A dolphin destined to touch and change our lives -- A sneak peek at Dolphin Tale

Potato On the Go:

When I was young, I often heard stories that dolphins are more intelligent than our canine friends. And if humans are living in water, dolphins will be our bestfriend instead. I even heard tales that dolphins guide lost fishermen from the open sea back to the shore. =) And I also learned that dolphin encounters are used for therapy of people suffering from depression or emotional trauma.  Well, while they are that friendly to humans, there should be no competition at all. Dogs share the same fantastic traits.  Dogs could be man’s bestfriend on ground while dolphins could be for underwater! Don’t you think? =) Anyway, I’ve always been fascinated with these sea creatures. And when I first saw the trailer of the movie Dolphin Tale, I was mesmerized instantly, not just it’s because about dolphins, but I think it’s a one of a kind feel good story. And besides, I am also impressed with the movie's creative title (including its design).  Warner Bros.' new, family adventure “Dolphin Tale” is inspired by the amazing true story of a brave dolphin and the compassionate strangers who banded together to save her life.

Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, severely damaging her tail. She is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter. But her fight for survival has just begun.

Someone named like you may be missing...

FEATURISTIC:

Rodel.  Cecille.  Victor.  Cynthia.  Rommel.  Noel.  James.  Fernando.  Is your name one of them?  Then you have a Tukayo who may be missing or has been tortured or even murdered.  Tukayo is Filipino for the term that refers to someone who shares the same name as you.  But they just don't share the same name, they share same human rights too. 

As the whole world commemorates today, August 30, the International Day of the Disappeared, I would like to share with you the Human Rights Campaign Against Impunity dubbed as Tukayo.  Organized by The Asia Foundation and its partners from the government, NGOs (non-government organizations) and the private sector, the campaign aims to create awareness about various human rights violations like extra judicial killings, torture and enforced disappearances.  Through our "tukayos", the campaign brings to life the stories of the victims, and reminds us that they were real people who were unjustly murdered, tortured and made to disappear.

Almost Everyone Went Through "Horrible Bosses"!

Potato On the Go:

Horrible Bosses.  Lucky you if you never had one in your life! But as Director Seth Gordon of upcoming comedy film Horrible Bosses said, “Almost everyone has had a horrible boss at some point in their lives, someone who made life miserable.  We all know how tempting it is to fantasize about how much better things would be if they were out of the way."

In latest offering from New Line Cinema, management candidate Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) has been logging 12-hour days and eating everything his twisted supervisor Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) dishes out, toward the promise of a well-earned promotion. But now he knows that’s never going to happen. Meanwhile, dental assistant Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) has been struggling to maintain his self-respect against the relentless X-rated advances of Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S. (Jennifer Aniston), when she suddenly turns up the heat. And accountant Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) has just learned that his company’s corrupt new owner, Bobby Pellit (Colin Farrell), is not only bent on ruining his career but plans to funnel toxic waste into an unsuspecting population. What can you do when your boss is a psycho, a man-eater or a total tool?

Like A Horror Ride! -- Final Destination 5 Movie Review

Potato On the Go:

More than ten years ago, the first Final Destination hit the globe and brought us a new kind of slasher movie!  I was hooked with it because the plot was quite new and something unique.  I was curious and excited then to know how the characters can really defy the featured antagonist in the film, which is, actually invincible!  How can you ever beat destiny?  How can you go against nature?  =)  Unfortunately though, the rest of the sequels were not as spectacular as the first one.  I didn't know if they just saturated the basic plot framework or the first was just really a top comparison to begin with.  But the new Final Destination 5 in 3D from Warner Bros. brought back the glory of the franchise!

Directed by Steven Quale and written by Eric Heisserer, Final Destination 5 tells us that death is just as omnipresent as ever.  It is unleashed after Sam's (Nicholas D' Angelo) premonition saves his work colleagues from a terrifying suspension bridge collapse. But this group of unsuspecting souls, which include his best friend Peter (Miles Fisher) and girlfriend Molly (Emma Bell) was never supposed to survive, and, in a terrifying race against time, the ill-fated group frantically tries to discover a way to escape Death’s sinister agenda.

