1. Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief
2. Inglorious Bastards
3. The Hurt Locker - I think this one already screened, so I might've missed this...but I hope I'm wrong..
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Profane Redemption
Matthias Grunewald's "Crucifixion"
Just watched Wanted:Border with Yunamayi and let me just say that it was an amazing experience. The film reallys fits the mold of what a true "indie cinema" experience is. The film does not pander to the audience, purposely forcing the viewers to a higher level of awareness. In short - hindi iniinsulto ng pelikulang ito ang intelihensya ng manonood.
But the film also carries an inherent challenge -- as the audience you need to keep your eyes and ears open and soak in the visual and visceral experience. Viewing Wanted:Border is quite a challenge. The film employs a non-linear narrative and the images would seem to be a bit convoluted at the beginning but it all falls into place toward the end. Take note, you need to keep the small details in mind. This film might need a few more views even for those already initiated in the various conceits of indie cinema.
The film left us both satisfied and perplexed. The taltal thread is the one that got us pondering the film even as we were exiting the cinema. During dinner we'd often catch ourselves lost in thought -- ganun ka-grabe ang epekto ng pelikula sa amin. To speak of more details would be a sacrilege, since one needs to take in the entire movie and come up with their individual take on the movie. Mine is right there in the blog post title as well as in the picture of Christ crucified in all his g(l)ory.
Apart from the complexities, it was a joy to hear people speaking in Ilonggo. Rosanna Roces gives an understated, though very powerful performance. The film has offered us a strange and unsettling view of the human condition, and if in the darkness of human compulsions one can find a strange though disturbing beauty -- and a rather surreal hope for redemption -- then it wouldn't hurt to look, would it?
"Aerial" by Kate Bush
this is not an official music video for the song but this captures the song's essence beautifully.
Again...amazing.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Aerial
Found my way into Astroplus at SM North and fished out Kate Bush's "Aerial" CD from the bargain stacks. How come I know majority of the artists consigned to "bargain sale limbo"? Kokonti na ba talaga ang mga katulad kong eclectic ang taste sa music? Ano ba yan...
Listening to Kate Bush made me wish I had known her earlier. Her work defies categorization and simple description as the songs feature varied genres and musical styles. Her music is so complex -- within a single song I counted at least three changes in tempo and a song often would cross over into another musical style mid-track. This album deserves to be heard again and again...
My favorite tracks are in the second disc entitled "Sky of Honey": the songs "Somewhere in Between", "Nocturn", and "Aerial" need to be listened to as a series as it features common musical themes and motifs. Birdsong features predominantly within the second disc as well as human voices and animal growls. Kate even utilizes a unique tone and cadence when singing which is reminiscent of the chanting of Muslims in prayer.
This is one weird, amazing album.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Pissed
Movietime with cousin Pebi did not go as planned.
I am so f*cking pissed with what happened.
Last night I checked out the scheduled screening of Wanted:Border at clickthecity.com. There I saw that the schedule listed a 1:40 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:20 PM screening of the film. Knowing that Pebi would be fresh out of her shift (her shift BTW ends at 6 am) at her call center/trading consultancy work, and that she normally spends Thursday morning asleep at home, we agreed on an early afternoon screening since she should be back in Cavite before 4 or 5 PM.
And so we met at the SC around 10 AM. Natawa ako sa kanya kasi yung get-up nya was "yuppieng gala" -- top part was "yuppie" while the lower half was "gala" (shorts and sandals). A quick stop at Maroons turned her into a "UPing gala" (a UP shirt now replaced her blouse). After spending a moment to check out the DVDs at the usual place, we made our way to Robinson's Galleria for lunch.
Of course libre ni Pebi. (Thank you!) Mealtime chitchat was the most meaningful I had in a looong time. Discussion went from movies: Sophia Copolla's Marie Antoinette and the sad fate of M. Night Shyamalan (Pebi expressed admiration for Lady in the Water; I, on the other hand, expressed skepticism on The Last Airbender; we both agreed The Happening sucked); to books: George Orwell's works (Animal Farm, 1984) to Paulo Coelho's I Sat by the River Piedra and Wept (pareho ang reaction namin sa book -- isang malutong na WTF?!)The food at The Old Spaghetti House was also good - the spareribs were soft and tender but needed more sauce and marinade IMO.
