CZ12: Chinese Zodiac (2013)

Director: Jackie Chan
Lead actor: Jackie Chan
Genre: Action, Adventure

Synopsis:The ancestral artifacts were made the man on search for them in this film. The 12 Chinese zodiac bronze heads are the relics in old times that sold in million in auctions. 

http://www.southdreamz.com

Review:

          The film started to a stunts using body-customized roller blade by the lead actor Jackie Chan (Martin). In some points of view, the introduction of the story was vague to comprehend the plot. In addition, the mixed languages used made the movie lines incomprehensible. 

        The flow of the story is so simple, though the actions in every scene showed the trademark of Jackie Chan moves. Most of the actors are Asians; it out shined the other foreign actors. It showed the flexibility of the native speakers to communicate through the medium of Chinese language.

         As the story played on the screen, I find the jungle place roaming around with the team to search and the humorous lines are not that appealing for the viewers. Moreover, the place depicts the old-fashioned film Indian Jones. It will not be new to the movie goers, though the execution of the adventurous act was done according to catch and chase scenario.

         As it circulates the media network that this will be the last film for the actor Jackie Chan, he can take all the credits that had been successful in the limelight of showbiz. The future plans can never tell what will be the next for him. But there will be the possibility that he can have more films and be a director and doing the stunts off the screen.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Running Time: 120 minutes

The Official Room for Meditation

          The people find their own sanctuary to obtain a peaceful environment. The ideal silence echoed in four corners of the room make the universe to imbibe the sentiments of life. The hot spot for inner peace of meditation, resolving any puzzles that will satisfy self-less act in Tajikistan.

             I had created my own world in this room. The books, pens, papers and a note book are my loyal allies to form brilliant ideas. The ideas that made things happen, a great job that no one even thinks of. A simple tap of my shoulder gave the courage of continuing of what I’ve started.

          There is no feeling of isolation, the moment of being alone with my Jamshed dummy doll at my side, a life with full of unexpected contentment. The no face doll works with its facial expression based on my own mood in a daily basis, that’s the power of imagination. Embracing the commitment to validate ought to make a change.

          The simple adhesions, sticking the brochures on the wall serves a perfect design. It is a perfect design with no need of having final touch. The decision trees with appropriate strategic procedures to carry-on my responsibilities. The moment of truth is no turning back, the will to move forward.

         The silence of this room made possible for the deeper thoughts to materialize with pride, the dedication to impart the essential skills needed for the local people of Kurgan Teppa. 

The Tea House in Tajikistan

           If you don’t want to host for tea party and no chance for having the all the preparations, then this is the best time to have something on the table. Then there is no need to get into rush decision of declining the moment with friends. The Tea House is the place you can invite the peers, it is located along the road in Rudaki Dushanbe. The ambiance is so great to explore and you can never feel lost when your there. The structure of the building is crafted with tiles transforming into an art.

            Along side of the building there are some items that you can grab as a souvenir, the great paintings are hanged on the wall. I can still remember having some stuff here prior to my departure back to the Philippines. If you cannot find anything that will suit to your taste, then you just have a few distances across the road. Some of the establishment offers the same souvenir items and small shops that might be interesting to purchase.

50/50 (2011)

Director: Jonathan Levine
Lead actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Synopsis: A young man was diagnosed to have a rare carcinoma that turn his life upside down, a radio planner. Adam was not prepared to face the reality at first, though the people continued to support him. He came to know the realization about knowing what is really important in his life.

http://www.cuindependent.com

Review:

           The film had shown the typical condition of a person who suffers from terminal cancer. Though I found it so simple and the viewers may lose their interest to watch. The comedy punch line is not appealing for me, it is not funny. Joseph Gordon Levitt (Adam) portrayed a cancer patient, but the acting was not that convincing either in comedy or drama scene. On the other hand, Kyle (Seth Rogen) portrayed as his close friend can pull out the act, but it doesn't jive along the course of the story.

