Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank: A witty indie film about indie filmmaking

Rare are those times that I get to watch a fun and witty Pinoy film like Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank. It may be short, running at around an hour and a half in total, but it's got loads of awesome moments.

The movie is basically a critique on indie filmmaking and its romanticizing of poverty in the Philippines. It opens with a scene where indie film director Rainier (Kean Cipriano) and producer Bingbong (JM de Guzman) brainstorm and review scenes for their indie film "Walang Wala" while production assistant Jocelyn (Cai Cortez) imagines each sequence as they are narrated by the two. With the hopes of bagging awards for the indie movie they will make, Rainier and Bingbong tap in Eugene Domingo to portray their film's central character, a mother from the slums who will sell her child to pedophilia.

The next scenes are pretty much insinuations of how indie filmmaking is behind the camera: the dream (or illusion) and promise of recognition in and outside the country, the negotiations between production and actor, and the real yet cruel side of poverty that these films don't really show its audience. The film presents it in the form of satire, the truth disguised as a chewable tablet. I consider it somewhat of an eye-opener to those who think that filmmaking is a glamorous job -- while it does reap you awards, the process of creating it from start to finish is where the adventure lies. And this film shows it, "as is where is" -style.

Eugene Domingo simply shines in this movie. It's impossible for me to think of another actress who can do what she did here (well, Cherry Pie Picache does come close to a second. Mercedes Cabral probably would, too, though I have to see her first in Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me). Kean and JM were fun to watch as the young director and producer, respectively, deluded by their ambition to be at par with -- and even surpass -- other indie filmmakers who have won accolades here and abroad.

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank, for me, raises the bar in storytelling. Writer Chris Martinez and Director Marlon Rivera really did moviegoers a huge favor by releasing this movie full of wit and charm. They, as well as Ms. Domingo and everyone behind it, truly deserve their awards. Watch the film and you'll see why.

Afterthoughts on Captain America: The First Avenger

The last movie before the big Avengers film, Captain America: The First Avenger had a lot of fans of the Marvel franchise in excitement, me included.

Unfortunately, it didn't hold a candle to Iron Man. I guess that was my peg.

Most of the scenes were from the 1940s, when a scrawny, forever-beat-up guy named Steve Rogers aimed to be enlisted in the US Army to fight during the Second World War. Because of his frame and a series of physical maladies (including asthma), he never got to join the force. It wasn't until a doctor, who saw his kind heart through his physical appearance, made a way for him to be a hero -- a superhero, that is.

After being given a superserum, his body changes, stamina and fighting skills and all, and he eventually becomes the poster boy of America's bravest during World War II. A battle against one of Hitler's right-hand men, the Red Skull, eventually leaves Captain America frozen for almost 7 decades in the Arctic. He is taken in by SHIELD agents led by Nick Fury, who is planning to assemble a group of superheroes to defend the modern world.

From a viewer who has little knowledge in the Marvel Universe other than Captain America is their biggest character, I found the movie okay but not as good as, say, Iron Man. There were cheesy moments in the film that could have been done better, in my opinion. Save for the fact that he was always being bullied, there wasn't enough for me to anchor myself to Steve's character. I dunno, probably because it's the treatment, because it was the 40s that the storytelling seemed to pace quite slowly for me.

But well, the easter egg after the credits got me glued to my seat.

Chris Evans looked quite the part. It was amazing how the CG made him into Steve Rogers pre-superserum injection. Kinda like Benjamin Button, if you'd recall. His acting was quite okay. I couldn't say the same for Hugo Weaving, though. I thought that he was more British than German (which he is in real life). When I close my eyes listening to the Red Skull, I hear Elrond. Even Agent Smith. Where's the German accent?

I think the person who stole the show here was Tommy Lee Jones as Col. Philips. He had quite a presence in the film, as well as some of the best and funniest lines.

Despite the storytelling setbacks, Captain America is still a film to watch, as it serves as a prelude to The Avengers. Hopefully, his character is given more substance here, especially that's he's supposed to be head-to-head with Tony Stark. Now that's an encounter I'd like to see.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2: It does all end here

"It all ends here." How apt is this statement to describe the second part of the final Harry Potter movie.

The film starts where part 1 of the Deathly Hallows left off: Voldemort opening the tomb of Albus Dumbledore and finally getting hold of the Elder Wand.

In the next scenes, we see Harry, Ron, and Hermione destroying the rest of the Horcruxes, and the big fight of good vs. evil with Hogwarts as the battleground. Within almost 2.5 hours, a mix of awe, excitement, sadness, and happiness is felt inside the cinema. And as the final shot of the movie's big 3 disappears as the credits roll, I found myself smiling with contentment.

