Starting over again

DIRECTOR: Olivia Lamasan           

LEAD CAST: Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga, Iza Calzado

SCREENWRITER:  Carmi Raymundo, Olivia Lamasan           

PRODUCER:  ABS CBN  

MUSICAL DIRECTOR: 

GENRE: Romance/Drama/Comedy

DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema

LOCATION:  Philippines

RUNNING TIME:  140 minutes

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT:   3                

MORAL ASSESSMENT:   2.5  

MTRCB RATING: PG

CINEMA RATING: A14

              

            Architecture student si Ginny Gonzales (Toni Gonzaga) at patay na patay siya sa history professor na si Marco Villanueva (Piolo Pascual). Sa simula, hindi pinapansin ni Sir Marco ang ‘panliligaw’ ni Ginny pero nahulog din ang loob ng professor bago magtapos sa kolehiyo ang dalaga. Magkasama silang bumuo ng kanilang mga pangarap hanggang bigla na lang umalis si Ginny. Iniwan niya si Marco na walang sinasabing dahilan at nagpunta sa Barcelona para mag-aral. Makalipas ng apat na taon, napukaw muli ang puso ni Ginny nang makatanggap ng post-dated email mula kay Marco. May pag-asa pa kaya silang magkabalikan ngayong si Patty de Guia (Iza Calzado) na ang kasintahan ni Marco?

            Dahil mula sa direksiyon ni Olivia Lamasan ang romantic comedy na Starting Over Again, umasa kami na hindi formulaic ang dating nito. Kadalasan kasi, unang eksena pa lang o sa trailer pa lang ay alam mo na rin ang huling eksena. Hindi naman kami nabigo. Kahit na sa simula ay katulad ito ng mga nakasanayan na nating kuwento, iba ang ending at pati na rin ang mga characters. Mahusay ang pagganap ng mga lead stars, lalo na si Piolo Pascual. Ipinakita ni Toni Gonzaga na hindi lang siya pang-comedy (kahit na minsan medyo sumobra na ito) kundi pang-drama din. Regal, tahimik at madamdamin namang isinakatuparan ni Iza Calzado ang kanyang papel. Maganda ang pagkabalanse ng kakenkoyan ni Toni at kadramahan ni Piolo.  Buhay na buhay ang dialogo at talaga namang naka-relate ang mga manonood sa kuwento, sa takbo ng istorya at mga characters nito. Nilapatan din ito ng musikang hinihingi ng eksena at may mga kakaibang anggulo na nagpatingkad sa location. Kaya lang, may mga usapan na sobrang haba – mga detalyeng pwede na sanang iwanan sa matalinong pag-iisip ng manonood kaysa sabihin ito. May mga eksena rin na halatang hinuhuli ang kiliti ng manonood o naging dragging lalo na sa iyakan.

        Ang Starting Over Again ay kwento ng bawat isa na nagmahal, nangarap, nagsikap, natakot, nagkamali, nasaktan, umasa, nagpatawad, nagbago, at muling nagmahal. Ipinapakita nito na kailangan ang pagpupunyagi upang maabot ang iyong mga pangarap at kadalasan hindi lang sakripisyo ang katapat nito.  Minsan itinatanong natin, “Magpapakatanga ba ako sa pag-ibig? Gagawin ko ba ang lahat, kahit isakripisyo ko ang sarili at prinsipyo, para sa mahal ko?”  Pero madalas, hindi na natin ito tinatanong; nagpapadala na lang tayo sa damdamin. Ipinapakita rin ng Starting Over Again na ang pag-ibig ay mas malalim kaysa sa kilig moments, na kailangang maging handa sa pag-aasawa, na hindi ito minamadali o pwedeng pwersahin. Na kahit ano pa ang nararamdaman mo, tunay ang pag-ibig kung nagpapatawad ka at nirerespeto mo ang iyong sarili at ang iyong minamahal. Bahagi ng respeto ang katapatan at ang pagpili ng iyong ngayon at bukas. Na hanggang natatakot kang may kaagaw ka sa puso ng iyong minamahal ay hindi wagas ang iyong pag-ibig. Dahil “sa pag-ibig ay walang pagkatakot, bagkus ang ganap na pag-ibig ay nagpapaalis ng takot.” (1 Jn 4:18)

            Maraming aral, masaya at mahusay sana at ang pelikula kung mas nabigyan ng halaga ang pagkababae ni Ginny. Na ang kaganapan ng isang tao, babae man lalake, ay hindi nagsisimula sa iba kundi sa sariling pagtanggap at pagdiriwang ng pagkatao mo, ng realidad mo bilang anak ng Diyos. Maselan naman at hindi bastos ang mga eksena ng pre-marital sex pero hindi dahil ipinakitang katawa-tawa at bahagi lamang ng kwento eh ibig sabihin ay acceptable na ito.

