Lo he visto

2014-12-25

Los Últimos Días (The Last Days) 18:06

Written & Directed by Alex Pastor, David Pastor (2013)

Starring Quim Gutiérrez, José Coronado & Marta Etura.

If you like Sci-Fi, add this movie to your "watch list".

The opening shot alone was so beautiful, I had to continue watching it.
The film took home several Gaudí Awards. (Catalonia's main film awards)

At first I thought the story is something we've been hearing about since the
first rumor of the Mayan calendar, crazy infection pandemic outbreaks, and the
day to end all days... an apocalypse.

But this event is a different type... come in the form of a phobia.

Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and often avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed. With agoraphobia, you fear an actual or anticipated situation, such as using public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, standing in line or being in a crowd.

Cool huh?

This creates new obstacles for the people and they try to find ways around it.

Slopping through the sewers and tunnels of Barcelona is what they do.

Some don't leave their homes.

Those who are "infected" (quotations because... can a phobia really be something that infects? It is something neurological to the extreme sense it creates physical issues, so assumably yea, sure why not?) and forced to go outside, inevitably panic and seize their way to deaths door.

The movie is carried not only by the STUNNING cinematography but the love that bonds the main character to his spouse/girlfriend, Julia. Their last interaction leaving on a disagreement/fight fuels the characters need to find her even more.

The picture that is painted in this film–living indoors... building communities inside closed walls–is wonderfully done. I do enjoy to see the strength humans have to adjust and survive wherever need be.

Also, the ingenuity! haha, bucket on a pole may not seem that great but in this film, it's pretty awesome.

Can't stress enough the beautiful cinematography. Daniel Aranyó won Best Cinematography in the 2014 Gaudí Awards for f's sake. Also, Best Visual Effects went to various recipients for this film as well.

The way the panic attack is crafted makes me, as a viewer, very anxious. I almost feel as if I'm the one having the attack! I think the use of strange noises and sounds, mixed with the dizziness of the camera, bright lights and dynamic angles all play into that. It's borderline scary–I wanted to call 911 for just watching this poor guy!

Fan-fucking-tastic. Overall, a great watch–on a budget of 5.5 mil euros too.

Many scenes were left unmentioned and un-shown because I really hope you will go watch this for yourself and give it your own opinion.

2014-09-12

Update Time 14:10

Woo...

I haven't posted up anything in quite some time. Other obligations have led me astray from these blog postings that I love so much. Responsibilities over other things, sometimes,

ya know?

ANYWAY...

I don't have quite the time to thoroughly write something as I have before, and if I post some quick crappy thing, I can't live with myself. This doesn't mean I haven't been watching movies on the daily/weekly/monthly.

I have a list here, all available on Netflix <3 so very easy to watch if you have the means.

1. A Beautiful Life - A 2011 Chinese romance directed by Andrew Lau starring the beautiful Shu Qi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3AKtzrSgdI << Trailer

2. Higanjima: Escape from Vampire Island - 2009 live-action adaptation of Koji Matsumoto's horror manga, directed by Kim Tae-gyun (South Korean director) Interesting.

3. Lala Pipo: A lot of People - Comedy 2009 directed by Masayuki Miyano (this movie is a little on the sexy side). Overall entertaining to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GSkjLZ9B4Y << Trailer

4. Idiots and Angels - 2009 Animation film by Bill Plympton! Pretty darn phenomenal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaDvCEL8Dyk << Trailer

5. Tiger Eyes - 2012 film based on a novel by Judy Blume. Directed by (get this!) Lawrence Blume. Son of Judy Blume. (This film reminds me of my 'Lifetime' movies days...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdqMpHvlA7s << Trailer

OK so if you have time, check out these other films for sure!

There is one more film I want to mention but I loved it so much, to give it justice would mean a very awesome post only and specially for this film... which I will do another day...

2013-09-14

Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) 11:08

So recently an anime has begun airing called "Attack on Titan" or "Shingeki no Kyojin" (Japanese title) It was first an extremely graphic manga, now it's a ridiculously gory anime.

This image is quite [PG] compared to what is shown...

It's shoveling along nicely at around 23 episodes right now. The main character is determined (like most anime mains) and has a vendetta to settle which fuels his determination through the show.

It's quite emotional and as the show continues I find myself more attached to the character. It's very much a one-man-epic as of now but it still keeps me itching for the airing of new episodes.

It's free to watch online, so go find it!

2012-07-25

Hugo 15:40

Director: Martin Scorsese (2011) Starring: Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Chloe Grace Moretz, Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee and Jude Law (briefly but sweetly).

No screenshots for this one. I rented the DVD through RedBox to watch this one rather than the usual streaming... and all my screenshots came up blank, it was expected.

But this film is one to see AND for $1.23 a day rental... you should just go do it, go get it, now.

I particularly liked it because it brought up George Melies. He was a French illusionist and filmmaker famous for leading many technical and narrative developments in the earliest days of cinema. In short, he created the world's first "Science Fiction" film, really.

There's a link to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbGd_240ynk

Here's a list of the movies he made.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0617588/

Also, found this cute video online :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXwGN2uSsn0

I liked the fact that a movie was made about Melies in such a manner. Complemented his image of what we know. There have been documentaries, I'm sure. But the way this movie progressed combined with the beautiful Paris scenery and imaginative, playful CGI made this movie not only informational but true to the very story it told.

I mean, that's what Melies was about! Special effects, fun and dreams!

To make a movie about him or with him in it in any way and not include one of those elements would be disappointing. But Scorsese did a good damn job. Johnny Depp also produced this... and with the look and feel of the rich colors and lighting, complex yet simple scenes and cozy images... It almost seemed right to see Johnny Depp's name in the credits.

