My take on About Time ~ Film Review

by Love Esios

photo grabbed from Wikimedia.org

2015 is closing in a few hours. That means, you are able to complete 365 days of your life and in a few, you are going to complete another set of 365 days as we welcome another year full of hopes and aspirations.

But what if your dad told you a secret that you can travel back in time? Will you immediately jump into the opportunity of going back into one of the days in our previous set of 365 and make it better?

In the movie About Time, Tim Lake (portrayed by Domnhall Gleeson) was told by his father (portrayed by Bill Nighy) a family secret --- men in their family can travel back in time. Tim was skeptical at first, but when he tried to go back to the time when he didn't kiss a girl on New Year's day, he was shocked that he could actually do it. And during that time, he kissed that girl with so much confidence and passion.

After thoroughly going through the process of time-travelling with his dad, Tim resolved himself that he's going to use his new-found skill to get a girlfriend. He tried to use it with his first love Charlotte but he wasn't able to capitalize on it. Not until he met Mary (portrayed by Rachel McAdams) on a blind date that he realized that he is actually in-love. And that is the beginning of the real struggle of a complicated life for a time traveller.

Now here comes the question: What sets this movie apart from other films with time travel plots? This British romance-comedy masterpiece of Richard Curtis was peppered with British punch lines that you will truly leave you with a hearty laugh. It has also made me look back on the unfortunate events in my life brought by wrong decisions and impulsive decision-making. It affirmed my belief that love is so much stronger than any fear, doubt or sadness combined.

We may not have the ability to go back in the past and make it better, but I guess this movie wants us to see the beauty of living your life to the fullest every day. And that every day is also an opportunity to make things right and make it the best day ever.

The year will soon come to an end. Another year is about to unfold. May the year 2016 be "about time" spent with the people you love. Spend your time wisely, seize every moment and allow yourself to be filled with love so that you can share more love in return. Let's always remember that unlike Tim, there's not going back for us again. So enjoy the moment while it lasts. :-)

Before I forget, let me give this movie an 8.

Cheers for 2016! :-)

BUKAS NA LIHAM PARA KAY BOB

Dear Bob,

Yung totoo, anong nakain mo at naisipan mong isulat ang Si? Hahaha! :D Nung una kong makita yung Si sa bookstore, natuwa ako. Medyo matagal-tagal na rin kasi mula nung ilabas mo ang Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin na pakiramdam ko'y hindi lang isang matapang na paghamon sa mass media kundi isang panggising na rin sa mga taong tumatangkilik at bulag na sumusunod dito. Nasanay ako sa ganung genre mo, Bob. Pakiramdam ko, magkaklase tayo sa eskwelahan nung binabasa ko ang ABNKKBSNPLAko?!. Sa Kapitan Sino naman, akala ko may bago nang superhero na kabibiliban ang mga bagets. Una kong naisip na subukang muli ang pagsusulat nung nabasa ko ang Stainless Longganisa at kinilabutan ako ng bonggang-bongga sa libro mong Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan. Iniisip ko tuloy, hindi kahanay ng Si ang mga aklat na ito. Iba siya. At nag-iba ka.

Ang weird 'no? Sabi nila, 'pag pag-ibig na ang pinag-uusapan, nag-iiba talaga bigla ang mood ng tao. Pansin ko kasi, sa nobelang ito, bumalik ka ulit sa loob ng kahon. 'Wag mo masamain, Bob. Alam kong malaya ang istilo mo ng pagsusulat. Kaya nga naging fan mo ako eh. Pero hindi ba sa pag-ibig may kalayaan? Iniisip ko palagi na ang mga tao, hindi na nag-iisip 'pag pag-ibig na ang pinag-uusapan. Hindi na kasi isip ang umiiral, puso na. Sa aklat mong ito Bob, pakiramdam ko kinahon mo yung pag-ibig na yun. Bumalik ka sa pinakasimpleng kahulugan at sa pinakatradisyonal na pagsasabuhay nito. Hindi ka naging lohikal kasi ang pinairal mo dito ay puso. May porma ang pagsusulat, bawat salita may kahulugan. Maganda ang paggamit mo ng ating wika sa aklat mo, Bob. Ngayon ko mas lalong na-appreciate ang wikang Filipino. Nakakakilig. Nakakabighani. Tagos.

