Reviews

It was not very long before I watched 'No Country for Old Men' that I watched the other remarkable film of 2007, 'There Will Be Blood.' Back then I thought that Paul Thomas Anderson has delivered the Best Picture of the year with his oil epic, but after watching the Coen brothers chilling and violent adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel, I knew right away that here was a film destined to be even a greater film than any I've seen this past year.

It's not easy to watch 'No Country for Old Men.' The first time I saw it, I found myself dazed enough to not be able to stand-up immediately even after the whole end credits have finished. And yet, mixed with the feeling of shock is the profound sense of wonder and awe with what I have just witnessed on the screen. It took me another viewing to fully appreciate the meaning and intention of the film, and while the experience from watching the film is not one everybody will enjoy and understand, it certainly is one of the most moving and thought-provoking movies I have ever watched. This is the kind of movie that will make you think, the kind that stays with you even after a long time has passed since you've last watched it. On the literal level, it is a simple cat-and-mouse chase thriller movie, but from within its roots lie a very profound philosophical and penetrating analysis not only of the characters and the situations involved in the story, but also of the kind of world we are living in today and the more monstrous sides of it we often choose to ignore.

The story revolves around the chase between a guy named Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin,) who stumbles upon a stash of money in a drug deal gone wrong in the middle of the desert and a psychopathic but surprisingly "principled" assassin named Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem). The third party and the moral center of the story is the guy trying to find both the hunter and the hunted, Ed Tom Bell, the old sheriff of a peaceful, but increasingly becoming violent locality in West Texas.

The movie features the perfect mix thrill and excitement that would be expected out of a movie in this genre. The Coen brothers' direction of the particularly intense chase scenes between Chigurh and Moss are masterful, evoking emotions of suspense to the highest level and pushing the audience to the very edge of their seats. This is achieved by very careful editing and sound direction that perfectly recreates the tense atmosphere whenever a particular scene is being played out. Also remarkable is the photography (done by Roger Deakins) of vast scenes in the desert where even what the ordinary moviegoer would consider as "empty scenes", where no action is played out, tells a story in a visual manner, where even when there is no dialogue or action on screen, the sweeping images speak out for themselves.

'No Country for Old Men' is rich in such bravura kind of film-making. The particular camera move, position and choice of background and other trivial details such as time of day, cloud cover or positioning of the props and point-of-view perspective offer the best experience for the audience, and the most effective means of story-telling for the Coen brothers. Just watch the scenes of Tommy Lee Jones as the tormented old sheriff being burdened by the challenge of something that is greater a force than himself, something that he "does not understand," and you will realize what I mean. The environment and tone created by the filmmakers perfectly accentuates the performance of Jones and more importantly, the core messages of the film. This style is present throughout the film and one of the particular points that makes it more than just a chase movie.

I must say that I can't help but agree to most people when they say the Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh is the most disturbing character (and yet mesmerizing) to grace the screen since Anthony Hopkins introduced us to Hannibal Lecter in 'Silence of the Lambs.' Chigurh effectively radiates evil and embodies violence in a very intelligent and forceful manner that touches the fear in all of us. Like Lecter, he personifies evil not in the conventional and simple sense, but in way that somehow presents to us the whole magnitude and complexity of its nature. In the dialogue he speaks, a kind of thinking revealed is one that is calculating and deeply philosophical but essentially ruthless and sinister.

The film's monumental achievement is in its ability to remarkably transport us into a world where the places, emotions, fears, anxieties, choices, morals and realities of life are strikingly brought to life and presented to us in a manner where we, after the whole experience, can reflect upon and look back with careful consideration. In the end, the moviegoer is left to marvel at the beauty (and madness) of it all. Here the theme of innocence lost as it is corrupted by evil and violence is explored in the most cinematic fashion, delivered perfectly with richness of emotion and the greatest impact possible. The violence and bleakness of it all is not there to simply evoke reaction or engage the audience, it is there to tell a story and impart an experience of great magnitude and intention, to which the Coen brothers have brilliantly succeeded. All at the same time the movie is a character study on the effects of evil and innocence lost, an exploration on the themes of fate and chance, an analysis of the freedom to choose and its consequences, a reflection on evil and good as forces of society and the investigation of basic human emotions such as hope, fear, love, violence and aspiration in the face of a variety of situations.

It has been quite a while since I saw a film in theaters that I can truly and honestly say, struck me very profoundly in its impact and epic scope. 'There Will Be Blood' completely blew me away when I first saw it and along with 'No Country for Old Men', can arguably be considered as one of the masterpieces of film-making produced this past year. It has the essential elements of a great film in the making and I see that in the future, this movie will be considered as one of Paul Thomas Anderson's greatest achievements.

