Bllllllllllllllllllllllllllllog!

what hurts the most...

2006-11-17T23:53:00.000+08:00

...I would've moved the whole world for you... but you wouldn't move an inch. Not one inch.

taking chances

2006-06-17T00:24:00.000+08:00

In this existence of uncertainties, chaos and confusion shadows a daily presence. Whatever is unkown, each of us has the power to prepare. Whoever we are when we were born, God gave us the ability to learn. Wherever we may be, there will always be an opportunity. Fate isn't predestined when we came into this world. And as we face different situations everyday, we each have a choice what to make of the outcome. Life is a series of choices, we become who we want to be. These choices are the reason we are who we are now.

The One with the Wowowee Tragedy

2006-02-04T11:50:00.000+08:00

Earlier today, more than 70 people died (numbers still shooting up as of this writing) when a stampede broke out in ULTRA, venue of Wowowee's first year anniversary. Very sad, considering that most of these people went to the venue perhaps out of poverty, to try their luck in being handpicked and be among the contestants for the show.

My initial opinion of the show was that it was cheap gimmick, nothing more than a vehicle for host Willie Revillame to return to national television. Having been suspended by ABS-CBS management numerous times already, one would think that his career's more or less over and done with. I was really dumbfounded when they give him yet another show to display his crassness and vulgarity in front of millions of viewers. I thought to myself, Willie must really be buddy-buddies with the network's top brass or he's being groomed as the next Noli de Castro to get this many chances at hosting a show of his own. Either way, I thought the whole Wowowee show was a bad idea altogether.

Several weeks ago, I chanced upon an episode of Wowowee. In that particular episode, all the contestants were labanderas, people who wash clothes for a living. I've seen bits and pieces of the show before, and was instantly turned off by the questions that they throw at their contestants. Most of the questions are mind-numbingly stupid; at least in rival show Eat Bulaga, some questions will really make you think. What caught my eye in this particular episode was a labandera contestant from the US. She was gorgeous, unlike any other labandera I've ever seen in my 20 plus years of existence. If only she was the one washing my clothes... ugh, nevermind. :p

Anyway, the gorgeous labandera was pretty stupid, getting eliminated after the opposing labandera beat her to answering a question. The next elderly contestant was undoubtedly a labandera. She looked every bit of the part: messy hair, shabby clothes, toothless gums, worn-out tsinelas. Before Wllie got off with his question, Misis Labandera (as I will refer to her from hereon) got off into a narrative about how excited she was to join the show. She said that she was poor, that she just took a break from her labada to come to the studio and bring lunch to her husband who was lining up for Pera O Bayong (another game show, I think). She greeted her husband who was in the audience, and pleaded with the opposing labandera to give her balato, so she and her husband will have enough money to commute back home. It definitely was an amusing scene; only in the Philippines will you see someone in a quiz show asking for money from her opponent. So much for self-confidence. :p

The opposing labandera asked Misis Labandera how much she will need to commute; the latter asked for 50 bucks. Willie took out 500 from his pocket, and handed it to Misis Labandera along with a peck in the cheek. Misis Labandera burst into tears right there and then. What transpired next was the most heart-warming thing I've seen on local television in years. People from the audience started going up to Misis Labandera to hand her wads of money, hugs and kisses. Even those who looked like her (some looking even more tattered) gave her whatever spare change they had in their pockets. This went on for a good 10 minutes. People in the audience were teary-eyed, as was Willie himself and the other co-hosts and crew members. After the last embrace, Misis Labandera had pockets-full of money, wailing as she called to her husband, "Makakakain na tayo, tatay, makakakain tayo ng maayos na hapunan ng mga anak mo!" She then thanked the Lord, Willie and the show, the audience members, and the opposing labandera. She conceded the contest to the opposing labandera, saying that she already got more than what she bargained for. Indeed, bayanihan is still alive even during these times of poverty and destitution.

It was then that my opinion of these quiz shows changed. How could I have so much contempt and disdain for something that gives hope to those who need them most? If it could make a difference and change the life of just one soul... then it is a good and worthy cause. Reading some posts over at PinoyExchange, some fickle-minded folks are using the events of today in their silly network wars. Tsk, tsk. I hope the tragic events that transpired this morning at ULTRA will not deter Wowowee from continuing to be of service to the Filipino. We need more television shows like these; cancelling the show will be the bigger tragedy.

The One with the Woohoos

2006-01-18T16:22:00.000+08:00

The rain has stopped, the storm has passed
Look at all the colors now the sun's here at last.
I supposed that you'll be leaving but I want you to know
Part of you stays with me even after you go.

* * * * *

Stupid Woohoo #1: ACET results are in, and my sister got accepted in Ateneo. Med course pa! Galing-galing! Makes her only the second Atenista in the whole Enriquez clan (guess who was the first one? haha). 'fcourse it still isn't sure if she'll study there (UPCAT results will come out mid-February), but it's still reason enough for celebration! Woohooo!

* * * * *

Stupid Woohoo #2: Jack Bauer is back! After months of hiatus, 24 is back on the tube, with an interesting storyline for its fifth season, and new cast members that include Sean Astin (played Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings films). 18 months after the staged death of Jack, a breach in national security forces Jack out of hiding to protect his loved ones both past and present. I love Lost, CSI , Veronica Mars and Grey's Anatomy, but television drama couldn't get any better than 24. I've already downloaded the first four eps, but have yet to watch it. Siempre kelangan special viewing sa weekend para asteeeg. Just hearing Kiefer Sutherland's hoarse vocals to usher each episode gives me the chills. "The following takes place between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM..." :P

* * * * *

Stupid Woohoo #3: Fox brings out the punches this January by premeiering their other ratings heavyweight: American Idol. Wala lang, guilty pleasure. I especially like the first few audition episodes where they show the wannabees who can't sing a note even if their life depended on it. Most of them sing awfully on purpose just so they could have their 30 seconds of fame on national television. Couldn't blame them; if someone like William Hung can get a contract with his gawd-awful antics, so can anyone with lungs. Cam-whores galore!

* * * * *

Stupid Woohoo #4: 63rd Golden Globe awards passed by without any real surprises. Almost all the winners were more or less expected: Felicity Huffman, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain, Lost, Desperate Housewives... yawn. What made the show interesting were the hilarious acceptance speeches of the winners. Steve Carrell was most entertaining with his "My wife made this list" piece; ditto for Hugh Laurie's lottery speech, Geena Davis' anecdote about a young-girl-who-wasn't-real and George Clooney's Jack Abramoff joke ("Who would name their kid Jack with the last words ‘off’ at the end of your last name? No wonder that guy is screwed up.") L-O-L. Nasamid talaga ako while watching him during breakfast. (FYI, Abramoff is a Republican lobbyist who's involved in several high-profile political scandals).

On another note, I'm ecstatic that Sandra Oh won for Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie for Grey's Anatomy. She never fails to amuse me on that show. Another woohoo goes to Hugh Laurie's win as Drama Actor for House. They got it all right this year. :p

Best bit of the night is saved for last: them ladies were soooooooo darned fine! Keira Knightley, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow (hem, hem)... they all looked gorgeous. But the award for most stunnning goes to...

Kate Beckinsale! Marrrrryyyy meeeee!!! :P

* * * * *

Stupid Woohoo #5: The Australian Open is underway down under, and I'm watching tennis again. One reason: the Swiss Miss is baaaack! Coming out of semi-retirement, Martina Hingis won her opening round match against a 30th seed Russian (any Russian who's not named Sharapova shall remain anonymous in my book). I don't expect a major coup for Martina on her first Grand Slam tournament in three years; just seeing her play tennis again is enough to keep me glued to the tube. :p

In other sporting news, we're down to 4 teams as SuperBowl XL nears. It's the Denver Broncos vs Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC championship, while the Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers will vie for the NFC championship. No Patriots and Colts this year, folks. I can tell that it's gonna be one helluva game; we can only wish that the NFL won't screw this one up like it has done all year. :p

* * * * *

Lotsa things to be happy about these days. I know they're petty and stupid things to be happy about... but hey, whatever sails my boat. Being miserable is a state of mind and staying miserable is a choice, and I just simply refuse to wallow in the past. There are more serious problems in this world than dealing with my nonsense. As Humphrey Bogart's Rick Blaine in Casablanca aptly puts it, "I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world."

La vita è bella; life is beautiful, dontchatink? :D

The One where Enough is Enough

2006-01-03T06:06:00.000+08:00

I'm still fuming with the piece of shit movie I watched on the first day of the year (read previous post), so what better way to alleviate my disgust than to watch one of the best love stories of all time, Victor Fleming’s Gone With The Wind. I allotted four hours of my precious rest time to rewatch this classic tale of love and loss (tsk tsk, I have too much time on my hands haha). It never ceases to amaze me how they could’ve made such a grand, stunningly magnificent film in the 30s.

There’s a sequence in the film that I particularly love, one which I consider to be one of the most kickass scenes in film history. In fact, the last line uttered was voted as top movie quote in AFI'S List of 100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time. No gravity-defying, gut-wrenching, "Matrix"-like stunts are made; not even one finger is lifted by any of the characters. But by the end of the scene, it gave a whole new meaning to what Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote in 1839: "The pen is mightier than the sword."

