Invincible

I heard the news today, oh boy. People woke up to a deluge of water and wind spilled upon them. When everything was said and done, lives were lost and dreams shattered. Children cried for their mothers, fathers mourned their loss, families were never even given a chance to say their goodbyes. The waters may slowly subside, but there are things that words won’t be able to convey. While some of us had a perfect getaway, our people clung to trees for dear life, saving what little they had for a future that’s been left uncertain.

This past weekend, I was in a resort island. True, the trip their might have been hellish, as there were times when waves could have easily capsized the ferry carrying us. I thought we had a hard time. I thought that I would’ve drowned anytime a massive wave struck our cardboard ferry. I actually had it easy.

Typhoon Ketsana (named “Ondoy” locally) struck the capital and the neighboring provinces like a vengeful entity bent on cutting a swath on anything unfortunate to come to its path. The damage has in unimaginable, and the victims’ future even bleaker. While this tragedy may have beaten us to a pulp, it sheds a tear to my eye to see people go out and help each other even in the blackest of nights. The tragedy damaged lives and dreams but hope still lingers on. As a people, the Filipino never ceases to amaze me. The Filipino spirit lives on, proof that we as a people don’t break due to adversity.

To those who’ve tirelessly helped during this difficult time, may you have more strength to help those who have lost hope. To those who’ve lost their lives so that others may live, may your sacrifice live on and reflect on our countrymen. You are an inspiration; the stars burn brighter because of you.

To the Filipino people, keep that fire burning. Stay invincible. I’m proud be one.

Marc Recommends “Miss March”

…provided that you are either deaf, blind, and dumb or plainly suicidal. Seriously, I wouldn’t want my enemies watching this movie, even if it meant they’d gouge out their eyes out of sheer terror. This movie brings a whole new meaning to the term “excruciatingly unfunny”.

And for those of you looking for tons of gratuitous nudity as a saving grace for this movie, you have better chances on betting on the Grizzlies winning the NBA championship this year. Just don’t. Please. Just don’t.

Censorship Shmensorship

I just got robbed. OK, I admit, I wasn’t mugged or held at gunpoint but I do feel like somebody stole from me. Recently, I was able to catch two movies in the theaters: the magnificent “District 9” and the riotous “Bruno”. Both have been in my must-see list and while the movies didn’t disappoint (District 9 was insanely awesome), I should’ve just watched both on DVD.

Unfortunately, MTRCB (Movie and Television Rape and Censure Bastards) didn’t do justice to the art. Instead, both films were mired with cuts that were essential to the film. You’d be disappointed to know that the climax scene in “District 9” was shortened due to violent exploding bodies. WTF? The film wasn’t intended for kids anyway and it sure wasn’t advertised as such so what the heck are the cuts for?

“Bruno”, on the other hand, suffered a worse fate. I was laughing out loud in the cinemas when suddenly, all these cuts would destroy the experience. I know "Bruno” was offensive, but it’s meant to be that way to bring out the unexpected out of his “victims”. They didn’t even spare the scene where Bruno goes to a refugee camp will all intentions of being kidnapped, so he could be famous. Where is it? Most likely snipped away by the scissorhands we have at MTRCB. C’mon guys, we’re not idiots. The movie was R-18 anyway, so what gives?

If the movie industry needs to fight back from pirates, then let the moviegoers see what they paid for and not some mutilated form you call a “movie”. If we buy the DVD, then we’d see the movie in it’s entirety. In this digital age where many forms of entertainment is just a click away, it’s hard not to resort to such. If what we see in the cinemas are entire crap due to our censorship boards, then there are always other avenues.

MTRCB. Sucks. Balls. Big. Time.

Malaysian Double Standard?

Days ago, I read a news report regarding a Malaysian model named Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno will receive 6 lashes using a rattan stick because she was caught drinking beer at a hotel in December 2007. As part of the holy month of Ramadan, Malaysian officials have  postponed the punishment until Ramadan is over. 

For those living under a rock their entire lives, alcohol is prohibited under Islamic Shariah law. Malaysian law prohibits all Muslims from consuming any type of alcohol although non-Muslims can freely drink it in Malaysia.

No matter how silly you think that law may be, we all have to respect it since it is the law. However, does the law apply to everybody or can the rich still take a dump on it? Here are photos of the son of Malaysian Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz enjoying the devil juice (hooray for Heineken). Reports say that they are Muslims and should be subject to Shariah law. Since they are a prominent family, most of these things are swept under the rug. Let there be justice for all.

