So's Reel Thoughts: May 2010

for fellow sex and the city fanatics like myself, it is common knowledge that michael patrick king, who have written and directed most of the series' episodes, is an utter genius. and let me say that within the context of the series. but what should enthrall fanatics with the second installment of the franchise's widely successful first film, is a flop. the trailers continuously lowball audiences into thinking that a film will actually be good and that satc 2 would be no exception. it was too good to be true. aiden (john corbett) was back and gasps and shrills were heard across the nation by middle age women (like myself, tehehe). with the twist like that, what could possibly go wrong?

apparently everything. king knows what every girl wants and he usually delivers with the mind-blowing fashion, witty lines, deliciously handsome men, and gasp worthy plot twist that continuously leave hopeless romantics around the world salivating for more. only this time, he knew that with the dedicated fans he has accumulated from other the years that he can just half ass the sequel. as an avid fan, there are many things i would have changed. but that doesnt give away to the amount of dismay i have over the fashion, witty lines, or plot twists. indeed in every scene, the four women possessed immaculately hand-picked outfits complimenting their personality. but not for a moment were the hundreds of bug-eyed women i was sitting with truly impressed with their attire. yes they were on more conservative ground but nonetheless, it didnt command the scene like the pink number did in the first film. (you all know which pink dress im talking about!)

as the girls escape from their big city troubles. there is little to no sex or the city to be seen. as they shuffle their jimmy choos through the dunes of abu dhabi, i cant help but wonder, was it really necessary to emphasize the widening caste system between the americans and the arabs? i almost strayed away from the story as i was sympathizing more for their servant than their actual "problems." but enough ranting from your average satc fangirl, i guess those sayings are right: the worse the reviews, the more money the film makes. but im sure king knew that all along... :D C

the duplass bros of 2008's baghead is back with CYRUS! and JONAH HILL IS CYRUS. since superbad, michael cera have been getting roles left and right, and frankly were all sick of him. but his other half has been in just as many films, from forgetting sarah marshall to funny people to how to train your dragon and theyre all great!

hill has two movies coming out this summer and i want to see them both! sadly i wont be in the states when cyrus comes out on june 18. but hill's other film, get him to the greek comes out june 4th. im usually not for comedies, but hill really makes the movie worth seeing. (im not going to bother posting that trailer cause its in previews everywhere)

here it is!!! the audition was shot on 16mm. hope you enjoy!

an actress is on her way to an audition when she is thwarted by the torment of her inner fears.

The Audition from So Yun Um on Vimeo.

i posted this on my other blog considering it is related to football but when i found out that alejandro gonzalez inarritu, the director of bable, 21 grams, and amores perros directed this ad, i HAD to post it here. i dont know how many times ive watched this ad but its quite amazing. i feel like if i dont have it every morning, i cannot start my day right. click and be AMMMMAZED. (if you dont know these star players by now, know them cause they will be everywhere by the end of the world cup)

we had a little extra film after shooting the audition, so we had a dance off!

i love making lists so here we go. this is basically everything i want to do before i go to korea and japan. which is in three weeks.

1. sticker project

2. film another short

3. watch the world cup at the most asian bar ever

4. go to a baseball game

5. finish reading my a single man and existentialism is humanism

6. start writing more reviews for independent film quarterly

7. watch more films!!!

8. fully edit appetite and the audition

9. and do some good in the community

10. update my website.

11. and most importantly, become a better person.

ive had this short in my itunes for the past year from sundance 2009 and had not seen it till, well, today. and wow, was i missing out. it should be evident that a short couldnt have made it to sundance without it being outstanding. and it is OUTSTANDING.

let me just say vooow. so raw, so good!!!

the nuart loves showing some fucked up movies. my friends and i walked out of the theater choked with the same feeling we got after watching lar von trier's anti-christ. WHAT. THE. FUCK. on one hand, it feels me hope as a filmmaker that i can make a film, on the other, the film itself is a very clever film and scheme to make a ton of money. people eat this kind of shit up. whether it is machine girl, robogeisha, or something just as ridiculous like the human centipede, people are willing to spend their ten bucks to witness the outrageous, quite disturbingly humourous spectacle. but who wouldnt. (case in point, even i did) it was something that had to be seen to believe.

but unlike anti-christ, it lacked the artistic suave of true filmmaking. but who am i to say its not? i guess it can be better deemed as a B Horror film, which it is with unnecessary comedic relief which is just as ridiculous as the rest of the film. but what i give them huge points on are its poster design. it ACTUALLY makes you want to watch the film! note to self: dont be deceived by its cover!! but regardless, it is an experience whether you watch it in theaters or on tv. just dont expect anything more than a sideshow of absurdities all strung together like eerrm... a human centipede. :D

thomas balmes knew what he was doing when he decided he wanted to make a documentary about babies. yes, in fact, babies are very intriguing to watch--witnessing their developing features and behaviors and adapting to each environment is a spectacle that should be seen. but within this film that is an explosion of cuteness, there is not that much is taught or learned. to balmes, he wanted to capture the daily life of a baby in all its glory. but the audiences (or shall i say females) that the film is targeted to, it is nothing but a spectacle of babies cooing, crawling around, walking. it is a documentary without a narrative. the film is surprisingly heartfelt, joyous, and well, really freaking cute. but what were left is with are images of babies from four different continents. we are unmoved and unenlightened. but really, whos going to say no to these cuties. C

scott pilgram eh? another michael cera movie eh? well. im sure the producers got him when he was on his wild streak, but now, no one even wants to see his face let alone see another movie with him in it.

wrong. i do.

haah. but really, i was getting kind of tired of cera after nick and norah's infinite playlist, paper heart, year one, even youth in revolt (i stopped caring after paper heart) but now comes along another cera movie, and i think i want to actually see it. scott pilgram vs. the world. ive been reading some of the comics and maybe i havent gotten way into it yet, but it just seemed like another story about a teen-angst kid. but judging by the trailer, its going to be more than i expected. esp, out of him. its out aug. 13!!!!

ppppppretty awesome. check out the other characters from scott pilgrim.

MICMACS!!!!! the director who brought you amelie and the city of lost children is back with micmacs!!! it is about a man and his friends come up with an intricate and original plan to destroy two big weapons manufacturers after being lodged with a bullet to his head. its original french title is macmacs a tire-larigot, (non-stop madness). the film is billed as a "satire on the world arms trade.". and that is exactly what we get from the film.

jean-pierre jeunet. what can i say about the man. he knows cinema. he knows how to tell a story. in all his films, he has incorporated what a real film should entail: interesting story and character. but he takes that to the extreme. his characters are embedded with such originality and quirks that one cant help but admire and be fascinated by them. his use of mis-en-scene is truly incredible. he is able to think of a situation or scene, and map out exactly what and how every color, object, person, should be. his attention to detail and imagination can be unparalleled. check out the trailer

click here to see the five facts about micmacs!!!

new inception poster!!! this film is stacked with the most talented actors: leonardo dicaprio, marion cotillard, joseph gordon-levitt, ken watanabee, ellen page, cillian murphy, michael caine, lukas haas! the film comes out july 16. (shucks, ill be missing it, cause ima be in asia!!!)