DECONSTRUCTING HARRY REVIEW by: Uel Ceballos

Opening in quiet an odd style, Deconstructing Harry started with a scene of a woman coming down a cab but the frame was set in a backward and forth repetitions for several of times. It actually made me think that the movie copy was corrupted or the movie player wasn’t working well but then when the motion finally proceeded to the next scene, it occurred to me that the whole thing was just a part of the treatment.

photo courtesy of wikipedia

Deconstructing Harry was directed and starred by Wooden Allen himself. It was the story of a successful writer named Harry Block who drew inspirations from the people he knew. This would later caused Harry several effects in varying level of extremity, like for his one particular novel that was blatantly based to his real life affair with his wife’s sister Lucy. Lucy was the one seen in the beginning of the movie, confronting Harry of his works and on how did it affect her relationship with her fiancé.

There were lots of flashback series along the movie. Also, several of the significant portions on Harry’s novels were being demonstrated as Harry recalled and discussed it with his therapist or with his friend. It quiet showed the deep connection that Harry had with the stories he wrote and with the characters he developed therein. This was another sort of Woody Allen’s work, wherein you would find yourself all eyes and ears to the entire movie that was a mix of flashback and present, and a combination of real (Harry’s real world) and unreal (Harry’s fiction world) situations.

Like all other Woody Allen’s movies, Deconstructing Harry explored several themes that were associated with Jews, psychological issues, and the social influences on human behavior.

Woody Allen as Harry Block

The movie was an intellectual yet amusing demonstration of the writer’s (Harry) psychological struggles, which affected his relationships with the people around him. The film looked through Harry’s personal life, invading its privacy and revealing to the audiences that in spite of his career success, Harry was just another human with lots of flaws and shortcomings. Like everyone else, he was also suffering the consequences of his mistakes and failures in life, though he has been trying to patch things up according to his basis of the right-things-to-do.

photo clip from the movie "Deconstructing Harry"

There were also moments wherein Harry was being confronted by all the characters that he had created. This gave the impression that all the characters in a book were merely pieces of the writer’s soul who breathed the fictional life in a fictional world. The book characters, in one way or another were reflections of the writer’s subconscious self, and this statement worked not only for Harry Block but for all the writers out there.

Deconstructing Harry had the entertaining twists and turns that would set you into outburst laughing and then in all of a sudden would make you empathizing with the main character. If you have seen others of Woody Allen’s movie, you would notice as well that he had a great fondness for creating a main character with inclination to writing just like in the films Midnight in Paris and Annie Hall wherein the main characters were also writers.

Woody Allen is such a laughing deity who always impart to his audience a fair amount of laughing potion and a great share of substantial thoughts. For this movie that was nominated for Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, I will give a rate of 8 Espresso shots!

Halina't silipin ang Diary ng Panget Ni: Uel Ceballos

Kung naghahanap ka ng babasahing babasag sa iyong katinuan at magpapakiliti sa natutulog mong ka-kesohan, bakit hindi mo subukang basahin ang kwentong nangunguna ngayon sa mga tindahan ng aklat – Diary Ng Panget by HaveYouSeenThisGirl.

Sa aking pagsasaliksik sa internet, napag-alaman kong Denny pala ang pangalan nitong si HaveYouSeenThisGirl na ayaw magbigay ng buo niyang pangalan (pero willing siyang magpapicture kaya naman makikita niyo ang itsura ng batang ito sa net). Okay, hindi siya Panget katulad ng bida sa istorya na si Eya. Pero sa pagtingin ko sa larawan niya, mapapansing isang simpleng babaeng likas na masayahin itong si Denny. Hindi malayong isipin na katulad din siya ni Eya sa maraming aspeto –malamang sa paraan ng pagsasalita, sa mga kinahihiligan, sa mga expression, at sa mga pananaw sa mga bagay-bagay.

Mabalik tayo sa kwentong isinulat niya. Sa edad kong ito na 25, aaminin kong bumenta sa’kin ang teenage love story na siyang tema nitong Diary ng Panget. Bukod sa umepekto sa akin ang mga katatawanang nakapaloob dito, tinablan din ako ng kilig sa love story nila Cross at Eya, kahit pa sabihing ang istorya nila ay karaniwan mo nang mababasa sa iba pang nobela at mapapanood mo pa sa karamihan ng mga pelikulang may kahalintulad na tema.

