Getting those childlike laughs as driven by a film is rare. Tangled, I think, is one of those films that I will never get tired of watching over and again. Good job, Disney!
Films
It’s ironic that just as when I’ve been vocal about my being swamped with work, my cinema attendance significantly improved. I don’t want to dig if it is purely coincidental or not, but I guess it was mainly due to one’s initial reaction that the best thing to do after an exhausting week is to either pig out or snore or see a movie (not necessarily in cinemas) or a little bit of everything. Anyway, not all movies deserve to be seen on a bigger screen. Sometimes, they just happen to be around just when you needed them. Without qualifying much for the other movies that I’ve seen but never blogged about (especially Inception), I guess that in this batch of “just-because-they-were-on”, only the Legends of the Guardians and Scott Pilgrim are worth to be seen on the bigger screen.
Despicable Me, despite the predictable story line, is guaranteed to give you laughs.
On the other hand, Cats & Dogs 2 is guaranteed to make you sleep. Apparently, I’ve dozed off for the first time inside the cinema. I just want to think that probably I badly needed a nap. Maybe, if we’ve seen Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps I could have been wide awake.
The following weekend was better when we watched Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. Thanks to princessM for the heads up. It is an interesting movie giving us a chance to peek in the world of the owls. However, I have an initial disbelief when I saw them rolling their eyes because in theory, the owls cannot roll theirs since they are fixed in the eye sockets. To see what is behind them, they have the amazing ability to rotate their head 270 degrees and almost upside down. But for the sake of visual efficiency (especially in cartooning and 3D), there’s just too much to invest on eye movements to communicate to the viewers.
The filming of Eat Pray Love made me consider getting that book which I’ve been seeing at the best seller section for a long time. I don’t know why but there’s something nagging me that I do not really need to read that seems to be self-help book. Do not get me wrong, I can be really, really anything from the Twilight madness to Superfreakonomics to The Black Swan (which I haven’t finished until now). Anyway, I bought it, the one with the (new) Julia Roberts cover eating gelato beside the nuns. While the eating part in Italy, ashram experience in India and Bali (Indonesia) views were best seen in the movie than just being imagined, and that Julia Roberts, James Franco, Javier Bardem (wow, for the mixtape memories) graced the screen, the book is still much, much better. The novel itself is absolutely inspiring (though in real life, I think that a person doesn’t really need to travel in different countries just to find his or her balance; the eating, praying, and loving can actually happen with the same effect within the Philippines or other place alone), but there are missing links in the adaptation (especially the random mention of the Filipino accountant whom Liz met in India, haha).
On the other hand, I’ve really looked forward to seeing Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Aside from that I am a Michael Cera fan since Juno going to Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, I was too curious to see an original, funny and smart movie in a video game cum hipster style. And my expectations were surpassed. I must warn you, though, that it is not for everyone. It is either you will like it or hate it. Personally, I liked it so much. A postmodern epic movie!
As a side note, I don’t know what it took me so long but it was just lately that I noticed that there are always a couple of subtitles (Arabic and French) in the UAE cinema screens and that instead of popcorn, I like more the corn with salt, butter, cheese, chili, pepper, garlic, and lemon (yes, altogether).
(Owl You Need Is Love – how cool is that? I can’t help but discreetly take a photo of this bag in Forever 21 in Marina Mall. Lots of kooky and fashionable stuff, but I did not buy any heehee.)
I am most of the time jealous of the long weekends in the Philippines. (Although we are not sure about the government’s plan on sustaining the holiday economics.) So I feel privileged whenever we have our once in a crescent moon extra mile break. Yes, not once in a blue moon since our long breaks in the UAE are normally triggered by Islamic celebrations. The intent to travel outside the Gulf did not occur to me, I even begged off to close friends not to go with them in this wonderful getaway to a beach in Ras Al Khaimah, another UAE emirate neighboring Dubai.
Read MoreTo those who wonder, why the movie was titled like that:
The clouds I can handle. But I can’t fight with an eclipse.
