5th Row from the Screen

War Zone

The Lord is calling a new breed of generation to rise up. As the Lord will train this new breed, the old ones will rise up together with this generation, raising up a new culture as "they will be totally in submission to the tactics I will give them for the war of this season for they will have an new sound that is even grather, as they will unite and tie up. For I will be the One to get in between the gap of these two generation for My love will drive both of them just to follow My leading."

War will be a lifestyle for this generation as they will not even doubt the tactics nor even feel weird of the type of commands the Lord will give for they will not even have a hint of struggle for they know that the battle is not theirs, because love is in their hearts and there is too much love that fear has vanished for they have a war cry that the battle of love has never ended but will be a way to fight as the enemy falls to his defeat There will be a great cry of victory for the Lord will bring us to a higher test and through it we will enter to a new level of promise land. The cry is the Lord's. Victory has been given to us for the glory is His and His alone.

Amazement will be a thing of the past for it will ony be the past generation that will be amazed, for this new breed will just rise up and it will be their lifestyle. Nothing will stand in between love for there will be no fluctuation of faith for it will even be from glor to glory. As their love increases, the war will increase, but the battle is still the Lord's.

"I'm raising up conquerors and no one can boast for it will be a lifestye. None shall fall in mere sin but will rise up for they know the heart of their Lord."

Everything will be new but new will be a lifestyle. A new type of living will rise up that there will be no toleration to sin but they will open it up to the light so just be ready, older generation, to accecpt them for who they are, for your hearts will dismay them but they are still mine. For you are to accept them as they have a different sound as you do. Older generation will not compete with them for they will just train them. They will be amazed that there will be a triple anointing in them, from the older generation.

All types of mountains will be reached. The tactic of the enemy will place a distortion on the communication upon the line but this generation will heed no matter how noisy the line is, for they know the voice of their Father, for intimacy is their breath of life. For them a single second without his voce is death to them and it hurts them as if they were dead. Their cry is a lifestyle for there is a total completeness for the Lord has completed their will for there hearts is totally attuned with the Creator. Walls will bow down as they pass through them. Mountains will sit down as they war in the spirit and prophesy victory. More than victory is upon them. Grace is their oil to survive this war.

The destuction of the enemy's camp will be nothing for them but a lifestyle, for they know they have a partner who won it for them. They live in a sphere of vague presence of the Lord -- in there they worship and war for their generation; in there they battle... and battle is already won because of the greatness of the Lord. The enemy can't stand no more and try to kill and wipe out the whole generation but this generation does not even fear death, for they have ovecome death and they are ready to be with the Lord as they will do their purpose fully in the Lord, for there is no more waste of time for they have redeemed the time fully.

from a nameless, faceless prophet

As I Lay Dying, I Prophesied

The valley of dry bones is going to be a battlefield where the destinies of many will be waged war on. As those who speak life to the dry bones speak, there will be instantaneous regeneration of flesh – in a twinkling of an eye, not gradual. I see the bones – as soon as they hear the words of life spoken – leap up and became warriors of flesh and blood… and spirit. As those who have come to the valley to speak life to the dry bones are speaking, others [those who have heard the call and have awakened] are helping the risen warriors and equipping them and leading them to the thick of the battle. I see angels battling alongside the warriors of God – waging war against demons, principalities… and the devil himself. Many are now rising up and are rushing to meet the horde of the enemy face on – fearless ones standing on their God-given identities and donning the full armor bravely – ready to give their lives for their promised land.

There is going to be a "take no prisoners" attitude in the hearts of the young warriors who have risen up and taken up sword and shield to war. There is going to be no fear of death – for death will be no longer an issue for the brave ones. There will be such a strong spirit of unity among them that at the mere sight of seeing God's soldiers march – no, run – towards their enemy, will make the demons tremble where they stand. There will be no room for an "every man for himself" attitude but each will prefer the other in love, protect each other's back in love, fight alongside each other in love, draw swords together in love, strike at the enemy in love… OVERCOME IN LOVE!

