Charlene: Why is nobody freaking out that he’s carrying her unconscious from the forest barefoot and wearing only denim cut-offs? He looks like he did her.

To that effect. Watched New Moon with Charlene (we ran into Terrence too. Lily got caught in the insane Edsa traffic) at Megamall the other night. I wasn’t too crazy about watching it but hey, we have free movie passes (Thanks atty!) and free+movie = I will go. I knew watching it in a movie theater would mean enduring the collective squeals of the mob everytime Jacob flashes his abs and sure enough, the crowd did not disappoint. Especially in the last part where Edward says Bella, I’m prettier than you  – in truth, he said Marry me – and there was collective shrieking.

Me: Palagi na lang hayop ang roles niya. Dati Sharkboy ngayon naman werewolf.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Charlene: Ay hindi ba nasa worst movies of all time ang Sharkboy and Lavagirl?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Me: Wag ka, pinanood naming magkakapatid yun.

I was laughing throughout the movie though. It was every bit as absurd as the book especially the part when Bella hallucinates. It’s so serious it’s hilarious. The person on my left even shushed me everytime I laughed and snorted at all the wrong parts – e.g. Edward: You just don’t belong in my world Bella. Bella: I belong with you. The new director, Chris Weitz, succeeded in adapting the book to a mildly entertaning movie version. At least New Moon didn’t bore me enough to slice my hand open which I can’t say for the first Twilight movie. A shame because I loved Catherine Hardwicke’s Lords of Dogtown. Plus, New Moon had Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning in it.

I love how Dakota Fanning is growing gracefully right before us without doing a Miley Cyrus or a Lindsay Lohan. Kid can act too. Tom Cruise paled in comparison when he and Dakota shared the same frame in War of the Worlds. I was surprised to see her all grown up when I saw Push earlier this year and was a bit taken aback when the then Lucy from I am Sam liplocked in The Secret Life of Bees.

 I’m sorry  but if you obsess over Twilight, I judge you. In a bad way. I’ve read it, was even crazy enough to buy all four books, and the only reason I finished it was due to my insatiable desire to know everything. I know what I’m bashing and the whole thing was compost material. I’d like to believe though that kids today know better than to swallow this drivel. The series is so wrong in its values, in portraying women, and in managing relationships. And seriously, was anybody ever convinced that the series was capable of encouraging the youth to avoid pre-marital sex as its rabid supporters claim? For sheer lulz yet insightful critique, here’s the top 20 unfortunate lessons girls learned from Twilight. 

What’s inexplicably frustrating is that there were only a handful of books that were spared from Ondoy and that includes my Twilight books. I almost ripped it apart when I saw them unharmed and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five was down in the muck somewhere. I couldn’t stand seeing it unscathed and couldn’t throw it away either – a tree died for it after all – so I ended up giving the series to my next-door neighbor. Clearly, books do not follow natural selection in the face of calamity.

Five minutes into the movie, Louie and I exchanged glances and asked each other:  How did the equipment withstood the heat? Then we knew. 2012 was going to be THAT kind of movie. The movie was so corny that the only thing apocalyptic about it was John Cusack’s career. Seriously, what happened to him?

They should have just made a sequel to Evan Almighty. That film had a way better story line with arks. 2012 was like a montage of all the end-of-world movies. All the CG destruction also got old especially after their car somehow always narrowly escapes the tectonic shifting-chasm running after them by a nanometer for the 74876486747^th time. Even the whole G8 arrogance and Africa untouched comes off as contrived. Did anybody take this seriously? What if making a really horrendous movie about the world ending in 2012 is really the CIA’s way of saying the world IS ending in 2012? I’ve always been impressed by the Mayan know-how.

Hmm, did Mark Zuckerberg get a seat for one of them arks?

Manny Pacquaio embodies the Filipino dream, you know. He’s legen…wait for it…dary. Legendary.  It would have been better though if most of his opponents were not Latin Americans. We practically share the same history after all. It’s discomforting to see two people with parallel roots fighting to the death while the powers-that-be comfortably sit in the ring side, enjoying the blood bath, and wondering if they placed their bets on the right dog.

The family is watching the movie, The Pacifier (aka the origins of Peter Panda) on TV. Did you hear that? I just scoffed and rolled my eyes.

I’m not scoffing at the movie per se. It’s just that it makes me remember certain things. Yes, the history of Peter Panda. It’s scoffing my way of association. And as of now, the association is not very nice.

Yeah.

I hate to believe that I just may be too old for this stuff. The trouble with Astroboy is that it’s so random it failed to get anything across. Unfortunately, not even the RRF (Viva La Revolucion!) and Mike the Fridge could save it. The film even failed to tug at nostalgic strings which what made our whole family watch it in the first place. I wonder: Does every robot adhere to the Three Laws of Robotics? How brilliant is Isaac Asimov for positing these laws universal?

Then again, there are some things I will never be capable of outgrowing – like my love for YA Literature. I’m blaming it on the crappy childhood – books offer respite, after all – and YA fiction was like a parallel universe.

