I'M COMIN', BOSS LADY!

It’s almost seven in the evening, and no one’s home yet. This surprises me. People here haven’t gone somewhere for so long since… March, I guess. If it were March – which, obviously, it isn’t – I would have been busy watching television to even notice. Ah. This is interesting. Anyway, I’m really writing this one on the couch right now; reading the words out loud as I proceed with the rest of the entry. It actually sounds more interesting thing than to write a From a Buick 8 chapter four review.

We went to the airport yesterday to fetch our father. The cab ride made me rather giddy, indeed. I was sweating like a little pig, but I couldn’t move because I was afraid I might throw up. Thinking about that now makes me even dizzier. Also, I think I’d like to have a cheeseburger and some fries right now. I was too busy to appreciate the cheeseburger that I had last night. And I accidentally dropped the fries to the floor before I could even finish the whole thing. Seems like a month ago now. Anyway, I never want to go back to an air-conditioned car anymore. I don’t think I will ever be present in any field trip again after that.

It must have been a quarter to nine in the evening when we reached the airport. Believe me: I was too stressed out to even walk. I was a Jell-O, sagging with every step. I’m telling you, it was like field trip all over again. It’s definitely not the first time I got carsick – to the point that I almost puked my guts out. I get to pass that state every class field trip, and every time I get inside cabs. But at least this time, I got a little rest as I was eating the fries – which, again, I dropped to the floor. And as I was thinking about Noynoy Aquino’s proclamation (which happened today), and contemplating about whoever killed Ninoy, I finally went into a little cat nap.

I woke up jut a few minutes before Papa sent a text message saying he had already arrived – and Bet was gone, off to the mini-Jollibee inside the waiting area. Number 41; mango peach pie, I remember. I bought a bottle of mineral water at Koperetto, which was a fucking cold place. The drink actually cost me twenty-five pesos. >_> And I didn’t even get to drink it all (threw it before I could finish, actually). Following all those hubbubs – and with Bet’s mango peach pie served after what seemed like hours – we looked for Papa. I was only glad to get out of the steamy sections of the airport, fetch my father and ditch Duty Free (I really only went inside to look for a Reader’s Digest or WWE Magazine. Turns out there weren’t any, sucks), and go on with the rest of my life – leaving behind the wonderful people who will never remember my face after that night.

The best part of the night was when we got into our own car, opened the windows (for the air-conditioner was hot – imagine!), and sped off towards home. Miraculously, I wasn’t dizzy any longer (I now seriously am thinking about buying a convertible five years from now). Fresh air was rushing inside the car. Wind furiously whipped against my face. City lights were surreal. It was kind of noisy though. And one car let out exhaust right on my face. There was even this one time when I woke up and – what the hell?! – some guy’s tire was gritting really loudly on the freeway! Right. Next. To. Me.

But at least we got home. Then I partied until dawn – it was the second time I’ve done so throughout the whole summer. Badass, huh? \__(*;*)/

Oh well, I'm still kind of sore. We’ll be going to two more escapades on the tenth. Then again on the twelfth. I doubt you'd be interested to read either adventure. Anyway, I hope I still catch you soon, duder.

lovekat

Goosebumps #06: Let's Get Invisible

With strange elements sucking unsuspecting kids’ souls, secret doors, tensed protagonists, and annoying girls, Say Cheese and Die and Let’s Get Invisible are practically the same book. Except, I actually liked Say Cheese and Die. When I first grabbed Let’s Get Invisible off my shelf, I thought I was actually going to enjoy it. I thought, finally, an actual copy from 1992! Time to get comfortable. But oh boy…

Okay, so the story begins on Max’s twelfth birthday. After the party, he along with his friends, brother and dog decide to come up to the attic – under the request of Erin whom Max has a big goopy crush on. Whitey scratches by a hidden door, the kids open it, they see an old mirror, they turn on the mirror light – Max gets invisible! The story mostly sets in Max’s attic too, so every chapter is almost basically all “mirror”. His friends competing for the title of “the person with the longest time to be invisible” can get really annoying as well.

