Movies Opening This Week (Week 15)

We got two kinds of romance going on: spies and man love.

Duplicity

Starring huge names like Clive Owen and Julia Roberts (and directed by Michael Clayton scribe and director Tony Gilroy), Duplicity pairs the two A-listers as former agents engaged in an illicit love affair. This love affair is made more convenient by their positions in two rival companies, but since they have to do their lucrative jobs, they have to also engage in a high-stakes espionage game that might break their trust in one another. Sound familiar? Well, it kinda reminds of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

I Love You Man

Now here is an example of what seems to be a very amusing err..., not exactly a rom-com, but sort of?

Well, anyway, I Love You Man stars Paul Rudd as a man named Peter who just got engaged to his girlfriend. Thing is, he doesn't really have a guy best friend- just girls- and now, to get a best man for the wedding, he goes in a search to find the ideal guy friend for the post. You know what, I smell predictability (and does the trailer show a bit too much?), but I don't care because the trailer made me LOL...

Movie you should not watch (but everyone still will anyway):

Knowing

The big draw in the film is Nicholas Cage, well, him and the apocalyptic premise anyway. The film is about Cage's son discovering a paper that's full of numbers. Cage figures out that these numbers are actually dates of disasters and the number of deaths in each of them. Thing is, they're all correct, and now Cage will try to avert them and manipulate God's hand.

Why shouldn't you watch it? Because nearly every single movie that involves Nicholas Cage (except Grindhouse, but then again he only plays a part in a fake trailer) is either mediocre or just dumb. Now this ludicrous movie comes along and his hair still looks real bad.

Movies Opening This Week (Week 10)

Revolutionary Road

Watched this year's Golden Globes? Watched Titanic?

Well if you've watched either of those, I'd assume that you already know the winning combination of di Caprio and Winslet, and how awesome the combination is, especially with Kate if the Globes can attest.

Anyway, the movie is based off the novel by Richard Yates, and is directed by American Beauty's Sam Mendes. It's about a couple living in the suburbs of the 1950's who are trying to come to terms with their personal problems whilst raising two children.

You'd think the producers would merely cash in on the lead stars (since they're oh-so profitable) but it doesn't. It seems that it will rely on the "I can relate to this" card to capture audiences, and with the acting prowess of the two I don't see anything going wrong with that.

Taken
A thriller that actually looks half-decent, Taken is about a former soldier whose daughter goes to Paris. Unfortunately, some people have taken her and her friend, so the soldier marches on to find out the mystery.

Some have said that it is a bit demoralized despite the fact that it's directed by a Frenchman though.

REVIEWS: Benjamin Button, and some Cholera

By sheer coincidence, I've watched two movies throughout the weekend that seemed to have several things in common. They're both adaptations, they both use flashbacks to tell the narrative, they both look really good aesthetically, they both involve some sense of time and space, but most of all, they both have the same theme of ethereal love.

Just like Romeo and Juliet before them, these two movies tackle the kind of love that can last forever, but do they fare very well? I mean, despite all these similarities, these 2 can also be considered polar opposites. Why? Find out below.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount Pictures

Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton

It's ironic to see a commercial for Pond's Age Miracle cream right before a movie with a premise like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starts to roll.

If you haven't heard, let me tell you about the star-studded shenanigans of Brad Pitt and company in this movie directed by acclaimed 'Fight Club' (which also stars Pitt) director David Fincher and written (or adapted, since this was originally a short story) by no less than Eric Roth and his box of chocolates (figure that out for yourself).

The film starts out after World War I. Everyone's rejoicing and really, 'it was a great time to be born', and as luck would have it our protaganist is born, albeit in 'unusual circumstances'.

By chance the baby was not really much of a baby- more of an octogenarian on his way to the grave- so naturally he looked like hell, thus causing panic in his father, forcing him to run and leave him right on the doorstep of a black landlady- not that race has anything to do with the movie- and she decides that since he's still a creation of God, she would raise him.

Along the way he meets Daisy, and they fall in love. When their ages meet, they marry, and... any further would spoil the whole movie.

So where do I begin... We went in and the theater was packed to the sides but luckily there was little noise. My assessment? The audience got sucked into the movie. Heck I got sucked in. Brad Pitt comes off as surprisingly endearing that it's hard not to get into the movie. Same would go for Cate Blanchett who's always a charm to see on screen (and rather phenomenal), with special mention going to Tilda Swinton who plays it simple in her brief role.

The other real catalyst of the movie's inmersiveness is pretty much the curiosity one would have due to its intriguing premise. Its marketing apparently banks on it too with the trailer making you extremely intrigued and the posters made oh-so simple yet somewhat mysterious using an inverted version of the title.

To pull off a movie like this, meticulous direction and technical brillance is needed. And boy, there is a lot of attention to detail and a great use of prosthetics and special effects that adds a lot to the experience. Aesthetically, it's awesome and you should seriously make an effort to see the movie on a theater or at least on Blu-ray with an HD projector and 7.1 surround sound. It's that nice. Every single technical aspect is nailed, the scenarios look extremely nice, and the make-up is startlingly convincing. Additionally, Fincher manages to get aforementioned wondrous performances from its star-studded cast while making an effort to also make it feel human.

Honestly, he is pretty successful in that regard. You'll feel Benjamin's hesitation and childlike curiousity in his dealings with the concepts of life and death as he grows younger, and then there's Daisy who you'll root for in the latter part of the movie.

There's a condition if you're already itching to watch this, and it concerns time. The movie is epic, clocking in at 2 hours 30 minutes, so make sure you have the time. Ironically, the movie is based from a short story, and even more ironic is that some events in Benjamin's life feel as if it merely drifted through, while other unnecessary ones somehow drag. This is probably the movie's only fault, but once you're sucked into the movie, you'll never get out.

The way the narrative unfolds is notably unique compared to movies of late. People say it's reminiscent to that of Forrest Gump's, but I'll let that issue hang until I get to actually watch that one. Personally, it reminds me more of Titanic's way of telling the story so basically, it's a flashback that also alternates with the current time. The difference here is that the segments that depict the present time are also entertaining, simply because it makes the story a lot more three-dimensional instead of serving as filler (like in Phantom of the Opera). You'll know what I'm saying if you've watched it.

Despite all the heavy drama, there's also abundant humor. I mean, who knew that an anecdote about thunderstrikes could make such a nice running gag?

Plus, there's some interpretation to be had with the movie as there are some symbolic moments in there- the clock, the sunset, the characters, any of those could have a deeper meaning lying within, and it could probably take a second viewing.

Personally, I think you should watch this and in a theater. It somehow works like a fairy tale but it's also grounded in reality- Yeah, that's about accurate for me- and it's just amazing. Not perfect, but still really good.

Rating: 9.2/10

Love In The Time of Cholera

Javier Bardem, Benjamin Bratt

Some filmmakers become liberal with an adapted story, some filmmakers get away with an entirely new version of a story using only its basic premise, and some filmmakers simply misinterpret the source material a movie is based from.

Even though I only used the critique of someone else to make the above introduction, the movie I'm going to review still pretty much sucks in several levels, and that movie is Love In The Time of Cholera.

It basically chronicles the escapades of its 2 central characters named... Uhhh... I forgot. Damn it, I think the guy was called Fernando (Javier Bardem) and the girl... uhhh... Ms. Little Mood Swing. Anyway, those two initially were to be married but her father refused and later she marries a doctor played by Benjamin Bratt. Fernando, becomes heartbroken and waits several decades to get back with Ms. Mood Swing.

Sigh, this is a movie I want to hate with a passion. Bad acting, ridiculous script, and bad casting gift-wrapped nicely with a great aesthetic and cinematography is simply the formula for this literal- if you excuse the term and language as there is no better nor fitting alternative for it- f**kfest. Seriously, Javier Bardem's character Fernando is too unbelievably sexy for women and it just seems as if half the movie is composed of sex scenes. In short, he's a man-whore.

