The Emperor's Journey (DVD)

I should have watched this in the big screen. I think I was not doing financially well in Manila when this was shown. The DVD experience was great but I am sure the theater experience is more involving.

I never thought that a "documentary" can be presented this way. The scenes are jaw-dropping and the words are very poetic. And the message is so clear: life is so beautiful and yet so fragile.

It just sickens me that people's greed is destroying this beauty in life.

I was not able to watch the documentaries because the Thai release has no fucking subtitles!

Experiment 3: Silom/Patpong

I know it is unbelievable that I live in this area. Everything here is only a few minute walk from my apartment doorstep. There are definitely no saints here.

Experiment 2: Dogs

Here are pictures of some of the dogs in my apartment building. They love posing for me as you can see:

Volver (movie)

Now I am starting to see the Pedro Almodovar style of storytelling: secrets, dead loved ones coming back to life and morbid humour.

It is a very good story and the actors are good but I do not think it will be remembered. I do not think it is his best. I think it is the Almodovar movie that has the most cleavage exposure. Are Penelope Cruz's boobs real? They look real to me. Is that her singing voice? I doubt that it is.

Volver is a good movie but I have seen better ones last year.

Babel (movie)

Most people I know who have seen this movie told me that it is not worth the nomination. For an American movie, it does deserve a nomination in my opinion. The narrative style is well-done although it is not original. I have seen this style before in many European movies and rarely in American movies. Just for that, it deserves an Academy nomination.

The mood of the movie is very tense. There is no point in that movie that is boring. The hand-held cameras are used effectively.

The actors are very good, especially the Japanese student. Her eyes are very suggestive and with minimal gestures, she can convey so much emotions. I think she looks a bit too old for her character though. The Moroccan kids are also very impressive. They've handled their roles maturely and convincingly.

This is a must-see movie for American movie fans. I hope the US produces more films like this one.

Experiment 1

Here are the first set of pics I have taken using my Fuji s6500 digital camera. I have already scratched the lens but it seems the pictures are not affected. I do not think these are artistic shots but they show what my camera can do.



 Lumpini Park




















Kao San Road







Central World

Dreamgirls

Jennifer Hudson is just amazing. I am so proud of this woman. I have seen her start on American Idol. She was ridiculed for her weight and her "old" style but those are a couple of reasons why she was chosen for this role. I really hope that there would be more projects for this powerful woman.

I have not heard the original musical and there is no chance for me to watch the production itself. But I can say it is a very entertaining and gripping movie.

The costumes are spectacular and so are the sets. I do not know if they stay true to the period.

I hope to see more of Jennifer Hudson.

The Host

I am slowly learning which DVDs to buy here in Thailand and which ones to avoid. It seems I should avoid non-English titles here as all of the special features do not have English subtitles. Of course, Thai is the only official language here.

This 2-disc DVD set has the feature movie with English subtitles but not the documentaries. So I will just give my comments on the movie itself.

Like the other reviews, this movie does not seem to know what it is going to be. Nevertheless, it does not stop me from enjoying the movie. There are some boring moments but generally, it was gripping to watch.

The chase scene at the park is my favorite. The pandemonium is so realistic eventhough some of it is hilarious. The special effects were convincing enough. I am sure Korean film makers can do better effects. I cannot wait to try this DVD on a home theater system.

Tropical Malady (dvd)

I won’t pretend to say that I understand this movie because I do not. I am very much impressed though with the cinematography and the performances of the two actors.

I got this DVD because of its packaging. It does not look like any of the Thai titles I have seen displayed. It also has the Cannes logo so I thought it might be interesting to watch and it was.

Can anyone tell me what this movie is?
 

The Butterfly Effect

Here is another movie on alternate realities. In the tradition of "Run Lola Run"and "Back to the Future", Hollywood brings you "The Butterfly Effect".

Don't get me wrong: the movie is very entertaining but like movies on alternate realities, it is bound to have loopholes. But it is OK: the expensive special effects kept me distracted.

Anyway, Amy Stuart is very convincing in every version of reality. She is quite versatile. Ashton Kutcher is a good actor but not good enough to give a lasting expression. I am sure everyone can agree that his looks is used to market this movie.

Thank you, Carlos, for buying me this DVD here in Bangkok. I miss you.

Curse of the Golden Flower

I have always been a fan of Zhang Yimou. I have been watching his movies long before he became famous. As always, I was impressed with this new film with an old protege of his, Gong Li.

Gong Li is still very beautiful and elegant as the empress. It was very strange to see Chow Yun-Fat in this kind of movie because I am used to seeing him in Hollywood flicks. I do not know any Chinese but it seems his accent is different here. I welcome reactions if I am wrong. Cheng Jin is very very effective as the lost wife of the emperor. She is a superb actress.

The costumes are exquisite. The fight scenes were very minimal. I actually did not expect this to be a drama movie but it is. The CGIs are very believable. I am so glad that Zhang Yimou can now afford to tell stories like this one.
 

Secretary

This is one movie that may not be entertaining to watch but it sure is interesting to study. It does not have much nudity and yet it is sexually-charged. I do not expect many people to appreciate it.

The chemistry between James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal is just perfect. Both of them know how to hold the excitement of their audience. They also know the roles that they are playing very well. I am sure this is one real that is very easy to fake--fake being the operative word. But with these two actors, the roles are very real.

I am not sure if many psychologists will appreciate this movie but I am sure it is a good material for their students to study.

Thanks to Carlos for buying me this DVD. I am impressed that you know what I like.

Coldest I have ever been

It is February and temperature in Bangkok can reach down to 16 degrees Celsius. My body is going crazy.

I am shivering. I have been wanking far too often. I dread breakfast because that means I have to get out of my apartment. I do not like getting out of my bathroom after showering because I know my bedroom is chilly.

I have never been this cold in my life.

Kao San Road Carnival

Mark took me to Khao San last Friday night. I did not expect that he would take me there so I was wearing my business clothes. I felt terribly overdressed.

Upon alighting the cab, we saw a circle of Westerners praying. A few feet away from them is a finely-dressed man preaching his heart out. And every step I take, we saw women with brightly-colored extensions. And every which way we turn our head, there were drunk tourists talking about how strange Thailand and its people are.

There were long-stringed balloons, cheap Pad Thai on wheels, boys with roses and round-bellied men. There were innocents, hookers, druggies, performers and their audience.

Too bad I did not take any pictures but that will change soon...

Bad Education

First of all, thanks to Carlos for suggesting that I get this DVD.

Oh my goodness, Gael Garcia Bernal is not only believable as the numerous roles that he portrayed but he is so gorgeous as well. He is just fucking gorgeous and talented! Where do they make that kind of man?

The storytelling is inventive although it is not that new. It is still very exciting and I am sure some viewers have to watch it more than one time to understand which are the facts.

I might have to revisit "Y Tu Mama Tambien" because of Gael Garcia Bernal even if I do not like the film. Oooh papito!

George Romero's Dawn of the Dead

I got duped: It is supposed to be the Ultimate Edition but this package contains only one DVD5 disc. The R1 version is supposed to have three discs! But what can I expect from 185 Baht?

That cures me of my compulsive buying.

George Romero's rendition of this story is shocking and exciting. But then the latest rendition is a lot better and I am not only talking about the special effects. Plot-wise, the recent version is much tighter and renders the atmosphere of isolation more effectively.

The comic book inside should have redeemed the lack of special features of the disc but then the comic book is in Thai. Shit!