Forgive me for not even mentioning that I was on a hiatus. I seemed to notice that some of my LJ friends deleted me from their friends list and I can't really blame them. I couldn't find time or the mood to blog because of the time I spent on video games and movies and in the Philippines (for 5 weeks) this vacation.

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So I just came back last Tuesday (Wednesday morning in Philippine time) from my 5-week vacation in the Philippines. The flight to Canada got delayed so I think we were two to four hours late. Anyway all I can say is, I want to go back again to the Philippines so badly. There I was able to relax with not spending too much time on the computer as well as not doing a lot of household chores (since there's a maid). And like I said to my friends, life in the Philippines is more enjoyable and less mundane (at least, that's what I think). I got to see my relatives again and I got to do and see things that I so badly missed in the Philippines. And the best thing of my vacation is, I got to see all of my high school friends, the members of the group Trofamael and my friends since 2nd year high school, once again (except Noe, who has been in Singapore for a while now). I also spent a lot of time hanging out with them. Sulit talaga yung bakasyon ko sa Pilipinas.

Of course, I felt sad because I didn't get to see my first love crush. But that's a different story. We only talked to each other almost everyday during 3rd year because I was also friends with his friends so we weren't that close anyway. So, it was really unlikely that I was to meet him during my vacation there.

To all my friends in the Philippines, I am going to miss all of you guys :( :D. And thanks for taking time out of your busy schedules to hang out and spend some time with me.

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I love musicals. Musical is one of my favorite movie genres. I am not really as optimistic, high and happy as the people in musicals but I just enjoy them. And despite what most people think, not all musicals are exactly happy people who suddenly burst into song whenever they have fallen in love or are expressing their love and joy.

Not all musicals are annoyingly jolly and are about butterflies and rainbows although I must admit that I did enjoy Singin' in the Rain, The Sound of Music, and The Wizard of Oz despite the cheesiness and the overly optimistic characters but I still loathe musicals such as An American in Paris and High School Musical with great passion. Some musicals (mostly the latest ones, the indie ones) have forgotten about the conventions and guidelines of the musical genre. They have taken a step further by giving more realism, flair, colors and aesthetics to it (examples: Moulin Rouge! and Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and having tragic endings, instead of happily ever after ones (examples: Dancer in the Dark). They even dare to put a dark and dramatic side to musicals.

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I am a movie addict and that's so obvious if you frequently read my blog. But even though I am addicted to movies, I particularly favor drama, comedy and musical films over films of other genres. Although I love drama films and I have seen a huge number of overly depressing films that aren't manipulative, I only cried at a small number of movies. I think I only cried at about ten movies. Here are the ten films, without any particular order, that have been able to make me cry.

1. Dancer in the Dark- Who wouldn't cry while watching the last scenes of this film? Even as Selma and Cvalda burst into song towards the end, it's still a scene that is painful to watch. Even after watching the whole movie and during the ending credits, I suddenly burst into tears and became extremely depressed for a while as I remember the painfully heartbreaking ending. The movie just makes you lose hope and become pessimistic all of a sudden. It will make you think why do tragic things happen to good and selfless people such as Selma. It makes you hate people and human nature for a while until you watch another movie, an uplifting and moving film that will show you again the goodness and supposedly altruistic nature of humans. I recommend this film to people who are considered by others devoid of emotion.

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- I am sure that some of you are wondering why this film is even in this list. Yes, this is my all-time most favorite film until now. Yes, I am still waiting to watch a film that can exceed the greatness of Eternal Sunshine. But this is in my list because there is this scene in the film that always makes me cry whenever I watch it. There are a lot of beautiful scenes in the film but this is the only one that just easily makes me burst into tears. It never fails. The scene isn't necessarily an important part of the film. It is just one of Joel's childhood memories, the one where it is raining and the little Joel is singing "Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream." And the adult Joel suddenly starts to act like a child again. The scene is just so powerful, beautiful and nostalgic accompanied with the incredibly melancholic music that it makes me cry.

3. After the Wedding (Efter Bryllupet)- After the continuous revelations and surprises, I find sympathy for the character who is supposed to be this wealthy and greedy man who doesn't care much about the other people suffering around the world and yet suddenly donates in this Indian orphanage for his own personal reasons. This man also shows care for his wife and his children, after all, so it is not entirely impossible to have some sympathies for his 3-dimensional character. The scene that made me cry is where his daughter, Anna, finds out about her father's deep secret and cries beside him. I tried to describe this as much as I could without telling any spoilers.

4. Whale Rider- I believe that Keisha Castle-Hughes, the young lead actress of this film, was nominated for her great performance in this film, and I definitely agree that she deserved those awards. I mean, her character has been capable of making me cry. Who wouldn't care for such a loving and determined heroine like her? Their tribe has sexist traditions and only allows a man to be the tribe's chief, and Paikea wants to be the chief, despite being female, to replace her brother. She proves that she has the qualities and skills to become the leader yet her conservative grandfather has lost his respect of her and is too egoistic and stubborn to consider her as the chief. Unlike the film Dancer in the Dark, this film gives so much hope that it makes you cry in the ending. If it weren't for the great music, the magnificent presence of the whales and the actress playing Paikea, the last scene wouldn't be as powerful as it is.

5. Lost and Delirious- I think I am probably only one of the few who cried in this film. I cried in the very end where something tragic happens among the three main characters. The love between Pauline and Victoria, the two women, is so sweet and as normal as straight and gay love that it shouldn't be something so tragic. The two have been secret lovers and when Victoria's sister finds out about their relationship and intimacy, Victoria suddenly denies the fact that they were lovers and the fact that she is a lesbian. This becomes painful for Pauline who is deeply in love with her as she becomes depressed, hot-tempered and suicidal. The narration of Mary, the roommate who is the witness to all that has happened between Pauline and Victoria, made the last scene very depressing as well as the eagle which quickly soars to the sky in the last moments of the film.

