A Blog Update

Quiapo, Manila 2017

Many years ago, I've started White Jeepney so that I can express my love in Cinema.  I remember the days where I am always excited to write something about I just watched, whether it's a bad or a good film. It felt like there's always something to talk about. The beginning of inactivity of this blog started when I am no longer a student.  Cinema never really left me despite the years of me not being to see as much movies as I used to, but I discovered something, that is more tangible in terms of my creative preference.

The Last Jedi: How to tell a Saga

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)

Petitions rises to remove Rian Johnson's take on Star Wars Universe which is The Last Jedi on canon is reasonable for the fans who have high expectation or more like prediction on the saga that never went true. After J.J Abram's the force awakens, people's expectation for the Episode 8 has already been set. There was the questions that the previous episode never answered and also there's the characters that needed fleshed off. If you have that expectations, you'll probably get disappointed with The Last Jedi, because all of the things we thought we will see in the movie never happened, and to the whole canon saga, Rian Johnson just despise it and Disney never did anything about it, or did they ?

Cinema is Claustrophobic

Roger Deakins and Dennis Villanueve's Sicario (2015)

Cinema is claustrophobic and so what ?

I heard a person saying "He doesn't watch films, he only read book because books gives him more imaginative freedom" and he tried comparing literature to cinema, and that is the moment I realize that dumb people exist in this world and that statement is rather absurd. It should not exist at all. 

It's like comparing a potato into a full blown $1000 smartphone. I'm not talking about filmmakers or authors perspective here, I'm talking about Readers and Audience. Cinema are not mean't to give a freedom of imagination to an audience, Cinema wanted to be claustrophobic.It's a moving picture you see ? Books and Literature literally wanted you to imagine a particular scene, or a character via their description because they are written in a text,. Films slaps you in the face with a scenes, or how this certain character will look like, its just a matter of anticipation of what will comes next. That;s why books are amazing and also that's why Cinema is fantastic, they are fairly different when it comes on approaching they respective people. That's not how cinema works my friend. I love reading, its one of they way I learn things, but it also taught me how different it is to a movie. I thought of cinema, when you first watch a film , its like (what they always say) putting you into a very tiny dark room and locking you up there and die eventually until the credits roll up. Cinema want's to torture you, it doesn't want you to give freedom as an audience, it wants to destroy you. When you get inside that dark room and once that big screen light up, It's either you died not knowing that cinema wants to kill you and you're false argument will turn into preposterous thoughts , or die accepting the truth that cinema is indeed a murderer and you're right about it.

The End

Logan (2017) a perspective review

Logan is not a superhero film, to start the context with. It is a film about a superhero that is ending. The movie if viewed on a different way on which i was able to comprehend throughout the entirety of the scenery, it is without a doubt a commentary or an opinion to this never ending superhero genre cinematic blow out.

La La Land

La La Land (2016)

La La Land (2016) | Directed by Damien Chazelle

If I'm being realistic, I have to be honest. Damien Chazelle's La La Land might just be one of my favorite films as to date if not of all time. Its a magical film that i got sucked into, without anticipating it. Going back to Chazelle's Whiplash, A movie where I definitely fall in love with, that make me want to see more of Chazelle incredible craft. The guy just love music, and by music I mean Jazz, and he executed it to his films without being so overwhelmed about it. Its just like telling us the love he had on the genre.

Aswang

Aswang (1992)

Aswang (1992) | Directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes

The shape-shifting monster lurking around the rooftop to feast babies through their mama's tummy's pregnancy played by imposing young beautiful Alma Moreno might be one of the best portrayal of an Aswang" in the big screen. Peque Gallaga (Writer and Director) cultural research about the mythical creature is incredible. I can talk about this Depiction for an hour and just have fun with it, played by the childhood memories of what an Aswang could look like.

Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad (2016)

Suicide Squad (2016) | Directed by David Ayer

After the campy and lighter tone of DC's comic book to film adaptaion of Batman: Forever (1995) and Batman and Robin (1997), DC Cinematic adventure seems to find its real tone. A darker and more serious type of movies. It all starts with Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy and followed by Zacks Snyder's benevolent re-telling of Superman's story Man of Steel, which eventually lead to created Warner Bros and DC own movie universe which now known as "DC Extended Universe".

