Reality bites hard.

Just finished watching this movie. A good eye-opener, this one is. Although, I think the issue that it focuses on isn’t exactly new to us, internet people.

The story is about Taylor Hillridge, an average high school girl who gets a laptop as a present for her birthday. This lead her to the world of internet and social networking sites. And as it goes, certain comments and posts started to ruin her reputation and consequently, her life. From one little status, to a few comments, and eventually to videos, the internet have made her perfectly normal life into a disaster. How will Taylor be able to put her life back together and save herself from all the cyberbullying?

Ugly. Fat. Gay. Stupid. Homo. Bitch. Slut. Dyke. Dumb. Whore. Fag. Fake. 

These words sound familiar? Do they ring a bell?

Insults. Names. Everyone of us have been called one of those and sometimes, we also say them to others as well. Bullying is one of teenager’s greatest problems. And much worse, is when it is done on the internet. People can blatantly say anything about you, lies or not. It may be anonymous or distinct. Whichever way, it subjects people into such degree of self-loathe. There’s this saying that goes: Sticks and stones may break my bones by words will never hurt me. Whoever said this must have been very lucky, seeing as to how words don’t affect that person. But in truth, words are just as much hurtful as physical assults, maybe even worse. What people say can go into your head, bury deep and forever haunt you down. They don’t go away easily. It’s sticks in your brain, slowly destroying you from within. And I think it has to stop. People should realize what they could do to people with their snide little comments. And in turn, people who are bullied must learn how to stand up to those people who think bullying is a great hobby. They should speak up and let others know how they feel. It’s the only way we could somehow have a better life. On the internet or in real life, I think all of us could use a safe place to stay.

Charlie Bartlett

Charlie Bartlett is an average teenager, who wants nothing more than to be liked by everyone in his high school. He has everything any kid would probably want in their lives. He’s rich, he has a very understanding mother who is very supportive of him and he is also very intelligent. But Charlie has one quirk. He has a certain passion in making trouble. At the beginning of the movie, he got kicked out of private school due to making fake driver’s licenses for his friends. And so his mother decided that putting him to a public school might help.

His first day in his new school didn’t go so well. He was bullied by this kid, Murphy, for looking like a weird kid in his suit and attaché case. But Charlie also met Susan Gardner, the principal’s daughter. Charlie, still not letting go of his dream to be everyone’s friend, thought of turning things around. He befriended Murphy and made him his business partner. Together, they supplied students with psychological medications coming from different psychiatrists who Charlie has consulted due to his “problems”. These problems were just made up with symptoms Charlie has read from various psychology and psychiatric books. He wanted to help these kids who felt alone and left out. To Charlie, this is his best shot to popularity. Everything worked well and Charlie was suddenly loved by everyone in his new school. He also got close with Susan and eventually, they became couples. 

And so the movie goes as Charlie and Susan got to know more about each other. They realized that they had the same family problems. Charlie’s father was sent to prison and as a result, his mother got into a deep depressive state. As for Susan, her mother had an affair and left. Her father, in turn, became an alcoholic. Same problem, different scenario: One parent who left them and another with serious psychological problem. This brought Charlie and Susan even closer to each other.

But then problems arise when one of Charlie “clients”, Kip, went and got himself overdosed with drugs that Charlie prescribed. This made Charlie end his entrepreneurship and also made him realize his wrongs. So he decided to make things right and talked Kip out of his depression and suicidal tendencies. He made Kip understand that life, no matter how fucked up, is still worth living. It is then that Charlie found out about the play Kip was writing. His new goal was to make Kip’s play happen and so began another wacky journey, as Charlie help Kip convince the principal to agree with the production of the play.