Pero marami ka ring hugot dito eh. Sa mga panahong ito, nauuso ang teleserye na may pamagat na Forevermore. Sa totoo lang, naalala ko yung mga listahan ng mga pamagat ng teleserye na sinulat mo sa Ang Paboritong Aklat ni Hudas. Haha! 'Di ka nga nagkamali, paikot-ikot lang sa forever, you, me, I, against, love, heart, tayo, iisa, ikaw, ako, sila, kami etc. ang mga pamagat ng teleserye. :) Dahil sa Forevermore, maraming mga tao ang bigla na lang nagkaroon ng sarili nilang depinisyon ng salitang forever. Eh maski ako, pinanghawakan ko ang paniniwalang 'walang forever'.

Pero dito sa Si, pinaintindi mo sa akin na buhay pa ang konsepto na 'magpakailanman'. You know, that thing called 'tadhana'? HAHA. Sorry, napanood ko kasi yun. Pero yun din ang sinasabi mo dito Bob eh...na may taong nakatadhana para sa atin. Na buhay ang pag-ibig. Na ang pag-ibig na tunay ay ipinaglalaban. Na may mga pag-ibig na hindi ukol at hindi mananatili kahit ano pang pakikipaglaban ang gawin mo. Na ang pag-ibig madalas nakakadarang kung sariling pag-iisip mo ang iyong paiiralin. At ang pag-ibig na itinadhana ng langit ay magpakailanman. 'Di pa ako umiibig ng katulad ng pag-ibig ni Victoria sa lalaking nasa aklat, pero yun yung pinapangarap kong pag-ibig. Hopeless romantic man ang peg ko ngayon Bob pero kahit mahirap at madalas akong dinadalaw ng kalungkutan sa aking paghihintay sa isang tulad niya, ayokong mawalan ng pag-asa. Araw-araw hinihiling ko sa Maykapal na bigyan lang ako ng lakas at pasensya upang maghintay pa. Na balang araw ay makikilala ko yung Si ng buhay ko... SIno man SIya. At matutupad ang itinadhana ng langit sa aming dalawa. :)

Tumatagos sa puso ko ang lahat ng mga hugot mo dun, Bob. Marami beses kong binababa ang libro at tumitingin sa malayo para lang namnamin yung mga hugot mo. Napagtanto kong gusto ko ring maranasan ang ganoong uri ng pag-ibig. Gusto kong magmahal ng tulad ng pagmamahal ng lalaking yun kay Victoria. Malamang sa mga makakabasa nito, sasabihin nila na ang korni ko. Wala nang ganito sa panahong ngayon kaya 'wag na akong umasa. Pero hindi Bob... dahil naniniwala akong sa pag-asa nabubuhay ang pag-ibig. Habang may pag-asa, may buhay. At habang may buhay, may pag-ibig.

Salamat Bob. Sobrang sulit ng paghihintay ko sa nobela mong ito. Gusto sana kitang ayain magkape at makipagkwentuhan sa'yo kasi panigurado, marami tayong mapag-uusapan. Nakaka-excite yung idea na yun! Kaso alam kong hindi mo ako pauunlakan. Ayos lang, intindi ko naman. Siguro, balang-araw. :)

Iiwan ko ang linyang ito mula sa Si kasi sobrang tagos ito sa damdamin eh:

"Hindi sa pag-ibig nasasawi ang marami, kundi sa kawalan ng pag-ibig at kamangmangan ng maling pagmamahal."

Mabuhay ka at ang panitikang Pilipino!

Ang iyong masugid na tagapagbasa,

Love

PS:

Siya nga pala, para sa kauna-unahang Taglish kong komento sa isang nobelang Pilipino, binibigyan kita ng 10 tasang latte! Sa susunod, magiging totoong latte na ito... 'pag nagkita tayo. :)

A peculiar journey...Every Day (a review)

by Love Esios

Every Day's book cover grabbed from Google Images.

soul (n.)

- the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever 

If I'm going to define the word in a religious perspective, this definition given by Merriam-Webster dictionary may be the closest possible explanation I can think of when talking about souls. In the Catholic faith the soul is believed to be something that is bigger than yourself, though it is not something that is separate from yourself either. It is something that is part of you but is not entirely just you, because this is something that continues to live long after the body has already died. I haven't given much thought about souls. All I know is that the soul is a part of me, a very important aspect of my spirituality. My soul has been with me ever since I was born and it will depart from me when I die.