And as if that wasn't unbelievable enough, Javier's character is just creepy. He stalks Ms. Mood Swing all the time, he thinks about her all the time, he counts the number of women he has slept with just to know how much he can resist temptation (and the number isn't pretty, and his whore-ness seems hereditary too), and... damn it, it's JAVIER BARDEM. Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. He looks more like a villain and could switch places with Ms. Mood Swing's father anytime because the guy (the guy who plays Ms. Mood Swing's father) looks as old as his damn daughter!

Ms. Mood Swing is also not without stupid quirks. For one thing, she first denies Fernando's hand in marriage years after their vow and engagement, and after her husband dies, she first denies Fernando, and suddenly we're shown her uncensored torso in bed with Fernando. AHHHHH MY EYES!

To be honest, when you put some things in consideration, the movie's not THAT bad. It has some moments, and the ending is just iconic and jaw-droppingly beautiful. You'll feel sort of sorry for a few characters, too.

But ultimately, it's a severe case of style over substance. Plus, it's obviously forgettable. If you're the type who watches a film adaptation of a novel before reading it, just don't watch this. Otherwise, err... give it a rent. Perhaps the visuals will sweep you away and you'll enjoy this crap. Regardless, it'll give you a terrible impression of legendary Gael Garcia Marquez's bestseller of the same title.

Rating: 3.5/10

P.S., if there are typos or grammatical errors, I'm sorry because I just typed these on the way home on my iPod touch.

Movies Opening This Week (Week 6)

Last week oversaw the release of colossal stinkers, Delgo specifically, and this week? Well, only Seven Pounds is of interest.

Seven Pounds

Will Smith is the everyman with a job at the IRS called Ben Thomas, and he has to choose 7 people and change their lives. Why? Well, it's a secret. And this is why Seven Pounds is interesting. Why would he give his house to a woman he doesn't really know all too well? Why did he choose all the othres? Of what magnitude is this sin he committed? When you watch it, you'll find out.

History of Pixar: George Lucas' brain tumor (Part 1)

Why am I doing this? Well, I'm actually doing this partly for the heck of it, and partly because they're an influence to my "creative" side. 'Tis the power of Pixar, but how about you consider this as a precursor to my Pixar Movie Marathon, eh?

And hey, why not take a stroll down memory lane in everyone's favorite animation studio anyway?

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Where would Hollywood be right now without Pixar? No, I'm not just talking about 3D animation, I'm talking about their role in moviemaking in general. Where would Hollywood seriously be without them right now? We wouldn't have countless titles to enjoy, like Iron Man, Titanic, The Dark Knight, The Tuhminaydah or hell, Star Wars, without Pixar! What I'm talking about is CGI, people.

So how did Pixar come to revolutionize CGI anyway? Well, apparently, before Pixar was Pixar, it was called the Graphics Group and they were just a bunch of NYIT (New York Institute of Technology) people hired by George Lucas to make special effects, thus the creation of what was, and what still is, the ever-revolutionary, ever-present, ubiquitous Renderman.

But in the Lucasfilm days, it was actually the Motion Doctor first, and it allowed 2D animators to just sit down and work without nearly any training.

And then came the Jobs, Steve Jobs... when he left Apple in 1985. He bought the Graphics Group for 5 million dollars and became CEO (he likes the position, doesn't he?). Why did Lucas sell them to Jobs in the first place? 

It was probably because his brain tumor was starting to spread on his storytelling methods, probably located back then on his brain's left hemisphere (and now on his ass) with the release of the bestiality-promoting Howard the Duck. Well, at least that tumor wasn't bad enough to screw up the 3rd Indy and the Return of the Jedi.

Anyway, the Steve Jobs buyout was the time when the company was renamed Pixar- a fake Spanish word that means 'to make pictures or pixels', as well as the time when John Lasseter saved it from financial fail with a stroke of genius.

(To be continued)

Movies Opening This Week (Week 4)

Two period movies with different scopes collide in this week's edition of Movies Opening This Week.

Cadillac Records

If there's anything Beyonce learned from Dreamgirls, it's to take advatage of her voice and beauty in only music-related films from now on.

I have a feeling that it'll merely be a by-the-numbers musical (and to avoid confusion, it's not a "musical" musical, it's the adjective musical) biopic, but the big guns are here, portraying people with even bigger guns. And this one has people portraying Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf, The Rolling Stones, and the kitchen sink. But enough about pop cultural references and actors, how about the thing the biopic is referring to?

Well, it's about Leonard Chess and his company, Cadillac Records, because after a hit single was made by one of his label's artists, he would buy them a Cadillac. Sex, violence, and rock-and-roll are the flavors of the day here, and the movie encapsulates the era between the rise and fall of the record label.

Frankly, I feel a Golden Globe award coming on...

Frost/Nixon

Frank Langella stars as the infamous Richard Nixon, who 3 years after his resignation, accepts an offer to appear in a talk show hosted by David Frost, a Brit. From the negotiations, to the interview proper, the pace never lets up, and soon enough, they may have to face a battle in the court of law. Will Nixon answer Frost's questions about Watergate, or avoid them? We'll have to know when we see it.

Currently, it's at 93% in the Tomatometer in the website Rotten Tomatoes, mostly lauding Frank's Oscar-worthy performance as the disgraced President. Additionally, Oscar-winning director Ron Howard directs this flick and taps Peter Morgan (The Queen) as the scribe.

Help Choose: Apple TV or Popcorn Hour

Ever since I've made the jump to the world of torrents, I've been downloading feature films non-stop, and even though the iMac's screen is very much adequate for movies, movies are watched at least in a TV. And additional free Hard Drive space is always appreciated.

Burning DVD's is a different matter. Unreliability of the end product for one. I mean, if you burn a DVD, there's always the chance of having a skipping picture. So I've decided to research on HDTV receivers (where you can put movie files and play in HD, since my dad has an HDTV already), and I'm stuck with two solutions: Apple TV and Popcorn Hour. If you can help me determine the better of the two, then I'd be so grateful.

Apple TV

It has a lot of room for improvement, but every time it does improve, it becomes a lot more attractive to buy. Plus, the improvements are free. They say it's painless to set up, and if you want file format support, you can just hack it (but it will void the warranty).

Unfortunately, the Apple TV doesn't come with HDMI cables, I'm afraid to hack it so I can play my AVI files uncompressed (my movie files are mostly AVI files) and you have to re-encode your movies (and inevitably suffer quality loss). Picture quality loss that's not significant isn't that much of a loss for me, but we're talking about a big screen here.

I predict that Apple will inevitably bring out an update that brings support for all the formats Quicktime supports, but it doesn't seem as if it will happen soon. But anything could happen in MacWorld in January.

Still, Wi-Fi is built-in so you can stream straight from YouTube, Flickr, or the iTunes Store (I like watching trailers... in HD!) and the hard drive is already built-in unlike in Popcorn Hour where you have to shell out extra cash. Additionally, the minimalist style is very much appreciated and it's extremely n00b-friendly. To reiterate, enhancements are also very much free, so the product's life will be pretty darn long and replacement would have to take very long.

The quality may not beat Blu-ray, but I don't really care, because the iTunes integration (from multiple computers so anyone dropping by to watch a file in his laptop with you can watch it on TV instead) is a pretty big sell.

The price for 160GB which I'm eyeing on, is supposed to be 16000 pesos when converted from its US dollar price, so I'm expecting that price in Greenhills. Still, you'd also have to buy your own HDMI cables which are pretty expensive unless you look.

Popcorn Hour A-110

Anything you set beside an Apple product comes out unattractive, and while not very ugly, the Popcorn Hour looks like such in comparison. Still, it's the features that matter, and features it delivers.

First and foremost, the file format support. Any format you put in it is very much supported so I don't have to suffer long encoding times, and so that the movies I download are gonna be very much untouched (and thus, may be able to even beat Blu-ray). Additionally, it has a built-in torrent downloader, but it would have to depend on how dependable it is. Plus, you can go beyond YouTube and even view Metacafe videos, etc., etc.. And it's effing cheaper (P10000 when converted from USD).

But it wouldn't be that effing cheaper when you consider the additional stuff you'd have to buy. In fact, it would be extremely close (maybe even slightly more expensive) to the price of the USD-converted price for the 160GB Apple TV. For one thing, the Popcorn Hour doesn't come with a Hard Drive. 

