Just a quick post right here.

In celebration of Philippines – Japan Friendship Month, the Japan Foundation, Manila, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the UP Film Institute presents a glimpse of the Japanese culture in Eiga Sai ’08.

In line with the celebration, the J-Pop Anime Matsuri to be hosted by the Embassy of Japan will be held on July 26 and 27 and the event includes the preview screenings of Chibi Maruko Chan (1990, written by Momoko Sakura) and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki o Kakeru Shōujo, 2001, directed by Mamoru Hosoda) . . .

HOLY— TokiKake on the big screen?! I'm THERE!!!

Venues are:
Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 3 (July 8 to 13, 26 & 27)
CCP Dream Theater (August 7 to 10)
UP Film Institute (August 11 to 14 & 16)

ADMISSION IS FREE so let's go!!!

Eiga Sai Screening Schedule
Eiga Sai Film Synopsis

Source: Japanese Film Festival “Eiga Sai ‘08” opens on July 8

Labels: anime, eiga sai, movies

Posted by sarah at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Get Smart was originally a TV series in the 1960s about Maxwell Smart, a top secret agent who's a bit awkward and clumsy while being confident and talented.
Read full post...

Last night, I watched the 2008 movie version, and it was hilarious! The action was well-done: some parts are seriously serious action, but they managed to make it look so funny. Cameo appearances abound, but I daresay that they weren't at all distracting. The acting was great: Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway act so naturally but deliver rofl-worthy lines effortlessly. I love it how they used most (if not all) of Max's catch phrases, and how everything was so modern but you can still see 60s details here and there.

My rating: 4 out of 5!
This isn't really a must-see-in-the-big-screen movie (unlike Iron Man and Narnia, maybe), but I totally recommend that you don't wait for the DVD, especially if you're in need of a break. Best to watch it with someone who's not afraid to laugh out loud in a theater, too! I generally like quiet, behaved movie audiences, but for THIS movie, I say laughter is inevitable. And it'll make the movie even more fun!

Labels: get smart, movies, reviews

Posted by sarah at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Kung Fu Panda is a tale of...well...a panda. That panda was named Po. And that panda loved kung fu. And that panda was the legendary Dragon Warrior. But... the panda is the laziest animal in ancient China...right?Read full post...

The first time I saw the trailer I said, "Ohoho, this is gonna be good."

I watched Kung Fu Panda with Lori tonight, and it wasn't good. Not really.

It was AWESOME.

Haha! I already had high expectations for this movie, given the ingenious trailers, but MAN it was way better than I thought it'd be.

From the opening sequence to the last scene of the movie there was only either hilarity or awesomess, and only about 10-second intervals in between that are needed to build up the plot and prepare the way for more awesomess!

The animation was great, the cast was superb, the direction was top-notch, and the script? Oh my goodness. Four thumbs up.

My rating: 100 out of 100!!!

I can say a lot more about this movie, but I can't really do it without spilling out spoilers, so...yeah. Yey for pandas and yey for awesomeness!

Labels: kung fu panda, movies, reviews

Posted by sarah at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Because of my Across the Universe review, someone emailed me—hi, Anrdrew!— about their new movie, The Life Before Her Eyes. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Laura Kasischke, and stars Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood.

I know nothing about the book, really. But, judging from the trailer, it looks interesting... I'm always a sucker for creative story-telling. Hehe. Read full post...

Release date: April 18th in New York and LA, and wide on April 25th. I'm not sure when it'll open in the Philippines... I guess I'll have to wait.

Synopsis:

Imaginative, impetuous and wild Diana (Evan Rachel Wood) can’t wait for her adult life to begin. Whiling away the final days of high school in the lush springtime, Diana tests her limits with sex and drugs as her more conservative friend Maureen (Eva Amurri) watches with concern. But Diana’s aura of invincibility is shattered when a senseless act of violence erupts at school, forever changing the lives of the two best friends.

Fifteen years later, a grown Diana (Uma Thurman) is still trying to come to terms with the traumatic events of that fateful day.

On the surface, the adult Diana has made a picture perfect life for herself. She’s still living in the sleepy Connecticut suburb she grew up in with her husband Paul, a professor at the local college. Her beautiful young daughter, Emma, is smart and creative, and possesses a fiercely independent streak reminiscent of her mother. But all is not well—as the anniversary of her adolescent trauma approaches, the darkness that Diana has tried to escape closes in. Meanwhile, her husband has become increasingly absent, her daughter has taken to hiding from teachers, and worst of all, Diana’s own grip on reality is starting to falter.

Moving seamlessly through both stages of Diana’s evolution, THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES delves deep into the crossroads that we all face -- where a simple decision can change the course of everything to come, and where a lifetime can be encapsulated in a single moment. With THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES, Vadim Perelman, director of the acclaimed HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, has established himself as one of America’s greatest young directors of serious, probing drama.

Official website: http://www.lifebeforehereyes.com/

Labels: movies, reviews

Posted by sarah at 6:08 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll, the film moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with "Dr. Robert" (Bono) and "Mr. Kite" (Eddie Izzard) as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy – against all odds – to find their own way back to each other.
- Across the Universe official website

Awesome. Superb. Amazing. Despite all the good things I heard about it, I was not prepared to watch something this good. ARGH.

I had originally wanted to watch this in the theater with my friends, but due to schedule restraints, I wasn't able to. Ah, but it's all good, because I got to enjoy the DVD at home with my family, instead.

The plot is realistic, and the song placement is genius. You'd think that the music was made for the story. Most of the musical arrangements of the songs are different from what I've been used to, but they were so original and well done that I loved them all the same. Because of this movie, I loved the Beatles songs even more.

The cast was perfect, methinks, and director Julie Taymor did a spectacular job. The artistic aspect of it was great, as well. Choreography was well-done, and it wasn't overly theatrical. The script was brilliant; the writers' eye to detail is.. ARGH! Hehe. There are a lot of inside jokes for the Beatles fan, too. Haha!

