X-men: First Class

Lead cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, Oliver Platt, Álex González, Jason Flemyng, Zoë Kravitz, January Jones, Nicholas Hoult, Caleb Landry Jones, Edi Gathegi, Lucas Till, Demetri Goritsas, Glenn Morshower, Matt Craven, James Remar, Rade Serbedzija, Ray Wise, Michael Ironside, Bill Milner, Morgan Lily, Laurence Belcher, Hugh Jackman. Director: Matthew Vaughn. Screenplay: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn, based on a story by Sheldon Turner, Bryan Singer. Cinematography: John Mathieson. Music: Henry Jackman. Distributor: 20th Century Fox. Running Time: 132 minutes.

Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: V-14 (Viewers 14 years old and above)

1944, in a concentration camp established by the Nazis on occupied Polish soil, Erik Lensherr, a boy with metal bending ability witnesses the murder of his mother. Nearly two decades later the boy is to become Magneto (Michael Fassbender), and to team up with professor and CIA advisor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) who is to be known as Professor X. Agent Moira Mac Taggert (Rose Byrne) gives them the task of assembling a collection of mutants to halt the machinations of an ex-Nazi madman, Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) and his superhuman cohorts. A clash of ideals develops between Charles and Erik: Charles believes peace for men and mutants would be attained once the evil Shaw is done away with; Erik believes in the inevitability of violence and a global war. Erik’s motive for joining the war against Shaw is personal: it was Shaw who killed his mother.


X-Men: First Class is an origin story that charts the epic beginning of the X-man saga—what the mutants were before they became superheroes. It can be uplifting to watch superheroes battling with megalomaniacs out to destroy the planet, and it could be pure entertainment seeing the young mutants gather and display their hidden powers to one another, like kindergarteners at a show-and-tell assignment. However, it is rather ambitious of X-men: First Class to interweave real-life history (Nazi in World War II, Cuba showdown in early 60s, etc.) and Marvel comics super-action since the result presents too many elements that only serve to compete against one another for audience focus. The actors embody the characters well enough, although again, perhaps the story could have been more pointed and cohesive with fewer mutants showing off their powers. For example, the character sprouting dragonfly wings is cute to watch but has doubtful essential value in the plot. Same with the guy with oversized feet. As it is, the movie is almost a supermarket of superpowers which distracts the viewer from the real message of the story which is actually meaty.

One lesson worth remembering amidst all that jaw-dropping, eye-popping CGI effects is the need for controlling one’s anger. Whether you’re a man or a mutant, it’s never cool to be controlled by one’s anger. For that and the abovementioned technical superiority as far as effects are concerned, it is certainly worth seeing X-men: First Class.

Paul

CAST: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kristen Wigg, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch, Jason Bateman, Seth Rogen, Sigourney Weaver; DIRECTOR: Greg Mottola; WRITERS: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost; GENRE: Comedy; RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes.

Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 2
CINEMA Rating:  For mature viewers 18 years and above.

Make no mistake about it: Paul  is no harmless cartoon for kids.  The language alone can make the proverbial sailor blush, as the alien Paul tells a character, “Cursing is fun; you just have to pick your moments!”  The word “f - - k” is used 50 times, “s - - t” 40 times, and so many other terms you would never want to hear coming out of your children’s mouth.   On top of that the alien Paul smokes marijuana and spurs others to do the same; he’s a beer guzzle and a reckless driver; pushes others to steal to satisfy his whim, pokes fun at Bible-toting Christians, and has a yen for making obscene gestures.   CINEMA came across a crisp and incisive critique of the movie by Plugged In Online which we respectfully excerpt and pass on to our readers.     

“Paul tells us that advanced civilizations have outgrown the concept of God—at least a Christian God. But here's what I find most interesting about its point of view: In attempting to strip away one religion, we've been given another.

“The popularity of aliens and UFOs in pop culture has been attributed, by some, to folks trying to replace traditional faith with a more scientific form of religion, complete with rewards (knowledge), punishments (probes!) and awe-struck wonder. Consider Paul—his characteristics, not his character: He's a being from another place, a creature filled with unimaginable knowledge and incredible power. He heals the sick, he raises the dead, he helps the blind to see. He holds (the film suggests) the promise of a better world—one full of peace and love and community, free from strife and sin.

“And yet Paul does not appear to everyone. Indeed, he reveals himself only to a select few … disciples. And those to whom he shows himself are often mocked, even persecuted sometimes.

“We meet a woman to whom Paul revealed himself 60 years prior. Now old, she's angry with Paul at first, telling him how the neighbor kids would make fun of her, throw rocks at her window. They would not believe her and her "alien" stories, and in time she had perhaps begun to doubt her own memories. But then she softens. Seeing Paul now, face-to-face, everything's fine again. Her faith—following an unseen, unfelt visitor—is validated.

“If you haven't connected the dots yet, what I'm getting at is Paul's status as a deity. But what a slovenly deity he is: Little more than a "greater" being who, when he gives his friends the sum of all his knowledge, doesn't change them a whit; an advanced entity less concerned with mankind's betterment than with the pot he's carrying and the partying he's planning.”

If you’re looking for laughs plus, there’s Kung Fu Panda; for adventure, there’s Pirates of the Carribean:  Stranger Tides. 

Kung Fu Panda 2

CAST: Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Gary Oldman, David Cross, Jackie Chan, Jack Black, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dustin Hoffman, Lucy Liu, Michelle Yeoh; DIRECTOR: Jennifer Yuh; WRITERS: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger; GENRE: Animation, Action/Adventure; RUNNING TIME: 91 minutes.

Technical Assessment: 4
Moral Assessment: 4
CINEMA Rating: For viewers of all ages.

An excellent movie highlighting the courage, team work and familial love.  Po's new life of awesomeness with the Furious Five is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, the peacock Shen, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China. Po also learns he is adopted by Mr. Ping the duck, causing him some degree of depression.  He then feels a grating desire to look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origin.  Only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed in straightening out the rebellious peacock.  The animation is elegant, the humor is wholesome, the message worth remembering by young and old alike.  If your children wish to see one last movie before school days come around again, make it Kung Fu Panda 2!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

CAST: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Sam Claflin, Geoffrey Rush; DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall; WRITERS: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio; GENRE: Action/Adventure, Comedy; RUNNING TIME: 137 min.

Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and above.

Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica, Captain Jack Sparrow is not sure if it's love or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth.  When she forces him aboard the "Queen Anne's Revenge," the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.  Pirates... Stranger Tides is superb entertainment but more than entertainment it stimulates the imagination by the introduction of mythical mermaids to the story.  The beautiful creatures actually steal the thunder from Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp.  The attack by the nubile, innocent looking but menacing mermaids is a masterpiece at CGI, with the human fish bobbing in and out of the gigantic waves, capturing the muscular pirates and dragging them down into the ocean's depths are really something new to watch.  Scary--if mermaids were real you wouldn't want to ever touch the sea again.

