Google’s Bunsen Logo

Has anyone noticed Google.com’s logo today? I still remember that time they paid a tribute to Jules Verne, that was an awesome concept. This time the website’s logo looks like this:

Well, it might take a bit of imagination to work out the word “Google” there but this design is a tribute to Robert Bunsen’s 200th birthday. Together with his assistant Peter Desaga, they perfected a special gas burner which has been called - Bunsen burner which was a significant improvement for laboratories even from his time. Robert Bunsen is also known for his invention of the Bunsen-Kirchoff spectroscope, which later allowed him to discover new elements - cesium and rubidium. His spectroscope also gave way for other scientists to discover other new elements.

Working on the Go

Working at home has its own perks and disadvantages. Some of the perks that I see are setting up your very own workspace. You can make this as personal as you’d want it to be. You also get to save - A LOT. Clock in at work anytime, in your jammies or very very casual clothes and no one would mind. You can also take power naps at anytime you need an energy boost. However, when inspirations are not within your grasp and you’re a little low on the creativity pool, you DO need to get out. Or if you end up taking more power naps than you intend to, well it’s time to shake things up a bit with a change of work scenery.

Such is the case for me now that I’m working freelance.

Photo credit: goodandlost.org

When I’m working on the go, here are my essentials for a mobile office:

• A laptop bag with a lot of pockets

Why the pockets? I want everything organized. I don’t want my mouse cables and charger cables intertwining while they’re in the bag. I could lose precious time trying to untangle them especially if I’m going to do a presentation.

• Broadband stick

Just in case you have to send an email or a need to look up something on the internet, this is handy to have around. Some coffeeshops let you use their wifi for free but some don’t so it’s better to be prepared.

• A notebook and a set of pens

Of course you can take notes with a writing app in your laptop but for stuff that you need to take down without you requiring to boot up your computer then obviously pen and paper is the practical way to go. Oh and I’d have to state the importance of an extra pen here, again better to be prepared. I use the notebook to make random sketches too.

• Tumbler

Do your part in helping the environment. Sometimes I’m guilty of forgetting this too but it’s good to make it a habit to have your coffee poured into your own tumbler instead of the cafe’s plastic or styro cups. If they have the option, use their mugs instead too. You’ll even get a discount.

• Sweater

There have been dozens of times when I worked at a coffeeshop with frozen fingers and constant shivers. Cafes sometimes DO turn their A/C up too much. When this happens, it’s good to have an extra sweatshirt on hand to keep you warm (or a small blanket or throw can do wonders). Comfort is still key when working out of your home.

• An extension cord

You wouldn’t want to be caught with an empty laptop battery while mobile working do you? And sometimes coffeeshops don’t provide enough floor outlets for their patrons and you could have the luck to be seated very far away from a convenience outlet. If you had your own extension cord then that would solve the problem. I have my own and it has saved me countless of times. Now I don’t have to worry even if I’m seated way at the center of the coffeeshop.

They’re Back!

The first Hangover movie raked in a lot of profit being the highest Rated-R comedy movie of all time. It’s interesting to note too that it won the Golden Globes for Best Film – Comedy or Musical. Their adventures certainly earned a lot of credit-worthy hoots and laughter. They gave a whole new definition to the catch-phrase - “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas”.'

Now Warner Bros. are bringing the boys back and this time they’ll be prowling the streets of Bangkok. It’s a whole new place to conquer. The Hangover Part 2 brings us to the pre-wedding brunch for Stu and the adventure starts from there.

Reprising their roles from “The Hangover,” Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha star in the film. Ken Jeong, Jeffrey Tambor, and Mike Tyson also rejoin the cast.

Technorati Tags: The Hangover 2 movie

The Final Battle is On

The forces of the wizarding world is set on a collision course with the forces of Voldemort. We get to witness the epic final battle in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Mark the date: July 15, 2011.

Technorati Tags: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,Harry Potter,Voldemort

What would you do if you had a Hall Pass?

The idea of a Hall Pass could be what most men dream about. It is defined as a one week off from marriage to do whatever you want, no questions asked. In other words - permission to cheat without being held accountable for it.

