SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK : a sport dance lovestory

“The only thing that you did to me is crazy and I’m crazy.

I Love You, Thanks.”

-Pat’s letter to Tiffany

I felt the sincerity of Jennifer Lawrence in her role and was never left behind with Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper's remarkable portrayal on their role well, even Chris Tucker was good in this movie.

Silver Linings Playbook is a rom-com drama about Pat (Bradley Cooper), a bipolar struggling to win back his wife after his release from a psychiatric institution. In one of his morning jogs, he met Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a sex-addict widow that challenged him to compete in a dance sports – a way to treat his sickness and get back to his wife – but love pulls them closer as they cope with their own disorders.

 I love the musical scoring and the dance competition was spectacular in this movie.

The film got 8 Academy Awards nominations where  Jennifer Lawrence received her 1^st Best Actress Oscar statue though she won the same awards in Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and British Academy Awards last year.

She also collected her trophies as Best Actress in Independent Spirit, MTV, Georgia, Houston, Detroit, St. Louis, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Los Angeles, & Las Vegas Film Critics Awards and in Producers Guild of America, Satellite and National Board of Review Awards.

Heartwarming and pure silver linings!

A score of 5 is not much but I gave it a  4/5 rating.

FLIGHT: near to perfect – a reality

Nominated for Best Picture in 2012 Oscars is a movie that deals beyond survival, a lovestory with heavier legal issues and life’s struggles - FLIGHT.

The film will take you to an uncompromised situation, as a passenger of an airline you seemed to be helpless but wait for your death to come when the plane is about to crash. Director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) effectively binds facts and fiction into a perfect art of storytelling. While Denzel Washington collected citations from various award giving bodies like Black Reel, Palm Spring, Chicago and Holywood Film Festivals and Screen Actors Guild as Best Actor in an alcoholic airline pilot characterization is a crash-and-burn epic.

FLIGHT is a movie that suggests to do things right, accept our wrongdoings, face the consequences with courage and most of all to change for the better.

FLIGHT is a “loosely inspired” story of  2000 Alaska Airlines Flight 261 where an alcoholic, womanizer and drug addict pilot  Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) skillfully maneuvered his malfunctioned airline to avoid a plane crash and saved hundreds of lives of the passengers.  But this incident does not end here, investigations has to be conducted to know the cause and the findings seemed not to favor Whitaker – this is the journey of a man, as a successful pilot, a father, a victim and a renewed man.

The movie ended with a father-son conversation about “the most fascinating person I’ve never met.”

This is a challenge to us all!!!

Free.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

Just FLIGHT.

Rating: 5/5

CAPTIVE: pakikibaka at pakikipagtunggali

CAPTIVE (2012) ay kalahok sa Bernale Film Festival at sa Ghent International Film Festival. Ang pelikulang naglahad ng paghihirap ng mga nakidnap sa kamay ng Abu Sayaf.

Matapang at mapangahas ang kwento ng Captive na tinampukan nina French Actress Isabelle Hupert, Raymund Bagatsing, Ronnie Lazaro, Coco martin, Mercedes Cabral, Mon Confiado, Ma. Isabel Lopez, Sid Lucero at marami pang iba sa panulat at direksyon ni Brillante Ma. Mendoza. Talagang mababasa mo sa dulo ng pelikula ang mga katagang “…kidnap for ransom has been a lucrative business in the Philippines…”

Kung hindi ka ‘pinoy hindi mo mararamdaman ang “realistic side” ng pelikula. Marahil maraming katanungan ang babagabag sa ‘yo dahil sa palipat-lipat ng baryo ang mga Abu Sayaf magtatanong ka “ano ang reaksyon ng mga taga-baryo?” o di kaya’y “bakit may ganitong kidnapping na nagyayari sa Pilipinas?”  at “talaga bang kasal ang sagot ng rape victim sa nanggasaha sa kanya?”

Puno ng tension ang pelikula – magaling ang paglalahad at ang mga ipinapakitang eksena. Ang gubat, ang mga mababangis na hayop, ang kultura at tradisyon at maging ang paraan ng paggamot ng sugat.

ang eksenang nakita ni Therese' (Isabelle Hupert) ang mahiwagang
Ibong Adarna nasumisimbolo ng katatagan at pag-asa.

