In-N-Out of Hemet

Text Messages

2009-05-28T16:21:00.001-07:00

Call me anal. actually don't. but i hate text messages that are gramatically incorrect or use abbreviations or single letters. Why do people write "u" or "y" when two more buttons gives you the right word? I'm also a big fan of using periods and spaces after those periods. Otherwise, these texts rarely make any space. A recent text message (from whom I won't reveal for sake of embarassment): "See u in fv next time mon" What does this text mean? Did he just develop a Jamaican accent and call me "mon"? Or did he mean Monday? There are so many questions after each text. I guess the best question would be, "why not just call me instead?"

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T22:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to everyone. Actually I don't technically have any friends who read this blog and are mothers, but nonetheless Happy Mother's Day. I've spent almost five weeks with my mother in another country and I still don't get sick of her. I can't say that about most people (i.e Carrot Top, Sean Hannity, Ravi Dehar).

Picasa

2009-05-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I never learned about Picasa earlier. It's an amazing tool (much better than iPhoto) that allows me to tinker with my photos, blog, make movies, share, and organize. Although I would like a Facebook tool, Picasa is still pretty awesome. I just spent hours playing with these photos. Here's one of my favorites.

What is 5-Star?

2009-05-10T19:32:00.001-07:00

I never thought that I'd stay in a 5-star hotel. The nicest place that i've stayed in has been at the MGM Grand at Las Vegas, where they don't utilize the "star system." So I can't really say what is or isn't 5 stars. But when I was told that we would be staying at five star hotels in China, I was ecstatic for a few minutes only to be disappointed when we arrived. The Sheraton in Xi-an, supposedly 5 stars, reminds me of a Howard Johnson. Not that I'm putting down Howard Johnson (I stayed there one night in San Francisco and showered with a roach...twice), but if this is considered 5 star by China standards, never stay in a 3 star hotel. The beds sheets reek of cigarette smoke, the carpets are stained, cups aren't clean, mildew on the showers, and $10/hr for the internet. Although I will say that there is a woman that stands in front of the elevator and she stays there from morning to night. I guess that's where my $10 is going.

Macau aka Asia's Las Vegas

2009-05-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

When my dad told me that we'd be taking a 80 minute ferry ride to visit Macau, I immediately responded with, "What is there to see in Macau?" It was an honest question given that we would have to travel on a boat (I hate the sea) and that I really wanted to watch the new X-Men movie which came out three days earlier than in the states. He replied, "Oh there are some nice buildings and good food." I'm a sucker for good food so I went with him and endured the rocky waters. As soon as we docked, I immediately spotted Casinos galore and felt I was transported to a Las Vegas removed from the desert and placed right in Asia. The similarities are striking. The Venetian Macao carries the same architecture including those Grand Canal shoppes and Gondolas that no one ever rides. The Wynn Macau has the same bronze building only much smaller with a waterfall entrance that reminded me more of the Grove than the Bellagio. Here, people like to smoke (The Duty free Tobacco store was the only store with a line) and play baccarat. I can completely understand, because that's my dad. Only, he removes the hair from his moles. (I still don't get it)

Hong Kong

2009-05-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

I've been to HK before, but that was before I saw "The Dark Knight" on IMAX and wanted to revisit the city. I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with this place. Imagine NYC but cleaner and more organized. Of course, there are lots of people here and there are many questions I have (why is their pinky fingernail so long? why don't they cut the hair growing out of their moles? why does it always smell like Fried Chicken and noodles?). But in the end, I have a great appreciation of this city for the cleanliness and sheer beauty of the city. Skyscrapers aren't just big here, but beautiful and great to look at. The skyline is not smog-ridden nor is the Subway system a waste dump. There is energy in this place and I appreciate every minute.

The Metric System

2009-04-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

The metric system confuses me. I don't understand it and spend too many minutes doing the conversion in my head. When we here heading back to Manilla from Bacquiao in the countryside, the highway sign said "450 km." After the sign, I started beginning the conversion in my head. 1 meter is three feet, there are 5280 ft in a mile, and there are 1000 meters in a km. By the time, i had finished the conversion there was another sign that said "420 km." I kinda gave up because my conversion was wrong. The gym, the highway, and the grocery store all use the international metric system. I hate it and reminds me of how much I love America.

Jollibee

2009-04-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

The best fast food restaurants have a limited menu. For example, In-N-Out Burger has at the most five things on its menu, three of which are burgers. Of course, there is the secret menu but let's pretend that it doesn't exist for this discourse. In the Philippines, Jollibee is the King. Taking a page out of the In-N-Out Book, Jollibee has only five things on its menu: Burger, Cheeseburger, Spaghetti, Pancit Palabok, and Fried Chicken. That's it and although we have one in Los Angeles, I only first tried this place when I was starving and in the food court at the mall near our hotel. I decided to try the Fried Chicken (of course) with my mom having the pancit palabok. My dad was sleeping already (he likes to do that a lot here...his excuse is that it's too hot to go outside). The 3 piece chicken meal comes with steamed rice and a side of gravy and your choice of soda. The entire cost of the meal, including my mom's pancit palabok and a side of fries, was about 220 pesos which is the equivalent of about 4 dollars. And despite the price, the food wasn't that bad. There was a minor after-taste, but i'll ignore that if it means saving five bucks and not going to KFC...again.

Back in the PI

2009-04-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

Tagalog is a difficult language. Instead of putting together a subject and verb like in the English language, Tagalog is composed of phrases and words that have double meanings. I'd like to think that I'm capable of "hangin' with the locals" and of surviving in the Philippines on my own. And I am capable of surviving, primarily because everyone here already speaks English. English is a required language in grade school and used in all of the news reports and television shows. When I went to the mall to watch "Fast and Furious," everyone from the box office to the concessions knew English. (Movies cost only 3 dollars, with unlimited popcorn at one dollar, and the theaters have reserved seating) I do know Tagalog and occasionally I'll throw out a "salamat" or "mabuhay" to maintain dignity. But if push comes to shove, I'll just say "thanks" and move on.

China-Day 9 thru 11

2009-04-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

These days were the most uneventful of the entire trip. We have been on a cruise of the Yangtze River and it has been extremely foggy that we haven't been able to see anything on this trip. The entire cruise has been leading up to a visit to the Three Gorges Dam Project, a 28 billion dollar venture to create an electric infrastructure in China. It's a nice sight if it wasn't so foggy. I think that I saw the Dam but I had to constantly refer to a picture and imagine what it would look like without the Dam Fog (get it). It's one more day in Xiamen and then return to the Philippines. My stomach is holding up well but I really miss my HD television at home as well as a Taco or Burrito from Chipotle.

China-Day 8

2009-04-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Tibetan culture is quite interesting. I’m currently in Jianghzou, a city in the Sichuan province. Yack is the most abundant meat here with the food ranging from really spicy to unbelievably spicy. I liked to think of myself as a tolerant person, but I cannot eat Yack. It’s tough, chewy, and has no flavor. This past night, we had dinner with a Tibetan family where we ate their Yack and danced with them, followed by a blessing.

At the end of the night, being the only 20 year old on this trip, I indulged my parents and the other people on our trip. I was forced to sing three songs to a Tibetan woman (she said she was 18, but like the Chinese gymnasts you never really know). I chose “Love Love Me Do” by the Beatles, “Love me Tender” by Elvis, and “Holiday” by the Bee Gees. (The average age of this tour has to be 58, so give me a break) She returned the favor by singing three songs. Little did I know that by singing three songs that I would be forever indebted to her and would need to care for her Yak and marry her. When I heard this cultural practice, I immediately sat down, refused any food, put on my sunglasses, and spoke to no one. I really need to learn Mandarin…FAST.

China-Day 7

2009-04-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

I’ve never had so much KFC in my life. When I was in Dominica, I would crave KFC primarily because it was my only form of “American Food.” Sometimes, I would order a bucket, freeze it, then savor each morsel of fried chicken over the course of three weeks before I would travel another two hours to get more KFC. But here in China, KFC is the food of choice and was even scheduled on our tour. Currently, we have three lunches of KFC scheduled, but because the food on the tour sometimes has been absolutely horrible we have had to eat KFC more than planned. Actually, I’ve grown to appreciate the old colonel’s chicken because they don’t have gravy here. Fried Chicken is one of my favorite dishes (yes it’s true Daryl) and I now have put KFC up on the pantheon of Fried Chicken restaurants, up there with Popeye’s and Honey’s Kettle Fried Chicken.

