50 Best Movies of 2009

2009 is almost over, while we count down the days up to the last minute of 2010, let's do a countdown as well of the 50 of the Best Movies released the entire year of 2009. These films are not based from revenues they earned during the theatrical release but from reviews of critics and users world wide. Most of my personal favorite movies are on the list. Transformers 2 and New Moon are not part of the list. Check whose in or out as Movieinfo tabulated the 50 Best Movies of 2009.

50. Where the Wild Things Are
49. Michael Jackson 's This Is It'
48. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
47. Earth
46. In The Loop
45. The September Issue
44. It's Complicated
43. Duplicity
42. Ponyo
41. Drag Me to Hell
40. The Informant
39. Tyson
38. World's Greates Dad
37. Bas Lietenant: Port of Call - New Orleans
36. Sherlock Holmes
35. Anvil! The Anvil Story
34. Julie & Julia
33. Broken Embraces
32. A Single Man
31. Adventurland
30. Paranormal Activity
29. Whip It
28. Moon
27. The Road
26. Sugar
25. The Blind Side
24. Food, Inc
23. Crazy Heart
22. The Messengers
21. I Love You, Man
20. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
19. A Serious Man
18. District 9
17. Nine
16. Invictus
15. The Princess and the Frog
14. (500) Days of Summer
13. Zombieland
12. The Cove
11. Coraline
10. The Hangover
9. Precious
8. Star Trek
7. An Education
6. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
5. Avatar
4. The Hurt Locker
3. Inglorious Basterds
2. Up
1. Up in the Air

So far there are 13 movies that I have already watched, 37 more to go..I'm really hoping the rest of the films will be released here in the Philippines.

My 3-D Experience

I have finally watched the most awaited film this December, James Cameron’s Avatar. Ever since this film announced to be released on December, I just couldn’t help but to count the days and finally, this afternoon I was able to watch it in SM Megamall. And what’s good about it, I watched it in 3-D. I couldn’t explain the experience of watching 3-D, it’s like you are with the casts and you feel like you can touch them. Plus, you would really appreciate the effects more in 3-D in a sense that it really looks like real. James Cameron really prepared for it, after more than a decade since he did Titanic which broke all box office records, he is back to offer us something that we can’t forget.

WELCOME TO A NEW HOME

Just moved to a townhouse this week. After six months of stay in my cousin’s place, I finally moved to a place of my own. Well, not really my own place ‘coz there are four of us in a room, and there are 30 other tenants more in the house. The townhouse is located in Boni Avenue which is just one MRT station away from my work and it is very much affordable with cable TV and furniture. And I know the place is safe ‘coz one of the requirements for the tenants is NBI clearance with government ID and employment ID. So all of us here are all professionals, which for me is really a factor for a peaceful and safe place to live in. It is like home away from home. I got three roommates, two of them are programmers and one is working in medical institution. Although we don’t talk much ‘coz we seldom see each other because of the schedule I still feel that I am welcome.

Update

It’s really been a while. There are a lot of things that I really want to write here in this blog. Too many that I don’t know what to start with. Hmm, let me just say something about my purpose why I am here in Manila, which is to apply for work abroad. Well, I just got an offer from an agency to work in KSA, although the pay is lower than I expected but at least it is more than I make here in Manila. I’m waiting for my medical examination this week, and if everything is settled, come this January I would start working for Arabs. KSA is really the dream place of every Muslim and Mecca is always the spot the we really want to visit at least once in our lifetime. This is one of the reasons that motivates me with the new job, and I can’t wait to start with it.

Speaking of job, I am doing better in my work lately. For past few months, I’ve been seeing a lot of green on my scorecards. I’m really enjoying the job now, I really like the experience dealing with different people. Though sometimes you get unlucky with a not-so-nice customer, but at least you tried to do your best to help them. They might not be happy with the services that they are getting, atleast there are people like us, technical support representatives that provide them the excellent experience possible and would somehow put smiles on their faces. And for me this is not really an easy job, but with dedication and the right attitude, I know everything will be easy.

