It's been sixteen years since Sylvester Stallone last donned boxing gloves to play his signature character and exactly thirty years since anyone has been able to describe a Rocky movie as being anything more than a guilty pleasure. So, you can't blame audiences for greeting the prospect of a sixth installment of the franchise with a healthy amount of skepticism. But then, it's only appropriate that Rocky Balboa arrives in theaters as the holiday season's top underdog. Just as he did back in 1976, Rocky—and by extension Stallone—is climbing into the ring as a man with something to prove. And for the first time in thirty years, you just might find yourself cheering him on.

Rocky Balboa picks up with the former champ residing in a modest split-level house in Philly. Most of his days are spent by the grave of his dearly departed wife Adrian. Then, when the sun goes down, he makes his way to the Italian restaurant he owns, where he poses for pictures with customers and regales them with tales of his greatest fights. And once a year he and his brother-in-law, Paulie (Burt Young), take a trip through the old neighborhood, revisiting the pet store where Adrian used to work and the remains of the ice rink where they had their first date. These annual nostalgia tours are the only things that Rocky really has to look forward to. For a brief moment, they allow him to forget that he's a lonely widower with a mediocre restaurant, an estranged son (Milo Ventimiglia), and a life in which there's nothing left to fight for.

This set-up could have served as the basis for a great character study about an aging prizefighter with no hope of getting back in the ring trying to carve out a place for himself in a world that's passed him by. But Stallone has never been that kind of filmmaker and, in the end, Rocky isn't that kind of character. The source of his appeal lies in his stubborn refusal to walk away from a fight, even when he's clearly outmatched. So it's only a matter of time until he finds himself staring down another opponent, in this case current heavyweight champion Mason "The Line" Dixon (played by real-life boxer Antonio Tarver). The two men have been brought together for an exhibition match after a computer simulation showed that an in-his-prime Balboa would have wiped the floor with Dixon. Obviously, there's no way that a fiftysomething Rocky stands a chance of beating the younger fighter, but that doesn't stop him from whipping himself back into shape for one last bout.

In interviews, Stallone has said that he intended Rocky Balboa to be a bookend to the original film and, as promised, viewers can leap directly from that movie to this one without having to make time for the other four installments. Aside from a passing reference to his victory over Apollo Creed and brief glimpses of Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago, the events of Rocky II-IV go unmentioned, while the widely reviled Rocky V has apparently been erased from continuity altogether, along with any mention of Rocky's supposed brain damage. Rocky Balboa is also filled with numerous visual cues and references to the '76 picture, along with the return of two minor characters in beefed-up roles. The result is a film that's as much a nostalgia trip for the audience as it is for its star. The goodwill generated by this approach ends up carrying viewers through the movie's dead spots, including Rocky's awkward attempts to bond with a teenage thug-in-training and an underwritten storyline involving Mason Dixon's own crisis of confidence. It's in these scenes that Stallone's limitations as a writer and director really shine through. After thirty years he knows his own character inside and out, but he still struggles to write convincing dialogue for anyone other than Rocky.

Of course, we're not in the theater to watch Rocky carry on conversations; we're waiting for that moment when Bill Conti's famous score kicks in and this punch-drunk pugilist stops talking and starts his requisite training montage. Naturally, Stallone doesn't stint on the nostalgia in this section of the movie either. Once again, good ol' Rocko pounds away at frozen slabs of beef, knocks back a glass of raw eggs and, of course, runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. After that, it's off to Las Vegas for the big showdown with Dixon. While the ending of the match is never really in doubt, it's surprising how much genuine tension Stallone manages to wring out of this unlikely battle, in which both fighters unload on each other with everything they've got. On it's own terms, Rocky Balboa is only a modestly entertaining movie, but taken in context, it's an entirely satisfying conclusion to the Rocky saga.

As far as comic book-inspired movies are concerned, "Ghost Rider" isn't quite as bad as "Elektra" or "The Punisher," which were certainly the worst of the recent lot.

But it's a far cry from "Batman Begins," the "Spider-Man" movies and Bryan Singer's "X-Men" films, which have set the bar pretty high for everything that's followed.

