The Imitation Game: Movie Review

This movie had a one-liner reputation as a "gay movie," and though it did tackle that crucial part of Alan Turing's life, that description did not do it justice. This movie is so much more.

This is a movie about the loneliness of genius, the healing salve of friendship, and man's drive to achieve greatness regardless of the sacrifice it requires.

Ang Kuwento:

Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. Written by Studio Canal

I dare not add anything to that summary written by Studio Canal because I want you, my dear reader, to experience this film firsthand.

Ang Maganda:

The actors. I wasn't surprised to hear that the cast was nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Ensemble Cast. They didn't just have the talented Benedict Cumberbatch/Sherlock (as Alan Turing). They also had the likes of Keira Knightley/Elizabeth Bennet (as Joan Clarke), Matthew Goode/Ozymandias (as Hugh Alexander), Charles Dance/Tywin Lannister (as Commander Denniston), and Mark Strong (as Stewart Menzies). Their chemistry as a cast was palpable. Truly, all of these brilliant actors gave their all to make this film as emotionally captivating as possible.

The tasteful writing. Alan Turing's sexuality, his struggles with it, and what he had to suffer because of it, was media gold. In this day and age, writers gravitate toward this material and enjoy turning it into ticket sales. Take a look at 50 Shades of Grey. I doubt if they would consider sacrificing the controversial scenes to make way for character development. The screenplay writer, Graham Moore, did not indulge the unlearned audience's tasteless interest in sex scenes. By expressing Alan's homosexuality as a part of his character instead of its very definition, it was easier for the audience to focus on his work, his plight, and the cruelty of what he went through.

The cinematography and art direction. The colors used in this film were perfect and everything from what they wore to the props they used just added to the experience. Yes, I still would have been interested in this film if they opted to go for gray/black tones which was an easy choice for such a dramatic movie, but they were bold enough to use warmer tones like orange or red to draw the audience in. This also gave the colder tones on some of the last scenes more impact.

Ang Pangit:

I really can't think of anything right now. It was just a really beautiful film.

Ang Paghuhusga:

This movie made me cry. They did a great job in turning Alan Turing into a three-dimensional character. A story like this could easily be turned into another "gay movie" that catered to Sherlock-Watson shippers, but they chose to turn it into a story of humanity and man's varying definitions of it.

Rating:

This is truly Oscar-worthy!

Love, Rosie: Movie Review

Good book-to-movie adaptations are very hard to find. There are films that turn out even better than the books. There are ones that slaughter the original material, but most of the movies are little more than good companions to the paper version. If you want to experience a really good one and you came across Love, Rosie, I'd tell you to keep looking.

Ang Buod:

Rosie (played by Lily Collins) and Alex (played by Sam Claflin) are the best of friends. Their childhood homes being right across each other only helped this uniquely intimate boy-girl friendship. Yun nga lang, puberty happened at with the added element of malisya, nagsimulang magbago ang dynamics ng kanilang pagkakaibigan. Dagdagan mo pa ng alcohol, freak accidents, an early pregnancy, at maraming bad timing, lalong naging magulo ang lahat. This movie follows their friendship-romance throughout the years.

Ang Maganda:

The movie had scenes that looked good. Even scenes with hard lighting and night scenes were beautifully lit and constructed.

Ang Pangit:

Every thing else. This is the type of movie that you just forget. The writing did not stand out. The acting did not turn the script into something more. This was just another Rom-Com sa mundo ng mga Rom-Com.

The amount of plot elements, twists and turns. Even if I didn't know that this was based on a book before seeing it, I probably would still be able to deduce that it was dahil lang sa dami ng mga nangyari. Ang masama pa roon ay the storytelling, the screenplay, didn't help at all.

Ang Paghuhusga:

This is a movie that is based on a book that makes you feel like you're still reading a book. Now, I just have to emphasize that I'm not averse to books or reading. In fact, I find reading one of the best things to do in life. Pero watching a film and reading a book are two totally different experiences. Filmmakers should be fully aware of that and make adjustments accordingly.

Rating:

Hintayin niyo na lang sa TV!

The Hundred-Foot Journey: Movie Review

I posted my review of Love, Rosie yesterday and one of the key points I made was the slim odds of a book-to-film adaptation succeeding. Last year's The Giver was a travesty and Love, Rosie, though better, is not a good example as well. This movie, The Hundred-Foot Journey, is a prime example of when written word is translated beautifully into a genuine and emotionally captivating film.

