8 posts tagged “movies”

Did you see the Harry Potter movie this weekend?  Are you going to read the new book?

Yes I saw it. Yes I will read the new book (provided I can get my hands on one hehehe). Too tired to expound on that. :D

Met up with Den and Erin yesterday to watch Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We decided to get reservations to avoid the rush of lining up and grabbing seats. Erin's cousin Amon got the tickets for us, and we watched it with his parents.

The movie was ok. It wasn't as spectacular as the other movies, despite their deviation from the books. This is difficult for me to admit but I didn't enjoy this movie as much as I did the book. Sure I had my complaints on the book, as much as I had my gripes with the other movies, but at least with the first four, there was something in them that still held my attention and had me going, oh wow. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie was more like a "guide" of sorts to the book, even though almost throughout it I was "That wasn't how it went in the book." Still, it's to be expected, as the book was pretty long and I know how hard it is to adapt books into movies (memories of writing script during BC class, hay). And people will watch this movie because, hey, it's Harry Potter. It's a given that up until the last movie, it will be a hit.

If you haven't seen it and don't like spoilers, don't click this.

Yeah, well, I'll be seeing the next two movies too. And book 7 will be out on Saturday!

Other kwento
On the LRT2: Somewhere around the Anonas Station, a dog walked by me as the train door was just closing. It took me by surprise until I realized that it was one of those K9 forces dogs. His human walked by after and they stood in the disabled area in front of me.

Passing by MRT Shaw: There was a black cat sitting quite calmly at the end of the platform. Nobody was paying mind to it. Maybe because the didn't know it was there.

At Serendra, after watching HP:OotP: A man walked by with his pet dog (small, furry and funny looking thing). He was gesturing to someone behind him. A few seconds later, a woman dressed in her gimmick finest (short, flowy, cleavage baring dress with high strappy heels) walked by. She was holding in one hand her bag, and on the other a tissue paper with dog poop. Then she called out (I don't know if it was to the man or the dog), "Nakakawalang poise ka naman!" Ching and I held back our laughs until we crossed the street.

Also saw a guy wearing a black t-shirt with the drawing of those tree creatures in Miyazaki's "Princess Mononoke". I want!!!

Heaven
Ching took me to Fully Booked along Bonifacio High Street. The moment I spied it from afar I was already giddy. Then I stepped in, took a deep whiff of the book perfumed atmosphere and decided I was in heaven. I probably looked like an idiot exclaiming over the stuff I saw (Moleskine! Notebooks! Sherrilyn Kenyon! Tons of manga and Neil Gaiman graphic novels! Philip Pullman! World music cds! I could go on). Richard Gutierrez and Georgina Wilson passed by but I barely looked at them and moved on to the young adult section.

I was half happy, half irritated when I told Ching that I didn't bring any money. The happy half was because I wasn't going on a spending spree. The irritated half was of the same reason. :p There was this kid who was telling his mom, "Can I buy seven books mom? Just seven, please?" I could've cheerfully bopped him. Just seven? Wait until you start working boy. You'll find that those "just seven" books will be hard for you to get. *sulk*

This fits me! Hehehe.

Yeah yeah. I'll be back, my books. Just you wait.

Oh, and my dad arrived from Zambales. Both he and his namesake got locked in the bathroom. I was the one who had to help the both of them get out. :D I hope it doesn't spell bad karma.

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I had reservations with the new Transformers movie. Never mind if Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg are fans. The previews didn't really thrill me, I wasn't excited by the designs.

But I saw the movie... and I take back every bad thing I said or thought.

My brothers, Nunik and Miks, and I watched Transformers yesterday. We endured long previews and crowded theaters (hey, we got pretty good seats anyway) just to see a piece of our childhood. The first time I heard the sounds the 'bots make when transforming, shivers ran down my spine. The moment Peter Cullen's voice began the narrative, I gripped the hands of my seat, barely holding back the excitement.

Is there an English word for "gigil"? Because that was what I felt while watching the movie. I couldn't believe that one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons was right there in front of the big screen. It wasn't like, say watching X-men or seeing Harry Potter on screen. I don't know. Fellow kids of the eighties can probably understand how I feel without me having to say it. The Transformers is an institution. This movie is a tribute. A very, very awesome tribute.

The movie as a whole was amazing, I could've stood up and clapped as the credits rolled had I not been pissed at the people around me. How can I not be amazed at the action, the fluidity of the animation, the realness of the robots? I half expect the producers to admit that the Transformers exist and they were hired to portray themselves for this movie. Have you ever seen a robot skate? Or breakdance? I did, and man, I'd love to see it again.

I just saw Shrek 3. I never saw the first one, but I saw the second and I enjoyed it. I was looking forward to lots of laughs with this third installment, and I got it.

It's a pretty interesting take on the world of fairy tales, and Shrek 3 continues from the events of Shrek 2. Shrek and Fiona are ruling Far Far Away while the king was in his sickbed. However, Shrek was having a hard time and it seems that whatever he does, disaster strikes. Since Shrek didn't want to be king, he goes off (along with Donkey and Puss) to search for the next king. Meanwhile, Charming plots his revenge against Shrek and Fiona, and gathers the bad guys of the fairy tale world to go with him.

