Watch Me: Seventh Son, and the awesome queen performance

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I've been intrigued by the story and movie entitled Seventh Son, directed by Sergei Bodrov, back in 2014. Where I first knew about the movie through an interview with Julianne Moore and that it's not her normal role to portray, which was a villain. Something that made me fascinated on how she would do was quite worth it.

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Medieval times rang with the stench of high belief in magic and fantasy, where the good and evil had no fine line since they had physical manifestation, especially the evil. Welcome the realm of Seventh Son where being a hunter of evil, a warrior of light, is a real and practically the most dangerous job of all time.

The film focuses on the folklore of "the seventh son of a seventh son", where the seventh son holds a prowess strong enough to be comparable to witches, trolls, and other supernatural monsters of their time. John Gregory, the last Spook, is on a quest to rid the world of the revived witch queen Mother Malkin. His quest brought him to the life of Tom Ward, a teenage herds boy, who has the ability to see visions, the seventh son of the seventh son, and an eager soul to get out of his country life yearning for an adventurous one.

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Yep, my purpose to see Julianne Moore to portray the villain, Mother Malkin, was worth every penny (forgive my irony for this statement).

Folklore's and medieval themed fantasy movies are always a good taste for my fiction loving tongue. Complete with dragons, mystical shape shifter's, and the sprinkle of simple olden times life, always stirs a nice soup of imagination for my brain.

The choice for the casting feels like not my cup of tea though, especially the lead roles for Gregory and Tom, although they grow into you as the story goes by. Even the young witch lover for Tom, Alice, was quite a pick. Maybe the re-write of the story, from the original books under author Joseph Delaney, might have to do with the unusual personalities the actors portrayed. Or maybe I'm just looking for a good justification of some of the blandness I find during the course of their dialogues, acting and story.

Either way, it doesn't pull down the good parts of the film, from it's unusual dry humour in between everything and the fierce Julianne Moore witch queen. Yes, this is a blatant fan girl to her portrayal, even the moments that she would show her human side due to the hurt she had experienced (I couldn't guess well if it was the same with the book, since I have a hunch it became that to a certain point for ex-machina reasons in re-writing the story from the book) was superbly fitting to the character she wants to shape the queen into.

The rushed parts and elements of the story was melded well, in comparison to some book to movie ones I've watched, where you could clearly say that there was a missing chunk of progress lacking for the characters growth to come a full circle. The only thing I could say that was forced was the romance for Tom and Alice's part, as they used the density (destiny) excuse for the ultimate reason of their attraction but covered it's traces by a moment where Alice explains it as if it was scientific. Copper metal in friction contact with another but sparks happened due to dust.

Wish that excuse worked in real life. It does but not on the scale where two people has this obvious tension between them.

Last words, this movie was a good roller coaster ride. Maybe reading the books would shed better light with things, and I hope no review somewhere out there from a fan of the book felt completely blasphemed and disappointed for all the missing bits they enjoyed from the book.

P.S. Kit Harrington died early in this film, I didn't know it was him until I realized in his dying moments.

Watch Me: sort of The Last Dragonslayer

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Sure I'm guilty for watching a movie by it's title and the poster, which is common, but that's how I got to watch The Last Dragonslayer that was produced by Blueprint Pictures shown in Sky One on the Christmas of 2016. A story based from a book authored by Jasper Fforde.

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Don't you feel eager to learn about a medieval themed world infested with modern day thinking and innovations, such as the concept of marketing and the budding age of electricity and automation under the noses of magic. Here lies the fascinating mix up of the Last Dragonslayer as it starts with an orphan girl named Jennifer, last name Strange, as she was "fairly" adopted by Mr. Zambini. A man who managed an agency that contracts magicians to do almost all the oddest jobs they are capable of.

After growing up under her foster fathers care, one day he vanishes and a series of events brings forth Jennifers fate into the unassuming role of the Last Dragonslayer.

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Again, I've encountered an imagination fuel for the mind of a lover of fantasy.

The Last Dragonslayer is a nice mix and mash of a universe in the brink of being unable to surpass mechanical and engineering like science because of the existence of magic. Compelling characters that so far is lovable in terms of their authenticity and rawness in regards to it's human emotions and desires. Plus the complexities of their universe, laws, and the blatant play of modern concept of advertising marketing and sales in the play of medieval set.

There's a charm to Elise Chappells portrayal of Jennifer with no over exaggeration and simple acts and emotions, there might be no grounds for me to judge the way she portrayed the character since I have never read the books myself. Still, the actress still captured a genuine that levels everything else in the story. Jennifer, the heroine, simply makes you want to be her friend with her smartness, fair compassion, her love and gratitude to her father, plus her eagerness to just be a simple girl who wants to work with her foster father.

