Never Back Down

Title: Never Back Down

Cast: Sean Faris, Djimon Hounsou, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters, Leslie Hope

Director: Jeff Wadlow

Producers: Craig Baumgarten, David Zelon

Screenwriter: Chris Hauty

Music: Michael Wandmacher

Editors: Victor Du Bois, Debra Weinfeld

Genre: Action/ Drama

Cinematography: Lukas Ettlin

Distributor: Summit Entertainment

Location: Florida, USA

Running Time: 113 min.

Technical Assessment: 3

Moral Assessment: 2

CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) is a tough and troubled teenager from Iowa . He belongs to a famous football high school team but resentfully has to give it up when his family relocates to Orlando for his younger brother’s tennis scholarship. All the while, Jake's mother (Leslie Hope) desperately tries to hold the family together as they mourn the recent loss of her husband. At his new high school, Jake develops a crush on Baja but gets humiliated and beaten by her current boyfriend and mixed martial arts champion, Ryan. To get even, Jake goes with his new friend, Max, to a local mixed martial arts guru, Jean Roqua (Djimon Hounsou who apparently can teach him to perfect his fighting skills. And in the process he learns not only to fight better but to become a better man.

What Karate Kid is to Karate, Never Back Down is to Mixed Martial Arts but without the values, the straightforward storytelling and funny and memorable scenes. As much as it tries to convey values such as temperance and discipline, it fails miserably with a flimsy plot, clicheic dialogues and stiff acting. It tries to create dynamic and exciting fight scenes with fast paced editing but loses its effectiveness with shots that are too tight and a choreography that is too plain. The effort to build a valid plot is drowned out by useless subplots and overrated violence of the underground sport. At some point also, one begins to wonder why the adults or the authorities do not intervene while young boys are made to compete like Roman gladiators as onlookers egg them on for blood and violence.

The film teaches young people that all problems can be handled by punching the offender in the face, and concedes to onlookers taking advantage of the situation with the use of technology (i.e.: cellphone cameras and the internet). The movie has no respect for the sport and looks down on the young. It portrays mixed martial arts as some underground spectacle for the hot-tempered and ill-mannered with no rules nor boundaries. The young people are portrayed as irritable, unreasonable, and disrespectful with no qualms about using other’s pain or downfall as entertainment. The movie has very little redeeming value and not worth the time and money one will waste to watch it.

Manay Po2! Overload

Title: Manay Po 2! Overload
Running Time: 110 min.
Cast: Cherry Pie Picache, Ruffa Mae Quinto, Marco Alcaraz, Polo Ravales, Sid Lucero, John Pratts, Jiro Manio, Christian Vasquez
Director: Joel Lamangan
Producer: Lily Y. Monteverde
Screenwriter: Dinno Erece
Music: Jesse Lucas
Genre: Comedy
Distributor: Regal Entertainment
Location: Philippines

Technical Assessment: * * *
Moral Assessment: ● ●
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and above

Nais nang bumuo ng pamilya nina Oscar (Polo Ravales) at Adrian (Sid Lucero) ngunit dahil sa parehas ang kanilang kasarian ay inisip nilang kumuha ng isang baby maker. Bagama't ayaw ito ni Luz (Cherrie Pie Picache) ay kinailangan niyang tanggapin tulad ng pagtanggap niya sa pagiging bading ng kanyang mga anak na sina Oscar, Orson (John Prats) at Orwell (Jiro Manio). Isa pa ay nais na rin ni Luz na magkaroon ng baby sa kanilang bahay at alam din niyang hindi na niya mabibigyan ng anak ang asawang si Gerry (Christian Vasquez). Matapos ang pangingilatis nina Oscar, Adrian at Luz ng mga aplikante ay tinanggap nila si Betty (Ruffa Mae Quinto) bilang baby maker. Lingid sa kanilang kaalaman, pinasok ni Betty ang ganitong trabaho sa pag-uudyok ng kanyang asawa (Marco Alcaraz). Hindi rin magiging madali kina Oscar at Adrian ang sitwasyon sa pagpasok ng isang babae sa kanilang buhay. Ito rin ang magiging hudyat ng marami pang gulo sa buhay ng mga “manay”.

