Monday Bits

Julia Roberts' Latest Flick. I saw Fireflies in the Garden last night. Released this year, this drama was written and directed by Dennis Lee. The cinematography was what I liked best in this movie. Although I prepared myself to watch something out of my usual romantic comedy trips, there was great acting done by the cast. Fireflies in the Garden stars Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Hayden Panettiere, Emily Watson, and Carrie Ann Moss.

Jamie, Oh Jamie. Last week I borrowed these books from my brother and as I scanned through the pages, I think I came to know Jamie Oliver more and more. Then I realized a few things: (1) the rock star chef loves extra virgin olive oil a whole lot; (2) that he cannot cook a certain dish without putting herbs to it; (3) he included a suggested basic list for every pantry that loves to cook i.e. canned tomatoes, almonds, dried pasta; (4) he doesn't buy pasta when he's shopping for ingredients, he makes pasta from scratch; (5) and his influence is more of Italian food, ergo his penchant for soups, salads and herbs.

"The Naked Chef" and "Happy Days with the Naked Chef"

Pork Chops with herbs! This is one recipe I'd like to try.

Another SATC Gift. My sister sent belated-birthday-early-yuletide gifts for the whole family. And although I mentioned about this wish gift from her, I still got all too excited when I lifted it from the box. Yay! The book almost completes my own SATC keepsakes. Sex and The City really got me hooked from day one, and if there's one thing I liked about the fact that they ended the television series with only six seasons, that's gonna give me an advantage to pick up the first five seasons fast. Hehe.

My SATC addiction. Is the movie DVD out yet? =)

New Arrival Coke Bottles. My sister also sent over something from Las Vegas. My husband's reaction upon seeing his new toys was just priceless! Thanks again Alan and Lenlen!

My favorite is the Las Vegas bottle.

Weekend Comedies

We're blogging about two movies I saw over the weekend. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry was so hilarious, Adam Sandler and Kevin James of the Hitch fame make for a perfect duo in this project. Also stars Jessica Biel who looked very pretty for her role as the supposedly gay couple's lawyer.


Meanwhile, it was kind of weird watching Smother on Star Movies as it is also currently showing in theaters. How did that happen? I looked it up in IMDb, and it turns out the movie has apparently premiered last August 27. Star was a bit early in releasing it in television. Anyway, Diane Keaton who plays the mother who smothers her son is once again truly a work of art. The story was basic but she puts the color to the movie in the same manner that the beautiful Liv Tyler does.

Just Seen: Y Tu Mamá También

Having matriculated from communication arts, I like watching cinematic movies as sensual or erotic as Like Water For Chocolate and Love in the Time of Cholera. So I was not surprised to find myself appreciating Y Tu Mamá También when I first saw it yesterday. These movies have a common denominator which revolves around the screenplay and its Mexican-style direction.


Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother Too) is a story of two friends Tenoch and Julio who meet the attractive older woman Luisa and take a road trip, a journey enveloped in sex, friendship, and life. Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, this Academy Award nominee masterpiece stars Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, and Maribel Verdú. Rated R for strong sexual content involving teens, drug use and language. My rating for this film is 4 out of 5 stars.

Movie Rewind: Someone Like You

Yesterday while my son took his afternoon nap, I had a nagging urge to flip through my old videos and see what I can interest myself with until I found one of my favorite classic romantic comedies that tackled the men-women psychology, that sort of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus kind of flick.

The movie Someone Like You of 2001 may have inspired me to write my own immortal Neanderthal Theory article which was published in February 2002. This treasured movie of mine is the story of Jane Goodale, about the one that got away and the one she never saw coming. Very real but also very hopeful when it comes to the plot. Ashley Judd and Hugh Jackman are sorely missed!


The story was what got me from the start. Before I sat down to write my article of long ago, I went all out to figure the inevitable distinction between man and woman, and the disparity between our actions and how our brain functions. It can be likened to Jane's character as she sought justification of what happened to her. Greatly convinced that men are like cows, she pushed her limits into over-analyzing the opposite sexes' behavior and mating habits. The movie was successful in portraying these stages of animal and male behavior, starting with the "presentation of the new cow" to the "attraction" and "establishment of intimacy". Not to be left out, however, is the "painful death of the new cow" also known as the "bitter end of a relationship." In fact, as it would be seen in the movie, a survey done on men shows that 95% are polygamous, and that only 5% are otherwise.