To give you a brief background, Scarlett (Vivien Leigh) married Rhett (Clark Gable) but didn’t really love him because she was in love with another man named Ashley. After years of futility of trying to prove his love to Scarlett (and the tragic death of their daughter Bonnie), Rhett is finally fed up and decides to leave his wife. It’s only then that Scarlett realizes that she loved Rhett all along. The following conversation ensues:

* * * * *

Scarlett: What are you doing?
Rhett: I'm leaving you, my dear. All you need now is a divorce and your dreams of Ashley can come true.
Scarlett: Oh, no! No, you're wrong, terribly wrong! I don't want a divorce. Oh Rhett, but I knew tonight, when I ... when I knew I loved you, I ran home to tell you, oh darling, darling!
Rhett: Please don't go on with this. Leave us some dignity to remember out of our marriage. Spare us this last.
Scarlett: This last? Oh Rhett, do listen to me, I must have loved you for years, only I was such a stupid fool, I didn't know it. Please believe me, you must care! Melly said you did.
Rhett: I believe you. What about Ashley Wilkes?
Scarlett: I ... I never really loved Ashley.
Rhett: You certainly gave a good imitation of it, up till this morning. No Scarlett, I tried everything. If you'd only met me half way, even when I came back from London.
Scarlett: I was so glad to see you. I was, Rhett, but you were so nasty.
Rhett: And then when you were sick, it was all my fault ... I hoped against hope that you'd call for me, but you didn't.
Scarlett: I wanted you. I wanted you desperately but I didn't think you wanted me.
Rhett: It seems we've been at cross purposes, doesn't it? But it's no use now. As long as there was Bonnie, there was a chance that we might be happy. I liked to think that Bonnie was you, a little girl again, before the war, and poverty had done things to you. She was so like you, and I could pet her, and spoil her, as I wanted to spoil you. But when she went, she took everything.
Scarlett: Oh, Rhett, Rhett please don't say that. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for everything.
Rhett: My darling, you're such a child. You think that by saying, "I'm sorry," all the past can be corrected. Here, take my handkerchief. Never, at any crisis of your life, have I known you to have a handkerchief.
Scarlett: Rhett! Rhett, where are you going?
Rhett: I'm going back to Charleston, back where I belong.
Scarlett: Please, please take me with you!
Rhett: No, I'm through with everything here. I want peace. I want to see if somewhere there isn't something left in life of charm and grace. Do you know what I'm talking about?
Scarlett: No! I only know that I love you.
Rhett: That's your misfortune.
[Rhett turns to walk down the stairs]
Scarlett: Oh, Rhett!
[Scarlett watches Rhett walk to the door]
Scarlett: Rhett!
[runs down the stairs after Rhett]
Scarlett: Rhett, Rhett! Rhett, Rhett... Rhett, if you go, where shall I go? What shall I do?
Rhett: Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

* * * * *

Asteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeg! Akala mo huh. Take that, beeeyaaatch! :p

(Many thanks to Wikipedia for the shameless content-lifting.)

The One with Mr. Crankypants

2006-01-03T05:29:00.000+08:00

Disclaimer: I enjoy love stories in general. Off the top of my head, I can think of cheesy films I'm fond of watching over and over again ("A Walk To Remember", "Serendipity", "My Bestfriend's Wedding"). Six of my seven favorite films ever are somewhat romantic in one way or another. I've read quite a few of Nicholas Sparks' books and find him an okay writer. So you can’t say I'm a heartless turd with no feelings whatsoever.

I was in the mood for a sappy love story to begin the year, so I got a copy of "If Only", starring the oh-so-fine Jennifer Love Hewitt and some unknown British actor. In a nutshell, it's a story of a guy whose girlfriend dies, so he's all "booo-hooo-why-didn't-I-show-her-how-much-I-love-her". When he wakes up the next day, he finds his girlfriend alive. Everything unfolds the same way it did the previous day, giving him a chance to save his girlfriend from dying. A friend of mine highly recommended watching it back in July, but it looked like a B-movie to me so I passed up on watching then. I chanced upon a thread over at PinoyExchange discussing the movie and saw the great reception it received from them PExers, so I expected something that will at least touch one nerve in my body (JLH in her underwear… it couldn’t be that bad, eh?) :p

Oh. My. Gawd. What a horrible piece of horse dung. Where do I even begin ripping this crap into pieces? It isn’t even remotely close to being good (easily one of the worst movies I’ve seen in ages). I won’t even bother giving out spoiler warnings to those who haven’t seen it yet; it’s better that you get spoiled rather than having the unfortunate experience of watching this steaming pile of horse shit.

The scene where JLH went to her boyfriend’s meeting because she thought he forgot his notes (turns out, she had the wrong notes with her). She talked and talked and talked endlessly - which was supposed to be cute and funny, only it wasn’t. I wanted to bludgeon her to death, if only to stop the stupidity of the situation. Bleh.
Cheesy dialogue, clichéd script, flawed plot. Imagine, they managed to take a train ride to the country, go mountain climbing, made love in an abandoned shack (you’d think it wasn’t abandoned with the candles, matchsticks, chopped firewood, and clean rug lying around), shared sob-stories in a bar, rode the London Eye (FYI, a full cycle on the London Eye takes at least an hour)… all in one afternoon! Makes me wonder, perhaps I should smash my watch as well so my day lasts as long as it did with these two twerps?
The sequence where JLH sings with a full orchestra to back her up. Her boyfriend gave the music notes (notes only for a guitar, I might add) to the conductor minutes before the show began, and voila! The whole orchestra already knew how to play the piece instantly! Nevermind that it takes a musician several days, even weeks to master a piece, moreso a whole orchestra!. Nooooooooo, the strings and the percussions and all others knew exactly when to come in. Heck, they even throw a full choir in there. Lo and behold! They still managed to pull everything off flawlessly! No wonder the dingbat who wrote this shit doesn't have any other writing credit to her name.

I know I'm nitpicking, but I just couldn't see what others saw in this disaster of a movie. Frankly, I’m surprised so many people loved it. Some called its story “fresh” (Hello? "Groundhog Day"? "Sliding Doors"?), some said they were touched by it (I find the "Dragon Katol" commercials more touching), while others have said it changed their lives (Get a life! Your current one SUCKS LIKE HELL). It did succeed in making me cry (with how dreadful it was).

Horrible. Just horrible.

The One with the Cranky New Year

2006-01-03T05:26:00.000+08:00

Ah, another year has passed. 2005 was a great year, one full of high highs and low lows. i must say, ‘twas a year to remember. i don’t want to go melodramatic, ke-bago-bago ng taon eh. As i bid 2005 goodbye, let me take a moment of silence to remember the year that was.

[silence]

i trust 2006 will be as good as the one that passed. Lots of things to look forward to (the most immediate one being the Narnia opening this Sunday… woooot woooo!). Hopefully, this will also be the year of my independence, both literally (move out of my parents’ house) and figuratively (uy, chismis yan).

There’s also the 2006 World Cup come June. i admit to being a seasonal football fan; i only watch the sport during Euros and World Cups (so sue me). Forgive me, but club competition bores me to death. Perhaps it's because i don't feel any affinity to a team from Manchester or Liverpool or some other place on the other end of the world. With tournaments like the Euros and the World Cup, even if Filipinos don't get to play (haha fat chance), i still get to cheer against countries that i don't like. Darned, i wish i had the moolah to go to Germany, if only to bash them Americans. Repeat after me, in fake German accent: "Bushen, you sucken!"

Oh well, there’s always cable tv. To everyone, best of luck to a new year!

* * * * *

i wanted to start the new year on a good note. i did start the year that way. And then monday came.

She was wearing the ring that boyfriend gave her, one that she hasn't worn for months. i remember the other time she wore it was way back in October, the day they got back together. It's still vivid in my mind because when she showed me her hand that day, sinamahan pa niya ng "look oh!" with matching smile. Ouch.

This time was different though. i couldn't fault her for wearing the ring; it was his gift to her, and they are couple. She had every right to wear it, and i had no right to be upset. i knew that this day would come, and i prepared myself for facing the inevitable. But no matter how "prepared" i was, it still stung. And that's the upsetting part of it.

Things snowballed from there. i got cranky, rubbed off the crankiness on her, hurtful words were said again... haaaay. i wish i can just move on. It's obvious that she has. Why can't i?

So much for a new beginning. Have a cranky new year everybody. :p

The One with the Only One

2005-12-22T15:47:00.000+08:00

As some of you might know, these past few weeks have been tough for me: I've been an emotional wreck. Going to the movies has always been my therapy; but because of work, I've watched only a handful this year. I caught Curtis Hanson's In Her Shoes last Saturday, hoping that I could escape misery even for just two hours. Boy was I wrong.

Total chick flick through and through, but what got me was the poem that Cameron Diaz (one of the most underrated actresses, imho) read towards the end of the film. I'm no poet (never will be), and I've been trying to put into words what my heart could not tell. Naisulat na pala siya almost 50 years ago. Basa!

