Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby is a classic. Each character in the movie has a life of his own. I felt as if I could personally relate to each one. Even after the film ended, it was like these characters continued on, and I wondered what would happen to Frankie (Clint Eastwood), Eddie, 'Danger' and the whole gang.

The story is rich and unexpected. It starts out as your typical underdog sports movie. Maggie (Hilary Swank) is the unknown up and coming boxer with a lot of promise, who finally convinces Frankie to train her. At first, Frankie wants nothing to do with the young lady's boxing career. He's seen enough fights, had enough heartaches in the past to get emotionally involved. But eventually he gives in to her tenacity. And a good thing too because she has the heart of a true champion. And Frankie soon enough starts coaching her and treats her like his own daughter. Which is ironic because his own flesh and blood daughter refuses to have anything to do with him. He writes to his real daughter every month but the letters are always returned. It is not known what is the source of the conflict.

There are many great scenes, good quotes, and one interesting plot twist in this film. I can't describe them here because to do so would give away crucial parts of the story. You'll have to watch them yourself and laugh, cheer, and cry as I did. There is an extremely powerful scene where Frankie finally reveals to Maggie the true meaning of the nickname he gave her. What totally blew me away was the brief final scene at the diner where the picture fades, the one right before the credits roll. Never had something on the big screen moved me as much as Million Dollar Baby. One of the best flicks ever made and my number one movie of 2005.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars * * * * *
Must-watch. Highest recommendation.

king kong

what i hate about this movie. it didnt explain why these animals evolved into those giants. how did the inhabitants survive all that? who put the ruins there. they could not have made them with all the dinosaurs and insects running around. kingkongs fate was sealed even before he went to NYC. he was bound to die alone back in the island. that scene on the ice was the worst. how were they able to trasport a N foot giant with a tug boat. insects are known to travel oceans (see monarch butterflies). those giant insect would have found its way off the island. notice how the fog was conveniently done away with once they entered the island. it was almost impossible getting in. which slightly explains the mystery, how it would have stayed hidden from everyone all the way up to the 20th century. and suddenly theyre able to get out without a cinch with a giant primate tugging along.

the movie should have at least tried to explain its own physics. otherwise, then its all just kind of a mess .. isnt it. i slept thru half of the movie. there was not much in it except for the cool graphics. 5 years ago maybe before jurasic park i would have been impressed .. it takes more than a bunch of fireworks to impressed THIS audience ..

rate 1 out of 5
dum movie

Suzanne Vega - Songs in Red and Gray

Visualize some of the most beautiful music you will ever hear. Imagine the most meticulously arranged compositions layered with Suzanne Vega's rich vocals and you have what is arguably her best work. Songs in Red and Gray is Suzanne's latest album released way back in 2001 - a masterpiece of lyrical and melodic proportions.

Most of the songs were written five years after Nine Objects of Desire and more importantly some time after Ms. Vega's divorce from her husband, Mitchell Froom. So I kind of expected this to be a brooding, sad, angst-filled compilation. Not so. Some of the tracks can even be described as light-hearted and uplifting.

My personal favorite musical piece in this CD is Widow's Walk wherein the singer describes her situation metaphorically to that of being widowed, but looks ahead to a better future:

Consider me a widow boy
And I will tell you why
It's not the man, but it's the marriage
That was drowned

So I walk the walk
And wait with watchful eye out to the sky
Looking for a kind of vessel
I have never found

This is the most powerful song in the CD and an instant classic. I hope they make an instrumental version of this with a true orchestra to capture the rich layers and full beauty of the music.

Another fantastic song is the aptly titled Last Year's Troubles, an interesting take on how we romanticize and glorify century-old villains such as pirates, thieves, and other rascals. Now these were downright evil and nasty people in their time, yet we look back at them fondly, retelling history to a more sentimental, quixotic, unrealistic degree. I also suspect the whole song is a metaphor to letting go of a troublesome year that has past. This is one of my favorite songs lyrically.

Last year's troubles are so old fashioned
The robber on the highway the pirate on the seas
Maybe it's the clothing that's so entertaining
The earrings and swashbuckling blouses that please

Look at all the waifs of Dickensian England
Why is it their suffering is more picturesque?
Must be cause their rags are so very Victorian
The ones here at home just don't give it their best

Last years troubles they shine up so pretty
They gleam with a luster they don't have today
Here it's just dirty and violent and troubling
Etc. etc.

Other tracks are more of the songwriter's editorial take on her predicament. For instance, 'Soap and Water' is a letter from a mother to her young daughter. 'If I Were a Weapon' seems to be about some sort of emotional blackmail with the weapon in this case being the tool of the extortionist.

It's as if Suzanne combined all the best parts of her previous work. She put together the folk sound of her earlier CDs, together with the style and arrangement of Nine Objects of Desire. If this album had a weakness, it would be that it could sound too over-engineered, too carefully arranged, leaving the human touch distant from the listener. But this is a very minor nitpick. If you like finely produced, high quality easy listening music, this one is for you.


Rating: 5 out 5 stars * * * * *
One of the best

l'exorcism d'emilie rose

this is based on a true story.

its like watching LA Law. a case has been brought to court. the people against a priest who is accused of being responsible for a girl's death. the priest is defended by an agnostic lawyer. the people represented by a religious, but objective, lawyer.

the case was simple. the girl thought to be possessed by the devil was actually suffering from a mental illness. well documented cases exhibiting similar symptoms have been brought to the people to judge. the priest was sticking with his story of seeing the devil. being attacked by it. and that the girl was possessed. and that no amount of medical help can help her.

my favorite part was the successive dispelling of every symptom of possession. here are some of them:

1. speaking in tongues
2. possessed speaking in different voices
3. stigmata

this movie is a classic case of common sense. how different people react to something unusual. some would look for the logial explanation. and others are comfortable with believing in a fantastic and invisible world of beings with wings.

rating 4 out of 5
because there's almost always a logical explanation.

The Best New Music of 2005

Compared to last year, 2005 was a quiet year for music. I spent most of my time catching up with older songs I've missed rather than listening to new ones. Nevertheless here are my favorites of 2005 in order:

6. Guitar Man - CAKE

This is CAKE's tribute and remake of Bread's 70's classic. Think of it as cake and bread coming together. I have to admit I enjoyed the new version better than the original though I like them both. CAKE captures the emotion of the original song, while adding its own distinct tempo and voice. And if you liked 'Guitar Man', then you'll enjoy the Friends and Lovers: Songs of Bread CD.


5. Trouble With Dreams - Eels

I was intrigued with this song when I first heard it. It wasn't like anything I listened to before. Put together that xylophone-like piano intro with drum, violin and raspy voice for a dream-like composition that will haunt you. Add the catchy tune, a lot of contradictory pauses, and you've got one of the most unique songs of the year.


4. Beverly Hills - Weezer

A future staple in sporting events, Weezer hit a home run with this one. This song is high energy from the intro to the chorus. An acceptable substitute to caffeine. I haven't heard a good loser song like this since Beck.


3. Come As You Are - Mindi Abair

I loved this soft guitar/saxophone instrumental piece the instant I heard it on the radio. Mindi Abair is one of the best new composers in the business. I imagine that the message of this song is to avoid pretension, embrace the natural, and just come as you are. Blending of guitar and sax is inspired. High-quality music.


2. Krafty - New Order

Great Scott, new wave lives on! I couldn't believe it at first that the 80's band New Order was still active and churning out great songs such as this one. Krafty captures the carefree happy spirit in us and has a positive uplifting message. Fantastic!


1. Complicated Man - Minnie Driver

I really didn't care much for Minnie Driver until I heard her sing Complicated Man on Carson Daly. You can't help but like this song, the lyrics, catchy twangs in the melody, and extremely addictive. Imagine the best parts of several distinct songs rolled into one 80's-country-pop tune. I smile when I realize that Complicated Man, our #1 song this year, was just a bonus track from the japan import CD of an actress turned pop artist.

Happy Listening!

ang pagdadalaga ni maximo oliveros

quand maximo oliveros devient une femme. its about a young boy who suddenly grows up, after being placed forcibly in a position where he has to choose sides between his family and his object of affection. his family is poor and steals cellphones for a living. his object of affection is a cop. a man probably twice his age. somehow it works out in the end, where maximo gets over his adolescent infatuations. and his family turns a new leaf.

its a film which has similar elements to european films, where it doesnt try to make any judgements about anyone/anything. or if it does try to preach. its very subtle. you notice how many times "dont buy pirated dvds" was mentioned. but there many scenes maximo is seen doing his favorite hobby (as you might have guessed many filipinos do too) -- watching pirated movies.

there were a number of long pauses in the movie, which might bore people. i did observe there was substance in these pauses. i find that, for philippine cinema, the quality of this story is very rare. Its unconventional and very progressive. and more importantly, its not your typical pinoy entertainment. Church folks, people with homophobia, and conservatives might take offense watching this movie.