Anyway, back to the movie in general. I just hope for more romantic comedies like this to come. Everytime I see this movie, and I never get tired of replaying it once in a while, it kind of really puts me in my element of blabbering and blurting a lot when it comes to relationships. Enough said. =P

Just Seen: Definitely, Maybe

There were three women in the life of New Yorker Will Hayes. He then tells the story of his relationships to his daughter Maya who helps him realize that he too can have a happy ending despite being heartbroken.


This one is a light and funny romantic comedy, with me watching most of the characters for the first time like Ryan Reynolds who plays Will Hayes, and Isla Fisher who plays April. Abigail Breslin once again displays her full prowess in playing the role of the inquisitive and loving daughter of Will.





Definitely, Maybe is written and directed by Adam Brooks. Also stars Rachel Weisz and Elizabeth Banks.

You Don't Mess With The Zohan

There are three reasons why I liked this movie. First and the most obvious would be Adam Sandler, followed by the equally talented Rob Schneider, and of course The Diva Mariah Carey who plays a special role in the latter part.



Created by Sandler's own outfit Happy Madison Productions, the movie brought the house down by the trademark antics of Sandler and always-the-sidekick Scheider. This film is just too entertaining.









The funniest scene for me was the first time Zohan was allowed to cut and style a client's hair. The shampooing part made me snicker a lot, Adam Sandler is still unbeatable when it comes to this kind of humor. Sandler's outfits are always a knock-out.

The last part was fun as well, with Mariah's hit song I'll Be Loving You Long Time capping the movie leading to the credits. The lyrics and the melody are too classy. Here's a video of the top rating song by The Diva which she performed at the recently held Teen's Choice Awards.

Mamma Mia!

And the winner takes it all indeed. Hats off to the makers of Mamma Mia The Movie. It was such an entertaining film, obviously because it is a musical, with Abba songs performed by the cast.

The story was simple. A daughter about to get married wanted to find out who her real father is, so she invites three men in her mother's past. They all come to the beautiful island and the excitement begins.



The movie was a story of friendship and love. And the characters danced and sang their way through their dialogues which can make anyone feel they are in Broadway. Meryl Streep was incredible in her singing, dancing and doing her air splits!







So who among them gets to take it all in the end?



The answer is worth watching.

P.S. The one thing I really loved about the movie apart from all the singing was this magical Skopelos island in Greece where the movie was shot.



Mamma Mia stars Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth, among others.

Hancock

Rotten Tomatoes reports that Hancock has already earned $62.6 million in sales, making it the number one movie beating Wall-E, Wanted, Get Smart, and Kung Fu Panda in this week's box office.

There are heroes. Then there are super heroes. And then there's Hancock. Although he has got a hip leather suit, Hancock is not your typical super hero.



Hancock is a story of an acerbic hero in America who is not regarded by the people because of his negligence in the state's properties and his temper. After the incident where he saved public relations executive Ray Embrey from a train and car accident, he was referred to an alcoholic and anger management facility thereby doing an image makeover for Hancock. More conflicts arise with Mary Embrey, his supposedly estranged wife, and with his past enemies that build up the action packed climax.







My favorite scene in the movie is this. The chemistry of Hancock and Mary was just so good.



Hancock is directed by Peter Berg, and stars Will Smith as John Hancock, Jason Bateman as Ray Embrey, and Charlize Theron as Mary Embrey.

What Happens in Vegas

I found this film to be very fun and entertaining. Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz both are fine effective actors in doing romantic comedy projects.



What Happens in Vegas is a story of two people both wanting to forget the troubles they were in before they headed to Sin City. After accidentally bumping into each other in the same hotel room, the couple are to become inseparable because of a mistake they then wanted to correct in six months because of a hefty sum they won at the slot machine.





The comedic stunts of Joy McNally (Diaz) and Jack Fuller (Kutcher) bickering at each other make up for the non-stop fun scenes of the movie.







What Happens in Vegas is directed by Tom Vaughan and written by Dana Fox.

Mr. Green Strikes Again

So who do you think has better chemistry?

Tony Stark and Pepper Potts?

Or Bruce Banner and Betty Ross? Their scenes were more felt and romantic I think.


Even the scene where Hulk was sitting beside Betty in the rain was oddly romantic to me.

