In the past few years, I haven’t paid attention on prime time TV. Most shows are reality contests that it’s frustrating to watch them. I guess there is a shortage of witty writers nowadays. Well, I think I’ll have to join the bandwagon. Last night I watched an episode of “Last Comic Standing” and I want to follow the season without missing the future episodes. The comedians last night were witty and flat out hilarious. I have three comics under my radar already. I will write more about them when they reach the finals in a few weeks.
I’m a sucker for comedy — especially stand-up comedy. I give all the props to these guys because it’s not easy to be funny. You have to be smart and confident to deliver your piece. I used to follow the late night shows (all four), MadTV and SNL, but I lost interest when they started playing re-runs and shit. I also had no time.
I’d like to go to a comedy bar one of these days. I’d invite my colleagues again, that should be fun. We seem to like comedy. When I was in college, we always had people come in class selling cheap tickets to comedy bars. I wanted to go, but didn’t have anyone to come with me. People at home are too boring ad uninterested in stuff like that. I once went to a comedy bar in the Philippines (Klowns) with my aunt and cousins. They are all gay jokes and it’s just plain stupid. The only jokes Filipinos know are gay jokes. Not at all funny once you hear them over and over again.
Last night I watched Carlos Mencia on YouTube. The guy is fucking hilarious. He was bashing Caucasians and Asians mostly — goddamn Mexican. Racial jokes are fun. I think people should be open about it. Many get offended though because comedy is a medium of truth that hurts. It ain’t funny if it doesn’t hurt I guess.
So I’ll be checking on “Last Comic Standing” every week from now on. I won’t vote. I’ll just enjoy the show. Also, I really miss the “Superstar” show. I hope they return the show this summer.
Oh, my latest favorite song is “Motorcycle Emptiness” by the Manics. I enjoy the guitars in this song. I’m listening to it now as I close this entry.
May 23rd, 2008
With the Yankees on a losing streak and I wanted to get back on my movie woes, I went to Blockbuster last night at around 10PM to rent a couple of films. This time, I didn’t go with romance or comedy. I tried my luck on thrills, so I rented Guy Richie’s “Revolver” and “Shoot ‘Em Up“. I started with a Richie flick and I wasn’t disappointed.
“Revolver” has all the formula for a Guy Richie flick plus a psychological touch. As a matter of fact, it really is a psychological film on ego. A man’s battle against himself. Jake Green (Jason Statham) planned a revenge against the person who brought him into prison for seven years. However, at the dawn of his vengeance, he was interrupted by two loan sharks who were actually guiding him to know his real enemy. These two men happened also to be the ones who taught him everything he knows about conning and playing “the game” of chess. Eventually he realized that his real enemy is his ego.
I have long believed that living is a game and it is ourselves as the opponent. I did not know about ego other than it is the self. At the credits of the film, experts on ego commented or rather stated what they know of ego. Dr. Chopra said that there never is an external enemy, rather it is the real enemy’s projection that we have an external enemy so that we won’t suspect the ego to be the enemy. Our ego is manipulating our mind to believe that another human being is the enemy. We spend a lifetime trying to defeat that enemy. What we don’t know is that it is ourselves that opposes us. It is my perception that gives me the idea to hate and try to overcome something; the external entity is only a medium to whom I exert my frustration because I am made to believe by the ego. I always say that life is not precious because it has a known ending. We are nothing but pawns in this game called life. However, like any game, we shouldn’t cheat so that we can end the game.
“Revolver” will definitely be part of my top list. I wouldn’t think twice a Guy Richie film.
April 10th, 2008
The last weekend, I wasn’t lucky with the movies I picked. Saturday morning I went to Blockbuster to exchange my two-month-due rental with a couple of “the latest.” I rented “Death At A Funeral” and “Across The Universe” and watched them accordingly. I was disappointed with my choices.
“Death At A Funeral” looks familiar to me, but I can’t remember what this film reminded me of. The whole movie happened at a funeral service in the family house of the deceased located in some countryside in England. There, different characters collided. There’s the insecure son, the cocky son, the widow, and a bunch of relatives and friends with their own problems. I can’t even call most of these people names because their characters are too shallow, underdeveloped and useless to the story. The only thing good that came out of this movie is that the events were perfectly timed to compliment each other. I was even disgusted at one point when Howard tried to pull Uncle Alfie’s trousers and put him on the toilet and he got all the shit all over his hands and face. That was disgusting!
“Across The Universe” is a musical. I’m never fond of musical and I always think that musicals should just stay in theaters and not the motion pictures. I only rented this movie because “Across The Universe” is my all-time favorite Beatles song. The movie is terrible and they even messed up the scene when Jude was singing “Across The Universe” because they mixed it with “Helter Skelter”. I love “Helter Skelter” but don’t mix it with the title track. The characters were terribly developed and the story didn’t have enough conflict to be made into a movie. Again, this movie is too shallow.
I expected more comedy from “Funeral” - British comedy that is. The story was concentrated on how to piece the puzzle of events without thinking about how the characters are doing. “Universe” is the second movie featuring Beatles music. I did not expect anything from it other than the music. They were all good vocalists, especially the lead. Well, I’m biased because I’ll pick British singers over American singers anytime. Good luck to me in the next weekend. I hope to pick good ones this time.
April 9th, 2008
Tonight, before going to bed I thought I’d post an entry on a very interesting Korean film I just saw. It’s called Somebody Special. It’s a romantic comedy about a baseball player trying to find the meaning of love and a girl who has been in love with him since they were young. The story does not interest me, rather it’s the humor. Though many have said that romance and comedy blended really well in the movie (and I agree), the humor has the upperhand. It’s not a simple funny humor, rather it’s a laugh-out-loud humor delivered subtly yet obvious. Finally a paradox from me.
I found this film while searching for Lee Na Young’s works. I like Na Young’s acting because she’s eccentric. She’s vulnerable, yet strong and I think she’s the only actress who can do what she does with her tongue (no malicious intent).
March 17th, 2008
