Coolness! (Movie Reviews)

Eragon (20th Century Fox, 2006)
Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Rachel Weisz
Stefen Fangmeier
Rating: 3/5

Wouldn't it be cool to have a dragon as a pet, friend, and companion? Eragon, Book One of the Inheritance Trilogy, is just about that - dragons and their dragon riders. Written by Christopher Paolini when he was 15 years old, Eragon is a childhood fantasy come to life via the book and the film. However, maybe because he is at a young age, the story lacks depth, maturity, and enough grip to make a lasting impression. It is mostly a kid's movie but that is not to say that it can't be enjoyed by adults. It is enjoyable and entertaining. However, one needs to remember that it isn't The Lord of the Rings.


Night at the Museum (20th Century Fox, 2006)
Ben Stiller
Shawn Levy
Rating: 4/5

How cool is it to have your toys come to life? Remember The Indian in the Cupboard back in 1995? It is about a toy indian which comes into life when put inside a magical cupboard. How about Small Soldiers in 1998? These are toy soldiers coming into life because of a military chip. I enjoyed it so much that I have collected some action figures of them. This 2006 brings Night at the Museum. It is way cooler than the said two films because toys are not the only ones that come to life but all creations in the museum - from fossils to stuffed animals to prehistoric humans to historical wax figures! Imagine what you could learn from these creatures and how much fun you can get from them! That is so cool, isn't it?

Night at the Museum is a fun-filled ride that would leave you wanting for more! Now, if only I could get my hands on that tablet!

Blood Diamond (Warner Bros., 2006)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou
Edward Zwick
Rating: 3.5/5

I do not know much about the history of blood diamonds but somehow, this movie sheds light on it. It isn't the best storytelling because it drags every now and then. But it has a great ensemble of actors that makes up for what it lacks. Leonardo DiCaprio, who already showed great talent when he was still young, shines his brightest in this movie. The lines on his face adds more dimension and exquisiteness in his acting. With his Oscar nomination, he'd rightfully gained the respect that he deserves as an actor. Cool!

This is his follow-up to his another cool performance in another cool film with an ensemble of really cool actors called The Departed (one of 2006's best)!

P.S. Jennifer Connelly looks a lot like Madonna in here! Now, if only Maddie could act like Jen...

Saw 3 (Lions Gate Film, 2006)
Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith
Darren Lynn Bousman
Rating: 4/5

Jigsaw is back! This time, he's more focused and more twisted as ever! This is such a great way to end the trilogy. It is better than the sequel which, in my book, should have never been done. It is a teen-slasher flick wannabe. The plot is better and grittier. It makes one hell of a nail-biting thriller that is more gruelling than the first and grosser than Hostel, another fave thriller of mine. Hold on to your seats and wait till you get to know what Jigsaw truly plans to happen. It will rip out your senses once it ends!

But no matter how cool it may sound, no one has the right to teach people lessons in life the way he does!

Biboy asked me why do I love watching these kinds of movies? I don't know. I just do! :-)

The Descent (Lions Gate Films, 2005)
Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza
Neil Marshall
Rating: 4/5

Six women went on an unknown cave for an adventure. What they didn't know was that they'd get more than what they expect. Aside from the almost near-death experience they got from finding their way out, they met these unknown creatures that would end their lives if they do not stay together and fight till the end.

The Descent starts out slow during the first half. However, it was able established the characters well enough for the audience to care about them when the thrills pick up during its second half. Even though the characters are all women, the film avoided the stereotypical characteristics. They don't whine or cry or shout their lungs out the moment they encounter difficulties. They stayed focused and strong till the end. If ever one breaks out, it is called for by the situation or their characterization.

Aside from that, the film was able to capture the claustrophobic feel of the cave. It would make you feel as if you were there. Not to mention how terribly creeping the crawlers are!

The Descent is a cool chick film that kicks ass! Girl power indeed! Can't wait for the next installment!

P.S. Natalie Mendoza is Pinoy! Can anything be cooler than that!

She's the Man (Dreamworks, 2006)
Amanda Bynes, Tatum Channing
Andy Fickman
Rating: 2.5/5

Viola pretends to be her twin brother, Sebastian, to play for the soccer team in the rival school of her school where she's supposed to be at. She gets accepted, and gets to befriend the team's captain who happens to be his room mate, Duke. As Sebastian, Viola meets Olivia who falls in love with her - as Sebastian. Duke, who likes Olivia, asks her, as Sebastian, to set him up with Olivua. She willingly obliged until she realizes that she's in love with Duke after she, as Viola, and he kissed in the carnival.

