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! :)

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

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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*

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.

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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.

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.

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Baby Proof: Proving It

True to being an Emily Giffin fan (says my Facebook account :P), I eventually picked up and read Baby Proof. Honestly, judging from the title and synopsis alone, it was the least interesting of her books to me, so much so that if I were to forgo reading one of her books, this would have been it. Luckily, there is no limit as to how many books I can read because Baby Proof was definitely a good read, and I can truly say it can give Something Borrowed a run for its money (and we all know the first book, which popularizes the author, is usually hard to beat).

Baby Proof tells the story of Claudia who is married to Ben. The couple, perfect for each other in every way, have come to the agreement that they do not want children in their lives. Ben, however, has a change of heart, which puts Claudia in the terrible predicament of choosing between Ben and what she wants (or doesn't want), in a matter as serious and important as having a baby. Women in general are expected to want to be mothers, and it is very rare for a woman to insist with absolute certainty that she does not want to be one. This is where Baby Proof takes off from, and what follows is a very mature tale that still has all the adorable trademarks of an Emily Giffin novel - great writing, interesting retorts and anecdotes here and there, and an overall appeal that women can easily relate to. It is without a doubt, Giffin's most serious novel but it was intelligently written (not in an brain-draining way).

I give out my usual spoiler warning, but if you wish...

I thought I would be reading about the disintegration of a marriage throughout the course of the book. Instead, three chapters into the book, we read about Ben and Claudia deciding to part ways. The story proceeds to show how Claudia copes with the divorce in all its different stages - missing Ben (where the all too familiar everything-reminds-her-of-him was detailed affectionately), the wallowing, the struggle to hang on, seeing Ben moving on, finally deciding to move on herself (where it goes to prove yet again that the rebound, no matter how ideal, will not get the girl), a sense of acceptance, and finally, the decision on how to take everything from there. While Claudia eventually regretted the haste in the divorce, it seemed much better to have decided to end things before they both started resenting each other. After all, the time off proved to be good for the both of them.

My favorite part of Claudia's time apart with Ben was that time during her 35th birthday, after she arrived from that dreamy vacation at Lake Como with Richard (a. k. a. the Rebound Guy) and received a call from Ben. Despite the great vacation, it was that greeting from Ben that actually made everything feel right. Because in reality, it can be something as simplistic as that from the right person that will make you happier than any beautiful or outlandish gesture from the wrong person.

Of all of Emily Giffin's main characters, Claudia is the most ideal - successful, mature, and so put together (even in the stages of wallowing and cyberstalking the new girl). All throughout the book, Claudia demonstrated how strong-willed (but not stubborn) she was with the fact that she really did not want to be a mother. It was pretty much established that it was not because of her unfortunate experience with her mother or how it would interfere with her career (because she did decide to pass off on a career opportunity to be there for a pregnant friend) or her own fears of whether she would be a good mother or her own capacity to be one. She simply did not want children. Plain and simple. Despite everything from peer pressure to an ultimatum from the love of her life (maybe she was a bit stubborn too, huh?). To me it demonstrated strength of character to insist on this despite the contrarian forces from everywhere. Because sometimes, you really just don't want what everyone seems to want. Which is why I was quite disappointed when she finally caved and became willing to have a baby if that meant she could have Ben back.

Of course, the main point of this is not lost to me (since it was very much stressed via a cameo from Ethan because agreebly, it is easier to accept reality from an objective stranger than from your family and friends). True love really does conquer all. True love would really will you to do whatever it takes for the person you love, even if it means sacrificing what you want (or do not want) in return. After all, with regard to the matter of having a baby, there are no compromises (you either do or you don't). In a sense, Ben and Claudia were lucky that their impediment is based on wants and non-wants, and not some other totally complicated or inflexible circumstance like religion or distance or other people (all of which others have been willing to overcome as well). It was a good thing Ben caved too though, and was also willing to give up his desire for a baby in order to have Claudia back. After all, true love is nothing but unconditional. I also like how it ended not really resolving whether Claudia and Ben really do have a baby. Because either way is fine. The important thing was that they were together again.

