Maybelle Victor

The real hell is your life gone wrong.

- What Dreams May Come -

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I was beyond dismay after watching the film, I was in silent hill – where the cries were too much to handle, as if killing you.

I have been looking forward to watching the file because I loved the book and to my surprise, it was not at all like the book.  It’s a bad adaptation of the book mixed with a bit of wit, humor and major commercialism.

The movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was about Percy’s discovery of the Half-Blood Camp, his attempt to retrieve his mother and his attempt to save Olympus.

The movie begins with scenes establishing Percy’s affiliation with water.  He is able to hold his breath underwater really long and he feels really comfortable with water.  It also presents how close he is to Grover and how he seemed to be a smart-ass who’s not really smart. 

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Soneto XVII

No te amo como si fueras rosa de sal, topacio
o flecha de claveles que propagan el fuego:
te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras,
secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma.
Te amo como la planta que no florece y lleva
dentro de sí, escondida, la luz de aquellas flores,
y gracias a tu amor vive oscuro en mi cuerpo
el apretado aroma que ascendió de la tierra.
Te amo sin saber cómo, ni cuándo, ni de dónde,
te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo:
así te amo porque no sé amar de otra manera,
sino así de este modo en que no soy ni eres,
tan cerca que tu mano sobre mi pecho es mía,
tan cerca que se cierran tus ojos con mi sueño.

- Cien sonetos de amor, Pablo Neruda -

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Well, what do you know, I guess the MMFF won’t go unnoticed after all because the kids would prefer to watch one of the many movies before it fully closes.

Initially, the kids have been pestering me to watch Wapakman. It started since the trailer hit the local TV screen. I first saw the trailer during Pacquiao’s latest match so I have an idea what it was all about and my reaction at that time was… “what-the-***”! It was frustrating enough that most celebrities are using their popularity to toy the masses’ ideals and principles and that most politicians are abusing their ability to use media outfits for their own political advantage. I wanted to believe that Pacquiao was better than that. The achievement that he was able to reach was really something to be proud of but for him to venture into other fields, such as showbiz, the music industry or worse, politics… I just can’t imagine what’s in store for us Filipinos. Anyway, whatever was my reaction, I had to keep it to myself because my beloved brother keeps on pointing out the fact that the effects used in the trailer looks really good and the kids, Oh man, they scramble towards the TV screen on the onset of the modified pacman sound. I would die right then and there. Nonetheless, it’s really the art of being a mother, you have to place yourself in the shoes of kids to really understand…

We didn’t watch Wapakman. It was no longer on shown at Glorietta 4 today (January 2, 2010, Saturday). I figured, it was replaced with Dolphy’s Nobody, nobody but Juan. Another one of those films you wouldn’t catch me watching. Good thing none of the kids wanted to watch it. Dolphy doesn’t appeal to the kids nowadays, though Wowowee does.

The kids were also insistent on watching Vic Sotto’s Darling Kong Aswang. I wouldn’t be surprised if my feet catch me once again in the theaters for this one. It was Gaea who wanted SRRXI and it’s Julia who’s singing out DKA so I don’t know. Classes start on Monday, we still have tomorrow (or should I say, later – January 3, 2010). Nothing’s always final.

From the title of this entry, obviously, we got to watch SRRXI. We also watched last year’s so I have a point of reference/comparison.

Just so you know, before SRRX, my idea of SRR is “corny, jologs and walang kwenta.” From childhood, it was indeed one of those movies that scared me (sort of). I mean, who wouldn’t remember, “ang anak ni Janice ay tiyanak (waaaah!)” (I really have to add the shriek after the title), or babae sa loob ng banga (I’m not even sure if it’s really babae or lalake) and of course, the walang kamatayang white lady, dwende, aswang and manananggal shorts. We even have the history of listening to Gabi ng Lagim and were always waiting for the Magandang Gabi Bayan Halloween Special. Who wouldn’t be scared listening and thinking of all those during “brownout days”? Anyway, after watching tons of Asian Horror Flicks (and many others), specially, The Exorcist, SRR is nothing close to scary now. The effects do improve but like what I said after watching Izza Calzado in The Echo, the criteria is now based on what is common, rather than, what is original. A great start, but nothing chilling to the bone.

