Rambling on The Sphinx, Mystery Men,

I distinctly remember renting the tape of this movie from Video City, on a rainy day, as the third tape of a rent-2-get-1-free promo. Just a freebie, but, after viewing, I thought it was a work of tantalizing genius and of sheer courage. How could the studios allow this kind of groundbreaking superhero comedy movie? And the writing I thought was given much care and thinking. As one proof, read these teachings of one minor character in the film... the Sphinx

 

To learn my teachings, I must first teach you how to learn.

You must lash out with every limb, like the octopus who plays the drums.

He who questions training only trains himself at asking questions.

You must be like wolf pack, not six-pack.

We are number one. All others are number two, or lower. 

When you care what is outside, what is inside cares for you. 

When you can balance a tack hammer on your head, you can head off your foes with a balanced attack.

When you begin to doubt your powers, you give power to your doubts.

Hilarious and crazy, but you can glean how these dialogues were carefully crafted. Not anyone can write them!

The part was played by Wes Studi. Incidentally, I watched Last of the Mohicans just a few days after seeing Mystery Men.

I got disoriented in seeing him in a serious original kick-ass badman role, as directed by Michael Mann.

Last of the Mohicans is widely recognized as a fantastic film. Mystery Men, on the other hand, did not do well critically and commercially. I dont get why people didn't get Mystery Men until I saw an entry in Wikipedia that this is now a cult film. I hope a producer heretofore give Kinka Usher another chance. Kinka Usher--cool name for the maker of a cool movie.

Why I believe in Apple and Steve Jobs

Their products, the contents they can delivery, and the manner they can deliver these contents can extract the most genuine of expressions of  

delight, 

curiosity 

serious thought and urge to understand. 

What more can you ask of gadgets?

Best Pinoy Movies

One time in Jessica Zafra's blog, readers were asked to lay down what they think are the best Filipino Movies of all time. It was a great exercise, and we participated. Here goes our list with some comments

1) Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?
we consider this  precursor of Forrest Gump. Fantastic direction and location shoots.

2) Tuhog
A masterpiece by Jeturian. Fantastic acting by all the players, even Ina Raymundo, who we thought was only good as a token leading leading-lady in action films, delivered a fine performance. 

3) Ang Tatay Kong Nanay
Brocka and Dolphy combined for what should be a template for any producer attempting to build a solid dramedy.

4) Kakabakaba ka ba?

The best pinoy comedy (and probably musical) ever. It's amazing to recall that Armida of Aawitan Kita is in here.

5) Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

The best indie that came out of Cinemalaya,Cinemaoneoriginals, and all the other programs of recent years.

6) Scorpio Nights

For the depiction of the Philippine version of suburban life. We call it "looban" in the Philippines, and the dynamics of any looban setting can make hundreds of good movies.

7) Oro, Plata, Mata

Although cartoonish on the last act, the movie has solid narrative and well-grounded characters.

8) Huwag Mong Salingin ang Sugat Ko (The Buenavista Story)

Last movie by Brocka. Very political, sensible, relevant, brave, and purposeful until the end.

9) Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington

This is how a 'pop' commercial film should be made for this generation.

10) Facifica Falayfay

Another Dolphy classic that trailblazed the local comedy genre.

11) Saan Darating ang Umaga?
Great ensemble cast.

12) Orapronobis

Good, urgent, pulsing narrative, almost like a docu on how the CAFGU system is abused. Also demonstrates how pinoy movies should not need one bida (leadrole) to be great.

13) Kapit sa Patalim
Another brave Brocka, which has legitimate advocacy.

14) Pepeng Kaliwete

Great FPJ action film. Solid, no supermanish one-against-1000 gunfight. Also, solid anchor on history of American Occupation and the humble conditions of sugarcane farmers.

15) There's an episode from Lovingly Yours, Helen The Movie that is compelling and complete enough--not the one that killed Julie Vega (namaligno), but the episode about brain cancer starring Vivian Foz (?). but Im ambivalent since my tita passionately insists that the version broadcasted on TV is tighter and better.

16) Isla. 
Cho Kajo and the perya ferris wheel. First learned about Betamax's rewind-scan function because of this movie.  hehe

17) Karnal

Fantastic depiction of rural, paternalistic life. Solid acting from Vic Silayan.