Pero ano nga ba ang naging kaibahan ng Diary ng Panget sa iba pang kwento at humakot ito ng milyon-milyong atensyon sa watt.pad na siyang naging dahilan para mapansin ng isang publisher? Lalo pang sumikat ang kwento nila Cross at Eya nang maisalin na sa aklat ang istorya at dumami pa ngang lalo ang naging mambabasa ng kwento.

Sa aking palagay, wala naman din talagang dahilan para hindi kagiliwan ang Diary ng Panget. Hindi ko lang tiyak kung aalma dito ang mga masugid na tagasulong ng tamang paraan ng pagsusulat at masusing pagobserba sa teknikalidad ng literaturang Pilipino. Bumenta sa kabataan ang kwento ni Denny,bumenta din ito sa mga hindi na “bata”(katulad ng henerasyon namin). Ibig sabihin lang, hindi mo kailangang magpakulong sa kombensyonal na pamamaraan para lamang maipahayag ang mga bagay-bagay na nais mong maibahagi sa karamihan.

Wika nga ni Denny, simple lang naman ang kwento nila Eya at Cross, typical. Subalit sa kabila ng kasimplehan nito, siguradong magpipinta naman ito ng ngiti sa mga labi at magdudulot ng kagalakan sa kalooban ng sinumang makababasa nito.

Kalabaw nga lang daw ang tumatanda, hindi ibig sabihin na nalipasan ka na ng iyong kabataan ay hindi na nararapat na babasahin sa’yo ang Diary ng Panget. Remember, we are forever young at heart! Kaya kung icebreaker sa mga nakakaburyong na problema at trabaho ang hanap mo, hetong Diary ng Panget ang babasahing nababagay sa’yo. Basta huwag ka lang OA na pa-deep at pa-high standard kuno dahil hindi mo nga talaga kasisiyahan ang pagbabasa ng ganitong istorya na kung tutuusin ay may makabuluhang mensahe namang hatid. Try to loosen up dude,makigulo ka muna kina Cookie Monster at Cookie Bear. Naway’y kagiliwan mo ang pagbabasa nito. Enjoy!

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Meet The Great Gatsby by: Uel Ceballos

I was amazed to meet Gatsby here – I mean the way F. Scott Fitzgerald presented him in the book; Jay Gatsby was quite intriguing. He was the sort of a mysterious man with deep sense of attachment to his past, driven passionately by his loyal love to Daisy Buchanan, and firmly determined to get things according to his plans.

The Great Gatsby was one of the greatest classic novels that you would treasure for a lifetime. This was not your kind of inspirational book, of which you could count on to uplift your spirit and develop your morality, but this was the type of novel that would serve as your window to human’s weaknesses and would leave you significant thoughts to ponder about.

photo courtesy of wikipedia

Jay Gatsby was an emotionally bothered individual -- toughened by difficult experiences in life, he lived with full dedication to fulfill his dreams and revive the relationship that he and Daisy had five years ago. And Daisy, oh Daisy was such a sweet siren who got me confused if she was really the fragile type or the wise one who played around with the irresistible effect she had with anyone. But one thing for sure, Daisy was the one who value status and money more than anything else otherwise Jay Gatsby wouldn’t strive really hard to level his self to the gaudy, fancy life that Daisy loved.

Looking at the story through the point of view of Nick Carraway also gave me the impression of seeing Nick as F. Scott himself. Nick was the cousin of Daisy here who happened to become Gatsby’s closest friend. You would be looking to the entire story through Nick’s spectacles, who shared the reader a shallow depiction of his self saved for the opinions and feelings he had towards the whole Gatsby-Daisy thing.

F. Scott Fitzgerald had given us a story that would leave us empathizing due to its ill-fated ending – nor affirming or refuting its possible existence. I, myself, was left drifting on thoughts of believing and denying. Denying to the sense that I don’t want such thing to happen in my case; believing because this was apparently the sort of reality and not just one of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s surreal ideas.

I wouldn’t mind reading this novel for several times. The author had written here substantial phrases that I wouldn’t mind re-reading and re-digesting on my mind. For this wonderful literary piece I will give it a rate of 8 cups of latte. 