Things took a turn for the worse after lunch.
We hurried to the ticket booth around 1:15 PM to get in line for Wanted:Border only to find that Robinson's Movieworld had changed the schedule. There were to be two screenings of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON at Cinema 8 prior to the screening of Wanted: Border. The earliest we could watch was 5:20 PM and, knowing Pebi's situation, it was impossible for us to watch the movie as a "critical tandem" (naks) if that's the case.
F*ck.
After profuse apologies to Pebi, we decided to watch Paranormal Activity instead. Nilibre ko si Pebi as a token of gratitude for lunch and also for the fact that the sudden change of plans made us watch a movie that we both weren't planning on viewing. Nahiya talaga ako kay Pebi. And I was so irate at what happened that I just had to kick Edward's big-ass face displayed in the Movieworld lobby.
Honestly, that felt good. ha.
Halos walang tao sa cinema when we went in. Aside from Pebi and myself, I counted around 6 more people in the cinema. So much for the hype surrounding this film -- another addition to the "found/recovered footage genre" like The Blairwitch Project, Cloverfield, Rec, Quarantine (based on Rec), and The Hayden Kho Scandal (kidding)
Again, so much for hype. I considered the film as an indictment of the materialistic and self-centered American culture whose only response to the forces of the supernatural was to point a videocamera at it. The scenario presented in the film would unfold quite differently here in our country, where our culture is steeped in lore regarding the supernatural. This would explain why both Pebi and I viewed the film with a degree of incredulity and amusement -- but not horror.
Kung si Pebi pa: "Naku, na-engkanto lang yan. Tawas lang ang katapat nyan..."
but to be fair to the film, a few scenes did make me jump. The most interesting was the one where the woman, while sound asleep, was dragged by her foot from her bed by an invisible presence, and hearing her terrified screams as she was being dragged away from view... now, that was creepy.
And another question kept nagging me: Why don't they just shut the damn door?
And so our tandem shared disappointment instead of an enjoyable film experience. This afternoon just made me realize how much I hated the Twilight series, and now I could hate it with a vengeance. Nang dahil sa New Moon na 'yan nadiskaril ang plano namin ni Pebi, punyeta!
Note: checked the clickthecity website again, and lo and behold! the f*cking schedule has indeed been changed!Isaksak nyo yang p*t********g New Moon na 'yan sa baga nyo!
I am so f*cking pissed with what happened.
Last night I checked out the scheduled screening of Wanted:Border at clickthecity.com. There I saw that the schedule listed a 1:40 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:20 PM screening of the film. Knowing that Pebi would be fresh out of her shift (her shift BTW ends at 6 am) at her call center/trading consultancy work, and that she normally spends Thursday morning asleep at home, we agreed on an early afternoon screening since she should be back in Cavite before 4 or 5 PM.
And so we met at the SC around 10 AM. Natawa ako sa kanya kasi yung get-up nya was "yuppieng gala" -- top part was "yuppie" while the lower half was "gala" (shorts and sandals). A quick stop at Maroons turned her into a "UPing gala" (a UP shirt now replaced her blouse). After spending a moment to check out the DVDs at the usual place, we made our way to Robinson's Galleria for lunch.
Of course libre ni Pebi. (Thank you!) Mealtime chitchat was the most meaningful I had in a looong time. Discussion went from movies: Sophia Copolla's Marie Antoinette and the sad fate of M. Night Shyamalan (Pebi expressed admiration for Lady in the Water; I, on the other hand, expressed skepticism on The Last Airbender; we both agreed The Happening sucked); to books: George Orwell's works (Animal Farm, 1984) to Paulo Coelho's I Sat by the River Piedra and Wept (pareho ang reaction namin sa book -- isang malutong na WTF?!)The food at The Old Spaghetti House was also good - the spareribs were soft and tender but needed more sauce and marinade IMO.