On a side note, I watched “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” and found it hilarious, endearing, and quite touching. If I had seen it last year, it would be up there in the top 10. (and i'm serious)

China-Day 6

2009-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today was a day of travel. But the good thing about traveling is that it gives you a chance to catch up on lots of music on my iPod. And although I never bought any of these albums, I would have definitely purchased three albums that are fantastic: Kelly Clarkson’s “All I Want,” M. Ward’s “Hold Time,” and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Is It Blitz?” That Kelly Clarkson is so fun and pure pop entertainment that I always listen to. It’s pure blitz and I’m not ashamed of telling the three people that read this blog. If I see any of you three people, I will buy you a copy. Actually because I have never bought a CD in over a year, I’ll just give you a copy of my download.

China-Day 5

2009-04-06T07:12:00.000-07:00

My friends used to tell me that all Chinese people look alike. That was a really dumb thing to say and it's made even more ridiculous by the Terra Cotta soldiers that I saw earlier today. These are over 7000 clay soldiers created during the Quin Dynasty and the subject of "Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." It was just unbeleivable that someone would create 7000 different statues with different faces, armor, and features. It took over 40 years to create this "8th Wonder of the World," and it's truly a wonder to witness. I haven't seen "Mummy 3" and probably will never see it unless...actually I'll never see it, but I hope that it captures the awesome depth of these statues. But I have my doubts because no Brendan Frasier movie has ever resonated with me except for his performance in "Encino Man" (wheezing the juuuuuice).

China-Day 4.5

2009-04-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

I'd like to think that I'm an average size person. I'm not that tall or wide (at least compared to Fat Albert...yes I know he's not real but I didn't want to offend any fans of Rosie O'Donnell or Star Jones) But I feel large here. People continuously look at me and give me the stare down. Now for the first few days, I ignored this as gentle curiosity in my tanner skin/soft features. But now I'm becoming very offended. Okay, so I eat more KFC than most man and prefer a cola instead of hot tea. But people I'm 25% Chinese, which makes me more Chinese than Panda Express. I think they know that I like Fried Chicken more than Chicken Feet and have begun to slowly bannish me from the Chinese community. I guess that I'm better off joining a college club like UCLA Samahang and pretend that I'm in touch with my culture. But I already have an Asian American Studies Minor. I guess I should dance hip-hop and then I'll get respect.

China-Day 4

2009-04-05T06:17:00.000-07:00

The history of China is just so vast and supremely complex, perhaps moreso than any other country in the world. Xi'An is at the center of China (literally) and is filled with much of its country's history. The Tung Dynasty had unified the country and today we saw the origins of the dynasty, ranging from the dynasty's 23 story Pagoda (pictured) to the museum housing many ancient relics.

The difficult thing to accept is the globalization surrounding China and slowly drowning the history surrounding it. 15 years ago, this huge structure symbolizing the power of the Tung Dynasty was the largest structure in the city. Now, it's dwarfed by the apartment complexes and towers. It's hard to understand why China is willing to sacrifice it's heritage for modernization. Then I turned on the news and saw N. Korea had launched a long range missile and I slowly realized that China, like any other country in Asia, is searching for a place among the modern super powers. China yearns for the status it once had long ago. I guess Super-Walmarts are one step forward in that direction.

China-Day 3

2009-04-04T08:13:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of people in China. The whole 1.3 Billion people in one country never really hit me until I saw Super Wal-Mart in Xiamen, the city I'm currently in. When you walk into the Walmart, there are just so many people walking around. The social stratification is also clearly identifiable with beggars mixing with the wealthy at every corner. It's also clear that China is continuously growing. Old Buildings are now being broken down to make way for the new buildings. McDonalds, KFC, Burger Kings, and the aforementioned Walmart are taking over. It's a China that I never really imagined or desired. But that's what it is and the people are adjusting just fine.

Philippines-Day 2.5

2009-04-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

The traffic in the Philippines is worst than Los Angeles. It took us nearly a full hour to drive 6 miles. Because of the gridlock, I was only able to visit the Greenhills Shopping Center. The center is a pretty fascinating place because in this huge mall is a mix of old street vendors selling crappy knock-offs (some that I purchased and won't tell you which ones so that you won't think i'm pure cheap) and brand new stores that sell the real deal. Everyone hear addresses you as "Sir" or "Mom" for the ladies which I still don't understand. (I didn't know that Mom was a sign of respect...tell that to Octo-Mom) Inside the Center is also a Chapel which was having mass at 11am (an odd time to have a daily mass) but it was still packed. But once you get pass the stores and chapel, there is the food. With restaurants outnumbering the merchants, food seems to be the number one priority here in the Philippines. Today for lunch was a mix of BBQ pork, lechon, pancit, and smoked fish. I didn't realize with the time difference that it was a Friday (a day customarily in the Catholic religion where you cannot eat any meat), but I thought to myself that it was Thursday in the U.S. so it was okay to indulge. I have to admit that the time difference is getting to me (I took a four hour nap at 5pm), and although I do like the naps, this one felt a little different.

Tomorrow, I'm off to China.

Philippines-Day 2

2009-04-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

The Philippines has changed from what I remember it to be. Of course, it has been twenty years since I last visited but it's changed. I guess it's for the better, bringing in new tourists and people that wouldn't otherwise visit the Philippines. One of the things that has changed is the landscape. The place is starting to look like any other major American city with its huge malls and large hotels. I barely see any trees and could easily confuse this place with Los Angeles. But the one thing that hasn't changed is the hospitality. There are so many people working at the Shangri-La Hotel (the hotel we're staying at) that we had five people helping us with our bags. The buffet here is absolutely amazing with three people always waiting on us and seeing if we ever needed anything.

I want to spend a few minutes on the buffet b/c it was one of the best I've had anywhere. There are over 7 stations, perfectly arranged in one big square. And the food was pretty good as well. One of the good things about being on a tropical island is that the fruits are so amazing (as I'm sure all my Dominica friends know) and the juices are even better. I think that Mango Juice has become my number one drink and i've had one with every meal. At the buffet, it was free refills on the juices and I had my money's worth. Although it was a little pricey (1000 pesos which converts to almost 20 bucks), it was a fantastic meal and a nice way to begin my day.

I'm off to visit my dad's old medical school and probably drink some more Mango juice. Then tomorrow I'm off to China. (I just looked at our itinerary and there is no Beijing. WTF)

Philippines/China Day 1-The Plane Ride

2009-04-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

I was a little skeptical about the plane ride especially when I heard that the flight was going to be almost 15 hours. I hate plane rides longer than 4 hours because after 4 hours you hit the moment where you can't really take a nap longer than 30 minutes or shorter than 2 hours because you're interupted by the in-flight meal, the 30 minute take-off, and the 30 minute landing. It's frustrating to find that window where you can close your eyes without being interupted by the person in the window seat wanting to go to the bathroom. So you can understand my initial skepticism.

But I was very pleased with the flight over here. It was comfortable chairs, delicious food (I lower my standards whenever eating at over 300 mph), and surprisingly quiet accomodations. I have to admit that leaving at 1am allowed people to be tired and easily enter their circadian rhythms. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the Cathay Pacific airplane and their wonderful entertainment consoles allowing me to watch the horrible Eagle Eye, the cutesy HSM 3, 4 episodes of the hilarious Curb Your Enthusiasm and Extras, and the opening scene (and the only entertaining one) of Quantum of Solace. I arrived at Hong Kong international airport well-rested, entertained, and ready to tackle Asia.

Christian Bale Rant

2009-02-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

When I heard that Christian Bale threw a temper tantrum at the D.P. of the new Terminator movie, I immediately thought of Russell Crowe. He, too, has been labeled by Hollywood as "a bad boy" and "difficult to work with." For these reasons, I was hesitant to talk to Crowe when I saw him at a boxing match this past December, but I was gently surprised to find him very humbling and cheerful. I want to think that Christian Bale is a decent fellow just having a bad day. However, I can't help to think that he is very tempered and violent. Some may confuse this as dedication and "the acting craft." But that's all B-S when you yell 37 profanities.

The Wrestler

2009-02-07T10:40:00.000-08:00

"The Wrestler" is a tough (and often difficult to watch) depiction into a man climaxed in the 80s and continuously looking for his happy ending in the new millennium. Instead he has fallen every so slowly into debt, depression, and the good graces of his daughter. His only respite is an exotic dancer whom he still pays for lap dances and humbling advice on how to reconcile with his daughter. Of course, a movie like this falls heavily on its lead actor and Mickey Rourke holds your attention till Bruce Sprinsteen sings, "Have you ever seen a one-trick pony? Then you've seen me." I may have seen this movie before but Mickey Rourke makes it feel brand new.

What's the Big Deal?