18) Temptation Island

Classic Fantastic Camp.

19) one andres de saya sequel that we caught on piling piling pelikula

cant recall which one. basta meron isang maganda sa series na ito

20) Hihintayin Kita sa Langit

Wuthering Heights. The filmmakers deserves kudos in delivering a non-traditional love story based on this classic book.

21) Somewhere
mostly for that climactic scene where Rudy Fernandez's eyeball popped out of its socket)

22) Hiram na Mukha 
for Hugo Rodan; fantastic performance by Christopher de Leon.

***

I havent seen Endo, Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Banawe, any by Mario O'Hara , Burlesk Queen. Making this list reminds me that I should do equal effort in looking for these films as much as the Scorseses, Truffauts, Allens. 

Philip Roth, retiree

Ah, Philip Roth just retired. I can't fully grasp the concept of a writer retiring, especially someone as prolific as he is, but this is now what he's declaring to the world. (although I think the qualifier is: he's retiring from writing novels).

Read also the nice blogpost by Remnick on the New Yorker and the article from nytimes. Interesting quote:

Nearby was an iPhone he had bought recently. “Why?” he said. “Because I’m free. Every morning I study a chapter in ‘iPhone for Dummies,’ and now I’m proficient. I haven’t read a word for two months. I pull this thing out and play with it.”

(it's also amazing how he chose to announce his retirement first through a french publication).

To me, the magic of Roth's writing lies in its unabashedness and forcefulness. When youre reading even his early work, it's already evident that there's just no topic he'll not go through if thats where the plot and story should go, or are built to go. I remember one scene in Patrimony, his recollection of his relationship with his father (against the premise of Philip's papa's suffering a dreaded disease), where Roth recounted how he helped his father bathe one time, and then he can't help but ruminate on his father's penis--what is right or wrong with it, how's the crookedness, shape, and size, and how his own fares against his father's. 

Sabbath's Theater and Portnoy's Complaint remain to be two in my top 10 novels primarily, surely, for their braveness. They gave me inspiration and belief in the magic, value, and possibilities of fiction during college, and they sustained my love for reading. Roth's books are among the first ones that urged me to raid National Bookstore's bargain bins. The papers of his book, by the time Operation Shylock, et al reached the bin, are already yellow, but of course his words are timeless. 

The last Roth that I've read is American Pastoral. It is not as good as others are declaring it is. It is supposedly his masterpiece, but the ending, especially, does not work for me. And the book has just too much rumination and meta-things to be as 'moving' as the others. I plodded along just to finish American Pastoral. His best remains Sabbath's Theater, at least among those Ive read (The Facts, Patrimony, Prague Orgy, American Pastoral, Professor of Desire, Portnoy's Complaint, Goodbye Columbus). I cant claim to be an expert because these in total are not even 30% of the master's output (which was one quality book a year recently).

I will definitely get Nemesis--his declared last novel.  

Give Roth the Nobel Prize already. 

Un-Yummy Roast (SM Bicutan)

Yummy roast in SM Bicutan is anything but yummy. 

You can see that the asado thing (reddish meat) is all dry.

Even the chicken is bland.

Tofu, which is hard to bungle-up, is also funny tasting in this place. It seems like they were not contented letting the natural flavor of soya come out, they had to mix-in some sort of chemical that bites the tongue. We also dont know what was the brown, shit-looking thing, that they've put on top.

Although prices are cheap, at par with Jollibee, skip Yummy Roast. This restaurant doesnt deserve to last one year.

I think Pepper Potts will die

That's one of the quickest way to make this movie dark dark.

And besides, producers probably thought, Gwyneth Paltrow is not getting any younger?

I just hope they do the whole movie right.

And the whole thing consulted with, or better yet, approved, by Whedon the Master.

Aling Lucing's Sisig

We had to drop by SM Sta Mesa to check out if the department store there have the stock of  the Merrell sandals, at the specific size, we are eyeing. 

We didnt plan to have dinner at that mall, but when we passed by the food court, we saw Aling Lucing's Sisig. 

I wondered if this is by the same owners of the original Aling Lucing im Pampanga, the inventor of that killer of a dish, the bane of all batoks, the vein clogger of all beer drinkers, the undefeatable pulutan... Sisig. 

