So's Reel Thoughts: 2008

i think this year i watched more films than i ever did in five years. i watched about 127 new films this year. and thats just NEW films. i tend to watch at least one film everyday before i eventually fall asleep. 2008 wasnt a GREAT year but it was a year of progressing development and experience. i mean every year should be a year of development and experience but this year has a little bit more to offer. i watched everything from foreign to the 60s to indie to blockbuster films. ive been getting lazy the last half year that i didnt actually realize the kind of impact the films that i watched this year had on my life, until now. and to think of it, i have discovered new directors and new films that i now consider my all time favorite because of this year. i guess now i can say i had a pretty good year in the film department.

my all time favorite director, stanley kubrick has had a huge impact in my life due to his iconic films.

feb. 21, 2008: A Clockwork Orange

after one kubrick film, youre hooked.

feb. 24, 2008: 2001: a space odyssey

march 1, 2008: eyes wide shut
april 7, 2008: lolita

april 10, 2008: THE SHINING!!!

wow, ive watched some amazing films this year that are seriously worth checking out.

feb. 29, 2008: harold and maude

march. 20, 2008: cecil b. demented

david lynch

march 27, 2008: mulholland dr
march 30, 2008: inland empire (honestly dont watch this at night or by yourself. i learned it the hard way..)

april 4, 2008: lady vengeance

april 14, 2008: IRREVERSIBLE!!!

april 29, 2008: brazil
may 9, 2008: 8 1/2
may 14, 2008: the piano teacher
june 25, 2008: the wackness
july 18, 2008: the fountain and the dark knight

july 29, 2008: elephant

july 30, 2008: conversations with other woman
sept. 5, 2008: blow up
dec. 4, 2008: cache
dec. 24, 2008: changeling
dec. 25. 2008: the curious case of benjamin button

whew! there are so many more films that i watched but these are the significant ones that have become my utmost favorite. i hate making resolutions cause half the time i dont accomplish them anyways but here we go.

1) watch more films (naturally)
2) get into film school
3) improve my photography skills
4) travel
5) be happy and have fun

haahhaha is that too much to ask? i hope everyone enjoyed 2008. until next year. bye!!!

talk about these trailers being epic! wow.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1st)

or go here...

Terminator Salvation (May 22)

or go here...

those ' i <3 ny' shirts were made for a reason and anyone who buys it obviously buys it for one purpose and one purpose only: CAUSE THEY REALLY DO LOVE NEW YORK! and as a born-californian, i am sad to say that i no longer feel like a true californian after my journey to the big apple. it was such a surreal feeling that i couldnt actually fathom the the reality of the situation. i still cant believe i went and came back from new york so quickly. but i honestly, cannot wait to go back in the spring. tribeca starts the week right after my spring break so im going to have to work my magic and try to work around that. i didnt take many digital pictures but as soon as i get my film photos developed, i will post them.

i just love everything about new york. i love it how everyone wears black. i love it how everyone smokes. i love it how its all gloomy and seasonal. i just love it how it feels so damn real. even if at times it is -15 degrees with wind blowing at about 100 mph.

sjkdfssjdgksjg, and since im back in sunny ol' cali, im going to have to lock myself in my room and really try to complete my essays and portfolio for film school. also restart my membership for netflicks. i really do miss my old cinephile self. i think the only way to actually be productive is by becoming the insanely obsessive film buff that i used to be. if thats what it takes, then thats what i shall become.

and with that said,
new york, i love you!

p.s. i think im going to try to make a foreign language short about ny for my portfolio. hopefully it works out.

IM GOING TO NEW YORK CITY!!!! THIS HAS BEEN MY DREAM SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND IM FINALLY DOING IT. IM HONESTLY SO HONORED AND LUCKY THAT I AM ABLE TO FINALLY VISIT. I KNOW IM GOING TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY. AHHHHHHHHHH... love it.

how excited are you? 1-10. im at about an 11.

or go here...

i have never wondered what it would look like if brad pitt entered the mind of wes anderson, until NOW. pitt is in a new japanese commericial--directed by anderson--advertising what it appears to be cameras?

or go here..

undeniably cute.

since i am already failing school, i might as well just update you of the oscar worthy films yet to come.

wendy and lucy already came out yesterday but kelly reichardt's lastest independent film starring michelle williams is sure to hit close to home. it may seem like a 'into the wild' for girls with a slightly different motive. it is about an alienated woman who decides that there is nothing keeping her in her home state of indiana and sets out to relocate to canada with her trusty dog and companion, and try to potentially seek work at a local fish cannery. just watch the trailer.

or go here...

the trailer oozes doses and doses of vulnerability. when writing this, reichardt thought of the financial crisis our country was going through and the endless amount of victims suffering from its consequences. the last scene is truly haunting to me in that williams projects the downfall of the american middle class workers. it simply isn't enough to just pass by, but the struggle and hassles one encounters ultimaltely, becomes unbearable as you can witness. its filmmaking at its most rawest.

