Another One By Scorsese And Look, There’s De Niro

I am not the number one fan, but I have always admired Scorsese for his taste and style. Earlier today I saw New York, New York, which is, I think, one of the man’s best works, in MGM. I watched it solely because, since I didn’t know the title at first or who directed it, of De Niro. The younger De Niro facinates me for reasons I couldn’t figure out yet. I’ve seen and admired him in The Godfather II and Taxi Driver. The movie, which was shown in 1977, has the element that keeps you hang into it, if not want it so badly. The effect is, and this just based on my own opinion, so impressive I want to see it (the movie) again after it ended. And the ending was perfect. Think Taxi Driver, think No Country For Old Men, think Before Sunset. It ended but it didn’t. And that’s talent. And that’s art. And that’s pure pleasure.

Punch Drunk Love For Breakfast Is Too Much

At around three in the morning, after reading a few pages of All The Pretty Horses (which I have been reading for months now since I’m reading four other books at the same time), I went out and eat in one of my favorite “eating places” along Boni Ave. As usual I ordered the one I would always order everytime I eat there. Then I decided to go online in one of the Interner Cafes around that area- the only cafe opened that time. I watched Punch Drunk Love, the whole movie, through Youtube. I’ve been wanting to see this movie for years but I couldn’t find a copy, not even a pirated one. So I was happy a Samaritan downloaded it on Youtube. The want to see this film was not about Adam Sandler. It’s the fact that P.T. Anderson wrote and directed it. He did wonderfully in There Will Be Blood and Magnolia that whatever movie he makes will guaranty greatness. I was right.

And oh, that scene when Barry (Sandler) attended his sister’s birthday party and he talked with his brother-in-law (who is a dentist) about his problem, was amazing and touching and perfect. He (Sandler) told him (the brother-in-law) that he has a problem and asked if he could help him- that he sometimes doesn’t like himself and that he cries a lot without any reason. Then he cried. It had me.

Cheers, And A Burger Afterwards (And Run On’s)

I’m a bit tipsy right now. I went out with some friends, who also happen to be my batchmates at work, and have a couple of bottles of beer earlier this day after our shift, which ended at 5 a.m. I don’t really go out that much. I consider myself a loner. I don’t really know why but I really do. And the guys I went out with aren’t my closest friends at work (But I’m not saying I’m not close to them). It’s a nice idea though, if I really think about it, since I was able to spend time with my other friends and, in a way, I was able to know them more.

Then on my way to my apartment, I bumped to a friend- someone who also happen to be my batchmate before, and whom I consider as one of my nicest friends. We call (or used to call) him daddy Nelson. Unfortunately, and this is a sad thing for me, he wasn’t able to pass the last assessment we had on the last day of our product training. We ate. I’m glad he’s fine. And as I would always tell him before, I kept on reminding him to do whatever it is that makes, or will make, him happy. We talked.

And now I’m in front of the PC when I should already be in bed. I have the urge of blogging so I decided to add an entry first and at the same time check my friendster out. Because seriously, this doesn’t happen all the time. That you feel the want to write something you genuinely feel.

Today’s My Independence Day (Sort Of)

So today, I’ve changed. I didn’t take the bus earlier this day with the person I (I think) love, and who, by the way, can’t love me back. I’m done. It got so tiring my heart felt like resting for a while. I’ve also read today’s paper (I love literature but I’m not into news) and actually found it interesting. I have my hair cut just a few minutes ago. Just when I’m starting to love how they grow, I had them cut. I just don’t want to get to a point when I no longer can’t let go of it and end up looking like a terrorist. I ate breakfast, which I don’t normally do. I went to bed early and woke up late, which, again, I don’t normally do. Now, I feel good. I don’t really think I’ve changed though. Maybe I just tried to walk away from all the things that I’ve always wanted to get away from just to feel normal again. Or maybe not. But whatever it is, it works.

i have to write 611 words just to make a point

We have a 2-year old baby in our apartment. She loves cartoons, which is understandable (and acceptable) for someone her age (Even grown ups love watching cartoons). But seeing Mickey Mouse and his gang on a daily basis can be dangerous. For me atleast, it is. That’s why when I see a cartoon so good I can actually watch it all over again until I’m brain dead, I become addicted to it. It vanishes in me the concept that cartoons are only for kids and that they are stupid to watch- that cartoons (I think there’s another, more appropriate term for this), don’t always have to be shallow to be funny.

One of my favorite animated series is Invader Zim. It’s so cool it makes me think that aliens, if such “creatures” exist, are, well, cooler than humans. I have quite a few favorites other than the one already mentioned. And just recently, I’ve seen three wonderful animated series, all in Jack’s TV, that are way far better compared to, say, reality-based shows and wrestling (fuck). These are King of the Hill, Family Guy and American Dad! (The exclamation is part of the title, not to be mistaken as something else).

