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Snow White is one of my favorite fairy tale characters. I wonder why no one is making anything about Rose Red (Snow White's sister on an entirely different version of the story) but I'm really excited about the new Disney movie coming out. Honestly, Halle Bailey's Little Mermaid is one of the best Disney adaptations I've seen in YEARS so I have high hopes for Snow White. In the meantime, I'd like to say that the 2001 film version of Snow White will always have a special place in my heart. Not just because I had a huge thing for Kristin Kreuk back then. I even made her photo as my profile pic in a social networking site (I think it was Hi-5 or Friendster). I wasn't trying to catfish anyone but I guess Smallville isn't as popular as I thought because no one clocked it as her. I had hordes of people trying to hit me up loool.  Look at that face card   This movie wasn't as gruesome as how some versions of the story goes but they were really able to...

Inoue Takehiko - Slam Dunk I've been waiting decades for this! Even though the ending of the manga was bittersweet (albeit very realistic), I still wanted the rest of the manga to be animated. Although, if I'm being honest I also want a continuation (even more than the ' 10 days after ' sequel because I really want to see  Sakuragi  fully recovered and back to his shenanigans)  The First Slam Dunk is a 2022 Japanese animated film based on the wildly popular Slam Dunk manga. Written and directed by Inoue Takehiko , the film focuses on Ryota Miyagi (his childhood and his older brother Sota ) and the Shohoku vs Sannoh match. I was actually a bit bummed that I haven't gone to the fan screening (in the Philippines, regular ticket price was 400 php, the fan screening one was 1200 php  but you get a caramel popcorn, t-shirt, poster and keychain so it's worth it). If there is going to be a fan screening in your country, PLEASE GO! There are rumors going around that t...

Dracula Untold Dracula Untold   " Dracula Untold " is a 2014 action horror film directed by Gary Shore and starring Luke Evans as Vlad the Impaler , the historical figure who served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula . The film tells the story of Vlad's transformation into a vampire and his battle against a Turkish sultan who threatens his kingdom. Was surprised to see Paul Bullion in this (even though his character died right away)!  I didn't really know what to expect while watching it, but I liked it. The part where he was making all the dying, wounded people into vampires to get revenge was very satisfying. The ending was set up for a sequel and I watched this around the time (2021) there were rumors regarding Dracula Untold possibly getting picked up again for a sequel but it seems it's unlikely to happen. Still, I imagine it would be something along the lines of Dracula and Mina ( Sarah Gadon ) starting to cozy up then Master Vampire ( Charl...

 Ava Ava " Ava " is a 2020 action thriller film directed by Tate Taylor and starring Jessica Chastain as the titular character, a deadly assassin who is targeted by her employers when she fails to complete a mission. Looking at the movie poster I thought it was gonna be a cliche, glamorous female assassin type of film but to be honest I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't. The plot wasn't very interesting. I get that the lead is going through some things, but her character wasn't really presented in such a way that you would care what happens to her. It wasn't entertaining (not funny, not action packed, not a tear jerker etc.) or visually stunning. The only thing that stood out to me is the wardrobe, regarding how realistic it is (in a bad way). In real life, a lot of people are sloppily dressed especially when they're just at home or when running quick errands. In most movies, people do dress normally but in a kind of 'we're expecting guests b...

Recently, I've been rewatching some movies that I've seen a long time ago which I haven't seen in ages. Malena (2000)   Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and starring Monica Bellucci " Malena " is a 2000 Italian romantic drama film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and starring Monica Bellucci . The film is set in Italy during World War II and tells the story of a young boy named Renato , who becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman named Malena , who becomes the object of desire for many of the town's men. I remember really loving the movie when I first saw it as a teen. However, over the years I've been hearing a lot of criticism about the film (its focus on objectification of women and that's it's trying too hard to be an art film etc.) so I was wondering if it was as good as I remember. After rewatching it, I can say that I still really like it. Monica Bellucci is really gorgeous, the story hinges on her attractiveness, or else it won't really ...

Thirteen  (2003) Thirteen really feels like I'm at someone else's house, watching a teenager getting high and having fights with her mom. Kind of unsettling. It may seem that Tracy ( Evan Rachel Wood ) spiraled so suddenly (she laid eyes on Evie one time and started throwing out her stuffed toys etc.) but it becomes apparent that she has some other underlying issues. Whether it's what made her vulnerable to Evie's ( Nikki Reed ) influence or if she was just using those as an excuse to act out, we'll never know. My teenage years wasn't as extreme, but I did a lot of stupid things. I remember thinking it wasn't a big deal doing this or that but in hindsight it's a bit scary how susceptible and reckless teenagers can be. I sympathize with Tracy and Evie but I kind of want to deck them at the same time. Kids   (1995) This one was hard to watch. There's a story going on but it feels like there's no rhyme or reason. It's not visually appealing ei...

