BEING BRAVE

"If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?" 

-- Princess Merida, 'Brave'

Photo taken by Hubby, from today's movie date. 

Brave's storyline was a little bit...underwhelming. 

But it touched me because I'm still in my "reflecting over life" birthday mood. What a year it has been! Exactly twelve months ago, we bravely took the big leap into the great unknown.  

Fade in music:

"What a journey it has been

And the end is not in sight

But the stars are out tonight

And they're bound to guide my way..."

Hope the past twelve months have been as exciting, as blessed, as awesome for all of you. 

"Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one's destiny intertwines with many others. It's the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led." -- Princess Merida

Bold and Brave

A 

POPCORN PICKS

Out on a date at the movies: 21 Jump Street, The Avengers, Dark Shadows

21 Jump Street: It was so much fun watching this. A very nice surprise. I enjoyed it more because Hubby was laughing out loud, bentang-benta sa akin, pero mas benta sa kanya! Lol. I liked Channing Tatum better here than in his recent romantic drama The Vow (that one disappointed me). Mag-comedy na lang kaya siya? Among the movie's best moments: Johnny Depp's cameo ( FYI, in case you're too young to remember, he was part of the TV show.)

The Avengers: As expected, it was a crowd-pleaser. A blockbuster spectacle. I loved every moment of it! And I'm not a comic book / Marvel fan. The story, the action, the visuals were very exciting for me. Hubby's reaction as soon as the credits rolled: "Pambata." I guess I'll forever be young-at-heart, hehe.

Dark Shadows: "Family is the only real wealth." We're fans of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton so we enjoyed their reunion. I have never seen (or heard) of the TV show so it was easy for me to appreciate the adaptation. It's no  Edward Scissorhands (A classic in our book.) but I won't go so dark on the reviews naman -- it's getting a lot of flack especially from the TV show's fans. It had its moments.

Liked anything you've seen lately?

HARRY POTTER EXHIBIT IN SG

I know a few people who'll go crazy over this.

A first in Asia: the Harry Potter Exhibit at the ArtScience Museum, Singapore. Tickets on sale by May 1.

Check the museum website for details.

WATER HANDS at the SEA FILM FESTIVAL

Movie Date: "Water Hands," at the South East Asian Film Festival

SAM at 8Q, 222 Queen Street 

The festival will run until March 31, 2012

The Philippines' "Zombadings" is among the featured films! I'm so curious how the locals would find it.

Anyway, "Water Hands is a road movie about a Chinese sailor who starts doubting his beliefs after experiencing the beauty of the remote Balkan landscapes and the folk stories of the region. The more he explores the landscapes and the stories around him, the more he is determined to change something about himself. However, his attempt at making life-changing decisions become more difficult because of a woman, "She", a mysterious and sultry creature who keeps on calling him back to his country, his life and his reality."

The film-maker, Vladimir Todorovic on his creation, "After hearing numerous folk stories from the region (Serbia / Montenegro) and comparing them to the everyday life of an expatriate in Singapore, I decided to make a movie capturing these polarities. Thus, one half of the movie focuses on the reality of common people living in the economically devastated Balkans, while the other half paints quasi-bourgeois life of a foreigner in Singapore." 

Tickets: SGD10 each

Water Hands' director, writer, producer Vladimir Todorovic

I love how quiet the movie was. And it was fresh not to really see the cast mouthing their lines. You'll never get to see the sailor (Water Hands means sailor daw in Chinese.). While "She" (who represents the sailor's mother, sister, girlfriend, wife, mistress) has several exposures, never siya magsasalita on-cam. Puro thoughts. Puro reading out their exchange of love letters. 


With the journey Hubby and I are currently taking, relate na relate ako sa pelikula. I actually cried at the end of the movie, after "She" asked the final line of the film, "When are you coming home?" 

