Mr. Pang (Puhnnng)!

We had a blast early morning today as two Vietnamese students joined us for a sumptuous breakfast at our house. We were laughing our hearts out while eating a hearty meal and joking about Vietnamese intonation and speaking patterns. Linh, one of the students matched an action to an utterance of a Vietnamese person's name. I suddenly, theatrically, acted out a short skit about what happens if all names had a matching action and it was hysterical. We laughed our hearts out! It dawned then upon me that it was probably one of the best times of my life. And it didn’t involve buying anything or spending money. And so I thought of my ambivalent attitude towards material things. I attempted to say that the best things in life are free. You don’t need to have much money to be happy. But then Samuel L. Jackson popped in my mind saying “Those people who said money can’t buy happiness never had any.” I wish I could really be filthy rich someday and say the exact opposite.

- Sometime in December 2009

L_v_ c_n w_ _t, F_n c_n't. (Do you need a vowel?)

Today, I had the most awesome time of my life! It was a party epic, to put it rightly, according to my friend Yumi! We had a total blast late last night to this dawn as we partied: drank, smoked, danced,gyrated, flirted but all in a healthy context. Today, I had the fun I should have gotten during Christmas and New Year 2009 in Dien Bien Phu City. This is exactly, or more than what I feel during Christmas Day in the Philippines! A lot of fun with a sense of belonging and family. This is what I and Cathy have missed in Dien Bien Phu. It was f****** depressing before. Oh, but how the Lord compensates. Thanks to all my friends—no, my Hanoian family for all the fun we shared! February 14, aside from the very obvious heart's day, is also "Tet" or the start of the Lunar Year here in Vietnam! I don't have a date but hey, love can wait. Fun can't. Lol!

Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 5:27pm

Not so eXcellent

Not so eXcellent.

Yam Laranas’ latest directing effort has been only slightly impressive. “Patient X” is such a great movie in a purely technical level although I must say the lead actress Cristine Reyes did a better job than the others. The camera shots, color scheme and design of the film were so remarkable but it ultimately failed to deliver a good story—a story worth investing our time in. It is similar with Topel Lee’s “Sundo”—a great technical movie that falls behind on the story.

“Patient X” is a fast-paced film. The premise was even very good: an imprisoned ‘aswang’ or ‘monster’ but really has a greater significance than the English translation in Filipino mythology. The story could have been so much better but instead it was a paper-thin plot ninety-minute feature. It began well but sagged in the ending. Like “Sigaw,” parts of “Patient X” were predictable. The filmmakers could have added more layers to the film just like modern Pinoy horror films like “Malikmata” and “Tenement 2.”

Laranas, known most for his “Sigaw” film and the more astounding re-make “Echo,” has always been an excellent technical director. But as they always say technicalities should just enhance the story and not the other way around. Perhaps this is why this film failed in the box office. Or it could be just the lack of massive and effective advertising. It’s just too bad because I really had high hopes for the film. Nevertheless, I still hope Filipinos will support passion-driven films like “Patient X.” It is only in this way that Pinoys can actually discuss film art and find ways to improve Filipino cinema.

A Class from Heaven

I've got only one part time job right now and it's going to help me with rent and food for a while. I know I should still be thankful. But I am extra thankful because my first class yesterday was super fine! These five kids I am teaching are just students from heaven! They are super enthusiastic and I hope this reaction is not only for the first class. I am inspired by these kids and they bring sunshine and warmth to the cold and glum weather in Hanoi! Indeed, the one and only class I am having for now is heaven-sent! ^_^

AVATART!

It's been a looong time since I wrote something. I am here in Hanoi with only one part time job and everyday here is just spend, spend, spend. I fear I may not be able to handle this crap any more. Speaking of crap, just saw AVATAR yesterday in 3D and it just sucked. Anyone can perfectly execute special effects these days but AVATAR's story and characters were just thin as air. The execution was good but it's the same old "white-man-saves-the-natives-Pocahontas-shit." Got to see a sleek new film before I go crazy. That's all...

ALiCe in wOnderLAnd!

Why is it sometimes difficult to accept the reality of uncertainty? The level of confusion may vary from person to person. Why is it that some people prefer a clear-cut truth? A black and white reality? And so I say pardon me if I say one thing and mean the other. If there is sarcasm embedded in my words. If I say I am happy yet I frown. I choose to remain ambivalent. Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe not. I know yesterday I said I wanted to stay but today I wish to fly away. But taking just one side I will not bother, because tomorrow I might feverishly fight for the other.

Quickview (A quick review): DON'T TELL PAPA

I was extremely smothered by the Korean dramedy “Don’t Tell Papa.” I am not a big fan of Korean comedies but then again what got me attracted to this is the right balance of tragedy and humor. Most of my affection for the film has something to do with the very young and cute Yoo Seung Ho. Oh, did I mention he is also very talented?

The film revolves on a very simple, even typical story. The film is about a good man who falls in love with the ambitious girl and knocks her up only to find out the next day that the girl has already dumped him with an extra package—their baby. The good man then works hard to raise the baby and the baby grows up and loves him so much. In pure coincidence, presumably, mom comes home and grows fond of the child. I guess you get the plot, don’t you?

Possibly what worked with the film is the excellent execution and performances of the actors. As most comedies, the characters in this film are not very much fleshed out—except Ho’s deliverance. Not many young actors can show a range of emotion as he did in this film. He was about ten at that time and now, at fifteen, has had much recognition as any young actor could ever imagine. Still, he is working hard to feel worthy of his new nickname “Little So Ji Sup” as he share similar features with the hot and critically-acclaimed star.

The film uses a specific soundtrack that makes it even more heart-warming. The excessive use of a particular love song in three different versions is almost very likable. This film is also loaded with smart dialogues, mostly expressed by Ho. The jokes are also typical but are very well-delivered. Though how simple and predictable the plot may be, the film never loses its consistency. Again, the keyword: execution. This is why tons of films are made with the same theme but are still loved like the first time we have seen them.