In Bruges Movie Review

Okay, this is not my kind of movie. But since I surprisingly took patience on watching it from beginning to end which made me feel proud of myself, (laughing*) I also wanted to do a review about it with all honesty and pure opinion from me.

Let me quote a little information from Wikipedia first.

In Bruges is a 2008 comedy-drama film written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen in hiding, with Ralph Fiennes as their gangster boss.

First reaction:
For me, this is never a comedy-drama film but a heavy one. The cinematography itself does not imply a funny atmosphere to its audience. Also, I wasn't particular about technicalities before but I don't know why this movie doesn't have any sound effects in the background.

Second reaction:
I got really alarmed and terrified by the main cast who accidentally killed a sweet child who is fervently praying on his knees in the church! I almost cut it right there and then. Good thing that I was intrigued what will happen next.

Third reaction:
I think the main cast is really having an anger management problem that he hit a woman in a restaurant. Well, it couldn't be avoided since he was influenced by drugs for which concerned people will want to call for a Drugs Lawyer Overland Park.

This is only pure and honest opinion from me as a viewer and my bottomline here is, drugs can ruin a man's life. In this movie, we saw the reality of how drugs can affect a man's behavior. Well, if things like this happen, it's best to seek for a Drugs Lawyer Overland Park to be advised with what's best to do.

Bridesmaids Movie

credit: wikipedia dot org

I was looking for a good movie to watch online yesterday and then I happened to click on this one. This movie is all about girl friendship and the good and bad things that may happen between bridesmaids before and during the wedding. I was not expecting that this would just hit it off on screen because it did not give me such impact while watching. I actually cooked and ate in between, paused and played when done. Turned out that it took like 3 hours before I finished it. 

Though I wasn't very impressed of the movie, it did make me remind of me and my best friend's little dispute before my wedding last year. We are best of friends since college. One is soon to be married next week while the other one is still waiting for her boyfriend's proposal. That means that she's gonna be the last to marry among us. I'd say that those events from this movie really happen. But then, ours is a different story. My best friend (I'll hide her in the name of Elizabeth) got engaged before me. Of course, as her friends, we Liza (again fake name) and I were so happy for her and looking forward to their wedding plans. But then months and months passed, there were no plans from her and fiance yet. So, we thought that their's is a long engagement. November, my birthday to be exact came. Surprisingly, my boyfriend proposed to me in front of my family and Liza. Elizabeth was not there because of her busy schedule. I was very happy and overwhelmed by the moment that as soon as I got the chance of seeing her, I told her the great news. All I was expecting from her was joy. But it wasn't. Yes, she said that she was happy about me being engaged and was having all those plans for our wedding on the next 4 months but I felt that there was something wrong. I didn't discern what was it all about so, I decided not to tell a lot from then on. Anyway, she didn't ask anything at all after that. I assumed that she was unhappy because that means that I'm gonna be married before her. But then, to make sure, I asked her since I couldn't take those cold smiles and shoulders from her. That's when I finally knew that she wasn't happy of my soon to be wedding because people started pressuring her of whether she and her boyfriend's exact plans of getting married. Well, obviously, for me, I felt sorry for her but being friends, it's just right to be happy for each other, right? I told her that she doesn't need to feel bothered about what other people say. I may marry ahead of her and  and it should not be a competition. We are not competing for anything in the first place and that we have different paths in life. The truth is, there will be times that one goes first and the other one comes next. I'm glad that she understood and that she let go of that feeling towards me. Besides, I didn't want to lose her as my bridesmaid and Liza as my maid of honor. 

By next week, Elizabeth is finally walking down the aisle and bind with the man she dearly loves for the rest of her life. Liza is next in line for sure although there's no definite plan from her and her boyfriend of when to settle down. But whenever it is, may the 3 of us have a happy and blessed family life.

Precious

I've watched this movie early last year when I randomly picked it out from my favorite DVD stall. This film shocked me for knowing that a young lady is abused not only physically but also in emotional and mental aspect by her own parents! I find this movie quite disturbing that a family can give traumatic experience to a young lady who's starting to dream of a well and bright future.