SORRY! i will update more after this week. finals week is killlllin me.....

CLICK HERE. the magazine is getting better and better as time progresses... and i am so honored that kristin is letting me express my passion through her art... GO TO PG. 22. !! ENJOY...

halloween is long over but i would like to share my halloween outfit.

im sure you can guess what i was by now... if not, ill give you a hint and say, i was a certain infamous character in a stanley kubrick classic. got it now? and my friend amy, was tom cruise from risky business of course! she was going to be lydia from beetlejuice but she said it was a hassle to put everything on so she surprised us by dressing as THE 90s movie icon! so simple, yet so genius... (i swear she got the idea from the new guitar hero commercial)

i love halloween, i cant wait for next year!!

last weekend, afi fest was happening down at arclight in los angeles and let me tell you, WHAT A DAY IT WAS! the morning was intense (ive been overusing this word a lot) with multiple interviews of executive producer of gossip girl, director of sydney white, premieres of other samsung fresh films, and just interacting nonstop with many cinephiles. caitlin, my fellow filmmaker and many others roamed around la and ate at the imfamous in-n-out.

as you can see, i was overly dressed for the event. i just wanted to look nice. IS THAT A CRIME?! i think not. shortly thereafter, i had to leave because discovery channel was coming to my school to shoot the astronomy department. the episode is called cosmic collisions or something, so watch out for that..

oh yyyyes, the preview of the documentary i did for the national guard is now up online. cccccheck it. my group had tonya as our feature national guard... and she was aaaa-mazing.

and yeaaah, ive heard so much about amoeba and never been so sally and i decided to stop by for a liiittttle visit.

look at that. seriously. it was HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE. im a fan of music but im a bigger fan of dvds. and as soon as i got to the dvd section, i started to hypervenilate. no joke. it was an astronomical amount of dvds from different countries and genres. i was like a kid in a candy covered disneyland. and the sea of cute boys didnt hurt either...

so yeaaah, i always wanted a film filled day but man, it was exhauuuusssssting...
but honestly, even though it was physically and mentally draining, I LOVE EVERY MOMENT OF IT..

fin.

ive been writing my USC essay and the topic i chose was PASSION. what is passion? what is my passion? what can be constituted as passion? after strenuous hours of contemplating these questions, i thought about films with passionate characters. sure sure sure, those true life stories adapted onto the big screen has passionate characters but what does it take to actually move the callous opinionated society of today? at the moment, all i can think of is all forms of art. and within the art department, there is a little thing called music. and everyone loves music. while viewing multiple previews in the theatre, one caught my eye and actually made me ponder about people's true passion. check out this trailer for the soloist. call me sentimental but i was moved...

or go here...

i think it was bach's cello suite no. 1 that got to me...

ive seen many spoofs, remakes, and etc of epic movies such as there will be blood but this trailer of there will be bud is by far the best one ive seen. not only is the quality great but the lines and the actors are deliciously good and on point. cheeck it...

or go here...

p.s. its very strange cause paul thomas anderson's oscar nominated film was spoofed, twisted, and mocked by many youtubers and im sure he had no intention of having any influence on that.

DO IT...

OK, so my friends and i go to Hermosa Beach's Saint Rocke to see Justin Nozuka perform only to find out that the place is 21+ and over. we so infuriated and appalled that we sulked all the way to mama d's and ate our frustrations away. and thinking that HE is here. HE IS HERE. IN CALIFORNIA. we couldn't miss the chance to actually see him, or at least talk to him! so we go back and at this point, we're so determined to talk to him. the shitty bodyguard who kicked us out was standing in the front like a big bulging rock in everyone's way. so, there was this man standing outside of a bus and i kindly asked if this was justin's bus and he kindly said yes. and then i held my breath and asked if we could see him. the bodyguard was nice enough to say yes and within a few minutes justin nozuka was in front of me. honestly, i don't think i talked so fast since the dark knight came out. (i tend to talk excessive amounts when very nervous) i practically told him my life story. overall, he is an amazing songwriter/performer/man. and im crushed that i couldn't see him perform. but hey, after expressing my love for his songs, at least i got to meet him and actually tell him in person. now, thats cool.