Hope you guys can find time to read this one. The novel was followed by several film adaptations bearing the same title The Great Gatsby, the most recent was this 2013 film starred by Leonardo Di Caprio and Tobey Maguire. 

ANNIE HALL, a truly nourishing masterpiece by: Uel Ceballos

Watching any of Woody Allen’s films will really get you glued on your seat, all eyes and ears to everything that’s happening on the screen. Surely, you wouldn’t want to miss any of his brilliant lines which are often delivered in various brainy humorous ways.

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Annie Hall is a 1977 American romantic comedy film that starred Woody Allen himself. He was also the director and co-writer of the film, wherein you can see the Woody Allen’s style of flashback treatment and more of the significant dialogues approach than the action-show-off kind of film story-telling. The entire film is more of conversations, about 70% telling and 30% showing. But with a highly credited director like Woody Allen, the approaches never lack the necessary imagery to form the pictures in the audiences’ view even without literally showing it. You definitely hear it and feel it. You listen to every words, laugh at every humor, sympathize with the characters demises and you will just realize that you’re already hooked on it. Mainly for the reason that Woody Allen never just write the lines, but he write it with full substances. So much substances actually that you will be amazed on how did Woody Allen came to include somewhere in his script about Marshall McLuhan, Rolling Stone, David and Bathsheeba, The Sorrow and the Pity, the Wicked Queen in Snow White and even stereotyping line that compared L.A to Munchkinland!

Annie Hall is a full romantic comedy type with significant quotes that will leave you pondering at the end. Woody Allen who played Alvy Singer here has been trying to figure out why his relationship with Annie Hall has failed to work out. The film gets back to the earlier parts of Alvy’s life where he had the first two relationships before Annie, the first time he and Annie met in a badminton, their lives together as partner, the fights they’d been through and the differences they’d discovered during the period of being together.

Of course, another thing that makes Annie Hall exceptional is the classy musical scoring that set the film in a very romantic mood. The psyches of the film’s characters are marvelously developed and the comical lines being thrown are partly satirical but in a pleasantly amusing manner. There are also lots of remarkable techniques being used such as Alvy Singer breaking the fourth wall, addressing the audiences directly by facing and talking straightly to the camera. Woody Allen has obviously reflected here lots of the remarkable artists’ influences on him, definitely we already know it as the Woody Allen’s style when the flow of script draws so much inspiration from literary works, philosophical ideas, Judaism, and psychological issues.

Annie Hall is such a beautiful movie that will give you good laughs and will set you internalizing right after. Truly a nourishing film, this one is more than just your ordinary romantic comedy movie. This is a real masterpiece that hits something deeply onto your heart and mind. So I suggest you also watch this one and tell me then if I'm telling the truth.

For this one, I will give it a rate of nine shots of espresso. Cheers to quality movie!

INSIANG -- The truth, the real and the classic by: Uel Ceballos

photo clip from the movie Insiang

Set in the slum area of the country, Insiang was opened with the montage of a depressed location in its different shots and angles. Lino Brocka had shamelessly shown here the Philippines in its worse poverty-stricken state. It was released in the year of 1976 during the Martial Law period (under Marcos regime). Just when the first lady Imelda Marcos stood firmly to her beliefs of “the truth, the good, and the beautiful” and thereby claiming the duty to act as the star to light the poor men’s way, Lino Brocka and Mario O’ Hara boldly made a film that demonstrated the Philippines in its ugliest and worst condition. Insiang not just challenged Imelda’s principle but slapped hardly the administration as the film frankly stated the real circumstances in the country.

photo clips from the movie Insiang

Insiang told the story of a pretty young woman who strove hard to get the affection of her mother. Her father left them for another woman and her mother so bitter and infuriated had diverted her grudges onto Insiang. The film was made richly with interesting conflicts and it was bombarded with poverty issues,which included the effects it had on each member of the society. The story of Insiang was made with attention-grabbing plot that would hold you still on your seat up to the last minute of the movie. This dramatic film strongly stirred sympathy for Insiang who was harshly challenged by fate, which left her seeking for revenge.