Sounds complicated? Actually not. A girl pretending to be guy and falling in love with a guy as a guy is a plot that has been done with over and over again. She's the Man has nothing much to offer in terms of how fresh it tackles the used plot. The scenes weren't as funny as one would expect.

Loosely based on Shakepeare's Twelfth Night, She's the Man's best bet is the hottie Tatum Channing! He's this year's new his hottieness till the next stud comes along! Yum yum!

Kairita!

I am absent today in school. Di ko feel pumasok because I'm sorta not feeling well na rin. Yesterday was quite a terrible day. I haven't had much sleep since we came in late the night before. We (Biboy and I and some of my good friends) saw Sharon's b-day concert in Araneta. I was late for school (about 15 minutes, my time is 8:30 AM). When I arrived, imagine my shock when I only saw five students inside the room! According to them, the others are still outside doing whatever it is they are doing.

So s'ympre wait lang ako patiently. 9 AM passed and no sight of the others yet. Until 9:15 AM, unti-unti nang nagdatingan ang mga mokong! Quiet lang ako. Pikon na ko, eh. Pag pasok nila, others greeted me good morning. I stood up and wrote an exercise on the board for them to do. Quiet pa rin ako. Until the last few arrived at mega-daldal ang ginawa as if they did nothing wrong! After I wrote the exercise, I added, "Work on it QUIETLY!!!" Kaya ayun, natahimik na rin ang mga hinayupak.

Nawindang sila sa exercise! Some were asking what to do pero deadma ako. I didn't want to speak kasi baka kung ano pa ang masabi ko sila. Nagpupuyos na ang damdamin ko sa kaloob-looban ko!

Five minutes before ten, after I took their papers, di ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Talagang sinabon ko na sila! I told them that they are the only ones who did what they did to me. Kung sa pakapalan din lang ng mukha, they won by default! With flying colors pa!

I wouldn't mind it if only a few of them were late but it was 95% of the class! Then, papasok sila sa room, walked casually as if what they did was no big deal. Dadaanan-daanan lang ako at mag-iingay sa loob ng class. Aba aba aba! Di ko mapapalampas 'yun.

When I got to my other class, medyo nag-iinit pa ko. Buti na lang at matino 'yung klase na 'yun. I have asked them to check the papers that we were supposed to check in my previous class. Pinagbigyan naman nila ako. That few minutes of checking (and not thinking so much) had calmed my nerves down.

I thought that the earlier incident was the end of it. Mas matindi pa pala 'yung huli kong klase! Late na nagdismiss 'yung teacher nila -- 12:30 PM na ko nakapasok when our time is 12 PM. Then inabutan kong hindi sila kumpleto. Anyway, continue pa rin ako. We have checked their Prelim exams. Ang matindi ay nang dumating ang iba -- they stood outside the room contemplating on whether to go inside or not, decided not for whatever reason, then walked around the campus! Wow! Winner talaga ang mga lolo!

Pagkatapos naming mag-check, I saw the boys outside the room. Napasigaw na ko talaga! "Papasok ba kayo o hindi?! Kanina pa kayo, ah!" I swear, habang sinesermunan ko sila, ilang beses ko na silang minura sa isip ko! Napagsalitaan ko na sila ng hindi magaganda. At tagalog kung tagalog ang monologue ko! Nung umaga, nakakapag-ingles pa ko, eh.

I have reiterated to them several times how bad their grades are with me. Judging from the results of the exams, half of them will fail my subject. Tapos may ganang pa silang magpa-bondying-bondying?! Well, pasensyahan na lang kung hindi sila magtitino. Bagsak kung bagsak ang gagawin ko sa kanila. (I was lenient with my grades last semester. Pinasa ko 'yung ilan kahit hindi deserving pumasa.) I even told them na hindi ko malubos maisip kung bakit sila pumasa ng English 1 (I wasn't their teacher last sem)!

It wasn't my intention to humiliate them. I just want them to know their class standing and this isn't the time to take things lightly. Hindi nila sineseryoso 'yung subject ko. I wouldn't mind it if they don't pay much attention in class or they're absent most of the time, as long as they have something to offer during recitation, exercises, quizzes, and exams. Kaso hindi. Kung mag-aasta akala mo alam na nila lahat.