I bought this last August when PowerBooks was having their annual sale. I had no idea what the book was about but put mysterious, society, and anything illustrated on the cover then I’m bound to buy it. Yeah, yeah, thou shalt not judge but I have my biases. Sort of like how The Book Thief and The Oxford Murders got me by its title alone. I love mysteries. I never got hooked on Nancy Drew though because I started reading Agatha Christie first and after all that cyanide and people disappearing one by one, a missing diamond seemed terribly juvenile.

Somebody compared The Mysterious Benedict Society to A Series of Unfortunate Events (which I loathe by the way. Why bother with thirteen books when we could have gotten everything from its title? It was nothing but a…series of unfortunate events) and I vehemently disagree. It was more like a frightening version of The Westing Game. The illusion of control and the free market? Brainsweeping via TV? Seriously scary YA stuff but highly fun to read. When a character insists to be called The Great Kate Weather Machine, how can you not root for her?

I read The Mysterious Benedict Society because I didn’t have the heart to discard it unopened. It was still sealed in plastic but the flood managed to get in anyway. When I read it, half the book was wet and mud-streaked and I’m thankful for the absence of molds whose growth may have been slightly delayed by the plastic. We all know what it’s like growing up – with differing circumstances sure – and losing the books I grew up with was hard. But it was the realization that the books I haven’t read may be far more valuable than the books I have read that breaks my heart even more.

This never happens to me in the elevator. The most interesting thing, by far, was when the guy I was riding the elevator with let out some serious gas from behind. Holy shit, literally.

500 Days of Summer was cute, quirky yet somehow real, and reeks of its indie OST. Zooey Deschanel was charmingly spacey here and Joseph Gordon-Levitt totally looked like Heath Ledger – a long way from my last mental image of him with long hair from my Tiger Beat pin-ups.

Which reminds me, just what the hell happened to Jonathan Taylor Thomas?

Julie and Julia fails to be even remotely realistic because it shows two understanding and loving husbands that are nothing short of a doormat. Self-absorbed much? I wonder how they refrained from stuffing their wives instead of the poor duck. Back in 2002, blogs of the Me-Me-Me variety were already mediums of vanity. Ha, should have waited for Facebook and Twitter: Life in a series of Me Today updates.

I purposely avoid learning how to cook. I have two brothers and I know that if I did know how to cook, that responsibility will be dumped on me. I consciously defy chores typically handed down to women for generations ever since I was a kid and figured out that just because I’m a girl I’m the one who has to do the house-keeping. This is ironic because if I did cook, I know I would have loved it. I have been hooked on cooking shows ever since I saw the speed-of-light celery-chopping at Wok With Yan. I woke up early on the weekends to watch the Dazas and I am knowledgeable in every recipe possible using tomato sauce and pineapples – That’s’ Del Monte Kitchenomics! I’m a brilliant cook – in theory, that is. I know my cubing from my dicing; my julienne from my paring. Hell, I even know flambé is not that new gay bar. I rock in the kitchen – in theory, that is. Then there’s the eating which I am more knowledgeable about than I will ever be at cooking. I have actual practice in eating – I’m such a pro I should at least be paid for it.

RANDOM VIDEO IS RANDOM

credit: sment

NEWSFLASH: Apparently, molds grow in wet and dark places. The memory of my 4th grade science teacher was screaming in my ear when I recalled this fact.  All our books were destroyed but I didn’t have the heart to throw them away so initially after the flood, I just washed the mud of what’s left of them and piled them in a corner. We couldn’t dry them at once back then because we seriously have to clear the house of mud first and just where would we air them to dry anyway? Our whole community was a muddy inferno. Then three weeks later I find out that our books, apart from being helplessly destroyed by Ondoy (seriously, we should stop giving typhoons coying names), are now home to a culture of molds. My heart pinches so. Even my journals, which I thought I managed to save, are home to an ecosystem of healthily-thriving molds. Then I found out that the entries I’ve written in pencil have been completely wiped out and the others in ink have been smudged beyond comprehension. There goes what’s left of my crappy childhood memories. And my heart pinches so.

Watched four movies (3 dias, El nido vacio, Los girasoles ciegos, y Los cronocrimenes) in three nights from Pelikula, the 8th Spanish Film Festival, with Charlene, Terrence and JM at Greenbelt. Sure, our house still doesn’t fall under ideal living conditions and it’s been crazy going back and forth from work, home, spanish class, the university and JM’s place turned dorm, but I managed to find the time for my subtitle reading fest because hell, I need the distraction and my Spanish is one big huge fail. I should be demoted to level 5. I can’t even work the indefinido. Disgraceful, I am.

So Spanish sci-fi films are like that, eh? Does Hector adhere with the rules for time travelers? If something happened, then it happened.

  And how dare you, my local officials. You dare pollute my line of vision with your whoring but were nowhere in site when we needed you most. Don’t even try to shamelessly sell yourself anywhere near me come election time or I’ll roll you all in that rotten garbage that you still haven’t collected.

