Moana

Direction: Ron Clements, John Musker;  Cast: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk; Story and Screenplay: Ron Clements, John Musker, Chris Williams, Don Hall, et al; Editing: Jeff Draheim; Music: Mark Mancina, Lin-Maneul Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i; Producer: Osnat Shurer; Genre: Animation; Location: Polynesian Islands; Distributor: Walt Disney Studios a107 minutes;

Technical Assessment  : 3

Moral Assessment: 4

CINEMA Rating: VA

MTRCB rating:  GP

Maui (Johnson) is a shape shifting demigod who wants to win favors with humanity. But his latest attempt to steal the heart of Te Fiti, the island goddess, destroys life and awakens Te Ka, the lava demon.  Te Ka attacks Maui and causes the heart of Te Fiti and his magical fishhook to sink into oblivion and him to be cast away in an unknown island.  One thousand years after, Moana (Cravalho), the young daughter of the chief of Motunui, is chosen by the ocean to receive the heart and eventually return it to Te Fiti when the time comes. Moana grows up with a passionate desire to sail the vast ocean which her father, Tui (Morrison), always rejects. But when food becomes scarce and Moana discovers that her ancestors were really seafaring voyagers, she ventures to find Maui and return Te Fiti’s heart to save her people. Together, Maui and Moana bond and discover each other’s goodness and talents. But in a final twist, they learn how life is interwoven and why it should be loved and respected.

Moana is a visual feat. Both the animation and the artistry sit comfortably beside previous Disney master pieces. The textures are alive and dynamic you could almost feel water splash in your face. The storyline is another area of success with the rich dimensionality of the characters and the narrative. There is a deep wisdom in how the ocean is presented as a character itself.  In the truest sense, Moana is a family movie which appeals to the imagination of the young and the maturity of the adults.  However, its music and songs lacked appeal. We missed the indigenous feel of Polynesia both in the music and the rendition of the characters, particularly Maui’s. There are also forgivable lapses in the interpretation of the Polynesian mythology—particularly leaving out Maui’s goddess companion, Hina.  Overall, Moana delivers beyond what is expected of a Disney animation—entertainment and values.

There are several strong themes in Moana. One, selflessness and courage in pursuing one’s destiny.  Whether we are Christians or have other spiritual beliefs, we are always called to do things greater than ourselves. It is a gentle call that does not force but reminds that we are born to do things for a better world. Mother Nature is the loving life giver—the image of Te Fiti—but when abused, disrespected and mistreated, she becomes Te Ka—a vicious demon who takes away life.  This should lead us to retrospection—we are Mother Nature’s stewards, not her owners.  Three, beneath Maui’s brute self-centeredness is a desire to be one with humanity.  This is admirable until he goes too far and steals life itself.  While we understand our need to belong and to be accepted, this need can never supersede what is right and moral, nor make us escape the consequences of wrongdoing. There is an occasional crude humor in the movie but overall, this is a wholesome entertainment for the entire family.

Working Beks

DIRECTOR: Chris Martinez  LEAD CAST: TJ Trinidad, John Lapus, Edgar Allan Guzman, Joey Paras, Prince Stefan  SCREENWRITER: Chris Martinez  PRODUCER: Vincent del Rosario III, Veronique del Rosario-Corpus  EDITOR: Vanessa de Leon  MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Jesse Lucas  GENRE: Comedy  CINEMATOGRAPHER: Gary Gardoce  DISTRIBUTOR: Viva Films  LOCATION: Metro Manila  RUNNING TIME: 112 minutes

