The Bad, The Good, and the Feathery

During the weekend I was able to catch some good stuff and some of the really awful stuff on television, dvd and on the silver screen.

First, the bad thing

Local entertainment shows are scrapping the bottom when during their one hour show one of their main features is the emotional stress and scandal caused by an actress chain smoking!

TV presentors throwing impartiality to the wind and declaring congressmen who share their interests as heroes.

And now the good stuff

I saw a re-run of Miami Vice on cable. This particular episode had Phil Collins playing a con-man who found himself involved in an investigation of the Miami Vice against,what else?, a cocaine dealer. The story also has a young Kyra Sedgewick as the girl/pusher of the cocaine dealer.

Adventures of Miami Vice was a big hit during the 1980s. The pastel coloured and espadrilled shoed duo Crockett and Tubbs entertained us with drugs, prostitutions, crooks and cops from the pastel and neon laden land of Miami Florida. It was a good series and not only was the story focused on the pastel duo but from time to time the story fanned out the members of the vice squad and their informers. Sure today people will not be caught dead in pastel colored clothes and espadrilles, do they still make espadrilles. But watching the show is a pleasant experience. The music ain't that bad. The clothes though. Well the espadrilles though still looked nice.

I was also able to view the 1st season of Numb3rs, this is not a typo and it is read as Numbers. Detective and crime fighter shows have been a staple of TV. Whatever TV generation you might belong to you will always remember the detective and crime tv shows. Everybody remembers Charlie's Angels. But do you remember any of the following shows:

Kojak
Rockford Files
Columbo
Streets of San Francisco
Policewoman
The Equalizer
Remmington Steele
Scarecrow and Mrs King
Hart to Hart
Vegas
Murder She Wrote

If you do then You have been actively watching tv shows since the 1970s. Shows come and ago. In the genre of crime/detective shows the flavour of the moment seems forensic investigation and profiling. There are as many CSI shows as there are reality shows, ok not that many but enough even to satiate the interest of forensic and information junkies.

Then this series comes along. Numb3rs stars Rob Morrow (who hit gold with another series entitled Northern Exposure as the whining Dr Joel Fleischman in the quirky but endearing town of Cicily, Alaska), David Krumholtz, Judd Hirsh (Taxi, a classic sitcom with Danny Devito and ), Michael Nichols and others. When I initially viewed the first few minutes of the first episode it would seem like it was copycat of CSI. Then the show took a different turn. Morrow plays FBI agent Eppes who taps the expertise of his brother (Krumholtz) to solve crimes. Incidentally Krumholtz or Charlie Eppes, a university professor, is a math genius. It is an interesting show in that it shows the use of mathematical and scientific principles in solving crime. The show is also interesting because it develops each character as it goes along.

Along came Valiant, twice!

I was also able to catch the cartoon film Valiant, twice a day before my dental operation with a friendly "fiend"(who has to learn to temper his movie tastes with that of his girlfriend, so that they can both watch the film together) and again two days after my operation with my nephews. The latest cartoon to hit Manila, a pidgeons versus Falcons during World War II flick. The film was co-produced by Ealing Studio, the outfit responsible for a lot of Alec Guiness comedies, like Kind Hearts and Coronets and the original (and definitely more funny) Ladykillers. Its nice to see Ealing alive and kicking.

Unfortunately, the movie itself was barely alive and kicking. It was your regular fare of cartoon that provided nothing new. The visuals though were stunning. My nephews and I watched it at one of the cinemas at the Promenade in Greenhills. The nice thing about that cinema was they had special cushions for children. However, the screen seem to close to the chairs and the best view was to be at the back, especially if you have kids.

The tooth and video

I will be gone for a few days. Appointment with a dentist. I will probably rest in the house for a few days.

Anyway, here is a picture of my nephew playing GBA. Reminds me of the time people played Game & Watch.

It also reminds me of a lot of game movies like Tron and WarGames.

Want to watch Dr Mabuse?

I just learned this today from one of the e-groups. The Goethe-Institut is sponsoring a Fritz Lang silent film festival.

