Sunday, March 7, 2010

Avatar (2009)

another jaw-dropping, meticulously furbished motion pictures by James Cameron,

this movie is best seen in 3D pictures,

and it's as much worth to the experience you'll never forget!

Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron

Cast:
Sam Worthington as Jake Sully
Zoe Saldana as Neytiri
Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine, etc.

Plot Summary:
When his brother is killed in a robbery, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.
-written by
The Massie Twins

-more at www.imdb.com

Monday, January 11, 2010

mirage by soheir khashoggi


01/09/10
this is the loud voice of women!
we are as equally capable as men in a lot of ways, probably not all, but in a lot of ways...even better, so don't shut us down nor deem us lesser.

-honey-

Amira, a girl from a wealthy and powerful family, expects to be sold into marriage and to never step outsider her house without being swathed in black veils. But she's not prepared for the savagery of the husband she first meets on her wedding night. In a daring attempt to save her own life, she escapes with her baby to start a new life in the United States. But her past--and her powerful husband--won't give her up so easily...

-plot summary by http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk
-book cover

the cat who said cheese by lilian jackson braun


01/05/10
love cats? like mystery novels?
this would be best for you.

-honey-

With the approaching Great Food Explo, there's lots of delicious activity in Moose County-restaurant openings, a cheese-tasting, and a bake-off are planned, among other events. But there's nothing as tasty as a morsel of gossip, so when a mysterious woman moves into the New Pickax Hotel, the locals indulge in lots of speculation. Even Qwill is distracted. And when a bomb explodes in her room, killing the hotel housekeeper, Qwilleran, Koko, and Yum Yum have to put aside the treats and figure out who cooked up this murderous recipe...

Meet prizewinning reporter--Jim Qwilleran and his extraordinary Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum-the most unlikely, most unusual, most delightful team in detective fiction!

-plot summary by http://www.fictiondb.com
-book cover

snow wolf by glenn meade


01/04/10
a real page-turner! you can't wait to know what will happen next!
i love this novel!

-honey-

IN THE HEART OF THEE COLD WAR, THEY SENT HIM TO PLOT THE ULTIMATE ASSASSINATION. NOW, THEY WANT HIM DEAD...

It is 1953. Joseph Stalin, the world's most tyrannical dictator, is teetering on the edge of insanity, and about to plunge the world into nuclear chaos. Only one man and one woman can penetrate the Iron Curtain and stop this madman, before it's too late.

But someone inside the Kremlin knows. And as the KGB's deadliest manhunter pursues these two CIA-hired assassins, another duel unfolds, between secret warriors of the West and East, with a U.S. agent caught in between. Now that agent must do the unthinkable: find his way to the heart of the Soviet Union and stop the mission he himself set in motion -- -before it ignites World War III.

-book cover

-plot summary by http://www.fictiondb.com

Notorious by Janet Dailey


01/01/10
if you're interested to read about ranching and cowboys, here's one for you.
and yes, Janet Dailey speaks about values and the love of land here.

-honey-

A RICH AND SWEEPING STORY OF DECEIT AND DEVOTION

Janet Dailey's mastery of grand romance, divided loyalties, and searing passion has made her one of the bestselling authors of all time. In Notorious, her finest and most exciting contemporary romance, Dailey returns to the wild ranch country of northern Nevada, where a determined woman fights to protect her family's land.

Eden Rossiter is the owner of Spur Ranch, located thirty miles north of the small town of Friendly, Nevada. Strong, cautious, and beautiful, she struggles in a world where a spirited woman is not generally welcome. Notorious for having eluded a first-degree murder charge years before, Eden is also widely admired for defying Duke Depard, the ruthless owner of the neighboring Diamond D Ranch, who is resolved to drive her out of business.

Eden stands up to Depard on her own--until a stranger drifts into Friendly. Soft-spoken and ruggedly handsome, Kincade takes up Eden's cause and becomes her ally against Depard. Although Eden has never trusted a man, together she and Kincade struggle through dangers and adversities, forming a unique bond, one that is strong and true. Gradually, Eden's reserve begins to give way to something unexpected, something she has been waiting for without even knowing it.

