Novels-turned-Movies

Novels-turned-movies of  vintage and new x generation, both The Perks Of Being A Wallflower and On The Road  will surely give honor to the writers of its respective novel adaptations.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower, written during the 1990's by an american novelist Stephen Chbosky when Kurt Cobain was still alive and recording mix tapes was still the best gift to give. The whole story was generally a compilation of letters addressed to an unknown stranger by a kid named Charle, who narrated his experiences as a freshman in their school and his struggle to fit in the society through drugs, booze, and premarital sex. I already finished reading the whole novel to clearly understand the movie when it is released in public theaters (Hopefully). I cannot understand why America banned school libraries to have a copy for their students to read.

I'm hardly starting to read the first few pages of the novel On The Road. It seems that I couldn't find time to read it entirely even though I own my time now. Nevertheless I'm still looking forward to see the film.   

Movies Coming Soon

The year of the so-called doomsday, 2012, not only delivers worries about apocalyptic predictions and public catastrophes, but also brings fresh and artsy action/thriller movies. I have scribbled some of these movies of their genres on my A-list to personally see them however, new movies keep on releasing and continually added on my list. I guess it would be impossible to watch them myself. A lot of beautiful movies, but so little time. 

Here is a list of action/thriller movies I've been eyeing to see. Hope you'll enjoy it as well. :)

1.The Bourne Legacy

The reason why I'm currently waiting for this movie to be released is that some scenes were actually taken in the Philippines. I hope it will bring pride to my country when the whole world sees it.

"The narrative architect behind the Bourne film series, Tony Gilroy, takes the helm in the next chapter of the hugely popular espionage franchise that has earned almost $1 billion at the global box office: The Bourne Legacy. The writer/director expands the Bourne universe created by Robert Ludlum with an original story that introduces us to a new hero (Jeremy Renner) whose life-or-death stakes have been triggered by the events of the first three films. For The Bourne Legacy, Renner joins fellow series newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac, while franchise veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn reprise their roles". 

2. The Imposter 

A new psychological thriller of its own kind, The Imposter is said to have an eerie, untoward after-feeling once you see it.

"Nicholas was 13 the day he disappeared (June 13, 1994). He would have been 16 and 8 months when he was reported found in Spain (October 7, 1997)... In 1994 a 13-year-old boy disappears without a trace from San Antonio, Texas. Three and a half years later he is found alive, thousands of miles away in a village in southern Spain with a story of kidnap and torture. His family is overjoyed to bring him home. But all is not quite as it seems. The boy bears many of the same distinguishing marks he always had, but why does he now have a strange accent? Why does he look so different? And why doesn't the family seem to notice these glaring inconsistencies? It's only when an investigator starts asking questions that this strange tale takes an even stranger turn".

3.Looper

I was shocked to see the full transformation of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's facial features from a wimpy gentleman to a sleek and manly young version of Bruce Willis. Looper, a postmodern sci-fi action film of time travelling, will soon make the audience in awe of its radical premise.

"In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented - but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a "looper" - a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) - is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good... until the day the mob decides to "close the loop," sending back Joe's future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination".

Movie Infos courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

Let me hear from you guys. What movies are you eyeing this year?

Rainy Tuesday

The dominating monsoons have hit the Philippines for a couple of times this year. We Filipinos become accustomed with similar scenes like inundated highways and streets, mass blackouts, landfalls, alerting sirens for evacuation and annoying traffic jams. Most people would even see it as a normal weather despite the heavy rain showers and killing winds.  

Consequently, these phenomena have made us prepared all the time. To prevent problems to arise, canned goods and noodles must be packed for future consumption, medical kits and safe drinking water should be secured, and a bunch of fun-filled movies to relax with. There is nothing to worry unless everyone stays inside of the house seated on the cozy couch with hot buttered popcorn enjoying the movies on this list.

I recommend this list of movies to everyone staying in their flats while waiting for the rain to stop. Here it goes:

1.HARRY POTTER FILMS 1-8

This long epic story of fantasy and magic will kill your time literally. Filling the house with flying pixies and brewing potions would be a better idea right? Start your magical journey now.

2. THE LORD OF THE RINGS FILM TRILOGY  

An original novel of J.R.R Tolkein adapted in films by the director Peter Jacksons, The Lord of the Rings offers a surreal world of war and drama for the family. My Precious!

3. STARWARS SEQUEL AND PREQUEL

Starwars is an epic sci-fi film by George Lucas. It became a big hit in theaters for years until now and some fans have adopted the film into their lives. Some even made parodies and fun products for this film canon. These set of movies will reveal out the force in you. 

