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. :)

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

People Like Us - 2012

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Family

Director: Alex Kurtzman

Writer: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci

Producer: Dreamworks SKG, Kurtzman Orci Paper Products, Reliance Entertainment

Cast: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Hall D'Addario, Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Sara Mornell, Philip Baker Hall and more

Tagline: Find your family.

Sam, a smooth talking salesman thought his father who died left him any money so he can get out of the jam he got himself into but discovered something else. He then later found out that he has sister named Frankie.

I wasn't really expecting what I would see and I never knew the plot and most of us were like guessing what would be next or why this and why that. We had a ball watching it though. It has a good enough character development which actually added mystery to the whole film.

This film has a mature take on supposedly "dysfunctional" families. Or skeletons in a family's closet. Where you can really work things out. That sometimes you really have to go out of the way to understand your family. It is artistic, and all actors really did well in pulling this film off.

Another unique storyline, written wonderfully.... about family, brotherhood and sisterhood. Seems like films nowadays has just gotten better or my sister is just good at spotting or hearing about good films. :) Good musical score as well.

It has a heartwarming ending...one that can make you go "awwwww".


Quotes from Film:

Six Rules: 1. If you like something because you think other people are gonna like it, it's a sure bet no one will. 2. Most doors in the world are closed, so if you find one you want to get into: you damn well better have an interesting knock. 3. Everything you think is important, isn't. And everything you think is unimportant, is. 4. Don't shit where you eat. 5. Lean into it: the outcome doesn't matter. What matters is that you're there for it. 6. Never sleep with someone who has more problems than you do. 

Photo Source: Glow Gaze

Babe, I Love You - 2010

Category: Movie

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Mae Czarina Cruz

Writer: Mia Bacarro, Margarette Labrador,
 
Producer: ABS CBN Film Productions, Viva Films, Star Cinema Productions

Cast:Sam Milby, Anne Curtis, Laurice Gullen, Tetchie Agbayani, Kitkat, Guji Lorenzana and more.

Tagline:



Nicolas "Nico" Veneracion Borromeo is a highly esteemed History of Architecture professor, who is on his way to becoming the next Vice Dean of the Department. He knows that this was his only way of making his forgive him and be proud of him. Then, he meets Sandra "Sasa" Sanchez, and then his whole world turns upside down..... but one thing is... Sasa who works as a promo girl is obviously unacceptable in his life.. specially his mom.


Well, it's a ball of "kilig moments". And a couple of drama between son and a strict mom. Also a typical story of a man on the upper class and a woman, on the other side of the road. Anne sure is good in giving us a few laughs here and there... making it a cute film to look forward to.

Even if it's typical.. it's a good watch.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

How To Train Your Dragon - 2010

Category: Movie / Animation

Genre: Fantasy / Adventure

Writer: William Davis and Dean Deblois

Director: Dean Deblois, Chris Sanders

Producer: DreamWorks Animation, Mad Hatter Entertainment, Mad Hatter Films

Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz Plasse, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wig, Robin Atkin Downes, and more.

Tagline:


A young Viking, named Hiccup on the Island of Berk, wants to join the fight and hunt dragons that continually raid their town. But, being clumsy and small, he was always discouraged by his father, Stoik the Vast who is a village leader. Despite his being clumsy and small, his attribute goes to his creativity/inventiveness. While out doing his best to prove that he is worthy to be a Viking,he was set to kill, but could not bring himself to do it. Out of curiosity, he befriends the dragon whom he calls Toothless. 

Oooh yeahhh!! Dragons! and Taming them? Well you are right!!! I had a fun time watching the film. It was exciting and heart warming too! :) I enjoyed the relationship of Hiccup and Toothless, they gave enough time for the characters to develop which actually gives depth to the movie.

Great animation, but what matters a lot is the story and the journey of Hiccup and Toothless. Both, young and old would enjoy this dragon and viking tale! :)

Funny Lines:

Hiccup: And when he does, it's always with this... disappointed scowl, like someone skimped on the meat in his sandwich.
[imitating]
Hiccup: "Excuse me, barmaid! I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring! I ordered an extra-large boy with beefy arms, extra guts and glory on the side. This here, this is a talking fish-bone!"

