Screensucked

Movie Review: Astro Boy (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:08:00 +0000

Shiny, slick, and fast-paced can be words to describe Astro Boy the film and the eponymous character.

Unfortunately, both also lack the emotional hooks to make a true animated classic.

The film is position to be family entertainment fare, but I felt there were themes that were too mature for the young kids (the dealing of Dr. Tenma with the loss of his son and his disownment of Astro Boy are some). Apart from that, there's a lot of political underpinnings that are too hard to ignore.

Astro Boy also draws a lot from classics such as The Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio and even Wall-E. To a certain degree, it tries to explore themes like the "machine with a heart" and the humanity of automatons. But at the end of the day, the film is able to come up with a moderately-satisfying action animated movie.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: Ang Beerhouse (The Beerhouse) (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:20:00 +0000

Jon Red's entry to the Cinemanila film festival, Ang Beerhouse (The Beerhouse) is one intoxicating indie film.

Set in Manila, the film is about a the coming together of an unlikely couple, a bar girl/dancer and a street food vendor, in the unlikeliest of places, the eponymous beer house. Noynoy (played by Ryan Eigenmann) and his friend Brad dream of being customers at The Red Light Beerhouse and when they save up enough money from selling street food across the street, they have the time of their lives. But Noynoy eventually finds something else-- he finds the opportunity to be with the girl of his dreams, a resident bar girl named Jewel (played by a very sexy, but drab Gwen Garci).

Similar to Ewan McGregor's character in Moulin Rouge, Noynoy sets of a scheme to liberate Jewel from the beer house but gets himself entangled in the shady web of pimps, drug lords, and prostitutes. The film winds up with a very ironic ending. Commercial/traditional film fans may dislike the edgy feel and the loud soundtrack of Filipino rock songs. But John Red does put nice touches in exposing the underbelly of a neighborhood beer house.

The Beerhouse does have its share of saucy scenes and exposes a lot of skin (especially Gwen Garci) but the story is likeable enough with good acting by Ryan Eigenmann.

Rating: 3.5/5

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Movie Review: The Informant! (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:37:00 +0000

The Informant! is an annoying movie. Really.

But I'm not saying it's a bad movie-- as a matter of fact, I like how director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Thirteen) maintains a style that has all that jazz and Matt Damon is likeable enough as a corporate executive who expects to be promoted as president of a company he exposes. At the end of the movie, I was just annoyed with how things turned out.

I guess there's a certain point in the movie where it just changes gears from a whistleblower tale into something else. It really starts off very direct to the point, throwing a few red herrings, then come the second half, it becomes a tale of an unreliable narrator.

With it's polish and nice way of telling the unfolding of events, The Informant! is a nice movie in its own right. it's just annoying.

Rating: 3.5/5

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The Mystery of Irma Vep

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:34:00 +0000

I caught the gala night of "The Mystery of Irma Vep" at the Mary Eugene Theater of the Assumption in Makati City last October 23, 2009. The comedy features Jon Santos and JV Katipunan under the direction of Ana Valdes-Lim.

The two actors play six different characters in this play known for its quick changes in character and setting. For this production of "Irma Vep," Jon Santos and JV Katipunan did a fine job in delighting the audience in the very intimate venue. I think folks looking for a comic theater experience will find the play enjoyable.

"The Mystery of Irma Vep" will run on Nov. 6 and 14 and Jan. 21, 22 and 23, 2010. Also, this play is staged in tandem with a lecture demonstration by Ana Valdes-Lim on "Rehearsal Techniques" for directors and teachers.

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Movie Review: (500) Days of Summer (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Rarely do I feel overly excited about blogging a review after watching the film and (500) Days of Summer is just one of those films.

This film continues the tradition of witty and charming romance/comedy films such as High Fidelity and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The film gets its title from the days Tom Hanson (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) spent in happiness and heartbreak because of Summer Flinn (played by Zooey Deschanel). Both actors are wonderfully cast but I think Zooey Deschanel was able to pull off a more endearing performance while playing an adorable lady who does not believe in true love.

