How G.I. Joe: Retaliation retaliated itself

            Goodbye Channing and Hello Dwayne Johnson! That is how the new installment of the G.I. Joe series greeted the viewers…little did we know that this greeting hardly makes a good first impression. There are two main reasons why The Rock’s “magic” did not quite work this time: First, because it’s not Channing. Second, because it simply did not.

            But kidding aside, I found the film commonplace and somewhat mediocre especially when compared to its prequel, G.I. Joe: Rise Of The Cobra, since I became a fan of it. One can pinpoint which areas had the movie retaliating itself.

            A good film should found itself in a plot that would basically serve as the backbone of its entirety. The film, unfortunately, did not establish itself in a good one rather in a cliche. It revolves on the G.I. Joe operation being closed given the circumstances and the characters trying to settle loose ends.

            Men love G.I. Joe for its action stunts and the chaos happening in front of them while women love the actors sweating with their bulging muscles. To make the long story short, everyone loves action but where did the film go wrong? It had guns, explosions, and every possible tool but it lacked suspense. The film was not able to heighten the thrill because it wanted to show everything at once leaving the audience wanting more, but not in a good way.

            Even if the movie did not pass my expectations in many levels, I would still recommend others to watch it if they’re into another action-packed film.

            Although Channing Tatum’s appearance is short-lived other actors made up for his absence. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was subtle and made a good lead for the film. But the most-anticipated part was Bruce Willis’.

            As I stated earlier, the film focused in giving a greater cinematic film with all the effects used although not as startling. The motion picture unquestionably put effort in the visuals which created few breathtaking scenes.

            In a nutshell, the film was not THAT bad but it wasn’t impressive enough either. It gives you that feeling that something is missing or lacking and you want to watch it again just to make sure you feel right. Anyway, you could check it out yourself in cinemas and tell me what you think. J

Warm Bodies: A Witty Zombie-Human Love Affair

           

          

             Have you ever heard of the phrase, “There’s life after death.”? Apparently it’s true or that’s how the film Warm Bodies put it. Everyone’s past the vampire-human-werewolf love affair because that’s so mainstream. As we’re nearing the apocalyptic era, the spotlight’s on zombies now. Thus, it’s the perfect time for a new take on the whole zombie thing.

            

            Others would still say that the zombie theme has been used and every possible twists has been done over and over and over again. But fear not for the death of the zombie genre because Jonathan Levine (The Wackness, 50/50) prepared a romance-comedy film based on the debut novel of Isaac Marion.

            

            Some say it’s another Twilight film. Some say it’s Twilight done better. Although they have a different set of characters they basically have the same star-crossed lovers, Rome and Juliet feel. As to the film being better than Twilight I would say it is. But setting the comparisons aside here’s what I have to say about the film.

            

              Well-plotted is the very term I would use to describe the film. I like how it did not focus much on how R, the main character, became a zombie and how the world reached its destruction. It rather focused on the development of the love story between the zombie and human and tried its best to make it believable. It’s a bit cheesy as well since a zombie who was looking for brains found the heart of a girl and made his dead heart beat once more. Unlike other zombie films, Warm Bodies present zombies still having a part of their humanity inside them and that it only waits to be triggered. That is the essence of the film- the dead can be brought to life through affection and yes, love. It may sound cliché but the story makes you want to sit in front of the big screen and see how the story would end. Another big factor that made the film stick to one’s brain is its sense of humor. All the punch lines are executed perfectly and even the simple acts of the characters (like the groaning/murmuring of conversing zombies) will crack you up. Plus the narration of R, in his perspective, is definitely humorous as well.

            

           The film, although comprising of only a few characters, was made big by the actors. Nicholas Hoult (X Men: First Class) is laudable for his portrayal of the zombie R. The funny thing is that he only has few lines (because he doesn’t talk that much) but I found his acting superb. It’s as if he really is a zombie who’s got more brains than the usual zombie. He may still be that hunchbacked scuffling groaning zombie but he’s the zombie who, at back of his head, knows that there’s something more beyond their abode in the airport. Teresa Palmer as Julie, on the other hand, somehow balances the affair. She may seem to be the typical damsel in distress but the she proves to be more than that. She played her role well but cannot be equated to Hoult’s. The subcharacters include Rob Corddry who plays another zombie character named M who had most of the comic lines in the film. Analeigh Tipton as Nora, the best friend of Julie, also stars in the film. And of course John Malkovich as the overbearing father of Julie and the leader of the survivors who would put a bullet straight to the head of any zombie that would come his way. The Bonies also appear in the picture. These are the zombies in the final stage of “zombification” who would haunt both living and the dead.

           

             Adding to the beauty of the film is its cinematography. The transition of the scenes is reflected in the film through its color palette that gives emphasis to the dull and dead scenes while the sceneries vibrantly contrast them. As the movie develops and R begins to be “undead”, the atmosphere of the film also brightens. The songs used are also well-chosen. R has this amazing collection of hit soundtracks ranging from Guns N’ Roses to Feist to The National which are fitting for every scene. The graphics used for the Bonies remind me of I Am Legend but less terrifying and startling with wee bit of gore.