Any movie/s to add to the existing list? Leave a comment :)

The Incredible Shrinking Man(1957)

Scott Carey: I looked up, as if somehow I would grasp the heavens. The universe, worlds beyond number, God's silver tapestry spread across the night. And in that moment, I knew the answer to the riddle of the infinite. I had thought in terms of man's own limited dimension. I had presumed upon nature. That existence begins and ends in man's conception, not nature's. And I felt my body dwindling, melting, becoming nothing. My fears melted away. And in their place came acceptance. All this vast majesty of creation, it had to mean something. And then I meant something, too. Yes, smaller than the smallest, I meant something, too. To God, there is no zero. I still exist! 

One confession that I need to make is that I fond watching old movies. Movies that are older than me or anyone else. These preserved movies need to regain their shine because they shared a crucial contribution to the development of our films nowadays. 

As one of the best science fiction film of all time, The Incredible Shrinking Man has a fresh tomatometer of 88% and an average rating of 7.6/10 in rottentomatoes.com. I was stunned by the special effects in general. I expected it to be crappy, but I was proved wrong. The miniature effect that the movie used was rendered perfectly in black and white. Personally, it is the most realistic old sci-fi movie I have seen so far. Also, the script was profoundly written with thought-provoking lines to create a serious tone of the whole concept. 

The fuss started when Scott Carey (Grant Williams), married to a beautiful and sensitive wife Louise (Randy Stuart), was exposed to a radioactive cloud when having a vacation with his wife in a yacht. As months have passed, he noticed that he's losing his height inch by inch until he became smaller than a matchstick. Struck by the events, he sought help from an expert. The scientist was surprised of what he saw and directly revealed to Scott that there is no known antidote for his condition. Becoming less and less hopeful, he accepted his fate and lived in a dollhouse. Unattended by his wife, Scott faced a heart-pounding encounter with a provoked cat and managed to escape by jumping off the basement. When his wife discovered that the dollhouse was empty and the cat was licking its paws, She apparently considered it as the end of her life with Scott. The death of Scott was mistakenly reported to the public. Once again, he fought for his survival against a taunting spider and a rapid flood. In the end, he never returned to his normal size and started a new life with his new form.

Personal rating: 7/10

Shame (2011)

Dubbed as the most provocative and compelling film of the year, Shame is a scandalous story of a pressing issue on addiction to sex. It was directed by Steve Mcqueen, one of the renowned kings of controversial films of this generation.

The subtle and explicit world of a New York bachelor, Brandon (Michael Fassbender), was presented as he battled against his strong obsession to carnal satisfaction from sex workers or any girl in the way. His mundane cycle was disturbed by the arrival of his little sister named Sissy (Carrie Mulligan) to his life. Regardless of place and time, Brandon never won over his aggression despite the fact that it was only temporary. He was out in the wild, hunting for pleasure and  chasing for inner satisfaction. As he tried to create intimate connection to a co-worker, who is now his real-time girlfriend, he was haunted by the opposed force of his addiction. In this scene, it was revealed that he didn't have long-term relationships with women, four months as the longest of all. As the darkness of his addiction gradually taking over his life, it became a problem.  Pornography and stranger sex were his escape from the taunting predicament of his past and present. He could not determine his own dilemma, until he discovered that his sister also needed attention. He felt self-abused. A prisoner of his own cell, Brandon cannot leave the pandemonium that his addiction has created. At the end of the story, Brandon still became unaware that he needed to seek professional help. 

Some of the scenes in the movie, full frontal and creative sexual encounters, were profane and disturbing. Hence, the reviews committee decided to give it a rating of NC-17, only allowed to be premiered in some adult theaters worldwide. Most of the movie critics gave it positive reviews. Well, fair enough.

The leading actor, Michael Fassbender, known as the young magneto of X-men: First Class and the military officer with fake German accent in a war film Inglorious Basterds, invested his career for the success of this movie. He shifted his interest from Hollywood mainstream films to independent works. That was a risky move.

Carrie Mulligan, driven by her beauty and acting prowess, became known for her roles in critically acclaimed films An Education and Never let me go, alongside top-dog actors Peter Sarsgaard and Andrew Garfield, respectively. Her attributes as having an innocent and angelic face never became a hindrance of her change of characters.

In conclusion, Shame offers an introspective view of one's weaknesses and shortcomings without the feeling of disgust to self. It is an eye opener to society's filth of human becoming.

World's Greatest Dad (2009)

 The month of June had already passed, but celebrating fatherhood doesn't need a specific day of the year.  Let me show my gratitude to every doting father of any age through this entry. As the saying goes, it is better late than never.

