Better Late Than Never… (a 3 in 1 Movie Review)

Inside the movie theater at MOA with my friends from work (Dodgie, Ninette, Vina & Vangie).

I’m no dancer and I expected to be thoroughly entertained. Well, I was entertained. And like what Cheska mentioned in her blog, the dance moves were so fluid and how I wish I could do those moves too. Cheska could and would. As for me, maybe in my dreams. But I digress.

The movie is about a young man who seemed to have no bright future ahead of him coz of his choice of friends and actions. But a turn of events led him to fall for a girl way over his league and a future he couldn’t ever have imagined before.

Taking the whole movie into consideration, I noticed some lack of acting, directorial and editing skills in the first half of the movie. There were parts when the young black teenage kid would look at the camera. That should’ve been edited properly or at least a take 2 should’ve been in order. As for the cameo roles of those dancers who were auditioning to the lead lady character, they seemed so O.A. (overacting) to me. They lack the natural flare of portraying their roles, no matter how small it was. As for the two lead characters and their supporting actors, they were ok.

It’s just that I expected a lot more from this movie. If not depth in each character’s roles,  at least perfect editing could’ve saved its integrity.

~~~oOo~~~

I recently bought a DVD copy of this movie and boy, did I enjoy it from start to finish! Now this is what I call quality film! True, it’s a kids’ flick but even adults enjoyed it! The musicality of the songs was awesome. The choreography was seamless, the actors were professionals, the story was well-written. Even the costume design, editing and casting was thoroughly thought of. It’s a must-see! And it will most likely be on my list of fave musical flicks of all time (together with Annie, The Sound of Music and West Side Story) Even if it was just now that I got to see it, I can definitely say that it’s better late than never.

~~~oOo~~~

It took a while before I got to see this film. Not for lack of time but because according to Peter, it had very low ratings on Tomato Meter. Well, I guess the tomato meter is not true for everyone coz though this movie may not be very good according to their standards, I did like it. Most of you have probably seen at least the preview of this movie and yes, it’s the type of movie with a very predictable plot. The main character Dupree is even a little bit exaggerated. Nevertheless, its essence is quite realistic coz it did happen to me before. When Peter and I were newly married, there were times when he and his friends  acted as if we were all still single, hanging out in our house ‘til dawn, sometimes even sleeping together in one big bed, all seven of them while I curl up in my little spot squeezed in the middle by these boys. It was not a pretty sight and it did cause tension in our marriage.

Back to the movie. You, Me  and Dupree is a movie that is heart-warming, comical and entertaining. It’s a story about a man who is soooo eccentric and free-spirited which caused him to lose everything he cared for. His fate intertwined with the lives of his newly married best friend and after A LOT of patience, understanding and forgiveness on each one’s part, life turned out a lot better for all of them in a sort of predictably unpredictable kind of way. Do watch it! 

Light in the Dark

Sept. 28, 2006, as typhoon Milenyo ravaged most parts of Luzon with its strong gusts of winds destroying whatever is on its path, I was rather having an enjoyable day off with my husband at home.  Although there were no electricity and running water, we still managed to survive and made it into one hot romantic day. Aside from doing the deed (*wink*wink*),  I played with my guitar and he with his bongos, we sang a bit,  we read  our books and magazines for some time, he cooked breakfast (hash browns, schubligs, eggs, muffins), lunch (chicken nuggets & rice)  and dinner (sliced shubligs with mushrooms in spagheti sauce) for us. My diet went down the drain! Yummy! But I didn’t mind.

Mama’s Cross       Peter prepares Nextbase        Upstairs
  
      
Technology in the midst of a blackout

By 5:30pm, when the skies were turning grey, I started lighting our candles at home. This is one thing I love about blackouts, at night, our house just seems so enchanting with all the yellow lights flickering in strategic corners of our home. I can actually stare at these lights forever. It’s like being thrown back in my happy childhood days when blackout were more frequent and I’d listen to our transistor while browsing through my Pambata educational comic books (Maala-ala mo kaya…).
            
In the evening, as all our neighbors seem to be sleeping already, with their candle lights all burnt out, Peter and I set up our own battery-powered entertainment system with surround sound (c/o my CREATIVE Travel Mate) and watched DVDs the whole night.  All in all,  it wasn’t a bad day for us. Though we’re sorry to see the ravages Milenyo has done to most of Luzon, we’re glad that we’re able to make the most out of this cold stormy day.

