Life of Pi

The Life of Pi revolves around a 16 year old Indian boy who survies a shipwrek in which his family dies. Pi is stranded in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat for 227 days with a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker.

Richard Parker is the name of several people in real life and fiction who became shipwrecked with some of them subsequently being cannibalised by their fellow seamen. (Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Parker_(shipwrecked)).


This film is based on a novel of Yann Martel of the same title.In this book, the tiget is set adrift in a lifeboat after a shipwreck with other three animals, namely the orangutan, the zebra and the hyena with the Indian boy named Pi. The tiger only eats the other animals except for the boy. 

It is an extra-ordinary story of Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patle. There are two stories of how he survived in that 227 days adrift at the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal Tiger. It is a fantastic story like being castaway on a shipwreck stories. But, the main story is that Pi's family experience a shipwreck, must survive in a lifeboat and in reality he has to face it that his family died on that fatal shipwreck. This is how Pi has to face the death of his loved ones and that the same time to survive at sea. Remember that the largest ocean in the world is the Pacific Ocean with all different kinds of typoons, cyclones or catastrophe at the midde of the ocean. He never could have survive at all on his faith and his story to be told in a book and even in the big screen.

I really wonder what had happened to the Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Watch the journey of one's story of survival in the eyes of a 16 years old Indian boy named Pi. Watch Life of Pi and enoy the movies.

Rise of the Guardians

Beware of those who are naught this year or there will be no Christmas. Joke!!! Just kidding!!! I had watch this movie at Resorts World with my friend, Jane and my husband, Raffy there. It was really a feel-good movie.

This season of greetings is that you have watch this movie. All your favorite characters like Santa Claus with the Elves, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and the SandMan. Not to mention Jack Frost and the Boogie Man. 

Perfect casting for theie voice talents like Alec Balwin,  Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, Chris Pine and Jude Law. Imagine the likes of Alec, Hugh, Chris and Jude while listening to their talented voices as if you are being serenated. 

The story about the hopes, faith and dreams of children all over the world. These guardians protect these virtues so that we can be children in believing that someday these dreams will come true. Some of us do not believe anymore because of the fast busy life that we have. Material things I suppose but not these kind of dreams especially fun things. Nightmares are really quite a stress if you think about it. But, we still have hope especially that Christmas is just around the corner. Young children and the children at heart should still believe in our childhood make believes like in the guardians. You will never know that you are now naughter than nicer than before. Please do not kill the child in us... Believe!!!

This is still showing in the theaters. It is really good to watch it in the movie cinema. Besides, you will like to eat that kind of popcorn with your love ones.

Enjoy watching the movies.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2

"When you can live forever, is there anything worth dying for?" Wow, this is a real commitment if ever you will be living forever. Thank God that I am human. Being human is a tough job to live and work things out with other fellow human beings in the family and into society. Think about it.

Back to the movie, the film is entitled, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2. This is released on November 18, 2012. A romantic fantasy film based on the novel  Breaking Dawn by Steohenie Meyer of The Twilight Saga. This final installment of the second part of Breaking Dawn from the wedding, honeymoon, pregnancy and transformation of Bella Swan to Edward Collin being vampires. Until to imprint of Jacob Black as a werewolf to Renesmee in order to protect her from the evil forces because she is half mortal and half immortal.

You should love the castings with the main characters of Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. All of the characters matured in their portraying roles. Especially the sexy pump up abs of Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. I love the scene where he revealed to Bella's father, Charlie Swan, his true self as a werewolf. You should see how perfect his body in this scene from his head to his waist.Also, I like the unforgettable fight scene where the 18 allied families of vampires to come to protect Remesmee to The Volturi because of a "CRIME." As Edward told Carlisle, "Is it the price of loving a human being?"

At last, you have finally reach the end of the saga. It is a bitter sweet of watching The Twilight Saga because from the beginning of the first film until this last one is that I really liked the final installment. For one thing is that I never felt that the film is 116 minutes or almost 2 hours. It justifies that the film is a romantic fantasy. Especially fighting for the ones we love, our family, our friends and our beliefs. Embracing the unknown where it is a challenge in daily life. Lastly, in knowing that true love is forever. Oh, I wish that forever is true.

Watch the film, you will be entertained and relaxed that you will not have that kind of daily stress that we all human beings have. Movies are there for us to feel that we can enter the world of make believe and using our imaginations just like reading a book. So, enjoy this movie Breaking Dawn - Part 2 and guaranteed that you will feel that forever does exist.

Enjoy watching the movies everyone.

Praybeyt Benjamin

Vice Ganda is one comedian who gives a good performance being gay at present. He is the female version of Eugene Domingo for which he provides a "shuttle" reply with an attitude. That really suits Vice Ganda as his trademark. If you liked Vice Ganda as Petrang Kabayo, you will surely liked Praybeyt Benjamin to the next level.

