Crashing Waves

Visual Effects Extravaganza

Photo courtesy of yourmoviestuff.com

(June 2009)

I can only sum up my review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in a few words.

The entire movie is just a freakin’ eye candy!
Never mind the plot. Just drool over the visual effects.

By the time I’m done watching the movie, all I can muster is: “OK, that’s it?” Ho-hum…
Being a fan of the Transformers cartoons, I seriously think that Michael Bay ruined the franchise. But then again, what can you expect from a guy who used to be a porn director? #

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Loosely Based on the Novel

**Spoiler Warning**

(May 2009)

The film adaptation of Angels and Demons left so much to be desired. It was greatly altered that the initial thrill and excitement I felt when I read the book, and even after reading it the second time, was gone. I know that translating the book into a movie could be tricky, what with the technicalities of Dan Brown’s intricate plots and narration, but I didn’t expect it to be so far off from the original. The movie wasn’t faithful to the book anymore. A lot of vital scenes and sub-plots from the book were omitted and replaced with something sub-standard.

The first few scenes of the movie were good though, as it narrated the death of the pope and showed how the Vatican prepares for the conclave. But later as the movie unfolded, the audience is taken to the massive surroundings of CERN, the nuclear research center in Geneva where a team of scientists prepares to launch the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in which particles were going to be smashed together to recreate the Big Bang and in turn create antimatter. This is one of the many scenes where the movie veered away from the original.

In the book, Vittoria Vetra and her adoptive father Leonardo Vetra were the ones who invented antimatter and they kept this discovery between themselves only. But in the movie, a bunch of scientists knew the antimatter project and the character of Leonardo Vetra is now replaced with a research partner named Silvano, who is also a priest. No father and daughter tandem here anymore. I think it’s a mistake to not include Leonardo in the movie – or at least mentioned. Vittoria’s close relationship with Leonardo is what defined her character and her actions in the story. Her grief over Leonardo’s death and the guilt she felt when the antimatter was stolen were what  propelled her to help Robert Langdon and the Vatican catch the killer.

And that is why Ayelet Zurer’s performance as Vittoria wracked with shock upon seeing her research partner killed was not entirely convincing. That scene also omitted one important element: the first Illuminati branding. The first branding was what got me hooked right away when I read the book, as well as the live video feed of the missing antimatter. And replacing that in the movie with a simple print of the ambigram on a paper made it rather trivial.

Another significant character that didn’t appear in the movie is Maximilian Kohler, the CERN director general. Kohler played a vital role in the story but in the movie his character was never mentioned. His role in the book as the one who exposed the real villain is now passed on to Commander Richter (Captain Rocher in the book). And the role of Rocher is now replaced with a new character named Father Simeon.

Two more things I found ridiculous in the movie were Cardinal Baggia’s survival and the replacement of the fifth brand. In the book, the four elected cardinals (the preferiti) perished and not one survived. And I couldn’t believe that they traded the Illuminati Diamond – the fifth brand – with a papal brand (two crossed keys), which honestly didn’t hold much significance on the Illuminati threat. And the sub-plot involving the camerlengo’s family background was also left out.

Tom Hanks is never believable as Robert Langdon. His portrayal of Langdon in The Da Vinci Code was unimpressive and lacked substance. The same could be said about him in Angels and Demons. Zurer’s portrayal of Vittoria was all right, not that good but it’s fine. Disregarding that scene in CERN, she showed enough strength and intelligence and her chemistry with Hanks was better than Hanks’ and Audrey Tatu’s in The Da Vinci Code. However her role in the movie was more or less reduced.

Ewan McGregor as the camerlengo just didn’t do well for me. His face and actions didn’t show a troubled and twisted soul battling with his personal demons. His long speech inside the Sistine Chapel didn’t carry any weight. His justifications when he was confronted by Richter didn’t hold any conviction as well. And the Hassassin – ugh! The performance of Nikolaj Lei Kaas, the actor who played the Hassassin,  was bland. There wasn’t any menacing or dangerous quality about his portrayal. In fact, he looked more like a university scholar or even a geek more than a Hassassin.

