Film | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Without a doubt, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the most overhyped movie of 2009. It was already being hyped months after the success of the first Transformers movie way back in 2007, then grew to epic proportions earlier this year as photos and info from the new film made their way to the Web and drooled upon by geeky fanboys.

So was the movie worth all this hype? My answer: No effing way. The first one was awesome, but this sequel can be best described in two words: "Wretched Excess." Too many robots, too many explosions, too many stupid characters, too many everything. And with a running time of almost 2.5 hours, this movie just doesn't know when to stop.

I also experienced a massive CGI overload while viewing this movie; there was too much metal moving around, most of the time I couldn't even tell what I was seeing onscreen--is it an Autobot? a Decepticon? scrap metal? Thank God for that extended sequence of Megan Fox running in slow motion with her boobs jiggling up and down--at least it somewhat broke the metal orgyfest, LOL

Lots of disappointing moments: my favorite Transformer, the Decepticon called Soundwave, was relegated to floating in space and caressing a US military satellite. Jetfire was turned into an old geezer complete with beard and walking stick--I didn't know that these robots could age, wtf?

After a slow build-up, Devastator just ended up looking like crap; I couldn't even tell where its head was--was it supposed to look like a dog? And why do all those small Transformers sound like Speedy Gonzales? Those Autobot "twins" were also annoying as hell, and speaking of annoying, every human character in the movie was annoying, which made me wish that the Autobots and Decepticons should just form an alliance and slaughter all the humans.

Despite all these, I'm pretty sure this sequel will earn at least 400 million dollars, mostly from the fanboys and insipid home theater enthusiasts who don't know shit about coherent plots and logcial storylines, and who only measure the awesomeness of a movie by the loudness of the explosions booming from their DTS speakers. It's an okay popcorn movie--but not so good, and not that great. I probably just expected too much from this sequel. I don't think I can stand repeated viewings though.

If anything else, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen made me love those Generation One Transformers from the 1980's animated series all the more; sure, they were clunky, but at least I could tell them apart, and they don't look like they came out from a trash compactor.

Cuisine | Cesca Wine Cafe

Cesca Wine Cafe is a fine dining place located at the ground floor of the Il Terrazzo Mall along Tomas Morato Ave. I've been seeing this place for quite some time now, but was reluctant to try it out since for me, anything with "Wine" in a restaurant name is synonymous with "expensive". Then again, there's also the word "Cafe" in it, and cafes are a favorite of mine. And when I saw some photos of their dishes displayed outside, they looked so appetizing that I knew I had to finally check out the place.

Cesca Wife Cafe's elegant interior

I brought my Mom there one Saturday night, and we both noticed at once how elegant the place looked--the furniture and table settings were luxurious, and my Mom couldn't help but admire the exquisite china ware being used. The entire restaurant seemed like it was plucked from some five-star hotel, and even though the place appeared small, it wasn't cramped and had an overall cozy ambiance.

We started dinner with a creamy baked pumpkin soup laced with sweet white wine and topped with basil foam. Now, I've eaten a lot of pumpkin soup in the past and was used to the bland orange-y goop that it usually resembled, so I was surprised to see that this soup didn't look like that at all, and even better, it was perhaps the best pumpkin soup that I've ever tasted. Definitely a winner.

Fillet of dory served with wasabi cream and asparagus tips

Seared boneless chicken laced with red wine and fresh rosemary sauce

Peaches and ice cream with marsala liquor cream

For the main course, my Mom had the fillet of dory served with wasabi cream and asparagus tips, while I chose the seared boneless chicken laced with red wine and fresh rosemary sauce. The fillet of dory was unbelievably smooth and creamy, and the fish practically melted in your mouth. The chicken tasted great as well, with generous heapings of the rosemary sauce. For dessert, I had peaches and ice cream served with a rich marsala sabayon; it was awesome, with just a hint of the liquor enhancing the sweetness, never overpowering.

Service at Cesca Wine Cafe was excellent, with the waiter/server recommending most of the dishes we ate, and dishes were promptly cleared away once we'd finished. The prices were just right, not that expensive at all, and everything contributed to one unforgettable dining experience. Their menu had lots of other good dishes that I wasn't able to try, so a return visit is a must.

Music | Michael Jackson - Rock With You

Yesterday's shocking news about Michael Jackson's death still seems surreal, but endless news coverage and nonstop music video tributes on MTV and Channel [V] during the past few hours brought home the sad fact that the King of Pop is truly gone.

I was never a devout Michael Jackson fan, but really liked his material from the Off The Wall/Thriller era. It's a pity that a music video for my favorite Michael Jackson song ever, Human Nature, was never made, so I'm just going to post my second favorite MJ song here, Rock With You, from his Off The Wall album.



I remember this song really well when it was released--the original album version was good, but the 7" single version released in the USA was truly awesome, because it was remixed to add claps and more instrumentation, and a mad scramble to acquire this single ensued. Good thing that the station I used to listed to at the time, 99.5 RT, played this remixed version frequently so it always remained fresh--ah, the memories...