Rating 4 of 5 ****
Its refreshing to see a pinoy film with substance

Jennifer Paige (self-titled)

Jennifer Paige is most well-known for her smash pop hit 'Crush' which became quite popular in the late 90's. The single received major airplay on radio and launched the artist to full stardom. Since then, Ms. Paige's popularity has kind of tapered off, her follow-up release Positively Somewhere not achieving the same success as this debut album. Still, I consider the artist as one of the most underrated performers of our generation. And I believe she still has a hit or two in her waiting to get out.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this CD. Let's clear up some popular misconceptions about her type of music first. For one, the songs in this album are more rythm and blues than disco/pop. This is what makes the song Crush unique, it was an R&B tune disguised as sugary pop music.

Second - the lyrics in these songs are rich and poetic - much like a Suzanne Vega composition, yet disguised as light and easygoing. I can't give Jennifer credit for the words since she doesn't write her own songs. But she does deliver them with a passion and emotion that leads you to believe she can personally relate to them. This is her main talent and strength.

Third - Crush is not the best song in this CD. In fact, you may be disappointed if you bought this album solely for Crush. The pacing and feel of the rest of the tracks are different - a little bit slower, a little bit more soul and emotion. The vocals are powerful yet not gimicky and Paige resists the temptation to show off, unlike most of her contemporaries who constantly feel the need to shriek several octaves higher to garner attention.

We have two mellow love songs in 'Always You' and 'Between You and Me'. I heard that 'Always You' was a minor hit, but it hasn't grown on me. 'Let it Rain' and 'Somewhere, Someday' are songs that give hope and support to friends in time of need. These tracks are not exceptional, but have the potential of being future favorites. Some can sound repetitive after several listens and may feel like a letdown after hearing the hyper energy 'Crush'.

Now for the good ones. 'Just to Have You' is extremely catchy, very sticky and fun to both listen and sing along with. 'Busted' is my favorite song in the CD. Makes me wonder why it wasn't released to radio. You will smile at the cute and funny lyrics that mention lines such as "chewing on my raisinettes", "checking out my pay per view", and multiple references to dessert, all in an infatuation-intoxicated setting sang unbashedly in the R&B style.

You may remember 'Sober' which was a minor hit during its release and in my opinion is Jennifer's best song to date. Great voice, melody, lyrics that tell a story. This has it all. Check out the video too which features the melancholy singer trapped in a dreamlike airport terminal.

What we've got here are two kickass songs in 'Sober' and 'Busted', two catchy songs in 'Crush' and 'Just to Have You', and a good supporting cast of light easy listening tracks. Not bad for a debut album.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars * * * *
Very underrated artist, watch for a comeback.

Oldboy

Oldboy is a Korean movie about secrets and revenge. Its main selling point is a disturbing, wicked twist as part of the ending. There are a number of violent, cringe-inducing scenes that seem to be standard in the asian shock horror movie genre these days. This was also the most highly anticipated DVD on my viewing list this year and as I had extremely high expectations for this film, I was slightly disappointed that it was not as disturbing as I thought it would be, and the twist in the end was not as big and dramatic as I had braced myself for. Still, if you are looking for a different viewing experience and enjoy the 'oh shit' feeling when your assumptions are challenged while watching the story, then Oldboy is the movie for you.

(Reviewer's note: The following sections below describes some aspects of the story but contains no significant spoilers. Also I discuss the plot from the point of view of a first-time viewer watching the movie as it happens. So some of the narrative may mislead the true nature of the events as the movie itself contains secrets that will be revealed later. Watching this with a childlike open mind will significantly improve the entertainment value of this film. -rob)

The protagonist is a man named Dae-su who has been kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years in a small room all by himself with no human contact. During his confinement, he never sees his captor, he is fed the same food - fried dumplings, for every meal for the next fifteen years. His only contact to the outside world is a small TV set where he gets news, education, and recreation. From watching the news in his cell he finds out that his wife is murdered and that he is the prime suspect in the killing. Police issue a nationwide manhunt to look for him but of course never find him as he is safely hidden by his captors. Dae-su is filled with anguish and despair at not being able to defend himself and his family. His baby girl is whisked away and raised by foster parents and he comes to the realization that he may never see her again.

With nothing else to do, Dae-su keeps himself fit by practicing martial arts and shadow boxing, emulating the fight scenes he sees on TV. He gets his sex by masturbating to female pop stars on entertainment variety shows. In the next fifteen years, our protagonist's mental and physical state deteriorates. Lack of human contact and the sheer monotony of his detention makes him insane and he gets obsessed with thoughts of revenge toward his captors and the torture he plans to inflict on them after he gets out. Suddenly after a decade and a half of captivity, Dae-su is drugged and put to sleep. He wakes up in an open field, the first time he sees buildings and sunshine after many years. But he is now more of a beast than man and is only focused on finding his captors and making them suffer as he has suffered. This is an extremely well-made extended opening scene that sets up the premise of the story.

What happens next can appear to some viewers as bizarre and incoherent. We are treated to some cringe-worthy violent scenes which although disturbing, are not as bad as the worst scenes from Audition or Suicide Club. For instance, the camera pulls away from the shot where the actual violence takes place, then returns to the spot to show what had happened, leaving much to the imagination of the viewer.

There are also some extended graphic sex scenes between Dae-su and a young woman named Mi-do who falls in love with him. I like the Korean actress playing Mi-do; she has the rare attribute of being cute and sexy at the same time. This is kind of where the movie breaks down for me, as I found it hard to believe that an attractive woman such as Mi-do would be extremely dedicated to a beast-like man such as Dae-su who treated her like property. It was so much like the Asian stereotype of machismo strong man in full control of his subservient obedient wife/girlfriend. The story had been good so far but this facet of the plot made zero sense to me. Made me wonder if the director just wanted an excuse to show some sex and nudity.

We are also introduced to our villain, an extremely intelligent, crafty, good-looking man named Woo-jin. He seems to know all the secrets. He apparently knows the reason as to why Dae-su was imprisoned in the first place. Revealing the secret is the big payoff promised at the end of the movie.

There are also some other good scenes that act as either potential clues or time-filler depending on how you look at them. Dae-su eats a live squid, fights a hundred men in a unique action segment, and even barks like a dog in one of the stupidest, most outlandish scenes in movie history.

And of course we have the big ending where all questions are answered and where you get your wickedly disturbing twist. To tell you the truth I was bit disappointed and underwhelmed by the 'secret', but this was probably because I had extremely high expectations for this one. This is not the biggest plot twist you'll see in a movie. I still consider the surprise endings of Unbreakable and Mulholland Dr as superior to Oldboy's finale. Still if you're a fan of this kind of movie, and if you like to have something to think about after the credits roll, you will enjoy this.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars * * * *
Big twist. Moderately sick and disturbing but still good.


(Additional note: Feedback comments section may contain spoilers, so please view them only after watching this.)

le docteur kinsley

kinsley, parlons sexe

human sexuality under the microscope presses on the undeniable fact about our nature, including the fabricated social restrictions imposed by society at large to deny that nature. these practices, viewsm, and restrictions are born out of supertition and tradition. and it was kinsley's life's attempt to strip mankind of it. i dont know if he was successful. to no surprise, the conservative elements in our society, are the same elements who would rather keep everyone in the dark. no need to mention the church and its pawns in the state. things like pre marital sex, extra marital sex, masturbation, incest, pedophilia, homosexuality and just about every other subject on sex were, if not subtle and tastefully done, talked definitively about in the movie.

the practical purpose would be to understand our nature. nothing more. leave it to the conservatives to put malice in a purely scientific study. i sincerely enjoyed this movie because it inevitably brings about personal concerns. if nothing else, its something to look for at the bookstore.

rating 4 out of 5 ****
because its truly unconventional

Party Like It's 1999

The turn of the millenium was a good time to be alive. We had a booming economy, lots of excess cash, plentiful jobs available. Every Friday night, Makati was one big party zone. Everywhere you look, yuppies would be all all over the bars, shopping malls, and restaurants. Many young and not-so-young people trying desperately to part with their hard earned paychecks. We were kings - carefree, invincible, our bubble will never be burst. Well that's what we thought anyway, give us a break, it's 1999.

Music played a big part in defining that carefree Friday night atmosphere. There's a tried and true formula of songs that need to be played to ensure the light and cheerful Friday ambiance. You'll hear them played by live bands, or as part of a track list played in theme restaurants. Here's a list of those Friday party songs that were popular in the late 90's. Loved those songs and that time. Heck, I bet these songs are still played every Friday night in the Glorietta/Greenbelt areas.

Hey - Fatima Rainey
A good icebreaker and feel-good song: "I say hey, hey, I love you till the morning comes. I say hey, hey, I'll kiss you in the morning sun." Set the tone of the evening. Relieve your stress after a hard week's work.

You Get What You Give - New Radicals
One of my favorites. This captures the carefree 90's spirit well. The night is still young with good music and fun all around. And the best thing is, you don't have to get up early the next day.

