In the Presence of Royalty

I spent my weekend in the presence of royalty. Promise. I am telling the truth. Walang i-stir (erase..erase… masyadong 80’s ang term na “I-stir” no?).  How did this happen? Hmm… fine.. ikwento ko….pinipilit nyo ako e…

. J

Saturday — a day of rest… wala akong kahit anong plano. Meron pala – kailangan kong maglaba, maglinis (ng kaunti… as in kaunti lang talaga… medyo igagalaw ko ng kaunti yung mga kalat…), magpalit ng bedsheet at pillow cases… atbp. Stay at home lang talaga….. pero habang nagba-brunch ang mga hausmate ni Lola (kami yun) napag-usapan naming na parang masarap manood ng sine….. ayun….  Nagkayayaan… pagkalipas ng ilang oras… we found ourselves in GV Vivo City.. about to watch Beowulf (ayan.. tama na spelling nyan…..).   Isa lang ang dasal ko that time… sana di sya boring.. sana di sya boring. Fortunately – di naman sya boring.  It was a good movie actually.  Entertaining enough.  You have your horny king, young  and innocent queen, slutty seductive villain, disfigured monster and of course — Beowulf.. the son of.. ah…e…. his parents! Basta . Yun na yun. Its an epic so medyo epic ang dating hehehe.  It’s a CG  animation film.. the same technology used in The Polar Express…. so… medyo kulang ang emotion ng eyes ng mga character. Minsan… para ring naka-botox yung mga characters. And like any other epic movie — you’ll have your fair share of violence (ripping human bodies into two, disfigured monster literally chewing the head off a human, blood everywhere) and nudity (yup.. nudity….. Beowulf fighting in nude, Slutty villain emerging from the water wearing almost nothing,…  something for the men, women and in-betweens…).  What did I learn from the movie – Wag maging maingay — baka may mainis sa paligid at patayin ka na lang bigla.  Nice di ba… entertained ka na.. may moral lesson pa…

Sunday -  It’s a normal Sunday…. Nung medyo hapon na… naisip ko pumunta ng Orchard road… no definite plans really… I met a friend…. Medyo ikot-ikot sa Orchard when we decided to watch a movie… pangpalipas oras ba… but not just any other movie.. kailangan yung hindi masyadong mag-iisip.. yung hindi masyadong seryoso… ibig sabihin the movie shouldn’t be about war, poverty, child abuse,  global warming, natural calamity etc. Wala lang.. gusto lang naming maentertain.. hindi ma-depress.  We decided to watch Enchanted. Yup.. A Disney movie with your usual  Damsel in distress, Prince charming, Wicked stepmother, side-kick animal and Mc Dreamy.  It is a slightly different take on the usual Disney princess movies. In Enchanted  -  the supposed to be princess was pushed by the stepmother in a wishing well and emerged on  real life New York.  Still with her “animated”  quirks – she met Mc Dreamy and fell in love with him. Prince Charming followed  her to New York to rescue her only to find out that she was no longer her Princess.. however - he fell in love with Mc Dreamy’s  girlfriend and married her  in cartoon land.  And they all lived happily ever after! It was an entertaining movie… funny in some scenes. I especially love the Central Park scene where – in true Disney cartoon fashion – starts with a walk in the park and ends in a song and dance extravaganza. Giselle’s little helpers while cleaning the house is just gross.   Amy Adams is wonderful as Giselle… but I feel that Anne Hathaway would have done a better job. Mc Dreamy … well…. not much is required of him. He just need to look dreamy and sensitive. He did both rather well.  Isa lang napansin ko… even in scenes na basa ang buhok nya… it still look damn good! Hay – wish I can have the Mc Dreamy hair hehehehehe..  Aside from the scenes and the actors – I like the soundtrack as well. I am a sucker  with Disney soundtracks… di ko alam bakit..  probably the good tunes…. Lyrics that tells a story…. Disney princess voice.. ewan. Maybe it’s the child in me. I grew up watching Disney cartoons… and will probably die still loving it. Anyway … all in all…. If you wanted to be entertained…. and Disney fairytales does  not make you gag…

you may want to consider this movie.

