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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs is a film about a mad scientist who has to prove himself that he is capable of joining the ranks of the great inventors.

Digital animations are more capable of dwelling in the world of fantasy and imagination and exploring the world of the "what-ifs". It exposes the world of hidden desires. Nice script!

All actions lead to consequences. The question is are we ready to face them? We should be responsible enough to see where our decisions lead us. Perhaps we can discern more rather than jumping before we realize that we have judged wrongly.

Rating: 4/5

Planet 51

Planet 51 is a story of an resident of a planet who encounters a human alien and he has to save him from opening the human's brains out.

In this age of digital animation, the challenge is to create a life-like scenario without actually resembling the real world. The characters move smoothly and the scenes are downright colorful; superb script too though it tends to idealize the American psyche before the world; thus, it clings on to classic Hollywood format.

Who is the human and who is the alien? This is an ageless question in the mind of the American who is forever defining who the real "Americans" are in contrast with the "aliens", foreigners, or Non-Americans. It hasn't transcended skins and cultural barriers on what it means to be truly "human". This is the weakness of the film. Thus, whatever values the film embraces would hold true for a chosen few and not for the majority of humankind. When will we transcend from these barriers and embrace the world of unity? Whatever applies to others should apply first to ourselves.

Rating: 3/5

Battle for Terra

Battle for Terra is an digitally-animated film about a man who is tasked to conquer a certain planet and kill the residents there.

Digitally produced, this film unleashes the creative ideas of its film makers to a world inhabited by Terrians while earthlings near extinction. The visuals worked seamlessly; the script makes sense. Overall, the film is entertaining and enlightening.

Who is the alien? Who is human? What makes man human? What makes him inhuman? The film explores all possibilities of the human heart both humanizing and dehumanizing. We are capable of destroying ourselves and others. Eventually, it makes human beings totally inhuman, barbaric, and worse than animals. Being human goes beyond mere flesh; it is the strength of the spirit and our capacity to offer ourselves to others that ultimately makes us humans.

Rating: 4/5

2012

2012 is a film about the impending doom of the earth and how man desperately tries to survive it to the point of killing others.

This film is a combination of a classic Hollywood-style that seeks a good ending and an apocalyptic film that aims to destroy all conventions. It is digitally animated and destroys buildings and states. But while the whole world is being destroyed to pieces, the people still continue to communicate via cellphone, making the film too incredible and impossible.

2012 is not a film about the end of the world. Rather, it is a film about the beginning of real life. We have created so much that add to the destruction of things - sinful unmarried relationships, selfish lifestyles, etc. But the characters have valuable realizations in the course of the film. Unfortunately, the film tackles only the human perspective. Only God is the ultimate source of life. He destroys so he can start building again.

Rating: 3/5

The ugly truth

The Ugly Truth is a story about a woman who seeks the advice from a male anchor who has more than enough knowledge of sex and relationships.

Of course, much of the credibility of a story relies on a powerful script. Though it borders on the profane, the film manages to catch up on the end. Still, much of the comedy is slapstick. Things just appear scripty with the cast playing too fictional roles only the writers can come up with.

The film, even though it justifies itself at the end part, still cannot compensate for the harm it did in labeling and typecasting the essence of love as perverse, raw, carnal - defining it as an "ugly truth." After the film, all men and women are just that - without any sense of redemption whatsoever. It also went against all ethical considerations of mass media - it managed to hurt the ethical sensibilities of individuals under the guise of comedy. Dignity or even respect is not a factor to consider in this movie. It is hard to clarify what love and lust are in this movie. There may not be any difference at all for the unsuspecting audience.

Rating: 2.5/5

G-force

Get ready for 4 rodents who are out to save the world!

Excellent animation! It is blended seamlessly with real characters and scenes. But the film is lacking in believable "real characters", creatures far surpassed the acting abilities of the live characters. Nevertheless, the story is believable and capable to tickling the audience's fancies.