A movie of rebellion and acceptance, World's Greatest Dad, starring Robin Williams, is considered as the contemporary epitome in film of unconditional fatherly love. The story revolved around the jaded life of a single dad with his vulgar son and the attempts to save the father-son relationship once they had. As the course of events played with them, specifically the shameful accidental death of the son due to erotic asphyxiation, the father made a plan to avert his son from ostracism of schoolmates and neighbors even in death. He fabricated the whole incident by writing a suicide note allegedly created by his son before killing himself. However, sympathy preceded popularity. Ever kid in the campus thought his son was a hero, longing to be understood and loved. The father acknowledged his growing guilt as he recounted the real incident of his son's death in front of the public. He lost almost everything, his career and loved one, in exchange for a clear conscience.

I only have two points for this teenage angst-themed film.

First, the plot was carefully stitched. You cannot find a story similar to this. Despite being a low-budgeted film, it still surpassed the picky conventional taste of the viewers. Second, the movie is a reflection the social world as it is, judgmental and unpredictable.

Personal rating: 6.5/10

Movie Review: The Batman Trilogy (2005.2008.2012)

I apologize for not posting entries lately. My life turned apparently busy over the past weekend.

Christopher Nolan has done it again. I think the word WOW is an understatement of another brilliant film from the director. Enough said. The Dark Knight Rises, the last sequel of the batman trilogy, has been kicking asses these past few days on the screen. It also made a huge controversy during its first premiere in Colorado, which the movie per se is not really relative to what had happened, a shoot-out inside a cinema killing 12 innocent civilians and some injured. Probably the perpetrator was a bit excited to see the movie and was carried away by the action-filled scenes. Just trying to put it on a lighter tone.

Alright. Where do I start? I'm quite lost for words while writing this review because the trilogy didn't disappoint me. 

I actually saw the last strand of the trilogy before the other two. I didn't plan to see the movie, but I was curious for hearing positive remarks from those who have seen it already. Luckily, I made the right choice. The powerhouse cast and the eminent production team were perfectly matched for their roles. The subtle plot has given the audience a ride of emotional roller-coaster and twists-and-turns. The jaw-dropping cinematography has offered the genuine facade of a real batman movie, in this case, dark and gloomy, unparalleled to the previous flop batman redux. I said it. Perhaps, the batman "like" film adaptations were only produced to save someone's career or whatnot, but no one has succeeded expect for Christopher Nolan. He gently lured the deserved attention from the viewers to bring back the hit-bottom spotlight of the famous DC superhero. 

Moreover, the movie tried to give an in-depth take of what is really happening behind the mask of Batman, seeing the real face of Bruce Wayne. His overall predicament showed how he balanced his sorrows and guilt in hopes of rising the dark knight from a cold death. Though, at some point, he became self-centered and hopeless. Devoured by the emotional turmoil that the death of Rachel and the vexed treatment by the Gotham citizen, Bruce still became penchant to see the light, regardless of how little it was, from some good people of the city who believed in him. 

Needless to say, the actor who played the hero, Christian Bale, proved his part. He gave the Batman a face. A face of courage, invincible strength, and  honor. His dedication to his work has paid off. 

After seeing the two other sequels, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, I acclaim the acting performance of Heath Ledger, who played the role of the playful Joker. He really deserves the posthumous awards and achievements under the hood of this trilogy. Truly a legend.

P.S. I didn't like the fact that Katie Holmes turned down the role of Rachel in the second movie. Hello? It made her less cheap in terms of experience as an actress. Maybe, I was disappointed about it because I never fancied Maggie Gyllenhaal. 

I almost forgot. Anne Hathaway...Ah, nevermind.

Personal rating: 8/10

Movie Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close(2012)

Oskar Schell: Can't you even tell me if I'm on the right track?

Thomas Schell: *Shrugs his shoulders* 

Oskar: But if you don't tell me, how can i ever be right?

Thomas: Well, another way of looking at it is...how can you ever be wrong?

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Oskar Schell: But it wasn't working... because people aren't like numbers. They're more like letters... and those letters want to become stories... and dad said that stories need to be shared.

I have read a lot of different points from a series of critics for this movie. There are some(most of them really) who wrote that it was immaturely put together in sequence; and some say that the enigmatic sense of connection to the characters and how it was related to the current events have pulled it off. I honestly think that the cinematography is pretty good and oh the music is somehow..hhmm..ineffable. Sandra Bullock was even in the movie (I only felt her presence in the latter part).