It is interesting to note though the way the movie sort of updated the scene in St. Peter’s Square. Protesters of stem cell research crowded the square instead of the mere onlookers and TV reporters mentioned in the book. CNN reporters –- not BBC — also had small scenes in the movie. I figured that since the movie is an American production, the BBC reporters in the book were substituted with CNN reporters.

One thing I appreciated in the movie though was the inclusion of Robert Langdon’s Mickey Mouse watch, which figured rather prominently in the book. And the antimatter explosion scene wasn’t too shabby either.

Angels and Demons is not as compelling as the book. So many have been altered that it’s hardly recognizable anymore as Dan Brown’s masterpiece. Perhaps the movie would be more enjoyable to those who haven’t yet read the book. #

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Combining Science and Religion

* * Spoiler Warning * *

(August 2008)

After six long years of waiting for the second X-Files movie since the TV series ended in 2002, I must say watching The X-Files: I Want to Believe was all worth the wait. As always, Gillian Anderson’s performance as Dana Scully was impressive. I was blown away with that particular scene where Scully confronts Father Joe (played by Billy Connolly) in his room. Gillian certainly “nailed it.” I could actually feel her frustration over Mulder getting involved again with an X-File case. She’s back to her old Scully self – except now she has gotten weary and reluctant to get involved in solving FBI cases. And Mulder is still very much a believer – not to mention stubborn!

Honestly speaking, the movie wasn’t that scary. And this was probably because I’m so used to watching horror movies and reading scary stories that I’m already desensitized by it all! But for some people, some scenes in the movie may still come as gruesome and chilling. For me, the movie is more like a medical thriller. It has enough suspense to keep the story intriguing yet it also has heart. In fact, I Want to Believe is reminiscent of certain X-Files episodes such as “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” (which is mentioned in the movie), “All Things,” and “Sanguinarium.” It’s not too dark and terrifying, which is why I guess some fans of the show were put-off by it.

As what Chris Carter (the film’s director and creator of the show) have said before, The X-Files: I Want to Believe focuses more on Mulder and Scully’s relationship rather than the complicated alien mythology/government conspiracy and other creatures of the dark that most people easily identifies this TV show with. In this movie, I see the characters of Mulder and Scully evolved. I see them now as an old couple, comfortable with each other and well-adjusted.

In the last few seasons of The X-Files on TV, Scully eventually became a believer herself and her relationship with Mulder slowly grew from platonic to romantic. She bore a son, William, who might or might not be an alien. In the final episode of the series, Mulder was framed for murder and was on the run. In I Want to Believe, Scully is now working in a Catholic hospital as a doctor while Mulder is still in hiding and spends his time, uh, collecting newspaper clippings on paranormal phenomena. In one poignant scene, Mulder and Scully argue in the hospital and her refusal to acknowledge the psychic powers of Father Joe stems from the fact that she doesn’t want to “look into the darkness” again by helping the FBI solve an X-File case.

It was risky on Chris Carter’s part to delve deeper into the relationship of Mulder and Scully and explore their faith – faith in unexplained phenomena and in each other. He gave a different approach to the movie, which I think worked well.

“Don’t give up.” That’s what Father Joe says to Scully in one scene. It’s a statement that has become some sort of motto not only for Scully but for Mulder as well. I also found the last scene compelling. In it, Scully is asked by one doctor if she is ready to operate on the boy who has an untreatable disease. Several doctors and nurses surround her and three nuns are watching her through the window of the operating room. This scene perfectly depicts the age-old clash between science and religion and Scully’s own struggle with them.

Though I still think there are a few loopholes in the story (e.g., if Mulder was hiding from the FBI through those years, the FBI could’ve easily traced him through Scully [Edit: I recently read the novelization of the movie and this bit was explained in the book. It turned out that Skinner was helping them hide from the bad guys in the FBI.]) and the inside joke about Pres. Bush is kind of corny, and the movie’s subtitle lacked oomph, generally speaking, The X-Files: I Want to Believe is a good, intelligent movie – maybe not as good as the episodes of the TV show or the first X-Files movie – but it’s definitely worth watching.#

A laminated itinerary, pain killers, an escaped snake, savory snacks, and a pepper spray. These very well sum up the (mis)adventures of the Whitman brothers when they decide to embark on a spiritual journey in India aboard a passenger train called The Darjeeling Limited.