In “Hall Pass,” best friends Rick and Fred (Wilson and Sudeikis) have both been married for a long time. They love their wives, but, like some guys, just can’t help checking out every other woman who crosses their paths. Fed up with this habitual rubber-necking, their wives (Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate) take a bold approach to revitalize their marriages by granting their husbands a “hall pass”: one week of freedom to do whatever they want, no questions asked. Seven days to see exactly what it is out there they think they’re missing…or stop looking once and for all.

So that’s it, we get to see the guys, in a movie directed by the Farrelly brothers, in a seven day escapade with absolute freedom. We’re sure to get a lot of laughs with this one.

But wait, it won’t be fair if it’s only just the guys...the wives get a Hall Pass too! Let the games begin!

To allow Rick and Fred some space for the week, as well as themselves, the women head out of town to Maggie’s parents’ home in Cape Cod. Two days later, tanned and relaxed in the stands at a Minor League baseball game, Grace attracts the flattering attention of Gerry, a confident, young hard-bodied first baseman, played by Tyler Hoechlin, while Grace is approached by the team’s suave coach, coincidentally named Rick, played by Bruce Thomas.

It’s not till the guys ask them out for a beer that Maggie and Grace understand that this hall pass could be printed on both sides…

Hall Pass is opening soon in theaters across the country.

Technorati Tags: Hall Pass,Owen Wilson,Jason Sudeikis,Christina Applegate

Wake n’ Bacon Alarm Clock

I’m probably one of those people who gets so used to the sound of an alarm clock that I manage to sleep through them (no matter how many there are beside me). Yeah, that’s how heavy a sleeper I am especially when I’m tired. One of the passive senses when we sleep is our sense of smell or so it goes. At this point, since I’ve already tuned out every conceivable alarm tone, maybe an alarm clock which wakes me up by wafting in the aroma of cooking bacon will have much better success.

Lucky me, someone’s already thought of the idea. Behold the Wake n’ Bacon Alarm Clock. I kid you not. Matty Sallin, has already made a prototype.

While it’s a little off that he made it out of wood, I hope someone will think of a better design. But I like the idea though, no matter how quirky it sounds. The bacon starts to cook 10 minutes before you wake up. Just think, fresh bacon right in bed. Bliss.

The Games that I Want to Play

Sometimes the problem with being a Gamer especially when you’ve got a whole load of other stuff going on in your life is finding the time to play. What used to be hours and hours of gaming bliss can now turn to be just minutes of temporary escape. Well, there ARE other important stuff in our day-to-day lives but granted that I’d have the luxury to play non-stop again, these are on my list:

Alice: The Madness Returns

Plot: Alice has been released from Rutledge Asylum and into the care of a London psychiatrist, where the traumatic memories of her parents' deaths continue to haunt her. As a result of her relocation, her hallucinations and internal struggle have increased in severity, and she returns to Wonderland in hopes of security and comfort. However, it has once again become warped by her insanity, and she must save its residents and herself from the evil that is taking over Wonderland and also embarks finding the true cause of her family's mysterious deaths.

I can’t explain fully why I’m so drawn into the nostalgic charm of anything concerning Alice in Wonderland, twisted or not. If you’ve read the book, it’s completely nonsensical and it’s your best guess and interpretation if the characters were symbolisms or just figments of Lewis Carroll’s imagination. Anyhow, I just love the idea of a twisted Alice. This game has great visuals, Wonderland is both magical and sinister at the same time. Characters are easily identifiable and just as twisted.

Darksiders

  Okay the whole storyline was too long to copy and I’ll just give you a tidbit of it. For this game, you get to play as War, one of the horsemen of the Apocalypse. How cool is that huh? Anyway War was sent to earth to bring order while demons and angels lay waste of everything in their path as their forces collide. Sounds epic right? Well, what attracted me to the game is the lore of the Four Horsemen, that got my interest and then I saw the game art. I was blown away.

 

 

 

The SIMS Medieval

The whole point of the SIMS games is control. You take control of these tiny SIMS everyday lives getting them to do each of your bidding. I remember being so addicted to the series that I must’ve looked like a drone in front of the PC, too hypnotized with it to care about anything else that’s happening around me. An update to the game is the whole medieval look and the RPG style elements in it. Could it be just the right ingredient to turn this game around? I shall have to see for myself even though I know it could be like quicksand and I’ll say goodbye to my social life again.