So.. that’s the whole story on how I spent my last weekend in the presence of royalty.  A little tiring pero oks lang…  madali naman ako  naka-adjust sa royal life. Siguro I am a prince or a King in my past-past life. Hmmm…. reincarnation…. that’s a whole new blog entry… for now…

I must bid adieu! (insert curtsy here) J

Of Dogs, Spiders and Bees

1. Are you familiar with  those small dogs with bobbing heads na normally nilalagay sa mga sasakyan? Kung hindi  - poor you! Anyway — I took a cab this morning papasok sa office… and the cab has gazillions of these bobbing head dogs…. ok… fine… 5 or so lang…  but they are placed side by side na akala mo ay beauty pageant contestants.  Aside from this 5 or so dogs – meron ding mga pusa with the heads bobbing in left/right direction.  Naghahanap nga ako nung pusa na gumagalaw ang paw na parang nangbabatok… pero wala which is a huge relief. But that’s another story. Balik sa mga aso — I really don’t have any strong feelings against them… pero this morning — when I saw them lined up…. Heads bobbing… their piercing eyes looking at me …. I somehow feel weird. Yung feeling na parang people are looking at you.. heads shaking in unison kasi you did something wrong or embarrassing or dissapointing. You know the feeling?  And feeling ko.. saan man ako tumingin - sumusunod yung mga ulo nila.  Parang sinasabing — there is no escape…. san ka man magtago…. Titingnan ka namin! Weird. Pero lam nyo… kahit anong iwas ko… I can’t help but look at them.  Parang  sa tennis match na kailangan mong sundan ang bola.  It’s like I’m hypnotized or something. Hmp.  Nadagdagan na  naman tuloy ang kinaiinisan kong mga bagay. I cursed the person who invented the bobbing head dogs with eternal fart bombs! Hmp!  At pag nakakita ulit ako ng mga bobbing head dogs — I’ll rip their “judging” heads off their stupid lifeless body!(Insert evil laugh here)
2. Last week  – the original PC that was provided to me was replaced. I charged this to Divine Intervention. Or siguro kinukuha na ng Smithsonian Institute yung PC. Sobrang bagal nung PC na yun.  It was so slow — na kailangan ko mag-ahit ulit pag nag-boot na ito at ready for my use na,. Okay … that’s an exaggeration… but you get my drift. Anyway — they replaced it with a not so new Dell PC… which is – compared to the first one – really fast ! Remember – compared to the first one ha….  Aside from it’s super fast processor (again.. compared to the first one) — mayroon itong  very special add-on —- hindi natanggal ng admin yung GAMES!!!!! … Maaring isipin nyo na ang babaw ko… well… beggars can’t be choosers…hmm…. Rephrase… most beggars can’t  be choosers.  I am thrilled with this  new development ….. isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito… Spider Solitaire all day… and all night! Yahoo
3. Last night — after a long.. long…long  time….. nanood ako ng movie.. sa movie house…. How long? Hmm… di ko na matandaan ang last movie na pinanood ko… probably The Simpsons…. Isipin ko…  Back to yesterday — dahil sa may free time ako … I roped in a friend to watch a movie…. I initially wanted to watch Beowulf…. Pero parang hindi naming trip ang masyadong mag-isip… kaya   we decided to watch Bee Movie. It was one decision that I did not regret. The movie is very funny.  Story-wise — well its no The Incredibles…. pero okay na  rin naman.  Definitely — yung witty and very funny lines ang nagdala ng movie. Nakakatawa talaga.  I initially have hesitations  kasi si Jerry Seinfeild ang voice nung bidang Bee.  I would not want to pay $8.50 to watch a Seinfield rerun. But he was really great in the Bee movie. There is still a hint of  Seinfeild… pero sakto lang.  Parang saktong-sakto yung voice nya para sa bidang bee. If you want to be entertained — well this movie is definitely for you. I promise you …. this movie has a lot of BUZZ!

