Thursday, May 3, 2007
M. Night Shyamalan Does it Again!


TITLE: THE LADY IN THE WATER



The Lady in the Water is based on a bedtime story about sea nymphs or narfs. Narfs are tasked to seek their vessels, people, who upon seeing them will experience an awakening.

The story revolves on Story, the narf and Cleveland Heep, the first person who saw her, and helps her throughout the movie. The antagonist is a Scrunt, a dog-like creature who can lay flat on grass and completely conceal itself from view.

The narf gets to see her vessel early on the movie, and according to the bedtime story, upon being seen by the vessel, a giant eagle, The Great Eatlon will come to take the narf home. According to their law, the narf should be safe from the scrunt on the night the eagle comes. But the scrunt breaks the law and attacks the narf, wounding her and leaving her one last chance of getting home.

Cleveland seeks answers from someone who knows the bedtime story, he discovers that the scrunt who is following Story has gone rogue, and that Story may not be just an ordinary narf after all. Cleveland also learns that there are people who could help Story, but these people do not know who they are and that they are supposed to help, Cleveland only has clues, general description of the characteristics of these people. The story tells of a Symbolist or Interpreter, a Guardian, the Guild and a Healer. Cleveland brings together a group of people, and together they plot on how to get Story home. Problems arise; but working together, Story gets home safely.

I have had a copy of this movie for some time now and I just wasn't very keen on watching it. A friend borrowed it and when I asked how it was, he looked disappointed. I guess most people are disapponted with M. Night Shyamalan's movies... Just like "The Village", most of the people I know who saw it felt they were cheated, same thing goes with "The Signs", a movie which was supposedly about aliens but showed so little of the aliens...

Personally, I like The Village and The Signs, I think M. N. Shyamalan is a good storyteller. He is able to convey the story without actually showing too much. I guess most people get disappointed because they go into the movie expecting to see monsters, scary creatures, I think most people nowadays give more attention on the visuals caring less for the plot and the way the story was presented. I also find it amusing that Shyamalan is able to give himself a role in all of his movies, (at least, in all that I was able to watch).

THE LADY IN THE WATER kept me guessing, kept me thinking, and for me that is a good thing. I love movies with a mystery, and throughout the story, I’d be trying to solve it with the characters, getting insights as more clues are revealed.

Some of the reviews I have read about this movie weren’t very positive. One even criticized the fact that Shyamalan gave himself the most important supporting role, and called him arrogant. I think, to enjoy the movie, one would have to set prejudice aside, and keep an open mind. Try to forget that one of the actors is directing the film and that just enjoy the story.



Yahoo Movies Critics Rating: C
Yahoo Movies Users Rating: C+
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by: moVie buFF at 10:37 PM
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One Great Korean Monster Movie


THE HOST


The HOST is a creature movie, I think monster movie is the more accurate term. Yahoo movies predicted that I might like the movie; so when I saw a copy, I bought it without even knowing that it was a Korean film or what it was about.

Personally, I think The Host is similar to GODZILLA. But this movie, is a bit more emotional, because the creature took a girl, and the story focuses on how the family tries to save her.

The main character is Gung Ho, one of the first people to have an encounter with the creature and the father of the girl who was taken. Gung Ho is a not-so-responsible and a not-so-smart man still living with his family. When the girl was taken by the creature the whole family, Gung Ho, his father, brother and sister, mourn the loss of their beloved.

People were quarantined after they were told that the creature might be a carrier of a new virus. Gung Ho received a call from his daughter, he told the authorities, but no one believed him. So, he and his family had to find a way to get pass everyone, and look for the creature, in hopes of finding his daughter.

I like the fact that the creature wasn’t hidden in the dark, that you can actually see it running and interacting with people; one can never really identify what the creature is though. Most scenes with the creature were presented in daytime, giving the viewers a better view of the HOST.

Gung Ho’s perseverance to look for his daughter, despite of and inspite of everything, showing how far a father would go to save his daughter’s life, gives the film heart. I believe many people would enjoy watching this movie, even if they don’t really focus on the story, the visuals alone are enough to make someone satisfied.

below are some screencaps of the movie.



Yahoo Movies Critics Rating: A-
Yahoo Movies Users Rating: B
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by: moVie buFF at 10:23 PM
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Wednesday, May 2, 2007
SPIDER-MAN 3


TITLE: SPIDER-MAN 3


watch trailer

Before going to the theater, I spent the whole morning watching Spider-man and Spider-man 2. The last part of this series was released on 2004, that I felt the need to review the previous movies. I think the producers of the film thought so too, as they showed scenes from the previous movies during the opening credits.

While watching the first two Spider-man movies, I realized that I haven't been disappointed with a Spidey movie yet, and I went to the movie house with high hopes.

The movie was GREAT! Greater than I expected. The movie didn't follow the comics version of how Spider-man got his black costume, but it worked nonetheless. The conflicts, the twists, really prepped the viewers for the climax of the film.

Peter Parker was starting to let being Spider-man get into his head, as if he can do almost anything. The people of New York loves Spidey and he's got MJ. What more can he ask for? As the trailers have showed, he is even thinking of asking MJ to marry him. His life even gets better at the start of the movie, when he manages to fix his friendship with Harry.

His fate starts to change one by one, then it seems like he can do nothing right. even his proposal to MJ was a disaster. Then he learns that the man who really killed his Uncle Ben is still alive and at large. Then, Harry starts scheming against him again, making MJ leave Peter. When he was alone and angry, the black costume comes into the story. The costume amplifies the emotions of its host. When Peter wears it, he feels more powerful, he can do what he wants without inhibitions. He does some things the normal Peter would not do until he realizes he has gone so far.

Marco, Ben Parker's killer, escaped from prison and becomes the Sandman; he was too much for the normal Spider-man to handle, and was only defeated by the black spider-man.

Parker parts with the costume, who finds a new host in Eddie Brock, Peter's rival photographer in the Bugle who was recently fired because Peter revealed that the photo's Brock submitted were fake. Brock becomes Venom, who later teams up with the Sandman and together plot a trap for Spider-man again, putting MJ's life in danger.

Peter goes to save MJ and is out-numbered and out-powered. When Venom and Sandman's victory seems inevitable, Spidey finds help from a not-so-expected source. The odds were evened and the good triumphs over evil.

This movie probably has the more emotions compared to the two previous ones. Even Sandman has a story to tell. Peter Parker's proposal and the way he was when he was wearing the black suit gave people something to laugh about, and the fight scenes are just great. It shows how important love and friendship is, that no one can leave alone, that every once in a while people need help, even Spider-man.

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by: moVie buFF at 10:53 PM
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