March 30, 2009
Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang review
A Filipino film made during the rather lucrative 70s, Lino Brocka's social commentary has been restored and put to DVD, thus my access to what many regard as a masterpiece. I gotta say, it is quite a piece of work, and it has managed to actually stay rather relevant in these modern times.
So what is it about? Well, it stars a really young Christopher de Leon in his first role as Junior. His family is rather dysfunctional as his father is a womanizer and his mom, well, is his mom in real life. Anyway, Junior finds solace in the company of leper Berto and village idiot Kuala and learns values of love and life while witnessing the sheer hypocrisy that a charitable association in their barangay possesses.
Powerful images are abound from start to finish, and you'll get rather captivated and curious as to how the story will unfold. Surely enough, it has a really great way of rolling out its sub-plots that tie into its climactic ending, and that's no mean feat. I mean, it has quite a few sub-plots that you could also classify the movie into other genres as well: coming-of-age story, romance story, social discrimination story, take your pick.
Director Lino Brocka weaves them so seamlessly and effectively to the main story and gives structure to the searing commentary.
The film dares to ask you one question, "Would you truly, really help the misfits in your community?". Perhaps, in text form, it sounds rather lame, but I'm telling you that it isn't so lame when you see a bit of yourself in this movie.
While the film is extremely grainy, there's something to think about when you go and watch this good film. It presents powerful images, an ingenious use of indigenous instruments, and a great smooth storyline that in its underlying message is extremely thought-provoking.
Rating: 9/10
March 29, 2009
Chrono Trigger Review
Chrono Trigger (DS)
Square-Enix
2008
Following in the Square-Enix tradition of porting their old games to the DS, they now feast their eyes on the fan favorite Chrono Trigger. But to make fans even crazier, Square Enix put some additional content, like a formal English translation, two additional dungeons, a new ending and a new Arena mode (which I never really figured out).
Now for a little history. First released in the 90s to much fanfare in gamer circles, Chrono Trigger was an RPG that was made by a so-called 'dream team' composed of the greatest minds from both Squaresoft and Enix at the time (basically when Square Enix merger didn't happen yet). The game also made big names out of several industry figures, and it pretty much took not only the genre forward, but also the industry itself in one way or another.
Now you may think that just because the original SNES game was a such a classic (and that the new game, err, remake adds more to the experience with new content and portability), I'd give it a ten in a heartbeat, but seriously, no. But before the fanboys out there go out and flame me, let me also say that the flaws in this gem are rather minor and the core experience is unforgettable and top-notch.
Let's get a background on the story over here. Crono is just an ordinary teen who resides in the fictional town of Truce during 1000 A.D., and this year is particularly noteworthy because it's when they hold the Millenial Fair- a fair held every thousand years. Everything changes when Crono bumps into exuberant Marle as she later dares to jump in Crono's inventor friend Lucca's teleportation machine. Thing is, the teleporter goes wrong and a time portal opens, sending Marle into another time period. This journey then suddenly becomes a bit more epic in scale as they travel from time period to time period to try and rewrite history as well as the apocalyptic future for that matter from the evil hand of Lavos.
You'd think that the game has aged too much due to the fact that its plot revolves around the now tired concept of time travel. Well, don't you go crying cliché on me right now because the game manages to use this foundation in a fresh, coherent way. How? Well, it's something best explained through experience, although I'll tell you this: despite the shifts in time periods, the big picture manages to flow oh-so smoothly in a manner that doesn't seem confusing at all. There will be times when you'll have to use the time element to affect a few other minor events as well, which is really cool when you get to do it.
Additionally, the characters have their own distinct (if not stereotypical in a manner of viewing) personalities and they come off as a really unique and unforgettable cast. The distinct style of Akira Toriyama (Dragonball) makes sure of that. Hell, everything artfully made in this game is beautiful, even if sometimes a few crucial paths look like walls (that just adds more opportunity for Easter eggs and hidden items which I like). The music goes hand-in-hand with the art direction, and the score is haunting, riveting, beautiful... it deserves an orchestral treatment, in my opinion. Instead, we're stuck to the same 16-bit era versions, although that's not to say that the quality of the music deteriorates due to it- in fact, a 16-bit score may just spur much more nostalgia instead to the retro gamer. Truly, the musicians worked hard to make the score sound as if it was played by true instruments of which they somehow succeed in doing.
