Journey to the Center of the Earth

Title: Journey to the Center of the Earth; Cast: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem; Genre: Adventure; Director: Eric Brevig; Screenplay: Michael Weiss and Jennifer Flackett & Mark Levin; Original Story: Jules Verne; Producer: Toby Emmerich; Distributor: New Line Cinema; Location: US, Europe; Running Time: 92mins

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 3
Rating: For viewers 13 and above


Scientist and Professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) and his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson), whose father died searching for the center of the Earth when Sean was just a boy, set out somewhere in Europe to find this mystical/mythical place hidden thousands of miles below the Earth’s surface. Circumstances lead them to meet up with Hannah Ásgeirsson, the daughter of a once great scientist who also believed that the center of the Earth does, in fact, exist and Jules Verne’s novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was not a work of fiction. She agrees to take them to the mountain top where Sean’s father disappeared and her father did a bulk of his research. Once there, they stumble upon a cave, and by accident, they’re taken directly to the center of the Earth. From there on, they’re into one amazing ride after another as they attempt to escape the amazing yet dangerous lost world—a place loaded with prehistoric creatures, wondrous plant life and other weird phenomena.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is nothing more than a spectacle. Using 3-D technology, the film takes its audience to a fun-filled ride and adventure. The film’s premise though is a bit high-brow and alienates audiences who are not fully aware or knowledgeable of many scientific terms and jargon. Story-wise, the emotional flow is rather flat and predictable. Characters are uninteresting and their relationships are trite. The romance layer is also blunt and audiences may only remain indifferent to the love story up until the end of the movie. Although the effects are spectacular, the movie fails to suspend audience’s disbelief that such a place can actually exist. It is perhaps the fault of the director or a failure in storytelling. But then, taking the movie as a theme park ride, it is still a good watch.

In this mystical place at the center of the earth, there is no mention of whether God exists. Could it be a place where God is not needed, where monsters rule and all the nature endangers human life? The motivation of the characters to dig deep down the earth’s surface is also unclear. Are they trying to look for their loved ones who may be trapped inside? Or is it just ego trip that they can actually find a place and prove theories and speculations more than they can imagine? However, looking into their relationships and the apparent concern for each other, audiences may appreciate furthermore the company of friends, relatives and loved ones. At all times and at all costs, human life must be preserved. Humans are responsible for one another and that is one valuable lesson in the movie. Amidst monsters and dangers, there would always be good-natured creatures that will unconditionally help us go through, carry on and trust in the omnipresent goodness of God. The film is suited even for the very young, however, some images and visual effects may cause trauma if they are not guided and supervised by adults.

Urduja

Title: Urduja; Cast: Regine Velasquez, Cesar Montano, Eddie Garcia, Jay Manalo,Johnny Delgado, Ruby Rodriguez, Eppie Quizon, Michael V., Allan K.,BJ Forbes; Director: Antonio Tuviera.

Technical assessment: 3.5
Moral assessment: 3
CINEMA rating: For general Patronage


Si Urduja (Regine Velasquez) ay isang prinsesang mandirigma mula sa Pangasinan at ang tanging anak ni Lakanpati (Eddie Garcia) ng pinuno ng tribo. Tumatanda at nanghihina na si Lakanpati kung kaya’t pinahayag na nito ang kanyang kagustuhang magkipag-isang-dibdib na si Urduja kay Simakwel (Jay Manalo), isang mapusok na mandirigma, upang may humalili na sa kanya sa pamumuno. Walang puwag sa puso ni Urduja si Simakwel, subali’t desidido ang lalaking mapasa-kanya ang prinsesa at ang tronong iiwanan ng ama nito. Mauunsiyami ang balak ni Simakwel nang magtagpo ang landas ni Urduja at ni Limhang (Cesar Montano), isang matapang na piratang napadpad sa kanilang lugar. Bagama’t sa simula’y mailap si Urduja kay Limhang, unti-unti itong mapapalapit sa pirata mula nang iligtas siya nito sa tiyak na kamatayang dulot ng pana ng isang Badyao. Maraming pagsubok na daraanan si Limhang, dala na rin ng paninibugho ni Simakwel, subali’t isang mapagpitagan at masunuring anak si Urduja.

