Rambling on The Sphinx, Mystery Men,

I distinctly remember renting the tape of this movie from Video City, on a rainy day, as the third tape of a rent-2-get-1-free promo. Just a freebie, but, after viewing, I thought it was a work of tantalizing genius and of sheer courage. How could the studios allow this kind of groundbreaking superhero comedy movie? And the writing I thought was given much care and thinking. As one proof, read these teachings of one minor character in the film... the Sphinx

 

To learn my teachings, I must first teach you how to learn.

You must lash out with every limb, like the octopus who plays the drums.

He who questions training only trains himself at asking questions.

You must be like wolf pack, not six-pack.

We are number one. All others are number two, or lower. 

When you care what is outside, what is inside cares for you. 

When you can balance a tack hammer on your head, you can head off your foes with a balanced attack.

When you begin to doubt your powers, you give power to your doubts.

Hilarious and crazy, but you can glean how these dialogues were carefully crafted. Not anyone can write them!

The part was played by Wes Studi. Incidentally, I watched Last of the Mohicans just a few days after seeing Mystery Men.

I got disoriented in seeing him in a serious original kick-ass badman role, as directed by Michael Mann.

Last of the Mohicans is widely recognized as a fantastic film. Mystery Men, on the other hand, did not do well critically and commercially. I dont get why people didn't get Mystery Men until I saw an entry in Wikipedia that this is now a cult film. I hope a producer heretofore give Kinka Usher another chance. Kinka Usher--cool name for the maker of a cool movie.

Woody Allen Works Hard

Woody Allen's win in the most recent Oscars was the highlight of that ceremony, if only to recognize his amazing, productive output year on year.  

And it's a good coincidence that during a travel to China, I got my hands on this WOODY ALLEN COLLEDVDCTION: 

The collection is only up to Scoop (2006). There are six Allen Konigsberg movies since, but i still did not hesitate to grab the box and get the chance to finally see Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters, Sweet and Lowdown, Husbands and Wives, and other top-rated Allen movies at IMDB, but whose DVD copies can not be easily found in the local market.

Bought this for the equivalent of 30 PhP each DVD. Cant over-explain the value. The cases can be neatly placed beside my books, inside my already sagging shelves.

The Top 9 of what Ive watched so far.

Not in the collection, but should be included in the best of: Whatever Works, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Midnight in Paris.

I have watched only about 30% of his opuses, so I should have more to add to this list for sure.

The complete list of what's include in this 'America Clerisy' Woody Allen collection.

By this time, Allen already have that trademark un-naturally twisting dialogue, comedy based on neurotic characters, simple moving plots, that not everyone will like. But no one can deny the smart feel of each one. I can not believe the output of this guy. How does he write? What's his motivation in still cranking out movies every year, without fail? When he wakes up in the morning, is he asking himself--is there any thing more left to prove?

Here's an interesting interview with one neurotic and one suicidal.

Bourne Legacy sa Kamaynilaan

cy

[TUNGKOL SA NAPIPINTONG SHOOTING NG BOURNE ULTIMATUM SA KAMAYNILAAN]

Dear MMDA Chairman Tolentino:

MGA DAPAT GAWIN:

1. Magbantay laban sa mga mandurukot at isnatser dyan sa Malibay.

2. Maglagay ng paskel sa mga matarapik sa EDSA. Dapat may picture ni Renner at Weisz na “Paumanhin po, nag-su-shooting lang!” Maiintindihan agad yan ng mga pinoy.

3. Yung mga MMDA dyan sa rotunda na mukhang mga goon (o mga goon talaga sa lakas mangikil), pag-bakasyunin na muna.  

4. KIlala si Tony Gilroy sa sangkatutak na takes, hayaan na lamang lumampas sa oras nang konti ang mga shoot.  

5. Hayaang pasabugin ang himpilan ng pulis dyan sa Pasay at sila ang paglinisin at pagsementuhin muli ng bilding. Ispreyan na rin sila ng mga ligaw na bala kunwari. Kailangan yan ng istorya.