Ang Buod:

In “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal) is a culinary ingénue with the gastronomic equivalent of perfect pitch. Displaced from their native India, the Kadam family, led by Papa (Om Puri), settles in the quaint village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val in the south of France. Filled with charm, it is both picturesque and elegant – the ideal place to settle down and open an Indian restaurant, the Maison Mumbai. That is, until the chilly chef proprietress of Le Saule Pleureur, a Michelin starred, classical French restaurant run by Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), gets wind of it. Her icy protests against the new Indian restaurant a hundred feet from her own escalate to all out war between the two establishments – until Hassan’s passion for French haute cuisine and for Mme. Mallory’s enchanting sous chef, Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon), combine with his mysteriously delicious talent to weave magic between their two cultures and imbue Saint-Antonin with the flavors of life that even Mme. Mallory cannot ignore. At first Mme. Mallory's culinary rival, she eventually recognizes Hassan's gift as a chef and takes him under her wing.

from: http://www.dreamworksstudios.com/films/the-hundred-foot-journey

Ang Maganda:

Where do I begin? There's just too many good things to say about this movie!

The screenplay. Translating something from page to stage is no easy task. Maraming elemento ng kwento ang kailangang alisin. May nawawala rin sa bahagi ng audience dahil books force people to interact with the material more than film goers do with film. We read what the author says, but we add so much more using our imaginations. That's why fans of books have to keep an open mind when watching film adaptations. It is one of the screenplay writer's hardest tasks to pick and choose which scene, plot points, and story elements to include in the script. With only roughly an hour of dialogue to establish characters and move the story along, this requires more wisdom than creativity. I think in order to succeed in doing this, the writer has to understand that the characters are more important than the events. That's what Love, Rosie failed to do. Instead of giving us well-fleshed out characters, we were shown a series of events. The Hundred-Foot Journey, on the other hand, made sure that we knew each character (which was challenging because they had way more characters who mattered in this film than Love, Rosie) well enough to care about them. Stephen Knight enabled us to see these characters as people by giving them clever dialogue instead of long monologues.

It is a visually stunning movie. Each shot was a perfectly Instagrammable moment. The use of natural light and cutaway scenes was very artful. You won't be able to take your eyes off the screen. Each scene and setting was also a core component of the story. It wasn't just there for the sake of existing or to fill in the empty seconds of the film. They served a purpose and enhanced the storytelling.

The musical score was very emotional.  A.R. Rahman managed to create a fusion of traditional Indian music with strict classical, very French, score. There were also scenes where the Indian pentatonic scale was set against a very modern, techno, beat and it worked. There were grand swells in moments where the audience had to be swept away and there were moments of almost complete silence to create even more drama.

The actors. Of course, Dame Helen Mirren did a spectacular job. She managed to turn a character who can easily be a caricature into someone human. She was strict without turning mean. Her character changed slowly, gradually, without turning into a completely different person. Manish Dayal and Charlotte Le Bon portrayed star-crossed lovers without turning into archetypes. Om Puri was Papa not only to the people in the film. He was so perfectly flawed that I may never know him by his name. I'll probably just call him Papa for the rest of my life.

The direction. Lasse Hallstrom is the man who brought us equally beautiful scenes and multi-layered characters in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Hachi: A Dog's Tale, and Chocolat. He is a master of storytelling without literally telling the story. He spoke through transitions. He showed each character's complexity through small clues like a sideways smile or a tilt of the head. Even the supporting characters like Hassan's brother, played by Amit Shah, had enough life and character breathed into him with the one-liners and tiny nuances that I cared about him. This was not easy to do.

Ang Pangit:

During the last scene, it was implied that Hassan and Marguerite did something physical in Le Saule Pleureur's stockroom. I don't think this was necessary. I commend them for not showing this in detail, but I still think the movie could have done without it. It is both unnecessary and unsanitary.

Ang Paghuhusga:

This is a movie worth watching. It is a beautiful story about love in its many forms. This showcases love of family, love of what you're passionate of, love of humanity, and romantic love. At isa pang maganda rito is that this is the kind of movie you can keep watching over and over again. This brings me to my...

Rating:

Make sure you own a copy of this movie!

(in Blu-ray if possible)

That Thing Called Tadhana: Movie Review

Are Pinoys ready for a movie that features only two actors? May sapat na bang attention span ang mga Noypi para sa isang pelikula kung saan ang bida ay ang mga linya at hindi ang artista?

