What happens when you combine Cloverfield and Heroes? You'll get Chronicle, a jaw-dropping, exhilarating science-fiction and superhero film shot in found-footage style similar to Cloverfield.
Chronicle is about three teenagers who gained superhuman powers from their discovery. As days passes, their abilities develop and they slowly descend to the darkest place that not one of them has ever reached before.
The movie is a good, refreshing take on the superhero story, sci-fi, and found-footage films. It has a lot of surprises up its sleeve for the viewers. With the seemingly typical exposition in the beginning, it made me think that this will be a typical or not-so special movie. Characters are three male high school students. One of them is a shy and bullied loner named Andrew (Dane DeHaan). The other is his cousin, Matt (Alex Russell) who acts more like a family to Andrew than Andrew's father. The last one is the smart and athletic student named Steve (Michael B. Jordan, not the basketball player!) who recently made friends with the unpopular Andrew. It's almost like a formula for high school stories with laughs for the first act but as the film goes down to the third act, the tone gets more and more serious and dark.
One of the things I love in Chronicle is its characters especially Andrew. I actually felt sympathetic to him and even if he wreaks havoc in the streets of Seattle, I smile a little because he's finally rising to the occasion of being strong and defying the things that hinder him to get out of his shell. I find him a reflection of myself before and in the climax of the movie, he is some sort of my frustrated dream personified. Dane DeHaan gave Andrew some justice. He made the character equally sympathetic and also dark. The characters are written and acted so well that they are almost like real-life humans in the other side of the planet.
The visual effects here are also top-notched. Made with a budget of $ 15 million, the effects here made the film look like a blockbuster especially in the final act which is one of the most chaotic and thrilling sequences I've seen for 2012.
I also love its cinematography that it made me feel like I am actually experiencing the whole movie. I got absorbed in the flying sequence with clouds passing through the camera as the heroes spin around gleefully. Another awesome take for the found-footage style is its different points of view. The first is the view presented by Andrew's camera as he decided to film his life even before the discovery. Second is Casey's (Ashley Hinshaw) camera's point of view. She's a video blogger and a love interest for Matt by the way. In the third act, the film is presented by different cameras like the helicopter camera, police car cameras, CCTVs, and even the bystanders' cameras. This take defies the found-footage style of having only a single point of view.
And last is the story and script. Like I said, the concept is one unique and refreshing take on the superhero movies. It's smart and fast-paced yet it has human drama, comedy, and action. It's one of those entertaining film that I won't forget and I'm thinking of including it to my all-time favorite films list.
I saw this picture on 9Gag.com this morning and I can't help but to miss my childhood and feel lonely about those days. Those were really the days. Even if I did not have a generally good childhood, I enjoyed the times I go out of my house and see my friends. When we go out, we just sit and hang out under a tree near my house even at night and we just talk, make jokes, and laugh about them and we even go home at around midnight because of hanging out. Now, nothing's really funny when my friends make jokes online and through text messages.
I know that mobile phones and social networking sites are created and developed to maintain the connection between us and our friends. I know the developers are aiming for that but unfortunately, the mass took it to a different direction. Most of us, myself included, got addicted with these innovations and relied too much from them to maintain the connection and communication. Yeah, my friends don't really have the time and all and these things help us connect to each other but we took these to a different level, a different degree of usage. We went a bit overboard because now, when I go out of my house and into the streets, I only see few kids and I can't hear any laughter or footsteps from kids chasing each other around. I bet most of them got hooked with the social networking sites and mobile phones.
I'm not really blaming the developers for the effects because they created these innovations to help us. Mankind just got addicted to them and they are having a hard time to let go. It seems that because of the easy access to our friends to chatting and text messaging, we rely so hard on them. We have forgotten the essence of going outside and hanging out with them and just talk. We forgot about the meaning of our friends' actual presence and the true feeling of companionship and maybe what it's like to laugh out loud with all our friends' jokes and remembering all the funny and embarrassing memories.
It looks like most kids of today will never know and enjoy the meaning and feeling of going outside and enjoy the childhood games because they will be imprisoned in their own rooms or in their houses looking at their mobile phones and computers or laptops and just sit there to waste their childhood. If I'm a parent, I would be sad for my kids if they turned into this.
Hey. It's Zepp with his first post for 2012-- What the hell. Who am I kidding? I thought I can do well with my new year's resolution but I sucked. Not really doing well with concentration issues for I am still distracted with my studies. Maybe it's because I really lack the motivation and I'm trying to look for one. I only have two months to go before I leave college and I am hoping to leave in one piece but there are a lot of challenges and tasks to be done before I leave.
Two months may seem so far but in today's time, it's not. People just care less of the time and bam! It's already March or whatever month they were waiting for. Like what I said in one of my blog posts last year, today's life is on the fast pace.Well I say, screw that! I can create my own pace of life, my life. It's not that I don't care about whatever's going on and it's also not that I don't care about deadlines but sometimes, I don't have to drown myself with school works and other works that needs to be done. I also want to have the full control of my time and life.
