Matakot Ka Sa Kulam

Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Dennis Trillo, TJ Trinidad, Ces Quesada, Sharlene San Pedro, Kris Bernal, Irma Adlawan; Director: Jun Lana; Producer: Lily Y. Monteverde; Screenwriter: Jun Lana; Genre: Horror/ Drama; Distributor: Regal Films; Location: Manila/ Batangas; Running Time: 100 min.;

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

Nagka-amnesia si Mira (Judy Ann Santos) bunga ng isang matinding aksidente. Hindi naman sumuko ang asawa niyang si Paul (Dennis Trillo) sa pag-aalaga sa kanya at sa pagpapaalala kung sino siya. Unti-unti ay inilalapit ni Paul si Mira sa kanilang nag-iisang anak, si Sophie (Sharlene San Pedro) na isang bulag. Habang pinagtatagni ni Mira ang kanyang pagkatao ay may nakikita siyang isang babaeng nagmumulto. Kasabay nito ay ang pagkakatuklas niya iba pang katotohanan sa kanyang pagkatao sa pamamagitan ni Dave (TJ Trinidad) na siyang tanging pinagtaguan niya ng kanyang mga sikreto. Isa sa mga sikretong ito ay ang kanyang kakambal na si Maria (Judy Ann Santos) at ang kanilang pinagmulang angkan ng mga mangkukulam. Si Maria nga kaya ang babaeng nagmumulto at hindi matahimik? Habang tumintindi ang banta sa buhay ng pamilya ni Mira ay unti-unti rin siyang napapalapit sa katotohanan ng kanyang pagkatao.

Isang matagumpay na pelikulang katakutan ang Kulam. Maayos ang daloy nito at talaga namang tatakutin ka mula simula hanggang wakas. Mahusay ang pagkakasulat at pagkakadirehe. Tamang-tama ang timpla ng drama at horror at sakto sa bilang ang pagtatago at pagbubunyag ng mga sikreto. Mahusay din ang pagkaka-arte ng lahat ng tauhan lalo na si Judy Ann Santos na gumanap ng isang tunay na mapaghamong papel. Maging ang mga pangalawang tauhan ay pawang mahuhusay din tulad nina Sharlene San Pedro na mahusay sa pagkakaganap na bulag at Irma Adlawan bilang kanilang inang mangkukulam. Lubos na nakatulong din ang maayos na pag-iilaw at disenyong pamproduksiyon. Bagama’t halatang ang ibang eksena ay hango mula sa mga Korean horror, nagawa pa rin nitong bigyan ng tunay na Pilipinong bihis ang pelikula dahil sa tema nitong tunay na malapit sa kalinangang Pilipino.

Totoo nga kaya ang kulam? Ito ang tanong na matagal ng bumabagabag sa bawat ordinaryong Pilipino na makakarinig ng tungkol dito. Totoo man o hindi, isang bagay ang malinaw, ito ay hindi kagagawan ng kabutihan kundi ng kasamaan. Ipinakita ng pelikula ang lakas ng kapangyarihang itim na ito ngunit ipinakita rin dito na sa bandang huli, ang kabutihan pa rin ang magwawagi. Higit na makapangyarihan ang pag-ibig at pagmamahal sa anumang mahika o vertud tulad ng sa kulam. Marami nga lang mga eksenang nangangailangan ng gabay ng magulang sakaling manood ang mga kabataan. Nariyan ang pagpapakamatay, pakiki-apid at ilang mga nakakakilabot na eksena na maaaring magdulot ng trauma o bangungot sa mga bata.