Aside from Lefty’s arrogance, Erin’s competitiveness, and Zack’s silliness, the mirror actually is the only thing I can focus on. Who made it? How can people become invisible? Why does your reflection seem to come to life? RL Stine never revealed. Of course, logically, not every question has an answer. But I would have believed it more if only RL Stine had not created a Grammy and a Poppy. I thought those were their stuffs stored in the attic – yet Max never asked them about the mirror when I thought he had the chance! The scary thing about getting invisible is that after ten minutes or so, the kids starts to become light-headed “as though a force is pulling them into the mirror itself”. The only sane kid in the group was April. While everyone wanted to beat records, she was getting cynical, irritated and constantly gets the urge of going outside to do something else - like I was.

There were parts that really irked me. Like that night before their trip to Springfield and Max was still wide awake. He actually went up to the attic because he wanted to know what causes them to disappear. I just read about him sitting there for at least fifteen minutes. The he hears a faint voice call name. I didn’t even get to find out what or whose tone was that. But that part was definitely strange. Another one was Max’s chasing scenario with his reflection. It was short-lived and undeniably ineffectual. Accidentally or purposely, it doesn’t matter – but Lefty was actually the one to “break” the mirror. And it is a bit odd because Lefty’s fate is actually the most surprising of all.

I just don’t like this edition; I was constantly bored reading it. I only liked two things in this book. Primarily, I enjoyed the first person narration. And second, the eighth paragraph in page 117. I also didn’t like RL Stine’s writing here. I mean, when it comes to the attic and the mirror, everything seems to happen slowly. And again with the “I couldn’t sleep so I counted sheep”, the storming and... ehh, scratch that, I’m getting used to those anyway. Over all, I just really wanted to refrain from the attic and the mirror and the competition and Max’s friends, and the attic and Lefty’s hubbubs and the mirror and the bright mirror light and the competition and the attic and the mirror and the competition. And repeat.

Two out of five.

The Pacific Part Eight: Iwo Jima

Slap a Jap. Well how about it boys? I thought you all want to do more than "slap a Jap". Slap a Jap. That's what the enemy is to you, huh? A fucking buck-toothed cartoon dreamed up by some asshole from Madison Avenue! Well let me tell you something: the Jap I know - the Japanese soldier - he has been in war since you were in fucking diapers! He's a combat veteran. An expert with his weapon. He can live off a maggoty rice and muddy water for weeks and endure misery you couldn't dream of in your worst nightmare! The Japanese soldier doesn't care if he gets hurt or killed - as long as he kills you. You can call 'em whatever you want. But never ever fail to respect their desire to put you and your buddies into an early grave! Is that clear?!

- John Basilone

I wouldn’t say that it was a terrible episode. I actually liked the fact that Part Eight focused on John Basilone. I hadn’t really caught a glimpse of the guy since Part Three, and I’ve been itching ever since I heard this episode was going to be his. I also enjoyed his courting days with Lena and the scenes with the guys in Camp Pendleton. But the battle at Iwo Jima and John Basilone’s demise during that war? Over all, Part Eight just isn’t my favorite. Also, I felt as though I didn’t do much justice with my Part Seven appraisal. The raggedy-assed Marines fought an “unknown battle” after all. Hearing that MacArthur didn’t actually use Peleliu to recapture the Philippines, I was frustrated. It was an “American victory” with five thousand casualties.

The initial parts were given to Sledge who, back in Pavuvu and while in the midst of brushing his teeth, spots a Marine throwing a copy of Ernest Hemingway’s Men at War into the waste basket. Sledge later gets a hold of this book and finds out that it actually was Ack-Ack’s property. I think this incident must have placed him in quite a bad mood, because if that wasn’t dire enough, Jay appears with the announcement that he’s been moved to another company. Sledge also gets momentarily annoyed with Snafu, who frequently asks if his eyes have turned yellow; freaked about the “heeby-geebiz” or the “yellow john” (hepatitis). I can never really tell if whether Snafu was serious when he said, “I’m dying”, or if he has only turned pessimistic from the war.

