If you are into social networking sites, you are not anti-social.

I have heard those complaints–if you are into Friendster, Facebook or MySpace, chances are you are anti-social. Heck, I beg to disagree. Recent studies have conclude otherwise.

“Researchers discovered Facebook gave people more choice on how they conduct relationships and was “a way of storing biography and enhancing social memory”. The study showed many people used it to track people they liked or to find out what ex-partners were up to. Members log on to Facebook to look at profiles and pictures because more information can be gleaned from it than a phone call or letter, the study said.” The complete article from BBC News.

My anticipated movies

‘Tis the time of the year where the good movies are starting to open in wide release for Oscars season next year. Here are some of my anticipated movies:

1. Quantum of Solace. This latest Bond film will be character-driven, and will focus more on the love lost of Mr Bond. I have deep respect for the director, Marc Forster (The Kite Runner, Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball).

2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. When I first saw the trailer, I was reminded of the book Time Traveller’s Wife, though, that book also will have its own movie adaptation. This movie stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, and a love story against all odds. Can’t wait for this one.

3. The Soloist. I love movies with underdogs on it, and how they survive and won the battle called life. The trailer looks promising. Based on a true story.

4. Valkyrie. Long overdue.

Video of the Week: Beyonce “If I Were A Boy”

Guilty pleasures

It’s sweet. Perfect for a hot Sunday with a creme brulee.

Massage

Because I went home late nights for five straight days due to volunteer works in an NGO, it takes its toll on my body. I felt so tired this Saturday. What to do? Run to Urban Spa and get an hour and a half full body massage.

It was so good. Two thumbs up. Now, I wanna be back after a month and try another of their signature massages.

I’m back

I was offline for the last six days because I have to do some after office volunteer work. It’s that time again where your help is needed, and you cannot say no because you knew for a fact that it is for something so priceless and worthwile.

From Monday to Friday, I headed to a five star hotel in Ortigas from work. This is the venue of the breathing course, and some of my officemates are there to experience for themselves the joy of getting rid of stress from their everyday lives.

I already did five volunteer work for this NGO, and everytime it is finished, no matter how tired you are, you are just happy to see graduates beaming with their smiles and losing excess weights.

Video of the Week: Guns N’ Roses “Patience”

Is Tamara there?

I seldom watch horror/suspense movies because I don’t get afraid. In fact, I tend to get the opposite reaction–laugh. Horror movies are comedy. Especially those that borders fantasy, like a hairy girl coming out of your TV, or an alien lurking inside a human’s stomach. Please, they are not happening in real life.

The way to make audience enjoy a horror or suspense movie is to make the story based on actual events, or at least loosely or inspired. It makes the audience scared. Think Blair Witch Project (the story looks real and possible), or Open Water (which is also based on true events).

This is the reason why I decided to watch The Strangers, the first film of Bryan Bertino. The premise is simple: strangers knocking on your door at the wee hours of the morning, and looking for someone you don’t know who. And then they slowly gives you the creeps, until they perform the coup de grace.

The movie is so quiet, save for the music played on the phonograph. And every sound you hear from outside or inside the house makes your spine chill because the stranger might be there nearby. Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman were good, and the three killers are just that–fearful.

You will never dare look at mask person after you watch this movie.

PS: Is this schadenfreude? When Liv asks “why are you doing this to us?” the only answer I can think of is “because your beautiful and perfect.”

Grace is really gone

As if Body of Lies is not enough war movie for the week, I add insult to injury by watching another small movie about the effects of Iraq war to ordinary citizens of America, especially to those family who has a son/daughter/father/mother/relative in Iraq or Afghanistan or any other war zones where the US has assigned troops.

Grace Is Gone is written and directed by James Strouse. It is about a family man whose wife is stationed in Iraq. One day, he was informed (you know, those famous two personnel from the US Army who would knock on the door, and would tell you “in behalf of the President of the United States of America…”) that his wife was killed. Afraid how he would break the news to his two young daughters, he encourage them to go on a road trip extending time so he can think over how to tell them.

It was a bitter sweet simple movie that makes you feel sorry for them. You have to watch the movie to see that scene where John Cusack has to finally tell the daughters that their mom won’t go home alive. It is like your heart is being punch by a dozen thugs. Add to that the sad, sad song by Jamie Cullum “Grace Is Gone” (see video below). The DVD is widely available.

The downside of high technology

We have seen enough of anti-war movies from Hollywood. Body of Lies, the new Ridley Scott movie, is no exception. But what makes it likeable is the fact that it’s not boring. It is a critic of America’s handling of sensitive information derived from its hig technology data gathering gadgets scattered everywhere. It poses this question: which is the more effective way of handling confidential information, especially about allege terrorists? Can technology (such as UAV) provide better and truthful data than say, an agent who is on field and is seeing the actual scene?

The cloak-and-dagger business has always been nasty and full of lies. You cannot trust anybody; not even somebody who belongs to your group.

The action scenes can be cringing, especially the blast in the middle of the desert where a human body blews off and his bones sort of became like a shrapnel. Yikes. Leo is good (has always been), while Russel has to put in some weight to add plump to his bureaucratic role in the Langley-based headquarter.

But the character who stole the movie is Mark Strong (named Hani in the film). And the love angle between Leo and the nurse can be thrown away in the garbage can. The movie can stand alone without it.