Movie Digest # 039

10,000 B.C.
Power Plant, Cinema 6, March 8, 5:40pm

Nice CGI but the treatment is a bit passe for me. Siguro kung n'ung 90's, sobrang OK 'to. Well, there's nothing much in the storyline either. Ang hirap sigurong mag-isip ng mga kwentong tale as old as time, 'yung medyo universal at hindi kumplikado. Sa "Apocalypto", kahit papaano, mas ginawang realistic (magalaw na camera work, ancient language, etc.). There's one scene though that reminds me of an old Spielberg film. Naaliw ako r'un sa ostrich chase scene. Other than that, just like an American Idol judge, I find the film boring.

Friends who might appreciate it: those who haven't seen a film for ages.

MEET THE SPARTANS
Glorietta 4, Cinema 6, March 11, 7:30pm

Well, a spoof's a spoof. If I can write down the scenes that could be perceived as funny like Xerxes turning into Megatron, male Spartans having a torrid kiss as a form of greeting or Paris Hilton as the hunchback, that could be exciting. Viewing it is totally different.

Friends who might appreciate it: tropa.

ATONEMENT
Glorietta 4, Cinema 5, March 14, 10:30pm

I have high expectations over this film. I love Joe Wright's other film "Pride and Prejudice" (also with Keira Knightly) for its linear storytelling, simplicity and the low-budget feel. "Atonement" is more of geared for the Oscars or Bafta Awards with its scale and grandeur. There's nothing wrong with it actually. The house where the first few scenes were shot is somehow similar to what I imagined while reading the book. Cinematography is also topnotch specifically the "show-off" scene where the camera pans over a beach scene of war tanks, tired soldiers, carnival and march bands. I am not sure about the acting though. The lead actors' rendition is a bit detached and, err, bookish. Yeah, it has a story. It has that magnet that keeps you wait for the film's atonement (if there's any).

Friends who might appreciate it: those who are still on the book's page 102.