  Then, of course, there’s the politician of the conspicuous kind:

Photo from Hay! Men!

 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE 

Left (from http://www.congress.gov.ph/photojournal/zoom.php?photoid=390):

Photo credit: Engelbert Engay, MRS-PRIB / 26 August 2009 04:33:16 PM. Speaker Prospero C. Nograles formally accepts from Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Jr., the proposed P1.541-trilion national budget for 2010 which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said is the “final budget of my administration.” Through Sec. Andaya, the President said the budget looks beyond 2010, “so that future generations can build on what this administration is leaving as legacy.” Subsequently, the Speaker turned over the voluminous documents to House appropriations Chairman Junie Cua (3rd from right) in the presence of (first row, from left) Reps. Hermilando Mandanas, Neptali Gonzales II, Deputy Speakers Simeon Datumanong, Eric Singson and Raul del Mar. Also present at the turn over are (not in order) Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa, Reps. Trinidad Apostol, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Juan Edgardo Angara, Thelma Almario, Reylina Nicolas, Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Reynaldo Uy.

Right: Former Vice…kidding. It’s our preciooouusss Gollum.

For her random LOTR comment and comparing Gollum to the Congress’ multiple personality disorder in class, Ma’m Liling Briones had just become my coolest professor ever (Read one of her articles here). Any professor who rants on the Congress’ epic fail to do its job in the budget process and then relates it to THE only greatest film of all eternity, at 68 years old at that, tops my best academic mentors ever list by default.

Unless I’m really hungry and have no time to grab a bite after, then I hardly eat at the cinema. It’s because I go in total suspension of disbelief at the theaters and mostly ignore my food. That and the sound of plastic bags really annoy the hell out of me in the movies. For that matter, I also hardly take bathroom breaks. I can hold it, even after downing one of them Big Uhaws, especially when Frodo finally managed to get into Mt. Doom and Aragorn was planning a diversion. “For Frodo,” he said. Missing that would be criminal.

Charlene and I went to a CineEuropa screening last night at the Shang and we had some take-out dinner with us but wth.  Apparently, the Shang Cineplex only allows food bought from their snack bar. Down with this policy!

So the Swedish romantic films are like this, eh? We saw Kiell Sundvall’s Grabben I Graven Bredvid (The Guy in the Grave Next Door). It was cute, I guess, but I kept on imagining it was John Lloyd and Bea. Desiree’s friend may easily have been Candy Pangilinan too – down to bringing a mannequin at a dinner party because she got stood up. I mean, it was something Star Cinema would have made: the plot line, the stereotypes (the cultured librarian and the crude farmer), the happy ending, and even the humor. It’s the cheesy Pinoy blockbuster movie that passes for romantic comedy.

Librarians in first-world countries actually have careers. When the librarian from the UP MainLib graciously toured our thesis class I remember being awed at the complexity of their work despite being underappreciated. Seriously, at this point in the Philippines, no high school senior would pick Library Science as his or her first choice for a major.

I’ve always thought that if I wasn’t whatever I am right now then I’d probably be a librarian.  In high school, I was practically on first-name basis with all the librarians and I thought that it would be great if the librarian, apart from shushing the hell out of noise, would instill the love for reading. Of course, I have also thought that if I wasn’t whatever I am right now then I would probably be a theoretical physicist despite what my academic record says. This reminds me, I miss Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory already. Chuck Bass is back (“I’m not Chuck Bass without you”?) but what I want right now is Sheldon. And Barney. It’s going to be legendary!

nanaginip ako noong isang gabi. biruin mo, naging totoo ang pelikulang terminator! (HINDI NGA?!) at iniisa-isa niyang patayin ang mga kasama ko na noon ko lang sa panaginip nakasama. hindi ko naman sila kaibigan pero sa panaginip, magkakaklase kami? ay ewan.

iyong terminator, hindi ko mamukhaan. pero alam ko na kapag paparating na siya. malakas noon ang kutob ko kapag nanganganib ang buhay ko dahil nandiyan na siya. hindi ko rin siya nakita nang malapitan. ang alam ko lang sa kanya ay hindi siya nakaitim. ang kulay niya, parang balat ng tao lang. hay nakow, ang labo nga eh. nakahubad siyang humahabol sa amin? HAHAHAHA.

kapag tumatakbo at tumatakas ka para mabuhay, wala ka nang pakialam sa mga pinapakialaman mo noon. basta, kumakaripas ka lang ng takbo, o dali-daling gumagapang sa sahig para makalusot. nakakatakot ngunit nasusubukan nito ang tatag ng iyong loob.

masamang panaginip na hindi. siyempre, sino ba naman ang gustong mapatay ng terminator (na hubo)? pero may nagustuhan ako sa panaginip ko. may isang eksena doon na napadpad ako sa isang probinsya at may napagtanungan akong drayber ng traysikad.

“ma, saan ho ang pinakamalayong biyahe ninyo? doon niya ako dalhin. malayo sa maynila.”