 

Songs, Dances and Big Hairs

Hairspray was big during my late-elemetary-early high school days. Ito yung panahon na mayroong contest ang mga kababaihang estudyante kung sino ang may pinakamataas na bangs. Ito rin yung panahon na pinag-isipan ng mga school officials na maglagay ng maximum height limit information sa bawat pintuan ng paaralan. Napapadami kasi ang nauuntog ang bangs and there is this fear that this may cause cancer.  I do think that it takes certain skill sa mga kababaihan para maptayo nila ang kanilang bangs as humanly possible. It also takes dedication — as I do think they need quite some time bago makakuha ang perfectly sculpted bangs. Buti na lang at limpias din ang craze na ito. All that is left are embarrassing photos/videos and a huge hole in the Earth’s Ozone layer.

 

Then came – Hairspray – a film-turned-musical-turned -film. A musical set in the early 60’s in Baltimore, Maryland. Frankly – I am not familiar with the musical Harspray nor seen the 80’s original film version. I am also not aware of any song from this musical. But seeing John Travolta in a fat suite playing a 60’s woman – well — that is something that can make me let go of my hard earned SGD$9.00. In preparation to this musical foray - I decided to first listen to the film’s OST.  Surpsingly –  the soundtrack is quite good. It’s like Grease with additional cellulites.  After the OST review I am quite sure that I am ready to see Hairspray!     

 

Last Sunday – I roped a friend to accompany me watch Hairspray in Shaw Lido. I am pleasantly surprised that I liked the film. It was really very entertaining. There are no boring moments. It’s one great scene to another. The dance sequences are great.  Parang puro professional dancers ang sumasayaw. I have newfound respects to the actors. John Travolta is perfect as Edna Turnblad. Nakakatawa talaga siya. Much is expected from him – and he truly delivered! Michelle Pfeiffer  as Velma von Tussle is good as expected. Yun nga lang – she seems too skinny – which is actually perfect for the role she’s playing but not real life.  Queen Latifah  exudes royalty in every scene. I still prefer her as Matron Mama Morton in Chicago but she is also damn fine as Motormouth Maybelle.  Her rendition of I Know Where I’ve Been is very touching. Zac Efron’s as Link Larki is like Troy  Bolton in the 60’s.  Not much difference really – maybe because his High School Musical character have certain similarities with his character in Hairspray. To his credit – he sings and dances really  well. Kailangan lang nya magdiversify ng roles or else he will be stereotyped to this kinds of roles.  Newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Teracy Turnblad is a revelation. She is very likeable.  She dances really well. Parang balewala lang yung excess weight nya! Sabi nga nung kasama ko – she’s like a young Kathy Najimy. As for the songs – all the songs are great – but I particularly like John Travolta and Christopher Walken’s “Your’e timeless to Me”, Nikki Blonsky’s “Good Morning Baltimore” and the final song “You Can’t Stop the Beat”.

 

Behind the songs, dances and big hair – the movie primarily tackles discrimination. The segregation of the white from the he black is a very sensitive topic.  The movie ends with the show being an integrated show – black people and white people can dance together in the show. No more “ Negro day”. Color of the skin is no longer an issue — or so it seems. Personally – even in the current time – discrimination is still present. And it is not only the black people now – Asians are discriminated as well. We Filipinos have been the recipients of discriminations. I think that to say discrimination is gone is a big fat lie. It is still there – and I don’t think it will disappear. Natatakpan lang ito ng “Tolerance”.  Of course we cannot deny that much has changed… pero I d o think that we have still a long way to go… maybe a few hundred more years bago mawala nang tuluyan ito.

 

Opps… sobra nang seryoso yan.  And I don’t want to end this blog on a so-serious note.  Anyway — kung kayo ay feeling blue… or may free time … and does not abhor singing….. I suggest that you watch Hairspray.  Bilang closing – one sign during the “big march” scene states  “Television is Black and White”…… fastforward to today …. television is in Technicolor….. but it seems that nothing much has changed …… discrimination is still existing …. nadagdagan lang ng kulay….. Hmmm.. something we all have to think about. 

