andreaaviado Reviews

Lady Bird (2017)

A film that creatively and concisely depicts life through being a teenager

[7/10 · 17 February 2018]

The film is an above average one for me. It is actually one of those few films which made me smile after seeing it. I like the story because it managed to creatively and concisely depict life through the confusing stage of being a teenager and managed to effectively portray it all within just 90 minutes. I also liked the fact that all characters who played important roles in the life of the protagonist were given the chance to show their selves --that they're not just a somebody in the protagonist's life. In addition, the story's twists and turns are well-delivered making the audience caught off guard.

Going to be a recommendation to my friends? Yes, not because of the hype or the Oscars but because it is worth the watch.

La La Land (2016)

An epitome of good storytelling.

[8/10 · 23 January 2017]

La La Land is an epitome of good storytelling. There isn't anything unique about the story itself but the way on how it was told to the audience is what made this movie stand out among the others. The director must be so proud for turning his vision of the story into picture because, personally, I really did appreciate it --a lot. Partnered with great cinematography, awesome soundtrack, superb transitions, funny dialogues and nice acting with some singing and dancing --I can say that this film is a definition of entertainment. Kudos to the production team for delivering such an above-average film.

Nonetheless, one of the issues that I noticed in the film is the flow of the story. I really like how the writer gradually introduced and built the characters and their world in the beginning, however, when the movie was nearing its conclusion, I found the flow faster compared at the beginning which caught me off guard that the movie is about to end. In addition, I am not really a fan of how the story ended but is of the film's ending. I really like how the filmmakers depicted the story if things went the other way around --a style I've always wanted to try.

Moreover, I am also not a fan of the film's scenes wherein the character's background fade into black and a spotlight focuses on the actor. Personally, I find this style and aesthetic amusing in crucial scenes but is not in those which I perceive as not that relevant since this decreased the depth of the message.

Generally, La La Land is one of those movies which made me leave the theater with a smile on my face. What made the movie remarkable for me and for most people probably, is its depiction of life embodied into two distinct characters that most people can easily relate to. Personally, I have seen myself in some of Emma's scenes portraying Mia. I'm really glad that I did not waste my time and money seeing this film.

Saving Sally (2016)

A hope for more local animated films in the future

[5/10 · 30 December 2016]

As a fan of animated films, I am happy that Saving Sally made it into this year's Metro Manila Film Festival. "Finally! Something that will represent the animation field," was my first thought. And after previewing its trailer, it made me want to see the full film.

Personally, I think the film was okay --okay in a way that nothing did surprise me about the story itself though it can be unpredictable in some parts. There was a story that the audience can follow through which is good for entertainment but lacks depth at the same time. Symbolism was evident in the film partnered with some visually yet subtle puns but I did not get any deep "hugot" from it. Not referring to punchlines though, but a meaning which the audience will not derive from the screen but from their realization because of the story's essence. I was looking and hoping for this until the end but unfortunately did not get any.

In addition, I also have some concerns about the language preference. Personally, I think the movie's message would have been conveyed better if the writers have chosen Filipino as the characters' language considering that they have already used it as well in some parts of the film. Why not retain the consistency? Though I'm pretty sure that the writers have some reasons for such preference.

Technical point of view, I couldn't skip, of course, to mention the cinematography, editing and the props department of the film. I do think that the filmmakers did a good job in these facets. Nonetheless, with regards to the film's visuals, I personally think that there are better shots that may have been used to create more compelling scenes in some parts of the movie but the ones presented were not that bad either.

Overall, I appreciate Saving Sally most especially the animation throughout the entire film considering the difficulty in putting something like this as a whole. As a matter of fact, I perceive Saving Sally as a symbol of hope of the country's future animated films. I do really hope that this will initiate more locally-made animated films in the future.

The Lobster (2015)

The Lobster is going to be one of those memorable films for me which, I will never forget because of its uniqueness and twists.

[7/10 · 29 October 2016]

Let me first start this review with the reason why I watched the film. I was mainly persuaded to see this movie because I was struck by the uniqueness of its concept. I actually saw this title in a Facebook page's list of recommended films to watch and upon reading its concept, I instantly became interested with it. And as early as now, I am saying that the film did not disappoint me.

Frankly, upon seeing the opening scene, I did not have an idea on what the movie is going to be and I really love the fact that the story did not give hints on how it is going to end. In addition, I love how the writer incorporated symbolism in the story.

The film also reminds me of some Wes Anderson films as I have noticed in some of the movie's shots, framing and direction. However, I can definitely say that director has his own style making his craft. I was also impressed with the film's production design. I love how the details really make the world of the film a kind of reality to the eyes of an audience like me. I also commend the actors' portrayal in the film.

The Lobster is going to be one of those memorable films for me which, I will never forget because of its uniqueness and twists.

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Generally, it's a good movie and something that you should see if you want to laugh.

[7/10 · 29 September 2016]

Swiss Army Man is one of those movies which, I am really looking forward to see this year. I was mainly persuaded to see this film because of its trailer and thought that it will be nice if I can see this movie as a whole.

Frankly, I wasn't really expecting the things that the story has brought and laid in front of my eyes. It made me laugh which, I wasn't expecting at first because I am not really a fan of 'superficial' jokes as I would like to call it, but this film got me laughing scene after scene. Plus, the story itself --most especially the parts in the middle. I think those were really nice and, again, I wasn't expecting that such events would happen. I also liked the analogy and the figurative way of the writers in describing some sad truths about the reality and about the world. However, I was kinda disappointed on how the film ended. Personally, it could have been better than that --something that can affect the emotions of the audience more.

Production-wise, I was impressed with the production design, the costumes and the props. Some scenes --most especially Manny ones-- left me thinking, "How did they do that?" which, is a good thing for me. In addition, I really liked the color and the overall edit of the film. It really did well in better telling the story. Direction, definitely a "not-bad rating" for two people who are starting their work in the line of feature films.

Generally, it's a good movie and something that you should see if you want to laugh.