Archive for the 'Movie Review' Category

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25th May 2009

Race the Sun

Race the Sun is a movie focused on high school student who are competing on race using customize solar powered car.  It all started when a new enthusiastic science teacher arrived at their school and motivated their student to do the project.  It is actually a science project to promote solar energy.

There was once a science fair conducted near their school and the science teacher required the student to go to attend the science fair.  One of the students was amazed on the display which showcase to solar power.  This solar powered display is owned by certain student who, by that time was being sponsored by one the companies who are producing photovoltaic.

This group of student is not actually one of those in the honor role, instead, they are one of those low ranking student in the campus.  But after the science teacher introduces the solar energy to the class and through photovoltaic system, the teacher described how the energy should travel from the photovoltaics to the batteries and to power the car.

In short, these students decided to pursue the project to build a solar powered car.  At first, they could not assemble the car and their teacher noticed this problem.  Their science teacher talked to the shop teacher to help the student, but the shop teacher could not agree because of the behavior these students are showing. But later on, the shop teacher agreed to help the students to build the car.  Luckily the captain (student) came up with a good design to be built and he got the idea on the cockroach.

To sum it up, Race The Sun is a good movie to be watched.  Movie writers and producers should be doing such movie like this one to promote not only the use of solar energy but also to showcase how mother earth should be treated.

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23rd Feb 2009

The 300 Spartans

The “300″ is one of my favorite movies.  I am truly amazed of the literary terms used in the movie which triggers a movie goer to feel exactly the feelings of being outnumbered in war.  The motivation King Leonidas had inflected to his warriors made them brave enough to die in the battle.

The love of country and freedom could really make everyone to sacrifice even their lives just to achieve the freedom evry one is dreaming for.  The passion displayed in the movie is realy one true emotion that could make everyone to be carried away. In the movie, the Spartan law “retreat no surrender” is a one true factor which shows Spartan as unique Spartans.

I don’t remeber anymore how many time I’ve watch this movie “300″ and every time I watch it, the feeling is atill the same.  it looks like I am watching agin for the firt time.  Truly this is one great movie every should watch.

The values included in the movie is remarkable too.  For this, I would like to recommend this movie to be watched especially by the students and let them digest the values presented in it.  This will sure develop the value of love of country and brotherhood among students.

I should be watching this again in the future.

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29th Dec 2008

Primary Colors - A Presidential Election Movie

I should have watched this movie “Primary Colors” before the US Presidential election.  I found this movie a good one in terms of finding ways on how to destroy your opponent in the election.  Well, this is just another fact which shows politics is a dirty game.

I am not telling every politician has a dirt on his or her face, but since they will be the leaders of the society, it is just right to know all the things around and within them so as to determine their efficiency on managing the country’s economy and others. This enters the dirty part where competing parties will dig each others background.  The information then will be published depending on the other party’s decision.

“Primary Colors” shows such things in which they really dig such information about the other party including proposals which may have been interpreted beyond what is meant to be.  In the movie, a chapter of the proposed agenda of the other party was dug and drive into the other way around which causes the a Presidential candidate to suffer heart attack.

Just like in the real elections, there are also deaths and people die in such a brutal manner which is not really given emphasis on this movie.  Only two persons had died in the movie and both coming from both parties.

During the US presidential election, I am only being updated through reading online news and watching local TV news.  I am not in the US, so I really did not feel the excitement which was showed in the movie “Primary Colors.”

The part that strick me most was when the President (John Travolta) and his campaign manager went to Pickkers house to discuss what will be the information that will come out.  in addition, I choose this picture because most the pictures in Google is linked to another website and it is not presented as picture.

To sum it up, this is a good movie and I would like to recommend that future and young poilitcians should watch this movie to have better view of what lies ahead of them while they pursue their career as future leaders of the society.

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02nd Dec 2008

Wall-E – a garbage collector robot

Wall-E is another cartoon movie produced by Walt Disney Production that attracted my attention.  Thought this is a cartoon movie, the thoughts it represents in connection with the Global Climate Change has shown concern. This motivates me to write review of this movie.

But first, let give you an overview of this cartoon movie that attracts my attention.  This movie review does not in anyway a promotional move to promote any of the things within the movie and the movie itself.  This is a pure perception of the author who wrote this movie review.

