A short essay for my Film Theory and Criticism Class The 1975 short animated film “Hedgehog in the Fog” (Yozhik v tumane) by Yuri Norstein offers an amalgam of terror and pleasure using the phantasm of venturing into the unknown. This evocative work of imagination features the journey of a hedgehog one evening to see his bear cub friend. As he travels in the foggy forest, he encounters many scary things that eventually become transformative moments of wonder. This 11-minute Russian
Drama
Jumpstarting my Trilogy of Technology Shorts: TechNOphilia and Malikmata (Phantasma)
Thanks to graduate studies, I was finally able to jumpstart my trilogy of technology shorts. We just completed the second film 11 years after the first one and currently working on the third one, which is intended to be completed by May 2020. Hopefully, we all get through the COVID-19 pandemic very soon so we can all go back to our daily grind. Top: First shot and last shot of "Malikmata" (English title: "Phantasma"), 2020;Bottom: First shot and last shot of
Blu-ray Review: ‘Heaven’ (2002)
Tom Tykwer's 2002 critically acclaimed film "Heaven" releases on a single-disc Blu-ray package via Echo Bridge Entertainment. This art-house offering is based on the screenplay co-authored by the late Krzysztof Kieslowski, the esteemed filmmaker behind the opus "The Three Colors Trilogy." As a brief history, the untimely death of Kieslowski halted the supposed new trilogy to be called "Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory." Nevertheless, "Heaven" managed to get produced with Tykwer at helm, and two other acclaimed directors, Anthony Minghella and
‘Sonata’ Film Review: Music of Love and Mortality
“Sonata” -- an entry to the Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival 2013 -- captures the poetic eloquence of life through art, solitude, and relationships. It promotes a language of understanding for people dealing with pain and loss, as well as those thriving in joy and discovery. The narrative is not without flaws, but the maturity of the filmmakers’ artistry ultimately makes sense of the story’s inexplicable music about love and mortality. This dramatic piece, crafted by the familiar powerhouse tandem of
Blu-ray Review: ‘The Impossible’
"The Impossible" is based on the real-life account of Spanish survivor Maria Belon and her family during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that struck the coast of Thailand. This moving tale directed by Juan Antonio Bayona debuts on a single-disc Blu-ray package containing the film's Blu-ray, UV digital, and digital download copies. Its main stars include Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Holland. Watts' utterly convincing and visceral performance led to her Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards and her
‘Poseidon’ Film Review: Dangerous Waters
This Disaster Movie About a Sinking Ship Relies Much on Tried-and-tested Formula "Poseidon" is what "Titanic" already brought to the big screen. With theme and story that definitely sailed these waters before, it's nothing more than a formulaic sea-travel thriller with a ready-made template to be filled. What makes it considerably float to survive depths of dullness is that it can bring some of its viewers into an almost two-hour contemplation of what some people can do for survival. From initially