They were once like us.. Just like all of us

MINSAN LANG SILA BATA (CHILDREN ONLY ONCE)

(1996)

(A documentary about different stories of child labor in the Philippine context and how rampant it is)

Directors: Sadhana Buxani

Ditsi Carolino

Click here for additional details about the movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115881/

Everyday, they wake up facing the same problems over and over again just so they could cope with the hard reality of drowning down in life because of poverty. By watching at how raw the shots were used, we could tell that that events are really happening. It isn't scripted. It isn't edited. The production was far from extravagant.

In the case of the director's visualization of how the film would run over the whole duration, I really admired how they just let the children do what they ought to do and just filmed it as it is. The children, on the other hand, are no holds barred in showing their everyday struggle and situation. No pretenses in the whole documentary. I was also touched by how candid and straight to the point the children answered the questions. It really moved me and it really breaks my heart seeing children like them who work hard jobs even with their fragile bodies. Hats off to this documentary! I bet that this kind of documentary would prevail from generation to generation because of how it showed perfection throughout its imperfections.

WEST SIDE STORY

(1961)

Directors: Jerome Robbins

Robert Wise

Click here to see the movie's casts and crew: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055614/fullcredits/

Love, drama, gang wars, dance, and music rolled into one great motion picture...

Above all, it is a romantic story between to star-crossed lover, Maria, a Puerto Rican girl and Tonyo, a Polish boy who both continue to love each other unselfishly and truly despite the hatred and chaos raging between the two different gangs which they both are connected. But then, some fairy tales don't always have their happy endings...

• Throughout the whole duration of the film, the pulsing beat and rhythm of the musical was very much consistent and the synchronization of the dances as well which showcased the arrogant and strong movements of the two opposing groups as they danced along the streets.

CHARACTERIZATION

Richard Beymer as Tony - He was an example of the modern concept of man in the media, particularly in movies, with his smooth features, clean hair, and gentle-manliness. He was a "pretty boy" and he portrayed his role well in being Maria's love interest in the movie. They both have good chemistry together and they were a lovely couple in the film.

Natalie Wood as Maria - She was best in portraying her character as a woman of charm, beauty, and confidence. No wonder why Tony is head over heels in love with Maria. I also loved how great her acting was in the movie's last scenes where she really poured out her emotions. 

Other characters and dancers were also really good in playing their roles which added more color and vibrance to the musical film and even though the singing voices were not really outstanding, they were still commendable and it wasn't really a threat to the whole performances and the beauty of the songs were still given justice.

Pride & Prejudice - From Bookshelves to Widescreens...

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

(2005)

(A Movie Adaptation from the novel of the same title written by Jane Austen during 1813)

Director: Joe Wright

Writing Credits: Jane Austen (book author)

Deborah Mogach (screenplay)

Emma Thompson (additional dialogue)

Click here to know more about the movie's casts and crew: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414387/fullcredits/

"Pride and Prejudice" is a story about two wandering souls of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy (played by Matthew McFadyen) meeting in an unexpected place at an unexpected time, united later on by the power of true love conquering against all odds resulting to a fairy tale-like, happily-ever-after ending. (Rated SPG -- contains adult themes that may not be suitable for juvenile ages & minds)

Centuries after the book was published, the story went through a whole lot of crucial adjustments made by a British director for his debut film, making Austen's genius novel a film.

CHARACTERIZATION

Elizabeth Bennet (played by Keira Knightley in the movie) is the story's protagonist, often called "Lizzie" by her family and friends. Eventhough their family wants to seek marriage for economic stability and wealth, Lizzie's pride still prevailed and she still values love as the utmost core of marriage. However, the difference between the "lizzie" in the book and in the movie has a huge difference because Knightley's features was not exactly the "Lizzie" described in the novel. Aside from flaunting on her outstanding physical beauty, the role she portrayed was a bit vulnerable and shy, yet the "Lizzie" which Austen described in her novel predominates through her amazing wit and unshaken honesty, not through stunning physical features but even though ther's a big difference between the "book Lizzie" and the "movie Lizzie", Knightley still gave justice to the character, the lines, and the story.

SETTING

As for the movie's setting, it creatively used visuals and the placess to show the economic and class differences between the characters.