But what if we don't really have our own soul? What if a soul is just some kind of an invisible traveler that travels from one place to another? Well, in this book's case, the soul actually shifts from one body to another.

I can't really say my own understanding of what a soul is but it has changed after reading David Levithan's Every Day. I had a glimpse of its plot in my colleague's blog and just like how I fell in love with the other novels I have read in the past, I felt this unyielding curiosity to read it. A 16-year-old, gender-less and endlessly wandering soul (A -- yeah the name of this soul is just A) that inhabits different bodies every day of its life and eventually fell truly, madly, deeply in love with a girl (Rhiannon). Tell me, how can I resist a plot as intriguing and controversial (I think) as this? I thought the movie Her was the weirdest love story I've ever watched and heard. This book practically kicked it out and replaced it on top of my "ODD STORIES" list. I think I was particularly drawn to the soul's peculiar journey wherein he eventually finds the place where he belongs --- to the heart of the one and only girl he (or maybe it) truly loves.

How David Levithan presented the social issues in this book fascinates and at the same time intrigues me. Reading this book was like sailing in the calm seas --- very smooth and very easy. The way he explored each social issue, especially religion, depression and homosexuality, was very simple yet intense and fearless. These are the things that most teenagers are dealing nowadays. I must admit though, that some ideas were presented in a more blatant way (for me), especially the topics of religion and homosexuality.

The way he tells A and Rhiannon 's love story is so easy yet so complicated. It was compelling but at the same time disturbing. I remember this line from Ed Sheeran's song Thinking Out Loud,

"And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways

Maybe it's all part of a plan..."

It was a strange way to fall in love. But in some ways, it also feels right. The only thing lacking about A is a physical body... but the rest -- the character, the emotions, the imperfections that make a person "human"... they're all there. It may look like a case of unconditional love at first, but when you look closely, it was unrequited love. In the book, Rhiannon would often reply A's "I love you" with another "I love you", but I didn't actually feel the words were heartfelt -- a stark contrast as to how A would normally say those words which always sincere and true. Perhaps in Rhiannon's point of view, it was a a set-up that were both difficult and hard to believe. Perhaps, she was just overwhelmed with A's engulfing love.

Maybe in a parallel universe, things like this happen. Maybe things like this is just normal. Things like the story of A and Rhiannon. It is an odd but beautiful masterpiece from Levithan. Something that is worth thinking about. So I guess it's just right to give it 9 cups of latte out of 10. ^^

Note:

If you wanna check out my colleague's own take on the novel, visit this site: 

Everybody's Every day 

http://theybascouniversity.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/everybodys-every-day/

Great blog! ^^

Miracle in Cell No. 7 ~ film review

By Love Esios

Miracle in Cell No. 7 movie poster
(image taken from Wikipedia)

Whenever I watch films, I always make sure that my mind is really set to understand and appreciate the film I am about to see. I have always tried to strike a balance between  noticing the technicalities of the film and allowing my emotions to rule all over my entirety. Watching this film has surpassed all expectations I have for a certified tearjerker. The effect it gave me was more than the sobs and continuous tears I shed not to mention the occasional remark of "Grabe!" in between the scenes.

Most of you reading this blog might have already seen the movie, and so I will just give a very short detail of its summary. It's about a mentally challenged father who is trying to raise his six-year old daughter despite his condition. Eventually, he was wrongfully accused of a crime he didn't really commit and eventually was sentenced to death penalty. The story was quite focused on how the father coped with his life inside the cell and how the daughter, with the help of his cell mates, was able to get inside the cell. Though this movie made my eyes all swollen and puffy, I can't really give this movie two thumbs up. I'll tell you why.

Firstly, this movie resembles another American movie that truly touched my heart --- I am Sam. There's no mistaking the brilliant performances of Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning in that film, which I can't help but compare to Ryu Seung-ryong (the actor who played the mentally challenged father Lee Yong-gu) and Kal So-won (the child who played the young Ye-sung). Secondly, I felt that the story wasn't really realistic. The court drama scenes and the scene where the child was able to sneak in the cell without the authorities noticing it were quite unreal. Probably, the writer wanted to focus more on a father's love to his daughter and how everything can have meaning when there's love around us. I must say that this movie appeals more on the emotions... never-mind the technicalities of the film... still it captured the hearts of the many people who watched it.

