The Underscore Blog

Platforms: Xbox One, Playstation 4, Windows Media: Disc and download Game Modes: Single Player Season Pass: Yes, released.

Monolith Games presents us this year with yet another exciting AAA release - Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor. It's an action-adventure sandbox style fantasy game that takes place on the Lord of the Rings universe. Personally, I've never read an LOTR book and didn't really watch its movies as well. Perhaps it's because of my distaste to the overall ambience (I don't like middle earth settings) but that's just me. Yet effectively enough, I've been more than curious lately because of this game. I'm not sure if that makes it a good game to have sparked my interest and that's what I'll be telling you guys right now.

Disclaimer-ish: This review, along with the rest of my future reviews, is and will be based from my gaming experience. There's more focus on gameplay than plot, so you don't have to worry about huge spoilers. If there are parts that are crucial to the gameplay review that contains spoilers, I'll label them of course. Also, I don't intend to put as much as effort (and highfalutin words) into these reviews as I only report what I feel, what I see and what I think about the game. If readers like you appreciate user reviews more than critical reviews, then this is for you.

Premise

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor tells a story about Talion, a ranger  captain of Gondor garrison, whose family, along with him, has been murdered by Sauron's forces. However, instead of dying, a mystical wraith (whose name I wouldn't ruin for you), spares him from death and merges with his mortal body, giving him a chance for vengeance and to rid of the dark lord Sauron's army.

Graphics

The graphics of the game is strikingly well made. Of course, we would expect a lot from AAA releases, especially at how good it looks. New generation consoles and a high-powered PC could enjoy its stunning visuals as this game is released for Xbox One, Playstation 4 and Windows platforms. Since I have not much interest about frame rate, I'd leave that out for now.

The details of the game are also creatively applied. Weather effects bring a lot of life to it such as rainy nights and hot, sunny days. In the game, you are able to advance the time so as to help your approach in taking on missions, but there's a price to pay (more on that later). Overall, the visuals look absolutely good and it brings you closer into the world of LOTR - no doubt about that.

Gameplay

Okay this is the exciting part. For a AAA release, this game definitely has A LOT of content, which is good! Sure there are available DLCs, but that doesn't make the game feel incomplete at all. It introduces a rather interesting mechanic: The Nemesis System, which I would discuss further.

Shadow of Mordor's combat system, along with its shady stealth features, feel kind of... familiar. Let me paint the picture:

Melee Combat - You are able to strike your enemies with your sword. Each strike will start a combo counter, which progresses with a lot of perks as you chain it higher. The combos offer special moves when it reaches a certain count. They can also be interrupted when you get hit by the enemy or if you're unable to follow-up a strike with precise timing. As your character levels up, you can purchase upgrades to improve your combat skills. You are also able to counter multiple enemies while attacking, and you can dodge by tumbling over the heads of the minions. Do all of that sound familiar? I'll give you a hint: Batman Arkham Series.

Wraith Combat - I say "wraith" combat because it sounds cooler than ranged combat, but it's basically the same thing. Your wraith fights for you in a really cool way. You can shoot arrows while slowing time and holding the fire button to increase damage, teleport to the enemy, and identify enemies using Wraith vision. Another hint? Eagle vision.

Stealth - You enter stealth mode when you crouch a bit, often silencing your movements. Upon approaching an enemy, you can either grab and kill him with a swift thrust to the neck, drain him for elf shots or brutally stab him repeatedly to "terrorize" other enemies, leaving you with fewer to fight later on. Besides from approaching enemies quietly, you can kill from above, under a ledge, or within bushes where you automatically enter stealth mode. You can also attract enemies to your location to lure them for an easy kill. Hints? Anyone? Come on this is so obvious. Ezio? Connor? Haystack assassinations?

Parkour - Yes there is a lot of climbing, running and shimming around. You even get to use a zipline (AC fans will surely know). Strikingly enough, the grunting voice of Talion whenever he climbs structures sounds awfully a lot like Altair's. If you've never played AC, then you should be fine, but somehow it bothers me a little, knowing that it comes that close to another game in comparison. Plus, you get to climb a tower, rebuild it, and activate the map visibility and unlock new missions for that area.

So to summarize, the gameplay elements heavily include those that could be found in Assassin's Creed series and Batman Arkham series. I've got a Gamespot article that speaks about the developers' points of view, addressing the issue of its vast similarities with the mentioned series, and they even admitted that it DOES borrow animations and code from Assassin's Creed.  Also, they stated that once you get to play Shadow of Mordor, you'll feel its "uniqueness" and therefore make the user experience vary greatly from its similar titles. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that. It really felt a lot like AC and Batman (I've played hundreds of hours in those games) and what separates Shadow of Mordor heavily from them is the Wraith abilities and the Nemesis system. Should it bother you? It did for me, but only at the beginning. I'm a forgiving person, and I still enjoyed its gameplay. I would never have played AC and Batman long hours if I didn't enjoy their styles, and that's what makes me driven to grind in Shadow of Mordor. So the safe answer would be "it's up to you", but my spider sense tells me it really shouldn't bother you that much. Games DO borrow a lot from others and add in a little of their own (ehem Styx: Master of Shadows). It doesn't bother me a lot now because I've learned to accept that fact and so should you. Besides, it's LOTR man!

Nemesis System

As I've said, Shadow of Mordor has a unique gameplay mechanic called the Nemesis System. What it does is that it displays a group of Uruks and Orcs that you encountered that become bosses, or Captains and Warchiefs, so to speak. Some of these nemeses are blacked out, but you can identify them by interrogating a minion or another captain or by triggering main missions. When grabbing an enemy captain or minion, you have the option to kill him instantly, interrogate him to identify another enemy, or give a death threat to an identified Warchief or Captain, increasing their loot drop rate and power level. What's interesting enough is that if you get killed by anyone in the game, the ones responsible for your death become promoted. So if you get killed by a measly orc (since you get ridiculously outnumbered a lot in the game), that orc becomes a Captain, and he appears on the Sauron's Army list. Orcs and Uruks battle each other for domination, so there are mostly power struggles within them which gets one promoted, giving them higher power levels. The higher the power level, the tougher and stronger they get. I once got a Level 10 Captain to get promoted to Level 18 (yes I'm a noob), by getting killed by him 8 freakin times. I managed to throw him in the fire one fight though, and he got burned and retreated. When we met again, he "remembered" me burning him on a previous fight as we began to battle once again. Once you kill someone who killed you, you get revenge points which is rewarding for people like me who get frustrated for being killed by the same dude over and over again. Additionally, when you advance time, some of your targets increase in power levels.

Another interesting thing about the Nemesis System is that it displays the target's strengths and weaknesses upon interrogation from another enemy. Obviously, you can use this to your advantage and approach the target while exploiting his weakness to make him an easier kill. Some weakness are really good to exploit, such as being vulnerable to stealth kills. One strike and you're done. However, some of them include invulnerability to stealth and ranged attacks, so you'll have no choice but to fight them head on. Although bringing in the weakness of that target could make it easier for you. This makes the Nemesis System really interesting as it affects how you approach your target and makes use of strengths and weaknesses to offer you with options on how to take them down the most efficient (and fun) way.

