Film Review: "District 9" (2009)

Peter Jackson's District 9 is truly mind-consuming to who watch.

The story begins with the landing and hovering of an alien species' (Sprawns) mothership over the city of Johannesburg.

Because of their behaviors, practices, and appearance are unfit for the human society, the government of Johannesburg makes the decision to segregate them, caging them inside a designated slum: District 9.

As anticipated as it was for the writer, the film was a basket full of fun to watch. The mixture of documentary, blockbuster, and dramatic style of filming, the piece brings realism, thrill, and emotions all together.

In English classes, students are taught to think deeply about any piece of art work's title. Being that, I could not help but to find out the significance of the title myself, being brainwashed in highschool for nearly four years.

"It is the last of the digits, and thus marks the end; and is significant of the conclusion of a matter.

It is akin to the number six, six being the sum of its factors (3x3=9, and 3+3=6), and is thus significant of the end of man, and the summation of all man's works. Nine is, therefore,

THE NUMBER OF FINALITY OR JUDGMENT,

for judgment is committed unto Jesus as "the Son of man" (John 5:27; Acts 17:31). It marks the completeness, the end and issue of all things as to man—the judgment of man and all his works."

Source: http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/9.html

"Nine represents attainment, satisfaction, accomplishment, and our success to achieve an influence in our circumstances. The spiritual meaning of number Nine deals with intellectual power, inventiveness, influence over situations and things. Nine beseeches us to recognize our own internal attributes, and extend these abilities out into the world to make a positive, influential difference."

Source: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/spiritual-meaning-of-numbers.html

It is all so fascinating isn't it? I've found two meanings for number nine, and they both seem to sort of contradict one another; opposites. If I attempt to go ahead and proceed with my analysis of the relationship between the number and the film, I'd probably have to spoil some of the plots for you, so let me just jot down a brief thought.

The two definitions I wou

ld like to draw out from my sources are "extend" the "abilities out into the world to make a positive, influential difference," and the "end." There was a churnning in my guts that told me this movie was dealing with the issues regarding immigrants and illegal 'aliens'. The number nine does not have any negative annotations with the film itself. The number, and the film itself is taunting our attitudes and behaviors toward these issues and carefully pushing the audience into a realization that should be very simple: We are all the same. We must end the prejudice. WE, have to make the change.

Getting back to the reel, the film was visually stunning with its state of the art CGI and the cinematography that is a major contributing factor to its realness of the District 9 universe. It was a constant edge-of-the-seat suspense, gross and masculine action that draws out gasps from the theatre, and a drama

that attacks deep into the core of our ethics and morales.

The film is a drive to test human's capacity to love, hate, and sympathize through the character of Wikus Van De Merwe.

Sharlto Copley, portraying the character of Wikus Van De Merwe, and his performance well depicts an average human being: holder of prejudice, assumptions, oblivion, selfish, and compassionate.

Once again, Peter Jackson has done an amazing job, again, creating a universe that will creep into your mind that will make you believe what you see.

I strongly encourage everyone to see this movie. I'm giving this four stars.

Review: "Funny People" (2009)

Director: Judd Apatow
Genere: Comedy/Drama
Release Date: July 31, 2009

This review is actually dealing with a "recent" film in a long time.

Funny People is a drama with comedy melted on top of it like a good omelet with cheese.

George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is a famous comedian that has everything that a man can want: Money, fame, and the babes. He lives quite contently until one day he is pronounced "terminal" by his doctor.


George meets Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) and decided to hire him as his assistant. As they began to bond as friends, Ira suggests to him that he has to spend more time with people that matter to him. So George takes a chance at getting his girl back from the days, Laura (Leslie Mann), and the drama begins.

This movie is quite great. Like I've said, it's like a cheese melting on top of an omelet. The comedic elements are presented in a very subtle way, but uncontrollable-laugh inducing at the same time. Because the laugh (cheese) is good, the drama (omelet) underneath it becomes less painful, but still sips into the mood. The two elements swirl together and make the screening intensely bittersweet.

