"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1" movie review - All is well in love and birth.

A critic by:
Ciarra Maine L. Latoza – Critique

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Producer:
Wyck Godfrey
Stephenie Meyer
Karen Rosenfelt

Director: Bill Condon

Cast:

Robert Pattinson – Edward Cullen
Kristen Stewart – Bella Swan
Taylor Lautner – Jacob Black

The Cullens
Ashley Greene – Alice Cullen
Elizabeth Reaser – Esme Cullen
Jackson Rathbone – Jasper Hale
Kellan Lutz – Emmett Cullen
Nikki Reed – Rosalie Hale

Peter Facinelli – Carlisle Cullen

Wolf Pack

Gil Birmingham – Billy Black
Chaske Spencer – Sam Uley
Alex Meraz – Paul
Bronson Pelletier – Jared
Kiowa Gordon – Embry Call
Tyson Houseman – Quil Ateara

Booboo Stewart – Seth Clearwater
Julia Jones – Leah Clearwater

Humans

Billy Burke – Charlie Swan
Sarah Clarke – Renee Dwyer

Anna Kendrick – Jessica Stanley

Christian Serratos – Angela Weber

Michael Welch – Mike Newton

Justin Chon – Eric Yorkie

Story Structure:

            The story is shown in a linear structure. The plot was based on the book. It could have been because I have read the series and therefore, I know how the flow would go.

Synopsis:

Based on Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 continues to get through Edward and Bella’s love story. This time, they’re headed to their happily ever after. Edward and Bella (At last!) gets married and consummates their marriage in the beautiful island of Isle Esme in Brazil. The best nights of their existence are cut off when Bella gets knocked up. The half-human, half-vampire baby she conceives sucks the life out of her. Edward is hell bent on getting rid of it while Bella decides to keep it. Ironically enough, she asks for Rosalie’s help. The newly wed couple flies back to Forks.

Back at Forks, Jacob and the wolf pack learn about Bella’s condition. The Cullen clan cannot do anything about it but to honor her wishes. Sam, the leader, decides to kill Bella because he sees that the baby is a threat. Jacob goes against Sam’s order. He still loves Bella despite all the odd consequences. This creates a rift between the wolf pack. Jacob becomes The Cullen’s ally and keeps an open eye on Bella. Much to his chagrin, he notices the newfound closeness between Bella and Rosalie. Rosalie is as strong-willed as Bella about keeping the baby, but for a different light. Rosalie wants the baby for herself. Seth Clearwater and his sister Leah, join Jacob, making a pack of three.

All is well when suddenly Bella has to give birth. It is gruesome and there is a lot of blood and venom involved. The baby is so strong for Bella’s body that she gives up after the baby is out. Edward tries to revive her by biting her and letting his venom flow through her body. The movie is open-ended. Bella waking up as a vampire is shown as the last scene.

Analysis:

The movie is character, narrative, and stylistically driven. Breaking Dawn is the last book from the Twilight Saga which is recognized all over the world, making the character and the story well-known. If you don’t know anything about the characters and the narrative, you are living under the rock.

                If you haven’t read the book, you can still follow through the story. The film has all the important moments and plot points met. Again, that is if you haven’t read the book. If you have, (Like me) you would see the missing bits. The movie added a few scenes to act as fillers. (Scenes that are not written in the book) To be quite honest, the screenplay is lacking. It did not capture some of the points that (I think) should be included and seen in the movie, like Rosalie and Jacob’s verbal jabs for instance. It has humor and could lighten the movie. Unfortunately, it was not portrayed. The flashback of Edward’s rebellious stage is very well done although the movie could go on without them. It should have been in the first movie or perhaps, the third one.

                The CGI is definitely flawless. The wolves look real with all the fangs and fur. The running wolves were as perfect. We could learn a thing or two with the way they did CGI. The conversation between the wolves felt a bit awkward though. The talking wolves looked a bit off.

Of course, the story would not be complete without the romance. The wedding and the honeymoon, which are emotion-provoking parts, illustrated romantic love. The pregnancy and birth showed motherly love. The love scenes managed to be sexy but still refined. But in my opinion, the moment where Edward tries to save Bella’s life is the most romantic. It made me cry. (Well, everything about the movie made me cry)

My only objection is about their hair. I wish they brought the wigs used in the second franchise (The Twilight Saga: New Moon) back. Carlisle’s wig made him look bloated and Rosalie’s should have been more blonde.

Over all, the film is grand. My emotions were all over the place. I laughed at several moments and cried at others. I will definitely see it again and appreciate all its glory. I can’t believe I have to wait for another year for the second part! I might die from running out of patience!

Rating: ★★★★

Kadin

A CRITIC BY: Maria Cheizzer May Villamor

TITLE: “Kadin”

PRODUCER: Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr.,

      Bicycle Productions in partnership with Ignite Media

DIRECTOR: Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr.

CAST:

Rico Mark Cardona-Peping

            Monica Joy Camanillas- Lita

            Simon Ibarra- Councilor

            Angel Aquino- Councilor’s wife

Servilino Alavado

Florencia Cardona

Ursula Gecha

STORY STRUCTURE:

                This film follows a chronological order because the story is patterned, although the conflict was given during the start of the story. The structure is linear.

SYNOPSIS:

Set in the beautiful island of Batanes, northern part of the Philippines, this film shows the story of Peping in search for his lost goat, Gima. Waking up finding that Gima is missing, Peping with his sister, Lita spent a day in search for the goat. As it was also their source of living, giving them milk, they hides the truth from their grandmother, hoping to find Gima before the day ends because their father will arrive the next day.

In the end of the day, they found themselves crying at the lost of their beloved goat. Through the hardships they’ve been encounter just to find that Gima is already dead, the film shows that there will always be kindness in the heart of the children.

ANALYSIS:

                The film is quite boring. It’s more of talking and walking of the main characters. The story is very simple yet it has a special connotation that makes it more meaningful. Not perfect ending, as I expected, but still it’s consistent. The way the main actors act is very simple, dull sometimes.

