I hate sequels. Sequels are disappointing - at least most of the time. They're like second-rate versions of the first installment.

Catching Fire however, begs to differ. It does not, in any galactic way, disappoint anyone. And by anyone I mean readers and non-readers alike. I guess some would think it could be better. But for me, a fan of both the book and the film, it is so much more than enough, so much better than its predecessor (narratively, aesthetically and technically speaking).

In this second installment of The Hunger Games Trilogy, director Francis Lawrence takes over Garry Ross, and gives us so many reasons to love it more than the first one.

For one, Catching Fire has so much soul in it, as compared to the first one. Maybe because it is where all the drama escalates, teasing us towards the climax. The uprisings, the violence, President Snow’s wrath, the Gale-Katniss-Peeta triangle, the well-thought-about Quarter Quell, and of course, it is where we see all the loved characters (cough Finnick cough). And I love that the film is able to capture all of this so well on screen.

Loved Characters
In THG there's Rue, but in here there's Finnick, Johanna, and Mags, and Wiress and Beetee, and Heavensbee. And how we see them play in the film makes them all tear-worthy. There's so much to love in the film and it becomes more depressing that we lose almost all of them. I especially love how Johanna’s character is given so much angst in the film. She is so full of swag and magnificence. Jena Malone absolutely pulled it off. Finnick is… okay. He’s not like the Finnick in the book who you would definitely swoon over at first glance, rather, he’s a Finnick whose likability escalates as the plot progresses in that he becomes more significant, thus giving his character more soul, rather than just being the drool-worthy half-naked guy (Jacob? Haha). And then there’s Effie, oh Effie, who becomes closer to our hearts in this film. Elizabeth Banks didn’t disappoint, her couture looks were all jaw-dropping! There’s also Cinna, whose most glorious scene with Katniss is at the same time the most heartbreaking. Also, I don’t know why but President Snow is more terrifying in the film than in the book! The film indeed gives so much justice to the characters.

Less romance, more politics
Another thing to take note of perhaps, is how Francis Lawrence puts everything together that it makes the film less about Peeta-Katniss(-Gale), and more about the oppression in Panem, and the whole sick idea of a Hunger Games. In the book there’s so much Peeta-Katniss moments, but in the film the focus becomes more political. Also, in the film you would know at first glance that Katniss-Gale could never happen, most of their scenes together are awkward and rather insignificant. I was expecting more from Liam Hemsworth though. Sadly, Josh Hutcherson seems overshadowed in this film, maybe because there is an obvious effort for the director to make Jennifer Lawrence the center of attention.

Visual
What can I say, the film is visually appealing; everything in the arena makes your guts reel in excitement or fear of a next death. Musical scoring is brilliant. My personal favorite would be towards the ending, when Katniss is being lifted by the hovercraft claw. Neck hairs rose with that glorious music mixed with that glorious expression on Lawrence’s face. The last scene, I think, is also one of the most powerful scenes. Lawrence’s appalling stare totally teased everyone to Mockingjay. I guess it's safe to say that Lawrence will always have a place in my heart. A few wouldn’t understand her acting, but only because it is unique - tastefully unique. Just like this film, which is so tastefully done! (PS. Wardrobe blew my mind! They were all either how exactly I imagined, or even more!)

Here’s how effective it was: at the end of the two and a half hour experience, we were practically throwing screams back our throat with a tormented “how soon til Mockingjay?”

Photos grabbed from different sites, they belong to their rightful owners

So this is where it all really begins I guess, the sleepless nights spent wondering what's next in line for us. Soon the photos we so vibrantly took begin to look better in black and white, the papers we so desperately crammed for haphazardly forgotten, and the days spent together terribly missed.

Here's to that last chance to be the kind of awesome that we already are. I think I'm ready for my last semester in college.

PS. New skin! I have decided to scrap my banner exchange roster. I have also sifted through my affiliate list. I can't promise anything about getting back at your comments/tags right away. I don't like to feel obligated to update that much. I shall update when I feel like doing so. But still thanks for the messages!

Just some random photos from my already-giving-up Samsung Corby 1.0 phone. He's been with me for five long years. I can't believe he's giving up on me. I.. I'm so.. I can't even..

So anyway, I might buy a new one sometime this month. Enjoy the rest of August folks!

cr. as tagged

01
Hey babe. Coffee, you want?
You know I don't like coffee except when it's from you. Give me that.

02

I'm fat huhuhu.

No you're not.

Yes I am.

I'm falling even more inlove with you when you do that.

But I am fat. You used to squeeze my fat fingers and laugh at them, remember?

I was trying to make you pout.

I miss that about you.

I miss you more.

03
So where's that kiss?
Don't be so abusive.
Come on. Don't you love me?
I do. So much. :*

He loved her, of course; 
but better than that, 
he chose her, day after day.
Choice: that was the thing.
Sherman Alexie

So it's been exactly a month since my last blogpost. I'm making it a point to post something at least once a month despite the workload and well, some other personal shenanigans. This post goes for the rest of July, I guess; on bullets:

• SM Little Stars - Not really the first time I've handled a major event. But this one was extra special cause this time it was for one of our classes. I consider myself lucky to be part of Sir Kevin's CMS 144 (Implementing the Ad Campaign) class roster. It's something you don't get to experience in every class. Real, on-ground event organizing. Plus getting to work with SM City Iloilo executives. Ahh, CMS 145 is definitely something to look forward to next semester.
  
