Musings: HP 7.2 aka Loving Snape

*Admittedly, I am not a fan of the series. I haven't read the books nor watched all the movies.

When I first heard that I'd be watching the last installment of Harry Potter for free, I actually did not know what to feel or make out of it. First, I am not a fan. I just thought I'd be unworthy of the privilege, knowing other hopeful fans would want to have my passes. It would also be a guilt-trip moment since the non fan (aka me) gets to watch it on the opening day while the others (aka hardcore fans) patiently wait in the queue to get the tickets. In the parlance of the HP world, let's just say they're wizards, and I, admittedly am a humble muggle. Well, that may be the case, but this time, the magic is in my hands! (insert evil laugh of Voldemort after saying Harry is dead. HEHEHE)


Second, I avoided screenings that had so much HP fans in them. Let's face it, some fans (not all, mind you) lose it and become rather hysterical and way too spazzy, in their own ways, which sometimes distract other moviegoers. And I for one, do like that.


But, off I went.


 First, because it was for a cause - for the benefit of the Jose Reyes Hospital in Manila and their patients. And, it would be shown in Trinoma, one of the few places that I really love watching movies at. Really, it was another excuse to be at the comfort of the movie theater.


Anyway, since I haven't really got a good grasp of the entire HP story, I simply cannot judge if the movie was faithful to the book. Or if it was a great adaptation. But one thing struck me and lingered within the corners of my slightly fried brains until now- Severus Snape redefined love.

Cheesy, you say. Indeed it is.


Sorry, dreamlovers out there but the character would want to eat your brains and rip your heart of cheesiness.  In simple terms, Snape, all along, who is seemingly the wicked and ruthless guy suspected to get in the way of our protagonist Harry Potter, is in fact, protecting the latter from harm (and all those evil stuffs) because he just can't get over his former flame, Lily, who is Harry's mother. He has that innate desire to take care of his ex lover's son. He has that conscious and constant effort to love whoever it is that he deems to be loved by the love of his life. (Love.Love.Love) That's how much he cares for her! That's how much he loves her! Even if she was not his. Even if  he did not have all of her. Even if he only had a part of her.

For a story that revolves around revenge (oh yes it is), the Harry Potter series redeems itself here. Redemption may not probably encompass the entire situation, but it somehow balances the act of the vendetta concept. Voldemort seeks vengeance; he seeks power. And Harry is also turning the tables but he's out there not just to avenge but to defend himself, his family, friends and loved ones, even Hogwarts as well. But Snape, among others, is a pivotal character that can be subject to considerable complexity and utter mystery.  His character is a representation of a man who's a victim of society's incurable disease to stereotype. He's officious, creepy-looking, therefore, he's a bad guy. He's the guy we've been watching all along, but cannot fully grasp nor comprehend. Countless judgement and ill thoughts surge our mind when we think of him but we do not know completely know his motivations, his darkest secrets. Yet, he does not defend himself from the nasty impression nor he denies anything and be the good guy. He just lets himself be himself. Be Snape, no matter what you think of him, at all odds. But, time will come, not may be at the present or in the near future -but in the right time- all things will fall into place and then we'd be enlightened. Only then can we understand and accept him.


It seems like I'm not the only one who loves Snape. You know how much people love him? Check this. Snape bested Ron Weasley to earn the fan-voted title of the greatest character ever in J.K. Rowling's fantasy series. Below is an interview.

Anyway, I empathize with the fans and not-so-fans of HP, it must have been really overwhelming for them to say goodbye to their beloved series.


And just for the record, I fell all the more in love with Alan Rickman (yes, he played Snape) and definitely in awe of J.K. Rowling's imagination.


For now, you tell me you really know how to love? Well, you haven't met Severus Snape, darling.


RT:
❒ Single ❒ Taken ✔ Waiting for someone who will love me as much as Severus Snape loved Lily Potter. #creep :))

Musings: Gran Torino (2008)

Gran Torino, USA (2008)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley, Ahney Her

Clint Eastwood makes our day again.

Certainly, he does in Gran Torino. Eastwood, who produced, directed and starred in this film about racial tension, family ties and most of all redemption, adds another wonderful touch to his already remarkable masterpieces such as Million Dollar Baby and Unforgiven.

Korean War veteran Walt Kawolski (Eastwood) is keeping a quite life at home, mostly having company with Daisy, his dog, and busying himself with the DIY’s household matters as he struggles to cope up with the recent death of his wife, the immigrant-packed Detroit neighborhood he lives in and the uneasiness of his relationship with his son and his bratty children.

He tends to build a life on all his own excluding the community he is in until Thao (Bee Vang), his teenage Mhong neighbor, is ordered by his cousin’s gang to steal Walt’s precious Gran Torino. It is by then that Walt is brought back by reality from his laments and guilt concerning his part during the Korean War.

Eastwood never failed to awe me in this movie both as an actor and as the director. From his horrendous expressions in the beginning to his wickedly comic exchange with his barber, with whom he exchanges vicious and explicit insults, one can definitely say that Eastwood’s next move is a must-watch. In inchoate hands the plot could have been raked in obvious familiarity and predictability. It could have fallen into the categories of crude comedy or over sentimentality if it hadn’t been for Eastwood’s portrayal. He takes in you in moments where you hold on to your seats, and he lets you see the fearlessness to express racial slurs, unappealing gestures and audacious insults right in front of your face, all in the Walt Kawolski’s way.

As the director, the man clearly knows what he is doing and how he’s going to have it in his way. His direction is lean, though the movie is quite extensive (remember, this is a Clint Eastwood movie), evidently taking the audience gradually to it exquisite conclusion. It is unhurried and yet not so slow to make you doze off or look away. He masterfully crafts it in a gorgeous piece which makes one delve in the scenario: from apparent racism, outright violence to remarkable revelations and redemption. He takes you in that fleeting moment through the cinematic masterpiece.

