That Part Down Under

The last time I posted something was like the eve before I flew off to Melbourne for a 2-week business trip. (Or was it the day before that?) Anyway, my point is that it’s been a while, and even if there were some friends of mine who kept bugging me to post pictures and blog about Melbourne, I can only contain that itch to check Facebook every so now and then (Just like I do in back in Manila) and share in my blog how it was like flying to that part of the globe down under simply because – well – I.HAVE.NO.BLOODY.INTERNET.CONNECTION. At least not external internet connection, that is. LOL!

And so just when I thought that it would be my last week here in Melbourne, I got news yesterday that my trip would be extended for yet another week. Hmmm, three weeks down under – not bad, eh? Now, I know I’ve much to catch up with my readers so I’ll just sum up the whole Oz experience in three parts, from the looong flight departing Manila and back. It’s gonna be in a couple of posts coming up, as soon as I’m not too lazy, that is.

Oh, and today is Australia Day, by the way. Happy Australia Day, mates! :)

In Review: The Lovely Bones

Most people, if they were to judge the theatrical trailer for this flick, would think that this is another version of The 6th Sense (Think: "I see dead people..." fame). Some, including yours truly, thought it's the kind of movie that desperately gives you a hint of whatever goes on inside a ghost's mind (Geez, that last statement didn't even sound politically correct! LOL!) To tell you frankly, it's far from being scary and definitely sooo not psycho!

The Lovely Bones brings together an ensemble of some of Oscar's faves - Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, and Susan Sarandon. The whole movie was basically narrated from the perspective of Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), a 13-year old girl who was brutally murdered, and whose soul still lingers somewhere that's supposedly a middle ground between heaven and earth. While her family copes with the loss, the killer is still on the loose at the one place anyone would be most unsuspecting of - their very own neighborhood. The story, by the way, was set during the early 1970's.

The Lovely Bones Movie Poster

It's not an entirely powerhouse cast, but I found myself on the edge of my seat the whole time, eager to see how the plot would turn about. Which is a good thing, because unpredictable movies are quite rare these days, even with all the creative pool of talents Tinseltown's got. Plus, I appreciated that though  The Lovely Bones was technically a ghost story, there was just that adequate dose of human drama that could make one easily forget that she's actually watching a ghost story unfold. On a bit of a negative note, I felt like the plot ended abruptly, leaving a couple more questions in my head. Overall, I think the movie deserves a rating of 3/5.

Late Notice!!!

Just when I thought it would be another ordinary Friday where I'd be looking forward to staying up late and waking up to the smell of breakfast cooking the next day, quite a whirlwind of unexpected things happened, and now my weekend's in such a frenzied state.

Last time I checked, my Melbourne business trip would not be until February of this year, meaning I would have ample time to do the necessary preps and still get to enjoy some slack time at Davao with a couple of the girls from the office. In fact, my mind was already in a so-called Davao itinerary planning mode that I was STILL in state of shock when I was told that I'd be off to Melbourne on the first available flight this Monday. THIS coming Monday, for Pete's sake! So in other words, the idea still hasn't sinked in yet.

Ask me if I'm excited? Yes, much! LOL! I mean, this is gonna be my first trip outside Asia. Plus, it's a rare opportunity to shoot some Melbourne urban scene using my camera. Cool! Pressured? Well, kinda. A business trip is still a business trip, and by the looks of things, I needed some serious crash course on the project's background just in time for my Monday night flight. Anxious? Uhmm, I guess you can say that. This is the first time that I'll be traveling alone to a foreign country by myself, and knowing it's going to be a 19-hour flight (Too bad they weren't able to book me on a direct flight due to AUS flight availability issues, probably because of the ongoing seat sale.) doesn't help either.

*sigh*

I still have to drop by the office on Monday morning to pick up some stuff - laptop,  e-ticket and accommodation arrangements, pocket money, etc. Three words: ONE.TIRING.DAY. Still, I'm keeping a positive perspective. Oh well, as Pinoys fondly say, "Tingnan na lang natin."

^_^

In Review: The Rebound

"This is THE most alive that I've ever felt..." - Aram to Sandy, The Rebound (2009)

When I first saw the trailer for this movie on some local theatre sometime late 2009, my first impression was that an on-scren chemistry between Catherine Zeta-Jones and Justin Bartha (You all know him - he's the dude who played Riley Poole, sidekick to Nicholas Cage's adventures in Walt Disney's National Treasure 1 and 2) is just way below a movie buff's radar. I mean, c'mon! They just don't mesh, I thought. But then again, I was itching for some good laugh over some hearty rom-com, so I decided to give the flick a shot without much expectations, lest I'd end up with a heartless review later on. Well, it turned out to be not as bad as I expected it to be. ^_^

Bartha, who played Aram Finklestein - a guy who's been trying to get himself together and find out what he really wants in life, seemed perfect for the role. Yes, he's not as dashing and hunky like Channing Tatum or Sam Worthington (Think: Avatar, Clash of the Titans) BUT let's just say that he fits the role perfectly. Although I must admit that he's vocal projection in delivering his lines was a little off for my taste. And as for Zeta-Jones as the the divorced mom of two - Sandy, her presence in the movie was as timeless as ever, and sporting a shorter 'do didn't make Mrs. Michael Douglas less of a hot momma at 40. My only comment was that it would have been a LOT nicer if they dressed her up in a more sophisticated wardrobe other than the black-and-white combos she wore in the movie. Just a thought.