Snowpiercer

DIRECTOR: Bong Joon-ho  LEAD CAST: Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, Ed Harris, Song Kang-ho, Go Ah-sung, Jamie Bell, Alison Pill, John Hurt,  SCREENWRITER:  Bong Joon-ho, Kelly Masterson  PRODUCER:  Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun, Park Tae-jun, Dooho Choi, Robert Bernacchi, David Minkowski, Matthew Stillman  EDITOR:  Steve M Choe  MUSICAL DIRECTOR:  Marcon Beltrami  CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Hong Kyung-pyo  DISTRIBUTOR: The Weinstein Company, CJ Entertainment  LOCATION:  Prague, Czech Republic, South Korea, US, France GENRE: Action/Drama/Science Fiction RUNNING TIME:  125 minutes

Technical assessment: 4

Moral assessment: 2.5

MTRCB rating: R16

CINEMA Rating: V18

            Global warming has reached its peak and the earth’s days are numbered. In July 2014 nations opt for a drastic solution: to use CW7, a chemical substance once sprayed into the atmosphere will halt global warming. The temperature falls but the consequences are disastrous. A real ice age exterminates all the inhabitants of the earth, burying the world in a tomb of ice and snow. It is now 2031 and the only surviving remnant of humanity is represented by the passengers of the Snowpiercer, a high-speed train that has been running around the world for 17 years, powered by a revolutionary and unstoppable energy that provides perpetual motion. The train is a microcosm of human society and is divided into classes. The poor are relegated by force in the last carriages, malnourished and abandoned, while the rich stay in the front cars, and live in luxury and comfort. To keep this balance is extremely delicate and unrest is brewing from the tail end. The movement is led by Gilliam (John Hurt), a former Wilford engineer, and his young right hand, Curtis (Chris Evans). Helping them are Tanya (Octavia Butler), whose son was forcibly taken away to the front car, Edgar (Jamie Bell), Curtis’ best friend, and Namgoong Minsun (Song Kang-ho) security expert who designed the locks on the train. Curtis plans to storm his way to the front car where the elusive Wilford (Ed Harris), inventor and holder of the power train, resides.

            Every once in a while a film comes along that not only entertains but also makes us think. Not of pedestrian problems and the miseries of life, but about deep existential questions. Through imagery, sound and silence, darkness and light, dialogue and characters who linger in your mind long after the last credits roll, Snowpiercer, based on the French comic Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette, effortlessly does that. Unlike Marvel comic hero films which rely on extensive CGIs and interminable violent action sequences, Korean director Bong Joon-ho gives us a work of art by combining imaginative cinematography, compelling production design (the various coaches on the train are exceptional—from the dingy slums of the tail end to the luxurious carriages up front), evocative music, engaging story, and unpredictable plot, topped by vivid characters portrayed excellently by the cast particularly Evans and Swinton (playing Mason). Even Korean actors Song Kang-ho and Ko Ah-seong issue their roles effectively in their native tongue. Although Snowpiercer is longer than most action films at 125 minutes, there are very few unnecessary frames. Instead of background storytelling, little details are shown to reveal the characters’ identity and their nuanced portrayal pulls the viewer up or down with the film’s changing mood.

            Snowpiercer is an allegory for social classes and class warfare, a suffocating tale of human misery, perseverance and hope. We see just how twisted humanity becomes in the name of survival, power and control. The conditions at the tail end are hellish. Over and over, tail-enders are bombarded with know-your-place speeches from Mason, Wilford’s second in command, fed with gelatinous protein blocks, separated from their children and viciously punished for any attempt at insurrection. While residents at the top feast on sushi, medium rare steaks, and fresh produce, cool down in the pool or pretty up for a party at their favorite salon, their indifference as cold as the ice surrounding them.

            This is a good movie for discussion on the tendency of human nature to create social stratification and man’s love affair with the machine. The eternal train is seen as sacred and sustains life, and Wilford, the creator God. Social order is predetermined and his religion, to which the young are indoctrinated, is the excuse for control and the elite’s exploitation of the poor and the weak.

            Rich in metaphors, the film also leads us to ask: What is life? What are we doing to planet earth? What sacrifices are necessary for the maintenance of the established order? Is survival the supreme good? Can I be inhuman to preserve humanity? Can we accept and live with the cost of survival no matter how big it is? What ennobles humanity and what reduces him to a beast?

            Ultimately, it is always a choice—something each person has to struggle with while weighing the price of each choice. Will I sacrifice others in order to maintain my lifestyle, or do I sacrifice myself (offer an arm or a limb as food; lead my people to an insecure freedom; fight for truth and justice even if it means death; etc.) so that the others may live? Snowpiercer invites us to see how everyone is a passenger towards eternity and to examine the complex consequences our choices create.

