Updates and More

It's been awhile since I last posted here. Many things have happened in between.

One, I already reclaimed the PR3 pagerank of this site. Yahooo!

Second, I already delivered a beautiful and healthy baby girl. Hallelujiah! We all adore her.

Third, while I was on the hospital, I had the chance of watching a not-too-old movie entitled 21. After Avatar, I haven't got the time to stay long on the PC or TV to watch movies so it was a welcome change to sit back and watch a movie while recuperating from the delivery. I so enjoyed the movie.

BTW, 21 is about an MIT student who dreams of getting into Harvard Medical School, but doesn't have the money to finance it. In a stroke of luck, he impressed one of professors who invited him to join a group of students whom he secretly "trained" to become card counting experts to beat the casinos. According to Wiki, the film, directed by Robert Luketic, was inspired by the story of the MIT Blackjack Team.

For me, it was exciting to see these smart students having a "double life." I haven't played casino games, not even in an online casino, in my entire life and so I am totally, totally thrilled to see the group's success at the casinos. I don't understand the game but I am amazed at the card-counting techniques they use to win in the blackjack games. In a scale of 1 to 5, I rate the movie with a 4. And that said, I am tempted to try some casino softwares and learn to play blackjack so I can at least get the idea of what the blackjack team was doing. *smiles*

21

Avatar

Before 2009 ended, I had wondered what the loud buzz about the movie Avatar is all about.

Finally, I was able to watch Avatar and wonder no more. I do count myself lucky for the chance to watch this beautiful movie, although not in the moviehouse (where the 3D effects will be much appreciated). I watched it in the office while keeping my watch of our network (there wasn't so much going on during my shift so I had the time).

Avatar is a movie written and directed by James Cameron, one of the driving forces behind blockbuster movies such as Titanic, Terminator, Aliens, etc.. The plot is all about a paraplegic who was sent to an extraordinary mission in a place called Pandora. In an uncanny twist of fate, he falls inlove with the place and its people and is "torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.” ( Imdb.com) The movie Avatar stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver.

From start to finish, I must say I was "taken along" in the story. I love everything about it-the special effects, the plot and its subtle message about taking care of the environment (or was it only me who thinks there's a hint of that message there?*smile*). Overall, I give it a double thumbs up.

Changeling

I saw the movie Changeling, which stars Angelina Jolie, last night and I couldn't help but shed tears. I actually thought I won't do that but down at the end, in the scene where another lost boy who was found was interrogated, hearing the boy say "I miss my Mom, I miss home" got really to me.

This is a late blurb but I gotta say I love the film. Every mother should watch this one. I love the story, setting and costumes - although I can't help but notice that Christine Collins (Angelina) wore the same coat after 5 or so years. A movie about love, hope, courage, friendship and motherhood, I think Changeling, based on a true story, is one of the brilliant movies Angelina has made.

Read the plot from here.

Terribly Wanted

Activity was barely existent in the office and so we had the chance to watch WANTED tonight.

Starring Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy, Wanted is a story about a transformation of an ordinary account manager who found out that his father who left him when he was an infant has been murdered. This father was a member of the Fraternity of Assassins, a group that exterminate people from the face of the Earth based on the name (target) the Loom of Fate comes up with. Taken into the Fraternity's leader's wing, this account manager was trained and was transformed into an assassin.

If you wanted to see bullets that defy the law of physics, watch Wanted.

Barely 5 minutes into it and I had decided it's a horrible movie. I'm sorry but I had to say it's really horrible.

But halfway into it, I begun to see past the almost unreal scenes and I realized that the unreality of it all brought more than a smile on my face.

It's a terrible movie. But.

P.S. I Love You

Activity in the office was relatively slow yesterday and so I had a chance to -- guess what? -- watch a movie again.

And it's a lovestory! Weeee heee. Being a sucker of romantic tales, you can just imagine how secretly excited I was when my male officemate only said in a flat voice, "it's a lovestory" after I asked whether it's a good one. * But of course, I tried to mask my excitement*

Anyway, PS. I Love You, which stars Hilary Swank (Holly) and Gerard Butler (Gerry), is a story of a young widow named Holly who discovers that her husband Gerry left her messages to help her get through her mourning. And help her start a new life.

