Fave HP 7.2 moments

Beware: Spoilers ahead.

I want to emote about the finality of the anticipation of Harry Potter with this movie. But thankfully, the movie did well in providing a closure to the wonderful, magical journey I had with Harry and the rest of the wizarding world. The drama may be for another time since I still have two to three weeks to cling on to since the movie just started showing.

So for now I relive moments in the movie that had a lot of impact on me. I want to write it down and relish them without watching the movie over.

• Dobby's tombstone. "Here lies Dobby. A free elf." Dobby knows much more about freedom and choice more than most people we know.
• Snape's silhouette framed by a tower window then cut to the scene of Hogwarts students marching into the castle. Once the camera pans to Snape's face, you see he takes no delight. Also, the scene below is a contrast to the colorful, noisy greeting of Hogwarts in the past movies.
• The Gringotts dragon. Such a beautiful, majestic creature! My heart bled with its chained neck. Beautiful creatures like that should be allowed to roam free!
• The Gringotts massacre. I don't remember having read this in the book. And I hope it really wasn't there. Poor goblins! But uhm, why were those security wizards dressed like regular cops?
• Hermione as Bellatrix. HBC does great in impersonating Hermione impersonating her character. Priceless. Ron wears a wig and goatee as H's companion. That look actually suits him!
• Neville coming out the portrait with Arianna Dumbledore. That was a wonderful moment in the book for me too! I missed seeing Hogwarts in the first half of the book and first installment of the movie. And of course, knowing he will soon be out, Mayette and I were squealing "yey, Neville! Neville."
  
• Harry meeting with other Hogwarts students. The look on the students' face, especially Seamus, when they discover had no plan. Priceless! :P
• Snape fleeing Hogwarts. That short duel with McGonagall was the first sign of the coming battle. She may look old and a bit Miss Minchin like at times, but she's a bad-ass witch so don't mess with her!
  
• McGonagall animating the Hogwarts statues. Like a giggly school girl she tells Molly "I've always wanted to use that spell!" I was laughing so hard I had to clap. And so did a good number of people in the cinema.
  
• McGonagall instructing Seamus to work on pyrotechnics. If you did a marathon of the movies like I did, you will notice that Seamus gets blasted in the face almost all the movies. I was so happy with that reference but only a few seem to have got it. :/
  
• The shield slowly covering up Hogwarts. I don't remember if there was music playing, but I was literally at the edge of my seat as it was happening.
  
• Voldemort speaking to everyone in Hogwarts. His voice was soft, yet the malevolence was creeping on my skin. Wow.
• Tonks and Remus holding out to each other when the shield was about to break. A pair of lovers, a pair of warriors.
  
• The twins having their last conversation before the battle. I couldn't hear what they said to each other though. But still... my heart was in knots knowing what is to happen to one of them.
  
• Neville aangas-angas with the Voldemort followers when they could not pass the shield. Then running as fast as his feet would take him when the shield broke. When he re-appears he goes, "That went well." Though I wish he said "I'm okay" because that was his dialogue everytime he fell in the earlier movies.
• Ron and Hermione finally kissing! When and how. Big moment. Of course, clapping from most of the audience here. Sa wakas lang no!
• Snape's death. It broke my heart.
• Snape's love for Lily Potter. It broke my heart again. His love for Lily was as true as her love for Harry. Alan Rickman, you did justice to Snape. Thank you
• Fred getting disarmed. Nooooo!
  
• The death toll in the Great Hall. The undramatic manner of the showing the dead Fred, Remus and Lupin. As no fuss as it was in the book. Which makes it more heartbreaking.
• Snape saying "always," Lily saying "always" in separate scenes. Sigh!
  
• Draco crossing from Hogwarts flank to the Death Eater's side to be with his parents. Disappointing but expected.
  
• Voldemort thinking Neville was joining the death eaters. "I was expecting someone better. I'm sure we will find something for you in our ranks" And the mockery in his voice as he said it.
• Neville daring to speak up against Voldemort. Go Neville, true Gryffindor!!
• Harry at King's Cross with Dumbledore. Conversations between those two are just full of quotable qoutes!
• Neville cutting Nagini's head off. Yeaaaah!
• Battle between Harry and Voldemort. (but not as Epic as the Voldemort-Dumbledore duel though)
• Luna and Neville sitting quietly together. The pride in Neville's face. Win!
• The last scene with the triumvirate 19 years later.

I did feel disappointed that they did not show Harry repairing his old wand with the elder wand. I really, really love that scene in the book. But oh well...

So obviously, I enjoyed the movie. And I am glad to have known Harry Potter and his magical world.

senior year by jerrold tarog

When I first saw the ad for Senior Year in the newspaper, I thought it was a 2D animated feature. I thought, unless it was going to be treated with Japanese manga crazy storytelling, it will not work.