From there, we were taken to the life of one John Basilone – looking (and sounding) a bit bored on a radio show. I myself felt his irritation towards his brothers and people who have been taking him for granted. He quickly states, “I don’t want everyone to know me”, which his family deeply begged to differ from. He later lists as a mentor in Camp Pendleton USMC, training; keeping his body in shape until he can’t lift himself from a push-up any longer. The Camp Pendleton days really were amusing with Jon Seda playing the daunting John Basilone. He would especially play this persona towards two Private First Class students, who ironically were witnesses to his very death. Fortunately, before the battle at Iwo Jima, Basilone gets a little genuine and sincere with all his learners. The “slap-a-Jap” scene really owned! :)

When John Basilone first met Lena Riggi (portrayed by Annie Parisse), not to sound cheesy, but it was a wonderful match. Here is a popular, obnoxious Marine going head over heels about a sarcastic yet equally-respected NCO. I liked Lena’s derogatory remarks and worship her indifference towards Basilone. At some point, I thought she was already going to pass John to her friend Lucy, who appears to be the more interested one. But persistence does pay off for the Gunnery Sergeant (“when you get shot down, you keep coming back”). Lena narrating the story of when she first met the famous (and rather ignorant) “Hero of Guadalcanal” definitely fascinated me. I was already starting to have doubts if Lena was really going to be Basilone’s wife when she finally invites him to breakfast - wherein they got to know each other a little better. Basilone telling Lena that she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen (one which Lena admitted she had never heard very often from anyone before) became the turning point in their love lives. After running by the beach and John confessing about his Marine enlistment, the two finally get married, laid (“we’ve done respectable”), and bid each other goodbye. It was the last time they ever saw each other again.

It definitely wasn’t the way I had imagined Basilone’s death would be. As much as I wanted to change my opinion regarding the battle at Iwo Jima, I still keep ending up with the same conclusion: that I wasn’t interested. I’ve watched this episode twice, tbh. It was chaotic, of course. But at the end of the day, I never really recalled much about Iwo Jima and appreciated the John-Lena scenes far more. Of course, I can never really defy John Basilone in his final moments, but I think he died rather quickly and sadly. Even then – and furthermore, when Lena was showed alone, crying by the beach – I was thinking of Basilone’s wife, their new home, the promise of having six kids (one which Lena believed would have happened if Basilone had come along ten years earlier), and the necklace Lena gave her husband before parting. It was sad because Basilone hasn’t seen JP after Melbourne, and the war he fought on his last day didn’t exactly consist of any of his friends. The episode ran by too quickly, I might add. I was expecting Sledge and his buddies to make another appearance but the credits rolled instead. Still not my favorite episode, but it did keep me excited for Part Nine.

Goosebumps #04: Say Cheese and Die

I actually don’t have the third book (yet), so I just proceeded to this one. In Say Cheese in Die, I think RL Stine easily portrayed not only the dim-witted things kids do when they’re bored, but also the petrifying costs of these acts. Living in a small, old town like Pitts Landing (“Pitts Landing is the pits”), all Greg, Shari, Bird and Michael ever wanted was to do something. But they can’t because it’s a boring town (very much like My-Subdivision-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named). So they challenged each other to go into the deserted Coffman House; enter then leave – nothing would have been simpler than that. But then Greg finds the old camera and all hell breaks loose.

The camera isn’t broken, but it was definitely creepy. It was one of those automatic-developing cameras, and the four friends thought it was really kewl. But when Greg takes a picture of his father’s new Taurus station wagon, the photograph showed a wrecked car – and some days after, it did get totaled! Strange outcomes also resulted when Bird’s and Michael’s pictures were taken. Bird got smacked in the head with a baseball and Michael fell off the banister. What’s worse was the annoying Shari asking Greg to take her picture during her birthday party when Greg was very much against it. And when the photo came out, she wasn’t in it – then she mysteriously vanishes without a trace! It’s as though the camera knows the future or – as written on the back cover – “maybe it makes the future”. Anyway, that camera has some issues, and Greg knew it. The only problem was that, no one wanted to believe him.

