Archive for November, 2008

Watching Twilight at twilight


2008
11.30
Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

After getting visually bombarded by huge Twilight movie billboards for weeks, I have finally set out to see it myself and find what the whole frenzy is about. Greenbelt cinemas were packed on a Friday night, even the midnight slots were already booked. We’re lucky to have secured movie passes at Glorietta for the 11pm screening.

I consider myself a Twilight virgin. I have never lifted a single page of the Stephanie Meyer series. Imagine how surprised I was to find throngs of people enduring long lines to get through the cinemas. I can only remember four movies where I literally had to use some sort of a battle plan to get ahead the mad flock. Twilight becomes the unexpected fifth.

Edward Cullen and Bella Swan

Edward Cullen and Bella Swan sent sparks flying

The good thing about not having read the book is placing not much expectations on the movie version. I just wanted a nice movie to watch and a vampire story happens to be it. I didn’t come out sourgraping for missed out book scenes. Just a bit disappointed though that the movie could have been twice better in the special effects department. It also somehow failed to build heart-pumping scenes and lack not-knowing-what-happens-next type of conflict. The movie is quite predictable.

What saved Twilight is the cast headed by Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen) and Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan). Pattinson, who also played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, fits the role of a mysterious head-turner 17-year-old vampire. Many girls can relate to Stewart’s unassuming character Bella. There was chemistry on screen as their characters were slowly built up. I also find their dialogues for a typical vampire movie sharp and witty – “I had an adrenaline rush. It’s very common. You can Google it.”

Despite some flaws, Twilight the movie is a monstrous success. Their book series were sold like hot pancakes and infused life to bleak online trading and selling as the holidays draw near.

And Pattinson has just given Stephanie Meyer’s character a face every girl on the planet has fallen in love with.

David Cook: Self-titled album finally cooked


2008
11.25
It's cooked!

It's cooked!

In the coming days, I have this feeling I’ll be out working late that would make travel during the holidays seems like an overdue Christmas wish or an empty stocking. But regardless how Christmas might turn out to be, I am glad things are better than before and life has never been this good.

And when you have a new thing around, like the latest David Cook album, it definitely feels like New Year already :D

American Idol David Cook released his self-titled debut album last November 18th. Cook co-wrote 9 songs and songwriters Chris Cornell, Brian Howes and Cathy Dennis contributed as well. His first single, Light On, was co-written by Chris Cornell, lead singer and songwriter for Soundgarden and Audioslave and producer/songwriter Brian Howes. Cook’s album is currently ranked at #4 in Amazon sales, and about burst the charts in the coming weeks. I’m glad there’s Paypal today.

While brother has been busy buying stuff like a giant Whirlpool, Danze faucets and a vacuum cleaner (hmm…for the cats?), I settle for a more tamed line-up. The latest David Cook album, a new dress/suit (ehem) and a laptop (coughs) make up my Christmas wish list.

And New Year has a list to take care of its own. Like the David Cook Manila concert they say in January.

King of the road


2008
11.22
Also king of the road

Hail, king of the road!

Jesus probably has the most number of portrait versions done using all sorts of media. He appears on greeting cards, notebooks, books, leaflets, shirts, handkerchiefs and button pins. Sometimes he is white, brown, black and anything in between. We see him as a helpless tiny baby, a teen nomad or a Spanish gypsy. His icons serve as an amulet against aswang, evil spirits and the freaks. On the road, they say he works best with the Virgin Mary, so you’ll find mother-and-son team on car and jeepney dashboards and stickers, bus windows and tricycle units. If that is the case, your car, life and health insurance companies are in better hands than you are.

If he were a living person, his income from royalties would have made him richer than the Queen. Or J.K. Rowling. And this handsome Jew would have even made it big in Hollywood.

People down the ages up until now have painted their images of him from beggar to freak. But what is he really like? What did the Bible say about his life as an ordinary human?

Old testament prophet Isaiah had a glimpse of who the Messiah was centuries before he was born. He calls him the “suffering servant”. Jesus was never a Jewish heartthrob during his time.

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

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