Midsommar 2019 Florence Pugh as Dani I don't know if it's just because I had high expectations, but it was disappointing. It just felt unnecessarily long and what's this I'm hearing there's even an extended director's cut 😬. Why didn't they noped out of there the second they saw Hårga ? I get that some people live in communes but they really have a cultish vibe from the get go. Also, no offense to Americans but I find it hard to believe not a single person in their group whined about things like food, lodging, etc.. I'm curious about some things though. It was mentioned that it's a special celebration that occurs every 90 years . The 9 day festival aside, they do celebrate midsommar yearly. Although the May Queen didn't necessarily have to be from the outside they bring in new people every now and then (even if they're not all killed, some would stay in there as new members of the family etc.). How would they explain all the missing people? ...

Elise (2019) I think this poster is loads better than that awful scriptina font they used on the trailer They've both opened their hearts to others, but Bert ( Enchong Dee ) has always been about Elise ( Janine Gutierrez ) deep down. I felt that Elise eventually went with Bert because... he was just there. I don't know. But then again the story is told from Bert's perspective so it makes sense his feelings were highlighted. I've had that sinking feeling that things aren't going to end up well - youth, humor and nostalgia just couldn't mask that air of foreboding. I'm a sucker for happy endings so I was secretly hoping Elise has pulled through but no. Bert and Elise's parents has already come into terms with her passing so there's that. And also, there's ice cream (Josie's ice cream) Dirty Dancing (1987) nobody puts baby in a corner! there I said it! I didn't anticipated that I would like it as much as I did. The ...

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019) exploradora ka ghorl?? After getting past all Dora's ( Isabela Merced ) cringe fourth wall scenes, I started to enjoy the movie more. It isn't that serious but this is definitely for older kids/teens to watch. I loved the flower field scene the best, it was funny and a nice nod to the animated series.  Arrival (2016) tegi time People have been broadcasting messages, leaving time capsules etc. in deep space and I've always wondered how aliens could understand these. I'm not usually into sci-fi films, but this one is subtle and thought provoking. I know heptapods are gentle and all but maaaan they're scary. If you were Louise  ( Amy Adams ), would you still go through with something if you know it'll just end up in tragedy? Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988) tag yourself - I'm the clown wearing white It was hard to get past the bad everything . To a lot of people, this is one of those...

I've been watching a lot of movies recently and I think it'll be good to write something about them while they're still fresh in my mind. Disclaimer: I do want to be better at expressing my thoughts but I'm pretty much just writing this to help me remember what parts I liked. Little Shop Of Horrors (1986) chomp chomp  Out of all the ones I've watched recently, I think this is my favorite. The songs were enjoyable (my mind automatically singing  little shop, little shoppa horrors  🎶 as I type) and apart from being obsessed with Aubrey's ( Ellen Greene ) outfits I think the overall visuals are great - my favorite bits being Somewhere That's Green and when Seymour ( Rick Moranis ) fed Audrey to Audrey II ( Levi Stubbs ).  The version I watched was the one with the cut ending and I actually would have loved a happy one so I watched the theatrical ending immediately after but didn't really liked it. Audrey II getting electrocuted by his...

I used to really like watching Japanese movies/tv series but after consecutively watching several awful Japanese movies, I kind of lost my interest. I wasn't even aware there was a live action movie version of Paradise Kiss out last year. I decided to watch this one since I enjoyed reading the manga and watching the anime version before.  While watching the movie, one of my early complaints was the lack of romance between Yukari and George, but near the end of the film, I was glad they made it that way. It made the farewell scene between them all the more sad and heartbreaking. I was a bit bothered by the cheesy music used throughout the film (the anime soundtrack was really good though), as well as the weird catwalk modelling near the end. I'm not really in tune with the fashion world, but Yukari's walk didn't look very professional to me (actually, none of the other models did). Overall, I did have a bit of a good time watching.

Bridge to Terabithia is a fantasy/drama film based on a novel of the same name. It tells the story of Jess Aarons ( Josh Hutcherson ), a fifth grader and an aspiring artist. His family isn't very well off and he has trouble with bullies in school. A new girl named Leslie Burke ( AnnaSophia Robb ) beat him at a race, which he practiced all summer for. On the way home, Jess and Leslie learned that they are neighbors. Their friendship grew, as they created a magical place across the creek - Terabithia.  I remember watching the trailer for Bridge to Terabithia sometime back, and I was really excited to see it thinking it was an epic family fantasy adventure. I don't think I've watched any other trailer that was more misleading. Even the movie poster looks magical. Well, it is magical in a way. The bond between Jess and Leslie was just beautiful. I was surprised at the lengths of emotion I felt while watching the film. Be forewarned, you'll need boxes of tissue.

Serenity is a 2005 space western film based on the Firefly TV series. The movie takes place in 2518 and the crew of Serenity tries to evade an assassin sent to recapture River Tam ( Summer Glau ). The truth about the Reavers were also revealed in the movie. Serenity did a good job of giving a decent closure to Firefly . Not many TV-to-movie transitions pan out well (I distinctly remember the dreadful, dreadful Dead Like Me: Life After Death which I regret watching because it tainted my wonderful memory of the Dead Like Me TV series). I'm not too sure if it would appeal to those who haven't seen Firefly though.

