My Cactus Heart: Fight for Love

          Is fate really happening? Are some things here on Earth bound to come true no matter how hard you try to avoid them? These are the questions I ask my curious self after watching the movie, "My Cactus Heart".

          It starred Maja Salvador (Sandy), Matteo Guidicelli (Carlo), and Xian Lim (Benedict). The rom-com story revolved around Sandy, who, straight from the beginning of the movie, was the one narrating her own fairy tale to her co-workers in an animation production company in which Benedict was the head. 

          It started when Sandy, then a typical high school student,  wrote something in her artwork that one day, she may find her soul mate. In a music store, she placed her work inside the whole of a guitar, hoping that the person who would buy the instrument would find it and be her "the one".

          However, due to the plight of her parent's relationship (Her dad left the family for another woman and whenever he sporadically visits them, the ending was just a fight between her parents), she resolved not to fall in love. 

           Here came Carlo. Living a hard up life, he was a singer in a band who earned additional income by working under the catering business of Sandy's Family. As the family prepared for one event, Carlo fell head over heels towards Sandy who entered the scene with her beautiful hair gracefully blown by the wind. Eventually in the story, Sandy was feeling the same way for Carlo yet she was in denial.

           In the office she's working in, boss Benedict was courting her and just to forget about her feelings on Carlo, she entertained the former. Seeing Sandy with Benedict breaked Carlo's heart. How could he compete with this rich man when he's just a singer of an unpopular band and was not yet established in his career? Benedict knew that Sandy loved another man and so, she freed her to be with that guy. 

          Carlo was so ecstatic when he received a call that his band was accepted to perform abroad. Sandy, devastated by the feeling of always being left behind by the people she cares for, confessed to Carlo a lie: she does not love him. Eventhough it was hard for Sandy to see Carlo leave the country for his music, she eventually accepted it, believing true love can happen.  She rushed to catch Carlo in his house before he leaves. Yet he was not there. Instead, what she saw was a broken guitar and inside it was the artwork she had made when she was still in highschool. In the end,  she fought for her love for Carlo since she knew, no matter what the circumstances were, he was her soul mate.
           The movie was funny, heartfelt, and incorporated with bits of life's realities. The cinematography was artistically simple yet brilliant. The actors were good. Thanks for the additional acting prowess of Rosanna Roces and Ricky Davao. Some actors weren't really given enough exposure to showcase their abilities like JM De Guzman. Sandy's gay brother in the movie was undeniably funny but needed to be more natural. Some scenes in the latter part of the film surprised me yet it didn't really affect the main characters' situation in the end. Overall, I liked the movie.

           So, does fate really occur? I guess, yes. Yes for those people who fight for it to happen. Yes for those who have the courage to fulfill their heart's desires and prevent personal conflicts from devouring them.  Yes for those who believe in the magic of love.

Movie Review: The Last Song

          If there’s a film that spoke of forgiveness and second chances, “The Last Song” would be one of the top contenders. It was deeply moving that it brought me to tears as the movie was about to finish.

         There were two instances in Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s (Miley Cyrus) life that made her resolve her conflict with her father Steve Miller (Greg Kinear): One was finding love in the arms of an independent, popular young man named Will (Liam Hemsworth)  and second was her discovery of her father being critically ill. These events made Ronnie to open her heart once more to music, the one thing she and her father passionately shared since she was young. As a kid,  she was a super talented piano player but as her parents divorced, she formed a deep grudge and hurt towards her father, completely forgetting her almost superior gift.

          Similar to the other movie adaptations of Nicholas Sparks’ novels, “The Last Song”, directed by Julie Anne Robinson, was surely heart-warming yet instilled with a tragedy that turned the story into a twist which would meet its dramatic, tear-jerking conclusion. Yes, tears. I guess it is not Nicolas Sparks if you have not experienced shedding some in the film’s duration. Maybe, there was a hint of predictability since one may generalize that the author’s stories are composed of dying major characters.

          I guess Miley Cyrus did a good job in her acting here but I cannot help but get distracted with her pouty lips that she was sporting throughout the film. I don’t know if it was just part of her character’s appearance or if it was just a natural thing. But of course, that didn’t bugged me. She was effective in the portrayal of her role in which I was focused into.

          I think the relationship between the daughter and father could have been highlighted more. Maybe a little bit of flashback on their past happy memories together would do. If I was exposed to their former closeness, I could have been more affected in the later part where the two realized that they only had a limited time left to be with each other. Aside from Miley, the other actors were commendable in their acting.

         The music was actually nice that I even downloaded some of the film’s tracks. The shots were just right– not too complex to blow your head away and not too plain that it would bore you, just perfect for a touching story which would push you too reflect after the credits were shown. And yes, I loved the set-up. There’s the cosy house facing the cool beach, the humungous aquatic zoo, the romantic gazebo surrounded by a grassy lake, and many more.  For those who have rocky relationships with their families or significant others, this film might just be the right wake-up call.

