Movie Reviews
This past month I got hooked on French movies on TV5. I saw ONLY 2 movies at the cinemas. Unbelievable! Although I'm a movie addict, lately I've been selective in my choices of films to watch. My criteria has up an ante. Unlike before when I would practically breeze in and out of a movie theater. Well hopefully, in August I'd find make the time to view more meaningful and significant movies.

Wicker Park => This one was pretty haunting with a wicked twist. The games people play when love enters the equation.


Monster-in- Law => No heavy plot to figure out, it was simply entertaining.


Sylvia => Dark tale about the tragic life of talented poet, Sylvia Platt. Sadly, it didn't delve more into her persona.


La Chanson du Macon [The Song of the Mason] => A single woman inherits a house from her dead uncle. The present inhabitants of the house are 3 very endearing characters of the third sex. Quite amusing as they try to match her with the mason/contractor who was hired to renovate the house.


La Reines d'un Jour [The Queens for a day] => An ensemble cast of Parisians living life as they know it. Their interactions, their careers, their fears and their daily existence. A realistic story about life in Paris!


Shark Tale => Cute, funny and very entertaining!


The Body => A priest is ordered by the Vatican to go to Jerusalem. He needs to debunk the theory that the body found in the crypt is that of Jesus Christ. In essence it would mean HE didn't resurrect on the 3rd day after his death. Thank God it was only a movie!


The Incredibles => Half way through this animation I fell asleep (because it was already past 3 am). But it was worth the P25 I paid for the rental - it was hilarious.


Constantine => I ran out of VCDs to borrow from the shop so I said ok why not? But ugh demons, angels, fiery hell - no thanks not my idea of fun. Horrifying!


War of the World => Something not quite right about this film. Nope it wasn't Tom Cruise! But anyways highly implausible scenario but it wasn't that bad either. Just blah!


Trois Petites Filles [3 little girls] => 3 teenagers hunt down Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis who are vacationing somewhere in Corsica. They need him to champion the cause of young Algerian women who are forced to marry old men in their villages. Yes, Johnny Depp! But he doesn't even make a cameo appearance. Their adventures along the way and the characters they encounter make the movie interesting.


La Crise [The Crisis] => Things take a turn for the worse when a guy loses his job then his wife leaves him. When he turns to his family for support - they don't really care. They have their own troubles! Only person to care is a homeless bum he met on the street. A French movie circa 1992. Good acting!


Un weekend pour le dire [A weekend of revelations] => To celebrate Louis' 50th birthday, his young wife surprises him the weekend before his actual natal day. All 3 of his older children and his ex-wife are present. It turns out he has a few surprises of his own which rattles his entire family. Typical dysfunctional family whose secrets are unraveled during that weekend.


Romuald et Juliette => The owner of a milk producing company is clueless. He isn't aware of the machinations of his employees, nor know his wife is having an affair. His company is sued when people are hospitalized from drinking contaminated milk. Juliette is the only person who can help him. She is the African cleaning lady who is privy to everything! Since she tidies up the office, every night.


Strip Search => An original HBO film which features 2 interrogations. One of an Arab guy detained in New York City. The other that of an American woman held in China. Both of them are subject to exactly the same tactics and same questions but in different contexts. Very interesting indeed! Terrorism in whatever form is a very sensitive issue to portray in films. This one succeeded!


Avenging Angelo => A spoiled wife's husband cheated on her, her seven year old son is at a boarding school and she doesn't know her real father is a Mafia boss. Throw in a bodyguard, portrayed by a wooden Stallone, who worships her and you have one crappy movie. But I needed something to occupy my Sabado nights.


What Dreams May Come => Flipping channels after above mentioned crappy movie, I came across this film. It shows there is life after death. That soul mates still find each other even if one is in heaven and the other one is doomed in hell. Beautiful, bright colors, great cinematography! Good acting from Robin Williams.
I cried when he told his wife (Annabella Sciorra):

"Thank you for every kindness. Thank you for our children. For the first time I saw them. Thank you for being someone I was always proud to be with. For your guts, for your sweetness. For how you always looked, for how I always wanted to touch you. God, you were my life. I apologize for everytime I ever failed you. Especially this one..."

Survey says ...
Nervous Habits:
I giggle a lot, sip my drink when I run out of things to say.

Are you double jointed:
No

Can you roll your tongue:
No

Can you raise one eyebrow:
Yes

Can you blow spit bubbles:
No, why should I?

Can you cross your eyes:
I think so

Do you make your bed daily:
Nope, it's my room and my bed ok?