And finally, there were other stories too. The story of the pep-talking and tip-laden Jess (Claudia's best friend), her one-sided affair and eventually her getting the relationship she deserved. The story of Daphne and her plight to have a child. The story of Maura and her struggle to stay in an unhappy marriage for the children. All stories tied up well with Claudia's storyline, and effectively enhanced it (especially on the motherhood angle). Which all in all makes Baby Proof a truly great read, with great quotes to boot as well (more on that later).

I can't wait for Miss Giffin's next book! :D

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The 18th Privilege

I don’t regularly do dedicated single episode rundowns, but because I love Privileged so much I can’t help but talk about their season finale.

Let me start by saying that it was a proper season finale. A cliffhanger was there and some burgeoning storylines were set up, and while I can’t wait to watch Season 2, I also really didn’t feel like I had to watch the next episode tomorrow or I will implode. Hahaha. Furthermore, there were subtle wrap-ups of the storylines in the season. My favorite scene in this episode will have to be the one of the girls dancing (I liiike being a giiirl...) - Laurel, Megan, Sage and Rose. I really couldn’t help but smile at this scene, and in a sense, it provides a wordless statement: that this show is, above anything else, all about these ladies.

Photo courtesy of Buzzsugar.

I love the central occasion at which this episode is set - Marco’s wedding. Because we all know Marco is my favorite (I’ve said it a number of times already). His marriage to Keith gets me worried that they might boot him out of the show. I really hope not. Because then I’d be really sad. Awww… (wait a minute, para akong sirang plaka). Anyhow, what follows from the opening discussion about doves vs. fireworks (Marco naman, doves over fireworks? Seriously?! Haha.), and a stream of quirky dialogue (which forms part of the Privi trademark) is a couple of *gasp* breakups and mishaps I just totally did not see coming.

I really thought this episode would set the foundation for a Will-Megan-David (Robert Buckley, who will always be Kirby to me) love triangle. But noooo it doesn’t. It does hit us with a Will-Megan breakup which still surprised me when I saw it happen even if I already knew (I slept through my first viewing of Privi and only woke up to watch them broken up already and to “attend” Marco’s wedding for 2 minutes then slept again. Har-har.). I felt a wee-bit apologetic for siding with Will when Megan actually was right on her position on Will and his work ethic, and then boom! Megan does the most careless thing ever. Poor Will. I officially hate Megan now. Drunk or not, you just don’t do that to Will. Or any guy for that matter.

Photo courtesy of Buzzsugar.

Of course the Will-Megan breakup is enough heartbreak for one episode (even if it’s a season finale). And then comes the curve ball Sage-Luis breakup. Which is sad (because I loved them together), but totally understandable. I happen to think Sage made the right call on this one. Oh Sage, how well you’ve grown. :D

The resonating theme in this episode was that of change vs. being yourself. They couldn’t have picked a better theme for the season finale.

I’m gonna miss you, Privi! Come back, okay?

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Oh, I'm Into You

Ah, the wonders of lowered expectations. The movie reviews for He's Just Not That Into You (HJNTIY) was just not very good. Enough for me to not expect much from it. And part of me really just wanted to watch out of sheer loyalty and support for the book (I'm a Leo, hear me roar! Haha). Another part wanted to conjure an epiphany. Just kidding. Although incidentally, if you wanted one you could probably have gotten it fifteen minutes into the movie with half your attention focused on something else entirely unrelated and much more pressing. Because by its nature, the movie is just epiphany-laden.

The Bad. It is pretty long. But not in an I-wanna-walk-out-already-and-go-home-sorta-way. Just longer than the usual talkies and romantic comedies about relationships. But then again, there are a number of storylines, people! Furthermore, the presentation is pretty kalat if I do say so myself. Which is rather unfortunate coming off from a pretty great introduction. I felt like the dividers (i.e. phrases giving instances of when he is just not that into you) were confusing, if not misplaced. The movie also did a psuedo-cross between an actual movie and a documentary and while the subjects were pretty funny and enlightening, it just felt like the film was trying too hard to be so many things at the same time. I also have to say that the movie was a star-studded waste, in the sense that they could have utilized less popular actors and still provide essentially the same finished product. I get that this would affect the commercial viability of the movie, but where's the confidence in that? The book was a freakin' bestseller. They should have sold the idea, not the actors. Jeez. In all honesty, the only two actors I strongly believe should be in the movie (i. e. not to be replaced by less popular ones) would be Ginnifer Goodwin and that Alex guy (Alex in the movie, not IRL, haha). Who are incidentally not the bigger stars in the cast. Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Drew Barrymore? Totally underutilized (Drew especially) and most probably overpaid. Scarlet Johanson and Ben Affleck? 50-50. Or scratch that, maybe 75-25 for Ben Affleck (because of the cargo pants scene, which is just so romantically cute). Hahaha. But then again, maybe I just missed Ben. :P

