The Avengers - 2012

Category:  Movie

Genre:  Action / Heroes

Director: Joss Whedon

Writer: Joss Whedon, Zak Penn

Producer: Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Samuel L. Jackson and more

Tagline:

Nick Fury the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. gathers a team of super humans to form The Avengers(Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow) to help save the Earth from Loki and his cohorts.


Well, uhmmm looks like transformers ... with all those aliens and stuff. And well, while I enjoyed watching it, specially on some of it's comedic scenes. I know it could've used a little more depth. But its fun to see all those heroes we love all in one movie. Trying to work together despite their differences.

Note: That I'm no comic book fan... so, I guess you know where I am coming from. If you are a fan of them Marvel Heroes... well, I'm sure you would've been blown by now, seeing all of them on screen. :)

Photo Source: Beyond Hollywood

Les Miserables - 2012

Category: Movie

Genre: Musical / Drama / Romance

Director: Tom Hooper

Writer: William Nicholson, Alain Boubil

Producer: Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Working Title Films

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Daniel Huttlestone, Cavin Cornwall and more

Tagline: Fight. Dream. Hope. Love

Jean Valjean during the 19th century France was known as Prisoner 24601 and was released from prison and then breaks parole wanting to create a new life for himself while at the same time being hunted by a ruthless policeman named Javert. Jean Valjean agrees to care for Fantine's daughter, Cosette which changes their life forever.

It's actually my first time to see Les Miserables. I;ve been hearing about it and all. And then, we just had to steal a moment and rushed to meet the Last Full Show in the middle of the Liwanag World Festival preparation. And one thought that we cannot go and watch ano? But, we did.

I guess I numbed out during the whole film. I wasn't too emotional about it, knowing it should be as I heard other people gushing about it being a cryfest. Maybe because while we were watching we were hearing background noises (at our back) chatting like they were not in the cinema. That was quiet a distraction. Oh well.

In the end, I liked the whole thing. I didn't expect it to be a full-pledged musical, but it was like that the whole time.But, it was a good thing, I think even if you don't enjoy musicals, you'd enjoy this one.

Cinematography was great, all the actors did fantastic, specially Anne Hathaway although her appearance was just the first half and a little bit in the end of the film. The costume, production design, everything was just so good... the whole production was compelling because it's grounded with good performance.

Photo Source: IMP Awards

Rurouni Kenshin - 2012

Original Title:  Meiji kenkaku roman tan

Category: Movie

Genre: Action

Director: Keishi Ohtomo

Writer: Nobuhiro Watsuki, Kiyomi Fujii

Producer: C&I Entertainment, IMJ Entertainment, RoC Works Co. and more

Cast: Sato Takeru,Emi Takei, Yu Aoi, Teruyuki Kagawa and more

Tagline:

When the Bakumatsu war ended in 1868, former assassin Kenshin Himura disappears and promises to defend those who need without killing and became a wanderer throughout Japan with a sword that has an inverted blade during the transition of the samurai age to the New Age. Kenshin comes across the idealistic Kaoru Kamiya and began helping her. Meanwhile a killer "Battosai" is murdering police officers and various innocent individuals leaving messages attached to their bodies.


Oro. Ororo. What a funny term for "aguy" or "ouch" it is. (Well, I think it's his own expression of "ouch") Haha.

What?? Sato Takeru is hereeee? After watching Bloody Monday, i find him... being the lead role in this movie!!!

Wala na. Crush ko na sya. Totoo! HAHA. Let's see, i bet he'll do well, as I fit him, Skylar and Miura (Bloody Monday).

It's not that gory, well... uhmmm... some parts are. But, it's actually a good one as it brings life to Samurai X the infamous anime. This was one of the animes I used to watch back in the old days. Boohoo. And was delighted to see it now "live" and what better than a promising actor as the lead? Haha. Okay. Enough about Sato Takeru.