Never Knew Love Like This Before - Sonya
After everyone has had a bite to eat and settled down, let's play this wonderful song. Life is good and love is in the air. Sonya's rendition of this Stephanie Mills song is a classic.

Then The Morning Comes - Smash Mouth
Cool song. Both sad and happy in an ironic way, depending on how you feel that day. Your job sucks but this song kicks ass, so you're cool.

Crush - Jennifer Paige
Now we play the music at full blast. By this time, most of your companions are in an inebriated state, and will dance on top of the table while you're drinking your beer.

Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
And now you're stuck with your drinking buddies. One is complaining about his boss, the other is looking for advice concerning his affairs of the heart. You discuss these same topics week in week out, and you know it doesn't amount to anything, but you talk about them anyway, with Chumbawamba's chanting in the background "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never gonna keep me down... pissing the night away"

Don't Call Me Baby - Madison Avenue
This song became quite popular right as the dot com bubble was bursting. Our party would soon be over. But let's extract every last ounce of fun we can get from this pop disco tune. This song is for all the players and haters, you know who you are.

All The Small Things - Blink 182
Catchy, addictive, repetitive. Toe-tapping. Finger-snapping. It's like the 80's only it's the 90's.

September - Earth Wind and Fire
Now we're winding down, the yuppies are getting tired, and some are calling it a day. But the night ain't over till it's over. We still relax and take it easy, while celebrating our successes with this Earth Wind and Fire staple. This is almost always played because it sends 'em home happy.

Closing Time - Semisonic
Now it's 3 AM and the bar is closing, and they want to kick you out. Another Friday night is done. See you next payday.


Got any more Party Like It's 1999 songs? Let me know!

40 year old virgin

la vierge qui avait 40 ans. this is a movie that i am almost afraid to watch. because im immature. even though i know that there shouldnt be any reason at all (feeling overly defensive hehe). i think its because i was unnecessarily concerned of what other people might or is thinking about me. those presumptions. those pity stares and uncomfortable conversations. true or not, is not anybodys business. strangely, i got to watch it with several of the young(er) generation from work. which maybe made the experience, of the movie telling me things i already know about myself, even more depressingly humorous. because i swear to god, they were all thinking about me. hehehehe.

ok. back to the movie. my favorite part was when his boss lady was making a proposal. it was funny because the lady really looked the part of .. someone who would engage in casual sex. no strings attached. i wonder if i will ever meet someone like that. forget the politics. forget the consequences. hahaha. another favorite was when he was watching porn. the porn his generous friend gave him. in my mind, that hit the jackpot right there already. end of movie. i mean .. its a FREE stack of porn. what else could he ask for. his reaction to the free porn was a bit odd. there was also the exposed boob slash speed dating scene. the boob looked fake, somptous but fake.

the virgin had a number of buddies. all stereotypes of what a man (american) society thinks he should be and have. there was the smooth talking womanizer. the charming and depressed angry exboyfriend. and the weed smoking and easy going jester. each character wanted to impart unsolicited wisdom, and had something to share to, the virgin. and this is the part that i thought was genius. everyone assumed he needed help, which towards the end of the movie, it becomes apparent who really had problems.

rating: 4 out of 5 ****
yes i know .. its because of the exposed boob

The Big Lebowski

The Coen brothers know how to make good movies. The Big Lebowski is a bit like their previous dark comedy, Fargo, yet not as dark, a bit more dream-like and illusory.

You have a great cast of characters whose story can be spun off into a movie of his own. There's The Dude, a larger than life alpha male type who seems oblivious to the world around him. He's a bum, a loser, and people look down on him, but he doesn't care cause he's The Dude. Then you've got John Goodman's character Walter, the hotheaded Vietnam Vet who curses and takes impulsive action, ultimately leading to all The Dude's troubles. And there's my favorite character, Donny, who you may recognize as the funny-looking kidnapper in Fargo, a laid back simpleton type who hangs out with The Dude and Walter but is continually and maltreated by them (particularly by Walter). He's obviously not on the same tier as the two alpha males, yet they let him hang around with them. Brilliant casting too, Jeff Bridges as The Dude is genius.

Some of the plots can get incoherent, particularly the Julianne Moore parts. There were also some scenes which I felt didn't have anything to do with the movie. I'm referring to the Jesus bowler and Jackie Treehorn parts. I'm sure the brothers intended for it to have some special significance, which can only be understood on second or third viewing.

I can kind of relate to this film, and I'm sure many others, particularly my friends will like it themselves. Although I would like to associate myself with The Dude character, I'm probably more of a Donny. You probably already know someone who's a lot like The Dude.

Choice of music is very good. There are several short mini musical segways which I enjoyed a lot. It sets the mood and feeling of the movie, and I'm sure there are some pot references in them. Soundtrack would be nice to have. Don't miss the urn/spreading of the ashes scene near the end, one of the funniest movie moments of all time.

What this movie needs is a sequel.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars * * * *
Great cast and very funny.

The Scariest Movies of All Time

Here's a top 5 list of the scariest movies I've seen so far:

5. Seven
I was deeply disturbed many years ago after watching this. Each seven deadly sin torture scene was cringe-worthy. I still find this to be one of the most brutal movies ever made. It leaves a lot to the imagination of the viewer, which adds to the horror and disgust. The whole thing was so dark and depressing.

4. Signs
This is pure psychological terror, and also one of my favorite movies of all time. You experience the sense of isolation and uncertainty of the Hess family as if you were there with them. There was also this great exchange between Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix on the couch about types of people and faith that was both thought-provoking and chilling at the same time. It's the sort of movie that will stay with you long after watching it.

3. Audition
Can't tell you much about this japanese film because to reveal more about it will destroy the intended horror effect. I was exhausted, mentally and physically spent after watching the final scene. The slow, easy-going, romantic first half is deliberate and meant to lull the viewer to a false sense of security. This had the biggest bang shock value I've ever experienced on a DVD.

2. Mulholland Drive
I originally wanted to watch this to see Naomi Watts topless in a lesbian scene but it turned into one of the most weird, disturbing, scary movies I've ever seen. Nothing is what it seems, nothing is explained. And the more you think about what transpired, the more layers of questions and horror are revealed as you lie wide awake at night. The effect is greatly magnified especially for those who have a big imagination. There were three extremely frightening scenes in this one: the dumpster scene outside the diner, the decaying corpse on the bed, and the entire Club Silencio part. I felt sick a whole month after watching it, I had just moved to a new dark empty apartment without TV and having only a few lights, which only made me afraid of going to certain rooms at night, or even looking out the window.

1. The Blair Witch Project
OK drum roll... there are two types of people, those who think The Blair Witch Project is the scariest thing ever made, and those who hate it. Let me tell you why this gave me the best scare experience ever. First of all, it was shot to look like it was really happening, that the events were actually recorded as an amateur documentary film, with the footage being discovered later. I came in the theater knowing this was fiction, but by the middle of the film I was thinking it was all real. Second, the greatest horror lies in our own imagination, and much of the footage provides fodder to our greatest fears. You start to imagine the witch, what it must be like to be trapped in the woods. You identify and feel the panic and terror that these college kids are experiencing. Last of all, the final scene is one of the most frightening movie moments of all time. My friends and I went to watch this at 12 midnight. After it was done, it was almost 2am and I was begging my friends to keep me company or at least accompany me home (I was concerned the witch might go after me, or I may see something I shouldn't be seeing at the corner of my house). After their laughter subsided and they could see I was shaking with fear, they decided to keep me company the rest of the night. And for several months after that I avoided dark corners around the house, or being alone in a room at night, just to be sure.


In related news, I'm planning to rent what could be one of the scariest horror movies ever made, one with a reportedly sick, twisted ending. The title is 'Oldboy'. If it's as good as they say it is, I'll add it to the list above.

Fuzzy Logic

I knew I had to get this David Benoit CD after I heard 'Then The Morning Comes' on the radio. I hadn't even known at the time that it was a remake of an original song by Smash Mouth. But Benoit pulls it off with a kickass powerful instrumental rendition. I liked the sharp harpsichord piano combined with wind instruments. By the way, the original Smash Mouth version is cool too.

I initially thought the album title 'Fuzzy Logic' was a reference to the computer artificial intelligence fuzzy logic concept, but the more I think of it, it's more about the theme of combining various instruments in a contradictory way to evoke emotions in the listener. This is the CD you want playing while reading a good book or surfing the web. The first half is all about speed, excitement, caffeine, while the second half settles down to a relaxing tone. I liked the first few songs 'Snap!', 'Fuzzy Logic', 'Someday Soon', and of course 'Then The Morning Comes'. The later songs are pretty forgetable, though 'War Of The S.U.V.'s' is ok. All in all, a good one to have.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars * * *
Then The Morning Comes

Computer Shows

The untimely demise of TechTV left a huge void in computer and technology-related programming on the airwaves. Fortunately, there has been a recent renaissance in tech-related shows on TV, radio, and the web, most of whom were produced by the old TechTV mainstays. As someone who works and plays with computers everyday, you gotta love this stuff. Here's a list of my favorite shows that I follow:

1. This Week in Tech (podcast)
Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose, and the old Screen Savers gang are back in this very informative and entertaining weekly podcast. Leo and his buddies sit back, relax, and be their geeky selves as they discuss all the latest tech news. This is ground zero for everything tech. Also check out Leo's other podcast, Security Now! with Steve Gibson which focuses on computer security related topics.

