Weekly Update: Acoustic Yellowcard, Acoustic SourceFed and Things Catching on Fire

Chaotic week! I barely remember how the end half of it went. And I can tell that, since I didn’t prep as much, I was often confused on what day I was posting and what I was going to write on that day (i.e. Friday onwards). This pretty much gave me a wake-up call and made me realise that sustaining this blog will be no joke once I actually do start working – whenever that is. (I hope I get some sort of concrete answer by this Monday or Tuesday.) So, this is one of the reasons why I’m glad that August is around the corner so that I can once more reorganise the categories of the weekly updates.

I’m considering one of two things; either I give myself just a four or five day blogging week, or I keep the same categories and blog on any of the days I’m free to (this means less predictability, I can either blog on all seven days, or there can be gaps of up to two to three days). I’ll have to really see how my potential routine will be.

But as for now, let’s go on to my weekly favourites:

1. Song of the Week: Ocean Avenue (Acoustic) by Yellowcard

I really love Yellowcard and this was probably one of the first songs I heard from them. I was so excited when I heard that they were releasing an acoustic album and after listening to this track, I just can’t wait to hear what else is there. There are quite a few close runner-ups this week (Passenger – Holes (Official Video)), but Yellowcard will always take the cake.

2. Youtube Video of the Week: SourceFed’s Sex Ed, Big Ass Mirrors, and Lost at Sea… It’s Comment Commentary 78!

Why? All because of the ending; the last two minutes of this video made my week. Go check it out.

3. Trailer of the Week: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Trailer #2

Unlike the first trailer in which I had no idea what exactly the plot was about other than “we must use Katniss as an example” (no, I did not read any of the books), this trailer at least gave away more of the plot and made me understand why there were all these other characters now such as Finnick. Can’t wait for it to come out, nonetheless.

Till next time!

cumuloquoise ❤

Poem: flightless

i wish i treated you better
the goosepimples riding up your arm
you never spoke of the worries
the slow slur at the back of your throat
and the small trembling fingers
like a child again
like a small insignificant soul
who means more than a thousands of birds
taking flight in the sky.

Post-Graduation: TGFYV Indeed

I think that it is inevitable that some of the best days of my life are also those that are the most tiring. Right now, I can’t think. My shoulders ache, my mind is numb and still recovering from car sickness and dehydration and sweating under a heavy graduation gown and from hunger, and I’m ready to fall asleep in a heartbeat. But I’m thankful. I’m thankful for a good family, for my grades, for the friends I surround myself with (and those who I don’t) and just all the sacrifices made just to get to this point in my life where I can say that I’ve achieved something I don’t think I would have dreamed of being able to when I was a little girl.

So for now I’m going to go watch this youtube video, and a dozen more, and hopefully be able to tuck myself to bed with a smile before midnight tonight:

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

My Favourite Youtube Covers

Today was a long day spent, but a happy one! I got to go see my two roommates at their convocation and in their graduation gowns. So this soundtrack list is dedicated to my first roommate, with whom I used to watch so many Youtube covers with. Sometimes she sends me links of new covers that just make me smile and I will do the same.

Also consider it a tribute, ’cause I’m sure, thanks to the increasing Youtube copyrights and laws, a lot of covers nowadays will be taken off or discouraged. (Yes, I’m upset that Minecraft Style was taken from CaptainSparklez and that The Fergies aren’t given the freedom to make covers anymore.)

1. Just Give Me A Reason cover – Michael Henry & Justin Robinett
2. The A Team – Ed Sheeran cover – Megan Nicole
3. Game of Thrones Violin cover – JasonYangViolin
4. Faithfully cover – Boyce Avenue
5. You’re the one that I want cover – Angus & Julia Stone
6. I Won’t Give Up cover – Alyssa Bernal
7. Ours cover – Ryan Bradford
8. The Story of Us cover – Jake Coco and Alex G
9. Landslide cover – Alex G
10. Marry Me cover – Alex G ft. AlFord
11. Hold My Hand cover – Megan Nicole
12. Firework cover – Kina Grannis
13. Just A Dream cover – Sam Tsui & Christina Grimmie
14. Speak Now cover – Jake Coco
15. DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love – Christina Grimmie & Alex Goot
16. If I Die Young cover – Sam Tsui
17. Love The Way You Lie cover – Sam Tsui
18. Baby cover – Kina Grannis
19. Breathe cover – Phil Schawel
20. Officially Missing You (cover) – Jayesslee
21. Imagine cover – Sean Murphy
22. Runaway cover – krissysings

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

10 of My Favourite Unconventional Romantic Movies

Summer’s coming to an end (along with my “holiday”). Some may have spent their entire summer in another distant country (I didn’t), or playing in the sandy beaches (I didn’t), or doing internship with some potential company they hope to be a part of (I didn’t). Either way, I really hope that everyone has made some special memory of their summer.

But if you’re missing out on summer romance here is a list of romantic movies you can sit down and watch as a marathon montage. I left out the bigger blockbusters  for more quirky favourites. ‘Cause come on everyone probably knows those sappy classics like Titanic and Moulin Rouge. But I warn you, Kate Hudson appears in a lot of my favourite romantic movies – probably ’cause she is one of my favourite sassy female leads in romantic roles ever.

1. Friends with Benefits (2011)

Lead duo: Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis)

The hook: They say they want to get into a relationship with no emotional attachments, but you know it’ll end up otherwise and it’s funny how you know you’ll be a hypocrite about it, i.e. if they do end up together you’ll scorn the plot for being unoriginal and so typically a romance and if they do not end up together then you’ll be incredibly unsatisfied by the ending (so what will be your pick?); yet it’s still incredibly endearing watching the chemistry between the two heighten and Timberlake and Kunis’s quirky offbeat sense of humour just tickles you in all the right places.

2. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

 

Lead duo: Patrick (Heath Ledger) and Kat (Julia Stiles)

The hook: Honestly, if I had to immortalise the late Heath Ledger in any one of his movie roles it has to be this one, the Australian bad boy who is bribed to woo Kat so that Cameron (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) can date her sister, Bianca. This movie was probably one of my favourite teen romcoms. Oh, and a shout out definitely goes to Larry Miller for playing such an awesome dad in this film.