Technical assessment: 2.5

Moral assessment: 2

MTRCB rating: R13

CINEMA rating: V18

Ang Working Beks ay pagsasalarawan ng buhay ng limang lalaki na iba-iba ang pagka-bakla. Kilalang aktor si Champ Reyno (Edgar Allan Guzman) na nasangkot sa iskandalo nang maging viral ang sex-video niya na kasama ang isang lalaki. Bigla siyang nawala sa sirkulasyon at naging usap-usapan kung maglaladlad na ba siya ng kapa o sila na ba ng kanyang ka-loveteam na si Joy (Bela Padilla).  Masipag, madiskarte at matiisin ang transvestite na si Gregorio, a.k.a. Gorgeous (John Lapus). Malakas ang kita ng kanyang maliit na turu-turo na siyang sumusustento sa kanyang napakalaking pamilya, pero parang walang nagbibigay ng importansiya sa kanya. Corporate executive naman si Tommy (TJ Trinidad) na nilampasan ng promotion dahil sa hayagan niyang ipinakita ang kanyang pagka-bakla: kilala ng mga ka-opisina niya ang kanyang partner na si Jeric Raval at ang kanilang dalawang 'adopted daughters.'  Call center agent naman si Jet (Prince Stefan) na takot na takot na baka may HIV din siya dahil nabalitaan niyang nagpakamatay ang isang dati niyang partner nang malaman nitong HIV positive siya. Ikakasal na si Mandy (Joey Paras) pero hanggang sa huling sandali ay atubili pa rin siyang lumagay sa tahimik dahil ramdam niya ang pagka-akit sa kapwa lalaki.
Gaya ng pelikulang Working Girls ni Ishmael Bernal na sumalamin sa buhay ng mga babaeng nagtatrabaho noong dekada 80, ipinapakita naman ng Working Beks ang buhay ng mga "beki," shortcut ng “bekimon” na ibig sabihin ay binabae o bakla, sa ating panahon. Tulad ng karaniwang tao, ang mga beki ay mayroong kani-kaniyang mga pagsubok, problema at mga karanasan sa trabaho na hindi nabibigyan ng pansin. Ito ang sinikap bigyang-buhay ng mga bidang nagsiganap sa pelikula. Simple lang ang kanilang dialogue, maayos at hindi OA ang mga costume. Kapani-paniwala si EA Guzman bilang Champ at mahusay ang paglalarawan nila ni Bela Padilla sa mundo ng showbiz.  Pino at “understated” naman si TJ Trinidad bilang Tommy. Subalit kahit na natural at may galing sa pag-arte ang mga bida, hindi nabigyan ng sapat na pagbuo ang kani-kanilang mga karakter.  Sapat naman ang panahon para ipakilala ang bawat isa, kaya lang ay imbes na ipakita ang pagkatao nila upang madama at makiisa ang manonood sa kanilang pinagdadaanan, nauwi lahat sa katatawanan. Maraming eksena na paulit-ulit, mabagal, at sablay ang punchline. Hindi rin naging maayos ang pagkakatagni-tagni ng mga kwento kayat hilaw ang katapusan nito.

Maganda ang layunin ni Chris Martinez na isalarawan ang buhay ng mga bakla. Mahusay rin na naipakitang nagtatrabaho sila sa corporate world, sa pagtitinda ng pagkain, sa call centers, at sa showbiz at ng isang gustong magpakasal sa babae. Hindi maikakaila ang kontribusyon ng mga bakla sa pamilya at sa lipunan. Karaniwan silang nakakaranas ng discrimination at kinukutya, o kaya’y binabalewala. Dagdag pa sa kakulangan sa pag-unawa at pagtanggap sa kanilang buong pagkatao ay ang panganib ng HIV/AIDS na pawang isinalarawan sa pelikula. Malalim at napapanahon ang mga temang ito na maaring pagsimulan ng talakayan tungkol sa homosexualityat wastong pagpapahalaga sa mga bakla, kaya nakapanghihinayang na sa tangkang gawing magaan o komedya ang pelikula, hindi ito nabalanse ng direktor at naging katawa-tawa (ridiculous) tuloy ito. 

