It is a movie with laugh-out-loud moments but a not so convincing story line. The trailers did not make me expect anything so there was no great disappointment.
It was fun remembering where I've seen the actors like that guy from SNL, that female reporter from Iron Man, Andy from "The Office", the congressman from Evan Almighty who also played the father of Speed Racer.
I just couldn't relate with the story as I obviously don't consider myself a shopaholic or even close to that. Shopping is not really a thing I love doing. Neither is window-shopping. But part of being a good friend is to enjoy that experience or at least pretend to do so.
I remember there was this time I went to shop with a friend for an electronic equipment. It ended up really badly as I was too impatient and I jokingly said that he should decide faster. From that night on, I never got to go out for shopping with him. Lesson learnt that I got to apply several times.
Of course, there are always those times when you'll forget and slip. But every day is a chance to try.
Where: Cathay Grand
When: 27 March 2009, Friday, 11:45 PM
With whom: Ferron, Mariel, Nestor, Val, Shine, Derek, Val's Friend.
Confessions of a Shopaholic
No time
I have always been prepared for an answer to questions on why I don't have time for anyone anymore. I've seriously been very busy with my Design Project.
It's been a long time since I've seen Cecilia, Oliver and the others. I had to say no to a birthday party last Saturday because I have to really finish that project.
It's definitely not because of spending so much time with the Ateneo/La Salle exchange students. I've had dinner with them for only four times in the past five weeks. I had to say no to dinner several times just so I could do my project.
I was gone for 11 days in the Philippines. Three days of busy school. Then four days over the weekend that I was away in Malaysia. Then three days of busy school. This created an illusion that I have been away for more than the time that I actually was away.
I also don't have much time to watch the shows that I've regularly watched before. I don't even get to watch American Idol anymore. There are so many episodes that Ferron and I are still scheduled to watch but we couldn't find time.
New Again
I love to use on of my old bags again. It got very dirtied on my trip to Taman Negara which forced me to wash it. If not for that trip, it would not have occurred to me to really wash that bag and now it looks really really clean and shiny.
My urban planning project requires us to analyze an area in Singapore. The assigned area for me is the Boat Quay conservation area. The guest lecturer we had this morning didn't like how it's facade was made clean and shiny but its original use was not preserved.
Our actual lecturer loves using the term "tabula rasa" which means blank slate. It is so much easier to start with a blank slate rather than to build on someone else's work but still getting known for it. One's work will always be compared to that you're doing it on.
Sometimes, it just takes something to get so dirty before we could appreciate its original value and get them back to their original state. Relationships which have had cracks for a long time sometimes just need to be broken in order for it to be lovingly restored to its former glory.
Ultimate Dream
As mentioned in a previous post, right now, my ultimate dream is to be a mayor. I'm not very sure how I will get there but I think it involves becoming popular and getting equipped to actually performing the tasks.
I realized the other day that it could be a very selfish move because it exposes your whole family to privacy intrusions. It was while watching the most recent Heroes episode wherein Senator Petrelli's mother was questioned regarding his son's involvements.
A while ago, someone blurted out that my dream is to act. It started because I mentioned a week ago to someone that I auditioned for the Pinoy Big Brother. It is a reality show which requires you to be just you and no acting is involved. I doubt my acting skills because the last time we did a video project which required acting (almost ten years ago), I felt like the camera did not like me at all. If I were given the chance, I would prefer to be a television host although I'm also not good at it. Evidence is on Youtube.
During the audition, I got to talk to a lot of Lipa City natives who gave me an impression that they really liked Vilma Santos, a former actress, as their mayor and now governor. I joked yesterday that maybe after becoming a celebrity, I could marry a member of a political dynasty (Santos married one).
Watchmen
Watchman is a visual marvel. Although it is 162 minutes (2.7 hours) long, there's not much parts that I wish were taken out.
Based on a twit by my brother, which I cannot be bothered to confirm, the movie is rated PG13 in the Philippines while it is M18 (originally R21) here in Singapore. Yes tehre was a lot of blood and the themes are a bit heavy for young audiences.
Several sources say that the story is a "deconstruction of the superhero mythology". I mean, I'm like not a comic book superhero expert so I can't just go spouting these terms but I would like to say that the story does indeed provide an unconventional view of what it takes to be a hero.
I wasn't surprised about the big twist regarding the exploding bomb because I've read somewhere that Heroes tried to copy the concept. However, I was personally conflicted as to whether the lives of the people who died was worth the price of peace and whether there is really no other way to peace.
One of our readings in my Environmental Sustainability class talks about shared resources end up in tragedy. The movie had a very pessimistic view of society, that leaving it to its own would end up in destruction. Sad.
Where: GV VivoCity Cinema 4
When: 12 March 2009, Thursday, 8:00 PM
With whom: Ferron, Mariel
21
So I turned 23 yesterday.
Some people greeted me on Facebook the day before my actual birthday. So I changed my birthday to December 11 to decrease the chance of people who are doing so just because they saw it there.
Some guy from the PR firmed hired by Google in the Philippines greeted me happy birthday via a phone call. I had more people call me this year to greet than in past years. I usually just receive SMSes.
Ferron, Mariel and I wanted to watch Watchmen last night so we booked the day before to assure us of seats. When we arrived at the cinema to claim our tickets, they asked us for IDs that would confirm we are above 18. I couldn't produce any. Mariel had a long and heated discussion with the guy at the counter. We eventually decided to get a refund and come back the next day.
They didn't even check for identification cards today. The only difference was that it was Ferron who claimed and not me. After the movie, I recounted the story to someone and he said that I don't look 18 so he understands why the guy at the counter did that.
For my auditions last last week, I kept on telling everyone that I am just 21 years old as it is the most convenient thing to say. It just rolls off the tongue easier and no back story as to how I'm still studying needs to be said.