It's a total tearjerker and it touched me. It actually planted what-ifs in my mind. Although the concept about "those letters" seem unbelievable and not realistic, I was carried away with the story. And what do you expect from a wuss like me? It won't be shocking to know that I cried - as in CRIED - while watching it. I was silently crying right there in the office. And I would have unabashedly cried more if I wasn't sharing the room with two other companions who were busy doing technical stuff.

When I went to the CR after seeing the end of the movie, I saw that my eyes were swollen and red. What a wuss! So my say about P.S. I Love You is it's an eye stinger. :-)

The Vantage Point

I had the chance to watch Vantage Point, which stars Dennnis Quaid, a couple of weeks or so ago in the office. (C’mon… Please don't ask me why I was able to watch it in the office. Wink.)

Although I enjoyed it, I really wasn't too impressed with the story. The plot, which revolves around the assassination attempt of the US President while attending a summit in Spain, was promising but I just am not convinced with some of the scenes. Okay it’s just a movie but aren’t scenes in the movies supposed to look convincing? Aren’t they supposed to get the audience involved in the characters? It didn’t happen to me though.

My favorite charming blunder is the “he-doesn't-even-look-like-me" double of the President. It’s actually a line I’ll always remember and associate with the movie – although I believe it’s a line to reinforce the existence of a body double. But indeed, the double doesn’t look like the president. at. all. Not an iota.
To me, it’s ridiculous to get a double that doesn’t look exactly like the President (in the story). They could have at least attempted to make the double look like the President. Ever heard of prosthetics? But I can see there was none of that.

But in the end, I had to accede that it was cleverly done. You won’t miss what the story is all about as the movie replays relevant scenes at a different perspective or vantage points. (For awhile there, during the second replay or perspective, I had the fleeting thought that I must have mistakenly pressed a rewind button or that I had a not working copy.)

Frontier(S) Uncut And Unrated

VERB Advisory: I advise everyone reading this now to please bear in mind that what you will be seeing is a trailer of a horror movie and some of the images as well. So unless you are ready to watch it, please don’t click any of the links. If you have a child with you, please exercise caution.

This morning, I have seen the Trailer of the unrated and controversial movie Frontier(S). It’s so gruesome to me. No kidding, I mean it’s maddeningly scary. So over the edge. With all the blood, it IS just gross. But then scary movie is not really my cup of tea. However, most of my friends in the office love to watch horror movies. When they would invite me to watch this kind of films and I decline, I do get a good ribbing sometimes. It’s nothing offensive though and I don’t mind.

It’s not yet shown in my place. But for US residents, you may check if the theater near where you live is one of the selected theaters to show this film on May 9. But if you’d like to bring horror viewing to the next level and watch this film in the comforts of your home, pick up an unrated and uncut copy of the Frontier(s). The DVD copy will be available on May 13^th.

The Simpson's seem-show

So I watched the Simpson's at home last Friday with kiddo Matt.

After almost a decade, I've been so excited to see Bart's zigzaggy head as well as his silly antics again, not to mention Marge's over-the-top do. I truly loved Bart when I was still in highschool. And even back in my college years. I can still remember the fun I had watching the series then.

But after watching the latest flick, I was disappointed. I didn't really like it that much. And if the squirming of my son while in my arms were any indication, he must have felt the same way too.

While the film was running, I had no other way of entertaining myself except playing the brushing-the-hand -aside game with my son, who was thoroughly enjoying inspecting the optical mouse and the monitor buttons.

Maybe it's the movie. Or is it just me? Almost a decade and one kid later, maybe I've changed. I didn't think the "lega-she" or that part with Bart clashing against the school principal is funny. Nor did I find the bit about Ronaldo breaking up a family hilarious.

Even so, I keep on telling myself that it couldn't be that bad. It's not actually that bad - and maybe others will find it totally amusing- but I will not scratch what I said about not liking it.

However, I'm going to quote something from the movie as a spin-off.