The movie gave the book justice, as it tied all loose ends just as JK Rowling did in the book. While some back stories were omitted, I was happy that Snape's story was detailed here (this is one of my favorite chapters in the whole series). For those who haven't read the book, let me give you a hint: a really big twist.

I felt, though, that the "19 years after" should have been lengthened, but maybe the director thought that it wasn't really essential to have all that dialogue. But I'm so glad of how they did the battle in Hogwarts. That was so cool.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson shine as they did in the past movies (would've wanted a longer Ron-Hermione kiss, hehe!). Ralph Fiennes is really fine (!) as the main antagonist Voldemort. Maggie Smith gave audiences a glimpse of McGonagall's "cool" side. And Alan Rickman is simply wonderful, giving justice to the multi-layered character of Severus Snape.

But if there was one person who stole the show, it would be Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom.Who knew that he'd grow up to be so handsome? :)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 is really worth watching, whether in 2D or 3D (doesn't really make much of a difference). The superb storytelling is enough to keep you engaged.

"It all ends." Yes, it does. The movie gives audiences a sort of closure, a memory that would elicit a smile on your face when you recall it afterwards.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon goes badass

For action buffs, this is a good thing.

But if you're looking for some depth of human emotion in the latest Transformer installment, be reminded that this is a Michael Bay film. You know, explosions everywhere, hard-core action -- those kinds of works. And yeah, circular panning shots and stand-up-and-look-to-the-horizon slo-mo shots.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon opens up another chapter of the battle between the noble Autobots and the menacing Decepticons here on Earth. In the third installment, we find the US government in a more deeper connection with these alien machines and Sam Witwicky struggling from hero to unemployed. Basically it's revealed that the NASA mission in the 1960s was to covertly investigate a moon crash landing, which happened to be a ship from Cybertron. The Autobots, wanting to get to the ship before Megatron and his cohorts do, fly to the moon and find Sentinel Prime, Optimus' teacher, in the Ark. After Sentinel is revived by Optimus' leadership matrix here on Earth, he searches for his inventions, the pillars that can open a portal that will affect the time-space continuum. Having only 5 out of hundreds, Sentinel tells the Autobots that he needs to get to the pillars before it falls into the wrong hands.

On the other hand, Sam does his own investigation. Upon learning that those involved in the covert moon crash project have been disappearing or getting killed, he, with the help of former CIA agent Simmons, discover that Sentinel Prime has been used as a bait so that the Decepticons can invade Earth.

The deception does not stop there, as we learn a bigger traitor (or staunch loyalist?) through the course of the movie. Who it is I will not say, but this I can tell you: learning who this "traitor" will lead you to the next -- and the most action-packed -- half of the movie.

Like I said a while ago, expect loads of blasts, fires, and action sequences (and of course CGI) in this movie. Also see how Optimus Prime, er, transforms into a hardened soldier by the end of the film, and how Megatron is left in the sidelines and then gets some "ego boost" from a human -- a female human at that.

One thing to watch out, too, is the some kinda joke in the first part of the film wherein 2 of the smaller Transformers were watching a scene from Star Trek.

So was it worth the watch? If you liked the first 2 Transformers movies, then this will probably one not to miss, too. If you're the type who salivates while these robots shift to vehicle mode with that eee-oo-eee-oo sound, go ahead and enter the cinemas. Just don't expect some family drama (since the Witwicky parents only had a short amount of screen time) or comedy (has even less that the last one).

Is it worthy to check out on 3D? If you're all for the popcorn and drinks, and if you're a hard-core Transformers fan, I say the Php 300 may be well worth it since the whole movie is in 3D format. But I don't think it makes much difference if you watch it in 2D.

Albeit its abrupt ending that didn't give me a sense of closure (except for Simmons and CIA agent Mearing's attraction to each other), Transformers: Dark of the Moon is one movie worth watching. Suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the show. And always keep in mind that this is a Michael Bay film. The heck what the critics say.

X-Men: First Class -- When Professor X and Magneto were simply... friends

After missing 2 very-much-anticipated movies, I got to watch X-Men: First Class (yeah, after how many days since its first day of showing).

I'm not a fan of the comics nor the animation, so all the knowledge I have of each character is thanks to my husband.

Anyways... here in the movie, we are shown the beginnings of a friendship among mutants. The movie shows us the younger versions of Professor X (an intelligent and witty yet flirty Charles), Magneto (the boy-with-a-childhood-trauma Erik), Mystique (the "adopted" orphan insecure with her looks), Beast (the pre-blue-and-furry science genius), and some other characters.