I had initially thought that Shake, Rattle and Roll was supposed to follow a recipe format. Shake for a story that should shake you or thrill you a bit; Rattle for a story that should make you scream and Roll for a story that should unnerve you through witty and comical horror, if there’s such a thing. That was how it was last year. This year was a bit different.

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Di ako nanonood ng pinoy-made horror flicks.  Pakiramdam ko kasi sa galing ng Pinoy mangopya, wala na akong dapat pang i-expect na bago.  Ang nakakainis dun ay alam ko namang maraming bago at mas magandang kayang i-offer ang Pinoy, pero sadya lang na hindi yun ang batayan ng mga pelikula natin kundi ang mga temang “bebenta.”  Kung kaya kung ano ang sikat o pinasikat ng ibang bansa, ganun din ang gusto nating sabayan O pantayan.

Buti na lang merong Viva Channel, Cinema One, PBO at above all, kontak na pwedeng mahiraman ng CD.

Sa laki ng standy ng pelikulang “The Echo” sa Glorietta 4, imposibleng di ako maintriga.  Dedma lang ako talaga pero nahatak kasi ako manood at eto ako ngaun, nagsusulat ng review.

Di ko napanood ang “Sigaw” na sinasabing basehan ng pelikulang ito pero di hamak na nagulat akong malaman na may “k” pala ang Pinoy sa Holywood cinema.  Ito’y magandang simula para sa Pelikulang Pilipino.

Ang pelikula ay patungkol kay Bobby (Jesse Bradford), isang lalakeng kakabalik lamang sa lugar niya mula sa pagkakabilanggo.  Dahil naka-parole, inaasahang tutuloy siya sa bahay ng kanyang ina na kasamaang palad ay pumanaw na.  Umikot ang pelikula sa pagtangka ng lalaking itong ibalik ang buhay na naiwan nya maraming taon na ang nakalipas.  Kumuha siya ng trabaho, nabigyan ng pagkakataon sa isang talyer at sinubukan nyang makipagbalikan sa dati niyang kasintahan.  Isa lang ang tila nagiging sagabal, may naririnig siyang mga sigawan sa katabing kuwarto ng unit niya.  Bukod pa riyan ay may nakaharap siyang babae (si Gina/Iza Calzado) at bata (anak niya) na puno ng pasa at tila nakatira sa naturang unit.  Ang nakakapagpabagabag pa ay parang siya lang ang nakakarinig at nakakakita dito dahil ng minsa’y tumawag siya ng pulis para patulungan ang mag-ina, nakita ng dalawang mata niya ang loob ng kwartong walang laman at tila hindi na nagamit sa maraming taon.

Naipaliwanag ang lahat ng pangyayari ng makausap ni Bobby ang isang mamang nakatanaw mula sa kabilang gusali. Napag-alaman niyang minsan maraming taon na ang nakalipas ay may mag-inang napatay sa pasilyo ng palapag kung saan siya nakatira.  Sila ay madalas nang binubugbog ng pulis na asawa/ama nito at sa huling pagkakataon ay sinubukan ni Ginang katukin ang halos lahat ng pinto sa buong palapag subalit walang lumabas at tumulong sa kanya.  Binato ni Bobby ng mapagkutyang salita ang mamang nakatanaw ng mga pangyayari mula sa bintana sapagkat di nito maintindihan kung bakit walang ginawa ang kahit sino para sa mag-ina.  Bilang saksi sa mga pangyayari, di makapaniwala si Bobby kung bakit ni hindi man lamang ito tumawag ng pulis o ospital.  Pinagsarahan siya ng pinto ng mama at hindi na muling sinagot o kinausap.