Based from the adapted book with the same title written by Jonathan Safran Foer, the whole catch evolves when a child who has Aspergers Syndrome (a condition similar to autism wherein the nature of social interrelationship is impaired. However, cognitive and motor abilities remain intact.), Oskar Schell, tries to decipher the biggest unsolvable mystery according to his challenging father, Thomas Schell, which eventually turns the course of their lives, in general, to a different route. Furthermore, in the process, he discovers an array of people's lives from different walks of life with the use of his camera; and he understands what brings the society of any boroughs together, LOVE.

For me, one thing's for sure-It moved me.

P.S: It was the debut movie of the kid who played the character of Oskar Schell. He was discovered during his cameo as one of the players in Jeopardy!. He's good.

Personal rating: 7/10

Here's the trailer: 

Must-see: Sleeping Beauty(2011)

Circa midyear of 2011, I have watched Zack Synder's Sucker Punch which was created in a very promising style similar to 300 and Watchmen. Having said that, the combination of blue and orange in the screen of these films has been a plus for a moviegoer like me. 

 

See?

Pleasing to the eyes, I never wonder why Zack Synder's original style of painting a movie has helped him strolled his way to the best directors of 2011 effortlessly. (I apologize for digressing from the subject of this entry).HAHA. 

Emily Browning, a leading actress in Sucker Punch, has been changing character's clothes from a perky child actress to a full-grown and matured goddess actress. Again, she consistently showed this new skin to another masterpiece entitled, Sleeping Beauty. This independent film took a different perspective in portraying a classic story excluding the usual happily-ever-after, prince charming, and evil witch. Nevertheless, the concept of an innocent lady sleeping has been retained, I think. Surprisingly, this movie was even submitted as an entry to THE Cannes Film Festival. Yeah, BIG. Also, it means some scenes are NSFW to watch. 

Here's a movie info from Rottentomatoes.com:

"Lucy (Emily Browning) is a young university student possessed by a kind of radical passivity. She lets a flip of a coin decide the outcome of a random sexual encounter and she displays an uncomplaining patience when facing the repetitions of her various menial jobs that fund her studies. One day she answers an ad in the student newspaper and interviews for a job to be a lingerie waitress. But she is secretly being initiated into a world of strange new work; one where she will have to give into absolute submission to her clients by being sedated; becoming a Sleeping Beauty. Eventually this unnerving experience begins to bleed into her daily life and she finally develops the will to break the spell by discovering what happens to her while she sleeps."

MOVIE TRAILER:

Must-see: Moonrise Kingdom(2012)

Aside from the awesome stop-motion animation, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wes Anderson yields another peculiar, yet comical story of a dynamic journey full of joys and mishaps dedicated to children of the new generation and children-at-heart of OUR generation.

 I always enjoy movies that give me quirky nostalgic feeling of childhood. The barred never-growing  innocent child inside me jumps with bliss as my eyes are glued to the screen exhibiting psychedelic textures and colors, and funny childish acts. This child will love the movie for sure.

Rottentomatoes.com, the only all-movie guide website I visit, has given the film a fresh tomatometer of 94% and an average rating of 8.2/10. I have also read positive reviews from film critics admiring its charming-ness.

Movie info from Rottentomatoes.com:
"Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore -- and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl's parents. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the boy and girl. "

MOVIE TRAILER HERE:

First movie review: Sarong Banggi (One night)

This is my first movie review (as seen in the title above). I hope I will nail this one:D

Well, I’m not really a fan of watching Pinoy movies because I look at it as cheesy and dull. I guess 80% of these films are created for television with fancy love teams and predictable premises just to satisfy the fix of the mass. It happened that I saw this movie from a pile of DVD’s my aunt has sent from abroad (I didn’t know that there are retailers of filipino movies outside the country). This may be the first and the last movie of its kind that will be featured in this blog (except for deserving independent tagalog films). haha

 Lahat ng tao ay may kwento.Naglalakad na kwento. (Everyone has a story. Stories that walk)

The story is about a narrated night of a middle aged masseuse (Jacklyn Jose) and how it changed her life.  The first few takes reveal a group of adolescent boys driving their way to the lighted streets of beachwalk to celebrate the birthday of one of their friends (Angelo Ilagan) and transform him from boyhood to a fully grown man.  The movie progresses as it discloses the twisted fate of the two characters.

In conclusion, The movie has poignantly moved me. However, the first thing that I didn’t like is the slow pacing of the story. I even forwarded some scenes. You know the feeling of watching a movie and there are scenes that you want to scrape out from it or take a nap instead. The second thing that I noticed is the poor acting skills of some casts except for Jacklyn Jose who proved that she is a versatile and timeless actress despite her age. The plot, which is similar to the Oedipus tragedy, is uncanny and interesting. Nevertheless, the ending is a bit of disturbing.

Personal rating-6.5/10