There were a handful of things in the movie that made me raise an eyebrow (or scrunch my nose) or just...simply mediocre, but they were overshadowed by all the other parts I loved.

As a Beatles fan, I recommend it to all Beatles lovers. And also to the very very few people in the world who have no idea who the Beatles are.

My score: 5/5, 100/100.

AMAZING. LOVE IT.

Labels: beatles, movies, reviews

Posted by sarah at 7:08 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Viola, wanting to prove herself in soccer, disguises herself as her brother Sebastian and attends his school, where she meets (and falls for) her roommate Duke, who wants to date with their classmate Olivia, who develops a crush on Sebastian, who is actually Viola in disguise. Oh, joy.

Short review: BWAHAHA! I didn't think it was going to be this funny!

Long review:
Because Twelfth Night is my favorite Shakespearean play EVER, I had hesitations in watching this... Read full post... That's precisely why I skipped watching it back in 2006, mainly. I watched the other day, and let's just say it was hard to keep from laughing loudly. (It was almost midnight and everyone else was asleep.)

The plot closely follows the general direction of the play, but uses football to be Viola's motivation. 'Nuff said about the plot.

Amanda Bynes does an outstanding job as a girl in disguise! I mean... she's a gorgeous girl, but when she begins acting as Sebastian, I would be convinced that she's a guy. A rather awkward, desperate-for-attention one, but an amusing guy nonetheless. Kudos to Amanda!

Very good, hilarious script! And the actors did a very good job in the comedy, methinks.

My only problems with it would be:
(1) The ending. Not that the ending's bad, it's just... not executed well... sorta. But the climax was good! :)
(2) Duke. Okay, so he's hilarious as a shy hottie, but there were moments when I think he became a bit too dorky.

Hm... I think that's it! Nice movie, hilarious scenes. I like it! :)

Labels: movies, reviews, Shakespeare

Posted by sarah at 6:11 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

The second installment of High School Musical follows the Wildcats crew into summer break, when Troy, worrying over college tuition and his future in general, gets a gig at the Lava Springs resort—which so happened to be owned by Sharpay's family—and takes the rest of the gang with him.

Choreography, music and lyrics just as good as the first movie, if not better. There are one or two songs that aren't as good as the ones in the first movie, but there are a handful of songs that are a big improvement from the already addicting first soundtrack... Read full post...

Story is okay. Realistic still, with a new message: keep your eye on the goal, but don't lose yourself along the way. The lesson of teamwork, and the appeal to leaders, is still obviously obvious.

Acting is better, story execution is good. Troy being the good guy who temporarily turned bad (sort of) was entirely convincing, and his return was very very believable. But I have a bit of a problem with Sharpay's turn-around, though. It was a bit sudden... but I think I can live with it.

Here's something strange: I was able to sympathize with the Troy's conflicts, as I did with Sharpay's and Ryan's... but the same doesn't apply for the rest of the Wildcats. I don't know... Many times I wanted to hit Gabriella and Chad in the head. Feh. (I actually like Chad's character, but in this movie's Danforth vs. Bolton, I side with Troy. In every other scene, Chad's as cool as he usually is, though.)

Fave song: Bet On It. The music, the lyrics, the arrangement, the choreo, the costume, the execution, and the setting! Everything about that whole number just made me smile. I swear, Troy gets the best songs. Well, he should; he's the main character, right? Haha! Coming in second is I Don't Dance. The groove is already good, but the influence of 20's jazz just made it even better.

Oooh, ooh! And I just have to say: my favorite moment in the movie is the Troy scream after dinner with the Evans family. BWAHAHA! That had me laughing so hard. And this sequence minutes before Troy was supposed to sing on stage:

Ryan: Hey, speaking of my sister, she wants you to learn a new song.
Troy: [laughs and takes the music sheet] "Everyday". [pause] I can't learn a new song!


I give the movie a rating of...78/100. Hehe. I think I like it as much as the first one, but I took away one point just because I like the story of the first movie better.

This time two days ago, I couldn't care less about High School Musical, never mind if Zec Efron was in it (whose performance in Hairspray was just AWESOME). But, after watching the first installment, I realized that it was a good movie, after all... As for High School Musical 2, even though I didn't necessarily like it better than the first, it definitely supported the original film and made me like the series better than I did yesterday.

And that, for me, is exactly what a sequel should do.

Labels: high school musical, movies, reviews

Posted by sarah at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

"*GASP!!!* You haven't watched High School Musical?! Sarah, WATCH IT!!!"

I've been told this more than a thousand times—no exaggeration—in the past two years. I always reply with, "Okay, okay, I will..." but I never did.

Until today that, is.

So I watched the movie, and as the credits rolled, I sat there, blinking. And my thought was...

That's what all the fuss was about?

Now, before you leap up from your chair yelling violent objections at me, let me make something clear: I did not NOT enjoy the movie.Read full post...

I thought that the movie was okay.

But then that's my problem, I think. Forgive me, but that's what I thought. The movie was just okay. No fireworks, no standing ovations for me. No wide, giddy smile after the movie, but no disappointed frown either.

The story is nice, and the message—for us not to act one way just because everybody expects us to, but instead to break free and do what you were created to do—speaks to everyone, teenagers and adults alike.

The acting was good: I didn't feel as if I was just watching teenagers trying to act; I felt as if I was watching high schoolers dealing with status quo, peer and parent pressure, and all that. Just so happens that they suddenly burst out singing and dancing, which wasn't really a bad thing.

The script was entertaining. I particularly liked more than a few lines. Some of them made me laugh out loud. I think my favorite would be the one in Sharpnay and Zeke's conversation when Sharpnay goes, "Go away... tall person."

About the soundtrack: the lyrics are well-thought, and the melodies are catchy. Yup, for the moment, I've put it on repeat play. The songs didn't particularly catch my undivided attention during the film, but listening to them now, I'm liking them more and more.