Maybe one of the things that makes it easier for me here in Manila is my own dream. I don’t want to live my life here, ‘coz I know this place is not really good for me and for my future family. But somehow I manage to live here happily ‘coz of the goal that I set prior to coming to this big city.

10 of the Highest Grossing Films of 2009

As we count down for the year 2010, let's do a countdown for the biggest movie of the year as well. These films are the biggest films that grossed hundred millions worldwide. Some of these films are still showing in some countries. As of December 7, 2009, here is the top 10 Highest Grossing Films this year.

10. STAR TREK - with an estimated budget of $150 million, this sci-fi action remake directed by J. J. Abrams (who also directed the Mission Impossible III in 2006) grossed $384,953,671 worldwide. Starred by Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg and Eric Bana.

09. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF SMITHSONIAN - following the success of first movie in 2006, Director Shawn Levy, Ben Stiller and the rest of the casts (this time with Amy Adams) returned this year with a sequel. Although it failed to surpass the grossing of the first film, it still managed to earn $412,378,818 worldwide also with a production budget of $150 million.

08. THE HANGOVER - this surprised hit was produced with just an estimated production budget of $35 million. Breaking all the records of all previously released R-rated youth movie with a worldwide gross of $459,355,808. Starred by best buddies, Bradley Cooper and Justin Bartha and directed by Todd Philips (Old School, Starsky and Hutch and Road Trip).

07. ANGELS AND DEMONS - this film probably the most controversial film released this year. Just like Dan Brown first book, The Da Vinci Code, its prequel Angels and Demons was also banned by some countries and cinemas but still manage to earn $485,900,330 world wide. Ron Howard and Tom Hanks teamed up again in this film with Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgard. This movie also produced with in $150 million budget.

06. THE TWILIGHT SAGE: NEW MOON - with Chris Weitz (Golden Compass) as the new director, this Stephanie Meyer's 2nd book which was just released last month has earned $498,639,000 and counting. With a production budget of just $50 million, this film is the highest grossing film of Summit Entertainment ever produced. Starred by Kristen Stewart, Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

05. UP - This highest rated animated film marks as the Pixar's 10th film and was produced with in $175 million budget. Among Pixar's film Up earned $506,962,798 which is second to Finding Nemo in terms of total gross worldwide.

04. 2012 - Directed by Disaster Guru, Roland Emmerich, 2012 is probably the mother of all disaster films. Produced with in $200 million, the movie has already reached $600,087,000 and still counting. Starred by John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

03. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN - this Michael Bay's action-packed is this year's number one film in North America, but just placing third worldwide. With $200 million budget, this sequel surpassed its first film with $833,229,011 worldwide. Starred by Shia Lebouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel.

02. ICE AGE : THE DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS - yes, UP is not the highest grossing animated film this year, but Ice Age 3. This animated film even surpassed T2 with its worldwide gross of $878,802,649. This film is Fox's all time greatest film (since Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantomenace) in terms of return of investment as this just produced within $90 million budget.
01. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE - this is not a surprise for HP6 to be this year's highest grossing film. Fans waited for over a year for this 6th film to be released as its date of released was moved from last year original date. Produced within $250 million, this 6th HP film ranks 3rd among all HP movies. To date, HP6 is earning $929,330,206 worldwide.

Team Building

My teammates together with our Coach went on a team building last Saturday. It was a "Food Trip" as everyone agreed to eat sea food in Sea Side Cuzina Resto Bar located in Pasay City. Everyone was there, we had fun with shrimps and crabs. Of course, there was a karaoke session, and it was me who held the mic most of the time hehe..Well, it's because everyone drank except me. So I didn't have anything to do but to sing. "Bad Day" of Daniel Powter was one of the song I sang. Almost everyone sang, but the team's favorite was Lorx as she sang her heart and lungs out with the song Better Days hehe..peace Lorx!.

On Tuesday, there was another team building as almost everyone watched New Moon in SM Megamall. The next day, Coach PV together with the rest of our teammates watch 2012.I didn't join them 'coz I had watched the movie last three weeks ago. I think there would be more team buildings to come before Coach PV finally leaves Sitel this Dec 1. We are planning to have grand team building next week for him.

