Tag Archives: Pinoy Exchange

Fight To The Finish: The 2015 Pinoy Exchange Movie Challenge!

Posted on January 21, 2015 | 2 comments

I am yet again participating in another Pinoy Exchange Movie Challenge. Last year was fun but due to inevitable circumstances, I was unable to finish it but I’m sure glad that I still made it into the top 10! Go me! I was able to review 54 movies in total

Here’s my list

PEX Movie Challenge

THE 30-DAY MOVIE CHALLENGE
Day 01 – The best movie you saw during the last year – Man Of Steel (04.05.2014)
Day 02 – The last movie you watched – Divergent (04.06.2014)
Day 03 – Your favorite action/adventure movie – Life Of Pi (04.07.2014)
Day 04 – Your favorite horror movie – Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (04.08.2014)
Day 05 – Your favorite drama movie – Scent Of A Woman (04.10.2014)
Day 06 – Your favorite comedy movie – Nine Months (04.11.2014)
Day 07 – Your favorite animated movie – How To Train Your Dragon (04.12.2014)
Day 08 – A movie of your favorite actor – Revolutionary Road (04.13.2014)
Day 09 – A movie of your favorite actress – Julie and Julia (04.14.2014)
Day 10 – A movie of your favorite director – Brokeback Mountain (04.15.2014)
Day 11 – Your favorite classic movie – Schindler’s List (04.16.2014)
Day 12 – Your favorite Documentary – Imelda (04.17.2014)
Day 13 – Your favorite movie from your childhood – Richie Rich (04.18.2014)
Day 14 – Your favorite quote from any movie – A Walk In The Clouds (04.19.2014)
Day 15 – Your favorite character from any movie – Billy Elliot (04.22.2014)

THE LEVEL UP MOVIE CHALLENGE: MOVIE OF THE MONTH
(4) Movies Nominated In The Academy
1. Dallas Buyers Club (05.10.2014)
2. Babel (05.13.2014)
3. The Kids Are All Right (05.14.2014)
4. Hugo (05.15.2014)

(4) Non-English Movies
1. For A Lost Soldier (05.07.2014
2. A Serbian Film (05.08.2014)
3. Ang Lalake Sa Parola (05.09.2014)
4. Zombadings: Patayin Sa Shokot Si Remington (05.11.2014)

(4) Animated Films
1. Rango (05.16.2014)
2. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole (05.17.2014)
3. Ice Age 4 Continental Drift (05.19.2014)
4. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (05.20.2014)

(4) Movies Released Before 2000
1. The Cure (05.21.2014)
2. Addicted To Love (05.22.2014)
3. Mad Love (05.23.2014)
4. School Ties (05.24.2014)

Movie Of The Month
1. March – Captain America: The Winter Soldier (04.21.2014)
2. April – The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (05.06.2014)
3. May – Maleficent (05.29.2014)

Four (4) movies released in 2014
1. The Fault In Our Stars (06.04.2014)

A-Z Movies
1. A – Amelia (04.23.2014)
2. B – Bend It Like Beckham (04.25.2014)
3. C – Coach (04.26.2014)
4. D – Dear John (04.27.2014)
5. F – Forever Young (05.12.2014)
6. V – Vanishing On The 7th Street (04.28.2014)
7. T – There Be Dragons (04.29.2014)
8. W – What To Expect When You’re Expecting (05.03.2014)
9. K – King And The Clown (05.05.2014)
10. P – Prometheus (05.26.2014)
11. H – Her (05.27.2014)
12. L – Little Manhattan (05.28.2014)
13. R – Ruby Sparks (05.30.2014)
14. I – In Time (05.31.2014)
15. E – Eat Pray Love (06.02.2014)
16. S – Salt (06.03.2014)
17. G – Gravity (06.05.2014)
18. # – 12 Years A Slave (06.06.2014)
19. O – Oz The Great And Powerful (06.07.2014)

Official Movie Challenge Final Tally: Yay! Came in at 6th place!!!

1. JobyBryant24 – 100
2. LulaLu__ – 97
3. genre914 – 71
4. dementedkid – 60
5. mykel14 – 57
6. paddylast – 54
7. bitter_ocampo – 50
8. Hiroshi08 – 38
9. ScareYouOften – 37
10. _Zei_Emu_ – 35

This year’s challenge will be a lot trickier this time but easier if I may say so.

