Sunday, November 22, 2009

Review of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

NOTE: If you're a Twi-hard fan like my cousin and sister (Ay mali, Harry Potter fan nga pala siya.), and you hate people bashing this movie, then please stop reading at this point. Otherwise, feel free to continue.

Summit Entertainment's adaptation of Stephenie Mayer's New Moon is as disappointing as the first film. (I've have a DVD of it, but I couldn't bear watching it after thirty minutes.) Kristen Stewart mopes a lot (Para siyang emo.). I can't see why Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) would fight over Bella if Kristen's portrayal of her was, to put it mildly, unsatisfactory. Masyadong nagpaka-OA si Bella dito, lalo na nung iniwan siya ni Edward. Kung saan saan pumupunta, tapos sigaw ng sigaw 'pag tulog.

I don't even see why these "buffs" deserve the screams of many fans everywhere if the scriptwriters made them look like cowards, who promise to protect the vapid Bella then run away from her. They aren't examples of the "dream guy" they're supposed to be. It's even the girl who comes rescuing her "precious boyfriend" from the hands of the Volturi.


To tell you the truth, Taylor outshone Robert in this film. Jacob appears more passionate and warm (ladies' man), as opposed to Edward, who becomes more and more of a goth as the film progressed. Robert's acting (or lack of it) is wasted, and Taylor owns this movie.) No wonder the debate between Team Edward and Team Jacob flared up. If you ask me, I choose neither.

There was too much kissing in this film. I tried keeping track of them, but I simply gave up after the fifth one. Some scenes were also included to induce laughter among the audience. However, I don't find them funny. If only the dialogue and acting was executed well. I slept through the last half of the movie, thinking of food. Lastly, bitin na naman ang kuwento. Pero sasabihin ng ilan diyan, kaya nga may "Eclipse" eh.

The only thing I liked in this film is the CGI effects. You could see how anger turns one seemingly human into a werewolf. The fight scenes were at least good enough.

Overall, at a scale of ten, I'd rate this a three. Nice try, but still not worth it.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Ancient Greek Trivia (in Tagalog - Project in Araling Panlipunan)

Alam ninyo ba...

• na bukod sa pagiging diyos ng karagatan, si Poseidon ay kinilala rin bilang diyos ng lindol?
• na ang diyosa ng kabataan ay si Hebe?
• na ang Mother’s Day o Araw ng mga Ina ay tradisyong nagmula sa Greece, bilang pagsamba kay Cybele, ina ng mga diyos at diyosa
• na ang pagkain at inumin ng mga diyos at diyosa ng Greece upang manatiling immortal ay nectar at ambroisa?
• na pinatay si Agamemnon, hari ng Mycenae, ng kanyang asawa habang naliligo?
• na ilang taon matapos sunugin ng mga Corinth ang Mycenae, itinayo itong muli upang magsilbing tirahan ng mga retiradong sundalo?
• na matapos isulat ang batas ng Sparta ay ginutom ni Lycurgus ang kanyang sarili hanggang kamatayan upang magkaroon ng mas maraming pagkain para sa kanyang mga kababayan?
• na nilason si Socrates gamit ang hemlock matapos mabilanggo sa salang pagtataksil?
• na nag-ensayo ang dakilang orador na si Demosthenes sa pamamagitan ng paglagay ng mga bato sa kanyang bibig?
• na 1/3 ng hukbo ng Athens at pati si Pericles ay namatay sa isang epidemya sa kasagsagan ng Digmaang Peloponnesian noong 430 B.C.?
• na tinulungan ng mga Persians ang Sparta sa Digmaang Peloponnesian?
• na si Lysander ang pinuno ng Sparta na tuluyang tumalo sa Athens sa labanan sa Aegospotami?
• na ang pangalan ng kabayo ni Alexander the Great ay Bucephalus, na hinango sa isang lungsod sa Ilog Indus?
• na humigit-kumulang 70 lungsod ang itinayo ni Alexander the Great sa mga lupaing kanyang sinakop?

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Beowulf and Grendel movie review


 I. Introduction

The heroic exploits of Beowulf are retold in the 2005 film Beowulf & Grendel. A joint effort between Eurasia Motion Pictures (Canada), Spice Factory (UK), and Bjolfskvida (Iceland) resulted in this great masterpiece. We once more witness, in a new light, how Beowulf had defended the Danes from the wrath of the troll Grendel.