Thoughts and Conclusion

One thing to note about the whole gameplay is that the AI is TERRIBLE at detecting you. You can actually stealth kill someone facing in front of you and the other dude wouldn't even notice you just murdered his drinking buddy. You can shoot someone from above and nobody will bat an eye even though 20 orcs saw you do it. They'll just be curious and you can usually run off and hide, wash and repeat. What's tough though, is you can get outnumbered really quickly, and captains from afar might spot you, joining the hordes of orcs in their kill fest. Of course, if you're an expert at these types of combat, you wouldn't mind, but it can get really frustrating especially when you focus on the captain and an enemy spearman gets you. It will get both of them promoted to a higher power level and that means more tough crap for you to handle. Even if you could, it's not wise to battle them head on unless you're really good with timing and all.

To conclude my report for you guys, here's a series of questions most of you might want to get answered:

Will I enjoy it? You get to kill hordes of orcs and uruks with the style you want. You can upgrade your weapons, skills and abilities. The graphics is good, and the battle system is solid. The Nemesis System is also a good tool to aid you in your target approach. I enjoy it because of those things, plus the story. You'll definitely enjoy it if you're onto those things too. But if you play mostly FPS, MMO, MOBA and would rather play those games, I don't think you'll enjoy this the first try, but give it a shot and it surely wouldn't disappoint.

What if I'm not an LOTR fan? I haven't really been a fan of LOTR, but I love this game. Besides, I'm pretty sure that even some LOTR fans wouldn't want to play this game because they hate too much about life, so if you love games and if you just want to have a good time playing them, I don't see why you shouldn't get it. LOTR fan or not.

Is it worth it? It's one of the best AAA games released up to date. Whether or not you're an LOTR fan, this game is absolutely worth it because of the vast amount of content  and the quality of the game itself. Plus, if you factor in the DLCs, you can still have a good experience even if you don't get them. So yes, it is worth it.

Stars? 4.5 out of 5.

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

The good:

- Solid gameplay - Good graphics - Nemesis system - Replay value - Content - Story The bad: - Borrows heavily from some titles. Some might get too disappointed about that - Can be repetitive sometimes

The ugly: - Enemy AI detection rate

First of all, I would like to warn you, true believers, that this film review contains spoilers. Do not read if you want to keep the elements of surprise in you. 

Spider-Man! Although Sam Raimi didn't really fail dynamically on his version of the trilogy, I found those versions more "cartoony" with a lightweight plot that circulates within Mary Jane's Damsel-in-Distress stereotype. I was only a fan of those films simply because I'm a fan of the franchise. But let that not be the basis for my review of Marc Webb's version, The Amazing Spider-Man because believe me or not, it's by far, the best thing that happened since Marvel.

Let me start off:

Visuals

Albeit being too blah blah, the blah blah.. Okay, so no negative points for me. If there were, I wouldn't have given a rat's ass if it's "green screen's very noticeable", "CGI's shitty" or even the most famous hater commentary "Nah, it's all effects." Seriously, of course it is. And if you don't appreciate the beauty of CGI by letting your mind do the "believing" for you, then you're trying to be that hipster bigot who frantically believes that all Cannes Film Festival entries are way better than mainstream cinema. Get over it. TASM 2's visuals might be a little off for IMAX viewing, but that's it. The colors are wonderfully plated out, the cinematography is surprisingly striking (you don't have to be a freaking art major to notice), and the overall lighting adds just the right drama to the most important key points in the film.

Music/Audio

I listen to dubstep and couldn't understand why they'd enlist it as a soundtrack for TASM 2, but I'm surprised it came up pretty well with the slow motion timing and time-constrained fight scenes with Electro. It's dubstep. I know. Turn a blender on and hear dubstep. But I love it. And hey, maybe you will too if you see how much it fits the fight scenes.

Plus having your own theme song as your mobile's ringing tone? That is just badass.

Plot

The. Most. Amazing. Part. Of. Spider-Man 2. Is. This.

It's basically like watching the comic book come to life in the big screen. It plays very loyal to the original plot points of TASM in the comics, but adds its own uniqueness in relation to the arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The friendship of Harry and Peter, although briefly shown, tells a lot about their past. This is one of the most crucial things that they looked after and I appreciated the efforts of the filmmakers to bring it as close to the familiarity of the comic arcs.

Peter's intelligence, although being outsmarted by Gwen, is one of the most significant traits of Peter Parker that the film did not let go. This was strongly established, especially when he had troubles with Electro frying up his web shooters. That is what I love about it: It tried to explain everything that happens that would have been normally questioned by simple logic. All without sacrificing the quality of the plot delivery.

The death of Gwen Stacy is one of the most iconic deaths in comic book history. The Green Goblin was responsible for her death in almost all renditions of the arc. And indeed, TASM 2 delivered. If there's one thing that concretely turned the whole complexity around, it's her death. It changed Peter. It made him understand that he is still, after all, only human. And this is what it's like to fail as someone who fights for the good of all - at the cost of your loved ones. This sequence is the most outstanding scene I have witnessed my entire life so far in a superhero movie.

Acting

Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield (Gwen and Peter) - their chemistry is so tight, that Gwen's death affected me in a way that it affected Peter. They must have developed something that clicked for the audience without sacrificing the quality of their characters. And I'll get to more Andrew Garfield later

Dane DeeHan (Harry Osborn) - This guy nailed it. I knew it the first time I saw him in the trailer. This guy is the baddest, meanest actor to play a villain at his age. I've seen him before in Chronicle and couldn't have testified more to how great of an actor he is. He justifies the insanity of Green Goblin, much like how Willem Dafoe did, but in a darker, crazier tone.

Jamie Foxx (Electro) - Lol this guy's a freaggin' legend. I didn't like how wimpy his character is though, but Electro here is very much similar to the comic too on how he hungers for power almost constantly (because he's living energy duh) and how Peter had trouble fighting him due to his web shooters' sensitivity to electricity.

Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker) - I don't like how he portrayed Peter. He's supposed to be a wimp, although the constant crying of Andrew wouldn't count as wimpy. Peter was supposed to let small things go because when he's Spider-Man, his aggressiveness towards evil is fueled by these frustrations. What I loved about Andrew though, is how he plays Spider-Man! It's like seeing the pages of the comics being turned page by page in the big screen! He's lippy. He constantly annoys his enemies by trying to be funny. And he calls Electro "Sparkles" (just like in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions)

Conclusion

I'm not trying to be biased. I love Spider-Man and quite frankly, I'd probably love every film based on him. But after seeing The Amazing Spider-Man 2, I felt that this is exactly how it should have been made. It's dark and serious, albeit trying to lighten things up and eventually rising to a mere twist that teaches the heart of the film to the audience. The only downside for me is probably how "rushed" the ending feels like. I know it's supposed to transition for a spin-off or a comic tie-in, but it would've been better if they included it in the film.

Although, I couldn't say much anymore, but I was very entertained. And for those of you who risked reading the spoilers but haven't watched it, trust me, you'd love it.

Oh yes, you read my mind. It's a 5 out of 5.