While you can select the capacity of Hard Drive you want, it would bring the Popcorn Hour's price up to par with the Apple TV's (that doesn't include the HDMI cables). And if you want to sync the Popcorn Hour with a PC or Mac, you'd have to format that Hard Drive into the conventional FAT32 or NTFS.

 BUT, the torrent downloader becomes unusable because the Popcorn Hour can't write into FAT32 or NTFS drives (or so they say) thus the torrent downloader becomes unusable.

Additionally, if I want to stream videos wirelessly from the Internet (aka, thru Wi-Fi), I would have to buy yet another accessory! I'm not sure how much it costs, but even without it, it would still cost as much as the Apple TV in hindsight. Plus, the interface isn't as n00b-friendly, so I wouldn't dare leave it to my youngest brother to operate. Of course, that is unless you'd opt for using a USB flash disk as a poor substitute for the hard disk drive.

Still, the file format support is the big sell here. But I'd also like to stream the occasional online video through the Wi-Fi connection we have here without having to expend more.

Which one?

These devices may have already received some sort of upgrade already when we actually get to buying one of them, but being able to decide on a definitive streamer would be very appreciated.

Movies Opening This Week (Week 2)

If you haven't been up to speed with my blog, I've started a new weekly habit in which I recommend movies that are opening in theaters anywhere (meaning that it's not only geologically locked to the Philippines) based on their trailers.

To be honest, there's a bit of a dry spell this week (read: Twilight will suck like Eragon) so there are only two movies in here.

The Dukes
This is about a group of has-been singers who lack money. So they break in a dental safe and find gold. But this is their first robbery attempt, so screw-ups are inevitable. I don't know the actors in here, though.

Movies Opening This Week (Week 1)

I've decided to start a weekly post about movies I think will be good to watch. Of course, not all are guaranteed to be good especially since they're judged via trailers, but if history can attest, I've got a pretty decent track record of determining whether movies are gonna be good or not based from trailers. So here are some of the movies I think will be pretty good to watch this week(end):

007: Quantum of Solace
Hmm, we're getting Quantum of Solace earlier than the States. But whatever, I loved Casino Royale because it was a step in the right direction. Daniel Craig is hands-down, arguably the best Bond since Sean Connery. While the Bonds before Casino Royale were half-decent, Quantum of Solace looks like a worthy successor to Casino Royale. I mean, it is also the first direct sequel to a past Bond movie, so we're definitely seeing some big change in direction. From the trailer, I think it's looking a bit like this year's Bourne Ultimatum which was action-packed yet intelligent.


Zack and Miri Make A Porno
Even though I don't think I'll be able to watch this, the trailer is pretty funny.

Basically, it's about two best friends played by Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks who are in debt and just got their 2nd eviction notice. So to pay them all off, they're gonna make a porno. IMO, it's gonna have Seth Rogen toning down the swearing and it's gonna be a pretty distinct romantic-comedy, especially in comparison to the others that have come out this year.

RockNRolla
Guy Ritchie's back to form with his new gangster movie RockNRolla. And while it received some mixed reviews, I think it's something you should catch.

It's about a deal made between two people named Uri and Lenny. Uri wants help from Lenny to whom he promises to pay a large fee. And to let Lenny trust him, Uri lets him borrow his "lucky painting" for a while. But two robbers intercept and steal the loot during the transaction, so a series of spirally events occur, all which lead to a rock star who is presumed dead.

Changeling
A mother loses her child. 5 months later, the LAPD find her son, but she doesn't feel as if the boy is her son, thus, she goes to the LAPD to complain and she's assumed crazy. "Hey, it was 1928 at the time, so the police even bothering to listen to women was already lucky," was probably what they thought, so they put her in the psycho ward. But that doesn't stop her...

It's directed by Clint Eastwood, which is a bonus.

2 French films and a third blow at the O' Connells

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

I meant to review this after we returned from America, and that's because I watched this from a plane along with the cut version of the funny musical biopic spoof Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. And to be honest, this film is a rather effective little illustration of a French Elle editor's bout with "locked-in syndrome"- a rare kind of disability in the aftermath of a stroke. This means that Jean Dominique-Bauby, the Elle editor, can't move any part of his body and has no ability to talk... except his left eye, that is. Thus, he develops a way of communication with just his left eye. A person can ask him yes or no questions, and if he blinks once it means yes, twice means no. Heck, this even led to a real book!

Now, I may have forgotten the name of the biopic's subject (I had to go to RT to check what it was), but I have not forgotten his story! To make it short, it's affecting, it's funny, it's uniquely presented yet... human.

You just can't ignore the fact that he can only see with one eye (they actually sewed his other eye permanently shut) and that such a sickness actually exists! This film provoked my thoughts about life-- and I swore I held back some tears by the time the credits rolled.

To be honest, my seat's entertainment system's audio (along with my parents') was defective so fortunately, there were subtitles. And so I wonder: How much more of a magnificent movie would this be if there was sound?

I can't say any more about this movie... It is hands-down something people should watch. It's compelling, it's deep, and frankly, I need to view it again because it's surprisingly, artfully poetic that I almost didn't understand the deeper meaning behind all the proceedings.

Watch this, now.
Rating: 10/10

Persepolis

Marjane Satrapi may not be French, but to experience this movie is to watch it in that language with English subtitles- basically at its purest, original form. But whatever language you're watching this, it will be sure to make you laugh and be awed at the kind of culture Iran had back in the day.

So this autobiographical movie starts out with Marjane's childhood. Everyone is rallying against the shah, including her rebellious parents, and most of her relatives are being detained and executed. This movie lets you find out how her life was during those hard times, and it eventually leads you to the various stages of her life until womanhood.

I won't spill any more than that, but what I have to say about this gloriously black-and-white animated film is that it certainly is not for the kiddies. Now, the fatalities of war are portrayed here subtly and artistically, but there is foul language used here and there in the otherwise well-written and naturally flowing dialogue. And despite it being black-and-white, there are scenes where a color palette is actually used, and the transition between them is astonishingly seamless.

Anyway, the movie is full of emotional depth, and the portrayal of growing up in this coming-of-age film is uniquely presented- it's unlike any other movie I've seen. It also details the impact of various trends to the conservative Iranian society and the flow just seems really natural and obviously personal. Marjane is practically opening all doors of her heart and not leaving one detail behind.

The pace is rather brisk, and it proves its point without over-dramatizing. Basically, it cuts to the chase.

But the film is not all seriousness for it has its funny moments. Heck, it has a spoof of Rocky! And the scene of her becoming a teen is utterly laugh-out-loud hilarious in its depiction!

And actually, this movie is relevant to our times. Okay, the Bee Gees may be obsolete, but we can replace that with our current trends, and the Revolution? You could put People Power. As for the Iraq-Iran war? You can put the MILF rebellion that's happening in Mindanao over that. People will be able to feel this movie- especially the ones who are embroiled in this war. They will be able to feel with Marjane's story, and that's because even if it's "merely animation", it contains a deeper meaning than many other movies currently being shown in the theaters. But of course, Persepolis isn't being shown in the theater anymore, so it's probably not right to compare this one to the movies currently showing.

But the way it ended surprised me. It just felt abrupt. You feel curious about Marjane's adventures as a grown woman, but of course, this is a coming-of-age story, so I guess it shouldn't be surprising at all.

Regardless of that, you should try and find a copy of this gem of an autobiography. It's unique, it's charming and it's deep but rather unsatisfying. Maybe it should've won the Oscar instead of Ratatouille!

Rating: 9.8/10

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Oh God, "here we go again" indeed.

Once again, we go to the lives of the O' Connell family, but this time, Alex has grown up (AS IN) but it's like Rick and Evie didn't age. Of course, Evie has become a bit less beautiful because it's not Rachel Weisz reprising the role anymore, but Mario Bello. But except Evie, the gang's all here.

But of course, there are new characters. I mean, how could they even revive Imhotep right? Well, Alex skips school and goes to China to try to find the Dragon Emperor who was cursed by a witch (Michelle Yeoh). His army was cursed with him, and now, of course, he has resurrected from the dead because of a Chinese general who thinks the ideals of freedom are not ideal for the world.

