NOTES: Thy Womb

The ideas are still being conceived.



Thy Womb (2012)
Directed by Brillante Mendoza


Certainly, a film that must be watched.
Pay attention to the details.
Enjoy!

I'M BACK & IN FRONT

Before I say goodbye to 2012, let me just say Hello first to my blog.
 *Oh there it is!!!*I sincerely hope it says Hello to you, too...*

Which I have never thought of until the time I saw a blogger/ friend's post who triggered my inner green (no it's actually turquoise) monster. "Ah, I must write, again, my precious..."

For one thing, we've survived the said-to-be Doomsday and I for one, apparently, is blogging about it! Yay! I just thought you should recognize by now! Bu perhaps you need someone to remind me.

I know right, thanks!

Cheers! We've lived. We've outsmarted, outlasted! We are the ultimate Survivors! Thanks, Jerry Bruckheimer. And those who call TV an art instead of a political show business. But I digress.

As you can see, Christmas day  has just gone. I wonder when it can be found again?

Obviously, next year. But it's spirit, though admittedly unseen, is fast becoming oddly "un-felt". Why is it that the holidays were more exciting when we were kids than we are now, as adults? Ah,probably because we now give more gifts as compared to when we were younger, when we were receiving gifts from our parents, friends, godparents and Santa, year after year.

Or probably because it's a routine. Which is sometimes only seen now as a same old tradition that must be done annually. Hence, the thrill fades because it's the same thing over and over.

And even your creative juices were already exhausted because through the years, you might have already given everyone the gift they have yearned for years.

There's that predictability factor that turns us off... that halts us...

So now...

The End.

The Moose

Well, there's a story. And it started with..

"I Once Shot a Moose..."

Woody Allen is...

what a moose!

I'm actually Alive

A couple of months since my last post here, I actually declare that I'm still alive. And probably kicking. Somebody else's...

Well, I figured updating my blog is harder than I thought. Harder than figuring out where the North was without a compass.

I digress.

Anyway, here's something for y'all. Woody Allen's latest masterpiece: To Rome With Love.
All-star cast, for the win! :)

RIP Whitney

Wow. Life is short. You must have probably known by now that The Whitney Houston had died, at 48. Like I said, life is short. Just the other day, I was singing Saving All My Love For You. Just the other day, my colleagues and I were watching Whitney concerts. Just the other day I was watching Maya Rudolph impersonate Whitney on Saturday Night Live (that memorable and hilarious Betty White episode). Then today, I woke up with that news.

I am not a Whitney fan but I know several of her songs. And I sing  them. And I even have her Greatest Hits and Million Dollar Bill albums. And I love The Bodyguard. And I.............

Wow. It's amazing how everything can be recognized once you're gone. Did you know that Whitney is the most-awarded female act of all time?  But did you also know that she DOES NOT have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? 

What I'm saying is. You think you know, but you have no idea. We really think that we have all the time in the world to do all we want, how we want them, when we want them. Really? Only time can tell.

I just wish before our time is up, we had spent the moments wisely- to know other people more, to accept ourselves more. And enjoy life. Live while we are in it.

RIP Whitney Houston

(August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012)

Lord Byron, FYI

You know Lord Byron? 

Lord Byron, it seems, was obsessed with sex. Not only did he reportedly sleep with over 250 women in Venice in a single year (not to mention the men), he also bedded Lady Caroline Lamb (who called him “mad, bad, and dangerous to know”), her cousin Anne, who he later married, and his own half-sister. 

Now you know him. No wonder why he's called Lord. Dude.

Story Vs. Plot

Have you ever got yourself confused on the difference of a plot and a story? E. M. Forster draws the line.

"The king died and then the queen died" is a story. "The king died, and then the queen died of grief" is a plot...."The queen died, no one knew why, until it was discovered that it was through grief at the death of the king." This is a plot with a mystery in it, a form capable of high development.

E. M. FORSTER

Crescendo

Damn. This tune messes up my mind just as I was about to hit the sack. Then the inner romantic in me started to take over my usual boring self and the thing is, I had let it. And so here's something.

You and I are -all by ourselves- in a yacht. The moon smiles at us, illuminates our deepest, darkest, guarded feelings. The silence of the night accentuates the crescendo beating of our hearts. We never said a word. We just let our bodies serenade each other in the euphonious tune of the moment.

Bookish: Street Arts

Who says bookworms are plain boring and nerdy? That's just stereotypical. Until you meet people who convert their 'bookish' taste into awesome street art.

No copyright infringement intended.

Indulge.

Alice in Wonderland

Charles Dickens

Franz Kafka

William Shakespeare

Henry Miller’s 11 Commandments for Writing

Here's something really interesting for writers, written by a writer- Henry Miller- himself. I find it rather inspiring now to go on and write. But first, here are the commandments, as written in this article.

