License to Wed

It’s funny (or maybe not) that in driver’s license there is a mandatory age before you can apply, but sometimes in marriage people seem to have the idea that there is an age when you should apply regardless of anything else.

In License to Wed, comedy’s energizer bunny Robin William stars as Reverent Frank a highly unorthodox pastor of St. Augustine. Believing that desire (and majority age of course) does not close the deal for having a great marriage he holds what is in effect a stress test masked as a wedding seminar for couples wishing to use his church for the ceremony. His target, at least for the duration of the film, Ben Murphy (played by John Krasinski) and Sadie Jones (played by Mandy Moore).

Sadly for much of the film Ben and Sadie did not successfully sell the relationship. John Krasinski was just too awkward never really connecting with the much powerful character of Mandy Moore. What would have given this movie some added depth is a couple with chemistry and not one that screams disaster a mile away. Audiences will never feel the love before, during, or after Reverend Frank tears them apart.

As for Reverend Frank, well, he made and probably also broke the movie. Robin Williams remains as energetic as he has always been even at this age of 57. Cohesion wise it was a problem. For License to Wed there was no energy, actor, nor script available capable of matching him and level things out. He just stands out too much as he gave lines that are both humorous and critical.

The supporting cast is just forgettable. With Reverend Franks unchecked, it is appalling that Ben and Sadie were unchecked too. Sadie’s father, mother, sister, and friend had little presence even if they we’re physically there. There was insufficient interaction with the Joneses to give the atmosphere of a wedding. Of them all sister Lindsey (Christine Taylor) had the greatest presence unfortunately she was too neurotic, recovering from a divorce to be endearing.

In terms of pacing there is nothing wrong with License to Wed. It was never boring. What it lacked is the emotional connection necessary with what I assume to be a romance comedy. It is even more important considering the message it is trying to bring on not rushing to marriage with just riding the euphoria of hot sex and candle lit dinners.

Reverend Frank’s remarriage program was on the ball. It would have been nice if the story was able to reign in the emotion of the audience romantically before convincing them it was wrong or insufficient. And speaking of insufficient so too were Mister and Misses Jones. They could have been the emotional anchor in terms of giving words of wisdom but they seem just as neurotic as their daughter Lindsey.

License to Wed, for all its short comings production wise, does have a good message. Like all licenses, marriage does not boil down to age or desire it also comes down to ability and responsibility.

Until then it’s the jeep for me.

Notting Hill

As vacations would often do around the world plus having budgetary constraints and struggling for company, I reached deep into my DVD collection (both the legal and illegal) for entertainment. Hidden deep among my stash, among the originals in fact, is Notting Hill. That movie is a rarity considering that among the handful of originals that I have it’s the only romance flick. . . so far.

The central theme of the film is perhaps the Holy Grail in the area of love; two different people, polar opposites, falling head over heals over one another. Hugh Grant plays the bottom half of that pole as William Thacker, a travel book shopkeeper while playing the prestigious top end of the pole is Julia Roberts as a world famous actress in Anna Scott.

As Anna Scott, Julia is basically playing herself. In 1999 when the Notting Hill was shown Ms. Roberts was one if not the most bankable female actress which adds immensely to the credibility of the character of Anna: confident yet vulnerable; wary of publicity and people who might in it for the advantage.

As a commoner Hugh Grant did as well as he could but unfortunately he was just physically impressive. Plain shirts and jacket will never look that well with me.

But just to be fair Hugh delivered his lines well. He was convincing as an awkward and uncertain shopkeeper facing what is essentially every man’s dream date. I guess what helped Hugh go down a few notches in the social strata are his capable supporting cast.

There was the frustrated cook and best friend Max played by Tim McInnerny. Gina McKee plays opposite Tim as his wife Bella. Wheel chair bound but not out Bella has an interesting dynamic as William Thacker’s former girlfriend. Then there’s Honey played by Emma Chambers. Though physically she’d be the last woman I’d pick to play Hugh’s sister she did quite well gelling with her film brother and friends. Another of the bunch is Hugh Bonneville’s character Bernie. This one is largely unimpressive as is often stated all throughout the film with his frustrations in work but surprisingly it’s hard to imagine Notting Hill without him.