Habang nakaupo ka’t pinapanood ang pakikibaka ng mga hostage upang mabuhay sa gubat, ang pakikipagtunggali ng mga military upang isagip ang mga ito, ang hirap na dinanas ng bawat buhay na naging saksi sa walang humpay na paglalakbay at pagkitil ng buhay, ang karahasang dinanas ng bawat biktima at maging ang baryong napupuntahan at higit sa lahat ang kulturang naghihingalo ay mapapahanga ka sa galing ng pelikula.

May pagpapahalaga at pagrespeto ang CAPTIVE sa dalawang panig. Hindi ito kumiling at walang takot na nagpamalas sa katotohan.

Rating: 3 1/2 /5

IT TAKES A MAN & A WOMAN: a metamorphosis metempsychosis

Nagmistulang MMFF ang pila sa mga sinehan dahil sa pelikulang ito at tanging sina John Lloyd Cruz at Sarah Geronimo lang ang nakakagawa ng ganitong eksena sa local showbiz. At dahil bibihira ang nagsulat tungkol sa pelikulang ito na halos napanood ng nakararami, ihahabol ko ang aking blog tungkol dito.

It Takaes A Man & A Woman ay ang ikatlong yugto ng pag-iibigang Miggy at Laida, sa pagkakataong ito ay isang happy-ending ang ating nasaksihan. Sa wakas sa kasalan din nauwi ang lovestory nila. ‘Ika nga, sa pagkahaba-haba daw ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy.

Nagustuhan ko ang pelikula dahil maintained ang kilig factor mula umpisa hanggang sa matapos. Ramdam mo pag-ibig ng dalawa. Ibig sabihin epektibo ang rapport ng John Lloyd-Sarah tandem on screen – ang sarap panoorin. Walang duda, magaling na actor si John Lloyd Cruz, dekalibre habang si Sarah Geronimo ay medyo nagmature – nag-metamorphosis sa pelikulang ito.

Medyo nakulangan lang ako sa kwento ni Belle (Isabel Daza) – dapat sana’y bigyan siya ng isang eksena, ‘yong moment n’ya to shine – kumbaga yong tatatak sa manonood ng sa ganoon ay muli syang aabangan sa sususnod nyang pelikula. Sayang dahil introducing pa naman s’ya dito.

Magaling si direk Cathy Molina-Garcia, may mga sorpresa s’yang ipinakita sa pelikula at yon ang hinahanap ng mga fans ng dalawa. Hindi naman n’ya binigo ang manonood.

Kung na-enjoy mo ang panonood ng It Takes A Man and A Woman nangangahulugang maganda ang pagkakagawa sa pelikula.

Rom-com na super-saya at super-kilig-much (may much pa talaga!)

Rating:  3/5

ZERO DARK THIRTY: a paradox & disconcerting

ZERO DARK THIRTHY is “a military term for 30 minutes after midnight and it refers also to the darkness and secrecy that cloaked the entire decade-long mission.” – Director Kathryn Bigelow

Another film that vie for the 2012 Best Picture in Oscars is ZERO DARK THIRTY – the movie that reveals the fall of Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda terrorist leader. This is the story of how the CIA operatives do their procedural interrogation and manhunt search.

The makers of “The Hurt Locker” (2008) that gave Kathryn Bigelow her 1^st Best Director nod and the 1^st woman to win the award at the Academy return with another historical approach in storytelling.

Cinematography is creatively done and the plot is compelling with a persuasive acting from the cast.

With the working title “For God and Country” the film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing and Best Film Editing at the 85^th Academy Awards. Jessica Chastain won the Best Actress award at the 70^th Golden Globe Awards for this film.

Rating: 4 ½ / 5

BEAST OF THE SOUTHERN WILD: full of loneliness, struggles & hope

This film has “a sense of childhood wonder with the harsh realities of the adult world.”

According to Wikipedia BEAST OF THE SOUTHERN WILD is a fantasy drama but for me it’s more of a social realism drama.

Nominated at the 2012 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress for  Quvenzhane Willis – the youngest nominee in Oscars’ history – BEAST OF THE SOUTHERN WILD is based on a one-act play written by Lucy Alibar entitled “Juicy & Delicious”.

