"Fan Girl" on New Year's Day

Every year I try to watch a few movies from the MMFF roster. I once watched three movies in a row with friends haha. My favorite was that year they had a lot of indie films. I don't get to watch a lot of movies, but I like watching Pinoy made movies. When I was a child my Tita Olive used to bring me with her to watch movies and they were usually tagalog. 

So yesterday I suggested to Sweetie we watch the MMFF best picture, Fan Girl. It took awhile for me to find the best way to watch it because the news articles weren't very clear. The easiest way to watch it is through GMovies Stream Now. If you have a GCash account it only costs PhP250 and US$10 if you use other payment methods (I think it's US$10 when you're abroad). I signed up for a GMovies account and paid using GCash, then used Chromecast to stream it to my TV. It worked perfectly. 

I got curious to watch the movie because of the trailer. It tells the story of a fan who managed to spend time with her idol by stowing away in his truck. It's a slow burn movie with revelations coming on the latter part. And wow, the events in the latter part of the movie were unexpected. 

I think most of us have gone through that feeling of fan girling for an artist. I fan girled really bad for Menudo when I was in third/fourth grade. I had posters of them inside of my cabinet and went to watch their concerts. I don't know what happened, but eventually I realized it was impractical since I would never really meet them in person lol.  Since then I have drawn the line and just admire artists without going gaga. 

For Jane, the fan girl, she was probably very disappointed to learn about the real person behind her idol. She loved him too much she was willing to overlook his faults. The turn of events eventually woke her up from her fantasy. The way it happened was very jarring and would make you think how much those two days changed the life of Jane after. 

I don't remember exactly what happened when I realized that it was impractical to fan girl. Since then I prefer to admire my favorite artists from a distance. If you ask me, I'd prefer not to know them in person because I don't want to get disappointed. I'd like to preserve that idea I have of an artist, but things are changing now since artists now have vlogs where they share more about themselves. 

Fan Girl is a great movie to watch. The concept is quite interesting and I'm sure you can relate to it. If you're going to watch it, please watch via legitimate means!

CB///268 #StuckAtHomeDay/298 #StayHome #BeKind 

  

Movie Review: No Other Woman

I'm still up coz I just finished watching "No Other Woman". This is one must watch Filipino movie. I should've watched this on the big screen when it came out, but I was terribly busy that time. Anyway, I shelled out 3x more than what it would've cost had I watched it back in Manila, but it was worth it!

 

This movie was a big hit in the Philippines. Adultery isn't a common movie topic and I was really curious at the ending (I'm not going to spoil it for you in case you have not watched it). I must say that this very delicate topic was well-played out in the movie. Both sides were shown, the grief-stricken wife vs. the seductive mistress. I loved how the writer played with words - one sample is the mother-daughter dialogue and watch out for the wife vs. mistress scenes. It was very Filipino and I'm sure it resonated well with those who could relate to the characters.

Casting for this movie was also superb. Anne Curtis has proven once again that she has evolved into a serious actress and Christine Reyes' play as the wife was believable. And Derek, wow, the abs! Oh sorry, I liked his acting too. I also hope to see more of Carmi Martin in more movies. I was hoping though that they would've picked a more appropriate song although I guess it's quite hard to find a song other than "Hiram" to measure up.

You can watch this movie via TFC Now, but it's available only until December 4. I heard though that it's out on DVD already (not sure if those have subtitles, I'll ask).

Nestle's "Unplugged"

Here's one of my favorite Nestle Kasambuhay Habambuhay short film anthologies, Unplugged. A must-watch for us internet and device addicts.

Movie Review: In the Name of Love

Watching Filipino movies is one of my guilty pleasures, so I dragged my boys to watch "In the Name of Love" with me. I felt it was a must-see movie based on the trailer.



I'm glad my boys accompanied me to watch the movie since my Pinoy-movie buddy (my aunt) lives in Bicol. "In the Name of Love" is a love story full of twists, turns and many surprises. I like how the narration switched from present to past. It allowed the story to unfold like a multi-wrapped present. Unlike other movies, the trailer truly showed just the tip of the iceberg - enough to make a prospective movie-goer interested to watch.

I liked how Aga Muhlach and Angel Locsin portrayed the characters of Emman and Cedes and I now understand why Aga mentioned in his TV interview that it was the hardest role he had to portray. Emman and Cedes are just like any Filipino who dreamt big. Went abroad, found love and soon-after met trouble. Both characters went through trials, a sacrifice for love and Aga and Angel successfully conveyed the pain that the characters went through.

