The Air Up There

Getting my Kung Fu on in San Juan, La Union last January 21, 2007. Thanks to Rofil Magto for the excellent shot.

BUMP!

So, Blogger has apparently graduated from Beta. *clap clap clap* And I wouldn't even have known about it had I not been over to Jon's blog and seen his high praises for my enthusiasm to keep this site updated (you may refer to his sidebar just in case you're not getting what I'm talking about). I'd very much like to blame the earthquake in Taiwan for depriving me of internet access and the resulting lack of updates, but seeing as my previous post was on July 24 -- 2006 -- doing so seems rather lousy, if not pathetic (not to mention insensitive).

Anyway, just bumping up (or down, whatever floats your boat) the last entry, try to give the old blog a fresh look (wow, ganda a!). I played around with the new features a bit, hence the slightly altered look (yes, it's been altered!), but it seems another revamp is in order. I guess an overhaul will give me the motivation to keep on doing this. I love to write, it keeps me sharp, and it's good practice for my English (especially now since...well, that's a story for another time). I'm just lazy sometimes.

Actually, I'm lazy most of the time.

Ah, Laziness, Procrastination! My favorite sins. It's time I did something about those.

The Top 10 Worst URLs

I'm not a big fan of forwards. Though there are those few gems that are worth sharing (like this one). Had a blast reading these.

1. A site called "Who Represents" where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name...wait for it...www.whorepresents.com
2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at www.expertsexchange.com
3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at www.penisland.net
4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at www.therapistfinder.com
5. Then of course, there's the Italian Power Generator company...www.powergenitalia.com
6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales: www.molestationnursery.com
7. If you're looking for computer software, there's always
   www.ipanywhere.com
8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is
   www.cummingfirst.com
9. Then, of course, there's these brainless art designers, and their whacky website www.speedofart.com
10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at www.gotahoe.com

He he he. :)

Because I Am Cheap...

...please answer this (just so I know, too, who among you are still kind enough to put up with this blog). Grabbed this from Jon Z., by the way:

1. Who are you?
2. Are we friends?
3. When and how did we meet?
4. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
5. Describe me in one word.
6. What was your first impression?
7. Do you still think that way about me now?
8. What reminds you of me?
9. If you could do anything to/with me, what would it be?
10. How well do you know me?
11. When's the last time you saw me?
12. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
13. Are you going to put this on your Blog/LJ/whatever and see what I say about you?

C'mon, you know you want to. :)

Returns

"As in the case of making a mound, if, before the very last basketful, I stop, then I shall have stopped. As in the case of leveling the ground, if, though tipping only one basketful, I am going forward, then I shall be making progress."

~ Confucius

Ejay Returns

Following a mysterious absence of several months, the Man from the mountains comes back to Earth in the epic post "Ejay Returns", a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most inconsistent bloggers. While a three-year old job plots to render him "postless" once and for all, the woman he loves, Pi Santiago, has remained hopeful for his blogging and drawing life.

Moving on...



Look familiar? This is a photo (5 different photos, actually, photomerged using Photoshop CS2) of my second jump into the cool waters of Tali Beach in Batangas, taken by the talented Mr. Jugo.

I'll post more photos from that trip...er...soon.

Superman Returns

Official movie description:

"Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most beloved superheroes. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life."

In what seemed to be further affirmation of my belief that I have, indeed, become a luckier man, I won two tickets to the advanced screening of this year's most anticipated film. Worry not, my friends. Spoilers do not abound in this post.

Five words: Brian Singer is my hero.

It's been 26 years since the last, great Superman movie (Superman II, 1980). That's an awfully long window, what with the advent of new technology in movies in the last decade or so. Some big questions were raised, naturally: Can anyone take the place of the great Christopher Reeve? How can you revive a practically dead franchise after the mess left by the forgettable Superman III and IV? Well, after 26 long years, the wait is finally over. You've probably read the rave reviews about how great "Returns" is. I'm telling you now, it's well worth the hype. From start to finish, Superman Returns is evidently, more than anything, a labor of tremendous love. A well-thought-of story, an amazing cast (Brandon Routh owns the role now), great cinematography, and fantastic, geek-gasmic special effects (you will believe a man can fly).

The Man of Steel has been away for too long, and the world has obviously missed him. But he's back! And I guarantee, nothing will prepare you for what you are about to see.

