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