This Is Me Is So Me

Almost all blogs had a 2018 New Year post except me.  Though 18 days late, let me then post my 2018 New Year post.  Let me feature my 2018 New Year song entitled This Is Me from the movie The Greatest Showman.

This Is Me is so me.  After listening to the song and watching the lyric video, I could not help myself from not tearing up.  The message, the lyrics and the tune really cuts deep.  With my eccentricities, my weirdness and my oddness, This Is Me fully represent my being me.

This post maybe late for 18 days yet I know I will face the year 2018 with much courage because I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I’m meant to be THIS IS ME!  Life’s hurdles for 2018 may be inevitable and I may not be The Greatest Showman but I’m not scared to be seen, I make no apologies THIS IS ME! 

nengkoy and i

Ito ako!

Gaston of Beauty And The Beast

 

Pure enjoyment.  That is how I would describe my general view and opinion after watching the rebooted and newest version of Disney’s Beauty And The Beast.  It is a film that is loaded with thoughts, scenes and features that will warm your heart.  Viewers will definitely fall in love with the lead characters and will delightfully be mesmerized with the characters who were cursed to become inanimate objects.  The Be My Guest scene was spectacular!

I’m pretty sure a lot has been written about the various characters of the movie.  Even LeFou the sidekick of Gaston (the main nemesis) had loads of write ups about him because of his being a member of the LGBT.  And since I am more of a fanatic of the antagonists that those of the usually boring bida, heroes, heroines or protagonists, let me write about Gaston.

Personally, Gaston (superbly played by Luke Evans in the movie) was a potential favorite at the beginning of the story but I eventually dropped him when he turned unreasonably evil.  Gaston was funny and a likeable idiot at first half of the movie.  With the good looks of Luke Evans, I’m pretty sure some of the viewers would rather drop the Beast and instead root for Gaston.

In the movie, Gaston started as a conceited narcissistic dude with a dash of charming-ness but his funny-at-first demeanor suddenly turned unappealing when he starts to get too irrationally sore and unreasonably obsessed with Belle.  I don’t like the Gaston characterization at the end part because it does not have a background on why Gaston turned out to be the Gaston in the movie.  Gaston is unlike other movie nemesis in which a backgrounder is presented on why they turned evil.  I actually just assumed and have to settle on a thought that Gaston who wears a military uniform must be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after being in a terrifying war or traumatic battle that is why he is so unstable.

Though with unexplained past and unexplored personal history in the movie, I guess, Gaston’s character and wickedness is one vital need in the movie so as to enhance and further emphasize the pureness of the hearts of both Belle and the Beast.  Without Gaston, there won’t be a tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, (all together now!) Beauty and the Beast.

Gaston did a pretty good job.  He is actually the true and spot-on beast in the movie.  If he survived the high fall at the end part of the story, he now has adequate reason to rile and aggravate the future lives of the Beauty and the Beast!

Dahil kontrabida ang peg, Team Gaston ako!

Queen Meryl

If your life story would be featured in a film, who among the actors and actresses would you want to portray your character?  Since it will take metric tons to depict my charm, appeal and personality, it will take a true thespian, prolific performer and sensational artiste to take on my character.  I actually think that no living male actor can do my role.  But one actress (for that matter), I guess, can level up and take on the extreme challenge of being my character.  I would certainly choose the most celebrated actress of all time, Meryl Streep.

Meryl Streep is so good, give her the character of a chair, she can certainly act like one.  And you will be left stunned and entertained at the end of her characterization of being a genuine chair.

queen meryl

I personally have lost count on how many Meryl Streep movies that I’ve seen.  But in each movie, she was simply frank, authentic and valid.  She is so effective you would actually forget that she is Meryl Streep, the actress.

And just yesterday, I was again extremely impressed by Meryl Streep when she rendered a very powerful speech when she was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Golden Globes.  It was intense, it was true, it was charming, it was emphatic.  Such a poignant speech actually shook the whole America out of its wits!  It is because, what she was saying seem to shake and wake them all up.

Why was Meryl so effective and made a buzz all over the world in her yesterday’s speech?  It was because everybody – at the back of their brain – seem to be being told, lectured, chided and harangued by Miranda Priestly, Margaret Thatcher, Sister Aloysius Beauvier, Florence Foster Jenkins, Joanna Kramer, Violet Weston, Sophie Zawitowski, Donna of Mama Mia and The Witch of Into The Woods all at the same freaking time!

