Frozen

Disney's Frozen is not entirely what I was expecting. I think it's even better.

I haven't expected that this movie is also a musical. On the first song, I suddenly had a "Tangled" flashback and for a while I wondered if Disney is going to make all of its movies musical.

Frozen is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen. However, the good thing about this movie is that the snow queen, Elsa, is not entirely evil. She just doesn't want to hurt people, especially her sister, Anna. 

This movie is surely enjoyable and heartwarming, especially for sisters who have this love-hate-awkward relationship. Of course, it also shows how true love comes in an unexpected way.

 Some things I learned from Frozen: 

(PS: With spoilers) 

*Do not fall in love with a person you just meet. Most importantly do not get engaged with him (or her).
Anna easily falls in love with Prince Hans, and the crazier part is that she agrees to be engaged with him. At first, I thought that they share true love since they even have their own music video in the film. Boy, I was wrong.

It really is a good lesson to control your heart and not fall in love with someone you barely know. You wouldn't want to get your heart broken by a stranger, right?

*Do not hide in fear.
Elsa, in her fear to hurt other people especially her sister, Anna, spends most of her time alone in her room. She gets to fully appreciate her powers again when it is revealed to everyone since she no longer has to hide it. Thus, she is able to make beautiful things again with her icy powers.

It makes me think that fear, really, paralyzes us and hinders us from growing or harnessing our potentials. I actually felt sorry for Elsa for having been trapped in that room for so long without being able to use her powers or build relationships with other people. In real life, I think there are also situations where we are trapped in fear of so many things. This should not be, it's actually tiring to be scared all the time, right? Also, I once read that most of the fears you have are 90% imagined.

*An act of true love comes in different shapes.
What I like about the film is that it does not give that ordinary kiss-by-a-prince kind of "true love". Instead, Anna's choice to save her sister from harm makes an act of true love deeper.

*Accepting yourself frees you.
When Elsa finally accepts her power and rejoices that she is free to do it without any reason to fear she is able to do beautiful and magnificent things.

This movie surely has a lot of fun and lessons, and it is also full of entertaining music like this soundtrack. Enjoy. :)

Credits: Image 1, image 2

The Croods

Caveman rules:

-Never leave the cave.

-New is always bad.

-Never not be afraid.

At least that's for The Croods- a family who has always lived in a cave, in a desert. Their world changes when everything starts collapsing, their cave is destroyed and they have to push on and find a new place in order to survive.

This movie offers a simple plot of the Crood's survival from the end of the world, yet it has with it a meaningful lesson.

This movie is fit for fathers, and the whole family as well. It tackles accepting changes, new ideas, and having an open mind.

In this movie the father, Grug, is good in doing his job of keeping the family alive and safe, but he has always been averse to change or to new ideas. Through the experiences his family has been through he has learned to have an open mind, to accept change, and to aim going somewhere other than the cave.

 Eep, his daughter is full of curiosity, and doesn't like the idea of staying in a dark cave forever. Somehow it is with this curiosity that the family was put in jeopardy, but it is also with this curiosity that Eep is able to meet Guy- a 'civilized' caveman who is full of ideas. With his help, the family has survived the forest and is able to reach the tomorrow they are looking for.

I like how the movie also teach about humility. As we know the Croods has a head of a family, and Guy is a stranger. Naturally, Grug will not let this stranger take his place as the leader of the group, even if he has better ideas than him. Throughout their journey Grug has been transformed. From being a stubborn leader he has humbled himself and accepts that this time someone has a better idea than him. 

This movie is more than just a caveman story. It teaches us on how to change for the better. 

Rise of the Guardians

As a fan of Jude Law, I made it a point to watch this movie, especially to hear his voice over on the character Pitch.

The plot of this movie is good. Watching it was an enjoyable experience. It's quite unique to see all of the legendary characters unite. Who could have thought they knew each other?

