Ten Thumbs UP!

Up is probably my most anticipated Pixar movie since The Incredibles (and yes, it's because I prefer animated movies featuring people instead of animals or inanimate objects because I'm unimaginative like that, LOL). And it finally hit Manila this week (again, why the delay?) so I (kinda) lined up to go watch cute Russell and the colorful balloons up in the sky (how can I resist balloons and clouds and blue skies?). :)

We all know the Pixar genius is in its appeal to kids of all ages, and Up delivers in true Pixar form. It is a touching movie interspersed with witty lines and humor and severe cuteness (Russell is just too adorable), and one that will manage to make you realize a thing or two about life.

If you wanna know what I gathered from it,

1. Sometimes, life gets in the way of our dreams. But sometimes it can give us much more happiness than any adventure can.
2. Material possessions should never be something to be attached to. Sometimes that in itself gets you stuck. And maybe the less attached to them you are, the higher up you can go.
   
3. Most people are deliberately annoying for a reason. And it's usually because they lack attention. Some deserve to be indulged (like Russell), but some should also just be ignored (like that former movie star). Moral of the story: if you have to be annoying, at least be sure you're doing it cutely. :)
   
4. In the same manner, some people are grouchy for a reason, and it's because life might have kept them on a perpetual bad mood. The bravest of us will dare tear that grouchiness facade down and provide a reason to be in a good mood again.
   
5. Leadership based on fear will never last. Leadership based on earned respect, on the other hand, does. Atta boy, Doug!
   
6. Sometimes, the villains in our lives are the ones we least expect them to be.
7. Sometimes all we really want to do is think only of ourselves. But where's the fun and adventure in that?
8. Age is just a number.
   
9. When you meet a talking dog and a colorful chocolate-eating bird, you can't not keep them. But sometimes those that we want and care about are happiest in situations when we have to let go of them.
   
10. South America is America!!! Only South!!!

If you have to watch just one animated movie this year, you should definitely make it Up! :)

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Time is Nothing. And The Time Traveler's Wife?

When I finally read Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, I wasn't exactly blown away the way fans of the book were. It wasn't necessarily a bad book, and the central plot can never make the book average or ordinary. But while it won't make it to my list of favorite books, I still recognized the very unique, very original love story, and as a hopeless romantic, how can you tear yourself away from a story that narrates how to make an incredibly difficult love situation work?

For my thoughts on the book, and the movie,

In TTTW, I was most marveled not by the fact that Henry can time travel, but that there was a girl who has loved him, and only him, all of her life (reminds me of one girl in particular, no, not me :P). There is something incredibly romantic, albeit idealistic, about having thought of yourself in relation to only one partner in your entire life but Clare did so, even if it entailed lots of waiting, and lots and lots of patience. While some cynics may argue that this was forced to her as a six-year old, I'd like to believe she had a choice each and every time, to meet that time traveler at the meadow, and she could have easily opted not to. Henry too, after meeting Clare for the first time chronologically, had the choice not to believe her, but he did, and while their story is largely fatalistic, it never seemed forced on either Henry or Clare.

In an attempt to establish that amidst the couple's extraordinary situation, they still struggled to live normal lives, TTTW often seemed like it was bogged down with day-to-day details that I sometimes wish some things were made a little more grandstanded. Which is why I had such high hopes that the movie adaptation could come out much better than the book, given its inherent license for histrionics. Unfortunately, the movie chooses to be somewhat downplayed, when it could have shown the audience one powerful scene, after the other. I could go on and on about which particular scenes could have packed more punch but I might be killed for excessive spoilers (LOL).

Furthermore, the movie could have opted to deviate a little from the book and could have made that work (a happier ending would have been nice), and yet it chose to be quite faithful to it. While there were some cuts and tweaks, they were incredibly minor to be anything effective. Even that slight tweak to the finale seemed too faithful, and unfortunately less powerful, that maybe they should have just stuck to the book on that one. Or still added the book's finale as the final, final scene (which I secretly hoped was gonna be shown after the credits since it was my favorite part of the book). And why oh why did they even forget to use the "time is nothing" line (or did they, and I just didn't hear it?)?

And lastly, the effects could have used a little more work. While the vanishing effect for Henry is as good as it can get (at least for me), I wished they brought in the Benjamin Button crew for prosthetics because it is incredibly distracting to observe that a 20-something Henry had the same deep wrinkles as the 30-something and 40-something Henry. It was as if the movie capitalized on Eric Bana's boyish looks and then crossed its fingers the audience would be convinced enough with mere hair changes. And to think Brad Pitt was actually an executive producer in the movie so it was not difficult or far-fetched to have the movie tap into the Benjamin Button magic.

For all my complaints, it is still an Eric Bana movie (and I love Rachel McAdams too), and one I would have watched even if everyone had told me not to. Maybe the movie just thought of compensating for its shortcomings through Eric's multiple clothes-less vanishing scenes. So watch if you're an Eric Bana and/or Rachel McAdams fan or if you're too lazy to read the book (though the movie might confuse you if you haven't read the book) or if you really absolutely must see how the movie adaptation of the book is. Otherwise, maybe you are better off watching some other movie showing in town at the same time, like say, Up. :)

P. S. I agree with Buzzsugar, a TV series based on TTTW after the movie? Definitely overkill.

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My Favorite Birthday Greeting

I have a birthday cake from my favorite niece.

And then she thought she'd blow my birthday candle for me.

Except the cake's just too distracting! Makes the candle-blowing and birthday-singing such a hassle (did you not feel the annoyance?).

And then she went on to have a slice.

My fave birthday greeting today! Thanks Nischie. :) See you soon! Candy land, candy land. :)

My Very Literary Take on My Sister's Keeper

There are times in my life when I'm the mood to make myself cry (or try to), and for two years now, it always happens around July (because I always wanna check that I still have a heart before my birthday? :P). As if on cue, My Sister's Keeper comes to the big screen. I've heard good reviews on the book, knew a little about the story and thought I'd pull what I'd like to call a Kite Runner (i. e., watch the movie first, then have the movie convince me to read the book, the way The Kite Runner worked for me). Also, because I was of the impression it is a movie about sisters (something I can relate to because I heart my sister and would be willing to give her my kidney if she needs it, even if I'm scared sh*t of surgery), I really had high hopes it is the movie that finally makes me cry (unfortunately/fortunately, noone was willing to bet that I would).