RATING: 3

Mula, Iane Gem M.-Critique Breaking Dawn Part I

Breaking Dawn Part I

Producer:  Wyck Godfrey

Director: Bill Condon

Cast:      

                Kristen Stewart             …                Bella Swan

                Robert Pattinson          …                Edward Cullen

    Taylor Lautner               …                Jacob Black

Story Structure:

            I think the plot is mostly linear except for the few flashbacks that were shown in the film. The film starts with Bella and Edward’s wedding preparations. The wedding itself comes to a success except that Jacob did a no show. However the shapeshifter then shows himself to Bella finally to congratulate her but when she tells him that she will be spending a real honeymoon as a human with the vampire Edward, he becomes furious. Bella and Edward go to Rio and spend their honeymoon there. After a few days, Bella gets pregnant with an unknown “thing” that even the vampires do not know let alone understand. Everyone panics for Bella’s condition because they all know that her body is not compatible with the fetus that’s inside her. Jacob then learns this and vowed to his wolf brothers that he himself will kill the baby if Bella gets killed. Bella becomes very ill and thin because of her pregnancy yet she does not give up. Finally, the baby comes out and leaves her dead for many hours after she is injected with the venom. Jacob then goes to fulfill his mission to kill the baby; However, he becomes drawn to her that he fights against his own brothers. As the film ends, the vampire cells in Bella’s body takes over making her an immortal.

Synopsis:

            The wedding of Bella with the vampire Edward triggers a series of events that would test her courage to live both in the vampire and human world.

Analysis:

            I have been a fan of twilight saga and this first part of Breaking Dawn for me is the best so far. I love how the scenes evolved in a way that almost all viewers, let alone twilight saga followers would understand very much. The acting is so good and convincing. In fact, in the first twilight films, I didn’t like much on how Kristen Stewart did her role. But this one, it was fantastic. I felt real bad to see her so frail yet so courageous to bear the baby even if it is killing her. Edward’s character is good as well but Jacob’s is much better. I love the way he protects Bella even if he could not gain or win her love. I could only smile as they hug each other, one expressing herself as a friend and the other as a man who would stand by her to the end. Overall, the film is outstanding. I love everything about it and I would like to watch the last part soon.

Rating: 5

Mula, Iane Gem M.-Critique Breaking Dawn Part I

Breaking Dawn Part I

Producer:  Wyck Godfrey

Director: Bill Condon

Cast:      

                Kristen Stewart             …                Bella Swan

                Robert Pattinson          …                Edward Cullen

    Taylor Lautner               …                Jacob Black

Story Structure:

            I think the plot is mostly linear except for the few flashbacks that were shown in the film. The film starts with Bella and Edward’s wedding preparations. The wedding itself comes to a success except that Jacob did a no show. However the shapeshifter then shows himself to Bella finally to congratulate her but when she tells him that she will be spending a real honeymoon as a human with the vampire Edward, he becomes furious. Bella and Edward go to Rio and spend their honeymoon there. After a few days, Bella gets pregnant with an unknown “thing” that even the vampires do not know let alone understand. Everyone panics for Bella’s condition because they all know that her body is not compatible with the fetus that’s inside her. Jacob then learns this and vowed to his wolf brothers that he himself will kill the baby if Bella gets killed. Bella becomes very ill and thin because of her pregnancy yet she does not give up. Finally, the baby comes out and leaves her dead for many hours after she is injected with the venom. Jacob then goes to fulfill his mission to kill the baby; However, he becomes drawn to her that he fights against his own brothers. As the film ends, the vampire cells in Bella’s body takes over making her an immortal.

Synopsis:

            The wedding of Bella with the vampire Edward triggers a series of events that would test her courage to live both in the vampire and human world.

Analysis:

            I have been a fan of twilight saga and this first part of Breaking Dawn for me is the best so far. I love how the scenes evolved in a way that almost all viewers, let alone twilight saga followers would understand very much. The acting is so good and convincing. In fact, in the first twilight films, I didn’t like much on how Kristen Stewart did her role. But this one, it was fantastic. I felt real bad to see her so frail yet so courageous to bear the baby even if it is killing her. Edward’s character is good as well but Jacob’s is much better. I love the way he protects Bella even if he could not gain or win her love. I could only smile as they hug each other, one expressing herself as a friend and the other as a man who would stand by her to the end. Overall, the film is outstanding. I love everything about it and I would like to watch the last part soon.

Rating: 5

Mula, Iane Gem M.- Critique Nang Nak

Nang Nak

Producer: Visute Poolvoralaks

Director: Nonzee Nimibutr

Casts:

Intira Jaroenpura- Nak
Winai Kraibutr- Mak

Story Structure:

This movie is a nonlinear story structure, it follows no specific pattern. The sequences were however properly arraned so as for the audience to understand the film. There were also flashbacks that were included which were very effective.

It is all about a woman name Nak whose faithful love for her husband Mak defies death. The story starts with Mak who is sent to fight in a war and leaves his pregnant wife Nak. Mak seriously injured on the said war. But he was able to returns home. Mak lives with his wife and their child without even knowing that Nak died while she’s giving birth to her child and without his awareness that he leaves with a ghosts. He was spellbound by it. Knowing the villagers that Nak died in childbirth several months. They’re trying to tell the truth to Mak but as they attempt to do it, Nak kills the people who will make it. She’s been so aggressive because she cannot accept that she had an early death. Toward the end Mak discovers what is really happening and was shocked by it. The villagers attempt several solutions just to destroy Nak’s ghost but they were not successful. And lastly when the Buhhdist arrived and takes charge of it, Nak repents leaving her husband. In other words Nang-Nak is a Thai romantic tragedy and horror film.

Synopsis:

It is all about a woman name Nak whose faithful love for her husband Mak defies death. In other words Nang-Nak is a Thai romantic tragedy and horror film.

Analysis:

It’s good, touching and at the same time horrifying. The dialogues were very good so so as the special effects and flashback. Development in lengths of it was well done. The continuity of each scene has really patterned. The story is very good. Characters did a good job. My expectation was somehow delayed. The stylistic form was not that bad but not that so good. It was sometimes boring but if you will merely focus on the movie you will find yourself loving it because the story is great. It is a story driven film. And in terms of its unity, the director was able to create the story or weave it just like a perfect masterpiece. 