The film tackles traditional rom-com topics such as destiny, true love, and complex relationships in a very honest and quirky manner. I think the film will hit a nerve to folks who have gone through a lot in relationships because the film hits the spot of being real and exploring the polar opposites on views on love. One more thing: the soundtrack (featuring The Smiths and Regina Spektor among others) was great as well.

(500) Days of Summer is just one of those where I look forward to telling the whole world how enjoyable it is because it's THAT great.

Rating: 5/5

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3 Movies This Year I'm Thankful For

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:58:00 +0000

This is the day we take a step back and say "Thank You" to the folks we are grateful for.

As I've blogged about this before, October 20 has been designated as National Thank You Day and this may actually be a national holiday by next year. Initiated by Toblerone, the National Thank You Day is meant to give people some time to say a little "Thank you."

So who am I grateful to? Of course there's my family and girlfriend. Also, a big thanks is in order for my friends and colleagues. :)

Apart from the people in my life, there are some movies this year I'm thankful for:

District 9 - My sleeper hit of 2009. I loved the sci-fi mixed with a social allegory.
Drag Me to Hell - This is one of the horror movies I really liked this year
Star Trek - Arguably the most enjoyable movie of 2009 for me so far

So, to the people and movies, thank you! :D

Tags: National Thank You Day

Movie Review: Red Cliff (2008)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:59:00 +0000

John Woo (Mission: Impossible II, Face/Off) is back and his latest film is truly an Asian epic.

Red Cliff, in my opinion, deserves its rightful place in the pantheon of modern Asian films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, and House of the Flying Daggers. From the great scale to the combination of the choreography of kung-fu movies, the film has some of the most breathtaking scenes in Asian films. The cast is also top notch: Tony Leung (Lust, Caution), Takeshi Kaneshiro, Chang Chen, and Zhao Wei are just some of the popular actors in the movie.

The story of Red Cliff is based on the historical accounts of the "Battle of Red Cliffs", a turning point in Chinese imperial history. As the small southern kingdoms prepare the invasion of the powerful North Kingdom, the two nations must forge an uneasy alliance to maintain their freedom. John Woo's version can be likened to a film version of Sun Tzu's Art of War where the warring factions use tactics to upstage the opponent.

However, I felt the movie was too long (more than two hours) and the "punch-counter-punch" dynamic gets a little too tiring. I wish they showed the movie in two parts like they did in China and the rest of Asia. One more thing: the dubbing and voice acting for the English version that I watched was superb.

With no big Hollywood epic in sight, John Woo's Red Cliff is a must watch of epic movie fans and I think it will satisfy fans of Lord of the Rings and 300.

Rating: 4/5

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Movie Review: Before The Fall (3 Días) (2008)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:43:00 +0000

I was only able to catch one film at the recently concluded Greenbelt 3 leg of Película, the Spanish film festival. While I heard that there were great film in the festival, I could say I'm pleased with the film I caught.

Before the Fall (Known in Spain as "3 Días") is not like most "End of the World" movies I've seen in the past-- It's edgy, unforgiving, and dark. Optimism is hard to come by and I think the the main protagonist is an authentic anti-hero.

Alejandro (Victor Clavijo) is a shy handy man with lots of issues. He lives with his mother whom he thinks disapproves of him, he loves a girl who is pregnant, and he hangs out with the wrong crowd. But when it was learned that the world will end in three days due to a meteor colliding with the planet Earth, Alejandro is forced to step up and be a strong man for his family. He struggles mightily as he has never been a person of responsibility in the past.

F. Javier Gutiérrez tries to make this film very different-- it doesn't focus on heroism, but rather how people react instinctively to threats. The threats in lives of Alejandro and his family comes in different forms and the drama and tension comes from how they deal with them.

Before the Fall is a tension-filled movie that I'm glad I watched in the Película Spanish film festival.

Rating: 4/5

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Review: Spring Awakening by Atlantis Productions

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:18:00 +0000

After feel good musicals Avenue Q and "Spelling Bee," my girlfriend and I watched the edgy award-winning Spring Awakening by Atlantis Productions.

