Saturday, November 27, 2010

Megamind

Megamind is a story of a nemesis to a superhero that he really got what he wanted: the opportunity to rule the world!

This type of film is spoof to the conventional superhero movie; thus it is campy, funny, and a total entertainment.  It does present an alternative to the good guys and bad guys in film.  The presence of Will Farrell is a real plus in the movie.

Who is the good guy?  Who is the bad guy?  Who are we to judge who is good or bad?  The reality is that is us who put labels to people and even ourselves, branding us as good or bad.  But there is goodness in everyone, even ourselves.  It is up to us to kindle or care for that goodness.  And to be bad simply means nothing and going towards nothing.  It is the nothingness of goodness.  I'm sure we know what alternative to take instead of remaining in the boring, empty world of nothingness.

Rating: 5/5

Monday, November 22, 2010

Harry Potter and the deathly hallows: part 1

Ever planning to watch or have you watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 1?  It's really getting nastier as Voldemort is now more aggressive than ever to kill Harry Potter while Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore's work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord.

Still consistent with the books earlier published for children, Harry Potter is leaving any vestige of a child's world in order to become an adult who is totally exposed to the evils of the world.  Left orphaned and alone by his parents, his 2 friends are his sources of strength.  Also at this point in time, people around have metamorphosed into good and evil.

With all the children in the world growing up together with Harry Potter who was left by his parents and vulnerably subjected to the "cruel" world, could this also have an impact on the way the children are being formed outside their families?  Remembering the words of the father who adopted Harry but left him saying, "It is not safe around here," this may imply that the next generation of Harry Potters may give little emphasis to the last bastion of human existence which is the family.  May this film serve as a challenge to parents to upgrade the way they bring up their children, because the real strength of a child lies in the strength of character of his/her parents.

Rating:  3/5

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Legend of the Guardians

Legend of the Guardians is a film about an boy owl who searches for the guardians of Ga'hoole to save his brother from the Pure Ones.

This digitally animated movie is now capable of bringing nearly to the real world only that which can be visualized by cartoons.  Now we see real trees, water, and mountains in 3D.  The world of talking and fighting owls just increases our curiosity to learn from the world apart from our own.

It's just too bad that we learn to project the evil human realities to the animal world.  Now there is a quest, a fight against evil.  Such innocence is gone.  May we learn from the brutal world of humanity and instill a ray of hope that life and love will still prevail. 

The film may need the guidance of the parents as children would be exposed to violence.

Rating: 3/5 

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Despicable me

"Despicable me" is a story of a mad scientist out to steal the moon.

It looks like your typical good guy-bad guy story with a twist, "Not every bad guy is a bad guy."  Its comedic aspects cater more to adults rather than children.  But its script can pass as a typical Hollywood movie with a happy ending.  But something in script lacks luster.

"Despicable me" adheres to recognizing the dignity of every human being.  Even the bad has a story to tell; and of course he can change and is capable of loving others.  This is recommended for the whole family.

Rating: 3/5

Friday, August 27, 2010

Splice

Splice is a film about scientists going overboard to combine other cells in a human DNA.

For a science fiction film, this could be an eye-opener to the unimaginable consequences of an ethically irresponsible human research.  Splice is also supremely apocalyptic as it signals the end of all human rationality.

It may also be a realistic movie in terms of realizing the consequences of an immoral action and decision.  In this world, there is no redemption, only destruction of the human sensibility.  Worse for humankind, there's nobody to be blamed for this folly than man himself.  May we be awakened against tampering with the the natural world and what man can ethically do to serve it, not tamper with it.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Vampires suck

Vampires suck is a spoof of the Original Twilight saga of a girl who falls desperately in love with a vampire.

Using the genre of comedy, the film never ceases to smack the original film to the delight of the audience, indeed, to trivialize overpowering vampire movies and to detach us from being glued to the filmmakers' maneuverings.  Twilight, just enjoy, it's just a movie!

In a comedic setting, the more the audience should stay awake for any undertones that may also trivialize sensitive issues as sexuality and immorality.  Other than that, take this film for what it is: a rib tickler!

Rating: 3/5

Cats and dogs: the revenge of Kitty Galore

Cats and dogs: the revenge of Kitty Galore is a digitally animated film about cats and dogs banding together to thwart Kitty Galore's plan to rule the world.

