project 102: the amazing spiderman

Very random movie day-out with A today. Was supposed to go on a Rooftop Prince marathon at home but when A asked if I wanted to watch Spiderman, I said 'yes' in a heartbeat. Who doesn't like free movies, ya?

The Amazing Spiderman was amazing! I knew I had to watch it because I looooove Emma Stone ♥

Why I love the newest Spiderman movie:

Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy stumps Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane Waston.

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Okay, I'm really ignorant with the original story in the comics but according to those sitting behind us in the cinema, Gwen Stacy is Peter Parker's first love. But if she is Peter's first love and this was in high school, where did MJ enter the scene? In my opinion, MJ is a step-down from Stacy. Stacy is pretty and smart and judging by Stone's outfits, dresses way cuter than MJ. MJ is shallow and a skank and not that cute (sorry, biased opinion here. Ever since Kirsten Dunst starred in that Savage Garden video, I started to dislike her) and her outfits aren't that cute. So yeah, whatever... I'm heartbroken that Peter had to end it. According to Wikipedia, MJ eventually became Peter's wife. So does that mean he doesn't love Gwen as much as he loves MJ? I demand a recount. Charot. 

Andrew Garfield may be scrawny but man, are those muscles I see? 

Wee! Nothing makes an ahjumma happier than seeing muscles. Haha. Honestly, I am not a msucle 'shipper. I don't get googly-eyed over half-naked men with pandesal abs nor over that controversial Philippine Volcanoes underwear ad. But when you take a scrawny-looking guy in a big shirt then later on find out that there are legit muscles inside, ayy... ¡me gusta! I mean, who knew that this

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has this

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I apologize for that totally ahjumma moment, okay? But aside from those biceps, I love this version of Peter Parker's geekiness. Pero ang haba ng leeg niya, no?

The Chemistry.

They're so cute together. I 'ship them ♥ Maybe it helps that they're also a couple off-screen? They're absolutely adorable.

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That upside down kiss? Pssshhh... Overrated.

Off-screen pictures together:

I love them together although I am not keeping my hopes us. After all, this is Hollywood where 10 years in a relationship/marriage is a feat. I do wish they last though...

May Asosasyon ng Crane Operators sa New York

All cranes to the 54th! Who knew, right? Spiderman helped the right person- ang presidente ng NYCODA- New York Crane Operators & Drivers Association. Without him, Spiderman wouldn't have reached the Oscorp Tower in time. 

Tearjerker Moments

When Uncle Ben got stabbed and Captain Stacy died- got teary-eyed both times. It also made me sad when the Captain made Peter promise to not drag Gwen in his complicated superhero life. And oh, that moment when Gwen just walks past Peter in the school hallway- I think I just heard my heart breaking into a million pieces :(

Loves it. Didn't even notice the movie was 2.5 hours long. The story was similar to the first one Tobey Maguire did but it didn't make you feel like you've been duped because you're just seeing the same movie because it still is different. You kinda know what's going to happen next but still you're still all-eyes on screen waiting for the next scene. I loooove Emma Stone!!! I need to watch Easy A again soon.
She's so funnnneh! 

Me! Me! Me! I do not like 3D!!!

project 102: The Art of Getting By, LOL & Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

I guess I am a prude. Correction- I'm a prude for certain.

I've recently seen two "teenybopper" movies and sadly, they're not how they used to be. I miss John Hughes. Actually, a friend told me that 80s movies were more grabe but I don't know if that comment was applicable to all movie genres or just to 80s bomba films, haha. Going back... it's just these days, they're kind of justifying the sexual promiscuity, drug use and alcoholism of teenagers- yes, teenagers! Kids as young as 13 are "experimenting," so to speak. It's just that in the 80s or 90s, sexual promiscuity, drug use and alcoholism wasn't the norm or at least kids don't wear it like a badge as kids nowadays do.