-plot summary by http://www.fictiondb.com
-book cover

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind


I already forget how I used to feel about you.

Director: Michel Gondry
Writers:
Charlie Kaufman (story) &
Michel Gondry (story), etc.
Release Date: 19 March 2004 (USA)
Genre: Drama | Romance
Awards: yeah, lots of nominations!

Cast:
Jim Carrey as Joel Barish
Kate Winslet as Clementine Kruczynski
Elijah Wood as Patrick
Mark Ruffalo as Stan
Kirsten Dunst as Mary, etc.

Plot:
A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with. (IMDB)

Comment:
Completely star-studded! And mind you, this has been the first Jim Carrey movie I've seen where his role isn't to make you rolling on the floor and laughing your heart out. But of course, he never missed to make you giggle once or twice. The plotine? Very sophisticated. This film would keep you on a rollercoaster ride until the end, and you'd be utterly confused most of the time. Why would you not? This film talks about digging into one's mind and erasing those "bad" memories you got there, but what if you changed your mind and doesn't want them to be erased anymore? hahaha, confused already? you just better watch this one.

Personal Rating: 6/10

more at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/

Finding Neverland


Unlock your imagination.

Director: Marc Forster
Writers:
Allan Knee (play)
David Magee (screenplay)
Release Date: 13 April 2005 (Philippines)
Genre: Biography | Drama | Family

Cast:
Johnny Depp as Sir James Matthew Barrie
Kate Winslet as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies
Julie Christie as Mrs. Emma du Maurier
Radha Mitchell as Mary Ansell Barrie
Dustin Hoffman as Charles Frohman
Freddie Highmore as Peter Llewelyn Davies, etc.

Plot:
This movie is the story of J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan. *no spoilers

Comments:
The character of Sir J.M. Barrie was somewhat complicated in the sense that there was a bit of childishness in it to appeal to his playmates and at the same time having a touch of maturity to work out his marital relations and to that of his financer...but it was brilliantly played by Johnny Depp! Kate Winslet looked nice and she appeared more mature being the mother of 4 boys. Forgive me, but I wasn't able to recognize that Dustin Hoffman was there in the movie. That beard and facial hair concealed his identity really well.

I'd like to give credit to a young actor's performance in this movie. Freddie Highmore who played the character of Peter Llewelyn Davies gave an astonishing dramatic act. I first saw his movies, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)and August Rush (2007), and was impressed by him ever since. This time, he's done it again, though, obviously Finding Neverland came way before than those 2 other movies. Nevertheless, he's such a cute and talented kid. Kudos to you, boy! No wonder he's got nominations for the Best Performance by a Younger Actor. Look for more awards of the movie here.

Personal Rating: 6.5/10

more at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308644/

My Life Without Me


Director: Isabel Coixet
Wriers:
Isabel Coixet (writer)
Nanci Kincaid (book)
Release Date: 7 March 2003 (Spain)
Genre: Crime | Drama | Romance

Cast:
Sarah Polley as Ann
Amanda Plummer as Laurie
Scott Speedman as Don
Leonor Watling as Ann, the Neighbor
Deborah Harry as Ann's Mother, etc.

Plot:
A young woman conceals the fact of her terminal cancer to live her life with a passion she never had before. (IMDB)

Comments:
A very sad movie...but despite that, it somehow shows a wonderful perspective about dying. Though dying per se isn't a good perspective in itself, it gives light in the famous saying that goes...live life to the fullest because we may never see tomorrow. I may not have gotten that right, but you get the idea. A very calm and sad movie, but I liked it overall. Look, it garnered some awards!

Personal Rating: 6/10

more at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314412/

Vicky Cristina Barcelona


Life is the ultimate work of art.

