Nick and Norah's Infiite Playlist

Happy to report that I am reading for fun again. For a time, I found myself unable to finish reading a book, which kinda worried me because it has never happened before, so I wasn't sure if there was something wrong with me or the book.

One of my recent buys is Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. It is a teen romance by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn so it's a light read. It reminded me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower but I like the latter more because I did not rush myself in reading it. Anyway, the book made me curious enough to download the movie. 

While the movie is classified as a romantic comedy-drama, it ain't no chick flick. The soundtrack is good, as expected, although I don't recognize most of the songs. I reckon teenagers will know the songs haha. The movie is not a faithful adaptation of the book, for in the book, it was Nick who asked Norah to pretend to be his girlfriend yet in the movie, it was Norah who did the asking. That kinda threw me off, because in real life, is a girl more likely to ask a stranger to pretend to be her boyfriend? A few twists were also added. Anyway, the most memorable lines in the book were also in the movie.

I think the movie captured New York as indeed the city that never sleeps, for the kids were running around during the after-hours and there was always some place that was open. It made me want to go to New York although I doubt it that at my age, I can still go bar-hopping in search of a punk band hehe.

 

The movie is good but I liked the book more. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever found a movie adaptation better than the book.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

... was the feature movie of Star Movies last Sunday night. It was not an action-packed apocalypse movie but a drama and comedy that felt like it could really happen. A 70-mile wide asteroid is on a collision course with the Earth in three weeks and chaos ensues. Steve Carell's wife leaves him thereafter while Keira Knightley broke up with her boyfriend for preventing her to see her family in England. They are neighbors and they form an unlikely relationship. Meanwhile, others cope by engaging in orgies and riots, taking drugs or hiring hitmen for suicide. Then there are doomsday preppers who stocked up on potato chips.

 

Source

The movie felt real to me since 2013 is the Year of the Comets.  And it got me thinking what I would do if I knew the world was ending. I don't think I can be a doomsday prepper, I'm a worrywart enough as it is, being a doomsday prepper would drive me crazy. Where should I spend my last hours? With my husband only or should we go to my family or his family? Which of my material stuff should I save if a riot breaks out? Keira saved some of her records, which shows how much of a romantic she is. Should I attempt to build or find a bomb shelter (in the Philippines? Ha!) or just go ahead of everyone else? Omg, the end of the world is really stressful.

Ang Nawawala

Hubby wanted to watch "Ang Nawawala" during its Cinemalaya run. Unfortunately, tickets got sold out pretty fast. Since then, we've been on the look-out for screenings. Luckily, the movie has been released on another limited run. At first, I thought we again missed the screening in SM North Edsa (the nearest to us among the few cinemas) because it only displayed times for September 12, and I saw it on September 12 (grrr). Hubby and I were planning to watch it in far-away SM Pampanga, buti na lang I checked again and SM North has extended the showing until this Sunday only.

Image from: www.interaksyon.com

We absolutely loved the movie! My music geek of a husband was very happy with the songs and sound quality. This movie definitely beats I Doo Bi Doo even if it is the indie one. I also realized that I am, unconsciously, definitely a hipster (I prefer "classic taste" though). 

This is the official synopsis:

         Gibson Bonifacio stopped speaking when he was a child. Now twenty years old, he returns home to Manila from his studies abroad, his first visit in three years. He finds his family trying to keep it together, his mother still hurting from a tragic loss in the past. Against the backdrop of the vibrant local music scene, his childhood best friend tries to reconnect with him, while he unexpectedly finds a chance at a first, real romantic relationship. Amidst the holidays, Gibson reconsiders and redefines his relationships with his family, his friends, and with himself.

Considering that he was not speaking most of the time, Dominic Roco (son of Bembol) who plays Gibson managed to convey happiness, sadness, wonder, hurt, and at times, anguish, with his wide eyes. Apart from the really cool music, I enjoyed the gamut of cameras (Gibson totes a Canon point-and-shoot with him at all times) littered all over Gibson's house. I won't say anything anymore because this is a movie that deserves to be seen rather than described. Please do watch it this week-end:

 

Image from: AngNawawala.com