6. Sa Navotas, maigi mag-shooting dyan. Hayaan ang mga artista na malansahan. Idaan na rin sa Payatas. Matindi yan kung magpapagulung-gulong ang bida sa plastic, o lalangoy sa dagat ng basura, o magtatago sa bundok tapos babaril na parang si Owen Wilson.

7. Magdasal na wag umulan (kung di naman kailangan ng ulan).

8. Yung mga magtuturon na masarap magluto ng turon, hayaang magtinda sa set. Patok ang turon sa mga dayuhan.

9. Si Edward Norton, pansinin din. Mahusay yan sa American History X. Magugustuhan yan ng mga taga-Tundo.

10. Isama na sana ang Caloocan at Malabon. Walang kabuhay-buhay ang mga lugar namin na ito. Ituloy ang shooting maski bumaha.

 MGA DI DAPAT

1. Huwag hahayaang umepal ang mga taga FAP, CBCP, si Manoling, magkaron man ng matitinding bayolenteng eksena, magkaron man ng sex scene o barilan sa gitna ng Baclaran.

2. Huwag magpinta ng kalburo

3. Yung mga lubak, was masyado malalalim.

4. Huwag na mag-ayos ng courtesy call kay Pnoy. Huwag sila pilitin.

5. Kung sang hotel nakalagak ang mga artista, wag na i-pa-TV-patrol pa.

6. Huwag na pakialaman sana ng mga cineaste/selection_committee ng mmff.

7. Huwag ipainterbyu kay Boy Abunda ang kahit sino na bumubuo ng pelikula. Si Jessica na lang.

8. Hindi na kailangang dalhin sa high-class na bar para makinig ng music. Makikita na Renner na kahit ang maliliit na inuman sa gilid-gilid, maayos ang mga banda.

9. Huwag nang pilitin kumain nang balot kung ayaw. Sisig na lang para sumakit ang batok at mag-overstay.

10. Huwag aalukin si Jeremy Renner ng libreng masahe sa Flight 168 o sa Palacio don Pedro. Bagamat babalik-balikan nya tyang ang mga lugar na ito, magiging patotoo lang sa sinabi ni Amb. Tomas ang lahat.

Watdapak Movie

Imadyinin mo na lang kung ipapalabas ito sa Pilipinas.

Ang mga bishop siguro ay lalabas ang lahat ng ugat sa leeg sa panggagalaiti, at ang mga pari ay uutusang kumalat sa lahat ng teatro at babasbasan ang mga nanuod pagkalabas ng sinehan. May rebyu na kaya nito?

Ito ang isang rebyu.

Magpa-sense, magpa-feel

If the award-giving bodies of this country are any good, all of them should give the best picture awaard to this movie. 

Why?

1) for sheer audacity and braveness

2) for the perfect actor in the lead role

3) all the filmmakers wanted to put in a movie about being gay (set pieces and all), theyve put them all here. this is usually a bad thing, but they handled it right. 

4) if it doesnt bring even a smile, youre stupid. 

5) has production value; sound, lighting, score are all decent. you wont see a boom mike on the top of the screen, or dubbing horribly out of sync. 

6) fantastic fantastical plot.enjoy.  

7) all the actors played it right

8) a true indie production that must be supported, in order to kill that star cinema craps fed to the public. you can see the indie spirit even in how known stars played cameo roles. (they were probably paid with lumpia, pancit luglug ng lucban, and longganisa).

9) No needless scene. No prolonged shots of a crying soap opera fool. 

10) the movie is pure entertainment 

Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington

Two Movie Scenes

Both are fantastic!

Indiesine sa Robinson' Galleria

Sa mga hindi nakakaalam, mayroong sinehan sa Robinson's Galleria na nagpapalabas nang mga pinoy na indie films. Tuwing magagawi kami para tignan kung ano ang umuukopa nang slot na ito, kadalasang pambading ang mga tiradang tema ng palabas, katulad nang isang ito...

Pinapalabas ang mga obra nina Monti Parungao, Jonison Fontanos, atbp, sa sinehang ito. Ang mga taytol ay ganire: Ang Lihim ni Antonio, Parisukat, Pipo ang Batang Pro, Discreetly, atbp. 

