Transformers 4: Age of Extinction (2014)

I recall last July 2, my friends invited me to watch Transformers 4: Age of Extinction before they conduct their case study nearby. I managed to get on the meeting place on time because there was a change of scheduled time, it was earlier than the first scheduled one. Thank God I didn't get lost and managed to find my way into the meeting place, at the mall's cinema located at the uppermost floor.

This was my first time watching a Transformers movie, so I can't really compare this movie from the other Transformers movie. I think that my friend, Jillian, is disappointed at the movie. There's no story at all, just animations. There's a story alright, but they didn't seem to be focused on the story and rather, they were focused on the visual effects and such.

I appreciate the visual effects in the movie. It's because there's a dream within me to learn how to make those effects. I want to learn more software that are inclined in the production of movies and series.

Angel Beats! (2010)

For the people who died, before going to heaven, their souls will be arriving at a high school campus. These people will still feel pain like they're alive, even the feeling of dying, but later on will be awaken with no injuries. This place is where students learn to give up anything that they still have attachments to before passing on. Each student has a story to tell, and most of the story depicts of their regrets and dreams in their lives before dying.

I'm touched but the character's stories, especially Yuzuru Otanashi's story, who died while helping his fellow passengers in a train accident. He became a light to them, and remained hopeful until in the end. How I hope that I can be like that.

Moving on, Angel Beats is really a nice anime. I will greatly recommend this one. It seriously tackles about life and how we must live it to the fullest. We may never know when we will meet the face of death. It made me realize how important one's life is, and how we should value our time we have. Making memories and experiences is really a great investment.

Kuroko no Basket 1 & 2 (2012-2014)

I know of the anime Kuroko no Basket for the past months but only this summer I decided to watch this anime. I'm not a basketball fanatic. The reason why I watched this anime is because of the encouragement and the good review that my cousin shared to me. I began to be curious while he's talking about some scenes of this anime and eventually watched it. I watched this anime while there's a NBA championship going on. Most of the people are cheering for either San Antonio Spurs or Miami Heat. I'm cheering for Seirin on the other hand.

I like how the tandem of Kuroko Tetsuya and Kagami Taiga works. Their skills and the way they play basketball. Kuroko's vanishing drive and Kagami's high jump. I like Kise Ryota and the way he calls his friends, adding the suffix of "-chi" after his friends' names. My favorite player from the Generation of Miracles is Aomine Daiki. I really like how he plays and the way he can easily trick his opponent's on the court. Well, so much for the like part. Although there are some parts that can't be done in reality (for example, Kuroko's pass and vanishing drive), the anime never fails to amaze me and gives me thrills on Seirin's plays - on how they will win over a strong opponent with a member of Generation of Miracles as part of the opponent's team.

Anyway, at the last episode of season two, I expected that things will work out at the end - that Seirin will eventually win over Yosen. I also expected to watch the championship of the Winter Cup but sadly to say, the anime ended at Seirin winning against Yosen. I was expecting to see that Seirin will be playing against Rakuzan High wherein they'll be playing against Akashi, the captain of the so called "Generation of Miracles". In order for me to know the events against Rakuzan, I need to read the manga.

The Spectacular Now (2013)

The Spectacular Now was a movie recommendation by my friend Tonio last year. He told me that he enjoyed watching this movie and that there are some lessons that you can pick up while watching the scenes. Hearing his words, I became curious about what The Spectacular Now is all about. I began to read the pdf version because of curiosity. One day, while I was on my favorite bookstore, I happen to saw a copy of the its book. I immediately encourage my dear mother to buy that book for me, saying that it's a rare thing to have a copy of that book. I had a hard time looking for a hard copy at the bookstores. I don't want to read the story in a soft copy after all.

The Spectacular Now is about Sutter Keely who believes that we should all live in the present. Enjoy every moment and its opportunity. I think he's like a happy-go-lucky guy who doesn't think much about his future plans. The thing I like about him is that he's friendly and compassionate. He loves helping people out and he can easily make friends around different bunch of people. He's not that a bad influence after all.

About Aimee Finecky, Sutter Keely's girlfriend, I like how she handled Sutter at his worst. I like how calmly she talked to him and cares for him. Sutter is really a lucky guy to have Aimee as a girlfriend. Also, Aimee's interests are interesting and it can help her to stand out on people.

To tell the truth, I just don't like that sex scene. It seems out of place at the movie, even though you can see that they love each other much.

At the movie, I can see that it's a typical American teenage life but talks about life. I like how the movie tackles about living in the present by the role of Sutter Keely. It sure is important to live in the moment and enjoy life at the present. Yet, we should always be reminded that having plans for the future will help ourselves be on the right track and can also help us to live life the fullest. Also, helping people is a great thing. We may never know that there will be an unexpected great thing that will come to us as we help people.

