THERE BE DRAGONS

CAST: Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, Dougray Scott, Unax Ugalde,Olga Kurylenko, Pablo Lapadula, Golshifteh Farahani, Rusty Lemorande, Ana Torrent, Alfonso Bassave; DIRECTOR: Roland Joffé; WRITER: Roland Joffé; GENRE: Drama;

RUNNING TIME: 117 minutes

Technical Assessment:  3.5

Moral Assessment:  3.5
Cinema Rating: For viewers 14 years old and above

There be dragons is the story of London-based investigative journalist Robert Torres (Dougray Scott), who visits Spain to research a book about Josemaría Escrivá (Charlie Cox), the controversial founder of Opus Dei. But, Robert hits a wall, both professionally and personally, when his most promising source—his own father, Manolo Torres (Wes Bentley)—turns out to be his least cooperative one. Robert begins to unearth his father’s toxic secrets when he learns that Manolo was not only born in the same Spanish town as Josemaría, but that they were childhood friends and attended the same seminary. The two men take radically different paths in life, with Josemaría dedicating his life to his faith while Manolo is swept into the brutal and tumultuous Spanish Civil War.  Manolo descends into a dangerous and jealous obsession when the beautiful Hungarian revolutionary Ildiko (Olga Kurylenko) doesn’t return his affections and instead gives herself to the courageous military leader, Oriol (Rodrigo Santoro).  As Robert continues to unearth the secrets of Josemaría’s life and Manolo’s mysterious anger, their overlapping journeys are revealed with the truths and sorrows of their past choices, which compels Manolo to confront his own secret with one last opportunity of forgiveness.

With such a star-studded cast and crew, there is no reason There be dragons cannot pull off a memorable film.  It is written and directed by two-time Academy Award-nominee Roland Joffé (The Mission, The Killing Fields, City of Joy) and stars Charlie Cox (Stardust, Casanova), Wes Bentley (American Beauty, Ghost Rider), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Max Payne), Emmy Award-winning actor Derek Jacobi (Gladiator, The Golden Compass), Dougray Scott (Mission Impossible II, Ever After) and Rodrigo Santoro (300, Che).  Its art director is Academy Award-winner Eugenio Zanetti (Restoration, What Dreams May Come), its costume designer is Academy Award®-winner Yvonne Blake (What Dreams May Come), and its makeup designer is Academy Award-winner Michele Burke (Quest for Fire, Dracula).  It is superbly edited by no less than Academy Award-nominee Richard Nord (The Fugitive), and photo-directed by Gabriel Beristain (Caravaggio).  Whew!

In case you are wondering if this is another kung fu movie, take heart.   The title There be dragons is borrowed from the words supposedly found on medieval maps indicating unexplored territory, Hic sunt dracones, which refers to the experiences in life which cause people to suffer and to react in different ways.  Only by acknowledging and dealing with those “dragons”, director Joffé suggests, can we escape the cycle of vengeance and dehumanization which so marked the twentieth century and still marks today’s world.  Says Joffé: “I think that’s what Josemaría was teaching, again and again, to people going through anguishing experiences: to connect to the humanity not only of those who are suffering but also of those who are causing them to suffer.  But just in case the mention of “Josemaria Escriva” scares you away, know that this is not a movie to proselytize its audience.  It is a polished work of art, a professionally crafted epic tale of revolutionaries and saints in a time of civil war; a story of love and heroism amid jealousy, hatred and violence; and a heartbreaking drama about the power of forgiveness to break the chains of the past. 

     

IN TIME

CAST:Amanda Seyfried, Justin Timberlake, Johnny Galecki, Matt Bomer, Olivia Wilde, Vincent Kartheiser;DIRECTOR:Andrew Niccol;WRITER:Andrew Niccol;FILM PRODUCER:Amy Israel, Eric Newman, Kristel Laiblin, Marc Abraham;GENRE:Crime/Gangster / Sci-fi / Thriller;RUNNING TIME:110 minutes

Technical Assessment:  3.5
Moral Assessment:  2.5
Cinema Rating: For viewers 14 years old and above

It is 2061.  People have been genetically altered to stop aging at 25 and then to live one more year.  Unless they can trade—buy or sell, spend or earn—the time they have left to live, they will be timed off at age 26.  Time is their only currency; they pay for daily needs with the time they have; and they earn time as payment for their work.  One could die betting his entire time in a casino; one could also win a thousand years or more by gambling.  Twenty-eight year-old Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) lives an ordinary hand-to-mouth existence with his mother Rachel Salas (Olivia Wilde) in the ghetto where people die everyday for lack of opportunities to extend their life.  One night Will saves the life of a 105-year old rich man Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer) who is tired of living anyway and so transfers his remaining 106 years to Will while he’s asleep.  With over a century to spend, Will decides to see how the rich in another time zone live.  There he beats the casino dealer, the 95-year-old time-lending businessman Philippe Weis (Vincent Kartheiser), father of 27-year-old Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried), and there starts a mad gamble for time.