        The love interest seems so stereotyped for leaving Adam by his girlfriend Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard), cheating on him was the possible outcome that will be anticipated. For having therapist takes the role for having psycho treatment was so awkward, in terms of being fresh in her profession. It is not most likely happen in real life to be neither stuttering nor uncomfortable for having a session with the patient.

            At the end of the story, the false hope can never be guaranteed after the surgical procedures. Though the stages of grief had shown in the story, the manner of being in denial to realization is portrayed. The intentions could be light in portraying the roles, but the process of combating the disease with full of hope and courage to face the situation were laid in the plot of the film.

Rating: 5 out of 10 

The Lady (2011)

Director: Luc Besson
Lead actors: Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance

Synopsis:  The heroic story that touched the heart of every part of the world, the love withstands all the trials to find an answer for freedom. The fight for a new reform government system, takes part of knowing the worth of sacrifice for nationalism and the love that binds the family of Aung San Suu Kyi. She was known The Lady from Rangoon Burma, the extraordinary way of fighting her advocacy to democracy for her people.

http://www.betweenonline.com

Review:

          The film is a resemblance of any people showed good deeds to their people, the life Ghandi in India. Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh) still remains with her own will to have change in the local governance in Burma. The story started with her life at the age of 2, when his father (Aung San) was assassinated by the military. Despite the fact that it was not included in the film of how she had ended studying in London, the points of view of knowing the challenges came after going back to her country.

          Michelle Yeoh gave justice in portraying the role of the woman who had known as the Steel Orchid, taking the credit of good performance of David Thewlis (Michael Aris) as the lovingly husband that stand at her side without feeling regrets in his life. It is remarkably a love story that is not always being seen in the modern days.

          There is no doubt that she had given the Nobel Prize in 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi is the symbol of hope and change for people. The good deeds she had shown to the world gave an inspiring act that even a good leader can’t imagine. The democracy is the starting point for her to seek reformation of their government system that it has been in decades ruling the people without hope for development. It was in 1988 that brings the unexpected overturn of her life, when her mother got stroke and she is needed to look after her. The Burmese people had seen the courage that she can lead their country, and then the rest was a history.

           She had witnessed the violence escalated when the military spray bullets to the young rally’s students on the streets. Eventually, the generally proclaims an open elections to control the situation. An opportunity for Suu Kyi to take the risk in behalf of her countrymen, it is the courageous that made her a good leader. 

The technical pat of this film had some flaws to consider, but the manner of being aware what is going on across the country is worth to be foretold. The resistance for possible transition of the local governance to freedom for democracy is portrayed realistic. The martial law, the propaganda, violence and humanity were flashed similarly with the other nations.

          The film is out in the market, not to gain profit out of its story. But to awaken the people to know what is right for them. The heroic deeds from within will serve as the inspiration to seek justice, peace and the life of having freedom to their own homeland. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

Conviction (2010)

Director: Tony Goldwyn
Lead actors: Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo  and Peter Gallagher 
Genre: Drama, Bibliography

Synopsis: A mother of two kids, Betty Anne Waters wanted to prove that his brother is innocent, as he accused of murder with robbery and convicted last 1983 in Ayer, Massachusetts. Without a lawyer to defend him, Betty Anne decided to go to law school after having a track record of drop out from high school. From time on, she had the strong determination to let her brother out from the jail.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

 Review:

           The story focus more on the real love of Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank) to her brother Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell), believing that he is innocent. The flow of the film was catchy to the eyes of the viewers, a drama that will make you inspired to do something and be proud of. The strong will of Betty Anne to finish the law school, with all hardships she obtained the degree in 1995. Without a doubt she managed not to waste time of letting Kenny to be free out of his innocence. 

             Every scene will touch your heart and feel the sentiments of each character in the film. The ups and down of life turned you to a teary eye while pondering the highlights of the story. The life of Betty Anne is like a whirlwind with obstacles: losing her husband, the loyalty of friendship with Abra Rice (Minnie Driver) and to earn a degree in law school. Finally, she had passed the bar and there is no turning back to save his brother in prison.     