EXTREMELY LOUD, INCREDIBLY CLOSE

Two days to the Oscars and we've seen only five and a half of the nine Best Picture nominees. We loved Midnight in Paris, The Descendants, Moneyball, and The Help. Just saw Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close. It was extremely disappointing, incredibly dull. Did I miss something there? Why was it nominated at all? We still haven't found the will to finish The Tree of Life (hence the "half"). We'll watch The Artist tomorrow. We'll probably get to see Hugo and War Horse after the Awards Night.

Here's E!'s Oscars predictions.

Our Best Picture bet: It's a 4-way tie, as of today.

It'd be great to see George or Brad do an acceptance speech for their performances. Wishing...

THE BODYGUARD

Jennifer Hudson beautifully sang at The Grammys. Friends posted their favorite songs on Facebook. People did Whitney karaoke nights.

In honor of  Whitney Houston, I watched (er, endured) "The Bodyguard." It was my first time to see it. Muntik ko nang hindi kayanin. Out of respect, tinapos ko. I'm cheesy. Pero may hangganan pala. 

The biggest surprise: While I was watching, Hubby revealed that he actually saw it back in 1992.

Hubby: "It was as big as Ghost."
Me: "OK, Honey, I will always love you... Sa presinto ka magpaliwanag."

Hahaha.

Anyway, I was more moved by Kevin Costner's eulogy six days ago. "I was your pretend bodyguard once...and now you're gone too soon." And after talking about Whitney's insecurities, he ended with "When you sing before Him, don't you worry. You will be good enough." He made me cry.

I may not have liked the film but yes, I know, as long as there are love stories (happy or sad), Whitney's songs will live on.

THE HELP

"God says we need to love our enemies. It hard to do. But it can start by telling the truth. No one had ever asked me what it feel like to be me. Once I told the truth about that, I felt free. And I got to thinking about all the people I know. And the things I seen and done. My boy Treelore always said we gonna have a writer in the family one day. I guess it's gonna be me." -- Aibeleen Clark (brilliantly portrayed by Viola Davis), The Help

Best Picture indeed!
"The Help" recently swept awards at the SAG.

Moving. Inspiring, Empowering. The Help is such a compelling drama about the African-American maid's point of view.

You should see this. If you're a mom and a boss (matinong ina at amo, at that), I recommend you watch it with your children...and maybe even your help. Be sure makatao ka ha, or else yaya could pick up ideas.

My favorite napanganga-talaga-ako moment:

Minny: 

Eat my shit!

Hilly: 

Excuse me!

M: 

I said eat...my...shit.

H: 

Have you lost your mind?

M: 

No, ma'am but you is about to. 

'Cause you just did.

I was so impressed with the movie, I'm reading the book next. I've had a copy since last year (a paperback I brought with me from Manila) but I've never opened it. Will do that now. 

Movie tagline: Change begins with a whisper. 

GEORGE & BRAD's FILMS

It's awards season again. We're trying to watch all the 84th Oscars Best Picture nominees before the February 26, 2012 Awards Night.

As of today, we've seen 4 of the 9 nominees:

1. Midnight In Paris: We saw this last year, see my entry here. Fantastic screenplay! We really love Woody Allen's wit. The guy's a genius (meron pa bang hindi nakakaalam nun?). 
2. The Tree of Life: We've been trying to finish this one too many times. Pero ang hirap talaga niya panoorin. Dahil kaya it's...pretentious? 
3. The Descendants 
4. Moneyball 
5. Hugo
6. The Artist
7. The Help
8. War Horse
9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

The Descendants

We loved the family drama. Such an engaging story. Great performances, especially from George.  

A family drama that hits home

The film's first lines got me hooked...

Matt King: My friends on the Mainland think just because I live in Hawaii, I'm in paradise. Like a permanent vacation. We're all just out here sipping Mai-Tais, shaking our hips, catching waves. Are they insane? Do they think we're immune to life? How can they possibly think our families are less screwed up, our cancers less fatal, our heartaches less painful? Hell, I haven't been on a surfboard in 15 years. For the last 23 days I've been living in a paradise of IVs, urine bags, and trachea tubes. Paradise? Paradise can go fuck itself.  