6. It's A Wonderful Life- The last scene where everyone sings Auld Lang Syne by the Christmas tree is the one which just made me cry out of happiness. This film really will move even the most cynical and most bitter person but then again, a bitter person wouldn't even dare touch this film. It will make you appreciate life so much as it is really a life-affirming film with a pleasant ending. It has captured my heart right from the very first half of the film. James Stewart, the actor who portrays George Bailey, the lead protagonist, has a very kind and sensitive aura to him that it is very impossible to not feel sympathy and care towards his character. A giving, saint-like and selfless character who gives his dreams away for the benefit of the people in his hometown deserves all the tears in the world.

7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly- This is a biographical film about a man who suddenly becomes paralyzed all over his body and becomes capable of only moving his eyes. The filmmakers deal with the subject matter in a nostalgic and heartwarming manner and with understanding. They intended the audience to see the film literally in the eyes of the physically paralyzed man so it is as if we are suffering with the same condition. And who can't possibly cry by the end when we can easily relate with him and we can almost understand what he's going through? Or cry by the mesmerizing beauty of this film, the beautiful imagery shown in the film? The filmmakers also don't make the mistake of treating him as only someone just to pity for as we also find some of his comments very cynical and bitter and we learn more about his life, the women in his life, etc.

8. Magnifico- Almost everyone who have watched this film cried. I didn't expect to cry while watching this film but I did. I couldn't help it myself. I actually tried to stop my tears from flowing because I was watching it in a public place, in the library, but I couldn't. I guess it's the performances of Jiro Manio, Lorna Tolentino and Isabella de Leon that make the film so moving and powerful. I mean, who would want that to happen to such a loving protagonist who cares so much for his mentally disabled sister and his ill grandmother? The scene where Jiro Manio's character brings his sister to the carnival is so touching, and the scene where Magnifico's mother cries for him is so tearjerking.

9. Crash- It is probably one of the very few films that is able to make me cry two times in two completely different scenes. This movie about discrimination and prejudice among different races and with interconnected stories works because of the huge number of powerful and moving scenes in it. Two of these scenes (the ones that made me cry) are the one where a woman is saved from a flaming car that is about to explode by the policeman who sexually abused and mistreated her the other day and the one where the enraged man is about to shoot the man who has fixed his locks when the young girl saves her father with her "invisibility cloak".

10. Au Revoir, Les Enfants- It is probably the most compelling and most heartbreaking film about the Holocaust, more powerful than The Pianist and Aimee and Jaguar and a little bit there in the rankings of the film Casablanca. Not necessarily set in Germany, it is instead set in France. A boy suddenly becomes close with a boy who turns out to be Jewish. During these Holocaust times, the priest in charge of the school decides not to just sit back and do nothing but to at least help some Jews hide from the intolerant and cruel Nazis and let them study at their school. The last scene is one of the most painful-to-watch scenes in film not because it is gory and violent but because it shows how people can be very cruel and heartless sometimes. And it is hard to cope with the fact that you weren't able to do anything to help your friend.

Wow, I haven't posted a blog entry in a while. Again. It's been exactly a month since I have written a journal entry. And once again, I am truly sorry that I haven't posted comments in your blogs for such a long time. I'd actually understand if you didn't write a comment here since I rarely comment in your blogs. But I still want to post an entry after such a long time.

It's vacation time, and here I am bumming out at home XD. Yes, you knew it, I am too lazy to even find a part-time job. I know, I feel so bad for not finding one but as usual, my laziness overcomes my guilt.

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Remember my last post where I wrote that I wanted to play Final Fantasy VIII so badly but I didn't have a PS1 memory card? Well, I found a way to play PS1 games in the computer :D. I have been playing FFVIII, FFIX and Suikoden II since my previous journal entry. And I must say that it was nice playing FFVIII and FFIX as those games brought back a lot of my childhood memories but heck, FFVIII and FFIX aren't as awesome as any of the Suikoden games (well, except Suikoden IV because that was just a bad game). Suikoden can beat Final Fantasy anytime. I am playing Suikoden II right now, and it is so addicting. After that, I plan to try playing Suikoden I. Yes, I am going backwards (I played Suikoden V first, Suikoden IV second and so on and so forth). After Suikoden II, I actually plan to quit playing video games, well until the releases of the next Suikoden games which won't be any sooner. 

I actually can't believe I didn't play or hear of Suikoden I, II, and III years ago. The story and the concept, especially the part about the runes and the Stars of Destiny, are original, and the multiple characters are just what I need in a RPG. The characters are also very interesting and three-dimensional. The gameplay is simple and unoriginal but the customizations such as the runes, formations, skills, etc. make it more complex and add more features to the game.

After playing both Suikoden I and II, I plan to go back to my non-stop movie marathons XD. I need my dosage of Groucho Marx's funny antics, Gene Kelly's tap dancing, Woody Allen's witty and intellectual films, Pedro Almodovar's melodrama, Lars Von Trier's depressing realism, queer cinema, foreign films, guilty pleasure movies, etc.

On a random note, I am currently listening to the song California Dreaming again and again just like Faye Wong's character in the movie Chungking Express. It's no wonder her character keeps listening to this song. The song is addicting XD.

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Last Wednesday, I hanged out with Ana and some of my other friends since Ana was going back to the Philippines for a vacation. Yeah, she is going to the Philippines earlier than me. Anyway, it was fun and I had a great time last Wednesday. I enjoyed spending time with them since I haven't actually hanged out that much with most of them since I am not that close with them. We just talked about some stuff, hanged out at two malls, and went bowling. I spent too much but I guess it was all worth it. Anyway just when I was having a good day, I unexpectedly see those guys I really loathe and my mood is suddenly changed. It would actually have been better if they had just ignored me. And my former crush was with them as usual. I can't believe he has changed so much and he still hangs out with those guys. I don't have any personal reason for hating them but I just hate them. But after Wednesday, I think I now have a personal reason for hating them.

Please add me in Multiply if you have an account there :D. I just copy and paste my blog entries from LJ to Multiply but I frequently review some of the movies that I have recently watched.

