INTERSTELLAR

      The earth is slowly crumbling. Our very own home will soon turn to dust. The human race needs to find another place to live. Interstellar, packed with numerous scientific ideas, gives an enthralling plot along with the actual problems we are currently facing. Although it may seem yet like another sci-fi movie, it sets its foot right on its track, with a good representation of the conflict between human’s pursuit in science versus its emotions.

The movie touches not only scientific elements but also human imperfection. Set in the future, it begins with an interview with some elders who lived in a rural place in America. They talked about how there were constant dustbowls in that area due to nearing of the earth’s end. Then the actual story fades in, beginning with a lovely family with the main characters Cooper the dad and Murph the daughter who solved the mystery of the poltergeist causing the sudden gravitational anomaly in their house. Cooper, a former NASA pilot, got invited for the expedition on finding an inhabitable planet where humans can survive. Saddened by the news, Murph was hurt. This event leads to a longer series of events that coincided with love and time, deeply piercing through a tough decision that changes everything between them.

       

 Although somehow melodramatic, the emotions portrayed in the movie were realistic as it might actually be experienced by astronomers who are willing to go out there for us, and as well as how people on earth who are waiting for them to come back. Cooper never really wanted to leave his daughter but he had to because he wants to save her generation even though it might only be a fifty-fifty chance. As he travels through space, he could not stop thinking about his family especially Murph. Murph, on the other hand, waited on earth until she reached her dad’s age when he left her, trying to solve the mystery all this time. They had to strive through the distance between them, both finding ways to solve the problem with the inevitably passing time that as Einstein proved, is faster on earth compared to that when on outerspace due to the gravitational time dilation.

       Though somewhat appalling, one must watch this movie with an open and curious mind. With technological advances on the go, little do we know that we are slowly destroying our planet. Okras are in its brink of extinction, corns are the only left root crops, and only a few farmers are out there to take care of what’s left from nature. As comparison to the movie, global warming continuously arise, human garbage is running out of place in the environment, places that were never flooded are being flooded, and the Antarctic is slowly melting. Sooner or later, we will have to decide on whether to save this planet or move every single one of us to an earth-like planet. We must rethink twice, however on that thought: should we look for another planet because mankind was born on earth but was never meant to die here, or what if earth is actually the only planet we can call home, must we think not as individuals but as a species in order to save ourselves?
We must start thinking now. Time lost can never be regained for although it can be warped and distorted in space-time, we, humans can never control it because time is intangible just like love.

The answer lies in our hands.

Good plot but no impact

Seldom do I buy books without reading a review about it. I always take time to get myself gripped to reading a book of an author I am yet to know. But this one is an exception.

Inferno, released in its first year, was already one of the bestsellers. I find myself fascinated with the beguiling book cover every time I encounter it in bookstores. I get that ‘feel’ of wanting to grasp it and just read the thing already. Sadly, only the expensive hardbound was available so I had no choice but to buy the cheaper ebook version.

I’ve heard of Dan Brown and his mind-boggling books over and over, but I never considered reading any of them. My dad even warned me about his books. Nonetheless, I was curious and nothing, not even my parents, could stop this curiosity madness. And my expectations are of course, high, despite the disparaging comments from some of my friends.

Let me first point to you my unexpected discoveries. (Warning: may contain spoilers)

1. On the first part of the book, I felt like this was a rip-off of Dante’s inferno. With the constant use of lines coming from Dante, I sensed Brown’s own fantasies. I could literally feel his intense passion over Inferno as he spends the first part writing about Dante’s life and his own hell. The unusually over use of ellipses (. . .) also brought me anew with his writing. Up till now, I don’t get how he excessively uses it – in describing something, in the characters’ conversation, and in the characters’ thoughts.

2. Even without knowing, you would know Brown researched in order to put all these facts in the book.  He keeps dumping information! There are times I don’t even understand what he’s talking about anymore. These meticulous facts about the culture and literature of Italy is of little relevance to the plot. As if not knowing simple, basic information would entangle the strings of his story, as an audience, I felt his condescending tone towards us. I even sometimes wonder if he originally planned to make this a history book.

