Monday, February 19, 2007

Film: Fatale

You know those movies. The ones that waste a couple of hours off your day. The ones that waste Php. 200.00 worth of a gimmick. I'm sure you've had those. Well, I've had mine, too, and instead of getting me cooled down, it got me hyped up. I felt myself a bit more high-strung than when I entered the cinema. When I walked out, I was ranting with a rage and passion none of my friends could control. "Lizzie McGuire Movie" they called it. The only thing good about it was that it was rated G. But now I begin to wonder - since it didn't shock or giddy anyone off their seats, did this movie have a capability to bore them off their seats? Well, it certainly bored me off mine, and this movie turned out to be the kind of movie during which I wouldn't mind going to the bathroom.

Lizzie McGuire, in general, is something I find quite petty and dull. All the "Ugh!"s and the "Like"s killed me. And it's not even the terms I have problems with - it's how they tend to squeal them. I hope no one's actually been so influenced as to think this squealing is "cool." (Although I somehow feel that it's too late to hope for that.) But when I found out about the movie? I just wanted to laugh - laugh long and hard. Surely, this blonde Barbie has made a success of herself through this show. And the movie was certainly a step up from its on-set series. (Italy always charmed me.) But the story was quite... Typical, and really, I thought, anyway - a ploy to launch her would-be singing career.

The songs were catchy, I admit, albeit too teeny-bopper. But her voice was unlike any other. I'm a music fan, but that wanted to make me say "Music sucks!" Her oh-so-obviously technologically fixed vocals were disturbing, and her too-good-to-be-true story was laughable. I'm a romantic at heart - a great one, at that - but there really wasn't any romance in the movie. Come on, Barbie and the guy who looks like Fez from That 70's Show? Can't be expected from me. I've always believe that romance was to be left to the more mature, and more seasoned actors. Otherwise, all they'll pull off is something quite reminiscent of chewed-up bubblegum: (story) would be sweet, but face it, just isn't anymore, after the acting.

Cinematography and quality of the film itself were good enough. Nothing more is to be expected of a "tweener" movie. But, like I said, maybe the whole setting and story, the music and such - maybe it would've drawn out some emotion out of me had it been carried out by older actors. Or at least, actors who looked older, since I believe the actors in this movie were old, but didn't look it.

Animated films about animals have drawn out more emotion from me. Funny. In theory, a message being sent out from one man to another should evoke more emotion. Oh well. I always was an animal lover. Lizzie McGuire is an acquired taste kinda thing.

posted by krizia @ 3:42 AM 0 comments

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Film Femme

Aside from my being a self-proclaimed bookworm, I am also a film fan. I can watch movies for the sake of watching, or for the art immersion of it all, or to sustain my need for romanticism in my life (I am a hopeless romantic, after all), or to get my mind to work the hamster wheel (I do love my twisted movies). That said, one can only imagine how difficult my position is right now, as I'm supposed to share my favorite movie. Because, the truth is, I have none.

It's all the same for me - I have no favorite book, I have no favorite song, I have no favorite movie or TV show. Perhaps it's because I only ever care to read, listen to, or watch what really interest me, and it takes quite a lot to interest me. In other words, what I may choose to like have already gone through vigorous and strict quality control, so I couldn't possibly pick just one. That's like asking PepsiCo to choose the best bottle of Pepsi they've ever made. Obviously, they can't pick the rejected bottles, nor can they pick just one bottle that they've released. But, to the customer, the very bottle that he/she happens to be drinking at the moment, may be the bet one yet, as he had craved for it in the first place. So maybe I'll tell you about that. The movie I'm craving for or ranting about as of late.

M. Night Shyamalan is known for well-known supernatural suspense films "Praying with Anger," "Wide Awake," "The Sixth Sense," "Unbreakable," "Signs," and "The Village." These films feature original screenplays (all by him) that draw the viewers in and keep them at the edge of their seats. He directed these films, and produced them. He also cameoed in them, usually as an extra. Of all his works, however, his most recent one is what's clinging to me these days.

"Lady in the Water" is a bedtime story, according to Mr. Shyamalan. Curious for a director, producer and writer known for suspense and thriller movie, is it not? Not quite. Historically, bedtime stories are meant to scare children into being obedient and going to bed. Such stories include "Snow White" (which isn't as fairytale-ish as Disney makes it to be), "Rumplestiltskin" (with its haunting dwarf/gnome), "Little Mermaid" (wherein, in the original version, the Little Mermaid dies and doesn't end up with true love at all) and "Little Red Riding Hood" (yet another story wherein the wolf plays the villain). So, was Mr. Shyamalan effective in making a bedtime story? In my opinion, yes, he was.

This movie was so clever, mind-bending and imaginative that I had to sit still for more than five minutes just to catch my breath (or rather, breathe, as I had forgotten how to). After a while, my friend and I could only say one thing: "...... Whoa." And yet another five minutes later, we began exclaiming about the film excitedly.

Why is this my Movie of the Moment? For one thing, the story just seems so incredibly fresh. It was dark, involved supernatural elements, yet seemed so real. I admit that the concept of the gigantic eagle and such (you'd have to watch it to understand) are a bit harder to sink in, though. The plot was dark, twisted, vague, understandable, hopeful and refreshing all at the same time.

Another thing is its actors. Bryce Dallas Howard, the leading lady of "Lady in the Water" had in fact already worked with Mr. Shyamalan prior to this, for "The Village." She pulls another of Mr. Shyamalan's characters off quite well, as she plays the Narf (or water nymph). Paul Giamatti plays Mr. Heep, a normal character that you could meet in an everyday situation. He plays Cleveland Heep quite effectively, and I could not help but empathize with him in the film.

Of course, there's also the shots. There were a number of intersting and creative shots - quite artsy, but somehow they belonged to the non-Indie film. They're the kind of shots that would look great as photos.

Although professional reviewers do not praise M. Night Shyamalan as I do, I praise him through and through. I admit his films are of acquired taste. People who are expecting The Lord of the Rings, Mean Girls, James Bond or The Lake House will, no doubt, be disappointed. But if you're open to twisted movies that make you think, despite some cheesy supernatural areas ("Lady of the Water" is no "Signs" or "The Sixth Sense" in the supernatural department), then I'm sure (or hoping, at the very least) that you'll understand what I mean.

Waiting for my next Movie of the Moment. I hear The Blood Diamond and Martin Scorsese's The Departed are worth watching.

posted by krizia @ 3:18 AM 0 comments