"Look for the Nines."

This 2007 drama stars Ryan Reynolds (of Van Wilder), Melissa McCarthy, Hope Davis and Elle Fanning. While the Nines could be meant literally and figuratively in this movie, it is a fantastic voyage into reality and simulated reality, divided in to three acts:

"The Prisoner" is about Gary, a troubled actor who burned his house and later on took drugs after a terrible breakup. Because of this, he is under house arrest living in another person's house and befriended by both a P.R. 'handler', Margaret, and the single mom next door, Sarah. Over the course of his house arrest, Gary becomes convinced that he is being haunted by the number nine.

"Reality Television" -- television writer, Gavin, is trying to get his pilot made. The house he lives in is the house Gary later stays in. During the process of post production and the 'upfronts', a television executive, Susan, pushes for Gavin to ditch the unconventional lead actress of his project, Melissa, who also happens to be his best friend.

"Knowing" is about acclaimed video game designer, Gabriel, who gets lost while trying to find help after his car breaks down, a situation shown in Gavin's pilot. Gabriel leaves his wife and daughter with the stranded vehicle and meets up with Sierra, a mysterious woman.

Each story is unique in its own way, with an interesting ending. Taken apart into three separate stories, each one is a look into the same theme --- what is real, who truly controls what and which perception usually precedes. As one continuing story, it shows a slightly wider view of things, taken into a holistic perspective, which is quite remarkable.

Three different stories integrally connected, and all characters are played by all actors, in varying roles. It shows diversity in their acting and roles are played beautifully. I enjoyed Reynolds' performance a lot, it showed a range of emotions and roles he could easily fit into (debunking the stereotypical niche he has been placed in previous roles).

The verdict? This film is not something you would want to watch wasted, or without full concentration. It makes you go "how the hell does this all add up?" throughout. But once you get into the flow of things, it is puzzling, intriguing and ultimately, inspiring.

"Life is a trip, but the afterlife is one hell of a ride."

After Zia commits suicide by cutting his wrists, he finds himself in an afterlife limbo that is much the same as his former reality, only a little bleaker: pallid-hued landscapes, dry deserts, strange music and the inability to smile. He works as a pizza cutter at the Kamikazee Pizza, unable to smile, and lives with Russian roomie with a penchant for cottage cheese.

In this strange afterlife way station that has been reserved for people who have committed suicide, most often people greeted each other asking how each one "off'ed" himself/herself. Zia's somewhat nomad friend is Eugene, a Russian rocker who lives with his mother, father, and brother (all suicide victims). Eugene killed himself on stage by pouring a beer he is drinking ("Dead Guy Ale", brewed by Rogue Ales) onto his guitar. Together they waste most of their death in bars, music and guessing how bar regulars off'ed themselves. AMid these, Zia remembers through his "dreams" his past life.

Soon, Zia learns his ex-girlfriend has also committed suicide. Intent to find Desiree, his ex, Zia and Eugene take to the road, picking up hitchhiker Mikal along the way. She insists there's been a mistake and she is seeking the "people in charge" in order to be sent back. The three form an uncommon bond, road-tripping through the afterlife and meeting memorable characters including an undercover angel named Kneller.

This is actually based on the graphic novel Kamikazee Pizza, which , like its movie counterpart, is poignantly beautiful in its images. The idea of death and love is nothing new, but this film casts an interesting perspective into the subject. The After Life, as depicted, is just like your existing life,nothing fancy or surreal, just a continuing progress of whatever you left behind (sans the happiness). It's not that everybody's not happy, everybody's just...devoid of emotion. I love how the colors reflect this. Interestingly enough, most of the film was shot on super-16 color infrared film, which heightened the surreal and parallel "theme". I also enjoyed how the characters "dreamed" --- in this case, remember snippets of their former life.

The stars may not be your average matinees and you may noyt recognize most of them, but they totally work. Patrick Fugit (from ALmost Famous) leads this zany cast as Zia, a role he fittingly played. While Shannyn Sossamon is amazing as Mikal, i can't help but be reminded of a young ANgelina Jolie the wasy she was styled in this movie. Hmmm. Kudos for Will Arnett's character here too!