A Different Kind of Graduation

Going back to the maximum-security compound of the New Bilibid Prisons felt like a walk in the park even if it was only our 2nd time there. Well, literally it was a walk in THEIR park where inmates greeted us with their umbrellas and the same courtesy and kindness they’ve shown the first time we were there (August 6). It still leaves me perplexed at how such tamed beings could end up in a place like this. But that’s another story which I will perhaps tell in the future as I continue to delve into this volunteer work.       

As we reached their hall-turned-chapel, I can hear singing as mass has already started. The mass was in celebration of (some) Bilibid inmates-turned-students’ graduation from their 8-month long course in General Psychology, Pagkilala sa Sarili and Pagkilala sa Pamilya. Teacher-volunteers from Skwelahang Sikolohiya spearheaded the graduation ceremony namely Joji Reynes, Angel Levosada, Rhea Manuel, Jay Saplala, and Sandy Ebrada. Lourdes Vargas, a prominent professor in her field, was the guest speaker that morning.     

It is important to note that a representative from each of the three classes gave their respective speeches as well, tackling what they have learned and how the classes inspired them to be better individuals whether inside or outside of prison. The whole ceremony was truly inspiring. I could only hope that more volunteers and students alike will join us next year . Classes start on February.            

In the meantime, planning session is slotted this coming December wherein the core group of teachers will schedule the modules and rotation of volunteers for next year. At least I would still have the time to refresh my skills and learnings in General Psychology. I am excited to teach but I’d prefer if I become Peter’s sidekick for the mean time. He’s just much better at this than I could ever be. We’ll see…       

‘Til our next visit!

I Can’t Get Enough

Brownman Revival’s gig last Thursday night was kinda bitin. Due to the numerous bands that played that night, BMR was only able to do 1 set. So the following night, Vina, Peter and I went to Xaymaca to experience the real deal. And boy! Did I have sooooo much fun! I tried drinking again. Don’t worry, it was  just enough to make me a bit tipsy. I had 3 glasses of cosmopolitan (195 each) and 1 bottle of beer (entrance ticket worth P180 is inclusive of two drinks —beer, water or iced tea). And before I knew it, Vina, Inky and I were dancing the night away! I didn’t mind that the place was so packed we could barely breathe plus we keep on bumping into other people’s body parts. It’s always been part of Xaymaca’s Friday scene and I couldn’t be any happier. Peter just stayed at the back of Xaymaca with Koryn and other BMR friends. I guess he couldn’t stand the heat and just wanted to chill. Well, whatever! As long as he allows me to DO MY THANG then I’m happy as a mermaid at sea.          

Tres Marias (Vina, me, Inky) dancing the night away

I was sooo tipsy I  suddenly took a picture with a complete stranger. 

Feeling close kami noh?

Me in my tipsy state…. but Riki was way more tipsy! Hahaha!

asking Dino for some social psychological analysis and advice  on my 

 recent  realization that I have no guy friends of my own…

(more…)

Movie Date with my Bro

I watched this movie with Peter and my brother Mac at SM City Block. We used my free ticket and while waiting for the movie to start, we checked out Chicken Bacolod First, on the same floor as the cinemas. We only had 20 minutes to have dinner. After 15 mins, we were done! To think that we ordered Sinigang na Bangus Belly and Bopis, they really give fast service! Plus, we were starving too! Whew!     

Anyway, with regard to the movie DOA (Dead or Alive) is a movie based on a very popular computer game among geeks and the like. I’m not very familiar with it so I had no expectation whatsoever when I watched this movie with my friends. I think I just wanted to see gorgeous girls in action, with matching skimpy costumes (my bisexual tendencies kicking in, ladies and gentlemen, mwehehehe ) Plus, the preview I’ve seen before showed amazing stunts and tickled my fancy making me guess if this is another Charlie’s Angels kind of movie or  something more  profound.  Well, it turned out  to be very fun to watch, not a dull moment in any scene  and before I knew it, the movie is already over .  It stuck to its  action-packed theme. It embraced  its  “pc game”  nature. DOA was true to its form. It did not pretend to be a great movie worthy of an Oscar Award, but it turned out to be an amazing film with perfect cinematography, clean effects and heart warming plots.  MTV movie awards will surely recognize this flick in its many categories.                                   

Watch five gorgeous girls of  very different backgrounds and motivations as they vie for this year’s DOA championship worth $10 million.  Located in a secluded island and run  by tight security and state-of-the-art technology, follow how each girl’s journey to victory help them attain what they’ve been yearning for deep in their souls.