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen (written by)
Release Date: 18 February 2009 (Philippines)
Genre: Drama | Romance

Cast:
Rebecca Hall as Vicky
Scarlett Johansson as Cristina
Javier Bardem as Juan Antonio Gonzalo
Penélope Cruz as Maria Elena, etc.

Plot:
Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture. (IMDB)

Comments:
When watching this one, you need to have an open mind and a crazier imagination to be able to appreciate the storyline and jive with the writer/director's point of view - very unique and wilder opinion of life. It opens you to an imperfect yet, enjoyable life, and it suggests new versions of love relationships which you never have deemed to be ever possible. I enjoyed watching this one. It actually garnered lots of awards! Well, this is a good movie, but not which i couldn't forget the rest of my life...hopefully not.

Personal Rating:6.5/10

more at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497465/

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen


Revenge is coming.

Director: Michael Bay
Writers:
Ehren Kruger (written by)
Roberto Orci (written by)
Alex Kurtzman(written by
Release Date: 24 June 2009 (Philippines)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Cast:
Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky
Megan Fox as Mikaela Banes
Josh Duhamel as Major Lennox, etc.

Plot:
* I won't provide any spoilers.

Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle. (from IMDB)

Comments:
* Extremely awesome action scenes, though there's nothing much about the plot and storyline. The acting was kind of lame, and I personally don't like those twin racist robots and their dialogue. But, the special effects were spectacular. If you are looking for movies with high-end digital effects rather than focusing on the acting skills of the casts, then this one is for you. I was even more entertained on the robots' dramatic show than the live ones, hehehhe. peace ya all... Nonetheless, it still entertained me and a lot of people worldwide.

Personal Rating: 7/10

more at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055369/

Saturday, June 20, 2009

I Am Sam


Love is all you need.

Director: Jessie Nelson
Writers:
Kristine Johnson (written by) &
Jessie Nelson (written by)
Release Date: 25 January 2002 (USA)
Genre: Drama

Cast:
Sean Penn as Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer as Rita Harrison Williams
Dakota Fanning as Lucy Diamond Dawson, etc.

Plot:
A mentally-retarded, loving father fought against life and people who would attempt to separate him from his sweet 7-year old daughter. He would do everything that it takes to prove to the court that he alone could provide the kind of care and love his daughter needed to go through life's challenges as she grow up to be a young lady. And those people who never believed he'd be capable to do so, him having just a mental capacity that of a 7-year-old were all taken aback as he showed them that love is all you need to raise a child so dear to your heart. Sam Dawson sends inspiration to his lawyer, to his mentally retarded friends, to his daughter's foster parents and to all the people who witnessed how he struggled to claim his daughter back.

* I actually cried a lot of times while watching the movie. Yes, yes...you might think it's too sentimental or pathetic of me to do so. But, really, I just can't help myself. This movie speaks more of life and makes us see one of the things that we usually have taken for granted...our dad's love for us. I know that sometimes, we'd wish we have a different dad and not the one we already have. Sometimes we'd wish he wouldn't be that nosy or strict or overprotective or close-minded. And just because we couldn't conform to what he desired and wanted for us, we'd ravage and wish he'd be gone. But, we shouldn't be doing these. For at least, we've had the chance to know our dad, get to see him and live with him. We've had the opportunity to dine with him, cuddle with him, laugh at his jokes, watch movies with him, get to taste his cooking, and just even enjoy his company. We are fortunate enough to experience his presence, because not all the people in the world know where their dad is or if they do, not given the chance to get to know him.

Sam may not be a perfect dad, just like our dads. They all have flaws and weaknesses, and we may never knew it but they may also be hammering their heads and working hard on how to be a better dad to their kids. Yet, most of the time, we overlook at their efforts to provide us decent livings, we oversee their worries as we go home late at night and we resent their good advices to better our lives.

Before it is too late, let us all look back at what we've done to our dads and on how much we give importance to them. They deserve more than our attention, our care and our love in return...and I think Father's Day shouldn't just be a one-day affair. We should be celebrating that everyday of our lives so long as we look up to a father who nurtured us to who we are now...whether he be biological or not.