[Jacob Black, Eclipse, Chapter 26, p.600]
However, that was not mentioned in the adaptation.
What day is it? I can’t believe that until now I haven’t done a review for Eclipse. Had it been shown in 2008, I probably had drafted my review already with fill in the blanks type (until I validate the other details). You know how it feels when you used to be head over heels over someone/something OR that famous realization about first love? That it actually dies, but is never forgotten. That is the current state of my Twilight Saga addiction. For old times’ sake, I willingly write this non-traditional review and random babbling into one:
(a) Would you believe that a larger percentage of the patronizers on the day that I watched were locals (Emiratis)? Their younger generation really are becoming more open minded.
(b) Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen is unfortunately depreciating. I prefer to remember Edward Cullen just as he is in the book and Robert Pattinson as he was in the first movie and as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I think most of you have heard of the joke, “Voldemort had killed Cedric Diggory and was turned into a vampire… he is now Edward Cullen!”
(c) On the other hand, Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black has became more appealing. In the book, I am with Team Edward. But in the movies, I am on the other side. Semi-Team Jasper even, in Eclipse. Members of Team Jasper increased because a portion of his admirable vampire career was highlighted.
(d) Why is Kristen Stewart’s (Isabella Swan) acting not improving? Haaay.
(e) Xavier Samuel as Riley Biers (new character) was very good. Too bad his role died on this movie, too. His acting reminded me of Vampire Diaries (Season 2 will start in September. Better than Twilight Saga.)
(f) The soundtrack is remarkable.
(g) Jessica’s valedictory address was good. But in the books, it sounded like Angela and Eric are the brainier batchmates.
(h) My most favorite scene in the book, i.e. the tent scene, which I looked forward to in the adaption, was depicted excellently. That was when they spent the night on the mountains. On that stormy hour, the sickly chilling Bella cannot be comforted by Edward since the vampires as popularized from this point are as cold as ice. Jacob being hot-blooded, of wolf descent, saved the damsel in distress. There goes the one million dollar statement: “Let’s face it, I’m hotter than you!” The man-to-man (or ice versus fire) talk happened thereafter meaningfully. How lucky is Bella eh? But I do not envy her. Heehee.
A flu attacked me the night before the weekend which made me bedridden the following day. Avoiding anything which is very physical and with a pale appetite, I at least wanted to feed my eyes. As a result, I marathoned three movies. These are amongst those, I am convinced, I can watch over and again:
When Harry Met Sally (1989) – I was totally glued with the conversations between Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan). Although I find Harry “sort of ugly” for Sally, his being able to talk like a non-stop machine with sense is hilarious and endearing. Despite that the boundaries of friendship are obviously defined in many cases, it is interesting how the story can make you pretend that the predictable is unpredictable. One of the best romantic comedies I have ever seen. As it was nearing the finale, I was wishing it would never end. It is also good to see Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in Star Wars Trilogy) here.
Once (2006) – The movie was set in Dublin, Ireland and featured its local musicians. The main guy (Glen Hansard) writes and sings so well. I liked the realistic appeal of the story, when you can do everything and nothing (alike at the same time), and the ending was depicted in its full practicality. The songs featured are remarkable and I think that Falling Slowly and Fallen from the Sky are the best among the plenty of good songs from the soundtrack. Although produced under a low budget, this movie has a distinct character that you will not forget – one of which is finding the balance between romantic and musical connections.
Titanic (1997) – While there was a number of movies produced based on the sinking of RMS Titanic, this stands as the most popular to date. I was still in college when I first watched it and I honestly did not appreciate it that time. I thought it was too mushy and it clouded its other brilliant aspects. Until I saw it for the second time during the weekend, I realized that it was well-made and story was daunting and classic. It took me more than a decade to see it from a different angle (*facepalm*). And guess what? James Cameron (also the director of Avatar) used the “I See You” line in this movie, for the first time. That explains why it sounded familiar during the Avatar screening.
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