Matrix - 1999

Category: Movie

Genre: Epic / Thriller / Sci-Fi

Director: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Writer: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Producer: Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, and more

Tagline: The Future isn't User Friendly

A computer hacker named Thomas A. Anderson and who goes by the name Neo(Keanu Reeves), learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.He has always questioned reality but then the truth is far beyond what he imagines.

Morpheus, a legendary computer hacker who was branded a terrorist by the government began to initiate contact with him and the FBI was suddenly after him. Morpheus begins to awakens Neo to the real world.... and there the journey begins...

This is probably my 3rd time to watch the film. And it's amazing how you can watch the Matrix from many different levels:

1.) as a guns and technological movie (or sci-fi)
2.) as something about a Messiah in a religious point of view.
3.) or a metaphor of how we all see through the veils of illusion

and many different levels one can see... but so far, that's how I saw it. It's pretty similar to our Workshop:Courage the concept of taking the red pill or the blue pill and there's no turning back. Every journey begins with a Question... and it's what started his Quest.

Classic. Epic. Everytime you watch it, something is always revealed that wasn't there before. Effects, acting... plot... ahhh everything is just so right.

If you haven't watched at least once... then you are missing out one of the best sci-fi films ever! :)

Photo Source: Freewebs

Source Code - 2011

Category: Movie

Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller / Mystery

Director: Duncan Jones

Writer: Ben Ripley

Producer: Vendome Pictures, The Mark Gordon Company

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Michael Arden, Cas Anvar, Russell Peters, Brent Skagford and more

Tagline: Make every second count


An action thriller about a soldier named Colter Stevens, a US Army helicopter pilot, who wakes up in the body of a man named Sean Fentress and then discovers he is part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.

Great unique storyline, even though the scenes were like cooped up in one scene in a train, it gives room for creativity for the makers because they have to come up with something new for each scene and make it interesting and unique despite it's "same-ness".  It keeps you on the edge, and it's like you are discovering something with Jake Gylenhaal in this film. Great acting, and the tandem of the Gyllenhaal and Monaghan here is fresh as well.

Great great great film. :)

Eagle Eye - 2008

Category: Movies

Genre: Technology Thriller

Director: DJ Caruso

Writers: John Glenn, Hillary Seitz, Dan Mcdermott & Travis Wright.

Producers: Pete Chiarelli - co-producer Patrick Crowley - producer James M. Freitag - associate producer Alex Kurtzman - producer Edward McDonnell - producer Rizelle Mendoza - associate producer Roberto Orci .- producer Steven Spielberg - executive producer

Tagline:

If you want to live you will obey

Casts: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie, Ethan Embry, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Azizi, Cameron Boyce, Lynn Cohen, and more.

Overview and Review of Eagle Eye directed by D.J. Caruso.

Jerry (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachel(Michelle Monaghan) are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family through a series of blackmails, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situations, using the technology of everyday life (cellphone, nearby phone booths, cellphones of other people, electronic billboards and more) to track and control their every move.

Rachel Holloman: Do you think they could derail a train?

Jerry Shaw: They changed every traffic light to get us here. The woman, she called me on a stranger's cell phone who happened to be sitting next to me - never met the guy in my life. And then they broke me out of maximum security custody in a way I'm not even going to describe to you because it sounds crazy, and then they lift us off the face of the earth and drop us into this shitpile. She could probably derail a train, she could probably turn a train into a talking duck.

This is a "you can run but you can't hide" situation and another of those "what if's". Although the plot may sound unrealistic but it sure is one great entertaining movie what with Shia spearheading the lead. It's smart and it has this near relation to "I-Robot". Yes, kinda I-robot-ish. So there goes the originality on this one... but it's different all on its own. But, I enjoyed every bit of the movie, it has this intensity which can give you the edge. So, I'm giving it credit. It's also one case of where "technology" can go wrong even though how sophisticated that technology is. CGI is great. Actors did a great job.

Just watch it.

Die Hard 4.0 - 2007

Category: Movies

Genre: Action / Suspense

Director: Len Wiseman

Writer: Mark Bomback (screenplay & story)

Cast: Bruce Willis (John McClane), Timothy Olyphant (Thomas Gabriel), Justin Long (Matt Farrell), Maggie Q (Mai)

Overview and Review of Die Hard 4.0 or also known as Live Free or Die Hard starred by Bruce Willis and directed by Len Wiseman.


A new breed of terrorists is brewing and it's bound to attack the U.S. during the Independence Day weekend. Over the weekend a couple of hackers died and there was a massive computer attack that would threaten the U.S. infrastructure.

John MacClane was assigned to bring hacker Matt Farrell (Justin Long) into the FBI after a couple of the top security mainframes of the government got hacked. When they arrived at the FBI (they survived a series of attacks from the terrorists before arriving), the country is facing a war with "cyber terrorists".

I actually like it. Contrary to some "negative reviews", there were too many people who expected this movie to be good but was disappointed because some thought it did not live up to par with the first 3 Die Hard series. {I actually did not see the first 3, so I guess I can't say much} But, better or not, I enjoyed the whole movie. The action scenes and stunts were so cool (specially the tunnel one), there was a bit of humor courtesy of Justin Long (but not much that would make it too korny). It also delved into the techie side which made another plus points. Although, a lot would talk about many things that is soooo technically wrong about it.

If you are looking for the anti-hero McClane and a much violent Die Hard film, this is not it. Those negative reviews are raving about this because McClane seemed to be out-of-character in this film.

Funny lines:

Slacker Kid: Hey, Matt, I just downloaded that new copy of Killzone, the one that's not out yet. You wanna play?
Matt Farrell: No, but good luck at the bad timing awards.

John McClane: [after covering the webcam] Freddy, can you trace these guys.
Thomas Gabriel: Detective, covering the camera does not turn off the microphone.

Disclosure - Michael Crichton

Category: Books

Genre: Corporate

Author: Michael Crichton

Overview and Review of Disclosure by Michael Crichton.

*Already a Movie

A book that involves Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Title VII is a shattering case that would ruin a person's career and family.

This story involves Tom Sanders an up-and-coming executive at a a computer firm called DigiCom. Tom Sanders is a man whose corporate future is certain after working for about a decade in the company. Everybody in the company thought Tom Sanders would lead the AGP Division and would be deemed as Vice-President of the company, but they were wrong. A woman, named Meredith Johnson, Tom Sander's ex-lover back in Cupertino would be everybody's new boss.

After a closed-door meeting with Tom's new boss, Meredith - Sanders finds himself caught in a nightmare where he was branded as a villain.

Sanders tries to defend himself from the accusation, while doing so he unravels an electronic trail into the company's secrets.

At the afterword it says that this novel was based on a true story. But, it is also important to emphasize the fact that the story in it's present form is fiction. Because, all the information and necessary facts can be a risk to individuals and corporations involved, it was but necessary to disguise the real event with utmost care. All the principals in this case agreed to be interviewed with the understanding that their identification would not be revealed.

A clever, swell corporate-slash-techie-slash-law thriller. A modern technology with intrigue. Just like Robert Ludlum, Crichton sure knows how to keep the story moving, saving the best for last. This book shows that sexual harassment is not reserved for men on high positions but for women who can be at the top as well. I think, the book stresses the point that Harassment involves Power and thus it doesn't matter whether you are male or female. Anyone is capable.
Nice intriguing, informative and eye-opening book. I also love the techie jargon in this book. I still like his "Jurassic Park" novel better. Hehe.

Recommend: For people who loves "law and order" stories, "techie people", or for people who is into "corporate intrigue".