'There Will Be Blood' is essentially a character-driven film telling the story of Daniel Plainview, a prospector turned wealthy oilman in the early 1900's, and the life-changing events that occur during a 30-year period of his life. It traces the rise and eventual fall from grace of Plainview through the story of his success as an oilman and of the multitude of characters around him such as his son, HW Plainview (Dillon Freasier) and the preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). The movie explores a variety of themes that are as relevant today as they were during the time of Daniel Plainview's rise to fame and fortune at the turn of the 20th century. Greed, ambition, affection, religion, American capitalism, family tradition, trust and other themes dominate the movie in its attempt to unearth how each of these things drive a man in his existence and how it affects his view and perception of life, whether for good or for worse. This is a very ambitious undertaking for a film-maker, since a film of great scope and intention demands a very high level of creativity and artistic vision to fully be realized. In this aspect the movie is very nearly a masterpiece, it gets its strengths from its great ambitions as a motion picture; though it can also be said that this deep "well" may very well be the same thing that betrays its weaknesses. Nevertheless, Paul Thomas Anderson still manages to pull it off with grace and great impact. His movie influences can be seen throughout the film and Anderson effectively uses these to remarkable effect as transformed and merged into his own style.

While the writing, art direction and editing are all top notch, several aspects of the film deserve to be singled out for their masterful execution. The cinematography of the movie (by Robert Elswit) is probably the best I've seen this year. The way landscapes and big sceneries are photographed completely capture the essence and feel of the times while the lighting of the actors and their particular scenes enhance the emotional impact and weight of the movie. The musical score is, I must say, very effective, original in its approach and the best use of music in recent memory in a dramatic film to evoke emotion and stir the audience. Jonny Greenwood (of Radiohead) has produced a very rich and emotion-laden score which the audiences will find captivating and essential to the whole viewing experience of the movie.

But above all these, the dominating factor in the presentation of the movie is the remarkable performance of Daniel Day-Lewis as the progressively becoming obsessed, paranoid and deranged Daniel Plainview. I have never seen a stronger performance and/or a more realized character as brought out in the screen as Lewis' take on Plainview. The movie has become all the more striking because of Lewis' credible and amazing performance. Even if you're not a fan of these kinds of movies, see 'There Will Be Blood' for Lewis' performance and I'm sure that his haunting portrayal of Plainview will stay with you for days, if not weeks, after seeing the movie.

All in all, 'There Will Be Blood' is a remarkable film having the elements of a great cinematic achievement. It is my favorite movie of 2007 and while I think it is not the best (No Country for Old Men is delivered better and stronger on certain levels), it deserves the praise and acclaim it has gotten so far.

Ten years ago, this movie could have been the dubbed as the Ultimate Simpsons adventure. Now, it seems a little subdued and dated but nevertheless, it still delivers its promised return to the glory days of the Simpsons.

Don't worry guys! The movie is as funny as ever and of course, topnotch entertainment. It is I guess, as funny as the best Simpsons episodes. The writers of the show/movie have chosen to go with the classic approach of delivering the Simpson's movie, utilizing the tried and tested formulas on the TV show. This may seem to be a hindrance of making the movie great, but it succeeds for the simple reason that it works! You get the feeling that a lot of things and situations in the movie are familiar and yet, the movie never feels tired or boring. That's a testament of how the Simpsons has become in itself a unique way of delivering wit, humor, social criticism, sarcasm, awareness and more, all rolled up into one TV program (and in this case, a movie.) Overall, the first Simpsons foray into the big screen is a terrific debut; long-time fans won't be disappointed and for the generation just experiencing the Simpsons for the first time, the movie offers a wonderful perspective on what made the Simpsons the best sitcom (so far!) we have had on TV ever. It's not meant to "WOW" us into seeing something strictly new and revolutionary with the Simpsons, rather, it offers a tribute/perspective to the 20 years (so far!) the Simpsons has been making us laugh and forget the troubles of our overly complicated lives.

I can't remember the last time I felt genuinely entertained watching a movie like this. I had a lot of expectations for this film (especially with all the hype and anticipation surrounding it) and I'm very glad to say that (for me, at least) it really delivers! This is definitely one of those movies that set out to entertain you and does a wonderful job doing so. It's not perfect, but it's definitely worth your while and your money.

I'm not a big fan of the Transformers universe and mythology, but of course I still did want to see this movie for the same reason that everyone out there wants to see this movie: The Robots, The Action, The Story. The Transformers Universe is filled with all sorts of wildly interesting characters and story lines that would make a great movie, and I must say that the producers (Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Steven Spielberg), the writers (Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and John Rogers) and director Michael Bay did an incredible job in adapting Transformers for the big screen. That's it!

About the cast: Shia LeBeouf shines in his role as Sam Witwicky. I believe that his performance made the movie all the more funny and credible at the same time. NOW I understand why he's in the next Indiana Jones movie...

The storyline was also quite interesting; all the action and plot twists were properly integrated in the film though to some small degree, parts of the movie were predictable. Thankfully, there were only a couple of scenes which I thought slowed the movie down. But who cares about these things? (grin…) I must particularly mention the humor and atmosphere of the movie. Even without the robots on screen, the movie manages to hold your attention with its humor and dialogue. Also, there's something for everybody! For those delving into the Transformers universe for the first time, they will find the story and characters very much interesting while fans of the cartoons, comics and toy line will definitely be blown away with the most important elements of the film: The Autobots and the Decepticons.

