Movies from the Land Down Under
The 7th Australian Film Fest held at Greenbelt 3 was similar with the recently concluded Spanish Film Fest (tickets at P65 each, with reserved seating, etc.) except for the number of films to be shown and the limited period. Only six films were screened from November 5 to 8 (then from November 9 to 14 in Ayala Center in Cebu City). It’s a pretty amazing deal as opposed to having an overwhelming array of films, too overwhelming that you can’t really watch everything if you’re keeping an 8-to-5 job.
Out of six, I only watched three:
1. Jeff Balsmeyer’s “Danny Deckchair”. Imagine a live action equivalent of Pixar’s “Up” with a man sitting on a chair tied with a dozen balloons. The lead character Danny (the great Rhys Ifan, Hugh Grant’s housemate in “Notting Hill”), a loser, is on the verge of fall-out with his wife. He feels that he’s got nothing much to contribute in life. After the accident of being lifted from one city to a quiet town, his world made a turn. He meets a lonesome policewoman played by Miranda Otto and receives the recognition he deserves from the townspeople. It’s a rom-com and the take is Hollywood all over. Aside from the guilty pleasure that it’s enjoyable nevertheless, I appreciate the flying part that is both magical and stupid.
2. Robert Connoly’s “The Bank”. The festival flyer tags this film as a political thriller. It’s initially blueprinted as a controlling-guru-meets-an-amateur kind of film. Heading the cast is the radiant Anthony LaPaglia (who also stars in one of my favorite Aussie films “Lantana”) as the head of the bank who hires a boy wonder played by David Wenham (I think he’s the bad guy in “Australia”). The film may not be the edge of your seat type but it has its own set of chills and twists. Its statement on industry giants like the bank are evil is something that is worth noting about.
3. Elissa Down’s “The Black Balloon”. Sorry to peg this on Lasse Hallstrom’s “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, a family drama about coping on life’s challenges. It stars Toni Collette as the mother of two kids (one is autistic and the other, on his puberty). The POV of the film is mainly told through the eyes of the adolescent character (played by Rhys Wakefield) as he copes with the Herculean task of being a brother to an adult with autism and discovers young love along the way. The final product is not as low-pitched as “Gilbert Grape” but it is durable enough to tell a good story about family hardships and acceptance.
Biyaheng Langit
Biyaheng LupaDireksyon: Armando “Bing” Lao
Iskrip: Armando “Bing” Lao
Mga Nagsiganap: Allan Paule, Jaclyn Jose, Eugene Domingo, Coco Martin, atbp.
ISTORYAUnang una, concept-driven ang pelikula. Ganitong halimbawa ang tipong mahirap isulat ang synopsis dahil hindi na masyadong mahalaga kung ano ang itinakbo ng buhay ng mga karakter dito. Kung hindi man mahirap isulat ay napakaiksi lang ng pwedeng sabihin tungkol sa istorya nito.
Isang bus mula Maynila ang bumabyahe papuntang Legazpi (ayon sa signboard na nakalagay sa harapan). Lulan nito ang iba’t ibang pasahero at ang kanila-kanilang bagahe, literal at figurative. May ilang sumakay sa daan, may ilang bumaba, may ilang umabot hanggang dulo, may ilang bumalik. Umandar ang pelikula at nabuhay sa pagsara at pagbukas ng pinto. Dito na makikitang habang nasa loob ng bus ay “nagsasalita” ang isip ng mga pasahero. Nawala ang mga speaking line na kadalasang napapanood sa isang “normal” na pelikula. At dito na nakikipag-usap ang mga karakter sa mga manonood.
ANG BUHAY SA LIKOD NG GULONGHindi ganun kadaling pasanin ang trip ng pelikula lalo na para sa mga manonood na nasanay sa Hollywood, Star Cinema o maging sa mga pelikulang isinulat na dati ni Bing Lao. Ibang iba ang “Biyaheng Lupa”. Bagong bago. Maliban sa mga sadyang tsismoso na nais makinig sa mga kuwento ng mga karakter, limitado ang maaaring maka-relate sa pelikula. Isa na ako rito.
Kinakailangan ang sensibility ng isang biyahero upang madaling masakyan ang konsepto. Hindi bago sa akin ang mahabang biyahe sa bus katulad ng madalas kong gawin kapag umuuwi sa Lopez, Quezon (na ang sementeryo ay ginamit sa pelikula). Totoong nakakabagot ang biyahe para sa isang baguhan. At sa aspetong ito ay mas makabuluhan ang English title ng pelikula na “Soliloquy”. Ang lima o apat na oras na pagkakaupo sa bus ay magtutulak talaga sa ‘yong magmuni sa sariling buhay habang nakatingin sa mga puno, dagat o kalsadang binabagtas, mag-isip ng kuwento ng mga kapwa pasahero o matulog. Napangiti ako sa isang eksena kung saan isininalang sa player ang isang videoke piece at nagpasahang “kumanta” ang mga pasahero. Sa totoo lang ay naisip ko na rin ang gan’ung sequence sa isa sa aking mga pag-uwi. Walang ganitong luxury ang sinumang hindi pa nakakaranas ng gan'un kahabang biyahe.
