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Movie Review

Pride and Prejudice: The real dream British gentleman

Posted on June 20, 2011

Dream Asian man is Hanazawa Rui, but if I am to cross to the Caucasian side of the earth, hands down winner is always Mr Darcy. I have always heard his name crop up in movies and books, and never being as widely exposed to English literature as I would want, the only occasion for me to finally meet him is only when I dared buy the book.

Pride and Prejudice was the first classic I’ve read in years, and out of school at that, and I am eternally in love with it. And this movie version helped. Critics and fans are keen to point out that the Colin Firth version is still above it. But as I have never thought Firth as darkly sexy, and as I have believed every second of subtle, restrained and at times ironic English romance in the film as portrayed by Keira Knightley and Matthey MacFadyen, I hone no intentions of watching the BBC mini-series.

I am happy with the Lizzie and Darcy images that live inside my head. It just pains me to realize every time I re-watch and re-read though, that all ideal men seem to exist only in fiction. But thanks to Jane Austen, for the sliver of hope, and the experience of reading true love win over imperfections.

Movie Review

Review: Alex Pettyfer Movie Day

Posted on June 11, 2011

These are two movies I missed while Quanti forced me into a social exile. I bought and read the books before watching the movies, which is often a bad idea. But the gamble went well this time.

Overall, Beastly movie >>> the book, which is a rare feat, thanks to the Alex/Vanessa Hudgens chemistry (and here I was thinking she will never look good with anyone other than Zac Efron. Fairy tale remakes seem to be the in thing now, right next to comic book movies, and this one is refreshingly cute. Beware the slight slips of mush, and the scary Olsen witch, but the witty dialogue, the chemistry and Neil Patrick Harris made it a great one hour+ spent. For one, Pettyfer knew how to still melt you even with all the disfiguration going on.

On the other hand, I Am Number Four book >> movie, but it still wasn’t a waste of my time. Would still click the like button for it. The eye candy helped, and I have to admit I do like my share of sci-fci alien action (geek confession) but I was not entirely convinced with the Alex/Quinn Fabray (er, Diana Agron?) love. Which is ironic since apparently they were dating in real life.

Special thanks to ze dongsaeng for patiently and lovingly downloading both flicks. You know I would’ve paid for the ticket had we watched it in the theaters.

(I think Imma watch Beastly again *press replay after this episode of Oh! My Lady*)

Movie Review

Review: X-Men First Class

Posted on June 11, 2011

There are multitude of reasons why I love James McAvoy (despite his height, and height is always an issue for me), and they were all brilliantly depicted here. He was sleek, smart, eloquent and vibrantly charismatic, and at the same time strong and vigorous in ways Professor X as we X-Men geeks know him is not. The Charles-Raven platonic love was an interesting thing to watch, and despite my biases, after my second watch I have to admit that it was mostly Charles’ arrogance and (dare I say it) insensitivity that spun the creation of Mystique. Although Raven’s inherent insecurities account for a lot, of course. Charles was trying to save the world, and she was being a classic brat. Thus I still blame her.

And then there was Erik. Michael Fassbender‘s take on the metal-force mutant was intense and exhilarating, and one important color to watch is his multi-layered chemistry with Charles. There is a distinct pull on me of depictions of boy friendships, mostly because they rarely run deep and rarely leave a sensible mark. But this comic book bromance does, and sets the theme for its constant reappearance in the franchise.

There is a lot more to rave and rant about with X-Men: First Class–the Brit-pop edge/soundtrack, the psychedelic cool effects, the awesome evil of the antagonists, the themes of war that knock too close to the world today–,but I am a biased judge, and thus not a reliable movie critic. So all I can say is: do watch it. It was the best summer movie of my hard working summer.

Life and Lemons Movie Review

AUGUUUUUSSSTT!!!

Posted on March 10, 2010

I fell asleep standing on the train. That’s not an exaggeration. The girl sitting in front of me nearly jumped on her seat when my knee gave way and I was jerked awake. I am so tired. And it’s not even over something worthwhile. Don’t tell anybody, but we watched “Miss you like crazy” last night.

It wasn’t as awful as predicted. Although I still hate Bea Alonzo by just the right amount she deserves for being a maarteng artista. I think there were quite a lot of tear-jerking moments (imagine, a two-hour long Pinoy romantic drama featuring a time-tested love team. You’d be an idiot to expect any less). But we spent those moments laughing our asses off. Donna was pretty pissed, coz she was all for crying with Bea and Lloydie.

Well, to the deluded believers of serendipity, to people who believe in the shining glory of love and to people who have not experienced the psychotic turmoil of a relationship (these are, take note, subsets of each other), I only have one thing to say:

AUGGGUUUUUUSTTT!!! nyahahaha

Movie Review

Ahh, November 20. You were a great day :)

Posted on November 22, 2009

There was that dormant plan at the back of my head the first time I watched it, which is to hide under the seats hoping that the cleaning guys wouldn’t see so we can watch the movie again, right that instant. Obviously, I didn’t hate it.

I loved how Edward emerged from the foliage in the dream, all godlike and sparkling and beautiful and smiling at Bella like she was the only girl in the world. And then that was trumped only by his actual strut out of the new awesomer Volvo, nonchalant and arrogant and brooding, loping towards us shrieking movie viewers.

I loved every Jacob scene, every bold, stolen Jacob touch, every Jacob line and joke and grin and every frickin one of those abs, although it is kinda creepy for a 17-year old to have a set as scary as that, but really, no one’s complaining. I love how he made Bella and every girl watching the movie switch to Team Jake at the first shirt rip-off scene. KStew said they added like 5 seconds of silence in that scene expecting fans to use that for gawking and screaming at all the hot muscles. Those were 5 seconds well used.

And yes, dear Mina, I love Bella. I love how she’s angsty and vulnerable and tough. I love how it’s easy to understand how both hot monsters would want her. I love how a simple flick of muscle in her face shows a change in emotion, which makes her such a great catalyst for every rush of feeling Edward or Jake causes and courses through her.

Oh, and I love the three’s-a-crowd date with Mike! I think that was my favorite. ‘What a marshmallow.’

The Volturi was rightfully creepy. And watching Edward get pounded by Felix was painful. And the wolf-boys were hot, jacked up like a younger set of Spartans straight out of 300. Ooookaaay, my mind is drifting back to images of Jacob’s abs.

And every breakup scene was just horribly heavy and deadening and sad and emotionally draining. And then Edward just ends the roller coaster of it all by asking, all nervous and sweet and hesitant: “Marry me, Bella.”

And the movie ends with our collective gasp.

I’m watching it again on Tuesday. Oh, and is it June yet? 🙂