Here are some of the photos in Sea Side - Cuzina Resto Bar

New Moon

The wait is over for the new Twilight Saga as New Moon opened last Friday. Fans rushed to cinemas to watch the sequel of Bella-Edward vampire-theme love story, this time combined with a wolf-theme love triangle as Jacob (Taylor Lautner) made a bigger important role in this new series.

According to boxoffice.mojo, New Moon earned a record-breaking single day gross of $72.7 million in North America alone. The record was previously owned by The Dark Knight with $67.2 million which opened last year. Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince opened $62 million and $58.2 respectively this year. New Moon's three-day gross ended up with $140.7 million which is good at third place in all-time opening weekends in North America. Its worldwide opening weekend reached to $258.8 which is currently at No. 7.

Summit Entertainment is probably celebrating the success of the Twilight Sequel as it only made with in $60 million budget. Current No. 1 Movie for the Summit Entertainment Distributor is the first Twilight movie which earned up to $190 million last year earned in domestic, and $385 million worldwide and was made by $3o million production cost. Thanks to New Moon, Summit somehow cope with the lost of its other films released this year, which includes Push, Astro Boy and Sorority Row.

Although not much accepted but the most critics, New Moon is well accepted with open arms with the book's fans. That includes my self, I didn't much like the movie but I am glad to see everything came to live again. I didn't expect too much, but somehow amazed how Chris Wietz encapsulated everything in a 2-hour film without missing a single important part in the book. Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson somehow made a better acting this time, but Taylor Lautner needs to work more on his acting. Dakota Fanning was really good, it was a short scene though, but couldn't forget the way she said her line "This may only hurt a little...". I was so surprised with Michael Sheen, I didn't know that he was on the film. Like Dakota, Michael Sheen is one of the best actors that cast in the New Moon. The scene with Volturi is my favorite scene in the film.

I shouldn't also forget to comment on the soundtrack (the album made it to No. 1 in Billboard 200 by the way). Songs are really cool, it sounds so new with totally different beat, so different compare to it's first OST album. I didn't know Stephenie Meyer has a very good taste of songs (I'm sure she made big part in choosing the soundtrack for the film). Meanwhile, Eclipse is set to be released in June 30, as November date is taken by the first part of Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows.

Over-all, New Moon delivers a very safe move in everything. It's not the best love story ever told, but somehow the book made it huge and fans are craving for more.

Drive to Five is Over

Done with "Drive to Five" training with Candy. It was a two-week program with coaching sessions, call monitoring and full of fun and activities. One of the activities we did was watching "How I met your mother" series. Yes! we just watched episodes from the tv series in order for us to familiarize some American humors, not to mention their lifestyle and most importantly the way how they speak. I became addicted to it, that I want to buy the DVD copy of all seasons of the series. We watched the Season 2 and finished only up to 10th episode. This coming payday, I would start going to video store to look for the 1st season.

The training somehow worked for me 'coz I got 3 surveys with an average of 90% for two weeks. Before the training begun my MTD survey was at 60%, the training was really a big help that pulled up my stats, and currently I am at 75% for total of 6 surveys. Our site's monthly target is 73%. For two months now, I've been exceeding the site's target as I scored 77% last month. Hopefully I am able to keep it up. Although we are done with two-week program, Candy will still be monitoring our calls and our surveys for our consistency. I'm so glad that everything works fine for me now. Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) really helps a lot. Thanks for whoever created the video I watched about PMA.

Lucky Day for me..

Just got home from night shift. What a day?!..Wish my day is always like this,there is nothing so especial to day though, except that it is my birthday, and everyone seems to remember it (thanks to facebook and friendster). Since I opened my social network accounts this morning, greetings started coming in, even up to this time, friends, former students, peers and family and relatives are greeting Happy B-day to me!..I almost forgot about it when my nephews and nieces greeted me through text messages this morning. I don't really celebrate birthday for some reasons, but it feels good if someone greets you, it is not really the greeting that matters to me, but the time spent to you by that person just to let you know that he or she cares. I don't know if that really makes sense hehe..