Ang parating nasa poster ay mga lalaking walang pang-itaas, katulad nito:

Nakakahanga kung paano natatapos ang mga ganitong proyekto at kung paano nasusustena ng lokal na mga manonood. Meron na bang permanenteng tagasubaybay ang mga pelikulang ganire na sumasadya na lang sa Cinema 7 ng Galle lingu-linggo? Kumikita kaya ang mismong sinehan at namuhunan? Ilang araw kaya ang shoot nang mga ganitong pelikula? Paano kaya ang disposisyon sa pagkatay  nang mtrcb sa mga ganitong produksyon?

Samantala, ang palabas ngayon sa indiesine ay obra nang anak ni Celso Ad. Castillo:



Panalo ang pagkakahulog sa hukay nang bida! Hagalpak siguro nang tawa kapag sa sinehan ito pinapanood. Langya. UNTAMED VIRGINS, ang pelikulang parang hayskul project lang.

RPG Metanoia at iba pa.

Tama yung isang rebyu na nabasa ko--sa titulo pa lang, matapang na ang RPG: Metanoia. Imadyinin mo, isang anak na nagyaya...
"Tay, nood tayong RPG: Metanoia."
"Anong RPG Metanoia?"
"Yung, ano, tay..."
"ano ba yan anak bagong brand nang vetsin?"

Pero hindi, hindi ito vetsin, isa itong metikulosong tinapos na pelikula. Mahusay at kailangang tangkilikin.

Hindi pa pulido ang ibang eksenang animation, pati yung tyempo ng dubbing sa buka nang bibig nang mga karakter ay may mga mintis pa, pero pwedeng pwede na ito. Pwedeng-pwede na isabak sa mga festival, lalung-lalo na sa katarantaduhang mmff. Itong RPG Metanoia ang nanalo dapat na best picture. Saan ka pa makakakita nang pelikulang pinoy na kung saan ang bawat frame ay pinag-aralan at pinaghandaan. Nilagyan nang detalye nang dyip dito, nilagyan nang lata, nilagyan nang aso, karakter na binarungan at binigyan nang payong na tumitira. Langya, tinalo ito nang isang pelikulang may bidang malaking baba? Yun lang yun?

Ang RPG Metanoia ay tungkol sa isang batang nalulong na sa computer role-playing game. Pinapakita nito kung paano na nakakalimutan nang henerasyon ngayon ang tumbang preso, patintero, at ang ibang pang larong pinag-aaralan sa Philippine Games sa Peyups. (Aaaah Philippines Games, ang kinukuha nang estudyante kapag naubusan nang slot sa PE). Sa Amerika, pinagtatalunan na na hindi na nga nagkakaroon nang ehersisyo ang mga kabataan, nagtatabaan na lamang lahat sila dahil wala na nang mga pisikal na aktibidades. Nalulong sa sa facebook, youtube, ang mga bata. Totoo namang kayang ubusin ang bawat araw sa harap nang kompyuter nang mga bata ngayon. Paano nga naman susubukang ibalik ang mga larong ganito, lalo sa atin dahil ang mga kalye ay pinaparadahan na nang mga sasakyan na kakarag-karag? Pati ang mga sira at bulok na na di naman tumatakbo ay ayaw pang alisin sa harap nang bahay. May cover pa man din ang ilan.

Atsaka pano naman kaming mga alipin nang cubicle at miting room, puros mga daliri na lamang ang naaeensayo sa katatayp sa keyboard. Puros hintuturo ang nadidiin sa keyboard nang walang malaking kabawasan sa calorie. Aba, tama nga ang naisip ko na talagang dapat pag-itingin ang cross-posting. Ang mga nakakurbata sa main office headquarters-eklat ay dapat minsang pakawalan sa linya nang factory at gawing operator! O kaya ibalibag sa warehouse at hayaan magbanat nang buto sa pagbubuhat nang mga epektus at kontrabando.

Panoorin ang RPG Metanoia. Tangkilikin ang mga dapat tangkilikin na pelikulang pinoy. Hindi ang mga pitu-pito nang Star Cinema.(Maigi nga't nalulugi ang mga pelikula ni KC na walang kwenta).

