* Creating Enchantment *

… I would seriously hate you, Kuroki Meisa.

*sigh* Life is so unfair.

 
(L-R) Kubozuka Yosuke, Kuroki Meisa, Chen Edison (Publicity Photo for Onatsuki)

Tamaki Hiroshi and Kuroki Meisa
(They were together in the movie Tada Kimi o Aishiteru too.)

Oh, and she’s with Kamenashi Kazuya in One Pound no Fukuin as well, but I’m not really that big a fan of Kame so I don’t mind that. Hehe. Still… *sigh* Can you say envious?!

The only thing lacking is a picture of her and Yamapi, and that’s it. She’d have become the leading lady of all my favorite Japanese (except for Edison, he’s Chinese) actors. I hope it never happens. Hahaha. (Or, is there already a picture like this, and I just haven’t seen it?)

Again, let me first tell everyone that this is not a review. There are already a gazillion reviews out there (and from people who know way more about Narnia than I do), so instead, I’m just going to post some pictures.

Anyway, I’ve thought of a single sentence that sums up what I think about this movie (for the most part, hehe):

If 300 is a Chick Flick, then The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is 300 for kids (or young adults ). Hehe.

I mean, cute guys, a fantasy world and daytime war? What more could you ask? Hehehe. I really can’t decide who I like best of the three (Peter, Edmond, Caspian). The actors are all younger than me anyway, but wah! They’re all so cuuuute! Hehehe.

Here’s the semi-pic spam as promised:

And here, I wanted to post an action shot for Edmund (Skandar Keynes), because his fighting style is just so cool!

Wah! Love it love it love it! XD Hehehe.

Okay, back to reality now. *sigh*

Sex and the City ( 2008 )

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon
Written and Directed by: Michael Patrick King
Nationality: U.S.A.

I just got back from seeing this with my friend. We totally loved it. Although I watched some episodes of the series, I can’t really call myself a big fan of this. I mean, I never really researched it or looked for it or anything. It’s just that during the time that the series was running, I had free time on its time slot, so I watched it. But I wouldn’t say that I’m not a fan of it either, because I did really like all the episodes that I’ve watched of it. And there was a part of me that felt real happy when at the end of the series, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) ended up with Mr.Big (Chris Noth). Anyway, this movie is all about what happened after that.

The truth is, I really liked how the series ended. As in really really. Everyone was happy at the end of the series, because they’d all seemed to have found what they were looking for. So when I found out that a movie was going to get made, I actually got nervous, because I thought, that they couldn’t possibly trump the success of the series. And I was a little hesitant to watch this, because I also thought that like most sequels, this might end up ruining the ending of the first (like Meteor Garden, okay bad analogy. -_-). But I guess I watched it because (like most fans), I really did miss Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte. And I was curious as to what happened after they all changed their lives drastically (from the “single” gals that they were at the start of the series, I mean).

I’m glad to say that this movie didn’t disappoint me at all. Despite its being 2 and 1/2 hours long, I wasn’t bored for a minute. Despite it having had obvious cuts, I didn’t really mind. I know that what they showed in HBO had cuts as well, so it was really just like another episode. And it’s a very good one, too. I mean, Carrie, finally getting married, to Mr. Big? Who wouldn’t be interested to find out what happens, right?

So, I don’t want to spoil anything in here. Even though it’s been playing in the cinemas for more than a week, a lot of people seems not to have watched it yet (the cinema was full when we got there. And it’s a weekday). Or maybe the die-hard fans just want to see it over and over, because the series was kind of like that. I think its strength lies in how it can get anybody to be able to relate to the characters. Even if they’re really larger than life, it’s still very realistic (except the clothes, but I’m not one to complain about that), so you can still learn real life lessons from it. The thought that this movie (and the series) is all about sex is wrong. I think this story is really about relationships, I mean, about love, and that’s why it’s able to reach, just about anyone who’s ever loved (which is to say, everyone). Another strength it has, is that it’s about friendship, too. That’s really the point of it, right? That no matter how screwed up your life gets, no matter how many bad break-ups you go through, as long as you’ve got your friends, you’ll still be good to go.