Tinatanggap ng Simbahan ang lahat ng kanyang mga anak, ano man ang sexual orientation ng mga nito.  Ngunit may mga bagay na dapat linawin sa mga binibigyang-katwiran ng pelikula. Nang magpa-HIV test si Jet, inulit ng nurse na “hindi kasalanan ang magkaroon ng HIV. Sakit ito, hindi kasalanan.” Siguro kung nahawa ka lang sa asawa mo, gaya ng nurse, o dahil sa isang medical procedure, hindi mo nga kasalanan. Pero sa kaso ni Jet na may maraming gay sexual partners, ibang usapan na yon.  Binibigyang-daan ng CINEMA ang tinig ng Simbahang Katolika ukol sa mga bagay na ito, at sinisikap na imulat ang mga mata ng manonood na sakit nga ang HIV, ngunit huwag nating kalimutang ang gawaing pinagmulan nito ay kasalanan pagkat ito’y taliwas sa batas ng kalikasan.  Pinaninindigan ng Simbahan na ang pagtatalik ay ang paraan ng kalikasan upang ipagpatuloy ang lahi, kaya’t ito’y nararapat lamang na mamagitan sa isang lalaki at isang babae, bagay na pagmumulan ng supling.  Maganda na sana na nagising si Jet sa kanyang pagkakamali, pero pati ito ay ginawang katatawanan. Ipiniprisinta din ng pekikula na normal na magsama ang dalawang lalaki bilang mag-asawa at umampon ng mga bata bilang mga anak. Sinasabi sa Banal na Kasulatan, “Ginawa ng Diyos ang tao—babae at lalaki... Iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama at ina. Magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa at sila’y magiging isa.” Dahil sa mga paksang ito at ilang maseselang eksena, binibigyang ng CBCP-CINEMA ng V18 rating ang Working Beks.

Allied

DIRECTOR: ROBERT ZEMECKIS  LEAD CAST: BRAD PITT, MARION COTILLARD, JARED HARRIS, SIMON MCBURNEY  SCREENWRITER: STEVEN KNIGHT  PRODUCER:  GRAHAM KING, STEVE STARKEY, ROBERT ZEMECKIS  EDITOR:  MICK AUDSLEY, JEREMIAH O’DRISCOLL  MUSICAL DIRECTOR:  ALAN SILVESTRI  GENRE: ACTION DRAMA, HISTORICAL  CINEMATOGRAPHER:  DON BURGESS  DISTRIBUTOR: PARAMOUNT PICTURES  LOCATION:  UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES  LANGUAGE: ENGLISH  RUNNING TIME: 124 MINUTES

Technical assessment: 3.5

Moral assessment: 2

Cinema rating: A18

MTRCB rating: R16

Set in 1942, Canadian Wing Commander Max (Brad Pitt) makes his way into Casablanca, where he meets up with French Resistance fighter Marianne (Marion Cotillard). The two pose and must pass as husband and wife so they can work their way through the German-controlled city’s high society—angling for invitations to an exclusive party where their target, a German Ambassador, will be in attendance so they can accomplish their mission of assassinating him.  Although the emotions aren’t supposed to be real, time spent in close proximity under the pressures of their mission made them fall in love. After their successful mission Max invites Marianne to London where they will be married and live a peaceful life—or will it be? Would they be an exception to the rule that marriages made in the field (of war) never work?

Allied is an elegant elaboration of another side of war, espionage and love. Aside from the obviously powerhouse lead actors, the entire production design is a showcase of prestige thereby creating a flamboyant spectacle from an otherwise little story of two people in love set in the most cynical time and space—and consequence. The build-up of suspense and excitement is sustained up to the end which makes the film an entertaining piece. Yet, looking closely on the narrative, there seems to be a number of logical flaws and lapses. There seem to be abrupt changes on the story thread that somehow reflect as compartmentalization of the three acts. Although the first two acts are connected, they are quite disjointed in terms of narrative and emotional flow. But then again, in its entirety, Allied is an achievement for a time film given the challenges of the production – bringing back to life on the big screen, scenes of the wartime past with such elegance, intensity and grandeur.

