Movie Blog: Pitch Perfect: Making music with their mouths

I am a huge fan of musical movies because of the talented singer-actors and actresses and the amazing song mash-up. So when Pitch Perfect became a trending topic among my Twitter friends and hearing loads of good things about the film, I've been looking forward to the movie and I talked about how excited I was to see it!  But do know that if you’re not really into the whole singing in-between speaking lines, don’t worry, this isn't anything like that.

The film is sort of like a mash of High School Musical and Glee. It is also based on the book 'Pitch Perfect' by Mickey Rapkin. I wonder what it's like to read a book about singing...Anyway, it was the perfect ensemble movie.  Each character was perfectly quirky, but no one stole the spot light from anyone else.  Though I have to admit that Rebel Wilson is becoming one of my new favorites!  Seriously, her comedic timing is awesome!

The concept of the flick is extremely simple. After a woeful performance at last year's ICCA (International Championships of College A Capella) which ended abruptly when Aubrey (Anna Camp) projectile vomited mid-song straight in to the audience, the Barden Bellas are on the lookout for new recruits. However, this Acapella competition is quite different. No musical instruments are involved and every sound will have to be from your own mouth. So you can beat box your way into the tune or whatever so that's quite unique about this show =) you can actually see real talents in this show!

Beca is approached by The Barden Bellas

THE BARDEN BELLAS

New to Barden U is Beca (Anna Kendrick). Beca a slightly dark, sort of edgy-ish girl who finds herself as a freshman at Barden University, even though she'd rather be out of school trying to work on her music. She has a deal with her Lit-lecturer dad. If she gets more involved at university, he will help her move to LA so she can follow her dreams to be a music producer. After an encounter in the showers with Bella member Chloe (Brittany Snow) Beca joins the group along with a bunch of other newbie’s including Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), and super quiet Asian girl Lilly (Hana Mae Lee).

The Bella's are under Aubrey's rule and she makes the group sing the same boring arse songs over and over again. ‘I Saw The Sign’ and ‘Something About Feeling Percussion’. There's no way the group will get anywhere in the competition if they don't evolve. The group's main competition are boy-group Treblemakers led by singer and Jack Black try-to-be Bumper (Adam DeVine). Also new to the group is Jesse (Skylar Astin) who wants to score films and loves watching The Breakfast Club.

THE TREBLEMAKERS

Anna Kendrick (Beca) is, as always, a fantastically confident and assured screen presence, proving here that she can anchor an ensemble with ease. She is undoubtedly the film’s strongest element. She gets a lot of good notes to play, finding organic character-based laughs interacting with peers who want to get her out of her shell.

Anna Kendrick (Beca): Rebel with a voice

The rag-tag bunch of girls that form the main a cappella group are nicely defined and share a pleasant, quirky chemistry, and the film takes special care to only mock them lovingly. Brittany Snow (Chloe) and Anna Camp (Aubrey) are particular highlights as group leaders Chloe and Aubrey, obsessive and controlling to such keenly observed degrees, the group's leader who foiled their plans to win the national championship the year before by vomiting on stage. She also uses dorky expressions like a ca-mazing or a ca-cuse me.

Anna Camp (Aubrey): Blows under pressure

 Brittany Snow (Chloe): It's all from her mouth

Giving each Asian character a wacky personality quirk that, again, defines them entirely. Beca’s Asian roommate is exaggeratedly standoffish and spiteful, and has friends who are equally indiscernible, while the choir’s Asian singer, Hana Mae Lee (Lilly), the girl who speaks so quietly no one can hear her. Ester Dean (Cynthia Rose), interpretation of a “gay” character, the butch, short hair sportin’, black bully stereotype.

Hana Mae Lee (Lilly): The quiet one

Ester Dean (Cynthia Rose): The Butch bass

But most viewers will walk away singing the praises of Rebel Wilson’s Fat Amy, the overweight, scene-stealing singer with attitude. She makes a lot of lines funnier just by virtue of her expert delivery and dry sense of humor.  It is a character type we are too familiar with these days –but Wilson is very good in the role, and easily earns the film’s biggest laughs.

