37. Matilda (2/5)

I remember way back during my younger years, one of my cousins love this movie too much. I remember visiting their house, and he always want us to watch Matilda or Jumanji with him. Well since we visit there not to just to watch the movie- we always stop the movie on the middle part then eat dinner and talk with the other relatives. I watched the first parts too much without even finishing the movie. So, I downloaded it now.

Story/Screenplay/Script: This is again an adaptation from a book. The book was written by Roald Dahl, also the writer of Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Seems like Roald has the talent in making children stories. There is the fantasy/adventure mystifying tone on his writing that surely touches the kids and the kid at heart. But then the screenplay writers Nicholas Kazan ans Robin Swicord was able to make it appealing as well. 


The ending was just a little bit unexpected. Not in a happy sense, but in an awkard sense. I don't know how to take the fact that her biological parents just agreed to leave her. It is good for Matilda, but kinda awkward.


One more short observation: The antogonist is so flat and not dynamic. Well I guess that's how children shows were before, maybe even now. They don't explain the back story why the antagonist is bad. They are simply PLAIN BAD.

Acting/Directing: I watched this movie with my brother and he is right, the protagonist reminds me of Zooey Deschanel. Matilda's character perfectly fits to what we probably imagine Zooey was as a kid. Unique, weird but very charming-- it suited Mara Wilson perfectly. I also searched about Mara Wilson's whereabouts now, and she is now on her 20s. She looks so different now. This is directed by Danny Devito, and he also acted on the movie as Matilda's father.

Cinematography: I guess it also boils down on the director. The cinematography is simple and it well suited the kids. The characters (specially the kids on the classroom) movements are synchronized, makes you feel you are watching a theater play. I also recognize that the background at the sala is so colorful, and I don't like the mixture of colors, it makes me puke because of the contrast. I think it is more of a preference.

And of course, the scenes that involved throwing people on the air is obviously done more than 10 years ago.  

Scenes I like the most:

1. Matilda going to the library with book on her wheelbarrow

2. The scene when the kid was thrown out by the flowers

3. The scene when Matilda played a trick on the antagonist, fooling her that a ghost is haunting her.

4. The cat and mouse chase of Matilda, the teacher and the terror principal at their house
5. Matilda practicing her powers on their house with a cool, catchy music background

I rate this movie 2/5

36. Eat, Pray, Love (2/5)

Story/Screenplay/Script: We had heard this story everywhere-- a protagonist wanting to find herself and find happiness. There is nothing wrong with the story plot-- only that, since it was used a lot of times, maybe we need to add more details to it, like an unexpected twist, or something that would surprise many. I kept on saying that I love long, profound, boring movies... but too much of it is not good as well. It makes life boring and lifeless, we need action too! Yea!


Oh well, I know I would like the book better. I love the EATing part, as in colorful food is simply attractive. But the story feels flat, feels draggy too. 

Acting/Directing: This is directed by Ryan Murphy, and being innocent that I am, it took my attention that he had directed and written GLEE too. Well, seems like the two are seemingly different contrasting type of product eh? It is hard to digest that the creator of Glee directed Eat Pray Love as well. 


There is only small room for the characters to show their acting skills, so it is hard to determine if they did a job well done on the acting part. I was just moved on the part when Julia Roberts is still with her first husband. It is sad because I am more moved on her husband's lines. The part where Julia Robert asked his husband to choose one dream. The Guy said: I chose one-- I CHOSE YOU! Wow, that should be really sweet isn't it? 

Cinematography: Great. I really love the EATING PART the most. And, I mean, it is given that cinematography should be great... the scenery and the travelling part is enough for them to shoot great shots. 

I give this movie 2/5

35. Lion King (3/5)

Lion King is definitely a classic. I am not even sure if I had watched this on a movie theatre when I was a kid, but watching it recently was like watching it for the first time. Because of this I would include it here.

I actually watched this movie 2 times this week. First was alone, the second was just this morning with my brother Egon. It is funny how your reaction could be different by watching the movie the 2nd time around. Being an amateur myself, there are things that I haven't noticed the first time. Your feelings regarding watching the movie might differ too. I find it more entertaining the second time.

Now, I'll talk about my total reaction: at first, I was like WOW. I'll rate this movie PERFECT! As in, it feels like every element of the movie is placed on their rightful places. It feels like it is a total production, I can't help but feel that the creators of this movie conceptualized for 10 years or so! But then as the story progresses, you will feel that since everything is  perfect, everything is predictable. I know that this is intended for kids, and this was showed 1994... so, I am again unfair to review from a contemporary point of view.

Story/Screenplay/Script: The story is actually simple. It was perfect, so perfect that you feel there is nothing new, no surprises. I hate it, I remember what Sir Ricky had said: as a writer, we must produce something like 2+2=7 instead of 2+2=4. We need to surprise the audience! But then since this movie is old, I am so unfair. I think the formula should not apply to this type of movies.


But then, I SAY THIS MOVIE IS DEFINITELY A CLASSIC! Saw at IMDb that there is a lot of writers that had collaborated to produce the story, it must be hard to conceptualize for a Disney cartoon that time. They might have brainstormed throughly, thinking of the children's point of view. Everyone should watch this, new born kids should watch it once they turn toddlers. Even adults who haven't watched it during their younger years. By watching this movie, makes you a part of the movie's classical success.

Acting/Directing: This is directed by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers. I don't know about directing animation, but everything was superb. I recognized there were a lot of extreme long shots, which is good because it is used to establish and it is really visually appealing. 


Character development was amazing, all characters are unique and unforgettable in their own ways. Who would forget TIMON AND PUMBA? I was shocked, I don't have an idea that they came from LION KING!


