Fritz Lang's "M" (1931)

First of all, let me get this out of the way: Peter Lorre, my oh my what big eyes you have! To better find poor little kids and lure them into your big candy-filled trap perhaps! 

Directed by:  Fritz Lang
Written by:  Fritz Lang & his wife Thea von Harbou
Based on:  a newspaper article by Egon Jacobson
Starring:  Peter Lorre
Music by:  Edvard Grieg
Cinematography by:  Fritz Arno Wagner
Editing by:  Paul Faulkenberg
Running time:  109 mins
*subtitled*

Big, frog-like eyes accentuating that baby face with an unassuming facade - that's what makes Hans Beckert, played by "the male Bette Davis" Peter Lorre, one of the most unforgettable villains in any film I've seen. With a touch of innocence and malice, Lorre handles this character so well that even I was confused when it's time to "judge" him. Not too confused though that I forget the unspeakable horror this guy has brought upon this town. This is what makes him more scary. Sure, Leatherface might make you crap your pants when you find yourself face to face with him wielding a chainsaw in some woods, but men like Norman Bates or Hannibal Lecter makes your skin crawl with dread knowing that their kind is freely roaming our streets, all charming and innocent-looking, while in their minds their all thinking of ways on how to skin us alive. That's the horror that we face everyday. That's Beckert - the wolf under the sheep's clothing. The devil hiding under the mask of an angel. 

Belle, Beast, being different, and a lot of ranting

Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite Disney movie. Why I fell in love with it as a kid, I'm not too sure now, but it's probably because of the fascinating characters, the music, the mysterious "enchanted castle" & its master, Belle, and of course - the library. That sense of amazement & slight envy that I've felt is something that was etched in my mind and my heart for a very long time.

Until now, one of my biggest dreams is to have my very own library. Sigh.

Now, fifteen or twenty years later I finally re-watch this and wow what a trip! The first thing I notice is how beautiful Beauty and the Beast is. That opening sequence is amazing. The animation, the colors, the imagery - it looks really sophisticated, something that you don't always see in this age of modern animation.


Then Belle started singing on her way to the town. And memories came crashing down on me like a tidal wave. It felt so good that I turned on the subtitles and sang along. I rarely do that. Only when I'm watching The Sound of Music. It gave me chills listening to that song as an adult and understand the words.

The FPJ Experience: Ang Dalubhasa (2000)

Saturday (several years ago)... 

Naglalakbay kami papuntang Tayabas, Quezon.. katabi ko ang auntie ko.... ang haaaaaaaaabaaa haba ng lakbay, muntik ng maubos ang battery ng mp3 ko, at nawala na rin ang antok ko,  hindi parin kami nakakarating sa paroroonan namin... 

pasulyap sulyap ako sa pelikula na pinapalabas sa bus... ayan may bagong dvd na inilagay si Manong Konduktor.. 

Oh gosh.... Pelikula ni Fernando Poe Jr...... Ang Dalubhasa (i-click ang link para sa buong pelikula)
sigh.... at ako'y tuminging muli sa bintana, binibilang ang mga buko at puno ng saging na dumaraan..... pero panaka-naka rin akong sumusulyap sa telebisyon, dahil kahit mahilig akong tumingin sa mga puno aba eh nagsasawa din ako sa libo-libong buko sa paningin ko.. at heto na nga hindi ko na namalayan na nakatutok na pala akong nanonood at nasabayan ko na ang kwento at inaabangan ng paunti-unti ang mga eksena.....

.... At ayan na ang climax! Sagupaan ni FPJ at ang kalaban niya na pumatay sa kanyang pamilya..... Wala ng bala si Kontrabida.... na-corner na siya ni FPJ.... 

talagang ramdam ko na ang excitement.... napansin ko din si Auntie Ming na nakatingala sa TV, naka-kunot ang noo, parang nagbo-board exam kung makapag-focus. Nakalimutan niya ang mahilo-hilo at masuka-sukang pakiramdam dahil sa biyahe na inirereklamo niya bago mag-umpisa ang pelikula...

ayan na... tinutok na ni FPJ ang baril na may kasamang dialogue na "Walong taon, apat na buwan, tatlong araw hinintay ko ang oras na ito"... ng biglang "PIYUNG!" ... Umeksena ang isang goon ni Kontrabida, nabaril si FPJ!! Tumalsik ang baril niya palapit kay Kontrabida! OMG!!!

Movie Cliches: It's so unrealistic, yet we can't stop watching

We know they're silly. We know it's unreal. We know it's highly improbable.... And yet we can't get enough of them.

Almost every mainstream, popcorn flicks have these cliches. We roll our eyes, we laugh at it, we comment about it smugly, yet year after year, movie after movie - they're always there. Why? Because it sells. Because admit it or not, it's almost a standard to have at least two cliches in every movie.  I can't speak for everybody, but this is one of my guilty pleasures. I love great, intelligent, unique movies, yes. But sometimes I also want a good dose of mind-numbing senseless entertainment. Because in this escapist world, sometimes all we need is a generous helping of horrible movie cliches. 

So why even pretend? You know you're guilty too.