A movie full of emotions with poetic approach and bombarded with the difficulties of life, BEAST OF THE SOUTHERN WILD focuses on a 6 year old child, Hushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis) who grew up on a catastrophic part of this world. Raised by his father’s tough love, Wink (Dwight Henry) he longed for his mother and this triggered his search.

A little beast of this big universe who lived in a bath tub flooded from time to time is fierce yet fragile, strong yet innocent and aggressive yet soft-hearted. Hushpuppy carries an emotional weight heavier than the entire universe.

Director Ben Zeithlin has a great empathy with lucid & vivid imagination in film making. Truly, wisdom is inside him. (If I’m not mistaken this is Ben Zeithlin’s 1^st full length movie, as “Egg”, “Origin of Electricity”, & “Glory at Sea” are all short films.)

BEAST OF THE SOUTHERN WILD is full of loneliness, struggles and most of all hope. While there is life, there is hope – let’s hold on to this tenet.

Emotionally amazing.

Rating: 5/5

OBLIVION: vast space, less characters

Oblivion is visually striking film with vast space and less characters. For me, it is multi-million INDIE FILM like “Life of Pi” (2012) when categorized in Philippine Cinema.

Oblivion is a sci-film set in a distant future where earth has been alienated by a race called Scavs and the battle of survival has begun. Places had been evacuated and there were skilled individuals assigned to overlook the planet’s surface, one of them is Jack Harper (Tom Cruise), who patrols the skies and the land to ensure security and continuous function of their machines. With him is his partner, Julia (Olga Kurylenko) stationed at their home base to assist him with his functions. 

Their mission was about to end in a matter of days when a spacecraft fall from the sky and upon his investigation, Jack discovers the capsule that contains humans and one of them seemed familiar to him. Jack embarks on a spectacular adventure risking his life that will challenge everything he knew about mankind’s most defining battle and the entire course of human history.

Director Joseph Kosinski’s  (Tron) storytelling is as good as his imagination. Futuristic and creative. He also co-wrote and produced the movie.

Since this film has an astounding visuals, you will get hooked on your seat even though the story is very thin.

Rating: 3/5

JACK REACHER: Tom Cruise at his finest

The tension has build up, intensified, maintained till the end - this is what Jack Reacher will give you. It gets more thrilling as it approaches the climax. Musical scoring is no doubt in perfect sync with the scenes. Cinematography is excellent like “SkyFall” (2012).

Tom Cruise is Rack Reacher, stoic, drifter and a former US military where another agent from the military sniper, James Barr [Joseph Sikora] shot five random victims and needed his help. Barr’s defense counsel Helen Rodin [Rosamund Pike], District Attorney’s daughter, Alex Rodin [Richard Jenkins] thoroughly investigated the crime with the advise from Reacher to visit the victims’ families and figure out what lies behind the shooting spree. Here, Helen will know the mastermind of all these killings.

Jack Reacher is an adaptation from the 2005 novel of Lee Child (Jim Grant) entitled “One Shot”. This is just one of the adventures of Jack Reacher as the character is in Lee Child’s 17 novels written from 1997 to 2013. He currently received a lifetime achievement award from the Crime Writers’ Association while his 1^st citation was given by Anthony Award for Best 1^st Novel “Killing Floor” (1997).

Jack Reacher is absolutely one of Tom Cruise' best films.

Rating: 4/5

EVIL DEAD: bloody as hell

With an R18 MTRCB Rating and approved without cuts, EVIL DEAD is seriously scary and gory – an Ayala Cinemas exclusive – the movie will have its’ regular theatrical run on May 8 (according to NCAP) but I was able to watch the Sneak Preview at Greenbelt Cinema 4.

EVIL DEAD is based on the 1981 cult-hit American horror film about 5 adults who stayed in a remote cabin. Mia, [Jane Levy] a drug dependent felt a stench of death which the rest of the group find it insensible. Her brother David, [Shiloh Fernandez] wanted to help her from her condition and believed with their friends, Olivia [Jessica Lucas], a nurse, Natalie [Elizabeth Blackmore], his steady girlfriend and Eric [Lou Taylor Pucci], a man who had faith in science. But when they retrieved the book covered with black trash bag and wrapped with barbed wire, Eric unaware of his actions, recited an incantation that summoned the demon who died under the basement and strange things happen that lead to their bizarre death.  One by one, they were possessed by this powerful force of evil.

