A Secret Affair

PROFILE

* Movie: A Secret Affair

* Director: Nuel Crisostomo Naval

* Writer:  

* Producer: Vic Del Rosario, Vicente Del Rosario III, Veronique Del Rosario-Corpus, June T. Rufino

* Release Date: October 24, 2012

* Distributor: Viva Films

* Language: Tagalog/Filipino, English

* Country: Philippines

PLOT

A Secret Affair involves on the lives of happy couple Rafi Delgado and Anton. On the eve of their wedding, Rafi backs out and seeks solitude in the US. Hurt and confused, Anton starts a physical relationship with Sam Montinola, one of Rafi's friends. Sam's obsession with Anton becomes a problem when Rafi returns and decides she wants to work things out with Anton. How will this love triangle sort itself?

CAST

Main Cast: 

Rafi Delgado - Anne Curtis

Anton - Derek Ramsay

Sam Montinola - Andi Eigenmann

Supporting Cast:

Ellen, Rafi's Mother - Jaclyn Jose

Jimmy, Rafi's Father - Joel Torre

Cate, Sam's Mother - Jackie Lou Blanco 

Manuel - Johnny Revilla

Katie - Jill Yulo

Paula Daza - Say Alonzo

Tim - Tim Yap

Amie Marielle Ignacio - Petra Mahalimuyak

Kevin - Paul Jake Castillo

Miguel - Kian Kazemi

Miggy Bernal - IC Mendoza

Special Participation of:

Nina Girado - herself 

MY POINT OF VIEW:

I first watched this during the first week of its released date. At first, I thought, that's nasty! That's non-sense. I never thought that it really happens in the real world. I thought that the movie was a pure imagination of complicated relationship ruined by cheating and betrayal. 

Then I watched it today, again. My reaction was different already. It was, yeah. That''s true. CHEATING is not an accident, it's a CHOICE.

LESSON:

Sometimes, things in front of us doesn't make any sense right now. But one thing's for sure, one day, we're going to realize it's worth. 

Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?

PROFILE

* Movie: Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?

* Director: Bb. Joyce Bernal

* Writer: Irene Elena Villamor

* Producer: Charo Santos-Concio and Malou N. Santos

* Release Date: July 31, 2013

* Distributor: Star Cinema

* Language: Tagalog/Filipino, English

* Country: Philippines

PLOT

It tells a story of a brainy ugly duckling girl and how she turns into someone who's worth loving. 

CAST

* Kim Chiu - Sandy Veloso

* Xian Lim - Alex Prieto

* Kean Cipriano - Edgardo Cruz 

* Ramon Bautista - himself/taxi driver 

* Freddie Webb - Chief 

* Mylene Dizon - Pamela

* Tonton Gutierrez - Alex's Dad

* Pokwang - Sandy's Mom

* Angeline Quinto - Tangerine

* Ej Jallorina 

* Diane Medina 

* Cholo Barretto

* Jojit Lorenzo 

* Marnie Lapus

* Cheska Inigo

* Cecil Paz

* Sarah Gaugle

MY POINT OF VIEW:

Well the story is somehow typical for me, except for the primary goal of Sandy (Kim Chiu) which is to become a dream girl and not a doormat. I really liked the idea of "THAT" concept to be adapted by film makers since a lot of authors explained it already in books like the novel itself by Mr. Ramon Bautista "Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?".

LESSON: 

Girls, we know that it is difficult to go outside our comfort zone and not being ourselves, but, we deserve better guys! So stop being a doormat! Let's be their DREAM GIRLS. ;)

P.S. Read 'Why Men Love Bitches' by Sherry Argov and 'Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?' by Mr. Ramon Bautista

(c) Wikipedia

Yes or No 2

Profile

• Movie: Yes or No 2 / Yes or No 2: Come Back to Me
• Thai: เยส ออร์ โนว์ 2 : รัก/ไม่รัก อย่ากั๊กเลย (Yes or No: Yaak Rak Yaa Gak Loey)
• Director: Sarasawadee Wongsompetch
• Writer: Nepalee
• Producer: Bundit Thongdee
• Release Date: August 16, 2012 (Thailand)
• Distributor: Come On Sweet Production
• Language: Thai
• Country: Thailand

Plot
Three years later, from the past of story. A Love between Pie (Sucharat Manaying) and Kim (Supanart Jittaleela) isn't bright anymore. Someone new, Yam (Apittha Kalay-udom) and Maysa (Permpreda Sakulsiripong) who will come distraction with them and made something it's complicated.