Something else that's fresh is the gameplay. Yes, you may have seen the ATB battle system before in some games like FF8 but Chrono Trigger pretty much invented it (correct me if I'm wrong though). What is this ATB thing, you say? Well, let's say that there's a small bar below your character's stats: hit points, magic points, the usual. That small bar will constantly be filled up by a blue bar, and when it's full, you get to make your move as to whether you attack, use Techs (Magic) or Items. Basically you have to wait for a bar to fill up so you can take your turn. Despite the seemingly boring description, I think it's much more exciting and strategic than the usual turn-based battle systems used by many others. Like I said, you just have to experience it.
Subtler changes like being able to move while talking to a person (or when a dialog box is displayed), a silent protagonist (at the time of its release it was a new thing), the ability to evade fights with monsters (the game displays monsters in your field of vision unlike other RPGs that rely on random encounters so you only have to fight them when you make contact with them) as well as the fact that fights start instantly after monster contact without any loading or scenario changes contribute tons to the gameplay experience as a whole. I mean, I haven't seen many an RPG that lets players walk around an area while another person is talking to them or when the game announces that you made a discovery in a treasure box, nor have I experienced many an RPG that has fights that just start instantly- within the snap of a finger without those flashy transitions and 3D scenario changes. I mean, once you play this game, you'll be going ape-shit and you'll be asking questions like, "Why aren't modern RPGs doing THIS?!".
Still, I have a few complaints to get out of the way: most of the time, the game doesn't really give a clear hint as to where you have to go next. I spend much of my time exploring the world and finding out if something will happen in one place or another. It can be excruciating sometimes, but that's what walkthroughs are for. Additionally, a few of the new elements added in by Square Enix for the DS don't really matter much. The new content is composed of fetch quests which go stale, and I can't freakin understand the Arena mode which is basically Pokemon-esque. How can I get my own friggin beast to actually be able to use this mode?! Can anyone in-game tell me?!
Seriously, I think Square Enix should've only added the new ending and put the game out because with the now 13 endings to unlock and watch, the addition makes for loads of replay value alone.
The game is really good as it holds quite a place in my heart (look at me, I'm using understatements!), and the DS version may just be the definitive one since it also adds the anime cutscenes from the PS1 remake minus the load times. If you haven't played Chrono Trigger, then you just might be missing half your (gamer) life. A must-buy for DS owners.
Rating: 9.3/10
P.S. If you were wondering about the length of this adventure, a playthrough with only 4 or 5 sidequests done and only the general ending unlocked will garner 24 hours of game time. There's a LOT of sidequests and endings to unlock, mind you.
March 25, 2009
Run Crysis on a Netbook with OnLive
iPhone Features Apple's Not Telling You
March 21, 2009
House of the Dead: Overkill Review
March 20, 2009
Internet Explorer 8 is final
Prince of Persia '08 Review
March 18, 2009
iPhone 3.0: Yes, there's Copy and Paste and then some
Anyway, here we go.
First we have the director of iPod and iPhone Development Team giving out the statistics, iPhone SDK downloads, iPhone sales, motivation for the iPhone developers in the audience, OK, the rudimentary stuff. Additionally, Apple is defending its right for having extremely tight control over App Store submissions by saying that their approval process has become a bit more lax because 96% of App Store submissions have been approved and 98% of submissions have been approved within 7 days, and the man goes on for 5 more minutes afterwards.
After that, Scott Forstall is called to the stage and we go to the real deal: the iPhone OS 3.0 Software.
Then there's the "Peer to Peer" functionality which enables several iPhones or iPod touches to get inside a local match in a game quickly and through Bluetooth so users need not be in a WiFi zone, nor do any inconvenient pairing. Additionally, other apps can utilize it for other purposes... perhaps file transfer with other brands of phones?
Plus, accessory makers can now make an app to control an accessory from the iPod touch or iPhone. For example, if your blood pressure thingy is compatible with an iPhone, you can connect it to one and you'll be able to see your blood pressure displayed and you can send that data over to your doctor. Or, maybe you can connect it through Bluetooth if you don't like wires.
Next, Google Maps can now be embedded into apps so the full app can be used within a third-party app. Additionally, a framework called CoreLocation can now support turn-by-turn directions for GPS or triangulation, but developers have to make their own maps due to licensing issues. This will make driving to several destinations easier, but unluckily for us, we don't have any Philippine maps that are up-to-date.
