Dolphin Tale in 3D

CAST:  Harry Connick Jr. (Dr. Clay Haskett), Ashley Judd (Loraine Nelson) Kris Kristofferson (Reed Hasket), Nathan Gamble (Sawyer Nelson), Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Austin Stowell (Kyle), Morgan Freeman (Dr. Cameron);DIRECTOR:Charles Martin Smith;FILM PRODUCER: Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Richard Ingber;SCREENWRITER: Karen Janszen;EDITOR:MUSICAL DIRECTOR;GENRE:Drama, Kids & Family;CINEMATOGRAPHER DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros. Pictures;LOCATION: USA;RUNNING TIME: 113 minutes  

Technical Assessment: 3.5

Moral Assessment: 4

Cinema Rating: For viewers 13 years old and below with parental guidance

SYPNOSIS: Dolphin Tale is inspired by the amazing true story of a brave dolphin and the compassionate strangers who banded together to save her life. Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, severely damaging her tail. She is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter. But her fight for survival has just begun. Without a tail, Winter's prognosis is dire. It will take the expertise of a dedicated marine biologist, the ingenuity of a brilliant prosthetics doctor, and the unwavering devotion of a young boy to bring about a groundbreaking miracle-a miracle that might not only save Winter but could also help scores of people around the world.

No Other Woman

CAST: Kristine Reyes, Derek Ramsey, Anne Curtis DIRECTOR: Ruel Bayani; GENRE: drama; DISTRIBUTOR: Viva, Star Cinema; LOCATION: Philippines; RUNNING TIME :110 minutes  

Technical Assessment: 3

Moral Assessment: 3

Cinema Rating: For viewers 18 years old and above

Isang furniture designer-producer si Ram (Derek Ramsay), tapat sa asawang si Sharmaine (Cristine Reyes) at gustong mamuhay nang maayos para sa kinabukasan ng kanilang magiging pamilya.  Sa panahong iniaalok niya ang kanyang mga disenyo upang makuha ang kontrata mula sa Costa Luz beach resort, makikilala niya si Cara (Anne Curtis), anak ng may-ari, si Mr. Zalderiaga.  Matitipuan siya ni Cara at hindi siya tatantanan hanggang hindi bumibigay ang kanyang pagkalalaki dito.  Paglalabanan ni Ram ang kariktan ni Cara, ngunit mapilit ang babae, at sasabihing wala siyang tangkang umibig sa lalaki—o ibigin nito.  Sa paningin ni Cara, isa siyang “liberated woman” na nakukuha ang anumang gustuhin niya.  Bagama’t mahal ni Ram ang maybahay niyang si Sharmaine, madadarang din ito sa init ni Cara.  Matutuklasan ni Sharmaine ang nangyayari, ngunit tigas nang tatanggi si Cara na mawala sa kanya si Ram.  Umiibig na siya, saw akas—amin ni Cara sa kanyang matatalik na kaibigan—at ipaglalaban niya ang karapatan niyang umibig.

Nakakagulat na napakaraming tao ang gustong manood ng No Other Woman—sa unang araw ng labas nito, puno ang isang sinihan sa Makati na karaniwan namang hindi naglalabas ng pelikulang Pilipino.  Nang magtanong kami, yon pala’y dahil sa pag-aakalang mas marami itong naglalagablab na eksena kaysa My Neighbor’s Wife.  Ngunit lalong higit sa maiinit na eksena, ang dialogue ang nagdadala ng kuwento sa No Other Woman.  Makatapos naming mapanood ito, naisip namin: para lang kaming nanood ng isang TV drama sa higanteng screen.  Pero narinig namin mula sa isang nanood, “Parang Korean telenobela na pinagkasya sa dalawang oras.”  (Hindi kami maka-sang-ayon pagkat hindi kami mahilig manood ng Korean telenovela).  May kuwentong maayos at madaling sundan ito, pero nilagyan ng subplots na hindi naman pinakitaan ng resolusyon sa dulo.  Kakaunti ang mga tauhan, at halos ay nakatutok ang kamera sa maliit nilang mundo.  Magaling ang pagganap ng mga pangunahing artista, ayon sa hinihingi ng kuwento, bagama’t hindi naman gasinong mabigat ang hinihingi ng mga papel nila.  Minsan, pagka’t masasabi mo na humigit-kumulang ang magiging katapusan ng kuwento dahil sa takbo ng usapan ng mga tauhan, ang pansin mo ay maaagaw ng nakikita mo, ang ibinibilad na katawan ng mga artista, lalol na ni Curtis, ang magandang karagatan, magarang mga kuwarto, atbp.   