Cast

• Sucharat Manaying - Pie 
• Supanart Jittaleela - Kim
• Apittha Klay-udom - Jam
• Permpreda Sakulsiripong - Maysa
• Puttipong Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn - Kim's Father
• Bundit Thongdee

My Point of View: 
This movie was of course more sensitive and serious than its part 1, but I really like the conversations, confrontations and its ending. I've absorbed a lot of things here compared to its part 1, but I like them both. I like Jam's character and her acting. Her role wasn't intense like other 3rd party's role but, I like the soft and calm yet it hurts her deep inside. :')

They need to produce it part 3! PLEASE DO SO. :')

Lesson: Tina was right. They do not need legal papers to prove the world that they love each other. In reality, somehow, we really need papers right? Especially for personal and business purposes, but when it comes to loving another person, do we really need to settle legalization first before we accept their love to us? It's a NO right? As long as we can love them back without any condition, I believe that it will do. :)

Yes or No

Profile

• Movie: Yes or No
• Thai: เยส ออร์ โนว์: อยากรักก็รักเลย (Yes or No: Yaak Rak Gaw Rak Loey)
• Director: Sarasawadee Wongsompetch
• Writer: Nepalee
• Producer: Bundit Thongdee
• Release Date: December 16, 2010 (Thailand)
• Runtime: 106 min
• Distributor: Come On Sweet Production
• Language: Thai
• Country: Thailand

Plot

Pie is a sweet girl who moves into a new college dorm room where she finds out that her new roommate Kim, is a tomboy who looks and dress like a boy. As their friendship develops, Pie and Kim begin to wonder if the feeling they feel for one another is just an ordinary friendship or true love.

Cast 

• Sucharat Manaying "Aom" - Pie
• Supanart Jittaleela "Tina" - Kim 
• Arisara Tongborisuth - Jane 
• Soranut Yupanun - Van
• Inn Budokan - Aunt. Inn
• Puttipong Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn - Kim's Father
• Maneerut Wongjirasak - Pie's Mother

My Point of View: 

I know that Thailand highly supports and embraces the LGBT community, but I didn't knew that they would come up with the a movie like this! I have watched some movies with this kind of genre, but I didn't like it as much as I like this one. This movie's uniqueness was its "kilig factor (in Tagalog)" unlike any other LGBT movie. 

I love how Thailand supported the LGBT community with this movie, plus, the characters were so great, the setting, even though the plot is somehow unusual, still, the love story of both parties was exciting! Watch it! :) 

Lesson: 

As long as it is LOVE, especially if it is pure and unconditional love, there isn't wrong with that. 

Davika Hoorne

I saw her in Pee Mak Phra Khanong, and I just want to share, that I was stunned by her beauty.

Can you imagine a pretty ghost?

At first of course I cannot imagine liking her, I thought she was just a normal courageous actress who's willing to act a ghost. But hell no! After the movie, I looked for her pictures, and it blew me away! She's too pretty for being just a ghost! I am really looking forward to see her more often in films.

Davika Hoorne, if you're reading this blog from out of any reason (and I will be honored if that time comes), please visit Philippines! And if ever the time comes that I am already a Film Maker/Director/Producer, can you work with me? It will be a pleasure to me and to my nation! I would love to work with you!

