The Wizard of Oz and the mystifying effect of Technicolor ~ by: Uel Ceballos

A timeless classical, The Wizard of Oz is the kind of movie that you wouldn’t get tired of watching even for several of times. Based from L. Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this musical adaptation produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has really captured my heart with its profound moral lessons, magical music and amusing make-ups and special effects, which appeared to define the most intricate cosmetics and technical effects by then. The film was apparently a high budgeted movie with its usage of Technicolor process that was very costly for a film production by that time. But it all worth it because the film was such a great hit of success (though it didn’t make to be a box office hit on its first release)  that even for today, people do still remember the effects it had to everyone who had come to watch it. 

The story is centered to a young sweet farm girl named Dorothy Gale who was carried by a cyclone to the mystical world of Oz while she was inside her house. The house had dropped on the Wicked Witch of The East in the Munchkin Land, and killed the witch accidentally. The witch has a sister, the Wicked Witch of The West who swore to revenge her sister’s death. The rest of the events that followed had led Dorothy to her journey along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City where she could find the Wizard of Oz to help her get back home.

The film had never taken off the smile from my lips all throughout the time that I was watching it. First is mainly of the reason that I was greatly amazed by the garish and extravagantly world of Oz that was achieved through the Technicolor process. Of course, we are now living in the generation where the film’s special effects are far way better than the old times but seeing the classical The Wizard of Oz in such a fantastic visual eminence was really awesome and thinking that ways and process are much complicated and full of effort exertion by then. I couldn’t help but think how painstaking the whole process had been by that time just to give the movie a good quality output. While watching the movie I was really enthralled by the vividness of the picture, thinking on how many lights were being used just to project that bright and colorful illustration effect of the magical Oz, which in turn surely bore sacrifices on the actors and actresses who had to endure the lights’ heat and squinting effects while they were covered in heavy costumes and cosmetics.

photo clips from the movie

Dorothy Gale met along the way the three friends who would accompany her on her journey to Emerald City – the Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Cowardly Lion. This is another demonstration of the film’s excellence in portrayals of the unusual characters in their effective costumes and make-ups that looked so authentic you would really think the Scarecrow and the Tin Man were really Scarecrow and Tin Man in real life. Credits couldn’t be denied as well to the admirable actors who delivered to us an unforgettable performance. I love the trio here as they added colors to Dorothy’s adventure, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion had decided to go with the girl to also wish something from the Great Wizard. This would impart important lessons to the audience as the team finally reached the Emerald City and named to the Wizard what they would want to have.

The film was as rich and substantial as the book where it was adapted. The songs and dances interwoven with the film storytelling approach were meticulously executed that it did really uplift my mood and give me a happy chill. The choreography was so entertaining especially those dances in the Munchkin land in the earlier part of the movie and that first encounter that Dorothy and The Scarecrow had. The music and lyrics were deeply penetrating that it effortlessly exude the happiness and astonishment from me– I just couldn’t describe it exactly, but that somehow was the closer definition I can get with regards to the music’s overall effects on me. I came to watch The Wizard of Oz at the age of 25 but to tell you honestly, I felt like 16 years again for almost 3 hours that I was watching the film.

The Wizard of Oz is the sort of film that you would embrace with a happy and blissful heart regardless of your age, gender or current status in life. The movie was just as powerfully magical as the book itself that its mystique features are quite hard to resist.

Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale

I’m not that familiar of the celebrated actresses by that time, but Judy Garland’s casting as Dorothy Gale apparently became one of the most appropriate decisions that MGM had made for the film production. Her sweet face and wonder-filled eyes had made up so much for the perfect depiction of Dorothy Gale’s character.

This film is certainly a potential classic piece that would survive for far more years from now. This is one of my best favorite musical films that I wouldn’t mind watching over and over again. For this film that never fails to make me feel so young at heart, I will give it a perfect rate of 10 ESPRESSO SHOTS! Cheers!

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!

It's Not That Complicated -- ang babasahin para sa mga Alien! ~ by: Uel Ceballos

Kung ihahalintulad sa isang pagkain ang akdang ito ni Eros Atalia, ang akdang sumunod sa naunang sulating "Ligo na U, Lapit Na Me", ang "Its Not That Complicated" ay isang malinamnam na putaheng kumpleto sa mga rekado at siksik sa sustansya. Pagpapawisan ka sa paghigop ng mainit nitong sabaw na bahagyang pinalapot upang maging masarsa at mag-iwan ng kakaibang lasa sa iyong dila na hinding-hindi mo malilimutan. Pihadong mapapasabak ka sa walang humpay na paglantak sa hain nitong napakamalamang sangkap hanggang sa tumirik ang mga mata mo at maghabol-hininga ka sa rurok ng iyong kabusugan.