 

Basically, the location was naturally creepy and the cinematography is exceptional, Make-Up & Hairstyling and Production Design are remarkable and a provocative acting from a great cast ensemble. This is the directorial debut of Fede Alvarez – a personal choice of Sam Raimi [director of the 3 Evil Dead previously released] – to make this loose continuation of the Evil Dead franchise.

Watching EVIL DEAD is like riding a car with the speed that continuously increases until it reached its’ maximum rate.

What is good about this movie for me is the vindication at the end, light wins over darkness, and the style of storytelling will take you to a higher level of terror.

A brutally effective film that the gore feeling will still linger in your nerves even after the watching.

Bloody as hell.

Scary and terrifying.

Sick to death.

Evil dead.

Rating: 4 1/2 /5

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          Well, aside from free calls & texts plus 350 free SMS to other networks, it has 250 load consumables - this is for Call & Text Unlimited Profile or you may avail of the 600 load consumables plus 350 free SMS to other networks called the Fully Consumable Profile or the Text Unlimited Profile with 450 load consumables plus  350 free SMS to other networks. This comes with an array of celphone models to choose from such as;

Alcatel Android [Alcatel One Touch Tab or Alcatel Glory]

LG Optimus L3 or L5

Nokia Asha 303

Alcatel OT 978 or 916 D

While Plan 999 gives you;

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or LG L7

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           This comes with Unlimited Mobile Internet, Unlimited Texts  & 4 hours calls to Sun.

What are you waiting for switch to Sun Cellular and experience the beauty of communications.

Sun Cellular, the good choice in post-paid.

Mga Enkantong Laog sa Mahabang Dapit-Hapon - Official Selection for 2013 Cannes Festival Short Film Corner

The Nomadic Creatures of a long twilight is a story about Minda (Anita Linda)  and her family, about the complex impact of her daughter selling her own kidney, her continued employment as a middleman of organ selling and the strained balancing of her responsibilities as a mother and grandmother.

In the record of World Health Organization (WHO), this 2013 the Philippines leads when it comes to organ selling around the world.

Director Derick Cabrido is an award-winning Filipino documentary producer who ventured in film directing. He grabbed the Bronze World Medal at New York Television Festival for “Pinays for Export” (2009), Silver Screen Award at New York International

Independent Film & Video Festival for “Tasaday” (2010) and Silver World Medal Award at New York Festivals for “Yaman sa Basura” (2012) which is also a UNICEF Asia-Pacific Child Rights Awards Finalist in 2011. He is currently working at GMA News and Public Affairs and the Executive Producer of “Front Row” that airs every Saturday at GMA News TV.

“Mga Enkantong Laog sa Mahabang Dapit-Hapon” is an Official Selection for 2013 Cannes Festival Short Film Corner.

Noteworthy to mention is actress Isadora who has a cameo role in this short film.

THE HOST: a love beyond science & romance

Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy that takes over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. But Wanderer (Saoirse Ronan), the invading “soul” who occupies Melanie’s body, finds its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer’s thoughts with visions of Jared (Max Irons), a human who 

has avoided invasion and lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she’s never met. Soon Wanderer  and Melanie - reluctant allies - set off to search the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, The Host is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human. – novel back cover of  Stephanie Meyer’s The Host

The Host is now a major motion picture and the film is so dedicated to the novel. Well, primarily because one of the executive producers is also Stephanie Meyer.

This film is far different from Korean suspense-thriller “The Host” (2006) where an amphibious monster is killing humans. The highest grossing Soth Korean film was also awarded as the Best Picture in Asian Film & in Blue Dragon Film Awards.

The Host is a sci-fi romance written & directed by Andrew Nicol (Gattaca) has an amazing visuals and a vivid imagination. Though there are numerous dramatic tensions some scenes would simply make you laugh and smile. And at the end of the day, you fell good after watching it.

The story may have a sequel but that’s how the movie ended – an attempt for more but I didn't feel the same way.

Rating: 2 ½ /5

6 SOULS [SHELTER]: souls are in to consume you

The original title of the movie is SHELTER but was changed to 6 SOULS when it had its’ theatrical run.