Because these people that you seen on the big screen are funny, you can still see the envy, hate, fear, pain, anger, and love, you are forced to laugh while emotions twirl and twist inside your head. I mean, it's like a subliminal message. I laughed through the entire film, but when I walked out of the theater, I felt like I've gotten hit in the back of my head with a frozen fish.

The stars of the film, Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen was impressive. There were some scenes where the emotions lacked, but Adam Sandler really pulled off the depressed guy. For Seth, it was a bit weird at first. Seeing him in Superbad (2007) and Pineapple Express (2008) made me expect him to be funnier in this piece. Then I realized that he's character was completely different from what it used to be. He was shy, awkward, sensitive, caring, and passionate. No, not like the pretending-to-be in Knocked Up (2007). Oh, and Seth Rogen lost a lot of weight.

Basically, the film takes you through a journey or adventure, whatever you want to call it, of immature people learning to live with their mistakes past, and to sacrifice themselves for others' happiness.

This is definitely a good choice of movie to see in the theaters with your pals, and girlfriend/boyfriend.

Three and a half stars for this movie.

Movie Review: "Knowing" (2009)

Knowing... More like Know Nothing.

Another Nicolas Cage gone bad. I've decided not to see this movie the second that I've seen the trailer for it in the theater. The film deals with an MIT professor, John Koestler (Nicolas Cage) discovering a paper containing... umm... "codes", which indicates every single disaster that happened, is happening, and will happen.

The movie has a very cliche background setup: a widowed man who has lost his love in a tragic accident, and a precious little boy, Caleb (Chandler Canterbury), who has to live with his depressed father and has to hide his longing for his mother.

I understand that John is supposed to be depressed, but does he have to drink liquor every other minute? The bottles were shown so frequently throughout the movie, I thought I was watching a commercial. I just wanted to yell at the television, "You are a sad alcoholic! I understand!"

Honestly, I haven't paid attention to the movie at all because of its drooping flow and transitions that made the entire experience ever so dreadful. I see that the director was trying to set the mood of the scenes through the looooooooooooooong transitions and eerie music... but it just doesn't work if it happens each and every time when a change in shots happen.

The way John figures out the codes do not bring any excitement to the audience whatsoever either, since the audience already figured that out when they saw the trailer! The numbers on the papers aren't actually codes of some sort, but just a straightforward alignment of dates, deaths, and locations without slashes, commas, or dashes. Seriously, it does not take an MIT professor to figure that out.

Things that were mind crushingly hard to figure out was the god damn "whisper people" and their fucking pebbles (excuse my language). So, at the end of the movie they reveal who the whisper people are but the pebbles that the whisper people leave everywhere doesn't get any explanation at all, and it is enraging as hell considering the fact that these stupid rock things took at least 10 seconds of screening time each scene they appeared.

If there was one thing that was cool about this movie, it would be the CGI. There are couple of really great scenes that is definitely enjoyable... except that burning moose that runs out in slow motion...

I am just not sure how to make a proper review of this movie, on the fact that I wasn't able to pay my full attention due to many factors, and without too much spoiler (because there are so many details I hate about).

I'm giving this movie a one star rating.

Movie Review : "Jumper" (2008)

This movie just had my full attention since the novel it was based on! Yes, there is a novel called "The Jumper." Basically, it has brought the physics and universe from the book, but changed the story entirely.

The basic outline is this : A kid, DAVID, who didn't have a mother since he was a youngling, grew up in the hands of his abusive/authoritative father, and had the "LOSER" tagged on him all through highschool discovers his supernatural power, almost godlike almightiness; the ability to teleport.

He immediately runs away (more like teleport away) from home without anything... like a carpet-bagger, to New York.

The very first thing he does with his power was to rob a bank; dollars in millions. eight years later he found himself having the perfect life. No work, no obligations, no worries, just nothing bad. Then the "PALADINS" come in. They are the secret organization who search & exterminate Jumpers. They are religious fanatics who are either really jealous of the power or just has pure hatred and disdain for it. The leader of this group is a character named "ROLAND"(not sure of the spelling), which is acted out by Samuel L. Jackson. He finally traces down our hero of his bank robbery and attempts to eliminate him.

