Starting Over Again

Finally! It's about time a Filipino film has a  "love team" that did not end up together. I hoped that Marco and Ginny would not get back together, and they didn't (yey!). Not having that 'happily ever after' with an ex does not mean you never loved at all. Eh yung relate na relate ako sa film and feeling ko may halong Marco and Ginny ako!

The movie was actually a mix of comedy and drama. I was alternately laughing and crying buckets of tears and I think those near me probably thought I've gone crazy. Or maybe not because they were probably doing the same. Toni Gonzaga never ceases to amaze me. Her humor, facial expressions and tiny quirks made Ginny a very entertaining character. Damn her long legs and smooth skin even if the camera was up close! Clap, clap, clap for Toni's stylist and makeup artist. I fell in love with her shoes!!! And boy oh boy, I was never a Piolo Pascual fan but this movie made my legs weak. He's just so perfect in his imperfect ways. Gwapo pa!

Basta, isa lang masasabi ko. If you haven't seen the movie, better watch it now!

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Here are some quotes from the movie that stuck with me:

"If you insist, how can I resist?"

"I will do everything it takes to bring you back. I will never lose hope that we will have our second chance."

"What you don't know won't hurt you."

"Dahil nung iniwan mo si Marco, binigyan mo siya ng karapatan na mag-mahal ng iba."

"Yang hope na yan. Lason yan. Parang drugs na nakaka-adik."

"Adik ka na naman sa pag-asa eh. Try mo na kaya lumaklak ng realidad?"

"I was willing to wait... Kaya lang napagod ako. Napagod ang puso ko na maghintay, magtanong, magalit."

“I don’t know. I can never unlove you. I’ll just love you in a different way now.”

“My love is bigger than your failures.”

"Closure."
"Para maging buo tayo ulit."

Note: Some quotes from http://bidakapamilya.blogspot.com

You're My Hero

Yes, I fell in love with Thor all over again. *charot* And hey, admit it, you were also waiting for a glimpse of Thor's ripped upper body. Too bad it was only a couple of seconds. I wonder why guys are not that into baring their abs (not just Chris Hemsworth but apparently Matthew McCaughnhey and Taylor Lautner as well according to Yahoo!) when it will definitely help their movies sell and their popularity skyrocket. What's a little bit of waxing? After all, they worked hard for their oh so (insert your adjective here) abs. Ok, enough with the drooling.

So yes, of all the superhero movies, Thor is my hero. I don't know why. There's just something about him that appeals to me. Is it his piercing eyes? His deep voice? His big hands? His heroic actions? His abs? All of it?

Whatever. Enough about Thor. Regarding the movie, I totally loved it. The thrill factor was enough to keep me on the edge of my seat and the animation and effects were spectacular (as usual). I hope that one day Filipino movies can be produced with the same quality as that of American films.

There were also some scenes where I was moved. The part where Thor's mother died was really sad. I liked the ceremony/ritual they had where the "soul" breaks free from the body and goes somewhere heavenly perhaps. I just wonder why some of the "orbs" came from the Asgardians' hands. And oh, it was nice that Thor would go to certain extents to save Jane. It made me realize how truly and utterly alone I am (sorry for the self-pity mode). I just hope that I'll find love like that again.

On a lighter note, I'm supposed to leave you of Thor and his abs but I couldn't find a photo from the movie so here's the trailer of Thor: The Dark World.

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I would rather be a good man than a great king.

~Thor

Man of Steel: Super Hot!

I was never really a Superman fan. Well, I used to watch Smallville religiously back when I was in highschool but my interest gradually faded after a couple of years.

Staying up late on a Wednesday was worth it. The movie was great and Henry Cavill is HOT, HOT, HOT! I don't know the original story since my comic books when I was a kid were Archie, Barbie and Sabrina. Some people said that the story was way way different. Well, my take is that's fine since you can't tell the same story over and over again. The writers are allowed to deviate, right? Oh well. The movie was also a bit long and there were about three times I thought the movie was ending (not!). Other than that, it was great! The effects were good, the movie was not too dark and the humor was ok in certain parts.

I just had some ideas bothering me when I saw the movie. 

• One was it was the Philippines' Independence Day and the Filipinos were flocking to the cinemas. Believe me when I say that the seats were sold out.
• Why do all Clark Kent characters look alike? Signature jawline and there's something else I can't pinpoint.