-honey-

Personal Rating: 8/10

more at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277027/

Thursday, June 18, 2009

27 Dresses


This January, always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

Director: Anne Fletcher
Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna (written by)
Release Date: 30 January 2008 (Philippines)
Genre: Comedy | Romance

Cast:
Katherine Heigl as Jane
James Marsden as Kevin, etc.

Plot:
Having been a bridesmaid for 27 times, Jane couldn't say no to friends as she selflessly and effectively plan for their wedding. She even could not say no to hand over her secret love to her beloved spoiled baby sister, Tess. Now, what is she gonna prioritize as she became her sister's maid of honor and at the same time warding off the cynical, but handsome "Commitments" columnist who came tailing after her to get the outstanding story of the week? Who will she pursue: her 20 years of secret love or the new attraction towards the new guy whom she found out that they may have something in common after all?

* I am no big fan with Tagalog movies, I admit, but I actually have seen a few of them. This movie reminds me of Claudine Barreto and Rico Yan's movie about her being always a bridesmaid. I forgot the title for that, it was somewhat cheesy, I think.. hehhhe, peace. But, surprisingly, it was one of the few Tagalog movies that I finished watching from the start till the end. Though the storyline for 27 Dresses are somewhat different from the plot of the other movie, still, the theme and general idea was similar.

27 Dresses is a hilarious romantic comedy about love, sisterhood and relationships. The person we secretly love for so long now may actually be not the exact person that we've been looking for after all. And the person we so despise may turn out to be the one, we just never knew. Weddings are very serious events where "I dos" have more to it than just the mere blurting out of words. There's the commitment and promise to be with someone the rest of time no matter what..and that's no ordinary saying of vows, it has to be fulfilled every day of one's married life. Scary, right? But i believe, once you're truly in love and found the person you've decided to spend time with, it wouldn't be that difficult and scary after all. You'll just enjoy each moment together and relive them over and over again.

-honey-

Personal Rating: 7.5/10

more at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988595/

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Mozart and the Whale


They don't fit in. Except together.

Director: Petter Næss
Writer: Ronald Bass (written by)
Release Date: 2 February 2006 (Thailand)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance

Cast:
Josh Hartnett as Donald Morton
Radha Mitchell as Isabelle Sorenson, etc.

Plot:
A dramatic-comedy, inspired by the lives of two people with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, whose emotional dysfunctions threaten to sabotage their budding romance. Donald is a good-natured but hapless taxi driver with a love of birds and a superhuman knack for numbers. Like many people with AS, he likes patterns and routines. But when the beautiful but complicated Isabel joins the autism support group he leads, his life - and his heart - are turned upside down.
Written by Anonymous

Memorable quotes:
Donald Morton: Excuse me. Do you know when the next bus, uh 217, runs?
Man at bus stop: Sorry.
Donald Morton: I'm chasing someone.
Man at bus stop: By bus?
Donald Morton: Well, it's important.
Man at bus stop: Important enough to take the bus?
Donald Morton: Yeah. My girlfriend left me because I wanted to get married and she wanted to stay just friends.
Man at bus stop: Ah. The slower this chase, the better.
Donald Morton: Yeah.

Isabelle Sorenson: All this time, and you didn't call.
Donald Morton: I was gonna call.
Isabelle Sorenson: You were?
Donald Morton: Well just to tell you that I wasn't gonna call so that you wouldn't be aggravated, sitting around waiting and wondering when I was
Isabelle Sorenson: gonna call?
Donald Morton: Yeah. But in the end I figured that forcing myself into your life was probably not right. I would always do that. So the only nice thing I had left to give was just not to call.
Isabelle Sorenson: I hated you for not calling. Because you were always gonna be there, and when you weren't, it was as if you didn't love me anymore.
Donald Morton: So go home, I'll call ya.

