Movie Review: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Disclaimer: This is the first movie from the Underworld franchise that I've watched.

Given that I virtually have no idea and appreciation of the Underworld films prior to Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, I think the film does a decent job of laying down the mythological foundation of the franchise. Since the film is set in the distant past, it achieves two things: It was easy to explain the absence of Kate Beckinsale, the female lead for the first two films, and an excuse to replicate the scope and scale of the Lord of the Rings series.

Filling in the femme fatale role is Rhona Mitra, but does a rather weak job (She's no Kate Beckinsale). The story is middling, not good, but not great: the film focuses the rise of the Lycans (a hybrid race of werewolves and humans) from slavery from the vampires, as opposed to the Romeo & Juliet romantic angle between the Sonja (Mitra) and Lucian (played by Michael Sheen).

My main nitpick on the film is the very dark color palette, and a lot of the scenes happen at night, making it doubly hard to appreciate the violent and gory action scenes.

Underword: Rise of the Lycans makes me a little interested in renting or buying DVD's of the first two Underworld films, but over-all it's like the vampires and werewolves of Twilight placed in the era of Lord of the Rings.


Rating: 2.5/5


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Movie Review: Yes Man (2008)

Being a big fan of Jim Carrey's comic work before the turn of the millennium, I'm very pleased that Carrey has dialed back to his hilarious ways in Yes Man.

The film is about a guy who was in the brink of total loserhood until a "Yes" seminar changed his outlook in life-- he has to say "Yes" to every opportunity that comes his way, no matter how weird or out of character it is. It's a non-fantastic take on the concept of "Liar Liar," where Jim Carrey's character is magically unable to tell lies, here Carl (the character played by Carrey) robotically says "Yes" because of a pact he made.

The movie is set in motion by Carl's sudden positivism in all aspects of his life and the comedy comes from the situations he gets into by being able to say "No." In the situations he get in to, Carl eventually meets Allison (an adorable Zooey Deschanel) and that's when the romantic fires were fanned.

The movie is classic Carrey-- rubber faced, hyper-active in the right moments. The story is also plausible, with a lot of Chekov's guns, or elements that seem worthless that eventually become crucial in the story. The film does stretch the concept too much and the resolutions to the consequences of Carl's actions were not entirely satisfying.

So, should you watch Yes Man? I say "Yes"to that.


Rating: 3.5/5


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Movie Review: Bedtime Stories (2008)

Adam Sandler hooks up with Disney and stars in a rare family-friendly treat. But is Bedtime Stories as good as Sandler's comic past gems?

Bedtime Stories does have a different target audience, ranging from little kids to doting parents who want good clean entertainment. So to comparing it to past Sandler films is like comparing apples to pineapples.

Having said that, Bedtime Stories is a forgettable film that offers a few laughs and a good concept, but you really have to suspend your disbelief to appreciate what's going on. I initially thought that the film was a fantasy story where the kids' stories would come true. But alas, the film offered logical explanations to most of the unusual occurrences and leaving out a handful. So I was a bit confused if there really was magic in the story.

The story does have its good points and lessons, such as fostering imagination and persevering despite being an underdog, but let's face it: Adam Sandler works best without the "Parental Guidance" fence he was confined in Bedtime Stories.


Rating: 2/5


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Movie Review: Love Me Again (Land Down Under) (2008)

Love Me Again (Land Down Under) is coming of the heels of pretty successful romantic movies from Star Cinema, the studio behind hits For the First Time and A Very Special Love. How does it fare?

To be blunt: It fares POORLY.

Tell me if you find something new in this concept: The film is about the story of Arah (Angel Locsin) and Migo (Piolo Pascual), erstwhile lovers who met and fell in love in the Philippine province of Bukidnon. The couple rekindled their romance when Migo came back to Bukidnon to be a cowboy and run their family's ranch, but it was cut short when Arah was forced to go to Australia (hence the title) to work as a cook. The romantic angle was revisited again when Migo tries to win Arah back from the new world she joined.

The film is very predictable and bland for a romance. Heck, the story seemed to be taken out of the Soap Opera/Telenovela Writing Handbook as cliches were abound. It was boring to the point that I fell asleep.

Love Me Again (Land Down Under) sounds like a weird plea from a movie that I never got to love.

Rating: 1/5

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Prison Break to Take a Permanent Break

After one of my favorite shows got recognized, another show that I really like will be calling it quits.

Prison Break, Fox's high-powered action-drama, will not be returning for its fifth season. Fox announced that Prison Break will conclude this year and will "finish strong."

I really liked the concept of Prison Break during its initial season, but I wondered how the show's producers and creative team will do to the brothers Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) once they have broken out of prison (well, the show is entitled Prison Break). The creative team was able to stretch a one-season concept to four seasons (they even resorted to "resurrecting" Michael's love interest) and I'm glad the show wasn't just unceremoniously canceled midway through the season.

Here's to you, Michael, Linc, Sucre, Sara, T-Bag, Bellick, and Mahone, Prison Break characters I've come to love and loathe. :)


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30 Rock Trifecta in 2009 Golden Globe Awards

I've been a big fan of 30 Rock since I started watching it last year and I'm glad that it won a handful of awards at this year's Golden Globe Awards:

• Tina Fey won the Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy category
  
• Alec Baldwin won the Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy category
• 30 Rock won as the Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

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Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

What if a man grew backwards, from age eighty to infancy?

That is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt (in the title role) and Cate Blanchett.

The film is two and a half hour epic about the times and travels of Benjamin Button and his decades-spanning romance with Daisy (Blanchett). The movie actually feels like Forrest Gump, with a good depiction of different eras and nice story that doesn't feel like two hours.

The film's story is really all about life-- how one lives it, the ups and downs people encounter in life, the experiences that build people's character and how people deal with the end of it. There's a feel good thread that weaves the movie as we see Benjamin fall in love, get a taste of the real world, be part of a great upheaval and being confused on what to do with his life. I found it inspiring in the sense that Benjamin, with his unusual situation, lived his life in his own terms and made the most out of it.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a sentimental tale that reminds us of our mortality. I recommend this film highly.


Rating: 4.5/5


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Movie Review: Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat (2008)

Comedy films lorded it over the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival and the big winner in the box office is Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat (The Only Mom for You All). To date, the film has grossed over PhP 100 million, making it one of the most successful Philippine films of 2008.

The movie is the sequel to Ang Tangning Ina (The Only Mom) where comedienne Ai-Ai De las Alas reprises her role as Ina Montecillo, the hard-working mother of twelve who gets in to different odd jobs to support her family. Also back is the funny Eugene Domingo as Rowena, the best friend who manages to get herself entangled with Ina in funny and wacky situations.

The film is about the continuing story Ina and how she accepts different odd jobs (from being a stunt double, a waitress, a college student, and business owner) to get the money needed for their family's daily living. Her new adventure brings her to a new arena-- the political scene as she becomes the president of the Philippines by a twist of fate. The film's humor centers on her national policies that seem to defy logic and her interaction with Rowena.

Ina does have her funny moments, but her gags become tiring, especially the ones that involve her mangled quotations and sayings. The "warm and fuzzy" moments involve her desire to get her children's respect as decent, yet unqualified, president of the country.

I expected a lot from Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat because of the hype and box office performance, but after watching the film, I was reminded that it was a film festival picture intended to rake in the tills. Comedy is there, albeit shallow and tiring.


Rating: 2/5


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