Parang bumalik lang sa umpisa si Bobby dahil hindi niya pa rin alam bakit nakikita niya o paulit-ulit niyang naririnig ang mag-anak.  Pagkabalik niya sa kanyang kuwarto ay nakarinig siya ng iyak mula sa kabilang unit at gulat na nakita ang kanyang kasintahan (Alyssa/Amelia Warner), puno ng pasa, bali ang kuko at walang malay.  Dinala niya ito sa kanyang kuwarto at mula sa loob ng unit ay narinig niyang muli ang mga boses kung saa’y tila nauulit ang insidente sa pasilyo.  Sinilip niya ang pangyayari sa peephole ng pinto at bago pa tuluyang mapatay ng pulis si Gina ay binuksan niya ang pinto at sinita ang pulis upang tumigil.  Napahinto ang pulis, tumingin ng matalas at hinarap siya, bagay na nagpamulat kay Gina na manlaban, mahampas ang lalake, maagaw ang batutang ginagamit sa pambubugbog sa kanya at maihampas ito sa lalake hanggang ito’y mamatay.

Natulala ang binata sa mga pangyayari subalit doon na nagtapos ang kuwento ng mga boses.  Bumalik siya sa loob ng kuwarto at natagpuan si Alyssa na nagtatago sa loob ng aparador.  Inilabas niya ito, niyakap at tinulungan.

Ang maganda sa pelikulang ito ay ini-involve niya ang manonood sa pagtahi ng title na “The Echo” sa mga pangyayaring ipinakita niya.  Ang paulit-ulit na krimen sa ika-limang palapag ay “echo ng pagkamatay ng mag-ina,” “echo ng hindi matahimik na kaluluwa” o “echo ng mag-inang naghahanap ng hustisya.”  Hindi na mahahanapan pa ng hustisya sa tunay na buhay ang mag-ina sapagkat ang pulis na pumaslang sa kanila ay nagkitil na rin ng kanyang buhay, kung kaya’t ang tanging hustisya na lamang na maari nitong makamit ay ang mabago ang isa sa mga “echo” ng buhay nito.  Sa parte ni Bobby, echo ng pagkabaliw at pagkamatay ng kanyang ina ang nasaksihan niya sa mga nangyari sa kanyang kasintahan.  Dahil sa pagkakataong ito ay naroon siya sa bahay, tila nasalba na rin niya ang kanyang ina sa “echo” na ito.

Minarapat kong gawin ang review sa Tagalog kahit na US version ito dahil sa bandang huli, sa tingin ko Pinoy ang dapat makaalam ng mga sentimyento ko tungkol sa pelikula.

Hindi ko maiwasang mainis habang pinapanood ang pelikula.  Napakahaba ng opening credits nito, puro tugtog lang naman at walang kahit anong scene na pinapakita patungkol sa pelikula.  Ni hindi nga sinabi kung saan ito shinoot – kung saang neighborhood, city or country.  Basta sa isang lugar na may mixture of cultures, somewhere na may lumang building kung saan naganap ang buong pelikula.  Nakakaasiwa rin ang soundtrack, hindi ako masyadong nagulat or natakot, wala yung mga elementong nakakaasar, yung tipong matatawa ka sa sarili mo dahil nagulat ka or dahil successful yung pelikulang gulatin ka.

Isa pang bad trip ay sooooobrang bagal ng unsad ng pelikula.  Masyado nitong pinakita ang pag-cope ni Bobby sa buhay niya and masyadong out of this world ung mga setting ng pagpatay ni Gina.  Common na talaga ang illogical na pamamaslang ng mga tao sa horror films pero hindi naman uso ang ganong konsepto sa Philippine cinema.  (Siguro sa Japanese Horror Flicks, puwede pa). Importante ang motibo, istorya at puso.  Napagtanto ko na dahil sa sobrang bagal ng pelikula, para lang siyang isang maikling kuwentong ipinilit maging isang pelikula.  Kung di pa sa huling 15 minuto ng pelikula, siguro sinabi ko nang walang kakuwenta kuwenta ang pelikulang ito.

Sa tono naman ng paggaya, di ko mapigilang mahalintulad ang itsura ng pagkamatay ng isa sa namatay sa ika-limang palapag.  Kamukha niya ang mga naging biktima ng “The Grudge.” Lalo na ang maraming scenes kung saan nasa kisame at nakatingin si Gina sa mga biktima niya, naisip ko ang “Deep Waters” dun.