Enumerating the dark experiences of Precious is actually hard to even comprehend but I'd like to write them down so to open our minds and hearts towards the girls who are experiencing the same thing right from their very own home.

1. Precious was beaten the first time when she was 5 years old and continually was abused by her unemployed mother that she got wounds and bruises most of the time.

2. Her own father raped her consistently from her childhood to adolescence that resulted to pregnancy of 2 (the first child turned out to be Mongoloid, who was named Mongo while the other one is healthy). I can't help but sigh on this fact and all the more sad for this girl.

3. To finally get away from her abusive family, Precious fled and left their house carrying her two children with her without certainties of the life they have ahead. They actually didn't have any place to go.

4. She eventually learned that her father died from AIDS and that she and her child Mongo were also positive with HIV. Luckily, Abdu, the second son is negative from the illness.

Precious' journey in life is difficult and having learned that this actually happens to many girls out there, I just pray that this stops already. I'd like to give thumbs up to those social workers and to Precious' teacher who helped her stand to see hope and live a new life. She's sick and we all know that her body will give up later on but that peace of mind and living normally with her children is enough reason to fight for life. A truly heavy movie but a very inspiring one.

Fireproof: Movie Review

I am so amazed and blessed with this movie and i could not just turn my mind off for hours from the scenes that deeply touched me after i watched it. God really can bless and talk to His children in every way. This movie has successfully became His instrument that it could reach people in the whole world. I admire the director and producer of this movie, who was the main cast of "facing the giants" for doing another work that will really inspire and will transform lives of a lot of people who are gonna be watching. I have also seen the "behind-the-scenes" and it just made me even more blessed for seeing that the movie was made from the efforts of volunteers from the Christian churches in the US - from the director, producer, to the camera men, casts, and make-up artists, and many more just to make this movie possible. And the first thing that they did every day before they would start filming is to pray.

I am encouraging everybody to watch this. It talks about working out broken marriage and how God changed the couple's lives together. You will definitely gonna love it and will be amazed of God's grace and power. It's two-way-thumbs- up!

Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?

Ako ay humanga sa pelikulang ito sapagkat talagang makikita dito ang tunay na kalagayan na nangyayari sa isang tipikal na pamilyang Pilipino. Makikita ang tumpak na pagganap ng bawat isang miyembro ng pamilya. Katulad ng pelikula, marami sa mga pamilyang Pilipino ngayon ang pangalawang ama na siyang tumuturing sa anak ng babae sa unang asawa na parang sarili niyang anak. Napakarami ang ganitong pamilya sa Pilipinas. Ito ay maaaring ang unang asawa ay hindi magkasundo at nariyang maghihiwalay at magkakaroon ng panibagong asawa kasal man o hindi. Kung kaya’t ang mga anak ay nagkakaroon ng pag-aalitan lalo na kapag hindi lingid sa kanila ang kanilang tunay na kalagayan.

Sa sitwasyon ng pamilya sa pelikulang ito, hindi lingid sa mga anak kung sino ang kanilang ama. Mayroong magandang naidulot ito at mayroon din naming hindi magandang naidulot ito sa relasyon ng bawat isa. Ang isang hindi magandang naidulot nito sa kanila ay iyong pag-aasaran ng magkapatid na humahantong sa away ay pag-aalitan. Hindi ito maiiwasan sapagkat sila ay bata pa at talagang dumarating ang ganitong pagkakataon. Katulad na lamang ng eksena kung saan ang magkapatid ay nag-away at pinagdedebatehan nila kung sino sa kanilang mga ama ang mas mahal ng kanilang ina. Nakakatuwa man ngunit ito ay reyalidad nang nangyayari at patuloy na nangyayari sa mga tipikal na pamilyang Pilipino kahit na nga sila ay mayroong iisang ama. Hindi talaga maiwasan ang mga ganitong pag-aasaran sa parte ng mga anak. Ang napansin ko sa pelikulang ito ay hindi pinili ng kanilang ina ang itago ang katotohanan sa kanila. Ipinaliliwanag niya ang mga bagay sa abot ng kanyang makakaya upang maunawaan siya ng kanyang mga anak. Hindi sekreto ang mga bagay na dapat ay talagang nalalaman ng kanyang mga anak at karapatan din naman nilang malaman ang mga iyon.