The only surviving epic in English history has been rehashed with new surprising twists. New characters and scenes are introduced specifically for this movie. We learn the back story behind Grendel’s murderous campaign. We get to know about new characters, which have crucial roles on the beast’s downfall.

II. Director

Born in Iceland in 1951 and raised in Vancouver from the age of seven, Sturla Gunnarsson is one of the best-known and award-winning filmmakers from Canada, directing feature films, documentaries and television dramas. His films have been recognized with a multitude of awards, including Emmy, Genie and Gemini Awards, a Prix Italia and an Oscar nomination.

In July 2004, Gunnarsson started directing one of the most difficult projects he ever had. The shooting of Beowulf and Grendel did not come easy, as the entire cast and crew experienced numerous problems. The film went over-budget and they had a hard time surviving the harsh Icelandic winter. As Gunnarsson faced these gigantic obstacles, he seemed to take on the appearance of a “troll”. Eventually, they were able to overcome them all. Their struggles are described in the 2005 documentary Wrath of Gods.

III. Story

A. Characters

• Beowulf (portrayed by Gerard Butler) – He is the hero, from the land of the Geats, who came to the aid of the Danes to fight Grendel.
• Grendel (portrayed by Ingvar Sigurðsson) – He is the antagonist, a troll who sought revenge against the Danes for killing his father. The Danes feared him.
• Hrothgar (portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård) – He is the king of the Danes, who built Herot to celebrate his many victories. He believed that he had not done his job since he could not prevent the bloodshed caused by Grendel’s attacks.
• Selma (portrayed by Sarah Polley) – She was a Dane who was banished by her own people, and claimed that she was a seer, someone who was capable to see the future.

B. Setting

The land of the Danes is portrayed as a land full of stunning landscapes. We see breath-taking and panoramic views of green hills, black-sand beaches and blue seas. The environment looked pristine on the days when the world was young.

The story takes place during the 6th century A.D. The life style of the Danes observed in the movie depicted that era. They survived mainly by fishing or by farming. They followed pagan traditions, although they displayed traces of Christianity, such as baptism. They had a government which was led by a king. They settled disputes through violence.

C. Plot

The film starts with a large burly troll and his juvenile but bearded son, Grendel, being pursued by warriors led by Hrothgar. The chase had ended at a cliff, and in order to protect Grendel, his father ordered him to climb down and hide. They shot arrows at Grendel’s father, killing and plunging him to the shore below. Hrothgar then had found Grendel, but he chose to spare him, being overcome by pity. After the Danes had left, Grendel approached his father. He tried to carry his large corpse, but to no avail. He cut his head off and took it home.

Years had passed, and we see the severed head as well as Grendel, who had grown to be as brawny as his father. He hit himself with rocks, expressing his fury and setting off his campaign to annihilate the Danes. After a party, twenty men sleeping in Herot were assaulted and twenty warriors were killed by Grendel. This causes fear among the Danes, who had converted to Christianity at the urging of an Irish priest.

News of Grendel’s assaults soon reached Geatland. Beowulf then requested his king, Hygelac, to allow him and his men to sail and vanquish the troll terrorizing the Danes. The king granted their appeal and wished them success. Upon arrival at the land of the Danes, Beowulf’s party was received by Hrothgar. The warriors decided to sleep at Herot, anticipating the monster’s attack. Grendel had moved towards the hall but when the Geats were preparing for battle, the troll suddenly ran away. Beowulf had learned from Selma that Grendel wouldn’t find the Geats because they had not done any wrong against him.

A newly baptised man had pointed the location of Grendel’s cave to the Geats, but without a rope, they were afraid to die going down to the cave, and turned back. After seeing that villager dead the next day, Beowulf and his group entered the cave, but the beast was not there. One of his men cursed and destroyed the head of Grendel’s father. Grendel was outraged when he went home to see his sanctuary defiled and his father desecrated.

Selma narrated how Grendel had awkwardly raped her one stormy night, and he had protected her ever since, worrying Beowulf even more. Hrothgar also admits his mistake of killing Grendel’s father just for stealing a fish.

That night, Grendel finally attacked the Geats. He killed the man who had destroyed his father’s shrine. Feeling satisfied, Grendel was going to escape when his right arm was caught by a rope. Instead of facing death at the hands of Beowulf, the fiend cut his arm off and limped to his doom, falling at the same shore where his father had been. His carcass was taken from the sea by a mysterious hand.