Does anyone have a PS1 memory card? Why don't they sell PS1s, PS1 games and PS1 memory cards anymore? They only sell them online nowadays, and I don't like buying online. It sucks. Ugh, I can't properly play the Final Fantasy VIII game that I borrowed from my niece and nephew just because I can't save my game on a file. I really do miss playing Final Fantasy VIII. 

Since I had no PS1 memory card, I just spent five to six hours playing a new game without saving it a few days ago. I had no choice and I wanted to play more but it was already midnight. I even took some time drawing magic from the enemies, enhancing the abilities of the GFs, etc. I even already had Rinoa in my party. Wow, I am feeling so nostalgic after playing Final Fantasy VIII. I remember the days when video games focused more on the gameplay and the story than on the graphics. I remember the days when RPGs used to be more fun and addicting. I miss Final Fantasy IX, Legend of Mana, Chrono Cross, Front Mission X, etc. too. Does anyone have those games anymore? I don't remember where my old games are but I am pretty sure I left them in the Philippines or my cousin back home has them.

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Isaac Davis: Why is life worth living? It's a very good question. Um... Well, There are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. uh... Like what... okay... um... For me, uh... ooh... I would say... what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing... uh... um... and Wilie Mays... and um... the 2nd movement of the Jupiter Symphony... and um... Louis Armstrong, recording of Potato Head Blues... um... Swedish movies, naturally... Sentimental Education by Flaubert... uh... Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra... um... those incredible Apples and Pears by Cezanne... uh... the crabs at Sam Wo's... uh... Tracy's face... (quote copied from the website IMDB.com)

This is one of the best monologues ever in film history. It's from the movie Manhattan directed by Woody Allen. It is being said by another one of Woody Allen's recurring neurotic and pessimistic yet lovable characters. I think you would appreciate the quote more if you watch the movie and if you are familiar with some of the people, music, etc. that he has mentioned in his monologue. I guess those little things in life are the ones that keep us going and living and actually make life worth living. 

To me, the things that make my life worthwhile and bearable are, let's see... Cherry cheese danish. Cup noodles. Pedro Almodovar's movies. Sigur Ros' soothing music. Daily orgasms. Happy-ending musicals. Huskies. Oh, Groucho Marx among the three Marx brothers too. Watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Gene Kelly's tap dancing, singing and charisma. The beautiful and charming actress Penelope Cruz. Dried mangoes. Woody Allen's romantic comedies, of course. Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Final Fantasy's orchestral music. Rare afternoon naps. Breathtaking sights. The occasional swimming and floating by the beach or at a swimming pool. The frequent feelings of nostalgia. And of course, my family and friends. I can write more but I can't think of more right now.

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Yes, two to three weeks left and I am done with my 1st year of college. And we have a four-month vacation. Isn't that awesome? Wow, I can't wait. After three weeks from now, I can finally rest and stop worrying about my grades and thinking about my studies. And I can also finally watch movies non-stop XD. I also need to find a full-time job for vacation before I go back to the Philippines for a month. I need to save some pocket money so I can spend a lot when I go back home XD. 

I feel like I am failing most of my subjects, two or three of them. I think I am going to get 70-79 in some of my subjects. I just hope my grades in my other subjects can help boost my average. I need to pass my exams in order to get a good grade. And I can't even imagine what my parents would say once they find out that I might not even get an A- average.

The title of my post entry is not supposed to be an offensive or rude remark. 

I mean, why do almost all of us have this idea that God is and will always be in the form of an old white man? Why can't He possibly be black, Hispanic or Asian? He can be. Why is God always referred to as a He? Why can't God possibly be a She too? Or perhaps, He or She takes a different form to different people.

Of course, don't expect me to have the answers here. They are just ideas, something to think about. I never actually about this that much before I saw this secret from PostSecret months ago stating that the writer of the postcard views God as a woman with eyeglasses who seems to look like a secretary. Then, I remember about it again after watching the movie Dogma where in the end of the movie, God appears and She is in the form of a woman. And singer Alanis Morissette plays God's role. Hence, the title. And yes, honestly, I also have thought even before that the Bible has a poor and negative depiction of women.

I know that Dogma is an old movie, back from the 1990's, but I have only watched this now and for the ones who haven't watched this movie, you ought to watch it. It's actually funny and pretty thought-provoking too. Even though the movie is very controversial and a lot of people even sent death threats to director Kevin Smith for creating this movie (which I think is very inhumane and insane, not to mention foolish), It gives the audience a better and more insightful view of religions. 

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Ugh, I can't believe the makers of Meet the Spartans, Date Movie, Epic Movie, and Scary Movie are going to make another crappy and lame one and this time it's Superhero Movie, a movie that is supposed to parody superhero movies. Just because they got a lot of money and the other movies were blockbuster hits, they are going to make another crappy movie. All they think of is quantity, not quality.

Haven't they learned? Haven't they received enough poor reviews from the experts, the critics themselves? But I guess they wouldn't make another one if most people didn't like them but I can't still believe people watch that shit. I used to, I was ignorant back then, but now I don't after watching way better movies. I love parodies and pop culture references, I do, but even I don't think those movies are funny anymore. They are friggin' stupid, just slapstick humor. They are some of the worst movies I have ever seen in my entire life. People, stop watching that shit XD. But of course, that's just what I think and you are free to disagree with me.

Here I am, wasting most of my time in the school library before my next class after having just finished an assignment.

Forgive me, my LJ friends. I haven't posted an entry for almost a month and more importantly, I haven't posted comments on most of your entries. I am not actually busy. I guess I am not just in the mood for blogging anymore. I just don't really know what to talk about. My life is pretty much very uneventful and mundane. Honestly, the only thing that keeps me sane and contented is watching movies. And it looks like I am going to be procrastinating for the next few weeks until the third or last week of April, and obviously I am not pretty much psyched about it.

