Something Borrowed - 2011

Category: Movie

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Luke Greenfield

Writer: Jennie Synder Urman, Emily Griffin (novel)

Producer: Alcon Entertainment, 2S Films, Wild Ocean Films

Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, John Krasinski,  Steve Howey, Ashley Williams, Geoff Pierson, Jill Eikenberry, Sarah Baldwin and more

Tagline:  It's a thin line between love and friendship.


Rachel was the one who introduced Dex to her best friend Darcy. At that time she was  still in law school and is already attracted to Dex however Darcy made a move and gets Dex before she even got to say her feelings. Now, she finds out that Dex is already engaged to Darcy. Friendships will be tested and secrets will come to the surface.


I actually didn't like the idea of the "affair" between the two while the engagement was still on. However, this is the effect when there's a connection and both didn't act on the connection, until well it's almost too late. I love the best friend part and it did play a very tricky light on the whole complicated scenario thing.

Once again, this is a story of taking chances....and what happens when one doesn't take on chances.

I love the soundtrack of the film!

Valentine's Day - 2010

Category: Movies

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Garry Marshall

Writer: Katherine Fugate

Producer: New Line Cinema, Rice Films,

Cast: Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher, Carter Jenkins, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Taylor Swift, Shirley Maclaine and more

Tagline: From the director of Pretty Woman comes a day in the life of love.


People from Los Angeles is navigating Valentine's Day from early morning until midnight.
Some relationships will undergo challenges, and would their relationship be saved?On the other hand a grade school kid wants to give flowers to his first true love while twho high school seniors plans their first time sex together, and many more.  Cupid's got a lot of work to do! Can Cupid finish his work by midnight?


It is similar to the movie Love Actually. (which by the way is also star studded). Although, it's not something to be really serious about. It's something you can watch at home and just have a laid back evening. I had fun the whole time watching the film. I like the best friend story part... and I find the kid cute here. Very matter-of factly.

Diary ng Panget 2 - HaveYouSeenThisGirl

Category: Books



Genre: Chick Literature 



Author: HaveYouSeenThisGirl (Wattpad)




This is a continuation of the journey of Eya and Cross and their love-hate relationship.


Finally! I grabbed the DNP 2!!! After weeks of waiting and of going back and forth from the bookstore.

Huwaaaaa. I enjoyed it once again. I can't wait for the next installment. It's still the same.. kilig to the bones scenario.. however bitin. I wanted more! :)

Okay. Shoot me! Hayaan nyo na ako. In love lang eh.  And when you are in love.. all things goes cheesy weezyyy.... :P

Ted - 2012

Category: Movie

Genre:Comedy / Fantasy

Director: Seth Macfarlane

Writer: Seth Macfarlane, Alec Sulkin

Producer: Universal Pictures, Media Rights Capital, Fuzzy Door Productions

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth Macfarlane, Joel Mchale, Giovanni Ribisi, Patrick Warburton, Matt Walsh, Jessica Barth and more

Tagline: Ted is coming.

John (Mark Wahlberg) made a Christmas wish when he was a childhood and that was to bring his one and only friend to life, his teddy bear - Ted. The two grew up together but then their friendship will be tested as Lori (Mila Kunis), John's girlfriend of four years, wants more from his relationship with John.

I gave up watching this on my first round but this time I managed to pull through. Finalmente. And glad I did. It's not one of the best storyline.. but it has an interesting character though... a "talking teddy". And even worse... a teddy that curses! For one, who is not used to potty mouths, this was extreme! You'd think teddy bears are warm and cuddly... but Ted oh Ted is not that at the beginning of the film.

Anyhow, this is not my type of funny. :) But, well..... that's all I can say.

Much Ado About Magic - Shanna Swendson

 Category: Books

Genre: Chick Literature / Fantasy

Author: Shanna Swendson



To Do: Manage Magical Mayhem, Save the Company, Save the World
 

Once again, Katie Chandler is back in New York and at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc. as the new director of marketing – and it's about time she is back!  New York is being gripped by a magical crime as waves of spells from a rogue firm called Spellworks is now beginning to market and is raising it's profile wanting to be known by the magical community by selling protective amulets. It is now war in the world of magic!

Among the Enchanted Series... I find this the most exciting and action packed. Although, it kind of brought me back a bit a Harry Potter world-ish moment, but distinctly an "Enchanted Inc." experience. It is fast paced, and very readable.  I can't wait to read the next series!