Make It Happen

Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Riley Smith, Tessa Thompson, John Reardon, Ashley Roberts, Julissa Bermudez, Leigh Enns, Karen LeBlanc; Director: Darren Grant; Producers: ; Screenwriters: Duane Adler, Nicole Avril ; Music: Paul Haslinger; Editor: Scoot Richter; Genre: Comedy Drama; Cinematography: David Claessen; Distributor: The Weinstein Company; Location: Illinois, USA; Running Time: 90min.;

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

Lauryn Kirk (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) a small-town young woman of 21 years, from Indiana travels to Chicago, looking forward to making her dreams of becoming a professional dancer come true by enrolling at the Chicago School of Music and Dance. She does not pass the audition however; and a second attempt to qualify is unlikely to be given her. Unwilling to return home to her brother Joel, with whom she had worked as book keeper at the garage left to them by their parents who had passed on. Now alone dining at Ruby’s, an exclusive entertainment club, Dana a waitress/dancer (Tessa Thompson) makes her acquaintance, likes her and invites her to stay at her pad. Lauryn is given a job as an accountant in the club. Her new found friends and workmates eventually discover her talent for dancing, and her liking for it. She catches herself irristably moving with the music and moving with the dancers doing ballet, Hip-Hop and mostly the Burlesque. Disc jockey Russ (Riley Smith) encourages and helps her with his music. Then Dana and he prod her to try again to get into the Chicago School of Music and Dance. Brother Joel shows up at one of her club performances. He is upset that she was not at school but in a club dancing. He also feels bad at her leaving him and a failing garage. Lauryn goes straight home. Joel finds her at the garage working on the accounting books.

The movie centers on a young woman who feels that it is about time she should be in pursuit of what she wants in her life. She sets out without making her farewell to anyone, not even her brother. A simple-town young lady does not know anyone outside her home-town nor what to do when things do not go her way. But she is lucky to meet the staff at Ruby’s and have their sympathy and advice. But she has to go through her share of uncertainty and difficulties as she copes and makes decisions. She gets rejected; is envied by rivals, works hard at her dance rehearsals, deals with critics, among others. The movie shows and tells a clear story, a touching one even, although this is a common tale not something exceptional and different. Some frequent movie viewers could find in other films variations to this story. The attraction to this movie, especially for the young viewers, would be the lengthy presentation of the dancing, most of the numbers are brisk, intricate and lively. Mary worked up a good character in Lauryn and was very energetic in her dancing.

What Lauryn learned and how she became a more confident and decisive person came from her various experience. She did not think that she should go back to Chicago and request for another audition; but she is taught never to give up, but be ready to give it another try. Her justifiable earnestness and insistence touched the audition panel and she was given the opportunity to enroll for the course. By her immediate willingness to get back to her small-town and check on the garage’s failing status showed Joel her willingness to make a sacrifice and help him. He saw her generosity, and also that she should be on her way to make her own dreams come true. So he sends her back to Chicago. She was on time and passed the entrance.

As this movie is likely to attract the teenage audience, it should be mentioned that there are some long sequences of dancers in partial nudity performing vigorous and delicate body movements, that CINEMA has given it a V14 rating, allowing young people of 14 years and up to view it..

Three Kingdoms:Resurrection of the Dragon

Cast: Andy Lau, Maggie Q, Sammo Hung, Damian Lau, Andy On; Director: Daniel Lee; Producer: Taiwon Entertainment; Screenwriter: Daniel Lee, Guanzhong Lao; Music: Henry Lai; Genre: Action/Historical Epic; Cinematography: Tony Cheung; Location: China; Running Time: 102 min.;

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and above

The story is set in the third century when China experiences terrible bloodbaths and warfare after the fall of the Han Empire. Regional warlords fight for power and glory as they slice up the country into Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom of Wei in the North ruled by the cruel, scheming Cao Cao (Damian Lau), the Kingdom of Wu in the east under Sun Quan and the weakest of the three, the Western Kingdom of Shu ruled by the benevolent Liu Bei (Hua Yueh). In the Kingdom of Shu, a young idealistic commoner Zhao Zilong (Andy Lau) enlists in the army with the dream of uniting China and bringing about peace. He meets a veteran of the wars Luo-Ping-an (Sammo Hung) who comes from his own village and they pledge eternal friendship and brotherhood. Possessing extraordinary martial skills, Zilong rapidly rises up the ranks through his remarkable victories and daring exploits, among them successfully protecting the royal family of Liu and killing the great Cao Cao of the Kingdom of Wei. He becomes known as the “invincible general” and for several decades goes to war for his king undefeated with the ultimate aim of uniting the country. Though Zilong is greatly honored, Ping-an his “brother” hardly gets recognition and thus Ping-an harbors resentment and envy towards Zilong. Upon the death of the King Cao Cao of Wei, his granddaughter Cao Ying (Maggie Q) eventually becomes commander of the army. Tutored by the callous Cao Cao, Cao Ying becomes a formidable astute opponent of Zilong. Will Cao Ying get her revenge? How will Ping-an’s jealously affect the final battles? Will there be peace?