YYYESSSSSSS, Sarah Palin showed up on SNL!!!! this is so epic!

the new oliver stone film, W, is coming out today. and by the looks of the preview, all i can say is, really? i dont know whether to judge george w. bush played by josh brolin as a true depiction of who he really is. it is known that bush is a jokester but the preview just threw all my previous assumptions about our president out the window and augmented my worst fears realized about how for eight years THIS man was the president of the united states... check it.

or go here...

in today's cnn article, it said that sarah palin is planning on appearing on saturday night live this weekend. sadly, ill be missing it due to work but wow, that's a riot. i don't know what they have planned but it can be assumed that itll be FANTASTIC! honestly, what is she going to do? make fun of herself? im sure she knows that shes the laughing stock of the whole country but i guess any press is good press. click to read the whole article..

and what an idiot, a man from elizabethon, tennessee named his third child SARAH MCCAIN PALIN behind his wife's back to "get the word out" about the campaign. he says he can do only so much considering how he cannot donate large sums of money. ok, hand out stickers or something, not name your child after death eaters. (that reference from harry potter really shows my compassion for the republicans)

Honestly, it was the best five days of my life.. it felt like summer camp and i really never wanted to leave... it was an amazing experience and im am eternally grateful for it. my team 'team friggen awesome' lived up to its name and made the most of the trip by exploring iowa to its limitless extent.. i am currently inundated with school work so i leave you with these photos.. i will also upload more pictures of my trip on my flickr. and as soon as the whole documentary comes out, i will post the link in here. till then, i will just have to wait till oct. 8 and attend AFIfest in la to view the 7 minute preview of it. weeeeeeee...

p.s. oh oh oh, my obsession with justin nozuka is increasing everyday and it turns out that he is performing in hermosa beach this upcoming monday and i am full of ecstasy at the moment as i announce that i will be attending this event! 'save him' has become one of my favorite song of his and i highly recommend you to check out his music. its not just his haunting lyrics and soulful tunes my ears been attached to but his stage presence. he really does shine above the sea of artists who have succumb to commercial standards and downgraded to singing synthetic and generic topics of love. check it..

or go here...

hahah. with this song. im in love with this song. its quite amazing. well, i leave you here with this as i am currently finishing up my homework before i head out to iowa at 4 am. so long!

JUSTIN NOZUKA.

its been only ONE day since october has started but i can tell its going to be a hectic/incredible/mind-blowing month. for one thing, i was shocked that i won the national guard contest. but this... i DID NOT EXPECT.

theres this 14 year old girl name kristin, who has an online fashion magazine and its soon becoming one of the most known online publications in the world. its called prim. have you heard of it? if not now, you will very soon. well she wanted a film section so i sent her some of my reviews and no way in hell did i think it would ever get published but IT DID! im completely blown away. even though its only ONE review out of five, im still pleasantly surprised that she even published it. check it out..

prim magazine. (pg.44)

i dont know what it is with 14 year olds but i swear theyre the new black. im not kidding. they are so beyond their years and maturing faster than anyone i ever knew at that age. i mean what ever happened to just chilling at the mall every weekend? ill elaborate more on the numerous talented 14 year olds out there once i get the approval to do so...

everything in my life is just going so beautifully...

NOW.

what to do with the overload of schoolwork being thrown at me from left to right....

edit: im so giddy i just want to share a few favorite photos of mine at the moment...

Leigh Lezark, Max Minghella, and MK

Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson

more later...