Portrait Experiment: Pi

Taken at Tai Hing, Makati Avenue last March 21, 2006. *Sigh* My girlfriend is so gorgeous.

Freedom Forever

(Because Gerwin already had first dibs on "Remember, Remember".)

I couldn't be more happier with the way V for Vendetta turned out. Being a big fan of the graphic novel it doesn't disappoint. However, being a fan, it's also hard not to want a few more details from the book to be included in the movie. Nevertheless, the Wachowskis still managed to do a fantastic job of squeezing in all of the key elements of the source material into two and a half hours (the tweaks are understandable, considering the complexities and premise of the original story). It's just too bad Alan Moore didn't want anything to do with the film, because he really would have been proud of it (you can't blame him though, after what Hollywood did to his League of Extraordinary Gentlemen).

Natalie Portman's acting prowess didn't go to waste here (in contrast to how she faired in Revenge of the Sith). She fits into the role of Evey quite nicely. Hugo Weaving on the other hand was simply flawless and could do no wrong as V. He brings much life and justice to the character. Notable scenes are the domino sequence and the final battle. The Wachowskis' screenplay genius is clearly shown in these scenes (and is guaranteed to give you goosebumps).

V for Vendetta is one of the best films to come out this year. For fans of the graphic novel, it is an excellent adaptation and something they will definitely appreciate and enjoy. For non-fans, it is a great introduction to the entire mythology of V, something I sincerely hope will encourage them to start reading one of the greatest pieces of literature ever published.

Just My Luck

I think my Dad might have been Chinese in a past life.

It's funny how I only started to notice recently. I mean, for the longest time, his closest friends have always been Chinese, he loves doing business with the Chinese, heck, he even knows how to speak Chinese (just Mandarin really, but still).

His fascination for the Chinese probably goes way back to our days in Saudi, where he and my Mom used to work as a doctor and a nurse, respectively. During our time there (majority of which I can no longer remember), Chinese and Filipinos all moved in the same crowd. The doctors and nurses who were there the day I was born were Chinese. So, it was no surprise that a good number of my Ninongs and Ninangs during my christening were Chinese. Xiao Adong they called me, or Little Eddie. Not only that, I even have a photo (my very 1st Christmas I think it was) where I was being carried by a Chinese Santa Claus! With that much exposure to the Chinese, how can you not help turning Chinese yourself?

The influence of the Chinese culture is very evident in our family. You'll find various artifacts in our home, from the Laughing Buddha to the Jade Toad with a coin in the mouth. And for a good number of years now, my parents have been sort of "guided" by Feng Shui. Well, they're really superstitious to begin with so I guess it was just a matter of time before Feng Shui became a full-fledged member of the family. I had my reservations about this, of course, having been educated in a Catholic school that taught me that believing in superstitions was a sin (any serious advocate of Feng Shui, however, will contest that their beliefs are far from mere superstition).

I was born in 1981, year of the Rooster. I never really paid much attention to the significance of this until early last year. Following Feng Shui tradition -- and my folks were very keen on pointing this out -- 2005 was supposedly not a very good year for me.

Intriguing but true enough, it wasn't. I suffered from financial difficulties and I was having a professional crisis, among other problems. I just couldn't seem to get my act together.

Fortunately, I was still blessed enough to get past those towards the end of the year. This year, they say, is a much better year for Roosters. The 2nd quarter hasn't even started yet and it seems my luck could actually be changing for the better. For starters, I won four invites to the advanced screening of V for Vendetta last Monday (I'll be posting my review of this soon...I don't want to spoil it for anybody). But more important than a couple of invites, my finances are surprisingly in order and I'm starting to find the balance I was longing for in my career.

The computer scientist in me insists there is a logical explanation to everything that's happened to me in the past year or so. But I can't help thinking I owe all of this to more than just mere coincidence. Could it really be good Feng Shui? Divine Intervention maybe? Perhaps, knowing my good fortune this year simply pushed me in the proper direction...a classic case of "pyschological effect"? I guess I can't really say. At this point, I'll just have to wait and see what happens next. The fact is, it's too early to conclude that 2006 is indeed going to be a good year for me. The good news is, I've started it on the right note...and it can't get any luckier than that.

Reboot

Let's try this again.