Oh Owen, when will you stop holding back your feelings for Katie??? :) Hayyy another one of those book character crush. Woot. *blushes*

Once Upon Stilettos - Shanna Swendson

Category: Book

Genre: Chick Literature

Author: Shanna Swendson


The life of Katie Chandler is now purely magic - literally. After quitting a drab job with a monster boss, Katie found herself becoming an executive assistant at MSI (Magic, Spells and Illusiions, Inc.) and she has seen more than enough of magical induced moments. But, Katie is no wizard, but has a unique gift called "magical immune". However, with this series, she begins losing her immunity because someone's got a different plan for MSI and the whole magical community, and the only way to fulfill those evil plans was to mess up with Katie Chandler whose done nothing but thwart all those evil deeds.


This is a good second part... and would make you go "kilig" with the Katie-Owen team-up and the partners of Gemma and Marcia who used to be frogs *hint hint*.I love the metaphors... and how it's a light but very funny read. I love the adventures. :)

Photo Source: Goodreads

Love, Rosie (Where the Rainbows End) - Cecilia Ahern

Category: Book

Genre: Chick Literature

Author: Cecilia Ahern


Is a delightful, enchanting read....  about what happens when two people who are meant to be together who just can't seem to get it right.

Rosie and Alex are destined for one another, and everyone around them seems to know it but them. Best friends since childhood, their relationship gets closer by the day, until one day Alex gets the news that his family is leaving Dublin and moving to Boston. At age 17, Rosie and Alex have just started to see each other in a more romantic light.

It's a charming, romantic, addictively page-turning novel that will keep you laughing and guessing until the very last page.

This is a story about best friends and their funny tale of how they can't seem to get it right..... maybe it's not the right time? Or too much: "this could ruin everything else if"

The whole book is basically "letters" or emails. I remember reading something similar from a Cabot. Although, I enjoyed the whole thing. There was a time you just want to strangle the heroine for her to wake up and see all the hints the guy is dropping. But, it's that part that you would love to hate. It's that feeling of "oooof, how can you miss all those opportunities?" The whole thing makes you read and read and wanting to find out what will happen in the end.

Note: Funny, I bought both books, thinking they both have different stories. ooof! this is what happens when one doesn't read the back cover. Huwaaaaaa

People Like Us - 2012

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Family

Director: Alex Kurtzman

Writer: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci

Producer: Dreamworks SKG, Kurtzman Orci Paper Products, Reliance Entertainment

Cast: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Hall D'Addario, Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Sara Mornell, Philip Baker Hall and more

Tagline: Find your family.

Sam, a smooth talking salesman thought his father who died left him any money so he can get out of the jam he got himself into but discovered something else. He then later found out that he has sister named Frankie.

I wasn't really expecting what I would see and I never knew the plot and most of us were like guessing what would be next or why this and why that. We had a ball watching it though. It has a good enough character development which actually added mystery to the whole film.

This film has a mature take on supposedly "dysfunctional" families. Or skeletons in a family's closet. Where you can really work things out. That sometimes you really have to go out of the way to understand your family. It is artistic, and all actors really did well in pulling this film off.

Another unique storyline, written wonderfully.... about family, brotherhood and sisterhood. Seems like films nowadays has just gotten better or my sister is just good at spotting or hearing about good films. :) Good musical score as well.

It has a heartwarming ending...one that can make you go "awwwww".


Quotes from Film:

Six Rules: 1. If you like something because you think other people are gonna like it, it's a sure bet no one will. 2. Most doors in the world are closed, so if you find one you want to get into: you damn well better have an interesting knock. 3. Everything you think is important, isn't. And everything you think is unimportant, is. 4. Don't shit where you eat. 5. Lean into it: the outcome doesn't matter. What matters is that you're there for it. 6. Never sleep with someone who has more problems than you do. 

Photo Source: Glow Gaze

Just Curious - Jude Deveraux

Category: Book

Genre: Chick Literature

Author: Jude Deveraux

A young widow, Karen Lawrence finds herself on a holiday weekend with her boss MacAllister Taggert. She always believes that MacAllister is just some rich guy who has enough money and can date and break the hearts of many women.


What a quick book to read!! It was entertaining. Kilig worthy. As usual. Even though I know they would end up together and you can tell what would happen next.. just like in chick flicks! HAHAHA;) oh well. just something for the heart to swoon over. :)

The epilogue in the end caught me off-guard by the way even though it was a nice touch.