Muling pakikibutin ni Intoy ang natutulog niyong puso, pakikislutin ang nanlalamig niyong mga ugat, paaagusin ang nagsesebo niyong dugo at pasasakitin ang nanahimik niyong puson sa muling pagtatagpo nila ni Jen na ngayo’y may kasama pang Tina.

Sila Jen at Tina ang mga alien na sumugod at nanggulo sa buhay ni Intoy hindi upang manakop kundi upang makihati ng saglit sa mumunting mundo ng binata at magbaon ng kapiraso nito sa kanilang pag-alis. Ang kapirasong iyon ng mundo ni Intoy ang gagamitin nila Jen at Tina upang lumikha ng panibagong mundong kanilang pagyayamanin.

Higit pa sa akdang pang-romansa ang It’s Not That Complicated dahil bukod sa likas na pangingiliti nitong taglay ay may hatid din itong nanunundot na paksang magpapasilab sa iyong kaalamang panlipunan. Kumbaga’y hindi lamang nito pauusukin ang tenga’t ilong mo, kundi puputungan ka pa ng bombilyang nagniningas ang liwanag.

Nakakatawa man ang mga linya ni Eros, may angkin namang itong talim na nakalilikha ng malalim na hiwa. Malaya nitong paaagusin ang dugong namuo na sa sobrang tagal nang hindi pagdaloy. 

Nababagay ang prosang ito sa mga alien sa sariling bansa ng sa gayon nama’y makilala na nila ang Pilipinas sa totoo nitong kulay at kalagayan. Baka sakaling magkainteres ang mga Pilipinong alien na ito na magkaisang agawin ang pamumuno sa mga mapagpanggap na nilalang (na silang totoong mga alien). Kapag nangyari iyon tuluyan na nilang masasakop ang Pilipinas at mapagyayamang muli hindi na bilang mga alien kundi mga totoong Pilipinong inangkin na rin sa wakas ang sariling pagkakakilanlan.  

KUBRADOR : MAKE YOUR BET ~ by: Uel Ceballos

The Pinoy Indie movie Kubrador was the embodiment of a crudely conspicuous film that was both courageous and shamelessly frank on its portrayal of the Jueteng issue in the country. Extremely firm on its conviction, Kubrador had brazenly explored the anomalies of those persons in rank positions who should be helping out to eradicate the illegal betting but were taking part instead in the entire scheme. 

The film covered all the aspects of the social and economic borders that were reached by this gambling activity. The movie showed as well the impoverished condition in the country that was pushing the majority of the poor to rely their luck on making a bet to the illegal number games while the rich people were even more lured to bet on the game for the promised of greater and quicker gain of riches.

Kubrador centered to the story of Amy, an old woman (Gina Pareño) who provided for her family from the small earnings that she was getting as bet collector. Her life was set in a monotonous reality – roaming around their place from early morn to late evening encouraging her neighbors to place their bet – until certain events came up (concerning her livelihood as bet collector and the unforeseen experiences which involved the mystical presence of her late son’s spirit) that eventually transformed her life.

The authority then had become stricter in their operation to get rid of the illegal number games due to the jueteng issue involved by the two consecutive Philippine presidents. The first one was on the year 2000, wherein President Estrada was impeached after being proven guilty of receiving millions on illegal pay offs. The next one was President Macapagal wherein there were allegations that her relatives were receiving payouts from the jueteng operators.

Kubrador had clearly depicted how the crippled society had fallen to the pit of Jueteng world just to survive their daily needs. The setting in the film was all too crystal-clear, showing the poverty-stricken squatter that actually defined the Philippine society in a larger picture. As Amy was shown walking around the area, all the details that characterized the destitute state of the poor were given away in this film – slum, unemployment, overpopulation, subsistence living, barely making ends meet – Kubrador had also shown here some ways of the Filipinos to escape poverty such as finding a foreigner husband and working overseas for a greater source of income.

But what really made this film aggressively daring was its presentation of the corrupted system which in one way or another had quite illustrated the involvement of political, military and police branches. The film had also showed the Church’s connection on this Jueteng matter though it was demonstrated here in a subdued manner.  

The effect of the film to me was quiet heartbreaking to the sense that it was trying to

impress the hopelessness of the Philippine system due to the despoiled persons who are in the positions. And what extremely highlighted to the movie were the sad facts that while the poor keep on struggling in their lives to the point that they are involving their selves to illegal jobs, the rich ones also keep on gaining benefits from the schemes where the poors were set in the frontiers like the pawns in a board game.  

Many subordinate issues also were presented in this film, all chained from the main header of the subject – poverty. I noticed that there were several times that Amy was shown buying a bottled mineral water from a sari-sari store and there was an instance where she expressed her dismay over the expensiveness of the distilled water. It dawned on me then how the poor are so deprived of clean water to drink, which in turn, causing them several water-related diseases and other sorts of malady.