Basically it all starts with Erik, during his teenage years in a concentration camp, whose powers were discovered by a certain Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). So as not to spoil anything, I'll cut the story between them short by saying that Shaw caused Erik terrible emotional damage, and that's why the latter is traveling around the world to seek revenge on Shaw.

Erik grows up, still with vengeance on his mind, but after a close encounter with Shaw, he meets Charles, who's with some CIA agents investigating on an imminent nuclear war. The guys form a friendship upon learning they have something in common: that they are not ordinary humans. With this discovery, the two went on to search for people like them.

Meanwhile, Shaw has other plans -- which actually involves humans killing each other. Upon learning of his plans, a CIA agent enlists the mutants' help to avert World War III. They succeed in this mission, but unfortunately for them, the humans turn against them -- those scary superhumans. And so you know what happens: Charles and Erik go their separate ways with their separate teams.

To be honest, I kinda liked how the plot was presented. There was a good background in each of the characters, especially Charles, Erik, and Raven (Mystique). The fun part was when they were recruiting members for their team -- to give you a hint, there are cameos here you should not miss.

I just found it odd, though, for Charles to have that suave personality. You'd think he'd be more reserved like his older version, but well, he was pretty different here.

I liked Erik's story and how the events of his past led him to be what he is. Though I'm not so sure how he was convinced easily by Shaw to believe that mutants are of a superior race and that humans should bow to them.

All in all, X-Men: First Class was a pretty fun ride. Not really sure if it ties up with the previous X-Men movies, but if this was a reboot of the franchise, I'll be looking out for the next installment.

Thor: Mythology, action, and eye-candy

I'm not much into Norse mythology, but what I know is that some of the days of the week are named after them, with Thursday being the day of the Norse god of thunder.

But that isn't really touched in this Marvel-produced film.

And because I'm also not into Thor as the comic character, I watched this movie without any knowledge of his background, except that his father was Odin, the All-Father and that his brother is Loki, the god of mischief.

The film starts off with a bit of a background of Odin and his sons, Thor and Loki, and how Asgard (the realm of the Norse gods) was in a truce with the Frost Giants. But then, something breaches that truce and Thor, the heir apparent of Odin, went to wage a battle with the Frost Giants, which eventually becomes the reason why he gets banished to Midgard aka Earth.

So here in Earth he loses his godly strength (yet still retains his pride and pumped-up physique) and meets a scientist named Jane. And because he loses his power to even wield Mjolnir, the magical hammer, he begins to cool down a bit and takes the time to mull on his mistakes.

Meanwhile, back in Asgard, as Odin unexpectedly hibernates, Loki begins to claim power and twists everything. Upon learning what his brother has done, Thor sets on to free Asgard from the wicked clutches of his brother.

As part of the precursors to the big Avengers movie, Thor seems to be my least favorite of them all for now, if I compare it to Iron Man 1 and 2, and the Hulk movie. Maybe because Thor has that proud personality or because unlike Bruce Banner and Tony Stark (and even Steve Rogers aka Captain America), Thor isn't a human/ superhuman.

It might also be because the character development seemed to be in too fast a pace. Suddenly Thor is humbled when he can't wield the Mjolnir -- after 2 days of crashing into Earth?

And it's also probably because I felt Natalie Portman was just the distracting eye-candy in this movie. After her stellar portrayal in Black Swan, she's here in the movie acting like a teenager who gets those "kilig" moments when she's in front of her crush. I felt she was under-utilized here, I dunno.

But while there may be some misses in this movie, I kinda enjoyed it because it is part of the pre-Avengers continuity. At least I get some background as to how SHIELD gets to form this super-group and who some of the members are. And Agent Coulson has been getting more screen time since he appeared in Iron Man.

Of course, there's also the so-called Easter egg at the end of the movie. And Chris Hemsworth's muscles.

For much of it's eye-candy and action, I guess the film holds up -- which becomes some of the reasons why this movie is a must-see. Also if you're into the Avengers Initiative excitement. Just don't expect it to be as cool as Iron Man, though.

Sucker Punch: Prepare to disbelieve

Zack Snyder, director of 300 and Watchmen, comes up with an original story wherein he can put in a mix of action, anime, and sexy girls. The result: Sucker Punch.

Plot layering seems to be the trend in movies nowadays, after the success of the mind-boggling film that was Inception. In this particular movie, the story begins with Baby Doll, a young orphaned girl who was sent by her stepfather to a girl's hospital for the mentally insane. Here, she meets 4 other women: Sweet Pea, Rocket, Amber, and Blondie. Baby Doll is to be lobotomized, but the scene is suddenly cut, revealing the same group of people, only in a brothel. Suddenly the mental patients become dancers, and Baby Doll is the newest girl to be included (imprisoned?) in their roster.