* * * * *

i carry your heart with me by e.e. cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

* * * * *

Only then did I realize how lucky I am to have loved (the romantic kind). I thought I had, but it's only now that I trully experience what it's like to love. I wasn't a big believer of the clichè "It's better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all". Now, it doesn't sound so bad after all.

And who says all is lost already? I once read that there are three things certain in this world: faith, hope and love. Faith is believing that what is in your heart has a chance. Hope is committing to that belief. Love is enduring even when it stands alone.

Happy Holidays! :p

The One with the Return of the Comeback

2005-09-18T00:32:00.000+08:00

After six months of hibernation.... I'm resurrecting this blog. :p

One thing I hate about blogs is how people copy/paste lyrics of songs on their blogs. Ang baduy eh. And so I resurrect this blog by posting lyrics of the song na kasalukuyang theme song ng buhay ko.

* * * * *

Hold On To The Night
Just when I believed I couldn't ever want for more
This ever changing world pushes me through another door
I saw you smile and my mind could not erase the beauty of your face
Just for a while won't you let me shelter you

Hold onto the night
Hold onto the memories
I wish that I could give you something more
and I could be yours

How do we explain something took us by suprise
Promises invade love that is real but in disguise
What happens now do we break another rule
and let our lovers play the fool
I don't know how to stop feeling this way...

Hold onto the night
Hold onto the memories
If only I could give you something more
Well, I think that I've been true to everybody else but me
and the way I feel about you makes my heart long to be free
Everytime I look into your eyes I'm helplessly aware
That the someone ive been searching for is right there...

* * * * *

Ay, ang baduy.

The One with the Oscar Predictions

2005-02-26T18:04:00.000+08:00

It's two days before Hollywood's biggest night, so here's my take on how the chips will fall on the 27th.

* * * * *

Supporting Actor

Will Win: Morgan Freeman
Should Win: Clive Owen
Darkhorse: Thomas Haden Church
Clive Owen won the Golden Globe and the BAFTA, but why isn’t he the favorite to win the Oscar? An SAG snub (wasn’t even nominated) indicates that Oscar voters are cold towards him. Over the past 10 years, there has only been one instance where a supporting actor won the Oscar despite not having nominated in the SAGs (“Pollack”’s Marcia Gay harden in 2000). It’s possible for Clive Owen to duplicate the feat, but questionable.

His biggest competition is Morgan Freeman. He’s been passed over thrice (“Street Smart”, “Driving Miss Daisy”, “Shawshank Redemption”), and there is a growing consensus that he’s due to be given his gold. However, recent Oscar history doesn’t bode well for him. Over the past five years, the films that the Best Actress winner appeared in had zero wins in the other awards they were nominated for. If Hilary Swank wins Best Actress, it could mean trouble for Freeman.

Going in Thomas Haden Church’ favor is the Sideways’ Ensemble win at the SAGs. With Paul Giamatti being snubbed in the Lead Actor category, and Virginia Madsen a long shot in the Supporting Actress category, the Academy may award the win to Haden Church in recognition for the whole ensemble’s work. Since there’s no clear-cut favorite between Freeman and Owen, Haden Church may well end up as the winner.

* * * * *

Supporting Actress

Will Win: Cate Blanchett
Should Win: Sophie Okonedo
Darkhorse: Virginia Madsen
Much like the Supporting Actor category, this one is up for grabs. Blanchett won the SAG, Portman won the Globe, while Madsen came away with the BFCA. Blanchett’s overdue (0/4 at the Oscars), Portman is the hot upstart (which the Academy loves), and Madsen winning is an award for her film’s ensemble (see Supporting Actor comments above). Any of the three’s capable, but my gut says Blanchett will pull it off.

That being said, I don’t feel that any of three are as deserving as the other two nominated ladies in this category. Both Laura Linney and Sophie Okonedo were amazing in their respective parts in “Kinsey” and “Hotel Rwanda”, stuff that really define supporting roles. I don’t know how they classify Lead Actresses from Supporting Actresses, but the three frontrunners seemed to play lead roles in their respective films instead of supporting ones. Okonedo, in particular, stands out in “Hotel Rwanda” as Don Cheadle’s wife, defining the “ilaw ng tahanan” character to perfection. She’s a long shot, but she’s the most deserving nonetheless.

* * * * *

Lead Actress

Will Win: Hilary Swank
Should Win: Hilary Swank
Darkhorse: Imelda Staunton
‘Twas a bad year for women at the movies. It seems that Swank will win it by default. In fairness to the other nominated actresses, I’ve only seen “Million Dollar Baby” so I don’t have any opinion with regards to who deserves the award the most. I’ve explained in previous pages on why Swank won’t possibly win it (that she’s too… “small” to be a multiple Oscar winner). That being said, there’s really no other way to go but Swank. Easy pickings.

* * * * *

Lead Actor

Will Win: Jamie Foxx
Should Win: Don Cheadle
Darkhorse: Leonardo DiCaprio
There’s nothing much to say; Jamie Foxx has a lock on the award, and it will be a scandal if he loses (I can just imagine people pinning Foxx’ loss because he’s black). I don’t feel he’s the most deserving though. There’s a fine line between acting and imitating, something which most Academy voters are not aware of. Was it great imitation? Sure it was. Was it great acting? No. To be honest, Will Smith’s imitation of boxing great Muhammed Ali was even better than Foxx’ imitation of Ray Charles.

If there will be an upset (and that’s a big IF), it’s most likely to be pulled off by DiCaprio. I feel that his performance in “The Aviator” is still wanting, and that we haven’t seen the best out of him yet. Johnny Depp proved that he is one of the finest actors today with a second straight nomination; too bad he’s walking away empty-handed once again. It’s Clint Eastwood’s nomination that still baffles me to this day. His directing was superb, and his original score, although not nominated, deserves an award. But his acting is easily the weakest link of the film, even by his own standards. The slot should’ve at least been given to Paul Giamatti from “Sideways”.

Now, Don Cheadle in “Hotel Rwanda” – that’s one piece of powerful acting. He gives the performance of a lifetime as hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina, an unwitting hero during the Rwandan genocide. I’ve never felt more strongly towards a movie character as I felt towards Cheadle and this film. Too bad the film didn’t get much attention.

* * * * *

Best Motion Picture

Will Win: The Aviator
Should Win: The Aviator
Darkhorse: Million Dollar Baby
It’s really a toss-up between the two: Scorsese’s biopic of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, or Eastwood’s boxing drama about life decisions. Many would like to think that Andrew Payne’s dark comedy “Sideways” is still in the running, but I think otherwise. The lukewarm reception it got with regards to its number of nominations indicate that it’s lost steam over the past few weeks.

“Million Dollar Baby” seems to be coming on strong at that same span, slowly inching closer to erstwhile frontrunner “The Aviator”. It is the sentimental choice, and if not for the name Scorsese being attached to “The Aviator”, it may well win the top prize. However, Scorsese IS attached to “The Aviator”, so I expect him to be finally rewarded by the Academy. The later is more polished, and more well rounded technically as proven by its number of nominations in the technical awards. It should come up with the top prize.

* * * * *

Best Director

Will Win: Clint Eastwood
Should Win: Martin Scorsese
Darkhorse: Mike Leigh
Okay, this is where it gets tricky. “The Aviator” is obviously the best made film of 2004… so why not reward its director (only arguably the best director of our time, and foremost film historian nonetheless)? Because it leaves another well-loved film out in the cold with no awards, save for the acting categories. The logical choice should really be Martin Scorsese, but if Clint Eastwood’s nomination for Best Actor category is any indication of how the Academy loves the guy, then Scorsese may be passed over yet again. Eastwood won the Globe and the DGA (only *the * most accurate Oscar indicator of all the precursors), so it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he does pull it off.

I listed Mike Leigh of “Vera Drake” as darkhorse because back in 2003, Scorsese was also up against Rob Marshall of “Chicago” with another epic, “Gangs of New York”. No one predicted Roman Polanski and “The Pianist” to win big. It started with a surprise win for Adapted Screenplay, a surprise Best Actor nod for Adrien Brody, and Directing award for Polanski himself. Guess which categories “Vera Drake” are up for this year? Director, Original Screenplay, and Lead Actress. Shades of ’03?

* * * * *

Other Awards

Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor for “Sideways”, with Paul Haggis for “Million Dollar Baby” as it’s number one competitor.
Original Screenplay: I’m going against convention and pick Mike Leigh for “Vera Drake” as the winner. Although I wish they’d finally give it to Charlie Kaufman for “Eternal Sunshine”. Just when we think he couldn’t come up with another original screenplay, he surprises us with yet another mind-twister.
Animated Feature: “The Incredibles”
Cinematography: “A Very Long Engagement”
Film Editing: “The Aviator”
Art Direction: “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”
Sound: “Ray”
Sound Editing: “Spiderman 2”
Original Score: Thanks to “Ray” and “Million Dollar Baby” being disqualified, “Finding Neverland” should win it’s solitary award in this category.
Original Song: Although not as good as other Andrew Lloyd Webber compositions, “Learn to Be Lonely” from “The Phantom of the Opera” should cop this one.
Costume Design: “The Aviator”, although “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” can give it a run for its money.
Makeup: “The Passion of the Christ” (again, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” could be a possible spoiler)
Visual Effects: “Spiderman 2”
Foreign Language Film: Alejandro Amenábar’s “The Sea Inside”, Spain
Documentary Feature: “Born Into Brothels” should win this one. I don’t see “Super Size Me” pulling it off.
Documentary Short: “Autism is a World”
Live Action Short Film: “Little Terrorist”
Animated Short: “Gopher Broke”

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Since I'm into a predicting mood, I'll take it one step further and predict that Katie...