Mabuhay ang grupong nagsikap bumuo nang RPG Metanoia.

Steve Carrell to sing Of All The Things... in Manila!

Wow!

Mr Carrell should also shoot at Araneta for authenticity.

Judging from 40 Year Old Virgin, he can sing all right.
And if it'll indeed be based on the 2008 documentary, this movie should be directed as an Oscar vehicle from Steven, not an ordinary run-of-the-mill comedy.

The song is sappy, yes. But there's some genuine sincere quality in it.

I hope Mr. Carrell is shooting the film already. Para wala nang atrasan.

Watching The Social Network

... is like witnessing the new generation of Woody Allen movies to me. This could be strange to some people, but this is the analogy of an all-talk-but-exciting-throughout movie.

And then Aaron Sorkin is becoming to me a writer to watch-out for. Read these dialogues:

and this: 

After watching the movie, best to search, download, and read the leaked screenplay itself.

Then further reading should be the profile of Zuckerberg in the New Yorker, which I think he cooperated with partly due to his anxiety on the movie almost entirely about him. 

I don't "do facebook" primarily because I do not want another time depleter while I have so many backlogs in books,  movies, then there are already blogs and podcasts that are part of my routine, responsibilities at home, demanding work and boss, etc. etc. But the movie makes me want to read about the organization more. In a few years, the company will become a staple of business cases and textbooks. It might be useful to get bombarded on the details this early. 

Going back to the movie: The Social Network did pull it through. Some are saying it is  a testament of the generation. But it just might be a very good exhibition of arrogance of people with high IQ's, which I don't support. You enjoy those scenes, but it's not the most desirable to witness in real life.  

Although I understand that it could be the nerd's way to get even, given that indeed the dont get invited to belong in social clubs and 'great parties' in general. So let them be. Dont strike up a conversation if you cant keep up. It's a form of turf respect. 

Rebyu: Last Airbender, Ampangit, anlabo, wangkwenta

Parang teleserye lang ang dating na nilagyan nang costume at kung anu-ano. Luma na pati ang mga aksyon (hindi ba nagawa na lahat nang LOTR ang lahat nang klase nang espadahan). Ampangit pa nang taichi moves para mapagalaw ang air, water, earth, at fire. Yung ibang moves parang macarena lang. 

Trying hard pa sa kaeklatan gumawa nang mythos at pabula. At masyadong ambisyoso agad sa part 2, hindi muna ayusin ang kasalukuyang pelikula.

Ang mga dayalog e parang isinulat nang grade six para sa isang role playing sa klase ng Hekasi. At nakaantok ang maraming eksena. Sa labas nang sinehan sa Rockwell ang sabi nang isang ininterbyu: “Okey naman sya, okey naman, nakatulog ako e. hehehe.” Tyak na hindi makikita ang interbyung ito sa commercial sa TV.

Meron pang isang eksena na naghubad nang jacket ang admiral ng fire nation, na parang nagpeprepara sa umaatikabong bakbakan, pero wala naman pala. Nalunod na rin lang basta. Hehehe. Meron ding isang general na nagpasiklab gumawa nang apoy para sa wala, kala mo lalaban din, pero nagpalabas lang pala. Ipinakita lang sa madla na kaya nya nang gawin yaon tapos tapos! 

Mukhang nanarantado na lang talaga itong si M. knight Shyamalan. Mukhang sobrang lumaki na ang ulo ng narsisistikong ito. Okei lang maging narcissist basta may ibubuga at nakabala ang sunud-sunod na matitinding pelikula (tulad ni Christopher Nolan). Mukhang hindi na bagay sayo ang written, produced, and directed by Hijo. Magteleserye ka na lang muna kung ipipilit mo pa.  

Tapos, tapos, nakita ko pa ang interbyung ito kanina sa youtube…

Ang sabi nang mayabang,

I think if I thought like you I’d kill myself. Everything you said is the opposite of my instinct as an artist. The way you just thought, I literally would kill myself.

Aba, e de ituloy mo na. 

Mr. Miyagi vs. Mr. Han

I want Mr. Han to win. He has equipment in his hilot massage technique. Always better if you have equipment.