There were plenty of funny moments in the movie, plus alot of jokes that some of the younger crowd may not understand. The movie also made use of some songs that when played, had me, Den and a couple of others in the theater laughing. As usual, it ended with a "happily ever after" for Shrek and Fiona, their friends and the kingdom of Far Far Away. I'd say if you're looking for a movie to relax with, this would be good.

I also saw the trailer of Transformers. It felt different from the cartoons, but I am so excited to see it. Seeing the robots made me think of the APEs from The Matrix, with their somewhat exposed and over-stylized bodies, unlike the streamlined designs of the animation. Still, being a Transformers fan (though I may not have a head full of trivia like some die-hards), it's a must-watch on my list.

Looking forward to The Golden Compass too.

My friend A-chan posted a meme (or quiz) about "What Daemon are you?" and I found out that it was on the website for The Golden Compass movie!

I've read Phillip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" a year or so ago. It's a rather interesting book that deals with science in a fantastic sort of way. Time travelling, warping, death and alternative worlds exist. Plus, you get a cool daemon... well, in Lyra's world anyway.

Lyra is the main character of the series, and she lives in a world similar to our own. In my mind, it's a sort of modern Renaissance, or kind of like a world you'd encounter in a CLAMP manga: old fashioned, but high tech. As it is, Lyra lives in Oxford, England.

In her world, humans have a daemon. I suppose it can best be likened to a familiar. However, if my memory serves me right, a daemon is a person's soul, and is usually of the opposite gender. Daemons go through a growth period as well. When they're young, they can take on any animal form they (or their human) wish, but once they "grow up" or reach maturity, the form they decide on will be permanent.

Usually, the human adapts to his or her daemon. I remember there was a character in the book who's daemon chose to be a dolphin, and the man had to live near the sea. A human and a daemon can't stay apart for very long, as a daemon and human are part of each other. There was a part in the series where Lyra had to be apart from her daemon and it felt like she was being ripped apart.

I was really fascinated by the book and the worlds and things that come with it. And like I always do if a book captivates me, I draw a scene or the character that catches me the most. I think I did something about the promise Lyra and Will Parry have about meeting on a specific spot on a specific date, even though they were in different worlds. It was rather bittersweet, that's why I did a sketch. Now if only I can find it...

Anyway, here is my take on that quiz. Help me and my daemon decide on his final form. :)

Hugh Jackman's character in "Happy Feet" brings to mind a penguin Johnny Bravo.

I suppose it should be expected, since both characters are based on Elvis Prestley. Still, when Hugh Jackman's Memphis talks to his wife Norma Jean and says, "Oh Momma", I couldn't help but think of Johnny Bravo.

"Happy Feet" is full of funny moments, and reminds me of one huge musical. I got a kick out of the songs the penguins would sing during their courting period (and when I think about it, I'm like, "Hugh Jackman can sing?!?"). Every so often Den and I would laugh at the jokes (somehow the younger kids don't get it hehe. Shows my age), and can't help but squeal "cuuuuuttteee!!!" when the little penguins come out of thier shells.

The movie sort of goes into a serious mode towards the end, and for some reason it depressed me. Don't ask why. Even though the movie has a, well, relatively happy ending, it was so different from the other animal movies I've seen. I liked Happy Feet, but I won't add it to my list of favorite movies.

Anyway, there were only two trailers shown, both movies from Warner Brothers. After "Eragon," the WB logo flashed and I jokingly told Den, "Harry Potter yan." When (actor who plays Sirius Black)'s face popped up on screen and he said "Voldemort", Den when stock still, while I was hyperventilating. Argh! When will the wait end?

Came across this very interesting commentary by Dave White over at MSNBC. He talks about the trend of animated movies that Hollywood has released in the last year or two, and I've got to admit, he does make quite a few valid points, some of which I've thought about a bit once or twice.

Dear Hollywood,

Why are you so lame? Why don’t you have a single original idea left in your collective head? Why do you hate audiences? Why do you continue to crank out by-the-numbers animated films that hold ticket-buying families and animation fans in contempt while trying to sell them tie-in merchandise at the same time?

Why do “Madagascar” and “The Wild” and “Open Season” and “Flushed Away” all have the same plot? How many domesticated menageries of circle-of-life-defying zoo pals actually find themselves tossed into the wilderness on a regular basis, learning the true meaning of family and home in the process?

Read the rest here..

I really am not a fan of talking animal movies, and of all the recent features, I've seen the only one that didn't have animals as protagonists. Madagascar was entertaining, and I am looking forward to seeing Happy Feet, but I passed on all the rest.

And on voice actors and actresses. I have to admit, if I see the name of a star I admire, I would like to see them act, not hear them act. Yeah it may be a plus, but as Dave mentions in his article, "It’s nothing more than a guessing game for media-savvy parents to play."

And at the end of it all...

And finally, if all else fails — and it has — just hire Japan’s answer to Walt Disney, Hayao Miyazaki, to shepherd the next one through. He’s a genius and you all could learn something from him. But let the man work in peace. I’m begging you.

Miyazaki works with talking animals too (understandable, as he is somewhat of an environmentalist), but it doesn't get repetitive (or am I just biased? *grin*). No wonder anime is so popular.