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Reviews
Lucifer: Bloody Celestial Karaoke Jam (2021)
Telling of God
What a way to humanize God, even more than the dinner scene did. Besides losing control over his powers, God seems only able to communicate through music, and even more sadly, by giving the human beings the greatest gift, free will, he cannot truly look upon their doings with joy, and only smile when they dance, fully controlled by him, lacking of free will - even though the dancing people are enjoying themselves. The fact that celestials are relatively immune to this makes it all better.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
a touching recovery
Looking at the summary before seeing Silver Linings Playbook (SLP), I could already predict the ending. A man obsessed with making up with his wife enlists the aid of a crazy, husband-bereaved woman. Only one thing can happen. Even so, the efforts Pat makes to improve himself, better himself, and to help Tiffany with her own issues, it touched me. Maybe it was the message of hope for fellow crazies. Maybe it was the message to "read the signs." The acting was superb, De Niro and Lawrence and Cooper all in one film, how the Eagles-obsessed family devoted its life to the birds and how Tiffany and Pat were just so honest to each other (not all the time, but still). Most of us don't say what we mean.
We need to look for the silver linings in life. We cannot lose an opportunity at love when it comes.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
superb cinematography
I watched this because it won Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars. Not surprised. The plot looked a bit dull, little of what you would deem "action," but the emotional tension and madness that the main character had to go through are pretty realistic. Turns out it also won Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. Not surprised again. Watch and soon enough you'll find out what I mean. Very different from practically every other live-action film I've seen. The acting is superb, Norton/Keaton/Stone, and it's cool how they're acting like they're acting (a Broadway play within a film). Shows a good look into the hectic life of a once-famous and struggling to revive himself actor, heck, the hectic life of someone in the creative arts business in general. Soundtrack also unique, lots of drums. Interesting film, looking forward to seeing The Revenant (same director).
Agents of Secret Stuff (2010)
visually appealing
No consideration at all. Perfect 10 out of 10. Why? Several reasons.
1. Ryan Higa is hilarious. He over-exaggerates sarcasm, he's actually an OK actor, the puns are rampant. 2. Arden Cho is hot. Every time she's on screen (which is most of the time) I can't look away, to be honest. 3. Gives an uncanny look into the lives of the undercover, socially unfamiliar secret agents that have to infiltrate teenage worlds like what we call high school. 4. Only 30 or so minutes. Easy to watch in one sitting/lying down.
If you like this video, be sure to check out Higa's other videos on his YouTube channel. He's absolutely hilarious and often makes fun of stereotypes and common trends that plague the media and society.
Mulan (1998)
I love Disney
Disney did it again. With the right blend of humor, romance, action, and most of all, emotion. Watching this now is quite the different experience than when I first saw it as a child. I understand more fully the cultural and familial obstacles presented against Mulan. I noticed some things that I didn't catch the first viewing. Again, Mulan is a tale of identity, about trying to find out and discover who you are. Like Hercules, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Frozen, you name it, Disney is all about identity and rising against the norm and what society expects of you. Obviously, as it's a Western commercial production, it makes many cross-cultural flaws -- the characters have too-exaggerated facial features to supposed to look Chinese, for instance.
It being Disney, its soundtrack is amazing, we all know "I'll Make a Man out of You" and "Reflection," just to name two. It has a great voice acting cast (i.e. Eddie Murphy as Mushu), and it ends very happily for all the good guys. Some things are a little rushed, I thought, towards the end concerning certain characters but still, Mulan is a film you need to see, no matter what your age. It will impel you to strike forth against the societal construct we know as "normal," that is, to be like everybody else. Who gives a damn about what other people think? You only have one life. Make the most of it, carpe diem.
Everything taken into account, Mulan I'd say surpasses Hercules, but lies below The Lion King. Worth watching a second (or first) time when you're at least of high school age.
Hercules (1997)
surprisingly witty
I first saw this as a child and didn't remember much. After I saw it for the second time with fellow college freshmen, I realized that Disney put so many puns and references in its version of the Greek myth we know as Hercules. Of course my mind screamed out at me all of the contradictions with the actual mythology -- like there were more than just 4 Titans and they weren't elemental creatures that could easily take down the Olympians. Anyways, the movie is very funny, I laughed a lot, like when some character says "call IXII" and you realize that it's 911 in Roman numerals. I feel like many Disney movies, in the same way, make modern references that are anachronistic with their settings; like especially for Hades, who does not talk like an ancient god of the underworld but is very sardonic and speaks like we modern folk. As a whole, Hercules is not a super well-made film, it's a cliché love at first sight story and a journey to find oneself. After all, so much of fiction is about finding one's identity. It's also about heroism. What does it mean to be a hero? If you've read the Percy Jackson series, which by the way is a great way to learn about the Greek myths, then most likely you'll see so many flaws in this movie but still, it's hilarious, the soundtrack (kudos to Alan Menken) is amazing and nice to sing along to if you know the words, and you leave with a nice warm feeling. Go the distance!
Nosotros los Nobles (2013)
Telling, inspiring
I saw this for my SPA 108 course in college and boy was I glad that it had English subtitles in the link provided by the professor. Otherwise, I wouldn't have recognized the beautiful message told in this film. On the surface, I enjoyed watching Karla Souza and hearing the fluid language of Spanish -- oh, how different it is, yet delicious to listen to nevertheless, than English -- but I also cherished the themes and overall plot presented. You have three spoiled, wealthy children who spend their adult lives living it up, and their aging father who sees this indolence and wishes to do something about it. Seeing this I realized more fully the value of hard work, of getting a job, of earning money well and appreciating family and friends, of finding your true love, of, well, living life in a good way. I know, it's unfortunate that after the 4+ sublime years of college we either continue our education or join the masses in the 40-hour workweek and commit to a life of working, sleeping, and coming home to the couch and the game. But regardless, this is still a life worth living, for the true inherent value is not so apparent on the surface. "You should enjoy the little detours. To the fullest. Because that's where you'll find the things more important than what you want." (Ging Freecs)