A winner.

Moneyball

Very inspiring. Especially since it's based on a true story. Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is the General Manager of a loser baseball team, out to change the game for good. No one believed in his numbers strategy until their team started winning games. Enjoyed it. A lot. And I'm not even a baseball fan.

It's not about the money,
money, money...

How can you be a game-changer? Let us count the ways:

• Movie tagline: What are you really worth? [Reminded me of the quote, "Some people are so poor, all they have is their money.]
• Beane: "...But if we win, on our budget, with this team...we'll have changed the game. And that's what I want. I want it to mean something."
• Beane (after declining the Red Sox's USD12.5M offer): "I made one decision in life based on money. And I swore I'd never do it again."

Definitely worth watching.



P.S.
Both George and Brad deserve the Best Actor trophy. Hindi sila ang mapapanood mo. Kundi sina Matt King and Billy Beane. Husay!

HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAY

To keep our December 25 date tradition of watching films (read: Metro Manila Film Fest marathons back in the Philippines), Hubby and I saw "Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows" today, at the Golden Village,Vivo City, here in Singapore. We watched in the very same cinema where we saw "New Year's Eve," read about that other date here. Yes, we left the theater through the Fire Exit again, fun!

We enjoyed the film. Tight storytelling. Great actors. Amazing set and costume. Exciting action. Funny antics. Naaliw ako sa scoring. We say it's a must-see (Holmes for the Holiday!).

Pero aaminin ko, naiintriga ako with Star Cinema's "Segunda Mano" (The MMFF opens today). Dreaming of home (not Holmes). Dreaming of Manila...

FIRST IMAX MOVIE DATE

Our first IMAX movie date ever: "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," at the Shaw Theatres, Orchard Road (nearest MRT: Orchard). Tickets: SGD20 each. Good thing the movie was worth it. Pang-IMAX siya!  

What we liked best about the film: Technology failed too many times during their mission. So the team's success depended largely on the agents themselves, hindi sa kanilang hi-tech gadgets. Pasok sa tunay na buhay!

No Plan. No Backup. No Choice.

I know we're all facing life "missions."  When our missions prove to be overwhelming, take these inspiring quotes to heart. No they're not from the film (hehe) but from three accomplished individuals who made so many things possible in their lifetime.

• It always seems impossible until it's done. - Nelson Mandela
• It's kind of fun to do the impossible. - Walt Disney
• Nothing is impossible, the word itself says "I'm possible!" - Audrey Hepburn

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

One of our favorite quotes / moments from the film: 

Ernest Hemingway to Gil (Owen Wilson): All men fear death.  It's a natural fear that consumes us all. We fear death because we feel that we haven't loved well enough or loved at all, which ultimately are one and the same. However, when you make love to a truly great woman, one that deserves the utmost respect in this world, and one that makes you feel truly powerful, the fear of death completely disappears. Because when you are sharing your body and heart with a great woman, the world fades away. You are the only ones in the entire universe. You conquer what lesser men have never conquered before, you have conquered a great woman's heart, the most vulnerable thing she can offer to another. Death no longer lingers in the mind. Fear no longer clouds your heart. Only passion for living, and for loving, become your sole reality. This is no easy task for it takes insurmountable courage. But remember this, for that moment that you are making love with a woman of true greatness you will feel immortal. 

Hubby and I looked at each other and I asked, "Kaya fearless ka?" 

He smiled. And then we kissed. 

A lovely midnight movie date in Singapore, thanks to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris."

NEW YEAR'S EVE SPEECH

Feel-Good Film

My favorite moment from the film "New Year's Eve": Hilary Swank's character's speech (finally found it online, hope this is the correct quote) --

"...it's (the ball) suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by.


To remember both our triumphs and missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what new year is all about -- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be. 


So when the ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long."


***
RELATE. RELATE. RELATE. At this point in the movie, umiiyak na ako nang bonggang-bongga. At tawa na nang tawa ang asawa ko. Lol.