"In the Name of Love" is worth-seeing and I don't share that much about the movie because it might spoil your experience. I heard it took a year to make this movie and I wish all Filipino movie producers would take as much care in making films so the viewing public can enjoy great stories such as "In the Name of Love".

Noy the Movie

It isn't a date movie, but Sweetie and I (in one of the rare times we watch a movie) went to see it on a lazy Sunday evening. We were curious and originally thought that the movie was all about President-Elect Noynoy Aquino, but when we watched the trailer and read the synopsis on the "Noy the Movie" website it was about the struggle of "Noy" (played by Coco Martin) to earn a living for his family.

The disparity of how the two "Noys" lived their lives struck me. One lived in truth and lived for the truth, the other lived a lie to live. Noy pretended to be a journalist to earn a living and followed Senator Aquino's campaign trail. He was in it for the money only and only when Caloy (Baron Geisler) pointed out that his work did not have any soul in it that Noy started thinking about what he was really doing.

Caloy further questioned Noy on his motivation for work. Does stealing because you are hungry mitigate the sin? Does selling drugs lessen the crime because you did it for your family? Do you just do things for your own family? Why don't you help others? Noy didn't get what Caloy said and answered back by saying he was weird.

That was the turning point of the movie and I would like to believe this period in our history is also a turning point for all of us. Truth vs. lies. Light vs. darkness. Progress vs. retrogressing (again). The last part of the movie showed how Noy's character evolved and how he tried to right things as one person. Lies to truth. Darkness to light. Retrogressing to progress.

The movie reinforced my belief that it will not take just one man to change our history. We all have to take part in it. "Noy the Movie" is definitely not a date movie (I didn't expect it to be), but I'm sure glad that we watched it instead of the other movies that were available because I felt that it was a good reminder on what we should do as Filipinos.

And yes, I cried at the end.

Movie Review: A Very Special Love

I had very high expectations with the John Lloyd Cruz-Sarah Geronimo tandem for "A Very Special Love". The movie trailer started showing about a month before it opened in theaters and seeing it made me excited to watch the movie.

Okay, okay I admit now... I've watched most (if not all!) of John Lloyd's movies! He's just simply CUTE!

`nuff said!

Kidding...

So today I had Sweetie and Miguel accompany me to watch the movie and I was not disappointed. I loved the movie because:

1. It was fast-paced
2. There were no boring moments
3. Perfect mix of the funnies and drama
4. There was resolution (that's where Monster Mom failed big time!)
5. NAKAKAKILIG!

A friend of mine found it corny and cheesy, well it does have the usual Pinoy-kilig-movie formula, but I must say that the story-line was refreshing, creative and light. It's a feel-good movie that will definitely lift your spirits and make you gush over the leading man (fan po ito ni John Lloyd!).

The Llody-Sarah tandem works not only because they have natural chemistry, but also because it's not pilit. They each have their own following and are established artists. The characters they portrayed simply fit and they obviously had fun doing the movie.

I had so much fun this afternoon and I'm happy to report too that my kid laughed along with everyone else (I had to bribe him to come watch with us). I laughed a lot too and cried along with the characters during the sad fez moments (and shhhhh I was very kilig too!).

So, just sit back, relax and watch "A Very Special Love".

Filipino Indie Film: Gusto Kita Too

I managed to watch Rica Arevalo's short film "Gusto Kita Too" the other day with Sweetie. The film is bundled with "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa". Rica said that it's the first time in Philippine cinema that a short film is featured with a full length film.

Anyway, after watching "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa" we had to wait awhile to see "Gusto Kita Too", so make sure you stick around after the main film. The film was spunky, cute and straightforward. It successfully managed to fit in a lot of noteworthy messages in less than 10 minutes.

Fil-ams feel disjointed about not knowing how to speak Tagalog.

I have a lot of friends who were born and bred in the US and don't speak Tagalog. It's a wonder that most of them are enrolled in speak-Tagalog classes. There's also a strong feeling of being "incomplete". They are aware of their heritage, but know nothing of it. My niece in the US is bent on learning a lot about her heritage and is a better tinikling dancer than me now.

Parents of Fil-ams want them to hook-up with non-Filipinos.

"Sorsi ikaw ba ito?" Just read her blog and you'll know what I mean. I guess there is that preference among those who toiled hard to be able to migrate to the US. I just noticed though that a lot of my Fil-Am guy friends prefer homegrown Pinays. Mas maalaga daw kasi.

Anyway, the short film shows us a glimpse of what it is to be Filipino born and bred in another country. The fact that they long for home is undeniable and a stark reality. It's sad, but you know we can always bridge the gap by providing them with Filipino culture rich content (that's what I'm trying to do with my blog). O dibah?

