No Not Him!

No!!! Not him!!!  Why does it have to be him?  No Neji, you cant die!!!

I'm not really liking how this war is turning out.  First, Yamato has remained to be out in the picture while Tobi keeps him to power the Zetsus out on the field.  Second, the Kages seemed to be powerless against a revived Madara.  Moreover, it seems that Tsunade is about to use up all her chakra to heal the other Kages and might end up the way she did after the Pein attack on Konoha.  And this time she might not end up waking up.

Third, while Naruto seemed to have grown enormously strong, the combined powers of him, Killer Bee, Guy and Kakashi cant seem to even make a dent on the Madara-Tobi (Obito) team up.  Now that the whole mystery of who Tobi really is already solved, the foursome now tries to figure out how to stop him.  And when they start to make some progress, the Jubi and Madara came to spoil everything.

Then just last week, a major shocker happened as two of the elder Ino-Shika-Cho trio apparently became part of the casualties.  I like it when older ninjas get some air time and this trio happens to be my favorite.  Reading out their demise is something that I never really expected.

And it seems that Masashi is playing the "While We're At It" card and pulls another shocker this week.  For those who have not read the latest manga chapter (Naruto 614) I apologise for the spoiler.

The Fourth Great Ninja War has claimed another popular character.  In a horrifying twist of events, Neji used himself as a human shield to save Hinata and Naruto.  I can't believe it!  Two shocking deaths one chapter after another.  That's too much for my emotional heart to take.  It' like Masashi realised that since he's not giving Neji enough airtime anyway, he might as well kill him off and none would miss him.  But he's wrong!  Neji is one of the more popular characters in the manga.  He's a genius.  He's badass! He's cool!

But I think he also wants the readers to realise how cruel wars can be.  Characters will die, no matter how popular they are.  It's just that way it is.  I heard rumors that the jumps will take a break for a few weeks due to the holidays.  Well, I think this roller coaster ride can use one.  My heart needs a breather after all the heartbreaking loses it has seen.

Want to read other mangas?  You may visit my favorite manga portal here.

Picking The Right Amazing Race Partner

This week will see the finale of Amazing Race Philippines.  It’s a bummer that the contestants are only going to race around the country.  I was hoping that they could at least go around South East Asia but oh well.  I guess keeping the race at home makes sense.  I’m really not a fan of the local franchise.  After watching a few episodes, I felt that the challenges are quite lame and most of the racers are quite clueless.  One of the things that the US (or even the Asian) franchise continues to do successfully is to showcase the pitstop as a tourist spot for its beauty or heritage.  This is something that the local franchise failed to  take advantage of.  Racers just come and go at the pitstop that are sometimes positioned awkwardly.

But since I am a huge fan of the US and the Asian franchise, I still gave it a chance.  I am still excited how the race will end.  My personal favorite team is “The Gym Buddies” (Marc and Kat).  They are fairly strong compared to the other teams.  They managed to win the first 4 legs and 3 more legs until they reached the final 3.  But more than their racing prowess, what I like more about this team is their constant bickering.  Kat is one feisty bitch.  I cant help but feel bad for Marc every time Kat calls her out when he makes mistakes.  I admire how Marc managed to keep his cool.  My favorite moment for these two is during the Palawan leg of the race where the multi cab brought them to the wrong place and left them there.  When they saw the multi cab driver again, all hell broke loose.  The amount of name calling and tongue lashing trumps Paula Salvosa’s AMALAYER episode.  Poor driver.

I have always wanted to be in Amazing Race.  Not only because of the prize money but also, I wanted to live the life of a back packer while testing my physical, mental and emotional limits.  My ex and I once talked about joining Amazing Race Asia.  We even came close to writing scripts for our audition video.  But we realised that joining such competition would spell the end of our relationship.  We simply cant work together.  So if we are to join the race, we should be doing it with other people.

Choosing who to partner with proved to be hard for me.  I generally work well with a team.  However, the dynamics of a two man team is would be different from a team of more than two people.  For larger groups, one would generally come out to be a leader and the others followers.  I’m perfectly to be on both sides.  But for partners, you should always be complimentary.  The pressure to work well together is greater to the point that you dont even have to talk and next steps would seem to come out naturally.

Up until now, I still don’t know who to partner with.  I have yet to find the person who shares the same intensity and passion that I have.  The one who complements my weaknesses.  And someone whos temperament does not clash with mine.  If ever I find that person, I think the 2 million prize will be ours.

OPM: Not So Original Pinoy Music?