Things took a turn for the worse after lunch.
We hurried to the ticket booth around 1:15 PM to get in line for Wanted:Border only to find that Robinson's Movieworld had changed the schedule. There were to be two screenings of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON at Cinema 8 prior to the screening of Wanted: Border. The earliest we could watch was 5:20 PM and, knowing Pebi's situation, it was impossible for us to watch the movie as a "critical tandem" (naks) if that's the case.
F*ck.
After profuse apologies to Pebi, we decided to watch Paranormal Activity instead. Nilibre ko si Pebi as a token of gratitude for lunch and also for the fact that the sudden change of plans made us watch a movie that we both weren't planning on viewing. Nahiya talaga ako kay Pebi. And I was so irate at what happened that I just had to kick Edward's big-ass face displayed in the Movieworld lobby.
Honestly, that felt good. ha.
Halos walang tao sa cinema when we went in. Aside from Pebi and myself, I counted around 6 more people in the cinema. So much for the hype surrounding this film -- another addition to the "found/recovered footage genre" like The Blairwitch Project, Cloverfield, Rec, Quarantine (based on Rec), and The Hayden Kho Scandal (kidding)
Again, so much for hype. I considered the film as an indictment of the materialistic and self-centered American culture whose only response to the forces of the supernatural was to point a videocamera at it. The scenario presented in the film would unfold quite differently here in our country, where our culture is steeped in lore regarding the supernatural. This would explain why both Pebi and I viewed the film with a degree of incredulity and amusement -- but not horror.
Kung si Pebi pa: "Naku, na-engkanto lang yan. Tawas lang ang katapat nyan..."
but to be fair to the film, a few scenes did make me jump. The most interesting was the one where the woman, while sound asleep, was dragged by her foot from her bed by an invisible presence, and hearing her terrified screams as she was being dragged away from view... now, that was creepy.
And another question kept nagging me: Why don't they just shut the damn door?
And so our tandem shared disappointment instead of an enjoyable film experience. This afternoon just made me realize how much I hated the Twilight series, and now I could hate it with a vengeance. Nang dahil sa New Moon na 'yan nadiskaril ang plano namin ni Pebi, punyeta!
Note: checked the clickthecity website again, and lo and behold! the f*cking schedule has indeed been changed!Isaksak nyo yang p*t********g New Moon na 'yan sa baga nyo!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Movie Time
Just scheduled a movie watching session with cousin Pebi tomorrow. We will be watching the Cinemaone Filmfest 2009 Best Picture "Wanted: Border" at Robinson's Galleria. I'm making up for not watching "Yanggaw" last month...
Monday, November 23, 2009
WTF? JGL in SNL
Joseph Gordon Levitt, aka Cobra Commander, hosting the latest episode of SNL
UPDATE: The posted clips are no longer available but I trust your resourcefulness to find them elsewhere...
Opening monologue: weirdly manic, parang na-overdose sa energy drink si Joseph hehe
The Mellow Show, hosted by Jack Johnson: kuhang-kuha si Jason Mraz, natawa ako sa reference to avocados; and Dave Matthews as Ozzy Osbourne? Wohoooooo!
What Up With That?: Al Gore is pretty funny here though he's not really trying to be funny. All in all, this skit is the best of the show...
UPDATE: The posted clips are no longer available but I trust your resourcefulness to find them elsewhere...
Opening monologue: weirdly manic, parang na-overdose sa energy drink si Joseph hehe
The Mellow Show, hosted by Jack Johnson: kuhang-kuha si Jason Mraz, natawa ako sa reference to avocados; and Dave Matthews as Ozzy Osbourne? Wohoooooo!
What Up With That?: Al Gore is pretty funny here though he's not really trying to be funny. All in all, this skit is the best of the show...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Fix You
I just bought an original Coldplay CD for the astounding sum of P100. Sale kasi sa Astroplus kaya ayun hehe.
This,in my opinion, is the best song in the album...
So far, this band is the best musical phenomenon to emerge from this generation. Their "X & Y" album is good. The CD is indeed worth buying as all the tracks are superb. In fairness, may special appearance pa si Brian Eno sa isa nilang track.