This is the longest time I've been away from the old blog (three months on the 15th, counting from my last post). The really sad truth is I kind of lost the taste for it. It just came to a point where I felt like I had to "work" on my posts, rather than just allow my thoughts to freely flow into my writings, the way I used to. I don't know...what with the major burnout I was slowly starting to feel prior to my week-long vacation back home in Baguio a couple weeks back, maybe putting the blog on hiatus was just what I needed? Just some time off to get myself back into fighting form.

I can't help but think though, had I had access to the proper tools (those being home internet connection and/or my own laptop), this would have been a totally different story. If Jon, Gerwin, and the rest of the frequent bloggers (please refer to my sidebar) are any indication, nothing beats being able to blog directly from home. But enough of that. Point is I'm back, and hopefully, I've managed to dig up and bring a little more consistency with me this time.

Quite obviously, a lot of things have happened with me in the last three months. Here are a few highlights from that period (squeezing ALL of them into a single post might take me another three months, so allow me to start with these, while I slowly work my way back for the rest):

Return to the Motherland

I went home to Baguio last February 19 to take, what I felt at the time, was a much needed break. I just started to feel like I'd somehow hit a roadblock somewhere and started to lose sight of where I really wanted to go (that's some pretty deep shit...I guess turning 25 does that to you). I was too overwhelmed with reality that I simply needed to get away from it all for a while, just allow the cool pine breeze to fill my tired lungs, and take the time to recover and regain my footing to get back on track.

I stayed for a week (which is probably the most time I've spent in the hometown since moving to Manila for college back in '98) and just tried to make the most of my time there: I slept in, I watched a lot of TV (Celebrity Poker, NBA, HBO, MTV, and Bikini Destinations), I ate a lot of my Mom's cooking, and I hung out, having dinner and drinks on ocassion, with my highschool friends. The major downside to going on vacation on a normal week, however, is you're the only one on vacation, so meeting up with your friends isn't really that easy. But I still had a geat time overall. Taking a break was the best gift I've given myself so far this year.

It would be interesting to note that the last weekend during my stay also marked the start of the annual Baguio Flower Festival, or more popularly known now as the Panagbenga, which opened with the traditional parade of flowers (there were actually two parades, the first one was held on February 25, then the other on February 26; each was sponsored by two warring factions in the local government). The funny thing about all this is, I actually brought my camera with me, but I failed to take even a single photo of the event (I stayed at home during the first parade, and I was on my way back to Manila during the second). Though, I did manage to capture some shots of my Mom's adopted cats:

Celebrating the Quarter Life

I actually celebrated my 25th birthday three times this year.

The first time was on the 9th. Pi and I had agreed to celebrate, just the two of us, a day earlier. She treated me to a fantastic dinner at Fish and Co. in Greenbelt 3. She also gave me a letter (which I had to read out loud) and three gifts, each with a special significance to who I am: a Crest mechanical toothbrush, a sarong, and The World's Greatest Super-Heroes, the hardbound collection of Paul Dini and Alex Ross' oversized masterpieces. After dinner, we headed out to Tiendesitas in Pasig, this relatively new, tiagge-ish place we've been hearing really good things about. By the time we got there though, most of the stores were already closed. The only notable place open at the time was a pet shop (I forget the store's name). Anyway, here are a couple of photos from that night:


The second celebration was on my actual birthday, the 10th. Lolo Tol, Lola Tia (Lolo's sister), Uncle Bobby, Tita Donna (Uncle Bob's wife), Joyce (my sister), Joseph (my brother), Pi, and I all met up at A Venetto in Glorietta 3, Makati for dinner. I had decided to just have a nice, quiet, and simple get-together with family to mark the ocassion. My parents were in Baguio at the time so they couldn't be there. Here's a photo I asked one of the waiters to take (which I later realized was a very big mistake):


The third and last celebration was on the 11th. Just dinner with college friends at Friday's (Wallet Death) in Glorietta 3 (again). The celebration was actually for four of us (myself, Brian, Mac, and Toffer). High point of the evening was when one of the waiters thought I was Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria (which is actually the 2nd time someone's mentioned it to me). Anyway, here's a photo of our table (and this time, I remembered to bring the tripod):


That should do it for now. Check back here again soon.

Photo Experiment: Multiplicity

The first of many experiments with the new toy. Taken at our Pasig home last November 13, 2005. Comments appreciated as always. More photos can be found in my Flickr account.

Patotot

Tagged by Gerwin...

