The screening was graced by the presence of respectable personalities like Fr. Aloysius Maranan, San Beda College Rector; Apogee Production’s Mr. Albert Almendralejo; and Mr. Rapa Lopa of the Aquino Foundation. During his speech, Mr. Lopa emphasized the role of the cinemas as innovative venues for social awareness.

As everyone appreciated the well-applauded execution of Bakal Boys, Mr. Allan Florendo, SM Cinema’s Sales and Marketing Head, went on to encourage the guests to join “Big Shot” and be a part of Philippine movie history.

Big Shot is open to all aspiring student film makers from any reputable college or university. From June 15 to August 15, participants may submit their best works which can be a short film or a full-length movie. SM Cinema will then choose the top three (3) movies, and will award P500,000 each to the top three film makers. These film makers, with the help of renowned mentors, will each produce a full-length movie about “modern day heroism”. SM Cinema will show these movies during its Indie Film Festival on January 2011, right after the Manila Film Festival.

Log on to www.smcinema.com for more details on how to join “Big Shot”.

I’m not sure about you but here is something that at the very least, will blow you away. Just when I thought we’re at the peak at 3D and here comes yet another cinema experience that will surpass the 3D experience and SM Cinemas are just about to get just that available to moviegoers.

SM Cinema tells its movie watchers to “prepare for the most interactive cinema experience ever.” Based on their ad materials, this interactive experience seems to involve something dynamic and playful, insinuating hand waving motions. If this is so, then it would be a first in Philippine cinema.

Together with the advent of 3D movies, efforts of creating unique encounters like the “interactive cinema experience” while watching in theatres is what makes cinemas still one of the best places for leisure. This project is to be launched late April at the Digital Theater of SM Megamall, in time for the series of blockbuster movies this summer.

Meet and greet and dance with Alvin and The Chipmunks on January 7 & 9, 2010 at the SM Megamall Event Center. Meet and greet and photo op with them on January 8 at the SM Megamall Cinema lobby and The Podium Mall Atrium.

Alvin and The Chipmuks 2 is showing at SM Cinemas on January 8, 2010.

Following in the footsteps of the Wi_Fi Body 4

‘In Focus’ series at the Cultural Center of the Philippines

Inviting all to our cultural films screening

on Saturday November 21 at Indie Sine

featuring

Iskwaterpangk (2007) | 2:00pm

Directed by Khavn De La Cruz

An urban punk rock vibe not to be missed

Cinemanila 2006 Grand Jury Prize Awardee

Batad (2006) | 4:00pm

Directed by Benji Garcia

The coming of age of an indigenous Ifugao boy

Cinemalaya Special Jury Prize Awardee

24K (2009) | 6:30pm

Directed by Ana Agabin

The secret world of post-war treasure hunting

Cinemalaya Best Cinematography Awardee

In cooperation with

Philippine Indie Filmmaker’s Multi-purpose

Cooperative & the CCP Media Arts Division

TICKETS P150

Available before each screening or

RSVP Saturday November 21

anahatafoundation@yahoo.com.ph

INDIE SINE ROBINSON’S GALLERIA

EDSA cor. Ortigas Ave.. Pasig City

An initiative supporting the Millennium Campaign

for achieving the Millennium Development Goals

Proceeds from this event will assist

Anahata Foundation’s community based projects

Under the Sea is now showing in IMAX Theatre – SM North Edsa and Mall of Asia (MOA). Buy 2 Under the Sea 3D IMAX movie tickets and get a chance to be 1 of the 10 lucky winners of 4 entry passes to Manila Ocean Park. Promo period is from August 30, 2009 to September 30, 2009.

In his quest to be a parent himself, Sid got attached to dinosaur eggs instead of pursuing a lady sloth partner. This is where the trouble begins. Mother dinosaur T.Rex came stomping to their place looking for her babies. They also got to meet the invincible one eyed weasel named Buck. What I love about Ice Age 3 is that it reinforces the value of family. That it is not uncool to be domesticated, even as Diego himself realizes at the end of Sid’s rescue, that the life of adventure he is looking for, is right in the family setting.

As good as the story line of Ice Age 3 is, as with other Hollywood movies, even cartoons cannot escape the sexual suggestions in some scenes. I understand that the writers find it important that the movie caters to adults as well. Like for instance, the sequence when Manny was with Diego inside the man-eating plant and Diego said to Manny that he felt “tingly” and the mammoth replied that he should not say that when he is pressed up against him. It stunned me for a while when this line came in. Although, the audience Ice Age 3 makers are generally aiming at family and kids, a few nonsense has to be thrown into the story just to earn a few laughs.