By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho

          Kung nais mo ng libro na makapagdadala sa iyo sa lugar kung saan ang pananampalataya at ang mga personal na mga pangarap ay tila umuugnay, ang nobelang “By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept” ni Paulo Coelho ang masasabi kong swak na maaaring basahin.

          Lahat tayo ay may mga indibidwal na mga suliranin at minsan, ang kalaban natin ay hindi ang ibang tao kundi mismo ang mga sarili natin. Wala tayong lakas na loob na abutin ang ating mga pangarap dahil natatakot tayo sa maaaring mangyari sa atin na wala rin namang kasiguraduhan. At minsan, ang pananampalataya na lang natin sa Maykapal ang siyang tangi nating lakas upang ipagpatuloy ang tila ‘di maabot-abot na mga pangarap. Ito na siguro ang leksyon na nakuha ko sa napakatalinghagang librong ito - - na bawat tao ay ipinagkalooban ng Maykapal ng pangarap at ang pag-abot nito ay hindi ganoon kadali. Maaaring maraming balakid at hirap ang kanyang mararanasan bago makamit ito.

          Makabuluhan ang librong ito lalung-lalo na sa panahon ngayon kung saan tila ang pananampalataya na lamang natin ang ating pinanghahawakan kapag may unos na daraan. Naging angkop ang panahon noong binasa ko ang nobelang ito dahil pista yaon ng Our Lady of Concepcion. Sa libro, ang magsing-irog ay gumunita rin sa kapistahang ito kung saan sila ay lumahok sa isang kakaiba at katangi-tanging espiritwal na karanasan.

          Siguro, marami tayo ang tulad ni Pilar, ang pangunahing tauhan na babae na siya ring nagsasalaysay sa libro. Kagaya niya, may mga inaasam tayo sa buhay na matagal na nating ipinapanalangin ngunit hindi natin makuha-kuha dahil nakatali pa rin tayo sa kung ano ang sa tingin natin na rasonable, praktikal, at hindi katakot-takot. Nang matagpuan niya ang kanyang kababata sa Madrid matapos ang labing-isang taon, naibalik muli sa kanya ang kanyang paniniwala sa Itaas. Natutunan niya ang muling magmahal at mangarap. Nais niyang samahan ang binata sa mga kabanalang ginagawa nang huli gaya ng pagpapagaling ng may sakit.

          O maaari ring pareho tayo sa lalaking sinisinta ni Pilar. Naging kakampi at kaakibay niya ang kanyang pananampalataya sa paghanap ng totoong pinapangarap ng kanyang puso – at iyon ay ang makapiling habambuhay ang dalagang matagal nang tinitibok ng kanyang puso, si Pilar. Ibinalik ng lalaki sa Maykapal ang regalong ipinagkaloob sa kanya, at alam niyang naintindihan ito ng Birheng Maria.

          Sa kwentong ito ni Coelho, naimulat ako sa mundo ng dalawang nagmamahalan na sinikap maabot ang kanilang daing sa langit kahit pa ang pag-aasam nito ang siya ring makapagdudulot ng pagbabago sa kanilang pag-iibigan.

          Simple at direkta ang mga salitang ginamit ni Coelho ngunit sa likod ng kanyang payak na pagsasalaysay ay nakatago ang mga malalalim na mga kahulugan na magpapahinto sa iyo upang makapag-isip-isip. May mga kaganapan na hindi niya agarang ipinresenta upang iwanan ang mambabasa ng kaunting pagninilay-nilay sa maaari pang mangyari. Gayunpaman, tila naisama ka rin ng manunulat sa mga paglalakbay na ginawa ng magkasintahan sa istorya – mula sa mga siyudad sa Espanya papunta sa bundok na tumutungo sa Pranse.

          Sa huli, aking napagtanto na nararapat lamang na isuko ko ang aking mga daing, problema, at mga pangarap sa Diyos at alam ko hindi niya ako pababayaan. Siyempre, patuloy pa rin nating abutin ang ating mga mithiin basta’t alam nating marangal ito at nakapagbibigay ligaya sa atin at sa ibang tao.

Film Review: No Other Woman

          Killing script. Relateable story. Hot actors. All-out drama. These are the ingredients comprising the movie, “No Other Woman”, making it click to the Filipino audience. Anne Curtis, needless to say, even promoted her movie by doing a chant with the madlang people in Showtime that goes like this at the end “….kiss me and don’t ever fall in love with me…No Other Woman (in a husky voice)…Showtiiime.” The whole studio just laughed after that. Following Curtis’ crazy antics, who wouldn’t?

            And how relateable can the film get.  As I was watching it in the big screen, I even heard a woman sitting behind us empathizing on the plight of Sharmaine (played by Cristine Reyes). Maybe because like the character, her husband or boyfriend is also having an affair with another woman. “Men like him (pointing to Derek Ramsay’s character, Ram) should really be crushed and trampled to death,” she bitterly said.

