Inception

La vida es sueño.

The divide between dreams and reality has been a staple theme in fiction for centuries now, and it takes a very imaginative writer(/director) to be able to weave a fresh tale using this theme. Kudos to Christopher Nolan, for he never fails to amaze, entertain, and make you think.

Inception is certainly not a film for everyone. It’s certainly not for those who are seeking merely to be entertained. It is also not for those with short attention spans, for it is surprisingly fast-paced for something so complex.

The thesis is simple enough: ideas are the most dangerous things in the planet, for once they take hold of your mind, ideas stay there and consume you. Thus, the ability to be able to plant an idea into someone else’s mind, which is called inception, is a powerful tool – and this is what Leonardo DiCaprio’s character is attempting to do. How to do it: through dreams, by implanting the idea into the subject’s subconscious.

The rest is pure storytelling genius.

I will keep this as spoiler-free as possible, but suffice it to say that there are layers upon layers of stories in this film. From the very beginning, the audience is wondering where reality ends and the dreams begin. And indeed, this is a question that drives the film right until its last second.

The power to be able to engineer whole worlds, where we are gods, is quite tempting. To live entire lifetimes in a dream is a very nice thought. But to suddenly wake up, to be dragged away from that fantasy world, is most certainly painful. And some people choose to dream, while others believe that death is the only escape.

True, some themes are vaguely reminiscent of The Matrix films. However what was refreshing about this film was that it stayed relatively simple – no kilometric philosophical dialogues/monologues on the meaning of life and the allure of dreams, for the film is rich enough as it is. And there is also enough action to pique the interest of adrenaline-junkies.

Morning by Conchitina Cruz

This is a beautiful poem that was shared to me by my friend E. The author was E's professor back in college. For some reason, it reminds me of that line in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, that only unfulfilled love can be romantic.

Morning by Conchitina Cruz

You never know when somebody will walk away from you on a bright day on a busy street, never looking back and

you cannot believe the slow disappearance, cannot believe what is moving away from your reach until the busy street no longer needs its presence to look the same, because it is the same.

And the city offers you its fruits and fish, and the churchgoers lift their veils as they step out in the open

and you know the picture is incomplete but it can stand for itself

and who are you to ask for more, who are you to insist on hunger?

Bill O'Reilly: Theology makes Catholic Church what it is

Bill O'Reilly: Theology makes Catholic Church what it is

He may not be the most agreeable person in the world, and I certainly can't stand his political views, but I agree with his views on this matter 100%. Indeed, one cannot judge a whole institution based on a couple of miscreants. As the priest said in his homily yesterday afternoon, the Catholic Church is one of the few institutions that can pride itself for remaining true to the teachings of Christ. And for this reason, I will remain faithful to my church.

This is not to say that I condone the abuses committed by some members of the clergy. I believe that they should be prosecuted and, when convicted, be held accountable for their actions. But to condemn the entire Church, and to renounce one's faith, based on these individuals is both absurd and illogical. It would be tantamount to renouncing one's citizenship on the basis of the crimes committed by one's head of state.

The Power of Suggestion

Pearls of wisdom from my friend C, during our conversation on the idiocy of men (specifically 1 and 2):

C: lesson learned, when you find guys you like, don't call them idiots -- they tend to live up to their titles.

G: hahaha true true.

C: call them smart, gorgeous hunks 1 and 2. Use the power of suggestion!

G: duly noted. :)

C: so, kamusta na si SGH1? Smart gorgeous hunk 1?

G: um, wala akong ganun e.

C: well, mangarap ka na rin lang. The power of suggestion, remember? Haha.

Now I'm wondering, if I start calling them Piolo, Derek, and Echo, would the names become self-fulfilling prophecies? :)

Addendum: a few minutes later...

G: omg, we have a new intern in the office. It's a guy. And he's Chinese. :D

C: omg! Si SGH1 na yan!

G: Ang galing ng power of suggestion!

C: well, for sure S na siya kasi he's in a law firm. G is relative. So the H-ness is what you have to make sure of. Tapon ka ng ipis sa direction niya -- works every time hahaha!

Clash of the Titans

The original (1981) version of Clash of the Titans is one of those films that shaped my childhood, alongside Star Wars, The Godfather, Doctor Zhivago, Gone With the Wind, and Ben Hur. When I heard that a remake was going to be released, I was initially excited. However, after hearing the not-so-good reviews from friends who've seen it, I became apprehensive albeit still excited to see it.

