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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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