Your Name: My Movie Review

I have great expectation with "Your Name" because Makoto Shinkai has a preceding reputation for making great animations.

The movie partakes a body swap fantasy.  First, it is taken lightly and quirky as the two casts deal with the changes. Then, it transforms into an innocent adolescent love capturing the hearts of everyone along with them.  Just like Taki who never wanted to give up, the audience are also hoping and believing along with him especially when he said  “I’m always searching for something, for someone."

Although set in the modern world where they use their cellphones as diaries, it also displays traditional Japanese culture and beliefs.  The fantasy is wonderfully interwoven that it drags you in so much that you forget about logic and possibility for reality.  It makes one believe in destiny, fate, the sacredness of time, and great bonds like love.  There are also relatable advises such as “Treasure the experience.  Dreams fade away after you wake up."

The songs are modern by RADWIMPS but the lyrics are poetic and meaningful. 

• Zenzenzense (前前前世 "Previous Previous Previous Life")
• Supākuru (スパークル "Sparkle")
• Nandemonaiya (なんでもないや "It's Nothing"

Overall, Your Name is a must watch and an unforgettable and emotional cartoon that you will remember for a lifetime

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (My Spoiler-Free Review)

I've heard nothing but good raves on Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  And, way way before the screening date, this has been on a hype.

I'll keep this spoiler-free so I'll just sum up my likes and dislikes:

Likes
1. It's Star Wars...
         I grew up watching the Star Wars movies over and over again and of course, that's not enough and I want more!

2. Old characters reappear with the same charm and humor we loved.
       Upon entry of familiar characters, the crowd cheered in the cinema house.

3. The new characters were all likeable.
       The acting by Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn and Adam Driver as Kylo Ren  was decent.  And, although non of them stood out, they didn't disappoint either.

4. The new stuffs are just as cool and interesting.
         The droid is so cool, funny and interesting.  The droid is one of the interesting factors in the movie.  For sure, the toy version will rake some money. 
         The storm trooper redesign is awesome too. 

4. The plot fits and easy to follow.
         This sequel is a rightful addition to the other movies.  I have my hopes up for the upcoming movies (currently rumored to be 4 more).  It revealed enough for what has occurred for the past 30 years and leaves enough mystery for the movies to come.  It connects the nostalgic old with the refreshing new.
         Although the pacing was fast, the plot is easy to follow that even the kids can enjoy it.  I can sense that they made some of the jokes easy to understand...
           The only thing I couldn't make a sense of, is why they only sent a squad for searching.

5. There's sufficient emotional anchor between the characters.
            My emotions were stirred as the movie went on.  They brought back the humor which was lost during the prequel trilogies. 

6. Great cinematics.
            The space battles and lightsaber combat were interesting because of the great cinematics.  Of course, we've expected that given the current updates on cinematics.

Dislikes
1. There were a lot of similar scenario's in the former movies.
            I can't help but notice the similar scenario's as compared to the former movies that made it become a bit predictable.  But then again perhaps, it wouldn't be Star Wars without the searching, droid-locked secrets and planet-killing weapon?

2. The dark side appeared weak.
           I'm not sure if it was difficult to live-up to the character of Darth Vader.  But, the dark side appeared weak.  But, I'm looking forward to the next movies concerning the character build up of Kylo Ren.
          On the other hand, the other side has brilliant fighters in all forms pilot, lightsaber duel etc.

3. Some of the humors didn't work.
          Classic humors of our fave characters worked.  But, I think I missed the punch lines on some jokes from the new characters. 

 Watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Overall, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a must watch!  It has some room for improvements which could be seen on the next movies.  But, compared to the prequel, this is way way better.  Compared to the original trilogy?  Individually, this is good.   How much better it can become is what I'm looking forward to see.

Movie Review: The Interview (Spoiler Alert!)

So much fuzz about the controversial movie "The Interview" made us all want to watch it.  Thus, it was decided to be our official family Christmas Movie for 2014 since Sony released it earlier today through Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and www.seetheinterview.com.  Watching it at home with a bunch of people (around 20 of us) made it even more fun.

The movie opens with a song in Korea insulting America.  Then, it suddenly shifts back to the celebrity tabloid show "Skylark Tonight" hosted by Dave Skylark (James Franco).  They've been interviewing various big celebrities and bring them into shame.  After their successful 1000th episode where Enimem admits he's gay, Dave brings his show producer Aaron Rapaport (Seth Rogen) to his surprise party.  While it was a celebratory party, Aaron meets his former classmate, a producer of a news show, who makes him feel crappy for giving people stuff that don't matter.  This made him want to move on to more serious interviews and that's when Dave and him cooked the idea of interviewing the supreme leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong-Un (Randall Park) said to be a fan of their show.  After being permitted for the interview, they are contacted by the CIA through Agent Lacey (Lizzy Caplan) for a mission to assassinate Kim Jong-Un.  (Of course, this has already been revealed by the news as the controversial issue).  The plot itself was interesting enough to make you watch it till the end as you want to know whether the two wackos: Dave and Aaron are persistent in fulfilling the mission and should they attempt to, would they be able to achieve it.