-ino-

P.S. More Spoilers:

Things you might have missed on The Amazing Spider-Man 2!  Sinister Six Saga. This is confirmed! So far, we have Rhino's appearance. But what astounds me are Vulture's Wings and Dr. Octopus' arms. Of course we already have Goblin, so that leaves Lizard, Kraven the Hunter, Electro (I doubt it), Shocker and Sandman to fill in the missing spots. Felicia Hardy. Oh yes, this bitch-a-roonie-doonie Black Cat (I hate her) is in the universe and who knows what relationship she will have with Pete. Alistair Smythe. Not what I expected him to be. He's played by B.J. Novak (from the Office) and is merely a cameo, but it seems he's not much of the science whiz I thought he'd be. For those of you who don't know, he's the one who built the Spider-Slayers and eventually became one. Scorpion. Based from the events that unfolded, Connors' "cross-species genetics research" was "cancelled." But that would explain a lot if Scorpion is to surface.

In an attempt to justify a sequel, Rio 2 seemed to try and deliver the good things that made us love the first film (at least to the intended demographic). Does that mean we get to see Blu and his adventures just as we expect any other clichéd sequel will be? Read on and find out.

Plot

I'll start off with the plot. Mainly because that's what I predicted to be the most awful thing about this film. But, I have to admit that even though there are a few setbacks (realizing this is a kid's film of course), the main conflict was given a good resolution, which is a good thing! Although some concepts of the film should have been explored further (like how Blu's kids could have contributed more to their uprising against humans or how Nigel could have had more airtime, since he's very entertaining), the rest of the raw parts of the main story are forgivable because they were compensated by the bright, colorful cinematography and overall atmosphere. Character development didn't really set out evenly (but it did deliver). It felt like most of the film is filled with an entirety of concepts that had great potential but was lost somewhere in production.

Visuals and Sound

I have to say, the first Rio film really set high expectations for me. I know the story was not that in-depth, seeing as this was a movie for kids, but somehow Rio delivered an adequate plot for the entire film to not become a complete 3D world of crap. Fortunately, I liked how the visuals of the first film came out especially when the birds started dancing to catchy beats and satisfyingly magnificent Samba music. Rio 2 definitely brought out the same feel to the first film that I almost didn't expect. From the entertainingly cute song number of Gabi, the poison dart frog, to the extravagant performance of the Blue Spix Macaw tribe, moviegoers are sure to love every minute of it with the striking distribution of bright, vivid colors that is sure to bring feast to the eyes of kids and adults alike. The music is also praiseworthy, with a lot of originals and a few remixes on the side (not to mention the pleasing sound of Bruno Mars' number).

Conclusion

In my opinion, Rio 2 is a very lovable film for kids (and kids at heart). It opens up a very strong awareness for the environment and for taking care of our rainforests. Being an enthusiast for the preservation of nature, I loved how the film tried to talk some sense to adults and introduce the care and love that kids should share with the environment. The songs can really get to you and have you crack a smile or two especially when you start to see the birds dance. And the wide spectrum of vividness will captivate you with its creative combination of lights and shades. What I find weird (and totally unexpected) was the ending and how "dark" it was. It's a surprise to see something like that for a kid's movie. Watch it and find out ;)

Overall, Rio 2 is definitely a must watch for the family. It has a good balance sounds, visuals and lightheartedness. Rio 2 gets a 4 out of 5!

2:25 PM. This was the time when we arrived at Leslie's Restaurant in Tagaytay, City to have a taste of their ever-so-famous Bulalo dish. I've been looking forward for this trip for the past few months because my craving for Bulalo just couldn't be satisfied by the restaurants in Manila (If you can recommend some, I'd be glad to try them out).

The uninviting warm breeze of air and the unbelievably huge sea of people swarming the area were more than enough to irritate a very hungry person who just traveled two hours just to eat lunch at a restaurant. It would calm us down if we were given a seat immediately, but no... we had to wait half an hour to get our seats. However, it's all fine since I personally figured that it would be "worth the wait." But that's where I went wrong.

We were given a very beautiful table. It was like an open gazebo with a good view at the Taal Lake. That's where I went from "hungry pissed" to "just hungry." We were ready to get settled when one of the staff members, who was arguing with another staff member, forced us to transfer to the overlooking section because that table was "reserved." From then, I went from "just hungry" back into "hungry pissed" with a little "confused" at the side. To avoid any further confrontation, we simply transferred and acknowledged that the table was indeed "reserved," although I am not sure to whom (or if they know what reserved means) because even after we finished eating, there was still no one there. And to think they form a line outside when there are numerous seats available for the hungry customers. So that's strike number two.

Finally, we all settled and had a look at the menu. I was really excited because maybe the storm has finally calmed down. Maybe the best is yet to come. Maybe we were just being impatient and had to go through that just to get to the good part: which is the food, of course. But again, my hopes and dreams of a peaceful lunch were shattered by the ultimately inattentive staff.

Six. Times.

We tried to call the waiter SIX FRIGGIN' TIMES just to place our order. If I hadn't shouted at the next waiter sarcastically saying "Wait Lang Sir" (Please Wait Sir), we would've starved indefinitely because no other waiter was paying attention to us. I honestly did not want to think that they were deliberately ignoring us because our clothes didn't look as flashy as the other guests' (some guy even had a cowboy hat and a ridiculously huge ring), but I was starting to guess that our choice in clothing had something to do with all the bad accommodation we were receiving at that point.

But, we let that pass. I then preceded to order for everybody. Take note, however, that the time was already 3:32 PM. It was more than an hour since we arrived and we didn't have food on the table yet.

So we waited a couple more minutes... then came five... then ten... then finally, on the 15th minute, we decided that we wouldn't enjoy the food for having to wait so long.

Finally, the food came. We were so happy, you could paint a picture of a wall. We couldn't give anymore shit because apparently, we seem to not deserve even the slightest bit of attention from any of the staff. As much as possible, I didn't want to order anything on the side because I know it would take a lot of time (and maybe effort) for the staff to listen and bring the order to your table. We were totally being ignored by all of the staff members, including the ones with different shirts on (assuming they have a higher position, but what the hell, they're still there to serve their customers regardless of their job status).

We finished eating without any sort of enjoyment because everyone was hostile. My mom was super pissed, my friend was dissatisfied and I was trying to chug down every bite because the juice I ordered didn't come until I was finished.

Yes, the food was fantastic... unfortunately, the service was very, very horrible. I'm not sure if this was only one of those days where they really didn't function well, or if they do this everyday to everyone. I wouldn't be surprised though if people still come, because their Bulalo is definitely amazing, but for some people, the quality of the service is just as important as the quality of the food. And I will now be one of those customers who would have second thoughts about dining there again.

What is the basis of a good quality high fidelity pair of headsets? Is it the sound signature? The mic? The build? For me, it boils down to a matter of preference. Whether sacrificing one quality over another just to satisfy a certain target demographic, or just simply staying neutral, and even partially good for a certain price range. Because of that, I came across the notion of believing that a really good pair of headsets have to be quite expensive, given that they have a volume control remote (which goes standard for Apple based products btw) and their smartphone-friendly features. Until I found a pair that performs at par with its price range .

I was originally looking for a Sennheiser Momentum to replace my ol' reliable iBeats IEM by Dr. Dre. Yes, I am one of those who were stupid enough to actually patronize an overrated, underperforming, extremely-expensive pair of IEM's, but I have to say, they lasted long enough for me to have to want to replace them (because they don't feel as comfortable in my ears anymore). Aaaaanyway, I am practically a basshead, and the iBeats somehow managed to perform the way I expected it, so there really are no disappointments after all, except for the growing pain I feel after long hours of use. But since I can't afford the Momentum (about Php 4,000 more), I decided to stick to either AKG K619 (for the bass obviously) or the AKG K451.

