Forgive me for a minute while I collect myself. You see one of my favorite books of last year, The Time Traveler’s Wife, is coming out on film this August. And I can’t wait. I hope this is not a disappointment. Normally when books become movies, they are big disappointments. But the movie trailer left my stomach in knots that I’m pretty sure this movie would be different. Plus the fact that it stars Eric Bana who is my ultimate crush, what more can you ask for?
Archive for the ‘movie of the day’ Category
movie of the day
movie of the day
June 1, 2009
new moon
I can’t wait…
By the way, Jacob looks so much better here…without the fur =)
dailies, movie of the day
September 6, 2008
dailies: a nice day in the slump
After a busy week, it’s inevitable to sink into a nice state of gloom. We should give in to this from time to time just to get out of the relentless busy phase. This is especially true when a chaotic week has roared past, leaving you with no energy and a handful of household chores. I say, ditch the chores and hit the bed.
When you have moments like this, don’t try to get over it. The sinking spell should be welcomed with a hot cup of tea and a good romantic movie. That’s what I did yesterday. I wore my most comfortable pair of shorts and my favorite shirt. I changed the sheets and gave MG something to do. By midday, the kids were clamoring for a little nourishment. I thought for a long time what we love the most to eat in a relaxed day such as this. Cheese pancake? Hotdog sandwich? When we have finally settled on what to have, I dialed a number and ordered away. Don’t cook if you find it stressful. So I didn’t cook but had food delivered hot and fresh from Chowking.
And would you believe this serious funk took the whole day. I watched Wicker Park twice and watched the ending countless times. I loved how the couple found each other after two years of someone’s efforts of keeping them apart. What made the ending more touching is the music of Coldplay being played in the background. I love it.
If you’re blue because someone has gone, don’t watch this. Instead turn on the radio and find a dance station and blast it. And what do you do after? Dance, of course. But this takes away the state of gloom. It would be best to stay in bed, stack up all the books you’ve been meaning to read. Read. Relax. Close the book from time to time and stare out the window, feel a little bit sad then read again.
When you have coddled yourself with movies, books, some music and a good meal long enough, and then realize that the gloom has faded leaving you up and about again, and impervious to bed weather and tragic movies, at least you’ve had a nice day in the slump.
photo: ehsan khakbaz
movie of the day
March 28, 2008
Fooled you! This is not about the movie. Though I enjoyed the movie
the first time I watched it, this is not about Benjamin and Mrs. Robinson and their May-December affair. Not even a discussion on the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack.
The Graduate
Fooled you! This is not about the movie. Though I enjoyed the movie the first time I watched it, this is not about Benjamin and Mrs. Robinson and their May-December affair. Not even a discussion on the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack.Summer is officially here. You can feel it in the humid air and you can see it everywhere–kids playing in the streets, halo-halo for sale in every corner, malls packed even on regular days, swimsuit-clad models in most TV commercials, and a whole lotta graduates dazed and confused.
After I picked up my kid from her therapy, we headed to a neighborhood pizzeria, a Veneto. We were early and just a few tables were occupied. We ordered Oil & Garlic Special Pasta and Cheese Munchers. Actually, we always order these two plus pizza but since it was only me and my kid, we skipped the pizza. I noticed that the big tables were reserved so I thought they were expecting a lot of hungry customers for lunch. It was good we were there early. Around 12nn, the place started to fill up. Always big groups, mostly families complete with the lolos and the lolas. I first thought there were far too many birthday celebrants in one restaurant then I overheard the lola say, “Congratulations, Carol. May trabaho ka na ba? Kung wala pa, dun ka muna sa Tito mo .”
They were graduation blowouts. Filipinos are really big on milestones. We get together for special events like this one. Parents stand so proud seeing the fruits of their labor. The lolos and the lolas are there to give support and wisdom to carry with them as they set out for the world. Everyone, who has shaped who you are now, is there to witness this joyous event.
So, what’s in store for the graduates? Job-hunting, apartment-hunting, money-hunting, opportunity-hunting…the list goes on. Sooner or later, you’ll be sleep-hunting and wishing you were back in school in the confines of your air-conditioned classroom and party-till-you-drop lifestyle. Haha. Everything has to end sometime.
But, there’s hope here. Nothing compares to receiving your first paycheck. Well, that’s kinda exaggerated. But it will give you the much-needed pat in the back and the assurance that you’re on the right track. Nothing can stop you now and you go on to bigger things. The next thing you know, with all the money in your pocket (well, bank is more appropriate), you’re house-hunting, car-hunting, vacation-hunting…the list goes on. Sooner or later, you’ll be sleep-hunting and wishing you know what more you can do or buy!!! (You wish!!!)
To survive life after graduation, this book, How to Survive the Real World: Life After College Graduation: Advice from 774 Graduates Who Did
critic, movie of the day
March 22, 2008
Death, Taxes & Red Ribbon Bakeshop
In life, nothing is certain but death and taxes. How many of you have heard this phrase? We can’t deny this. Denial is just like running from the inevitable. It will find a way to catch up on you. This is the premise of the movie,Stranger Than Fiction. I
It’s about an IRS agent named Harold Crick (Will Ferell) and his regimented routine. His life is as boring as one can imagine. Nothing happens outside of his routine. He wakes up, brushes his teeth the same number of strokes each time, goes to work, makes his rounds, goes home and sleeps. Suddenly his life is turned upside down by a narration he alone can hear. The voice narrates his boring life, as if he doesn’t already know it, but Harold is alarmed when the Narrator declares that he is facing imminent death.