The cast of Kean Copriano, Dennis Padilla, Carlos Agassi, Dj Durano, Vandolph, Nikki Valdez. Derek Ramsay, Jimmy Santos with Mr. Eddie Garcia and of course the lead role, Vice Ganda. This is produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films just like Petrang Kabayo.

The story is similar to the story of Disney's Mulan. But, the twist here is that the lead role is gay. The acceptance of gay and lesbian is the issue here in society such as in the military. In tackling the issue, the film makers has to create a comedy about it so that it would be in  the lighter side.

Being an educator, I am not discriminating genders because still, everyone has the right to be who they are and want to become in life. As long as, they could provide themselves and that they do not hurt anyone. I always tell my students that "I do not care about your gender preference, as long as you pass my subjects." Or otherwise, they could accomplish their goals in life. 

A gay from the ancient times is defined as a man is physically weak. As time passed by, gay became a stereo typed cast in society. However, nowadays, they are the ones who are reaching their purpose in life. But, be warned, my dear fellow females, they multiple fast and that they are our competitors rather than the real men.

Anyway, if you want to see a movie that you would want to really laugh hard, watched this movie. I know, Breaking Dawn is much anticipated. Filipinos must patronized first our very own movie industry. We are not making movies like before due to the financial crisis globally.

Guaranteed you will enjoy this movie and relax. See you soon. 

Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi!

This film is a very hilarious one. This film starred Zanjoe Marudo, Wendell Ramos, Eugene Doming and Toni Gonzaga. A film by Jose Javier Reyes was shown last August 31 with the Zombadings: Patayin sa Sindak si Remington. Both starred Eugene Domingo. Fortunately, both films are really good, however, one film has to suffer. Filipino movies are rarely having some blockbusters from moviegoers due to the prices these days. Besides, there are pirated DVDs in the market and that most of the time people can download it from the internet for free.

This film is most likely about the Filipino traditions of the wedding preparations like having an engagement party among relatives and we call it "Pamamanhikan." The issue of a church wedding where Catholic usually follow now the priest commands, and a garden or beach wedding that can be for other religion especially Protestant and Born Agains. The long entourage like in the Santacruzan and Flores de Mayo. The principal sponsors that both parents are still has the say on the wedding preparations itself. Somehow, the dress particularly at both mothers who wants gems, beads and rhinestones in their gowns. Forget about the star in the wedding day which is the bride or even the groom. The traditional where to settle first after the wedding by the newly weds which is most of the time at the in-laws' place. The battle of the sexes where the man should be the one working and not the woman. Figure it out. This is 2011 that we have now Facebook and Twitter. 

Ah, the modern time of having a long and a lasting marriage but because there is no divorce in the Philippines, we only have Legal Separation and Annulment. In legal terms, Legal Separation is that spouses are still considered married to each other, but they cannot remarry. The Philippine Law considered them legally separated such as repeated physical violence or grossly abusive, physical violence or moral pressure to change religious or political affiliation, attempt of respondent to corrupt or induce, judgement in imprisonment than six years, drug addiction or habitual alcoholism, homosexuality, bigamous marriage, perversion or sexual infidelity, attempt against the life, abandonment without justifiable cause for more than one year. However, Annulment applies to a marriage that is considered valid but there are grounds to nullify it. There should be a "declaration of nullity" of marriage which applies to marriages that are void or invalid from the very beginning. There are grounds for annulment such as lack of parental consent in certain cases, insanity, fraud (which not involved money), force, intimidation or undue influence, impotence or STD. (Reference: http://jlp-law.com/blog/annulment-divorce-legal-separation-in-the-philippines-questions-and-answers/)

What will our great, great grandparents will tell us? Anyway, in this film, it tackles the two comparisons of valuing Filipino traditions particularly in having a Filipino wedding and adopting in the modern way of having a resolved of marriage. This are a serious issues. But in the film, you will tend to laugh and see things the way Filipinos are known for as being happy all the time and laughing all our problems or else every Filipino will die of sorrow.

You will like the performances of the four main characters especially Toni Gonzaga. Really, gay-gay all the way. Joey Reyes has plenty of witty dialogues in the film. Thus, recommended that you will enjoy laughing in this film. I should know that I could relate both scenarios. Well, it just say that every Filipino can relate. 

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is one film that you have to see. A Filipino independent film where the main casts are Eugene Domingo, JM De Guzman, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez and with the special participation of Mercedes Cabral and Cherry Pie Picache. 