Now, the choreography... O-hoho, the choreography. I think that's the best part of the film. Not because they flung out ultra-mega-impressive moves. No, I liked the choreography because the dance numbers melded so well into the flow of the story. Yes, more than once, high schoolers who didn't like dancing and singing (or it was at least implied that they didn't...sorta) suddenly break into singing and dancing, but it was done so well that it seemed so natural. It wasn't distracting. Not in the least.

Favorite song: Get'cha Head in the Game. For the music and lyrics, and even more because of the musical arrangement and choreography. Plus the execution. ARGH I love that song.

So, after all these praises coming from me, why on earth am I saying that the movie was just okay? I honestly have no idea. Maybe, as much as I psyched myself not to expect anything—which I always do before watching a movie so that my judgment would not be impaired—the fuss of all the people who watched it before had already seeped deep into my mind that I unconsciously did expect something really, really, really good.

(For what it's worth—and I'm not sure if it is worth anything—I want very much to watch this on stage. The next time Trumpets does this, I'm watching.)

In the end, I give the movie a rating of 79/100. Not quite 4/5, but very, very nearly there. This you can be sure of: High School Musical will go into my shelf as a movie that I enjoyed, and I would smilingly recommend it to someone wanting to be entertained.

Labels: high school musical, movies, reviews

Posted by sarah at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I'd have wanted to give it 4/5, but decided on giving it three. It's a very, very, VERY high 3 stars. If that even makes sense. It's just that action isn't my favorite genre (but I don't hate it, either!). If it was my fave, I'd give it 4 stars, no doubt.

This here movie is for mystery-lovers, as well as action fans. And if you're not a fan, but can nevertheless appreciate car chases and stuff, then this is for you, too. Read full post...

Basically—and I hope I'm not spoiling anything—the first hour or so of the movie is the first 23 minutes of the movie played over five times, from different points of view. So, yes, you get the same crowd, gunshots, and explosions all repeated five times. But it's great, because every time you see it, there's a new layer added to it, and what you think it true is revealed to be not quite true...at least until you see it from another vantage point. It's sort of like the flashback technique, but not quite.

Argh writing a review for this is so hard! So I'll just say that it's worth watching. It's not a must-see-in-the-big-screen, but I recommend it. Just make sure you don't have those people around you. You know, those people who keep asking questions. (For the record: this movie will make you ask a lot of questions; it's asking them because you're not paying attention that's what's annoying.)

So..yeah. Watch!

Labels: movies, reviews, vantage point

Posted by sarah at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

So, yes. Before actually buying the books I've been wanting to buy for years, I watched the movie.

Yesterday after music practice, I decided that I wanted to watch Spiderwick that day—that moment, really—so I got Lori and Mi out of their beds so they could watch with me. (Hehe.) Instant reunion, right there.

The Spiderwick Chronicles movie is based on a series of children's books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.

Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what’s really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and the creatures that inhabit it.

--© Paramount Pictures

Review: I knew that I was going to enjoy the movie, but I didn't think that I'd enjoy it as much as I did. Read full post...As Mi said in her blog, the movie sucked us into it.

Freddie Highmore was perfectly believable in acting as the twins: the impulsive, short-tempered Jared and intellectual, pacifist Simon. For me, Freddie wasn't just one kid changing clothes to show change in roles— he was two people entirely. The chemistry of rest of the family was good (although I was a tad annoyed with Mallory in the beginning, but I guess that was how it was supposed to be). Voice acting for the fantastical creatures were great! Cheers to Hogsqueal!

The script? Perfection! Hilarity abounds, and the fact that the actors did a splendid job of delivering punchlines didn't hurt at all. There were serious moments, of course, to add depth to the plot. They were well-placed, and it was not at all as if they were put there just so that drama could be present.

The storytelling was good, the CGI was better, and the music just added to the excitement. And the best part of all this? I didn't notice any of this while I was watching it! They all blended together in a delicious mix, and I only noticed how great each individual aspect of the production was after I left the cinema.

There's only one thing that made me roll me eyes —something that Arthur Spiderwick did— but I won't write it on here because (1) it could be a spoiler, and (2) it's not so very important and I guess people can just let that one slide (I know I did).

My Rating: 85/100. All in all, it was a good movie experience. I recommend watching it on the big screen! Or IMAX if you can.

Kid or no, adventure fantasy fan or no, this movie is something everyone will enjoy.


Linkies:
Spiderwick Chronicles book website
Spiderwick Chronicles movie website

Labels: movies, reviews, spiderwick

Posted by sarah at 7:17 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

After confusion about addressess, addressees and empty houses, finally, finally I was able to receive my parcel from FedEx.

And what does my parcel contain, you ask? It's my copy of The Princess Bride 20th Anniversary DVD! Yahoooooooo! It was so fun to watch it after all those years of loving and missing the movie. And knowing that I got it for free from winning a contest makes it even better. ^_____^ Of course there are extra stuff like interviews, info about fairytales, and a reversible storybook that I keep staring at. Haha! (The sponsors also gave me a shirt and a tennis ball and...other stuff.)

I would like to thank Screensucked for holding a contest. Also, many many thanks to World Wide Biggies, the company behind the DVD giveaway and the Princess Bride game (and also for being patient with my inquiries). FedEx also gets a special mention; I think they tried to deliver my parcel for, like, four times or something.

Wheeeeee~

Labels: contest, movies, princess bride

Posted by sarah at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

...That just reminded me of my age. Haha!

The Princess Bride is one of my most favorite movies ever. It's based on the 1973 book by William Goldman who, by the way, presents the book to be an abridged version of an older work by S. Morgenstern, when Simon Morgenstern is actually Goldman's pseudonym, and there is no such "older work".

The 1987 movie adaptation is one of the most hilarious films I have ever seen. And I'm pretty sure I've seen a lot.