Wanting to get out of the place that held her, Baby Doll finds the answer when she gets entranced while dancing. Here, she meets a wise man who told her to find 5 things to attain freedom. Baby Doll then comes up with a plot to set her and the 4 other girls free.

And if you think the plot layering stops here, wait till the girls perform their "mission" one by one. As Baby Doll performs each of her dances, you're sucked again in another story, this time filled with guns, bombs, robots, and Nazi zombies.

And then you're reeled once again to the brothel afterwards. Or was it to the asylum?

Suddenly you're thinking, what is the movie's reality and the fantasy? Obviously the action sequences were the fantasy, wherein each blasts and slashes describe each of their missions. But when you come back to the brothel scene, were they back in the real world? Or still trapped in a dream?

Plot-wise, Sucker Punch held up in the mind-game aspect, as the viewers are provided a reality, then get sucked up by a fantasy, and then pulled up to the reality once again. The actors deliver as well, as each of them exuded a whole lot of sexiness and toughness. One thing I liked about the film is its soundtrack, perfectly giving life to every move and sequence in its battle scenes. Techno and rock provided the perfect ambience as the girls carried on each step towards freedom.

If you plan to watch this movie, I'd suggest to suspend disbelief. As its catchphrase goes, "You will be unprepared." So come prepared. Leave all logic behind when you go inside the cinema and just enjoy the ride.

Oscars 2011 winners

The red carpet has rolled in the winners. And so after hours of watching Tweets and live blogging sessions, I now present to you the 2011 Academy Award winners:

The King's Speech bags major plums, including Best Picture, Director, and Actor.

Best Picture: The King's Speech

Best Director: Tom Hooper, The King's Speech

Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech

There was no contest (in my opinion) that Natalie Portman will win Best Actress for her role as ballet dancer Nina.

Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Best Original Screenplay: David Sleider, The King's Speech

Though losing the Best Picture award, The Social Network managed to win some accolades, including Best Adapted Screenplay.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Best Animated Feature Film: Toy Story 3

Best Foreign Language Film: In a Better World (Denmark)

Best Documentary Feature: The Inside Job

Best Art Direction: Alice in Wonderland

Technical awards were given to Inception, such as Best Cinematography and Visual Effects.

Best Cinematography: Inception

Best Film Editing: The Social Network

Best Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland

One of the best movies of 2010, Toy Story won for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.

Best Original Song: We Belong Together by Randy Newman for Toy Story 3

Best Original Score: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for The Social Network

Best Animated Short: The Lost Thing

Best Documentary Short: Strangers No More

Best Live Action Short: God of Love

Best Makeup: The Wolfman

Best Sound Editing: Inception

Best Sound Mixing: Inception

Best Visual Effects: Inception

I think the major winners were pretty predictable, especially for the acting awards. Though I would've wanted my personal favorite, Toy Story 3, to bag the biggest plum that night, I think The King's Speech is a worthy winner.

Congratulations to everyone!

RPG Metanoia: Interesting, innovative, proudly Pinoy

Watching at least 1 entry in the yearly MMFF is a tradition for me and my hubby. This year, there was only 1 movie that my husband wanted to watch: RPG Metanoia. He, as well was I, was curious about this full 3D animated movie. Add to the fact that the plot involved an MMORPG game called Metanoia and I found hubby tugging my arm to watch it.

I would've wanted to watch Tanging Ina and Rosario just to see what the hype was about. My siblings, though, said Tanging Ina was funny and the plot was okay, not pilit.

Going back, RPG Metanoia is a story about Nico, a boy so immersed in the online game with the same name. But in time, he realizes that Metanoia is not just an ordinary MMORPG, as something sinister happens in its online world. Together with friends Mark, Brian, Bobby, Daniel, and newfound friend/ crush May, they embark on a digital journey to solve the mystery affecting Metanoia gamers worldwide and defeat the bad guy.

Somehow the plot reminds me of the PS2 game .hack, wherein the users get into a sort-of coma because of the game. But besides it, I found the whole story interesting, laden with a few lessons here and there. Common of which would be bravery, friendship, teamwork, and love for family. But there's also a bit of a nudge on the shoulder of every one, as one part in the movie implies the down side of playing online games -- that they're missing a lot of vitamin D and adventures under the sun. All of which come naturally, and never forced, as the story progresses.

One thing that I like about RPG Metanoia -- and I think their best point -- is the voice acting. You would think Zaijian Jaranilla and the other kids were pro dubbers. Heck, I think they even beat the dubbers of the present Tagalized anime series. I particularly loved Mark/ Ahdonis voiced by Basty Alcances as he utters to another avatar, "Hi... I think I like you." While (relatively) older actors Aga Muhlach, Vhong Navarro, and Eugene Domingo provide good voice supports, this is truly the kids' film.

