It’s been more than a year since I last IM’d in Chinese, so I was caught off guard when a friend popped me. But I think I still managed though.

Di lang niya alam, I’ve got babelfish running in the background. Hehehe.

Surfing for OPM videos in Youtube, I chanced upon Quark Henares’ palanca winning short, A Date With Jao Mapa. I thought the acting could’ve done better, but at the very least, I could say that I liked the story. No doubt, an experiment in trying out what would eventually be Keka.

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Then I hopped on over to another film, My Date with Drew. It’s amazing how Youtube is a great repository of film, even if it’s considered illegal.

The film talks about a normal Joe’s quest to get a date with Drew Barrymore. It seemed like a lost cause, especially being broke and all, but it’s nice to see this man’s sheer passion and determination to chase after a life long dream. After all, it was Drew Barrymore who said that ‘if you don’t take risks, you’ll have a wasted soul.’

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I’ve already asked this question among friends (both male and female) during conversations about nothing, but I figured I’d ask it here as well. If you were to go for one of the Charlie’s Angels, who would you go for? Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz or Drew Barrymore?

Taken by Cars has just released their latest video for the song December 2 Chapter VII.

My favorite song from arguably my favorite album of 2008, I really like what they did here. I had anticipated a more darker texture in terms of colors and hues, but the video’s vibrant nature didn’t kill it. In fact, it made it so much better.

There was also an obvious homage to Donnie Darko which I thought was really awesome. And I also liked the storytelling; kinda reminds me of any film/video by Gondry, while leaving a lot to be told, yet at the same time empowers everything to the imagination of the viewer.

Edit: No wonder this video reminds me so much of Moonstar88’s Migraine video. Same guy directed.

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I thought I’m off to bed early tonight. But my torrent of Network, the critically acclaimed 1976 film, was uncharacteristically blazing tonight. So I’m off.

Right after I got back from Lesley’s in Alabang last night, I finished off the movie I saw earlier in the day. And this I’ve got to say.. Wayne’s World still rocks after all these years.

It was funny how some of the films characters reminded me of some of my real life friends. Borderline obnoxious, yet fun loving. And picking on people who are any less than us, despite being fully aware that we aren’t that big to begin with.

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I also caught 21 today on DVD, right after my periodic therapy session a.k.a. alphabetizing my CD collection. The movie was bordering on ok and good, but it was the soundtrack that really struck a chord with me.

It’s got the LCD Soundsystem track that I’ve heard prior and loved. MGMT’s Time to Pretend was prominent in the opening scene, and the once ubiquitous Peter Bjorn and John track Young Ones was in the film as well.

On the way to work this morning, I heard the song Magasin by Eraserheads on the radio. It was automatic nostalgia, an aural trip down memory lane. Listening and humming along to those lyrics about an ex-girlfriend who’s now making her name as a nude model, is always is a trip.

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Top five moments of Magasin nostalgia

1) Sharing earphones with this girl in Vancouver while listening my CD of Circus in her Discman
2) Singing Magasin at a karaoke joint in Tokyo, while drunk Japanese colleagues gamely join in the fun
3) Yet at another karaoke joint, this time in Shanghai, singing the song while my Korean and Indonesian friends look on
4) Taking the stage with high school friends, joining them in an acoustic set while I played the, ummm.. tambourine.
5) (space for lease)

After a real heavy lunch at this posh Japanese place, I sat in my comfy lounge chair this lazy Sunday afternoon. And with the cool June rain flexing it’s might, I dozed off to The Blair Witch Project. But that didn’t bar me from catching the very gist of it. I think.

I caught this in theaters when it was first released but I actually forgot how this one ended. And somehow, with this repeat viewing, Blair Witch didn’t disappoint me again. But I think it needs to be stated that this has something to do with my current inclination towards all films shot handheld. Cloverfield and [Rec] did me wonders and I’m thinking that I’ve shifted my focus from effects-laden blockbusters to those that echo a personal touch.

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Finally, it’s happening. I tried to watch Lust, Caution months ago but the DVD that my dad bought in HK didn’t have English subtitles. Finding myself hapless, I gave up on it probably around 10 minutes into it. Apparently, 我的汉语还不行。不够流利，应该多复习吧。Translated, my Chinese still sucks.

But today, I remembered about this forgotten movie and fired it up on torrent. Download just completed a few minutes ago, so now I’m off.

Sige boys and girls, una na ako.

‘We’ll stay inside till somebody finds us
Do whatever the TV tells us’

- Apartment Story by the National

I caught Titan A.E. last night on DVD, which in my opinion, is one of those underrated animated features that should be the topic of more conversations. I actually put this movie in high regard, and alongside Finding Nemo, Grave of the Fireflies, The Iron Giant, and The Incredibles, make up my top 5 animated features of all time.