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONGRATULATED ME, IT REALLY IS AN HONOR...

ive been so busy with school and everything that im going to apologize beforehand if i dont update anytime soon... schools is kicking my ass raaah now.. as well as work.

its unbelievable how fast october is approaching. there are so many fantastic films that are coming out this fall considering how its almost oscar time. and also, one of my FAVORITE holiday is creeping up on all of us soon. HALLOWEEN of course! i wont go into details but ive decided that im dressing up as one of film history's most iconic villain. and some people will be scratching their heads but for those of you who have watched many ___'s films, you will know exactly what i am. im very excited and of course, i will post photos seeing how its related to film. hope all is well with you guys...

oh oh oh! it is monica belluci's 44th birthday today. she is most famous for (in my point of view) the french film, irreversible. if you got some balls, you should really see this film directed by one of my favorite, gasper noe. and seriously? she has one of THE best bodies i have ever seen of a woman in her mid-forties. she is wholly comfortable with her sexuality as well as her body. one can see that in her role in irreversible. if you google her, there are endless amounts of nude photos of her. i mean hey, if you got it, flaunt it!

i didnt want to mention anything till the deal actually went through. but, after weeks of being doubtful and negative, i got the most unexpected call ive been waiting for. a month ago or so, i entered this contest to shoot a documentary about the national guard. and turns out i was one of the 15 who got picked from all over the country to fly to iowa and live there for five days...

it was all very surreal.. this is a HUGE stepping stone for me..i mean, actually leaving the west coast AND going to iowa to shoot a documentary!? when i was making phone calls to tell my friends, it felt like i was telling them that i was engaged or something.. hahah strange i know. but thats how big of a step this is.. im disgustingly excited and ecstatic about this upcoming trip on oct. 8 - oct. 13. OH OH OH, thats not all.. the doc is going to be premiered at AFI FEST in november. so, thats very exciting.. i always wanted to volunteer at the festival but never in a million years did i think i would be part of something that would be featured in the event..

alright alright, back to films..

we all know the chuck palahniuk's adapted book, choke, is coming to theatre this friday. but considering how i got a sneak preview of it earlier this year at the la film festival, here's my review.

im just really thankful right now... thats all.

i just wanted to share this picture. they are so adorable, i really wished they stayed together. frankly, im a bit upset with jonze for dating drew barrymore for a while.. come-freaking-on, drew barrymore? im glad that he moved on from that fling and onto something possibly more serious with michelle williams... as for coppola, she is happily taking care of her daughter, romy with lead singer of uk's phoenix, thomas mars.

but man... what a dream team. i can dream can't i?

ive said time and time again that if i every make a film of any sort, i will do it with complete honesty and rawness. and every once in a while, ill come across a film with such TRUTH that even watching the trailer, i will start to tear up from the sheer validity of the movie. thats what movies SHOULD do, present an event, real or fake, and inform and enlighten viewers with sincerity. Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver was a complete fabricated story but it was told with truth. the truth about the mind of a lonely man. and true life events that are formed into films can be somewhat sugarcoated and conformed to the hollywood standards but filmmakers who can take on real events and can tell it without any tricks, i bow down to them.

i guess thats why Gus Van Sant tackled actual events for his death trilogy that told stories of the columbine shootings, kurt cobain's death, and two hikers who were stranded in the middle of nowhere with no water and food, because nothing is scarier than reality. its funny cause people watch movies to escape their own existence but filmmakers like Sant makes them face the truth on a close and personal level. and these three films especially--based on real events or formulated--caught my eye and made them water from the wholly realness and power of people's abilities to overcome impossible forces.

Changeling (Oct. 24) directed by Clint Eastwood

or go here...

Rachel Getting Married (Oct.3) directed by Jonathan Demme

or go here...

Battle in Seattle (Sept.26) directed by Stuart Townsend

or go here...

rachel getting married didnt make my eyes salivate but the other two did. my knees get weak when it comes to films about truth. stories with real emotions. stories about the capacity of the human strength. stories about perseverance. stories about the impossibilities of life.

it has been buzzing for a while that Anne Hathaway was getting an Oscar nod for her role in this film. her role as the recovering rehabee is actually more believable than when she tried to act like a druggie in Havoc. and i really do think that Angelina will possibly get another oscar win for Changeling. and battle in seattle hit close to home for me. i am a wannabe political activist and it was moving to see this true life event on the big screen.

i must admit that it was darren aronofsky's requiem for a dream that made me want to make films. no doubt about it. it was jarring and haunting to see ordinary people transform into ugly things. and no matter how much i didnt want to face it, that's life. that's reality. that's how people are and have always been and always will be. and these films show the possibilities and hope for humanity. and what i really want to focus on is the disintegration of it. and as cynical as that may sound, that is what im most interested and intrigued by. im just being honest. and no matter what i do or say, im going to be just that.