Marlon Rivera directed the film. He took his Bachelor of Arts in Communication at Ateneo de Manila University in 1987. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is Marlon's first time to direct a full length film. (Reference: http://www.cinemalaya.org/film_septictank.htm)

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank chronicles a day in the life of three ambitious, passionate but misguided filmmakers as they set out to do a quick pre-prod at Starbucks, a courtesy call to their lead actress, Eugene Domingo, and an ocular inspection of their film’s major location, the Payatas dumpsite.  Director Rainier, Producer Bingbong and Production Assistant Jocelyn are well-to-do, well-educated film school graduates who are dead set on making an Oscar worthy film.  They believe they have a winning script, the energy and the drive to make their dreams come true.  Like most filmmakers they know, they have devised a screenplay that will show the real essence of our culture: poverty.  In the course of one day, they brainstorm and exhaust all possible treatment of their project: the story of Mila and this role will be played by Eugene Domingo, where she will be acting as a mother from the slums, who out of desperation to survive, has sold her child to a pedophile.  As they discuss the possible executions of the story, the movie-within-a-movie gets reborn in Jocelyn’s imagination several times.  As a gritty no frills neo-realist film, as a glossy musical, as an over-the-top melodrama and as a docu drama using non-actors. For their last task of the day, they visit the dumpsite for the first time.  As filmmakers gunning for authenticity, they get excited with the ”beauty” of the squalor around them.  Soon enough, they are faced with reality as they come face to face with the real effects of their chosen subject.  Babae sa Septic Tank is a comedy about misguided ambitions, the art of making art and the romanticization of poverty. (Reference: http://www.cinemalaya.org/film_septictank.htm)

ANG BABAE SA SEPTIC TANK was named the Best Film with its lead star Eugene Domingo winning the Best Actress award and Best Direction award for Marlon Rivera in the New Breed Full Length Feature Category of the 7th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank also won Best Screenplay (Chris Martinez) and the Audience Choice Award for the New Breed category. 

This was announced in the Cinemalaya Awards Night held on July 24, 2011 at the CCP Main Theater.

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank was cited by jurors for its being “a reflexive film that looks with a lot of bite at itself” while Eugene Domingo was cited “for her expert handling of a multi-faceted character, always with tongue-in-cheek attitude.” (Reference: http://www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/page.php?page_id=543)

As we all know that this film has been submitted to the American Academy Awards in the Foreign Film category. Oscars is really the next level. As I have watched the film, the only thing that I am entertained about is Eugene Domingo's character as herself in the story. Being one of the finest actress at present, she can still have more projects because truly, she is an absolute actress that you will ask for more. Eugene Domingo is recognized by Cinemalaya Awards Night. Congratulations to the makers of the film and to Eugene Domingo. A job well done.

I like one of the scenes where the assistant dream the film turning to be a musical one. It is a rare to see such a site where it is like a musical play or an indigenous opera with the specialization of tragedy of the likes of Miss Saigon. This dream musical sequence is not the wedding scenes at the ending of the film where everyone will have to sing and dance for the finale.
  

I recommend this film as a must-see movie. Independent films are not just have the story line of poverty here in the Philippines but an intelligent themes about the issues of everyday life with a twist of music in it.

Rise of the Planets of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is released in 2011. The film stars Jame Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow and Andy Serkis. This film is not a direct remake in that it does not fit into the series' continuity of the film Conquest of the Planet of the Apes shown in 1972. However, this film is a reboot of the Planet of the Apes series that will act as a starting point with an origin story for a new film series. This is the fourth film in the original series though. 

The film starts that a scientist Will Rodman played by James Franco in San  Francisco, who is trying to develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease by testing a genetically engineered retrovirus on chimpanzees. The virus mutates the chimpanzees in giving them super level intelligence.  One of the test subjects, goes on a rampage because she believes that her baby is threatened. Unknowing to the project, her pregnancy was secret and that Robert Franklin and Will Rodman only knew. The chimpanzee named Bright Eyes is killed after the disturbance on the board meeting. Will's boss Steven Jacobs orders to put all the test chimpanzees down. Will Rodman took the baby chimpanzee and named him Caesar played by Andy Serkis. He raised him in his house with his father Charles played by John Lithgow, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Caesar has inherited his mother's high intelligence and learns quickly. In the end, he is capable of  speech and tells Will that "Caesar is home." 

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_of_the_Planet_of_the_Apes

Humans are given by God 10% of the brain to use for the good of mankind and the supervising other living creatures in this Earth. However, this movie only proves time and again that we cannot change what God has created because it will always sooner or later harms us in return. Yes, we only want what is best for us, to cure Cancer, Alzheimer's disease or any fatal diseases, just accept that there is always a reason for everything and not just change what we have. However, we cannot always changed or there are consequences. Furthermore, we only and usually go towards our destruction. If we create a cure, there is always a mutation of some kind like a side effect for humans. 

I hope that we could stop using animals, insects or plants for such mutation and experiments. Just think about it if you or we, humans are the experiments for such scientific discovery. There is always two sides of the story. Think about it. We could always pray for such a miracle.