The acting skills of the casts especially James Franco deserves distinction here.  A great weight of the movie relied on James and he successfully pulled through.  The due of James Franco and Seth Golden is superb.  The two haven't been together since the Freaks and Geeks.  Getting the two greens: Green Goblin and The Green Hornet together to make tons of green jokes was a great idea.


The production in terms of sound and effects was okay but nothing spectacular.  The setting were also limited so you'd wonder why it cost 44 million USD to make.

The movie is mostly comedy but there are a few action and gory blood-splattering scenes that enhanced the humor.  The jokes were a mix bag.  I thought the main issue was the plot of the movie.  But, as the movie went on, I noticed that there are insult comedy involve which includes satire and political jokes that attacks the "fictional" character of Kim Jong-Un and his political ways.  But, before we get too serious and even connect watching this movie with patriotism, let us first set our minds that this is a light funny slapstick comedy.  The plot is completely exaggerated, senseless and impossible.  Moreover, there were a lot of movies prior to this that had the same kind of humor which did not rise to controversies.  There were a lot of harmless green jokes and stupid jokes too.  The moronic acts of the duo made as laugh hysterically.  Some of the jokes are generational and current so we can relate to it but the next ones won't. 

 Watch The Interview

Overall, I enjoyed the The Interview and highly recommend watching it for fun!

Edge of Tomorrow (Movie Review) and my Dolby Atmos Cinema in Promenade Greenhills Experience

Last Saturday, I was able to watch "Edge of Tomorrow" in the awesome Dolby Atmos Cinema at Promenade Greenhills. 

Dolby Atmos Cinema at Promenade Greenhills

Edge of Tomorrow is a movie based on the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.  The film is directed by Doug Liman who directed some of my favorite action movies like The Bourne Identity (2002), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and Jumper (2008).  So, the great director Doug Liman in his forte genre (action mixed with sci-fri) and main casts is played by big stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt kept my hopes up for the movie.

In terms of roles and acting, I'd the duo of Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt was exceptionally good.  To watch the two over and over and all-throughout the movie was a pleasure.  Well, no surprise from the award-winning actor Tom Cruise who plays as Major William Cage.  But, it was a really different game for Emily Blunt who stars as Sergeant Rita Vrataski.  I mean I loved her in feminine roles in The Adjustment Bureau (2011), Salmon Fishing in Yemen (2012) and Looper (2012).  But, I must say she was stunningly cool as she played the role of a warrior and Angel of Verdun in this movie.  

Nice Comfty Seats at Dolby Atmos Cinema at Promenade Greenhills

The movie was jump-pack with action save for the boring introduction.  The twists and turns were planned well so you'll have the thrill of the suspense till the last scene.  And, the movie was almost 2 hours long so it's really worth every cent. 

Dolby Atmos Cinema at Promenade Greenhills

I feel the Dolby Atmos Cinema which offered a 360 revolutionary sound system exemplified our movie experience.   It's awesome that a Dolby Atmos Cinema has speakers set up on the left, right and above you.  We could hear the planes hover from left to right or be surprised by the gun fire sounds scattered all over the place or the sound of crashing bursting from above us.  

Plot-wise the movie is different in terms of concepts and ending from the book.  So you can't compare the two together as they are stand-alone.  I've seen a lot of time loop movies before like Terminator (1984), Groundhog Day (1993), 12 Monkeys (1995), The Butterfly Effect (2004), Looper (2012) and About Time (2013).  Unlike the rest, this had a really solid basis to support it.  The ending was really too happy for me but it is possible.  With his powers, he decided to return on an earlier time (I'm assuming a day earlier) than his previous reset point to his advantage.

 Watch Edge of Tomorrow

Overall, this is a must-watch movie!  Not sure if watching it in 3D is worth it though.

Never Let Me Go: Movie Review Plus My Personal Analysis and Reflection (Spoiler Alert)

So last weekend, I was on an out of town trip with office mates.  And while they were on a drinking spree, I decided to watch a movie called "Never Let Me Go", a movie I happen to have stumbled upon as a recommend film by fellow movie lovers.

Never Let Me Go (2010) is a movie adaptation of a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro of the same name.  The movie is 103 minutes long.  The cast really did well in acting.    The movie is centered on three main casts: Kathy H (played by Izzy Meikle-Small and Carey Mulligan), along with her friends Tommy (played by Charlie Rowe and Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (played by Ella Purnell and Keira Knightley).  

The entire movie is based on the narration of Kathy when she is already 28 years old as she reminisces about her childhood.  The story begins when she was 7 years old and at a boarding school called Hailsham in the 1970's and stretches out until the present when the beginning and ending scene will collide.

The movie is a mix genre: romance, drama and sci-fi.  The sci-fi part comes of as something that is mysterious and slowly unfolding throughout the movie.   As the beginning narration begins with Kathy stating: 
"My name is Kathy H.  I'm 28 years old.  I've been a carer for 9 years. And I'm good at my job.  My patients always do better than expected and are hardly ever classified as agitated, even if they're about to make a donation.  I'm not trying to boast, but I feel a great sense of pride in what we do.  Carers and donors have achieved so much. That said, we aren't machines.  In the end, it wears you down.  I suppose that's why I now spend most of my time not looking forwards but looking back, to The Cottages and Hailsham, and what happened to us there."

