The Silver Bullet and the case of selective amnesia

I had the good fortune of watching the movie adaptation of Stephen King's The Silver Bullet a couple of nights ago.  It's been a while since I first watched this film; in fact I was still in high school back then!  But I consider this as one of my favourite films so I was truly delighted to be able to watch this again after so many years.

I think that one of the more memorable parts of the film is the main character's wheelchair.  Marty (played by Corey Haim)  owns this souped up wheelchair that runs like a motorbike.  Motorised wheelchairs are a rate sight in my hometown back in the Philippines so I think this is why this image stuck.  I also remember the main plot (and who the killer was!), the scene at the abandoned bridge, the fireworks, and the action-packed ending.  How the story unravels itself is the hazy part.

As the movie progressed, I was mildly surprised at how much of the film I forgot (considering it's one of my favourites!).  I do not remember it being as blood-and-gore graphic as it was.  Selective amnesia?  It was like my mind decided to keep the parts which involved road chases and explosions.  Not sure where the bloody bits went off to.  It may very well be likely that I had my hands clasped tightly over my eyes at those times!

But what an enjoyable trip to memory lane it was!  I felt the same sense of wonder when Marty got his new 'motorbike' (aptly named the Silver Bullet), and elation when the killer was discovered.  It's good old storytelling without the CGI.  Admittedly, I've never read the book from which this movie was based on, but when I hear the name 'Stephen King' it's this movie that always comes to mind.

If you like watching werewolf movies, this one is an easy pick and fun to watch (not too serious with itself, and who doesn't love an 80s flick?!)  And the effects are not too shabby.

Now, to get my hands on another Stephen King movie adaptation, 'Christine'...

(image credit: movie poster from dvdactive.com, Marty on the Silver Bullet from disabilitymovies.com)

Eighties songs that are not from the '80s

I adminit, I'm hopelessly stuck in the 80s.  I am so notoriously known for this that my friend would turn up the radio on the way to work in Manila on Fridays as one radio station plays 80s songs all day, and then he would ask me the title and artist of each song (I get most of it right!).  Here in Wellington, my friends also know this particular quirk of mine, but they do not mind listening (and singing!) to 80s songs while at our home.

But once in a while a song catches my ear that exudes an 80s vibe.  And I stop, and say, 'I've got to have that.'  I've bought a number of music CDs for that purpose, and I have amassed quite a number of CDs.  I left most of them back in the Philippines and I sorely miss them, but I plan to get all of these back.  There's something about the rhythm and tone of songs that take us back to a familiar time, and to me these are quite special in that way.

Here is a number of songs I would like to share with you.  Thank goodness for YouTube and its treasure trove of music videos!  8 songs that's not from the 80s, but sound like the 80s to enjoy!

Title: This used to be the future
Artist: Pet Shop Boys
Album: Yes
Released: 2009


Not surprisingly, the Pet Shop Boys are still making great music long after the '80s.  I own a number of their albums and listened to 'Suburbia', 'What have I done to deserve this', and loads more of their songs... even the b-sides!  'This used to be the future' is my favourite song from 'Yes'.

Empire Movie Magazine's 100 Issue Special

I rarely write about magazines I read, but I had so much fun reading this that I had to share it with you. The Empire Magazine's July 2009 100 Issue Special - the biggest issue ever - contained a host of articles that I loved.

First off is the Goonies Special. You know, the 80s movie about a bunch of kids who called themselves the Goonies? Well, that movie is now 24 years old! Imagine that. I can still remember when it was being shown in Baguio City's Session Theater in the Philippines. A huge speaker system was set-up outside the cinema and it played Cyndi Lauper's "Goonies 'R' Good Enough". Actually, I was able to watch the movie years later through VHS but it was indeed a fun and very memorable film! And it was great reading up on what the cast was up to and get into the conversation they had at the reunion.

And then there was the Empire 100th issue Portfolio: photos of big name stars doing a pose based on a film they had become connected with. There was John Hopkins and Jodie Foster for Silence of the Lambs, Sam Neill for Jurassic Park, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint for Harry Potter, and Laurence Fishburne for The Matrix, to name a few. Hey, how come there's no Star Wars?

