Superheroes and Christopher Nolan

Finally got the chance to see "The Dark Knight Rises" and it was truly all the amazing things I've heard about it!!

I think it was the perfect way to end the trilogy helmed by none other than Christopher Nolan! I especially liked the storylines of Blake/Robin's (whoops, spoiler alert!), Selina Kyle/Catwoman's, and Alfred's, especially the very touching bit near the end.

Now that this franchise has come to a conclusion, the next Nolan film I'm really looking forward to is "Man of Steel." He co-wrote the story along with David S. Goyer who also worked with him in the Batman trilogy. This new Superman film is directed by Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300).

Check out this teaser trailer which features a voice-over by Jonathan Kent:

The next cool thing about this Superman re-boot is that the teaser trailer has another version which was released as the international trailer (it's the one they show here). The second version features the same images but it has a different voice-over, that of Jor-El's, Clark Kent's biological Kryptonian father.

Both of Superman's father figures give him their thoughts on growing up as a super-powered alien amongst humans.

Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner): You're not just anyone. One day, you're going to have to make a choice. You have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. Whoever that man is, good character or bad, is going to change the world.

Jor-El (Russell Crowe): You will give the people an ideal to strive towards.  They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders.

Movies: 2012 Watchlist

I'm just gonna go ahead and start this entry by admitting I haven't yet seen "The Avengers." The last new movie I saw was "Battleship," which was a really good one so if you haven't seen it yourself, you should definitely go! Have I mentioned two awesomely hot guys namely Taylor Kitsch ("Friday Night Lights") and Alexander Skarsgard ("True Blood") star in the movie along with Rihanna (yes, this is her big film debut!)?

Anyway, aside from that big superhero movie, I'm also looking forward to see some other big films this year (including another a couple other superhero movies):

1. Dark Shadows. Why? Because it's Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, that's why. Plus, have you seen the trailer?





2. The Lucky One. I've read the book and it's one of my Nicholas Sparks favorites. Also, it's Zac Efron!!!

Hugo

I started this one-movie-a-day thing on Twitter (I use a hashtag) the other day just out of the blue since I have to catch up on the latest movies I failed to see in time due to my fully-booked schedule ever since the year started. Now that the school year is over for me, since I'm graduating (yes, by the end of the month!), I figured I should keep myself occupied by doing things I enjoy after working so hard to finish my last semester.

Anyway, my movie for the day was Martin Scorsese's "Hugo," a film set in 1930s Paris about an orphan boy who lives in the walls of a train station and is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton. After watching and enjoying the film, I now know why it earned Oscars for Art Direction and Cinematography, among others (the movie won a total of 5 Oscars and was nominated for another 6). I absolutely loved everything about the storyline of the film. I think what made me appreciate it so much was because it's a story wrapped in another story, and they sort of intertwine together through the main character, which is Hugo.

But it was Chloe Moretz's character, Isabelle, whom I loved from the very beginning. She loved books and using big words, and going on an adventure, which was how she initially became associated with Hugo.

One of the messages the movie was trying to portray is something along the lines of having a purpose in this world. These lines from the movie that depict that message specifically struck me:

"Machines never come with any extra parts. They always come with the exact amount they need. So, if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't just be an extra part. I have to be here for some reason."

That certainly gives a soon-to-be-a-graduate like me more than a strand of hope that I am here to make a difference. I mean, I already believe that everything happens or is here for a reason but I guess, sometimes, little reminders like this are just what we need to strengthen our faith. And also, it gives us just that little push we need to figure out just what we are here to do.