This movie is presented by robots and computers which have great connections with the human activities.  Just like today, people are so engrossed with the ease computers offer.  Not to mention that computer and the internet is making its ways to become the number one source of work and income.  And, in the following days or years to come, there might be chances that people will experience some of the things presented in this movie.

For this, I am highly recommending this Walt Disney movie to be watched not only by children, but also by adults especially those who show concern to environment and to the world as whole.  This will be another inspiration that we, as humans and the first and last to suffer when this lovely earth turned red could make favorable moves to change or even divert the current situation.

Overview of the Movie:

Wall-E is garbage collector solar powered and computerized robot designed to clean the surroundings.  In the advertisement shown in the movie, this is a kind of robot that when set to work, there’s no stopping it.  The robot will collect and dump all the garbage that it collects and pressing it out to produce a square blocks that could be used as a walling or any thing that needs a wall.

The world in this movie is so advanced that the advancements lead for the leaders to create a life sustaining shuttle designed to stay out in the space even for a long time and it can even preserve the lives of the people within.  The space shuttle is equipped with all the things a human being needs through out his life.

Before the earth will be totally destructed, the space shuttle was launched with selected individual within.  This is almost the same with the idea presented in Noah’s Arc in the bible.  Just like in the book, the space shuttle remains in the space for around 700 years.  There had been lots of turn overs of Captianship to man the shuttle within those years.

From time to time, since the space shuttle itself is fully automated, a robot was designed to return back to earth to monitor the present condition.  The last news the previous and all the successive captains of the shuttle, receive that life is not yet sustainable in the earth, thus, they need not to go back yet.
Until one day, a robot again was sent to the earth to check if there are already changes about life sustenance.  Within that day, the Wall-E robot, since it is also a computerized and solar energy powered, is still collecting garbage and the earth is full of garbage that time.

The wall-e robot is program to clean only and not to destroy any of the living things including plants.  One the day as the wall-e is piling up the pressed garbage notice a small herb. On that day also, a fully computerized with sophisticated power robot name Eve was sent to the earth to search for facts if the earth has now the ability to sustain life.  The two robots met and the story begins.

Watch it out too, you will surely be entertained too while watching this movie.

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27th Nov 2008

City of Embers

This is not one of those new movies today.  I just don’t know when this movie was launched.  This movie “City of Embers” deals about a city laid under ground but the people living there don’t know they are a thousand miles away from the surface.

City of Embers

After the earth people had reached all the advancement in the world of technology which leads them to destruction, scientists, architects and engineers meet and decided to create a community far below the ground to preserve the human race from total destruction.

The group of professionals built a city which could not in any way will be disturbed by the present situation the earth is experiencing.  A self serving city with the most sophisticated power supply is created where the community could live for a long time to preserve the human race from the destruction.

The Symbol

A box was created from special materials where the key for the humans to find the surface again is kept.  This box was so designed that no one can open it until it reaches the time set for the self-powered box to open.  The group of professional agreed to set the box to open after 200 years.

Inside the box, a fiber glass key with a symbol inscribed to it suggests that it could only be used for a unique door to unlock the portal going to the upper world.  The key is accompanied by one page step by step instructions on what to be to reach the surface.

The City

The people living underground don’t know what the sun looks like. There is only one star that they are seeing up above.  No one knows that is a small opening from the upper world.  Each and everyone knew all about earth and its components and other things.  The City is powered by a sophisticated power supply designed to stand alone as long as the equipments are maintained in order.  This power plant is being maintained over the years.

The community doesn’t have a day and a day light.  The City is lit with lots of bulbs which are kept live 24/7.  If there is a bulb that needs to be replaced, the in-charge man will just get a replacement from the million bulbs kept in the storage room.

As time passes, it became a tradition that every young man and woman who reaches the age to work in the city is given the opportunity to get the job by just having to pick a work listed in a box. This is a draw lots in which it is a tradition accompanied by a celebration where the young workers are being watched while they pick their job.

After getting the job, they will then report to the in-charge man of the particular job and from then on, they will start learning and educating themselves with the help the person in-charge of the job to be replaced by them when he or she retires later.

The very long time that passes within the City of Embers had brought changes that the tradition to turn over the key box had been forgotten.  Luckily, the box was kept by a young lady who is very much curious of the upper world.

