SAN LAZARO

If the opening sequence tells you how the movie will turn out, it would have been a Tim Burton-esque horror-comedy flick. But as lovely and haunting the opening sequence is, the film varied in its story. This is no light-hearted horror comedy fare like the usual Pinoy horror film, the story is simple but it is given a dark turn by the characters. Each has his own story to tell and every time the characters close their eyes and relive their memories, the story gets darker.  The film can be funny at the most unexpected moments, like that instance when Wincy Aquino Ong’s character was asked to give his laptop as payment for his rent but he reasoned out, “Ibibigay ko na ang atay ko, wag lang yung laptop ko”; a sentiment shared by most people nowadays. I did not whether to laugh or cry when Ramon Bautista’s character admitted he was Captain Barbell, he is quite funny without even trying but he fits his strong man character quite well.  Nicco Manalo was brilliant, he can play two different personalities and still look sincere doing it. I loved how this film has Ely Buendia as the cool older brother detective! This is the type of film that will make you lie awake at night thinking of the strangeness of human nature. It can be deceptive but hides something deeper and darker and spew evil when it comes out, they used the demon as the manifestation of this darkness and the characters get their reckoning. It was not only Biboy who was exorcised of his demon but Siegfred and Lemuel also exorcised their personal demons throughout the journey to San Lazaro.  Kudos to the filmmakers, it was brilliant and diverse! More Pinoy films should go out there and try other blends of horror films, not just the usual cheesy scream fest. 

La Vita e Bella

Maybe it was good that i was not able to see how the movie ended because it already felt good the way it was. It was a happy film in such a dark time. I would have cried for Guido had I seen how it ended. It would have left me with a melancholy feeling instead of being uplifting. 

Enid

Today, my worst fears about one of my favourite childrens book writer was confirmed. I saw the autobiographical movie Enid where she was played by my favourite actress Helena Bonham Carter. She was a selfish wretch and an adulterer. A child who never grew up, waiting for her father who never came home. She was a child herself that’s why she wrote those wonderful stories, but she was a horrible mother. Bam! Childhood ruined. I idolized her, I loved her books, I read almost all of them, she made me want to read more. She introduced me to fantasy stories and escapism.  Am sorely disappointed that the woman she really was is different from the woman I envisioned who wrote all those wonderful tales. I cried for my loss and for hers too. She had dementia later in life. She wrote 759 books. All those stories in her head, amazing.