Because of that, s'ympre napunta na sa kanila ang korona ng kakapalan ng mukha from the other class. Mas matindi sila! But mind you, iisang course lang 'yung pinanggalingan ng dalawang class na 'yun.

I've told them, kung ayaw nila sa akin o nahihirapan sila, lipat na lang ako sa klaseng gusto ako maging teacher at sa kanila na 'yung teacher n'un.

I went home very tired and so hungry. I haven't had any food eversince I woke up. It was already past 2 PM. Pag uwi ko, wala pang lutong pagkain! Ay, winner talaga! Muntik na kong mapaiyak.

Nampucha!

I have so many pending posts these past few months especially movie reviews na hindi ko matapos-tapos. Tamad na tamad akong magsulat nung una pero sandamakmak ang nasa utak ko. Pag nakaharap na ko sa PC, nawawala sila na parang bula. Then, when I felt like writing naman, my PC crashed down for the nth time! Deadma na kong ipaayos siya kahit pa marami na kaming pinagdaanan. (Ilang beses na rin siyang naging mitsa ng pag-aaway namin ni Biboy!) I've realized that on our first day (that was in 1999), problematic na ang relasyon namin. Umpisa pa lang, nagkatopak na siya! (That is what you get usually when you buy an assembled PC instead of buying parts and assembling them - on your own or through the technician.) Pwede ko namang gamitin ang laptop ng dad ko pero di ko masyadong feel mag-type dun. After I used it for my Mo's entry below, it crashed down. 'Yun naman ay may problema na rin. It was sent to the technician for repair. After a day or two, my sis's PC naman ang nasira! Kaloka talaga, I swear! Isa-isang bumigay ang mga computer sa bahay! Conspiracy ba ito?!?

Anyway, I bought a new PC - with a 17" LCD monitor, 160gb Sata hard disk, 512mb memory, at kung anik-anik pang hi-tech specs (courtesy of my mom - thanks!). Ang ganda niya, grabe! Sarap nang mag-download! Sa laki ba naman ng hard disk ko (with additional old 40gb hard drive), in heaven na talaga ko! Malaking disk space talaga ang pinakaimportante sa 'kin, the rest are secondary.

Ngayong masarap nang magsulat, naknamweteng naman ang DSL connection! Di ko maaruk ang kabagalan! Nubanaman ito?! Kalokang talaga! So 'yung mga pending posts ay mananatiling pending muna. Di ko carry ang kabagalang ito!

By the way, Happy New Year to all! c",)

It's About Time!

DJ Mo Twister is now being investigated by the KBP because of the alleged sexually explicit interview he had with John Lapus over at Magic 89.9. Aside from that, there were some rumors circulating that Mo's license to work as a deejay was already expired. Expired or not, I'd say that it's about time that someone looks further into his show -- whether it is of violation of any rule or it has been crossing the boundaries of whatever rule. It has created a lot of buzz because of the answers he had gotten from his guests, and there are a lot of celebrities whose name has been dragged into the mess.

Earlier, I felt that some showbiz folks just over reacted with what has been said by his celebrity guests, especially CF. (I agree with what Jo-ann Maglipon had said in Startalk. If CF feels that Mo has been crossing the line of decency in his interviews, she, too, has crossed the line several times. So, cut the guy some slack!) I do understand his statement when he said that his Forbidden Questions segment were all for fun and shouldn't be taken seriously. He compared it to people (or friends) having a conversation over a cup of coffee in the morning, talking about anything under the sun. However, there is a huge difference when people are talking privately and amongst themselves, and when the same conversation goes on public. On public, everyone takes part in it, it spreads out, it becomes everybody's business, and the people involved in the talk get hurt.

I hope that Mo should realize that he isn't in the US where celebrities get picked on (by other celebs themselves) and not hear a word from them regarding it. We are Pinoys and we easily get offended. We are too sensitive to a fault. We can't do anything about it. It is embedded in our history and culture. Who would not get sensitive when we became oppressed for over hundreds of years?

I digressed.

My point is that fun is fun when everyone is laughing and fun isn't fun when people get hurt. Maliban diyan, nilalagay niya lang sa alanganin ang mga bisita niya.