Here are the details -

Film screenings
August 4, 11, 18, 25, 2005
Venue: SM Megamall ( at 8:00 pm)
Free Admission
Tel: + 63 2 722 4671 to 73
Email: goethepr@pldtdsl.net

Schedule of Film screenings:

August 4 - METROPOLIS, music by Rubber Inc
August 11 - SPIES, music by The Sammy Asuncion Group
August 18 - DR. MABUSE, THE GAMBLER, music by Tots Tolentino and Buhay
August 25 - DESTINY, music by Cynthia Alexander

Dr Mabuse should be interesting.

Check out the bio of Fritz Lang. His most famous movies are Metropolis and M,with Peter Lorre as serial killer who preys on children abd is brought to task by the police and criminal undergound of Berlin.

As I said I only learned about it today. It pays to monitor the arts & life section of the sunday paper. So what is left to see is Dr Mabuse and Destiny. I wonder if it will a commercial run at the UP film center.

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Steam Boy & Howl's Moving Castle

I was able to watch these two movies a couple of weeks ago. My sister bought these DVDs from her suki at Metrowalk.

Maybe this is the legacy of Voltes V. It has left me an aficionado for manga and anime. Maybe Marcos too since he banned the show. As in all things though ultimately everything depended one me, it was my decision. I willed to be an aficionado. Yes aficionado and not otaku, since I have not yet reached that level culture hermitage. You will not see battle aura emanate from when I cannot watch Cooking Master Boy or Voltes V, not that much anyway.

Anyway Otaku is not really a term of endearment. Especially since the term was first applied to captured serial killer Tsutomu Miyazaki, a loner obsessed with hentai (pornographic anime and manga) and who acted out his fantasies on his victims.

Steam Boy (2004)

The moview is a perfect example of a steampunk story. It is set sometime before the 1900s. A family of scientists have devised and capture the world's most potent steam power. The discovery though does not come without its price and aside from an accident events are set in motion that will divide the family. In the sidelines are different syndicates and government agencies bent on monopolising the use of the device.

This dystopian alternate reality is beautifully drawn and the characterization is superb. One of the strengths of this type of Japanese animation is the complexities of the characters and their relationship. Fascinating story, but not as engaging or effective as the director and co-writer's, Katsuhiro Ôtomo, former work Akira (1988).

I cannot pin-point it but there seems to be something missing from the ending of the story.

Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle or Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)

The movie is a love story between a cursed 18 year old girl and magician against the backdrop of war. The fantasy world uses a mixture of magic and science in order to achieve its aims. Our lover's story is supported by an odd assortment of beings witches, wizardresses, a hopping but helpful scarecrow, a boy who disguises himself as an old man and of course the moving castle. Howl of course is the magician. The story progresses smoothly and focuses, correctly, on the two leaving only hints and sub-plots about the other characters. The movie keeps you engaged until the last frame. I enjoyed this anime. There was ony one thing that un-nerved me a little bit the name of one of the witches, Sarimun. It was awfully to close to Saruman. Then again there just might be something with the translation.

Of the two animes I believe my favourite would be Howl's Moving Castle for additional reviews go here. The story was good, the animation although not as beautiful as steamboy was pretty, and the ending seemed right and complete. Not many loose-ends and unfinished business.

Hayao Miyzaki the other great anime's done by Miyazaki include but not limited to the following:

Spirited Away or Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) (2001)
Princess Mononoke or Mononoke-hime (1997)
Kiki's Delivery Service or Majo no takkyûbin (1989)
My Neighbor Totoro or Tonari no Totoro (1988)
Castle in the Sky or Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta (1986)

For me, my favourite Miyazaki movie would be My Neighbor Totoro. Go figure.

An afternoon with the Oompa Loompas

Last Sunday, we ,my nephews and I, spent the afternoon with the Oompa Loompas. OF course we were seated comfortably on the cinema chairs while the Oompa Loompas were there safely on the silver screen. No crossing over for them.

The cinema was filled with kids that day. Tickets were priced a little bit cheaper by thirty pesos. This meant no reserved seats, free seating.

So we joined the long queue to the entrance of Gateway Cinema 5.