1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to “Black Spring.”
3. Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
5. When you can’t create you can work.
6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
8. Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
9. Discard the Program when you feel like it—but go back to it next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

Ayn Rand on Love

So, does the name Ayn Rand ring a bell? 

Since, Valentine's day is just around the corner, let's talk about love. And here's something to share about Rand's definition of love, which is featured in her book The Fountainhead. And it goes...

 "To say ‘I love you’ one must first know how to say the ‘I. The meaning of the ‘I’ is an independent, self-sufficient entity that does not exist for the sake of any other person. A person who exists only for the sake of his loved one is not an independent entity, but a spiritual parasite. The love of a parasite is worth nothing.”

You can view the article here.

I Love Yous

 

Food for thought:
Can you ever quantify love and appreciation? Well sometimes, you just can't afford to squander "I Love You's". You gotta earn it.

Talking to The Moon

 

Your innocent, uncomplicated beauty glows,
You've undoubtedly captivated me, it shows.
Behold, such a thing of glory leaves me speechless,
Talking to the Moon, stupid and erotic, nonetheless.
:)
Did you see the way the Moon looked at you?

Sleeping and hotness

DAMN, this woman. Damn. Now, how can I sleep when she's looking at me like this. Haha. :))

This comes out on April 10. I want this. :)

Mamma Mia! 2012

January 24, 2012. What a night!!

You know when you really had a bad day, you just want to wish your life story is on DVD and grab the remote to hit the fast forward button, just to get it over and done with?

Yeah, exactly like that!

But we're not talking about that here. Probably some other time. If you get lucky.

Just so you know, I just got home from a really spazzy night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where, several hours ago, Mamma Mia! had its season premiere here in the country. The mere thought of it right now gives me a really huge smile. So wide it hurts. Until this part. Okay, I stop it. Pain!! I had to. No choice. Then, smile..again.

How do I even begin? It just feels so surreal to me because one of the dreams on my 'Yeah right, dream on' list had just come true. In fact, I want to get the pad where I wrote this list and cross out this goal. Right now. This moment right here. But if I do, I won't finish this because that list is probably out there in... a pile of...stuff, as what Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada would say.

I feel so elated. Wait, is that even a right word? Goodness, I can't even pick the appropriate word for this moment. Surely, it wouldn't be speechless as I would

Yeah, I just ran out of words there.

Wait, it has been a long journey, and I'm trying my best to drive my train of thought right now.

It was a spazzy night mainly because I shared the Mamma Mia! experience with, what-can-I-say, fabulous ladies! Who were undoubtedly, Mamma Mia! fans as well.

Okay, *cropped someone*...

We sang along with the cast. We stomped our feet to the beat. We danced on our seats. And dot dot dot.

Pretty much what fan girls would do when they watch their favorite shows, or with their favorites, period.

Wait, did I just say we were Mamma Mia! fans?

For many, we were crazy ladies screaming our lungs out in... well, each production number, where singing was involved. Which by the way happens a lot in musicals, like Mamma Mia! Oh gosh, you didn't know?!

In fact, if I can just guess what people were thinking when they saw us like that, I'm pretty sure, I could list several, no, countless, hypotheses: they're insane! Exagge! OA! So noisy!

If looks could kill, we would have been brutally murdered right now.

But what the hell, go on and wallow in your killjoy misery. While we go on and on and on. 'Til you actually join us. Cheers!

Would have wanted to post a review about the musical but I think I just have to let this story go on while it's still fresh.

We actually didn't pay anything for this. We got our tickets for free! Thanks to Ayala Malls by the way! You're our hero! Our lifesaver! Coatsaver- the Miracle! Okay, enough.

Our complimentary tickets were worth around P3,000.00 each. That's not that cheap. So we were seated on the balcony. Frankly, not the best view out there but not bad. As long as you can see what the actors are doing, and hear what they're talking about, you are fine. We were. Certainly, we did not die. But it can give you anxiety attack if you're afraid of height. That I am sure of.

So we were up there, waiting for it to happen. You tell yourself, you better capture the moment, figuratively and literally. To fulfill the latter, you reach for your camera, oh damn, darn it, the marshals took it before you entered the theater because it's not allowed. Boo, you say.

But hey, at least you get to focus, 100% on what you're watching. Unless of course, you have Melissa McCarthy's character in Bridesmaids, beside you, annoying you with all her glory.

I tried taking snaps shots, especially during the encore. But I was easily spotted. So I had to stop, wait, it didn't even start!, filming. And danced.

I love it when Sara 'Donna' Poyzer says, "Gusto niyo pa?" (Do you want another one?)

I am a spoiler? Oh too bad. You just read it right there! Try thinking you did not just read it. But wait, you just did!