3. She’s Out of My League (2010)

Lead duo: Kirk (Jay Baruchel) and Molly (Alice Eve)

The hook: The message of this film is really awesome, in my opinion. ‘Cause we’re always surrounded by this kind of scenario in our day-to-day lives: how can that girl like that guy, he’s not even good looking, or vice versa. And the problem is that a lot of movies will perpetuate that stereotype ’cause there will always be equally good looking couples. In Hollywood’s superficial minds, that is what equates perfect chemistry, i.e. you need to be of the same ‘number’ so perfect tens can only date perfect tens. But I love this movie ’cause it teaches you that beauty is subjective/in the eye of the beholder. Oh, plus it has some really awesome and quirky actors like Krysten Ritter (in my opinion, she’s just awesome).

4. It’s a Boy Girl Thing (2006)

Lead duo: Woody (Kevin Zegers) and Nell (Samaire Armstrong)

The hook: Woody and Nell are very different people, i.e. (sorry, using i.e. too much in this post – I notice, I can self-reflect on these things and yet never change my initial wordings) Woody is the jock and Nell is the smart and brainy ivy-league hopeful. One day they wake up and they’re in each other’s bodies. Like many other body switching movies like Freaky Friday, this one may sounds like such a terribly cheesy romcom and set-up, but I have to defend it for how well it turned out. Zegers and Armstrong play each other so well that at some points I actually forget that they are not actually in each other’s bodies. Plus, the O.C. girl, come on.

5. I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)

Lead duo: Denis (Paul Rust) and Beth (Hayden Panettiere)

The hook: Similar to She’s Out of Your League, but with a more younger premise to it. Plus it’s all worth it for that moment in the end when Beth finally opens up to him and says, “Thank you for loving me.”

6. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

Lead duo: Ben (Matthew McConaughey) and Andie (Kate Hudson)

The hook: Both Ben and Andie work in companies which give them a specific task that requires each other to succeed. Ben must prove that he can make any girl fall in love with him in 10 days and Andie is writing an article on how she can lose a guy in 10 days. Obviously this kind of situation will never happen in real life – and that’s what makes it so much more hilarious and exciting. I think I’ve watched this movie far too many times for me to count. I loved McConaughey and Hudson in their roles. They were perfect for them.

7. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008)

Lead duo: Nick (Michael Cera)  and Norah (Kat Dennings)

The hook: Norah makes Nick pose as her boyfriend for a few minutes without knowing that her classmate, Tris, had recently broken up with him and he was still in love with her. To be honest when I first watched this movie I wasn’t in love with it. But after watching it four more times in a row (’cause the plane had no other good movies on it) I was absolutely hooked on Nick and Norah together.

8. Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)

 

Lead duo: Prince Henry (Dougray Scott) and Danielle (Drew Barrymore)

The hook: Definitely different from the others on this list, but don’t be fooled there is a lot of bite to this movie. Danielle always stood out to me as a very strong character. I always loved it when the main female character had a more independent streak to her and I think Barrymore did a really good job in making her shine.

9. Little Manhattan (2005)

Lead duo: Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) and Rosemary (Charlie Ray)

The hook: These children will put any adult relationship to shame with its surprising maturity and yet incredible innocence and sweet-nature.

Suddenly, I knew what I had to do. Love isn’t about ridiculous little words. Love is about grand gestures. Love is about airplanes pulling banners over stadiums, proposals on jumbo-trons, giant words in sky writing. Love is about going that extra mile even if it hurts, letting it all hang out there. Love is about finding courage inside of you that you didn’t even know was there. – Gabe

 

Plus, come on, Josh Hutcherson (Peeta in The Hunger Games) as a ten-year-old in this movie is too adorable. If anything, watch it as an entree before the main course, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

10. Alex & Emma (2003)

Lead duo: Alex (Luke Wilson) and Emma (Kate Hudson)

The hook: Alex is required to write a novel pronto and seeks assistance for a stenographer in Emma. I don’t know why, but this movie somehow stood out to me as a possible candidate to this list. Probably ’cause I only watched it once in my life and yet I still remember how I found Alex and Emma’s relationship just adorable. Or maybe ’cause I just loved Kate Hudson in every romance she’s played in.

I hope this list has given you guys at least one movie to check out and watch on one of those lazy afternoons or nights this summer.

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

5 Shows I Used to Watch on ABC When I Was Eleven

ABC stands for the Australian Broadcasting Channel and when I was between nine to twelve, when I returned from school at around three in the afternoon, I would turn on the television and catch some of my favourite tween-appropriate shows. I can’t say that many might relate to these shows being aired on their television. They were some of the most random kids shows around (and probably some of the worst – like equivalent to eating cheese fries instead of celery stalks). But either way, I remember how they used to make me feel all grown-up; ’cause they were definitely a step up from my usual kid cartoon variety.

Reminiscing about them also kind of makes me learn where Australian TV got all their series from.

1. Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight in the Land

Watching the intro honestly just made me cringe. This British show is practically true to its title. It revolves around Sir Gadabout (played by Jason Thorpe) who, unlike Lancelot, is just terrible at his job as a knight. My favourite character though was Princess Elenora who is a complete tomboy and has an alter ego called Sir Knight.

Interesting fact: Tamsin Egerton who played Princess Elenora in the show has gone on to star as Guinevere in the 2011 series, Camelot (medieval does not run out of this girl’s veins) – she also played Georgie in Chalet Girl alongside Felicity Jones (the main character Kim). I guess I didn’t notice that ’cause her hair is blonde now.

2. The Zack Files

This Canadian show centres around Zack Greenberg and the strange occurrences that just seem to naturally happen to him and his friends. I think I have to give this show credit for how unique all their episodes were. I can still run down the list of episodes and remember all the scenarios Zack had gotten himself into, like when he swallowed the orange seed and grew taller, or when he drank ink and became invisible. I think the motto of the story for Zack and his audience is to not consume weird crap.