It has good cinematography and an excellent choreography on the fight scenes. To die hard fans of Samurai X (the manga) there might be a few changes as his character or personality was slightly turned to emo-ish and reflective. A tweaking done by the makers of this film, which is actually good.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Bloody Monday - 2008

Category: TV Series

Genre: Action / Technological / Crime / Suspense

Broadcast network: TBS

Original writing (manga): Bloody Monday by Ryumon Ryo
  
Screenwriter: Makita Mitsuharu, Watanabe Yusuke

Producer: Makita Mitsuharu 

Director: Hirano Shunichi, Hatano Takafumi, Miyashita Kensaku


Theme song: Over the rain ~Hikari no Hashi~ 

Cast: Miura Haruma, Sato Takeru, Kawashima Umika, Fujii Mina, Tokunaga Eri, Hisano Masahiro, Tanaka Tetsushi, Matsushige Yutaka, Narimiya Hiroki, Kichise Michiko, TET, and more


A biological terrorist attack kills off the population of a Russian town; Japan's Special Third-i unit believes that the terrorist organization responsible plans to have the same virus known as Bloody X in Tokyo. THIRD-i then recruits, Takagi Fujimaru a genius, notorious hacker to find out what happened in Russia.


It's absolutely a good tv series. One that would keep you wanting to see more. Great storyline. Also this reminds me of Jack Bauer, only this time, it's not focused on Jack but on Fujimaro, a civilian, helping Third-I. It took me awhile to get the relation of "THIRD-i" and Third Eye. It's pretty much designed like CTU of 24.

I like how each episode made you want to check the next episode. And missing one might make you miss the ingenuity of the storyline. It has good character build-up. It gets nifty on Episode 3. It has a very good psychological warfare script.

This is as much about crime and suspense, but also about friendship and family. It's about courage, honor, pride, life.... love....

I like the lyrics of the song they have: (translated into english)

Though the cold rain drenches my forehead, flower petals fall like raindrops overlapping with you...
if that can be called "light"
the radiance doesn't fade, right?

no matter how it is contaminated.. i think it disappears.
not only this but also the sad memory does not vanish
holding back the tears
light that is more beautiful than anything esle, is gathering;
walking towards the clouds;
the rainbow forms after the rain...
trust only your dream and walk towards it...

Quotes from Bloody Monday:

"If you are given a talent... you are entrusted with a mission."

Photo Source: Anaherarika

Life of Pi - 2012

Category: Movie

Genre: Adventure / Drama

Director: Ang Lee

Writer: David Magi and Yann Martel (novel)

Producer: Fox 2000 Pictures, Haishang Films, Rhythm and Hues

Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain, Ayush Tandon, Gautam Belur, Tabu, Ayan Khan,

Tagline:

An Indian storyteller Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) was visited by a writer and asks him to tell a story. He talks about a time in his life where he survives a disaster at sea and set on an epic journey of finding himself and discovering his beliefs. While cast away, he forms a connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.


Well, even if we are in the middle of Liwanag frenzy, I managed to sneak in with a movie with my family. Great film actually, (such a shame I wasn't able to read the book first. busymuch). I watched it on 3D and it was super! Great cinematography.. and it also moved me to tears every now and then. Oooffff. I find it memorable. One of those films, that you can always watch over and over again.I love the night scenes with all those glow in the dark plankton. The characters in the film also played their part well and you find yourself actually being drawn to how the story goes.  It's also a layered film, like an onion there's always something else hidden that only you can interpret and discover.

In the end, it would give you a question that would make you still think or wonder about the film.

Some people would say this is a metaphor of Pi's belief and in the end will also spell out what you believe in - spiritually.

Photo Source: 400 Club

Jemima J - Jane Green

Category: Book

Genre: Chick Literature

Author: Jane Green


Jemima Jones is an overweight writer for a small-circulation newspaper, Kilburn Herald in England, who is hopelessly in love with his handsome colleague Ben Williams who later became her friend. She has two social-climbing roommates who gets to treat her as a maid rather than a friend.



It's a good enough light read. It's about re-invention and finding oneself. It's almost similar to the film called A Cinderella Pact. It's one of the books that comes out as a "comfort read". Nothing memorable or notable, just enough to get you through the night/day? :) But, it's a good one.

Photo Source: Book Space