If there was one character in the story who definitely made things more complicated, it has to be Fritz Fredericks, whom we’ve known as “Spidey” up until the last three chapters. Spidey is your typical neighborhood hobo; an old vagabond, wearing black clothes; allegedly sneaks into the Coffman House to keep himself sheltered. The camera belonged to him, period. And because Greg was the one to steal the camera, Spidey suddenly starts stalking him. One time, Greg even came home and found his room trashed (Spidey’s doing, as the book wanted us to presume), as though someone had been looking for something. Now, I never would have guessed that Spidey was a scientist. An evil one at that, too. And it was quite a story he told. If Shari and Greg hadn’t escaped from his clutches that night at the Coffman House, I can only wonder what Spidey would have done to them. His demise was a shocking one, of course. After years of anguish and seclusion, the camera has finally taken his soul.

When I read Say Cheese and Die, I thought it was going to be boring. Some years back, I have perused upon the opening lines one too many times; I have practically memorized them. But it’s not really entirely uninteresting. Yes, some parts were tiring, like Bird’s Little League game in where Shari and Greg just examined the camera, waiting for Bird to get hit by a baseball. Also, I noticed that every time a frightening event occurs, a storm appears. That's getting rather annoying. Anyway, once I got past those, the story facilitates itself. It’s sort of funny reading about a camera that kills, but at least it’s better than a phone that does the job. It sort of reminded me of the movie Feng Shui. In the movie, the bagua takes the soul of anyone who catches a glimpse of their eye in its mirror. Whereas in Say Cheese and Die, the camera takes the souls of people whose pictures it has taken. I only hoped this book has a little bit of twist It Came From Beneath the Sink has. Also, when Spidey was telling the story of the camera, he mentioned that he pilfered it from his lab partner because it would cost him a fortune. How is that? Did it already develop pictures that would show the future when it was created? Really, it isn’t clear, and it’s not written. And Spidey’s lab partner put a “curse” on the camera? A scientist who was into black magic actually bewitched some thing? Wow, that just sounded even more annoying when I wrote it!

Anyway, despite all the hubbubs of the last three chapters, this book was nice. I thought it was a little exciting, plus the dialogues were graphic. The ending was far better than what RL Stine did in Stay Out of the Basement. The cover must have also been derived from one of Greg’s dream – except there are two boys and two girls when there really are supposed to be … oh well. Too much spoilers. Read it.

3 out of 5. Say sorry, Last Chapters. Could have been a better rating.

I Am Selfish

I'd like to believe that this isn't such a big deal. That I should try being in Zethan's shoes before I start yapping. But it bothers me so much, I simply can't. There are times I'd think that Zethan forgot; purposely or accidentally, I'm dubious. And it is rather insulting - I might add - that Zethan didn't even try to do anything about it. I am disappointed and a little embarrassed and a little angry - and (once again) very insulted. It's been two days since, and I am still mad about it. Perhaps it's because that only happened and could happen only once, yet so many chances have gone to waste. Praise all those whom I never encouraged. It turns out that they are even better people that what Zethan is to me.

I am trying to comprehend. And again, I can't. I don't understand. It's too narrow and bitter for me. I know that I don't have the right to be selfish; I kicked that to the curb years ago. But the attitude is coming back and it is unsettling; distracting. Like imagine people forgetting your birthday. That's how it feels. All the Zethans in the world are always looking away.

I don't want to sound like a megalomaniac, so I won't make much of a foolish yak any longer. But right now, I just feel completely and utterly betrayed.

Zethan is a composite person.

The Pacific Part Seven: Peleliu Hills

With Joe Mazzello’s well-honed acting skills and with Timothy Van Patten’s impressive directing, Part Seven just took The Pacific to a whole other level. This has to be the best episode so far! I was so hooked; I even unabashedly increased the volume to forty to drown out the unnecessary outside noises. I was careful not to miss anything. Every part of this installment just soared high and flat-out captivated me.