Ang masasabi kong maganda sa kabilang banda ay ang kawalan ng mga walang kapararakang open-endings na usual sa mga horror flicks – yung mga tipong one scene na pwedeng magbigay ng ideyang hindi pa tapos ang istorya.  Kumbaga nasara ang pelikula ng maayos, kahit na mapapaisip ka kung paano naging “The Echo” ang pamagat niya.  Ang isa pang nagustuhan ko dito ay ang kakayanan niyang “medyo” maging iba, kahit na usual na ang mga horror scenes (i.e. sa cr, sa kusina, sa closet, sa bedroom o sa panaginip).  Oo, pinaalala niya ang iba pang palabas na napanood ko, pero sa bandang huli, iba pa rin ang dating nito dahil iba ang “context” niya.  Ang ganda ni Izza Calzado sa one last shot sa kanya nung pelikula – ung last na nagpakita ng “rest in peace” kumbaga.

Muli, ang pagtutuunan ko ng pansin ay ang matayog na ambisyon ng Pinoy na pantayan ang kalidad ng Pelikula ng ibang bansa.  Sabihin na lang natin na tulad ng isang sanggol na maari lamang matuto sa paglipas ng panahon at paggaya sa kanyang mga nakikita, ang Pelikulang Pilipino ay masyado pang bata para tumayo sa kanyang paa.

Gayunpaman, naniniwala ako na tayo ang gumagawa ng sarili nating kasaysayan at kung kayang abutin ng ating isip ang naturang pangarap, sigurado akong kaya nating patotohanan ang ating pagtanda sa larangan ng pelikula.  Kabahagi ako nito, bilang manonood at manunulat.

Di ako nanonood ng Pinoy made horror flicks – sa sine.  Pero, hindi rin kasi ako nanonood ng kahit anong horror flick sa sine eh.  Lahat sa CD or sa TV, so quits lang.  Last na pinanood ko sa sine na horror flick is Shake, Rattle and Roll X.  Ang galing ni Jean Garcia bilang Spanish madre.  Yun lang.

Probably after the success of Rome, or at least, the popularity it earned after HBO aired it, John Woo decided to come up of a really great film, “Red Cliff.”

I was never a fan of war-movies nor anything to do with ancient battles and tactics but one of the movies I love is “Braveheart” and that just counters what I said.  I don’t appreciate “Black Hawk Down” nor do I appreciate “Saving Private Ryan” but I did like Enemy at the Gates.  Maybe it’s the mood, maybe it’s the story, I don’t know.  All I know is “The Red Cliff” deserves the right to be described as nothing less than magnificent.

China has a long, rich history and one of the recurring events in their history is their many battles.  John Woo, once again, reinvents history and turns art into a higher level when it bridges past and present principles into one coherent theme. The “Red Cliff” combines politics, war tactics and strategies, alliances, family, marriage, music and even friendship in one blockbuster which was said to be one of the most highly budgeted Asian movie (if not the most expensive) (see wiki).

Red Cliff was actually based on a true historical account, which was highly depicted in the movie. It can be likened to “Troy” where a “man launched a thousand fleets” because of Helen.  Ultimately, “Red Cliff” talks about a great war that is led by Cao Cao, self-proclaimed Prime Minister of China, who has managed to deceive and trick his emperor into granting access to the Imperial Army.  Cao Cao who has previously managed to kill all of the Emperor’s relatives in the guise of “killing traitors for him” is now about to wage war against Sun Quan and Liu Bei whom he projects as rebels against the emperor.

Due to the circumstances, the two warlords, together with Sun Quan’s Grand Viceroy, Zhou Yu of the Red Cliff forged an alliance. Doing so is a suicide attempt, Cao Cao’s alliance and army is a lot larger than the three kingdoms combined. However, these three leaders have something Cao Cao doesn’t, a good heart, strategic mind and willful spirit. Cao cao even described Liu Bei and Sun Quan as a coward and a loser. In spite of their weaknesses, they were able to circumvent things and work to their advantage.  