Jet Li's character's mission is now to go to the immortality water thingy that Michelle Yeoh's character is protecting, and release himself from his crummy CGI exoskeleton and revive his army.

Of course, the O' Connells are the reason of his living, and now they're trying to stop him. As usual.

Basically, the movie is just going through the paces. The proceedings have become predictable, the humor even more stale. The special effects? Ha! Don't start with me about the special effects! Now, judging for the poster, you'd think at least that the effects of this installment is for 2008, but in the movie? Not really. There are some tolerable, still believable effects, but the others aren't. The army in the war scene? Total unbelievability. Jet Li's eventual defeat? Laughable. These effects would've been more believable 5 years ago, but nope, they're iffy in today's standards, to say the least.

Anyway, the two parents are hypocrites. In Returns, they said they love Alex, but here, it's like they ignored him anyway. Alex is a downright ass, and I hate him. And his love story? Bah. There's no emotion in it whatsoever, and the relationship, even though I'm not saying that cross-racial relationships are bad, is really awkward. And come on! The logic! Movie language usually states that if you are stripped of your immortality, your age will catch up with you. Here, it's different. But hey, I could always make this point a point that's going for the movie: it doesn't follow movie convention in only this aspect! </sarcasm>

It's actually a good thing that Rachel Weisz backed out of this project, otherwise she'd succumb to my wrath. Still, if she were in this installment and she reprised her role as Evie O' Connell, maybe the movie would actually get its human emotion. Weisz is a good actress, so if she wants to make us believe that her character is truly, madly, still in love with Rick after all those years, she could. The movie could've been better with her, but she was better off without it in her resume.

The twists are rudimentary and yawn-inducing, and Jet Li is sorely underutilized. What do you see of Jet Li in this movie? A CGI statue of him, that's what. If you wanted me to count his screen time in the flesh, it would probably be as brief as Chow Yun Fat's appearance as a Singaporean pirate in Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End. They could've used his wushu prowess! But noooo, nothing to exploit his skill.

"I hate mummies!," Rick says. Yeah, me too. But the mummies I hate are the movies. They all suck, but not Batman and Robin sucky. But still, this movie is at the top of the barrel of suck.

Rating: 3.3/10

Basic Guide to Torrents

DISCLAIMER: This is not a guide for making torrents faster, this is a guide for people who want to try downloading torrents but can't understand why. This will not contain more complicated terms such as DHT or whatsoever, and will focus on the basic operation of torrents. In short, it's a quick and dirty, newbie-friendly guide.

Are you tired of having to search songs one by one if you can download the whole album at once? How about merely downloading movie by yourself so you can save the environment albeit in a faster way (Yes, there are legal options.)? Well, you can theoretically say goodbye to them because of torrents.

What are torrents?
These are small files that when opened, will let you download even bigger files. Usually, the file ends with the extension ".torrent" and this system was created by BitTorrent Inc. for the purpose of sharing  significantly larger files over an Internet connection without having to wait very long when downloading. This means that a person can put up a 1 gigabyte high-definition movie for grabs, but the one downloading that movie could get it in just 10 minutes depending on a few conditions.

How fast are torrents?
There are several conditions that have to be met for a torrent to gain its peak speed, but it can theoretically go as fast as downloading a hundred megabytes a second. Of course, it's quite impossible for regular home users with a decent DSL connection to get that kind of speed, but if you read on, you'll understand what kind of conditions you will have to meet before you go on pressing that shiny download button.

First step
The first thing you need to do is find a nice torrent client, or application, so you can open and start downloading them. Don't fret if you don't know what to pick, because there are tons of options you can choose from, especially since this is the wild world of the Internet we're talking about!

The best, however, is uTorrent. And if you're still living in the stoneage of Windows 95, uTorrent still supports it. Mac users will have to wait for uTorrent, although they can try Transmission, although my whole Internet connection gets terribly slow when I open it. Don't fret, though, the steps below will be wholly the same for all users regardless of platform.

The search
After downloading uTorrent, you can go through its simple wizard, and you can now start looking for the stuff you want to download!

The stuff you want to download will mostly be available in websites aplenty, but you'll have to find the right one.

Most popular among downloaders is The Pirate Bay, the BitTorrent website (the most legal option, but only for the United States) and a few specialized sites like FlixFlux for movies and more.

Most of the time, there's always a search panel where you can type in your keyword, and for the most part, there will be relevant results that you can pick from.

Viruses
Proceed with caution, though, and remember to always read the Comments panel. Does it have viruses? Is it fake? Well, downloaders in a website's community will answer that for you. So if a torrent file doesn't have comments yet, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Seeders and leechers
The first thing you should look for in a torrent (that is, after reading the comments panel) are the number of seeders versus leechers. The more seeders the faster the download, the more the leechers, the slower it will get.

Just think of it like this: the torrent file is a plant. The seeders are the one who help pollinate, while the leechers are the weeds who suck the life out of the plant. So if the weeds overpower the pollinators, the plant dies.

Same goes for the torrent. If there are more leechers than seeders, that torrent will be removed.

Am I a seeder, or a leecher?
If you're the one downloading the file, you're the leecher. If you have finished downloading the file and you are starting the upload process, you are then called the seeder. Torrent applications usually indicate whether you are seeding or downloading anyway.

I have dial-up, so I want to ask whether I can get fast speeds or not.
The answer is predictably no. Download speeds can still depend on your Internet connection, and if you have dial-up, your connection will mostly likely disconnect constantly. Torrent applications do have an option to pause downloads by default, but trust me, you won't like the hassle.

Wait, you can pause downloads?
Torrent applications can pause, resume and restart downloads, and not just automatically, you can also do it voluntarily. So if you think the torrents are slowing your Internet connection a little too much, you can pause them for a while and resume them anytime.

Failed DL?
This is simply the data that fail certain tests before going through. It won't affect your download as a whole, but it merely indicates that you have wasted time downloading bad data (that will be replaced by a better duplicate).

Am I set?
Yes, that's all the basic information you need to know when starting a torrent download. If you have any questions, you can consult Wikipedia or the torrent application's manual.

Lenten Movie Picks

The Lenten season need not be limited to watching the very very long The Ten Commandments

by Cecile B. Demile (Did I spell that right?) with your family. In these important days of the Lord's life, it wouldn't hurt to be entertained and have a little laughter.

Oh God! (1977)

It's the first God-related comedy I've watched in childhood, and it has some pretty funny lines. But to tell you the truth, I've forgotten a bit about the movie's story, so I got IMDb to help me:

"Jerry, a assistant grocery manager (John Denver) is approached by God to help spread his message. Reluctant at first, Jerry finally ends up in a court case involving the slander of a popular evangelist."

Funny Quotes:

"It's true. People have trouble remembering My Words. Moses had such a bad memory I had to give him tablets."

"Jerry Landers: I don't even go to any church!

God: Neither do I."

It spawned a few sequels, but... I dunno. I haven't watched them yet.

Bruce Almighty (2003)
There's a chance that you've already watched this, but it's still funny 5 years later. This is definitely the predecessor of the less funny (READ: Horrible) Evan Almighty in case you forgot, but at least it proves a saying that goes somehow like, The first one's always the best.

Oh yeah, story. It's about a guy who works at a news station called Bruce. When he fails to get the position for anchorman, he blames God. So, God meets him in the form of Morgan Freeman and gives him his powers to let him see if he can do any better. He realizes that being the alpha-omega isn't easy, because he has to contend with prayers and whatnot.

Evan Almighty (2007)
OK, maybe I said that it is horrible. But in another sense, the movie's lesson is hard to ignore, as well as its main reference. I mean, the first thing that drew me into watching it is actually Steve Carell who in the first movie was merely a rival.

Anyway, this modern re-telling of Noah's Ark has Evan Baxter, former news anchor, being elected Senator. When Morgan Freeman appears as God again, things in his life screw up because he has to build an ark for the imminent flood. He asks for the people to join him inside, but they think he's crazy (won't we all?). The animals are all set though.

Too bad. There was a bit of comic potential there, but it just didn't cut it. The message is what makes me recommend it though.