Hilda Koronel as Insiang

Actress Hilda Koronel had given us here a knockout performance, as she not only excellently portrayed the character but proven as well that no other actresses in her generation would be more fitted for the role but she alone. Kudos to the whole casts and to the production team, whom with all their joint efforts had made the film a big hit that Insiang became the first ever Filipino film to go into the Cannes Film Festival. Its entry to Cannes did not win the favor of the Marcos but the administration barred instead the showing of film in France. Small wonder why the Marcoses wouldn’t want to show off the film in the festival where other foreign countries would be present – Insiang described Philippines in ways that didn’t complement to Imelda’s own version of “the truth, the good and the beautiful”. However, just as the movie was brazenly produced and shown in the Philippines, there was nothing indeed to stop the production team especially by that time that they had already gotten the attention of one of the most prestigious films festival in the world. In spite of the prohibition of Marcos to bring the movie to France, the producer had bravely sneaked the disc by carefully hiding it in her baggage and flying Insiang to the Cannes Festival.

It has been three decades now since Insiang was first released, but until today, you can still see those same sceneries that you have seen demonstrated in the 1976 movie. It seemed like Philippines has still a long way to go before it could finally lessen if not eradicate the issues of poverty.

For this classic Filipino film that blatantly discussed the society’s issues even if it could mean threat and danger to the lives of the whole production team, let’s drink to it with the perfect rate of 10 shots of espresso!

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Movie details:

Title: Insiang

Director: Lino Brocka

Writer: Mario O'Hara, Lamberto E. Antonio 

Casts: Hilda Koronel, Mona Lisa, Ruel Vernal, Rez Cortez

Hunger Games Trilogy – “Glory and Gore go hand in hand.” (A song from Lorde’s album) By Lyn Bungar

Photo courtesy of hungergamesdwtc.net

I heard about this song Glory and Gore by Lorde from her album Pure Heroine. The title definitely described my thoughts about Hunger Games Trilogy.

Hunger Games Trilogy – the book my co-bloggers were crazy about, so might as well take a look at it.

I got the chance to know about Hunger Games from a friend who was very helpful to download the movie for my sake. I admit, I really enjoyed the movie and I couldn’t get enough of Katniss Everdeen’s character. But reading the book is incomparable. I read the book for 3 consecutive days and only stopped for meals, bathroom and other important reasons. I was so hooked. It was like watching the film again for 3 days, only much better since I get to know the every bit of details of the story.

The Capitol created the Hunger Games as a punishment for the districts’ rebellion 74 years ago. Hunger Games is an annual event to remind every district in Panem how powerful the Capitol is and that the rebellion that happened in the past should not be repeated. Kids ages twelve years old and above is entitled to reaping. Reaping is the process that determines who will represent each district in the game. Every district will have two representatives, one male and one female known as the Tributes. They will fight to death until only one remains, called the Victor. Katniss Everdeen volunteered in the game to take her sister’s place. Her little sister, Prim, 12 years old, was originally picked as one of the tributes to represent District 12. Peeta Mellark, a bread-maker, is the other tribute. I am not a fan of violence, of bloody and gory fights but this novel is far more than that and has change my perspective about books or novels in the same category.

Photo from wikipedia.org

The first book is my favorite of all, because of Katniss' sarcastic humor despite her state. The Hunger Games trilogy was written in the main characters perspective - Katniss Everdeen. She was a tough teenage girl, a hunter and someone who does not show her emotions to other people, especially her mom because she knew that these people will only break her in the end. 

Hunger Games highlights Katniss Everdeen’s fight in the arena. How her life transformed when she became a tribute. Her victory was seen by the Capitol as a rebellious act when she decided not to kill Peeta. She chose to die with him than win the competition alone. But since having no Victor is not part of the game, they both lived and named as Victors.

The Catching Fire, second book of the Hunger Games trilogy has a more serious tone and less Katniss’ humor. It shows the consequences of the mian characters’ actions in the first book. Katniss and Peeta were brought again in the arena, a different arena from the first Hunger Games. This time the participants were the Victors of every district in Panem.  She was with Peeta again. Katniss’ feelings for her co-tribute Peeta and her childhood friend Gale became more confusing. Katniss’ character is more confident, stronger and tougher this time. I get to know a different side of her. 