So, I'm supposed to write 20 random facts about me then tag the same amount of people the number of minutes it takes me to write the facts. Game.

1. I was born in Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia.
2. Growing up, I wanted to be a pilot.
3. I haven't drawn anything in over a year.
4. I've studied Karate, Jeet Kune Do, and Wushu but didn't last long enough to master any of them.
5. I consider the July 16, 1990 earthquake the most terrifying day of my life.
6. I contracted typhoid fever when I was in 3rd grade.
7. I have formally courted only three women in my lifetime.
8. I've failed one subject in my history as a student (Linear Algebra).
9. Aside from comics, I also collect toys.
10. I am a proud Mama's boy.
11. Back in 1st grade, my mom caught a "love letter" I wrote for my crush in my backpack.
12. "Sige, mag-asawa ka na! 'Wag ka nang mag-aral! (Go ahead, get married! Don't study anymore!)" are words I remember very well after the incident in number 11.
13. I was so traumatized by number 12, I never talked to my mom again about any of my crushes.
14. My crushes in grade school have always been part of the honor roll.
15. My mom never knew Pi and I were together until way after our 1st month.
16. I have never missed an issue of Ultimate Spider-Man.
17. My four front teeth used to be just two huge ones.
18. I am easily envious of people who can afford the things they want.
19. I'm a pretty good dancer.
20. I'm a virgin.

Tagging Concon, Adrian, Mon, Bryan, Ia, and Pao (I didn't write the facts in six minutes, I just ran out of people to tag).

Breakfast of Champions

Or in my case, the Snack of champions.

This killer combo of a meal has been a regular part of my daily diet for over three months now (I eat a sandwich as my 2nd and 4th meals). Not only has this helped me shed off more pounds (as of my last trip to the scale, I lost another 10), it helps me get through the rest of each day by giving me that extra boost of energy I need (Lily's and Gardenia should pay me). Plus, I am huge, HUGE peanut butter addict. Give me anything with peanut butter and I'll eat it.

That should explain the whole "Happiness is Peanut Butter" status in my YM. :)

Best part about all this is it's helped me save...this 120-peso investment actually lasts me a week.

***

This is also actually my first attempt at food photography using the new toy. The composition's, admittedly, quite pathetic, but I guess I've got to start somewhere.

While I'm on the subject of photography, allow me this shameless plug and say that I've just set up a new account in Flickr.com. It's a pretty cool site for newbie professional shutter bugs alike. I'm still debating whether I should get a pro account or not. It really seems like a good investment though, especially if I plan on making a hobby out of this. I'll probably need a week to think about it. Meantime, feel free to drop by, view, and comment on the few photos I've uploaded.

Stolen!

When you let your girlfriend hold your camera, prepare to (literally) face the consequences. Taken at Tai Hing (our new favorite Chinese place, along Makati Avenue) while "fixing" my face for a couple of shots.

The Look of Love

Back from the Dead

The title couldn't be more apt (I remember one or two of you might have already used said title before, so I hope you don't mind if I swipe it from you just this once). This blog's literally been buried for the better part of two months (last post was on August 8). I was actually quite surprised (and of course, very, very thankful) that the Powers-That-Be at Blogger haven't decommissioned me yet. But the biggest of thanks (and sincerest of apologies) go out to those of you who've stuck (or at least tried to stick) with me throughout the silence, ye regular visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of what might be an honest-to-goodness update.

Truth is I sort of just lost the time, and a little bit of the drive, to write. What with the tons of stuff now occupying my plate at work nowadays and all, I guess it's bound to happen. Yeah, yeah, "same old excuse", I know. But this was actually different from any other time I abandoned this blog. A long time ago, it all just seemed to be automatic. I didn't need a sudden rush of inspiration to write anything that was worth writing. The thoughts just came. But up 'til last most, it all just felt like a chore. I didn't want to feel hassled by it all (which is actually pretty sad when you think of it). Simply put, I lost the momentum. This would have been a whole different story if I could have blogged from my place. That's why blessed are those who have internet access at home, for they shall be able to blog without the hassle.

Anyway, you might be wondering: If I'm so busy, what the heck I'm doing here now? Well, I'm not busy. I, thankfully, have time (and something actually substantial to write about). So I figured, maybe it's about time I got the ball rolling again...start re-building the momentum. What's more, I have a new toy that will definitely help me do just that:

The Nefut's Weapon of Choice. Canon Powershot G3, previously owned by an officemate, in excellent condition, with 256MB CF, two Li-ion batteries, cables, software, etc. P16K, 8 months to pay, 0% interest.

