If you're looking for fun - an escape from high gas prices, high food prices - in these low times, then do yourself a favor and watch 'Mamma Mia!' Meryl Streep singing and dancing is worth the ticket. Throw in Irish hot export Pierce Brosnan, the 'spontaneous' Colin Firth, and the adventurous Stellan Skarsgard and your in for a good ride.

Amanda Seyfried (Lily Kane of Veronica Mars series) who supported the once promising Lindsay Lohan in 'Mean Girls' acquited herself as an actress engaging the divine Streep in their scenes.

Aside from multiple Oscar-nominee Streep, the real stars of the film are the nostalgic ABBA music and the scene-stealing duo of Christine Baranski and Julie Walters. Who can resist the finger-snapping appeal of 'Dancing Queen,' 'Does Your Mother Know,' and 'Super Trouper'? Nobody. Even the cynics have to move their limbs

(Watch out for Streep's heart-breaking performance of 'The Winner Takes it all.' I never knew that the word 'heart-breaking' can be used as a description for that song.)

Then there's Baranski and Walters - two-thirds of the fictional singing group Donna and the Dynamos. The former plays a plastic-surgery enhanced serial bride who has hots for young men. On the other hand, Walters is a free spirit best-selling cook book author relegated to 'lone wolf' status. Her 'Take a Chance on Me' scene is simply the best.

Note:
1. There's a twist to Colin Firth's character.
2. Don't leave the theatres quickly because the credits are just precious.

I will break the trend and veer away from the serious politics-themed films that this site recommends. It's time for a bloody popcorn movie. Judging from the reaction of the audience in the the theater, I predict that 'Wanted' will be the next big hit after 'Kung Fu Panda.'

With a kick-ass movie trailer and hot-looking Angelina Jolie, Filipino moviegoers once again trooped to the darken halls of cinema houses this afternoon to catch the first day showing of Timur Bekmambatov's American debut. R-18 rating notwithstanding, it was a full-packed theater despite a 12:55 PM show time.

Just a note: throw all the logic and compassion in the world and you will enjoy this film. Do not think just watch. Do not feel just watch. With all the blood, loose ends, and hmmm moments, I found myself smiling wickedly. This is so cool!

I would highly recommend this film to all office workers who are just damn bored in their cubicles. I also recommend this film to all women looking for a new movie crush - remember the name: James McAvoy. You might remember him as the sympathetic faun in the first installment of 'Narnia' or the romantic but tragic hero in 'Atonement,' but after this film - you will remember his name.

Forget Angelina Jolie and her overexposed lips - the name is James McAvoy.

Stop thinking and feeling.

Just watch.

Note: Senator Francis Escudero once considered Jolie as one of his movie crushes, until he saw her personally. His reaction: she's not all that.

Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is the best troubleshooter in a powerful law firm. When one of the senior lawyers had a breakdown (or an epiphany), Clayton was called in to do some damage control. However, he discovered that his colleague is indeed telling the truth. Like the old adage, truth hurts. In this case, truth kills.

Tilda Swinton gives a strong performance that fortunately received Oscar recognition. Tom Wilkinson is just perfect for his role as the lawyer who suffered a breakdown (or achieved epiphany). George Clooney? Goodness! He can act.

Based on a true story, Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is a Democrat representative who spearheaded a covert operation that aims to strengthened the Afghan forces against the mighty Soviet empire. Along with a CIA agent (scene-stealing Philip Seymour Hoffman) and a socialite (Julia Roberts), the trio successfully achieved their lofty goal.

However, their actions had devastating consequences. In this case, devastation goes by the names Taliban. Sounds familiar? Yes. It's the same Taliban as Osama bin Laden - Taliban. The film highlighted the importance of post-war rehabilitation - something that a certain Bush has forgotten in Iraq.

The film's tagline: A stiff drink. A little mascara. A lot of nerve. Who said they couldn't bring down the Soviet empire.

The last great Tom Cruise film? (In the Last Samurai, he was overshadowed by the towering presence of Ken Watanabe.) If this is future, then let's hope that Hermogenes Esperon has retired.

Bleak and scary - the kind of society the current administration likes.

Inspired by the book of the same name, Fast Food Nation looks at the eco-system called fast food. It's an ecosystem. The film stars the brilliant Greg Kinnear and a host of other stars (including the luminescent Catalina Sandino Morerno).

I've never eaten another burger after watching this film.

The book is also a great read!

We've all heard about the evils of fast food. Wait until you see this film by Morgan Spurlock. This guy is nuts!

He used his body as a lab rat for his little experiment. He was trying to find out how will fast food (in this case the imperial Mc Donald's) your health. The rules of game include:
1. Eat only fast food everyday (for a month).
2. Do not refuse if the fast food attendant asked you to super size your meal.