This supernatural action/thriller can't decide whether it wants to go for laughs or chills, and some of the supposedly chilling moments are the silliest and most laughable ones.

Speaking of laughable, it's hard to take star Nicolas Cage seriously. He plays Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt rider who sold his soul to Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda).

Johnny had hoped the deal would save his father's life. But Pops died and now the devil has come to collect on the younger Blaze's "debt." Instead of consigning him to hell, though, the Lord of Darkness turns Johnny into a blazing, skull-headed, motorcycle-riding spirit of vengeance.

And as this Ghost Rider, Johnny is supposed to stop Blackheart (Wes Bentley), the rebellious son of Mephistopheles, who wants to create hell on Earth.

The CGI-heavy transformation sequences are done pretty well, but screenwriter/director Mark Steven Johnson's attempts at character drama are pretty clunky.

In particular, the romance between Cage's Blaze and his childhood sweetheart, Roxanne (Eva Mendes), doesn't work. (There's a definite lack of chemistry between the two actors. Strangely, Matt Long and Raquel Alessi — who play the younger versions of their characters — don't have that problem.)

Still, Sam Elliott is a welcome presence, even if his all-knowing narration sounds eerily similar to the one he did in the Coen brothers' "The Big Lebowski."

"Ghost Rider" is rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing violent imagery (automotive mayhem, shootings, demonic attacks and violence against women), scattered profanity, brief gore, and vulgar slang and gestures.

I read Revenge Is Best Served Cold a week ago and thought this debut novel by Tracie Howard and Danita Carter was an entertaining read. Although, I found it a bit hard to believe that these saavy business women/fashion divas would allow themselves to be sucked into the tales of a shady and flamboyant man who pretends to be from a wealthy family, I enjoyed the book nonetheless. The ending had a very nice twist to it.

If you're a socialite or a lover of high-end fashion, you'll appreciate the trendy spots and designer wears. . . if not, you might find yourself turning your lips up. As I see some readers/reviewers have.

Tracie Howard and Danita Carter, keep the pen flowing!

Chris Gardner is a family man struggling to make ends meet. Despite his valiant attempts to help keep the family afloat, the mother of his five-year-old son Christopher is buckling under the constant strain of financial pressure. No longer able to cope, she reluctantly decides to leave. Chris, now a single father, continues to doggedly pursue a better-paying job using every sales skill he knows. Without a financial cushion, Chris and his son are soon evicted from their apartment and forced to sleep in shelters, bus stations, bathrooms or wherever they can find refuge for the night. Despite his troubles, Chris continues to honor his commitment as a loving and caring father, using the affection and trust his son has placed in him as an impetus to overcome the obstacles he faces.
After doing runs for today with Uncle Joey! Me and cousin Cathy at Great Mall. After a good dinner and a good tip, i guess its time to be Happy. I guess i am happy but no one would be happier than Will Smith himself. Based on a true story everybody just want to be happy. And as for me am still struggling but i'll be happy soon. That is why its called the The Pursuit Of Happyness. Try Watching the movie, i think i almost cried in this movie. I think

Mars Spectacular

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is
catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest
approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars
may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars
and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not
come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as
60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within
34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest
object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear
25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be
easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and
reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at
nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded
history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

Share this with your children and grandchildren as no one alive today will
ever see this again.

Isang treat para sa mga veklores at the same time, Star Wars fans . . . .


(insert music)

Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom . . . . . . . . . doooom . . . . . . . dooooom . . . . . . . doom . . . doodoom . . . . . doom . . . doodoom . . . . . . . .

(2 notes higher)

Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom . . . . . . . . . doooom . . . . . . . dooooom . . . . . . . doom . . . doodoom . . . . . doom . . . doodoom . . . . . . . .


(mga piling eksena)






EXT. SA KALAWAKAN

Focus ang camera ever sa dalwang jutay na battleships. Fast and the furious ang eksena. May-I-follow lang ang camera ever hanggang .....

Reveal .......

Plentibums na spaceships ever . . . . laser here . . . . laser there . . . laser everywhere.

Parang roller coaster.

Ang concept eh hiluhin ang audience para witchelles sila makapag-jisip ng malalim later on.

