October 2008 Archives

By Anna Valmero and Marjorie Gorospe INQUIRER.net IT has been said, companionship is best appreciated in old age. After experiencing all the highs and lows of life, those who are chronologicall y advanced seek to be with people. This was the least of their concern when the y were young, when they seemed to have time for everything. This is the recurring theme in a recent play, called âHiblang Abo,â a productio n of Gantimpala Theater Foundation under director Tony Espejo. We recently went to view the play at the Luneta open auditorium. Hiblang Abo talks about the lives of four men in a home. Huse, one of the four characters, narrated how they shared memories and how one by one -- Sotero, Blas and Pedro â gradually left the picture leavi ng him alone in a dilapidated room. During light moments, they talked about Huse's inspiration, Rosa, who is a ward in the institution. Sometimes, they talked about how proud they were being cla ssified as the best to be interviewed in the institution by visiting college st udents. They made Blas recall his glory days as labor group leader when he was younger. All four shared their age-old dreams and aspirations. Sotero longed to find his daughter, Victoria, to share his last days with her. But this irritated Blas w ho despised Sotero's story saying they were untrue. As the play went, Huse recounted how their days were spent unnoticed just like their gray hair. The gray strands eventually got thinner over time, until they shed. The feel that they went on with their lives unnoticed, feeling like they have evaded the mirror as they refused to see the truth about their lives. It was just like Hiblang Aboâs main points: the play is about three inevitable things in our lives: sickness, aging and death. As the four men grew older, they too experienced sickness apart from suffering the usual back pains, blurred vision and memory deterioration. The play was clearly stating that each of us will age. It is inevitable unless possibly, we enter a cryogenics capsule. However, getting old alone is one bitter pill to swallow. Watching the actors portray the four main characters brings to mind this questi on: âHow does one feel growing old under the care of a facility and not with lo ved ones?â Death -- not only of the body but of the soul -- is the meanest tragedy in life . Thus when all grains of sand are nearly spent, and we have yet to fulfill our dreams, we feel that our dreams are like huge balls chained to us each time we think what we could have done when time was not yet our enemy. And that proverbial ball can ultimately weigh a person down, as they await deat h, which Huse compares to a theaterâs curtain closing, or in the vernacular,âBu maba na ang talonâ (The curtain has closed). As much as it is a tragedy, the playâs theme hinges on the beauty of life and i ts counterpart, death. While it seems remote to have a life without any bitter tragedy, companionship can make life easier. But most donât have the luxury of enjoying that at the ti me when it can be most cherished -- during old age.

By Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES -- Robert Downey Jr. has signed a deal with Marvel Studios to retur n to the screen as superhero "Iron Man" in two sequels to the hit film released last April, Hollywood media reported Wednesday. Downey, 43, will make "Iron Man 2" for planned released in 2010, and Marvel env isions a third Iron Man film by 2012, according to Variety. In between the two, Downey also agreed to play Iron Man, alias Tony Stark, in a n Avengers movie, together with Marvel comics characters Captain America, Thor and the Incredible Hulk. That film is scheduled for the movie houses in 2011. "Iron Man" was a surprise hit in 2008, pulling in $318 million in North America n theaters, beating out the fourth "Indiana Jones" movie. Downey is currently filming in the lead role of "Sherlock Holmes," directed by Guy Ritchie, singer Madonna's estranged husband. Downey also found success in the Hollywood war-movie satire "Tropic Thunder" ea rlier this year. The successes marked the return to Hollywood heights by an comic actor whose ca reer slumped due to a series of drug-related problems after his initial Oscar-n ominated triumph playing the title role in 1992's "Chaplin."