if i were to recall all the things that happened this week, i guess i can officially say that it was a good and busy week for me. i met a couple of really cool people, worked on some projects, studied a bit, and blah blah blah. and i reeeaaly would like to announce some good news but ill wait and see if the deal goes through. and all in all, minus the anxiety-ridden stress, it was a good week.

and tomorrow! the 12th! burn after reading and righteous kill comes out. and if you like chick flicks, the women comes out. i'm going to try and movie hop them all if i can. and if you plan on going to amc 18, i shall be there starting from 11:45 am. pretty crazy i know...

you can get no better black comedy out there these days..

im trying to remember how fiddy even manage to nab a photo spread with deniro. let alone be in the building as him. yes yes, its the hollywood issue but DAMN, ITS DENIRO!

and now, im thinking is meg ryan making a comeback? after that botox stint, her career just began to decline. the women is a remake of George Cukor's 1939 classic all-gal comedy about betraying wives and backstabbing friends. and everyone. and i mean EVERYONE, every elite hollywood actress that conquered the 90s is in it. the project which got interfered, hindered, and eventually put on hold, finally resolved their bitchings after 14 years in the making. it scares me (& possibly some guys) to think about all these women being in ONE movie. powerhouse names such as julia roberts, meg ryan, sandra bullock, ashley judd, candice bergen, annette bening, marisa tomei, blythe danner (im just beginning to scratch the surface!) are starring in this film. and even though there are all these elite hollywood names, i hope the film will be just as good as the cast.

red brimmed stones surround me.

mount me.

crush me.

suffocate me.

till im no longer that person

empty shadows stare back

blank faces. hallowed eyes.

what happened?

how did we let this happen?

screaming and crying knowing nothings there.

what was once laughter slowly fades into awkward glances.

the sun quietly sets.

the luminous shine will glow no longer.

the cement hardens.

legs and arms stiffen.

throat tightens.

i reach out.

only to feel the night breeze vacantly leak through my fingers...

NO COMMENT. JUST WATCH.

or go here...

i do recall watching this preview for beautiful losers some time last year. and i wanted to watch it while i was at the vegas film festival but somehow couldnt make the date. and so, here i am reunited with the film via myspace advertisement that just came out this past friday in los angeles at the landmark nuart. chhhheckk it.

or go here...

im thinking that im just going to work insanely a lot to gather enough money for ONLY new york, a new camera, some clothes, and film related things. i hate the fact that time is money. theres still so many things left to do. i need to get started on my college apps if i want to transfer in time. and i decided that if i really try. i mean really try with like good ol' sweat and tears, ill be able to attend usc or nyu. i just need to have more faith in myself. i need some kind of inspiration.

beautiful losers presents the do-it-yourself artists of the 90s, who have created art without succumbing to the art establishments. and what i don't understand is how one can follow certain guidelines for art. its art. the options should be limitless. and im thinking i should have a back up major but if this is what i want to do and am willing to live with five other people in a one bedroom apartment just to pursue my dreams then so be it. and im not saying that if these people can do it so can i but, it's certainly a look into the lives of these artists who have sacrificed many things to achieve their dreams.

yeah i need to stop this madness and just do it. my dad's favorite motto in life: just do it. and sometimes life is just better that way...

I dont know about you but thinking about seeing de niro and pacino in the same screen gives me the chills and the fever. i know they were in heat (1995) together but their legacy has grown since then and they're actually on the same side this time (or so they say). Righteous Kill is coming out next week (Sept. 12) at the same time burn after reading and i hear a movie hop session calling me... i won't go into details till later but i just wanted to share my excitement with you guys...

and im starting my netflicks on monday even though im utterly broke and burning holes in my pocket. im going to start watching films from the 60s and 70s which include titles such as blow up, bullit, dirty harry, soylent green, the odd couple and on and on and on... man, 68' was a good year for film. movies of the 60s and 70s allowed more freedom to directors who took risks and inevitably became influenced by the political and social generation of their time. they say that when one watches a film, one should immediately tell which time period and generation the story is about. and in those times, thats what directors did. like the way we were (1973), it wasnt just a love story, but a story that dealt with love during that time which intertwined relationship problems with politics. it's strange but it worked. it got me thinking that if i were to make a film, i would certainly incorporate the period and events and possibly strengthen the story. i completely went off from rambling on about righteous kill to the 60s, odd.

p.s. and in no way was it my intention to relate the title to the film.. hahah but very interesting that i unconsciously did...