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There is no question that Allied, although tastefully done, is visually morally disturbing. There are many scenes depicting vivid violence which, although done in the context of war, can still leave a lasting traumatic impression on a young audience. The scenes depicting pre-marital and marital sex are also graphic in nature. The theme itself calls for maturity and is not suitable to audiences below 18 years old. The moral dilemma of the main character in choosing between love of country and love for family perfectly fits the milieu. Is it moral to choose between two great and noble loves? Or perhaps, it is also right to ponder the foundations of each kind of love. Their love of country has made them savages—choosing death over life, killing or being killed; while their love of family has made them choose life at all times. However, in time of war, life and love are always uncertain, and love of country seems to be blind to truth and justice. The path that Max chose in the end may be moral and acceptable, but the road he and Marianne took and the decisions they made are all entirely disturbing.  Is it because war blurs everything?  Once it’s over, truth, justice and ultimately, life, and love prevail.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

DIRECTOR:  David Yates  LEAD CAST: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Carmen Ejogo, Colin Farrell  SCREENWRITER: J. K. Rowling, based on her book, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”  PRODUCERS: David Heyman, J. K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram  FILM EDITOR: Mark Day  GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure, Family  CINEMATOGRAPHY: Philippe Rousselot  MUSIC BY: James Newton Howard  PRODUCTON COMPANY: Heyday Films  DISTRIBUTED BY: Warner Bros. Pictures  COUNTRIES: U. K., U. S. A.  LANGUAGE: English  RUNNING TIME: 2 hours & 13 minutes

Technical assessment: 3.5

Moral assessment: 3

CINEMA rating:  V13

Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), an alumnus of Harry's alma mater, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who specializes in studying and preserving outlandish fauna.  The  British wizard arrives in Ellis Island carrying a leather briefcase that has seen better days.  An unsmiling customs officer inspects it for prohibited items but seeing only a neat pile of personal effects says to the harmless looking passenger, “Welcome to New York”, without a smile to match.  Little does he know that he has just welcomed mayhem into the city for the battered briefcase is actually a portal to an alternate reality where the fantastic beasts reside.  An unfortunate accident causes some of the odd critters to escape from Newt’s portable zoo.  With a clueless stranger he meets at the port, Jacob (Dan Fogler), becoming his sidekick by accident, Newt sets out to retrieve his magical creatures gone loose, with the help of a witch working for the American Magical Congress, Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), and her femme fatale sister Queenie (Alison Sudol).

Penned and written for the screen by J. K. Rowling of the Harry Potter fame, Fantastic Beasts takes the viewer to a world no less fascinating than Harry Potter’s, although its target audience is the same fan base that patronized Harry Potter.  Considering the treasure trove that the Harry Potter franchise has turned out to be, it’s understandable why Rowling and company would want to court this now-older audience, using pre-depression New York as a fresh setting.  Fantastic Beasts is a light story that’s unhampered by a convoluted narrative, the better to focus the spotlight on the literally fantastic animal species never before created by CGI masters.  Costumes and sets are meticulously done.

The most enjoyable part of the movie for the young at heart, in fact, have to do with being acquainted with the CGI creatures of the title, which include a possum look-alike with an insatiable appetite for anything shiny, a rhino-elephant cross that’s raring to mate, a monstrous eagle-headed, dragon-tailed bird with three pairs of wings, and serpentine blue dragon nestlings.  Catchy for adults, too, is the fuss-free dinner where dishes and napkins fly to their places, and a perfect strudel is instantly created simply by waving a wand.  Young children should be guided, though, in discerning between reality and alternate reality as presented in movies of this genre, lest their impressionable minds begin to expect a world run by witchcraft and wizardry.  They should be taught firmly that battles between good and evil are not fought with magic wands and spells.  Do take these movies as an occasion to remind young ones of fundamental Christian values, as tirelessly taught by a dynamic Church.