Local artist would vehemently berate those who dare say that OPM (Original Pilipino Music) is dead.  Unfortunately, one would have reason to believe that it is.  Last week, ASAP revealed its 24K Gold and Platinum Awardees for 2012.  A quick glance of the list of winners would tell you familiar names in the industry and their all revival albums.  Perhaps with the massive influence of Western music that consistently defines what's popular and the emerging K-Pop culture, the local industry's best bet would be to bring back songs made popular during its glory days and give it an update version belted out by our best singers.  OPM ain't so original anymore.  Ironic!

But OPM is not only about what makes money.  It is also about the artists and musicians who continue to make original music even without the prospect of making huge bucks.  OPM is a celebration of local artist who wants to make good music.  Sounds so cheesy but it doesn't make it any less true.  And one artist made me realize this.  Amidst the bigger names in the industry, a newcomer has unexpectedly made waves in the mainstream scene.

Meet Abra (Raymond Abracosa), the pint size man behind the tagalog rap hit Gayuma.  His single has topped Myx's local and overall countdowns for several weeks already.  The video also now has over 9 million views.  Before making music, he made waves in the fliptop scene  and is considered to be one of the heavy weights of rap battling in the country.

I am really not a fan of local rappers.  Most of the rap artists that we have right now are plain irritating.  So seeing Abra's video in Myx for the first time was a breath of fresh air.  His pleasant voice gave me the chance to understand his powerful lyrics.  At first I thought the premise of the song is plain funny but the catchy refrain had me listening to it a second, third, fourth time ... until I just decided to put it on loop in iTunes.  I made some more research and I found out that he also has another equally compelling single called Abrakadabra.

Abra is only one of the many aspiring artist that are make brilliant original music.  Unfortunately, they are not given the much needed air play compared to other mainstream artists.  These are artists who produce their own music, market and promote it on their own without backing of a recording label.  And everyday, the list of these kinds of artists just grows.  So with that alone, I think OPM is far from dead.  Unfortunately, business and economics cant help but use their invisible hands.

Rurouni Kenshin: Best Live Action Adaptation Ever

Anime lovers are spot on when they said that Rurouni Kenshin: Samuai X is the best live action adaptation ever!  I am one of those firm believers that live action adaptions of our favorite anime franchises should be done only by its creators, the Japanese.  Look at how Dragon Ball Z turned out.  Or even Tekken and Street Fighter.  Japs don't always get it right, but theirs would come out more authentic and believable.  And with Rurouni Kenshin, they indeed got it right.

Generally, Rurouni Kenshin seems to not your typical Japanese action movie.  The cinematography seems different.  The production set seems different from all the Japanese live action movies that I've watched.I was looking for the usual computer generated houses but didn't notice one.  And that is not a bad thing.  In fact, I think that added to its charm.  Everything seems so real.  It retains though the gory blood splatting an in your face hacking and slashing which everyone loves.

Being a follower of its anime version, I know that the series has a huge number of arcs.  One would wonder how Keishi Ohtomo (director) would create a plot that is plausible, effectively mixing drama and action, making an adaptation that even those not aware of the anime or manga can follow with ease.  He definitely did an awesome job!  He was not entirely faithful to the first two arcs of the anime but I think it helped him introduce the main characters well: how Kenshin got his scars and why he made a vow not to kill, how Kaoru's innocence strengthen Kenshin's resolve and how their love story came to be.

I definitely have no qualms about the action scenes.  The movie opened with a gritty killing spree with its usual hacking and slashing.  And up until the climax, I was like a kid in martial arts wonderland.  The swordplay was fast yet beautifully choreographed.  There wasn't a hint of CG which made even Kenshin's flash steps very believable.

The only aspect of the film that I had mixed feelings on would be its casting.  First, I think Takeru Sato (Kenshin) struggled to portray the clueless ex-assassin who was coming back to his old innocent self with every person that he helps out.  Takeru had his moments but mostly came out to be too serious (when he is not fighting).  I was also expecting Megumi (Yu Aio) to be a bombshell.  Munetaka Aoiki did a good job playing the smug tough guy Sanosuke but I was hoping for a hotter actor.  How I wish, they gave the part to Yosuke Eguchi who I think is too goodlooking to play as Saito.

Overall, Rurouni Kenshin exceeded my expectations.  I was expecting a problematic plot and CG fest of action scenes.  Fortunately, i was blown away by its amazingly choreographed action scenes and superb story.  It easily becomes the best live action adaptation I have ever seen.

Masterchef Pinoy Edition: Celebrating Filipino Food And The PinoyPalette

I started following Masterchef Pinoy Edition some two weeks ago and today, they just completed their roster of top 16 Pinoy home cooks.  The Junior Edition got me hooked so I really have high expectations for this one.  Being a foodie and trying hard home cook, I am interested to see how we fair compared to the likes of Whitney, Jennifer and Christine of Masterchef US and Julie, Adam, Kate and Andy of the Australian edition.