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I have watched 100 films in less than two months. And I am still counting and at this rate, I will be able to watch an average of 500 or 600 films this year. Haha, I know, I am what most people would label a "geek". Well, I guess it's because I never actually watch anime anymore and I rarely watch TV shows as of now (I am excitedly waiting for the new episode of The Office though).

I know this is late news but I can't believe the movie The Diving Bell and the Butterfly didn't won any Oscar award. I don't understand why it didn't won, considering it has excellent cinematography and breathtaking and stunning visuals. It's one of the most phenomenal films that I have seen in a while. Well, I guess I can't compare it to the other nominees since I haven't watched Into the Wild, No Country For Old Men, I'm Not There, Michael Clayton, Atonement, etc. Oh, I want to watch Into the Wild so badly, and I have yet to watch even one of Joel and Ethan Coen's works.

I hate to say this but Sweeney Todd isn't that great. And it is way too gory and disturbing even for Tim Burton. But even without the gore, I still think it isn't great, it is only a fairly good film. The ending is very well-done and unpredictable and some of the scenes are visually stunning and awesome but the plot is simple, the songs aren't that catchy, and the characters are sometimes annoying. I guess I was expecting too much from this film.

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I can't believe my mother has such a stereotypical and ignorant view of homosexuals. After having a conversation that suddenly led to my sexuality, she said that she doesn't want me to be very feminine and "girly". She also asked me if there are different levels (yes, she said the term "levels") in being gay. Of course, I had a funny and surprised expression on my face after hearing that, and I tried so hard not to laugh out loud. Even I couldn't believe she said that.

She also told me that she didn't want to see me hurt, and I of course had no idea what she was referring to when she said that. Then she explained that she didn't want to see me hurt by other guys and be only used for money. And then I finally understood what she was talking about. She thinks I am going to have relationships with straight guys and pay them with money in order to have an actual relationship with them. She thinks like that because she hears about it from her gay employees in the Philippines. I mean, come on, I don't think that happens here and that happens often. Anyway, I think she is still trying to cope with my sexuality so the things she said are kind of understandable.

Since I have nothing else to blog about and I don't want to talk about school right now, I have decided to post about my top favorite movies as of now. My top favorites list usually changes but these are my top favorites for now. Most of them are movies I just recently watched, and some of them are movies that I have watched months ago or years ago. Some of them are directed by my favorite directors such as Pedro Almodovar, Wes Anderson, Susanne Bier and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. I know this is a very long entry but I hope you readers read at least about the movies you are interested in and give some comments. And I would appreciate it if you also comment with your own top favorite movies. 

30. The Royal Tenenbaums (U.S.A.) directed by Wes Anderson- I love the movies directed and written by Wes Anderson, and this is my most favorite Wes Anderson movie. I can't believe Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Luke Wilson are a part of one of my favorite movies since they usually star in lame and corny movies. Although this might sound weird, I really love movies with dysfunctional families since they are usually interesting and complex, and the Tenenbaums are probably the most dysfunctional family in film, besides the Hoover family in Little Miss Sunshine. 

29. Fucking Amal (Sweden) directed by Lukas Moodysson- Elin jokingly tells her mother and her sister that she's lesbian while Agnes is pretty much aware about her sexuality. This film is a great story about teenage love, specifically love between two women. The plot is very simple but I love the characterizations of both Elin and Agnes and the little things teenagers have to go through such as feeling lonely and depressed, etc. The characters, even Johan, are very lovable and sympathetic. I love the ending. They literally come out of the closet. Well, it isn't exactly a closet but you know what I mean.

28. Do The Right Thing (U.S.A.) directed by Spike Lee- This is my first Spike Lee film and I have yet to watch his other films but I can really consider this as an exceptional film. The scorching heat creates tension among the characters of this great ensemble cast, and the tension builds up at nightime. But only a few of them actually do the right thing. The film has exceptional cinematography and a compelling and interesting plot. It also has a few archetypes such as the wise old man, the wise old lady, and the mentally disabled guy.

27. Sin City (U.S.A.) directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller- This film has style as well as substance. It is filmed black-and-white with some usage of basic colors, and although it is not original, the idea is great. It can be enjoyed by both normal movie-goers and cinephiles. Although most of the characters pretty much have no morals and values, the stories and the characters are very compelling and interesting. The only thing I hate about this film is Alexis Bledel's role. Why is she the traitor? Why? Anyway, I am glad I decided to watch this after giving it a bad first impression. 

26. The Hours (U.S.A.) by Stephen Daldry- I tend to prefer movies about women than movies about men since women are more interesting, more compassionate, more sensitive, and more complex. This film is about three women from three different generations with similar conflicts. It has likable characters, a great cast and a wonderful story. Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore are all amazing actresses, and I almost cried in one of the scenes with Julianne Moore. I love how all three women are somehow connected to each other even if they are from different generations. I also love the little plot twist in the end.

This is originally from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

Sorry. I haven't been able to comment on most of your journal entries this week. And it's been a week or more since my last post. It's not like I am busy. It's just that I don't have anything else to talk about. Please give me some suggestions of what I can talk about here besides my mundane and boring school life :P. Please tell me if there is anything you want me to share or talk about.

Anyway, I am not fond of my school life right now and I am definitely looking forward to our intersession week. I think that's on the fourth week of February. Well, I guess that means we have no March break. And yes, I only have two tests and one quiz on our midterm week :D. There's less to worry about.

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I basically don't watch anime anymore. Now, I usually spend most of my time on movies and nothing else ever since the beginning of the writer's strike, I guess. Well, it's not like I stopped being addicted to anime. It wasn't a phase. It's just that I am tired of harem anime, fanservice, pedophile stuff, brainless entertainment, stereotypes of women, and cliches (I am not saying that there are no cliches and stereotypes of women on movies and other TV shows). Of course, not all anime have those elements. I suppose if there is a new anime just as extraordinary and amazing as Baccano, Toward the Terra and Honey and Clover, I will watch some anime again.