In the movie, it was that moment where you can see the greatest living American actress today (who by the way just scored her record-breaking 17th Oscar nomination tonight), Meryl Streep, dancing, uhm, wildly? In Abba's Waterloo. Shaking her... Oh okay, you gotta see the movie. You have? You bet!

Filipinos, were, initially shy when it came to the dancing during the encore part. Goodness, others just preferred to sit there for what it seemed like an hour! Give your butt a break! Make it eat kitkat. It was wild... For others, like us, we opted to stand up, dance, sing, enjoy the moment. Seriously, every time this moment comes, I think of Thank You For The Music. Why? If you know the lyrics, you know what I'm talking about.

"And I've often wondered, how did it all start?//
Who found out that nothing can capture a heart//
Like a melody can//
Well whoever it was//
I'm a fan//
So I say, thank you for the music...//
The songs I'm singing..."

Yeah, just like that. Wait, did you just sing it? I can hear you. Not bad. I thought I heard a bear being tickled.

I think it's the first time that Mamma Mia! included our country for its international tour. That, yes, I have yet to verify. Admittedly, I have seen the Mamma Mia! the movie first, before seeing this.

I remember it perfectly. It was 4 years ago. It was around July 2008 when the movie was shown here. Being the Meryl Streep fan that I am, I got so excited, my life probably revolved around this thing, at that time. I researched. Of course, Wikipedia was helpful. (Stop Sopa, anyone?) Youtube was my best friend. Downloaded the .mp3 files wherein you can hear James Bond sing. Pierce Brosnan, I mean + Mr. Darcy (that's Colin Firth) + that weird looking guy in the Pirates of the Carribean franchise (but they are all weird!) (Stellan Skarsgaard). It was... incredulous! Add in Julie Walters and Christine Baranski.

These people can actually sing? And wait, no autotune! Hmm. Awesome. But of course, other say they can identify a sound like a cat screeching, or something like that. Go figure.

So, when I watched the stage play for the first time, I was not surprised that there were changes. Under Attack, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Thank you for the Music, parts were not in the movie. And Our Last Summer, in the play, had only Harry Bright on it, as opposed to the film adaptation where all the supposed dads + Sophie were on the boat, gleefully singing... I can still recall Our Last Summer.

Oh there are so many things that will stick in your brain after this. Like gooey stuff that are difficult to get. For instance, wow! That Under Attack scene reminded me of Mars Attacks! Erase. Geez! The Voulez Vous choreography looked effortless! Not?

That moment where you get teary-eyed, okay, admit it, you cried, during Slipping Through My Fingers. That moment when a mother is about to give away her daughter.

"Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture...and save it from the funny tricks of time..."

Okay, tears alert!

Or perhaps that moment when Rosie tried to seduce Bill and asks him to, "Take A Chance on Me". See, you tell yourself it's exxagerated. So does our reality, isn't it? I mean, reality can sometimes be more absurd, hilarious, ridiculous than fiction. Who are we to conclude...

Like I said, to conclude...

Wow! Hmm... These are pretty much what I wanted to share right now.

From the bottom... of... my... yes, heart, thank you so much to everyone behind Mamma Mia! Thank you to Abba. Thank you for the music!



And of course, thank you to the ladies, to the wonderful, bloody fantastic and fabulous ladies who shared the Mamma Mia! experience with me! It won't be as fun as it was, if you girls were not around! Streeper hugs as well! Goodness, Meryl, what you do to people! Thank you, Meryl. Wherever you are, whatever you''re doing now.

I just have to write this in:

Point to ponder:
Dreams do come true. Four years ago, I had dreamt of seeing Mamma Mia! here in my country. Many people rolled their eyes and told me to 'dream on' because it certainly was out of reach; it just wouldn't come true. Well, guess what, I just saw Mamma Mia! at CCP last night, on its premiere! Well, if I say, "I will meet Meryl Streep one day, #youbet #alammona! For now, I just have to sleep well and yes, 'dream on'!

Oh dear, Mamma Mia! , how can I resist ya?

:)

Golden Globes 2012 predix

So, the 69th Golden Globes will be tomorrow. And the nominees are... And my predictions are...(those in in bold face, blue font color)

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
   1. THE DESCENDANTS
      Ad Hominem Enterprises; Fox Searchlight Pictures
   2. THE HELP
      DreamWorks Pictures, Participant Media; Touchstone Pictures
   3. HUGO
      Paramount Pictures presents a GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures
   4. THE IDES OF MARCH
      Columbia Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media Group, Crystal City Entertainment; Sony Pictures Releasing
   5. MONEYBALL
      Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing International
   6. WAR HORSE
      DreamWorks Pictures; Touchstone Pictures
   7.  
2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