             Right from the start of the story, a perfect crime was focusing to Kenneth Waters by Nancy Taylor (Melissa Leo). The evidences seem not possible to overturn, since there are other witnesses that add the conviction of the suspect for the murder of Kathrina Brow.

           The performance of the lead actors in the film had shown their best, the drama act done by Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell are tremendously convincing to the public viewers. The sacrifices and the hope prevailed at the end of the story. Kenny Waters walk a free man as proven innocent after having the DNA test and the witnesses prove that they were threatening beyond its circumstances.

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Cat in NAIA

          In the coffee shop situated within Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the sweet cat circling around my legs. Out of nowhere, a catty remarks "meow" caught my attention. I am pretty sure that the owner if this animal would appreciate her manner of hosting the shop. Frankly speaking, she got my attention and ordered another cup of coffee while waiting for my Aunt's arrival in the airport. It is late midnight, the crowded place shown the typical ways of welcoming back their loved ones in the Philippines.

30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2007)

Director: Jason Connery
Lead actors: Kiele Sanchez, Diora Baird, Rhys Coiro and Mia Kirshner
Genre: Horror

Synopsis: The small town in Alaska was invaded for total darkness in 30 days by vampires, killing the living creatures, the humans. Stella Oleson showed the will to prove that the blood-sucking vampires are not mythological facts. They are the culprit of killing the innocent souls.

http://cinemaknifefight.com

Review:

          The film had shown the typical vampire thirsts with the human blood. The manners of chilling out of your wit, watching every scene portrayed by the lead actors are convincing to terminate the vampires. Stella Oleson (Melissa George) acted effectively as she has the determination to find the truth of what makes the vampires killed people in a small town in Alaska. The lost of his husband Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett), she had the will to brought into open book to people, the awareness of the existence of the vampires.

          Although the plot pictured in the film are numerous. The scenes are so simple to quest against the vampires. The horrific action style of Melissa was convincing, especially the mixed emotions of fear, anger and the adrenaline rush of combating the creatures. The other lead actors had shown their portrayal, it is a good performance outshine by the lead actress.

           It is kindly strange that the scene seems so terrified for the viewers. Though the plot seems so dull with no life, the unexpected attacks of vampire can catch your attention. But the chill will not last after the scene. For some reason, when all the cast had died in the film and Melissa was left by killing the queen vampire. The other allied blood suckers had the opportunity to kill her, but managed to let her go.

           At the end of the story, Stella is seemingly so desperate to find the answer. The death of Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) was revived by giving fresh blood as Melissa slashed her palm and forearm. The temporary of passing out of its senses, the film ended as Stella died in the presence of rebirth vampire of her husband. 

Rating: 6 out of 10
Track Time: 1 hour and 22 minutes 

Tajik Presidential House

          Traveling along the road in Dushanbe, you can glimpse the Tajik President Palace. It is known in their language as "Kohi Millat" (Palace of Nations). The dome-shape rooftop is so fascinating to look at, it is visible as walked through the Bofi Ustod Rudaki Park. The structure of the building is crafted with elegant raw materials, the shades of color is based in Tajik cultures and traditions.

The Calendar Clock

This is the first time I had seen a clock's plate with 31 numbers. Take the initiative to learn more of this Spanish artifact as seen in Intramuros Philippines. The 31 numbers represent the days of the month, it automatically changed in its course of rotation based on the day of the month like the 28th, 30th and 31st. For the antique collectors, the interest will take the chance of obtaining a unique calendar clock with 31 numbers in the outermost part of the plate.

The Historical Book of Jose Rizal

Our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal had contributed a lot of his writings and read by the students in the Philippines. The book "Noli Me Tangere" is one of my favorite to read when I was in secondary level. The insights and learnings are so remarkable to ponder, as described Filipino's lives during the Spanish colonization of our country. Luckily, we didn't read it in Spanish context as the original publication. Though it is transcribed in Filipino or in English language, the book is still part of the curriculum in schools. Looking back the time of reading this in high school, I ponder every words and realizing the real culture and tradition of my country.