 

 

 

Dragon Age II

I really enjoyed the first game and I know I haven’t checked it off my to-do list yet (Shh, I haven’t finished the game). If it weren’t for my PC having undergone reformatting I would have finished by now. Still, it remains to be one of the best RPG games I’ve played. Now I know that they made Dragon Age II different from the first game not just visually but along with some gameplay elements as well but I think it’s still worth checking out. Aside from the deviation from the first game, I’m also curious about the story line.

 

 

 

Dead Island

I raved about the amazing teaser and right alongside it, declared an interest to play a horror game. Oh well, in this case a zombie-survival game. I’ve never played a horror game thoroughly before, because I’m such a coward. But this has just the right elements to it and given that it has such good rendered graphics, it’s guaranteed to give me nightmares. Let’s see if I’ll even be brave enough to play it with the lights off.

The Music of Sucker Punch

One of the things that I liked while watching Sucker Punch was the exceptional soundtrack. I found myself tapping my foot to the beat of the music several times during the film. Now it’s going to be added to my “work playlist”. Here’s the songlist for the album and I was pleasantly surprised that Emily Browning aka Babydoll, otherwise known as the star of the movie, also had several songs in there. I have to say that I loved her voice, there was something a hauntingly sweet quality to it.

1. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Emily Browning

2. Army Of Me (Sucker Punch Remix) – Björk featuring Skunk Anansie

3. White Rabbit – Emiliana Torrini

4. I Want It All/We Will Rock You Mash-Up – Queen w/ Armageddon Aka Geddy

5. Search and Destroy – Skunk Anansie

6. Tomorrow Never Knows – Alison Mosshart and Carla Azar

7. Where Is My Mind? – Yoav featuring Emily Browning

8. Asleep – Emily Browning

9. Love Is the Drug – Carla Gugino and Oscar Isaac

I can’t choose a favorite among the list of songs but I’m particularly drawn to the remixed version of Bjork’s Army of Me which now features Skunk Anansie. The other songs that I like are Search and Destroy, White Rabbit, Tomorrow Never Knows, Where is My Mind and Asleep.

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, Sucker Punch is still playing in movie theaters across the country.

Technorati Tags: sucker punch,sucker punch soundtrack,music soundtrack,bjork,skunk anansie,army of me

The Hits and Misses of Sucker Punch: A Movie Review

There was a lot of hype surrounding the movie Sucker Punch ever since the impressive trailer was shown in theaters. Why wouldn't it get that much buzz? It had these girls dressed scantily like steampunk amazons fighting off abominations and a samurai golem wielding a machine gun. In the few seconds of that trailer, there were massive and fiery explosions and a killer soundtrack to boot. The cherry on top would be that it had Zack Synder directing it. It was notoriously becoming THE fantasy to watch out for this year.

So naturally, when I got the invitation for the premiere, I was beyond myself with excitement. Plus it was also going to be held at an IMAX theater so that was pretty cool. Then I also learned that Zack Synder penned the story himself, thus adding to more expectations.

Close your eyes.  Open your mind.  You will be unprepared.

Did I like Sucker Punch? My answer would be both a YES and NO. I apologize for the vague answer at this point but I'll do my best to explain this in the next few paragraphs. The dual answer may also prompt you to see the movie for yourself and voice out your own verdict. For me, the movie Sucker Punch will get different reactions from different people, in other words it will be subjective. You might like it for the exceptional visual effects and/or question it while doing a deeper analysis of the story.

“Sucker Punch” is an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality.  Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her, and her incredible adventures blur the lines between what’s real and what is imaginary.
She has been locked away against her will, but Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to survive.  Determined to fight for her freedom, she urges four other young girls—the reluctant Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), the outspoken Rocket (Jena Malone), the street-smart Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and the fiercely loyal Amber (Jamie Chung)—to band together and try to escape a terrible fate at the hands of their captors, Blue (Oscar Isaac) and Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino), before the mysterious High Roller (Jon Hamm) comes for Babydoll. 
Led by Babydoll, the girls engage in fantastical warfare against everything from samurais to serpents, with a virtual arsenal at their disposal.  Together, they must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stay alive.  But with the help of a Wise Man (Scott Glenn), their unbelievable journey—if they succeed—will set them free.