Ang pinakamabuting parte ng No Other Woman ay ang pagtataguyod nito sa kasagraduhan ng pag-aasawahan.  Malinaw at matuwid ang katapusan.  Ipinapakita rin nito ang katotohanan na pighati ang ibinubunga ng kapalaluan at katigasan ng ulo.  Palalo si Cara sa pag-aakalang kayang-kaya niyang kontrolin ang sarili—ngunit hindi ito kinunsinti ng kuwento.  Naging mahina din si Ram, subalit ipinamalas din ng pelikula ang mapait na ibinubunga nito na maaaring kumitil sa anumang kabutihang nasa buhay na niya.  Maliwanag na sinasalamin ng pelikula ang halaga ng pagharap sa sariling kamalian, ang paghingi ng kapatawaran, at ang nararapat na pagpapatawad.  Pagkamatuwid ang nananaig sa lahat, na siya lamang karapat-dapat ayon sa batas ng kalikasan, ng tao at ng Dios.  Makabubuting panoorin ito ng mga mag-asawa o ng mga taong gusto nang mag-asawa, at nang mapag-usapan ang mga maseselang bagay na humahadlang sa tagumpay at ligaya ng pag-aasawa.  May matututuhan din dito ang mga babaeng "Cara" sa ating paligid.  Sige, maging pasaway kayo, pero hindi ninyo masasabing hindi kayo binalaan ng No Other Woman.

Friends with Benefits

CAST: Justin Timberlake (Dylan), Mila Kunis (Jamie), Patricia Clarkson (Lorna), Jenna Elfman (Annie), Bryan Greenberg (Parker), Richard Jenkins (Mr. Harper), Woody Harrelson (Tommy) and Emma Stone (Kayla);DIRECTOR: Will Gluck;SCREENWRITER: Keith Merryman, David A. Newman ;PRODUCER: Mr. Gluck, Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer, Jerry Zucker and Janet Zucker ;EDITOR: Tia Nolan  MUSICAL DIRECTOR ;GENRE: Romantic Comedy;CINEMATOGRAPHER: Michael Grady;DISTRIBUTOR: Screen Gems  

LOCATION: New York & Los Angeles, USA; RUNNING TIME:  107 minutes 

Technical Assessment: 3.5

Moral Assessment: 2                     

Cinema Rating: For viewers 18 years old and above

The movie tries to place a contemporary spin on an old “boy meets girl-loves girl but doesn’t know it” plot with sex in the equation. It follows how best friends Jamie (Mila Kunis), the emotional wreck, and Dylan(Justin Timberlake), the emotionally unavailable, decide one night that they can push their friendship a little further without having to worry about the emotional entanglement that comes after. So after some time of sexual trysts, their friendship deepens until… bam …they fall in love but refuse to admit it to themselves, much more to each other. So, their friendship is tested, they part ways and realize they can’t live without each other. Of course, as any other romantic comedies, in the end the boy gets the girl. (So much for not wanting to do another romantic cliché.)

           

Let’s look at the movie as a romantic comedy. Was it funny? At times.  Was  it romantic? A little? Was it a genius? No. And here’s why. The plot is tired formula. You immediately knew where it will go, how it will end and how it will get there. Even the dad suffering from Alzheimer’s or the gay friend who served as triggers for Dylan to reflect and realize his feelings is absolutely pathetic. The comedy was mostly derived from the awkwardness of the sex scenes, which have elicited more frowns and disgust than chuckles.  The effort to give an old plot a fresh approach failed because save for the awkwardness of the premise, the movie had nothing more to offer.