 

More Hairspray info on following links :

 

http://www.hairspraymovie.com/

http://www.hairspraymovie.com/blog

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427327/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairspray_%282007_film%29

 

 

 

Top 10

I read in the Inquirer about a new Filipino Web Portal patterned after Wikipedia. They named the site Wikipilipinas – Hip and Free Philippine Encyclopedia. Since I am a huge Wikipedia user – I decided  to visit the sirte. It certainly has the Wikipedia feel. I am not to sure yet on the content as I have just started visiting the site – but I become an instant fan of the “Top Ten List” – medyo weird lang kasi yung hindi naman puro top 10 lang ang laman … minsan top 40 etc..etc.. so why Top Ten? Ewan.  

I am a huge top whatever list fan. I still remember during my early highschool days —my cousin and I would be glued to the fm radio stations in the Philippines every Dec 31. Bakit? The year-end song countdown! We would have our pen and paper at hand – switch from station to station and made sure that we list all the songs. Problem is — sabay-sabay ang start nung countdown so we have to listen to multiple stations (DZMB, DWKC, DWLS, DWRR ang natatandaan ko) – and we only have 1 radio. Isipin nyo na lang kung anong strategy ang ginagawa naming  para mailista ang mga songs. We would even go in shifts — to make sure that at least 1 person is monitoring. And I am proud to say that every year – we are able to list down all the songs from the 4 radio stations mentioned.  And what do we do with the list? Wala… kinakalimutan na afterwards.  Come to think of it — its not exactly the list which made it fun – it was the process of creating the list. The scheming para di kami mapansin ng mga oldies, ang pagtiming on when one song ends and another starts… ang strategy to make sure at least one person is left beside the radio para walang mamiss na song.  Hay.. those were the days when I was still young and naïve hehehehe….. 

Back to the lists……tulad ng nasabi ko… Wikipilipinas has a Top Ten List section which gives quite interesting trivia information. While reading the list I may mga bagay akong naliwanagan….  

1.        I do not have any relative or friend or even an acquaintance na nasa top 40 richest Pinoy. Puro dukha at maralita lang talaga ang madalas kong ka-rubbing elbow!Karamihan din ng nasa richest ay involve with Airlines, Banking, Mass Media, Pharmaceutical, Retail, Communication and Food business. Walang yumaman kasi isang techer or government employee. This only means na mas malakas ang chance na yumaman if you will be your own boss…. Risk entering into a business or something. Mukhang walang chance if you are just an ordinary employee.

2.        Same as the richest — wala rin akong karubbing elbow na Socialite….. hmm… san kaya yung top ten Social Climbers…. Baka dun ako may kilala!

3.        Nueva Ecija – province where I came from — does not have any popular tourist spot. What (kunwari gulat!)?????

4.        Not to go to the Calayan! Wala pala sila sa top 10… hmm.. odd……

5.        Na posibleng maging next millionaire yung mga students na nag-ka-cutting class para mag bilyar.  It seems that billiards is a very lucrative sports. Na-eclipse nya ang basketball! Golf may pay well…. Pero mahal din naman kasi ang capital mo dito.  Billiards on the other hand — marami namang bilyaran dyan sa tabi-tabi na mura lang ang rent.

6.        Niknok was snubbed in the top ten characters in Philippine Komiks! Sino ba yung Kulafu na yun? Wala yata akong kakilala na hindi lumaki kasama ang Funny Komiks! Every Friday is like Christmas day! Ito kasi ang labas ng new issue ng Funny Komiks. I remember when I was still very young and hindi pa marunong magbasa — iipinin kami nung older cousin ko para basahan ng Funny Komiks. And she will do it with the emotions and all. Pati yung tunog ng suntok, sampal at tadyak ng character kasama. Pak. Pok. Tadyak.  Hindi nya pinalalampas yan. She was our Lola Basyang at that time and Funny Komiks provide the kwento.