I just want to react on Simba's character. It is not a criticism, it is more of just an observation. It feels that since Simba grew in the forest with Timon and Pumba, when he grew up as a lion-- he lacks maturity. He is still the kid inside.

Music: FREAKING AWESOME!!! The song CIRCLE OF LIFE was amazing, and it was a great idea that they placed it on the first part. It established a great impact on the start, like a whooping fireworks. Personally, it made me realize how great the relationship of every living soul in the planet. Like you wanted peace and unity for every living thing. Addition to this wonderful song would be HAKUNA MATATA, which is for me the best feel good song. 





This picture reminds me of the song "CIRCLE OF LIFE"





Timon and Pumba

Scenes I like the most: 
1. The song numbers. Hakuna matata and Circle of Life
2. The scene when King Musafa saved Simba from the stampede. 
3. The star gazing scene


Other comments: Watching it with my brother: I learned about the HIDDEN MICKEY on Disney animation. I just told him that I read somewhere that Lion King has the word SEX on some parts/scenes of the movie. I said it is kinda scary, people putting subliminal messages on cartoons intended for kids. He then said that it is not supposed to be scary, it is the same with almost all animations- it is because animators simply just wanted to stake his claim over the scene he had animated, something like that. Like a trademark or something. Oh well, just a trivia, you might want to research it on the net. click on http://www.eeggs.com/items/1182.html





Another thing, I hope DISNEY COULD MAKE ANOTHER 2d cartoon like this, with music that people would forever cherish.


I give this movie 3/5

34. The King's Speech (5/5)

First and foremost, I bought a pirated DVD of King's Speech last month and it is not working good. I tried watching it in spite scenes that are blurry, but sometimes trying is not enough my friend. I failed to really understand the movie. Because of this, I downloaded a torrent file of the movie just recently. With clear copy movie experience, not just that I understood the movie, I also mighty hell enjoyed it.

Story/Screenplay/Script:

I think it is better to review about the story first before anything else because it holds the core of the movie. To start with, I was moved knowing that David Seidler (the screenplay writer of this movie) is now the oldest title holder for best original screenplay for Oscars. I mean, who would disagree on giving him the award? The story is very unique- the idea of making a story out of a royalty's impediment could catch the audience attention alone, what more if you added more to it? Yes, we might had watched a lot of royalty movies and their struggles in ruling their empire, but this one is different because it showed to us the speech defect of the Duke. It magnified to one specific internal problem, and played around with emotions and the responsibility of being a ruler. It showed to us the inside struggle, and how it is hard for him as a royalty to accept his impediment and overcome it. We had a view of the inner obstacle and it was a different view indeed.

One more thing, I love the friendship that was built between King George VI and Leonel Louge (the speech instructor). The development was slow, but it was established good. It is nice knowing a royalty had developed a tight bond with a simple person like Leonel.

David Seidler (oldest title holder for best original screenplay for Oscars)

What I would also like to react about is the story behind David Seidler's production of this masterpiece. He had a speech defect himself as a kid, and he had overcome it as well. It is just fair to say that there is a plus factor if you felt and experience the same things with the character you are writing about. Somehow, putting a part of yourself on the character produces magnificent effects, making it more believable and real. It is really touching for David to write something like this, it feels like sharing his own success story from speech difficulty.

 Also, honestly, I read on some reviews that the movie is witty. I don't know about British wittiness, but at first I didn't find the movie funny at all. I was so focused on the feelings of the character that I haven't recognized the witty side of the script. It must be the culture barrier thing for me because I simply regarded everything as unique and simple characterization from the actors. As for example, I find Geoffrey Rush's portrayal of Lionel Logue (the speech instructor) quirky and with attitude, but then I just considered it as his character, thus not making the genre of the whole movie funny perse. 

 Acting/Directing: I know, everyone would agree how great Colin Firth's portrayal of King George VI (AKA Bertie) had been. As I remember the movie, I can't help but really feel the pride resisting to burst from the protagonist. There are a lot of times that I can't help but laugh, and relate myself to the King George. I know the feeling of being prideful, so I am really moved. The character also reminded me of my father. The mere fact that I relate so much with the protagonist is already enough proof that Colin Firth did a job well done.

And stupid of me to not point this out first-- it is hard to act as a person with speech defect! It was really believable, sometimes you can't help but also mutter and choke words while he says something. You can really feel the difficulty in speaking and the devastation on not able to speak properly!

And again, I like the character of Lionel Logue (acted by Geoffrey Rush). I like his character in the story, and I love how it was acted.







Colin Firth as Duke Bert and Geoffrey Rush as speech instructor Lionel Logue

Cinematography: It is great. The cut to cut scenes, the establishing shots are good, the framing of the shots are splendid. On one of my favorite scenes, I noticed that the camera was just placed in one place, the actors always on the middle of the shot. It was great, and it fits the type of shot. 

Music: Feels orchestraic to me, I don;t know if I remember too well-- but it feels that there are orchestra music used.

Scenes I like the most:
1. The part when they had sessions at Leon's house, transitioning to one session to another. Those were cool series of scenes all together. Light to watch.
2. All the scenes that pertains to Bert's (King George VI) speaking in front of many people. Specially the first and the LAST ONE.
3. Waaaaaaaaaaah! THE SCENE WHEN LIONEL SAID THAT ALBERT HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE KING! Such attitude from Lionel, I love that scene so much, it made me teary eyed!
4. The scene when Albert is reading the piece "TO BE OR NOT TO BE" while listening to music

Other comments: No other comments, I think I had already exhausted everything. Whew, this is hard. My reviews are becoming detailed and I don't know if I can do this consistently! Soon as I get a job I won't be able to do this no more! This is all for my growth... it is hard to review but this is all for you Nek. :)


I give this movie 5/5