Anyway, I’m really happy that this wasn’t one of those bad sequels that ruin its predecessors. I just hope that despite its success, they wouldn’t make a sequel to this one, because I honestly don’t think that there’s a better way to end their story. (Tell me if I’m wrong: The bar they were in at the last scene of the movie, is the same bar they were at in the first episode of the series, right?)

Can This Be Love (2005)

Starring: Hero Angeles & Sandara Park
Directed By: Jose Javier Reyes
Nationality: Pinoy!

Masaya rin manood ng mga pelikulang napanood mo na dati. Kasi may dalawang posibleng mangyari: Mas-magugustuhan mo sila kaysa nung una mong napanood, o mas-aayawin mo sila kaysa nung una mo silang napanood. Para sa pelikulang ito, para sa’kin, mas-nagustuhan ko siya.

Akalain mong maganda pala talaga ang pagkagawa nito. Hindi ko naman sinasabing ‘di na’ko sang-ayon sa dati kong isinulat tungkol dito, pero matapos ko ‘tong panoorin ulit, at basahin ulit ‘yung nasulat kong review, sa tingin ko, masyado akong harsh na mag-judge dati. O kaya naman, mas-marami na lang akong napanood na pelikula mula nun kasi, kaya medyo nag-iba na ang opinyon ko ngayon.

Kung dati, sinasabi ko na sayang lang at nagbukas sila ng mga problemang hindi naman nila nabigyan ng resolution sa dulo, tulad ng side-story nila Jed (Joross Gamboa) at Bebs (Roxanne Guinoo) (na sa tingin ko pa rin ‘eh isiningit lang para lang masali sila sa pelikula dahil sila naman talaga ang kasabay nila Hero at Sandara na sumikat). Ang problema kasi nila ‘eh si Jed, gustong magpuntang Japan para magtrabaho, pero siyempre ‘yung girlfriend niyang si Bebs, ayaw siyang paalisin ng Pilipinas. Nung una, nainis pa’ko dahil hindi ko nalaman kung nagpunta pa rin ba si Jed sa Japan matapos ang lahat. Pero ngayon naisip ko, hindi na kailangan ‘yun. Ibig kong sabihin, hindi ko na kailangan malaman kung anong ending ng kwento nila, dahil ang relevant talaga ‘dun sa pangyayaring ‘yon, ‘eh ‘yung pag-uusap ni Ryan (Hero Angeles) at Bebs matapos ang mga kaguluhan:

“Pupunta siya ng Japan hindi pa iwanan ka, kundi para pagandahin ang buhay niya.” - Ryan, Can This Be Love

Kailangan kasi nung pelikula ‘yung linyang ‘yun para ipakita rin na ‘yung mga umaalis ng Pilipinas, hindi naman talaga para iwanan ‘yung mga mahal nila dito, pero para lang magkaroon ng mga ibang opportunities, para malaman na rin kung ano pang mayroon para sa kanila na wala dito sa kinalakhan nila, sa kinasanayan nila.

Naisip ko rin dati na hindi malinaw kung ang mensahe ba nung storya ‘eh kung mas-mabuti bang umalis ng Pilipinas ang mga Pilipino, o kung mas-okey na manatili na lang rito. Pero matapos ko siyang panoorin ulit ngayon, parang mas-okey nga na hindi malinaw ‘yung ganung mensahe, kasi nasa tao na lang talaga ‘yun kung anong gusto niyang gawin sa buhay niya. Ang ginawa lang ng pelikula ay ipinakita kung anong kalagayan ng Pilipinas sa ganitong panahon na halos lahat ay nagpupumilit nang umalis para makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Ang totoo, medyo mas-nagutsuhan ko pa nga na walang kumbaga “thesis statement” ‘yung pelikula kung alin ang mas-maganda, dahil minsan nakakainis rin kapag halata mong ang isang kwento ay may ipinipilit na ideya o kaya “mentality” sa audience nito.