Purists would undoubtedly dislike this film, for apart from the names of the characters and the general direction of the plot, the film undeniably deviated from the Perseus myth. I admit, this was disappointing - if the writers would change the essence of the story, why not just make a new one? Greek myths are rife with prophecies of fathers supplanting sons, jealous goddesses venting their wrath on poor mortals, and meddling Olympians, yet we see almost none of these themes in this remake. Indeed this film shouldn't even be called a remake, for it barely resembles the original film.

True, there were great visuals and effects, but this is hardly surprising in this day and age. This could not make up for the simplistic plot and weak dialogue. I went into the theater telling myself to not expect too much, given the bad reviews I've heard, but even with my lowered standards I couldn't help but feel cheated of my 200 bucks. Perhaps I should have waited for this film to be shown on HBO.

Clash of the Gods

Being a bit of a nerd, I was a little excited to watch this new series on The History Channel. The Clash of the Gods is a series which focused on the different gods and goddesses of old, outlining their myths - from their genesis until their eventual decline - and even providing possible factual bases for these stories.

The first episode focused on Zeus, from his rise to power after the defeat of his father, Cronus, until his fall from grace with the advent of Christianity. I enjoyed the bit where the Zeus myth was linked with the ancient disaster at Santorini. The theory is that the Zeus myth - particularly the story of his battle with Cronus - was borne out of this volcanic eruption.

One thing about this series though: it's not for children. When they discuss the myths, they discuss every aspect of it, including the incestuous and violent themes of the myths. Still, it's an entertaining show, and it made me want to burrow through my piles of books and look for battered copy of Mythology by Edith Hamilton.

1602 by Neil Gaiman

Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis. All things change, and we change with them.

Neil Gaiman was in the country a few weeks ago, and for the first time since he started coming here for signings and whatnots, I wasn't able to (stalk him) attend because I had to WORK. GAH.

Anyway, a couple of days before the event my friend C called me up and told me that she knew someone who could get Neil to sign a book for me. I chose 1602, since this is one of my favorite graphic novels outside the Sandman universe.

What I liked about this book was that one did not need to be thoroughly familiar with the whole Marvel universe to appreciate the story. Sure, a knowledge of the different heroes and villains would help especially since the reader is just thrust into the story without any introductory remarks about the characters, but it's not necessary. After all this is a retelling of the whole Marvel universe, set in Elizabethan England.

I'm also a fan of historical fiction, and to see the likes of Doctor Strange and Peter Parquah/Parker hobnobbing with Queen Elizabeth amused me to no end. And as with all great historical fiction, there is great drama in this work, complete with political intrigues, assassination plots, hostage takings, and even some jealous lovers to spice things up even more. And not to worry, none of the characters spoke in Shakespearean English, so they were all perfectly intelligible.

As with other stories with heroes and villains in it, the plot is simple and predictable: evil villain schemes to gain more power, the world is at the brink of destruction, and the heroes band together to save the day. However this is where the genius that is Neil Gaiman comes in, as he weaves together a complex yet entertaining story that just draws the reader in, compelling him to continue reading until the end is reached.

The themes underlying the book are also far from simple, and while the story is set in the 17th century, the message is undeniably timely. We live in a continually changing world where we are all forced to change and adapt in order to survive. And true, the world is growing darker and scarier, but we as a race have always shown that it is in the darkest times that we become even greater by reaching out to others. Indeed, there is no challenge that we cannot overcome, so long as we work together. And it is truly in the darkest hours of history that people - not necessarily superheroes - emerge to give us hope and show us that not everything is lost.

Carlos Javier (Charles Xavier) was right: from those who have much to give, much is demanded.

The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl by Belle Du Jour

I first heard about Belle Du Jour last year, when I was perusing books with my then Cebu-based friend P in Powerbooks (Cebu). But they only had her other titles, and being the OC-reader that I am, I wanted to read her first book before reading the other titles. I was finally able to get a copy of The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl during my last bum date with M, but was only able to finish reading it this morning. I blame work.

I found her chronicles interesting and entertaining, although there are some banal moments for which we can't really blame her. Not everyone's life is like a soap opera where drama is a constant factor. Still, apart from those momentary musings on the weather, the work as a whole was entertaining. And given that this is a true account of her life (or at least of a year in her life), she managed to maintain a climactic suspense which led to a satisfying albeit expected closure.

The advantage of anonymity is the freedom to talk about anything and everything. Belle was surprisingly and refreshingly open about both her professional and personal life - sometimes at the point of sharing too much information already. But then again it IS her diary, and if diarists don't have the license to ramble about anything they want, then who does?

