So over the week, I was nursing a flu, got my period and the weather has been terrible. Like really terrible that it got into my nerves. So I was like, flu + period + weather = breakdown. Yep! It awoken the drama queen again.

Being the couch potato myself, my only way to recover was to binge-watch films. Totally random films. Well guess what?! I had a total of four just overnight. Out of the four, two were total crap, well to put it nicely it's predictable. What was nice about this exercise is I got to search really good films and can't help but to share it here.

Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)


Well the film got me crying. Huhu not an ugly cry though. I really blame it to the weather. The story is about Celeste and Jesse (well obviously!) *sarcasm alert. Played by Andy Sandberg and Rashida Jones (can I just say that she really looks like Maja Salvador. Looove those eyes). The two were best buds in the universe and they really got along and known each others since forever, not until they were married and got into a lot of fights that both of them decided to separate ways and divorced. They thought that being friends is better for them. Things were going smoothly when one of them decided to move on for reals. Oh, well the film feels so real, you know those films that will really make you examine relationships? Like all kinds of relationship and discovering something within yourself? Here's the teaser and you have to watch it yourselves.

The last long weekend was a bit "so-so" for me since I was nursing a flu and it was like a forced weekend rest for me. In any case, I can't think of anything that will entertain me except of course my default hobby - "couching potato". 

I was looking for a light and feel good movie and I came across this Korean film titled "Fashion King" starring Joo Woon and Sulli with participation from Ahn Jae Hyun (he is the brother of Gianna Jun in the famous Korean Series, The Man Who Came From Stars). It looks really funny from the trailer - or so I thought. I actually underestimated the film to be one of those korean "cliche" romcom stories but the film discusses an issue that is deeper from all the funny remarks - that is bullying. 

The film follows the story of a boy (Joo Woon) who was forced to transfer school due to bullying. In his new school, he found out that the more "fashionable and branded your things are"  the less vulnerable you are to bullying. But this thought was cut short, since he is pitted against a rich and famous student (Ahn Jae Hyun) whose items were all branded. He tried to fit in by buying the latest fashion item but turns out to be fake. He got flak from another student, who turns out to be another victim of fraud. Together, they find the perpetrator who eventually become their "fashion guru" that got them famous in school. The guru taught them that fashion is not about "brand" but of "class". 

The ending was really remarkable as he was forced to face again his past as a bullied student and his reaction? Well it's worth watching for.  

The movie started with lifeless Kenshin being picked up by Fukuyama, his great master, from the shore. This was after Kenshin braved the ocean to save Kaoru in the Kyoto Inferno movie. Through this scene, Kenshin brought its audience back to the time before he was “Battosai”, a hired killer of the New Government. Images of the past haunted Kenshin. He was transported to his weak and younger self, digging graves and burying his community brothers ravished by Samurais. This was before he was taken under Fukuyama’s wing to be an apprentice. After this reverie, we see the defeated Kenshin after his lost with Seta Sojiro, Shishio’s right hand. 

Kenshin plead to his master to teach him the ultimate high heaven style, even that would cost his life. He believes that only this technique would make him defeat Shishio. However, his master doubted if Kenshin have what it takes to learn the technique. His master remarked that he lacks something; and until Kenshin discovers it, Master remarked that he might die in his hands before learning the technique.

To test Kenshin, both need to enter into a battle. The fight ensues; Fukuyama was eager and in serious killing trance while Kenshin was still pondering on what he lacks while dodging the attacks of his master. Kenshin was wounded; fear suddenly embraced him and his survival instinct overtook him. With all his might, he swung his samurai so hard that leave his master dumb-founded. The master stopped. He said, “You already found your will to live again and that is where the ultimate high heaven style is anchored on”. This surprised Kenshin and finally understood what his master was saying. Having killed several people and used as 'killing machine' by the new government, a huge hole was left in Kenshin’s heart. The scene showed that being Battosai mortified Kenshin and with that he inadvertently instilled in his heart that he deserves to die for his life has no meaning at all. 