-- CLOTHES --
Which shoe goes on first:
Right foot

Speaking of shoes, have you ever thrown one at anyone?
Yes

On the average, how much money do you carry:
Not much, I rely on credit cards

What jewelry do you wear 24/7:
I don't wear them 24/7

Favorite piece of clothing:
Jeans


-- FOOD --
Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
It depends, if I am famished I cut them

Have you ever eaten Spam:
Oh sure numerous times

Favorite ice cream flavor:
Chocolate

How many cereals in your cabinet:
None

What's your favorite beverage:
Diet Coke

What's your favorite restaurant:
Just one? It depends what I crave for.

You cook:
I know how. I don't necessarily do so on a daily basis


-- GROOMING --
How often do you brush your teeth:
Thrice

Hair drying method:
Hair dryer, if I don't have time I just tie it in a ponytail even though I know tying wet hair is a big NO NO

Have you ever colored /highlighted your hair:
Never


--MANNERS--
Do you swear:
Yes

Do you ever spit:
Ewww no


-- FAVORITE --
Animal
Dolphins

Food:
Sushi, Pasta, Pork chops, Lamb chops, boneless Bangus

Month:
October

Day:
Mercredi

Cartoon:
None

Shoe Brand:
Tangerine/Tangs studio in Singapore - they actually fit my tiny feet. So I don't have to go to the kids section of the shop!

Subject in school:
Geography

Color:
Blue

Sport:
I watch tennis and soccer but me engaging in sports is a blasphemy

TV show:
Lost

Thing to do in the spring:
A walk in the park

Thing to do in the summer:
Eat ice cream, take showers and stay away from the freaking sun

Thing to do in the fall:
Watch the falling leaves

Thing to do in the winter:
Frolic in the snow

-- IN AND AROUND --
In the CD player:
An acoustics CD

Person you talk most on the phone with:
My mother. Basically I'm not a phone person. I prefer face to face or if it ain't possible I write long emails. I'm too textual.

Do you regularly check yourself out in store windows with mirrors? Honestly?
No I don't. I only do it when I'm in the fitting room huffing and puffing trying on clothes that don't fit me.

What color is your bedroom:
cream

Window seat or aisle:
window


-- LA LA LAND --
What's your sleeping position:



Even in hot weather do you use a blanket:
Yes, because I always sleep with the aircon on

Do you sleepwalk:
No

Do you talk in your sleep:
My sister says I mumble incoherently but I wouldn't know would I? I'm in zzzzz land

Do you sleep with stuffed animals:
No

How about with the light on:
No

Do you fall asleep with the TV or radio on:
No, I need absolute silence or else I can't sleep

Last interesting person you met:
Karl

Better to be safe than sorry
Today , Friday is supposed to be my pamper ME day.
I check the contents of my wallet.
Ugh, not enough funds.
So it was either lunch out or hair treatment.
Not both, just one.
I ponder and ponder and ponder some more.
Time ticked by. 12:30 pm.
My stomach started to growl so no contest.
Lunch out wins.
Where to eat? More pondering ensues.
Suddenly remember I have this Italianni's coupon.
Rummage through all my bags to look for it.
Rummage through my sister's bags.
Where is it???
Ooops there it is => on the bulletin board.
Is it still valid? Yes
Which branch? Any
Let's go to the one in Libis.
We munch on Caesar's salad, Chicken BBQ pizza and Mussels Lombardi (c/o of coupon) with ice tea.
I am a pretty observant person.
So I notice people filing out of adjacent mall.
Hmmm what's going on?
More people leaving building next door.
Should we ask the waitress what is going on?
Oh never mind it might just be a fire drill practice.
Alright we continue eating.
More gulps of bottomless ice tea.
Lunch done and paid for.
My sister needs to smoke before we drive off.
I, matter of factly ask the security guard:
"Manong, why are all these people loitering outside?"
"Ah Ma'am there was/is a bomb threat"
"WHAT??? Where?"
"Oh in the One Luna area!"
(meaning the entire complex)
He said it as if it was a normal daily occurrence, even grinning from ear to ear, shrugging his shoulders.
Duh!???
So we went to my favorite mall, The Podium na lang for my Mocha Frost and her cafe latte at Figaro.

"If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad"
INXS eliminated 2 wanna be rockers this week. Heather [she totally ruined the above song by Sheryl Crow] and Daphna [I'm not familiar at all with "Rock the Casbah"].
Daphna now that's a name I'm familiar with. My ex ex used to call me that whenever I needed to tow the line because I was being childishly stubborn.
But what really made my day was when Jessica sang "Elegantly Wasted"! Wow it used to be my theme song for the longest time.
Look at all that shines
Baby's down on the world
And she knows it
If your spirit's running
Why don't we make it rain like we used to
We run We hide We wait and we want
The good life Aw sure You're right
This ain't, the good life
Ah, Elegantly wasted
Ah, Elegantly wasted


Eavesdropping
As opposed to being the lazypoke that I was a week ago - today was totally an upbeat day for me. I grocery shopped enough food to last till the weekend. But managed to buy everything on my list within my budget.
I actually overheard this conversation when I was in the shampoo aisle between a mother and her daughter. The daughter is about 12 years old, she approaches her mother with a tube of Palmolive Vitacreme Conditioner

Daughter - Mom I want this.
Mother - Ay naku anak you don't need that na. I will cut your hair short like Princess Diana. Tipid ka sa shampoo at di mo na kailangan ng conditioner. [You'll save on shampoo, no need for conditioner]
Daughter - Sino po si Princess Diana? [Who is Princess Diana?]