Who's the hottest of them all? Photo from supermanhomepage.com

• And speaking of look alikes, I don't know the about the other Lois Lanes but don't they look old mature? Come on, Amy Adams does not look young and hot at all. And there's something about Lois Lane's facial lines in Smallville as well.

So those are my thoughts and babble about the movie. To those having an internal debate on whether to watch Man of Steel (or World War Z), watch Man of Steel! I'm still thinking if World War Z is my next movie. Ciao!

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Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Then the trust thing comes afterwards.

It's not an "S",on my world it means "Hope"

"What are you smiling about Captain?" "I just think he's kinda hot."

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And then the camwhoring in the parking lot began. Thank you Tani for the photos! Haha.

From heels to my comfy car slippers! <3

Niko. Caution: will break your heart. Lol. Kidding :p

One Day More - Les Miserables 2012

This is my favorite song in the film. (I can't find the clip from the film though. Lea Salonga sings as Fantine in this version from the 25th anniversary concert.)

And yes, I can't get over that I liked Russell Crowe. Everyone is bashing and criticizing him that he cannot sing, etc. but he's cast as Javert and that's that. Yes, he is not perfect but he made an effort. Of course, if you compare him to the West End singers, he's really not at par. But please people, just think what if you were put in that or some other role. Imagine if I sang Eponine or Cosette. Yes, the musical will be a hundred times dreadful. Hahaha. So cut him some slack. Many people liked the film nevertheless.

Les Misérables Movie

Finally, Les Miserables is now showing in the Philippines! After more than two weeks of delay, I watched the movie on its very first day! It is definitely one hell of a movie. I think it is much better than the play (well, it's been more than ten years since I last saw the broadway play on VHS and I also saw the 2010 concert while waiting for the movie). There is more acting and the story is easier to follow in the movie.

I was surprised when Anne Hathaway (Fantine) started singing. She can sing really good and when she sang, I had goosebumps all over my arms (did you know that she was offered the part of Christine Dae for The Phantom of the Opera?). I was also impressed with Russell Crowe (Javert). Tani was laughing at me and was saying that I found Russell Crowe good because we are cut from the same cloth (for those who do not know me, I suck at singing). Well, I liked him better than Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean). Hugh Jackman was also good but I felt that someone else could have sang his part better (Russel Crowe???). There were some lines which he was whispering or narrating the lyrics instead of singing it and his voice was not that whole (Or was my judgment clouded becase Valjean in the concert was standing-ovation good?).

Amanda Seyfried (Cosette) was very pretty. She did so good with Mamma Mia and now there's a tremble in her voice when she's hitting the high notes. I wonder what happened there. And there's the rumor that Taylor Swift was offered Cosette's role but she turned it down. Oh Taylor, why oh why. Samantha Barks (Eponine) played the same character in the concert and the movie. It's nice to see she  was able to show the grief of Eponine in the movie. And the thing that struck me the most (and other viewers as well) is her itsy bitsy tiny waist! Isn't it incredibly small and a bit of a bother at times??? And last but not the least, Eddie Redmayne (Marius). When I saw several interviews before the film came out, my initial thought was why would they get someone dorky to play the dashing young Marius. But in the movie, I admit, he's kinda cute and he is more likable when he sings.

Oh, and let's not forget the eccentric Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thénardier). She fit her character perfectly! She was one character you would love to hate and make you laugh at the same time.

And once again, I got teary-eyed towards the end. When Jean Valjean died and Fantine fetched him, and everyone was singing, the scene was just moving. They were now all together and they were happy. And the transition from darkness to light felt like a heavy burden was lifted.

*Note: All photos are from the Facebook fan page of Les Miserables.

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I dreamed a dream in times gone by

When hope was high

And life worth living

I dreamed that love would never die

I dreamed that God would be forgiving

Then I was young and unafraid

And dreams were made and used and wasted

There was no ransom to be paid

No song unsung

Life of Pi

It must be the hormones and the PMS since I was alternately crying and laughing during the movie. Good thing we decided to watch it in 3D and I had the cover of the 3D glasses. Geez, believe me when I say tears were streaming down my face. Tsktsk.

I cried when Pi lost his family. I cried when the orangutan was killed by the hyena. I cried when I thought Richard Parker, the tiger, died. And I cried when Richard Parker left Pi and did not look back. So many tears shed in this movie but there was still that feeling of life after the storm (literally). Oh hey, I was dumbstruck when I heard the cook story. That part, I did not cry!