The story revolves around Buttercup, the twentieth most beautiful woman in the world who lives on a farm with her parents in Florin, a horse named Horse, and a farmhand named Westley. Initially we see Buttercup ordering Westley around, and Westley appears to be a push-over, always saying, "As you wish". But eventually, Buttercup realizes that she's in love with the farmhand, and Westley reveals that every time he says "as you wish", he actually meant "I love you". All together now: Awwwww...

The story continues on with Westley going to America, Westley's ship getting attacked by pirates who take no prisoners, Buttercup becoming reluctantly engaged to one unloving Prince Humperdinck, Buttercup getting kidnapped, a Man in Black attempting to kidnap Buttercup from the kidnappers... And still it goes on to flying fists, sword fights, mind games, Rodents of Usual Size, Zoos, Machines, declarations of "I am Inigo Montoya. You killed my father; prepare to die." and all other such things that make a comedic adventure.

As mentioned, the movie adaptation has been in my favorite movies since I was a kid. It's one of those things from my childhood that really stuck out. A really fond memory. I'm not sure why, until now. Maybe it's because it's a wonderful, wonderful mix of satiric humor, adventure, love and all that jazz. I've seen more hilarious movies, yes, and I've seen more gripping adventures, and more romantic stories, as well. But the Princess Bride (both book and movie) balances all of that out so well that it became an instant classic.

I don't think it was really a super blockbuster, but it's been around for 20 years, and the following never wavered. Oldies enjoy it, and young ones will still appreciate it. That, I think, is a feat difficult to achieve.

To celebrate the film's 20th anniversary this year, 20th Century Fox released an anniversary DVD, complete with extras and a really cool cover. (Can I just say that I LOVE that inversion? I miss inversions...)

Guess what: Screensucked is having a The Princess Bride 20th Anniversary DVD Giveaway! Gah! Must wiiiiiiin~

If I don't... Well, then I'll just buy the DVD (and the book!) as a Christmas gift to myself. Haha!

Read full post...

Labels: movies, princess bride

Posted by sarah at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

As in William Shakespeare.

Miii wrote a blog post today about appreciating Shakespeare. As she's an English teacher and all, I wasn't really surprised that she wrote about Will. She ended the post with a question:

HOW can I appreciate Shakespeare?

Ahaha. I bet a hundred gazzillion students are asking that as I write.

I know I'll sound like a geek when I'll say this, but I love Shakespeare's work. I'm not as addicted to it now than I was before, but I'm still fond of Will's plays. (Of his sonnets, though, not so much...I never did get poems.)

There was a phase in grade school when I was so addicted to Romeo and Juliet. I had to type the infamous Act II Scene II (a.k.a. the balcony scene) for a school project then, and it so sparked my interest --- bookworm that I was -- that I read the whole play later. My love for Master Shakespeare's plays returned in high school, when (again) they became part of our subject matter. I was assigned to do a book report on The Tempest.

But, I digress.

Let's go back to the original question: How to appreciate Shakespeare?

My answer: Watch movies based on his plays.

Read full post...

I'm sure it's not THE answer, but that's what helped me. Yes, I was already interested, but what fanned my curiosity was the imagery I get from films and other adaptations.

To be honest, the first adaptation I stumbled upon (actually, Sara stumbled upon it and shared it with me) was MacHiei. It's a Yuu Yuu Hakusho fanfiction that dealt with how the characters of the anime will do if they act out MacBeth. It was hilarious, and went down in my personal history as the funniest fanfic ever.

After that, I tried to read the real MacBeth, but because I was too reminded of MacHiei (thus destroying the tragedy aspect of it all) I eventually paused and hunted for a movie adaptation. Atom lent me his copy of Men of Respect. It's a pretty good take on the play, setting it in the midst of mafia wars and such.

My favorite Shakespeare play, though, is Twelfth Night, Or What You Will. It's the only Shakespearean play that I read and enjoyed without the help of a movie. BUT when I watched the adaptation of the play in the mid-90s (with Helena Bonham Carter in it as Olivia), it helped even more! It's done SO well! It's set in the 19th century, but the treatment is sort of modern, so it doesn't come as stiff. As for a more recent adaptation, there's She's the Man starring Amanda Bynes.

There are a dozen more -- err...even hundreds, maybe? -- film adaptations of Will's plays, if ever you're interested. Here are the ones I've watched/plan to watch.

Shakespeare in Love is a really good movie, and I think it'll get you to appreciate him a bit more. It adds to his humanity, I guess, and removes that mushy-poetry-geek-in-poofy-pants mentality of him, and replaces it with a hanyaaaan-so-romantic-and-cool-bishie image. Still in poofy pants, yes, but, whatever.

10 Things I Hate About You is based on Taming of the Shrew. Same plot and similar developments, the setting is a high school in the States. Stars Julia Stiles, Larisa Oleynik, and Heath Ledger. Julia Stiles stars in another film based on a Shakespeare play: the 2000 adaptation of Hamlet, with Ethan Hawke this time.

Stage Beauty (Claire Danes, Billy Crudup) will make you appreciate Othello, methinks. (The shounen ai parts kind of creeped me out a bit, though.) It's not an adaptation, really, but the story revolves around theater actors, and the play of focus is Othello. There's a film adaptation of the same play starring Lawrence Fishburne as the noir, and it was hauntingly good.

Of course, I think most movie-goers know about Baz Luhrmann's Romeo+Juliet, starring Leo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. There's a new anime currently running in Japan entitled RomeoxJuliet. It's loosely based on the play, and the plot's a bit different, but if it'll strike your interest in Shakespeare, then great.

Al Pacino acted in the 2004 film adaptation of The Merchant of Venice. I haven't watched it, though. But I'm sure Al Pacino does an awesome job, as he always does.

There's a Midsummer Night's Dream movie in 2000 (or was it '99?) with a pretty star-studded cast. Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Kline, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, and Stanley Tucci, to name a few. Haven't watched that, either. Feh.