Ang Urduja ay ang kauna-unahang “full-length animation feature film” ng Pilipinas, at bagama’t hindi pa ito matatawag na “perpekto” kung ihahambing sa mga banyagang animation films katulad ng mga ipinalalabas ng Disney, ipinakikita ng Urduja ang katangi-tanging kakayahan ng mga Pilipinong mangguguhit at “animators”. Sapagka’t ito’y isang pelikula, natural lamang na ang unang punahin ng mga tao sa Urduja ay ang mga imahen, ang kanilang nakikita; pumapangalawa lamang ang kanilang pagpuna sa naririnig, sa tugtugin, sa script, sa dialogue, sa kuwento at sa daloy nito. Akma ang pagpili kay Velasquez bilang Urduja at kay Montano bilang Limhang, lamang, may mga pagkakataong napapalakas ang tunog nila—may diperensiya kaya sa sound system? Sinubukan ng Urduja na gawing kaakit-akit sa madla ang pelikula, kung kaya’t may “kakornihan” ang script at paggamit ng makabagong idiyoma (tulad ng “hindi ko feel” atbp.)o tauhan (si Mayumi na may pagka-kiri) na nagsisilbi lamang na “panira” sa kabuuan ng pelikula. Hindi rin nakakakuha ng simpatiya ng manonood ang daga na si Kukut (Michael V.) at ang tarsier na si Tarsir (Allan K.), sapagkat ang mga boses nila’y hindi bagay sa liit at hitsura nila bilang daga at tarsier; sa halip, tunog-“kanto boys” sila.

Dapat alamin nating mga Pilipino na ang mga cartoons na ating pinapanood mula sa ibang bansa ay gumagamit ng talinong Pilipino, kung kaya’t madaling unawain kung ang Urduja man ay may “lasang banyaga”, na tila pinaghalong Mulan, Pocahontas, atbp. Hindi ganoong kahusay ang Urduja, ngunit bilang unang bunga, may pangakong kipkip ang pelikula. At kahit mestisong-hilaw pa nga minsan ang dating ng pagguhit ng mga imahen, Pilipino pa rin ang inuuwian ng buong pelikula—pansinin ninyo ang isang napaka-Pilipinong sangkap sa pelikula: ang karera ng kalabaw. Sana’y magpaka-husay pa ang mga gumawa nito; kaunti pang pagsasanay at gagaling pa sila. Ang pinakamahalaga ay ang tunghayan ng mga manonood ang lakip na mensahe ng Urduja —ang dangal ng babaeng Pilipina. Bagama’t base ang pelikula sa isang alamat (kung saan wala namang lalaking nakatapat si Prinsesa Urduja), nabuhay nito ang katauhan ni Urduja bilang isang babaeng may matatag na kalooban at paninidigan sa kabila ng kanyang pagiging masunuring anak.

My Monster Mom

Title: My Monster Mom; Cast: Annabelle Rama, Ruffa Gutierrez, JC de Vera, Mart Escudero, Iwa Moto, Eugene Domingo, Khryss Adalia; Director: Jose Javier Reyes; Producers: Jose Marie Abacan, Roselle Monteverde-Teo ; Screenwriter: Jose Javier Reyes; Genre: Comedy; Distributor: GMA Films; Location: Philippines.

Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance

Nagkaanak at iniwan ng nobyo ang noon ay 16-taong-gulang na si Esmeralda (Rhian Ramos). Dahil sa murang gulang ay naduwag si Esmeralda na itaguyod mag-isa ang anak na si Abegail a.k.a Baby Girl (Ruffa Gutierrez) kaya ipinaubaya niya ang pagpapalaki sa kapatid na hindi magka-anak at naninirahan sa Amerika. Nang lumaon, nagkaanak pa si Esmeralda (Annabelle Rama) sa magkaibang ama ng dalawang anak na lalaki sina Buboy (JC de Vera) at Pipoy (Mart Escudero) na mag-isa rin niyang itinaguyod. Maayos na namumuhay ang mag-iina sa kabila ng sobrang pagbubunganga at pagtataray ni Esmeralda sa loob at sa labas ng bahay. Pangunahin kay Esmeralda kapakanan ng mga anak kaya hinihigpitan niya ang mga ito sa lahat ng bagay na lingid sa kanya ay nakasasakal na. Kinaiinisan siya ng mga kapitbahay dahil sa kanyang ugali at di maiwasan na maging usap-usapan ang pagkakaroon ng mga anak sa iba't ibang mga lalaki. Sa tuwing iiral ang pagtataray ni Esmeralda ay nakaagay lagi ang dalawang kaibigan upang payapain siya. Makalipas ang 27 taon ng pagkakalayo ay babalik ang panganay na anak ni Esmeralda na si Abigael mula sa Amerika. Sa kanilang muling pagkikita ay matutuklasan nila ang maraming bagay sa kani-kanilang pag-uugali na taliwas sa kanilang inaasahan.

