Rest Day/Movie Day! 4.24.09

It’s been awhile since I added a new entry on my Rest Day/Movie day article.  What with my brother getting married    (Hmmm… I’ll really write about it very soon) and all.  Plus my work shift went from good to worst (5 pm to 2 am)    .  I never had the time to sit back, relax and see a film at home.  But now that my schedule at work is bearable now (8 pm to 4 am)  I get to stay up late during my rest days and see a bunch of great films.

So here we go!

Righteous Kill (2008) Starring Robert De Nero and Al Pacino.  Two veteran Hollywood greats!  Directed by Jon Avnet.

The two leads play two veteran cops in search of a serial killer, who by some strange reason decided to go vigilante and kill suspected criminals that were set free by the courts.  This movie got me glued to the screen.!

The plot is engaging and the twist ending is expected you’ll never know who’s who until the very end.  It also features Mixed Martial Artist Oleg Taktarov in a cameo.

A nice film to start my day. 

The Da Vinci Code (2006) The controversial novel by Dan Brown was expectantly made into film three years ago.  Tom Hanks plays every ones favorite  symbologist Robert Landon and cryotologist Sophie Neveu was played by Audrey Tautou.

Robert Langdon was called in by the French police for questioning to gain insights about the mysterious symbols that were found in the murder scene inside the Louvre.  He is aided by Sophie Neveu and the grand daughter of the murdered curator.  Directed by Ron Howard. I think the changes they made in film lost most of the novel’s spirit.

Although the plot never changed, elements in the novel that I think were crucial was removed.  It also stars Ian McKellen, John Reno, Alfred Molina and Paul Bettany.

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1 (1966)

Okay this is not a movie.  But it’s worth mentioning.  Since watching the latest Star Trek film last week.  I had reminisced about the original series.

So I borrowed my brother’s DVD collection (original I might add) and start watching the good old original series.

It was fun watching classic TV!

You’ll really appreciate the fact that special effects during those days improve so much today,  that because of this. the whole series was digitally remastered and tweak the special effects to make it more viewer friendly.  Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelly as Kirk, Spock and McCoy.

Watch how they turned Star Trek from a Telivision Series into a cultural phenomenon in the US today.

Have you  scene these movies yet? 

Sadly, It’s Goodbye…….

We’ve been together for a long time.

3 years ago, when we first met.  You were so dependable then.  Always there when I need you.  One call from the phone is enough to reach you.  You were always there for me.

You were with me when I needed to share all the emotions that needed sharing.  You were with me during times of happiness, grief even pleasure. I can always connect with you.

I never heard any complaints.  Just one request and you would open up for me.  Through you I met a variety of people.  Some of them has become my friends. 

You were always there for the long haul.  I can always count on you to be there for me at any time of the day.  I would contact you even at the dead of the night and you will come.  while my family slept we would be together in the other room.  Planning dreams that someday things would get more better between us.  You also there even for quickies.  When I’m in a hurry and can only be with you for a quick one, you were always there.  No complaints, no negative reactions.

Which I truly appreciate.

But now.  things are different.  It started a few months ago, for no reason at all I can’t contact you anymore.  Your line is always busy.  Before even if you’re with other people, you would be there for me.  Sadly things never improved.  Try as I might, I can’t connect with you anymore.  And if do get to contact you, it was always a quick one.  You will give me your services and when I was into into it, when I was enjoying you company, you would suddenly go for no reason at all.  Leaving me there alone, full of frustrations.  I short you have become undependable. 

I have made the decision to leave you.  If three years is enough for you, then it’s also enough for me. 

I hate to say this, but because I can’t depend on you anymore.  I started looking for a new one.  And I’m happy that I’ve found one.  I hope this new relationship will last more, than ours.

Goodbye ISPX Bonanza.  Keep up what your doing and other people will realized that your dial-up services is not dependable and not there when one needs to connect to the Internet during times of need.  Before I can connect with you in a flash, now it takes numerous attempts just to connect and then what?  Less than 5 minutes and you will get disconnected.  Goodbye dear friend.  Improve your services and I might use you again.

Thank God I found Bl@st!  More faster dial-up service, and more dependable.  It has never let me down so far.

I hope it will last forever.

Star Trek (2009)

I have been a Star Trek fan since I was very young.  I enjoyed all the TV series (Yes!  Even the original series), and the movies (Well, maybe not so much with Star Trek V.  But I still liked it.)  Except for the novels because novels based on the TV series and movies are not considered canon.  But I never had so much fun until I saw the latest movie of the franchise simply titled: Star Trek.

The movie returned to its roots by using the original series time line, then altered it to give an alternate reality for the characters.

The film follows James T. Kirk and Spock, before they unite aboard the USS Enterprise to combat Nero (Eric Bana), a Romulan from the future who threatens the United Federation of Planets. The time-travel story establishes an alternate reality, freeing the film and the whole franchise from continuity constraints.

Directed by J.J. Abrams and stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban as Captain James T. Kirk, Commander Spock and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy respectively.  Leonard Nimoy the actor who portrayed Spock in the Original Series and movies which were based on the original series (ST:TOS) also appeared on the film on a very crucial and relevant role as the future Ambassador Spock.

The new actors portrayed the characters with lots of gusto!  If you think William Shatner’s Kirk was brash and a man of action;  Chris Pine gave it a whole new level.  While Zachary Quito truly deserve the role of our ever beloved human/vulcan.  On the other hand Karl Urban’s portrayal of McCoy was so close to DeForest Kelly that I swear if you close your eyes during his scenes you’ll thought Mr. Kelly was raised from the dead.

