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Forcing the series Review by Vives Anunciacion Inquirer Libre August 26, 2008 (English version) Directed by Dave Filoni Lucasfilm Animation/ Warner Brothers There’s a different Anakin Skywalker here. He’s not as uptight like before. Maybe because it’s computer animation. At least there’s no Jar Jar Binks. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the first animated movie of the series and the first movie from Lucasfilm Animation – the studio that George Lucas established a few years ago which has a unit in Singapore. This is also the first time Yoda isn’t voiced by Frank Oz, and the first Star Wars not to use original music from John Williams. One can almost say this is outside the Star Wars universe if George Lucas hadn’t produced this movie. The good news is it’s a movie meant for kids. The bad news is that it may have one too many action pieces to make it appropriate for them. In this version of The Clone Wars, the Galactic Republic under Chancellor Palpatine is engaged in an all-out-war with t...

Road killer Rebyu ni Vives Anunciacion Review in Filipino Inquirer Libre August 26, 2008 Written and Directed by Paul WS Anderson Based on the movie Death Race 2000 by Roger Corman Kung banggaan nga sa EDSA mapapalingon ka, sa isa pa kayang pelikulang walang preno sa salpukan at pagpapasabog ng mga sasakyan? Turbocharged ang action sa Death Race na parang walang krisis sa gasolina. It is the year 2012 at bumagsak na ang ekonomiya ng lahat ng bansa pati na ang sa U.S. Malalaking korporasyon na ang nagpapatakbo ng mga utilities pati na mga kulungan. Isang ex-racecar driver si Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) na na-frame up at nakulong sa Terminal Island maximum security prison na mahigpit na pinatatakbo ni warden Claire Henessy (Joan Allen). Kapalit ng kalayaan, kailangang makipagkarera ni Ames against other prisoners sa isang karera kung saan unahan sa finish line na buhay. Dahil sa Death Race, may nakakabit na machine gun, missile launcher, armor plate at kung anu-ano pang armas ang mga sas...

Want no more Review by Vives Anunciacion Inquirer Libre August 19, 2008 Directed by Chris Carter Starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson In technical terms, it’s properly treated and smartly made (I didn’t say it has an intelligent script). David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are back in the roles that made them famous in The X Files: I Want to Believe . The good news is, just like the hit TV series this movie is based on, these two are the best parts of the show. This is supposedly a stand-alone story that non-fans of the series can reasonably understand, but I guess a good knowledge of the TV show helps in better appreciating this movie. Pwera rito, I Want to Believe is just an okay drama-thriller tungkol sa dalawang tao who have supposedly matured in their relationship, but start questioning their beliefs in each other when extraordinary challenges face them again. Six years after their last X Files adventure (the series ended in 2002) and ten years after the last movie ( Fight th...

Pixar's perfect Review by Vives Anunciacion Inquirer Libre August 13, 2008 Written and Directed by Andrew Stanton Pixar Animation / Walt Disney (Original review in mixed Filipino and English) Whatever the praise, I'm not sure if people will easily like WALL-E, especially if another hyperactive comedic adventure is expected like recent animated features from Hollywood. The last half of WALL-E is standard Disney family entertainment, which by itself is reason to see the movie – but it’s not the reason why it’s great. The first half of the movie is an absolute masterpiece. Like a Charlie Chaplin pantomime or a classic romance from the days of Cary Grant, WALL-E is an emotional, almost melancholic homage to many things cinema. And like its Japanese-studio counterparts who take anime seriously, Pixar takes storytelling back to its original, basic roots – visual storytelling. Make sure to watch this movie in cinemas; I don’t think small screens will do this justice. Half of the sh...