Not only about moving on but also about having aspiration and finding inspiration

Though there are drama and fantasy, the film is pure in its core. All emotions the story wants you to feel are all here. That and great pieces of music made me cherish this film.

It’s also worth to mention, everything presented on the screen is well-though-out. Sure, the story is touching plus, the actors are great. But the transition from one scene to another; not to mention, to a different emotion and season as time pass by is breathtaking.

A perfect example is, the shadow formed when our main character Kubota Sota played by Kitamura Takumi handed the tape to Murase Kana played by Kubota Sayu at night.

I truly love that one and some other shots. Everything about this film made me look back at my college days. Which reminds me, I NEED A SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

If you get the chance to catch Our 30-Minute Sessions (2020), please do watch it. Though the storyline of possessing a body to interact with the people you left is not new, I can guarantee this film gives you more than an unfinished business that needs to be solved.

Our 30-Minute Sessions (2020) is not only about moving on but also about having aspiration and finding inspiration.

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I enjoyed watching Eerie because every scene presents classic and stunning visuals. This reminds me of director Mikhail Red’s work in Birdshot (2016). It’s so well-crafted that it doesn’t matter if it’s a day or night shot. Every element you see on screen is a feast for the eyes. That as well as the actors.

Bea Alonzo, who is known for romance and drama genres showed off her versatility in Eerie. Charo Santos-Concio, on the other hand, has an incredible screen presence. Whenever she’s there, I wanted to run and hide or just go to class. Or, pray that I’m not in her class. Anyway, they both shined in Eerie and I honestly want to see them together in this type of film again.

Now for the story. They touched many other topics – bullying, corporal punishment, education system, and domestic violence to name a few. I honestly think touching certain topics outside the supernatural can be beneficial. It can make the story more interesting and deep; however, they could have just picked a few that would support the original structure. Then they can delve into those deeply so the audience has something even more solid to hold onto.

I say this because I only remember how beautiful the film was and how great the actors were. I am a fan of such storyline but I have yet to see the perfect one. Judging by Birdshot and his latest projects, I think director Mikhail Red will soon present it. This is after all his first foray into the horror genre.

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a well-made series

I did not know anything about “Alice in Borderland”. I approached the series without any expectations. But just a few minutes into the series, I already knew I have to and will finish watching it.

You see, I was so impressed with the introduction of the characters. It was is nicely done that it won’t matter if you are new to the story. The narration and direction made sure I fully grasp and never let go.

Ah! Alice in Borderland. I know Netflix has a habit of cancelling great shows. But I hope we get to see this series through the end as Alice in Borderland is such a well-made series.

Though set in a parallel world, it mirrors the world today. I hope people are trying to understand the story and forget that everything is fiction. The attitude, outlook and behaviours are not a sham. These people exist today.

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Not the best in this genre but it did give us a mystery to solve along with the thrill

Stolen Identity (2018) is not the best in this genre. But it is worth mentioning that the film did give us a mystery to solve along with the thrill; not to mention, some twists and turns that make you ponder.

What kept me going was how the characters reacted in every situation. Come to think of it, those are true. That is how people are in reality. You see, there is a scene wherein the antagonist tries to unlock a smartphone by finding possible passwords.

Do you know what he did?

He searches a platform called Social Book to look for links – not hyperlinks more like leads. And he was able to! He found the profile and the birthday of that person. Take note, NEVER use your birthday as a password ever! If you do, mix and match with other symbols, letters or numbers. Also, do not use obvious passwords. For instance, the street racer character in the film chose his plate number as a password.

Now, let me share with you the problems I encountered while watching. There are too many twists and turns; not to mention, characters with their own story. There is Asami, our main lead. There is also her boyfriend, her friend, and her past. Let us not forget the detective as well as the main antagonist.

The purpose of a plot twist is to surprise the audience. It may be, foreshadowed, to prepare the audience as the story transitions. But with several of these elements, there is a feeling of unnecessary dragging and confusion. So towards the end, instead of being surprised by the huge plot twist, you start to question why.

You see, the film did not only present a story of stealing personal information, but also stealing an entire identity. Our main female lead has a deep past that could have taken centre stage.

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Touching story, wonderful storytelling

Die Beautiful is more than a transgender’s story. Yes, there are scenes wherein Trisha Echeverria (Paolo’s character) was looking for acceptance, joining pageants and undergoing surgery and so on. You might say, that’s the typical image of gays portrayed in films and TV series. That may be true. But, my dear friends, this is what you call life.