Bagamat kahanga-hanga ang pag-devise ng material at ang posibilidad na maging pelikula ang ganito kataas ang lipad na konsepto, si Bing Lao bilang direktor ay parang sanggol na gumagapang pa. Sa tingin ko, marami pa s’yang iinuming gatas upang lumutang ang kanyang tikas sa aspetong ito. Halimbawa, sa tingin ko, mayroon pang mas magandang anggulo, o mas fluid, sa mga eksena sa loob ng bus. Ang eksena rin, halimbawa, ni Coco Martin na umiiyak ay tila walang kontrol para sa kanyang karakter na sa isang eksena ay nanapak ng bading (Andoy Ranay) sa CR. Hindi ko rin masyadong maipaliwanag ang mga pasaherong maagang bumababa para sa isang bus na papuntang Legazpi. Kadalasan, biyaheng Lucena o Guinayangan lang ang sasakyan mo para sa mga short trip.
Dala na rin marahil ng pagiging concept-driven ng pelikula, natabunan na nito ang iba pang aspeto. Maliban sa direction, halos hindi na rin mapupuna kung gaano man kahusay sina Jaclyn Jose, Angel Aquino, Eugene Domingo, Shamaine Buencamino, Julio Diaz, Archie Adamos at maging ang baguhang si Carlo Guevarra na gumanap bilang pipi. Ganito rin ang masasabi ko sa sound design o cinematography.
KONKLUSYONNoteworthy ang pagiging fresh ng pelikula. Hindi pa yata ako naka-hitchhike sa ganitong klaseng biyahe, lokal man, indie o world cinema. Naalala ko ang ilang komento tungkol sa “Bringing Out the Dead” dati ni Martin Scorsese. Medyo bago rin ang konsepto ng pelikula at n’ung panahong ipinalabas ito sa sinehan ay hinulaang hindi pa ito matatanggap ng manonood. Kinakailangang gumugol muna ng taon bago ito tuluyang maunawaan. Ganitong ganito ang konklusyon ko sa “Biyaheng Lupa”. Hindi ako magugulat kung sooner or later ay gagamitin itong template sa isa pang bagong material.
Base sa directorial debut na ito ni Bing Lao, hindi ko alam kung ano ang susunod n’yang ipapakita. Concept-driven kaya ulit? Kung oo, paano n’ya maa-outdo ang pelikulang ito na tingin ko ay kalabisan na ng kanyang sarili bilang manunulat ang kanyang naibuhos? Pipiliin n’ya kayang tumahak sa daan na mas lilitaw ang kanyang papaging direktor, kamukha ng ginawa ni Chris Martinez sa “100” at Jun Lana sa “Roxxxanne”? Kahit ano pa man, si Bing Lao ‘yan. S’ya na ibinalik ang Pilipinas sa mapa ng world cinema. S’ya na kahit ano pa mang biyahe o kibot o utot ay susuportahan ko. Biyaheng lupa o biyaheng langit, sasakay ako.
Movie Digest # 065
RED CLIFF
Glorietta 4, Cinema 1, October 26, 7:25pm
It’s been a while since I last saw a John Woo movie (last being Mission Impossible 2, I can’t remember). This time, for a comeback project, he tried his hand on a Chinese saga (joining the likes of Zhang Yimou). The result for me, if not for the presence of the great Tony Leung, is just OK. So predictable that in some scenes, I almost fell asleep. And the English dub doesn’t help.
Friends who might appreciate it: Those who wish to see not another sequence involving a pigeon.
THE INFORMANT
Glorietta 4, Cinema 7, October 26, 10:15pm
On this film, Matt Damon plays an office employee who got involved in a myriad of lies. It is based on true events and it’s a restrained character study of a person with bipolar disorder. I watched this film on LFS and the dry humor kept me hooked. Since the film is directed by one of Hollywood great filmmakers, Steven Soderbergh, expect that gritty and dated feel.
Friends who might appreciate it: Small film fans.
THE UGLY TRUTH
Greenbelt 3, Cinema 3, October 27, 6:30pm
It’s a formula rom-com about a male chauvinist and a reserved feminist. From there, I guess you already know what’s in store with this one. It’s just a relief that it’s not irritating at all. I appreciate the last few minutes of the film particularly on two scenes. First, the confrontation scene afloat a hot air balloon and the lovers stop fighting the moment they see the breathtaking view. Secondly, the very last frame where Katherine Heigl is shown victorious after a good sex. That one alone says what the film is all about.
Friends who might appreciate it: Those who believe that women can fake orgasm.
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER
Greenbelt 3, Cinema 1, October 27, 9:05pm
A bittersweet retelling of a modern day love story told through the perspective of a young man. It’s charming, sweet and very appealing to the now generation as evident in the editing gimmickry, Zooey Deschanel and that captivating OST. I don’t like it much but I highly recommend it.
Friends who might appreciate it: You know who you are.
PATIENT X
Glorietta 4, Cinema 7, October 28, 10:20pm
If you’re familiar with one of “Shake, Rattle and Roll”’s episodes about a hospital in the province being attacked by
aswangs, the material is very much similar. This time around, the film attempted to humanize the blood-sucking creature by devising a love angle between the mortal and the
aswang. It’s just disappointing that the logic and all the fear factor elements did not work, too bad for a filmmaker who just made a shot in Hollywood.
Friends who might appreciate it: Those who agree that Richard Gutierrez still can’t act and that Cristine Reyes is hot.