The movie tells the engaging story of a charismatic Chinese hero Zhao Zilong against the backdrop of a turbulent historical era. Based on the great, 14th century semi-fictional classical novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanghong, the film tries to approximate the epical scope of the novel. The spectacle of war is here vividly portrayed through the well-choreographed battles of the various armies with their innumerable number of combatants impressively geared in battle array and all set in vast desert landscapes. The plot of the film covers several decades and one gets the feeling that the film is rushed, trying to do so much in just one film with so many events and so many characters, many of whom are just glossed over. The big budget film is fast paced and has some stylistic cinematography. The last 30 minutes of the film has a spectacular duel of wit and strategy between two highly skilled martial artists Andy Lau and Maggie Q and it has many of its “character” moments. Andy Lau practically dominates the film and gives depth to his role so that his character Zilong becomes interesting and riveting. Though her role is limited, Maggie Q gives an impressive performance as the calculating, cruel master tactician who plays the Chinese stringed instrument pipa as the battle rages around her.

Because of the proliferation of battles in the film, a viewer may get the impression at first that Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon is just another long war picture with the usual lamentable butchery, carnage and violence. But on second thought, one realizes it has also commendable values. In Zilong, for example, one sees the desire to do something heroic for his country, its unification and peace; the dedication to duty and loyalty to authority; the determination and courage as well as the willingness to sacrifice to achieve his goal. Also the film projects what takes place in the human heart under certain circumstances. Like so many people who are passed over or unrecognized, and obsessed with honor and glory, Ping-an feeds his envy towards the successful Zilong his “brother” and betrays him who has defended him and risked his life to save him. Only to realize too late the far reaching effects of what he thought was a simple act of self-interest. Also the movie viewer notices how the powerful people in the movie uses others for their ends without scruples. Like the woman commander Cao Ying who sacrifices a part of her army by setting them on fire for the purpose of also burning the enemy. The most poignant realization takes place at the end when the much honored Zilong realizes his human limitations. He is greatly skilled, gifted and heroic and wants so much to effect the unification of China in his time as he believes that “man can prevail his destiny”. But though his goals are noble, he realizes that there are things that are not meant for him. He may have achieved greatness but not all that he wants.

The Mutant Chronicles

ASSESSMENT ONLY
Cast: John Meleovich, Ron Perlman; Director: Simon Hunter; Producers: Edward Pressman, Tim Dennison, Peter La Terriere et al; Screenwriter: Philip Eisner; Music: Richard Wellsi; Editors: Sean Barton, Alison Lewis; Genre: Adventure/Action/Detective; Cinematography: Geoff Boyle; Distributor: Pioneer Films; Location: Europe; Running Time: 110 min.;

Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and above

The greatest enemy of humanity represented by a machine cannot be overcome by human beings without the power of God. A group of volunteer soldiers from different continents try to destroy the machine and offer their lives for all others to live.