Dear, writers, directors, and production companies... Handa na po kami. Hindi pa ba sapat na ebidensya ang higit sa P100 million na kinita ng pelikulang ito bilang ebidensya?

Ang Buod:

“That Thing Called Tadhana,” a romance-comedy in the tradition of "Before Sunrise" is what Antoinette Jadaone has created. The films asks the questions “Where do broken hearts go?” and tells the story of a woman, struggling to meet airline baggage requirements, who meets a man who comes to her aid. Both in despair out of love, they form a charming friendship that will take them to Sagada in their attempts to mend each other’s hearts. (Facebook.com/ThingCalledTadhana)

Ang Maganda:

This movie's mainstream release was the perfect follow through to another successful and beautifully crafted Antoinette Jadaone film, English Only Please. Tama lang rin ang sequence ng events dahil, with the regular Juan and Juana in mind, mas madali nang lununin ang pelikulang ito matapos mapanood at magustuhan ang English Only Please.

The acting. It takes a lot of courage to tackle a role like this. Dahil dalawa lang ang tauhan sa pelikulang ito, it requires two perfectly-casted and emotionally-committed actors. This movie has that in spades sa katauhan nina Angelica Panganiban at JM de Guzman. Oo, they are no KathNiel or JaDine, pero that's the point! This was never meant to be a lovey-dovey pakilig na pelikula. Had it been KimXi or some other famous love team, marami ang mawawala sa movie na ito. This was a story about ordinary people sharing a journey (both literally and figuratively). I've always known that Angelica Panganiban is a very talented actress. JM de Guzman is very charming and genuine. This was the perfect pairing. Mahusay ang bitaw ng mga linya. It was natural and effortless which is the hardest kind of performance to give. Sa mundo ng elevator acting, mahirap ang maging natural at iyan ang makikita ninyo rito.

The writing. The script is the main character in this movie. At kahit na may mga sandali na kinakailangan ng suspension of disbelief dahil sa "Stranger Danger" aspect ng totoong buhay, madali naman na magpatawad dahil mabilis ang takbo ng kwento. It was very obvious that this was inspired by the Before Sunrise movies, pero I wouldn't call it plagiarism dahil masyadong maka-Pilipino ang soul ng That Thing Called Tadhana. Oo, naglipana nga ang mga #hugotlines na bahagi ng marketing ng pelikulang ito, pero hindi naman malayo sa katotohanan na masabi ito ng mga totoong tao. Heartbreak turns fools into poets, kumbaga, at kahit sinong nakakita na ng taong kaka-break lang sa syota ay magpapatotoo rito.

The direction. Like I said earlier, this movie has a very genuine, natural, fluid feel to it which is something that's very hard to achieve. The direction has to be on point for that to happen kaya isang bonggang palakpak muli para kay Bb. Antoinette Jadaone.

The cinematography. It's funny how the line, "Ang ganda ng cinematography." came into play in this movie which features exactly that. Ang awkward nga naman kung sinasabi nila yan for another movie within this movie pero the movie itself doesn't look good. Sasha Palomares has been nominated twice for Best Cinematography sa Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival for her other projects and that's understandable dahil maganda ang pagkakapinta niya sa mga eksena ng pelikulang ito.

Ang Pangit:

There are a few things that you need to forgive sa pelikulang ito like how they even agree to travel to Baguio together. I don't think any of the people I know are willing to do that with a perfect stranger kahit pa gaano katangos ang ilong niya o gaano ka-inviting ang puppy-dog eyes niya. They also spent the night without wearing proper cold weather clothes, under the open sky, with Mace (Angelica Panganiban) wearing strapped sandals... in SAGADA! At hindi sila namatay sa hypothermia?! That red blanket/mat and that shawl/towel they used must be a nuclear-powered heater of some sort. Pero ayos lang rin. Simpleng mga bagay lang naman yan.

Ang Paghuhusga:

This may very well be the Filipino counterpart to Before Sunrise. Hindi ako aangal diyan. It's a good film to watch lalo na para sa mga namamait pa dahil sa kani-kanilang pumalpak na pagsubok sa pag-ibig. Pero, kailangan ko ring sabihin na hindi ito para sa lahat. In order to fully enjoy this movie, you have to be in the right mindset. Kung naghahanap ka lang ng feel good rom-com, this is not the movie you should see. Mag-English Only Please ka na lang muna. Pero para sa taong handang makinig sa talastasan ng dalawang normal na tao for an hour and a half, this is the perfect movie for you.