The Art of Getting By

A high school kid in a hurry to go out of high school and I don't really remember if he wants to get into university or he just wants to get out of school in general. George (Freddie Highmore) is graduating soon but his teachers & principal will not allow him to do so if he doesn't study his lessons, submit his projects and assignments. He meets Sally (Emma Roberts) and suddenly he's filled with his newfound joie de vivre, only Sally isn't your girl-next-door type kind of heroine that's typical of John Hughes films. Actually, she is trouble. Sally breaks his heart and he spirals back to his old apathetic self. Then he suddenly finds out about the hardships of his mother which made him decide to do what is required of him to graduate from high school.

So is it just me or this kid is self-centered? Everything's not about YOU and at least do things because you need to not for anyone else but yourself. Life is hard as it is, do not make it harder for others. I remember reading this YA book showing the different facets of a person's life. It was an interesting read because you'd get to understand the person better and why they're such. So I don't know if what are George's issues are but if I were to judge it by face value, it seems that he's just disinterested with life in general.

Laughing Out Loud (LOL)

Lola, Lol for short, is one of the most popular girls in her high school. This is a story about 15-year-olds who are into sexual promiscuity, drug use and alcoholism. Does this mean that society equates "coolness" with doing the abovementioned?

Personally, I find it unsettling that kids nowadays have a different set of values. We keep hearing our parents and our grandparents saying that back in the days, things were different, kids were more respectful, etc. Does this mean that every generation gets worse in time? Or are we just more open to things now? It's just that if I were a parent, siguro hindi na ako makakatulog sa kakaisip kung saan ang anak ko at anong ginagawa niya. I remember a batchmate telling me that sometimes her boyfriend sleeps over in their house and I was like, "and your mom's okay with it?" in my mind. I know, I know, it's very judgmental of me but I feel like we're instilling the wrong set of values in our youth these days. If I do that and my nephew sees it, he'll think it is okay. Monkey see, monkey do.

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Lindsay Lohan circa sanity. I liked Lindsay Lohan. She could have been great. Looking at the girls from Mean Girls, napagiwanan na siya nang bonggang bongga ni Rachel McAdams at Amanda Seyfried. Anyway...

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is not exactly my cup of tea. Yes I love teenybopper films but I prefer those of the rom-com kind than this with kakikayan, so the first time I watched this I didn't really like it. I watched it again yesterday when it was on TV and it wasn't that bad naman pala. In fairness, medyo na enjoy ko siya. You see, I miss this kind of teenybopper movies.

I think kids nowadays are in such a hurry to grow up. Please don't. You go through childhood only once and once you miss it, it's gone forever. Puede ka naman mag-asal teenager when you're, say, 30... but then that is not cute anymore; actually, may term jan- nagmumurang kamatis haha. Eh basta, they're taking life too seriously at such a young age, IMHO.

O diba, I'm a prude :P

it's movietime for me! yay!

Little by little does the trick.

Finally had my mini-movie marathon yesterday. I was supposed to go to this training/product trial but as I was nursing an upset stomach, I asked for it to be rescheduled. At home with stomach flu (TMI, IKR? LOL) plus it was a rest day for the shop, I have every excuse in the world to lie down on my bed and devour one movie after another.

One For The Money

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Another sign that I am old- Katherine Heigl. I remember seeing a 14-year-old Heigl on My Father, the Hero with Gerard Depardieu which was eons ago, and now here she is with grown-up roles, battling the woes of thirty-somethings.

Being a book-to-film adaptation, a chick-lit at that, I was expecting a romcom. I wasn't really disappointed when she didn't end up with either of Joe Morelli or the Ranger, it's just that I felt that aspect of the story was a little hilaw. Oo nga naman, girl power nga pala ang theme dito- I don't need a man to make it happen baga.

It was a fun watch and I liked it even if I wasn't paying 100% attention to it.

Keeping the Faith

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This was released only in 2001 but watching it felt it was in the 90s because of the video resolution. Well, this was before the heyday of high definition shiznit and I feel so old because 2001 is 11 eleven years ago and I was 19 at that time. You do the math.