Despite the mediocrity of the story, the cast proved to be fitting for their respective roles. I must applaud Ryu Seung-ryong and the child actress Kal So-Won for their award-winning performances. I also love the supporting cast of the film. I think it's safe to say that a movie can truly stand on its own if you have capable actors in both the major and supporting roles. I've always admired the way Koreans prepare, characterize and embody their characters. The facial expression, the body language and even the way they think... just awesome preparation! That's no easy! Lastly, I love the use of the popular cartoon series Sailor Moon as a a very significant symbolism all throughout the film. It has become a reminder of justice that was not serve the first time and justice that was difficult to get but was eventually granted the second time in the film.

Well, with no further adieu, let me give this movie 7/10 espresso shots!

https://www.facebook.com/Now-Brewing-539673826127554/?ref=hl

...and I love HER... (Film Review)

by Love Esios

Ever imagined how the future might look like with all the technological advances designed to make our lives convenient? Everything is easily accessible, everything is functional not with a snap of your fingers, but with the sound of your voice. No need to write emails, no need to see the news, and perhaps in most instances, no need to go out and feel the weather outside. You just speak most of the time to a piece of metal but there is no real interpersonal communication because you constantly interact night and day with...say... an operating system. Uh-huh. You read that right. A relationship with an OS. Okay, let me make that clear, a romantic relationship with an OS. Insane? Well, that's what I thought while watching this film by Spike Jonze who, by the way, bagged the Oscar's Best Original Screenplay earlier this year for this film.

One thing I like about this movie is that it explores the social problems being encountered by the people in the age of modernization and technological breakthroughs while perhaps losing in touch with reality and human interaction. In the movie, we saw how a heartbroken guy basically turned to technology in the hope to save himself from his distress, which I think most of us (if not all) often do when we are down or depressed. We take all our frustrations to social media with the use of... yes... the internet! There is even a moment in the film when he excused himself from his friends just to spend time talking to his OS. Strange but with the rate things are going in the present, the scenario presented in the film might actually take place in the future!

To give you a quick overview of the film, the story revolves around the life of Theodore Twombly, a guy who works as a professional writer of letters for people who can't seem to write heartfelt letters themselves. It would be eventually shown that he's very lonely and is also dealing with a falling apart with her wife which leads to divorce. Eventually, he would discover and purchase a highly-intelligent operating system that can practically provide him with ALL of his needs.

I like how Spike Jonze gave life to his (human) characters. How they deal with the same emotional turmoil every day and how, in many ways, they turn to technology for comfort. The concept of the story is not actually new to most of us, but the way it was written and acted out in the film left me feeling amused, stricken, odd, confused and hanging all at the same time. I also like how the setting came to play in the movie. Unlike other tech/romance-based movies, the setting was not very futuristic for me but I somehow enjoy looking at the pinkish color schemes surrounded by a bland society of people who enjoy using their gadgets 24/7 than actually interacting with each other.

Theodore and Amy

I want to commend Joaquin Phoenix for masterfully portraying a grief-stricken Theodore Twombly. Amy Adams, who portrayed the character Amy (yes, the same name), also gave a strong supporting role. I actually like the fact that she didn't appear pretty and fabulous in this film (which is going to be irrelevant if so, I know). And how can I forget the voice behind the strong-willed and intelligent OS that named itself Samantha...the excellent participation of Scarlett Johansson in the film. Her voice was full of sincerity, intelligence, humor and hope that probably if the said OS actually exists, it would definitely be sold out in just a few hours. To be honest, I almost thought and actually hope that in the end, the voice would come alive and just like how fairy tales end, they would live happily ever after. But then again, happy ever after don't actually exist, do they?

I would've given it a perfect espresso shot rating if not for the vague ending of the story. But I won't discount the fact that this movie is worthy of it's nomination and recognition in the recently-concluded Oscars. 

So, an 8/10 espresso shot will do for this movie. Enjoy! ;)




Note: All photos grabbed from Google Images. All credits to the owners of the photos.

THE STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE FLAME BURNING. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire review.

by Love Esios

"Sometimes, you just have to lower your expectations to avoid unnecessary disappointments." -- This quote was the first thing that came to my mind after watching the most anticipated movie of the year and the second installment of The Hunger Games trilogy --- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Oh don't get me wrong... I love the book. I adore The Hunger Games trilogy. Most of what you've heard about the movie, if you haven't watched it yet, were true. The movie did its best to show a faithful motion picture of the book. I just felt that the movie didn't set me ablaze until the end.