...will win Survivor: Palau. I also predict that John...

...will win The Apprentice Season 3, and Fez, errr Mario Vazkwez

...will win American Idol 4.

* * * * *

I'm going out on a limb and predict that Imelda Staunton will win for Best Actress. Why?

1. Swank ("Next Karate Kid", "The Core", and tv's "Beverly Hills 90210") is no multiple-Oscar material.
2. The enigma of 2003 will come back ("The Pianist" won Adapted Screenplay, Lead Actor for Adrien Brody, and Directing for Polish director Roman Polanski). This year, "Vera Drake" is up for Original Screenplay, Lead Actress for Imelda Staunton, and Directing for Brit Mike Leigh.

So there. By the way, I also predicted that John Kerry would beat George W. Bush in last year's U.S. Presidential Elections. :p

The One with the Ten Best Films of 2004

2005-01-29T15:53:00.000+08:00

2004 at the movies will be best remembered for producing perhaps two of the most controversial films in recent years: Michael Moore’s Bush-bashing docu “Fahrenheit 9/11”, and Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”, an account of the last hours of Jesus Christ. Yet, when all is said and done, neither of them was among the ten best films of the year. These are my picks for the year’s best:

10. The Incredibles
Written and Directed by Brad Bird; starring the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson

The partnership of Disney and Pixar strikes gold anew in this tale about a family of superheroes who, after being forced to retirement, are once again called upon to save the world. Pixar continues its stretch of providing its audience with entertaining films that cater to both children and adults, further solidifying its claim as the leader in animated features. Brad Bird has created one of the most entertaining animations in years, delivering the fun and amusement from start to finish. “The Incredibles” is a terrific film that lives up to its name – it is truly incredible.

9. Kinsey
Written and Directed by Billy Condon; starring Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, and Peter Sarsgaard

The film is an engaging look at researcher Alfred Kinsey - the man responsible for the sexual revolution in America in the 60s. Liam Neeson delivers a remarkable performance in the title role; Laura Linney and Peter Sarsgaard play supporting roles as the researcher’s wife and his assistant, respectively. Director and Screenwriter Billy Condon’s brilliantly crafted script is riveting from start to finish, making great use of humor and emotion in its narrative. All these components rolled together – interesting subject, great performances, and superb writing – make for one of the best biopics of the year.

8. The Butterfly Effect
Written and Directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber; starring Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart

One of the surprises of the year, “The Butterfly Effect” stars Ashton Kutcher as a troubled man who experiences traumatic events and memory blackouts in his childhood. One can easily dismiss the film because (who are we kidding?) Kutcher in a leading role on a serious film is like Britney Spears singing in Broadway (God-forbid). Fortunately, the material itself is strong enough to hold the film together. Although there are some loopholes on its plot, the film manages to grab its viewers primarily due to the premise of people being able to change one aspect of their past, and how it can make a ripple effect on their future. “The Butterfly Effect” is dark look into a troubled psyche; a disturbing, eerie thriller worthy of numerous viewings.

7. The Village
Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan; starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrian Brody, and William Hurt

While a lot thought Shyamalan’s latest work to be his worst (and even put it to their list of Worst for the year), I thought “The Village” to be one of the most underrated films of the year. Take away the bad marketing, the heightened expectations that this will be another “The Sixth Sense”, and what you will see is an excellent piece of filmmaking. Shyamalan builds up his story, slowly strips the mysteries layer upon layer, and comes up with a film with two interpretations - that of a 19th century community’s overprotective love and on a larger scale, of post-9/11 America. Great performances are aplenty (special kudo to newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard who I hope makes it big), cinematography and editing is exquisite, and it certainly doesn’t lack the surprises that Shyamalan is known for. So what’s not to like? Beats me.

6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón; starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson

One of the biggest reasons why I enjoyed the third installment in this series is because of one man: director Alfonso Cuarón. Previous headmaster Chris Columbus tried too much to be faithful to the books, resulting to two sloppy adaptations of several chapters shot straight from the book slapped together without any continuity and flow. Enter Cuarón, and he managed to salvage this wreck of a franchise by making the film darker and more “adult”, with each sequence seamless, incorporating his own distinct style to it. But of course, it also helped that Emma Watson’s all grown up. :D

5. Closer
Directed by Mike Nichols; starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman

A rule of thumb when adapting materials to the big screen: always have the original writer of the material do the screenplay for you. Director Mike Nichols collaborated with playwright Patrick Marber to bring the controversial play to the big screen, and the result is a riveting drama about love, lies and deceit. The four actors give equally captivating performances, playing characters you will love to hate (or hate to love, whichever way you look at it). “Closer” is an honest look at relationships, and how human behavior becomes ugly when love is selfish.

4. The Aviator
Directed by Martin Scorsese; starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alan Alda, Kate Beckinsale, and Alec Baldwin

And so, Martin Scorsese tries yet again to snatch that ever-elusive Oscar. His latest drama stars Leonardo DiCaprio as billionaire industrialist Howard Hughes, one of the most intriguing characters in contemporary America. The film covers the most pivotal points in the eccentric billionaire’s life: from producing films at a young age, his shift to a successful career in aviation (both as a pilot and engineer), his well-documented romances with Hollywood’s biggest names (most notably Katherine Hepburn, brought to life marvelously by Cate Blanchett), and his decline to obsessive-compulsive disorder that took over his later years. “The Aviator” is a compelling drama about how too much passion can lead to destruction – a great cinema from a great director.

3. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera
Directed by Joel Schumacher; starring Gerald Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson

Schumacher’s colorful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s successful stage musical is captivating from start to finish. Extravagant set designs, lavish costumes, and excellent cinematography – it has all the ingredients that make for an outstanding musical. Emmy Rossum shines as Christine, while both Butler and Wilson manage to hold their own. The film scores in entertainment value, although falters a bit with its lack of any emotional punch. The film may not be as good as Baz Luhrman’s “Moulin Rouge” or Rob Marshall’s “Chicago”, but Webber’s score is more than enough to keep you whistling for days.

2. Finding Neverland
Directed by Mark Forster; starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, and Freddie Highmore

Mark Forster crafts a beautiful film about the events surrounding J.M. Barrie and the conception of his beloved play “Peter Pan”. Johnny Depp proves himself to be one of the best actors of today with a subdued yet charming portrayal of the Scottish playwright. Freddie Highmore steals the show as the boy who inspired the character of Peter, displaying intensity beyond his years. Forster brilliantly weaves sequences of reality and fantasy to form a magical tale that tells us to never lose sight of the best things in life.

1. Hotel Rwanda
Directed by Terry George; starring Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix, and Sophie Okonedo

Based on a true story, “Hotel Rwanda” is a powerful account of how hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina sheltered hundreds of refugees from genocide in Rwanda ten years ago. Don Cheadle gives the performance of his career as the hotel manager who confronts his owns fears and conquers all odds in order to save his family and the lives of people he reluctantly takes into his care. Director Terry George pushes the right buttons, slowly building up tension, making use of a faceless voice as the film’s main villain, and picturing the horrors war without Michael Moore-esque preachiness. The film is a jarring look at what evil humans are capable of. What is remarkable about the film is how it is capable of shaming and uplifting at the same time. It has drawn comparisons to Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”, and may well be the most important film of the year.

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I'm still reeling from San Miguel's loss to Ginebra. It's a tough pill to swallow, particularly because of the stupid freakin' referees. Tangina, obvious na obvious yung bias for Ginebra. One play which really broke the camel's back was when Danny Seigle was slapped an offensive foul against Eric Menk early in the 4th quarter. Seigle drove to his left, spun to his right, and got called the charge. Menk flopped to his right, perhaps anticipating that Seigle will take it strong to the right. Eh bobo naman yung referee, kumagat. Had the right call been made (defensive foul, three-point play for Seigle), San Miguel would've been up by four points. Classic case of the referees indirectly deciding the outcome of the game.