What really sells this movie though, is the storyline and the strange music that covers it. From Russian inspired folksies to some catchy instrumentals, you'll feel the love amid the afterlife.

Verdict? Lovin' it till the afterlife!

The story revolves around Justin Cobb, a seemingly listless thumbsucking teen who slowly evolves into finding self confidence and a better self-identity through drugs, sex, debates and the constant state of upset confusion. His parents Mike and Audrey, together with his teacher Mr. Geary, and his orthodontist, Mr. Lyman, question their lives and progress throughout the film, with each decisive (and sometimes incoherent) action setting into a series of occurrences which not only confuse and make them question life even more, but also gives them stark realizations about each other, as well as themselves.

Thumbsucker, a film adaptation of Walter Kim's novel, was released a few years back, mainly on the indie scene. Not many know of this poignantly fresh look of living in suburbia America, set against the lush backgrounds of Orgeon.

I love how this film is seemingly ordinary but once you get to know the characters, you realize the complexity each one has. This is further emphasized by how downplayed everything is around them. The quiet of the town, as well as the laid back atmosphere it entails is a sharp contrast to the turmoil and inner restless each character has, making each outburst and confrontation even more palpable. It is beautifully framed like a memory, something that one might have thought of in flashback, which renders a nostalgic feel to the movie.

Ultimately, this way of storytelling speaks volumes of the movie's theme-- how life is a series of memories we build upon, one memory upon another; that characters are made of flaws, and constantly seeking answers; that no one has the one true answer, and learning to live without having the answers is (perhaps) the answer to truly living.

Literally translated "Life in Pink", La Vie En Rose is a look into the life of Edith Piaf, legendary french singer during the 1930's. The English release title is the name of Piaf's best-known song (best heard in french, of course, though translated versions have been more mainstream). The film's original title means "the kid", because Piaf was known as "La Môme Piaf" or "The Kid Sparrow."

Fractured in its storyline, the film delves into Piaf's life, a largely non-linear series of key events evoked from her memories. Like her life, the storyline is jagged, intense and tumultuous, often echoing the resonant and powerful singing Edith is famous for. Although scenes often jump back and forth across decades (evoked as flashbacks mostly from within Edith's memories), with parts of her childhood take up much of the first part, her bouts with her disease, reflections on her impending death, and the performance of what is perhaps her signature song, "Non, je ne regrette rien".

The film is entirely in French, which i felt was a good thing, for it captured the essence of the times (Paris and New York during that era) as well as the intensity of emotions showed by the cast. The director, Olivier Dahan, used recordings of Edith almost entirely for the movie, which added much color and authenticity into the film, making it more cinematic and bold.

With its amazing story and strong cast, this 2007 French film captured Oscar attention with its amazing actress, Marion Cotillard, who won Best Actress in the recent Oscar bid for her role as the legendary Edith Piaf. Indeed, Ms. Cotillard largely is responsible for making this film a success, with her take on the troubled yet ferocious singer so convincing and remarkable. For her performance as Piaf, Marion became the first actor or actress to ever win an Academy Award for Best Actress ("Oscar") for a performance entirely in French.

The movie is intense, subtitled and not exactly for those who may want something milder and humorous (like Amelie). But for those who may watch it, it's an experience in itself --- from Edith's singing, to Marion's impeccable capture of the singer's eccentricities, it is truly a treat to watch.

A feature film adaptation of the hit HBO series, it is a four year much-awaited movie by fans everywhere, and yes, it did not disappoint. It's three years later after that final scene and the movie recaps in its short introduction of what has happened over the course of the 6 seasons.

The next cycle of drama, comedy and life affirmations deal with the ever after part of each character's life, with Carrie's upcoming nuptials, Charlotte's motherhood, Miranda's Brooklyn home life and Samantha's cross-country living. The reality is in, yet the film deals with heavy issues with grace and flair --- and definitely a lot of girl power.

Amazingly, the film is nicely paced, without the drag i was anticipating (given that the usual episode lasts only an hour, max, how will they ever extend it to a good feature film length?) The humor is quick and the dresses are fabulous, and yes, who could NOT notice all those shoes!?!?