For the 2015 Pinoyexchange Movie Challenge PExers can choose to complete any of the 3 challenges. However, an Ultimate PEx Movie Challenger Pin and a special prize will be issued to those who will complete all 3 challenges at the end of the year. – PinoyExchange

The three challenges includes the Pex Movie Goals, Crowd Reports and Local Movie Challenge. I’ll try to participate as early as this week but ofcourse as for my blog, it’ll just be my regular reviews. I have a lot of saved reviews from the flicks I’ve seen from last year and I’m all so excited to share it with you guys!!!!

Cheers!

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My 2014 Oscar Final Predictions – My Winners And Spoilers!!

Posted on February 28, 2014 | Leave a comment

Oscar Trophy - Specials

With the awards season for the films of 2013 culminating on Sunday as the 86th Academy Awards present the Oscar to their respective winners, I’m also coming up (as per usual) with my final predictions for this year’s Oscars.

Best Picture

As much as I’m hoping that Gravity will win this category, I’m still leaning  towards a 12 Years A Slave win not only because it’s winning every precursor award giving bodies prior to the big night but because it’s a total Oscar bait like what I’ve always mentioned. Don’t get me wrong though, I love the film and I feel that it was a well made one but if I were to give it to THE best film of 2013 – Gravity should win this one hands down.

SPOILER: GRAVITY

Best Director

Alfonso Cuaron created a masterpiece with Gravity. Rarely that a director create something that is as powerful as this one. Steve McQueen can win the Best Picture but Cuaron has got this in the bag already.

SPOILER: STEVE MCQUEEN (NOT MUCH THOUGH)

BEST ACTORFrom my review, McConaughey’s rendition in Dallas Buyers Club as the homophobic Texan who became the unlikely hero of the gay community was flawless – it’s like the male Sophie – luminescent, one of a kind and truly singular. He’s untouchable here as much as I’d love for Leo to finally get an Oscar.

SPOILER: LEONARDO DICAPRIO

BEST ACTRESSAfter winning a statuette for her supporting role in Aviator, Cate is ready to finally claim what’s rightfully her to begin with (hhmm,  paging Gwyneth.) Her performance in Blue Jasmine was said to be the best of her career and I have to believe that for she won almost all the major award giving bodies for her work in the film. Yay!

SPOILER: SANDRA BULLOCK FOR GRAVITY.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club 

Leto’s best work to date as Rayon is a groundbreaking performance that only deserves accolades like this one. In this film, Jared Leto proved that he’s special!

spoiler: Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave

I’ve only high praises for Jennifer Lawrence but I find Lupita’s performance more memorable and for that alone, I’m giving her this one. Plus, I don’t think the Academy’s ready to give her an Oscar with her winning just last year.

SPOILER: Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle.

Best Original Screenplay – Her

Best Adapted Screenplay – 12 Years A Slave

Best Animated Feature – Frozen

Best Foreign Language Film – The Great Beauty (Italy)

Best Documentary – 20 Feet from Stardom

Best Film Editing – Gravity

Best Original Score – Gravity

Best Original Song – Let It Go

Best Cinematography – Gravity

Best Visual Effects – Gravity

Best Sound Editing – Gravity

Best Sound Mixing – Gravity

Best Production Design – The Great Gatsby

Best Makeup and Hairstyling -American Hustle

Best Costume Design – The Great Gatsby by Catherine Martin

Best Documentary – Short Subject – Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

Best Live Action Short Film – Avant que de tout perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) – Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras

Best Animated Short Film – Get a Horse!

*I submitted this prediction to the 4th Pinoyexchange Oscar Pool (my fourth year of joining! during the first year, I placed 8th, unplaced on the second year and came in at 10th place last year)

for 50 bonus points, after predicting the winners for all 24 categories, the participant has the option to pick ONE PEx Oscar Prediction (listed below) which s/he will think will happen.

PEx Oscar Predictions:

  1. Leonardo DiCaprio will finally win his first Oscar
  2. “Let it Go” will not win Best Original Song
  3. There will be a tie in at least one category
  4. The Best Film Editing winner will not win Best Picture
  5. The Best Director winner will come from the Best Picture winner

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Review: What To Expect When You’re Expecting (2012)

Posted on January 23, 2014 | Leave a comment
via wikipedia

via wikipedia

This film is an adaptation of the bestselling pregnancy book by Heidi Murkoff, which stars Elizabeth Banks, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison and Dennis Quaid amongst others. The film follows each character experiencing life changing moments while expecting the miracle that is the birth of a child.