Director (and writer, I believe) Louie Suarez did very well in this movie. The script and screenplay was really good. Kudos also goes to the animators, who passionately worked on this for years. Many might say that the 3D animation is just so-so, but if you look closely at how they treated each scene with much detail, you'd find that we're getting there slowly but surely. Besides, there are a lot of Pinoys working for ILM and Pixar, so you know that Pinoys are really artistic and talented. They just need a lot of support here at home.

Releasing RPG Metanoia, even outside the MMFF season, is truly a risk, especially with an audience that would most likely compare the animation and story to that of other foreign movies. But this film is a breakthrough in the Philippine movie industry and deserves to be supported. Deviating from the formula that would rake in box-office returns, the success of RPG Metanoia stems from the fact that it is a wonderful film full of heart created by people driven by passion. Mabuhay ang Metanoia!

Pondering on Tron: Legacy

Got a chance to watch Tron: Legacy in 3D last night. My husband wanted to see it as he was a fan of the original Tron movie back in the 1980s. I only got to watch the first one just last year. It was a story about a programmer who was sucked into the computer world and who searched for a way out with the help of a program named Tron.

The movie poster of the 1982 Tron

I must admit, I kinda forgot some of the details, though what I know is that Tron is a name of a program, or in the world of The Grid, a sort-of character in a sort-of video game. And I believe, that is also the name of the arcade game Jeff Bridges' character created.

So when Tron: Legacy trailers and posters came out, I was pretty curious as to how it will attack the story done decades ago. The poster was kinda cute, though, a homage to the original:

Tron: Legacy official poster

And because our curiosities were piqued, hubby and I went to the theaters to catch it before the MMFF season bumps it off the cinema skeds.

While Tron: Legacy was a visual feast, a true eye-candy with modern CG enhancing the lightcycle and disc battles first seen in 1982, the story itself was kinda lacking. There's the story of the elder and younger Flynn and them in The Grid... which at some point became too predictable. And of course, there's the cute chick, a staple in every geeky movie, whom you know the dude gets in the end, albeit implied by the movie.

As the credits rolled, I was left wondering in my seat: 1) Why it was named Tron, 2) Why Tron was made into a minor character, and 3) What the heck just happened?

Yeah I get it, the first movie was entitled so, but somehow the main essence of the name was absent in the movie.

Soundtrack by Daft Punk was also nice (I think I saw them there in the movie), it sounded like I was brought back to the cyberpunk era of the 80s, but it wasn't like the soundtrack of the first Matrix movie, which was utterly cool and very memorable, and which also enhanced the emotion needed in the scene. I was looking for something that will make me bob my head, but it was only the songs of Journey and Eurythmics that did.

One thing I noticed, though, is that Tron: Legacy had underlying biblical and scientific themes: creation, perfection, war, evolution. But my head is still swimming in questions that I don't know if that's just unintentional.

For those considering catching the movie, I'll just warn you that you can expect less from the storyline itself. Visual effects -- yeah, they're worth seeing in 3D. That and the story combined, I give it a 3 out of 5.

The toys fare better in my rating:

Sam Flynn in his suit

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: A week-late review

Wow, I've been so busy that I failed to make a review of the first half of the Deathly Hallows movie right after watching it. But anyways, here's my take on Harry Potter's final grudge match with You-Know-Who...

I've read the book upon its release 2 years ago and I still can remember how the story goes in general (that's why I don't get why there's a Dobby + sad face icon spreading in Twitter, hehe!). Going more into the more technical stuff, I believe there are a few bits from the book that should've been shown in the movie, especially the part where the Dursleys were leaving. That, for me, was a touching moment in the book that should've been included. But Hermione's story was fine.

After 6 HP movies (I missed HBP because I just gave birth that time), it was only here that I realized how good Daniel Radcliffe is as an actor. The Polyjuice Potion scene proved that, when he had to act as Fleur Delacour posing as Harry Potter. That was really funny.

I also like how David Yates, the director, made this more dark and brooding. The book had a serious tone, as this features the final battle of Harry Potter and Voldemort. I like how the first scene, with the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters, set the mood for the first half of the last installment. So for those who think that this is still the Harry Potter movie from years ago, I'm telling you it's not. Definitely not. And it's a good thing, because you'd expect the kids who read Book 1 when it was first released in early 2000 would have grown up and understand that this would be somewhat "mature."

But no worries, nothing in here that would be too gross or morbid to see. Well, in my opinion...