While skeptics may think that this is a chick flick, i was surprised to see quite a number of guys who patiently came with their dates chuckling along throughout the movie. The film is quick, witty and also heart-warming, with a couple of scenes that made me cry (well, almost). Though there were a couple of cheesy lines, and almost screwball punches, it was a super-sized episode, wonderfully keeping the feel and essence of the show throughout its two hour run.

Call me a die hard fan, but the movie made the wait worthwhile --- Like the signature logo, the movie is hot pink, glittery and absolutely fabulous!

(spoilers ahead, people!)

In New York, Joy (Cameron Diaz) is dumped by her boyfriend; Jack (Ashton Kutcher) is fired from his job. Both go with a friend to Las Vegas, where they meet. While drunk Joy and Jack marry. They decide to annul the marriage after returning home, but after one of them wins a huge jackpot after playing the other's quarter, the two end up fighting on and off the court on who gets the prize money. A judge decides that they cannot divorce right away, sentencing them to 6 months of staying together, even ordering weekly marriage counseling mandated by the court. The one who does not cooperate will not get any share of the money. The newlyweds devise ever-escalating schemes to undermine each other and get their hands on the money, only to find themselves falling in love.

The plot is so obvious that you don't need to watch this movie to know the ending. It IS a shallow movie, not to be taken seriously (obviously!). Having said that, i still recommend you watching this if you a) Like either of the two actors of this movie, or b) enjoyed that other stupidly funny Cameron movie a few years back (The Sweetest Thing). Yes, i could probably compare this to that other movie, given the plot and absurd lines. But unlike that movie, this doesn't fully depend on its main actors --- it is the insane and inane works of the supporting cast that really keeps you glued to your seats. Lake Bell of Boston Legal gives a pretty fun turn as Cameron's fiesty kick-ass bestfriend Tipper Saxton while Rob Coddry adds hilarity as Ashton's bestbud "Hater" Lewis.

You have some unusual slapstick comedy (see how these two can become six graders in their attempts to "take each other out"), plus some throwback music to the 80's and 90's glam rock era (oh yeah, you know it) to add to the mix, resulting in this motley crew of hilarity. And yes, there is that usual slew of cheesy lines at the end in the hopes of tying up everything so nicely.

The verdict? It's funny for the gags ---something to watch on DVD rather than on the big screen, but like The Sweetest Thing, you'd probably find yourself watching it a few more times if only to see the cringingly funny scenarios they concocted just for this movie.

*spoilers ahead! Ok, it's the entire plot, so if you do NOT want to know anything about the movie, don't read this. Seriously.

Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts) , a midwife, finds a diary from her last patient, a girl named Tatiana who died in childbirth. She seeks out the girl's closest relatives to take care of the baby through her journal, finding herself in the company of Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a boss in the Russian Mafia (or vory v zakone, translating to "thieves in law") and his son Kiril (Vincent Cassel). In the hopes to have it translated, she asks Semyon's help, but later on finds out the truth about Semyon's connection to Tatiana. In several encounters she talks to Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen), Kiril's driver, and the family's "cleaner" (or undertaker), later on asking for his help when she finds out that the mob was seeking out the child.

Meanwhile, after an unauthorized hit targets revenge on his son, Semyon hatches a plan, arranging to give "Kirill" up to the Chechens, using Nikolai as a double by initiating him up in the ranks of the mob and giving him the same distinctive tattoos. A meeting at the Russian baths gives the Chechensa chance to attack "Kirill" leaving Nikoli is seriously wounded and hospitalized.

Unknown to Semyon, Nikolai was able to read Anna's diary before he destroyed it. In the latter part it is revealed that Nikolai is actually a member of the Russian Security Services (FSB) and a Scotland Yard informer on the Russian mafia. As part of his undercover duties, he has a plan to bring Semyon down for Tatiana's rape, making Kirill the next mob boss, but with Nikolai as the one really in charge. The plan works, with Anna gaining custody of the baby and Nikolai becoming the crime boss.