Festivities were held in Herot once more, and Grendel’s detached arm was displayed as a trophy for their success. However, Grendel’s mother had attacked Herot and seized his son’s arm. Beowulf followed suit and killed her at a tavern where Grendel’s body had laid. Out of the shadows, a red-haired boy, who Beowulf presumed to be Grendel’s son had appeared and was ready to fight. However, Beowulf no longer wanted to combat and left.

Beowulf built a memorial for Grendel. Before going back to Geatland, the protagonist warns Selma to hide her child so the Danes would not discover and slaughter him.

D. Theme

Like the epic, bravery is the main theme in the movie. We see how Beowulf faced the tough villains and overcame all of them. He fulfilled his sworn task of protecting the Danes and to bring success to his tribe before returning to Geatland.

However, other themes are explored in this movie. Beowulf continued to question the need to destroy Grendel. While the Danes and his warriors continued to assert that Grendel was evil, Beowulf believed that the troll had a reason for committing the attacks. This was proven when Hrothgar admitted killing Grendel’s father. Grendel also appeared to act by a strange ethic code, wherein he kills the Danes for revenge but does not kill the king who spared his life. Beowulf preferred to leave Grendel alone, but he accepted the fact that he needed to vanquish him.

Religion also plays a key role in the film. When the Danes were terrorized by Grendel, they turned away from their pagan beliefs, who they believed did not help them. Instead, they believed in Jesus, who was forgiving and expected nothing in return.

IV. Moral/Theme

“Revenge is never an option.” We see how Grendel avenged his father’s death. He seemed to justify his actions of taking innocent lives because of the wrongs done against him. However, by committing these acts, he ultimately sealed his fate. It was because of this that he had died. We cannot obtain justice if we commit wrongs to people who have also offended us.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Retiring from the Internet

The past two months of the new school year have been rough for me. I have lost a lot of ground especially in the major subjects. I feel that it's because I'm spending more and more time on the Internet and less on studying and focusing clearly. I'm wasting my time in front of this computer. That's why I have come to this conclusion: I will be retiring all my accounts temporarily, until further notice.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Homeless Heart lyrics by Jennette McCurdy



Homeless Heart

Lonesome stranger
With a crowd around you
I see who you are

You joke, they laugh
Til the show is over
Then you fall so hard

If you're needing
A soul-to-soul connection
I'll run to your side

When you're lost in the dark
When you're out in the cold
When you're looking for something that resembles your soul
When the wind blows your house of cards
I'll be a home to your homeless heart

Open close me
Leave your secrets with me
I can ease your pain

And my arms will be
Just like walls around you
Come in from the rain

If you're running
In the wrong direction
I will lead you back

When you're lost in the dark
When you're out in the cold
When you're looking for something that resembles your soul
When the wind blows your house of cards
I'll be a home to your homeless heart

Broken
Shattered like a mirror
In a million pieces
Sooner or later
You've got to find
Something someone
To find you and save you

When you're lost in the dark
When you're out in the cold
When you're looking for something that resembles your soul
When the wind blows your house of cards
I'll be a home to your homeless heart

When you're looking for something that resembles your soul
When the wind blows your house of cards
I'll be a home to your homeless heart

I'll be a home to your homeless heart

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Watch "Jose Rizal" film here

EDIT: DamnControl2 at YouTube removed the movie (17 parts), possibly due to copyright infringement. You know how GMA (Kanguso) is addicted in protecting the rights to its works. Only the trailer is available here.

Luzviminda


Luzviminda - Freddie Aguilar

“Luzviminda”
ni Freddie Aguilar

Ikaw ay nagtiwala nang buong puso sa kanyang mga pangako
Tamis ng kanyang dila at pinakinggan akala mo ay totoo
Ang ginanti nya sa pag-ibig mo ay puro pagbabalat-kayo
O Luzviminda gumising ka na 'wag mong sirain ang 'yong mundo
Gising na, gising na, gising na!

Tumanaw ka sa 'yong paligid at nang maglinaw ang 'yong mga mata
Ngayon na ang tamang oras o Luzviminda 'wag ka nang maghintay pa
Ikilos mo ang 'yong mga kamay, ihakbang mo ang 'yong mga paa
O Luzviminda gumising ka na 'wag mong sirain ang 'yong mundo
Gising na, gising na, gising na!