When the box reached its time to open, the community started to experience some power failure too, in which, according to the older people in the City, it is their first time to experience such power failure.  Thought the power failure is not that long, people are sensing that their city will be in a total dark soon if the problem could not be located and fixed.

This triggered the young lady to explore further and accidentally, with the help of her boy friend, the two take the risk to find out what is meant by the symbol inscribe in the fiber glass key.

The boy is working as pipe fitter in the plant.  After seeing the symbol inscribe in the key, he remembered that he once seen the symbol and he remembered it is within his area of work within the power plant. And, the two started to unlock the door going through the outside world.

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13th Nov 2008

The Ant Bully

“THE ANT BULLY” is cartoon movie which features a young boy who happen to be a weakling but turned out to be a strong boy after his encounter with the Ants.  Obviously, this is a fiction movie which captured my attention and come up to write some review of this movie.  You see, I am watching the movie with my daughter and I am explaining too part of the movies which I think needs some elaboration.

Character and Characterization:

The main character is Lucas and he is usually called by mother “peanut” which he thinks is no longer appropriate for him.  Lucas, because he is small and a bit lousy in his physical appearance happen to be bullied by his boys at his age especially the big boy who always give emphasis that “he is big and peanut is small.”

The second character, of course, will be the ants which thought him to be strong due to some life threatening challenges he encountered while at the colony.  ZOC, the wizard of the colony who happen to hate him at first but became one his good friend and partner later.  Hova, the girlfriend Zoc has helped him to become an ant really while he stays at the colony.

The insects exterminator is the villain in the movie.  The man, according to him had made contract with Lucas father to spray insecticide on the grasses to terminate most especially the ants living there.  Since Lucas is stll young and don’t know about contracts, the man manages to let Lucas sign in in behalf of his father.  Father and mother had left for vacation that day, so by some convincing sales talk of the exterminator, Lucas signed the contract.

Overview of the story:

The story started in a scene where Lucas is being held by the big boy, carrying him above the ground and suddenly the big boy let him go which made him slammed his face on the ground.  The big boy and the other kids laugh at him and again he heard the term “I am big and you are small.”

While facing the ground, Lucas happen to attract his attention the Ants who are carrying food for the next season.  While the boys are leaving, Lucas grabbed the hose ans sprayed the ant colony while stating words ” I am big and you are small.”  While doing this, suddenly a man appeared at his back, talking about how he flooded also his first colony.  The ant, as being attack by huge downpour of water coming for the faucet don’t now how to run for their lives.

Meanwhile, Zoc, under the ground is trying to dig the last ingredient for his potion.  According to him, this poton will be the only solution to stop the human Lucas on destroying the colony.  Zoc was successful and finishing the potion and this night, they decided to have a visit to Lucas’ house for the final revenge.

The cut the story short, using the potion, Lucas shrink into a very small human with as small as the ant size.  He was carried by the ants to the colony to be judged on what he did on them.  The ants called Lucas as the “destroyer”.

At the ants’ court room, the queen ant, upon hearing such explanation from Lucas himself decided to let Lucas live with them to learn something about ants.  Luckily, Hova volunteered to teach Lucas of the ants ways of life.

Recommendation:

I might spend another hour if I will narrate all the events through writing.  lol  This is only a review of the movie and if you feel is intersting for you ids too, then I suggest you get a copy of the movie.  This is actually for male kids, but since I have only one child, I want her to learn some of the boys ways too.  I am hghly recommending this movie to be watched not only by male kida but also for female kids.

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01st Nov 2008

Madagascar is suppose to be shipped to Africa

I have a copy of the first Madagascar. I admit the movie is entertaining not that I watched it with my daughter and answering all her question regarding the thing she doesn’t understand and I decided to watch it again to review some of the events in the movie.

Well. I don’t the copy of the next Madagascar yet but the “ship to Africa” scene was suppose to be done if not the penguins did something to control the ship.  The penguins are the responsible why they went to Madagascar instead of Africa.

The story started when Marty the zebra dreamed of going to the wild.  Marty had seen a realization of this dream when he happen to speak with the notorious penguin which are planning to escape from the zoo.

On the night of Marty’s birthday celebration, he escape the zoo and went to find out way going to the wild.  Melman the giraffe, after a while,  found out the Marty is no longer at his place.  Melman the giraffe, Gloria the hippopotamus and Alex the lion become worried on the idea that their friend zebra might have been lost on the way to the wild.

