Movie: Matilda

“Matilda” is a film directed by Danny DeVito based on the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl.  Mara Wilson plays Matilda Wormwood, a genius, brilliant and curious little girl who exemplifies to be voracious and hungry for knowledge, unlike her mainstream, tedious and complaining family.  She lives with her mother, Zinnia Wormwood, a sluggish and bottle-blond home shopaholic, her father, Harry Wormwood, a used-car salesman and loud-mouthed who degrades her continuously and Michael Wormwood, her older brother.  Her family cruelly ignores and leaves her alone for a long period of time at a young age.  Reading books from the public library satisfies her eagerness for knowledge. 

At the age of six, the mistreated and ignored Matilda is sent to a school run by a cruel and aggressive principal, Msis Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris).  On the first day of school, she befriends several children and her teacher Miss Jennifer Honey (Embeth Davidtz), a warm soul and adores her pupils, quickly realizes how smart Matilda is.  She also learns of Miss Trunchbull's nature and her unsympathetic and callous punishments of students. To manage with the nastiness of people in her life, Matilda begins to develop her latent psychic abilities.

 In the midst of all the chaos, Matilda finds love and care from her teacher, Miss  Honey.  She nurtures Matilda's potential and encourages her love of education. She also tells Matilda about her past.  Matilda decided to use her telekinetic powers to help Miss Honey, so she trains herself to use her ability at her own will.  

The movie climaxes when Matilda returns to Miss Trunchbull's house, wreaking destruction in an attempt to scare her away. She almost flees, but she finds Matilda's ribbon and realizes that she was there. Miss Trunchbull then visits Miss Honey's class to get Matilda to admit her guilt. She uses her powers to scare her.  After some time, Miss Honey moves back into her childhood home, adopts Matilda and becomes the new headmistress of the school. 

 "Matilda" was a hit movie. The setting of the movie was eccentric and melancholic in order to fascinate and to make it convincing to the viewers.  Moreover, the special effects that were exploited were just of right amount and simple but can be shocking at times.  The world of Matilda might be full of conflict and complications, but it is also full of love and surprises.   Matilda is an extraordinary person who must discover herself how to handle her complicated situation.  Though the movie is motivating, it can also be depressing for there are scenes that showed abuses, abandonment and desertion. The film might be upsetting at times but always overcome with promising and positive messages.  The appealing and affectionate character of Matilda plus the uncaring and unsympathetic attitudes of her family became more exciting and enjoying on screen than in the book.  The eccentric power of Matilda which was shown in a magical and mysterious way made its cinematography a thrilling one.  And the soundtrack was appealing that it suited well each in every part of the scene. 

Mara Wilson as the main character, young as she is was able to portray well the role as Matilda. The innocence and sweetness of her face suited the personality of the role she is playing. Her age contributed a lot because the story revolved mainly about children’s activities which made her easier to act. The director was able to put the movie together making its pacing balance wherein viewers can easily grasp the message of the story.  Although the film is for children, the director made sure that adults will also enjoy and can relate to it. It then turned out to be a classical family film with a timeless story, concrete acting, and a script that hits humor and drama.

             The message of the movie is that – it is not enough that you have a family but you should belong to it.  Belonging or being a part of the family shows your importance as a member.  In the movie, Matilda did not feel that she belongs to the family.  Her parents neglected her and did not even show that she is a part of the family which later found it with Miss Honey.  We may not always have a perfect family but with the effort of trying to be a part of it would somehow make it work.

It is an emotional and heartwarming children’s story made in to the big screen.  The movie is out of ordinary but gained the viewers heart to enjoy it.  It might be fantasy but most of the scenes can be possible to happen. And the overall message is tat good triumphed in the end. 

Editorial: Deadly Rides

One of the most beautiful views in Bantoc are the winding roads of Ifugao and Mountain Province because it offers a breathtaking view of the Cordilleras.  Promoting this to be an eco-tourism destination would be easier if the road is made safer.  The road connecting Banaue to Bontoc and Sagada was improved but remains treacherously contracted and unlit.  There are threats like heavy fog and landslides, moreover driving at night or in the rain are discouraged.

Early Friday morning, a Florida Trans passenger bus with 40 passengers that set out from Sampaloc, Manila plunged into a ravine 120 meter deep while passing a steep stretch road in Sitio Paggang, Barangay Talubin.  Friday evening it was confirmed that 14 out 40 passengers were killed including the comedian, Arvin “Tado” Jimenez.  Officials announced an investigation into the cause of the accident; and as always, results of the probe would doubtfully lead to dramatic improvements in ensuring road transportation safely.