What sold me?

The sound quality of AKG K619 is perfect for my basshead cravings. Unfortunately, I am a bit wary of its build quality. I have been warned through the forums and by the store itself, that the structure of the slider is quite easy to break, and knowing myself, even if warranty will cover it for two years, I know deep down that I might break it sooner or later. I love the sound though because the bass is very deep, just like the way I like it. But sacrifices have to be made for hard earned money, right? So I decided to take a look at the K451.

The AKG K451 sports a beautiful grey/black finish. It doesn't exaggerate with its looks. I like how simple it appears and how it fits my ears. This headset btw is a super-aural type. Meaning, it's over-the-ear and doesn't entirely cover your whole ear like other DJ headphones, so the sound isolation might not be that well-performing for travelers who often take the train or the bus. What I loved though about the K451 is its modular cable. It comes with two pieces of cable, one with a microphone and volume control, and one without. But that's not all! It comes with a 6.35mm Jack as well, and a hard case! As the title suggests, this pair is a portable pair. Unlike the K619 which is a DJ headphone, the K451 is a foldable headset. And here I thought it's flimsy, until I saw its sliders which are made of plastic with metal reinforcement. I know this baby is STURDY, and just as other reviews say, I can see how it can withstand prolonged daily use. That was pretty much what sold me though. I mean, I loved the sound quality as the bass is punchy, albeit a little muddy, but since the thing comes with a packaged Fiio E6 Amplifier, I got the muddy parts covered.

So I went and took the K451, only to be quite disappointed at first. As I've said earlier, I am a basshead. I love hearing the punchy beats mostly even as I listen to a lot of alternative rock songs and I never really cared much about the highs and mids. I was doing fine with my K451, with a little bit of regret, wishing I took the K619 instead...

UNTIL IT HIT ME.

The song Cariño Brutal by Slapshock came up. At first I was awed by the way the headset delivered the sound of the double peds. Then the heavy guitar riffs came in... they were perfect. I never really appreciated the mids and highs before because I am too busy admiring the bass, that I didn't actually get to hear how they sound if they are delivered beautifully. After that, I played Lost in Echo by Linkin Park, and Soul Searching by Urbandub. The sound amazed me so much I honestly got goosebumps. I guess it needed to take a little while for my brain to process that "hey, you love guitar riffs too!"

Overall, the sound quality is balanced, the bass is just right and the mids are wonderfully delivered. I loved it all the more when I plugged in the Fiio E6 Amp as it boosted a little of the bass just to get "the right mix" for my palate. But what got me more amazed is the ability of the headset to produce a stable sound without being too crunchy at max volume. Some headsets tend to "crunch out" and sound a little distorted when it can't provide the proper sound production anymore due to high volume. AKG K451 sure withstood that common weakness of many headsets.

Downside is, the sound might not be for pure bassheads. It's a little muddy without an equalizer, and the details don't get through that much. Needless to say, without the equalizer, I might not have been this much impressed with it mainly because I wasn't used to separating the sound signature of the iBeats off my head yet, plus the fact that all I'm looking for in a pair of headsets is the bass quality. My earlier statements obviously proved me wrong.

Sure, given the chance and the cash, I'd still go for the Sennheiser Momentum. That thing blows everything I've owned out of the water. But that would mean I have to spend a little more and I was taught not to buy what I couldn't afford. The AKG K451 is by far a very satisfying headset for its price range. It clamps not too tight yet not too loose, it's portable and easy to carry, and it comes with a lot of neat accessories that will surely be useful for travel or for work.

If you're someone who wants to spend your hard-earned/saved cash on a hi-fi gear that performs well in lows and mids, then this is for you. Otherwise, if you really can't convince yourself to give those mids a shot and would rather grab a bass-heavy pair, get the AKG K619 (I assure you bassheads, you will love this).

Given its superb sound quality, portability, accessories and build quality, the AKG K451 gets from me a solid 4.5 out of 5!

Happy listening!

There are days when we wake up without being able to swing it right. Our coffee's cold, the traffic is unbelievable, and our boss rides up our ass (no, not a sexual thing). And there are days we can't understand why everything falls apart even if we think we're doing everything by the book.

It's just like that. Since the beginning of time, people do things to others, hoping it would prove a point. Napoleon conquered, Freud formulated the Oedipus Complex, and Mary, the hot next-door neighbor of yours kept wearing that thin-layered sports bra while jogging around your street while enjoying the eyes that ventured upon her. Yes. We all indulge to that.

And hurtful as it maybe, some with great pride would often shrug it off and say "I don't give a rat's ass to what anyone thinks about me." Fact of the matter is, those people actually do. Why? (Usually, I'd blame the society for this one but...) Because we care. We care so much about what other people think. We want to impress others just as we wanted to impress those close to us. It might be the father who never smiled at your jokes, or that teacher whom you think is flunking you intentionally. Point is, we try so hard because we care. Don't bite that IDGAF (I don't give a frick) bullshit and start accepting the fact that you crave for that constructive criticism, or that mental high-five. I mean, blow me down but the phrase "Haters gotta hate" ironically seeks out more attention than it should have. Quite frankly, why would you even shout out that phrase if you're not singularly gratified by the notion of being noticed by some random stranger that you secretly wanted to care?

Kick-Ass 2 has been the very much awaited sequel for me since I've followed the Kick-Ass cult last year. But sickening as I've anticipated it to be, I've found out how much it stays beyond the shadow of the first film even if it tried to be more honest to the comic than its predecessor.

I'm not going to do the typical film review that I've done in the past. No. Why? Because I'm a little disappointed with the outcome of this film. I've waited long enough to witness how Hit Girl grew to the fact that Big Daddy is gone, how the Motherfucker (formerly Red Mist) would avenge his father's death, and how Kick Ass himself tries to get hold of the "superhero" thing. As the title suggests, I thought this was going to be a Kick-Ass movie, not another Hit Girl flick.

In the comic, Dave is relentlessly violent, with a touch of sanity. He can defeat foes with his sticks while taking a whole damn lot of beating. In the film, he didn't show the same characteristics until the climax. Well, it's really bad and unfair to compare the comic with the film, so scratching what I said, I really expected Dave to be better than his old self back in the first film. But instead of that, I get more excited (no sexual pun intended) to see Mindy battle off teenage hormones rather than seeing Dave go through the same character crisis he had before. This is a sequel, for crying out loud. Dave was a pussy in the first film, and he's still a pussy in the sequel. Who can argue with that?

Meanwhile, the Toxic Mega Cunts were a bit underdeveloped. Mother Russia was the only one who shone gracefully. The others were not given a defining moment. Hell, Cris's uncle is even more frightening than all of the supervillains combined!

Perhaps the only noteworthy scene is when Hit-Girl fought Mother Russia. I'm not going to spoil that part, but it's probably the only exciting scene to watch. Yes, the film was full of concept, but so much so that it didn't entail a good storytelling with surprising plot twists and exciting fighting scenes like when Hit Girl battled Rasul and infiltrated Frank D'Amico's office back in Kick-Ass.

I'm actually quite surprised this sequel came with the same people who made the first film. I expected more blood, more action and more character development. Instead, I got to see a stale, awfully written, dragging movie that was only made interesting by Chloe Moretz and her ever-badass character, Mindy McCready.