Clearly, the story was fast-tracked and I completely understand why. But sometimes, choosing a short cut will just make you miss the most important details in the story. I just felt that some of the most important scenes in the movie were not thoroughly established such as The Victors (Katniss and Peeta) adjusting to their new life in the Victors' Village, the reconciliation and eventually developing attraction of Katniss to Peeta (which she's not completely aware of), the consequent confusion that will follow because she thought she also had feelings for Gale (which should be felt like a cockfight in her head), the feistiness and the intensity of the clock-inspired arena in the Quarter Quell and the brewing revolution in the less-fortunate districts in Panem ignited by the courageous "berry act" of Katniss in the first movie. And how are they going to show the resurgence of District 13 in the next film if they haven't even given the audience an idea that there was a District 13 and they're very much alive? Unless they are planning to write the screenplay in a different light which I think is not a good idea. (For those who don't have any idea what I'm talking about, especially about District 13, you can ask my friend Google for a summary of the book so that you'll understand). And to top it all, I was not very happy about the beach scene of Katniss and Peeta which is one of my favorite scenes in the book. I was like, "Okay, that's it?" right after.

Despite the apparent discontent I felt for not seeing (and feeling) the scenes I'm expecting in the movie, there were some highlights that I loved about the film. I adored the characterization of Finnick Odair (portrayed by Sam Claflin) and Johanna Mason (portrayed by Jena Malone) in the movie. They provided the much needed wit and spunk in the story. I just felt that the "sugar cube" scene of Finnick and Katniss should've been more sexy than wholesome. Hahaha! :D If my interpretation is right, Finnick was trying to play Katniss in the book to the point of seducing her with a sugar cube. I also have to give it to the brilliant performance of Donald Sutherland as the cruel and manipulative President Snow. I can feel the antagonistic and evil atmosphere in Panem every time I see him on screen.

The fans might strangle me for speaking my mind but I just felt that the movie was not given enough justice. Catching Fire is supposed to establish the background and the beginning of the revolution and the situation of the events that are going to happen in the next movie but it wasn't like that in the film. I'm now wondering how they're going to stitch the story of the next movie and inject District 13 since it's a significant element in Mockingjay.

Nevertheless, if this is any consolation, I have to say that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is better and more alive than its predecessor. Maybe there wasn't just enough fuel to keep the fire burning. I'd give 7/10 espresso shots for this film.

Entering a world where myths are NEVER MYTHS... by Love Esios

When I was a little kid, I was very fond of listening to my cousins talk about the tales of the creatures that thrive within the darkness. We would usually sit in a circle with only one candle illuminating the room and I would let myself drift into their stories thinking whether it's real or not.  I guess I always ended up believing their stories because I would always find myself seeking for my elder cousin's company when going to the toilet after a session of myths and ghost stories. Despite being terrified about these tales, I still enjoy hearing and reading stories about aswang, manananggal, duwende and kapre. But what if all these things we believed to be untrue turned out to be real after all? Sounds absurd, yes, but this unsettling possibility is what this book's trying to get across.

Naermyth book cover from goodreads.com

The first time I saw Naermyth in the bookstore, I felt a strange contradiction about it. It captured my attention and I even thought it could be an interesting read, but then, I felt it's not a worthy purchase. Maybe deep inside of me, I think it's very corny. I have read stories about Philippine mythical creatures but I haven't actually read a novel with that storyline and I don't think someone can pull off a good book out of that concept as well. So instead of buying it at that time, I simply ignored it and went to the English Novels section.

After a few months, a colleague rushed into my cubicle and urged me to read a book that she founds very riveting. And guess what --- it's Naermyth! So I guess we were really fated to spend quality time together after all.

Naermyth is a story centered in the survival of human race in the fictional Philippines being controlled by every mythical creature we have ever heard of in Philippine horror stories when we were kids. A country being governed by duwende, aswangs, kapres and the like? How twisted is that?! In the novel, you would be introduced to the main protagonist Athena (also known as Aegis) -- a cold-hearted, independent young woman who is one of the many highly-skilled people trained to kill Naermyths -- monsters and creatures that were "never myth". These people are called Shepherds and they are tasked to protect the remaining human population in the war-struck country against these creatures that are hunting them down to extinction.

