Guys, I put up some scans in the photo album of this page. I’m not done yet, but you can have a look-see if you wish.
Shots from last night: (I don’t have the group pic, but that is Donnah and Gerald sitting across us three–me, Ajay, and Anthony.)
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John Paul Cusack born: 28 June 1966 Actor Siblings: Ann Cusack, Joan Cusack It’s often that Cusack’s character in a movie is wearing a suit/tuxedo… or generally dark-colored colors. Maybe because it’s plainly obvious that he’s stunning in black. Upcoming films include: A Doll’s House, The Martian Child, Ice Harvest , Must Love Dogs (all in 2005) and The Contract (2006). |
I first saw Cusack in Grosse Point Blank (1997 or 1998), where he appears opposite Minnie Driver. I honestly need to watch this film again, ‘coz it’s one of the few roles where his character’s morality is questionable. Albeit fun to watch, this is one of those movies with evades popoular appeal. (And about Driver, I later learned they dated. Interestingly enough, these two both give voices to cartoon characters, but not together. Cusack in Fox’s Anastasia and Driver in Disney’s Tarzan.)
Then I saw him in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I didn’t get to read the book(which is a true story about people in Savannah), but I read somewhere that his character there was invented for the film to facilitate easy story-telling. After learning that, I understood why his role felt so flat and empty… But then, his presence does not go unnoticed since he is after all.. John Cusack.
Then there’s Say Anything, a film with Ione Sky. Another film I need to watch again. Cusack plays Llyod in a boy-meets-girl and will-he-get-the-girl movie. Ione Sky is that girl from Dreams of an Insomniac… that flick about a Sinatra-obsessed girl who can’t sleep. (I remember blue-eyed Mackenzie Astin in this film, brother to Sean Astin, Peter Jackson’s Samwise Gamgee)
I sometimes hear John Cusack being cited as one of the brats in the “Brat Pack”, a nickname attributed to the teen stars of the 80’s. Cusack may be credited with teeny-bopper 80’s movies (that I have yet to see), but I have him in my head as a serious (good-looking) and concept-oriented(good-lookiing) actor who has very intelligent (and good-looking) roles in not-so-popular movies.
High Fidelity is one of the most interesting films he ever starred in… one of the things I dream about in my life is owning my own record bar, just like his character in this movie! I started to read the book by Nick Hornby, but I never got to finish it, then that same time I saw High Fidelity playing on Cable TV, so I inadvertently gave up on the book. So now I can’t compare them hehe.
I recommend seeing:
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Also stars/appears in: (among others)
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Addendum
I have the following in original video: Runaway Jury, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Con Air, Serendipity, Stand By Me, Pushing Tin. In unofficial video: The Cradle Will Rock, America’s Sweethearts, High Fidelity, Anastasia, The Thin Red Line.
Note: I don’t know character names of the Batman comics, I will most likely end up leaving out these details in this entry.
About Batman being a dark movie: I must agree with Jierardusammy, kasi we have been used to seeing the mysteriously gloomy Bruce Wayne of naught. Na-miss ko din yun sa movie. This film version seems geared to appeal more to an ooohing-aaahing audience. Treat naman di ba? Entertaining. Sabi ko nga kay Ajay upon the start of the film, “mukhang hindi dark ang Gotham ngayon?” But towards the end, mejo naging gloomy na sya. Rationalized naman kung isipin mo na years into the future pa ang setting ng Batman movies dati. Artistic license na lang ang katapat ng iba pang detalyeng napalitan/naiba, katulad ng time-frame na maaring hindi na tumutugma sa dating mga version ng kwento.
About Batman Begins: Overall, ok naman. There was much hoopla about it coming out, but I never had the chance to read up on details, so it was a lovely surprise to see who’s in the movie aside from Christian Bale and Liam Neeson. I kept hushing myself in surprise in seeing Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman one-by-one pop into the big screen. Tinatawanan ako ni Ajay pag nagugulat ako. Magkano kaya budget nila sa actors? Stellar eh. Dinaan talaga sa box-office talents, para magdraw ng crowd. Liam Neeson and Ken Watanabe as unlikely villains were classy though understated choices. Ala-Qui-Gon swordfights lang bumawi si Liam Neeson, then minimal na appearance nya sa pelikula. (Kunsabagay, key Bruce Wayne yung focus nga naman ng kwento) Si Ken Watanabe naman extra lang pala, ginastusan lang yung role nya para di naman magmukhang kawawa yung role na yun. Comic relief naman si Morgan Freeman this time, cast in another supporting role. (I hope he makes more movies in his lifetime.) On Gary Oldman as the future-Commissioner: I think this could have been casted differently, but I have no complaints. Oldman is wonderful on-cam, though it’s weird how they slipped in that hugging scene at the beginning; to somehow establish him being the “good cop”. I’m not a BIG fan of Christian Bale, but he’s alright. Pero I’m still getting used to him in heavily masculine roles. Dati nga apprehensive ako sa lower part ng mukha nya para sa Batman mask, kasi weird yung mouth nya; mukha syang bungal kasi bihira sumilip ngipin nya. Affirmed ang aking apprehension, funny sya tignan pag nagsasalita as Batman! (Hehe, I know, I’m evil.) Pero ha, ampayat nyan dati– bilib ako sa workout nya sa katawan nya.