The two-act musical is a coming-of-age story set in the late 19th century Germany, where a group of teenagers deal with sex, parental abuse, and suicide. I was surprised to learn that the original material for the play was written in 1891-- it was filled with angst and youthful exuberance that I think was ahead of its time.

The music for the play is written by Duncan Shiek and his rock fingerprints are all over the musical score. You probably won't hear nice ear candy in this play as the songs are heavy and not too melodic. Here are some titles of the songs in the play: "Totally Fucked," "The Bitch of a Living," and "My Junk."

The cast was pretty so-so, as I felt they could have displayed more energy and polish in the performance I caught. Leads Joaquin Valdez (as Melchior), Kelly Lati (as Wendla), and Nicco Manalo (as Moritz) were OK but none stood out.

If you ask me, I found the play confusing and unsettling at first. I felt that the premise wasn't to clear in beginning and things became more apparent to me as the first act was coming to a close. Despite dropping occasional optimism in the play, Spring Awakening is a dark rock musical that kids should avoid because of the mature themes.

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Why I Gave Up on Watching "Free Admission" International Film Fests

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:28:00 +0000

I think it was two years ago when there was a European film festival, called Cine Europa, held at the Shangri-La cinema and my girlfriend and I decided to watch. Like most international film festivals organized by cultural ministries or embassies, Cine Europa was free admission, all you need to do is queue for the tickets and then stand in line to get into the cinema.

Ideally, that scenario was efficient-- on events like that where it's free, ticket distribution and seats allocation was very simple from the organizers' point of view. But on my experience, the demand became so high that queueing literally took hours.

I'm not kidding. You stand in line for the free ticket for about 15 minutes, and the line for the upcoming film will start as soon as the previous film has started. Usually, it will take you two hours standing in line. I don't think anybody will enjoy that kind of system, but for some that's the cost of getting a free ticket. But for me, it's just not worth the effort and time.

That's why I'm supporting film festivals like Película, the Spanish Film Festival organized by Instituto Cervantes. They charge a minimal amount (last time it was PhP60), but the experience is much, much better-- there are no long queues and you just enjoy the film.

Yeah, free is free, but give me a better cinema experience any time.

Technorati: Film Festivals

Movie Review: In My Life (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:19:00 +0000

Here's a list: Vilma Santos, John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Manzano. Here's a question: Who's the odd one out? (Hint: it's not Vilma Santos nor John Lloyd Cruz.)

In My Life is Star Cinema's major drama flick this year and it is the story of a complex friendship of a gay man and the mother of his partner. Vilma Santos plays Shirley Templo (Yes, that's her character's name) and she is an Flipino-American who had spent her life in the Philippines as a librarian. Feeling left out by her estranged family, she decices to move out of her comfort zone and to go to New York City with be with her son Mark (Luis Manzano),who had settled in with a good job and relationship with Noel (John Lloyd Cruz). Noel becomes the "babysitter" of Shirley as she struggles to knows New York and her son whom she has drifted away from.

Like most of her films, Vilma brought the dramatic goods-- from being irritated with the life in New York to a melodramatic mom. John Lloyd and Luis (who is the son of Vilma in real life) do their best to keep up but I feel they didn't show they were comfortable in their roles as gay men in a relationship. The worst offender was Luis Manzano, who showed he has yet to transcend his VJ and hosting into a higher acting stratosphere.

All in all, In My Life has its poignant moments, especially tapping into the loneliness and hardship of a Filipino working abroad. Too bad the glaringly weak performance of Luis Manzano got in the way.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: Surrogates (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:51:00 +0000

In the world of Surrogates, 98% of all people are living their lives through robots (or "Surrogates"), away from harm and diseased. But what happens when one person dies while connected to his Surrogate? This tragedy kicks off the chain of events that will have a tremendous effect on mankind and robot-kind on a global scale.

And stuck in the middle of this? Bruce Willis as Lt. Tom Greer.

While lacking the high-octane action of Die Hard, it has a deeper story that is an allegory to mankind's dependence on technology. Also, this vicarious living is taken to the extreme-- the Surrogates are "perfect
version of the operators. From the looks, gender, and abilities, the surrogates can be seen as "superproxies" to humans in daily life.

