Vertigo

(Movie, 1958)

I don’t get why this movie surpassed Citizen Kane the title as the best movie of all time recently. Citizen Kane is only 1-1/2 hours yet so many things happened, while Vertigo is 2 hours long yet nothing really happened. The story is so simple. You could miss 15, 30 minutes here and there and not really miss the whole idea. I couldn’t agree more to a friend who watched this movie before me. He said it’s kind of boring and dragging. Like they just made some scenes to make it long. That’s what I also feel. Plus, the main protagonist, Ferguson (James Stewart) seem too old for the girl, Judy Barton/Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak). I love the movie poster, tough.

Casting & Acting:           7.0

Cinematography:           9.0

Overall Production:        9.0

Plot/Story:                  10.0

Rating:                      8.75

Citizen Kane

(Movie, 1941)

I loved this movie. It’s full of mystery, intrigue, and entertainment. Orson Welles really did a good job on this. The production is excellent, the make-up is superb! Orson Welles is one of the very few who can play an old man very well. No wonder it was hailed as the best movie of all time… because it is.

Casting & Acting:            10.0

Cinematography:            10.0

Overall Production:         10.0

Plot/Story:                    10.0

Rating:                         10.0

Miyazaki Movies

Princess Monokoke 

(Movie, 1997)

When I learned from 9gag and tumblr that a scene from Snow White and the Huntsman was copied from this movie, I wanted to download it right away and watch. But I wanted the original version (Japanese language). I don’t mind reading subtitles… If a movie is in a foreign language, I want to watch it as it is. Unfortunately, the copy that my brother has is dubbed.

Anyway, the scene I was talking about is the deer-like creature in the forrest that Snow White bowed to. There was also a comment that the whole forrest in SWatH was copied from PM. After watching this movie, I'm afraid I have to agree. Although PM is a cartoon and 2D for that matter, no one can deny how it was able to convey to the audience the beauty of nature. Aside from the deer, the small white baby-ish creatures also resemble the white little fairies with big eyes in SWatH. Maybe not exactly but the idea is similar. Anyway, plus points for PM for this.

 

The movie is 2+ hours long. It is too long for a cartoon but is guess it's not maybe entirely for general patronage because of the theme of the movie. It is quite violent and with a little gore. What distracts me more is the dubbing. It’s the worst dubbing job in the history of animated movies!  I was about to give it a pass until I watched the rest of Miyazaki movies. The dubbing for the others are OK. So I concluded they really sucked in PM. I’ll give a 10 for the original (Japanese) since I’m pretty sure they’re always excellent in dubbing but the Engish dub is 2. So halfway, the score is 6. 

Casting & Acting (Voice):                6.0

Cinematography/Visual Effect:        9.0

Overall Production:                       9.0

Plot/Story:                                    7.0

Rating:                                       7.75

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Spirited Away 

(Movie, 2001)

I’m so glad I finally watched this film. No wonder this was dubbed as the best animated movie of all time in most top movie lists. It is really great. It is excellent. It is exceptional. Even if it is only 2D, the movie still provides awesomeness. The story is great, too. Dubbing is excellent: Japanese 10, English 10!

...And the photo above? I used that as my wallpaper.

Casting & Acting (Voice):              10.0

Cinematography/Visual Effect:       9.0

Overall Production:                       9.0

Plot/Story:                                 10.0

Rating:                                      9.50

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Howl's Moving Castle

(Movie, 2004)

This movie did not reach the height that the previous Miyazaki movie achieved. Nonetheless, it was still good and funny. The main girl character was funnier when she was older than when she was young. It was cool and magical. Imagine what it could offer it wasn’t done in traditional cartoons (2D). Dubbing: Japanese 10, English 8, Score 9.

Casting & Acting (Voice):                9.0

Cinematography/Visual Effect:        9.0

Overall Production:                        9.0

Plot/Story:                                    8.0

Rating:                                       8.75

__________________________________________________________________

Ponyo

(Movie, 2009)

I’m sorry but I slept halfway through the movie. It was dull and creepy. Yes, Ponyo is creepy!