            

               In totality, I’d say that the film is a simple one but it pulled off what it wanted to present. They did not go overboard with the plot and the effects, just enough to make one believe of the possibility that the dead can be brought to life with the power of love and a little bit of funny.

               Now say hi to R... Just R... :)

Les Misérables: A Dream That Will Never Die

         

         I was thinking on how to start this film review but it seems that finding the right words is too hard and it’s most probably because of two things. First, words aren’t enough to describe it since almost everything in Les Mis is sung and second, I’m still at AWE with it that I’m careful on what to put in this post.

            

            Les Misérables is that film that you would like to see not merely for leisure’s sake but for something much deeper than that. It is that film where you would thank the author, Victor Hugo, for such a magnificent story. It’s that film that you could consider worthy of your penny. And it is definitely that film where you could sing, cry, and laugh all at the same time.

           

            Ever since I watched the 1998 version during my high school days the film never got out of my head. You may consider that an exaggeration but that’s how it is. That is why when I first heard that it will be revived with the direction of Tom Hooper, I was, by all odds, excited. What’s more exciting is that it’s adapted from the musical play so expect the characters to sing from finish to end. It’s not even to be compared to the first version since that was based from the novel.

What’s more exciting is that it’s adapted from the musical play so expect the characters to sing from finish to end.

            

           Now, to really begin with the review. Who doesn’t know the story of Jean Valjean and his road to redemption? The film, as stated earlier, is based from Victor Hugo’s masterpiece. It is a story that shows the life during the French Revolution. The film, on the other hand, perfectly captured that era from the costumes to cinematography and everything in between. Every single scene was shot just right, not overdid but also not mediocre. The overall filming was spectacular where you can feel that you were part of that era. The set is reminiscent and not an eyesore. Each costume and makeup brings out the character very well.

            

        Who would forget songs such as “I Dreamed A Dream” or “On My Own”? Well, not me! When I was younger I would sing these songs for days. While I was watching this film, I relived my childhood. Anyway, the thing about the film is that you could basically sing to every song or when you’re in the cinemas perhaps sing it in your head. Every song literally and figuratively tells a story.

Who would forget songs such as “I Dreamed A Dream” or “On My Own”?

          

           Of course, some revisions have been made from the 1998 version which came dramatic. Although that’s not something terrible, another thing I liked about this new version is that it has a comic relief (just like the play). The characters are utterly MISERABLE but because of the funniness of some scenes you would not help but laugh.

         

           Lastly, the actors are WELL-PICKED. I could’ve not chosen another set of actors to play the characters. Hugh Jackman playing Jean Valjean could make him bag the Oscar award for Best Actor. No offense meant, but I think he even made it past Liam Neeson. Anne Hathaway as Fantine was remarkable. Those famous lines from I Dreamed A Dream being sung by her makes the song and everything a lot more emotional. Russell Crowe, who played Javert, was quite promising and his voice was an eargasm. I was looking out for his scenes. J Amanda Seyfried as Cosette is another must-watch. Know for her great singing prowess from Mama Mia she steps up in this film. Helena Bonham Carter is no doubt is in her element as Madame Thenardier. Sacha Baron Cohen (who is popularly known as Borat) was also fun to watch as Thenardier. Eddie Redmayne, who played Marius also stood up to the expectations of the crowd. But the greatest surprise was Samantha Bark who played Eponine as well in the play. She is someone to watch out for (I cried when she sang On My Own). The child actor, Isabelle Allen, who played young Cosette was also remarkable! Plus, the priest who helped Jean Valjean in the beginning was actually the one who played Jean Valjean in The Dream Cast in Concert a.k.a Les Misérables in Concert. Anyway, every single actor played their roles well. Their singing abilities is something that shouldn’t be questioned.

            

           The only thing that I hate about the film is that it was too short. L I secretly hoped that they could prolong the events so I could enjoy their voices. But to sum it all, I don’t have anything to complain about the film.

         

         The story has become part of my life a long time ago and I’m sure this film would too. You’d get three things from the film: an education, a song and a tale. You will be thought of the French lives during those days. You will carry the songs forever. And you will tell the eternal tale of Jean Valjean who sought for redemption.

        

           Now if you’re planning to watch in theaters, make sure you bring your shades with you…so nobody would notice how much the film made you such a crybaby and how it struck you deeply in the heart. 

Life Of Pi: One Great Life Story

"Doubt is useful, it keeps faith a living thing."

            

            If you are seeking God and you feel like He’s out of reach, maybe you’re looking at the wrong places and maybe you have to watch Life of Pi.

           

            What happens when an award-winning novel is brought to the big screen by an award-winning director? The answer- Life of Pi. No wonder it got 11 nominations in the Oscars.The film is adapted from the Booker Prize-winning novel of Yann Martel that carries the same title and is directed by no less than the great Ang Lee himself.

            

            Ang Lee, who has directed films from Sense and Sensibility to Brokeback Mountain, has proven that a novel that seems unfilmable can be filmable. The movie is visually stunning with all the graphics and CGI. Cinematography wise I’ll give it a perfect 10. The story can be considered inspirational and the heartfelt performance of Suraj Sharma stirs a whole lot of different emotions.