Donald Morton: People with Asperger's want contact with other people very much; we're just pathetically clueless at it, that's all.

Isabelle Sorenson: Be my friend Donald, be my best friend, please, because I really need you. I always felt like you wanted us to get married or something.
Donald Morton: I never said that.
Isabelle Sorenson: Not with words. But instead of that, do you want to just be my friend?
Donald Morton: Without the sex?
Isabelle Sorenson: Without the pressure. My friendship is all I have to give. Do you want it?

trivia:
The project was originally planned for Steven Spielberg, but due to his workload it eventually landed in the hands of critically acclaimed Norwegian director Petter Næss. This became his first US production.

The film is based on the story of Jerry and Mary Newport. They were profiled in 1995 in an LA Times article.

Talking about Asperger's Syndrome:
Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and people with it therefore show significant difficulties in social interaction and restricted, stereotyped patterns of behavior and interests.

It is named after the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger who, in 1944, described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, demonstrated limited empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy.

The exact cause is unknown, although research supports the likelihood of a genetic basis; brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.

The lack of demonstrated empathy is possibly the most dysfunctional aspect of Asperger syndrome. Individuals with AS experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or to seek shared enjoyments or achievements with others (for example, showing others objects of interest), a lack of social or emotional reciprocity, and impaired nonverbal behaviors in areas such as eye contact, facial expression, posture, and gesture. Unlike those with autism, people with AS are not usually withdrawn around others; they approach others, even if awkwardly.

People with Asperger syndrome often display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. They may stick to inflexible routines, move in stereotyped and repetitive ways, or preoccupy themselves with parts of objects.

Personal Rating: 7/10

-courtesy by http://www.imdb.com
-more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

Monday, May 11, 2009

THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho

This book helped me understand a lot of things. It witnessed the most devastating events of my life, it was there when i smiled and it scooped my tears when i cried.

I noted on the important lessons it taught me:


Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.


If you start out by promising what you don't even have yet, you'll lose your desire to work toward getting it.


When each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.


Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.


The closer one gets to realizing his destiny, the more that destiny becomes his true reason for being.


No matter how many detours and adjustments it made, the caravan moved toward the same compass point. Once obstacles were overcome, it returned to its course, sighting on a star that indicated the location of the oasis.


People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.


We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.


Once you get into the desert, there's no going back. And, when you can't go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward. The rest is up to Allah, including the danger.


You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny. If he abandons that pursuit, it's because it wasn't true love...the love that speaks of the Language of the World.


One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.


If what one finds is made of pure matter, it will never spoil. And one can always come back. If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of a star, you would find nothing on you return.


The wise men understood that this natural world is only an image and a copy of paradise. The existence of this world is simply a guarantee that there exists a world that is perfect. God created the world so that, through its visible objects, men could understand his spiritual teachings and the marvels of his wisdom.


Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came form the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.


Wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find your treasure.


You will never again be able to keep it quiet. Even if you pretend not to have heard what it tells you, it will always be there inside you, repeating to you what you're thinking about life and about the world.


You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say. That way, you'll never have to fear an unanticipated blow.


"Even though I complain sometimes," it said, "it's because I'm the heart of a person, and people's hearts are that way. People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them. We, their hearts, become fearful just thinking of loved ones who go away forever, or of moments that could have been good but weren't, or of treasures that might have been found but were forever hidden in the sands. Because, when these things happen, we suffer terribly."


Every second of the search is an encounter with God. When I have been truly searching for my treasure, every day has been luminous, because I've known that every hour was a part of the dream that I would find it. When I have been truly searching for my treasure, I've discovered things along the way that I never would have seen had I not had the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve.


"Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him," his heart said. "We, people's hearts, seldom say much about those treasures, because people no longer want to go in search of them. We speak of them only to children. Later, we simply let life proceed, in its own direction, toward its own fate. But, unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them - the path to their destinies, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place."