I even wanted to buy the figure characters in Mc Donalds, but due to the public demand, it got out of stock easily. :'(

As for Jack Frost, I really didn't know much. And so, after watching the movie, I looked up his information, and found out that in some folklore, he has been illustrated as an old man. I'm glad that they made him a teenager in this movie. I think Santa is already enough for a mature character.

One of the important things I learned in this movie has something to do with Jack's situation. He doesn't even know what's his purpose is. And so when the time came to make him a guardian, he refused.

I learned that, if we were chosen for something, even if we don't understand the reason, we just have to believe, that we were chosen because we have what it takes. We have the quality that they are looking for.

In the end, all the conflicts have been solved. Well, this story is about Jack, but there are still four more characters so I'm hoping for a sequel. :)

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles

Wanting to be more patriotic to the Philippine cinema, and to keep the local films alive, I made it a point to watch these local films in the cinemas. So this month, our family opted for the film Tiktik: The aswang chronicles by GMA films. I watched the trailer and it looks mysterious. The fact that this film is also done in front of a green screen made it a must-see(if not for the movie, then for the effects).

I thought it was going to be a shriek-enducing, heart-palpipating movie. Man, it was no near that. I didn't even feel scared. The movie turned out to be an adventure-comedy (in my opinion), similar to 'The mummy' films. Although I did feel a bit queasy with all the graphic scenes of intestines and other internal organs.

Good thing aboutTiktik: The Aswang Chronicles: 
-The special effects are quite awesome. Lighting, background, computer effects. It's cool to think it's made in the studio and turned out somewhat real.

-They got the folklore's weapon for the aswangs quite right. To keep aswangs from making a person its prey, it is essential to have the garlic bulbs and the salts. They didn't leave out the 'lana', or the special oil, and made an accurate description of it having some boiling effect when the aswangs are near; and let's not forget the wicked buntot pagi.

-Obviously there are sponsors, or whatever you call it. Companies which would like for their products to be seen on the film. I think they made a pretty good story with it. The products didn't seem out of place, and they certainly give that humor effect.

Now for the bad things about Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles: 
The Aswangs don't really look like...well... aswangs.

-Ok, they did get the weapons for aswangs quite right, but not the aswangs themselves. It seemed the movie is just in for an action, kill-it-first-before-it-kills-you theme.

My parents grew up in the province of Leyte, in Visayas. They do have their own stories about aswangs and I often hear them as a child. And they they do tell the distinctive features of these creatures. So what's the point? Here:
-Aswangs are shapeshifters, yes, but what sets them apart from other animals, is their size. In the movie, one of the aswang transformed into a pig, a small pig. Oh please, have that straight. Anecdotal evidences would tell you that in the province, when people see an oversized whatever animal, then that would probably be an aswang. But the film presents a pig that is as ordinary as the others.

-Next, why the heck the did the 2nd batch of aswangs looked like burned monsters. Really, I don't get it. They looked like bunch of dogs from Resident evil. Not to mention the pterodactyl-like transformation of the leader. Funny. Had it been a large raven, I would've believed it more.

-Here's another, the 2nd batch of aswangs were the ones who confronted and attacked the protagonists. Has history been changed? Decades of aswang films would have you in the totally opposite situation. Town people hunt aswangs, not the other way around. Really, when you analyze it, that part of the film is laughable.

-Which brings us to another point: Aswangs, try to be stealth as much as possible. They don't want to be exposed, because they know the consequence. But the aswangs in this films are quite bold in their attack. No fear for their identity. It seems like they can massacre the town and the situation is at their mercy.

Ok, so much for that stuff. I'm not here to rant about the movie. As I said, the story is fine. It touches the sensitive issue of pregnancy out of wedlock, and how important it is to stand up for what is important for us. And with the humor that the film brings, we had a share of good time while watching it.

ParaNorman

I don't really have the thing for things related to horror. However, this time, I was as much expectant as my sister for the movie ParaNorman. If you think about it, there are lots of animation, and mostly like the evil vs. good,family,friends, but you would rarely see an animation movie related to horror( or zombies for that matter)and at the same time comical. The movie was done with the stop-motion animation so I was equally curious to that.