My Best Friend's Girl

Cast: Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Jason Biggs, Alec Baldwin; Director: Howard Deutch; Producers: Guymon Casady, Dane Cook, Adam Herz, Doug Johnson, Barry Katz, Gregory Lessans, Josh Shader, Brian Volk-Weiss; Screenwriter: Jordan Cahan; Music: John Debney; Editor: Seth Flaum; Genre: Sexy Drama/ Comedy; Cinematography: Jack N. Green; Distributor: Lionsgate; Location: Massachusetts, USA ; Running Time: 100 min.;

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

Tank (Dane Cook), a call center agent and self-acclaimed “expert” on women psyche takes on a part time job as a break-up fixer for men friends who want to win back their women. This "part time job" does not spare his best friend Dustin (Jason Biggs) who seeks his "expertise" and pays him to win his lady love Alexis (Kate Hudson). Taking the word of Tank that the deal will be a mere plain job, Dustin is thankful and he thinks Tank's tactics are working to his advantage. Tank takes the job in consideration of his friendship only to realize that Alexis is not an easy subject. However, the two of them quickly become frequent sex partners and discovery of this affair hurts Dustin. How will this betrayal affect the friendship and what will happen to the affair of Tank and Alexis.

My Best Friend's Girl tries to present a comedy which is not actually funny and a love story without the context of love. Rather it is a full package of vulgar words and sexual innuendos. Though sex scenes are short and not too explicit, they are frequent and carried out as an overall theme in the entire film. Acting is minimal and so are cinematic effects. The director fails to project the element of true love in what is meant to be a love story. Overall the film is technically below average.

Sex and love are things that can bring about a lot of good in people's lives. This film however, distorts the meaning of both and worst, presents women as sex objects and very weak creatures. It presents a pattern of break-up and reconciliation among relationships as orchestrated by a person who appears to have mastered women psyche and yet does not show any sensitivity towards them. Although the film ends showing how friendships can pick up from betrayal through forgiveness, acceptance, letting go and giving way, it was obviously not the main message that was carried out in the entire run of the film. Excessive use of vulgar words, implied sexual contents, frontal nudity, gender stereotyping of women as sex objects are offensive matters evident in this film.

Disaster Movie

Cast: Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnello, Gary “Thang”, Johnson; Directors: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer; Producers: Jason Friedberg, Peter Safran, Aaron Seltzer; Screenwriters: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer; Music: Christopher Lennertz; Editor: Peck Prior; Genre: Comedy/ Spoof; Cinematography: Shawn Maurer; Distributor: Lionsgate; Location: Louisiana, USA; Running Time: 90min.;

Technical Assessment: 2
Moral Assessment: 2
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

Will (Matt Lanter) is plagued by dreams of apocalypse just right before his super duper sweet sixteen party at his house (even though he is already 25). Terrified of his own dreams, Will also loses his girlfriend Amy (Vanessa Minillo) who leaves him for someone else. Will’s friends Calvin (Gary Johnson) and Lisa (Kimberly Kardasian) together with a parody of characters from past movies, e.g. Juno, Enchanted Princess, experience a series of disasters from the night of Will’s party. As they all struggle for survival, they randomly meet and encounter various characters lifted from recent and not-so-recent-movies. Ultimately, Will has to save Amy from an impending disaster as he learns that Amy’s location, a museum, is on the verge of destruction.

Another spoof of various movies from the same makers of Scary Movie, Meet the Spartans and Epic Movie, Disaster Movie is true to its title with its disastrous moviemaking taste. With tidbits of scenes taken from past “hits” and “not-so-hits”, the film is devoid of any originality. There is no soul, no humor. There really is nothing in the movie. Audiences are sometimes given a hard time guessing the spoof’s inspiration and the source of a character’s parody. If one has not seen yet the movies being spoofed in Disaster Movie, never will he ever appreciate those scenes. Movie icons are constantly ridiculed in the film. There are offensive stereotypical portrayals of women, homosexuals and the religious that are all done in bad taste.

