Film Review Time: The Lion King (2019)

Last Monday, my sister and I watched the current, photorealistic remake of The Lion King (dir. Jon Favreau).

The original film was released on the year I was born and it garnered 93% in the Rotten Tomatoes. In this iteration though, it got a 52% review.

Isn’t that how Aladdin’s treatment two months ago?

The artists who made their iteration of the signature songs of this film will surely have a big potential. Pardon my bias, I am a fan of John Oliver (who voiced Zazu) and I often watch the main topic on main show on HBO’s YouTube channel. To be honest about Oliver, I might confuse myself between the big screen and the mobile screen.

Should this Disney’s remaking trend ever stop? I need some data.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Well, not us.

Yesterday night, my mom, my sister and I went to the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale, which is ongoing and round-the-clock since July 12, at LausGroup Event Centre (LGEC).

This event already happened in March back in Manila and going north was the best thing they have ever done in order to reach out to potential book lovers.

This is the first time I entered LGEC since it was formally opened in 2017. It has been a place for graduations, trade events and even a funeral for its namesake chairperson, Levy P. Laus, last April.

Upon entry, you will see the non-fiction section and some local publishers but going inside the Event Centre and you (a bibliophile) will feel like you’re in heaven with a variety of genres: from young adult, thrillers, graphic novels, religious and for kids.

The discounts in these books range from 50 to 90%. After checkout, there are the statement and witty pins but I don’t buy those.

For two hours, we bought eight books with I being the most with four, followed by my sister with three and my mom with one. Although, I am not the biggest spender (I spent P 500); that goes to my sister (with P 10 more).

This is a rare moment that we have to seize because my sister will leave home come August to Manila and that means she will take her own books.

Here are the books that I bought yesterday:

• Unhinged (2018, Omarosa Manigault): The only non-fiction, a tell-all book detailing her friendship with US President Donald Trump. As of this publication time, I am reading this.
• Sting of the Drone (2014, Richard A. Clarke): A thriller regarding modern warfare technology.
• Age of Misrule: World’s End (originally published in 1999, Mark Chadbourn): A fantasy novel.
• Paris Match (2014, Stuart Woods): Part of the Stone Barrington series.

All but Unhinged cost P 90 each, which falls on the assorted category while the exception costs P 230.

After purchasing the books, we ate at Pancake House but we did not order its signature food that lives upon its name.

For those who want books, you have until tomorrow (July 22) to seize that opportunity.

Film Review Time: Spiderman: Far From Home

WARNING: Contains spoilers.

Welcome to the post-Endgame phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)!

Tom Holland returns as Spiderman as he goes far from home (2019, Jon Watts) with his classmates to Europe.

The film introduction’s playing of Whitney Houston’s “And I Will Always Love You” as a tribute to Tony Stark with matching slideshow — and yes, that included the Getty Images wordmark — was apt for the first setting.

At this time, we would realize that the moment Thanos snapped his fingers in the Infinity War (2018) will now be called “The Blip.”

Parker’s class goes over a rendezvous of European cities, where the Elementals would strike as it is intercepted by the former agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury and Maria Hill (Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders, respectively).

The gravest mistake that Spiderman did in this film was giving the E.D.I.T.H. glasses, that he entrusted by Stark, to Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal). The fake superhero was fired for his unstable nature and began using advanced projector drones to simulate the Elemental attacks.

MJ (Zendaya) deduces that Parker is Spider-Man as they discover a piece of Beck’s projector.

During the course of the film, the crisis for the hero was deepening during the illusion.

While on the climatic plot, when Peter Parker’s friends are locked in the vault of the Crown Jewels, they confessed whatever they can before their fate could have been sealed.

Thankfully, Spiderman regained control of the glasses and ending the drone control but Beck’s sidekick William Riva (Peter Billingsley) escapes.

What I am interested other than the main development are Peter’s classmates – Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) and Betty Brant’s (Angourie Rice) — and their on-and-off relationship and the admission of the relationship between Auntie May (Marisa Tomei) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau).

Naturally, this film should mark the gradual downfall since the Endgame is over but seeing a 91% rating by Rotten Tomatoes means the story continues.

During the first screening today, which my dad and I came first as the mall opened, I noticed that a seating row has been reserved. The capacity in the cinema is a bit less than full, suggesting that gradual withdrawal begins.

If you’re planning or already on the European trip, I hope you won’t get ruined by Beck or Mysterio’s scripted acts. But that’s partly the point. The main point is really that simple: looks can be deceiving.

How Many Administrative Districts?

Before the elected officials will take their oath of office this Sunday, my head hatched an idea on how will they will make their local governments serve for the better?

I decided to it using math and statistics.

For more details, please visit our Medium story.

Timow’s Film Review: Quezon’s Game

[WARNING: This contains spoilers.]

After a week delay, my dad and I watched Quezon’s Game (2018, Matthew Rosen) in SM Pampanga before it will pull out on Wednesday.

CAST

• Raymond Bagatsing as Pres. Manuel Quezon
• Rachel Alejandro as First Lady Aurora Quezon
• David Bianco as  High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt
• James Paoleli as Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Billy Ray Gallion as Alex Frieder

SYNOPSIS

During the game of poker with his friends, President Manuel L. Quezon is trying to take the risk in saving refugee Jews from Hitler’s reign in Nazi Germany while struggling with relapse of tuberculosis.