“ah, sa _________.”

nakatutuwa. hindi pa naman ako iyong tipo ng tao na matapang na mawala, na mapalayo sa lugar na alam na alam ko. sa tagpong iyon, masarap ang pakiramdam kong lalayo ako at hindi ko malaman kung saan ako mapapadpad. at hindi isyu ang pera. basta makalayo lang ako, kahit mukha na akong gusgusin, sige pa rin. kung saan-saan pa nga ako nakikitulog. marami akong naabalang tao na gusto akong tulungan para lang makaligtas ako.

ANLABO, MEHN.

hindi kaya nabangungot ako noon dahil natulog ako sa kama ng tatay ko. kasi umuwi ang tatay ko sa probinsya. at may telebisyons sa kuwarto niya. doon na ako nahimlay sa kama niya. may dulot ba iyon sa panaginip kohhh? HAHAHAHA naghahanap ng dahilan! naghahanap ng kahulugan!

naaalala ko noong bata ako, gusto kong maglayas. inimpake ko ang lahat ng aking laruan sa isang malaking bag. mabigat. tinulungan tuloy ako ng yaya kong magbuhat. tinulungan niya akong buhatin ang bag sa labas. tinulungan niya akong buhatin ang bag sa kalsada. tinulungan niya akong buhatin ang bag pabalik sa bahay. LINTEK, manloloko ka, yaya! inuwi mo lang ako! AKALA KO BA MAGKAKAMPI TAYOH!!!!

noon halata namang mahalaga ang laruan sa akin. sa panaginip ko, wala akong dala. sarili ko lamang. ako pa nga yata ang naging “final girl” sa mala-suspense thriller na panaginip ko. sana ganoon ang buhay ko ngayon. iyong payak. kumbaga kung naisipan ko na lamang magpakalayo-layo kaagad, handa ako sa puntong iyon na bitawan ang lahat.

  Ich was going to become famous by solving a world problem! But which one? Clooney’s got Darfur, Sting’s got the Amazon, and Bono’s got AIDS! Luckily, there was still one shithole left to fix: the Middle Earth.

May kaibigan akong nag-email sa akin nito…

Ayoko namang ako lang ang matawa,

Kaya i-share ko na rin sa inyo…

Top 20 signs that a movie is GAWANG PINOY

1. Sasayaw sa likod ng puno ng buko pag nasa beach yung scene. Alternate pa yung mga ulo nila.

2. Yung kontrabida yayakap sa bida, sabay taas ng kilay at ngingisi.

3. Ang pancit, nagdadala ng malas. Uuwi ang bida na may dalang pancit sa kanyang nanay na si Anita Linda. Tatawagin nito ang mga bata para kumain, at kakamustahin ng bida ang pag-aaral habang kumakain ng pancit. Biglang may titigil na sasakyan sa harap ng bahay at pauulanan ng baril ang pamilya! Mamamatay si Anita Linda, at sisigaw ang bida ng “Inaaay!” at mangangakong ipaghihiganti ito. Moral lesson: Ang pancit, nakakamatay.

4. Pag may magkaribal na babae, yung mabait diretcho ang buhok at may bangs. Yung salbahe, laging kulot.

5. Sa pinoy action movies, ang bida hindi nauubusan ng bala.

6. Sa pinoy action movies, kapag tumakbo ang bida, sa lupa lahat ang tama ng bala ng kalaban.

7. Kapag may angry mob na pupunta sa bahaykubo ng manananggal, si Vangie Labalan ang laging lider.

8. Alam mong moment of truth na ng bida kapag sinabi na niya yung title ng pelikula.

9. Ang tawag ng kontrabida sa mga goons niya, “Mga bata.”

10. Yung nakababatang kapatid ng bida habang naglalaro ng bola, mabibitawan at mapupunta sa gitna ng kalsada. Tapos may darating na sasakyan, tapos itutulak siya ng bida. Yung bida naman ang nasa gita ng kalsada. Biglang may sasakyang darating. Ang bida, ico-cross lang niya arms niya covering his face tapos sisigaw yung kapatd ng ‘kuyaaa!’. Next scene nasa ospital na sila. Simula na ng drama

11. Kapag bakbakan, hindi nasasaktan ang bida, pero umaaray siya pag ginagamot na siya ng leading lady, at kasunod na ang love scene.

12. Kapag may sinabi ng kontrabida ang masama niyang plano sa bida, ang sasabihin ng bida: “hayop ka!”

13. Ang bidang babae, pag katulong ang role, siguradong magiging anak ng amo niya sa ending.

14. Ang nanay ng mayaman laging may pamaypay na pangmayaman, at ang nanay ng mahirap laging naka duster.

15. Ang hideout ng kontrabida, parating mansion na may chicks sa pool.

16. Ang mga bida sa drama, pag nakatanggap ng masamang balita, laging may pinto sa likod nila para puwede silang sumandal habang nagsa-slide dahan-dahan pababa, tapos todo iyak with matching uhog.