First and foremost, I would like to say that I really enjoyed the movie!  It's been a while since I've seen and and has been satisfied with a film of the same genre.  The movie experience with my movie blogger friends was just amazing.  We were like kids who just took off our career hats and enjoyed the movie!  We shouted, we laughed, we punched and pushed each other!  Although watching the movie took all our energy, it was still an amazing movie time!  =D

Celebrities and Personalities for Tatak Digitista 4!

Scene Stealers:

Like me, a lot of you have been excited on who will be featured next in the Celebrities and Personalities for Tatak Digitista series.  Now, on its 4th, let me present the next 4 that comprise Celebrities and Personalities for Tatak Digitista 4!

Chieffy Caligdong of Team Azkals for Tatak Digitista

House Deputy Speaker Erin Tanada for Tatak Digitista

Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casino for Tatak Digitista

Atom Araullo for Tatak Digitista

When We Fall In (and Out of) Love! -- Crazy Stupid Love Movie Review

Potato On the Go:

After a long tiring day at work, a movie night is always a good way for me to end that dreaded day.  August 11 was no exception and thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures for inviting me to the premiere of Crazy Stupid Love in Power Plant Cinema.

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, written by Dan Fogelman and produced by Steve Carell and Denise Di Novi, Crazy Stupid Love stars Carell, Oscar® nominee Ryan Gosling (“Half Nelson”), Oscar® nominee Julianne Moore (“Far From Heaven”), Emma Stone, Jonah Bobo and John Carroll Lynch, with Academy Award® winner Marisa Tomei (“My Cousin Vinnie”) and Kevin Bacon. Analeigh Tipton, multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban, Liza Lapira and Joey King also star in the movie.

A Taste of Ilocos in Empanada Nation

Bayanihan Republic:

Empanada.  Bagnet.  Longanisa.  Bibingka.  I fell in love with Vigan or Ilocos cuisine more than 10 years ago.  But Ilocos is about 8 to 10 hours away from Manila, so when I miss the taste, I only wish that there's a nearby place where I could buy and eat those treats from our Ilocano friends.  Well, I've tried a food stall at a mall in Makati and another one in Pasay, but sadly, it didn't match the empanada and other dishes I tasted in Vigan.  I thought then, could it be the ingredients, or the oil used?  Well anyway, the long search is over as I finally found the dining place where I could experience Ilocos cuisine anytime I want, here in Manila.  And that's the Empanada Nation restaurant!

It's Simply Smurrific! -- The Smurfs in 3D Movie Review

Potato On the Go:

The color blue will definitely have a new meaning the moment you've seen the 3D adaptation of the comic book and cartoon classic The Smurfs!  This is what I went through when I attended the red carpet premiere of The Smurfs in 3D last Saturday, August 6 at the SM Mall of Asia.  To get to know more about our small blue friends, please check this story "Celebrate Global Smurfs Day" I posted last June.

The Smurfs is a 3D family film based on The Smurfs comic book series created by Peyo and the 1980s animated TV series it spawned. Directed by Raja Gosnell and starred by Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Winters, Hank Azaria, Jayma Mays, and Sofía Vergara, The Smurfs tells us the story of the magical tiny blue creatures called SMURFS!  When the evil wizard Gargamel chases them out of their village, THE SMURFS tumble from the enchanted world into ours - in fact, right in the middle of New York's Central Park!  THE SMURFS must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down and gets their essence to use magic the evil way!

The movie is definitely 100% SMURRIFIC!  Yes, THE SMURFS has the word SMURF in almost every modifier they could think and speak of.  I SMURF You, SMURFY, SMURFABonga, SMURF Droppings, and so on and so forth.  And I find it really amusing!  =)

Join the My Shirt Story Blogging Contest and get a chance to win a premium Electrolux washing machine!

Web Announcement:

Do you and a particular shirt have a very special story to tell?  Then share your story to everyone and your shirt to those in need through the My Shirt Story Blogging Contest.  Shirts donated will be given to the beneficiaries of the Electrolux Wash-athon clothes donation advocacy.  And, for your good deed, you may be rewarded with a brand new T-drive Top Load Washer worth almost PhP 20,000! So what are you waiting for? Go and join the My Shirt Story Blogging Contest!  Please see mechanics below for details.