3. The Saddle Club

Wow, this one really was Australian produced. I was definitely addicted to this show for a period of time ’cause as an eleven-year-old I was addicted to horses. I used to read Pony Pal books, I had my own book series that I made on pieces of A4 paper folded in half and taped together (which contained all my friends in it and I used to let them borrow the “books” to read and then I’d make new ones based on their feedback), and I also had a horseback riding birthday party when I was twelve that cost way too much money and made me fall in love with a pinto horse called Lucky.

I think it’s very obvious what this show was about. Girls and their love for horses. I sadly still remember all the lyrics to the terrible song they had in the credits.

4. My Best Friend Is An Alien (a.k.a. I Was A Sixth Grade Alien)

I knew that this would end up being such a cringe-worthy list. A purple alien named Pleskit definitely does play a heavy part in making this one extra cringe-worthy. If there are any redeeming qualities to this reference, Michael Cera used to be on this Canadian kids show.

5. Freaky Stories

“This is a true story, and it happened to friend of a friend of mine” – this line will always remind me of this show, along with “Just because they never happened, doesn’t mean they ain’t true.” Each episode of this Canadian TV show (I have drawn the verdict that ABC does have a lot of Canadian TV shows) tells an urban legend. I can’t remember whether this series had its own time slot or used to show in between the above series, but I certainly do remember it for being both creepy and yet very interesting.

Here, a free episode for you, as you can see, they’re not very long:

So those are all the after-school shows I’d watch when I was eleven! And if you want to catch them there are a lot of free episodes of each of them on Youtube. I can’t exactly say that they were the worse. I think to each generation there are those select few kid shows that you thought were awesome when you were young but when you look back on it they can make you cringe.

If anything, I think that kid shows nowadays are alright. Maybe they don’t have as much of the interesting content and engagement, i.e. less sci-fi and medieval and more boyfriend-girlfriend and I want to be famous talk, but they are definitely better produced and higher quality.

So till next time!

cumuloq ❤

5 Random Things That May Make You Laugh At Me

I think it’s safe to say that everyone is fallible when it comes to knowing everything and anything. There will always be something someone has no knowledge of that everyone else believes is just basic knowledge to the entire human society. It’s like that episode of Sherlock where Watson was incredulous that the Great Detective did not know that the Earth goes around the Sun.

And I think it’s also safe to say that we always love to laugh at that person’s ignorance. Sometimes it makes us feel smarter for that one moment in time. I sure as hell have laughed a lot of times when someone just does not know something I feel is such an essential part of my everyday life. And yes, I do feel bad about it. So here to get back some good karma I will willingly (okay, maybe willing is an overstatement) share some knowledge hiccups in my life.

1. Lucky is There’s a Family Guy

For maybe a good few months of Family Guy, I actually thought Peter Griffins name was Lucky. And that’s ’cause I mishear the intro every time (and honestly had to look up the lyrics to get it right) as “Lucky is a family guy”. So, yeah, I would begin a conversation about Peter with, “You know that fat dad, Lucky, in the Family Guy …” And no one, I repeat, no one has corrected me yet  – at all.

2. I Never Knew Robin Scherbatsky’s Real Name Until Today

I just saw it today: Cobie Smulders. And I cringed. I don’t know why I never bothered looking it up before – I guess I assumed her real name was probably Robin too. But thanks to the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Comic Con, now I know. Cobie.

3. I Shook the President’s Hand Not Knowing It Was Him

Here in my country we have both a Prime Minister and a President, so when I was given the opportunity (along with a whole bunch of other tertiary students) to have “tea with the President” I kind of had the mental picture of the Prime Minister being there, not the president – ’cause I got the two mixed up constantly. In my defence, I had only been back in my country for a year (after being overseas for a good six years).

You can guess how anti-climax it was when I was so nervous to shake his hand and instead, when after I shook it and realised there were no other dignitaries left to shake hands with, I turned to my friend and asked, “Where’s the president?” and she gave me the stunned look. I think we laughed it off afterwards, but inside I was kind of embarrassed.

4. Pull the Plug, It’s Okay

Back when I had my first computer, I honestly thought that the only way to turn it off was to pull the plug out, or just press the button. I think it lasted for a month or so where I literally did not know that “Shut down your computer” existed. It’s safe to say that that method did not last long. Computer got super slow, had tons of viruses and we had to get it repaired.

And, I did not learn my lesson when it came to my first thumbdrive either. Just pulled the sucker out every time.

5. Harry Potter Pronunciations

Up to the fourth book, around the time the first movie came out, I literally thought you pronounced Professor Snape as Professor Snap and Hermione is ‘Her-me-one’ (that one was corrected by the book itself, and I learnt alongside poor Victor Krum). So whenever I read ‘Snape snapped’  I read it in my head as ‘Snap snapped’ and to me it was a very duh moment in the book. Also, thanks to that pronunciation of Snape as ‘snap’ he always produced a mental image of biscuits as well. These biscuits:

So yeah. Those are my five (top of the head) random lapses in my brain. For the most part, I think that I’m pretty good with general knowledge – except when I’m not, of course.

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

Weekly Update: Fifth Harmony, Tom Thum and S.H.I.E.L.D.

I can’t believe I spent the whole of today waiting for my Sims 3 game to finish downloading on Steam. (Yes, I bought it, like finally.) It’s downloading now as we speak I write this post. It’s at 85%. Damn. I estimate that it’ll be done in another two hours time. It took me ages to realise that the Steam Summer Sale extended to Sims 3.

For the following week, I feel like I have to do some prepping for the end of the week’s time. My graduation ceremony will be this Friday. I’m not so sure whether or not I’m looking forward to it. I think I’ll be sort of relieved once I get my degree and official transcripts. I feel like I need a closure to this final semester, and this Friday will be it. And I can finally dub myself unemployed …

But for now, this week’s picks:

1. Song of the Week: Miss Movin’ On – Fifth Harmony

2. Youtube Video of the Week: Tom Thum: The orchestra in my mouth

3. Trailer of the Week: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

Poem: covering wounds

saturated
crumbling grains
past stone cracks and bleeding dry grass
half propped up
threading thin peaks of soft-pie cream
streaks of sugar pastry
down the front of her dress

conviction
strike that gravel and scrape the knee raw
mother brings out the salve in a bowl
yet she swings in the backyard
and breaks her ankles
on the metal bar

mother puts her down
to bed
the blisters stain her feet
clumsy little one
but the smile plastered on her face
is enough.