American Hustle

DIRECTOR: David O. Russell  LEAD CAST: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence  SCREENWRITER:  Eric Warren Singer, David O Russell  PRODUCER:  Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison  EDITOR:  Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers, Alan Baumgarten  MUSICAL DIRECTOR:  Danny Elfman  GENRE: Crime Comedy-Drama  CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Linus Sandgren  DISTRIBUTOR: Columbia Pictures  LOCATION:  United States RUNNING TIME:  138 minutes

Technical assessment: 3.5

Moral assessment: 2

MTRCB rating

CINEMA Rating: A18 and above

            American Hustle is a crime drama that involves two con artists who collaborate with FBI agents to catch corrupt local and national government officials in a big scam.  Christian Bale is Irving Rosenfeld, a professional con artist who makes money by swindling unsuspecting individuals. While still married to a quirky and unpredictable Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), he meets the sexy and street-smart Sydney Prosser (played by Amy Adams), who becomes his mistress. Both believe in what they can do and accomplish as a team. With Prosser at his side, Rosenfeld’s swindling activities flourish. But the FBI catches them in one of their loan scams. In exchange for their release, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) gets Rosenfeld to collaborate with the FBI in nailing some politicians involved in corruption. Rosenfeld befriends Mayor Carmine Polito  (Jeremy Renner) of Camden, New Jersey, a charismatic politician who wants to build a gambling casino in Atlantic City, in order to generate jobs for his constituents.

Director David Russell was able to bring together an ensemble of big name stars who delivered their roles very well. Bale is believable in his portrayal of Rosenfeld as a con artist, complete with thinning hair combed over his head and pot belly. Despite his flawed character, he’s got a soft spot for his stepson Danny, whom he adopted and regarded as his own. Adams is very good in her characterization of Sydney Prosser, with her expressive eyes conveying so eloquently the angst that she feels inside of her. Lawrence also stands out in her role as the long-suffering wife who feels left out and unloved. Meanwhile, the antics of Cooper’s character Richie DiMaso leaves one to wonder if such attitude is indeed tolerated in the agency.  Renner’s Carmine Polito, however, is reminiscent of a typical politician who sweet talks people into believing that he does everything for them, at their service.

            American Hustle received ten Academy award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.  But lest we get carried away by the Oscar’s nod, note that the movie has many disturbing elements that would necessitate discussion in the light of Christian values. American Hustle alludes to the most stunning scandals that rocked America in the late 1970s that involved the mayor of New Jersey, some congressmen, senators and a mafia group. Sex, money and manipulation are all part of the deal.  Although corrupt politicians in American Hustle were apprehended by government authorities, Rosenfeld and Prosser went on to live their life quietly without serving time in prison as part of the deal with FBI. Sex and money serve as potent means to achieve the end. Achieving one's dream at any cost without regards to morality and ethics is, in any language, definitely unacceptable.

Wolf of Wall Street

 DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese  LEAD CAST:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner  SCREENWRITER:  Terence Winter  PRODUCER:  Marin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCarpio, Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland, Emma Tillinger Koskoff  EDITOR:  Thelma Schoomaker  GENRE: Drama  CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Rodrigo Prieto  DISTRIBUTOR:  Paramount Pictures & Universal Pictures  LOCATION:  United States  RUNNING TIME:  179 minutes

Technical assessment:  3.5

Moral assessment:  2

MTRCB rating:  R 16

CINEMA rating:  V 18

Twenty-two year-old Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a Wall Street broker who just like any devoted family man works hard to fulfill his hunger for a comfortable life.  Unfortunately, the stock market crashes on the very day he earns his license, causing him to lose his job.  However, he has learned the ropes well enough to reinvent himself, and soon lands a position in an obscure “penny stocks” company on Long Island that gives huge commissions.  His slick ways, glib tongue, and drive to get rich quick are his greatest spurs in that ill-regulated branch of the finance industry, propelling him to ill-gotten wealth until he establishes his own company, ritzily named “Stratton Oakmont”, with a handful of money-minded cronies led by Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill).  Attaining such wealth that he never even dreamed of dreaming of, Belfort is changed, dumps his wife to get a new one every man will drool over (Margot Robbie), and acquires expensive vices to match his status.  But Stratton Oakmont won’t remain in obscurity for long; when FBI agent Greg Coleman (Kyle Chandler) opens a file on Belfort, rough sailing begins.