In the world of animation: there's no end to surprises, tricks, and entertainment.  Fantasy is wild.  Yet, underneath it is the world of human ingenuity raring to express itself to everyone, children and adults alike.  Yup, the children are entertained in this wholesome action movie.

Cats and dogs movie also explores the world of unity amidst differences; may it be races, creed, or biological classifications as cats and dogs!  We can be united to fight a common enemy lingering, i.e. the selfish character.  Good still triumphs over evil in a definitive way and friendships save the day.

Rating: 3.5/5

Expendables

Expendables is a story of a man who wishes to free a revolutionary fighter in another country.

Using well-known actors as Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, and Jason Statham among others, its box office success is undeniable.  Its special effects and actions stunts are competitive, and its script is realistic.

However, undeniably, films produced nowadays trivialize violence and its effects over the unsuspecting viewers.   The values of justice and friendship are laid in the background.   It may well signal the beginning of the death of the audience's moral sensibilities in watching these high-level action packed films.

Rating: 2.5/5

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Inception

Inception is a film about a man who engages in entering into other people's dreams and altering their personality.

With the advent of digital technology anything is possible under the sun.  Where will these digital technologies lead us to?  In this movie dreams and realities are intermingled.  All through the power of digital technology!

In the world of fantasy where the subconscious rules and the imaginations run wild, desires are limitless.  The conventions of disrupting time, space continuum to the realm of the uncertain, the wild and raw fantasies are something to be explored and played around.  It is also an area where there are no truths and morals.  But are all these right and just?  The answer is still no; that is why dreams are the most cherished possessions of an individual; no one has a right to tamper with them.

Rating: 3/5

Salt

Salt is a film about a woman of the CIA who avenges the death of her husband.

The world of action films again amazes us, much more if the action figure is a woman!  Angelina Jolie is well-established this genre.  I believe that the film is geared to produce a second part.

This is a world of spy films where the desire is to retaliate against another country.  But at the expense of using people and brainwashing them?  Sooner of later, suspicions will have to be replaced by collaboration and sharing.  The only thing left for the moment is an adherence to truth and honest living.  Vengeance is still an unacceptable alternative to life.

Rating:  2.5/5

Thursday, July 22, 2010

The last airbender

The Last Airbender is a film about a young boy who starts training to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar.

The backdrop of this film may have its roots in Chinese culture.  It also espouses religious themes like reincarnation.  Having a parallel spiritual world enables one to enter into a fantasy world where not only people could communicate to them; they also have special powers of bending air, water, earth, and fire.

If the audience automatically shifts his sensibilities to another state, he might as well be enthralled with the spirit world.  But for clarification, as Christians, we don't believe in reincarnation.  Having said that, let us always be aware of the positive points of the film: the struggle for discipline and training in realizing one's vocation, the state of balance of this world, and the triumph of good over evil.  Here, the last Airbender is a powerful force for good.

Rating: 4/5

The sorcerer's apprentice

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a fantasy film about a man who trains a young boy to become Merlin the Magician's successor.

Nicholas Cage serves as a good role model for the viewing market as he challenges the young weakling Jay played by Jay Baruchel to fulfill his destiny.  Meanwhile, a fantasy film with lots of special effects never fails to take the audience to a dream world where magic is possible.  So, be free to be taken to wonderland!

The film exposes a disordered quest for power.  It is the conventional battle between good and evil for this film with an added depth - the quest to transcend from one's inflicted limitations to a state where miracles are possible.  In the end, no matter the cost, good should and will always win over evil.

Rating: 3.5/5

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Eclipse

Eclipse is a film about a vampire who swears to protect his human girlfriend from the vengeance of one of his kind.

The 3rd episode of the Twilight saga, this film showed remarkable continuity from its previous episodes as if the 4 films were shot at all at the same time.  It just depends on the time of its release.  Though as work of art, we still need to justify the rationality behind a love story told from the point of view of a vampire and a werewolf.   It is the actors / actresses that are the film's main asset as the audience keep abreast of what would possibly happen with this love triangle.  The fourth episode may be the greatest crowd drawer of all.

This may be a love story, but the idea of selling one's soul just to be one with the dead may be the very reason why this film is repulsive.  Moreover, a passion in its extremist form as symbolized by a werewolf is equally revolting as well.  Most repulsive of all is the female character who compromises all her worth, soul and spirit just to be drawn to either extreme.  In the end, all these characters may not be worth emulating at all.  Take care not to compromise those moral values for the sake of an immature love.