Top 5 Favourite Youtube Released Videos Today

Friday is an awesome day to just hang out on Youtube. Probably because some of my most loved channels and series release awesome content on this day. I think I went into fangirl mode early this morning when there were too many videos I wanted to watch being churned out on my Subscribed list. So here’s a top 5 of what has just been released today. At least one will get you talking, and at least one is just me and my crazy indulgence with certain Youtube niches.

So in no particular order other than which one I watched the earliest:

1. LetsPlay‘s VS Episode 20 – Ryan Vs Jack

They play Doom II in this one and I have to say that it is one of the most intense and close matches I’ve seen out of all the versus they’ve done in this series. I was definitely rooting for Ryan all the way.

2. TheFineBros‘s YouTubers React to K-pop

I knew this one was coming when the Fine Brothers announced it on their vlog and I have to say I wasn’t really looking forward to it (’cause I’m just not a k-pop fan). I knew my brother would definitely be waiting out for it though, ’cause he is a Girls Generation and Running Man fanatic. Basically anything Korean he goes crazy for. But I have to say that watching Meg Turney fangirl, Philip get utterly confused, Tyler find a new love and Anthony and Ian mishear “I Got a Boy” was really entertaining. I watched it twice in a row. And watching it again now. Damn it.

3. CartoonHangover‘s Sugarbellies (Bravest Warriors – Ep. 12 Season 1 on Cartoon Hangover)

I was honestly going to do a review of this today, but then I decided against it. ‘Cause, although I absolutely loved the Sugarbellies (their beautiful singing voices), and Bravest Warriors does have awesomely random endings, I spent the vast majority of this episode completely lost. Was expecting the first episode back to at least address the mysterious door that was meant for Beth … got gibberish in return. Well, you got to love Cartoon Hangover for that.

4. xRpMx13‘s GLGcraft part 215

This is definitely more of a niche thing. But after watching Ryan’s GLGcraft SPEEDBUILD SPECIAL! Mushroom House! the day before, I was just waiting for more content after it. Plus, Laine returns in this one.

5. RageGamingVideos‘ Minecraft Quick Build Challenge – Four Way Battle: Card Games!

And – definitely another niche one. But I always look forward to the quick build challenges during the end of the week. This one was no different. And I think, unlike many other quick builds lately, this one actually had good, serious builders in it. But there is an obvious winner here (*psst* Vote 4). 🙂

You certainly don’t have to subscribe to these channels if you don’t want to. But these are just a few of the channels I keep actively looking forward to and watching. So, if you don’t mind me, it’s time for me to choose whether to watch Let’s Play – GTA IV – Cannon Ball Run or Ninja Turtles Porn and Sourcefed’s National Anthem! #TableTalk now. (#whatismylife)

Till next time! TGFYV!

cumuloq ❤

My Favourite Glee Songs

Since this week my blog has centered a lot on Glee due to Cory’s untimely death, I thought it was apt for me to share my favourite songs from the past four Glee seasons. Honestly, it was tough deciding, ’cause I didn’t think that I had so many that I loved. Usually in a series there would be maybe just that one song that stood out the most for me. But then again, Glee has covered a lot of songs. And while there were episodes that I just did not like any of the songs (*cough* “The Spanish Teacher“), there were those episodes that had too many songs that were great. At first I ended up with a soundtrack list of more than thirty songs. But somehow, after much deliberation, I managed to narrow it down.

1. Somebody To Love – New Directions (S1 E5 “The Rhodes Not Taken“)
2. Keep Holding On – New Directions (S1 E7 “Throwdown“)
3. Poker Face – Rachel Berry and Shelby Corcoran (S1 E20 “Theatricality“)
4. Faithfully – New Directions (S1 E22 “Journey to Regionals“)
5. I Want To Hold Your Hand – Kurt Hummel (S2 E3  “Grilled Cheesus“)
6. Silly Love Songs – Dalton Academy Warblers (S2 E12 “Silly Love Songs“)
7. Landslide – Holly Holliday with Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce (S2 E15 “Sexy“)
8. Get It Right – Rachel Berry with Brittany Pierce, Tina Cohen-Chang and New Directions females (S2 E16 “Original Song“)
9. Somewhere Only We Know – Dalton Academy Warblers (S2 E18 “Born This Way“)
10. My Cup – Brittany Pierce and Artie Abrams (S2 E22 “New York“)
11. For Good – Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel (S2 E22 “New York“)
12. Fix You – Will Schuester and New Directions (S3 E3 “Asian F“)
13. Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Finn Hudson with New Directions males (S3 E7 “I Kissed a Girl“)
14. We Are Young – New Directions (S3 E8 “Hold on to Sixteen“)
15. Without You – Rachel Berry (S3 E10 “Yes/No“)
16. Smooth Criminal – Sebastian Smythe and Santana Lopez with the Dalton Cellists (S3 E11 “Michael“)
17. Shake It Out – Santana Lopez, Tina Cohen-Chang and Mercedes Jones (S3 E18 “Choke“)
18. Roots Before Branches – Rachel Berry with Finn Hudson (S3 E22 “Goodbye“)
19. 3 – Tina Cohen-Chang, Joe Hart and Sam Evans (S4 E2 “Britney 2.0“)
20. Crazy / (You Drive Me) Crazy – Marley Rose and Jake Puckerman (S4 E2 “Britney 2.0“)
21. Some Nights – New Directions (S4 E7 “Dynamic Duets“)
22. A Thousand Years, Pt 2 – Marley Rose and Jake Puckerman (S4 E12 “Naked“)
23. Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) – Jake Puckerman (S4 E12 “Naked“)
24. Your Song – Ryder Lynn (S4 E18 “Shooting Star“)
25. You Have More Friends Than You Know – Marley Rose, Blaine Anderson, Wade “Unique” Adams and Sam Evans (S4 E19 “Sweet Dreams“)

Stay strong, gleeks. Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

Why Pacific Rim Both Fails and Succeeds

I have never been so torn as to whether I wanted to watch a movie or not as I was when it came to Pacific Rim, but curiosity got the better of me. Often times I will attempt to walk into a cinema with a bit of background, not so much as to ruin the plot or the enjoyment of the scenes, but enough to have a gauge of what I’m walking into. I usually look out for good and bad reviews, taking each of them with a grain of salt. So I was absolutely confused when critics slid apart like the fault lines of the Pacific rim, either completely hating the film or completely loving it. I did not understand how one movie could create such a divergence.