Any way, when I started my shift last night, I seemed to have a good-luck day, maybe because it's my birthday or whatever reason. I got two surveys from our clients with a "Very Satisfied" rating. The comments were good, and I am so happy that I made Candy (our trainer/coach) 'coz we are undergoing training with her. At least everything she does to us must be effective.

I'm looking forward for more good surveys from our client, after all I'm for a regularization next month. I have to keep my performance up. And I'm pretty sure if its for me, it will be mine. God knows best. For now, I'm just enjoying whatever blessings I have.

12 Rounds

It took several months for me to watch this movie, maybe because I failed to watch his first movie, The Marine. The director of this film is the same director of Die Hard 2 and Deep Blue Sea, which gave me interest to watch 12 Rounds. Starred by John Cena, a wrestler superstar, whose relationship with World Wrestling Federation (WFF) reached to a higher level of producing films. WWF has already produced four films which include The Marine, See No Evil, and The Condemned. Two of the films are starred by John Cena and I won’t be surprised if they still have movies installed for him. ‘Coz despite of not so being a box office success, their films are not poorly rated and earned a lot through DVD rentals and sales.

Donnie (John Cena), starred as a police officer who made the most outstanding job in his career by sending a famous gangster, Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen) to jail. Donnie got promoted with the job and after a year, Miles broke off from jail and started to haunt Donnie, his wife and his best friend. Playing a very exciting game of Miles, Donnie needs to survive the 12 rounds to save his wife and his best friend.

Mr. Cena needs to work on his acting, but since he is a new comer, what he did in this film was bearable. Every round is breath-taking, it’s like watching a boxing fight except that knock out is impossible without reaching the 12th round. Not the best but one of the good action-packed films that shouldn’t be missed.

2012 - The mother of all disaster films

"2012" is happening now in the Philippines and I have finally watched the movie yesterday. I was planning to watch the movie today, but couldn't wait for it. So while waiting for my interview schedule yesterday (application for abroad) I passed by Glorieta Cinemas and the first screening was almost starting at around 11:45. I immediately bought a ticket, grabbed a burger and a large coke from McDonald and headed to the cinema and looked for my seat. After several trailer, 2012 started. The first main character (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) in the film looked so familiar. I have seen him in Redbelt movie. I can't forget his character because of his excellent performance in that film. It was after several minutes 'til John Cusack was shown with his funny act. He played a not-so-known author of the book in the film which later taught a very important lesson or realization to Ejiofor's character.

After several minutes, disasters begun in different parts of the world. I had nothing to say but "Whoa, wow...what the f***.." again and again. It started by a mini quake in which earth cracked like an egg shell then followed by a real monster earthquake, gigantic tsunamis and a fireballs from the sky. The disaster effects and thrilling action were to be expected in the film, but what I didn't expect was the story. It is more inspiring and very touching. It tells us that there is always hope no matter what, may it be an end of the world. Indeed 2012 is the mother of all disaster films that should never missed to watch.

Letting go..

Been so not good for past few days. Worried about the things that I've been doing for quite a while and never realized it up to now. I never thought that I could be a complete A** H*** and can screw up everything, big time. After several months of having a special bond which we called "try", it finally ended last Nov 7.

I still remember that night, when I told her" why don't we give it a try". Despite the idea of a long distance relationship she said "Yes". Then after three days, I left for Manila, for first few days, the exchange of messages was frequent, like normal couple who misses each other. But after few weeks, I don't know what had gotten into me. I wasn't able to keep up with the responsibility even for simple way of replying her text messages. Until she buzzed me with her message "do you still want this to work?". I apologized to her and somehow it fixed that issue after a whole night of talk about it (through text messages). When she told me that she's goining to Bicol and would stay in Manila for few days, I immediately filed for a leave to be with her. While together, conversations regarding our conflict religion was brought up, which was never an issue between us before. Then she started talking about what happened way back in Zamboanga, how she waited for my text messages just to show that I still care for her. She was telling me like "what if after a few days of being together here in Manila, it will happen again?I don't want to go back to Zamboanga and to hope again that you would still care for me, that's why, if we can't handle it, let's call it off..."