Here's the interview I did with "Gusto Kita Too" writer and director, Rica Arevalo -

What inspired you to do this film?

I took a one-month vacation last December in California just to enjoy and explore the entertainment scene there. At the back of my mind, there was this yearning to do a short film. I purchased a Sony HDV camera but I was not yet sure of what story to tell. So I just immersed myself with the "culture" there. I had some cool cousins there who are Fil-Ams and cannot understand Tagalog. One of their angsts was their parents spoke in English while they were growing up (for them to adjust since they are immigrants) and they took their native language for granted. They regret not speaking in Filipino now.

Everyone falls in love so I wanted a story that most people can relate with---light, fun and entertaining. Since we are Pinoys, I wanted to incorporate the old/modern Pinoy style courtship.

How long did it take for you to do this film? What was your thought process in doing it?

I shot my short film, two days before I flew back to Manila. I asked some relatives and friends to be my actors. So all of them are first-time actors! It was labor of love for everyone. I never imagined that our theatrical run at Robinson's Indiesine would be extended!

I wanted to interview Rica on-cam, but she said that I'd never see her in front of a camera. Anyway, if you watch the film you'll get to see a glimpse of her, well not her, but her twin. I also interviewed her for You Got Tech about video blogging, so watch out for that post too.

"Gusto Kita Too" as I said is spunky and straightforward. I am sure a lot of people would be able to relate with it. And for the Pinoys, I'm sure the torpes would be able to pick up some tips on how to make ligaw. It's still showing together with "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa". Here's the schedule :

June 4-10 IndieSine, Robinson's Galleria
June 11-17 Robinson's Ermita

Dali! Nood na!

Step 5: Be Happy

I love watching Filipino movies and I always have difficulty getting my friends to watch with me. Miguel always ends up coming with me and he usually just sleeps all throughout the movie. Poor kid huh? Anyway, so I dragged Sweetie to watch Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga's "My Big Love".

"My Big Love" had all the formula for it to be successful: good looking cast (yes Sam still looked very cute even at 303 pounds), fab-chemistry between Sam and Toni, kilig moments, funny dialogue and I really couldn't help but giggle over the "Bagets-like" dance scene at the supermarket and Kristine Hermosa still looks like a goddess. The movie's not only all fun and laughter, it delivered several lessons that one could live by - not only about losing weight and keeping healthy - but an important lesson about "Being Happy".



My friend Sorsi buzzed me about a question she has been asking herself for quite sometime now, about blogging about personal stuff. I told her that putting stuff online about yourself, be it in blogs, photos or social networking sites, puts one at risk. You open yourself to criticism, being hated, and being misinterpreted. I think that's normal because people do not know who you really are. Another friend of mine also cautioned that there are many people who are very much different from their online persona. That's true. I guess I am one of those who are well, just me.

I do get nasty comments too, but I do not publish those anymore because I think if you want to tell somebody something bad then you should just go straight to that person. Sadly though, those people who send those kinds of things to me don't leave traces of who they are. I am sure it's just because they just want to clarify something, but just couldn't ask. As I said, when you put yourself online, you open yourself to being misinterpreted. Ahhhh, buhay parang life.

But should all these fears stop one from blogging? Nah. I told Sorsi she should do what she likes doing, but to be just be aware of the risks. And as Ira (Toni Gonzaga) told Macky (Sam Milby), "Step five, be happy!"

I have Found Happiness

A few months ago I watched the big-hit Cinemalaya film "Saan Nagtatago si Happiness" which was co-produced by the person behind the title of this blog (it's a loooong story) - Rica Arevalo with her twin Raquel. Theme song of the movie was also done by my blockmate and good friend, Chi (also known as "Ces") Datu. I can still hear the thumpa-thumpa of the theme song at the back of my mind. I should remember to get copies of the films so I can share it with my colleagues. (Calling Raquel... calling Raquel.)

I've missed a lot of the Cinemalaya films, even got a free pass before (since my event agency handled it previously), but... but... Anyway! It's Cinemalaya time once again and my dear friend and former colleague, Gibbs Cadiz, is holding a contest for the best Cinemalaya blogger!

What to do... what to do... Head on over to Gibbs' blog and check out the contest details. I read that the prize involves shopping money! Woohoo! Thank God I'm not a judge and I can actually join the contest! Erp... I'll be traveling too Gibbs, uh-oh. Anyways, go ahead! Watch and join the contest at tangkilikin ang pelikulang Pilipino!

P.S. And, yes, I am very happy :)

Translation
*at tangkilikin ang pelikulang Pilipino - watch Philippine movies