Speckles n Spectrum

I’d like to share my 2 cents about Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales’ movie: The Loved One. People might be confused why this lovely aesthetically pleasing piece of a story ended up in a lonely but peaceful separation. Things were going so well. It seemed that both parties were perfect for each other. No heavy physical arguments yet they started drifting apart throughout the end. 

Here’s my take on it. This movie is a fool proof of mentality differences. Ellie was part of the elite class and Eric came from the working class. Ellie grew up in an environment of affluence where she was well aware about the reality of life and social responsibility while Eric grew up in a kind of survival mode where the only goal is about gaining success to alleviate his family from suffering again. Always about family responsibility. There goes the clash. 

Eric thought having a nice job, getting married, having kids and providing everything for his family is all there is in life. That’s fulfillment for him. On the other end here goes Ellie wanting a family too and all what Eric wants yet she has something more in her: that nagging feeling of social responsibility. Fulfillment for her does not only ends in family responsibility but also includes a world view that she has a mission and a purpose to help others in her community and the world. The conflict started when Eric thought that the volunteering acts done by Ellie are only about superficiality cuz he can’t comprehend why there is a need to be of service to the world when for him his little family is all enough for the both of them.

If I were in Ellie’s shoes I would decline marrying Eric too. Choosing a partner with the same core values, morality and level of thinking is very important. Marrying someone that doesn’t align with your views even though they are kind will end up in a disastrous marriage.You will experience everyday for real having to explain every decision you are making, every choice will be questioned and that would be a misery especially for a freespirited purposeful soul.

In the end the smartest choice is to partways because that’s the right thing to do and it’s the decision that can give them serenity rather than staying together but gradually drifting apart because of their ideologies. I love happy endings but sometimes the best ending for lovers is to be apart. Love is not enough. It can’t give you peace of mind if it’s the only thing left holding you together. May you all find the love that’s aligned in all ways than one. Shalom.

photo by SM Cinema

“There was an awful a lot of work involved to make our main visual effect, ‘Skinny Steve’, the pre-rebirth Steve Rogers, before he is transformed into Captain America,” says Visual Effects Supervisor Christopher Townsend “We talked about using a CG head similar to what they had done with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [2008].” 

Source: comicbookmovie.com

“It wouldn’t have served the purpose of the film and the purpose of the film is to get our actor, Chris Evans in this case, up on screen. We all wanted his performance to be there as much as possible. After much R&D we ended up with a 2D solution where we are literally mesh warping Chris Evans’ body and slimming him down, reducing his shoulders and arms, making his face more gaunt, thinning out his nose, making his chin more pointy, not quite an all American square jaw, and also making him shorter by about five inches.”

The movie isn't just good in VFX. It is actually one of the best if not the best action-hero movie you'll ever watch and it's for the whole family too even with PG-13 rating for some intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action. There are actually valuable lessons that all ages can learn and relate to in this movie. Like never giving up for your dreams and fighting for your beliefs no matter what and never forget those precious hero essential word "humility." 

My favorite scenes were actually those times that Steve Rogers ends up saying "Is this a test?" For those were we realized the best lessons the movie offers to the viewers that we should never judge anyone by their appearance. Those scenes were the happy ones too with punch lines like "He's still skinny." 

This is actually a feel good action-hero movie I must say. You'll find an occasional funny lines and thrown convincingly clever by the actors. I can still remember the line "Can please somebody give that kid a sandwich" and still smile just thinking about it.

Though obviously funny lines are mocking or sarcastic in nature but it was so subtle that you'll just find yourself laughing for it was all good pun for fun. It was actually sort of cliche already because it had been the common jokes for skinny people but it was written in a different light thus it strikes like something wittingly new. 

There's also a bit of romance. Poor Steve doesn't know how to deal or even talk comfortably with women. You can actually somehow felt how those couples felt twitterpated in each encounters. Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) is very charming with that vintage locks and red lipsticks and of course who wouldn't be mesmerized with Captain America's bod. It was said that he needed to gain over 20lbs of pure muscles just for the role but the production team had to use CGI because losing weight for the Skinny Steve was not too easy.

Trivia

Chris Evans declined the role three times before accepting the part. After that, he had a meeting with the director and the producers who convinced him to take the role.

Then he said this huh? 

Chris Evans was attracted to the role of Captain America by its character: "Even if it wasn't a comic book. I think the story of Steve Rogers is great. He's a great guy. Even if it was just a script about anybody, I would probably want to do it. It wasn't necessarily about the comic itself. He's a great character to play; he just happens to be a comic book character."

Quotes I like from the movie:

1. Steve Rogers / Captain America: 
Why me?

1. Dr. Abraham Erskine: 
Because a weak man knows the value, of strength. Knows the value, of power.

Captain America/Steve Rogers: “I don’t want to kill anyone. I just don’t like bullies, no matter where they’re from.” 

Dr. Abraham Erskine: "Whatever happens, stay who you are...not a perfect soldier, but a good man."

Perfect 5. This is a movie where you can't find too many flaws that you won't forgive for if there's any that would be too trivial. Overall it's very entertaining and I must say no dull moments even during the slow conversational scenes for the story moves in fast, full, clever punny excitement. One that you'd liked to watch over and over without needing to fast forward on some dragging, boring parts.

The visual effects too contributed a lot to that very watchable and entertaining characteristics. You can say that a good VFX is something that doesn't look like it's VFX rather natural and looks more real. The actors too were all good especially the main character. You'll be convinced that he was that humble in the movie and yet come to remember Fantastic Four and how arrogant and boyish he was in that movie then it will just made you realized how good his skill in acting is.