This episode leads us to the war at the hills of Peleliu. I think the hills are the reason why the Japs wiped out from the landing and the airfield. The hills in fact, had more than five hundred underground holes – all unexpectedly occupied by those sly Japs. And now that they’re officially back to battling it out against the US Marines, the war is even more frightening than before. I never actually thought that the Japs would be even more daunting than their artillery. Though don’t get me wrong: the Japanese resistance was strong. In fact, it was so strong that the US Intelligence can’t even get past it. Truly, it was something I’d never forget. It’s a “fight to the finish”.

The flashbacks got me. That’s for sure. Like that part wherein Sledge was scribbling sticks on his little notebook as memories of the war he’s fought started flickering before him; haunting his thoughts. The other one occurred in a John Basilone scene, in where Basilone, still at loss with the Famous People World, turns over a golf course to take his chances. Reminiscences of Guadalcanal entered his mind – and he suddenly sees Manny and JP subtly calling out to him. I love that part! Especially when the scene forwarded towards the evening and Basilone becomes aware of of his blistered hands. And when some truck’s headlights flashed behind Jon Seda’s silhouette – I have to admit, that was wonderful.

A lot of changes has come upon Eugene Sledge. He's not that shy Southern boy from Mobile, Alabama anymore, but is a full-fledged man exposed to the bitter realities of war. In addition to that, he now takes a cigarette time and again, accepting anything Gunny Haney offers him. I am starting to see that Sledge is becoming even more cautious with his surroundings. I thought it uncanny of him to be the aware one, when he heard the Japs talking in the underground hole. Part Four came back to me then: when Sledge was still in training and shot two of his cardboard friends. Nonetheless, I was amused. This scene led to the most brutal fights against the Japs. When Snafu told Sledge to check a particular side of the Jap hole, one Jap soldier showed up - and it scared the holy moly out of me! Of course, Sledge isn’t as bad-ass as Basilone was in Guadalcanal, but you should have seen him handle that Jap with his gun: the Jap fell on top of Sledge before drawing his last breath! It was appalling and amusing all at the same time. The best part has to be the flamethrower: Japs were scampering out of the hole - in flames! It was merciless. Even Sledge grows quickly disturbed with the sight of this.

I was surprised when Sledge’s division met the First Marines. William Sadler makes another appearance as Chesty Puller with the injured leg. Still standing, for all I know. I just can’t say the same about Chuckler, who even makes the more surprising appearance. I was hands-down shocked. He was being carried on a stretcher; a little unwary, smoking a cigarette butt! And when Sledge asked if he was all right, he merely cringed in excruciating pain. I wonder how Leckie and Runner would take that, considering that they’ve been waiting for poor Chuckler to return to them.

I was also shocked with the demise of both Ack-Ack and Hillbilly. Especially Hillybilly’s though. I wasn’t very sure where he got shot (I’m thinking it was by the ribs, or just below the heart), but they poured salt on the spot before he died. That has to be a terrible predicament before fading! And even though a lot of Marines had tears in their eyes when Ack-Ack was getting carried off on a stretcher, his death seemed a little extraneous to me. I was happy with Gunny Haney; he wept on both occasions. Now that those two are gone, Gary Sweet definitely has to step up a little more and play a much bigger role.

So far, I’ve also been impressed with Martin McCann and Brendan Fletcher playing the roles of RV Burgin and Bill Leyden. And when that grenade exploded right on Leyden’s face – that was the shiz! If he ever shows, I’d like to see his outcome in the next episode; I heard he has a tough Irish ass and that he’d be back as soon as possible.

Rami Malek portraying Snafu Shelton is very interesting. He still demonstrates this curiosity on Sledge. He even performs Sledge’s indirect command to “put the dead Japanese soldier out of its misery”. There also was this scene in where Snafu was showed snatching a Japanese flag from a dead Jap soldier. It suddenly takes me back to the earlier parts of the show when a packer was asking for a Japanese souvenir so he can go home - plus he’ll pay them really big. Meanwhile it did surprise me that Snafu was the one who stopped Sledge from removing a Jap’s gold tooth because of “bad germs”. They had a slight argument in which Eugene left Snafu speechless. It was a nice sight seeing Shelton savor the air, though. And become happy once he'd realized that they'd been given the morning off.