So how were the robots and the action? All I can say is that those guys at ILM must have been working day and night just to deliver the stunning visual effects of the movie... All the robots were beautifully rendered and the action scenes were topnotch! I have never seen visual effects so detailed and so seamlessly integrated into live-action environments and elements. The groundbreaking things they have done on this movie will definitely have to be admired and commended. The ending was carefully thought of… All I can say is that you'll leave the theater surely wanting for more…

So to sum it all up, Transformers will definitely be the must-see film for the summer movie season of 2007. It's engaging, funny and has loads of the "Wow" factor sure to make you ask for more!

The Passion of the Christ

The Passion of the Christ may well be the most controversial film to hit the screens in several years and many `experts' have predicted its doom, but as opposed to the estimates and predictions of the `experts' and `critics', it has become the number one film of 2004. After watching it, I left the theater dumbstruck and `in awe'. Having watched the film 3 times now, I still find the film too powerful and controversial to effectively critique it or even to review it. So I'll just react or give my comment on it.

I am proud to be Christian. I am proud to be a Catholic and I can proudly say that `The Passion of the Christ' is the best Film in years in terms of its emotional intensity, graphic portrayal, values, morals and its artistic ingenuity.

I am a Filipino and I live in the only Christian nation in Asia, the Philippines. It was only recently that the film `The Passion of the Christ' hit our theaters but I deem that it was the right time for we are nearing the observance of the Holy Week. It was not a surprise that people warmly accepted the film for it opened many eyes and hearts with regards to Christ and what he had to endure to save us from sin. Bravo Mel and Jim!

I am wondering why most Americans (especially the `critics') and other nations see this film as `too violent'. They rate it `restricted' or for `16 or 18 years old and above'. Do you know that the classification board in my country rated it PG-13? Imagine, it is not even Restricted - 13, but only PG-13! Our classifications board thought that the graphic portrayal is an important/essential part of the story and therefore should not be restricted or even cut. The film was even endorsed by the local Church authorities (as expected) as `for everyone'. The people at the Vatican were right: `It is as it was.'

For those who have not yet seen the film, please find time to go out and watch it. For a change, watch this movie beyond its technicality and its `physical' characteristics as a film. Feel it. Absorb it. Reflect on it and you will see and realize many things. This is one of the rare types of films that effectively captured both my mind and my heart for its intensity, influence and power.

Words will never be effective in conveying my thoughts and emotions with regards to this film. The only thing I can say is this: In the end as you go out of the theater shocked, awe-inspired and teary-eyed, try to live by the things that you learn and grasp from the movie. And as Jesus has preached, `You must love one another.'

I don't understand why most people think this movie is a wreck. I believe that this deserves more recognition than criticism. The movie is great, better than Reloaded but inferior to the original Matrix. I liked this movie but alas, my opinion does not reflect the opinion of all.

"God Damn it Morpheus. Not everyone believes what you believe!"

Recognize this line? In Reloaded, Lock was right in saying this but what mattered was that Morpheus' hope and faith prevailed. I have the same feeling and maybe, all the other people out there that understand me. Some people simply do not understand the story, some have a different view what has to happen.

No one can really judge Revolution beyond what it is. Some people say that it left us with more questions than answers. Maybe that is right but I think that is justifiable. The Wachowski Brothers chose to end the trilogy this way because this ending is what they thought as the most appropriate. The Matrix as a `concept-put-into-a-movie' is a massive undertaking. What they did with the movies is to convey the philosophies and ideas they had in mind. They shared it with us with the movies. They deserve the right to manipulate every aspect of the movie. Maybe, many people say that the ending is miserable because they want the trilogy to have a different ending. Maybe, consciously or sub-consciously, we have different ideas on what will be the fate of the matrix and Neo. As for me, I simply wanted to know what will happen without STRONGLY putting anything in my mind to block what ideas, thoughts or concepts that Revolutions would convey to me.

As for the lack of Philosophy, I believe that even though it lacked what the original Matrix and Reloaded offered us for philosophy, it still challenged us. Remember the ending? Maybe the Wachowskis CHOSE that ending because they left the rest of the story for the audience. They gave us the chance to believe in what we want to believe. Some say that another sequel is possible, but if the Wachowskis are true to their word, then possibly my theory is right.

The Wachowskis are not your typical writer-director that we have. They are exceptional. They do not do the things that our typical writer-director would do. All of these might be a part of their ingenuity and creativity. Remember, since the beginning, they have already laid out everything for the Matrix trilogy and that only money and time prevented them from presenting the story all-out. The pace of the third film in terms of events and storyline was also justifiable because the ending was already predetermined. The ending was simple and yet, provocative.

They may sound as a biased review but I also acknowledge some of the shortcomings of the directors. I found clichés, errors, faults etc. etc. and yes, some of my questions were left unanswered. But some questions are best left unanswered.

Well, as the story once implied, it all begins with choice. Whether we choose to accept the conclusion or go with our own opinion is up to us. But this is all I have to say, if you truly appreciated the Matrix and know how to understand it, then you would first weigh all the factors and see and comprehend beyond what you know and believe. The maybe, all of us would realize the simple Truth behind all of this. And in this case, the problem is Choice.