To fully appreciate the plot, you have to play within its context.  And that is they as clones classified as carers and donors, fully accept their fate from the moment they were created.  Also it didn't make sense why they didn't chose to be a carer so they can extend their lives a bit because they are given the task to care for other donors before they begin donating.  But, let's skip pass that as the movie is about how they cope with their given circumstances.

Although it is fictional, it's very much relatable which makes it a really good movie.  The movie itself is sufficient to disclose a lot of deep points which Kazuo Ishiguro wants to present to the readers.  But, it made me uncontented so I just had to read the book after watching it.  They were points revealed on the 300-page novel which was not encompassed in the movie probably due to lack of time.  In terms of production, I'd say they really did well with their $ 15 million budget.  I even feel bad that this movie only achieved a $ 9.4 million box office hit as I believe it deserves much more than that.

My Personal Analysis and Reflection 
The movie and novel really has a lot to uncover so dwell with me as I try to release my thoughts on the issues that I've unveiled.

Life
After playing the cassette tape of Judy Bridgewater called Songs After Dark with the song “Never Let Me Go", Ms. Lucy (their guardian) reveal to them their purpose in a very sentimental and emotional way: Ms. Lucy: "The problem is you've been told and not told. That's what I've seen while I've been here. You've been told but none of you really understand. So I've decided I'll talk to you in a way that you will understand. Do you know what happens to children when they grow up? No, you don't, because nobody knows. They might grow up to become actors, move to America. Or they might work in supermarkets. Or teach in schools. They might become sportsmen or bus conductors or racing car drivers. They might do almost anything. But with you we do know. None of you will go to America. None of you will work in supermarkets. None of you will do anything except live the life that has already been set out for you. You will become adults, but only briefly. Before you are old, before you are even middle-aged, you will start to donate your vital organs. That's what you were created to do. And sometime around your third or fourth donation, your short life will be complete. You have to know who you are and what you are. It's the only way you'll lead decent lives."
The song is about a woman’s love for her baby.  It is also the title of the movie and the novel which I have yet to understand why.
~ These 3 characters knew from age 7 how limited their time was.  And, yet they end up spending it in a regretful way.  It is no different from how some of us deal with our lives too (not just relationships).  Sure, we may have longer lives but still it is limited and beyond our controllable when it ends.  But, do we really go after what we desire the most so that we can say that we have lived our lives without regrets? 

Contentment
As Kathy states in the ending "I come here and imagine that this is the spot where everything I've lost since my childhood has washed up. I tell myself if that were true, and I waited long enough, then a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across the field and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy. He'd wave and maybe call. I don't let the fantasy go beyond that. I can't let it. I remind myself I was lucky to have had any time with him at all. What I'm not sure about is if our lives have been so different from the lives of the people we save. We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through or feel we've had enough time. When we are scattered afar and asunder. Parted are those who are singing today When we look back and forgetfully wonder What we were like in our learning and play Oh, the great days will bring distance enchanted Days of fresh air in the rain and the sun How we rejoiced as we struggled and panted Echoes of dreamland, Hailsham lives on."
~ No matter how bad the circumstance we encounter, we can always make ourselves believe that we are lucky and that we should feel contented.  We have no choice but to believe that to be so.  We can relieve moments from our memories and satisfy ourselves with that.  Or, we can make ourselves endlessly hope so we have something to look forward to.  Everything can be as we want to believe... there is no right or wrong...as long as we can move along in our lives.

Feelings and Relationship
When they were 7, Tommy was teased because he had an uncontrollable tantrum, Kathy always tried to reach out to him.  In the movie Tommy's feeling were subtly showed by the way they looked at each other, Tommy's words: "I mean, I wouldn't want to hit any girl. But particularly not you." and his gesture when he gave her a cassette tape of Judy Bridgewater called Songs After Dark with the song “Never Let Me Go". 
~ In this part it is quite clear to us audience that Tommy and Kathy had feelings for each other and somehow led us to expect or wish that it would somehow become fruitful for the two. 

But because of Ruth was more outspoken than Kathy who was reserved and pragmatic, at the age of 15 Tommy and Ruth became a couple.  It was quite clear from Kathy's narration that Ruth chose Tommy (something Kathy could never do even if she wanted to).
Kathy: "I didn't understand why, after all her teasing, Ruth would decide that Tommy was the boy she liked most of all. They say girls are always mean to the boys they like. So maybe Ruth had liked him all along. Maybe I should have teased him, too. I kept hoping they would separate, like the other childhood and teenage romances at the school. They never did."
~ In this part, I was a bit disappointed when Ruth and Tommy ended up together.  But, I thought it was realistic.  I've seen this happen a lot in my surrounding especially with girls.  In our culture where girls are courted by guys, I think girls are placed on the same circumstance as Kathy.  It doesn't matter if she has feelings for some guy.  All she ever has to consider is the guy who chooses to be with her and the aging even limits the time for considering.  As for guys, being prideful creatures, some are also afraid of rejection.  They'd rather choose the one that flirts with them rather than risk with those who they think are difficult for them to woo or those who are difficult for them to support, take care of and satisfy.  And, they also consider those that fit the norms based on looks and shape perhaps rather than going for those which would have been more compatible with them.