3. The long, dry, and tedious motion of the whole book made me want to burn my tablet. Everything happened in just 24 hours but it seems like for a week. The characters were incessantly amazed with every little thing about Italy as if they’ve never been there. The way Brown described his characters made them look so great and intellectual but he never really showed it. Their conversations were boring. These is no sense of individuality in the voices of the characters, and this just makes it a fact Brown didn’t really dig in to their personality.

4. Plus, there’s this one line with one word that got me really pissed.

Need a thesaurus?  Google is always there for you!

5. Not everyone is interested in Italy, and surely, not everyone understands Italian.

Do I have to go to google translate every time they talk in Italian? You could always put the English translation right below the text and no one will complain, I assure you.

6. One character though, Vayentha, seemed to be an awesome sport. I thought she was going to be one of the major characters that would help crack the mystery code. She shouldn’t have had her point of view on the book if she’s not going to be there in the end. I felt incomplete when she disappeared. Her punk look reminded me of Lisbeth Salander from the Millenium Trilogy.

7. The Botticelli’s map of hell left me hanging. I don’t get how it was such a big deal in the first part when the order of sins isn’t even related to the plague. Plus, when I searched for an image of it, I was baffled on how Langdon and Sienna saw it on the projector because the people were so tiny!

The plot was. . . anything but charming

The plot was good but this book would probably be better if not for the boring tone. I must say I’m convinced with the over population of humans. It made me rethink again about saving lives. Not that I’ve become satanic, but I like how Brown pointed out that the only way to save humanity is to release a plague that would make them sterile. I was also convinced in the Malthusian Theory through the line graph he represented in Chapter 31, which concludes that by 2050, we’d be around 50 billion. At first, I thought the antagonist wanted to ruin the world, but he was in fact, saving the world from over population and making us humans transform in to better ones.

However, a question in my mind remains unanswered: is there really an antagonist? The one here, in the end, seems to be not. He seems to be the redeemer of the world. The protagonist to me was like the mystery cracker EVEN THOUGH he already cracked the code. 

BERGAMOT

ANTI DANDRUFF SHAMPOO 

I never thought of making a review on any product that I use but this one just needed one.

Bergamot Anti Dandruff – Itchy Scalp relief shampoo

 Innovative breakthrough….from the Nature! After years of constant research and experimentation, Bergamot Anti Dandruff Shampoo was created by blending pure and natural extracts from a variety of beneficial plants to formulate a shampoo that completely banishes dandruff and itchiness of the scalp. After only  a few applications, you’ll know that Bergamot Anti Dandruff Shampoo is the most effective product you can find today.

                   

·         Stops dandruff and scalp itchiness with pure plant extracts such as Yarrow extract, Birch extract, Rosemary extract and Sage extract.

·         Attacks dandruff but pampers hair and scalp. With a pH value of only 6.0, it balances natural moisture levels, yet cleans thoroughly, without leaving residue. Pure and mild, it can be used as often as you like.

·       Reduces scalp irritation and chronic dandruff because it contains soothing Sage extract, yarrow extract, Birch extract and Rosemary extract, which prevent growth of bacteria and mold and the harmful effects of free radicals. Cleans hair and keeps them healthy.

·         Restores moisture balance, health, bounce and shine to damaged hair with special ingredients of Lime tree extract, Horsetail extract, Aloe vera extract and Linden extract, etc. You’ll feel the difference even after the time you use it.

Direction: Apply to wet hair, massage thoroughly, leave it for 3 mins, rinse and shampoo again. No need to use conditioner.

Made in Thailand, this product comes in a handy, light box with an attractive feature and convincing description: “Natural Formula – INTENSIVE CARE FOR HAIR AND SCALP”. With an affordable price, anyone who is desperate to get their dandruffs off their hair will definitely buy this, just like I did. The first anti-dandruff shampoo I ever used was “Head & Shoulders” but it wasn’t effective. I liked the smell and the texture of the shampoo – but it’s just like any other product that utilizes its advertisements to get people to buy it.  My hair is naturally oily and H&S only made it more. Though it did lessen my dandruff for about 5%, I still rendered it as not effective. I mean, I take care of my hair and I don’t go under the sun carelessly. I’m most of the time indoors, yet I still do not understand why so many dandruff are stored in my forest-like hair! Every time I comb my hair, I see dandruff fall like snow. And with my unmet  expectations from H&S, I became more desperate – causing me to buy this BERGAMOT product.