Rating: 2.5/5

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Knight and Day

Knight and Day is a story of a woman whose peaceful life is disturbed tremendously by a mystery man and wants to know who he is.

This action film and love story combined qualifies only as an entertainment film that doesn't need much thinking about.  It may be set in some exotic country but it failed to give enough substance toward a credible plot.

Could acts of violence be justified under any circumstance?  Probably, but only in the act of self-defense.  But to make this the very theme of the movie and to orient an innocent into this world is something else.In this world only the strong and powerful survives.  Enjoy the movie only because of its entertainment value.

Rating: 2.5/5

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 is a film about a set of toys well-loved in the past but may have to be given away.

This seemingly predictable film ended up not predictable at all; in fact it is enjoyable and touching.  The script is fast-paced with a lot of exciting scenes; it also has some dramatic elements. 

Toy story always seeks to bring inanimate objects to life; that's where the excitement begins.  Memories cannot be buried in the past; they have a way of bringing themselves in the present and they they give inspiration to the future.  Value what you have.  For you may not have the same thing tomorrow.

Rating: 4.5/5

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Letters to Juliet

Letters to Juliet is a story about a woman who assists another woman in search of her lost love.

The story seems credible, easy to understand, and inspiring.  It highlights the beauty of a country other than the United States.  It is generally entertaining.

With love all things are possible; what was possible in the past may also be possible in the present and in the future.  True enough, love is eternally new.

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The A-team

The A-team is a film about the U.S. rangers who are out to do impossible missions and come out alive!

Of course, being a remake of the of a popular TV series of the same title, this film delivers a lot of hot actions and digital animation.  The script does not call for any depth; yet it satisfies audience curiosity of a credible plot.  Overall, this film is entertaining.

The A-team can be considered a remnant of the American superhero mentality where characters get bruised but don't die from a great fall or from the bullet of a gun.

Secondly,  it maybe giving a skewed message of embracing violence as better alternative than peace and non-violence.  But can a show of force be justified under any circumstance?  In this paradigm, a sense of moral upbringing of persons may be irrelevant; only power rules.  The audience should be aware of the message this film brings to them.

Rating: 3/5

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Killers

Killers is a film about an assassin who wants to starts life anew with the woman of his dreams but ends up dragging her in the dark secrets of his past.

The twists in the story seems to be so zany it's believable and entertaining.  It just seemed that Ashton Kutcher is playing the role of a teenage heartthrob rather than an action star.  Nevertheless, the characters generally are apt for their job to bring the film to the level of comedy.

Beyond the zany plot lies a simple reality: Crime doesn't pay.  But there's something much more to it: Love conquers all.  Finally, give a person a chance to change.

Rating: 3.5/5

Monday, May 31, 2010

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia is a story of a street boy - turned prince who discovers the power of the magic dagger and protects it from getting into the wrong hands.

While it may be true other actors would play Dastan's role better than Jake Gyllenhaal, Prince of Persia still merits joining the high-budgeted computer-animated action-adventure films.  The script is also compelling; there is sense in joining the characters' quest to protect the dagger at all costs.

In real life, we may never turn back the hands of time; that is why prudence and the wisdom of the ages count a lot in making wise decisions.   We may also use the present to undo the harmful things we've done in the past and the future to instill a ray of hope the we can do something to change this world for good.

Rating: 4/5

Monday, May 24, 2010

Shrek Forever After

Shrek Forever After is a film about an ogre who wants his life without his back.

The challenge to sequels is to put in something new without sacrificing the formula of success of the past.  Shrek is subject to the extremist criticisms and watchful eyes.  For this writer, the plus factors are its script, storyline, and more detailed animation, rendering it 3D.  Facial expressions are more pronounced; thus giving it that realistic feel among the audience.

If given the chance to go back to the past, would you have gone through the whole process of relationship?  The answer is a great "Yes!"  The only problem is that love is not automatic; you have to go through the rigors of falling in love again, asking and receiving it from the one you love.  This is the core of Shrek's story.  There are no regrets about it, "I would fall in love with you all over again."

Rating: 4/5

Sunday, May 23, 2010

KIck-Ass

Kick-Ass is a story about a boy who wants to be a superhero but ends up in a super-messy situation.