 (Rebel Wilson) Fat Amy: The Pitch slapper

Skylar Astin (Jesse), the friendly, charming guy who loves music and movies. He and Beca become friends because they work at the college radio station. Despite Beca's reserve and distant character, Jesse was able to break her barriers with his charm.  I loved watching him sing and swooned when he tried to give Beca a Hollywood movie education, starting with "The Breakfast Club."

Skylar Astin (Jesse): On scores stage

Adam DeVine (Bumper), the Treblemaker's, in Aubrey's words, "egotistical, big-headed, garbage dirtball", leader.

Adam DeVine (Bumper): The Treblemaker

I loved the banter between ICCA Emcees played by Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins. Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins are absolutely hilarious as professional singing competition commenters (a concept that is exactly as crazy as it sounds).

John Michael Higgins (John) and Elizabeth Banks (Gail): The Commenters

Pretty much, you can predict every beat of Pitch Perfect before it happens. Also, what elevate things are the great cast and little doses of random humor. Oh, and the music is awesome as well! Acapella singing is always impressive and "Pitch Perfect" proves that in aces!  Plus, Beca's DJ-ing skills aren't bad either and her mixes are wonderful to listen to! But...for those who watch Glee for the songs and who love spirited Acapella renditions of everything from Rihanna to Cyndi Lauper…you'll probably love this. Some of the songs grated on me, but I'll admit that I was at times won over by all the 80's classics that play a big part in the movie.

The movie does a nice job of mixing and editing the musical numbers and making them fun to watch. And if you're a guy (though let's face it, many dudes will be staying far away from this), you've got many minutes of Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, and Anna Kendrick dancing semi-provocatively to look forward to. So there's that. If you're a girl (let me clarify - the kind of girl who eats up all things Glee and loves Bring It On) well, you'll probably love this movie.

Oh well. Pitch Perfect has enough pleasures to overcome its failings, even if the margin is fairly slim at times. I do enjoy most of these characters, I like that the setting and tone offer something a little different, and I believe audiences will get a kick out of it.

Overall, this was such a fun film. Everyone can sing (which is always a plus). Pitch Perfect certainly delivers some of that, along with decent characterization, fun performances, and several outstanding musical numbers. It is the sort of film I can easily see audiences latching onto. It has a good amount of heart and attitude. Pitch Perfect gets that last part right – the ending is excellent, fun and fulfilling on several levels but it will left you hanging…But I guess, and I'm hoping, there's a Pitch Perfect 2!! Nevertheless, all I have are thumbs up for the movie. :D Amazing song renditions, awesome cast...the whole movie is very ENTERTAINING!

Check out the girls' version for rehearsal number, by Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are. Also, here's the video of Mike Tompkins "STARSHIPS" performed by the Pitch Perfect casts.And, one of the movie highlight,"THE RIFF OFF".It was perfect. But then again, what isn't? Gave me goose bumps.

Here's the trailer if you haven't watch it already!! ENJOY! :)

The One Who Wants To Be With You

The One Who Wants To Be With You by Nico Lang

The one who wants to be with you accepts you for you: your mind, your heart and the parts of your body you may feel are imperfections, the ones you criticize when you look in the mirror. They think every single inch of you is worthy of adoration and will spend all day, every single day (if necessary) proving to you how beautiful and sacred your body is. They will kiss your body slowly, part by part, just to prove to you that each one deserves to be loved and caressed. This may take some time, but they’re willing to do that. They will show you that you don’t need you to be perfect or to be Bond Girl Christmas Jones — a scientist who is also secretly a supermodel when she removes her glasses and ponytail. You don’t need to be some focus-grouped, whitewashed, photoshopped idea of what’s attractive to deserve their love — someone who doesn't eat, fart, burp, express opinions or speak above a dainty whisper. They just want you to be you, and no one else.

