Warm Bodies

A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love—with a human—in this astonishingly original debut novel.

R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Not just another zombie novel, Warm Bodies is funny, scary, and deeply moving.

I first heard about Warm Bodies the book while browsing through zombie literature in Goodreads. I remember adding it to my To-Read list because the plot seemed new and very original hehe. I never got the chance and I never bothered to look for the it since it got drowned by my other, more prominent, book cravings.

So I was quite excited when news that it'd be turned into a movie were spread. I got even more excited when I found out Nick Hoult would play the lead hihihi. But then I got submerged in school activities and responsibilities that I missed the first weeks of its premiere here in the Philippines.

But alas, after our failed attempt to watch it yesterday since it was late already, my sister and I rushed to the mall right after lunch and finally got to see Warm Bodies wee. 

WARM BODIES IS AN AMAZING MOVIE HUHU. It made me love zombies even more, if that's possible. I liked their take on what can cure and stop the apocalypse which is love and human interaction. It might be a bit cheesy but the message is so strong and it can be applied even in circumstances that don't involve flesh-eating creatures. It was so nice!!! The acting was so good too. Nick Hoult and his best friend were so adorable and I liked his internal monologues hehe. It was so funny too whenever he'd run and still stay in character, he looked like a very tall and very lanky rag doll. The way the story was woven and was fit in a span of 98 minutes was amazing. Huhu I can't even organize my thoughts properly since my brain keeps on repeating 'it was so nice it was so nice it was so nice it was so nice it was so nice'. 

But while watching, I kept thinking that if an actual zombie outbreak were to take place and a lot of people have seen this film and it turns out the real cure is not affection........we'd have a huge problem on our hands hehehehe. 

Over all, the movie was great and it's now a favorite of mine. It really was love at first bite hehe. My funny bone was tickled, I felt the tension and I was moved by the ending. We should have more zombie movies like Warm Bodies :D

Warm Bodies on IMDB

Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington

Sa mala-postcard na bayan ng Lucban, Quezon, may isang batang anak ng puliswoman na nangangangalang Remington ang malakas manlaglag ng mga bading, hayag man o tago. Sa isang sementeryo, isang bading na may magic powers and nagsumpa sa kanya na magiging bading din siya pag dating ng araw. Lumipas ang taon at nalalapit niyang ika 21st berday, nagsimula na ang kababalaghan at pagbabagong anyo ng katauhan. Kasabay rin nito ang mga misteryosong pagkakapaslang ng mga kabadingan sa lugar nila.

The movie gave off such a Rocky Horror -esque vibe

    When this movie first came out (of the closet?) a year ago, I itched to go see it. But due to reasons unknown, I never had the chance to catch it in the cinemas. The poster just had me falling in love at first sight! I really like the colors and the fact that they made it seem like one of those old Tagalog hand painted movie posters is definitely a plus. And it's about zombies, need I say more?

      I only went to ruins yesterday to accompany my sister and to go look for Magic Mike. Since Magic Mike is still not yet dvd copy, I decided to buy any gross horror movie instead. I was browsing through the dvds when Ang Babae sa Septic Tank caught my eye. All I know is that it's an indie film and that it has won awards. Thinking about semi-old indie films, Zombadings came to my mind. I asked the girl if they had it and she said yes while trying to hold in her laughter. I asked her if it's any good and she said yeah (quite reluctantly). I asked her again, 'Baduy ba?' and.....................she nodded minutely. I still bought it tho to quench my curiosity and after cancelled plans, watched it today yay.

       The movie was so adorable!!!!!! It was so funny too! The first thing that came to my mind was the quality. The movie was so rich and so creamy and just downright pretty. I am a total sucker when pretty is mixed with gore hehe. Anyhoo, I definitely enjoyed watching it even though there were parts when the Bekimon got a bit too confusing hahaha but keribels. There were some scenes that had me squealing in uneasiness hehe but I'd end up laughing still. The actors were good and the message was SO THERE.

       Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington is such a nice/funny/cute/good movie. I really don't know why the girl who sold it to me called it baduy hehehe.

Hey by the way, does anybody know if THIS still applies? Hehe.

6: Mixed Media

This is a compilation of paintings and drawings from various talented artists that I've discovered through a nifty little thing called the internet. I hope you enjoy, get inspired and spread the word. 

Click picture for Cesar del Valle's website

Cesar del Valle's skill with ink and paper is so darn realistic. But the thing is, he mixes the realistic people that he draws with textures or whatnot that can be seen when paper or graphite is manipulated such as the texture of crumpled paper and the effect or appearance of graphite being smudged. He also includes holes in paper or pencils through walls and actually draws around such disturbances!

Portraits III 7

Cube 3

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Click picture for Glenn Brown's website

Ever had a nightmare about ghoulish creatures with melted skin in sickly hues? No? Okay. Whenever I see Glenn Brown's work, the word 'putrid' quickly comes to mind. The word and his paintings seem to give off this aura of sweet decay. Imagine rotten flowers or too ripe mangoes or the sickly sweet of garbage. But his paintings are far from being considered as garbage for aside from his numerous solo exhibits, he even has a book filled with his works that retails at $90!