Walking out of the cinema, I kind of understood why it was so. Pacific Rim definitely takes with it a select audience and, thanks to its action and childlike appeal, a large one that will earn it tons of profit and praise and possible sequels and spinoffs and action figures galore. Most likely, if you enjoy the typical summer blockbuster, you will walk out feeling incredibly awe-struck and satisfied with the Industrial Light & Magic effects and action presented to you; that is, if you do not worry too much or nitpick with certain elements of the movie that will stand out as just self-indulgent, especially for fantasy heavyweight Guillermo del Toro (after all, this was his childhood fantasy come alive).

There is a lot for one to enjoy. And, personally, enjoy I did. The sci-fi elements were just right on the money with the Jaegers and two pilots forced to make a neural link or handshake so as to operate it. I loved Del Toro’s inspiration behind the Kaijus, a mixture of Japanese larger-than-life monsters like Godzilla, Goya’s The Colossus and Jurassic Park, and the potential socio-political symbols they can evoke. In terms of the larger concepts and the gorgeously cinematic fight scenes, Pacific Rim is literally jaw-dropping (indeed many mouths were open in the audience, I saw first hand). It really makes one feel like a kid again, playing with action figures in the backyard – except this time the action figures included the robotic giants Gipsy Danger and Cherno Alpha and the backyard are dozens of destroyed cities and the largest ocean playground, the Pacific.

And this is probably what the first group of critics see from Pacific Rim: not a perfect, but an absolutely enjoyable movie that brings out the child in any audience member. The plot and characters are passable enough for the grand scheme of Del Toro’s fantasy sci-fi baby.

As for the other handful of critics, they looked more into the nitty gritty and, admittedly, when one targets the humans rather than the Jaegers and Kaijus, there is plenty more to lust after in Pacific Rim.

Charlie Hunnam was mediocre in his lead role. I’m sure plenty of other male actors would have been a better choice. Mako’s character had the potential to push against stereotypical Asian roles, but insultingly supported Orientalism in its portrayal of the victim-like, shy Japanese woman who is saved by the self-righteous, patriotic American man.

Many of the lines in Pacific Rim were very generic: the good guy is nothing but good, the bad guy is nothing but bad. The same goes for the plot, it’s predictable. It does not add to past movies in its display of heroics. It does not seek to understand aliens for any other reason but to annihilate them. It is just a chauvinistic performance of man’s superiority.

But in the end, did I enjoy the film? Definitely. I loved the humor in it. I did not take the stereotypes too seriously. It is an action film any kid would feel completely enshrouded in.

I loved the occasional quirky lines. Spoilers ahead: My favourites included when Raleigh asks whether he was chosen as the best man for the job and Pentecost tells him that he was the only choice ’cause all the others were dead. I loved it when Mako “chasing the rabbit” almost results in complete destruction and the female automatic voice asks the team, “Would you like to try again?” For some reason I completely loved it when Gipsy Danger punched through a building and there was a close-up shot of Newton’s cradle being set into motion.

I loved the bromance between Dr. Geiszler and Dr. Gottlieb. The scene where Dr. Geiszler is in the shelter and loses his glasses and attempts to find them and puts them on again only to come close to being attacked by the Kaiju is reminiscent to me of the scene in Jurassic Park where Wayne Knight’s character, Dennis Nedry loses his glasses in the mud and when he puts them on is faced with a dilophosaurus. But he definitely was a mix of Nedry and Dr. Malcom (Jeff Goldblum’s character – even dressed the same). Did anyone else catch that?

For all those still on the fence on whether or not to catch this film, I say that if you’re the kind who likes a thoughtful plot over the action and who prefers more mature films, Pacific Rim may not be your kind of movie. But if you’re in the mood for a good blockbuster, or are a fan of your typical Iron Man and Transformers combo, you’ll definitely enjoy this film. As a whole I loved the film, ’cause I’m a fan of Del Toro’s work and I appreciate any attempt at a sci-fi universe.

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

Where will Glee head without Cory?

Cory’s death has resulted in much speculation as to what will happen to his character, Finn, on Glee. There is no doubt that Ryan Murphy, the creator of Glee, will ensure that Cory’s death is given recognition on the show, whether it be a reunion or covers of his most well-known songs:

Glee Season 5 will include a Cory Monteith tribute led by Lea Michele, according to speculations. Gleek creator Ryan Murphy is expected to honor Cory’s memory through songs he popularised in the show. – Business Times

However, this is apart from the actual plot of Glee. The big question and dread on many Gleeks’ minds right now is what will happen to Finn the character now that the actor so dearly loved and attached to the role is gone. Here are the options the Glee writers and producers are left with:

1. Recasting

I present the most improbable and hated (among fans) option first. Recasting has happened in many series however it is often in the beginning of the series rather than after such a long period of time like Glee’s, and often in hopes of a better fit for the role, which is a completely different case for Finn who was built around the characteristics of Cory.

The advantage of this choice (but at high risk) is that the writers will not have to change much of their plans for Finn’s character. Finn and Rachel can still end up together, Finn can still become a teacher and help out the Glee club and, hopefully, fans will grow to love the new Finn.

However, the risks in this case are far greater. The role, regardless of how similar the new actor may attempt to shape it, will not be as well-loved; the new Finn will definitely not have the same singing voice, the same mannerisms, the same humour. Lea Michele will obviously not take it well, having to develop a connection with the new Finn, a character whom she so intimately attaches with her ex-fiance. Knowing her, she has the professional skills to try and pull it off, but fans will definitely not buy into the forced chemistry.

So, as far as recasting goes, my guess is that Ryan Murphy is far more considerate and sensitive to the issue to recast. In circumstances like these, recasting Finn would be just disrespectful to everyone who knew and loved him.

2. Finn takes his leave as well

This option is far more possible, as sad as it may sound. And there are many ways in which the writers can attempt this.