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Wow, it's ironic. I have a pure hatred for huge multinational business companies because they only care about profit and money and they will do anything, as in anything, to lower their expenses yet I plan to be an accountant. And it is quite possible that I will just end up working in one of those greedy business companies. Don't I have principles anymore?

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Haha, I am so addicted to The Beatles songs featured in Across The Universe. The songs are so addicting. The movie itself is good but if it weren't for the music and the visuals, it would be a terrible movie because of its lousy plot and character development. Anymay, the film's music is just outstanding. Thanks for reviving these songs. No, I was not a fan of The Beatles before I watched Across The Universe but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate those great songs. I've been listening to Helter Skelter, All You Need Is Love, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Across The Universe, Strawberry Fields Forever, and All My Loving repetitively for a while now :D.

It's funny how, while we were watching Across The Universe, my sister and my father weren't able to notice that there are some subtle hints of Prudence, one of the characters, being a lesbian. Well for starters, while she is singing I Want to Hold Your Hand, she is looking towards a woman. And while she is singing by the balcony, she is singing about Sadie. She also literally comes out of the closet. She also meets a woman by the second half of the movie.

Now, it's time to watch The Chumscrubber, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, etc. :D

This is originally from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

I know it's such a lame title but I can't come up with any other subject title :P.

Wow, I told myself before 2008 that I would save money for when I go back to the Philippines, and here I am spending almost all of my money on renting and/or buying movie DVDs. I am just so addicted, I can't stop XD. I even stopped buying fast food just to spend my allowance on movies. I really need to get a job. I just hope I get hired for a part-time job sooner or later. I just sent some copies of my resume a week ago.

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"You need to get a life." I hate it when people use that phrase to tell others that their interests and lifestyle are very unusual and different. Well as far as I can remember, no one has told me that but I hate it when they say that to others. Come on, we all have different lifestyles and different preferences. It's like you are forcing someone to do something in life that he or she doesn't want to do. It's like you are forcing someone to live the way that you live or to be just like any other ordinary person. Just because a person does something that is unusual or away from the norms doesn't mean he or she doesn't have a life. He or she just happens to be passionate about something else and something different. What do they mean exactly when they use the word "life" in that expression anyway? Are they philosophers or experts in life to tell others what they need to do in life?

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Yesterday, I watched This Film Is Not Yet Rated, a great and interesting documentary criticizing MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) and how it rates films. It criticizes the ratings system there because its rating system doesn't have any standards in rating films. There is also a huge difference in the way they rate films with graphic violence and films with graphic sexual content. It's just shocking how they give R ratings to films such as Sin City and Kill Bill which we all know have a lot of scenes filled with gore and extreme violence while they give NC-17 ratings to some movies just for showing a nude woman with pubic hair in her sex organ for a few seconds in just one scene. Come on, it's just pubic hair. It's not like it isn't something teenagers haven't seen before. It's weird and disturbing to know that some people are more tolerant of violence than of sexuality.

With MPAA, there is also a huge difference in rating movies with heterosexual situations and movies with homosexual situations. For example, although this example isn't mentioned in the documentary, Bad Education is rated NC-17 for having one sex scene between two guys and one blowjob scene involving two guys. It's unbelievable since the scenes aren't even graphic, and the actors weren't actually doing it. The sex is only suggested by their movements. And I bet if the movie were to involve heterosexuals, it would be rated differently. Y Tu Mama Tambien got a NC-17 rating, probably because of the bisexual scene towards the end. It's a good thing that Cuaron decided to leave the movie unrated. 

The organization also seems to rate movies that show men having sexual pleasures and movies that show women having sexual pleasures quite differently. Boys Don't Cry is also rated NC-17 for three reasons. The other reasons sound quite reasonable but one of the reasons why it is rated NC-17 is just plain stupid. One of the reasons is because in one of the sex scenes, the woman is having a long orgasm. Bullshit, that's such a lame excuse. So what if the woman is having a long orgasm? It's just passionate sex. It's also quite rare that you see movies with women having orgasms. Most movies usually only show men feeling pleasure during sex since of course, most movies are made by men and targeted to a male audience.

I can rant more but it is becoming quite a long entry :D. Anyway, I think you get my point.

This is originally from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

Last Thursday, I was so pissed off because it took me two hours to go back home. There was a problem in the subway. And I wasn't pleased, as usual, with my classes on that day. But my terrible mood suddenly changed when I received the letter from my friends on that specific day. It was a greetings letter by snail mail with greetings from most of my friends in the Philippines along with some wallet-size pictures of them during their party (I wish I was there). Anyway, I was so happy and grateful. Trofamael, thanks for making my day better :D. I just feel so bad and guilty since I haven't given them at least one letter ever since I came here four years ago. I guess I can say that God works in little, mysterious and simple ways :D.

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What will you do when you know that the clothing stores that you go to secretly or openly have sweatshops in other countries and practice child labor? Or rather, what will be the most ethical thing to do? Of course, it will be not to purchase from those stores because in a way, you are showing that you don't support their practices. But how do you know which one does it and which one doesn't? And what if all of those clothing stores have their own unethical practices and ways to gain more money?

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Desert Island (some of the questions I borrowed from the series The Office, specifically the episode The Fire)
Just think of an unrealistic situation when you will be forced to or needed to stay in a deserted island XD. Of course, let's imagine that there are old DVD players, TV sets, electricity, etc. in this island haha XD.