No point crying over spilled milk though. I'm still happy with the way San Miguel played. And I couldn't hate Ginebra, I have too much love coach Siot. :p

The One where Joel is Forgiven

2005-01-22T18:24:00.000+08:00

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera
Rating: 8/10

Let me start of by saying that I wasn’t a fan of musicals. Like any other teenage boy, sitting through two hours of endless music, high-pitched voices, and conversations sung instead of spoken wasn’t my idea of interesting. I considered 1996’s “Evita” to be one of the most dreary movies I’ve watched at that time. However, with recent films as brilliant and extravagant as “Moulin Rouge” and “Chicago”, the appeal of the musical genre has risen tremendously in my book. I was thrilled when I heard a few years ago that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera”, one of the longest running stage musicals, was going to be adapted to the big screen. Although I have not seen the play myself, I am familiar with the music and the story having downloaded the songs off the musical and having read the book by Gaston Leroux. The anticipation turned into skepticism when Joel Schumacher was tapped to direct the adaptation. After all, this was the man responsible for “Batman & Robin”.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is the story of the Phantom, a ghostly character (Gerald Butler) who haunts a Parisian opera house, slipping unnoticed through its passages, terrorizing cast and crew members, demanding payment from the opera house owners. He meets young orphan Christine (Emmy Rossum), is mesmerized by her talent and beauty, and secretly becomes her musical instructor. The chance to show off her talent comes when the opera house’s main talent, La Carlotta (Minnie Driver), throws a tantrum and storms off stage. Christine performs to the delight of the audience, and none is more captivated than Raoul (Patrick Wilson), the theater’s patron and a childhood friend of Christine’s. The two fall madly in love, sending the Phantom into a jealous rage.

The film turned out to be exactly what I imagined it to be, and perhaps more. From the grandiose set designs, to the lavish costumes, and the superb musical productions, the film is a true adaptation of the beloved stage musical. Which is exactly what may be its single biggest flaw: it’s a stage musical on the big screen. Part of the reason why the film is taking a beating from film critics is that many have been skeptical about adapting stage musicals to the big screen. Cinema is largely a visual art, whereas theater is much more than that. In films, the audience stare at a huge flat surface; whereas in theater, everything is life-like, performed right before your very eyes. This is especially evident in this film. [spoiler start] In the stage musical, the sight of the majestic chandelier and the eerie gondola ride through a river of candles must be a sight to behold. Sadly, they are nothing but ordinary scenes when seen on film. [spoiler end]

Not that it falls short in being the huge spectacle that it is. It boasts of extravagantly created sets and costumes, intertwined with crisp editing and brilliant cinematography. Its best element is Webber’s romantic score, which is nothing short of magnificent. From Rossum’s rendition of “Think of Me”, to the rooftop duet regale of “All I Ask of You”, and the spectacular “Masquerade” sequence (which reminded me of “Moulin Rouge” and its cabaret Can-can sequence), Webber’s music is so captivating, I can guarantee you will hear yourself humming the tunes for days.

I haven’t seen the stage play, so I cannot compare the performances of the actors to their thespian counterparts on stage. What I can say is that they more than held their own. Gerald Butler is convincing as the possessive and love-torn Phantom, although I can hardly understand his words when he’s singing. Patrick Wilson also delivers believably as Raoul. It’s Emmy Rossum who, like the character she plays, captivates the audience with her voice that radiates innocence and affection. Okay, I cringed a bit when I saw her likeness to the Angelicas (Jones and de la Cruz). But ignoring that pet peeve, I can see why the Phantom is head-over-heals in love with this woman. Rossum was tailor-made for the role.

I was thinking how the film would’ve turned out had Baz Luhrman directed it. But this ain’t a perfect world, and what Schumacher gives us is a faithful adaptation of the musical. With the aid of Webber’s wonderful score, “The Phantom of the Menace” triumphs as a visual feast beautifully filmed and majestically directed by Schumacher. For that, I forgive him for ruining the Batman series.

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This was originally posted in PinoyExchange, at the The Phantom of the Opera thread. Too bad the film isn’t getting the expected Oscar buzz. Critics are slamming it, while ordinary movie-goers are praising it. Over at Rotten Tomatoes, the film is only 36% among critics, but 81% among viewers. At Yahoo! Movies, critics have given it a score of C, while viewers have it at a healthy B+. Further proof that critics are dumb. The weird part is that they are actually paid to be dumb.

Mali naman kasi rin ang ginawang pag-market nito. The film opened on limited release 3 days before Christmas, but it has yet to be opened on wide release up to this day. What's usually done with an Oscar contender is the film is held back until late December, to which it opens on limited release so it can be eligible for the Oscars. It is then given a wide release playdate two weeks after so it can garner enough popularity among the masses.

Palpak naman ang Warner Bros. dito tsk tsk tsk! Such a big waste.

The One with the Undeserving Old Fart

2005-01-18T14:49:00.000+08:00

I knew it.

I knew that I didn’t have the resolve to update my blog as often as I like. Tamad talaga ako hehehe.

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This year’s Golden Globes concluded yesterday, given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. I don’t know why it’s considered the best precursor to the Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has almost 6,000 members, most of which are actors, directors, screenwriters, and film crew whereas the HFPA is only composed of 90 foreign press members. Medyo malayo, no? I would think that the various guilds ( Directors Guild , Writers Guild, and the Screen Actors Guild) would be better indicators for the Oscars.

Anyway, here are my thoughts on the Globes...

Yay!

1. Desperate Housewives and Teri Hatcher. I’m still pissed Eva Longoria’s the only housewife not nominated in the Lead Actress/Comedy category. I guess it’s because there are only 5 nominations; Sarah Jessica Parker and Debra Messing already have 2 slots locked up, so not all housewives could be accommodated. Too bad it was Eva who got bumped off. Anyway, okay na rin kasi "Desperate Housewives" pa rin ang nanalo. Many expected "Arrested Development" to win (an equally hilarious show in itself), but Hollywood loves underdogs. DH is a true underdog story; all the networks turned it down until ABC took a chance on it. Hey, at least Jason Batemen won for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for "Arrested". And I loved Teri Hatcher's speech, probably the most honest one of the night. She thanked ABC "for giving me a second chance at a career when I couldn't have been a bigger has-been." Aminin ba raw na laos na siya hahahahaha.

Speaking of Eva Longoria...

Daaaaaymmmmmmnnnnnn she’s H-O-T! :p

2. Closer Upsets. Natalie Portman and Clive Owen both scored upsets against Cate Blanchett ("The Aviator") and Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby"). I didn’t think both had chances against the two vets, so I’m delighted that they scored big. I loved "Closer" (read review here), so any award it manages to win will get a hooooray! from me. I believe Blanchett and Freeman will still win come Oscar night though.

3. Marty Scores. He didn't win for Directing, but at least "The Aviator" won for Best Movie/Drama. Although I would have loved it if either "Finding Neverland" (read review here), or "Hotel Rwanda" (read review here) had won, but "The Aviator" has the best chance to beat out Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby". The latter is a good boxing movie, but I can't see what the hype is all about. Nothing special about it, imho. I hope this will be Scorsese's year at the Oscars, the man clearly deserves to get one.

4. Jamie Foxx and his speech. One thing I like about the Globes is that it's much more relaxed and laid back compared to the Oscars. Eh nagpapaka-lasing na nga yung mga tao eh lol. There isn't a shadow of doubt that Foxx will win the Oscar; the only thing that's worth anticipating is what he'll say in his speech. If his speech at the Globes is any indication, mukhang masaya 'to, ala-Cuba Gooding Jr. circa '97.

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Commercial break muna!

Meet Emmy Rossum, ang bago kong fling. Ang magsasabi na kamukha niya si Angelica Jones, papatayin ko.

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Nay!

1. Empty Hotel. "Hotel Rwanda" came home empty-handed. I was hoping it could pull off at least one upset for Best Movie/Drama, Lead Actor/Drama, or even in the Original Song category. With these losses, looks like they've lost their chance to nab a Best Picture nom at the Oscars. Too bad, because I firmly believe it to be the best film of 2004.

2. Lost lost. Coincidence? Hehehe. Seriously, the nominations and subsequent winners in the television/drama categories this year were really, really from left field. Haven't watched "Nip/Tuck" nor "Deadwood", but I'm still convinced there were a lot of snubs this year. One look at the noms will tell you a LOT of good shows and performances were snubbed (No Keifer Sutherland? No James Gandolfini?) Nakakatakot pa yung itsura nung nanalo for Lead Actor/Drama, kamukha ni Max Alvrado. :p

"Lost" losing is especially a hard pill to swallow. I'm sure "Nip/Tuck" viewers will disagree with me, but there is no show more deserving to win than "Lost". Who would've thought that a group of people stranded on an island would make for such interesting television? Heck, if a film had the same plot, it would be hard to keep it interesting for two hours, let alone keep the storyline fresh and interesting week after week after week. Unlike "CSI", "Law and Order", or "The Sopranos" where each week's episode is a variation of the same formula, "Lost" is more character-driven, and its subplots rich with various themes and complex characters. For that, I believe it's the best drama on television today.

3. Million Dollar Baby cashing in. This is one overrated baby, I tell you. I didn't see anything special about the movie. Here's the dish: Reluctant Gym Owner (Clint Eastwood) trains Female Boxer (Hillary Swank) after much egging from Washed Up Boxer cum Assistant (Morgan Freeman). Female Boxer wins a couple of matches, and convinces Reluctant Gym Owner to set up a title bout for her. [spoiler start]Dirty Champion Boxer gives Female Boxer a cheap shot, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. Reluctant Gym Owner is guilt-ridden, blaming Washed Up Boxer cum Assistant for egging him to train Female Boxer. In the end, Reluctant Gym Owner commits euthanasia, and puts off the lights on Female Boxer. [spoiler end] Maybe it's just me, but I didn't feel any attachment to the characters; I could care less what happened to them. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't great either like the pundits say it is.

