The Disappointing Watchmen Movie

My highly anticipated movie turned to be my biggest disappointed.

When I first watched the preview of Watchmen, I thought this is going to be action-packed, emotion-driven, blood-racing helluva movie. But I was so wrong.

Sure, there was the usual mark of the movies made by Legendary pictures - Sin City & 300's cinematic effects are still very much present in the movie. However, the storyline was admittedly, well, boring. Too many emphasis on the side stories and yet, when you watch the movie, you can sum up each and every one's sob stories in 30 minutes or less. The real action only started when Nite Owl and Silk Spectre decided to start being vigilantes again.

i give credit to the filmmakers for at least closely relating the screenplay to the original graphic novel. From the start of the story, until Rorschach's demise, is very much like the comic book itself.I understand that in order to appreciate the grandiose design of the whole plot, you have to immerse yourself in the stories that surround each of the characters. However, there was little opportunity for you to absorb the events as it transitions to another side of the story.

This is one of those movies that I can say whose original material should have been left as is. It has to take a lot of modification and approval from the the make of the comic novel to make it adaptable to film, since the plot of this story is beyond just the ordinary - its dark, gory and even sexual content is better left in the graphical form.

Three candies out of five.

The Underdog becomes the Millionaire at the Oscars

With the recent victory at the Oscars, garnering at least eight of its ten nominations, my curiosity led me to watch the film...finally. My hubby was able to borrow a DVD of this movie, and I went straight in watching it. After all, it has been like how many weeks since I last logged in here, thanks to my **&***** internet connection. (Hmph!!!)

Start of the film: a question was raised on how the kid won the million rupees. As the movie progressed, it recounts the experience of the protagonist Jamal Malik, from his early life in Mumbai to his job as a call center assistant in Mumbai. His adventures, compared to one of the three Muskeeteers, is as bittersweet as his characters experienced the life and love that is India. His love for Latika over the years had not daunted his soul to give up on her, and his longing for his brother Salim transcended even to his realy adult years.

The movie is almost devoid of all the Bollywood drama, except that I feel that they just had to include that song and dance number in the end just to follow the usual Bollywood formula. I just didn't like the ending. Okay, I admit I am not a fan of the song and dance thing and no matter how they filmed it, it still gives me the creeps. But the depiction of the slums of India, its real ugly face peering out in the open, the corruption and the discrimation and the sense of danger were all there. You will almost admire the kids on how they manage to live their lives that way was amazing. I was almost on the floor rolling with laughter when the younger Jamal jumped into the dump of poop just to get out of the so-called "comfort" room just to get a glimpse of his Bollywood hero Amitabh Bachchan.

In the end, Jamal won the contest, and found Latika, but at the cost of his brother's life. It was bittersweet indeed, but the question remains on whether they would live happy ever after.

I give 4 candies for its good cinematography, its realistic and prfound view of Indian society, and story.

Of Suicide and Seven Pounds

I was able to watch "Seven Pounds" before it hit the theaters here in the Philippines, and I find it as moving as Forrest Gump. It was somehow thought-provoking, as the notion of suicide being sinful is now in question: Is suicide indeed sinful if the purpose of it is to give another person another chance in life?

Tim Thomas (Will Smith) is a aeronautics engineer who has everything - a beautiful wife, a dynamic career, a jet-paced life and a gorgeous beach house. By answering one phone call his life turned upside-down -- he lost his wife and six other strangers in a car accident. Unable to forgive himself for losing the lives of seven people, he posed as an IRS agent using his brother's identity, and gave seven strangers a new lease in life. He gave a part of his lungs to his brother Ben; a part of his liver to Holly, a child services worker; his beach house to Connie, an abused mother of two; his kidney to George, a junior hockey player; his bone marrow to a young boy named Nicholas; his eyes to Ezra, a blind meat salesman and finally, his heart to Emily Posa, a self-employed greeting card printer. What complicated things was the fact that he fell in love with Emily just beofre he decided it was "time" to give up his life for her to have a second lease in life. He contacted his best friend Dan to make the final arrangements.

