REVIEW: Red

November 8, 2010February 2, 2015 / iamsupercarla / Leave a comment

It was almost uneventful if it weren’t for that sudden whim to watch a movie.

Dylan and I caught RED at Greenbelt 3. I wanted to take him to Power Plant Mall, but I didn’t want to push him, so we just went to our comfort zone that is Ayala Malls. :) We’ve been meaning to catch that movie for quite sometime now, and we finally got around to doing it.

RED stars Oscar winning actors in their, well… senior form. Bruce Willis, Frank Moses, plays an ex-CIA agent who is not really adjusting well to his retirement. He constantly flirts with this pension operator Sarah Ross, played by Mary Louise Parker, by tearing up his pension just to talk to her. Then one night, an elite group raided his house in attempts to kill him. I say attempts because in true Die Hard factor, Moses escapes unscathed and goes to Ross to rescue her.

Apparently, that’s how they do it. They kill everyone you’re close to.

Anyway, Moses rounds up his old gang, Joe Boggs (Morgan Freeman), a lunatic laced on LSD for years as part of a government conspiracy aimed at tracking his neurological functions Martin (John Malkovich), the Russian guy who seems to serve fantastic vodka Ivan (Brian Cox) and the foxy Victoria (Helen Mirren).

It was hilarious. Malkovich and his fantastic quips managed to whip new age action stars, scolding them and reminding them that action need not be serious. They can really use a cue if not more from these veteran actors.

Mirren is the sexiest woman on earth, holding a gun like it’s a cellular phone: casual and normal. Nuff said.

Too bad, Red is no longer showing in the theatres. Dylan and I managed to catch the last stretch of it last week, and well, for those who haven’t watched it, there’s always Pirate Bay. :)

Rate: 3.5 out of 5 stars

My admiration for Liz

November 3, 2010 / iamsupercarla / Leave a comment

It’s not a surprise. This brand has been a household name since its launch in 1976. So even when the world’s first woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company passed away in 2006, many clamored to make sure the brand stays.

Liz Claiborne. Ah. Nothing else would sound quite as exquisite. Liz Claiborne, a Belgian-born American designer started her own line of clothing when she became frustrated how clothing companies do not have outfits for working women. She founded Liz Claiborne Inc in 1976, earning $2 million in its first year. The brand was such a success that by 1978, its profits were $23 million.

I didn’t know this until I researched, but apparently, Liz Claiborne changed the way we shop. I know for men it doesn’t really matter because it’s a vain activity, but how Liz Claiborne marketed her products changed the way malls are designed now. She is the first designer to have insisted that her collection – clothing, handbags, shoes, purses and accessories – be put together on the department sales floor instead of separating them into clothing categories. Because of that innovation, we no longer have to find a shirt, then a pant, then shoes to coordinate an outfit. Liz Claiborne made sure we had everything we needed in one area.

Liz Claiborne retired from active management in 1989 and succumbed to a long fight with cancer in 2006. Her line is now exclusively distributed by JC Penney.

To some, this might sound like a blonde post – ditzy and vain. Early this morning, I purchased a Liz Claiborne Heritage wallet and I remember the first time I got a Liz Claiborne (thanks, Ate Mel). It’s so simple and chic and somehow it made me feel like I’m making a smart decision. The brand is such a statement, almost becoming a staple in every working woman’s closet. It’s amazing how a simple frustration did that.

And that department store idea? It’s so simple. I wish people who have such simple ideas that can possibly provide more comfort and ease in the way we live muster enough courage to speak out and suggest it, if not do it themselves. God knows we need simple ideas lately. The big ones just keep fucking us up.

So yeah. I’m hoping to win that bidding war on eBay for that Liz Claiborne patchwork satchel. May the spirit of Liz Claiborne guide my purchase. :)

Hat Me d:)

November 1, 2010 / iamsupercarla / Leave a comment

I seriously seriously seriously hope that looked like a smiley with a hat.

Anyway, growing out my hair proved to be quite challenging. I am beginning to think I cut it too many times this year, that it might be slightly offed by moi. It’s taking its time to grow and well, the awkward length is making me feel less than fab.

So the natural solution, apart from the trim, is a hat. And did I have fun trying on hats. :)

I don’t know what’s up with my hand. Hahahaha.

In the end, I didn’t get any hats. But I just might get a pair of shoes.

Note to self: visit the salon for some protein treatment. I believe that’s what my hair needs right now. And probably a hat. I better pick one soon because to be honest, cold weather isn’t much of a hat season.

Unless your hair is susceptible to frizz.

REVIEW: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

November 1, 2010November 1, 2010 / iamsupercarla / 1 Comment

Title: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Author: Stieg Larsson (+)
Setting: Sweden mostly
Major themes: Investigative journalism, women, violence, sexual assaults, thriller, family
No. of pages: 644
Completed in: 3 months

WARNING: This review may contain spoilers.

The novel kicks of with Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist of an independent publication Millennium, being sentenced to months in prison for libel against billionaire Swedish industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström. Professionally battered and disgraced, Blomkvist steps down as editor and publisher, and was soon contacted by Henrik Vanger to investigate on a cold case. He was soon joined by Lisbeth Salander, an elite hacker with psychological dependencies. Together they unravel the Vanger mystery and restore Blomkvist’s career to greater heights.

First and foremost, Blomkvist is not your typical hero. For one, he maintains an affair with his co-worker Erika Berger, married. It is that same affair that ruined his marriage. Then, of course, there’s the libel case. But Blomkvist has the human factor. It was not easy to warm up to him because his inquisitive mind can be irritating. He had too much questions that almost led to a dead end. In all honesty, I don’t think he could have gotten far without Salander.

Salander makes me imagine Carey Mulligan and all her bad assness. Her pathological need to constantly remain private and be all about the job reminds me of workaholics today, only she’s skinnier and better and of course more technologically equipped than most.

According to a couple of readings, Larsson witnessed a sexual assault when he was 15 and the victim was named Lisbeth. He did not come forward and has since written the Millennium trilogy as an homage to this woman.

There’s a lot of sex in this book and it’s not the kind you like. In reading those scenes, you’ll feel it was hardly pleasurable. Every assault scene was perfectly described and you can feel it for yourself – that you’ve been wronged and abused all in one ball. As the mystery unraveled, it became one of those novels you can’t put down. It was a very very good investment.

Just so you know, you can’t solve this mystery by yourself. It will be a difficult one. It doesn’t even have a Grisham twist to it. It has Larsson’s. It was so good, it made me buy the second installment right away.

Rate: 3.75 out of 5 stars

PS: It took me three months to finish because I was reading it in between classes and work. I will definitely read the second one faster.

Etiquette: Front or Back?

October 13, 2010 / iamsupercarla / Leave a comment

I know this will come off as a stupid question but it’s actually a pretty good one. I bet the answer you’ll give me is a well thought of answer, but the actual application? Haphazardly thought over. Hahahaha.

The Philippines have so many aisles and pews. We like lining them up. So the question is this:

When you pass by a group of people, do you give the front? Or the back?