7.        A very good one liner dialogue can put a movie in classic status. Who would forget Lavinia’s “Your nothing but a second rate .. trying hard.. copycay”? Or  “Ibalik nyo sa akin si Junjun”… or “ Si Bal na walang malay”?  Napapansin ko lang sa mga local movies ngayon – medyo madalang na ang mga classic lines na tulad ng mga nabanggit.  Parang nauubusan na ng idea yung mga scriptwriters.  Hay… “I…. never…. tell you…..  that  I love you….”….

8.        There are a lot of great Filipino movie titles before… Nagalit ang buwan sa haba ng gabi is one great movie title. I haven’t seen this film — but the title is very intriguing. It must be a really long night….  Kasi pati ang buwan nagalit… OT na raw sya.  “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan?” is good as well.  It says a lot right?  Hay… ngayon .. wala na kwenta mga titiles… puro na lang galing sa kanta. Dapat ibalik yung dating proseso — think of a great title — then create the theme song. Not the other way around – aiyah…. 

8 lang ang naisip ko… so top 8 lang yan…. Would have wanted to add more… pero kailangan ko na work…. Ayon sa aking to do list — I am way behind schedule na….  If you want to visit Wikipilipinas — link is http://www.wikipilipinas.com/.

Dry Spell

I am in a “blogging” dry spell. Yup. Wala akong maisip na isulat. Gone are the days na dire-diretso lang ang patipa ko sa aking keyboard while the ideas flow freely. Ngayon – I have been staring at a blank MS Word page for a few minutes now and still — wala pa rin. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Iniisip ko nga ang madalas na topic ko sa aking blogs :

1.        Food! — hmm…. Nada… I haven’t been to any new eating places lately. I haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary. So far – lahat ng kinakain ko ay on the “OK lang”  list. I had the “best banana walnut muffin” for merienda yesterday – but it seems ordinary with every bite. Don’t get me wrong — it was delicious… still the best banana walnut muffin in my opinion — but seems ordinary…. Hmmm….

2.        Television — hmm… Zilch….  Wala akong sinusubaybayan ngayon sa Boobtube…. Walang teleserye na nakakuha ng aking attention. 

Walang Kapalit – dapat na itong palitan. Masyado nang stretch ang story.

Kokey – hmm… the character is weirdly lovable… di ko alam kung nakakatakot sya or nakakatuwa. Hmm… kailangan ko pagisipan mabuti yan.

Ysabella  –   nagiging boring. Parang walang chemistry between the lead stars which is odd dahil magsyota sila. Or maybe it’s the too much drama… the initial episodes are very promising… but somehow the recent ones are too melodramatic. Coney Reyes is good though.

Natutulog pa ang Diyos — well the title says it all … it seems that everyone is sleeping while making this series. The characters can’t act….  no chemistry….  Plot and dialogues are  bad…  hmm.. basta.. I can’t say anything good about this series. Mukhang kailangan nating gisingin ang Diyos dahil I do think that we need a miracle to make this show worth watching.

Margarita – hay… don’t start with me… I was able to catch a couple of episodes.. In fairness — Wendy is not that terrible in acting… may potential ika nga… but the dancing… more… more… more practice! Sobrang gasgas na ng storyline nito…. Kung dvd ito – iluluwa na ng dvd player kasi unplayable na.

As for the “imported” shows — nandyan pa rin naman ang mga usual suspects — Brothers and Sisters, CSI, Veronica Mars, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty etc.  Mukhang sa “local” shows lang talaga mayroong shortage of good and quality television e.   Hay…. kailan ba sisimulan ang Maging Sino Ka Man? Miss ko na si Celine, Jackie, Ely at JB!