J.J. Abrams’ gamble paid off big time.  He remove most of the techno babble and focused more on action and character development.

More details about the movie can be found here.

I’m sure this film gave the franchise the boost it needed to revive it.  Other wise nothing will.

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* to provide critical commentary on the film, event, etc. in question or of the poster itself, not solely for illustration

Again?!!!!

I was happily on my way home last Saturday morning.  I was so relaxed going home because I know that my wife and son is not sleeping alone in our house because Jennilyn our house keeper is there.

Better to have two adults than 1 right?

I didn’t know that I was dead wrong. 

I arrived at about 4 am.  From the moment I viewed my house from afar I know something is wrong.  But since I’m a very optimistic guy.  I didn’t wel on it.  When I opened the door I was surprised to find that the hosuse keeper’s folding bed is empty.  That never happened before.  Hmmm……

So I went to the kitchen and I saw that the door to our laundry area was ajar.  I thought.  “Good ol’ Jennilyn, still ironing clothes at this ungodly hour.”  So I opened the door and to my surprised. I saw the freshly ironed clothes, but still no housekeeper.

Maybe she’s in the bath room.  I ate a quick snack then I realized that no one is coming out of the bathroom.  I went there and I saw the door opened and the lights turned off.

I immediately went to the housekeepers closet and to my dismay all her things are not there.  So I said.  Maybe my wife caught her doing something and sent her away.  But still why haven’t she called me on my cellphone regarding it.

So with a heavy heart, I went to our bedroom and woke my wife up.  I asked her “What happened?  Why did you sent “yaya” away? Her answer blew me of the roof.  “What do you mean?  I never sent her away.  We were even talking and joking around before I turned in.”  “Shit!” I said.

So another house keeper decided to leave us.  This one is unique because she waited for my wife and son to sleep and sneak out during the dead of the night.  I really don’t know what to do anymore.  I’m a very fair employer and never verbally abused any one of our housekeeper.  But still they opted to leave us.  For the record since 2005 (the year my son was born) we had 10! 10 house keepers who left us for no !@#!@#$ reason.

The weird part is I always asked them if they have any complains.  I so that everyday.  To keep their minds at ease that they can tell me everything.  Sigh!

One wonder’s what should one do to get a loyal, house keeper. 

Peggle Nights

I’m a big fan of casual games.  I frequently play them, before turning in for the day.  One of my favorites is: Peggle Nights by Pop Cap Games !

A very simple yet very addicting game!

The object of the game is to eliminate all orange pegs in one board.  The board consist of pegs with 4 colors.  The most significant number of pegs are the blue pegs, then the orange pegs which is about 25 (just an estimate) then 2 green pegs (power-ups) and 1 purple peg (bonus points) that changes location per round.

Sounds Easy?  Guess again !  The game has the elements of billiards in it.  So you must think before you shoot.  You are only given 10 balls to use per board to remove all orange pegs.  Some shots are easy, while the others are really tough!  Let’s just say geometry is your best friend in this game.  You need to think where to shoot the ball so that it will bounce or ricochet to the correct place to eliminate the orange ones.

It has 60 or so levels and I can’t get enough.  I even downloaded extra levels in their website (It’s free!)

And if your lucky you’ll even get large points for extremely cool shots!

It’s been a great stress reliever for me.  And the game is easy to learn that I get to play it with my 4 year old son!

Having fun with your kid.  What more can you ask for?  Quality time supreme!

Official School Boy

It’s official!  My son Ezekiel Joaquin in now an official school boy:D!

We just came from the school and enrolled him.  My kid’s so excited that he wants to go to school on Monday.  It took a long time to him that school will officially starts on June 15.  He’s a little bit disappointed but he’ll be Ok.

Next week we’ll start buy his school things.  It’s a good thing that his books and note books has been included by the school during enrollment.  So it’s just a bag and lunch box on the agenda.  Of course  pencils and other things a budding school boy may want or need.

Here’s hoping that my son will be a great student!

Goodnight!

The Philippines have a reason to be proud!

Manny Pacquiao the the “pound for pound champion” gave Ricky Hatton a run for his money!  Giving “The Hitman” a very powerful punch in the last few seconds of the second round to put Hatton down for the count.

1st Round takedown

"Say hello to my little friend!"

Manny Pacquiao the the “pound for pound champion” gave Ricky Hatton a run for his money!  Giving “The Hitman” a very powerful punch in the last few seconds of the second round to put Hatton down for the count.

Sweet dreams!

The Champ!

It’s a good thing I didn’t pay for pay-per-view this time around.  But maybe I should have.  I knew the results 2 hour before GMA 7 broadcast the match due to commercials.  But it was worth the wait.

The “Hitman” moniker really suited Hatton, because he hit the canvas so quickly.  May be he should change his nick name to Ricky “The Lullaby” Hatton. or maybe “The Canvas Eater” Rick Hatton!  What do you think?

Manny Pacquiao should really outdid himself this time.  Maybe he should fight a lot of British people so that he can add “The Brit-Killer” to his moniker.

To be fair with Ricky “The Dreamer” Hatton;  I never saw a boxer hit the canvas like that…… stiff as a piece of plywood.

I wonder what’s next for Pacquio?  Who would you like to see Manny fight next?