Japaneses' most controversial director Takashi Miike is coming out with a new film this week by the name of Sukiyaki Western Django, starring none other than the spit-firing and king of kick-ass films, Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino plays a very minor character as Ringo. Miike has made the most outrageous movies in the past like audition and ichi the killer; it wouldnt be a complete surprise if Django was a disgusting blood bath. i imagine it'll be something like...the good, bad, and the ugly with a kick of kill bill. i havent watched many samurai films nor westerns so i dont know if i can make any critique about how this western will be compared to the classics. but i know just by watching the trailer that it's going to be one hell of a ride...

or go here...

i just dont like it how its is dubbed in english. i really wouldnt mind watching it with subtitles as i have have for many foreign and american films already. i just know the public will dread watching something where they'll be required to read the dialogue. it used to irritate me but it's ok now. what irritates me now is tarantino's acting. i dont think he should allow himself to act. at first in pulp fiction, it was quite entertaining but it just became old and annoying..

and what i just realized is that i have Django in my computer right now. my friend let me borrow his black box and i didnt realize i had it until this moment. so what i will do is tell you if its good or not after i watch it. but honestly, you dont need me to tell you if itll be good or bad. the trailer was enough to know that miike has the abilities and vision to make any film of any genre look effortlessly stylized and entertaining...

edit: im watching a portion of it right now and i guess it wasnt dubbed in english considering how the actor's struggling and slurring speech is disconnected at times.. and honestly, what i really need now is subtitles... cause i cannot understand a single word...

my obsession with brad pitt is rapidly increasing these days with his new film, burn after reading, coming out in merely weeks. and i have said time and time again that i would actually sit down and watch all his films. well, that time has come again and i will now set another mission for myself that i may or may not finish once again. (the whole harry potter mission ain't going to work out.) and my obsession with brad isn't due to his digustingly good looks or the media's obsession with his ever growing family. but because after years of hating him for being such an idolized pretty boy by both men and women, i finally decided to sit down and watch one of his films. and now, i can't really say ANYTHING bad about him. every one of his character has such originality and versatility because of pitt's abilities to wholly envelope himself in his roles. now, let's list how many more films i have to view to complete his filmography.

What i have watched:

1) Quentin Tarantino's True Romance. (1993) minor role as lazy pot-head, floyd.

2) Annie Rice's infamous book, Interview with a Vampire, adapted into a film. (1994) Tom Cruise's sidekick vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac.

3) His first partnership with David Fincher for Se7en. (1995) Detective David Mills

4) Terry Gillaim's Twelve Monkeys!!! (1995) Psychotic Mental Patient and Leader of Twelve Monkeys, Jeffrey Goines. This is when he really caught my eye. and the eye of the Golden Globes when he won his first nomination.

5) Sleepers. (1996) Michael Sullivan

6) Meet Joe Black. (1998) This is the only role of his i would not want to watch over again. im sure he only took this role cause anthony hopkins was in it...or that's what i'm going to keep telling myself...

7) FIGHT CLUB (1999) Tyler Durden. Two is the magic number here. the second time pitt is working with fincher. my second favorite role of his next to jeffrey goines. and possibly my first or second favorite film.. EVER.

8) Snatch (2000) a boxer with a killer punch with an irish? accent, Mickey O'Neil.

9) That Friends' Episode. As Ross' friend from high school. HILARIOUS.

10) Ocean's Eleven. Rusty Ryan. this is more of what i thought i would see him playing, the goofy and cocky playa.

11) Mr. and Mrs. Smith. (2005) John Smith. i watched this because of the hype of the whole Aniston-Pitt-Jolie scandal. and was pleasantly surprised that the story and action was very good due to most studios reason to combine these two superstar actors to generate buzz and mula. well it did both! and now, everyones happy. (except, maybe aniston)

12) Babel (2006) Richard Jones. This was heartbreaking and touchingly good to see pitt in this kind of state as his wife, Cate Blanchett, is dying after being shot.

13) The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. (2007) i really thought his role of jesse james would've won him an oscar nomination. he was so convincing and was unbelievably good in a very subtle way. casey affleck was also good in a cringe-worthy way.

now, i didnt expect to have watched so many brad pitt films but every one of them was so different: in their story, roles, and direction.