So what happened? If you wanna know...

Imagine my disappointment when the movie did not even make a dent. I think part of it was the awareness that the movie had tearjerker strewn all over it, and me just being, well, me (totally empathy-challenged). After reading about the differences between the movie and the book (thank you, wikipedia), I realized it was because the movie played out quite expectedly. And while I usually prefer that movies are not that faithful to the books they were spun from, I actually wished this particular one stayed faithful to the ending.

This post does not purport to justify one sister's death over the other (and now, I read like a risk disclosure statement? :D). After all, it is particularly difficult to think of death as justified, especially that of a young girl. However, from a completely literary perspective, there is an element of surprise in the book's ending, and it is it that could have brought out more emotions, mine in particular.

I'm not a fan of Jodi Picoult, but after reading the book, I can now see how a fan can be enraged with how the movie adaptation completely ripped off the book. In fairness to the movie though, to capture what makes the book a good read is incredibly tough. Because the central conflict is such a morally, ethically and emotionally gray matter, the devil is truly in the details, in the introspective look into the characters, which is not something easy to capture visibly, except in the form of memories (which the movie had a loooot of). The good thing about the movie though is that it attempted to eject humor and playfulness amidst such sad circumstances better than the book did.

As with most adaptations, the movie also had to sacrifice some subplots for conciseness and so the movie won't run 4 hours long (duh!). The most notable of these left out subplots is the Campbell-Julia love story (the lawyer and the guardian ad litem who is not even in the movie). While I like their story, I appreciate its exclusion from the movie because it focused the spotlight on the Taylor-Kate love story (that the book rushed), which is just simply sweet and cute, however short-lived. :(

Armed with a hindsight of 20/20, would I have watched the movie after having read the book? Probably out of curiosity, but not with as much eagerness. I'm hoping the next movie I see based on a book turns out to be much better than the book.

Now go ahead and make my wish come true, The Time Traveler's Wife. ;)

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Royal Pains: My Kind of House Call

What exactly is a concierge doctor? This was the question on my mind when I was told about this new show called Royal Pains about the life and adventures of a concierge doctor. Apparently, a concierge doctor is a doctor that makes house calls to the richy-rich. In Royal Pains, the doctor is named Hank (a former E. R. doctor who got fired from his hospital job) who lands the gig while visiting the Hamptons en route to full-blown (and thankfully avoided) existential crisis.

With all the medical shows out there, it's easy to dismiss Royal Pains as yet another one of them and not bother. Big mistake. Because of all the new medical shows, Royal Pains is now my new favorite and top recommendation (i. e., over Mental, Hawthorne, and Nurse Jackie). It's perfect for when you're captivated with Dr. Owen Hunt's job in Grey's Anatomy (who is a trauma surgeon, not an E. R. doc, but whose work seems similar albeit much more bloody), enjoy playing Amateur Surgeon (because Hank sometimes uses everyday stuff as substitute for actual medical equipment though I have yet to see him use a pizza cutter in lieu of a scalpel), and miss Privileged (Me, me, me! All me!).

The dialogue is also exceptionally witty, and I especially enjoy the verbal sparring between Evan (Hank's brother, a. k. a. Standout Sidekick of the Year) and Divya (Hank's Physician Assistant, err, Associate). I am rooting for them to end up together because I'm all for the belief in the thin line between love and hate (Yihee! Hahaha).


While the Jill-Hank relationship drama is a bit forced and cliche, I actually still like them as a couple. I just wished the writers spiced up Jill's situation so that it makes it seem impossible for Hank and Jill to be together. Because getting scared of getting hurt again is so not made-for-TV relationship drama. However, to compensate for the drag in Hank's lovelife, the other supporting roles are all quite interesting, from the young couple Tucker and Libby (I love Libby, she's so cute!) to Miss "New Parts" Newberg, and even Boris (and the mysteries that surround him).

I definitely prescribe it! The eighth episode is airing soon (just in time for me to finish the other episodes) and I can't wait to watch and find out what has happened to Hank and his posse and clients. Also very happy to know that Royal Pains is getting a second season. And hopefully, many more afterwards. :)

What to Watch Right Now

September is when the big shows start their new seasons, and since it is still a long way until September, here are my friendly suggestions on what you can watch until September begins...

... if you're looking for something light, funny, girly and 101% feel-good: Drop Dead Diva
About a pretty model-wannabe who dies and goes back to earth in a less attractive lawyer's body, DDD is like a more mature Legally Blond. Perfect for times when you just wanna unwind and not think too much. :)

... if you're craving for medical drama: Hawthorne and okay, Nurse Jackie (if you still want more)
While the doctors of Grey's Anatomy are on a hiatus (and one in particular is gone for good *tears*), the nurses are taking over! Jada Pinkett Smith is a darn good actress, all the other nurses on her staff are easily lovable too, so it is to me the best [insert your favorite medical show, it is GA for me]- filler airing. Nurse Jackie can be amusing too, if you're into the whole Robinhood, flawed goodness persona. Of course, these shows come with dashing doctors: Michael Vartan in Hawthorne and Peter Facinelli in Nurse Jackie (a. k. a. Carlisle in Twilight). :)

... if you prefer a twist to the usual medical drama: Mental
Some House fans call it a House rip-off, but I personally think it's not fair to compare the shows (so not apples to oranges), even if there is some sort of mystery-solving in Mental as in House.

... if you're more into something idealistic, utopian, and grandiose: Kings
I have some catching up to do with Kings as well, but maybe some of what I've previously said here is still relevant. Unfortunately, there will be no second season, so watch as you please, but don't get too attached or you'll be sad to see it go (telling myself this too!).

I'm still looking for more shows to watch, and will probably give Royal Pains a shot next. Any other suggestions?

This is Just the Sweetest, Cutest Thing!