O gising na Luzviminda
Ikaw ay 'di nag-iisa
Ikilos mo ang yong mga kamay, ihakbang mo ang 'yong mga paa
O Luzviminda gumising ka na 'wag mong sirain ang 'yong mundo
Gising na, gising na, gising na!

Kailan ka magigising o Luzviminda tanggapin ang totoo
'Wag ka nang magbubulag-bulagan pa hindi na siya magbabago
Ginagawa ka niyang laruan pinapaikot-ikot ang 'yong ulo
O Luzviminda gumising ka na 'wag mong sirain ang 'yong mundo
Gising na, gising na, gising na!

O gising na Luzviminda
Ikaw ay di nag-iisa
Ginagawa ka nyang laruan pinapaikot ikot ang 'yong ulo
O Luzviminda gumising ka na wag mong sirain ang 'yong mundo
Gising na, gising na, gising na!

O gising na Luzviminda
Ikaw ay di nag-iisa
O gising na!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

ABS-CBN Sabay Tayo 2004 lyrics



SABAY TAYO

Titik: Robert G. Labayen
Himig: Jessie Lasaten

Sa ‘yo ko lang naranasan, ang lambing na totohanan
Ngiti mong 'di nagpapanaw, ano pa man ang pagdaanan
Walang malungkot na araw, pag ang kasama ay ikaw
At sa pinag-isang damdamin, malayo ma’y, magkapiling pa rin
Sabay tayo sa bawat pagtibok ng ating puso
Sabay tayo sa lahat ng nais ako’y kasama mo
Sabay tayong lumuha, sabay tayong magsaya
Sabay nagsisikap sa iisang pangarap
Magkaramay sa lumbay, magkasama sa lahat ng tagumpay

Makinig, manginig masdan ang aking bibig,
May sasabihin akong talagang nakakakilig
Matagal ko na itong sa sarili nabatid
Napaka-swerte ko at ikaw ay aking kapatid.
Lahing malupit, lahing astig, matinik, magaling,
Malikot ang isip kahit saang dako ng daigdig
Kapag ikaw at ako’y magkasabay, may malaking bagay
Itigil na natin, alitan at ano mang away
Yabangan, bangayan, tama na ang paligsahan
Mas gusto ko pa na tayong lahat ay magyakapan
Isang pamilya sama-sama, ating lahi bigyan ng kulay
Bandila’y iwagayway, buong mundo ay magpupugay
Sama-sama, lahat ay maghawak-kamay
Bawat isa sa atin ay magsisilbing gabay
Sama-sama, lahat ay maghawak-kamay
Bawat isa sa atin ay magsisilbing gabay

Sa pinag-isang layunin
Sa pinag-samang galling
Saan man dito sa mundo
Ikaw at ako’y magniningning

Kapag kamay mo’y aking hawak
Para akong may pakpak
Pagsubok man ay umapaw
Ikaw at ako’y mangingibabaw

Sabay tayo sa bawat pagtibok ng ating puso
Sabay tayo sa lahat ng nais ako’y kasama mo
Sabay tayong lumuha, sabay tayong magsaya
Sabay nagsisikap sa isang pangarap
Magkaramay sa lumbay
Magkasama sa lahat ng tagumpay

Sabay tayo sa bawat pagtibok ng ating puso
Sabay tayo sa lahat ng nais ako’y kasama mo
Sabay tayong lumuha, sabay tayong magsaya
Sabay nagsisikap sa isang pangarap
Magkaramay sa lumbay
Magkasama sa lahat ng tagumpay

Sabay tayo sa bawat pagtibok ng ating puso
Sabay tayo sa lahat ng nais ako’y kasama mo
Sabay tayong lumuha, sabay tayong magsaya
Sabay nagsisikap sa isang pangarap
Magkaramay sa lumbay
Magkasama sa lahat ng tagumpay

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Gumising ka, Pilipinas!

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat,

Ano na ba ang nangyari sa bansang Pilipinas?

Noong dekada ’80 (otsenta), nakatitig ang mga mata ng buong mundo sa atin. Lugmok sa kahirapan noon ang ating bansa na kagagawan ni Ferdinand Marcos, ang asawa niyang si Imelda, at ng kanyang mga krony. Nanghihina na ang diktador samantalang lumalakas ang bantang dala ng komunismo. Naging brutal ang militar sa sinumang kokontra sa kanyang pamahalaan. Marami sa kanila ang nawala na lamang. Tinawag tayong “Sick Man of Asia”. Lumalaki ang galit ng taong-bayan na lalong sumidhi nang paslangin si Ninoy Aquino noong 1983.

