Stoker: Trailer

Famed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy, Thirst) makes his English language directorial debut -- in Wentworth Miller's screenplay - aptly titled as "Stoker". I've been psyched about this film since last year. Now the trailer is up and running on YouTube -- my excitement has intensified. There is a touch of horror, a reminiscent of Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt, a hint of incest, betrayal, blood and gore. I'm actually thinking that Mia Wasikowska (what a lucky girl!) is the product of a relationship between the mother and brother in-law, played by Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode. Due to their excitement, it seems everyone from YouTube are also trying to figure the story out. Can hardly wait!

In theatres March 21, 2013.

For more information visit the official website at http://www.donotdisturbthefamily.com/

Trailer # 2 (Official)

TIK TIK The Aswang Chronicles

This is the one worth waiting for! Finally, a film that utilizes the finest in the Philippine cinema, in terms of production design, cinematography, make-up, costume, special effects, and etc. Trailer pa lang ulam na! Though a reminiscent of the universe of Frank Miller, Zack Snyder's '300' and David Slade's '30 Days of Night', I am mighty happy that somebody in the film industry has decided to produced something different from the servings we usually get. Instead of those tried and tested blockbuster magnet tactics with story lines about mistresses, sappy and cheesy cutie pie love stories, dramatic monologues, Erik Matti and his team experimented with the technologies of today and created something that could put us on the map for quality driven fantasy films. Tik Tik was developed for a total of 6 years, and it is the first Filipino film to be shot entirely on green screen. I am always up and open to watching movies that is not afraid to test the waters and is ever curious to push their limits. This would definitely open the doors for the younger generation of filmmakers to venture in a more stylized, action-packed, genre driven cinema.

I am already stoked to see this on the big screen.

For more information, visit the movie's official website at http://www.theaswangchronicles.com/

About a Movie: Wes Anderson

"This is a Japanese cartoon that is very difficult to describe and might not sound that great if I tried anyway. It is 24 episodes, and we watched them all in less than a week because you start to want to believe it’s real. This could spawn something like Scientology." 

-  Wes Anderson/ Goop, 12th March 2009

About a Movie: Madonna

"I was actually watching In the Mood for Love [2000] again last night because I love the music. And I mean, how overused is slow motion in film? But, for some reason, he gets away with it. Every time the characters pass each other on the stairs, there's that same piece of music. It's so beautiful. He has these two married couples living next door to each other, and you never see the wife of one couple or the husband of the other, but you always hear them talking. And it's not so much of a story, but you're so sucked into it. It's something to be envied. While the stories seem simple, you really end up feeling kind of devastated and moved and melancholic every time you watch one of his movies-well, I do, anyway." 
 - MADONNA/Interview Magazine, 2010

Fish Fight

I am the 820,248 fish fighter supporting the protest against the improper discard of dead fishes back in to the sea. Do your part and join the campaign at http://www.fishfight.net/ or get involved by joining Hugh's Fish Fight on Facebook and by following the campaign on Twitter. Let's spread the word!

Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait

I just love this band, with an exclamation mark. Since listening to their song "Little Lion Man" I've become a true convert and a fan. I was floored right away upon hearing their new single online. Mumford & Sons put the "cool" back on banjo; giving the instrument a new-found respect it deserves. You have to pack your iPod with their music -- it is the perfect travel buddy on the road. 

Mumford & Sons new album "Babel" is truly a worthy wait.

To buy the album click the image/CD cover. 

Movie Quote: Ghost World

"You think it's healthy to obsessively collect things? You can't connect with other people so you fill your life with stuff.I'm just like all the rest of these pathetic collector losers."

- Terry Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes, Ghost World

Movie Quote: In The Mood For Love

"On your own, you are free to do lots of things. Everything changes when you marry. It must be decided together."
- Wong Kar Wai, In The Mood For Love

Introducing: Fujitsu Docomo STYLE series™ F-02D

Honestly, I never really give an "ah" for mobile phones or to any gadgets; I was never a techie person. As long as I can send a message or make a call, it will do. And I prefer my point and shoot for capturing precious moments, so my camera phone is rarely put to use. All those smart phones look the same to me. Seven or eight years ago, cellphones have personality --you can differentiate a Sony Ericsson from a Nokia from a mile away -- but now, everyone is just an iPhone wannabe. Since flip phones has been close to becoming obsolete --except for the Japanese and the Koreans who still manufactures them via their own brands -- I have become more interested and attracted to them. Now they are no longer trendy, I seriously want to own one!

Fujitsu Docomo Style F-02D is a smart phone. It has a WIFI, and a camera and all the works, but it is styled in a flip form. Quite unique from the rest of the iPhone wannabes, don't you think?