Disaster Movie is consistent with the values or non-values it presents. Nudity, gore and violence are scattered all over the place. There are characters who are almost nude and there are some scenes suggesting women half-nude. The tamest form could be that of women showing cleavage and wearing bikinis. Being trigger-happy is presented as funny and violence among and against women is considered acceptable. A pregnant teenager is seen drinking alcohol and whose water bag raptures profusely enough to bathe two men. A woman takes from under her skirt a crystal skull, indicating that it is hidden all along inside her. Being a spoof movie, such scenes are supposed to be funny but they turn out to be malicious and extremely offensive. Although there is no graphic representation of sex and violence, only ridiculous depiction of gore and suggestive sexual and homosexual connotations, young audiences should be warned and guided by adults for such scenes may negatively influence impressionable minds.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Cast: America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, Blake Lively; Director: Sanaa Hamri; Producer: Debra Martin Chasee; Screenwriters: Elizabeth Chandler, Ann Brashares; Music: Rachel Portman; Editor: Melissa Kent; Genre: Teen Comedy; Cinematography: Jim Denault; Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures; Location: USA, Turkey; Running Time: 117 min.;

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

The story is mainly based on Ann Brashares 4th novel with storylines from the 2nd and 3rd novels. This picture begins 3 years after the first movie adaption with the girls now in college and are about to spend their summer separately with the pair of jeans that magically fits all four following each one’s adventure. Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) celebrates her 10th month anniversary with boyfriend Brian (Leonardo Nam) by sleeping with him. The next morning she is horrified to find out that the condom broke. Amidst the pregnancy scare, she goes off to Manhattan to take summer studies on film making. Lena (Alexis Bledel), heartbroken after learning her Greek boyfriend was recently married, takes up art classes and falls for the male nude model. Soccer player Bridget (Blake Lively) has a hard time dealing with her father and leaves for Turkey for an archeological dig to find out meaning in her life. Carmen (America Ferrera) tries to engineer a summer reunion with her friends only to find out they already had made prior plans. Feeling left out, she sets off to Vermont to work backstage for a play.

One commendable value of the movie is in the presentation and resolution of the conflicts. They are believable enough to provide a good balance of realism and hope. The cast play their part well and provide the heart and soul of the acting. Technically, the movie is well crafted with good camera angling and well paced editing. The production design suits the characterizations well as it perfectly brings out the personalities of the girls. Music is subtle and blends with the scene. Over-all, this is a feel good, light and inspiring movie about friendship.

The movie’s strongest theme is friendship and how individual struggles, mistakes and problems do not hinder their relationship to grow and deepen. Sisterhood… is like a good friend we can always run to in times of trouble, confusion and insecurity.

However, since the obvious intended audience of the movie are teenage girls, parents should be cautioned that while premarital sex is shown to have physical and emotional consequences regretfully it is not presented as totally wrong and characters who have engaged in it are not shown to have any remorse save for a momentary pregnancy scare. Sexual intimacy within the context of marriage is not the emphasis, instead what the film presents is the objectionable notion that pre-marital sex with two people in love is okay. Young audiences may be confused with the presentation of this theme and need to be guided by mature and responsible adults.

Bangkok Dangerous

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Shahkrit Yamnarm, Charlie Yeung, Panward Hemmanee; Directors: Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang; Producers: Nicolas Cage, Norman Golightly, William Sherak, Jason Shuman; Screenwriters: Jason Richman, Oxide Pang Chun; Music: Brian Tyler; Editors: Mike Jackson, Curran Pang; Genre: Action; Cinematography: Decha Srimantra; Distributor: Lionsgate; Location: Bangkok, Thailand; Running Time: 100 min.;

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

Joe (Nicolas Cage), an assassin, goes to Bangkok on an assignment to kill four people. He hires pickpocket Kong (Shahkrit Yamnam) as his assistant and messenger. Joe receives the contract from a Bangkok gangster, as to who will be Joe’s specific target, through Kong and a dancer who later on becomes romantically involved with Kong. Joe breaks his own rule of not getting involved with people on his missions where he takes Kong as his “student” because he sees him as a younger version of himself. Joe also meets and falls for a beautiful deaf-mute pharmacist (Charlie Yeung). After Joe has successfully done his three assignments of killing “bad people” or “bad for somebody” as he says, the fourth one seems to be crucial and difficult because Kong has told him that the said target is a good man. As Joe’s days pass by in Bangkok, he starts to grow a conscience which makes it difficult for him to carry on his line of work.

