The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Ah. The healing power of books and reading!



Best Animated Short Film of the 84th Academy Awards!

HP Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Official Trailer

The Games We Play: RPG Metanoia Movie Review

You know you've seen a good movie when you talk about it with great interest hours after having watched it. That's been my experience with RPG Metanoia. My kids and I had a long conversation on the movie over cups of chocolate at home. Needless to say, we truly enjoyed it!

What worked

The story and the script - The story is about an eleven year old boy named Nico who is addicted with online computer games, particularly RPG Metanoia. He and his friends frequent an internet cafe where they play online. For Nico,  a computer at home that hangs every now and then could not satiate his addiction for the game. Soon an online tournament will take place and he and his friends are all eager to participate. Having discovered the Helmet of Destiny, an item that would lead them to victory, Nico and his friends were confident at winning the tournament. During the tournament, he failed to heed his friends' advice losing the game in the process.

Just when I thought I've seen this one coming, the plot takes a turn for the better. Nico's story arc was surprisingly good and well crafted. From a self  centered only child, sheltered and fearful, he transformed into the story's hero that everyone will cheer for.

The supporting characters - Thanks to endearing and interesting characters in the movie! Nico has parents, who, despite their limitations, try their best to fill gaps in Nico's life. He also has friends who, despite himself will tell him the truth and can accept him, faults and all. If not for them, Nico would have turned out like the villain, Sargo.

Among Nico's friends, it is May, the girl next door, who showed him what he's been missing all along - real games played in the streets or in Filipino, larong kalye. With his boy barkada (gang) they spent the remaining summer days playing patinetero, piko (hop scotch), taguan (hide and seek), and tumbang preso. It is in playing these games where in Nico learned life lessons. Being good at virtual games does not equal to the vicarious experiences learned through play. Besides, Nico was able to overcome his own    insecurities. In the end, he became better at computer games because he established a healthy relationship with his friends thus, strengthening his character.

The visual metaphors and avatars - The band aid straps on Nico's leg; the first rain drop on Mark's knee;   the avatars of Nico and his friends are some of the reasons why the movie has lasting impressions. And yes, they are all good ones. Life is filled with growing pains. You get bumped and bruised, hurt and wounded. But hey, that's what it is to live and grow. Seasons come and go but true friends are forever. The Filipino has a very unique and diverse culture. Be proud that you're Pinoy!

The depiction of the modern Filipino child - It is the handling and depiction of the modern Pinoy child that I find most effective in RPG Metanoia. Nico is current and relevant. One may counter  that his character is too ideal or stereotypical, but to me, it is just but right to give him a good set of middle class parents and supportive friends. Put these all together and the movie is a certified Philippine Children's Literature material. Children have RIGHTS and the adults who take care of them is responsible to ensure that these rights are expressed and exercised.

As far as the 3D animation is concerned, I can say that it's a good start. Then again, I always go for content and the storytelling rendition. In many ways, the creators and producers of RPG Metanoia have succeeded in making it a movie that can be enjoyed by kids and kids at heart.

What did not work

I was looking for a solid closure on Sargo/Cel at the end. I'm not satisfied seeing him attend May's birthday party. Other than that, I have no more complains.

Congratulations to the creators of RPG Metanoia! Here's hoping that they continue creating satisfying stories rendered in relevant and meaningful medium in the future!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Official Movie Trailer

Again, the Losyang Librarian

I finally got to watch In My Life, the Vilma Santos-Luis Manzano-John Lloyd Cruz love triangle. In all places, I saw it in a bus bound to Manila. I was on my way back home from Baguio after a successful storytelling session at the public library there. Somewhere on the road between Tarlac or Pampanga, the bus conductor popped a DVD copy of the movie for the entertainment of bored passengers.

It was a good copy. Bluray. The captioning was in English. No grammar mistakes and misspellings. What's more, it was well translated. It was not a pirated copy then. As for the movie, I enjoyed it so much I wrote a review at TCG.

But what I paid close attention to was Vilma Santos' character. This movie is one where the lead happens to be a librarian. It did not revolve on Vilma's character, Shirley, being a librarian though. Her being one was used to a amplify her monotonous and routinary lifestyle. She was once a Physical Education teacher -- lively, active on the go. Then life whipped her with failures and heartbreaks one after the other. Somewhere in between, she underwent a transformation. She retreated to a life made of procedures, processes and structures. Controlled and secure, she thrived in the library as a sarcastic, uncompromising and stoic person. Yes, masungit (grumpy), old fashioned and losyang (unglamorous). Bam! There goes the formula.

Here we see now the typical librarian as a stereotype. Note that in media, stereotypes are used to label something - a brand, a product, an object. Ideas and perspectives, information included, can be labeled as well. It is made. It is constructed. In printing and publishing, a stereotype is a metal plate cast from a model or a matrix. It is constant. It does not change.

Like it or not, the librarian stereotype exist. It will be used to present an idea of the profession as boring and it's practicing professionals far from being dynamic. What worries me more is the possibility of this stereotype to mutate as an archetype.

At the end of the day, we can all say that Vilma Santos' character as the stereotype librarian is merely a representation of an idea or a character used in a movie. But a movie is a form of storytelling. And storytelling is powerful. It does not help that In My Life is a well written and well crafted movie.