With out a second thought the three decided to search Marty.  They road a train and yes, I almost forgot that on their search people were amazed why their are animal scattered in the city.  Just an ad lib: my daughter laugh in the scene were Alex was kicked by an old lady when they reach the train station.

Well, I will buy the dvd copy of this movie again.  Cartoon movies are good movies to watch one in while and always if you have with your kids watching movies like this.  I also started to browse online movie review sites to have an overview of this aother “Madagascar” movie.

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08th Oct 2008

Cheaper By The Dozen

“Cheaper By The Dozen” has caught my attention because of the effects this movie has to families and children within the family.  This is also the reason why I decided to write a review of this movie to express my opinion on some of the scene that caught my fiber sense.

“Cheaper By The Dozen” is movie that shows the life a a family composed of a father, a mother and 12 children.

The father is a professor in one of the Universities in the country, an old soccer player and he had been called by a colleague to coach one of he famous soccer team in the country.  At present, father is also a couch of the soccer team of the college.

The mother is a well verse writer whose writing career stopped when their family grows more.  For this, the mother decided to stay at home to attend to her siblings needs.

The parents met during their college days when the father was still a soccer player and mother was one of the members of the cheering squad of the team.  Both become attracted and decided to get married.  As their family grew, they transferred to a placed called Midland.  The place is totally far from the city.  Thus, the children grew of some behavior tide to that place.

The oldest among the siblings is a girl. At around 20 years old, she was already living with her future husband, who is presently building a career in the advertising industry as a model.  The setting of the relation ship of the two, thought this is already acceptable to some society like the American society, this is not totally acceptable to some other countries like some people in the Asian countries.

The second to the youngest is a boy at around 7 years old ans he is some kind of nerd.  He prefer to live and play alone together with his pet frog.  Because of his aloofness to his brother and sisters he often speaks with his pet frog. The youngest are twin boys who are very much attached to their father because they were both brought to the soccer ground while their father is couching the soccer team.

While the family is living peacefully at Midland, a big break arrive to father and mother.  Father received a call from a colleague that he will be coaching the soccer team which father was a member during his college life.  This break is actually father was dreaming, not to mention that the salary offer will be more than enough to what they will be needing financially.

Mother received also a call from her previous employment.  Mother continued writing while at home and she had written a book entitled “Cheaper By The Dozen” in which this is also the title of the movie.  The book had reach her previous employment and was impressed of the book.

Father and mother discussed the scenario and they come up that they will move to another place where father is closer to his soccer coaching job.  The children reacted vehemently, nobody wants to leave the place.  Of course, children really don’t like the idea of going to another place where all of them will stranger.  Not to mention that that they don’t have friend in that place, is another idea that hampers them move to the place.

To cut it short, the family move to New York and their colorful family life story begins.

Arriving at their new home, everyone was mazed on the size of the house.  Father announced that everybody could now choose their room.  None among the brother and sisters to want the second to the youngest and the nerd of the family to be a partner in the room and so, the poor boy look for another room.  Luckily he found out the attic an d he brought with him his favorite pet, the frog.

After a week or 2, mother received a letter from her previous employment for the promotion of her new book entitled “Cheaper By The Dozen.”  Again, after the deliberation, in agreement to mother, father decided to pursue her career too.  Father knew that this is also one of the mother’s  dream, and so he insisted mother to do the same.

Mother is required to stay for a week.  Father assured mother that he could handle all the house chores especially preparing the kid to go to school while he is also doing his coaching job.

At the first day mother was out, everyone appear to be more energstic which father find it hard to pacify and attend all the need of the kids.  And so, he called the help of the oldest sister to help him in taking care of the young ones.

Father even come up to bring all the soccer team at home so as to do the job while attending to the needs of the children.

Meanwhile, mother called and said to father that she needs to stay for another week to continue more on the promotionof the book.  Though mother sensed their is something fishy going on in the house that day, she ignored it because she really needs to promote her book.

Mother could no longer stand being apart form her kids and so she decided to bring home ger work.  Her employee arranged that an interview will be done at home while observing the situation of being a happy family.  Mother went home with a crew to arranged a set up in the house.