The film centers around the issue of family more than functions and performances. The heart is far more important than any of these.

Rating: 4/5

Surrogates

Surrogates is a film about a man who investigates for the serial killer of the various owners through their robotic surrogates.

Science fiction films makes us expect high-animation techniques in filmmaking - among them, making Bruce Willis young and robots moving swiftly. Of course, it would still take a lot of convincing to do to hook the audience to believing they're seeing the future. But apparently, the more relevant motive of the film is in the human interest. Thus, the film is still realistic.

The usual "Where does science end and faith begin?" syndrome is tackled. Moreover, there are other more important human realities slowly killed by technology - our capacity to be human, the gift of relationships, and our capacity to be hurt. Despite all these, we are still the vulnerable, helpless creatures we really are.

Rating: 4/5

Year One

Year One is a story of a primitive man who ate the forbidden fruit and is banished by his tribe and thus begins man's crazy adventures of the world outside.

Tapped for comedy, Jack Black succeeds in giving flesh to Zed together with his intelligent sidekick Oh (Michael Sera). The zany distortions of biblical events create a message totally in the mind of its authors; thus, the audience have to be alert about. Will the audience accept this message?

The movie distorts the truths intended in the creation story and the book of the Pentateuch. Though it may seem funny and crazy, it is somehow hints at a message that only man creates his own destiny. If the writers have been more faithful to the message of Scriptures, we would have seen a wholistic and entertaining movie. But with Year One, it just dispels the basic fact that God exists and that man can live a moral life only in reference to Him.

Rating: 2.5/5

Land of the lost

Land of the lost is a story of a scientist who invents a time travel machine that works and he gets trapped in a distorted world where past, present, and future meet.

A world distorted by making present dinosaurs, caveman, and aliens are products of the creative minds of the screenwriters. This is further animated by successful comedian Will Ferrell, although his typecast role possibly dragged the film down. Nevertheless, the film is generally entertaining.

To create a zany world is to demythify or present satirically man's concept of his reality. "Thou shall not get serious with this life" seems to be the norm. Partly true, but while we remove coincidentals or accidents, the essential remains: have we found meaning in this world's existence? I hope we have, for if we remove coincidentals, only love remains.

Rating: 3/5

District 9

by Fr. Lito Jopson

District 9 is a film about a man who is contaminated with the genes of the aliens that he wants to find ways to get rid of it.

The film, though in the form of a documentary, is very much far off from the realist format it intends. It reverted back to narrative form to push the story to its expected conclusion - whether or not Wikus Van de Merwe (Sharlto Coply) be cured and go back to his normal life. The progression of the story is compelling and believable till the climax. Will Wikus attain his mission and at what cost?

There are sensitive issues raised by the film that give reference to actual life - the treatment of foreigners, or the issue of poverty and the way those in power are mistreating the lowly. The film handles this theme in a very effective way and brings out the cause of such racist treatment against others - lack of dialogue and communications. We fail to communicate effectively with others. We are prejudiced over others simply because they are not one of us. Unless we change our attitude toward others, the problems of poverty, prejudice, and racism will continue.

This film should appeal to adults rather than teens for its excessive violence.

Rating: 3.5/5

Final destination

Final Destination is a film about a teen who has a vision of future events of the death of people including himself and he has to find ways to counteract it.

This apocalyptic film embodies all its conventions - death all over, death in the songs, death on the restaurant, death on the theaters - pure death everywhere. It utilizes state of the art digital animation to portray the goriest death possible - right in front of our very eyes. It faces what is inevitable - death! To judge what if this is good or bad is left for the audience to decide. What thing is certain - nothing is left to the imagination!

Could fate be so cruel as to leave for free will so helpless to change things? This film espouses determinism at its core. Thus, man is left with no other option except to eventually destroy himself. What then is the essence of a free will? May we find meaning in life even in a senseless death.

This film fits only viewers aged 18 and above.

Rating: 2/5

Shorts

Shorts is a film about kids who take hold of a colored rock that makes wishes come true.