Now here's one thing people have been a waiting for over a year for: Push notifications. Apple hasn't delivered that with 2.0 last year, so now, well, Forstall acknowledges the error and promises Push notifications for the new firmware. Why not background processes, developers ask? Well, battery life wasn't good that way so push notifications became Apple's workaround for better battery life. Plus, performance will not be affected as much. Let's hope Apple's claims are true though, and that the Apple Push server won't get overloaded. This will be great for IM apps.
Oh, and I have a good feeling about iPod library access. Rhythm games...... plus voice chat during games! Consumers obviously will say 'Meh', but this is a big deal for developers.
1) The Sims 3 iPhone looks great and it was just programmed in 2 weeks, but oh crap, you're gonna have to pay real money to buy new objects! Rip-off!
March 17, 2009
Movies Opening This Week (Week 15)
March 14, 2009
Another New Shuffle design leaked?
March 13, 2009
Apple to show off new iPhone March 17
March 11, 2009
Behold the new iPod shuffle
Doing What the Sheep Do
March 8, 2009
Forrest Gump Review
Duhh... so like, duhh... I watched this 'ere movie about this man who looks like the guy from the Da Vinci code- only sounding a lot like Woody (if he smoked pot) in uhh... Monster Story 2: Finding Wall-E or somethin to that effect. He's like The Flash and...
Damn it, I can't keep up with this ruse. All the chocolate you'll ever want- after the jump.
So here we are: the Best Picture winner Forrest Gump. It was released in the mid-90s and directed by the now-strictly-motion-capture-dude Robert Zemeckis. Yea, he's also responsible for Back to the Future.
Well about this movie. I think it's a feel-good movie in the sense that it just makes you feel so happy that your intellect is not on par with that of the titular character, yet jealous because the man impossibly became a little too prosperous and lucky (clue: his prosperity is related to a certain restaurant found in Greenbelt) despite his sheer naïveté! The movie's message (and possibly the reason why it's such a freaking crowd pleaser) is that ignorance will very much get you places (literally).
The charcter is simply too implausible, not to mention overly dumb and childlike, but here's the catch: I still LIKE this movie.
Maybe it's Tom Hanks' charm, or maybe it's the setting and the narrative style, or the screenplay by Tim Roth. I mean, it didn't win 5 more Oscars aside from Best Picture just for nothing!
I simply adore how the people in the cutting room floor managed to make archived video from the 50's, 60's and 70's blend right in to the character's situation. I mean, footage of several US Presidents are shown here and they seem as if they RESPOND to the expertly green-screened Tom Hanks. Dude, it's 2009 and the effects in this movie, or rather how they are implemented remains unmatched in my opinion.
Another thing that makes the movie work is the performances. Tom Hanks largely deserves the Best Actor award because he contributes largely to the movie's success. I mean, if the role was acted badly, it could've ended up as a really irritating movie about a dumbass. But with Tom Hanks, it ends up as a surprisingly charming and lively movie about, well, a dumbass! The other actors deserve credit as well. Robin Wright (now a Penn) plays her role well, and Sally Field is a warm screen presence.
Lemme say this again: it's 2009. That also means that another Tim Roth-penned film- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- has finished its theatrical run. Why mention another project by the same screenwriter? Well, it's because there are a LOT of similarities between them with regards to the style of plot progression, the amount of symbolism (feather here, hummingbird there), the accents and, damn it, the architecture of their houses, I think! This means that if you watch one of them before watching the other, you'll definitely have an impression of how the story of the other one unfolds- and a dose of déjà vu.
I think this movie is actually one to watch. It may not appeal to all, but you just gotta admire the effort put into this rather nice movie. While I had some rather mixed feelings about it at times, the positive feelings overpower the negative ones.
Personally, I'd love to talk about this movie with another person (who has watched the movie) because just now as I'm typing this review, I just realized that "Hey, what if the actual message was 'Don't let dumbness or disability drag you down!' or 'We shouldn't underestimate people like Forrest.' or 'People will always need a little innocence in life.' (the latter was influenced by the fact that Forrest doesn't age a bit!)". I know that it'll somehow be a testament to the movie's unclear direction (ie, to what conclusion it wants to lead the viewer) as well as the director's (or screenwriter's) inability to convey a definitive message, but it makes the movie open to much interpretation as well!
An 8/10. Hey, why forget the movie that gave us the seemingly immortal, "Mama always said that life is like a box'o'chock-lits--- you never know what you're gonna get," eh?
Posted with LifeCast