Technically, Friends with benefits is acceptable.  The acting was passable, although Kunis exerted more effort than Timberlake who probably thinks that baring his butt makes up for his shallowness. Their chemistry, however, was good and believable. The scoring was cute and made up for the lack of emotional sympathy of the scenes. Overall, this is not one of those romantic comedies you’d like to watch with a significant other.

The greatest problem this movie poses is its very understanding of sex as merely an emotional consummation of a romantic relationship. It is enough to have gone 5 dates with a guy so that sleeping with him becomes acceptable.  It is simply a physical need, like hunger or sleep, which needs to be addressed. It never mentions commitment and responsibility as part of it.   As the movie title implies, SEX is just a BENEFIT that comes with having a boyfriend/girlfriend,instead of being an intimate act between two people within the confines of a perpetual vow to love each other exclusively.

The sexual cannot be without emotional and spiritual attachment for the partner because this is when you bare yourself and your soul to someone whom you trust and who will accept you for who you are. That is why it should be exclusively for mature adults who are willing to commit to marriage.

Even the end scene failed to redeem the convoluted morals of the story as we see Dylan and Jamie passionately trying to get under each other’s clothes in public.

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS should be for discerning adults who have mature consciences so that they can clearly distinguish between being genuinely funny and being contemptible.

  

GLEE: THE 3D CONCERT MOVIE

CAST:  Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron, Lea Michele, Amber Riley, Darren Criss, Heather Morris, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling; DIRECTOR: Kevin Tancharoen;

GENRE: Musical, Performing Arts;CINEMATOGRAPHER: Glen MacPherson; DISTRIBUTOR: 20th Century Fox; LOCATION: USA; RUNNING TIME: 84 minutes  

Technical Assessment: 3

Moral Assessment: 2.5

Cinema Rating: For viewers age 14 years old and above

What story can you find in a “3D concert movie” that is semi-fiction, and neither a movie nor a concert but tries to be both?   Hybrids can be interesting—for the new flavor they bring (remember “mangapple”, a cross between a mango and an apple?) or for the novelty they are (like the “zebronkey”, the offspring of the union between a donkey and a zebra?)—but how enduring are they?  More importantly, what are they for?  Why create them?

Well, in this world where people seem to be looking always for something new and exciting, marketing is the name of the game. 

A film critique in North America called this concert movie a “Gleekumentary” precisely because in it actors assume roles of singers who sing other people’s songs, but because there is a real “Glee” TV series, one wonders if the 3D concert movie is the real life story of the television performers, and if those “Gleeks” (hard core fans of the TV series) are for real, or are they just more actors or fans willing to appear as “gleeks” for their 10-seconds’ moment of glory.

It has the look of a documentary—“singers” and “fans” being interviewed and portrayed in such a manner that unsuspecting viewers would think they’re delivering testimonials.  Here teens are played by grown ups—alphabetically, Artie (Kevin McHale), Blaine (Darren Criss), Brittany (Heather Morris), Finn (Corey Monteith), Kurt (Chris Colfer), Mercedes (Amber Riley), Rachel (Lea Michele), Santana, (Naya Rivera) and others.  There are real teenagers, too: Josey Pickering who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, the midget high school cheerleader Janae Meraz, and the just-out-of-the-closet gay Trenton Thompson who practically swear they owe their newfound self-worth to the TV series that taught them to “embrace their inner-Gleek”.

Whatever Glee 3D concert-movie is or should be called, whether it’s fact or fantasy, done with actors playing roles, it underscores the verity that entertainment not only matters—it also helps shape the life of fans. 

Glee 3D concert-movie aims to put across some positive messages of self-acceptance and tolerance.  For one Janae, the dwarf who becomes prom princess, says it’s not only okay to be different—one can be different (in the way that she is) and be popular, too.  It sounds like a fairy tale but her smiling countenance adds credibility to her claim.  Josey witnesses to her own transformation, a before-and-after case of social anxiety remedied by bonding with other Glee fans.  Former closet queen Trenton is virtually awed by his (her?) own experience of being uncovered and being accepted in spite of it, thanks to the inspiring gay character Kurt.