Movies I Watched In 2011

This list isn't all of it (this one is) but these are the movies that were released this year which I've seen. I'm actually a couple movies shy of last year's record but at least I got to tidy up my room just before the year ends. That's a better alternative goal, right? Haha. ;)

1. Bulong (Local Film)
2. The Green Hornet
3. I Am Number Four
4. Beastly
5. The Roommate
6. Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure
7. No Strings Attached
8. Just Go With It
9. Red Riding Hood
10. Kung Fu Panda 2
11. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
12. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
13. Jane Eyre (2011 Adaptation)
14. Arthur
15. Bad Teacher
16. Gnomeo & Juliet
17. Crazy Stupid Love
18. The Smurfs
19. Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension
20. Something Borrowed
21. Hop
22. Water For Elephants
23. Source Code
24. Captain America: The First Avenger
25. Horrible Bosses
26. The Adjustment Bureau
27. Cars 2
28. Green Lantern
29. Bridesmaids
30. Super 8
31. One Day
32. No Other Woman (Local Film)
33. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
34. Glee: The 3D Concert Movie
35. The Change-Up
36. I Don't Know How She Does It

Planning to do a "Movies To Watch Out For In 2012" post soon so stay tuned for that!

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Last Thursday was the first time this semester that I went out with my college friends to a movie. We had classes until 6 PM so we had to check the showtimes at SM malls near our vicinity. We ended up going to SM Manila to see the new Transformers film in 3D. The movie was very long (2 hrs 30 mins) but it was definitely worth the time. It was also a bit pricey but we did get some freebies so it was all good. There were free snacks and candy and we also got this nice Transformers mask, which they give for every 5 tickets bought.

Spot the four-eyed decepticon!
We wanted the autobot mask but I think this was the only one they had in stock.

I really enjoyed watching the movie and understood why it had to be that long because they simply can't give us a really good film without build up. There were a lot of action, as expected, some important twists and also, funny bits here and there which kept us entertained all throughout the duration of the movie.

One standout from the new Transformers was definitely Sam's (Shia Labeouf) new leading lady, Carly, played by Victoria's Secret model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. I don't why they had her wear white in the whole film but she looked gorgeous in each outfit nevertheless. I mean, she's a model, why wouldn't she look good in any clothes, right? And she's also very pretty, too.

What's funny is that there was this whole fight scene going on between the autobots and the deceptecons and Carly was standing there in the center looking all modelesque inspite of all the commotion going on behind and around her. Also, I noticed how she and her white clothes didn't even end up with smears and smudges of dirt/blood! She still looked flawless while Sam's face had cuts and bruises. I guess they had to preserve the pretty.

Overall, I give this movie 4.5/5 stars and I definitely recommend that you go and see this with your friends/family! You'll definitely enjoy it especially if you've been a Transformers fan since the beginning.

Survival Instinct

I still can't get over how good the movie 127 Hours (from the Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle who gave us Slumdog Millionaire) was. I still can't get over how great James Franco was in it. And I still can't get over how the story really happened to someone in real life. Needless to say, I'm pretty much still stuck there at that place and at that moment, with my arm trapped by a boulder.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, meet Aron Ralston. This was his story.

"There is no force on Earth more powerful than the will to live."

I couldn't even begin to imagine how I would survive if I were to be in that position (which, I hope, in God's name, wouldn't ever happen to me). In order to be freed, Aron had to amputate his upper right arm. It was fully documented in the film with Franco's amazing performance. But as amazing as it was, I just couldn't bear to really watch it since it really was bloody (I apologize for that mental image). After that whole scene though, you pretty much get over the cutting-off-the-arm thing since you kind of get a high from Aron finally being free of that boulder after, well, 127 hours.

It is such a wonderful film that's definitely worthy of the accolades it's already gotten and hopefully, will soon receive in the future. James Franco really gave an award-winning performance. If it isn't obvious yet, this movie gets a two thumbs up!!

Watch the trailer below:

Despicable Me

Today my friends and I went to see Despicable Me in 3D. The day was so much fun because we only had one class and then we attended the first Friday mass at school and after that, we went straight to the mall to see the movie.

It was really worth watching in 3D, worth the money spent, too, because it was 95 minutes filled with laughter and utter cuteness. It has a really good storyline, too, which I loved that it almost made me cry. (Yes, yes, I know I'm such a Sensitive Sally.)