Comparing Jennifer to the absurd side characters; might be a recurring formula for some fiction stories to have side characters that simply balances out the main leads almost simple character, that walked around her somehow made her seem desirable. Something I easily fall for most often, not that I put my self into the leads shoes, but I myself feel compelled to give her a nice peppy attention that the other characters seem to give her. Although, mine started at an earlier point in the story.

The story though was your typical hero thrown into the throngs of destiny due to untold historical circumstances that have lead to the demise of the kingdom. You have your typical mysterious events from a long time ago, that the hero had to unfold due to a lot of unanswerable questions that would lead to the current situations solution. Typical ex-machina situations, cause why not magic and fiction. Plus character tropes with typical scenario endings, like the hidden twist where the assistant who was the best one the hero could find is actually one of the enemies, the judas iscariot.

That however was not stopping anyone from connecting with Jennifer who along the ride was pouring her best, that typical underdog feeling. Selling it like so shouldn't be something wrong about this story, even though it's been a proven seller to viewers, at least the underdog tale didn't sell the plot and scenarios, and it's plot twist, short.

Being enamored by dragons and the mythical world of magical crossing steampunk genre isn't such a bad thing. Somehow, you won't be tired of it because the dialogues and characters are well thought out and worth the giggle. By the end of the movie you'd have gained that warm fuzzy feeling and joy that simply puts you in a sense that somehow you'd want more.

Imagine hearing a recounted tale like Jennifers from a friend over a nice warm beer in the cold winter. How about that?

Over-all, this movie is a good kid friendly story that as I said fuels the imagination enough to inspire someone to simply walk out the cinema doors and create something, or even go into a nice adventure.

Watch Me: teenie boppering The 5th Wave

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Out of curiosity, and being a weirdly loyal fan of Chloe Moretz, I tried watching one of her latest sci-fi themed movie entitled The 5th Wave directed by J.Blakeson from the same titled book written by Rick Yancey.

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Life was pretty much normal for Cassie Sullivans world, until a mysterious large hovering space craft the size of a continent became the dead ringer start of events unfolding into an apocalyptic battle between man and the alien race named as the Others.

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Believe me when I say this movie may have, like all the other nice movies out there, a good and curious universe that can very well establish a footing fit for a nice theatrical prowess, it is not unavoidably subject under a mainstream over used theme. Such as this very element of aliens being able to infest inside a human like a parasite, rendering their host under their very control, a.k.a. that Stephanie Meyer book the Host with the almost same type of alien.

This however is not the selling point of this movie, but the depicted experiences of Cassie and their eventual events into a future unknown under the invasion of the Others. Which to my opinion is pretty well composed, in terms of the flow of events fairly edited from the book into a feature film.

Might as very well clarify that it was very evident that the movie is a stepping stone opening for a long ass story, it's open ended conclusion after they saved Cassies sibling simply says "I'm supposed to have a continuation".

I've barely any knowledge of the book and how it's characters, events, and style of writing is unfurled. Basing from the movie, there are heavily built ex-machina scenarios edited from the original, and possibly characters intentionally omitted. Though, I am not a very critical person, and that to I simply enjoyed the flow. Disregarding the obvious romance tension happening between select characters, the action and adventure elements seems a good 8 out of 10 grade.

Simply put, this might be a B grade movie even to it's reader fan base. But I wouldn't mind seeing the sequel happen even if the movie itself isn't compelling, just out of curiosity on what will be happening next into the lives of the characters.

Over-all it might be better to just follow the books, own them and read to your hearts content; and treat the movie like a large fan base advertisement for it.

Watch Me: The Romantic and symbolical semantics

Readying myself for a binge of animated movies couldn't have prepared me more to dip myself in sheer mysterium slash satire by the story of The Romantic by Michael Heneghen.

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Life seems completely platonic for Romance, a young man who seems to be in distraught by the thoughts that his love for his current girl is fading away. Searching for an answer, he does a ritual to summon a god from their universe to plea a request only to be answered by an advice by the devil.

Eventually a few of the many circumstances begins to fuck up as he follows suit the devils advice. Many of the below happens in no particular grave importance:

A. He kills his cheating lover after unnaturally reviving his love for her through magic
B. Fucks a goddess only to kill her in revenge
C. Unknowingly starts a great depression and war at the expense of his actions
D. Begins to mentally exhaust a god that basically started everything
E. Kills several other mystical figures
F. Answers his own problem by just basically fucking everything up, which should've just been the summary in the shortest manner

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What started off as a negligently boring start whafts its tail on ones face and completely wows you to a point where you can't go on, for various mystical reasons. Since my neutral passive mind has been clogged by tons of real life propaganda towards the depression kind, The Romantic, a romance fantasy adventure story, wrings me back and forth into a puddle of inspired and insanely deprived by a word called inspirstion and motivation.

