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.