Photo courtesy of iwatchstuff.com

The film, The Darjeeling Limited, is an offbeat comedy which stars Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman. It tells about three brothers who have lost touch with each other for a year due to a tragic incident involving the death of their father. To make up for lost time and re-bond, the three brothers agree to travel through India on a train. While on the journey, they encounter several interesting characters including mishaps that test the bond of their brotherhood.

Owen Wilson plays Francis Whitman, the itinerary-wielding, decision-maker of the group. He leads his two brothers from village to village, temple to temple all the while communicating with a private detective he hired to look for their mother who is hiding somewhere in India. Wilson shines in this movie with his witty remarks and endearing character. Brody stars as Peter Whitman, a reluctant father whose wife is over six months on the way. Schwartzman is the heartbroken, wannabe-writer Jack Whitman who spends most of his time in a hotel room in Paris before he joins his two brothers in India. Special appearances by Natalie Portman (who appears in the prologue titled Hotel Chevalier), Anjelica Houston (who plays mother to the Whitman brothers), and Bill Murray (as the businessman on the train) make up this tale of “quiet comedy” with deadpan humor.

The Darjeeling Limited shows how love exists in a dysfunctional family. It is also interesting to note how the film presents two contrasting religions but blends them in a way that makes them seem like one (e.g., Peter making the sign of the cross while praying inside a Hindu temple). Special mention goes to the orange, almost unrecognizable Louis Vuitton luggage (or is that Marc Jacobs?). They somehow represent India with their bright orange color that suggest of saffron and other Indian spices.

The film is not for those looking for a hilarious, no-brainer movie to watch. In fact, it doesn’t try to be funny all the time. It focuses more on spirituality and how one can be resilient in times of hardships and difficulties. The Darjeeling Limited is directed by Wes Anderson, the same director of the movie, The Royal Tenenbaums.

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Paris, Interpreted

When I watched the film, Paris Je T’aime, I didn’t know what to expect. Though I have read the film synopsis before, I have completely forgotten about it so I had no idea what the story was about. All I knew was that the film is set in Paris and compose of an international cast, which includes Natalie Portman.

Photo courtesy of Ion Cinema

But when the movie unfolded in front of my eyes, I quickly became engrossed. Paris Je T’aime (which translates to “Paris, I Love You”) is a collection of 18 short stories, each showing a different interpretation of what Paris is all about. These stories are set in different areas of Paris and shows what the City of Lights has to offer: romance, joy, pain, loss, struggle, and even violence. Each “episode” is directed by a different director and played by different actors.

The movie lets you to take a look at Paris from different angles. It forces you to think that the City of Love is not just all about romance. It’s about people who live, love, and learn in Paris. Some of the stories were sad, some were funny, and a few were tragic.

I particularly love the story “Quartier de la Madeleine,” which stars Elijah Wood, wherein Elijah’s character became the object of affection of a female vampire. I thought it was a hilarious rendition of horror B-movies. I also love “14th Arrondissement” in which an American postal worker narrates her visit to Paris in a heavily-accented French. I laughed myself silly when she pronounced “Simone de Bouvoir” as “Simone de Bolivar”! Special mention goes to “Faubourg Saint-Denis,” which stars Natalie Portman — a great story, “Porte de Choisy” — a funny, quirky story, Gus Van Sant’s “Le Marais,” “Bastille,” and “Pere-Lachaise.”

Paris Je T’aime assembles an international cast of directors such as Alfonso Cuaron, Wes Craven, and Gus Van Sant and a host of international actors including Natalie Portman, Elijah Wood, Juliette Binoche, Steve Buscemi, Miranda Richardson, Gerard Depardieu, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Nick Nolte, and many others. #

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The Scent of a Woman

What if you could create a scent so unique and so fine that every person within the room or a large city square can be greatly affected by it? Such is the case in the film, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. This film with international cast is about a young man named Jean Baptiste Grenouille who has an extraordinary sense of smell. In fact, he could detect a smell coming from miles away.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is set in the 1700s in Paris and begins from Jean Baptiste’s humble birth in a fishing market in Paris and how his unusual talent came about. Born to slavery, Jean goes from one slave master to another until he chances upon an Italian perfumer named Guiseppe Baldini whose fame has already faded. Guiseppe (played by Dustin Hoffman) takes him under his wing when he finds out about Jean’s acute sense of smell. And through his guidance and teachings, Jean learns about the craft of perfume making.