Going in to see the film, I was initially turned off by the film’s star-studded ensemble because it reminds me so much of Garry Marshall’s Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve – I didn’t even know the story to begin with but the fact that there’s a swarm of characters in the film, I’m almost expecting that it’s going to be another one of those all-stars train wreck films.

I’ve to be honest. I already expected this to be a lousy film but I was wrong. I’ll be the first one to admit that I did enjoy it! There’s no fresh take on its story line. There’s the same old story that you hear every now and then about getting pregnant, adopting, the pregnancy scare and all but each minute details of the characters involved are somehow very affecting. You’d actually fall in love with them! It has the usual corny punch lines thrown here and there, the black token guy, the dumb blonde and the usual characters but somehow it all worked together.

Anna Kendrick and Elizabeth Banks are just flawless in this film. They are the characters that you would remember from the film after the credits rolled in (unless you’re glued to Rodrigo Santoro and Joe Manganiello all throughout.)  They’re relatable and very charming. Forget that Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz are also in here because they are in the film for their star value. It also doesn’t hurt that the film has a great soundtrack.

The film obviously is very heartwarming, though, cliché – it has the power to evoke that feminine side from you even when you’re not “expecting” and regardless of your gender. I have not read the book from where it’s based and I don’t have any plan to but I think the mere merit of the film’s considerable approach to pregnancy, family and just life in general is reason enough to go to the cinema and watch it.
Casts: Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro
Director: Kirk Jones
Rating: 8/10

Advance screening courtesy of Pinoy Exchange, Twilight Films Distribute and RJ 100

This film review was first posted at Pinoy Exchange. Read all my film reviews at Pinoy Exchange Official PEx Movie Reviews.

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Review: The Avengers (2012)

Posted on January 23, 2014 | Leave a comment
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I’ve actually been thinking if this film would live up to its promise of assembling a group of superheroes and making it work at the big screen. After all, some of them haven’t had any film solely dedicated to them and their heroism although we see them every now and then popping up in some scenes from the previous Marvel films, we still don’t know them “personally.”

 The Avengers tells the story of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Agent Coulson ( Clark Gregg) assembling a group of superheroes (rather gifted and talented creatures) which they have been doing for the past five years to form a military force known as the Avengers Initiative. There we see Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) being joined by Fury and Coulson themselves, Black Widow (Scarlett Johanssen) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to fight for humanity.

In this film, we see Loki (Tom Hiddleston) leaving Asgard to take up Earth as its king and enslave humanity including his brother Thor.  It’s funny because Loki’s much more interesting now than his less-compelling antagonistic take in Thor. Somehow, it enriches his character as well as Thor himself which I thought was the weakest prior to this film – performance wise.

There may be some weak moments in the film, which are stereotypical with the genre – good versus evil, but there are far enough moments that I can truly say that The Avengers really is the best film in the Marvel series. It has stunning action sequences, great climax building and the characters establishment was superb! I thought the banter between Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Steve Rogers (Captain America) was good and carry the film all throughout. And with the occasional hilarity of the Hulk’s character – I thought it was effortless.

Althought I’m not exactly a fan of the series, I am still excited for the sequel which I think we will be getting after this. The Avengers took on some cultural icons and made them even more appealing than they already are. The anticipation for this film was worth the entire wait and the expectation which I think is pretty high was nevertheless a success.

 Rating: 9/10
Director: Joss Whedon
Casts: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

This film review was first posted at Pinoy Exchange. Read all my film reviews at Pinoy Exchange Official PEx Movie Reviews.

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Review: The Hunger Games (2012)

Posted on January 23, 2014 | Leave a comment

HungerGamesPosterI was not even aware of this book until last year when news erupted about its film adaptation. Suzanne Collins, author of the book wrote the screenplay of the film along with director Gary Ross and Billy Ray. There are likely many who have not read the book and do not know their Panems and Districts. Panem is the name of the nation that has risen from the ruins of once then North America. The people from its 12 Districts are subject to select one boy and one girl to participate in the annual ‘Hunger Games’ taking part in a battle where there is only one participant who will emerge as the winner. The Hunger Games is a televised reality show complete with sponsors and commentaries. This, according to the ‘Capitol’ leaders serves as a reminder of the people’s failed uprising against them that happened decades ago.