Mother arrived and the children show they really missed mother.  Busy of her fast approaching interview in the house, she did not have the chance to listen to the grievances of her chidren.  Thus, the crew, while capturing the quarreling scenario in were frustrated.  They thought this is not the picture of a hapy family.

That night, the mother learned that her boy is out of his room and later discovered that he really was no longer in the house.  Mother instructed everyone to search thier missing brother.  The oldest sister was also calle dto help finding their brother.

The oldest sister approached father and said: “He once mentioned his favorite place which was Midland.”  Since only the train is the only possible transportation to be utilized by the boy, father hurriedly went to the train station.  Liuckily, he found out his son was seating in one of the vacant seats adn he aproached the boy.

The cried in frustration and shaid to his father, “you did not fulfill your promise”.  Father once promised that in thier new home there will be ahapy family.  Father sat beside the boy and they rpoceed to Midland. Upon aproaching their house at Midland, father and son geard some noises.  As they looked back, they found out that the whole family followed also to Midland.

Father decided to leave his work after the final game.  The team won on that event.

The family went home.  Father hasd manage to get his teaching job at Midland University again.  Fortunately, mother’s book become also one of the best selling books.  One again, they become a happy family.

The END

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27th Sep 2008

Review of Rapunzel

Rapunzel is a Disney cartoon movie that talks about a lady who has been abducted and hailed by a witch since she was a baby.  The young lady, who was a daughter of a King doesn’t know anything about her past life, so all she knows now is that her mistress was the only person who took care of her since she was a baby.

This Disney cartoon movie is created sole to inspire and to motivate every young female at the age of 6 – 10 of age to become good if not great painters in the future.

Title: Rapunzel
Written by: Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser
Produced by: Jesyca C. Durchin and Jennifer Twiner McCarron
Directed by: Owen Hurley

Character:
Protagonist: Rapunzel – a lady and a princess with long blond hair.
Antagonists: Garfield – a witch and Rapunzel’s mistress who owned the magic palace.

Supporting Characters:
Prince Stefan – future husband of Rapunzel and son of King Fredrick
King Fredrick - father of Prince Eric
King Whilhelm – father of Rapunzel
Penelope – a talking young female dragon and friend of Rapunzel
Hoby – a not-too-old male rabbit and friend of Rapunzel
Huego – a powerful dragon and father of Penelope
Otto – a cat-like animal and pet of Garfield.

Summary:
The story begins with a little girl at the age of 7 with her painting mentor.  Both were supposed to start painting, but the young girl doesn’t have any idea what to paint is hesitant to strike her brush on the canvas.

Her mentor insisted to paint whatever comes in her mind, but as young girl who doesn’t know anything about the real world really doesn’t know what to be painted.

The mentor equipped with such skills to motivate and stimulate the inner sense as the child to come beside her.  And the story begins……..

The palace owned by Garfield where Rapunzel was kept was concealed by magic.  This made the palace unknown to the nearby village and within the jurisdiction of the kingdom of King Fredrick.

One day, Rapunzel was painting together with her friend Penelope and Hoby.  Hoby the rabbit, with his ears served as an antenna detected that Garfield is arriving aboard her horse.  Rapunzel immediately took off her apron and hurriedly proceed to the door to greet her mistress.

Garfield, while walking the hallway noticed that Rapunzel was painting again.  She reminded Rapunzel that it is her duty to serve her. According the Garfield, she was served and taken care of ever since she was a child and she is required to repay it by doing all the household chores and keeping the house and proper order.  This means fixing all the things in the house that needs fixing.

After some traditional discussions with her mistress, Rapunzel went to the kitchen to prepare a tea for her mistress.  While preparing, she was distracted by her two friends hoby and Penelope which made all dishes to flew, but because of their abrupt reaction, they were able to catch all the things including the cookies.

Unknowingly, the spoon was hanged in one of the nose of an animal statue.  The three were amazed that it was a door-lock and the spoon made it open a secret underground door.

After serving the tea to her mistress upstairs, Rapunzel silently went back to the kitchen to the secret passage.  Unknowingly, the secret passage was a way though the village within the kingdom.  Rapunzel strolled the village until she arrive at a place where a two young girls and a boy.  The children were brother and sister of Prince Stefan.

While the young children were picking apples for their horse, the one young lady happen to fall on one of the traps.  Rapunzel seeing the seeing the incident immediate approached the girls and extended her help.