About Electroux Wash-athon

This typhoon season and advent of climate change, when the need for evacuation centers has been part of our society’s disaster response protocol, Electrolux Philippines is rolling out its Wash-athon clothes donation advocacy campaign in Luzon, Cebu and Mega Manila. This year, Electrolux created the laundry mobile, which will tour Luzon, Cebu and Mega Manila to pick-up the donation and wash the clothes of those who donated. The Electrolux Wash-athon invites people to donate their clothes for the benefit of typhoon victims and other people in need. In return, Electrolux will wash the dirty clothes of those who donated!

Cowboys & Aliens Movie Review -- The risk of mixing the old west with space age... And it's worth it!

Potato On The Go:

Cowboys together with Aliens? Seriously?  Well, this was my first reaction when I heard about and saw the trailer of the movie Cowboys & Aliens.  I just found it weird and awkward to connect the story of the old west cowboys to the space age aliens.  Well, in watching movies, I already learned my lesson not to depend on trailers in judging what film to watch.  Sometimes, good trailers don't lead to good films and good films don't necessarily have good trailers.  So even though time is tight and distance is quite a challenge, I together with the rest of my fellow movie bloggers headed from SM MOA to SM North EDSA.  You say what a trip?  Haha.

Anyway, Cowboys & Aliens took place in 1875 in the New Mexico Territory. A stranger (Daniel Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear.

New SUPERMAN Revealed!

Potato On the Go:

We grew up watching Superman played by Christopher Reeve, and then sometime in 2006, we witnessed a new actor reprising the role, Brandon Routh.  But now, a new SUPERMAN is revealed!  Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures give us the first look at the new "Man of Steel" - Henry Cavill as Superman.

With Brandon Routh's contract to star in another movie expired in 2009 and the reboot of the Superman film having a "darker" plot given the success of The Dark Knight (Batman franchise), a new actor was chosen for the role.

Some Superman fans take this as a good news and welcome treat as they think and feel Routh looks weak and acts Clark Kent even if he transforms into Superman.  But some admirers on the other hand though expressed disappointment as they are resolved into having and continuing a Christopher Reeve looking Superman, which Brandon Routh nailed big time.

Anyway, looking forward into the new Superman movie, under the direction of Zack Snyder, the film also stars three-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams (“The Fighter”) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Oscar® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar® nominee Diane Lane (“Unfaithful”) and Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner (“Dances with Wolves”).

Oppression leads to unrest -- RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES movie review

Potato On the Go:

Special visual effects plus compelling story only produce good result... a spectacular movie experience.  This is what I witnessed during the press screening of 20th Century Fox's movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

For the background story behind the production, you may read this post: http://digitista.blogspot.com/2011/07/witness-rise-of-planet-of-apes-on.html

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES or ROTPOTA (as how the industry people refer to it) combines fantastic storytelling with the next leap in visual effects for an emotional and action-packed motion picture experience unlike any other. Man’s arrogance sets off a chain of events that leads to intelligence in apes and a challenge to our place as the dominant species on the planet. Caesar, the first intelligent ape, is betrayed by humans and rises up to lead his species’ spectacular race to freedom and the ultimate showdown with Man.

Warner Bros. unveils new poster of HAPPY FEET TWO!

Potato On the Go:

The penguin dance craze is now slowly making a grand comeback as Warner Bros. unveils the new poster of its upcoming holiday presentation “Happy Feet Two”!

The sequel to “Happy Feet,” the Academy Award®-winning animated smash hit, “Happy Feet Two” returns audiences to the magnificent landscape of Antarctica in superb 3D.

“Happy Feet Two” is directed by George Miller, who won an Oscar® as the creator of the original “Happy Feet.” The film features the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Alecia Moore (P!nk), Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Sofia Vergara, Common, Hugo Weaving, Magda Szubanski, Anthony LaPaglia, Richard Carter and Benjamin “Lil P-Nut” Flores, Jr.

To be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, “Happy Feet Two” opens across the Philippines in November this year.