Strategies. Much power. Wisdom. The generals have been equipped and so are their foot soldiers. The Lord has downloaded His heavenly strategies for war and the generals have discerned it. As these strategies are now being applied, much power will be released upon those who will risk all in this war. Wisdom – to know how to strike and to know how to win – has been appropriated to each warrior, and they will fight with great accuracy and precision that not one swing of the sword will be wasted, but each blow will be felt by the kingdom of darkness, reverberating all the way to Satan's throne… if there ever was one.

I see more and more dry bones being restored; more and more rising up and rushing to the heart of the battle; more and more hearing the trumpet call and the beat of the war drums; more and more taking up their weapons; more and more running alongside others who have once fallen asleep but are now awakened by the blood of the Lamb.

I see feet running. I see banners of victory in the air. I see swords, swords, swords drawn, brandished in the air. I hear shouts of victory. I hear loud cries of desperation. I hear hearts resounding their battle cry. I see an army… undefiled… united… unafraid… unwavering… unyielding… unrelenting… unwilling to leave the battlefield without claiming their already won victory.

Seek and destroy. That's one of God's strategies. As we seek Him first, as we seek His kingdom first – and find the intimacy to hear His voice and know His heart – He will add all the other things unto us. It is in intimacy that we know who He is. It is in intimacy that we know who we are. It is in intimacy that we learn how to war, contend and destroy the kingdom of the enemy. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and see the camp of the enemy DESTROYED!

There will be a strong spirit of brotherhood among the warriors in this battlefield. There will no longer be a distinction between generations. Instead, the young and the old generations will fight side by side, hand in hand – fathers united with sons; sons one with their fathers. This war is a big family affair, with God the Father as overseeing His warriors, and His Son, Jesus the commander-in-chief.

Families are being united. Families are coming together like fingers coming to a fist. Where there used to be broken homes, God will restore love and unity and build an army in each household. Fathers will take up their mantle of leadership and rule. Fathers will teach and raise up warriors in their homes and train the hand of their sons and daughters for war. Fathers will take their position of being the head, not the tail, in families. Fathers will prophesy life to their children, speak words of life to them, show them the ways of God, instruct them in true worship, give identity and purpose, hone and sharpen their children as arrows so they can shoot them off – ready and prepared and equipped – to the battlefield. Fathers will produce mature warriors, not immature babies. Fathers will raise up strong worshipers, rabid intercessors, fervent kingdom seekers, fiery evangelists, loving shepherds, and intimate lovers of God. Fathers will walk in their God-given destiny and mantles! SO BE IT!!!

Generals as young as 12 and 13 are rising up. God isn't minding age. He doesn't set age limits because He is no respecter of persons. These young generals will strike at the enemy and the enemy will be surprised to see such empowered youth – filled with the Spirit of God, unafraid of facing the demons, emboldened by the love of God in their lives.

As the forerunners have run, many will follow. Seeing the courage of those that have gone before, will stir up the hearts and spirits of those that will come after. The Lord is raising up forerunners who will understand what it takes to go before everyone else; forerunners who know what the cost is; forerunners who are willing to leave every little bit of comfort just to see their nation changed and redeemed for the Lord.

As I see the soldiers, the warriors again on the battlefield, they continue to run to the fight; they continue to contend against the enemy; they continue to wage war for freedom in the land. As they do so, a huge wave of white water rushes from behind them and runs through them, but they are not harmed. Instead, it invigorates, refreshes and strengthens them. The mighty rushing waters fuels them and enables them to stand firm on every word of God as they persist in the war. But for the enemy and his soldiers, the waves of the river wipe them out and obliterate them into nothingness – easily! The river will make the fighting much easier for the warriors of God, for this river brings life for those who are in Christ, and destruction for those who are of the devil. LET THE RIVER FLOW, GOD!!!



from a nameless, faceless prophet

Christmas is Forever

It's that time of the year again! Christmas is just around the corner... and so is our Christmas cantata.

I would like to invite you all to come and witness how wonderful God's plan is when He conceptualized Christmas, as we present...