The deal with the story
A good story can make or break a film regardless of how high-billed the actors are and how stunning the visuals can be. Without it, the film will be nothing more than eyecandy. So this is where my dilemma comes in. Mr. Zynder had the complex story that obviously aims to blow the mind of its viewers. He may or may not have trodded on the frameworks of what made Inception a great film. The movie centered on two layers of fantasy and a single layer of reality. I won't spoil it too much here since the discovery and understanding of it is one of the joys of watching this film. Sadly, the story had this familiar ring to it, there was no originality. There were also plot points that were sloppy. Maybe we could attest this to Zack's inexperience as a writer but we'd have to agree that he is a great director.

From a girl's point of view, it was at first uncomfortable to watch. It was like I'm in a middle of a boy's fantasy and that the main characters were just there largely to be eye candies. Why did I get this impression? It's easy to see that the women here were treated just like objects to make more money. They wore outfits that were skimpy, figure-hugging and very brothel worthy. Everyone wore heavy make-up. Whether they're doing chores or just getting ready for bed, they wore full eyeshadows, false eyelashes and rogue lipsticks. And yes, sparse clothing was their attire of choice.

Just before the closing credits of the movie, there's a cryptic message that might blow your mind when you over think it but offhand, it really doesn't make any sense. This was a story about Babydoll's quest for freedom and in the end it's up to you to decide what's the meaning of the word "freedom" used in the movie.

These could have been amazing
The actresses were said to have undergone rigorous physical trainings to prepare for the stunts in the film and my expectation for the fight scenes were great. They weren't. Mr. Zynder could have used the techniques done in 300 to give us a better view of the girls he had donned in battle gear. Instead we get shaky cameras to convey fighting movements, that made it blurry to the point where you can't make sense of the battle anymore. He also utilized slow motion sequences until it felt unnecessary. The girl power moment was lost into an inexistent climax. The one thing that's good though, in the quest fantasy, it felt like you're playing a level in a video game. Gamers will greatly appreciate this. Others also commented that this reminded them of anime movies.

The characters were given sassy nicknames: Babydoll, Amber, Rocket, Sweet Pea and Blondie. There was no explanation given why each of the girls were called those. It would have been great if he took time to explain those. The story revolved around Babydoll's made-up realities, so most of the screentime is of her although there was enough to establish the personalities of each girl. The story would have gained much more depth if he explored their strengths too.

Here's what to like
Don't be deterred. Sucker Punch isn't too much of a letdown. As you might have guessed, Sucker Punch has amazing visuals. It was grainy like the rendering style of 300. The costumes were obviously well thought of, the settings were beautifully conceptualized and the villains were as menacing and scary as you can expect them to be. You may even be able to pinpoint Zack Synders' graphic style here. He improved the visual style that he started on when he made the movie 300 and transformed this movie to become such a visual treat for the eyes.

Your ears will have an amazing time too. I'm definitely getting the soundtrack. The choice of songs were appropriate for each scene. They invoke a different set of emotions every time Babydoll enters one of her realities. The quests were also amusing. They were tasked to collect a map, fire, key, knife and a mysterious object. All are essential for them to gain freedom. Each item was represented symbolically in the quests and it's fun to connect them with the objects in real life.

For all it's hits and misses, I still urge you to watch Sucker Punch. Draw your own conclusions and try to decipher the layer upon layer of realities that Zack Synder created in the movie. The movie left me with a lot of questions unanswered and a lot of theories already formulating in my head. This could be a good sign, after all we've all been warned that this will really blow your mind. Aside from that, there's a guarantee that you'll be spectacularly entertained.

Sucker Punch is now showing in theaters starting today, March 25, 2011. Make sure to catch it.

Photo Credits: Warner Bros.

Technorati Tags: Sucker Punch movie,Zack Snyder,Emily Browning,Sucker Punch

Rooney Mara's Transformation for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo movie

I'm still on my Lisbeth Salander phase, having just finished the second book last night. I have a now more distinct image of her character in my head but I was really curious how she’ll be portrayed in the Hollywood movie version of the book. I already knew that Rooney Mara was chosen for the role. After a bit of searching, here’s Lisbeth…

She’s the protagonist for Stieg Larsson’s books. Lisbeth Salander is the goth-chick and hacker wonder that has kept me up for several nights as she went about entangled in the corruption and sick dealings of horrible men.