Ang isang hindi nagbago para sa’kin, ay ‘yung kagustuhan ko sa pagkaka-ayos nung kwento– ‘yung flashback lang ang lahat at sa gitna ng mga eksena ‘eh may ipapakita silang isang bagay (kunwari, salamin, o kaya plane ticket) para masimulan ang sunod na yugto ng kwento. At sobrang gusto ko pa rin kung paano nila tinapos ang kwento nila Ryan at Daisy (Sandara Park)– ‘yun bang, hindi na masyadong explicit, walang arte-arte. At *SPOILER ALERT* bagama’t nauwi pa rin sa kasalan pagdating sa huli (dahil halos lahat ng pelikulang Tagalog na may love story ay ‘yun ang ending), masaya ako na hindi na nagkaroon pa ng eksenang nasa simbahan ang dalawang bida at ang buong cast ay naka-formal attire. Nagustuhan ko talaga ang ending nito. Masasabi ko sa ngayon na ito na ‘yung pinaka-gusto kong “style” ng ending sa lahat ng mga Tagalog movies na napanood ko na love story.

Medyo nalulungkot lang akong isipin na ang tambalang Hero-Sandara ay hindi na mauulit. Hindi naman ako sobrang fan na fan nila, pero tuwing nakakarinig ako ng mga kwentong hiwalayan (kahit as friends, or as co-workers), at lalo na sa buhay ng mga artista, nalulungkot ako. Dahil alam kong ang pinakamalaking dahilan ay ang media. (Hindi lang naman kasi dito nangyayari ‘yan, pati sa Hollywood grabe kumilatis ng mga tao ang media ‘dun kaya naaawa ako minsan para sa mga artista.) At hindi rin ako naniniwala ‘dun sa sinasabi nilang dapat alam na ng mga artista na iintrigahin at iintrigahin sila dahil sikat sila kaya dapat alam na nila ‘yun. Para sa’kin, dapat alam din ng tao kung kailan dapat tumigil sa pag-iintriga, kasi minsan nakakasira na talaga sila ng buhay ng ibang tao, tapos para lang naman sa mataas na ratings sa isang gabi ‘yun. Ewan, ayoko nang pag-usapan ‘yan dahil feeling ko ‘eh wala na ‘yang katapusan. So, balik na lang ako sa pelikula…

Can This Be Love. Kahit pa masyadong maraming parang “social commentary” na mga linya at eksena, para sa isang pelikula na tungkol dapat sa pag-ibig, sa tingin ko ‘eh okay pa rin siya, dahil maganda rin naman pala ang pagka-pakita nila sa kung anong maaaring mangyari sa dalawang tao na mula sa magkaibang bansa, kultura, atbp. pero nagkataong ipinagkilala ng tadhana.

Kung napanood n’yo na ‘to dati, panoorin n’yo ulit. Masaya rin siyang balikan. At kung ‘di n’yo pa napanood, sana magustuhan n’yo.

*Movie Recall - Ito na pala ang itatawang ko sa mga “second reviews” o kaya ‘yung mga reviews ng pelikulang luma na pero kamakailan ko lang napanood.

Just so you know, this isn’t going to be a movie review. I don’t think I know enough about the topic to give a good review of it, but it will be related to my watching the movie, which is why this entry is titled so.

This is the proof that I’m really not girly-girly. Or maybe it’s the geek in me, but I really really really liked this movie. I mean, it’s like sci-fi, but it’s so realistic– it’s a good example of those “fiction but doesn’t seem like fiction” stories. It’s absolutely wonderful.

I loved it, which is weird, considering I don’t like action movies, much. I’m not very fond of explosions and guns blazing and all that war stuff, but now I really believe that if a story’s good enough, or at least one of the elements of the movie (in this case, it’s the technology– both the fictitious technology included in the story, and the technology of the movie magic in making the film) is really very good, then one will learn to appreciate the other parts that one wouldn’t normally like. In my case, because the special effects, concept, and story of this one was just so cool, that I didn’t mind at all how there were so many explosions, and scenes with cars (I don’t like cars much). Towards the middle of the story, I didn’t even mind anymore that Robert Downey, Jr. isn’t exactly someone I would call “cute” or “handsome”. And I’m willing to overlook how “comic-book-y” Gwyneth Paltrow’s character’s name is. I mean, Pepper Potts? That’s straight from a comic book writer’s mind, right there. (Well, this movie was based on a comic book after all.)

Anyhow, I watched this with one of my friends J (who is a girl), and she didn’t like it much. I can tell. Even if she said it was okay. I think she didn’t hate it, but she didn’t like it too much either. I think it’s because it’s a guy film, even worse, it’s a geeky guy film, which is probably why she didn’t like it all that much. Anyway, it’s such a contrast to me because I loved it to bits.