It is an intriguing premise that In Time offers, teasing the imagination to create scenarios of immortality.  There may be many loopholes in the filming but these are more than compensated by the fascinating ideas peddled by writer-director Andrew Niccol.  It is engaging, to say the least, as one possibility follows another in the ways time is used as currency.  The time that remains of a person’s life is measured in 13 digits representing years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds that flash like a luminous digital clock on the forearm.  For instance, a bus ride could cost you two hours; a cup of coffee, four hours; a fancy car, 59 years, and so on.  But you could live to a million years if you’re a shrewd time-lender like Weis, or a ruthless robber who at gunpoint steal time from people.  How does time pass hands?  Simply by arm-to-arm contact.  Your life practically ticks away by the second; once you reach 13 zeroes, you’re gone.

This is sci-fi that you can take seriously for the subject matter is not science per se but mortality and the human desire to be immortal.  The message is underscored in the dialogue between ghetto boy Will Salas and the centenarian from the opulent side of the fence Henry Hamilton.  What would you do if you were in Hamilton’s shoes?  Is it all right to give your time to time-thieves if you think you’ve seen it all and wouldn’t want to live longer?  Is it okay to rob the rich in order to give to the poor?  If you had the choice would you want to live forever?  The most profound character in In Time,Henry Hamilton, says in effect: “There comes time when you tell yourself it’s enough… your body doesn’t age (he’s been 25 for 80 years) but your mind does, and that’s tiring… everybody wants to be immortal but to be immortal you must die…”  In Timewill fascinate young and old alike but you’ll get the full benefit if you close your eyes to its flaws and stay sober  while enjoying it.

Haunted 3D

CAST:Krishna Bhatt, Mimoh Chakraborty, Twinkle Bajpai;DIRECTOR:Vikram Bhatt
GENRE: Horror;LOCATION: Malaysia;RUNNING TIME:140 minutes

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

Rehan (Mimoh Charaborty), an  MBA graduate of Harvard University, is sent by his Dad to negotiate for the sale of the family-acquired property. It is a  century old house called Glen Manor. On his arrival at the site, he learns about the series of mysterious deaths of which the people associate with presence of evil spirits in the old house. When he experiences strange happenings in the house  by himself, he thinks it is smart to give what people say about the house the benefit of the doubt. He starts to trace back the real story about the house. He finds out through a mysterious letter written by a certain Meera (Twinkle Bajpal) about the incidents in the house 80 years ago. Further, he learns from a strange guy that the mysterious screams and evil happenings are caused by two spirits ---  the evil one who imprisoned the other spirit in the house. The house can only be freed from haunting if the link between the two spirit will be unlocked.

 "Haunted 3D" has an interesting storyline out of creative imagination of linking past to the present. The subplots provide continuity to connect the elements of time, risks and love interest. The production design created a good setting for the overall theme of the film. The musical score and camera angles and effects are commendable. Whilst sound effects effectively established scary and suspense in the scenes, it is a bit loud and the screams can be annoying at some point. The good story and effects saved the weakness in the acting. Somehow the director can be credited in transforming the lead actors into lovable characters. Overall, the film Haunted 3D can keep the viewer hooked for its entire run of over two hours.

The film is about courage to know the truth out of a mystery, decision to take the risk, saving life and spirit, recognizing the supreme power of God over evil, putting heart in what you do, falling in love and sacrificing. The lead character shows both courage and humility when he takes the risk of journeying toward unlocking the mystery at the same time seeking advice from people whom he thought can help. Although the story is obviously a fiction, the film offers lessons inspired by positive values. However, the 2-hour run can be stressful for young viewers. 

ASWANG

CAST: Lovi Poe, Paulo Avelino, Albie Casino, Juliane Ward, Bembol Roco, Precious Lara Quigaman, Mark Abaya ;DIRECTOR: Jerrold Tarog; STORY AND SCREENPLAY: Jerrold Tarog, Aloy Adlawan;PRODUCER: Regal Films;GENRE: Horror; LOCATION: Manila, Pampanga; RUNNING TIME: 110 minutes

Technical Assessment: 3

Moral Assessment: 2.5

Cinema Rating: For viewers 14 years old and above

Si Daniel (Paulo Avelino) ay isang hired killer na kasamang inutusang patayin ang isang pamilya. Ngunit hahayaan niyang makatakas and dalawang batang anak (Albie Casino at Julianne Ward)  ng kanilang pinaslang. Dahil dito’y kakailanganin nilang hanapin at sundan ang dalawang bata. Mapapadpad ang dalawang bata sa isang probinsiya na pinamamahayan pala ng mga nakakatakot na aswang na kung tawagin ay Ab-wak. Ang isa sa mga uri nila na si Hasmin (Lovi Poe) ay may kabutihang taglay at hindi na niya nais pa ang ginagawa ng mga uri nila. Ipagtatanggol niya ang dalawang bata at ililigtas sa kapahamakan at kalaunan ay makikilala din niya si Daniel at kapwa sila mabibighani sa isa’t-isa. Ngunit nasa panganib ang buhay nilang lahat dahil si Hasmin ay nakatakda nang ipakasal sa nuno ng mga aswang upang higit pang mapalakas ang pwersa ng kanilang lahi. Makatakas pa kaya silang lahat gayong higit ang kapangyarihan nito kaysa mga tao?