I don't know what was funnier. That the kid doesn't know who Princess Diana is or the mother economizing by cutting the child's hair quite short while she, herself has hair up to her waist. Hmmm.

Anyways I got home and started cooking everything I bought. Yes dearies I do know how to cook! I just don't like to broadcast it. Frankly what I do in my kitchen stays in the kitchen - spices, smells, oil splatter, dirty pots & pans et al.


Organized Mess
Done with the cooking, I tidied up some of the clutter. A daunting task, indeed since my sister and I, we both have our offices in our home. Papers, faxes, documents, press releases can cause quite a mess. While organizing the mess, I came across a piece of paper from a laundry shop. It was dated June 27, 2005. Guess what?
We forgot to claim the items from the laundry store! I call them up. Phew, our clean clothes are still there! So a month after we were supposed to pick up the items, they were kind enough to deliver it to my door step. I just couldn't stop laughing at how forgetful we have become. It's a good thing I found the receipt. But the thing is - one of the items - is a favorite shirt of mine. I didn't even notice it wasn't in my closet for over a month. Teehee =)


Farewell, fair prince, farewell
So sad to watch tonight's episode of "Lost" Poor Boone died from his wounds. I knew all along who was going to perish but still it was heartbreaking! His sister, Shannon wasn't around when he took his last breath. But I do have to say, "Lost" is one good show and I truly look forward to it every Thursdays on AXN.


Gosh I'm beat - I better snuggle into bed with John Barron, the cop on the LAPD's elite 5-2 squad. I tell you truly "The Exile" is one thrilling novel!!!

Experience is not what happens to you;
it's what you do with what happens to you.
[Aldous Huxley]

Monday - I sated my craving for shark's fin soup by having lunch at Shanghai Bistro in Eastwood City, Libis. I ordered shredded chicken with shark's fin soup, together with boneless lemon chicken, beef with broccoli, salt & pepper fried beancurd cubes, century egg, mango puree with sago for dessert. To cap it up, I had this yummy Mocha cold drink [ok I forgot its exact name] at the Coffee Beanery Bakery. All quite delicious never mind that I went bankrupt in the process!


Tuesday - I won P520 in the Lotto. Teehee!!!
I got 4 out of 6 numbers! Know what the winning numbers were? 6- 8 -10 -19! In essence it translates to October 19, 1968 = a very auspicious day in history, the day when the world was graced by my entrance into the world. A cute addition to the human race. Yes, I just threw modesty out of my 12th floor window, indulge me ok? It's my blog! =)
So I bought Allan Folsom's third novel. I've read "Day after Tomorrow [his first novel] No, it isn't the movie about the earth freezing with Jake Gyllenhaal. It was a riveting page turner about conspiracy theories involving Nazis. I like Folsom's style, his stories are really massively grand with characters trotting all over the globe. Purely exciting and very intense scenarios permeate his books.


Wednesday - I went gaga over Mr Muscle. Ah nope he wasn't a date. It is a cleaning detergent for mold and mildew - those hard to get rid of soapscum. I used up an entire bottle to scrub off gooey stuff in both of my bathrooms which accumulated from years of neglect or pure laziness on my part. Ugh, achy bones and sore palms later, I could have fainted from the fumes but I had a big grin because tiles are now whiter. Yes, I've become so domesticated now, cleaning products rock my little world. Tsk tsk!
I caught the season finale of CSI on AXN. The episode directed by Quentin Tarantino. Quite exciting to see if the entire CSI team would get to rescue Nick before he is eaten alive by ants and buried forever in some hard to find place. Of course, you have a few Tarantino weird moments [the autopsy kuno scene] in the episode. But overall, it was a good season finale.

Yawn
I've developed this strange habit that when I open my eyes in the morning to check the time - it is always 08:19 A.M.
On the dot, day in and day out for the past 2 weeks now.
I'm so NOT a morning person and an insomniac so waking up that early is baffling me.

I've also taken to falling asleep during the day.

Working online - 10 mins later, I'm dozing off.

Watching CNN for the latest on the Sharm al Sheik & London bombings - I doze off on the couch.