For the specifications, click the link and read http://www.fujitsu.com/global/news/pr/archives/month/2011/20111109-01.html

Ariel Rivera: Circa 91

I found this...just a few days ago in our drawer. Ariel Rivera's debut album in a cassette tape back in the 90s. Most of the tracks made it through the local airwaves -- I was in full retro/reminiscing mode that day -- from the tracks 'Sana Kahit Minsan', 'Ayoko na Sana' and etc. The album itself is such a huge hit, even my auntie and uncle got their own copies. I"m glad I was able to keep it. Finding something like this -- that is part of my youth-- always put a smile to my face. #TreasuredFinds

Léa Seydoux - Paris 2012

Bryan Adams (yep, the singer/songwriter/musician) made this little photographic film featuring the French actress Léa Seydoux in Paris back in February. Adams is also an accomplished photographer; I just learned about that last Saturday. Poor old me!

I visited his photography website and found his body of work for several magazine companies -- so astonishing. But simply, this one is a standout for me --  not only because Paris is my favorite city in the world and he captured it gorgeously through his lens, but because, I've been doing this kind of work as well. This gave me another idea and inspiration -- to what kind of shoot to do next for my 'Little Boy' project.

For more Bryan Adams photography visit his website @ www.bryanadamsphotography.com

 

Movie Quote: 2046

"The reason she didn't answer was not simply that her reactions were delayed. It's simply that she didn't love me. So at last I got it. It's entirely beyond my control. The only thing left for me was to give up."

- Wong Kar Wai, 2046

Movie Quote: In The Mood For Love

"When you're single, you are only responsible to yourself. 
Once you're married, doing well on your own is not enough." 

- Wong Kar Wai, In The Mood For Love

Bibliophilia

My all-time favorite books as captured by my point and shoot:

I've always been a French in my past and future life. I love their cinema, culture, music, and art -- and I think Paris is the most disarmingly beautiful city in the world. Their language sounds music to my ears -- that's why I took up learning French on a self-study basis. (From left to right) This French dictionary was bought from National Bookstore about five years ago, quite expensive, but worth every penny. I have a soft spot for cut down travel guidebooks -- sufficed to say, I have a bunch of them. These two were my favorites from that collection. I got the AAA France Travel Book from NBS, just for a 100 pesos. While the Rough Guide to Paris was bought from Booksale Alabang, for the cheap amount of 100 pesos -- and upon purchase it is in a very good condition.

Among the seven sequences of the Harry Potter series the fourth book: Goblet of Fire, is my favorite installment. I have read this more than once and I've seen the film on the big screen for about four times. 'Goblet of Fire' is my favorite for several reasons. Harry is still a kid, but is in between the anticipation of becoming a grown up. As he deal with his impending adolescence, he and his friends were about to face a foreboding change in their lives upon the unexpected comeback of a prodigious nemesis of the wizarding world. Goblet...is purely magical but dark, stirring and mysterious at the same time. This is the first book (from the series) that made all the screaming fans dealt with death.

The genius of Orson Welles, the man, the father, the artist and the filmmaker is revered beautifully here by the late auteur's daughter -- Chris Welles Feder. I am a huge fan of Orson Welles and this biography gave me a few insights about him as a self-taught actor/writer/director. This minted hardbound copy, already wrapped up in a plastic sheet, only cost me 99 bucks from NBS Greenbelt annual book sale. A must have for every Welles fan and cinephiles alike.

My favorite book of all time! The cinema is my soul food, the fuel to my fire, the lime to my corona, my boyfriend, the one I can't live without, my ultimate passion in life, and the reason I wake up in the morning. A super find! I bought this copy from NBS Glorietta for a cut price sale of 300 pesos from its original cost of 1000+. There are several check marks noted in each titles of the films I have already seen, and my goal is to watch more quality films in this very short lifetime -- so far, this book has done an excellent job in steering me towards that path. This is my bible.

In my quaint but humble library, I have a collection of books by Paulo Coelho. There are so many to choose from, but this paperback selection of short stories by Coelho is my favorite. My short attention span, ADD tendency, always gets the better of me, but the miniature stories in this book are like vitamins that stays with me forever.

Although I have an assortment of books in my closet -- a stack of the thick classic ones are still unread. I usually prefer to read books that were mostly written in the first person narrative, just like these three. Much more, they have to be sad, depressive and nihilistic. (From top to bottom). "Invisible Monsters" by Chuck Palahniuk is one of the most enjoyable read I have had in years, and in my opinion, this is the best book he had written since Fight Club, but better in so many ways; it is twisted, playful, shockingly sad, and yet it ends on a positive note. "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami is the ultimate page turner; I've read it from cover to cover as soon as I got my own copy. A bittersweet story of love lost and love unrequited, it consumed me and transported me back to 60s Japan without ever letting me go. "The Catcher in the Rye" by JD Salinger is the best book in the whole wide world, and there is no need for a counter response to that.

