Who Did It Best? part 3

Yes, it’s back! Sorry for a week of delay. I was not on a blogging mode, and I actually waited for more votes to break the tie for the recent post. But the one who got the majority of the votes is, hands down, Brooke White! Thank you for all who participated, voted, and commented!

And now for the 3rd match (hehe!). I lost my list but I remembered this one particular song sung by, again, two of my favorite Idols on their respective seasons. Season 6’s Melinda Doolittle, who I thought who’s gonna win, and 4th Season’s Constantine Maroulis. The song? Yes, it’s My Funny Valentine. I just love how both of them nailed the song and gave it their own style. But who do you think did it best?

First up, Melinda:

And now, Constantine:

Time to vote again! =)

Raving Reviews 10

Let’s take a break on “Who Did It Best?” because I have some reviews waiting for posting. I’d like to call this the Foreign Film Fest Reviews, the ones I was able to see in foreign language film festivals (well, there are two that aren’t, but I’ll include them anyway). I noticed that it’s becoming a habit lately. First one was for Cine Europa in Shangri La, then the 8th Spanish film festival Pelicula, and just last weekend at Cinemanila. I’ve been a patron of watching foreign language films and it pains me to realize that I only get to attend several this year.

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Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Me and two of my friends’ first time to watch Cinemanila. When I heard about it, I immediately checked the website and was surprised to see Michelle Williams in one of the thumbnail. And when I opened the link, her leading man is Gael Garcia Bernal! It really interests me to see them both in a movie, that’s why I made sure Mammoth would be the first on my list to watch. What’s more, Pinoys had a major part to boot!

What I love about this film is that it discuss the painful truth. The painful truth about how most of us struggle in one’s life. The painful truth about finding happiness. The painful truth about sacrifice. The painful truth about life itself, the irony of life and how can you accept and overcome it. The movie not only focuses on how well can a person enjoy a certain decision, but also on how it can consume him. Either on a good or bad way.

I love the climax and the story’s ending. I really thought that it would be another one of those which would end in a tragic way. Good thing it didn’t. Although at one point, it gave me the feel of such, at least we didn’t left the cinema with a heavy heart. Catch it at Cinemanila! It’s a must see!

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Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

Was able to watch this movie last week, before watching a movie at Pelicula in Greenbelt. I just loooove Katherine Heigl! Sa Grey’s Anatomy pa lang, she’s my favorite doctor. So it would be given, that I’d love this one as well. She’s really funny and that made me love her even more!

I had a great time laughing my ass off the entire movie. And I’d have to say, Gerald Butler fits the role. I think he complements Katherine really well. It’s like the control freak meets her perfect match.

My favorite part has got to be the vibrator scene hahaha! Galing ni Katherine hehe! The characters I like were the anchor couple, they’re really effective in playing their role.

Overall, 3½ out of 5 stars. I seriously think that the story was just too good to be true. Really. Yes, the one that only happens in a movie. But I still liked it, anyway. Props for making me laugh and capping off my weekend in a happy note.

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Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Watched this yesterday with a friend and we liked it. It’s actually the one I liked the most out of the three that I’ve seen from the recently concluded Pelicula, the 8th Spanish film festival held at Greenbelt cinema for almost two weeks. The first one I was able to watch was El Truco Del Manco, which was, for me, the Spanish version of 8 Mile. The second one Casual Day, however, bored me to death haha! I was really planning to watch Dieta Mediterranea, but I was too late to get tickets for the 7pm screening. I also wanted to see Los Girasoles Ciegos, because it stars Maribel Verdu of Y Tu Mama Tambien, but there wasn’t any weekend screenings. But good thing I capped it off with Retorno a Hansala.

It was a good one. I liked the opening part. And as the story progresses, you’d get drawn to it. It’s the story of Martin, a struggling funeral director in Algeciras, and Leila, a Moroccan lady working in a fish factory, whose brother was found dead by the shore in Andalusia. Together, they started a journey that will change their lives, back to Hansala, Leila’s hometown.

What I noticed, though, is the similarity to the book I once read, Soledad’s Sister. Especially the part where they drive the corpse at the back of their car then things just went crazy! That concept was really similar. Well, probably it’s just me. What I liked most about the movie is that they introduced to the viewers a Moroccan culture most of us were unaware of. So aside from the Spanish side, it also has the Muslim taste to it. Like hitting two birds in one stone. Who wouldn’t want that in a movie?

I really hope to catch more foreign film festival. It’s addicting!

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Category:	Movies
Genre:	Horror

I am not a horror freak, but I liked this film. This is also special for me because it’s the first I’ve seen from a foreign film festival(if that’s what you call the recently concluded Cine Europa). I just love foreign language films. And if back then I’d be satisfied by just watching it on dvd or renting a copy from a video store, this time I had to make sure I catch one in a movie house when I heard about Cine Europa.

So much for the intro. After waiting in line for almost 3hours with my twin brothers, who weren’t allowed to get inside the cinema because of the film’s rating (ok yes, blame me for not checking), I decided to watch it alone instead. At first, it was a bit dragging. But as the story progresses, it became a ride to hell for most of the viewers. It was titled REC, short for Record, because the entire movie was shot as if it was recorded for a tv show. It just so happened that the host and the camera man got trapped inside an apartment where the firemen rescued. The said apartment, however, is actually being quarantined and observed for some health purposes, but all the tenants were unaware of it. Suddenly things got weirder, messier, and scarier as they gradually learned what’s the reason behind it all.