Starring Kevin Costner, Madeline Caroll, Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Grammer Directed by Joshua Stern Distributed by Touchstone Pictures By Clarence Yu KEVIN Costnerâs latest drama-comedy starrer, Swing Vote, is a timely film for a primer on the US electoral process. Released in North America in August this y ear, the movie focuses on a trailer-living, divorced, single father, all-around loser and drunk bum (Bud Johnson) played by Costner. As it happens, during the US election that transpires in the movie between the two presidential candidates, played by Dennis Hopper and Kelsey Grammer respect ively as the Democrat challenger and the incumbent Republican President, the wh ole fate of the race boils down to the vote of one man, Johnson, due to a votin g machine performance error that did not able to record his vote. The rest of the film focuses on the intricacies and dynamics of US politics. Bo th candidates try to pander to Johnson, and in a comedic turn of events, both c andidates end up reversing their positions on traditional Republican and Democr at policies. Republicans suddenly become pro-choice on abortion, and Democrats, pro-life Itâs quite an entertaining movie, but Costnerâs stardom, having faded exponenti ally since 1996âs Waterworld, perhaps contributed to the filmâs lackluster succ ess at the US box office. Itâs also disappointing that the film was not shown here (at least n ot yet) in theatres. With the upcoming US election, the film would serve as a good educational vehic le for us Filipinos on the machinations and intricacies of the US democratic pr ocess. Corruption and media spin probably cannot be eradicated in any democrati c country nowadays during an election, but at least the film shows that it can be a limited evil, and perhaps a lot of us could enlighten ourselves to this fa ct, what with all the front page news hounding us these days. The movie refreshed my hopes that our attainment of this kind of democracy is s till eventual and possible. Costner plays a delightful turn here as a rascal-like bum, having been usually typecast as the stoic leading man in such movies as âThe Untouchablesâ, the Osc ar winning âDances with Wolvesâ, and âThe Bodyguardâ, and Madeline Caroll displ ays an acting potential way beyond her young years. Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Gram mer round out this stellar cast. See this if you can get a chance.

By Marjorie Gorospe INQUIRER.net MAKATI City, Philippines -- Siblings Peter and Jeff Hutchens visited the Philip pines to share their six-part documentary "Somewhere in China," which is airing on National Geographic chann el. âSomewhere is Chinaâ is a documentary of the Hutchens brothers' trips in remark able places in China like Xinjiang province, Kashgar and its muslim population, among others.
This documentary reveals the diverse culture of Chinese community different to the monolithic notion about them. The brothers said it was a big challenge for them to be in front of the camera since they mainly work behind the scene -- Jeff as a photographer and Peter a f ilmmaker. "It felt different because we were used to be off-cam," the brothers say. They have to adjust and be vocal, giving them a chance to learn about imp romptu dialogues and projecting themselves on camera. Peter Hutchens has produced numerous programs for National Geographic Channel. He was the youngest and only filmmaker who produced a program for the acclaimed Wide Angle series. While his brother, Jeff Hutchens, is a multi-awarded photog rapher of National Press Photographers Association, Pictures Of The Year and th e White House News Photographers. The brothers revealed their interest on filming jeepneys in the Philippines bec ause they find it unique. However, they still have to work it out with the Nati onal Geographic Channel. Would-be filmmakers would only dream of doing documentaries such as what the th ey have done. The Hutchens brothers offered this advice: "Persistence is very i mportant. Just continue and enjoy what you are doing.â Somewhere in China: Silk road premiere: Oct. 5 (Sunday) 7PM repeat Air Dates: Oct. 6 12 midnight and 5AM Oct 11, 2PM Somewhere in China: Three Gorges Dam Premeire : Oct. 12 (Sunday) 7PM repeat Air Dates: Oct. 13, 12 MN and 5 AM; Oct 18, 2PM Somewhere in China: Ice City Premiere: Oct. 19 (sunday) 7PM Repeat air dates Oct 20, 12 MN and 5 AM oct 25, 2PM Somewhere in China: Going Local Premier: Oct. 26 (sunday) 7pm repeat air dates: Oct 27, 12 MN and 5 AM; Nov 1, 2PM Somewhere in China: Kicked out of Gansu Premiere: Nov. 2 (sunday, 7PM Repeat Air Dates : Nov 3, 12 MN and 5 AM, Nov 8, 2PM Somewhere in China: Beijing Bom Premiere: Nov. 9 (sunday) Repeat Air Dates: Nov 10, 12MN and 5 AM, Nov 15,2 PM