This movie is a good watch as it mixed comedy and reality very well. There is an ample amount of funny moment and yet there are some deeper and more serious issues behind the hilarious characters. We see that each of them have troubles in their families, and we also see how they try to cope with these things. Like many other movies, it teaches us that there are more things in life than being popular. That wanting to be liked by everyone is alright, depending on how we use that attention. This movie also tells us that no matter whom we are - popular, rich, jock, emo, weird, nerd, or whatever - there are problems that we tend to hide from everyone, problems that we cannot bear and have no choice but to keep it inside because of fear.  I think this movie would appeal well, not only to Psychology students, but to everyone as it really tackles much about how each person deal with their issues in life. It’s a quirky, light and easy watch but very much substantial. I give it a 9/10.

Remember Me

“You once told me, our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch. Is that true for everybody, or is it just poetic bullshit?” 

The Guy:

Tyler Hawkins

Second child of the rich Charles Hawkins. His parents are divorced. During his brother’s 22nd birthday, his brother committed suicide. His younger sister is a talented child with the gift for the arts. But she constantly craves for her father’s love and attention. Tyler doesn’t have a good relationship with his father for he hates how his father ignores his younger sister, which he is very close with. Another reason is because Tyler blames his father for the death of his brother. Tyler is auditing classes at NYU and works in a bookstore. He constantly get into fights and is always drunk or smoking. His life has no direction. 

The Girl:

Ally Craig

She is an only child. At 11 years old, she witnessed how her mother was murdered by two robbers at a train station. After the incident, Ally never set foot to the subway and take trains. She lived with his dad, an overprotective detective, and together, they face life without her mother.  She is a very diligent student at NYU and she seizes life to the fullest.

The Story:

When Tyler got busted by Ally’s father during one of the fights he got into, Aiden, Tyler’s friend and roommate, had given him a bet. Aiden dares Tyler into meeting and having a relationship with Ally. Tyler agreed and in time, realized that it’s not just a bet anymore. The two damaged souls came together and shared their hardships and problems in life. They learn more about each other and became closer. The story goes as Tyler tries to fix his family and put things back together. But then things turned around when Ally found out about the bet Aiden and Tyler made. She leaves Tyler and felt betrayed. But then a shocking and tragic twist happened just when things in Tyler’s family seem to be finally getting better. A twist that would leave a permanent mark and would change all their lives forever.

My Opinion:

I am not a big fan of Robert Pattinson since I watched the crappy Twilight movie, so I have always been skipping this movie in my watch list. But then I was bored and out of movies to watch so I chose this. Halfway through the movie, I realized how much I was missing by not picking this film. The story line is great and the characters had their own distinct attributes. Remember Me is one of the many movies that would make you spill you tears out. It talks about family, life, forgiveness, tragedies and love. Maybe one of the reasons why I find this a good movie is because I can relate to one of the lead. I have conflicts with my own father and just like Tyler, I don’t have enough patience with him. The beginning seems a bit draggy and slow but then when you finally get to the middle, things get exciting and you would want to know what would happen next. Truly, this movie is an inspiring and well made one. It will make us realize the importance of family and having the courage to fight for what is right.

A peak on women’s life.

Imagine how it would feel to be a woman working in mine field full of men. A batallion of men who waste their time and energy harassing their female co-workers. Can you go on with your life if every single day, men see you as a whore, a toy or a slut? How can you stay strong when even your family cannot believe a word you say? How could you hold on when your children hates you for your guts and believe what other people say about you? What would you do when your friends cannot stand up for you because they are too afraid of what these men can do to get even? Would you stand there, be quiet and let it all go? Or would you be brave enough to stand up for what you know is right and true?

To be a girl and watch a movie like North country, is just too depressing. It is based on a true story about a group of women fighting for their rights. It shows us how unfair it was for women before certain laws could protect them. It will tell us that being a woman is not easy like what most men think. This movie will open our eyes and make us realize how much women can suffer in the hands of men. 

The good thing is that, even if the movie shows the bad side of men, it also guarantees us that there are still select few who are otherwise. That some men can lower their pride and help women who are abused and taken for granted. It does not tell us that all men are evil. The movie teaches us that not all people are the same. Some will go their way just to help when they know that it’s the right thing to do.