Awww... Kilig ako (LOL)! Reminded me of my favorite scene in Love, Actually with Keira Knightley and the sweet, romantic (yet sad :,() flashcards! Except this one is a bucketload of sunshine! After all, mutual feelings trump unrequited love! All. The. Time. Obviously (duh!). :)

I looove it! :) Totally brought out the hopeless romantic in me. Awww. :)

Half-and-Half: My Take on HP6

Finally! A Harry Potter movie comes to theaters after months of gentlemanly letting others (read: Twilight) screen first (or was it the other way around?). Which begs the question... Was it, or was it not worth the wait?

In my opinion, the best thing about the 6th Harry Potter installment is the cinematography and special effects, so much so that minutes into the movie (up until the bridge scene), I actually felt like I already got my money's worth. It is also my favorite among the dark HP movies (i. e., 2-6) and I can't help but be a little pleased that the overall darkness and disturbia factor was a few notches lower than the spooky, spooky trailers. It is still dark and disturbing on several counts, but I am most relieved that the young Tom Riddle seemed more like a disturbed boy than the devil incarnate.

The characters have also upped their game, most notable of all, Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), who is the ray of light in an otherwise dark film. (him and the snogging and rom-com aspects of the film, LOL). I liked the cocky, Felix felicis-filled Harry too, and Helena Bonham Carter as the lukaret-and-pure-evil Bellatrix Lestrange is eerily fascinating and commendable (oookay, why does she fascinate me? Hmmm...). Of course, the brightest acting gem is Alan Rickman as Severus Snape (a. k. a. The Ultimate Popopo-Poker Face), and if the cards are played right, he just might reduce me to tears in HP7 (LOL).

Of course, the movie is not perfect. The much-publicized Harry-Ginny kiss fell short (waaay short), that I feel there is more emphasis on the Ron-Hermione love story than the Harry-Ginny one (and may be rightfully so for most). I also wished the finale was more grandstanded, but then that might be a consequence of my high expectations of the death and funeral scene that stemmed from waaay back when I first read the book. While the Avada Kedavra still got a gasp of surprise from me (okay, more like a teeny-tiny squeak), I still expected a more dramatic, more torturous scene, and a more grandiose tribute to the Greatest Wizard of His Time. And while HP6, true to form, is of epic length, it still felt too concise, so much so that in order to appreciate and understand the movie, I think one might have to have read the book.

For all its shortcomings, HP6 is still a must-watch. But then again, even if the reviews were bad, I'm sure people will still flock to watch this movie. After all, it is a Harry Potter movie, and one that is a long time coming for fans.

Now please don't make us wait forever for the two-part last installment. :D

(Not So) Crocodile Tears

Awww... The recession has reared its ugly head towards a new victim, and it's something I had not seen coming. The Washington Post reports that Crocs is treading on shaky ground due to dwindling demand, a stock full of unsold goods, mounting debt and no earnings to pay them. I'm sad to hear this, because while I'm personally not a fan nor a wearer, I'm responsible for my family's fondness for them.

One fashion blog heaved a sigh of relief on this development. Which is harsh but predictable, since Crocs has had it share of frowns from fashionistas. But they are so undeniably comfortable and convenient that I can't seem to grasp who would fill in their shoes (pun intended!) should doomsday hit.

I'm hoping Crocs can still be saved (ummm, bailout? Ha! Let's go Duerden and George Clooney!), but if that is the way the cookie crumbles for Crocs (boohoo...), I'm sure Manila (among other places) will welcome and flock to distressed sales....

P. S. This got me out of my blogging dry spell? Seriously?!

Tweeet, tweeeet! :D

Created by The Oatmeal

Aha! So that's why I haven't been blogging. How predictable of me. But then I actually expected a higher score. Haha. :D On to 100% addiction! :D Care to join me? :P

Now who can suggest my next blog topic? :)

Hey, hey, hey...

I missed blogging. But laziness trumps desire in this case.

Soon.

Hopefully nothing soupy or eye-rolling.

And I just pressured myself.

The City of Wonder (AND Disturbia)

In the Facebook world, there is a city that transforms grown women (and even men!) to ingredient-obsessed, will-befriend-anybody, gourmet points-greedy, account-hacking, rehab-needing kids (okay fine, girls and boys would be a better term). You might have heard about it, been coerced to join (your friends just want their bonus ingredient from you... but give in, so they finally shut up and leave you alone, LOL), or can relate to my very words. This city goes by a simple name, and it is a simple game (simple, but not easy, aha!) but it has the power to get you hooked in a heartbeat. Of course I'm talking about Restaurant City.

Looking back, I can't believe it's only been a day short of a week since I fell into RC's tremendously addictive trap (not complaining, for now at least, I'm willing to be entrapped, haha). I've added the app sometime prior, but never really appreciated the tastiness of RC until boredom, Google and more knowledgeable friends made me piece together a comprehensive enough refresher. Within days, I found myself trading ingredients like crazy, thinking of energy-optimizing layouts, staring blankly at my screen for minutes straight (that toilet feature sure is a bitch), and yes, opening myself up to friends of friends and even virtual strangers all for the love of RC (and ingredients, ingredients, ingredients).

I really should have seen this one coming. I loved playing Sims to bits before, and RC is quite similar to it especially on the decorating aspect, only with cuter and plumper avatars, and that restaurateur business twist to it. It is quite a good way to unwind or burn time (if you can eventually ignore that throbbing pain in your head, the ache in your back, the stiff fingers and maybe CTS in the morning, hehe).

Delving further, it is also an incredibly utopian business model. Because where else can you let your employees sleep all day, close shop whenever, and still be able to rise up to profitability when able? And while there is competition in terms of level rankings between friends, it is not the kind of competition that drives others out of business (which is so common in the real world). In fact, in RC, your progress is commensurate to the number of friends you have (or allies, if you may) both in the nominal sense and the qualitative sense. Meaning, without reliable trading outlets to tap on, RC will be... errr... more difficult and less fun (good luck levelling up those dishes). Besides, can you even afford $2000 minimum for one ingredient in that highway robbery of an ingredient market stall? The cliche no man is an island rings true in RC as it does in real life.

So if you ever find yourself in need of a new RC neighbor (or new ingredient, I don't mind), why not visit Vanilla. Starter: Pumpkin Soup. Main Course: Yakibuta Ramen. Dessert: Exotic Fruit Skewers. A perfect 10-10-10 (4 days baby, 4 days! ;P You don't wanna know what I had to resort to, LOL). You may also drop by Vanilla's sister restaurants, Sparkle and Lily. :) Under the same management.