What i haven't watch:

1) Thelma and Louise. (1991) as the hunk J.D. and it was this debut that got him noticed in hollywood.

2) Johnny Suede. (1991) & Cool World. (1992) these two, he just reallllly needed money. and im shocked. cool world has a 4.2 on imdb. wow..

3) A River Runs Through It. (1992) Paul Maclean.

4) Kalifornia (1993). Early Garyce. I'm actually going to watch this today. HAHA. supposedly its a gangsta fick with David Duchovny as the bad guy. i just dont think that believable. but we'll see.

5) Legends of the Fall. (1994) Tristan Ludlow. i always see this at target but looks incredibly boring so i never even bother to pick it up..

6) The Devil's Own. (1997) Alongside Harrison Ford as sdgkjhsldghsjg (too long, but he has two roles)

7) Seven Years in Tibet. (1997) Heinrich Harrer.

8) The Mexican and Spy Games (2001) Both with big names: Julia Roberts and Robert Redford respectively.

9) Troy. (2004) NOOOoOoOOoOOooo. i would only watch this out of sheer boredom cause i already know he's kind of bad in this. there i said it.

10) The Oceans' Trilogy. Twelve (2004) and Thirteen (2007).

What he's doing next!!:

1) Burn After Reading (2008) as a energetic gym worker, Chad Feldheimer

2) His third David Fincher film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. (2008) as who else but Benjamin Button. and i'm planning on reading both the book and the script before i watch this in Dec.

3) Tree of Life. (2009) i heard that Aronofsky wanted this but made the fountain instead. but it basically has the same kind of concept.

4) Tarantino's Inglorious Bastard!!! (2009) i love how tarantino is tackling every genre. now, its WAR! with pitt as Aldo Raine.

5) The Fighter. (2009) as what else but the fighter.

6) Chad Schmidt. (2010) i love this one. he is playing Chad Schmidt, who moves to hollywood to pursue his acting career but because of his uncanny resemblance to brad pitt, he becomes a punchline instead of a star.

7) Dirty Tricks (2010) John Dean.

he has a lot of films coming out next year and i cant wait! and he has such a variety of roles coming his way from an army sergeant to a boxer to himself. i'm all very giddy right now.

Woody Allen is undeniably one of the most cynical writer/director i have come across. but inside every cynic, secretly there is a hopeless romantic inside. and thats just what woody allen is. almost all his films deal with relationships of some sort (annie hall, manhattan, match point). whether it is the mishaps, chances, or the downfalls of relationships, its all there...and really, vicky cristina barcelona is no different.

vicky (rebecca hall) and cristina (scarlett johansson) go on a trip to barcelona and become infatuated by a spanish painter (javier bardem), unaware of his ex wife (penelope cruz) who is about to re-enter the picture.

Allen shows true depictions of the hardships that come with each relationship. What is so unusually appealing about Bardem and Cruz’s relationship is that, through their undying love, Johanssan is the medium they need in order to create a healthy relationship. Threesomes are not considered "traditional" but when i saw this, it made sense. Vicky on the other hand, is realistic and plans to marry a guy back at home and inevitably falls for someone else who becomes a bigger problem than she ever thought would be.

woody allen consistently deals with regret, guilt, chance, and the behavior of people and while his recent films have been a let down to allen fans, this film never ceases to please. it is a classic woody allen film. it has everything any fan needs: cynicism, relationships, and some new york! (sorry no classic woody acting) so for all cynics out there, it will be an enjoyable film and will make one rethink about that standards of love. some may feel dissatisfied but thats what one has to expect when watching a woody film. he talks and lives about truth and thats what he reflects in his films: that life is not always picture perfect.

p.s. i thought it was cleaver how they made the title... hence three is the magic number...

it turns out that due to the writers' strike, the sixth installment of the harry potter franchise, will be postponed till july of 2009. Half Blood Prince was suppose to be released this November but warner bros thinks that due to the strike and lack of writers, 2009 films will not be prepared till later on, which will leave the harry potter film to fill that gap...

i guess we're all just going to have to go see twilight instead....

this is a complete dream come true. my favorite actor and director are coming together and making a uberviolent WWII film called inglorious basstards, with pitt as protagonist Lieut. Aldo Raine. Simon Pegg (hot fuzz), eli roth (dir: hostel), and b.j. novak (the office) has joined the cast as im assuming, as part of pitt's army. it is due out june 2009.