Photo Source: Simon & Schuster

No Reservations - 2007

Category: Movie

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Director: Scott Hicks

Writer: Carol Fuchs

Producer: Castle Rock Entertainment, Storefront Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures

Cast: Catherine-Zeta Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade, Bob Balaban, Brian F. O'Byrne, Lily Rabe, Eric Silver and more.

Tagline: Something's Cooking This Summer

[a remake of a German film Mostly Martha]
 
Kate (Catherine-Zeta Jones), lives her life as a master chef with an intensity that can captivate and intimidate everyone around her. She seems to have it all together alone, but then her life as a top chef changes when she becomes the guardian of her young niece. 

It's ratatouille only there's no rat and its not a cartoon! And this time the movie did not focus on the guy. Its the woman chef! :) I had a wonderful time watching the film, it's heartwarming and there was enough time to develop the character.  I like Zooey's character.... and of course the feel-good ending...

Yes, it may be quiet an ordinary comedy-romance thingy... but still, it never failed to entertain me. ;)

Photo Source: DVD Active

Work of the Angels - Kat Goldring

Category: Book

Genre: Mystery

Author: Kat Goldring

It's a mystery book about a curious death in the small town



I love how this book manages to mix modern mystery, romance with a dash of Native American Indian and Celtic Traditions and also Witchcraft and some metaphysical aspects.

I fancied the title, and so I bought it. I have a thing of buying titles with: angels, love or fairy tales on it, sometimes to the point of not checking the back cover of what it is about.

Anyhoo, little did I know, this book is the third of it's series. But, good thing it's a mystery series, so every book will have a new thing and you don't need to really read the previous books since you will just be updated.

So, why am I sharing this? :) To put it simply.. I'm crushing on a book character! Oh dear. My love life is becoming pathetic what with me having so many crushes na. Anyway, doesn't matter. Something new will always be exciting!

Kat really placed the character of Quannah well. Yup. Quannah, he is a modern guy with a North American Indian descent. And in the book he plays the role of a detective or investigator in a small town with Irish and North America Indian traditions that are still strong. He goes out with a woman named Willi who is a curious middle aged woman, an educator and sometimes end up getting in trouble with curiosity. She has a curious mix of Irish and North American Indian blood.

Now, I've a third major book character crush! His Name is Quannah. Awww. I can only imagine having a guy I can call... Lassiter lovingly one day! hahahaha.

Babe, I Love You - 2010

Category: Movie

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Mae Czarina Cruz

Writer: Mia Bacarro, Margarette Labrador,
 
Producer: ABS CBN Film Productions, Viva Films, Star Cinema Productions

Cast:Sam Milby, Anne Curtis, Laurice Gullen, Tetchie Agbayani, Kitkat, Guji Lorenzana and more.

Tagline:



Nicolas "Nico" Veneracion Borromeo is a highly esteemed History of Architecture professor, who is on his way to becoming the next Vice Dean of the Department. He knows that this was his only way of making his forgive him and be proud of him. Then, he meets Sandra "Sasa" Sanchez, and then his whole world turns upside down..... but one thing is... Sasa who works as a promo girl is obviously unacceptable in his life.. specially his mom.


Well, it's a ball of "kilig moments". And a couple of drama between son and a strict mom. Also a typical story of a man on the upper class and a woman, on the other side of the road. Anne sure is good in giving us a few laughs here and there... making it a cute film to look forward to.

Even if it's typical.. it's a good watch.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

A Thousand Words - 2012

Category: Movie

Genre: Comedy / Inspirational

Director: Brian Robbins

Writer: Steve Koren

Producer: Saturn Films, Dreamworks SKG, Varsity Pictures

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Cliff Curtis, Kerry Washington, Emmanuel Ragsdale, Jill Basey, Greg Collins, Robert LeQuang, Michael Wilkinson, Cliff Curtis and more

Tagline: Make every word count.

Just to make the deal with a spiritual guru, literary agent Jack McCall stretches the truth, and when he got home finds an unusual Bodhi tree on his property. It is teaching him a very important lesson about every word he speaks, he finds out that everytime he speaks a leaf drops off of the tree and he would die if all leaves fall out.


I found it quiet corny at the beginning and was looking like it is a mock-up of "spiritual" gurus, but then it turned out fine right in the middle towards the end. I actually enjoyed it. Eddie Murphy, was just that at the beginning - LOUD! It's a good balance between comedy and drama... and it's got a nice message built into the story which is one of the reason why I enjoyed the film.