I do understand though, that this film teaches about teenagers dealing with their life problems, and how people would stretch far and out to do good to help others. I understand the heart that this film tried to pour out, and the message it wants to share. But frankly, Kick-Ass 2 will never be as good as Kick-Ass. I could only hope for more. I was entertained though, so I guess it's not so bad. It just didn't live up to my expectations.

Overall, I give Kick-Ass 2 a 3 out of 5. (Thanks to Moretz for being the only interesting character, and Carrey for being my favorite Hollywood actor)

Quick review here!

We've got the iPod Nano 7th Gen which boasts:

- 16GB of Storage - Photos, Nike™ Fitness, Videos, Podcasts, Radio, Genius and Music (Duh) support - 2.5" Responsive capacitive Multi-Touch display (240x432) - Bluetooth 4.0 Support (backwards compatible with 3.0) - All new redesigned Apple EarPods™

What's new here?

Well, we've got a really thin design with only 0.21" in Depth which now adapts the ever-so-thin reversible Lightning connector that received mixed reception because of the sudden change that Apple made for their newest generation of products.

What astounds me though is its weight (1.1Oz) which is very light for an mp3 player. Say goodbye to bulkiness and hello to good music on the go!

If you don't have aftermarket earphones, get ready to be amazed by the all new Apple EarPods™ which is a huge improvement over the years. When I first heard of the earpods, I thought they'd sound bad just like their predecessor. But when I tried them on, they did deliver good quality although I'm still not too impressed by them. For some, the new earpods aren't as bad as the old ones and are a great addition for your music arsenal.

What did they take away?

Loudspeakers. Although I do believe that they are not necessary anymore thanks to portable speakers which deliver clearer and crispier sound than that of stock loudspeakers in most mp3 players around the market.

Camera. This is quite sad though. Since the camera's introduction on the 5th Gen iPod nano, I was quite surprised that they left that out on the next two generations. The 5th Gen's camera has good quality in capturing videos and I for one find that handy in capturing moments without my phone. It would have been a great addition to the 7th Gen, so to speak.

So?

So for everyone out there who wants good music without the additional features such as loudspeakers and camera, you can get the new iPod Nano 7th Gen. It's light. It's well-designed and it's as simple as it could be without sacrificing quality.

Overall the iPod Nano 7th Gen gets a solid 4 out of 5.

It's not in my nature to write about stuff especially recently that I think I might have lost the ability to think things through whenever an opportunity tries to present itself on me.

Yes I've been pissed off lately.

Yes I've been meaning to tell myself that it's not worth torturing myself in despair every time something unpleasant becomes twice as irritating as usual.

And no, I shouldn't be ranting about all of that in the internet especially when nobody is actually interested in anything I say because there are seven hundred million more interesting posts than this one.

BUT WHAT DO I CARE?!

All I know is we all go through some shit happy spree and all of a sudden, everything falls apart because of gravity.

We need to be constantly inspired by the things we love and not the things we bitch about. And that sucks.

Okay, I admit. I have been itching to write this shit lately and I don't care if anybody cares but one thing's for sure:

We don't do everything to constantly impress everyone. 

So one dude thinks your jokes are too mean and you shouldn't post them on Facebook. "SO?! Your face is mean and should be kept shut from profile pictures"

Another one thinks all your "facts and trivia" are stupid and you spend way too much time on Google. "It's called stock knowledge. Something you might not have"

And then there are those you can't rely on in times of need but are always there when they need you.

That's how everything starts to suck. You always feel the need to comply with society's most demanding, unrelenting, ungrateful wishes that make you the numner one ass if you don't cooperate very well.

For people who ruin other people's days, let alone their lives, it'll be great if you keep doing that until it all blows in front of you. Then you'll start whining about everything and why everything suddenly sucks.

All the while, I was very excited when I heard that the Bourne Franchise was to return with a fresh face, fresh cast and a whole new fresh start. Although, The Bourne Legacy couldn't really be considered as a sequel nor a reboot. It's more of a spin-off due to The Bourne Ultimatum's plot timeline co-existing with this film's timeline. Some scenes from the third Bourne film are actually shown as a part of what's going on between two sides of the story.

Face off: Bourne vs. Cross

I love how Matt Damon portrayed Jason Bourne from the first three films. He was very faithful to the outlook of his character and it seemed like nobody else can play Jason Bourne like he did. This was the quality that is fortunately present in Jeremy Renner. His performance as Aaron Cross is astonishingly brilliant. Although some qualities of Bourne are present, Cross's distinctive quality progresses throughout the movie, and Renner pulled this off smoothly.

Story

What troubles me though is the lack of heart and inspiration of the movie. Having watched (and loved) the first three titles, the fourth episode of the Bourne Franchise simply lacked the ability of storytelling through plot-driving scenes that keep up with the pace of action. In The Bourne Supremacy for example, you can actually feel like you're running with Bourne as the plot continuously moves forward, complete with essential points of the story that make it hard to miss. The Bourne Legacy had this moment at the beginning but it just got lost as it reached the end. The action scenes are too little, seeing as these scenes were heavily implied in the first three films. It's more of a storytelling film rather than an action film.

The Manila chapter simply twisted me in a different way. It's probably because I relate too much since I'm a Filipino, but even so, the drive of the pace isn't as consistent with the rest of the film. I take that as a  personal view though, others might find that part interesting. But for me, it's kind of pale and "could have been better" especially with the chase scenes.

Conclusion

The Bourne Legacy has certainly tried its best to live up with its franchise. Jeremy Renner performed greatly, and though he was not as action-packed and as explosive as Matt Damon, he delivered the qualities of his character, Aaron Cross, well in his own unique way. And although the film is not that bad, The Bourne Legacy definitely had potential but lacked in execution. It had to be compared to the first three films, knowing that the plots are continuous and the characters are consistent. And after a series of comparison, I have come to the conclusion that even within its promising moments, The Bourne Legacy didn't really share the same "excitement" and "thrill" as its predecessors.

Yep, you read the title correctly. If you haven't watched The Dark Knight Rises, better stop reading this now. I will discuss here the plot elements that made me very excited and I wish to share these with comic book fans who doesn't care about the spoilers because they know a lot about Batman fare more than I do.

Okay, let's start.

Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne.

I've been a fan of their love team. And when Talia Al Ghul showed up, I was just surprised to see how it ended. Ras Al Ghul makes a cameo in this film and the awesomeness that is Liam Neeson made the film more interesting. Will this spring a new Catwoman spinoff? Or will it just end as well?

Bane

Bane broke Batman's Back. Man, that was a handful of B's. We all know that Bane "broke" Batman and when he lifted him up in the air, I was like "Oh my gosh, it's breaking time! It's breaking time!" It's more than just an event, it's a symbol that heroes do fall in the hands of evil, but when they come back, they come back stronger and better. Sure, Bane isn't your typical thug, but his role is far beyond than just a thug. He is a guardian. And one of the best I've seen.

Talia Al Ghul

Yep, you would be surprised. I was, too. Her character's appearance and overall drive to make The League of Shadows' goals to reality is beyond prejudice. In the comics, she loved Bruce Wayne but chose her father, of course. In the film, I didn't feel an ounce of that but I felt okay with it because I loved Selina Kyle + Bruce Wayne. I was just disappointed though, because we will never get to see Damian Wayne being born in the future. :|

Nightwing

Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit, but do you guys think there would be a future Robin/Nightwing film? I bet there would be because of the last scene (and it drove me nuts).