Dubbing: Japanese 10, English 4, Score 7.

Casting & Acting (Voice):                7.0

Cinematography/Visual Effect:        8.0

Overall Production:                        8.0

Plot/Story:                                    4.0

Rating:                                       6.75

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

(Movie, 2012)

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! or The Pirates! Band of Misfits is one animated movie I really, really enjoyed this recent year. I got curious when this film got very positive reviews from critics. I never read the book, so seeing this is a movie about pirates, I thought what could they offer more that the past pirate movies hadn’t? I applaud the makers for this film. Not just the story, the production was so intricate. In this age of 3D and HD, it’s amazing some still do the clay-ish thing, though that kind of animation freaks me out when I was younger. I also salute the writers for wittily incorporating past events in the story. Well done, mates! Garrr!

Casting & Acting (Voice):                9.0

Cinematography/Visual Effect:        9.0

Overall Production:                       10.0

Plot/Story:                                    9.0

Rating:                                       9.25

The Muppets

(Movie, 2011)

I am not actually a fan of the Muppets. I’m familiar with the characters but I don’t really memorize their names or whatever. But getting the gang on the big screen in this new generation, I was surprised on the feedback the movie got especially from the critics. Well, the movie is actually good and funny. I just have one question… What is Selena Gomez doing there? I don’t get it. 

Casting & Acting:           8.0

Cinematography:           8.0

Overall Production:        9.0

Plot/Story:                   8.0

Rating:                      8.25

Mr. Popper's Penguins

(Movie, 2011) 

Watching Jim Carrey on this movie made me realize one thing: he’s old. Nevertheless, the movie as a whole is enjoyable. It is predictable and cheesy but for kids, it won’t matter. I still liked it even so.

Casting & Acting:           8.0

Cinematography:           9.0

Overall Production:        9.0

Plot/Story:                   7.5

Rating:                      8.375

Triangle

(Movie, 2009)

Melissa George is one face I’ve always liked to see on TV. She’s great in this movie. The story is not groundbreaking but still appealing.

Just curious, who names his yacht “Triangle”? If not for the name of the yacht, I could have thought the title of the movie is “cycle” or “circle” just like the plot. 

I don't think they are even in Bermuda Triangle, are they?

Casting & Acting:           9.0

Cinematography:           9.0

Overall Production:        8.0

Plot/Story:                   7.5

Rating:                      8.375

Shutter Island

(Movie, 2010)

I knew from the beginning Leonardo DiCaprio was a patient in Shutter Island. It’s kind of obvious. The plot is generic. But still I commend Martin Scorcese for making it interesting enough that although I already knew what’s going to happen, you still can’t stop watching. I believe this movie is based on a novel, so I won’t comment on the story as I have not read it. The cast is great. Scorcese always get the right people. 

Casting & Acting:           9.0

Cinematography:           9.0

Overall Production:        9.0

Plot/Story:                   7.0

Rating:                      8.50

J Edgar

(Movie, 2011)

Someone should give Leonardo DiCaprio an Academy. Not for this movie though but I believe he should have one. Perhaps someday… I have no doubt about it! Someday, Leo will win an award.

Leo’s voice as an old J Edgar is too strong for me. I don’t know if the real man sounded like that back in his days but Leo sounded too strong and too young as an aged man. Same as Naomi Watts, I don’t know if it is just my copy or do their makeup and prosthetics seem unconvincing. It’s always in the eyes. No matter how good the makeup is, you can still see the real age in their eyes.

There are only two actors so far that I applaud for acting as old people: Merryl Streep in The Iron Lady and Orson Welles in Citizen Kane. It is probably because they are close to the age of their roles. Armie Hammer looks unpersuasive at first as an old man but after the stroke, he sounded and looked real. I bet Armie Hammer will soon get an Academy. He has only made a few movies so far yet the acting is always impeccable. Can’t believe he only had one line, three-second appearance in Arrested Development back then.