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Saw Fantastic Four movie trailer for the first time. The comic genre isn’t exactly my domain, so I know nothing about this story. Ajay seems excited to see this one. As for me, here’s my take: “Hey that Torch guy looks cool.”
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Ajay noticed and told me once that I am an actor-oriented person when it comes to movies… I admit that I am. I write what I think and don’t particularly care what others will think. I often end up repeating myself in my blogs; just shows how engaged I am in my thoughts about these things. Nothing merits any attempt to masque what I want to say, does it? I’m a movie buff, and I am because of my fondess for actors. They’re the life of the story anyhow, eye candy, the props and setting elements that frolic onscreen. I chew on them willingly.
Kakabalik-balik ko sa record bar, di ko na napigilan na bumili nito:
Kakapakinig paulit-ulit magmula kagabi sa album na ito, napansin ko na kaboses ni Adam Levine si Jamiroquai (Virtual Insanity). Kaya pala ako sobrang naaaliw sa Maroon 5. Hehehe. Well that, and their simple beat and lyrics.
Harder to Breathe: …so condescending and unnecessarily critical… when it is cold outside and you got nobody to love…
This Love: I’ll fix these broken things, repair your broken wings, and make sure everything’s alright…
Shiver : Immobilized by the thought of you, paralyzed by the sight of you, hypnotized by the words you say, Not true but I believe anyway…
She Will Be Loved: It’s not always rainbows and butterflies, It’s compromise that moves us along…
Tangled: (funky beat :))
The Sun: … I cannot forget, refuse to regret so glad I met you… Take my breath away make everyday worth all of the pain I have
Must Get Out: Fumbling through your dresser drawer, forgot what I was looking for, try to guide me in the right direction…
Sunday Morning: …Clouds are shrouding us in moment unforgettable… In darkness she is all I see (this song most sounds like Virtual Insanity, ‘coz of the piano)
Secret: …everyone has a secret, but can they keep it, oh no they can’t… cool these engines, calm these jets…
Through With You: …saying I love you has nothing to do with meaning it…
Not Coming Home: … does it make you sad, to find yourself alone, does it make you mad to find that I have grown…
Sweetest Goodbye: …try so hard to disregard the rhythm of the rain that drops and coincides with the beatig of my heart…
Rag Doll: you are a mystery to me… I think you should just go away, there is no necessity for you to stay… my heart won;t be your rag doll anymore (just jazzy!)
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The album has 3 different versions of “This Love” (original, acoustic, and remix) and 2 versions of “Harder to Breathe” (original and acoustic).
Fabulous music 
Sappy-cheesy story between two strangers turned lovers
Starring: Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
How unbelievably unfortunate that I had never watched these films until now! I heard about Before Sunrise for the longest time, and just last year its sequel, Before Sunset, was released in theaters. My former boss raved about these films; talking about them at least on three occasions that we went out for a meal together. She was telling me about her travels out of the country and her chance meetings with strangers, though that time the concept was too cheesy and sort of uninteresting to me…
Seeing these two films reignites the passion that new love brings, when you witness the two characters’ minds clash, and their lips lock for their first kiss. The entire film they are mostly just talking… and talking… and talking… the viewer is actually eavesdropping-peeping into the romance of these two twentysomethings. The ending of the first film is frustrating and expectedly stupid. The second film comes alive much stronger than the first, staged 9 years after where the characters are now in their early thirties.
Such a romance is idealized by the non-existing normal circumstances that a real relationship entails from day-to-day. It’s no wonder they can’t get enough of each other, since they did have a mere few hours to spend together in the first film. But they do attempt to masque this idea in the second film, with “Celine”(Delpy) telling “Jesse”(Hawke) that she falls in love deeper with a person as she discovers more and more about him, and learn to love each detail, as time wears on.
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Ajay bought me a collection of Hawke’s films recently, in light of my desire to collect his movies. I’m almost there… just a few more to go! He got me Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Assault on Precinct 13 and Hamlet. I saw Hamlet last week and it was fine. I suppose this was made that time modernizing Shakespeare was the thing. (Shivers at the thought of diCaprio and Danes’ Romeo and Juliet– I am not a fan of it)
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Ei cool, Spurs are up 3-2. Gawsh, I can’t be home for Game 5… I won’t be seeing Will Smith-Horry and Bronson Pinchot-Manu play!