There is a timeline of Empire covers, though, and quite a number were Star Wars covers!

It was also great seeing Zoolander do his famous Blue Steel look! That was in 2001, a memorable movie because my wife was having Jo-Lo then and we loved watching this movie over and over.

And then there was this countdown for 100 Things that Rocked Empire's World. That was awesome!

There's also an article on The Shining which my wife was able to watch recently on TV (and I was not able to watch from the start so I didn't finish it, so now I regret that), and there's a Terminator article...

Did I mention it's chock full of interesting stuff? Grab a copy... buy it, borrow it, read it. Awesome work.

Watch The Goonies Anniversary Reunion on YouTube!

More than meets the eye

My thirst for Transformers merchandize has been satisfied recently, thanks to Dessagirl's Dakki business. I was just dropping by her cubicle a couple of days back when I saw the Dakki catalog on her table with "Transformers" boldly written on the cover. Mesmerized, I flipped it open and before I knew it, I had already placed my order for two shirts and a pillow for Jo-Lo. I notified a colleague who simply loves Transformers and not surprisingly, he placed orders for himself and his kids too. Our orders arrived this morning. Yipee!

Hmmm... I'll wear this Autobot shirt when I feel good, and the Decepticon shirt when I feel bad... some more colleagues ran off to Dessagirl to order when they saw the shirt. hehe

Men and their toys. hehe

The last time I have seen creative interest on a movie displayed so widely was Star Wars. And now here's Transformers of the 80s generation with the movie bringing it to new audiences.

I have seen at least 4 forwarded e-mail messages with a Transformers theme to it. Here are some of them:

This is supposed to be an animated gif. Try downloading the image and see if it works on your viewer.

Another e-mail was about a jeepney transforming into Bumblejeep! Still another is about a list of transforming actors and actresses. Here's a snapshot:

Want the e-mail in its entirety? Give me your address and I'll forward it to you. :-)

Oh yes, about the movie. To tell you frankly, I was a bit disappointed with it. Anticipation ran high, and we watched it on its first day of screening. I was expecting the storyline to be somewhat aligned with the cartoons, which will appeal to the 80s generation who knew the Transformers that way. But it turned out to be totally different. The storyline, the characters, they way they looked, etc.

I had a second opportunity to watch it again when we had an event with a film showing at the end of the seminar. Between entertaining the customers and dozing off at the lobby, I managed to watch the action scenes and at that time I began to appreciate the movie. It was actually cool when they had the battle scene in the city. So if somebody will treat me to the movie, I'll watch it again and perhaps gain a better appreciation of it. So who's treat is it?

The toys, though, which features the original transformers line, is now at 30% off! Hmmm... I just need to save a little in my next salary for that Bumblebee....

Transformers the Movie 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD Review

The movie poster

How I came to own this Special Edition DVD is one of life's pleasant surprises. A Marketing firm from the US came across my blog and wrote me asking if I would be interested in doing a review of the 20th Anniversary Transformers DVD. Do I ever! So a DVD was sent over to me. [Actually, I nearly failed to receive a copy because one was sent to me last year (2006 was the 20th anniversary) but not having received their package after about 3 months, they decided to send me another. Whew! Post office people... where's the first DVD!?!]

Anyways, that weekend I watched the movie in both widescreen and full screen versions including the special feature where snippets of trivia are displayed while the movie is playing (called easter eggs). And then I watched the bonus features. Is it obvious that I was hyped when I got hold of the DVD? I hope not. haha.

First off, the packaging is cool. The front design was a "holographic" (I don't know how to call it) photo. View it from an angle and you see Optimus Prime and allies; from another angle you see Rodimus Prime and friends. See the difference between the cover below and the one at the left? The cover is actually a small poster you can display anwhere else. Nice bonus item.

It is essentially, a representation of what the movie is all about: a transition from Gen 1 to the new characters.

The restoration done on the movie is awesome. The colors are brilliant, the picture sharp. It's like seeing the movie in a new light, versus the VHS copy (which I have, but I suspect molds have gotten to it already). The death of Optimus Prime is still as heartbreaking today as it was when my younger self first saw this movie.