When they are 18, they are moved to "The Cottages", where it is depicted to show that Ruth and Tommy are in a sexual but loveless relationship.

Kathy was obviously affected but she dealt with it by applying to be a carer and leave the place.  She chose to avoid and run away from it and never thought of encountering the two again.  But at the age of around 27 when she accidentally saw Ruth at the hospital, she couldn't have but opt to be the carer for her childhood friend.

On the other hand, Ruth had a different way of handling the situation which is revealed when Kathy found her after her second donation and she was about to die that she confessed to both Kathy and Tommy.
Ruth: "I'd like you to forgive me. I don't expect you to. Forgive you for what? For keeping you and Tommy apart. Should have been you two together, I always knew it. As far back as I can remember.
It wasn't just because of the rumors about deferrals. It was because I was jealous. You had real love
and I didn't, and I didn't want to be the one that was left alone.  It's the worst thing I ever did.  And now I want to put it right. xxx I can if you two get a deferral. xxx It wasn't easy, but I've had years to think about what I did. And years to try and work out a way to make it right."

Tommy was always a passive character.  He never showed his feelings for Kathy until Ruth allowed him to which is probably why he believed that there was a deferral and he could request more time with Kathy who he truly loves.  He always knew he truly loved Kathy which is why he knew he couldn't try the deferral with Ruth but he went on a loveless sexual relationship with her anyway.  As expected, Tommy was the one with the biggest tantrum and regret when they found out that there was really no such thing as a deferral until the momeent he died.
~ These showed different ways on how we handle our feelings, the choices we make and the consequences that follows it.  It's very relatable in our lives today as shown by scientific studies on unhappy marriages, criminal cases filed for rape, adultery and concubinage (and other forms of unfaithfulness revealed on surveys that aren't filed and often condoned), divorce and annulment rates, children born out of wedlock and more.  

Tommy's interpretation of  "The Gallery" is also an interesting aspect. It was also a medium for him to express his true feelings.
Tommy: "Suppose for a second that the rumor is true. That there is a special arrangement for Hailsham students, if they're in love. Well, there would have to be some kind of way to decide if couples are telling the truth and not just lying to put off their donations. That's what The Gallery could be for. In The Gallery they have everything about us they need to know.  So if we say that we're in love, they can look into our souls and they can see. They'll know if it's real love or if it's just a lie."

While at Hailsham, Tommy never drew.  But, he started drawing after finding out about the deferrals.  During this time, he was with Ruth and yet he was creating arts hoping he'd be deferred with Kathy.
Tommy: "I started doing them when we were at The Cottages.xxx I realized that if I was ever going to apply for a deferral, then I'd have to show them something. And I've done hundreds of them over the years.xxx I have never showed anyone them until now. They were my secret."

Tommy's desire of course was only exposed near the end when he and Kathy tried to apply for the deferrals.
Tommy: "So... We're in love. And it's true love. It's verifiable. xxxWell, we'd heard about the deferrals. And we'd worked out the purpose of The Gallery. xxx To use our art from Hailsham to look into our souls, which would verify that we deserved a deferral. But the problem is I was a little bit mixed up back then and I didn't really do any art, so you never took anything of mine. I know, I know that that is my fault and it is probably much too late, but I brought some stuff with me today. This is a book of stuff and... Other stuff here. Some of them I've done quite recently, and others were done several years ago, so there's a real spread."

~ These parts of the plot is what made it quite emotional and sad.  I felt sorry for Tommy not because he was a clone, not because he had little time but because he didn't have the courage to go for what he truly felt until it was too late.

~ Ruth's confession and Tommy's theory also differentiates true love (it's mysterious aspect) and a lie.  What Kathy and Tommy felt for each other was true.  And, we don't know the reason why.  It just happened that way.  It also showed the other reasons to enter into a relationship other that true love.  Ruth chose Tommy out of desperation because she didn't want to be the one left alone.  I think she chose Tommy because she was able to dominate him.  And Tommy who was passive, allowed himself to be dominated by Ruth although he always knew it was a lie and it was never explained why. Hope
Kathy knew the rumor of the deferral is false but she supported Tommy's decision to apply anyway.  No matter how stupid the idea was Tommy made himself believe in his theory just so he can spend more time with Kathy after he wasted all his chances of doing so in the past.
~ It is very human to grope on anything that can give us hope.  We believe in religion for a chance that they can be forgiven and given another chance after-life.  We believe in superstition for a chance to have additional luck and other benefits.  As someone once told me, if you could bet on two sides: win or lose, of course you'd bet on the possibility that you could win.  Besides if you believe, you have nothing to lose.  Many who are dying (some due to unlucky circumstances and most due to the consequence of failing to take care of their bodies) are going for any kind of treatment that could extend their lives... no matter how small the chances are, ridiculous it would sound or even if they are unverified (no therapeutic claims familiar?).

