Review: West Side Story

            A musical theatre turned into a movie. West Side Story directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robins tells about a struggling love amidst the two opposing gang; Sharks and, Jets.

            The love between Maria and Tony was unbreakable but because unexpected things happen leading to death of the brother of Maria and Tony.

            As a musical film the movie comprises dance routines and song numbers. Dance routines of the movies was a little bit odd as the story was about a gang rivalry but routines was more of like a ballerina. It’s a 60’s movie and its understandable how dance numbers were odd in the viewers’ perception of this generation. Song numbers were great as it reflects to what the story was all about. It created a nice ambiance and story twist in every character.

            In terms of technicalities, the movie did a great job in showing great shots and angle even the quality was not that high enough.

            Characterization of each characters was well done, you can see how who a character belong, whether he/she is in jet or shark. Everyone is visible and clear who he/she is.

            Each character’s background was well brought to the screen and you can anticipate easily on how or what a character feels towards a scene. The make-up and hair, costumes and set design was highly based on a theatre play but creatively brought to the movie screen.    

             The movie comprises about love, friendship, and tragedy. It is a good movie for adults and lovers, as they are going to realize how love is very important. 

Review: Pride and Prejudice

Based on a novel by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice was a romance film that was directed by Joe Wright and was produced in United Kingdom. It also was recognized and won some few awards.

            Sticking to its Jane Austen view, the movie tells about five sisters from England who deals with issues such as love, marriage, morality and misconceptions. It focuses more on the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fritswilliam Darcy. A story about love, pride and more on love.

            It is a perfect movie for lovers trying to find each other between obstacles and problems they met. Because of physical, sociological, and physical background, the two struggled for love. A love they never thought of dreaming.

            A combination of realism and formalism was established by the film, creating classicism and making it a better love story to tell. The clear manifestation of reality and fantasy was achieved through sparkles and love you can feel towards the two characters.

            On the technical aspect; costumes, make-up and hairstyle, set design, acting and blocking, and lighting for each scene was a standard a film must have. Everything was accordingly told by the writers artistic idea.

            While its film grammar was also one of its best, everything was established well and the actors and actresses were great.

            The story may be too focused on the love story of Elizabeth and Darcy but it did touch our hearts as viewers.

Review: Minsan Lang Sila Bata

           

This one is different, it’s a documentary. Minsan Lang Sila Bata is a Filipino documentary by Ditsi Carolino that talks about child labor on the late 1990’s in the Visayas Region of Philippines.

            Categorizes as realism, the documentary tells what we can see in the naked eye and unveiling the truth towards that hidden lies and covered truth. The documentary may be old but the message that it’s carrying is still abundant even today.

            The documentary never criticizes any individual but its only showing what’s problem with the system.

            As for the Minsan lang Sila Bata, its all about what we see during those years and doesn’t need any understanding for Mise-en-scene aspect. It really shows how child labor was high during those years.

            Technicality aside, the story of it was well told you can never say that the documentary is a fallacy because at first hand the author was already experiencing what it is like to be on the feet of the children doing jobs which is not meant for them. The shots and angles, the follow through, and interpretation of ideas towards its audience was well done.

            As an ordinary audience and a person living in a more convenient era, you can feel and see the differences and gap between the years where child labor was just normal scenery.

            Therefore, a good documentary must not be measured according to how informative it was but on how it was delivered and understood by the audience.

            The Minsan lang Sila Bata is easily definitive, and all Filipinos must watch it, in different ages, and different eras to deeply understand what it is to be Filipino.  

Review: Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine, a film about the adventures of a family in a comedy-drama setting. It was a debut film of a husband-wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. It was also recognized and awarded as one of the best films.

The movie tells more on the family’s adventure while on their way to join a beauty contest, Little Miss Sunshine. It focuses more on how prioritize and give time more on family.

It was a very good film in terms of film grammar, technicality, and script. I would still remember the line of Richard, the father of Olive, “It’s not about luck, Frank. Luck is the name losers give to their own failings. It’s about wanting to win”                                             ,

it was striking yet disturbing, striking in the sense that it promotes hard work and determination and disturbing in a sense it gives a statement that luck is purely uncertain.

            The story was well constructed and on how they tell the story was well diverse and the viewers will anticipate it easily. The events of the movie were well told through the cause and effect course of the movie.

            The movie was full of adventures, ups and downs, sadness and joy. The part when Richard, the father, realizes he must do the right thing was most of the interesting part. It escalated the quickly and changes the story fast, ending it with a interesting end.

            The characterization of different characters was well played by the characters and the whole story was amazingly told.

Review: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros a film by Auraeus Solito is a Filipino film that revolves around the story of a gay teen who struggles between believing his beloved man, in a person of a cop, and his loving family.

The story won many awards and recognition here in the Philippines and abroad. It has also gotten the attention of many as it tells the truth behind different issues in the Philippines.

Categorized under chick flicks genre, it comprises mostly of romantic comedy, tear jerker, about family and crises. As the story revolves more on the crises surrounding the characters, the situation was more of its antagonist or obstacle towards not the just the main but the whole characters making it a more interesting movie.

Going deep into technicality, the set design was simple yet well adorned in order to show the story well, costume and make-up was emphasized well and shows the identity of each characters, simple yet playful, acting and blocking was commendable for that kind of film, and lighting and camera shots was unexpectedly creative, it was not your typical camera shots and angles and it gives a new aspect for all the Filipino film.

The whole film was creatively made and done, the story itself gives a reason that every viewer should watch and film makers look into and every Filipino should be proud of, and everyone should reflect into.

As the film reflects the common problem experienced by the country with a touch of romance and comedy it really is a must watch in any ages and groups, its awards and recognition is a proof of how good it was here and abroad.