Ei Cookie! (we’re still counting? Heehee) I know I’m a pill to deal with. And for that, thank you. I positively adore you, and I know you adore me too 
Eight years ago… Imagine that, we weren’t even twenty years old then.
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Thanks Anne, for the greeting. Naunahan mo pa ako mag-post hehe.
Happy Birthday to Cia, cousin-in-law-in-law :D, if there is such a thing! Happy thoughts to you!
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Recent additions to DVD audio collections… Well, Hayley and LedZep technically belong to my father, presents for Father’s Day
I have to remind myself how funny Pinoy comedy can be.
Several times in the past 3 weeks I think I have seen about 5-6 Eat Bulaga portions, if not the “Laban O Bawi” then the “Bulagaan”. I can’t remember when I started watching Bulagaan, but that was back when Aiza Seguerra was a tiny kid. I mention this only because I had been laughing at their antics so freely. Why don’t the quips of Joey de Leon ever get old? That man is fascinating. The “Balakubak” portion in NUTS entertainment is one my dad never misses, and I end up watching it with him since I’m awake most nights.
Micheal V is my mom’s favorite. Even just his JOY commercial can make her dance and laugh. In Bubble Gang he often steals the show not just coz he’s funny, but also since he’s grown in size now and is so taba!
Okay, Dolphy makes me laugh too. I am not one to watch Pinoy movies, since I get bored and uneasy with poor cinematography and writing in Pinoy films. But in one instance I was on the road and the bus VCR was playing a Dolphy film, napilitan ako manuod. And yeah… he can be funny when the writing is good. Sayang lang acting talents ng Pinoy– their craft gets lost in the swirl of poor technical movie-making. Kaya pwede na nga yung poor acting kasi it blends well with most of everything else.
I’ve had an unlucky streak this year. Each holiday/event seems to be scheduled with a hefty serving of “physical incapacity” on my part. Translated: Lagi na lang akong maysakit pag walang pasok!!! Napakasalamuot ng buhay.
Natuwa ako sa text ni Anne nung Friday. Nilalasap ko na ang marami-raming oras ng tulog. Aba, wala pang tanghali, nakaramdam ako ng kati ng lalamunan. Nakatulog habang pauwi ng bahay nung hapon, mabuti’t kasama ko na si Ajay. Pagkadating sa bahay, mainit na daw ako. LAGNAT?!!! You’ve got to be kidding me!
After enduring all those months early this year, coping with the worst sort of pain I had ever gone through (and I hope, ever will)… Here was I with some stinking fever and flu, and it had kept my in bed for two straight days, groggy with antibiotics, paracetamol and cough syrup, with almost no sleep.
Grabeng trangkaso yan, di talaga ako pinayagang makagawa ng maski ano. Manuod lang ng TV ansakit sa ulo. Magbasa lalu ng libro. Maski magsulat! Syempre alangan namang mag-internet pa ako. I resigned to it and stayed horizontal in prayer. Ngayong nakakatayo na ako ng kama, may pasok na uli mamaya.
Thank you God that I am strong enough now, I can finish my homework for tonight.
“Maysakit ako… di ako makakadating…” - already sounding like a lame excuse, dahil gamit na gamit ko na for the past half-year.
Half-year… can you believe it? 2005 is almost half-over. Ibig sabihin malapit na birthdays ng pamilya ko. Christmas is now a breath away. Magsimula na kayong mag-ipon para sa regalo ko. 
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On Jie’s post : I’m not even going to pretend that I care about it. I’ve lost faith in Philippine governance and politics (are these the same?) since Mang Pandoy. Apathy? Damn right. I can’t understand what’s going on anymore anyway.
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Kanina ko lang nalaman, 2-0 na Spurs-Pistons. Go Spurs! Anhaba na ng long hair ni Balki.. este Manu. Mwehehe.
Okay now I figured out what was bugging me. Sure, I saw girls smooching, but it isn’t anything new to me. Nakarami rin ako ng sulyap sa Diliman. And back then I had a question that I never had anyone confirm to me up ’til today.
Why are they roleplaying? Kasi ‘di ba kadalasan merong predominantly masculine-looking fella with a feminine counterpart. Parehong babae pero kung kumilos at umasta, parang may tumatayong “boy” at “girl”. So, isn’t that, plain as day, a mimic of the norm?
If that is the case… are they consciously doing it? Or is it something intrinsic or instinctive to act like a man when you aren’t one, because you are, not physiologically, but psychologically, male? (and vice-versa)
On the other hand, when you take it from the guys’ perspective, gay men couples don’t normally dress up as female and male in public…
Di ko pa din maintindihan ang third sex. Nothing against them, just that I don’t understand them. I need a really really good friend who is one, I guess? Has anyone had an honest conversation with someone of these preferences?
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Totoo bang wala nang pasok sa Lunes? Narinig ko sa news nonworking holiday daw eh. But I’m so sleepy I may be imagining things… Someone please send me SMS tomorrow morning and let me know