That's also one of the things I'm considering when I look for a job. I want to write but I'd love to write in a comfortable environment that has less to no distractions. I'd like not to rush with things because I have my own pace. It looks like I'm a slacker with what I'm saying but most people can understand this, right? And maybe deep within themselves, they also want this.
I don't want to complicate my life any further. Living was simple before and now, man has made ways to make life more complicated and sophisticated. As the times go by, man's needs begin to get more complex and when it has reached too much complexity, they whine about the complexity and from there, they want another change that they think can help life to be easier but once again, the cycle starts over. Usually, people try to follow this current and in the end, some managed to hold on while others got washed up and left behind or maybe ended up somewhere else. Those who remain in the drift might end up like those who were "lost" but those who got out of the current sooner may end up creating their own lifestyle and be the captain of their own boat.
Me? I want to get lost in the waves and just start anew but I think that's a bit soon to say since I don't have any foundation yet to start one. *sigh* But if I really do get the chance to do this, I will take it and leave. By the way, I am still planning on fulfilling my new year's resolution even if it's already been 16 days since 2012 came. I will really fulfill my list. I just need to concentrate and not lose track of what I'm doing. Take a deep breath and go on.
2011, like I said in some social networking site, has been a very tumultuous year for me. A lot has happened. Obviously. The year can possibly be summarized through my blog posts here but there are still events I left out here because some are too big while some are too small to matter. Many memories will be treasured and many memories will be thrown away. I had quite a lot of experiences this year and most of these experiences changed and rocked the way I lived my life yet I still have so many things to go through and understand to grow up.
There are times I am very proud of what I've become. There were these times I've never felt happy of what I've done to myself and the things I have achieved this year though I achieved a little. There were also the times where I regret all my failures due to cowardice and of course, the awkwardness of the situation to me which most or maybe all of you may not understand. These were the times where I want to hit myself very hard in the head or bump my head so hard on the wall that I die instantly due to severe head trauma and hemorrhage. Yeah. I am that hard to myself.
I also became free this year and learned a lot of things from living away from home. I also met a lot of people and experienced the things I never experienced when living at home because of this newly-gained freedom. (It's not really new anymore.) I know I sounded like a child who just got out of its crib for the first time but I treasure this freedom because I know it will help me more in understanding the things I'll experience when I finally left the comforts of my house and my parents.
2011 is a very emotional year for me as evident with "Breaking Down" posts. I have never cried this many in the previous years and yeah, I cry! Okay! It may be too sensitive for me to cry but come on, I can still break down, you know.
Anyway, if you wish to look back on what has happened to my 2011, you can do so with the chronicles while I move on to my second part of this post which is my new year's resolution. I am taking this chance and time to write something long and meaningful to say goodbye and leave all the troubles of 2011 behind and wave hello to the New Year, to 2012. Maybe it'll take time for my first post for 2012 because I'll be focusing on my studies now. (Please let me focus...)
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION:
I have already mentioned the first one above which is to focus on my studies. I am literally shaken with what's happening to me in the academic part of my life. Looks like I had too much fun. It's really time to put my game face on.
To really concentrate on studying, I'll reduce my time on the Internet. Social networking sites have been a distraction to me. I always end up procrastinating on Facebook and rushing with my homework. I must be really really sad with my life right now knowing that I spend too much time on Facebook.
Think before I act. I know I don't want to think too much but of course, I have to think fast right now for we live in a world with a fast pace and acting without thinking can be reckless so I have to plan and consider my actions before doing them. Reckless actions cost a lot of things like time and money.
Think before I feel. Another reason for distraction is the emotions. They can really be a pain, a hindrance to my goals for the day, for the week, for the month, and maybe for the year. Sometimes, I don't want to feel for a while to get me going and growing.
Of course, I must consider the things I take or intake. I must start living healthy. Enough said.
I'll stay away frompeer pressure now. I'm not blaming anyone for anything. I just think it'll be nice if I can be on my own for now to focus on what I should be doing. It's time to get serious.
When opportunity knocks, take it. Of course, I don't have to take every opportunity that is presented. I have to choose these opportunities that will interest me and help me in every way to grow up and learn something from the chances.
Manage my time. Having a messy time management does not get me anywhere and it does not bode well at all. If I feel lazy for doing something, I need to kick myself in the ass and move it because time during the second semester is really moving frakking fast. If I procrastinate, everything will be pushed back and they all will become major setbacks. I need to slap myself to snap out of it.
I should learn how to let go. Reflecting on my past failures is helpful but not wallowing on them. I should just learn how to move on and forget because as a new day unfolds, there's a chance for redemption. Every day is a new clean slate to start over.
If I ever forgot something, I'll just add them here. If I fail to fulfill even one of these things, I need a psychological evaluation. It's been a very long post and once again, 2012 draws nigh in almost 23 or 24 hours so I say and greet in advance a happy new year to all.
