Aishite Imasu (Mahal Kita) 1941 (2004)

Did I enjoy my heart getting ripped out again and again while watching this movie? Oh, you bet I did, to the fullest.

Aishite Imasu (Mahal Kita) 1941 is a movie set at a town called San Nicolas, during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. It begins with an old woman with a story. While she reminisces, we see her childhood, her past loves, her heartaches, her hardships, and the difficulties she had encountered while attempting to live in a world occupied by foreigners with an unknown tongue.

The cast includes rather popular Filipino stars, with Judy Ann Santos, Dennis Trillo and Raymart Santiago playing key roles in this poignant movie. Still, it is no ordinary drama; it is one with heart, background, and plenty of drawn-out emotions. Oh, and let's not forget the guerrilla background, the gay love, and the brutal, bloody tortures. (Well, with a screenplay co-written by Ricky Lee, what else could we expect?)

It's not quite as gritty as Oro, Plata, Mata, a Filipino film with Japanese occupation also as its subject matter. In truth, I was rather put off sometimes by the poetic license that the director, Joel Lamangan, used to portray the war scenes. They looked a little too clean for them to be realistic.

Nevertheless, the heart-wrenching tugs that this movie gave me were very effective. In fairness to the cast, the acting they did was great; the scenes really brought out tears into my eyes. The story-telling was also well-done, making me feel happy, sad, angry and aloof all in a span of 2 minutes. Amazing.

Don't take my word for it though; this film won multiple awards (check out the Wikipedia page and the IMDb page), and rightly so. This movie is not something that a lot of Filipino big budget companies seemingly like to come up with nowadays. It is shocking, it is bloody, it tackles homosexuality, it is 2 hours long.

Great film, and I wouldn't mind crying over it again.

Rating: 4.75 / 5 (because the war scenes were too clean. Otherwise, dazed and amazed)


(Watched March 10, 2014)

Frankenweenie (2012)

Typical dark and mysterious film by Tim Burton. I love the little references here and there (Van Helsing, Persephone, V. Frankenstein), and it kept me on the edge of my seat. ("What were you doing boys?" "Science!")

[I love the nutty maniacal science teacher ("They like what science gives them but not the questions... That's what makes you a scientist."), and the quirky characters were interesting in their own right (Mr. Whiskers!).]

I thought the ending was off though - shouldn't you be teaching your kid to let go instead? (In all fairness, though, Sparky's a remarkable dog.) Still, a good movie for late afternoon or the after hours.


Rating: 4 / 5 (minus 1 because of my noted comment above)

(Watched March 20, 2013)

Intimacy

Dwells on the complexities that arise from a seemingly simple relationship between two people. Who'd have known that a simple fuck could mess up with your head so?

There's an air of mystery here, with a twinge of amour and loss. Interesting also because it seems real enough, something of an everyday occurrence. A number of sex scenes, interesting supporting characters, intense emotions.

Rating: 4 / 5

(Watched Feb 24, 2013)

Oro Plata Mata

Nitty, gritty film about the lives of the bourgeois in the midst of war. The sparkling linen to the bloodstained bandages, the innocent flirting to the perverse sex, the smiles and laughter to the quiet remembrance. Interesting look at man's character when driven to desperation. I love the symbolism of the diwata, and the steely doctor. I also love how the film begins and how it ends. Great film.

Rating: 5 / 5

(Watched Mar. 9, 2013)

Oz, the Great and Powerful

Shiny World of Oz story about greatness and goodness. No Dorothy here, but Kansas and witches a-plenty. I got a nice happy feeling after the movie, but it feels lacking in substance.

I like the black and white motifs, and the modern-ish reactions of the characters.

Lastly: Too much Edison love, what about TESLA?!

Rating: 4 / 5 (because it's purty)

(Watched March 10, 2013)