For my friends who were also curious as to who I was always referring to in my tweets, well this is she. She’s a very remarkable character and I wish more people knew about her. I’m betting that as soon as all the teaser material and trailers for the movie comes out, many people would want to read the trilogy as well. I really hope so too. Those crime novels are more than just fantastic.

Vanessa Hudgens takes on the role of Blondie in Sucker Punch

Vanessa Hudgens’ claim to fame was the highly successful series of Disney Movies called The Highschool Musical. Love it or hate it, that’s where it all started. She began to turn heads when she started dating fellow co-star Zac Efron and has gracefully rebounded after a slightly embarrassing scandal. Putting all those behind her now, she’s accepting bolder acting roles which might finally erase the teensy-boppy image she’s donned on for Disney.

For her upcoming films, she wants people to see her a little more differently. She’s now treading more carefully in her transition from Disney. Quoting:

"I think it's about surrounding yourself with the right people," she says. "A lot of people may get lost in the lights and glamour of it all. It should be about the work first and everything else later."

Her role as Blondie doesn’t necessarily had to have her dyeing her hair blond. She’s happy that the definition of classic beauty now goes beyond blond hair and blue eyes. Vanessa comes from a multi-ethnic decent. She proudly acknowledges her Filipino, Chinese, Spanish, Irish and Native American roots.

"It used to always be about the big blond hair and the big blue eyes. There's nothing wrong with that, but the idea of the classic beauty is changing. I'm blessed to have so many different ethnicities. I'm a chameleon, and that's given me great opportunities."

Technorati Tags: sucker punch movie,zack synder,vanessa hudgens

Don’t Just Sit & Be Idle this Summer

The iAcademy is offering a lot of workshops that can make this summer be worthwhile. You’ll never know, this might be the new hobby you’re looking for.  You can view the course descriptions HERE.

You can play with your food

…and turn it into a piece of Art. This is what Alexander Crispin did and he used the photos in his portfolio gallery.

 

You can view his other works in his portfolio site. I loved that he turned a playful idea into something that radiates whimsical creativity.

The Hobbit starts filming

I’m excited to share with you guys that Peter Jackson and his crew have now started filming the movie adaptation for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. The movie will be presented in two parts and will also be filmed in New Zealand.

“The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

            Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

            Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Martin Freeman takes the title role as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen returns in the role of Gandalf the Grey. The Dwarves are played by Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Ken Stott (Balin), Graham McTavish (Dwalin), William Kircher (Bifur) James Nesbitt (Bofur), Stephen Hunter (Bombur), Rob Kazinsky (Fili), Aidan Turner (Kili), Peter Hambleton (Gloin), John Callen (Oin), Jed Brophy (Nori), Mark Hadlow (Dori) and Adam Brown (Ori). Reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy are Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Andy Serkis as Gollum and Elijah Wood as Frodo. Jeffrey Thomas and Mike Mizrahi also join the cast as Dwarf Kings Thror and Thrain, respectively. Further casting announcements are expected.

(from top, left to right – Martin Freeman, Peter Jackson, Elijah Wood and Sir Ian McKellen)

I’m pretty psyched to see the dragon Smaug and his cavern of treasures. I’ve read the book a long time ago just when the LOTR trilogy of films came out and this is the book which shows hobbit lore in great detail. I would also like to see the dwarfs who coerced Bilbo to go with them on their journey. My expectations for this movie are great, I would like to see the same attention to detail in terms of locations, settings and costumes as they did in the first three films. So now while they set to work, we’re eagerly awaiting the film’s release which is slated to be in the late months of 2012 and 2013.

Technorati Tags: The Hobbit movie,Peter Jackson. Bilbo Baggins,the hobbits

The Babydoll in Sucker Punch

The first time that I saw Emily Browning was in the movie, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and on HBO for the movie The Unknown. I remember Jim Carrey mentioning in an interview that Emily will be destined for great things. Seems to me that she’s finally going to be in the limelight with the upcoming Zack Synder movie, Sucker Punch.