The first is a departure of Finn that does not relate to death,  one in which he moves elsewhere so that fans can still pretend that Finn the character is still alive, living happily somewhere else, such as an amazing opportunity to study abroad, or he’s sent to return to the army where he was discharged too early. This option will mean that Finn is essentially still alive in the plot, but will also mean that the topic of Cory’s death will be brushed aside. Something I’m not entirely looking forward to if this does happen.

The other option is to reciprocate Cory’s death with Finn’s death, e.g. a car accident or a plane crash while he was on his way to visit Rachel in New York, probably to surprise her during her casting for Funny Girl. This will allow the cast to commemorate his death in a respectful fashion, the entire cast reunited to commemorate him.

Glee has been known to tackle difficult issues. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ryan Murphy allows the audience to see the stripped, vulnerable and relatable emotion of loss that the cast must be feeling now. This sort of event will probably stretch and affect a lot of the other plots within the series.

3. The End of Glee itself

I know many haters of Glee have been unwittingly joking that Cory’s death will hopefully result in the end of Glee, but one still must question whether his death will inevitably result in Glee coming to its final season. How willing will Lea be to continue this series? How much inspiration is left with the writers in keeping the episodes fresh?

After all, how far can Glee progress with such a strong and anchoring character like Finn gone? Especially since the bridging of season 3 and 4 still relies on Finn’s presence and support. Will Glee have to revamp itself into a new TV series after this season is over?

All these questions are left to be answered once the new season of Glee begins in September or, as news has been speculating, in November (if it gets pushed back due to news of Cory’s unexpected death).

In the meantime, as a watcher of Glee, one can only have faith that deliberation is progressing with much tact and respect during this difficult time.

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

Related articles

• Cory Monteith: How Will His Death Affect The Future Of ‘Glee’? (hollywoodlife.com)
• Glee Season 5 Premiere May Be Postponed Till November Following Cory Monteith’s Passing (perezhilton.com)

My Personal Journey of Acceptance of Cory Monteith’s Death

I first heard the news of his passing via SMS from my boyfriend while I was walking around a shopping centre and, at the time, didn’t really react too drastically to it. Of course, I thought it was tragic, but I didn’t really think too much of the implications his death would have on the world. Another celebrity gone, just one that was more closer to my heart than, say, Whitney Houston or Michael Jackson. Those were icons of my parent’s generation.

It wasn’t until I got back home, after watching The Pacific Rim (is it kind of coincidental that Cory died only a few hours ago in the room of a Canadian hotel named the Pacific Rim Hotel?) , that it finally hit me. And isn’t it so that social media has a way of making events more momentous than you can first begin to comprehend them? When I got home and online one of the first signs of his passing was from a friend on Facebook who shared this gif set:

Little did I realise that, like many things that appear on Facebook, it was only the tip of the iceberg of images I’d see of the Cory/Finn montage. When it comes to capturing a moment, Tumblr bloggers really know about “the feels”. And somehow it was inspiring how so many fandoms came together to support the Gleeks on the lost of their icon (links to the original Tumblr posters attached to the photos):

So it was at this moment, scrolling down my dashboard (along with the Twitter feed and trends like #RipCoryMonteith and #PrayforLea) that I saw how so many lives were actually affected by his death. It wasn’t just the death of a person, but the death of someone who had stood as a figure of hope and of happiness. And that was the reason why so many fandoms were touched by that moment, whether they were fans of Cory or not, they could relate to this possible scenario occurring in their lives, like how Harry Potter fans may relate it to the untimely death of the first Dumbledore, Richard Harris. Or really any fandom with the death of a loved character in their show.

For me, Cory was a significant icon in my life, I’m not ashamed to admit that. I watched Glee mainly ’cause of Lea Michele. Glee came at the perfect moment when I was a fan of Spring Awakening, and seeing Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele singing on TV was like a dream come true for someone who could never watch their performance in New York.

And Finn was very much a part of that moment. My boyfriend and I grew closer from catching Glee episodes every week and relating our relationship to Finn and Rachel. So to see Cory gone forced me to put myself in Lea’s shoes. But it is difficult, ’cause I could not imagine (and still cannot imagine) the heartache she must have, when she was all ready to be wed to the man in two weeks time. And for that a lot of my condolences go to her.

Only a few hours ago, BBC news along with many other news sources released the results of the post-mortem examination, which determined “a mixed-drug toxicity involving heroin and alcohol” was the cause of death. It was apparent that Cory was under rehabilitation and treatment, but it is really sad that, after so many efforts towards recovery, he had to go this way.

This post has reflected on all the optimism that has resulted from Cory’s death. I understand that there were many moments of his passing that showed more uglier sides of humanity (*cough cough* Westboro Baptist Church) and, once again, the ability of social media to once again dupe the general public with false representations of the truth (I’ve addressed this before with the Boston marathon tweets). I would rather not address and flame these negative representations of Cory, or give them the attention they do not deserve.

As a whole, I’d rather reflect on the joy Cory has brought to others. ‘Cause his scenes on Glee always made me smile, his voice always had so much sincerity in it and he always came off as a genuine and kind-hearted person. And I sincerely hope that (“if heaven exists”), as he mentioned in his interview on Inside the Actors Studio, that God does give Cory a good explanation as to why he has “not been around” and give him the rest and love he deserves.

And lastly …

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

Coming later today …

Will be blogging and addressing Cory Monteith’s unfortunate death later, supposed Glee directions because of this and there’s going to be a Pacific Rim review. 🙂

Stay tuned!

– cumuloq ❤

5 Video Games I Grew Up With

I wouldn’t say that I grew up as a video game addict; I was just surrounded by it thanks to my brother and his friends. There are some video games that are just incredibly nostalgic to me. So below are a list of the ones that were just that.

1. Worms Armageddon (1999)

I remember watching my brother’s friend, Andrew, play the original Worms on his computer while waiting for our parents to pick us up from his and his younger brother’s house. Somehow the image of worms attacking each other stuck in my mind as one of the first video games that I ever saw as a kid and I remember at that time I was incredibly enthralled by all of it. The snark remarks they made, the cute responses they had when they were hit just made me keep my eyes glued to the screen. Who would have thought that worms could be so entertaining? Watching it being played now is just not the same.

