The Bounty Hunter

Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Gio Perez, Joel Garland; Director: Andy Tennant; Producer: Neal H. Moritz; Screenwriter: Sarah Thorp; Music: George Fenton; Editor: Troy Takaki; Genre: Romance: Cinematography: Oliver Bokelberg; Distributor: Columbia Pictures; Location: USA; Running Time: 106 mins.;

Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

Milo (Gerard Butler) is an ex-cop turned bounty hunter who spends his days chasing losers who skip bail and nights being a loser who gets too drunk to wake up the next day. Nicole (Jennifer Aniston) is a dedicated reporter chasing a high profile murder story. They have been married once and divorced after 9 months of irreconcilable differences and now passionately hate each other. Their paths cross when Milo is assigned to arrest his ex-wife after she fails to appear in court in order to pursue her story. Unfortunately, Nicole treads dangerous waters as she uncovers corruption and deception within the police and Milo gets into trouble with his gambling and creditors. The story moves on amidst the couple’s hatred, the bad guys chasing them, Nicole’s determination to get her story and Milo’s desire to get even with his wife for breaking his heart.

One word comes to mind after the first quarter of the movie ... predictable. Audience already know by that time that Milo and Nicole will try to outwit each other until they get back together, that the bad guys will be able to corner them but end up in jail and that the movie will try its best to be funny and memorable but fail to do so. The scoring is cute and choices of songs appropriately capture that comedy of each scene. The pacing is enhanced by vibrant camera works and quick editing. The performances are respectable with a good chemistry between Aniston and Butler. However, all these do not make up for the weak storyline and even weaker development. This might not be the best choice for a feel good romantic movie.

Marriages work only when couple are willing to accept each other’s weaknesses and shortcomings on the one hand, and are ready to admit their own faults and mistakes on the other. Walking out of the marriage is not the solution. Instead, couple should always have the desire and exert effort to work around the differences and focus on the love. Amidst, the chasing and the bickering, the movie wants the audience to realize that when love is real and true, it cannot be easily extinguished by personality clashes or distance. And if only husbands and wives become less self-absorbed and more humble, their love for each other will always prevail. The movie is better suited for older audiences because of its theme, language and some sexual innuendos. (PMF)

You To Me Are Everything

Cast: Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Jacklyn Jose, Isabel Oli; Director: Mark Reyes; Genre: Romance/ Comedy: Distributor: GMA Films; Location: Manila/ Benguet; Running Time: 100 mins;

Technical Assessment: 1.5
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance

Si Francisca o Iska (Marian Rivera) ay isang Igorota na nagbebenta ng strawberry jam. Magbabago ang takbo ng kanyang buhay nang malaman niyang siya’y pinamanahan ng malaking yaman, mga negosyo at ari-arian ng nasirang ama na hindi niya nakilala. Si Raphael (Dingdong Dantes) naman ay kabaligtaran ang kapalaran. Ang dati niyang yaman ay nawala lahat sa kanya nang makulong sa salang pangdarambong ang kanyang pulitikong ama. Sa isang kakatwang sitwasyon ay magtatagpo ang landas nila Iska at Raphael. Dahil baguhan sa kanyang mundo, maiisipan ni Iska na kunin ang serbisyo ni Raphael upang matulungan siya sa kanyang mga transaksiyon at mga magiging desisyon. Papayag naman si Raphael at maiisip niyang si Iska ang paraan upang maibalik sa dati ang marangya niyang buhay. Ngunit unti-unti ay mahuhulog ang loob nila sa isa’t-isa. Paano kung malaman ni Iska na ginagamit lamang siya ni Raphael?

