Tuesday, October 9, 2007

xxxHolic Review

I really have enjoyed watching xxxHolic. I haven't finished watching the series yet but I could say that it is a work of art. The graphics are excellent and the music is perfect. The combination of the two portrays a perfect world of magic and real life. CLAMP, the producer of the said anime, is really amazing. It really makes you think and your imagination can just run wild.

And who ever said animè isn't educational? Well xxxHolic can prove you wrong. It showcases the rich culture of Japan by embedding in the plot the different legends and myths in Japan. The way of life of Japanese people are shown and their different food, dresses, and customs are shown. It really amazes me how Japan can be so high-tech but they still are able to preserve their own identity, culture, and history.

Also xxxHolic is a perfect place to study philosophy and humanity as it exposes some morals and truths of what truly is being a human being. I will share some learning that I have derived in some of my other posts.

Totally amazing! I really love xxxHOLIC and I am quite inspired when I watch each episode that is full of wisdom and zest.

I rate it with a perfect five out of five! Why don’t you guys watch it and see for yourselves what I’m talking about.

Plot

The series' protagonist, Kimihiro Watanuki, is a high school student who is continually plagued by supernatural monsters (youkai) and spirits which are magically attracted to him. The creatures are invisible to all but him, and as a result he feels extremely burdened by them. When he quite literally stumbles into a shop that grants wishes, his life changes drastically.

Within the shop is the seductively beautiful Yūko Ichihara, a witch of many names and esoteric renown. The seemingly all-knowing witch soon gets down to business: she offers to grant Watanuki's wish to be rid of his ability to see spirits. However, a price equal to the power required to grant the wish must be paid. Yūko discovers that Watanuki is very skilled with his hands and a hard worker. As a result, Watanuki soon finds himself forced to perform housework and odd jobs for Yūko until he has done enough work for his wish to be granted.

Shortly afterwards, other characters become involved with Watanuki's position, including his love interest, Himawari Kunogi, and his "rival", Shizuka Dōmeki. The three become increasingly "friendlier", despite the amount of times Watanuki gets annoyed with Dōmeki's unflappable attitude.

Another recurring theme in the manga storyline is that Watanuki's growth and change will be because of his experiences of meeting one person. Yūko, according to a fortune teller in Volume 2, is the one that will change Watanuki. However, it's implied that he will be linked to both Yūko and Dōmeki and that all their connections were foreseen.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

High School Musical 2 Phenomenon

Again Disney has made it big time with the big success of their sequel, High School Musical 2. Even it’s album was a great success reportedly “outselling Justin Timberlake and Beyonce and Rascal Flatts and everything else.” If you don't know what High School Musical is then I'm sorry to tell you that you really need serious updating with the happenings of the world.

I really enjoyed the movie and is definitely a show for the whole family because Troy and Gabriela did not even have a single kissing scene. The songs are better and the certain twists in the story are quite good. But I have to say that I liked Sharpay’s version of “You are the Music in Me” better than the one of Troy and Gabriela.

This movie is a great recommend to all of the people out there! A 5 out of 5 stars! Why? Just watch the damn movie to see how this Disney Original became such a phenomenon! If you missed High School Musical 1 & 2 then you should really watch the coming High School Musical 3!


Here’s the plot:

The summer brings jolly excitement to the East High Wildcats as they go over their plans for their break from school with the song "What Time Is It?". Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) stresses over getting a job with the price of college looming on his mind, as well as trying to make sure he and Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) are able to stay together all summer. Sharpay and Ryan Evans (Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel) plan on spending the summer at their family's country club, Lava Springs ("Fabulous"). However, Sharpay's summer plan also includes separating Troy and Gabriella by getting Troy hired at Lava Springs. What Sharpay does not plan on is Troy talking the club's manager, Mr. Fulton (Mark L. Taylor), into hiring the rest of the Wildcats, including Gabriella and her best friend Taylor (Monique Coleman), and Troy's best friend Chad (Corbin Bleu). Fulton is unable to fire the Wildcats at Sharpay's command, since her mother (Jessica Tuck) approved their hiring, so she orders him to make them want to quit. Troy offers to help his friends working in the kitchen and convinces them that they can work their hardships out, in the song, "Work This Out".

Sharpay schemes harder than ever to make the Wildcats miserable, and win Troy, who has to choose between two worlds: his own with the Wildcats and Gabriella, or another where Sharpay's family can offer him a way to college and other luxuries he has only dreamed about. Kelsi writes a duet for Troy and Gabriella, but Sharpay steals the duet from the two of them and forces Troy to sing it with her, holding his future over his head. As Troy grows further away from Gabriella, Ryan is pushed further away from Sharpay. Taylor and Gabriella even invite Ryan to the baseball game, and Chad offers him Troy's place in the game. Troy and Gabriella's relationship is strained to the breaking point, as well as Troy's friendship with Chad.


When Sharpay finally crosses the line by banning the Wildcats from performing in Lava Springs' annual Star Dazzle Talent Show, even though Ryan has been working with the group to put together a performance, Gabriella confronts Sharpay. She makes it clear that she refuses to play Sharpay's "game", and quits her job at Lava Springs. Troy overhears the exchange and tries to convince Gabriella to change her mind. However, all she can think of is how much Troy has changed over the summer, and breaks up with him. She returns the necklace that Troy presented to her at the beginning of their relationship.