This is the first time that I like and prefer the movie more than the book.

By the way, here's my favorite quote from the movie. It's a friendly reminder to all of us:

"Stuff's always happen. And the real challenge of my life, the real hardship, is me. It's always been me. It's always I can remember to not be afraid. Afraid of failure, having people down, hurting people, getting hurt. But if I kept my guard up and focus on other things like other people. If I couldn't feel it then no harm could come to me. I screwed up. I didn't know that I shut up the pain, I shut up everything. Good and the bad, till there was nothing. It's fine living in the now, but the best part of the now is there's another one tomorrow. And I'm starting to make it count."

Lupin III VS. Detective Conan (2009)

I already heard about this movie, but today was just the day that I decided to watch this. I heard some comments from Facebook friends that they enjoyed watching this movie. Perhaps it's now my time to watch this. After all, I'm having a lazy Saturday afternoon right now.

I like how the concept of fusing two famous anime of all time in one special movie. I do hope that they'll make more and hopefully this time Conan will be chasing over Lupin after a robbery or something. The comedy and also the action was exciting and makes the movie interesting and worthwhile.

Tuhog (2013) movie review

The story starts with an accident that left a retired father Tonio, a middle aged old woman bus conductor Fiesta and a young college student Caloy with a long steel rod piercing through their bodies. This was a dangerous circumstance that the hospital staff had a hard time solving their situation. In one part of the movie, they need to call a carpenter in order to cut the long steel rod between the patients.

At the intro of the film, I like the part where there are bits of things and foods that pierce through a skewer. I find it random but it gives a clear message what will the story be about. I was surprised to saw the main characters situation when they were rushed inside the hospital.

I like how the story flows between the characters, the way they are involved and related within one another, even though they are completely strangers to each other. I also felt that I was a part of story and they are sharing with me the stories of their lives, just like a passenger in the bus.

In Tonio's story, I learned that it's not too late to pursue your dreams even if you're at the age of retirement. He pursued his dream to bake even though his family members opposed him. He's lucky to have friends with him because these friends of him are the ones who supported him to do his dream. When there's life, there's always hope.

In Fiesta's story, I observed that Fiesta love her drunkard father despite the problems she's facing when taking care of him. She's a good example on how we shouldn't judge people based on their looks. Behind every conceited look on her is a heart yearning for her mother.

Meanwhile, in Caloy's story, you'll find love conquers all. Despite the trials and problems faced, love will still win in the end. I realized Caloy really loves Angel when he chased her wearing only his boxers outside his dorm after Angel saw something she hadn't expected.

Tuhog is a Filipino film that tackles about the reality of death in our daily lives. It reminds us that we will all die one day, and we don't even have a single clue when will that day be. Like the little boy said in the end of the film, we should use death as an inspiration to strive hard to reach our dreams and goals. It is already a blessing to be alive. We should use this life to reach our dreams and serve as an inspiration to others.

I also realized in those three stories, it tackles about dreams and love, and why we should pursue it.

Kyoukai no Kanata (2013) anime review

Genre: Action, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy

Sypnosis: Akihito Kanbara instinctively saves Mirai Kuriyama from being thought commiting suicide on the school's rooftop. After saying his pleas, Mirai Kuriyama quickly and unexpectedly stabbed Akihito Kanbara with a sword formed from her own blood and was shocked to find out that Akihito Kanbara is an immortal half-youmu (half youmu, half human). Akihito Kanbara learned that Mirai Kuriyama has blood that has the ability to destroy life, labeling their blood and their clan as "cursed". She is the last surviving member of the cursed clan and also a Spirit World Warrior - specialists who protect the earth from being influenced by youmu. When a youmu died, it produces a Youmu stone which can be appraised or traded in order to earn money.

My thoughts: Cute and clumsy. Those words describe Mirai Kuriyama based from the first episodes. The red eyeglasses really suit her and add more charm in her character. I like the way she say, "Fuyukai desu" (meaning, "It's unpleasant") with a matching cute pout whenever Akihito Kanbara teases her.

The characters resemble a little like the anime K-On. Each Spirit World Warrior has their own powers in defeating youmu and I think their powers also define their personality as well.

The story is direct to the point and doesn't have much irrelevant side stories. I found myself got bored in the middle episodes, but once I reached the later episodes, I began to appreciate the anime more. I like the last episodes more because of the chemistry between Mirai Kuriyama and Akihito Kanbara. They aren't like the other couples who are sweet and cheesy to each other.

Oops.

It will be almost a year since I last updated this blog. My bad for forgetting to post some movie reviews. I do hope that by posting movie reviews I can keep track of my thoughts about a certain movie and can also help in practicing my writing skills.