            The wolf of Wall Street is not a documentary but a fictionalization of Jordan Belfort’s self-serving memoir by the tandem of Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter.  Belfort, a white-collar criminal fueled by drugs, greed and sex, emerges—through Winter’s screenplay and Scorsese’s direction—as an ambitious conman who’s given to excess but who nonetheless charms his audience into stupefaction.  DiCaprio plays a character he had never done before, in control of the world by day, controlled by his weaknesses by night, and a slave to his appetites 24/7.  DiCaprio’s untethered performance as a drug addict (particularly in that scene where he hits his wife and endangers his daughter’s life) is more than convincing—it’s as though Scorsese pulled all the stops and let loose the talented actor to play the depraved anti-hero.   While in that scene where Belfort tries to bribe an FBI agent while in his yacht, DiCaprio’s subtlety as an actor is beyond admirable.  The sets and the cinematography blend to render powerful scenes depicting man’s various states of servitude to materialism and the flesh.
            The wolf of Wall Street reeks with sexual stench and profanity; it glorifies amorality and glamorizes vice.  There is one moment when a shadow of contrition whiffs by—when having survived a sea disaster Belfort thinks God has given him a chance to change his unscrupulous ways—but this is swallowed up by the orgiastic excess of his lifestyle.  When justice finally catches up with him he gets a three year prison term at the end of which the arrogant Belfort launches his new career as a speaker motivating future salesmen.  Is the movie to be condemned?  Not the movie, but the reality which it parodies.  Despite the depravity and debauchery portrayed by it, The wolf of Wall Street is an indictment of greed.  But instead of passing a moral judgment on that reality, Scorsese—a Catholic—presents it as a black comedy of America’s addiction to money-making at all cost.  There are two small voices Belfort hears but fails to listen to—his father’s which is the voice of reason, and the FBI agent Denham’s which is the voice of principles.  Often, in the movies, the visible overpowers the audible.  This could happen with The wolf of Wall Street; only  mature and discerning viewers will catch Scorsese’s cautionary tale it tells.

Bride for rent

DIRECTOR:  Mae Cruz LEAD CAST:  Kim Chiu, Xian Lim SCREENWRITER: Carmi Raymundo, Charlene Grace Bernardo   PRODUCER:  Charo Santos-Concio  GENRE: Romantic Comedy  DISTRIBUTOR:  Star Cinema LOCATION:  Philippines RUNNING TIME:  115 minutes

Technical assessment:  3

Moral assessment:  3

MTRCB rating:  PG

CINEMA rating:  PG 13

Sa romantic comedy na Bride for Rent, “spoiled” si Rocco (Xian Lim), maluho, walang inaalala sa buhay kungdi ang magpakasaya.  Sa gabi bago dumating ang ika-25 niyang kaarawan, magpa-party at malalasing siya kasama ng barkada, at matatalo siya sa casino ng 10 milyong piso, ang salaping dapat sana’y gagamitin niya sa negosyo.   Mapapalitan lamang niya ito kung makukuha na niya ang “trust fund” na inilalaan sa kanya ng lola niyang si Lala (Pilita Corrales).  Pero hindi pala ganoong kadali iyon, dahil may kondisyon si Lala: dapat ay mag-asawa muna siya bago niya matatanggap ang “trust fund”.  Sa kabilang dako, mahigpit naman ang pangangailangan ni Rocky (Kim Chiu), isang dalagang may ambisyong mag-artista at siyang sumusuporta sa kanyang pamilya.  Mapapakinabangan ni Rocky ang hilig niya sa pag-arte nang makakapasa siya sa “audition” ni Rocco na naghahanap ng isang babaeng magpapanggap na asawa niya—para lamang makuha na niya ang inaasam-asam na “trust fund”.

Bagama’t masaya ang dating ng pelikula gawa ng pagiging makulay nito, nakaka-distract naman ang sobrang pula sa paligid—nagmumukha tuloy mga bakla ang mga lalaki dahil animo’y naka-lipstick sila sa lahat nang eksena. May isa kaming puna sa casting—ito’y madalas na kakulangan sa mga pelikulang Pilipino kung saan may mga “pamilya” sa kuwento.  Kadalasan, hindi man lamang gawing magkakahawig ang mag-anak—tulad ng mga magkakapatid dito nila Rocky, wala ni isang bahagya man lamang nakahawig ng ama,  halimbawa.  At maniniwala ba kayo sa sa guwapo’t guwapa ng mga magkakapatid (na hindi rin naman mga bobo), at sa lusog ng ama, ay magiging palamunin lang silang lahat ni Rocky?  (Ano ba ang basehan ng pagpili ng mga gaganap na mag-anak?  Ah, ewan!)   Umaasa ang Bride for Rent sa kiliting dulot ng tunay-na-buhay na relasyon ni Lim at ni Chiu, kaya naman hindi maituturing na “pagganap” ang ginawa nilang pag-arte ditto; pati halikan at titigan ay totoo.  Nakakasawa din ang arte ni Chiu na tila yatang pumalit sa trono ni Toni Gonzaga sa larangan ng overacting at over pa-kyut.  Nakakaaliw namang panoorin ang isang “bagong-lumang mukha” (Corrales) na kamangha-mangha ang sariwa pang mukha at sa kabila ng di na maitagong pagkatuyot na leeg at mga kamay ay “may asim” pa rin, ika nga. 