Tailored for children, the film seeks to bring to life children's fantasies and pushes them to their limits. Using postmodern technique of non-linearity, the film succeeds in disturbing the mind of the adult audience. Perhaps it tries to embody the children's psyche of learning from bits and pieces of memory or imagination, resulting in an integrated understanding of things and events. Very creative!

Shorts may be about children. But it has never escaped the world of nerds and bullies, making the film traumatic to children. Nevertheless, it speaks of values in dreaming, not of power, money or fame, but in love, unity, and friendship. But mainly, just try to enjoy the film!

Rating: 3/5

Aliens the attic

Aliens in the attic is a film about a boy and his cousins who have to foil the aliens' mission to rule the earth.

Digital animation is very common nowadays and this film does not add anything spectacular to the world of film making. However, the scenes are entertaining, funny and sensible. It is also fast-paced. The film with its script and characters is tailor-made for children.

Alien movies always mirror the basic attitude toward aliens or foreign nationals in real life. In a family setting, a stranger in the home is much like the same thing. Perhaps, a welcoming stance would be more apt than fearing strangers at the first instance of the encounter. Fantasizing aliens as monsters does not help decrease the barrier that separates us from one another. Recognize the dignity of a stranger and be hospitable to him/her.

Rating: 3/5

We are on facebook!

Friends, we are on FACEBOOK! Just look for my name so we can interact better there. I post our latest gospel reflections, movie reviews, and reflections about our country. All of these make sense in helping us be inspired with the things that influence our lives. God bless!

The orphan

The Orphan is a film about a family that lost a daughter that they choose to adopt an orphan.

The character development and script are believable. The sound contributed a lot to the heightening of suspense. The plot leads to a climactic ending.

Three people in the scriptures should be accorded with charity - the strangers, widows, and orphans. Unfortunately, the Orphan enforces that fear in us in accepting people into our homes. This mistrust also enforces the myth that our families are the only ones existing in this world and we don't need others. But this is totally uncalled for. Even family members could inflict violence in a domestic setting. We just need to trust one another.

Rating: 2.5/5

G.I. Joe: The rise of the cobra

G.I. Joe: the rise of the cobra is a story of a special Battalion capable of fighting the enemy using the latest state-of-the-art artillery.

The action is just "ka-boom!", from one action to another; the story doesn't seem to end. The script is tailored for children, that is why the plot is simple. The key to fast-paced action is computer animation - the most impossible tasks come to life. The sound adds up to the feeling of realism of this science fiction fantasy film.

With this film, nothing is left to the imagination. But there probably might too much of this so-called "action", as if everything is pushed to the limitless sphere of violence and death. There is no entertainment, just plain violence and death. It desensitizes children to the world of gruesome death. If that is the filmmaker's orientation, too bad for our children to loose their childhood simply because of this nonsense action-packed film. Let us warn them that there is nothing glamorous about violent deaths and wars; life is much precious than these.

Rating: 2.5/5

The Proposal

The Proposal is a story about a woman who risks being deported back to Canada unless she does something, like force her secretary to marry her.

Could it be that the script is tailored to suit Sandra Bullock? Probably so. But then again, the story is entertaining and the characters seem to be at home with their lines. The setting is exquisite, the romance is properly timed. The film succeeds with a tear-jerking ending.

Almost everyone knows that love cannot be forced. But much more that forcing love is the reality that all of us do need love. Love is not in receiving, but in giving it. Love is real when it is capable of loving the unlovable; much more, when the unlovable realizes that despite his/her shortcomings, he/she is loved. Then the magic happens, all because of love.

Rating: 3.5/5

My sister's keeper

My Sister's Keeper is a story of a girl who wants to free herself from donating parts of her body to her dying sister.

The script is poignant, touching, and emotional. There is a tendency for Cameron to "act", not live out the role. It is also not totally engaging because the backdrop in question is highly ethical and needed to be discussed rationally.