Back story: I once had a crush on Mo (Mohan Gumatay in real life). It was back in '97 when he hadn't enter showbiz yet. Just graduated in college then and without a job, listening to his 3-5 p.m. program (Early Returns) made my day. I liked listening to his voice. I thought he was cute. (Sobrang bwisit na bwisit pa nga ako kay Bunny nu'n. Actually, it was more of a jealousy rather than annoyance. Hehehe.) I even sent him (and Miles, his partner in the show) a letter. However, my admiration just disappeared when he to ASAP from SOP. (Sobrang solid Kapuso kasi ako back then.)

HTD!

I almost forgot a very important occasion (whether people agree or not) until I was informed last Thursday night through SMS about it. It wasn't like any holidays where everyone seemed to be aware about it. It wasn't like any hero's day where the whole nation celebrates. It wasn't like any family member's day where everyone goes out of their way to greet the people they love. No ads about it on TV or print. No greetings from famous celebrities or known politicians. Dates differ from one country to another may be one reason that people are not very much familiar about it. It was a day almost always celebrated by the celebrant themselves and the people they encounter with 5x a week only, in their own territory: school. It was Teacher's Day.

If OFWs these days are touted as the "Bagong Bayani", I could say that teachers are the "Unsung Heroes". Not just because I am one but because I feel that (good) teachers are one of the most important people in a society. Imagine, without them, we won't have any doctors, lawyers, policemen, nurses, etc. Sino ba ang humuhubog ng pag-iisip at pag-uugali ng mga kabataan? Who teaches them about the things they need to learn about their future profession? Who gives them the inspiration to push through with their dreams and aspirations in life? A teacher's job may seem trivial to some (even to some of the teachers themselves) but it is one hell of a humungous task! Heck, there are kids who would believe what their teachers said more than their parents. But are they given the much needed importance that they deserve? Are they treated as equals with other professionals? The answer is capital N-O!

Anywhere in the world, teaching should be a devotion. Not everyone can teach. Not everyone could withstand the long hours of work with a salary that could barely make ends meet. Not everyone would have the patience to be with hard-headed students or students who think they know more than teachers. One should be dedicated enough in order to carry the task through. One should have the passion for it because, in the end, it would be the only thing that one could hold on to through rough times.

Teaching is not a rewarding job financially. No one really gets rich in it. The fruits of one's labor can't also be seen immediately. It would take time to reap the benefits of one's hard work. However, most of the time, it isn't the teacher who would reap what he sow but rather his students.

Lately, we have been bombarded by news of teachers hurting their students. I am not in favor of such act but I don't condemn them, as well. Before we blame them, can we see the bigger picture first? How could such thing happen? Could it be stress-related? Elementary/high school public teachers deal with 50-100 students daily in a small and not well-ventilated room. Aside from that, they have to do their best to teach in limited time and resources. Not to mention their financial worries which I know bothers them everyday. Then you'd have two or more kids who would disrupt the class with their noise or petty quarrels. These are all part of the job description but can one help bursting out from time to time? Not everyone is Mary Poppins. Even the best teachers have rough times. However, if disruptive children need to be discipline, so does teachers who go beyond their limits with these kids.

When I was still in NF, our Academic Director had once asked us, "Are we becoming lenient teachers producing weak and undisciplined generation?" We may have spared them the rod but are we also spoiling them? I am against corporal punishments, of course, but I am thinking, would a little "discipline" hurt a child? Our parents and their parents and their parent's parents were part of such generation and they grew up to be learned and disciplined individuals. Life outside school is tough and it won't help if students are pampered both at home and in school.

Anyway, I hope that the government would really sit through and do something about our teacher's situation. Hindi biro ang maging guro at lalong hindi biro ang maging guro at makakuha ng karampot ng kita sa iyong paghihirap. Dedication could only go so far. Aanhin mo ang dedikasyon kung kumakalam na ang sikmura mo at ng iyong pamilya? Will it save you from pain and financial doom?

