a record of thoughts

Typically, I don’t rely on reviews to tell me whether to watch, listen, eat, or use things. I strongly believe that reviews are for fools who can’t decide for themselves. Many things for sale these days now require expertise to identify what to have. However, availability of information has been for cheap as well. Regardless, I will stay away from such examples to relay my message.

Movies are forms of art. Art is not mathematically quantified – usually. Art is beautiful relative to the audience. One may find abstract art to be chaotic and tranquil for another. One may think that punk rock is out of control while the other may think it a well written masterpiece. One may think a comedy to be funny and the other will think it a tragedy. The point is that art is our escape to reason.

Since there is no standard measure to the quality of an art, a review has no right to judge an artistic piece trash or not. He may give his opinion, but should not be the basis of an artistic quality. A good example of this would be “The Boondock Saints.” Film critics put this film down and didn’t earn at all until people who saw the film talked about and earned 50 Million in video sales. The film is not bad, but film critics casted the film away.

So next time you plan to see a movie, ask around but don’t take their inputs personally. If your gut tells you a movie is good enough to dig in your pockets, go and see the film.

I saw two movies over the weekend – “Eat, Pray, Love” and “The Expendables.” The latter satisfied my craving for a bloody-manly-action-packed-sequences. The former, however, aroused my thoughts to mildly rant about a trend that is known as “guruism” – a word I shamelessly co-created. I possess the right to say I co-created the word because my word processing software clearly underlined the word with sharp red line.

Guruism if I may define it is a belief that one’s enlightenment is reached if they sing hymns and praises in front of a guru – or worst his or her photograph. Right there and then, you would think these believers are stupid; and they are I must agree. So we have foreigners making a pilgrimage to India (a.k.a. “The Source”) and perform meditations then they find themselves, retract the admission of guilt, or anything that will make one feel better. Ha! That’s my cup of tea – be selfish and not worry about the surroundings.

So what do I have against this ism? Well, India is supposed to be one of the poorest countries and the movie even showed it. If the gurus can provide enlightenment that eventually guides an individual to better the self and in result better the society, then why can’t they enlighten their countrymen and make a better India?

Hollywood doesn’t cut it anymore for me. Rabbit and Lizard is not the greatest of films; but it is better than most. The movie is very figurative, fluid and exciting despite its tranquil façade. Dark, it may seem to most, but it really is a fulfilling film. One has to meditate on the many dangling hints, but that made the movie good for me. I didn’t want it to end happily, yet I don’t want it to end dismally either. It’s up to the audience to create their own interpretation of what happens.

The story was structured such that the audience is guided into thinking about the depth of the characters’ relationship. It is not until the end, however, that the truth is revealed. The substance of the film is very dense, yet it’s lightly presented. The balance between the content and the presentation crafted a sensual feel to the film.

A must see.

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…)