Dylan Dog

CAST: Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington, Anita Briem, Peter Stormare, Taye Diggs, Brian Steele, Kurt Angle, Marco St. John,Courtney Shay Young, Gabrielle Chapin; DIRECTOR: Kevin Munroe; WRITERS: Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer; GENRE: Horror, Suspense/Thriller; RUNNING TIME: 107 min.

Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 1.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 18 and above.

The paranormal investigation job of Dylan Dog (Brandon Routh) takes a back seat after the death of his girlfriend at the hands of a vampire clan. He does not accept related cases like the mysterious death of a rich importer which appears to be murdered by a warewolf. However, when his friend Marcus Adams (Sam Huntington) becomes the next victim, Dylan does not have second thought of going back to the business of penetrating the world of vampires, warewolf, and zombies. The mysterious people behind these creatures turn out to be Dylan's friends with whom he maintains relationships for old time sake. In the course of his investigation for the case of the rich importer whose daughter becomes his close allies together with his dead friend Marcus who is now a zombie, he discovers that the key to stopping the deadly creatures is an artifact burried with one of the vampire in the crypt. Dylan got this artifact sooner, but of course, his "friends" would not like it and they want to make sure they have the artifact in their possesions.

The film Dylan Dog: Dead of Night is a combined comedy and suspense thriller. Whilst there is a central character, it does not help to put subplots together to establish a strongly-focused story. The role of Elizabeth which is like a wall flower has no impact at all despite the surprising revelation of her connection to the villains at the end of the film. The antagonists are not as remarkable so viewers could hardly hate them. Nevertheless, Dylan Dog: Dead of Night as an italian comic adaption is entertaining, primarily as an effect of the tandem of Dylan and Marcus. The humor brought by the character of Marcus is effectively carried by Huntington. Routh, on the other hand, hardly acts on this film like an eternal good looking zombie. He survived all the fights and hard beats of the beasts yet preserves the good looks as if nothing touches his face. The gory scenes of dead corpses and worms are not necessarily in bad taste but the director has the tendency to prolong and overdo. The make-up and overall production design are fine but there are more to desire with regards to lighting and compositions. The special effects are a bit of a hard sell too. Overall, the film falls average in the technical aspect.

The film shows how friendship is valued and that a friend is willing to sacrifice in order to seek justice for a lost friend and be motivated to take on bigger responsibility of ensuring victory of good over evil. However, if Filipino myths has manananggals, kapre, tyanaks, the European culture has vampires, zombies and human warewolves. This European supernatural forms is the context of the film Dylan Dog: Dead of Night and it shows that they do exist and live among the living like normal people. The film naturalizes zombies culture. It shows dead corpses and body parts as commodities which is contrary to the respect that Filipinos give to bodies of departed love ones.

The King's Speech

CAST: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, Jennifer Ehle, Derek Jacobi, Max Callum, James Currie; DIRECTOR: Tom Hooper; WRITER: David Seidler; GENRE: Drama; RUNNING TIME: 111 minutes.

Technical Assessment: 4
Moral Assessment: 4
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 with parental guidance.

In 1925, Prince Albert (Colin Firth) and wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) are quite content with living their lives away from the public eye. Bertie (Albert), who smokes heavily and stammers, has a speech therapist whose method of making him speak with marbles in his mouth so frustrates the former that he gives up sessions with him. Under cover of anonymity, Elizabeth then arranges for another therapist, a rather unorthodox one by the name of Lionel Logue, a failed Australian actor (Geoffrey Rush) who insists on dealing with his patients as friends as part of his therapy. This friendship, at first uneasy, is to deepen in time, especially when his elder brother and King of England, Edward, abdicates the throne to marry an American divorcee—making Albert step up as King George VI. Being a monarch then means speaking through a microphone as the entire British Empire is listening, a nightmare to a seemingly incurable stammerer. How would Bertie face public humiliation on account of his glaring speech deficiency?

We understand how The King’s Speech won so many awards including Oscars for the film, the director Tom Hooper, actors Firth, Rush and Carter, etc. It is a historical drama that satisfies the audience’s craving for drama while respecting accuracy in the retelling of history. There couldn’t have been a more perfect cast for such a period piece. The actors virtually crawl into the skins of their characters and revive the excellent synergy among their real life counterparts that actually worked to help gain for a stuttering prince the courage to overcome himself and to eventually give hope to a nation at war. Particularly impactful is the scene where Bertie approaches the microphone, glumly as though being led to the guillotine, to deliver a speech to unite the nation. Firth’s and Rush’s acting, the content of the speech itself, footage of the anxious population, and the majesty of the background music all combined to make these perhaps the most memorable 3 minutes in the whole film. Prepare for goosebumps.

The King’s Speech is a story without a villain—rare, it seems, for cinema these days when villains actually outnumber heroes. It throws the spotlight on royalty but says nothing about royalty’s flamboyance or extravagance. It even sidesteps the over-romanticized newsmaker of the day then, King Edward’s renouncement of the throne “to marry the woman I love”, twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. Director Tom Hooper must have thought there were better things and better people to make a movie about than the infatuation of a wimp for a woman who felt she was all worth the attention and the scandal. Hooper is right. The King’s Speech is a rich and deeply human story that highlights the characters’ sympathy and support for one another, positive attitudes in the face of limiting circumstances. The friendship that deepens between the stammering king-to-be and his persevering therapist, together with the unstinting support of the loving of queen-to-be, effect a transformation in the monarch that will surely inspire audiences of all ages.

In The Name of Love

CAST: Aga Mulach, Angel Locsin, Jake Cuenca; DIRECTOR: Olivia Lamasan; SCREENWRITERS: Enrico Santos, Olivia Lamasan; PRODUCERS: Charo Santos-Concio, Maricel Samson-Maritinez; GENRE: Drama; DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema; LOCATION: Philippines; RUNNING TIME: 120 minutes

Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 18 and above.

Pitong buwan na si Emman (Aga Mulach) na nakakabalik sa Pilipinas matapos ang 7 taong pagkakakulong sa Japan dahil sa pagtatangkang magtakas ng pera para sa mga Yakuza. Mula sa pagiging mananayaw ay kuntento na sana siyang tumulong na lamang sa pagtitinda sa palengke hanggang malaman niyang naghahanap ng mga Dance Instructor (DI) para sa mga asawa ng pamilya ng gobernador. Dahil minsang nailigtas niya si Dylan (Jake Cuenca), ang anak ng gobernador na ngayo’y tatakbo bilang pangalawang alkalde, siya ang kukuning tagapagturo para sa kanya at ang kanyang kasintahang si Cedes (Angel Locsin). Mapapalapit ang loob ni Dylan kay Emman at mapipilitang si Cedes na tanggapin na ang binate bilang DI nila para sa darating na Governor’s Ball. Lingid sa kaalaman ni Dylan, dating magkasintahan sina Cedes at Emman sa Japan na nagkahiwalay lamang dahil sa pagkakahuli ng binate nuong itatakas niya ang pera para sa mga Yakuza. Sa una ang may galit si Emman kay Cedes dahil bigla na lamang itong nawala nang mabilanggo siya. Subalit nang malaman niya ang pagsusumikap at mga sakripisyo ni Cedes, kabilang ang pagpayag na makarelasyon si Dylan, para lamang makalaya siya ay muling mabubuo ang kanilang relasyon. Magtatangka silang takasan ang katiwalian ng pamilya ni Dylan subalit kailangan muna nilang lagpasan ang pagsubok na ibabato sa kanila ng tiwaling pamilyang ito.

