I told my friend Chachic that I’d find time to write a blog post/meme from the 1st ever Filipino Reader Con, so even though it’s not Filipino Friday anymore (sorry about that) I figured it’s better late than never, especially as the long weekend allows me some time off a hectic work week to write.
The topic for Week 3, which was last Friday, August 26, was:
How hard or easy is it to be a book lover in the Philippines? What are some of your frustrations as a Filipino reader (e.g. availability of books)? What are positive aspects of being a reader based in the Philippines (e.g. book prices are lower here than they are abroad)?
First off, a quick background on what I read: I read a lot, but not as much as a lot of those who will be participating in this meme, that’s for sure. :))
I tend to gravitate toward the classics of the science fiction and fantasy genre, although I admit my to-read list in that department is still quite long. I read a lot of graphic novels, but mainly stand-alone ones, or the non-superhero ones. (The most recent superhero title I’m up to date with is Marvel’s Ultimate line, which, from what I hear, has already gone through a lot of changes since I last visited).
Read more at my tumblr page. :)
Versus 66, 5, 2 in 2009.
( 56 Movies )
*****
( 11 Books )
*****
( 2 Seasons of TV Shows )
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Michael Sheen, Matt Lucas, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry
Written by Linda Woolverton
Based on the books "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" by Lewis Carroll
Alice in Wonderland, the much-hyped collaboration between director Tim Burton and the Disney company, is a live-action version of Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic. While not a direct sequel to the 1951 Disney animated feature film of the same name, this version uses the animated film as a springboard of sorts.
In this version of Alice, the titular character is now a young woman in her late teens, who returns to Wonderland to escape from an arranged (and surprise, for her at least) engagement party in Victorian London. Pressured, and totally not ready to answer the marriage proposal of a snobbish aristocrat, Alice runs away to follow the White Rabbit, who leads her down through the rabbit hole (viewers of the 3D version – this part was one of highlights of the 3D visual effects!), and into a whole new adventure in Wonderland.
Read the rest of the review here!
Directed by Chris Columbus
Starring Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel, Pierce Brosnan, Catherine Keener, Uma Thurman, Sean Bean, Kevin McKidd, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson
Written by Craig Titley & Joe Stillman
Based on the novel “Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan *For the Book Review, visit Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
(Also known by its much longer title, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief in other countries)
Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief tells the story of Percy Jackson (Lerman), a regular kid struggling with dyslexia and ADHD. Soon enough, though, Percy discovers that his “disabilities” are really because he isn’t a regular kid – he is a demigod, borne of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, and a mortal woman. And never mind that he just found out that he is the son of a god – Percy is also being hunted, accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning, the most powerful weapon in the world. If not returned, this could lead to a war between the Greek gods and the end of the world as we know it.
In the tradition of the old Greek stories, Percy is accompanied by his guardian satyr/best friend Grover (Jackson), and the demigoddess Annabeth (Daddario) in his quest to not only save the world by appeasing the angry Zeus and finding “the lightning thief,” but also to save his human mother from the clutches of Hades, god of the underworld.
Percy Jackson is a fun, modern take on the myths of old. I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, and it was fun to see how the filmmakers transplanted some of the tales into modern day America, including some lesser known myths. Of course, it’s not only the gods that are present – creatures and other characters of the myths make appearances, including a harpy, a minotaur, the wise centaur Chiron, and the gorgon Medusa (played splendidly by Uma Thurman, channeling her inner Poison Ivy), among others.
Read the rest of the review here!
Looks like February ain’t gonna be so boring for movies after all.
After a slew of films released in January (most foreign holiday films were released just this year because of the MMFF), including The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (Heath Ledger’s last film, which I was unfortunately unable to catch in theaters), the excellent Sherlock Holmes, the underrated Daybreakers (another film we’ve mentioned in this space before, Legion, is still out, I think, but probably not for long) one might think that there won’t be any great stuff to tide moviegoers over till the big hits arrive for summer.
Fortunately, a trio of promising films opens today, which will complement Disney’s The Princess and the Frog (which has been getting good reviews; I’ve yet to watch it though) at your local moviehouse.
Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Screenplay by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, Simon Kinberg
Story by Lionel Wigram
Based on characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A re-imagination of the world’s most popular detective, Sherlock Holmes follows the story of Holmes (Downey, Jr.), his loyal friend Dr. John Watson (Law), and Holmes’ rival/master thief Irene Adler (McAdams) in a mystery involving the powerful Lord Blackwood (Strong), who seems to have risen up from the dead to cast an aura of terror over London. Director Guy Ritchie teams up with a solid cast of stars to bring the classic characters to life for a new audience.
I initially had a few concerns about how they could bring Sherlock Holmes’ to the big screen without it being too “talky” or awkward (like the Da Vinci Code and its sequel), but I should have known better.
Check out the rest of the review here!
( 66 Movies )
*****
Books:
1. SW: Darth Bane - Path Of Destruction, w. Drew Karypyshyn: B
2. Marvels, w. Kurt Busiek, illus. Alex Ross: B+
3. A History of Violence, w. John Wagner, illus. Vince Locke: A
4. Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope, w. Chris Warner, illus. Drew Johnson: B
5. Global Frequency [Volume 2: Detonation Radio], w. Warren Ellis, illus. Various artists: B+
*****
Series:
1. How I Met Your Mother, S1 to S4: A
2. The Big Bang Theory, S1 to S2: A
Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen, Jamie Campbell Bower
Directed by Chris Weitz
Screenplay by Mark Morgan & Wyck Godfrey
Based on the novel "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer
The first film in the series was so bad it was good. I admit it, I was entertained. New Moon isn't as bad, but while entertaining enough, isn't particularly good either.
New Moon picks up where the first film left off: Bella Swan (Stewart) and the "vegetarian" vampire Edward Cullen (Pattinson) are still lovebirds. Bella's birthday is being celebrated by the Cullen family, with the celebration organized by Alice, one of Edward's "sisters." Unfortunately, the party doesn't go as planned - when Bella suffers from a small papercut, the sight/scent of her blood drives the bloodlust of Jasper (Jackson Rathbone, who will notably be playing Sokka in the upcoming The Last Airbender). Edward accidentally harms Bella when he pushes Jasper away (super-strength, and all that), and is guilty over it. What follows is two hours of teen drama interspersed with some supernatural fight scenes and a vampire "high council," as Edward leaves Bella "for her own safety," Bella goes into crazy/depressed mode, and Sharkboy, uh, I mean, Jacob Black (a beefed up Taylor Lautner) tries to prove his affections for Bella.
Read the rest here!
Starring John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson, Jimi Mistry
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Screenplay by Harald Kloser & Roland Emmerich
"It's a disaster!"
Those were the first thoughts that crossed my mind when I first saw the trailer and the premise of Roland Emmerich's 2012.
And the latest disaster film from Roland Emmerich (the destroyer of worlds director of such films as Independence Day, Godzilla, and The Day After Tomorrow) certainly delivers a ton of disaster. More so than you may be accustomed to, and probably more than enough for, I don't know, 10 disaster movies?
In the words of io9's Garrison Dean (in this cool spoof trailer he made, which I can't get enough of haha!): "So much destruction, all future catastrophes will be compared to this film!"
Read the rest here!
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