* What five movies would you bring to a deserted island?
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- V for Vendetta
- Babel
- Crash
- Bad Education (La Mala Educacion)

* What three books would you bring to a deserted island?
- Stainless Longganisa (for inspiration)
- A Streetcar Named Desire
- Fight Club

* What four practical things would you bring to a deserted island in order to survive? (no limits)
- a boat and paddles XD
- a year supply of water, junk food, meat and fish (No way I am living with only fruits XD)
- a fishing rod with bait and all that (as if I know how to use one)
- decent shelter

* What four unnecessary things would you bring to a deserted island?
- a notebook and a pen (I can't live without writing something)
- more movie DVDs XD
- more books XD
- a pet dog for company (so I won't go insane :P)

* Who would you do if you were given time before going to the deserted island? XD
- either my first crush or my other crush in the Philippines
- Brad Pitt
- Edward Norton (My fantasy is having a menage-a-trois with Norton and Pitt. It's my Fight Club fantasy XD.)
- Diego Luna (he is hotter than Gael Garcia Bernal but in terms of acting, Gael is better)
- Jason Schwartzman XD

This is originally from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

Ugh, spam comments keep appearing in an entry that was posted ages ago. It is so annoying, and even after I delete one spam comment, another one will appear in that specific entry.

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I got this meme/tag from Juice :D.

Take a look at your Friends List, and list up to 10 things you want to say to 10 different LJ friends. Do not state who these people are. Have your friends speculate which # they could be and if they know others. Do not confirm or deny any comment speculation.

1. Thank you for frequently commenting in my entries, and I really love reading your comments. 
2. You are the most interesting person I have ever met but you rarely post.
3. You always post very brief and short entries. I think you are cool and interesting but please make your posts longer.
4. Wow, you are like the total opposite of me, and I like you. But I am sorry if I rarely comment in your entries because I usually don't know what to say.
5. Now, I can't relate to your entries anymore.
6. I am beginning to know more about you, and it's really great.
7. I like and admire your unique style of writing.
8. Your posts are very interesting but I wish that sometimes, you can talk about other stuff, not just the things you always write about.
9. I love reading your posts but please talk about your interests, not just school and all that.
10. Get over it. But I really do miss talking with you about different kinds of stuff.

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Two hours left before my next class, and I am wasting time at the school library by blogging and whatnot :D. 

My school life is just plain boring and mundane. I have been meaning to post this for a long time but it will just mean that I have made a wrong decision in choosing the most practical course than the most interesting course. Well, it is not like I have other alternatives and choices. Anyway, I am really bored at my classes related to business and accounting. But luckily, I have some interesting professors who make up for the incredibly dull subjects. 

The only thing I look forward to this semester is Film Studies, my elective course. It is honestly the only class I truly enjoy every week. The teacher is kind of cool. He is kind of an elitist but he is still a great and interesting teacher who quotes lines from movies such as Casablanca and Citizen Kane and suddenly talks about other independent, mainstream, and foreign movies XD.

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Michael Moore is one of my role models. The others are Naomi Klein, Bob Ong, Mahatma Gandhi, etc. Haha, notice how my role models are totally in different fields. It's just that I really agree with their beliefs and I admire them for being very outspoken. Anyway, although I am not a fan of the fictional movie Moore has made, I really love Michael Moore's documentary films Fahrenheit 9/11 and Sicko. I watched them a year ago and I have yet to watch Bowling for Columbine and the others. I totally agree with Michael Moore's views and opinions since he criticizes the war in Iraq, gun violence, the health care system in America, and globalization. The scene in Fahrenheit 9/11 where Moore satirically and hilariously tries to convince the politicians to send their children to Iraq is just priceless. 

Yes, he might be biased but let's face it, everyone has a bias of his or her own. But at least Moore doesn't have any malicious intentions. He just speaks the truth and he doesn't use his movies for his own interest. He really cares and shows concern in issues we usually ignore. He also gives another point of view that is rarely seen in news these days and shows the very painful and awful truth. And sometimes, it is good to look into issues subjectively rather than objectively.

This is originally from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

May someone recommend some good LJ communities that have posts of movie icons?

Hehe, I skipped one of my classes today and two of my classes last Tuesday. I guess I am just too lazy and I just have a feeling that we weren't going to do much on those classes. And when I decide on something, it is most likely that I will never change my mind anymore no matter what happens. That's how stubborn I am :P.

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Some Movie Cliches That I Hate in Mainstream Movies
* time bomb reaching 0:01- In movies, time bombs either explode or are deactivated. When the time bomb is deactivated, somehow the person who deactivates it manages to stop the time bomb a second before it is about to explode. Yes, just a second away. Come on, that's so unrealistic. And no, it doesn't build the suspense because it is becoming repetitive.
* losing team needs to rely on the last shot to win the last game- It never changes. In the last game of the movie, the losing team (of course, it is always the protagonists' team) needs to score on the last minutes of the game in order to win the game because they are only a few points lower than the other team. And it's usually our main character who gets the glory of getting the last points.
* man/woman tries to stop man/woman from leaving- This is the cliche used in romantic comedy movies. Either one of the couple decides to leave and go someplace else, usually because the other has tricked or has lied to him or her. It also usually happens in airports and train stations. I have been to the airport a couple of times and I have never seen one person trying to chase his or her lover at the last minute and force him or her not to go. If anyone has ever seen or experience that kind of thing, let me know. 
* damsels-in-distress and knights-in-shining-armor- I hate how some mainstream movies keep depicting women as helpless and vulnerable, and they need men to save and help them. It's so annoying and unrealistic. The guy isn't usually a literal knight in shining armor but he is usually the one who saves our heroine in her time of need. See King Kong, Sleeping Beauty, Rush Hour, and Snow White.
* our heroes and heroines running from explosions, falling boulders, and whatever they can think of- Is it really possible to just run away from an explosion? I don't think so especially if you were just seconds ago close to where whatever it is exploded. Somehow, our beloved heroes manage to outrun things like this no matter what time they come outside of a building, etc.

The list is endless so I am going to stop here. Kids, the lesson here is stop watching mainstream movies and start watching other movies. Haha, just kidding :P. I watch some mainstream movies too, and some of them are good. Just ignore movies that you are sure are going to be cliched, lame and typical. What are the cliches you hate seeing in mainstream movies?

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I am a very shy person. I never approach someone I don't know to make friends, and I am never the one who introduces myself first to someone I don't know. It's not like I am snobbish or anti-social. I am just timid and introverted, that's all. I have no idea if it is because of the way I was raised or if it is because that's the way I really am. I don't remember much about my elementary days and high school days in the Philippines but even though I was shy since I was a kid, I am pretty sure I was less timid and more friendly back then. I have no idea why I became more timid than ever.

