Movie Review: Fifty Shades Freed starring Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan

A friend of mine invited me to watch Fifty Shades Freed with her. Wala lang napaisip ako if I can watch this solo in a theater. I think I can’t, that’s why also  I skipped watching Fifty Shades Darker, the  second part of this trilogy  film top billed by Jamie Dornan an Dakota Johnson last year.

The Good Points of Fifty Shades of Grey‘s 3^rd Installment

·         It’s good if you already read the book.   I’m definitely not the type who compares the book’s content and its movie adaptation. I acknowledge that film and book are two different arenas to begin with. However, it’s good if the film producer, director, and screenwriters have the taste on what to include.   In Fifty Shades Freed, I can say that there are many good parts that they don’t bother to include. But I respect that they try to satisfy both the readers and moviegoers.  

I also don’t feel lost even though I wasn’t able to watch the 2^nd sequel. Probably it’s because I already read the book and I’m part of the group who just want to know how the filmmaker executes the story in the big screen. On the other side, I don’t think also those who don't read the book yet ( or ever) will be lost overall. This film tries to tell a  love story with unusual characters.

·         Dakota Johnson’s consistency. Remembering Fifty Shades of Grey (the first sequel), Dakota proves her consistency in interpreting Anastasia Steele. She’s playful, funny, and seriously in love with Christian Grey. I think also, Dakota is now more relaxed and blooming.

·         Brant Daugherty is effortlessly appealing.  Sorry Jamie (played Christian Grey), Eric Johnson (Jack Hyde), and Luke Grimes (Elliot Grey); but even with just few lines and little exposure Brant (played Sawyer the bodyguard) smitten lots of girls like me.   Guapo Bai!

·         Satisfy your cravings… of one-of-a-kind of Prince and acrobatic visual interpretations (charrot!) But though subtle pa, Jamie is bolder and confident in showing his skin. And the angles of camera are artistically perfect.  Well hindi ko na kailangan makita pa ang  bubuyog at bulalak.

·           Love wins in the end and the all cast members have great contributions. I also commend Rita Ora (Mia Grey), Eloise Mumford (Kate Kavanagh), Amy Price- Francis (Liz and by the way, may resemblance s'ya kay Jessie J), Ashleigh LaThrop (Hannah), and Max Martini  ( Taylor).

 The not so good points of Fifty Shades Freed

·         There something in the direction and storytelling.   Comparing how Sam Taylor-Johnson (director of Fifty Shades of Grey) and James Foley (director of Fifty Shades Darker and Freed). I like the former’s taste, but I am not saying that Foley is bad. In terms of visuals, Foley is better. My friend commented that Freed don’t show covers and blurs in the private parts of the stars. Those are not needed actually especially because Foley’s execution. However, when it comes to storytelling Taylor-Johnson is very good. I feel the love, struggle, desire, and intense.  It’s just good that all the cast member are team players.

·         They miss the good lines/ dialogues from the book.  Yes, they pick important or interesting scenes from the book. But for those scenes, they don’t push to add the interesting punch lines. 

Movie Review: Vince and Kath and James

What if Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto won the best actor and the best actress trophies in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night because of their portrayals in Vince and Kath and James?  I guess that’s really remarkable, hindi lamang baka ito ang first acting awards nila o dahil bata sila, kundi dahil oo mahuhusay na artista at pelikula ang kanilang nakalaban.

The weak sides of Vince and Kath and James

Actually wala naman akong halos makitang flaws sa kaisa-sang movie na produced by a major film outfit (Star Cinema) na ito sa 2016 MMFF.  In fact, tama nga iyong suggestion ng friend ko na mahirap din naman paglaba-labanin ang acting ng mga artista na nasa magkakaibang genre. Dapat magkaiba ang nanalo sa best actress sa comedy,  drama, at musical.

·         It has the usual rom-com formula – Naiiba ang VKJ ngayon  dahil sa variety ng klase ng mga 2016 MMFF entries.  However compare to other romantic comedy films it has a minimal chance na mag-shine especially na napaka-predictable ng story. Note:  Alam ko lang na may pinagbasehan ito (online  series Vince and Kath) pero di ko  nabasa o alam ‘yon.