Isang nakakaaliw na pelikula ang Manay Po 2 Overload. Maraming bagong pakuela at pakulo sa pagpasok ng panibagong tauhan na si Ruffa Mae Quinto. Bagama't sanga-sanga ang kuwento ay napanatili nitong suwabe ang hagod ng bawat eksena patungo sa kabuuang direksiyon. Habang humagalpak sa kakatawa ang mga manonood ay namumulat ang kanilang sensibilidad sa isang mundong bihirang nabibigyang pansin. Pawang mahuhusay ang mga nagsiganap lalo na si Cherry Pie Picache at ang mga lalaking gumanap na bading. Yun nga lang, hindi pa rin maiiwasan ang pagiging isteryotipikal ng ilang tauhan. Maaari naman itong patawarin sapagkat katatawanan naman ang pelikula. Ang mahalaga, maraming bagong elemento ng komedya at naipakikilala sa Manay Po 2 Overload. Hindi na mga lumang patawa at nakakaumay na islapstik.

Bagama’t wagas ang pagnanais ng Manay Po 2 na maisalarawan ang mundo ng mga bakla, ay nananatili pa ring nakababahala ang maraming mensahe nito. Pinakahigit dito ay ang pagnanais nilang magkaroon ng pamilya bagama't alam naman nila ang kakulangan ng kanilang relasyong pinapasok. Dahil tuloy dito ay naiisip nilang magkasya na lamang sa ibang paraan ng pagkakaroon ng anak na karaniwan ay kaduda-duda pa sa usaping moral tulad ng artificial insemination at pagkuha ng baby maker. Hindi pa rin ito ang paraang naaayon at itinakda ng batas ng kalikasan. Ito na rin ang isa sa mga dahilan kung kaya't kailanman ay hindi magiging katanggap-tanggap sa simbahan ang relasyong sekswal ng dalawang magkaparehas ang kasarian. Bunga na rin ito marahil ng maraming suliranin ng lipunan. Sa kagustuhan nilang sila ay unawain, ang nagiging resulta ay mas matindi pang komplikasyon. Sinasabi ng pelikula na walang masama sa pagiging bakla. Maaring tama sapagkat ang pagtanggap ang unang hakbang upang mahalin ang sarili at ang ibang tao. Ngunit kung ang pagiging bakla ang mag-uudyok sa kanila sa kasalanan, ito ang masama. At ang isiping walang masama dito ay mas higit na masama. Bagama't katatawanan, ang mga usaping sekswal at moral na inihahain ng Manay Po 2 Overload ay hindi angkop sa murang kaisipan.

Street Kings

Title: Street Kings
Running Time: 90 min.
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, High Laurie, Chris Evans, Martha Higareda, Cedric the Entertainer, Jay Mohr, Terry Crews, Naomi Harris
Director: David Ayer
Producers: Lucas Foster, Alexandra Milchan, Erwin Stoff
Screenwriters: James Ellroy, Kurt Wimmer
Music: Graeme Revell
Editor: Jeffrey Ford
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Cinematography: Gabriel Beristain
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Location: Los Angeles, California

Technical assessment: 3 ½
Moral assessment: 3
For viewers aged 14 and up.

Still angry and bitter that his wife’s murderer could no longer be tracked down, Detective Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves) of the Los Angeles Police Department begins his day with a bottle of Vodka to perk him up. He becomes an instant celebrity after his fearless rescue of twin girls kidnapped by a Korean gang. That feat has also earned a promotion for his boss and good friend, Captain Jack Wander (Forest Whitaker). Hostile to both is the Head of Internal Affairs, Capt. James Biggs (High Laurie) who seems to be watching their movements. After witnessing the salvaging of his former partner, Detective Terrence Washington (Terry Crews), Ludlow conducts his own investigation to find out why Washington was killed and who were responsible for his death. Robbery Homicide Detective Paul Diskant (Christ Evans) joins him in this dangerous mission. How can they survive and find their way out from a maze-like syndicate? What harsh realities in the police force will they discover in the process?