The Unmarried Wife

Direction: Maryo J. delos Reyes Cast: Angelica Panganiban, Dingdong Dantes, Paolo Avelino Story and Screenplay: Keiko Aquino Genre: Drama; Location: Metro Manila Distributor: Star Cinema; Running Time: 103 minutes

Technical assessment: 3

Moral assessment: 2.5

CINEMA rating: V16

Pagkatapos ng mala-pantasyang pagkakakilala, ligawan at kasal nina Ann (Panganiban) at Geoff (Dantes), tila wala nang katapusan ang kilig at saya ng kanilang pagsasama. Hanggang magkaroon ng problema si Geoff sa trabaho at nagkataon namang abala si Ann dahil kaka-promote naman niya. Dahil tila walang mapagsabihan ng sama ng loob ay natukso si Geoff sa ka-opisinang handang maglaan ng sandalan para sa lalake. Habang lumalaon ay mararamdaman ni Ann ang pagtabang ng kanilang pagsasama at susubukang sorpresahin ang asawa para makabawi. Pero siya ang masosorpresa pagkat mahuhuli niya sa akto ang pagtataksil ng kabiyak. Magiging lamat ito sa kanilang relasyon. Mahihirapang magpatawad si Ann samantalang hindi makakapagtiyagang manuyo si Geoff at muli itong magtataksil. Magiging daan ito upang tuluyang sumuko si Ann at mabaling ang atensyon sa ibang lalake. Lalong magiging masalimuot ang sitwasyon para sa dalawa na susubok sa tatag ng pagmamahal at pagtataya bilang mag-asawa.

Bilang isang melodrama, angat ang The Unmarried Wife sa karaniwan dahil maganda ang pagkakatahi ng mga eksena, mahusay ang mga gumanap at may kiliti at kagat ang palitan ng salita. Hindi bago ang tema at hindi rin kakaiba ang atake pero nabigyang hustisya naman ito ng malinis na produksyon. Kaya nga lamang, hindi ito ang tipo ng pelikula na ipaglalaban mo at pag-aaksayahan ng oras para lamang mapanuod. Magaling si Panganiban pero ang kanyang atake sa karakter ay nakita na sa mga naunang pelikula niya kung saan isa siyang api o nilokong asawa. Kapos ang pagganap ni Dantes samantalang mala-tuod naman ang atake ni Avelino. Ang malaking kakulangan ay galing sa malabnaw o sadyang di pantay na pagkakahubog ng mga tauhan. Halatang kiling kay Panganiban ang pagkakasulat ng kwento pero masyado namang nahuli ang pagbigay ng maayos na motibasyon sa mga lalake. Mabababaw at makikitid ang utak ng mga bidang lalake na ginagawang dahilan ang sandali ng kalungkutan o pagkabigo para talikuran ang kasal—at pagkatapos ay sa isang “sorry” lamang ay aasahang maayos na ang lahat. Nagkaroon na mainit na pagtatalo ang mga ina nina Ann at Geoff para bigyan ng pagbubuod ang pananaw sa asawang babae—na “de-kahon” ayon sa mata ng tradisyunal na lipunan.

May magandang mensahe para sa mga mag-asawa ang kwento. Una, ang panandaliang ligaya sa ibang kandungan ay kumplikado, masakit, at nakaaapekto hindi lamang sa mag-asawa kundi sa buong pamilya at mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila.  Lahat ng mag-asawa ay nagkakagalit, nagkakabagutan, nagkakaroon ng kumpitensya, at minsan, nagdedesisyong maghiwalay. Pero ang lahat ng ito ay nalalagpasan kung ang layunin ng magkabilang panig ay buuin ang pamilya at patatagin ang pagsasama. Ibig sabihin, sa mga pagkakataong nagkakaroon ng problema, hindi na mahalaga kung sino ang mas tama kungdi kung sino ang mas nagmamahal. At ito ang ikalawang punto—na ang pinakapundasyon ng matatag na relasyon ay ang tapat at mapagmahal na komunikasyon. Sabi nga ni Geoff, kung nag-usap lang sila nuong simula pa hindi sana sila umabot sa hiwalayan ang kanilang kasal. Sa kabilang dako, matalino ang pagpili ni Ann na ayusin muna ang sarili kaysa sa makipagbalikan na lamang kaagad sa asawa. Kahit papaano naman ay nagkaroon ng hustisya para sa mga kababaihan na hindi dapat magpabulag sa paglalambing ng lalake na para bang eto na lamang ang tanging dahilan upang sila’y mabuhay.