Les Miserables Extended First Look

This looks incredible. I can't wait for Christmas.

Helmed by The King's Speech's Academy Award-winning director, Tom Hooper, Les Misérables stars Hugh Jackman, Oscar® winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried.

Another Queridanovela: Viva Films' A Secret Affair Starring Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsay and Andi Eigenmann

As if banking on the success of No Other Woman, the storyline of A Secret Affair is a little too familiar. Only this time, tables are turned as Anne Curtis plays the wailing legal girlfriend with a feisty mother who provides the querida lessons in witty, memorable quotes. And because its theme is too close to two previous box office successes, viewers may hesitate to watch Viva's newest offering thinking the movie offers nothing new. Is Viva Films going to milk this queridanovela campaign dry until the viewing public gets tired of such storyline? 

No Other Mistress? My Neighbor's Affair? Watching the trailer made me think that it took a little bit of this and a little bit of that from previous queridanovela movies. Anne Curtis said this movie was made with a conscious effort to be different from No Other Woman. Unfortunately, the trailer didn't made the conscious effort to show that intention.

And Derek Ramsay reprises his role as the hapless apologetic chap who has all the alibis in the world. Once again, he plays victim to the charms of the temptress as if he didn't like all the tempting. He is once again, in despair after all the humping and pumping-- I was hoping his character would be something more than what was already offered in No Other Woman. 

As for Andi, she's easier on the eyes compared with Christine Reyes who kept putting me off with her insincere acting. Yet, I can't help but think this movie will be far more interesting if they cast both actresses from the previous movie. Mas maganda yung may Barney party no.2. 

(And I enjoyed No Other Woman very much.)

Bottomline, I love Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsay to bits but as a viewer, I need a new story.

Photos sourced from Ultimate Fan

Star Cinema's The Mistress Reunites Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz

Mistresses are often portrayed as evil, cunning little hyenas who's out to destroy lives and families. Usually they're the ones who initiate confrontation with a catty, devil-may-care-let's-take-this-whole-thing-public sort of attitude. But what if the mistress is a mild-mannered, responsible and caring woman who doesn't look the part of the scheming evil home wrecker? Will you think twice about going against that woman or be sympathetic to her plight as someone who fell for the wrong person?

Celebrating 10 years of on-screen love and romance, Star Cinema reunites the highly successful tandem of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo in "The Mistress," also starring Ronaldo Valdez and Hilda Koronel, directed by Olivia Lamasan. Star Cinema invited bloggers and online media at ABS-CBN's ELJ Building to meet the stars of the said movie.

This is a story of a man who falls in love with someone's mistress. John Lloyd says his character JD is a far departure from his personality. JD is a very persuasive, courageous, man of the world who's out to get what he wants. He found his impossible love his Sari, who happens to be the mistress of a rich, prominent man Rico (Ronaldo Valdez).  

Sari, who is helplessly in love with Rico not for his money, but with the respect, affection, security and the sense of importance Rico provides her. Sari, naturally a family-oriented, good-hearted person, endears herself to Rico by her sweet, affectionate character. She is a decent woman who makes an honest living, far from the bad image of mistresses previously portrayed by Anne Curtis in No Other Woman. 

The strong-willed wife, Hilda Koronel, although tolerant of her husband's infidelity, asserts her right as the legal wife, seeing to it that Sari is made to feel degraded as just being Rico's kept woman. I would have loved if Hilda Koronel (I've been a fan since forever, way back to "Insiang") and Ronaldo Valdez! 

Bea shares how nervous she was with her kissing scene with Ronaldo Valdez, who used to play her father in a previous soap opera she starred in. "Nung araw na magsu-shoot na kami ng scene namin, hindi talaga ako mapakali," Bea said. "Sabi nya sa kin, I want you to be comfortable para hindi tayo mahirapan, hindi tayo paulit-ulit. I will not take advantage of you." She quickly realised that Ronaldo is such a professional actor and what is asked of her is very little. 