The Rebound Movie Poster (Uhhh, is that actually a hot-pink lady's undie??? LOL!)

Overall, i enjoyed my time with the movie, and thought of it as very empowering for all the cosmo chics out there, 40 or otherwise. Kilig factor was a little low on my rating, but for the humor  and overall sense I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5. Not bad, eh? :)

In Keeping Up With The Next 355 Days

Oh c’mon, what’s a new year without anything ‘new’? LOL!

I stopped by a local magazine stand earlier today to grab the January issue of Cosmopolitan mag, when I glanced up to find a couple of teenybopper girls beside me gushing over a mag that was on display. It turned out to be OK! Magazine featuring the Twilight couple on the front page, alongside a couple other Hollywood celebs. Shaking my head, I headed towards the cashier to pay for my mag, but a thought popped into my head and I went back to grab a copy of the infamous gossip magazine. Just purely out of curiosity, I thought. Later, as I was flipping though the pages, I realized that it’s pretty interesting – there are actually stories worth reading and, yes, gossips galore. Hollywood style, that is. So from then on, I made a decision to make it something of a monthly staple, along with my Cosmo mag, and two other stuff that’ll keep me company as I make it through yet another year – (1) One Year Mini for Women and, (2) Belle de Jour 2010 Power Planner.

New Staples (OK! Magazine, One Year Mini for Women, and BDJ 2010 Power Planner)

One Year Mini for Women was something I randomly picked up one leisurely afternoon at Power Books. It was on promotional display that day, so I picked it up and flipped through a couple of pages. It’s actually a day-to-day guide from daily readings that are written in a matter-of-factly manner – comprehensive and concise. Plus it easily fits into my tote bags, so carrying it around even when I’m at the office poses no hassle at all. Hey, we all need a bit of inspiration EVEN on a daily basis, don't you think? ^_^

As for the power planner, it’s my 2nd year to keeping a Belle de Jour planner, and my fourth year of keeping up a journal for the entire year. More than just a dozen discount coupons, somehow I grew a fondness for the BDJ planner because I think it’s very empowering for every woman, most especially Pinays. Don’t get me wrong, the Starbucks planners have always been a great stuff to have with you throughout the entire year, but I think the BDJ power planner suits my taste more.

So there, just a couple of new stuff to keep up for 2010. Oh, and if anybody’s asking whatever my new year’s resolutions are, let’s just say that I ditched making resolutions a long time ago. If I want something done or if I wanna achieve something this year, I might as well save up enough willpower to get off my personal comfort zone and do it.

Cheers! ^_^

In Review: Sherlock Holmes

I’d be honest to say that as the first flick I’ve seen for 2010, it got me bloody bored!

Haha!

Pardon that for a moment, I was in my silly and trying-too-hard Brit accent. But seriously, I was disappointed at how Sherlock Holmes turned out to be on the big screen – the setting was reminiscent of Gotham City with its ethereal grey skies; almost ALL characters (Save for sexy Jude Law a.ka. Dr. Watson!) seemed to have missed their daily shower for a week; there were lots of unnecessary talkies (Of course, that can be partly attributed to Holmes’ character being a detective who’s immensely gifted at [OVER]analyzing things and people alike, and impeccable deductive talents in the field of forensics.), and Rachel McAdams’ presence in the movie did nothing more but to put the slightest hint of bloody red (I meant her gown in all its petticoat glory, by the way.) amidst a sea of blacks and greys. Watching Sherlock Holmes felt like watching a crossover of House M.D. and CSI in a 19th century London setting, plus the love-hate relationship of Holmes and Watson was reminiscent of the bizarre friendship between Dr. House and Dr. Wilson. The movie's got not much new to offer, and the technical aspect was the same old so-so's. BUT the movie wasn’t that all hopeless, for while I may not be the biggest Robert Downey Jr. fan, I do know how to give apt appreciation when called for. Downey was perfect for the role, and he could even give Jude Law a run for his sex appeal at 44! Other than that, I’d tell readers to just put their money elsewhere and just watch the flick on video.

Sherlock Holmes Movie Poster

Oh, and not that I wanna indicate any spoilers for those who haven't seen the movie yet, but a sequel may be imminent next year. Boy, I just hope it fares much better than its prequel in terms of plot, technical aspect , and everything else.