Both persons use a fighting style which use their opponents’ momentum against them, so the problem is who will throw the first strike? Perhaps the fight won’t even begin. They would just stare for a long time, and then decide to just eat rice in separate, quiet rooms. 

Anyway this year's Karate Kid recognized that the original movie's simple storyline is ripe for a repeat. That in itself deserves praise. Add to it how Jackie Chan bravely used his own gracious aging in his acting, the more complicated karate moves, and the serene views of Beijing, the movie is convincingly not a waste of time and money to watch. One of the best of the year so far.

[in 46 years] How an actor's face changed

I watched New York, I Love You recently on DVD. It is a collection of short, interesting vignettes all happening in, yes, New York. In one of the [practically speaking] short films, there was an elderly couple simply walking along the park and poignantly bringing out the humor of old age with pure ping-pong banters. What made the segment amazing of course were the actors who masterfully played their roles.

I then saw a familiar name--Eli Wallach on the credits. The same Eli Wallach who played Tuco (The Ugly) in The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Here he was in that 1966 film:

and here he is in 2009 for the premiere of New York, I Love You

Only his nose gives away the resemblance. Amazing.

I wish everyone ages well in the work that he/she loves.

Both are great movies, by the way. Worth your time.

Badass DVD

Tinginingnginongtongnongtong... tinginingnginongtongtongtong...

Bought in Shenzen, the entire set, for about 4USD. Looks genuine, but pirated.. The special features are also superb! (Didnt know Sergio Leone became so humongously fat). One of those very lucky buys.

Made even more remarkable because I saw Inglorious bastards after I saw The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. Youll know what I mean (see and feel the camerawork) after youve also seen both opuses.

Review: Inglorious Basterds

The best movie that Ive seen on the big screen this year!

That Christoph Waltz actor nailed it! Fantastic.

Easily Tarantino's second best (behind of course Pulp Fiction).

Review: The Reader and Kate Winslet

"You don't have the power to upset me. You don't matter enough to upset me."

"What we feel isn't important. It's utterly unimportant. The only question is what we do. If people like you don't learn from what happened to people like me, then what the hell is the point of anything?"

"You don't have the power to upset me. You don't matter enough to upset me."

"What we feel isn't important. It's utterly unimportant. The only question is what we do. If people like you don't learn from what happened to people like me, then what the hell is the point of anything?"

"It doesn't matter what I feel. It doesn't matter what I think. The dead are still dead."

[This quote by the way has a parallel with what the Tom Wilkinson character said in Last Kiss...

"Stop talking about love. Every asshole in the world says he loves somebody. It means nothing. It still doesn't mean anything. What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love, that's what matters. It's the only thing that counts." But I digress]

These dialogues should be enough to make you watch the movie, and savor… like that spicy seasoning.

The Reader is not a straight love story, but a brilliant movie that used an unconventional love story plot. Especially if youre allergic to love stories,  we can just say that it's a movie with a beautiful story. Period. Not having a happy ending made it even more so.

And it is Kate Winslet who carried more than 50% of this movie. It could have failed without her. Ralph Fiennes and the younger Ralph Fiennes character handled their part of the deal.

Kate Winslet is pure versatility. There is not one trademark ‘Winslet acting…’ and this is good. She plays each role differently, and as they should be played. Say compare her character here in The Reader with the one in Eternal Sunshine. A definite Wow on the absolute disparity. Can someone measure how her brows furrow less to exhibit an emotion from a braver to a weaker character? Im sure she prepares well  with a character study and all, not just getting ready for each take.

Then there is also grace and temperance. She doesn’t over-act, and it all appears effortless to her. (an equivalent for a man would be I think Robert Duvall). And most of all, I think she’s very brave in assuming unexpected, unconventional roles. I mean, if I were an actor, I'd be shaking to my deepest loins if Im asked to assume the challenges she had taken, not just because she had to be naked on some scenes, but also because anyone can easily fail miserably even in as simple as the accents of the personalities she played.

Amazing as well how she became the standard bearer of women with meat on their bones, unlike what Kate Moss and other images of bulimia propagated in the past three decades.