The one who doesn't want you always wants you to be someone else when they close their eyes or wants you to be someone they can make you into — like that woman in Weird Science. Rather than pushing you for your own betterment — because that which we love should push us to grow — they look at you as a mission and a project, a site constantly under construction for repair. They will tell you that it’s for your benefit, and they just want the best for you. But they don’t want a better you. They don’t want you. They’re settling for a house they can fix up and remodel — one that’s in a lower price range and came at a bargain. They don’t see the value in you because they’re too focused on what’s better, and they’re too focused on what they want to see you for the steal you are.

The one who wants to be with you never lets you forget how special you are. They tell you via text message (in full sentences that don’t even need emoticons), flowers, candy, skywriter and actual in-person words — because they know how important it is to be in the presence of love, to be wrapped up in it, to feel it next to you holding you and never letting go. They will tell you by being there for you when you need them to be and even sometimes when you don’t need them to be, when you’re sick in bed and insist that you’re fine and they don’t need to come over and take care of you. They will be there anyway, with a bowl of chicken soup ready, five kinds of reading material and a dozen different brands of medication. They take your health seriously — maybe a little too seriously, like a grandma — because they take you seriously. They would book a seven-hour flight with a layover in Timbuktu just to watch you puke in a toilet, which they swear is cute when you do it. FYI, it’s not cute, it’s disgusting, but caring about you makes them into a beautiful liar like that.

The one who doesn't want you isn't there or when they are there — still isn’t. They’re always texting someone else and perpetually glued to the screen of their phone as if they suddenly would go blind without the light of the iPhone. They’re always hanging out with other people who aren’t you, talking about other people and making excuses for why they don’t have more time for you. They always talk about how busy they are and how full their schedule is, but they aren’t that busy. Their life is full with friends and acquaintances and a bunch of people who are tagged on Facebook smiling in photos with them. None of these people are you, and if they wanted you, those people would be you. If they cared about you, they would show you off like a fucking farm animal at a 4H fair and advertise you like an Apple product launch. It’s a little creepy, but people who care do that. They want to brag about you, because they know Steve Jobs could never create something as fascinating as you.

The one who wants to be with you understands that you are a priority in their life and their schedule. They have their own things going on — friends, family, cats that poop too much and houseplants that are weirdly needy — but want you to be a part of those things. When the time is right, they will bring you to family functions or poker nights and introduce you as “my girlfriend” or whatever label/introduction you have decided is appropriate. They will say this word repeatedly — as if there were a drinking game for its mention — just to remind themselves how lucky they are. They will bring you up to friends and family so much that everyone around them will get slightly sick or hearing about how great you are. You will be like your high school best friend’s newborn baby that she always status updates about. The mention it is will go away, but that feeling, that gratitude of your presence, never will.

The one who doesn't want you assumes that you know all of those things and don’t need to be reminded. They forget your birthday, your anniversary and might not even know very important information about you that you expect everyone in your life to know — like your eye color. They might not even know your middle name. They haven’t taken the time to get to know you and learn the important things, like the dreams that you haven’t locked away yet and what you want to be when you finally grow up, or the less important things, like that you can’t listen to Explosions in the Sky without crying and you feel like the movie Lost in Translation was made for you. You don’t communicate or really talk at all — because they’re unwilling to open that part of themselves. They don’t see that you belong in it.

The one who wants to be with you knows that falling in love with you doesn’t happen all at once and it can take years to truly get to know someone. Learning about someone is like wandering through an old mansion with many rooms; it’s always discovering that there’s another door to unlock. This person is willing to go on that journey, to be constantly surprised by how intricate and complex you are, an M.C. Escher painting in human form, and loves finding out grand staircases of new information about you, like that you consider Missy Elliott your spirit animal and want to live in Paris when you get old. But they also love how simple you are sometimes, as simple as a backrub after a long day, because they love everything about you that’s beautiful and that hurts. They’re willing to stick it out with you through the hard conversation and the rough patches — whatever it takes to lie next to you at night, they’re willing to fight for it. They will fight to love you.

