The Wachowski brothers are at it again--writing, directing, and producing the live action film adaptation of the 1960s Japanese anime series Speed Racer.
Looking forward to May 8, when good movies (such as this I think) make you watch (them).
In the best-selling book Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer extends the sad story of Christopher McCandless, who's body was found in an abandoned bus in the Alaskan wilderness.
Inspired by the article he wrote for the Outside, Krakauer retraces the travels of Chris McCandless (known early on under the moniker Alex Supertramp) and interprets what could have pushed this intelligent young man to give up his family, his huge savings, his car and what's left in his wallet to begin his misadventures in the snow-covered trails of Alaska. Imagine living only with roots, berries, (and a few game like moose) for food. Chris McCandless reportedly died of starvation, but you'll have to read the book to find out what happened, as described in detail by Krakauer.
I came across this book because of the movie soundtrack, a solo by Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam's front man). Yes, this has been adapted into a movie with the same title directed by Sean Penn, with Emile Hirsch getting an Oscar nomination this year for his performance as Chris McCandless.
This book gave me the melancholy I needed last Holy Week--it made me think that there are misadventures that are funny or stupid for most but are actually empowering for some.
The special screening of Real Chefs: A Documentary by Shop TV and Gourdo's Inc. at the Cinema 2 of Greenbelt 1. Later that evening, Gourdo's World Market (at Greenbelt 2) had its ribbon-cutting ceremonies and opened its doors to guests (and walk-in customers).
All smiles--I, with Jessica and Love, enjoyed the film--it showcased our very own chefs as they work their way in bagging the gold team competition in last year's HOFEX (an international food and hospitality tradeshow in Hong Kong). Need not be a gourmand to appreciate the documentary, it was funny and entertaining (I could hear my stomach grumbling 'dinner, it's late').
It's not one of those long weekends with which PGMA reschedules holidays and squeezes extra non-Mondays to call the work off, but the week past was like one. It's not even a movie marathon but sure was closely like it.
Last Friday, after my mid-afternoon meeting in Ortigas, and while I couldn't go back to our office in Makati because of that Lozada-famous interfaith meeting, I decided to hit home and fetch my wife, then floor the gas to TriNoma to watch the last full show of The Kite Runner. Unfortunately, the movie runs until late afternoon only, replaced by Spiderwick, and because we didn't want to waste the quickie-date-op we saw Vantage Point instead, which was not a total disappointment. At first, I was getting bored of the repeated scenes, until I realized there's no other way to tell the story, and that you'll have to look at every angle as they are revealed, as the film title implies. Watch it, that's all I can say.
Frustrated but not disappointed, my wife and I went to the packed SM City Fairview early Saturday evening, which was on 3-day mallwide sale, only to find out The Kite Runner is not being screened. We ended up buying 4 VCD titles. Pop the popcorn later I said, but we're snoring an hour later, too bad.
Sunday morning, we were laughing out loud at Evan Almighty. Feeling adventurous later with Eragon. A little serious with Munich. And a nice late-night cup of tea for Casino Royale. Movies we missed, movies worth my energy. We slept with the clocking coo-coing at 2am.
It's not a movie marathon, no.
Having become a fan myself after reading 6 of the Harry Potter book series, I must agree with most fans saying that the movie adaptations lack details--confusing non-readers (making them less appreciative of the stories) and disappointing avid-readers (omitted parts turned out changing some important twists). I think that's the reason for splitting book 7, The Deathly Hallows, into two movies. If that's a treat (well, fans just can't get enough, I can't!), we'll see what happens when production starts rolling. In the meantime, my wife (who's on book 3 The Goblet of Fire) and I are looking forward to The Half-Blood Prince, which is due for release November this year.
Yes, I want that wire-rimmed eyeglasses worn by Harry Potter. But of course not the toy!
The pair I'm using right now is giving me afternoon headaches. It's also rounded, but kind of makes me look nerdy (it's made of titanium by Dior though). I need a new one that's 500-strong (former's 475).
Is this how addicted I have become of the wizard boy? Harry Potter has become some sort of the rekindled kid in me--reminds me of how I used to imagine myself having magical powers (like pretend-flying in my towel-cape, using a short bamboo stick as sword or wand, with friends battling in our own version of 'taya-tayaan' or 'patintero'). Besides the books, the movies got me (and my kids) hooked, only recently though.
Silly, I needn't look like Harry Potter.
It's an amazing movie adaptation, just as I thought it would be, Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf that is. Another one of 'let's-hurry-see-a-movie' rush date with my wife and we got the chance to enjoy this spectacle last night.
If I didn't have my glasses on, I'd think it's for real, but of course it's in digital 3D--not surprisingly it's one of Time Magazine's best inventions of the year. Minute details like flowing hair, splattering rain drops, shimmering torchlights, and the clinking of swords are as realistic as they can get.
Had I listened more intently to my English teacher (or studied harder I should say) back in high school, it would've been easier to appreciate this 1,000-year-old monster epic. I only remember this as a long and boring Old English heroic poem with which I can only recall the horrifying monster living in a cave haunting a village--but thanks to this movie, that's changed.