Keeping the Faith is a cute love story. It started with three young friends, Jake, Brian and Anna. Anna moved, leaving Jake and Brian in New York City. The two boys remained the best of friends albeit belonging to two different religions- Jake became a Jewish rabbi and Brian a Catholic priest. Fast forward to the future, Anna returns to New York and reunites with her boy best friends. Only this time, Brian and Jake are both harboring romantic feelings for her.

My thoughts: Obviously, Jake has the upper hand in this situation because rabbis can have wives, whereas Catholic priests cannot. I am not aware of Jewish customs, but Jake's dilemma is easier than that of Brian's. Of course it was heartbreaking on the part of Brian but it was the path he took. It was a good thing that Anna fell in love with Jake and not with Brian because otherwise, it would be a different, much more complicated scenario.

It was a nice, feel-good movie.

Jeux d'enfants

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I am not sure if it was my high expectations for this movie or if there were just some things lost in translation, but I didn't enjoy this as much.

My niece gave me a copy of this French movie and she highly recommended that I watch it and she said that it's better than Flipped. The thing is I loooooved Flipped meaning it should be so good to be considered better than Flipped. I guess it was just my expectations and some things lost in translation, that is why I didn't get the optimal enjoyment from this film.

My thoughts: It is an annoying, weird love story. Julien and Sophie were obviously not bringing out the best in each other and what they have wasn't healthy anymore. Okay, given na that this is just a movie but I just didn't find their dares cute. There wouldn't be a problem if other people didn't get harmed or hassled because of their games but their little 'dares' are hurting and hassling other people and for this reason, it is not what I can consider as fun and cute. They have a world of their own in which they don't care about other people; in other words, autistic sila!!! ANNOYING.

And seriously, I do not believe that 7, 8 or 9-year-old kids already have the concept of 'love.' Sorry naman if it's too pessimistic of me but I just don't and can't believe it.

project 102: mirror mirror

Delivery day! However today I had to start early because I had to hitch a ride with my sister. I really thought I could hitch a ride when they fetch daddy from the airport but his flight was 4pm pa in the afternoon. Eh I was supposed to deliver by 10 AM, so ayun maaga na lang ako sa Makati. Passed the time at Starbucks, continued reading this book but with only 4 hours of sleep, I catch myself sleeping. Seriously, I wanted to sleep right there pero nashokot lang ako kasi baka humilik ako. Nakakaloka diba?

After delivery, walked all the way to Greenbelt from The Enterprise. Killed some more time at Powerbooks and just when I have money to spare on this book I've been wanting to read (Jessica Thompson's This is Not A Love Story), it was out of stock naman. Bummer. I guess we were never meant to be. Maglabas na kasi ng ebook eh.

Free movie c/o AD! The only movies that I could use my compli pass is either Mirror Mirror or Hunger Games. Obviously, I went with the former having watched the latter already. I remember A said that she didn't like it as much ata so my expectations weren't really that high.

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I loved it! It was light and for a change, a deviation from other Snow White- inspired movies. Julia Roberts who played The Queen did a superb job. And as the narration went, this story was really about her. I honestly think that The Queen stole the show from Snow White on this one. Her character's mean but very funny. Of course, only we the audience thinks she's funny but her fickle-mindedness isn't too entertaining for her minions.

Lily Collins... sino magaakala na tatay niya si Phil Collins. Haha. I like her. I like her portrayal of Snow White. Although I'm really annoyed by these hand gestures princesses doing with their hands. Enchanted's Giselle also did such and I was mega annoyed by it. In fernez, medyo subdued na yung kay Snow. She's really pretty and she actually reminds me of Audrey Hepburn

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Lily Collins as Snow White

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Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday

Maybe it's the eyebrows, no?

And Prince Alcott *sigh* I swear, sexy accents will be the death of me ;) I remember watching this snippet of him on The Insider last night and I didn't know who he was. Pero ngayon knows ko na siya ;) He's not that cute, really, but it was the accent and the deep voice that sealed the deal for me.

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Prince Alcott was really adorable in the movie.