We asked the lady counter if theyre affiliated with the Pampanga carinderia, but she didnt know. And we also havent been to the original. Weve been planning to some time (and also try to hit the original Razon's in one trip), but we dont have Googlemap before, so still no cigar.

Anyway, at 98 pesos, you are given an ample serving of tasty sisig. Talampunay ordered grilled liempo with the added Sinigang option at 110 PhP. She said the liempo is unremarkable.

The sisig is really fatty, perhaps 40% fat composition as shown in this picture. At one point when a spoonful lands in your mouth, you can feel the creaminess of fat swimming in your tongue. Creamy coagulation starting to do its magic. Wow.  

Although I would choose the crunchy variant of sisig, some purists say that that is not the original sisig, but just sizzling chicharon. They have a point. 

If the indication of how genuine a sisig is in how painful your nape feels 30 minutes after eating, then this sisig is truly authentic. I had trouble driving on the way home. 

BAD CASE: Otterbox Real Tree Defender Case for iPhone 4S

The case is good, functionally:  

--not too big (still ergonomic, i would say), 

--better grip (compared to just bare iphone)

--firm close-to-precise fit (all parts).

--gives comfort in knowing that your expensive phone is protected at all times

--good camo orange (can see iphone immediately; less chance of having it misplaced)

But after just 3 months of usage, the rubber is now deformed. Material appears expanding although it is not exposed to extreme heat or sunlight (probably just the heat from a battery being charged or friction inside one's jean's pocket?).

For a 35 USD case, this is truly disappointing.

And it seems to be getting worse. I can not even close the charging port cover by this time, plus the resulting lump in the home button is truly annoying (considering that youll push the home button many times during the day).

I saw in the marking inside one of the parts that it is made in the US. Is this is a mistake in material selection by Otterbox's vaunted state-side manufacturing?

From my reading, the Defender model has been in the market for years since the early iPhone iterations. Hasnt Otterbox learned to screen for the right rubber or silicone material over the years?

I would discourage anyone from buying this case, obviously. Judging from the rate of degradation, this case will probably become unusable in 6 months. Very short useful life. Truly disappointing.

Jollibee Avengers Comics

This is a landmark that was not advertised enough.

Probably because Jollibee chose to go the safe side of not having Jollibee fight together with the Avengers. Imagine how memorable it would have been in our local lovable bee used his big butt to sting Mole Man! Could have made this small comic book a collectible. The comic book was written by an established Marvel author (Ralph Macchio), our fast food great should have taken full advantage of the opportunity.

Instead, Jollibee elected to play it safe by just using a store manager and a store as a background, and Jollibee as Lola Basyang Narrator!.

I think this is related to branding, but if JFC wants to do it again, wouldnt hurt to have more chutzpah. Risks pay gains.  

But anyway, Im aching to buy the Avengers Blu-Ray for the extra features, and because of this Q&A from last April:

Q: What was it like to see it all last night after shooting disjointed scenes?

Ruffalo: Damn satisfying.

Hemsworth: There's one big shot where they did a 360 circle around all the Avengers. At the time, that was all green screen. I was thinking, "Wait a second, why didn't we shoot this in the middle of New York? This is the shot." But last night it got the biggest applause. It worked. Whether you doubted it at the time, (director Joss Whedon) pulled it off.

Downey: As long as the defects are not glaring. And the movie is not without defects. I still cannot exactly tell you what the bad-guy plot is. During the course of the journey, as long as you don't leave me with these lingering questions, so that I feel like you are being sloppy. But with the difficulty and complexity of it all, I don't like to say this, but I was humbled by it.

I will sure have the set during the Black Friday sale. Just one more month to go and I'll be involved again in another extreme Amazon.com consumerism. K-Tank! Shrrooom! Wapak! Splat!

Regarding 'Give Up Tomorrow'

Saw this yesterday. Film is well-made, and it's always good to see a movie that is fighting for something. At the minimum, it's always good to witness the exposition and style and direction of attack by the filmmakers. The film is also a decent study on how Philippine Justice System is currently in disarray.

