Pinoy Blonde ---- too much higlights fried the movie

Title:
Pinoy Blonde (B)
PH Release Date:
July 13, 2005
Actors:
Boy II Quizon, Jeffrey Quizon, Ricky Davao, Iza Calzado, Jaime Fabregas, Eddie Garcia, Tessie Tomas, Tonton Gutierrez, Michael de Mesa, Mark Gil, Ara Mina
Director:
Peque Gallaga
Story and Screenplay:
Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes
Producer:
Akiva Goldsman et al.
Studio:
Unitel Pictures




“I have a very bad feeling about this, Star Wars, George Lucas”

In moviemaking by and large, rarely comes a satire that’s not merely after laughs nor the nuisance, but made to educate or at least acquaint an audience to his nation or simply to himself. You’re probably wondering why on earth am I talking so seriously when I’m about to discuss a film that is supposed to be not be taken as such. For those who don’t know how to think, it’ll be impossible to discern the beauty hidden underneath the jest and lampoons Pinoy Blonde has to offer, but for me and the people of my degree, there may be difficulty but absolutely no improbability.

The ingenious team of director Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes returns to the big screen after a long time of much needed separation thanks to their superfluous venture Magic Kingdom that was found anything but enchanting. This time they made a film with a very dim potential commercially, something that few movie companies dare to carry out, except Unitel that brought us Crying Ladies. After the outfit’s lost from Santa Santita, they produced this project that is more likely to become a flop than their previous venture.

Two Quizons are the lead star of the movie, and I am so thankful that Vandolph is not one of them (he has a cameo role that was so predictable). It’s the story about cousins, both are film school dropouts who spend most of their time, creating scenes in their heads, uttering petty lines from popular movies and bickering over who’s the better director: Brocka or Bernal. They continue to find the answer to this strenuous query as they deliver a mysterious package to an old, seemingly empty and haunted Hotel Marikopa where they’ll experience reality for the first time.



I was not able to watch the movie from the very beginning, which may explain why I found it difficult to adjust myself to its milieu. Few minutes later, I grasped the idea of what this movie’s all about and what it plans to accomplish. It’s definitely not your typical Pinoy film, the visual style is a combination of American, French and Mexiacan/Spanish approach. It is more of a mockumentary rather than an actual feature film. The setting, the look, the pacing; all of which resembled those of a documentary.

Gallaga and Reyes had good intentions and a great message to spread across, however, since they said it themselves that it’s not your typical Pinoy film, the viewers may not be able to enjoy or like it which has been proven by the less than handful of people inside the cinema with us. The not-so intact storyline also brings the moviegoer to a confusing state that he/she will not be able to get out of till the end cuz the ending, besides the great line from Sharon’s movie, was anything but terrific.

The script was good at best. It had a lot of special moments, and surprisingly, this moments were those that didn’t borrow lines from neither local or foreign films. I especially loved the “Ako naman si Marilou Diaz-Abaya, eto naman si Laurice Guillen” scene. More of these, that more Filipinos, their target audience can actually relate to will lead to a better understanding and appreciation on the part of the audience. This style of filmmaking is something that is made to address the intellectuals or those of higher society. But the movie’s message is more of directed to the typical mass audience or Filipinos who do not find this type of movies not even worth buying in pirated, let alone see in a cinema.



The movie has a lot of good animation scenes. How I wish they used a better camera for the “real” scenes cuz it seemed to old for my eyes. The music is very much Pinoy Rock with the main theme song from the Radio Active Sago Project. Am not particularly a fan of such type of music but I don’t hate it as well. Nevertheless, it was still music to my ears and that’s all that matters. The editing was good, cinematography was better than my expectation and the production design was nice too.

Boy II needs a lot of work, he made the movie look more artificial. Jeffrey on the other hand, was good but not as compelling as I anticipated him to be. In contrast, Ricky Davao was unbelievably great. His best acting feat so far. Jaime Fabregas rarely goes in front of the camera but this role was definitely worth it and he gave one hell of a performance as well. The movie had so much cameos and small roles that it would take me forever to describe their performances one by one.

As a movie fan I appreciate the effort laid for the production of the movie and the message of nationalism and liberation that it tried to propel. However, I also found the movie unsuccessful in projecting the message they planned to send across which can be attributed to a lot of factors that even to me may not be known. But still, I recommend it for everyone to see just to help the courageous studio get back their investment. It may also open doors to better understanding of our Pinoy movie culture and enjoyment to those who wants to see their favorite stars play cameo roles. It’s Pinoy Blonde but were not really blonde so you decide if it’s worth the highlights.

Fantastic Four --- is anything but FaNtAstic!

© 20th Century FOX

Title:
Fantastic Four (C+)
PH Release Date:
July 6, 2005
Actors:
Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Hamish Linklater, Kerry Washington
Director:
Tim Story
Based on the Comic book by:
Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
Screenplay:
Michael France and Mark Frost
Editor / Music:
William Hoy / John Ottman
Design / Photography:
Bill Boes / Oilver Wood
Producer:
Stan Lee, Chris Columbus et al.
Studio:
Marvel and 20th Century FOX


© 20th Century FOX

“you don’t know how much I'm willing to give just to be invisible”

It’s time to face another breed of Marvel comic book characters as they try their luck on the big screen. The feedbacks are not that enticing, however, two gorgeous young people in one movie sporting tight suits is more than encouraging for me.