The Revenant

The Revenant (2016)

Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki

Alejandro G. Inarritu's Birdman (2014) is undeniable, one of the most enthralling story driven film with a bits of it's fantastic visuals through a magical film-making technique, that makes the whole film felt it was shot continuously without any cuts, and with all honesty, it was the only film I've seen that was made by Alejandro G. Inarrtu. However,  sometimes, one film from a filmmaker is enough to give the director's love, and my interest about Alejandro starts to grow and grow.

A Throwback

Shake, Rattle & Roll VI

When i was a kid i used to see this film during Halloween and Holy Week in a local TV network.  I've seen plenty of Shake Rattle and Roll film's through the entirety of my life and SRRVI is the only one that appeals me by the fact that i never mind watching it over and over again, and despite of It's old use of Visual effect, the entertainment I've got to this was actually exceptional. I also admired the early SRR films, specially the first one and the second one but i think VI has the perfect fit for my SRR taste until now. It has this three series which is "The Television", "The Bridge" and "The Moon" which for me has a very entertaining stories. It's uniqueness doesn't try to pull too much , it knows where it belongs, It's not so over the top unlike the new the films in the franchise. I'm not saying that VI is the greatest in the series it's just that it has something into it that is so memorable to me, specially that clown who takes children through television, that's a total childhood nightmare out there. Now that's the only that i remember about this film, i forgot more aspects about it because i have not seen it again for a long time, and when i am trying to watch it i couldn't find any reliable sources to see this movie once again. Hopefully someday i found a way to see this movie, because i had a lot good memories in this particular film in the series, and it is very special to me and to my childhood.

Heneral Luna

Heneral Luna (2015)

Directed by Jerrold Tarog | Cinematography by Pong Ignacio

Its the feeling that you don't always get watching Filipino films. Despite of student discounts, i am happy to see that people are actually lining up for a local movie. That's what i feel when i first see this film, when the cinema is full of people, you hear their reaction, and the applause the movie get afterward is just a fantastic feeling. But the question is, does the movie deserve this applause? My answer is "YES", I myself as moviegoer who prefer watching silently still get along with the audience who seems to appreciate the art the film whoever they are i guess.

Life and Butchery

Kinatay (2009)

Directed by Brillante Mendoza

The only thing that triggers me to see the film is when I read some of Roger Ebert's stuff on his webstite, and I've read one of his journal that talks about this particular film. Ebert simply butchered this film, naming it as "The Worst Film in history of Cannes Film Festival", and i was simply shocked about it knowing the fact that before i even see this movie the feed backs that it got was simply mixed and most of them are atrocious. It just that way Ebert describe this film shocked me, i have a complete face on the ground moments while reading it, and Ebert wasn't just beating the movie itself but it mostly directed to the director, Brillante Mendoza.

The Sweet Tale of Anita

Ang huling cha-cha ni anita (Anita's Last Cha-Cha, 2013)

Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernando

I wasn't expecting anything from this movie until I've seen it, and when i finally seen it i was very surprise on how intricate it was, pretty much controversial if you took the view point of the other people. Before watching this movie the audience must understand that it tackles a very sensitive subject, and for that i must say the film is mostly redirect for Open-Minded people and to those who have wider understanding.

Ang Simula at Wakas ay Kapatiran

AKO Batch '81 (1982)

Directed by Mike De Leon

This film is like one of the films i really look up to when i talk about movies. AKO Batch '81 is Mike De Leon's let's say masterpiece of it's time. It shows a fascist nature, getting a metaphorical representation of the  political administration during the 80's, Marcos Administration. I cannot believe myself that such local films like this existed, i was surprise on its nature, no wonder why Mike de leon is like one of the greatest Filipino film director out there.

Oh i love our Films. Filipino Films!

A brief thought about Philippine Cinema.

