Did You Hear About Morgans?

Cast: Hugh Grant, Meryl Jessica Parker, Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen; Director: Marc Lawrence; Producers: Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer; Screenwriter: Marc Lawrence; Music: Theodore Shapiro; Editor: Susan E. Morse; Genre: Drama; Cinematography: Florian Ballhaus; Distributor: Sony Pictures; Location: USA; Running Time: 123 mins;

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

High profile and successful Manhattan couple, Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Paul Morgan (Hugh Grant) have almost everything going for them except their failing marriage caused by Paul’s infidelity and Meryl’s suspected infertility. Meryl has been living alone in her apartment and Paul has been staying in a hotel for three months already. But when they witness a murder and become a target of a professional killer, they will have no choice but to come to terms that they will live together again under one roof. The FBI’s witness protection program takes them away from New York to a tiny town in Ray, Wyoming. There, they will experience a totally different life together away from the city, with Paul trying very hard to rekindle their old romance. Will Meryl finally give in?

The premise, though pretty interesting, remains to be the usual Hollywood mainstream. The film has lots of strengths and acting is one of them. Parker fits the role of a materialistic city girl perfectly and Grant is as convincing although quite predictable. There are still some stereotypical portrayals present in the story like the typical New Yorkers and country folks but the story does not dwell on too much of these so the entire picture comes out as refreshing. The suspense part is a bit slow and does not really build into a climax and the romance lacks certain sparkle. But the Parker-Grant tandem provides some sort of depth and maturity in the romance so they are able to pull it off. The focus on the marital issues comes out effectively and it is this part of the movie where the audience is tickled. The laughs are good enough and do not undermine the audience’s intellect.

Marital problems and issues abound the fast-paced city lifestyle so the film’s theme will always be timely and relevant. There are two distinct characters in the story and their differences are really apparent. Issues of infidelity, communication differences, personality differences, and even infertility are discussed in the film head-on. Infidelity is a mistake in any relationship and the movie tells the audience just as that. No justification. No compromise. It is wrong and will always be wrong in the eyes of men and in the eyes God. But then, the film also recognizes the value of forgiveness. It is in forgiving one another that a couple stays together in marriage. It is also in forgiveness that they are able to fully fulfill their marriage vows. However, as shown in the movie, forgiveness is not given easily unless there is sincere contrition on the part of the offender. Paul has to say sorry so many times but the words meant nothing until Meryl felt the sincerity. When the Morgans lived in the tiny town of Wyoming, they are able to appreciate one another - both their similarities and differences. Once they have been away from the busy and materialistic city lifestyle, they are able to communicate like they have never done before. And finally, the Morgans are able to realize life’s essentials – relationships. More than the wealth and status, it is their marriage—their family, that is worth keeping and worth saving.

Where the Wild Things Are

Cast: Max Records, Catherin Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, Paul Dano, James Gandolfini; Director: Spike Jonze; Producers: Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Maurice Sendak; Screenwriters: Spike Jonze, Dace Egger; Music: Karen O Carter Burwell; Editor: Eric Zumbrunnen; Genre: Animation, Fantasy; Cinematography: Lance Acord; Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures; Running Time: 101 min.;

Technical Assessment: 4
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

The movie is an adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s 1963 award winning children’s book. It stars 9 year-old Max (Max Records), a boy with a very active imagination and bad temper. He constantly throws tantrums when things don’t go his way. When his divorced mother, Connie (Catherine Keener), yells at him for acting out during dinner with her boyfriend, Max runs away in the middle of the night and stumbles into an island inhabited by six large monster-like creatures. When the giant creatures are about to eat him, Max tells them he is actually a king with magical powers and that he can unite their group. For a time, Max is able to impose his rules and bond Carol (James Gandolfini) and KW (Lauren Ambrose). However, when Alexander (Paul Dano) gets hurt during a fight between the “good guys” and the “bad guys”, as Max suggested, settling another issue among the group, his secret is exposed and he decides to come home.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is a poignant movie about childhood and the inner struggles of a child. The director’s vision and interpretation is beautiful, stunning and painfully truthful despite the animations and puppetry. The story is symbolic but clear while Records portrays his character very well. The production has tenderly captured Max’s struggle as shown by his unruly exterior and his lonely inner self and creatively presented the conflicts a young boy undergoes. The giant creatures capture an aspect of Max’s personality and life and show how children manage to be alternately creative and destructive as the same time. The technical side of the film is outstanding, with a moving musical score, spectacular cinematography and imaginative CGI’s.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE shows selfishness and selflessness, creativity and destruction, temper and patience, acceptance and maturity through the eyes and mind of a 9 year old. More importantly, it emphasizes the value of home and family as Max travels in his mind to his make-believe world of carefree monsters, at the end of the day, he chooses to return home to his family.