As usual, bus operators will continue to be tightfisted on having a regular maintenance of their vehicles – resulting to frequent tire blowouts and breakdown of brakes.   Aside from that, they will also continue requiring their drivers to go onboard extraordinarily long drives that led some to take drugs to stay awake. After fatal accidents, bus operators can have penalties including fines and suspension of the franchises. But they will also be back in business without changing their company names. 

Recently, we hear from the news almost every week accidents on roads involving buses. This is somewhat rapidly increasing. These fatal accidents happened for a number of reasons that is recurring and monotonous in which many people died and harmed as a consequence of inexperience, overspeeding, intoxication through drink or drugs, plain recklessness and sleepiness of drivers or dangerous roads, sharp curves or steep climbs, wrong infrastructure and lacking of basic safety devices such as sign warnings. 

Whenever I hear news about these accidents I feel sad that there are many people dying because of the carelessness of some drivers. There are also some bus companies that do not take the blame even though it is really their fault.  For me, bus companies should be responsible of  these fatal accidents since people are entrusting to them their lives and this is their line of business.

Bus operators should always educate, and train their drivers the proper way to road precautions and discipline.  I believe that teaching their drivers with many approaches in preventing accidents and proper trainings regarding safe and good driving attitudes and constant reminders would minimize accidents. Having refresher courses for older drivers to bring home safe-driving principles and to refresh their knowledge of traffic law would also help prevent these accidents.  Engineering of vehicles and roads should comprise a regular inspection for a “warrant of fitness” to ensure that the main components of the vehicle are safe. Improving the design of the vehicle to give ease of vision and control to the driver and so reduce the likelihood of injury in an accident and fitting safety equipment, such as seat belts.

In conclusion, the editorial article effectively narrates how accidents happen because of dangerous narrow and unlit roads. With this situation of the roads, many lives of people are taken away.  It is also an eye-opener to everyone especially to drivers that they should always be aware, careful and alert when they are driving especially when they are passing-by a steep, narrow and dark road.

Source: Editorial: Deadly Rides

Book: A Walk to Remember

A Walk to Remember is a novel by the thorough American novelist, Nicholas Sparks. It was released in October 1999. The story revolves with reference to Landon Carter, a bothered teenager who gets into danger with his acquaintances. As sacrament, he was requested to present in the Christmas play for the school, contradictory the apparently ideal pastor’s daughter, Jamie Sullivan, who uttered the crucial words, “Promise you won’t fall in love with me.” Despite the fact that the two have practically nothing in common, they spend time mutually for the play. Subsequently, a friendship flourishes, which almost immediately becomes romance. After spending time with Jamie and falling in love, Landon finds out that Jamie has a dreadful secret that will modify both of their lives eternally. 

The book highlights when both Landon learned that Jamie has been detected with a leukemia and has been agreed only a small amount of months to live. The surprise is torturous to Landon, who promises to say "I do" to her. Jamie’s pastor father is not in favor of the affiliation at the beginning of the tale, but his heart is so alleviated by the loyalty Landon proves to his dying daughter. The so-called “walk” takes place down the aisle, as teenage Landon and Jamie are wedded prior to the ending of the story, not including whichever clue as to whether Jamie lives or dies.

In the novel A Walk to Remember, the central characters take time to become friendly with each other and finish off falling in love. Similar to other writers of matter-of-fact creative writing, Nicholas Sparks expressively connects the readers. Although the account could be decorated as a plain romance, fundamental subject matters provide the story more strength. Landon judges Jaime for being not liked and submissive, while Jaime acts the same for Landon’s esteem. They’re both astonished when they become acquainted with each other better, providing evidence that initial impressions are regularly mistaken. Other themes comprise accomplishing your aspirations and living every day as if it were your very last as Landon assists Jaime live her existence to the fullest.

Thus, an additional premise that is being represented in the novel is that each and every one has the competence to adjust and change, and the approach we influence other individuals.

A Walk to Remember is a work of fiction that you will not desire to place down until you've attained the last page, for the reason that Nicholas Sparks illustrates the bookworms with passions, metaphors, love, and death. For persons who have the benefit of novels that feel your empathy and make you reflect about true life, A Walk to Remember is just the thing for you.