Ang maganda din naming naidulot nito sa mga bata ay minahal nila ang isa’t isa nang may pagtanggap sa katotohanang sila man ay kalahating magkapatid lamang. Ito ay mapapatunayan doon sa panahong pinili ng lalaking anak ang manatiling makasama ang kanyang ina at kapatid sapagkat mahal na mahal niya sila. Hindi siya sumama sa tunay niyang ama papunta sa ibang bansa dahil mamimiss nya ang kanyang bunsong kapatid.

Kung iisipin, mas gugustuhin ng karamihan sa mga pamilyang Pilipino ang itago ang mga ganitong bagay mula sa mga anak sa kadahilanang hindi pa nila ito lubos na mauunawaan. O ang iba naman ay talagang itatago na lamang ito at huwag nang ipaalam pa.

Mayroon akong kakilala na mayroong eksaktong sitwasyon na tulad sa pelikulang ito. Sila din ay dalawang magkapatid na babae ngunit magkaiba ang ama. Ang unang asawa ng kanilang ina ay kanyang hiniwalayan at kanya ngang kasama na ngayon ang bago niyang minamahal na siya namang ama ng bunsong anak. Hindi rin lingid sa mga anak ang katotohanang iyon. Ang kaibahan nga lang ay makikitang mas pabor ang ina sa bunsong anak. Naitanong ko ito sa kanya kung bakit ganito, ito ay dahil na rin sa pagbabahagi ng panganay na anak sa akin tungkol sa bagay na ito. Marami siyang hinanakit sa kanyang ina, dagdag pa dito ang di matapos na pang-aasar ng kanyang bunsong kapatid nang hindi man lamang sinasaway ng mga magulang. Naisip kong baka makatulong ako sa kalagayang iyon at naging positibo naman ito sa ina sapagkat kaibigan ko sya. Nakita niya din ang kanyang pagkakamaling iyon. At kanyang naibahagi din na iyon ay totoo sapagkat naaalala niya daw ang kanyang unang asawa sa panganay niyang anak. Doon niya napagtanto na walang kinalaman ang anak sa away nila ng kanyang unang asawa.

Sa kalagayang ng pelikulang ito, makikita din ang pagiging maboka ni Leah (Vilma Santos). Sinasabi nya talaga ang mga bagay sa tamang termino nito, maging bastos man ito sa pandinig ng iba. Nakita ko ang pagiging malakas niya bilang isang babae. Kaya niyang tumayo at lumaban sa hamon ng buhay gaano man ito kabigat. Maraming hamon ang dumating sa buhay nya, una na dito ang pagharap niya sa kanyang mga anak at ipaliwanag sa kanila ang katotohanang sila ay may magkaibang ama at pag-aaruga sa kanila sa abot ng kanyang makakaya, kasama na ang pagmulat nya sa mga ito sa kalayaang sila ang dapat magdesisyon para sa kanilang sarili. Binigyan niya sila ng kalayaang mag-isip at magpasya kahit na sa murang edad pa sila. Pangalawa, ang muling paghihiwalay nila ng kanyang pangalawang asawa sa kadahilanang mayroon din pala itong kinakasamang iba. Pangatlo, ay ang pagharap sa mga kababaihang mayroong kanya-kanya ding problemang kinakaharap sa kanilang buhay. Hinahangaan ko siya sa pagiging isang malakas na babae. Isa siyang huwaran para sa mga kababaihan. Hindi siya nagpadaig sa mga unos ng buhay. Hindi siya napanghinaan ng loob upang gawin ang mga bagay na makakabuti para sa kanyang pamilya. Itinayo niya ang kanyang sarili nang taas noo. Anuman ang dinanas niya sa buhay at anuman ang naririnig niyang mga salita mula sa ibang tao ay hindi naging dahilan upang siya ay sumuko. Kundi naging matatag siya. At ito ay itinuturo niya sa kanyang mga anak maging doon sa mga iba pang kababaihan. Tunay nga na kapupulutan ito ng aral lalong lalo na ng mga kababaihan.