2. Call For Help
Leo had to move his show to Canada after it was canceled. Thank goodness someone in Canada had the sense to pick this up. Leo and his 'Call for Help'ers, Amber and Andy have fascinating guests such as Mr. Excel, The Photoshop Guy, and The Security Guy Steve Gibson, as well as help call in viewers with their computer problems. Fun and educational.

3. KFI Tech Guy (radio)
Man, this Laporte guy must be real busy. This is Leo in his finest form, as radio is his favorite medium. He tries to solve listener's computer problems in his show and makes complicated topics easy to understand. I listen to this over the internet every weekend. Most of it is basic stuff. Still it's a fun tech talk show.

4. Digital Life TV
This is hosted by Patrick Norton, Leo's former co-host in The Screen Savers. This web-only show is probably the closest thing you'll get to TechTV-style programming. They cover a lot of howto topics as well as all the newest gadgets available. Fun weekly show.

5. commandN
Hosted by Amber Mac and Mikey of Call For Help. Another web-only tech news show from a younger perspective. The nice thing about this is that it covers pop tech culture without catering to the lowest common denominator of viewer. While entertaining and informative, the best reason to watch this is to see the lovely Amber in her own show.

The growing available of video and audio over the internet as opposed to traditional broadcast airwaves signals a trend towards Internet TV. We're witnessing the start of the golden age of IP TV. I can hardly wait.

Love Actually

Love Actually has to be one of the most cringe-inducing movies ever made. Every scene seems designed to trigger some form of emotion one way or another. It feels so contrived, so mechanically produced to create those warm fuzzy uncomfortable feelings of love.

The movie was written by Richard Curtis, who also penned the brilliant Notting Hill screenplay. So I expected some good writing here. There are numerous characters, some interrelated with each other, with neither of them standing out as a central main protagonist. It tells the story of several couples: the British Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) and his secretary, the relationship between a stepdad (Liam Neeson) and his young son, a forbidden infatuation between a young bride (Keira Knightley) and her husband's best friend, a couple whose marriage is on the rocks (Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson), a woman (Laura Linney) who sacrifices everything for her mentally ill brother, an over the hill rock star and his manager, and a recently single author (Colin Firth) who falls in love with a woman he can't understand.

Most of the scenes are pure corn. It seems like they go for broke in the corniness department at every other scene. My personal favorite storyline, and also the most outlandish one, is the one between Colin Firth and Aurelia. There's also the obligatory Hugh Grant 'dancing thinking no one is watching' scene in which I only laughed the second time I saw it.

Best and funniest quote in the film goes to Liam Neeson's stepson: "Let's go get the shit kicked out of us by love", something I can personally relate to, hehehe. I also liked the scene where the old rock star chooses to spend Christmas Eve with his manager rather than at Elton John's wild party. Another cringe-inducing, but cute scene is the part where the guy shows up at Keira Knightley's house with the billboards. Not all relationships end in happy endings by the way, probably to make the movie more realistic and also to counterbalance the totally improbable resolutions of the Hugh Grant and Colin Firth storylines.

Whenever anyone asks me about this movie, I always tell them it's pure corn. But since I'm a sucker for this kind of shit, I actually liked it.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars * * * *
Pure corn.

A Gaming Curmudgeon Lashes Out

My mother once called me a 'high tech bum' for spending too much time playing computer games and not helping around the house. Once, during a month-long Civ1 odyssey, I would rarely bathe, My days would consist of getting out of bed, powering on the PC, and playing Civ. Numerous times I would miss dinner with the family to play that one extra turn that would enable me to wipe out those evil Aztecs from the map. I used to come home from high school and spend hours playing Ancient Art of War, Lakers versus Celtics, and King's Quest. I would hang out in the computer and video game shops in Virra Mall just because it felt good to be around there.

I also binged on the Nintendo Famicom. I was hooked on Tecmo and Kinikuman Wrestling, perfecting my style so I could beat my brother. I have fond memories of Punch Out, Contra, Rygar, Excitebike, and Mario. So many games, so little time.

Then by the mid 90's, I lost track of the games. I was still a bum. Just no longer a high tech bum. I would only infrequently visit the computer game shops, which didn't hold my interest for too long. My brother though, kept playing, kept his gaming skills intact, while I languished. During this period, there was only one game I kept playing and it was Civ2.

A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to start playing games again. Not just Civ, but even some of the newer console games. My brother had a Playstation 1 and Sega Dreamcast which I wanted to try out. I told him "I want to play games again." So he handed me the controller and handed me a couple of games (I think it was a couple of 3D platformers and some of the Final Fantasy's) for me to try out.

My first thought upon seeing the new controller was "What's with all these buttons?" There were four buttons in the front, a gamepad, and two analog directional sticks. I was used to the Nintendo which had only two buttons, A and B, plus one directional pad. To add to my confusion, each of the four buttons in the Playstation Controller had a different function depending on which game you played. You push one button to jump, another to slide, another to duck, etc. "There are too many buttons" I told him, "I can only handle two buttons, A and B." Of course this was before I realized there were actually two MORE buttons in addition to the four. The controller actually had a left and right shoulder button that did different things.

My brain too was struggling with the 3D. I was used to dodging turtles and fireballs in 2D space with Mario. But this time I had to contend with the added dimension of depth. My character would jump in the air and I was too dumb to control where he landed because it was 3D. I couldn't handle 3D space, it was embarassing.

And the games were a lot harder too. My character kept getting killed over and over again. My pattern would be: Start level, Encounter obstacle, Get killed, Restart level. What's worse is my cousins who I used to make fun of when they were little, would get by the levels with ease. Games had gotten too complicated, too physically and mentally taxing for me.

Last year I got a Gamecube and tried my hand at gaming again. This time I actually finished a modern hack and slash game (LOTR The Two Towers, which is actually one of the better games available today). It was more of an exercise in frustration and patience than fun. My hands felt numb after the marathon sessions it took to finish a level. My brain too felt numb from the endless repetition of movements, repeat the same thing over and over until you get it right. Frequently the screen was filled with enemies which I couldn't defend against. Just repeat the combo, hack, slash, repeat the technique until you finish the level. On some levels I was almost in tears as I would be chopped down so close to the finish line.

First Person Shooters for the PC were no better. They make me dizzy and I get lost in the 3D walls and mazes. And it seemed to be endless repetition. Where's the fun in this? I was like a tired old dog who was helpless in the newer stuff.

All I ask is this - give me simple, fun games. Give me more creative gameplay, new concepts, rather than rehashing the same old FPS Shooter/Real Time Strategy/Hack and Slash/Action RPG that we have been force fed all this years. I want my games to be cool, inventive, and interesting. I applaud games with original concepts such as The Sims, Spore, Black and White, The Movies, SimCity, Animal Crossing. Give me more of these. Games today have become more of a manufacturing business, producing box after box of pre-fabricated products that add no new value, but which hardcore gamers continue to buy. Let's make games fun again please.

I want my games back.

Serenity

This movie was based on the short-lived sci-fi series Firefly. I was looking forward to this as it got rave reviews from the nerd community. It was heralded as being more fun than Revenge of the Sith, with a better story and set of characters. But it didn't work for me. It may be because I never watched the series the movie was based on. But no that's not it. I think the main problem was that the movie felt like a TV show. It lacked a certain polish.

The captain was probably the only interesting character. The rest were wooden carichatures (although the female engineer looked cute). Don't get me wrong, the story kept my interest throughout the movie and was nicely written, especially the secret revealed in the end. It just felt like many of the elements were done before. The 'Reavers' flesh-eating creatures sort of reminded me of the creatures in 'The Time Machine'. The Serenity ship and their crew felt like Morpheus and The Matrix travelling together. And I was mildly annoyed (and frightened at the same time) with the mind-reading crew member who kept the secret. Her acting was a bit too melodramatic, kind of out of place in this kind of film.

I did like the one liners the captain belted out such as "If you don't hear from me in one hour, take the ship... and come rescue me right away." The comedy elements in this one are good but not great.

In short, I enjoyed this movie. But it's not the next Star Wars or Star Trek. Though I can understand why hardcore fans will like this.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars * * *
Lower your expectations for this one.