Rating: 4

Mula, Iane Gem M.-Critique Final Destination 5

Final Destination 5

Producer: : Craig Perry and Warren Zide

Directors: Steven Quale

Cast

            Emma Bell,

 Nicholas D’Agosto,

 Miles Fisher,

 Arlen Escarpeta,

 P.J. Byrne

Story Structure:

The Final Destination formula is the same. Right before a major disaster ,  plane crash, roller coaster, huge traffic accident ,  the protagonist has a vivid premonition of things to come. Right after he or she sees their own death they go back to a point right before the disaster and warn their friends to get off of, or out of whatever, or wherever the disaster is about to strike. The twist is that death doesn’t like to be cheated and through a series of accidents, it will claim the lives of anyone who escaped the initial disaster. The protagonist and his circle of friends take a little while to catch on, but inevitably the series of improbable deaths of everyone who escaped the initial disaster clues the dwindling survivors in. At this point some contrivance is discovered by which the remaining survivors might be able to cheat death.

Synopsis:

Death continuously follows a group of co-workers who happened to avoid a massive suspension bridge collapse after one of them experiences a terrifying premonition.

Analysis:

            As I was watching the film, it was like the first final destination movie experience. You scream not because you were afraid but because you were surprised.  However, I still find the film very interesting because of its unique signature of suspense film. No film has ever done something more authentic than final destination series and it is a good thing to see something with no other counterpart. However, the expectation is delayed, I mean always delayed because in the very first place I was already expecting that one by one, everyone will get killed but not at the time I was expecting them to get killed. The film is not that realistic because life and death obviously don’t work like desperate thieves.

            About the emotion of the film, for me it is more on the emotional response felt by the spectator rather than the film dictating what kind of emotion must be felt. I really felt so much anxiety while I was watching. I didn’t know when or when somebody will die and that is something that was in stored for every final destination film. However, there is very little character development, and no proper villain, unless a concept like death can be a villain. This lack of a villain has always made the Final Destination films less about horror than about shock value.

Mula, Iane Gem M.-Critique Mudraks

Mudraks

Producer: Sarah Pagcaliwagan

Directors: Arah Jell Badayos, Margaret Guzman

Cast

            Rio Locsin- Margaret

            Ricky Davao- David

            Roxanne Barcelo- Pippa

            Mario Magalona- Adrian

            Miguel Lorenzo Jose V. Javier- Laurence

Story Structure:

            The story structure of the film is nonlinear because the plot does not follow a chronological order. First, the film shows Margaret smoking with a man who isn’t her husband. Then it establishes the kind of home where Margaret serves as a mother and how her family behaves. It is also established how Margaret behaves herself, being meticulous, watches teleseryes most of the time with her co-Visayan helper and is most of the time at home or at the grocery store to keep things running for her family. Pippa, Margaret’s daughter shows that she does not like her mother at all. She then confesses to her diary that she wants her aunt to be her mom instead of Margaret. Pippa’s behavior continues to worsen every day.

However, a family reunion is set to be organized by their family. Margaret takes delight in it and prepares for everything. The rest of the family does not so much approved of it and that Tess, the aunt is the best. Nothing can ever meet her excellence when it comes to organizing a family reunion. Margaret becomes more determined, however, she learns about her daughter’s diary and starts to read it secretly. She then finds out Pippa’s hate and desire to have another mom. She then goes to Adrian, the man who works at the grocery to find consolation not realizing that the man has grown to be fonder of her than expected.

As the day of the reunion comes, Pippa finds out that her father, David is a womanizer. She then changes and takes sympathy on her mother. However, she also learns that Margaret has been reading her diary that leads her to hate her for some time. The day of the reunion comes and as Margaret prepares her delicacy, her husband proposes to go to the venue together with their kids and leave Margaret on her own. Margaret then hurries to catch up with her family. However, as she runs in the hallway with a pot in her hands, she slides off and comes sprawling on the floor. She then decides to go to Adrian and elope with him to Bicol for good.

Synopsis:

            Margaret lives in a house where nobody talks, lives are kept to themselves, problems are not addressed and questions are not entertained. She then tries her best to win her family’s approval; however, it becomes a struggle for her day by day. Adrian becomes her friend who appears to her as the only one who understands her. Eventually she becomes drawn to her misery and comes to a final decision that she has never imagined she would ever choose.

Analysis:

            The filmic organization of Mudraks is narrative. The film is presented mostly in a series of related events in a specific time and place, that is to say Margaret’s home throughout the month.

I find the story very disturbing. It is set in a house where lives are kept to themselves, problems are not shared and questions are not entertained. There is disrespect not only between man and wife but also mother and daughter. It shows how difficult it is to be a mother and that every day is a struggle for Margaret. Every day is a decision for her to either hold on to her family or just leave them for her own self.

Margaret’s character is round because she is quite unpredictable. Her emotions are unstable such as being patient with her situation, but then becoming so tired of it and finally bursting out like she has forgotten herself. The rest of the characters are all flat.

For me, the film is more of a character driven. It is so much all about the story of a mother living in a place where almost everyone hardly listens to her, let alone believes her. The film addresses certain problems families face nowadays. These are misunderstanding, lack of proper communication, disregard and ignorance.

            Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that Margaret would decide to elope with Adrian. I was more foreseeing that her family would soon realize that they were all being hard hearted to the mother who does nothing but look after them. So the expectation turns out to be cheated. I also thought better of Margaret that she would not engaged in being involved with another man. However since her character is so unpredictable, I think she is more of a victim of the situation. I also regard the convention of the film that since Margaret is living in such environment, her inward reaction to her family is somewhat justified so as the reaction of the family to her.

            About the emotion in the film, I think it is more on the emotional response felt by the spectator rather than the film dictating what kind of emotion must be felt. I felt sympathetic about Margaret’s situation and her being trapped in a living hell. It was a very disturbing experience to watch such film but then it is very satisfying when it comes to depth. I could only think of my own mother and questioning myself whether I have fairly treated her as a daughter. As I watched the film, there was this feeling of dread that what if my own mother feels the same as Margaret is feeling? Would I ever take to lose her that way? Anyways, I ended up texting my mom with messages that started and ended with “I love you and I miss you”.