Into The Woods: Movie Review

Into The Woods boasts of a star-studded cast, to say the least. They have Chris Pine (Star Trek), Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow), Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect), and, the one and only, Merryl Streep! Add theater pros, James Corden, Tracey Ullman, and the young powerhouses Lilla Crawford, and Daniel Huttlestone (Les Miserables). Then, remember that Rob Marshall directed it and that Stephen Sondheim, the same man behind the original musicale. Oh, before I forget, note that the deep pockets of Disney backed this up. With all that, this is supposed to be a perfect movie, right?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pjy5MK1X70]

Is it perfect? Is it even good? Is it better than the original?

That depends entirely on who is watching this movie.

This was, by far, the movie that I wanted to see above all else this year. Before I saw it, people who knew how I excited I was told me to lower my expectations because they didn't like it that much. When I finally saw it, I was surprised that I wasn't as disappointed as I expected myself to be, pero that's just me. I guess masyado na akong malaking fan ng original material to be upset.

Ang Buod:

"Into the Woods" is a modern twist on several beloved fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy), all tied together by an original story involving a Baker and his Wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the Witch (Meryl Streep), who has put a curse on them.

http://movies.disney.com/into-the-woods/story

Ang Maganda:

Everyone in this movie did a wonderful job. Granted na I'm over Anna Kendrick's voice, I still think the music and the singing was great. Siyempre naman, hindi pababayaan ni Sondheim ang baby niya. Pero hindi lang ang kantahan, maging ang pag-arte ng bawat character ay mahusay. Kahit controversial ang pag-cast kay Johnny Depp as the Wolf, I, myself, think that his signature "Johnny-Depp-acting" still worked for the character. And, don't even get me started on Meryl Streep's performance. She's a living legend. Yan na lang ang sasabihin ko.

It's a visual masterpiece. Everything from the costumes to the lighting was beautiful. Dark, yes, but still beautiful. It moved away from the bright stage lights that people who saw the original work were used to, but that's okay. I know that they did that to make the darker theme of the movie more prominent.

Ang Pangit:

This movie, like so many films that came before it, struggled with what to compromise. I say this because I saw the recorded version of the original material lots of times before and I can see where they made changes.

The original was more raw, more sinister, and more unrepentant about the topics it engaged. It was a story for adults that happened to have children's fairy tales' characters in it. Turning it into a Disney movie may have set expectations na hindi kailanman maaabot ng project na ito.

Ang Paghuhusga:

My bestfriend called it boring. My twin sister told me that it wasn't worth the money. People, generally, didn't appreciate the "twists" that happened sa second act ng pelikula. And I understand why they felt that way. Iba lang talaga ang format ng pelikula at ng full-length play. Iba lang rin talaga ang perspective ng moviegoer sa theater nerd.

Now, bago ako ma-misinterpret, I'm not saying that one art form is better than the other or that theater nerds are more illuminated than moviegoers. Ang sinasabi ko is that people who loved the original play will, most likely, appreciate this more than those who are seeing it for the first time. Sold na sa amin ito e, hindi na kailangang ipaliwanag pa. The things that had to be removed would have made it better, pero it would also make the movie even longer than it is. Kailangan lang talagang mangyari ang mga yun.

Some of the things that people had a problem with like how the music was repetitive at nag-iiba lang ng lyrics or how the "happy ending" was ruined were things that I actually loved about the original material. Yes, it was dark and some people didn't like it. Pero, it was even darker sa original na play! This is a Disney-ized this version, remember? So, ang bottom line ay , this movie is NOT a Disney fairy tale. If you want to see another Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin, this is not the movie for you. This movie is NOT for everyone.

Rating:

I'll buy a copy and I'll show it to my kids on their sixteenth birthday.

PK: Movie Review

Ate Mitch, this one's for you.

There are movies that entertain you. There are movies that encourage you to think. There are movies that inspire you to do good things. There are movies that change your life. This movie is all of those and more.

Ang Kuwento:

PK (played by Aamir Khan) is an alien who was sent on a secret mission to Earth to see what its inhabitants are like. He lands in a remote place in India and is immediately faced with a very harsh reality about mankind-that we are complex, imperfect, and (most times) imperfect individuals.