17. Pag di nahuli ng mga goons ang bida, sasabihin ng boss sa kanila, “Mga inutil!”

18. Laging nakakapulot ng baril na may bala ang bida kapag kinakailangan niya.

19. Laging mas maganda ang yayang bida kesa sa kontrabidang anak ng amo niya.

20. Pag ang ending ng movie ay song and dance number sa beach o resort, ang huling frame, tatalon ang buong cast…sabay freeze.

Para sa mga di maka-relate,

Sori nalang kayo…

Maaring di niyo na-enjoy ang childhood niyo…

O wala pa kayong muwang nang ganito ang “in”

Sa daigdig ng pinalakang tabing!

Adventure is out there! I can’t wait to retire and live the rest of my days from that perspective knowing the worst has happened and everything else is bound to pale in comparison after a lifetime of experience. Strange that I want to retire now when I can’t even see myself growing old in the first place. I mean, I’ve been lying about my age since I was thirteen (age issues warrant a post on its own). But then again, who does imagine themselves in their dentures? Maybe it’s because I’m at this point where things are so blah, I’m constantly panicking, and I’m finding myself worrying about the most common things that says I’m selling out: bills, bills, and other so-called obligations I’d like to say I chose to face but pfft, somehow managed to land on my face anyway.

Ahh, but right now I’m willing to settle for Alpha’s austere confidence when he says this to all that mock him in the midst of purpose: DO NOT LAUGH AT MY VOICE. Mayhaps you desire to challenge the ranking that I have been assigned by my strength and cunning?

acheche nabalitaan ko nga pala kahapon na may kumalat na namang mga litrato si vanessa hudgens ng high school musical. nakahubo ang gaga! lolz. ang sabi raw ay mas naunang kinunan ang mga ito kaysa doon sa lumabas dati. child porn nga ba ire??? O HINDE!!

wala lang. nakakatawa lang kasi pati kahapon panay palabas ng commercial ni vanessa para sa neutrogena. yung wave ba yun? oo yung neutrogena wave nga iyon. pink na pink pa sa telebisyon.

Vanessa Hudgens - Neutrogena Wave

infernez, kapani-paniwala namang endorser si vanessa. maganda naman kasi ang balat niya eh. sa sobrang ganda ng balat niya e ay hindi siya natatakot kunan ng litrato ang balat niya sa BUONG KATAWAN!! ashuuuuu.

ay!

Wash Cloth + Vibrator = Neutrogena Wave?

medyo engot at madumi ang isip ng gumawa ng litrato na ito, ano? di man lang naisip yung sepilyong de baterya. dildo pa talaga eh no?

oo nga pala, ipapalabas na rin ang pelikula niya sa tate na pinamagatang bandslam. hindi kaya publicity lang ire? eh?

  This is how I deal with pending things-to-do: I go in hyperreal mode. Whenever there are things I must urgently do, be it as mundane as my academic workload or a more pressing obligation for the family, I easily succumb to distractions at the first chance I get. Saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, like the five films before it, with the family. Laughed at my mom’s reaction when she squealed “Ang tanda na nila!” and laughed harder when my younger brother jumped higher out of his seat than what a mildly surprising scene should call for – i.e., the inferi grabbing Harry’s hand. Bry pointed out they looked Gollum-ish and I agree. Down to the wisps of hair. Always thought the inferi were more zombie-like though.  Maybe my expectations were way too high because Warner Bros. made us wait when it should have been released last November but the movie was one big…pffft. (Yes, this is me the eloquent film critic.) Adapting something like Harry Potter to the movies carried a certain responsibility – they owe it to us to at least make a movie that didn’t feel like one big filler. Especially when the Half-Blood Prince is my second-best favorite in the series.  One of the movie’s saving graces, however, is Tom Felton. Whoa, Draco.

  It’s 7.30pm Wednesday night and I should be using the free time Prof. Briones gave us to research on our NEDA report but no, I stayed at the office instead not because I’ve suddenly turned into a workaholic masochist but because I didn’t feel like going home yet then I remember isn’t Wonderland opening today exclusively at the nearby theater? I’m walking in Ayala Ave and texted AC if she can make it to Glorietta by 8pm. Practically ambushed her to watch Adventureland with me because my most convenient movie buddy ever, JM, was gambling in Macau then. Got there in time for the trailer, AC got there 30 minutes later, then we’re there laughing at the absurdity of their jobs and I realize it’s not too different from my life either. Been in this job for almost two years now and the movie couldn’t be more apt. Sure, my job isn’t exactly the crappiest source for bnb but Adventureland makes you think, hey, didn’t I used to think things could have been better? When did I get so freaking complacent? It’s exactly like waking up then finding out the dream machine had this big out-of-order sign. Now, which writer said that? I forget.

  Loved Antique Bakery. It’s light, funny, and there’s the gayness of demonic charm. The past happened, it’s hard to get over it, but we try anyway. That all your future actions should be based on a past event is inevitable. You’re stuck, you can’t help it, and it defines you. And the desserts! The beautiful, mouth-watering, scrumptious desserts!