The Junior Edition had its finale showdown early this year and I must say, I was really impressed with how good the young chefs were.  I was also happy with how ABS-CBN made the show really close to home.  I think this is what they are trying to achieve with the grown ups, only in full throttle.

During the audition, we see people from all walks of life.  Some obviously have a taste for the finer things in life.  Some have lived simple lives but are filled with interesting stories about  food.  I was really hoping to see the usual French, Italian and Asian dishes that are often served in Masterchef US and Australia.  So seeing my usual comfort food: Sinigang, Lugaw and Kare-kare surprised me a lot.  Then I realised, Masterchef Pinoy Edition is a celebration of Filipino food and the Pinoy palette.  Most Pinoys do not eat risotto but most Pinoys (if not all) have tasted lugaw.  Only a few of us can appreciate ceviche but we are accustomed to eating Kinilaw.

At first I was worried that if they decide to include a soufflé challenge a lot of those who got through the top 16 would not keep up.  But I guess the show is trying to portray food as a great equalizer.  You do not have to be at the upper echelons of our society in order to experience or even make good food.  It would not be realistic to have a soufflé or a creme brûlée challenge.  A leche flan challenge would make more sense.

Masterchef Pinoy Edition is also dubbed as a Kusinaserye (there goes our penchant for drama) so don't be shocked to see sob stories here and there.  I think they are trying to show that for every amazing home cook, there is an interesting story behind their love and passion for food.  Just like the story of a single mom who used food to cope with the breakdown of her marriage.  I am just a little concerned that the competition will become a charity event and the one with the best story wins the title.

At the end of the day, it should be all about the food.  And it should elevate Filipino Cuisine and make it know internationally.  I am really excited to see how this show will progress.

Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve... End Of The World?

Remember Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve?  Star Cinema's 24/7 In Love hoped to be like these films.  Unfortunately, their new love anthology movie is no Valentine's Day and most certainly no New Year's Eve (my favorite of the two).  Fortunately, it succeeded in one thing, it was top billed by the biggest, most brillant actors of our generation.

But that is not to say 24/7 In Love is not worth your time of day.  I actually find it really entertaining.  There are stories and premises that will struck a chord.  The episode of Angelica and John Lloyd is the best out of the 7 stories (SPOILER ALERT).  It was about a woman who took a break from her marriage after finding out that her husband cheated on her.  Aside from the John Lloyd's charm and believable acting, his chemistry with Angelica was just magical.  This episode shows love that is ever enduring amidst mistakes and imperfection.

I also liked Bea and Zanjo's episode.  Like the earlier couple, this real life sweethearts displayed awesome chemistry.  Bea never fails to amaze me with her acting prowess and Zanjo did not leave me wanting at all.  (And those lips, argh!)  Their story I think is surprisingly realistic.

Perhaps Piolo's role as a mentally challenged orphan is his most challenging to date and he did not disappoint.  Zijan and Xyriel were also effective in their roles as kids experiencing the pains of puppy love.

The other stories were ok.  I felt that they were rushed up and contrived.  They were more suited to be full length movies to give these stories more justice.  What saved the day for them were the actors who were believable and endearing in their roles.  And who could forget Sam's abs, Diether's ass and Gerald's undies!

Overall, I think 24/7 In Love is a fairly nice try to copy the magic Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve gave us.  It did not quite succeed but it certainly has some gems that made it worth my time.  Its "End of the world, what would you do" premise is quite interesting.  But it did little to tie things together.  For people who are suckers for love, hopeless romantics (and those who wants to feast on Gerald Anderson and Sam Milby), you would definitely enjoy this.

No, The Yamashita Treasure Is Not In The Philippines!

Impressed with the move The Raid: Redemption, HBO Asia's first full length original film became a must see for me.  After finishing a productive meeting in Eastwood, I braved the incredible Ortigas traffic and headed to Megamall.  Apparently, the movie is shown only in select SM Cinemas.

I thought it is such a shame only a few people came to see it (for my screening time we were less than 10).  But as the movie progresses I started to understand why.  The movie is about a group of treasure hunters with their hired guns lured by the legend of Yamashita's Treasure.  Their search lead them to a remote Indonesian jungle.  Encountering a group of pirates, they sought refuge inside a dead mine but were unfortunately trapped when the mouth of the mine collapsed.  They realised the only way out is to journey further into the mine.  Aside from the words, Yamashita Treasure, the plot seems to be a cliche.  Treasure hunt and Murphy's law in effect.

The make up is quite good.  The costumes aren't so bad either.  I also think that it offered a very Hollywoody cinematography.  Unfortunately, those are the only good things I can say about the movie.  It's your typical treasure hunt movie where the proponents of the expedition kept secrets from the whole party, the hired guns get mad as they start to lose men and demand answers.  Of course there's more to it that what the greedy proponents are willing to share. They find monsters instead of gold and they all die.