Fishlegs: [to Tuffnut] Your mom let you get a tattoo?
Tuffnut: It's not a tattoo, it's a birth mark!
Ruffnut: Okay, I've been stuck with you since birth and that was never there before.
Tuffnut: Yes it was! You've just never seen me from the left side until now. 

Emo Lines:

Hiccup: Why couldn't I have killed that dragon when I found him in the woods? Would've been better, for everyone...
Astrid: Yep. The rest of us would have done it. So why didn't you?  Why didn't you?
H: I don't know... I couldn't.
A: That's not an answer.
H: "Why" is this so important to you all of a sudden?
A: Because I want to remember what you say, right now.
H: Oh, for the love of... I was a coward! I was weak! I wouldn't kill a dragon!
A: You said "wouldn't", that time.
H: Agh, whatever... I "wouldn't"! Three hundred years, and I'm the first Viking who wouldn't kill a dragon!
A: First to ride one, though. So...?
Hiccup: I wouldn't kill him, because he looked as frightened as *I* was. I looked at him... and I saw myself.

Photo Source: HowtoTrainYourDragon.Blogspot

A Bronx Tale - 1993

Category: Movie

Genre: Crime, Drama, Family

Director: Robert De Niro

Writer: Chazz Palminteri

Producer: Price Entertainment, Penta Entertainment, Tribeca Productions

Tagline: One man lives in the neighborhood, another man owns it. A devoted father battles the local crime boss for the life of his son.

Cast: Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lilo Brancato, Francis Capra, Taral Hicks, Kathrine Narducci, Clem Caserta, Alfred Sauchell Jr., Frank Pietrangolare, Joe Pesci, Robert D`Andrea, Fred Fishcer, Dave Salerno, and more.



Summary and Review of the movie A Bronx Tale.

Sonny the gangster is the big man in Calogero's Bronx neighborhood. Calogero always admired Sonny. One day, Calogero witnessed a shooting wherein he was asked to testify against Sonny but he did not implicate Sonny. It started a lasting bond between the gangster and Calogero which his father, a bus driver named Lorenzo disapproves.


It's quite a slow movie, but I like it. It's simple. No need for effects but the story gets to you. Each character gets to you. It's deeply moving. And I think this movie is one of the best underrated movies. About wasted talents, father and son, friendship, loyalty, and more.

Quotes I Like:

Lorenzo: The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.
Calogero: Sonny and my father always said that when I get older I would understand. Well, I finally did. I learned something from these two men. I learned to give love and get love unconditionally. You just have to accept people for what they are, and I learned the greatest gift of all. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent, and the choices that you make will shape your life forever. But you can ask anybody from my neighborhood, and they'll just tell you this is just another Bronx tale.

A Cool, Dry Place - 1998

Category: Movie

Genre: Family / Drama

Producer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox (Far East), 20th Century Fox de Argentina, Gativideo.

Director: John N. Smith

Writer: Michael Grant Jaffe (novel), Matthew McDuffie.

Tagline: Love, Sex and Starting Over..

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Monica Potter, Joey Lauren Adams, Bobby Moat, Devon Sawa, Todd Louiso, Jenny Robertson, Siobhan Fallon and more.


Overview and Summary of the movie A Cool, Dry Place.

After Russell's(Vince Vaughn) wife abandoned him in Chicago, he moved in to rural Kansas and tries his best to balance his work as an attorney while caring for his five year old son Calvin(Kevin Moat) and his sideline as a high school basketball coach.

Just as he starts to develop a new relationship with a veterinarian's assistant, his ex-wife suddenly reappears and wants to re-assert herself in her husband and son's life. On top of the romantic conflict, he is also suddenly presented with the opportunity of a lifetime to join a major firm in Dallas.

This is a heartwarming Father and Son story. I loved Kevin Moat's acting! What a cute child he is. I find their bond in the movie cute. The movie might seem mellow but I think this is one of those movies which were underrated. It has a few funny parts too. This movie made me teary eyed too.