ANG BEERHOUSE
Robinson’s Galleria, Cinema 7, October 31, 7:30pm
I can say that it’s serviceable enough for a Filipino film about prostitution. If you think you’ve seen it all (“Prosti”, Lino Brocka films and the like), this one’s a little different. The POV is told through a customer and it is, above all, a love story. It’s not about oppression or or even a commentary about social classes. It is partly poetic and partly too mainstream. I like the concept about life being a cycle as suggested by the scenes with a little boy taking a peek on what’s inside the beerhouse. The only thing annoying for me is casting the mestizo Ryan Eigenmann as the Common Joe protagonist. I have no problems with Gwen Garci.
Friends who might appreciate it: Those who can’t pay enough for a VIP room.
ASTRO BOY
Glorietta 4, Cinema 1, October 31, 10:30pm
How to westernize an animé? Go and watch this film. Got nothing much to articulate about this honest-to-goodness film. I can’t say that it’s bad and I can’t say that it is that Pixar good either.
Friends who might appreciate it: Those who grew up watching the series on RPN-9.
THIS IS IT
Gateway Cineplex, Cinema 4, November 4, 6:45pm
This enjoyable documentary that collects the rehearsal videos of the King of Pop during his last days is something that has to be watched by his fans. It is something that could be appreciated by concertgoers, the pop culture and those greatly influenced by a humungous talent that is called Michael Jackson. This is not made for film critics and the Oscars. A must-watch.
Friends who might appreciate it: Those who think that MJ’s gone too soon.
Withdrawal Syndrome from Cinemanila 2009
I hate that familiar feeling of facing the week again after a weekend of hectic film watching and coffeeless late nights. This normally happens when I run out of good films to catch and my system starts to look for films like drugs. Oh, well. Whatever the ickiness is, I enjoyed this year’s Cinemanila held at Market! Market! in The Fort.
Let me shortly count the ways. First, the location is sweet. It’s just 15 minutes away from the office (last year was the most challenging when they held it at Gateway in Cubao). As part of the tradition, Cinemanila always finds ways to bring in big names in the film world. Last year, they had Quentin Tarantino and this time around, it’s the great Paul Schrader (thanks for the autograph, by the way). There were still some mishaps with the schedule but it’s as minor as rescheduling “Coco Avant Chanel” to a later date and replacing Lav Diaz’ “Batang West Side” with the this year’s winning films. “Samson and Delilah” didn’t have English subtitles but the film’s strong visual language saved the day.
Tickets were regularly priced at P122 each and, as expected, this brought in some close to empty cinemas (tickets at Spanish Film Fest 2009, for instance, cost P60 each only). It just so happened that a filmmaker friend of mine gave me a filmmaker’s pass. Sorry Mr. Tikoy Aguiliz but it’s something that I couldn’t and wouldn’t resist. Please consider my way of paying back through the purchase of “Himpapawid” ticket that costs P200 and my frequent Facebook status change to promote your film fest. Plus, of course, an undying support that started 11 years ago.
And now, on to my harvest:
1. Ho Tzu Nyen’s “Here” (Singapore). What a way to start the festival with a concept-driven film about people in the mental hospital. I can say that it’s something that our very own Raya Martin would be interested of. Zen-like, therapeutic and rhythmic, expect to be healed after watching the film.
2. Caroline Link’s “A Year Ago in Winter” (Germany). First things first. It’s a decent family drama directed by the same person who megged the Oscar winning film “Nowhere in Africa”. The plot maybe a little tried and tested but it’s a good rollercoaster ride just the same.
3. Tomas Alfredson’s “Let the Right One In” (Sweden). The buzz is right: this one’s really, really good, if not one of the best films about vampires. I won’t dare compare it to “Twilight” but for the sake of describing the genre, the two films are on the same path. It’s just this Swedish film is very subtle and always treating its viewers as intelligent human beings. I don’t mind joining the bandwagon and recommend it to friends.
4. Lukas Moodysson’s “Mammoth” (Sweden/Denmark/Germany). This film boasts about the inclusion of our very own Marife Necesito as one of the main characters in the film. She plays a yaya to a daughter of a Caucasian couple living in New York. The plot is all about parents and the required time and love they need to attend to their kids. I almost liked the film if not for a little subplot about the father’s trip to Bangkok. For me, it’s not necessary.
5. Warwick Thornton’s “Samson and Delilah” (Australia). Given the fact that I watched the film without English subtitles (the original language, according to imdb.com, is Aboriginal) and managed to finish the film without any hunch that something is amiss, that is awesome. Take the film as a visual storytelling of two Aborigines falling in love and their journey to suffering and bliss.
6. Ray Gibralta’s “When Timawa Meets Delgado” (Philippines). It’s an artsy (sorry for the term) take on the plight of Filipinos who take up BS Nursing for the sole reason of earning moolahs abroad. There are two main characters here, Timawa, a filmmaker, and Delgado, a Palanca winner, who meet while applying for the course. The film is summed up of a comment from one of the interviewees: “Kung ang mga OFW ay tinatawag na “Bayong Bayani”, ano naman ang tawag sa mga Pilipinong piniling hindi umalis? Gago, martir o mga bayani rin?”
7. Diego Luna’s “JC Chavez” (Mexico). This one’s a glossy, clear-cut, fast-paced documentary on Mexico’s legendary boxer Julio Cesar Chavez. He is probably our version of Manny Pacquiao.
8. Sergey Dvortsevoy’s “Tulpan” (Germany/Switzerland/Kazakhstan/Russia/Poland). For me, this is sweetest entry from the festival’s line-up. It’s about a man who is under the pressure of getting married but the girl’s parents he is proposing with do not like him. What follows is a tale of proving his worth, in the midst of an arid land with sandstorm a flock of sheep to attend to. The scene where the central character has to help a ewe give birth to a lamb is very memorable.