I’m not stereotyping here. I know a lot of other girls who really loved the movie as well, I just still think that it’s mostly a guy film. Because it’s really quite violent. Anyway, the reason I think I like it, other than because it’s kind of a sci-fi flick with all the gadgets, is because in some ways, it seems kind of like an anime. I mean, the mecha-type anime. There’s this scene where the bad guy puts the glowing power source into the armor’s heart– doesn’t it just remind you of the dragu-energists in The Vision of Escaflowne?

I mean, American mecha just used to be Transformers and other kinds wherein the robots are also beings themselves, and not hi-tech machines controlled by humans, which is why this is a refreshing change for them. And for us as well, because it’s the first time I’ve seen a story set in the U.S. with believable mecha.

Okay, I’m not going to continue with that line of thinking (See! I told you all my movie reviews eventually end up comparisons of the East and West). And just spaz some more about the movie like the geeky fan girl that I am. Hehehe.

IRONMAN! Whee!! XD I haven’t really been loving the Marvel stories too much. Spider-man 3 was disappointing for me (despite the presence of James Franco, Topher Grace and Tobey Maguire). Fantastic Four is also nothing very interesting. Well, it had potential, but in the middle of the story they explored an angle that I really didn’t like (I’ll tell you what it is: It’s Silver Surfer’s motivation. Can’t they think of anything else for him to act the way he did, other than having lost his family (and his remembering his wife because of Invisible Girl and so he’s kinder towards her is just ugh!!)? Come on! I’m sure there are plenty of other reasons out there, why reuse this old and boring one?!). And with the X-Men series, I only really liked the last one. But this one (IronMan) seems to be off to a good start, so hopefully they don’t overdo it, and the next ones will be really good as well.

Hollywood seems to be relying on some hits and misses, I think. I mean, some movies (like this one) turn out really really great, but others (most, actually) really really suck. I just saw trailers for the new The Incredible Hulk. I didn’t see the first one with Eric Bana, but seeing Edward Norton involved in this one makes me have high expectations for it. Well, it should be good considering it’s already a remake of a remake. And then there’s My Sassy Girl, which I was against at first, because we all know that that kind of story would only really work in a Korean setting (it was really weird watching the two American actors slapping each other at the train station. It’s just not cute, like it is in the original My Sassy Girl.), what would they do with the “school uniform” part? But again, I think I’ll be watching it because I like the cast– Jesse Bradford, I love!! XD And what else…? Narnia, Batman: The Dark Knight, and Indiana Jones 4! Well, we all have high expectations on that… Oh, I also saw the Teaser for a new Star Trek movie. I didn’t even know there was going to be another one! Kind of a coincidence for me because I was just researching yesterday about it and found out that the actress whose voice they used for the “computer” in the series was actually Gene Rodenberry’s girlfriend.

Anyway, good luck to Hollywood! I really hope the upcoming movies turn out great!

In case you were wondering, the answer is yes, I’ll be posting my Movie Reviews here as well, instead of my Movie Review Blog, because, well, because WordPress has Categories. (That is, the reason I’m here after all, instead of other blog hosts.) It’s just so hard to maintain several blogs, yeah? So now I’m trying to maintain just this one, even if it is on a variety of topics. Besides, I didn’t think it was fair if my reviews on other Asian stuff are here, but the Filipino stuff and Hollywood stuff are in a different blog. I should treat all works equally, right?

Yeah, yeah, there’s no need for justification… Just get on with the review already! (Wait–why am I talking to myself!?)

****

When Love Begins ( 2008 )

So sometimes it’s a good thing when a movie is realistic. Because audiences will be able to relate to the characters easier, right? But there are also times, wherein a story (or dialogue) is too realistic, that it makes for a very boring film. Such is the case for When Love Begins.