Anushka Sharma plays Jaggu, a TV journalist who takes an interest in PK and his ways. She was fascinated with PK's perspective on things, especially religion, the existence of God, and how those two things affect people. Kaya, she joins him in his quest to get back home.

Oh, and before I forget. This is a Bollywood film kaya asahan ninyo ang spontaneous singing and choreographed dancing sa pelikula.

Ang Paghuhusga:

I'm going to go straight to this part simply because I can't say anything bad about this movie.

This is a very unique and fresh take on examining humanity. Seeing who we can be and our propensity for putting our selves before anything or anyone else through PK's eyes, is something everyone has to experience. For example, PK had issues with people lying. Hindi dahil he found lies hurtful, pero ni hindi niya ma-detect kung niloloko na siya. Bago ang pagsisinungaling at panloloko kay PK dahil sa kanilang planeta, they could read each other's minds. The concept of lying for personal gain was foreign to him. This part of the concept reminded me of another movie that I loved, The Invention of Lying. Pero this movie takes it to a whole new level because they used religion as the biggest discussion point.

It's bold and unrepentant about bringing difficult questions up to the surface. It wasn't scared of offending these big religions and the organizations that back them up. That's part of the reason why I don't recommend this movie to everyone. O, bago mo ikagalit, let me explain. Here are the people who shouldn't watch this movie:

1. Mga hyper-religious at balat-sibuyas na tao. I don't recommend this movie to everyone dahil alam ko na may mga tao na hindi kayang mag-move past sa feeling ng pagiging offended. I know because I used to be like that. Kaya kung sa tingin mo ay madali kang maasar when someone questions your faith or makes fun of it, wag mo na lang panoorin ito. Malamang maiinis ka lang. You will be so upset na ni hindi mo na susubukang maintindihan ang rest ng pelikula, much less ang puntong gusto nitong ipahayag. Wag mo na lang i-stress ang sarili mo.

2. People who are wrestling with genuine doubts about their faith and are not willing to lose it completely. This movie may just be the straw that will break the camel's back. So, if you're one of those people or if you know someone like that and you want them to keep your faith, sa susunod niyo na panoorin ito. This won't help you with your struggle. Madadagdagan ang mga tanong mo at maaaring ika-frustrate mo yan. Now, if check ka sa first part ng description at hindi sa pangalawa, that's a totally different story.

3. Mga taong hobby ang pagtawanan ang mga religions and the religious. I'm sure you'll enjoy the movie, pero it will be in a much meaner and less "human" way. And, much like the people who belong to the first category whom you hate so much and find extremely funny, you will also miss the point of the movie.

This movie is for people who are ready to look at faith and religion as two separate things. This movie is for people who are not happy with how things are in this world and are ready to lobby for change. It's not anti-religion. It's anti-religious and -religiulous oppression. At the end of the movie, hindi nasagot ang tanong na kung may Diyos ba o wala o ano ang tamang paraan ng pagsamba sa Kaniya. Instead, PK offers a different solution.

PK wasn't lobbying for the complete dissolution of religion. Ang focus niya ay kung paano magiging mas mabuting tao at makatao ang mga tao. The point of the movie is not how ridiculous religion is. In fact, he doesn't deny the possibility of God existing. He just encourages people to do the right thing while waiting here on earth.

This movie is high up on my list of must-see films for faith-seekers. Kasama ng Lord, Save Us From Your Followers at Religulous, isa ito sa mga pelikulang kailangan mapanood ng sinumang gustong pumasok sa full-time ministry.

Rating:

Watch this at your own risk.

This movie will change your life.

Ant-Man: (Spoiler-Free) Movie Review

My reviews for the last few Marvel movies got to quite a few Marvel fanboys and fangirls in my tiny little world. They didn’t like the fact that I didn’t rave about the “cool”-ness of Guardians of the Galaxy. They couldn’t comprehend why Avengers: Age of Ultron failed to blow my puny mortal mind. Add my affection for Batman and it was perfectly understandable why I got a few worried looks. Have I switched over to the DC fandom? 

The answer is, “No.” 

The reason why I didn’t fall in love with the past Marvel movies is because they just weren’t as good as the other ones. In my video review of Age of Ultron, I mentioned that I was starting to fear for the franchise. I said that if they were going to continue on the path of fanboy pleasing, there’s a big possibility that they will alienate the common moviegoer. With all the rage about the Easter eggs and cameos, the fluid storytelling and character building that I liked about the earlier films were starting to slip. It was as if the individual movies were just blown up and expensive mega-trailers. Instead of building a self-contained story, they were focused on building hype for the next one. 