Norman not so normal
Our protagonist, Norman looks just like any children his age, except, for the fact that he sees dead people. Nobody believes him of course, people would look at him strangely and in school he is called a freak. But hey, who would've thought that the pass-down history about the witch's curse would change the town, and this boy, whom they call a freak, would be part of it.

How it's made
This animation reflects a typical American family. It's almost as if you're getting a glimpse of their culture, no one believes Norman, his older sister hates her, people think he's weird, too bad for him.

I like how the point was made. At the start you would have thought he was just talking to his grandmother, until his father told him (for the nth time) that she was dead. Going to school, you can see him talking alone, and moving as if he is avoiding bumping into an empty space, you would definitely think he's nuts, but flip the camera to Norman's point of view, and you'll see them: the friendly ghosts he's been seeing and talking with.

The writers also took advantage of witches curse and history, mixed it up and came up with a good story.

The characters are also nicely made. By that I mean that each of them are unique.

Photo from here

 Now that's what you call details.

Photos from here.

In the end
In the end, I think the conflicts were solved. Norman, the strange boy who talks to the dead, did something that no one in the town was willing to do, and thanks to him all's well again.

Somehow, it just made a bit sad that the cinema was not full when this was shown, this even have a more solid plot than Brave, in my opinion. (ah, the power of marketing!) Anyhow, this film was surely a treat, glad I watched it.

The Bourne Legacy

Jeremy Renner is one of the actors I look forward seeing on the big screen, add to that the fact that part of this movie was shot in the Philippines; The Bourne Legacy is automatically on my movie-to-see list.

So what can I say?
The plot is okay. I can say that it has a story and not just some random action. It was quite lengthy though. It took some time before the interesting things started to happen. The shooting in the lab started my adrenaline, of course that's a life-and-death situation. I also liked the confrontation at the doctor's house and how Cross came on her rescue.

Now in the Philippines
What I like the most is how the chase scene was edited and put together. There is a good continuity, and you wouldn't think that they were shot in different cities unless you're familiar with the place.

Somehow, I just found it lacking. I mean, the characters were clever and strong, but there wasn't enough action. And by that I mean, hand to hand combat or fight scene. The character's wit and strength is incomparable, but it wasn't put to full capacity There can be a more creative way to defeat an enemy than by just crashing him on a pillar.

If ever the legacy continues, I hope to see more actual fights. :]

Brave

The movie Brave was one of the films I anticipated this year. I'd been watching the trailers since the start of the year. You know I have the thing for archers, so this movie was surely be on my list. Plus, I'm curious to know more about the bear, and it's relation to the

movie.

The rich history and legend of Scotland has helped the creators to set the atmosphere of the movie.

I like how they set up the kingdom. No fancy thrones,or halls. The dining table was made of food, without that fancy carvings. Everything is in place.

Merida's triplet brothers are cute, though I think it might've been better to let them talk. You know they are too clever for their age, but they don't talk. Isn't it weird?

One of the things notable in this movie, is the posture of archery contestants. According here, the animators got the good and bad postures as accurate as possible. I think it just earned 'Brave's animators, extra bragging rights.  

Now about the plot, finally there's a story of about mother-daughter relationship. The movie makes sure impart the importance of listening.

With her untimely bethrotal, Merida couldn't help but rebel against her mother's decision. 

In her rage she slashed their family tapestry. Not only that, she took the chance to change her fate, with the help of the old witch.

And so it happened, her mother fell under the spell and it can only be undone if she 'mend the bond torn by pride' or else her mother would permanently be a bear.

When this happened, you might initially think that Merida realizes her grave mistake and accepted her part in this. But no, she was defensive.And she just thought, oh sewing up the tapestry would do the trick.

The story played out well, that her pride continued to blind her, but at the very last moment, she finally apologized, and more than mending the tapestry, she was able to mend a much important bond- her bond with her mother.

So much on the positive, now let me just tell the part which I don't like so much.