9. Uberto Pasolini’s “Machan” (Sri Lanka/Italy/Germany). This one’s another favorite mainly because it’s slightly a black comedy and it’s based on true events. The film follows the lives of 16 Sri Lankans who invented a national handball team just to get a Schengen visa and travel to Germany. As of presstime, the government hasn’t found them yet. It may be filmed in a Star Cinematic manner but I like the final product and the aftertaste.
10. Bing Lao’s “Biyaheng Lupa” (Philippines). As for Bing Lao’s (notice the initials of the film and the filmmaker) directorial debut, it’s hard to do a capsule review of the film. It requires a full review which I will be doing real soon. For the meantime, in case you have a chance to see this film, go and see it for the experience.
11. Paul Schrader’s “Adam Resurrected” (USA). The film was intoduced by Paul Schrader himself and it was just a bonus. I have to agree with him that it’s a damn good film. Though it’s a film that borders on Holocaust, it didn’t stop there. It tries to explore (and exploit) more on the psychological side, done with a dash of Paul Anderson-ish central character. Jeff Goldblum deserves a Best Actor nod for this film.
12. Pablo Larrain’s “Tony Manero” (Chile/Brazil). Films like this one made me love Cinemanila. It’s a character study of a criminal who idolizes John Travolta’s role in the film “Saturday Night Fever”. The film is intense and done in almost muted colors, giving enough balance to the delightfully short dance sequences.
13. Ari Folman’s “Waltz with Bashir” (Israel). Aside from winning at the Golden Globe, I know nothing about the film. I was surprised that it was, err, an animated film. Not your Disney kind of cartoons, this one tackles post-war horrors as the main character tries to hurdle the dark side of it.
14. Ravi Bharwani’s “Jermal” (Indonesia). I was reminded with Ralston Jover’s “Bakal Boys” when I first ran through the synopsis. It’s a father and son story set in a remote manmade “island” that serves as an illegal port for fishing. The film’s good with the drama part but I was wishing that the filmmakers (yes, four of them) had pushed more to be socially relevant.
15. Claudia Llosa’s “Milk of Sorrow” (Spain/Peru). I wouldn’t be surprised if I caught an alienating film or two in this years Cinemanila. This is a good example but not in a condescending way. It tells a dragging story about a woman who just lost her mother as she finds means to bury her. Magaly Solier’s screen presence alone is worth the admission.
16. Bui Thac Chuyen’s “Adrift” (Vietnam). Here comes another personal favorite from the line-up. It contests love in marriage and explores the frailty of it. Well acted, decently directed and very Asian in all aspects. I wouldn’t mind watching this film again. The use of natural lighting is very much appreciated.
17. Cui Jian and Fruit Chan’s “Chengdu, I Love You” (China). For me, this is the weakest among the films that I have watched for this year’s Cinemanila. It is divided into two episodes: one is set in the future while the other, during the 70’s. I understand that the intention is to depict love transcending time but it isn’t pulled off well.
18. Yesim Ustaoglu’s “Pandora’s Box” (France/Germany/Turkey/Belgium). Here’s another good harvest from the festival. It’s a film that I wouldn’t be surprised with if the Oscars consider it in the Best Foreign Language Film race. It’s a heart rending tale about a mother with Alzheimer’s disease, her kids and the search for that proverbial thought that “mothers know best”.
19. Anne Fontaine’s “Coco Avant Chanel” (France). Somewhat similar to the biographical “La Mome” about the French music icon Edith Piaf starring the great Marion Cotillard. This time, it’s Audrey Tautou’s turn to give life to another iconic figure in the name of Coco Chanel. It’s well made and, no pun intended, the costumes could be merited in next year’s awards race.
20. Francois Ozon’s “Ricky” (France/Italy). Ozon always makes it a point that he treats his audience with something radical and new. This 2009 film is about a couple who is gifted with a baby who can fly (read: with wings like those of a chicken or an angel). The ultra realist filmmaking take is a coy as the idea of a flying baby seems to poke fun on the films of the same genre. Personally, I enjoyed it.
21. Juhn Jaihong’s “Beautiful” (South Korea). I like the anti-vanity take of the film, the concept that beauty could sometimes be more of a curse than a blessing. My problem with this film is that some sequences are either too superfluous or too lousy. I was expecting that in search for a cure to destruction, the main character should have opted to ruin her angelic face.
22. Nadine Labaki’s “Caramel” (Lebanon). Perhaps this is the most Star Cinematic I’ve seen among all the entries that I’ve watched. But it’s a good one. It’s a tale about Lebanese women living in France are now fully adapted with their new world. They laugh, they cry, they fight, they bond and they are all beautiful in every aspect of the word. Caramel in the film, by the way, is used for hairwaxing.
23. Raymond Red’s “Himpapawid” (Philippines). This serves as the closing film of the festival. It’s inspired by the accounts of a man who once hijacked a domestic plane and jumped in thin air. As expected, Raymond Red’s visuals are mesmerizing. I can’t say the same with the script and the acting.
Multo ng Isang Palabunutan
Pagpasensyahan ang aking munting tribute sa blog na
Apendiks.