May potensyal sana ang simula ng pelikula, lalo ang di-linyadong pagsasalaysay at pagpapakilala sa kwento ng bawat tauhan. Ang nakakatuwa ang “love story” nina Emman at Cedes sa Japan ay siya naman sanang nakalulungkot na pagtatagpo nilang muli sa Pilipinas. Isa pang kahanga-hanga ay ang paggamit ng mga makabagong “post production techniques” na kitang-kita sa mga pagbabalik-tanaw na eksena sa Japan at sa “opening credits’ ng pelikula. Hindi na tulad ng dati na biglang magiging mala-sepia ang kulay para lamang ipakita ang nakaraan. Mahusay din ang disenyong pamproduksyon dahil nabigyan tuon ang mga maliliit na detalye mula ayos ng bahay at pananamit ng tauhan para lalong maging buo at malinaw ang kwento. Dahil hindi naman masyadong mabigat ang hiningi sa mga actor ay pasado naman ang kanilang mga pagganap na ginawa. Pasado pero hindi pang-Famas. Dalawa ang pinakamalaking pintas sa pelikula. Una, hindi makatotohanang na mananayaw si Aga. Hindi naman dahil hindi siya marunong sumayaw kundi dahil nakikita sa kanyang postura at linya na hindi siya isang “ballroom dancer” at may kabigatan na ang kanyang kilos bilang “hiphop” dancer. Kahit si Angel Locsin ay kulang din ang istilo at disiplina sa pagdadala ng sayaw. Kaya’t halos puro malapitang kuha at pagpitik lamang ng lee gang kanilang ginagawa. Mas maganda sana kung kumuha ng mga “double” upang ang mga eksena ng sayaw ay mas maganda at makatotohanan. Ikalawa, masyadong madrama ang pelikula. Sakit na ata ng Pinoy ang pahabain ang iayakan at ibabad ang luha. Nakuha mo na sa unang 3 segundo, pagtatagalin pa ito ng ilang minuto. Baka mas nababagay ang ganitong istilo sa telebisyon kung saan kailangan pahabain ang eksena.

Pinupunto ng pelikula na ang tunay na pag-ibig ay hindi sumusuko, handing mag-alay at mapagpatawad at handing magparayaw. Naipakita naman ito ni Cedes at Emman sa bawat pagsubok na kanilang nilagpasan alang-alang sa minamahal. May ilang mensahe nga lamang na dapat bigyan tuon ng mga magulang lalo sa mga kabataan anak na manunuod. Una, ang pakikipagtalik sa labas ng kasal ay para bang pangkariniwang gawain lamang. Mahalagang ipaalala na sa kultura natin ay pinahahalagahan pa rin ang sakramento ng kasal at ang pakikipagtalik bilang pribilehiyo lamang ng mag-asawa. Pangalawa, kahit sakripisyo at ginawa alang-alang sa kaligtasan ng iniibig, ang paggamit ng katawan para makakuha ng pabor ay hindi pa rin tama. Maraming karahasan dulot ng katiwalian at pagkagahaman ang ipinakita sa pelikula. Mainam na naipakitang may mga marangal na alagad ng batas na tapat sa tungkulin subalit nakalulungkot na lagi na lamang sa huling bahagi sila nakararating. Maayos naman ang pelikula para sa pamilya pero mas nababagy ito sa mga matatandang kaya nang timbangin ang mga sensitibong eksena.

Water for Elephants

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, James Frain, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook, Paul Schneider, Ken Foree, Tim Guinee, Mark Povinelli, Scott MacDonald
Director: Francis Lawrence
Writer: Sara Gruen, Richard LaGravenese
Running Time: 122 min.
Genre: Drama
Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Technical: 4
Moral: 2.5
CINEMA rating: R 14 (For audiences aged 14 and up)

In 1931, Jacob (Robert Pattinson) is a regular guy with dreams of having a happy family life as a veterinarian like his dad. About to take his final exams at Cornell University that would earn him his license as a veterinary doctor, he is dealt a blow by life when his parents die in a car accident. He discovers that they have left neither cash nor home for him since they had mortgaged their house in order to give him an Ivy League college education. The bank now owns everything. Distraught, Jacob decides to leave the house without looking back. He is determined to leave behind his house, his past and his dreams, although he does not know where to go and what to do. He just wants to get away, and so he hops a train, unaware it is the traveling Benzini Brothers circus. After a minor scuffle that almost gets him thrown off the train, Jacob is taken in to do odd jobs like shoveling the cars clean of animal manure to earn his keep. He is soon bewitched by Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), the circus star and wife of the travelling show’s mean big boss August (Christoph Waltz).

Directed by Francis Lawrence (I am Legend and Constantine) with screenplay written by Richard LaGravenese and based on a novel by Sarah Gruen, Water for Elephants is an extremely watchable film that has the power to take the viewer by hand to a world all its own. The sets, the costumes, even the smallest props are meticulously prepared and chosen to bring about a nostalgic feel to every frame, creating not only a charming but also an enchanting period movie.

Part of its appeal, particularly to the young at heart, is its circus environment. Who wouldn’t be entertained by animals dressed up and trained for tricks that delight young and old alike? And to see these intelligent animals off stage and interacting with humans—that’s certainly an experience few would pass up even if only in the movies. Any Filipino who has ever wondered how the local feria at town fiestas magically sprouts up in a few hours can find charming answers just watching how the Benzini circus hands put up their big top as if it’s almost a ritual.

Waltz is perfectly cast as the circus owner August, exhibiting the same strengths that made for his award-winning performance as Colonel Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds. With a face so mobile it can switch back and forth between charismatic and tyrannical in a split-second, Waltz’s villainous portrayal defies prediction—one never knows what he’ll do next, giving the movie its much needed tension.

Pattinson and Witherspoon are also the best choices for their roles—Pattinson out of his vampire mold combines intensity and gentleness, while Witherspoon deviates from happy roles to play a small town girl who endures her husband because the circus is “the only place (she) can be somebody.” Despite a few critics who claim the two actors lack chemistry, director Lawrence is correct in keeping the illicit passion between them on slow burn—otherwise the love angle would overwhelm the other elements that make the movie worth watching even by younger audiences.