The "will" to live had struck me for some reason. Like Kenshin, most of us these days have forgotten to fight for our life, for our dreams, and for our will. We entangled ourselves with our mundane activities and our daily grind. We overlook the fact that life is bigger than what is on our table. We become defeated by our everyday struggles and we forgot who we are before our troubles captured us. The result? We become prisoners of the cage that we have built for ourselves. The movie was a reminder that we can be freed from that cage, by going back to our basic need, that is finding our “will” to fight again. Life is an everyday struggle and the moment we accept this and start fearing for our lives, we stop being slaves of our own misery.

I was browsing for movies again, hoping against hope that I will be able to discover some old new film that will inspire me. Then I stumbled upon a 2007 film of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, titled "The Bucket List". This wasn't the film I was supposed to find. I was actually browsing for "Invictus" film since it was recommended by my law school friends. If you are familiar with Imdb.com, there are movies recommended similar to the one you're searching for at the bottom part. The bucket list caught my eye, and voila! I am already searching for it's availability in my favorite "file-sharing" site. :) 

I was captivated by the promising premise of the film. Two terminally ill strangers, and looking for adventures. I was doubtful at first since I'm not really a fan of Jack Nicholson, but I gave in because of Morgan Freeman. His movies never failed me so far!

So there, the movie started with a man walking towards a mountain covered with snow. It was Mr. Carter (Morgan Freeman) narrating how a stranger, named Mr. Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) was the bravest man he has known. Anyway, Mr. Cole here is the owner of the hospital where Mr. Carter was confine. Mr. Cole is insistent to his hospital policy of two-persons-one-room-and-no-exceptions. So when he was suddenly diagnosed with a cancer. he shared the room with Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter is a simple man, a husband for 45 years with Virginia, a father of three and a mechanic. 

Carter and Cole had a love-hate-relationship, but as the story unfolds, their relationship metamorphosed into a budding friendship of a lifetime. In the end, they made a bucket list and somehow fulfilled it. 

The movie touched a soft spot in my heart as it was very surreal. Two men, in their twilight years, living their lives for the first time. I was reminded that it was never too late for everything. They should have been discouraged by their illness but instead, they used this misfortune as an opportunity to start living the life they really wanted. The film brought us to many places; Nepal, India, Hongkong, China, Egypt to name a few. It was narrated simply yet compelling. The film's simplicity is its own power. It will also left you pondering on your faith and all the things you believe in. For my major take away, I think that film is telling us to live our dream. Everyone of us will die, and the only difference that you can make is if you were able to left the Earth with no regret in your heart. To quote Mr. Carter. "And he die with his eyes close, with an open heart." 

It is a highly recommended film. :)

While browsing IMDb.com I came across the film Garden State. It's a 2004 film starred by Natalie Portman and Zach Braff. It's rated 7.6 stars so I downloaded it in a "file-sharing site" which according to my professor in Intellectual Property law is "legal" or is clothed to be "legal". LOL. Whatever means I used in getting a copy of this film is not important what matters is I got a copy in dvdrip. The movie is well..not about the vegetables nor plants! Sorry for trying to be humorous. (insert rolling eyes)  

The film follows Andrew Largeman who went home after 13 years (Oh wait 9 years? Whatever!) to attend the funeral of her mother whom he have not seen since he left home. He is in garden state, well actually garden state was not defined but I guess it's about a state of being caught in the middle of something searching for something like a home or something you can connect to, but actually there is none and it was like a state of being numb without feelings without anything. Whew! That was really wordful for a definition! Anyway, so going back to Largeman, he was in a garden state, he can't feel anything, he can't even cry for God sake! He was like a living dead. Then came Sam (portrayed by Natalie Portman) whom he met in a hospital while he was waiting for his appointment with a neurologist recommended by his father. Sam played mysterious, but it was later on the bluff was discovered, she told him that she is liar and its just a facade to cover up her own wound. She is epileptic.