The four-hour film is nothing short of anybody’s expectation.  I didn’t notice time passing and if not for a “to be continued” note, I wouldn’t have noticed that the first part was over. I didn’t watch it in one sitting… the details were just too much to handle and reading the subtitles is another. The wait is worth it. When the movie (part 1) was shown in theaters, I believe it took about 6 more months before the 2nd part was released, (which was only early this year). The Western version is showing right now, which caught my attention, (aside from the huge standee at Glorietta 4) but much about what I know on the Western version is being offered in the Internet.

What I love about this movie is the extensive and detailed account of “war” during that era. I appreciated the formations pertained to (there were a couple) – I never heard of them before; I like the way nature was portrayed – it should always be the case and many people tend to forget it; and I appreciate the way the strings instrument (of that particular time) was used to convey a position/principle/decision – music, even without words is full of emotion.

Although, Cao Cao’s other motive of the war was to “claim” Xiao Qiao, who was Zhou Yu’s wife, the movie isn’t much of a love story. I feel saturated of love stories lately. Love is universal but there are a lot of other things in the world than the boy-girl type. This movie portrayed one pertaining to love and concern for the people, for a sister, for an alliance, in a way, for governance. I would love to explore this movie and really analyze its details if I get the chance. If I have a term paper, I would pick this one. But I only have minutes to do so. One day, maybe, when I start to teach, I’ll make this as an assignment. LOL.

I do find Zhuge Liang really weird because he seems to know everything there is to know about things. Probably like, Merlin, if you’ll come to think of it. I also find the emperor’s helplessness too unlikely, maybe I have to revisit my Chinese History.

Watching historical films is not much of a sight, but if you try to put everything in detail – there comes the magnificence of it. I wouldn’t watch Cesar Montano’s Jose Rizal if I had the choice but after doing so, I really marveled at the idea. This is one of the movies that is worth the watch.

Privileged to watch the advance screening of the movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (sponsored by RX 93.1), I was one of the HP fans disappointed of how the movie turned out.

I feel like the movie was less-budgetted because the Great Hall didn’t look too great and it seems that Hogwarts became a lot smaller than how it should have been.  There was also lesser emphasis on the other characters mentioned in the book and what was highlighted instead was the “lives” of Harry, Ron and Hermione as students, particularly, their relationships.

Harry, after getting over Cho, has focused his attention on Ginny (who has always had a crush on him).  Ron, on the other hand, after a short-lived relationship with Lavender, finally ended with Hermione (at least it was implied in the film).

In terms of faculty, the movie depicted that Horace Slughorn has resumed his old post as Potions Master while Snape finally got his chance to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.  It was in this unlikely situation that Dumbledore has decided to give Harry some lessons – which comprises of revisits of Dumbledore’s memories through the Pensieve.  These memories were very important as it holds the key to defeat Voldermort.

I believe that the movie presented three crucial memories.  The book, however, has an awfully larger number of memories than that.  These memories were all related to Tom Riddle as a young lad (offered to enter Hogwarts) and a student who was part of Slughorn’s Club (modified and true memory).

On the side, Draco seems to have become paler throughout the film and it was because he was tasked an important mission by Voldermort himself.  One so important, that his mother, Narcissa, came to Snape for assistance and bond the promise through an “Unbreakable Vow”.

The half-blood prince was the owner of the Potions book Harry used on his “unexpected Potions classes”.  He was supposed to drop it if not for McGonagall’s advise to take it in order to pursue an Auror as a career in the future.  Slughorn was okay with Exceeds Expectation in Potions to admit students (something Snape wasn’t comfortable in doing).

If I wasn’t such a HP addict, I would have said the movie can stand on its own.  The script made  it as “real” as possible, not too superficial.  I was expecting a lot more action since Voldermort has revealed himself in the fifth book and the Deatheaters (and the Order of the Phoenix) should have had more presence now, but that wasn’t the case.  The movie focused on the “essence” of how to defeat Voldermort – through love, trust and friendship.

I think the movie is worth a snippet, but one has to expect a lot from the last movie (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) as it should tie all of the knots together.

Watch out for my book review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!  I’m in the process of re-reading them and posting specifics for those who are not as familiar.