This drama/feature film from David Cronenberg (Crash, A history of Violence) is an unexpected surprise, especially with its plot twist. It is filled with violence without guns --- a nice yet gritty surprise, especially with the grisly fight scenes that ensue throughout the movie. Bloody and violent, the scenes were pretty stark, making me cringe --- even so, i found myself glued to the screen, like a deer to headlights.

My kudos to Viggo Mortensen. He shows he is not only a good actor but a committed one as well. He cuts off fingers without a flinch, throws dead bodies without a care and speaks with a russian accent pretty seamlessly. In that bloody Turkish bath fight scene, he tumbles and cuts in his birthday suit with a commitment that never wavers --- hey, fighting in the buff was never easy, but he sure made it look like it was a breeze. Such dedication should have given him an Oscar (alas, Javier got to it first!), but the accolade of awards bestowed upon him and this film is rightfully deserved.

The moral poles Watts and Mortensen represent (her positivity, his jaded and reserved demeanor) mirrors the dynamic clash of different "truths" and ideals. The movie covers a great deal of violence of the russian mafia true, but also exposes emotion in raw forms, in both good and bad aspects. It's also nice to see sharp contrasts of color associated with the characters --- with Naomi, her color palette is softer, with warmer shades (must be the hair) while Viggo's cold tones are harshly accentuated by his black leather and dark color ensemble. The mood is dark and tinged with deep blue tones (literally and figuratively) which belies the mafia and its actions.

Overall, i liked it --- a happy ending of sorts, without compromising the thriller aspect with overzealous drama or forced romantic ending between the characters --- all the more reason to appreciate it! This is no The Bodyguard people!

SPOILERS AHEAD -- You Have Been Warned

As a time code rolls at the bottom, text on the screen declares that the viewers are looking at "Property of the United States" pertaining to U.S. Case Designate "Cloverfield" found in an area "formerly known as Central Park". The film reels on, a documentary of events which follows five young New Yorkers who throw their friend ( the protagonist Robert Hawkins, as the main guy who is supposedly heading off to Japan the next day) a going-away party the night a gigantic monster attacks the city.The "documentary" is taken by Rob's best friend Hud who was taping the party for his brother Jason. In a span of 7 hours, we see chaos and ruin envelop the city, and the shaky, jagged takes of the camera adds some "reality" to this.

It's more of a action-reaction take on the events, which suffice to say doesn't explain much about the creature or whatever it was that attacked New York.We see snippets of this monster, as well as several mini-me's of this spawned across the city, but as to where it came from and why it was there, the film didn't delve much into it.

The notion of fear, confusion and blank ignorance of what was happening pretty much spurred this movie on, with pretty dumb (forgive me) characters going around New York amid all this chaos. Seriously, this is either a not-so-subtle ad for Nokia (hello ads everywhere), an anti-tourism ad for NY, or just the sappiest (and weirdest) romantic drama i've ever seen, not to mention the hardest to watch.

I couldn't help but be jaded by the fact that while all this was happening, one guy was selfish enough to jeopardize his friends' lives to save a girl (who was amazingly still alive even though she had been recently impaled). The end was a very disturbing waiting game wherein the remaining survivors address the camera to tell them who they were and what the current situation was before dying in the rubble. It's quite a fitting end to a sad horrific day loaded with sappy-ridden dialogue, but somewhat poignant with those last few scenes of the couple the day before.

Was it believable? I guess. The shaky one camera take on this film was very realistic, and nauseating. I had to constantly rest my eyes to stop myself from having motion sickness. It's a distinct reminder of the Blair Witch Project (another movie which i appreciated for its concept, but hated for its execution) --- shaky, rough and utterly confusing. It did leave me some questions to ponder :

One, what the HELL was that monster doing there in the first place? They never really gave an answer to that, even with all the "reports" on tv
Two, why the HELL was that guy hell bent in saving that girl even though he saw his friends dying on the way there? Was he that dense!??!
and Three, What was the brand of that camera they used? That freakin' thing had such a longevity with its battery life as well as survived several crashes, falls and even managed to work even after been eaten by an alien. Hell yeah!