Of course we all know he'll get fat (that accounts for the three stars) but did his health problems stop there?

Oooh. You'll never look at fast food the same way again.

In his real Friendster profile, Senator Francis Escudero mentioned that The American President is one of his favorite films of all-time. This romantic comedy features Michael Douglas as a widowerPOTUS (Thats President of the United States - Dan Brown fan here.) and Annette Bening as a hard-nosed lobbyist who fell in love amidst a mid-term elections backdrop.

For those tired of blue dresses and oral action in the Oval Office, here's a film for you.

Soap opera + Chinese epic + great Chinese actors = Zhang Yimou = AMAZING FILM

Probably not a good date movie for Valentines - I mean come on - there's too many blood. But if only for the luminescent Gong Li, this is a one hell of a movie treat. Chow Yun Fat temporarily left his charming manners as he plays the tyrannical emperor who secretly poisons her wife.

Politics at its most soap operatic!

Honestly, I watch this film every time there's a political crisis or scandal in the Philippines - which practically, every time. James Stewart is perfectly cast as Mr. Smith - an ordinary man thrusts into the national political limelight whose ideals clash with dirty power plays.

Our leaders should watch this film.

Funny movie. One of the funniest! It's the story of the highs and lows of tobacco company lobbyist. Aaron Eckhart (a.k.a. Julia Robert's leading man in Erin Brockovich) is terrific as lobbyist Nick Naylor. He is ably supported by the consistently competent William H Macy as an anti-smoking Vermont senator; Sam Eliot as the original Marlboro Man; the underrated but amazing Maria Bello as a lobbyist for liquor companies ("She convinced the pope to endorse red wine."); and even Katie Holmes as a scrupulous reporter.

What's the point of the movie? In real life, the line dividing good and evil (especially in the world of politics and business) is far from clear.

Kevin Kline stars both as a cold-hearted philandering US President Bill Mitchell and his look-alike stand-up comic Dave Kovic. The president had a massive heart attack (and became incapacitated) so his chief-of-staff Bob Alexander decided to replace him with his comic look-alike. The rotten Alexander schemed on making a puppet out him.

The plan went awry as Kovic implemented progressive programs and reduced the national deficit. If that is not enough, he also gets the first lady (Sigourney Weaver) in the end. Heart-warming and inspiring - if we only have a Dave as president...

Here's the movie tag line:
Dave Kovic was a ordinary guy who was asked to impersonate the president. When they gave him a chance to make the country better...he did.

Honestly, I never get tired watching this film. Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams star in this Watergate parody. Two girls accidentally witnessed the Nixon "shredding sessions." Williams was particularly memorable as a teenager who fell in love with Richard Nixon. Yup. Complete with scrapbooks and poster. Yup. Richard Nixon. Of all the president in the history of the United States...it had to be Tricky Dick.

Hard-core Chiz Escudero fans will definitely relate to her character.

Let's just hope that Escudero does not suffer the same fate as Nixon!

Who says comic books can't be political? Sorry...not comic books - graphic novels. V for Vendetta stars Sci-Fi/Fantasy resident actor Hugo Weaving (Matrix and Lord of the Rings!) and the superbly talented young actress Natalie Portman. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will hate this film. Why? It serves as a reminder that people should not be afraid of their government but its government should be afraid of its people.

Here's one of my favorite lines in the film:
V: Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.

Try saying that five times!

The movie tells the heroic exploits of Paul Rusesabagina during the dark days of the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda. Don Cheadle finally gets the lead role. He was simply amazing. Plus, the cinema world found a gem of an actress in Sophie Okonedo.

There are times when we think life in the Philippines suck...watch this film and I'll bet you'll thank God you're a Filipino.

One of my favorite movies of all-time. The story of an unknown governor and his domineering wife who won a presidential nomination. Sounds familiar? You bet it's about them.

I still watch it every time the US primaries are held.

The Academy Award-winning documentary of uber-provocateur Michael Moore tackles the gun culture in the wake of an eye-opening school tragedy. Watch out for the funny "Brief History of the USA."

Michael Moore is back. This time, he's out to take health care system of the United States America. It's not as controversial as Fahrenheit 9/11 but the subject is equally important. Filipinos like us will be shocked at the deplorable state of their health care system. We can call it a system - a shrewd and cold-hearted system.

I'm not sure if we can call it a "health care."

Jon Stewart wittily called the current Iraq War as Mess-opotamia. No End in Sight provides a level-headed account of the first war of the 21st century that - as the title suggests - still has no end in sight.

In one interview, Senator Francis Escudero once emphasized the importance of vision. Every candidate - most importantly, presidentiables - must have a vision and a plan for the country.

Watch No End in Sight and you'll see the consequences of a war without vision.