There’s nothing really big nor spectacular in Bangkok Dangerous except for the expected performance of Nicolas Cage which fans would surely appreciate. However, non-fans would be disappointed with Cage’s haggard look even in supposedly romantic scenes. There is no chemistry among love partners in the movie. One does not see any romantic link whatsoever between any of the characters. Cage and Yamnam are able to connect as student-mentor but the shallow and hollow script does not provide further depth to their characters endear them to the audience. The plot is quite cheesy and mushy to the point of being predictable and soap operatic. There is an attempt to make this movie an exceptional action picture but still the film fails in so many ways to excite the audience and to fulfill expectations.

Joe’s character, as the movie says, is an amoral character because he only assassinates and kills “bad for somebody” people. However, he also kills any link that would lead to him as a suspect including his hired assistants or messengers. Either way, killing is immoral and there is no way one can justify it as amoral. Putting Bangkok Dangerous into context, the film tries to explore the dark world of crime, sex, drugs and violence in a place that is considered to be the “sex capital” of the world so it is inevitable to include scenes with a degree of sex, violence, substance use and abuse. Joe’s character has been doomed and redemption is uncertain. Kong’s willingness to be trained in the dark world is also quite objectionable as this may be deemed as right by the very young audiences and this somehow gives a bad light to the concept of mentoring. There are also scenes of gore that leaves a desensitizing effect on the audience’s tolerance of violence. There is cursing, fighting, lewd dancing, alcohol drinking, so young viewers should be guided.

I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust and Love You)

Cast: Jolina Magdangal, Rufa Mae Quinto, Dennis Trillo, Eugene Domingo, Mark Herras, Rhian Ramos; Director: Mark A. Reyes; Producer: Annette Gozon-Abrogar; Screenwriter: Senedy Que; Music: Vincent de Jesus; Editor: Maryo Ignacio; Genre: Drama’ Adventure/ Sexual Comedy; Cinematography: Jose Linao; Distributor: GMA Films; Location: Italy, Manila, Spain; Running Time: 100 min.;

Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance

Si Destiny o Des (Jolina Magdangal) ay isang housekeeper sa isang luxury cruise ship sa Europa. Isang dalaga na maraming pangarap si Des katulad ng makapangibang-bayan partikular ang makarating sa lugar na Venice, Italy, maging mang-aawit, makatulong sa pamilya at matagpuan ang lalaking nakatadhana para sa kanya sa gabay ng isang pekeng hula. Ang mga pangarap na ito ang nagtulak sa kanya upang magtrabaho sa barko kung saan makikilala niya sina Paolo (Dennis Trillo), Lovely (EugeneDomingo), Stella (Ruffa Mae Quinto), at Nathan (Mark Herras). Isa sa mga pasahero ng barko si Paolo na nangungulila sa banyagang girlfriend na bigla na lang naglaho sa kanyang buhay. Nakitaan ni Des si Paolo na mga senyales na ayon sa manghuhula ay itinakdang lalaki para sa kanya, kaya ganoon na lamang ang effort ni Des na mapalapit dito. Si Lovely, kapwa housekeeper ni Des sa barko, ay isang bigo sa pag-ibig at di na umaasang makapag-asawa pa. Si Stella, isang lounge singer sa barko, ay isang babaing naghahanap ng tunay na magmamahal at magsiseryoso sa kanya. Si Nathan na cabin crew ay isang babaero na maakit sa maganda subalit supladang pasahero na si Phoebe (Rhian Ramos). Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa kanila sa katapusan ng paglalakbay ng barkong sinasakyan nila?