But hey, it was a good concept, and though some parts may have been a little too sappy for me, it was a good hour or so of pretty fun aliens, crazy stunts and chair gripping action.

"There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
and it's filled with people who are filled with shit!
And the vermin of the world inhabit it!"

(spoilers ahead --- don't lose your head now)

Tim Burton's latest film is a movie adaptation of the musical of the demon barber, and he does not disappoint. Rare is a musical to hit the notes with such precision and still retain its wit and humor.

That ominous gaze, those burning eyes, that mad matty hair that screams in the night --- Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd makes the ghostly looking macabre of a man almost look so -- melancholy and forlorn. Bonham-Carter's Mrs. Lovett casts an eye to London's disdained, and she gives a charming performance that makes you like her --- mad hair, dark eyes and all.

I wish i was able to see this on Broadway, because the songs are truly amazing. The sad sad tale that bequeaths this is one that is richly depicted through its lyrics, and very splendidly performed by its actors. Such scenes noted are the ones wherein Todd shows every form of emotion, from restraint, to seething anger, to maddening sadness --- in example of such is the scene wherein he sees his dead wife, and horribly realizing he had just killed her.

Indeed, there is morbidity all around, yes, all tinged with blood and scraps of human flesh, and critters running about --- making the seedy London where this is based on all the more too real (No Place like London). Also felt are the emotions of betrayal, revenge and barely lidded rage seething from the main character --- something that is hard to hold on to, let alone carry on as one sings from scene to scene, yet Johnny does it beautifully. I love the part where he and Alan Rickman (who plays the judge) are in his shop, as he carefully yet unsuccessfully kills him ( Pretty Women)--- each moment becoming truly nerve-racking as he comes closer to slicing him open. Also fun to watch is the dream sequence of Mrs. Lovett as she sings what she wishes for (By The Sea) The songs are richly sung by Depp and Carter, both creating a tangible bond on screen, one that only makes their unholy acts all the more macabre.

There is an unrelenting depression and revenge, all too clear, stamped into every scene until the very end. It is not a happy movie; rather, it is the realization of every depressing thought and hopelessness that each character brings --- something Burton and Depp were able to bring out even to the very bloody end. No wonder it is disturbing, scary and even hateful to watch. But that is the brilliance of it --- there is no shameful mask to hide into, no apology or attempt to lighten the subject because, there is none. Perhaps the "moral" or positive aspect one can garner from this would be that nothing good ever comes from bad. Bad is bad is bad is bad. But bad done good (if not exceptionally so) is this movie, and one cannot deprive that from Sweeney Todd.

Its impeccable acting (kudos to Depp and Bonham-Carter for the amazing acting!), nicely supported cast and a strong production design makes this a movie worth seeing in my list. Though the blood runs freely as the movie continues, one's attention is held tight by the seamless transitions from humor to horror to sadness. With a motley crew of actors and a set production that keeps to the times, Sweeney Todd is a delightful film of murder and mayhem.

Heads up, spoilers ahead. You have been warned.

I'm not much into gory horror flicks, admittedly. I get squeamish a lot when there's a lot of rotting,decaying bodies, splattering insides and all sorts of violent deaths. This is why i never go to these films without a "safety" something ---usually it's a long shawl or pillow to bury into when it gets really gross. :-P

This movie adaptation of the popular 3-part comic series by Steve Niles (nicely illustrated by Ben Templesmith, who, not incidentally, was in town the week of its first show to promote both the movie and his books ) is based on the first book.

The movie opens in Barrow, Alaska where the sun sets for 30 days. Sheriff Eben Olemaun (played by Josh Hartnett) investigates a series of "vandalism" which quickly escalate to horrifying events, slowly killing off residents as the dark days come. As revealed later on, vampires flocked to Barrow, allowing them to feed without the burden of sleep to avoid lethal sunlight. When the vampire elder Vicente learns of this plan, he travels to Barrow to end the feeding, in order to preserve the secrecy of vampires (although this was not really emphasized in the movie --- the film starts off with the impression that Vicente was part of the flock who came in to feed).