Unlike her performance in "Boys Dont Cry", I don't feel Swank did anything incredible to make her the favorite to win her second Oscar. Were the actresses in Hollywood this awful in 2004, that they'll give an Oscar to someone who did "Next Karate Kid" and "The Core", and leave someone like Cate Blanchett gold-less? I sure wish Swank will learn from this and stay clear of disastrous films aforementioned.

On to Clint Eastwood. So he wrote the screenplay. So he composed the music. So he produced and directed the film. So friggin' what? Does that automatically make him the best just because he did all the work? The way I see it, he's a penny-pinching, tightfisted oldie who wants to take advantage of being an "icon" in the industry to get as many awards as he can. The same can be said of last year's "Mystic River". Di naman ako galit eh no. I just don't get what the fuss is all about this Eastwood dude. :p

* * * * *

So there are my rants and raves on the Globes. Masyado na yata akong showbiz. On a more man-ly note, San Miguel won its fourth straight game, clinching a semis spot against Ginebra. Wasn't able to watch the game, but what the heck, they're finally playing like the well-oiled machine that they should be. Si Danny Seigle pa ang Player of the Week. Woooot!

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The new PinoyExchange was unveiled the other day. vBulletin was updated to the latest version (I think), layout's been overhauled. One thing I liked about the old layout was it looked simple, professional, and elegant. Parang masyadong malalaki yung font ngayon, especially the username in each post. I feel it's a different site altogether, I guess I just need a bit of time to get used to it. Not that I'm complaining. :p

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Parting shot.

Yum. :p

The One with the Kinky Julia

2005-01-11T11:55:00.000+08:00

Closer
Rating: 8/10
Oscar Chances: Clive Owen, Supporting Actor; Natalie Portman, Supporting Actress; Adapted Screenplay

Romance-dramas tend to be bland and predictable; you usually know the outcome within the first ten minutes. This isn’t the case with Mike Nichols’ Closer, based on the Tony-nominated play by Patrick Marber, who also penned the film’s screenplay. The story revolves around four star-crossed lovers as they are intertwined in a love quadrangle, stuck in a seemingly endless merry-go-round without any inkling of who will end up with whom.

The film’s biggest strength is its screenplay. It’s honest and truthful, to the point of being brutal. It doesn’t try to cover up the ugly behavior that love can bring out of us. It focuses on one aspect of a romantic relationship that couples don’t really want to talk about until it actually happens: betrayal. The frankness of Marber’s script, most notably when it comes to sex, may surprise viewers, especially those who will go into the theaters expecting a cutesy love story. However, the sex talk wasn’t cheap and wasn’t slapped on the story just for the sake of attracting controversy; it’s used like how normal people perceive it to be – a double-edged sword that can be used as an expression of love, or as a means to spawn hatred.

Although it revolves around only four major characters (and only two are together onscreen at any given time), the pace of the film flows seamlessly, and doesn’t come up as boring. Nichols makes good use of his shots to allow the audience to connect with the four characters. In the end, even if the characters come across as despicable, selfish beings with no regard for others’ feelings, you can’t help but hope that they somehow find love.

Major props should also be given to the four actors who gave equally compelling performances. Just like in all his other films, Jude Law is once again in top form as the match who ignites the fire in this movie. His is the most despicable of the four characters, and you’ll just love to hate Law in this film. Natalie Portman is slowly making the transition to more serious roles, and if her performance here is an indication of her talent, she’ll surely be recognized in the future. Equally refreshing is America’s Sweetheart Julia Roberts in such a bold role, talking about sex positions and stuff. It isn’t Roberts at her best, but just to see her kinky side is enough to bring a smile on my face. The one who’s most impressive is Clive Owen, who delivers an intense performance as the person stuck in the middle of things. I was wondering what the hype was about Owen when “King Arthur” came out; now I see why. He’ll be perfect as the new Bond.

Some have labeled “Before Sunset” as the most honest film of the year, but I beg to differ. Go watch Closer, and you’ll know what brutal honesty is. It’s a study of lies, deceit, infidelity, and what selfish love is capable of. A warning: be very careful in choosing whom you will watch the film with. It’ll be best if you bring along a friend instead of a loved one.

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This was originally posted in PinoyExchange, at the Closer (Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman) thread. I had no idea on what the movie was about when I watched it, so I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. Lafftrip yung part nung nagsa-cybersex sila Jude Law and Clive Owen hahahahahaha! :p

* * * * *

SI's Marty Burns reports that the Blazers are among the teams eyeing Baron Davis. Word is that the Blazers are willing to package Shareef Abdur Rahim and Damon Stoudamire (both of whom have expiring contracts at the end of the season) in exchange for Davis. I hope it pushes through; the Blazers badly need a shot in the arm. Di na rin naman masyadong kailangan si Shareef. He plays the same position as Zach Randolph, and Darius Miles is blossoming at the 3-spot. It will leave the already-thin Blazer bench more depleted, but the chance of getting an all-star in Davis' caliber is too tempting to pass. I hope John Nash pursues this one; lahat na lang ng available stars (Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter), pinakawalan niya!

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Yey! Approved yung leave ko for Monday, I can watch the Golden Globes. Babaw eh 'no, magli-leave lang para makapanood ng Globes. The next thing I'd have to worry about is where I'll watch it. Ine-nenok ko na lang siguro yung hotel key from Mum para sa Heritage ako makapanood. I'd have to commute though; darned Mondays and that stooopid color-coding scheme.

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PEx will be down this weekend; we're finally upgrading our vBulletin software to the latest version. Ada says we're going to love the new software. Aaaaah, if only it automatically bans and deletes nuissance posters. Now that's a feature we'll love. :p

The One where Marty Hits the Jackpot

2005-01-10T15:40:00.000+08:00

The Aviator
Rating: 8/10
Oscar Chances: Leonardo DiCaprio, Actor; Cate Blanchett, Supporting Actress; Original Screenplay; Martin Scorsese, Director; Best Picture

I don’t like watching overly long movies. My belief is that if you can’t compress a story within two hours (at most), it’s flawed. Or if it does, there must be something in it that will justify the excess length. I wasn’t expecting too much from The Aviator, especially after finding out it was three hours long. As I did with "Gangs of New York", I gave Scorsese the benefit of the doubt, and drank a cup of coffee before the film began.

Scorsese’s latest drama stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the multi-faceted Howard Hughes: one of the world’s first billionaires, daring movie producer, and aviation pioneer. The movie covers much of Hughes’ time at the spotlight, from producing what was the most expensive film during his time ("Hell’s Angels" cost roughly $4M to make), his shift to a successful career in the aviation industry (both as a pilot and an engineer), as well as his romances with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars – Jean Harlow (Gwen Stefani), Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Eva Gardner (Kate Beckinsale) to name a few. He’s daring, he’s bold, he’s a lady’s man. You’d think that three hours is more than enough to cover all these. But sadly, I felt that something was still missing after the credits started to roll.

To me, biopics should at least show the “how” and the “why” behind the person. There were just too many questions left unanswered by writer John Logan ("Gladiator"): why Hughes just had to produce the biggest movie, why he had to be the fastest pilot, why he had to build the biggest planes. This was a guy who had a compulsive need to be the best in everything, that he risked all his money and his life to be as successful as he was. The biggest question not answered though is how he became afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder. It was unclear why he went into reclusion, and why he went into the decline in his latter years. Sure, the opening scenes where his mother bathes him can offer some light into the matter, but there has to be more to it than that. How can a man of such vision be as weak as to crumble at the mere thought of germs? Forgive me if it was explained during the parts where Leo shows his butt, perhaps I just wasn’t paying attention. :p

That’s basically my only biff with Scorsese’s film. From a movie-making perspective, it’s a masterpiece. One thing that you can’t take away from this guy is that he makes his movies unbelievably polished. Art and costume design, cinematography, musical score…the film’s a technical beauty. Perhaps this is because Scorsese is not only a director, but also a film historian himself. He makes sure that even his “average” movies still stand out as excellent works of art. Together with Steven Spielberg, they’re on a league of their own.

Leonardo DiCaprio gives the most mature performance of his career, but he still somehow falls a bit short. Two reasons come to mind: he’s too baby-faced to portray the eccentric billionaire, and his acting’s still over-the-top in some scenes. He does a satisfying job, but the competition that he is up against this year may be too stiff for DiCaprio’s chances at the awards. Many believed that Cate Blanchett was robbed of an Oscar in 1998 for her turn as the monarch in "Elizabeth", but this year may well be her time to collect her gold. I haven’t seen much of Ms. Hepburn to say that Blanchett portrayed the legendary actress to a tee, but she still does a superb job nevertheless.

Despite the script’s flaws, Scorsese still finds ways to keep the film afloat with his superb directing. He may finally win an Oscar, but something tells me it's just for the sake of giving him the award instead of Scorsese turning up with the year's best film. The Aviator is not a classic in my book, but it provides enough entertainment to keep viewers glued for three hours. For that, give the man his Oscar already!