2. Rampage 2: Universal Tour (1999)

Rampage definitely brings back a whole lot of memories for me as it was one of our (my brother and I’s) favourite games when we got our first console, the Playstation. My brother and I would select either Boris or Curtis and spend the afternoon punching windows and munching on people. We never made it that far though but we had fun just replaying the Salt Lake City and Denver levels again and again.

3. Pokemon Blue Version (1998)

Yup, I was one of those 90’s kids that grew up with a Game Boy and played with the original 150 pokemon, where the credits roll when you beat the Elite Four and Ash’s nemesis, Gary. Before there were so many legendary trios that you could no longer name them all and too many pokemon for you to recall at the top of your head. I originally played the game on my brother’s Game Boy, which was a black and white version, but soon enough it was clear that I had started hogging it too much to train my pokemon (squirtle was always my starter) that I had to get my own. So I was so happy when I got my own Game Boy and even more ecstatic when it was one of the “Color” ones that it practically ate up so much of my time. This is the exact version of the one I had:

Worse still, when my brother managed to get the emulator on PC three years ago, I got hooked on it again, this time the Fire Red version. I think in total I have beaten the Elite Four at least ten times. And yes, I do know all the original 150 pokemon – and probably still remember their types, strengths and weaknesses. I did play the beginning half of the gold and silver enough to know a few of the pokemon after the 150, but not that many. And now, I’ve given up. Pokemon Blue will always be my first Pokemon game love of my childhood – though I doubt it will always remain there, since I do have a bad habit of picking it up and playing it again.

4. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

I think around the time my brother got the Playstation 2 I became a lot more familiar with certain video games. So it was definitely difficult to choose between said GTA, the Tony Hawk series, the WWE series, Madden NFL and a whole bunch of other favourites. I think GTA stood out the most for my brother and I as a childhood favourite due to the songs on the radio (Emotion 98.3) when Tommy’s just riding in a car on a long road – or in a helicopter trying to find the edge/boundary/limit of the map e.g. Mr. Mister – Take These Broken Wings and Foreigner – Waiting for a Girl Like You. We’d sing a long, even now, to the awesome melodies. One of our favourite pastimes would be to rile up innocent bystanders but not get caught by the cops. This game just has so many memories attached to it.

5. Burnout Revenge (2005)

I think the main reason why this game stands out also among the PS2 pack is because I was just too good at the Road Rage and Crash parts of the game. My brother would always play the races and then he’d hand it over to me to demolish the competition in the Road Rage section. And I’ve done them all, “takedown”, “crashbreaker” and “revenge takedown”. I also loved the soundtrack to the game which featured my favourite bands Yellowcard and Fall Out Boy (I also loved it even more that you got to choose which songs you wanted to play and which ones you didn’t). Whenever one of their songs (like Lights And Sounds) started playing during a race I’d instantly get pumped. The music just put me in the mood to crash cars. And it’s safe to say that this game was my stress-reliever during those horrible angsty puberty days.

So, there you go! A quick run through of the games that have influenced me up till I was a teenager. And also a quick look at the consoles that I’ve been exposed to. And, so that I can make it clear, these games never influenced me in a negative way, it never made my grades slip or make me turn to violence or deviant behaviour. All they ever did was help me bond better with my brother, with the friends that came around to play with us, to help relieve some of the stress that I faced during my life as a child and to overall provide a lot more laughs in my life.

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

5 Things You Don’t Need to Worry About

We humans love to worry a lot. Worry worry worry warts. Yup, that’s us. But I’m here to share with you 10 things I have learnt, in life, that you do not have to worry about and (hopefully) take some time out of your life that you have spent worrying to do more productive things. (You’re welcome?)

1. Don’t worry about not being a straight ‘A’ student

First, I was definitely never one. And while I do believe that it is very important to do your best in school and aim to do well in terms of grades, do not – and I repeat – do not worry yourself if you fail to be a straight ‘A’ student. Don’t worry if you’re not one and others appear to be one. Don’t worry when your parents ask you why you got this grade in this subject and not an A. While grades my attempt to judge whether an individual is intelligent through a measurement of percentage, numbers and alphabets, perfect grades does not equate a perfect individual. A person with better grades than you does not equate to them being a better person than you. And if your parents are stressing over your grades, that only means that they want the best for you, and that means that they care about you. So, in short, you needn’t worry.

2. Don’t worry if you can’t have what others have and get attention over

Come on, you know what I’m talking about: that kid in your class that always comes to school with the coolest gadgets that are paid for by their parents, or that gorgeous girl who seems to have the perfect hair and wardrobe and owns all the high-end make-up; and meanwhile, you can’t seem to catch a break working part-time and begging your parents for more money to just be able to get your fingers on something that’s come out within the last six months. Don’t worry about what they have ’cause five years down the road you won’t even remember such worries. Focus instead on yourself and your dedication to get meaningful things that you need. In the end, you’ll get something much more worthwhile than attention, you’ll learn dedication, perseverance and (not instant but even more memorable) satisfaction.

3. Don’t worry about finding someone to love you 

I’ve heard it all the time and I know that while some people never openly look for a partner, sometimes they worry and wonder to themselves, “Why not me?” or “When is it my turn?” I know it’s hard to be happy for your friends when they all start pairing up like Noah’s Ark is about to happen, and I know it’s confusing to understand how one girl can be up to her fifth boyfriend (who in your eyes is just as equally amazing as the first) but she’s still unhappy and seems to not appreciate him as much as you probably want to in such a relationship. Again, I say don’t worry about it. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt, finding your best friend for life takes a lot of patience and understanding of yourself and your needs and, the longer you have to figure all this out before your first (or second) long commitment to a special someone, the better. So don’t worry. Enjoy your self-journey for the moment and learn more about how you can be a better and independent you before you begin attaching another name to your equation.