Da who si Brian Eno?
Huwaaaat! Hindi mo siya kilala? Kawawa ka naman...
This,in my opinion, is the best song in the album...
So far, this band is the best musical phenomenon to emerge from this generation. Their "X & Y" album is good. The CD is indeed worth buying as all the tracks are superb. In fairness, may special appearance pa si Brian Eno sa isa nilang track.
Da who si Brian Eno?
Huwaaaat! Hindi mo siya kilala? Kawawa ka naman...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Ano Ba Yan?!
The Filipiniana Section of the UP Main Lbrary is still closed! Hindi pa bayad ang utang na six million sa Meralco!
F*ck!
Pa'no na 'to? Diskaril ang reading natin for thesis obviously. Though there are other alternatives but most of them involve long commutes (National Library) and daily library access fees (Ateneo, hello!)Andito na nga ang pinakamalapit wala pa. Tang 'ina naman o...
And I am sure hindi ako nag-iisa na naaapektuhan nito. There are countless students who are suffering as I am. To be fair naman sa staff, they were offering to browse through the shelves but they could only release one book at a time. And considering that the atmosphere of the Filipiniana section is like that of medieval times (parang dungeon), entertaining my requests for multiple books seem like an exercise in futility.
Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang matagal nang reklamo ng mga tibak: na pinapabayaan ng gobyerno ang edukasyon sa Pilipinas. Putik!
F*ck!
Pa'no na 'to? Diskaril ang reading natin for thesis obviously. Though there are other alternatives but most of them involve long commutes (National Library) and daily library access fees (Ateneo, hello!)Andito na nga ang pinakamalapit wala pa. Tang 'ina naman o...
And I am sure hindi ako nag-iisa na naaapektuhan nito. There are countless students who are suffering as I am. To be fair naman sa staff, they were offering to browse through the shelves but they could only release one book at a time. And considering that the atmosphere of the Filipiniana section is like that of medieval times (parang dungeon), entertaining my requests for multiple books seem like an exercise in futility.
Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang matagal nang reklamo ng mga tibak: na pinapabayaan ng gobyerno ang edukasyon sa Pilipinas. Putik!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Die, Earth! Die!
The folks at cracked.com are at it again. and this time, in anticipation of Ronald Emmerich's planet-killing feature film, called on the unholy powers of photoshoppers around the 'net and compiled this list of Rejected Ideas for Disaster Movies.
I found the alpaca movie most hilarious of them all.
Image 2009
a former student of mine told me of this video showcasing Image 2009, UNO-R HS yearbook...nice concept...so far the layout is solid...and most of all, ginpasexy nila figure ni alon sa pic hehehe
Coming soon...
Coming soon...
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Facebook Na Me...
hahaha and to think I told a friend that I had no desire to subscribe to the facebook mania...
The things boredom does to me...
The things boredom does to me...
Manny on Kimmel. WIN!
Finally viewed Manny's guesting stint at Jimmy Kimmel and I must say the Pacman did us Pinoys proud by being on that show. If we were just to consider Manny as the boxer and not the endorser/politico/actor/whatever he comes off as sincere and humble. BTW, he's got a decent singing voice, so all those vocal coaching that went with the album must've been worth it.
Sige na nga, I'll join the bandwagon and wish the Pacman a big win in his upcoming fight. Manny FTW!
We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore...
Public school teachers call for Congress to give them the option to refuse service during the elections. read about it
here.
If the electorate can do it, why can't our teachers? Twisted Sister would be so proud...
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Welcome to Arrakis...
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
For so long I have searched for this book, and now I have found it.
And now if you'll excuse me...Arrakis beckons...
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
You're Welcome, Quezon City...*
Balik peyups na!
Goodbye Bacolod muna...
Goodbye to the sweet comforts of home...
Goodbye to Globe Broadband -- na grabe magfluctuate ang download rate at hindi ka pwede mag-view ng multiple websites dahil magla-lag nang todo...