Now who to visit next? :D

Musings on the Archie-Veronica Engagement

News broke out that we are to finally see (or are we really?) one of the oldest and most renowned love triangles come to an end as Archie Andrews finally *gasp* proposes to Veronica. I personally thought I'd never see closure on this one in my lifetime because the Betty-Archie-Veronica love triangle has always been part and parcel to the well-loved comic series.

Looking back at my childhood days, I've personally preferred Veronica over Betty in probably the same vein that I prefer Blair over Serena, or Brooke over Peyton. Maybe it's as simple as thinking more brunettes are prettier than blondes or that bitchy trumps the nice girl. It should then follow that I'd be ecstatic that Archie finally proposes to Veronica. Except I' m not (i. e., not sad, but not ecstatic either). I'm glad the guy finally makes a firm decision, and it is something I saw coming given that he always had the tendency to notice Ronnie more even when Betty was the one who'd probably jump through hoops for him. But I also can't help but wonder what happens to the one that is left at the corner to grin and bear it.

Some say it ain't over 'til it's over. The twist just might be that Archie ends up marrying Betty instead. And when this happens, I will really be pissed. Not because I'm on Team Veronica, but because even as a comic book character it's not cool to decide to go for someone and end up changing your mind. And for something as serious as marriage, it should all the more be imperative for someone to be absolutely certain.

Maybe I'm second-guessing on this one (okay, I really am) but I hope Betty finally wakes up and realizes that it's always been Veronica all along and that even if she's been nothing but great, she's not The One. At least not as far as Archie is concerned.

It's a long wait until August, and I am curious to see how events will unfold (how can I not?). I hope the six-part series is reasonably priced (so I can finally afford them since I didn't as a kid and would always just borrow my cousin's comic books, haha) and has enough copies to go around. I might bitch some more by then but I do hope I'll be pleasantly surprised by how things will be wrapped up. If it were to come down to two possible scenarios, I'd personally prefer that Archie ends up with neither instead of proposing to Veronica and then end up marrying Betty. Or, Archie and Veronica can live happily ever after too. Betty Girl can just move on (you can do it Betty, he doesn't deserve you, LOL).

Until then, your guess is as good as mine. Oh, I so cannot wait for August. *wink, wink*

P. S. There have been several articles here and there taking off from Archie's proposal. Click here, here and here for some. Let the speculation and psychoanalysis rage on. :)

P. P. S. Is Betty really that devastated? She seems to not have forgotten the XOXOXO still. And Veronica!!! Insensitive much?!

Gee, Glee! Sounds Terrific!

By its very definition, Glee is about opening yourself up to joy.
~ Lillian Adler

Generally speaking, I'm just not that into musicals. Nothing annoys me more than watching my favorite TV characters break into song because the show happens to have a musical special or bit (yes, you, Scrubs). There have been some exceptions (hello, Mamma Mia), but knowing that something is a musical just makes it a little less interesting for me.

In my quest to find new interesting TV shows, I decided to give Glee a shot, despite my thinking that maybe it is just another HS Musical (that I never watched ever, ha!). As the title suggests, it is all about a high school's glee club and their efforts of showcasing their talents and making themselves a part of something special.

After the pilot, I can say I'm glad I watched (thanks @mzmraz, @shondarhimes for convincing me, haha). Gorgeous and talented Finn is my new TV crush (and I commend the Glee people for hooking the girls by flashing him a few seconds into the pilot). His a capella rendition of "Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" at the shower is priceless (more, more!). All in all, the performances are great, and while I know I'm supposed to root for the home team, Vocal Adrenaline's (the rival glee club) performance of "Rehab" was so awesome that I looped it thrice (clap, clap!).

More notes:

• Will Schuester reminds me of Screech (as in Saved by the Bell Screech). A more serious Screech. It should follow that he's got great singing talent given that he was once a member of a glee club back in the day, and I cannot wait to see him perform. Astound us all, please. :)
  
• It seems that Glee is running a take-in-the-dead-heroes campaign though. As in dead heroes from Heroes, namely, Bob, the alchemist, Claire's biological mother, and Charlie with the uber photographic memory who is also Charlie in Ugly Betty (wait, is Meredith dead already?).
• Rachel can be annoying and yet adorably funny (and her rendition of "On My Own" triggered a Katie Holmes Dawson's Creek flashback). She will probably end up with Finn, because that's the way TV goes, but while I don't hate her, I don't like her for Finn either.
  
• On the other hand, Will's wife Terri is just simply annoying, not to mention a major brat. Maybe she has some redeeming value in her, but I just don't see it.
  
• Kurt (the gay guy) seems underutilized somehow. I'd like him to do more solos. Great audition song! :P
• I hope everyone on the show (i. e., the cheerleaders, the football players) end up joining the club! :)
  

All in all, I must say Glee is indeed a reason for glee. Here's hoping you have more gleeful performances in store for us! :)

The Two Words that Run Miles

Done sincerely, an apology is a noble thing.

It tells you that people take responsibility for the outcome of their actions. It tells you that the people you are working on forgiving deserve it in the first place. It tells you that it is time to shift from anger to understanding, and from understanding to acceptance.

Yes, a sincere apology is always a noble thing.

P. S. Relevant links from blog rockstars: Seth Godin: Easy to Type (short but powerful, and hands down my favorite of his posts) and Zen Habits: How to Let Go and Forgive.

Well Hello, Angels & Demons

Anyone who has ever read Dan Brown's two most popular novels will agree that Angels & Demons is more movie material that The Da Vinci Code. Which is why I was looking forward to this movie more than I did Da Vinci (that and the fact that back then I still haven't accepted that Nicholas Cage wasn't Robert Langdon, haha). I also expected that the movie would be better than its precedent, which shouldn't be much of a challenge. To me at least, the only redeeming value of Da Vinci was that breathtaking view of the Louvre in its closing scene.

The reviews for Angels & Demons weren't very good though, and I thought I'd be incredibly disappointed. In fairness to the movie, I think it delivered better than Da Vinci (again, not such a difficult task), and as far as adaptations go, it did a pretty good job plotwise (see, this is the reason why you shouldn't be reading reviews prior to watching a movie), complete with hi-tech tweaks (cool password key and anti-matter thingie!). Bottom line, I liked it but I didn't love it (and maybe the low expectation setting was a factor), and for more of my rants, raves and spoilers...

