3 (Hollywood) movies to watch in 2005

Frank Miller's SIN CITY

This flick is my hollywood movie of the year.
If you happened to like dark Noir-type flicks with wicked chicks and lots of anti-hero characters like Pulp Fiction and to some extent, Kill Bill, you can bet on this one. Soon to be released not later than July this year, this is a comicbook adaptation ( a graphic novel adaptation, for some hardcore grovel/grafiction eggheads) of Frank Miller's hard-ass series with the same title. Directed by Robert Rodriguez with some inputs from Quentin Tarantino and Frank Miller himself.

This movie weaves three stories in one big shot, and just like the original novel, it involves characters with attitudes, not considering the fact that this film has lots of big names to boost.

Watch the trailer here in Quicktime format--- http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/sin_city.html

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Star Wars Episode III : Revenge of the Sith

Nerds will undoubtedly pick this one as movie of the year. Need I say more?
The final part of the trilogy prequels, this flick will finally put a "gold nail" to the coffin of an ultimate saga from that galaxy, far, far away...

It will be shown this summer of May 19th, and whether or not George Lucas redeems himself into the lost glory years of episodes IV, V, and VI, only the rest of the world can tell. While some cannot wait any longer and tried to check every spoiler links on the net including this one: http://www.corpnews.com/ep3/ ( be warned, the pictorial synopsis is really there!!!), others choosed to remain silent and vigilant for Episode 3's success and vowed to see the whole story on the premiere night.


The last days of a forbidden love...

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Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to read the book and the story behind it. They said it was a kiddie stuff. Just like that bespectacled boy wizard with a scar on his forehead. Whatever. I just want to see it for two specific reasons.

First, I want to see that little girl who seemed to act normally in her age, but inside, her thoughts aren't that "childlike" at all (ala Strangebrew antics) . And from that, she can laugh at her unsuspecting victims--- the older people. She can do some stunts and crazy gestures too. Cute.

Second, I want to be annoyed by Jim Carrey. I know a lot of people who hated his acting, but he did good in Eternal Sunshine and The Majestic. I saw those flicks alone in VCD & HBO, and realized that I should have just watched 'em on the huge theatre and see how people react. Now, I'm not gonna gamble again and watch this one "kiddie" flick alone. Maybe he can act to life who Count Olaf really was in the book as people who saw the movie and read the book thought so.

Honestly, this is the only movie that I have zero expectations and assumptions. Watching this film is like gambling, but it might encourage me to read the book.

February Aftermath

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Matapos kong ayusin sa isang linggo ang submission ng mga papeles (literally from Melchor Hall- to EEE Dept- to OUR) pagala-gala na naman ako sa Peyups...

Aftermath ng UP FAIR, kaya medyo madumi ang Sunken Garden. At sa nagdaang linggo, marami tayong kakilala na nag-Valentine's Week sa Fair, merong mag-isang nagluksa at meron 'ding napaaga ang Holy Week ala Biyernes Santo (kasama na ako).

Pagpasok pa lang ng jeep galing Philcoa, napapansin kong may tsikot na mistulang AD board ang hood--- sinisita ng mga guwardya sa may gate.

Aba, may Motorshow pala ngayon sa AS Parking Lot. Pero yung mga nakadisplay, medyo hindi rin naman masyadong impressive. Totoo. Mas suwabe pa nga yung mga tsikot ko na customized. Honda Civic, Porsche, at yung Ferrarri ko na may itim na ninja na naka-samurai at nag-aapoy ang mga mata sa bandang kaliwa ng hood. Nasa computer nga lang. =P Nagawa ko mula sa nakaka-addict at immortal PC Game na NFS Underground. hehehe

Kung meron lang sanang chicks + models + hot mamas na kasama sa Motorshow na yun, baka magdalawang isip pa ako at makisawsaw doon...

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Miss ko na siya.

Sobra.

Ngayong nandito na ako sa Maynila, baka mahanap ko siya.

Nung nasa probinsya kasi ako, siya lang talaga ang nagpaligaya at nagpakulay sa mala-Black & White television kong mundo. Sya ang nagdala ng panibagong sigla at panibagong SPICE sa buhay ko.

At ngayong nalalapit na naman akong umuwi, naisip kong baka doon ko na lang sya hanapin. Kahit saang lupalop ng Pilipinas ikaw ay mapadpad, wala nang tatalo sa lakas ng kapangyarihan ng misteryosong Compass kung saang direksyon ka niya ituturo. Puso ang tawag nila dito. Akalain mo, ngayon ko lang napag-isipan na magkasingkahulugan pala ang Puso at ang Compass 'pag pinag-usapan na natin ang kanilang silbi sa tao.

Ngayon, naiintindihan ko na ang nararamdaman ni kuya Gerry noon.

Siya na nga ang bagong addiction ng bayan...

Siya si BOY BAWANG--- ang Genetically-Modified na chichacorn!!!



image copyright & owned by Gerry Alanguilan


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farewell...

This month's a wicked one. As in, malupit. Mahapdi. Masakit.
Brutal.

A week before, our beloved grandma Lola Merced was laid to her final resting place in our province. She's the last of our elders in our struggling clan, and dying at an old age of 89, I wonder myself if I could ever reach that age when technology, society, and humanity in this generation could backfire anytime, anywhere. It's never been easy when someone's gone in this mortal world, even harder when that person is important---the very reason of your existence.

