Movie Digest # 055

WATCHMEN
Greenbelt 3, Cinema 1, March 5, 8:00pm

I almost liked the film. Good production design, costume (probably a nominee in next year’s Oscars) and young audience-friendly action scenes. The script is a hate-it or love-it balancing act (for me, it’s just plain campy). My only comment goes to the main villain. An upright planting, if not a back story, should be incorporated to justify how he thinks in the film’s last few minutes. It’s very crucial as the material tries to post a moral question on saving humanity. Plus, I haven’t seen any similar film that allots a big chunk of screen time just to establish the characters’ roots. Good job, too, on making the superheroes more human, vulnerable and more interesting than their costumes.

Friends who might appreciate it: Atenistas.

PADYAK
Robinson’s Galleria, Indie Sine, March 6, 6:20pm

It’s difficult to write a capsule review on a concept-driven films like this one. There’s too many to discuss and share about. Anyway, in summary, the film tells the story of a pedicab driver whose life is entangled with different other lives. Three out-of-nowhere scenes are introduced, each megged with a different light and feel. It was not making sense at first but it turned out that the film’s twist has the final say to it. The material, by the way, is a Palanca winner. No wonder that the film boasts of positive human values, told in a very unconventional way. Rita Avila, as a drug addict turned killer, delivered one of the better performances on her acting career. Jay Aquitania is also good but he’s not given with any fireworks scene.

Friends who might appreciate it: those who are in for a new a nice ride.

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Glorietta 4, Cinema 4, March 10, 7:45pm

In a nutshell, the film is a story of a relationship that is grounded by depression and hysteria. The idea perhaps is similar to Michael Winterbottom’s “9 Songs” wherein another tale of a relationship is told in a very sexual (read: pornographic) manner. Expect lots of shouting and screaming and confrontation between the two leads, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The best metaphor I could give to film’s body is having Charice Pempengco sing another birit song: histrionic and/or appealing. Too bad that the leads lack the spirit to perfectly humanize their performance but Sam Mendes’ beautiful blocking, both theatrical and cinematic, saves the day. The best part for me is the last few minutes when the assessment/commentary comes in. Lesson to be had is that we should know when to listen and not to listen to our other half.

Friends who might appreciate it: those who are getting married next week.

TAKEN
Glorietta 4, Cinema 3, March 10, 10:30pm

A roller-coaster ride, period. There’s no need for you to think or analyze because the film will not allow you. It is that fast paced. Entertaining. And by the way, Luc Besson co-wrote the script.

Friends who might appreciate it: to those who wish to figure out how young/old Liam Neeson is.