An apocalyptic film that focuses on destruction of the present paradigm, its language eventually demythologizes the sensationalized, dazzling world of superheroes.  Actually, this film has something it needs to deliver its message in a very compelling way.

Although Kick-Ass is an eye-opener to people who are so enamored with the fictionalized world of superheroes, it may also have created its own destructive world - where children are abused and exposed to violence, where brutality has its place in the world, and where human dignity is relegated to zero level.  True, anything is possible nowadays, but not at the expense of human dignity.  This film is not EVER recommended for the youth; nor it is for people who simply seek to be entertained.  It contains a huge degree of violence, physical, psychological, and moral.

Rating: 1.5/5

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Robin Hood (2010)

Robin Hood is a film about an outlaw and how he came to be one.

The script was well-written; the special effects were seamless; the whole story was engaging. The challenge is to bring out a legend to visual imagery. Now it is not important whether a story is fact or fiction; more important is the meaning they give to the audience watching the film and the social identity it tries to create.

Robin Hood is not just about a legendary figure robbing the rich to give to the poor. It is a story about gallantry, integrity, honesty, and nobility. The only conflict is still the age-old question of justifying thievery because of corruption, injustice, or social imbalance. Only a discerning audience would be able to judge whether in the gamut of human realities, a moral action is justified. In the case of Robin Hood, it may seem so.

Rating: 3/5

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Ironman 2

Ironman 2 is a film about a man who, in possessing an iron suit, is the subject of threats from his competitors.

Hollywood cinema has never failed to unleash its creativity in digital animation to tickle the audience.  It is more imaginative, more fantastic than real live drama of human characters.  It visualizes anything the mind can think of.  So, everyone's asking, "After digital animation, what's next?"

Can weapons of destruction be used to maintain peace?  The film seems to be telling us that it is so.  But this kind of outlook further propagates violence and power through arms.  In this case, you are relying on a Superhero and place your whole life to trust him to take of you.  We just want to bring out the fact that it takes the whole population to bring the world at peace through dialogue and understanding.  Unless this is so, just enjoy the film for its entertainment value.

Rating: 3/5

Friday, April 30, 2010

The back-up plan

The Back-up Plan is a film about a woman who wants to have a baby by artificial insemination, but it comes in at a wrong time.

This classic Hollywood cinema tries its best to conform to its conventions by tying up loose threads of inconsistencies in the plot development.   There is a confusion as to the real motive of Stan (Alex O'loughlin) which makes him appear as the perpetual nemesis.  Overall, finished product seemed far away from its original concept.

One cannot feel at home with new concepts like artificial insemination to enjoy or be engaged into the film. The world of single parenthood not by consequence but by choice could not be in anyway acceptable by any normal human being, especially if seen from the point of view of the wholistic upbringing of the innocent into this world.  This may not just be a love story, but it tainted with something more confusing and complex that the audience is advised against watching it in the name of inspiration or just entertainment.

Rating: 2/5

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Date night

Date night is a film about a couple trying very hard to save their marriage but ends up desperately saving their lives.

Kudos to Steve Carell.  He never ceases to amaze the audience with his spontaneous performance.  His presence propped up whatever potential this movie holds.  Moreover, this movie is a lot better than "What happened to the Morgans?" in its action and plot development.

Marriage and family life cannot be considered dull, routinary, or mechanical.  It is the myth of the movie, like a preconditioned reality.  Everyday, a family is confronted with the challenges of life.  This is specially true for the father and mother who are not only trying make ends meet, but mores o, attuned with the lives of their children who are growing each day.  Eventually, it is the couples' decision to be present to all the members each day that makes day-to-day life exciting.

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Diary of a wimpy kid

Diary of a wimpy kid is a story of a pre-teenage boy who's trying very hard to adjust to his new life in middle school.

The success of such film relies on its wonderfully written script which is as interesting as Jeff Kinney's best selling novels of the same title.  There's no doubt on how well crafted the lines are.

There's nothing like it when there's someone whom one can call a real friend, not only in periods of adjustment but in any moment of life.  As the scripture says, "He who finds a friend finds a treasure.  For friendship is the elixir of life."

This is an entertaining film for all ages.

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Clash of the Titans

Clash of the Titans is a story of a demigod who intends to send Hades back to the realm of the dead.