            I understood how he hated Derek’s role so much. With a mistress like Cara (played by Anne Curtis) persistently seducing your husband, you, the rightful wife, will absolutely fire up to the highest level. Curtis portrayed her role very well- stubborn, irritating, pushy, wicked. Her fearless eyes emanate greed and ambition the moment she looks at Cristine. Her pouty lips, sizzling voice, and suggestive body language were effectively executed to show how desperate she was to put Derek into her trap. I guess her acting prowess stood up from the rest of the actors in the film.

            I liked how Cristine did her job as the conservative housewife as her character diametrically oposed that of Anne. She wears fine Sunday dresses and she always carries a down-to-earth and timid facial expression. I loved how she pulls off her killer lines towards Anne. This added humor to very serious scenes.

            I also admire how Derek Ramsay showcased his mature acting ability in the film. It’s a good thing he proved he is not only equipped in taking off his shirt since he sure displayed the actor in him in this movie.

            “That’s impossible to happen in reality,” commented the woman at my back as the movie concluded. Bitter much? Maybe hers is not a happy ending. Maybe she has not yet forgiven the man who has hurt her. Or she could be right – that not all absurdities work out well in the end. But I guess, the film tells us this message: Forgiveness can change lives for the better if we only give it a try to courageously forgive.

Movie Review: Something Borrowed

                     Life is so full of choices.  It’s up to us what choice to make as long as we firmly believe in our hearts what we really want and what really makes us happy. This is the wisdom that the movie, “Something Borrowed”, has rendered me. Starring Kate Hudson (Darcy), Ginnifer Goodwin (Rachel), Collin Egglesfield (Dex), John Krasinski (Ethan),  and Steve Howey(Marcus), this romantic film directed by Luke Greenfield inspires us to stand for our dreams, preventing fear from hindering us to reach for our heart’s wishes.

                   Something Borrowed focused the story on Rachel and Darcy, who had been best of friends since they were still kids up to the time they embarked on their different careers. Both were heading on their thirties and Darcy, a carefree party girl, was about to marry Dex,  Rachel’s fellow student and buddy in law school. Rachel introduced him to Darcy way back their university days. Amidst all the wedding preparations Darcy was making for her big day, Rachel had casually confessed her liking to Dex during a conversation they both had in a bar. Dex took this seriously since Rachel had been the apple of his eye ever since he met her in campus. He was just hesitant to reveal his true feelings since he was not sure if Rachel liked him too. On the 4^th of July, nearing Darcy’s wedding, the two decided to spend the free day together. It was a time of reconciling their feelings for one another and a moment to contemplate on the choice they had to make before  everything else falls into regret. Darcy came over to Rachel’s apartment one day telling her she had cancelled her wedding in the last minute after realizing she’s in love with Marcus, a happy-go-lucky acquaintance. Surprisingly, she found Dex’s jacket on the floor. She was very devastated with the fact that all this time, her bestfriend and her soon-to-be hubby were having an affair. But for Rachel and Dex, truth had set them free and it was the start of a true, courageous love without any interferences and barriers.

                  One thing I admire about the movie was that although the story highlighted  the attitudes and behaviours of the  main characters, it also maximized the use of interesting supporting actors. They were given roles instrumental for the exciting growth of the story such that their unique personal traits added to the revelation of the true attributes of the major actors. Ethan, a childhood bestfriend of Rachel and Darcy, was the first one to smell that there was something fishy going on between Rachel and Dex. He was persistently motivating Rachel to say the truth to Darcy as soon as possible. It was later in the story that he confessed his long time crush towards Rachel. He was, however, accepting enough to understand that Rachel had fallen into another guy. Ethan was an epitome of a real friend- a shoulder to lean on and a person with open arms to support a friend’s aspirations.

                   The film’s pace was engaging. The scenes were simple yet reflected the mundane realities such as an ordinary sleepover with your bestfriend, or just a plain conversation with a buddy about life’s problems while walking in the park. The setting showed the typical busy yet vibrant life in the States’ urban zones. From time to time, the camera captured the breath-taking scenery of lofty buildings to reflect such feeling.  Despite the hustle of the city, I appreciated how the friends in the story took a little time out to enjoy the calm energy of the beach.

                  What I love most about the movie was that it climaxed right exactly where it was going to end. Though at times, you will feel impatient with Rachel and Dex not telling the truth early in the story or right in the middle of the flick, the plot made it a point to add twists that would squeeze not just the strong points but also the weak side of the said characters. This made me eager to really know how’s it going to conclude. And yes, Darcy was pretty frustrated and angry after seeing Dex’s jacket in her bestfriend’s apartment like you could imagine smoke puff out her nose and ears (really good acting, indeed!).