Sanga-sanga ang kwento na pinilit ilagay sa isang pelikula para matapos lang. Hilaw ang paghahatid ng kombinasyong drama at comedy (o dramedy) dahil nga sa kawalan ng sentro ng kwento. Bagamat epektibo ang mga hirit na patawa nina Eugene at Ruffa Mae, hindi naman ito nakatulong upang mapalalim ang mga mensaheng nais ipahatid ng mga tauhan na at ng buong pelikula. Maliban sa madamdaming pag-uusap nila Pen Medina at Jolina sa telepono at eksena na pagkakatuklas ni Paolo ng pagkamatay ng nawawalang kasintahan, wala ng nailabas pa sa pag-arte ang mga aktor sa pelikula. Bitin sa pagtalakay ng makabuluhang buhay ng OFW sa barko ang pelikula na isang oportunidad na sana. Tila hindi rin masyadong nabigyan ng ibayong kabuluhan ang iba't ibang lugar na ipinakita sa pelikula gayundin ang mga bahagi ng cruise ship na interesante rin sana. Gayunpaman ay maayos at akma ang mga musikang inilapat sa mga eksena at nakatulong ito nang malaki upang magkaroon ng saysay ang pelikula. Sa kabuuan ay nakakaaliw ang pelikula lalo na sa mga eksenang patawa.

Katulad ng inihatid ng pelikula, mahalaga sa pag-abot ng mga pangarap ang determinasyon at tapang na harapin ang mga nakaakibat na lungkot at sakripisyo. Ang isang mabuting anak ay sumusunod din sa bilin ng mga magulang kahit na malayo sa isa't isa. Sa banyagang lugar lalo na sa pagtatrabaho ay dapat manaig ang mahusay na pakikisama upang mayroong suporta sa panahon ng pangangailangan. Maganda ang mensahe ng pelikula tungkol sa pagkakaibigan, pagtanggap ng mga realidad ng buhay, kababaang-loob at pag-ibig. isang punto na dapat siguro ay pagnilayan ng mga manonood ay ang pagpili ng makakasama sa buhay na hindi dapat isinasalalay sa kamay ng manghuhula o mga senyales na sasabihin nito.

Right at Your Door

Cast: Mary McCormack, Rory Cochrane, Tony Perez; Director: Chris Gorak; Producers: Jonah Smith, Palmer West; Screenwriter: Chris Gorak; Music: Tomandandy; Editor: Jeffrey M. Werner; Genre: Disaster; Cinematography: Tom Richmond; Distributor: Viva Film; Location: L.os Angeles, California; Running Time: 96 Min.;

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

Brad (Rory Cochrane), a struggling musician, and his bread winner wife Lexi (Mary McCormack), have just moved into the suburbs of LA. On an ordinary weekday, Lexi goes to work while Brad tends to the house when a series of bombs goes off in several places. Apparently these bombs are laden with a chemical that would cause an exposed person to get very sick and die. Authorities tell the people to lock up in their houses to avoid contamination. Brad spends half the film’s time trying to find his wife and dodging polive and barricades but to no avail. He returns home and seals up his house with the help of the neighbor’s gardener, Alvaro (Tony Perez), leaving a box of provisions outside for Lexi. She finally shows up at their doorsteps - infected, ill and dying. Brad painfully decides to lock her out of the house as he cannot jeopardize his own life.

The premise of the plot has a lot of potential for a touching and riveting human drama however, the script has failed to develop the characters and establish a relationship with the audience that it is hard to relate with them to offer any sympathy for their predicament. The scripting and plot development could have been greatly improved as it is presented like an over-stretched 30 minute production. The acting is commendable, while the sound and music are suitable. Technically, the movie is adequate with good vision from Gorak and a brilliant interplay of grays and blues with a tight, though jerky, framing. Richmond is able to recreate a dramatically pristine but terrifying ash fall effect. For a low-budget film, the production is satisfactory.

In the movie Right At Your Door “Till death do us part”… sounds meaningless when a couple is faced with a critical choice that might jeopardize their survival. The spectator realizes that this situation is no longer rare today. Loyalty and sacrifice seems to longer occupy a place in marriage and choosing between the self and the partner becomes easier and easier as people become more self-centered and self-absorbed to care about the person one promised to love and to cherish for the rest of his life.

The movie is also about the fear-mongering encouraged by the media as it throws conflicted information and sensationalism in crisis situations. The media seems to add more confusion and panic than give clarity and guidance. In the end, what we usually regard as the pillar of truth and enlightenment, aggravates a predicament a million times worse than it should be.