon and Alan Glynn

Director: Neil Burger

Producer: Relativity Media, Virgin Produced, Rogue

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Robert de Niro, Abbie Cornish, Andrew Howard, Anna Friel, Johnny Whitworth, Tomas Arana, Robert John Burke and more

Tagline: What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?

This is about a desperate writer Eddie named Morra (Cooper), who was rejected by his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) and confirms his belief about himself about not having a future. One day an old friend introduces to him an experimental drug called NZT, that allows him to be laser focused and more confident than any man alive and allows him to use 100 percent of his mind. As he becomes into the perfect version of himself, and begins to rise in the top of the financial world, he begins to draw the attention of Carl Van Loon (De Niro), a business mogul.

I was actually intrigued by the concept, a pill that can allow you to tap the untapped potential of the human brain. Of course, the ideal way would be achieving it through Self Mastery.... but then in a very Western way of thinking, they would always come up with a "pill solution" for everything. It's quite thrilling but it could use room for some improvement here and there and it would be a spectacular blockbuster! :) But, nevertheless, it was a good concept and I enjoyed it. :)

In Time - 2011

Category: Movie

Genre: Sci-Fi

Director: Andrew Niccol

Writer: Andrew Niccol

Producer: Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures

Cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Shyloh Oostwald, Johnny Galecki, Colin McGurk, Olivia Wilde, Will Harris, Michael William Freeman, Jesse Lee Soffer and more



Tagline: Time Is Power. / His crime wasn't stealing time. He was giving it away.

In a future where TIME has become the ultimate currency. A person stops aging at 25, but: a person is genetically-engineered to live only one more year, unless one can buy his/her way out of it. The rich "earns" decades at a time, becoming essentially immortal. A man who was "rich"


It's a unique film. Well, at least the concept. However the storyline is somewhat similar to Robin Hood meeting Wall Street. It's about a system collapsing where power and money is kept to a few. Quite dramatic in some moments. It could have been improved though... acting, chemistry and lines....

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....

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. 

 

Network - 1976

Category: Movie

Genre: Classic

Director: Sidney Lumet

Writer: Paddy Chayefsky

Producer: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), United Artists and more

Cast: Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty, Arthur Brughardt, Bill Burrows, John Carpenter, Jordan Charney and more

Tagline: Prepare yourself for a perfectly outrageous motion picture!

The corporate structure of the UBS Television network is changing. Meanwhile, Howard Beale, the aging news anchor of UBS, is losing his once strong ratings share and so UBS decides to fire him. Beale reacts to it in an unexpected way which affected the ratings of the network.

Saw a trailer of this movie over youtube, actually a clip and i found it interesting and decided to check it out. Indeed it is a classic. It deals with the subject of television and programming and how it is far becoming a source of mass madness. Also it is also how TV networks are working right now....

Its also an answer to the question of: "How can one individual influence society when the individual is influenced by society itself."

It is tricky right? :)

Classic and needs creative thinking whenever you watch this film. I love the script! :)


LINES I LIKE...

Howard Beale: I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad. You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, God damn it! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!' I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"


Max Schumacher: You need me. You need me badly. Because I'm your last contact with human reality. I love you. And that painful, decaying love is the only thing between you and the shrieking nothingness you live the rest of the day.
 Diana Christensen: Then, don't leave me.
 Max Schumacher: It's too late, Diana. There's nothing left in you that I can live with. You're one of Howard's humanoids. If I stay with you, I'll be destroyed. Like Howard Beale was destroyed. Like Laureen Hobbs was destroyed. Like everything you and the institution of television touch is destroyed. You're television incarnate, Diana. Indifferent to suffering; insensitive to joy. All of life is reduced to the common rubble of banality. War, murder, death are all the same to you as bottles of beer. And the daily business of life is a corrupt comedy. You even shatter the sensations of time and space into split seconds and instant replays. You're madness, Diana. Virulent madness. And everything you touch dies with you. But not me. Not as long as I can feel pleasure, and pain... and love.
Max Schumacher: And it's a happy ending: Wayward husband comes to his senses, returns to his wife, with whom he has established a long and sustaining love. Heartless young woman left alone in her arctic desolation. Music up with a swell; final commercial. And here are a few scenes from next week's show.