From then on, the boy understood his heart. He asked it, please, never to stop speaking to him. He asked that, when he wandered far from his dreams, his heart press him and sound the alarm. The boy swore that, every time he heard the alarm, he would heed its message.


Before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we've learned as we've moved toward that dream. That's the point at which most people give up. It's the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.


Every search begins with a beginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor's being severely tested.


When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.


Your eyes show the strength of your soul.


If a person is living out his destiny, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.


Then you'll die in the midst of trying to realize your destiny. That's a lot better than dying like millions of other people, who never even knew what their destinies were.


Usually, the threat of death makes people a lot more aware of their lives.


"You could have died later on," a soldier said to the body of one of his companions. "You could have died after peace had been declared. But, in any case, you were going to die."


When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you, and even men can turn themselves into the wind. As long as the wind helps, of course.


Because it's not love to be static like the desert, nor is it love to roam the world like the wind. And it's not lvoe to see everything from a distance, like you do. Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World. When I first reached through to it, I though the Soul of the World was perfect. But later, I could see that it was like other aspects of creation, and had its owns passions and wars. It is we who nourish the Soul of the World, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse. And that's where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are.


Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.


No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it.


As he was about to climb yet another dune, his heart whispered, "Be aware of the place where you are brought to tears. That's where I am, and that's where your treasure is."


Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. Published 1992. Translated by Alan R. Clarke. ISBN 0-7225-3292-8.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Inkheart


"Every story ever written is just waiting to become real. "

Director: Iain Softley
Writers:
David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay)
Cornelia Funke (novel)
Release Date: 28 January 2009 (Philippines)
Genre: Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Cast:
Brendan Fraser as Mo 'Silvertongue' Folchart
Sienna Guillory as Resa
Eliza Bennett as Meggie Folchart
Paul Bettany as Dustfinger
Helen Mirren as Elinor Loredan
Rafi Gavron as Farid, etc.

Plot:
Mo has the special talent to bring characters out of books. One night he brings out three characters from Inkheart, a story set in medieval times and filled with magical beings. Capricorn and Basta, two villains, and Dustfinger, a fire-eater. Now, 10 years later Meggie discovers the truth and it's up to her to escape Capricorn's evil grasp. Written by Gloria

Trivia:
*Brendan Fraser was Cornelia Funke's personal choice for the role of Silvertongue, as he was her inspiration for the character. She even dedicated the second novel of the trilogy to him and sent him a signed copy. The producers originally wanted a bigger Hollywood star but on the insistence of Funke they gave in and accepted him in the role.

* Paul Bettany's wife, Jennifer Connelly, appears as Dustfinger's wife.

* The exterior scenes were shot in Italy, where the story takes place, while most of the interiors were shot in England.

* Director/producer Iain Softley said he wanted to do the film because it was a story that opened a door between the real world and our imagination.

Memorable Quotes:
Narrator: Since the dawn of time, storytellers have enchanted audiences with their words. But there is an even rarer gift. There are those, who by reading out loud, can bring characters to life. Out of books and into our world. Most of these Silvertongues, as they are know prefer to keep their skills a secret but some do not even know this gift is theirs, until it is too late.

Personal Rating: 7/10

more at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494238/
photo by http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2978846756_2429f61cfa.jpg?v=0

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Chaos Theory


"This man will bring order to the universe...or not."

Director: Marcos Siega
Writer: Daniel Taplitz
Release Date: 11 April 2008 (USA)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance

Cast:
Ryan Reynolds as Frank Allen
Emily Mortimer as Susan Allen
Stuart Townsend as Buddy Endrow
Matreya Fedor as Jesse Allen (7 years), etc.