One thing you shouldn't watch
Death Note (Anime)
Yes, yes, I've said in Friendster that one guilty pleasure of mine was the rare anime. But hey, I can't blame my sister for being the source of all the Anime in the house (she had an Anime addiction similar to Caryl years ago, and though her interest has waned, she still likes watching it occasionally).

But anyway, it infuses Japanese mythology (the so-called Death Gods, see, that's why you shouldn't watch this during Lent) with modern life.

If you already didn't hear about it when Caryl got her notebook during the exchange of gifts, it's about this guy named uhhh..., what was that? Light? (Ewww) who is an ace in academics and picks up this black notebook plainly titled "Death Note". There are instructions inside, and after reading them, he tries to test if it really works, or if it's just something like chain mail. He writes the name of a criminal on it, and 40 seconds after that, the criminal dies.

Of course, he need a name and a face for the death to take effect, and well, there are definitely a lot of criminals being featured on TV. The police notices that the criminals dying all die in one particular manner- cardiac arrest/heart attack, so they suspect that one person is behind all this. But who? Well, they got this person who lacks sleep called L to help them out. He too comes up with a series of experiments to know how people get killed, and concludes that it's via paranormal means.

This results in a race of wits between the two smart-asses that's surprisingly tense, surprisingly, effectively thrilling and, dare I even say it? A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a................................ never mind. I'm not watching it anymore, though. Scout's honor. (And in how many months will I watch another Anime? Hmmm.... maybe next year.)

UNRELATED: Play review- Romance In D
We watched it on the last day of showing, and we were lucky.

In a nutshell: Romance-comedies of late may be very predictable, and even though the play almost falls in that category, the comedy part is very much present, and the romance part, a bit late (at least in its lead stars).

I've always loved watching plays, especially comedies performed by Repertory Philippines. However, this comedy is infused with a romantic aspect, and though the audience was going all "Ayeeeeeee" or "Uuyyyyy" when they kissed and rolled around the floor (no really), I think they (the audience) did it jokingly, because I thought it was... a bit late (IT WAS IN THE SECOND ACT FOR PETE'S SAKE!).

Still, you'll love the play for its cast of quirky characters. There's Charles the single musicologist, Isabel the frustrated poet (whose marriage is in shambles), and Charles' mom and Isabel's dad. Yes, that's all of them. And how do they all fit together, you say? Well, it's about Isabel moving in to this apartment. And because she smelled something that came from her oven (gas leak), she checked it. Luckily, before catastrophe occurred, she heard Charles playing his classical tunes loudly next door, so she goes to his room to ask if he can quiet down. Well, he would call 911 because he smelled the gas leak and this happening would essentially save the frustrated poet's life.

But, she still acts like a crazy person, which is why she always visits a psychiatrist (who doesn't appear), especially since her marriage is a bit off. This is why her father, who is visiting for 2 weeks, is staying with her... to cheer her up.

She eventually goes next door to thank Charles and the mutualism starts there.

The play is also all about happy endings since Charles' mother also falls for Isabel's father.

So yeah, it's a bit of a feel good play, but it's not without its humor. Sadly, you can't see the play anymore, since that last part was pretty priceless!

Rating: 7/10 (It's not as L.O.L. as Caught In The Net which was, what?, a hundred years ago???, but the humor's still there. It's pretty predictable however, but at least it's not Hamlet!)

Promising Movies (My picks for the new season)

I love watching movies, and it's all the better in the cinema. But in the many movies you're able to watch, only few stand out, for me at least. And without further ado, here are the movies you'll have to keep an eye out for:

Where In The World Is Osama bin Laden?
With such an eye-catching Indiana Jones style poster, who wouldn't stop and take a glance at this, at first glance, knock-off? Well in reality, this is the newest work of the director of the acclaimed fastfood docu Super Size Me and is about a man's quest for, well, finding Osama Bin Laden. Of course, his motive for this is to make the world safe(r) for his about-to-be-conceived child, but from the trailer, it looks like a hell of a comic search. I mean, just the witty line "If I learned anything from big budget action movies, it's that complicated global problems are best solved by one lonely guy." would make me want to see it. And clips of President Bush saying, "He may be hiding in a cave with the door open." LOLOLOL. Or maybe a line to save your life ("How do you say 'don't take me, take the cameraman'?")?

(TRAILER)


Get Smart
Though I have bad feelings that the movie won't get many raves, Steve Carell is at it again with his signature comedic acting, now with Anne Hathaway in the new spy satire Get Smart. Based from the trailer I saw, I think it starts with an agent named Maxwell Smart being assigned to a mission and is promoted but definitely not doing good with it. Therefore, Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) is there to help him discover the schemes of the KAOS organization of terrorists. You know what? Expect it to be a comedy in the vein of Johnny English, only funnier hopefully. It gets even more attractive when you see its huge roster of stars like The Rock (though I haven't really regarded him as an A-list actor), Alan Arkin (of Little Miss Sunshine fame) and even Heroes' Masi Oka!!!

(TRAILER)


The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Walt Disney and Walden Media's successful adaptation of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe proved that an age-old bible-ish series of beloved books are still great escapism, especially for the kiddies. Therefore, they're doing it again with the same director, most of the same actors and of course, a few new things. Judging from the trailer, this installment was more or less how I pictured it while I was reading the Chronicles of Narnia books in elementary (este, during Chinese), only grittier, better and even more fantastic. I have a feeling that this will be a must-see for all those Narnia fans and newbies alike, and more people will be attracted because, well, it has a less juvenile feeling than Lion! And it also has an imaginative story. The effects look like a screamer as well.

(Trailer)


Iron Man
After Spiderman, Superman and the X-Men took the big screen, it's time for Tony Stark to get the modernization treatment. So what about this Marvel hero? Well, he's a rich inventor and industrialist who gets kidnapped to make a devastating weapon. Instead, using his cunning and wit, he makes himself a hella cool suit of armor to escape his captors. After that, he vows to be a superhero and do superhero stuff, including trying to keep the identity of the superhero undiscovered and separating that life from his corporate and personal life. The movie stars Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr. (Zodiac) and even Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow!

(TRAILER)


Indiana Jones and The Crystal Skull
Ahhh, ask any movie buff what the funnest movie in history could be, and it's indisputably Indiana Jones. Though it's not the kind of franchise that doesn't get better each time, every one of them is a very fun and entertaining ride. Really, when I watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (I think that was the installment I first watched, because it had this temple with all the babes who had the ability to sort of hypnotize Indy and make him do whatever they want) as well as the first movie (Raiders of the Lost Ark), I was pretty much hooked! He would dispatch all those Nazis and makes you jump out of your seat like crazy!

But also thanks to the legendary Steven Spielberg's direction (of all three!) and the equally legendary George Lucas (in case you didn't know, he made Star Wars and the THX movie system thingy) who wrote the story, the movie experience is completely free of bad err, experiences!
And 20 years after that last installment, they still got Harrison Ford at hand, as well as a few new faces (Shia LeBeouf, Cate Blanchett) for the fourth outing of an albeit older Indy. And even better is Steven Spielberg's reprising role as director, and judging from the trailer, it's gonna be really explosive. I don't think there are any Nazis left though, because the movie'll probably be set some 20 years later or something. Hopefully, its signature humor and wit and thrills also come to stay because I wouldn't want to look at a 2008 edition that would actually pale to its 80's predecessor. It's gonna have some technical polish for sure, but the feel will hopefully be the same as the last time we saw him. (Because the trailer does just that.)

There's also gonna be a lot of plotholes because of the 20 years of Harrison Ford's aging, as well as Shia LeBeouf's casting as his son.

(TRAILER)


Batman: The Dark Knight
Why so serious?

Oh what list would be complete without this? With Heath Ledger's parting performance as the Joker, and the same director (Christopher Nolan) as the highly acclaimed Begins, you can just wonder what can go wrong with the flick. And once it releases, the movie will most likely spark a debate on who's the better Joker- Nicholson or Ledger. Why? Because even in the trailer, he looks pretty terrifying instead of funny even with the heavy make-up and all. It's also bound to be very explosive and not to mention dark and gritty, because that's what Batman movies are supposed to be. Plus, it also features a lot of star power: Christian Bale, the aforementioned and late Heath Ledger, Michael Caine (Sleuth), Gary Oldman (Harry Potter 3,4,5) and Maggie Gylenhaal (as replacement to Katie Holmes). But you know what? I'm restraining myself, so I'm just gonna say this flat-out:

I CAN'T WAIT! DAMMIT JULY 18 PA TALAGA!