Likas na mabubuting tao ang ipinapakita sa Bride for Rent, bagama’t gawa ng iba’t ibang kalagayan o pangangailangan, sila ay nakakaisip gumawa ng kung ano anong solusyon malutas lamang ang problema.  Hinangad ng pelikulang ipakita na ang pag-aasawa ay mistulang isang halaman na inaalagaan, na nakatanim sa matatag na pag-uunawaan at dinidilig ng walang sawang pag-bibigay ng sarili sa minamahal.  Ito’y isinagawa sa tulong ng mga mag-asawa sa tunay na buhay na ipinaloob sa kuwento bilang mga tampok na panauhin. May istorya namang maituturing ang Bride for Rent, may dulot ding mga aral, pero formulaic din ang kuwento—may party, may kasalan, may pa-kyut-an hanggang magkatuluyan—at hindi kapani-paniwalang maging totoo ito sa tunay na buhay.  Magkagayunman, hindi maikakaila na patok ang formula nito sa mga manonood, base sa milyon-milyon nitong kita sa takilya.  Humigit-kumulang, mahuhulaan na natin kung ano ang panglasa ng Pinoy pagdating sa pelikula.

The legend of Hercules

Running Time: 99 minutes  ; Cast: Kellan Lutz, Liam McIntyre, Scott Adkins, Roxanne McKee; Direction: Renny Harlin; Story/ Screenplay: Sean Hood, Daniel Giat; Producer Boaz Davidson, Renny Harlin et al; Cinematogrpahy:  Sam McCurdy; Music: Tuomas Kantelinen;  Editing:  Vincent Tabaillon; Genre: Action-Adventure Distributor: Summit Entertainment;  Location: Greece

Technical Assessment:  2

Moral Assessment: 3

CINEMA Rating:  V 14

The Legend of Hercules begins with King Amphitryon (Adkins) challenging the King of Athens to a winner take a battle.  Easily defeating his opponent, Amphitryon takes over the army and kingdom to the disgust of his wife Queen Alcmene (McKee). Realizing her husband’s growing insatiable desire for power and aggression, she prays to the gods for guidance. Her answers her call and promises her the son of Zeus whom she will bear and eventually will defeat the king. Years past, Alcmene’s son with Zeus takes on the name Alcides (Lutz) and grows into a burly yet gentle prince in love with Hebe (Weiss), the princess of Crete. He willingly stays in the shadows as his half-brother Iphicles takes credit for Alcides’ success. However, when the king announces the betrothal of Iphicles to Hebe and betrays Alcides to the Egyptians, Alcides must accept and embrace his fate as Hercules – the half-mortal, half-god son of Zeus – who will deliver Greece from the tyrant king and bring peace and harmony back to the nation.

The movie may have the viewer scouring through the original storyline of the half-mortal Hercules as it introduced characters and sub plots so different from the more popular animated versions. While it did retain more of the original flavour of the classical myth plot, the treatment was so terrible complicated yet diluted that one would definitely prefer the adolescent versions. If we get pass the thinly conceived storyline and character development and just take the computer-generated effects that uselessly peppered the scenes, then we would be even more confused as it merely demonstrated the technical ability of the post production team and senselessness of their efforts. Lutz who should have retained his non-speaking character in the previous vampire film series made matters worse with his non-existent acting prowess that gave neither life nor depth to what could have been a dramatic character. In fact, none of the actors could act and evoke sympathy or support from the audience. The Legend of Hercules was too dull as an action film, too lifeless as a romantic drama and too uninspired as an epic film.

The movie tried hard to compare Hercules to Jesus Christ. In so many instances, the parallelism were obvious – a prophesy of the promised savior, the divine conception – it could have worked and delivered a powerful message if there was more effort and intelligence placed in the direction. Instead, what was left were the indiscriminate fighting and killings, betrayals and the desire for revenge. While Hercules did embrace his destiny and fulfill his mission, we doubt if it was a result of a realization that peace, justice and brotherhood were far more important than his self-serving desire to take back his lover and kill his step father. Neither was he a hero whom people can rally behind as he had no redeeming nor outstanding human or divine qualities viewers can relate to.