Oh, should you watch this movie, please don't bring your kids--otherwise you'll have a hard time doing a lot of explaining (...why'd he need to fight naked?) like the many parents that night we saw it.
What I initially thought as an easier way of inducing back my son's interest in books turned out to be more than curiosity and fascination--it became a race and an addiction for us thanks to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.
I'm desperately trying to catch up with my son Kurt's faster reading--he's now shuffling through the thicker Book 5 Order of the Phoenix while I'm two books behind him as I've only started with the first few chapters of the third book The Prisoner of Azkaban. We've only started reading the series last October already Kurt is an expert on Hogwarts stuff--from Diagon Alley shops and spells to magical potions, Quidditch rules and broomsticks--I actually appreciate Harry Potter now more than when the first book became popular and back when Kurt was just starting to learn to crawl.
I promised Kurt I'll buy him the movie version every time he finishes a book. This made the reading task more exciting and fulfilling--we get to see (compare and discuss) how each book is interpreted in the movie adaptation. I'd tell you to read the book/s first so you can fully appreciate the movie, which I did and am now a big fan my son and I can't wait to wrap up the race to the last book.
I hate to say it but I guess we've become mystified ourselves--bookworms are we--as they call it in the Muggle world.
My wife and I yesterday went on a rush-date to SM Fairview to catch the last full showing of 30 Days of Night, a horror flick topbilled by Josh Hartnett.
While the movie did make us hold on to our seats (and lose my appetite for the rest of the evening), there are a lot of flaws that even an unsuspecting 5th grader will notice, but I'm not about to spoil that here (probably after the film's run).
Having read Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles with which she painted fashion-conscious, emotionally-deprived pictures of vampires--in this movie however, you'll see savage, blood-thirsty, extremely-ugly-and-unlikable vampires on a feeding frenzy.
As expected from a horror movie, there are the usual gory scenes but are not enough to keep you at the edge of your seats. There's the obvious attempt to put in an emotional angle but you won't catch it in time until the movie's over.
But go enjoy it for the long Halloween weekend.
Thanks to Solar Entertainment, we (me, the wife and kids) saw the Transformers movie, a day ahead of its regular screening. The press screening, with cocktails that started early, was held at the Gateway Cineplex.
While Michael Bay took a beating online for his taking the director's seat for this movie and you'll see a lot of commercial endorsements in the film, the movie is enjoyable. Enjoyable in that you'll see technology working at its best. The robots transforming doesn't only ring the familiar digital sound but will have you watch with awe as they do their stunts, sweep the highways and exchange punches/lasers, and do it with people around.
As a kid who grew up watching the cartoon series, I have never imagined it to be filmed this way, much more with such large scale action. The story (the plot) is very much appreciated by the audience, young and old, what with the funny antics of the actor who played Sam.
My wife and kids (and of course me) want to watch it again (and again). Can't wait for its DVD release.
I'm glad we had the opportunity to squeeze in movie-watching time this weekend. And I'm glad we saw Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith and his kid Jaden.
A friend of mine (and my wife's) said it's a tearjerker - mildly - I should say. It is the (true) story of Chris Gardner, who's trying his best to keep his life from falling apart and does so with his kid tagged along minus the wife, and later on succeeded in landing on a lucrative job that initially paid no salary for internship. The mostly downs (sleeping at a public toilet, losing a shoe, his scanner getting stolen, lining up for sleeping quarters) of the movie will make you want to wet many tissues.
It's good that Will Smith has taken acting seriously (I still see him as the rapper and jokester though) specially in this film that made our eyes slightly watery.
We almost missed the movie 300 yesterday as my wife and I were hurrying (read: scurrying) to get last full show tickets at Gateway. After a quick dinner at Cibo, we prepped-up to see one of my need-to-see movies of the year.
The Sin City look-and-feel have actually made this adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel more stunning. The gory battles and nudity are actually watchable, though the story is not an exact reference to the Battle of Thermopylae. While I think Gerard Butler hammed up being King Leonidas at times, the rest of the cast did justice to their characters.
My wife and I agreed, the movie is worth watching over and over again (just as Star Wars and The Matrix became our long weekend/vacation movie-watching habits).
The novel, which I haven't read, is on my need-to-read list now.
Yesterday, my wife and I were like teenagers too excited to see a bubblegum movie as a romantic Valentine's/birthday date wrap-up.
She's digging Babel but it's run was over and instead we reserved tickets for Music and Lyrics that starred Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore at the Gateway Cineplex.
I'm an 80's guy and can strongly relate to the movie - it's funny with a novel plot - I'll say you'll hum to the poppy tunes on your way out. Listen to Hugh's one-liner witty remarks combined with Drew's ever-so-lovely sweetness.
The hair (which I did back then), the dance moves and fashion style (which I also did back then), and the videos (which were considered that amazing back then) - they all brought back high school memories. I used to think I look and sound like Curt Smith of Tears For Fears when I was on my senior years.
What I really like about the movie? I do think it's a great idea to have Debbie Gibson and Tiffany outdo each other in a boxing ring.