Habang nagpapatila ng ulan slash nag-aabang ng balita kung passable na ang daan papuntang Quezon, heto at dinalaw ako ng isang alaala. Alas-tres na ng umaga (sa generation ngayon na wala nang alam sa Spanish, 3am ang ibig sabihin n’yan) nang multuhin ako ng isang munting bagay na nilamon na ng kabihasnan. Huli ko yatang nahawakan ito n’ung nasa Grade 4 pa ako. Pwede ring Grade 2 o Grade 3, kaya lang ay memorable sa akin ang taon na ‘yan sa grade school kaya ‘yun na lang ang default ko kapag gustong sariwain ang kabataan. My gulay, ganito na pala talaga ako ka-dinosaur (Kat Santos, masaya ka na? Hehehe)!
Ang tinutukoy ko ay ‘yung palabunutan (sa amin, ito ay “pabunutan”, nakaltas na ang “la”) na merong premyong pera. Isa itong yari sa karton na mas malaki ng isa’t kalahating pulgada sa standard size na coupon bond. Kung hahatiin mo crosswise (parang test paper lang), ang itaas na bahagi nito ay isang movie poster ng karaniwang kakapalabas pa lang sa mga sinehan o ‘yung medyo mainit-init pa sa takilya. Ang natatandaan ko mostly ay mga pelikula ni Lito Lapid o Chuck Norris o ‘yung mga tipo ng “Palabra de Honor” ni Danny Zialcita o “Working Girls” ni Ishmael Bernal. Ang nasabing movie poster ay nilagyan ng iba’t ibang laki ng hugis na bilog. Sa loob nito ay may dalawang figure: ang winning number at ang halaga ng premyo. Mas malaki ang bilog, mas malaki ang premyo para mas makaagaw ng atensyon. Ang buong imahen ng itaas na bahagi ng palabunutan ay nagmumukhang comic strip minsan dahil sa mga bilog na parang thought bubble.
Ang ibabang bahagi ay ang mga binubunot mismo. Kasing laki lang ito ng kuko sa hinlalaki at masinsin itong nakahanay sa isang 6x13 (estimate lang) na pagkakaayos. Gawa lang ito sa papel pero hindi ‘yung pangkaraniwang papel na madaling masira. Ito ang s’yang nagsisilbing ticket para sa mga premyo. Sa likod nito ay nakatago ang numerong iyong hahanapan ng katumbas sa itaas na bahagi ng palabunutan. Kung wala ay sa susunod na baon ka na lang bumawi.
Hindi ko na masyadong matandaan ang halaga ng nasabing palabunutan o kung magkano ang isang bunot. Ang sigurado lang ako ay puwedeng bawiin ang puhunan sa pinakamalaking premyo kung mabebenta lahat ng ticket. Lugi ka kung sa umpisa pa lang ay napanalunan na agad ang jackpot. Pero dito na papasok ang pagka-strategic mo. Siyempre, kailangan mong isikreto na meron nang nanalo para marami pa rin ang umasa at bumunot.
Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay sinubukan ko ring maging businessman noon sa palabunutan. Hindi na lang masyadong malinaw sa akin ngayon kung kumita ba ako o sadyang naaliw lang sa movie poster sa palabunutan. Noon pa man ay sureball na ako isang bagay: mahilig ako sa sine.
Wala lang. Nakakatuwa lang isipin na ang klase ng kaligayahan noon ay napakababaw. Hindi nakakagulat na hindi na na-preserve ang gan’ung pop culture. Marahil ay kasabay ng pag-unlad ng isang lahi ang pag-unlad din sa kalidad ng kaligayahan ng tao. Sigurado ako na at this age ay wala nang makaka-appreciate ng ganyang klaseng libangan kahit pa bayaran mo ng P500 para magnegosyo ng palabunutan.
Life is an iPhone # 016
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Clockwise from top row:
1.
Happy Halloween! I took this photo roughly two weeks ago at the entrance of Glorietta 4. Got nothing more to say;
2.
P25 Worth Hotdogs. The poster says it all. It so happened that there was a stall in the Market! Market! cinema area and it came handy when I was trying to theater-hop;
3.
Cotton Balls. Just got fascinated with the newly coined words:
“Bulak Balls”. Sounds like cutting classes to me;
4.
Riverbank. There’s something therapeutic in watching a serene river. It’s like everything is alright and no harm is in sight especially after the metro’s recent bouts with typhoon Ondoy. Very, very reassuring;
5.
White Forest. I was amused with the idea that Black Forest has a conterpart. And why not? White chocolate is a pleaser but I kind of miss the brown chocolatey taste of the original version;
6.
Up Until 5am. It’s been a long while since I went to a weekday gimmick that lasted this late. Read: Saguijo before midnight then videoke at Top Grill until dawn. I thought I couldn’t make it to the office after two hours of decent sleep but I did. And with flying colors! As always, the most difficult part is the afternoon and I couldn’t have my coffee fix;
Life is an iPhone # 015
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Clockwise from top row:
1.
Message Board. Found this one in Glorietta, near Food Choices. It’s a real time message board from Globe wherein you can send an SMS or MMS and have it posted on the board. I tried sending the message
“Guwapo ako. – Manny P” but did not bother to wait for it to be displayed. Just check out the message on the left and yes, the Manny there is me. Jeman was trying to assemble his flock in time for screening of “The Age of Stupid”;
2.
20% Off. I’ve been holding up my self from buying a pair of Sanuk for close to two years already. It ended when they offered a 20% discount on all the products. I’m just human and I love my new blue Mutiny;
3.