A father (Jeffrey Demunn) and daughter (Julianne Moore) psychiatrists dealt with a patient,  David Bernburg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers)  with multiple personalities whom by her investigation revealed that all were murder victims. And Dr. Cara had to figure out these unusual incidents before her time runs out.

A psycho-thriller movie that has a new concept of this genre, the first 5 minutes of the movie built the suspense effectively that will get you curious about the story and the characters – hooked – and eventually feel the suspense progressively. And the musical scoring is substantially persuasive.

The revelations are just as creepy as hell and the suspense never stops instead it intensifies the thrill as it goes.

I felt the scary impersonation of Jonathan Rhys Meyers in this movie and surely evil will rise. Directors Mans Marlind and  Bjorn Stein are natural shocker and witty film makers.

Shelter is from the makers of The Ring (2002) & Identity (2003).

Shelter is creepy and shockingly beautiful film.

Rating: 3/5

Jenus Jan Gabriel answers ...

Jenus Jan Gabriel
freelance singer

ANNA KARENINA: enduring, forbidden & pure love

“I consider jealousy insulting to you and degrading to me.”  One of my favorites lines in this movie.

Another entry for the 2012 Best Picture was ANNA KARENINA, a world renowned romance written by Russian writer Leo Tolstoi. 

Anna Karenina is a tragic lovestory of a married aristocrat Anna [Kiera Knightly] & her affair with young bachelor Count Vronsky [Aaron taylor-Johnson] who is willing to marry her if she leaves her gov't. official husband, Karenin [Jude Law].

Subplot of the film is another romantic story of Konstantin Levin [Domhnall Gleeson], a country landowner who proposes twice to marry Princess Kitty [Alicia Vikander].

Drown by love, Anna & Vrosnky fled to Italy but she had troubles within herself as she become possessive, paranoid and doubts - she fears of losing Vronsky.

The film is powerful as the novel. The location

set-up will bring you to the time the story requires. I love the costume & production designs in every scene and it was magnificent.

Director Joe Wright’s is at his best on this movie, his approach is unique and beautiful. A work of art, intelligently packed and made. His attempt for a grand musical production as an introduction and prelude to the next scene is fascinating and genius.

There are various unforgettable scenes in this movie that is a pure masterpiece. And it kept on playing in my mind, just hard to forget. I was hooked in all aspect of the film.

The waltz production in Princess Kitty’s birthday was a pure grace and eloquently maneuvered with full of artistry and passion.

With a great cast ensemble, musical scoring and production design, ANA KARENINA is a film you should watch and treasure.

ANA KARENINA – love is just so enduring, maternal, forbidden, romantic, dutiful, nurturing and pure.

Rating: 5/5

OLYMPUS HAD FALLEN: intense & credible

Lead Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is an ex-US Ranger that maintains a professional & personal relationship with US Pres. Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), 1^st Lady (Ashley Judd) and only son, Connor (Finley Jacobsen) when a car accident caused the death of the 1^st Lady.  Thus, Banning was removed from his position and was assigned to the US Treasury Dept. and the traumatic accident is still fresh in his memory. An attack has made by South Korea led by Kang (Rick Yune) with the aid by another ex-Secret Service agent Dave (Dylan Mcdermott). These terrorists wanted to reunite the North & South Korea and commanded to pull-out the US ships on the shores of their country. However, Banning was trapped inside the White House and he is the only hope to rescue and save the President and mankind.

The intense direction of Antoine Fuqua and strong performance of Gerard Butler made this film absolutely breathtaking and thrilling.

For me, Olympus Had Fallen is an action-thriller with a credible casting and appealing site-location. I just like the movie, the plot maybe similar to other Hollywood films in the past but still it’s refreshing, exhilarating and awe-inspiring to watch. Indeed, a sense of nationalism & patriotism lingers on Hollywood films up to this day.  

Rating: 4/5

NARUTO Road to Ninja: more fun in watching

Animae’ fanatics should never miss this film, I swear. This is what you have been waiting for to see from NARUTO.  Set a high expectation and you never regret it. The movie is enjoyable and you will have fun and more fun.