However, the presence of unnatural element here had somehow balanced the movie between the desperate conditions and the optimism that each new day brings. The spirit of Amy’s late son Eric, was seen at numerous parts of the film watching and guarding his mother. There were highlighted parts that emphasized the significance of Eric’s spirit, subtly pacifying the mood and bringing lights not only to Amy and her family but to the audiences as well.

Technicality-wise, there were lacks of lighting in the movie which gave it the most appropriate effect – the dimness of setting and the rawness of shots were next to the perfect depiction of the lower class society. The texture was so perfect that its effects will really include and immerse you to the film’s setting and depressing situation.

For this Pinoy Indie that received numbers of awards and nominations from both local and abroad, I will give it a rate of 10 Espresso Shots!

MUSICAL FILMS LIVE FOREVER!: List of MY BEST FAVORITE musical movies ~ by: Uel Ceballos

Being a theater enthusiast (and a theater artist sometimes), I’m also a big fan of musical films wherein the treatments are all so theatrical. Emotions are translated into lyrics, interpreted through movements and highlighted through acting. Nothing could be more fantastic but the sight of these three art forms being meticulously combined into one awesome movie. It’s different of course when you see it in the Broadway show where everything’s done in live. In the movie however, it is magnificent in its own way as the three art forms are combined with another great form of creativity, which is the art of film making.

To give you some ideas of the best musical films ever produced, I’m sharing you my list of favorites. Here they are! Enjoy the trailers!

1. LES MISERABLE

This 2012 epic romantic film adapted from the musical of the same name, of which based from Victor Hugo’s novel will surely send a chill up to your spine due to its excellent musicality and significant story. Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried and all the rest of the ensemble casts have given us here a real knockout performance that the film had received eight Academy Awards nominations including Best Picture.

2. PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

The real epitome of magnified classic story, The Phantom of Opera was the most unforgettable musical I’ve ever seen. The film was based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of the same name, of which based on French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. The movie was such a perfect beauty that its exuding splendor would certainly haunt you forever. 

3.  A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Based on the musical of the same name, which was based from Charles Dicken’s novel, this television film was such a heartwarming movie that would reach deeply into your soul. This is the Christmas movie that I wouldn't mind watching again and again, because the story of A Christmas Carol is such a sweet reminder that the real happiness in life lies not in gold or in any material things but in the love we share with one another.

4. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR  

How about seeing Christ Passion in a rock musical demonstration? Based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage musical of the same name, Jesus Christ Superstar has shown the events on Christ’s life during the week before His crucifixion. The approach used was set away from the conventional type of interpreting Christ’s life through the solemn and serious tone, but it was delivered in a modern mood means by depicting it through rock musical. 

5. THE SOUND OF MUSIC

A feel good musical and a remarkable classic that would live in your heart forever, The Sound of Music was a musical film inspired by the memoir of Maria Von Trapp. The film told the story of Maria and the Von Trapp family which started just before the World War II. Surely, you will never get rid of the song “Do-Re-Mi” and the rest of the happiest songs you will hear in this very beautiful movie!

6. THE WIZARD OF OZ

A great classic film to cherish, you will definitely love Dorothy Gale, the sweet, young girl who was brought to Land of Oz by a hurricane. Her journey was such a meaningful one as she traveled the yellow brick road to find the Wizard. This is such a wonderful film that was based from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. (click here to see review of the movie)

7. MAMMA MIA

If you grew up with Abba music, then this musical/ romantic comedy movie is perfect for you. Mamma Mia was such a real feel good film with such an uplifting effect that it would leave you singing and dancing at the end. Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried made a perfect mother-daughter tandem here, and Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgard had even added more color to the ever-vibrant scenes!

8. CHICAGO

Full of breathtaking performances and spectacular numbers, Chicago will bring you back to the Jazz Age when jazz and dance started to arise in popularity and the society stank of corruption, depression and other horrible doings. The film explored serious topics, of which concerned subject of fame, scandal and fraud. The film starred Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. 

9. JOYFUL NOISE

Get inspired by this gospel-infused musical film that told the story of a small town choir that was threatened to be shut down. Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton had made a perfect chemistry here with their both strong personality, conviction,and really amazing vocal powers. Sing praises and witness this one good round of fellowship, Joyful Noise will make feel light-hearted and will give new fresh hopes to start your life with.

10. OLIVER!

Based on another Charles Dicken’s novel, Oliver! was adapted from a stage musical of the same name. This film that earned six Academy awards including Best Picture and Best Director in the 41^st Academy Awards in 1969 had indeed appealed to the people in all walks of life. Exciting not only for the children but for the adult as well, I bet you would enjoy the film and get fond of Dickens unforgettable characters.

