Film: Frozen

I rarely watch animated films. I have to make sure, if it's animated, it will serve me its best purpose: to entertain the child in me. While the child in me is also critical when it comes to filmmaking, I give it a shot to watch animated films with a pure childish heart. I haven't failed so far with my selection of animated films; well, most of them are Oscar winner or nominee. I've enjoyed Hayao Miyazaki's films, especially Spirited Away. Disney-Pixar, no matter what everyone - including myself - says about the company, still makes the best animated films. Not always, though.

So when Frozen came, I had doubts watching it. I did not enjoy Tangled and Brave that much and I think this might be of the same line. Yet, there had been a big hoopla on the film's original song, Let It Go, so as the other songs. The film has also won in Golden Globe, BAFTA and Critics' Choice, so as the song. The film and the song got nods from the Academy.

So I watched it and thank God I did. Disney did not fail me. Noticeable is the great screenplay by Jennifer Lee. Although it's animated, and usually for kids, the script was not forced. The lines were fresh and not cliche. The storyline is not your usual fairy tales. I love that the film's romantic angle is just right and the film has centered on sisterhood love. Nothing was out of place and the plot was very fluid. While watching though, I thought Olaf the snowman was just a deus ex machina and was not really necessary. Yet, the snowman was made value-adding to the script. Even some of the witty antics was from him. Though, Disney has resorted back to its recipe of lead love team (or couple of persons) with a team of talking or moving animals or creatures.

The characters were really given a big thought. It's hard to create a story for two strong heroines and with almost no villain. Yet the film made sense. Anna and Elsa are two different princesses. I like the fact that the girl characters are not made to be your usual fairy-tale princesses. It was enjoyable as a child and as a moviegoer.

For me, the most outstanding part of the film were the songs composed by husband-and-wife songwriting team Robert and Kristen Lopez. My favorite are the arrangements of "First Time in Forever". I particularly love the counterpoint parts. Of course, among the voice actors, laudable are Idina Menzel (Elsa) and Kristen Bell (Anna). All the songs are actually great and fresh. The better version of Let It Go (as opposed to the one in the closing credits) sung by Menzel in the film has been garnering awards from different award-giving bodies. I think, being the only song closer to pop rather than broadway, the song was composed to have a signature song. Nonetheless, it's terrific. And it's trending because it sings of a feeling few composers would write about: loneliness - a feeling most people now can relate to.

I loved the ending. It really warmed my heart. For a film titled "Frozen", warmth can be felt through the story. I say it's worth your time and dime.

Forecast: It will win Oscars for the Original Song and maybe for the Animated Feature. Remember, Skyfall by Adele won over Suddenly by Claude-Michel Schonberg because Adele was new and Skyfall was in the billboard already.

Name Game

Ok. I'm two years away from the academe but it will not stop me from being concerned.

Henry Sy Sr. has built a conglomerate from a shoe store. Juggling between the first and second spot, he's considered the richest man in the country. Of Chinese descent, Sy has ventured into malls, real estate, cinema and many more. From what started as a small name in Manila is now seen in more than 70 locations nationwide. Yes, you may clap.

The UP Professionals School, being erected in Taguig, aims to house educational programs on an advanced level. It will be a new melting pot of knowledge that may prove UP's premiership once more. Considered as the state university, UP is technically still a public school - the veracity of which is washed down by private investments and purchases from private entities like the Ayala group. Nevertheless, keeping that aside, no one can question the brand of education UP gives and the institution has produced alumni who became institutions themselves.

Last year, Henry Sy Sr., through SM Investments, bought a majority of shares of National University. Also, a building was erected on what used to be a field on De La Salle University-Manila - named after him. Now, the UP Board of Regents has agreed in naming UP Professional Schools after the business giant. After the infamous renaming of UP College of Business Administration after Ceasar Virata, it seems naming buildings has been a trend and issue to the academe.

How do we name a building or a landmark? There are really no guidebooks to that. Name it anything you want, if you solely own it. One of the issues in renaming UPCBA is that the university is still owned by the government and is therefore owned by the public. Law provision talks about the legality of naming a public building after someone without due process. Yet, the UP BoR approved it. No question on the process done.

Another reason is that Ceasar Virata is a known crony of Ferdinand Marcos during his reign. UP, which symbolized the seat of activism and anti-Marcos - even had the famous Barikada -, is now naming one of its buildings after a cabinet member of the very person it resisted in the 70s.

So how do we really name a building? For me, it's like branding. You name it for the reason that the name will represent the building - what it is and what is it for. Dr. Fe del Mundo Hospital is no doubt should be an institution of pediatrics. Philippine General Hospital should be the hospital that caters to all Filipinos. Vinzons Hall in UP is aptly named after the young Wenceslao Vinzons. It's hard to see a Henry Sy Sr. School when in fact, he doesn't represent an institution of education. It's like naming a hospital after our current president or a multimillion highway after the father of a president.