Speaking of star-studded casting, there's an adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing by Kenneth Branagh (with Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale, and...other people) . It's nothing super spectacular, but at least it gives you a bit of visuals for when you read the play. And there were moments that cracked me up, too. Emma Thompson does comedy well. (And I've always loved sparring couples. Haha!) Kate Beckinsale's Hero was...err... too whiny for me, though. Pretty, yes, but a bit of a crybaby.

Kenneth Branagh has done a LOT of Will's plays, taking part in the film as a director and as an actor. Love's Labour's Lost kinda sucked, though... Then again, the play itself wasn't spectacular, either. His adaptation of As You Like It (based in 19th centry Japan! Lol) got favorable reviews, but I have yet to watch it. Hmmm I wonder how Kevin Kleine does his Jacques. "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." Mukya~!



In all honesty, even though I love Will's plays, I have yet to completely overcome the language barrier. I can manage, yes, but I still need movies and online summaries to help me for the first reading.

So, in summary: How to appreciate Will's work? Get some visualization down. Movies help. If movies aren't your thing, then go watch a play. If that's not your thing, either, then get someone to tell you the story before reading. And even if you don't actually read the play...

Well, at least you know Shakespeare. ^_^

Labels: movies, Shakespeare

Posted by sarah at 8:18 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Michan recently gave me a copy of Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, a movie she had been raving about. I watched it yesterday, and immediately it was included in my favorite movies list. And I bet it'd be in yours, too, whether or not you're an anime fan.

Toki o Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) is a Japanese anime film first released in theatres in Japan in 2006.

Don't worry: there ain't no bad spoilers in this post.

The Plot
The story is centered on 17-year-old Makoto Konno, a girl who gains the power to leap through time when she gets involved in an accident at a train crossing one day. Although a little confused with her new powers at first, Makoto uses them extravagantly to avoid being late in school and to get perfect grades on tests. But then, things began to turn bad as she discovers how her actions can adversely affect others. She then goes back in time and tries to fix things for the people affected, but that just makes things even worse... Read full post...


My first thought as the movie progressed was, "Wow. Sorta like Groundhog Day... But different."

Groundhog Day is a movie where Bill Murray lives February 2nd over and over and over. TokiKake is sort of like that, I guess, except that Makoto can control when and where she wants to go. It's hilarious in the beginning, but as the story progresses, it begins to take on a bit more serious mood that makes the audience think.

The Characters
What I loved most about this movie is the characters. In my opinion, Makoto is a refreshing heroine: she has a strong character, but is also very reluctant about things. She's energetic but quiet. She knows who she is, but her doubts about herself inevitably surface, like what happens to all of us at times. She's a bit of a tomboy, but is very, very much a girl.

As for Makoto's friends Chiaki and Kousuke, they're established with such strength right smack in the beginning of the film that they manage to make you feel for them, whatever happens to them through the course of the story. Their on-screen presence is strong, whether they're doing something significant or just throwing a baseball.

These three main characters are very real, their chemistry is endearingly hilarious, and their relationship is close to the heart of anybody who's had friends.

All other supporting characters are precisely that: supporting. They all play an important role in building the plot. All of them, from Makoto's sister to Makoto's classmates to the lady who yells at Makoto for bumping into her.

The animation
I may be no professional, but I think the animation is superb. Adorably designed characters, realistically painted scenes, and intricately detailed...er...details. Facial expressions are priceless, the stage is always amazingly rendered, and the small details are never overpowering.

The perfect symmetry in a lot of scenes is always amazing to stare at. It's symmetry, but it's not simply a mirror image, since what appears on one side is different from what appears on the other. Er...yeah.

The direction
Oh my goodness. Mamoru Hosoda does such an unbelievably amazing job at this, I don't even know where to begin.

For one, all the sequences are done perfectly, whether it be one that shows tranquil everyday life, a comedic episode, or a thrilling bike ride down a steep slope. I love where they locate their cameras, showing scenes at angles that will get the most effect. Perfection, I tells ya.

There are a lot more -- and I mean a LOT -- of aesthetic and artistic techniques used in this film that are executed beautifully, but I don't think I can tackle them without pointing out spoilers, so... I'll just leave it at that.

The music
If you were to ask me what the main musical score feels like, I'd say that it's an exhilarating flight, light and floating at one point, and then soaring at another. It makes me think of blue skies, white clouds, and cool winds. Hehe. I think it's just perfect for a movie that has a title connected to leaping/flying.

Other sound tracks include a great mix of light summer tunes, peaceful nocturnes and dramatic melodies, all played at the perfect times throughout the movie, further enhancing the story unfolding in the screen. The insert songs are pretty, too, and the lyrics are most fitting to the characters.

Sarah's verdict:
Oh, gee, isn't it obvious? A perfect 10! The only thing I didn't like about this movie is also one of the things that I grudgingly love: the ending.

ARGH the ending. It SO made me want to smash the laptop into pieces. (Of course I didn't.) I hated (and loved) it so much that I even wrote a fanfic for it. Yep, my TokiKake fanfic is the latest addition to my fanfic archive, but don't read it if you haven't seen the movie!

*ahem* Seeing that I can't rant (and rave) without giving out spoilers, I'll stop now.

Hm. Maybe the only thing a lacking in this movie is a bit more answers. Many questions are left open at the end of the film... I guess they meant it to be that way, but... yeah.

In summary: TokiKake is an awesome movie. Watch it. Seriously.

More info
Tsutsui Yasutaka's novel, Toki o Kakeru Shoujo (unofficial translation: The Little Girl Who Conquered Time) is the basis of the film... (Yes, it's the same Japanese title, but a different English translation for the sake of distinction.) The film isn't a movie version of the book, though, but is set as a continuation of the book in the same setting some twenty years later.

TokiKake was produced by the animation studio Madhouse and distributed through Kadokawa Herald Pictures. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda.

Labels: anime, movies, reviews, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo

Posted by sarah at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I finally got to watch the Transformers movie on Tuesday! Yahooooo!!!