Below is Vanessa Valdez, the woman who's responsible for all the quotable quotes now viral all over the internet! Namely: 

“Ang daming dahilan para hindi kita mahalin, pero may isang dahilan kung bakit hindi ko magawa ‘yun. MAHAL KITA, yun lang ‘yon.” — JD (John Lloyd Cruz)

“Walang babaeng pinangarap na maging kabit.” -- Sari (Bea Alonzo)

“Layuan mo ang asawa ko. Tagalog yan para maintindihan mo.” (Hilda Koronel)

“Di dahil gusto mo, makukuha mo.” — Sari (Bea Alonzo)

“I like you, you like me, ‘bat nga ba hindi ko pwedde makuha yung gusto ko?” — JD (John Lloyd Cruz)

“NO! Because I bet you I’m a damn better lover!“— JD (John Lloyd Cruz)

“But you know what Sari. I’m not giving up.” — JD 

The room is filled with online media as well as television cameras

With Vanessa Valdez, she wrote the story and screenplay of The Mistress

With the director, Olivia Lamasan

With The Mistress herself, Bea Alonzo

And of course, The Lover, John Lloyd Cruz

Watch the full trailer here! The Mistress premieres in cinemas September 12, 2012.

Manila Ocean Park "Jellies" Jellyfish Show 2012

Jellyfishes are my least favourite sea creatures because they're the most annoying things underwater. They sting, they breed during summer just when the beach is filled with swimmers, and they never fail to give me a mini-heart attack whenever on my skin diving trips, I turn around to find a jellyfish smack right in front of my goggles. Their very behaviour of not knowing where to go, not having a semi-permanent address and just floating aimlessly on the surface of the water makes puts them on top of my "sinister little buggers" list.

Yet, jellyfishes are one of the most magical, graceful things to watch underwater. The way their bodies pump water in and out of their bodies is a constant source of fascination, even for people like me, who doesn't like them.

They are beautiful, and sometimes even fatally beautiful. Some of the deadliest animals in the world are jellyfishes--- the box jellyfish or Australian sea wasp, the Irukandji jellyfish and the Portugese Man of War. However some are harmless and you can even pick up with gloves and some you can actually eat, as I've tried jellyfish doused in vinegar from my home province in Banga, Aklan.

Classical music plays on the background, in sync with the whimsical moving jellies

Tickets to the jellyfish show cost P150/head. You save money by buying by the packages. Be careful to bring small children as the whole attraction is very dark and relies on the illumination provided by the tanks. The exit/restroom is not even obvious so you need a little time to navigate through the attraction. Have fun on your visit to the Manila Ocean Park!

Manila Ocean Park Sea Lion Show and Marine Life Habitat

It's not everyday that we get to see a sea lion, so I consider this part of the trip a treat. Although thanks to the movie Madagascar, I can't help but feel for these beautiful creatures being plucked out of the wild so they may be used to spread awareness for their preservation, and hopefully not fall to the hands of illegal poachers.

Loaded with popcorn, nachos and soda, we sat on the first row of the side bleachers to avoid the afternoon heat

The sea lions performed clever tricks and dance routines with their trainers, to the tune of Mission Impossible which set the mood for the seals going on exciting "missions"

After the show, we went to the Marine Life Habitat where you can take photos with the sealions (500php.) Of course, the children are too small to be allowed (by their dad!) Here you can get up-close with the sea lions and see them in underwater action just right below the viewing platform.

The coleman filled with sardines kept the seal happy to perform some more tricks

More on the next post!

Manila Ocean Park Oceanarium and Shark Tank 2012

No Ocean Park is ever complete without an Oceanarium, a long glass tunnel which takes us underwater without getting wet. In the oceanarium, we got a good glimpse of how the other fishes interact with the other fishes in the wild, even with the limited space. Eels can be seen hiding under the corals, manta rays can be seen gliding their way through the other fishes and some lay low, minding their own business careful not to bump into others.

OMG ang sarap gawing sweet and sour fish!! Giant lapu-lapu

Since the fish are fast and I don't have the luxury of time waiting for them to pass nor chasing after them with a baby in hand amidst the big Sunday crowd, you need to make do with these blurry shots :D

At the very end of the whole attraction are Marco's most beloved creatures: Sharks!

The ceiling has a glass bottom to view stingrays

This giant tank holds several species of shark

Marco at the Trails to Antarctica

Miggy looks on to the nearby harbour :)

More on the next post!