The first time I used it made me feel sassy and comfortable. From the oily, greasy hair I had, it suddenly turned in to this bouncy, dry, shiny hair which I never expected, even without the use of conditioner. The scent of the shampoo is aromatic, the “cool, icy” feeling it gives when you soak it in your scalp has made me satisfied. Then, I  realized something was missing - contrary to its Product Description “Anti Dandruff Shampoo”, the more I used it, the more my scalp became dry, the more I found myself itching, and the more I saw dandruff.

Well, I think the best way to fight off dandruff is not to depend on these products solely but to drink vitamins and have enough sleep. I’ve gone through a lot of experiences and I believe products work more effectively with the help of other factors.

(PS: I am not, in any way, advertising, promoting, or ruining this product. I am simply expressing my opinion on what I have experienced with it)

A Walk To Remember

                My First Nicholas Sparks

      I’m not entirely sure where I should begin in this entry. After experiencing Nicholas Sparks’ first book, I felt empty. I felt nothing. I felt inhumane. Being the cold-hearted person that I am, there’s something inside me that I realized was missing – and I think it’s love.

  

      I am not a big fan of romance. And surely, I am not a fan of Nicholas Sparks. But that was until I read “A Walk To Remember”. I always find myself looking at the bestsellers at the bookstore and Nicholas Sparks was always there. Based on the summaries, I thought that all of his books were just cliché, nonsensical stories. I just shrugged it off, thinking that it would just waste my time.

     It was one of those days when I was looking for a book in the library because I didn’t know what to read until I stumbled upon a small, hard-covered book, entitled “A Walk To Remember”. The title at first glance caught my attention. It was indeed a risk for me to take, but my temptation couldn’t hold any longer. I grabbed it, started reading it, and to no notion of time – finished it.

    The story takes in to the perspective of Landon Carter who  cares too much about what people thought of him for being the son of a congressman. Meanwhile, Jaimie Sullivan, a religiously faithful girl who always carries a bible with her would be the least girl Landon would probably want to marry. But suddenly, a twist of Landon’s fate soon unravels from the homecoming dance, where Jaimie was Landon’s partner.

     I’m not the type of reader who cries over books. But this story – short and simple, yet marvelously written through a guy’s perspective – had taken me on the verge of tears no matter how much I tried to control it. I never thought that I would actually like this book, given the fact that I am not inclined to such.  What is written in the book has a deeper, profound meaning in it, and that’s what I love about how Sparks gave the message. To think of it, the story has simple elements yet turned on to something that drastically sipped my soul – a not-so-cool guy finds himself getting inlove with the isolated ugly girl. The guy never thought of getting in love with her at all. The girl suddenly becomes a pretty swan, and which later on, admits something tragic that changed the guy’s life forever.

     Cliché, but hey, this is one hell of a thing to read. If you’re desperately looking for a romance book, no doubt I assure you this is something that will make you smile, cry, and go back to.

Walking with Dinosaurs

Outstanding animation but nothing new

One of my expectations when I first saw the trailer of this movie is that it would be a journey in my mind to travel – something new to be learned and watched about dinosaurs. But ofcourse, expectations are not always met.

With its live background filmed in New Zealand, my eyes were captivated to its exceptional graphics and animation of the dinosaurs. However, just like the usual kiddy movies, the story is a commonplace –there’s nothing new along with its unclear plot.

Anyway, the story started out with an enthusiastic kid and a skulking teen with their paleontologist uncle bringing them to dig in to a site. The fact that the skulking one isn’t interested about dinosaur fossils is like showing the audience that not everyone’s really interested about dinosaurs. But suddenly, a raven popped out of nowhere, narrates them the amazing “Walking with Dinosaurs” story, then the teen gets interested.

 So what’s the story?

The raven, known as Alex, turns in to an Alexornis and was  a symbiotic friend of the main character. A tribe of Pachyrinosaurus migrates from a land because of climate change. The main “Pachyrinosaurus” there is called “Patchi”, whose head has a hole that whistles, making him recognized by the group. He’s always with his brother “Skyler” ever since their father died fighting another type of dinosaur to protect them.

