In movies, getting caught in the rain is a precursor to either: a romantic moment when someone admits that he/she loves another and then they make out like crazy, OR a scene where someone gets shot and says his/her last words, OR when someone suddenly falls into utter desperation or suicidal tendencies. And yeah, during burial scenes? Especially if the one who died was the lead actor's love interest or something? Yeah, rain is imperative.

Now if you're indoors while it rained, it's usually a sign of depression or a longing for someone far away.

I hate rain.

To me it's the antithesis of wonderful things. On the surface, I hate it coz of the millions of things I CAN'T DO when it's raining. I hate it when I go out after the rain and everything's all muddy and wet. On a deeper level, I still hate rain coz it makes the world gloomy as if it wasn't already.

The worst thing about rain (in real life) is that it comes when you least want it to - very much unlike in the movies where they start dropping on cue. I've been in several instances that could have been life-changing if only it had not rained. Well, maybe not life-changing. But still, rain was the last thing I wanted during those moments.

I'd wish for rain to never have existed, but I know it's not going to make sense once you talk about nature and plants and stuff. I know it's weird, but I'd rather die of extreme heat than endure a lifetime full of impeccable rain.

But I want to give it a chance. If I could change the way I think about rain, I'd make it so that:

• it would instead make me think of all the blessings I've had and still are having.


• it would instead make me think of what I would do as soon as the sun comes back to view.


• it would instead make me think of friends and how valuable they are especially when they're not around.

That's not the way I think about rain, though. Maybe I need a good thing to happen while it's raining, so I could reprogram my brain and tag "rain" as a feel-good concept. I don't know.

Ugh, still raining.

[caption id="attachment_178" align="aligncenter" width="480"] odd couple? not likely[/caption]

Who's in it: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Chris Tucker

Internet Movie Database page:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658/

(My unwavering crush on Jennifer Lawrence makes this review totally pointless but I shall try my best to be as objective as I can)

First of all, the screenplay was written by the director  - David O. Russell, the dude who also wrote I ♥ Huckabees in 2004 .  So the classy humor is already there right off the bat.

I think Cooper is an underrated actor (but definitely overrated as a Hollywood hunk) and this film proves just how effective he is. I used the term "effective" because it wasn't an Earth-shattering performance for me but the character kind of annoyed me right from the start - which means he was effective as a bipolar who was shouting and moving around mostly the entire first half of the movie. He kinda mellowed down towards the end, though.

JLaw. Wow. What can I say? I've seen 6 of her 10 films so far (most of the early ones were Indie) and this is her most aggressive role to date, not unless you count her role in The Hunger Games as aggressive.

[caption id="attachment_182" align="alignleft" width="243"] She did the finger at the Oscars and everybody still loved her for it[/caption]

I mean, in this movie, she cursed, she [really] shouted, she broke things, she spat, she proposed sex, and she practically frowned most of the time. Definitely not the typical Jen that I'm used to. But then she exudes this charm that makes the audience want to see more of her despite of what she's doing. She didn't try to be cute, either.

Although, honestly I believe that she bagged the Oscar for this film out of weak competition (all 4 of her  co-nominees were Oscar-newbies or non-winners, including a 9-year old). But it was still well-deserved though, and mind you, it's already her second nomination at age 22. Her performance is noteworthy and I like it for her fresh approach to being a "likable slut".

What I also like about the film are 2 of its supporting cast. First is Robert De Niro, who looked a little younger than recently. He did a lot of talking in this film and I enjoyed watching him as a superstitious, OCD-stricken but loving Dad. The other is Chris Tucker, who I haven't seen in a long time (yes, his last one was Rush Hour 3).  It was cool to see him show off some of his signature moves although his comedy wasn't really stretched so much in this film.

Overall it was entertaining for me and it reminded me of early Woody Allen films because of the resemblance in wit, dialogue approach and editing.

Ups: Plot and fresh narrative-style, strong performances

Downs: Could have gone with a cooler soundtrack,  and wtf Julia Stiles?

My take: 9.2/10

[caption id="attachment_174" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Writer's block: when your imaginary friends stop talking to you[/caption]

* Been writing offline for the past year and now back online for some website content job.

* I always thought a 24-hour internet connect was a dream - apparently it's a wolf in sheep's clothing. It gives you endless resources but it also clogs up your brain machine which ultimately puts your writing mechanism in peril.

* Revisited this blog to somehow relieve the congestion. Working so far.

* Old habit resurfaced: watching movies I've already seen. Stimulates my mind more than new flicks do.

* I badly need that backrest thingy. I could feel my shoulder bones crack caused by holding the mouse for too long.

* The noise of the fan beside me is hypnotic. One time I thought I heard it sing me a lullaby.

* Discovered a yummy chocolate cereal drink that's perfect for wee-hour writing  (the product shan't be named unless they send me a check. Clue: recently had a "free-tasting" gig in local malls).

* Solution for f*cked up power supply: A 1000-watt AVR