“Somebody asked me what ninja is…” Naruto’s opening line in Naruto Road to Ninja, started sometime 16 years ago, where a mysterious masked ninja unleashed a powerful creature known as the 9-Tailed Fox on the Hidden Leaf Village that killed many lives. A Konoha Ninja of the 4^th Hokage named Minato Namikaze and wife Kushina Uzukami defeated & imprisoned the fox inside their newborn son, NARUTO UZUKAMI and everything went normal. (fastforward) Present day, A group of ninja – Akatsuki attacked the village led by Tobi while Naruto & Sakura were brought in an alternate timeline where Naruto’s parents are alive and Sakura’s were dead.

 

Guys, 9 tails vs. 9 tails was such an intense fight. Saski vs. Naruto. Creative and full of vivid imagination. Naruto Road to Ninja is so dedicated to the tv series Naruto Shippuden unlike “Devil May Cry” (2012) that seemed to be a series of collected scenes from the action hack and slash video game.  

All the doubts you have in mind will be answered and even if you’re not a Naruto fan, the story is basic and simple as it focuses on Naruto’s growing years , that’s why it’s called “Road to Ninja” and for sure a sequel will be released in the coming years.

Welcome home, Naruto!

Naruro rocks!
I Love Animae’.

Rating: 3 1/2 /5

APARISYON: Nakakabinging katahimikan

Ngayon lang ako nakakabawi sa dami ng back-log ko (hahaha) iisa lang kasi ang pc sa bahay kaya may oras kaming 6 sa paggamit nito.

Kapuri-puri ang pelikulang APARISYON (2012) ni direk Vincent Sandoval. Nainlove ako sa tema, sa kwento at sa pamamaraan kung paano ito inilahad sa pinilakang-tabing.

APARISYON ay isang drama-thriller taliwas sa sinasabi ng iba na psycho-drama. Sa mga hindi pa nakapanood ang APARISYON ay tungkol kay Sister Lourdes (Jodi Sta. Maria) isang novice na biktima ng pang-gagahasa sa panahon ng diktadorya.  Nangyari ang karahasan ng gabihin sina Sister Remy (Mylene Dizon) at Lourdes ng uwi mula sa isang pagpupulong. Bagamat magkasama hindi na nakatakbo ang huli dahil napilayan ito sa daan. Sa paghahanap nina Mother Superior (Fides Cuyugan-Asensio) at Sister Vera (Raquel Villavicencio) sa dalawang madre ay nakita nila ang pangyayari. May magagawa ba ang dalawang matandang madre upang mailigtas ang kasama nila sa kumbento sa mga oras na yon? Ikaw, anong aparisyon ang kanya mong harapin sa buhay?

Napakagaling ng pagkakagawa ng pelikulang ito, napakalinis at higit sa lahat ang “tension at intensity” ng kwento ay simple pero mabigat, higit sa lahat payak. Ito ang isang pelikulang may nakakabinging katahimikan – mararamdaman mo mula sa lokasyon ng pelikula – ang kumbento na talaga namang dalisay at tahimik – at ang bawat karakter na may pinagdadaan sa kanyang sarili. Ang katahimikang idinadaan sa pagdarasal at pagpupuri sa Maykapal. Ang kahimikang bumabalot sa bawat isa at sa lugar na kinabibilangan.

Gusto ko ang APARISYON dahil mula sa simpleng kwento ay may kumplekadong kwentong inilahad. Ang katahimikan ay binasag at pilit na binabasag ng tension at krisis, sa sarili, sa kumunidad at sa pangkalahatan, ang bansa.

Magagaling at epektibo ang pagganap ng bawat karakter na ginampanan ng bawat artistang kasama dito, swak na swak ang musical scoring, malinis at maganda ang cinematography, orihinal ang plot at ang napakatalino ni direk Vincent Sandoval. Kakaiba ang pamamaraan nya sa paglalahad ng kwento.

Ang APARISYON ay finalist sa 2012 Cinemala Independent Film Festival. Naigawad dito ang Best Sound. Samantala, sa 15 taon ng Deauville Asian Film Festival, France, ngayong 2013 naibigay ang kauna-unhanang Audience Award sa APARISYON. Noong Oktubre (2012) naiuwi ng APARISYON ang NETPAC Award mula sa Hawaii Internation Film Festival. 



