photo credit: http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com

I was ecstatic when I read that Sandra Bullock won the Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 82nd Academy Awards.  Her brilliant performance in the movie, “The Blind Side” has given her the best of years in her career.  The day before the Oscar’s night she claimed her trophé at the Razzie Awards as the Worst Best Actress for the movie, “All About Steve”.  It was hilarious when she came up with a cart of DVD copies of the film for those (in the audience) who haven’t watched it.  As for the Best and Worst awards she simply implied, “You can’t enjoy one without the other”. 

I knew it was Oscar’s night last Sunday but I didn’t watch it because the airtime was at 12 midnight.  Furthermore, I don’t follow this annual show diligently (every year) and I can’t remember anymore the last time I watched it.  But I was eager to know the winners this time because one of my favorite Hollywood stars, Sandra Bullock was nominated.  And I couldn’t be more delighted when she finally won her first Oscar statuette.  I should have watched the show.  She dazzled the night not only with her statuette but her gown and simple look were admiring, too.

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I just can’t let go believing that one of my favorite actors passed away a few days ago. Patrick Swayze was the most versatile actor I’ve had ever known in terms of dancing, singing and acting. The first film of him I saw was the Ghost which he starred with Demi Moore. Darn, I watched that movie twice when I was in college.  Although the Dirty Dancing was his breakthrough film with Jennifer Grey which was actually shown three years before the Ghost.  I don’t remember if the Dirty Dancing was shown in Davao, but I saw it on tv a few years back here.  It has become a classic film of all time and many would love to watch it over and over.  As a matter of fact, the said film was again shown here last Friday in memory of Patrick Swayze.  And I couldn’t help but watched it again.  I had mixed emotions in front of the tv because this time the actor was gone forever.  Hubby and I incidentally bought a dvd film of Rowan Atkinson titled Keeping Mum and Patrick played a golf trainer in the film.

The video above was one of the soundtrack of the film, Dirty Dancing, which he sang himself.  I happened to hear the song on the radio when I had my morning alarm set to radio instead of the usual toot-toot signal.  And a few days ago,  I heard the dj’s mentioned his name just when I gained consciousness back from deep slumber.  Then they played She’s Like The Wind.  I had no idea that Patrick Swayze died the day before.  It was only when I bloghopped and read Mr. Spiff mentioned the demise of the prominent actor after battling pancreatic cancer for more than a year.  So sad indeed.  He died young, but although he did, he had entertained us with his versatility and that’s enough memories to remember him forever.  May he rest in peace…

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“The Proposal” had it’s premiere showing here today but as usual, I did not go and watch it.  But I’ve read the critics’ positive review of the film, especially Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock’s chemistry and make this film the best rom-com movie this summer.  In the US alone, it reaped $34.1 million after it’s premiere on 19th June, thus topped as the weekend’s no.1 movie.  Reading this news just makes me more excited to watch the movie but I’m preoccupied with the things to be prepared and done for our vacation.  That’s it.

I wonder how the “make-believe” couple survived their love in the end.  And don’t you ever tell me because I’m going to watch the film myself.

Sandra Bullock’s films in my collections

I have 13 films of her in my dvd shelf and counting.

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I told hubby I wanted to see this movie with him since he also had read the book.  But it’s quite a problem for me cos he doesn’t like going to movies.  As a matter of fact, we haven’t gone to movie theatres together since time immemorial, hehee.  He’d rather wait for the film on dvd.  How can I persuade him to go with me.  I was thinking it would be my chance to watch a film at the VIP lounge of the three year-old movie theatre (Bergakungen).  I went to this theatre once with my friend but we took the ordinary lounge.  The VIP costs more than the usual lounge.  I heard that the lounge has it’s own bar where the guests can sit and enjoy some drinks and snacks an hour before the show.  And that one sits comfortably on a leather armchair inside the movie room or whatever it’s called.  Anyway, it’s fully-booked for today’s premiere.  I still have to convince hubby to come with me perhaps on the weekend.