One of the most depressing movies I have ever seen.

When we try to look at the world in the eyes of a child, what would we see? Will it be the same, or will it be different? Do we believe in what other people say other than what we know for ourselves?

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is a movie about how a boy, of age 8, find a secret friendship with another child, who is a prisoner of war that time. In a time where people hate Jews just for their beliefs, a friendship blossoms between the two opposing sides. It is a movie that shows us how wrongly people judge everyone else just for the mistake of one. It tells us that in a war, there isn’t always the good and the bad. Sometimes, there are the innocent ones, who are stuck in between, involved in something that they do not have any idea of. This movie brought tears to my eyes as I see how people can unflinchingly hurt and kill others without mercy. I just realized how much wrongness is in our world. It tells us that we should be like Bruno, the child, and try to see past the things outside and know more of what’s within before jumping into all sorts of conclusions. It will remind us that everyone deserves another chance in life, that we all have the freedom and right to live. This movie teaches us that in the end, no one wins the war. Every single person will have to endure pain and suffering regardless of the side they take. It tells us how a strange friendship enlightens two children about the harsh truths in life.

Lies, deceit and dishonesty.

How many lives can a single lie destroy? How can one fabricated tale change the life of your friends, family and your own?

This movie is about Briony, a young girl who made a great deal of mistake that turn many lives around. She greatly misinterpret the things she saw out her window by the fountain one sunny day, where her sister Cecilia and Robbie, her sister’s lover, was involved. This was worsened as Briony read an explicit letter Robbie gave Cecilia. This childish mistake, dabbled with Briony’s jealousy of her sister, led to a false accusation of Robbie, the lover of Briony’s sister, as a rapist and a sex maniac. This one event changed everyone’s life. Robbie was sent to the war as alternative for imprisonment. Cecilia, Briony’s sister, knew the truth and patiently awaits for Robbie’s return and hoping that they would be together in the end, never forgiving her sister for the lie that caused them great trouble.

Joe Wright’s Atonement is a tragic tale of dishonesty, love and reconciliation. It tells us how snooping into other people’s business can lead to a very disastrous fate. It will show us how jealousy can destroy lives and alter them forever. It will prove that guilt will forever haunt us down until we finally admit the truth. The story ends with a revelation and a twist that would make us realize how important honesty is, that sometimes, it’s too late to make up for the mistakes we have made. It will teach us that doing the right thing, no matter how painful and hard, is much better than telling a lie.

I am me, that’s what I am.

Gay. Nerd. Ginger. Lesbian. Dork. Ugly. Homo. Geek.

These are just a few names that some people throw at others who are quite different. These are labels that they make to identify each and every one of us. But are they really important? Do they really say everything about the person in you? Is that all there is to us?

That’s What I Am is a story of a 12-year old boy who will learn about an important truth about life. He will understand that no matter what people say or how people appear to be, there’s a lot more going inside. That being different does not have to be a big deal. This movie tells us that no matter how people see us, we still have the choice to be the person that we want to be. It tells us that whatever prejudice the society have against us, we should be able to ignore them and do what we want, for it is our lives to live. It’s the confidence and courage of standing up for ourselves and showing people that we can do things that matter most. It is about accepting who we are and being proud without being afraid of the judgment people we give. It’s about we fight all the bullies in our life to find the freedom to live fully and wholeheartedly.  

Forever isn’t exactly as good as it sounds.

This is the last movie I watched as of now. I thought it was just like other movies which feature immortal characters but no, it’s different. Tuck Everlasting is about a family who has a secret. They are not vampires, or werewolves or witches who dabbles with black magic. But one thing is sure, they don’t die. It was because of the water from a spring in the middle of the forest. Their secret was safe and intact until Winnie, the only daughter of a wealthy couple who own the woods, wanders in the forest and found Jesse, the youngest son of the Tucks. As cliché as most story goes, the two fell in love. But circumstances weren’t easy as Winnie’s family looked for her and accused the Tucks for kidnapping. Jesse and Winnie were forced to separate as the Tucks escape their death penalty,which could reveal their secret to the whole town.