Four unique who found themselves armed with superpowers after they were exposed to cosmic radiation. They had special abilities diverse from one another that led them to approach it differently as well. Reed Richards (Gruffudd) can stretch his body anytime and anywhere he wants to. Sue Storm (Alba) can conceal herself from others and generate force fields. Johnny Storm (Evans) can turn himself into a blazing human being. And Ben Grimm (Chiclis)becomes a rock-like being. Soon, they found out that it isn’t only them who was affected by the radiation but also the man who financed their explore and an admirer of Sue, Victor Von Doom (McMahon). However, unlike the four, he’s out to get everything he wants and with a power like his, only four people can go up against him and battle it out to their last breath.


© 20th Century FOX

I hope you’re familiar with the drill. This review is coming form a person who has never read or touched this comic book. If you don’t know that by now, well, now you do. And If you’ve seen the movie and read some of my works, they you probably know as well that this movie is as trashy as other comic-book movies who’s only after making profit and absolutely nothing else.

The movie was 10 years in the making, funny, cuz it doesn’t seem like it. It didn’t really felt like it was rushed, but it was more of the screenplay seemed to have not been well-thought of. I don’t know about the original story but I’m stripping that off and the script just appears too silly for me. And the inanity doesn’t stop there.


© 20th Century FOX

Instead of getting somebody experienced and actually capable of making sci-fi action movies, they end up with a director whose most famous work is about people getting their hair done (Barbershop). I don’t know what happened to the producers, did they run out of budget? Chris Columbus (Harry Potter 1 & 2) is a producer of this movie and was once eyed to direct it, maybe he saw how much a disaster the script was that he settled for earning cash without breaking any sweat.

Ironically, Tim Story ain’t capable of telling any. The characters were close to being two-dimensional, the action sequences were mediocre at best and the pacing and continuity was simply hideous. I hope he never gets the chance to handle any form of camera again.


© 20th Century FOX

Though the script was flawed in more ways than 10. I believe it had a lot of potential, however, the annoying attempt to make the line resemble to their abilities was truly irritating. I did love on line though, when Ben told Sue how much he’ll give up just to be invisible. That was the only “real” scene in this movie, more of that and better action sequences, no question about it, this movie’s gonna be fantastic.

Th movie wasn't totally that great when it comes to the special effects. but it's tolerable given that they reuire to do much, muc more compared to one superhero movies like Spiderman. The sound effects were okay. The cinematography was not as good as i visualized it. And the editing was bad.


© 20th Century FOX

Ioan Gruffudd should have been replaced. He just doesn’t work as that character. He didn’t get the essence of him or the charisma to be their leader. I have nothing against him besides his froggy look but I really didn’t find him appropriate for the role. He could have stretched further more but he wasn’t able and capable to. Jessica Alba is gorgeous in blonde and how I hope she stays that way. Though at times, her I-ain’t-no-hollaback-girl approach to acting gets into my nerves, a simple smile or a view of her wearing that tight suit makes everything alright.

Chris Evans is hot as hell as well. Needs a lot of work when it comes to cracking jokes, but he’s definitely more than just a pretty face…. He’s got that one scorching body to go along with it. Michael Chiklis was the tough guy he’s supposed to be, but I don’t think he was complete able to get sympathy from the audience but I know how hard it must have been for him (or his double)to wear that suit. Julian Mcmahon was back to being Cole again and I loved it. Not that his character in Nip/Tuck is kind, but in this one, he offers no surgery. The chemistry of the characters was below average. Am sorry but it really was.


© 20th Century FOX

Fantastic Four offers one hell of a good time for people who don't think and are only after glossy images. In other words, kids and wannabe kids would love it. Girls would go crazy over Chris Evans close-to-nude scene which the movie failed to equate for the male audience, leaving us with nothing more than a tight suit to drool over. How sad. I’m not gonna be a hypocrite and say I didn’t enjoy the movie even to the tiniest bit cuz I did that’s why it didn’t get such a low mark but if I was to judge this in screenplay and direction alone, I could have given worse. If you are to watch this movie and plans to do the same, I have, but one reminder to you—prepare for the preposterous.

Grading Sheet:
Story – 15%
Screenplay – 12%
Direction / Execution – 10%
Acting – 14%
Technical Aspect – 16%
Total: 67% = C+

War of the Worlds ----- cheesy, sloppy, but oddly entrancing

© Paramount

Title:
War of the Worlds (B)
PH Release Date:
June 29, 2005
Actors:
Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Based on the Novel by:
H.G Wells
Screenplay:
Josh Friedman & David Koepp
Editor / Music:
Michael Kahn / John Williams
Design / Photography:
Rick Carter / Janusz Kaminski
Producer:
Kathleen Kennedy et al.
Studio:
DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures


© Paramount

"The last war on earth won’t be started by humans"

Cruise is back for another sci-fi extravaganza together with no less than his Minority Report director Steven Spielberg. I’m sure by the title alone you pretty much have an idea of what this movie’s gonna proffer. It’s a family flick full of flying cars, burning houses, but did you guess fried human beings? Yef, all that plus more in this bizarrely directed, oddly acted (by an eccentrically in love superstar) drama/comedy/disaster movie by two pre-anopausal film giants.