The authors of the film have emphasized that this is a movie about childhood and not necessarily for children, but with six adorable creatures interacting with a child protagonist, most children with be enticed to watch this as well. It is important that parents understand the movie and consciously decide if they can afford to allow them to watch this.

On the one hand, the movie may be too dark for some children. There is a certain melancholy in the film that might disturb very young audiences. Parents should be prepared to guide and explain the destructive behaviors expressed every now and then. On the other hand, as soon as parents are ready to deal with issues that may arise, it is a must see movie to explain friendship, inner struggles and discipline to young children.

The Princess and the Frog

Cast: Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Keith David, Jim Cummings; Director: John Musker, Ron Clements; Producer: Peter Del Vecho; Screenwriters: Ron Clements, John Musker; Music: Randy Newman; Editor: Jeff Draheim; Genre: Animated/Children; Distributor: Walt Disney; Location: USA; Running Time: 96 mins;

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

BRIEF FILM SYNOPSIS

Walt Disney Animation Studios presents the musical THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, an animated comedy set in the great city of New Orleans. From the creators of “the Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” comes a modern classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG marks the return to hand-drawn animation form the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements, with music by Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman. (Walt Disney)

Paano Na Kaya

Cast: Kim Chiu, Gerarld Anderson, Melissa Ricks, Ricky Davao, Rio Locsin; Director: Ruel Bayani; Producers:; Screenwriter: Ralph Jacinto Quiblat, Carmille Andrea Mangampat; Genre: Drama; Distributor: Star Cinema; Location: Manila; Running Time: 100 mins;

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

Matalik na magkaibigan sina Mae (Kim Chiu) at Bogs (Gerald Anderson) ngunit si Mae ay may lihim na pagtingin kay Bogs. Matagal itong kinimkim ni Mae habang si Bogs naman ay baliw na baliw kay Anna (Melissa Ricks). Bilang matalik na kaibigan, madalas tinutulungan pa ni Mae si Bogs sa mga gimik nito sa panliligaw kay Anna hanggang sa tuluyan nang maging magkasintahan ang dalawa. Ngunit isang araw ay bigla na lamang makikipag-hiwalay si Anna kay Bogs dahil may iba na pala itong mahal. Labis itong dadamdamin ni Bogs at ibibigay naman ni Mae ang kanyang todong suporta dito hanggang sa di-maiiwasang maibulalas ni Mae kay Bogs ang pinakatatago niyang damdamin para dito. Ito ang maghuhudyat ng pagtatapos ng kanilang pagiging magkaibigan at magsisimula na silang maging magkasintahan. Maayos na sana ang lahat sa kanilang dalawa nang biglang magbalik sa buhay ni Bogs si Anna. Dito magsisimulang mapaisip si Mae kung talagang minahal nga ba siya ni Bogs o naging panakip-butas lamang siya.

Kung tutuusin ay walang gaanong bago sa kuwento. Dalawang matalik na magkaibigan na magkaka-ibigan. Halos walang pinag-iba ang takbo ng kuwento sa mga nakagawian nang palabas na may parehas na tema. Pinakabago na lang marahil ay ang mga nagsiganap na pawang maiinit na tambalan ng makabagong henerasyon. Mahuhusay naman ang kanilang naging pagganap. Higit na mahusay ang mga pangalawang tauhan na nagpatibay pang lalo sa bigat at lalim ng daloy ng kuwento. Maayos naman ang pagkakadirehe at tama ang timpla ng mga emosyon sa bawat eksena. Yun nga lang, may mga linyang pawang luma at gasgas nang maririnig sa ibang mga pelikula. Sa kabuuan ay dama ang pagiging luma ng materyal. Hindi malinaw kung ano ang kaaya-ayang katangian ng mga tauhan upang sila ay magmahalan o mahalin. Magdudulot ito ng labis na kalituhan sa tunay na kahulugan ng pagmamahal.