Incidentally, Cinema One had shown Mila (2001). I haven't fully watched it since it came out years ago. I couldn't even sit through it whenever I had the chance to see it on TV. Opening pa lang kasi, medyo off na para sa kin. For one thing, the dialogues and Maricel Soriano's acting (during the teaching scenes) were un-teacher like. I really couldn't explain it but one would know if one is a teacher. The same way a doctor would know if the actor acts "doctorly". Second, being a Joel Lamangan movie, it is colored with social and political issues that surround the teachers and the government of our country. There really isn't wrong about that but could we leave the issue to the news department? What would be better is if we could make a movie about teachers for the teachers, showing a slice of their lives. A movie that would showcase their so-called dedication to the profession and to their students. A film that would tackle their struggles to become an almost-perfect model for their kids to emulate despite living in an imperfect world. Something that would focus on how they juggle their relationships with their students and fellow teachers and their families. Something that would inspire children to become future teachers. Something that would differentiate the good from the bad. A movie ala Mr. Holland's Opus, Dead Poets Society, or even Dangerous Minds. (I may be wrong about Mila but it's how I feel about it at the moment. I guess, I need to really sit through it one of these days and see beyond its political commentary.)

Despite the hardships and unnoticed dedication, teaching is still one of the best jobs! It is but right to commend them especially those who do it for the love of the profession, learning, and the students. Being a teacher doesn't stop when one gets home. It is a continuous work because one plans his day ahead even while sleeping!

Mabuhay ang mga guro!

ZZZ Movie Trailer

Here is the ZZZ movie trailer! To the words of Carver himself, the trailer "was a lengthy, colorful monster." Yes, Carver, it wasn't perfect. The truth is, it really could be better. Ala Spidey trailer sana. Pero suntok sa buwan na atang isiping 'yun! Anyway, on the right is the Making of ZZZ from Regal Multimedia.



Medyo nanibago lang ako not seeing Eula Valdes and Tuxqs Rutaquio as ZZZ and Ada, respectively. Imagine, I've seen them performed three times on stage!

Meanwhile, while searching for the trailer, I found this on You Tube! It was uploaded last June 2006. I have no idea how this person was able to sneak in his camera inside the theater. Nevertheless, the clip was a treat! Of all the performances that I've seen, I never saw a single Arnold Reyes act. I swear, come January, I'll see the play again with friends!

The Angelica Panganiban Scandal

In her 24 Oras interview, Angelica Panganiban denied the fitting shots. She said, "Ung ilalabas namin ay totoo lang. Pati ba naman katawan ko ay lolokohin ko pa?"

OK...

When Losing is Unexpected

Watch Faith Hill's reaction when Carrie Underwood was announced as the winner for "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the recently concluded Country Music Awards.


After the incident, Hill said that it was all a joke. Her manager, Gary Borman, added that: "I've worked with Faith for many years now and the idea that she would ever insult or undermine another artist, let alone another human being's success is absolutely preposterous. Those who know her know that she's incapable of such actions. She was being playful while the nominations were being read and playful after."

Anyway, if she is being "playful", these guys are being "playful" themselves. Great spoofs of the incident!


In another event, Kanye West also expressed his disappointment when he interrupted the winners at the MTV Europe Awards. He said that his video deserved to win.

In our country, remember when Cesar Montano bad-mouthed a certain award-giving body when Bagong Buwan did not win as Best Picture saying that trophies can be bought in Recto?

Oh well...

Cinemanila 2006: Numbalikdiwa

View the trailer
Numbalikdiwa (2006)
Maricel Soriano, Albert Martinez, Meryl Soriano, Ping Medina, Estrella Kuenzler
Bobby Bonifacio

Numabalikdiwa (n) - An ancient, macabre ritual where the dead assumes the body of a living person. Like cannibalism, it involves the ingestion of the deceased’s ground meat and bones as part of the ritual. With the help of the Sasigloho, an ancient tribal deity, the dead assumes the identity of the living and continues to live his/her life accordingly, granting near immortality to the one who practices it.

Numbalikdiwa follows the lives of adoptive siblings, Karissa (Meryl Soriano) and Anton (Ping Medina), and live-in partners, Carlos (Albert Martinez) and Portia (Maricel Soriano). The couple cross paths with the siblings because they are frequent buyers of the barbeque they sell.

One night, after an argument with Anton, Karissa runs away. Unaware of her surroundings, a car hits her. When she opens her eyes, she is in a different surroundings, in a different body. It is now up to her to continue the new life she has been given or live the life she once had.

Numbalikdiwa, as a horror film, is a breath of fresh air from the roster of horror films that have been coming out lately. For a new director, Bobby Bonifacio is very promising and someone to look forward to. The whole film has creepiness written all over it. Good acting from the whole cast. Lighting could be better, though.