The story borders between medical science fiction and drama. It is ethically unacceptable to produce human life for the sole purpose of donating its body parts to another no matter how noble a cause is. Man's dignity solely comes from God; he does not have any right to judge on its viability to live. Only God can do it for us. Much more if the main character is a child. Only God has the right to deal with human life; and His is always to give life to everyone, not choose one over another.

Rating: 2.5/5

Hangover

Hangover is a story of 4 friends who lives get tangled up in Las Vegas 2 days before their friend's wedding.

This film is campy in a way that it is non-linear. It starts with leaving the audience confused on what really happened the night before. The screenplay poses a lot of innovation from the usual Hollywood screenplay. It's not until the final part that one gets "the real story" behind all the mess that happened.

Which is the "real self"? The one that is "behaved", cordial, or prudent, or the other one that is imprudent, harsh, rough, or sexually extreme? Which is the more enjoyable life, the limitless world of the "id" or the conscious "ego"? Perhaps this film would enlighten us that enjoyable the childish self may seem, the consequences of its actions may be hard to bear or even undo - abuse, pain to others, irrationality, sin and death. Though it is good to be aware that there is a sinful playful child in all of us, but use that awareness to tame it and also assist others to use this energy for good.

Rating: 3/5

Ice Age 3: dawn of the dinasours

This is the third sequel about a set of prehistoric animals on a quest to save their friend in the land of the dinosaurs.

The comedy is exquisite, the animation is superb, the script is simple to behold, and the characters as engaging as ever. The producers have perfected the craft of improving them in animation as well as character development.

Loyalty to friendships has always been the theme of this movie, but so too are love and concern for others, especially not of their kind. This is generally a feel-good movie for children, so enjoy!

Rating: 3.5/5

Star Trek

Star Trek is a film about genesis the crew of USS Enterprise.

This film is a fitting beginning to all Star Trek films and shows that we saw and enjoyed. This is a nostalgic film that succeeded in bringing to life something so dear to us in our whole lifetime. Star Trek is something to be proud of by all viewers in all countries!

The soul exudes from the film through its characters; one from a state of alienation to identity and interdependence. This is prelude to a friendship that we believe will last forever. This is simply to say that yes, friendships can withstand the test of time.

Rating: 5/5

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is a film about a futuristic scenario of robots ready to reclaim the power that they lost to their opponents.

It's action-packed, no more no less. Spectator expectations were met, that's why this futuristic film is an instant hit! Computer animation is seamless; the characters have souls. However, with almost endless action filling up the whole screen, will the audience watch this film again and again, or will they grow tired of watching too much action with not enough depth?

One that has pure intentions wins is the main message of this film be he a robot or a man.

Rating: 3/5

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince

This is a sequel of a young man and his friends in search for the arch-enemy.

The film has been very consistent in its entirety: script, special effects, engagement to the audience. There was an added suspense: what will happen to each of the cast and what will happen to the school? Will evil triumph in the end? And what is Harry Potter's role as the chosen one.

This is a story of revenge, of evil and evil intentions. But it can be a powerful story of frienships and loyalty, and a pure heart. The combination of these realities are endless, which makes Harry Potter the most effective episodic film ever produced.

Rating: 3.5/5

Public Enemies

Public Enemies is a film about the most notorious bank robber in the 30s.

Johnny Depp's acting remains unquestionable. He is the one that literally pushed the film forward. But I just couldn't help but be bothered by the TV-like production of the whole film. Sure, we are using digital cameras this age, but it should have been fine-tuned to have film quality, and hopely, to bring us back to the 30s. This seemingly projects the film a low-budgeted, with actors "simply acting" not living out their roles. In other words, it disengaged my participation as a spectator.

What drives the human being to violence, to hurt his fellow human beings? Money, power, even love? Will these compensate for all the brutal things he has done? Do all these bring him a sense of security? How true are the words of Scripture, "Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword." Aim for real life then. the simplest, honest life is the noblest of all.