For me, the film means mostly about the story of a mother living in a place where almost everyone hardly listens to her, let alone believes her. As I have mentioned awhile ago, the film addresses certain problems families face nowadays. These are misunderstanding, lack of proper communication, disregard and ignorance.

The film is quite realistic because of the fact that most of us have known or have been outnumbered by families breaking apart. The behavior of kids nowadays apparently has been shown in the film as realistically as possible. Morally, the film has indeed stimulated negative feeling in me. I had this speculation of whether my own mother would do the same; I mean leave her family for the sake of herself alone. It is both negative and positive. It is positive because I have learned the importance of bond and love between families. Without those, only misery remains. No hope, no happiness, no contentment.

For me, the diary has the most significant function in the film. It tells about the thoughts of Pippa. That diary has two contradicting but related functions: one is to familiarize Margaret about who her daughter is. It serves as the bridge or a way for her to know more about Pippa. But then at the same rate, the diary itself leads her to digging out the truth that even her own daughter can hate her for who she is. The diary in short has alienated her to her own self. In a nutshell, she has learned and knew more of her daughter through the diary but through it as well, she has grown distant to who she is.

Rating: 5

Mula, Iane Gem M.-Critique Kadin

Mula, Iane Gem M.-Critique

Kadin

Producer: Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr.,

      Bicycle Productions in partnership with Ignite Media

Director: Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr.

Cast

            Rico Mark Cardona-Peping

            Monica Joy Camanillas- Lita

            Simon Ibarra- Councilor

            Angel Aquino- Councilor’s wife

Story Structure:

            The story structure of the film is linear because the plot follows a chronological order although the conflict rather started so soon followed by series of other conflicts. First, a ritual is shown about sacrificing an animal to the spirits for good catch. In those scenes, I have perceived what kind of conflict might have occurred in the story. Then the main character Peping wakes up to find out that the family goat, Gima is missing. Peping and his sister set out to find the goat without telling his grandmother about it. That itself is a big conflict in the story. Moreover, the two must find the goat before their father arrives in the morning. The sister becomes exhausted with the search so Peping is left to search alone. He then learns that goats have been transported to another island so he decides to sacrifice his savings to find Gima. However, a group of kids rob him and leave him devastated. He then sees a goat that looks like Gima and out of his longing; he hugs the goat and cries. However, he is then accused of being a thief and is brought to be questioned. Councilor arrives along with a goat tender who knows Peping so he is proven innocent. The councilor’s wife recognizes Peping and takes pity on him. Peping goes home and in the morning finds a young goat at their door step. He soon finds out that it is from the councilor and his wife.

Synopsis:

            When Peping finds out that Gima, the family goat is missing, he sets out to find it without the knowledge of his grandmother and before his father comes back. He conspires with his sister Lita and together, they journeyed to find Gima on their own. They then faced so many difficulties yet Peping experiences the kindness, love and sympathy of others throughout his search.

Analysis:

            The filmic organization of Kadin is narrative. The film is presented in a series of related events in a specific time and place, that is to say, one day on an island in Batanes.

Although most of the people who watched this movie find it boring, I find it very interesting. The story is simple, about the boy who wants to find his goat no matter what but the execution of the story is extraordinary. It is set in the milieu of Batanes where roads extend lengths, where each houses and neighboring villages are set apart by hills and even sea.  It is very heart- warming, full of emotions and determination to find something. In that sense, I think we could all really relate to that aspect of trying to find something then hindered by so many circumstances. In the end, we realize that even if we do not find that something, we then find something else.

            Peping’s character is rather flat. He is determined to find Gima and all throughout the story his determination proved so much. The councilor and his wife are a bit round. I wasn’t able to predict their behavior. They don’t care much about Peping at first but in the end, they showed a great amount of sympathy to the boy. 

            For me, the film is both story and character driven. I both remember the whole package of the story as well as Peping’s character. Both the search for the goat and determination of the character has retained their places in my memory. I think it is because I find the film very good.

            Throughout the film, I was expecting that Peping would eventually find the goat. However, my expectation is a bit delayed and cheated because instead of finding Gima the goat, he is given another goat which does not resemble the original Gima he is looking for. Moreover, the film implies that Gima is dead which I really wasn’t expecting much although the first scene of the sacrificed swine to the spirits might have led me to conclude that the same fate has befallen to the missing goat. 

            The convention of the film I think is that I freely accepted that since Peping is nothing but a boy, who fears the consequences of punishment, the difficulties that he faces are all normal to be felt by him. However; he could have asked helped from other people who are more capable. I easily trusted his character and determination that one way or the other, he would stumble upon the goat.

            About the emotion in the film, I think it is more on the emotional response felt by the spectator rather than the film dictating what kind of emotion must be felt. I felt sympathetic about Peping’s situation and his hardships to find the goat. I also felt misery when he is being robbed of all that he has.

            For me the film means a lot about loss and hope although the loss that is presented in the film is quite simple. It is all about trying to find something then hindered by so many circumstances. In the end, we realize that even if we do not find that something, we then find something else as I have mentioned awhile ago.

            As for the evaluation, when it comes to realistic criteria, the film is as realistic as possible. I say realistic because as a kid, I had experienced the same feeling of difficulty when it comes to consequences in making up to my faults. Morally, the film has stressed that sometimes, even a young individual possesses that kind of courage to alter situations that are unbearable. However, in the first place, he must have asked for help and told the truth.

            The most significant object in the film is the goat of course. It symbolizes Peping’s hope to attain security from the near coming of his father. But, the goat also symbolizes his anxiety that as long as he does not find Gima, he will never be able to rest his mind in peace. These two contradicting functions of the goat however have this strong relationship with each other: Peping’s existence in the story.

Rating: 5

Mula, Iane Gem M.-Critique Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank

Producers: Martinez Rivera Films and Quantum Films Production in Association with Straight Shooters Media Inc.