These are her pictures from Google. *Credits to owners

BONUS:

She's a beauty. Right? :)

Pee Mak Phra Khanong

Profile

• Movie: Pee Mak Phra Khanong
• Thai: พี่มากพระโขนง
• Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun
• Writer: Banjong Pisanthanakun , Chantavit Dhanasevi
• Producer:
• Release Date: March 28, 2013 (Thailand)
• Runtime: 118 min.
• Genre: Comedy / Horror
• Distributor: GTH
• Language: Thai
• Country: Thailand

Plot

In the Rattanakosin Kingdom, Mak (Mario Maurer) leaves his pregnant wife Nak (Davika Hoorne) to join the war and meets four soldiers who become his best friends. During this time, his wife Nak struggles to give birth to their baby.

When the war ends, Mak invites his friends to visit Phra Khanong and meet his beautiful wife Nak. Meanwhile, rumors fly around town that Nak is a ghost. His four friends and villagers trying to tell Mak that his wife is already dead.

Cast

• Mario Maurer - Mak
• Davika Hoorne - Nak
• Nattapong Chadpong
• Wiwat Kongrasri
• Kantapat Seeda
• Pongsathorn Jongwilas

My point of view: 

I was moved by Nak and Mak's love story. It defines a good and sincere romance story. In reality, there are a lot of couples who does like that, promising to die and follow the dying lover. But in the end, the one who got left behind stayed happy for the rest of their lives.  The end was of course really fictitious for Nak lived with the normal people, with Mak and his friends.

I so love the flashback. I thought there would be no flashback anymore. Cause I thought that there would be too little revelations for flashback. But I was so wrong! I liked the part wherein Mak revealed that he already knew that Nak was a ghost. And yet, he still loved her with all of his heart. Although it was just a movie, it was still great art though. 

* I've tried to read some articles about this movie being based on a true story. About Mak (a.k.a. Lady Mak), a ghost in Phra Khanong district in Thai Folklore. It made me curious enough to read the page. Based on WWW. The movie is really a true story. And that made me like this movie more. :) 

Lesson: 

Love doesn't have to require a normal and living person. When the other person isn't present anymore, and you continue to love that person, that must be TRUE LOVE. 

Secret

Profile

• Movie: Secret
• Chinese: 不能說的秘密 (Bu neng shuo de. mi mi)
• Director: Jay Chou
• Writer: Jay Chou, Chi-long To
• Producer: William Kong
• Cinematographer: Pin Bing Lee
• Release Date: July 27, 2007
• Runtime: 102 min
• Language: Mandarin
• Country: Taiwan

Plot

Ye Xianglun (Jay Chou), a music student majoring in piano, transfers to Tamkang (Danjiang) Secondary School. It is a school famous for musically talented students, especially in piano. On the first day of school, as he wanders through the piano building, he hears a mysterious melody being played that leads him to Lu Xiaoyu (Kwai Lun-mei), another piano major. When he asks her about the song she was playing, she tells him that it is a secret that cannot be told. The two develop a relationship that is clouded in mystery. When Xianglun tells Xiaoyu about the demolition of the piano building on graduation day, she teaches him the mysterious song. One day, Lun gets a photo of Yu, but what surprises him is that Yu is standing next to his father on the photo! The secrets behind Yu and the mysterious melody are going to be unlashed...

Cast

• Jay Chou - Ye Xianglun
• Lunmei Kwai - Lu Xiaoyu
• Anthony Wong Chau-Sang - Chiu
• Alice Tzeng - Qing Yi

My point of view: 

I never thought that this movie was a fictitious one, but that fictitious twist made it so unique and outstanding! The movie was so unpredictable, and hence, there wasn't a scene that was dull. Every moment took my breath away. Must watch! 

This movie was nominated as "Best Asian Film" in 27th Hong Kong Film Awards. There you have it. Enjoy! ;)

Lesson: 

For every story of mystery, there's a secret that puts them into misery.