This stereotype will stick. The sad thing is, librarians, the ones who breathe and live outside the silver screen are far from the stereotype depicted in the movies and in literature. How can librarians reach their full potentials to portray roles that will help propel their institutions, offices and organizations to achieving its goals when this stereotype exist? How can this stereotype be broken when such a construct is already embeded in the minds of many an administrators and co-workers?

We, librarians, have our work cut out for us.

The 1st Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Trailer

Watch it here!

Time Traveling Librarian

It was early this year when I chanced upon Audrey Niffeneger's book, The Time Traveler's Wife, at Fullybooked. I included it in my mental list of "to read" for this year. Due to some budgetary constraints, I still have not acquired a copy.

I'm inclined to read the book because of it's theme and story line. It's a mixed genre of romance and science fiction, so it would make for an interesting read. What's more, the lead character, Henry DeTamble is a librarian.

I'm bent to get a copy. Even a second hand copy. After reading the Sookie Stackhouse series, I deserve a serious romance novel. Niffeneger's book was adapted into a movie, besides. Eric Bana plays Henry (yum!) and his leading lady, Rachel Adams portrays his wife Claire. Here's the trailer.

A Book. The Kiss. And some skin

Last Wednesday, I came home and found a package with my name on it. There was no return address so I was nervous and excited at the same time. I was transformed to Tatiana Del Torro upon opening the manila envelope. It's not everyday that I get a free book, you see. I could only think of the Filipino Librarian as the sender. Like a true librarian, he sure knows what book I will enjoy reading. To every reader is a book!

In The Stacks is an anthology of short stories about libraries and librarians. Edited by Michael Cart, it boasts of nineteen short stories by this century's premiere writers of fiction (so it says in the blurb). I will hold judgment as to how these writers perceive books, reading, libraries and librarians until the last story. I'm already on the third story in the collection and so far, it's been a satisfying read. Le Guin's The Phoenix left me puzzled. Yet, I am in awe of her discourse and her perspective to human nature's complexity. Calvino's A General In The Library is a timely read as I've been blogging about TGBB 2009.

Yes, yes! I will write a review. This is too good to pass.

So the same goes with the monumental "kissing" scene of Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. Well, at least, for me it is. I am a solid Ron-Hermione fan and I'm thrilled with the news. I hope it beats the Harry-Cho kissing scene from Order of the Phoenix!

Add the movie trailer of New Moon on the pile and my routine induced world shook a bit. Taylor Lautner showed some skin. Woof! Woof! Go Jacob!

When Food Falls From The Sky

Another book to movie adaptation, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Juddi Barrett, is scheduled to hit the big screen (US) on September 19, 2009.



I first read the book in 1994 as a preschool teacher and even saw a version of it in filmstrip format. Talk about growing old. Now, Sony Pictures brings the book to life via 3-D animation. As a reading teacher, I use the book for a lesson on cause and effect with integration on weather, a Science lesson. My students and I always wonder where all the food came from. In the sky, yes, but surely, it does not simply fall down to earth just because. My students would be engaged into thinking of so many possibilities -- from Greek gods and goddesses to alien abductions!

At last, the animated film seem to give an explanation.

Movie Trailer: Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince (Building Momentum)

This has to be the most exciting Harry Potter movie trailer. So far.



I don't remember the book as being extremely dramatic and tumultuous. The visual effects of the trailer made it so. Now I have to reread book six to rediscover old insights and uncover new perspectives. The movie is scheduled to open on July 17, 2009 in the US. With luck, the Asian showing of the movie may just be on the same date.

Let the count down begin!

Let The Wild Rumpus Start!

Maurice Sendak's controversial book from the 60's-70's, Where The Wild Things Are, has been adapted into a movie. From the trailer, Max does not seem to be naughty or impish at all. He looks morose.

Also, there's a scene in the trailer where Max saw a couple kissing. If this implies the reason for Max's escape to where the wild things are, then the movie has taken a great liberty to change some aspect of the story. If Inkheart was Disneyfied, I wonder what gets lost in the translation of this beloved children's book into the big screen.

It sure is worth a watch.

The Ghosts of Christmas

Two of my favorite Christmas movies, Nightmare Before Christmas and The Muppets Christmas Carol, involve ghosts. That only goes to show that Christmas conquers all. In this season of hope, may the spirit of love and generosity rule the soul of the frightful and melt the heart of a hardened Scrooge.

Here is a video clip from Tim Burton's classic, Nightmare Before Christmas.



And here is my favorite song from Jim Henson's The Muppet's Christmas Carol. Scrooge is expertly portayed by Michael Cane by the way.

Another Book to Movie Adaptation

Yup. I've given up my Twilight fixation but I'm still an Edward Cullen fan! There are just some things you can't shake off easily and a "hawt vampire" is one of them. So expect me to watch the Twilight movie in November. After that, there's Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. And then, Inkheart.

Brendan Fraser plays Mo (yummy!). Paul Bettany is Dustfinger (yummy too!) and Andrew Serkis is Capricorn (great actor!) I just hope New Line didn't sanitize Inkheart the way they did The Golden Compass. It's good to be grim. Even in children's literature.