Honestly, I didn't have high expectations when I started reading the novel. But then, I just found myself wishing I got a lot of free time to continue reading and turning the pages. There were some scenes that I find predictable, though. Nevertheless, Ms. Karen Francisco showed that she has a knack on combining fantasy, suspense, thriller and action into an engrossing, well-written novel that will surely leave you craving for more. It makes me proud to know that a Filipino author has a lot of potential to be an international-caliber writer and yet keeping her work very Pinoy.

I guess I just want to say that I loved it. I really do. And I fervently hope that somewhere out there, Ms. Francisco is pulling her hair trying to figure out how she'd finish the second book because for sure, I'm gonna buy it once it's published!

Allow me to do the honor of giving my first 10/10 cups of latte rating for this amazing book. ^____^




PS: It's about time to support our Filipino authors. Dystopian and fantasy novel readers, go check this out before the Naermyths take over!

A WORLD WHERE CHOOSING IS MIGHT. A review about the book Divergent.

By Love Esios

Oh yeah, I just can't get enough of dystopian novels. Right after I finished the highly-recommended The Hunger Games, I started reading another young adult novel. And yes, it's the first book from Veronica Roth's first ever series, Divergent.

Photo from http://www.beyondhollywood.com

The story shows a dystopian Chicago whose society is divided into five factions: Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent), and Dauntless (the brave). Teenagers living in this society should choose which faction they want to belong with by the time they reach the age of sixteen, and that's the dilemma Beatrice Prior, the main protagonist, has to face.

I like the concept of the novel. The idea of dividing the people into faction and forcing the teenagers to make their own decisions have caught my attention. Teens are free to choose whatever faction they like to belong to but their choices are very limited. I think Ms. Roth has clearly established the division among people; which is highly ironic if their main reason for creating factions is to maintain peace and harmony among the people.

I am not really knowledgeable in the technicalities of writing a novel but I feel that there were some scenes in this book that were not properly established. It's like it came out of the blue. As the story progressed, it just focused on the training Beatrice has to complete as a member of her chosen faction but apart from that, the highlight of the story which her being Divergent was not really explained clearly. I have expected intense fighting, more conflicts but then the author dwelled more on conversations and emotions rather than action-pack scenes.

Anyway, despite this, I still love some lines like what Four said to Beatrice in one scene: "But becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how you control your fear, and how to be free from it, that's the point."

Dystopian lovers, I will just give 6 cups of latte out of 10 for this book but this is still an entertaining book to read. As a matter of fact, I have also read the second book, Insurgent and I'm preparing to read the third and last book Allegiant. So go ahead and release the Divergent in you!

UNLEASH THE POWER... A review about the sci-fi film CHRONICLE. By Love Esios

Photo pulled out from Wikipedia

Come to think of this: You're in high school, and life is hard. Other students bully you. You try to fight them but all you can do is to utter the words, "Stop it!". Your family is as broken as a shattered glass and you only have one friend who also happens to be your only close relative. Everything's a mess, and you feel weak inside and out. Then, you bought a video camera and vowed to record everything that's happening in your miserable, boring life. You thought this is going to be fun, until one night you stumbled upon a hole, found something peculiar inside it, then the next thing you know, you are already possessing telekinetic powers that gets stronger every day. Sounds cool right? That's what I also thought while I was watching the movie Chronicle.

A sci-fi flick that would surely take you at the edge of your seat, Chronicle is a story of three high schools students who were just living in tedium until they have discovered a very, very weird thing inside a hole in the forest and their lives were never the same again. I just love how the story progressed, how each scene was defined and developed beautifully, how it made me feel that probably having superpowers isn't a bad idea after all until the film made an unexpected twist and I was trying my best not to scream as I was watching it happen. The idea of presenting the movie as found footage added to the spontaneity and intensity of the story. I also love how the actors portrayed their roles and the kind of emotion they have shown in order to let us remember how we can also be silly, fun and lose control in high school. This movie has the right blend of teen drama, romance, science and action.

So if you are into sci-fi films, you might want to add this to your favorites list. An 8 out 10 espresso shot for this movie!

"You are stronger than all of this..."

~ from Chronicle (2012)