That there are scalawags among cops, that a police department could be corrupt, that money tempts the corruptible to cross the line – these are the stuff that we read not only in novels (which somehow mirror life anyway) but also in our dailies and that we watch in the movies. While some sequences in the film could be roman à cle, one could only wish for more Tom Ludlow in our midst. Previous films have also presented the theme of a hero fighting for what is right and reforming the system. But Street Kings features a blend of well-chosen cast, effective sound effects, good cinematography, fast pacing, and tight editing. Keanu Reeves, particularly, renders a convincing performance as a flawed yet righteous and courageous character.

The problem is that there is too much violence and gore in the film. It gives the impression that there are so many renegades in the police department and that foul language is part of being tough. That cops, exposed to crime, could become calloused is seen in the episode when Captain Jack Wander smiles as he views the bodies of slain kidnappers and happily remarks: “This is lovely”. It fuels disenchantment with police authorities as the film shows how cops cover up for their comrades, how they manipulate evidence to protect them from indictment after a shoot-out, and how easily they could betray and kill one another. In spite of these disturbing elements, what makes the film acceptable in the end is the triumph of good over evil like the parabolic weed that needs to be uprooted for the healthy growth of the wheat.

Superhero Movie

Title: Superhero Movie
Running Time: 85 min.
Cast: Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher Mc Donald
Director: Craig Mazin
Producers: Craig Mazin, Robert K. Weiss, David Zucker
Screenwriter: Craig Mazin
Music: James L. Vanable
Editors: Craig Herring, Dan Schalk
Genre: Comedy
Cinematography: Thomas A. Ackerman
Distributor: Alliance Films
Location: Universal City, California, USA

Technical Assessment: 2 ½
Moral Assessment: 2 ½
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 up

Orphaned Ricky Riker a.k.a Dragonfly (Drake Bell) is a weakling teenager who is bitten by a dragonfly during a school field trip and since then discovers strange changes in his body and abilities. He realizes and confides it to his Uncle Albert (Leslie Nielsen) and friend Trey (Kevin Hart) that he actually acquires superpower out of that dragonfly bite. The initial confusions of Rick turns into full understanding of how it goes with his acquired power and he becomes determined to use it for human good, so he goes on with his heroic interventions as Dragonfly in a costume to save people from crimes. With his gained confidence, Rick also sees the opportunity to advance himself in his long time admiration of Jill Johnson (Sara Paxton). Meanwhile, Lou Landers a.k.a Hourglass (Christopher McDonald) has a failed experiment for cure of his sickness and instead makes him Hourglass with power to be continuously alive by sucking people's life; the more people he kills by sucking, the more he lives longer and even to immortality. But Lou finds out he will have difficulty fulfilling this selfish and inhuman deed with Dragonfly getting in his way.

Superhero Movie is obviously a spoof of blockbuster superhero films and known international personalities (hopefully with permission of the respected people spoofed in the film). Expectedly as a spoof, the movie offers comedy that is effectively delivered by the plot and special effects. Most subplots are copied but putting them together in a context of one film makes sense for a hilarious movie. Acting wise there is nothing much especially from main actors Drake and Sara. But supporting actors indeed contributed in delivering punch lines of the film. The production design, make-up and cinematography are good. The film is shorter (85 minutes only) than the usual duration.

Just like other original superhero characters, Dragonfly is also lovable because of his effort and commitment to use his superpower for human good. The film shows the triumph of good over evil. Indeed more than anything else life should matter and should be protected. Despite being a spoof, the film tries to convey positive messages like how old couples can be caring for each other and how they are concerned over the welfare and growth of a person entrusted to their care. It is a bit alarming though that some of the scenes and lines that are meant for comedy have double meaning (sexually and dehumanizing). The film should also have considered how people they spoof in the film are highly regarded. The film may be entertaining, but for the most part is rude and heavy on sexual content.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Title: The Other Boleyn Girl

Running Time: 115 min.