“…one day, an Autobot shall rise from our ranks, and use the power of the matrix to light our darkest hour.” - Optimus Prime

It was Transformers that broke the unwritten rule that nobody dies in American cartoons. Or is it a reflection of its Japanese heritage, where death is not uncommon in anime? At any rate, its effect on the 80s generation is recounted a number of times in this DVD. Many kids cried in the cinemas, others left without finishing the movie, the publisher got a barrage of complaints and letters of outrage from kids and parents alike. It was indeed a very daring move for the famous Transformers series at that time.

I learned later on in the bonus section that this public reaction affected the way the G.I. Joe movie ended, where a leading character was also supposed to die.

Speaking of the bonus section... it's a treasure trove for Transformers enthusiasts on facts, interview, and fun trivia. It was, for example, interesting t0 learn that Mr. Orson Welles (the voice behind Unicron) died a few months after he lent his voice to the movie. His role as a planet-eating planet was ultimately going to be his last role for the movies before moving on. Another interesting trivia I learned was that G.I. Joe and Transformers, two of the high-ranking cartoons at that time, shared talents. For example, StarScream and Cobra Commander of G.I. Joe had the same voice actor. An episode aired only in Japan also showed a transition of sorts from the TV series to the movie, something that was never aired on American soil, but is now included in the DVD.

Lots, lots more to discover in the bonus section, including toy commercials and TV spots for the movie.

The advertisements for the toys really brought back a lot of childhood memories. Saturday Fun Machine would not be complete without the American kids playing with these action figures and it would make you really, really want to own one.

Overall, the Transformers 20th Anniversary DVD is a must-have for Transformers enthusiasts, for people from the 80s, for toy collectors, for kids today who appreciate their cartoon history, for those who will watch the Michael Bay film starting today, for those who want to own a piece of animation history, for the kid at heart. It's one adventurous ride!



Get your DVD from Amazon.com
Movie poster photo credit: Soundtrack Collector

Transform, and roll out!

If you were a kid of the 80s, then you would know that the word "transformers" means a lot more than those metallic boxes that enable your 110v appliances to operate in our predominantly 220v environment. More than just a cartoon show (or anime, if you will), Transformers fueled the imagination of an entire generation.

Like many, I got hooked into Transformers mania. Though our family did not have the budget for the expensive merchandize, we managed to occasionally borrow action figures from friends, along with the catalog or box art that we would meticulously copy onto bond paper. We actually got so good at drawing these that we could draw them without the aid of the original material. We'd return these toys to their rightful owners, only to have them back again after a couple of days. These toys were really something. Most of them were of die-cast metal, and the details are outstanding (unlike today's plastic counterparts).

These toys were so influencial on me that I managed to buy some of these in the late 90s via eBay. They were indeed more expensive and have been elevated to collector's item status, but it was like regaining part of my happy history, and the cost didn't matter. I got, for example, Grimlock as my first purchase at a little over 100 US dollars, complete with box and manuals. I was able to add some more to my collection within a couple of years. Other priorities have since taken its course, but my cherished collection is still with me.

My humble collection

Last weekend, I was unaware that there was a Transformers event at EDSA Shangri-La until friend Emil SMSed me about it. I thought I would never be able to see the exhibit, but finally made it at 5:30PM.

The displays were incredible! Loads of toys in glass cases! There are indeed serious collectors out there! It was also heartening to learn that one of the artists for the Comics version of the Transformers is a Filipino, with some of his works displayed there. Argh, I forgot to take photos of the covers.

I frantically searched around for Emil and was in trying to call him when a guy cosplaying as Optimus Prime strode past. There he was with sidekick Bumblebee!

It was a really wistful moment, like I was back in the 80s, with the added touch of flat screen TVs showing the trailer of the upcoming movie, and new toy merchandize.

What?! No shirt for sale? And no discount on the toys? Oh well, at least the show was for free.

Songs that hug and tug

I was tagged by Lady Cess some time ago for 7 songs that "hug and tug" or, as I would interpret it, songs that have senti value to me. So here goes...

1. Eyes on Me. - Are you a gamer, particularly of the RPG genre? If so, you'd know this song by Faye Wong. It comes from the soundtrack of Final Fantasy VIII.