The Bennet's simple home shows simple furnitures, tiny lawn, and wandering farm animals contrasting Lady Catherine's luxurious mid-16th-century palace and Mr. Darcy's largest private country house in the whole England. The clothes that the characters wore and the way they spoke their dialogues were also symbols or representations of the movie's setting.

QUOTE EXCERPT FROM PRIDE AND PREJUDICE BOOK

“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.” 
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

credits to Goodreads :) 

Hey there, Little Miss Sunshine!

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

(2006)

Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Writing Credits: Michael Arndt

Click here to know more about the movie's casts and crew: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449059/fullcredits/

This movie is about dreams, illusions, and overcoming insecurities. Amidst the comedy and the jokes lies an inspirational story about a family driven by love and motivation, supporting a child's wish.

The first time I heard of its title, I thought it is just a "weeper" or perhaps, just another "cutesy" film. From the intro, I already formed a conclusion ad I thought I confirmed it because the first scene shows the round, blue eyes of a cute little girl named Olive Hoover (played by Abigail Breslin) who wears that big eyeglass, but from the moment I realized she was watching a beauty pageant and even imagined herself as one of the contestants, I changed my view about the movie. This movie has something deeper and special.

• The representation of the child and her dreams is very essential because all of us have that inner child within us that struggles to remind us everyday of our lives to never stop dreaming big.
• With regards to the movie's theme, it illustrates about how we are all blinded away from the brighter side of losing because of grasping to a culture obsessed with winning. Road film, defined as an episodic journey on the open road, to search for escape or to engage in a quest for some kind of a goal, was the genre used and the very relevant scenes in the story happened throughout the Hoover family's journey towards the child's dream of joining Little Miss Sunshine. The film, however, didn't have much huge, brain-twitching plot twists but what was exciting was that we always have to look forward for something and continue to have more fun with the story because we don't exactly know where it is going and where would all of their fate lead them and just like how comedies should be, it tickles is us all the time and would really get funnier along the way.
• The screenplay was wisely written because of the series of "unfortunate" events the family encountered which added brightness to the comedic characters portrayed by brilliant actors and actresses having genuine fun together.

Happy and Gay!

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

(2005)

Director: Auraeus Solito

Story and Screenplay: Michiko Yamamoto
Click here to show the movie's casts and crew: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479506/fullcredits/

Not being a mainstream "gay film" full of cliches, this is indeed a must-watch!

Typical "gay films" merely depicts a story about identity crisis and being-a-gay-is-not-accepted-by-the-father issue, but in Maxi's case, it's not. Maxi (played by Nathan Lopez) plays the role of a very loving, responsible, and caring gay son. He takes care of his "siga" father (played by Soliman Cruz) and "brusko" brothers (played by Neil Ryan Sese and Ping Medina) just like a mother does and in return, they love and accept Maxi for who he really is. Maxi and his family's lives revolve in a slum area somewhere in the outskirts of Manila where everyday sceneries of crime and corruption can be seen. The presentation of the ironies and the conflicts are very genuine and realistic and for the "love story-ish" aspect of the film, it also portrays Maxi experiencing "puppy love" for the first time in his life with a policeman (played by J.R. Valentin) who he thought was his knight in shining armor but then later on became the one who triggered conflict -- the domino effect which affected the lives of all the characters. (Rated SPG -- contains adult and gender sensitive themes that may not be suitable for juvenile ages & minds)

Technically speaking, the scenes were heart touching but not too melodramatic and full of kaOAhan because the simple shots that were used in the film emphasized the straight-to-the-heart emotions and the exemplary acting prowess of the casts.

For the film production's good points, the production design, visual, and lighting effects were of big help for the representation of the setting, the issues, and the events. The actors - from the major characters to the supporting roles - really gave justice to the characters by the virtue of their great and natural acting skills and they also gave justice to the beautiful screenplay and delivered the dialogues well.

This film is a great example of "EXCELENT FILMS DON'T NEED MILLIONS OF BUDGET FOR PRODUCTION". It also tells movie makers, movie goers and movie enthusiasts that NO AMOUNT OF BREATHTAKING VISUAL 3D WHATSOEVER EFFECTS can be a hero that can save a bad script, a bad directing, and a poor acting skill.

For me, this film was successful in portraying issues about realistic societal problems and gender sensitivity in a new flavor. (deserves a two-thumbs up, or maybe, a standing ovation! *slow clap*) :)