We're so blessed to be where we are right now. We're so blessed to experience the ups and downs of this Great Big Adventure. We're so blessed to be allowed to dream bigger dreams. And to pursue them together.

Here's to the promise of a new year!

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Movie Date: New Year's Eve. 

Obvious ba kaninong movie choice ito? Hehe. Dragged Hubby to see it so tickets were on me. 

HAPPY 2012!
We enjoyed the movie.
 Deadma sa bad reviews online.
(So many unhappy people. Lol.)

On the Film: I love ensemble cast movies. It's no "Love Actually." But it's not as bad the online reviews (parang they expected Oscar moments from De Niro, Swank and Berry?). Each subplot had its aliw moments. And as expected, it was mushy, cheesy and feel-good. Maybe we liked it because we're simple, happy people who allowed ourselves to enjoy a movie break. Lol.

My favorite moment from the film: Hilary Swank's character's speech about how New Year's Eve allows us to pause and reflect on our lives. I'm trying to find it online.

On the movie tickets: At the Golden Village, Vivo City, the ticket prices are different for weekdays (cheaper) versus weekends, then again, for before 4pm screenings (cheaper) and after 4pm screenings. We learn something new everyday! Our 6:30pm, Friday tickets were worth SGD11 each (around Php385 each).

The movie theater: We loved our seats! They were suggested by the ticket officer -- center seats, four rows to the last row. The chairs were new, big and comfortable. The leg room, wide. Yey!

Interesting experience: Everyone had to exit through the Fire Exits after the screening (no there was no fire). They blocked the entrance doors. At may staff to show us the way. As in dumaan kami sa back corridors ng mall, at lumabas talaga kami ng building! Hubby and I had fun going through the exit maze. It was a first for us. Babaw joy.  

Are you all set for your New Year's Eve plans? We're welcoming 2012 at the Marina Bay! Excited!

UNFORGETTABLE

I was watching My Amnesia Girl on Cinema One the other night. When John Lloyd's character started re-creating their first meeting (to help Toni Gonzaga's character to recover from "amnesia"), I asked my Hubby, who was busy editing -- Do you remember what I was wearing on our first date?

Right away he answered: Some maroon sando, black pants and black ___.

Wow. He remembers from eleven years ago! Na-aksidente pa yan ha! Haba talaga ng hair ko! LOL

NOTTING HILL

Two nights ago, I was watching Notting Hill for the nth time. 

Got my DVD from HMV HK.

And because my Hubby knows me too well, he watched with me nung Press Conference at The Savoy sequence na. Of course, hindi yung eksena ang inaabangan niya kundi ang pag-iyak ko! LOL.

Yes, even after seeing the film a million times, I still end up crying in a lot of scenes, but especially during the finale -- The Savoy sequence, followed by the wedding, red carpet and reading by the garden bench montage. (I'm silly that way.) Kaya hayun, while I was crying like crazy, may mamang tawa nang tawa, kissing and hugging me until the end credits rolled.  

Sabi nga ni Anna Scott sa movie, "Some people do spend their whole lives together." I think we have a really good chance of being among them. *wink*

CINE EUROPA 14

The plan was to see at least half of this year's Cine Europa films. We're on vacation and we're neighbors with the Shangrila Mall so that should be attainable, right? Wrong. We got to see only two (Austria's "Little Robbers" and Sweden's "Mammoth") out of the seventeen titles. Our "to-dos" are never ending kasi. Hehe.

The free tickets are released
30 minutes before each screening.

The child actors from "Little Robbers" stole our hearts. They were so adorable! The film was so funny -- the comedy's fresh (dahil sa mga bagets), the story was single-minded (its simplicity worked), the timing and pacing just right. 

