WANDERLUST

Since I have seen all movies worth seeing, it's quite a dilemma if I should see this film I never plan to see in the first place.  After a christening/thanksgiving/farewell party last Sunday in Greenbelt Makati, there was nothing else to do especially on a very hot day but to relax and keep cool inside the movie theater.  I have never seen the original Korean version of this film, nor do I plan to (I had a bad experience watching a Korean series few years back that I almost swear off to watch any Korean shows.)  Anyway, this movie tries so hard to be romantic when it's not and how the characters act/behave is not even realistic to me.  I mean, would a girl be that 'SASSY' to get drunk, faint somewhere in public, still be in one piece and be brought home on a cab EVERY SINGLE TIME by different strangers?!!!!  Common!  A badly written script is probably to blame.  And especially the unnecessary dialogue of the old man who 'tried' to give an advice that sounded like a speech when all he could have said was...SEE!  I can't even remember the only thing he said that seemed to make sense!  If you really want to watch this, just wait for the DVD/VCD or when they play it on HBO.   

It's a comedy for adults.  This is a great mid-week movie to see after a days' work.  It even has a moral lesson in the end!  Definitely for people who are open minded and takes pleasure in exaggerated and reliable humor.

Ok, so it's not a perfect movie; but it's still good entertainment.  The jokes aren't that funny in this third installment but the effects and pacing is good enough.  Brendan Fraser still has 'IT" in spite of it's been seven long years, yes 7!, since the last Mummy sequel.  Maria Bello stepped in for Rachel Weisz, it's not easy to fill Rachel's shoes, Maria did nicely although she looked a bit too mature for baby face Brendan.  Also I have to add that Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh brought some action and unique appeal to this film.  All in all, it's worth watching on the big screen and since it's a no-brainer movie, it allows you to just sit back and enjoy the show.

This is not a movie but a Broadway Musical that top-bills Tony Award winner and the pride of all Filipinos, Ms. Lea Salonga.  It was quite 'impossible' but invigorating and really 'possible' for a movie addict like me to watch a different kind of entertainment this weekend Saturday night.  It has only been a few days since the curtain was raised and I assume that every night was like tonight...a fully packed theater of avid fans of this amazing talent.  I love the special and mechanical stage effects that they seem to have splurged on for this show.  The best one was probably the pumpkin turning into a 'Golden Carriage' that had everyone grasping in awe.  I do believe and strongly point out that Ms. Salonga is the only one who could have played this role and made it 'click'.  One thing is her angelic voice that makes all the songs seem so beautiful even though in real, all the songs here is only a 3 compared to Ms. Salonga's singing that is always a 10!  The audience also loved Cinderella's Fairy Godmother whose great vocals are as strong as her stage presence.  Her humor is so contagious.  Cinderella's step-mother and step-sisters were also amazing in their roles.  So that leaves us with Prince Charming...hmmm..how do I start?  Well he is really good-looking enough to portray the character.  Unfortunately his singing is weak and at times vague.  Maybe he is too nervous to sing alongside Ms. Salonga?!  I mean who wouldn't?  But I can't get it off my mind that every time he speaks, the lady beside me just starts to snicker and giggle from the way he does it...with a higher pitch and question sounding end to his every sentence, which I also find uncanny and comical.  Nobody else in this show does it this way...so I wonder?  Also I guess my mom sums ups it up and told me when we were on our way home, as I was commenting that I didn't like the Prince's performance and she said his presentation is like 'sibay-sibay' - which literally means half boring, half dead actions!  All in  all, it's worth watching as it feels like a Grade A production.  One thing though, this is truly for Adults and twenty something's, for people who appreciate musical arts.  Men, boyfriends, lovers or husband's who are romantics, knows how to apprehend and are exposed to sophistication will like it.  Children and teenagers who can behave inside the theater, loves to sing and dance will enjoy it.  And please please please...DO NOT bring your kid if they are too young and just when the curtain rises and Ms. Salonga starts to belt out the first few words of her first song, your kid starts to SHOUT IN A VERY VERY LOUD VOICE: MAMA PEEPEE! MAMA PEEPEE! MAMA PEEPEE!  The audience would KILL you if only they could!  Nobody pays that much to hear your child yelling!  And THANK GOD after that VERY IRRITATING FIASCO, we didn't hear any mobile phones ringing all throughout the entire musical!  And when it was over, everyone left happily ever after!  -The End- 

In life, we sometimes find ourselves yearning to break free from the ordinary existence we are living.  Some of us realize this early on, while others recognize this much later in life.  No matter what age we grasp this will to have our freedom, many of us leave our comfort zone and travel to find our soul.  Those we left behind will think we are cowards running away from our responsibilities, or that we simply lost our mind; afraid to face the challenges of daily life and are too selfish to think of nothing but our own happiness.  In truth, they are right; all those reasons trigger us to leave what we were so used to and try to find peace in another place different from where we came from.  But it is also these same reasons that give us the courage to seek a new way to enrich our body, mind and spirit and to live a life that we are meant for in this lifetime.  Sometimes we need to wander far away for many years to open our consciousness; and at other times, we just take a few days off to recharge and meditate to endure another new day.  Whatever manner we choose to carry out, we must never forget that we need not search too far - for change comes from our soul and it is always within us. 