I also liked how the first part ended, as a prelude to what you can expect next year, when the second half of the Deathly Hallows movie comes out. It made me anticipate on how they will bring the next scenes of the book to life.

It's not yet late to catch this in the cinemas (please note that this is NOT in 3D, but Part 2 is). I feel this movie will be as good as Prisoner of Azkaban (which was the best of the lot for me). Well, we'll have to wait for 2011 before I can give a final verdict.

The Expendables: Same can be said about the plot...

Yeah, it's a pretty late review. I only saw this a couple of days ago because I heard lukewarm reviews about it from others. If not for the free passes that were given to me and my husband, we would've waited for this on DVD.

Most of you already know the plot: a group of mercenaries, led by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), hired to take out people that other people don't like. For their latest mission, the task is go to Vilena, an island off South America to assassinate the dictator. But when Ross and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) go there for reconaissance, they learn that the one they're really supposed to take out is a rogue CIA agent who's controlling the whole island.

From the cast alone, you know it's going to be an all-out action movie. As one of the producers, Stallone did want this to be a bad-ass action flick, the kind of movie that would remind you of the golden days of action, complete with blood, broken bones, dismembered body parts, and lots of explosions and fireworks. I think he enjoyed doing the latest Rambo movie that he wanted to do the whole action bit again.

But with his age, I guess he knew he couldn't do much of the action sequences required. And that's why Statham really shined in the stunts department in this movie. It's almost like he did Stallone's "dirty job."

The problem, though, with having a huge ensemble packed in one movie is that one, or some, may have less highlights than the other. For example, Jet Li's moment was when he kicked Dolph Lundgren's butt. Dolph Lundgren's moment was when he kicked Jet Li's butt. Same goes with Randy Couture and Stone Cold Steve Austin (MMA wins over WWE?). Terry Crews' moment was... probably beating the lights out of all the minor characters. Mickey Rourke -- well, he had a moment, and a dramatic one at that. Complete with blue lighting. Hmm, still making a killing out of your Oscar nomination?

But one high point for this movie is that after watching all the action sequences and explosions, you'll be going out of the cinema feeling super macho, reminiscent of the feeling the movie 300 gives you minus the "Awoo!" yell. If only for that, you have a reason to go and see this movie. Never mind the plot -- too superficial, one thing that's probably "expendable" about the whole movie. But it's still entertaining. Just keep in mind to not mind the plot and concentrate on the action itself.

Inception: Keeps you at the edge of your seat

Must admit, my better half and I only watch films in the cinema if we feel that it's worth the money. So after Toy Story 3 (didn't get to write a review, but it was a super duper amazing movie), we decided to watch Inception because it was a Christopher Nolan film and we liked him. As well as the other cast like Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Ellen Page (Juno), Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai), and Cillian Murphy (The Dark Knight).

Okay, I'm not a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, but he's a good actor.

Anyways, the trailer has left me curious as to what this film is about. By its very definition, the word "inception" means the beginning or origin of something. So the movie is a beginning of what, you might ask.

In the story, Leonardo DiCaprio is Cobb, a thief who steals secrets in a most unique way: extraction, or stealing by going into a person's subconscious (dream state) and gets what he wants. His last assignment, supposedly to steal information from Saito (Watanabe), goes a bit awry. Cobb, a wanted fugitive (the reason revealed later on in the movie) and Arthur (Gordon-Levitt) decide to lie low for a while, but then Saito appears and offers them a proposal that would become Cobb's ticket to redemption: to do inception, or to plant an idea in the mind, on Robert Fischer, Jr. (Murphy), heir to a big oil company. Cobb, wanting to be with his children again and be cleared of his past charges, accepts the proposal and builds his team. Along with him, Saito and Arthur, he gets Ariadne (Page) the architect, Eames (Tom Hardy) the forger, and Yusuf (Dileep Rao) who creates the sedative to let them go to the dream state.

I found it amazing how Christopher Nolan and his team was able to take the film viewers to multiple layers of dream states and still have them engaged right to the very end. Every scene elicited a gasp or so, and a lot of twists and turns were quite unexpected. It was not much of the action scenes that glued people on their seats, rather it was the whole process of inception, on making the dream so real, that made us watch from start to end.

And the end... man! If that wasn't mindf--k, I don't know what is.

Christopher Nolan has been good in that aspect, especially if you've watched his previous movies like Memento and The Prestige. They all keep you guessing in the end (actually the 2 Batman movies were less mindf--ks but had you at the edge of your seat). Inception is no exception. It's like dreaming within a dream and waking up just to say, "Am I still dreaming?" That's how crazy it got for me.