Okay, so there you go. Let me guys know what you think. ;)

It's superhero filmfest again and after we've seen The Avengers and Spider-man in action, it's time for Bruce Wayne to wear the cape and join the hype.

After seeing Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, I've come to the impression that Christopher Nolan will never fail to deliver the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight series. Every minute I spent in the movie was so intense that I absorbed the heartfelt screenplay that is The Dark Knight Rises.

I shall delay you no further and move on with the elements that made this film one of the best superhero films I've watched so far.

Cinematography

Nolan didn't commit in delivering The Dark Knight Rises in 3D and he has a pretty good reason for that. The drama and intensity of the cinematography is enough for the moviegoers to say how good it is without the need of annoyingly huge 3D Glasses. And here, I quote,

"The question of 3-D is a very straightforward one. I never meet anybody who actually likes the format, and it’s always a source of great concern to me when you’re charging a higher price for something that nobody seems to really say they have any great love for."

This guy understood my point. 3D is good only on iMax and only if the film is worth watching there (like The Amazing Spider-Man and Avatar). Nolan made sure that The Dark Knight Rises will give the viewers more self-taught visualization by providing the viewers a movie experience they won't ever forget. The darkness that protrudes the environment of Gotham City is more than enough to put the audience inside the film and make them one with the drive of the story.

The Effects

There wasn't much going on with special effects besides explosions and flying machines. What I really liked about this film is that it used natural elements to represent the realism that  is bound within itself. Batman is only human, and making the film more realistic as far as the other two titles is concerned, is breathtakingly risky, but is handed on to the eyes of the viewers with good taste and an experience that many will never forget.

Plot

The Dark Knight Rises surprised me more than anything. I've been a fan of the Batman franchise since I was a kid and having a story arc this crisp and this intact, made me believe that any superhero franchise could be brought to the big screens without being crap (examples of bad ones are Green Lantern, Superman Returns and The Hulk [Edward Norton]). This whole story arc tries to keep itself intact with the Comic story arc but with a great sense of realism driven to its core. It doesn't focus on how things are going to end, but rather on how things are going to be driven to the end. And this approach seems more appealing to fans and non-fans alike, because it gives you a whole new taste of superhero demise together with catastrophic phenomena that live up to its own name. Sure, there were discrepancies, but seeing as how these "fit" into the film makes them acceptable in every sense.

From Bruce Wayne's downfall, up to his return, with all his struggles in between, you will realize that he is still just human and is the most sane representation of a mixed-up society. Everyone else who helped within his struggle sure made the film more exciting and drove the plot to an extent of this film not only being about "Batman" but about the people who helped him meet his goals.

Actors

Bra-vo.

Christian Bale delivered his role in a way that most Batman fans would agree: He is the perfect Dark Knight. If you know Bruce Wayne from the games, the comics and the cartoons, you'd say that he is Kevin Conroy (living legend voice of Batman) brought to life. 

Cheers and applause of Tom Hardy who plays Bane. As Batman fans know, Bane is supposed to be nothing but a thug who, like the hulk, becomes huge and monstrously strong with the help of a chemical. In this film, Bane acts more than that. He is a vessel towards the League of Shadow's success. And this drives more excitement as a beautiful twist turns out in the latter part. I loved his voice and the overall acting for the character.

Anne Hathaway may not be the perfect Catwoman (Halley Berry still is), but considering this reboot, she did more than well in delivering to us what Catwoman should have been in the big screen. Her character's development helped me understand how much of a thief she could be because she sure stole my overall attention with her good portrayal of Selina Kyle.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Officer John Blake) surprised me. He is not your typical 500-Days of Summer guy here. He also did a good job in Inception (another Christopher Nolan film), but his performance in The Dark Knight Rises is by far, one of the best I've seen from him. I can't say anything more about him because that wouldn't be too nice of me. ;) Watch the film, and find out why I praised him for his great acting.

Conclusion

This film, after many years, is one that made me literally shed tears. The climax was so intense, it drove me to an emotion that got me to cry. Its beauty is overwhelming and it sure is a masterpiece. If you've seen enough Superman & Batman animated films, you would see the element that makes Batman the "one who doesn't need praise for his actions". Christopher Nolan delivered this kind of Batman and it sure deserved a clap or two from me.

The Dark Knight Rises did rose from its premise and you can never go wrong by watching it. You don't have to be a Batman Fan to understand its complex darkness. You just have to love movies with sensible plots and a compelling story line. After that, you're all set to sink in to this fine work of art.

I'm sorry webhead, but The Dark Knight Rises, being one of the rare ones, gets a solid 5 out of 5.

I've been itching to do a review of this movie the moment I saw the teaser trailer. Ever since I've heard of a reboot of the Spider-Man Movie Franchise, I became so desperately eager to watch it first hand and have a taste of another Spidey movie.

I've been a Spider-man fan since I was a kid. He's what Superman is to most kids: My favorite hero. Most probably it's because of his awesome powers but it's just that the appeal given to me is extremely moving and I knew I just liked this hero more than any other.

After accepting the almost impossibly good Sam Raimi Spider-man franchise (I've learned to accept the fact that the first three films were gonna stay that way), I never actually believed they were going to make it more "marvel-realistic". It took a new direction, most especially Spidey's web shooters (I remember at one point, the web shooters weren't organic until Spider-Man: The Other). But of course, that aside, given it's for "cinematic purposes", hearing a reboot made me excited. I was skeptical at first about how it will come out but when I heard that the film has Gwen Stacy instead of Mary Jane, and synthetic web shooters instead of natural ones, I knew I'd be looking forward to a fresh franchise that I would love. Did it disappoint me? Well, let's find out.

The Cinematography

It was AMAZING. I watched it in iMax just to see how it was really meant to be seen and that did not disappoint me. There are many first-person scenes that I found to be beautiful and visually appealing, giving you that sense of being "Spider-man" first hand.

The Effects

As I've mentioned above, there were some first-person scenes that highlights mostly Peter's web swinging through a bunch of skyscrapers. And here's the funny part: The producers and directors wanted to make this film so realistic, that they focused on Spider-man's web swinging scenes a lot. And I mean a lot. Most scenes actually answer the most ridiculed parts of Spider-man: Where does the web go? Does it fly up in the sky and stick to the clouds? Watch this film and see how they addressed that to add a bite of realism, making his web swinging abilities more feasible.

The Direction and The Plot

Comparing Marc Webb's Spider-man to Sam Raimi's is pointless. I am a huge fan of the Spider-man franchise and any film directed by anyone, as long as it has my hero, will still be good enough for me. But for this review's sake, I have to say that Sam Raimi's direction in the first three films were entirely of a different perspective. It was good that he established that "damsel in distress" method in the first two films, but putting the same girl at the same predicament on the third film made it kind of a cliche. I can't give any more clues about what happened in the new rendition of Spider-man, but I assure you it doesn't have anything to do with Gwen Stacy screaming "Peter help me!!!" or anything like that. And that's something new, that's refreshing and I hope the rest of you would love it.