The Meh. The Jennifer Connelly and Scarlet storylines. Maybe it's a personal non-inclination but regardless... m-e-h. And to reiterate, they could have made this movie cheaper. Wait a minute, is this why the movie is in the premiere theatres?! Hmp! :)

The Good. As a general rule, I don't like it when movies are too faithful to the book. Because really, what's the point? And in my opinion, it is this particular movie's strongest point. Others may argue that given that the book is technically self-help in nature (i. e., no actual storylines), the movie really won't be faithful to it. Touche. But sentiment-wise, the movie really shifted course from the book by being much more optimistic. And I suspect this was opted for commercial purposes too, because who really wants to watch a movie telling you to kill all hope (I do, I do, I do! Hahaha!)? The optimism is most evident in the closing narration which I quote below.

Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up: if a boy punches you he likes you, never try to trim your own bangs, and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. Every movie we see, every story we're told implores us to wait for it: the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. But sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. How to tell the ones who want us from the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is just moving on. Or maybe the happy ending is this: knowing after all the unreturned phone calls and broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment... you never gave up hope.

In a sense, the movie was also fairer than the book. In fact, there was even a plotline referring to a she (i. e., she's not just that into you if she's not sleeping with you - which Renil points out is really much more realistic than the he version). Which was a good move because in reality, there are heartless bitches in the world too (maybe a 1:3 ratio with the jerks, haha). So guys, it's really okay to watch the movie too. It will only bash you 85% of the time. Haha. Plus, if and when your significant other pressures you to get married, you can quote Ben Affleck's character like it's the best anti-marriage position ever. Just make sure you both stop watching the movie after that boat scene or all hell will break loose. Hahaha.

The Particularly Noteworthy. Ginnifer Goodwin's character Gigi, may seem to be the most pathetic of them all, but she also is the most endearing. And her plotline, especially the Alex twist, was too darn funny and heartwarming. In fact, they could have made a shorter movie out of this plotline and it might just work. Yes, it's quite exaggerated but throw in the Alex angle and it really becomes cute. :P Whatever anyone's take is, the Gigi-Alex plotline really just drives home this sweet truth: no matter how much of a turn-off, and how majorly pathetic/dramatic/ridiculous/borderline psychotic you are, if he's smitten, he's smitten. You still won't be able to drive him away. A caution to the severely optimistic: Gigi may have been Alex's exception, but you aren't necessarily his. Kill all hope, kill all hope! Hahaha. :) As the book and movie echoes consistently, assume to be the rule, never the exception. You're upside is that you'll be pleasantly surprised if he ever does decide to brave things for you (but then don't expect to be surprised, duh). Because the downside to the contrary is just too much wasted time and energy on your part.

All in All. Despite the fact that I have my personal complaints over the movie, I actually liked it enough that I'd watch it again on DVD (c'mon buzzsugar, you really won't call it back?). I'd recommend it especially to the people who haven't read the book. :)

P. S. Yes, one storyline deliberately not discussed. :) It just doesn't fall under any of the subcategories, okay? Hahaha. =))

P. P. S. Seriously, Myspace?! When was this movie made, 2004? :P

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My Own Confession :D

I was just too darn looking forward to watching Confessions of a Shopaholic. It is to me in 2009 what SATC was in 2008, i. e. the ultimate chick flick. The reviews have been mixed for this film - 3/4s of the world frown upon showing a movie about excessive spending in the midst of an economic meltdown. The other quarter argue that it is escapism at best, which is essentially like shopping to most girls - retail therapy wonder.

