Movie Musings: The DUFF

Ever since I found out that they're making The DUFF into a movie, I've been very very VERY excited about it. I loved the book so much even if I think it's a little too makamundo for high school kids. So anyway, when I found out nga they're making the book into a movie, I only had high hopes. How could you go wrong on something so easy to make? No special effects needed! But yeah, they botched it alright.

Umm, medyo skeptical na ako when I saw the trailer because they're not the characters I had in mind. But I gave it a chance. Malay ko naman, diba?

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First of all, I think they can do better than this Wesley Rush. The movie's Wesley Rush isn't not handsome. He is but not quite how I envision my Wesley Rush. I really really really wish they got someone else, someone like him.

I haven't changed my mind yet. He still is my Wesley and I think he's good at douchebaggery. With Bianca, I'd still prefer that actress who played Schmidt's fat girlfriend in New Girl

she's cute and I bet she can do funny, too

over Mae Whitman. Well I guess this happens when your favorite book's made into a movie. Because you want every bit and piece perfectly executed and more often than not, the movie adaptation falls short.

But I'm very very disappointed about was that they sort of changed the story. And not just a wee bit, might I add. They stuck to with the DUFF concept but they changed everything else. What I loved pa naman with the book was Bianca and Wesley's clandestine relationship and I'm not talking about the sensei-student Bianca and Wesley movie versions had in the film. Heck, they even made Bianca stay with her mother. The movie was a totally different story from the book, like a teenage version of Pretty Woman meets Pretty in Pink and pretty much any high school movie where the popular boy falls for the ordinary girl. The DUFF had that twist and they removed it. Disappointed talaga ako.

why talaga

Sana iniba na lang nila ang title. The shouldn't have claimed it was a movie adaptation of the book. Cos although it wasn't actually a bad movie, I still maintain that they should've remained faithful to the original story. Inisip ko na lang baka masyadong risque for teenagers (their target audience) kaya iniba nila, but then again these books are much more risque and they're not even censored.

I want to read The DUFF again to erase the movie's version on my mind. Why did Kody Keplinger agree to this? Why?!?!?!?!

2015 Reading Challenge: The Art of Lainey

Much better read than Transcendence. Thank God. Although hindi kasing-level ng favorite books ko and not worthy of a 4-star rating, I liked it nevertheless.

To cut the story short, popular high school soccer-star, Lainey Mitchell was dumped by equally hot and popular soccer-star boyfriend, Jason. Upon the suggestion of her best friend, Bianca, she uses Sun Tzu's The Art of War to win ze boyfriend back. They sought Micah's participation. While Micah wasn't exactly Lainey's type, we all kinda knew where this pretend stuff's leading to, yes? So yes, I enjoyed it. Thanks to Micah but not so much to Lainey. Why, you ask? Lainey comes off across as someone who's very self-assured bordering on narcissism, but to be fair to her she kind of calls herself on it towards the end.

The book's theme is somewhat appropriate to my situation now but alas, not in the "love" department. We're moving locations again and I'm considering this as a new business venture and The Art of War may also be used in the business setting and those little Sun Tzu snippets sort of reminded me that I am not prepared for the move. Guess I have to go read my copy and win the battle I'm fighting.

Soooo... my favorite character in the book is, obviously, Micah. Of course, mohawk boy has his own issues but deep down, he's a real softy.

Micah in my mind
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O diba ang cute niya? But guys with mohawks, piercings and tattoos aren't really my type and even if one shouldn't judge books by its covers, we judge anyway. I judge them anyway. So, Micah I like and if he does look like that mohawk boy above, bongga si Lainey. Cos if Lainey looks like that girl on the cover of the book, lugi si Micah. Hahaha.

Anyhoo, just found out that this book actually has a prequel, Infinite Repeat, told from Micah's POV and I'm dying to read it. Micah said Lainey's totally not his type but I hope a little Lainey-crush is hiding somewhere there during his Amber days.

So three stars for the book. I hope to encounter more of these stories. Ang babaw ko talaga.

2015 Reading Challenge: Transcendence

What made me read this book in the first place was its blurb which can be read here. I thought it was interesting how love between a modern day human being and a primitive caveman would develop, or if it's even possible.

Actually, I think I was misled by the book cover which made me think that caveman could look like that- way better-looking than most fully-evolved men living in the 21st century. The author included a note which I'm glad I read (because I tend to not read those and jump right into the story) because it was where the author specifically said that Ehd, our story's caveman, would never, ever learn how to speak. Just reviews the author's note and she qualified Ehd's pagka-caveman. Turns out he's just like any other modern-day human male, intelligent  and capable of learning except how to speak and associate sounds with words, objects or actions (so sign language is out). Pero still I think he'll never be able to look like that man on the cover of the book.