That is how powerful Meryl Streep is!  She’s so powerful she should be crowned and dubbed as the Queen of America!

Aydol! Ibang lebel kung tumira si Ateng!

Dory and Doris

There are two interesting and colorful characters I knew after watching two heart-felt movies this quiet weekend.  One is a blue fish who is suffering from short term memory loss while the other is an old lady who is diagnosed with compulsive hoarding.

The blue forgetful fish is Dory from the movie Finding Dory (voiced by Ellen De Generes) while the loony yet passionate old lady is Doris from the movie Hello My Name is Doris (played by Sally Field).

I can totally relate to both characters!  It is because aside from their being single, loveless, perky and fun, both are serious mental cases.  And after watching both movies and trumpeting explosions of laughter, one thing is for sure, I adore both characters!

Though Dory and Doris may have different issues in their lives, one similar aspect in the wide spectrum of their being is that both are searching for their own self-sufficiency, individuality and life’s happiness. Both characters through their story relays that it is okay to make mistakes and that the search for joy, identity, and self-sufficiency can sometimes be achieved through some unique and unexpected ways.

Dory and Doris are some potent characters who will pull you out from your comfort zone so that you can move on to the next chapter of your life.  And because of these, it’s indeed so nice knowing Dory and Doris!

Kaloka ‘tong dalawang ‘to! 

Excited Over Doris Miller

After reading all the bad reviews of Batman Vs Superman (there is even a spoiler in which the film killed my favorite childhood superhero), I would then rather watch this…

It looks hilarious!  I love Sally Field, she has been one my favorite Hollywood actresses.  Honestly, I’m excited on how this story would end.

I gotta to see this!  And to all those who in some way has a bit of an obsession towards a younger person living in the present generation…. Raise your freaking hands!!!

Kakaaliw! Kakareleyt? Kakaeksayt!

The Grand Symphony of Beauty of The Grand Budapest Hotel

the grand budapest hotel

Can a film be at the same time funny, exciting, intelligent, poetic, violent, colorful and absurd? The answer can be found in the movie The Grand Budapest Hotel.  It is because all these elements are present in this brilliant movie.

Ralph Fiennes character of Gustave H, the hotel’s superstar Concierge is such a joy to watch. He imbibes sophistication in his acting in which humor, action and drama were all mixed up in such a perfect balance.  Aside from the great Fiennes, the film also boasts of master cameo performances by that of Adrien Brody, Willem Defoe, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Owen Wilson, Jude Law, Tilda Swinton and a lot more.  Presence of these superstars would definitely elicit giggles from the viewers by their mere simple recognition in the movie.

the visuals were simply brilliant!

Because of the gorgeous colors, the engrossing story, the stunning visuals and the array of actors with bits of roles in the story, the movie feels like I was walking through one fantastic and extraordinary music video.  I was like transported to the eloquent 1930s Europe of a different universe without the jet lag.

Aside from all these elements, what I particularly would like to rave about the movie are the well-crafted sparkling dialogues.  Spoken especially by the engaging Gustave H.  The set of words spoken by Gustave are like pieces of art works hanging in a museum.  He can be very eloquently composed and can also be uproariously agitated.  And because of his difficulty from balancing his temperament he ends up being sophisticatedly hilarious!

To prove my point here is the dialogue, a letter in fact, written by Gustave H to his colleagues of the hotel when he was at the confines of a prison:

My dear and trusted colleagues,

I miss you deeply as I write from the confines of my regrettable and preposterous incarceration.  Until I walk amongst you again as a free man, the Grand Budapest remains in your hands, as does its impeccable reputation.  Keep it spotless, and glorify it.  Take extra-special care of every little bitty bit of it as if I were watching over you like a hawk with a horse-whip in its talons, because I am.  Should I discover a lapse of any variety during my absence, I promise swift and merciless justice will descend upon you.  A great and noble house has been placed under your protection.  Tell Zero if you see any funny business.

Your devoted Monsieur Gustave

The dialogues were so incredibly sharp, rich, witty and completely brilliant.  In fact, because of the clever use of words in the dialogues, this is one of the few movies which would be worthy to be seen with subtitles.

No doubt, the Grand Budapest Hotel is one grand symphony of beauty.  I truly enjoyed it!

May oskar ‘to. Pihado ko.