When I first found out that Isla Fisher was cast for the role, I really thought to myself, "why her?" I liked her in Wedding Crashers and loved her as April in Definitely, Maybe (I looove Definitely, Maybe!!!) but I seriously wondered whether she could pull off the role of adorably wacky Becky Bloomwood. Well, shame on me. The movie was surprisingly incredibly funny, and 99.99% of the comedic value in the movie emanated from Isla as Becky. While some stunts were hovering toward slapstick already, it was fun nonetheless. Afterwhich I therefore conclude, they couldn't have picked a better Becky.

Suze was also a pretty good complement, even if her moments were fleeting. I actually liked Krysten Ritter since way back in Gilmore Girls days, and she fitted the role of Suze to a T. My personal preference for Luke Brandon was Dermot Mulroney (okay fine, maybe he is a bit too old to play the part), and I was actually thinking that the Luke in the movie (Hugh Dancy) would turn out to be a non-character but he actually did grow on me even if I preferred him to be much more grouchy. Hahaha. :)

All in all, the movie was fun (yes, second time I said that). And waaaaay funnier than I expected it to be (this too, haha). And it is very rare to say this but I wish the movie were longer. In fact, shopaholics might be disappointed to note that there is not that much shopping scenes in the movie (just a lot of animated manequins, haha). Sure, there was this huge almost-catfight over those boots, but to me, there was still less shopping than expected considering how Sophie Kinsella's Becky Bloomwood used to rationalize and agonize over a lot of impluse purchases (some utterly ridiculous). But I guess in light of the current recession, that would be too much.

The movie merged the first two Shopaholic books. Which begs the question... would there be sequels for Shopaholic Ties the Knot and Shopaholic and Baby (Shopaholic and Sister deliberately excluded, haha :P)? But then, I don't think they should (too typical). Let us all just remember Isla Fisher as Becky Bloomwood in that way. Her outfits were too colorful but what the heck? Becky was a colorful character. :)

Darcy's Turn (Spoiler Alert!)

Hot on the heels of Something Borrowed, I flipped the pages to read about Darcy's story this time. I actually expected full-on redemption by Chapter One only to find myself halfway through the book still thinking Darcy is being her shallow, selfish and unapologetic self. Not deserving any sympathy whatsoever. She is even more annoying than Becky Bloomwood in her most annoying times.

When she finally does decide to turn things around, her transformation takes a backseat to her crystallizing moment - the realization that she has more than friendly feelings for Ethan (I knew it! I knew it!). While the friends-turned-lovers tale had never been a personal preference (ahem!), for some reason, I couldn't help but root for them. Sigh! Love and friendship. They are what make us who we are, and what can change us if we let them.

I was expecting a reconciliation between Rachel and Darcy in this book, but I must admit the phone call and subtle patching up (even if Rachel was the second person Darcy called after giving birth) was less than expected but just right. I guess to me it drove home the point that no matter what happened, it is enough for a simple note or phone call for things to be okay again between two very close people.

Other than these though, I have nothing much to say. While the book is a good time-killer/momentary diversion, it lacks the depth of substance that Something Borrowed had. Or perhaps the story was simply more typical, and unfortunately, devoid of any hearty twists (Really, twins? Is that all you've got? Hahaha.). Maybe the Ethan thing was supposed to be the book's main surprise but for some reason I really just saw it coming. It would have been cuter if there were more love-hate moments but Ethan simply caved too soon. Hahaha.

Next stop? Baby Proof. :)

P. S. In retrospect, I can't believe it was only toward the end of the book that I realized why Something Blue was entitled so. I assumed blue = sad, not blue the color. ROFL. =))

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A Must Borrow (Or Buy)

I finally finished reading one of my books! While this book is not new, it is new for me! Hahaha. Emily Giffin's first book, Something Borrowed may not have the snappy writing that Love the One You're With had, but it had a pretty good story.

I had a vague idea of what the plot of the book was prior to reading, and it made the book an attractive read to me. After all, how can you sympathize with a main character (Rachel) who sleeps with her best friend's (Darcy) fiance (Dex)? It is one of the ultimates of friendship violation and I expected myself to actually dislike Rachel and yet, she is actually totally understandable. Because in a sense, the book summary is right. True love comes at a very high price. And in this case, it can cost you a friendship, even a best friendship (hahaha).

Spoilers abound, but if you wish...