 

Casting & Acting:           8.0

Cinematography:           8.0

Overall Production:        9.0

Plot/Story:                   9.0

Rating:                      8.50

No Country for Old Men

(Movie, 2007)

My curiosity aroused on this film when I realized Javier Bardem won an Academy for his role in this movie. He was the antagonist. Rarely does an antagonist win a prestigious award. He was creepily good in this movie. I thought it was a cowboy drama when it was shown five years ago. That time, I seldom watch movie trailers on YouTube. Though this is a good film, it is not the kind that I’d repeatedly watch. But you certainly wouldn't miss a classic, “friendo”.

Casting & Acting:         10.0

Cinematography:           8.0

Overall Production:        9.0

Plot/Story:                   8.0

Rating:                      8.75

Magnolia

(Movie, 1999)

My brother liked this movie so much he’d been referring this to me. I got interested because my brother and I share the same weird taste on movies. However, it is three hours long so I kept on putting it off. The movie was good. Everyone (the cast) was good. There’s just one thing that bugs me: what is the essence of the raining frogs? I know it's Biblical but, why on this movie?

Maybe I just lost focus because of the length of the movie. Well, there a lot of movies that are three hours long. However, most of them are interesting enough that you wouldn't mind the time or that you won't notice the time that passed. It wasn't the case for me on this movie.

Casting & Acting:         9.0

Cinematography:         8.0

Overall Production:      9.0

Plot/Story:                 8.0

Rating:                    8.50

The Butterfly Effect

(Movie, 2004)

This movie is on my all-time favorites list mainly because it’s story about changing past incidents affects subsequent events is interesting. Plus the ending was kind of not the usual they-lived-happily-ever-after affair.

I first saw this when I was still in Makati maybe 8 years ago. I rented the vcd on a video store just around the corner where I was staying. After watching it again (after a very long time), I was surprised to see that the ending was different. I remembered it ended with Ashton Kutcher walking along Manhattan when he crossed path with Amy Smart but did not approach her. The song while he was walking was catchy, too. As I checked on YouTube, it was Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis. 

This new copy that I got has a different ending. It showed Ashton Kutcher going back to his mother’s womb and killed himself with his umbilical cord. When I checked online, I found out the movie has several alternate endings. Though I wish my copy was of the first version I watched, I could say that this new ending (director's cut) fits better.  

Casting & Acting:         9.0

Cinematography:         8.0

Overall Production:      9.0

Plot/Story:                 9.0

Rating:                    8.75

The Rite

(Movie, 2011)

I will not talk about the subject, religion, of this film as God knows I do not have the right to do so. Religion, faith or belief is a very sensitive topic and it’s the one issue I hate to confer.

As always, Anthony Hopkins is terrific! The young priest (I don’t know what his name is) needs a little more push, probably some acting more acting workshops and he’ll be great.

Casting & Acting:         9.0

Cinematography:         8.0

Overall Production:      8.0

Plot/Story:                 9.0

Rating:                    8.50

An Education

 (Movie, 2009)

My brother has always told me about this movie but I never had the interest to actually watch it because I thought it was a depressing drama. Well, it is a drama but it’s not so gloomy. My brother has a big crush on Carey Mulligan. I think this is the movie where she lost the Academy to Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side). I love Sandra Bullock and I think she was great in The Blind Side but I think Carey Mulligan deserves the award, too. I don’t know if she will be given another movie where she can vie and get an Academy for she oh so deserves it. As Sandra said in her Acceptance speech that time, “Carey is young”, so I guess she will get a lot of chances. As for Peter Sarsgaard, he also deserves an award. Not only for this movie, but for everything he did in the industry. Peter is a good actor. Maybe one of those underrated in Hollywood. I sure hope he will get an Oscar soon.

The story per se is not that ground-breaking as we have seen a lot of similar stories in real life. I just can’t believe how effective the main actors were because I get goosebumps everytime Carey and Peter are together. 