It tells the youth “Glee is good for you, it helps you accept yourself even if others reject you, not be afraid to be different, muster your courage and win in this world.”  Certain song lyrics exhort the young to believe in their individual worth, to stay optimistic and afloat in rough sailing, to never let go of dreams, to look for the good in people’s differences, and trust in the power and beauty of love.  These uplifting messages are mixed and matched with song-and-dance routines that sometimes sizzle with fireworks and at other times are so “over-miked” the numbers make you feel you’re in evangelical prayer meetings minus the hallelujahs.

What is Glee really trying to influence the viewers to think?  Is it afraid it will sound syrupy if it leaves its pure message unadulterated?  Or is the sugar meant to aid in the swallowing of the unsavory morsels?  It says physical, emotional, social and cultural differences must be respected and in fact celebrated, but why did it not reinforce these positive messages until they’re driven home?

Why the suggestive dancing, the seductive lines?  What is being said is belied by what is being sung.  The upside values earlier cited are overshadowed by song lyrics that extol premarital sex (Don’t Stop Believin’ and Teenage Dream): "Let's go all the way tonight… No regrets, just love … I'm a get your heart racing in my skintight jeans… Be your teenage dream tonight… Let you put your hands on me in my skintight jeans."  In I’m a slave 4 U Brittany mimics Britney Spears’ sexy-dancing, portraying emotional and sexual bondage in skimpy belly-dance costume.  Boys and girls hop across the stage and grab their crotches a la Michael Jackson.  Girls wear breast-baring tops and lift their micro-mini skirts giving a glimpse of their underwear.  And these are supposedly high school characters.

     The glowing “testimonials” underscoring the value of a healthy self-image and the stand that those in the social fringes must also be viewed with compassion are upstaged by the repeated endorsement of gay tolerance through Trenton’s self-disclosure.  Featured at the concert climax is Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, the flagship song of gay America, sung by Kurt wearing a “Likes boys” t-shirt which Trenton also wears.  If your ears are quick they might pick up a line from the audience saying her young daughter is so enamored of gay characters Kurt and Blaine that she wishes them to be her “two dads”.  Which makes one wonder if this is not advocating SSM (same sex marriage).
     If Glee 3D concert-movie were just made up of the empowering messages, CINEMA might have given it an above-average moral rating, even if its smiles-and-sunshine approach smacks of prefabricated fairy tales.  But because of the subliminal manner by which it mesmerizes the young by music and movement into embracing a questionable love style, it creeps into the realm of the ambiguous.  Smashing prejudice and intolerance by polishing the image of homosexuality is hardly a commendable message to save a Third World country where a sizeable chunk of the population lives below poverty level—and certainly does not hate the gays in their midst.  Think about that.

RAKENROL

CAST:  Jason Abalos (Odie), Ramon Bautista, Glaiza De Castro (Irene), Matet De Leon, Ketchup Eusebio, Diether Ocampo (Jacci Rocha), Jun Sabayton, Alwyn Uytingco;DIRECTOR: Quark Henares;PRODUCER: Furball/Revolver/Postmanila/Reality Entertainment;EDITOR:  MUSICAL DIRECTOR;GENRE: Comedy/Romance ;CINEMATOGRAPHER DISTRIBUTOR  

LOCATION: Phiilippines ;RUNNING TIME:  112 minutes   

           

