It’s been a while since I rented DVDs. I was hooked on the many new KDramas that aired before the year ended. I just couldn’t insert Hollywood in between episodes. So right around Christmas week, I returned my Blockbuster envelopes after they scattered around the house for months for new DVDs. Allow me to digress and explain how my rental routine works.
I signed up for Blockbuster’s online rental; just like NetFlix, only better. I say better because I can return my envelopes at my assigned Blockbuster store for free DVD rentals — 1 DVD for 1 envelope. The rental rules applies. While I have the DVD from the store, the online rental will already send me whatever is next in my queue (availability of the title succeeds the queue). Again, if I return 1 envelope, they’ll send me 1 DVD also. In essence, I’m getting twice as many DVDs.
Back on topic — this weekend, I saw three good films: Meet Bill, Step Brothers, and Traitor.
Meet Bill is a story about identity crisis. I enjoyed it because Elizabeth Banks was hot and not because of the story. The story was okay, but left hanging just like its characterization. Aaron Eckhart’s personification of Bill was praiseworthy and Banks’ body display was delightful to my eyes.
Step Brothers is a story of two middle-aged men becoming stepbrothers after their parents remarried. It’s another one of those Will Ferrel films where everything is blown out of realistic proportion. It’s stupid funny.
Traitor is a story of an FBI undercover who was of Sudanese decent from Chicago (sounds familiar?) He is caught between his beliefs and reality. He sacrificed himself in order to battle terrorism that killed his father and at the same time, he is battling to keep intact his spiritual beliefs. I consider this film to be one of the year’s best because it is substantial overall. It wasn’t overloaded with Hollywood effects and at the same time the story wasn’t dragging. The audience would know that Samir was undercover, but the film would still grab one’s curiosity. That’s because of the nature of the characters, one cannot know what will happen to Samir in the end.
I strongly suggest to anyone the movie Traitor. You won’t regret it.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a story of a man born and lived backwards — agewise that is. Benjamin was born in his eighties and aged backwards. The story was told perfectly (I can’t agree on adaptation because I have not read the book) through the film. It took three hours to show how Benjamin aged to infancy and finally closed his eyes. I’m very sensitive when the story’s main theme is time. For this one, though not entirely a time travel, I’m satisfied. The story ought to be taken as an existential observation. The fact that no matter where we begin, there is always an end. A scene that I was mostly touched was when Benjamin learned how to miss someone from a friend who said that death is relevant in life because that’s the only way we would know the importance (or how valuable) someone is. For anyone who’ve been following what I’ve been writing here, I’ve said over and over again that the only way to avoid grief is through detachment. It’s a contrapositive of “Benjamin”.
Brad Pitt has always been an underrated actor. Hopefully he gets what he deserves.
I was so happy when I found this film (with English subtitle) at a torrent tracker. Early this morning, I watched this Korean movie and I wasn’t particularly pleased. I already expected the movie to be dark, so that didn’t bother me. What bothered me the most was the language. Joe Odagiri spoke Japanese and the rest Korean and for some reason, all characters can understand each other. It seemed to me that production gave up on the language barrier and totally ignored it hoping the audience can make themselves understand. Uhmmm… not me!
The particular symbolism used weren’t too familiar to me which is the other shortcoming on my behalf. A few touches of gothic humor gave me a few shortlived laughters. Odagiri’s acting, however, was brilliant. Especially the part when he almost went crazy, it was superb. Both actors did not fail my expectations in their craft. Lee Ran was a perfect character for Lee Na Young.
If not for the acting prowess of Odagiri and Lee, I would have trashed the film. It was artisitc, but filled with loopholes and unrealism.
It is indeed the first time that Bb. Joyce Bernal disappointed me. Over the weekend, I had the patience to watch the first starring film by KC Concepcion opposite Richard Gutierrez. I don’t know why Kookie had the “fortitude” to promote this high school skit; maybe, just maybe she was desperate. (more…)
I’m so excited for this Korean film to come out on torrent (oopps!) Starring the two of my most favored actors — Joe O-dagiri (Shinobi) and Lee Na Young (Somebody Special), I have to see the film. The big screen release is early October, so a subtitled DVD quality should be out early next year. This will be another tear-jerker and depressing movie, but it’s the substance that matters including the excellent acting that I will be expecting from the two. This will be the second O-dagiri piece I’ll be seeing and it’s been a while since Lee made a project. If you want to know why I’m expecting the best of this, check the stream below.
It’s Independence Day weekend and for those who will be staying home (like me) during the long weekend, I am recommending the films below. They are all foreign films (not if you’re Japanese or Korean). I have them as part of my tiny DVD collection. They aren’t new. They’re about at least 3 years old already and I’m guessing that most of my readers have not seen them yet. I’m a huge fan of martial arts films especially the ninja and samurai. That’s not the only reason why I’m recommmending them, however. These films possess deeper meaning. I have found those meanings in my own perception. It’s up to you to find for yourself.
The weekend was dismal. Rain was pouring most of the time, but that didn’t ruin my fin de semana. I finally got a new pair of jeans. The only “decent” pair I had is no longer decent, so I had to buy a new pair. I also went to see Kung Fu Panda which I rate 2.5 stars out of 5. I was thinking of checking out The Incredible Hulk but I opted out at the last minute. (more…)