It’s tragic, I know, but I really need to get out more often when conversations turn into this:

Faye: Nakakuha ka na ng albums ng SuJu? Nakakalimutan kong magdownload eh. Here is my K-pop playlist though if you want to listen to other artists.

Me: uy, salamat! hindi e, nalimutan ko. ang ginawa ko nung weekend re suju ay manood ng clips mula sa super show 2 concert nila. kinover nila ulit ung gee. hehe ang pagbabalik ni heesica!

Faye: Hahaha! Adik ka talaga! Naghihintay ako ng clearer fancams of Gee. May nakita ka ba?

Me: hindi e, ung sa super show malalabo. pero nakakatawa pa rin kasi andun sila lahat tapos kinakanta nila ung gee. kahit si siwon. haha. tapos, naghubad ng pants si eunhyuk onstage. tapos si ryeowook, kumanta ng insomnia na may kasamang babae. as in may attempt sa pagsesexy e ang bata niya pa rin tingnan. Hahaha and that’s how i spent my sunday night. hehehe

Faye: Maka-download nga ng fancam mamaya. Hehehe bat naman naghubad si Eunhyuk? Naku si Ryeowook wala nang babading sa kanya sa Attack on the Pin-Up Boys (wag na syang magpanggap). Tsaka oo nga, Eternal Maknae sya e. How sad naman our lives. I spent my Sunday night downloading videos/reading fanfics and changing my journal layout. MASAYA MAG-FANGIRL EH. Bat ba.

Attack on the Pin-Up Boys, as Bry pointed out, isn’t cerebral or anything nor does it aim to win major art house awards but it was worth the laugh. The movie’s pretty useless actually but I loved it anyway. Really, I have SuJu to thank for making me snort again at the MRT all by myself.  And Ryeowook is a revelation. He outshone them all – even HeeChul the drama queen. If I hadn’t been this stressed then I don’t think I would be this easily fixated with SuJu. It’s like way back in senior year when I had to do my thesis and I’d rather ogle Matsumoto Jun for the nth time in Gokusen or watch Prince of Tennis at the break of dawn instead.

It’s strange that they should have so many members in a boy band but even stranger, as a friend pointed out, that I can actually identify them one by one. I can’t help it  – they’re starting to grow on me. Then I start to notice their individual quirks, how they can be totally different from each other, and maybe some of them spiels ARE scripted but I’ve been watching Korean variety shows non-stop that guests SuJu anyway. They’re funny. Yes, of the slap-stick variety but of the wheeze-I-can’t-breathe-funny kind. I’m even beginning to appreciate the music. With the genuine exception of the Clazziquai Project, I usually have little patience for Kpop since I find the music bland in general. Contagious and gives you the worst case of LSS, yes, but nothing really special. Record companies in Korea (and Japan too, I should think) keep producing this kind of music because it sells obviously. There’s a whole industry devoted to boybands and girlbands for the screaming fandom. But with Super Junior, hell, I’m willing to make another exception.

Ahh…vicarious thrills. They do their part. Especially when it’s Friday, I’m not in love,  it’s 9pm, and I’m still here at my office desk  making pom-poms out of my own volition. Don’t ask.

Ahh…yun pala yun. Read the NY Times review here. JM and I had been film fest buddies for years – French, Spanish, Eigai Sai, you name it we’ll watch it. We are both strangely attracted to subtitles – you know, to further enhance our reading skills. And hey, these films are shown for free too. Ages ago, we would watch these films straight but the last couple of years saw an increase in the movie-goers. We could no longer watch them two-three films in a row because you now have to wait in line for the tickets two or three hours in advance and I do mean wait in line. I don’t know if everybody else was suddenly interested in reading too or was there for the free screenings but hey again, maybe there are people who do watch these films.  Anyway, JM and I saw Flanders at the last French Film Fest at Shang and shortly after the movie started, we exchanged looks. And if that look had subtitles, it would go:

Me: WTH

JM: WTH 

When the movie ended, I turned to JM again and if that look had subtitles, it would go:

Me: WTH

JM: WTH

We stared at the credits, incredulously agape, but not in a No-Country-For-Old-Men way. This is not to say that the movie was incomprehensible. JM and I can probably spew out lines like “Far from negating their humanity, their consciousness of good and evil is what makes the human condition so agonizing” too if we tried. Hey, we saw Les Enfants du Paradis which showed for three hours in black-and-white and we loved it. Which makes me wonder: What if JM and I had seen Kinatay?

From the Japan Foundation, Manila:

In celebration of Philippines–Japan Friendship Month, the Japan Foundation, Manila, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, and the UP Film Institute proudly presents a Japanese Contemporary Film Festival, titled “Eigasai ‘09” (literally means ‘film festival’ in Japanese) that will serve as its kick-off activity on July 2, 2009 at Shang Cineplex Cinema 3 for the month-long celebration.