Beginnings
All of them are interested in finding out who their originals or possibles are despite already knowing their purpose for their creation.  
~ It is a human instinct to know our origin.  In the same way, adopted children still want to know their birth parents regardless of their state of well-being.  So I think what it is trying to relay to us is that we are made to reflect on our past and not just to look forward.

Cloning and Souls
Madame: "We didn't have The Gallery in order to look into your souls. We had The Gallery
to see if you had souls at all."
~ Up until recently, I had a very narrow view on cloning.  I thought that if we cloned, we will be playing God as we are able to create souls.  But, someone pointed it out to me that we are already creating souls when me copulate.  Thus, cloning of a human being with a soul will only be a different way of creating.  I have to agree. I think if we do clone, it will have a soul different from its original unless we only clone a body part, say a live tissue or cell of some sort, which of course would be incapable of living a life on its on.

12 Life Lessons from Starting Over Again (Spoiler Alert + Pics)

A lot of my female friends has been recommending "Starting Over Again" directed by Olivia Lamasan as a must-watch Romantic Valentine Movie.  This film with a love triangle between Piolo Pascual as Marco, Toni Gonzaga as Ginny and Iza Calzadoh as as Patty has made a lot of people cry!  Many attribute its success to being realistic and relatable.  Relate to what?  Well, relate to the foolishness and mistakes that we had to go through and learn from.

12 Life Lessons from  Starting Over Again

1. Acceptance and Selfless Love are Essential for a Successful Relationship.

      You need to accept everything about your significant other which means his/her past, present and future.  A selfless love is one that puts the other before yourself.  While some may believe that it's about timing and readiness like Ginny (Toni) who believes that she is ready for the second time around, it is really acceptance that matters because you can prepare for the past and the present but the future will always be uncertain and you'll need a degree of acceptance to take that risk.

       Patty's (Iza) love for Marco (Piolo) is a love that fully accepts him and a selfless kind which is why it surpasses that of Ginny's.  Patty accepted Marco with his painful past, the present him with weaknesses as he is being swayed by his recollections with Ginny, his struggles and the fact that they are still on their way to being successful.  She believes in him and fully supports him in pursuing his passion.  She trusts him completely without fear.  She was consistently calm, patient and understanding. Whether they fail or succeed, Patty is sure to stick with Marco. 

      On the other hand, Ginny is focused only on herself.  All she cared about is fixing her regrets and living in her own dream.  She didn't even bother to understand what Ginny felt when she abandoned him.  She couldn't accept that he now has issues with trust because of what she did.  And, since she has left him before, there is no assurance that she won't be scared in case he becomes unsuccessful and leave him again. 

2.  Nothing is Constant so We Have to Move On.

      Everything changes especially people.  We all have to move on whether towards the same direction or not.  Time, experience and many other factors in life make people change.  The experience of being abandoned by Ginny changed Marco in a way that he now values trust more than sparks and chemistry.  This is a change Ginny had to accept as she moves on.

3. Life is How We See It.

     We are the ones who give things meaning.  Everything is subject to our own interpretation.  For Marco, their second encounter is for closure.  While, Ginny led herself to believe that it is for a second chance.  Ginny made herself stuck with the shadow of the past.  In reality, they've changed.  And, the past which was so magical and beautiful for her has long vanished.

     Moreover, you cannot measure the success or progress of one's life with just one aspect.  Ginny prioritized financial security over love only to realize later on that she wants love too.  From the romantics perspective, Ginny is pitiful.  On the other hand, those who value career progression will envy her Barcelona degree.  On the other hand, Marco valued love and relationship.  He has already established a strong foundation with Patty who supports him as they both go along their journey to success. 

4.  Even If You're a Handsome Hunk, You Can Be Dumped, Abandoned or Worse Cheated if You Can't Take Care of Your Lady.

     Ladies want a good provider so you guys have to work hard and be man enough to take care of your lady just like the hardworking future Marco.  Otherwise, face the same painful fate as the past Marco. 

5. You May Only Have One Chance So Make the Best Out of It.

    Although we always wish for a second chance, life may only grant us one chance so we have to make the best out of it.  Whether fair or not, that is how life goes.

6. There's a Thin Line Between Love and Hate. 

     It is a scientific fact that hate may be a defense mechanism we adopt to prevent us from falling in love.  But as it turns out, love may blossom uncontrollably and the hate defense mechanism may just be a dilatory tactic.

7. Life is NOT a Bed of Roses.

   Life is not a bed of roses or a fairy tale with happy endings.  Life is an endless twist of fate with unexpected struggles and obstacles.

8. There are Many Ways to Love.

     Love isn't always the romantic (Eros) kind.  There's Storge (affection), Philia (friendship), Agape (unconditional love) and maybe those which can't be defined in words that don't result to a romantic relationship.  We can't unlove so there's no point denying it.  Moreover, love alone does not make or break a relationship.

9. Your Success is Not Dictated by Your Course.

     Your course doesn't define which profession you should pursue.  Have the courage to follow your passion and success will follow.  Marco's big shift from being a history professor to a chef may seem ridiculous but he followed his passion which made him work harder towards his success.

10. Anyone Can Succeed As Long As You Work Hard For It.

     Marco may seem hopeless at first which is why Ginny left him.  But, lo and behold, with hard work and determination, he has proven himself otherwise to Ginny's regret.