The movie is quite entertaining sci-fi, but I think it would have been more enjoyable if it didn't stumble towards the end. Surrogates is an interesting graphic novel adaptation, but far from the likes of Watchmen and 300.

Rating: 3/5

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Toblerone Hopes to Inspire Filipinos to Say "Thank You" Every October 20

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:50:00 +0000

Next year, October 20 will be more than just an ordinary day in the Philippines if Toblerone gets its way.

Toblerone launched the National Thank You Day Philippines at the Fiamma Bar in Jupiter Street, Makati City last September 22, 2009 and one of the major announcements is the bill in Congress that aims to declare October 20 as the National Thank You Day and have as an official working holiday. (If you're wondering, yes, you'd still need to go to work or school that day.)

I had a chat with Kraft Foods Category Marketing Manager Elio Machillanda and he said that they are working with Las Piñas Congresswoman Cynthia Villar to push the bill into law. He shared that this was their company's commitment in continuing the spirit of gratitude of the first National Thank You Day they initiated a few years ago.

According to Mr. Machillanda, the National Thank You Day is an open celebration for all. I asked him if Kraft's competitors like Unilever or Nestlé are welcome to join, he said 'yes' and he was certain that other companies would follow Toblerone's leadership on this event. He is also certain that by October 20, 2010, the law to declare that day as National Thank You Day has already been passed.

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Movie Review: The Ugly Truth (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:14:00 +0000

The Ugly Truth is a "battle of the sexes" movie that tries to be the best of both worlds-- a raunchy comedy for the guys and a sensitive romance for the ladies. But after watching the movie, I felt the two facets of the movie were quite incompatible like a vegetarian and a butcher on a blind date.

The film features two specimens that represent the aspects of the male and female dichotomy: Gerard Butler is a foul-mouthed, sex-crazy television host and Kathering Heigl is a details-oriented and romance-obsessed television producer. The two get to work on a morning show where Mike Chadway (played by Gerard Butler), talks about "The Ugly Truth"-- Mike's view on how men views relationships and they often involve looks and sex. Initially, Abby Richter (played by Katherine Heigl) detests the raunchy and profanity-laden truisms of Mike but she then grows to accept it once she tries the pieces of advice herself.

The film had a great start-- there was good mix of humor that I though men and women could relate to. I even thought that the film had the potential to be a "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" rom-com sleeper. But once the film hit the second half, it went all gooey and it lost its edge. The humor and romance were far and between and it fell to the trap of going with clichés to resolve the conflicts.

The Ugly Truth does play on gender and romance stereotypes to satisfy the audience and try to stand above the rest of the rom-coms out there. But the truth is, the film is pretty average and formulaic.

Rating: 2.5

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Movie Review: Brüno (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:56:00 +0000

Totally offensive, or outrageously funny?

I'm quite over the fence with Brüno, the self-titled film about Sasha Baron Cohen's new alter-ego. In a lot of ways, it follows the Borat formula of a mockumentary showing the Cohen in real situations where he subjects the unwitting public to the outragerous behavior of his alter-ego (in this case a 19-year old gay fashionista). If you ask me, the tragedy/comedy of the situation is actually the reaction of the people surrounding Brüno, who are either a) appalled to the point that they are covering their mouths or b) angry that they want to smack Cohen with the nearest blunt object.

I found the humor of Brüno's romps as he goes from Vienna to Los Angeles on the quest for Herostratic fame (or fame at all costs). But I'm not entirely sure if the rest of the watching public will agree with me and that just sucks because the movie version I watched in the cinema was full of cuts. (Thanks a lot MTRCB! Ugh!)

If you thought Borat was shocking, wait till you see Brüno. My guess is that either you will be shocked to the bone or you will be rolling on the floor laughing.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Eugene Domingo has been in the Philippine showbiz industry for 17 years now and one question that's in my mind right now is this: Why did it take this freakin' long for her to get a big break?!?

Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme (Twins in Artfulness) is Eugene's first movie in the lead role and given how she masterfully played the dual roles of the twins Kimmy and Dora, this really isn't a role of the dice for the producers-- she was a sure-fire laugh trip in the film.

The film (directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal and 100's Chris Martinez) is about the aforementioned twins Kimmy and Dora. The two represent the duality of mind and heart-- Kimmy is super-smart and runs the family business, but she's ruthless and has no concern for others, and Dora is kind-hearted (almost naive), but her IQ is way below average. The comedy stems from the big differences between the two, especially where they get mixed-up in each other's worlds.

I think I'm not exaggerating when I say that Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme is the funniest film the local scene has produced this year. Eugene Domingo's comic talents are finally given the recognition they deserve. If you have a chance to watch it, go ahead by all means! :)

Rating: 4/5

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2009 LEAP International Developmental Film Festival

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:24:00 +0000

VSO Bahaginan and AD Group Promotions Philippines have launched the very first LEAP International Developmental Film Festival, a festival of documentary and documentary-fiction films that advocate human development and social change.

The festival was launched last September 1, 2009 at the Robinsons Galleria Movieworld and kicked off by the screening of two special feature films: "Panudlak," a documentary about two VSO volunteers in Cambodia by Ray Gibraltar, and "The RV Diaries," a film by Milo Alto Paz that follows the story of three volunteers who went home. These two films led the way for other documentaries that tackle Women's Empowerment, Children's Right, Human Rights, Eco-Preservation, Tribal Development, Preservation of the Culture and the Arts, Literacy, and Volunteerism.

People who would like to take a break from the normal commercial films will find the films in the festival refreshing-- the documentaries do take on serious themes, but based on what I've seen, they're pretty powerful.

The first leg of the film festival will run at the Robsinsons Movieworld the month of September. For screening schedules, you may visit the film festival website.

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Movie Review: Bandslam (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:44:00 +0000

If there's a prize for the most deceiving movie poster, I think it should go to Bandslam.

If you look at the image above, it looks like "High School Musical with Guitars." But after watching the movie, there are only things Bandslam has in common with High School Musical: 1) Vanessa Hudgens and 2) the fact that both movies are set in a suburban high school.

I initially though Bandslam would be more like a feel-good rockfest, but surprisingly it was a bit gritty, with a little complex themes about friendship and coming of age. The story centers on Will Burton (played by Gaelan Connell), a not-so-well adjusted teenager who knows about rock music as Wikipedia does. After moving from Ohio to New Jersey, he gets sucked in the worlds of Charlotte (played by Aly Michalka), a mysterious cheerleader-type who fronted a struggling band, and Sa5m (played by Vanessa Hudgens), his introverted classmate who shared a lot of things in common with him. Will must deal with the growing pains while trying not to drift away from his mom (played nicely by Lisa Kudrow).

You will feel that the movie is longer than it really is (It's almost 2 hours) and the musical numbers are not quite as catchy as pop ditties. I wish director Todd Graff could have done away with the dragging moments to keep this movie a little tighter. The themes of complex relationships give the young actors better acting range, especially Vanessa Hudgens, whom I wish had more scenes.

Bandslam is a great teen film but the comparison with High School Musical can't be helped. It's just too bad that Bandslam earned only 4% of what High School Musical earned at the box office-- It has a better story and a smarter execution.

Rating: 3.5/5

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Movie Review: District 9 (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:48:00 +0000

No big name stars? That's no problem for District 9.

The compelling story and the craftsmanship of the movie make it a film worthy of your attention.

I have to admit, this movie was not in my radar for the summer but after reading so much about it, I can definitely understand why it's being billed as the sleeper movie of the season. Heck, it just came out of nowhere (well, South Africa to be more accurate) and jolted its way into the box office.

The film is an allegory to racial discrimination that's happening all over the world. But instead of an ethnic minority, the ones being discriminated are aliens from another planet. The set-up of the premise takes on the form of a pseudo-documentary, where it explains how the aliens came to Johannesburg, South Africa and became second class citizens. The main story is set in motion when the aliens, who are living in a place called District 9, are ordered to be evicted from their slums.