• Tom Hanks was still lousy (and no, I'm not holding a grudge because of Nicholas Cage, seriously). It is a sad thing to note because I think he is a great actor (he was amazing in The Terminal), but as Robert Langdon this time around, there were a lot of times when he was even more irritating than the head of the Swiss Guard (whose job was supposed to be the pest of the movie). I totally agree with Buzzsugar, he did talk a hell of a lot. It might have been okay if it's truly educational but by golly, everyone who was watching the movie probably already read the book (or if they haven't, I doubt they're much of a trivia or history buff). P. S. Did they really have to show him swimming in those trunks?! Could he have been approached by the Vatican police at a coffee shop or something?
• Thanks for not exploring the love story angle between Robert and Vittoria, or I would have rolled my eyes a full 360. P. S. Vittoria was pretty and intelligent and all, but no, she didn't stand out as a character the way Sophie Neveu did. But then again, Audrey Tautou is Audrey Tautou. Maybe they should have gotten Monica Bellucci? Never mind, waste of talent on such a forgettable role.
• Ewan McGregor as the Camerlengo proved to be a gem, and he played the good-yet-not-so-good boy part extremely well, that I think the movie was as much his as Tom Hanks'. And it seemed apt that he was the only one who rode that helicopter high up in the sky (kudos on that plot tweak).
  
• Is it just me or was the assassin (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) hot? I loved the way he shot at people, all swift and skilled (whaaat?!) and his gun was so nifty! Also loved how he had a (kinda) redeeming factor about him in the end when he didn't kill the unarmed duo signifying how the job was just a job. Awww, so sad to see you explode. P. S. Thank you for not bothering to explore the grudge-because-of-the-Crusades angle. It was okay in the book but would've been too much on the movie on top of everything else.
• But hey Mr. Hot Assassin, disgusting first murder! Ugh! Rats! *cringe* And many more disgusting scenes of dead people. Nightmares, nightmares.
  
• Some humor was injected, mostly by Tom Hanks, and two in particular made me laugh in the single bout way (as in heh vs. hahahaha): Vittoria tearing that page off Galileo's book, and Vatican cop not being able to breathe inside the Vatican Archives. Oh and Robert jumping through hoops to crash a glass wall inside the Vatican Archives so as not to die of suffocation, only for the electricity to come back up again after he has successful done so. Poor gigantic cabinet full of ancient historical documents.
  
• Half the movie was shot in the dark, and while I understand that it might have been necessary plotwise, did it really have to be that dark on sooo many scenes? Jeez!
  
• But hey, when it was bright, the cinematography was beautiful. Not night-shot-of-the -Louvre beautiful but still beautiful (as in I-so-wanna-go-to-Rome beautiful). I especially like the last scene where the new pope makes his first ever appearance to the people. It felt, well, heavenly. And of course, fantastic antimatter explosion up in the sky. Soooo, well, heavenly still (ummm, what's wrong with me?).
• I like the subtlety of the message in new Camerlengo's teeny-tiny side story (Cardinal Strauss, Conclave presider) whose own desire for power almost rendered him powerless to have Patrick disqualified for election as Pope. And tsk, that would have been extremely unfortunate. Hence the speech on how religion is flawed because men are flawed, including himself (or something like that).
• Finally, loved that they spared the life of one of the four Preferiti because it's just more bright and shiny that way (the least they could have done after showing us all those dead people, LOL).

All in all, I think the movie also took a friendlier view of the Church than Da Vinci did. They even passed on the pope-as-a-dad angle. But maybe the movie would have been much better if Nicholas Cage played Robert Langdon (and here I go again). Hehehe. And also, if it had more lighting.

Ummm, next stop, Digital Fortress? Deception Point? Ha! Never mind.

Ultimate P. S. Also grateful the movie did not go on forever. Expected it to be looooong. To me at least it didn't feel long. So very grateful. ;D

...Read more

Bravo! Clap, Clap!

The Viva La Vida portion especially!

Dear Twitter

Dear Twitter,

You sneaky, sneaky bird. You with your seemingly harmless, too simplistic, probably boring platform. You that I scoffed at for Facebook, dismissed as an unworthy competitor. You that I have now fallen for.

I was wrong about you. All I had to do was give you a real shot, not the kind where I set you up and do nothing. Sure, it can be lonely at times in the Twitterverse when your friends are at the double digits only, and a mere handful are actively tweeting. But the loneliness is a fair trade off for peace and quiet, and through you I can tweet to my heart's delight without feeling TMI to a universe of 500 people. Yes, I know that my updates are visible to the entire planet. Because really, protecting updates is missing the tweeting point. But it still feels like my own little private space, and I have yet to find the optimal number of followers where loneliness and quietness hit that sweet equilibrium point.

In the meantime, I have my inner circle of lovely tweeters (that I fondly prefer to call tweetiepies) to keep me company in Twitterville: @CoNVERSExADDiCt, @fatziibebeh, @liaalu and the newest addition, @renmaldita. I've been following some brilliant and fabulous people too, most noteworthy of which are: Allison Winn Scotch, Alyssa Milano, Paulo Coelho and Neil Gaiman. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Kutcher, but who doesn't follow them? And while I make it a point not to follow celebrities who don't provide substantial tweets, I've made the exception for Wolverine and Gambit. Obviously, I'm a big fan.

And I have to say that you aren't as simple as I thought. What with all the new things I learned from you such as retweeting, URL shorteners, Seesmic Desktop and a whole lot more. I'd like to think I'm no longer a plain vanilla tweeter, who even made a risky change in username (bye-bye, @ytsirhc).

While I ever get tired of you? I don't want to make promises I cannot keep but for now it seems, I am officially a tweeting kinda girl. :D

XOXO,

Ymae the Trinket

Happy Mother's Day!

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
~ George Cooper

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
~Tenneva Jordan

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. May this day remind you of all the great things that comes with motherhood and how irreplaceable you are in your children's lives.

My special shout out goes to two mothers in particular...