While helping the girl by pulling up from the hole, she unbalanced herself which made her supposed to fall, but Prince Stefan was already at her back and immediately the Prince grabbed her at the waist.

After a few minutes, the children went home, but the two, Rapunzel and Prince Stefan were left and had the chance to talk. Rapunzel had given her name to the Prince, but before the Prince had the chance to introduce himself, Rapunzel insisted him not to which made the prince become more curious about the lady.

Rapunzel insisted that they go to the village to ask someone who knew who made the magic paintbrush she is holding.  With the assistance of the Prince, they went through the smith of the village.  Luckily, the smith knew who made the paintbrush.  It was his brother.  The smith lamented that he could not brought her to him because they were long separated because of the war between the King Fredrick and King Whilhelm.

The two return to the place.  Prince Stefan still doesn’t have the chance to introduce himself to Rapunzel, invited her in a ball.  Rapunzel doesn’t know that the ball will be the celebration of Prince Stefan’s 18th birthday.

In the meantime at the magic palace, in the tower where Rapunzel was kept Hoby detected that Garfield is returning.  The two didn’t know what to do, but later agreed that Penelope will be the one to go and pass through the painting of the village to look for Rapunzel.

While the Prince Stefan and Rapunzel were talking about the ball, Penelope appeared.  Stefan, seeing a dragon, reacted vehemently to protect Rapunzel, but Rapunzel, stated that this dragon is her friend.

Penelope begged Rapunzel to return to the tower immediately, because if not, Huego, Penelope’s father, will be punished.  Luckily, with the magic paintbrush at hand, Rapunzel drew a tower which served as a portal for them to return immediately at the tower.

Before Garfield had reached the tower, the Rapunzel and Penelope were already there.  Garfield through the help of her pet Otto learned that Rapunzel had gone to the village and according to Otto, Rapunzel had met Price Stefan.  Garfield wanted to know it personally and so she ask Rapunzel the name of the person whom she’d met.  But since Rapunzel really do not know the name of Prince Stefan said, “I don’t know.”

While Rapunzel, Penelope and Hoby were choosing what dress Rapunzel will wear in the ball, Otto sneaked in the tower.  Otto learned about the ball and immediately reported to her mistress Garfield.

Garfield, remembering what had been done in the past about her acquaintance with the two Kings especially that of King Whilhelm, rage and anger flamed once again her sense.  She had been revenging to King Whilhem ever since.

Immediately, Garfiled called Huego.  Huego carried Garfield on his back and flew up the tower.  She entered the tower and before she extracted another magic, she angrily instructed the Penelope and Hoby to go out.

Once again, Garfield asked Rapunzel about the name of the man whom she’d met, but Rapunzel really don’t know the name of Prince Stefan.  In fact, she doesn’t even that Stefan is a Prince.

With rage and anger, using her magic Garfield cut Rapunzel’s long blonde hair and inflicted one of her powerful magic to imprison Rapunzel in the tower forever.  The magic imposed was to imprison a person with a “lying heart.”

Garfield till full of rage and anger turned her magic to Huego because according to the mistress, he did not discipline Penelope.  The mistress, using again her magic tide Huego with a magic cable connected to tower.

While on her way to the ball, Penelope tried speak with her father explaining everything about what had been done and the help Rapunzel extended to them.  Penelope begged her father to help Rapunzel because she was not lying even before and that she has a clean conscience.

This made Huego to determine that Rapunzel could escape the prison tower and she instructed Penelope to tell Rapunzel about it.  After a few minutes, Rapunzel had escaped and thank Huego for his help, but Huego insisted the he should be the one thanking Rapunzel.

At the ball, Garfield arrived and she let Stefan see her presence.  Wearing the long blonde hair that had been cut as her disguise, Prince Stefan, at first, thought that she is Rapunzel.  Garfield ran to the labyrinth and Stefan followed.

At the labyrinth, Garfield will have the chance to destroy Price Stefan.  But Price Stefan is a well-trained warrior, and so, he had managed not to be caught by of Garfield attacks.

Meanwhile, Penelope had managed to fly up the magic wall with Rapunzel and Hoby at her back.  They are rushing to the ball to stop the possible magical attacks of Garfield.