Because of the cold, the vampires' senses are weakened and a few of the town's residents are able to hide. One such resident is Sheriff Eben Olemaun, who saves the town by injecting vampire blood into his veins. He uses his enhanced strength to fight Vicente, saving the lives of the few remaining townspeople, including his wife Stella. Suffering the same weakness as all vampires, Eben dies and turns to ash when the sun rises.

The good and the bad: It's chilly, strangely eerie and altogether freaky to realize that although this is fiction, the circumstances under which the whole story goes about on is wholly possible. That in itself makes this film scary for me.

The pace can be somewhat slow, especially with not-so-witty dialogue (constantly they keep asking, "what are they?i don't know..." even though clues are literally scattered all over the place --- don't they have any idea what vampires are, seriously? Sheriff needs to read more, i guess) but the whole darkness and snow feel adds to the already tense environment (makes me think i'm 'camping' in a war zone, like when you're playing counterstrike). I wish they dealt more dialogue with the vampires, rather than focusing on the "emotional turmoil" of Josh and his love interest, though.

Still, It's a good fright and offers lots of "horrific" scenes of death and mutilation. Oh goody. :-)

Based on Neil Gaiman's book, Stardust is a tale of love, hope, faith and being true to one's self, situated in England during the time where realms of magic and humans lived alongside each other. It follows the journey of Tristan, a young lad born of human and faerie genes, whose simple task of catching a falling star for a maiden turned into an adventure complete with witches, swashbuckling pirates and encounters of the magical kind.

The good and the bad: I never read the book entirely. It was one of those books i wasn't really into (which is surprising, since i usually devour Gaiman's books) --- so i watched the movie with no idea except the basics (which wasn't much). The movie, about 2 hours long, was quite entertaining, loaded with some interesting characters, and of course, that English humor that grows on you. :-) Although the dialogue was a bit hurried, it was still fun to see everything piece together --- visually,it was fascinating to watch the landscapes and digital interpretations of Gaiman's fantasy world.

The cast was pretty well-known --- Michelle Pfieffer and Robert de Niro among others, with a pretty cool director (Vaughn of Layer Cake fame) and a pretty solid dialogue. As i watched though, i keep running a list of couple of actresses in my head who would have suited the Yvaine character just as well (if not better!) than Claire Danes (number one, Scarlett Johanssen; two, Reese Witherspoon; three, Hayden Panniterie) --- she was pretty, but definitely lacking some romantic link to Cox's Tristan (seriously.... kinda like her last film, The Family Stone). Robert De Niro's character was a riot, and definitely fun to watch. Michelle was, as always, amazing to watch --- she can be old or young, she can definitely play characters well! And of course, the ghost sons were fascinating to watch.

Ultimately, the end result was something i would probably watch a few more times, with lengthy intervals in between. It's one of those movies you would want to watch in awe when you were a kid, something that will forever enchant you as a child. I remember that sensation when i first watched The Never Ending story, and perhaps this movie would want to evoke the same sensation that film gave me when i was a kid. Watching it all grown up though, i guess it's something nice to watch but leaves you wishing there was something a bit more in it for you to re-experience all that magic you thought it would have.

Those fairy tales of yore and childhood fantasies we grew up with come alive in a twisted take richly illustrated in FABLES, a series by Vertigo Comics.

Premise starts off with a town called Fabletown, a neighborhood in New York (where else?) inhabited by "Fables"---characters from popular fairy Tales, fables and other mythical stories which have been forced to move out of their respective homes due to the invasion of a common enemy simply known as "The Adversary". Of course, living in the mundy world, fables are expected to be in human form. Those who cannot do so are confined to live in an annex community in upstate New York, known as the Farm.

As the series progress, we learn about the lives of each of these characters, how they lived before the great invasion and how they deal with living in the mundane or "mundy" world. Taking the central leads in this fable-gone-Real World are Snow White, Bigby a.k.a The Big Bad Wolf, Boy Blue and Jack of the Fables, among others.