Follow ever pa ren sa dalawang jutay na battleships.

Reveal .......

First jutay battleship ....... may-I-pilot si Annakin.

Second jutay battleship ........ may-I-pilot si Obi Wan.

Anakin: Sightsiva mey yung pinaka-daks na spaceship ever.

Obi Wan: Ayyyyy! Daks?! . . . . . . So?

Anakin: Anu buuuuur! Dahil yan ang pinakadaks na spaceship . . . . ibig sabihin nanjanchie ever
si General Grievous, ang robot na umuubo!

Obi Wan: Keri!

Anakin: Atak?

Obi Wan: Atak! (sa ibang utaw) Dahil kami ang bida sa pelikulang itey hey hey. Kekemeng brakatak na kami. Wa kayong jujoin. Hayaan 'nyo lang na ipegis kayey ng mga bumbumkylie.

Enter ang dalawang jutay na battleships sa pinakadaks na spaceship.

Droid: Nag-enter na ang mga jedi.

Plentibums na droids ang umatak sa dalawang jedi pagexit nila sa dalawang jutay na battleships.
Lightsabers . . .

(insert nakakalokang tunog ng lightsabers na parang nagfu-fumegate)

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Luz Valdez ang mga droids.

Obi Wan: I-learn mey kung nasanchie yung ma-ondang si Palpatine.

Anakin: Keri. . . . . . nandoonchie siya sa tuktok nitong pinakadaks na spaceship.

Obi Wan: Keri. R2D2. Stay ka lang ditey. Annakin, atak, joint tayez sa elevator.

Enter sa elevator ang dalawang jedi.

Anakin: Di ba mga jedi tayez? Baket tayez nageelevator?

Obi Wan: Baket hindi! Gaga! Feeling mo? Ikaw si superman at nakakaflysiva ka? Ambisyosa ka ha!

Anakin: (emberna) hmmmmpf.



INT. Tuktok ng pinakadaks na spaceship.

Nakajupostraks ang Maondang Palpatine sa center ng room. Siyempre kelangan, maganda ang view from there.

Enter dalawang jedi.

Annakin: Ola! We are here to the rescue!

Enter Count Dooku.

Anakin and Obi Wan: (gulat)

Maondang Palpatine: (nagkukunwaring kunwari ay gulat)

Count Dooku: Haller! Anung eksenang itey?! Hmpf! Nagka-sight-sight na naman tayez hez?!

Anakin: True! At now, witchelles ka makakaisquierda! Kung sa part II ay na-luz valdez mo akez
at naging-thank-you-girl lang akez. This time. Witchelles na mangyayari iyonchie! Magwi-
winadol na akey dahil mas powerful na akey.

Count Dookuu: Ay true?! Hehe. Mas keri.

Atak.

Lightsabers

(insert nakakalokang tunog ng lightsabers na parang nagfu-fumegate)

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Wicthelles lang sila mga . . . . jedi mga acrobat pa sila.

Fight scene choreography: streetboys!

Nag-pa-gurl si Obi Wan. Naghimatay-himatayan portion.

Fight pa ren si Dooku at Anakin.

Na-lost si Dooku.

Anakin: I-pe-pegasus na kitey!

Palpatine: Keri! I-pegasus mo siya!

Anakin: Nagbago ang isip kez. Witchelles keri ang pagpegasus.

Palpatine: Haggard ka! I-pegasus mo siya. Shinutol niya ang project-arms mo. Kelangan mag
revenge ka. Shit ka! Remember, ang pelikulang itey ay revenge of the shit. Kaya go! Shutayin
ara mo ang maondang yan kasi akez lang dafat ang pinakamaonda ditey na whitesiva ang
heraton. Shutayin mey!

(insert nakakalokang tunog ng lightsabers na parang nagfu-fumegate)

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Shinugot ever ni Annakin ang julo ni Dooku.

Palpatine: (laftir) Fly na tayez. Iwan mo na yang si Obi Wan. Masyado siyang pa-gurl.

Anakin: Witchelles keri. Witchelles kez jijiwanan itey.

Palpatine: Jiwanan mo na yan ever!