Who never thought summer can be this epic and nostalgic at the same time? Preadolescent protagonists plus an adventure of their lives in their little town result to an action-packed yet sentimental summer movie for all in J.J. Abrams' Super 8.
Super 8 is about six friends making a zombie movie with a super-8 mm camera when a train derails and unleashes a dangerous presence in the town of Lillian, Ohio. The mystery is not about what this presence is but what it wants.
The movie contains a lot of homage to Steven Spielberg's movies back in the '80s and as a result, it has this feel of movies adults and children born from the early 90s like me used to watch during the weekends. Super 8 is very very nostalgic indeed to me that it reminded me some good parts of my childhood especially the theme of friendship which the movie tackles among other themes like young love and adventure. The young actors truly gave life and distinctive personalities to their respective characters and all of the six friends have on-screen chemistry which also helped evoke the nostalgia.
Larry Fong's cinematography helped make the action sequences more epic especially in the biggest set piece of the movie which is the train derailment sequence. This sequence, I consider it as one of the best action sequences of the year after Final Destination 5's bridge collapsing sequence. A J.J. Abrams film will not be complete without its score by Michael Giacchino who did an excellent job with the film score especially in the ending.
Director-writer J.J. Abrams deserves praise for balancing action, mystery, humor and unexpectedly, heart in the movie. I never thought I would actually cry during the film's ending thanks to an emotional performance by Joel Courtney and to Michael Giacchino's score.
I just saw Super 8 so I know I'm a little late for the review but I can't help but write one because it really is a summer blockbuster that not only contains visual thrills and a good story, it also contains humor, drama, and most importantly, nostalgia. A few days have passed since I watched it and still, the nostalgia evoked by the movie is still taking effect on me as what you read in my post before this.
RATING: 5/5
TRAILER:
(Trailer and images courtesy of YouTube and Google)
I watched a movie called Super 8 directed and written by J.J. Abrams this morning. It's a Sci-fi thriller film about a group of friends making a super-8 film (hence, the title) when a train derails and crashes, unleashing a dangerous creature in their town and a chain of mysterious disappearances begin after. Anyway, I'm not here to review the film. Not now, I guess.
After watching the film, nostalgia has been evoked into my mind. I admit that I cried during the ending of Super 8. I am that emotional but what can I do? Besides, the film is really effective. It made me look back to my childhood, even if I don't really have a good childhood in general. I suddenly miss the movies back then. I miss this adventure-like feel of childhood where my buddies and I used to make believe and stuff. We used to imagine things and create scenarios from movies and our minds. I totally enjoyed that part of childhood.
Now I'm all grown up... sort of. Well, I missed that part of my childhood. That part of childhood where imagination takes me anywhere I want to go and on Saturdays and Sundays, I can take an afternoon nap or play on my PlayStation or even do something weird with my friends. I miss the part of my childhood where my laughter is genuine. Those funny but priceless moments with my friends.
I just regret that I follow my parents' orders too much. I forgot to take on more adventures in my childhood because I was trying to make my parents happy. I'm not blaming them or anything.
It just sucks that I don't have this freedom in my childhood where I can explore things for myself. There are still a lot of things I haven't explored yet in my childhood. This is a cliche but I somehow want to go back and experience my childhood once again and maybe this time, set things right. I don't know. Or maybe to just try things I haven't done in my childhood so I can feel somehow contented with my childhood.
First of all, forgive me for doing this on my blog. I am still finding ways to say it personally... and I'm still looking for the time and guts to say it. But if you ever got the chance to read this, I would like to say sorry.
I'm sorry. These past few months and days, I've been thinking. Every time I'm with you, it's not the same as before. I'm not that happy when I'm with you. I don't feel so enlightened anymore when I'm with you. Instead, I can feel this heaviness inside me. Then, I just realized yesterday what's going on with us.
We're growing up and growing apart. We live in two different worlds now. It's not like in high school anymore where we can share the pain and comfort each other. It's not like that anymore. Our differences begin to manifest. We have different ideas and beliefs. When we contradict each other, you find ways to push what you know. You try to shove in into my head. At least, that's how I look at it. I can be open about things but when I know that someone's trying to push thoughts and things into my head too much, I stop and shut down.
Not only one of us has changed. Both of us changed and these changes have set us apart. I've grown so estranged to you. Our differences have made this gap between us and when we try to close the gaps, the air gets heavier on my side. Our friendship, like people say, is one-sided and complicated or complex.
I had enough of the complications in our friendship. When I want to be with my friends, I want to take things or life in general lightly. I don't want any burdens. When I seek comfort, I want to be enlightened and have more faith and options for myself. When you open your mouth, sometimes, what you say makes my problems more complicated and what's worse is that we both tend to think too much. I don't want to think too much with a friend. I seek company to help me, not to crush me.
I'm sorry if I offended you with all I said here. But that's how I feel right now. Maybe being best friends is not really best for us. We can be just good or close friends from here on out. I hope you understand and please consider what I feel as you read this.
