lord_of_the_movies Reviews

A Very Long Engagement (2004)

To say that this film is wonderful is an understatement

[10/10 · 6 February 2005]

While others have already given snippets of the movie, I'd just want to say my opinions about it. Here it goes.

First, this movie moved me, in ways I didn't expect. I really, really loved it. It's too bad that it didn't qualify for Oscar nomination for this year in the Best foreign film category. I'm sure it could have been a very strong contender.

My favorite scene was, as expected, the last scene, where He told her, once again, "Does it hurt when you walk?". It's cheesy and all but that simple line alone made the whole movie worth watching many times. It gets better as you watch it again.

I take my hat off to the men and women who brought this story in the big screen. This is surely one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Lost in Translation (2003)

a film on its finest

[10/10 · 29 February 2004]

Having been nominated for the academy awards as best picture,Lost in translation is a movie to watch(plus the fact that Bill Murray is on it). The first scene was perfect, it got my attention and felt "lost" in some way.Well, some say there's nothing more in the movie, but for me it showed all about realities in life...real situations which some movies of this kind seem to ignore...and i guess that's the reason why some people don't appreciate this beautiful film. Everything was perfect, the script was awesome and of course Bill Murray's portrayal of middle-aged actor (experiencing a midlife crisis) was commendable. The story was deep and required deep thinking so as not to feel dull while watching it. The chemistry built on loneliness is perfect and spontaneous.

Take time to watch this film many times you can...Discover the true message and be delighted to the substance it brings. Great performance...wonderful script..definitely a film on its finest!

Ang tanging ina (2003)

Fun but too raw

[12 June 2003]

i was forced to see this movie because of a friend.

ok, Aiai was obviously trying her best to make the scenes funny BUT the other cast members were too corny.

this is a typical story of how a mother, who failed to have a lasting married life (she had 3 three partners who died!),would do everything for the sake of her children.

the story line was light but too impossible to happen.

i saw the effort but u can skip this one.

4/10

Vanilla Sky (2001)

a new look of film-making

[26 February 2002]

Vanilla Sky is not a typical movie that anyone would like. A viewer needs an intellectual mind and superb analysis. This is not a romantic type of movie nor a science-formaulae one. The director did this movie

so well, although some scences one may find dragging. That is, one should be intelligent enough to understand what the movie is really trying to say. I must say this is a good turn in movie making, where the viewers are the ones who are catching up into the storyline.

This is a must-see movie. The performances were good,the sites used were remarkable, you must see how did they turned Times Square as a very quiet place where no one is around. The movie is full of flashbacks that one might find tiring and boring but the essence was magnificently shown.

Mhark's rating: 7/10

American Adobo (2001)

it's good but overcooked

[28 January 2002]

I have heard so many good reviews about this film, for me basically the movie is about, how do Filipinos adapt to a very different place. The film entails a lot of challenges in life one has to face especially if not in his homeland. The story is light, sad moments were not so sad, and funny moments were not so funny.

One thing though, the film tends to over explain things, this would have done better. It is one of those movies that equates food into the story, this time i have hardly seen the connection, it did not show up to the mainstream of the movie.

The characters did perform well, though some parts wherein they were acting unnaturally. The script is very light.

Ricky Davao,I should say did very well in the movie, he deserves to be in the list of best actors in the Philippines.

American Adobo tastes good,but it's overcooked. 5/10

Muro-ami (1999)

a great story of survival

[8 January 2002]

I'm a big advocate of Abaya's films, and in this movie she had given her best with regards to the cinematography. I like the way she captured the underwater scenes. Cesar Montano,I might say he is a very

versatile actor, giving his character a realistic soul.

The whole movie is worth watching,it depicts of a story of a man who used children as his source of living through reef hunting. The film showed the beautiful and rich seas of the Philippines, especially in the Visayan region.

Congratulations to the whole cast and crew.