Christmas is Forever
a Christmas Cantata
December 8, 2007, Saturday
at SM City Cebu Cinema 1
Matinee @ 4pm
Gala @ 7pm

Admission is Free.

Come and be blessed!

Stardust

Rating: 5 out of 5

Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

I just came from the theater where I caught a screening of Stardust and I must say this fairy tale really didn't behave! It starts off like any typical movie in this genre would and pretty much runs you through a very exciting narrative that has many twist and turns not typical to any film in the fantasy genre.

Despite having read the numerous positive reviews of the film, my experience with Stardust was in no way spoiled as I found the movie very entertaining, engaging and exciting.

Ten reasons:

1. Good narrative - Stardust tells the story of a young shop boy named Tristan (Charlie Cox) who finds himself on an adventure he never expected to be involved in, when he decides to find a falling star to present to the woman he wants to marry. It's basically the tried and tested tale of a hero on a quest, of swords and magic, of finding one's destiny and true love, but the way it was told on screen -- by director Matthew Vaughn and fellow screenwriter Jane Goldman -- turned the simple story into an amazing motion picture event. I loved the exposition and the unfolding of the events in this film.

2. Claire Danes - This is probably the first time I've ever liked Claire Danes a lot. The closest she's gotten to getting my affections was in Shopgirl. Here in Stardust, she's just awesome. I think she did a great job as fallen-star Yvaine and was able to convey the essence of the character. I can see why John Campea wants to marry her after watching this movie.

3. Charlie Cox - I've never seen this guy in films before so I don't have any basis of comparison from his previous acting gigs. However, his on-screen presence and chemistry with Danes, and his ability to carry himself well against Hollywood heavyweights Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer tells a lot about his thesping abilities. I'm expecting great things in the future in Cox's career.

4. The Seven Princes - And I don't mean just the cool names. These guys are one of the film's comic reliefs and it was fun watching them scheme and elbow their way to the throne of Stormhold. Talk about sibling rivalry.

5. Robert De Niro / Captain Shakespeare - Man! You are going to see a completely different Robert De Niro here. At first you'd think his Captain Shakespeare character would be another addition to his long list of strong characters he's done in the past. But no! This tough guy has a heart -- you can see that on his face in one scene. (*winks*) I now believe that De Niro can do anything. Hahaha!

6. Michelle Pfeiffer / Lamia - Yes! We already know Michelle Pfeiffer is an excellent actress, just as we know it is freezing cold in the North Pole. Still, it is fun to watch Pfeiffer have fun with the character she's given to portray -- that of cold-hearted witch Lamia who would stop at nothing to get what she wants. She leaves her signature in this film: that of taking a role and running away with it.

7. Production values - Everything in Stardust from the costumes to the sets to the visual effects to the props to the music and sound effects were done well -- IMO, at least -- and made the finished product outstanding.

8. Life lessons/principles - I loved the scene where Dunstan Thorn (Nathaniel Parker) was telling Tristan about his mother. As the Dunstan told his son of his family history (and giving the letter Tristan's mother wrote for him as an infant), I saw a picture of a father giving identity to his son, speaking destiny and blessing to him. It was one of my favorite scenes in the film.

I also liked the way Tristan found his true love. Initially, he had his heart set on a girl from his town, but as he went on his journey with Yvaine he discovers that what he was looking for was right before his eyes. And it's like that in life. Sometimes what we are seeking all along is right there before us, but there is a sort of journey one has to go through to discover that truth. If we're not willing to go through the journey, we may never know what's right there in front of us. Tristan "found" Yvaine because they journeyed together. I love this aspect of the film.

9. Rule the World - A bit of a welcome surprise for me was the end credit song "Rule the World" sung by Take That -- a boy band I used to be crazy about. At first I thought it was George Michael singing the song, but four lines into it I realized it was Gary Barlow expressing the heart of the movie into song. Thank you for the little surprises, Lord!

10. Matthew Vaughn - Yes! After watching this movie, I now believe that Matthew Vaughn could've done a better job with X-Men: The Last Stand as he said he could've. He could have sprinkled a lot of star dust over X3. Oh well.