Click picture for Langdon Graves' website

Everything about Langdon Graves screams whimsical. From her drawings, yes Langdon is a woman a very pretty one at that, to the colors that she use, to her name and even to how she looks. She really embodies the whole Tinkerbell-esque look and incorporates it to her very playful works of art.

Click picture for Marco Mazzoni's website

The first time I saw Marco Mazzoni's works I thought they were made to be covers of Florence and the Machine albums. I think viewing them would be splendid while listening to DJ Vinimal's Cry Me a River Remix or any eerie opera songs haha.

Click picture for Suzanne Sattler's website

Suzanne Sattler's work are a perfect mix of daintiness and gore. It's like a a couple severed fingers inside a gift box wrapped in shiny paper with a special bow on top.

Click picture for The Gryllus' website

Last but not the least, The Gryllus, an art duo composed of Cara Thayer and Louie Van Patten. They mostly paint hands grasping and kneading and grabbing and scratching. It's like most of their works should be labeled R-18 haha. They look almost life like if you squint your eyes the only things that give them away are the apparent brush strokes and the super duper high contrast between the colors the use.

Ta-da! I'll make another compilation for Photographs and Installations next time. Maybe even dip my toe into architecture haha. 

Chronicle

Chronicle revolves around 3 average and slightly stereotypical teenage boys. One's the popular guy which everyone likes, a weirdo with a camera who gets bullied and the wallflower-ish stoner. At a party, they discover a mysterious hole and after exploring said hole, develop supernatural powers. They have fun and fool around with people and learn how to strengthen their powers. One of them a bit too strong tho..

I enjoy trailer surfing on youtube. Basically, I watch and watch trailers of upcoming movies and just navigate through the related videos sidebar. I came across Chronicle some time ago and I was intrigued for realsies. My sister and I watched it while we were at our grandparents' house in the province. I really liked the whole Cloverfield-esque vibe it gave off because of the camcorder thingy style. The movie as a whole was good since the characters were so realistic, the scenarios were quite adorable and the plot was very strong. It only sucks cos the run time is so short! It would've been nicer if the events didnt happen so quickly and all at once. But all in all, I seriously liked Chronicle. Boyish playfulness + superhero powers + 3 good looking teenage boys + a whole lot of action = Chronicle!

*I won't link the trailer anymore since its like the whole movie's in it haha!

Magic Mike

I just found out about Channing Tatum's upcoming movie called Magic Mike. It's supposedly about a guy stripper named Mike which is to be played by Channing. He then takes Alex Pettyfer as his apprentice of some sort. Alex introduces him to his sister who has no idea about their profession. Channing then slowly falls in gooey love with the sister and they have to overcome the challengers that comes with being in a relationship with someone who has 'relationships' with everybody else hehe.

Personally, I have no plans of becoming a stripper. I don't think I have it in me to be one actually. I just find this movie cool since Channing once was a stripper in real life before becoming an actor. So its sort of like he's going back to his roots so to say. Judging by the comments that I've seen on youtube about the trailer, it seems that many people find this movie to be very shallow and disgusting. Well, I really don't have anything to say about it that much since even I find it shallow. But the thing is, I believe that every once in a while, I really really really need a break from all the thought provoking movies and books. It gets tiring to have your beliefs shaken.

In conclusion, I want to see this movie. I really do hehe. Partly because of Channing, partly because of Alex Pettyfer, partly because I think it's gonna be funny and partly because well I'm a very pubertial teenager.

John Green Appreciation Post Version 2.0

I've always been a huge fan of John Green and his works. Most of the time, when I'd finish his book, I would either feel very good about life like I just received a cheat code or hack that would help me see the world through brand new eyes or I would just be reduced to a snotty crying mess.

The reason why I'm going on another John Green appreciating post is that I just finished his latest book, The Fault In Our Stars. I won't even try to write a review of it since it's simply beyond writing one. I'm at a loss for words but I have this feeling that I should tell the world of its beauty. The book is just beautiful. I mean, that's it, it's the kind of beautiful that is so sad but at the same time it makes you feel like you're the kind of person that doesn't eat weird/exotic food and then one day you'd have the courage to do so and it's like a whole new chapter or level has been unlocked in your life and it makes you eager to get get get get get more and think of what you have been missing all this time.




John Green is a writing god.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Orphan Hugo Cabret lives in a wall. His secret home is etched out in the crevices of a busy Paris train station. Part-time clock keeper, part-time thief, he leads a life of quiet routine until he gets involved with an eccentric, bookish young girl and an angry old man who runs a toy booth in the station. The Invention of Hugo Cabret unfolds its cryptic, magical story in a format that blends elements of picture book, novel, graphic novel, and film. Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick has fashioned an intricate puzzle story that binds the reader like a mesmerist's spell.

I've seen The Invention of Hugo Cabret lots of times before I got my own copy. When I first saw it, I was simply entranced by the intricacy of the gears on the cover and after flipping through it, the illustrations and the amount of details each had just made me want it more.