But i have misgivings:

1) In the end, this is one whole movie regarding the struggles of one person--Paco Larrañaga. There's a disclaimer near the credits saying the the focus is on Paco primarily because he represents the whole group convicted for the Chiong Murders, but why not spare 10 minutes on the other players? Perhaps a bit of time for one of the poorest in the group for greater sympathy? Or all of them are rich?

2) Devoting one documentary on one rich mestizo also brings me discomfort, when you place it side by side with say, any thing by Ditsi Carolino. Minsan Lang Sila Bata definitely deserves way more production funds, slots in our theaters, and viewers' attention than this one

3) In the streets of Cebu, Paco is known for his thuggish behavior. He has a reputation that reinforced whatever 'natural' bias (which came out the moment he was arrested) the Cebuano masses have against him. And bottomline he is now a convicted felon from RTC all the way to the Supreme Court. Anyone can read SC's decision online, one link:
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2005/jul2005/138874_75.htm, has this passage

At this juncture, it bears mentioning that this case is not the first time that Larrañaga was charged with or complained of pruriently assaulting young female students in Cebu.  Months before the abduction of Marijoy and Jackie, the parents of a certain Rochelle Virtucio, complained about Larrañaga’s attempt to snatch their young daughter and drag her in a black, stylish Honda Civic.    It happened just near the gate of Rochelle’s school, thus, showing his impudence.    We quote a portion of the transcript of stenographic notes dated September 23, 1998, thus:            “ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:            Your Honor please, this is a …. Inspector Era handed to this representation a copy of a Letter dated September 25, 1996, addressed to the Student Affairs Office, University of San Carlos,P. del Rosario Street, Cebu City, and this is signed by Leo Abayan and Alexander Virtucio and noted by Mrs. Aurora Pacho, Principal, University of San Carlos, Girls High School, and for the record, I will read the content: TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN:             We the parents and guardians of Rochelle Virtucio, a first year high school student of your University of San Carlos-Girls High School, are writing your good office about an untoward incident involving our daughter and another student of your school.             x  x  x                                                  x    x  x             That last Monday at around 5:00 PM, Rochelle and other classmates, Michelle Amadar and Keizaneth Mondejar, while on their way to get a ride home near the school campus, a black Honda Civic with five young male teenagers including the driver, suddenly stopped beside them, and simultaneously one of them, which was later identified as FRANCISCO JUAN LARRANAGA, a BSHRM I student of your school, grabbed Rochelle by her hand to try to get Rochelle to their vehicle. She resisted and got away from him. Sensing some people were watching what they were doing, they hurriedly sped away.
            We are very concerned about Rochelle’s safety. Still now, she is suffering the shock and tension that she is not supposed to experience in her young life. It is very hard for us parents to think about what she’d been through.”[16]           The presence of such complaint in the record of this case certainly does not enhance Larrañaga’s chance of securing an acquittal.

We've all gone to high school and college and familiar with these sorts. They are bullies with a dangerous combination of arrogance and libido. Mr. Larranaga is not an angel deserving pity.

4) The film's attempt to demonstrate unbiased, balanced exposition is shorthanded, we can say not evenhanded. Again, if one reads SC's decision, there are points against Paco that should have been debunked if the filmmakers intended to build a solid case. Accusing the Chiongs of covering up for a druglord (whos the one supposed to have done the killings) doesnt hold water. Any parent will attempt to fight any mafia if it's their children who are kidnapped and raped.

5) This is petty--but Paco is one of the 'blessed' at Munti who was allowed to construct his own special room, in the ranks of Rolito Go, Jalosjos, Mayor Sanchez. His family has money and clout, this movie is probably just one more demonstration of that clout and wealth.

It's known that all docus are propaganda, Im just saying there are better advocacy deserving our indignance and whatever strong emotions.

The 5-star review from Philip Dy at clickthecity was what made me see Give Up Tomorrow. He's one of the reviewers I respect today, mainly for not being involved in mainstream (and the attendendant payola system), but I think this one doesnt deserve 5. It also doesnt deserve the 200 PhP I paid for. Im now looking for a Ditsi Carolino DVD Set to show Talampunay and keepsake for the kids. It's good to keep the activist stance, but Larranaga's plight is not deserving mass activism; has no tug of sympathy if you process it more. Just leave the fight to his family.