Indeed, Water for Elephants is not a love story at all; it is more about kindness—the abundance or lack of it in people—and the dynamics of cruelty and poetic justice. It’s about the intelligence of beasts. That could be the reason behind this old-fashioned film’s endurance at the box office—at a time when movies bring to life fictitious superheroes through CGI, Water for Elephants has remained—now back to back with the lords of spectacular special effects Thor, The Priest, Fast and Furious 5—signaling a return to real people in real situations in real life.

Something Borrowed

CAST: Kate Hudson, Ginnfer Goodwin, John Krasinski, Colin Egglesfield, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams, Sarah Baldwin,Grace Capra, Shirley Dluginski, Jill Eikenberry; DIRECTOR: Luke Greenfield; WRITERS: Jennie Urman, Jordan Roberts; GENRE: Romance; RUNNING TIME: 103 minutes.

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 2
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 18 and above.

Dex (Colin Egglesfield) and Darcy (Kate Hudson) are getting ready for their wedding. Darcy’s best friend Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is to be maid of honor. But one night at a party, one drink too many leads Rachel to disclose to Dex that she had a big crush on him in law school. Little did she know that Dex also felt the same but had kept silent about it. Apparently each one thought the other was too good for him/her. The discovery of a secret long kept leads to a regrettable situation: they sleep together for a night, and since then lies and deception become the order of the day, compounded by the conflict between guilt and self-preservation. Unable to handle the situation any further, Rachel confides to friend Ethan (John Krasinski) who prods her on to do what makes her happy, but Rachel does not have the heart to hurt Darcy who has been her BFF since childhood.

Based on a novel by Emily Griffin, all Something Borrowed needs is to be dubbed in Pilipino for it to pass for a (mediocre) Filipino romantic comedy. It has self-centered wishy-washy lead characters who are supposedly smart but exhibit an IQ of 40 when it comes to managing their (love) lives: a pathetic and irritatingly loyal friend, a best friend with an ego the size of Antarctica, an extremely rich love interest who is so undecisive he ought to be in a Shakespearean play. About the only almost level headed character here is the guy who gives almost-sound advice but whose love will remain unrequited. There is really no one in this movie that you can root for. The story, in fairness, could be a hit as a local TV telenovela, given its length (too long at one hour and 53 minutes), its script (dragging), its acting (ho-hum!).

Up to a certain point, loyalty to a friend (as that which Rachel has for Darcy) is commendable. Genuine concern, too, for another human being (exhibited by Ethan) is good. But in Something Borrowed, these two things are merely used to advance a nonsensical story which unfortunately ends in a distorted “win-win” situation. After all that tug of war between right and wrong, between conscience and concupiscence, the movie concludes with this message: “It’s okay to cheat for love’s sake, others do it, too, anyway.”

The Priest

CAST: Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Lily Collins, Brad Dourif, Stephen Moyer, Christopher Plummer; DIRECTOR: Scott Stewart; WRITERS: Cory Goodman, Min-Woo Hyung; GENRE: SciFi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Horror; RUNNING TIME: 87 minutes

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and above.

After the Church’s victory on its war against Vampires through the Priests who possess supernatural abilities, the monsters are locked away and the Priests are now disbanded. Then years later, a lone warrior Priest ( Paul Bettany) receives a bad news that his brother has been killed by the vampires and his niece is abducted. Wanting to save his niece, he asks for the Church’s permission to pursue the vampires but they won’t allow him for fear that it would cause public panic. This leaves him without a choice but to break his sacred vows and pursue his quest to track down his niece and save her from becoming one of the vampires.

With its sloppy storyline and ridiculous points and turns, the plot of the Priest is pretty simple bordering on melodramatic than sci-fi. Which is not at all bad because the audience could easily follow through the play of emotions and motivations of the characters in the film given the spectacle of visuals and sounds. The production design is decent and the computer graphics appear to be believable. The fight scenes could be both engaging and distracting (perhaps those were done with the same purpose). Bettany delivers a promising performance and strong screen presence that goes also with the other casts although their characters seem underdeveloped.

The clergy as a peg for the world’s seat of power with the priests as warriors is an intriguing and interesting premise but could also be taken out of context given its portrayal and (mis)representations of the Catholic church rituals. Perhaps, the film is an attempt to emulate the Catholic church’s dark past through a futuristic sense that make everything seem confusing. However, the Church is not portrayed in the film as an evil force, perhaps only neglectful, if not ignorant, of its duties. Again, in the context of its dark history, the Catholic church has already admitted its mistakes and as any other institution, it is not perfect. The Priest also challenges “sacrifice” as the foundation of church believers. It is challenged, questioned and critiqued in the film. But towards the film’s end, it is still “sacrifice” that made all the sense in the story saying that it is the very essense of love not just for one’s self, but for the entire humanity. With sacrifice, the evil is defeated by the good.

Tumbok

CAST: Christine Reyes (Grace), Carlo Aguino (Carlo), Ryan Eigenmann; DIRECTOR: Topel Lee; PRODUCER:Viva Films; GENRE: Horror/Suspense; LOCATION: Philippines

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 1.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and above.

Ilang araw pa lamang sa lumang condominium unit ang mag-asawang Ronnie (Carlo Aquino) at Grace (Christine Reyes) ay marami ng kakaibang nararamdaman, nakikita at naririnig si Grace. Kinumpirma ng mag-inang kapit kwarto nila ang mga kakaibang kaganapan na nakasanayan na nila gayon din ang mga kamalasan sa buhay ng mga tumira sa condominium. Napag-alaman ni Grace na maliban sa kanila ng mag-ina ay mayroon pang mag-asawa at grupo ng mga estudyante na kasama nilang naninirahan sa condominium. Hanggang sa pagtulog ay dinadalaw si Grace ng kababalaghan. Napansin din niya na sunod-sunod na kamalasan din ang nangyayari sa kanila. Napaslang pa ang pinsan niya pagkatapos bumisita sa kanya at payuhan siya na lisanin nila ang condominium dahil sa napakalakas na negatibong enerhiyang bumabalot sa kabahayan. Sa kalaunan ay natuklasan ni Grace na ang pamilya ng asawa niyang si Ronnie ang isa sa mga naunang biktima ng kamalasan ng bahay. Samantala hindi naniniwala sa kababalaghan at malas si Ronnie. May praktikal ding dahilan ito na limitasyong pinansyal kaya mas mainam para sa kanya na manatili sa condo at hwag na lamang pansinin ni Grace ang mga inaakala niyang kababalaghan na naghahatid ng kamalasan sa buhay nila dahil sa pagtira nila sa condominium na nakatirik sa tumbok na tatlong sanga ng daan.

