Bangkok Dangerous

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

We watched another movie last night. Yes its the second movie in just 3 days. In my family we tend to watch alot. Before when I was still a kid we usually watch every friday night in SM North Edsa even before the Annex was made and wasn't called SM City yet. We would usually eat Shakeys and Samurai Balls (a classic family favorite from way back). My mom is going to go to Iloilo tomorrow so we opt to go out one last time before she leaves.

Since she is a big fan of Nicolas Cage we went to watch Bangkok Dangerous. A Pangs Brother film which was shot in Bangkok Thailand (hence the name) and starring Nicolas Cage as an anti-social Assassin for hire who was contracted to do 4 hits in Bangkok before he retires for good. The thing is he befriended his messenger and fell in love with a deaf girl which ultimately brought his downfall.

The thing is this story would be very familiar with Filipinos. The first thing you'll notice is the settings in Bangkok is almost the same with Manila. The streets, the houses and even the culture even seems the same. There are only minor differences you'll see like the water market scene which looks (almost like) Vienna with their pagodas and the dialect used by the local residents.

What's not surprising is that the direction is also almost the same as Tagalog movies. You'll be seeing typical action scenes and camera angles used by our local film industries. Some camera angles scenes though through out the movie are used like some amateur camera man. I can't believe they would use those scenes at all. I couldn't even understand why Nicolas Cage would accept this offer although I'm sure, for him, it would either be something fresh or he just owes the director or producer. I don't think he would do this for the money or for prestige.

I hate to admit it but this is a low budget film and if you're more into high definition digital films with lots of eye candy special effects or a very deep well thought out script that will leave you breathless then this isn't for you. If you like simple action dramas with unlimited bullets flying around and villians (or even the police) who can't seem to shoot straight then this is for you.

I give this movie a 2 out of 5 stars for adequate direction, simple script and action scenes. The only saving grace would be that Nicolas Cage stars in it but, then again, his hairdo in this movie would probably make you wanna leave your seats in despair.

Craw Daddy at Fort Strip

Sunday, September 28, 2008

We went to Miguel's Taekwondo event today at Assumption college in Makati. Today's the day he was supposed to get his yellow belt if he passed his kata exam. The thing is he has to learn 2 katas styles. He got the first one down without a hitch but he's having a problem remembering the second... oh no!

Having looked around the gymnasium lo and behold who I saw was Miguels taekwondo teacher. It was my old elementary friend way back in OLGM (Our Lord's Grace Montessorri) John Paul. We had a few moments reminiscing old times since he has to take care of his class first. Sadly we had to go even before the whole event has come to the end so I promised him that we would go out one of these days and catch up with each other. It's definitely a small world out there.

After the event we went to the Fort Strip to have dinner. We ate at Craw Daddys which serves one of the most amazing assortment of seafood menu out there. Killjoy that I may be my carnivorous side still opted for me to order the baby back ribs in the menu. It's defenitely worth every penny with its soft and tender meat that slowly oozes off the bones when I picked it off with my fork.



I started eating the ribs when the other orders reached the table. I saw one of the most scrumptous crabs I've ever seen topped with garlic and butter. I couldn't resist trying out the crab fat which seems to cry out to me: "eat me! eat me!" it said. Hey who am I to deny something mouth watering? Sadly, after a few bites, I had to let it go since my head started spinning because of the cholesterol but it's worth it to taste something so delicious.

It doesn't hurt to indulge yourself once in awhile right?

Eagle Eye

Saturday, September 27, 2008

After I showed my sister the trailer of Eagle Eye this afternoon we opted to watch the last full show tonight in SM Fairview together with my mom and dad.

Funny when I walked into the comfort room before the start of the movie a girl came out from one of the cubicles and raised her head to look at me. Dumbfounded, I looked around to see if I was in the mens CR. I was sure I saw the right sign outside the door and there's definitely some lavatories alongside the wall (I was probably thinking girls can pee standing upright nowadays but... nah...) so how come this girl in front of me was looking like I was a pervert who's gonna get some from her handbag?

Meekly I asked what she was doing there since I am honestly sure that it really was the mens toilet (it reeks of urine as if a dog was guarding his territory) and she was puzzled that I asked her that question. Looking around she was shocked to see the lavatories and quickly excused herself from the room.

It's a good thing I haven't opened my zipper or else all hell would break loose.

And so I sat watching the movie. The theme of Eagle Eye was mediocre. It was about a super computer that executes a program to purge all the American officials and start a new government because the current president has broken the law of the Geneva convention (yes sad to say that was a major spoiler I just mentioned) and coerced two individuals to do its bidding.

The movie is action packed right from the start and Billy Bob Thorton has adequately done his role. He was sort of bland and mimics Tommy Lee Jones role in the movie "The Fugitive" but he fits his role as a police detective hunting the protagonists. I wouldn't recommend watching this at the movie house but this is definitely right for watching dvd at home with your friends or family with lots of popcorn or a few kegs of beer.

I give this movie a 3.5 out of 5 stars for the non stop action scenes and for the twist in the "Big Brother" theme.

Sushi Marathon

My friend and I was supposed to come to the Hyper Angels Ramen EB but she wasn't feeling well today (she got herself wet coming home the day before =( ). Before the Ramen EB was set we were planning to eat again at Saisaki for another sushi chow down so we decided to take out some sushi and eat at her apartment.

I bought some sushi from Rustans supermarket in Katipunan where they sell alot of different sushi at a very cheap and reasonable price (which prompted my "takaw tingin" mode and bought alot and I do mean ALOT).

Having bought the sushi I proceeded to her apartment and started our food trip. Our sushi was composed of california, tamago and ebi maki, some prawn and eel temaki and tuna sushi that I had at home which I saved for rainy days. Needless to say we ALMOST finished all of it with a few remaining leftovers that we can barely look upon.

We stopped after 4 hours of eating sushi with plans of doing it again nex time.

Did I mention that her sister was also there eating with us?

Outback Steak House at Alabang

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

My elder sister, Ate Joy's birthday was september 10 and to celebrate it she invited us to have dinner in Outback Steak House restaurant in Alabang.

I ordered their specialty, the black Angus beef, which was a 16 oz steak and a half inch in height. I had it medium rare, since I like my steaks not burnt to a crisp, thank you very much. The taste was absolutely amazing and the meat was so juicy that they had to put the juice in a sauce pan. The size of the steak was also another thing. It was so big that I didn't get to finish everything in my plate. My niece, Isabelle, had to get about one third off my plate just so it wouldn't go to waste.




Another thing that was sooo good in Outback was their beer. They have their own beverage bar where all their beers are placed in a special sub zero degree freezer. The outcome was the beer was so cold that the flavor came out even more than usual but it didn't freeze over unlike when placed in an ordinary freezer.

I had an oppurtunity to drink 2 San mig light, which to my brother-in-law, Kuya Don, and to my surprise as well, downed within the span of 30 minutes.