It's an interesting and enthralling take on some well-loved tales by BIll Willingham, who gives kids and adults alike a fresh interest in these tales once read over bedtime. I found myself heading back to Wiki to check out back stories (a.k.a fables) of characters mentioned while thoroughly enjoying the sometimes campy plot. It's a fun and quick read, enjoyed by myself during those days of hard rain and chilly winds. (Nothing beats a warm bed , hot soup/cocoa and a great book).

Story aside, my interest is further held by the illustrations. It's amazing to see such wonderful covers (notably, #5, #3 and #8) which so beautifully captures the central plot. Love love love it! :-)

Ok, i liked it so much i actually found myself collecting it. Now i'm down to the last one (so far), #9 and those hard to pass "off-spring" books (hardbound ones which are not directly in the timeline, but contribute to some interesting back stories on central characters). There goes my savings. :-P

Hilarious!!!

I was expecting that it would become boring after 45 mins of its usual brand of humor, but the movie went by quickly through the 2 hours (or sumthin' like that) it had --- the whole gang (and some more) were there, and with it the usual slew of jokes (that have not waned a bit in its humor), political incorrectness as well as some pretty tough issues addressed in bizarre and comical proportions.

Gems of the movie includes: a stirring "Spider Pig" musical courtesy of Homer (as well as its haunting breakdown), Bart's nekkid skateboard ride, and Springfield going amok in the wake of dome living.

and yes, top line(s) of the movie:

"The worst day of your life...so far"

*(Kudos to Rockwell for putting up that life-sized Simpsons sofa for some picture taking -- kids and adults alike had fun having their pictures taken)

Lest i be stoned and scalded in hot water for any spoilers, i tread into this review with caution.

Finally, it has ended. The Harry Potter series which spanned a number of years is finally over. And with this 700+ book, it ended with some amazing action sequences, a thrilling showdown and lots of painfully real scenarios.

There are lots of characters whose appearances over the series may have been slightly overlooked, yet are significantly helpful/terrible in this last one (kudos to those who remember --- it will make the reading all the more fun!) . And yes, the final showdown is a bit long, but hey, it's pretty interesting. I cried my eyes out throughout the book (chapter 3 pa lang, umiiyak nako so beware!!!), painfully aware of the many challenges that the young heroes face and the anguish of having to lose and give up so many for the greater good (ok, nakakahalata na talaga na fan ako).

Ultimately, though, my enjoyment stems from the fact that Harry has finally grown up, and in so many ways, lost his boyish charm to be armed with a serious yet almost heroic aura. A bit of a weird stop, personally, to end it like so, but also a nice closure for something that has kept us all in magical amazement for so long. :-)

Since the installation of the new Batman (Batman Begins), my love affair with the dark knight has been rekindled. Been checking some news on the latest soon-to-be released movie, aptly entitled The Dark Knight, and got some KEWL-ass goodies of info like this one:











Guess who?? Aaron Eckhart (of Thank You for Smoking) is the up and coming new villain in this new film, just one of the TWO villains the masked hero will be FACE-ing off with. (I hope that their encounter won't be as lame-ass as the Spidey 3 flick).
The Batpod is the new vehicle the Dark Knight will be sporting, plus a lot of kewl new gizmos in his ah-may-zing belt.
The best surprise? Having Heath Ledger as The Joker, a darker and more menacing one at that. Christian Bale reprises his role as the Dark KNight, so this will be a "sequel to a prequel" kinda thing.

Three cuties pitted against each other? Now that's some action i wanna check out!

By far, the most memorable film version i have of the Harry Potter series was the 3rd one, of which Y Tu Mama Tambien's director Alfonso Cuaron directed. That movie marked a dramatic condensation of the book's 600+ pages and very intricate plots and sublots into aan enjoyable 2 and something hours. What's more, the book's amazing tale and discovery was not overdramatized, which was a selling point to me (a demise that the first two films had). A happy note too, is that Sirius Black was introduced, played so beautifully by the lovely Gary Oldman (ooh lala!).