Walking with dinosaurs

VOICE CAST:  John Leguizamo, Justin Long; Skyler Stone; Tiya Sircar  DIRECTORS:  Barry Cook, Neil Nightingale  SCREENWRITER:  John Collee DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: John Brooks  EDITOR: John Carnochan  MUSIC: Paul Leonard-Morgan  PRODUCERS: Mike Devlin, Amanda Hill, Deepak Nayar  EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Stuart Ford, Marcus Arthur, Tim Hill, David Nicksay, Miles Ketley, Zareh Nalbandian  DISTRIBUTOR:  20th Century Fox  GENRE:  Action/Adventure, Animation, Kids  LOCATION: Alaska and New Zealand  RUNNING TIME: 87 minutes

Technical assessment: 3.5

Moral assessment: 3.5

MTRCB rating:  G  (for all ages)

CINEMA rating:  V 13 (for Viewers 13 years old and below, with parental guidance)

Dinosaurs Patchi (Justin Long) and Scowler (Skyler Stone) are brothers from the Pachyrhinosaurus family—meaning “thick-nosed lizard” in Greek.  When they happen to watch their father in a fierce and fatal battle with a gorgosaur—meeting his death when pinned down by a fallen tree—life changes for the orphaned brothers.  Tough guy Scowler has ambitions to succeed his father as alpha male of the tribe, while his younger brother Patchi is quite content in not being the strongest or the biggest dino of the herd.  Circumstances, however, lead the brothers to the unexpected.  In their trek for survival, they are accompanied by Patchi’s loyal friend, the parrot Alex (John Leguizamo).

The most outstanding thing about Walking with dinosaurs is the extensive research made towards the creation of the movie.  Walking with dinosaurs is a feature update of the six-part BBC television show (with the same name) that boasted 700 million viewers globally when it was shown in 1999.   The research and the cutting edge 3D Fusion Camera System (used for Avatar by James Cameron) combine to recreate the earth and its creatures 70 million years ago.  Grafting the television series’ documentary style onto the full-feature format to craft a movie that young and old alike could relate to, the creative team of Cook, Nightingale and Collee spins the coming-of-age tale that shows Patchi as a hatchling up to the time it finds a mate, punctuated by dinosaur data superimposed on the screen and voiced over, adding a lecture feel to it.

To the viewers’ delight, a dinosaur is humanized in Walking with dinosaurs.  Patchi’s development—from the nest, through his navigation of his environment, his trek for survival, his inevitable conflict with his brother, and the love-at-first-sight he had for…well, pretty (by dinosaur standards) and fair-complexioned Juniper (Tiya Sircar), is portrayed in a manner that would endear an otherwise ugly, lumbering, tough-hided prehistoric predator to viewers.  What boy would not go through life as Patchi did?  The emotions are so real—sorrow, joy, fear, love, jealousy, anger—even if in the back of your head you’d honestly doubt if dinosaurs were capable of feeling as they are made out to be in this movie.  But could dinosaurs forgive and love unconditionally?  Let the last few minutes of Walking with dinosaurs answer that—and maybe put many humans to shame.

Boy Golden: Shoot-to-Kill

DIRECTOR: Chito S. Rono  LEAD CAST:  KC Conception, George Estregan, John Estrada, Eddie Garcis, Baron Geisler, Tonton Gutierrez, Jhong Hilario, Gloria Sevilla  SCREENWRITER: Catherine O. Camarillo, Guelan Varela-Luarca  PRODUCER:  Joven Tan  EDITOR:  Jason Cahapay, Ryan Orduha, Carlo Manatad  MUSICAL DIRECTOR:  Carmina Cuya CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Carlo Mendoza GENRE:  Action/Thriller  DISTRIBUTOR:  Viva Films  LOCATION: Philippines  RUNNING TIME: 120 minutes

Technical Assessment: 3.5

Moral Assessment: 2

MTRCB rating:  R 16

CINEMA Rating:  V 18

Ang pelikula ay hango sa tunay na buhay ni Arturo Porcura (George Estregan), na kilala noon bilang Boy Anino na dating leader ng Bahala Na Gang noong dekada 60. Sinalakay noon ng grupo ni Tony Razon (John Estrada) ang bahay ni Boy Anino kung saan pinaslang ang buong mag-anak niya, pinagsamantalahan ang kapatid at iniwang walang buhay ang buong gang niya. Himalang nabuhay si Porcura at ngayon siya’y nagbabalik bilang si Boy Golden at ang hangad niya’y paghihiganti kay Razon. Sa kanyang paghahanap ay makikilala niya si Marla D. (KC Concepcion), isang mananayaw sa isang bar, na  mayroong mabigat na galit din kay Razon at nagbabalak ding maghiganti. Matupad kaya nila ang kanilang hangarin gayong matinik at makapangyarihan ang grupo ni Razon?