Globe Tattoo’s Big Brother House. There’s this gimmick (also from Globe) wherein a pair called Tattoo Icons share a small transparent room right in the middle of the Market! Market!. What you can do is type in a task request for them on a PC (where a Globe Tattoo wireless broadband is attached) near the booth. Then the couple receives the request through their mobile phones. I submitted one entry asking them to do the PBB dance and it’s an epic fail. They did “Ocho-Ocho” instead with two other volunteers;
4.
Two Beers. It’s one of those nights when it felt like a beer or two had to be finished to cap the night. All by myself, I just observed those groups in other tables singing some videoke pieces and enjoyed it. I left after an hour;
5.
Da Who!. This one’s taken during the body fat check in the office and guess who is wearing this very functional pair of socks. Cute, eh? Just call him the Blue Man;
6.
Fifty Pesos. I was surprised that I can get a P50-meal from a mall food court. It’s even cheaper than the carinderia food along our street! It’s got two dishes namely sweet and sour meatballs (it’s their bestseller and a must-try) and
ginataang langka, rice, pansit bihon and a small serving of iced tea. The name of the stall, by the way, is Brod Pit;
Two Events: Rock the Rabbit and Sagip Sining
I attended two special events last weekend namely Rock the Rabbit concert last Saturday night and Sagip Sining at CCP the following day.
Rock the Rabbit is a Playboy-sponsored gathering of different rock bands in one concert. This was held at an open space in Aseana Business Park in Macapagal Boulevard near SM Mall of Asia (facing the mall, it’s on the left), from 1pm to past midnight. If I’m not mistaken, tickets are sold at P500 including an entrance to a car show and the actual concert (less P200 if you just want to watch the concert). Bands included Razorback, 6CycleMind, Pedicab, Kenyo and a lot, lot more. I tagged along a friend from Singapore wishing and hoping to catch a bunny or two. Since we arrived late at 11pm-ish (the event was almost over by then), we didn’t catch them on their get-up. But we didn’t fret as the road to Bitoy’s (still in the same perimeter) was worth capping the night at. There was some sort of an after party with some playmates and Playboy bunnies sans the rabbit costume. Just check out the pics
here and turn green with envy.
Sagip Sining, on the other hand, is CCP’s effort to raise fund for the typhoon victims. It was a daylong event (look at some of the pictures
here) with different what-have-you shows like short film showing, symphony orchestra, ballet, stand-up comedy, rock concert, classical music, play excerpts, face painting and storytelling for kids. You can either donate a minimum of P20 or share goods like clothes and probably food. I only caught Taytay Youth Symphony Orchestra gracing the opening ceremony and Ballet Philippines’ “Tales of the Manuvu” which had me pay for an orchestra seat for only P275 as part of the event. It’s a ballet/musical wherein the characters are both being danced and sung by two sets of performers. Its music is written by Dero Pedero with libretto from National Artist Bien Lumbera. Set design is done by another National Artist namely Salvador Bernal. Since I’m not a fan of ballet, I prefer not to write a full review of it. I just love the music, the singing (you can never go wrong with Robert Seña, can’t you?) and surprisingly an impressive Capt. Jack Sparrow-like performance from Star Magic’s Guji Lorenzana.
Ode to Joy and Other Ampfs and Lols from a Videoke Session
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Last Friday, we held our Shout for Joy Videoke Night at Platinum KTV. There’s really nothing fancy about it. It’s as simple as a colleague leaving and it’s a noble way of saying “Thank you for everything and see you around.”
Below are some sorts of outtakes:
- Dinner at Mang Inasal was the most logical thing to do since the restaurant is just a stone’s throw away from the KTV. Josh, Alou, Ana and I were the first to hit the sack, had a yummy dinner of grilled chicken, waited for the second batch and became the advance party at the bar;
- Since our reservation started at 8pm, the four of us waited at Platinum KTV’s room # 5. We had a couple of nice songs including Josh singing (not joking) Rivermaya’s “214”. I remember Alou and Ana singing Donna Cruz’
“Kapag Tumibok ang Puso”. Josh and I shared with Spongecola’s
“Tuliro”. That’s the time when the second batch including Jes, Iam, Kat and Joy arrived. Minutes later, Eric, Leo, Wigs, Macon and Anton followed suit;
- In a jiffy, the list of reserved songs reached 48. I wasn’t surprised at all. This was a relief when Marc arrived at past 10pm because he had to wait for his turn on the 49th song. Fortunately, he grabbed (and fought for) the mic when a familiar song suddenly popped up;
- The rest of the kids joined the gang later: Nikko, Keith, Mat, Joaqs and Pearl. Iam, Josh, Alou and Ana had to leave early. By then, buckets of beer were already being consumed;
- I think I did share Jericho Rosales’ version of
“Di Bale na Lang” with Mat, LA Lopez’
“Yakap” with Marc and the iconic “My Way” with Anton. We are still alive and kicking, as far as I know;
- Killer songs that night probably went to Joy singing Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to me Now”, Eric’s “Careless Whisper” less the red bandana, Leo’s
“Ligaya” (no further comment), Joy and Joaqs’ duet from “High School Musical” and Jes’ take of an Imago song. Surprises included a share-the-mic version of Disney tunes like “A Whole New World”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Part of Your World”;
- If I’m not mistaken, Mat was happy that night. The rest were plain devil’s advocate;
- Marc and Eric collaborated on a trend of hand choreography. That was probably inspired by Kaye Brosas’ take on
“Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka” but a bit GP over R18. For instance, if the word “true” was present in the lyrics, they will point to Kat. Go figure why;
- Laugh trip of the evening probably went to Kat, Jes, Joy and Pearl laughing their hearts out over a picture. Girls, sorry, I think I know what you were laughing about (wink, wink);
- We spent six hours of singing and drinking and laughing and wisecracking. Who says saying goodbye is as fun as this? Our bill reached P6,000+ and we left the place at 3am past. Survivors were Kat, Joy, Macon, Leo, Anton, Joaqs, Eric, Mat and Wigs. Minutes before checking out, I saw Joy and Eric stayed in the room for another song, optimizing our money’s worth (hahaha);
- I took a cab thinking about the place in Cubao that Eric had mentioned right before the group parted ways.