Ladyhawke, La Femme De La Nuit

i am looking for a DVD copy of this old 80s movie starring michelle pfeiffer. its about this couple; a lady and a knight who were cursed to spend their days separate. the lady turns into a hawke during the day and into a woman during the night. while the knight turns into a man during the day and into a wolf during the night.

i am not sure if the story was original for it bears ressemblance to several other medieval romantic stories. but if it is, i think the breaking of the curse was unsurprisingly obvious.

there was minimal special effects, or nothing at all, that i can recall from this movie. the story and actress michelle pfeiffer were both the only "special effects" it needed. it is a simple fantasy love story. very entertaining.

rating: 4 of 5 ****

Five Books I Never Finished

Regnery book publisher Marjory Ross gave an interesting piece of advice in a recent conference. I don't remember her exact words but it went something like 'Don't feel obligated to finish a book, especially if it's a bad one. Just stop reading and move on to the next one.'

It got me thinking about all the books I started reading but never finished. Here's a list of the top five fiction books I couldn't bear to read all the way through:

5. The Silmarillion - J.R.R. Tolkien
I'd just completed 'The Return of the King' and eager to read more Tolkien. So I picked up The Silmarillion and got as far as the second page before it put me to sleep. I haven't opened it since and probably never will.

4. Hannibal - Thomas Harris
I was looking forward to this. I mean, The Silence of the Lambs movie was good, so the sequel in book form should be a fun read, right? Unfortunately I had to force myself to read page after every page. And eventually gave up when the story languished in Florence. To this day, I still think there's a good book in here somewhere, we just need to be more patient. And hopefully it doesn't turn out as bad as the movie that was based on this.

3. The Sicilian - Mario Puzo
I thoroughly enjoyed The Godfather, great characters, epic storyline, one of the most entertaining books ever written. So of course I had to get The Sicilian, especially since Michael Corleone is featured in the first part. Alas, he only has a minor role as the main character is a Robin Hood type fugitive named Guiliano. This is not the sequel I thought it was, but rather a different story, though it's still possible that Puzo may tie the storyline to the Corleone family in the end. I never found out though because I quit reading one third of the way through. I still think this is a good book worth reading. One of these days I'll continue where I left off.

2. Prey - Michael Crichton
I really wanted to like this book. It's about nanotechnology, computers, has a computer programmer as the main character, had a futuristic setting, and was written in Crichton's entertaining yet informative style which I enjoyed in his previous work. Amazingly, I lost complete interest about halfway through the book, just when the action was heating up. It seemed uninspired, forced, tailored to a movie audience. Something didn't feel right. Either Crichton has lost his touch or my taste in fiction is changing.

1. Servant of the Bones - Anne Rice
No offence to Anne Rice fans but this was a disaster. I was literally within five pages of the ending, striking distance to ending my torture and boredom when I realized it just wasn't worth finishing it. I just didn't care about any of the characters or what happened to them. The storyline was irritating and nonsensical. I would rather play with my dog than invest ten more minutes reading the remaining crap.

Death Becomes Her

it is a comedy about immortality. now that i have turned 32 myself. well outside of what most people might consider as youth. it is, more than ever before, apparent this question of living forever or longer. it is fascinating to us. this subject because in truth we can only know the life we have here. on earth. and the rest -- beliefs of an after life are just means for most of us - the great majority, to cope with this undeniable fact of someday. this will all end.

the movie creates this situation where it is possible to go back. to become young again. during the peak of physical beauty and probably mental prowess too. in my case, right after college, and before i turned 25 is when i think, i was at my peak and during which after, and i am willing to openly admit it to the universe, that i have experienced a downward spiral since then.

will i take that potion? i will probably. because i miss it. i miss being young. i miss being confident about myself, my mind, my body.

rating: 3 out of 5 ***

Le Divorce

le divorce. a film about french culture from an american perspective. which means most of it may have been exagerrated. i cant be sure. i have never been nor exposed to it except through hollywood films. but one major theme was getting a mistress. i honestly dont see anything wrong with it except that im not in a relationship. maybe ill feel different when i am in one. but i can see myself getting a mistress when the relationship, and it is bound to happen, become sour. people can pretend to live happily together forever. despite the fact that we all know that .. that only happens in fairy tales. the movie exposes how the french accepts this fact. that people are subject to affairs outside marraige. the french appear decadent and backward. and that they may have archaic views about equality of the sexes especially during a divorce. i cant pinpoint exactly what it is but it was explicitly mentioned in the movie. i didnt understand parts of the ones where french was used. it was too rapidly spoken. and im not that good yet at listening.

all in all it was a window to the french culture. not exactly one that mirrors fact but rather maybe how americans view them.

rating: 3 out of 5 ***

Temple of Elemental Evil

these are some bugs ive found playing toee with patch 3.

- pc ranger spells arent listed. even when they are available (supposedly).
- druid spells appear out of place at the radial menu.
- mage sorc spells can display duplicates at the radial menu.
- gems carried by player characters are withheld.
- the game thinks its owned by non player characters.
- some scenes bog my machine down. or probably its my video card
- how does one use the rope of entanglement in the game?
- what about multiple wands?
- the cleric domain powers are stuck at level one.

i have tried searching for the answers from google. and it appears like im not the only one looking. ToEE is a particularly nice game esp for those familiar with the dungeons and dragons the old RPG game. its too bad though that its rigged to the rim with bugs. i dont know how it fared in the market. but i hope it did well. otherwise it would have been for nothing.

Rating: 3 of 5 ***
For effort and attempt

Podcasts, IP TV, and Leoville

There's a revolution going on in broadcast entertainment these days. I believe we're seeing a shift from conventional TV, radio, and cable to a form of grassroots user broadcasting via the web. Younger people these days trend towards less TV, and more internet. If you fall asleep, you'll miss it. A lot of my favorite programming I get directly from the web. And they're all freely produced and distributed. Here's a list of some of the good stuff that's available.

1. Podcasts
Radio is alive and well. Podcasts are similar to recorded radio programs that you can download and listen to. The best and most popular podcast is TWiT - This Week in Tech, hosted by former TechTV personalities Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton and others. Other good ones you can get are Ebert & Roeper Movie Reviews, Leo's own weekend tech radio show on KFI, and several NPR news shows. You can save a bunch of them on your portable mp3 player and listen to them while taking the bus to work, or on long plane flights.

2. Online Tech Shows
Once upon a time, there was this channel called TechTV that was all about computers and technology. Alas, it was too good to be true as the channel was sold and broken up last year. But good things that die eventually come back in another form. Lately there has been a renaissance in tech-oriented shows that you can now download for free over the web. Check out Digital Life TV, NerdTV, among others. These hardworking folks sacrifice their time and energy to produce quality programming for the rest of us who's tired of the lowest common denominator programs they show on cable. I love these guys.

3. Bittorrent Downloads
Technically, these are TV programs that people record as video files and make them downloadable from the web. Missed an episode of The Simpsons? Living in an area where they don't show your favorite show? No problem, with some luck you can download your favorite shows using the revolutionary Bittorrent utility. Bittorrent works by sharing the bandwidth among all the users downloading the file. It is the great equalizer and can help promote a good show that's not widely available. If I'm living in a country where the Canadian-produced Call for Help isn't available, I can still download and watch it through Bittorrent. I can even envision a future where TV programs are distributed through the web, foregoing cable and network TV entirely. Wouldn't that be great? At least until they spoil it with commercials.

I find the story of the former TechTV personalities, particularly everyone's pal, Leo Laporte very interesting. This guy is an icon in the industry. He makes complicated tech topics easy to understand. And this guy genuinely loves what he's doing. I'm amazed at his energy level and how he has the time to do so many different projects.

His comeback story is amazing. Despite being one of the most loved TV personalities, his program Call For Help was canceled and he was eventually fired after Comcast acquired TechTV. I'm thinking the reason was because Comcast wanted to focus more on game-oriented shows, and dumb down the programming to have more mass appeal. The result was a whole channel, G4TV focused on the lowest common denominator audience composed of gaming/low attention span teenagers. While all this was going on, Leo had to move the Call For Help show to Canada and record a weekend radio program in LA, in effect being exiled from his regular US audience. The reason I like this story is because it proves you can't put a good man down. Just this past month, G4 bought the rights to show the Canadian version of Call For Help in the US. Apparently, some executives there felt they needed Leo back. Ahhh... sweet vindication. I'm watching Call For Help and it is a breath of fresh air. We now have at least one entertaining and intelligent tech show on cable. And I actually learn something new in every episode. I have no doubt in the future we will eventually see Leo back in a US-produced show. When it happens, the whole tech world will welcome him back.

kampanerang kuba

[english] one if not the hottest actress in the philippines today - the humpback bell ringer. it seems like there is a resurgence of interest towards true halfbreeds. not a few years has passed, we observe a decline especially since the advent of korean and japanese tv shows and music. i told myself once. this is it! the reign of mestizas is over. since anybody can feign hair and even skin color which in the beginning were sole trademarks. what made it so special was it was so rare. anne curtis is akin to mestiza actresses like susan roces, nida blanca, and rosa rosal. until i saw how hot she was in an episode (every night at channel 2) of the humpback bell ringer. (i might have sounded like a pedo hehehe but i truly admire her from a different standpoint). my cable was disconnected. i was late in payment. i am left with channel 2, 7, televised radio program - radio ng bayan, and thank the universe for channel 23. there are two things which i hate about the show. (1) i dont see how the catholic church got involved. it seemed like there is an agenda behind it. and there is. its instant promotion of the religion (2) the kids who mostly comprise the audience are taught to judge by appearance rather than by merit. this show teaches how to be shallow. reinforcing the wrong habit. how we interact with people has got something to do wether or not they are good looking.