I reposted this from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

Eh, my first week this semester was okay, I guess. It isn't over yet since I still have classes tomorrow but I am pretty sure that my first week wouldn't get any better tomorrow. Well, I am back to just being alone as usual, waking up early with such a bad mood, being annoyed by my inconvenient and unreliable way of transportation, and waiting for hours for my next subject. It's a good thing there isn't much work yet. Well, at least I have no classes on Mondays.

Ughh, my Film Studies teacher has spoiled the ending and the twist in the movie Memento for me. I have been wanting to watch Memento for ages, and my teacher just suddenly spoils it for me. He just kept on talking about the ending. Hello? There are others who have yet to watch it too. He basically has ruined the movie for me. Don't you hate it when other people tell you the twists and the ending of a favorite movie, book, or TV show of yours? Well other than that, I think I am going to like and enjoy Film Studies, my elective course. 

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Yehey, Guillermo del Toro, the director of Pan's Labyrinth, is interested in directing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Although I was hoping that Alfonso Cuaron (the director of Children of Men, Y Tu Mama Tambien, and the third movie of Harry Potter) would direct the seventh film of Harry Potter, I still think that it is still great that Guillermo del Toro directs it because I think that Pan's Labyrinth, a great fantasy film, was wonderfully done and directed. I just hope that he officially becomes the one to direct it.

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"You are going deeper into your cave and you're going to find your power animal." ~Fight Club~

I am pretty sure that you all have your own image or idea of peace and serenity or at least you all imagine a place or something to soothe you. Before, whenever I thought of peace, I usually imagined forests, singing birds and butterflies, and rainbows. Haha, I know. It's such a typical idea of peace. Now whenever I need to feel calm, relaxed and comfortable, I think of myself being under water in the middle of an ocean just right above the dark depths of the ocean, actually seeing real whales with my own eyes, hearing those whales make those sounds to communicate to each other, and watching other exotic ocean creatures. Oh, it is just so soothing.

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I just bought the movie Shortbus for a friend of mine back in the Philippines and watched it this morning (since I also was interested in this movie) before going to school so I won't go to school in a bad and annoyed mood. It is such a good independent movie. It may not be one of my top favorites but it is still an amazing film. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5. It doesn't go in my top favorites because I kind of wasn't satisfied with the ending. 

Anyway, the movie is about a female sex therapist, or rather a couples counselor, who has never had an orgasm in her entire life, two gay couples who seem to have some problems in their relationship, and a woman who works as a dominatrix or whatever you call that but who has never had an actual relationship.

And even though a lot of people say it is similar to porn, it isn't. Porn is either degrading or arousing. Yes, Shortbus has what some people might call explicit sexual content but it doesn't show any degrading ones, and the sex scenes aren't supposed to make anyone jerk off (sorry for the phrase XD). And unlike porn, Shortbus actually has an actual story and great acting. I don't recommend it to the conservative ones though. I recommend it to people who are totally fine with sexuality, complete nudity, intimacy, bisexuality and homosexuality.

I reposted this from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

Classes start on Tuesday for me, and I am partly nervous and partly excited. Of course, it is mainly nervousness. 

I remember this guy I knew in my old high school here in Canada. He is more of an acquaintance than of a friend since I don't know much about him and I am not that close to him. I remember his stories. I just listen to them even though I think that most of the time his stories are farfetched and kind of far from the truth. I can sometimes tell that he adds some things in his stories to add a little bit of flair and humor to them, basically to make them interesting. I don't remember any of his stories anymore but he really reminds me of Edward Bloom Sr. from the movie Big Fish who adds some fantasy/fictional stuff in the stories of his life. But of course, I kind of understand why that acquaintance of mine does that. Just sometimes, fantasy is more interesting and better than the truth.

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Facebook is slowly turning to Friendster. People basically keep accepting invitations and adding countless applications to their profiles, and most of the applications in their profiles are even barely used and are just a waste of space making their profiles load slower than ever. And what the heck is this application called SuperWall? It is just the same as the Wall and it is just used for posting ridiculous chain mail. If you're asking me why do I still use my Friendster and Facebook, it's because I still like those websites. I use those websites to keep track of what is going on with my closest friends and to write some movie reviews.

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Let's face it: children are more honest, more philosophical and more curious than adults. They come up with questions that adults have gotten tired of seeking for the answers. They ask such honest questions that adults fail to notice anymore and wander about anymore. They are so innocent yet they seek for more knowledge than most of us. 

When I was a child, I honestly asked my mother: "Babae si Tita, diba? Bakit parehas silang babae?" (She is a female, right? Why are they both females?) I was of course referring to my aunts who had a lesbian relationship and who had a daughter. Of course, my mother didn't want to answer my question and told me not to talk about it again. Of course back then, I had no idea about those kinds of stuff. I of course had to figure about it by myself. It's not like it is as awkward as talking about where do babies come from.  

As I look back to the past, I think that instead of just telling my sister and I about our aunts' lesbian relationship, my parents avoided talking about it to my sister and I as if it was something taboo just like how they would rather not deal and talk about my sexuality and instead keep ignoring it. Just at the time when I need my parents the most, they aren't there.

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I love hanging out with my closest friends here in Canada. Honestly, I do but sometimes, I feel like we only talk about other people, life in schoool, and events. I don't have any problem talking about events and experiences but I really hate talking about other people and I definitely hate talking about school all the time. I don't like gossiping as I consider it very shallow. It's against my principles and values. I just like someone to personally talk to about ideas, issues, movies, music, etc. I hope I'd meet that someone in my second semester in college or in any of my old friends in the Philippines.

I reposted this from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

Happy New Year! I know that it is kind of late but it is still January 1 here so I am still greeting :D. Better late than never. Well, let's hope this will be a year full of contentment, relaxation, bliss, and joy even though we might go through some problems and conflicts here and there.