I’m not much of a science fiction and wars in space kinda guy (I’ve only seen Episode IV once and forgot all about it), but somehow, Titan A.E. works. The graphics are really something (particularly the set design), and arguably the best I’ve ever seen from an animated film.

I did also like the of soundtrack and I thought it was absolute genius. I’m not much into modern rock right now, but I thought that the hard edged licks made well for accenting the significance of battle and the importance of survival. Inspired choices, I say.

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I also caught the second episode of the second season of My Boys last night. Given the sudden dearth of TV episodes after pretty much everything is on break, I’m glad that My Boys is following a summer schedule. At least, there’s still something worth following on a weekly basis. And the best part is, it’s all up on Youtube.

The new season picks up from where the first left off, and doesn’t skip a beat. I like that it doesn’t over-glorify the plot with dashes of non-essential twists. And by keeping it down to the basics, with witty writing and suave pacing, we have a keeper.

I caught what was supposed to have been Stephen Chow’s magnum opus, CJ7, a few days ago. With a cool USD 20 million budget, coupled with the string of Chow must see’s like Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, much has been expected from this film.

Unfortunately, the movie falls short on its promise. I found the movie to be a little bland and oftentimes too cute for its own good. The story started well enough, before fluctuating near the middle and falling to an unfathomable hole towards the end.

I just think the film suffers from a bout of indecision, wherein it doesn’t exactly know what it wants to be. That’s a shame.

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Death Cab for Cutie is coming to Singapore on August 12. And now, the dilemma presents itself. Should I go or should I not? If only the concert were held much later in the year, or if only I hadn’t decided on watching the Singapore Grand Prix which is to take place a month later, then this isn’t really a decision to ponder upon. Heck, I’d choose DCFC over BSS.

Here’s hoping that they drop by Manila sometime later instead so I wouldn’t have to fork over additional travel expenses.

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Am in the mood for something horrific tonight. So while awaiting for Stephen King’s Children of the Corn to finish on Azureus, I think I’m gonna indulge myself and rewatch another masterpiece from King, The Shining.

It was probably about two weeks ago that I found time to watch Cloverfield. It wasn’t really that high on my must see movies for this year, but since the dvd was just lying around, I figured, what the hell.

And contrary to my initial preconceptions, I quite liked the film. Watching it on the small screen did wonders to counter those nausea-inducing moments that the movie was infamous for. I thought that the jerky handheld camera shots actually made the storytelling more seamless, as opposed to say, the high budget monster movies along the lines of Godzilla. It’s more personal and real in that sense. But while I think the film succeeds along this aspect, I thought that the scare factor was running a little low. Which is what a monster movie shouldn’t be. But then again, it’s just a minor quibble, really.

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I also found time to watch another handheld-shot cinematic masterpiece from Spain entitled [Rec].

The movie revolves around a television reporter, Angela and her cameraman who document night happenings in and around Barcelona. This particular night, they hang out at a fire station, and follow firefighters as they respond to a call to a woman trapped in her apartment building. Things turn awry as they find themselves locked inside the building, quarantined for fear of being carriers of a mysterious virus themselves.

Suspense-wise, the movie was full of it, filled with moments both gritty and frightening. I spent most of the movie glued to the screen, only to be shocked shitless with the unexpected surprises sprinkled across the film. Watch this movie now, before Hollywood comes in and massacres the remake.

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I dreamt that I met Paul McCartney in Saguijo. Then a couple of days after, while I was sleeping, he comes and visits me at home so he can sign the books, CDs and DVDs that he promised me, but my dad decided not to wake me up because I was tired.

Got the following records on vinyl today.

- Beatles For Sale by the Beatles
- Help! by the Beatles
- Rubber Soul by the Beatles
- Yellow Submarine by the Beatles
- The Beatles (The White Album) by the Beatles
- Let it Be by the Beatles
- Rarities by the Beatles
- Hey Jude by the Beatles
- Rock and Roll by John Lennon

All that is needed is With the Beatles and A Hard Days Night, and my Beatles vinyl collection is complete. Anyone out there willing to let go of their spare copies? Local pressings are fine.

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I so want a Sango! burger now. But it seems like Sango would have to wait as I promised the girls it’s Hooters week this week.

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It’s gonna be an early night yet again tonight. I think I’ve resolved that if I’m not going to sleep really late, then might as well retire real early. No in betweens, no midnight bedtimes. 10:30 seems perfect.

But before that, I’m gonna catch up on where I left Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade last night. I dozed off probably 20 minutes into the picture and am excited to catch what happens next. It must’ve been some 15 years ago the last time I saw this movie, to the extent that I forgot entirely the film’s plot.

So, so long boys and girls. Have a good night and see you when I see you.