Isang pelikulang naglayong magpakita ng maraming elemento at aspeto ng buhay ang pelikulang Aswang. Nagawa nitong ilahad ang sanga-sangang kuwento ng iba’t-ibang tauhan. Malinis sa kabuuan ng pelikula lalo na kung ang pagututuunan ng pansin ay ang kuha ng kamera at special effects. Naging kapani-paniwala ang lahat dahil masusi nitong iningatan ang maraming detalye. Mahusay din ang tunog at musika. Ang mga nagsiganap ay pawang magagaling din. Simple ang kanilang naging atake sa pag-arte upang mapalutang ang daloy ng kuwento. Nagkulang lang marahil ang pelikula sa pananakot. Para sa isang pelikulang katakutan, hindi gaanong makapanindig balahibo ang mga eksena sa pelikula. Ngunit ang pinakamahalaga’y naghain naman ito ng isang bagong kwentong aswang.

Ang aswang sa pelikula ay hindi lamang ang mga aswang na nilalang kundi pati na rin ang mga taong parang  o daig pa ang aswang kung pumatay ng kapwa-tao. Hindi tuloy malaman ng mga manonood kung kanino ba tataya…sa mga halimaw ba na nangangain ng tao o sa mga mamamatay-tao? Pinalabas ng pelikula na kung tutuusin ay mas may pusong tao pa ang mga halimaw kaysa sa mga tao kung minsan. Sa ipinakitang kabutihan ni Hasmin sa kabila ng kanyang pagiging aswang ay maaring maging insipirasyon sa sinumang nag-aakalang ang kanilang kasalanan ay walang kapatawaran at hindi na sila maaring magbago ng buhay. Ang pagbabagong-buhay ang siyang hinahangad ng dalawang pangunahing tauhan. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng pangyayari sa pelikula, natupad kaya nila ito? Paano paninindigan ng mga aswang na maari silang mabuhay ng walang sinasaktan o pinapatay kung ito ang natural sa lahi nila? Napahamak si Daniel sa paglalagay ng batas sa kanyang mga kamay ngunit hindi malinaw at maigting na makikita ang  kanyang pagsisisi bagama’t basa sa kanyang mga mata na di niya nais ang kanyang ginagawa. Ganun din si Hasmin na naninindigang hindi siya magkakalat ng lagim. Nanatiling dalisay ang kanilang hangarin ngunit hindi maitatangging ginamit pa rin nila ang kani-kanilang kapangyarihang itim upang puksain ang mga kaaway. Sa bandang huli, sila’y pawang mga bayani pa ng mga bata sa pelikula. Nakababahala ito ng bahagya at nararapat na maipaliwanag sa mga batang manonood.

I don't know how she does it

CAST: Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Munn, Seth Meyers, Kelsey Grammer, Christina Hendricks, Jane Curtin;DIRECTOR:Douglas McGrath;Writer:Aline Brosh McKenna;GENRE:Comedy;RUNNING TIME: 95 minutes

Moral assessment: 3.5
Technical assessment: 3
Rating: Viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance

Kate is a successful finance executive who haggles time between career and family and survives it to the amazement of people around her. A partnership with New York based businessman Jack makes her career shines even more and signals no stopping for her. But the job that requires her to do quick frequent travels always compromises her promises to her children particularly with her seven year old daughter. Good for her that her understanding husband Richard is always at a rescue to make up for her. How long can this set-up work?

A novel adaptation, 'I Don't Know How She Does It' offers an unconventional story of a woman who is constantly in cramming mode but well-loved by family and admired by colleagues. The character of Jack is a big twist in a rather predictable story. It adds spice when viewers wonder whether the business partnership will mutually go beyond. The interview and narration inserts help in understanding the characters. At some point the editing struggles to establish the with of settings in Boston and in New York. But acting is good and so are the musical scoring. The film has good cinematography and compositions. 

The reason why Kate can do things in her plate is because she is a woman who is typically dedicated to her family and providing for them. But most of all she has supportive people around her. It appears that everybody loves her except herself. The tolerance of the husband is commendable. Burn out is a tendency for very busy people. The family is a blessing and therefore should not be a source of setback rather an inspiration for a person to move forward. At the time of confusion, the support of the family is important.