Stardust gets a five-star rating from me because it was a well-balanced film. It was well done, well acted and well directed. And there are more aspects of the movie that viewers will certainly love.

Lost [Season 3]

Rating: 5 of 5

Category:

Other

I went on a Lost: Season 3 marathon over the weekend (on DVD, as I wasn't able to follow the show's TV airing) and, man, has this show become even more mind-boggling. From the initial, first season question of "where are we?", which was on the minds of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, the series has morphed that curiosity into "what is going on on this island?"

After the final few minutes of Lost: Season 3 (S3), it still maintained its position as my favorite TV show of all time. Here are 10 reasons why.

The Others
One of the greatest mysteries that remained unanswered in the first two seasons of Lost was the identity of the pre-crash inhabitants of the island known as the Others. The first season gave us a glimpse of them in the person of Ethan (William Mapother), who had infiltrated the camp of the survivors. In season two, more of the Others are seen. At the end of the second season, it was revealed that Henry Gale turned out to be the leader of the said group. The third season did not only identify Gale as Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson), the only remnant of the Dharma Initiative, but also dug deep into the history of the Initiative and how Ben came to his position of leadership. I think S3 offered a lot of exposition on the Others – which was good – but at the same time left certain aspects unanswered to leave viewers wanting to know more.

Survivor secrets
S3 also shed a lot of light on some of the survivor’s lives before experiencing the crash and the island. As always, the flashbacks provided more insight into the existence of the castaways making room for more understanding of each one’s actions and motivations. I particularly enjoyed the explanation of how Locke (Terry O’Quinn) ended up in a wheel chair and why Jack (Matthew Fox) has that left shoulder tattoo. I also liked the back-story between Sun (Yunjin Kim) and Jin (Daniel Dae Kim), and how it made their pre-island history one of the series' more colorful ones – figuratively and literally. I really got a sense of who these characters are now, and, with the escalation of events on the island and the revelation of their past struggles and conflicts, I got to care about them even more.

More mysteries
All 24 episodes of the third season threw in different theories and possible explanations to the ongoing mysteries behind the show: What is this island? Where is it located? What was the Dharma Initiative really up to? Are the survivors of the plane crash really survivors? Or are they all dead and suffering different degrees of eternal damnation? Many of the island’s mysteries have been answered, particularly in this season, but with every answer come another set of questions that bring the characters – and the viewers of the series – deeper into the secrets of this show. Whatever the answers may be, though, it will always remain a fact that the questions and unknowns in this show throws out will keep interest in the series alive. Why? Because people love mysteries; they love exploring the unknown in an attempt to place logic in the illogical. Such is the nature of man.

The love square
In the first two seasons, the existing romantic tension in the show existed between Jack, Kate (Evangeline Lilly) and Sawyer (Josh Holloway). In S3, they changed that dynamic by putting Juliet Burke (Elizabeth Mitchell) in the mix. Sure, Kate and Sawyer finally hooked up in the first six episodes, but Jack wasn't exactly inactive himself. This aspect of the season definitely moved the three main characters' story-lines forward.

Benjamin Linus / Michael Emerson
The character and the actor. Both were exceptional. Ben was wonderfully written; Emerson portrayed him masterfully. And, yes, he steals the show each time. Whenever I see Emerson on screen, I have no problem believing him as the leader of the Others -- the actor really owns the role. He deserved his Emmy nod.

Pacing
I read many of the fans' reactions to the first six episodes of S3, saying it was too slow, focused too much on the captivity of Jack, Sawyer and Kate at the camp of the Others. But for me it actually served the series well, as it thoroughly introduced the Others -- particularly Ben and Juliet -- for viewers to get a grasp of who these guys are. I also liked how they shifted gears after Episode 6 and brought back the usual pacing of previous seasons. The series gets moving from here on in after giving the viewers more understanding of the survivors, the Others and the island. The producers of the show did a great job starting with slow -- but great -- exposition, then picking up the pace at the middle part with mounting pressure and concluding with cliff-hanging tension. Loved it.