There's just one thing that will make you ask why? Maybe it's just me but I've heard a few of the viewers said why did his best friend have to die? (Oops sorry, spoiler.) And some ask why it should be that way? It seems they wanted it to be more tragic perhaps. But I'm okay with that yet I prefer if he didn't have to die. (Oh, crap am I the only one who always want a happy ending? I guess not.)

Now if you haven't watched Captain America: The Avenger yet I say don't sleep and miss this one that you may end up saying "I was supposed to have a date." 

Can't wait for The Avengers...

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Some side notes. We were able to watch this movie on its opening day last Wednesday thanks to Camarines Sur Medical Society who had a raffle event tied with this movie. My sister's boyfriend is a Med Rep that's why we got our free tickets. And darn someone won a brand new car that very night, lucky, lucky individual but I guess I am too since I'm there enjoying a movie for free. I think that's good enough for a day's blessing right? But I think I still prefer if I can rewind or put it to slow-mo to be able to write down my fave lines and I can pause it so I can go to the restroom for I've eaten way too much salty popcorn and drunk too much water while lying down on a couch stretching my limbs. Yeah got it right better at home, less crowd, more freedom but how about the 3d eh?

But still "The best things in life are free" huh? I guess you can say that again just don't ask way too much lol.

Po joins forces with a group of new kung-fu masters to take on an old enemy with a deadly new weapon.

Director: Jennifer Yuh
Writers: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Stars: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan
Language: English
Release Date: 25 May 2011 (Philippines)
Also Known As: Кунг-фу Панда 2

Taglines: Ska2oosh!

Genres: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Rated: USA - PG; Phil - G (MTRCB)

Source: IMDb
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Another great movie for the whole family Kung Fu Panda 2. The return of Jack Black as Po this time as a dragon warrior with the Furious Five defending the Valley of Peace and from someone who'd want to destroy China and Kung Fu forever.

I don't know why I can't remember the first movie so I can't have any comparison. Maybe it wasn't too good perhaps?

Anyways, this movie is for the whole family for the story isn't made just for kids but there's something for everyone too. I love how it centers with Po's finding his inner peace, about family and friendship. He was now the dragon warrior loved by all and yet his memories of his mother and a symbol haunts him thus he realized in this movie that he was adopted.

This movie has a heart, it will make you laugh but then it never made me cry though there's a few touching moments but not too dramatic to let you shed tears. Am a lost for words here so just help yourself up and go enjoy the movie yourself.

Trivia

Po: I know it's not something a hardcore would understand... 

Tigress: The hardcore do understand... but I can't bear to see a friend die. 

You can chain my body but you can never chain my warrior spirit!

Your story may not have such a happy beginning but that doesn't make you who you are it is the rest of your story who you choose to be.

What's step 2? Honestly I didnt think I'll make it this far.

You gotta let go that stuff from the past coz it just doesn't matter the only thing that matters is what you choose to be now.

As we where malling or store hopping in Iriga City last Saturday after a visit to Bigg's Diner we ended up discovering this very helpful feet protector at LCC.


FlexGel is another innovation from Burlington's BioFresh.

FlexGel Footcare Solutions!

FlexGel is made of unique formulated, extremely soft and stretchable S.E.B.S that helps absorb shock, relieves pressure and shearing force. It is highly stretchable in all directions and prevents pressure sore from repeat rubbing. 

FlexGel acts like a second skin as it has similar property of human soft tissue, so it is completely safe and does not cause allergies. It also kills germs that cause bad odor.

Protect your feet today, because a healthy feet is a happy feet!


Source: BioFresh Facebook Page 


There are 15 types of FlexGel available for specific foot problems and one may combine up to five kinds of FlexGel at a time.



Comfortable Insole
Heel Cradle
Heel Cushion
Arch Support
Forefoot Cushion
Forefoot Cushion (HAV)
Heel Wedge
Heel Protector
Bunion Protector
HAV Separator
Bunionette Protector
Toe Cap
Toe Protector
Toe Separator
Forefoot Cushion


We got these two:

FlexGel Comfortable Insole help relieve forefoot pressure, heel pain due to long hours of standing and walking. You apply it underneath the plantar foot on the shoe.

FlexGel Forefoot Cushion relieves forefoot pain, help absorbs forefoot pressure and reduce the chances to have callus. You apply it on the 1st and 2nd toe covering the callus plantar forefoot before wearing socks.

A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.

Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: Richard LaGravenese (screenplay), Sara Gruen(novel)
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz
Language: English, Polish
Release Date: 4 May 2011 (Philippines)
Also Known As: Agua para elefantes

Taglines: Life is the most spectacular show on earth.

Genres: Drama
Rated: PG-13

Source: IMDb
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Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? I'm neither but in this movie Pattinson had tidy up playing Jacob, a veterinary medicine student who hitch up on a circus train upon his parents death. He took a job as a vet for the circus and fell in love with Marlena (Reese) who's married to his dangerous boss (Christoph).

Jacob: I don't know if I picked that circus. But something told me that circus picked me.

The world's run on tricks everyone plays. It's having a true talent a gift born with in  something no degree can give you.

When Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with this bird of his dreams.

Director: Carlos Saldanha

I rate this as 3 out of 5 stars. It was entertaining but the storyline seemed to be old. A bird that doesn't know how to fly then learned in the end after his great adventure. The story's setting which is in Rio is what makes this a little different from the rest and funny lines. The ending too was like a bit rush and I felt the movie could been better if only there's more volume added in the storyline like a little more twist and more conflicts. But it was a happy ending after all so still fun to watch.