Somebody congratulate me. ^_________^

Shyeah... Seeing that it's been showing for a couple of weeks now, I actually thought that I wouldn't get to watch in the big screen (which is a must because Transformers is just one of those movies that you have to watch in the big screen). That suspicion was strengthened when the 5th Harry Potter movie came out (I thought it'd sweep all other movies out of the "now showing" list in malls).

But lookit! My Kuya Jabes went with me to watch it the other day. Wheeeeee~ I so loved that movie. Awesome, awesome. I was suddenly hit with nostalgia when we watched the series as kids. (And that night, on my way to work, I started to half-anticipate all the cars on the road suddenly transforming. Haha!)

Aaaaanyway~

Speaking of heroes, here's another meme, brought to you by ever-lovable blogthings.

Your Superpower Should Be Manipulating Electricity

You're highly reactive, energetic, and super charged. If the occasion calls for it, you can go from 0 to 60 in a split second. But you don't harness your energy unless you truly need to. And because of this, people are often surprised by what you are capable of. Why you would be a good superhero: You have the stamina to fight enemies for days Your biggest problem as a superhero: As with your normal life, people would continue to underestimate you

Ooooh, manipulating electricity. Nice. "If I become president, the Philippines will never experience any blackouts ever again! Bwahahaha!"

Yes, I know. My craziness in blogging has returned. Blame it on the chocolate my officemate gave me.

This reminds me of a blogthings quiz I took way back in 2005. I've never put it on this blog, though, (I put it in my Xanga one) so here it is:

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Tiger Cavalier Your Superpower is Unexplained Your Weakness is Cockroaches Your Weapon is Your Invisible Slingshot Your Mode of Transportation is Chariot

"Your weakness is cockroaches." LOL! It can't get any more accurate than that!

Labels: meme, movies, superhero, transformers

Posted by sarah at 9:26 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I heard from Sheila about Becoming Jane, a movie coming out this August... in the States, anyway. Rawr.

Seeing as I rarely (or is it never) written about a movie I haven't watched yet, this kind of feels odd. But, what the heck, I'll give it a go.

Becoming Jane stars Anne Hathaway (Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, The Devil Wears Prada) and is based on the biography of Jane Austen, the author of classic novels including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Emma, Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey. Read full post...The story will revolve around Jane's journey into becoming the legendary writer, including (or maybe focusing on) her short relationship with Lord Refloy, to be played by James McAvoy (Wimbledon, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe).

If the trailer is anything to go by (which it usually is), I'd say this movie looks good. I had thought that Anne Hathaway was going to be stuck in the role of a princess forever, but I think she's a good cast for Jane. She does headstrong female pretty well, we all know that. But what I loved about her for this movie is that, when I was watching the trailer, I saw Jane Austen and not Anne Hathaway (nor Mia Thermopolis). Her English accent's pretty good, too. Cool, cool. (Isn't it annoying sometimes when an actor has just one way of speaking, even when they're trying to act out different characters?) And, from the trailer alone, I thought that she and James McAvoy had pretty good chemistry. I just love sparring couples, don't you?

In this poster, Anne Hathaway kind of looks like Julia Roberts. Hehe. Hm. I wonder if Hollywood's going to do a big screen adaptation for Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

So...yeah. Becoming Jane will be released Aug 3 in the States. The wide release will be August 10. I don't think it's going to be shown here in the Philippines, though. Sad. I'll just have to wait for the DVD...

Labels: Anne Hathaway, Becoming Jane, James Mcavoy, movies

Posted by sarah at 11:32 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed the recent wave — no, tsunami — of revivals recently. Be it in fashion, music, tv or movies, the oldies are back. Bangles, gypsy earrings and Chucks look cool again (but shoulder pads, big hair and silver gloves do not, thank God). Jazz is resurfacing in the airwaves, whether old school or in a new, poppish sound. Old comic books and TV series are getting reboots and do-overs... Batman, Spiderman, TMNT, Fantastic 4, and Transformers, just to name a few. It's already out in the news that Alvin and the Chipmunks is being made (if not finished yet), and The Smurfs and Voltron are rumored to have scripts completed.

Well, it seems like a couple more of those are going to jump in and join the party.

By the power of Grayskull!!!
It had been set aside to be a possible rumor, but in May 23, the news was finally confirmed: producer Joel Silver and the Warner Brothers studio are teaming up for a new big-screen version of He Man and the Masters of the Universe.

Originally a toy by Mattel, He-man became a minicomic in 1981, got DC Comics pages in 1982, and then an animated series that ran from 1983 - 1985 (though I think I got to watch it in the '90s). I distinctly remember my brothers and I playing pretend for it. Of course, being the only girl out of the four of us, I was either Teela or Adora, depending on who was in the scene.

The series has had several incarnations, actually, including The New Adventures of He-man in 1990, and the new He-man animated series in 2002, shown in Cartoon Network. There's also been a previous live action Masters of the Universe film in 1987. I didn't get to watch the movie, but when I saw a photo of a well-oiled He-man, I'm actually happy that I didn't. (What is it with the 80s and oiled bodies and hair?!)

Looking at the photos, I couldn't help think how cheesy they looked. (But in the 1980s, people might have thought that it was high tech.) Now, with all the awesome make-up artists, costume designers and the amazing powers of CGI, I'm kind of thinking that they just might be able to pull it off. (I'm excited to see how they'll do Skeletor. Heeheehee.) Still, I'm hearing loyalists saying that the the film probably won't do the original animated series justice. Ah, well, we'll have to see.

I'm just hoping they'd not oil the actors. I mean, Warner Brothers pulled it off in 300, right?

Read more in the Variety article: He-man Returns to the Big Screen.


Thun-der, Thun-der, THUNDERCATS!!!
Ah, yes. Yet another 80s animated series to be revived, according to Variety (and a couple more movie news sites) two days ago. The challenge here, now, is not how to present macho guys without looking narcissistic or — God forbid — gay. I think it's in selecting the perfect cast for Lion-O, Panthro, Cheetara and their mutant-feline clan, as well as Mumm-Ra.