The story goes like this–An environmentalist lawyer named Ben (played by Aga Mulach) meets the rich daughter of a land developer, Mich (played by the beautiful Anne Curtis) in one of the loveliest islands of the Philippines–Boracay. They go out, they like each other, but there are two things that’s holding them back from the grandeur of love: 1) They’re both tired of commitments and don’t like taking relationships too seriously; and 2) The company (which plans to cut trees and destory a river in a provincial town) Ben’s environmentalist group is protesting against is owned by Mich’s father

I’ll admit it. What got me interested in this movie, is reason no.2 (Hey, we should all care about the environment!), which is why I was disappointed when it didn’t happen to be the focus of the story. Okay okay, we all have different tastes, and since this was marketed as love story, then it was well and good that it focused on the “romance” aspect, but that’s exactly why I think it doesn’t work for me.

The relationship between Ben and Mich is too real– from the way they met, to the dialogue they spoke, the activities they did, the places they went to. Nothing was larger than life, nothing very dramatic. I know it was probably meant to be that way, but set against the somewhat unrealistic backdrop of “rich girl, poor guy” (although Ben wasn’t exactly poor– his family’s house is huge, but I say “poor” because there was a part in which it was implied that he wasn’t sosyal (Um, I think that’s “high class” in English, I’m not so sure), with the ‘too coincidental to be true’ idea of having rich girl’s father be the one poor guy’s protesting against, well, it just makes me confused on what to think of the movie.

Is it one of those movies wherein you condition yourself to take all things as fiction, and so it’s just fun to watch all the “what if” scenarios, or a movie wherein you’re supposed to believe that the events really happen in real life, and so the issues are real, and that you should reflect more on its message? (Yes, I believe romantic comedies have “messages”, too.)

I know not everyone will share my opinion on this, but for me, I just wished there was more drama. I mean, I go into the cinema to escape from real life. If I watch something that’s as normal as one of the stories my friend (who just got back from her summer vacation) would tell me, then I might as well just have talked to my friend and not see the movie. I expected fireworks, laugh-out-loud moments, witty quotable quotes, and cheesy-disgustingly-sweet moments, big romantic gestures (like Mich taking a stand, and defying her father for being so careless about the environment), but unfortunately, the movie has none of it. It didn’t even have enough wide-angle shots of Boracay, which makes the place seem like just another beach in the Philippines instead of “The” Boracay.

The only quotable quote I got was Mich’s line: “It’s not enough that you accept me for who I am. But you also have to accept me for who I’m not.” (Or something like that, again, I’m quoting this from memory so it’s not exact.) Other than that, there was nothing that made too much of an impact to remember. Or, wait, Anne Curtis’ performance was actually great. She was really believable as a character. It’s a shame the other elements are so boring, I think her growth as an actress seems wasted.

So, in my list of summer movies (and when I say “summer movies” I mean those movies that have beach settings, and not necessarily the movies that open during the summer), I think I’d much prefer Summer Holiday over this. Mostly because that was more entertaining. For some reason, this one made me feel like I was watching someone’s home video. But I don’t know, I think with all the reality shows nowadays, people like things like these better now. Oh well.

Well, I actually won’t be going until this Saturday, but I’m already excited. So I’m writing this entry. I’m unfortunate enough as to have this Saturday’s trip be my first summer trip of the year. And it’s a company outing, too. Hehe, no offense to my friends in the office–they’re a blast to hang out with, and I really enjoy spending time with them. I’m just not too crazy about the idea of going to the beach with 100+ other people (from the other departments) who I’m expected to socialize with, and I’m not too keen on the fact that we’d all have to follow the same activities, too (As in, we have to eat lunch whenever everyone’s eating lunch, and we have to stay within resort premises and all that stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve no problem with following rules. I think rules are great. But I’d pick the laidback type of vacation where only a few people are going and you make your own schedule, and no one will force you to be friendly, any day. Hehe. 8-} ). That aside, I’m still quite excited, because I haven’t been to the beach we’re going to–La Luz Resort in Batangas. From what I heard from my other officemates who’d already gone (they just got back yesterday), and what I’ve seen of their pictures, it’s pretty promising.

Anyway, this entry is really a recommendation:

Summer Holiday (2000)

Starring: Sammi Cheng & Richie Ren
Directed by: Jingle Ma Chor-Sing
Nationality (as in, where this movie is from): Hong Kong

I saw this a few years back (2005?) and it’s one of my favorite summer/romantic comedies ever! Okay, quick summary: Sammi Cheng plays a city girl named Summer, who loses her job, and so goes to the beach that she and her cousin owns, planning on selling it, so she’ll have some money whilst she’s looking for another job. But when she gets to the beach, she finds out that her cousin’s already sold his half to Momocha (played by Richie Ren), a beach bum who has no intentions of selling the beach, ever. So Summer tries to convince him otherwise, and of course the two of them eventually fall in love.