Matt Bomer For The Win

matt bomer as felix

When I learned in the past (about a year ago or so) that Matt Bomer was not considered to play the role of Christian Grey for the movie adaptation of the massive hit novel 50 Shades of Grey, I was glad.  Besides the face of Matt Bomer is buckets-full prettier that the visualized looks of Christian Grey.

I was glad that I will never have to be compelled on seeing that movie, because otherwise, I would have to watch it simply because Matt was in it.  Though 50 Shades of Grey was a massive hit novel series, I can profess that I am among the few adults on this planet who has not read it.  And I don’t have any plans neither intentions of reading it anytime soon or anytime in the future.  Reason?  I actually don’t know.

I guess destiny did not allow Matt Bomer to star in 50 Shades because the universe intended him to star in a much much better material that is The Normal Heart.  I saw this HBO film, adapted from the autobiographical play with the same title two months ago.  And this movie definitely deserves an Emmy-worthy recognition for Matt. His characterization on his role as Felix in the film was no big joke.  He loosed 35 pounds for it.

But beyond Matt’s physical transformation in the film, he was hauntingly amazing in this movie!  He was the heart-wrencher in the story that will make you feel the pain.  I saw the film 2 months ago and yet the drama, the thunderous message and Matt’s powerful performance still lingers in my mind.  His character was definitely louder than the beat of a normal heart.

The Normal Heart is out for sale on DVD and Blu-ray format on August 28, 2014 – which I predict as – 3 days after Matt Bomer has gone home with an Emmy trophy.

Mat Bamer Por Da Win!

Chasing the Hollywood Sign

griffith observatory, los angeles, california

I guess a first time tourist in Los Angeles would only consider his visit complete if he has the most sought-after photo of the world famous Hollywood Sign as his background. When in L.A., I believe there is no more desired photo than that!

I and my super friends stayed in Los Angeles for more than a week.  We actually stayed in an apartment along Bronson Avenue (booked via AirBnB) in which there is a good sight of the Sign.  Every day when we would get out of the apartment to proceed to our agreed sightseeing expedition, super friend Denton, our appointed driver (because he’s the only one who got the license among us), would point out especially to me – being the L.A. first timer – that the Sign is incredibly visible. He always suggests that I might as well take the opportunity to take the coveted photo while it’s near and massive.

His loving wife Karen however raised that a good site where I can be taken of a good souvenir photo with the Sign as my background would be at the Griffith Observatory located atop a mountain.  She expressed that it’s known to be one of the best sites for the-Sign-photo-opp and that we would have one afternoon to do the Griffith Observatory.

the facade at night

The day we decided to go to the Griffith Observatory was also our “cultural day”, the day of our visit to the J. Paul Getty Museum.  The Getty was actually quite a far ride from our place of stay and touring even a portion of the vast museum campus took us some time.  That is why when we were driving up the mountain leading to the Griffith Observatory the sun is already starting to bid goodbye for the day.

What is so wicked that day is that there were a lot of (most probably) tourists driving up to the Griffith Observatory.  That is when we realized that I might not be able to get my photo taken with the Sign because it’s super traffic and it’s starting to get dark.  What added to the devious circumstance is that security officers on the road are diverting motorists so as not to enter and proceed to the parkland of the observatory since parking slots atop are already full.  That was the time Denton without delay told us that we might as well alight the car and should rather walk up fast the road going to the observatory so that I can be taken with the photo while the sun is still up.

Though it was rather cold, that was the moment that I, Karen and Joesel rushed ourselves up on our feet to the Observatory.  Going up the road felt like we were in a race chasing for an available beaming sunlight on top of Mount Hollywood.

When we reached the courtyard of the Griffith Observatory, pumped up and still trying to catch our breath Karen instantly determined the spot where I could be taken a photo.  I immediately handed Joesel my phone-camera and flashed my natural sweet smile.  With instantaneous focusing, Joesel straightaway clicked on the phone-camera.  Here is what I got…

try zooming this photo to see where in the dark is the hollywood sign

The following morning, my super friends along with me walking on the street after some hearty breakfast metamorphosed into some fairy god and goddesses.  They simply granted my wish or the wish of any other first-time L.A. tourist.  Noticing a clearer view of the Sign as seen from afar, they stopped.  They told me that I might as well be taken a photo with the Hollywood sign as my background right at that very moment.  Here is what I got…

🙂

Akomplishd sa baket list…