Film Works: Rianne's Film Blog

Pera-perahang Lata (Penny from the Tin Can) Screens at Titus Brandsma this December

SHOWING THIS MONTH: PINK CHRISTMAS
Free Admission
December 12, 2008/1pm onwards

Where to find us:
St. Elijah Hall
26 Acacia St. Brgy. Mariana, New Manila
Quezon City

pelikula@titusbrandsma is a free monthly film screening with dialogue that features fine samples of world cinema. It is an offering of the Titus Brandsma Center-Media Program under the auspices of the Carmelites in the Philippines. This monthly event is aimed at giving a meaningful experience for film enthusiasts.

FREE ADMISSION. For inquiries/confirmation, Cal/txt Bituin – 726-6054/09174759244
Email: pelikula_titusbrandsma-own

er@yahoogroups.com, tbcmedia@yahoo.com or pelikula.tbc@ gmail.com
Website: www.pelikulatitus.official.ws
Subscribe: pelikula_titusbrandsma-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com (To receive
info re: schedules and general information dissemination)
Subscribe: pelikula_titus_forum-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (For discussion, critiques, reviews, suggestions or requests)

SEQUENCE:

Pera-Perahang Lata
Written & Directed by: Rianne Hill Soriano
29 mins. 58 sec.

Cast: Von Arroyo; Arnold Reyes; Paul Sy; Gio Respall; Via Antonio; Judith Soriao; Dido dela Paz; Marnie Solo; Rey Estrada

Synopsis: “Pera-perahang Lata” is about the plight of a young man who tries to make up for his inconsiderate moves towards a needy stranger, but he ends up seeing another tragedy from it. It explores the many facets of a struggling life in a world that is full of unpredictable moments – where some things are really beyond one’s control.

The setting is during the Christmas season where the needy, middle class, and rich people come together sharing gifts, giving and receiving alms, adorning their homes, offices and other establishments with Christmas decors, and attending the “Simbang Gabi.”

This film exposes both the rich culture and the struggle of lower-middle to lower-class Filipinos in the Manila commune set during the Filipino Christmas season – amidst the exciting tradition of gift-giving, caroling, and the “Simbang Gabi.”

The film’s look is a combination of: the dark and gritty; and the light and Yuletide. The realistic treatment mainly shows the dark alleys, well-lit buildings, and different kinds of people travailing public places.

Imagine Me & You (2005)
Written & Directed by: Ol Parker
94 mins.

Cast: Piper Perabo; Lena Heady; Matthew Goode; Celia Imrie; Anthony Head; Darren Boyd; Sue Johnston

Synopsis: Rachel and Heck, long time friends and lovers, finally tie the knot, and during the celebration, Rachel starts a friendship with their florist, Luce. And while Rachel originally intended to match her new friend, Luce, up with her husband’s friend, Cooper, she soon finds out that Luce is a lesbian. During the course of their friendship, Rachel starts to question her own sexuality. And though she comes to realize she may have feelings for her new friend, Rachel must decide who she will ultimately find the most happiness with: Heck, her new husband who is also adored by her family, or Luce, who has turned her life and everything she thought she new about love upside down.

Awards/Nominations: Nominated for 2007 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film

The Same, but Different
A documentary by Lisa Marie Evans
65 mins.

Synopsis: The Same, but Different explores the various roles of four transgender individuals in the Midwest United States, including a fundamentalist Christian anarchist; a Catholic republican; your average single guy; a comedienne and parent of two. Claven, Andrea, Jaron and Nicole open their realities, allowing us to see the similarities we share.

Source: imdb.com

December 8th, 2009 Posted by Rianne | Films, Independent Films, Melodrama, My Films, Personal/Expression, Pinoy Films, Places | no comments

Film Review: Ninja Assassin

Splatter On: Adrenaline Junkies’ Ninja Flick
By Rianne Hill Soriano

“Ninja Assassin” is primarily committed to its bloodletting and cool fight scenes than to its story and its characters. For those who are looking for a good story and script, it’s a big letdown. But for adrenaline junkies and all those who are into excessive CGI blood and gore, this movie is going to be fun.

This action flick produced by Andy and Larry Wachowski (a. k. a. the Wachowski brothers), filmmakers of the “Matrix” trilogy, really magnifies its selling point: “very cool” fight scenes. It could have meant more if they provided a decent storyline less the dumbness though… The film seems to capitalize on the CG innovation of slicing human bodies by whizzing five-pointed stars, among other bladed weapons. And if the viewer turns off his/her brain, then it’s time to turn up the blood splatter for that entertaining video game-style of killings.

This East meets West slice fest unfolds like a diverting, uncommonly violent action flick. It’s like, there’s no need for an extended critical analysis for it. This ninja movie primarily showcases shiny blades and bloodshed. Director James McTeigue provides visceral fights and stylish gore to please the fan boys and girls who expect ample smashing, gory decapitations, and gushing streaks and rivers of blood in the big screen. The all-about-fun edit provides enough commercial appeal to it as blood-spattered martial arts moves abound to delight the followers of the genre. The film lives in the moment – a gut-driven gouge of a picture where shaky cam in dark cinematography and blatantly fake CGI bloodshed color the screen like a sea of red and black. Most scenes move very fast and are intriguingly dimly lit.

“Ninja Assassin” can be ridiculously exhilarating. Its brisk and exuberantly obvious filmmaking knows how to perk up the audience’s bloodthirsty pleasure for a genre flick – without trying to humanize its comicbook characters or deliver a ludicrous political or societal message. It’s all about the audio-visual satisfaction for throwing stars, swinging swords, and disemboweled bodies. With gusto, it turns these bodies into human salsa for the heck of it; well actually, to live up to its title. And the atmospheric mood with some homage to old-style ninja elements adds some more interest to it.

The disjointed storytelling and unbearable lull moments are the given lackluster parts of this movie. The dialogues are generally flat. Some of the tricked-out fight scenes are not as slick as most, and these are where the aspect of slicing and dicing don’t get to measure up to the audience’s demands for more quality entertainment. They may be engaged at what the screen shows, but they don’t get involved with the characters – making it increasingly hard to care about what ever happens to them. And following the story outside the realm of the “cool fight scenes” is like having to use a useless butter knife when it’s supposed to be a boastfully sharp sword.

Rain justifies his character as a very talented slaughterer here. As Raizo, the ninja assassin who turns away from his clan, could kill with anything within his reach. And it shows how much tough training he had – and thanks to good lighting on his ninja body, he provides that needed entertainment to the viewers by living up to the film’s title. He and Mika, played by Naomie Harris, have moments of stylized lunacy that nearly works, though the lame script punctures the characters’ and the film’s overall potential. Sho Kosugi as the Ozunu clan master, along with the rest of the ninjas around, works way much better when they are doing the fight scenes than doing lip service and some melodramatic moments. All these make the movie work for its basic purpose – as long as there are ninjas fighting on-screen.

“Ninja Assassin” is a bloody concoction of a slasher movie in martial arts form. It is wildly improbable and completely unrealistic, but it’s also bloody good fun. And so, if bloody mayhem is the viewers’ idea of coolness and adrenaline rush, this movie really splatters well.