I really liked it even if the critics didn't or even if it didn't rake in lots of moolah. Naloka lang ako ng slight sa Bollywood-inspired dance number nila at the end.

project 102: unofficially yours

If it's a John Lloyd movie, you betcha I will be watching if not on the first day.... anytime during its first week. Fangirl much?

In the absence of my usual movie dates (AB, Ycel and Juno), I was in search of my new movie date and found her in the person of my ol' friend, A. Last Saturday while we were watching the Rachel-Dingdong free concert at Eastwood, I made her promise to watch it with me. And so we did watch yesterday at Megamall (btw, they have this new ticketing system which I don't really get the logic of but maybe so they could better track the number of people who watched the movie but then again can't they do that in their computer systems already? just wondering) And in fernez ha, considering it's 4pm on a weekday, the balcony section was full.

Gaaahd, sobrang benta sakin si John Lloyd, I swear! I might have annoyed A cos I kept on telling her "ang cute cute ni John Lloyd!!!" na kilig na kilig. To which she also kept replying with, "cute umarte. sa movie lang." Okay, fine. I will not refute cos sources tell me that he's actually masungit in real life and I question his taste on girls (Ciara Sotto!!! Shaina!!! que horror!) Whatever.

So here's are my thoughts about the movie:

1. Medyo cliche. Formula na and very predictable. [But who cares? I am only in it for John Lloyd] Actually reminded me of Matty & Jenna. But anyway, it still was a nice watch. 
2. Finally! A Star Cinema movie without wigs and a song title as its title. FINALLY. Though I bet Angel has hair extensions which is perfectly okay and I am actually envious of her locks. How can I get my hair to look like that? 
3. I'm not so sure if my observation is correct but I've noticed that in almost all of his movies, JL is the kawawa party. Maybe except for two movies with Sarah G. But really, he's so good at it... being kawawa, I mean. 
4. Which makes me wonder- are there guys who are like that? Because I am not in the know with matters like that but from stories, I deduced that the guys are always the reason for break-ups. I hate it that movies like this make me assume there are still good guys around. Not that I am still hoping because right now, at this time of my life, I'm up for whatever life throws at me. Make lemons into lemonades nga diba? But let us modify whatever. Whatever that still lies within normal hehe. 
5. The Tabing Ilog connection! Patrick Garcia and John Lloyd together in a movie takes me down memory lane. My Sunday afternoon habit, right after ASAP. Haha. Oh childhood... 
6. Ang cheesy! And I got that right out from a JL pizza tvc, haha! But omg, do people really use lines such as "Hindi naman sa hindi ako napapagod masaktan, hindi lang siguro ako nagsasawang magmahal." Diba? I just can't imagine anyone using this line. I just can't.
7. They didn't give me an ending. Technically, they did but I want to know if Cess (Angel Locsin) still pursued the Singapore post she was offered. What I don't get is Singapore's pretty near and with Cebupac's piso fares, I guess workable naman ang long distance relationship. Plus, if he really wants to cheat, gagawa at gagawa nang paraan malapit o malayo man. 

So there, my two cents on the movie. Just my personal chukchakchenes. I'm excited for the rumored John Lloyd-Sarah movie this year. 

project 102: blue valentine

Learned about the movie while perusing the pages of W Magazine. While I like Michelle Williams as an actress, dating way back during her Dawson's Creek days (pro-Jen Lindley here because I super detest Joey Potter), I didn't really follow her career and watch her movies. The article was a joint interview with co-star in the movie, Ryan Gosling. Not because it's Valentine's Day tomorrow but the article was pretty effective which led to this pseudo review. Hehe.

Love conquers all. Apparently not, according to the movie. Maybe because they didn't really have a foundation. It all started with a one-night-stand-ish thing when one thing led to another, et voila, girl got pregnant and boy stood by her. Though in fernez to the boy, he was already smitten with her the first time he saw her and even until the end I am convinced that he loves her very, very much.

But can you blame the girl when he started looking like this

then he ended up looking like this

He looks creepy, no? 

