a record of thoughts

TIMTTMY is now a certified member of my Top 10 Best Album of All Time. Each track captures me every time. My favorite is simply defined such that I love each track in it.

Typically, I don’t rely on reviews to tell me whether to watch, listen, eat, or use things. I strongly believe that reviews are for fools who can’t decide for themselves. Many things for sale these days now require expertise to identify what to have. However, availability of information has been for cheap as well. Regardless, I will stay away from such examples to relay my message.

Movies are forms of art. Art is not mathematically quantified – usually. Art is beautiful relative to the audience. One may find abstract art to be chaotic and tranquil for another. One may think that punk rock is out of control while the other may think it a well written masterpiece. One may think a comedy to be funny and the other will think it a tragedy. The point is that art is our escape to reason.

Since there is no standard measure to the quality of an art, a review has no right to judge an artistic piece trash or not. He may give his opinion, but should not be the basis of an artistic quality. A good example of this would be “The Boondock Saints.” Film critics put this film down and didn’t earn at all until people who saw the film talked about and earned 50 Million in video sales. The film is not bad, but film critics casted the film away.

So next time you plan to see a movie, ask around but don’t take their inputs personally. If your gut tells you a movie is good enough to dig in your pockets, go and see the film.

I saw two movies over the weekend – “Eat, Pray, Love” and “The Expendables.” The latter satisfied my craving for a bloody-manly-action-packed-sequences. The former, however, aroused my thoughts to mildly rant about a trend that is known as “guruism” – a word I shamelessly co-created. I possess the right to say I co-created the word because my word processing software clearly underlined the word with sharp red line.

Guruism if I may define it is a belief that one’s enlightenment is reached if they sing hymns and praises in front of a guru – or worst his or her photograph. Right there and then, you would think these believers are stupid; and they are I must agree. So we have foreigners making a pilgrimage to India (a.k.a. “The Source”) and perform meditations then they find themselves, retract the admission of guilt, or anything that will make one feel better. Ha! That’s my cup of tea – be selfish and not worry about the surroundings.

So what do I have against this ism? Well, India is supposed to be one of the poorest countries and the movie even showed it. If the gurus can provide enlightenment that eventually guides an individual to better the self and in result better the society, then why can’t they enlighten their countrymen and make a better India?

Hollywood doesn’t cut it anymore for me. Rabbit and Lizard is not the greatest of films; but it is better than most. The movie is very figurative, fluid and exciting despite its tranquil façade. Dark, it may seem to most, but it really is a fulfilling film. One has to meditate on the many dangling hints, but that made the movie good for me. I didn’t want it to end happily, yet I don’t want it to end dismally either. It’s up to the audience to create their own interpretation of what happens.

The story was structured such that the audience is guided into thinking about the depth of the characters’ relationship. It is not until the end, however, that the truth is revealed. The substance of the film is very dense, yet it’s lightly presented. The balance between the content and the presentation crafted a sensual feel to the film.

A must see.

If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will

An excerpt from the lyrical genius of Leonard Cohen. This verse is as captivating as it can be. Intended to be a prayer, but I find use to it.

In a sense, I kind of live by this ethos. I’m only talkative at work because it’s too boring if we all keep quiet. Though I admit it’s a bit too noisy most of the time. If anyone has interacted with me, I’m not a conversationalist. I will answer questions as if I answer fill-in-the-blanks. I hate small talks because they are too uninteresting. If you want me to rant my mouth without limits, we have to have an uber interesting topic between us.

That’s the request Frances and I are crying for. Everytime we see Pia in Eat Bulaga!, we are disgusted. Vic, it’s time to dump her ’cause she’s becoming an over-acting bitch. Her outfits are not trendy, rather they need a call for a stylist. She should avoid wearing shorts also because her knees are horrible. Pia, we are begging you, hire a stylist and bring back style on TV.

Korean Dramas have been low in subtitling recently. That means I couldn’t watch anything. Aside from a few KPop ventures like Younha & Nell, there’s really not much to do online. So I remembered I had a few unfinished serials (rather I discontinued watching them). One of them is GINTAMA. I chose to continue Gintama over Naruto and Bleach because I really don’t need to follow the manga to follow the series, plus it’s hilarious.