The story ended with Emily learning that Tim was the one who donated his heart for her, and meeting up with Ezra at a concert. Having full restoration of his eyes, Ezra played piano at a concert and when Emily saw Ezra's eyes, she knew she was looking at Tim's. She cried, and Ezra recognized her as one of those who received Tim's generosity.

The movie started with a phone call, as Tim, who was posing as Ben Thomas, called 911 and reported that there was a suicide at a motel, and the one who committed the suicide was him. The next series of events revolved in his investigations whether the people whom he was planning to give out his generosity were deserving people. There were also scenes that his brother, the real Ben, was asking for his whereabouts, on which Tim was elusive. Things complicated when he was beginning to fall in love with Emily. He was getting more and more involved with her -- staying at the hospital when she called up for company, fixing her Heidelberg printer so she can work again, and taking care of her dog while she was in the hospital.

One may wonder why he was keeping a deadly jellyfish in his motel room; it turned out to be his passport for suicide. By placing the jellyfish in a tub of ice and water where he soaked himself, he sealed his fate. If suicide is a sin, then you would think, is this wrong?

After seeing the film, I immediately associated this with The Merchant of Venice, wherein Antonio agreed to pay a pound of flesh to Shylock in payment of the loan made by Bassanio. Basically, in payment for the loss of seven lives in that fateful accident, Tim looked for seven strangers to give out himself for. Basically, a pound of flesh for every person, although in this case, his possession (the beach house) was given to Connie.

Back to suicide. If suicide is a sin, did Tim committed such, when his purpose was to give out his life for Emily and Ezra? In my personal opinion, it may appear wrong, but I think what he did is giving up his life so that others may live. Christ did say in the Gospel (John 15: 13), "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends". I believe this is what he did, laying his life for these people.

My verdict? Four out of five candies. :)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Today I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button while waiting for a job interview somewhere in the south, and I cannot help but marvel at how this movie actually brought me to tears. What would YOU do if you lived your life backwards?

The manner of how it was filmed, very much like Forrest Gump, is quite obvious, considering that Eric Roth is the same author who penned Gump. But the poignancy of the story is so moving that for one moment you would think and say, "please stop growing young".

The movie started when the father, played by Jason Flemyng, shocked to see the grotesque baby his wife bore him, left the frail Benjamin on the steps of an elderly home and was found by Queenie, played by Taraji Henson. His mind was that of a toddler, but his features, his frail body, resembled that of an 80-year-old man. The movie started picking up in his "teens", after joining a tugboat en route to Russia, and after meeting the wife of a politician/spy (Tilda Swinton). There he had his first real taste of a love affair, although it was cut short, at the onset of World War II. Throughout the film, he stumbles upon Daisy, from a sweet 5 -year old, to the diva ballerina who lives her life - New Yorker style. Their attempt, however, to make a harmonious relationship together did not happen until they were able to meet halfway - Pitt now looking very much like himself,and Cate Blanchett looking very womanly and desirable in one of her best performances ever. The most poignant scene for me, would be the moment when the infant Benjamin closed his eyes while the elderly Daisy looked on.

While watching the film, one can wonder, whether it was better to live your life the way we should - from birth to old age, or live your life backwards, exploring the world until you're too young to comprehend the beauty of life. But the beauty of the life lies in the performances of Pitt and Blanchett, who both breathed life in the characters of Benjamin Button and Daisy.

It's a beautiful movie...my five sweet candies are all in this film.Beautifully made. A sweet tear-jerker indeed.

My 2008 Sweet Candies

Looking back at 2008, it has been a year of tears and cheers for me and I can't help but reminisce the nice places I've dined at...Okay, so I am a certified foodie addict. But that doesn't mean that I gobble up every morsel I can find in every restaurant I've been to. Just want to cite all the fave restaurants I've been to for the year 2008.