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This was originally posted in PinoyExchange, at the The Aviator thread. I'd put my money on Scorsese winning for Outstanding Direction, but another film will take Best Pic. I'd be really surprised if they snub Marty yet again. :p

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Darned it! 9ino already traded away Kobe Bryant (and practically half his team) to acquire Kevin Garnett from faaip_de_oaid in the fantasy league game that we're playing. He offered Kobe, Dwayne Wade, and Raef LaFrentz to me in exchange for Stephon Marbury and Tim Duncan, but I was wary of parting with Duncan and adding two guards to my lineup. It would've decimated my forward position (since I would've had to move Elton Brand to the center spot) and overload me at the guard position. I was hoping to trade my other guards (Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, and Jamal Crawford) in return for another quality forward. Oh well, I guess I have to make do with what I have. :p

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National Team coach Chot Reyes released his list of 40 RP team aspirants. Four Beermen made the list: Nic Belasco, Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros, and Danny Ildefonso. I feel the first three should make it to the final pool of 24. I hold Ildefonso's work ethic in high regard, but he's really playing below par since 2001. I'm saddened that Olsen Racela didn't make the list, because I think he's still among the top three PGs in the league. Matanda na kasi siguro kaya hindi na pinili. Dorian Peña should've been the number one choice for center now that Taulava's gone. The problem with him is that he doesn't play the type of defense that he should be playing. Sa laki ng katawan niya, he should be an intimidating presence at the middle. Sadly, he’s content on flopping, hoping that the referees will call it against the opposing player. He rarely blocks shots for a guy his size. Sayang si Dorian.

The One where the World Looked the Other Way

2005-01-09T13:56:00.000+08:00

Hotel Rwanda
Rating: 10/10
Oscar Chances: Don Cheadle, Actor; Sophie Okonedo, Supporting Actress; Terry George, Director; “Million Voices” (Wyclef Jean), Original Song; Best Picture

The year was 1994. Try remembering what you were doing that year. I was still in grade school then, probably worrying about the science or math quiz that I didn’t study for (come to think of it, I never really gave a *bleep* about my grades anyway). Checking on the significant events of that year, I see that it was the year O.J Simpson lost his mind, Ayrton Senna lost his life, and Kurt Cobain lost both (Sorry y’all Cobain fans, I apologize already even before I receive hate messages). However, none of them compares to the loss of thousands of lives in Rwanda that year. If you asked me 11 years ago what I knew about Rwanda, I would’ve shrugged my shoulders. The sad thing is this: apparently, the whole world also did, and looked the other way.

Based on a true story, Hotel Rwanda is an account of how hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) sheltered hundreds of refugees from ethnic cleansing. For years, the two major ethnic groups of Rwanda – the Hutus and the Tutsis – have been at odds with each other. Just as the two groups were about to sign a peace accord to end decades of animosity, the plane of the Rwandan president (a Hutu) is gunned down, sending the country into a state of anarchy. Military and militia groups began rounding up and killing as many Tutsis they could find, as well as Hutus sympathetic to the Tutsis. (Click this link for more information on the Rwandan Genocide)

The brilliance of director Terry George’s work is that he doesn’t concentrate on the gruesome aspect of the situation. He doesn’t try to do a Michael Moore-esque impression of the horrors of war, nor does he make the film a political statement on who-is-to-blame-for-what. There are no fancy camera tricks here, no special effects, no horrid and violent pictures of people killed with bolos and machetes. Instead, he centers his film on Cheadle’s character, and how he reacts to the atrociousness that is unraveling around him. The film is hinged on its subject matter, and delivers its message strongly and convincingly. George masterfully builds up the pace of the story just as you’d expect in real life situations. At first, the tone of the film is more subdued and indifferent to the escalating tension that surrounds the hotel. He gradually changes the pace, giving the viewers a real sense of panic as violence slowly approaches the hotel and its occupants. I kid you not; it’s story-telling at its finest.

George also uses a faceless voice as the film’s antagonist – the Hutu radio station announcer who incites the militia to seek Tutsi blood. With words of hatred and calls for bloodshed, the voice can be compared to the evil whisper that we hear in our heads. As the hate-mongering voice bombards the airwaves with messages like “Kill the cockroaches,” we are reminded by the ugliness that humans are capable of.

Don Cheadle gives the performance of a lifetime as hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina, the unwitting hero. He worries for his family’s welfare first and foremost; his heroism is not really borne out of bravery or a sense of righteousness. But as the war is brought closer and closer to his hotel, we see Paul coming to terms with his role as the protector and father figure not only of his immediate family, but also of 1200 people. Cheadle delivers a passionate and powerful performance as Paul. Consistent with the film’s style, there are no big speeches or fist-wagging calls for courage ala-Braveheart here, but Cheadle manages to convey the sentiments of hopelessness and valor in a compelling fashion. His portrayal is not as high-profile as Jamie Foxx in Ray, but I truly believe he deserves the Oscar more than anybody else.

The underlying love story between Paul and his wife Tatiana is held together by Sophie Okonedo, making her an underdog for a supporting role award this year. Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix play lesser roles as a UN Colonel and American journalist, respectively. Given minimal screen time, Phoenix makes do with what he has, and by the time he delivers the film’s most important message, he does so in a way that hits you in the gut.

"I think if people see this footage they'll say, ‘Oh my God, that's horrible,’ and go on eating their dinners."

Hotel Rwanda is inspiring and disturbing at the same time. It has drawn comparisons to Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, and it’s a pity the film is not getting the same buzz as Spielberg’s work. Be that as it may, Hotel Rwanda is a must-see, and may well be the most important film of the year.

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This was originally posted in PinoyExchange, at the Hotel Rwanda thread. My bet is it will be snubbed at the Oscars. Natural, hindi bida ang mga Kano eh. :p

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Yey! San Miguel won against Sta. Lucia, 98-84. I wasn't able to watch it (darned work), but from the final score alone, looks like that was some ass-whoopin' that they did. San Miguel's form has been disappointing as of late (and that's an understatement). Now that the PBA is in its important stages, I hope they can get their acts together. Ang tagal-tagal kong hinintay makumpleto yung team, 9-9 lang record nila?! #*&@#)@!#^$@^!!!

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Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt announced that they were splitting after four years or so of marriage. Normally, I wouldn't care about Hollywood news like this because everybody hooks up and splits after 1 minute anyways (think Melrose Place multiplied a million times), so why bother? Worth noting lang ito, kasi Friends cast member ang involved. :p

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In other Hollywood news, the opening sequence of the first Star Wars movie has just been named as having the best special effects in cinema history. I have no problems with the other choices (some of 'em I have yet to see), but Spiderman 2's train fight at number 10?! WTF?! There wasn't anything special about it. In fact, I believe both Spiderman films are MASSIVELY overhyped. Sure, they're both good films, but I'm just not drawn into the whole Spidey hoopla. I'm more of a Superman kind of guy. :p

The One with the Jacko Clone

2005-01-08T18:43:00.000+08:00

Finding Neverland
Rating: 9/10
Oscar chances: Best Picture; Johnny Depp, Best Actor; Marc Forster, Best Director; Adapter Screenplay, Original Score

Johnny Depp stars as Scottish playwright James M. Barrie, the man who created Peter Pan and the wonderful world of Neverland. Barrie’s marriage is on the rocks, his last play a complete bust, and the pressure increases from theater producer Froham (Dustin Hoffman) for Barrie to write a play that will bring in the needed revenue to keep the theater afloat. While sitting on a park bench looking for an inspiration, he meets Sylvia Davis (Kate Winslet), and befriends the widow and her four little boys. Inspiration is exactly what he finds, as Barrie begins to paint the magical picture of Neverland with an imagination mirroring that of a child's.

When I found out that Marc Foster (of Monster’s Ball fame) was at the helm, the film’s stock dropped dramatically in my book. I’m not a big fan of Foster, so I was apprehensive on how he will handle a material that should theoretically cater to both young and old. Needless to say, I am thoroughly impressed with his work. He was able to blend the grim background of the events surrounding the creation of the beloved play and the youthful imagination of the Neverland sequences with relative ease, cleverly mixing reality and fantasy sequences to weave a clear narrative of the story behind Peter Pan. Credit should also be given to the writer (Mr. Writer, if you read this, give yourself a pat in the back!)

Depp dishes out another fantastic performance as Barrie, but on a different level. As against the quirky and eccentric character for which he was nominated last year for Pirates of the Carribean, he is more subtle and subdued this time, but just as intense. He is proving himself to be one of the finest actors of today, and another nomination for an Oscar should be in place. Kate Winslet also delivers quite a fine performance as Sylvia, possibly another nominee herself for a supporting role. One of the characters that I enjoyed the most is Sylvia’s controlling mother, played wonderfully by Julie Christie. In one scene, it will be shown how Captain Hook came to be with the help of her character. [spoiler start]And unlike how the age-old adage “Nasa huli ang pagsisisi” are often forcibly incorporated in films, Christie’s character believably makes that transition at the end. [spoiler end]

It’s 12-year old Freddie Highmore who shines as the boy who becomes the inspiration for Peter Pan. Highmore magnificently portrays little Peter, who has grown up too fast for his own good after having gone through one of the most painful experiences a child can suffer: [spoiler start]losing a parent. And the prospect of losing yet another loved one will be too much to bear for his young soul, forcing him to discover the strength that only adults can muster, leaving his childhood innocence for good. [spoiler end] Highmore steals every scene that he is in, much like how Haley Joel Osment came into our consciousness in The Sixth Sense. To this day, it baffles me that his name hasn’t come up in any of the award radars given the strong performance he put as Peter. So impressed was Depp with this kid, he convinced director Tim Burton to cast Highmore as Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a remake of another child classic.