Masalimuot ang kwento ng pelikulang Tumbok. May kalabuan kung seryosong nais ipahatid ng pelikula ang paniniwala tungkol sa kamalasang hatid kapag nakatirik ang iyong tirahan sa tumbok ng daanan. Hindi malinaw kung mga ligallig na kaluluwa o espiritu ng demonyo ang mga namiminsala. Bigla na lang may mga taong nagbubuwis ng buhay para lang maipakita ang kamalasan. May kakahayahan na makapanghalay ang demonyo habang nasa anyong tao o kaya ay bilang espiritu sa realidad o panaginip. Sa layunin na makapanakot ay pinagalaw ang mga bagay kahit walang tao, bumubukas at sara ang mga pintuan, may mga lumilitaw na imahe ng batang babae at lalaki, at mga tunog ng iyak ng bata at paghiyaw ng babae. Establisado ang pagkakaroon ng temang may kaugnayan sa kadiliman ang pelikula. Ang lumang condominium ay tila di ana angkop tirahan dahil madumi at kawalan ng ayos. Hindi masyadong gumamit ng mga nakakatakot na imahe o make-up. Medyo palaisipan naman na sumabog ang kalan sa isang kuwarto at namatay lahat ng nasa loob pero ang kwarto lamang nila ang nasunog.. Wala namang dating ang pagganap ni Christine Reyes, walang naipakitang takot sa mga ekesanang hinihingi ito. Gayon din si Carlo Aquino kulang din ang ipinakitang damdamin sa pagganap bilang police photorgrapher at asawa ni Grace lalo na mayroon pala siyang nakaraan sa mahiwagang bahay.

Maliban sa mga pananalita ng kapitbahay nina Grace na dinadaan sa panalangin ang mga kababalaghan at kamalasan na nakasanayan na niya sa ilan taon ng paninirahan niya sa condominium ay wala nang iba pang mapupulot na aral sa pelikulang Tumbok. Maganda naman ang samahan ng mag-asawa. Pero nakakabahala na natapos ang pelikulang nagpapatotoo sa mga tinatawag na malas at swerte. Karumaldumal ang ilang eksena ng pagpaslang. Iilan lamang ang tauhan ng pelikula subalit walang naipakitang positibong image --- mag-asawang nagbubugan at humantong sa patayan, estudyanteng maiingay at walang galang, pulis opisyal na nagbabanta kapag nalaman ng publiko ang pangit na katotohanan sa serbisyo, at kasero na kampon ng demonyo at nanghahalay ng tumitirang babae sa paupahan, ina nais mamatay ang anak na iniluwal sa paniniwaang kampon ng demonyo, at istambay sa daan na bigla na lang mananaga ng mga inosenteng dumadaan sa kalye.. Sa kabuuan ay halos walang naihaing moral ang pelikula.

Thor

CAST: Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Chris Hemsworth,Idris Elba, Ray Stevenson, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård,Rene Russo, Jaimie Alexander; DIRECTOR: Kenneth Branagh; WRITER: Ashley Miller; PRODUCER: Marvel Studios; GENRE: Action/Adventure; LOCATION: U.S.A.; RUNNING TIME: 130 minutes

Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 4
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and above.

Hammer-wielding Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is heir to the throne of his father King Odin (Anthony Hopkins). When he learns that their family palace in Asgard has been ransacked by their enemies, the frost giants, Thor, a rather gung-ho kind of royalty, defies his father’s orders and packs his brother Loki and a handful of buddies along to give the frost giants a lesson. But stands to learn his lesson, too, as Odin is just as determined to teach him one for his brazen disobedience. He banishes Thor to Earth, along with his hammer, his favorite weapon of destruction, but on Earth, Thor loses his nobility status and becomes just an ordinary guy. Worse, his magical hammer is stuck in rock, which means it will only yield to his touch when he stops being a (as Odin says) “vain, greedy cruel boy.” On Earth he meets scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman)—that and Odin’s death spell the beginning of change for Thor.

In mythology, as one of the movie’s posters proclaim, Thor is god of thunder. It seems apt that Thor the movie’s soundtrack is as thunderous as they come, even ear splitting in certain battle scenes. While Thor and Odin are supposedly Nordic gods—and every square centimeter of Hemsworth’s face, from any angle, under any lighting, leaves you no doubt as to the authenticity of his noble Nordic looks—but director Kenneth Brannagh casts the cinematic Thor and company as aliens from a non-heavenly realm, perhaps aware that mythology is lost to the majority of moviegoers these days. Portman’s role here is rather a letdown after her Black Swan soared to higher heavens—but she did aim to be credible as a scientist. Editing is good, it must be said, and the CGI leaves nothing more to be desired. Particularly giddying but pleasantly so are the scenes that enable the viewer to zoom through intergalactic space. Makes you feel really smaller than a dust particle in the whole of creation.

When Thor becomes small, that’s when he becomes really big. When Thor learns to bow his head in weakness, that’s when he gains true power. When he loses his weapons as a warrior, that’s when he’s most heroic. There’s a line by Erik, speaking to Thor that goes "When you learn you don't have all the answers, you ask the right questions" which seems to be the message behind the paradoxes in Thor. Despite its violence, its being a glamorized fluffy action movie, Thor has something weighty to say. Weighty as in biblical. There goes another paradox. And hey, Thor’s fave weapon is a hammer—isn’t that also carpenter’s tool? Go figure.

Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!

CAST: Bea Alonso (Dr. Cielo), Vic Sotto (Dr. Kwak, Angelo), Zaijan Janranilla (Angelito), Xyriel Manabat, Pokwang, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Zanjoe Marudo; DIRECTOR: Tony Y. Reyes; PRODUCER: ABS CBN & M-Zet’s Productions; GENRE: Comedy/ Drama/Fantasy; DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema; LOCATION: Philippines

Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance

Si Angelo (Vic Sotto) ay isang pekeng manggagamot. Nagpapalit-palit siya ng anyo at lugar dahil sa banta sa kanyang buhay sa minsang hindi niya napagaling na pasyente. Mapapadpad ang grupo nila sa isag bagong lugar kung saan naroon si Dra. Cielo (Bea Alonzo). Bagama't may pagtingin si Dra. Cielo kay Angelo, magiging kontra ito sa mga gawaing pangagamot ni Angelo dahil sa ginagawa nitong pananamantala sa mga tao. Sa pagpipilit ni Dra. Cielo na patunayang pekeng doktor si Angelo ay darating si Angelito (Zaijan Jaranilla), nisang anghel na pinababa mula sa langit dahil sa misyong pagbaguhin si Angelo. Gagawa si Angelito ng mga himala para kay Angelo sa kondisyong gagawa ito ng kabutihan kapalit ng mga milagro. Maging matagumpay kaya ang kanyang misyon kay Angelo?