Anakin: Ang nega mo ha. Join-join kaming umatak ditey. Join-join kaming fa-fly!

Naloka ang pinakadaks na spaceship.

Nahulog ang mga bida na kaniney ay nagshoshokbohan lang.

Biglang wag ipaintindi sa audience kung nasaan na ang source ng gravity.

Nakakapit si Palpatine sa paa ni Annakin. At si Obi Wan . . . hayun, mega yakap ever kay
Anakin. Nagising bigla si bakla.

Obi Wan: Anung eksena?

Anakin: Hindi ba obvious?

Bumalik na naman ang center of gravity ng pinakadaks na spaceship sa tama. Nalaglag yung mga bida.

Ala-spiderman-eksena and vollah!

Eynimomentz.

General Grievous: Ray shields! (ubo, ubo)

Na-trap ang everyone.

Grievous: General Kenobi, the negotiator. (ubo ubo) 48 years na akez na wait-galore sa beauty
mo. At Anakin Skywalker. Ineexpectchiwariwariwaps key ay isang menchus (ubo ubo) na mas ma-kyonda.

Anakin: General Grievous . . . . . Supreme Commander of the Drois Armies. Ang jutay-jutay mez pala.

Grievous: Haggard ka! (ubo ubo)

Obi Wan: Anakin, witchelles mo warlahin ang robot na umuubo.

Umeksena si Artoo. Naloka ang everybody.

Lightsabers.

(insert nakakalokang tunog ng lightsabers na parang nagfu-fumegate)

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Pilot: General, naloloka na ship. Eynimomentz eh titanic ang eksena natey ditey.

Grievous: Emberna. Iisquierda na akey.

Fight pa ren sila Obi-wan sa mga battle droids.

Naka-isquierda na si General Grievous in a scape pod.

Obi Wan: Anakin, learn mo bang i-keme ang pinakadaks na spaceship na itey.

Anakin: Why not?

Jumupostrax si Anakin sa pilot's seat.

Eksena. Nag-enter the dragon na ang shulahati ng pinakadaks na space ship sa atmosphere.

Insert bulalakaw portion.

Crash landing scene.

Obi Wan: Another Happy Landing Eksena?


INT. Senate Office Hallway.

May-I-follow ang isang bilat sa grupo ng mga senadors ever with Anakin. Sight si Anakin.
Lumapit ever siya sa sunud-sunuran portion. Ikmayl si potah. Si Padme!

Yakapsule . . . . .

Lapchukan . . . . . .

Padme: Wag ditey! Haggard, wag tayez ditey mag-dookit in public. Baka may maka-sighteous.

Anakin: Kiver! Kiver na akey kung ma-noselift nilang mag-jusawa tayey hey hey!

Padme: Anakin, witchelles kang tumalak ng mga ganyang eksena. Important ka sa Republic. Muhality of culture talaga kitey pero hindi ko bet na ma-pegasus ka lang.

Anakin: Witchelles akey mapepe-gasus. Mapepegasus lang naman akey because of you . .

Padme: Juntis akey.

Anakin: (naloka ng slight, ikmayl) Keri! Super keri!

Yakapsule moment another.

Anakin: Ang byonda-byonda mey!

Padme: Ma-byonda lang akey kase enlababo akey.

Anakin: Witchelles. Kasi, akez ang super enalababo sa iyez.

INT. PADME's APARTMENT - Bedroom - NIGHT
Magigising si Anakin. Jusang-jusa ng pawis ever. Warla sa panaginip ever. At heto pa. Nakajubadstra siya.
All focus on Anakin's bare chest.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE
Yoda and Anakin sitting, super jisip.
Yoda: Careful ikawchie pag sine-sense ang future ever, Anakin.
Anakin: Anechie ang gagawin key?
Yoda: Na i-let go ang everything na kinabobokotang ma-luz valdez, dapat i -learn mey.
Eksena na muna. Hayun. Separate lives ang mga Jedi sa pag-atak sa mga separatists. Habang bine-breinwash ng hinaharass at binebrainwash ng maondang palpatine si Anakin.