Florentina Hublado, CTE (2012) by Lav Diaz

The more i discover Philippine Cinema the more i stop worrying about it because little by little i carefully realize that movies in the Philippines is not the problem, there's plenty of better Filipino films out there than what we usually see, its just a matter of discovery, or how many have you seen. Let's start ending this atrocity of comparing Indie to Mainstream Cinema because Films have a respectful divisions; Yes sometimes we hated certain filmmakers about the way they making films, but then i suddenly realize they are not supposed to be worried to because if we hate it then don't watch and if we supposed to watch there's no problem about giving an opinion, just a year ago I write a practically "Rant" about what's going on to Mainstream Cinema of this country because my perspective as an audience hasn't been that wide enough but everything I've said there has a point so I don't considerably regret it. The main thing is if you ask me, Philippine Cinema is doing fine, the movies are doing fine, but the complication is the society, on how they approach our own Local movies, the lack of appreciation is what makes the difficulty in Philippine Cinema. It's not about the Budget, It's not about how big the movie is, It's all about how people see it and appreciate it. We are doing fine but We need to push a little more, so we can expand on how the society see our very own movies. The mission is to expand the vision.

Bundle of Joy

Inside Out (2015) Review

Pixar and Disney once again prove that their magic was never gone. Inside Out despite of it, let's say deeper premise, Pixar's shows a fantastic execution on this movie. We might think of its idea as an complicated narrative but it's amazing how the overall movie felt very simple and can easily enjoy by all the ages. Inside Out was directed by Peter Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen, and it came from this directors who made "UP", "Toy Story" and more which are the Pixar films i actually grew with and enjoy until today. I love how this film makers express emotions from a movie about emotions itself and it was very clever and unconventional way visualizing it with such heart on it.

Paper Towns

Paper Towns (2015) Review

Cinematography by David Lanzenberg

Paper Towns might be one of the most fun coming of age film i have seen this year, with its relatable humors and references, it has those great elements for such way of telling an adventure story, but what really stands on this movie are the message that it tries to tell to us. It's the second movie that was adapted from John Green's best selling books, the first movie "The in our Stars" (Directed by Josh Boone) is the best example of a great execution of book-to-movie adaptations yet "Paper Towns" stands in a very different way, it successfully tries to avoid some cliches away from a usual romantic coming of age movies, it doesn't try to pretend at all moments that it has.

My Life to Live

Vivre Sa Vie (1962) Review

Cinematography by Raoul Coutard

If you're going to ask what film could possibly beat my love to Steven Spielberg's 1993 Schindler's List i would likely answer "Vivre Sa Vie".  Vivre sa Vie or My Life to Live is one of the earliest Jean-Luc Godard works and it was one of the greatest of his, yet the brilliancy of this film didn't came from a very conventional attraction rather it came from it's purposely artistic work in a very self-conscious type movie which i consider unconventional way of enthralling the audience. It was 1960's where the french new wave has started to rise but also it was the point where Godard's started make much more deeper movie with an all out reliance on his own style.

Genisys

Terminator Genisys (2015) Review

Cinematography by Kramer Morgenthau

Arnie is back and his good once again. Terminator Genisys is a self confused movie whether it wanted to stand on it's own or not, and the fun factor that i get through out the movie reminded me a lot Jurassic world (But that film is way better). The first thing i would say about this part reboot part sequel movie of Terminator Franchise was: Thank Goodness it wasn't disappointing or greatly bland compare to Salvation however Terminator Genisys was Enjoyable and nothing else more.

King in Manila

Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story (2011) Review

Cinematography by Carlo Mendoza

It's obvious that the main residual problem of watching ER Erjecito's Films is not the other things around the film-making such as acting, action or etc but rather it's the focal point of having a trouble making a precise pacing on editing. Yet this film is the best example of a modern age Filipino big budget action movie that fails to push it's sense but it always highly entertaining and fun. Sadly we rarely see such local movies like this that tries to be different and unconventional among the others. 

She Walks Alone

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) Review

Cinematography by Lyle Vincent

There's a few things i consider on why I'm so excited about seeing this movie. First it's a vampire movie, i haven't seen a good vampire movie for a long time and i have hope that this movie is going be a good Vampire film, Second it was shot Black and White, there is something on Black and White that i really love, it's just for me Black and White represents the atmosphere more subtle, Third and the last it was an unconventional Vampire film, that reminds me of old horror vampire movies like Nosferatu and Dracula, yet this movie has Iranian actors that was very unique in terms that we usually see vampire movies if not american it's English. It was one of the most complex and unconventional vampire film i have seen.