We were thinking of a song for our wedding back in 2002. We wanted it to be different. I remembered this song and played it to my wife. She liked it. I then asked one of our officemates to sing it in our wedding. We brought a CD for the background music, then discovered that the Church did not have a CD player! I couldn't signal to my officemate that it's ok if she couldn't sing it. But soon her lovely voice carried the familiar tune in accapela. It was beautiful.

2. Smoke Gets in your Eyes. - This one's a really old song. I'm a sucker for Steven Spielberg films, and I saw the movie "Always" with this song featured in one of the touching moments. Watch the movie! It's great. This song always remind me of that movie and the feeling of sadness that came with it.

3. Pretty in Pink. - a song from the 80s by The Psychedelic Furs. I can't understand the lyrics so when I sing with it, I mumble whatever phrases and syllables that sound like it. Hah!

I love the movie with the same title too by Director John Hughes. In fact, Princess Em even bought me a DVD copy from the States! Her pasalubong to me. Thanks again Em!

4. If You Leave - by the Orchestral Maneouvres in the Dark, or OMD. Another 80s great. I love the violins interspersed with the drums and guitars. Whenever I hear this song, I get transported back to the time when I was in my teens and we were watching Pretty in Pink at my friend's living room. They were well-off and had a VHS player. "If you leave" was playing in the scene where the prom was starting and an overhead sweep of the dance floor was being shown. The song and the scene blended so well that you knew something important was going to happen soon.

5. Why Don't you Care. - Do you know the original Bagets movie? This song was performed by Harner. In the early 90s, I scoured music stores and record bars for the Baget soundtrack in order to get this particular song. It was so catchy I couldn't get it out of my head. And then a DVD was released last year. I got to hear the song again and then I knew I had to have a copy of that song. There was the internet this time. I was able to contact somebody who was willing to sell me a copy. I now have this song on my playlist! After more than ten years!

May I add an extra song? Farewell by Raymond Lauchengco. Graduation song from our high school!

6. Bato sa Buhangin. - If you know this song, then we must be from the same generation. Hahaha. Actually I can only remember snippets of this song now, but there was a time when I knew this song by heart. I was in Grade 2 then and we were to sing in front of the class as a graded performance. I sang this song. After my performance, the teacher said, "Please choose another song next time. You don't know yet the meaning of this song".
Perhaps the song reminded my teacher of her ex-boyfriend? hehehe

There are a lot of things I have already forgotten that happened in my youth, but this one stuck. And I don't know why.

7. Someone's Waiting for You. - This was sung by Lea Salonga, one of my favorite artists. I knew this song by heart when I was a kid, and it accompanied me in my times of solitude. I was a bit of a loner then. Here's the lyrics to this wonderful song.

Be brave little one
Make a wish for each sad little tear
Hold your head up though no one is near
Someone's waiting for you

Don't cry little one
There'll be a smile where a frown used to be
You'll be part of a love that you see
Someone's waiting for you

Refrain:
Always keep a little pray'r in your pocket
And you're sure to see the light
Soon, there'll be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright
Have faith little one
'Til your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave little one
Someone's waiting to love you

Always keep a little pray'r in your pocket
And you're sure to see the light
Soon, there'll be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright
Have faith little one
'Til your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave little one
Someone's waiting to love you

***
Oh yeah, I'm supposed to tag somebody else. I have to run off to a meeting right now, so if you fancy doing the tag, please do so.
Happy weekend, everyone!

Walking on Sunshine

Raymond Lauchengco's concert was a night of surprises.

When we entered Teatrino, we didn't expect it to be laid-out like a cozy restaurant. We got seated very near the stage, and a waiter promptly handed over the menu. Having had dinner only moments before, we simply ordered for drinks.

While chatting the time away, a pretty lady hovered around and talked with the guests. "That must be Mia, Raymond's wife", Tina casually said. Yes, we are now on a first-(name) basis with the celebrities.

A little while later she arrived at our table and her face lighted up with recognition. "Tina! Nick!", she exclaimed. Have I mentioned that we're first-name basis with celebrities? :-)

She knew us from the photos in my blog actually. My wife then handed over a basket of strawberries to Mia, who was truly gracious in receiving the pasalubong. Thanks Mia for the autographed poster too!