2009-01-30T21:12:00.000-08:00

When David Frost interviewed Richard Nixon, both men were forgotten and willing to forego any journalistic sensibility for cash and/or fame. Frost was looking to get back into the American conscience and Nixon was looking for acceptance. By the end of their "historic interviews," neither men really accomplished their goals. Nixon was all but forgoten while David Frost never attained the fame he so desired. All of which makes the film "Frost/Nixon" hard to swallow. At every point, director Ron Howard tries to make the film into the "Rocky" of journalism pitting David Frost (The Rocky of this battle) against Richard Nixon (presumably the Ivan Drago character). He goes for the dramatic pauses, longing stares, and even a "training montage" where Richard Nixon is seen throwing air jabs at half speed. Of course, Langella does his best to create sympathy for this Richard Nixon. But I can't seem to stop asking myself, "What's the big deal?" This film is a ridiculous attempt to transform these interviews into a grandiose parting of the Red Sea or something much larger than it ever was. It's even more sad when you realize that one of it's Best Picture nominations could have gone to "The Dark Knight."

Still Number One

2009-01-05T22:16:00.000-08:00

Slumdog Millionaire is still my Number One film...but Milk comes very, very close.

Kate and Leo Part 2

2009-01-05T21:59:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen a play in almost three years when I was an intern at LA County Arts. And it surprised me even more because I thought that I was watching a film when I paid 13 bucks (still not up to the outrageous $15 at the Arclight) to see "Revolutionary Road." I think that I paid the money because I was curious to see Kate and Leo and all the buzz. It's not that I was disappointed, but there are certain things that a film has that a play cannot provide, primarily the close-up. With such beautiful faces as Kate and Leo, why not get that camera up in their faces. I know that HD can bring out the wrinkles and cracks on a person's face but there is a reason why people go to the movies: it's to see people more beautiful than them. They want to be a part of the action and get that intimate feel. Moviegoers don't want to be on the sidelines.

Best Movie of the Year...so far!

2008-12-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

"Slumdog Millionaire" is the best of the movie of the year. It was tough to come to this conclusion because I had just seen "Dark Knight" for the third time this year (absolutely breathtaking in Blu-Ray). But it was an easy choice if I put aside my love for the Batman universe and focus on the pure joy of what movies are supposed to do. They are supposed to make you laugh, cry, enthrall, surprise, and entertain throughout. "Dark Knight" is so grand in its scheme that it needed an IMAX theater to fully capture its essence. But "Slumdog Millionaire" enraptures you in a more fundamental process that is much more human and relative to you and me. Of course, the story is much more relative given the recent attacks in Mumbai (the film's central setting), but the themes and relationships between the characters are endearing and universal. It has the gritty camera and splashy editing of "Dark Knight." However, it has the raw human emotions that a comic book hero can never truly explain.

Jon and Kate Plus 8

2008-12-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of this show since 2005 and I can't believe I haven't written about it before. Because now, it seems like I'm just on the "Jon and Kate" bandwagon. Anyway, this show is great reality television. I only enjoy two reality shows, "Top Chef" (because I have the biggest crush on Padma and Tom's Craft Steak) and this show. I am a little angry that they have expanded it to one hour rather than 1/2 hour episodes but I still love it. Jon and Kate's banter, the annoying Maddie, the dorky Aden, and, of course, my favorite, Alexis. She is just so cute. As the oldest of the infamous 6, she seems to have gotten all the pale skin from Kate but the calm intensity of Jon. She never cries, never whines, and always looks so cute when she brushes her hair off her face. If I were to steal one (which is of course illegal and wrong but I know you have all thought about it at one point or another), I would take Alexis.

It's Britney Bitch

2008-12-01T08:58:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of Britney Spears. I flew to Las Vegas after my high school girlfriend dumped me just to see her (I ended up having a great time and sat next to Gabrielle Union). I saw her a second time which ended up being her last concert tour. She's an entertainer and I've always believed that she was a product, but a product that I enjoyed. As such, I was deeply saddened to see that product fall apart during the past few years culminating in that 2007 VMA performance. But after watching that wonderful documentary on MTV last night, I realize her faults and can only sympathize. Nonetheless, she should stop complaining and just move on. Some handle it better than others. Britney is a product and her success rests on her ability to produce. It's time she started producing...

Twilight

2008-11-30T21:21:00.000-08:00

I've seen this before. It starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and was more witty and comical, never taking itself too seriously. I've never read the books by Stephanie Meyer but I can assure you that it probably doesn't have the charm that Buffy, Giles, Xander, and Willow displayed when on the WB then the UPN. With the same budget, I guarantee that Joss Wheedon would have made a much more entertaining film. I remember watching the epidsode where Buffy was forced to kill Angel and then went into exile. I was so heartbroken and that was only two years ago when I saw the episode on DVD. I get it though...Robert Pattinson...he's so dreamy...yada yada yada. But what could be hotter than Sarah Michelle Gellar and a "pre-Bones David Boreanaz?

Beverly Hills Chihuahua is No. 1 at Box Office

2008-10-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

Really? C'mon, really? Again?

Friday Night Lights

2008-10-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

Why is nobody watching this show? I admit that it had a bit of a hiccup last season with a little melodrama, but it's still the best teen drama on television. Way better than that 90210 and Gossip Girl crap. This show is pure style from the story lines to the camera work and wardrobe. I loved the movie but this show has better actors in Kyle Chandlier (more cutthroat and believable as a football coach than Billy Bob) and such intricate characters. Although its own Direct TV, its still accessible via streaming websites. There are only four shows that I watch on television (Entourage, 30 Rock, and the Office are the others) and this is my favorite.

Target Smell

2008-10-08T16:51:00.001-07:00

When I recently visited Target to buy some paper towels, I was immediately struck by the interesting smell that came from the store. It was so sterile and distinctive, the smell that you immediately associate with a hospital. I put the smell aside and got all the items that I needed (and didn't need). I went home happy with my purchases only to realize that I didn't get what I went to Target for in the first place. So when I visited a different Target, I was once again struck by that same smell. I couldn't understand how that same odor, so distinctive and pungent could be duplicated. Then I did some serious thinking, the kind of thinking that could only be achieved at a Target, and realized that there must be some sort of "Target Scent." I bought some popcorn and a drink for $1, found paper towels, and left.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua is No. 1 at Box Office

2008-10-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Really? I mean, c'mon, really?

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

2008-10-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

I just watched this movie last night and found myself absolutely relaxed letting this movie unfold over the course of a brisk 90 minutes. I thoroughly enjoyed "Raising Victor Vargas" after my brother had told me about this little independent movie that captured adolescence and that awkward transition through puberty. Peter Sollett, the director of "Raising Victor Vargas," captures what it's like to be a teenager making that awkward transition into adulthood in "Nick and Norah." It's a very beautiful movie that seems to capture everything about the teenage romance. With a great soundtrack to accompany the film and two actors with amazing chemistry, this movie really surpassed any expectations. Michael Cera is shaping out to be the new definition of the romantic lead while Kat Dennings proves the hype is real. The movie made me smile and I haven't done that in awhile.

The Dark Knight

2008-09-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

When I first saw that Heath Ledger was chosen to play the Joker, I was a little worried. I was too worried that he might not take the role seriously and underplay Batman's greatest villain. But I am now on the bandwagon for the posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger. The movie is absolutely fantastic and even better on IMAX and that shouldn't hurt his chances for an Oscar. A movie like "Dark Knight" only succeeds when the villain is as good as the hero (i.e. the original Batman and Spider-Man 2). My only flaw with the film is the length (probably to set up the next Batman film) and Christian Bale. He's great as Batman, exuding brood and anger behind the mask. But as Bruce Wayne, I've never been more bored. I guess the Armani suits aren't as comfortable as the Batsuit because he does not look comfortable.

Fast and Furious

2008-09-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

It's funny to think that they are actually making this movie. Just a few years ago, no one from the original cast wanted to be involved in this series, only to see Bow Wow take charge and an Asian director pump new life into the series making the best film out of the four. While it's good to see Justin Lin rewarded for his efforts, I'm sad to say that this is pretty pathetic for Vin and Paul. Like Sly Stallone and Mr. Willis, these two must retread old sequel territory. But even those movies had better titles, "Rambo" is straightforward and to the point. "Live Free and Die Hard" is clever and with a twist. For "Fast and Furious," Vin and Paul are no longer nouns. Instead, they are adjectives.