I really do like Johnny Depp and his creative eye.
I was surprised to see Scorsese directed this one. The knowledge I have of him is from his very different types of films. But no complaints on this one Martin!

On a deeper note... I personally found myself choked up with tears during several scenes. The basis of finding ones "purpose" in life is something I always think about during the moments in my day where I can gaze off for a few seconds in between all the stressors. Who doesn't wonder about their purpose here? But we all have a purpose, of course.

I guess I've been thinking of this quite heavily... purposes and meanings of lives. Fish Story is another movie of similar metaphor and I suppose, in some small way, every movie is...

The little things that connect us in this life are something I'll always appreciate. Of the enormity there is littleness. Tiny fibers that catch us all in the intricate web of life! *sigh*

Anywho... I'm beginning to drift off here.

I also want to mention how much I enjoyed the dream scene in Hugo. When you watch it and connect the dots, it should bring about a slight chuckle and kudos to the cleverness.

I remembered the title and seeing a trailer for it in 2011 but didn't hear much of it afterward. It is sad to say that a film like this may fly right under peoples radar or just go unnoticed.

At first, I thought this was a children's movie and it could well possibly be one! It seems a bit too deep though; silent films, homeless children, etc.

I didn't grow up with parents and although I had my Grandmother, I can imagine the conscience thought alone is overwhelming but to see on screen, an inspector with a giant Doberman searching for ne'er-do-wells ready to send you off to the orphanage or whatever, is straight scary!

But then again... TinTin called itself a children's film...

ANYWAY.
Still a good film to watch. It's magical seeing footage of Melies old films.

Like I said, can't go wrong with a rental for $1 and change per 24 hours.

2012-07-10

Fish Story 15:53

Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura (2009)

Starring: Gaku Hamada, Atsushi Ito, Kengo Kora, Vincent Giry (Short appearance)

Randomly came across this movie on Netflix. As I began watching it, I had NO clue what was going on. I kept watching for the simple fact that during this comet crisis... a record store

was open haha.

That's probably where I'd be in that scenario. Jammin' till I die.

That or... depending on different variables, I'd be underground somewhere haha

The 3 people in the record store all begin to talk about this 1 record, this 1 song.

Fish Story by Gekirin... an old punk rock band that formed in the 70's before the disseverance and popularization of the Sex Pistols.

Gekirin is a fictional band. Haven't found any evidence proving otherwise.

Maybe they're not, though. Who knows...

I don't...

I bet you don't either.

The original title movie came with the subtitle saying something like

"Music will save the world" which quotes from the movie.

This movie is also based on a book written by Isaka Kotaro.

20 fucking 12 ... another thing I just don't know about.

Nor do I believe it, but I don't believe much other than what I feel that's true.

There's a crazy meteor coming to destroy the world. It will hit near Japan causing major tidal waves that will have the country underwater in minutes.

I enjoyed the realism. What if this will happen come December? What if it won't...

It was comforting to find a movie about a song that changes the course of the world.

To hear a song that in some small way could possibly change the course of my life, if even for that very small moment.

Like check this, I'm listening to a song, that makes me feel super happy... my mood affects someone else, so that changes their mood... their course of actions...

Domino effect all the way. All because of one song...

One minute of helping a stranger pick up their fallen bags... or holding the door open for a woman with a smile on her face but her day is going terrible.

That 1 small act of kindness... or that 1 thing you do differently, that change of mind, that small action. It can go on and on. It happens, you know.

Or at least, that's how I think. I can't speak for others.

I like to see how I think being put into a visual aspect. It's always enjoyable.

Fish Story being one of those films.

Makes you believe in those little acts of heroism, plus some.

It's so exceptionally done.

It bounces back and forth between 4 different times.

All times connected by 1 thing.

I really liked the band, though. Trying to come out onto the scene with a new style of music (at that time) and not really being accepted for it. At one point, they sit together by what seems to be a city river below the street level and they talk about what they are doing... where are they going.

There are tons of time where I feel quite lost in where I am going and if what I am doing (although I'm doing what I love) will others love it like I do?

Will they get out of it what I do? Imagine what I do while seeing/listening?

Probably not, because everyone is different, shaped by their experiences.

It happens similarly for this band... as well as other bands out there, I'm sure.

I like to think that although what I'm doing may seem inferior and unimportant and having no effect on anyone else or anything... that maybe when I'm long perished, something I've done will reach someone... and change their life in some small way.

Just as other pieces of art by others have touched me and changed my life.

Maybe it will happen... I can't be sure that it will. Nothing is sure in this life.

That is the reason why I enjoyed this film so much. I felt a connection with the characters in every scene. I've thought the same things, been a bit confused and unsure at times. Hoping something will turn out or just doing things for the hell of it, not caring if it affects anyone else but those in the moment with me.

( BY THE WAY - Kengo Kora is super attractive... I'd watch it again just to see his face.)

Thinking of life in a more Physics based way, of course something I do will change 1 thing, some way or another. It would be cool to be around to see it happen... Something changing on a macro level.

FISH STORY is really great. I've been ranting on about my inner thoughts that probably don't make much sense. You should watch the movie, maybe you'd start feeling like I do.

Maybe you feel that way already.

Maybe not. Still... you should watch the film.

Maybe my ranting would all make some sense after haha.

On top of that, the ending of the film is marvelous. Ties together so well it leaves you with a fuzzy feeling in your stomach and a knot in your throat that you just want to run outside and scream to the sky... like the guys above are doing :)

I don't know about you, but I definitely want to do something, leave something behind that makes a difference on this earth. Something that shows my once existence. That I wasn't just a mass of particles that melted into the earth after some odd amount of years.

So in a way, this movie was a bit inspirational. In the whole self-esteem department.

The fact of not being so sure about where I'm heading, but if I keep doing what I love, maybe it will turn out to something later on past my generation.