Rating: 2 of 5 **
Anne Curtis is hot ..

The Best PC Games of All Time

OK, it's actually my personal favorite PC games of all time. All the ones I've enjoyed playing the most from childhood to adulthood. Here are the top twelve:

12. Kingdom of Kroz
Probably one of the most addictive games of all time. It showcased what you could do with ASCII text graphics. The whole game was in text mode. You control your little ascii character, the smily face (ASCII '001' I believe), and go through the dungeons solving puzzles and avoiding traps. I'd like to play this again.

11. Leisure Suit Larry III
Great soundtrack for this one. Every single scene had background music. I used this game to showcase the capabilities of my new Adlib sound card. It was during this time that graphics, music, and story were starting to be combined in a single gameplaying experience. This was one of the funnier Larry games made and my favorite of the series.

10. Hero's Quest (aka Quest for Glory I)
Sierra created this unique adventure/RPG. Good story and you can finish the game in many different ways depending on whether you play as a Fighter, Magic User, or Thief. I played this as a Thief and I robbed houses, joined the Thieves' Guild, and sneaked past enemies instead of fighting them. Pure fun.

9. The Sims
Game Designer Will Wright creates another fun hit game. In The Sims, you control one character's life. You have to eat, sleep, clean the house, get a job, get some recreation, and even invite other Sim characters over for dinner. Very addictive game. My character, a single computer programmer, eventually became Corporate Overlord, bought the most expensive mansion available in the game, and scored with my female neighbor KimP (who was actually my brother's character). Now if only it was real life...

8. Space Quest IV
I love Roger Wilco in Space Quest and I consider this to be the darkest one in the series. Very interesting time travel storyline. Roger starts out in a post nuclear holocaust world which is a glimpse of the future "Space Quest XII". He then travels through past and future Space Quest games, even making an appearance in Space Quest I with old school EGA graphics where aliens make fun of you for being in VGA. I was surprisingly moved by the unexpected dramatic ending, good one Sierra.

7. Lakers versus Celtics (aka 'bball')
This game was huge back in college. My friends and I would play bball every chance we got. It was pretty revolutionary at the time, being the first 5-on-5 basketball game for the PC. Kareem was the most unique player because he had his unblockable sky hook. Worthy and Bird had a unique look too so you could distinguish them on the court. But the rest of the players looked and played very similar. For instance, Michael Jordan had no special skills because this was the 80's and the focus were on the Lakers and Celtics. Hector once beat me with a last second three point shot from the backcourt! Lots of good memories with this one.

6. Space Quest III
The music on this one was unbelievable, particularly the opening music and Fester's Theme. It was also the first (and only?) Space Quest game with a nonlinear map, you could go to any of the two planets and Monolith Burger after you escape the janitor ship. Monolith Burger was my favorite section of the game, you can hang out, order and eat food. Just avoid the Big Belcher combo unless you want to see Roger throw up.

5. King's Quest III
Storyline: An evil wizard, a wicket pet cat, and a servant boy unaware of his true identity. This had me hooked from the very beginning. In the first part, you have to escape the clutches of Mannanan the Wizard. In the second part, you have to find a way back to Daventry. And in the last part, rescue the princess, restore order to the kingdom and uncover your real identity. Fantastic story and my favorite Sierra game of all time.

4. Phantasie
A simple and easy to play party-based RPG game. Free the land from the Black Knights and the Evil Nicodemus. Retrieve the rings from the dungeon inhabited by J.R.R. Trollkin. Assemble your party, fight monsters, level up your characters. But wait, the story is actually quite good. I've played several RPGs since, but none were as good or as fun as this one. Phantasie III was good too. And it's too bad they never ported Phantasie II to the PC.

3. Star Control 2
This was a fantastic epic game that blew me away. You were born away from earth, returning to find it is now in control of the Ur-Quan Overlords. So you and your crew travel around the galaxy, fighting and befriending different alien races, expanding your fleet until you are eventually strong enough to defeat the Ur-Quan Masters. Along the way you will unravel the massive history of the galaxy races. You'll learn how the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za and Kohr-Ah are destined to be locked in a titanic civil war which will result in the destruction of the known galaxy. This simply put is the best story ever put in a game. Finishing it gave me the most satisfying sense of accomplishment I've ever had on the PC.

2. SimCity 2000
You're the Mayor of a city. Your task is to design and build roads, schools, power plants, industrial, commercial, and residential zones, and do it in a way to keep the residents happy. It's up to you what you want your city to be like. You can design it to be a huge Metropolis filled with pollution or crime, or you may want a smaller one with fewer jobs and residents. This is a wonderful open-ended game where you have to deal with many decisions that will affect your city. Raise taxes? Lower taxes? More schools and museums? Build a new stadium? Legalize gambling? Build a new highway? It's tough too because there are so many tradeoffs and you need to keep your city economically viable. I was hugely addicted to this, foregoing sleep and food just to make my city a little better.

1. Civilization
Simply put, the best computer game of all time. More addictive than heroin or crack. Spans the entire history of man. Start at 4000 BC with a wandering tribe. Discover technologies like The Wheel, and The Alphabet. Build up your armies and upgrade them as you get better military knowledge. Encounter rival tribes and nations. Engage them in diplomacy or go to war, it's up to you. Play through to the middle ages, industrial revolution, up to the present time where you can develop nuclear weapons and even use them against your enemies (resulting in accelerated global warming). Then you can even build a spaceship and send it to Alpha Centauri. Sid Meier remains as one of the greatest game designers ever. The amount of decisions and possibilities you have in this game is mind blowing. You can play this thousands of times without getting tired of it. Many nights in the past, I've seen the sun rise while playing 'just one more turn'.

The last game I got into was The Sims back in 2002. The year before, I got interested in Black and White, which had its flaws, but a very unique experience. The last original PC game idea I believe was Black and White. Nowadays the industry is littered with First Person Shooters, Real-time strategy (warcraft, etc.), and MMORPGS. I notice a lack of innovation. Understandably, game development companies want to play it safe and ship products they are sure to sell, rather than gamble with new ideas.

There is some good news, Peter Molyneux (creator of Black and White) plans to release a new original game called 'The Movies' where you control a movie studio. Civilization 4 is also due out late this year. I'm also threshing out ideas for a new simple and easy RPG that I can code in my spare time. Happy playing!

Luther

luther. martin luther was a brillant academic. a roman catholic monk who lived early in the 16th century. he was responsible for starting the reformation movement. majority of his supporters were peasants but there were nobles, who were simple minded, perhaps not fully understanding, fell into the mob, into a bloody massacre of catholics. into a revolution. we filipinoes can not lay claim to inventing people power. or mob rule after all. i find that the reformation has many parallels to jose rizals cause of reformation (rather than revolution).

the manipulation was earlier demonstrated by the church itself by intimidation (the inquisition was upheld), reinforced by superstitions. the sale of indulgences, pilgrimages, granted powers of holy relics, a saint for each ailment.

martin was also against church policy disallowing suicide victims to be buried in hallowed ground, never to be granted the last rites inside the church. he believed that judgement lies with jesus alone. not to the beureaucrats who ran the church.

however, martin was not perfect. he is known to have had episodes of talking with unseen spirits. he joined the brotherhood because he thought god ordered him to, during a thunderstorm. he also believed that there is salvation outside the roman church. refering to the church which followed the greek tradition. but not outside faith in jesus. in other words, he believes in condemning all peoples who werent christian (by virtue of having not heard of jesus at all, people are to spend eternity in hell). makes sense?

lastly, martin translated the bible to german. which allowed the common folk to read, understand, and finally reinterpret it. this made the roman catholic church heirarchy furious because they claimed sole authority. we know how this ended. these days there are numerous interpretations. each carefully translated to suit an agenda against women, homosexuals, other religions and minorities.

not until the second vatican council (300 years later), did the roman catholic church attempted to make any improvements in its policies. and even any attempt to reconcile with the offshoot churches. even now as we speak, the church encourages graven images, praying to saints, relics, and making big business out of it. today, religion is undoubtedly one of the most profit making enterprises in the world.

rating 3 of 5 ***
very inspirational

Frente! - Labour of Love EP

This little known, not-so-widely available release completes my Frente collection. This CD is one of the best kept secrets ever, an overlooked gem.

Both hits, 'Labour of Love' and 'Bizarre Love Triangle' are here. You probably already remember those.