Topping the support cast is Rhys Ifans. He was great as the sometimes perverted but always with a good soul roommate Spike. In real life it seems unseemly having a high profile actress and a man with a breeding of a dog but it worked. I think it’s ironic that in assembling and creating an unimpressive group of characters the filmmakers have created also endearing ones, perhaps even more than William or Anna.

Story wise the film was paced beautifully. The banter was terrific, simple but intelligent especially from Hugh.

Notting Hill also possesses an excellent soundtrack lead by the hit “When You Say Nothing At All”. I liked the scene when the song was first played, the birthday party. Anna, a first time guest, was just observing barely even having a romantic context but you’d know something was going to be there.

Romance writers should learn from this including a recent vampire movie which I do hate; that saying “I can’t resist you” or “I’ll die for you” will not necessarily close the deal for a convincing romance.

And while we are on lines Notting Hill was not beyond throwing out that catchy romantic line that for some will be melodramatic, over the top, or even unrealistic. It summed up I believe the idea of opposites can love each other or at least try to: “I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” If anything that line had perfect placement and timing somewhere near the end.

As my dearly departed Uncle Mon would say movie romance is so perfect its lasts for just two hours. But who cares. With a cast like Notting Hill, a well constructed story, a lovely soundtrack, and lines delivered in perfect timing and convincing portrayals, I’m sold.

Here’s to hoping for that actress one day. hahahaha

Eagle Eye

In some ways Eagle Eye is a souped up version of The Net but with a little something extra. Love or hate the movie depends on how you swallow that extra.

Transformers star Shia LaBeouf plays Jerry Shaw a young man who unfortunately happens to have more money than he had actually deposited plus he now has an apartment he doesn’t have a spot to lie in since it’s full of explosives. To make matters worse, the FBI is on his tail just as he was barely coming to grips with money and crime he didn’t commit.

Also in the same boat is the pretty Michelle Monaghan who as Rachel Holloman is like Jerry Shaw seems to be living a life of crime one morning.

If you’ve seen The Net well you know Jerry or Rachel will get no where citing records. While the lead characters were more outgoing than Sandra Bullock’s character there was the theme of an ever present and “dependable” computer network is apparent all throughout. The evidence was never challenged. The technology is there and everyone believes in it. It may be too much of a stretch now that I think of it that people would just follow a stranger’s call so easily.

The internet and computers are ever present now with the coming of cellphones and wireless technology. There was even a reference to a popular social networking site which makes me wonder to be honest of what posts like I am doing now will do in the near future. How much of a picture am I painting of myself even with just movie reviews?

Story wise Eagle Eye is fast paced. It was a chase most of the time; two people getting framed trying to escape the FBI through a mysterious woman who keeps calling his cellphone. Shia reminds me too often of Transformers, but he can really sell the intensity of the situation with the occasional humor. Michelle also did ok.

Helping give credibility to the story are supporting characters who are, among others, Billy Bob Thornton (Agent Thomas Morgan), Rosario Dawson (Zoe Perez), and Michael Chiklis (Defense Secretary George Callister). Chiklis as great as he is has too few lines though. I wasn’t completely sold on the Defense Secretary role having thought of him more as Ben Grimm or Vic Macky of TV’s The Shield.

Finally for that extra, suffice to say I was not sold on the idea. One reason is its lack of originality. And two, well, it was too outrageous for its environment. I’d have to give it to the movie for giving the audiences something to think about in this age of connectivity.

But overall I’d say that Eagle Eye is one fun ride. Not a bad movie to watch one lazy afternoon.

Quantum of Solace

The first thing that came to mind was bad cinematography or bad editing. There was just something unappealing to it, I don’t know how to describe it; maybe in the framing, the pace or choice of shots.Something’s just off.