“Eigasai ‘09” aims to bolster further the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan by continuously providing an opportunity for Filipinos to enhance the understanding and appreciation of Japanese arts and culture explored in this medium. This year’s offering brings together 7 contemporary films and 1 anime film in 35mm format. An invitational screening of Always – Sunset on Third Street (Always San-chome no yuhi, 2005) by director Yamazaki Takashi will be held on July 2, 2009 (Thursday) at 7:00 p.m. at the Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 3, Edsa, Mandaluyong City.

Other films to be featured are Memories of Matsuko (Kiraware Matsuko no issho, 2006) directed by Nakashima Tetsuya, Kamome Diner (Kamome shokudo, 2006) directed by Ogigami Naoko, Memories of Tomorrow (Ashita no kioku, 2006) directed by Tsutsumi Yukihiko, The Milkwoman (Itsuka dokusho suru hi, 2005) directed by Ogata Akira, Turn Over – An Angel Is Coming on a Bicycle (Futari biyori, 2004) directed by Nomura Keiichi, Tony Takitani (Toni Takitani, 2004) directed by Ichikawa Jun, and the sole anime film Mind Game (Mind Game, 2004) directed by Masaaki Yuasa.

All films will be shown with English subtitles. Admission is free. Screening venues are at the Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 3 (July 2 to 12) and UP Film Institute (August 14 to 20). “Eigasai ‘09” will also have provincial screenings that will commence in Gaisano South City Mall, Davao (July 18 and 19); Ayala Center, Cebu (July 28 to Aug 2) and Baguio Center Mall, Baguio (August 7 to 11). For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, please access the Japan Foundation, Manila website or call the JFM telephone numbers (+632) 811-6155 to 58.

]]> http://madalingtandaan.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/sa-halip-na-gawing-torotot/ Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:02:38 +0000 diO http://madalingtandaan.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/sa-halip-na-gawing-torotot/

Kailangan natin ng Arkibo ng Pelikula sa bansa.

Sayang kasi mga pelikula natin. ‘Yung mga films noon ay ginawa na nga lamang mga torotot. Sayang. Sana magkaroon tayo ng ahensya na magpre-preserve ng ating mga pelikula.

Kung aasa sa pamahalaan, tingin ko matatagalan pa. Dahil na rin sa dami ng mas kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin. (Kahit hindi naman din talaga ‘yung mga ‘yun ang napapagtutuunan ng pansin.)

May narinig ako, ‘yung SOFIA(?)–Society of Film Archivist(?) ata ‘yun. Kaso tingin ko limited din ang mga nagagawa nila. Iba pa rin sana kung mayroon tayong National Film Archives na hawak government.

Anyway, para sa ‘di nakakaalam, patay ang industriya ng pelikula sa bansa. Ang kalidad ng mga pelikula ngayon ay way too far ang agwat kumpara sa mga films noong heydays ng industriya. (in terms of plot and content, hindi sa technical aspects, syempre.)

[Salamat na lang sa ilang mga pelikula (indies) na kahit papaano'y pinagyayabong muli ang industriya ng pelikula sa bansa.]

Ok, aside sa film archives, (mas) kailangan natin ng film literacy. Dapat i-educate ang mga tao about the values and importance of film sa lipunang Pilipino. Sa mga salita ng isang pambansang alagad ng sining, “Ang pelikula ay nakasuso sa lipunan, at ang lipunan ay nakasuso sa pelikula.”

Sa kabilang banda, ang pelikula ay nananatiling isang anyo ng sining. At wika nga, kung gusto mong makilala ang isang lipunan, pag-aralan mo ang kaniyang sining.

Lugmok ang industriya ng pelikula. Lugmok din ang lipunang Pilipino.

Ang sabi pa, “Filipino films had lost its identity.” Hindi kaya “The Filipino nation had lost its identity as well”?

Buhayin sana natin ang ating mga namatay na sining, sabay ng pagbangon natin bilang isang bayan.

Sa title pa lang, B movie na B movie ang dating ng Drag me to Hell. Kaya nga pinanood ko dahil sa campy feel ng title, poster, at trailer. And I wasn’t disappointed.

1. Ito ang masasabi ko: Mrs. Ganush FTW!!!

2. Hag fight with lots and lots of gums and dentures involved. Mrs Ganush biting Christine with her gums is riot.

3. LOL and hilarious lines: “I beat you, you old bitch!” “Here kitty, kitty…” (poor cat. haha!)

4. Classic Raimi. Love the Evil Dead and Army of Darkness tongue in cheek humor in the film.

5.  Chilling high pitched violin = Fantastic sound effects.

6. Superb ending. Predictable, but superb. Di ko pa rinmakalimutan ang pag-atras ni Christine sa train station. haha!

7. Talking goat, squirting nosebleeds, stapled eyeball, an eyeball in a piece of cake, evil panyo, greenish and yellowish phlegms, gums, and more gums. Panoorin ninyo na lang.