       

3.        Current Events —  as per normal… yan ang aking description sa mga news and current events na nangyayari. Sa Pinas – the usual stories pag ganitong panahon — baha at bagyo. Syempre nandyan pa rin ang mga ever reliable na corruption, dirty politics at mga oppositions. Lam nyo – ang mga Pilipino (me included) – napakagaling maghanap ng mali na ginagawa ng iba. Kaya buhay na buhay ang mga oposisyon sa Pinas e.  Just read in the news that the senate will again open up the Hello garci issue. Isa lang masasabi ko dyan – Hello! Senate!…. mukhang wala na namang mga batas na maipapasa.  Dapat siguro ang senate isama na lang sa NBI… hilig naman nila mag-investigate e. Does anyone still care about the Hello Garci issue? Hmm.. sabagay … meron… yung oposisyon… para magkagulo at baka sakaling makaupo sila ng mas maaga bilang presidente. Kung ako sa kanila —- isapuso muna nila ang ibig sabihin ng “united opposition” – kasi sila-sila nag-ooppose sa isa’t-isa. Sabagay – oposisyon nga e.

4.        Travel — asa pa hehehe.. the only traveling I do nowadays is from Simei to Tanjong Pagar via Bus 531.  Saka MRT pala  from Tanjong Pagar to Simei.  Nandyan pa rin naman paminsan-minsan ang taxi… but.. I am happy to mention na nabasawan na ang aking pag-tataxi. Wala na akong pangtaxi e… mahal…  Bago ko malimutan… a bright light in the horizon… possible trip to Bangkok! Fingers crossed…..

5.        Gadgets — hmp.. pangtaxi nga wala e… pangbili  pa ng bagong toy.  The Motorola V9X is still to be released… baka end of this year daw or early next year.  The new IMac…. Hmm… tempting…. pero mukhang no-deal.  Mas practical yata ang MacBook Pro…. My computer expo next week dito sa Singapore – tingnan natin kung gaano kagaling ang aking self-control.

6.        Movies — haven’t watch any movie lately.. the last movie I saw was The Simpsons… no movie night last Friday … slept early…. Wanted to watch the third Bourne movie.. but friends says I need to watch the 2^nd installment first.  Might watch Hairspray this weekend — seems that I need some singing in my boring life….

7.        Books — tambak ang books ko sa bahay…. Bili ng bili.. di ko naman binabasa….  Anyway.. darating din siguro ang time at mababasa ko ito… recently — I’ve been browing on some fiction books sa bookstores…. Gusto ko kasing magbasa ng isang novel na masasabi ko talagang wow…. Yung I missed half of my life kung di ko ito nabasa? So far… wala pa akong napipili… kung meron kayong suggestion… suggest nyo lang… pero make sure na talagang worth basahin ha… I wanted somethimg different… kakaibang storyline….  No  auto/biographies please……

8.        Office — same-same.  Lakad pa rin ng lakad si Chichay. Puro pa-japorms pa rin si Ate Vi. Malapit nang mawala  si Ate A. At  nakakatawa pa rin ang pagmumukha ni My Sassy Neighbor. Nothing to report….

9.        Friends — hmm… meron ba ako nun? Alam nyo naman ako loner…. Hehehehe….. wala naman ako masyado natsitsismis sa mga sangkaibiganan. May mga sad L…. May mga happy J…. may mga deadma…. May mga praning…. All in all — tuloy pa rin ang ikot ng mundo.

10.     Plans — I am thinking of enrolling to something… Cooking? Pwede….  Computer Related course like java, html etc ? Pwede rin…. Something artistic — computer graphics, photography? Pwede rin. Driving? Pwede rin. Isa lang problema – naghahanap pa ako ng mag-sponsor ng aking scholarship… hehehehe….. that … or  need to save muna pangbayad ng tuition fee…  Sa mga mag-volunteer to sponsor sa aking quest to further my education — contact me anytime J

Yan.. yan ang aking top 10 topics sa aking mga blog. At wala talaga ako maisip na isulat sa kahit ano man sa kanila …This dry spell  should end soon. Baka iisa na lang nga ang aking fan – mawala pa.  For the meantime — tiis-tiis na lang po muna tayo… Ganyan talaga ang buhay … minsan may tagtuyot … hmm…. cloud seeding….. pwede din kaya itong sagot sa aking “blog” dry spell?    