Follow those with the songs 'Testimony', 'Not Given Lightly', and my personal fave in this compilation 'Paper, Bullets and Walls'. Each tune showcases Angie Hart's remarkable singing voice. My computer speakers have never sounded so good. 'Not Given Lightly' is just a sweet 50's-style love song:

What can I say?
The words destroy all meaning
There's only cliches
To get across this feeling
This is a love song
For John and Desha's mother
This isn't easy
I might not write another

In contrast, 'Paper, Bullets and Walls' has the more modern sound and cutting-edge lyrics, but 50's-cute in its own way:

Your diamonds are dirt
I'd much rather hurt than have all your addictions
If you want forever we'll fuck you baby
Is it paper or bullets in the walls
When it could be possible, beautiful, wonderful
Every little wing
Flaps for something
But no one knows one
I got governments!
I got continents!
This is important baby, come on, get up

Very impressive. The CD sounds great from start to finish. I have only one complaint, it's too short at 7 songs, one of them, 'Risk' being a quick 30-second acapella.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars * * * *
Surprisingly good!

New Order - Waiting for the Sirens' Call

I'm stuck in an 80's time warp at the moment. And there's no better soundtrack to our retro adventure than New Order's latest album, Waiting for the Sirens Call. The band has stayed together for over twenty years and this may be their best group of songs yet.

This CD is loads of fun. The songs are so enjoyable to listen to. I can still feel the synthesized bass beat ringing in my head. Sometimes I break into a smile when I realize that these are twenty-first century songs played in the eighties style. The tracks are upbeat, positive, lollypop, energy-laden fun. I love all the beeps, whistles and pops. It makes me feel stupid enough to be back in high school.

We have two classic new wave songs in this compilation: First we have 'Krafty' - a very addictive tune which you will want to listen over and over again. It's so carefree and playful, with good synthesized drums and music in the background. This has to be my favorite song so far this year.

We also have the slightly more serious, yet kickass track 'Jetstream', which I believe has one of the best song refrains ever made: "J-E-T. You are so good for me. You are my jetstream lover. You're how I wanna be." The buildup to the J-E-T part, followed by the actual refrain is genius.

I also like the choice of titles for the other songs: "Dracula's Castle", "Who's Joe", "Working Overtime", and my favorite title of all time "Guilt is a Useless Emotion". All this solid music packed into one CD.

My only complaint if I had to have one, is that so many of the songs sound alike. And some of the synth beats are even recycled from one song to the other, sometimes used to good effect. So this may sound repetitive after numerous listens. Which wouldn't be a problem if you enjoy the eighties new wave sound. Come on admit it, we all know the eighties were the best era in music.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars * * * *
Modern retro fun.

The Devil's Arithmetic and Local Shows

it is alice and wonderland except wonderland is a nazi operated camp in poland. and alice is played by kirsten dunst. isnt she awesome?

why do we lack patriotism? its one obvious problem that is plaguing our country. we fail to commemorate our own history. the result. we dont have a sense of who we are. it is the combined fault of a commercialized media, its artists, and producers concerned only with fame and profit. and our society bereft of ambition and pride. that, i find, is one of the lessons of this film. from a tragedy. take the holocaust story, repeatedly told, so that younger generations have a mind to appreciate themselves. take pride from where they come from.

why cant we come up with something like this. we also have our own holocaust stories. we had our liberation from the spaniards, americans, and japanese. these are as rich a source of meaningful tragedies (or in business terms - entertainment).

instead we insist on fairy tales (darna, kampanerang kuba - exception i like this one, sugo), even condemning ourselves in the process (sugo portrays the native culture as barbarians while the catholic invaders morally superior). another is we romanticsize the victim, not the martyr. martyrs are those who triumph from their convictions, from their own merits. while victims willingly suffer. subjecting themselves to fate. and they take pride in it. they think being the victim, is virtue. this is the obscenity. when these shows are inadvertently teaching this "virtue" to the kids. what do you think we'll end up with several years from now fom watching all this crap? in this film, we see this contrast of cultures.

one last thing. i dont get why its entitled devil's arithmetic. it sounds smart but it doesnt seem to have anything to do with the story. (or im just ignorant)

Rating 3 of 5 ***
Simple but highly effective message

Hotel Rwanda

this is another film about the genocide that happened in Rwanda. the hatred between the hutu majority and the tutsi minority. similar to the film parfois en avril (sometimes en april) which was earlier reviewed in this blog. while the latter is historical fiction, the previous is based on a true story.

the story revolves around the manager of mille collines (a thousands hills), his family, some hutu and tutsi refugees managing to survive the massacre of hutu extremists. its was less morbid than sometimes in april. or maybe ive become jaded.

the UN seems impotent to do make real changes. it took an estimated one million lives before they and the rest of the world intervened. because there wasnt any oil? because the problem involved blacks. africans? and that means they were good as dirt? i wish the UN could have done more that it should. my favorite scene was when the UN ordered all the white people out of rwanda abandoning all the africans behind.

Rating 3 of 5 ***
Humanity at its worst

Blade Runner

I watched the theatrical version of this film as opposed to the Director's Cut, which I heard more people prefer over the original. The Director's Cut reportedly did away with the narration (which I thought was a good touch), and had a darker, more ominous ending. A friend with good taste in movies once told me he considered this one of the most important sci-fi movies ever made." So I couldn't wait to check it out for myself.

The movie has a dark, futuristic, Terminator-like feel to it. It's set in Los Angeles in the year 2029 or close to that. The streets are dirty, crowded, with brightly-lit billboards and flying vehicles. The story revolves around the presence of 'Replicants', or advanced human-like androids that exist way past their lifespan. The unusual thing about these Replicants are that they are given false human memories to make them think and act like the part more effectively. Harrison Ford is a 'Blade Runner', a cop whose function is to terminate wayward Replicants. The movie raises many ethical questions: What defines being human? How moral is it to terminate non-living beings who act and feel human?

Sounds very interesting on paper, but frankly this movie failed to capture my imagination. I felt like a lot of the scenes were moving in slow motion, I got impatient all throughout the film waiting for the plot to progress. This is the type of movie that would have been fun to watch when it was first released in the early 80's, but it feels dated and tired. Maybe it's just me.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars * *
Slow and shows its age.

Favorite CDs from 2004

Feeling lazy so I'll just copy and paste this article from an old website last year. Here's a list of the CDs I enjoyed the most from 2004. Note, they don't have to be new releases, the only requirement was that I had to like 'em.


1. CAKE - Pressure Chief

CAKE returns with the kick-ass Pressure Chief CD. If you like CAKE you will enjoy this album from start to finish. All songs are good. You will sing and chant along with the band, particularly with songs such as 'No Phone', 'Carbon Monoxide', 'The Guitar Man', and others. Excellent to listen while coding or driving.


2. Barenaked Ladies - Everything to Everyone

This most highly anticipated CD came out last year and was the most collaborative effort of the Ladies. All songs are good, well worth your money. The longer you listen to the tracks, the more they grow on you. I was surprised that it didn't sell as well as previous BNL albums. Lyrics are very deep and meaningful as is the Barenaked Ladies' style.


3. Barenaked Ladies - Gordon

This was Barenaked Ladies' first commercial album and contains some of their best, most inspired songs. I love listening to 'Hello City' and 'Box Set' on quiet Saturdays or early morning drives. For some reason I can relate a lot to those two songs. It has a more acoustic or jazzy style as compared with their later releases.


4. Frente - Marvin the Album

I remembered that the band Frente had a few minor hits back in the 90's. Angie Hart has a killer voice that will make you fall in love with her. Their music is raw, crazy, and touching. 'Ordinary Angels' and 'Labour of Love' are the best tracks here. If you like something sickeningly sweet, listen to 'Accidentally Kelly Street'.

(Update: I still occasionally listen to the two Frente albums up to now. They really are good.)


5. Paperboy - Nine Yards

This is a classic. It's rap, but it's good rap. I ordered it mainly because I recalled the song 'Ditty' from college days. And was pleasantly surprised that many of the other songs were good too. Good driving and programming music. It contains a considerable amount of profanity and explicit lyrics which you will love to rap along with.


6. Tears For Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending

Tears for Fears evokes fond memories for many of those who grew up in the 80's. I didn't share that nostalgia, but still found this CD very inspiring and entertaining. I like the first song which starts with the line 'Wake Up' as if Orzabal was speaking directly to me. 'The Devil' and 'Call Me Mellow' are my other faves. If you like the style of the Beatles, you'll like this one.


7. Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked for the Holidays

Barenaked Ladies needed some extra cash so they recorded this special Christmas album. What a bonus! I even got into the Christmas spirit for the first time in a long while. The original BNL songs are what makes this great. In particular I enjoyed the country-style song 'Footprints' though I'm still trying to figure out what it's about.

(Update: I'm convinced that 'Footprints' is a Christmas song about stalking.)


8. Frente - Shape

This was Frente's second and last CD. Very underrated album. This was very CAKE-like. Just replace John McCrea's monotone voice with Angie's sweet angellic tone. More low-key and serious than their first release. 'Horrible' (a tongue twister-like song) and 'Jungle' (60's-style) are the tracks that stand out.