The Art of 40 Days

2008-03-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

Lent is coming down to an end this Sunday when Easter is celebrated. During the past 40 days, it's usually customary for the Catholic to give up something in order to better discipline us and make us more in the likeness of God. Over the past 14 years that I've practiced this custom, I've given up a wide variety of habits, foods, and extracurricular activities. Perhaps my greatest achievement was during my sophomore year in high school. During my sophomore year in high school, I decided to stop watching "Dawson's Creek" amidst the February sweeps. It was a good time on the show also. Ratings were on a high especially because the Dawson-Joey relationship was on the rocks because of the introduction of Jack McPhee. Looking back that was the hardest time I've ever had being a Catholic. If I only knew that Jack would later admit to being gay, I probably wouldn't have cared as much as I did at the time.

Deal or No Deal

2008-02-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

When you're looking for life lessons and moral plays, you wouldn't think to look towards Howie Mandel. But "Deal or No Deal" provides a lesson about greed and selfishness more so than any other television or film today. Recently, Howie is on his "Million Dollar Mission" where he puts out 10 cases full of one million dollars. Slowly, the contestant must decide to either continue in pursuit of a million dollars or leave with the offer from the banker. Not to say that the banker's offer is chump change. They are usually in the 200 or 300 grand category. But time after time, the contestant chooses to take the other route and go for a million dollars. It's a wonderful morality play each week and I sadly admit that I love it.

I'm not alone; Celine Dion has publicly stated that "Deal or No Deal" is her favorite show. So take that beyotch!

Heath Ledger

2008-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

Back in 2000 when "The Patriot" came out, I remember saying that "Heath Ledger was going to be a big star." Although he was never a big star (maybe "The Dark Knight" would have changed that), Heath was undoubtedly a big actor and certainly one of the best of our generation (with Gosling). He was the best thing in "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Monster" (the thought of Billy Bob Thornton doing Halle Berry was just too disturbing). I have yet to see "I'm Not There" or "Dark Knight" but he was certainly on an upswing. It was very disheartening to see him pass away and not be able to see what he could become.

The Art of Coffee Sipping

2008-01-23T05:24:00.000-08:00

It's funny how people drink coffee or tea or any other beverage for that matter. People always need to take two sips especially when they are doing other things. For example, I was in class the other day and a woman in front of me was drinking from her coffee mug. She took one sip, paused, and then took another sip. Later on in lecture, she held her coffee mug in her hand, took a sip, paused and took another sip. This "sip, pause, sip" action continued throughout the lecture and then I realized that I too "sip, pause, sip." I became so conscious of this mechanism that I researched further and noticed that everyone does this especially when reading the newspaper, studying, or looking at the computer. One sip is never good enough because we have to pause and collect our thoughts about our beverage and then take another sip. Fascinating.

Bastard Children

2008-01-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

bas·tard [bas-terd –noun
1. a person born of unmarried parents; an illegitimate child.

What's with Hollywood's obsession with getting pregnant before getting married? Nicole Ritchie, Halle Berry, and now Jessica Alba. I can sympathize with Ritchie (who wants to be married to Joel Madden of Good Charlotte?) and maybe with Alba (who's the father again?) but it just boggles my mind as to why they all have to happen at the same time. I think the Writer's Strike is having a greater effect than they realized. Since these actors aren't working, they all figured, "I want to have a child!" Damn writers!

Poor James Marsden

2008-01-18T12:51:00.000-08:00

I saw "Enchanted" over break and I once again saw James Marsden play the lovable guy that loses out to the more handsome and stronger (for lack of a better word) male lead. Marsden (who looks surprisingly like Chris Pine) has always played that guy and it's so sad. I think it all started with "The Notebook" when he lost Rachel McAdams to Ryan Gosling. And then the trend started...Cyclops then Richard White from "Superman Returns." He's being typecast as the good guy that can never get the girl. At least, he's finally going to get some action with Katherine Heigl in "27 Dresses" if the trailer is a good indication of the movie (which it always is in romantic comedies).

Rambo

2008-01-17T18:14:00.001-08:00

This is pathetic. I know that Bruce Willis found some success with his Die Hard revival last summer. But everyone likes Die Hard. Not everyone likes Rambo. Also, Sylvester Stallone already used his "bring back an old action hero after 15 years" with Rocky in 2006. If you've seen the posters and commercials, it seems as if they are going after the Gen X kids who are into wrestling and people like John Cena or the rock. No one will see this movie and I hope it dies so that I don't have to see Stallone's botox infused face ever again.

The Writer's Strike

2008-01-16T18:50:00.000-08:00

This is starting to make me very angry. The fact that this has been dragging for almost three months is remarkable. What are they fighting for? Is it artistic freedom? or money? It's sad because the writers are looking more like selfish and shortsighted morons. Each day that this strike continues more of the lower paid employees of television shows and film crews are out of work. There are more of those people than pathetic writers. More importantly, the viewers including myself are sick and tired of "American Gladiators," "Deal or No Deal," and other reality shows. I want a full season of 24 and Lost. While I understand that writers deserve more credit for their work (and it always irks me when the credits say "A Film By" and then list the director when the writer is probably more deserving of that credit), but writers must look at the bigger picture and realize their image will never be the same the longer this drags on. Look what happened to baseball...

Recognize This Guy?

2007-09-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

It's Jonathan Lipnicki. Yes the cute little kid from "Jerry Maguire" (and for those real film buffs, "Like Mike"). I wanted to watch just the first few minutes, but I ended up watching the whole thing (which turned out to be a little over 2 hours). I really like this movie for many reasons. First, this kid was just so cute. I love his little facts, his lisp, and his over-sized glasses. Second, the film reminded me of the respectable Tom Cruise. I actually believed that Tom Cruise was a sports agent capable of making any girl fall in love with him. It was a glimpse into the past that I only wish he continued.
But back to Lipnicki. It's sad to see this kid go to waste. He had roles in other films including the "Stuart Little" films and "Little Vampire." Other than that, he's been M.I.A. and it's absolutely sad to see child actors take this road. Let's hope he's not getting a DUI (like Haley Joel Osmont). Let's also hope that Abigail Breslin has a better career than this cute kid. Then again, I guess that's all he is (or was): a cute kid that won us over for being exactly that...cute.

What's On Your Desktop?

2007-09-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

When you have 8 hours of lecture everyday, your mind tends to wander. I thought about a lot of things other than the difference between apoptosis and necrosis. But mainly I just looked at other people when I came upon this strange image. The person in front of me was surfing the internet when his desktop appeared and it was a picture of himself. There's no Grand Canyon, family, friends, or even the Mona Lisa. It's a picture of him in his room and probably taken by himself. Sure, I occasionally put a picture of Aegean and me on my desktop, sometimes a nice art piece, but I have never put just a picture of myself. Do I need to remind myself of what I look like, if that mirror stopped working? Do I want others to see my picture on a computer, if my real face wasn't good enough? Am I narcissistic beyond belief? I'd like to ask this person what's the goal of putting his face on his desktop because I don't understand.

Oh, Britney!

2007-09-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

What was that? After weeks of hype and build-up to this night, Britney did not deliever. Not only did she not deliver, it didn't seem like she cared. 50 cent looked confused, Rhianna was laughing, and Criss Angel wishes he never got involved. I did not understand what that performace was. Although I do like the single, I hope that her reps tell her to remain out of the spotlight and let the album speak for itself. This did not get me excited for the album. Instead, I just felt sorry for her. It was supposed to be a glorious return. Instead, it was a sad sight to see. Right now, Federline is laughing.

Feist Rocks

2007-09-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of female singer-songwriters out there right now that are just trying to break in. I had the opportunity to check out Selina's favorite singer (and potential friend forever) Meiko Lee when I was in Los Angeles, and I was very impressed. Her songs were full of earnestness and longing, and her voice matched that. But sad to say, I was even more taken back by Leslie Feist (formerly of Broken Social Scene) who is now headlining her own tour with Broken Social Scene. It was a pretty amazing concert, primarily because of her voice. Although she has an amazing stage presence and her songs are just much better in terms of lyrics and production, it is the voice that truly dumfounded me. She's been working on her craft for years now, especially incorporating more of a country/folk sound into her songs. Those years have paid off and I enjoyed every minute of the concert. Sure, Meiko, Rachael Yamagata, Sara Bareilles, and all those other female singer-songwriters are young and new to the craft. But they should always look to their elders for inspiration

Pixar is #1

2007-08-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

I think we can all agree that Pixar is the best movie studio out there right now. I think we can all agree that they haven't made one single bad movie (feature or short). It's pretty disgusting when you think about it. How can 1 movie studio be that good?

Let's take "Cars," for example. Here's a movie about a NASCAR hot-rod that get's lost in the middle of no where and ends up re-thinking his life. A stupid premise...yes! But how well executed is this movie. It's been playing again and again on Starz and watch it every single time. I notice new things, like the expression in the cars especially their eyes. I look for the lighting tones against Lightning McQueen especially during the racing scenes. This is such a good movie.