My own mother who is the best mother in the world. With her unwavering support and unconditional love, I can truly say that I lucked out in the mother category. It was sad to see her off on Mother's Day of all days, which just goes to prove that at five or twenty-five the fact remains: I still want my Mama with me always. All her kids do, apparently.

And my little sister, who is an equally great mother, and for that I will always be proud of her.

You know I so, so love you both. Don't cry when you read this or I'll mock you incessantly. Especially you sistie. :P

\ | /

As a kid, Wolverine was an X-Men character that I was indifferent towards. That all changed when Hugh Jackman personified him in a series of X-Men movies. With that said, I can say Hugh was really the driving force behind my desire to watch the movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine (it is his movie after all), so much so that even when the leaked copy landed on my desktop (quite literally, haha), I resisted watching (which is something considering my extremely low EQ). The second reason I was interested to watch was because of Gambit, who is incidentally my favorite guy X-Men character as a kid.

Thankfully, Wolverine and Gambit did not disappoint. In fact, those two alone made the movie absolutely worthwhile to watch. I could watch Gambit's cards and staff scenes over and over again, and Hugh is Hugh (swoon!). Ryan Reynolds was a nifty bonus, and even if he just had one remarkable scene and a smittering of wisecracks, he is still absolutely worth mentioning. Sabertooth did good as well, even if I'm still trying to reconcile the fact that he and Wolverine really were brothers.

Because the characters were amazing, it was easy to overlook the fact that some movie essentials seem to be amiss. Like logic in the plotline (Wolverine just left the love of his life to die in the woods which was how they were able to pull that off?!) and extremely flimsy explanations (The name Wolverine came from a love story about the moon?! Seriously???!) or non-explanations of things. The special effects weren't that great either. All these never really hit me until I was forced to think about the movie more (i. e., right now). Nonetheless, the movie was pretty darn entertaining if you were willing to check the overcritical hat at the door and just have fun watching Wolverine snarl and bring out the claws.

In a nutshell, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the perfect movie to watch when you just wanna unwind and soak up on Vitamin A. *wink, wink*

On Apologies

As human beings we can always try to do better, to be better, to right a wrong even if it feels irreversible. Of course I'm sorry doesn't always cut it, maybe because we use it so many different ways -as a weapon, as an excuse. But when we are really sorry, when we use it right, when we mean it, when our actions say what words never can, when we get it right, I'm sorry is perfect. When we get it right, I'm sorry is redemption.
~ Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy

A Passion for Fashion (Wars)

I'm a self-confessed Facebook junkie, who has probably tried one too many applications out there. Add the fact that it doesn't take a lot to hook me when it comes to virtual stuff (all it takes is a lot of color, relatable interest, and the promise of sheer and utter brainlessness, really), and my latest FB app obsession comes as no surprise at all. Called Fashion Wars, it's all about showdowns with other divas in the "fashion world." There are various ways to purchase goodies and properties, which in turn helps you generate more cash and climb up the fashion superstar ladder. It's such a girly app, I know, but then, my geek taste has always been extremely, shamefully so.

In the two to three weeks I've been playing FW, I can truly say it's been a great time-wasting boredom buster, and beyond it's seemingly superficial facade (okay, it really is superficial, I'm just trying to deepen things down a bit, haha!), it can remind you of quite a few things about people and life in general. Such as:

• Sometimes, you're really just doing your best with what you've been dealt with, and people still smack you down or bitchslap you. From out of nowhere.
• Or sometimes, you've been nothing but nice, compassionate, supportive, a great pal, etc., etc., and surprise, surprise, you're the one who ends up being collateral damage.
  
• And when people are nothing but unfair and/or downright mean, your first instinct is to fight back and give them a dose of their own medicine. But is it really worth the energy and other wasted resources? Maybe not. Honey, you got style. ;)
  
• On the brighter side, sometimes, former peeves end up turning into allies or pals. All it takes are two open-minded individuals and someone with enough humilty to reach out. Ah, the wonders of reaching out. :D
  
• Sometimes you prepare yourself for something better to come, and it never does. Or maybe, it just hasn't yet. Patience, patience, patience. :)
• One day, you'll be so far up and basking in brightness that all the inconveniences and unfairness you have had to deal with totally becomes insignificant and irrelevant. And all the negativity thrown your way will barely make a dent. Just make sure you are set to get there.

See, FW can be enlightening too! So give it a shot, girlies (dudes too, if you want, but then...)! And make sure to add me to your posse while you're at it. ;)

Happy Monday

And then it hit her. There were many ways to skin a cat (or KILL a cat, as someone she knew preferred to put it).

She could go the melodramatic route...

Or she could spark it up a little. And let it be what it should be - funny, feisty and unrelenting.

After all, she of all people should know, engineering futilities is soooo last year.

On White Flags

To do our jobs, we have to believe defeat is not an option. That no matter how sick our patients get, there's hope for them. But even when our hopes give way to reality and we finally have to surrender to the truth, it just means we've lost today's battle, not tomorrow's war. Here's the thing about surrender: once you do it, actually give in, you forget why you were even fighting in the first place.
~ Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy

1500

It's just a day.

It's no longer the day you spent a month protecting. It's no longer the day when everything else takes a backseat. It's no longer that day.

It's just a day. So suck it up.

The Silver Lining

I finally finished my first Cecelia Ahern novel! No, it's not P. S. I Love You (which is still sitting in my shelf waiting to be read after a gazillion months, oopsie). Since I already kinda knew how P. S. I Love You is gonna go (depending on how faithful the movie was to the book, hehe), I opted to read her third novel first, the one entitled If You Could See Me Now, mainly because of the mysterious plot summary.

The book is about this guy named Ivan who is only visible to a little boy named Luke and his mothering aunt Elizabeth. He is what our world would call an invisible friend, who by convention should only be seen by kids but incidentally is seen by Elizabeth as well. What follows is a love story of the childlike, fairy tale kind, but with a reasonable amount of realism blended in that it doesn't seem too incredulous.