I imagine this book is particularly satisfying for anyone who has ever played the role of the Other Woman (not necessarily in the context of marriage) because it represents a vindication of being in that particular situation. After all, as the book goes, not everything is black and white and sometimes the end justifies the means. And in a sense, I do agree that true love will always triumph over even the most unusual or frowned upon of circumstances.

Surprisingly, even as a quick decision-maker/ultimatum/now-or-never kinda girl, I liked that decision to pick an arbitrary (yet not-so-arbitrary) date for when The Talk between Rachel and Dex will happen. It was refreshing for me to be made to realize that when dealing with something complicated that you don't wanna give up just yet, sometimes it's important to first allow yourself to feel before letting your thoughts (especially when they're severely judgmental and pessimistic) to get in the way. Yes, the outcome could prove disastrous but maybe the happiness (albeit momentary) would make it worthwhile. :)

And while I get why Darcy had to be portrayed in that characterization (anything less will make her boring), I wonder if the sympathy vote would have tilted heavily toward her direction had she been less, errr, bitchy. After all, the point is not that she was being a bitch, hence she had it coming. The point was that no matter how great a girl is, if she's wrong for a guy then that's just how it is. They have no business getting married. And she really shouldn't be forcing herself or the guy to get married.

I also particularly loved the statement about how it was a good thing that it was Dex who made the decision to break it off. Before Darcy could say anything. Because indeed, if Darcy was the one who initiated things then Rachel would always be wondering if Dex ended up with her only because things can no longer work out with Darcy. She would have always wondered whether she was really first choice or was merely chosen by default because the other option fell short. And while some situations can be netiher black nor white, choices always have to be so. Otherwise they aren't really choices, are they?

Giffin's second book is about Darcy this time. And while the teaser isn't as appealing as this particular book, I'm still interested to read it (if only I could find it), in order to see Darcy's side of the story and give her some sort of redemption (See, I am so fair! Why are other people not fair? Hahaha). I'm hoping Darcy ends up with Ethan. ;)

P. S. A movie for Something Borrowed might be on its way?! Except it stars Hilary Swank as Rachel. Ugh! >.<

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Loops and Shuffles

I predicted that Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist would at best make me go all eeeeeee! and want to be a teenager again. There are moments when it did, especially because Michael Cera is ten times more adorable in this movie than he was in Juno. Sigh! Michael Cera makes me even more sure to go for the nice guy this time (this time? next time? *shrug*). :P

The movie itself was unconventionally, realistically adorable. The supporting cast was a fistful of fun (they're not a fistful of a--holes, contrary to how Norah put it), filled with a quirky yet charming gum-obsessed (ick!) best friend and gorgeous gay bandmates. That Tris girl was also so effectively annoying I wanted to go ahead and punch her myself (so mature, I know :P). And I genuinely applauded when Nick just took off and left her there. Atta boy! :) Some of the scenes were a bit on the eew side, but I couldn't help but marvel at the symbolisms (the gum and the search for Fluffy/Caroline especially) that made this movie special in a world were romance and romantic comedies run rampant. I also love that the movie basically happens in just one night (technically speaking, just the significant bulk of it though). Because really, sometimes, it only takes one night to change your life (WTH, WTH, WTH?! Where is my one night? Hahaha).

And while this is a movie about teenagers, it is not just another teen movie. Yes, the characters may be teenagers, but their predicaments are not exclusively for teenagers only. Because when do you really stop going around circles, start letting go of the past and allow yourself a fresh new shot at happiness? To me at least, that was the movie's fundamental question.

P. S. I'd love to read the book they based this movie on too. I hope I find it. :) Tsk, tsk. Here I go with the books again. :)

Not Bad, Australia

It seems as if I have too much time in my hands, because I can now afford to watch movies of epic lengths. In fairness to Australia, it was much better than I expected it to be. I expected to sleep through parts of the movie (or leave early if necessary, haha), and yet I didn't. Which just goes to prove that my subconscious thinks Hugh Jackman is sexier than Brad Pitt (Yes, I'm pinning this one on my subconscious. So when is that Wolverine movie showing again? :D).