Ang Daan Pabalik sa Pag-ibig

I am bringing back Movie Nights! My friends and I used to have Movie Marathon Day  when I was still in the Philippines. That’s  one whole day devoted to the love of cinema hehehehe. The most movie we have seen so far is 4.  Pero hindi yan ang pag-uusapan natin. Movie nights! Yup. Nights lang muna… wag day… masyadong ambisyoso pag day. So Movie nights! Kailangan ko mag-catch up on the movies that I have missed.  Sinimulan ko ang movie nights last Friday.  I decided na since it’s the initial movie nights – kailangan light and non-thinking movie ang panoorin ko.  I rented Music and Lyrics, Van Wilder and Norbit.  Wala masyado choice e.  I bought 2 pc original KFC chicken – thigh, a bag of Doritos – cheddar, and an ice-cold Coke – regular.  Movies, chicken, chips and drinks! Kumpletong kumpleto na di ba?  

I first started watching Music and Lyrics. Everyone I know who have watched it – loved it. Di ko na matandaan kung bakit hindi ko ito napanood.  I’m a Drew Barrymore fan – hinihintay ko nga sya pumunta dito sa Singapore para makapag-propose e! Anyway – the movie was really good. I enjoyed it tremendously.  Nakakatawa si Hugh Grant pag sumasayaw ng Pop.  May mga ilang jokes na di ko nakuha pero all in all it was a really good movie.  Its not an Oscar worthy movie – pero it was really entertaining.  The songs are great as well. I particularly love the main them – Way back into love. Cool na cool din ang Pop and Don’t Write Me Off. Nakaktawa talaga ang 80’s no? Ang baduy ng mga damit at mga moves. Hehehehe….  I love this movie so much – that I watched it again the following day. Nagdownload din ako ng soundtrack!  Nung ikalawang panood ko – kasama ko nang nanood yung isang housemate ko na true blue 80s baby.  Ipinaliwanag nya sa akin yung ibang jokes na di ko naget tulad nung “Frankie said relax”. Sabi pa nya – yung MTV daw nung song na Pop ay very close sa moves ang Wham. Ganun? I haven’t seen any Wham MTV – kaya naniwala na lang ako.

Cheesiest line in the movie???? Definitely the one I pasted below :  

Alex Fletcher: It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just spit it out. They’re just lyrics.
Sophie Fisher: “Just lyrics”?
Alex Fletcher: Lyrics are important. They’re just not as important as melody.
Sophie Fisher: I really don’t think you get it.
Alex Fletcher: Oh. You look angry. Click your pen.
Sophie Fisher: A melody is like seeing someone for the first time. The physican attraction. Sex.
Alex Fletcher: I so get that.
Sophie Fisher: But then, as you get to know the person, that’s the lyrics. Their story. Who they are underneath. It’s the combination of the 2 that makes it magical. 

More info about this movie on : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758766/ 

As for the other two movies that I rented – Van Wilder is forgettable and not worth a review. Di ko pa napapanood yung Norbit. J

Pwedeng Maki-upo?

I saw the Simpson’s family in Cathay Picturehouse last Sunday. Makikiupo sana ako sa tabi nila… kaya lang … I don’t think I’m yellow enough…..

He’s Back!

I watched the much anticipated Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last Sunday. Dami ko na nabasang reviews about the movie… pero deadma lang. Para sa akin – what I have to say matters the most… to me! Kaya di ko pinapansin  ang mga critics and their criticisms. Lalo na kung taga-rito sa bansa ng chilli crab ang critic… hehehe…. J