Makasining ang pagkakagawa ng Boy Golden. Mula sa madetalyeng disenyo ng produksiyon, hanggang sa mga kuha ng camera, kitang pinagbuhusan ng husay at talino ang pelikula. Hindi biro ang buhayin ang itsura ng Maynila ilang dekada na ang nakakaraan, pero nagawa itong kapani-paniwala ng Boy Golden. Maganda rin ang daloy ng kuwento na naka-sentro sa buhay-gangster noong araw. Nakakaaliw ang mga eksena ng kantahan, sayawan at labo-labo sa bandang huli. Pati ang mga beteranong artista na sila Eddie Garcia at Gloria Sevilla ay mga agaw-eksena sa pelikula.  Madaling sundan ang kuwento at habang nakikita ang bigat ng damdamin ng paghihiganti, nariyan naman ang puso ng pelikula na sasabayan pa ng mga aliw na bentahe tulad ng kakatwang opera, at eksenang animo’y walang katuturan ngunit sadyang isinama upang magpaaliw. Mahuhusay din ang mga pangunahing tauhan na sina Estregan at Concepcion. Hindi rin matatawaran ang husay nina Baron Geisler, Dick Israel, at Estrada. Sa kabuuan ay mahusay ang pelikula. Binuhay nito ang pelikulang aksyon na matagal-tagal na ring hindi nararanasan sa pelikulang Pilipino. Ang hindi nito karaniwang pag-trato sa kwento ng gang ay tila bagong aliw sa mga manonood.

Sapagkat tungkol sa gangster ang pelikula, hindi maiiwasan na ito ay magpapakita ng mga eksena ng karahasan. Nariyan ang barilan, saksakan, bugbugan, sakalan, patayan, bantaan. Sa simula’y akakalain ng manonood na pawang pinapaboran ang mga bida sa kanilang pagnanais na maghaganti kahit pa ito ay nangangahulugan ng pagpatay. Ngunit sa takbo ng kuwento, makikitang walang pinapaborang kung sino ang pelikula. Ang mga nagkakasala sa batas ay nakukulong at napaparusahan. Maging ang bida ay hindi makakaiwas sa parusa ng tadhana dahil sa mali nitong mga gawa. Hindi kailanman makabubuti ang paghihiganti.  Ang dapat ay inilalaan ang buhay ng tao sa paggawa lang ng mabuti. Anumang gawaing masama ay magtatapos sa kaparusahan. Ito ang mensahe ng Boy Golden. Nariyan din ang mensahe ng wagas na pagmamahalan sa pelikula. Sa gitna ng kaguluhan at kabuktutan, hindi pa rin maiaalis na pagmamahal pa rin ang higit na makapangyarihan sa lahat. Ngunit hindi pa rin maitatanggi na malabis na marahas ang maraming eksena sa pelikula at ang tema pa lamang nito ay hindi na angkop sa mga batang manonood. Nariyan pa ang ilang eksena na may patungkol sa panghahalay na nararapat lamang sa mga manonod na nasa hustong gulang na. Kung kaya’t minamarapat ng CINEMA na ang pelikulang ito ay para lamang sa mga manonood na may gulang 18 pataas.

Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay

--> DIRECTOR:  Frasco Mortiz  LEAD CAST:  Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Paulo Avelino, Shaina Magdayao  SCREENWRITER:  Joel Mercado  PRODUCER:  Star Cinema  GENRE: Horror, Suspense, Romance  DISTRIBUTOR:  Star Cinema & Regal Films