Plot:
At his daughter's wedding, time-management specialist Frank Allen corners the reluctant groom and tells him a long story: about the night his wife chose him, and then, about eight years later, when a missed ferry, a corporate groupie, a panicked expectant mother, and a medical test brought Frank's marriage to a crisis. In the midst of the crisis were Frank, his wife Susan, their daughter Jesse, and Frank's best friend, the feckless Buddy. Things come to a head at a lake when Frank, armed with a shotgun, decides to cross something permanently from one of his time-management lists. Is there ever room for whim and chaos? Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}

Memorable quote:
Frank Allen: Ever heard Chaos theory Ed! Its a science, tries to determine underlying patterns in chaotic systems like weather, ocean currents, blood flow sort of things. But it turns out that are few things more chaotic in the beat of a human heart. Its beating up, slowing down. Pretty face, flirty stares. Its always changing on whats happening to ourselves out there its erratic sound of a bitch. But underneath all of that bump to bump mess, there is in fact a pattern, the truth, and its love. Most important thing about love is that we choose to give it, and we choose to receive it. Making it the least random act in the entire Universe. It transcends blood, it transcends betrayal and all the dirt and makes us human.

Personal Rating: 6.5/10

more at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460745/
photo by: http://www.brianorndorf.com/images/2008/03/13/chaos_theory.jpg

Saturday, April 4, 2009

The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

The 1st Lesson:

That there are no random acts.
That we are all connected.
That you can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from a wind.

-blue man-

Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.

No life is a waste.
The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.

The 2nd Lesson:

Sacrifice is a part of life.
It's supposed to be.
It's not something to regret.
It's something to aspire to.
Little sacrifices.
Big sacrifices.

-the captain-

Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious,
you're not really losing it.
You're just passing it on to someone else.

The 3rd Lesson:

Holding anger is a poison.
It eats you from inside.
We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us.
But hatred is a curved blade.
And the harm we do, we do to ourselves.

-Ruby-

The 4th Lesson:

Lost love is still love.
It takes a different form, that's all.
You can't see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor.
But when those senses weaken, another heightens.
Memory.
Memory becomes your partner.
You nurture it.
You hold it.
You dance with it.

-Marguerite-

Life has to end, but love doesn't.

The 5th Lesson:

*... ? where you're supposed to be? ...
*... ? what is the reason for your existence? ...

-tala-

from the book, The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
*quotes not derived from the book...my own interpretation.

Friday, April 3, 2009

One Tree Hill quote

Most of our lives is a series of images.
They pass us like towns in a highway, but sometimes the moment stuns us as it happens.
We know that this instance is more than just a fleeting image.
We know that this moment, every part of it will live on forever.

Some of us live our lives in a rush...
We go through our busy routines, spend our free time indulging in our passion, and just do anything to pleasure us. We meet strangers, shake hands with superiors, embrace old acquaintances, go to parties, enjoy the beach, delight ourselves with out-of-town adventures.
Some memories were just fleeting images in our minds, some were stored to be remembered.

But, have you experienced a moment where you seemed to want to remember each detail in it?
...to try to memorize all that happened, not allowing a speck of event to be overseen?
...to relish over and over that instance until you'd virtually play that role again?
It would find you dazed for such a moment to be happening...that you'd wish it would not end,
However, even if it really would end...you'd know,
you'll always be reliving that moment for the rest of time.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The Sixth Man

"They're lifting the game to a higher level. "

Director: Randall Miller
Writers:
Christopher Reed (written by) &
Cynthia Carle (written by)
Release Date: 28 March 1997 (USA)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Sport
Cast:
Marlon Wayans as Kenny Tyler
Kadeem Hardison as Antoine Tyler
David Paymer as Coach Pederson, etc.

Plot:
*Antoine and Kenny Tyler are NCAA college basketball players, and Antoine is the star. Suddenly Antoine dies of heart attack and Kenny has to fill his shoes as leader of team. Some time later, Antoine returns as a ghost and helps Kenny in game and in life, but Kenny changes in the process and doesn't quite like it. Written by Anonymous

Funny, hilarious...gets your stomach tickled until the end of the game...err, movie. hehehe, learning more about sportsmanship, brotherhood and friendship...

Personal Rating: 6/10

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more at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120142/
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photo by: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5f/The_sixth_man_1997_movie_cover.jpg