11. A Slow-burn and Secured Love Can Surpass the Great Big Magical Love.

    Regardless of how the relationship began, what is important is establishing a good foundation with trust, respect, acceptance, understanding and all other necessities that complete a relationship.

12. As One Door Closes, Another Door Opens. 

   As long as you're alive, it's not over.  Life goes on so deal with what comes along.  Marco thought it was over when Ginny left.  But, he was able to change into a better person with a fresh start in terms of his career and relationship.  Ginny is also rewarded the chance of a fresh start after a proper closure with Marco.

Thor The Dark World: Should You Watch It in 3D? (My Movie Review)

After watching the first movie Thor in full 3D in awesome effects, I had much expectation for this sequel. 

The story continues after the first movie Thor and The Avengers.  The plot is more interesting this time.  It has its humor, action and a little bit of romance and hunk body teasing in it too.  Although there is a new  villain (Malekith played by Christopher Eccleston), I still like the interaction between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). 

As expected, Stan Lee cameo's as a London bus driver.  There is also a post-credit scene that hints that there will be another sequel!  That got me excited.  XD

But, I was very disappointed with the 3D effects of this movie.  I think this is the worst in terms of 3D, I have ever encountered in the big screen.  I guess it's because this was converted to 3D only post production...

Watch Thor: The Dark World

Overall, it is a must watch!  You'll surely enjoy it.  But, I'd advise not to watch it in 3D.

Man of Steel: Superman Movie Review

Everyone has a huge expectation for Man of Steel.  I'm sure its one of the must watch movies for 2013 for many.   I've watched every Superman in my lifetime and surely I wouldn't miss this. 

Henry Cavill casts as Clark Kent a.k.a Kal El a.k.a Superman.   In a new rubber-like suit with darker tone that fits like a body glove, his bulk and muscular body is exposed in every detail.  Compared to the previous casts, he looked more rough, rugged and manly which appealed more to the female audience.

Other casts were well-played too.  But, I never imagined Lois Lane would be starred by Amy Adams.  I somehow felt that there are better others would could have soothed the role more.

The story begins in Planet Krypton, his plant of origin, and revolves around it till the very end.  Thus, the movie was highly imaginative and boosted by computer graphics just as the latest alien science fiction movies are.  Although there is a delineation from the comics, I enjoyed the character development in the movie.  It gave a background on his powers, beliefs and values.  I find this Superman more emotional than the rest.  With Zack Snyder as director and Christopher Nolan and David Goyer as writers, I had high hopes that the plot would be deep as the Dark Knight.  Well, it did reveal more about Superman but not enough to make the entire movie interesting. 

 The movie had lots of action... pushing and punching here and there with massive destruction and explosions.  I know it sounds exciting but it gets to a point when you feel like its been dragging too long.  And, then it ends simply just like that which will leave you disappointed. 

Overall, Man of Steel is just another Superman movie that failed to surpass its predecessors despite its technological advantage for sounds and effects.  But, its still a must watch movie since its a "Superman" movie. 

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G.I. Joe Retaliation: My Movie Review

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is a nice continuation from the first movie G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra with the introduction of a new set of Joes.  But, classic favorites Snake Eyes and his sword brother Storm Shadow is still in the picture.

The movie filled with action from start to finish.  I enjoyed the engaging fire power, martial arts and fighting combat.

The casts were well played but there were minor character differences.  Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock was close to his character although he wasn't black.  Jinx played by Elodie Yung didn't appear to be Japanese.  General Colton casted by Bruce Willis was alright I guess except for the lack of hair.  On the bright side, Snake Eyes mask looks cooler here.  And, wouldn't it be fun if Cobra Commander still had his hissy voice?  Firefly by Ray Stevenson was well played. 

Overall, I'd say it's a must watch.  I wonder how the 3D turned out though since I only watched this on 2D.  With all the Hasbro credits, I bet this film is an effective campaign for them. 

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The Watch (Movie Review)

The Watch is first shown in the US last July but its only showing on theaters here in Manila just now.  With four known funny actors: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade, you'd think this movie will be the bomb for laughter right?

The movie had an out of this world in a weird way of a plot.  Logic will not help you with this movie except that it will hinder you from enjoying the expected humor in the movie.  There were funny moments but nothing that you could not have foreseen given the easily laid out circumstance.

Ben Stiller has his usual role of being a nerd and by the book character.  Vince Vaughn also does the same stint by being cool guy.  Jonah Hill is as expected a mama's boy trying to be bad boy.  And, Richard Ayoade has his accent and weird-geeky persona.

Overall, watch this movie only if you're into simple jokes and have a time for a feel good movie where you could spare a few laughs without minding the plot.

Watch The Watch!!!

Bourne Legacy Movie Review

Being a resident since birth in Manila, Philippines, we couldn't let the Bourne Legacy Movie pass.  This is a sequel to the Bourne Trilogy series but with a new main cast.  Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross takes the limelight as Jason Bourne previously played by Matt Damon was merely mentioned in the movie.

Was it as good as the rest?  Definitely.  Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz as Dr. Marta Shearing did a great job! Of course, you can't expect it to be the same as Matt Damon because he has his own way.   I will be watching movies from Jeremy Renner more in the future.

