Wednesday, October 04, 2006


ROBINSONS MOVIEWORLD
John Tucker Must Die
1:15 PM, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15 PM
First Day High
12:45 PM, 2:55, 5:05, 7:15 PM
Twilight Dancers
1:15 PM, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15 PM
Scoop (2006)
1:15 PM, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15 PM


SM CITY CINEMA
Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros
11:50 AM, 1:40 PM. 3:30, 5:20, 7:10, 9 PM
John Tucker Must Die
12:15 PM, 2 PM, 3:45, 5:30, 7:15, 9 PM
First Day High
11 AM, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 PM
The Devil Wears Prada
11 AM, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 PM
Scoop (2006)
11:50 AM, 1:40 PM. 3:30, 5:20, 7:10, 9 PM
The Wicker Man
11:50 AM, 1:40 PM. 3:30, 5:20, 7:10, 9 PM

ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS
- Synopsis: Maxi is expressly gay at his young age. This is not a secret from his father and two older brothers who are pushed to peddle stolen mobile phones due to poverty. It is up to Maxi to care for his family, but the small-time criminals get in hot water and start vexing Victor, the handsome young policeman Maxi is fond of. Will Maxi choose first love over family?
- Critical Consensus: Unbeknownst to the many of the movie-going public, “Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros” is one of the most critically-acclaimed Filipino movies that have broken through a great deal of fame internationally. It really has struck a cord among critics worldwide, winning TEN(10!) Awards, 5 of them Int’l. awards (3 Best Feature Film Awards off the Berlin Int’l. Film Festival, 3 Awards from Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Best Picture for Gawad Urian, 2 from Las Palmas Film Festival, and nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the renowned Sundance Film Festival). The Greatness of the film is widely known that it is showered by respected reviews in www.rottentomatoes.com (exact URL of the movie: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pagdadalaga_ni_maximo_oliveros/)
- Personal Take: Due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn’t able to watch this movie the first time it was shown a couple of months ago. Well, now, I am glad that this movie has been re-mastered and re-released in our theaters, because we need Filipino movies like this to boost our morale that there is still a future for Pinoy cinema. I am so gonna watch this movie. And please, may I remind you that watching movies like this is actually supporting Philippine Cinema.

TWILIGHT DANCERS
- Synopsis: Dwight is still in his prime, dancing nightly at a gay club and finding the line between romance and commerce blurred in his personal life. Alfred, his sometime lover, is well past it at twenty-eight. He finds himself slipping into bitterness, which only makes his behavior more grasping. Bert, a former dancer, now serves as chauffeur and bodyguard to Madame Loca, the happily corrupt businesswoman who professes to become aroused at the sound of a gunshot. Once she lays eyes on Dwight, she ratchets up her scheming.
- This movie has been submitted to the Toronto Film Festival, but as far as I know, there has been no word if it has received some citations. The film has only generated buzz locally so far, as it is getting attention from showbiz news that seem to only give a damn about its gay sexy scenes. Mel Chionglo has long been a Filipino Film director who has made sexy films like Xerex, Two-Timer, and Sibak, and it seems that this is just another pseudo-porn (because they don’t seem to claim it as porn) flick to add to his roster.
- Personal Take: Sure, this movie has been written by “the great” Ricky Lee, sure this movie supposedly is a social commentary… Well, that excuse has long been used. If there is one thing that I have learned from many Filipino sexy movies and its producers, is that it loves to make these erotic movies and hide under the excuse that “Oh, it’s a social commentary” or “Oh, it’s an art film” (especially gay sexy movies) Well, that just makes me yawn. Okay, I give it the benefit of the doubt, maybe it’s a good film, but no thanks, I’m not gonna watch this. I prefer my half naked dancers, females.

SCOOP
- Synopsis: Scoop is the new contemporary comedy from writer/director Woody Allen, and is his second consecutive film to be set and shot in London (following Match Point). Scoop stars Mr. Allen, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, and Ian McShane.
The late U.K. journalist Joe Strombel (played by Mr. McShane) is being mourned by his colleagues - even as, stuck in limbo, Joe remains committed to pursuing a hot tip on the identity of "the Tarot Card Killer" at large in London. But how can his legwork get done now? Via the very much alive Sondra Pransky (Ms. Johansson). Sondra is an American journalism student visiting friends in London. During a stage performance by another American, magician Sid Waterman (Mr. Allen), Sondra is shocked to find herself able to see and hear Joe. From beyond, he gives her the scoop of a lifetime and urges her to pursue it. Sondra immediately starts chasing the big story, enlisting the aid of a reluctant Sid (a.k.a. Splendini). That chase leads right to handsome British aristocrat Peter Lyman (Mr. Jackman). Soon, Sondra finds that the romance of her life may well be the dangerous scoop she's looking for.
- Critical Consensus: Rehashing old plot lines and characters, critics found Scoop as a tiresome dipper and another disappointing addition to Woody Allen's repertoire.
- Personal Take: Sure, I may watch this movie, especially since I haven’t had watched many of Woody Allen’s movies. And Allen is known for making dialogue-wealthy movies about relationships.

JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE
- Synopsis: When three popular girls from different cliques discover they've all been dating the school stud, they band together to seek revenge. Despite the jerk's charm and ever-growing popularity, the girls cleverly scheme with the help of the inconspicuous new girl in town, to soil his reputation and break his heart.
- Critical Consensus: Not getting good reviews worldwide, this teen flick is more of just a teen flick than, say, a comedy.
- Personal Take: No, thanks. But I guess girls would want to watch this movie.

2 comments:

drei said...

i thought pagdadalaga was good, but not great. i like the parallelism used in the story.

i think scoop was actually funny. 80's funny though. woody is a genius for me. i loved manhattan, and i enjoyed match point. if there's one thing i don't like about woody allen, it's because he took away the mystery in scarlett johansson. her roles in allen's movies are loud and a little predictable.

can't wait for the departed tonight!

Unknown said...

thanks for the comment
: )
just got back from manila vacation... watched DEPARTED.... twas GREAT... gonna be writing a review of it...
have a nice day!