1. Brazil! Brazil!
Ah, the succulent roasted beef and pork and sausages and pineapple...wait, roasted pineapplie?!? Yup, at Brazil! the famous churrasco style of dining comes to life. They usually serve around 14 churrascos in the evening, and around 10 churrascos during lunch time. Churrasco is basically barbecued meat on big skewers and served along with salads. I has the pleasure of eating twice in this restaurant and I enjoyed their tenderloin steak and delectable cuttlefish. Schublig is also served along with jumbo hotdogs and chicken. Thier delectable side dishes and salads are bountiful to help freshen up the palate. A definite no-no for those who are suffering from hypertension, but who would not miss this mouth-watering treat? Get your Catapress ready, and make sure your stomachs are emptied before heading this restaurant, 'cause you're in for a treat!

2. Cafe d'Asie, Bellevue
Who would not forget the mouth-watering rib-eye steak at Cafe d'Asie? While some would serve it by the gram, as what they advertise it, they serve it "buffet-style"! Oh yes, the everyday buffet at Cafe d'Asie boasts of an international variety from good ol' American dishes to Japanese to Filipino and loads to sweet-enders to your meal. Pricey, but considering the cafe is part of Bellevue Hotel, it's worth the price. And hey, you can enjoy your rib-eye steak with gravy or barbecue sauce and have it sliced on how thick you want it to be. Yum-yum. Not so good on sushis though. But then, the rib-eye steak is calling...

3. Taal Vista Hotel
I had the privilege of eating here twice during our planning session and it's absolute heaven especially in the evening buffet. The salad bar hosts an array of different salads and entrees that will tickle your palate. International dishes are also offered, but their Japanese buffet with unlimited tempura is sooo good. Their teppanyaki is also good. Really good.

4. Rack's
The return of Rack's! How I miss their baby back ribs and that barbecue sauce!!!! When it opened at Festival Mall I promised myself that I will dine in and enjoy that meal. I fufilled that prmise and ate together with my hubby and son. We ordered the baby back ribs meal and onion rings and enjoyed it with that barbeque sauce that used to be part of any grocery shelf. Bring back the sauce!!!

5. Don Henrico's
Ok, it may just be the usual restaurant on the block, but hey, let's admit it: the Buffalo wings are absolutely delicious. And their pizza is downright Italian. Just good. Mmm.

A lot more restaurants, grills and bars have caught my facy eye, but these restaurants would probably be my top five restaurants because of their good food and fine place. Yep, definitely my sweet candies for 2008. :)

Tale of the Potter

I was browsing through Google and I stumbled upon Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The supposed- to-be-shown-in-December movie that was delayed for another half-year already has a full trailer and another one that can be found in Rottentomatoes.com. Seems to me everything is good for viewing; so why the delay? (Oh, by the way, another one for international release can be found at http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/harry-potter-and-half-blood-prince/feature-trailer.

While many revel at the seemingly expensive and well-programmed special effects for this film, many wonder as to why this film needs to be delayed. Some say that the global economic crisis has taken its effect to the movie industry, thus affecting a lot of movies that were supposed to be shown in the holidays.

Seems to me that the trailer itself speaks for another sure-fire blockbuster when the movie will open soon. The special effects are spectacular as always, and the actors, led by Danielle Radcliffe, are "growing" beautifully on screen. The role of Ginny Weasley seems to be more apparent (Harry Potter fans know that she is actually the object of Harry's affection) and the grim realization that Voldemort is more powerful than ever. While the movie now focuses on the aspect of teenage love, the fact remains that Harry is given the task of finding Voldemort's weakness, being the "Chosen One".

I hope the movie will bring more animation in this book by JK Rowling as well as continue to fascinate fans and moviegoers alike.

My verdict? I give it 3.5 out of 5 sweets. :)

Happy New Year to All!

Happy New year guys!

It's the start of the new year, and the start of something new.

Soon I'll be posting me reviews and I appreciate it if you will let me know how I'm doing.

Thanks!