How was the movie? Well — it was a good movie… not the greatest… but it is quite good. This serving focused more on the characters.  Mas kaunti ang action at magic… mas marami ang emotional distress. I think this movie will be appreciated more by those that read the book rather than those  who haven’t. It’s a fast pace movie that those who have not read the book may have more questions than answers after watching the movie. Plot wise – well… there are a few changes here and there… pero for cinematic puroses — pwede nang patawarin. Casts – Ralph Fiennes is really good.  Voldemort reincarnate indeed. Helene Bonham Carter is a scene stealer. She has a couple of scenes – but the scenes are enough for her to make a mark. Her eyes says it all. Luna is okay… a little to whimsical… but okay. Professor Umbridge – hmm… she’s Elle Woods gone bad! Really good! I miss the book version of “ehem-ehem” though. Ron and Hermione have small roles in this movie. Too bad – I would have wanted to see Ron winning the Quidditch cup! Harry – I’m surprised really. I can feel his sadness…no.. anguish… when Sirius died. I can feel his anger when Dumbledore won’t look at him.  Very effective — finally — he learned how to act. As for the scenes — well.. the final fight scene could have been longer. They were not able to showcase the courage and skills of the DA. Medyo bitin din ang labanan nung members of the Order and the Death Eaters. Di ko rin masyadong gusto ang entrance ni Dumbledore. They should have stayed with the book version. It’s Dumbledore – sira na rin nagsabi – he has style. Tapos  ganun lang dumating. Medyo na-downplay din ang death ni Sirius. Daniel Radcliffe was great at that scene… sana medyo hinabaan pa para makaconnect ang audience. Siguro – ito ang dahilan kung bakit karamihan ng nanood ay medyo nabitin. Parang natakot ang director na mag-all-out sa final fight scene. Parang kung ano yung nasa trailer – yun na pala yun. Wala lang. Bitin hehehehe…..

After watching — I initially thought this was the best Harry Potter movie so far…. Pero pagkatapos mag-wear off ng excitement… I changed my mind.  The Goblet of Fire is still the best so far — and this is a close second. Can’t wait for the DVD! J

Potter-fever!

July should be declared as Harry Potter month! The whole world is feverish in anticipation with the release of the 5^th Harry Potter movie (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) and the seventh – (and as for now we assume  as final) book (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows). Pottermania is at its peak this month!

 July 11, 2007 — a day that will go down in history as the day Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opened in movie houses around the world. (Singapore opening is late by one day – actual opening is July 12). I (along with all Potter and non-Potter fans) am already predicting box office success. The first time I saw the trailer – I was in awe. Sa tingin ko this will be the best Potter movie ever. The special effects looks flawless. Very believable! Excited na akong makita ang final scene where Harry and the DA along with the members of the Order battles Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters! Ano kaya ang itsura ng death scene ni Sirius? Of course – the new characters (Luna, Professor Umbridge, Bellatrix, Tonks)  are worth watching out for. Paano kaya sila makakasabay sa ibang characters na since the first movie ay magkakasama na? Musta na kaya ang bangayan nina Ron and Hormonie este.. Hermione pala. And of course – the much talk about Harry Potter’s first kiss with Cho.  

While reading the Harry Potter books — I am already envisioning how the characaters look like. Kaya sa tingin ko may mga characters na I consider as a “miscast”. I think that Richard Harris fits Dumbledore’s character to a T. Michael Gambon’s portrayal is more of a loony… than Dumbledory.  Gary Oldman is a great actor – pero parang hindi sya dapat kinuha to play Sirius. Sirius could have been played by Hugh Jackman. Bakit? Kasi sa book – he was described to be a handsome and a rogue fellow.  Katie Leung as Cho Chang ? Frankly – she is forgettable.  This is sad as Cho played an important part in Harry Potter’s life. Sana lang – they have chosen someone na may dating. Kasi she will be in a couple of scenes lang.. she have to make an impact. I am also a little worried about the actrees playing Ginny Weasley. In the book – she is supposed to be a silent beauty that will officially blossom on the 5^th movie. Well…. let’s wait and see. But hey – they did a wonderful job on the other main characters. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Professor McGonagall, Voldemort, Snape, Lucius, Hagrid, the Weasleys — can’t ask for anything more! 

I love the last 4 movies.  A lot of scenes from the book never made it to the film – but this is okay. The important thing is that the film stayed true to the book. I can’t wait to see the 5^th film. As the trailer is incredible — I have high hopes for the film. Hopefully – I won’t be disappointed.   

To all the Potter fans — isa lang ang masasabi ko…. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!!!!