Hachiko teaches us what loyalty really is all about

This is the story of Hachiko, an Akita dog, whose bond with its owner remained strong until death (of both owner and canine).

WARNING: It’s heartbreaking AND heartwarming.

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And another one joined the Dream Team…

 

RIP, John Hughes (February 18, 1950 – August 6, 2009)

 

My childhood is slowly fading…

Sigh.

This is turning out to be an obit site…

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The Three Stooges Movie

I learned that production for the Three Stooges movie will commence sometime late this year, with the ff. information:

Writers/Directors: The Farrelly Brothers

Storyline: Based on some original episodes set in the present day.

Target release schedule: 2010

 

As for casting plans, talks are currently being finalized with: Sean Penn, Jim Carrey and Benicio del Toro.

(This is one part of press releases which I have yet to internalize…)

What A Gloomy Day!

All because I’ve just finished researching about a few depressing subjects.

WARNING! If you wish to continue on with your bright and chirpy day, I suggest that you go find another post to read. I for one, will go find something cheerful to do…

 

West Memphis 3

In 1993, 3 teenaged boys were convicted of raping, torturing and murdering 3 younger kids, sending them all to jail. In the recent years, however, new evidences and retracted statements have shown hints/glitches on how the case was initially handled. Resulting to calls for retrial by the defense, speculations of conspiracy by the public, stories of frame-ups and coercion by witnesses, suspicions aimed at specific individuals regarding their involvement on the crime, cries of innocence by the convicted and screams of “Free the WM3” by various pro-WM3 organizations.

I can’t really judge nor give conclusions based on the information I’ve gathered. But one thought lingers…

If the WM3 will be found innocent, will those responsible for the wrongful conviction be able to give them back the 15 youthful years they have lost?

Image courtesy of: www.wm3.org

 

Christopher McCandless’ Journey

While reading the book “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer, I referred to tribute sites, on-line documentaries and wiki entries to fully understand Christopher McCandless, a hiker deemed to be the icon for today’s generation, and his way of thinking. I wanted to find out: is he worth being called “an inspiration” by the free-spirited youth of today? Or was he really just a wayward soul whose thirst for adventure and irresponsible ways resulted to his tragic end?

Right after his college graduation in 1990, he donated all his money to charity and left his comfortable home to have an adventure in pursuit of happiness. During his quest, he met and befriended people he encountered in different towns whose deep concern for him failed to override his determination to experience joy on his own. Was he a future philosopher or a crazy idealist? I wouldn’t know. But those who got to speak with him were awed and inspired by his amazing anecdotes regarding his exploration towards self-fulfillment.

In 1992, with low food supply and inadequate equipment/tools (map, watch, compass – not even money), he hitchhiked his way to Fairbanks, Alaska, with the goal towards his ultimate dream – extreme joy and contentment away from a materialistic world, isolated from the rest of humanity. He called it his “Alaskan Odyssey”. In the wilderness, he sought refuge inside an abandoned bus and survived on what nature could offer him (wild animals and berries).

In the long run, he realized that happiness could not be found in a life of solitary confinement, so he decided to head towards civilization – only to turn back because the trail was blocked by the filled up river.

Four months after he hitchhiked to Fairbanks, his body was found in his sleeping bag inside the bus (it was concluded that he died due to starvation). His journal and some handwritten notes he posted on the bus gave the investigators a clear idea regarding his ordeal.

Personally, I found his story inspiring, not because of his intense fixation in finding his destiny, but because of the lesson he learned, albeit too late – that “Happiness (is) only real when shared” (one of the last journal entries he made).

“Into the Wild” was made into a feature film in 2007, directed by Sean Penn and starring Emile Hirsch.

(The fantastic OST, by the way, was done by Eddie Vedder)

 

The Lost Travelers

In the book, Jon Krakauer also mentioned a few travelers whose fates were similar to that of McCandless’:

EVERETT RUESS: An artist during the 1930s who was so in love with nature that he journeyed to the deepest part of the wilderness, knowing that this was where he would find peace. No one knows what happened to him, as if he just vanished into think air… but apparently, this was how he wanted things to be, as one of his writings said,  "When I go, I leave no trace."

JOHN WATERMAN: A born daredevil, a respected adventurer, he always had the desire to conquer mountains of various heights. He disappeared after he was seen hiking towards the highest summit in North America in the winter of 1981, with only an abandoned camp, plus a single snowshoe track, to tell the story.

 

While surfing for their stories, I came across these other names:

CARL McCUNN: A photographer who went to the Alaskan wilderness in the 1980s to take some shots. He somehow forgot to confirm the helicopter’s pick-up on a specific day, and after almost a year of being stranded he decided to end his life.