Catch Numbalikdiwa this Cinemanila 2006! Check out Cinemanila's sked here.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Cinemanila 2006: Perhaps Love

Perhaps Love (HK, 2005)
Jackie Cheung. Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhou Xun, Ji Jin-Hee
Peter Chan Hoh-San

Perhaps Love is the title of a musical movie about to be made by the renowed director Nie Wen (Jacky Cheung). It brings together for the first time one of the famous actresses in HK, Sun Na (Zhou Xun) and one of the famous actors in Shanghai, Lin Jian Dong (Takeshi Kaneshiro). However, Sun Na seemed to be indifferent to Lin Jian Dong. The more he tries his best to get closer to her, the more she resist.

Enter Monty (Ji Jin-Hee), a muse. According to him, his job is to make people remember the deleted scenes in their lives. He brings back their inspiration to them. He gives them back the memories that deserve to be remembered as they go along with their lives.

As the camera rolls, they are able to relive their pasts in the movie that seemed to mirror their lives. It is the past that would help them bring out their acting best and would make them realize what they are missing out in their lives. The film would make them cross between what is for real and what is for reel.

I have wanted to see Perhaps Love when I first knew about it. Knowing that I couldn't see it on cinemas, I opted to buy it online on DVD. However, despite being a lover of musicals, I had my apprehensions. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to enjoy the film knowing that the songs were all in Chinese. How could I ever get the feel of it when most songs in a musical film tell a story? I decided not to buy it. But when I learned that it is part of the 8th Cinemanila Film Festival's line-up, I immediately took the chance of watching it.

Perhaps Love is Cinemanila's opening salvo for this 2006 (Nov. 3-15) festival. It is China's first musical film ala Moulin Rouge.

When the film opened its first musical number, all my apprehensions went down the drain. Music could be enjoyed no matter what language they're in. Mixed together with grand visuals and fantastic ambience, Perhaps Love is one cinematic feat!

Apart from the enthralling music and majestic visuals, it is the story that would leave one speechless and teary-eyed. The love triangle amongst the characters may not be something new anymore but it is the passion and heart-wrenching emotions that would capture the audience's attention and would make them grab a tissue or two.

Perhaps Love brings together some of Asia's best performers: HK's Jacky Cheung (best known here as Regine Velasquez's duet in "In Love with You") and Zhou Xun (The Banquet), Korea's Ji Jin-Hee (best known here as Kapitan in Jewel in the Palace), and Taiwan/Japan's Takeshi Kaneshiro (The House of Flying Daggers, Chung King Express). It is an ensemble of cast acting together in one spectacular film!

Not to be missed!

My Rating: 5 out of 5


Check out Cinemanila's sked here

6 Guys. 1 Plan. A Movie Review.

6 guys. 3 groups. 1 plan. And a huge screw-up to mess it all up.

Pinoy Blonde (2005). Cousins Andrew (Epy Quizon) and Conrad (Boy2 Quizon) Cunanan were sent on a no-questions-asked-mission: to deliver the package, retrieve the payment, and leave the vicinity. Delivering the package was easy. However, it was leaving the vicinity that became the problem. First, they witnessed several murders that were linked to the mission. Second, a bag full of money was in their possession. Third, Conrad met the collector (Jaime Fabregas) who had a foot fetish, Andrew had a long discussion with the assistant (Ricky Davao) about the Brocka-Bernal rivalry, and they'd seen the senator (Joey Marquez) who was one of the mission's protectors. How could they ever get out alive with all the knowledge they have learned?

Nasaan si Francis? (2006) Childhood friends Boy (Paolo Contis) and Sonny (Rico Blanco) wanted a better life. In order to achieve it, they needed some money to start over. 40k to be exact: 30k for Boy and his gf, Sophia (Tanya Garcia) and 10k for Sonny's tuition fee. Their solution was to borrow money from their drug-junkie friend, Francis (Epy Quizon). Francis offered them a better deal. Sell his 50 tabs of ectasy with his price of 1k each. They can double the amount and get whatever amount is left after he receives the other end of the bargain. However, before they could execute it, Francis died. How could the plan be pursued if people surrounding Francis learn that he's dead? So they hid Francis until they were caught in a web at the end with the drug dealer (Christopher de Leon) who wanted the money that Francis owed him, the mama san (Rio Locsin) who believed that she owns Sophia, Francis' gf (Angel Locsin) who wished to rekindle her relationship with him, a paranoid drug-junkie friend (Karl Roy) who thought that everyone is out to get him, and Francis' siblings (Ricky Davao & Rita Avila) who felt that he needs to clean up his act. How could they ever get out of the web with Francis dead and no E to sell for money?