Siblings Robby and Louise attempt to rob a bank that
forcibly banished their parents from their apartment
after their father lost his job (from PEP.ph)

Mammoth: parang MMK! As in Maalaala Mo Kaya. In more ways than one. (1) A Pinay Nanny working in New York takes really good care of her ward habang nangungulila sa ina ang mga anak niya sa Pilipinas. (2) There were a lot of scenes shot in the Philippines to show the struggle of the Pinay Nanny's family. (3) The dramatic storytelling style is so familiar. Was someone from Star Cinema or ABS-CBN part of the production team? LOL.

The quiet life of a couple changes
after the husband faces unlikely encounters
during his travels. (from PEP.ph)

Pinay actress Marife Necesito who played the role of Nanny Gloria in Mammoth was present during the September 16 Cine Europa screening. Had my photo taken with her, see below. Hubby and I watched this with my college friends L and M.

Watched Mammoth because I'm a fan of Gael Garcia Bernal.
Photos taken from my lowly Nokia E63, sorry.

CRAZY STUPID LOVE

Laughed out loud over the film "Crazy Stupid Love." It was crazy funny. Loved it.

Now, whenever I hear the song "Time of My Life," top of mind is Crazy Stupid Love (Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's scene), not Dirty Dancing.  Hehe.

Hubby and I had the same reaction when the end credits rolled -- it's Hollywood's version of the British comedy "Love Actually." You know, subplots creatively weaved together to create one solid story. But if I have to choose between the two, my vote will go to Love Actually. I find its twists more interesting -- there are more layers, more depth.

I love love stories!

ON BLOGGING

"Blogging is not writing. It's just graffiti with punctuation." -- Dr. Ian Sussman, Contagion

Me: Agree.

LOL

MORE MOVIE DATES

What we recently watched at the cinema...

We love last main feature dates!

CONTAGION: The posters said "Nothing spreads like fear." Love the copy! I wanted it to scare me, to get me really praning. But it didn't. Lumaylay ang story sa gitna.

ONE DAY: It reminded us so much of Il Mare (which was later re-made into The Lake House). If it were indeed inspired by the Korean film, it failed in comparison. The storytelling was too linear. Nag-drag. Maybe I should give the book a chance?

ZOMBADINGS. PATAYIN SA SHOKOT SI REMINGTON: Funny. But it could be funnier. Seeing Roderick Paulate on the big screen again was enough entertainment for me. Lead star Mart Escudero (as Remington) was a revelation. Enjoyed his performance. He left us wondering -- how much of his acting was real? Hehe. Pero ang mga tanong nga namin ni Hubby: So what's the movie trying to say? Sumpa nga ba ang pagiging bakla? And in the end, tunay na lalaki pa rin ang hero?

CARS 2: We were in awe of the graphics and animation. Such a visual feast.

BAD TEACHER: Bad.

FRIGHT NIGHT (not in photo): Failed at being frightening. Parang joke. Apparently, the original film was good? True?

CONAN THE BARBARIAN (not in photo): Very B movie. Sinamahan ko lang talaga si Hubby. LOL. The original film started Arnold Schwarzenegger's career daw. I don't see any one's career taking off from the re-make.

AT THE MOVIES

Watching the last main feature (aka last full show) is among our after-work no-gastos (thanks to our "super pass") bisyo. Below are the titles we saw the past two weeks.

Captain America: Saw it on 3D. Entertaining. Pero pambata.

• Best thing for me: Chris Evans!
• Best thing for J: The Avengers teaser

Rise of the Planets of the Apes: I was pleasantly surprised. OK siya.

• Best thing for me: "No!"
• Best thing for J: ?

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank: Loved it! Loved Eugene Domingo! Is it true the title's being considered as the Philippines' entry to the Oscars? (Pwede!)

• Best thing for me: 3 types of acting (LOL)
• Best thing for J: For quite some time now he held the same opinion about indie film making. Ayan, na-"immortalize" na. Hehe.

Larry Crowne: Slept through some parts. It's either the film was boring or I was way too sleepy.

• Best thing for J: Age-independent learning. Second chances.
• Best thing for me: I'll give it another go. I promise to stay awake.