Producer Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) and director Neill Blomkamp have created a very believable and scenario that I found quite disturbing. The action picks up late and the documentary-approach gets a little confusing at first. I also thought the movie did not answer some of the fundamental questions about the aliens' nature ("How come they have powerful weapons and NOT use them?"). But over-all, the movie is great sci-fi.

Definitely, District 9 is a place you want to take a look at in the movie theaters.

Rating: 4.5/5

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Movie Review: Up (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:06:00 +0000

On the outset, Up doesn't look like your typical Pixar movie-- its lead character is a 78-year old grumpy man, and it shies away from the non-human protagonists in recent film releases (cars in Cars, rats in Ratatouille, and robots in WALL-E). But after watching the film, Up is a worthy film in the stellar Pixar catalogue.

You can appreciate Up on face value. It features a story about adventure and has a good mix of lovable (not to mention funny) characters. The kid in everyone will love Up on those merits. But look deeper and the film shares a lot of lessons, such as second chances, the price of success, and letting go. And the good thing about Up is that it executes in a very whimsical way.

I watched the film in Disney Digital 3D and I was quite disappointed with how the film, ironically, looks rather plain compared to Ice Age 3 and the previews of the 3D movies before the main screening. Another thing I'm nitpicking on is the quick wind-up of the story, considering the set-up was so superb. (Geez, the back story of Carl Fredricksen, the lead character, is already a movie by itself).

My nitpicks notwithstanding, Up is a must watch. It took me three days to get good seats for the movie and it was totally worth it-- you'll laugh and cry, but your spirits will be lifted by this film after.

Rating: 4.5/5

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Movie Review: The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:01:00 +0000

Do Sci-fi and romance mix well together? If you ask me, they don't.

I'm often skeptical of romance movies with a sci-fi or fantasy twist because it requires me to double my suspension of disbelief and The Time Traveler's Wife is no exception.

I did not read the best-selling on from which the film is based on, but from my experience watching the film, there seems to be a lot lost in the translation. The movie was quite drab and slow, plus it gets quite confusing most of the time. The romantic pairing of Eric Bana (as Henry DeTamble) and Rachel McAdams (as Clare Abshire) doesn't produce the requisite on-screen fireworks (although there are several nude shots of both, which makes believe are there to compensate for the lack of chemistry).

Like the thing Rachel McAdams' character, Clare, in the film went through, I felt tired of the time jumps of Henry. The film does convey the troubles and joys of having a time traveler as a significant other, but the main conflict rises from it and its implications-- How would you deal with problems if you know when they are happening?

The last film that I felt was able to mix sci-fi and romance poignantly was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The Time Traveler's Wife is no Eternal Sunshine, but it does have its moments (although few).

Rating: 2/5

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Make Music Free

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:03:00 +0000

(Note: This was my entry in MTV Asia's blogger contest)

Before you read this blog post, open the folder in your computer that contains your digital music. Take a good look at its contents and try to estimate how much of it was obtained legally. (Read: purchased).

In all likelihood, a majority of your music files were downloaded from torrents, peer-to-peer (P2P) apps, or some website offering links to the ripped CD's. I wouldn't be surprised if almost all of your digital music was obtained this way-- a UK report had said that, in 2008, 95 percent of all music downloads were illegal.

The music industry has lamented that illegal downloads cost them millions, if not billions, and if this trend were to continue, the music business will crash faster than Taylor Hicks' music career.

What can be done?

I submit a simple idea in three words: Make Music Free.

Yeah, that may sound crazy but if there's anything the global financial crisis is continuing to prove, business must evolve and industries must change. I believe the music business is not spared from this big shake-up.

Think about it: People have access to so much information today that googling the MP3 file of the song you just heard on the radio will give you a link to a blog post that will point you to where you can download that song. Some, like America's RIAA, have tried to stop this flow of information and they have had the success of stopping Kobe Bryant in a basketball game-- you just can't completely stop it.