However, his life changes forever on the night he became obsessed with the natural scent of a woman he encountered on the street. As the days go by, Jean’s obsession with preserving every scent he encountered leads him to do drastic things. When 12 women turn up dead on every corner of the city, it is only a matter of time before he is caught and brought to justice. But a surprising incident happens on the day of his execution and Jean is able to show the people the justification of his crimes: the creation of the finest and ultimate perfume.

Visually stunning, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer successfully captured the audience’s attention with its vivid presentation of the olfactory sense as well as the sweeping images of Paris in the 1700s.

Ben Whishaw as Jean Baptiste is absolutely amazing. His gripping portrayal of the murderer leaves you with mixed emotions. You abhor him for the crimes he committed but at the same time you feel sorry for him. The film is quite disturbing, with lots of nudity in it. All in all, the movie is great. My only complaint is the climax of the film, the scene where Jean stood at the center of the city square surrounded by a large crowd who gathered to watch his execution. The crowd’s reaction upon smelling Jean’s ultimate creation was rather unbelievable. I mean, a massive orgy happening after smelling the perfume? Come on…

Based on Patrick Süskind’s novel of the same title, Perfume:The Story of a Murderer also stars Alan Rickman as the father of the last female victim. The film is directed by Tom Tykwer, the same director who did Run Lola Run. #

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Finding One’s Way through Pan’s Labyrinth

A faun, flying fairies, a giant toad, and an albinotic monster. These are just some of the fantastical beings that inhabit the secret world of a young girl in the movie, Pan’s Labyrinth.

Pan’s Labyrinth is a refreshing tale of a young girl who embarks on a magical journey that takes her from the ragged cruel world of fascist Spain to the surreal universe of the Underworld. Set in rural Spain in 1944, the movie tells about a girl named Ofelia who traveled with her mother to live with her mother’s new husband – a cold and cruel captain of the Spanish army.

During her stay with her stepfather, Ofelia encountered a fairy who led her into a labyrinth. There she met a faun who told her that she’s actually a princess of the Underworld and that she must do three difficult tasks in order for her to return to their world.

Along with these tasks were Ofelia’s struggles with her sick and pregnant mother and her ruthless stepfather.

All in all, the movie was visually appealing, not to mention touching. I enjoyed it immensely mainly because it has a great plot and shows the harsh realities of war and how one can sacrifice himself for the good of others. Sergi Lopez, the actor who played the role of Captain Vidal, was utterly convincing as the vicious and murderous captain.

A Spanish-language film with English subtitles, Pan’s Labyrinth is a Mexican film directed by Guillermo del Torro – the same director who directed Hellboy and Blade II. It won for Best Foreign Language Film in this year’s Oscars. #

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The Search for Truth About Dracula

For many years, young and old people alike are captivated by the legendary story of Dracula. The story of this frightening vampire became so widespread throughout the world that is it has become a source of inspiration for horror movies, TV, and even books. From many of those Dracula-inspired books comes another chilling tale of this infamous vampire. A certified bestseller among horror fiction, The Historian written by Elizabeth Kostova offers a fresh and different take on the legend of Dracula.

Set in the near future of 2008, the book is a narrative story of a female historian who tells about her extraordinary experiences when she was a young woman. She particularly narrates about her quest for truth about Vlad the Impaler, or infamously known as Dracula. Her quest starts when she, a girl of sixteen in the early 1970s, accidentally discovers an old letter and book that belong to her historian father.

Her curiosity piqued, she asks her father to tell her about the strange book and intriguing letter. She soon finds out that the two items are linked to the one who holds the darkest power in the world. By her father’s revelation, she comes to know that other historians before her father have tried digging into this dark creature’s terrifying reign risking their reputation, their sanity, and even their lives just to know the truth. More mystery unravels as her father reveals his own dangerous search for the truth about what really happened to Dracula.