It was a relief to discover, during my meanderings in SM Megamall, that the movie was actually live action. Seeing Ramon Bautista as the PE teacher piqued my interest and strengthened my resolve to watch it.

I'm glad I did.

Despite the fact that I come from an all-girls school, I could relate to the movie on so many levels. My experience of HS co-education was a teacher. What I saw in the movie was a mix of both my experience as student and as teacher.

The story of Senior Year is not really a singular one. Neither does it have the usual beginning, middle and end. The movie is like what high school is all about. Little stories of different people that hardly form a whole. Little stories that matter to each one living it. Little stories, just like our own recollection of high school would be.

I enjoyed the hodge-podge of high school characters in the movie. Somewhat stereotypical but representative of the kinds of students you usually encounter. The nerd, the wannabe, the sosyalera, the playboy, the sexually confused, the tsismosa, the angas. Take your pick. Yet despite the "classification," they each share their complexity. Falling in love. Apprehending the future. Holding on to friendships.

The teachers were also interesting to watch. I particularly related with Che Ramos' character, The idealistic teacher who saw her position as an opportunity for the change, the chance to make a difference, if only in the life of one student. I dream to be her someday.

Senior Year is a simple, quiet movie about high school. Its simplicity is what makes it worth watching.

To any one who were ever subject to the four walls of learning, to any one who feared the future, to any one who went through confusion, watching Senior Year would be a recollection.

To those who are where they are right now and realized how different one turned out from what one expected or hoped to be, to those who look at themselves and realize how much they have turned out to be a surprise, pleasant or not, watching Senior Year would be a reflection on a past reality.

Go and watch it at your nearest SM Cinema. It's definitely much more worth than your money that Who's That Girl. Especially since we got free Selecta ice cream on the way in. :P

And oh, Ramon Bautista? Not much minutes in the movie but what little exposure he had, I was giggling like crazy. Not even sure if it was because the scene was funny or it was because Le Bautista was in it. :P

See the trailer here.

Toy Story 3

When I was a little kid, I only had a few toys. My favorite was a rag doll which my dad gave me and I would have brought it with me wherever I go whatever age I get if it did not disappear from me. I suspect my unsentimental mother dropped it in a donation box along with our old clothes. Sigh. I was not even asked my permission but I console myself with the thought it was making some other child happy.

I had a crazy belief that things came to life when my back was turned. Whenever I would go out of my room, I'd do a quick turn back and see if the toys would be caught moving. But they were faster than my own reflexes.

So it was great to have had a movie like Toy Story in 1995 to assure me that I was not the only person in the world who believed toys had their own lives apart from those times they are played with.

Toy Story 3, 15 years after the first one was released, tells the story of how the toys are coping with Andy finally leaving for college. Pixar does its magic again! They successfully closed the story of whimsical bunch of memorable characters leaving the audience with bittersweet feelings that most of us experience during crossroads in our lives.

TS3 is more Woody's story. His loyalty and love for Andy is limitless. But all the characters, no matter how short their lines or roles, make their indelible mark to the viewer. Buzz accidentally discovers a new side of himself which everyone would enjoy watching. Jessie's cynicism is understandable having experienced Emily. Bull's Eye is as loyal as Woody. The Potato Heads, are funny and lovable, individually or together. Mr. Potato Head goes into hilarious transitions, all for the family. T-Rex and Hamm and Slinky Dog continue to complement and enhance their toy family. Of course, the aliens fixated with the Claw. Hilarious! Even if you just met the new characters, you feel for them. Whether good or not so. Watch out for the Shakespearian Hedgehog and a cameo by Totoro (from Japanese animation).

It was a wonderful way to end Toy Story. The movie made me despair and eventually relieved. I was thinking during those scary moments, "how can they get through this?" while gripping Jan's hands tightly. And after that, you just have to give it to Woody to think of something to make things all right again.

I am still breathless from remembering the movie. I'm not sure if I can watch it some time soon. If I was just the only person in the cinema I would be sobbing. I don't know if I can deal with overwhelming emotions that TS3 coaxes out of its viewers so soon after.

Sigh. It is a beautiful movie. A must see for those who loved their toys like family. You can be assured that your toys loved you back too. :)

"How to Train Your Dragon " rocks!

Dragons have always fascinated me. I am, after all, a lover of fantasy books. There was a time I'd buy books just because there is "dragon" in the title or in the cover. But then, I started to earn my own money and plan for bigger things so I had to be choosy.

I've seen the "How to Train Your Dragon" book several times in the bookstore and have thought of buying it. Unfortunately, other books kept overtaking it in my buying list. Until I realized that it is too late... the book is now a movie. So it is highly likely that when I buy the book, I'll have the Dreamworks cover.

Which is actually not that bad because the movie was absolutely enjoyable. I LOVED IT! The facial expressions of the characters were good. The script was great. The music was fascinating. The dragons were creative and lovable. The animation was fantastic.