The film let us in to the colorful universe of Panem and its poor twelve districts. It features the central female protagonist Katniss Everdeen, played by Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence who yet again delivered another beautiful performance similar to her lead stint in Winter’s Bone. Katniss is the caretaker of her sister Primrose whom she promised to protect no matter what and her widowed mother who is too depressed to do anything. She is a skilled hunter who uses her skills to feed her starving family.

When Primrose name was selected in her first year of eligibility to the game, Katniss stepped up for her sister and volunteered as a tribute. The baker Peeta Mellark was the boy chosen for their district. Both were brought to the Capitol, went through make-overs and a bit of training and eventually were brought to the battleground where violence soon claimed the lives of those who are participating in the game.

The film is almost three hours and you won’t even feel that it was that long because there’ just so much in it. It was never boring and the story itself is way engaging that you’d really feel the characters, like she / he are representing your district. The cast ensemble is impeccable. Everyone seemed to really play his or her part really well. My favorite characters in this film would have to be Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), the mistress of ceremonies during the reaping for District 12 and Rue (Amandla Stenberg) from District 11. Her death was very heartbreaking that I can’t help but tear up a little. Jennifer Lawrence whose vulnerability and pain as she portrayed Katniss was the ultimate torch that carry the film altogether.

Gary Ross made some very interesting visuals in the film that contradicts the darkness of its main theme’s premise. There is no hesitation nor inhibition about the brutality of the game and the screenplay is just in its perfect state. The only criticism I may have about this film would have to be development of Katniss and Peeta’s love story. Overall, the film is as beautiful as its book but what the movie delivered is a world that captured the essence of its source into an effortless and magnificent cinematic experience.

Rating: 9.5/10

Director: Gary Ross

Based on the book of Suzanne Collins

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley, Toby Jones, Alexander Ludwig, Amandla Stenberg, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jack Quaid, Leven Rambin, Dayo Okeniyi, Jacqueline Emerson, Paula Malcomson, Willow Shields

This film review was first posted at Pinoy Exchange. Read all my film reviews at Pinoy Exchange Official PEx Movie Reviews.

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Review: Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang (2012)

Posted on January 23, 2014 | Leave a comment
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Corazon Ang Unang Aswang is about a couple namely Corazon and Daniel who has been trying desperately to have a child for a very long time and are settled in the quiet place of Magdalena. Corazon finally was able to bore a child but became berserk when the child died upon its birth. It is from there that Corazon turned into a monstrous Aswang that terrorized the village.

The film was set in 1946 and is nowhere near the usual scary Aswang film as a regular viewer may perceive upon reading its title. It is somewhat a story that tackles the Filipino myth about “Aswang.” To begin with, there is no mention of Aswang over the whole duration of the film. Superstitions has it that Aswang eats human and animal flesh and in this film, Corazon did all of these.

I thought Erich Gonzales who played Corazon did a fantastic job as a barrio lass being ridiculed by the village people for her inability to bear a child. It was too cliché a scene but she really does look the part! Her innocent charm paired with the very charismatic Derek Ramsay who played Daniel, his loving husband may probably be the main factor that saved the film from its rather draggy feel about it.

Another commendable performance are from Mon Confiado and Mark Gil who delivered the goods as usual but Jeffrey Quizon who somehow played Daniel’s bestfriend and narrated the film in some parts gave the best performance. I will give him an A+ for believability. I thought Tetchie Agbayani’s character was unnecessary if not to build up the parallelism of what happened to her in the past and what will happen to Corazon. The characterization was a total giveaway and just predictable.

I was actually eyeing some loopholes because there seemed to be many but I cannot put my fingers on them because the film’s vibe is sucking me in that I could predict what “will / may” happen next. Clearly, Corazon acquired no superpowers but if she feeds on a dead human flesh – won’t she die or atleast get poisoned and eventually die? I guess I’m being condescending about that fact or maybe, she really did acquire some supernatural attributes that was not mentioned in the film. Also, the shots of Corazon being her evil self are reminiscent of the “monsters” in other Asian horror films such as The Ring and The Grudge. It was all good though as it intensify each scene even more.

On a more positive note, I thought the film’s cinematography is genius! I love how each frame were captured in a very consistent way and kudos to the accompanying score for it gave the maximum feel of the most important scenes – I particularly love the scene when Corazon went to the hill to pray for two weeks. It was just creepy!

