ok. i should have done this before my paper. but o well, i am doing this now.

chick flick anyone?

well, the tried to reinstitutionalize superman... which i believe wasnt the greatest of ideas. however, i do get a sense that they are doing it to show the more human aspect of superman which is of course is an answer to one of the greatest criticism to him as a comic book hero. i dont necessarily think it is a bad thing but when you try to reinstitutionalize something you should make it great.

and the movie, for me, isnt that great. there were elements of it that are not scientifically accurrate. yes, and i could just here you, but justine!! its super hero movie. superman isnt science. yah, he isnt, but in a movie that sits itself in reality, in trying to grasp human elements it should conform to the laws of physics. is there wind in outerspace or not? make up your mind. is he in the earths gravitational field or not? and was lois lane in outer space? i cant remember anymore.

cinematography wise, it wasnt consistent. i didnt get which part is set in the 1970's and which part is supposed to be now, and why? it would have been great though if it was clearer.

is it because i vaguely remember the superman movies? is it my fault? no. why? coz they are showing it now. they're target audience is the new generations. for them to think about and like superman and be addicted to superman collectibles like their dad, uncles or grandfathers did when the movies showed up in the silver screen. today, it is no longer about sci fi effects, it is about consistency and human emotions created by people moved by their own desire to pursue their identity and purpose. it is no longer an excuse that "it is a good comeback movie" because it categorizes it greatness. if there werent any superman movies before, then its not a good movie?

chick flick?

i still love the love story. though now that im grown up (haha) i feel that lois lane's character should be more dynamic, why superman? come one dozen of women loves him, if you are saved by someone that many times, wouldnt you love him? but superman is beyond saving people because for most part its clark kent. for this to be true lois lane should fall in love with Clark Kent first.

now the good things. there rumors, or should i say information out there that suggests that the creators of Superman Returns is equating (?) superman with jesus christ. and yes i agree with the rumor that they are.

first, he died in a position that we will vaguely remember how JC died. two, Savior anyone? he came to save the world and not to condenm it. that is so JC. three, JC's love is for everyone. you will see in the movie that superman is now international. helping and saving people from different parts of the world like uh, MANILA. and yes we need superman! fourth, there are a lot of criticism that this world doesnt need a GOd that religion is the root of all evil, same with lois lane's pulitzer prize winning article "why the world doesnt need superman?" but at the end, the world does need a savior and there is a God. and not believing in one, doesnt erase the fact that something is there. fifth and most important of all. the SON and the FATHER? oh wait. it is a rumor. the creators is not equating him to JC their equating superman with GOD.

God was present with the istraelites before. he was as real to them as the computer in front of you. God manifested in ways that is seen, touched and heard audibly. just like superman and the world. a savior that is physically present. then we people needed more, so he sent Jesus Christ, his only "bigatin" son. the movie showed a passing of power, superman didnt lose his power but he shared it. what is revealed by the father the son will also be revealed. im excited bout the son. haha.

why is this a good thing you ask? email me about your iniquities. annmarie.castillo@gmail.com

still lutang.

little manhattan

some random thoughts...

after watching the movie's trailer, i immediately thought i dont like the central them of the movie and i probably wont watch it in the cinemas. come on, kids talking about love? why can't the world let kids be kids? my outward resentment to the movie stems out from my resentment towards goin' bulilit. that tv show is just scary for me. watching a show that let kids tell jokes about sex, broken marriages and stereotyping is not my idea of a good time nor is it my idea of a good show. what is this world coming to?

one great thing about the movie, is that it made me changed my mind, few movies have achieve that. the movie did talk about love and used a kids perspective which turned out to be a good thing. i admire the crew for this achievement. the movie did not at all scare me. it did not trigger my fear of kids being influenced by the world to experience "life" now and not wait for the right time. yes, this maybe an irrational fear. moving on...

the movie is one of the few that inspired me to think about falling in love. yes, think about falling in love and rekindle my romantic side. it talks about how falling in love is like being a kid and not be afraid to fall. love in the movie is like jumping down from a 3 feet wall, riding a roller coster for the first time, riding the "octopus" in your school fair or wearing the "elephant" pants, it like kids, shouldnt make you think about the consequences. there is no question of, is it safe? will i hurt myself or does this make me look bad?

...no more thinking about it because loving and chasing after someone is the greatest risk, and yes, it will hurt. it will hurt enough for you to want to go the next level or hurt so badly that you want to move a decade back.

...love after all is one of the few things that makes this world magical. again, one of the few things that isnt demystified.

the movie let kids be kids, despite the fact they are talking about falling in love at the age of 10. the way they showed how the two spend time and think they are in love is appropriate for their age. one flaw maybe that the kids are roaming around new york city alone, riding the subway and walking across town. isnt that scary? dont get me wrong, for me the movie isnt for kids. i dont think they would appreciate it as much as those who want to fall in love.

im not "waiting in vain" nor am in a wouldnt-it-be-nice-if-we-were-older phase, im just here, living. however, the movie made me want to experience love and see it in a kids perspective; focus on the feeling, the good kind. at the end or shoudl i say the beginning of it all, people focus on their feeling and hope, believe that it is right. that taking another step is a movement in the right direction. rekindling romance is parallel to the movies ending, wouldnt say it here, something to look forward to.

so much for the theme and plot. the movie's cinematography was also nice. gave the movie a little twist, a little M. Night Shyamalan. it couldnt be compared to other new york city love's story in terms of showing off manhattan. i believe they could have used more places where kids can go. but it helped get the plot going and didnt hinder the movie at all. moreover, they borrowed a little from the "wonder years" which come to think of it is the long version of the movie or the show's movie version (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412922/).

wish i watched it in the cinema.. :)



Full Cast and Crew for
Little Manhattan (2005)

Directed by
Mark Levin

Writing credits (WGA)
Jennifer Flackett

Cast (in credits order)
Josh Hutcherson .... Gabe
Charlie Ray .... Rosemary
Bradley Whitford .... Adam
Cynthia Nixon .... Leslie
Willie Garson .... Ralph
Tonye Patano .... Birdie
J. Kyle Manzay .... Master Coles
Josh Pais .... Ronny
Josh Dossett .... Mickey Telesco
Talia Balsam .... Jackie Telesco

Produced by
Vivian Cannon .... executive producer
Kara Francis .... executive producer
Gavin Polone .... producer
Ezra Swerdlow .... executive producer

Original Music by
Chad Fisher

Cinematography by
Tim Orr

Film Editing by
Alan Edward Bell

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Stuart Wurtzel

Set Decoration by
Diane Lederman

Costume Design by
Kasia Walicka-Maimone

Makeup Department
Donna Marie Fischetto .... key hair stylist