This person is willing to go on that journey, to be constantly surprised by how intricate and complex you are, an M.C. Escher painting in human form, and loves finding out grand staircases of new information about you. But they also love how simple you are sometimes, as simple as a backrub after a long day, because they love everything about you that’s beautiful and that hurts. They’re willing to stick it out with you through the hard conversation and the rough patches — whatever it takes to lie next to you at night, they’re willing to fight for it. They will fight to love you.

The one who doesn’t want you won’t fight for you or perform random acts of emotional strength to prove their love. And you should have some who is willing to do that — to chase you and sweep you off your feet (and let you do some of the chasing, too) and strive for ideals we all say are “unattainable” or “unrealistic.” You deserve to be loved by someone who knows how to love you, specifically, and only you. You deserve to someone that won’t let your dreams stay locked away. You deserve to live them.

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"The one who wants to be with you accepts you for you: your mind, your heart and the parts of your body you may feel are imperfections, the ones you criticize when you look in the mirror. They think every single inch of you is worthy of adoration and will spend all day, every single day (if necessary) proving to you how beautiful and sacred your body is."

Hmmm.

And no, I really don't mean to reblog this just because it is related to my situation. Its just I feel it is most applicable to some of us. I really like the context and how it is explained in this blog post. :)

Joy of WRITING

I am not a good writer, but I decided to pour my feelings and thoughts into pages. This way, I am hoping to realize what I want, who I am, and what I really want to be. Ever since high school, I have this hobby of writing in journals or diaries. As I remember my first ever journal is a bundle of pieces of ¼ size pad paper clip together. Haha! :)) I’ve always wanted to write. I am fond of writing down my thoughts, my deepest secrets, and feelings about my crush, about hate and anger to someone, revenge but not literally! And whatever that comes out of my mind. I had kept several diaries (journals & planners) back then and update them as frequent as possible because I really find it fascinating whenever I get to read my entries and laugh about them. It also gives me a sense of fulfillment at times as I felt I became better. I never got tired of writing before I go to bed, not until I was in college where busy times takes place and social networks became popular. I’ve taken for granted my journals and lose time on writing. I was always in front of my laptop all the time. So since, I spend most of my time in the net, I come up to the decision to make an account to blog online. And so from up till now, I tried my best to update my blog like a planner that I have to write on every event that happened to me every single day. It’s my scrapbook of memories!! :D

But even though I’m into online right now, I never gave up my ink and paper. There are still things that only pen can express. After all, thoughts are meant to be written, not to be read. My updates in my blog/journals could just about anything. It could be my means of coping with my emotions (which would be most of the time I believe), my escape route or the expression of random thoughts when my mind starts to float in the air. Writing is for everyone, as long as you’ll be able to express yourself and show your individuality among others. I found something that I love to do. Have you found yours? :)

Here are some photos of my journals/diaries/planners. My old ones are nowhere to be found. :( Where art thou?

My past journals/planners which are gifts from friends except the SB planner. :)

Gotcha! My 2013 planner

And I'm still looking for more journals/diaries/planners to collect. :)

Movie Blog: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

To be honest, I wasn’t able to read the book, so all the critics and thoughts I have made will be based on movie. Before we begin, let’s get the required disclaimer out of the way. This is a review of the movie “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” For those few who don't know anything about the movie, The Hobbit trilogy ("The Unexpected Journey", "The Desolation of Smaug", and "There and Back Again") tells a story before "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. You should be forewarned that SPOILERS may be involved.

IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND...... there lived a HOBBIT. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.  This was one of the opening lines of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”. Although the movie doesn't start with them, the famous first lines of The Hobbit are said by older Bilbo as he writes them down in the Red Book. And our first glimpse into the Shire and Middle Earth. In this thrilling story, Gandalf the Grey returns and once again goes on a quest with a hobbit. This time, we look back in time to when a younger Bilbo Baggins, Frodo’s uncle, tries his hand at an adventure.

Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm)

The story begins with an elder Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) writing his memoirs before his birthday party as seen in The Fellowship of the Ring. Martin Freeman is the young Bilbo, a very content Hobbit, living a peaceful and prosperous life. So prosperous that he becomes stale and priggish for his years (60, the middle years for a hobbit). A hesitant Bilbo Baggins is chosen by a wizard, Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) to be the 14th member of a quest along with 13 dwarfs. The dwarfs, led by the dwarf king Thorin (Richard Armitageas), are leading an expedition to the Lonely Mountain to free their homeland from the dragon, Smaug, who took it over from them some long years ago. The orcs return once again to thwart Bilbo and the dwarfs. Thorin’s old enemy, the Pale Orc, who Thorin left for dead, returns to get his revenge. Bilbo must struggle with homesickness and a feeling of not belonging throughout the movie due to the fact that his newfound traveling companions believe it was an unwise decision to bring Bilbo along. After some convincing and some songs, Bilbo is convinced and their start their journey, where they are awaited by many quests...This sets the stage for an adventure the likes never seen.

The dwarves: Thorin, Gloin, Oin, Balin, Dwalin

Dwarves: Dori, Nori, Ori, Bombur

The Hobbit comes to life from director Peter Jackson in grand form. And Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a success in fantastical escapism that took us out of our current wet and windy world and into a sprawling land of dragons, trolls, orcs, dwarfs, elves, stone giants, goblins and, of course, hobbits. J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” was written as a prequel to the original three “Lord of the Rings” books/movies. However, when transposed to the screen, the book was split into three movies. “An Unexpected Journey” is the first installment of the series.

Once again, J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic story is brought to life in an adventure that delights, excites and astounds viewers. We revisit some past characters, Rivendell and the elves, Gollum, and the mountains that pierce Middle Earth. We are introduced to some new characters such as the Pale Orc and Thorin and a new wizard, Radagast the Brown.

Pale Orc (Azog)

Thorin (Richard Armitageas)

Radagast the Brown

The movie was… *drumroll* GOOD.

*Gasp! What? I didn’t use “amazing,” “wonderful,” “fascinating,” or “awesome”? Nope. But it was good. I think the absolute best thing about it was the humor. This movie is brimming with humor. It is very lighthearted – much more than the LOTR.

The first thing you have to realize is that The Hobbit is a really long movie. It clocks in at 2:50 minutes. I think this will be biggest flaw is its run time of nearly 3 hours. Granted, if done right the 3 hours could be an adequate amount of time for a movie, but here it is too long. Pacing can be a tad slow at times but, an epic action scene pulls you back in soon enough. There isn't much character development with the new group of adventurer's however. This is somewhat disappointing as, you really want to know more about them. Gollum's scene is an amazing standout. I wish there were more of him but, his scene is pivotal. It was really fun to return to Peter Jackson‘s Middle Earth and many of the scenes are beautiful but…not a lot of stuff happens over the course of the film. There’s a lot of talking and a lot of walking. The action scenes are plenty but they’re not ALL really that exciting. I can’t say that I was wowed by, well, anything in the film. That said, I didn’t hate the movie at all. For the most part, I liked it…but, sadly, I didn’t really love it.

The cinematography in the movie was brilliant, beautiful and at times unnecessary. There were sweeping landscapes, wonderful scenery, great music and special effects to take your breath away. It also included many – perhaps too many – characters familiar to fans of the previous trilogy, along with the essential crux of the original story from The Hobbit. Further, many back story tidbits from Middle Earth concerning the early days of the Dwarves of Lonely Mountain were highlighted in dramatic fashion. Costumes, dialogue… there was a lot of good stuff here. Peter Jackson did a great job in giving visual aid to the audience. However, there were many scenes that were extended past their prime and could have been cut short. Visually, the picture creates a world fit for hobbits, dwarves, and elves.