I didn't want it first, I forced my self to make it up, But there was nothing I havendone that pleased her. I met her father formally with her brother the night before her flight to Zamboanga. The whole night was a total disaster for her, as I failed her expectation again. I was also thinking of my own "like" to happen. As we were waiting for our ride back home, there was a silence again. I didn't talk the whole time we were together that day, except when we met her father and brother. She broke the silence with her comment "kanina ka pa di nagsasalita, napipikon na ko"..Then I said "lahat ng gusto ko ayaw mo, and then you are asking me what do i want?what do you want me to say?"..There was a silence again, then we sat on one of the benches in Mall of Asia and finally talked seriously. There was an exchange of blame and complaints, both parties seemed to be of against each other. 'Til both of said, "Ok, let's call if of"..As I said "if you think that there is no way for us to make this working, then let's call it off"..We ended the conversation that night with both parties agreeing to call it over. She was crying while we were talking, it was not easy for both us to say it though, but we let go with one another that night.

Among my previous relationships, my relationship with Kristine, is the one that has the most meaningful end for me. I learned a lot of things that will make me a better person, a better man to my woman. She is in Zamboanga now, and we are still texting, we are still friends. I may always know what happen, but for me and Kristin, I'm sure that if we can't be together again, we will remain as good friends.

Ramil

Another typhoon (code name Ramil this time) hit Metro Manila today. As usual our area in Taguig is not excused from this disaster. This is the 4th typhoon that I have experienced here since May this year. This is one of the things that I hate about living here, the only time it won't rain if it's extremely hot. There is no middle temperature. Actually everything here is so extreme, food, the people here, environment, everything is so extreme.

Anyway, I'm the only one awake now 'coz I was about to report for work for a 3:45am to 12:45 shift. I got my stuff hoping the rain which started from 7pm last night had stopped or started to drizzle. But when I was about to open the door, I could hear the wind howling, and the rain even fell harder. Then the light went out, so I called the office instead, telling them I may be late or I may not be reporting at all. Although they considered my excuse,they still wanted me to report to work, which I also understand. I told them I'll stay up 'til 5am today, if the rain stops, i'll try my best to report.

As of now, I don't hear the rain anymore, I think it had stopped. Which means, I need to go and report to work. I don't want my paycheck to be deducted this coming payday hehe..

the Interview with an employer

Got lucky again with another opportunity last Friday. I was able to meet with an Arab employer for my application, this time the destination is for Qatar. I don't know yet if the offer is better than what is offered to me by another agency but at least, I have another option to consider. Honestly, there is no assurance yet for both opportunities though, but it's good to hope and if ever I won't make it, then as they always say, "charge it to your experience".

The interview or should I say the talk with the employer was really smooth ('coz he didn't ask me dance or to do some stunts hehe..). He made me somehow comfortable with the usual questions about my self, my family, my dreams and why am I applying for abroad. I don't know if I impressed him, but he told me I did (tampa humble or hambog). He was telling me "Inshallah you will meet all your goals in life". He even asked me if when can I possibly start with them if they will select me for the position.

While waiting for the result for these applications, I'm still trying my luck in other agencies, planning to visit them during my off (gawing hobby ba!). According to the head recruiter prior to our interview last Friday, there are 1,300 agencies here in the country, land-based alone (meron daw kasi sea-based, baka may agencies sa barko hehe) so there are still thousands of it that I still need to visit hehe. Anyway, I'll just try all the possibilities and opportunities while working at the same time.

Honestly don't know yet if I am ready to work abroad, 'coz I started to enjoy my work now. I'm learning a lot especially in enhancing my communication skills. I also learned some new IT Stuff, as part of our support scope I am able to familiarize the environment for latest Mac Operating System and the latest Windows 7. Despite the difficulties of taking a very long ride everyday, there is somehow a price that is more than twice its worth (whatever that means hehe..).