The film presented us with the journey of Patrick /Trisha Echeverria by showing us the many faces of life. Instead of sugar-coating, Die Beautiful gave us reality including the challenges and heartaches in life. Besides the main character’s story, they didn’t leave out the rest of the characters especially the best friend. I would say that the loyal Barbs is the glue that brings the entire story together. Why and how? Well, through the film’s wonderful storytelling.

The storytelling...
A story, no matter how great will become unnoticed if storytelling doesn’t captivate your audience. With Die Beautiful, I was captivated from the beginning. The film used an unconventional narrative structure to tell our lead character’s story. In fact, it was the right move as it explored time making the story even more interesting.

The film began by showing the audience Patrick, an innocent little boy who is being true to himself. He along with his friends are playing the role of beauty queens in a pageant while his older sister, Beth films them. Then his father arrives reprimanding Patrick’s actions and his daughter. After that, we see a bunch of makeup tools from brushes to eye shadow palettes and finally, Barbs fixing Trisha’s make up along with their two high school friends.

Since the beginning, the audience already knew the main character died. From there, we were treated on an amazing roller-coaster narrative from past to present and back to past while meeting the people in Tricia’s life.

I have to say Die Beautiful also has a beautiful ending. On the last night of the wake, people were waiting for the last makeup transformation. Being the best friend, Barbs chose to show the one and true face of Tricia, the most beautiful person he has ever known.

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If you watched and listened carefully, you’ll notice the metaphor about the excess baggage referring to the failed relationship. It stated about Mace’s situation of having all her life in her bags while Anthony’s situation says that he’s been there and willing to share the weight of someone in need. But all throughout, there are many signals and signs where in reality we do not see – manhid lang – or sometimes ignore – tanga lang.

Besides that, I also adored the lengthy conversations both characters did throughout the film. In order to know more about or understand someone, all you need is good, healthy communication. Each word they utter digs deeper and by the time they became comfortable with each other, the silence was not a problem.

Of all the Filipino films I have watched, I think this film has a fair share of unforgettable lines, words of wisdom, not to mention, the hugot moments.

Though That Thing Called Tadhana is a story about two strangers meeting, becoming friends and mending a broken heart, it is not overly dramatic. It simply tells what each character has in mind just like anyone whose heart has been broken.

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It was beautiful in a cinematic sense but frightening in real life.

First things first, have you seen Netflix's Kingdom? The zombie series currently has two seasons released in 2019 and in 2020. I ask because Kingdom: Ashin of the North, a bonus tale of an untold backstory is now streaming on Netflix.

You can watch it even if you have not seen the original series; however, I do not recommend it. If you are a new viewer, I feel it would be best to be familiar with the series before delving into Ashin's tale.

Moving on. Kingdom: Ashin of the North, or rather, Ashin gave the words tragedy, betrayal and vengeance a whole new meaning. Seeking and knowing the truth is her breaking point. And revenge is the only thing someone who is in Ashin's situation can desire. It was beautiful in a cinematic sense but frightening in real life.

With the direction and execution, Kingdom: Ashin of the North is able to support the series and excite the viewers. I honestly can wait for the third season.

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A beautiful film through and through

I adore The Boy Foretold by the Stars because the film knows what it wants to convey. It is well-written and directed by Dolly Dulu.

Which reminds me, I did a little research. The film is base on a play, Ang Hangal, which director Dolly wrote in college.

“The story is based on my personal experience back in high school. It’s a very personal story that I wanted to share with the audience. It’s not just a passion project, it’s a material that carries a very important message specifically for the members of the LGBTQ+ community,” the director told Manila Standard Entertainment in a virtual interview. 

No wonder you can feel a sense of genuineness (Is this a word?). There was no hint of pretentiousness. I guess we also need to thank the wonderful actors, especially Adrian Lindayag, the actor who portrayed Dominic.

Every time he appears on the screen, my heart and mind would say, I hear you, I feel you, and I understand you. He surely identifies well with Dominic, so he was able to convey what the character wanted.

If you get a chance to catch this, please hit play. The Boy Foretold by the Stars (2020) is a beautiful film through and through.

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Lacked all the elements that make a good thriller and horror

I was able to watch this film on a channel called Thrill. Sadly, I am not thrilled with this film. It lacked all the elements that make a good thriller and horror. It is worth to mention that the light, music and surprises you often see in such genre to make viewers scream are all present in the film. However, it was not as effective as they did not use it wisely. In fact, they bombarded the film with such gimmicks.