So at first I was actually excited and hopeful of the 'promise of kilig' this story will bring into my kilig-obsessed system. I was okay with the first few chapters with Ehd and Beh (Elizabeth) slowly learning how to exist with one another. Of course I understand why Beh would be terrified of Ehd, being that he is a caveman (and will never look like that man on the cover, kung si Tarzan nga modern-day male hindi naman guapo, si Ehd pa kaya?). However, as they were the only Homo-sapien-somethings wherever they were, things were bound to happen and by 'thing,' I think you know to what I'm referring to. Which is actually to Ehd's benefit as he was must-put-a-baby-in-her at first sight with Beh. And when that was all what I was reading again and again, I started to get bored. Which made me skip a looooot of pages (and chapters).

I know how you feel, Alice

And also this is one of those books which I feel should've been told from two POVs. Para at least hindi paulit-ulit and will also give the readers better understanding how Beh finally decided to give Ehd a chance- like did she really fall in love with him or was it just plain tawag ng laman? In the end, light was shed into the situation but I find that out cos I'm the type who finishes her books, no matter how what.What if I'm the type who gives up when things are going WTF-proportions? Also what I can't understand was why Elizabeth chose to stay in the BC era when she could bring Ehd with her to the future instead? Siguro mas masaya sa kweba ☺ Hahaha!

Two stars.

Let me bore you

Officially welcoming the month of March even if this is actually my fourth post for the month ☺ It's already the third month of the year and it's almost May. Come June, I need to apply again for my annual bazaar thing then it's production time for Christmas season again. Kabilis naman ng panahon.

Anyway, twas not the end of reunions and scheduled catching-up to do. After delivery last Tuesday (Gratitude List Item #1: Another bulk order. Yipee), V and I went to Mega to meet with Manang M. It's been awhile since I've had these talks with Manang. We used to talk about life often but that has been put to a halt these days because, you know, life...

We had lunch at Linguini Fini and since it's my first time eating there- here's the mandatory food shot

clockwise: complimentary foccacia bread with balsamic vinegar & olive oil dip; papardelle nose
to tail bolo; manila caprese and lardo roasted half chicken

Oh yes, gluttony is STILL my favorite sin. In fair naman sa akin, I lost 10 pounds (and still need to lose twenty more). Linguini Fini is love, my friends, but it is a hazard to the wallet. Haha. But I guess it was worth it. It didn't feel like I was ripped off my money and that papardelle one was heaven ☺ Liked the chicken as well, although first love ko pa rin Amici's pollo arrostito. Keri lang ako sa pizza- I'll have Friuli's margherita over this pizza any time. Did a little strolling then coffee afterwards then back to barracks for me.

Okay, so here's another reason why I go out often these days- market research, y'all. Because I fell in love with a nail spa's sloughing lotion, I have become obsessed with finding a sloughing lotion in Watsons, the grocery, EVERYWHERE(!!!) and I just get these weird looks when I tell them what I'm looking for. Finally found two brands online and bought them just in time for AB to bring them home (Gratitude List Item #2: Sloughing Lotion ♥). I actually made my own and while it worked (it worked!!!), I'd have to rub the product extra-hard to slough off the dead skin and I need something that can be removed with minimal effort. That said, I'm so excited for my sloughing lotions to arrive ☺

Wednesday was another unplanned lakwatsa as I had to deliver samples again in Makati. Wasn't able to see AD, just left the samples with reception. Originally, I was going to wait for her to get off work and hitch a ride going home but AC called and asked me to come with V and family, mommy and her to CCP to watch the Jilin Art Troupe. With regard to the Jilin Art performance, isa lang masasabi ko: GMA Supershow!

Anyway, my highlight for Wednesday was watching the latest Daniel Padilla movie with Kathryn Bernardo- Crazy Beautiful You. Wasn't too crazy about that title but hey, it's not a song title so keri-keri na. AC has seen it already and although she said it was 'maganda,' I still didn't expect much from it cos as they say,

the key to contentment is lowered expectations

Despite the title, I loved the movie. Oo, loved talaga. I remember watching She's Dating the Gangster, expecting it to suck, then being surprised and delighted with the movie. I am not a fan of the pairing but I have to say, their chemistry is undeniable. So with this movie, I was still skeptical of the story kasi nga chaka ng title but again, I was surprised and delighted. Hindi sayang ang P230 ko. Hindi sumama loob ko na sana hinintay ko na lang ang movie pass ko. Also, I will admit this only here in this blog so I think walang ibang makakaalam- guilty pleasure ko si Daniel Padilla. Haha. I don't have a crush on the boy; natutuwa lang ako sa kanya.