The action scenes especially the one in Manila is consistent with the style of the Bourne Trilogy. The effects and sounds were excellent.  The setting of Manila is so realistically reproduced.  It showed the characteristics of the Filipino.  Well, except for one part.   There's a scene where a Filipina accuses Dr. Marta Shearing of being a thief.  In realty, if a Filipino will find a foreigner stranger in their home, they will welcome them with excitement and hospitality.

The movie is more focused on the revealing more about the government program rather than the action.  There isn't much going on except for the short chase with a few gun shots.  The ending makes you want to watch the next movie.

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Brave: Movie Review in 3D

Pixar's latest creation or should I say Disney's creation is soon to hit the movie theaters and surely enough after seeing its wonderful trailers you'll most likely be anticipating it.




"Brave" is about young Princess Merida who feels that her freedom/life is being taken away by her mother, sounds familiar?  This plot has been retold more than several times, a rebellious kid who tries to make their own path then finds themselves in a predicament in which they'll realize that their parents/elders aren't really trying to make their lives miserable but are just there to give them some guidance.

The movie's target audience will definitely get affected by the moral of the story especially since most teenagers nowadays feels like this.

The animation and graphic is pretty good although I didn't feel that 3D was necessary for the film.  The music is pretty good.

Oh and don't walk out on the post-credits.  It's just a good closing but nothing essential if you did.

Conclusion:
It was a good movie, even with a mediocre plot the feeling and emotional problem will forever be seen in lot of adolescent teens and hopefully they'll soon realize the answer before its too late.

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My interpretation on what being BRAVE meant (by Stacy)
A few days ago when we watched this movie, we were both wondering why it was entitled BRAVE.  Today, I had a talk with my mother and I was reminded of my rebellious teenage years.  I finally understood it.  Being BRAVE isn't about being good with weapons and fighting skills... It's about realizing and accepting our mistakes and swallowing our pride before the damage becomes irreparable.  It takes a lot of BRAVERY to do that.  It is easier to break bonds that to fix it because its easy for pride to comes in the way.  Thus in the movie Merida was presented with an issue that we all struggle in our daily lives... "Mend the bond hurt by pride".

Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

There was a lot of expectation with the "The Dark Knight Rises" and it did not disappoint.  It is in-depth and lengthy with a brilliant plot.  Director Christoper Nolan has done a great job indeed.  

Christian Bale taking the leading role as Bruce Wayne as good as it has always been.  Every cast was spectacular in their role especially Anne Hathaway who played as Selina.  

The plot brings reference to the prior movies "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight".  Somehow it related more on the first movie though.  Nevertheless, I was on the edge of my sit as the story unfolds.

I'd say the story, casting and effects was superb in this one and it is certainly a must watch!  It also gave a hint on the next sequel.  =D

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Movie Review: Rock of Ages

One of the movie we have been waiting for is Rock of Ages.  It's a movie jam packed with our favorite stars like Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones and more placed in a musical setup.

From the start, the show begins with music and it continued until the very end.  Loving the song of the 80's, I can't help but go along with all the music and emotions portrayed.  The movie isn't purely musical as they is also a good humor in it.  The plot may not be deep but it really brings one back to the past.

All the stars played their roles well especially Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx.  His charisma never fails.  The tandem of Julianne Hough as Sherrie Christian and Diego Boneta as Drew Boley was awesome too.

Overall, Rock of Ages is a must watch!  It's an entertaining show where people can feel nostalgic as they listen to the music of the 80's.  It's also a great way for the youth to recognize the music of the past.  It's the type of movie I see myself enjoying despite watching over and over again.  To those who have young children, there are a bit of lustful scenes to portray the era of rock n roll and sex so parental guidance is needed.

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Movie Review: Snow White and the Huntsman

With a known producer Joe Roth (Alice in Wonderland) and Sam Mercer (Sixth Sense) plus a great cast and marketing, I'm sure a lot of audience have put Snow White and the Huntsman in their must watch list.  Is it?  We were so glad to watch it in an advance screening courtesy of Star World Philippines, Surf, STI, Oishi and Goldilocks.  

The story sets in medieval times where witches, trolls, fairies and kings existed.  The plot is basically the infamous fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves with an added twist such as a handsome and hunk huntsman casted by Chris Hemsworth, mixture of familiar sound effects (see if you can recognize some) and more.  Yet I find the mix bag insufficient to sustain my full attention.  I found some of the scenes too dragging and boring.  The movie begins in a narration and in the end becomes an action film similar to Joan of Arc but in short length.

Ravenna starred by Charlize Theron and Finn casted by Sam Spruell were great!  The roles were played well as the duo drew the attention and emotions of the audience.  The huntsman played a weird role in the movie.  Up until the end, I'm still wondering what he was there for.  But, Chris Hemsworth played well especially in the action scenes.  Kristen Stewart as Snow White failed to prove herself as the fairest of the all throughout the movie.

Overall, the movie is watchable but my expectation were clearly not met.  This is just another movie.