There were also some funny scenes which made me smile and laugh. And I just loved how Pi had a very positive attitude despite everything that has happened to him. I think I would have died on the first day if I were in his place. If only everyone would have Pi's positive outlook, the world would definitely be a better place.

And after watching the movie, it made me think of God again. It's been a looong time since I've been to the church and well, it made me want to believe in Him again. It's not that I don't believe at all but sometimes I forget.  I know that He is always around us but it made me want to seek Him again - not only in times of trouble, but in blissful days as well. I need to be more thankful and grateful for all the blessings from Him.

On another note, seeing it in 3D was awesome. The animals in the zoo, especially the birds, looked very real. And I felt like I could just push aside the leaves of the trees to get a better view of the zoo. The amazing colorful high of the sea at night was also amazing. I just feel like it lacked those scenes where the character of the movie seemed like it would come right at you or that feeling that everything on screen is really in front of you. Remember the time you saw Avatar on IMAX 3D? That was really unforgettable. Or was it because it was IMAX and SM had lousy regular screenings (In fairness, di kami pinatayan ng aircon this time)?

Kudos to Ang Lee for another great film! All those Academy Awards nominations are well-deserved.

photo from jaymckinnon.com

photo from 20th century fox

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"I have a story that will make you believe in God."

One More Try Blabber

One more try. Interesting and extremely complicated. It was so intense that I could feel Jacque's pain right down to my bones. (Parang mali, basta I felt like I was having chest pains becuase of the pain. Chos!). And thank goodness it was not another mistress movie (just a tiny bit but not exactly)!

I asked my officemates this question: "Anong gagawin mo kung ikaw si Jacque (Angelica Panganiban), papahiram mo ba asawa mo?" We all answered NO! "Eh pano kung ikaw si Grace(Angel Locsin)?" A single colleague and I answered "ewan, wala pa akong anak" and one colleague said she would do everything for a child.

The situation was so complicated that it got me thinking (and in a conflicted way) what was the right course of action. As a wife (and I'm not even one), I would definitely expect fidelity and faithfulness from my husband. But the sad reality is there are millions of husbands out there with a wandering eye (and even more, at times, - this is not to assume that all men are like that). It was extremely strong of Jacque to stand by her husband through everything. But really, there were NUMEROUS points in the movie where I expected here to leave Edward.

And for Edward (Dingdong Dantes), it was surprising that he did not get mad when Grace almost miscarried. I thought he would go crazy and hit Jacque (dregs of an old movie?). I understand that he wanted to make up for the lost time with his son but would a person really go that far?

And Grace. Of course she is a mother who would do everything for her son. I guess that's one thing I can't understand now since I'm no mama. But in the end, I found that Jacque was such a martyr and an angel. She was very supportive and nice. Of course, there were times she was a bit snitty and all, but I guess that's expected (see, I'm a little biased here). I could never do what she did, putting up with all that crap.

And as for the second kid, imagine what he would feel if he found out that he was made just so he could "cure" his brother? And what if he is still not a match? Poor kid.

To cap it off, I think the actors did a great job with the acting part. The portrayal was superb and I was almost moved into tears (but the dam just did not break). I was just not a fan of the scenes where their faces were on close-up, plastered on the humongous screen hundreds of times (naisip ko tuloy, talaga bang ang Pinoy films ganun?).

Anyway, I'll end this post with quotes from the movie. Good night!

*Note: It's already January 9 and the moviehouse was jampacked!

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How can you even say no to a mother with a dying child?

Pero anak huwag mo ring kakalimutan na maraming babae ang papatay para sa kanilang asawa. Anak, tandaan mo, no trespassing. Matuto kang kumatok bago ka pumasok.

Bilang isang asawa, karapatan ko ang ipagdamot ang asawa ko.

Ikaw lang naman yung naligaw eh. Ako naghihintay lang. At maghihintay sa'yo.

Kaya nga may mga taong nasasaktan kasi may hinihingi ka na hindi binigay sa'yo. May mga pangarap ka na hindi natupad kaya minsan hindi mo na alam ang tama at mali. Pero hindi mali ang magkamali ka kasi ang importante, matuto ka. Pero ang pangalawang pagkakataon, yun pwede mong piliin. Yun pwede mo ibigay.

May isa pa akong quote na nagustuhan, yung nasa beach sila and Jacque and Tristan was talking. Will post it when I remember it/ find it.