Cast: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess

Director: Justin Chadwick

Producers: Alison Owen, Scott Rudin

Screenwriters: Peter Morgan, Philippa Gregory

Music: Paul Cantelon

Editors: Paul Knight, Carol Littleton

Genre: Drama/ History/ Romance

Cinematography: Kieran McGuigan

Distributor: Universal Pictures International

Location: England, UK

Technical Assessment: * * * 1/2

Moral Assessment: ● ● ●

CINEMA Rating: For viewers 18 up

In The Other Boleyn Girl, Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent), wife of Henry VIII (Eric Bana), delivers a still born son. The disappointed king will soon be visiting the Boleyns and intend to go hunting at their estate. Noting Henry's frustration about not having a male heir to the throne, Sir Thomas (Mark Rylance)--father of Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson)--and the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey), the girls' uncle, take advantage of this to hatch a plan esconcing Anne as Henry's mistress, against the will of their mother, Lady Elizabeth Boleyn (Kristin Scott Thomas). Anne relishes the idea, but it is her plainer, younger and newly-wed sister Mary who catches the fancy of Henry as she treats his wound sustained a hunting mishap. To have easy access to Mary, Henry appoints her as one of Catherine's ladies-in-waiting, and her husband William Carey (Benedict Cumberbatch) to the king's court. Now Henry's mistress, Mary becomes pregnant, but her delicate pregnancy requires bed rest, frustrating Henry's attempts at further sexual intimacy. Sir Thomas and the Duke of Norfolk seize the opportunity to position Anne once more as the royal seductress, a role Anne plays with uncanny, almost diabolical determination. She withholds sexual favors from Henry and manipulates him, banishing her own sister Mary who has given birth to Henry's son, and egging Henry on to divorce Catherine, promising she would give herself to him once she herself sits as queen beside the king. The bewitched king bows to Anne's every wish, to the extent of breaking away from the Catholic Church which wouldn't allow divorce.

Don't look for footnotes to history in The Other Boleyn Girl, as it is historical fiction, based on a novel by Philippa Gregory. As the title connotes, it's about Mary, Anne's unassuming sister, and indeed it is Mary's story for in the end the person who turns out to be heir to Henry's throne is Anne's daughter Elizabeth, who was left to Mary's care and nurture from infancy at Anne's death. Johansson enfleshes Mary credibly, making another era come to life, while Portman disturbingly comes across as a 21st century girl in medieval costume. Portman's actor persona comes through conspicuously, overshadowing the Anne character--if this is intentional on the part of the director, it is certainly a big mistake, weakening the authentic appeal of the movie. The proper make-up, or simply erasing Portman's eyebrows might have made the decisive difference--remember Kate Blanchett in Elizabeth, the Golden Age? The supporting cast is good--with Torrent as Catherine and Thomas as Lady Elizabeth lending their thespian stamp to the movie. Disciplined cinematography allows the audience sweeping vistas of the English countryside while keeping the bedroom intimacy discreet, and the gore flow at beheadings down to an inoffensive minimum.

While The Other Boleyn Girl is but one imaginative novelist’s version of what might have really happened at Henry VIII’s court, it nonetheless opens the discussion table to a lot of worthwhile topics, four of which are: the value of women in those times (daughters practically traded for royal favors by power-hungry fathers and uncles); the regard for male heirs (implying that females are second class citizens, and condoning the illicit desires of a monarch desperate for a son); what ambition and burning greed does to the conscience (when Henry refuses to sleep with her anymore, and she suffers a miscarriage, Anne schemes to conceal the miscarriage from Henry and pleads with her own brother to bed her, hoping for a son, therefor a male heir, to come from the incestuous union); and the abuse of power by a king (Henry defies everybody and makes Mary, a married woman, his mistress, and breaks with the Catholic Church in order to marry Anne). All in all it is an entertaining retelling of the scandalous Henry-Anne affair, but the depiction of a sympathetic Henry makes it subject to misinterpratation by young, impressionable minds.