The Crime of Padre Amaro

I was not shocked of the movie anymore because I already heard about such story before regarding priests and their vocations having the same kind of issues with Padre Amaro. The movie is very much a true to life story. It did open my mind more of this fact that it actually happens not only to priests but to other denomination workers as well. And it is a reality that this is an unending dilemma up to this time.

Padre Amaro is a smart, young priest and a promising one. He actually has the favors for being the bishop’s favorite. He is committed to what he is doing and he shows so much of his passion for being one. Until when he had an affair with Amelia, a young and beautiful woman who has obviously showed her feeling towards him at first.

It is sure that Padre Amaro was really attracted to Amelia. That is why he made it certain to make ways on how they could see each other and love each other secretly. I could say that Padre Amaro has been driven by his emotions as well for having relationship with Amelia to the extent that they enjoyed sex and caressed each other and exchanged sweet nothings. But it is also very firm and definite that Padre Amaro cannot have their relationship open to public. He did not want anyone to know about it but not to his fellow priest who has this kind of situation too, who learned about it eventually.

In the case of this movie, reputation is a priority. They made it sure that no one and nothing could ever destroy their reputation for being priests not only to Father Amaro but also to the other priests as well who face different other issues themselves. And brotherhood among priests is very strong in this movie. You can see how they actually protected each other because it is not only about reputation of a name but the reputation of the Catholic church itself is what they are putting on the line. And only one thing that they don’t want to happen…..shame – shame which will result to a very bad situation not considering those who will be affected or will be victimized by it.

That is what happened to the case of Father Amaro and Amelia…when Amelia got pregnant; Father Amaro did everything in his power to cover and to give solution to the problem. He could not and would not want to have the child because that will ruin his vocation as a priest. I felt so much pity for Amelia because she was a victim of love and of dignity – a dignity not for herself but for Father Amaro. It is actually putting her to a situation that the love they were having will not materialize to what she desires to have. And it will never happen.

Being a woman, I of course felt for Amelia. It was like I was feeling her every frustrations and struggle that she was having. And what I did not like is that, she had to die without any happiness that she could bring with her. She was not assured of the priest’s love for her. Let’s say that Padre Amaro loved her but not as he loved his vocation. He had been so advantageous of Amelia because she’s only young and vulnerable? That he could control every situation by himself? That is just very patriarchal to me. Amelia died helpless and alone. She did not deserve to even experience that because she only loved a man but unfortunately, she couldn't have this man to be with her forever.

I was just so amazed to my bones that Padre Amaro did her funeral. What a cold and very unloving he was. I can’t just stand the fact that everything that had happened was just all blown to the wind. Amelia did not even get the justice she should get. There were no one to talk about the truth but instead it victimized another innocent man who was the former boyfriend of Amelia. The blame was all to the poor guy.

If I were to direct the movie, I want the ending to be just fair for anyone who were victims. I want the truth to be opened out to the public and have Father Amaro pay for his sins to be fair also with the other priest who was removed from priesthood for being a nationalist.

This movie is not only a movie but a mirror to the reality which is happening also in this country. There are victims who suffer and there are guilty who are living their life normally. There is so much injustice to those who don’t even deserve it. There is so much abuse of power which is diligently used by those who possess them just to cover someone’s mistake. These are realities that we see in our world. And there is not enough power which people have to fight against it. And we have to be with them. There are people who are fighting so hard and I want to fight for women’s dignity. Women deserve to be respected and to be given pure love. Women deserve the happiness and life they desire to have. And no man can ever take it away from them.