King Whilhelm had decided and planned an attack to King Fredrick’s kingdom.  According to him, this is now the time to settle their long dispute.  King Whilhelm wanted to revenge her daughter that had been kidnapped by the other King.  Both Kings didn’t know that Garfield was the one responsible from the kidnapping.  This was revealed when all of them meet at the ball.

During the confrontation, Rapunzel arrived and learned that she was kidnapped for Garfield to avenge her frustrations with King Whlhelm.

Rapunzel had managed to catch Garfield using the magic painted prison tower.

The dispute of the two Kings was settled after and Price Stefan and Rapunzel got married.

Ending:
The ending was given emphasis on the paintings which served as the key to solve all the problems.  It is emphasized that Rapunzel is painting through her heart.  The mentor emphasized to her young student that in order for her to paint good drawings, she had to paint also from her heart.

Recommendation:
I would like to recommend that every painter should review this “Rapunzel” cartoon movie.  It should not only be watched by young female aspiring to become good painters but also to all the young children so that they will also be motivated to paint not only by a stroke of the paintbrush but to strike it with all their hearts.

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15th Sep 2008

Home Of The Fireflies

Gino Lipata

“Home of the Fireflies” is the title of the movie my daughter and I watched just recently. It is a story of a young boy named Nathan in his early adolescent period and his younger little sister Setsiko with age around 4 to 6 years old. The story setting was taken in some place in Japan during the Japanese-American war. Nathan’s and Setsiko’s father is a Naval soldier while their mother is plain housewife.

The story is a cartoon film (not animated). I bought the digital video disc (dvd) copy of the cartoon movie for my daughter. When we started to watch it, I found out that I need to watch it also to guide my child for some incomprehensible scenes for my child’s young point of understanding. Though the movie is really created for the young children like my daughter, I become interested because of the thought the story is trying to convey to its viewer.

The language used n the movie is foreign and daughter does not know what are being talked about in the movie so, I am ask all the time what is being told by the characters as we are both watching.

While watching, at the same time I am also narrating to my daughter what is being talked about based on the situation she is seeing. There are times my daughter pity Setsiko because of her situation. I noticed she is very affected by the situation of Setsiko. I noticed my daughter’s eye become even misty once in a while. This is the reason why I decided to write a narrative review of the movie.

It was almost dark then while the Japanese soldiers were conducting evacuation services to the resident because the news that their will be war coming on and their place will be affected because of its proximity to the Japanese Naval base. Nathan and Setsiko’s mother was preparing for the things to be brought in the evacuation and some preserved foods in a container was buried for future use when multiple American airplanes loaded with bombs arrive and started to drop multiple bombs in the area.

After an hour or so, the community is already burning and mother helped Nathan to tie Setsiko on his back. On a rushing move Nathan started to walk out of the house and few step away from the house where mother was still preparing for her self, a missile struck the house. Nathan did not see mother as he continues to proceed to the truck that will suppose to bring them to a safe evacuation place.

People started to panic due to lots of bombs were dropping nearby. Nathan looked for some place to hide but could not find one, but to he continues to run and run until they arrive at the nearby evacuation tunnel.

In the morning, no house or building is left standing. All were burnt down into ashes including their house. The only left for them was the evacuation center. Nathan and his sister Setsiko were helped a by Lady working as a social worker in the evacuation center. They were invited to their house.

The lady informed Nathan that his mother was in the infirmary and the lady wants him to visit her mother. Upon his arrival in the infirmary, Nathan saw his mother covered by bandages. A Soldier informed him that she severely burned. The next morning when he visited again, his other’s body is now being inhabited by maggots, falling down the floor. His mother is dead. On that day, there were lots of people died and the soldiers have to burn all the bodies. Nathan did not tell to Setsiko that mother was gone.

At the house, there were lots of times in the last three days that the siren whales, a warning that all the people, young and old should go to the evacuation tunnel because there will be again another air raid from the American forces. During these rushing times to reach the tunnel, Setsiko was being carried at the back of Nathan.

Three day after the first air bombing, Nathan returned to their bunt house. He dug those things including the preserved food that had been dug by him and her mother before the first air attack. He dug at the hole around 10 kilos of rice, dried strawberry some dresses, money 7,000 yen and a can of candy having different flavor. He remembered the candy as one of his sister Setsiko favorites. He then brought all these things to the house.

