The Golden Compass...

I've read it's from a book written by a known atheist, Phillip Pullman, but i don't mind who is the author, I wanted a good story.

I'm a Potter fan and I have never heard of His Dark Materials trilogy before so watching the movie without having read the book means no expectations. So I just get inside the cinema and watched the entire show. The idea of a parallel universe is quite unique, the very idea of having a soul that is an animal is better. I wish I had one and I wanted it to be a tiger, just like Daniel Craig's. Although the idea of the story is very unique, the entire movie is somewhat rushed. Everything is put into the movie all at once and we left us no time to internalize the characters. I felt no connection to the character of Billy, who is supposed to be pitied upon, but I know nothing about him than just a friend of Lyra.

The actors were great, Nicole is effective and the Dakota is adorable. But the big names attached to the movie have less screen time than the space their names occupied on the posters.

The CGI is impressive and the battle of the bears is a history in the making for great movie scenes. Sir Ian's voice for Iorek is as powerful as the bear. Over all, the movie is an experience, a good journey to a new fantasy.

After seeing the movie, I am intrigue about the books so I'll get them one of these days. It's going to be another addiction.


"It's fiction, for God's sake!"

Part of your World!

Hey guy!


Just saw this post on YouTube and enjoyed the voice.

Marco, you will envy him!


Ciao!

Apat Dapat?

Wenn Deramas's comedies are known for great punchlines. Most punchlines are related to movies and pop culture. Stories are often just a backdrop, moviegoers do mind about the story but at times are more interested how the characters deliver their lines.

Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat is the latest offering from Deramas. Having delivered the box-office success to Ai-ai delas Alas's starer Tanging Ina, he again gave us another spin in comedy. The movie's theme is not laughable because most of us don't look at death as laughable. But Wenn's actors are in it to give the viewers something to laugh at. Eugene, Pokwang, Candy and Rufa Mae are good at delivering the punchlines. Problem tough is that the audio is not good and I was able to notice lines uttered like a whisper.

Some scenes are predictable, but still laughable. Eugene and Candy are more mature than the other two in terms of acting and delivery. Even in scenes that involves being dramatic, there are good in every department.

Some of the flaws, which are obvious in every Deramas' comedies, which I don't like, are the fast-forwards. I'm not sure it is necessary to tell a time is passing.

What I would love to see in Wenn's next project to have a comedy where people will laugh at the words being uttered and not on actors punching each other. That would be a movie to look forward to.

At least Wenn was able to persuade me to watch a local movie.

Ciao! I'm out!

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When PREGNANCY is the subject...

I got a phone call yesterday from a friend, a kababata, and I was surprised to hear her. We are not close friends but maybe because of the bond we had since we were kids she decided to call me. We talked much about our classmates and common friends we knew in Malita. Then I asked her what is she doing in Manila, she was surprised to know how did I knew she was there, duh! your using a landline! As the talking progressed, she asked me if I was already married, I said I'm not and no plans at all. I asked her back the same question, she said she doesn't have a boyfriend so that would be impossible. She said that it's ok for guys to not think about marriage or having a family because we don't have a deadline, girls do. We are both 27 and she said that bearing a child at 30 would be difficult. I guess that's what the Essence of Being a Woman is all about. :D

My brother's wife was 32 when she gave birth to their eldest son. Now, she is again pregnant at 33. I think when a lady wanted to settle down or have a bay, 30 would be a good age. It would help the population, the budget of the government would be lessen, the parents won't be having a problem sending their kids to school, everything would be happy.

As we continued our chat, I told her about our classmates who are either pregnant and married or just pregnant. She was happy for them, whatever their situations are. I told her to hire someone to get her pregnant so she won't have to deal with her dilemma. Menopause is a mile away from her.

So I told her to go back to our place because there are a lot of guys there who would love to get her pregnant.


Oi! I'm out!

What's up with these girls?

These days, I've found myself falling in love with these girls' kind of music. They have different genre but they all sound good to my ears.

Lily Allen - Her upbeat music is very likeable.
Regina Specktor - A Fiona Apple-like music with rich lyrics.
Amy Winehouse - The British soul diva who has been hailed by critics for her sultry voice and no-nonsense lyrics. Her latest album tops the chart in UK and US.
Corrine Bailey Rae - After hearing Put Your Records On, I was curious as to what her other music would be like, it was good.
Colbie Caillat - I don't know how to read her name but her music is fresh. All good to the ears and reflective.

What's your music today?

Ciao!

Jesse Bradford hears The Echo

Jesse Bradford has signed on to star in Yam Laranas' Hollywood version of the chilling Sigaw entitled The Echo. Bradford will play the role of James Blanco's but with a different characterization. The movie had been rewritten but the producers opted to have Laranas to direct the movie. They will start shooting come August in Canada.