We'll save "The Incredibles" for another entry (one of my favorite movies of all-time), but I absolutely love Pixar and am desperately looking for their earlier short films to enjoy this company even more.

A Letter from Lindsay

2007-08-08T06:38:00.000-07:00

I have made many mistakes in my life from making out to Bruce Willis to "I Know Who Killed Me." But the funny thing is that film companies still hire me. I don't know who is more stupid: me or them. I haven't had a hit since "Mean Girls" nearly four years ago and I'm still considered a legitimate actress, "the finest of my generation." Robert Altman hires me. And Jane Fonda respects me. Wow! I don't know what I did to deserve this acclaim. Was my faux British accent in "The Parent Trap" so good that it rivals Rene's Bridget Jones? Or was it my ability to channel a hermaphrodite (Jamie Lee Curtis) in "Freaky Friday"? Those roles were before I became "fire-crotch" and I'm still reaping the benefits to this day. I love Hollywood!

Eddie Murphy

2007-08-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

I hated "Daddy Day Care." I liked "The Nutty Professor." I hated "Dr. Doolittle." I liked "Coming to America." It seems that for every Eddie Murphy, there is one movie of his that you just hate. It's funny that Murphy was in line to get the Oscar for "Dreamgirls" when he got beat out by Alan Arkin from "Little Miss Sunshine" who was the second best Supporting Actor in that movie. It's probably because for every good thing that Eddie Murphy does, there's something much worse.

It seems like Eddie Murphy was back in the spotlight for something other than those terrible family movies that he used to make. "Dreamgirls" was supposed to resurrect his career and make him a legitimate actor again. Then he did two stupid things: 1) Make "Norbit" 2) Deny he had a baby with Scary Spice. I can understand the denial of Scary Spice's child (who really wants to be associated with the Spice Girls?) But "Norbit"? What was he thinking? I've seen some bad career moves by comedic actors ("Number 23" with Jim Carrey comes to mind) but "Norbit" was just a big paycheck. Maybe the Academy was right by not giving him the Oscar (They try to reward serious acting and I don't really get that feeling with "Norbit.")

Simpsons vs. Family Guy

2007-08-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

"The Simpsons Movie" was the number one movie this weekend. It seems there are a lot of fans out there for the movie (70 million dollars worth of fans to be exact), but as I was watching this bootlegged version of the film I thought about a possible "Family Guy Movie." I've had this debate with many people before and I still believe in the Simpsons. I've come to see a formula in every "Family Guy" episode and I can predict where the episode is going. The characters are predictable and the jokes are very predictable. I still think it's very funny, but predictable.

I can't say the same for "The Simpsons." And although I haven't been watching many recent episodes, I still think it's pretty original for a show that's been running for 18 years. I have to tell this story to show that professionals also agree with me. When I went for this Q&A with Charlie Kaufmann, he said that the hardest thing he's ever had to do was to write a script for 1 episode of "The Simpsons." Coming from a guy that wrote 2 of the most unusual (and best) screenplays ever in cinema is a pretty good compliment.

The Beckhams Are in Los Angeles

2007-07-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

Who Cares? America hates soccer and still get confused when Europeans call it football. It is an exciting sport...sure. But it's only exciting every 4 years when the World Cup is on for three weeks. Yes, they are beautiful and wealthy and extremely arrogant, so I guess it's only fitting that they're here. But is it really necessary for us to give them that much attention. Surely, Paris Hilton is off doing cocaine (when she says she has never done drugs...does anyone believe that?) or Lindsay Lohan is also pretending to be a "good girl" (probably to distract people from how bad her new movie looks). I guess it's just a rough patch for celebrity gossip.

Live Free or Die Hard

2007-07-13T18:52:00.001-07:00

It's hard to imagine 50 year old Bruce Willis still playing John McClaine of NYPD. But it was a lot of fun to see him try. It was a good movie and, like the old episodes of "24" and last year's "MI:3," a exciting and entertaining. Despite all this, the movie was disappointing because it's not a "Die Hard" movie. If anyone who loves the original will remember, John McClaine is confined to one building and is only one man with the odds against him at nearly impossible. To see him get out of that mess alone is what "Die Hard" is all about. Unfortunately, in this movie, he moves all over the place from Washington to Baltimore to Jersey to fight a cyber-terrorist bent on destroying the world. This is not a "Die Hard" movie, but more like a James Bond film. Nonetheless, thank you to the bootleggers who provided a decent quality DVD that was aired on the local channel.

Tonight is "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" on Channel 4.

Bootleggers

2007-07-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of movies, but being on this stupid island has robbed me of the opportunity to watch the summer plethora of films, including "Transformers" and "Live Free or Die Hard." When someone introduced me to the website, movieforumz.com, I was deeply excited at the chance to finally watch these films in DVD quality, thinking someone leaked DVD screeners and posted those on the net. When I checked the website to watch "Ocean's 13," I got a Chinese version with Chinese subtitles taken off a videocamera. Sadly, I was very disappointed.
In the new age of digital technology shouldn't even bootleggers be armed with HDTV cameras and an appropriate microphone system. Can't they go to a screening when there will only be 2-3 people when the chance of someone walking in the front of the camera will be kept to a minimum? Also, if I wanted a laugh track, I'd watch a sitcom. So hearing someone laugh when Seth Rogen calls "Munich" one of his favorite films is not the movie experience I wanted. Should I complain? I guess if you've been to the Arclight, there is no other movie experience like it.

Nobody Reads My Blog

2007-07-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't written on this thing for years. Probably because I'm in medical school and barely have time to talk to my own girlfriend than write on a blog that no one ever reads. I had a golden age of Bloggers just a year ago. I wrote on it everyday, people posted comments, and In-N-Out of Hemet was on it's way to the Pantheon of great blogs. But now, after not writing in it for over 5 months, people have moved on to cooler blogs that talk about everything from great Pho restaurants to why Britney Spears hasn't had a new CD. In reality, no one cares, but it's just nice to have something to read while at work and in front of a computer.

The iPhone

2007-07-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

It's funny to see people wait outside for days to buy a phone worth $500 before you start to wonder, "How do these people actually have $500 to buy this phone?" Regardless, I can sympathize with what they're trying to buy. The iPhone is an amazing product. After watching the demo on the Apple website, I really think it's a revolutionary machine. But this also makes me wonder...When will the second generation iPhone come out? or the Mini iPhone? or the shuffle iPhone? Apple has always been on the cutting edge, but for someone with a second generation iPod that still works, why would I spend another $400 for a new one? Don't wait for days to get the iPhone when you can wait for a few months and buy an iPhone without a line, with better features, and probably a cheaper price tag. It boggles my mind sometimes...By the way, I just bought a new Macintosh Powerbook, 80 gB video iPod, and am on the wait list for the iPhone.

The OC Season 4

2007-07-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

It's a good show in retrospect. I remember when this show was so hot. All the girls loved Seth's geeky comic-loving personality while the guys were heads over heels with Mischa Barton. (I was always more of a Rachel Bilson fan) But the show slowly lost and audience. People say that it lost its mamba because it was moving away from what it was good about...beaches, surf, and good looking people. But these people are wrong because the show was never about that. It was a soap opera in primetime that goes down so easy like a good Patron shot. I've had an opportunity to watch the show's final season and I really liked what they were doing. It's sad not to have the show and have something so easy to watch, especially when Lost (disappointing till the end) and 24 was such a mess this season. I'm going to miss Summer and Seth, Ryan and all the Cohens. It's a good show in retrospect that I'm sad to see go away.

Arcade Fire

2007-03-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

Even though I'm far away from civilization and located in a place with #1 songs like "Helicopter" and "Tourbus," I managed to download the new Arcade Fire album. I absolutely love it and continuously listen to it when I study, run outside, or sitting alone in my darkened room due to the numerous blackouts. It's not so much the lyrics (although they are very intuitive and captivating). It's the sound. It's so new and unusual, mixing organs, bells, and whatever they can get their hands on. It's absolutly engaging and I can't wait to see them live again. If you think the album sounds good on a CD player (does anyone remember this antiquated form?) or an MP3, the live tracks will blow your mind. Check out this wonderful article from the New Yorker (http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2007/02/19/070219crmu_music_frerejones)

24 Again...

2007-02-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

I wrote a blog earlier stating that 24 is getting better with each season. I spoke too soon. We're only at the 10th hour and 24 has already begun recycling old ideas and storylines. Blackmailing a poor woman with her son's life (Jack did that whole scene in the entire first season). How about attempting to remove the president from office via assasination? (They already blew up Air Force 1 and tried to remove David Palmer from office twice) I'm getting really sad at the prospect of seeing such a good first 4 episodes be ruined by the next 20. I do enjoy seeing James Cromwell (except does anyone believe that he looks like Kiefer Sutherland or is as tall as Kiefer is?), but other than him this season is becoming such a drag. Nonetheless, I still look forward to every Monday night.