Ahem. Here's a beautiful YouTube-uploaded trailer. Seriously, after the trailer loads (it's pretty slow), click Full Screen.


Will it be the Batman to end all Batmans? Most probably appropriately.

Persepolis
It may not be part of the new film season, but I haven't really seen this flick in local theaters. Hopefully it won't be relegated to Ayala Cinema exclusivity (like There Will Be Blood or Across the Universe). But anyway, it's about a girl named Persepolis who lives life as a child in Iran which was against the shah at the time. And then the police would wrongly apprehend her uncle. But when she becomes a teenager, her boldness would cause her trouble in her home country so her family decides to send her, even if it was a very hard choice, to Austria where she would experience liberation, drugs and people who have sexual intercourse casually. But after breaking up with her boyfriend, she becomes homesick and returns to Iran, which was actually even more turbulent than when she left despite the fall of the shah.

This movie is based on Marjane Satrapi's bestselling biographies (there are currently 2 under the same name- Persepolis) and Satrapi herself directs. And you know what, I think it deserves the Oscar more than Ratatouille though I haven't even watched both. Why? Because the trailer just looks so... promising! If I get the chance to watch it now, I'd watch. Oh, and did I mention it's black and white (with a few touches of color here and there)?

(TRAILER)

TECH TIP: Get songs (and movies) out of your iPod

Say you're planning to reformat your computer and you want to back-up all those music files. Well, you've got an iPod to do that. Then your computer is finally reformatted, yet you cannot even put all those damn songs back into the computer. What gives?!

Well, since Apple is one of the biggest companies in the US of A, it also has to observe its piracy/Digital Rights Management rules so you can't just as easily put it on your computer as you put music on your iPod. (Though lately, iTunes is capable of syncing music from iPod to iTunes... Purchased music, that is.)

So if you haven't already Googled for ways on how to put your music back from your iPod to your computer, then you seriously need to follow this guide.

1) No other software needed.
If you don't like bothering/downloading software from the Internet, then you can put music from your iPod by dragging and dropping anyway, though you'll have to follow a few extra rules and test a few songs.

Step 1. Access iTunes, do not automatically sync, then check the Enable Disk Use box. (Though I'm pretty sure that it's checked by default.)
If that option is checked, then it will most probably get read by My Computer (or Computer in Windows Vista) as a "Removable Disk", or maybe any other name you put it.Step 2. Access the iPod in My Computer and you'll see a list of folders. Of course, the music you have won't be here just yet, because the folder is hidden. Reveal it by selecting Tools on the menu bar, Folder Options and click Show hidden files and folders.
Step 3. When you click OK, you'll get to see the hidden folder called iPod_Control. Open it and go to Music. Ironically enough, you'll also find your videos here, but for your photos or games, well, that's for another time. But when you enter the Music folder, get ready for a nightmarish time.

No, that wasn't renamed by the website I got this pic from, the iPod did. Fortunately however, the titles and tags are all intact and if you open, say, Windows Media Player or whatever other media players you have, you'll be able to read them all. You have to open them one-by-one, though. (And that's what's so nightmarish about it.) But then again, you're putting everything, right?

Step 4-A. You can even press CTRL+A and drag-and drop everything to iTunes (just make sure that the Keep iTunes Music folder organized and Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library checkboxes in the Advanced preferences found in Edit, then Preferences in the menu bar).

Step 4-B. Or you can select File, then Add Folder to Library, and select the iPod_Control folder directly and wait for iTunes to work its magic. Of course, the options selected above should also be enabled so that iTunes can sort everything (and not make your library look like hell!).

But if you don't want to do this, I can take a hint.

2) Third-Party Software: The Easy Road
Free Software Candidate #1: SharePod
Though the import process is not as easy as its counterparts, the software is quite decent, and it's free too. You can just highlight your songs, and press Copy to PC.
It will then ask you as to where you'll want to import these songs. Note that all of them are saved in a so-called XML file which you have to manually Import from iTunes, so pick an ultimately convenient location (you know, like the Desktop?).Once you've selected a destination and clicked OK, the file that will appear will be called SharePod_iTunes_Import.xml, and if you access iTunes, select File, Import, then the that specific file, the music will be loaded into the library.

Sure beats that other step, huh?

But then again, there is also another software candidate:

Free Software Candidate #2: YamiPod
Designed to work on all major platforms (Mac, Windows, Linux), YamiPod is a less user-friendly solution that offers simple music import to whatever folder you select. But it more than makes up for the fact that you can run it from the iPod so you can import music even if the computer doesn't have iTunes. (Though I don't really know how to do that... yet.)

CAPTION: Honestly, it's a bit intimidating.

After selecting all of your music, click File, then Copy to.... Select the place where you want to import the songs (NOT on your desktop this time, but maybe on a folder) and wait for it to finish.

Open iTunes afterwards (and remember to close YamiPod because it doesn't want to be opened alongside iTunes) and select File, then Add Folder to Library and select the folder you used as the destination for all those music files and wait for it to finish. If you have the aforementioned preferences (Keep iTunes Music folder organized and Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library checkboxes) enabled, then you can safely delete that certain folder and go on with your business.

After that, you can do whatever you like to your music. Listen, delete, manipulate. WHATEVER.

Credit: iLounge

Meet The Spartans: Yet another crappy hit (The Box Office Report)

I never knew that "Epic Movie" was a box-office hit until now.

Well, it seems that the makers of these kinds of movies have churned out yet another lackluster spoof movie, and its theme is centered around "300". It also features other characters from other movies ("Ghost Rider", "Transformers", "Rocky Balboa", etc.) and manages to make them all coherent and err... "funny". Like its predecessor, it has also received an almost rock-bottom rating of 5% in Rotten Tomatoes, and yet it has become a huge hit with the masses in America. Well, it just goes to show that Americans do have bad taste, because if these people continue to even watch these movies, the creators will still strive to make yet another one next year... And it seems that it will indeed happen.

Actually, before it is also another (not as) crappy movie which is the follow-up of the growth hormone ingesting Sylvester Stallone. "Rocky Balboa" may have enjoyed astonishing critical and commercial success, and though this other revival of a long-gone series is quite gory and updated this time around, it's a miss for Stallone (at least with the critics) this time around.

Unrelated (Gaming News)
It seems that in every passing day, Super Smash Brothers: Brawl for the Wii gets even better and better. Now, they have even added the option for you to actually play demos of many brawlers' games like Super Mario Bros. (Mario), Metroid (Samus), as well as the games of less popular characters in the line-up. Note that they are mere demos and not free games (though it has not been confirmed whether all of them are demoes). It has been delayed to March 9, but Wii owners are keeping their fingers crossed in hopes that Nintendo won't let them down. (Well, I think doubts should be cast aside anyway, because Japanese gaming publication Famitsu gave SSBB a perfect 40/40 wherein 4 critics give 10 points each.)

2007 Year in Review: Film

2007 was definitely a BIG year, and will most likely be remembered as the year of the big-budget threequels. However, these movies aren't necessarily awards material... Yeah, we've had our fair share of the movies that do fall under the category... but you'll just wish there was more.

But before I begin, I will also give a sort-of "Best Of" award for every quarter of the year, then an overall "Best Of" afterwards. So yeah, you can perfectly see that I'm real bored...

First Quarter
The first quarter doesn't really boast of any very significant releases. But the selection of movies have gotten better when late February came. It was very, very bad to start the year with lame productions such as the corpse-y, unemotional sprites of Happily N'Ever After and the Brett Ratner produced Code Name: The Cleaner. Well, the sound of Ratner's name would probably cause people to scorn the film already! Add the stupid spoofers of Scary Movie to cram Superman, Borat and company to make Epic Movie!