More characters
As with Season 2, S3 introduced many new characters and gave some more exposure, which made the story and the interactions even more interesting. Aside from my favorite Other, Benjamin Linus, I also liked the addition of Juliet and how she impacted Jack as a person and as a leader. I enjoyed the way the character of Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) was given more air time and how he became one of the central characters in this season. I even liked the duo of Nikki and Paulo (Kiele Sanchez and Rodrigo Santoro, respectively) despite their short-lived roles in S3. Each of these new players/expanded roles added more variety and character dynamics to Lost.

Six degrees of separation
It is unbelievable how some of the characters in the show are closely interconnected to each other. For example, who knew the Jack and Claire (Emilie de Ravin) were half-siblings, or that Locke's father was (partly) responsible for Sawyer's becoming a conman. It's just really amazing how the writers of Lost managed to play six degrees of separation between these characters. I wouldn't be surprised if, in Season 4, producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse make Jack and Ben first cousins... or something. Hahaha. Far-fetched? You can never tell. Anything can happen in the Lost universe.

Charlie's death
This, for me, is one of the series' highlights. I don't mean just the death itself, but the build up leading to it. Charlie Pace's (Dominic Monaghan) storyline has always been dynamic -- his victory against drug addiction, memories of his life as a rock star, his gradual transformation from heroin junkie to hero -- and his death at the end of S3 was a fitting and noble way for the character to exit the series.

Twist ending
The last scene of S3 shows Jack's life after the island (so they do get off the island. or at least Jack and Kate does based on that epilogue). That certainly puts an unexpected twist to the series. I loved how this ending raises a lot of questions about the flow and consistency of Lost. I personally am kind of shaken that there was an "out" from the island. However, we can never tell what the producers of the show will do in the next season. So, I'll just keep my speculations, theories and head-scratchings to myself.

Regardless, Lost: Season 3 managed to keep viewers (me in particular) entertained, intrigued and mesmerized by the goings-on on the island. This is one of the most intense shows on television that – up to the last five minutes of its third season – maintained its air of mystery and tension. That’s an excellent preparation for the next chapter of the story.

I can’t wait to hear “previously on Lost” precede the pilot episode of Season 4.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Rating: 4 of 5

Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

The fifth film in the series, based on the fifth book of the series, is more for adults -- and older teens -- than it is for young children. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is paced more like a drama with some action than an action film with some drama. It is the most notable difference between this one and the preceding four films.

I enjoyed the way the story was told and, although not as visually flashy as Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban or Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix has its own charm and qualities that set it apart from the other four.

First off, the music. I came in the theater with the end credits rolling. The music played was the one used in the scene where the Weasley twins disrupted the O.W.L.s. It gave me a sense of excitement for the film. Going through the movie proved that sense of excitement and much more. There was drama, action, drama, special effects, and drama. And that was all conveyed well through Nicholas Hooper's score -- especially the drama. ;o)

The director. Being sourced from the same series, there would understandably be a sense of coherence in the five films. And yet there has always been a certain distinction in the way each of the four helmers handled their respective Potter films. Each director left their mark in the series. Chris Columbus established a lot in Sorcerer's Stone and improved on them in Chamber of Secrets. Alfonso Cuaron did a good job translating the darker tone of Prisoner of Azkaban into film. Mike Newell handled the action-packed Goblet of Fire wonderfully. David Yates managed to turn Order of the Phoenix into an engaging plot-driven movie without relying heavily on special effects or action to move the story forward.

I loved the fact that Yates took time to develop the character moments as it allowed the audience to take in the emotion of those scenes and, in essence, the emotion of the entire movie. This is one of the qualities that made Order of the Phoenix stand out, IMO. And probably the same reason why producers of the series are bringing Yates back for the Half-Blood Prince.