Soon enough the concert started with a brief announcement and the stage curtain was lifted. A 7-piece orchestra played broadway style and Raymond Lauchengco dashed into the stage!

Whoa. I was still half-expecting the voice I've heard from 20 years ago. Now, his voice is fuller, more mature, and with a broadway feel to it.

After a couple of songs, he did a medley of tunes he was identified with through the years which include Shadow of Time (which I haven't heard for so many years and then I recalled it just then), So It's You, Farewell (very popular with graduation rites).

Raymond then mentioned that we has cutting a new album which was hopefully going to be released real soon, and that he will be singing some songs from that album. Well, I'm not really a fan of sneak peeks and would rather hear familiar tunes for the rest of the concert. But the songs he did were fun! I won't say what they were right now for you might want to watch his concert too. It'll be a nice surprise.

He also belted out a number of Broadway songs. Surprisingly, I was able to correlate too, though I'm not big on plays. He did the more popular ones anyway.

Overall it was definitely an enjoyable evening. Raymond even greeted us from the stage! That was an awkward moment for me; I don't like being the center of attention. But still, that was a nice surprise.

This part was real nice. A single spotlight was focused on the biggest mirror ball, spreading soft rays of light into the dimly-lit hall. I can't catch the effect with the camera, unfortunately. Still got lots to learn.

Two more shows on the running for this series. Visit www.raymondlauchengco.com for details.

Raymond Lauchengco's Classic Romance: Walking On Sunshine The Series

I got an SMS one afternoon from my wife last week. "Dear, I hope we can watch Raymond Lauchengco perform in a concert. I'm a big fan of his."

Raymond Lauchengco in a concert? Sure, I saw his music CD some time back with revivals of his 80s hits. But I did not know he was doing concerts recently. I'm sure my wife saw a schedule lineup with him in it.

"Check the schedules at http://raymondlauchengco.com," came another SMS.

Oooh... this is going to be a real nice change from the usual walks in the parks and restaurant dine-ins.

Raymond Lauchengco, I'm sure, is a familiar name to you. His rise to stardom started with the 80s movie Bagets. His singing career prospered simultaneously with his acting. Then he went off to pursue other interests.

Watching the Bagets DVD last year (released in celebration of the movie's 20th anniversary) and their interviews really brought a lot of happy memories of my high school. Yep, this concert will indeed be something I shall enjoy as well.

In case you're interested, here's the rest of the Series sched and contact information:
For ticket inquiries, contact TicketWorld at 891-9999 or Teatrino at 721-0635/721-6726. Or you can contact the show buyers for the night:
March 29 - 0917-5334206
April 12 - Creative Futures 374-4822
April 19 - EJ Pagalilauan (0919) 236-3355

Venue: Teatrino at the Promenade, Greenhills at 8:30 in the evening. Ticket prices begin at a very reasonable Php 500.

You may also contact the number indicated on the March 29 date for free ticket delivery for a minimum of 2k worth of tickets (selected areas only).

I'm buying tickets for the March 29 show for me and my wife. I hope I'll see some of you there!

[photo borrowed from raymondlauchengco.com]


In other news... I was looking around for a Bagets photo to display here when I came upon this news... the cast of Bagets 1 and 2 are planning a reunion movie and a soundtrack featuring today's bands! Both will definitely be worth watching out for! Read the news at the Manila Times Internet Edition. Photo at left borrowed from the same article.

The Breakfast Club: a movie review

First, a 500-peso update.

If there's one thing I learned this week, it's that I cannot stretch 500 pesos into a week. I barely have 30 pesos left in my pocket today. Oh well, I have to get funding from my coin bank and chase those who owe me. Salary day seems so far, far away ...

I think my wife hasn't been reading my blog lately ... I'd better alert her :-).

***

"They were five students with nothing in common, faced with spending a Saturday detention together in their high school library. At 7AM, they had nothing to do, but by 4PM, they had bared their souls to each other and become good friends. John Hughes, creator of the critically acclaimed Sixteen Candles, wrote, directed, and produced this hilarious and often touching comedy starring Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy. To the outside world they were simply the Jock, the Brain, the Criminal, the Princess and the Kook, but to each other, they would always be The Breakfast Club."

