I had the opportunity to be on the sidelines of the race track where Speed Racer grew and had a life with (naks, haha). Last night, I was able to watch Speed Racer at Powerplant Cinema 2. Being one of the frequent viewers of Speed Racer (the old anime) before, I thought I should not miss this. I used to watch this cartoon during my elementary and early high school days at Cartoon Network.
Well, it turned out to be a wonderful ride. Before going inside the movie house, I kinda expected it to be a "pure cotton candy" movie, so I just wanted to know if this will be a good transformation of the told cartoon.
It was one of the coolest movie in this genre in recent years. Darn, the editing, sequencing, it was awesome. It was exhilarating. The visual effects are a given, what can you expect from the same team behind the Matrix?
Some people, however, do not seem to appreciate the film. I guess that will be acceptable if you have seen the cartoon before, but if not, then don't give it a bad review since you know nothing about the source material. Honestly, I was glued to my seat the whole time, it made me become a bigger fan of racing myself, or even better, it felt as if my chairs were moving. Haha. Some were questioning about it being flashy. I guess that's what made it a "modern-day" adaptation of the film. To me, it was just fine. The film did what it exactly had to do, which is to entertain and give justice to the cartoon. It seems every time a Wachowski brothers movie comes out the reviewers don't get it. The aim of this film was not made for the purpose of giving some biting social commentary. It's Speed Racer for crying out loud.
The best part of the movie is the Casa Cristo 5000 race, when Speed, Racer X and Taejo teamed up to win the race in an effort to make a difference in the world of racing that is filled with politics.
However, it is not Speed Racer that is the coolest character in the film, even if the characters behind Speed, Trixie, and Pops, were really look alikes of the cartoon characters. For me, the coolest character was Racer X, who turned out to be Speed's brother, Rex Racer. In the TV series, Rex Racer revealed his identity with a punch in the stomach. In the movie, however, Rex Racer had a plastic surgery in order to change his identity. When Racer X showed himself to Speed due to the latter's doubt, a seemingly different person was revealed. After the 91st grand prix, Racer X mentioned that if the choice of not telling his family about his identity was a mistake, it will be a mistake he'll have to live with. While this portion in the film made the difference against the old anime, I also felt that it's the most striking part of the movie.
The lines were hilarious too, and the fight scenes were crazy, especially on the scene when some nasty bad guys tried to ambush Speed's team, only to be ruined by Spritle, Speed's naughty and funny younger brother. Haha. But the best and most striking line there was that of Racer X: "Racing will never change. What matters is whether we allow racing to change us".
I hope that in this genre, movie makers will keep on producing movies like this. :-)
One of the best films in recent years, and one of the nicest that I've seen since The Pursuit of Happyness. If you appreciate films like Jack, then this film is for you.
The Bucket List is a story of Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), a mechanic, and a billionaire and hospital owner named Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson), who were both old and diagnosed with cancer and shared the same hospital room, as Edward imposed a policy that their hospital is not a health spa, and that there are two beds in a room, with no exception. Having to abide by the rules Edward himself set, he stayed and shared the same hospital room with Carter. Ironically enough, they are both expected to live just within one year.
Having realized that, Carter wrote in a yellow pad tasks or things that he aspires to do before he "kicks the bucket", thus the name bucket list. One morning, Edward found the list on the floor, and read it. Edward then added more things to do, including extreme ones such as skydiving, getting a tattoo, drag racing, kissing the most beautiful woman in the world, and seeing a majestic view. Edward compelled Carter to accomplish the bucket list, with a promise that the former will pay for everything. Despite the rejection of Carter's wife, they both went on their world tour and bucket list execution.
As they had their tour, they saw the world together and started to learn more about each other, including their principles, faith, and personal lives. When they reached Hong Kong, Carter realized that his love for his wife remains. He asks to return home, and in return, he tries to reunite Edward with his daughter, but Edward got mad. Carter returns home to his wife, children, and grandchildren, only to have a short-lived reunion. Carter was rushed to the hospital. On the hospital, Carter asked Edward to finish the list without him. On that same moment, they cracked a joke to the point that Carter laughed, until he ended up teary-eyed, making one part of the bucket list accomplished once more.
Carter also wrote a letter, stating his appreciation to Edward, for allowing him to leave a stranger to his wife, and returning as a husband. In the same letter, Carter said sorry for pushing Edward to reunite with his daughter, but he also said that he will do it again if given the chance. He also asked Edward to "find the joy" of his life. As the letter was being read, the film showed Edward fixing things up with his daughter. He was introduced to his granddaughter, who turned out to be the "most beautiful girl in the world" in the bucket list.