            

           Let me give you a short peek of what the film is about. A young Canadian writer goes to an Indian émigré in search of a good story that would make him believe that there’s a God. And so the story kicks off and Pi shares his adventure to the young writer.

            

            As a kid, Pi had an urge to find God. So in his younger years he was a Hindu, Christian and a Muslim. His father, who believes in reason or science, encourages him to let go of religion and basically everything he believes in but he still believed anyway. He believed that there is a God maybe in the form of Vishnu or Christ or Allah.

         

        In his teenage years, he and his family had to sell their zoo animals and migrate to Canada. Once aboard the Japanese ship, Pi knew that he had to let go of everything that he had in India including the girl he liked. Along the way they experienced a thunderstorm and needless to say experienced a shipwreck. All but Pi, Richard Parker (the tiger), an Orangutan, a Zebra and a Hyena was buried into the deep. The story revolves on these characters and their struggle to survive until only Pi and Richard Parker was left and the story goes deeper. Lost at sea, Pi finds ways on how he can manage to live without getting eaten by the ravenous tiger and if he can tame it at all.

            

           The young Pi did a wonderful job of his own. How hard is it to act as if there’s really a tiger in front of you? Real hard I’d say but Saruj Sharma pulled it off. Another thing I like about the film is that my eyes never get tired. With all the colors and visual effects, the film really works wonders in 3D. While the setting is at the middle of nowhere in the ocean, you would get to feed your eyes with an amazing set of creatures that they encountered all throughout the film. The film is also wonderfully scored and as I said earlier the cinematography is beyond astounding.

            

          Now to the what-I-don’t-like part. The story was poorly paced and I felt it dragged me throughout the film trying to get to the climax. I can’t help but be reminded of Tom Hanks in Castaway and Robin Crusoe since they somehow had the same experience.  The film has that tendency to put aside its real purpose and that is to show God. You’ll realize it for a minute and forget it the next. The film also goes from awe-something to nothing like for instance they would just be flooded by another storm again and something like that.

            

              In the end, I find Life of Pi most interesting not only for its wondrous spectacle but also for its life story that holds true for everyone. It shows how God proves himself and can change someone even at the most unexpected times. The story defies reality but is definitely something to embrace and it is up to us if we believe or not Pi’s story and his encounter in search of God.

Everything is Connected

 “Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb we are bound to others. Past and present. And by each crime and every kindness we birth our future.” 

            Cloud Atlas at last! This is a film worthy, not just for Oscar nominations but awards as well. Although not everyone may appreciate it, I’m sure every moviegoer would like to know what the film is all about. And to those complaining how movies these days lack imagination and creativity here’s why you should give this movie a try.  Action, romance (even bromance), comedy, sci-fi, adventure all rolled into one!

            David Mitchell’s novel, which bears the same title as the film’s, was finally brought to life by the Wachowski siblings (The Matrix) and Tykwer (Run Lola Run).  The book which was thought to be unfilmable turned out to be an over-the-top motion picture. 

   

          As the film revolves in six different epochs, the film ambitiously tried to depict what each era would like to show. From costume, makeup, prosthetics and backdrops, I would say the movie went overboard and accomplished what they would like to convey. 

            We’ve all seen movies that involve the past, present and future and even reincarnations, but we’ve not seen a movie that involves six different eras and so twisted a plot until Cloud Atlas. The movie begins with the voyage of a certain lawyer named Ewing (Jim Sturgess) on the Pacific on the 1800s where he writes a journal about his adventures. In the 1930s, this journal was read by Frobisher (Ben Wishaw), a homosexual composer who sends letters to his lover. These letters are read in the 1970s, as his lover becomes a nuclear scientist with a deep and deadly secret and so on and so forth. The movie basically establishes that everyone is connected in one way or the other.

            Although the film is divided into different parts, unlike the book (where one story is finished before going to the next), the editing of the film was effective but in some way disorienting. It was baffling in a way that you had to take time to think what era you are on and what’s going on in the scene if it were not for the narrations-which seemed too much for me. They could’ve lessened the narrations and focused on building the scenes more efficiently.

            One more thing I noticed is that they showed how everyone was connected and quite focused on that aspect on the whole film that it fell short in bringing and prolonging the thrill and suspense.

       

              The cast, which includes Tom Hanks, Jim Broadbent, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, and Ben Wishaw, had to play multiple roles in the film. What makes it more intriguing is that the actors played their characters well and was covered with loads of makeup that you don’t realize that it’s them until the credits are shown in the end. You would either get surprised or frustrated that you didn’t notice them in the film. The movie also presents inspiring characters such as Tom Hank’s who, from a greedy killer, turned into a selfless hero as the story evolves. As to the visual effects, knowing the Wachowski’s, it definitely displayed bravura.

            

           Cloud Atlas is a film that presents how the past, present and future is wonderfully weaved. A film that explores the possibility of life and love, shared in different eras with people from different walks of life- breaking the boundaries of time and space.

        

                  I’ll give the film an 8.5 out of 10.