It's about Mourdu, a prince from the ruined kingdom who asked for a spell for him to have the strength of 10 warriors. So it turned out he got stuck with the spell and became a bear, permanently.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have any problem with that, nor I had a problem when he attacked the family in the beginning or when he attacked Merida in the ruins.

But come one, on the last part, when they were in the menhirs he started attacking,and the poor warriors who charged were nothing against him, then Mor'du, as if holding a certain grudge, happens to single Merida out. Why would he do that? What prompted him? Why would he like Merida killed.

I'm thinking it's just so to have a fight scene, but it looks that the intention/motivation of the villain was weak.  

It seems like from the beginning he wanted to hurt her, but the question is why? My questions wasn't anywhere near answered by the end of the film. Anyway, children could easily just ignore it, so it's fine, at least the beast was gone now.

And the other clans warriors, if they act like one, were not given much depth of character in the movie. All the clans just kept fighting when they get the chance, no other deeper stories about them. 

Anyway I still think this movie has some worth, think deeper and learn the lessons this movie gives.

The Healing

I've never liked a horror or slasher film, but I did my sister a favor, and so I ended up with her at the last-full  show of this movie on a Saturday night. And yes, I didn't see at least 1/4 of the film because of the horror and gore factor. I watched them with my hands over my eyes. :P

Based on a deep-rooted supersitions and belief on faith healing, and how they turned it into a horror one, I can say that the movie's plot was well thought. though there are some weak points, I actually think this movie is disturbing and scary.

!Spoiler!
Just don't look at me with that chameleon eye!In the movie, when the victims get possesed by their Doppelgänger they get that chameleon looking eyes that can rotate 360 degrees. It really creeps me out.

The the craziest part was when Greta's Doppelgänger crying was seen by her husband. The husband can only see her back, but lo and behold, switch camera angle, and you can see the black creepy eyes. The feigned cry + the crazy eyes =a real horror.

Just don't bend like that, okay?!
Imagine this scene, There was an outage, Seth, the main character was inside the dark house, Greta's doppelgänger appear, of course Seth doesn't know it, so she called her, and you know, it bends backward in an awkward position and stared for the longest 3 seconds. The heck. Real creepy.

Of course, all films has their good and bad.
For starters, I wonder, is it necessary to have a comedy in a horror film? I think no. It makes the atmosphere weak, and breaks the building tension. But for the benefit of the doubt I think it's just ok, at least the viewers would have time to breath.

Also, I think the ending is quite weak. It kind of leaves you wondering what happened to Cookie in the end.
Anyway, overall, if you're finding some horror/ slasher film, you can go see this one. I can say it's worth the money.

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift

Having just watched the 3rd movie of Ice Age, I know I have a lot of catching up to do. So when my friend offered a free movie as her birthday treat, I opted for Ice Age's latest one.

On the third movie, I met the saber-toothed squirrel, Scrat, and his adventure with his beloved acorn. The story seems to be almost incongrous with the rest of the plot and I really found him a peeve.

In this 4th movie though, I think the scriptwriters were able to make good use of his character. They were able to bring a message too. Scrat is just a simple squirrel who is just trying to find a place for his acorn, and by doing so accidentally caused the continental drift, unbeknownst to him. This is a message that says your actions have an effect on others, directly or indirectly, and whether you know it or not.

Different types of relationships were handled in this movie too. To name a few we have Manny's daughter Peaches. She is already a budding teenager and would surely like to hang out with cool friends. Him, being overprotective causes a friction between them. Sid's Granny was abandoned by their family, leaving her in his care. And Peaches in pursuit of cooler friends broke her bestfriend, Louis' heart.   

 Let's not forget Diego. He was the thing I'd been wanting to see since the start of the movie. Denis Leary's voice adds up to his charm. This sabertooth tiger sure is a loyal friend of Manny and Sid, imagine his patience for Sid and Granny. 

And no matter how he denies, you can confirm his soft side when you see those bunch of hyraxes all over him because of their gratitude. It makes him more adorable. I'm glad that they finally made him a pair in this movie.

This ice age is surely a treat.