Like most out of any superhero film, the climax defines the most impact of how the hero found his way to becoming one. In this film, Spider-man's motivation and inspiration is how his life has been kept a secret from him. This made him try to find himself, struggling in both his personal life and superhero premise. This marked an interesting point for me and the writers have developed this well throughout the entire film.

The human and superhuman elements of the film were balanced nicely. It's not "Spider-man all along" or "Spidey and superfriends". Peter Parker's war with his identity, his past and his present mixed so evenly that he distributed solutions to this while finding a way to make himself more of a hero than not, while grabbing help along the way. And that proves how the filmmakers wanted the audience to envision the film and I find it very clever.

The Acting

From the movie teasers, I honestly thought Andrew Garfield was quite lame and uninteresting. I thought his acting was going to be dry and boring. But that's why I don't trust trailers.

Garfield's acting was superb. He brought out "Spider-man" in a very real sense. Because of course, when you have powers like that, you'd be like "Yo, don't mess with me, you can't handle this." and that's what Garfield is like. Tobey Maguire's Spider-man lacked this drive. Sure, he was happy and excited at first, but there were moments that you can't feel him to be as proud as Garfield was. He was like "I'm Spider-man, deal with it!"

Also, if you were a fan of the comics and cartoons, you'd notice how sarcastic and noisy Spider-man is. He keeps on taunting his enemies and makes fun of them while fighting them. That is the real Spider-man and that's what makes his enemies utterly annoyed at him, distracting them most of the time. This film shows you that Spider-man. That noisy, arrogant, ridiculously awesome crime-fighter that never puts thugs down without taking their self-esteem with them.

The rest of the cast did a fine job, especially my ever so cute crush Emma Stone. She played Gwen Stacy really well and you'd be surprised how much of a geek she could be: The lovable one at least.

Flash Thompson played by Chris Zylka, is someone to watch out for. It seems like Eddie Brock wouldn't be the second host of the symbiote (Parker being the first), and seeing how well-established Thompson is, he might be bumped up to Brock's place as the Venom.

Rhys Ifans who played Dr. Curt Connors was a more effective "Lizard" than Dylan Baker from Spider-man 3 (obviously because this one actually transformed into The Lizard). The battles he fought within himself are as close as to how Parker did with himself too. Thus, making him a very efficient villain in the first film franchise.

Conclusion

Overall, Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man turned out to be really amazing after all. It was a great movie experience especially for a die-hard Spider-man fan like me. For those who are not familiar with the original storyline and aren't fans of the Spider-man franchise, I assure you that the story is well established enough for you to have something fresh off the table. It's for you to decide whether this film introduces you to a whole new Spider-man level, but I guarantee you that you would raise interest while watching this film.

Overall, of course being a Spider-man fan, I'd give it a perfect 5 out of 5 but as an average movie goer, I give The Amazing Spider-man a solid 4.5 out of 5.

Why did I take that 0.5 away? Well, there was a certain "Statement" that Spider-man grasped his entire life believing in. This was stated from the first 3 films, but as I waited until the after-credits (Oh yes, there is an after credit scene), I didn't hear it. I won't say it because some of you might want to hear it too. It was rather disappointing not to hear those words but as I watched, I thought "Hey, maybe it's implied. Seeing as how Peter did this and that, yeah I'd say it's implied rather than said."

Aside from that, the rest of the film is enjoyable and I hope you guys share the same experience too. Happy watching!

Dear people,

Everybody loves their friends! We are all blessed with such wonderful people that share almost the same characteristics with each other! Especially the ones who are:

-Always there for you when they need something from you. You can't handle the pressure of them asking and asking and asking, yet you do favors for them because you love them as friends. And they end up leaving you behind when they don't need you anymore.

-Never going to leave your side in times that you are fruitful and prosperous. They are always there to be showered with all the good shit that come to your life! And like the other type of friends, they leave when you're poor and stuck in a deep fucking sense of losing it all.

-Listens to your problems because they want to top it off with their own! You can't just win on anything, no you can't. They always have a problem far worse than yours and all you can do is wallow in your own fucking room while thinking of a way to help them out instead. Why? Because your problem is probably just a fraction of theirs.

-Thinking that they help you when they really don't. They are the "proud" friends for always being right and thinking that every word they say, no matter how much it hurts you, are helpful to your well-being. They're the ones who say "stay away from that guy" and "nothing good's gonna come out of your decision, trust me".

-Never forgets you only if you remind them. They are the ones who visit other friends or places and only remember you when they get a hint. I'm not sure if they're all fucked up in the head but what I'm sure of is that you need to literally plant in their heads that you are one of them too and that they shouldn't forget you. That would make you look desperate though, but heck they don't give a fuck.

-Always finds a way to make excuses. You can't just convince these people to lend you a little help, treat you for dinner or just simply hang out with you. Why? Who fucking knows? Their excuses are limitless and you can't crack anything out of them. Once they say an excuse, no matter how obvious it is, they'll stick to it and make you look like an asshole for insisting that they're not telling the truth (even though they really aren't).

These friends are easy to find. You can find one around your block with their other friends, especially the ones who just made their pathetic excuse and now have this fucking priceless look on their faces.

To all those friends, I really do hope you won't change. Because when you do, you won't be recognized as friends anymore. You'll be enemies.

Signed,

The kind of friend who writes bad shit about other friends because of no particular reason. Or probably to reveal that these kinds of people exist. I'm not saying ALL though.

Araw ng mga puso. Hearts Day. Valentine's Day (with apostrophe. Kasi yan ang tama) at marami pang ibang tawag! Parang pasko yan eh. Inaabangan ng nakararami, lalo na ng mga magkasintahan at mag-irog na hindi magkandamayaw sa pagpplano ng gagawin nila sa araw na ito. Pero bakit? Ano bang ispesyal sa araw na to? Ano bang dahilan kung bakit napakamahal ng bulaklak at tsokolate, gayung isang natural na araw ito?

"Balentayms kasi. Wag kang bitter."

Yan ang sagot ng iba. Ang iba naman, may pa ignore ignore pang nalalaman at panay sabing

"It's just an ordinary day no. Nothing special", *sniff *sniff

Valentine's day. Hindi Valentines day. Ang dami namang Balentino nun. Ito ay ang araw na pinagdiriwang ang araw ng mga puso, o romantic love bilang pag-alala sa mga gawain ng mga nakaraang St. Valentine (marami kasi sila. So medyo valid na yung argument ng Valentines vs. Valentine's).

Love. Pag-ibig. Pag-irog. Pagmamahal. Lahat naman siguro ng tao ay may natural na pagmamahal. Hindi lang ito partikular sa isang espesyal na tao. Maaaring pagmamahal ito sa alagang aso, pusa, daga, ipis o gagamba. Ang pagmamahal ng tao ay matuturing na tunay na makapangyarihan. Dahil sa pagmamahal, nagagawa ng tao ang mga bagay na hindi niya sukat akalaing gawin. Mga sakripisyo, pasakit at paghihirap, para lamang mapasaya at mapagsilbihan ang kanyang minamahal. Pamilyar ba?

OO.

HINDI LAMANG SA BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND/WIFE/HUSBAND ANG ARAW NA ITO. ITO AY PARA SA LAHAT.

Agape, Philia, at Eros. -- yan ang tatlong klase ng pag-ibig. At gaya ng sinabi kong araw ito para sa romantic love, yun ay sabi lamang ng wikipedia. Ngunit ang tunay na diwa ng Valentine's Day ay ang celebration of LOVE per se.