Now back to Australia... I must say I'm glad I watched it. Even if the trailer wasn't that appealing and I really watched it only because it's a Hugh Jackman film (my heart literally stopped when he showed up at that ball all clean-shaven and every bit gorgeous). However, I must say Nicole is perfect for the part of an English aristocrat and she proves yet again that she is regality personified. I especially loved the funny kangaroo scene.

I was also in awe of that black horse Capricornia (or at least that's what I thought I heard it was called). I never knew I'd find a horse so beautiful, and yet I saw it and was utterly amazed at how perfect it looked. The droving scenes are also pretty exciting, even when my initial reaction was that it would be tiring to watch herds of cattle being moved to a faaaar location for days.

While the plot is nothing extraordinary, the themes of love and solidarity are nothing new, after all, the historical and cultural circumstances did provide a fresh, educational take. It was also easy to pinpoint when the movie can be cut to shorten it. The return to Far Away Downs could have been a perfect happy ending. And yet, the movie continued on, in a spectacle of this-and-that-being-dead-and-alive-after-all-only-to-be-(probably)-killed-again. But then again, had they nipped it at a typical happy ending, the movie wouldn't be anything special. Because much of the emotional beauty in this movie were in those scenes when the happy backdrop started to fade.

All in all, it's a good movie that was worth the 2 hours and 35 minutes of my time. Sure I kept on telling myself that I was gonna hurl if I hear one more instrumental tune of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. But it was Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman at their romantic best. In a scenic, scenic tale. I'd be willing to take a little cheese with that. :)

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The Sleep-Inducing Case of Benjamin Button

True to my narcoleptic nature, I feel asleep while watching Brad Pitt in his critically acclaimed movie. And that probably means I have no authority to make a movie review because I missed bits and pieces of the film. I must say though that the movie wasn't necessarily bad. I really just expected more from it. And while I understand why the movie had to be long (we're talking about an 80-year lifespan here), the movie was just too long (almost 3 hours), and there were a lot of dragging scenes that it could have done away with.

Furthermore, I will go ahead and say that, with all due respect to Brad Pitt, I don't think he deserves an Oscar for the movie. I don't really know who he's up against, and yet, I really, really don't think he deserves an Oscar. Although I was absolutely amazed by how they were able to successfully make him look really younger in the movie. Hmmmm... I wonder if his trusty wrinkle iron had anything to do with it. Hahaha. I really had to plug that in, eh? ;D

Whatever my complaints are, I do appreciate that at its very core, the movie is a story of universal love, however unconventional the circumstances are. And it is the type of powerful love everyone would want to have. One that knows no distance, no time limit, no end. One that requires genuine sacrifice for what's good for the beloved. Even my momentary drifts while watching the movie did not stop me from catching that.

P. S. I didn't know Benjamin Button's family really made buttons!!! Hahaha.

Bride Wars (Spoiler Alert!)

Sometimes all I need to be convinced to watch a movie is the title and the lead actress. And when you throw in Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson in a movie entitled Bride Wars, I'm in. I don't remember having watched either of them as brides before, and it seems like it might be a great chick flick.

Interested?

The storyline, as might be gleaned from the title, is about BFFs who ultimately become archenemies because their weddings are set at the exact same place and date. Anne is stunning as usual, and while her beauty is not exactly conventional for most, she is still one of my favorite faces in Hollywood. Unfortunately, while it was nice to see Kate Hudson sport a stronger character than her usual roles, I can't help but think that her fiercened-up look didn't quite suit her. After all, her charm has always been girl-next-door-ish, and so the bangs, dark eyeliner and contacts combination just didn't sit well.


And while I didn't exactly expect an earth-shattering plot, I also can't help but wish the antics the girls pulled were more outrageous. Even the catfight was nothing worth mentioning. The only thing probably worth mentioning is seeing Anne sport that bright orange tan (yes, she's still beautiful). They're grown women for crying out loud! Why did it seem like they can't even give Regina George and Cady Haren a run for their money? It might be bad enough if it were to happen in real life, but nothing great to watch in a movie. One scene worth mentioning though was seeing Anne dance that dance when she crashed Kate's bachelorette party. Atta girl! Who knew she had that talent?

The surprising twist for me was seeing Bryan Greenberg (a.k.a. Jake of OTH). From scene one, I was kinda hoping he'd end up with Anne in the movie, and true enough, he did! Yey!