"Follow the notes upon the journey

At first sight marks one’s destiny

Once the voyage comes to an end

Return lies within hasty keys"  

- Secret 2007

A Moment To Remember

Profile

• Movie: A Moment to Remember
• Revised romanization: Nae Meorisokui Jiwoogae
• Hangul: 내 머리속의 지우개
• Director: John H. Lee
• Writer: Kim Young-Ha, John H. Lee
• Producer: Cha Seung-Jae, No Jong-Yoon, Kim Sang-Min, Lee Young-Pil
• Cinematography: Lee Joon-Kyu
• Release Date: November 5, 2004
• Runtime: 117 min.
• Genre: Romance / Melodrama / Tearjerker
• Production Company: Sidus Pictures, CJ Entertainment
• Distributor: CJ Entertainment
• Language: Korean
• Country: South Korea

Plot

27-year-old fashion designer Soo-Jin (Son Ye-Jin) goes into a convenience store to buy a Coke, but accidentally leaves it on the counter. Remembering the Coke, Soo-Jin walks back to the store and sees a man (Jung Woo-Sung) walking out of the store with a can of Coke. Soo-Jin, believing the drink is hers, snatches it from the man's hand and downs the drink in one gulp. Later on the bus, Soo-Jin remembers that she also left her wallet at the convenient store. When goes back to retrieve her wallet, the clerk hands her the wallet and the can of Coke she left behind. Ooops.

One day, while surveying a construction site that her father is in charge of, Soo-Jin sees the same man she mistakenly believed took her drink. The man's name is Chul-Soo and is he the foreman at the construction site. Soo-Jin begins to fall for Chul-Soo and begins to woo him. A relationship develops and Soo-Jin and Chul-Soo eventually marries.

Life seems great for the couple, but Soo-Jin's forgetfulness worsens and she soon learns she a rare form of Alzheimer’s.

Cast

• Jung Woo-Sung - Cheol-Su
• Son Ye-Jin - Su-Jin
• Baek Jong-Hak - Seo Young-Min
• Lee Seon-Jin - Jung An-Na
• Park Sang-Gyu - Mr. Kim
• Kim Hee-Ryeong - Mother
• Seon Ji-Hyun - Jeong-Eun
• Kim Bu-Seon - Madam Oh
• Kim Joong-Ki - Section Chief Cha
• Hyun Young - Yu-Na
• Park Mi-Suk - Ji-Hyun
• Shin Cheol-Jin - Manager Park
• Jin Yong-Ok - construction worker 1
• Shin Hyun-Tak - construction worker 3
• Kwon Byeong-Kil - Ph.D Lee
• Oh Gwang-Rok - bum at station
• Jung Min-Sung - passerby on cellphone
• Choi Gyo-Sik - public officer
• David McInnis - model

My Point of View: 

I so love this movie! The story shows true and pure love which doesn't ask anything in return. For me, that kind of love is eternal. *Uh speechless. This is a must watch movie also. ;) 

Lesson: Always hold on. 

“Forgiving is giving your hate a little room in your heart.” 

- A Moment To Remember 2004

Hear Me

Profile

• Movie: Hear Me
• Chinese: 听说 (Ting Shuo)
• Director: Fenfen Cheng
• Producer: Peggy Chiao
• Release Date: August 28, 2009
• Runtime: 109 min.
• Language: Mandarin
• Country: Taiwan

Plot

Two deaf sisters support each other, while older Xiao Peng attempts to become a swimmer for the Deaflympics. Younger sister Yang Yang stands nearby ready to support her in anyway possible.

A young man named Tian Kuo comes by delivering lunch boxes to the swimming team. He takes an interest in the younger sister Yang Yang and soon a relationship develops between the two. But when younger sister Yang Yang realizes she has been drifting away from older sister Xiao Peng she breaks off her relationship with Tian Kuo .

Cast

• Ivy Chen - Yang Yang
• Eddie Peng - Tian-kuo
• Yanxi Chen - Xiao Peng
• Lo Bei-an
• Mei Shiu Lin

My Point of View: 

This movie was not different from the movie produced by Philippines, "Paano ko Sasabihin" starred by my favorite actor Enchong Dee and Erich Gonzales. But the impact of the movie still differs. The concept may not new to me anymore but the feelings, emotions and the commitment of the actors and actresses here is a whole new thing. Thumbs up! Must watch!

Lesson: ASK.