Then came February which would start out as an even worse month with the worst chick flick ever starring Diane Keaton called Because I Said So. Now this movie will make you swear at the great actress, but if you still like her for her acting, just don't make mention of it. Add a triple-act by Eddie Murphy called Norbit and who wouldn't choke (or croak)?

February became less of a bad omen when Valentine's came, and the lukewarmly received Music and Lyrics was released. Honestly speaking, I liked the movie because of the charm of its lead stars as well as the hysterically hilarious opening sequence. But this isn't really enough to whet my appetite for a real movie... and this person's appetite will apparently not be satisfied for very, very long...

Yes, late February also had its share of (not-so) God-awful movies like Jim Carrey's flop (if you still remember it) called The Number 23. I'd rather see him do a bad comedy than a suspense...

During those times was I ever lucky... maybe everyone else was lucky as well due to the fact that many people would have eyes all glued to the boob tube for AI or whatnot.

We go to the third page of the calendar and the first thing you'll see, aside from a "picture" is of course, the month of March. Big budget movies would start rolling out, and a few good movies will also get me distracted as first year high school was ending.

Yeah John Travolta would star in the negatively reviewed motorcycle flick Wild Hogs. Critics started saying that his career was in a free-fall, but I'd say he's still far from Tim Allen's. However, I don't think that this flick is actually a view of things to come...

Pushing that one aside, fellow opener Zodiac was a thumbs-up for me, as it was a movie that will suck one in despite its length. I also liked Gerard Butler's Spartan blockbuster 300 as well as Sandra Bullock's Premonition... though I admit that the latter was a bit confusing...

Shooter is also actually one of my picks. But then again, I was in the mood for a testosterone-filled, mindless gun-blazing flick at the time.

TMNT was also released at the time, though I didn't watch it. I remember that it was very heavily advertised on Solar channels (ETC, Jack, etc.) but it wasn't really the stuff your parents would feel nostalgia with, especially with its childish plot.

There was also finally a comedy that gave me real laughs, but then again, it was released in March only in the U.S., and that flick was Blades of Glory starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. For wholesome family goodness, there was the optimistic, goodly made but wholly predictable tale of Lewis the genius in the film Meet the Robinsons.

So my pick for the First Quarter's best movie is obviously Meet the Robinsons. It has a quirky cast and has its heart set in the right place. If you look past the predictable plot, then you got yourself a helluva fun futuristic ride, and if you're not that much of hermit, get your family to watch it too! It'll all make you feel "warm and fuzzy inside" as many critics have cited.

2nd Quarter
April was all about the Grindhouse, well sadly, only in America. The concept of the film was to jam in two "so-bad-that-they're-good" movies into one ticket, and well, you can't fault directors like Robert Rodriguez and Palme d'Or awardee Quentin Tarantino for making the experience, as the critics say it, "both solipsistic (selfish) and pure genius". However, the movies ended up as flops in the box office, but it enjoyed critical success with a relatively high 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. These two flicks would soon be shown here separately, without the hilarious, (not so in '09) fake trailers directed by Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright and Rodriguez. (You can find those bloody exploitation trailers on YouTube...)

But since those flicks weren't really shown by April in the Philippines, then maybe I'll have to stick the topic to where it should belong- the ones that were shown. Well, Hillary Swank won't be reaping much money with The Reaping as it was a critical failure, though it did gain profits. Shia Lebeouf (Disturbia, which I liked) and Halle Berry (Perfect Stranger) would star in their own thrillers, and guess whose thriller was poorly received?

Anthony Hopkins, Adam Brody and Nicholas Cage would also get to star in their own movies with Anthony's Fracture getting better reviews than the others. Of course, Next wouldn't be the only badly reviewed (major) Cage film of the year... But before that one comes in December, let's go to where all hell breaks loose- May.

My god it was the battle of the three threequels... Warming us up ineffectively, like a sucky opening act of a big band, is Lucky You. Yeah, Barrymore was fresh from Music and Lyrics, but Lucky You didn't perform as well. Afterwards was the main event- what comics geeks and the masses alike have been waiting for- Spiderman 3. OK, maybe not all of the masses, but hell, every theater in the country only had Spiderman 3 to offer and nothing else during the period. And not only a few people were actually let down of their high expectations (because the second was quite good) because the wait wasn't really worth it. The plots chosen were simply too many, but the special effects had to be very convincing and quite amazing to be sure to lure in people. Yes, it did lure in the people, and nothing, not even a few releases that came a week later, like 28 Weeks Later, could stop it. Putting up a big fight a few days after that, would be another threequel, and it was "everyone's favorite ogre"- Shrek. All-star cast, not very funny sequences, and yet another major problem plagued the multi-million blockbuster hit- it was getting old.

Disney wouldn't be one to lose in the game, so it let out its big gun- Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End. The movie could've used more editing, as the people, most especially the director, must've thought that the people want more! They should learn, though it sounds tired and cliche, that less means more! However, Johnny Depp's performance is what saves it from getting pretty boring, but it still isn't enough to conceal the fact that it has become too overplotted like Spiderman 3 as well. Still, Pirates became the winner of it all as it earned the distinction of being the highest-grossing film of 2007.

Well, I guess all the excitement will die just a teensy bit in June as it also delivers a slew of box-office hits like Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, 1408, Evan Almighty and Live Free or Die Hard. It was also when Knocked Up, director Judd Apatow's raunchy masterpiece of the one night's stand, was released alongside Angelina Jolie's A Mighty Heart and Brad Bird's highly-acclaimed culinary masterpiece, Ratatouille. Independently, Sicko by acclaimed documentary maker Michael Moore (who is also the maker of the Palme d'Or awarded Fahrenheit 9/11, which I also loved) was released.

So who takes the second quarter's best picture trophy? It's a hard one, especially since I haven't watched the entirety of A Mighty Heart, Ratatouille and Knocked Up. So basing only on the trusty Tomatometer of the Rotten Tomatoes website, Ratatouille is the clear winner with a very very high 96% (especially when compared to Knocked Up's 90% and A Mighty Heart's mere 77%). Talk about men and mice...

3rd Quarter
Even more blockbusters came about July. First released was Transformers which starred Shia Lebeouf fresh off his other box-office success Disturbia. Of course, License to Wed was no match for the robot flick, as geeks and the masses alike preferred the testosterone filled thrill ride. Putting up competition a week later was Harry Potter's fifth outing in Order of the Pheonix. I still think it's the best Potter by far, but others apparently beg to differ.

It was also the month where Lindsay Lohan made her comeback in I Know Who Killed Me, which we all know was a big flop. Ironically, Michelle Pfeffier's other comeback movie was a hit, and hold the record for highest grosses for a movie musical. Admittedly, it could not have reached success without its other bankable stars young and old such as Zac Efron (though I really hated to admit it), Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, and who would forget a cross-dressing John Travolta whose trademark blue eyes still stand out anyway? It also made a star of Nikki Blonsky whose arms are bigger than her face! Well, no offense... I kinda liked it and when the soundtrack is compared between movie and stage versions, the movie's sound is more polished and surprisingly drips with appeal.

People didn't reserve many seats when Catherine Zeta-Jones came back with her new culinary movie aptly titled No Reservations, but after a 400th episode celebration did The Simpsons Movie hit the big time. It was funny, smart, dumb, relevant, escapist and quite refreshing like Homer's cup of beer, and it seems to be the animation movie that has captured 89% of our critics. Not bad at all for 19 years spent on other stories, some better than the next.

Traces of autumn... it must August. And it was probably the month for a few shallow female empowering movies like Bratz, The Nanny Diaries (OK, so maybe that one's maid empowering...), and uhhh... that's probably it. And who would forget the thrill you would feel at the edge of your seat while watching that stupendously amazing car chase in The Bourne Ultimatum which would pull off the feat of smart and explosive at the same time? Rush Hour 3 didn't really have much luck, but really, Jackie Chan's past his prime, and director Brett Ratner is just stupid. And speaking of martial arts people, Mr. Gweat Beer starred with Transporter star Jason Statham in the not so good Rogue Assassin.

Stardust, a great fantasy movie in its own right, also appeared with borefest The Last Legion that promised to be "better than 300". Well, I sure was fooled!