Director: Marlon N. Rivera

Cast:

            Eugene Domingo- Herself/Mila

Kian Cipriano- Director Rainier

            JM De Guzman- Producer Bingbong

            Cai Cortez- Production Assistant Jocelyn

            Mercedes Cabral

            Cherry Pie Picache

Story Structure:

            The story structure of the film is linear because the plot follows a chronological order. It depicts a day in the life of three film makers as they set out to do their pre-production. Rainier, the director then suggests changes in the look of the film by trying to squeeze in other artists for the role of Mila, a mother from the slums, who out of desperation sells her child to a pedophile. As he suggests, Jocelyn imagines the film itself changes from Eugene Domingo as Mila, then into Cherry Pie Picache and Mercedes Cabral. Bingbong, the producer objects from time to time until Rainier comes to mentioning the film to be done into a docu-drama using non artists and then into a musical. Jocelyn then again imagines the humor out of a musical version of Walang Wala, the title of the film. Then they proceed to a meeting with the lead actress, Eugene Domingo where they find themselves trapped in the demands of a star. However, they do not lose heart and finally go to the main location for their ocular inspection. They get excited with the “perfection” of the squalor around them but then soon enough, slum people take over their car and rob them. The three has to go home without the car, down hearted and defeated by the stressful day. Finally, production moment comes and ends with the lead actress, Eugene Domingo falling into a real septic tank.

Synopsis:

            Three ambitious filmmakers set out to do a pre-production, a meeting with their lead actress and an ocular inspection in their main location. They experience a day of excitement and fun that turn into   pressure, stress and difficulty as they come face to face with the real world of their chosen field.

Analysis:

            The filmic organization is narrative for it follows a series of related events in a specific time and place, which is a day or two of the filmmakers’ agenda.

            Honestly, I find the film very shallow although it made me laugh and all. The story is simple and creative yet it lacks the depth. It is set in the milieu where filmmakers bloom and ambition seems a great tool to achieve the dream of bagging awards internationally. The roles have suited the milieu but some has not given justice to their roles, that is to say Cai Cortez’ lack of showing the significance of her role as P.A. who imagines the look of the film.

            Eugene Domingo’s character is very predictable as always. It has been developed by the characters of Bingbong, Rainier and Jocelyn themselves.

            Throughout the film, I was wondering why the title says Ang Babae sa Septic Tank and assumed that it must be a story about a woman who dies inside a septic tank. However, as the film advanced, my expectation turned out to be cheated. I was expecting more twists in the film but I think I wasn’t able to see those.

About the emotion in the film, I think it is more on the film dictating what kind of emotion must be felt. I wasn’t able to sympathize with all of the characters, however, I felt more intrigued with Rainier’s character. For me, his character is the real highlight of the film. His decisions as the director, his emotions and his dilemma to establish himself for his film are the real ingredients of the story. There should have been more focus on Rainier.

The meaning of the film for me is the way how new filmmakers respond to the pressure of the real world. I mean, there are so many criteria that have been posted to make a winning film yet one’s freedom to make something more creative than the rest is the biggest say of one’s art work.

Evaluating the film, I think it is realistic enough when it comes to how the world of film making revolves as far as filmmaking process is concerned. However, some aspects of the film are not as realistic as possible. Falling into a septic tank “accidentally” deserves more justice than the film has presented. Also, Jocelyn’s character should have been more natural if only it is given more justice and execution.

Although the focus of the story is more on the filmmaking world, the film also has pointed out to the issues of child trafficking and poverty, not evidently but indirectly which for me is indeed very creative. Lastly, the function of the septic tank in the film appears to be symbolist. It’s like when everything is fixed and planned to be done accordingly, things then seem to change and rearrange into a more natural order that affects people who are subjected to it. The more you avoid, the more it happens.

Rating: 3

A critic by Maria Carmela Muldera BBrC 3-3 - "Itim"

A critic by: Maria Carmela Muldera - Critique
BBRC 3-3

Itim

Producer: Severino Manotok Jr.

Director: Mike De Leon

Cast:

Tommy Abuel – Jun
Charo Santos – Teresa
Mario Montenegro – Dr. Torres

Mona Lisa – Aling Pining
Susan Valdez – Rosa

Story Structure:

The story is shown in a non-linear structure. There were time lapses.

Synopsis:

Teresa and her mother Aling Pining consult a psychic to know if her sister, Rosa is still alive for she has been missing for a long time. The psychic tells them she is dead. Teresa then begins to act weird. She meets Jun, a photographer from Manila. Jun is on an assignment for his magazine and he’s staying with his paralyzed father. Jun sees Teresa and he follows her. They become close. Jun then learns that his father and Teresa’s sister had an affair. Rosa became pregnant and Dr. Torres forced her to undergo abortion which caused her death. Rosa’s spirit takes Teresa’s body and kills Dr. Torres.

 Analysis:           

            The film is narrative-driven.

Rating: ★★★

A critic by Maria Carmela Muldera BBrC 3-3 - "Final Destination V"

A critic by: Maria Carmela Muldera - Critique
BBRC 3-3

Final Destination V

Producer: Craig Perry
Director: Steven Quale
Cast:
Nicholas D’ Agosto – Sam Lawton
Miles Fisher – Peter Friedkin
P.J. Byrne – Isaac Palmer
Emma Bell – Molly Harper
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood – Olivia Castle
Ellen Wroe – Candice Hooper

Story structure:

The movie follows a linear structure.

Synopsis:

A group is being stalked by death and they die in different ways.

Analysis:

The film is stylistically driven because of the 3D effect.

A critic by Maria Carmela Muldera BBrC 3-3 - "Mudraks"

A critique by: Maria Carmela Muldera - Critique
BBRC 3-3

Mudraks

Producer: Sarah Pagcalinawan
Directors:  Margaret Guzman, Arah Jell Badayos
Cast:
Rio Locsin – Margaret
Ricky Davao - David
Roxanne Barcelo – Pippa
Mario Magalona – Adrian
Miguel Lorenzo Javier -Laurence
Ming Ancleto –Tess
Tess Antonio - Alice

Story structure:

            The film follows a linear structure. It was shown in a traditional way.