There are select words to artistically describe every facet of the universe this movie belongs in, but the end word you could ultimately use is FUCK. That is correct, the best adjective to poetically describe it is astoundig but the slang would be Fuck. It's been long since I last watched a movie that made me want to go back into creating things, and this movie was a better ticket than my last love affair.

On a sub note on impressions, The Romantic without a doubt is a roller coaster ride of realistic emotions and out right killer horrific fantasy to depict whatever needs to be depicted. You've got impossibly grotesque monsters, from deprived babies turned cannibals to beautiful goddesses that plays more with their desire than value or respect their hearts. Reminds you of something? That's right if you think of the roma-grecian mythological stories. The movie did some good formula in using the usual gods are as fucked up and complicated as normal human beings are, which to religious people I suggest cover their eyes, as most wouldn't appreciate a good satire when they see one.

While we're on the track of the story, any critical mind wouldn't miss out on all the names and their emotional or life like impression and significance in each others back story and present predicament. Each consequence a character did has an equivalent cynical karma, and that karma's symbolism has a great value.

These symbolical value to me plays generally on the part of their names and how their role played. As far as I can go the most that struck me were the value of Romance, the hero, and Patience's, his wise man companion, relationship in the story.

Which to my minds eye plays a real equivalent in life. Patience could easily play with Romance since he could be fully naive and manipulated depending on the situation. Just a single drop of idea and hope makes Romance a great idealist and at the end an ideal story maker. That is about the only symbolism of personal value.

Everything was a poetic end. And you could say my passive aggressive heart completely approves that you watch this, whether you favor the boringly serious or not. Except, the lines in this movie isn't really that boring.

PS. this story is about beginnings and ends, just the poetic kind

by Pansikoser (illustrator for hire)

Read Me: Downer's Hatching Magic

Talk about finally finishing a book that you started last year.

Good day to the first post of my 2017 year, I've finally managed to finish a young adults, or probably more accurate as a childrens book, written by Ann Downer entitled Hatching Magic.

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Talk about getting yourself cooked up into a good modern day, mixed with some old school stuff from before 15th century (I could just guess exactly when), fantasy adventure about...

A. A Wyvern lost in modern times
B. Some covertly pure but silly magic moments in trying to look for it
C. A young girls summer adventure
D. Did I mention that it's family friendly Wyvern chocolate loving mayhem

Then you've got a classic convert demon, some hidden agenda wizard enemy and a stand alone story of what it's like to properly string a fantasy kids adventure.

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I've been in a binge of fluctuating genre picking of my books these days. Ranging from these types of fantasy adventure to a complete biocraphy edition of some political opinion back in Twains era. The fruits arent meant to be made into a salad so I've scrunched up to taste them one by one.

My first sacrifice this year is finishing Hatching Magic. A completely light hearted story about everything stated on the above section.

You've got your typical good wizards, evil / bad ones, plus the always neutral but surprise is actually blood related to elements of the plot specifically to the good wizards. Wink, wink at the end bit of the book.

Everything is an enjoyable chapter, unless you are a cynical kid out to oust every last drop of menage oh things cant be this silly. Which, to my opinion, the flow of events are quite alright, good flow for kids.

The universe though, which could use a bit more flare of characters with pop up personality, is enough to build a good ground. Probably what the book is set out to do. This isnt an advisable read to lay bad hands but enough to lay good hands. You could put up mystical four bright stars in the sky, but its not a highly recommended title.

As stated on the previous paragraph, it seems to be a ground for a good starting universe or series. Much of the side characters, antagonist specifically, has a hinted back story or source story that needs an expanded elaboration.

If you do plan on expanding your range of light hearted books, give this good fruit a try. You might end up like me rooting for that one side character that wanted a good life out of everything that happened in the book, despite its lacking.

This gets a passive aggreasive thumbs up.

Tamtam and the Update

These days I've stopped creating for my planned webcomics "Tamtam: Peaceful Days", and stopped editing the script for the first arc of the story. But I've come back to edit the story and soon plan on creating the drafts, by pencil, and just post it like that through my webcomics. Mayhaps it would make me successfully practice being a clean pencil artist for my art, and future projects. I could ink them at the same time, but I take ten years to ink, especially in projects that I have to leave them off for the while.

Being slow in the industry of creating my own story and comics is a bit dragging. I won't be sugar coating my sin by saying I'm not jealous of the people who've gone and succeeded in this line of life, but I'm not lying when I say that I get the same heights of inspiration even sometimes greater than my warped jealous self. Either way, the script is in an over haul of almost everything. From the dialogue to terms used, I'm decided as well to incorporate the irony of 'Baybayin' into my story as a language used by mythos like creatures more than modern society.

