Slumdog Millionaire | Movie Review

Category: Movies

Genre: Foreign

My family and I watched this year Best Picture movie last weekend night to witness the real score why did it win the grandest award from the recent Oscars Awards.

We have no doubt.

“The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love." (excerpt from IMDb.com)

I really like the scene when little Jamal was flushing/digesting his "waste" (calling by nature) in their public toilet with his elder brother (Salim) waiting outside and when his popular star icon/idol was coming to their place for a shoot, his naughty brother blocked the door for fun. The only thing he did was to escape (while holding his idol's photo on his hand) through a wide hole where their wastes flow - eewww. He succeeded and quickly ran to his idol just for an autograph signing. After, however, his brother sold the signed photo just for coins. Here, we can see how this poor – I mean unwealthy, people as young as Jamal strive hard for a simple joy and happiness.

Moreover, the scene that really caught our attention is when the whole cast were all dancing and singing while showing the movie credits simultaneously - in fairness, they are all good dancers! I think singing and dancing clips are typical scenes we can see in their (Indians') movie.

Favorite tag line: "GOD is GREAT." - Salim

This film of Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan (co-director: India) is a true reflection of struggle for LOVE (the unconditional love of Jamal for Latika, Jamal's childhood friend) and for MONEY (the guts of Jamal toward his success, from being an orphan to India's newest millionaire) of most people especially those who do not stop reaching their dreams and ambitions despite of different obstacles they encounter.

I salute the Oscars Award body for recognizing this one of a kind and remarkably great movie to watch for. Best movies deserve only best awards.

Jeni, Juno | Movie Review

Category: Movies

Genre: Romantic Comedy

I gave this film a 5-star rate as it showed the Dramatic-Romantic-Comedic moments everyone may/has experienced during their adolescence days, especially to those boyfriends/girlfriends who made their unexpected future baby.

How will they cope with it?

The main actors (Min-ji Park as Jeni and Hye-sung Kim as Juno) portrayed their roles as real as in reality. As a matter of fact, it was adopted by America's 20th Century Fox who introduced Michael Cera and Ellen Page as their own Jeni and Juno. But there was a little bit of twist on their version like their main actor's character name. But I guess, many viewers would go for its Korean version, since, they truly acted their scenes with full drama, romance, and comedy.

I really admire Koreans in widening their creativity to make original and captivating story line. Unlike Filipino Film Makers who only stick to 'pang-masa/makamasa' stories – that you can easily distinguish its ending at the start. Agree?

Just Keep Enjoying Thank You UPDATE

Last Wednesday, April 1, the night before I sleep, I had received a text message from my classmate saying that our Final grades were already released in our own Student’s Portal. “This is it! “ – I told myself. I really felt nervous to the grades I might receive in Financial Accounting 2 – my difficult major subject, because my classmate’s text message was saying that He failed and got 5.00. I was talking to myself whether to see my grades or just make it by tomorrow. I studied, thought positively, and prayed very hard for it. So, when I opened my Portal, I was really expecting that I would not repeat the subject for the second time around.

All the prayers… were answered!

I got 3.00, which may know for its 75 percent of passing or 50:50 mode. I couldn’t even speak.

Before I go to sleep, I thanked God for all the strength and faith he has given me for the past months, especially on the times I felt that I must quit, and to myself, for keeping believing and thinking in a positive way. Likewise, just yesterday, I texted all my classmates who may think that their journey had ended. Told them:

Keep believing. Keep holding God’s hand.

Thank you,
KIER

Nothing or Something UPDATE

As the title suggests, this is really the something I was saying from my previous blog.

Last Monday, I confronted my Chemistry professor and asked him if I can take my Final exam on that moment – because our scheduled examination was really today. He said that it is fine to him, and after couple of minutes, he gave us an options – whether to take the exam or just accept our Midterm grade to be our Final grade. I did not anymore think of it, though, I immediately nodded to his second option – my 1.25 grade is back! I really thank him, since, like what I have posted here previously, my Final seat works’ scores here in my Chemistry class were all low unlike last Prelim and of course, Midterm – what I really love most.

Therefore, I again conclude that for every bad day we have or we will have, there is a better day for us more than we expect.

