I’ve just seen what was for me, one of the most thrilling and relevant films in the war genre (no need to exercise on that treadmill, this film will be sure to keep your heart pounding) . The Kingdom follows the story of an FBI team attempting to uncover a ruthless terrorist attack targeting expatriates working for a Saudi based Saudi-American oil company (ARAMCO).

The story starts on the day of of the attack where hundreds of ARAMCO employees (mostly expatriates) together with their wives and children were out on a ballpark, playing  baseball, lounging on beach chairs, and overall having a good time. The ballpark and the compound in general are protected by a perimeter of highly trained Saudi national guard and police. Two men dressed in the uniforms of the police force walk up to the back gate, kill the guards manning the outpost, hop into a four wheel drive and speed off into the compound, spraying bullets indiscriminately killing residents.

In the ensuing panic residents flee towards the safety of their building. A man in police uniform directs the residents towards him and then suddenly chants Arabic verses and detonates a bomb strapped to his chest killing him and the residents around him. An hour later, paramedics and rescuers fill the site pulling victims out of the rubble and rescuing the wounded. While all this was going on, a truck filled with explosives suddenly detonate, blasting a crater 30 feet wide in diameter and killing rescuers and survivors alike.

The entire movie then revolves around finding the men responsible for the twin bombings and the alliance and bond that is built between two men- Special Agent Ronald Fleury of the FBI (Jamie Foxx) and Colonel Faris Al-Ghazi of the Saudi State Police (Ashraf Barhom). The film also stars Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman. The film is very believable with intense action-packed scenes. Overall rating? 9 stars out of 10.

Seems like I’ve got a lot of time on my hands these days. Proof of that would be my spending every morning watching two movies at the very least. This is in sharp contrast to three weeks ago when I barely had enough time to sleep. Anyways, for those of you who loved Band of Brothers, another HBO-miniseries production made its debut this summer (it contains enough testosterone to negate the use of vigrx). The Pacific stars Joseph Mazzello (remember that little kid from the original Jurassic Park? Well, he ain’t that little anymore), Jon Seda, and Ashton Holmes among others.

All grown up

On it’s seventh episode this week, The Pacific is a 10-part miniseries produced by Tom Hanks and HBO. It chronicles the lives of soldiers sent to attack the Japanese holed up in various islands in the Pacific Ocean. Several award winning directors did each of the 10 series in the season.

I’ve only seen episodes 1 and 2 (still downloading the 3rd t 7th) but so far, I can really say that The Pacific is on its way to becoming one of those all time classics, joining the ranks of Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. The Pacific is raw, gritty, emotional and will sure to delight fans of the war genre. Overall rating? I’m giving it a 10 stars out of 10.

I heard that Starmovies is going digital very very soon which means that I won’t be able to catch it anymore (unlike those acnepril reviews) unless I buy a digibox and pay the increase in the current monthly rates our friendly neighborhood cable station is planning to add in order for consumers to avail of Star. So I am trying to tune in to as much Star programs as I could- while I still can, which was how I came across The Rocker.

The Rocker is one of those feel good, zero to hero movies that follows the misadventures of  a drummer for a local Cleveland band (Vesuvius). As soon as the band starts getting fame, a big record company approaches the group and makes them an offer they couldn’t refuse, with a hitch- they have to get rid of their drummer. Feeling betrayed, the drummer vows to start another band that will soon eclipse his original group. Twenty years later and the drummer, Robert “Fish” Fishman, is stuck in a measly desk job that he hates. His luck soon turns when his nephew, who is in a high school amateur band (A.D.D.), asks for his help replacing their drummer who couldn’t play during prom night. So begins Fish’s second chance at adolescence and his ultimate rise to meteoric fame.