Isang malaking pag-aaksaya ng panahon ang panonood ng pelikulang ito. Walang bago sa kuwento. Gasgas na at pawang makaluma lahat ng sitwasyon pati na ang dayalogo. Walang anumang aabangan sa kuwento sapagkat walang mabigat na problema ang mga pangunahing tauhan. Walang lalim at walang kurot sa puso. Ninanis man nitong mang-aliw at magpatawa, hindi pa rin naging epektibo dahil pawang pilit ang lahat ng ito. Maging ang pag-arte ng mga tauhan ay malamlam at walang bigat. Nasayang ang magandang chemistry nila Rivera at Dantes na nakapag-bigay naman ng mangilan-ngilang kilig. Sa kabuuan, walang anumang aspeto ang nagsalba sa pelikula. Maging ang magagandang tanawin ay hindi rin gaanong nabigyang halaga. Sayang at nakaka-angat na sana ang pelikulang Pilipino lalo na pagdating sa drama at komedya ngunit pawang nag-aksaya lamang ng pagod ang mga may-gawa ng You To Me Are Everything at wala silang nasa isip kundi ang kumita ng pera sa pelikulang ito. Maging yan, marahil ay nabigo sila dahil kuwento na ang hinahanap ng manonood at hindi lang basta mababaw na kilig.

Sinasadya man o hindi, naging mapanlait ang pelikula sa kabuuan. Mapanlait sa kultura at kalinangang Igorot na wala naman silang malinaw at malalim na basehan. Ipinakita nilang pawang mga mangmang at taga-bundok lamang ang mga kapatid nating ito. Hindi nabigyan ng katarungan hanggang sa katapusan ng kuwento ang paksang ito dahil ang karakter ni Iska ay sumuko at nagpaubaya na lamang. Nakakabahala ang kahinaang ito na ipinakita sa pelikula. Sa kabilang banda, nais namang sabihin ng pelikula na hindi ang yaman ang mahalaga sa buhay kundi pag-ibig. Maganda ang pagpapahalagang ito sapagkat sa mundo ngayon na naging malabis nang materyoso, nararapat pa ring ipaalala sa mga kabataan ang higit na mahahalaga sa buhay – ang pamilya at pag-ibig. Dalisay ang karakter ni Iska na hindi nasilaw at hindi binago ng salapi. Isang magandang halimbawa. Nanatili ring konserbatibo at positibo ang kanyang pananaw sa buhay sa kabila ng maraming tukso sa kanyang paligid.

Iron Man 2

Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Sam Rockwell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johanson, Samuel Jackson; Director: Jon Favreau; Producer: Kevin Feige; Screenwriter: Justin Theroux; Music: John Debney; Editor: Dan Lebental, Richard Pearson; Genre: Action: Cinematography: Matthew Libatique; Distributor: Paramount Pictures; Location: USA; Running Time: 120 mins.;

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

Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr) is having the time of his life. Six months after he revealed himself as Iron Man, this billionaire industrialist credits himself for what is known to be an era of world peace. Stark is focused on rebuilding his father's version of the World's Fair, the Stark Expo and everything seems to be going for him. However, the government pressures him to turn-over his Iron Man technology, and Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), a rival weapons venture capitalist, poses a big threat. Meanwhile, unknown to Stark, a Russian scientist, Ivan Vanko a.k.a. Whiplash (Mickey Rourke) is about to destroy him to avenge for an old family grudge. Hammer eventually collaborates with Vanko and finances his technology to further put down both Stark's business empire and Iron Man. Worse of all, Stark discovers the very technology that powers his heart and his Iron Man suit (the palladium, the substance inside the Ark Reactor) is slowly killing him.

This second franchise of a mega-blockbuster could be the most anticipated film of the year. Iron Man 2 has maintained its charm with Robert Downey, Jr. still in the lead. Downey delivers the Iron Man combination of wit and mischief. Audiences may have flocked the theaters for the film's special effects and fight scenes but the real treasure of the movie lies on the simple, talking scenes with the actors solidly interacting with crisp dialogue. Rockwell delivers a solid performance that almost overshadowed Downey's and Rourke's super villain's role comes out strong and believable. On one hand, some would find Iron Man 2 as a bit talky than the original but then, this sets the film apart from the other movies of the same genre. Although the plot of this second franchise is a lot busier and could be considered convoluted, the genius of the story about a mortal super hero is still there.