Wala namang masyadong bagong putaheng inihain ang Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! Nakita na natin ang maraming kuwento ukol sa huwad na faith healers pati na ang tungkol sa mga anghel na pinababa sa lupa dahil sa kapilyuhan. Sinubukang bigyan ng pelikula ng bagong-bihis ang mga gasgas na konseptong ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng bagong koneksyon sa mga lumang elemento. Pero ang kinalabasan ay tila pilit pa rin. Maging ang mga special effects ay hindi rin naging kapani-paniwala. May ilang mga nakakatuwang eksena pero karamihan sa kanila ay ibinabalik lamang ang nakagawian nang "toilet humor" kundi man slapstick. Nariyan pa rin ang mga karaniwang pormula sa pagpapatawa tulad ng sampalan, pambabatok, mga bastos na patawa kundi man nakakapandiri. Karaniwan na rin at walang bagong ipinakita ang mga komedyante sa pelikula. Si Sotto ay ganoon pa rin ang atake samantalang si Alonzo naman ay parang naligaw sa maling pelikula. Walang naramdamang kilig sa dalawa. Sa patawa nama'y hindi rin ito masyadong naging matagumpay. Marahil, kung ginawa na lamang nilang drama ang pelikula baka naging mas epektibo pa ito.

Sa kabila ng maraming kakulangan ng pelikula sa teknikal na aspeto, hitik naman ito sa mabubuting aral. Nasundan sa pelikula ang kuwento ng dalawang tauhan na kapwa may kailangang baguhin sa kanilang mga pag-uugali. Isang pilyong anghel at isang huwad na mangagamot na puno ng galit ang puso. Nagawa nilang pagbaguhin ang isa't-isa at natuto silang maging mapagbigay at magsakripisyo para sa kanilang mga minamahal. Sa umpisa'y ipinakita kung paanong nasasadlak sa maling gawa ang isang tao at ang ugat nito karaniwan ay kasamaan din tulad ng galit at pagiging ganid. Malakas din ang mensahe ng pelikula ukol sa tunay na pagbabago na ibang-iba sa balatkayo lamang, Ang tunay na pagbabago ay nanggagaling sa puso at hindi ipinipilit dahil lamang sa makukuhang kapalit sa bandang huli. Nakababahala nga lang ang ilang ipinakitang representasyon ng mga anghel at langit na tila walang malinaw na basehan at nagmumukhang katawa-tawa ang kanilanng anyo. Nakakabahalang maniwala ang mga batang manonood na ganito nga itsura ng langit at mga anghel. Ang ilang pambabastos din sa kababaihan at may kapansanan sa ngalan ng pagpapatawa ay nakakabahala din. Pero sa kabuuan naman ay may malalim na mensahe ang pelikula ukol sa pagbabago at pagsasakripisyo at sa puntong ito ay pwede nang patawarin maging ang ilang kasalanan ng pelikula dahil ito naman ang tunay na tatatak sa isipan ng manonood sa bandang huli.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

CAST: Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, Robert Capron, Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris, Peyton List, Ben Hollingsworth, Robert Capron, Michelle Harrison, Grayson Russell; DIRECTOR: David Bowers; WRITERS: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah, Jeff Kinney; GENRE: Comedy, Drama; RUNNING TIME: 96 minutes.

Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and above

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules takes off from last year’s surprise comedy hit about the Heffley family of three sibling brothers Rodrick (Devon Bostick) , Greg (Zachary Gordon) and toddler Manny and their parents Susan(Rachel Harris) and Frank (Steve Zahn). Rodrick as usual bullies his kid brother 7th grader Greg who has no choice but to play along with him or else. Mom knows it and would give anything to see her two boys living in peace and harmony—to the extent of paying them a dollar for each trouble-free hour they’re together. Susan and Frank one day decide they would go on holiday and leave the house to Greg and Rodrick, extracting a promise from the kids that they would behave while on their own. As soon as their parents leave their sight Rodrick prevails upon Greg to throw a party—but it would be boozeless, relatively safe. But as it turns out, a party’s being alcohol-free is no guarantee of order. The two are caught red-handed and get the appropriate punishment from their disappointed parents.

As far as its genre goes, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules plays the game by the rules, following a formula that is sure to click with its target audience—kids and families—as the first Diary… did, reportedly making a neat profit for its makers. The viewer can forget about its being fiction as it more or less fairly reflects 21st century parenting American style. You can’t fault the actors for being unbelievable—they’re such naturals given the plot and the never-a-dull-moment script. As for the other things that make a movie technically correct— Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules has them all neatly pulled together. It is an entertaining movie that its makers have taken pains to keep wholesome, so much so that even the stricter critics in the US have freely given it a rating of “PG for some mild rude humor and mischief”.

If you’ve ever been a parent you’ll understand that all Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is saying is “kids will always be kids but hang on, they’ll grow up, too, and outgrow their mischievous ways”. And CINEMA agrees. Our 2.5 Moral Assessment score doesn’t mean the movie promotes destructive values—it simply means that parental explanations are in order if you allow your children to watch this movie. The parents (Susan and Frank) have good intentions and their children’s best interests at heart, although they could be mistaken for being so naïve or lenient—something that’s balanced by the father of Rowley (Robert Capron), Greg’s chubby best friend, who makes sure his son follows his rules. The movie’s many humorous moments and funny scenes are interspersed with not-so-desirable instances some youngsters might imitate but the resolution at the end gives the viewer a better picture of its optimistic message. In real life, we see worse examples, and children eventually grow up to be mature adults in spite of them.

Beastly

CAST: Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen, Peter Krause, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Neil Patrick Harris; DIRECTOR: Daniel Barnz; WRITERS: Alex Flinn, Daniel Barnz; GENRE: Romance, Drama; RUNNING TIME: 95 minutes

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 3.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and above

Make a person rich and smart and good looking and in no time at all that person will be a beast inside. That’s what Kyle Kingsberry (Alex Pettyfer) is, mocking all the unbeautiful creatures in the Buckskin Academy High School campus. In fact, running for president, Kyle has for his motto “Beautiful people get it better; that’s just the way it is.” Kyle openly derides a campus mate who has Gothic fashion and makeup leanings, Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen), rumored to be a witch. Alas, it is not mere rumor, for the offended Kendra retaliates by casting a spell on him that turns him, once he gets home, into a beastly looking creature. However, Kendra is not entirely merciless, for she says she will lift her spell provided Kyle finds someone who’ll love him within a year. That someone turns out to be Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens). From there you can expect a fairytale ending.

Most actors in this movie are necessarily young, the story being set in a school environment, but it gives the young characters enough interaction scenes with adults, and with good results. Pettyfer (I am Number Four) and Hudgens (High School Musical) surprisingly show promise as dramatic actors here. Not that the script is that demanding, but at least theirs is a timely departure from the musical or the CGI adventure that they first came to be known for, preventing them from being filmdom stereotypes. Give them meatier roles and good directors and they’ll probably metamorphose into real seasoned actors in due time.

Beastly tries to play up to the YouTube-and-tattoo generation by not making a werewolf out of Kyle. Rather, he simply loses his blondie-blond hair and gets covered with scars, metal hoops and ever-morphing tattoos which would actually make him just so cool in Punkland, USA. As Lindy says when he uncovers himself before her eyes, “I’ve seen worse…” Beastly is obviously a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and the one outstanding message is “it’s not to your credit that you were born rich and smart and good-looking so chill out or lose it all.” Kyle is humbled by becoming disfigured, and learns to start loving when there’s no longer himself to love in the mirror. We can’t really say Lindy has learned to love Kyle in spite of his beastly appearance for as we said, he doesn’t look all that beastly, but rather, she appreciates the transformation within Kyle, from the conceited egomaniac that he was to someone who has learned to care for another.