Katulad ng pamagat ng pelikula, nakesentro ito sa maingay na pangunahing tauhan. Bagamat tagumpay sa paghahatid ng mga linyang patawa ang bidang si Anabelle, lalo na sa mga palitan nila ni Ruffa, ay halata namang wala nang mapipiga ang direktor sa pag-arte ni Rama kahit man lang sa "expression" ng mukha, bagama't minsan ay nakakadagdag sa patawa ang mukha nitong "deadma". Sa isang banda naman ay eksaherado ang pag-arte ng ibang mga aktor, at hinaluan pa nga ng "bading" na alalay para pampadagdag-tawa--kayo na ang humusga kung nakakatulong ito sa pagbabalanse ng mga bagay, sapagka't mantak man naming isiping walang katorya-torya ang dialogue, hindi namin maunawaan kung bakit "biling-bili" ito ng mga nanonood. Iba-iba lang siguro talaga ang panlasa ng tao. Maayos ang disenyo ng produksyon na nagpatingkad sa mga payak na eksena gayundin ang "make-up". Akma rin ang mga tunog at musika na inilapat.

Mahalaga ang kapayapaan sa loob ng tahanan upang maging bukas at maayos na makapag-isip ang mga miyembro ng pamilya. Taliwas ito sa ipinakita ng pelikulang My Monster Mom. Hindi pinapasubalian na tanging kabutihan ang hangad ng ina para sa kaniyang mga anak subalit ang lahat ng tao (di lamang mga ina) ay dapat maging responsable sa paraan ng pagpapakita ng malasakit sa kapwa. Halimbawa dapat bang unahin ng isang ina ang pakikipag-away sa halip na asikasuhin ang anak na bugbog ang katawan at sugatan? Pati mga alagad ng batas ay tikom ang bibig sa reklamo ng panunutok ng baril. Kahanga-hanga naman ang kabababang-loob ng mga anak sa paghingi nila ng kapatawaran dahil nasaktan nila ang kanilang ina gayundin ang pagtanggap nila sa pagkatao nito. Sa kabuuan ay nakakatawa at magaan ang pelikula, subalit dahil sa matalas na pananalita at di karaniwang sagutan ng ina at anak na laking-Amerika ay dapat gabayan ng mga magulang ang mga manonood na kabataan. Isaisip natin na kahit ano pa man ang kagaspangan ng ating ina, dapat pa rin natin siyang igalang at mahalin, bagay na higit pang makakatulong tungo sa kanilang pagbabagong-ugali kaysa kung tatapatan natin ng pagkabastos ang kanilang kagaspangan.

Incredible Hulk

Title: Incredible Hulk Cast: Edwad Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson; Director: Louis Leterrier; Screenplay: Zak Penn; Genre: Action, Science Fiction; Location: Brazil and New York; Running Time: 114 mins

TechnicalAssessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 3
PG 13

Bruce Banner a.k.a Mr Green's (Edward) continuous search for an antidote for his cure of gamma radiation brings him to Brazil where he lives as “fugitive” while in distant communication with Dr Sterns a.k.a Mr Blue (Tim Blake) with whom he exchanges over internet chatroom on experimental formula for his condition. Back in Washington, General Ross (William)’s interest to search for Bruce is revived when another case of gamma sickness is discovered in an elderly man after drinking a bottle of juice. The juice factory is traced in Brazil where Bruce as a casual worker accidentally cuts his finger and an empty bottle in the assembly line catches a droplet of his blood. This signals the search for Bruce from Brazil to New York. In the middle of the chase, Bruce reunites with his love interest, General Ross’ daughter Betty (Liv Tyler). Bruce reveals to Betty that her father wants to get him to produce more “hulks” to use as weapons. But Bruce only wants to get rid of the gamma in his body.

