DVD: Ghostbusters Movie box set

I happen to come across a DVD box set of one of my childhood favorite movie franchise. 'The Ghostbusters' movie box set includes the DVD of the 1st and second movie.

It was fun to see them again in action, and the antics of Harold Ramis, Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson still is funny to me even until now. Its one of the few film franchise that I believe would still appeal to the newer generation of viewers. As proof, my son named these films as one of his favorites (alongside Garfield, Avatar and Alvin and the Chimpmunks).

I had to admit that my preference in characters had changed. During my childhood, I looked up to Peter Venkman... now, I prefer Ray and Winston. Their one liners gave the story some enjoyable punchlines.

As the film is not much of a laugh-fest...it is still enjoyable to watch because of the story, the dynamics of the characters, and the situation they all get themselves into.

As much as the film brought a lot of laughs, viewing enjoyment, and a bit of nostalgia, the special features left a lot to desire for. The featurette about the special effects used was a total bummer, it made me fall asleep at least three times. I was expecting the same featurette I saw back in the 80's. It was more of a documentary back then...now its like a long commentary with the effects supervisors chat it up.

Avatar on I MAX

Last New Year's eve, I wen to see James Cameron's latest epic 'Avatar' on I Max. I first viewed the trailers and effects shots from their official page before deciding on watching it there. 

I was right.

Watching this movie on digital 3D on I-Max really immerses the viewer in the sorroundings and action within. You can also appreciate not only the panoramic landscape of Pandora, but you could also savor the detail of various element within the movie. When they fly or speed across the jungle, you feel that you fly along with them. There were also certain angles that impressed the audience, which could have been lesser reception on a normal movie screen. Even the close-ups or narrow shots were imposing. It complements the mood of the scene without straining your eye on seeing who's who in that sequence.

The characters were developed in an acceptable pace in the movie. Not too hurried, but just enough to feel a bit attached with them as the story progresses. You also have to give props to the lesser known actors that gave an impressive performance, along with the veterans.

The effects were astounding, the characters larger than life (no pun intended), and the overall set design and mechanical design was a treat. But the plot wasn't something new...nor was it an overused one. For a such a visual extravaganza, I  have hoped for something more groundbreaking in terms of plot or story telling.

Me and my cousin talked about this and it reminded us of some movies, I said it was like 'Dances with Wolves' meets 'Starship Troopers', or 'Last Samurai' mixed with a little 'Platoon'. In a sense they all coincide with the occuring theme of the movie. The main motif was the 'Dances / Last Samurai' part where the main character "goes native" and fights his superiors. The 'Platoon' part... well in an interiew they said they wanted to inject a 'Nam' feel for the military aspect.

There were a lot of negative buzz generated in the internet; that the movie is just an eye candy, or that the plot was a flop, or it promotes racism... (eh?). Well its understandable because the story does leave one hoping for more. All that hype in the media raised the people's expectations. To a point that the story alone cannot satisfy their pre-concieved notion of the movie. It might not be 'all that' in terms of plot,  what's important here is that you enjoyed seeing the movie, you are drawn in by the characters, and the movie just leaves you begging for more.

Now...what burns me out are these conservatives who view too much into the movie that take it at entertainment value...its a blorg -dammed movie...made for your enjoyment and maybe carry a message or two. The uptight suits said it promotes racism, the anti-smoking movement lashed out on Sigourney Weaver for smoking in the movie, the Vactican is upset for showing beings that worship nature instead of their god. What the F*_+>?+!:., maybe they just want you to see a movie of 2 dogs staring at each other....wait, then the animal rights movement will join the fray, and some minority group would cry out that these dogs has some hidden degradory message if you flip it upside down, back mask the audio, tweek it to 2.4 kHz, and put white hoods on the dogs. AAARRRGRGGGHHHH!!!! *pop*

Well, I suggest that you see this movie (I heard its still out there) with an open mind and just have fun....coz thats what movies are primarily for anyway.

The Mechanical Man (L'uomo Meccanico)

Last Aug. 6, the Italian Embassy, in cooperation with Shangri La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, presented their entry in the 3rd Silent Film Festival.

Their entry is entitled 'The Mechanical Man' (L'uomo Meccanico). This 1921 sci-fi/ thriller flick is about a city terrorized by a remote controlled mechanical robot, rampaging, destroying, stealing and killing. The robot was designed by a scientist but built by a mysterious woman who escaped from a prison hospital. The police are unable to stop this monstrosity. But with the help of a second robot built by the scientist, the two mechanical men faced off in a social gathering run amok with the presence of these metal monsters. A fight between the two ensued and after the smoke clears, both robots were destroyed.

The film is amusing despite the primitive special effects. The robot suit is well made and the movement was adequate. You'll be drawn in by the actors' over the top facial expression and physical method acting to be able to convey their emotions since there were no sound to convey them clearly. I also noticed that some parts are a bit risque for a 1920's film. From what I know, people back then were a bit conservative when it comes to showing skin. But there was a scene with a naked woman lying face down, and another scene where the antagonist raises hes skirt up to her knockers to inject herself with something or whatever. Anyway, its a shame that they were only able to recover 40% of this film as it is considered a very rare movie. Most of the early parts of the story were conveyed via text projected on the screen, which made it hard to get the full extent of the human side of the story.