The novel felt long that it took me more than a month and a half to finally finish it (no, I wasn't reading the whole time :P), and it only seemed to pick up steam towards the middle of the book. Nonetheless, I was very much curious about how Elizabeth and Ivan will handle their growing affection (read: L-O-V-E) for each other despite their impossible situation. Would it be like City of Angels, with Ivan choosing to embrace humanity over his immortal, invisible friend status? Or was he merely preparing Elizabeth for eventually ending up like him, an invisible friend too? Of course, these are the two most typical possibilities, and Cecelia Ahern is more than typical. Or rather, she was typical in more ways than one.

If you really wanna know...

She eventually wrapped up the story by bringing things back in perspective, and back to reality, with Ivan turning invisible again, leaving Elizabeth by herself. Which is in fact the most realistic progression of things. Nevertheless, losing someone is always a sad, seemingly unacceptable thing especially when things feel right, perfect and meant to be, only to be riddled with the impossible. While the book dedicated two paragraphs on the nature of heartbreak (that I'd rather not quote because while it's nice, it cannot rival Stephenie Meyer's New Moon heartbreak quote anyway), there was not that much focus on sadness but the silver lining of things. Because indeed, sometimes people come into our lives to serve a purpose, and it could be as simple as making us realize a thing or two about ourselves, or pinpoint a much needed change like a breath of fresh air or a splash of color. And we also need to appreciate that amidst the struggle to come to terms with our sadness.

Unfortunately, in some cases, the why does not often come as quickly or as clearly as it did with Elizabeth and Ivan. Sometimes, the best thing to hope for is that one day our dark cloud's silver lining becomes apparent. Or sometimes, as Ivan so simplistically put it, the silver lining are the people themselves.

...Read more

Pilot Alert: Cupid

At first glance, the new Cupid (a remake of the 1998 series staring Jeremy Piven), seemed to be this huge cliche of a show... After all, haven't we had enough of matchmakers claiming fame as modern-day Cupid?

But the show is about real Cupid being banished from Mt. Olympus and his ticket back is successfully helping a hundred couples find true love. Cupid, who calls himself Trevor Pierce, has some sort of definition of what qualifies as true love, but I'd rather not quote it. Ha!

I've always been fascinated by Greek mythology, so the whole scene where Trevor is being quizzed by Claire, the shrink assigned to his case, about the Greek gods and goddesses totally did it for me. In addition, Bobby Cannavale, who plays Cupid/Trevor, while not exactly swoon-worthy, has just enough cockiness and sense of humor to earn the part (he's perfect as a bartender too). I'm still 50-50 on Claire and her extremely lecturing self but I hope that tips to a thumbs up soon since she has a 99.99% chance of being Cupid's Psyche (.01% for a shocking twist).

Of course, each episode has novelty potential, as we watch Cupid scour to match 200 souls (or rather 198 souls ;D). I happen to like the story featured in the pilot, which while predictable was still cute, mostly because the Irish musician Dave was such a sweetie and a cutie. I just hope that from hereafter, they feature more original, creative stories - a tough challenge in a world where romantic cliches run rampant.

But a hundred or so dashes of hopeless romanticism? Sure, why not. ;) As long as they aren't tacky.

Pilot Alert: Kings

The human will can take ashes and turn it into ice cream.

~ Michelle Benjamin in Kings

Royalty always seemed like a dazzling thing to me, and based on the title, I thought I would get snippets of the captivating world of monarchs in this new show entitled Kings.

Instead there is very little glitz and glamor as the two-hour premiere ushered in idealism wretched with harsh realities because however utopian the Kingdom of Gilboa seems to be, it is every bit plagued with what the world at large has to experience on a daily basis - wars and conspiracies on a grand scale, and betrayals, manipulations, jealousy and ulterior motives on a more microscopic scale. Fortunately, there is love and camaraderie and hope sprinkled all over, which makes the drama of the show a tad less heavy (and by a tad, I really mean more a teeny-tiny smidgen).

The premiere laid out so many plotlines in an intricately woven web, but there is promise that in the end things just might be simplified beautifully courtesy of the ever idealistic David (purposely named so after the biblical figure who defeated Goliath because apparently this is the show's fundamental parallel). And while it attempts to inject humor, playfulness, action and romance in order to not entirely drain all the endorphins out of its viewiers, it is not for anyone who wishes to just sit back, relax and watch TV.

But the cast is stellar - from the idealistic and naive Josh Hartnet lookalike David, the ruthless yet pained King Silas (Ian McShane), the closeted heir to the throne Jack who we last saw as bad boy Carter in Gossip Girl (my favorite character so far), the pretty princess Michelle (who of course is David's love interest because that is just how it is on TV - underdog gets the princess), all the way down to the brother-in-law and the Reverend, and they all just might make the show worth the watch.

The best visual of the show, the one that will stick to me for a really long time is that of David being adorned with a crown of butterflies, just like King Silas have always publicly claimed to have experienced. While it seems a little funny for a warfreak, manly country to be symbolized by a butterfly (it's in their flag, insignia and stationery, people!), I find that softened touch acceptable. But of course, I'm a girl. I doubt the men will find it cute. Hahaha.

But for what it's worth, I'm watching to see just where the butterflies will take this show. ;)

Pilot Alert: Better Off Ted

I never really knew about this new show called Better Off Ted until I got a notification from my Facebook Scrubs fan page about this show premiering after Scrubs (there are benefits to having a hundred or so pages after all :P). I am in dire need of new stuff to watch because my faves are slowly saying BIFN (trader jargon which stands for Bye for Now - don't ask, I never really got why too, haha) one by one .

And so I watched the show, which introduced itself via a full ad about this company called Veridian Dynamics. I thought it was an actual ad and not part of the show, but it turns out that it is the company where this Ted guy works after all. The company makes almost everything except maybe cows (although they have made sheep... Dolly, is that you? Hahaha), and Ted is the head of their R&D Department.

Based on the premise of working for such an omniscient company, the possibilities are endless, and as a comedy show, it should follow that the laughter potential should be endless as well. Except it's not really very funny (in the hahahaha way), and it made me feel a little like the first and last time I watched 30 Rock. What Better Off Ted has going for it vis-a-vis 30 Rock (aside from the fact that I am in a much dire need for entertainment and distraction now than before), was that Jay Harrington (who we last saw kissing Addison and causing her to kinda cheat in Private Practice) has a pretty engaging charm about him. But the highlight of the show for me is Portia de Rossi, who plays Ted's stiff yet endearing boss Veronica, the kind that you can't really hate even when she is being impossible, unethical and ummm... devoid of all emotion. All the other characters are meh to annoying, and I really hope Ted doesn't end up with his creamer-stealing assistant because as early as now I am really rooting for him and Portia.