·          Ronnie Alonte and Ina Raymundo – I don’t think walang edge ang characters nina Ronnie (James) at Ina (Vince’s Mom) para hayaan o 'wag nilang ibigay ang kanilang makakaya. Ang maiisip ko lang na  magandang excuse dito ay bago pa lang si Ronnie.  Si Ina magaling naman sa ibang acting  gig n’ya like sa The Millionaire’s Wife (GMA) pero dito ang napahanga n’ya lang ako na na-maintain n’ya pa rin ang kanyang seksing pangangatawan ( inggit lang hehehe). Pero sayang talaga yung roles nila dahil mahahalaga sa kabuuan ng movie. Ang bago-bago ng dating pero pagdating sa acting kanila para akong nanonood ng isang old film.  Kay Ina,  okay naman s'ya dun  sa ilang eksena n’ya with Josh sa restaurant pero the rest waley lalo na sa school.  Bigay na bigay pa naman si Joshua dun.

The strong sides of Vince and Kath and James

·         Joshua Garcia - this is just the second time na mapanood ko si Joshua. Na-introduce s’ya sa akin ng movie nina Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, ang Barcelona: A Love Untold.  Doon pa lang ay trip ko na ang acting n’ya na maloko pero kapag tinamaan ng kadramahan, maaantig ka rin.   Nadala n’ya yong ganoong feel sa character niyang si Vince in a right and effective way.  Ang kulit-kulit n’ya pero hindi siya nakakabuwiset, kundi hahanap-hanapin mo kasi iyon ang nagpapakulay ng mag-hapon mo.  Tapos kapag nalaman mo yung kwento n’ya mas mapapalapit s’ya sa  puso mo. Kasi sa askyon  at paraan n’ya ng pananalita ay parang ang lapit ng loob n’ya sa iyo.  Hindi ko alam kung ganoon talaga ang pagkakahulma sa original version ni Vince pero magaling ang portrayal dito ni Joshua.  Gusto ko ang scene n'ya sa school at nung nalaman na ni Kath yung totoo na siya ang ___ n’ya :p

By the way, may hinahambing siya kay John Lloyd Cruz.  IMHO, maaaring meron pero kurot lamang at baka sa kahawig pero mas nakikita ko s’ya as siya talaga. May potensyal itong batang ito at sa mga  male young stars na nabigyan  ng makulit na role, s'ya pa lang yung malakas ang dating sa akin.

·         Julia Barretto – ito naman ang unang pagkakataon na mapanood ko si Julia pero siempre aware ako sa background n’ya. Kung may kumukwestyon man noon sa kanyang pag-arte, hindi ko sila pinaniwalaan at paniniwalaan lalo na ngayon.  Ang kanyang pagganap bilang Kath ay hindi naman sobrang level up kumpara sa ibang young stars (pa) PERO she can deliver at ito pa lang ata ang major role na nasungkit n’ya.  Noong una medyo nahihirapan ako na tanggalin sa isipan ko na parang Claudine Barretto din. Pero bilang Kath nailalabas niya sa kanyang  pagganap na "hey, I am Julia Barretto and this is how I portray my role.  

·         I like the settings/ locations – Nakarating na ako sa Maginhawa Food Park, pero parang gusto ko na sugurin soon ang Commonwealth Food Park. Gusto ko ang arte ng #Feels Café que totoo iyon oo tsika lang sa film na ito. Gusto ko rin ang pagka-ragged sa Tessy feeds chuvaness, aura sa School façade, at talyer ng tito daw ni Kath.

      Maris Rascal -  May pagka-common din ang role ni Maris sa film.  Alam mo yung Kikay na babae na nagkataon na kaibigan na minsan kairita. Pero  sa version ni Maris at sa kanyang pagganap, ang nakakatuwa at nakakatawa. Parang  kapag nagkataon na nagkagustuhan sila ni Vince, boboto rin ako e.

·         Cool yung visual effects and cinematography - Bago kami nanood ay medyo kinondisyon ko na  baka medyo boring iyong palitan ng text.  Sorry di ko ugali ang magbasa ng text ng iba, charrot! Pero hindi naman pala, cool and artistic naman ang visual presentation kasama na ang looks, background, and graphics.