Purpose
New Year's Resolution (as if I really plan to change and as if am going to remember this list by mid-2008) 
Let's be honest. We just usually forget our resolutions after January and we never keep track of our resolutions but I am just doing this just for the sake of doing a list.
* Try not to be too preachy because apparently, it annoys some people I know XD.
* Become more open-minded to other people's opinions.
* Be more helpful and more generous to my parents. 
* Focus more on studying. Haha we all know that for sure, I won't be doing this one.
* Try as much as possible not to argue with my father because it just leads to silent wars.
* Never answer back at my parents. (Yes, I am such a rebel sometimes XD)
What else? I will probably update this when I think of something else. 

I also plan to find a part-time job by March so I can earn and save some money for when we go back to the Philippines. I also plan not to waste money on food. I'd rather waste it on movies XD.

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Pleasure
We all have our own quirks. There are also weird little things that we enjoy doing. For example, Amelie from the movie Amelie loves doing weird little things such as skipping stones on water, putting her hands under grains, etc. in a sack, and cracking creme bulee with a teaspoon. 

I enjoy touching and crumpling either paper bags or aluminum foil, touching sand paper, and stepping on dried leaves to hear that crispy and delicate sound. I also enjoy just floating in the water while facing towards the sky. I am not that good at swimming and I never liked swimming but whenever we go to the beach or to a resort, I would just float by myself as if I had no worries or problems. I also like curling myself under water like a baby seeking for warmth and comfort. I am pretty sure you all have your own quirks and weird things that you enjoy doing.

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Nostalgia
Waaaa I am feeling nostalgic all over again after seeing photos of my friends back in the Philippines which were taken during their Christmas party. I just want to go back to the Philippines right now. I also saw some photos of some of my classmates in 2nd year high school. I am not that close to them but they just remind me of my high school days in the Philippines and I also have talked to a few of them before. 

I am so jealous, our family friends here in Canada have just gone back to the Philippines. I think they arrived yesterday. They are going to stay there for a month. Lucky them, well they haven't been back in the Philippines for at least seven years so I think they do deserve a vacation.

Yes, I am a person who lives in the past. I don't really care much about the present and the future. I believe that if you try so much to forget your past, you will never be able to move forward to the future. I know, we should just concentrate in the present blah-blah-blah but it is not bad to reminisce once in a while. Past is what keeps me on moving forward.

I reposted this from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

Belated merry Christmas and an advanced happy new year :D. I was planning to post an entry and greet you all yesterday but I kind of woke up late and we had visitors, some relatives and family friends, at home. I had a great Christmas day, I guess.

Anyway, I gave a Friends Scene It to my sister since she loves the TV series Friends. She knows a lot of things about the show that I don't know about. I think both of us has watched pretty much all of the episodes of Friends but she knows more about it than me such as the names, events, places, etc. in Friends. I gave a massager to my father since he usually has backaches, and I gave a perfume kit to my mother.

I received a Little Miss Sunshine and Fight Club DVD (a few of my fave movies) from my sister, the five released movies of Harry Potter from my parents, an iLamp from my ninong and ninang, and a bunch of stuff.

I reposted this from my LiveJournal blog: I am not your average geek.

Guess where that quote is from? It's from a movie :D. I just can't think of a not-so-lame title that goes with my blog topics in this entry.

Yehey. The first semester has officially ended last Friday, and I am finally done with all of my exams. And to start my holiday, I got to hang out with my friends from my old high school last Friday :D.

Of course, I would have felt so relaxed and relieved if it weren't for that awful Mathematics test which I didn't expect to be that hard. Ugh I will just try not to dwell on it because what's done is done. Well, at least I got a good grade for my essay in English and I think I did my best for my other exams. Now I just need to worry what presents should I buy my family and my friends. I just hope I get at least an average of 80 for all of my subjects this semester.

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I have always thought of dreams as mystical and mysterious. Even though they will not ever admit it, scientists aren't capable of fully explaining what dreams are for, and psychics or whatever you guys call them aren't really precise and accurate when it comes to interpreting dreams. Even the fact that I completely forget what I have dreamt about as soon as I wake up is weird especially since I feel this weird and lingering sensation when I try to think of the dreams that I have forgotten. Sometimes, I feel like I have just experienced something that I have seen in one of my dreams or something.

You know what's weird? It's something my mother has told us weeks ago, and I am pretty sure she has mentioned it before too. She said that before my grandfather on my mother's side died (he died when my mother was about 17-20 years old), her sister had dreamt of their father having an accident because of riding a bike. And my mother's sister thought that it might be a prediction or a vision and tried to tell my grandfather not to ride on a bike or a motorcycle because the dream might become true. My grandfather didn't take it seriously. Probably weeks or months later, my grandfather unfortunately passed away after he got to an accident while riding his motorcycle. I never got to know my grandfather on my mother's side. Two different things? Coincidence? A warning in the form of a dream?

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Homosexuality is not a phase. It is not a choice. It is not something you can change whenever you want, and I am pretty sure that you can't suddenly turn into a homosexual or anything like that. I think it is something innate. The same goes for bisexuality, transsexuality, asexuality, pansexuality, etc. Before, I thought of it as a curse or something like that but now I think of it as more of a gift. I mention this because I was kind of pissed off and I tried so hard not to show it when a few days ago, my friends tried to force me to like girls. I really had a great time with them last Friday but I can't help but feel mad and kind of depressed that they want me to change something about me that can never be changed.

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Waaa I want to watch Juno, a movie starring Ellen Page (Shadowcat in X-Men: The Last Stand) and Michael Cera (Arrested Development and Superbad). Rainn Wilson (The Office), Jennifer Garner (Alias) and Jason Bateman (Arrested Development) are in this movie too. It's basically about a teenage girl who has gotten pregnant. It seems like it is going to be an awesome comedy movie, and I have heard that this movie has some witty dialogue. I can't wait to check it out.