JOHN FRANKLIN: He was the captain of the 1845 Arctic exploration that claimed his life, as well as the lives of all of his 128 crewmen due starvation, injury, fatigue, frost-bite etc.

ROBERT FALCON SCOTT: Finding out that his team was not the first to reach the South Pole (in 1912), they headed back down with heavy hearts. Due to exhaustion and injuries, they never made it home. Sadly, only 3 out of 5 bodies were found.

 

See why my day has become depressing?

This freaked me out

And scared the living daylights out of me. Yeah, I love torturing myself by reading true accounts of supposed paranormal activity.

Here’s the actual ad I found in Wikipedia for 112 Ocean Ave., Amityville, NY…

 

…aka the AMITYVILLE HORROR house.

I repeat, I am not fond of movies…

But I watched the 81st Annual Academy Awards on TV, live via satellite.

I’m sure you have already read the list of winners all over the net, but let me join the bandwagon:

Best Motion Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Actress: Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger+ (The Dark Knight)
Best supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Best Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black (Milk)
Best Animated Film: Wall-E

My thoughts:

1. Hugh Jackman turned his stage time into a one-man Broadway show. Still gathering my opinions about it.

2. Anne Hathaway was breathtaking. I have to agree with what Shirley Maclaine said when she introduced her as a Best Actress nom.

3. Tine Faye and Steve Martin as presenters – hilarious!

4. Angelina Jolie laughing at Jennifer Aniston’s and Jack Black’s jokes was WEIRD and AWKWARD.

5. WALL-E!!!!

6. A French-titled Animated Short Film by a Japanese Director… love it. I laughed out loud when he read out the Styx’s “Mr. Roboto” lines.

7. Daniel Craig… I think I fainted… and woke up to Cuba Gooding, Jr...

8. His tribute/introduction to Robert Downey Jr. for the Best Supporting Actor category was funny.

9. Cried buckets of tears when Heath Ledger was named Best Supporting Actor and when Paul Newman was shown at the end of the tribute to those who have left us in 2008.

10. Sophia Loren looked fantastic.

11. Robert De Niro’s intro to Sean Penn was very personal and endearing – proving that they really are friends.

12. Sean Penn’s speech was amazing. Kudos to him for welcoming Mickey Rourke back. Didn’t get his “You commie, homo-loving sons of guns” comment though.

13. But hand’s down, the best speech came from Dustin Lance Black. Very poignant and full of hope,

14. Hey, Beyonce was lipsynching. tsk tsk.

15. The best parts were the actors’ categories where in 5 past winners introduced nominees. Each of the spiels were personally crafted by the presenters inevitably touching the hearts of all the nominees. It’s as if they were trying to deliberate on who deserves to be inducted to their little fraternity.

16. Imagine the pride the winner had when he was welcomed by his predecessors upon reaching the stage and when they all left together, as soon as the speech was done.

17. The entire crew of Slumdog Millionaire joined the producer when he accepted the award for Best Picture – this made me smile.

18. Show was long, but because of the unique approach, I didn’t mind it at all.

19. Where was George Clooney, my man?

20. I kinda miss the Jack Nicholson banters.

Reliving his Legacy

I was able to watch some parts of the soon-to-be released Jeff Buckley documentary entitled “Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley“. The film revolved around various aspects of Jeff’s short life that his fans already know of – how he started, his career, his journey to self-fulfillment, his death and his influence as told by the people he has left behind.

Honestly, I think I’m one of a few who will be lining up to get the DVD once it’s released, because the snippets alone gave me a glimpse of how it was to be able to “experience him”. I saw the legacy that he, for sure, wanted us to live by. It was like traveling with him and his loved ones as he perfectly shared his gift to those who mattered.

Before I knew it, the short promo ended and I was already in tears, not because he is gone, but because of the way he continues to connect with people like me –  almost 12 years after his death.

Click the photo to visit the film

So you have discovered my secret realm…

Welcome! Hope you enjoy your stay. You will find a lot of interesting things here, especially about music. For comments and questions, please do not hesitate to use the COMMENTS box found under each post.

If you are one of those who know me personally and has been telling people how upset you are with a particular post of mine… kindly read this first.

If Thundercats: The Movie were to be released…

This has got to be the best fanmade movie trailer I have ever seen.

No one will be as cool as Luke

RIP Mr. Newman.

My heart is broken.

A week ago Paul sat with his daughter in the arbor of the garden, breathed in all the late summer beauty, and said very quietly, ‘It’s been a privilege to be here.’