Sadly though, Bride Wars is nothing but a DVD movie. A DVD movie you watch when you have time to kill and nothing better to do. Oh well, let's just hope the other chick flicks to come are better. Next stop? He's Just Not That into You. This one better not be another star-studded waste.

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Down to the Last Tube?

Lipstick Jungle recently aired what might have been their final episode. Which is why I expected more. And yet how many minutes into the episode, I felt like I was being dragged into something because they can afford all the time in the world to spread out new plotlines.

I get that they have to leave question marks here and there. So they can get more lipsticks in protest to keep the show. But that wasn't how you end a season, and possibly even a show. It lacked more longing appeal somehow, and ironically, it was the men of the show who left the good impressions in that episode. Joe being the most romantic billionaire ever. Shane shifting from being Mr. Jerkface to Mr. Will Pull Through and Come Back. And Kirby, Kirby, Kirby... I will miss Kirby the most. His little speech for Nico reminded me of why he will always be everyone's favorite and not just because he's the hottest of 'em all ("I know what I want. I wanna be with you. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.")

Sure they threw in that slideshow of clips to make me realize I was really gonna miss the girls if ever they no longer come back. But I seriously think they could have done better than just that.

Better Late Than Never

Vampires have always intrigued me, even when I hated horror stories. From the time Brad Pitt's face comforted my horror in Interview (I don't remember the movie, I only remember Brad, and errrr... the disturbing kid that was Kirstin Dunst) to the time Kate Beckinsale gorgeously kicked ass in Underworld. Which is why I wonder now why I haven't jumped into the Twilight bandwagon until recently.

I watched the movie though. But only after everyone had watched it already. And it did not really inspire me enough to read the books. But I did try reading a few pages of Twilight after watching the movie. Because everyone says that the book is much better. Indisputably so. I was initially bored reading the book, but maybe because there were other things I chose to prioritize (hahaha). And I've always thought it was a teenager's cup of tea. Something I was too old to read.

Of course I was wrong. I had fun reading book after book after book after book. Why else would I read them all for two and a half days straight ignoring the perpetual migraine I've been having since I arrived home. Ignoring pretty much everyone, even Nischie. Hahaha. Which was not really such a bad thing because she learned to say "book" because of it (excuses, excuses).

The books were drenched with romance. Absolutely. What with Edward being just so romantically perfect (I'm gushing and I don't care. He glistens like diamonds in the sunlight... how can you not? :P And besides, he was beyond physical beauty). I guess I'm still a sucker for irrevocable, unconditional, endless and truest of true love (aren't we all?). But the storylines, the myths and histories and personal accounts, and the minute unique details and trivia were also interesting to say the least. After all, to spin a story about such well-known myths as vampires (even the feud between werewolves and vampires) into something remarkably different was just pure genius. And the writing was beautiful. God bless poetic prose. It is now officially my kinda mush.

I even grew to appreciate Jacob even when he annoyed me at first. That it wasn't so icky when he imprinted on you-know-who. But then again, a seven-ish age gap is nothing compared to a hundred or so.

I'm so grateful to my sister for her hand at my finally reading the books. If she hadn't specified them to be at the top of her Christmas wish list, I wouldn't have thought of reading them myself (what with her contagious enthusiasm). Of course, I had to let her spoil the experience with all my prodding for spoilers. That which I really regret. I would have enjoyed it much more if I didn't know about a number of storylines and twists. I think I knew most of the twists before actually reading about them, and those that I hadn't, I terribly liked (dang!). And for whatever reason, Breaking Dawn is my favorite. Hands down.

I hope the next three movies get better based on feedback from the first movie. That movie which I reiterate to not have done the book justice. Tsk, tsk. And it would be a greater disappointment if the colorful scenes of the last three books will not be given justice as well. And maybe it's not too late to recast Jacob? Hahaha. Fine, fine. At least make him "grow" handsome.

I can't wait for Midnight Sun (it has to push through!). I'm still debating on whether to read that half-ebook circulating around or not. Or rather, to be politically correct, the official incomplete draft. I might need to be as strong as Edward to resist. Hahaha. Also, there's a Jacob-Renesmee sequel, right? ;) Please, please.