With the magnificent recent film rendition of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by Disney and Walden Media, I wouldn't be surprised if the Thundercats would look so realistic, we'd all believe they actually existed in the real world. Ah, yes. Thank God for technology.

I also wouldn't be surprised if the action scenes are great. I just hope that it won't be an all-effects, all-action movie. I hope they come up with a good storyline for it.

Again, Warner Brothers takes care of this film. The screenplay will be by Paul Sopocy. Producers will be Paula Weinstein (Blood Diamond), along with Dick Robertson and Lew Korman.

Read more in the Variety article: Warner Purrs for Thundercats.

Labels: he-man, masters of the universe, movies, thundercats, tv

Posted by sarah at 12:30 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

After weeks, I FINALLY got to watch this. Chique and I decided to watch it on a whim, and I'm very very glad we did!

Spiderman 3 is the much-anticipated third part of the Spiderman series. Reviews from my friends are different. Some say it was awesome, some say it was just fine. Some say I wouldn't be missing anything if I didn't watch it on the big screen, some say I wouldn't be missing anything if I didn't watch it at all.

Well, I say you ought to watch it. And I say you watch it on the big screen. Make sure you watched the first two movies, though! Or at least have a friend tell you what happened. But I think you really SHOULD watch the first two movies because they're awesome. I think you'll appreciate the movie more if you knew (and watched) the relationships between the characters.

Spiderman 3, as reported all over the net, is an action-packed, plot-packed movie. Man, oh man, they've got it right.

The fight scenes are AWESOME. I LOVE how they directed it, with all the whooshing cameras and all, catching the beautiful cityscape and taking the audience on a breathtaking ride as Spidey takes to the air in leaps and bounds (and swings).

The CGI is amazing! Venom and the Sandman were both very believable, I think. When I was watching the movie, I almost forgot that the effects were computer generated.

The plot -- or multiple plots, rather -- was very well done. Peter, MJ, Harry, the Sandman, and Eddie all had their own plots, and yet it wasn't tiring to the mind. All the players moved through the story in harmony. Even though the plots were developed separately, they eventually swirled together, melding into one solid story. Each character was developed beautifully, letting the audience feel for each one... And yet the focus on Spiderman was not lost. This is a feat that is hard to achieve, in my opinion.

The relationships between characters were beautiful. The twists in those relationships are very real and believable, as well. None of them seemed cheesy or forced to me. I praise the writers for their work! They managed to take two characters, develop their chemistry, then pit them against each other, and then reconcile them once again...all this done seamlessly.

The resolutions in this movie were done in convincingly. Although not all issues were resolved, the movie ended in a very good -- albeit bittersweet -- place. It seems to me that the movie was left a tad bit open-ended, leaving space for a part four. And yet, the story was closed so that the audience is satisfied with the ending (at the same time craving for more).

I suppose my only complaint about the movie is that some things happened that didn't necessarily have to happen. There could have been ways around those unfortunate circumstances... The characters could have done this, could have done that, and so on. But hey, if they did, then the drama wouldn't be there, now would it? Hehehe.

My verdict for Spidey 3? LOVE IT!

Labels: movies, reviews, spiderman

Posted by sarah at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Don't worry: there won't be any spoilers in this post. Hehe.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is an adventure movie, the third of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. At World's End is directed by Gore Verbinski. The cast includes returnees Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Geoffrey Rush, Jack Davenport, Tom Hollander and Naomie Harris. Chow Yun-Fat appears as Sao Feng, and Keith Richards as Jack Sparrow's father.

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Although I still maintain that the first movie (Curse of the Black Pearl) would've done fine by itself, I think At World's End is a good ending to a good series.

The opening sequence gave me goosebumps, and the ending left me kind of stunned. And since I'm not usually one to be emotional over a movie, I think it's saying a lot. I think that's what surprised me most about this movie: the dark feel of it. I mean, in the opening sequence, you've got pirates singing a lament. And right after that, the government hangs an 8-year-old to death. In a Disney movie. Seriously. An eight-year-old, dude... @_@

*ahem* Moving on the rest of the movie.

The script is amusing, what with the classic Jack wit being doubled by Johnny Depp's genius acting. It's funny how, technically, he doesn't follow what lead characters are supposed to do in stories (grow, mature, and learn something). But hey, the Black Pearl desert him and the Pirate King of the Brethren be somebody else, Captain Jack Sparrow is still the main pirate. Although I think he lacked zing compared to the first two movies, he's Jack Sparrow enough to be enjoyed.

Will is more of a hero now more than the last two movies. Just a little bit more, and he might've dethroned Jack from the hero pedestal. But he didn't. So there. Hero#2 for you. As for Elizabeth, my goodness, I love how she evolved throughout the series. From damsel in distress to full-fledged pirate and swordswoman, and so much more. Awesome, awesome. I can say a lot more about Will and Elizabeth, but I suppose I can't say anything right now, lest I spoil it for everyone reading who hasn't watched yet. Heeheehee.

Cutler Beckett as the antagonist is good... Just a military man fighting the bad pirates. My only problem about it is that, although he does a good job being nasty, I don't think people will ever think that he'll get the better of Jack. Not at all.

Davy Jones was... well, I like him. Tentacles and all, I think he was made human in this movie. Sorry, but yeah: I always love it when, in the middle of a series or a movie, antagonists are made human and not-too-antagonistic. Mad scientists who simply want world domination for the sake of world domination never appealed to me.

Keith Richards' appearance is funny. When I first heard that he was supposed to appear in Dead Man's Chest, I couldn't wait to see him and Jack in a scene. Haha! For the benefit of those who don't know, Johnny Depp based his character on Keith Richards. I'm very very glad he did; aren't you? XD

Amidst the comedy, the swashbuckling swordfights, the climactic final battle, and the unexpected twists, the characters were given ample time, and nearly each of them has their own subplot. This is good and bad at the same time, as there seems to be too many subplots for a 168-minute movie. Don't get me wrong, though: I like the subplots. I like the twists and scheming... I'm just thinking that not everybody might not like it as things can get a little bit dizzying.