For the fans who are not up to date it may be necessary somewhat to refresh from the preceding movie just to be in sync with James Bond’s (Daniel Craig) state of mind.Quantum of Solace started off in a sprint, a car chase in fact seemingly just minutes after Casino Royale.Remember the man that he shot ending Casino, the one supposedly in the shadows, holding the strings; for this movie there seems to be an entire organization in the shadows, and its name is Quantum.

Agent 007 goes after Quantum in an obsessive fury throughout exotic locales the franchise is well known for.It was revenge in a way for having known Vesper (Eva Green) in Casion Royale.

On that note I find that the obsession part is somewhat underdeveloped with characters like Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) and M (Judi Dench) often the ones to reminding Bond to forgive and move on.There was little sign from the man himself that he was tied to the past; little sign that he was looking except when he was reminded that he was. Bond seems quite happy when in the company of Agent Fields (Gemma Arterton) or Camille (Olga Kurylenko).

Mathieu Amalric stars as villain Dominic Greene, one of the top players in Quantum.With the accent, the wardrobe, and the parties he gave off a classy aura.I wonder if there ever was a villain in this franchise who was unshaven, lived in the mountains, and never went to the top hotels and grand parties.Compared to the villain in Casino Royale Le Chiffre, Greene comes off as less threatening which I guess could be good if you’re a villain.

The organization Greene belongs to, Quantum is underdeveloped which is reasonable considering filmmakers need to focus on just one mission.The closest the film got to it (besides Greene of course) was in the opera scene where Bond uncovered three members all influential internationally.After that no contact.

Action wise I’d say one review I read was accurate, Bond is close to becoming Bourne.After reading the movie’s IMDB page I think I may have found why: the second unit director, David Bradley, did some work in Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum.The scenes were great I must admit but for the purposes of establishing an identity perhaps the leaders of the James Bond franchise should rethink in going the Bourne way.Perhaps they should highlight the classy part a bit more because I can think of no other spy in the genre with more extravagant tastes than James Bond.

Quantum of Solace has an environmental theme to it.Sadly, there is just something about a secret terrorist organization and making profit because of the environment that just doesn’t mix.The story, the premise is quite sound to be honest but it just removed the terror factor out of Quantum, which I have said was underdeveloped.

Finally, I don’t think there is finality.Daniel Craig’s stint as Bond may have a storyline more connected that in previous incarnations.Unfortunately I have not seen much of James Bond in past movies to be sure but suffice to say the mission does not seem over.

I don’t know if the fans of Bond’s past will ever like Craig’s stint as 007 especially Quantum of Solace which I agree was a let down. But I am completely in favor of many of the changes made in this present James Bond so I am optimistic that for the next 007 will have regained lost ground.

Erap for 2010?

Erap’s logic escapes me in his recent statement implying a run for the presidency, again, this time in 2010. The candidacy, the former president said, hinges on the ability or inability of the opposition candidates to unite. He will declare in late 2009 if the opposition remains disunited and go forth with his magic solution of having his name again in the ballot for presidency.

It is entirely possible that the former president and actor did not do well in math during his school days. In fractions, the larger the denominator does not mean a larger piece, so how can his running be a solution when all other presidential hopefuls remain on the table.

If he has any shred of ability and clout worthy of being president then he should first try to mediate and settle disputes between opposition parties. He should show the ability to build a coalition now before winning again the presidential seat he seems confident of winning.

Erap’s inability at this point to lead or show any real solutions betray the lack of lessons learned from his downfall. His threat to announce his candidacy still shows the man who lost the presidency: I am popular therefore I can lead; I am powerful therefore I can do whatever I want.

Erap still has some sway with the people but allies should beware that he has not one shred of ability to rule. He lost the presidency in spite of having the greatest mandate in recent memory. He had great minds at his command, the entire resource of government and he was deposed under a cloud of scandal.

