Eternal Summer
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Eternal Summer
Director: Lester Chen.
Cast: Bryant Chang, Hsiao-chuan Chang, Kate Yeung.
Yes I know ~ I am quite late ~ but definitely not too late! It has been a couple of years since this movie got tremendous raves and I have no idea why it took me that long to finally get a copy.
I am not a fan of Chinese films (aside from the works of Wong Kar Wai) , maybe I just don’t like how Mandarin sounds. But I tell you, this film was truly exceptional.
There is nothing new with the story , Juan loves Pedro, Pedro Loves Maria —-> Heath Loves Michelle , Heath Loves Jake (naalala ko naman tuloy si Heath whaaaaaaaaaaa…. buhuhuhuh) —> We’ve seen this triangle before in a number of films, but what sets this film apart is the nuanced storytelling, the outstanding performances and the dramatically executed ending.
Cinematography was perfect to accomplish the needed mood for the movie. The camerawork was good, colors used were sad, gloomy and subdued.
Similar to Ang Lee’s films, the director also used nature as one major element. In contrast, this film’s director didnt use nature to spectacle the audience. Instead, he used it as an aide to express the delicate emotions that the characters cant even utter.
I was so consumed with the movie that I even used it as my avatar when I went back to work Monday.
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:05:58 AM): ano yang avatar mo?
van aguas (1/28/2008 7:06:37 AM): taiwanese film
van aguas (1/28/2008 7:06:40 AM): eternal summer
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:06:44 AM): ah oki
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:06:51 AM): kamukha ng type cast
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:06:52 AM): hahaha
van aguas (1/28/2008 7:07:10 AM): nyahahahahah …. ako pa maglalagay ng typecast… wehehhe
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:07:23 AM): kaya nga eh, kakantiyawan sna kitavan aguas (1/28/2008 7:11:35 AM): anyway…. para akong gago kagabi… iyak ako ng iyak dahil sa avatar kong yan
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:11:40 AM): bkit?
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:11:42 AM): ganda?
van aguas (1/28/2008 7:11:45 AM): nakakaloka kasi
van aguas (1/28/2008 7:12:05 AM): sobrang subdued… nakakalunod ang mga emotions… sakal na sakal kasi yung mga characters
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:12:15 AM): haaaayyyy
stopburn fly (1/28/2008 7:12:19 AM): ano storya?
van aguas (1/28/2008 7:12:27 AM): teka
O.. eto ang kuwento .. Jonathan and Shane are inseparable. Their friendship that started as a simple agreement that Jonathan had with their teacher developed into a special feeling that they themselves are oblivious of. Then came Carrie, the new girl who had feelings for Jonathan. Their one day getaway in Taipei ended in a hotel, where Carrie’s sexual persuasion was heavily rejected. It wasn’t hard for her to realize that Jonathan is indeed in love with Shane and even confronted Jonathan about it.
Shane was at first jealous with Jonathan’s friendship to this new girl. His effort to know Carrie, brought about by his contentiousness, ended in a relationship with her. The couple tried to keep it from Jonathan, with different reasons for their concerns of course. Eventually, the affair was revealed to Jonathan leading them to a chaos of emotions.
The soundtrack used throughout the film was classical music. I love the score that was used at the ending, it was perfect to accompany the tears till credits …hehehe. The choice of music was perfect for the first part and also for the cheesy part. It failed on some parts though, nevertheless, it was still a good move.
The movie had a very slow pacing on the second half. I guess that was intended to establish the director’s style and set-up the atmosphere for the gloomy ending. The slow paced part didnt ruin the movie at all. I completely understand that it is possible to wrap it all up in an hour or less, but the pacing for me is just perfect, it is a joy to experience minutes of their agony and pain.
The movie was simple, quiet and moody but you could get drowned with all the emotions and the untold feelings.