One thing amusing about her diary is her penchant for lists, which is reminiscent of Bridget Jones. Only some of her lists are not exactly for those with a prudish disposition. Still, these are quite informative. ;) But this isn't to say that there are no profound insights in her chronicles. On the contrary, Belle is quite the reader of people (which is probably an asset for working girls).

All in all, her chronicles are an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Alice in Wonderland

Mad Hatter: Have I gone mad?
Alice: I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret - all the best people are.

I have to say that I'm not a big fan of 3D movies. Yes, the graphics are amazing, but after 30 minutes or so my eyes begin to strain and the glasses become just bothersome.

Still, I endured, all for the love of Johnny Depp.

But no, I will not blog about how entertaining Mr. Depp is when he's acting crazy. I will not blog about how gorgeous he is (especially since he looks like a deranged clown in this film).

Enough about Johnny Depp.

To say that this is a film for children is a gross oversimplification. There's a murderous and sadistic Red Queen, a Mad Hatter who's obviously suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, in addition to the very creepy host of talking animals. Indeed even the themes in this movie are surprisingly adult. It's interesting that Alice once again finds herself falling into Wonderland at a pivotal time in her life - when she's at the crossroads between adolescence and adulthood. At this point I find myself commiserating with poor Alice - when faced with a choice between marriage to a blubbering wimp and insanity, I'd gladly choose the latter too.

But then, by the end of the film, we are reminded that no matter how easy it would be to escape and shirk from the world of adulthood, it simply can't be done. It may be easier to slay monsters than face an entire crowd of people that's expecting you to do something you don't want to, but one must simply forge ahead and do what's right anyway. It's that simple - or so it seems.

For this reason, this film reminded me of Peter Pan. But unlike that story, Alice chose to grow up. At the risk of sounding like a rabid feminist, I'd just like to add that even works of fiction reflect the undeniable fact that girls mature faster than boys. Yay for Alice.

De Castro vs. JBC

9 concurred, 2 said that it was premature, 3 abstained, and 1 dissented - Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Makes me damn proud to be a woman.

Excerpts from the dissenting opinion of the Honorable Justice:

"xxx

That the power of judicial appointment was lodged in the President is a recognized measure of limitation on the power of the judiciary, which measure, however, is counterbalanced by the election ban due to the need to insulate the judiciary from the political climate of presidential elections. To abandon this interplay of checks and balances on the mere inference that the establishment of the JBC could de-politicize the process of judicial appointments lacks constitutional mooring.

xxx

The second ratiocination in the ponencia could thus not remove an added constitutional safeguard by pretending to have examined and concluded that the establishment of the JBC had eliminated all encompassing forms of political maneuverings during elections. Otherwise, reading into the Constitution such conclusion so crucial to the scheme of checks and balances, which is neither written nor tackled, undermines the noticeable silence or restraint exercised by the framers themselves from making a definitive analysis.

To illustrate, the instance given in the fifth ratiocination that having the new President appoint the next Chief Justice cannot ensure judicial independence because the appointee can also become beholden to the appointing authority bears an inconsistent stance. It does not admit or recognize that the mechanism of removal by impeachment eliminates the evils of political indebtedness. In any event, that level of reasoning overlooks the risk of compromising judicial independence when the outgoing President faces the Court in the charges that may be subsequently filed against her/him, and when the appointing President is up for re-election in the peculiar situation contemplated by Section 4, Article VII of the Constitution.

xxx"

Fail!

G: Hindi dapat pag-aksayahan ng oras ang mga bagay na walang patutunguhan and walang saysay.

E: Conyo ka talaga. "AT" ang tagalog ng "AND," wag na kasi mag-attempt at magpanggap. :)

Whoops.

Something to keep me sane

Like my friend P, I used to blog quite frequently about everything and anything. As P said, there was a time when blogging was fun and effortless.

Then came law school (and the bar exam), otherwise known as the 5-year-black-hole-that-consumed-my-life. I stopped blogging for a number of reasons, but at the back of my mind I always thought that I'd eventually resume writing.

Right now, I essentially write for a living. The sad thing is, despite the acres of trees that I've murdered given the amount of paper I use, I can't even call myself a writer. And as some of my friends would know, legalese English is not always grammatically correct.

Thus, inspired by P's shiny new blog, I've decided to blog anew. This is also to help keep me sane, not to mention prevent me from being too legalistic in my way of writing and/or thinking.

And no, I won't blog about work. I'm not that insane. As with my old blog, I'll write my comments on books, movies, music, etc. I won't call these reviews, as I don't want to be called a pretentious know-it-all. There will be random stuff, of course.

I aim to entertain.