Overall, there isn’t much to munch on the film’s plot as it narrowly gives the audience a dramatization of the supposed first “Aswang,” a monster created by the town’s people that eventually evolved to be part of the Filipino folklore. The good thing though is that it was a subtle employment of our still existing folklore that younger viewers may or may not appreciate at all. I am hoping it is the former.

Rating: 6/10

Director: Richard Somes

Main Cast: Erich Gonzales, Derek Ramsay, Mark Gil, Jeffrey Quizon, Mon Confiado, Tetchie Agbayani

Distributor: Skylights Films /Star Cinema

Special Screening at Shangrila Cineplex 4 on March 14, 2012 Officiated by the Ericholics

This film review was first posted at Pinoy Exchange. Read all my film reviews at Pinoy Exchange Official PEx Movie Reviews.

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Review: John Carter (2012)

Posted on January 23, 2014 | Leave a comment
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John Carter is an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom series that tells the story of former confederate military captain John Carter who accidentally got transported to Mars where he became in-between conflicts of the inhabitants of the red planet that includes the Tars Tarkas and the people of Helium living in a world that is about to be destroyed and ruled by the leader of an opposing tribe who was gifted a powerful “blue” ray by some ‘supernatural’ beings. The storyline of the film has so much potential that it will make you really excited from the start since it would explain much of what the struggle of the film is and be introduced to different characters in it. It’s just too bad that the characterization took much of the explaining without actually letting us know more about Barsoom itself.

The Tars Tarkas were the most interesting characters in the film and it feels like watching Star Wars with all the sub-storyline involving them. I thought their Gladiator-like challenge was fun but it was comical at the end since it’s not even that important which I later figured out why it ended that way (audience alike had a good laugh involving these green Martians.) Nevertheless, I think they are the characters to watch for, as the rest seemed a bit forgettable. Of course, Taylor Kitsch (John Carter) is definitely a one charming hero in the film and thought he delivered the best performance but his lines totally failed him. He and Lyn Collins (Princess of Helium) have great chemistry though, so that should be a bit of a plus to consider.

I will not say that the film reached its maximum potential with all the thrilling action sequences and special effects but it definitely is asking for a sequel (hmm maybe?). I mean, there’s just too many gaps and questions unanswered (especially for someone who have not read the book / series). John Carter is a “Martian hero” and that’s just it – it somehow led you to ask more questions. I mean, I think that’s a good thing because there’s a hunger to know more about John Carter and the people of Barsoom because it goes to show that it’s somewhat interesting to its audience. Overall, I’m not sure if the film will please everybody but I think kids would love this one and its great cinematic effects. It’s maybe a bit underwhelming due to the unrealized sub-plots but it’s okay for an hour and a half film.
Rating: 6.5/10
Director: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Willem DafoeBased on “A Princess Of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

This film review was first posted at Pinoy Exchange. Read all my film reviews at Pinoy Exchange Official PEx Movie Reviews.

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Review: Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2012)

Posted on January 22, 2014 | Leave a comment
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Coming from the director of Ratatouille and The Incredibles, I’m not expecting much from Brad Bird who took the challenge of directing the fourth installment of the franchise, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. It was actually surprisingly good and in my opinion, it’s even better than J.J Abrams works on the third movie.

In Ghost Protocol, Ethan is being rescued by Benjie and Jane from the Moscow Prison where he’s at. As a team, their mission is to discover classified documents from the “Kremlin” that lead to the “Ghost Protocol” mission when the Kremlin got bombed and the trio were blamed for it. Along the way, they met Brandt who helped them uncover something that could start a nuclear fiasco.

The most commendable thing about this film would have to be the subtle twists that Bird and his writers injected in the film. I thought the whole team reminded me of “The Losers” in a good kind of way. Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Jeremy Renner are perfect for their roles that it would really be a good idea to see them together (again) in the future. Perhaps, this is one of the ingredients that I didn’t see in the earlier installments – the chemistry and personalities of its characters.

The film isn’t perfect at all when it comes to some of its action sequences especially the final showdown in the parking lot. It was okay-ish and almost a bit comical. The grand scene though was when Ethan climbed the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai. It was just amazing! With this, Mission Impossible has found a new fan in me and I’m encouraging everyone to catch this while it’s on!
Ratings: 8/10
Director: Brad Bird

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton

This film review was first posted at Pinoy Exchange. Read all my film reviews at Pinoy Exchange Official PEx Movie Reviews.