The actors were perfect for the roles. Bryan Chang, wore Jonathan’s shoes as if their feet are of same the size. The pain on his eyes is achingly perfect. He was almost transparent, where you can see the emotional torture brought by the all-consuming love that he has for his pal. Shane, on the other hand, was even portrayed better. He was able to radiate a strong and masculine aura and was even better in exposing the character’s weakness, fear of loss etc. You would be contaminated by his confusion, with what he’s supposed to feel towards Jonathan.
Katie Yeung’s character remains a mystery for us. I wont settle calling her a poor victim, or just a witness of this tragic love. She’s also not a Regina George at all trying to antagonize the relationship between those two. Her role might be subtle but was heavily substantial. She for me was the catalyst, the element needed to stimulus the change. I think she has better understanding on what the other two characters feel for each other and at the same time helpless, because she is also in dillemma with her own feelings and this is something that she wont be able to grapple.
Nyeta ang sakit! This is not just a gay film and I know that a lot of you guys could really relate to this. Jonathan loves Shane so much, but is afraid to tell him because he doesnt want to lose him as his friend. Shane, is very much aware of Jonathan’s feelings but can’t equate it since he is not sure of what he really feels and at the same time in love with Carrie. Jonathan wants to get out of Shane’s life so that he could eliminate himself as the only conflict and to fulfill an attempt to get rid of his compelling emotions towards his best friend. Shane doesnt want to lose Jonathan, because he is the only one who has been there all his life, he understands him and… nyeta naman tsong oh… alam ko… he wont survive without Jonathan’s love. But if he choses Jonathan, he would lose Carrie, na mahal naman nya and like Jonathan also understands him. Syet ang hirap! Love talaga oh! Ang sakeeet!!!
Love is indeed the ultimate oxymoron. It could complete you and could also tear you apart. ugh!
PSSssssTTTtttT!!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008Oi! Hoy! You! Yes YOU! You stole da cookie from d cookie jar!!! Weeheheheheh ….. Miss nyo ko noh! Chos! Para ba namang may nakahalata ng pagkawala ko! hikbi!!! hikbi!!! in english … sob!! sob!!
OO! Ako nga ito! Manigas Kayo!
- JOY VIADO (Hiling)
Welcome niyo naman ako ng isang masigabong na palakpakan, hagikgikan at i-french kiss mo sa ilong ang katabi mo to celebrate! Let me start my comeback with a malupit na question….. "ANONG CHIKA FILIPINASH????"
As usual, eto ang excerpt ng interview ko sa sarili ko, na na-publish sa Daily Inquirer…. paki-inquire na lng din sila kung kailan at kung nasaan ang kopya …. limited release kasi ….. natabunan ng balita tungkol sa mga naputukan at nawalan ng internal organs nung Bagong Taon.
AKO : Kamusta Kaibigan? Anung Chika?
VAN: Mabuti naman po!!! …..Bibigyan ko na lng po kayo ng pang autograph na sagot sa pangalawang tanong nyo …uhmmm …….. anung chika ? ….. uhmmmm "many to mention".
AKO : Kay tagal mong nawala kaibigan … anu ba ang iyong pinagka-abalahan?
VAN: Ang chaka naman! English naman daw para maiba… may spelling and grammar check naman tong computer!
AKO : OK! Answer me the way you understand my question please.
VAN: Could you please repeat it again, one moment more for the 2nd time around?
AKO : Nyeta ka! You were absent with no excuse! Where's your excuse slip. Give me a valid reason. Where, what, when and why. Please be specific and answer in not less than 5 sentences.
VAN: Okie… Pumunta akong Japan, to find out kung andun nga ang sagot sa kahirapan. Only to find out na gagawin lng pala akong pole ng mga exotic dancer . uso kasi ngayon dun yung mga ethnic dances. Aside from being a pole, suma-sideline din akong kawayan sa tinikling. Katulong ng Yakuza, labandera ni Utada Hikaru, handler ni Ken Watanabe, tagalagay ng malaking pulang bilog sa puting tela para gawing flag. Nautusan din po ako na i-translate ang lahat ng pagmumura ng Pilipino into Japanese. Pinabilang din po sa akin ang lahat ng hapon na may tattoo ng dragon at japanese characters sa buong japan!