Rating: 2.5/5

Taking of Pelham

TAKING OF PELHAM is a film about a man who hijacks a subway carriage and a cop who stalls him.

John Travolta gave justice to his evil character while Denzel Washington dragged his, playing his character too minimally. The film is tightly knit, somehow quite remarkable how a 1 hour deadline can expand to 2 hours of "reel time." The ending is rather anti-climactic, verifying the initial question like, "How could a criminal get away?" The answer? Just watch it; it's anti-climactic.

There might not be enough motivation to justify an inhumane criminal act. But nowadays, it will always be puzzling why despite its obvious outcome (which is death for the criminal), a criminal act would still be carried out? Stealing and killing ends all possibilities of life. That is why the 10 commandments which contain the most basic norms of human existence, continue to be violated. Learn from the old saying, "Crime does not pay."

Rating: 3/5

Up

UP is a story of a man who loses his wife and has to take the whole house to a place they consider as "paradise".

The script is the saving factor of this film. How could a child's film be so profound? The characters have personalities, including the rare bird. And Russel, the wilderness explorer, is as lovable as ever, with the likes of a real child. Digital animation never ceases to amaze the audience, more so if it has a deeply human touch.

Losing a loved one can be as painful as ever. That is why we need to let go through a quiet acceptance. But there's much more to life. Not only do past relationships matter, but so do present and future ones. And like the past relationships, life continues to be enriched with love which makes it live forever. Congratulations for a film like this!

Rating: 5/5

Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonians

This is a sequel of the film of the same title in which a night guard hears his friends-statues are in trouble at the Smithsonian Institution and has to save them.

In a much as computer animation is amazing and it is capable of bringing to life the great people and works of art in the past, the film is sorely lacking of a good script. One cannot understand why a great leader of the past with all his men would end up looking like looney. The film was just dragged down to a slapstick comedy. Ben's Stiller's character and acting is particularly bringing this whole house down. Yes, we agree that this is a comedy film, but the element of fear would give it more realism and engagement from the audience. It makes the whole comedy forced and therefore less effective.

The film may lead us to laugh through another bunch of great men and women in history, but the story still centers around a man desperately searching for his happiness and meaning. And while his story may also be our own, real happiness may not be in attaining the impossible, but in appreciating the ones we already have but we take them for granted. Let this be the time to thank them and show them how much we love them.

Rating; 3/5

Angels and demons

This is a film about a man tasked by the Vatican to investigate the kidnapper of 4 cardinals and who stole the anti-matter that is about to explode at 12 midnight.

The whole production is amazingly life-like, for example, the multitude of people in St. Peter's Square and in other churches. It is very difficult and would need a big amount of money to replicate such sets. So, kudos to the computer animators! I would also say that the whole script is very engaging, arising from Dan Brown's expertise to write and deliver his message in a compelling way.

In as much as production of this film is undeniably remarkable, the audience should be wary about its content. For this film becomes a model for the blurring of fact and fiction. Dan Brown, noted for being a novelist now enters the real world by injecting some of his beliefs and giving it a visual tone, giving another alternative of the world as we see. The classic example is how he bastardized the reality of the Opus Dei in the Da Vince Code, a revered personal prelature founded by St. Escriva. He converted it into a clandestine organization. Morseso, a character as factual and adored by the faithful as Jesus Christ becomes a caricatured version of any human being brought to life from the figment of the imagination of Brown, wrapped in the interpretation of his extension in the film, symbolist Robert Langdon.

In Angels and Demons, Brown through Langdon places himself as "a champion in the interpretation of sacred symbols", which connotes a world of meaning, but unfortunately, is capable of bastardizing the same symbols to favor his own. Now he projects himself as a researcher of facts, not a fiction writer. And much worse, there is no resolution to the movie except, "Believe what you want to believe", and the "rock" of an institution as old as the centuries would be dismantled by a fiction writer of the 21st century who is clearly convinced that he neither believes in God nor the Catholic Church as the instrument of salvation. He simply uses factual accounts and places his own agenda in them.