REVIEW

While given a warning for the sake of artistic license, the historical setting was hit for being “lazy” and guessed that they were mostly, if not all, shot in Las Casas Filipinas in Bataan.

As we celebrate 100 years of Philippine cinema this year, this film is not much publicized, unlike Heneral Luna and Goyo, even though they won some minor international accolades.

Unsurprisingly, the masses cannot understand the film due to the “nosebleeding” language. I can judge it by the seats and my dad sleeping throughout the film.

Belated #MondayThoughts No. 50: Something Golden

Getting more belated than being on time.

We were supposed to be watching Quezon’s Game but then, I felt preoccupied

“All that glitters is not gold” is a common adage. Whenever we see it externally, it looks deceiving but deep inside, it is not.

On the other hand, it’s easy to look for gold like an eager prospector but it needs hard labor — that is, to dig down and deep.

Yes, it needs a lot of sacrifice but the reward is reaped.

Some of my personal projects and expectations are lagging behind schedule.

In golden news, this would be my last Monday Thought.

As it is my birth month, I think it’s time to reshape my ideas.

Beginning on the week of Father’s Day, the Monday Thoughts will be Timow’s Thoughts. Bear in mind, it won’t be continuous due to national holidays that fell on the week or due to personal reasons.

Timow out.

(Belated) #MondayThoughts No. 49: Film Review — Aladdin (the Live Action)

(MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS)

Last night, my mom, my sister and I watched the live-action adaptation of the 1992 Disney animated film. Unknowingly, my high school classmate, who I have not met for nine years, is in front of us. Well, I met him in the comfort room first.

Anyway… let’s get on with the film review…

Directed by Guy Ritchie (the former husband of Madonna), the film stars Will Smith as the Genie, Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine.

The remade songs from the original animated film were pretty much intact in terms of integrity. Well, with reservations. The new “Friend Like Me” fits the bill for the Fresh Prince while the film’s signature theme, “A Whole New World” gives me goosebumps as is the original.

On the the new songs, “Speechless” (written by Pasek and Paul) makes it very impressive to compensate the absence of a personal anthem for the Disney Princess.

The cinematography is very sophisticated that I cannot describe further.

Why did Rotten Tomatoes get a 58% rating while other aggregators go higher?

Is it because of CGI, direction, pacing or about Smith’s performance with the Genie (which might dismay Robin Williams)? Is it time to stop with the live action adaptation or it’s just a cycle when the next Princess gets the treatment?

Bear in mind, since 2015, live action adaptation of Disney Princesses began with Cinderella (starring Lily James) and then, Beauty and the Beast (starring Emma Watson) two years later. Next year, it will be Mulan and Liu Yifei will take the lead.

Let’s just wait and see.

Timow out.

(Belated) #MondayThoughts No. 48: Self-Imprisoned

A new day but I don’t feel any good but I keep a smile in disguise. I was not surprised over the surroundings but I was shocked that it was not expected.

I keep questioning every day for the next few years.

Why do you love being imprisoned in the captor’s masochism?

Why do you love to be forgetful at the expense of others?

Why do you have to be too soft and too forgiving? Why did you concretized them into a pavement full of blood that still yearns?

Why do you love to sacrifice integrity and loyalty that your parents and teachers taught you as you join the fray? Did you wear a red hat and/or make a gesture that makes you feel good?

Why did you call me an elitist or a crab but deep inside, your instincts are permanently gangrene? If I am not here anymore, will you dare stop and think for yourself of what you have done?

You already made up your minds. You are an accomplice. You already made a prison for yourself to incarcerate. You deliberately extinguished the flame that it would never re-lit again.

Our collective time transpires, sweeps away, all in waste, never come back… never at all, gone forever…

#MondayThoughts No. 47: On the Final Week of the Campaign

I am not a Muslim but today begins the fasting month of Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak!

Today is also the last Monday of both levels of the campaign period and as always, expect the miting de avance.

This is the time where mudslinging and negative (attack) ads will air in order to get the uninformed/undecided votes. Well, the last one is not common but look what happened in 2016.

Last Saturday, a notorious religious organization contradicted their teachings by endorsing enablers of plunderers and murderers. What part of “You shall not kill” and “You shall not steal” do they not understand?

I bet the other two would endorse similar candidates but I’m not surprised at all.

But then, what are we going to expect next week? Hanggang sa comics o sa sine o sa libro na lang ang idealistic o realistic ending o solution natin?

No Monday Thoughts next Monday as it will be Election Day. This might be the very last.

We will be back on May 20.

Timow out.

#MondayThoughts No. 46: The Endgame (not the Movie)

I or we, rather, are advised not to spoil the movie. Especially to one small cable company in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, I hope it is time to face your “endgame.”

Thus, no review would be rendered.

Anyway, endgame as defined by Google search is “the final stage of a game such as chess or bridge, when few pieces or cards remain.”

This is the final battle, the final countdown which will make or break.

When your pieces or options are impractical to fight back or to implement, it’s what a news report meme once said back in 2015: “Wala na, finish na.”

In exactly two weeks, this midterm election will be considered the endgame of our political sphere from our own “Infinity War.”

Candidates are now putting their strategies of the last days of the campaign.

Come the day of our endgame, May 13, it would mark either the seriousness of checks and balances within the legislature or the end of the effectivity of the present constitution because it will be replaced with the federal constitution (in which, the term “midterm elections” will be a thing of the past).

The choice is yours. Whatever it takes.

Timow out.