Nagkaisa ang lahat ng mga Pilipino noon, mayaman man o mahirap, sa adhikang mapalaya ang Inang Bayan sa kamay ng binansagang “Hitler ng Pilipinas”. Sinuportahan natin ang krusada ni Cory, ang maybahay ng napatay na senador at Doy. Naging kaagapay natin tungo sa pagbabago pati mga pari, madre at sundalo, na tumiwalag kay Marcos. Nagtagumpay tayo at naabot natin ang minimithi. Napatalsik natin si Marcos at naibalik natin ang demokrasya. Subalit, anong klase ng demokrasya?

Bumalik tayo sa kasalukuyan. May nabago ba? Kung iisipin natin, halos wala. Bulok pa rin ang mga nakaupo sa Malacanang. Wala silang pakialam kundi ang magnakaw sa kaban ng bayan. Lumolobo ang panlabas na utang ng ating bansa na napupunta lamang sa kanilang bulsa. Lumalaki ang hidwaan sa pagitan ng mga mahihirap at mayayaman. Nagpapakasarap ang mga may pera habang nagdurusa sa gutom ang mga maralita. Nagproprotesta pa rin ang mga tao laban sa pang-aabuso sa ating mga karapatan at paghingi ng mga reporma. Tumataas madalas ang presyo ng mga bilihin. Hindi pa tuluyang nasusugpo ang kurapsyon.

Papalapit na naman ang halalan. Isang taon na lang, pupunta na naman tayo sa mga presinto upang bumoto. Kailangan nating lahat na makilahok dito, lalong-lalo na ang mga kabataan. Tayo ang magdedesisyon ukol sa ating hinaharap. Ika nga, “Tayo ang simula!” Subalit, sino ang karapat-dapat na piliin? Paano natin maiiwasang mapunta ang Pilipinas sa kamay ng isa pang “trapo”?

Kailangan nating maging mapagmatiyag. Huwag tayong maniwala sa mga pangakong laging napapako. Huwag kayong papalinlang sa mga bumibili ng boto, nagpapadyak, kumakanta, mamamatay-tao, sabit sa kontrobersiya, naglalagay ng tarpaulin na nagsasabing , “Be our next president!”, nagbebenta ng sabon, gumagawa ng acrostic upang madaling maalala ang pangalan at iba pa. Hindi pa panahon ng pangangampanya, halatang gusto nang makahawak ng limpak-limpak na salapi.

Kailangan nating tignan ang kasaysayan ng isang kandidato. Malinis ba ang kanyang pangalan? Husto ba niyang napagsilbihan ang kanyang nasasakupan? Pabor ba sa kanya ang taong bayan? Mapagkumbaba ba siya? Hindi ba siya magnanakaw? Hindi lang iyan ang dapat isipin, ngunit ito ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat.

Huwag tayong magkakamali tulad nang nangyari noong 1965, 1998 at 2004. Pag-isipan nating mabuti kung ano ang gusto nating mangyari sa susunod na anim na taon para sa Perlas ng Silanganan.

Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat.

Friday, May 8, 2009

[Crayola] Magenta

 
Magenta
Year Introduced: 1903
Box Introduced Into: Studio & School 12

Learn to Drive and Earn for a Living Program

A Transport Services Operation Cooperative

Established and managed by OFW Group


· Looking for professional and dedicated drivers for the following transport services operation :

  1. Tourist
  2. Rent-a-car
  3. Taxi
  4. GT Express

· Wanted Employees

  1. Professional Drivers
  2. Former OFW Drivers
  3. College or vocational student desires to work as Part time Driver

· Qualifications

  1. With experience as PUV or private driver
  2. With sense of professionalism
  3. With dedication to his obligations
  4. At least 19-60 years of age

· Requirements

  1. Professional Driver License
  2. Alcohol & drug test
  3. Barangay Clearance
  4. Police or NBI Clearance
  5. Sketch of Home Address

· Pay Scale

  1. Salary
  2. Flat Rate
  3. Commission
  4. Profit Sharing

· Plus incentive or bonus scheme

Students or individual that has no driving skills or experience to drive but has the passion to earn a living in driving, YOU will be given the opportunity in our program “Learn to Drive and Earn for a Living”.

Please send or forward you bio-data / resume to services.transport@yahoo.com or transport.services@yahoo.com.ph