Personally, I had my qualms about Ice Age ever since my son suddenly started saying, “stupid” whenever he is having a hard time wearing his shirt on his own. This surprised the husband and me because we do not use that word in our home. When I asked him where he learned that word, he said, Ice Age 2. Apparently, my sister has been allowing him to watch Ice Age 2 from her iTouch whenever he goes to their place. Although it might not be a big deal in America to be saying such things, it is not exactly something we would like our son to get used to saying. In this particular sequel, they did it again with the name calling, “idiot.”

Again, a few movies are perfect. But then again, the story of Ice Age 3 does remind the young minds how important family is. How selflessness is required of members in the family. What works for us is we zero in on the good stuff and remind our son about certain portions of the movie that are really good, like the part when it reinforces the teamwork that we already do in our home.

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a good movie. 3 out of 5 stars.

Watching Terminator Salvation actually got the movie goers to want to do a marathon of the first three installments. I love this fourth installment the most. I’m not sure if was my youth and I was practically too young to have enjoyed the movie my mom dragged me to watch in 1984 (Terminator) that did not get me to appreciate the first movie as much. I was barely 8 back then! Or it could also be the number of years that passed. I would know after I watch the first three Terminator movies again soon.

To be honest, I can barely remember a whole lot of details from both Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Terminator 4: Salvation is set on the year 2018 where machines are carefree, roaming the earth while people strive to survive. Resistance Fighters headed by John Connor leads his team through this radio frequency. I love how they weaved the character of Marcus into the story. Half man, half machine. His emergence was planned out by Skynet, executed simultaneously as he was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

As with the theme of all previous Terminator movies, John Connor is out on a man/world-saving mission. This is like a given already. While the new character (Marcus) in this particular installment was a murderer back in the year 2004 was used by Skynet as he signed a contract of approval before his death. Marcus was built to be a killing machine, a former criminal who later became a hero as he repeatedly put his life on the line to save mankind.

The first few minutes of the movie got me all confused. Nothing made sense until the puzzle came together as Marcus (T-800) rose from his hibernation, as per Skynet’s plan. Terminator Salvation is the “doomsday” that was foretold from all the previous Terminator movies. The highlight of the movie was when John Connor quipped, “If we behave like machines, what’s the point of winning?” It packs the whole point of the rest of the human being Resistance Fighters (as they call themselves) and what Terminator Salvation is all about. This movie easily deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

Mr. Holland’s Opus is a mighty movie. Allow me to start with that. You really do not get to encounter very good movies nowadays. Glen Holland is a musician and composer. He turned to teaching, thinking that he will be able to afford more time to work on his musical “opus”.

One of the most symbolic things that this movie has presented is when the retiring principal handed over Mr. Holland a compass. She was won over by this passionate teacher, who she once criticized for his non-traditional way of teaching. Mr. Holland treasured the compass for 30 long years and held on to it. Educators are set to be moral guides to their students. More than just imparting knowledge, it is the impact that we make to our students that will change their lives that will really matter.

It does not take a professional teacher to appreciate this movie. I first watched Mr. Holland’s before I even got my license to teach and it sure served as an inspiration to me to be a non-mediocre teacher in the future. He was no doubt a very passionate teacher and excelled in being one. But the casualty of his dedication was his family. He held himself far too long in denial about his son being deaf/mute. His circumstance was an oxymoron, to say the least – a highly acclaimed educator who cannot teach his very own son.

It was when his son has grown up that he realized his shortcomings and came to terms with his son’s disability. Chose to learn the language of signing and finally reached out to his son. There were a few more conflicts in the movie that presented Mr. Holland’s vulnerability and how he chose to rise in every circumstance.

The story makes us go deep into our inner selves and encourages us to be of a good impact to those under our influence. One does not really have to be a teacher to influence others. Instead of getting busy on aluminum fence installation to make sure the line is drawn, why not choose to be a compass. The impact you make on those you influence goes way longer than you ever will. Towards the climax of the film, Mr. Holland would see for himself that all the while, he was really working on his life’s ultimate composition/opus – the generation of students whose lives he has changed.

As implied in one of John Maxwell’s books,  Becoming a Person of Influence (How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others), your vocation is immaterial. You can be successful at home, at work and in very other area of life by how you impact the lives of those who you influence. Two thumbs up to Mr. Holland’s Opus!

It was a great movie. I’d give it 4.5 out of 5.