Rio

CAST: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Jake T. Austin, George Lopez, Will i Am, Carlos Ponce, Kate del Castillo; DIRECTOR: Carlos Saldanha; GENRE: Animation, Action/Adventure, Comedy; RUNNING TIME: 96 minutes


Technical Assessment: 4
Moral Assessment: 3.5
CINEMA Rating: General Patronage

The very title of this movie promises a riot of colors and music and yes, quite interesting characters. Rio is an overwhelmingly child-friendly animated adventure about Blu, a Brazilian native macaw (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) which is the last male of his species but unfortunately has been raised as a pampered pet in Minnesota. This spells extinction for the blue macaw, unless Blu is returned to Brazil to mate with Jewel (voiced by Anne Hathaway), his sole remaining female counterpart. Blu’s owner, Linda (voiced by Leslie Mann) reluctantly agrees to go with her pet to Brazil with Rio-based scientist (voiced by Rodrigo Santoro) for the bird’s species’ sake. This opens the door to adventure as never known before, because Blu doesn’t know how to fly. Take the family along as Rio has a number of lessons to teach about the environment, personal freedom, caring and nurturing, courage, and the value of family (whether human or bird), to name a few.

Tum: My Pledge of Love

CAST: Robin Padilla, Mariel Rodriquez, Datu Khomeini Bansuan, Ejay Falcon, Nash R Raza, Queenie Padilla; DIRECTOR: Robin Padilla; SCREENWRITER: Robin Padilla; PRODUCER: Star Cinema; GENRE: Romantic Comedy; DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema; LOCATION: India, Philippines

Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers ages 14 and above

Nagbalik si Ravaan (Robin Padilla) sa bayan ng Alipur, India nang mabalitaan nito ang pagkamatay ng amang Indiyanong-Muslim. Nailibing na ang ama pagdating niya at maaatasan siyang pamahalaan lahat ng negosyong naiwan ng kanyang ama. Ngunit ang pamanang ito ng kanyang ama ay may kalakip na kondisyon: kailangan niyang pakasalan si Linda (Mariel Rodriguez) na siyang punong-guro sa paaralang pag-aari nila. Hindi magiging maganda ang kanilang pagtatagpo at hindi rin magiging maayos ang pakikitungo nila sa isa’t-isa sa simula. Ngunit pagkalaon ay magkaka-hulugan din sila ng loob at tuluyang magpapakasal. Ngunit hadlang pa rin dito ang ilan dahil sa ibang relihiyon at lahing pinanggalingan ng dalawa.

Nagsubok ang Tum: My Pledge of Love na gumawa ng pelikulang may kakaibang timpla at inspirasyon. Nariyan ang kuwentong pag-ibig na malapit sa kuwento ng dalawang tauhan sa totoong buhay at nariyan din ang lugar ng India pati na ang pagpapakilala sa atin sa “Bollywood” na siyang industriya ng pelikula sa bansang India. Ang resulta’y isang pelikulang puno ng maraming elemento na tila hindi rin naman nagkatugma at hindi nakuha ang tamang timpla sa kabuuan. Madilim ang mga kuha ng camera at mangilan-ngilan lamang ang pagkakataong maeengganyo ang manonood sa mga tanawin ng India. Malamlam at kung minsan ay over-acting ang mga tauhan lalo na si Rodriguez. Alanganin din ang takbo ng kuwento at di malaman kung saan nito nais magtungo. Kung ang Tum ay kuwentong pag-ibig, kulang ito sa kilig. Kung ito naman ay drama, kulang ito sa hagod ng damdamin. Mas lamang ang pagiging aksyon ng pelikula ngunit pawang kulang pa rin sa sipa ang lahat ng ito kung susumahin.

Malakas ang mensahe ng pelikula ukol sa pagtanggap sa iba’t-ibang lahi at relihiyon. Na ang relihiyon o pagkakaiba ng lahi man ay di dapat maging hadlang sa pagmamahalan at kapayapaan. Magkakaiba man ang tao ng paniniwala at kulay ng balat ay iisa ang kanilang adhikain—ang mabuhay ng payapa sa pag-ibig. Ganunpaman, naging labis na nakababahala ang ipinakitang karahasan sa pelikula. Nariyan ding palabasing masasama at makikitid ang mga pang-unawa ng karamihang mga katutubong Indian. Pihadong hindi masyadong matutuwa ang mga taga-India na makakanood nito. Taliwas sa mensahe ng pelikula ang ilang mga imaheng ipinakita dito. Pero sa bandang huli nama’y ipinakitang pag-ibig at pag-ibig lamang ang siyang makakahanap ng paraan upang magkatagpo ang dalawang pusong pinaglayo ng pagkakataon. At tanging pag-ibig din lamang ang siyang maaring magpatalikod sa isang tao sa karangayaan at kapangyarihan.

Gnomeo & Juliet

CAST: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Jason Statham, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Jim Cummings, Richard Wilson, Julie Walters; DIRECTOR: Kelly Asbury; WRITERS: Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley; GENRE: Animation, Family, SciFi/Fantasy; RUNNING TIME: 84 minutes.

Technical Assessment: 4
Moral Assessment: 3.5
CINEMA Rating: Audience all Ages

Is this animated Shakespeare? Not really. Although the title is a takeoff from "Romeo and Juliet" most of the characters in Gnomeo & Juliet are garden gnomes in the yards of English homes. We know this is England because we glimpse a bus whose destination is Stratford on Avon. These gnomes have obviously been sneaking off to the movies while their human owners were not looking. And they have been watching the Toy Story series because they do the same thing, have a life of their own but go into their expected poses as soon as humans turn up.

What might make Gnomeo & Juliet more enjoyable for film buffs is the strong voice cast. James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are the starcrossed lovers and Michael Caine is plain to hear as Juliet’s father. You have to listen quickly to catch Julie Walters and Richard Wilson as the human Capulets and Montagues. There is a monstrously huge mower, called the Terrafirmanator, obtained by a computer savvy gnome, Benny (Matt Lucas)—and it is ‘voiced’ by wrestler Hulk Hogan. Someone for everyone! Even a Hispanic-sounding flamingo from the garden. (And a nice trivial pursuit question: what film did Maggie Smith and Jason Statham appear in together? Here it is, she Gnomeo’s mother and he the rather typecast Tybalt.)

Yes, we know what is going to happen, but it is entertaining to see how this entertainment for children incorporates Shakespeare. And, yes, the soundtrack replete with familiar melodies is a collection of Elton John and Bernie Taupin songs because the film is a product of Elton John and David Furnish who have turned their attention to children.