 Technical Assessment: 2

Moral Assessment: 3
Cinema Rating: For viewers 14 years old and above

Isinalaysay ni Odie (Jayson Abalos) na simula pa ng High school ay magkasundong-magkasundo na sila ng matalik niyang kaibigan na si Irene (Glaiza De Castro) sa hilig nila sa rock and roll music at kung paano siya nain-love dito dahil palagi silang magkasama sa mga gigs. Nasa kolehiyo na sila ng maisipan nilang magbuo ng banda sa mungkahi ni Irene. Hindi naman sila nabigo dahil nakatagpo sila ng mga taong katulad nila ang hilig tulad nila Mo (Kethcup Eusebio) at Junfour ( Alwyn Uytingco).  Talentado si Odie na nagsilbing leader ng banda. Siya ang lumilikha ng kanta na tinangkilik ng mga mahilig sa rock music.  May mga naniwala at tumulong sa kanila katulad ni Matet (Matet De Leon) na nagsilbing manager ng grupo. Sa kalaunan ay nakilala naman banda bilang Hapipaks sa kabila ng mga dinanas na hirap. Kasabay ng paglikha ng pangalan ay mga unos na sumubok sa kanilang samahan at humamon sa kanilang talento. Naging kasintahan ni Irene ang hinahangaan niyang sikat na rakistang si Jaccirocha (Diether Ocampo) subalit pinaglaruan lang siya nito na labis na ikinasakit ng kalooban ni Odie.  Ang problema kasi bagamat labis din ang pagmamahal ni Irene kay Odie ay di niya masuklian na higit pa sa pagkakaibigan ang pagmamamahal nito sa kanya.

Sumasalamin ang pelikulang Rakenrol sa iba’t ibang yugto ng buhay ng mga tao na kasangkot sa mundo ng rock and roll music.  Kakaiba ang ginawang trato ng director sa paghahatid ng temang ito na madalas ay umiikot sa madilim na takbo ng buhay at  pinatutungkulan pa ng pagka “satanista”.  Nagpakita rin naman ng ganitong pananaw sa pelikula pero dahil sa maingat na panulat at direksyon ay naging magaan ang kuwento ng pagsibol, pag-abot at pagpapapahalaga sa mga pangarap.  Kahit papaano ay nakapagbahagi ang pelikula ng magagandang aspeto ng musikang rock sa buhay ng isang rakista katulad halimbawa ng paglalabas ng damdamin at pagpapalaya sa matapat na sining ng tugtog at awitin.  Nagbigay ng punto ang Rakenrol tungkol sa kalakaran sa larangang ito na maaring pag-isipan ng mga baguhan rakista kung magpapalaot ba sila o hindi. Epektibo sa kanilang mga karakter ang mga nagsiganap bagamat medyo sumamblay kay Diether bilang Jaccirocha.  May damdamin ang potograpiya  na nakadagdag sa pagiging makabuluhan ng mga eksena.  Akma ang ang disenyo ng produksyon at maganda ang seleksyon ng mga awitin na karamihan ay orihinal. Sa kabuuan ay mahusay ang aspetong teknikal ng Rakenrol at maaring ipagbunyi ng rakista bilang pagkilala sa kanilang sining.

Ang talento ay kaloob ng Diyos na dapat lamang pagyamanin upang maging kapaki-pakinabang sa tao at sa lipunan.  Ang isang larangan katulad ng sining ng ay may sariling kultura na nililikha ng mga taong gumagalaw dito.  Subalit higit sa pagyakap sa isang kultura ay ang  personal na pundasyon at pagpapahalaga ng isang tao.  Ipinakita sa pelikula na taglay ng mga pangunahing tauhan ang mga aspetong ito ng kanilang pagkatao. Nanatili sa kanila ang disiplina sa sarili, focus sa minahal nilang sining at pag-abot sa pangarap.  Kahanga-hanga ang pagkakaibigan nina Odie at Irene.  Sa kabila ng natatanging pag-ibig ni Odie sa kaibigan ay di sya nagdalawang isip na magsakripisyo at unawain ang kaibigan. Samantala mayroon din bahagi ng sakripisyo si Irene para sa kanya.  Nakakatuwa rin panoorin ang samahan ng kanilang banda kung saan may pagkilala sa contribution ng bawat isa sa grupo.  May pag-unawa sa kuwento ng buhay ng bawat isa at naging daan upang magsilbing inspirasyon at hugutan ng lakas ng bawat isa upang magpatuloy. Isang napapanahong pelikula ang Rakenrol lalo na sa mga kabataan at  magulang.  May malalim na mensahe ng pagpapalago ng sarili at inspirasyon sa pag-abot ng mga pangarap at pakikipagkapwa.  Bagamat positibo ang mensahe ng pelikula ay sagana ito sa linya ng pagmumura at mga eksena ng magulong gigs ng mga rakista na di angkop sa mga batang manonood.