The cast. One of the factors that make the Harry Potter films interesting is its cast. From the first movie to this one, producers have always managed to get the best British thespians to play key roles in the movies. The addition of Helena Bonham Carter and Imelda Staunton makes the growing cast list of the series seem like a who's who of the finest actors in the UK. I particularly enjoyed Staunton's performance as Dolores Umbridge -- she's the standout character in this film. Also notable in the acting department is Daniel Radcliffe in the title role and Evanna Lynch as the irresistibly sweet Luna Lovegood. The rest of the players also did a good job with their respective parts.

The effects. There are fewer visual effects shots here than in the previous films but whenever you see those shots, your attention would most certainly by captured. Most eye-catching for me was Professor Dumbledore's (Michael Gambon) escape through phoenix fire and the confrontation between Dumbledore and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) towards the end of the show. Kudos to the visual effects people.

Themes. From a personal perspective, I found some relevant themes in the movie that mirrored some of the things I believe in life. First, the importance of prophecies. In the film, Voldemort was after a prophecy, which only Harry Potter could retrieve from the Department of Mysteries. Prophecies can be a warning, an instruction or an encouragement. They are uttered to edify those for whom it was prophesied. In Harry's case, the prophecy was part warning and instruction to him and for He Who Shall Not Be Named as well. I believe Voldemort understood its importance which is why he was bent on getting the prophecy from its resting place.

Second, the importance of knowing the truth before making judgments. At the beginning of the movie, many students and teachers at Hogwart's (and practically everyone in the magical community) doubted Harry's confession of the Dark Lord's return -- thanks mainly to the stories published by The Daily Prophet. I saw in those series of scenes how we can sometimes jump the gun on making up our minds about certain situations and people in our lives -- we can become one-sided and make hasty decisions, which isn't good. However, towards the end of the film, some of the individuals who initially doubted Harry saw the light -- and the Dark Lord himself -- and finally believed that the Boy Who Lived was not a boy who lied.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix continues the series on a high note and pushes it further in preparation for the last two films. Many plot points in this film were elaborated and logically connected to plot points of the previous four movies, making it more of a dramatic film than an actioner. It didn't fall short of portraying important themes -- friendship, trust, standing up for what's right -- that many could learn from. And on top of that, the promise of director David Yates's return for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince -- assuring fans of the films of something better and more exciting.

Transformers

Rating: 5 of 5

Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

Before anything else, I would just like to say that top billing for this review goes to Napoleon and Cherylynn, my "chaperones" to the opening night of this film.

- - - - -

Transformers was an unexpectedly entertaining summer blockbuster. When I heard last year that Hollywood was coming up with a live-action version of the beloved robots in disguise, I wasn’t quite excited about the concept of the film. However, I made plans to watch the movie anyway since I am a regular patron of the slew of cinematic centerpieces big movie studios dish out during the summer season.

The film came out. I saw it on opening night. And Transformers conquered the box-office, surprisingly. The Cybertronian robots went on a rampage – entertaining moviegoers of all ages along the way – as the Autobots and Decepticons took their intergalactic battle to the streets of the America. But what was it exactly that made this Steven Spielberg-produced, Michael Bay-directed movie live up to its tagline, “more than meets the eye”? What were the elements of this film that drew the audiences into its universe and held them there for 2 hours and 15 minutes? From the very first frame of the film to the very last, I found Transformers to be an interesting movie. Here are some reasons.

First of all, images of fighting robots that can convert themselves into various types of transportation have never been depicted in a dynamic and eye-catching way as the robots in this film have been. This, I believe, made Transformers a big hit to the viewing audience. The animation of the Autobots and the Decepticons was done so well, it invigorated the imagination of moviegoers. I thoroughly enjoyed every time the robots would transform, get into battle mode and used the many arsenal they had tucked away in their mechanical frames.

Second, the uncomplicated story and how it was told. The script was not by any means Oscar-material, but it was simple enough for a summer blockbuster audience to take in, and told well enough for lovers of good narrative to appreciate. It was straightforward enough to be summarized as follows: advanced, alien robots – good Autobots and bad Decepticons – from a planet called Cybertron came to Earth in search for a great power source – the Allspark – which had been lost for ages; the quest involved a young man named Sam, who eventually helps the Autobots defeat the Decepticons and their leader, Megatron. You can’t get any plainer than that.