4. Don’t worry when you piss someone off

Indeed, this one is a tough one, ’cause sometimes we can’t help but be immediately ashamed of our behaviour or agitated at the person’s reactions if we vehemently believe we are not in the wrong. I know I can’t help it, ’cause I’m both a sensitive and stubborn person – which definitely does not go well for both scenarios. But alas don’t dwell on that other person’s reaction or the offence they take. The best thing to do is just apologise, resolve matters and move on to happier things. I’m sure you have learnt from your life that negativity is not something you want sitting like a grey cloud over the rest of your day. So when a situation like that happens, brush it off and make a mental note/life lesson of it, and go do what you love.

5. Don’t worry. You’re not useless. 

Everyone can make the choice of whether to sit idly through life or be proactive and attempt to make their mark, to be a bystander or a potential headline hero, to watch life or live it, but whether you have done one or the other at this point in time does not make you meaningless nor useless. ‘Cause your past does not determine your worth anymore. So instead of worrying, do something with yourself, do something that you want to do and make it worth something. Prove to yourself that you can be more than what you have been. And if what you have been was satisfactory to you so far, go ahead and do something that exceeds satisfactory next time, do something amazing.

So don’t worry. And keep smiling. Till next time!

cumuloq ❤

Weekly Update: Guessing, Minecraft Hide and Seek and Hiccup Wins Against Puberty

It’s Sunday! Time to get a good rest then eat some cake with my sunshine-filled “fairy godmother” and watch Pacific Rim later in the evening (can’t wait – but very apprehensive about all them mixed reviews it’s been getting – but still got high hopes for that del Toro). So, definitely a mental note to make a review of that for the upcoming Wednesday.

But meanwhile, here for you guys, is my Sunday best (see what I did there … I took it to church).

1. Song of the Week: Guessing – Against the Current

Against the Current just has a bunch of great summer anthems and “Guessing” is definitely one of them.

2. Youtube Video of the Week: Minecraft Mini-Game Hide and Seek

Less of a specific youtube video this week and more topical. I recently discovered the Minecraft Mini-Game Hide and Seek. It is an awesome combination of your good ol’ Hide and Seek and YOLO: THE GAME. For gamers, minecraft-enthusiasts etc., apart from Sky‘s video above, be sure to check out Minecraft HIDE AND SEEK “CHEATERS!!” w/Husky, Sky, Jerome, Ian, and Joey – 3 and Minecraft Minigame: Hide N’ Seek w/ Friends!. My favourite moments are definitely where they are hiding and people are just cluelessly whacking their diamond swords around them. It just makes for a hilarious video. It’s even alright if they’re staring at darkness or nothing, ’cause the commentary and chat just makes up for it. Plus, there’s tons of anticipation and suspense.

3. Trailer of the Week: How to Train Your Dragon 2

I think no other trailer this week beats the release of the Teaser Trailer of How To Train Your Dragon 2. The first one definitely stands out as one of my favourite animated films of all time so you have to believe I am excited about this one. After all, Tumblr bloggers are just gushing about how puberty has suited Hiccup very nicely. Almost as nicely as Matthew Lewis, the actor of Neville Longbottom – well, it’s a close finish there.

 

Yup, well, till next time!

cumuloq ❤

Poem: the precious china

i remember that china-plate hour
in the middle of a smoke-filled night
the peaches and cream cut in half by a silk-touched blade
and the ‘no’s hover across my pearled eyes
crusted with dried apricots
i gaze across an ocean as vast as the galaxy
i’m a goldfish speckled and salted and peppered
hinged between the rotating rings of saturn
the voyager 2 lost in dione
i’m not mine anymore
a net cast in the sea
i’m a fleet among flotsam
my lungs gape
at the apertures of the constellations
out of focus, let me be, half here and not and
terribly confused
plunge the anchor to bedrock and pebbles of partial
formed expectations
the porcelain shatters the surface of the table
and the hot chocolate stains froth
across the satin cloth.

Solo TableTalk Answers? Yes, Please.

I feel like this post should be called ‘The Odd One Out on the Table Who No One Talks To So I Have My Own Conversation To My Coffee Mug’. But that’s definitely too long to fit into a title – like a majority of Fall Out Boy and Panic At the Disco song titles. But let’s start the intro proper, shall we?

I love watching #TableTalk by SourceFedNERD every week. It’s become one of my new favourite series on YouTube. Not sure whether it’s just ’cause of Steve’s awesome humour, Trish’s encouraging laugh after someone says anything remotely in the realm of funny, Meg’s sudden enthusiasm when the topic is one which she has a strong opinion on, the questions themselves, the Reddit quirky usernames, or maybe just ’cause I want to waste my time on something remotely entertaining. But yeah, #TableTalk is amazeballs for all of the above.

So today, since I don’t hit the clubs on Friday, and am just an introverted turtle here sitting in front of my computer, I’m going to give my answers to the questions posed in this episode of TableTalk:

Q1: Choose five people, fictional or otherwise, to be in your crime fighting crew.

Ans: The saddest part to this question is that I think I’ve answered it in my head before, once in a blue-speckled weird moon. Anyway, it would be Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sherlock Holmes, Hit Girl, Ellen Ripley (Alien Resurrection version) and Resident Evil’s Alice. Yes, a highly girl powered team here. And Sherlock’s almost asexuality can count him among the ladies anywho.

Q2: How has the internet influenced today’s youth in a good or bad way?

Ans: Such a GP question, which I won’t make into a (model?) essay here. Definite double-edged sword scenario: all the knowledge (albeit potentially false knowledge) you could want at the tip of your fingers, influence both good and bad, sources of inspiration and escapism and also of deviance. We can go in circles here, but, yup, add that one in there exam paper setters. See what the youth say. (Dear God, does that mean I’m not one anymore?)

Q3: If you could choose one animal to become instantly extinct, what animal would you choose and why?

Ans: Personally, I hate lizards. I would choose for them to become extinct. (Or, maybe rats, ’cause they’re just disease-carriers, right?) But the problem is that I know lizards fascinate and inspire scientists on potential limb regeneration for medical advancements … but then there are newts for that too, right? And I don’t think I mind newts too much. Well, at least they don’t crawl on my walls at night and make sex noises in random corners and fall on my head. Yup, lizards.  And not the cool huge kind, the common household kind. So long as it doesn’t change the ecosystem too much.

So, yup. Those are my answers!

Till next time!

cumuloq ❤