Ok, did that made sense? haha, sorry I’m darn sleepy! Anyway, it was a bit gross but scary enough for me. The scene with the naked old lady crept me out! And the latter part is a scream fest! People just can’t stop screaming and screaming. I nearly ran out of breath with that, I tell you.

I wish to see the adapted version, Quarantine. But a friend told me it’s not worth the watch. Well, I’d probably take her word for it. I liked REC so I guess it would be nice if I won’t let anything ruin my thumbs up for it.

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Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

Never have I laughed so hard watching a comedy movie, so I give major props to Eugene Domingo for this one. She’s hilarious! Really. I was actually hesitant to see it because I thought, after seeing the trailer, that it wouldn’t be as funny as many claimed it to be. But I was mistaken. Eugene can now be called a comedic icon because of this movie, her first major lead movie. 5 stars for her!

It was great that I broke a 2-month-of-not-watching-a-movie streak with this one. Notice the absence of movie reviews lately? Due to budget constraints, that is. And I’m glad that it was a Filipino film worth the acclaim, so to speak. It was not the typical comedy film that uses or focuses more on the usual way of telling the audience what is funny. The story line was good, the other characters were funny too, and it was refreshing to watch new ideas on comedy films being introduced here.

My favorite part has got to be, and this is where I laughed the hardest, when Dora pretended to be her sister Kimmy. That was just so funny, I can’t hardly breathe after that scene with his dad. Crazy! Way too crazy!

So, there. I might be late in watching it but it was worth the wait. Kudos to the team for doing a great job in making us laugh our asses off the entire movie!

Who Did It Best? part 2

I’ve been receiving nice feedback for the first part of this post, so I won’t hesitate to post a second one now, and more in the succeeding weeks. As I’ve mentioned, this will be a weekly post. Last week’s winner is Anthony Fedorov’s version of I Surrender, by just one vote! Thanks for those who participated and voted. Keep doing so for the next ones hehe!

This week, I will be featuring two Idols I love so much. Season 4 grand winner Carrie Underwood and 7th season’s Brooke White. Can I just say that I am a Carrie-holic haha, although I rooted for Bo then. Brooke’s such a darling and I believe she should have been the last girl standing during their season. Anyway, the song would be Love Is A Battlefield. Both ladies gave different renditions, so it’s up to you who you’d choose. Again, let me just repeat what I said on the previous post that this is just for fun and not to compare the two Idols. Thanks and enjoy!

First up, Carrie:

And now Brooke’s version:

Vote, vote, vote!

Who Did It Best?

Being a rabid American Idol fan that I am, I noticed that some songs have been sung by the finalists several times. One good example is the song Alone by Heart. Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood sang it at the Top 11 Billboard #1’s week. Three Idols did the same a couple of seasons after, I believe. First was Season 6’s Gina Glocksen, then Carly Smithson (on Hollywood Week) and Ramiele Malubay both from Season 7. So then came this lingering idea I’ve been having for a week now, which is to post a weekly entry asking people to pick who they think did a better rendition of a certain Idol song. This would be just for fun ok, and not to compare the ones I will be featuring on. I will be posting videos of both performances, and a poll at the end of the entry.

So I guess it would be great to start this thing with the first ever Idol, Kelly Clarkson. And on the right corner hehe, Season 4’s Anthony Fedorov. For this week’s song pick: I Surrender. Both rendered two different versions of the song, so let’s see who will people think of the much better one.

And now, Anthony’s version:

Enjoy! If this post/poll would become successful, it’ll be a weekly one. =)

Our place during Ondoy

Now is the only time I’m back online on full mode. After Ondoy, which left us with no internet connection for almost 5 days, and thousands of Filipinos homeless but not hopeless I’d assume, I can now say that I’m so totally back. It felt like I missed a lot though. My new work schedule isn’t helping at all. I won’t be having my daily dose of The Morning Rush until the next two weeks, and I sorely miss Twitter and Facebook. And then Ondoy happened, which made things even worse.

Anyway, all of us of course has our own Ondoy story. Here’s my share of it. Well, at least I would let the succeeding photos I took speak for themselves. I guess I’m still not in the blogging mode. The whole nation, even the world, stood as a witness as to how Ondoy (international name Ketsana) wreaked havoc last week for just a day. A day of non-stop heavy pouring of rain, that is. Indeed, it can be considered as one of the worst our country ever had. Here’s what our place looked like during that fateful Saturday morning:

The flood almost reached our stairs

The bathroom and sink area

We needed to transfer our dear computer to the 2nd floor

Here’s the look outside: a knee-deep running water

Thank God it subsided after a couple of hours. So it’s cleaning time!

That night, my mom’s room became our dining area.

As you can see, we’re lucky enough that our place didn’t get flooded that much and we still had our valuables and loved ones in tact; compared to the majority who suffered a lot of loss. Of properties and family members. That’s why we are very thankful to God that He did not let us down. On the other hand, we can’t help but feel sorry for our kababayans who suffered the most in this tragedy. That actually includes two of my very dear friends Dhang and Arden; one from Montalban and one from Pasig (Ortigas Extension) whose both houses got flooded up to the 2nd floor, and all their properties lost and damaged. I can only imagine how it feels. But life has its way of teaching us lessons, maybe even in a tragic way like this. I am pretty sure that everyone will be able to find strength to get by in these trying times.  And that all of them, all of us, will be able to move forward and be a more stronger nation ever ready to face any disaster or tragedy ahead.