So runs the introduction to the story at the back of the CD. Don't check the current movie listings, for this one came from the jolly old 80s, 1984 to be exact. I have never watched this movie before so when I saw it last Friday while browsing through a video store, I simply had to buy it (along with Some Kind of Wonderful which a friend was looking for).

I wondered: why Breakfast Club? There was no scene of them having breakfast together (duh). They did have lunch though, each bag reflecting their lifestyle and character. The entire movie happens in the library on that fateful day where they all meet. Strangers at first with diverse family backgrounds, they display animosity towards each other. They question each other's beliefs and convictions.

Eight hours is quite a long time to just sit still. The professor monitoring them eventually found that he had his hands full with these rowdy students. But while in conflict, they stood for each other against this professor who was trying to catch who loosened the screw on the hallway door to his office, making it difficult to keep watch from his chair. Later on, they finally had an opportunity to sit down and share the reason for their detention and its even deeper cause. No cheesy dialogues. Just a batch of people looking for acceptance from their family, their friends, and questioning why they are who they are, and what if they meet each other in the corridors come Monday, will they still greet each other like friends? What will their other friends say about it? It surely hits the spot when it comes to stereotyping people based on how they dress, their family background, and the people they get along with.

I enjoyed watching this movie. No special effects, no guns blaring, no bombs going off. Just plain watching a bunch of kids spending detention and getting on with their lives. It was actually like sitting in detention with them too.

The movie even starts with the song "Dont you forget about me" by Simple Minds, taking me back to the fun 80s. There was even dancing, 80s style. What a treat!

Catch The Breakfast Club on HBO, or buy your copy (VCD format only, no DVD available) from your favorite video shop for only P100.00.

I remember yesterday, the world was so young ...

 


I was all smiles last night. Why? Because my wife and I bought something from our childhood: Wonder Woman!

Well, it's the VCD for Episodes 1 and 2 of the TV show actually. Readers from other countries might not be familiar with the VCD format; suffice to say that it's a precursor of the DVD.

When the opening song blared on the speakers and the cartoony stars splashed on the screen, I was transported back in time. It's one of the few shows we were able to watch in Channel 9 because it did not conflict with the Basketball schedule. The photo above was taken from here. Turn up your speaker volume if you want to hear one version of the show's theme song!

It's funny that I remember Wonder Woman having a sidekick (Wondergirl); I have such a poor memory that I only remember bits and pieces of things. I am also very poor at remembering names, so pasensya na po if ever I do forget yours when we meet. :-)

Anyways, ang ganda talaga ni Lynda Carter! She's really gorgeous, even with those exaggerately-huge spectacles on.

Watching Wonder Woman brought back memories of other things I was fond of when I was a kid. Eto po ang mga nami-miss ko:
1. Nintendo Game and Watch - yup, I grew up playing with this nifty electronic toy. Back when it was popular, you can rent one by the hour! We used to visit a house nearby, and they would have a tray with lots of Game n Watches. Simply pick out what you like and play the time away.
2. Dungeons and Dragons - the cartoon show. It was my introduction to the world of magic and RPG. Kasama na rin dito ang Macross.
3. Saturday Fun Machine - tambay sa bahay buong umaga ng Sabado sa harap ng TV!
4. Bioman and Kyodyne - tama ba yung spelling nung huli? I remember the latter because I was bedridden for quite some time and this show kept me company. They ate through a siphon that's attached to their stomach. Plus they have TV monitors showing their human faces when they get their mask off. Wierd huh?
5. Hiking - from our home near Burnham Park to Camp John Hay, Imelda Park (now Botanical Garden), Hyatt (now gone with the 1990 earthquake)... basta lakad kami ng lakad. I have grown so accustomed to walking that even today, I'd keep a steady pace and unknowingly outwalk my friends (maghintay ka naman!)
6. Torones - a small block of candy similar to Tootsie Roll that tastes like Peanut Butter. It was sooo popular in my high school days that we even had an unofficial Torones Club. Add to that the Haw Flakes, a sweet Chinese concoction that we shared a-la communion.
7. Just being in the 80's was one heck of a party!

Aaargh. I have to get out of this reverie. Trabaho muna! Back to work!