In the Philippines, there is a local language and alphabet called 'Alibata' or 'Baybayin' that has been used by our natives until the Spaniards came, as I recall or think...or remember. The alphabet isn't exactly dead, but majority of the citizens aren't even versed in it anymore, me included. My father is awesome with tagalog words, that makes me evidently proud about that skill of his. Considering if it IS a skill to completely know more tagalog than english.

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Me incorporating 'Baybayin' as an ironic dead language in the universe of "Tamtam" is iconic, in a sense that I want to explore how I could string the world I've concocted and the reality I'm partially basing it from. Along with the fact that I'm introducing furry characters AND mythological representatives, completely based from original Pinoy mythology will be a big thing. Not that I'm following the trend in our comics industry, but I've always wondered how I can explore the stories I create with local fiction and mythological lore.

Filipino mythology is really fascinating, but in my growth as an adult, I've lost some of my fascination with the context like I'm already tired and not even happy to support local product, or information historically for that matter. History, especially the lore and legends, has always fascinated me like a moth into a candles light in my childhood days.

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Yet, my memory as good as the misconceptions that of the goldfish (if it IS a misconception that goldfish's memories are short), is completely warped into just retaining only the ones that I need for my current life. See Sherlock BBC, and that episode about him forgetting that Science and the Sun being the center of our known living universe.

This desire must not leave me, that's why I'm writing it here and possibly making a chronicle of my progress, albeit planned only yet and slowly progressing in it. Me, seeing myself researching about how to use 'Baybayin' will be a big thing for me. Putting up an ambition and a goal set helps me a lot.

movie list: Minions (animation 2015)

Yesterday (to clarify, July 21 21015) my mother wanted to spend her morning with a free movie in our local cinemas. Here in the Philippines, there are thousands (not really, but it sounds like it) of political rackets for every area and their method of treatment for the Senior Citizens. One of which is to give one or two days of free movies for them to view. Whatever movie in the cinemas the old 'uns want they're free for the whole day, just as long as they present their movie pass.

Well to cut the morning story short, I ended up treating my mother and we both watched Minions. Those yellow gibberish talking walking pills.

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As everyone knows, or maybe some of, the Minions originated from the movie Despicable Me (starring Steve Carell as Gru, yes I need to state this, BECAUSE!). These seemingly "cute" pill shaped creatures are the "evil" minions of the "evil-villain" named Gru, and according to the story has been with him since he can remember (or maybe I missed the part where he explained how he got to have them?). On a side note, the movie DM is a commercial success majority of the reason is because of the Minions, is what I'm assuming, according to what I can sniff around marketing and media exploits.

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I did not know this happened. Where was I when this happened!!
He looks like Penguin from the Batman series...

Its quite a nice move to make a movie that explains the origins of the Minions, although I'm fairly satisfied just assuming that they were accidents made by Gru's scientist assistant. Discovering though that they were undoubtably natural causes (spoiler) from our own world (or their world) kind of makes you think how come they never really got to evolve. They were born the same way as anyone, through scientific explanations of course, and eventually watched the world evolve while they abruptly stopped evolving (physically that is, mentally a wee bit).

They were explained as creatures that sought the evilest being and make this evil being their "boss". The "boss" that they dreamed of following, (spoiler) which was actually shown from their conception through the eras I could not possibly know which (I'm not well versed with my sciences and histories). I could say they are affectionate towards the stronger, the one who can in any manner conquer by any means possible for psychological reasons maybe.

So goes the flow of the story till the moment they met Gru, (spoiler) kid Gru making a cameo by the end of the movie. Big things happened in the events before they met Gru, but I could tell that the simpleton plot of the movie would actually attract kids. Kids aged 8 below, or possibly lesser than 5. The story is so simple, the execution and scenarios completely random that you might say you paid to watch a Tom and Jerry show for 1 hour and a few minutes (not that Tom and Jerry doesn't deserve to have their movies be shown in cinemas and paid the same amount).

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Just, as a simple person (ah yeah, simple, ah...hahaha), of course I was quite amused by all their antics and gibberish. Before I did watch the movie I've heard that the movie had negative reviews, guessing it would. The story seems so random and everywhere. Villain with a shallow purpose, and for some reason it felt like the Minions became icons of heroes even though its much better to just retain their "dumb" like stand as a character.

To a child's point of view its a good satisfying movie, simply amusing and childishly entertaining. But as an adult who seems to have acquired a critic self, my simple self says its amusing and considerable, critic however says its not worth to watch if your aim is to see the retention of the Minions character from the DM franchise.