9. Marc Almond - The Stars We Are

I had this on cassette tape back in high school. Lots of nostalgia while listening to this one. 'Bittersweet' and 'The Very Last Pearl' are so good, you will listen to them over and over again. Perfect to play in the afternoon with the sun out and the windows open.


10. CAKE - Motorcade of Generosity

CAKE's first album. For some reason I kept playing this CD over and over last summer. The music is pure and raw. Very underrated. Good to listen while working on the computer. Lots of good songs: 'Ruby Sees All', 'Jolene', 'Rock n Roll Lifestyle', and my fave 'You Part the Waters'.

Favorite Books from 2004

I like to rehash old stuff, so here's a list of my favorite books read from 2004. It was originally posted in another website. Enjoy!


1. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Robert Cialdini

This book was so good I read it twice to make sure I remembered the new ideas and concepts it presented. It changed the way I looked at a lot of things. It shows you how and why people act in certain ways. How we are manipulated into doing things we don't like, and how to defend against these tricks. A wealth of information on human psychology and human nature.


2. Programming Pearls
Jon Bentley

Probably the best programming book you'll ever read. You can feel just how much Jon Bentley loves his craft. It will teach you how to think of the problem, evaluate different solutions, implement the best one for the given situation, make tradeoffs between performance and maintainability. I read the first edition of this book, and am looking forward to read the new chapters added in the second edition.


3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams

After I bought a used copy of this, I thought it would be a throwaway fiction book to pass the time. To my surprise it was one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a long time. For some reason I could really relate to Arthur Dent's character and predicament.


4. Die Broke
Stephen Pollan, Mark Levine

I first read this book five years ago, then read it again this year after I came across a used copy in the bookstore. There are a lot of revolutionary ideas here on how to think about your career (quit today, don't retire), money (pay cash), and life (die broke). If you ever felt lost in your life or job, this book is a must read.


5. Maximum Achievement
Brian Tracy

I have to confess, this is a very cheesy book on Success. I cringed while reading some of the chapters, and don't necessarily agree with everything the author says. Still, there are a lot of great techniques and ideas here on utilizing the powers of your mind, setting goals, and how to find a parking space. Napoleon Hill to me is still the best Success writer, but Tracy manages to embrace and extend many of Hill's best teachings.


6. Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus
Andre Lamothe

I'm indebted to Andre Lamothe for his great work in writing this book. He's a hero to ordinary programmers everywhere who dream of being world-class developers. This is not just a book about game programming, but a book on how to write good quality, high-performance code. A lot of software development techniques with lots of working code you will learn from. Reading this book made me a better programmer.

(Update: I'm starting to read this again, being out of shape, programming-wise.)


7. Nightmares and Geezenstacks
Fredric Brown

Sometimes I crave for short stories that stimulate the imagination, that make you think of things you won't ordinarily think of. Fredric Brown fits the bill nicely. Lots of weird stories, crazy scenarios, haunting endings.


8. Awaken the Giant Within
Anthony Robbins

Another cheesy Success book (I notice a pattern here) by renowned self-help guru Tony Robbins who cracks me up whenever I see him on TV. But this book did give me lots of useful techniques for managing my emotions, and on how to control and use them to my advantage. I like the chapters explaining how the mind works, how we can train it to serve us. The chapter on how to effect a revolutionary change in an instant is worth the price of the book alone. Also lots of good information on Neuro-Science and NLP techniques.


9. Relativity Simply Explained
Martin Gardner

A great science book. It explains difficult concepts in very simple terms. I didn't know anything about Einstein's theory of relativity before. Now I can at least start to grasp it. This is the type of book that will make you think.


10. Rebel Code
Glyn Moody

This book tells the stories of our open source heroes - the people who made sacrifices to give us the great computing environment we have today. I like the chapters on Richard Stallman, Larry Wall, and Linus Torvalds. It can get long-winded at times but if you want to get inspired after a long day of coding, this is the book for you.

Carandiru

Carandiru
a film by hector babenco
http://carandiru.globo.com/

this is a movie about a prison. it is in portuguese. there was nothing surprising in the movie. just as with other prison movies. no prisoner admits to their guilt. each has his own story of how he got in. everyone is innocent. (i think nobody is innocent). even outside of prison. each one of us is guilty. one way or another. the prision is in brazil. a third world. the state of the prison was similar to prisons in the philippines. cramp, over filled, and dirty. there was internal politics. gangs. drugs. sex.

it was not meant to be funny. but i thought it was. especially towards the end. the riot and the police killing everyone so that the incumbent governor would appear good in the media for the upcoming elections. prisoners cease to become human. even so when they get out.

Rating 3 of 5 ***
Regular prison movie

CAKE - Pressure Chief

"We're not joking. There's more hate in our heart than Creed and Nickelback combined. I hear a lot of music and it sounds like monsters. I don't believe it. It's mass-produced, registered-trademark anger.

CAKE is really a reactionary gesture against the sort of big, dumb, fake, angst-ridden rock of the early '90s that I hated, so we just tried to sound as small as possible as kind of a big (screw) you, and then we got criticized by rock critics for having dinky beats. They just didn't get we did it on purpose."

- John McCrea, CAKE


CAKE's 'Pressure Chief' finally arrived last year. And this is one of their best works. An excellent album from start to finish. All tracks are good. I've been listening to this for over a year and still never get tired of it.

We start with a song that will grow on you the more you listen to it, 'Wheels'. Here our hero narrates in the first person: seeing jets flying overhead, a sun going down, and a waiter setting a table just for one. Then he describes how he got there. Taking a plane to a place far away so 'we could be completely free'. Then some more descriptions about muscular cyborg German dudes, sexy French-Canadians and overweight Americans. Until we get to the gut-wrenching clincher, almost a twist ending where he shouts at the top of his lungs "Why you say you... are not in love with me". (gulp)

Then we get to the most addictive song on the CD, the most hated and the most loved at the same time, 'No Phone', a song about cellphones and how the singer feels about them.

I've been on fire
Yet I still say frozen
So deep in the night
My smooth contemplations will always be broken
My deepest concerns will stay buried and unspoken
No phone, no phone
I just wanna be alone today

There's lots other good stuff, as I said every track is good. 'Take It All Away' is a humorous, yet rage-filled breakup song:

Take your economy car and your suitcase
Take your psycho little dogs
Take it all away

'Dime' is a cute song about a dime left on the floor which no one wants to pick up. "I'm a president you don't remember, getting kicked around, not to be dented by a car, by a plane, or anything. Not yet invented." Is this just a song about inflation?

'Carbon Monoxide' has one of my favorite choruses ever, and it was a blast hearing everyone sing "After this my lungs will be so fucked up" out loud at the live concert. John McCrea is said to have wrote this song while waiting for a bus.

'Guitar Man' is a remake of Bread's classic song. How strange for CAKE to cover Bread. But I'm glad they did, and they should release this to radio. I'm convinced it will be a sure-fire hit. You've got to listen to this one.

Skip ahead to "She'll Hang the Baskets" and 'End of the Movie'. Now these are strange songs. I haven't yet figured out what they mean. I like how 'End of the Movie' talks about the people who sit through the credits at the end of the movie.

The last track ends it on a positive note, 'Tougher Than it is'. People always exaggerate things and make things sound tougher than it is. Keep things simple and basic.

Well, there is no such thing as you
It doesn't matter what you do
The more you try to qualify
The more it all will pass you by


The group utilizes more synthesized instruments and less guitar. I read elsewhere that this was intentionally done by the band although they have been criticized for using this popping and beeping sounds as opposed to their more guitar and bass-oriented music of their previous releases. Personally I don't see what the big deal is. It still has the CAKE sound, great lyrics, catchy tunes, occasional trumpet, and monotone-like voice, although there is more real singing and less chanting/monotone here. Recent news is that the band is leaving its label to go independent. Is this the end of CAKE?

If you enjoyed the group's previous work, you will love this one. In fact, even if you hated their previous releases, there may be something here you will like. A must-buy and best album of 2004.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars * * * * *
Take it all away.

Blue Velvet

Blue Velvet was directed by David Lynch, who was also the director of one of my all-time favorite movies, Mulholland Drive.

Unfortunately I was bored and disappointed with this one. It's about a college student investigating a detached ear found in an empty lawn. It's set in the quiet suburb of Lumbertown, where the people are friendly, and nothing ever happens. But looks can be deceiving. As we go through the story you find that beneath the surface there lurks evil, perversion, and depravity. We get a nude and simulated sex scene with the attractive Isabella Rosellini, and some tense moments with the main bad guy, Dennis Hopper.

As is the trademark of Lynch, we get hidden meanings and funny colors suggesting dream sequences. Unlike Mulholland Drive, I wasn't that interested in any of them. I just never got into this film. It was unimaginative and dull. Not worth the time to watch.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars * *
Boring.