The setup for Caliph8 and company.

In the days of the silent films, a pianist or orchestra usually accompany the film viewing to set the mood of the story. For this event, in leiu with their theme of art and technology standing side by side, the Caliph8 was tasked of setting the mood by using synths, drum machines and other remixed ambient sounds to augment the film. Along with Kalila Agilos, Malek Lopez, Pasta Groove and Tad Ermitano, they gave the film a score with a modern funky house/ drum and bass twist to it.

The rest of the viewing comprises of a movie deconstruction by the group. Its done by taking visual allusions and actual parts from the film, digitally manipulated and scored in real time. Like the cartoon-music remixes presented in Cartoon Network. To me, the presentation was an impressive display...like a freestyle face-off, both audio and visually. It was like having a trip without the illegal substances. Their performance was greeted with a round of applause from an impressed audience.

I would have loved to see the movie in its entirety. For all its flaws as a primitive film, its still a good watch.

The 3rd Silent Film Festival highlights entries from Japan, Spain, Germany, France and Italy through Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes, Japan Foundation, Republique Francaise, and Republica Italiana.

(J-Movie) Tenkousei: Sayonara Anata

starring:

Misako Renbutsu (Kazumi)
Naoyuki Morita (Kazuo)

After the divorce of his parents, Kazuo returns with his mother to the town where he spent his childhood in. In his first day as a transfer student, his childhood friend Kazumi, coincidentally becomes his classmate. She began spurting embarassing stories of them as children, how they took naps together, how he wet his pants and promising to be married to each other when they grow up. Kazuo tries to avoid her but Kazumi keeps on clinging and hanging around him, eventhough she already has a boyfriend.

While visiting Kazumi's house, her parents told her to bring Kazuo to the spring to refresh his childhood memories because he seems to have forgotten everything about them.Messing around beside the spring, both of them fell into it and as they came out, their bodies have switched. After that, everything goes crazy as they tried to live each other's lives since they cannot fully explain to their families what happened.

Although the movie is a funny comedy in the first half, it becomes a melancholic drama on the second half as Kazuo, in Kazumi's body, started to manifest symptoms of a serious illness that threatens his life...in her body...coz you see..the switching...oh, you get the picture. In the end, Kazumi professes her love for Kazuo and is happy to die for him. In fact, they are both willing to accept the same fate for each other.

The movie ends with a note "...human life is short, but the stories they leave behind lasts forever. To the youth of today, what stories are you going to leave behind?"

The english title of the dvd is "Switching: Goodbye Me". But the direct translation of the title is "Transfer Student: Goodbye You". It seems they took some artistic liberties in titling the movie. The 'Goodbye Me' part came from the night they were alone together, saying farewell to their bodies, seeing their bodies for the last time. Saying "Goodbye, me".

The cinematography and sound mixing of the movie is very good. The angles and transitions makes for a smooth flow of the story as the insight on the different characters are developing.

I was also impressed with how well and cute Misako and Naoyuki played out each other's personality in their own persona. I was especially amused on how Misako acted out Kazuo's character, the way she walks, her speech pattern, her personality were totally different in her 'Kazumi' role. Naoyuki also did good but did not potrayed Kazumi's energetic personality and overactive imagination that well. Based on their overall performance, these two are actors to watch out for in the future.

Here are some links about them:

Tenkousei's official site
Misako's Dramawiki profile
Misako's yahoo blog

Review (Net Movie): Batman Dead End

While looking at colonial marines at wikipedia, it led to looking at aliens, then to Batman versus Aliens, then this little link sparked my curiosity. A fan film made by Sara Collora, where Batman is pitted against both the aliens and the predator.


After downloading the film (its only 8 mins long), I was first amused with the costume. A tight-fit bluish gray shirt with a bat logo. Then the black leather gloves and boots which were quite decent. But when the costume is set against its dark alleyway backdrop, they seem to intertrwine greatly. The actors were good in potraying their roles. As Batman was potrayed as n angst ridden vigilante and Joker as a looney psychopath.


The story starts with Batman going after Joker after he escaped from Arkham, in the alley where they exchange fists and comments, the Joker is pulled up in a classic 'gotcha!!' fashion by the predator who was hanging upside-down. What followed was a struggle with an alien wherein the predator kills it. Then a fight between Batman and the Predator ensues. As Batman was about to deliver the death blow, the Predator laughs and 3 more predators appear, while Batman faces them in anticipation for more fighting, aliens appear from the shadows behind him. Then the screen fades. The End.


What I liked about this short-film was the way Batman was potrayed, an ominous figure of the dark. I especially liked the scene where he jumps from the building and lands on the alleyway. Then a aerial view shows the cape fully folded out with Batman in the center, then as he stands up, the cape follow him up. Like a shadowed figure rising from the darkness where it came from.


You can download the movie at http://www.collorastudios.com/projects/bde/bdemain.htm