The Best Office

2007-02-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

When did "The Office" become the best show on television? (It isn't when 24 and Lost decided to suck it up in the past couple of weeks) But "The Office" has such a unique chemistry that works on every episode. Unlike the original UK version, "The Office" with Steve Carell has branched off and create television that is truly unlike anything else. Without a laugh track and the typical sitcom style of "Friends" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" ( I never did like that show), the writers have decided to take a new approach to the show radically different from its first few episodes. It's decided to let some cast members write episodes, moved outside the Office location, brought new actors, hired celebrity directors (Joss Whedon and Harold Ramis), and let the cast loose from its chains. It is the only show on television that I cannot live without. It always makes me smile, sometimes empathize, and realize the future of Comedic television lies in their hands.

Dixie Chicks Still Suck!

2007-02-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

Let me preface this by stating my hate of the Dixie Chicks before any of their Bush tirades.

With that said, i still hate the Dixie Chicks and by giving them the Best Album grammy, the Recording Academy has just prolonged their careers four years longer than it needed to be. I like the album. It's very toned-down and much better than the country albums of Rascall Flats and Tobey Keith and Tim McGraw (when you write songs about BBQ stains on your white t-shirt, you're asking to be made fun of). And much of the album's strengths is because of producer Rick Rubin and not the Dixie Chicks themselves. But it's not the album, it's their whole, "I'm better than you" attitude. Natalie Maines trotted up on the stage, quoted Nelson from the Simpsons, and rubbed it in our faces that they won the grammy. Do you think the album would have won if they hadn't spoken out and be ostracized from their country music audience? Absolutely not!

Highlight What?

2007-01-27T19:08:00.000-08:00

I don’t understand what people highlight sometimes. You get a range of people who use the highlighter for different reasons. Some people normally have one highlighter: the basic neon yellow. Then you have the highlighter fanatics, carrying their different highlighters of different colors and sizes. I can understand two colors, but five is pretty unbelievable. Is hot magenta really necessary? But most of the time, it’s not how many highlighters that people have that irks me. It’s what people highlight. Sometimes you highlight an interesting phrase or important keyword. But if it’s in bold, why do you need to highlight it? Show some restraint! The highlighter is to highlight. What’s the point of highlighting the entire book? Is it to show that everything is important? Or is it because highlighting makes it look pretty? Either way, it annoys me.

Snubbed by the Academy...not really!!!

2007-01-23T16:58:00.001-08:00

After the Academy Award nominations are announced, there are always a lot of complaints of "being snubbed." Well, the truth is that those that were snubbed weren't good enough. Not to say that the product isn't good (as we'll see that the academy will still recognize those aspects of the movie that were good). In the case of "Dreamgirls," the movie just isn't the best thing in the world, but there are aspects of it which are good. Jennifer Hudson (whose over-the-top performance isn't that spectacular when compared to Eddie Murphy) and all the artistic aspects are recognized. Although I was a bit surprised by Sascha Baron Cohen not getting nominated, the film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay.

If you're not buying my reasoning here, I guess you can think of the Academy as a bunch of racist Jews. Which will explain why "Dreamgirls" did not get nominated for Best Picture? And will also explain why Cohen didn't get nominated for his anti-semitic Borat. Solution: Get the NAACP involved!!!!!

24

2007-01-22T17:04:00.000-08:00

24 is probably the best show on television (minus the year when Lost had its first season). But there is a caveat to that statement. 24 is the best show for 12-13 episodes. In these episodes, you get the drama and all the thrilling moments. After those episodes, it recycles itself (from past seasons), wastes time (Kim gets caught in a lion trap), and becomes pretty unbelievable (does Jack ever eat anything?). With all that said, I do have to say that the writers are getting better every year with this past season opener being probably the best ever. It's season 6 and by this time, Jack should be around 65 years old. Yet, he still is following the president, shooting down his own people, and wearing those tight shirts.

Rain on an Island

2007-01-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

Being on an island is a good and bad thing in film/television. For instance, in "Lost," rain comes and goes, but mostly, during intense and thrilling moments, the rain just keeps coming. It beams off Mathew Fox as he's wrestling the stranger or falls down Naveen Andrews as he's holding a dead Shannon. After living on an island for almost a week, I can say that rain just comes down.

In "Pirates of the Caribbean," which was filmed in Dominica the island I'm staying in now, rain comes down I believe only once in the beginning before the wedding. I really didn't like that movie so I don't truly remember or even care, enough to tell you that island life in Hollywood is pretty much like everything else: not real.

Borat Lawsuit

2006-12-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

Most people who have seen the movie love "Borat." It's especially funny for most of us in the West Coast, who laugh at the bigots and racists that reside in the south. I recently read that the fraternity boys in the very funny motor-home scene are suing the creators of Borat for allegedly getting them drunk and recording their obscene gestures. This is absolutely ridiculous. Even if the producers did give offer them more alcohol, those boys already believed that "slavery is a good thing" before the producers met them. If you had given me some alcohol (two or three shots would take care of it), I would not be calling for the reinstatement of slavery, mock Jews (Mel Gibson), or look like an idiot for my mugshot (Nick Nolte and Michael Jackson sans alcohol). Once again, it's people trying to capitalize on the popularity of a genius like Baron Cohen.

A Letter to Michael Richards

2006-11-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

Oh Michael. What have you gotten yourself into? Wasn't Mel Gibson's tirade over Jews enough? You just had to offend the black community. Oh Vanilla Face. Now when people look at Kramer, they'll see a racist. When people look at your role in "Problem Child," they'll see a racist. When people look at your role in "The Michael Richards Show," they'll see...wait no one watched that show and probably don't even remember you ever made it. Lastly, the "I have black friends excuse" is not a good excuse. The only excuse is and forever will be "I am black" so I can make fun of black people. Just ask the Tsegas.

Veronica Mars

2006-11-15T22:36:00.000-08:00

This is a good show. Actually, this is a great show. I'm a big fan of "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer," and this show is much much better. It's funny, cute, adult, and intelligent. I just finished watching Season 1 and can't wait to start Season 2. Also, I've finally realized that watching television on DVD is the best way to go. No commercials and no waiting for a week (or months in the case of Lost).

Crazy Things People Do #1

2006-10-31T10:18:00.000-08:00

Often, especially in crowded areas like Bruinwalk, the Airport, and big malls, I look at every person that passes me. I often dedicate a good stare and probably 2 seconds longer than I have to in order to get a really good look at their face. Why do people do this? I have no idea. I doubt that you'll ever see anyone you know, but I guess it's just nice to people watch. Sometimes, I would just plug in the Ipod and stay on my course, but that rarely happens. I know I probably won't see Heidi Klum or Brad Pitt but I will occassionally get a Steve Guttenberg, A.J. from the Backstreet Boys, or, if I'm lucky, Wayne Brady. But I know that I don't have to look at these people, many of whom I don't know. However, sometimes, when it is someone that I know and I don't want to talk to, I put my head down or pretend I'm in the zone, look forward, and pass them without a glance. It's sad, but we all do it. It's just a crazy thing we do.

TWO Many Sequels

2006-10-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

When looking around Blockbuster yesterday, I noticed a strange title, "Save the Last Dance 2." The film didn't have Julia Stiles or "that black guy" in the movie so I was intrigued to know the premise of the film. Basically, the story goes that a white girl learns more about herself through an unlikely relationship. This sounds extremely familiar to the first movie. There's nothing really further to explore in the mythology of "Save the Last Dance." So why make this movie????

Does anyone actually want to watch this? After looking more around the store, I saw more and more sequels of movies that do not need to be made. Wild Things 2 and 3, Skulls 2, Cruel Intentions 2, Prince and Me 2, Bring it On 2 and 3, Phenomenon 2, and the list goes on. Don't even get me started on Disney Films. Lion King 1 1/2. What is 1 1/2? Is there a small simba getting into trouble with little timon and little pumba singinga child's rendition of "Hakuna Matata"?

The Roller Skate

2006-10-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

Although the first recorded use of roller skates was in 1743, the inventor remains a mystery. Those skates were in-line skates similar to the Rollerblades we know today. It wasn't until James Plimpton in 1863 decided to create the classic "quad" roller skate with 2 pairs of wheels set side by side to give more traction and control to the skate.

