Bilateral macro-ophthalmia, a clinical condition for big eyes or specifically, larger eyeballs, is a rarity. It is often part of a systemic condition. A more common finding would be exophthalmos, defined by Dorland’s Medical Dictionary as the abnormal protrusion of the eyeball. It is the appearance of enlargement of the
Author: Gabriel Borlongan
An MD-to-be.
Forever a film lover.
This is a haiku.
Comet
Only a handful get to witness the Haley’s comet twice in their lifetime. Each close encounter between the Earth and this extraterrestrial tourist is considered glorious by what it is, by what it could mean, and for that minute-long moment the tiny humans see it. As for Comet, the two
Unbroken
Adapted from a biopic by Laura Hillenbrand on Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini, Unbroken comes off as unique but uneven. It is unique that compared to recent biopics like The Imitation Game or American Sniper, Unbroken shows not one but three seemingly disconnected stories in the protagonist’s
Paddington
If you watched Paddington as an animation near the end of the 90’s, you would probably remember the charming little bear full of heart in a Britain fileld with yellows, blues and browns. The 2014 live action adaptation with a computer-generated Paddington is memorable in a similar delectable way. Paddington,
Before Sunset
Like a high school reunion, Before Sunset is a rekindling of lost loves, and reigniting friendships we hoped to last forever. Director Richard Linklater revisits the American Jesse and the French lady Céline 9 years after their night in Vienna, which is also 9 years after the release of the
The Imitation Game
In evolutionary biology, mimicry is a survival mechanism employed by some species. The Imitation Game is about the battle for humanity, in population terms and to one single being, a British pioneer of computer science, Alan Turing. More than a biopic, it is a lesson on perspective, of how simple
Halik sa Hangin
Halik sa Hangin. Kiss the wind. Try doing that. Turn on your electric fan. Let it rotate its head 180° side-to-side. Face the oscillating blades and feel the cool wind blow against and pass by. Now, close your eyes. Move your lips. Do the thing. It isn’t fun. What makes
Spring Film Festival 2015 runs from February 13 to 22
Celebrate the year of the Ram with the 9th Spring Film Festival at the Shangri-la Plaza in Origas from the 13th to the 22nd of February 2015. You won’t be alienated as the six different acclaimed Chinese films come in English subtitles. Admission is free for all of these loved
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Good vs Evil. Substance over Style. In-N-Out. Truth or Dare. Rise and Fall. Extant/Extinct. Fight or Flight. The universe started with binaries beginning with light encroaching against its absence. We grew up on dualities starting from me to you, from the collective troughs
Edsa Woolworth
The Woolworth family is composed of three Filipino siblings, the titular Edsa Woolworth, played by Pokwang who is not terrible in drama for someone well-versed in self-deprecating stand-up comedy; Boni, enlivened by the reliable Ricci Chan; Paco, with Prince Saruhan providing enough angst; and their American stepfather, who is endearingly
American Sniper
If there’s one word to describe the film American Sniper, it is ‘enough‘. It is just enough as a Middle East war film in the eyes of an American soldier. The justification for the war on terror was enough to keep both the endless sieges to go on in real
Annie
Annie is the organ transplantation of a young healthy cardiac pump from a golden girl to a lively hopeful kiddo, without pre-operative planning needed to address the intricacies of the organ recipient. The new blood pumped by this transplanted heart is different with the form of its red blood cells
Student shorts shine in Piling Obrang Vidyo 11
Eighty entries. Twenty finalists. One showcase of maturing creativity. Piling Obrang Vidyo 11 recognized three outstanding student short films in their respective categories: documentary, experimental and narrative. Coming from nearby provinces and beyond the island boundaries, filmmakers and their support groups trooped to the Cine Adarna, University of the Philippines
6th Brazil Film Festival from January 20 to 22 at UPFI
From January 20 to 22, 2015, the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, in cooperation with the University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI), present homegrown cinematic gems in the 6th Brazil Film Festival. Admission to all screenings at the Cine Adarna of the UPFI Film Center, UP Diliman,
‘Boyhood’ and ‘Birdman’ win big at 2015 Critics’ Choice Awards
Boyhood garners acting wins for its on-screen mother-son duo of Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane, and the coveted Best Director and Best Picture awards for auteur Richard Linklater. From its 13 nominations, Birdman shone as well as it led the winners with seven awards from acting, writing and technical categories.
Now Showing: ‘Taken 3’, ‘Before I Go to Sleep’, ‘Edsa Woolworth’
Filipino movie Edsa Woolworth and two thrillers open in cinemas this week. Whether you’re in for testosterone-filled action, a family drama-comedy, or something quite cerebral, here are what’s in store for us in Philippine theaters this Wednesday, January 14, 2015: the psychological mystery film adaptation of the novel “Before I Go
Boyhood
When does fiction end and reality begin in Boyhood? Or are we the fictional ones instead? In this daunting film, auteur Richard Linklater documents a story close to our hearts, and close to our time. Much of the merit this feature has reaped is in its effort to capture its
English Only, Please
English Only, Please is a romantic-comedy film rooted on a typical premise but fashioned differently yet relevant in our age: A meets B, falls in love, and lives happily ever after. This is the dreamy innocent romance. A meets B, falls in love, and wham! Deus ex machina. Two possible
‘Seventh Son’ and ‘Tragic Theater’ lead 2015 opening salvo
‘Seventh Son’ and ‘Tragic Theater’ leads opening films to be screened in 2015.
What’s Next: 15 Trends in Cinema
As 2015 seeps in to our lives, here are 15 trends inferred from happenings within festivals, on mainstream sensibilities, and to the vast wide world of the internet from the past year. Some of these trends have been building up through the years while others are things that come and
Magnum Muslim .357
Clocking in less than two and a half hours, Magnum Muslim .357 displays a principled hero saving a damsel-in-distress from a villain working in the shadows. One of the seven basic plots in the world could work had there been a compelling script, convincing acting, focused cinematography, and a consistent
Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, a historical drama full of passion, plays differently against other films from different genres for there must be painstaking research involved to portray a realistic depiction of the grand narrative to the minute details of set design and character mannerisms. Thankfully, the movie does its job
Maratabat
Finding a voice that will be sincerely listened to in the age of young democracy is a great concern in the local setting. Searching for this against a number of barriers set up by tradition and by intrinsic fear of falling to the grim unknown is the aim of Maratabat:
M. (Mother’s Maiden Name)
M. (Mother’s Maiden Name) tries to respond to two questions: (1) What does your mother’s maiden name mean to you? (2) What do you do when dealt with an illness on its terminal phase? For the first, the dramedy explicitly responds through a direct answer coming from the icy, meticulous, career-driven