Newer pressings of the Off The Wall album ditched the original version of Rock With You and replaced it with the remixed version, and it remains a true classic pop gem in music history.

I didn't like Michael Jackson's songs that much during his post-Thriller era, and the media became too focused on his bizarre personal life that his work became overshadowed by it, but his music lives on. Rest in peace, Michael.

Gizmos | Red Nintendo DSi

And the Nintendo DSi color parade goes on--at least in Japan, anyway. After 3 additional DSi colors were released last March, a new Red color for the currently best-selling handheld is scheduled to be out in Japan on July 11, 2009.With Black, White, Metallic Blue, Lime Green, Pink, and the Blue DSi available in the USA, plus this one, that makes the total number of available DSi colors 7 in all. Can't wait to see what's next...

Film | Drag Me To Hell

Seeking to impress her boss for a promotion to assistant manager, bank loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohan) turns down a mortgage extension for Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver), a terminally-ill old gyspy woman. Big mistake--as Mrs. Ganush places a curse on her that will send her to Hell in three days.

And that's the main premise of Drag Me To Hell, one of the more modest yet enjoyable films this summer. The first time I heard of this movie, I thought it was some B-grade softcore porn flick due to its cheesy title and even cheesier poster, heh. Only when I realized it was written and directed by Sam Raimi did I sit up and take notice.

Prior to his mainstream success as the director of the Spider-Man movies, Sam Raimi did the low-budget horror movie The Evil Dead, which eventually became a cult classic and spawned 2 sequels. Drag Me To Hell returns Raimi to his horror roots, and he uses every trick in the book to scare the audience shitless, often in the form of sudden bursts of shock or gore, complete with loud, crashing noises and ear-splitting music cues.

But for me, the scares seem to play out more like sketches in The Three Stooges, and they made me laugh rather than cringe in horror. The seance scene was a riot, and so was the final night at the cemetery. Alison Lohan was perfect as Christine, and towards the end of the movie we feel really sorry for her as she races against time to unravel the curse, while Lorna Raver was just awesome as the terrifying Mrs. Ganush.

Overall, this was a good, scary fun movie, and judging from the constant screaming and occasional cursing of the people in the theater around me, it looks like Raimi did a good job. Moral of the story: don't ever try to impress your boss in front of other people or you will go to hell, LOL

Gizmos | World's Smallest Transformers: Optimus Prime & Megatron

In 1984, Takara and Dengeki Hobby Magazine of Japan teamed up to release a special Transformers limited edition bundle called the VSX giftset. This special set included both the original Generation One Optimus Prime (called Convoy in Japan) and Megatron.

The WST VSX Giftset box

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Transformers in 2004, Takara and Dengeki Hobby teamed up again to release the World's Smallest Transformers (WST) version of the VSX Giftset. The WST toyline features miniature versions of the Generation One Transformers that can transform exactly like their larger die-cast versions.

WST Optimus Prime, vehicle mode

WST Optimus Prime, robot mode

While the original WST Optimus Prime had lighter windows, the VSX Optimus Prime has bluer windows to make him look more like the anime version. Optimus is as easy to transform as his larger version, and comes with a laser cannon. The trailer cab wasn't included in the VSX Giftset, but is available separately.

WST Megatron, gun mode

WST Megatron, robot mode

Megatron looks every bit as detailed in his Walther P38 mode, but with blue inner panels instead of the usual red ones. Like his original version, he's still a pain to transform--his arms can actually snap off if you're not careful, but they can be returned to normal. Unlike Optimus, Megatron is kinda wobbly in robot mode, but he does look awesome when his fusion cannon is attached.

Truck and gun modes side by side

Robot modes side by side

Size comparison with a one peso coin

Size comparison with a one peso coin

Size comparison with a one peso coin

Size comparison with Pokemon Monster Collection figures...
Megatron: "We are so dead, Optimus" Optimus Prime: "Shut the hell up, Megatron" ...heh

Gizmos | PSP Go

The PSP Go was Sony's worst-kept secret at last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2009 in Los Angeles. For weeks, and months even, rumors were swirling about a possible PSP redesign without a UMD drive, and days before E3, some pics and videos were leaked of the design and actual prototype.

Smaller, lighter, and thinner than a regular PSP, the PSP Go features a sliding panel that reveals the game controls within, which now approximates the layout and arrangement of buttons on a standard PlayStation Dual Shock controller without a second analog stick. The 3.8" screen has been reduced in size from the PSP's 4.3" screen, and while the UMD drive mechanism is gone, it comes with 16GB of flash memory and the usual Memory Stick slot for expansion.


While I'm all for the smaller form factor and lighter weight, I hate the design of this thing--it's downright ugly, period. A friend was even more cruel; she said it reminded her of a sanitary napkin, and she would know, LOL. I also happen to hate slider-type devices, which is the reason why I avoid slider cellphones like the plague, and this one is no exception.