This is exactly why I found Ant Man so refreshing. 

Ang Buod
This is a spoiler-free review so, if you haven’t seen the movie yet, you can click here to watch the official trailer. 

Ang Maganda 

1. This is a great standalone film. You don’t need to be a hardcore Marvel fan to enjoy this movie. If you want to introduce the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a friend, this is a good movie to do that. Hindi katulad ng Age of Ultron or Captain America: Winter Soldier, hindi kailangan na kilala mo na ang mga characters para maging invested ka sa kanila. There were Easter eggs and winks from the production team, but missing out on them won’t take anything away from the viewing experience. 
2. Ant Man has its own defined genre. I appreciate Marvel’s decision to include a distinct feel to their movies. Winter Soldier was a spy film. The Guardians of the Galaxy was a space comedy. Ant Man is, above anything else, a heist film. You knew it right off the bat. Yes, there were calls to the MCU, but there was enough meat in the story to keep the viewers happy. 
3. The entire cast stepped up. I was a little worried about Paul Rudd. In a world filled with relatively young and hunky leading men, he seemed a little too old to star in a Marvel movie. I know, I know, Robert Downey Jr. is older, but his personality (on- and off-screen) made up for it. I remember Paul Rudd as the clueless Paris from Romeo + Juliet, (insert films). He’s always been that good Hollywood guy who played roles that any other good Hollywood guy can play. He never really stood out for me. But within the first hour, he grew on me. I was convinced that he is the perfect guy for this role. It was clear from the get go that Ant Man wasn’t supposed to be overly charismatic and charming. Ant Man was designed to go unnoticed. It wasn’t the superhero side that we were supposed to care about. Paul Rudd portrayed the character’s flawed humanity really well. He was a good guy who did bad things and I was more than happy to stand behind him on his quest for redemption. He wasn't just Ant Man. He was also Scott Lang. I found myself rooting for him because he was both. Michael Douglas is the man. I know he's old and (except for the first few minutes of the movie) the people behind this movie didn't try to mask that fact, but he still rocked it as the original Dr. Hank Pym. I wasn't so sure about Evangeline Lilly playing Hope, but halfway through the movie, I was sold. Oh, and can I just point out how hilarious Michael Pena was? Every time he walked onscreen, I caught myself grinning in anticipation for the next crazy thing he'll say. 
4. I also liked the way they treated Scott and Hope's romantic arc. It wasn't too cheesy and orchestrated. There was some chemistry throughout, but the reveal was perfect. After all, that's usually how it happens in real life (or so I heard). 

Ang Pangit 
I can't really think of anything right now. Yes, the entire science of shrinking into a tinier version of yourself is ridiculous, but the way the movie laughed at itself saved the day. 

Ang Paghuhusga 
This is how comic book movies should be. Forget Ang Lee's Hulk. Forget Man of Steel. Comic books (or graphic novels for that matter) reveal deep philosophical themes and questions about man and humanity without openly pointing it out. You don't have to be dark and brooding to be intellectual. It's the things that the audience realize by themselves in the quiet and subtle moments of the movie which are the hardest to forget. Give us some credit. Let us think for ourselves. 

Rating

Watch it. Love it. Hug your child and/or father after.

10 TV Shows That Rocked My World in 2015

I have a confession to make. This year wasn't the best year for movies (at least for me). Kakaunti ang mga pelikulang napanood ko sa sine at kahit sa bahay. Life got in the way. Pero, kahit wala akong time to sit through a two-hour movie, I still made time to watch some TV shows. 2015 was a great year for TV. I agree that we are in the Golden Age of Television right now. There's better writing, well-developed characters, beautiful stories. Kaya this year, and, hopefully, just this year, all I'll write about as the year ends are the Top 10 TV Shows That Rocked My World in 2015. Here they are: 

10. iZombie

I didn't have any expectations when I started watching this show. I'm not a big fan of the zombie lore. Madali akong matakot and I'm not big on shows like The Walking Dead. I found it boring. Pero this show is different.

It's funny, it's witty, it's nothing like the corny and slow-paced zombie shows. Liv was a very interesting character and Rose McIver, who plays Liv, really brought the undead character to life (badum-tsss).