Some Right Brain Exercise...

...to see if I've still got it (more importantly, to get my blog out of the pathetic rut it's in at the moment).

This is...was my entry to ISG Logo Making Contest. First prize wins 500 pesos (enough for a half tank of gas) while the next two best entries win 200 each. Guess who won first prize...not me. Apparently, the judges didn't quite agree with my color scheme (the winning entry used Globe's colors). Anyway, it's all good. No biggie. At least I got the creative gears in my head running for a bit. Comments much appreciated.

And while I'm at it (Plug! Plug!), if you or anyone else you know is interested in having logos designed for their companies, businesses, products, etc., please feel free to drop me a line or contact me via e-mail.

Chingco Day!

Just in case you're wondering, yes, I am in the office today (the curse of the month-end reports).

May you have many, many more to come, bro. I wish you all the happiness in your career, in your marriage, and in your other endeavors today, on your special day, and in the days that follow. We'll be drinking for you tonight.

Here's to your good looks...and sexy body! (Bry should have this line patented already).

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Anybody want to hit G's Spot and make him a very happy boy can go here. (Oh look, I made a pun).

My Favorite Movies Blog

Apparently, I got tagged for this by Mon almost a month ago (June 6 to be exact). Sorry, Mondell. Haven't been frequenting your blog or any of the other peeps' blogs recently ('cept maybe for Jon's, Ger's, and Zane's), but thanks for giving me a reason to update mine.

Total number of films I own on DVD/video...

Everything's on DVD unless specified.

Bootleg (what I remember so far):

1. Spider-Man
2. Equilibrium
3. 2 Fast 2 Furious
4. You Got Served
5. Initial D 3rd Stage
6. Wonderful Days
7. Snatch
8. The Last Samurai
9. Does Smallville (Season 1 to 3) count?

Ante Pirata:

1. Star Wars Trilogy (VCD)
2. Star Wars Episodes 1 and 2 (VCD)
3. The Matrix
4. The Matrix Reloaded
5. Star Wars Trilogy Collector's Edition
6. LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring Extended Version
7. LOTR: The Two Towers Extended Version

The last film I bought...

Star Wars Trilogy Collector's Edition DVD and LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring Extended Version. I got them both at the same time. My officemate had relatives coming over from the States late last year, so I figured I might as well order these two to add to my collection. Cost me an arm and a leg. I have yet to open them though. :)

The last film I watched...

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. A highly entertaining and tremendously funny movie. Zane has a really nice review of it over at her blog.

Films that I watch a lot or mean a lot to me...

• Spider-Man (1 and 2) - Spidey is just my all-time favorite superhero. I'm a huge fan of the comics, so it's no surprise that the movies hold a special place in my heart.
• Batman Begins - Same sentiments as with Spidey. Batman is just way up there in my superheroes list. Like I said, this is how a Batman film should be made. Sure, there may have been moments when Christian Bale's raspy Batman voice got annoying, but I don't think it took away anything from the movie. I still think it was great. More on the film in my previous post.
• The Rocketeer - Somehow I just couldn't outgrow this film. It's just a lot of fun to watch. It sort of has this comicbook feel to it, packed with a lot of action, which is probably why I like it so much. And oh yeah...Jennifer Connelly.
• Gladiator - Russell Crowe is THE man in this movie. In my opinion, his greatest performace yet (truly deserving And "what we do in life echoes in eternity" just did it for me.
• The Matrix - Probably the most revolutionary film of the late 90's. A thinking man's movie, with a whole lot of guns and martial arts. Who wouldn't enjoy that? Excellent story and fantastic cinematography. It's just too bad that the sequels weren't as great as this one.
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Two words: Zhang Ziyi.

To which 5 people am I passing the baton and why?

• Pi - Simply because I watch movies with her. And her thoughts on the films we've watched are very interesting. She's an excellent writer and I know she misses doing reviews, so this will be good exercise for her. But she still has to put up her own blog though.
• Jon Z. - Because I know he'll enjoy writing about this.
• Richard - To take his mind off Google Earth for a while.
• Justin and Adrian - To give them a reason to update their blogs.