I was at National Bookstore, looking for a decent book in the Below 100 Sale bunch when I spotted a hardbound version of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It seemed to be too good to be true! I was so excited to buy it but my sister pointed out that the price was hardly understandable since it looked like it had been scratched by a chicken or something. It's a good thing that we asked the cashier if it was really for P99 because it turned out it wasn't! It was for around a thousand pesos ($20)! Long story short, I didn't buy it, but I did get lucky and found it on sale while I was out buying a gift for a friend of mine, and this time, I only paid P99 for it. 

It tells the story of a young boy by the name of Hugo Cabret. Hugo is an orphan, clock keeper and thief. He lives a life of secrets and isolation inside a wall in a train station. His involvement with a peculiar girl and the owner of the toy booth from which he has pilfered from makes up the enchanting tale that weaves horology, magic, family and film together.

What can I say about this book? Brian Selznick, the author, always goes off about how it's not a novel, not a graphic novel either but a mixture of words, illustrations and screencaps. Reading it, made me feel like I was in a movie of some sort and it was such a pleasant experience even though it didn't take me long to finish it. Turning one page filled with drawings after another gives the feeling of watching a movie in which you can control the speed to savor and study the scene or whatever.

Personally, I think that Hugo and Isabelle together is what made this book more awesome. Hugo is such a brave and sadly lost kid that has wormed his way in my heart with his sneaky ways. Isabelle on the other hand, is a favorite of mine because of the shallow reason that she reads. The drawings of Isabelle remind me so much of Natalie Portman in Leon: The Professional. Th fact that they're both dreamers, Hugo with his automaton and Isabelle with her photography, is just plain adorable. 

I also loved how a lot of topics were touched and/or scrutinized in this wonderful book. You've got France in the 1930's as the backdrop of the story, a peek inside a horologists lifestyle and how the gears and clockwork can affect someone's thinking, Georges Méliès life, the train accident in Gare Montparnasse and magic. 

A lovely quote from the book:

"I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and types of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason, too. " 

-Hugo Cabret, p.378 The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret just had me wrapped around its literary finger from the first page down to the last.

Anthem For American Teenagers

I have Jon McLaughlin's entire Indiana album on repeat right now and it's just the perfect music to a Sunday night. His voice is just so boyish and nice! Just listening to him makes me think of every inspiring and tear-jerking redemption scene from chick flicks and romantic comedies and that's why I think he's such an amazing musician. You should really listen to Jon if you're feeling insecure and depressed 'cause his voice would just take you, hug you tight, pat your back, kiss you on the temple and let you sleep curled next to him with your head on his chest. Talk about the epitome of feel good music!

I first found out about him while watching Disney's Enchanted. Hands down, Enchanted is my favorite Disney movie. That part during the ball, with all of them prettied up and donning those ridiculously adorable costumes? I wondered how they'd make Patrick Dempsey maintain his McDreamy-ness and thats when Jon's voice came in to the rescue. Seriously, So Close,  was just the most magical song I've heard that time.

I get the same vibe from Gavin DeGraw. I can't remember exactly when I first heard his songs but I'm sure it was mainly because of One Tree Hill. I recall hearing More Than Anyone playing during Haley and Nathan's super sweet wedding.

Both of them are just total dreamboats with their voices and to be honest, they're totally easy on the eyes too.

Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life - dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues - and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.

Printz medalist John Green returns with the brilliant wit and searing emotional honesty that have inspired a new generation of listeners.

I just finished reading Paper Towns by John Green and I am not entirely sure if I'm correct but it seems to me that Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns have something in common. The narrators. Every narrator in his books are normal guys that are so...nice. They're kind-hearted and so lovable that seeing the story unfold through their eyes make the tragic events look painful, yes, but also like genuine eye openers. I started around 2 in the afternoon because the other book that I tried to read turned out to be a huge letdown.I read Aaron Vincent's (my favorite book blogger) review on Paper Towns and he basically described the out-of-this-worldy beauty that it possessed and if I recall correctly he even listed Margo Roth Spiegelman as one of his top 10 fictional characters of all time. Now, I don't exactly know how to feel because I found Margo a tad annoying and simply too flighty. The other characters were so diverse and so John Green and I think that's what I like most about him, besides him being so adorably geeky, the way he creates these totally random characters that had specific randomly specific hobbies, interests and quirks. I was sort of terrified while reading it, and I guess it's because I'm still in some sort of a hangover after reading Looking for Alaska and it made me subconsciously trying to prepare for the blow of a character's death or something equally as devastating.

It still makes my head spin thinking about how all of these ideas came from a single person. How does John Green do it? How does he take interesting facts that he read when he was still a kid and turn it into something that touched lots of people, even people from all the way on the other side of the world?

I'm looking at the cover of the book right now, particularly on the blurb by the SLJ saying that Paper Towns is 'profoundly moving'. I may have mixed feelings about the catalyst of all the adventures that took place in the entire book but I just cannot deny that Paper Towns in fact is a book so good that I can't name it as my favorite book. It's a book so good that it deserves a whole new category for itself and John Green deserves all the books about conjoined twins in the world or maybe a cake. A delicious, mouthgasm-inducing cake, mind you.