Bergakungen theatre – the VIP lounge

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Michelle Obama on Vogue

Now that’s just something about my endearing passion for clothes.  What I really intend to write is about the First Lady of America being on the cover of Vogue.  She looks so simple yet adorable in the pic.  But not the clothes.  I think it’s too dark for her.  If it was a bit lighter, probably, it would reveal and blend her color beautifully. Though she said she loved fashion she’s not to blame for the color of this dress but her fashionista who dressed her up for this purpose. And read what she said about clothes and fashion. “I love clothes. First and foremost, I wear what I love. That’s what women have to focus on: what makes them happy and what makes them feel comfortable and beautiful. If I can have any impact, I want women to feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion.” I love these words and I should say that she is witty in all aspects.

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I know, I know that I’ve abandoned my blog these past few days. It’s just that I am organizing my time and tasks from home, study and work. In the meantime, I would like to introduce this baby hamster and let it entertain you with it’s first broccoli experience.

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After the musical show, it showed on the TV guide that The Last Samurai would follow right after.  I knew it was a Tom Cruise movie so I thought I would watch it although I am not into this kind of war and warrior movies.  It was a heck of a film, really.  A heavy, bloody film where bodies would fall on the ground lamed and tormented.  The swaying of the swords made me close my eyes to avoid seeing such grotesque scenes.  I could understand why the commentator warned about the film’s content before it was showed.

If I may relate the significant plot of the film, it is about a fearless warrior portrayed by Tom Cruise as Nathan employed by a young Japanese emperor to train his warriors to fight with modern facilities like guns and cannons and more.  The emperor was surrounded by selfish advisors who were hungry of trading for money with the westerners and their pursuit to modernize Japan and worse, who dictated him to eradicate the Samurai.  The Samurai on the other hand tried to uphold the gift of their forefathers being the Samurai and would want to continue serving the emperor and the nation.  Nathan trained the emperor’s men to fight the Samurai.  But how Nathan, instead, helped the Samurai to battle with the emperor’s men is a long story.

The battle made the film bloody but the story made it somehow sentimental.  I closed my eyes to skip seeing some scenes but I could not stop my tears from falling to some touching scenes.  The leader of the Samurai portrayed by Ken Watanabe was determined to uphold the existence of Samurai.  He died in the fight but with honor and pride.  The young emperor was strucked by the death of Katsunomu (Ken Watanabe) and stopped further negotiations for more trade and other interests with his advisors and the westerners.  The scene where Nathan turned over Katsunomu’s sword to the emperor really moved me.  When the emperor uttered this line, “We have the railroads, we have the telegraph lines, but we cannot forget where we come from”.  By this, he meant that although they’d succeeded to modernize Japan, they could not deny the fact that they were once like the Samurai with powerful convictions to preserve their own values and reasons for existence. 

To relate the film in our present time, the fact that we are living in a modern world, utilizing, even exploiting the modern conveniences around, it’s always worth looking back on the primitive forms of life.  The convictions and values that our ancestors handed down to us are worth the pride, should be recognized and preserved…    

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This Shoop-Shoop Song of Cher just comes into my mind all the time and I’m very glad to know that she’s occupying the Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas (replacing Celine Dion) very soon. Cher has been one of my favorite artists and I always admire her energy and glamour on stage. Her “Living Proof: The Farewell Tour” concert that ended in 2005 proved that she was indeed an enduring pop icon, the fact that she was in her mid 50’s at that time. She has released 25 albums during her reign as a recording artist. Aside from being a recording star, she also indulged herself into acting and won the Academy Awards for her role in the movie Moonstruck.

Cher’s concert at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas will debut on May 6, 2008 and initially run for a month. She will perform 4 shows per week. Cher tickets Las Vegas are now available for early birds who wouldn’t want to miss a concert like this. Who wouldn’t want to see this 61 year-old, award winning, performer on stage again. She is back and she is determined to give her fans the best concert experience ever!

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