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Review: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Posted on January 22, 2014 | Leave a comment
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I have been waiting for the first part of The Twilight Saga that I even read the book (again) for the nth time. After watching it though, I’m not quite sure what to make of what I thought about this film. The trailers that have been release were quite impressive and very exciting that it kinda made me giggle with excitement (oh, yes people…I’m a fan of the franchise!) to see it!

In this film, we’ll see Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) tying the knot with all the grandeur of a wedding that seems like a ceremony from a fairy tale. It was just way over the top but was beautiful nonetheless. Then, they went to Brazil for their honeymoon where they consummated their forbidden love. In a very strange twist, Edward somehow managed to impregnate Bella and what’s inside her is threatening to kill her and her only chance of survival is to become a vampire herself.

I was expecting a super-good narrative and execution since it was made by Oscar-nominated director Bill Condon but I find it a bit flat, atleast for my taste. It’s comparable to the second installment of the franchise, New Moon that Chris Weitz destroyed but a notch better in my opinion. I feel that the dialogues were just a bit off and the conflicts were crammed to try to stay true to the book (making me hugely disappointed, having read the book myself.)

I am however impressed with the trio (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner) delivering the best work in the film. I guess that pretty made up my somehow disappointing take on the film. As usual, the soundtrack and its original score are just perfection! If there’s one thing that is consistent with the saga, it has to be its music.

Although I find the film way too safe for a part one of the last installment, I will still recommend it to “twihards” and non-twilight fans alike. It was still an okay film that was “safely” executed and really entertaining at most parts.

Rating: 5.5/10

Director: Bill Condon

Distributed by Summit EntertainmentStarring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Billy Burke, Sarah Clarke, Julia Jones, Booboo Stewart, MyAnna Buring, Maggie Grace, Casey LaBlow, Michael Sheen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Christopher Heyerdahl, Chaske Spencer, Christian Camargo, Mia Maestro

This film review was first posted at Pinoy Exchange. Read all my film reviews at Pinoy Exchange Official PEx Movie Reviews.

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Review: In Time (2011)

Posted on January 22, 2014 | Leave a comment
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In Time takes place in a future, where the usual currency is now replaced with time. People stop aging once they turned 25 and would have to pay for hours and days in order to continue living. The rich can live for as long as they want while the poor live day to day or just die trying.

Will Salas played by Justin Timberlake is one of the ghetto-dwelling workers, who have to work to extend his time. The “Timekeepers” accused him of murder when a wealthy stranger was found dead and he became a hundred- years richer that led to his hunt.

There are a lot of “what if” and “what the heck” scenario in the film. It felt a bit amateurish for me like an inexpensive student production. There are many things happening in the film that didn’t quite connect at all and a lot of unnecessary characters.

The only good and memorable scene I could think of was probably the time Will’s Mother played by Olivia Wilde got timed out on her 50th birthday. From there forward, the film didn’t quite build up.

Sylvia Weis played by Amanda Seyfried, the young daughter of a rich time broker became the rebellious partner of Will in his conquest to distribute time ala Robin Hood style and aimed to change the world as it is in the film. It was a bit corny and all they do in the film was to run from the timekeepers that it doesn’t take too long to notice that the film has become unbearably boring.

Alex Pettyfer was a big letdown in the film. I was actually expecting a lot from his character but all I’ve got was blah. I’m not even sure why he’s there in the first place and I simply don’t know why there is a need to waste a good twenty minutes for his scenes. I did get it at the end though that he’s actually a corrupt timekeeper but seriously, his character was totally unnecessary.

Cillian Murphy, who played the head timekeeper and Vincent Kartheiser who played the father of Sylvia were interesting to say the least.

Lastly, I have to admit that one thing I like about the film was the concept but I’m not too keen with its execution. It lacks the energy, the inspiration and the lines to let your precious hours be wasted by it. I will recommend it to the fans of its actors and see it for yourself; otherwise, I will suggest you wait for the DVD release of the film.
Rating: 4/10

This film review was first posted at Pinoy Exchange. Read all my film reviews at Pinoy Exchange Official PEx Movie Reviews.

Director: Andrew Niccol

Starring Amanda Seyfried, Justin Timberlake, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Matt Bomer, Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Galecki, and Vincent Kartheiser

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