Anyway, what I liked about the film is the story line itself mirroring the reality and discovering that living is really quite painful sometimes. Like what normal people are feeling about life, whether they acknowledge it or deny it. We are all in search of that infinite abyss. The idea of discovering something, of making a mark, and proving ourselves that somehow causes unhappiness to some people. But at the end of the day, it really does not matter, because it is all EGO. I am personally guilty of this, because we all felt that we are ought to leave make a mark in this world and somewhere, somehow we are like in search of something we do not know that frustrates us, for what?.. nothing! So it is helpful to know that while we are all searching for infinite abyss, we should still get hold of the things that are important. Things that are already within our reach like family, friends..., we should not succumb to the darkness of infinite abyss or else we will also be in garden state with nothing to hold unto,connected to none. Now, it make sense to me the dialogue of Largeman about having lost connection and not finding home because he lose the string going back home, searching for something in the infinite abyss. It's a reminder that while we are pursuing things we thought that are important, we should not forget to tend to our 'home' where we are connected, it's a piece of string that we should not let go no matter what or we will lose everything. 

Ok, so since I was really infected by this film, let me share some viral lines from the movie. 

From Albert: 

From Andrew Largeman: 

You'll see when you move out. It just sort of happens one day, one day and it's just gone. And you can never get it back. It's like you get homesick for a place that doesn't exist. I don't know maybe it's like this rite of passage, you know. You won't have this feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself, you know, for your kids, for the family you start. It's like a cycle or something. I miss the idea of it. Maybe that's all family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place.

Photo credit: http://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/garden-state-quotes-that-seemed-more-profound-in-high-school

I saw a poster of Life of Pi already showing in Philippine theaters tomorrow, which reminds me that today the 38th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is officially closed. This year's MMFF is significant for me, not because of the films but because of my complimentary pass courtesy of our friends in MMDA! With this, I was able to watch the all the eight (8) movie entries.

My Picks

Ok, before I gave my opinion on the matter, I just want to post a disclaimer. First, I am not an expert as regards to these things especially the cinematography and anything technical about films so I will not touch on that. Second, I am rating the films as an average reasonable person who likes to watch films both foreign and local. Lastly, don't judge me! LOL hahahha. 

THE BEST FILM

One More Try

The film is not-your-ordinary-filipino-film-except-for-the-ending since it explored a new concept or a fresh story. It may be not ordinary Filipino film because there are rumors that the screenplay was not original and copied from a film from China (hahaha). Well anyway, still I like how the film was executed, it was not dragging and all the scenes were relevant. What I particularly like was how the prologue of the film was shown in just 10 seconds I think. For me, it was brilliant. (I am dense like that). 

Runner up: Sosy problems

THE UNEXPECTED FILM

Sosy Problems

Sosy problems tackles about what is considered 'off-limits'. Off-limits I say because they indeed discuss the disparity of classes in the Philippines from the poorest of the poor to the 'Super-duper-upper-class'. As the Philippine Economy already booming, the middle class is already rising thus, the rise of the so called 'conyos'. Let's admit it, even the lifestyle column in inquirer reflects the conyo problems, (remember that jeepney thing?) it only shows that they are also humans having their own problems. We should not discriminate rich people for the reason that they are rich. They are just living within their means. It's just sad that the director was not really able to finish the film, there was no closure and it was pretty obvious that the ending part was rushed. 

Runner up: Sisterakas

THE OMG-NOSEBLEED-FILM

Thy Womb

I know the film was critically acclaimed internationally and bagged a lot of awards, but really the filmed made me crazy. I even questioned my capacity of understanding. Hahaha. After I watched the film I was like what? is that it, is it the end? No offense meant, I like the color and the vibe of the film, but it was the story and how the scenes were executed that made me disturbed. It was not coherent!!! It was only a day after I watched the film that brings me to understanding (my own interpretation for my own peace of mind) that maybe Nora Aunor really represents the Philippine Government having a peace negotiation shown by the scenes where the spouses were finding negotiator to find Bembol's new wife who will give him a daughter/son. The daughter/son in the film for me represents the desire of our brothers in Mindanao to be free and separated and have their own government (the baby in the film is the condition of Lovi Poe to Bembol Roco to cut his ties with his wife Nora). 

THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

El Presidente

I thought that this would be my favorite film for this season, but I was wrong. Tsk. Thanks to the awful casting of the film. Like seriously? Jorge Estregan (ER Ejercito) Aguinaldo? I also hate some of the fight scenes, some are like 'away-kantong-bugbugan-lang'. Although there are good points, like the acting of Baron Geisler, and Cesar Montano. Before this film, I am really not fond of Aguinaldo, and after watching it, I ended up hating Aguinaldo more. It was a hey-people-don't-you-recognized-me-im-the-first-president-of-this-republic-and-i-did-good-ok. Now I know why our country is like this, because it started wrongly. (I'm sorry but this is how I felt after watching the movie) 

Runner up: Si Enteng, Si Agimat at Ako 

THE COMMERCIAL BREAK FILM

Sisterakas

I loved the film. Hahaha. It's hilarious, but that's just it. It's a collage of all the commercial endorsements and all the past roles of the three leas roles. Nothing new, and the concept was copied from the Devil Wears Prada film. But in general, I was entertained. So so. 

THE WTF-SERIOUSLY?-FILM 

Shake Rattle and Roll 16 (The invasion) 

Ok, thanks to the complimentary pass. But without it, I will really kill myself for watching this. The SRR should really be scared of the quality of the movies they make. I hope not to see them in the next MMFF. Sorry. 

THE OK-I-KNOW-THE-ENDING FILM

The Strangers

It was already given. I hope they did not make it so obvious to the people. Another disappointment. Sayang ang appearance ni Enchong. 

THE OH-SHOOTS-I-ALMOST-SLEPT FILM

No story, poor screenplay, poor execution, and even Jose and Wally did not make me laugh this time. 

Scenes from the Movie, One more try

Angel Locsin (One More Try)

I think Angel master the art of underacting, no shouting but the act was compelling. For me, she was really a convincing mother here. 

Runner up: Nora Aunor, Rhian Ramos

BEST VILLAIN

Angelica Panganiban (One More Try) 

You know that a villain is indeed a villain when you would really hate her and I indeed hate her in the film. 

Runner up: Lovi Poe (Thy Womb)

WASTE OF TALENT AWARD 

Enchong Dee (The Strangers)

Seriously, Enchong deserves a more convincing and compelling role than the Strangers. 

Runner-up: Nora Aunor, Christopher De Leon, Cesar Montano, (El Presidente), Judy Ann Santos (Enteng)

ANO-SERIOUSLY-ANO-ROLE-MO AWARD

Ateng Kris matakot ka na talaga so friendship ni Vice and ni Ai (read using Krissy's tone). 

Runner up: Enchong Dee (The Strangers)

BEST DRESSED AWARD

Let's give it to Vice, his costumes were really good and fashionable in the movie. I really love all the accessories worn in Sisterakas. 

Runner Up: Girls of Sosy Girls, Angelica Panganiban (One more try) 

NEW COMER AWARD

Daniel Matsunaga

Walang kinalaman sa acting to. It's just my gay instinct! LOL! :) 

So that caps off my movie review for the 38th MMFF! I really hope to get another complimentary pass next year! Hello to friends in MMDA. Hahaha

It was really amazing watching Wreck-it-Ralph in the big screen. We had no plans of watching this as originally, it was supposed to be Argo that we should be seeing. It was a spur of the moment decision to watch this Walt Disney film and it was all worth it.

As the usual Walt Disney movie, Wreck-it-Ralph did not fail in teaching us another moral story. This is what I like about watching cartoons. It makes sense. Anyway, Wreck-it-Ralph is the story of Ralph, tired of being who he is for the past 30 years, serving as a "bad guy" in the game Fix it Felix. The movie starts showing how game villains consoles themselves by having a sort of "me session" of their own experiences as the bad guys. The story reveals the discontentment of Ralph, being a villain, unable to experience fame, comfort and recognition. Until one day, he decided to find his destiny in another game in order to have a sort of 'medal' and the story revolves how Ralph made his way back to his role being the villain. 

Wreck-it-Ralph is about finding your place in the world. It goes to show that each of us has a role to portray and even small things and deeds matter. Ralph, being a bad guy is just a role that he needs to portray, but it doesn't mean that he is bad in his heart. No matter what role we are suppose to do in real life whether we be like the 'bad guy' it will not matter as long as it doesn't change the goodness of our heart. Acceptance and loving your own skin for me is what the message that the movie wants to convey. 

It is a must watch for the kids and kids at heart.