Can't wait!

My Birthday with my Brother, Sister and Nephew

Last June 3, I turned 27 (God! I'm getting older!). I was supposed to be with my officemates the the day before in IGaCoS (Samal), to celebrate together with one of them, but I passed on it because I wanted to spend my day with my siblings.



My sister is here in Davao for her studies same with my brother, they stayed in my cousin's house in Matina. Since my nephew, who is 21, is in Davao too, I asked him to join us. We watched Pirates 3 at NCCC (I fell asleep in the middle of the screening), while eating popcorn and sipping soda. Then we headed to my apartment to have dinner with my housemates.





Nothing much!

You should watch this movie!

I was curious about Neil Gaiman's writing, so I brought a couple of The Sandman comics on National Bookstore online. Then I got hook up with the story, I bought a couple more, which means I still have to buy the remaining 7 compilations. Although a compilation would cost me 900, I can't complain because it's worth it.

Neil Gaiman's Stardust, another graphic novel of his, which they say is a fairy tale for adults and which I couldn't find on NBS online, is coming to US screens come August 10. And here's a TV spot:




I'm out!

Spiderman 3 is good, but not good enough

I'm a fan of all Spidey movies and fell for the 2nd part. So I was very much excited to see the new movie. Malls with four theaters filled all with Spiderman 3, so there are no choices. The ticket price was upped by 10 pesos. The anticipation is really huge.





The first part of the movie is all good. I like the start where they showed a brief look back at the old films then taking all of us to the current situation. Everyone is happy and Spidey is now a celebrity, as well as MJ. The action starts, but I noticed that some are too cartoony, rubbery? At times I felt like watching Shrek.





The introduction of Gwen Stacy and Eddie Brock is a breath of fresh air. Bryce as Stacey is really believable, I would rather like her to be with Peter that MJ in this movie. Topher is also good, he could even play Spiderman with his cocky attitude.





I would have liked Church but his character is only introduced a little. Wishing there could have been more.





Bruce Campbell is again awesome in his cameo with his fake French accent. He once won't let Peter get into MJ's play on the 2nd part. This time, his good with Peter and he's so funny.





The battle could have been more beautiful if they made perfect the CGI. It kept seeing Shrek.





Sam Raimi could have been tired of the franchise so filled the movie everything he had on mind and it could a problem if they're planning for a 4th film and having him on the camera.





Shit! One villain could have made it perfect!





:D I'm out!

Manage and Motivate!

I always seem to like handling people, I mean managing, and I am fortunate enough that I have become one. There are issues that I have seen that I would like to share.

I have read an article on JoelOnSoftware.com that talks about incentive programs and I do agree with him that on this kind of business, which is application development, the incentive program is unnecessary. Giving someone an additional pay for the basis of completing a project ahead of time or because a project encounters lesser bugs gives lesser feeling of importance to a developer. We work for the love of creating these applications. :)

I think that we can be HIGHLY motivated by the kind of atmosphere we have in an office. A spacious, cozy place would be a great place to start. I always complain about my chair before, it couldn't support my back that I have to move a lot to stretch my back. Most of my time, I spend on standing up or take a walk to not stress my back. So I have a small production. Now that my boss gave me a chair with a nice back support, I get to do more. On meetings with our bosses, I always talked about the issue, of giving the developers a nice seat. I believe it's helps motivate them to work.

A nice and fast PC would also give boost to production and a nice long table. Of course, the people around us, in our offices also contributes. A smile when facing an officemate could brighten the entire day.

Just a thought!

I'm out!

Waking up and Working Early

Suddenly the world turns upside down, we have to report for work at 1 in the morning. The management decided to have two rounds of work each day, at 1am and at 9am. So I changed my body clock, literally.

I have made a schedule to sleep between 4pm until midnight, no waking up for dinner, I'll have my dinner at 12. First day of work seems fine, I have kept my brains working 'round the clock. But when I got home, the weather was not participative. Seems like these days, Davao became a melting pot, you could melt yourself by the heat of the sun. When the sun is still up, I couldn't get a good sleep. My room is not air-conditioned, it was so hot that even the electric fan exhausted hot air. I wasn't able to get some sleep. I got hot-headed so I headed downstairs to sleep on the living room. But unfortunately, my house mates were all downstairs and awake and chatting and the TV is on. There was too much noise to get a sleep.

My second day at work became stressful, my eyes are excited to get a rest but my workload is full. Even the up beat music can't help me to get to work. After work, I decided to sleep at around 4pm but I woke up at around 8pm because I was very hungry. At around 9pm, I decided to get some sleep, but still the room is so hot, I still sweat even if I had the fan at full speed.

Only the weather could help me get through this problem. While I was writing this at 2am, I was helping myself not to fall asleep.

I'm out.