This brings out a very important issue in the world of film - which one is "reel" and which one is "real". Once it enters into the camera or through the pen of an author, it ceases to be factual, for the facts are always tailored according to the mind of the author. In this arena that the visual medium is used, the viewers are adviced to keep the eyes of their faith open. For while thius fiasco is going on, Reality would still out there waiting to reveal itself to us and embrace us and invite us to enter its world of salvation; and we would know, not just through logical reasoning, but through gift of faith.

Rating: 2.5/5

Happy new year!

I just want to greet everyone a happy new year, and thanks for staying in touch!

Passengers

Passengers is a film about a therapist who investigates the cause behind the disappearance of plane crash survivors.

The script is marvelous, save for some glitches that need a lot of clarifying to do because plot development is not sufficient. "Get Smart" leading lady Anne Hathaway is superb in this movie and so is Patrick Wilson.

Passengers is truly a mystery movie with a human heart. The warmth of its message that time is too short and its invitation to value relationships is so effective. Though there is no explicit mention about the spiritual realm, this film mirrors so effectively the most important thing that goes beyond the material - the mystery of love that envelops us all.

Rating: 4.5/5

Madagascar 2: escape 2 Africa

Madagascar 2 brings again to life the four animal-friends who, together with an original cast of animals, want to return to New York but get sidetracked in Africa.

There must be something lacking in this script that makes one long to watch the first movie. Unlike the Shrek episodes, it seems that it is difficult to sustain the excitement of this second film that it tends to drag. However, the punchlines continue to work.

Madagascar 2 aims to bring out various virtues suitable for persons of all ages. A feel-good movie, children could emulate success stories of friendships, parent-child relationships, and uniqueness. The characters will always be lovable to us.

Rating: 3/5

Max Payne

Max Payne is a film about a man whose wife and child were brutally murdered and is passionately hunting for the killers.

Set in a fantasy mode, the presentation of Max Payne becomes interesting, almost resembling a horror film. Thus, its visual effects and digital animation are amazing. The main character is projected as a superhero who is always up and about and jumps immediately after a fall. What results is a film meant to entertain.

There is a penchant for violence in this film. It seeks to inform in a visual way what happens to those who are influenced by drugs. But drug addiction goes beyond imaginations and hallucinations - the dignity of life is compromised, and people are relegated to the level of dust. Never, never give in for a second to things that debase human dignity.

Rating: 3/5

City of Ember

This is a film about two kids wanting to save the city whose generator is failing.

The concept is rather very creative yet it somehow does not meet the expectations of children in fantasy and imagination. The whole world is packaged in a fantasy world yet its presentation is horrifyingly practical, almost as dull as day-to-day life. Probably the challenge is to make each day into an exciting saga; but there is no time to reflect on it in this film.

The City of Ember on the other hand is a truly remarkable film - of hope, sacrifice, and courage. "Pursue your dreams no matter what" echoes throughout the film. There is always a way out of things, and it begins inside our hearts.

Rating: 3.5/5

Tropic Thunder

Tropic thunder is a story of an actor and his team shooting in Vietnam to relive the story of a war survivor, but ends up fighting in a real war.

Ben Stiller produced a film that is composed of comedy, drama, and action. It then becomes confusing how the story would develop. Despite the complexity of the film, it still makes sense. Overall, it is an entertaining film.

"Life is a drama," as the saying goes. But with the blurring of the "real" and the "reel" nowadays, drama reveals life's hidden mysteries. One does not need to "act" or pretend, but to live the reality of the role being acted upon. Yes, the whole concept is confusing, but it is something the Tropic Thunder tries to break into and solve. The lesson is: whether in the "real" or in the "reel", there will always be life, and life is as natural as can be lived.

Just watch out for excessive violence and foul language; this film is not suited for children.

Rating: 3/5

Igor

Igor is a digitally animated film about a hunchback slave who wants to show the world that he can aslo be a truly evil scientist.

