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Showing posts from 2008

100 (2008)

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My rating: 5/5 100 starring Mylene Dizon, Eugene Domingo, Tessie Tomas, Ryan Eigenmann and other wonderful people Category: Movies Genre: Independent First, their recommendation: 100 A FILM BY CHRIS MARTINEZ CINEMALAYA PRESENTS A MARTINEZ RIVERA FILMS PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH STRAIGHTSHOOTERS MEDIA, INC. MYLENE DIZON, EUGENE DOMINGO, TESSIE TOMAS “100” TJ TRINIDAD, RYAN EIGENMANN, SIMON IBARRA, CECIL PAZ. DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: LARRY MANDA, PRODUCTION DESIGNER : ABY JAMNAGUE-RIVERA, EDITOR: IKE VENERACION, COMPOSER FOR ORIGINAL MUSIC: RICCI CHAN, MUSICAL SCORER: BRIAN CUA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: MELVIN LEE, PRODUCTION HEAD: GRACE QUISIAS, LINE PRODUCER: MADONNA TARRAYO, CREATIVE SUPERVISOR, MARLON RIVERA, EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS : MARLON RIVERA CHRIS MARTINEZ, WRITER AND DIRECTOR: CHRIS MARTINEZ. 100 chronicles the last three months of a cancer stricken woman who has a list of things to do before she dies. Her list of tasks, mostly closures and practica

Concerto (2008)

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Web Banner from http://concertothefilm.blogspot.com Wow! That's what I said after watching this film. Joselito, the central character and narrator played by Jay Aquitania , learned Japanese by heart. During the last leg of the Japanese occupation, he was able to use it to protect his family. I love studying different languages. I know I need to concentrate on one language to perfect it and so far, I only know bits and pieces of different languages. Communication is an important factor and that is not only true for one country. It's a fact throughout the world. Music is also one form of communication that needs no translation and besides food, the Dela Torre family used music to warm the hearts of "the enemy". Having had my "formative years" in the USA, I grew up thinking that Japan (and to think I have Japanese blood) was evil to the core in the 1940s. Well, it is true, they did all those war crimes that haunted and annihilated our ancestors, but li

All the Right Moves (1983)

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Stefan Djordjevic (Tom Cruise), the star player of his high school football team, is desperately hoping that his football talents will earn him a scholarship -- his only chance to get out of his dying hometown of Ampipe, Pennsylvania. When a heated argument with his coach (Craig T. Nelson) gets him kicked off the team and blacklisted from college recruiters, Stefan must fight for a chance to live out his dream and escape the dead-end future he faces. Initial release: 21 October 1983 (USA) Director: Michael Chapman Music composed by:  David Richard Campbell Screenplay: Michael Kane based on the article written by Pat Jordan Producers: Gary Morton of  Lucille Ball Productions(Executive Producer, Ms. Ball's husband until her death), Stephen Simon Deutsch (Producer) Cast: Tom Cruise as Stefan Djordjevic Craig T. Nelson as Coach Burt Nickerson Lea Thompson as Lisa Lietzke, Stef's girlfriend Charles Cioffi as Pop, Greg and Stef's father Gary Graham

Shinobi Shadow Warriors: Heart Under Blade (2005)

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Category: Movies Genre: Action & Adventure Memorable lines: ...it is only in dreams that we can be married.... " "...but now it is different...even if it is only a fleeting dream I am happy" "...upon meeting you for the first time I knew the joy of living as a man... " Star-crossed lovers. Family wars. Shadow Arts. Ninja.  Set in 1614 Oboro and Gen-no-suke meet by accident at a river near the waterfalls and it seems like it is love at first sight. [I remember the characters of Noah (Jay-jay) and Laica (Ulay) when their eyes change colors (characters of a Filipino Tele-Serye or Prime Time Drama Series called Lobo "wolf"....werewolf, to be exact...the feud of the Wayas and the Lunas)]  It is a story about love, sacrifices and the choices one makes...standing firm in every decision...seeing the BIGGER picture...the grander plan. I was moved by each scene...their struggles... I even cried! (don&

