[ greyweed ] -- and the bored shall inherit the earth...

A while ago I went to Mandaluyong to pay Elad a visit. Don Bosco was planning a concert around November and was gathering information on the bands. Elad was approached by one of the organizers for help and so he turned to me because, thanks to the mailing lists that I have joined, I have the bands' contacts.
On the way home I got stranded in Starmall, thanks to the steady rainfall. In my annoyance and extreme boredom, I watched The League of Extraodinary Gentlemen. A few days ago I saw Finding Nemo, so I have two Nemo movies.



Finding Nemo

I had been waiting to see this cute fish tale ever since I saw its trailer. Pixar and Walt Disney, once again, delivered a colorful and enjoyable film that aimed for the whole family, in the tradition of Toy Story and A Bug's Life. The bida here is a clownfish camed Marlon, who at the beginning of the film loses, to a barracuda, his wife and most of their eggs; all except one which he named Nemo.
Fast Forward.
It is time for Nemo to go to school but Marlon finds that he worries too much for his son. Nemo, on the other hand, grows up with a deformity: a smaller right fin. He is, nevertheless, inquisitive and brave like most young boys in the Disney universe. Marlon is understandably overprotective, driving Nemo to touch the bottom of a boat (which the children called "butt") and things go haywire from there as he is captured by a dentist on his scuba diving holiday.
Marlon finds that he deprives Nemo of the independence that children should learn at an early age. Nemo, on the other hand, comes to understand his father's actions were all for his concern and learns to value parental love and self-confidence.
My favorite character here is Dory, a Blue Tang voiced by the funny Ellen Degeneres. She is sarcastic, honest and almost too giddy for her own good.


RATING: I give it a 4 out of 5.





The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

This is a splendid movie! It was originally a graphic novel by Alan Moore, (an equally extraordinary figure in comics). The concept is quite simple, a team of mostly European characters from stories and urban legends.

The Heroes
There's a character named Quartermainn, an aging legendary adventurer played by Sean Connery.

The Invisible Man here is not exactly the one in the books (he died according to the stories), he is an expert thief who stole the original formula from the mad scientist who created it.

Mina Harker, a scientist, who together with her husband, have tried to kill the monster Count Dracula. But in the end, she herself got bitten, but being a vampire in this film, she doesn't decay under the sun.

Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, the famed scientist who used himself as a lab rat is a part of the story as well. But here, he doesn't have the same predicament as the incredible Hulk when it comes to keeping the monster inside. There are bursts of pychotic conversations with the beast, but Mr. Hyda is not savage.

Capt. Nemo. Because I didn't read the book, I had no idea that he was Indian. Imagine my surprise when I saw his long beard and turban! Made me say 5-6 under my breath. Capt. Nemo fights with great agility and utmost expertise in the sword. Oh and he is the only person in the year 1899 who has a convertible. Spiffy!

Tom Sawyeris the only American member of the league. All grown up (and even tries to seduce Mina every now and then) and working for the American Secret Service, Sawyer is sent to Europe to acquire information on the "impending" world war, instead he finds himself joining the League. I find it very disturbing that Shane West plays the role. Someone who became Many Moore's leading man joins in the action? Well, I learned to give actors credit and to STOP judging. Who knows, maybe Mandy Moore could play a Russian spy in an action-packed film someday, malay mo...



The Baddies
The Phantom. He wears a mask just as the Phantom of the Opera but I seriously doubt that they are the same. He is not really scarred, by there is are twists to his character.

The stoic Dorian Greyis only one of the character I am less familiar with, though I have read of his immortality. His magic is based on an old picture of himself; every year the picture ages instead of him. But he killed in the end by Mina, who also happens to be an old flame.

RATING: I give it a perfect 5!!!