Iron Man 2 is about a super hero who has to deal with his own mortality. Unlike other super heroes whose power comes from supernatural forces, Iron Man relies on a man-made technology that celebrates the intelligence of humanity. Iron Man is the epitome of modern-day superhero that epitomizes a combination of super strength and human weakness. The irony of it all is that the very technology that made him super human is the same technology that confirms he is only human. Stark's self-destructive reaction to this realization could be a bit disturbing but the intention, which is to show his human side, is clear. It is also understandable that he questions his worth for he felt unloved and unappreciated by his father. Until he rediscovers how much his father actually loved and appreciated him, he is able to redeem himself once again. Thus, saving the entire world from the evil threats of greed and vengeance in the process. There may be some level of violence in the movie, although without blood and gore, so parents are advised to guide their children while watching.

The Back-Up Plan

Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin, Michaela Watkins, Eric Christian Olsen; Director: Alan Poul; Producers: Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch; Screenwriter: Kate Angelo; Music: Stephen Trask; Editor: Priscilla Nedd-Friendly; Genre: Comedy/ Romance: Cinematography: Xavier Perez Grobet; Distributor: CBS Films; Location: New York, USA; Running Time; 106 mins;

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

In romantic comedy The Back-up Plan, pet shop owner Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) is getting on in years and getting tired of waiting for Mr. Right but wants motherhood now. So she gets herself pregnant in vitro although she is not interested in the identity of the sperm donor, a redhead according to her doctor (Robert Klein). Just minutes after she gets artificially inseminated, Zoe meets Stan (Alex O’Loughlin) inside a cab. They bicker over whose cab it is and eventually part ways. Days later Zoe spots the guy at a high end street market, selling cheese. Stan starts pursuit; Zoe, though attracted to Stan, holds back especially when she learns she is pregnant. A couple of dates later, Stan invites Zoe to a weekend in the farm. As it turns out, Stan owns the farm—The Little Goat Farm where he makes the cheeses he sells—and it is not little at all. After a roll in the hay, Zoe confesses to her condition, and a disappointed Stan turns away.

Despite its great-looking lead actors and a story that might appeal to so-called “liberated” women, this romantic comedy wants in romance. No chemistry whatsoever between Lopez and O’Loughlin. Their interaction is so mechanical that the viewer—instead of getting carried away by a supposedly searing and endearing love story—remains unmoved as he quips, “Is that it?” And as far as comedy goes, call this predictable, relying on poop and genital humor and pathetically spoofing childbirth. That particularly dreadful scene where a single mother raises hell through a water birth is not only not funny, it is even vulgar.

While on the surface The Back-up Plan may elicit laughter from indiscriminating viewers, the movie actually reflects a dangerously distorted view of parenthood, undermining the Church’s teachings on the need to maintain the link between the unitive and procreative aspects of married love. It says that a woman can choose to be a mother without benefit of coitus with a man she is married to. While science has so advanced as to make such a situation possible, viewers must be spurred to examine the morality of such a decision. Must a woman be so impatient for motherhood that it’s all right to buy sperms to get pregnant? A woman can be impregnated, in exactly the same way as a cow, but what are its implications on the future relationship between her and her child? Why want a baby and then deprive it of its natural father’s presence, nurture and affection? By presenting childbirth as a grossly laughable experience, and then giving the movie a happy ending, The Back-up Plan just might succeed in making teen girls dread childbirth while deluding them into thinking they can go ahead and get impregnated like a cow and hope to find a rich gentleman farmer with soulful eyes who’ll love them forever and ever no matter what.

Losers

"ASSESSMENT ONLY"
Cast: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba; Director: Sylvain White; Producers: Kerry Foster, Akiva Goldsman, Joel Silver; Screenwriters: Peter Berg, James Vanderbilt; Music: John Ottman; Editor: David Checel; Genre: Detective/ Action: Cinematography: Scott Kevan; Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures; Location: South America/ USA/ India; Running Time: 95 mins;

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

BRIEF SYPNOSIS

The government is able to catch an evil wealthy person with the help of a woman