Film Notes: April 2012

20th Century Boys (Yukihiko Tsutsumi, 2008) - 5/5. Serious humor. Religious cult. Giant robots. Win!

Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light (Takahiro Omori, 2011) 5/5. ..... nalungkot naman ako lalo. iba yung epekto nung runtime sa kwento. parang nananadya lang.


The Vow (Michael Sucsy, 2012) 2/5. Oh well. I'll watch some very good asian film later to make up with the disappointment.

High and Low (Akira Kurosawa, 1963) 5/5 - parang novel yung feel niya. hehehehehe.

Mortal (Mario O'Hara, 1975) 5/5. Ayun, mas nauna pala ito sa Dogra Magra ni matsumoto. Narealize ko after nito, weak talaga ang Shutter Island. XD

20th Century Boys Chapter 2: The Last Hope (Yukihiko Tsutsumi, 2009) 5/5. second film sa trilogy, ayus pa rin.

Permanent Vacation (Jim Jarmusch, 1980) 5/5. Only Jarmusch could make sadness and loneliness groovy. But, still sad.

Moneyball (Bennett Miller, 2011) 4/5. Tama si Raymond Lee, tungkol nga ito sa filmmaking. ;)

3 (Tom Tykwer, 2010) 1/5. Every time I watch a film, I always remind myself of what my friend has told me before: everything is about love. I never felt any love from this. Worse, it never even made to give you a hard-on, so what to make of it? Trash.

The Temptation of St. Tony (Veiko Õunpuu, 2009) 5/5. pandagdag sa midnight film collection.

Happy Together (Kar-wai Wong, 1997) 5/5. Now, here's a Love Story.

Sa Ilalim ng Cogon (Rico Maria Ilarde, 2005) 3/5. awkward yung dialogues, pero maganda at maayos naman ang pagkakalarga. ang cute din nung kapatid ni Julia Clarete dito.

Carnivore (Ato Bautista, 2008) 5/5. ngayon ko lang na-confirm, mas nauna pa pala ang Blackout dito. Mas gusto ko na si Ato kesa kay Joel Coen.

Love on a Diet (Johnnie To|Ka-fai Wai, 2001) 4/5. di ko nasimulan, pero maganda na yung naabutan ko pagkabukas ng tv. uulitin ko para mas sulit. Hindi masama na i-dub ito sa tagalog.

A History of Violence (David Cronenberg, 2005) 4/5. mas idol ko pa rin si Ato Bautista, XD.

Bunny Drop (SABU, 2011) 4/5. For someone who specializes on crime films to make something like this, is ground breaking. SABU took the story to a different atmosphere than what it was in the comic book and the anime adaptation. It seemed heavier here. That scene where the two kids cried in front of a grave was fantastic. It's nice to see Matsuyama being himself here: a great actor.

Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Pedro Penduko (Celso Ad. Castillo, 1973) 5/5, Just when I'm not sure whether something is just plain crazy or genius, here's Ad. Castillo playing tricks again in my head. Loved that marching band scene/fight scene. Very signature Ad. Castillo, on bipolar extremes: there are very charming scenes and very sick scenes. Just great for a sunday afternoon. Watch it with your kids... or not.      

Macbeth (Bela Tarr, 1982) 4/5. last scene sa 2nd long take, the best.

The Housewife (Ki-young Kim, 1960) 4/5. I never thought that this was really the Korean's definition of Erotic-Noir. It was sexy but never was there a nude scene. Kind of a weird feeling getting into me while watching the film. That last scene at the stairs.... uhhm.... just... uuhhh.... uhm....

My Winnipeg (Guy Maddin, 2007) 5/5. In awe in almost everything I've seen here. Deeply personal, but also informative. I still haven't confirmed the information Maddin has presented here, but the way he told it, is like having a talk with a stranger while you're both sleepy on a train ride.

Rififi (Jules Dassin, 1955) 5/5. Here's a true, straight in your face, crime film. You never really need that all-fancy talk and hallmark dialogues to make one. All you need, is a very quiet and solemn jewelry store heist.