Big Time (2005). Like Boy and Sonny, childhood friends Jonas (Nor Domingo) and Danny (Winston Elizalde) dreamed of a better life. But they wanted the big change in a snap. They couldn't wait any longer for success. They'd get it in any way they can.

No more petty crimes for them. Kidnap and ransom was their choice of crime this time. Only that when they were about to kidnap Melody (Joanne Miller), they met her bf, Wilson (Jamie Wilson). Wilson, who thought of turning the situation for him, decided to go along with them. He wanted to squeezed some money from his mob-boss dad (Michael de Mesa) so that he could start his own drug-dealing business. What seemed to be a perfect plan turned out their biggest nightmares because they had underestimated the power of his dad and his "alipores". How could Jonas and Danny ever hit the big time when they got themselves tangled with the mob?

Pinoy films seldom come up with movies with type of genre. i.e. dark comedies or simply, in my book, "kakulitan" films. The last good "makulit" film that I have seen was Kakabakaba Ka Ba? These three films seemed to go between the unconventional and the experimental way of Pinoy film-making. First, the story theme is not typically Pinoy. Topics about drugs and mobs are usually seen in action films. Second, the first two incorporated animation and comic-style of story-telling into the films.

Amongst the three, Big Time is a stand out when it comes to the story. It has a goal and it knows how to get there. It is hysterically funny with some witty dialogues to boot. Despite how bad the manner of achieving their desires, its lead characters were amiable with their simple and unapologetic ways. You'd get to love them that, in the end, you'd get to smile with them as they concoct another plan.

Another thing that I find appealing about the film is its injection of Pinoy pop culture. You'd easily discern that director Mario Cornejo is indeed a Pinoy film lover. Not some Pinoy film-snob and wannabe-director who wants to make Pinoy films for the sake of showing the world that it could be better when, in fact, he has no idea what is truly in the heart of a Pinoy film. Love your own first, dude! :-)

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pinoy Blonde also infused the Pinoy pop culture in it with its who's-the-better-director-Brocka-or-Bernal issue in it. Andrew is pro-Brocka while Conrad is pro-Bernal. Mostly, though, it is, beyond doubt, a Peque Gallaga movie with all the bits and pieces of Gallaga movies jabbed into it. All the actors who played a part in this film are reminiscent of his other films: Liza Lorena in Oro, Plata, Mata, Manilyn Reynes in Shake, Rattle, & Roll episodes, Richard Gomez in Once Upon a Time, Cherry Pie Picache in Baby Love, Ian Veneracion in Unfaithful Wife 2, amongst others. In that aspect, it is really what it says it is: an all-star cast! You'd never know who would suddenly popped out in a scene.

The storyline, which sometimes becomes absurd, is simple. It isn't a laugh-out-loud comedy but still very entertaining. Peque makes up for it with his cinematic way of dealing with the script: the traditional way mixed with a couple of animation, dream sequences, and colorful background. It seemed like that the film is done fantastically with all the demented but interesting characters in it. In two words, I could say that Pinoy Blonde is an eye candy! It gives you a pleasing treat with an after taste.

Check out the Eddie Garcia with his hilarious song number!

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Out of the three, Nasaan si Francis? by Gabby Fernandez tried to be funny but failed miserably. It is reminiscent of the Hollywood film Weekend at Bernie's. Yet like that film, it is very much forgettable. The somewhat commedable acting of the cast (except for Rico Blanco who seemed to border on being retarded and stupid when it comes to his acting and characterization) couldn't make up for the inanity of its plot and its technical ineptitude (bad sound, poor editing, faulty lighting).

Christopher de Leon could've broke out of his acting shell in this film yet you couldn't miss out the fact that his character as the drug dealer is dim-witted. How could a drug dealer collect the payment by himself? Doesn't he have collectors for it?

This is a non-sensical film that would truly give you nothing in the end.

Check out Tanya and Julia Clarete's dance number. Though short, quite engaging! :-)

My Rating: 2 out of 5

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