General

Transformers

Transformers is the movie version of the Transformers animated TV series. Like the TV series, it is about the battle between two opposing groups of ‘bots: The goodie goodie Autobots and the evil Decepticons. I’ve never been a fan of the TV series. So I’m sure I wasn’t able to completely appreciate this movie version. Still, I liked it well enough especially since the ‘bots were much more intricate and complex than their TV series version and the action much more frenetic. Yes, it is first and foremost an action movie and it provided a lot of action kicks. You can’t help but be thrilled as the ‘bots transformed, ducked, spun, and pummeled, and shot at each other. This was especially true during the climactic battle in the middle of the city. Buildings and rampaging ‘bots: always a great combination. And human military forces weren’t so bad either. Aside from the action, there was a little bit of comedy, romance, and drama thrown in for good measure. Good movie. Now can somebody please make something like this for Robotech?

Rating: 4/5

Crazy Love

by Poco
Verse 1
Fmaj7
 C                 Fmaj7
Tonight I'm gonna break away
G        Fmaj7    C
Just you wait and see.
                 Fmaj7
I'll never be imprisoned by
  G     Fmaj7 C
a faded memory.

Verse 2
                      Fmaj7
Just when I think I'm over her,
     G      Fmaj7      C
this broken heart will mend.
                     Fmaj7
I hear her name and I have to cry,
    G          Fmaj7  C
the tears come down again.

Chorus:
                   Fmaj7
It happens all the time.
     G          C
This crazy love of mine,
              Fmaj7
wraps around my heart
  G        C
refusing to unwind.
Fmaj7 G   Fmaj7  C
Ooo   Ooo Crazy Love
Fmaj7  G   Fmaj7  C
Ahh    ahh

Verse 3
Count the stars in a summer sky,
that fall without a sound.
And then pretend that you can't hear
these tear drops coming down.

Chorus

Verse 4:
Tonight I'm gonna break away
Just you wait and see
I'll never be imprisoned by
a faded memory.

Chorus
C                          Fmaj7 (strum sustain)
Tonight I'm gonna break away...

Heroes

I’ve been marathon watching Heroes. It was much more interesting than I expected. It’s basically about otherwise normal people manifesting powers. It’s a recurring theme used in stories like X-Men. But this one focuses on the ordinary lives of the characters as they interleave with the main plot line. One thing I really liked: The heroes don’t wear fancy hero costumes. Why would anyone want to wear colorful, tight-fitting clothes anyway?

At the rate I’m going, I should be done by the middle of next week. Looking forward to it.

Rating: 4/5

UPDATE: I’ve finally completed it. What can I say? The season ender was majorly anti-climactic. What a bummer!

Stair-climbing Record

I’ve been taking the stairs at the office intermittently since Aby brought to my attention this practical and inexpensive way to keep fit. I’ve been pushing myself harder partly to beat my own best time and partly to at least reach my officemate’s own best time which was way better than mine. Yesterday, I had all but given up on that second goal. But this morning, I was rewarded by a time of 1 minute and 36 seconds! To think I wasn’t even planning to take the stairs.

Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno)

I don’t know why I held off watching Pan’s Labyrinth for so long because now that I’ve seen it, I totally regret my procrastination. From the title you would guess that it is a fantasy or fairy tale. Like most fairy tales, it is enchanting. But this is no children’s fairy tale. It is about the quest of a little girl to return to the fairy world. Her story takes place against the backdrop of the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War when guerrillas were still continuing their resistance against the government. The main story and the backdrop are both compelling by themselves. Both are also quite dark, bloody, visceral, even disturbing. Even the ending, though partly happy, is also tragic. The whole is a well-made masterpiece. I love it.

Rating: 5/5