Tim Burton has decided to recreate the classic Lewis Carroll fairy tale, Alice in Wonderland in 3-D. and who else would burton cast as of one the characters none other than depp? depp will possibly star as the mad hatter which does sound like a complete trip. the 1999 tv debut version of wonderland, as i can recall seemed imaginative and well cast. but i have no doubt that burton will really capture the imagery and story of carroll's story. i wonder who will be the cheshire cat because i can vaguely remember whoopi goldberg being pretty fitting for that part. regardless of the cast, i know with burtons name on any project, itll result in dark (yet colorful) imagery and induce a trip on the audience when the film comes out in 2010. (and duuh, its going to be in 3-D!!!!)

every two years we have the pleasure of watching the olympics or the world cup, and i could not be happier. im not that into sports but something about these worldly events get me so riled up. day four of the olympics: which is why, i havent been updating as much as i would like to. my apologies. im completely enthralled and enveloped with the swim competitions as i was once a swimmer myself in my golden years. but really, back to the subject, i shall update soon. bear with me...

the 400 meter freestyle relay was just unbelievable to watch. if you havent watched it, then go to nbc.com and do because that single moment went down in history. phelps now has two gold medals. two down and six more to go!

but in all seriousness, i have so much to talk about. so i will try not being a laziass and write.

Douglas Haddow wrote an article in the august/sept? issue of adbusters about the new generation of hipsters and this is what he said...

"...have become shameless clichés of a class of individuals that seek to escape their own wealth and privilege by immersing themselves in the aesthetic of the working class."
"Hipsterdom is the first “counterculture” to be born under the advertising industry’s microscope, leaving it open to constant manipulation but also forcing its participants to continually shift their interests and affiliations. Less a subculture, the hipster is a consumer group – using their capital to purchase empty authenticity and rebellion. But the moment a trend, band, sound, style or feeling gains too much exposure, it is suddenly looked upon with disdain. Hipsters cannot afford to maintain any cultural loyalties or affiliations for fear they will lose relevance. An amalgamation of its own history, the youth of the West are left with consuming cool rather that creating it. "
"We are a lost generation, desperately clinging to anything that feels real, but too afraid to become it ourselves. We are a defeated generation, resigned to the hypocrisy of those before us, who once sang songs of rebellion and now sell them back to us. We are the last generation, a culmination of all previous things, destroyed by the vapidity that surrounds us. The hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture so detached and disconnected that it has stopped giving birth to anything new."

to read the entire go here....

i must agree with most of his points on how this generation is pretty much a copy of a copy of a copy [of one another.] and reading this, i thought of thousands of faces that fit into this "hipster" category (& im sure you can to.) i mean, there are some others that just like to chill and hang out at clubs who just happen to possess attire that are considered "in." but despite that fact, we cannot dismiss the reality of this generation all becoming clones of one another... or rather shall i say army? as haddow was explaining... and let me quote..

"Take a stroll down the street in any major North American or European city and you’ll be sure to see a speckle of fashion-conscious twentysomethings hanging about and sporting a number of predictable stylistic trademarks: skinny jeans, cotton spandex leggings, fixed-gear bikes, vintage flannel, fake eyeglasses and a keffiyeh"

and as im reading this, i look down and i began to realize that this article applies to me as i was there reading an article from adbusters and wearing the epitome of what is deemed as total hipster wear: a vintage flannel and black skinny jeans. sure, i will admit that i might be a perfect example of this epidemic but im not as bad as others, you have to admit. most people would never even admit to being a product of hipsterdom but thats because they are self-absorbed with taking pictures at every kickback they go to, wear unappealing headbands, and have faux glasses attached to their "how-to-be-cool" faces. and as i feel ashamed and retarded for subconsciously following a trend, i dont regret dressing the way i do because really, i wear the same thing everyday and shouldnt be judged by my lack of originality and laziness. i wanted to say more things but... i cant think of anything. all i can do is claim that i dont have originality and style, but at the same time admit that i am not like those girls who say this to seem like a "know-it-all" or "insightful" or be "faux cool." (haha, wouldnt they really though?) really, there is no way winning this argument...

p.s. sorry if i offended anybody who is like this. i was actually thinking of two particular people that are the epitome of fake-hipsters.