Trolls

Leader of the Goblins

I will admit that they've actually got the right actors for The Hobbit for its characters like Tom, Bert and William the Stone Trolls with a cockney accent, and the Great Goblin does a great role too and of course most actors that were in the Lord of the Rings series make a return welcome too like Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Ian Holm and Hugo Weaving. I've actually laughed at quite a few moments my main favorite parts were Roast Mutton and Riddles in the Dark which were both well played and fairly well done for it. There’s definitely a period of time when Bilbo's role shrinks considerably halfway through...until the stand-out moment when he makes the acquaintance of franchise anti-hero Gollum (Andy Serkis) in a gloomy cave, to play a life-or-death game of riddles. Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman pull off fairly solid performances. Richard Armitageas, the leader of the Company of Dwarves, does not impress me so far. Bilbo, of course, is the heart of the film, and Martin Freeman, who starts off a bit nervily in the early sequences, develops him beautifully as his story progresses. But Freeman’s warm-hearted, unsteady Bilbo isn’t meant to save the world; he only holds out a glimmer of hope.

Gollum (Goblin)

The sounds are also good…it grabs you! The vocals are incredible; the instruments superb. It drives the movie, and makes you feel the emotions. I especially love Thorin’s song (Misty Mountains? Not sure of the name.) – it is so rich, mystical, and enthralling.

The movie does have its problems, I'll grant you. I can understand why some people balk at the lengthy run time, it's true that it takes awhile for the adventure to get under-way, and there are no female characters of note beyond Galadriel (Cate Blanchett).

That’s pretty much all that I did and didn’t enjoy about the film. Considering that it was almost three hours long, I would say that’s not too bad, and I can easily deal with it. It was very much so worth it to see all the rest of the movie. Oh, but the ending…the ending…. At the end I was all,that’s it?!All I can say about the ending is that it is way too long until Part 2 and 3 come out. It leaves the audience hanging…and I really want to see the rest of the story – even with the minor downfalls! I came out thinking that it was good, but perhaps not as good as I was hoping for, or expecting. It was funny and entertaining. The actors were phenomenal, and the music was enthralling. Oh, and I forgot to mention this earlier, but I absolutely LOVED Gollum! He was incredible in this movie. His self-conflict was so entertaining. If I loved Gollum in the Lord of the Rings, I loved him even more in The Hobbit. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” was a good movie, but lacked the push to be stupendous. It’s worth seeing, but the viewer should go in prepared to watch the movie in a not so unexpected way. It was OVERALL a SATISFACTORY MOVIE.

Here's the trailer for those who haven't seen it yet.

Mini Reunion with my Avida Family

Last January 6, 2012 we had a “mini friend’s reunion” at Greenbelt and it was delightful! Finally, I could be with the friends I had missed so much. Reminiscing the moments, bonding and “kalokohans” we had for staying together for almost three months in a same condo, same building tower and two floors away but of course in different rooms. Hihihi :P 6O, 6S and 8F are numbers we’ll never forget. We are almost complete – Me, Bern, Sha, Gaena, Paige, Yo, Bobby and Josh are present. I’m kinda sad that Mommy Gina wasn’t able to attend and this calls for a round two. Communication was minimal, yet our hearts had remained close. Some friendships defy space and time.

This is one fun-filled day of laughter, togetherness, about hundreds of pictures, cam-whoring and photo shoot, dawdling and fooling around so it takes twice as long to get where we need to go, and did I mention laughter (coz’ there was a lot of it)! HAHA! :)) And by the way, it takes us almost an hour, deciding where to eat and choosing what resto to have our dinner. Finally, since it’s getting too late we eat dinner at Italliani’s. Pizza, Pastas, Chicken fingers, Mussels and smoothies. Sooo bloated!! Happy tummy!! Thanks to Joshie for the treat. :))

Dinner @ Italliani's

Seriously, when my friends and I get together we have the best time ever! Yeah! My friends are the greatest. I know that everyone had a great time and we're already planning subsequent mini reunions because we enjoyed each others' company so much.

But hey, let pictures speak for themselves.

Camwhoring at night! Girls and Boys!

Photoshoot on a sunny afternoon @ Greenbelt 3

 Fooling around on the camera and dinner @ Italliani's

Attendance!! Present!!