CBCP: Men in Black II ‘traumatic’

It is undeniable that MIIB (Men in Black II) is a smashing box office hit, but a section of the powerful Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said it can be a traumatic experience for the young ones to watch it. For the young-once, it offers no values.

The CBCP Catholic Initiative for Enlightened Movie Appreciation (Cinema) said in its latest review, "For the very young, this movie can be traumatic with all the weird nightmarish creatures, slimy reptiles and grotesque humanoids, though these are frequently experienced as most movies are replete with them.’

Cinema rated MIIB, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, "morally acceptable and technically average." The movie may give adult viewers relaxing moments and some respite from daily barrage of bad news, it said.

Cinema, a group under the CBCP’s Office on Women, said MIIB may make the viewers feel good and secure because its a story about good conquering evil. "But there are no provoking thoughts to reflect on, no striking insights to help us see life clearly nor any inspiring message to encourage us to live nobly," it said.

The forerunner of MIB grossed an estimated US$600 million in 1997. MIIB attempts to approximate the initial success by recreating the fantastic world of MIB’s Malibu comics story of science fiction. The twist is MIIB heroes are fashionably dressed in black suits and Ray-Ban sunglasses and armed with futuristic "gewgaws".

MIIB is light, bright and intended to be funny but the viewers’ laughter is mute.

"The storyline is nonsensical and pointless, but may be entertaining due to the very good special effects; yet again, these can satiate," it said.

Cinema narrates, "Under the cover of darkness, hideous terrestrials land stealthily on earth. One such grotesque creature morphs into a sexy and glamorous but evil woman named Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) in search of the Light of Zartha, left on earth by kindly aliens from another planet 25 years earlier. When Serleena threatens to destroy the earth within the next few days, the Men in Black, a secret organization that protects the earth from invading aliens, goes into action."

Smith, who was nominated for his role in Muhammad Ali, shows some versatility in MIIB although it does not give him many opportunities for acting, Cinema said.

Jones is the perfect foil to Smith and the chemistry between them is very palpable as they reprise their roles in MIB, it said.