Di naman siguro mabigat sa bulsa mo kung ibili mo ng isang pirasong bulaklak ang nanay mong sugat na ang kamay, stressed at nakukuba na ang likod kakatrabaho para sayo. Di naman siguro nakakahiyang tawagan at padalan ng E-Card ang tatay mong nasa abroad at nangungulila sa iyong boses. At lalong hindi naman siguro mahirap ang magbigay ng limang minutong katahimikan at pakikipag-usap sa KANYA.

Walang sense kung magiging bitter ka at apektado sa mga taong may dala-dalang bulaklak, tsokolate at valentine card. At wala rin namang kaso kung ikaw ang may dala-dalang bulaklak, tsokolate at valentine card. Hindi normal na araw ang February 14. This is your chance to make somebody's day special. It doesn't have to be your partner. It could be your family. Your friends. It could even be yourself. You are actually blessed well enough for reading this blog from your laptop, cellphone or desktop. While most people are thinking about how they are going to get through Valentine's Day, other people are struggling to get through every single day without anything at all.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Heey guys once again I'm doing another review and this time, I'd like to present to you my 2nd Album Review of Sponge Cola with their latest, Araw. Oras. Tagpuan.

SC has been around for quite some time now and people learned to embrace their humble beginnings from Palabas, until they went semi-mainstream on Transit and finally trying out something new from their self-titled Album Sponge Cola (which I did a review back in Friendster Blogs which, err, unfortunately has been removed now). Will Araw. Oras. Tagpuan. live up to the expectations of their fans? Or will they target a new fanbase in the market?

This review will cover the songs of Araw. Oras. Tagpuan by track. And starting from one of their carrier singles, we have:

1. Tambay - Remember 22, Bitiw and ayt?? I don't know if SC fans notice this but usually, their first song starts off as a "kicker" and is usually one of the most lively songs in the album. I found this quite amusing to see how consistent they can be. Although, based from their previous music, Tambay doesn't really divert into a different genre and still delivers that same energetic starter as they always did.

2. Stargazer - This song is definitely a product of Yael Yuzon's songwriting. It is very similar with Gemini and is just as moving. This is, by far, my favorite track from the album. It's chock-full of emotions and the band did a very good job in doing this track. Honestly, this song is the one that convinced me to buy their album, so I guess their strategy worked ;)

3. Regal - This is a sweet song with a profound set of lyrics. Again, Sponge Cola delivers their familiar sound with a different twist in Tedmark Cruz's drum lines.

4. OK Dito - Uh, I don't mean to sound mean but this track doesn't appeal a lot to me. This is full of experimental sounds such as sounds of sea waves and human beat boxing. I even kinda imagine this song being a little psychedelic, but no. It's not. 

My biggest concern, though, would be the use of Filipino-English or TAGLISH lines in the whole track. This is not the first time they did this (Keep The Fire Burning's end lines contained Tagalog lyrics) but I really hoped this would be the last. Honestly speaking, OK Dito is not as okay as it implies. Although this is a brave attempt in experimenting, we will still see more risk-filled experiments SC did in this album.

5. She Weeps - An acoustic that almost got me to sleep the first time I heard it. And again, this song contains TAGLISH lines which does not go well with the music. It's not as appealing as it seems and I wouldn't mind skipping this track if I didn't feel like listening to sleepy music. Sorry but the TAGLISH just doesn't work that well. Nice try though.

6. Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay - One of the sweetest songs in the album. I kinda noticed something about the album per se but that's for discussion later. This track made me realize that their songwriting is still good both in Filipino and in English (separately, not together!). This is another carrier-single and is worth the exposure.

7. She Wants You To - This track has honest emotions that makes me want to sing in public. The lyrics and melody go together perfectly and if anyone could relate to the message of this song, you would surely feel the emotion it portrays. It's just that powerful. I can't even forget the one line that goes, "Why do we stay for those who'd rather go?" Listen to this and tell me how captivated you are.

8. Walang Wakas - Remember their song Puso? This song brings the same energy and good message that SC fans would surely enjoy. I don't know how SC manages to write sensible songs such as this but no matter how they do it, I salute their good songwriting. This song inspires me throughout the day. Gets me up and running! :)

9. New Steel (feat. Pao Valenciano, Ria Redulla, and Los Magno) - This is a collab track, featuring a lot of guys. Another energetic song that's more "Gary V." than "Sponge Cola". And I'm not sure if I heard Tagalog lyrics here (they didn't include lyrics in the cards that come with the CD). But then, this song is more like a so-so to me rather than something different.

10. Warning: (feat. Norma Love, Iwa Motors, and Mowmow) - As most of you guys who have complete sets of SC's albums, one song will always be sang by the drummer. In the case of the first three albums, Chris Cantada sang Jillian, Myself In you and In Another Life respectively. This time, their new drummer Tedmark Cruz sang Warning:. And what I found very intriguing and interesting in this track is that this brought back the sound of the late 80's OPM. It's refreshing, something new (epxerimentally) and a bit risky for the group (especially to those who aren't fans of  the VST and Company or Rico J. Puno genre). I personally liked it and found myself enjoying this song with a cup of coffee and a smile.

Oh and this song has a bit of TAGLISH lyrics but I didn't mind it because I was too busy enjoying it. Risky, but I liked it. Mr. Tedmark Cruz, my hats off to you sir! :)

11. Scenic View - Again, Sponge Cola from a different angle. This track deviated from their usual sound and is more aggressive with a bit subtlety. I personally like this song too and inspires me a lot. I find myself singing to this song after I listened to it about four times. This is one of my favorites. :)

12. Araw Oras Tagpuan - Their title track! (and reasons why it deserves to be) Who wouldn't love this song? They should release this as their single. It uses a similar "clanging" sound from Jeepney. The lyrics bring forth the message of the album, which I believe I deciphered and will discuss after this track. This is a sweet song with meaningful lyrics that many would surely relate to. I know, I did. :)

They have a bonus track titled "Easy As Pie" but I wouldn't recommend listening to that because it's mostly chatter. The song itself is good but I would prefer the chatter to be cut off. I mean, after listening to the preceding track, you wouldn't really be in the mood to listen to a recorded conversation with Armo doing a girly voice impression.

CONCLUSION:

Sponge Cola took a few bold moves in introducing experiments to their music. From their past albums, we can see how much they changed, while still remaining to the sound that's been familiar to us. Their songwriting is still inexplicably good, producing sensible songs with powerful meanings sang by a powerful voice and performed by a well-talented band. You'd be sure to have your P300 well-spent on this album.

On and the message that I deciphered? From the way I see how the songs are arranged, I hypothesize that this album talks about relationships that ended but were able to reconcile. I theorize that Araw. Oras. Tagpuan. actually means that two persons who have been together but got separated, who knew and loved each other almost entirely, would someday be back together. The possibility of them reconciling is so high because they already know when and where to meet (literally and figuratively). It's so wonderful to grasp a message like this from their album and I must say that their songs were effective in delivering this message to their listeners. The tracks Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay, Araw Oras Tagpuan and Stargazer strongly emphasized this point.

Overall, I give Sponge Cola's Araw. Oras. Tagpuan a score of 4 out of 5! Nice job SC!