The Roommate

CAST: Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly, Danneel Harris, Cam Gigandet, Alyson Michalka, Matt Lanter, Frances Fisher,Katerina Graham, Tomas Arana, Cherilyn Wilson; DIRECTOR: Christian E. Christiansen; WRITER: Sonny Mallhi; GENRE: Suspense/Thriller, Drama; RUNNING TIME: 93 minutes

Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 2
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 18 and above.

Pretty girl from Des Moines, Iowa, Sara (Minka Kelly) goes to college in Los Angeles. The roommate she gets at the dorm is Rebecca (Leighton Meester), an only child of wealthy parents. Rebecca turns out to be a nice girl-next-door type, supportive of Sara, shows her the sights in town, offers her wardrobe for Sara to borrow anything from, and even consents to her bringing in a forbidden pet into their room. Sara is grateful that college would be bright with such a roommate around, until Rebecca begins to know her friends. When she comes in late without calling, Rebecca gets mad. When an ex-boyfriend hounds Sara, Rebecca makes sure he keeps away—she has become a little too possessive.

The Roommate is another of those countless movies about psychotics, and naturally extremely violent. It’s a relief, however, that despite the mad killings and vicious attacks on persons practically no blood is shown, and physical combats are limited to what’s possibly human, without CGI to show more super human violence for its own sake. The cinematography is better than most movies of this genre display, and the music appropriately keeps the viewer in tension. The actors, while not that well-known yet, also do justice to their roles considering the limited depth of the characters they portray The story is rather flat, offering no justifiable motivation for Rebecca's behavior, for example, or adequate emotional depth in the her parents' regard of her situation.

Filipino parents with college age children might worry thinking whether the lifestyle of the American college teens isn’t yet being adopted by their children. The movie shows them at parties where booze flows freely and sex at first meeting is an expected part of the party package. You might also wonder what The Roommate is trying to tell us by its underscoring of the wild side of college kids—they are quite too often shown dancing, flirting, and drinking until they’re too toxic to walk home, but never shown poring over books. The only library scene is done more as a scare tactic than anything else. Parents—although by themselves they seem refined—are shown to be powerless over a stubborn daughter. A male teacher bribes a female student to take an “official” trip to Paris. Girls sleep with their boyfriends or engage in lesbian sex in total disregard of what their elders might say. This story delivers no moral lesson, nor does it give direction to young people towards a better life. But maybe you’ll come out of the theater hoping your kids will never imitate these ones!

Catch Me... I'm in Love

CASTt: Sarah Geronimo, Gerarld Anderson, Matteo Guidecelli, Ketchup Eusebio, Arlene Muhlach, Joey Marquez, Christopher de Leon, Dawn Zulueta; DIRECTORr: Mae Czarina Cruz; SCREENPLAY: Mel Mendoza del Rosario ; PRODUCER/ DISTRIBUTORr: Star Cinema ; LOCATION: Manila; GENRE: Romantic Comedy; RUNNING TIME:105 minutes

Technical Assessment: 2
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers ages 13 and below with parental guidance

Si Roan (Sarah Geronimo) ay nagmula sa isang simple ngunit masayahing pamilya. Nagtatrabaho siya sa isang NGO (Non-Government Organization) na tumutulong sa mga mahihirap na pamilya sa probinsiya. Si Erick (Gerard Anderson) naman ay ang nag-iisang anak ng presidente ng Pilipinas (Christopher de Leon) na kababalik lamang mula Amerika kung saan siya ay nagtapos ng isang kurso. Palibhasa’y lumaki sa luho at may hinanakit sa ama, kakikitaan ng kawalang-direksiyon sa buhay si Erick ng kanyang ama. Sa isang kakatwang insidente ng pagtatagpo nina Roan at Erick ay makakaisip ang ama ni Erick ng paraan kung paanong maturuan si Erick na magkaron ng direksyon sa buhay. Papupuntahin si Erick ng kanyang ama sa probinsiya upang makihalubilo sa mga uring magsasaka. At dito ay papasamahin siya kay Roan. Hindi magiging magkasundo ang dalawa sa umpisa. Ngunit kalaunan di’y magkakahulugan ng loob ang dalawa. Ngunit hindi pala magiging madali para kay Roan ang maging kasintahan ng anak ng may pinakamataas na tungkulin sa bansa.

Kung tema ang pag-uusapan ay medyo luma at gasgas na ang kuwento ng Catch Me I’m in Love. Bago sanang maituturing na makasilip ang manonood ng kathang-isip na kuwento patungkol sa Unang Pamilya ng Pilipinas ngunit sa kabuuan ay pawang wala namang bagong nasabi ukol dito. Hindi rin ramdam ang laki ng konsepto ng pelikula. Pawang pinilit at pinababa nilang lalo ang opisina ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas. Pawang hindi tugma ang mraming bagay sa pelikula at nangunguna na rito ang kakulanga ng tinatawag ng “chemistry” ng dalawang tauhan. Ang papel na ginampanan ni Gernonimo ay tila kaparehas na lang mga nauna pa niyang pelikula. Sa maraming pagkakataon ay lumalaylay ang mga eksena sa pelikula at tumatamlay ang interes ng mga manonood dito. Maayos naman ang pagganap ng mga tauhan ngunit sadyang walang maramdaman sa kabuuang daloy ng kuwento. Masyadong naging mababaw ang dating ng materyal na dapat sana ay mayabong at malalim kung napagtuuan lamang ng pansin.

Marami namang aral na inihain ang pelikula. Nariyan ang patungkol sa pagmamalasakit sa kapwa at pag-iisip ng kapakanan ng iba bago ang sarili. Kita ang mahalagang papel na ginagampanan ng pamilya at magulang sa pelikula. Pinatunayan lamang nito na ang pamilya pa rin ang humuhubog ng pundasyon ng isang pagkatao. Ang dalawang pangunahing tauhan, bagama’t magkaiba ng estado sa buhay ay parehas napalaki sa maayos na pamilya kung kaya’t maituturing silang magandang halimbawa. Mahalaga ring tingnan kung anong buti ang maidudulot ng pagmamahal sa pelikula. Sa pagmamahal sa kapwa ay sumusunod na rin ang pagmamahal sa Diyos at bayan. Ang tunay na pagmamahal ay nakakapagpayabong sa isang pagkatao at nagagawa nitong possible ang mga bagay na inaakala nang imposible katulad ng pagbabago ni Erick sa pelikula na tumubo lamang dahil siya’y pinagmalasakitan ni Roan. Ang tunay na pagmamahal ay ang pag-iisip sa kapakanan ng minamahal bago ang sarili. Ito ang maliwanag na ipinakita ni Roan kay Erick lalo na sa mga panahong nahihirapan siyang makisabay sa uri ng pamilya at mga kaibigan ni Erick. Sa kabuuan ay hitik sa magagandang aral ang pelikula at sinasabi nitong ang pagmamahal ang pinakahigit sa anu pa man na nais nating magkaroon sa buhay na ito- yaman, kasikatan, kapangyarihan.