As she grows older, she finds herself continuing her father’s work digging for clues and learning more about what happened in the past. Danger follows her in every corner as she tries to discover more, searching in archives, monasteries, and other exotic places. As the truth slowly emerges, she realizes that this horrific creature may still be in existence and others who serve him are killing innocent people to protect his secret.

The story is alternately narrated by its two main characters — the female historian and her father. As the female historian learns more from her father’s accounts, she forms her own story and conducts her own research. The result is a smooth blending of an old story with a new one.

Not for the faint of heart, The Historian presents a scary story replete with curiously simple but disturbing images. Kostova successfully weaves a tale of horror that leaves you with a sense of dark foreboding. Readers who are not used to horror or suspense fiction may find this off-putting. However, the story is not really filled with blood and gore. The story itself is more of suspense rather than horror. Suspenseful scenes are presented amidst descriptions of historical places and impressive architecture. History and architecture buffs can find great delight in these descriptions.

The author is incredibly talented in presenting vivid images of far off places that it makes you want to travel to those places yourself and explore a different world. The book captures the readers’ attention and keeps them captivated as the story unfolds. As a first-time author, Kostova’s work of fiction is impressive. And it’s not surprising that she won the Novel-in-Progress award for this book.

Though the story is not purely of a horror tale, it still manages to inject enough scariness in it that would make some readers toss and turn in their bed at night. A fusion of horror and history, The Historian is a great, satisfying read for those who have a thing for history and scary stories. #WC

Evil Personified in The Devil Wears Prada

You think you’ve met the worst boss in the world? Try working for Miranda Priestly, the acclaimed Editor in Chief of the world-famous Runway magazine, and you might just change your mind.

Allegedly inspired from the true story on Vogue magazine’s real Editor in Chief, The Devil Wears Prada written by Lauren Weisberger is such a delightful read. I have taken a personal liking with this book because it reminded me so much of my former female boss who was abusive and impossible to deal with (though she’s clueless when it comes to fashion).

The story tells about a young woman fresh out of college who lands a job at a famous fashion magazine called Runway. Working as a junior assistant to Miranda Priestly, the magazine’s Editor in Chief, Andrea Sachs finds herself surrounded by fashionable, Prada-wearing people who seem to worship and loathe Miranda at the same time. She soon finds out the reason why: Miranda is an impossible boss who belittles and abuses all her staff. Though Miranda is no doubt an excellent Editor in Chief, she has a penchant for verbally abusing her employees or those people whom she thinks are below her rank. She can make anyone tremble in fear with just one withering look.

Since Andrea started working for Miranda, her stress level goes on an all-time high and her heart beats rapidly whenever she hears her cell phone ring, thinking that it’s Miranda calling. Every day, she has to accomplish whatever impossible or outrageous tasks that Miranda orders her to do. Andrea tries to do everything for Miranda so she could get a recommendation from her to work at any publishing company of her choosing — a promise that Miranda keeps to those who are loyal to her for a full year.

Eventually, Andrea is forced to make the ultimate decision: stay and work for Miranda and become unhappy or leave and follow her dream.

With so may chick lit books churning up these days, a few only stands out. And Lauren Weisberger succeeded in making readers take notice of her story. A catchy title and an interesting story full of witty sarcasms makes this book a must read for every woman.

Weisberger offers readers a glimpse on what really goes inside a fashion magazine: the love for everything branded, glamorous parties with high-profile guests, and women obsessed with their weight. Readers who are not into fashion or being kikay may not have a clue on designer clothes mentioned nor the styles being described. But they can surely relate with the lead character’s lack of fashion sense.

Not only Weisberger manages to inject humor into the story but she also lets readers get a glimpse into the complexity of an evil character.

A page-turner from beginning to end, The Devil Wears Prada truly grabs attention. And it’s no wonder that it was made into a hit movie, with Meryl Streep even earning an Oscar nomination for her role as Miranda Priestly. #WC

(NOTE: I wrote this a year ago for a magazine. Unfortunately, the magazine never came out so I just posted it here.)