Synopsis:

            Margaret is doing what she can for her family but her family doesn’t acknowledge her. Margaret plans a family reunion but her family is not as enthusiastic as she is. Her daughter Pippa wants her Aunt Tess to be their mother instead. Aupon knowing this, Margaret becomes upset. Margaret decides to leave her family behind and go with Adrian.

Analysis:

            The film is narrative driven.

A critic by Maria Carmela Muldera BBrC 3-3 - "Kadin"

A critic by: Maria Carmela Muldera
BBRC 3-3

Kadin: The goat

Producer: Adolfo Alix Jr.
Director: Adolfo Alix Jr.
Cast:
Rico Mark Cardona – Peping
Monica Joy Camarillas – Lita
Simon Ibarra – Baranggay councilor
Angel Aquino - Baranggay councilor’s wife

Story structure:

            The film follows a non-linear structure. It has no order.

Synopsis:

Gima, Peping’s goat, is missing. Peping’s family depends on Gima for its milk. He decides to look for him along with his younger sister, Lita. They hide the truth from his grandmother. The trip teaches Peping about life.

Analysis:

The story is simple it is narrative driven.

A critic by Maria Carmela Muldera BBrC 3-3 - "Nang Nak"

A critic by: Maria Carmela Muldera
BBrC 3-3

Nang Nak

Producer:
Visute Poolvaralaks
Nonzee Nimbutr

Director: Nonzee Nimbutr
Cast:
Intira Jaroenpura – Nak
Winai Kraibutr – Mak

Story Structure:

The film follows a non-linear structure. Nag Nak used flashbacks..

Synopsis:

               Mak and Nak live peacefully in a small town in Thailand, according to a Thai legend. Mak leaves to go fight a war. He becomes wounded and cannot go back to his family right away. Back in their town, Nak dies while giving birth. When Mak goes back, he and Nak still lives together as if nothing happened. He doesn’t know he’s with Nak’s spirit.  The townspeople suddenly becomes aloof. Nak is behind the town’s sudden change in attitude. She is hell bent on killing anyone who tries to tell Mak that she is dead. Nak’s love is so strong she could not let Mak go. Nak’s soul finally achieves peace when a higher being from Bangkok helps her.

Analysis:

            The story is character driven.

Breaking Dawn Part 1

A critic by: Gerline A. Gautane

Director: Bill Condon

Cast:

Taylor Lautner

Robert Pattinson

Kristen Stewart

Synopsis:

—

 The dress is beautiful, a tasteful but fashion-forward creation; Edward looks every bit the dashing groom; the toasts are hilarious (on purpose!) and yes, the honeymoon is a dream. The trouble is just about everything that follows.

The movie begins almost as a romantic comedy, complete with the spurned suitor (Taylor Lautner’s Jacob) showing up for a good-natured dance with the bride. Before long, though, it’s a gestation horror show with Bella somehow (I hesitate to use the term “miraculously”) pregnant with Edward’s vampire baby, the kid literally sucking the life out of her.

All due credit to the special effects wizards who turn Stewart into an emaciated shell of a woman, because she truly looks as if a demon spawn were using her as a host.

The pregnancy touches off an internecine fight within the wolf pack, pitting Jacob against his former brothers in scenes so overwrought the audience titters in embarrassment. The unintentionally funny business doesn’t stop there (if you serve a pregnant woman blood in a fast-food cup with a straw, people will laugh), turning the film’s second half into painful, tedious melodrama for anyone not already invested in the saga.

Not that any of that will deter fans one bit. If anything, readers may complain that the birth scene, an ocean of blood in the book, is too tame onscreen – arguably, as is the PG-13 honeymoon. Plus, there’s not barely a hint of the war to come in next year’s final installment, which might’ve given this half more action.

Still, there’s precious little in Breaking Dawn – Part 1 that will truly disappoint the initiated – or attract anyone who doesn’t already care.

 The movie that’s carved out of the first half of the last book of Stephenie Meyer’s vampires-in-love series, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, is weighted down by more than its title, to say nothing of the expectations. For the record, it’s called “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1,” as if 5 billion insanely attentive Twihards wouldn’t be able to find it.

Maybe the studio suits have begun to believe the franchise, like the classy Cullen clan, is immortal, that almost nothing can kill it. They’d better hope that last bit is true, because “Breaking Dawn” kinda sucks, in the metaphoric rather than the vampiric sense. The film doesn’t have nearly the bite — ferocious or delicious — that any self-respecting vampire movie really should. It’s as if all the life has drained away.

Yes, there is the wedding of the century, and no, it wasn’t Kim and what’s-his-name’s. With high school behind her, Bella (Stewart) can marry her stone cold hottie, Edward (Pattinson), finally putting an end to Jacob’s (Lautner) werewolf dreams of winning her heart. The wedding is one of the best things about this installment — a slow tease building up to the big reveal — and not easy to do with any drama because, let’s face it, anyone who has even a passing interest in “Twilight” or walks by a magazine rack, knows it’s all about the wedding. (Again, not Kim’s.)

With Bill Condon directing and Bella’s sister-in-law-to-be Alice (Ashley Greene) doing all the wedding planning, it is an exquisite, elegant, exceedingly tasteful affair. What is it about vampires that they always have such high-end style? Something in the blood? I ask, because if so, the Red Cross should siphon some of its stash, run ads in Architectural Digest and develop another revenue stream.

But I digress. So the wedding is superb in its execution, the filmmakers allowing plenty of time to savor it. Still I’d really hoped for more that just a well-polished look from Condon. With his “Dreamgirls” and “Gods and Monsters” background, he seemed a perfect fit for the final chapters of the tale of this dream girl and her godless monster. Such a pity.

The couple say their “I do’s,” a little till-death-do-us-part irony. And right about now is when the film’s unplanned meta-story starts kicking in in ways that are a little distracting, a little weird. If you’ve kept up with the glossy celebrity magazines since the first “Twilight” movie in 2008, you know that Stewart and Pattinson have been a couple on and off almost from the beginning. And if you believe the tabloids and if photos don’t lie, and I surely do and they surely don’t, Pattinson is the more smitten of the pair.