While I felt that the plot was not that original, I really found the sound track very refreshing. Most of the songs done by A.D.D. were catchy and I found myself humming along as they played. I Googled the songs to see if they were original and was surprised to find out that they are. I was also surprised to that A.D.D.’s fictional lead singer Curtis Powell, is played by a real-life musician (Teddy Geiger) and that all of the songs performed by A.D.D. are actually his. However, despite its refreshing repertoire of songs, The Rocker is still unfortunately, best known as the least profitable film of 2008, having grossed less than 7 million. Considering that they spent 15 million doing this movie, that’s quite a loss.

Ooh here it comes! The third installation of the Twilight saga, Eclipse, has a new trailer out and it’s here! Watch it below!

Too bad, no naked scenes of Jacob! Haha :) Ooh and we finally see the new Victoria. Hmm, you like? I think the old Victoria had a bit more personality, but oh well.

Ooh I am excited to see this movie! Bella shares a super hot kiss with Jacob! Yesss it’s what we (Team Jake!) have all been waiting for!

Ever since college, I’ve been asked a lot of times by a lot of different women whether that guy in English who seems to throw quick, sweeping glances her way is interested in dating her. Or whether that dude in Physics who goes out of his way to help her with her books is just nice or whether its his way of saying “I like you”. From all these questions, it seems like women in general have a hard time reading men (and vice versa, but that’s for another post). So, due to popular demand, I’d like to give a guy’s take on the age old question; “How to know a guy likes a girl (in more ways than one)”.

1.) Talking. Talking. And talking some more.

Fli always accuses me of being tabi-an. That’s talkative in the Visayan dialect. And it’s true, I really am very talkative. Even more so when talking to someone I’m attracted to. Let me get straight to the point. When a guy likes something about a girl, be it her soft, almond eyes, or the way she smiles; he’d try desperately to keep her attention on him. And what better way to do that than by talking. Even if it means saying dumb things that don’t really mean much. Or by telling jokes that are uber corny.

Er, uh, I like the way the upper portion of your anterior trunk gently curves…

2.) Feigning disinterest

A common scenario at parties: A group of guys sit around a table conducting force recon (that’s guy speak for doing reconnaissance. In other words, checking out the ladies). Guy # 1: “Dude, that chick on my 11 o’clock is hot”. Guy # 2: “Don’t look at her too much, bro. Ignore her, so she doesn’t think you like her.” Guy # 1: “But why? I’m like totally into her”. Guy # 2: “Girls don’t like being ignored. Ignore her and wait for her competitive instincts to kick in. Then wait for her to come to you.” I don’t know who started this myth, but all my friends swear that it works.

3.) Compliments. Compliments. And more compliments.

“You’re looking pretty today.” “I like your the way you smile” or even “Red Horse ka ba? Ang lakas kasi ng tama mo.” When a guy doesn’t stop complimenting your looks, or the way you dress or notices the tiniest details about you, like that scar on your left eyebrow that’s almost always covered by your bangs, it’s quite obvious that the he likes you- a lot.

4.) Being uber nice

Baffled why he keeps offering to carry your bag even though all that’s in it is your kikay kit and a notebook? Or why he offers to pay for your share in a group-shared meal? Or why he keeps making libre during office outings? It just means one thing- he likes you. Again, this all goes back to the trying-desperately-to-keep-your-attention-on-him ploy. He’d do anything just to get you to talk to him again.

I’ve got this, I’ve got this, whoa….

5.) Being uber kulit

This is the exact opposite of being uber nice. Sometimes a guy will pick on you for no apparent reason. He’ll tease you, he’ll make you the butt of jokes, he’ll even start bugging you about questions that seem inappropriate. Sometimes, he’ll even go to the extent of linking you with someone else. I’ve got one word for this- Projection. Simply put, he likes you but doesn’t have the guts to tell you. So he teases you instead. Of course this only works when you’ve barely known each other before now. Like when you’ve been office mates for less than a year. When this happens and you’ve know each other for like 3-4 years, then it’s just gangyada plain and simple.

So that’s it. 5 ways to find out whether a guy likes you or not. So ladies, if you find a guy acting this way with you, then it could only mean one thing- he’s interested. If you are too, then go talk to him.

Happy dating! :)