French Film Festival na naman. E, ‘yong super excited akong kumandi-kandirit papuntang sa Shangri-La. Van Gogh ang 8 pm screening. Interesting, sabi ko. Art Studies naman ang undergrad ko, so mukhang magugustuhan ko.

Ang ganda. Sobra. Sarap matulog sa sinehan. Kung gusto mong ma-coma, panoorin mo ‘to.

Draaaaaaging! Ang daming unnecessary scenes. Confused ang filmmaker kung ano ang ifo-focus (problema ng mga baguhang indie-indiehang direktor sa Pinas). Makatunaw-pasensiya ang editing. Namatay talaga ako no’ng nasa loob ako ng sinehan. Kung ugali ko lang ang magwalk-out, lalayasan ko talaga.

Alam kong may paepek ang direktor kung bakit gano’n ang approach niya. Pero, sorry. Di umepek sa akin. Sa iba siguro. na-trauma tuloy si Stan, ‘yong friend ni Anmare na baguhan sa French Film Fest. Di na raw uli siya manonood. Haha!

ni rhod v. nuncio

Naging matagumpay ang listahan ko ng 100 Kontemporaryong Aklat na dapat ninyong basahin bago kayo kunin ni Lord! kung kaya’t ginagaya na ito ng iba (may botohan pa ang isa). Katulad nang naipangako ko, ihahatid ko naman ngayon sa inyo ang listahan ko ng 100 pinakamagagaling at pinakapaborito kong pelikulang Filipino. Siyempre pa bago tumaas ang kilay at magmaktol ang mga kritiko, iskolar, artista, direktor at film outfits, gusto kong linawin na personal ko itong listahan. Ang Insiang ang una sa akin dahil sa maraming dahilan. Hintayin ninyo ang susulatin kong kritikal na papel tungkol sa pelikulang ito. Si Lino Brocka ang para sa akin ang (pinakang-) pinakamagaling na direktor na Filipino. (Sorry…Dexter Cayanes na maka-Ishmael Bernal!)

1. Insiang
2. Ganito kami noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?
3. Tinimbang ka ngunit kulang
4. Himala
5. Mga Munting Tinig
6. Orapronobis
7. Kakaba kaba ka ba?
8. Maynila…sa kuko ng liwanag
9. Tanging Yaman
10. Panday (1-4)
11. Sister Stella L
12. Batch 81
13. Oro Plata Mata
14. Magnifico
15. Minsa’y isang gamo-gamo
16. Kubrador
17. Darna
18. Ang Dalubhasa
19. Bata, bata paano ka ginawa?
20. Bilangin ang butuin sa langit
21. Shake Rattle & Roll 1
22. Scorpion Nights
23. Pasan ko ang daigdig
24. Jaguar
25. ‘Wag kang lilingon
26. Kasal, kasali, kasalo
27. Sakal, sakali, saklolo
28. Bagets
29. Jose Rizal
30. Saan darating ang umaga?
31. Kapag puno na ang salop
32. Ang lalaki sa buhay ni Selya
33. Ang tatay kong nanay
34. The graduates
35. Ligaya ang itawag mo sa akin
36. Captain Barbell
37. John en Marsha
38. Batang Quiapo
39. Anak
40. May minamahal
41. Ina kapatid anak
42. Bituing walang ningning
43. Bayan ko: Kapit sa patalim
44. Ang hiwaga ng Ibong Adarna
45. Dekada 70
46. Working Girls
47. Bagong buwan
48. Scorpion Nights 2
49. Muro ami
50. Relasyon
51. Feng Shui
52. Curacha: ang babaeng walang pahinga
53. Kalabog & Bosyo
54. Babangon ako’t dudurugin kita
55. Mang Kepweng
56. Kahapon may dalawang bata
57. JOLOGS
58. Spirit Warriors
59. Mano po 1
60. American Adobo
61. Crying Ladies
62. Ang pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros
63. Tatarin
64. Pila balde
65. Machete
66. Annie Batungbakal
67. Mumbaki
68. Dyesebel
69. Inday bote
70. Malikmata
71. Bukas luluhod ang mga tala
72. Isang bala ka lang
73. Madrasta
74. Ang tanging ina
75. Once in a blue moon
76. Milan
77. Ako legal wife: Mano po 4
78. Caregiver
79. Kulam
80. Bulaklak ng Maynila
81. Soltera
82. Dito sa pitong gatang
83. Pik pak boom
84. Pedro Penduko
85. Miguelito: ang batang rebelde
86. City after dark
87. Facifica Falayfay
88. Pare ko
89. A very special love
90. Estudyante blues
91. Ouija
92. Panaghoy sa suba
93. Aishite imasu
94. Natutulog pa ang Diyos
95. Okey ka fairy ko
96. Sarah, ang munting prinsesa
97. Markova: comfort gay
98. Dubai
99. Wansapanataym
100. Pinoy Blonde

Abangan:

100 buhay pang mga Filipino na dapat ninyong kilalanin bago kayo uli kunin ni Lord!

100 OPM na kailangan ninyong marinig bago kayo mabingi sa inyong I-Pod!