My nephew was telling me repeatedly, from the house to the cinema house, that it was to be a funny movie. I guess he was able to figure this out after watching the trailer. Well, my nephew did seem to enjoy the movie. Although his younger brother closed his eyes during the preview. I do not know if they found it funny but I think they enjoyed and got some lessons from it. Roald Dahl's tale is entertaining and at the same time educational. Wonka's miniscule Oompah Loompahs are not only industrial espionage proof (they never leave the factory, hence no contact with Wonka's competitors) but they are also a very cheap workforce. They do though tend to be a little bit mischevious at times especially at ill-mannered children.

Tim Burton and crew (his usual cast actors Johhny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee and a host of British actors) are back re-interpreting for a new audience Roald Dahl's story of a boy, a golden ticket, a zany factory and its eccentric owner Willie Wonka. Burton and Roald Dahl's story seems to be a perfect match. The latest adaptation of Dahl's children book is magnificently faithful to the book and I enjoyed it.

Still, I do have a soft spot for the first adaptation that had the slightly different title of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This movie adaptation featured Gene Wilder as the eccentric owner of the chocolate factory. Actually I do not remember much of the movie, only bits and parts.

What I do remember are the songs. The songs like Candy Man and Pure Imagination interpreted by Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and the song of the Oompah Loompahs, which goes something like this:

"Oompa loompa doompety doo
I've got a perfect puzzle for you
Oompa loompa doompety dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me"

Though not faithful to the text these songs became ingrained in my mind. So whenever I remember the Ooompa Loompa and their song I find myself singing the Oompa Loompa song.

I wonder there if there wery really Oompa Loompa maybe they could visit our leaders and the different members of both houses of Congress. :)

Here are some links:

Oompa Loompa in Wikipedia

Oompa Loompa Proletariat by Shaun Richman

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Movie Song Lyrics

Original songs from the Roald Dahl' Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Deep Roy the actor who played the Oompa Loompas.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Directed by Tim Burton
Cast: Johhny Depp, Freddie Highmare, Helena Bonham Carter, christopher Lee and others.

Adapted from....

Whenever I see this in a movie I usually give up all hope that the movie will be faithful to the original story. Story writing unlike movie making is a solitary work, except in certain cases like the Brothers Grimm and in comic books when it becomes a collaborative effort, unlike a movie, which is a product of the ensemble, a group effort.

There are times of course when a movie adaptation works. This is clearly seen in David Lean's movie "Bridge on the River Kwai". The movie was adapted from the novel of Pierre Boulle. Lean and his cohorts struggles and achieved to bring to film the external and internal conflicts that affect men in time of war under the shadow of a bridge being constructed on the river Kwai. At the end the piece de resistance of the movie was the blowing up of the bridge, a event that never happened in the novel. Still though Boulle was not distraught he even said he would have wanted to blow the bridge up anyway. The movie went on to critical aclaim and has become a classic in the triumph of collaborative efforts. Boulle thrived on later wrote the story of Planet of the Apes.

Then there are times when the movie ensembles try to be faithful but ends up shooting its own foot. The usual comment regarding this type of movie is that it was dragging, boring and lacks panache.

Then there are of course adaptations that somehow manage to scupper the movie on its own. Changes are made, stories are altered, and characters are added because it will do good, according to the producers and other people from the movie outfit. Falling into the trap of marketability and political correctness. And then there is the danger of yes men. Succesful film producers after a degree of success become surrounded by assistants and adivisers who seem to only see and say things in the affirmative.

Here are some movies adapted from books and stories that were emasculated by deviations from the original story:

Animal Farm
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Howard the Duck
Constantine

In contrast some succesful movie adaptations aside from The Bridge on the River Kwai:

The Godfather
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Felllowship of the Rings
Sin City
Dangerous Liasons
Amadeus

Film making like writing the tale is a form of storytelling. Of course the method of developing a story in a short story and a novel is difference and the number of people in creation is geometrically great. However, it makes no sense to depart from the storyline if it mucks up the story. Even if you place special effects and thrilling endings it will do nothing if through your changes the story gets mangled.

I think it pays not to look down on your audience.