August 2006

The Dark Knight
Thu, 03 Aug 2006 05:14:00 GMT

With the tentative title The Dark Knight, pre-production for the sixth Hollywood Batman film has started.  Heath Ledger accepted the role of the Joker, and talks are going around that Philip Seymour Hoffman is being offered the coat of Penguin.  If ever that piece of news is true, I hope Oscar best actor Hoffman accepts the role; definitely he can par Danny DeVito’s performance as the disturbed sewer genius in Batman Returns.  If ever he does accept, it can be the start of his stereotype as an effective villain (after Mission Impossible 3), and Batman will be faced with two acclaimed actors from last year’s famous gay films (Hoffman for Capote, Ledger for Brokeback Mountain).  But for now, consider this Hoffman news as plain scuttlebutt (which we all hope to be true).  As for Heath Ledger, I’m just crossing my fingers he’ll give justice to Batman’s most popular nemesis.  Batman fans including myself were surprised with the decision, and a lot would actually prefer Paul Bettany, Adrien Brody, Jude Law, or Hugo Weaving to play Joker.  I personally think Heath Ledger is too serious an actor to be joking around with white powder all over his face.  We’ll see.

   
The last laugh: will Heath Ledger do a better Joker than Jack Nicholson?

   
Pray that Philip Seymour Hoffman accepts the Penguin role.

I just feel bad for Tim Burton, since the villains he used in his Batman films are recycled, and could probably erase his legacy in the Batman franchise.  I still love Tim Burton’s style, and I think Chris Nolan’s noir touch is just incomparable to Burton’s gothic treatment.  Each is simply a master in his own field.

But then, summer 2008 is still eons away.  For now, I’m hoping to catch the comedy musical The Producers in Glorietta this weekend.  Or give in to the invitation to watch Sukob again.  Hahahaha!

Good day everyone!
 

Up Dharma Down at Magnet Cafe
Fri, 11 Aug 2006 06:16:00 GMT

Up Dharma Down at mag:net cafe in Katipunan

For the past week their album was the only music I listen to at work (okay, sometimes I squeeze in Ne-Yo’s Sexy Love in my playlist).  The music of Up Dharma Down has such a unique jazzy and alternative sound, which is unusual in the OPM arena.  Their songs may be of pain and sadness, but the theme of their songs add emotions to the music.  After an accidental glimpse in one of their mall tours and their gig in mag:net cafe last August 8, I’m hoping to catch them again in the MTV Pilipinas Awards.  Their opening act in mag:net cafe was Paramita, a really cool trio with bitter yet edgy music.

Happy weekend everyone!

A Silent German Film with Radioactive Sago
Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:51:00 GMT

  
Caligari and Radioactive Sago Project: a marriage made in creepy heaven

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari/1920).  Prior to the films sponsored by the Geothe-Institut, my only exposure to silent films was the Charlie Chaplin movies my parents used to watch during the Betamax days.  And I should say the opening movie of the 3rd German Silent Film Festival was my first ever encounter to a live band performing the musical score of a silent film.  And what a great cinematic experience it truly was!  (not to mention that I was star struck seeing the great Jessica Zafra inside the cinema!)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari follows the story of murders in a village that may or may not be related to a mad scientist’s passion to somnambulism.  The slow percussions and jazzy sound of Radioactive Sago Project were perfect for the film; the tempo and mood complemented the theme and storytelling.  I very much agree to what Bert Sulat Jr wrote, that “The combination of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Radioactive Sago Project is a marriage made in creepy heaven.”  And a very well attended wedding at that!

Now I can’t wait to get a copy of Nosferatu, hailed as one of the best expressionist films alongside Caligari.  And of course, I can’t wait to watch the rest of the silent films, especially that Cynthia Alexander will be performing in one of the films.  I’m just glad I live in Metro Manila – a haven for affordable and accessible culture.

(Digression: last Monday, I got to watch the MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards in VIP seats.  Great to see INXS and Mig Ayesa up close.  The performances of Urbandub and Up Dharma Down really rocked the PAGCOR Theatre.  And Dicta License’s tribute medley to Francis M was the night’s highlight, which was later joined by Francis himself, the year’s lifetime awardee.  Thanks to Skeeter for the tickets!  Again, talk about accessible culture in the metropolis.)

The German Silent Film Festival runs in Greenbelt every Tuesday.

Last Grand Slam of Andre Agassi
Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:56:00 GMT

 

The first round of the final grand slam of the greatest player in the history of tennis was mind-blowing.  During the second set I feared that Andre Agassi would leave the US Open so soon because of the tight score.  Even though I was only tracking the real-time scores online (at work, hehe), I still felt the intensity and pressure of the game.  Romanian Andrei Pavel won the first set with a 6/7 score, and Agassi had a hard time winning the 2nd set, finishing after 66 minutes.  I actually thought it would be a breeze for my man since our namesake is also more than 30 years old, whose career high was only at the 2002 French Open when he reached the quarterfinals.  It seems like the other Andrei was also prepared, since Agassi’s win in the 3rd set was no ease either, with only six minutes short of the 2nd set, and having an identical score to the previous set, 7/6.  Good thing Agassi got the fourth set after only 31 minutes, and is now assured of at least two games in his farewell grand slam in New York.
 
Sadly however, Andre is unseeded after frustrating performances in the pre-open tourneys, so definitely he’ll be facing strong opponents in early matches.  On the second round he’ll be matched with the young Baghdatis (who almost toppled Federer early this year in Sydney), and as early as 4th round he might be facing America’s comeback player Andy Roddick (fresh from a new tourney win and a new coach).  It’s actually a tough season to be Andre’s last, and his exit might not be as fairy-tale as Pete’s final show.  But then, Agassi’s credentials are already beyond fairy-tale standards, and any form of exit is definitely a happy ending.

I look like a Malaysian F1 driver, haha!
Thu, 31 Aug 2006 02:54:00 GMT