I would have liked it if other elements of the movie were good.  The casting is poor.  The group of hired soldiers seem to not know how to use their guns (Spoiler Alert).  The pirates who ambushed them were not even using any cover and yet they cant seem to hit them.  They also dont possess any skill in hand to hand combat.  The leader of the hired guns Ario Bayu (Capt Tino) I think can be better played by Joe Talsim (Djoko).  Joe was kiss ass in The Raid and Ario is just so lame.  Les Loveday (Price) was also a let down as he fails to be the rich but obnoxious leader of the hunt.  And same can be said to her love interest Carmen Soo (Su-ling) who tried so hard to be over bearing.  The narrative also needs some work.  The pacing is so slow.  Lastly, the scientific research, human-testing of bio weapons angle can be interesting only if it was supported by the production design.

I really had high hopes for the film considering its an HBO Original movie.  But unfortunately, it failed to deliver.

Movie Watch List: The Man With The Iron Fist

I have always been a fan of martial arts films.  And I personally think that the Hollywood ones are the most visually appealing.  When I saw the trailer of The Man With The Iron Fist, I almost peed my pants in excitement!



The movie stars  Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, Byron Mann, RZA, Rick Yune, David Bautista, and Jamie Chung.  It is about a blacksmith who in order to save his village must take arms and make himself a human weapon.

It is set to premier November 2nd but no word yet when I will be shown in the Philippines.

The Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate

I am a big fan of action flicks most specially the gruesome and futuristic type.  Big guns, fast cars, muscular men (and women) wearing tights punching and kicking their way out of a barrage of bad guys.  But even before I started to dig these movies, there were Sunday Chinese Action Movies (not sure if that was the title of the show) that I grew up to.

I was a huge fan of sword-wielding  men in elaborate robes flying around pursuing their enemies.  Although martial arts was not as kick-ass back then as it is now, I didn't know any better so I still enjoyed it.  My dad would beat the crap out of me and my brother whenever he sees us jumping from one sofa to another using brooms as swords.  These shows made me dream of taking Kung Fu lessons when I was little and become an action star (I swear!).

Wong Fei Hong (Once Upon A Time In China) was my hero.  And it made Jet Li my all time favorite martial arts action star.  Through out the Once Upon A Time Saga, up until his stint in Dispensables, I've made it a point to do research on his upcoming projects and watch his latest movie.  Since I have not seen him make a real kick ass martial arts film for quite sometime, I was very excited to see his new movie Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/wUnFHX3PlyM]

The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate is about a group of vigilante headed by Zhao Huai-an (Jet Li) who aims to free China from its oppressive eunuchs who at that time became extremely powerful and corrupt.  They first target the leaders of the Eastern Bureau and plan to do the same to the leaders of their Western counterparts.  An impersonator of Zhao also resurfaces to help a pregnant woman escape her pursuers.  This is where the plot starts to thicken as the two heads toward the Black Dragon Inn.

The plot offers a lot of interesting characters and exciting twists.  Though I must say, I would have wanted to see more action from Jet Li.  There were a lot of kick ass moments here but sadly, most of them were not his.  Xun Zhou was very impressive here.  Most of the brilliant fight scenes came from her and I would have wanted to see more of her and Jet Li teaming up, but the plot did not allow for that to happen.  The handsome Kun Chen was such a compelling villain and a delight to watch.

Photo Credits

The story is not as gripping as that of Hero or as intense as Fearless but the interesting and likable characters have made up for his short coming.  Unfortunately, the movie also failed to develop them.  It would have been nice if the rise to power of the Eunuchs were explored more but it came out just as an afterthought once the characters gathered at the Dragon Gate Inn and started to fight.

Overall, the fact that it starred Jet Li together with a massive character list that show great skill with the sword, I'm a happy camper.  Its not going to be a very memorable one for Mr. Li, but it is still worth my time of day.

I Love Jessica Sanchez Because

I love Jessica Sanchez not because she's a Kababayan (alright, semi-kababayan, she's Fil-Mexican).  I love Jessica Sanchez not because the whole country is routing for her.  I love Jessica Sanchez not because she had brought honor to my country.  I love Jessica Sanchez because she is a young diva who has a lot of potential to conquer the world with her soul and talent.

I love Jessica Sanchez but I don't think we Filipinos have the right to own her nor her achievements.  I love Jessica Sanchez not because we supported her until the very end but because she continued to do her best till the very end.



I love Jessica Sanchez not because she made our country proud but because through her, the minorities in the US now have an inspiration.  I love Jessica Sanchez not because she makes me feel good to be Filipino but because she makes me feel good about having a dream and working hard to achieve it.

I love Jessica Sanchez because she's just simply... amazing.

Photos not my own