Anyway, yesterday was the start of my summer vacation – my, because some of my other classmates still attend their classes today until tomorrow. But this time, my usual two-month vacation will decrease to one, since I need to attend class/summer class to cope up for those minor subjects I left – it’s okay, so that I can spend the rest of my summer months worthily. So, cheer up to the summer’s heat!

Nothing or Something

Last Friday, I received my score in our last two seatworks in NS 102 - Chemistry subject. I only got NOTHING - meaning, zero (0). I think it is because I did not follow the instruction, or I just dont know.

Siguro ganun lang talaga ang buhay, may mga bagay na madaling makuha o makamit. Inisip ko nalang na talagang may plano si God sa mga bagay-bagay dito sa mundo. Gusto niya sigurong ma-experience natin ko kung paano ma-frustrate o ma-disappoint. Ika nga, Learn from your own mistakes.

Naalala ko tuloy yung sermon ng pari sa mass last Ash Wednesday, na ang buhay natin ay hiram lang. Paliwanag ni father, ang Lenten Season (from the root word "Lent", past tense of "Lend") daw ay panahon ng pag-alala na huwag tayong maging mapagmataas kung ano mang mayroon tayo ngayon na wala ang iba. Sabi pa nga niya, sabihin daw namin sa katabi namin na "Mamamatay ka rin!" (we're all really laughing!). Kaya rin daw ash ang nilalagay sa nuo kasi nanggaling tayo sa abo, mamatay rin daw tayo at magiging abo. Lahat tayo ay pantay-pantay.

Sayang talaga, akala ko pa naman makakakuha na ako ng flat 1.00+ for Finals, kasi 1.50 ako ng Prelim, 1.25 sa Midterm. I remember na yung last 1.00 grade ko ay sa NSTP, super non-curricular lang. Sinabi ko ito, hindi para ipagyabang kung ano ang grade ko kundi, para sa mga tao na ma-realize na kahit na mag-fail sila sa isang bagay, may nakalaan na pagkakataon na masmaganda para sa atin. It's not yet the end of the world! So, GO! GO! GO parin!

HeartFull of Love

Everyday is Valentine's Day...

So do not just wait for February to come for you to say " I Love You! " to your love ones!

Soften your hard heart and spend each day with Smile&LOVE!

Happy Valentine!

Loves You,
KIER

New Year, New Life

What does New Year’s resolution really mean?

According to my pocket dictionary installed on my cell phone, Resolution is a firm decision or determination.

“ A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. “ [Wikipedia.com]

As I have understood from the statements above, it is simply a self-disciplined behavior or a way of life that a man tries to change or avoid as the New Year comes. New Year, New Life.

I cited my own New Year’s resolution hoping and praying that I can make or avoid. Namely:

1. Prioritize God’s words first. Never ever sleep at night without praying. Continue thanking Him for every new life he will give us. Commit zero percent sins that are either bad as wrong or as unrightfully as immoral behaviors.

2. Harden my studies. Read next lessons in advance. Complete answering home works and take home exercises more importantly in accounting courses. Have guts to recite. Emphasize English speaking. Attain 1.0+ grades in all academic courses.

3. Offer a helpin. Help those in need as much as I can. Teach them (classmates) the lessons they exactly don’t know. Coach them to study hard.

4. Love my family, friends, classmates and neighbors. Offer a helping hand. Stop teasing them. Avoid thinking something against them. Care them. Pray those who need God’s support. Collect friends not enemies.

5. Heart myself; Love yourself as you love others. Don’t think other’s murmurs. Take problem as jokes to laugh. Laugh more. Show a smiling face. Move with a good posture. Always thing positively. Earn respect from others. Speak and act right. Be a winner not a loser or failure. Beautify inside and out. Don’t be too selfish. Gain more self-esteem. Be humble always. Don’t take too much pride. Be the best that I can become. Lead not follow.

Have a Glorious 2009!

Connected 24EVER

Globe's
CONNECTED 24EVER
Barkada Challenge!

We (L-R: Aiza, Dan, Roann, our leader - Kaycee, and I) were the Chillax as we did this photo shoot (to earn 20 pts) for Globe's Barkada Challenge photowall in our school, for a chance to win Php10,000 (for the highest point-earner group on the end of the challenge week). Unfortunately, we didn't make it!

*I was the one who named our group Chillax, got from Globe's flag we're holding.