The film offers a combination of a narrative in an spectacular manner. The plot, while boasting of a good flow, struggles to bring out the emotion. Actingwise there could have been more than mediocre acting of lead actors in the film, the same with special effects applied for the devastation scenes of the hulk. For the most part it appears like an animation film. The rest of the technical aspects particularly the cinematography, musical scoring and sound effects contributed in making the “Incredible Hulk” a worthy film to see.



The character of Bruce in the film shows a person who cares for life and is willing to sacrifice for this cause. He does not want selfish motives of people to take advantage of any form of power to destroy lives. Friendship is also tested during difficult times when full trust, sincere support and presence are necessary. At the end of the day, a dutiful daughter can confront a father for his wrong deeds. A responsible person also knows how to control self when required especially when damages to life is at stake. Overall, the film offers positive values. However, devastation scenes maybe too strong for children 13 years and below, parental guidance is required.


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The Hottie and the Nottie

Title: The Hottie and the Nottie; Cast: Paris Hilton, Joel David Moore, Christine Lakin, Adam Kulbersh; Director: Tom Putman; Screenplay: Heidi Ferrer; Cinematography: Alex Vendler; Editing: Jeff Melmberg; Producer: Myles Nestel, Victoria Nevinny, et al; Music: David Russo;: Location: Los Angeles, California; Genre: Comedy; Running Time: 91 minutes;

Technical Assessment: 2
Moral Assessment: 2
Cinema Rating: For viewers 18 and above


Nate Cooper (Joel David Moore) is a geeky bum who realizes his one true love is the girl he had a crush on in the first grade after his current girlfriend smashes his guitar on his head. He searches for Christabel Abbot (Paris Hilton) but is horrified to find out that she will not date anyone unless her repulsive and bitchy best friend June Phiggy (Christine Lakin) finds someone special. The condition is impossible since June is not only disgustingly unattractive but possesses a vile personality. Nate tries hard to find a man for June so he can have his way with Christabel, to the extent of paying a man to date June and giving a $2000 gift certificate for a spa make-over so that she will be less nauseating to be with. But his plan backfires when the girls meet a dentist/athlete/model who takes interest in June and eventually starts to fix her.

This is a bad movie—bad plot, bad script, bad acting, bad directing. The concept is unoriginal and poorly interpreted. Hilton and Moore are tormenting to watch and hear. The script is clichéd and has the most idiotic dialogues such as, “life without orgasms is… a world without flowers”. Characters are inconsistent and have no motivation. The storyline develops into a predictably brainless twist. The director seems to care less to produce a decent film than show off Hilton’s skin and curves at every opportunity. One can go on and on with what is wrong with the film that it is better to warn viewers against wasting time and money on this movie.

The Hottie and the Nottie aims to be a movie talking about beauty being skin deep, friendship through thick and thin and true love. The problem is none of these themes are actually seriously developed because the film just kept on raving about Hilton’s beauty and sex appeal and planting offensive and sick jokes about a woman’s ordeal when she is not as pretty and attractive as her co-star. Inconsistencies are extensive. As a movie about learning to look beyond looks, Nate only takes interest in June as soon as she transforms into someone prettier. Conveniently, June only becomes personable when her looks improve as though being nice were attached to looking nice. The seemingly tight and loyal friendship between Christabel and June is questionable because if Chris really cared about her less attractive friend, wouldn’t she have brought her to a dermatologist or cosmetologist and offer to help her look at least hygienic and agreeable. Instead she parades poor June to her suitors only to highlight their contrasting looks and make her appear a caring, down-to-earth friend. And as a story about finding true love, it merely obsesses about sleeping with the attractive hot girl even if one has to lie, intimidate, bribe or coerce. The movie is offending as it bullies people who fall behind the standards of beauty and treats them as a cruel joke. There are plenty of scenes and dialogue about alcohol and sex. This is not recommended for viewing at all.