At the funeral of Carter, Edward delivered a eulogy, stating that the last months of Carter were his best months. While delivering the eulogy, he crossed out the portion in the list that says "make a difference in the life of a stranger". Cole goes on to live for several more years. When he finally passes away, he has his ashes, which were placed inside a Chock Full o' Nuts coffee can, buried alongside Carter's, also in the same type of can, on the top of Mount Everest, which Carter (who has been narrating the film) mentions that Cole would have liked, as it was against the law.
Of course, the film did have its hilarious moments, thanks to Edward. In fact, I was actually laughing boisterously when they jumped over an airplane to do skydiving, because Carter pulled the parachute plug early even if they (with a skydiver) are not yet on the part of the sky where they can pull the plug, while Edward chose to continue falling and to pull the plug really late to scare his guide.
While it was really so odd and unrealistic for two old folks to roam the globe, with a few foul languages and sexual content especially from the dialogues of Edward, the film managed to showcase reality without failure of sending the message across: family, friends, and even faith are, at the literal end, the most important things than any other money or material things in the world. It also challenges the audience to live life not only for oneself, but for others as well, and the challenge was emphasized on the letter of Carter to Edward that says "find the joy in your life", as well as in the conversation of Carter and Edward when they were at the Pyramids in Egypt, when the former said to the latter, "You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you."
Indeed, it was a super wonderful film, that almost everybody in the cinema went out teary-eyed. I actually found the eulogy of Edward super striking. The simplest thing is... I loved him. And I miss him. Carter and I saw the world together. Which is amazing... When you think that only three months ago, we were complete strangers! I hope that it doesn't sound selfish of me but... the last months of his life were the best months of mine. He saved my life... And he knew it before I did.
It also had a nice soundtrack courtesy of John Mayer.
It is probably one of the rare films that really deserve a five star. It's one film I will surely not forget. I guess I was able to identify with the film because one of these two fellows had something that I don't have yet, aside from the fact that I partially know the feeling of being confined in a hospital, lying in a hospital bed and wearing a hospital gown with injections and dextrose. Maybe when I reach 25, I will consider writing a bucket list that I could accomplish for two quarters of a century. So far, I was only able to think of one, which is to personally see and take a picture of an Aurora.
This is probably the best film of the year. Cool, amazing, outstanding, fabulous in all aspects. From the plot, drama, comedy and action, it rocks. This is the only film that made me busy watching EACH MINUTE. I was really glued to my seat (except on the part when I had to rush to the comfort room, haha, but I was out for like only 3 minutes). Thank God Tonet and I had the chance to watch it on its first playdate. I was able to reserve tickets for two as early last Saturday. And even if I reserved 3 days before the playdate, majority of the seats for all cinemas for the late afternoon onwards of May 1 are occupied.
I will no longer summarize the plot because I'm sure 8 out of 10 that I know will surely watch this. However, allow me to cite my favorite parts or aspects of the film.
The effects, use of CGI and every technical aspect of the film is just so amazing. You have no idea as to how affected I was with the action scenes. Each time Peter Parker hits the walls or the bars of the buildings, I really say "ouch". The fights on air are almost realistic, and the film was really able to bring you to the scene. The final battle that concluded Spider-Man's struggle to save Mary Jane was just so darn cool.
I really love the dialogues, especially when Spider Man and the new Goblin worked together to combat Flint and Venom. It had some touch of comedy, and they are hilarious, like when Peter Parker asked for the help of Harry Osborne to fight Venom, Harry replied "I'm kinda busy here", referring to his about-to-happen fight with Flint. Peter Parker's crazy act on the streets of New York and inside the bar where Mary Jane worked as waitress singer was just so darn hilarious.
Want drama? It had drama too. I almost cried when Harry died. The best part of the film was when Harry finally learned the truth and decided to help his best friend in saving Mary Jane and New York.
What I really like about the film aside from the fact managed to include all aspects thinkable, it really had its way to impart its main lesson: You always have the choice. Corny as it may sound, but there will be a time when you will need to make a choice, and the decision will result to something unpopular or will involve other people and things aside from oneself, just try to recall how Spider-Man did it. Even the way he struggled with himself for the right choice will help anyone survive and find happiness in this very complicated world of ours. Indeed, even a hero needs help. Not even the strongest person is invincible to any kind of problems or challenges. No one is the greatest in anything, because someone will always be better than us in one aspect or two.
It seems that Spider-Man 3 is already enough, and that if I will be asked, a Spider-Man 4 will not really be necessary, but Wikipedia says otherwise.
Well done, Spider-Man. To the people behind Spider-Man, as well as the cast, very good. Special mention of course to the acting of Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and Topher Grace. Indeed, the movie just made me show the Spidey-Fan in me.