Urduja- A Filipino LEGEND of forbidden love

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The Cast of Urduja(The Voices) Category: Movies Genre: Animation Urduja is a legendary warrior princess who is recognized as a heroine of either Pangasinan, Philippines or Champa, today located in Southern Vietnam. The name Urduja appears to be Sanskrit in origin, and a variation of the name "Udaya", meaning "arise" or "rising sun", or the name "Urja", meaning "breath". A historical reference to Urduja can be found in the travel account of Ibn Battuta (1304 – possibly 1368 or 1377 AD), a Muslim traveler from Morocco. -Wikipedia * Regine Velasquez - stars as Princess Urduja * Cesar Montano - stars as Lim Hang the lover of Urduja. * Johnny Delgado - as Wang, Lim Hang's arch enemy * Eddie Garcia - as Lakanpati. Urduja's father (the King) * Michael V and Allan K - as the comical Kutkut and Tarsir. * Ruby Rodriguez- as Mayumi, Urduja's best friend * Jeffrey Quizon- as Daisuke (Japanese best friend of Lim Han

PS I Love You book by Cecelia Ahern(2004) and the movie (2007)

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This is MY book by Cecelia Ahern .  This is her first novel.  Inside the book you will find this quote From imdb The film is dedicated to Sandra Windland "Wendy" Smith-Rice , sister of the movie's producer, Molly Smith.  Windland Smith Rice died of Long QT Syndrome Type 2. The Mayo Clinic has opened the Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory to study this and similar diseases. Info from Wikipedia. To those who know me well, my Hollywood Crush is Gerard Butler.  He's on top of my list among the big ones in Hollywood.   Of course, I wouldn't miss this for the world and I'm so glad that he and Hilary Swank jell.   If I were Holly and he was my Gerry, then I would have a hard time moving on too.  Gerard played the part so well and I'm not just being biased.  The moment he entered the travel agency I was tearing up already, but chuckled a little because...  ;-)  I couldn't have picked a better Gerry.  Gerry is

Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城, Hauru no ugoku shiro) 2004

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(not really a review) "Excuse me, granny, are you a witch too?" "Yes I am, I'm the scariest witch of all!"  The music (Joe Hisaishi) swept me off my feet Love really comes unexpectedly (most of the time) Turnip, turnip, turnip! (IS my favorite character) My niece, Jorgie, enjoyed watching it with me (and so did my nephew, Brian) Superb animation! Theme : Love Story, Fantasy, Comedy, Suspense Released  by: The Walt Disney Company/Buenavista Pictures Directed  by: Hayao Miyazaki Written  by British Writer (Novel) Diana Wynne Jones Dubbed in English  by Pixar Christian Bale Jean Simmons Emily Mortimer Lauren Bacall Billy Crystal Blythe Danner Josh Hutcherson Crispin Freeman Jena Malone  For more details, click this "Are you sure you're not a witch, Sophie?" "I'm the worst kind of witch there is. I'm the one that cleans!"  Howl and Sophie

August Rush (2007)

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Directed by  Kirsten Sheridan Writing Credits ( WGA )   Nick Castle ... (screenplay) and James V. Hart ... (screenplay) Paul Castro ... (story) and Nick Castle ... (story) “How in the light of one night did we come so far?” may be a line in Sun and Moon ( Miss Saigon ), but it might as well be the tagline of the JDHP Prayer Community featured film called August Rush . It was a rainy Friday evening, but a bunch of people, mostly families, gathered at the Parish Center 1 last May 9. They lined up for free movie tickets. Popcorn, mixed nuts and drinks were served. Father John Morota, who highly recommended the movie during his homilies, welcomed everyone who came and shared some of his experiences in the seminary as a “movie buff” and even claimed that a couple of years before “If we hold on together” was a hit in this country, he had already discovered it. The audience could not wait for the movie to start. When it did, everyone was enraptured, inc

Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

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Amazon.com a short note before I start : Tomorrow is the VSAP Youth Sportsfest, and I'm in charge of preparing questions for the "mental agility" game. I'm halfway through, but honestly, I'm stumped. I've been too preoccupied to have begun this days ago, so I just started this morning. My head ached and my eyes started itching that I decided to take a break. It was a good thing that I did because I was able to chance upon this 2006 film called AKEELAH and THE BEE. Starring : Angela Basset, Laurence Fishburne and Keke Palmer Other Genre : Drama, Education, Rivalry, Friendship, Neighborhood, Sportsmanship etc. Producer : Lionsgate Written and Directed by : Doug Atchison Anything is possible as long as you're determined to do it. When a very sad thing happens in your life, you don't shut yourself from the world. Instead, you reach out to others and focus on something. That something may be your stepping stone to something gre

Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

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Category: Movies Genre: Action & Adventure Once upon a time in China there was a drunken master who journeyed to the west... I have been waiting for this movie since it was announced some months back and I must say that it was worth the wait! The film was action packed and magical. Wow! Two of my favorite Asian Actors: Jet Li and Jackie Chan were equally topbilled in this movie. They were both fabulous. I love the moves, the dialogue and everything else. Even Sky High's Michael Angarano was adorable as Jason and Liu Yi Fei was a charming golden sparrow. Haaay. Jason and Sparrow had magical moments too! " If you don't get attached to people and desires, never shall your heart be broken...but are you truly alive? "- paraphrased from Lu Dongbin's words to Jason The characters were based on Wu Cheng'en's novel Journey to the West , but the screenplay's plot is very, very different from the novel according to the Jade Warlord Actor,

Nim's Island (2008)

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General Viewership     There was a time when I used to imagine living on an island as big as Nim's and having the place all to myself just to have a weekend getaway or maybe stay there for a couple of weeks, but I couldn't imagine living there for a long, long time.   Nim, a beautiful feisty and brave eleven year old girl, lived on an island with her Marine Biologist and National Geographic contributor, Jack Rusoe. Since there were no other children (or other people in the island), young Nim's best friends were animals. She also took refuge in reading. Her imagination runs wild every time she turns the pages of whatever kind of book. There is one series of books that became her favorite. It was the Alex Rover REAL adventures with the theme: BE THE HERO OF YOUR OWN STORY. Nim took this to heart. Wait, I'm getting carried away. I might give a lot of spoilers so I'll just say that this is one film that the adults and the children will enjoy. The story, th

Paprika by Satoshi Kon (2006)

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Category: Movies Genre: Animation /Science Fiction Psychotherapy is very much real today, yet in Satoshi Kon's PAPRIKA it climbs up a couple of notches. The DC mini was invented by a young doctor named Dr. Tokita. Like any inventor with a noble cause, Tokita envisioned the device to be a great help in solving problems of future patients. Unfortunately, three of the prototypes were stolen. This is where the trouble begins. Science is a wonderful "gift" to mankind, but once misused, danger not only lurks in one corner...it makes itself known. This is the thrust of the story by Seishi Minakami collaborated with the famous director himself. No one can play God. If he/she tries to be God, he/she will destruct, rather than create. I liked this movie...the merging of dreams...the merging of characters...In the first 45 minutes of the film I was already rating it with three stars, but the last ten minutes convinced me it's a four. This film

Why did I get married? (2007)

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Category: Movies Genre: Romantic Comedy Other themes: Dramedy (Drama combined with Comedy), Friendship, Family, Choices, Faith, Psychology, weekend retreat, Top taglines:      ...Because no one inspires me more. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------         ...Because every moment we share is better than the last. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------           ...Because two are stronger than one. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------             ...Because we complete each other's sentences. After "peeping" at the Ozine Fest '08 at the SM Mega Trade Hall after eating with RJ, I knew I needed to relax a bit before going home. I was hoping to watch THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, but it wasn't playing yet. The other movies weren't quite wholesome so it was a relief to "discover" this film. Shucks. I never hea

Horton Hears a Who! (The Philosophical Dr. Seuss) 2008

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MY OPINION: When the movie started, I was hooked. The animation/CGI was so REAL... it seemed soooo real until the animals started talking. The characters were funny and the scenes were delightful, but boy! The movie was a philosophical one. A person's a person no matter how small... But for Kangaroo (Carol Burnett), the self-proclaimed Queen of Horton's jungle, Horton's behavior is unacceptable. "If you can't see, hear, or feel something," she says, "it doesn't exist." To believe in a tiny world on a speck of dust is absolutely ridiculous. To share that belief is to undermine the existence of the "real" world they all live in. And to let Horton continue spreading the idea that there is any other reality beyond their own is something she is not willing to do. Wow! The movie is PRO-LIFE! I'm still at the edge of my Young Adult Ministry Years (SINGLES 39 below) and though I haven't done anything for Y-f