This movie is available on IMAX 3D, though I just watched it on a regular theater.  It's really a nice family film and quite entertaining.  It's not spectacular or over the top, but I still gave it my *****Star Rating.  I guess I just miss seeing Brendan Fraser on the big screen.  Anyway, the Mummy 3 is up soon; saw the trailer...I have a feeling (I hope it's wrong) that this sequel will be somewhat corny.  Even Rachel Weisz is not in this third installment...it's a sign!  Going back to Journey, they left an opening in the end to test the waters - I suppose.  If this film does well, then they can continue to make another following: Atlantis.  If you're not a movie addict like me, watch Journey to the Center of the Earth on IMAX 3D, you'll appreciate it more.      

Boxing or Batman, Boxing or Batman, Boxing or Batman!?!  Hands down, I submit to my addiction!  Batman wins for tonight!  I can go boxing another day.  It wasn't in my plan to go crazy over this movie; truly I wasn't...so I find myself on LFS at 10:10pm for this 2.5 hour film.  This is truly the 'darkest' Bat flick ever made.  And I lovvveeed it!  It was unexpectedly phenomenal and chaotically filled with carnage and the only film were you can truly see Batman as a Bat, flying gloriously in the night sky!  Christian Bale is amazing as always and had come a long way from the teenage boy in Empire of the Sun and the 'wacko' in American Psycho.  Heath Ledger was exceptional and pushed the limit of being the finest 'Joker' in the history of Batman film. (Even if it cost him his life, ironically)  He was never corny and his acting was top-notch making the movie more credible, unlike the others who played this role cheaply.  I just can't get it off my mind that Katie Holmes should have reprised her role as Rachel Dawes, not because Maggie Gyllenhall isn't a fine actress; but Katie fits the 'image' more.  Anyway, they must have seen what I've seen for they opened this door in the end, so there's an opportunity to put a new 'face' into Rachel or a new lady love for the next Batman sequel.  This movie comes close to being a perfect ten for me EXCEPT for Batman's voice.  Bruce Wayne's voice was ok.  But when he turns into Batman, they TRY to mutate this tone deeper - probably to make a distinction on both characters, but that didn't work out well at all!  You can hardly understand what he is saying at times, it didn't even sounded sexy...it was actually quite repulsive! Good thing the exceptional storyline, the fact that it was never dragging and everything else outshines this 'minor' discomfort for this movie is no doubt a bona fide blockbuster!  The BEST BATMAN flick ever!  Don't miss  it!!!    

A truly heady refreshing film!  All of Abba's songs were done with unique and entertaining candor that was very original.  Everyone sings beautifully in this movie...except for Pierce Bronsnan who seems to have a hard time expressing his singing though acting.  Overall it's a wonderful film with a nice 'twist' at the ending.  Go ahead and indulge yourself this weekend...watch this movie!  And do stand by after the rolling credits have end, and enjoy the major cast perform two more Abba songs complete with costumes that are truly and hilariously OTT!

The moment I saw the trailer of this film, I wanted to see it.  So it's not surprising that I watched it the first day of showing.  It's action packed and nobody can play Fox except for Angelina Jolie...she just have it, the chic sophisticated aura of a great action star.  She truly outshines a lot of male stars in this kind of performance.  James McAvoy will probably be more known after this movie...even though he did play some memorable roles as the lead actor in Atonement and the 'Faun' in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Like all others, I was able to predict the 'hidden' story behind this movie.  It just pops inside my mind from nowhere as I watch each scene.  I guess this is a true sign of a movie addict...or maybe I have something...a gift of foresight that is locked away but will and can be opened.

In conclusion, this movie is everything over the top...and whether a bullet can be curved or not (my brother-in-law insist this can never be) it's a very entertaining film and has done its job very well.  So yeah, I might go watch it again this weekend!

It was a tiring day...but after a quick shower and light dinner, it was time to relax and get the energy back; and the only cure for a movie addict like me was of course to watch a movie!  So my friend and I catch the LFS 9pm of this movie at THX theater.  It's the only way to go, no regrets!!! 

I never watched the 2003 Hulk movie.  I was never interested to go see it, even when it started to play on HBO.  I think I tried watching part of it, but never from start to finish.  It just seemed too dragging.  Don't get me wrong, I love The Incredible Hulk, I remember watching and anticipating the weekly TV series when I was a little kid.  And even saying those famous words:  Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

So anyway fast forward to 2008 and Hulk changed its lead actor from Eric Bana to the very skinny Edward Norton.  Eric Bana seemed more fit to play Hulk, but Edward Norton is nonetheless a great actor and he was amazing (as always) and convincing playing Bruce Banner.  The movie is action packed from start to finish, excellent effects, nice story line...I can go on and on...but to say it simply: It was INCREDIBLE!  And the best part of it was waiting for Robert Downey Jr. to come out as Tony Stark and like the movie Iron Man, they gave a hint of what is to come.  And this movie addict predicts -when they form a team of "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" The Avengers!!!  OMG!  That is something worth waiting for!