With Sam Worthington playing the lead role of this box office movie, it seems that we're back to watching Avatar.  Yet, as the story develops, he gave justice to the character of Perseus.  Films produced in 3D are challenged to at least be at par or be better than the previous successful 3D movies, among them, Avatar and Alice in Wonderland.

The moral perspective should be seen in the context of Greek mythology as regards the genesis of suffering and man's relationship with the gods.  What makes life exciting is how both men and gods make choices that lead to consequences, more often, leading to more sufferings and death.  The Christian perspective is totally different - God does not make mistakes.  Moreover, He remains faithful to us and cares for us.  It is our iniquities that lead us away from Him.  Make no mistake to equate these two beliefs.

Rating: 3.5/5

Thursday, March 25, 2010

How to train your dragon

How to Train your Dragon is a film about a young man who encounters the most notorious of all dragons.  Will he be able to train him?

This is the advent of the post-structuralist filmmakers who would rather present a message not through the live characters but through digitally animated ones.  Now, our fantasies come alive, giving fictional characters such as dragons a life, especially if they're viewed on 3D screens. Of course, these should be exceptionally crafted to please the mind of the audience.

The film places a high value on friendships and understanding the other.  Perennial concern among cultures, especially in the first world countries to be suspicious of other cultures or to impose its culture on them.  But the world can be a better place to live in if we live in harmony, respect, and interdependence.

Rating: 5/5

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Extraordinary measures

Extraordinary Measures is a film about a father in search of a cure for his 2 children.

The Harrison Ford - Brendan Frazer tandem is truly amazing and constantly brings the film up on its feet. The storyline also gives soul to the essence of this film.

Extraordinary measures is an inspiring movie for those who long for miracles. Remember a popular Filipino saying, "In God is mercy, in man is action," we have the capacity to make the things that God has planned out for us. This film touches hearts and fills them with hope.

Rating: 4/5

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Baseco bakal boys

Baseco Bakal Boys is a docu-film about a boy who earns his living by selling scraps of metal.

This is a semi-observational documentary which is also a narrative. It seeks to explore the world of boys submerged in the sea of poverty that they don't have any choice but to sell and perhaps steal scraps for food. Except for some familiar actors, there is a sense of realism in the way the characters acted, as if we're invited to journey into their world.

Baseco is an eye-opener to the world where poverty abounds and all the risks one has to take in order to survive. But life is not all food. There are signs of life elsewhere - through friendships, generosity, and dreams of a better life. The world continues to exist because of these. Of course, everyone should do their part so that not one, not even children, should end up dying on the streets for a scrap of food.

Rating: 4.5/5

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Alice in wonderland

After 19 years, Alice reunites with her friends to fight against the evil queen.

The weight of the entire film rests on Johnny Depp who performs quality roles very consistently. Ann Hathaway and Helena Bonhan Carter also gave such exemplary performances that made Alice a much sought-for film for this year. Of course, the world of animation is just going deeper and deeper, being enmeshed in the real world to give fantasy a chance to make itself real, even virtually.

Alice's world is topsy turvy, making the real world a caricature. And yet, the deepest realities of life especially those inside the heart challenge the conventional world outside. Inside the heart, darkness and evil find their home, but so too goodness and light. Eventually, one has to choose what state to live in, and in choosing, give life or death. Choose wisely then!

Rating: 4.5/5

Monday, February 22, 2010

Agora

Agora is a film about a female philosopher who has to prove that the earth is not the center of the universe.

The film sought to create the historical Hypatia, an atheist professor who was held in high esteem by the polis and the students of ancient Alexandria world but was brutally killed by a Christian mob. The backdrop of old empire is amazing and every effort to recreate history was commendable.

The filmmakers were careful not to make more violent Hypatia's murder. But the message itself was compelling enough. Whether Christian or not, any violent act should not be justified, even in the name of religion, except for self-defense. Just a word of warning: the film may also have depicted Christianity in an overly negative way, with the words of Christ totally running counter to what the Christians were actually doing during those times.

Rating: 3/5

Tooth fairy

Tooth fairy is a story of an athlete who has to learn what it means to understand a child's world.

Targeted to children, this film is entertaining enough although Dwayne Johnson needs a lot to improve his acting. Its plot is unexpectedly thin to the point of losing the child in every adult. This film seems to contend itself with the minimum instead of giving its all in terms of quality, special effects, and a message to make it truly inspiring for children and adults alike.