Siblings David ( Tobey Maguire ) and Jennifer ( Reese Witherspoon ) don't always see things eye to eye. One evening while their mother is away from home, the two of them fight over the use of the television set. Jennifer wants to watch an MTV concert because she was inviting a boy over and David wants to watch a marathon of his favorite show, Pleasantville. They accidentally broke the remote control and their TV set cannot be turned on manually. An uninvited TV repairman showed up at their doorstep, and quizzes David about the show Pleasantville. The repairman hands over a strange looking remote control. David and Jennifer resumed their fighting and they suddenly found themselves transported into Pleasantville. I was really excited to see this film as soon as I saw the plot. I think it's safe to say that at some point, everyone had dreamt of living inside the world of their favorite TV show/movie/book. Pleasantville proved that what seems so perfect probably isn't, and t...

Thor is a 2011 superhero film based on the Marvel Comic character of the same name. Thor Odinson ( Chris Hemsworth ), son of Odin Allfather ( Anthony Hopkins ) the ruler of Asgard and brother to Loki ( Tom Hiddleston ). Thor was set the be the next king of their realm but his arrogance resulted in him being stripped of his powers and exiled into Midgard (Earth). Meanwhile on Earth, an astrophysicist named Jane Foster ( Natalie Portman ) was investigating mysterious weather events for her research aided by her mentor and her assistant. While struggling to get near the vortex to get a closer look, Jane accidentally hits Thor with her van.... Despite the fact that the story was predictable and the love plot was forced/rushed, the movie was visually appealing and so action packed, it's still hard not to like. Will definitely keep my eyes peeled for the sequel The Avengers (Which really looks interesting. Several other Marvel characters like Iron Man and Captain America are incl...

Donnie Darko is a psychological thriller film relating the story of Donnie ( Jake Gyllenhaal ), a troubled teenager plauged by visions of a bunny rabbit telling him that the world will end in 28 days Donnie Darko is one of those films that made me wish I had retcon (amnesia pill in Torchwood ) on hand so I can watch it without knowing the ending over and over. Long after I have watched the film, I have so many nagging questions, yet very satisfied with the movie. Everyone should see this film. Just "chut up" and trust me. P.S. The official site of Donnie Darko is very cool too. If you have watched the film, but haven't gone to the official site click this link now !

City of Ember is a 2008 science fiction/fantasy film based on the first novel in the Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau . "The Builders" had designed the underground city for its inhabitants to survive for 200 years. The Builders gave the first mayor of the city a locked box to be passed down to the next mayor. The box was set to open after two hundred years but forty-seven years before the box was set to open, the mayor dies suddenly and the box was left forgotten. For over 200 hundred years, the citizens of Ember have been living underground. Their supplies are running low and the massive generator providing light and power to the city is failing. With the increased number of blackouts, the citizens are getting worried. All graduating students of Ember would undergo 'Assignment Day'. In the said event, the Mayor of the city will pick out by lottery what occupations would the students get. Lina Mayfleet ( Saoirse Ronan ) dreamed all her life to be a messenger, bu...

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is a comedy film revolving around two 28 year old friends, Romy ( Mira Sorvino ) and Michele ( Lisa Kudrow ). Romy meets a former classmate who informs her of an upcoming 10 year high school reunion back in their hometown. Romy and Michele were never popular in high school and left their hometown after graduation to 'make it' in L.A. Neither of them turned up 'successful' but they were intent on making a good impression that they made last minute efforts to get boyfriends and better jobs. After failing from their attempts, they had decided to just pretend to be successful businesswomen complete with a back story that they invented the Post-it notes . They were on the way to the reunion riding an expensive car and clad in business suits when they had an argument, causing a rift to their friendship.  I can't believe this movie scored so low in IMDb . Before I even watched the movie, I knew it's not life changing...

I must be the only person who haven't watched the famous movie musical, Grease . I gave it a go yesterday, thinking it would be fun since I know most of the songs in the movie (well, a lot of the songs in Grease are wildly popular, it's impossible not to know at least one song from the movie). For those in need of a recap, Grease is about Sandy and Danny who fell in love over the summer. Both had thought that they wouldn't meet again but Sandy had unexpectedly entered the same high school as Danny. Things weren't like they were during summer, as they are both very different and have images to live up to. Will their love prevail? It's not the best movie/musical I've seen, but I don't really want to nitpick so much. My greatest complaint would be how some of the songs seems forced and it affected the flow of the film. Despite that, I had a good time watching as well as singing along to the songs in the movie. Watching it won't change your life...

Again, I was in the mood for something light so me and my sister watched a comedy flick (again). ' Stepbrothers ' is about two 40 year olds, Dale and Brennan. Both are jobless, still lives with their parents, and are losers in every possible way. They were forced to live under the same roof after their parents got married.They couldn't stand each other at first, but something happened and they found out they have a lot in common and became fast friends. The movie has it's share of funny bits here and there, but it was very uncomfortable watching two grown men act like a pair of six year old kids. It's dreadful. But somehow, Dale and Brennan reminded me of my own relationship with my sister so in a way, I feel for those two. I don't think most people would enjoy this film, but I still think it's worth a look especially if you have siblings.