Photo Source: Pinoy Technologies

August Rush - 2007

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama

Writer: Nick Castle, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Director:Kirsten Sheridan

Producer:Warner Bros. Pictures, Southpaw Entertainment, CJ Entertainment

Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams, William Sadler, Marian Seldes, Mykelti Williamson, Leon Thomas III, Aaron Staton and more

Tagline: An incredible journey moving at the speed of sound

An orphaned musical prodigy named Evan (Freddie Highmore), begins his journey with his search for his Birth Parents.This is a wonderful musical drama with wonderful fantasy elements.

Sometimes, I usually postpone the best films I know... (due to reviews done by friends)... and I can't believe Ive been postponing this absolutely lovely movie about life and music.. being lost and being found... very moving and magical too!

The kid here looks like the son of cousin CJ, so yeah it added delight.  It has this fairy tale element but also grounding it with what can really happen in reality - e.g. bullying someone who is different, and also abusing talents. I love how my love for music (though i'm no prodigy or do I read notes), but my appreciation for music is just as heavenly as it is for Evan. ;)

The Wedding - Danielle Steel

Category: Book

Genre: Love

Author: Danielle Steel


Allegra Steinberg is the epitome of a successful woman. She's got a career, great family and a handsome lawyer boyfriend, named Brandon. Raised well in the Entertainment Industry, her mom a Television Writer while her step dad  a successful Hollywood Producer and Director. Even though, her life looks like it's successful, she's so stressed she sees a therapist to help her go through things, specially with issues regarding her boyfriend who did not propose to her - yet.



Character development did not go well, some things were even predictable. Kinda just there... shallow. Its an okay story... but not really that great. Very typical.

Just A Kiss - 2002

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Fantasy

Director: Fisher Stevens

Writer: Patrick Breen,

Producer: GreeneStreet Films

Cast: Ron Eldard, Marley Shelton, Patrick Breen, Sanjiv Jhaveri, Kyra Sedgwick, Marisa Tomei, Kelly Cole, Zoe Caldwell, Peter Dinklage and more

Tagline: Every kiss has a story



 A group of Thirty-ish couples having problems with fidelity... and what happens when you kiss the wrong person... at the wrong time.

Its a weird, disturbing film. Of black magic and of lust and affairs. It left me feeling ermmm.... disoriented. harhar. not really a light film. and for awhile there I thought it would be something that would be fun and light. Boy, I was wrong. I don't pretty fancy it. NO. Never.

But to give a fair review, it actually succeed in playing out "black humor" or dark humor. Pretty much what happens in reality in the modern world, but its not the world I fancy living in. :) Okay that's getting personal. Haha. Anyway, it was genius in a sense that it plays with your "egoistic" emotions. Well the general romantic love people understand to be....  And yeah things like infidelity can really just start out by "just a kiss". And how kissing a person that you shouldn't be kissing can cause a chain reaction with who is going out with who and all that... complicated world!

Worth watching if you are not expecting light... :)

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend - 2010

Category: Movie

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Daryn Tufts

Writer: Daryn Tufts

Producer: Fiftyfilms

Cast: Christopher Gorham, Alyssa Milano, Michael Landes, Carol Kane, Tom Lenk, Beau Bridges, Kelly Packard, Stephen Carey, Paul Carey, Maclain Nelson and more.

Tagline: What would you do if you found your one true love... twice?

Jesse meets Ethan, someone she could finally fall in love with, but then she meets Troy, and now she has a dilemma.

 A chick flick with some sort of a twist in the end. It was pleasant and charming enough and quite cheesy in most parts, and the twist gave it quite a refreshing look. Did not expect that one. :) If you want a different kind of chick flick.... you might want to try watching this.

The Last Song - 2010

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama

Director: Julie Ann Robinson

Writer: Nicholas Sparks, Jeff Van Wie


Producer: Touchstone Pictures, Offspring Entertainment,

Cast: Miley Cyrus, Liam Hensworth, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman, Hallock Beals, Kelly Preston, Nick Lashaway, Carly Chaikin, Kate Vernon and more

Tagline: Do you ever really forget your first heartbreak?



The parents of Ronnie (Miley Cyrus) and her younger brother, Jonah were divorced. Ronnie and Jonah(Bobby Coleman) lives with their mom ever since but until this summer they were sent to live with their father (Greg Kinnear) in a small town on the beach. Ronnie has become rebellious since then. But, things begin to change on that fateful summer as their mutual love for music reconnects Ronnie and her father.