The Tooth fairy is an invitation to recover the lost world of a child. But it is more so about relationships and the growth of the self brought about by the affirmation of others.

Rating: 3/5

The blind side

The Blind side is a story of a woman with her family who cares for a homeless young man.

"Based on an extraordinarily true story," the secret of this commendable film lies in the consistency of Sandra Bullocks role of being a strong-willed woman with a heart. The plot development is also amazing. Overall, this film touches the hearts of the audience with its moving story.

The blind side capitalizes on the value of generosity as a way of changing people's lives. It goes beyond established status quo which sometimes become a venue for social and structural sins to proliferate. It shows that it is possible to change the world with the power of human compassion.

Rating: 5/5

Monday, February 15, 2010

Percy Jackson and the lightning thief

Percy Jackson and the lightning thief is a film about a demigod who has to save his abducted mother as well as prove that he is not the lightning thief.

The story is very comprehensible to children. In fact it may so simple it works; thus, it goes beyond just displaying special effects and animation. Of course, situating a much revered Greek mythology in Las Vegas or Hollywood may be hard to bear.

The story ultimately explores the vast world of parentless children and how they are coping up to survive in this complex human existence. Parents, take the hint - despite all good intentions, do children really deserve to grow up this way?

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Where the wild things are

"Where the wild things are" is a story of a boy who runs away from home only to find himself in the midst of monsters.

An adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's story, one could detect some faithfulness to the written text. It is a fantasy story that explores the ID, where it is bound to go, and some realizations that results from the world of immaturity. It is an intelligent film with a cast of lovable and yes, cuddly, big, horrifying monsters.

All of us experienced the joys and pains of childhood and the uneasy compromise between direct parental supervision and the carefree unadulterated world of the young life. But sooner or later, we just have to give in to something higher than what we simply want and to let ourselves be guided by it. That youthful energy will soon be put into good use and our lives will gain true meaning.

Rating: 3.5/5

Legion

Legion is a film about an angel who has fallen to save what God wants to destroy.

This film should be known for its special effects. But be wary more of the script and the message it wants to convey. Like Angels and Demons, the scriptwriter has a way of putting on the silver screen what he believes in. The entire story could be seamless but eventually, it is totally misleading.

The film presupposes a lot of doctrinal errors among them, God has lost "faith" in mankind and has to destroy him; the angels who are supposed to serve God "possess" people and turn into monsters; the angels have their own free will; and that God could be wrong in His decisions. The last part is the most disturbing of all - it puts man at the center of things.

Be forewarned about the message of this film.

Rating: 1/5

Sunday, January 31, 2010

The Princess and the frog

The Princess and the frog is a story of a young woman who dreamed of having her own restaurant only to find out she couldn't because she turned into a frog.

Inspired by E. D. Baker's novel The Frog Princess, this film gives a twist to the character of the Princess. The script is also seamless and believable; animation is certified Disney creation. By its mode, it may be geared to become a Broadway musical in the future.

The only disturbing aspect of the film is how the power of evil can convert people into beasts. Of course this is fictional and voodoo is a pagan ritual, but could children take it? Besides, Disney's preoccupation with its conventional evil characters may have gone a bit too far in this movie. They should opt to redefine their convention which by now is not only obsolete but may actually cross the line from entertaining children to actually inviting the power of evil to lurk in the world. Remember, no amount of evil can counteract the power of God and the good.

Rating: 3/5

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Avatar

Avatar is an semi-animated film about a man who has to fill up the shoes of his twin brother to manage his avatar as he enters into a new world and learn its culture.

The most significant thing is how the script develops to make you glued to your seat in a span of three hours. There wasn't any dull moment with Avatar. The animated world blended seamlessly with the real world, thus, enmeshing these two. The digital world definitely awakens the viewer that the film he is watching could not be real. But he is left to look for any resonance of the film with the real life.

Many other "alien" films are produced with this kind of theme, i.e., picturing the humans' inhumanity and the aliens' innocence. These films pose a challenge to us, "What have we done to our own world?" We may have gone a long way in advancing technology, but we haven't become more humane. Unless we change our outlook, our world may actually disintegrate and die, leaving the next generation to suffer extinction and decay.

Rating: 5/5