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Movie Review: Man In Black III in 3D

Ten years after the sequel, Men in Black is back for its third movie.  As a science fiction we've seen aliens and cool weapons in before so Man in Black III adds time travelling in the plot to make it more exciting.  Did it work?

Man in Black III still has the action, humor and suspense.  I love how they made the plot work and it related to the previous Men in Black movies.  It had the right amount of action.  It had less humor but its still good.

The movie unravels more of both Agent J played excellently by Will Smith and Agent K.  Although I still think that the Smith and Jones pairing is the best, Young Agent K starred by Josh Brolin portrayed an interesting character too.

As for the 3D, it was totally unnecessary for the movie.  I felt like watching I was watching it in 2D although it was in 3D for the whole duration of the movie.  It didn't affect the sensation of watching it.

Bottomline, I suggest you watch this movie.  It's worth the watch especially if you've missed the Men in Black in action.  But if you want to save some bucks, better go with just 2D.

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Movie Review: Dark Shadows

The combo of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp makes Dark Shadows a movie everyone would want to watch even to those who have not watched the original TV series like myself.

Dark Shadows begins in a mellow set up and turns comical as soon as Barnabas Collins played by Johnny Depp shows up.  In fact, I find the genre of this movie quite confusing.  Only Barnabas Collins seems to bring out humor in the entire movie.  While other characters would depict a creepy yet shallow personality.

There were many scenes which I find unnecessary and there are some unexplained and puzzling parts too.  I also found it weird that the scene would be comical and then suddenly turn into something disturbing.  But overall, the performance by Johnny Depp and Eva Green who stars as Angelique Bouchard were able to uplift the enjoyment of the movie still despite the faulty plot.  It's still brings a bundle of joy to the viewers and it is quite entertaining to watch.

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Movie Review: Marvel's The Avengers

We've been waiting for Marvel's The Avengers since last year after watching Thor (see previous entry).   I'm glad all the hype and anticipation was rewarded.

Marvel's The Avengers is jam-packed with action from start to finish.  The effects were awesome.  However, it is expected that not all the members gained the same amount of limelight just the same as in the comics.  The so called trinity of Ironman by Robert Downey Jr., Captain America by Cris Evans and Thor by Chris Hemsworth gained more focus in the movie.  It was the right move because they are the crowd favorites.  Hawk Eye by Jeremy Renner and Black Widow by Scarlett Johansson also made a great debut.  The Hulk's new actor Mark Ruffalo gave the character a bit more character.  The movie also did not fail to make us laugh.  The jokes were surprisingly witty and unexpected.

The Marvel tradition continues as there is again an appearance by Stanley Chi near the end of the movie.  I wouldn't exactly call the teaser after-credits this time because it was shown in the middle the the credits.  But, I certainly look forward to the next movie!

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Movie Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is reported to be one of the most anticipated movie for the year 2012.  It is based on a novel written by Suzanne Collins.  The story is based on the perspective of Katniss Everdeen starred by Jennifer Lawrence.

Critics have given the movie a high credit rating.  But, I was really disappointed by my high expectations.
I can't dismiss the similarity of the plot with the world famous Japanese Film "Battle Royale" released back in 2000.  But, contrary to Battle Royale, the movie is leaning towards the female audiences.  Yes, you'd hear the girls' oohs and ahhhs across the movie theatre as the two main casts Katniss and Peeta Mallark played by Josh Hutcherson display their affections with each other.  Therefore, the blood, gore and violence that Battle Royale is known for is disposed off as the story is filled with light drama and emotional scenes.  I was actually surprised that despite the plot setting,  there's not much action and suspense in the movie.  The movie also did not focus on the political and satirical views shown in the book.

The casts did well in playing their roles.  But, the portrayal of Peeta Mallark could have been improved.  The production and effects of the movie was awesome.  However, despite the length of the movie, I still feel that the movie lacks depth which is why I'd say it is only good and not as great as everyone has claimed it to be.

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Movie Review : Dr. Seuss The Lorax Imax 3D

Dr. Seuss "The Lorax" movie starred by Danny DeVito, Zac Efron and Taylor Swift is the 2nd movie adaption of the popular book created by Theodor Seuss Geisel. 

The undeniable kid friendly interpretation of  the creators of Despicable Me will definitely make everyone understand what's happening to our world and how we're just taking things we have right now for granted especially the kids nowadays. The Imax 3D version isn't a must but still is a nice bonus if you love watching 3D then you'll enjoy this since the entire movie is in 3D.

The movie itself was great.  It made a lot of the audiences emotional even me (Good things there's 3D glasses), it delivered some of the message Dr. Seuss wanted to show. The sad part about it was the fact that the story was a little bit off from the actual book.  If they named this movie differently, it would've been better. But,  unfortunately they didn't.






On an unbiased point of view, the movie is worth watching. The character's are witty, the songs were great and there's a moral to the story. Now if you're a Dr. Seuss lover, this movie might be a little bit offensive since they altered a lot of things from the book so this might not be to your liking.  But, I still say give it a try and appreciate it as it is.

P.S. The weird part about the movie was the fact that everyone expected Zac Efron and Taylor Swift to sing together but the odd thing was they were the two who didn't sing at all.

Watch The Lorax Now!