He then decides that he must find out who is writing his story and convince her to change the ending. The voice in Harold’s head is Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), the chain-smoking, jittery and neurotic loner who is trying to find an ending for what might be her best novel yet. Little does Kay know that Harold Crick is a real person and not just a character in her book. This is where the conflict collides when Harold Crick must find Kay and persuade her to change the ending of her book while Kay’s only problem is figuring out how to kill her main character.
Other characters come in the picture. Penny Escher (Queen Latifah), a headstrong assistant supplied by Kay’s Publisher to make sure that Kay finishes her novel on time. Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman), a literary scholar who Harold Crick pursued to help him identify the author and later on, tries to convince Harold to turn his life from tragedy to a comedy to avoid his death ending and even suggests a love angle between two people who hate each other. This leads Harold to initiate an unimaginable relationship with Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a baker who refuses to pay her full tax.
For the first time, Harold experiences love and life. He takes guitar lessons. He begins dressing up outside of his tie and suit and even brushes his teeth without counting the strokes. He no longer eats alone and counts his steps. Harold decides to live his life and make it the one he has always wanted. He becomes sure that he has totally escaped his tragic fate and has turned it around. But Harold is unaware that in Kay’s books, the main character always dies just as he is in the up and up of his life.
As you watch the movie, it makes you think of the value of life when death is always a looming possibility and taxes as integral part of one’s life. But death and taxes, however certain, are only the mundane aspects of life and the significant ones are found in fleeting moments like a sweet smile of your kid after giving her cavity-causing chocolates or the warm embrace of a friend consoling you after you broke up with your nth boyfriend.
Also makes you think what Red Ribbon Bakeshop got to do with all these? Ok, I’ll tell you. It’s true that death and taxes are the only certainties in life but I beg to differ when it comes to most food delivery service. Fastfood chains try to take a piece of the market and offer one-of-a-kind service and promos (30-minute guarantee, free pizza when late etc). It’s a burger-eat-pizza world out there. It is THAT cutthroat. It’s a competitive market so any wish or whim you might have will certainly be granted. Take for example, McDonald’s. For the longest time, I’ve always had my cheeseburger with extra loads of onion, cheese on the side and without catsup. Just to give in to my preference would take five minutes total. And with fastfood, every minute counts. Why do you think they’re called fastfood? So imagine my surprise when I couldn’t get a slice of Dulce de Leche cake at Red Ribbon one fine morning. I thought I was dreaming and kept thinking if I was hearing the call center agent right.
I snapped out of my dreamlike state and regained my composure. I asked the agent why it was not possible to get a slice. She explained that there was a whole cake available but not for slice order. I told the agent why not slice it. How many people would walk in their restaurant and buy a whole cake versus people who would buy a slice/s? This went on for minutes, the agent running out of reasons why I couldn’t get my slice. Until finally, I hang up, dialed another number and ordered my cheeseburger with cheese on the side. Life was back to normal.
So, what’s the connection? Harold Crick and Red Ribbon are both facing imminent death.
movie of the day
February 16, 2008
JUNO
I watched Juno two weeks ago when I couldn’t sleep. Must have been the coffee I drank that afternoon that made me stay awake till the wee hours of the morning. I was glad I drank that coffee and got to watch this film which everyone in Hollywood is raving about.
So, what’s so great about this film? Aside from the terrific musical score and a great performance from Ellen Page, I can relate with the movie. Like the female lead, I also got pregnant in high school. I also contemplated on abortion but later on decided to go thru with this unplanned pregnancy and put the baby up for adoption. But during my time in the 90’s, there was no legal abortion clinic (actually, there’s still no legal abortion clinic here in the Philippines and I’m really glad about it). It was all hush-hush. Nobody openly talks about abortion. Finding a doctor or someone who does abortion is like buying drugs. It’s an underground thing and against the law.
Ellen Page’s character was a bit too sure of herself and handled her pregnancy rather too well while I was in total wreck. I got to tell my parents about the pregnancy when I was in my eighth month. So you could just imagine how I hid my tummy under all those loose clothes and school uniform and how I avoided my parents during mealtimes. Either I ate ahead of them or I was not hungry and even pretended to have my monthly period by reminding my mother to buy napkins for me when she went to the grocery. It wasn’t easy for me. Imagine, being in your senior year and busy with studies and other activities and not knowing where to get the money and what to do with the baby when it was time already. And just like in the movie, my boyfriend was no help, either. He was busy with his own family problems and personal issues that involving him would be like having two babies at the same time.
He came through eventually when my parents discovered that I was pregnant. By the way, it was our school principal who told my mother that I was pregnant. My mother thought that it was another routine PTA she was attending. Imagine her shock when she learned the news. Anyway, the whole wedding, living together and studying while having a family of my own were raised after my pregnancy came out in the open. We got married a year later when my first-born was only six months old. We played couple for a couple of months before we finally hit splitsville. Sad, but that’s the reality of teen pregnancies and early marriage. There’s a slim chance of success.
I ended up taking care of my kid unlike Juno who pushed through with the adoption and reuniting with the baby’s father. I was in my second year of college when I decided to quit school and work at a hotel just to earn my own money. Not that my parents didn’t support me, they were actually very generous with my baby. A lot has happened since then. My son is now 17 years old and he’s now in college taking up Physical Therapy. I still thank God for giving me such a responsible and understanding son even though I was not that “good” to my parents.
I would recommend this movie to anyone. Parents and children. Young or old. Virgin or not. These days when teen pregnancies is such a common occurrence, perhaps this movie can help to enlighten teens today of the many consequences of unplanned pregnancy. This movie may have a comic undertone, but it delivers its message well which is life is life and everyone should be given a chance even if everything around you is falling apart. At least, that’s what I think….