And oh here's an update of my room decluttering project:

December 2014

March 2015

Well, nothing much has changed but there's now actually space for me to sleep in. Removed my Teen Vogue mags from the shelf but I am not ready to part with them yet. And oh, our walls are now light gray in color. A lot of fixing up, organizing and filing to do which I always put off for another day.

I still have a lot to do but I'm sort of delaying everything because I'm trying to enjoy whatever's left of my "free days." When we transfer location and there's more at stake, I need to be there most of the time which means less time to invest in "recreation therapy."

And on that note, I need to end this now and what better way than to end it with this:

source: somewhere in Google

I will tell myself this every time.

2015 Reading Challenge: My Name is Memory

Book reco by my cousin who noticed my propensity for books with uber-frustrating storylines. I reckon I needed a break from my usual YA reads and though, technically, My Name Is Memory sort of also belongs to the YA section given the ages of our characters, it still was a different kind.

Did I like it? Hmm... I'd say not so much. At first I found it boring, slow. Got bored on Daniel's retelling of his and Lucy's past- how he was miserable for a kagillion years- and it just goes on and on from North Africa to Pergamum to the Belgian Congo and so on and so forth. I was like, 'Okay, I get it. You're miserable.' These parts reminded me of Before Ever After (which I didn't like very much). I suppose these retellings were necessary, but did it have to be sooooo tedious?

So I took a break and read Winger then got back on MNIM and thankfully, things were faster-paced this time. I think this was at 72%. Just imagine- 3/4 of the book was a snoozefest. The remaining 28% was interesting enough for me to finish it today but man, I wasn't a fan of that ending. With that kind of ending, I thought the author's definitely going to publish a sequel but after seeing that this was published five years ago, maybe not.

I just wished the author extended Marnie's brother's exposure here. Actually, I would have liked it better if he turned out to be present-day-Joaquim. That even without the ability to recognize souls, Lucy's and present-day-Joaquim's are still intertwined and eventually, Daniel will join the cast. Hindi yung bigla na lang susulpot si Joaquim. Felt that was too abrupt. The story also reminds me a little of a short story I made for our Phil Lit class in high school- masyadong mopey.

This wasn't a frustrating love story. It was annoying. All that eklavu and no ending? Irita. I just watched Love, Rosie last night and that my friend, is how you do frustrating. I am definitely going to read the book.

2015 Reading Challenge: Winger

Because I've been struggling with Ann Brashares' My Name is Memory which is taking me forever to finish- ang baaaaagaaaal kasi ng story. I thought I needed a light, mababaw story which led me to Winger.

Umm.. it was an okay read. I found it a little boring and super babaw naman. Well, whaddya expect from a life of a fourteen-year-old boy?

My favorite character is Joey and it was sad that he died, which I think was a last-ditch effort to shock the readers. It was a tragic turn from the book's earlier feel- which deals mostly with petty teenage stuff. The author should've let Joey live.

But this has a sequel so maybe Joey's death has a purpose. I don't know if I'd want to read it though.

I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself Pt. 2

I'm baaaaaack! Because gluttony is my favorite sin ☺

Yesterday was reunion with Juniper Tree and ze jowa in the palace. Mega-walkathon sa paghahanap ng Italian restaurant. Akala ko Glorietta-expert na ako. Apparently, hindi pa. Umabot kami sa Greenbelt in our search. We ate at California Pizza Kitchen.

Catch-up over cheese galore ☺ Bad for my liver, I knoooow.

fried mozzarellaaaaaah!

Tom jones na to the max kaya I wasn't able to take pictures of the cheese pizza and the white-sauce pasta. Yummeh. Thanks to Lola Juniper for the advanced birthday treat ☺ Siempre pagbalik namin ng main mall tsaka naglitawan ang mga Italian restos. AD said we should've eaten at Bistro Ravioli instead.

And today... went to c's dentist. Had lunch with AD in Glorietta at Mad Mark's. Ate there twice and both times we experienced bad service. Maybe third time's a charm and in fair, better service this time but when we asked if we can order ahead of time while waiting to be seated, they said we had to wait until we're the next to be seated before we can order. And this was at 3pm already. Buti na lang food was delicioso ☺

Loved eeet ♥♥♥ AD ordered Yard Bird and Bacon Slab (Cibo, take note: yan ang bacon slab), Creole Grilled Chicken and Signature Steak. Tried everything on the table and liked it but if I were to choose my favorite, it's the Yard Bird and Bacon Slab, especially the rice ☺

Catch up with my IC friends after lunch with AD. Coffee in UCC.

I'll miss this. I will definitely miss all these lakwatsa once we start operating in the new location. Sana na lang pumayat ako. Haha. Lech.