Right now, when we buy a music CD or download from an online store like iTunes, we are paying for the songs. Music labels invest a great deal of money from developing, promoting, and distributing songs of artists in their stable. Much of the bellyaching from the labels is that piracy deprives them of their earnings from distributing songs.

But what if music labels put less emphasis on the songs on the physical CD's and the digital downloads and place the premium on the artists themselves? What if these songs become a promotional channel rather than the "final product"? The same way we don't pay to have an advertisement to interrupt us, what if the songs become a free advertisement to promote the artist, their concerts, and their merchandise?

Bands like Coldplay and the Philippines' Rivermaya have released free CD's and free downloadable albums not to earn money from the songs as the "product" but from the jump in the concert ticket earnings, band t-shirt sales, and future projects because of the increase in band's popularity. Music labels can cut deals with artists where the songs are not the main source of earnings, but with other channels.

With this idea, the concept of music as a "product" that people have to purchase becomes immaterial. By making the music free, it will encourage people to treat music as an experience rather than a "product" that you illegally smuggle in your computer's hard drive.

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Movie Review: The Hangover (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:46:00 +0000

Everyone who drinks alcohol know the unpleasant feeling of having a hangover-- it's usually a splitting headache with a sensation bordering on a sick feeling. But with the film The Hangover, you head will be splitting because of laughing.

Director Todd Phillips, who has probably perfected the quirky/raunchy buddy movie genre with Old School, Starsky & Hutch, and Road Trip, has a comic gem with this film about a group of friends who go to Las Vegas for a night of celebration and end up not remembering any thing they did in the evening. Add to the mix Mike Tyson (yes Mike Tyson!), a Chinese mobster, a stripper, and a baby, the film successfully puts things together for a clever funny ride.

Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms (best known as Andy Bernard in The Office), Zach Galafianakis all have good performances as friends who don't have a clue to what they got into. The story is very hilarious but it had to wind down slow to put together the loose ends. But the film is definitely a solid guy movie.

I'd recommend The Hangover to buddies out for great rowdy laughs. Watch it after a bout of drinking beer, no hangover guaranteed.

Rating: 4/5

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Movie Review: G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra (2009)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:34:00 +0000

What do you get when you put Star Wars, Iron Man, and Universal Soldier (the Jean-Claude Van Damme/Dolph Lundgren cult fave)?

You get G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

As a summer action movie, the very first live-action film in the G.I. Joe franchise has it all-- cool gadgets, high-powered action scenes, and a palatable story. The ensemble cast of Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Dennis Quaid, Ray Park, and Rachel Nichols deliver performances appropriate for the genre and the villains in the story (Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Christopher Eccleston) give good and believable motivations for their devious acts. The film diverges with the cartoon series in a lot of ways, but it was a nice touch to make the G.I. Joe unit an international force (like the United Nations).

Director Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Van Helsing, The Scorpion King) injects his action movie expertise and may have found a good formula by integrating James Bond-like international intrigue and battle scenes on the ground and beyond. The movie is definitely escapist in nature and geared toward the little children in boys and men. Also, the movie has several easter eggs that give a little nod to the original G.I. Joe cartoons.

Just so you know, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is one of the most enjoyable films of this summer season. And knowing is half the battle.

Rating: 4.5/5

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Movie Review: Nothing But the Truth (2008)

regnard@raquedan.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Is freedom the price of a principle?

This is the key question the film Nothing But the Truth takes on.

This film is a political drama/thriller that had little exposure in film festivals in North America last year, and has been released here in Manila (albeit limited release only). And for me that's too bad because the film has something to say about principles.

In the movie, Rachel Armstrong (played by Kate Beckinsale) goes to jail for not revealing the source of a news story that created waves in the CIA. She spent almost one year in prison and suffered professionally and personally to protect the principle of never revealing anonymous sources. The twist ending end is a nice touch to make the viewers reflect if all what happened was worth it.

The film is dragging in a lot of parts and should be watched after two cups of joe. But it soon becomes interesting when the drama in Rachel's jail time happens.

You want the truth about Nothing But the Truth? It's a not-so-powerful drama that has its moments.

Rating: 3/5

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