“P395 lang, one hour.” Hmmm, kids nowadays;
More pictures
here and two videos
here and
here.
The Best KTV Bar in Makati!
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We found this little known videoke haven out of desperation to book in any of the three KTV bars near Jupiter St. in Makati. It was already a Thursday and the planned event was going to be held the next day. Centerstage was fully booked and so was Music 21. Top Grill doesn’t accept reservations for a Friday stint. And the always top of the list Red Box in Greenbelt 3 was not considered that time. Then an angel shared a link to a blog about a girl who just partied big time in the best KTV bar in Makati.
Name of the place is Music Platinum Family KTV Room and Restaurant (or simply Platinum KTV) and it’s located at # 47 Polaris St., just near the corner of Jupiter St. and Makati Ave. (where Mang Inasal Restaurant can be found). Mind the inclusion of the word “Family” for you to dismiss any hanky-panky ideas that might come up. If you’re coming from EDSA, along Jupiter St., just turn right and thread along Polaris St. The place can be reached in less than a minute and it’s on the right. Its big neon signs can keep you guided. In front, a serviceable parking space manned by security guards is waiting.
The room we got for 15 people costs P600 per hour (plus 12% tax, I guess). That’s cheap enough compared to the other three KTV bars mentioned earlier. It’s not consumable but you can comfortably squeeze in two or three extra peeps without having additional fee. A bucket of beer (with six bottles) costs P400. Given that rate, just imagine the price range for the rest of the food and other beverages.
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(From left to right: the amazing remote control, sanitation-friendly mic and flatscreen TV display)Inside the room are a sizeable flat screen TV, satellite speakers, songbooks, a unique remote control (where you can find the artist or song title without distracting the singer) and two microphones covered with a showercap-like material (talking about hygiene!). The discoball in the ceiling completes the party mode. Songs are pretty much up-to-date, from 2NE1’s “I Don’t Care” to YM’s
“Mas Mahal na Kita Ngayon”. Just note though that some entries are apparently MP3’s and it would require you to sing the piece sans the lyrics guide.
So next time you’re looking for a videoke place, I recommend Platinum for its affordability, good service and nice interior. Feel free to inquire or reserve at +63-2-890-30-60. They are open from 4pm to 4:30am.
Movie Digest # 064
NANDITO AKO… NAGMAMAHAL SA ‘YO
Glorietta 4, Cinema 4, October 4, 1:10pm
The disclaimer here is that I wasn’t really planning to watch this film. It’s just that some friends were close to screaming when sharing that the movie sucks big time and a total waste of money. But they begged me to watch it to know why and so I gave in. Storywise, the film can withstand critiques. Also, choosing picture perfect Bohol as the location to tell a love story of two young fellows is fine with me. So what went wrong on this latest work from the great Maryo J. Delos Reyes? I have a hint. I don’t know how to put it modestly but I guess the problem is in the love team, the idea of making a film for them and the absence of sheer talent on Aljur Abrenica’s part. It didn’t help, too, that in one scene with Aljur and Kris plus the tarsiers, Kris mentioned
“O, ayan na ang mga Kapamilya mo.” Aljur relied with,
“Kapuso ko rin sila.” I guess that’s all I want to say about the film.
Friends who might appreciate it: Aljur – Kris fans. On second thought, I don’t know any friends on the same league (or level) of keenness.
FAME
Glorietta 4, Cinema 3, October 9, 10:45pm
The film got me hooked by its trailer when one of the songs, beautifully arranged with a very now sound, was used. I was thinking that if the film fails, at least there are new pieces to ponder upon. To my surprise, they almost overhauled the original material. Though the film is still about art school students, some characters are introduced to adapt with the times and that one worked a little. The other plus point is the cast that consists of mainly newbies (including our very own Anna Maria Perez de Tagle). Along with these updates are the new songs that are totally strange to me. They also removed the iconic dance sequences from the original and nobody dared to rescue the sappy “Is It OK if I Call You Mine?”
Friends who might appreciate it: Those who skipped the TV show.
JULIE & JULIA
Power Plant Cinemas, Cinema 1, October 15, 9:30pm
Meryl Streep breathed in to a real life character in the name of Julia Child, a famous cooking legend in the US. Though not as engaing as her recent portrayals in “The Devil Wears Prada” or“Doubt”, it’s pretty obvious that she had a ball mimicking the role. Amy Adams played a contemporary New Yorker who ended up blogging about her desires to emulate Julia Child’s kitchen masterpieces. The film then weaves the two similar stories as it takes the viewers to the world of cooking and womanhood.
Friends who might appreciate it: Streepers out there.