Gabriella's quitting causes Troy to see the person he has become and realize everything he has sacrificed. Finally when Gabriella breaks up with him he realises the mistakes he made and the people he hurt, especially Gabriella and Chad. His relationship with Gabriella was just blossoming and he blew it. As he sets out to make everything right again, Ryan gets help from the Wildcats to conspire to get Troy and Gabriella back together. They convince Troy to sing with Sharpay in the talent show - even though he'd quit citing her ban on junior staffers' participation in the show - which he does only under the condition that the Wildcats are allowed to perform as well. Sharpay relents, and the Wildcats put their plan into motion, finally getting Troy and Gabriella back together as they sing a duet together. Troy begins to sing and then he hears Gabriella's voice and looks around, surprised. She finally emerges from the back of the crowd behind the Wildcats. After the talent show, Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Zeke, Jason, Kelsi, Chad, Taylor, Martha, and Ryan all head out onto the golf course to enjoy the fireworks. Troy and Gabriella finally share their first kiss then Gabbriella pulls him closer then they hug, and the summer ends with a staff pool party and the Wildcats' celebration of a great summer together. Gabriella and Troy jump into the pool together. They swim for hours until then.

Realizations

As they say, “Man is an empty shell filled only with endless wants and desires…:

Actually, that’s just my saying. But my point is how do you differentiate the things you need from the things you want? Or better yet, the people you need and the people you desire?

Let us define the terms shall we?

need (nēd)
n.
1. A condition or situation in which something is required or wanted: crops in need of water; a need for affection.
2. Something required or wanted; a requisite: “Those of us who led the charge for these women's issues … shared a common vision in the needs of women” (Olympia Snowe).
3. Necessity; obligation: There is no need for you to go.
4. A condition of poverty or misfortune: The family is in dire need.

want (wŏnt, wônt)
n.
1. The condition or quality of lacking something usual or necessary: stayed home for want of anything better to do.
2. Pressing need; destitution: lives in want.
3. Something desired: a person of few wants and needs.
4. A defect of character; a fault.

Ok I am now more confused. But from my point of you need is something you can’t live without and want is something you can live without, such a simple definition don’t you think but it all fits.

There are things in my life that I want and there are things that I need. The problem is my wants is overpowering and overpowers my needs that I neglect and poorly prioritize things. I am quite aware that there are things and maybe even people perhaps that distract me from reaching my goals.

But again what are my goals? Ayayayay…. This is a complete dilemma.

But again you might ask what the connection is between wants and needs to priorities? Well, I see my needs as my priorities and my wants as complete nuisance.

My gosh… I really have to settle my priorities first before I turn to something I hate the most: a blood-sucking empty-headed dumb couch potato. Poor me…

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Singing Blunders

People don’t actually know this but I have this incredible talent for singing (well it’s the only talent I have aside from being sarcastic, if being sarcastic is a talent). I really love singing, I feel that I am able to express my self through singing. It’s just a shame that people don’t have taste and can’t appreciate how a great singer I am hahaha.

I actually have been able to sing in front of a big audience. My singing career all began when I was still a young boy and I already sang in front of everyone inside a huge gym. Well I was still lip synchronizing and I was half boy and half girl at that time, if you understand the concept of singing both the guy and girl part (doble cara people… you know 2 faced?!). It was for a talent portion of a pageant (see I was born for greatness hahaha, I won 6 trophies). I also sang at school but my great talent was suppressed when I was in high school. I sang for the choir in first year after passing the audition with my singing style. But it was frustrating when my second year music teacher couldn’t comprehend my great talent in singing and my wonderful voice.

So here we are the present… I did try to redeem my self in college, trying to sing whenever there is a chance. I sang in KC’s debut, during English class, and could you believe I even sang infront of the class during Chemistry? Try to make the connection between chemistry and singing.

But some of my performances were not as perfect as one would expect of a genius that I am (hehehe). I am not proud to say but I did have several blunders. And here they are:

  1. You think Christian Bautista was outrageously funny for forgetting the lines of the national anthem, well I forgot the lines of my school’s Xavier Hymn during 2 auditions… but come to think of it, why the hell did I sing the school song in an audition? What was I thinking?! I actually didn’t know if I got in or not hehehe… I lost interest in it. Plus I didn’t have the time.
  2. I sang infront of 100 people in class the “My toes, my knees, my shoulder, my head” song… such shame…
  3. I sang “Above All” in the community… You think I was emoting during the said prayer song… but the truth is I forgot the lines… major shame.
  4. Another stupid song that I sang in the community: “May pato kong patuka-tuka, pakiwi-kiwi, pakuway-kuway…” with the matching actions people!!! Gosh why do I bring shame unto myself…
  5. Did you know that I joined Pinoy Pop Superstar?! You ask why you didn’t see me on TV during the auditions? Well the truth is, I went to SM for the auditions but realized while waiting in line that my classy talent is unfit to be seen in that circus (hehehe).

I wonder if singing is really for me. People say that I have a nice voice and said I’m good in singing but wooh, things have been discouraging hehehe.

Maybe I’ll just concentrate on my second talent… being sarcastic? Nope. Acting… hehehe.