You spent too much time planning your revenge, you lost everything that really matters.

- Marge (to Homer), The Simpson’s Movie

B-O-R-A-T

Finally. I have seen BORAT. And I'm so glad that I was able to watch the film (in the office!). At last. Alright, alright, I'm kinda late. But better late than never, so goes the cliche.

Anyway, the film is about a Kazakh journalist who was sent to the great USA to observe and learn about its culture.

When I saw print ads of this film on the newspaper months (or was it a year) ago, I was intrigued. And honestly, I couldn't quite get it off my mind. But movie watching was out of question, given that I have a tot to care of and time for some silverscreen viewing was and is the least of my concerns. So I missed its showing in the local theater. And time for home viewing is limited, too. But I was able to read reviews of this and needless to say, I'm all the more intrigued and silently longing to get a copy and watch it. Hah, at last.

Wacky, crazy film. Silly. It is pretty hilarious.



A dash of sarcasm here. And some toilet humor there.

Oh well, a little slapstick in some ways but you will not miss the sarcasm in the way the film tackles sensitive and controversial issues, like the war with Iraq or the race issues (about the Romanian and the Jews). Ironically and unexpectedly, it is witty in that sense too. (The film is full of ironies).

A carefully crafted satire. Mind blowing funny! Two-thumbs up!

I love it. But I don't think I can recommend this to nerds who don't have the humor nerve to laugh at themselves or at life's awkward moments, and maybe in all circumstances.

Starring Sacha Baron Cohen

The Holiday

Stars: Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet

Hubby loves it. And he brought me a copy during his recent visit. (Thanks, mwah!)

And I was lucky enough to have hubby to attend to kid (thanks again, mwah, mwah!) which gave me enough time to watch it. And I love it too (but not because hubby loves it).


It's a story about two heartbroken women who decided to switch houses, with one in LA and the other in Surrey, S.E. England.


It's cheesy, mushy, sweet, poignant - it made me shed some tears (but then I cry even with films like Cheaper By The Dozen), but some parts were pretty dragging- maybe boring. But in its entirety, it's a nice one.

PB: The Killing Box

At last, I found the PB’s fall finale episode in the net after days and days of searching. What a fruitful day today is! After series of searches, my patience paid off. Nice reward, I’ve got.

I know, I know. I’m kinda far behind from schedule but boy, was I so darn happy that I found it (and able to view it!). Last week, despite my better judgment, I was not able to keep myself from reading the summary. But it didn’t lessen my anticipation; if it were possible, reading even fueled it some more.

I could have cared less that the episodes (from you tube) were chopped into parts, I’m too engrossed to the series of events unfolding before my eyes. I must give credits to the writers/directors and the peeps behind this great show. And for the superb storytelling.

I must say that I am far from contented after seeing it. I am clamoring for moooooore! My God, I am thinking of the word “sobriety” just now. This is really what the producers are expecting, right? But this is clean fun, y’know. And I can’t wait for next year’s episodes. Too bad, I have to wait for more than a month before I can see the new episodes again.

I- along with the rest of the PB addicts- will be waiting. Sure thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxucuhaU8fI

Try this one

It’s my last day off for the week today and tomorrow, I’ll be going back to work. It’s just fitting that I treat myself to another evening of movie watching. Well, not really in the huge silverscreen as I was just in my sis room watching Lakehouse - a Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock starrer.

I will not give the details of the story but suffice to say that the plot touches on the issue of “another” dimension. A lovestory cut to hit the emotional chords of the audience. Attempting to. And plays tricks with the time element of each character’s lives.

I don’t know why, but I had this feeling that that the director/producer is only capitalizing too much on the Sandra-Keanu chemistry. That’s not a bad thing though because chemistry is important in every lovestory. But so is a good dialogue, sequence. Equally important, I think.

But then this is just my opinion, that’s all. Maybe amateurish. I’m far from writing a review. All in all, it’s not a bad movie. The fans and some viewers may not agree with me. (And the fans may hate me for this!) But I was just looking for the Meet-Joe-Black feel of it but found out that there was none.