At the end of the movie, I said to myself, "Best Animation Feature" nominee! I hope it wins but it might be too early to say especially with Toy Story 3 coming out. Nonetheless, I really really enjoyed the movie a lot and if movies were cheap, I'd watch it again.

This is one movie that would have been great in 3D. Unfortunately, Clash of the Titans just bumped it off. And that movie was not even that great.

How to Train Your Dragon! Watch it!!!

Movie: Zombieland

Two thumbs up for this romp of a movie!

I was glad that May8, Jan and I were able to watch it together because movies like this need to be seen with other people or else you'd look silly laughing like a loon as people get eaten on the movie screen.

Love love love the script! It had really funny lines executed perfectly by the characters. Woody Harrelson has mastered the acting of a crazy lunatic (he was probably the most memorable in 2012) with a gun. Can't imagine anyone else in the role. And damn... Bill Murray's death was predictable yet was still funny when it happened.

This movie has to be nominated for at least an MTV Award or a Scream Award!

Awesome. Simply awesome!

RIP, Alexis Tioseco

There are just too many good people passing away this year.

This morning, I woke up with my usual routing. Turning on my laptop. Checking facebook and twitter. I found it strange seeing Gang's status with just Alexis Tioseco's name. It was too cryptic, so I looked at the tweets from different online newspapers to see if there was any report about him.

And there it was. He was shot dead in his own home by robbers.

I do not him personally, though I wish I did. But he was part of my mornings in Davao when 'Breakfast' still aired on Studio 23. He would be a weekly (or was it bi-weekly) guest on the show, and he would talk about films. It was interesting how this Ingliserong Amboy from Canada (Amboy, pero Canada? ano yun?! haha! but you know what I mean) had so much passion for the local film industry. Most of the time, he discussed about independent films or old classics that should be revived.

He was clearly an advocate for the film industry as an art. I could sense his frustration when he would talk about lost films of the old greats. It was also interesting how he tackled the issue on National Artists. More than lobbying for Caparas not to receive the award, he was clamoring for the NCCA to actually set aside a budget to educate the people about the arts. So no one can claim that it is for the elite. I did not think of it that way. Such a philosophical, deep thinker.

I came across an article he wrote for Rogue Magazine. It showed how much he loved his girlfriend (who along with him was also murdered) and how much he loved the local film industry. It's a beautiful piece.

And he also wrote a piece about his wishful thinking for Philippine Cinema. This guy is did not just love the film industry, he was in-love with it.

It's sad that such a passionate advocate is gone. And gone the way he did. It is so wrong on so many levels.

I don't know if I have the right to feel this way not having known him. It was also just recently that I got re-acquainted with his work because of the National Artists brouhaha. But I feel I lost my voice with his passing.

Thank you, Alexis Tioseco. I pray that justice will be served.

a very special kind of love

i'm a john lloyd fan back in the days when he was still rovic in tabing-ilog. up to this day, i still root for rovic-eds and their real life alter egos john lloyd-kaye abad (who is happy with chito, who is also a rovic-eds fan).

i'm a sarah geronimo fan back when i watched her live here in davao, finding her a funny and genuine performer. oh, did i mention that it was mark bautista that i wanted to see?

so now they star in "a very special love," which i was quite excited to see. two of my favorite celebrities together! though, sarah's acting has always been too perky for my taste but i am always amused so it's not a bother.

let's not talk about the story. there is no point coming in a star cinema love story looking for plot or characterization. it's all about entertainment and wasting your two hours in kababawan.

was there chemistry? i was surprised to see that there was. i was actually... kilig! i don't often get kilig. most of the time, i get aliw or amused or happy-exasperated with pinoy romantic comedies, but not kilig.

why was i kilig?

maybe because laida, sarah's character, was also kilig with miggy, JL's character. even if laida is too perky and optimistic for anyone's taste, you can't help but like her.

or maybe it's just john lloyd. staring at his object of affection with piercing, sincere eyes... reading her soul and wanting it. smiling that oh-so beautiful smile. like a little angel with a secret.

maybe it's the entire cinema crowd who shrieked at every meeting of the eye or an almost-kiss. or that makalaglag-panty moment with john lloyd singing his serenade (don't roll your eyes. THIS IS a star cinema love story, okay!). ang pogi niya dun! aaaaah. at hep! ang sun dance! ;p

does it matter what the story was? i wanted to watch for fun. and i had a lot of fun. i was laughing and giggling. i had a good time. i was kilig. i had a two-hour exposure to john lloyd cruz. but if you have to know, it's fine and engaging enough. plus my ang tv crush gio alvarez gets to play a man this time.

and the outtakes... watch out for the second to the last one. hilarious! "kaya niyo yun?"

nalolongkot ka ba? walang magawa sa buhay? nuod ka ng "a very special love"

tandaan lang ha...KABABAWAN ANG HANAP kung manunuod.

o! community singing na!