Ray (Cruise) is your typical Spielberg father figure, irresponsible, separated and estranged from his own kids. As her ex-wife (Otto) leaves him with an incredibly strenuous task of looking after their children as she heads for Boston, Ray takes the responsibility the best way he knows how, by sleeping it over. The next day, he woke up with his son nowhere in sight, searched for him and instead found something way beyond what his mind can imagine.


© Paramount

I suppose it’s a must that you be warned that this review is from somebody who has never read or understood any works of H. G Wells. Science stuff was never my thang and books are just as sickening. Moving on, well, I’m a fan of Tom, Steven and Dakota but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna be nice. Was I ever?

If you know me personally you are aware how much I love Steven, for the simple reason that he’s the only director I knew when I was younger. Loved most of his works, except the most recent one (the terminal) but still he’s one of my faves and there’s no changing my mind about it. However, despite this, I thought this movie was his sloppiest work ever. He’s an incredible storyteller but man, what happened in this movie? Even if the direction was flawed, I still can’t believe it was that bad knowing he’s behind the camera.


© Paramount

The story was terribly simple for him not to completely realize it. Yes, the premise was weak and awfully outmoded but Steven always finds a way. How come he seemed to have never found the one for this movie? Is it because the movie was made under an enormously short amount of time and rushed? This didn’t give the writers or Steven, much time to analyze what they wanna do and project on screen. I’m not saying that the direction is awful, no it’s not! Steven is not capable of doing anything as such. But, I never expected shoddy cameraworks from him. He’s usually very detailed when it comes to his scene but this time he wasn’t.

Spielberg’s direction has one extremely powerful asset--- great pacing. There was no dull moment in this movie, you’re intrigued from start to finish and I mean from start to finish. A lot of questions will be left unanswered, which brings me back to how sloppy Steven was in this movie, he won’t get away with this one.

The script has little potential, I think it’s a mediocre work but because of the powerplayers behind this movie it rose up quite a lot of notch. A person who’ll read it on a personal time will end up, like in the movie, bloody.


© Paramount

The wonderful pacing was backed-up by those incredible CGI effects. At this point, we can probably compare it to Independence Day. I say Indi is better. I dunno if this is because of the cinematography or the production design but a lot of the stunts looked like they were all done in a studio or worst, in Paris Hilton’s Barbie house (which is her house). It’s this bizarreness that made this movie gripping and at the same time worth puking. The sound effects were not so fascinating or appalling though.

Tom Cruise didn’t feel like he’s acting. His character is crazy and I think at the moment he is as well. Honestly, I see not much difference. I was waiting for him to actually start saying “I love you Katie” over and over again during that scene from the human-sucking, blood-spraying alien mode of transport. Or worse, do another crazy you-know-nothing scientology crap against my depressed aunt (Brooke Shields). Sadly, none of these can be seen, however, he had enough scenes that reflect the same quality of his madness.


© Paramount

The little girl who loved Sam is still a little girl but has come a long, long, way since she had to endure hours of shooting with an old man with no sense of humor (Sean “dour” Penn). Well, she didn’t exactly take herself away from crazy people since Tom is playing his Dad but at least we’ve seen tremendous growth and the brightest future ahead of her. Dakota's eyes can match even a Meryl Streep acting. I swear! I just hope she doesn’t end up as bitter as Haley Joel Osment when he didn’t get Harry’s role. But since she’s with Tom--- let scientology handle that.

Tim Robbins was crazy in this movie. Don’t worry he’s not with Susan so at least the ultimate team ain’t in progress. But funny though, I was waiting for him to get out of the house and start shouting while holding his streamer that says “Get out you bloodsuckers!”. To bad it didn’t happen. Miranda Otto looked pregnant. And the guy who played Tom’s son? Never mind him.


© Paramount


There’s a big chance that after you see this movie, you’ll go out and wonder what the f*ck was it all about. The answer is simple. You’re a typical moviegoer who wants everything spoon-fed. You want the movie to say everything that goes on screen to you, word by word as it happens. Well, I’ve got news for you---- time to grow-up! But if it’s about science stuff that you’re wondering about, it’s okay, I have none to little background of it as well.

A riveting and uniquely absorbing movie that’s way too cheesy to be true. It’s funny even if doesn’t try to be so. Few movies get to do that. It’s safe to bring the kids with you on this movie then, observe how they react to stubborn characters on screen who looks like them. It’s definitely not the best Spielberg or Cruise movie, but the movie has an odd factor in it that needs to be seen by everyone. I don’t care what the movie tagline says, but I think the last war on earth will be started by humans from elsewhere… no, not from EUROPE!

Grading Sheet:
Story – 16%
Screenplay – 13%
Direction / Execution – 15%
Acting – 18%
Technical Aspect – 18%
Total: 80% = B