Besides this, the story itself and the acting were also a problem here. It was quite bland. As part of the audience, I was not motivated to find out who the antagonist is. I just wanted the film to end so I can watch the next one.

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A story filled with the colourful melody

A thousand thanks. I beseech your pardon. The pleasure will be mine.

These are three sentences you’ll always hear (or, maybe read is the correct word) the characters say in the film Lady Miko. Honestly, I like it because it’s beautiful to hear like a piece of music. Their language and most importantly the story filled with the colourful melody made Lady Miko, a 2014 musical comedy one of my favourites in the first JFF Plus: Online Festival.

I am aware that musicals are not everyone’s cup of tea, and that is okay. Maybe they need to find the right story to appreciate it fully. In Lady Maiko’s case, I 100% enjoyed it.

From the beginning and especially from the moment our main character Haruko Saigo played by Kamishiraishi Mone sang, I knew I had to finish the movie. While doing so, I also couldn’t help but admire everything presented on the screen.

Everywhere I look, I see beauty. When someone delivers a line, the language draws me in. Read the next lines.

“A maiko’s very essence is defined by her language. The Kyoto dialect is like the whispering of a gentle breeze. It always makes me happy.”

If I remember this correctly, Kyouno Houshi played by Hasegawa Hiroki said these. You may know him from Shin Godzilla and Attack on Titan (film).

Their language is indeed music to my ears. So when they sing, all I hear are affectionate melodies. Which reminds me, is there a playlist on Spotify or somewhere? I badly want to listen to all the songs again while I work. If you get the chance to see this film in the next edition of the JFF Plus: Online Festival, do not dare miss it!

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Visually beautiful and very thought-provoking

Birdshot is the award-winning sophomore feature of Filipino director Mikhail Red which he co-wrote with Rae Red. The film is supported by the Doha Film Institute where they won a production grant.

Furthermore, the coming-of-age thriller won awards such as the CJ Entertainment Award at the Asian Project Market Awards during the 20th Busan International Film Festival as well as the Best Asian Future Film Award at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival. It’s also worth mentioning that Birdshot is the first Filipino film released worldwide by Netflix.

Yes, you read that last part right! Birdshot is indeed the first Filipino film ON Netflix. Well, it’s no surprise because the film is not only visually beautiful but it’s also very thought-provoking. Though “loss of innocence” is a common theme in a coming-of-age of film, Birdshot was able to give the audience another view – a good view of the present state of humanity and moral decay.

In the film, we see two evident characters robbed of their guilt. There is the farm girl named Maya (Mary Joy Apostol) and the newbie cop, Domingo (Arnold Reyes). The difference between these two is that Maya was too young to understand the life that is why she didn’t think twice about shooting a bird. Domingo, on the other hand, is fully aware of the difference between good and evil. But with the presence of violence in his work life, he chose to forget what he was so desperately fighting for.

It’s quite sad, to be honest, but it is in our nature. Our actions are easily influenced by the people around us especially if they are older or more powerful. This can be a strength but it can also be a weakness. In this case, it is the latter. Because of that, our characters made mistakes causing them to suffer.

The good thing about it though is that our characters reached a resolution. It wasn’t an easy ride but it definitely wasn’t late for them to decide on a different route. In reality and our current state, I think it would be a little difficult for us to resist the changes. The way I see it, Birdshot serves as a wake-up call that if we are not careful we might all end up losing the essence of morality.

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Unique style blended with powerful visuals and development

"Investigators reopen a 12-year-old cold case after three teenagers disappear while travelling along a particularly infamous stretch of road."

"The Road" is split into three parts (2008, 1998 and 1988), a familiar formula in Filipino horror films. But what sets The Road apart from others is its unique style blended with powerful visuals and development.

The film gave us one path to follow. Though there were some bumps along the way, each part (2008, 1998 and 1988) dug deeper making the narrative even more interesting. It showed that "The Road" is more than just a horror film with ghosts in it.

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The characters struck me because one I’ve met them and two I’m one of them.

Not far from reality.

Gem (Glaiza de Castro) works as a call center agent, a dead-end job according to her mother (Irma Adlawan). But Gem thinks otherwise. Thus, she continues working despite the shifting schedule which messes up her body clock.

There, she meets Barry (Dominic Roco). He’s a new agent who like her is also suffering from sleepless nights. Upon learning that they live in the same building, they make a pact to keep each other company with stories.