So aside from that superficial reason, I guess Cindy (Williams) fell out of love that easily because she lost respect for him. Okay, it's sweet when Dean (Gosling) told her that he doesn't have any goal or ambitions nor he never really thought that he'd get married one day and have kids but now that he has a wife and a kid, it's all he ever wants to be right now- a husband and a father. But would you really want to be with someone who doesn't have dreams and aspirations? One thing I learned (from observations), love will not keep you alive but money will. 

Another reason why Cindy may have resented marrying Dean was she wasn't able to pursue her own dreams and ambitions as well. She wanted to become a doctor but that has become a distant dream. She felt she had so much potential, that she could have been a good doctor but having a child, getting married got in the way. 

Well, I don't really respect guys like Dean who doesn't have goals and ambitions but he is a good person and I feel he genuinely loves his family. Science says that love only lasts for a certain period of time and then it fizzles so after that love becomes a decision. And effort, imho. But when you're both a hindrance to each other, maybe it's really time to let go so they can both reach their full potential. 

It's ironic how everything began and ended with tears, an embrace and a kiss.

It's a beautiful movie. Sad but beautiful. Not really what I need on a gloomy and rainy Monday but feeling depressed for an hour and a half is well worth it. 

RT 2012 peli: romantic island

I haven't seen a Korean movie for a long time. Kung dati naguumapaw ang aming video library ng Korean movies and series, ngayon mostly US series and movies na naman. Well, that is due to the reason that there aren't that many good dramas and movies nowadays. I miss the old-school movies and dramas and the actors. I MISS WON BIN! Nasaan na nga ba siya?

Anyway, AB recommended that I watch Romantic Island. The movie was shot in the Philippines- in Manila and Boracay. Downloaded it immediately because I can't wait to watch it. Excited much? Well, it's not everyday [nor every year, not even every 5 years] that a foreign film picks the Philippines as their location.

Six people. All have different reason for coming to the Philippines. Jae-hyuk, a rich businessman, because of his father's death; Soo-Jin went to the Philippines to run away from her family (and their financial problems); Jung-hwan, I didn't really get why he went in the first place LOL; Ga-young, a popular popstar in Korean who's suffering from a burnout; and, a middle-aged couple on a leisure trip.

My thoughts...
♥ It was a nice movie albeit with a predictable ending. DUH! It wasn't titled Romantic Island for nothing. But out of three stories, my favorite was the middle-aged couple's. The husband brought her wife to the Philippines, supposedly, to treat his wife to a little R&R. But what the wife didn't know was the husband has brain tumor and during this vacation he planned on taking his life. Having the operation isn't 100% foolproof so he opted to just die because his family will get a huge sum of money if he did. He attempted a number of times, including jumping off a boat with the purpose of drowning himself but the water was only knee-deep and electrocuting himself by dropping a working hair dryer in a water-filled bath tub but the cable was too short.

♥ They showcased the usual touristy places such as Intramuros and Boracay...

which I think really has the best sunsets I've seen.

But what I liked is that even the dingy places in Manila they have somehow made artistic and charming.

I liked the scenery, which I bet is different if you can smell the scent of Manila at the same time. Wow Philippines!

♥ What's with ocho-ocho? Naloka ako I swear! Is that the best we can offer? Oh well, maybe it appealed to their taste, hehe.

♥  There was this one time when he was waving his money openly in the alleys of Manila and someone swiped it off his hands. I guess that will happen in whatever country you're in if you do that. At dapat pala may caveat sa mga turista: nangangain ng tanga ang Maynila. But aside from that, wala naman na. And the money changer who swindled them was Korean... in fairness, hindi Pinoy.

♥ Pero naman why the face of the extras? Napaisip tuloy ako kung madami ngang maganda sa Pilipinas. I swear, the look of poverty! Parang puro mukhang kawawa naman yung mga Pilipino sa pelikulang yun.

sila koya deadma nang tumalon ng bangka ang koreano. parang usual na sa kanila haha

feeling ko hair color lang naman sablay sa kanya

Baka naman nagtitipid na rin at ayaw na mag-hire ng presentable-looking extras. Fine.

It was a good watch. Kinilig talaga ako everytime I hear the word Philippines and Manila.