Back From Dalaguete

Just got back home from an outing and my body hurts like hell. I must be getting old, feeling like crap and I didn’t even get to swim on the beach. That’s what happened when you spend the whole night drinking and wait for the sun to come up. I already posted this in my Facebook account so you kids can all see it.

Gotta hit the sack. I’m quoting Roger Murtaugh on this one. I’m too old for this shit. But I did have some fun.

 

The Bayani Fernando Online Game. I Kid You Not.

Bayani Fernando gets his own online game. Yep, fanboys and fangirls, you can now play the unenviable role of being chairman of the MMDA by doing what BF does best, keep the sidewalks clean by shutting down those darn vendors and giving tickets to traffic violators.

For those who think I’m yanking your chain, you can visit the game at this link. Fans of the singing chairman might be disappointed to know that the game, well, is like playing those old “Game and Watch” mini-games, only more vibrant in color . It stars out by answering a question regarding BF’s career and his future motives (hint: it involves running for a position that ends in –ENT). After you answer the question correctly, the games starts with the “kariton boys” occupying the streets. In Bayani Fernando’s world, Metro Manila is pinker than San Francisco, vendors are littered everywhere, and pink urinals are a must (God, those urinals really stink). It’s a simple flash game, complete with 80’s electronica musical background. What you basically need to do is assign the incoming “kariton boys” by hitting the control arrows and spacebar. It’s kinda like playing “Guitar Hero” on your PC without a plug-in guitar and with cheesy music. Combos are present in the game and gives you higher points if you don’t commit a mistake. The pink urinal doubles as a “stink-o-meter”. Once the meter is filled, game over, man.

The real kicker is it’s supposed to be a contest. Whoever gets the highest score at the end of the month gets an Asus EEE laptop (a netbook? Holy slow performance computers, Batman!). Right now, a player named “belat” has 999,999,999 points and occupies the top spot. The second spot goes to an unnamed player with 0 points. Two things are for sure: nobody really cares about the game and “belat” is the man! Dude, he just went ape shit on the game, give the guy some props. Hey Chairman, “belat” really needs a laptop. Give him a pink one with your face on the cover, ok. Better cough it up, dude.

Hey, if you look closely at Bayani Fernando’s picture, you can notice that he got an electronic facelift. Those computer nerds he hired really know their Photoshop.

 

Blood The Last Vampire

 

Do you know that feeling when something doesn’t turn out like it should be? I had that same feeling while watching this movie. The poster alone should give you hints on how this film turns out. Normally, katana-wielding high school Japanese girls are the bomb and I’m normally sold. This movie, well, let’s just say let’s stick to the anime instead.

Jun Ji-hyun (who is utterly unrecognizable in that photo) stars as Saya, a demon-hunter who goes undercover as a high school student to flush out the demon Onigen, the most powerful of all the vampires. While she injects humanity in the character, I’m not convinced of her martial arts skills although it’s passable. The action and fight scenes felt stiff and could’ve been made better. The protagonist always has a freakin katana, for crying out loud. At least make it look like you were trying, guys.

Speaking of trying, how about trying to make it look like the effects were real? C'mon, those flying vampire dudes looked like they were done in some nerd’s basement. I laughed when I saw those creatures and they weren’t supposed to be funny. And yeah, you might find a truck chase scene reminiscent of a scene from “Underworld: Evolution”, which incidentally is another vampire movie. Hmmmmm….

The film had lots of potential, unfortunately the makers failed to capitalize on those, especially the anime it was based on was such a wonder. Don’t expect much from this flick, but fans of Jun Ji-hyun shouldn’t miss this one. She’s always a great talent.

Drag Me To Movie Awesomeness!

I expected a lot from Sam Raimi on this movie. Thank God he delivered and even more. You just can't help but think that this movie will eventually make Spider-Man 4 better than that EMO crap they pulled off with Spider-Man 3. We will forever be haunted byPeter Parker dancing like a douchebag in the streets. I'd like to know what Sam Raimi was smoking during the filming.

A warning to the weak of heart: If you're easily scared and you have history of wetting your pants, it's better to watch this movie when the DVD comes out. This way, you may turn all the lights on in your place, to easily soften the blow. However, if you're into scare-the-crap-outta-you type of person and you enjoy truly gruesome goodness like only Sam Raimi can deliver, then you're wasting your time reading my blog when you should be on your way to the nearest theater hoping the flick is still showing.

Second Lease

I tried blogging years ago. It was a total disaster. I didn't know what I was writing about, didn't know how to customize, and did I mention I was a horrible writer? There's just so much a person can do everyday and eventually, the my attention shifted to other things and my blog has been left to rot.

This is for the future. Hopefully, I'm better at this.