AKO : But seriously, what happened?
VAN:Seriously?…. Well…. I was trying to find myself. The last 3 months were excruciating. I was bounded with dilemmas and was miserably tortured by unexpected chaos. My so called life, as far as I dreamed of, was supposed to be calm and serene. But all the floating clouds, birds singing and flowers blooming were taken away from me. My life was twisted and it was even twisted more, twisted severely until they cant twist it anymore. I was a helpless sheep trapped in a huge barbed-wire while I try to cross over to the green fields. The sorrow was unbearable. I was lost in a poem with no meter and no rhyme. I fell deep. I am too tired get out …. but… but….
AKO : but……..
VAN: but….. but….. but that's all… not buts…. because that's all….
AKO : Hinde kita maintindihan kaibigan …. What was that all about?
VAN: Wala…. In short…busy ako…. hehehehheheeh …..
AKO : Walang kwenta… O ano pa… anong mga nangyari sa iyo …..
VAN: Tumaba po ako ng kaunti… mga 156 grams po ang nadagdag sa timbang ko …. Hinde na po ako masyadong tsismoso… Napagtanto ko po kasi this past few days na at the end of the day, after I squeeze all the slurpy chika in tinseltown… walang maidudulot na maganda ang chismis sa buhay ko! napapagastos lng ako sa pagbili ng tabloid araw-araw para basahin sa jeep! Walang Bearing!!! charot!
AKO : OO tama ka! Katulad ng sinabi mo … wala ka nga talagang bearing …. Pwedeng magrequest? I mean … pwede bang magmaka-awa?
VAN: Sure!
AKO : Pwede ba nating lagyan ng sense ang usapang ito!?
VAN: Sure! Sense lang pala eh. Yung kapatid ko nga pala… believe it or not… nakaka-kita sya ng multo… nakakaramdam ng mga nawawalang espiritu! May sixth sense baga!
AKO : Punyeta! Ang korni mo!
VAN: Wehehehehehhe!!!
AKO : Next question n lng…. kamusta naman ang 2007 mo!?
VAN: So far …. nagpapasalamat pa rin po ako at buhay pa po ako. Humihinga, kumpleto pa ang katawan nabawasan ang tigyawat, lumobo ang tiyan, nag-gupit ng kuko at naglalagay na po ako ng SUAVE.
AKO : Any unforgettable experiences…….
VAN: Aside sa nahold-up ako sa Malate, na-snatchan ng cellphone sa Taguig, nabugbog ng mga pariwarang cuties sa Katipunan, nagbuhat ng 7 meters na linoleum sa Divisoria, nawala sa Baguio, nawalan ng 3k bonus ng dahil sa traffic sa EDSA, naglakad mula Sauyo hanggang bahay namin sa Tandang Sora, nag gate crash sa debut ng di namin kakilala, nagtulak ng kotse sa Marikina, nakatikim ulit ng Bertdee keyk after 3 years at nagpagupit ng buhok sa parlor for the first time …. uhmmmm so far wala namn po akong experience for this year na unforgettable ……
AKO : nyek! ….
VAN: ay!
AKO : o!?
VAN: Meron pala! I can't forget that day my crush smiled back at me! haaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!
AKO : Nyeta ka! Pwede bang sa susunod… iwas-iwasan mo ng interbyuhin ang sarili mo! nakakaburat ka!
VAN: ha? y? how come…. on what grounds did you base that accusation… that is … that is …….
AKO:
VAN: …. hoy?
AKO:
VAN: …….. hoy …………..
AKO:
VAN: hello … hellooooo… helloooo
AKO:
VAN: Yak! Nawala! Walang atang signal dito!
The Echo
Sunday, November 4, 2007Here's the Poster for the Hollywood Remake of the movie "SIGAW"!!! I am sooo excited to see this!!!!! Can't wait!!! Filipinos should be sooooper proud of Direk Yam and of course Iza !!!!
