In this fast-paced digital age we live in, love can either be too easy or too hard to find. Enterprising app developers have invested time and money into online dating apps and social media apps geared towards increasing personal networks and strengthening connections. I have, many times, tried to connect via apps and social media sites. But let's save my misadventures on dating apps for some other time. Watch FindHer Smart's digital video series this Valentine's season explores the joys and perils of finding love online. Entitled "FindHer," it asks the question "Is Love Online?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGZNdCr1LXA FindHer Trailer Intrigued? I am! FindHer seems like an entertaining way to spend Valentine's Day. And here I am Valentine's Day... about to binge watch the entire series. A bonus is Dionne Monsantoas Aika. I am a fan of hers. If you're a fellow Dionne fan, leave me a comment. The entire series is now online at Smart's Youtube Channel. Go to this link to watch the playlist of the all 9 episodes. This Valentine's Day, get inspired, laugh, cry, and even get angry with FindHer and other videos. Watch old and new series, movies, and other online videos about love and relationships and…
Category: movies
Entering Jurassic Park
A few days ago, I posted this on my Ria Jose Facebook Page: I created the post in celebration of #ScienceFictionDay. But it also gave me soooo many memories. As far as I can remember, Jurassic Park was the film that piqued my interest in the sci-fi genre. First Cinema Experience Interestingly, my first memory of watching a film in the cinema was another sci-fi film. All I remember was it was a King Kong film and the first scene I remember was King Kong in a some sort of hospital bed or operating table. Via Google Search, I recently found out that this movie was "King Kong Lives." King Kong Lives Movie Poster According to Wikipedia, it was released in 1986. I was around 4 years old in 1986 but I am not too sure if the film was released in our city on the same year or if my memory is accurate. I did enjoy that movie and many other sci-fi movies like ET, Batteries Not Included, Back to the Future, and even Robocop. But I was not particularly attached or fascinated by these films. Entering Jurassic Park Sometime in the early 1990s, I saw the trailer for…
Ang Larawan
"That Ang Larawan is currently trending made me cry. Like real tears at 5 am. Gaiz, don’t just tweet about it. Watch it! It will speak to you on so many different levels. The music is by @ryancayabyab. And hallo! Material by National Artist #NickJoaquin, and #RolandoTinio." -My tweet at past 5 am today, December 29, 2017 I am no movie critic but every now and then, a film moves me and compels my fingers to type out words. Hard as it may be to express why a film is worthy of your time, let’s try. Shall we? Contra Mundum Ang Larawan Ang Larawan is a film based on a musical play based on a play. The play “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” is by National Artist Nick Joaquin, best known (and loathed by many students) for May Day Eve, a required reading for high school and college students. “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” has been tagged as the most important Filipino play. The material was translated to Filipino, Ang Larawan, by Bienvenido Lumbera, also a National Artist. Rolando Tinio wrote the libretto for the musical play "Larawan." Music was composed by Ryan Cayabyab. The first…
Birdshot | Film by Mikhail Red and TBA Studios
Birdshot is definitely a must-watch film. Thought-provoking, timely, and excellently crafted.
Bautista’s Bakak
Not content with taking majority of the awards in the 5th Mindanao FilmFest in 2009 for his film "Sandugo," Ronald Gary Bautista entered two films for the 6th Mindanao FilmFest. And once again, Bautista and his Studio Beta Productions took home four trophies. His film, Bakak gave Bautista his second Best Director trophy, the Best Guerilla Film Award, and the Best Film Award. According to the jury, composed of this writer, Teddy Co of the NCCA, and local artist Rudolph Alama, Bakak's technical excellence and innovative story-telling set the film apart and make it stand out from the other films of the festival. Bautista and his film represents the future of filmmaking in Mindanao, one that is creative, excellent, and deserving of accolades from both the critics and the viewing public. Bakak tells the mysterious events that happen when a teacher and his students enter an allegedly haunted building and not all of them survive the excursion. Through the use of a first person point of view in the story-telling, the viewer feels like he is involved in the film. While the film does not highlight Bautista's technical expertise, it shows how Bautista can excellently execute a film. The first…
Ang Sipyat
I was fortunate to have been part of the jury of the 6th Mindanao Film Fest. And together with film historian Teddy Co of the NCCA and local filmmaker Rudolph Alama, I watched, critiqued, and chose the best among the field of contenders. It was an enjoyable task, but very much taxing. I liked one of the films very much. It was, in fact, my personal favorite. (Obviously, I was outvoted. Hehe!) The film is Director Ronald Gary Bautista's Ang Sipyat which he made in collaboration with his brother and student Leo Jeorge Bautista under the production outfit Studio Beta. The film won Best in Sound in the 6th MFF and was a strong contender in most categories. Ang Sipyat (The Error) is the story of a famed thief who made the mistake of victimizing a girl. His victim, it turns out, has two siblings who are skilled in martial arts. The story seems simple enough. Shallow, in fact. But upon watching the film, as cliche as it sounds, there is more to it than the summary says. The story has a slight but not off putting twist. Can't tell you more coz it would spoil the fun of watching…