I absolutely adored the little girl Agnes, she is simply the cutest and sweetest thing in the world. Of course, I already loved her from the moment I saw the trailer with her uberly cute reaction to the stuffed unicorn at the carnival ("He's so fluffy I'm gonna dieeeee!"). But you just can't help but adore her more when you see the movie cause there's absolutely more where that came from. I just wanna grab her and pinch her cheeks! And then there was Gru. As much as he wanted to be the super villain of all time, he was already too lovestruck with the kids that he couldn't be without them. His character just shows that no matter how bad or awful or negative you project yourself to be, there's still a part of you that wants to be good. All it takes is a saving grace and in Gru's case, his are the girls. :)

Lastly, there were the minions!! I love their character! They are absolutely hilarious. My favorites parts of them were when one minion shook the other so he would light like a glow stick (really funny!) and when Gru was telling them and the kids that playtime is over, one of the minions was like, "WHAAAAAT", which is actually the only line from them that I understood. LOL. I want my own minion to keep me company!

Of course we took pictures with them outside the cinema. :) (Even though the photo was kind of a fail because the minions kept on falling.) I wanted to steal those standees so bad! Hahaha.

Rating: 8/10

The Lovely Bones

Nobody notices when we leave. I mean, the moment when we really choose to go. At best you might feel, a whisper or the wave of a whisper, undulating down.

I just saw The Lovely Bones and a dream has solidified in me: I want to be in Susie Salmon's place after she died. I want to see how the world or my world will continue on living without me. I think that's the most curious part of the idea of dying. Of course we wouldn't know how it would go down unless we experience it firsthand. How would the people we love take it when we leave this world? Will we know their reactions? Will they still remember us after a long time?

I think that's why my concrete answer to the question am I afraid of dying is this: I'm not afraid of dying in itself but I'm afraid for the people and the life I will leave behind. Because I don't know what's going to happen afterwards. It's just nothingness right now. Pure uncertainty and nothingness.

And another thing, just like how Susie was able to see the "lovely bones" that had grown after she was gone, I would be a really happy soul if I would be sure that all the people I love would be okay, or better than okay, even when I'm gone.

Alright, alright, enough of that. Let me talk about the movie itself. I loved it, and maybe it's because I haven't read the book yet because from the comments I have read the movie is shit compared to the book. So now, my goal is to grab a copy of the book and sink my teeth into it. So, yeah, I think if you look at it as just a film and not compare it with the book, it's really a good film. It has a solid plot all throughout and it was just intense in some parts, which I really enjoyed. And can I just say that the girl who played Susie, her name is Saoirse Ronan, is soooo pretty. "You are beautiful, Susie Salmon," Ray Singh said. Yeah, I agree! Plus, she's really, really talented as well.

Eclipse

Today I had a very much needed break from school by watching Eclipse with my lovely friends. Yeah, I know it hasn't been a whole month yet since regular classes started but I already feel like crap seeing as my only free time is Sunday. I should be thankful a bucket load of projects haven't been thrown our way yet or else I wouldn't know of the meaning of "free time." I don't even get the sense of "TGIF" anymore because Fridays are most sucky for me. Sigh.

Anyway, this post wasn't supposed to be about school, sorry about that. So I watched Eclipse with my friends this afternoon and I think, for me, it did not disappoint at all. It was actually an improvement from the last two films. (Although, this opinion might be biased because Eclipse was my favorite book of the saga.) I gotta say, though, that I enjoyed the extra make-out scenes between Edward and Bella. Major kilig factor. Haha. Screw Jacob and his doggy ways. I'm still and forever will be Team Edward although Jacob claims that he is "hotter". My friend says she's Team Jacob just because he's hot. And he's so cute as a werewolf. Well, I think vampires are more amazing, especially if he's as "old school" and gentlemanly as Edward. <3

I actually enjoyed hanging out with this certain group of friends of mine after a long time. I guess it was silly of me having thoughts about how it would feel different and maybe awkward because I haven't been normally hanging out with them at school unlike before. But it totally wasn't, though, and I like that. I think that just goes to show that you don't need spending time together most of the time to define friendship. Sometimes a little distance can do you good. And the best thing is you know you can count on them still even if you don't see each other all the time. :)

Hi. Good night.

“Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper ‘I love you’
Birds singin’ in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me.”

(Leap Year, 2010)
*photo cred