I compare it to its predecessor, specifically Curse of the Black Pearl. What I like about the first movie is the straight out, breezy, pirate-y fun. Get the pirate, get the girl, beat the stiff East India Trading Company. Yey. This time around, you've got a handful of issues flying around, and everybody's scheming something, and everybody seems to have their own agenda while trying to fool everyone else about their allegiance.

The good thing about this is: it gives the movie depth. It gives the characters depth, and... well, it sets up the stage for the characters' own sequels that you can continue on your own. Also, it separates the movie from its predecessor and gives it its own identity. (I hate it when a sequel is just the remake of the original movie.) As I said: good and bad.

In this movie, questions are answered, problems are solved. Some of them, anyway. But still, the ending pretty much wrapped the series up. Although some new problems arose, I think there won't be a part four. Or at least I hope there won't be a part four. I think they should just leave it to the imagination. Fanfiction writers are going to have a field day, I'm sure.

Oh, by the way, do NOT leave the theater just because the credits begin to roll. Watch till the very very end, savvy?

My verdict for At World's End? I like it. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. I like it, but I'm not jumping out of my chair to put it into my list of favorite movies. But still, as I mentioned in earlier, I think it did fine as an ending to this series.

If I'm right that there won't be another Pirates movie, and this is the last we'll see of Will, Elizabeth, and Jack-- oops, I mean Captain Jack Sparrow, then we've left them in the right places.

Labels: at world's end, movies, pirates of the caribbean, reviews

Posted by sarah at 1:52 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

What's worse than a bad movie?

Easy.

A bad sequel.

Sequels are usually a fan's best friend because when it comes to an awesome movie, we as fans always crave for more, whether or not the film is open-ended. And movie makers, as movie makers, want to make more awesome movies to make people happy, and bring in big bucks while they're at it.

But, sometimes, sequels can be a nightmare. No one intended such sequels to be bad, so what do sequel makers do wrong? Setting the usual movie mistakes aside (like bad script, bad acting, etc.), here are the common mistakes:

#5 Lack of Originality
I think this is the most obvious mistake of all: making a sequel that echoes the first movie a tad bit too much. Although it is a good thing to stay faithful to the original film, almost retelling it can get boring. Like what they did with Bring It On Again. The characters are new, the setting is new, the cheerleading routines are new, but the story's is almost exactly the same and the approach is the same.

I must point out, though that the third Bring It On movie was pretty good, even considering the fact that the story is the same. What made it different is that the conflicts are different, the feel is different, and... it's basically a whole new movie altogether, at the same time following the legacy of the first film.

The Next Karate Kid can be another example. Although Pat Morita stayed as Mr. Miyagi, they put in a new kid who isn't that interesting of a character at all. It became sort of a remake of Karate Kid, just less convincing and more boring.

#4 New pair-ups
Spending one whole movie developing a pair-up, and then suddenly saying that the couple's not together in the sequel is plain stupid. Like in Speed 2: Cruise Control, the audience is surprised when Annie (Sandra Bullock) has a new boyfriend when in the first movie, Speed, she and Jack (Keanu Reeves) were established to be perfect partners of sorts. And also in Princess Diaries, they built up the childhood friends to couple plot for Mia (Anne Hathaway) and Michael (Robert Schawrzman), and then, in the opening scene of the sequel, Mia goes "we're just friends now".

Now, I understand that this might have been caused by the actors being unavailable, but I was thinking: couldn't they have just changed the actor but kept the character? The Batman and Bond movies survived recasting, right?

#3 Overemphasizing the good things
Great movies have great things in them. It could be great characters, witty lines, cool costumes, or great sets. But if the sequel takes the good things and becomes too dependent on it, it becomes a flop.

Here's an example: Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde. People love Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon). She's cute, there's no denying that. She's ditzy, and that's what makes her cute. But in the sequel, the cuteness became annoying, and her passion for her Chihuahua became irritating. Heh. It really is bad to have too much of a good thing, isn't it?

#2 Forgetting the good things
If overemphasizing the good parts isn't bad enough, forgetting what made the original film great is just a crime. Yes, we believe that movies should be "made over" to some degree so that they won't be exactly like the first movie. However, straying too far from the original concept causes disastrous effects.

One example I can think of is Batman and Robin where "witty" remarks abound, villains wear neon colors, and Gotham City is anything but gothic. Batman is supposed to be the Dark Knight. DARK. Not comedic, not shiny, and definitely not colorful, thank you very much.

Another example can be Staying Alive, the worst sequel ever, according to Entertainment Weekly's 25 Worst Movie Sequels Ever Made list. Whereas Saturday Night Fever made disco dancing a hit, Staying Alive's dance numbers, complete with scantily-clad women and a sweaty John Travolta in a Tarzan-meets-Rambo costume, are just.... yuck.

#1 Not knowing when to stop
Villains emerge from hiding, and supposedly dead men suddenly come to life. Bernie (Weekend from Bernie's) just couldn't rest in peace, and Jason (Friday the 13th) just won't die, and eventually ends up facing off with Freddy Krueger!

I think this is the worst mistake ever, making a sequel when it doesn't help at all. It not only turns a sequel into a flop, but it also tarnishes the prestige of the original film.

Some movies just shouldn't have a sequel at all, really, whether or not the audience clamors for one. Sometimes it's better to just leave it to the imagination. Sometimes that's what makes an awesome movie be more awesome.

So, as a fan, I implore movie makers: even though we love movie sequels, please don't make one unless you really really really have to, else you'll explode.

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So...yey. I hope you got something from this post if you're an aspiring filmmaker, or if you're a fanfiction writer. Comments about my Top 5 are welcome, whether or no