LOCATION:  Philippines RUNNING TIME:  105 minutes

Technical assessment: 3

Moral assessment: 2

MTRCB rating: PG 13

CINEMA rating: V 14

Mapapadpad ang mga magkakaibigan na sina Cedric (Daniel Padilla), Hanna (Michelle Vito), Ashley (Miles Ocampo), Justin (CJ Navato) and Rico (Dominic Roque) sa burol ni Roman (Paulo Avelino) matapos ang magdamag na pagliliwaliw.  Nauna rito ay magkakaroon ng mainitang pagtatalo sina Cedric at Hanna at magiging dahilan  ng pagkasugat ni Cedric. Madidiskubre ng grupo na ang nangangasiwa sa patay ay si Leni (Kathryn Bernardo).  Samantala, nagsasa-alang-alang ng  mga pamahiin ang  pamilya ng namatay, para diumano walang malasin na sumunod sa namayapa. Mga pamahiin tulad ng bawal ang pagwawalis, bawal matuluan ng luha ang kabaong, bawal mag uwi ng pagkain, bawal kupitan ang abuloy, bawal tumingin sa salamin, bawal makiramay ang may sugat,  bawal dumiretso sa bahay at kailangan mag “pagpag” ng sarili kapag galing sa burol o libing.  Mangyayaring lalabagin lahat ito ng magkakaibigan pati na ilang miyembro ng pamilya ng namatay. Samantala, mapapag-alaman na napatay ng taong bayan si Roman dahil diumano sa pakikipagkasunduan nito sa dimonyo na pumatay siya ng siyam na tao kapalit ng  pagbabalik ng buhay ng namatay na anak. Dahil sa paniniwala na di nagpagpag  ng mga sarili pagdating sa kani kanilang bahay ang mga nagtungo sa burol ni Roman ay  sinundan sila ng kaluluwa nito at  isa isang nagbuwis ng buhay sa ibat ibang paraan kasabay ng lagim ng takot na idudulot nya. Sa pagkakataong ito ay siya naman ang magbabalik buhay kapalit ng siyam na mamamatay.  Sa pagkasawi ng ikapitong tao ay mapapagtanto nina Cedric, Leni at Mac Mac (Clarence Delgado) na may kaugnayan pa rin sa kasunduan na ginawa ni Roman sa dimonyo ang mga malalagim na kaganapan at kailangan maisalba sa panganib ang dalawang buhay na maaring sila din.

 Maganda ang disenyo ng produksyon ng Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay at ang mga ginamit na special effects.  Kapuri-puri ang effort ng produksyon na maghatid ng pinaghusay na visual effects kung saan di masasabi ng manonood na sayang ang kanilang pera. Mahusay din ang mga pagganap  at  naging epektibo ang pinagsamang mga aspetong ito sa paghahatid ng mga eksena ng kilig, takot at suspense na syang genre ng pelikula. Subalit mahina ang pagkakabuo ng kwento, kulang sa focus at maraming sub-plots. Marahil dahil sa dami ng artista, nagsikap ang produksyon na bigyan sila lahat ng mahaba-habang exposure sa kung anumang kadahilanan.  Malaking bentahe ng pelikula ang sikat na tambalan nina Bernardo at Padilla at halata na di pinakawalan ng direktor ang pagkakataong ito upang siguraduhing masisiyahan ang mga tagasubaybay ng dalawang ito kapag napanood ang pelikula. Yun nga lang, parang natuon ang direksyon sa paghahatid ng sikat na tambalan kaysa padaluyin ng maayos ang kwento pati mga kuha ng camera. Tama lamang ang inilapat na tunog lalo na sa eksena ng suspense at mga ilaw bagamat mas maraming madilim na kuha kahit na umaga ang eksena. Halos di naman napansin ang inilapat na musika at kung nakatulong ito.  Sa kabuuan ay maganda ang teknikal na aspeto ng pelikula.

Tinalakay sa pelikula ang iba’t ibang pamahiin kapag may namatay, katulad ng mga bawal gawin habang nakaburol ang patay at ang tinatawag na “pagpag” na siyang pamagat ng pelikula na ang ibig sabihin ay “magpagpag” ng sarili pagkagaling sa burol at huwag dumiretso sa sariling bahay para di umano sundan at gambalain ng kaluluwa ng dinalaw na patay.  Bagamat tradisyon ito at bahagi ng kultura at paniniwala ng maraming Pilipino, ang Simbahan ay hindi naniniwala dito. Hindi nakasalalay sa mga kaganapan sa burol ng isang sumakabilang buhay sa pamilya ang mga susunod na insidente ng pagkamatay. Unang una, lahat naman ng tao ay hahantong dito at walang makakaligtas kapag takdang oras na ng isang tao. Taliwas ito sa pinakita ng pelikula na kapag di sumunod sa pamahiin  ay talagang mumultuhin at mamamatay. Isa pang nakababahala sa pelikulang Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay ay pakikipagkasundo sa dimonyo upang maibalik ang buhay. Batid ng lahat na sa Diyos galing ang buhay at tanging Siya lamang ang nagkakaloob at bumabawi nito kaya ang tuluyang pag-uugnay ng mga pagbali sa pamahiin at sa pakikipagkasundo sa dimonyo sa mga sunod-sunod na malagim na kamatayan ng mga inosenteng tao hanggang sa pagwawakas nito ay hayagang pagtaliwas sa itinuturo ng Simbahan at sa malawakang aspeto ng praktikalidad sa buhay.  Dahil na din sa natamong edukasyon at makabagong panahon ay marami na ang naliliwanagan tungkol sa tamang pagtingin sa mga pamahiin kaya huwag sana masilaw sa hatid na kilig ng sikat na tambalan at thrills ng mga eksenang suspense upang bumalik sa kamalian ng sinaunang panahon. Binigyan ng MTRCB ng PG Rating ang pelikula, pero naniniwala ang CINEMA na nangangailangan ng hinog na pag-iisip ang manonood nito.