In Sucker Punch, she plays Babydoll. Quoting the director:

“Babydoll symbolizes that transition between thinking like a child and thinking like an adult, when your perception of the world changes,” Zack Snyder says. “She is a warrior, both delicate and strong at the same moment, and Emily really personified everything I had envisioned about Babydoll. She has this mystic, timeless, almost unquantifiable look and completely brought the character to life for me.”

Emily had to undergo rigorous physical training to prepare for her role including being ambidextrous. The right-handed actress had to learn how to shoot with her left hand while brandishing a sword with the other. I’m expecting lots of cool fighting scenes in this movie and judging from the trailer alone, they look so good.

Sucker Punch will be available in theaters starting March 25, for a better experience I recommend to see it in an IMAX theater.

Technorati Tags: sucker punch movie,zack snyder,emily browning

Cool Finds Online

• Yngaren Glass Bottle from Ikea

It’s seldom that I find whimsical things from Ikea so these ones really caught my eye. These perfume bottles are gorgeous!

• Liz Doust Retro-Modern Hessian and Canvas Laptop sleeve

I love it’s simplicity and the combination of natural materials and the little string fasteners. You can view more products at Ambette’s Etsy Shop.

•  Hoss Intropia Laser Cut Ballet Flats

The flats look so adorable and I love those intricate details that gives it such a dainty look. [PRODUCT PAGE]

• Tulip Cookies

As seen over at Tasteologie and followed the link to the Green Girl’s Blog with lots of additional cookies and recipes for spring.

Do you find this cute?

This is from Prada. It looks like something directly out of a Simpson’s cartoon episode. At least that’s what everybody has been comparing it to. I love the shade of red that they used and I adore the button detail that completes the Mary Jane look. I also love the pointed toe but I just really have no regard to the design of the heel.

It looks visually unstable and clumsy. On the site that I found this from, I’d have to agree with one commenter, “We don’t necessarily have to like it just because it’s from Prada.”

I quite agree.

Katniss Everdeen has been found

She wasn’t who I expected that they’d choose. Jennifer Lawrence bags the coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games movie. The first time I’ve seen her was while I was watching The Oscars. She was nominated for her role in Winter’s Bone. Truthfully, I haven’t seen the film and she doesn’t at all fit how Katniss looks like. So I’m interested to see how they will make her over for the role.

While some are overjoyed with this choice, some have been voicing out their doubts and protests. Let’s see if they made the right choice when the movie finally comes out next year.

Summer Movies: Rio

Rio is a movie about the preservation of the last two blue macaws on Earth. Since they are considered very rare birds, naturally poachers are hot on their trail. Blu (Jesse Eisenberg)  is a domesticated bird adopted by Linda who doesn’t know how to fly and is not accustomed to the wild. It’s a good thing he made good friends along with Jewel (Anne Hathaway), the other blue macaw.

Find out if the macaws will make it back home and away from the animal kidnappers. Rio will be showing across the country on April 7, 2011.

Plinky Prompts Set

I realize I haven't done this in quite a long time and I've missed writing personal posts in this blog. So I've compiled some questions that I got off the Plinky site and I'm posting the answers here. Comments are welcome after the set.

How did you get your name?
I wish there was a much better story or tale to tell about how I got my name but sadly when I bugged my mom about it, she said that Rochelle was really popular at around the time that I was born. I wasn't given a second name. Why? Well she didn't want me to have trouble during the writing exercises in kindergarten. Little did she know that I would grow up loving writing on a piece of paper. So I would have been happy even if they gave me a third name.

Sunrise or Sunset?
I prefer sunrise. Although a sunset might sound more romantic, there is something intoxicating about the freshness of the morning. I love waking up just before sunrise with the promise of a bright new day. So I guess you can say I'm a morning person. Couple that with a good cup of coffee and a good book and my morning's all set.

If you could learn one extreme sport for free, what would it be?
Believe it or not, I had to look up extreme sports in the internet before thinking up a proper answer to this question. My first answer would be surfing. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I did it once and so far I've been wanting to do it again. No nevermind to the bruises on my knee that I took home after that surfing trip, it was one experience I can't forget.