After the last installation, i wasn't at all excited to see this film. The most recent movie translation of the Harry Potter series has its ups and downs. This book marks a more serious tone in the series, as the characters come face to face with the legion of Voldemort. There is intense tension all around, and the movie captured that underlying emotion throughout. It was nicely condensed (thank goodness), though i felt some of the book's best scenes were slightly underplayed (like Harry's occlumency lessons --- there could have been a better way to really emphasize that). I liked the fact that the kids are older this time around, it played very well with the fact that they come into immediate contact with the dark Lord and his henchmen. I LOVE the fact that they underplayed the death of Sirius all the while subtly introducing Bellatrix (Helena's character). Stainton's Umbridge was a genius idea, a woman so sweetly evil you can't help but hate her (i was plotting things i could have done if i was Potter during the movie). The Weasley twins did the movie proud with their grand exit (it was something like i envisioned while reading that part).

I was a bit disappointed by the Cho character (a bit sappy and sad), while the friendship that three had could have been explored more to add more definition in the the scenes played along on the last few encounters of Potter and the Dark Lord. The jokes are a bit passe (then again we didn't watch it for the humor) and some of the acting was forced (Cho and Watson were having more difficulty i guess)

Still.It was enjoyable than the last one, and it made me look forward to reading the last installment (soon to arrive on the 21st in bookstores all over). Guess Potter magic still lives within me, for what reason can i have more to watch this movie? :-P

Bedlam and medical madness reside in the person of John D. Dorian (Zach Braff) who goes through life as a resident, and eventually an attending in Sacred Heart Hospital, along with his fellow residents and the eclectic staff who add mayhem to this series.

This series is, as the marketing says, "twice as fun and half as long as ER". Think of it as a lofty and often funny way of looking into medical life, but it also has some pretty depressing (and often tear-inducing episodes).

Admittedly, the series' wacky and often times over the top slapstick comedy can sometimes get a little boring, but everybody's eccentric nature usually saves it, from JD's best friend Turk (played by Donald Faison) and Carla's marriage issues, Elliot (Sarah Chalk)'s neuroses and OC behavior, Dr. Cox and Jordan's snippy way of saying their love for each other, to the Janitor (whose name we will probably never know ) as well as the slighty silly (and sometimes childish) humor they have going on (like Rowdy, JD and Turk's stuffed dog).

What gets me is the cool way they are able to "tell a moral" at the end of every episode and manage to do so with some humor. Also, nothing beats the stirring acapella renditions of classic songs (as well as movie themes) of Ted and his band, as well as a surprisingly great soundtrack that every show manages to churn out. And let's not forget all those dance moves these characters break when given the chance ;-)

Some say it's stoner-friendly. Overall, this series (seasons 1-6, currently) is something you can definitely put on and just enjoy without having the hassle of some serious thinking.

Official site: http://www.nbc.com/Scrubs/

"Candidate A, what are your plans with my kidney?" It sounds almost surreal, but if the producers are to be believed, that's the sort of question contestants will have to answer in a live reality TV show that will air Friday night in the Netherlands Friday. Using a Dating Game-style format, the Big Donor Showwill invite three candidates in need of a kidney transplant to convince a woman dying of a brain tumor why they should be the lucky recipient of her kidney. As friends and relatives help make their case for the lifesaving kidney, viewers will also be able to cast their votes via text messaging. (More of the story here)

More here.

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And i thought reality TV is low enough. Still, i have to admire how unperturbed the network is, and how they defended their show. Interestingly enough, this casts a new light on the stakes of reality shows.  How far can it go? What stakes are up for grabs? Maybe someday there will be people auctioned off  soon for prizes (no wait a minute, we have that already...hmmm).

Anyway, getting killed off a show will be given a whole new meaning after this.

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TIme reveals this is a very public and shocking HOAX!  Well, it sure did get a lotta attention ;-)

Start:	May 10, '07 12:00p
End:	Jun 17, '07
Location:	Vargas Museum, UP Diliman, Quezon City

You are all invited to the Greenpeace exhibit at the Vargas Museum, UP Diliman.

Climate in Crisis is a photo exhibit of climate change impact pictures from all over the world. It will be on disply from May 10 to June 17, 2007.

Entrance is free of charge.

Brought to you by GreenPeace Philippines // 24 K-J corner K-7 Streets, Kamias Road, Quezon City, Philippines