Hanggang sa hayun . . . . . nag-go-with-the-flow si Anakin, since magiging miss universe nga naman siya sa piling ni Palpatine. Nabobokot siyang ma-tegibums si Padme based sa mga panaginip niya. Chinka siya ni Palpatine na kayang 'nyang i-save si Padme sa pagka-tegibums kung male-learn niya ang ways of the Sith.

Tinegibums na ang lahat ng Jedi. Nabuhay lang si Yoda and si Obi Wan.

EKSENA.

Umatak si Padme kung nasan si Anakin.

Anakin: Padme, na-sight kez yung spaceship ara mey.

Yakapsule.

Anakin: Keri na ang everything. Anechiwa ba ang ginagawa mo diety?

Padme: Nahahaggard akey. Nahaggars ako sa mga tinalak ni Obi Wan.

Anakin: Bet ni Obi Wan na mawarla ka sa 'ken.

Padme: Friendiva naten siya. Bet ka niyang tulungan.

Anakin: Witchelles tayo kering tulungan ni Obi Wan, hindi siya powerful.

Padme: Ang bet ko lang naman eh ang muhality of culture mey.

Anakin: Witchelles ka bubuhayin ng muhality of culture. Yung powers ko lang ang makakagawa 'non. Witchelles ka matetegibums katulad nung nategibums ang muderaka kez. Mas powerful na akey sa kahit na sinong Jedi at ginawa ko lang iety para mabuhay ka.

Padme: Chika nga ni Norah Jone, come away with me. Palakihin natin ang mga junakis morrisette naten. Shoma na ang mga ka-chervahan na iety.

Anakin: Witchelles mo ba nasa-sight? Witchelles na nating kelangang shumokbo-shoka ever. Mas powerful na akey maski sa Chancellor. Keri kong patalsikin siya eynimomentz, tapos tayo ang magiging mr. and miss universe. Keri nating gawin lahat ng bet nating gawen.

Padme: Nahahagarrd akez sa mga tinatalk mez. Shoma yata si Obi Wan. Witchelles ka na ang Anakin na kina-enlababuhan kez! Witchelles na kita noseline. Parang others ka na. Anakin, you're making my heart achy-breaky. Umaatak ka sa isang lugar na hindi ko namang kering umatak.

Anakin: Nagjejely-de-belen na akey. Dahil ba iety kay Obi Wan?

Padme: Witchelles! Dahil sa mga chenes mo . . . . dahil sa mga balak mo pang i-chenes. Shoma na itey! Shoma na itey! Enlababo akey sa iyez.

Anakin: (na-sight si Obi Wan pababa ng spaceship ni Pamde) Shuntanginamey!

Padme: (na-sight din si Obi Wan) Witchelles ko siya ka-joint!

Anakin: Ka-joint mo siya. Bet mo ren akong warlahin noh? Jinoint mo siya para i-tegibums ako noh?

Padme: Witchelles! Anakin! Wicthelles trulagen colagen sustagen yan!

Sinakal ever ni Anakin si Padme. Lola Padme, nag-faint.

Anakain:Wag mo kong talakan, Obi Wan. Na-sa-sight ko ang mga ka-charingan ng Jedi. Witchelles akez nabobokot sa dark side. Bring k ang peace, justice, freedom, and securirty sa Empire kez! (i thank you)

Obi Wan: Empire mey?

Anakin: Witchells mong hahayaang i-tegibums kitey. Pag hindi kita friendiva, kawarlahan kita!

Obi Wan: Keri.

Lightsaber

(insert nakakalokang tunog ng lightsabers na parang nagfu-fumegate)

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Vooooooooooooom . . . . . .

Anakin: Wish mo lang!

**********

Hayun lang ang mga eksena na happing-happy akey. Aside from sa mga eksnea ni yoda na super powerful but then no, luz valdez pa ren ang lolo naten.

Teka masyado akez naloka sa pagta-translate. I'll get back to this. Hehehehe.

Your Dominant Intelligence is Interpersonal Intelligence

You shine in your ability to realate to and understand others. Good at seeing others' points of view, you get how people think and feel. You have an uncanny ability to sense true feelings, intentions, and motivations. A natural born leader, you are great at teaching and mediating conflict. You would make a good counselor, salesperson, politician, or business person.