In addition, the PSP Go now has Blutooth capability, which provides connectivity to cellphones and other devices. There's also a new multifunction port that serves as an all-in-one port for charging, data transfer, and AV output--which means all your old PSP cables won't work with the PSP Go.

Without the UMD drive, how will PSP games be played on this new handheld? By uploading data to its memory or memory stick; upcoming PSP games will now be released on a digital-only distribution basis, but it's still unclear if the UMD format will be phased out eventually.

The PSP Go will be released on October 1, with a retail price of US $249. Now that doesn't seem right, as there's just no way I'd pay a steep price for that ugly-looking thing. I was expecting a PSP v2.0, but a PSP v1.5 showed up instead--I guess I'll just wait for the next PSP iteration.

The Sky Garden, SM CIty North EDSA

The SM City Mall at North EDSA has been undergoing a gradual redevelopment plan during the past few years, which includes the renovation of the main mall, the addition of The Block, The Annex, and now, the Sky Garden, which formally opened last May 29, 2009. I was there with my friend Ivy several weeks before the opening, and snapped some photos.

The Sky Garden entrance from The Block

Nicely landscaped gardens are everywhere; the Sky Dome can be seen
looming in the background

The Sky Garden is a long, curved walkway/park area located on the upper deck of what was formerly the front mall parking area. This walkway extends all the way from the Block to the Annex, and has exits to these buildings, the main mall, and to EDSA.

Running water surrounding a planned restaurant area
gives a nice cooling effect

Bamboo trees lining the walkway provide a nice cover
for the outdoor eating area behind it

Walking along the Sky Garden path can be a pleasant experience, as there are landscaped gardens everywhere, and ponds with fountains, waterfalls, and ample running water. The water is recycled using a multi-million peso recycling system, which makes it environment-friendly.

A look through the Sky Dome amphitheater side entrance

The main stage area of the Sky Dome

Multilevel seating along the Sky Dome perimeter

Located at the center of the Sky Garden is the Sky Dome, a large indoor amphitheater for concert venues and other events, while scattered throughout the walkways will be numerous eating establishments, from small cafes to specialty restaurants.

The tunnel-like covered walkway can be seen to the right

It was actually quite hot when I was up there, but the covered walkways were adequate enough to shield strolling shoppers from the sun--the design of the covered walk reminded me of the ones used at Bonifacio High Street, but these were more tunnel-like in appearance. I wondered why they picked an odd design--maybe they wanted it to be more flowing and organic, heh.

The Sky Garden entrance/exit near The Annex that opens to one of those
garish pink overpasses along EDSA

The Sky Garden view from The Annex

I'm also not sure how the place will hold up during severe rainy weather like we're having right now--for one thing, it's probably bound to be really windy up there. But the Sky Garden is a nice change and serves as an open, green alternative to the claustrophobic confines of the malls; why didn't they think of this sooner?

Film | Terminator Salvation

I've always enjoyed the Terminator franchise, which includes a trilogy of movies and one cancelled TV series. To sum up the premise, it's basically about a bleak future in which all computers and machines are controlled by a sentient artificial intelligence called Skynet, whose objective is the total extermination of mankind.

However, pockets of human resistance fighters exist to constantly plague Skynet, and to this end, it sent a robotic assassin called a Terminator back in time to kill Sarah Connor, mother of resistance leader John Connor. The movies and TV series follow Sarah and John's attempts to fend off these time-traveling menaces, and lots of wanton destruction and violence ensue.

Terminator Salvation is the 4th movie in the franchise, this time taking place in 2018, right in the middle of the fight between the humans and Skynet. We find an older John Connor (played by Christian Bale) leading his team on raids, encouraging others to fight via radio broadcasts, and listening to tapes made by his late mother Sarah for insight.

Complications arise when he realizes that Skynet has been taking human prisoners for something more sinister, and his worst fears are realized when he meets Marcus Wright, a mysterious man who seems more machine than human. An uneasy alliance with Marcus eventually sends them both to the San Francisco base of Skynet, where they must locate and rescue a young Kyle Reese, who's actually John's father (okay, I've said it before: time travel plots always make my head hurt, so I'm not even gonna try and analyze).

The movie is loaded with typical summer movie fare--tons of explosions, plus the requisite nonstop random deaths and massive destruction everywhere. The effects are topnotch, and the booming surround sound is even better than Star Trek's--you practically feel like you're actually meters away from all that mayhem happening on the screen.

However, for all its gritty eyecandy, something is clearly wrong with this new film; everything seems bleak and desolate, and I'm not just talking about the muted, diffused color palette used. It's like the movie is soulless and totally devoid of humor; the trilogy and even the TV series had some brief, lighthearted moments (courtesy of Arnold Schwarzenegger's deadpan one-liners), but this one doesn't have any--everyone is grumpy, paranoid and always on edge.

What works in Terminator Salvation is its connection to the earlier trilogy of movies, from Linda Hamilton's photo and tape recordings from the first movie, to the origin of Arnold's T-800 series model. At least they got that right, making this new movie a vital part of established continuity. Overall, it's still a good popcorn flick, even though it lacks some kind of spark.