Random Review: Real Steel

• I don't know why but I'm more amazed at the SFX used in this movie than in Transformers (the sequels, at least). Maybe it's because they scaled it down to look more realistic. Or maybe because Real Steel didn't involve demolishing half of New York.
• I like Hugh Jackman. But I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he's married to her. 
• Dakota Goyo is a promising young actor.  Anyone who can match Wolverine's swagger and can teach a robot how to dance has a future in Hollywood.
• I like that the movie didn't go down the Bicentennial Man route. Me want no cry.
• I appreciate it when producers are able to stop themselves from injecting kissing scenes every five minutes. Sex sells, yes, but I'd rather it doesn't in a robot boxing movie. 
• Evangeline Lilly is one of the few actresses that can manage to look sexy without flashing her cleavage every two seconds. Also, is it just me or does she look a lot like Jessica Biel?
• People who want to watch UFC but do not want flying bloody teeth better hope some crazy Japanese scientist figures out a way to make this movie a reality.
• I am in love with Hugh Jackman's cellphone. Fuck yeah transparency!
• LOL at subtle product replacements.
• The people who conceptualized the robot designs deserve an award. That kind of creativity and innovation should always be recognized.
• This movie makes me want to brutalize our washing machine and turn it into a sumo wrestler.
• Everything is more fun when your theater seat vibrates to the beat of robot punches. This is 4D, noobs.
• I don't want to admit it, but Real Steel reminded me of Pacquiao. Or the Filipino people in general. Digged up from the mud of society and working our way up the big arena of life. We might not be the biggest, toughest, most armed race out there, but like what Jackman said, we're gonna go down swingin'.
• Rating: 8 out of 10. I would have made it a 9 if Hugh took his shirt off more often.

August Playlist

I've decided that every month, I will post a list of songs that I find on the net. It's more for my benefit that yours because God knows how I should remember the bands that I like. My memory sucks like that, yes.

Here's the one for August:


1. Vetiver - Wonder Why
2. Niki and the Dove - The Fox
3. Papercuts - Do You Really Wanna Know
4. Fruit Bats - You're Too Weird
5. Chad Vangaalen - Sara
6. Low - Especially Me
7. Sebadoh - Skull

I especially like Fruit Bats because they are outrageously funny without being too campy. They're going to release a new album in September, I believe. Go check them out.  They're on YT, under SubPop records. I like this label's artists mhm.

Birdman Has Landed

Because I feel like stalking people and because I believe that he deserves to be stalked, here you go:

And yes, I have liked every video in his channel and have subscribed to to it, too. Just like a good stalker would.

Q York: The Rise of Modern Filipino Music

I'm tired of remakes. I don't think there isn't one popular 70s/80s/90s song that we haven't covered/made into a movie title.  It's an insult to Filipino creativity and talent.  People always say "support your own", but how could I, when the song isn't even "ours" to begin with? And when we're not dealing with remakes, we're bombarded with horrendous copycats. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but mainstream artists took that cliche and ran with it all the way to Pluto.  Look at this video, for example:

Whatever they were trying to achieve with this, they failed miserably at it.

So imagine my surprise when I came across this awesomely made video by an artist named Chelo Aestrid.  I was tempted to see her as another Gaga ripoff, but her sound is distinct and her style is funky, electric, and uniquely Filipina. Seriously, her video is probably one of the best I've seen in years.

Image + Great Lyrics + Rocking beat = WIN.

I tried to see what else this great gal has been up to and I've dug up some collaborations with really talented rap artists Knowa Lazarus and Kenjhons, via Q York Edutainment. Here, look what I got:

Now I have a new song to breakdance to in the shower (lolwat). Coupled with the badassery that is Philippine All Stars, I think we've struck gold.

Now I'm not the biggest rap fan in the planet. I have abhorred the rap scene since growing up to the obscene, nonsense lyrics of Andrew E. and 90% of American rappers singing about boobs, booties, and banging, so I know how skeptical you may feel about this. But give these guys a try. More than the wannabe balladeers who offer nothing new to the scene, these guys are out to do the Philippines proud. They're relevant, current, and spiced up with the different flavors of Philippine culture. You can check out more of their videos on YouTube through the Q York channel or catch them on MYX. Please start voting for them and not for Rihanna. I don't think I can last another five minutes of her flashing her sideboob.