If he wants to get back at the usurper which I am sure he perceives President Arroyo to be then he should accept his limits and make the most of it. At best he could be a kingmaker make every sleazy deal as politicians have been known to do to make a coalition. But the presidency please not again.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

The day the earth stood still for me when I watched the movie of the same name.It was as if I watched a movie from the ancient past never mind the new effects brought in.Granted that I never saw the original, a sci-fi classic from 1951, this 2008 Keanu version was predictable enough in the first 10 minutes.

The idea that man is as much a problem for earth as they could be the agent of solution and new horizons, I guess, has been in the minds of many sci-fi writers from all over.Tom Cruise’s War of the Worlds should have taught me a lesson in lessening my expectations of these remakes.

Leading the cast is Keanu Reeves who plays Klaatu a powerful visitor from another planet with a mission of changing the earth or saving it.A big emphasis should be made that Klaatu’s mission is the earth and only the earth; man being the contagion.

The acting prowess of the former Matrix star remains the same.He looks, sounds, and acts the same as he did in Devil’s Advocate, Sweet November, Speed, and much of his movies.That cold annoyingly monotonous voice that he has removed all the mystery, power, and scary quality required in the character if Klaatu.He sounded like a surfer who came down in a glowing sphere.

Jennifer Connelly did a much better job as Helen Benson, the only person ever to understand how best to handle the all powerful alien.Son of Hollywood megastar Will Smith, Jaden Smith starred as Helen’s stepson Jacob. He did ok, I’m sure Will Smith would be proud.

Leading the supporting cast is Kathy Bates as the United States Secretary of Defense.She did her role well and I suppose so did the rest of the cast.

Unfortunately, I never saw the cast as a group or parts of a story.They were who they were.There was Kathy, Keanu, Jennifer and Jaden; then there was Roger Cross from 24 and Robert Knepper from Prisonbreak.And there was the guy, John Cleese, who was Q of the James Bond franchise. I distinctly remember Cleese giving Pierce Brosnan a few toys when he played Britain’s top fictional spy.

I don’t know if it’s fair to blame it on acting, but maybe a large part of it is casting; the other being the script or the director himself.Or just maybe I was just too bored; having had too easy a time to size up the character and the story.

The moral of the story wasn’t bad, the earth needs to be taken better care of.The Happening did a better job in the originality department albeit the ending sucked.An all powerful alien isn’t as impressive as it once was.Helen Benson’s character can be as simple as beauty taming the beast.If you want to be technical you can call it Klaatu devoid of all contact from his own kind had every chance of being assimilated.

It was no challenge at all.

The Day the Earth Stood Still 2008 could still work I think at least for the young, people who are newbies to the sci-fi genre.Also if you are not a critic of Keanu it could work.Maybe. . . .

Traitor

To betray is to go against what is expected with the greatest of malice. It’s a stab in the back, not a pleasant surprise. He who betrays is the traitor.

For the film of the same name – Traitor – it was obvious from the title alone that someone will go against someone; there will be betrayals. Set in the age of the war against terror there are many sides to this film: the Americans, the Arabs, the terrorists, and the ideology.  The trick in this movie is to find out who betrays who, but most importantly who survives.

Don Cheadle leads the movie as Samir Horn, formerly trained in the US Special Forces; he now sells explosives in the Middle East. If you think spy you are correct, but that is where the simplicity stops.

Horn is a devout Muslim. In a world when armies no longer fight countries but people in the shadows, it will not be impossible to forget who you are. There are no flags only ideologies.  With this war sometimes branded as a holy war, how can Horn cut off from family and friends maintain his soul especially when he needs to reach out to terrorists.

There are many scenes where Horn is engaging debates with Omar (Saïd Taghmaoui) a contact from the terrorists group. The treatment was fair; not always against, but also not always in favor of those who blow themselves up for virgins in heaven.

Supporting the strong performance of Don Cheadle is Guy Pearce as FBI Agent Roy Clayton. Clayton is leading a task force assigned to track down a terrorist group responsible for a spate of bombings in Europe. His approach balances well with Max Archer who I can describe as having the typical ‘us against them’ attitude in this war.