So watching Edward watch Bella walk down that aisle, the adoration in his eyes, the relief when she says “yes,” the kiss that seals their union — quite honestly it doesn’t seem like acting per se (if it is, then it’s one of his best performances). And I won’t even go into the whole honeymoon night sequence, or the way the actors’ on-screen “chemistry” is being marketed, or the mixed-messages it sends to girls about their first sexual experience.

But that’s not the film’s real problem. What Meyer did so brilliantly in the book (or at least really, really well), and what Melissa Rosenberg’s script fails to do, is to mine all the dramatic potential of the symbolic implications of immortality.

The book gives over quite a few of its 756 pages to Bella’s struggle with the high price of dying to live forever, especially for her parents, and Edward’s guilt about it. And there is barely a mention of the provocative abortion debate — should the vampire-human hybrid created during the honeymoon be “removed” before it kills Bella?

For conflict, we’re left with Bella in a few moments of contemplation and consternation — which requires very little from Stewart, an actress capable of so much more. The rest of the tension building is left up to Jacob and his werewolf issues. He goes postal when the wedding invitation arrives, hackles raised, lots of growling, disappearing for days, so that’s a real nail-biter…

For those keeping score, “Breaking Dawn” is missing the interesting indie edge that director Catherine Hardwicke brought to the first film. It does not flat line as badly as the second, “New Moon,” which would have died without the werewolves’ bite.

  It loses the brief emotional uptick of No. 3, “Eclipse,” which saw the cast blossom into actual actors. So in the “Twilight” pantheon, “Breaking Dawn Part 1” is at best a draw. Hopefully they’ll fix what’s wrong before next year’s finale, because I really can’t take another broken heart.

MUDRAKS

A critic by: Gerline A. Gautane

Directed by:

Margaret Guzman and Arah Jell Badayos

Cast:

Rio Locsin

Ricky Davao

Roxanne Barcelo

Mario Magalona

Miguel Lorenzo Javier

Thess Antonio

Synopsis:

nside the Fernando house, nobody talks. Lives are kept to themselves; problems are not shared; questions are not entertained. The people living inside it have become used to leaving everything unstirred especially Margaret, the mother of the home.

Margaret’s desire for cleanliness and order alienates her from her family. She cannot confront the problems of her life and so she confronts dirty dishes, ugly stains, and disorderly appliances. To get to know her family, she snoops around - entering rooms, opening cabinets, reading journals she is not supposed to read.

But everything changes when a journal entry of her daughters makes her unravel, stirring the unstirred life that she has held on to for years.

—

 “Mudraks” tells the story of this mother named Margaret and her exploit of being a mom who lacks attention from her children and even her own husband. The story revolves of her being busy, for their family will host that year’s reunion. Basically as a mother she wants the best for all, especially to the family of his husband, but the problem is she overdo it everything representing that she had this obsessive compulsive disorder. Disorder in a sense of being exaggerated at all things she wants to control and the way she manage her family. Because of lack of proper education Margaret handles her family in the traditional way mothers handle in the province. And with that it affects her relationship from her husband up to her children.

She was never been appreciated all this time by her family until Adrian, a man who works for a local market wherein Margaret always goes into fall in love with her. It was not only the problem of Margaret which she needs to face in for she had read her daughter’s diary and found out some little dirty secrets on her daughter. She found out that she is a lesbian and she despise Margaret as her mom and wish her Auntie Tess is her real mom. This revelation stricken Margaret and tries to change herself, but the problem is her daughter found out that she had read her diaries and goes back to this rebellious teen again. Margaret also had a problem with her husband for he is being unfaithful to her. Their family owns this bar and she had found out that his husband is with another woman, sadly, she don’t do anything about it until at the time her children saw it.

The film focuses the hardship of a mother providing love and care for her family. It also shows the reality that sometimes we forgot this hardship our “Mudraks” have done for us. It also comes to a point of realization that women are real martyrs in their own rights for they only want an intact family. But because of the revolution of woman empowerment, mothers today need not to be afraid of standing up with their own rights for affection and attention from her family.

The only problem in this film which we have discussed in some of our class is the twist that had happened in the last part, for it somehow endorses adultery on women. The last scene shows that after Margaret’s realization that she’s not love by her family anymore she’d decided to come with Adrian on going back in his province. For me it’s better if she had made that awareness in concern with her family and change for the betterment of her relationship towards them. But what happens is she leaves her family and goes with this guy whom she barely knows what will happen to them. 

So this is not just only a family oriented drama but also propaganda for adultery, for people all knows that it’s unusual for women to be unfaithful to their family because the cliché is men are always doing this treachery in their family.

FINAL DESTINATION 5

A critic by: Gerline A. Gautane

Directed by: 

Cast:

Arlen Escarpeta

Emma Bell

Nicholas D’ Agosto

Synopsis:

Death makes a killing in the next installment in the horror series which once again proves that no matter where you run, no matter where you hide…you can’t cheat death.  As always, the killer here is death itself, which stalks a group of teens and/or twentysomethings without remorse or recourse — and with tons of blood and gore. Characters are brutally sliced, stabbed, burned, dropped from heights, crushed, and snapped in half. 

 —

We don’t always get to choose our own destiny.

It’s a rum state of affairs but our cards are often marked from birth, even if we can’t quite grasp this from our own bubble like vantage point.

Final Destination 5 seems to know its place in the world and, having accepted this fate, is happy to laugh at itself in the face of mortal danger. More commonly known as audience fatigue in the cinematic plane films exist in. Any film franchise that manages to spawn an offspring with the number five in the title knows the well travelled path it must follow.

remember seeing the first Final Destination at the cinema nigh on a decade ago. The basic premise that you can’t cheat death seemed quite promising back then, as did the cast of A list teen actors and enjoyable if two dimensional thriller they came up with.

Yet, as these performers have fallen by the wayside, Final Destination has somehow cheated death.

I never took much interest in the films that followed, as the obvious nature of repeating this formula ad nauseum never really appealed to me.

In this respect, Final Destination 5 doesn’t disappoint.