Notes:
BEST LINE: Walt asks a gang, “Ever notice you come across someone once in a while you shouldn’t f*** with? That’s me.” 

There are so many quotable quotes from this movie, mainly because of how Clint said them.

Musings: In The Mood for Love (2000)

In the Mood for Love, Hongkong, (2000)
Aka Fa Yeung Nin Wa
Directed by Wong Kar Wai
Cast: Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung


Wong Kar Wai's In the Mood for Love is a masterfully-crafted visual and emotional encounter which fuels our imagination to go beyond what is seen and to listen to such dramatic emotions even in the midst of the deafening silence. True to its title, it sets the mood for love- an intense feeling often distorted and misconstrued these days. It's unhurried, hence, it allows us to explore its alluring dimensions, through its main characters. The sense of uncertainty, fear, and desire floats in the air evidently. Yet even when it revolves around a strong emotion such as love, it never gives away the 'I Love Yous' often expected from romance flicks. But it surely does tug something within us- that often familiar feeling of falling in and out of love.


Not so vibrant as opposed to the other Wong Kar Wai films, it's nonetheless artistic and stylized. Classy production design, splendid cinematography, resonant musical score, among others. In the Mood for Love definitely serenades us with the rich and pervasive allegro and adagio of unrequited love.


It encapsulates such a thing as "it's complicated" in today's relationship status.

Cinemalaya 7 preps & CCP tour

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the Cultural Center of the Philippines aka CCP.

CCP is dubbed as the "premiere institution for culture and the arts, embodying the highest standards of excellence and the service responsive to the Filipino and the world."

Sweet, isn't it?

My penchant for the culture and the arts has started since I-honestly-don't-know-when. It's not a characteristic that I was born with nor it is a trait that I was coerced to accept. Like a fluid, it just naturally flows.

Fortunately, I've been having the privilege to attend events at the CCP since college, and some of them were free. Thanks to my former professor, and now friend, who handed us the passes for free! From concerts to plays, I made it sure that I was there to see them for myself. For me, there's always something fascinating about the arts. And last July 12, I paid the place a visit. (As if...)

*again, sorry for the blurry and grainy pictures

Cinemalaya and all of its lights. Preparations for the biggest and most-awaited independent film festival in the Philippines has started. People in the CCP are evidently looking forward to its July 14 opening.

Once there, I proceeded to the Manuel Conde Hall aka the Dream Theater for the Cinemalaya orientation. It's an intimate venue to have a film screening, with just a 100-seating capacity. There were probably around 50 of us in the room who were paying attention to a woman who was delving into the details of the most-awaited independent film festival in the country today. After what seem to be a brief introduction, a man named Mark, gave us a tour. Needless to say (and yet I'm saying it), I am thrilled.

No echo, oh oh oh. The CCP Little Theater is aka the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino named after  the Filipino playwright and dramatist, who had written Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas.  It has a seating capacity of 421 guests. While there, Mark emphasized that the theater had great room acoustics, and that sound waves would not reverberate in the room. Hence, no echo will be heard. Also, he said that an electric water pump has to be constantly turned on and maintained to make sure that water is kept out since the place was already below sea level. 

The Contrast. As opposed to the Little Theater, a person can hear an echo in this area backstage.

The Main Theater aka Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo facade.  

The Main theater can accommodate 1,823 guests. It has four levels: Orchestra, Boxes, Balcony I, and Balcony II.  Internationally-known plays like Peter Pan and Cats, among others, were also staged in this theater.

A splendid artwork displayed in the Silangan Hall. The place is not always open to the public. Oftentimes, only VIP and notable guests can  use the hall. But during Cinemalaya, the room is utilized.

A wonderful panoramic view of the Manila Bay and Harbour Square can be seen through the Silangan Hall windows.

Trivia: The three chandeliers represent the Philippines' Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao islands. The biggest one is located in the middle. Why? Because former First Lady Imelda Marcos was from the Visayas region. Now that's interesting.

Rakizta si Rizal. A stunning and symbolic mural adjacent to the Main theater illustrated Jose Rizal, the country's national hero, as the  role model for the youth today.

Now that CCP tour, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, would have cost me P280.00. 

But because we were coordinators for the upcoming Cinemalaya 7, it was given to us for free.

See you at CCP and I look forward to meet you at the Cinemalaya! :)

Eiga Sai: The 2011 Film Festival Challenge Update

Te hee!

Remember THIS? Well, I've got an update!

Let's add Eiga Sai to the list. Another film festival crossed out in the list of my must-attend activities.

What's Eiga Sai? It's the Japanese translation of film festival. Hence, technically, saying Eiga Sai film festival is redundant. The right way to say it is the Japanese Eiga Sai. 

The Eiga Sai promotional tarp, featuring a production still from the opening film Departures, displayed at the EDSA Shangri-La atrium.

The Your Friends movie poster.

Last July 7, after two meetings and one heavy lunch, I headed to The Shang to meet my high school pal and to watch the 4 p.m. screening of the Japanese movie, Your Friends. I was moved but honestly, I fell asleep when the film was about to end. It was somewhat dragging. Nevertheless, it was a tearjerker. Anybody who has a friend, and is a friend himself/herself would be delighted to see this simple story about childhood friendship. What's more cheesy about watching films like this is when you watch it with your very own childhood BFF. Puffy, indeed.

More eiga sai to go! 

Up next: Cinemalaya Film Festival

Soon: Silent Film Festival

See you!