It's sad that if you don't have the money or the power, you will never get your name immortalized, no matter how you yourself is already an institution. Very few of our educational institutions are named after real educational institutions. Same is true with other industries.

In a third world country like ours, the few have the wealth, the power and the influence. We get what we do not deserve.

Film: Gravity

I did not like to add this to my Oscars list to watch before the awards because, well, it appeals to me as too commercial and has a thin storyline - an astronaut floats and struggles to get back to Earth. I actually got surprised when it got nods from the Academy and Golden Globe, more so when it won. When it recently won in BAFTA major awards, I decided to give it a shot.

After I watched it, my assumptions were pretty much correct. It has a simple storyline, small cast and forced screenplay, making it not an epic material. Yet, I see why it's receiving nods from the award-giving bodies. The execution made it outstanding.

I particularly liked the cinematography. Those long standing, continuous shots are fabulous. It was consistent and I imagine, it was hard to produce. Though, this may seem boring to other movie goers, these shots made me feel closer to the situation.

I'm actually not a fan of Alfonso Cuaron. I only watched Y Tu Mama Tambien and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and they were not outstanding directing-wise. I guess this would be his first piece of achievement in directing. The direction made the film worthwhile.

Acting-wise, laudable was Sandra Bullock who played a first-timer in space Dr. Ryan Stone who struggled to return safely to Earth after orbiting space debris from Russian satellites hit their location. She was good but not outstanding to win awards. It's the common excellent Sandra Bullock acting. But it's noteworthy that she's been in the film for 100% of it and the difficulty in acting she endured on a simulated zero gravity environment.

The music editing was ok. The shifts to vacuum space sound are abrupt, adding to the edginess of the film. The scoring however was ordinary. The script was forced to have a deep dramatic effect and most of the lines are cliche. Thanks to directing, the suspense was kept.

There are some inconsistencies with respect to scientific facts and astronaut protocols. Nevertheless, it's moot since the film is not a documentary.

If you're into space, this could be something for you but it's not worth so much of your time and dime.

Forecast: It may give Alfonso Cuaron his Oscars but other than that, there's a slim chance for other aspects.

Theatre: Rak of Aegis

No, this is not a parody of a Tom Cruise-starrer film. This original musical play has an identity of rock on its own. I got the chance to watch it, thanks to the complimentary ticket of a dear friend.

The band Aegis has been a part of Filipino culture since they started making hits. Actually, I realized that more after I watched the play - so many karaoke stations and pirated music stores have played the songs of Aegis. With their distinct husky voice and "birit" notes, the band was able to create their signature sound and was able to penetrate the masses.

It is not uncommon to create musical plays based on the songs of a band. Mamma Mia! was based on the music Swedish group Abba. Locally, Sa Wakas was based on the songs of Sugarfree. Iconic as the Aegis is, much is expected from a musical based on their songs.

The first thing that will catch your attention when you enter PETA theatre is the unique set design.

There is an actual floodwater in the middle of the stage full with makeshift slum houses. There's a boat, patterened to commonly seen mode of transportation in perennially flooded areas such as Malabon, attached to a dolly trail to traverse across the waters. A set of screens hang in the middle that goes up and down. The screens have been utilized fully in the play as part of the story. Since the theatre is very intimate, the set was perfect. From afar, it really resembles the slums in Malabon and Navotas. When I learned who designed it, it was no surprise that it was Mio Infante. It was a fresh take on set designing, making the set an actor on its own right.

The story takes place in a flooded slum neighborhood of Brgy. Venecia (inspired by the architectural layout of Venice) whose main livelihood is making shoes. I believe the story is based on the Typhoon Ondoy situation in Marikina. Aileen (played by Aicelle Santos) dreams of rising into fame via Internet. She made one by singing in the midst of the flood. As she rises to fame, the flood became an attraction and paradoxically the thing that can get the barangay out of their poor situation. Brgy. Capt. Mary Jane (played by Kailila Aguilos) quipped the irony in the line "Ang salbabida nating baha, lumulubog na."

The story was very close to the hearts of the people. Laudable was the script by Liza Magtoto, the tone of which is resembling the masses, which again is the most relatable segment for the Aegis band. There's a lot of references to pop culture, but then again it's the language the masses speak. The jokes were obvious and spoonfed but the acting and delivery made it funnier as well. The only thing maybe is that it came as a common Filipino ending where suddenly, everyone's happy. But again, if you're speaking the language of the masses, that's the way to go.

There was never a dull moment in the play. The ensemble acting of the cast kept up the show always energized, may it be a dramatic or comedic scene. They made it very natural that you can almost see the real situation it was patterned to. For me, Kailila Aguilos stood out as the Brgy. Captain. She knows her nuances and has the singing voice closest to that of Aegis. She alternates for Isay Alvarez. Aicelle Santos came to me as a surprise. She became better in acting, very quick and natural. Another scene stealer is the actor that played Tolits. He really studied the role and his quips were the funniest. Vocally, the mother role, Mercy (which coincidentally is the name of one of the members of Aegis) stood out with her aria-like solo. The ensemble had their own moments which contributed to the life of the play.