Rating: 4/5

Indie Films at si Aureus Solito at ang kanyang Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

Y2K era – kumabit sa INDIE FILMS ang mga kahulugang “pang-bading na pelikula” (gay-themed); “kalaswaan at kahalayan” (sex/porno) ang mga ganitong klaseng pelikula.

Tama o hindi? Dahil sa panahon ngayon andaming gumagawa ng Indie Films na  hindi mo mawari kung ano ang nais iparating sa mga manonood, halos karamihan dito ay ang tinatawag na pink movies or queer films, aktibo dito si G.A. Villafuerte, Benny Andaya, Bunch Cortez, Ronald Rafer at kung sino-sino pang mga nagsusulputang mga director. Sabi nga ni direk Sigfried Barrios (Huling Biyahe) “…ang salitang director ay madaling naikakabit sa pangalan ng tao dahil makagawa lang ng isang pelikula ay direk na agad ang tawag kahit wala pang napapatunayan…”

PAGBABALIK-TANAW

Si Dolphy – 1^st Actor na gumanap na bading (gay) sa “Jack ‘n Jill” (1953) katambal n’ya si Lolita Rodriguez at sinundan ito ng “Markova: The Comfort Gay” (2000).

1980’s – iisa lang ang seryosong gay-themed movie na nagawa ito ang “Macho Dancer” (1988) ni Lino Brocka.

Habang si Cris Pablo naman ang may pinaka maraming gay-themed films na may natatanging tema nagawa kasama na rito ang Masahista (2005), Bathouse (2006), ShowBoyz (2008), Condo (2008), Heavenly Touch (2010) at Sanctuary (2010).

1990’s – nangahas namang gawin ni Gil Portes ang “Miguel/Michelle” (sinulat ni Ricky Lee), Carlitos Siguion-Reyna’s “Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya” (sinulat ni Bibeth Orteza) at Mel Chionglo’s “Sibak: The Midnight Dancers” (sinulat ni Ricky Lee).

INDIE FILMS NGAYON

3 pelikula ang nagbigay ng panibagong-anyo sa mundo ng INDIE FILMS – hindi man nawala ang gay-themed na nakapaloob dito, itong 3 INDIE MOVIES naman ang nagpaangat ng kalidad ng gawang INDIE; Francis Pasion’s “JAY”, Brillane Ma. Mendoza’s “SERBIS” at Aureus Solito’s “ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEOS” – itong 3 ay hinangaan, minahal, kinilala at pinarangalan ng samo’t saring organisasyon at mga film festivals.

ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS

Bakit nagging matunog ang pelikulang ito?

- simple lang, dahil ito ang uri ng palabas na  nagbigay ng panibagong pananaw sa gay-themed na pelikula – masasabi mo na “ah pwede palang GP o wholesome ang ganitong klaseng palabas” –  ika nga ng mga taga-showbiz nagging “IN” ang INDIE dahil kay Maxie. Naging maingay ang pangalang Aureus at Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros. Marami ang natuwa, naaliw at nagandahan sa ipinakita at ikwenento nito.

Mga pagkilala sa pelikulang ito:

Cinemalaya (2005)

Special Citation – Nathaniel Lopez (bilang Maximo Oliveros) – Best Actor
Special Jury Prize - Aureus Solito – Best Director

1^st ASEAN Festival (Singapore) – Best Picture

Toronto Film Festival (Montreal) – Zenith Golden Award (Best Picture)

GAWAD URIAN (2006) – Best Picture

Las Palmas Film Festival – Best Actor & Best Director

Berlin International Film Festival (2009) - Teddy Award (Best Director)

Mabibilang sa daliri ang mga Indie Movie Hits sa Pilipinas,

“Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros,”

“Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,”

“Patayin sa Shokot si Remington”

 “Thy Womb.”

Samantalang MAINDIE (Mainstream Indie) HIT naman ang sumusunod;

“Amorosa: The Revenge,”

 “Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang,”

 “TikTik: The Aswang Chronicles”

            “The Strangers.”

DIREK  AUREUS SOLITO

Mga Pelikula:

(2005) Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

(2007) Pisay
(2009) Boy

(2011) Busong
(2012) Baybayin

(2002) Documentary Film “Sacred Ritual of Truth”

Short Films:

(1998) Impong Negro
(1996) Huling El-Bimbo
(1995) Maikling Buhay ni Apoy