For now, I'll keep on watching, but I hope that the show has more in store other than Ted and Portia's performances. It's a show about a company who can make impossible things possible, for crying out loud! Other shows have had to work with so much less and pulled through.

P. S. Why is it entitled Better Off Ted? I don't get it. I really don't.

Circa 2006

The One That Got Away

Source: The Manila Times

By: Mark J. Macapagal

In your life, you'll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special, ones who will always mean something. There's the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you're with... and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it's that person with who everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong. There was no fault in the person, there was no flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn't fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing. It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little niceties of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you're not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn't matter who you're with, it just doesn't work. Small problems become big; inconsequentials become dealbreakers simply because you're not ready and it shows. It's not that you and the person you're with are no good; it's just that it's not yet right, and little things become the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you're ready. You really are. And when this happens you'll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it'll work because you're ready. It'll work because it's the right time and you'll make it work. And it'll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you're finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want, and you've become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there's no telling when this day will come. Hopefully you're single but you could be in a long-term relationship, you could be married with three kids, it doesn't matter. All you know is that you've changed, and for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person you think about.

You'll think about them because you'll wonder, "What if they were here today?" You'll wonder, "What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?" That's what the one that got away is. The biggest "What if?" you'll have in your life.

If you're married, you'll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us. But hopefully you're mature enough to realize that you're already with the one you're with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you'll think about him/her every so often, but it's alright. It's never nice to live with a "might have been," but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who's already married. In which case it's the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips in the future when you're old and gray and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it's different. What do you do if it's not yet too late? Simple...find him, find her. Because the very existence of a "one that got away" means that you'll always wonder, what if you got that one?

Ask him out to coffee, ask her out to a movie, it doesn't matter if you've dropped in from out of nowhere. You'd be surprised, you just might be "the one that got away" as well for the person who is your "the one that got away."

You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won't make a difference. If the timing is finally right, it'll all just fall into place somehow and you know, I'm thinking, it would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, "Hey you, you're the one that almost got away."

Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Unsettlingly Beautiful

I never really knew what to expect from the movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona, except that it had an art film vibe to it. I expected to doze off a little the way I usually do with drama movies, but surprisingly, the film was able to hold its own in the interest sustenance department (says the narcoleptic). If I were to describe Vicky Cristina Barcelona in one word, I would say it was PASSIONATE. In fact, I don't think I've ever watched a film with that much passion in a really long time.

In a nutshell, the movie is about two close friends named Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) who spend a summer in Barcelona (hence the *gasp* title). They both get involved with a Spanish painter named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem, who is a dead ringer for Jeffrey Dean Morgan, a. k. a. Denny Duquette in Grey's Anatomy) in different ways - Vicky in a confuse-me-before-and-after-my-wedding sort of way, and Cristina in an, err, slightly more tangled love web with Juan Antonio and his ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz).

Curious?

Anything that involves psychotic, suicidal/murderous exes would probably be too much to handle in a movie (fortunately/unfortunately though, the only "crime" of passion was an accidental bullet to the hand), but for some reason the neurotic undertone in this movie struck me as appealing. I never really liked Penelope Cruz, but in this movie, she was particularly noteworthy as the beautifully eccentric Maria Elena. Ironically, it was also only in this movie that I've actually found her beautiful, in the divinely gorgeous sense. I also liked the character and beauty of Rebecca Hall (whom I never really knew before this movie) as the serious, level-headed Vicky, who wanted nothing in her life but stability. Even Scarlett, whom I never really appreciated as an actress seemed perfect for the role of the carefree and spontaneous Cristina.


In conclusion, the movie starred very beautiful people and this is actually the only point of my post. Hahaha. :P Kidding aside, I liked Vicky Cristina Barcelona not only because of its physical beauty with its beautiful actresses and picturesque backdrop, but also because of its beautiful, open-ended, thought-inducing story. It attempted to explore the various intricacies of love and relationships (love as a commitment, love as passion, love as a feeling, love as a choice, love with no bounderies, etc., etc.) which is a lot to handle in less than two hours, but this unsettlement is what makes the film different... in a stunningly good way. And why not? As the movie puts it, only unfulfilled love can be romantic.

And finally, what makes the movie particularly memorable for me is how Vicky and Cristina were basically the same people as they were before that summer in Barcelona. Most vacation movies are all about transformations and self-reinventions, which, while not necessarily bad, are typical. When sometimes, a radically different experience does not teach you something groundbreaking about yourself but merely affirms who you are and want you want (or not want) out of life and love.

All in all, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is not a light movie to watch but if you're looking for a passionate, raw take on love and humanity, it will give you just that.

...Read more

What's Cracklin'?

Despite the fact that it's unhealthy, I must say, I love chicharon. In all its pure fat goodness. And even if every bite brings you one step closer to a heart attack. But recently, I stumbled upon this new treat from Oishi called Marty's Cracklin'. It claimed to be vegetarian chicharon and while I'm always skeptical about vegetarian alternatives to sinful (read: delicious) food, I tried it nonetheless.

Made from dehydrated green peas and potatoes (among other ingredients), I have to say Marty's Cracklin' tasted pretty darn good for something vegetarian. The Salt & Vinegar flavor was ten notches above Oishi's Ribbed Cracklings Salt & Vinegar Beer Match Snack. It looked, tasted and even felt (yes, felt) like the real chicharon. With 0 grams transfat, 0% cholesterol, it's guilt-free (says the package)! In fact, the 70-gram pack of 2.5 servings per container only came with 160 calories per serving. Sure it's 80 calories from fat (not exactly low-fat), but compared to the 1,000 or so calories in a regular chicharon serving, it's really not bad. In fact, it's a pretty healthy alternative to satisfy anyone's chicharon craving (and by anyone I mean me, haha). And at less than 20 pesos for the large pack, it really is a cheap treat.

Bravo, Oishi! And the Marty person who may or may not have invented this snack. Hahaha. :D