It’s really predictable, I know. But it’s just so cute, that I still like it, even if it’s got a typical story. Plus, it’s meant to be a light comedy, that doesn’t require too much thinking. What I really like about it is that despite it being light and the events somewhat far-fetched (how much of a coincidence is it that the guy who owns half of the beach happens to be — oh no wait, I can’t tell you. That’ll spoil the ending ), it’s not at all stupid, or ridiculous (or, it’s a little ridiculous, but in a good comedic way). So I think it’s perfect the way it is. Besides, the scenery is just amazing.

The place they shot at was Laguna Redang Resort, Malaysia. Wah! I’ve only been to Kuala Lumpur (and for only 2 days ) so I didn’t know (until this movie) that Malaysia had such great beaches like these! Look!

Lovely water color! (Haha, water color :P)

So, for anyone who’s looking to see a nice, fun, and cute movie this summer, this is highly recommended!

Although I’m not really sure where you can get a copy of this. Maybe it’s in YouTube, or it’s probably in those places where you usually find other Asian media stuff (i.e. movies, dramas, music, etc.) since both main actors are pretty famous in the Asian entertainment scene anyway. If I know you personally, I can lend you my copy if you want.

Happy Summer everyone!

As for this, I just wanted to post it because their expressions are so cute! Hehehe.

Momocha (Richie Ren) and Summer (Sammi Cheng) in Summer Holiday

A really really good movie always leaves me feeling like this: I want to write something about it, but I’m so in awe, I can’t find the words.

I’m not going to lie. I probably already have developed a bias for anything Japanese — anime, dramas, movies, food, etc. And if someone tells me I’m not giving things made by other nationalities a fair chance, I’d probably agree. But I have thought of a hopefully believable defense against that:

Why do I fall in love with things Japanese? Because it’s just so hard not to. (Especially their films.)

I just finished watching Tada, Kimi o Aishiteru. And yes, I’ll admit, like most fangirls, I was only curious about this film because Tamaki Hiroshi was in it, but I don’t think it matters how you stumble upon things like these anyway. I think what I really like the most about fangirling is that after all the superficial fan-service-y downloads, once in a while, you’ll come across things like these, which not only gets you to fall in love again with the object of your affections, but gives you the feeling that you’re not just into some cute guy, and that there is some substance to your admiration.

Tada, Kimi o Aishiteru (Just, Loving You) is about a shy university student, Makoto (Tamaki Hiroshi) who makes friends with two very different kinds of girls: Shizuru (Miyazaki Aoi), who marches to the beat of her own drum (or is “more original than most people”), and Miyuki (Kuroki Meisa) who is your typical girl next door (she even dreams of “becoming a bride”, how’s that for typical? :P). At first, it’s just like any other love triangle story, but a kiss between Makoto and Shizuru changes all that. And things only get more intriguing, as right after said kiss, Shizuru inexplicably disappears.

Saying any more about the story would ruin the ending for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. So let me instead just go to the part of this entry which I hate: having to put into actual words how I feel about it.

[This is me cheating.] I honestly can’t think of the words. No, it’s not the best movie I’ve ever seen. I loved it, but I wouldn’t go that far. But then again, with Japanese films, it’s really hard to determine which is the best. They’re all too different from each other, too original, too equally good, to be able to make a fair and accurate comparison. Eh, this is really hard. I’m going to cheat again by quoting a line from the movie:

I don’t know about you, but for me, this is one of the most accurate descriptions of life (or love, because this is a love story). It’s one of those lines that make an entire movie come alive, and stick with you, or maybe randomly pop up at a particular time that you’re sad. Don’t we all sometimes want to believe in things that aren’t true, simply because we become happier that way?

Despite the seriousness of this film and the somewhat sad tone, I felt happy watching it. I think it’s because it was honest. You don’t get enough movies like that nowadays. And I guess, because this film is that, then it is one of the best movies I’ve seen.