By Anna Valmero INQUIRER.net MARY Shelleyâs Frankenstein meets... Annie?! This combination would be more sui ted for a Scary Movie sequel or an episode of the Twilight Zone, but it seemed perfectly normal in Malaria, a land dominated by evil scientists who also owned hunchback slaves called âIgors.â One such Igor, the switch thrower of Dr. Glickenstein, is a scientist of his ow n, inventing Brain, a hardly intelligent brain in a jar and Scamper, an immorta l but psychotic rabbit. When Dr. Glickenstein accidentally dies from a failed experiment, Igor takes ov er the lab and pursues his dream to join the annual Evil Science Fair contest b y creating Eva, a female monster who thinks the Fair is an audition for the pla y âAnnie.â Having learned of Igorâs invention, Dr. Schadenfreude steals Eva to win the contest and finally, overthrow King Malbert. The plots and revolving themes in the story -- stepping on others to get ahead, deceit, brainwashing and essentially, doing evil to achieve goals -- make it a film for adults. Another disturbing thing is the continuous suicide attempts of Scamper. When I watched the film, I sat along with several kids in the row whom I noticed laugh ed less than the adults accompanying them. I wonder if they laughed at Evaâs di va attitude when she thought a paparazzi car is following her carriage. As a 20-year-old moviegoer, I cannot say I did not enjoy the film. While admiri ng the 3D animation, I laughed along with the one-liners and the antics of the Mayor, Brain, Scamper and the invisible announcer. The film is loaded with good symbolisms to tackle its multi-faceted theme of whether to do good or evil. The film is a reminder that despite the competition to get ahead, being good is never a hindrance to achieving dreams. The Malaria caste system in which hunch backs are made servants show that any physical deformity should not be the yard stick to measuring people. It reflects how our society often overlooks a person âs good heart or intelligence, which is more beautiful than a symmetrical face and bloated ego. Brainâs obsession with his name (mistakenly writing it as âBrianâ on his jar) i s a representation of how we can be so concerned about labels and forget who we really are as individuals. Another that like good-natured Eva, we have our own âevil bonesâ and the potential to be evil, but it is up to us to rise beyond t hat and do good. The film is made for the young ones with lessons for the young once as well.

Multi-awarded Spanish writer and filmmaker Nacho Garcia Velilla discusses how f ilm can be used as medium for expression. Best known for his film, Fuera de carta (Chef's Special), Velilla explains how comedy can be used to portray personal conflicts in films. Chef's Special will be featured in this year's Pelicula, a Spanish film festival to be held at Gree nbelt 3 from October 1 to 12. Watch this video interview by INQUIRER.net multim edia reporter Anna Valmero.

By Anna Valmero INQUIRER.net THE thrill formula used in the film "Eagle Eye" is nothing new with its car cha ses, crushed metals, explosive weaponry and advance technology. Even the theme about the possibility of artificial intelligence learning more about us and in the end, predicting our courses of action lacked originality and appeal. The movie though serves as another reminder of how our society today has become big online content consumers as well as feeders of content to online networkin g sites. It is nothing new that algorithms can map human behavior from these uploaded co ntent as well as any form of online transactions ranging from clicks on website s to chat logs -- thus the proliferation of more and more social networking ser vices. Aside from tracking the clicks that you for every online session, website track ers can make available to the site admin your IP address, location and possibly , identity. These tools have helped site managers predict online behaviors and make users click more. Hackers who can find their way to snoop around private o nline data are another thing. The film fell short in showing patriotism, which it tries to depict. In any cas e, it just served as a reminder of the upcoming United States elections. In the film, an artificial intelligent machine that was built to secure the governmen t tried putting a new order in place. It makes one wonder up to what extent can we manage this liberty on the Internet so we donât end up harming ourselves. One thing for sure, whatever you do online leaves a trail of footprints. Beware , you are being watched.