Aside for being a dramatized debate on who or what is a traitor, the film Traitor is also a cat and mouse chase between the FBI and the terrorist group. How can you find an enemy well hidden among a largely peaceful citizenry?

Put a spy inside you say? Well the downfall of what can be a successful spy operation is that information is always compartmentalized. No one knows who Horn is. A history with the Special Forces mean nothing, unfortunately what direction he prays to may mean everything.

Horn could be a traitor as far as most people know. But to whom; the US, the Arabs, the creeds of Islam, well you’d have to watch.

24: The Redemption

24: The Redemption is a transition piece that should act as a bridge for season 6 and season 7.

Unfortunately the fact that it was shown in the same real time narrative as the series removed all chance of this piece being a stand alone film. Two hours in real time is just too short to establish deep plots and great action.

For these two hours Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) does a Kenshin Himura with his self imposed exile around the world hoping to find peace when home could not. In this Jack lives in Africa with a friend from the Special Forces days Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle). And to continue the Samurai X comparison, Benton lives his life running some sort of an orphanage like what happened to Kenshin once in an episode where he helped a samurai turned school teacher.

Beyond Samurai X, the rest of the film is basically like Tears of the Sun; helping the young boys escape armed militias.

So what part of 24 needs to have a smooth transition between seasons? Your guess is certainly as good as mine. The fact that I don’t have an answer could mean the story line is just too cryptic or like season 6 it just sucks.

In Redemption, Jack Bauer had a subpoena chasing him all over the world mainly about torture. Considering the number of times he did commit torture the timing of having inquiries into his methods is odd.

Jon Voight is Jonas Hodges the top villain in The Redemption. Could he be Tony Almeida’s boss? (For those who do not know Season 7 trailers has Tony as a Villain now) Jonas Hodges was shown communicating with the Secret Service detail of the new president. It suggests that he is powerful most probably in the cabinet; high enough to be top villain in a 24 series. But if he was revealed now then how high of a villain can Jon Voight really be in season 7?

So many questions and no answers, in the end what we have is basically just a two hour teaser.

Maybe the most annoying thing of all is that season 7 starts January in the States. Redemption sucked with the copycat thing with Samurai X and Tears of the Sun but it still worked because I am teased. I just have to wait months being not in the States.

Timex Ironman

I don’t remember how many times over the years I have changed batteries for all my watches. But something tells me that getting 3 years before a change would be a lot. My Timex Ironman lasted 7 years.

It could have lasted a year more but the batteries were weak that you couldn’t have both the LCD display and the watch light on together. Avoid pressing the light and turning on the watch’s alarms the watch looks as if it’s running on full capacity, the LCD, the numbers were really black, not faded as a waning battery would do to the display.

I had the batteries of my watch changed yesterday in Timex SM North. My choice was risking my cellphone in the dark of night to know the time or having a fully functional watch with night light.

The battery change was expensive at P150 but not that I didn’t try the inexpensive route. My officemate took a stab at it but I decided against it when he came across something uncommon at least from the watches he changed batteries by himself. So I went the route that will guarantee me that my Timex will be as it is.

7 years is a lot for batteries I feel, having had lots of watches before. If you include the date of manufacturing and the fact that absent of lights and alarm my watch was still readable, battery life could reach maybe 10 years.

I don’t know if it’s a fluke or maybe digital watches lasts this long nowadays, but if I leave out the questionable sentimental meaning, Timex (or at least the model I have) is a very dependable watch to have.

The Irony that is CDR-King

I remember accompanying a friend back in the day when this store was true to its name – CDR-King. Since then it grew, selling not only CDs but all sorts of tech gadgets from mouse to mp4s to keypads to ear phones to mics; catering perhaps to all your technology needs.

And yet, the greatest irony of all, CDR-King still does in handwritten fashion its sales and inventory making lines a common sight.