I never thought that Jay De L'eau would break down – especially not in front of Sledge, who I thought was rather the more anxious one – so yes, it was a little surprising. When he said he’ll get hit but doesn’t care anymore, it made me think a little bit. But when he cried out that Japs are everywhere (like a bunch of roaches, I presume), his intolerance of his emotions nearly got me. It's a good thing that I had this touch of comic relief in this scene: Jay, supposedly going to do his “business”, goes to a hole, takes his pants off – and gets jumped at by a Jap! Not only did the group take a long time to shoot the Jap, but Snafu also gets the audacity of making fun of Jay (“You looked like you were in a sack race, Jay… you left a trail, boy. They’re gonna find us now.”).

After such a depressing sight, watching them march; deadbeat, it made me glad that they eventually had a peaceful AmTrack ride back to… Pavuvu! As soon as they did, beautiful ladies stand in wait, handing out lemonades to the clapped-out Marines. I don’t know if Sledge fell in love or something like that. But some random guy definitely ruined the moment for him. Best episode ends. It actually is now my favorite one now. It is definitely a must-see. Big kudos to Tim Patten. I heard he’s directed Part Nine as well. Now I have to watch that. I also bagged a lot of wicked quotes watching this episode. My only complaint is the run-rime; I think this one went for fifty minutes or less. But anyway, I am on great expectations now. I am waiting to see which next episode will top that.

---

"Never run when you can walk. Never walk when you can stand. Never stand when you can sit. Never sit when you can lay down. Never lay down when you can. And never pass a bucket of clean water. Amen."

Goosebumps #02: Stay Out of the Basement

In the second Goosebumps paperback, Stay Out of the Basement, RL Stine narrates the story of a scientist’s obsession with plants, undesirable secrets entering a household, and Margaret and Casey’s fright towards their father’s sudden change.

To his family, Dr. Brewer is a sweet intellect whose profession allows him to observe plants and get busy from time to time. His job as a botanist never did serve as an obstruction from having a good time with his kids, or coming out of the lab to say a simple hello. But somehow, quite unexpectedly, Dr. Brewer gets fired from his job at PolyTech, and he keeps the ambiguous reason hidden from the kids. The change that soon occurs in Margaret and Casey’s surroundings would be rather drastic. Margaret realizes that her father never dubs her “Princess” anymore (which I believe she thought odd), and that Dr. Brewer doesn’t even have the time to play Frisbee or Nintendo with Casey any longer. The first chapter easily directs us to this “transformation” when the kids, willing to check up on their father’s work, immediately gets yelled at by Dr. Brewer. Dr. Brewer would also end this admonishment with his threatening words of “stay out of the basement”. Other appalling acts that we may witness in the book are Dr. Brewer’s sudden impulse to devour plant food, green blood surging out of his hand, and LEAVES SPROUTING OUT OF HIS HEAD (that one sickened me, really).

The Brewers' basement has to be the most irritating location yet. Despite the story having been set in the middle of winter, in snow-less California, the basement was scorching hot, and the kids' clothes really stuck to their skin. Even Casey found it wonderful to take his shirt off – which result landed them in quite a predicament. The basement actually is Dr. Brewer’s work place, that’s why he always has this OCD of keeping it guarded and locked. And with all those “breathing” plants he’s working on down there, even I wouldn’t dare take a look. But the kids are just obstinate little creatures. At night, the basement would seem even more alive: audible wailing may be heard from inside; and odd noises such as crashing and knocking would often be perceived.