Acting-wise, I think everyone delivered. Albeit short, Marion Cotillard and Michael Caine had their moments. DiCaprio was quite good as the skilled yet troubled Cobb.

Note, though, that this is a movie that would require you to be awake to not miss any details. It won't fall under the category, "Relax, see a movie." So if you're not up to it, you might as well catch it on DVD to listen to the dialogues and press Replay if needed. And I would recommend people to watch it when you're completely awake, just so you won't miss out on anything.

One of the best movies this year so far. A film about dreams that leaves you awake. Really cool, try to catch it in local cinemas while you still can.

Movie trailer: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

It's time to salivate, fanboys and fangirls.

I think I watched it 3 times before posting it here. I'm so excited to see this in 3D.

Here, my dears, for your viewing pleasure: the trailer of the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Weekend movie: Prince of Persia

One could easily drag me into the cinema, especially when movies with stunning visuals are showing. So it was not hard for my geek of a husband to get me into watching Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. First of all, it was made by the same people behind Pirates of the Caribbean and second, I knew that it was going to be a movie that has less talk and more action. Great for weekend watching.

The movie was based on the game with the same title. Though, as my husband would point out, there were alterations here and there. The story revolves around Dastan, an orphaned boy plucked from the streets by the Persian king. From thereon, he lived as royalty alongside his two brothers and uncle. How was he as a prince? Let's just say, just like the usual -- the prodigal one. Anyway, so his eldest brother, heir to the throne, was made to believe that the holy city of Alamut was selling arms to the enemies under their noses. So they rushed in and ransacked the city. In the course of the siege, Dastan recovers an unusual-looking dagger and, at the success of their quest, meets the princess, Tamina.

Of course it's not all well. Complications arise when, during their victory party, the king dies and Dastan was accused of murder. Running away with Tamina, he embarks on a new journey of seeking the truth behind the dagger, the Sands of Time, and ultimately the identity of the real enemy.

That's as far as I can go. The rest of the story, you have to see for yourself.

Now, even if you haven't played the game, it's fine because, as I've said, the movie changed bits and pieces in different parts. If you have played the game, well you're in for a few surprises. But the essence of the game, particularly the fight scenes and the stunts, is still there.

(Fof the record, I refuse to play the game. I got lost since the first Prince of Persia game in the FamiCom. Got stuck as early as Stage 1.)

I like the way the movie recreated the golden days of Persia. The set and cinematography were really great. The character design of the Hassansins (and their weapons) were amazing. Somehow it reminded me of the Assasins in 300. I guess there was a group of hired killers back then and that they looked exactly like that. Should consult Google...

Acting-wise, Jake Gyllenhaal was pretty good as Dastan. Gemma Arterton, last seen in Clash of the Titans, looked like her previous character Io but with a Persian princess costume. Hubby and I though noticed Ben Kingsley never actually aged. And he's also somewhat stereotyped as a bad guy. From Gandhi to the bad guy, eh? But hey, he's always intense whatever role you give him, so kudos to him. But the best of the lot? Alfred Molina. Gosh, any where you put this man is magic. For me, even if he was the so-called comic relief of the movie, he was the one that I really liked.

I found the story pretty engaging. You'd never want to take your eyes away from the screen as the action unfolds. The movie isn't too heavy in words, too, so it's kinda easy to catch the flow of the story.

Would I recommend this movie? Absolutely yes. For sheer action and entertainment and a bit of humor on the side, it's a film to catch. And you don't have to be a geek to like it, too.

Who's Thor?

Well, we all know him as the Norse God of Thunder. And we all know that Marvel is going to make a movie based on Thor, the comic book character. Question is, who will be playing one of The Avengers' main members?

The guy who gets to be a god is none other than Chris Hemsworth.

Chris who?

Okay, so for ordinary folks like me who have problems remembering names of people, Chris Hemsworth is the guy who played George Kirk, the father of James T. Kirk, captain of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701, better known as the Starship Enterprise of Star Trek. Whew!

And on your left is a sneak peek on Mr. Hemsworth as the mighty god Thor, courtesy of Marvel.com. For some reason, he looks like Aquaman to me in this photo, with the scaled sleeves and facial hair. A far cry from the clean-cut captain-for-12-minutes in the latest Star Trek movie. But hey, it did pique my interest for the film. Hoping to see more photos for Thor soon.

Clash of the Titans: not so bad but not so good, either

I know I kinda watched the film pretty late. Blame it on a very tight schedule, which also included transferring from a rented apartment back to my parents' house. But I digress...

My husband and I decided to watch Clash of the Titans in Greenhills Promenade's 3D cinema, mainly because 1) we haven't watched any 3D movie yet (the husband would always remind us how we missed watching Avatar on 3D); and 2) it was a (supposed) remake of a movie that was part of both our childhood.