Since there were lacking supply of food especially rice, the mother of the lady who helped them suggested that their mother’s clothes should be sold and the money will be used to buy rice. When the mother got the clothes, Setsiko maybe sensed that her mother’s clothes would be sold, so she cried and cried until Nathan could no longer stand the pain Setsiko is undergoing walked away for a couple steps, but still hearing Setsiko’s whaling.

In the afternoon, the mother of the house where live now, has now the rice and it was divided by two, for them and the Lady’s family. Since the two were still young and doesn’t know yet how to undergo such happenings, they just lie in there designated room. Until one day, when the rice is no longer enough for everybody, the mother started to mention some things that are not favorable for both of them and as Nathan’s young mind he conceived they need to leave the house and live for their own. As the mother states, Nathan is old enough to shoulder their living condition.

Nathan thought of the evacuation tunnel, carried Setsiko tied up on his back while explaining the things that Setsiko doesn’t really care to know. She is still young for such undertakings, but Nathan did his best to explain to her sister their situation. He said to Setsiko, “the tunnel is not being used for a couple weeks now and nobody owns it. We can stay here as long as we want.” On her young mind, Setsiko nodded in agreement to his brother and started to ask where will be the dining room, her room and she emphasized where should be the toilet. Nathan answered with out hesitation pointing some of the part and said, this is our living room, over there will be our room, here will be the kitchen and the toilet could be any where.”

Nathan brought all their things to the tunnel. They went to a store and bought a coal stove and a comb which was being used by Setsiko then while he was paying the bills. They went home (the tunnel) and Nathan immediately prepared to cook the rice. “Wow, a rice cake, ” Setsiko’s termed it as Nathan is serving it on a piece of flat wood that serves as their table. They ate and enjoyed their food with out even thinking what will happen next.

Both chatted a bit after eating while lying at the nearby stream. Nathan noticed there were too many mosquitoes already so he insisted they go now to their room inside the mosquito net. It was so dark then. Nathan notices a firefly outside the tunnel. To eliminate Setsiko’s tantrum, she ask her to go outside to catch some of the fireflies. Nathan thought these fireflies could be used as their lights in the tunnel so he started to catch as many fireflies as he can and told Setsiko to do the same. They caught lots of it and put inside the mosquito net. Setsiko was very amazed then, she even thought the fireflies as stars in the sky.

Early the next morning, Nathan left Setisko in the tunnel to buy some rice. When he got home he notice Setsiko doing some thing. He approached her and asked what she’s doing. Setsiko replied without lifting her head and said, “Why they have to die so soon,” while making a grave for the fireflies which died over the night. She continued to talk stating their mother had died also and already in the grave. The lady who helped them told to Setsiko that her mother died during the air attack. Nathan started to cry and he cried heavily that morning remembering the death of his mother. But he knew he needs to be strong for Setsiko.

The following days, Nathan doesn’t have money anymore for rice. He remembered the ring her mother gave him before they separated at the house. They don’t have enough nutritional food to sustain there living that time and Setsiko is becoming malnourished. Nathan even tried to catch bull frogs for them to eat. Remembering the ring, he carried Setsiko on his back and they went to the market to pawn the ring.

At the pawn shop, rumors that the Japanese had surrendered to America. Nathan begun to wonder what happened to his father. He father is one the soldier who is manning a war ship at the sea. He asked one of the persons there what happen to the fleet. The man answered that all the fleet were destroyed during the war. Nathan did not believe it at first, but later accepted that he and her sister were now alone in this world. Nathan did not tell anything to Setsiko what he heard.

Since the community is not yet recovered, Nathan could not find for work to sustain their living. They now seldom eat these days, and Setsiko’s condition is beginning to become weak. He brought her to the doctor, but there were no available medicine during at that time. The doctor said that Setsiko’s should be fed with nutritious foods. Nathan doesn’t know what to do. All their money is gone.

Nathan come up to stealing just to fed her hungry sister. He was even caught once and had been bitten all over his body and brought to the authority by the person who caught him stealing. Setsiko manage to go to her brother and she saw the condition of her brother. Again, Nathan cried hard for the second time telling to Setsiko he will do anything for her.

Setsiko is getting weaker and weaker. Until one morning while hugging he hugged her Setsiko no longer awake. Nathan burned Setsiko’s body and he cried again heavily as he watch his sister Setsiko’s body being burnt.

Nathan walked far away from the tunnel and he never returned even then.

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