   1. GLENN CLOSE

      ALBERT NOBBS

   2. VIOLA DAVIS

      THE HELP

   3. ROONEY MARA

      THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

   4. MERYL STREEP

      THE IRON LADY

   5. TILDA SWINTON

      WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

   1. GEORGE CLOONEY

      THE DESCENDANTS

   2. LEONARDO DICAPRIO

      J. EDGAR

   3. MICHAEL FASSBENDER

      SHAME

   4. RYAN GOSLING

      THE IDES OF MARCH

   5. BRAD PITT

      MONEYBALL

4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
   1. 50/50
      Summit Entertainment and Mandate Pictures; Summit Entertainment
   2. THE ARTIST
      a La Petite Reine – Studio 37 – La Classe Americaine – JD Prod- France3 Cinema – Jouror Production-uFilms coproduction; The Weinstein Company
   3. BRIDESMAIDS
      Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Apatow Productions; Universal Pictures
   4. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
      A Mediapro, Versatil Cinema & Gravier Production; Sony Pictures Classics
   5. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
      The Weinstein Company; The Weinstein Company
5. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

   1. JODIE FOSTER

      CARNAGE

   2. CHARLIZE THERON

      YOUNG ADULT

   3. KRISTEN WIIG

      BRIDESMAIDS

   4. MICHELLE WILLIAMS

      MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

   5. KATE WINSLET

      CARNAGE

6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

   1. JEAN DUJARDIN

      THE ARTIST

   2. BRENDAN GLEESON

      THE GUARD

   3. JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT

      50/50

   4. RYAN GOSLING

      CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

   5. OWEN WILSON

      MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
   1. THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
      Paramount Pictures/Columbia Pictures/ Hemisphere Capital/Amblin Entertainment/Wingnut Films Production/ Kennedy/Marshall Production A Steven Spielberg Film; Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures
   2. ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
      Columbia Pictures & Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman; Sony Pictures Releasing International
   3. CARS 2
      Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures
   4. PUSS IN BOOTS
      DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures
   5. RANGO
      Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink / GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures
8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
   1. a.

      THE FLOWERS OF WAR

      (CHINA)

      (Jing Ling Shi San Chai)
      New Pictures Film Company; Wrekin Hill Entertainment
   2. b.

      IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY

      (USA)

      GK Films; FilmDistrict
   3. c.

      THE KID WITH A BIKE

      (BELGIUM)

      (Le Gamin au Velo)
      Les Films du Fleuve; Sundance Selects
   4. d.

      A SEPARATION

      (IRAN)

      (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin)
      Asghar Farhadi; Sony Pictures Classics
   5. e.

      THE SKIN I LIVE IN

      (SPAIN)

      (La piel que habito)
      El Deseo D.A., S.L.U.; Sony Pictures Classics
9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

   1. BERENICE BEJO

      THE ARTIST

   2. JESSICA CHASTAIN

      THE HELP

   3. JANET MCTEER

      ALBERT NOBBS

   4. OCTAVIA SPENCER

      THE HELP

   5. SHAILENE WOODLEY

      THE DESCENDANTS

10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

    1. KENNETH BRANAGH

       MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

    2. ALBERT BROOKS

       DRIVE

    3. JONAH HILL

       MONEYBALL

    4. VIGGO MORTENSEN

       A DANGEROUS METHOD

    5. CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

       BEGINNERS

11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

    1. WOODY ALLEN

       MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

    2. GEORGE CLOONEY

       THE IDES OF MARCH

    3. MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

       THE ARTIST

    4. ALEXANDER PAYNE

       THE DESCENDANTS

    5. MARTIN SCORSESE

       HUGO

12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

    1. WOODY ALLEN

       MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

    2. GEORGE CLOONEY, HESLOV, BEAU WILLIMON

       THE IDES OF MARCH

    3. MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

       THE ARTIST

    4. ALEXANDER PAYNE, NAT FAXON, JIM RASH

       THE DESCENDANTS

    5. STAN CHERVIN STEVEN ZAILLIAN, AARON SORKIN

       MONEYBALL

13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

    1. LUDOVIC BOURCE

       THE ARTIST

    2. ABEL KORZENIOWSKI

       W.E.

    3. TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS

       THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

    4. HOWARD SHORE

       HUGO

    5. JOHN WILLIAMS

       WAR HORSE

14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
    1. “HELLO HELLO” — GNOMEO & JULIET
       Music by: Elton John; Lyrics by: Bernie Taupin
    2. “THE KEEPER” — MACHINE GUN PREACHER
       Music & Lyrics by: Chris Cornell
    3. “LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN” — ALBERT NOBBS
       Music by: Brian Byrne; Lyrics by: Glenn Close
    4. “THE LIVING PROOF” — THE HELP
       Music by: Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas; Lyrics by: Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas
    5. “MASTERPIECE” — W.E.
       Music & Lyrics by: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry
    
    Have yet to watch all the films and performances. These for now.