Umikot ang buong kuwento sa tema ng pagmamahal at sa maraming uri nito na sa bandang huli’y pawang magkaka-kabit at magkakarugtong. Sinasabi ng pelikula na sa tahanan unang natututunan ang pagmamahal. Kung salat nito sa mga tahanan ay hahanapin ito sa labas at walang kasiguruhang matutunan at magagampanan ito ng maayos sa kabila ng kakulangan nito sa pamilya. Ito ang ipinakita sa relasyong Mae at Bogs. Parehas silang naghahangad ng pagmamahal sa kani-kanilang pamilya. Si Mae, sa kanyang ama, samantalang si Bogs, sa kanyang ina. Nagawa nilang punan ang mga kakulangang ito sa lalim ng kanilang pagkakaibigan hanggang sa sila’y tuluyang maging magkasintahan ngunit pawang hindi pa rin naging sapat ang isa’t-isa upang punan ang anumang kakulangan. Magandang mensahe ito sa mga pamilya upang kanilang pagtibayin ang pagmamahal sa loob ng tahanan dahil ito ang magiging matibay na pundasyon ng kahit sinong magmamahal. Anu mang labis at kulang ay makasasama maging sa pagmamahal. Ang ama ni Mae ay naging malabis sa pagnanais na mapabuti ang anak na sa bandang huli’y labis na sama ng loob lamang ang naitanim sa puso nito. Naging malabis din ang ibinuhos na pagmamahal ni Mae sa kanyang kaibigang si Bogs na halos makalimutan na niya ang kanyang sariling kapakanan. Ngunit magandang pundasyon din ng pagmamahalan ang pagkakaibigan bagama’t mahirap itong panindigan. Sa bandang huli nama’y namayani pa rin ang wagas na pag-ibig at walang hindi bumubuti kung paiiralin ang unawaan at pagpapatawad.

The Blind Side

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Lily Collins; Director: John Lee Hancock; Producers: Gil Netter, Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove; Screenwriter: John Hancock; Music: Carter Burwell; Editor: Mark Livolsi; Genre: Drama; Cinematography: Alar Kivilo; Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures; Location: USA; Running Time: 100 mins.;

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

African-American teenager Michael Oher's a.k.a Big Mike (Quinton Aaron) feels outcast in a Christian school due to variety of reasons from his low academic qualification to his big body frame for his age, skin color and being oddly silent apparently due to his complicated childhood. When Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) sees Michael wandering in the street on one cold night, she invites him to sleep over in the house with her family -- husband Sean (Tim McGraw) and children SJ (Jae Head) and Collins (Lily Collins). The generosity of Touhy family does not end with overnight place of sleep for Michael but finding a new family where he is loved and accepted. On discovery of his niche in playing football, he gets the full support of the Tuohy family to the point of going all the way to process legal guardianship for him and get a tutor to improve his academic profile. When Michael starts to make a name in sports, tempting scholarship packages come to his plate from different schools. However, when he finally chooses one, those schools that he rejects make him believe that Tuohy family's motivation for helping him is to influence his decision for choice of school. After all those things done for him by Tuohy family is Michael up to be cynical about them, isolates himself and feels outcast again? How about the promising sports career?

Based on the book Evolution of a Game, The Blind Side offers an inspiring story complimented by excellent treatment by the director and the casting that fits each character. There are combined drama and comedy, conventional and unconventional family settings, and theme of social relevance. The lines are meaningful and put to life by good portrayal of the actors especially Bullock. The cinematography captured the settings for a good production design to establish highlight of each scene. Overall, film The Blind Side is way above in the technical aspects and keep up to the essence of a very good story.

The film shows that an act of kindness cannot be contained, there is overflow. Leigh Anne influenced others primarily her family then the coach, the teachers and school officials to extend kindness to Michael, and this creates a pleasant environment for everybody. It brings positive change not only to the recipient but also to the giver. The film projects both a strong and soft woman in the character of Leigh Anne, an understanding and supportive husband, obedient and loving children to their parents. The film is also a good reminder for key people in the schools, sports, law enforcer of their responsibility to make or unmake a person especially at a young age. Rather to look at each young person as an opportunity to see potentials of good citizens in the making. Whilst the story is about Michael, the key messages to address the moral dimension are found in the people around him. Overall the film offers a lot of positive values not only in the family situation but throughout the school, community and society at large.