The story tells us that we could live our lives without fearing that it might end. It will teach us that forever is not really as fun as we think it would be, that major consequences would be faced. It tells us about loss, love and letting go. We can move on and live our life as we want to, free from the control of others. It shows us that death is merely an inescapable part of one’s life. 

On finding and losing, then learning.

Discover a place that will never leave you and a friendship that will change you forever.

At first, thought that I was about to watch another childish Disney fairy tale. But I was in for a surprise as I slowly understand how this movie went. I seriously thought that it was for children who have wild and rich imagination, but then I realized that this movie is far deeper than I expected. It may be just about children’s freedom of mind but for the more mature audience, we could learn a lot from this film. A friendship that was so strong that an ordinary child, who’s been neglected by his family and was bullied at school, is saved and was taught to see life in a different light. I haven’t read the book, but I can say that the movie itself has its appeal, in one way or another. It’s a good thing that I watched it alone because I cried a hell lot in the end. Though the main characters are merely preteens, the whole story pointed out that love and friendship will get us through life, even in the most tragic events. These thing not only help us, it stays with us, give us strength and let us grow and learn more about life.

The Beast and The Child at Heart

I went to the mall with my good friend James a while ago to watch a movie. Originally, we only planned to watch Beastly since we both enjoyed the book (we’re both book geeks, btw). But then boredom got the best of us so we also decided to watch Arthur. So here are my own reviews of the movies:

BEASTLY

If you guys have read the book, you would know that this is a modern retelling of the classic tale, Beauty And The Beast. As much as any movie adaptation of books go, the events are (of course) altered, if not, deleted. I was kind of disappointed with it at first since I was expecting some scenes to be present in the movie but then they were changed. But since a part of me is still a girl somehow, I enjoyed the cheesy and mushy scenes they put in the movie. Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens have great chemistry, which pretty much helped made the movie more romantic. I just think that this movie does not have enough budget because they cut off the parts which I think needs more resources. But all in all, I’ll give it a 7/10 rating.

ARTHUR

The main story of this movie is about a very childish billionaire who was forced by his mother to marry a woman in order to keep his wealth. But then, as all complications in movies go, this billionaire fell in love with an ordinary tour guide/aspiring author. Since Russell Brand is the main character in the movie, it is certainly a funny one. It has a childish but somehow sensible kind of humor. It’s quite a laugh actually. But more than the comedy, the movie also focuses on how love can make someone grow up and realize the seriousness of living the real life. It was a worthwhile watch and I’ll give a 9/10 rating.  

British films.

I have been watching a few British movies, and so far, I quite enjoyed them. Well, of course other than the famous Harry Potter novels, these films are quite different in terms of their story lines. Maybe that’s the reason why I was so interested with them. Here are a few that I really liked:

PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER

This is a novel-based movie. It is about a boy who have been gifted with a unique talent. He is given a very advanced and superb olfactory sense and with that came his greatest yet darkest quest to make the best perfume the world has yet to smell. But of course, with what price does that cost? This story is a bit sensitive for young ones out there. But surely, a good one.

NEVER LET ME GO

This one is another movie adaptation of the novel of the same title by Kazuo Ishiguro. It may seem to be a story about friendship, love and jealousy at first, but as the movie goes, it will reveal something that would focus more about their life and existence. This movie made me think of how we will end up as medical technology advances and on how much we take life for granted.

BRIGHT STAR

And this last movie is about the last few years in the life of the famous romantic poet, John Keats. It was about his romantic life with Fanny Brawne, which was cut short due to his untimely death. It is a tragic yet beautiful story about how social class and physical distance cannot suppress the power of love.