The last book Mockingjay is the most bloody and action-packed of the three books. The districts of Panem became the arena. Every district had an uprising against the Capitol. The head of the rebellion is the thirteenth district which was thought to have gone and burned into ashes 74 years ago during the Dark Days. It was the most shocking revelation in the trilogy. Katniss Everdeen became the Mockingjay, the sign of the rebellion, the people’s inspiration. A lot of characters was introduced and died. It is for you to find out who are they. The third book shows how the media played an important role in the districts’ rebellion against the Capitol. I remember my lessons when I was in College as a Mass communication student. A media team with Katniss and soldiers in the battlefield and airing it for the whole Panem to see is classic!

How a commoner, a teenage girl changed every people’s lives in Panem is the most inspiring yet heartbreaking of all. This book isn’t your typical heroes against villains’ story. It has shown the consequences and sacrifices in achieving freedom from tyranny. And that being a hero, you get to have the most unfortunate ending.

Hunger Games trilogy is a book that will connect to you in different perspectives. Can’t wait to watch if the Catching Fire movie will justify the second book! 

I can literally drink 8 cups of latte in a day for this book! :)

EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN -- IT'S TIME FOR A FEAST! by: Uel Ceballos

photo courtesy of wikipedia

If you are planning to watch Ang Lee’s Eat Drink Man Woman, make it perfectly sure that you have a full stomach. The sumptuous presentations and often display of foods in the film quiet have a mouth-watering effect to anyone who watches it. This 1994 Taiwanese film presented an amiable family consisting of a father and her three grown-up daughters. With Ang Lee’s exceptional direction, the movie successfully showcased a simple yet very strong topic concerning the culture and family tradition and the necessary adjustments that each of them has to make.

The main character Mr. Chu is a widower master Chinese Chef who has three unmarried daughters. Each of whom has different characters and beliefs – the eldest Chu Jia-Jen, a school teacher who is coming close to being an old maid, the second Chu Jia-Chien, an airline executive who’s the liberated and independent one, and the youngest Chu Jia-Ning who is still in college. The three daughters have been living in the same house with their father until the second one decided to move out.

Sihung Lung as Mr.Chu in Eat Drink Man Woman
photo clip from the movie

Ang Lee’s presented here the common situation that happen around wherein the grown-ups are already worrying about their aging parents. In this movie, the three daughters have been discussing on who will be left to take care of their father and they even came up with the idea of setting Mr.Chu to someone of his own age.

The story was brilliantly written – with the traditional ways being challenged, still the

photo clip from the movie Eat Drink Man Woman

importance of the family is perfectly highlighted. Mr.Chu and his three daughters are always having a Sunday dinner, wherein Mr.Chu is always preparing a real big feast. Here, they not only eat but also share one’s another updates. The Sunday dinner also becomes the main venue wherein big plans and decisions are discussed. Along the movie, you will find each daughter following the paths they have decided for their life and it always start up from a Sunday dinner conversation with their father. Sunday dinners will give you not only the pleasant sight of the food that are served on the family’s table but also feed you with tasty revelations coming from the daughters and from the father himself.

photo clip from movie
Eat Drink Man Woman

Eat Drink Man Woman has in store lots of surprises that will surely bring out the laughter and tears in you. Just as the delicious cuisines satisfied your eyes (if not your tummy); Ang Lee has made it sure that your impressions toward the movie will be greatly pleased as well. With all its smooth flow and sequencing, very appealing music, and ideal casting, I am confident to say that this movie will make you feel good and inspired at the end.

Just to share my side of story, I happened to watch this movie in the early morning of father’s day. After watching it, I realized that it perfectly fit for the occasion that day and I went right away to our kitchen to prepare food for my father that I myself had made. I suggest you watch it with your dad and with the whole family as well – this movie has really something on it that will not only stir your hunger but your appetite for a well-lived life as well.

For this delectable movie, I’ll give it eight shots of espresso!

MOVIE DETAILS:

Title: Eat Drink Man Woman

Director: Ang Lee

Producer: Hsu Li Kong, Hsu Kong

Writer: Ang Lee, James Schamus, Hui-Ling Wang

Casts: Sihung Lung[N 1, Yu-wen Wang, Chien-lien Wu, Kuei-mei Yang