Finding Neverland was a pleasant surprise; it will bring the childhood out of you without bearing you down into “believing”. The film illustrates the story behind one of the most loved plays of all time with excellent use of emotion and imagination. If you liked Burton’s Big Fish, go see this film. Definitely one of the year’s best.

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This was originally posted in PinoyExchange, at the Finding Neverland thread. Some reviews I've read pointed out the similarities of J.M. Barrie with Michael Jackson. Funny how peoples' minds work. :p

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The Portland Trailblazers will miss the playoffs this year. They're in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, they haven't played well, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Darius Miles, two of their three leading scorers, were placed on the injured list, meaning they'll miss at least five games. The Blazers are utterly hopeless. Bye bye playoffs!

The One with the Sex Researcher

2005-01-08T18:01:00.000+08:00

Kinsey
Rating: 8/10
Oscar chances: Liam Neeson, Best Actor; Billy Condon, Original Screenplay

Post-WWII America considers sex taboo. Zoologist Alfred Kinsey (Liam Neeson) falls for one of his students Clara McMillen (Laura Linney), and they are married. The awkwardness of their wedding night, and the discovery that many people are misinformed and clueless on the subject matter, leads Kinsey from studying wasps to studying sex. He forms a team of four (including Clyde, played by Peter Sarsgaard) to aid him in gathering data, going cross-country, interviewing several subjects, and conducting experiments.

In a year peppered with biopics, writer/director Billy Condon manages to include the two most important pieces in a biopic: who is the person, and how the person came to be. Credit should be given to Condon, who won an Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Gods and Monsters, and was nominated in the same category for Chicago. The scenes of Kinsey himself answering his own questionnaire, coupled with the flashbacks that set the groundwork for his research is nothing short of marvelous writing. It also sets up most of the film’s humor – something that separates it from all the other biopics.

Laura Linney gives a laudable performance as Kinsey’s wife. Linney is very talented, one of the most underrated actresses of our time. I just wish she’d stay clear of playing wives in the future; every year, she’s someone else’s wife. Peter Sarsgaard satisfies as Kinsey’s right-hand man, although there was one scene which I didn’t think was relevant at all. [spoiler start]Was there really a need to expose his teenie weenie? [spoiler end] There are a lot of smaller roles played magnificently by the ensemble cast, including John Lithgow as Kinsey’s overbearing father, perverted sex predator William Sadler (10 seconds! Whoa!), and old lesbian maid Lynn Redgrave. But it’s Liam Neeson who carries the film as the oft-obsessed researcher. It isn’t his best performance, but his turn as the man who opened society’s eyes to sex is remarkably what carried the second half of the film, which is enough to net him an Oscar nomination.

Overall, Kinsey is an engaging narrative of the sex researcher’s work, a peek at how his studies shocked the people of his time. Watch it if only for the Horse joke – the best one I’ve heard in months. And no, I won't tell, you have to see it for yourself.

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This was originally posted at PinoyExchange, at the OSCARS 2005: The Road towards it! thread. That Kinsey dude had one large pecker. :p

The One with All the Awards

2005-01-08T17:37:00.000+08:00

...and I don't mean the Metro Manila Filmfest. Don't get me wrong, I do watch Filipino movies. Pili nga lang. Piling pili. In 2004 alone, I can count the number of Pinoy films that I watched with only one hand.

It's January, and the first major award-giving body is the Golden Globe Awards handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press. I dunno, but I've always been drawn to these events, eventhough I have very little to do with showbiz. Frustrated actor/writer/director siguro; I've always wanted to act/write/direct even when I was in grade school. I remember when there were class plays or presentations, I always wanted to be the bida, so to speak.

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Grade Six. Each section of the batch had to create an original suspense/thriller play, and perform it onstage within a month. It was a fimfest of some sort, complete with all the awards and shit. The director of our class' play was my grade school crush, so nag-volunteer naman ako para magpa-impress. To cut a long story short, I co-wrote the script, and played the male lead. Talk about versatility! I think I should be working in Hollywood.

Anyway, I was pretty happy with how the script turned out. Unlike the other classes who produced bland and unoriginal ghost stories, ours was different. In our suspense/thriller, the geeky male lead falls for a pretty co-worker (who was played by my kindergarten crush). He confesses his affection to her, but gets embarrassed at the office party by her prick of a boyfriend and snobbish girl friends. In retaliation, he transforms himself into a gorgeous brunette, dressing as a woman to get into the female lead’s circle of friends. The male-cum-female lead entices the women into a false sense of friendship, and kills them one-by-one until only two are left on his list: the female lead and her prick of a boyfriend. In retrospect, the story is kinda lame, but compared to the man-killed-in-house, soul-haunts-house crap that others had…’twas pretty good for a coupla sixth graders.

We only won third place. I’d like to think our production was ahead of its time that’s why it wasn’t appreciated much by the jurors. My shining moment as the male lead was when my character was alone in his room after just being embarrassed at office party, heart-broken and angry at the same time. He thrashes the room intensely, and vows to never to let himself be hurt again. He promises to be the one who will cause the pain, as he strips his manly belongings and starts the makeover into a woman. The result: my very first acting award. That’s right, I won the award for Best Actor.

Hollywood, here I come! :p

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In line with the awards season, I will post as much film reviews as I can make. I used to post reviews in PEx for the films that I watch, until I was too tamad to make 'em. Now that I have a blog of my own, I've decided to revive the old habbit. Let's just hope the MPAA won't hunt me down for downloading movies off the net. :p

The One with the Noisy Neighbors

2005-01-08T15:58:00.000+08:00

It's official: I hate our new neighbors.

I got along with our previous neighbors for one reason: they were quiet. My room is adjacent to our neighbor's backyard, so all the noises they make can be heard clearly from my room (too clearly, in fact. I can sometimes hear their conversations, accidental or otherwise). It helps that the amo was a flight stewardess (a cute one at that), so oftentimes it's only the maid who's left to tend to the house alone. Everything was how nature intended it to be: me and my noise on one side of the fence, and the silent neighbors on the other side. Alas, it was not meant to be, as the cute stewardess moved out about roughly one month ago (I hope she didn't get married to her boyfriend, I can see a future for us).

Enter our new neighbors. Bisaya maid screaming at the top of her lungs early in the morning, kids wailing and bawling, car alarms going off in the middle of the freakin' night, and adults with loud and boisterous laughters (and when I mean loud, I mean really LOUD! It's as if they're laughing through a damn megaphone). This was especially true last night, when they hosted a birthday party with all their equally LOUD and BOISTEROUS friends. Tangina, it was maddening I tell you, and I'm not effing exaggerating. With the ruckus they were creating, you'd think they owned the whole damned village. Ang babastos ng mga hinayupak. They partied until the wee hours of the morning, leaving only when I angrily slammed the window of my room shut. Buti naman they took the hint, I would've hated to give them a piece of my mind.

Some people can be so insensitive, it's irritating. Perhaps I should offer them a freshly baked batch of...

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It's my sister's birthday today, she's 17. She'll be spending the day with her friends in Tagaytay, and she needed my car. Poor me, I'll be commuting to work for the next three days. The bright side is I get to stay at the Heritage Hotel. :p

The One Where It Began

2005-01-07T13:45:00.000+08:00

Okay, so I finally relent to the clamor of the masses. I've long wanted to create a blog of my own, but I never really got to creating one. Laging inaatake ng katamaran. I'm not the type who does New Year's resolutions, but if ever I had one, it's to create a blog. So here I am, stepping into the world of blogging.

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First thing that had to be settled is the blog template. Goodness, I never knew that choosing one will be the most difficult task. It's true what they say about the first step being the hardest one to take. The templates that Blogger uses were really generic, ayoko namang pareho-pareho ng layout like everybody else. I had literally gone through dozens and dozens of blog templates, trying out different layouts, going back and forth through several ones. Alas, I settled with this black one. Simple, but it has an elegant feel to it.

The next step is making the template my own. Yes, I'm a computer science graduate, but my knowledge of programming will put Blaise Pascal to shame. I tried tinkering with the HTML thingamajigs of the template to at least incorporate something that's me to the template, but all I did was screw up the lines, the fonts, the borders, and whatnot. Lo and behold, the only parts that I was able to edit were "Previous Posts" and "Archives", which I was masterfully able to change to their current conditions. How lame. I'm gonna get me some of those tagboards, counters, probably add some links as well. Bukas na. My head is spinning with all the HTML codes I tried to get familiarized with. I'm the worst computer science graduate in the world...ever.

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I know, you're dying to ask why I named my blog "Unequal Prize". C'mon, is it really not obvious? Do you really know who I am? Darned, you are slow. Unequal Prize. Still don't get it? Too bad, I won't tell.

So here's my blog. Now bugger off.