Another Nicholas Sparks novel turned into movie, huh? :) At first I was thinking it was Disney but when i saw the credits it was a Nicholas Sparks movie. That's why it's quite loaded with drama involving heartaches and reconnection...

I actually did not get to read the book .... but I'm sure its not somewhere close to the book.. as always the case. One thing, I like about the film was the acting of Bobby Coleman playing Jonah and Greg Kinnear. There were predictable moments.... I did cry in some of the moments. :) But, according to most reviews the book is way better... but like a new saying goes: "Don't judge a book by it's movie."

But, it could have been given more depth... 


FUNNY LINES

Jonah Miller: Mom says its because she has PMS.
Steve Miller: Do you even know what PMS is, Jonah ?
Jonah Miller: Of course I do dad, I'm not a little kid anymore. It's the Pissed At Men Syndrome.

Made of Honor - 2008

Category: Movie

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Paul Weiland

Writer: Adam Sztykiel, Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont

Producer: Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Original Film

Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kadeem Hardison, Chris Messina, Richmond Arquette, Busy Philipps, Whitney Cummings, Emily Nelson, Selma Stern and more

Tagline: It takes a real man to become a maid of honor

Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) have been platonic friends for 10 years now. Tom is a serial dater and Hannah wants to marry but did not get to find Mr. Right - YET. Just when Tom wants to go series in being in a relationship with Hannah, Hannah gets engaged. And Hannah asked Tom to be her "maid" of honor.

It's light and fun... with a  good dose of comedic scenes. It has likeable characters.  While this may seem so-so to some but still nothing beats a light, fun film during night time. If you are looking for something original or unique in a romantic flick, this is not the film for you. :)

P.S. I Love You - 2007

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Romance

Director: Richard LaGravanese

Writer: Richard LaGravanese, Steven Rogers (based on a book by Cecilia Ahern)

Producer: Alcon Entertainment, Grosvenor Park Productions and Wendy Finerman Productions

Cast: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Harry Conick Jr, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, James Marsters, Kathy Bates, Nellie McKay, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Christopher Whalen, Dean Winters, Anne Kent and more.

Tagline: Sometimes there's only one thing left to say.

A young widow, Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) discovers that her late husband, the passionate, funny and impetuous Irishman named Gerry (Gerard Butler) has left her 10 messages when she turned 30 in the form of a cake intended to help ease her pain and start a new life when he died. All letters were delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way; P.S. I Love You.

It's heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. How something so great can end and how to start another equally magical journey is altogether shown in this movie. I enjoyed this romantic comedy slash drama film. Oh and its from a novel by Cecilia Ahern. Mhmm I haven't tried reading her books yet. I just might try one of her novels one day. :)


This is the most heartbreaking.... touching letter I've ever heard:

Gerry Kennedy: Dear Holly, I don't have much time. I don't mean literally, I mean you're out buying ice cream and you'll be home soon. But I have a feeling this is the last letter, because there is only one thing left to tell you. It isn't to go down memory lane or make you buy a lamp, you can take care of yourself without any help from me. It's to tell you how much you move me, how you changed me. You made me a man, by loving me Holly. And for that, I am eternally grateful... literally. If you can promise me anything, promise me that whenever you're sad, or unsure, or you lose complete faith, that you'll try to see yourself through my eyes. Thank you for the honor of being my wife. I'm a man with no regrets. How lucky am I. You made my life, Holly. But I'm just one chapter in yours. There'll be more. I promise. So here it comes, the big one. Don't be afraid to fall in love again. Watch out for that signal, when life as you know it ends. P.S. I will always love you

It's amazing how a guy can love a woman like Gerry does. Oooffff... why do I always fall in love with book characters and movie characters??? Because they give me the luxury to feel things  while watching or reading.... in  a magical... way...........

Lines:

Patricia: So now, all alone or not, you gotta walk ahead. Thing to remember is if we're all alone, then we're all together in that too.

Holly Kennedy: Dear Gerry, you said you wanted me to fall in love again, and maybe one day I will. But there are all kinds of love out there. This is my one and only life, And its a great and terrible and short and endless thing, and none of us come out of it alive. I don't have a plan... except, it's time my mom laughed again. She has never seen the world... she has never seen Ireland. So, I'm taking her back where we started... Maybe now she'll understand. I don't know how you did it, but you brought me back from the dead. I'll write to you again soon. P.S... Guess what?