“The words are not good for the secret meaning, everything always becomes a bit different, as soon as it is put into words, gets distorted a bit, a bit silly—yes, and this is also very good, and I like it a lot, I also very much agree with this, that this what is one man’s treasure and wisdom always sounds like foolishness to another person.” ― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
Marxism has profoundly affected Film Studies and even film-making. Some of the earliest film theorists and filmmakers like Sergei Eisenstein were Communists. The Russian formalists like Dziga Vertov and Vsevolod Pudovkin pushed for “innovative forms matching revolutionary content”. The rise of mass society coupled with advances in technology gave thinkers like Kracauer, Benjamin and Brecht… Continue reading Film Studies Notes: MARXISM and FILM
Saw the movie "Wonder Woman" a few days ago. On the whole, I liked it. Gal Gadot is quite a good actress. She's not as beautiful as Lynda Carter, but she has her charms. And she has good chemistry with Chris Pine. The pair reminds me of the more traditional romantic comedy pairs of Hollywood… Continue reading Of Gods, Mortals and Wonder Woman
I'm uploading this critique for my Film Theory and Criticism classes to read. by ©Jamal Ashley Abbas STORYLINE (The movie is based on the life of Anita Pamintuan, a schoolteacher who was found dead in the street during the height of the Public School Teachers’ strike) The film opens with credits and close-ups of… Continue reading Mila (2001) -The Invisible Hand of Hegemony
With the demise of film director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, I am re-posting this film critique I did in Jan. 2002. The film is Bagong Buwan (New Moon). This is a once-in-a blue moon film and as I wrote then, it would take some time before Filipinos could see another one like it. Ms. Diaz-Abaya dreamed of a peaceful Mindanao… Continue reading Bagong Buwan, a Marilou Diaz-Abaya film
I first saw Dolphy in person when I was about 10 years old. At that time, Manila still had a downtown. It was the Escolta - Quiapo - Avenida area. Quezon City was a suburb of Manila and was part of the Rizal province. My mother brought me along to shop for some clothes at… Continue reading Remembering Dolphy
If you are wondering what old DVD film to watch, I highly recommend Pan's Labyrinth (2006). QUANTUM CINEMA : by Jamal Ashley Abbas A Postmodern Fairy Tale Once upon a time, a princess left her kingdom in the dark Underworld for the bright sunshine of terrestrial life. But the sun blinded her and erased her memory… Continue reading DVD PICK: Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno)