The plot is exactly the same as the first film was all those moons ago. A bunch of teenage kids cheat death through one of them developing pretensions of Nostradamus, before death catches up with them in ever increasingly graphic ways.

At the centre of this is a permanently befuddled male lead who appears to have learnt his craft from watching Joey Tribbiani’s method acting classes on Friends. I can only presume this blank guy was trying to work out his day rate by dividing that fat studio pay cheque of his by the hours he worked.

Nangnak

A critic by: Gerline A. Gautane

Director: Nonzee Nimibutr

Cast:

Vikram

Anushka

Shetty

Amala Paul

Karthik Kumar

Santhanam

Naasar MS Bhaskar

YG Mahendran

 Synopsis:

Like Ghost, Nang Nak is terribly romantic, positing the theory that true love can’t be interrupted by something as insignificant as death. The Buddhist spin, however, is that Nak must move on and be reincarnated. By sticking around, she’s putting many people’s karma in danger.

Kraibutr and Jaroenpura are elegant and fervent as the doomed young lovers. I’d rather watch them than Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore any day. Director Nimibutr lays on lots of misty atmosphere and spooky thunderstorms. Nang Nak is a fun trip to another place, another time, and another mind set.

—

Set in lovely and languid 19th-century Siam, Nang Nak is the simple but chilling tale of two gorgeous young newlyweds, Nak (Intira Jaroenpura) and Mak (Winai Kraibutr), who run into some very bad luck. Nak is pregnant and glowing when Mak is called away from their canal-side house on stilts to fight in one of the many wars that Siam always seemed to be fighting to keep out foreign invaders. He’s badly injured, and while he recuperates in a monastery, Nak gives birth. Eventually Mak is well enough to paddle his little boat home where he’s welcomed once again into Nak’s loving embrace. His new son is beautiful. The end.

But wait a sec… there’s a small problem: Nak is actually dead. Flashbacks show us that she and the baby died during a particularly gruesome childbirth disaster, and Mak is now living with her lovely ghost. Soon the neighbors are warily approaching Mak and asking to have a word with him, but he won’t listen and lashes out violently at anyone who suggests that Nak is a ghost. Nak simply tells him the neighbors don’t like her and have been spreading terrible rumors about her. She also starts killing anyone who puts doubts in Mak’s mind. 

When all the killing starts to get out of hand, the local monks call for a Thai-style exorcism (burn down the house, dig up the body, cut it up, etc.). Maybe Mak will let them do it. Maybe he won’t.

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank

A critic by : Gerline A. Gautane

Director: Marlon Rivera

Starring: Eugenne Domingo

JM De Guzman

Kean Cipriano

Kai Cortez

Mercedes Cabral

Cherry Pie Picache

Synopsis:

The premise of the film is pretty simple: A group of young indie film makers aims to dominate the international film festival scene and they feel their ticket is a script entitled “Walang Wala” (With Nothing). The script is so compelling that actress Eugene Domingo(who plays herself in the film) thinks that this will be the next great Filipino film. On the way to meeting the actress, the film makers imagine different versions of what the film could be like.

The humor of the film is anchored on two things: a satirical look at the Philippine indie scene (where poverty porn is a favorite topic), and the different re-imaginations of the prospective film. Those familiar with improv comedy will see that Ang Babae sa Septic Tank uses a technique where actors play out the same scene in different genres. 

—

I actually thought this film is great. One may think that it’s actually bitin and nothing quite happened much but if you look discern, it actually has a deeper meaning. Aside from the obvious theme of poverty porn by most indie filmmakers in the industry nowadays, this film actually says a lot about the theme of exploitation and the current state of our country at the present. The end part was also not just for laughs, but it represents the main theme- that all of us are immersed in our own real septic tank, in society wherein we are all victims of social, physical, moral and spiritual decay. And what’s so great about the film is it’s funny and entertaining yet at the same time it doesn’t go over the line like most mainstream comedy films. have a lot to say about it, definitely a good watch!

I like how Director Marlon Rivera provided an intelligent way of explaining to the audience about filming, and how a director himself can play with different genre while sticking with the story. The different version of musical, indie film style and mellow drama gave me an informed idea on why script changes as the movie progresses in actual filming. I like the song. The musical, the people doing the narration, the timing, the wit.

The comic uniqueness of the film are the film’s offer to audience in providing relief to a very simple story. I almost made to believe that I’m just watching a documentary of doing a film when in fact it’s the film already. And how can I forget that car scene? That is the twist of emotion I still can’t let go. It’s when you are on the height of a good state of calm then comes the assailment of the status quo. Bravo direk. I can really feel it!

Eugene Domingo is undoubtedly one of the best. Her background and discipline in theatres are big reason why I always believe in her performances. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is one of the many blockbusters of Eugene Domingo where her talent is always on display but with different dimensions and shades-and thus reflect her versatility at characterizations. May she be playing leads or support roles.

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is another testimony to Uge’s on-screen comedic power.

 Kean Cipriano and JM De Guzman as well as with Kai Cortez character is also interesting. As I’ve said, they made me believe that they are really director, producer and Production Assistant respectively. Director Rivera was able to bring Cipriano’s best considering this is his first project in the big screen. JM De Guzman is a real charmer. All his shots describes one thing, Heartrob. Kai’s mute character makes it more interesting. I wonder how it would differ should she talks a lot in the film. Just fine.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part I(2011)

After watching the movie I find Breaking Dawn part 1 has many clichés and so much cheesy lines as usual, it was kind of funny though. But these moments was supposed to be “emotional”.  And where’s the action anyway? The only action scene you get is clumsy, not coordinated, and it lasted for about 5 minutes only. Vampire fights are what I’m expecting but it is much minimized. They focused on the love story so much and cheesy lines are too much that I can’t remember any of those.  And the reason why the fight was stopped is just bloody ridiculous. Last but not least, the movie was way too long so it made the movie a little boring. After all it’s not a vampire story anymore it is more likely a Romeo and Juliet story. But well it’s just the first part of the last Twilight movie. I expect more action on the last part and not to kill the epic. Anyway Taylor Lautner is hot. Hihi