Inspired from the classic "Frankenstein" novel, Igor is successful in creatively coming up with an alternative - entertaining, wacky, zany, and that which appeals to kids and adults alike.

The only thing I'm concerned about is how the cast is concerned about doing something "evil". Though the real point of the story is to make a satire out of it, being committed to destroying and killing is not a worthy motivation or the main mover of a story.

But the point of the story is still well-taken, and I hope that parents could instruct their children while watching this movie to always aim to do good at all cost. Otherwise, we really would find it hard to identify with the sentiments of this movie or even understand what it's all about.

Rating: 3/5

Mirrors

Mirrors is a film about a man who has unusual encounters with mirrors that he wants to trace the cause and end the nightmare bringing havoc to his family.

The visual and audio effects that make up this horror film are doing their job quite well. Using the same conventions, they never fail to cause the audience to scream or jump from their seats.

On the other hand, the film may work for those who want to be frightened. But for people of faith, Mirrors surely doesn't make any sense. There is no sense of redemption. The power of the evil one over the bodies of peoples to hurt at will is just almost absolute. Worse, man offers himself as a viable alternative to combat evil using his own powers. If there were even a ray of hope from the Source of goodness and light, then the film would pass critical eyes. But Mirrors doesn't offer this alternative.

Rating: 1.5/5

Disaster Movie

Disaster Movie is a film about a young man experiencing a disaster foretold in his dream.

"Your favorite movies are going to be destroyed." Disaster Movie did just that. This gag movie destroyed everything for a laugh; so there's no use getting serious with this film. The challenge is how to make just a little sense in a nonsensical genre such as this. The only problem is that it did not deliver the laugh it even conceptualized in the first place.

"Laughter is the best medicine." It's just hard to laugh when there's utterly no sense in the object of laughter, when the punch lines and beats just failed to deliver, when the audience desperately tries hard to cooperate by smiling. Every sense is lost forever and watching becomes a waste. Be forewarned in watching this film. You might lose even your common sense.

Rating: 2/5

Eagle Eye

Eagle Eye is a film about a young man who is ordered by a mysterious caller to do things beyond his will and he has to free himself from her powerful grasp.

The script is almost perfect and suspense is at a level high! There's a balance between fast and slow paces. The only thing that bothers is the anti-climactic ending.

There must be a moment when science ends and philosophy begins, for human intelligence to admit its limitations and for faith to proceed. The film aptly reflects this, a timely reminder for man to admit his limited state, proclaim his independence from his own creations, and recognize the gift within - his power to choose what is good and follow it.

Rating: 3.5/5

Righteous Kill

Righteous Kill is a story about two respected detectives out to hunt a serial killer from among their ranks.

Nobody would dispute the terrific tandem of veteran actors Al Pacino and Robert de Niro. The cinematography, choice of scenes, the music, etc. are all excellent. However, the plot seems to be so thin that it tends to kill the very thrill of the film.

With those who are tasked to uphold the law, they are the ones who violate them and put the law into their own hands. For the sake of real peace and order, may the police force safeguard and observe the law at all times, for no one is above the law. Moreover, human law reflects the Divine law which if lived by all, will be serve the common good and benefit all.

Rating: 3/5

Babylon A.D.

Babylon A.D. is a futuristic film about a mercenary who is paid to deliver a gifted girl safely from Russia to the U.S.

To create an environment of a world devastated by global warming is the greatest challenge of this movie. It is also its greatest advantage. Other than that, the other film aspects are confusing like the cast, the script, and their roles. The film is relying heavily on Vin Diesel's action stunts, nothing more.

It is unfortunate that the concept of the Messiah has to be fabricated, invented, or humanly designed. It is for this reason that this film should be treated with a grain of salt. The human mind may be rich with creativity, but it should also give due regard to existing religious themes that people hold so dearly. Otherwise, enjoy the movie simply because of its entertainment value.

Rating: 2.5/5