Goodbye to Netopia -- my regular internet connection back home na P40+ per hour and singil pero OK na rin...
Goodbye Jo, Lyka, Miming, and the other Miming...
Goodbye sa lahat ng mga pamangkin. On leave muna ang inyong yayo. hehe
Goodbye Diding, magpakabait ka ha...
Goodbye to my parents, hello to their monthly allowance. Pramis, last na talaga ito, ako na ang didiskarte next year...
Goodbye for now, but see you soon...tutal December is just around the corner...
Ngayon...
Enrolment na! May thesis writing na! Last cognate na!
Pero bukas na lang ang bayad...closed kasi mga bangko sa Negros. November 5 eh. hehe
This second semester will definitely be the last, but it doesn't mean it'll be less fun...
Kitakits!
*apologies to Mr. Joey de Leon
Goodbye Bacolod muna...
Goodbye to the sweet comforts of home...
Goodbye to Globe Broadband -- na grabe magfluctuate ang download rate at hindi ka pwede mag-view ng multiple websites dahil magla-lag nang todo...
Goodbye to Netopia -- my regular internet connection back home na P40+ per hour and singil pero OK na rin...
Goodbye Jo, Lyka, Miming, and the other Miming...
Goodbye sa lahat ng mga pamangkin. On leave muna ang inyong yayo. hehe
Goodbye Diding, magpakabait ka ha...
Goodbye to my parents, hello to their monthly allowance. Pramis, last na talaga ito, ako na ang didiskarte next year...
Goodbye for now, but see you soon...tutal December is just around the corner...
Ngayon...
Enrolment na! May thesis writing na! Last cognate na!
Pero bukas na lang ang bayad...closed kasi mga bangko sa Negros. November 5 eh. hehe
This second semester will definitely be the last, but it doesn't mean it'll be less fun...
Kitakits!
*apologies to Mr. Joey de Leon
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Final Updates
Saturday
Brian spends most of the day riveted, deep in concentration on his various quests. such concentration only interrupted by screams of "Tito Miiiike!" whenever he found himself stuck at a level or quest. Assistant gamer and nanny rolled in one. Hay...
Caught a throat irritation because of gorging on too much ice cream.
Sunday
All Saints' Day. Throat irritation grew worse. Had to make a short trip to the mall to procure medicine. Pretty sure this is an allergy so I gulped down a few antihistamines. Didn't feel the wrath of Santi here in Bacolod.
Monday
All Souls' Day. Early morning trip to Manapla with Mama and Papa to pay respects to our beloved dead. Throat irritation morphed into a sinus irritation. Allergy it is. After paying our respects to the dead, we had to pay our respects to the living - necessitating a side trip to our relatives in the barrio. Sat quietly for two hours and respectfully responded to queries and engaged in small talk. Sidetrip to Robinson's and wolfed down a sandwich at Taters. Mmmmmmm...
Tuesday
Sinus irritation on the mend. Mama's off buying pasalubong while I'm here updating my blog.
See you all in Manila...
Brian spends most of the day riveted, deep in concentration on his various quests. such concentration only interrupted by screams of "Tito Miiiike!" whenever he found himself stuck at a level or quest. Assistant gamer and nanny rolled in one. Hay...
Caught a throat irritation because of gorging on too much ice cream.
Sunday
All Saints' Day. Throat irritation grew worse. Had to make a short trip to the mall to procure medicine. Pretty sure this is an allergy so I gulped down a few antihistamines. Didn't feel the wrath of Santi here in Bacolod.
Monday
All Souls' Day. Early morning trip to Manapla with Mama and Papa to pay respects to our beloved dead. Throat irritation morphed into a sinus irritation. Allergy it is. After paying our respects to the dead, we had to pay our respects to the living - necessitating a side trip to our relatives in the barrio. Sat quietly for two hours and respectfully responded to queries and engaged in small talk. Sidetrip to Robinson's and wolfed down a sandwich at Taters. Mmmmmmm...
Tuesday
Sinus irritation on the mend. Mama's off buying pasalubong while I'm here updating my blog.
See you all in Manila...
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