Prior to her departure, I was actually eager to return to Manila and finish this ultimate but super-secret mission that I planned for a girl. But since we are living in this undpredictable world, I can only imagine my late granny as if reminding me that I needed to re-schedule my trip. She reminded me that someone's also needing my attention and concern before I return to the Human Zoo called Metro Manila. Still, I can proudly say that I sincerely responded to the consequence no matter how simple and late it was. With all the headaches of assisting and contributing for a series of days until the burial, including a lot of prayers plus concerns and the hiding of differences and burying of issues with relatives, I became oblivious again to Valentine's Day upon my return to the city. I decided not to pursue my plans since I lost my energy to do it for someone who has a better life without me . Still, I cannot blame her. I checked myself again and realized that I've done enough. I just want to do something that is more important right now.

I keep on reminding myself that perhaps, this is NOT the right time for me to pursue somebody. Maybe, I am just NOT the rightful one for her. Maybe, some other lonely soul that I rightfully deserve is out there waiting for me, God only knows. And as I saw my last post, I became a stranger. This is what February is all about to me this year. A month for a piece of junk called poetry. Nothing more, nothing less. The battle has not yet started but the casualty is here. Truly, I'm always ready to loose. Handang mabigo. The sooner I accept defeat, the earlier I would be able to recover...

The last time that I visited Lola Merced in the barrio and saw her alive was during the final week of October last year. That would also be the last time for me to feel her rough, aging, but gentle hands, see her face and tears in her eyes, and re-learn what education is all about. For Lola Merced who was not able to go through school (just like the rest of my departed grannies in Ureta and Salazar side), seeing her grandson finishing college is enough. Education is always a key for survival and it's never easy to be poor, she said. Though it's too personal for me to reveal here our long emotional talk, I can say that it was more than enough to motivate me to move on with my simple life. I really got what I needed most during that visit, and I will surely tell my future children and grandchildren (if God allows) what Lola Merced told me.

She kept on holding my hands that day, grasping and clinging as if not wanting to let go, and her hearing was surprisingly sharp-- making me not to heed my father's hint to speak loudly to her. Maybe because the place was very silent and peaceful even if the Aklan river is just meters away from the lawn. Outside the Nipa Hut, I could sense my father listening to us. But hearing Lola Merced say "In-dyi-nir?" in her own tongue with a curious look towards me is enough to pierce my shallow heart and make me feel stronger at the same time. I lost for words at that moment, tried to divert my thoughts and looked at the trees outside, fearful that there is a tear in my eye. I wanted to explain to her what an Engineer means in a Third World, but no word came out of my mouth. I could only check her failing eyesight some moments later and ask her if she can still see me. She answered that her vision of me is a shadow and a blurred image. I know I am not her paboritong apo, but somehow she can still recognize a face, a face that belongs to her kindred. Sadly, I wasn't able to ask her more important questions like what is the real love, or what Life really is all about. Maybe she knows a thing or two. Now I know I have to find the answers by myself.

Lola's final message to me is to remain a good boy, as me and my father bid farewell to her that day; "Magpakabuot ka guid 'to," she said.
I readily and jokingly answered; "Syempre 'la... ako pa!!"
And that was it.

At this point, I just realized something. This month ain't that wicked at all. It wasn't malupit, mahapdi, nor masakit.
Nope, not really brutal.

It was simply meaningful.



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[ a wicked month ]

pebrero

may naghahanap; may nangangahas
merong nagtatago, at may umiiwas
sa panahong hiinihintay na magwakas
may nagdarasal sa maagang paglipas
mistulang damo
na noo'y nagniningas
ngayo'y ugat at abo
ang maiiwang bakas

may naglalakbay sa tulay ng buhay
pagdating sa gitna ay magninilay-nilay
may mga naglalakad hawak-kamay
ang iba nama’y luha na lang ang karamay
may nagbibilang ng mga tala
habang nakaupo sa bubong ng bahay
nagtatanong kay Bathala
kung ba’t puso ay nananamlay

kunwari ang iba’y ‘di namamansin
kahit naaalala ka pa rin
iba nama’y maglalakbay saan man abutin
makalimutan lang ang kinikimkim
ngunit ‘di mo maiiwasang sabihin
sa sandaling gusto nang iparating
magkukumahog kung pa’no aaminin

at ang kumag na dati’y hirap sa pagtula
ngayon ay malupit sa pagiging makata
hirap man daw sa pagkanta
ngayo’y pipiliting maging bokalista
para lang lumigaya ang isang dalaga
kakayanin man maging rasta o rakista
basta’t may armas na tambol o gitara

sadya ngang ganito ang buhay pare ko
nagbibilang ka man ng poste, o abala sa trabaho
kapiling man siya o nasa malayo
basta’t may 1 message received sa telepono
bumibilis agad ang pintig ng iyong puso

mga kapatid, kaibigan, kakosa, at ka-tribo,
lahat tayo’y nagiging makulay kung di mo pa tanto
dahil minsan lang natin nararanasan ito
at anuman ang mangyari'y handang mabigo
‘pagkat sumapit na naman po
ang dakilang buwan ng Pebrero




the Compass is alive!!! Hapi Valentine's Month, people!!! Make Love not War. Kung 'di puwede ang Love, kahit Peace na lang...