THE ECHO
Glorietta 4, Cinema 3, October 19, 10:30pm
Yam Laranas directs this Hollywood remake of his own work “Sigaw” and he brought along Iza Calzado with him. If you are familiar with the original material, there’s nothing new to wait for. The new set of writers just put a background story to the male lead (first played by Richard Gutierrez) to give weight to his own ghosts. I’m not being biased but while watching the film, I wasn’t reminded that a Filipino directed the film. It’s technically good and the chill is there somewhere. For sure, it’s not something that is going to be merited with an Oscar or the like but I like it as it is: an honest-to-goodness popcorn film.
Friends who might appreciate it: Corny, tiring and trite, Jericho Rosales fans.
THE HURT LOCKER
Market! Market!, Cinema 3, October 21, 6:45pm
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (yes, a woman), this film captures a slice of an elite American army bomb squad’s life in Iraq. Told in almost episodic routines, the soldiers try to avenge themselves against death, violence and the terrors of war. Acted by mostly no names with cameos from Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pearce, this film combines action packed scenes, social commentary and the dilemma that each day in war torn areas is just an ordinary day.
Friends who might appreciate it: Allan Vistan.
...And So I Won a Backpack
A fellow film buff YM-ed me this morning that I won a mountain backpack from Thai Airways. My initial reaction was, "How and why?". As far as I remember, I only tried Thai Airways once (or twice) and that was roughly five years ago (along with Belfast project peeps). Then I was given a link to Gibbs Cadiz'
website announcing the winners for "Blog a Play, Win a Sony Ericsson Phone" contest on which I abused my luck and joined.
Nope, I didn't get the celfone or a night's stay at Astoria Plaza but I won third place. And that what matters for now regardless on how handsome or ugly the backpack is.
To Gibbs Cadiz, thank you. 'Til the next contest.
Paggunaw ng Kaalaman
The Age of StupidDireksyon: Franny Armstrong
Iskrip: Fanny Armstrong
Mga Nagsiganap: Pete Postlethwaite
ISTORYAIsang documentary ang “The Age of Stupid” na tumalakay sa climate change. Nilagyan ng konting twist ang storytelling sa pag-uumpisa ng kwento sa taong 2055 kung saan nasa huling hininga na ang planet Earth. Isang matandang archivist, si Pete Postlethwaite, ang nag-browse sa mga old files at gustong alamin kung saan nagkamali ang tao.
Part ng archive ang ilang makukulay na kuwento ng pag-asa at pagkabigo: (1) isang young magnate sa India ang naghahanda sa unang flight ng kanyang airline business, (2) isang babaeng African ang nais mag-aral ng medicine dahil ang kanilang lugar ay sinalanta ng pagtatayo ng isang center ng Shell (Gasoline), (3) mag-asawang British na tinutulan ang paggamit ng wind turbine ng sariling community, (4) isang 82-year old na lolo na halos buong buhay ay nanirahan katabi ang Mont Blanc at (5) isang survivor ng hurricane Katrina.
KUNG HINDI TAYO, SINO PA?Parang ang hirap punahin ng isang advocacy film kamukha nito. Mas sasabayan ko na lang ang kampanya ng filmmaker para maikalat pa nang mabuti ang propaganda tungkol sa climate change kesa pintasan ang pelikula kung meron mang kapintas-pintas. Ito ay sa kabila na rin ng ilang theory na baka naman hindi totoo ang climate change, na baka isa lang itong conspiracy theory though hindi ito ang piniling daan ng “The Age of Stupid”.
Ako, personally, malaki ang tiwala ko na malakas (at maliwanag) ang mensahe ng mga bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng. Mahirap tanggapin ang idea na weather-weather lang ito. At ang mga humihingang kwento sa documentary ay ilang pagpapatunay sa anumang kinakaharap natin ngayon. Scientific naman ang pagpapaliwanag ng pelikula tungkol sa ilang bagay na nakasanayan na natin kamukha ng emission na dulot ng mga eroplano, ang pagkawala ng yelo sa Alps at ang masaklap na kapalit ng consumerism.
KONKLUSYONPaglabas ko ng sinehan, na-remind na naman ako ng pwede kong magawa (o hindi ko nagawa) para iligtas ang kung anumang natitira sa atin ngayon. Ganito rin ang epekto matapos kong mapanood ang “Inconvenient Truth”, “The 11th Hour” o “Home”. Pero hindi ako natakot. Umaasa akong sa lifetime na ito ay hindi naman magtatanga-tangahan lang ang tao at iisiping parang wala lang ang mga signos. Isang pagpapatunay rito ang pag-encourage sa inyo na bisitahin ang website na
www.notstupid.org upang malaman (at maging matalino) sa kung ano pang pwedeng magawa.
SIDETRIPBiglaan lang 'yung invite sa akin sa film showing na sponsored ng Greenpeace sa Glorietta 4 nitong Martes. Thanks kay Jesse Villanueva (ang batang Playboy, hehehe). May ilang pictures
dito.
The 7th Australian Film Fest held at Greenbelt 3 was similar with the recently concluded Spanish Film Fest (tickets at P65 each, with reserved seating, etc.) except for the number of films to be shown and the limited period. Only six films were screened from November 5 to 8 (then from November 9 to 14 in Ayala Center in Cebu City). It’s a pretty amazing deal as opposed to having an overwhelming array of films, too overwhelming that you can’t really watch everything if you’re keeping an 8-to-5 job.
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