11. GREASE

Grease was such great phenomena in the history of musical cinema. Music and choreography were all too powerful that it lingered years after the movie was first shown. Join the Rydell High gangs on their life’s journey as students. Sing and groove with them as you watch this one big fun musical movie! (click here to see review of the movie)

12. RENT

Very substantial and full of issues explored and discussed, Rent is the heaviest film I’ve ever watched that blatantly reflected the darker side of the of society. It depicted the lives of several Bohemians who struggled onto their lives for survival. The film tackled several themes including sexuality, gender issue, drugs, poverty and HIV/AIDS. Heavily serious were the themes maybe, but the movie never lacks the variety, the blend of emotions, and the musicality prowess that would take your breath away due to the excellent deliverance and performance of its ensemble casts.

13. DREAM GIRLS

Witness the evolution of music from the 60’s and 70’s through the perspectives of the girl group called Dream Girls as they conquered the music industry together with their all too controlling manager played by Jamie Foxx. If you’re a great fan of R & B music, then Dream Girls is the perfect watching for you. A musical drama film that explored themes such as celebrity, love, romance, heartbreaks, and friendship.

14. HAIRSPRAY

Get rockin’ and groovin’ as Hairspray brought you back to the 1960’s era with all the hit 60’s pop dance and downtown rhythm and blues! Hairspray revolved around the plump teenager Tracy Turnblads who dreamed of dancing in The Corny Collins Show. Without doubt, you would be so fond of Tracy as she positively worked her way to the realization of her dreams. John Travolta had given us here an amusing performance as he played in drag to portray the role of Tracy’s mother.

15. ROCK OF AGES

Recall the 80’s melody as Rock of Ages delivers you the music of 1980’s rock artists. This romantic musical comedy film will definitely set you rocking and banging on your seat as you listen to the film’s stirring and thrilling musical numbers!

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!

GREAT GATSBY IN ACTION by: Uel Ceballos

Based from the novel The Great Gatsby written by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, the 2013 The Great Gatsby movie was the fifth film adaptations of the said book since 1926. The most recent Gatsby film was casted by Leonardo Di Caprio as Jay Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, of whom I could say, were well fitted for their roles. They both did a great portrayal here, especially Leo, who had excellently brought Jay Gatsby to life from the most dominant to the least details of him. It wasn’t a surprise at all that Leo had given us here a marvelous act, aside from the fact the he was my teenage crush, nothing could be really denied about his greatness as an actor. Like in his other movie performance, he had given his self away here in The Great Gatsby to provide room for the role he would be playing, which is the role of Jay Gatsby – who was distinguished for his peculiarity, sophistication, lavishness, and mystifying charm. Leo had justified the sometimes firm and sometimes dithering attitude, the presentation of sugar-coated personality and the bared one, the unmatched passion and effortless charm that all contained in Jay Gastby’s unpredictable nature.

The film as told in the book concerned the story of young millionaire Jay Gatsby and his undying love for Daisy Buchanan. The entire story was looked through the perspective of Daisy’s cousin, Nick Carraway who was also the narrator in the movie. By following in precise details on what were being described in the novel, the viewers would surely enjoy the extravagant sights of the gaudy and fanciful Long Island where Gastby’s mansion was located.

The developments of the characters were carefully made from the physique features to the clothing fashion and the manners that should be acted. Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker here were depicted as perfectly as they were described in the book – satiated with grace and elegance, Daisy and Jordan were the perfect epitome of the sweetest and posh ladies who belonged in the superior society of their era.

The film was created to be a complete parallel movie version of the book, delivering the story through Nick’s views. This brought both the good and limited effects though – good to the sense that the film balanced the standpoints of the audiences, who were seeing through Nick’s spectacles. Nick was the type of person who tried to reserve his judgments for as long as he could stand it – and this in turn, influenced the audiences’ notion as well. However a balanced viewpoint quiet has the tendency to spoil the emotions that are being built up along the progression of the movie. Also, the narration style limited the film on its great potential to bring the chronicle in its stunning climax, because it somewhat subdued the supposedly peak of the story. Nevertheless, that was really how the story went in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, and the filmhad just followed  it accordingly.

I have watched the movie first before I got to read the book. After I finished the novel I noticed some parts that weren’t included in the movie’s ending – appearance of Jay Gatsby’s father and the funeral scene that really made me feel so heavy at heart while I was ready it. Maybe, if they have included it in the film as well, they could have done probably a more sensible ending because the father’s appearance and statement in the novel had shown small but significant details on the other side of Jay Gatsby’s personality.

For this wonderful movie inspired by one of the most remarkable piece in the history of literature, I will give it a rate of 7 Espresso Shots!