In my opinion, this book by Elizabeth Wurtzel is the autobiographical equivalent of The Catcher in the Rye and Sylvia Plath's 'The Bell Jar'. Once you have read it, you would want to read it all over again. As a child of the 90s -- I was raised in the counterculture era AKA as the Grunge. The word "angst" entered our consciousness; during those years we saw a rise in pill poppers, depressives and suicidals. Prozac Nation is a time capsule that takes us back to the music of Kurt Cobain, only this time you have to read the life and experiences of a girl -- suffering from that proverbial "black hole" -- as she endures and faces her own demons and the badness that surrounds her.

I'm really not that big on self-help books, but "He's Just Not That Into You" by Greg Behrendt is a game changer. I bought this copy from NBS on a discount price. Though in a minted condition, the cover of the book is factory defected, but nevertheless, the substance inside is the one that really counts. I love how this book tells us about the brutal truth about dating -- directly from the male perspective -- and how it encourages us to find the one that "is into you". A must read! If you love "Sex and the City" you would love this. After all, the author was a consultant of the TV series.

Sweet Paris

Always a sucker for any pieces that features my 'City of Lights,' I come across this TVC by Lewis & Pearl today and fell in love more with my Paris -- as the beauty and charm of the city is exquisitely highlighted by the commercial. The cinematography for Sweet Paris TVC reminds me of Sofia Coppola's Miss Dior Cherie. However, never mind the resemblance, Paris is all that matters to me.

Cine Europa 15

The annual Cine Europa Film Festival -- held yearly at the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza mall, just started last September 5th  and is expected to close on the 16th. I am not a regular attendee of the said event, because it seems their screening schedule is always at loggerheads with my work or with my pocket. However, if I can indulge, at least one film for the entire festival, I would pick the September 12 date (Wednesday), which would feature the Swedish film "Everlasting Moments" at 1:00pm.

Here is the official poster for the Cine Europa 15:

For complete screening schedule, please visit http://www.thepoc.net/thepoc-features/sosyal/sosyal-news/16874-cine-europa-2012-screening-schedule.html

Girl with the Miniature Cinema

For months, I've been circling on ideas for the title of my blog. Not having any clue whatsoever, I settled on the words, "Chin at the Movies...and everything in between." I thought it was aptly put, since my intention besides posting anything cinema related -- is to write any topics under the bright sparkling sun -- that has caught my interest -- and that has given my monotonous life some color. However, every now and then, the idea of giving my blog its appropriate title hasn't veered off from my mind. I feel that as long as my blog doesn't have its proper name then, I would forever be devoid of calling it "my cyber home".

The banner for the "Chin at the Movies & Everything in Between"

However, a literary encounter from my favorite TV series -- Mad Men, change the trajectory of this blog. It help me decide, that henceforth, "Chin at the Movies" is no more, and that now there would only be the "Girl with a Miniature Cinema." Borrowing its name from the short story "The Man with the Miniature Orchestra" from Mad Men season 5 episode 5 -- Signal 30. The story was written by Dave Algonquin, the pseudonym of SCDP account executive, Ken Cosgrove.

Well, I'm not one to explain the reasons at best, why I picked the title from the rest. So I guess, I would let the story speak for itself:

“There were phrases of Beethoven’s 9th symphony that still made Coe cry. He always thought it had to do with the circumstances of the composition itself. He imagined Beethoven, deaf and soul-sick, his heart broken, scribbling furiously while Death stood in the doorway, clipping his nails. Still, Coe thought, it might have been living in the country that was making him cry; it was killing him with its silence and loneliness, making everything ordinary too beautiful to bear.” 

Sole Mates

I do not consider myself a shoe horse, but I love a spectacularly one-of-a-kind, not-your-everyday footwear whenever I see one. I used to have a thing for Chuck's and Vans, before its revival in the early 2000, and well before my cousins from Milan started to be crazy about them. Then came my penchant for espadrilles, especially the ones that were made from Liliw, Laguna. I was over the moon for them last year, until...my attention shifted to Oxford shoes. It all started early this year because of my fascination for Jazz, the 1920s and 30s,  the glorious fashion of the silent motion picture"The Artist". My mind was all wrapped up in those tap dance shoes that I am dead set to buy my own pair as soon as I saw one. Luckily, I bought my first kicks last May.

My first Oxford's from Rusty Lopez.  

Aiming to buy two of these Oxford shoes
(at the front row) from Primadonna Philippines.
Expensive, though!

A pair of Oxford from Cole Haan

Cole Haan New York
is probably the best brand
around to shop for your Oxford'

90210 star Shenae Grimes debuts her new
Cole Haan digs in her official website.