Fighting Injustice...Out of Nothin' at All

That's my attempt at a witty title, by the way. And because it's probably not as witty as I thought it would be, I shall explain. What I'm basically trying to say is that "I've had the chance to watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Batman Begins recently, and I'm going to post my thoughts on them". Pilitin daw ba? Anyway...

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

The chemistry between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is just amazing. It's the first thing you'll notice in the movie. For lack of a better description, it's pretty obvious that they reek of sex. They practically have SEX stamped all over them. Other than that, I think they fit their roles perfectly. I couldn't imagine any other actors playing the parts. Pitt is as funny as ever. Pi was right to note that he's mastered the art of still being charming, despite making a complete fool of himself. *Making looove out of nothin' at all (making love)* And Angelina? What's not there to like? I mean, c'mon...the woman is the ultimate guy magnet!

The action is pretty intense and hilarious at the same time (my favorite sequence would definitely have to be the "after dinner" fight, where they still manage to kiss and make up in the end after all the destruction). I like the whole "invincible" treatment they gave John and Jane. I think it was cool. They are, afterall, the world's greatest assasins. The plot is a lot of fun, though quite typical of a summer film. There's the right amount of romance and drama in it too, which are also welcome breaks from all the Kick!Splode! (sorry, Jon) that make up 90% of the movie.

All in all, this film doesn't disappoint. It's what you'd come to expect from a film that supposedly broke up a marriage. Definitely a must have in anyone's DVD collection.

Batman Begins

First things first: Wow, wow, and mega-wow! This film is the shiznit (though I don't exactly know what that means, but it's supposed to be a good thing)! No more bat-skates! And thank goodness, no more bat-nipples! The nipples are finally in their rightful place...on the leading lady! (I got that from Peejay, by the way). Seriously though, the reviews were right...forget what you know about the first four films, this is how a Batman film was meant to be made. Gotham is finally a real city, none of those stupid towering statues with observatories on their backs and roads built on their shoulders. The problems are a lot more human...poverty, corruption, crime, things the audience can relate to. The casting is brilliant, and the acting superb (yes, I even found Katie Holmes superb), though I would've wanted to see more of Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman. And Christian Bale! Christian Bale! Christian Bale! Potah, he was born to play the Dark Knight. He's the perfect Bruce Wayne/Batman. Heck, he is Bruce Wayne/Batman! Christian Bale for President!

Chris Nolan and David Goyer are my latest heroes. The story, cinematography, pacing, action, comedy, drama, everything was excellent. Personally, I think it was great that they tried to be as true as possible to the source material for the sake of the fans, but still added a different touch to educate those not familiar with the legend of the Bat. I loved the Crime Alley scene...it almost made me cry, dammit (even though I knew it was going to happen anyway). That was how well that scene was shot. The image of young Bruce on his knees, crying over his dead parents' bodies...it just sticks to you, sort of makes you feel bad because you couldn't do anything to stop it from happening. Then again, there is no Batman without Crime Alley. But my most favorite part in the film has got to be Bruce's training. It's something that's never really been explored in detail in the comics, so it was a great thing to watch. I especially liked the part where he beats the crap out of six inmates and then shouts "I don't need protection!" when the guards restrain him. I thought that was funny.

Naturally, the Batman scenes were fantastic. Well, it wouldn't be a Batman film if the Batman scenes sucked, now would it? I had my reservations on the costume when word of it first came out, but I'm glad I kept an open mind. The design of the costume makes sense in the movie and is a necessary part for Bruce's transformation into the Dark Knight. Same can be said with his other gadgets. And the car, dammit! What a fine piece of machinery. I have got to get me one of those.

So, we're down to the million dollar question. Is Batman Begins better than Spider-Man in the comics-to-film category? In some areas, maybe, but overall I personally think they're just on the same, great level. Both were excellent depictions of the origins of two of the greatest comicbook heroes of all time, and their stories were told exactly the way they were meant to be told: with a lot of love and respect for the mythologies behind them. At the end of the day, I believe any movie that does that deserves to be at the top of the charts.

If It Were Up To Me...

...I'd do this more often.

That's me, jumping off a big-ass rock into the sea over 20 feet below. I believe I've never had that much adrenalin pumped into my system before. Sooobrang asteeeg! Photo taken from our trip to Tali Beach in Nasugbu, Batangas last May 22, 2005. Courtesy of my officemate Alvir Jugo. More pics to follow.