To James Plimpton I say: "Thank you!" Thank you James Plimpton for creating an invention that has served no benefit to mankind aside from broken ankles and the crap movie "Roll-Bounce." Thank you James Plimpton for causing me so much pain and making me look like an idiot in front of hundreds of black people and Michelle Trachtenberg. In the middle of the Civil War, wasn't there anything better to do than think of a way to improve roller-skates? Couldn't you have, I don't know, dedicated your time to fighting slavery?

Happy B-Day Helen!

Who has a better blog?

2006-10-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

When I'm thinking of things to write in my blog, they usually amount to superficial things that only matter to a few people. So you can imagine my surprise when I realized that I could write about things in real life. Except for the fact that my life isn't very exciting. I wake up to no job, no school, and no thing to do. (I know that i'm supposed to use nothing but no thing fits better with my motif) For people who write excellent blogs (i.e. Mindy), they have excellent lives to muse about. I could never write about my roommate who doesn't want to share the kitchen because my roommates are my parents. They always want to share the kitchen. I could write about my love for bran in any form or my old piano teacher who teaches me to play songs like "I Found Love in a Cherry Tree." Nope. Instead, I focus on the superficial entertainment news because I'm a superficial guy who wishes he hung out with Ryan Gosling everyday. Don't expect me to share my inner secrets with you, that's why I have Aegean. Just realize that my life isn't exciting and my blog will only discuss trivial matters that are more exciting than my own.

Half Nelson

2006-10-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

This year has been very disappointing in terms of movies. When you watch a movie now, you always say to yourself, "Have I seen this before?" Of course, in the case of Jackass 2, you can't really say that you've seen someone have their privates be bitten by a snake. (Then again, what you do in your private time is your business) But I saw "Half-Nelson" with Aegean and we were both blown away by it. I haven't seen a film like this all year. It's a simple story, but I think we all need something simple. I guess I liked it because Ryan Gosling is really really good as this sad and pathetic teacher who snorts (and smokes) crack. He is my new favorite actor and for the first time I can say with full dignity that I want to see "The Notebook."

A Never-Ending Oasis

2006-10-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

If anyone who reads this (which is probably all of 2 people) is in their early 20s, they grew up listening to Oasis. When "Wonderwall" hit the radios in the mid-90s, I was in the 7th grade and immediately loved this band. Like everyone else, I had proclaimed the new Beatles were here for my generation. Sadly, the band always fell in its own shadow and never became what they were supposed to be. After re-listening to their first CD "Definitely Maybe," I actually felt sorry for them. Here is a band with great anthems of love and despair and rejoice. They have such beautiful songs but, alas, they became perfect examples of fallen rock stars. Now supposedly, Charlie on "Lost" and his brother were modeled after Liam and Noel Gallagher. I only hope that Noel get stuck on a deserted island with strange polar bears and cocaine in Virgin Mary statues so that he may have an epiphany and realize his band was the best band of the 90s and could still recapture the glory if he wanted it.

Family Feud

2006-09-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

There are some pretty stupid game shows out on television. For example, in "Wheel of Fortune" you spin a wheel and pick letters. Any idiot can do that, in fact, my three year old cousin can do that. And the worst part about it is that they can make over $10,000 easily. It's a glorified Hangman and it irks me everyday. But sometimes these game shows for idiots can be somewhat amusing. Take Family Feud, a personal favorite for many years especially with Richard Karn, where families give answers to survey questions. Most of the time, these answers are absolutely ridiculous. In a recent show, the question was "Name Something you bring on a first date?" One person replied, "Ketchup." Immediately the family responded, "Good answer! Good answer!" What is the screening process for this gameshow. Are the criteria: 1) Idiot 2) Little Education 3) Absolutely no common sense? Once again, my three year old cousin can give a better answer. And once again, the family can earn $20,000 each night. And once again, I watch everynight at 6pm.

Sports Night

2006-09-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

I love sports, in particular basketball, tennis, and football (Baseball is a past time that feels like lots and lots of wasted time). So imagine my surprise when I discovered there was once a show called "Sports Night" about the going-ons of a "Sportscenter"-type show. I immediately added it to my Blockbuster queue and have enjoyed the show immensely. It's from the creators of "West Wing" and the newly beloved "Studio 60" and has a younger Peter Krause from "Six Feet Under" and Felicity Huffman from that god-awful "Desperate Housewives." Add it to your queue please or borrow it from me. Although it takes place in the World Trade Center, the show makes me wonder why this show was never on the radar when it was still on the air. Who decided to cancel this show and green light "Grey's Anatomy" with Sandra "Oh My Gosh You're Nasty"??

Good Television...Bad Movies

2006-09-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

I've been very disappointed with the recent movies. "Illusionist" was fine, but I haven't been wanting to go to the movies. Instead, I've been content with the television, awaiting "Lost" and the new NBA season. There is just nothing good out in theaters when you know Jet Li can't act and will make another martial arts movie or when you discover that they're making movies from t.v. shows (Jackass 2 from Jackass and the Last Kiss from an old episode of Felicity). If you missed the episode last Monday, it's time to watch "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." It has movie stars (Amanda Peet), a old movie screenwriter (Aaron Sorkin from one of my guilty pleasures "American President"), and lastly a movie look. It feels like a small movie and it works. I've always enjoyed Sorkin's shows especially "West Wing," and I hope people watch it because it's in an unusual time slot and because people still watch "Grey's Anatomy" despite "Sandra Oh My God you're STILL nasty."

4.8.15.16.23.42

2006-09-11T22:48:00.000-07:00

Lost Season 1 is the best television series I've ever seen, which is what makes Season 2 so disappointing. It's hard to follow Season 1 which introduced us to great characters and great storylines. It seems like Season 1 was so thoughtfully planned out and strategic to the very end whereas Season 2 rehashed old storylines (Ana Lucia's storyline seems very similar to Jack's storyline) and gave us storylines that we don't care about (who cares about Rose and Bernard?). Thanks to Blockbuster online i'm revisting Season 2 in anticipation of Season 3 later this month. I guess i'm watching it because I have to. I don't want to give up on Lost, but if they aren't careful "Lost" will become the next "Alias" (a great one season show).

High Fidelity

2006-08-31T00:14:00.000-07:00

Great movies can be made even greater with the soundtrack. Imagine Jaws without John Williams score. (You could then start to think that the shark looks really fake). But that's just the music score. If a film has a great song soundtrack, the film can be so much better. The Graduate, Almost Famous, and Garden State were all better films because of the soundtrack. (Without Elton John there is no sing-along on the bus, without Frou Frou there's no sweet romantic kiss with Natalie Portman, and without Simon & Garfunkel there is no Mrs. Robinson) Although these are great soundtracks, I will give my vote to High Fidelity. First, the movie is a favorite of mine. Second, the soundtrack is so eclectic and varied that it captures all of the emotions of John Cusack's character. I just watched this movie and loved every minute of it because of the songs (ranging from Velvet Underground to Stevie Wonder to Bob Dylan). It's so good and reminds of what good soundtracks are and what they're not. (Screw you Cobra Starship!)

Thrifty Ice Cream

2006-08-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

Ice cream is bad for you. I think everyone realizes ice cream (and every other dessert) is bad for you. They're filled with fat and cholesterol and all the things that prevent Rubben Studdard from joining the NBA. For a double shot to the crotch, most places now charge $3 for a single scoop. However, the cheapest and still the best ice cream out there is from Rite Aid (formerly Thrifty). I remember days in the summer when I would do nothing for the entire day except for getting on my bike and riding to Thrifty for a 89 cent scoop of Rocky Road or Coconut Pineapple if I was feeling dangerous. So what if they don't offer fancy toppings or candy bar mix-ins, it's only $1. God Bless Thrifty Ice Cream.

The Art of Watching Two Movies at the Grove

2006-08-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

When did movies get so expensive? 12 bucks to see Hillary and Haylie Duff prancing around to their cover of a Madonna song...I don't think so (actually someone did see this since "Material Girls" made 7 million over the weekend). But that's besides the point. It would take over $45 for a family of four to watch a movie on the weekend. And this is at an old crappy theater without the attraction of the Village or Arclight. I miss the good old days of four or five dollar admissions. And they wonder why attendance is decling each year. So to combat this trend, I've been going to the Grove in Los Angeles and watching two, sometimes, three movies a trip. The Grove's a great theater and no security. The times match up so perfectly that they're begging you to see another movie. It's a great thing to do when you have absolutely nothing else to do and want to catch up on the latest movies...My blog is not just about entertainment but also a Pennysaver.