Last Sunday (or was it already Monday morning), I was able to get the chance of watching these animated series. That was also my first time seeing them. I asked (though “forced” is a more applicable word for it) a housemate to not yet sleep and just watch the series with me (and I believe he has an exam later that day). My favorite of the three is American Dad! Though it’s too early to say so since it was the first time I’ve seen it, and that it’s the only episode I’ve seen so far. Why? because it’s hilarious, in a very effective way. In that particular episode, which was entitled Lincoln Lover, Stan (the American Dad!) wanted to speak at the Republican National Convention on behalf of the Langley chapter. But the chapter has choosen a different canditate to do so. He then accepted the endorsement he had gotten from the local chapter of Gay Republicans. But you see, Stan, in my understanding, abhors homosexuality. Before even getting an endorsement from the local chapter of gay republicans, he would always tell his son what he, and the society, thinks of “gays”, and have given his son pointers on how to determine if a man is gay or not (some of those we are already familiar with). Then again, since he was given up by “straight” republicans and his only chance of being able to talk in the convention is through the help of “gay” republicans, he tried to somehow appear gay to them. He went to clubs gay people go to, drink what gay people drink, talk in a gay-ish fashion and even contemplated of having sex with a male (which he confessed with his wife, and which was a very  funny scene; you should see it). He went that far just to be able to get what he really wanted.

And this of course reminds me of our politicians today. They will do everything just to be in power and stay in power. I am not being judgmental. And I’m not saying that all politicians are like that. Sometimes these people enjoy the “power” that they tend to forget the main purpose why they were voted by the people. I’m not comparing them with Stan though because Stan realized something valuable when he got “there”. As a matter of fact, I wanted them (our politicians) to be like Stan. Funny without appearing stupid and capable of “seeing” what needs to be “seen”.

It Was Dark, But I’d Love It A Little More Darker

My friend, Nelmar, and I saw The Dark Knight last Sunday. We both liked it. I liked it because it’s dark. But I was expecting a darker one; It would have easily become my favorite had it been as dark as I was expecting it to be (see P.T. Anderson’s There Will Be Blood). It doesn’t matter anymore if it wasn’t that “dark” though because Maggie Gyllenhaal (Mona Lisa Smile) was in the movie and so as Michael Caine (Children of Men) and Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby). And of course, there was Heath Ledger. I guess Jack Nicholson, if he watched the movie, didn’t mind Heath playing the character. Heath nailed it big time. He made the industry and his fans, myself included, miss him terribly. What he did in The Dark Knight was superb. He’s a pure talent. Joker had never appeared so convincing. And what surprised me, while watching him on the big screen, was the fact that I believed him, or rather his character. I shouldn’t be surprised by that, but I was.

 By the way, the suit looked sexy on Christian Bale. Plus he did great in the movie, too. I felt him. I didn’t like his voice when he’s Batman though. He sounded stupid.

not sure yet

I think I’m falling in love again.

they hated it, but i don’t care

Have seen Serbis (Service)- a Filipino film by Brillante Mendoza, and which was luckily selected to be a contender for Palme d’Or in this year’s Cannes Film Festival- today. This is the third time a Filipino film had been considered in the festival, and Mendoza is the second Filipino director to ever make it in the said competition. At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked it but after the second viewing, I realized how beautiful it was. It wasn’t pleasing to watch, especially with all the noises you could hear in some of the scenes. But it has something in it that would make you watch it (and I’m not talking about the porn stuff here). Most critics didn’t like the film, and most of them had written that the film shouldn’t have been considered in Cannes. But, really, what do they know? The movie is beautiful not because it’s artsy, but because it’s realistic and honest (But it’s artsy for me). The ending is beautiful too. This film makes me proud of Filipino talent.

it reminds me of matrix, and i love it.

Kung Fu Panda is awesome. I’m glad we, me and a friend, watched it. It was not planned, I mean us seeing the movie. But since my friend paid for our lunch, I invited him to go see a movie. I know he wanted to see the said film. I remembered him inviting me to see it weeks prior to the movie’s release date.

 There were so many fine moments in the movie. I cried [secretly, since I'm with Nelmar] a few times, especially during the scene when Po was seen by Master Oogway eating the peaches from the peach tree of wisdom. It was funny but when the two started talking, there were so much wisdom in there than one would expect from an animated film. And it was touching.

This is one of the lines, by Master Oogway, in the movie that really hit me: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.

 

fear her, madonna

Last night, my “housemates” were watching the Pinoy version of The Singing Bee. I was watching with them but after a few minutes I went inside my room to read All the Pretty Horses [I love McCarthy and his writings. God has really given him the imagination and the hands of a master. And I love God for that. Hehehe] Then I just felt the urge to wash my hands so I went to the other washroom of the apartment, near the kitchen. I noticed that the song being sang by the contestant on the TV was a bit groovy. I forgot the title. Lea, our helper, was cooking in the kitchen. And there, ladies and germs, I caught her dancing. It was horrifying in a not horrifying way. Yes, it was that confusing. I just stood there for a few seconds and watched her do her thing. When she noticed my presence she stopped. We were silent for three seconds then burst out laughing. Now everytime I see her I can’t stop myself from laughing and she would laugh as well.

If that happened to me- I mean someone caught me dancing- I’d disappear. No matter what it takes. It’s either that or I’ll die.