And so we spent 2 hours of our weekend watching Sam Worthington as demi-god Perseus engage in a grudge match with the Greek gods, particularly Hades (Ralph Fiennes), while at the same time rescue Andromeda (Alexa Davalos), princess of Argos, from being eaten by the Kraken.

So what are my realizations after watching the film?

For one, it was not a complete adaptation of the 1981 version. There are a lot of what I would call "inconsistencies" between the two movies. I would sometimes interject with things from the original movie that I noticed were missing. Plus, I never knew that the word "bitch" was already used during that time.

Second, well, just like the first one, it wasn't really the clash of the "titans," if you take the meaning of the name seriously. If you're into Greek mythology, then you would agree. I think Edith Hamilton will. Hehe! But well, the story of the movie (and even the original one) isn't really based on the mythology itself, if you read Perseus' real origins...

Third, if you plan on watching it on full 3D, I suggest you don't. You can enjoy it similarly without the high-tech, imported 3D glasses -- you really won't miss on anything. Except for the free popcorn and drink. To be honest, the trailers were more enjoyable (especially that of Toy Story 3).

With the above reasons, it's suffice to say that Clash of the Titans isn't that good, but it's not that bad, either. It just isn't one movie that you would talk about weeks after you've watched it. Heck, it's almost forgettable. If you're a high schooler or elementary student seeking a film that would introduce you to Greek mythology, this is not it, I promise you. But if you're in just for the entertainment and eye candy (and if you have a humongous crush on Sam Worthington or Gemma Arterton) then I guess there's still time to catch it in the local cinemas.

Chris Evans is Captain America (but isn't he...?)

Marvel has made it official: Chris Evans will portray Captain America in its live action movie version. Mr. Evans now plays two characters in the Marvel world, the first being Johnny Storm, a.k.a. Human Torch, in The Fantastic Four.

Here is where I wonder: isn't there any other blonde guy fit to be Steve Rogers? If they were going to do a live action of Civil War, who will he portray?

And here's another interesting bit: he's also doing another role in the rival universe -- as Jensen in the DC Vertigo graphic novel The Losers. Check out the movie poster wholly based on the original comic cover:

The only thing different is where Zoe Saldana is standing. But it still looks cool.

Which reminds me, I have to start reading Kick Ass, too...

Weekend movie: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

The title's quite a mouthful, but I could summarize the movie in these words: Usual juvie story mixed with Greek mythology. Okay fine, something like Harry Potter.

Directed by Chris Columbus, the same one at the helm of the first HP movies, this book to silverscreen adaptation is about a teenage boy named -- who else -- Percy, who learns that he is a demi-god: son of a mortal woman by Poseidon, the god of the seas. For some reason, Zeus and everyone else in Olympus thinks that Percy Jackson stole Zeus's thunderbolt. Wanting to prove his innocence, he goes on a quest along with his BFF Grover, who is actually a satyr assigned as his protector, and Annabeth, demi-god daughter of Athena.

That's just the tip of the iceberg, since I don't want to spoil it to you guys. All in all, it was quite entertaining. It would make your kids a bit interested in Greek mythology. I don't think Hades would have fires in his Underworld, though (it isn't exactly Hell, you know). Also, from the synopsis found in the series' website, I would think that Percy's character wasn't explored that much. And again, it wasn't clear why he was accused of stealing the lightning bolt.

Still, it's quite nice, and I would suggest seeing this with your children. If you're a kid at heart, then this one's pretty much a feel-good movie right for you. Doesn't have a lasting effect in the memory, though. You've been warned.

The Last Airbender Official Trailer

I've been a fan of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was really fun to watch and I'd say it's got one of the best storylines of this generation's batch of animated series.

Since last year, we knew that it was going to be made into a full length live action movie to be directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Truth to tell, I was kinda wary of him being on the helm of the film because the past movies he did were from his own ideas. Shyamalan doing an adaptation seems, well, not too good.

Add to that the casting of the characters. He got a lot of flak from die-hard Avatar fans, which also included me. The teaser trailer was okay, kinda ignited my curiosity as to whether or not Shyamalan could pull this off. But here comes the official trailer, and I must say my heart skipped a beat.

Watch it here:



Again, casting could've been better. The soundtrack's pretty weird (why does everyone want to sound like 300?). And what's that on Aang -- is that a tattoo? And for those of you looking for Appa, my friend says he's there; his tail was more visible in the Superbowl ad.

I'd probably give this film -- and Shyamalan -- a chance. Let's see if it lives up to the expectations of millions of fans around the world.

Damn, Shyamalan. Don't make me cringe.