  
  

• UPV 66th Foundation Celebration - My last (hopefully) Foundation Week as a student. Thank god this year's had enough reason to be my most memorable one. With Skimmers winning 3rd in Hinugyaw, plus our uber successful Production Coverage, and of course the most awaited Oblation Run. Hahaha no I'm kidding. Seriously. Not.
  
  
  


• Boses - A must watch for independent and mainstream film lovers alike. Heart-rending and so moving to the point of chills. I got the chance to be a staff member during the special screening here in Iloilo last July 5. Got to meet the stars of the film, Ms. Cherry Pie Picache, the awesome musical duo Julian Duque ad Coke Bolipata. The film is showing commercially in SM City Cinema this July 31! Check out their Facebook page for more details.
  
  
  


• a-curious-thing - My school related, work related blog. You can find it here. All my writings and creation goes there. I decided to put it up sometime mid-July because I noticed most of my works get stuck in my bin and I'm like staring at them with pitty. I think it's unfair to spend sleepless nights on things that only one person (your teacher) will eventually see. It's time for my works to go out there, know what I mean? Blah blah.

I guess that's pretty much my July, in highlights. There's a lot more, only I'm too tired and too sore to blab about almost everything that's happening in my life. Bottomline is, I'm at the happiest peak of it. Thanks to all them special people who make everyday get better and prettier; to him.

I've been a huge sloth in blogging lately. So expect more image-heavy photosets in the coming weeks instead. I love you all, always.

I have nothing much to post really, but I've been finding a way to shove down that cheesy post right there, it makes me sick. Plus I have to get back on posting here, have to find ways to keep it alive. So here. This is a photoset of the Motorcross event my brothers went to last March. I love them dangerous photos.

Some awesome flying photos.

I'm not so much a fan of manly sports like these, but now I think it's cool. I want more of this. Soon, perhaps. I want to start spending more time outdoors. But I don't think I'll be able to sometime soon, not with this weather and the workload of my semester. I think it's getting a bit cold these days, no?

That would be all for now, until something comes out of my preoccupied mind. I love you, always.

Some nights I find it difficult to sleep because of you. I would try to shut my eyes hard, hoping it would help me shove away all the thoughts about you lingering in my damned mind, all the picturesque memories I have come to memorize in the past weeks.  I should never be left alone with my thoughts at night. They are like a torture. Sometimes I feel I think about you too much.

And it sucks. It sucks that right now, and the next long months to come all I can ever do is think about you. Never touch you, never feel your face close against mine, never feel the warmth of your embrace, never feel your kisses once again. At least not in the next eight months. Eight freaking months. How am I supposed to live with this?

I have done great alone before. Since when did spending a day without you or a text message from you become this difficult? I guess this is what love does to you – it makes you need someone so badly to overcome each day. It’s one good reason why long distance relationships suck the most.

source: (x)

It's bad enough that you are going to be far for months. Why does it have to be even harder like this? This is selfish, I know, but I will always be almost over the edge, and you will seldom be there to comfort me when I need you the most. And it sucks that no one in this universe can ever be blamed for the choices I have made. Not even you. These are the side effects you left me, and I guess I just have to suck up and live with it until you come back.

Here’s to more sleepless nights and bittersweet memories coming to haunt me in the next months.

My friends are a miscellany of crazy and fun. They like to make me laugh to death with punchlines only I sometimes laugh at. So what am I, abnormal? Not quite; I guess I'm just a little too nice (or naive) for laughing even at the unfunniest joke thrown at the table.

This is an attempt to bring some of those "punchlines" into life, and post it here. This will be the first time I'm posting something like this here, so here goes.

Cue dialog.
What did 0 tell 8 when they met?

"Nice belt, sexy."
Cue boisterous laugh. End cue.

Lol sorry. I know I just un-funnied the joke. I swear it sounds funnier when you hear it from my crazy, crazy friends. Oh god I'm such a loser when it comes to making people laugh.

So anyway, I guess I'll be posting more of this soon. I feel like some jokes deserve to be shared, it's such a waste hearing jokes and laughing at it for seconds. Every funny joke deserves a share. And besides, I'll be needing much of these in the coming months. Guess why.

So there, laugh often everyone!

So hey there.

I'm alive! I'm not sure you people remember me being in your Following list but I guess you guys deserve a “Hello I still exist” post from this loser right here. I’ve been trying to post something… anything here but I swear the blinking cursor just won’t move every. freaking. time. I’m telling you I always end up staring flatly at a blank post box.

Sometimes I wish I had a more exciting life you know? One that’s filled with schedules and trips and food and adventures I can take photos of and post here. Instead I have this life – all books, and movies and sleeping and reading and having chats with awesome people.

No worries. I’ve got one more year left and I’ll be on my own, venturing into the unknown world of employment (or unemployment) blah blah.

But that’s a year ahead. Right now I just have to focus on acing my senior year and partying hard. This year is going to be awesome. This year is going to be fun. This year is going to rock. It just has to.

 

P.S. My awesome batchmates say hello.

To the one who owns the forehead next to mine,

I am aware of the risk I am taking. True, I'm terrified and it is sad, but I am also happy and it is beautiful. I know I am not exactly the best person to be with. But I hope I am enough. I hope what we have now, this, right here, is enough.  Because I have made my choice and that is you. And I will stand by it for as long as I can.