Next in line would be something I haven't tried before, base jumping. Uh huh, you read right. Base jumping it is. You've probably seen it done by Angelina Jolie in one of the Tomb Raider movies. I don't know if I'll get to do it in this lifetime though or if I'd gather enough guts to. Heck, I'm still putting it in my bucket list.

If your pet could talk, what would it say about you?
All nice things I hope. :) They'd probably say that I love to take photographs of them when they're playing, bug them when they're trying to sleep and that I hug them when I'm feeling downright sad. They'll also say that I dote on them too much, that's why some of them has gotten a little on the chubby side (I don't say fat because I don't want to hurt their feelings) and that I read too much sometimes, that it takes longer for me to prepare their food at meal times.

What was the first album you purchased?
The very first CD that I ever bought with my allowance money was an Alisha's Attic album of the same title. I loved all the songs and I even taught myself to draw the artist's logo on the computer using just MS Paint and a mouse. I still have the album although I haven't played the CD in a long time. The last time I did, it was jumping tracks and it had too many scratches.

The Official Super 8 movie poster

I’ll be writing more about this movie in a few days. The buzz around this movie is worth writing about but for now here’s the sneak peek for the poster and the synopsis:

"In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth - something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined."

Source.

Technorati Tags: super 8 movie,J.J. Abrams,Super 8

The Marines Make a Stand in Battle Los Angeles

  Watching Battle Los Angeles was like being in the middle of the battlefield complete with a camo suit caked with debris and a constant ringing in the ears. It seriously made me want to play a shooting game with aliens as my prey and yes the climactic ending did feel like the boss at an ending level. If you've seen the trailers then you know that the main enemy here is an alien force set to invade our planet. Like all other Hollywood movies, the aliens here are much more technologically advanced in terms of warfare and sheer weaponry. They also look like your typical movie aliens with squid-like tentacles for legs, a bulbous form of a head and covered with something sticky and gooey. Why are they always stereotyped like that? Oh and one more thing, they don't speak and I can only assume that they commune via telepathy. As junk-like as their ships may look like and it didn't matter that they rely on drones, they were severely organized and it looked that humanity didn't have a fighting chance.

World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles is about a group of marines who undertook a mission to rescue civilians from a police outpost. What started out as a simple mission turned into their very worst nightmares as they found themselves tasked with meeting the alien forces head on. I'd like to mention some noteworthy characters from the movie. SSgt. Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) was every bit a leader the moment their platoon deployed on the shores of Los Angeles. He displayed exceptional bravado and heroism as was expected from marines but showed a side of humanism too. He wasn't just a killing machine.

2nd Lt. William Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez) wasn't ready for field combat. First few minutes of their alien encounter proved that. He was nervous and uncertain, much like the character that the actor played in Transformers 2. It was very very similar and I now wonder if he'll get stereotyped with that kind of role. TSgt. Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez) was the only girl in the team. I would have liked that she was much more badass since they used Michelle to portray the role but she wasn't. I think if she did, she would clearly outshine Aaron. Ne-Yo played Cpl Kevin Harris and for his first acting stint in a big-budget film, he did pretty good. There's also Cpl. Scott Grayston (Lucas Till) who did pretty decent damage with his grenade launchers. He kind of reminded me of Eminem and Draco Malfoy wearing a desert camo.

There were several things that I liked in the movie:

• The introductory scenes weren't long. We get glimpses of the lives of the marines but they didn't linger or take up too much screen time because that would have been dragging and people who came to watch the movie clearly wants to be served with action on a silver platter. It was enough not to dramatize the whole thing too much.

• It was action-packed. I like visual-effects-heavy films with non-stop action. You know the kind that you forget to breathe sometimes. Yeah this one won't disappoint.

• I liked that the movie was presented in a way that it feels like you're part of the marine team. You feel their hopelessness, their fear and when they shoot, you get a glimpse of what they see in their scopes. They rush headlong into battle and you're taken along for a ride.
• It wasn't a one-man effort. The team did everything together. Under good leadership they prevailed.

Battlefield Los Angeles met my expectations and is a good movie to watch. This movie may have set the tone for other alien invasion movies yet to come. So if you're set on seeing a good movie this weekend, make sure this is on your list.

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