The movie goes  along with different types of dinosaurs being featurized out of nowhere. At some point, I felt like they wanted to turn this movie in to a documentary because this “featurizing” of dinosaurs took, I guess, a little bit long, with its corny and so-so jokes.

The catch: I never thought it would end being  a love story. A pack of T-rex like creature attacks the tribe and the adults and the young got separated. Juniper, another young Pachyrinosaurus and Patchi’s crush, jumped off the river  with a strong current and Patchi followed, along with his brother. Don’t worry. They survived. The river’s current slowed down by a huge rock and Juniper got hit there, consequently getting an injury on her front leg. Patchi accompanied her and Skyler was a bit annoyed. While they were walking near to the shore, they saw another group of non-attacking dinosaurs set in, walking, not interested to bother the three. From there, Skyler separated from Patchi and joined these dinosaurs. So, yeah. Patchi and Juniper were left together, and all the romance flows over in.

A few years later, they were already adults and the leader of the tribe wanted to challenge Patchi. Patchi felt afraid and unsure but suddenly, Skyler appears, moves Patchi away,and challenges the leader. Fortunately, he won. What’s sad is that he’s also in love with Juniper, and so she had to be by his side in front of the tribe, leaving Patchi no choice. Skyler was filled with angst and pride for I don’t know what reason and he made strict rules. There on they continue with their long migration. But somewhere along the way  while they were walking on ice, Patchi felt that the ice is going to break and that they should go back. He warned Skyler but he wouldn’t listen. The ice suddenly cracks and Patchi tells everybody to retreat and go back to where they came from. From there on, he becomes the leader of the tribe, and gets his love back.

Meh.

I felt cloyed. For a teenager, I’m expecting more action on screen. But suddenly….it turns to romance, like one of those princess movies. Despite that fact, I love dinosaurs and I enjoy watching them. The first part gave me thrills the same way as it did when I was a kiddo. For the graphics, the animators are much to be thanked for. For the story, I’m sorry – it doesn’t deserve much praise as it ought to have.

Where in life do I give up responsibility?

Blaming is a no-no.

               Sure, everybody – whether young or an adult, is responsible for their own little things in life. But do they know what responsibility means? For me, responsibility, otherwise known as “accountability”, is being liable for a duty a person was assigned. I, like everyone else, is expected to be held responsible for what I am taking control of. But this “responsibility” has its limits. I think that this “limit” is when I start to be responsible for another’s life or problems, which is something I cannot control. I believe that one person is not accountable to another’s life or problems because they were the ones given the responsibility for that and they shouldn’t blame anybody.

                Let me give you an overview of my responsibilities. Well, first, I am responsible for this life I have been given. I don’t like blaming my parents if something unexpected popped out of my life. It’s saddening to blame someone for which they have no sway of. My parents gave me what I need, and I in turn, have to make use of these needs. My parents have given me advice, have protected me since birth, and now that I’m close to adulthood, they slowly started to give me more freedom. For example, there was this time when I got an injury during an activity in school because I didn’t have enough sleep, and I complained to my parents.  Later on, I realized that my parents always told me to take care of myself because I’m responsible for whatever I’m doing. Second, I’m in charge  of my studies. Responsibility in school is much like disciplining myself. Whatever I’ve been tasked to do, I should do. I can’t assign a friend or two to do my homework – then blame them if the answer is wrong. After all, it was my homework, not theirs. Thirdly, I’m responsible for whatever I have to do at home, like chores. I have been given this home to live in, and I’m then tasked to take care of it. So where does this responsibility ends?

Advising somebody.

 I do my best to give a great advice based on my experience whenever my friends or just random people ask for one. But in my opinion, it’s impertinent to blame someone if this advice fails them, and when things don’t go the way they wa
nted to. They asked for my advice. But I’m not responsible for what they have done. It’s their life, and it’s their problem. Why would I be held accountable for it?  If my advice led to another path, then they should have had their other options. It was just an advice after all. I didn’t tell them to necessarily follow what I said. After all, we are all responsible with our own life and problems. We don’t have the right to blame anybody with it.

`               As what John C. Maxwell said, “The greatest day in our life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes.”

We are responsible for our own attitude, actions and problems. Likewise, blaming is a no-no.