After being attacked, David feels homesick and find his hometown and his highschool crush "Meely"(Not sure of the spelling, again, never even heard of a name like this). David soon discovers that everyone he has come in contact with are now in grave danger.

The story gets somewhat predictable after once you are introduced to the basic thing. David attempts to fight off the Paladins to protect Meely, for the most part by teaming up with another Jumper named Griffin.

While screening, there were very natural comedic moments and dialogues that drew laughters from the audience, however, I was sort of disturbed by the cheesy romantic scenes of David and his girl. I'm sure it was necessary, and maybe it was suppose to appeal against the time of the year (spring, valentines), but it just kind of broke the pace and the moment of the movie for me.

The visual effects were amazing, a bit different from what I have thought it would be like while reading the book; and it was better than the book. The action scenes are must see! It is another sensation that differs in taste with the bloodiness of Rambo. The characters are very individualistic, in other words, interesting and likable, and my personal favorite character was Griffin. His outgoing personality, giving shit about nothing, perfectionism, thrive for revenge, and the accent makes his character rather spicy.

You have to go check this movie out, and I recommend that you read the book first, then it'll help you understand how the Jumpers' universe works; they don't get into details on the physics; you'll have to figure it out as they go, and it'll distract you from the film.

I'll give it three and a half stars, just because the story was not as appealing to me, but you won't be disappointed.

Preview of Valkyrie

I have come in contact with this preview while surfing on Youtube this evening. It is starring Tom Cruise, who I have become disappointed with by the last couple of years, wearing an eyepatch. I love the quotes and the dialogues from the preview, they are absolutely mesmerizing, especially for my passion for military movies.

Apparently, in Germany itself planned a treason against Adolf Hitler, the notorious Austrian heritage dictator of the 1940's and the WWII era. Hitler is known for his racism and cruelty against the Jews, and the entire world was disgusted by him; disgusted by "ALL" of the Germans.

Tom Cruise's character is the mastermind of the entire plan to assassinate Hitler and this is a true-story. He says "We have to show the world that not all of us are like him," saying that he doesn't want to be a part of Hitler's atrocities.

I am looking forward to seeing this when it comes out.


ps. the part where Tom Cruise sat on the desk reminded me of the preview for "Lions for Lambs".

Movie Review for "RAMBO" (2008)

Sylvester Stalone and Lionsgate has decided to make another Rambo sequel.

In this movie filled with awesome graphic violence and thrilling actions, John Rambo, a soldier without a country is still haunted by the past memories of his warring days. The civil war in this remote Asian country, which tearing its country and its people apart is underminded by the governments and nations around the world; even by our hero. A missionary group from an American church visits the country to help out the innocent civilian victims who are in desperate need of medical help and hope. Unable to find a way to get up the river where their victims await them, they request the assistance of Rambo, who is now a worn out snake hunter who has a boat that could take them up the river. Reluctlant at first, but Rambo is moved by one of the missioners and takes them to their destination.

The missioners are captured by the menacing government army and is confined, tortured, harassed, and killed, and the church hires a team of mercenaries to extract them and Rambo, joins them.

This particular movie is directed by Sylvester himself, which I always find intriguing for a main character to direct his own movie, is astonishing. Over exaggerated but still mind blowing actions captures you attention throughout the entire screening. Probably the best graphic violence I have seen this year and last year, 2007.

One disappointing part of this film, which is not very important, is that the depth of the characters are very shallow except for Rambo. There is no time to get to know all of your characters well enough to feel sympathy or hate; then again, it's a kick-ass action thriller!

If you are blood thirsty, if you have the warrior's blood in you, and if you are a previous Rambo's fan, without a doubt you have to go see this.

I'll give it Three and a half stars.

*WARNING* : Do not take your children thinking it will be alright. They'll cry.