Source: A Walk to Remember

Movie: A Walk in the Clouds

The movie, “A Walk in the Clouds”, is a film directed by Alfonso Arau that won an award for best original score.  Keanu Reeves plays Sgt. Paul Sutton, a war hero who has just returned from war to reunite with his wife Betty (Debra Messing), whom he married just before he shipped off to war.  Tired of the violence of war, he desired a simple and peaceful farm life but his wife insisted that he went back to his former job of being a traveling chocolate salesman.      

It was during his sales trip that he met Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), a beautiful but troubled young woman. Paul learned that the woman left home to obtain a masters degree, fell in love with her professor, got pregnant by him only to be abandoned after learning of her pregnancy.  She was on her way home to inform her family of her condition, but she was terrified of how violently her father Alberto (Giancarlo Giannini), a very traditional and proud man, will react. Taking pity of her, Paul offered to pretend to be her husband and after being introduced to her family he would leave the next day, in that way disgrace will not be much on her but on him for leaving his pregnant wife.  Later he finds out that the Aragons own a large vineyard.   Most of the Aragon family accepted them, especially her Grandfather Don Pedro (Anthony Quinn), but her father was always critical of Paul but Paul remained respectful.  For one reason or another, Paul’s departure kept on being delayed but he did not take advantage of the developing feelings between him and Victoria.  

On the day Paul had to leave, Victoria found the courage to tell her family the truth.   Her father was angry.  Paul returned to his wife only to discover her with another man.   Paul and his wife agreed to divorce since their marriage was a mistake, they rushed to get married because of the war.   He then went back to Victoria ready to marry her only to be met by her father, drunk and full of rage.   He refused to listen to Paul and even threw a lamp at him so that he would leave.  That burned down the vineyard.   All seemed lost, there appears to be no roots to replant.  While everyone else were crying and feeling hopeless, Paul found the last unburned root.  Everyone was thankful and finally Victoria’s father accepted him to the family. 

The movie is unrealistic. Paul, the main character, is an extravagantly chivalrous person.  Uncommon are people like Paul quick to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress, ready to risk life, willing to be exposed to ridicule and severe criticism, but wanting nothing in return, done not out of romantic love but out of idealism and pureness of heart if only to protect the honor of a stranger.  

While Paul may be the main character, it is not he who delivers the most moving dialogue but Victoria’s father when he said “This is the root of your life, the root of your family, you are bound to this land and to this family, my commitment, my honor, my love” as his way of showing his change of heart and finally accepting Paul in to the family.

         It is of the romantic drama story genre with a happy ending.  In the end everything fell in to place.  Love conquered all.   Pureness of heart was rewarded.   And the overall message is that good triumphed in the end.                                                                              

Source: A Walk in the Clouds             

Documentary: Filipino Children Driven to the Streets by Crushing Poverty

 

            You will stumble on children having this condition around the Philippines.  Some are runaways, abandons and are driven because of domestic violence and abuse; these are just few reasons why they are on streets.  No one knows the exact number of street children in the Philippines, but it was estimated that one and a half million children are living in poverty.  A missionary, also a former street boy, tries and helps these children. He easily gained their trust for the reason that he knows how each one of them feel.  Through him, these street children learned to gain confidence in themselves and now experiencing how to be loved and to be cared.  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an organization supporting the less fortunate children is also there to assist and aid them in their situation and lessen their increasing population.

The video successfully showed the life and situation of children living on the street having no parents to care for them, no permanent shelter and nothing to eat thus illustrating their dreadful loneliness and yearning to be loved. It is simply an eye opener to everyone especially to the Filipinos that the number of street children in the Philippines is rapidly increasing. 

Poverty in the Philippines remains a challenge. Once you stepped in to the Philippines, it is impossible for you not to encounter street children.  They are seen everywhere including highways, bridges and even in tourist spots.  You will see children sleeping on the concrete floor and selling Sampaguita all day and all night on the streets instead of spending their time studying and enjoying their childhood.

           Every time I see children on the street I feel sorry for them and I always say to myself that they will not be in that situation if their parents make an effort in improving their lives. Being reliant to the government and other organization such as UNICEF, have always been the resort of such predicament for the Filipino people.  We should not only rely or depend on the government nor blame the government for this arousing problem but we, as citizens must also do our part.

I believe that there are many ways in order to help reduce the number of poverty but it would take a long time and great effort until the population of children living in the streets will lessen.  We should all help each other in coping up with this situation. One little action will surely help our country. We should also remember that – the first step should start from each individual.

 Source: Filipino Children Driven to the Streets by Crushing Poverty