The musical disrupted the mainstream of musical play. The usuals are full non-repetitive songs with lavish production numbers and grand endings. The music in Rak of Aegis was arranged like the sing-alongs at home or in the neighborhood. The songs were reprised in some parts with changed lyrics. And most of the endings is not the usual high note bang. They were arranged to be solemn when needed. My favorite of the songs was the arrangement for "Gumising na tayo". Aegis made a number of hit songs yet very limited. The writer and the music arranger played with it by using the limited and applicable songs and rounding them up around the play. Although, Aegis is known for their high notes and rock songs. I was hoping to hear more of that.

I also liked the witty pre-show announcements tailor-fit to the play. It made me try not to sing-along or I would have to sing Halik two octaves higher. Also, it's a musical play not a karaoke. :)

Overall, it's not actually a miss-half-of-your-life experience yet it's a show worth your time and dime. Go catch them until March 9.

Film: Saving Mr. Banks & August: Osage County

I know. I know. It's a little late for this review but since the road to Oscars has started, it's nice to catch all the nominees before Ellen DeGeneres and the Academy award them.

Saving Mr. Banks is not actually nominated for Oscars but I'm a big fan of films with historical accounts and English actors. While watching it, I realized why it was snubbed by the award bodies. The whole storyline is intertwined with two timelines: P.L.Travers's (author of Mary Poppins) travel to Hollywood as she goes through the process of birthing the film adaptation of her children's book and her chilhood memory of her father. The way the film was edited is to make the two stories merge as one justifies the other. The flashback scenes are treated the same which I think was very bold. Although, this I think is a weak point from critics' standpoint. The flow of the story may seem to be a bit confusing. The only part I think it worked is in Travers Goff's (P.L. Travers/Helen's father) bank speech which is also Mr. Banks's recitation in the book (and turned into a song for the Mary Poppins film).

Production design and Make-up were laudable for keeping the film in its time, from cars to Disneyland and for making the characters look as close to real thing as possible. Cinematography offered some fresh shots like the pears in the pool but the entire film was presented like any other film.

Tom Hanks made a good impression as Walt Disney. The ensemble contributed to conflicts. But for me, laudable were Paul Giamatti (as Ralph the chauffeur) and Emma Thompson (as P.L.Travers). Paul was sincere and a good support. Emma has been one of my favorites. I can say this is not her best but her portrayal is excellent. She knows how to take the scene.

Another part I like is when they played the original records of P.L.Travers's conversation with Sherman brothers and the screenwriter in the ending credits.

The film stood by the truth of the events, although some were inferred. But this restricted excitement to build up in the film. The best point of the film was when Walt Disney flew to England to talk with P.L.Travers again and revealed why he thinks the author is very stingy about her book. Mary Poppins's story is loosely based on her life and that Mr. Banks is based on her own father, Travers Goff. She took his name as her penname.

If you are a writer or fascinated by one, this film would be of your interest. Nevertheless, the film is worth your time and dime.

August: Osage County is Meryl Streep's comeback to big screen after Iron Lady. I'm particularly excited about this because of, well, Meryl Streep. The story is based on a play about a mother who lost her husband and had her family - 3 daughters, sister and their respective families - come back home to find him, only to find out that he killed himself. It's a dark dramedy that revolves around how the family managed their conflicts and started to learn about each other's lives after the death of Beverly Weston (the father played bg Sam Shepard).

Cinematography again was ordinary. The positive thing maybe was there's not much panning, although it's been done before. The film's strengths are the screenplay and acting. The script was so natural and fluid. Nothing was forced. Yet, in its simplicity, the script continuously surprised me. Meryl and Julia Roberts are nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively at Oscars and Golden Globes, although they both lost at the latter. Nevertheless, my admiration for Meryl Streep grew with this film. She knows how to use nuances and no matter what emotion, she can keep the character and accent. She played very well Violet Weston. Julia, as her daughter Barbara, took her highlights as well, especially the catfish and the final argument scenes. But from the way I see it, it's a collective acting prowess from the ensemble that made it very life-like. Personally, Julianne Nicholson, as the shy youngest daughter of Violet, Abby and Abigail Breslin, as Barbara's 14-year old daughter, Jean took my attention.

The long scene at the funeral dinner was my highlight. The seemingly bipolar monologue of Meryl, the build up of conflict between her and Julia, the spurs of comedic parts - it's a rollercoaster of scenes that was natural and easy to follow. Actually, the whole film is a rollercoaster worth your time and dime.

The film's deep so if you're sure you can follow things like this, go ahead.

Prediction: Meryl and Julia will not win at the Oscars. Meryl just won last year and Julia is in strict competition.