FlickPick: Crazy, Stupid, Love.

 

It’s been a month since Crazy, Stupid, Love opened in Philippine movie theaters but the Boyfriend and I watched it on the big screen just last Saturday because of two things: we normally put romantic comedy films & chick flicks in our “to download” list and our friends gave this film some solid thumbs up.

Let me get this out of my head before it eats my brain cells: it’s not the kind of romantic comedy film that can stop me from switching to another cable channel, if you know what I mean. I don’t think I’m going to be the first person to say that the film has its sluggish moments. Yes, the comedy, the romance, the crazy, and the stupid (har!) were all there. Yes, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling were pretty hilarious in their own subtle ways. Yes, I enjoyed the plotline. But the thing is, there’s a rare balance of reality and only-in-the-movies moments which creates a so-so story.

What I like about this film is—no, not Ryan Gosling’s abs. Sorry, but I don’t find him sexy at all. His abs were chiseled, no doubt about that. I gave my own share of “oh my gosh,” but I’m just not fond of him, that’s all. With that aside, let me tell you that Crazy, Stupid, Love is a film that men can really appreciate. It’s one of those films where guys are depicted as someone who can screw up, be cheated on, fool around, and eventually end up with the girl he truly wants to be with. We all know it’s not always the guy’s fault when a relationship goes haywire. A guy’s life doesn’t go all the way South when a relationship ends (hello (500) Days of Summer). I’m sounding like a guy here, yes? Well, I could be one (lol). And no, I don’t hate (500) Days of Summer.

On the other hand, what I don’t like about the movie is how it stretched out for half an hour after the chaotic twist which made me realize that the film should’ve been titled “Crazy, Stupid Love in A Small, Twisted World.” Err, my titling skills need some work. Also, there was nothing to talk about after the movie. Yes okay, the abs. Whatever.

Overall, it’s a bit dragging but I like how the story’s deeper (heavier?) than other lighthearted romantic comedy films.

 

*Image from moviefanatic.com

Pageants and Religions

“If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love. Because the first person that I love is God, who created me. And I have my faith, my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God too.” – Shamcey Supsup, Miss Universe 2011 third runner up

Miss Universe 2011 third runner up Shamcey Supsup

There’s nothing more awesome than watching someone share his/her beliefs in front of thousands of people. I don’t know much about pageants, but what the newest Filipina pride Shamcey Supsup shared with the world is something that a lot of people might actually disagree with.

I was one of those who watched the replay of Miss Universe 2011 at home, I’m allowed to boo my work hours for that. I got home just in time for the Q&A portion. My initial reaction to Miss Philippines’ answer was that it was just okay. I thought that given the pressure of being on stage and knowing that the clock’s ticking away, this might probably be the best answer anyone could ever come up with. After a while, though, I realized that this was a personal stance. This was her way of saying she won’t let anything and anyone go between her and her God, not even love. This didn’t please everyone because we all know how sensitive a topic religion is.

Personally, I would’ve loved to hear her talk about interfaith marriages. About respecting one’s faith, one’s religion. About how people’s love for each other should strengthen their relationship and help bridge misunderstandings between religions. Then again, I’m pretty sure her answer wouldn’t have been as great as what she has given because that is not what she believes in.

In the end, it all boils down to respecting people’s opinions and religious beliefs.

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P.S. I think (and I don’t care if I’ve to say this repeatedly) Shamcey Supsup deserves more than that third runner up title for her answer alone and bonus points should be given because of the way she said that with prowess and conviction.

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*Image from pinoypower.net

All’s Well

That one moment when I blocked everything out & started thinking of the people who apparently have a grudge on me because of something I didn’t do.

The problem with rumors is that they usually reach their victims when the lies have been altered several times, almost to the point of it being so incomprehensible, so far out from the issue at hand. The problem with the rumor about me is that it reached me only when it has developed into a fully grown bastard, the kind that people have already accepted as the truth. The problem with me is that I refused to stand up and slit everyone’s throats clear my name.

Yes, I am a victim. I may not be so in certain people’s eyes, but I am. And so are the people who believed and continue to believe the issue that I, allegedly, ruined something beyond repair. I chose to keep quiet despite everything. I thought then that my battle was nothing compared to that of someone else. I know that that was the right thing to do. I chose to keep quiet and allowed the rumor to die out. The rumor died. But so did my only chance of having everything straightened out, of letting people know that I’m innocent.

There’s no point standing up against anyone now. The wounds have healed.

That one moment when I realized that other people’s thoughts, evil or otherwise, could never harm me in any way unless I allow them to do so.

Most people describe me as someone who is casually unconcerned with others’ nasty opinions. They’re quite right. On most days, I’m pretty much like that, but not bordering on indifference. I listen, I take mental notes on who I shouldn’t trust, but I don’t let them affect me. At least, not anymore. 

I’m dropping my crappy plans of letting people know that on a certain issue, on that one Jurassic issue, I’m clean. It doesn’t matter now. For as long as the people involved know the truth, for as long as the people closest to me know the truth, all’s well.

That White Wedding

I refuse to blog about Mitch & Tony’s wedding. No, not that it wasn’t awesome. It was pretty and intimate and very, very romantic. No matter how much I want to write about it, though, I just couldn’t. I’m scared, as Mitch’s friend, that I might say the wrong things. That I wouldn’t do it any justice. Words, themselves, cannot describe any part of the event. Except maybe, that it was white. In every sense of it, that wedding was white.

What words can’t describe, I’m hoping this video can provide:

by Treehouse Story

♥

Giving Back

I don’t have a pure, holy soul. I have my fair share of slipups. During those moments, my guardian angel flew as far as s/he could go while praying for my salvation. Okay, let’s leave my unholiness at that.

My boyfriend was the first person to point out that I’m always sympathetic towards the homeless, especially if they’re elderly. I can’t help it, I can’t help cursing their families for leaving them, for allowing them to beg for money or sleep on the streets, and for allowing them to feel the pain that nobody deserves to feel.

I do whatever I can to help the needy in my own (probably inadequate) ways. Once, I offered help to an old woman who I thought was only having a hard time crossing an underpass. As it turned out, she was extremely hungry from walking around the city begging for alms. I wrote about meeting her. Like any good Catholic, I prayed & will continue to pray for her safety.

Also, I used to force my boyfriend to pass out a coin to a street person who knocks on his car window. Nowadays, he does this automatically. Maybe, I think, he already feels the same way about elderly street people.

What about the young ones, you might ask. Yes, children who are born victims of poverty grip my heart too. Not as much as old people, only because I believe we should all be given a chance to just enjoy life as we border on old age and not suffer our way to our deathbeds. That, though, doesn’t lessen my willingness to help those kids.

One Good Deed: One for Daraitan

A month ago, my friends from my previous company invited me and The Boyfriend to join a volunteer activity for the kids of Daraitan, Rizal. Unfortunately, that was the date of our departure to Nueva Ecija. Although we weren’t able to go, we handed them school supply kits to be given to the kids. I also asked the help of my TR colleagues, and they were kind enough to take a moment of their time to buy school supplies for people who wouldn’t even be able to personally thank them. To everyone behind this project, I salute you.

 

Legal Editorial Operation's Project 20

It was also recently that I signed up to be a Project 20 donor. The reason why it is called as such is because upon signing up for it, you are to pledge twenty (20) pesos every payday until December. All proceeds will then go to an organization that provides temporary shelter for kids. I personally think this is one genius project.

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This post is not meant to show you that I’m a great person with a kind heart. This serves as a reminder, as my reminder, that I could do good things if I willed myself to do it.

So do I feel better about myself because of these? I think I do.