Casting & Acting:         10.0

Cinematography:         9.0

Overall Production:      8.0

Plot/Story:                 7.0

Rating:                    8.50

Hex

(TV Series, 2004-2005)

I only downloaded this series because of the luscious Michael Fassbender. The depiction online is not bad either. But when I watched the pilot, boy did I get really disappointed! I know British TV shows are different from Americans: they have a clever sense of humor and they are not slapstick (mostly). If you are a visual kind of viewer and you only notice the action and exaggerated remarks, you should probably not watch British shows as you really need a high IQ to catch up on things. I’ve watched Martina Cole’s The Take and The Virgin Queen (mainly because of Tom Hardy), some episodes of Extras and The Office and they were amazing. When I watched Hex’s pilot episode, I instantly gave it two-thumbs down. However, I gave it a chance. I watched (in agony) the remaining for episodes of season one. I really thought Hex is a cool medieval mystery/love story. Nuh uh! When I saw the first episode of the second season, that’s it! I gave up! I can’t take it anymore. It’s like a Mills & Boon story turned into a mishmash of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed. It looked like even the writers are confused of what they were trying to put in the picture. Verdict: a total waste of time and computer space. 

Casting & Acting:         4.0

Cinematography:         6.0

Overall Production:      5.0

Plot/Story:                 3.0

Rating:                    4.50

The Silence of the Lambs

(Movie, 1991)

I’ve always wanted to watch this movie ever since I’ve learned about Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Hannibal Lecter. The bad thing about hearing good feedback about a movie, you set your expectations so high that you feel utterly disappointed even with a slightest shortcoming. First of all, Jodie Foster looked marvelous 20 years back. But I am not completely satisfied with her performance in this film. There is something missing… Mystery? Conviction perhaps? I can’t quite point it out myself. Anthony Hopkins is bafflingly creepy. I don’t know how he did that. 

Some other actors are satisfactory, while some of them and most extras were inadequate. By the way, what’s with the very big white and black lettering at the intro? Maybe the staff wants to make a statement? I don’t actually catch. And the sound mixing makes feels like I’m watching a 60‘s movie.

Casting & Acting:         8.5

Cinematography:         9.0

Overall Production:      8.0

Plot/Story:                 9.0

Rating:                    8.625

The Five-year Engagement

(Movie, 2012)

I love romcoms. They always uplift my mood. However, a five-year story told in a two-hour movie is just too long. There were a few romcoms in the past that are longer than this film but the writers and the director were able to keep the storyline interesting that you won’t notice the time. Unfortunately, this movie failed in that matter. It was dragging. I kept checking the time every 10 minutes.

Casting & Acting:         8.0

Cinematography:         7.0

Overall Production:      6.0

Plot/Story:                 6.0

Rating:                    6.75

The Lucky One

(Movie, 2012)

Watch the trailer and you'll see the whole movie in 2 minutes, 32 seconds! 
The only thing I liked in this movie are the dogs (Zeus and company) and the kid (Ben).

Casting & Acting:         5.0

Cinematography:         9.0

Overall Production:      8.0

Plot/Story:                 7.0

Rating:                    7.25

Dodgeball & Tree of Life

  (Movie, 2004)

I knew about  Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story  since it was shown but I never got the interest to actually watch it until I saw some posts in Tumblr about The Ocho. For anyone who wants to have a good time, this is one movie to watch. Other than that, same old story, same old jokes. Ben Stiller though is creepily excellent in his role. He had excellent facial expression, voice, and gesture, which reminds me of Zoolander.

Casting & Acting:         9.0

Cinematography:         8.0

Overall Production:      8.0

Plot/Story:                 6.0

Rating:                    7.75

What stuck on me as regards this film was what Ben Stiller said at the end of the credits. He said that problem with American cinema, they can’t handle any complexity in it. “Don’t make me think, I just wanna be entertained.” Well, it’s not just about American cinema that’s for sure. I watched this movie last night, and right this morning I saw a very complex movie: the Tree of Life. 

(Movie, 2004)

The film was so intricate for me that I had to search online for the synopsis because I didn't get the ending. I thought I was watching National Geographic most of the time. The film reminded me of my interest on Astronomy when I was young. Unlike most movies that questions life as it is, this is the one that does not particularly make you doubt your faith.

As always, Jessica Chastain gives her best performance. And the kids really got potential in acting.

Casting & Acting:         10.0

Cinematography:         10.0

Overall Production:       8.5

Plot/Story:                   8.0

Rating:                      9.125