9. How To Get Away With Murder

I know people expect me to have this show higher on my list. After all, I couldn't stop talking about it last year. Kaya lang, the second season wasn't as good as the first one.

I found that in wanting to give the audience more shocking scenes and information about the characters, they pared away at the aspects of their personalities that I liked best. Parang pilit na rin yung mga flashbacks at "flash-forward" na nasa show.

8. Shark Tank

As an aspiring entrepreneur, this show is invaluable to me. It's great to learn from some of the most successful entrepreneurs who came from humble backgrounds themselves. The fact that it's about real people with real problems and involves real money is also refreshing for me.

Nakakasawa rin na puro fictional characters at drama ang pinapanood.

7. Quantico

This show took the flashback/"flash-forward" trope that worked well for How To Get Away With Murder and mixed it with Homeland. At maganda naman ang kinalabasan.

Priyanka Chopra stars as the lead character Alex Parrish. I know her from Krrish, an Indian action film where she played Hrithik Roshan's love interest. She was great there, pero mas magaling pa siya sa Quantico. They managed to hold my interest through every episode without making the characters do things uncharacteristic things.

6. The Librarians

Ako lang yata ang nanonood nito sa circle ko. Well, ako at ang kapatid ko na pinilit kong manood rin. This gem of a TV show deserves more attention.

The Librarians follows the librarians through their magical/ mystical/ mathematical adventures as they try to save the world. I just love seeing the characters from books and legends come to life every time. This is also great if you just want something to watch on a weekend and with your friends. Hindi masyadong marami ang episodes and they're more or less standalone stories. May elements pa rin ng malaking season villain, pero it's not as overly staged or dramatic as most mystical shows right now. Self-aware din ang show kaya mas nakakatawa.

5. Code: Black

I just started watching this show a week ago. I thought it was just another medical drama. Pero, it's more than that. The pace leaves you out-of-breath. The characters are layered and imperfect. At, pinakamahalaga sa lahat sa mga show na ganito for me... People DIE!

Nakakainis na rin kasi ang mga TV shows that create tension  for the first 30 minutes para lang sa happily-ever-after na ending sa huling limang minuto. Life doesn't work that way. Kaya I like how Code: Black had the guts to make hard decisions.

4. Vikings

May shows talaga na mapapa-slow clap ka after every episode ends. This is one of that. Akala ko, after two seasons, mauubusan na sila ng material for this show. Apparently, I was wrong.

The third season was bigger and even more emotional than the first two. If there's one word to describe this show, that's "epic."

This show is epic.

3. Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance

This is the 31st season of Survivor. 31st! Pero out of all the seasons, this had the most twists and turns. This season was the only season that had my heart pounding during every vote. Paano ba naman, every vote was a surprise. Laging may blindside, may hidden idol, may unexpected. 

When they announced the list of players, I knew it was going to be interesting. Pero I didn't think it was going to be THAT explosive.

2. Scorpion

After I discovered this show, I couldn't stop telling people about it. At, so far, all of them got hooked on it, too. It took a bunch of intellectually-gifted, but emotionally-challenged individuals and sent them off to seemingly impossible missions. The way they showed the challenges that gifted people go through was done with a light hand and a big heart. I enjoyed seeing them all grow sa bawat episode.

And, now, it's time for the TV show that nabbed the top spot.

1. Marvel's Jessica Jones

Krysten Ritter is perfect as Jessica Jones. I loved her in She's Out of My League and in Breaking Bad kaya I knew that I was going to give this show a try. Now, every time someone asks me what I think about this show, I just smile and shake my head. It blew my mind. It wasn't just fan service in every episode gaya ng ibang comic book-based TV shows. Ehem... Arrow... The Flash... Supergirl.

It demanded my full attention and got it. These days, malaking bagay yun for me dahil I usually watch stuff while I work. I tried doing that with Jessica Jones pero di pwede. I couldn't help but be invested in the characters and their stories.

Now, here's just a quick warning, ha. It's not for everyone. Bago ka magyaya ng marathon nito with your whole family, know that it isn't your ordinary superhero show. If you watch this hoping to see a superhero superhero-ing, you'll be disappointed. Pero, if you can sit through well-written dialogue and narration with some violence and extreme images in between, you'll be fine.

These are my Top Ten TV Shows. What's yours? Let me know by posting a comment below. If you have a show to recommend, you can post that, too. I'd love to discover new shows to watch. Have a great 2016, my fellow movie and tv fans!