The chemistry of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts; and Bruce Banner and Betty Ross have massively captivated the audience big time. Though the Bruce-Betty tandem was a bit more exciting because of the element of being apart and then together, and then away again from each other. It ups the ante, so to speak. I missed Ed Norton very much on the big screen just as I missed Robert Downey, Jr. I enjoyed watching Incredible Hulk, it was superfluously impressive.

The movie showed, of course, very flawless visual effects especially in the chase scenes shot in Brazil, and the final duel of Incredible Hulk and The Abomination.

Incredible Hulk is the masterpiece of French director Louis Leterrier, and produced by Marvel Studios. Stars Edward Norton (also known as Mr. Green), Liv Tyler (Betty Ross), Tim Roth (Emil Blonsky), and William Hurt (as General Ross).

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some frightening sci-fi images, and brief suggestive content.

Made of Honor

How could you not love this dreamy face?



More dreamy moments were in the film like the following pictures would say.





These were the scenes I also loved for they were simply hilarious.







No reviews for now but all I can say is that the movie was light, romantic and funny. Thanks to Rica for taking me to the movie yesterday.

The Happening

Reviews here and there have acclaimed this movie to be another mind-boggling and brain-wracking masterpiece of M. Night Shymalan. Although The Happening is hardly any close to his previous films, still, Shymalan's recipe for making us think about ordinary stuff turning eerie makes for a good throb from our gut.



Now we gotta start giving real love to nature. Or else.

In Between My Carrie Moments

P.S. I Love You
Yesterday, as I wanted to get out of my addiction to Carrie Bradshaw in the meantime and to get my writing mojo back, I saw P.S. I Love You. This is a film about a couple who has struggled to live the childless life in a busy city. The husband passes away, but leaves his wife with a treasure of memories all delivered to her through ten love letters. The husband was not yet ready to let go of his memories with his wife, so he prepared the letters and planned every step with how to get them to his wife after his death.

P.S. I Love You is a story of love, courage and hope and I found the movie very enchanting and sweet. Especially, the film boasts of a powerful cast led by Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler, supported by Kathy Bates, Harry Connick, Jr., Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Lisa Kudrow. The film is funny and as charming as it can be.

Sex And The City Movie Book
Before heading home, I saw the SATC Movie Book at Bibliarch and there I was gasping at the photos as I scanned through all hundred plus pages. The sales guy was too nice to let me go through them without buying it because a dear someone has planned to send the book for my birthday. I.Can't.Wait. Hahaha.


New Good Reads
So moving on, I decided to search for other new titles that may be good reads. I then stumbled upon Barbara Walters' Audition. I happen to see Barbara Walters as the most celebrated television journalist with the most number of interviews done so I believe her novel will be an interesting biography. I added two more books, After Diana (William, Harry, Charles and The Royal House of Windsor) by Christopher Andersen; and How to Walk in High Heels by Camilla Morton (with a Foreword by John Galliano).


McDreamy Movie
Made of Honor opens tomorrow, and hopefully I get to see another McDreamy flick! Grey's Anatomy Season 5 won't air until September 25. So why not get a hold of Patrick Dempsey now?

War, Inc.

War, Inc. is the latest offering of John Cusack as actor, co-writer, and co-producer. It is actually an absurd political satire set in an imaginary place called Turaqistan. A former vice president of the United States (Dan Aykroyd) hires Brand Hauser (John Cusack) as a mercenary or a hit man for a war profiteering company. Moreover, the film is futuristic in nature and the main characters tend to carry as much acerbic wit as possible in the scenes.

It felt strange watching the entire film and this may not be the typical politics-oriented film you can expect. As usual but prolific as ever, John Cusack portrayed his intelligence and knack for some action scenes without stuntmen.

The movie also stars Ben Kingsley as Walken, Joan Cusack as Hauser's assistant Marsha Dillon, Marisa Tomei as the reporter Natalie Hegalhuzen, and Hilary Duff as the interesting Yonica Babyyeah who turns out to be Hauser's long lost child.

Political satire at its finest, I think War, Inc. deserves to be in the league of the experimental films which can either surprise or bore an ordinary audience. My take on this film is simple as I was fortunately trained under the liberal arts.  It is a strange movie to me but it does bring out the main platform of the story.

War, Inc. is rated R for violence, language, and brief sexual material.