These characters struck me so hard because one I’ve met them and two I’m one of them.

Simple and relatable.

Though both characters have their own issues, the sleepless journey is as simple as their train ride which takes them from point A to B. And just like any journey, they encounter a stop sign hindering them from moving forward.

But together they face the reason behind their sleepless nights. Together they combat loneliness through imagination and creativity.

There are scenes wherein Gem and Barry would “dub” the conversations of other people leading them to more weird and funny ideas.

Anong gagawin mo ‘pag may zombie apocalypse?
If a zombie apocalypse happens, what will you do?

Gem would be channeling her inner Lara Croft and fight them using a riffle. Barry, on the other hand, would be chopping off zombie heads using a katana. Loneliness is indeed a powerful thing but with someone beside, you’ll be able to break through eventually.

Life in darkness.

It’s worth mentioning that the film has many visually captivating shots which balanced out reality. Besides those working at the call center, how many more are up at night? You can count the old lady selling balut near the eskinita, people out for a late night snack, and couples fighting in the middle of the night. Sleepless successfully showed us that there is beauty as well as life in darkness.

The film Sleepless clearly deserves all the praises. I hope more people will be able to watch this and more films will be as beautiful as this.

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Several complexities presented but able to balance crime thriller and teen drama

I’ve read some reviews and I understand them. Also, I understand Mikhail Red’s vision, his representation. He did not elaborate on the scenes and setting but he is indeed telling the truth.

Technology & Social Media
With the advancement of technology and several developments, society, in general, is affected in both a good and bad way. How you ask? Well, there is this thing called WiFi.

It’s there everywhere you go. And if there’s none, you can still stay connected because there is another thing called mobile data and oh, there is also a hotspot. This simply means you can do your schoolwork and work easier and faster which is good. But this can also lead to other things, especially with this thing called social media.

Several people on planet Earth want to be Internet famous. Sure, some use their presence to impart knowledge and empower others while some just want to be famous and have the highest following in their group or community.

Real Issues of The World
Besides technology and social media, there are also the real and frightening issues of the world. In case you didn’t know, the film is loosely based on the Letran kidnap-ransom in 2018 which involved high school students.

Now back to the film. If you saw Dead Kids a while back, let me refresh your memory. All the teen leads and support belong to a different class which you can see based on their lifestyle.

Moreover, you can see that there is a hierarchy wherein the richest holds power. Take Chuck Santos (Markus Paterson) the rich but arrogant bully with 50,000 Instagram followers for example. He holds the upper hand and has sidekicks who help him do his “job” of bullying other students most especially Mark Sta. Maria (Kelvin Miranda) a poor but very hardworking scholar.

Yes, there is a huge gap between these two characters but there are other students who have a small gap with Chuck. But that didn’t stop him from being a jerk. Of course, this has also something to do with Chuck’s father, a wealthy drug lord who is protected by the local police chief.

And that police chief’s son is Charles Blanco (Vance Larena). Charles secretly despises Chuck for being a bully and Chuck’s father for blackmailing his family. Thus, this is where the plot to kidnap the bully started.

Dark and Suspenseful
With that small detail, I bet you already get how dark this film is. But with the type of storytelling and setting created, I was hooked from the beginning all the way to the end. There were several complexities presented in the film but they were able to put all together allowing a balance between crime thriller and teen drama.

It’s also worth mentioning that the cast especially Vance Larena who played Charles Blanco, the serious and brooding mastermind of the kidnapping scheme was great. I’m glad about the selection of young actors.

And though the film is dark and suspenseful, the natural characteristics of the youth is still evident. They make funny jokes, to be honest, and oh, they curse a lot. Sometimes too much.

The Lesson

Before I end this post, I want to share with you the line Janina Camiloza played by Sue Ramirez said to Mark Santa Maria played by Kelvin Miranda,

“You were never a dead kid; you just didn’t know how to live.”

If you noticed, our characters are living in a world where they didn’t have that much interaction with adults. Now, what does that say? It can mean the adults were never there for them when they needed them. It can mean the adults were the ones who ruined their outlook.

Whatever the reason is, there is only this one character who didn’t let it ruin her dreams. I know Janina Camiloza played by Sue Ramirez didn’t have much screen time but she delivered the best and most important line in the film.

If you want to see Mikhail Red’s Dead Kids, prepare your ears. Also, do not let younger children watch this, okay? If you are sharing an account, be careful so they don’t accidentally click on it.

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