Third, the relevant themes and principles in the movie. For me, this is what made the film very meaningful. Many statements and symbolisms resonated with things that I believe in. Here are a few:

“More than meets the eye” – the film’s tagline, which was also quoted by Sam (Shia LaBeouf) and Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen), to me says a lot about looking beyond the surface, seeing a person’s character – who they are inside is what really counts.

“No sacrifice, no victory” – the Autobots’ battle motto sounds a lot like “no guts, no glory” but it rings true, nonetheless. In life, each one of us is called to give up something, to sacrifice what we want the most to accomplish a higher objective, a lofty goal. This was depicted vividly first when Optimus Prime offered his life to save many by allowing the use of his body to destroy the Allspark, and then when Sam sacrificed his safety and his life to keep the Allspark from the Decepticons. There can be no real victory without sacrifice.

“You are a soldier now!” – Captain William Lennox’s (Josh Duhamel) call to arms for Sam, who, toward the end of the film, was given the daunting task of keeping the Allspark safe and away from Megatron and his lackeys. Hesitant about taking a key part in the raging battle, Sam was encouraged to step up and join the ranks of the soldiers fighting for the protection and preservation of life on Earth. At some point in our lives, we will be required to heed the call to rise up and take arms to defend what is right.

Overall, Transformers was unexpectedly entertaining, easily digestible and honorably themed. It went beyond robots running around and big explosions galore. This film’s heart made it exciting and endearing to me. Transformers is truly more than meets the eye.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Rating: 2 of 5

Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

Just one question: why the hell did they bring Tim Story back??? WHY???

The script was lame and lacked drama. So it would follow that the acting also suffered... severely.

The directing was horrendous. The word hodge-podge comes to mind. A palpable sense of coherence was terribly missing. The first film was way better.

The effects were okay. I was half-disappointed I watched this film. The other half... was REALLY SORRY I watched this.

YOU GUYS FROM FOX NEVER LEARN!

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE A MESS OUT OF YOUR TENT-POLE FRANCHISES!

Come on!!!

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Rating: 4 of 5

Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

It was better than The Curse of the Black Pearl but second only to Dead Man's Chest. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End has all the elements that made the first and second parts of the series fun to watch.

There is no questioning the presence of excitement in this movie -- it is there! Action is almost nonstop and the visuals were just as awesome as ever. And that Johnny Depp! Still as impeccable with his acting.

But I think the film suffered from too much exposition. There was just too many things they were trying to explain, that, in some parts, I felt like sitting through a Chemistry class with the teacher lecturing on covalent ionic bonds and with me losing concentration because I hadn't studied and didn't get much sleep the night before. There was just too many connections that weren't... connected.

Still, At World's End was a fun summer movie. And although this review is quite late, it think it will still serve its purpose of letting people know that not all summer blockbusters have to be too intellectual to be enjoyable.

Shrek 3

Rating: 3 of 5

Directed by Chris Miller and Raman Hui
Starring
Mike Myers as Shrek
Eddie Murphy as Donkey
Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona
Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots
John Cleese as King Harold
Julie Andrews as Queen Lillian
Rupert Everett as Prince Charming
Justin Timberlake as King Arthur (Artie)

Viewed on the big screen

Shrek was original. Shrek 2 was outstanding. Shrek 3 is out of fresh ideas.

There's something crucial about the third installment in a series. The usual case is that in the second film, the producers, writers and directors are able to build on what was established in the first film. The Shrek series did that. So did the X-Men series and the Spider-Man series.

However, like in the aforementioned trilogies, something was lacking in their thirds. For the mutants it was the absence of Bryan Singer and structural integrity. For the web-slinger it was the absence of proper focus on a villain. For the green ogre it was the absence of the magical, whimsical, comical, twisted sense of humor that gave the first two films their punch.

Donkey lost his pizazz. Puss isn't as cute anymore. And Fiona... well, let's just say I like her human form better! ;o)

Shrek 3 was okay.

I obviously don't have much to say about it.

There's not much to say about the film.