Rowan Atkinson's character didn't really have the last laugh with his farewell movie Mr. Bean's Holiday, but at least Balls of Fury was able to provide more comic relief... not that I'm implying that it's a great movie...

August should've been the month of Superbad, Judd Apatow's follow-up to his comedic success Knocked Up. Unfortunately it was also delayed in the Philippines for what? 2 or 4 months?

Significant movies have become less in my birth month of September as the brainless but stylish Shoot 'Em Up delivered exactly what it promised- a shoot 'em up while Daniel Radcliffe opted to go out of his Harry Potter role for a while to act in December Boys. Yeah, there were also masterpieces like Lust, Caution by Ang Lee director of Brokeback Mountain but aside from that, other movies of the same vein would be delayed like Superbad for 2 or 4 months...

Disney, as the past months can attest, is not one to be left behind, and this month is no exception as it released the sugary-sweet shallowness of The Game Plan. You've heard it all before, tough guy becomes softie because of the kid/s...

The biggest earner during the month? Resident Evil: Extinction starring Ivy- I mean, Milla Jovovich. I haven't watched it but it's so totally not the best movie of the quarter!

So for me, the best movie you'll find here is The Bourne Ultimatum. Not only does my opinion on the rockin' movie put weight on the decision, so do the critics! 93 percent of them! And they all agree that Paul Greengrass, director, puts wit and action into balance, though it's gonna be hard to suspend your disbelief when Bourne comes out almost always unscathed.

4th Quarter
Now this quarter is very much the quarter that movie aficionados wait for, as all the best movies come out during the season. Though the worst also show their ugly hides here as well...

Autumn's almost over in October, and The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising made the weather all the colder while Reese Witherspoon's Rendition came out a flop as well. Steve Carell however got it better that time around as he released Dan In Real Life which garnered more positive reviews than Evan Almighty. No, it hasn't seen the light of day in the Philippines, but what the hell.

I think it was also in this month where Superbad finally got the McLovin treatment and got released! It's quite funny judging only from the trailers at least.

Ah, All Saint's Day. And you know what that month is. Yes, November. There was the Tom Cruise starrer Lions for Lambs, Dustin Hoffman's not so bad kid's movie Mr. Magorium, Robert Zemeckis also brought back stop-motion in IMAX in Beowulf while Amy Adams enchanted people with her charm and the script's wit in Enchanted. Viggo Mortesen would also play in the acclaimed film, Eastern Promises. Honestly, the month also provided space for less of the bad movies, but then again, they would be saved for...

DECEMBER. There was the widely ballyhooed Golden Compass, which people say isn't so bad, Alvin and the Chipmunks, the creepy live-action rendition has come to annoy or serenade us with their trademark hi-pitched hi-jinks, while National Treasure: Book of Secrets, though not as bad as Chipmunks, was harshly reviewed.

But hey, it was also I Am Legend month! Haha!

Before we get to the "awards" thingy, though, let's see what movies didn't make it for 07 in our home turf.

MOVIES in 2007 that are to be released in 2008 in the Philippines:
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Who doesn't want to watch this year's Golden Globe best picture- musical or comedy?)

Charlie Wilson's War (I never knew it was a comedy until I saw it being nominated in the Globes, but I actually have that copy and I will include it in the Golden Globe-nominated reviews post.)

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Bee Movie

American Gangster

Sicko (I love Michael Moore's work. 'Nuff said.)

Death at a Funeral (It looks fairly interesting. Hehe.)

Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Casey Affleck's quite a promising star. Show it already!)

Into The Wild (Heaps of praise. Sean Penn. What else can you ask for?)

Sydney White (They say that the chick flick's "good". I dunno, but I have a DVD of it.)

The Heartbreak Kid (Got a DVD.)

Michael Clayton (George Clooney's latest starrer looks fascinating, and has received acclaim.)

Dan In Real Life (They say that the effort is commendable. Well, I love Steve Carell after all)

No Country For Old Men (I want to watch it. Plain and simple.)

Juno (AND I WANT TO WATCH THIS EVEN MORE)

Atonement (Quite a wonderful film if you ask me.)

P.S. I Love You (Interesting... Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler isn't something you see together often.)

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (A spoof of musical biopics complete with original music! Sounds fun.)

The Great Debaters (I also got a DVD of this. Time to get watching so I can finally finish that post!)

The Bucket List (It's rated quite low on Rotten Tomatoes though...)

There Will Be Blood (You know what? I suddenly feel the urge to see it.)

Saw IV

The Orphanage (They stuck Guillermo de Toro's name on it. This means atmospheric, creepy yet fairy-tale-like in a sense.)

OK. Time for overall honors.

Worst Picture Everybody Watched
It hauled big ones at the box office, and it's a threequel. Judging only from Rotten Tomatoes' trusty Tomatometer, the worst picture everybody watched for me is Resident Evil: Extinction. It has impressive action scenes, but the same can't be said for its plot.

Most Underrated Children's/Family Film
Mr. Magorium quite a decent movie for kids. It's not half bad although its plot is something left to be desired anyway.

Best Family Film
Hands down best is Enchanted. It provides witty parodies of different stories that actually work and has quite a lot of warmth and heart for it to become a modern Disney classic.

Most Underrated Comedy Film
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story seems like a great laugh with its premise at hand. Jabbing mostly on Ray, the efforts of Reilly, Apatow and company looks like a lot of fun.

Most Overrated (and Disappointing) Comedy Film
It's a festival of F-words and it's a bit too raunchy for the kids. Watching Knocked Up feels awkward, but it has intentions that are good. It doesn't provide the belly laughs I was awaiting for, but Katherine Heigl gives a pitch-perfect performance. I'm just not sure that this film is supposed to be deserving of a 90%.

Tying with Knocked Up in Most Disappointing is Mr. Bean's Holiday. Just when you thought that Rowan Atkinson would kill his character forever with a bang...

Worst Comedy Film
In my book, it's License To Wed.

Most Disappointing Horror Film
1408 was subject to my high expectations. However, it wasn't very scary, but it's still something good for a horror film.

Most Disappointing Threequel
Spiderman 3 hands down was most disappointing. It didn't have Spiderman 2's greatness factor, but it still does a good job anyway. Just wished that they had more focus.

Best Made Threequel
The Bourne Ultimatum. 'Nuff said.

Most Underrated Fantasy Film
Stardust wasn't as high as I think it should have been. I mean, it provides great entertainment, and it even met my expectations!

Most Disappointing Fantasy Film
Beowulf isn't as much fun as I expected. But I think, though I haven't watched it, The Golden Compass is a bit more of a letdown as it seems like it doesn't match Pullman's exquisite writing.

Best Long Film
Clocking for about 2 hours and more than 30 minutes, Zodiac is still quite gripping despite the long amount of time.

Worst Long Film
Though Johnny Depp is quite entertaining, I just have to say that the worst long film made this year is Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End. Why can't Gore Verbinski (director) tell that less means more.

Most Unexpected Surprise
John Travolta comes back in musical genre... AS A WOMAN! You probably know what that movie was.

Most Expected Happening
Ratatouille wins best animated picture. What can't Pixar do right?

Best New Franchise
Personally, I think Transformers takes this one. Revenues will also trickle even further for a sequel because of Megan Fox. Sorry, Shia, but you know full well that she's HOT. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_2/news/1675212/)

Best Movie/s I've Never Seen
It's a tie between Ratatouille and Sweeney Todd... Add Juno there as well.

Best Musical
There wasn't much of it this year, but the underlying commentary in Hairspray is quite meaningful.

Best Comedy
Uhh... Can I still say Enchanted? I haven't really watched Superbad yet (in which its trailer is quite funny!), as well as Juno.

Best Film of the 4th Quarter
Damn. It's hard to decide, but I think it's gonna have to be... (because Juno and Sweeney weren't in the 4th quarter in the Philippines) uhhh... Enchanted.

Best Film of the Year
Quite a hard verdict to make... And though it's gonna be cliche if I say it's gonna have to be you who's gonna decide, I'm still gonna have to pick one anyway... and it's...

COMING SOON.

I'm gonna have to watch a bit more before I come up with some unanimous winner. Sorry. But for now, it's a wrap!