Snakes on a Stupid Plane

2006-08-23T23:26:00.000-07:00

\Plain and simple: this is a stupid movie. For those of you haven't seen the movie, I won't spoil it (well there really isn't much to spoil). But here's the plot: a young man (played by the worst actor imaginable) sees a murder and becomes the key witness to bring crime mob Edward Kim to justice. Escorted by veteran FBI detective (Samuel Jackson), the young man boards a flight in which Edward Kim's hooligans have placed lethal snakes aboard (hence the title). Now I can think of plenty of other ways to get snakes on a plane...actually I can't. But regardless, this movie is worth absolutely nothing. I laughed here and there but kept telling Aegean, "Why did we see this and not 'Little Miss Sunshine'?" Damn you Samuel Jackson. You took my $12 for these Motherfu$%&*#g snakes on this "muthafu$%*&#ing" plane.

A Letter to Mel

2006-08-17T21:24:00.000-07:00

What happened Mel? You ruled the world. You won an Oscar, earned high salaries, was loved by so many women, and were in one of my favorite movies (What Women Want). I know you don't like Jews (Shalom!) and you are one of the most strict Catholics next to the Pope. Good for you for sticking to your beliefs. Also, I give you credit for smiling in this picture and avoiding a "Nick Nolte". But why did you have to make "Apocalypto". Does anyone really want to see ancient Mayans running around? I know you're rich, but don't waste your money making a movie that no one will see. Unlike "Passion," there aren't millions of Mayans out there who'd fork over 8 bucks to see this. Good Luck Mel. From my experience of working for a Kaminsky, you don't want to anger the Jews.

Snickers Has What???

2006-08-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

It seems that I only blog about movies, and there's only so much that one can talk about movies before getting bored or dying (rest in peace Siskel and get better Ebert). So I will tell you a tale of when I was an Resident Assistant in De Neve Plaza. One night, I got a distress call from a girl who said her roommate had an allergic reaction to eating a Snickers bar. I immediately rushed over there, called for an ambulance, and did anything I could to help her breathe. When the ambulance arrived, the EMT officers asked her what she had eaten and she replied, "A Snickers bar." The officer then asked what she was allergic to and she replied, "Peanuts." Then, I chimed in and said, "Don't you know that Snickers has peanuts?" She then told me, "Well yeah...but I was just gonna spit them out."

Back to the Good Old Days

2006-08-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

My brother and I watched "Back to the Future" a few nights ago, and we started thinking, "Why don't they make movies like this anymore?" I absolutely love this movie for many reasons (it reminds me of my chubby childhood). But I love it because it's so funny. There are great jokes at perfect times in the movie. McFly and Dr. Brown have such a nice chemistry and it hits all the right notes. I just really like watching this movie (the sequels aren't bad either).

The Greatest Athlete Right Now

2006-08-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of people out there who don't really appreciate tennis or think of it as a very demanding sport like football or basketball. But I think (actually know) that tennis, aside from golf, is the hardest sport to master. What makes tennis better than golf is that it is always static and moving. Tennis requires athletes without a belly and with enough stamina for almost two hours every night. It's a fun game to play but an even better game to watch. For these reasons, I believe Roger Federer is the greatest athlete today. Of course, you can make a case for Kobe Bryant or Terrell Owens. But tennis is a demanding sport and Roger Federer rules tennis.

Movie Disappointments

2006-08-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

Since I haven't seen a new movie in almost two weeks (an event that rarely happens for me), I want to comment on the biggest disappointment of the summer. So far, I've seen some ups (Miami Vice, Nacho Libre, and MI:3), some mediocre films (Superman Returns and Devil Wears Prada), and some really bad ones (Da Vinci Code). In the midst of all these ups and downs, I was really down after watching X-Men: The Last Stand. There is a story, good actors, and decent special effects. I guess the fault lies in the director. Brett Ratner, the Jewish guy who thinks he's a reincarnated black man, is the worst director out there and still happens to get great projects to direct as if he's Steven Spielberg reincarnated (if he were dead...and black). Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker will always be funny, and Ratner's still living off that movie's success. Way to kill the X-Men franchise Brett but thank God that the movie made a lot of money so we can see another X-Men movie, hopefully with a different director.

Jack White and the Band

2006-08-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

I went to a Raconteurs concert two weeks ago and the night still resonates with me. Probably because Jack White is the greatest act in all of rock right now. I saw him with the White Stripes...pretty good. But here with a band and a drummer that can actually rival White's guitar work, Jack really shines. He's having a good time playing the band's original songs ("Steady as She Goes") or covers of Gnarls Barkley ("Crazy") and Cher ("Bang Bang"). He's an amazing performer and musician that will no doubt go into both the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame. Let's not forget about the Loretta Lynn album that he produced, which is currently in my playlist. Other than Jack Bauer of "24" and Dr. Jack Shepard of "Lost", Jack White is my favorite Jack.

Miami Vice

2006-08-08T23:16:00.000-07:00

These guys are so cool and Michael Mann is my new favorite director. If you liked "Collateral" or "Heat," then you will really enjoy this movie. There is such good acting in all of his films from Tom Cruise in "Collateral" and Russell Crowe in "The Insider." Although Farrell looks great with the mustache and mullet, his acting is sub-par. But all that doesn't matter because this movie is way cool. HD Cameras, nice cars, hot girls (Gong Li...yowsers!), great action, and an awesome soundtrack make this movie so great to watch.

Grey Goose

2006-08-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

I don't really like to drink alcohol. I get red and start to breathe heavy. I've been recently drinking some light beer, primarily because I don't get as red and can breathe normally afterwards. But I will drink Grey Goose. It's smooth and hits the spot like no other hard alcohol can. There are other great mixed drinks out there (my personal favorite is the Mojito) but if you want hard alcohol straight then Grey Goose is the way to go. It's a little more expensive, but for a guy who doesn't drink that often I'll pay a little bit more to get red the good way. Smirnoff bad...Grey Goose good!

Harold and Kumar

2006-07-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

I have lots of favorite movies, but the movie of the month is "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle." It keeps showing on Encore and I keep watching it. It's so hilarious and actually a great movie about Asian-Americans. Don't search for "Do the Right Thing" in this movie because it's so stupid that you have to laugh. Key scene in the film: Harold and Kumar sing the Wilson Philips classic "Hold On." We all know the song and we all sing along to it. Only this time: a Korean and Indian sing it. Watch it if you haven't seen it and check out my other favorite films in my profile. I'm watching "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior" right now...so far so good.

Mrs. Knotts Chicken Dinner

2006-07-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to Knott's Berry Farm in awhile and I probably won't go for a long time (It's too moist there). But I will go to the Marketplace and have a chicken dinner. I traveled there with the CEC gang only to be stuffed with chicken, potatoes, corn, soup, salad, boysenberry pie, and the biscuits (oh dear god, the biscuits). Kathy was raving about it and I don't know what the grade of the restaurant was, but Ravi was there also. There's something special about biscuits and jam together, especially boysenberry. I hope everyone gets to try this amazing meal for only $13.50 and then visit the weird shops around there (Where can you find a ceramic dog for over $300? Who buys this crap?) Anyways, it was a fun day of food and a fun farewell to our dear Mindy.

What is Hemet?

2006-07-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask me, "What is Hemet?" and "Where is Hemet?" Well it's in Riverside County and west of Palm Springs. Since graduating, I've been living in Hemet and my brother's place in Los Angeles. But I like Hemet and will be sad when my parents move out later this year. Hemet is a small town but have begun a recent modernization (2 Super Walmarts, Applebees, 6 Starbucks, Chilis, and Super Target). You're probably thinking White Trash and you're probably right. But I love the town and invite you all to come stay with me while I'm there.

Superman Returns

2006-07-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

Superman Returns is a good movie. Superman Returns 3-D is a great movie. There's something about seeing Superman fly at you in 3-D that transcends the movie into a great one. Although you put on the glasses for 1/4 of the movie, it was still awesome. Brandon Routh is good, Kevin Spacey is good, but Kate Bosworth is not good. There's no spunk, no real emotion, she's just a downer. I hope everyone get's to see the movie in 3-D. Also, don't watch Scanner Darkly and see Devil Wears Prada for some good fluff.

The Beginning of the End

2006-07-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

Why am I starting a blog? Well...it's cool. I get to share some intimate thoughts with whoever wants to read about them. Why not start a blog?

There are so many people out there looking at myspace.com or facebook.com, just trying to find old friends and see what they are up to. Well here's your chance old friends to read about my life. I'll try to update as much as I can, but it is the summer.