The Movie is now in Post-Production. I have no idea when it would be released, pero malamang kung tapos na sya syempre wehehehehe.
Laranas is extremely lucky. They were able to book one of Hollywood's top actors to play the lead. Jesse bradford would reprise the role once played by Richard Guttierez.
Some aspects of the story were changed. In this production, the main character is an ex-convict, troubled by noises made by his neighbors in his creepy apartment. I have no idea why the main character was made into an ex-convict. Or I migh just have missed that part in the Filipino version.
Last time I saw Jesse, he was not that lumpy. He actually worked out a lot just to achieve the look Direk Yam wanted. The Capt. Barbell look I assume. wheheheh
The cast would include Amelia Warner (as the character played by Angel Locsin), Kevin Durand and Jamie Bloch. Iza Calzado's star would now be a given a time to glitter in Hollywood and hopefully, she would make it big. She would reprise her role as the ghost of the abused wife. It was reported that though she played the part, she was required to audition. She still bagged the the role, beating three foreign actresses.
Amelia Warner played a part in "The Seeker", it's being shown in theaters right now. I remember her best in a short role in Quills, opposite Kate Winslet and Geoffrey Rush lang naman.
I got these still from Direk Yam's blog. It'll be cool if you guys could visit it. It's overwhelming how this genius made magic in Hollywood.
I WASnt there… kasi.. I was here!!
Ahahahaha!!! This was like 1 and a half month ago na! O kitams! ganyan ka-delayed ang broadcast ko!!! Di ko kaya ang live coverage eh! Birthday ni PUMPKIN!!!!! So todo ang event sa BBQ BOY!!!! Happy Birthday Pumpkin!!!!!! Oi! Malapit na rin ang Birthday ng Ka-Pumpkin ni Pumpkin Marcy!!! Dapat bongga din!!!
Ang saya ng event!!! Not to mention scandalous and full of intrigues!!! Potah! Sosyal!!!! Showbiz!!! Wehehehehehe I tagged Fred and Gracia to join, finally ay nagkita na rin sila nina Sooz at Gladys!!!! They were drooling over Marcy hah! We were screaming "God (let me have ) Marcy"…. Well sorry … pinalad ang ganda ni Gladys!!! weheheheheh….
Anyway highway. Codename Monsour ang tawag namin sa kalbong nakapink! Vocalist ng banda! Hulaan nyo kung sino si Agot! Wahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!
At eto pa!!!! May umeksena sa event! Di ko lng alam kung naabot nya ang rurok ng inaakala nyang tagumpay!!! Umeksena si Ms. Lyka Ugarte kasama ang Jowa!!!! Eh etong si Lyka eh warla sa magJowa… achooo chooo choo chooo ….. waahahahahahahahah !!!!! But it didn't spoil the fun! It just made the night more interesting. Super perky ng peeps at uber sa lafftrip!!!! Sweet ng magka-labteam!!!! Punyemakz!!! kakainggit!!!!
Ay oo nga pala, si Sooz may kalab-team rin!!!! So.. we've finally met… ba't nakataas ang ano mo, para syang everest? wehheehehheeheheh … Pero inde tsong… sobrang happy ako para sa iyo!!!
Inabot kami ng umaga. Maliban kay Sooz at Mitch na kailangan pang mag-report sa mga Jowa nila!! As usual, inubos namin ang mga tira-trang alcohol dahil sayang naman!!! Then dumiretso na kamin Fred at Gracia somewhere… naghanap ng food…. we walked through Julia Vargas habang nag-i-Ifugao dance…. Di rin kami nagtagumpay sa aming maitim n balak! May dinekwat kasi kami na ashtray… naiwan din namin sa Chowking!!!! Tsk tsk tsk… sayang!!!
Lesson Learned? eto——–>
Ang baboy, suotan mo man ng perlas, BABOY PA RIN!!!!
- sooz