I don’t like Kate Winslet’s mole on her face though. But that's just stupid me, being distracted from time to time, while watching a master actress.

The horror... the horror

I dont know what brought me to look for this clip of slaughter. Perhaps it's the floods. The horror of that calamity. The horror of the rescue operation. Where are your TV Commercials now Gibo? Shouldnt you have used your mktg budget for rubber boats? Demmit!





My goodness. The clip still makes me tremble.

Ang pinamatatandaan ko sa pelikulang Bruno ay...

ang napakaikling oras nito. Petengeneng sebreng ekle. Biruin mo, isang oras at sampung minuto lang pumatak ang pelikula? Halatang kinatay-katay nang MTRCB. Oi, kung kakatay kayo nang ganito, dapat isubsidize nyo ang tiket. Gawing sinkwenta pesos na lang ang sine, langya.

Tumatalon-talon ang mga eksena sa pelikula, may mga napuputol pa na salaysay. May eksenang magpapakidnap sana si Bruno sa Lebanon para siya'y sumikat, tapos... aba, bigla na lamang napunta sa Africa ang pelikula. Sanamagan talaga.

Walang mabuting Censorship! Yun lang.

Two movies (the other one in 3-D)

Laguna, particularly Calamba and Sta Rosa are not provinces any more if you consider that some movies are shown at the same time in the malls here as in the Metro. The hoards of engineers working in industrial parks here should be big enough market for the multiple cinemas of SM and Robinson's.


We own the night was shown at Robinsons Sta Rosa at its first showing date as in Alabang Town Center. We watched the thing and it was great. We'd like to put it along the line of Miami Vice... and it's way better than this Michael Mann film (should be rare for us to say that a movie is better than Michael Mann's). The pace and build-up makes you really side with the Joaquin Phoenix's character. First time to here Talampunay say "sige tadyakan mo! tadyakan mo!" in a movie house. This brother of River also acts superbly, with a hairlip and all. He easily outstaged Wahlberg... but not Robert Duvall. That guy does not act in film. He wears the role like a piece of clothing and plays it.

Then yesterday, we drove all the way to the I-MAX theater in SM MOA to watch Beowulf. At a steep price of 400 per head, gasoline, toll fee, dinner at Icebergs... we were expecting our money's worth. For a first experience, it well did. After watching, can't think of any other way to watch the movie but in 3-D.

Talampunay just commented that Angelina Jolie's real boobs are not like that. I just said, probably not any more. May be five years ago? She also commented that her face was so made up. Well, wait till you see the one who voiced Beowulf. He's the fat frenchman guy (but tougher than Beowulf) guy in The Departed.

Probably the expertise of Zemeckis is in churning out sequences where you really won't move while you're watching. That Man vs. Dragon scene is probably the best "aerial" combat ever. Then there's also that underwater part added as a bonus. (But wouldnt you have bubbles in your brain if you surface up from deep water like that too fast?)

In any case, the movie kicks... kicks twice in 3D. Watch it in I-MAX if you have 400 disposable.

Although it's not a full-fledged concave I-MAX theater we have here... another story.

Balls on the big screen (Betlog sa puting tabing): Lust, Caution

Gusto mong makakita nang tunay na betlog sa pagkalaking sinehan? Panoorin ito:

Pagkatapos, nandun ka na rin lang, pansinin na rin ang napakahusay na sinematograpiya. Parang walang sinayang na film sa pagakakakuha, kumbaga.

Pinili rin ng pelikula na hindi magmadali, kaya magdala ng kakainin sa unang isang oras at mahigit. Pag naka-isat-kalahating oras na, tumigil na sa pagkain. Masusurpresa na sa matapang na paggamit ng pagtatalik bilang expresyon ng tagong (o tinatagong) violence sa isang katauhan.

Kakaibang pelikula. At mahusay talaga si Ang Lee. Sana magkaroon din tayo ng katulad ni Ang Lee na makikilala sa buong mundo. Sana maging kasing-husay ni Ang Lee si Lino Cayetano dahil mukhang nabibigyan sya ng break parati. Sana walang sayanging film si Lino Cayetano. :-)