Reading Time Magazine before dinner time - 4 minutes into the article about Karl Rove, I'm out flat.

My sister reads to me the latest Harry Potter book (the chapter where Dumbledore is killed) - I'm snoring away and don't hear what really happened.

Watching Pierce Brosnan fight off the Korean bad guys on TV - I wake up to see the end credits of "Die Another Day".

Hilarious really!

Need I add that I've also developed these cravings.

A week ago it was Kitkat. (not good for my skin, I KNOW)

A few days ago it was for peppermint tea (that's all I drank!)

Yesterday and right now, I want shark's fin soup.

I want, I want, I want!
Gosh I sound like a petulant brat! =)

My body clock and body rhythm is totally messed up, really. Naturally I blame it all on being highly irregular and in a constant state of eternal PMS. Ain't it grand to blame it on something? Either that or I'm turning into a stark raving mad lunatic. Eeeeps!

Encore, une fois!
Ten years ago: We just arrived in Dubai, UAE for my father's last foreign assignment before his retirement. Quite a revelation for me to discover such a liberal city in a region known for its strict Islamic rules.

Five years ago: Still in Dubai, living it up in the grand 'diplobrat' way, happy with traveling, a steady boyfriend, carefree, no worries in the world.

One year ago: Slow but.it.pays.the.bills job, more time to pamper myself with spa treatments and out of town sojourns, a zero lovelife but that meant less worries too.

Yesterday: was my cleaning the house day. Mopped, dusted, cleaned the 2 aircon filters & the electric fans (would you believe I have 5 fans in this loft - no wonder my electricity bill is equivalent to the salary of an executive!), floor waxed the stairs and my most hated cleaning chore - making the bathroom spanking clean! Evening - I relaxed by watching "RockStar:INXS" on Star World and "CSI" on AXN.

Today: I've responded to several personal emails. I am doing some work online (taking a break to blog this) Tonight's TV fare includes "Rockstar:INXS", "Lost" and the finale of "The Apprentice" Season 2 (I already know who won but still ...)

Tomorrow: I need to get some banking transactions done in the morning, grocery shopping for the weekend and next week, schedule my derma appointment and maybe head off to my parents' place for the weekend.


5 snacks I enjoy:

Nestle yogurt

toaster buns

pancakes

Kit Kat

junk food like Lay's BBQ chips

5 bands that I know the lyrics of most of their songs:

The BeeGees

Carpenters

Westlife

Bon Jovi

Blue

5 things I would do with $100,000,000:

Buy a top of the line cellphone

buy a house nearer to the city for my parents

travel, travel & more travels

5 locations I'd like to runaway to:

Paris

Florence

Barcelona

Lisbon

Palawan

5 bad habits I have:

I'm lazy

I procrastinate a lot

I tend to judge people right away

I don't clean pots & pans

I don't answer phone calls

5 things I like doing:

watching movies

downloading mp3s

reading in bed

sleeping (despite being an insomniac)

writing long emails

5 things I would never wear:

swimsuit

white shoes

too much jewelry

unpadded bra

blue eyeshadow

5 TV shows I like:

CSI

Lost

Amazing Race

Survivor

NYPD Blue

5 movies I like:

City of Angels

Before Sunrise

Before Sunset

Love Actually

Amelie

5 famous people I'd like to meet:

Johnny Depp

Edward Burns

Oprah

the Dalai Lama

Jon Bon Jovi

5 biggest joys at the moment:

I am healthier and so is my family

My sister won a 2N/3D stay for 2 at an resort in Boracay! Teehee!

I got my pay cheque

I get to email/chat with soul mate ER

I am more centered, calmer & stoic than I've ever been in my life! Thus I heart myself more!

5 favorite toys:

I'm not into toys so I will say just my computer!

5 people to tag:

Anyone is welcome to play along if you want to.

Because I am ....
A friend
I want to greet my buddy John a happy birthday! Here's wishing you loads of happiness over tiramisu, tapping feet and warm climate in Florida. Something I wouldn't have known (his birth date) if I didn't check my Friendster account yesterday. Frankly I'm not a Friendster person (whatever that means), I believe I'm already too old for it. But I do check occasionally.

A sister
I researched online for the newly released Harry Potter book since my sister is a huge fan. Voila, I found the bootleg/pirated edition of the book. So suffice to say, my sister was ecstatic, I'm glad too since I'm cheap and now don't have to spend to buy her the book. Teehee!

A foreign movie aficionado
I can't wait for CineManila to begin next month. I've got a rather busy August coming up but it would really really annoy me to high heavens if I don't see those movies.

An internet addict
But it's Mercredi - my clean the house day! I better get to it before I morph into this chair in front of my computer. Pffft!