The plants in Dr. Brewer’s work place were "weird". None of them would have taken a look if Margaret’s annoying friend, Diane hadn’t been so persuasive. And because of that, Margaret and Casey got themselves into even bigger trouble. Most of the plants sure were normal - a little bigger than the usual growth, but normal, nonetheless. Others were sort of shocking. Heck, one of the big ones grabbed Casey by the waist! Ha-ha! The hell was that? I have to be honest though: when I first read about the breathing plants, I thought it was a little corny. I didn’t get what was so interesting about them. But when the kids decided to open the closet door to see what was creating those awful noises inside - BAM! I was scared spitless! Mutated plants; plants with human parts. That has to be the most horrifying part yet. And because I hadn’t remembered much about the book before I started reading it again, the battle of the dads was also rather thrilling. I was evening out clues to defy which my dad pick was. It turned out that I had it correctly after all!

Welcome to Dead House certainly is scarier than this, but Stay Out of the Basement definitely is more exciting. Actually, in terms of storyline, it does make Welcome to Dead House sound weird. I have not much problem with this book. I was only a little disturbed when Casey found Mr. Martinez’s clothes inside the basement. Was it really obligatory to strip him? Maybe Mr. Martinez was getting mutated as well, I’m not sure. But then – why was Dr. Brewer rehired? I mean, his experiments practically got everyone killed! Also, the ending was somewhat unnecessary. I remember getting puzzled and a little frightened by that as a kid. But now, it just didn’t work. I was actually planning for a happy ending – imagine that! The events were intense. I admit that I did get a little carried away reading; I also was a little concerned to know if whether Dr. Brewer was lying or not. And the part in where Margaret and Casey had the sick idea of calling the cops on their father was rather believable, too. They didn’t do it, but I would have.

RL Stine did a great job on this one, that’s for sure. Portraying the hills of California also was realistic. I actually have the 2003 version of the cover. But then I also have the VHS of this and I thought its cover was way bad-ass. :D

3 ½ out of 5.

Wrestling 101 Courtesy of Batista

Batista, who apparently still hasn't gotten over the duct-tape incident at Extreme Rules, finally made it a point to go teacher-y on us: Do you know what a Last Man Standing Match is?

Gasp! Why no, Mr. Batista. We're ignorant, psychopathic little hypocrites who find it amusing for people to get embarrassed. Pray sir, enlighten us with your buckets of wisdom.

"A Last Man Standing Match is - now pay attention... pay attention - is when you beat your opponent so brutally and so decisively that he is unable to stand before the count of ten! Can you count to ten?! That is not what happened last week. I'm going to show you exactly what happened:"

Other notes from The Animal himself (please memorize):

"That was by far... that was by far, the most embarrassing moment... of John Cena's career. No, I'm sorry. I take that back. That was by far the most embarrassing moment of John Cena's life! STOOP THAT LOW! Duct tape? Seriously? Really? Duct tape?! That's something Hornswoggle would do!"

We're sure it is, Batista. We're sure it is.
Class dismissed.

Goosebumps #01: Welcome to Dead House

My love for RL Stine’s Goosebumps series is no secret. I am a Goosebumps geek, and I admit that Bet and I have a massive collection of the series itself; it had been my most-prized possession as far back as I can remember, up until I was twelve years old. And because I already finished sauntering over past issues of WWE Magazine and rereading Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations, I was somehow directed towards the immense Goosebumps collection. I greatly wondered how it would be like to read those little ‘uns again. So read I planned. And read I did.

Goosebumps #01: Welcome to Dead House, the first of the many Goosebumps (originally published in 1992) didn’t let down much. I didn’t expect a great deal when I first decided to read this again, of course. After receiving a letter from a deceased (and never-heard-of) Great-Uncle Charles, Mr. and Mrs. Benson eventually jumped at the thought of permanently moving to their inherited real estate. Well mainly Mr. Benson only though, because he wanted to quit his boring office job and pursue a writing career. But their kids, Amanda and Josh weren’t exactly as fond of the idea. And when they actually get to see this “new-fangled” home, their dislike for it augmented even more.

Amanda appears as a first-person raconteur, and would then describe their new home as a “mansion compared to the old house”. It was rather unusual looking, standing so forlorn within an empty street. The trees bordering the property would bend over the mansion, casting utter darkness towards the house itself. And every time they get closer to the settlement, the wind would blow immensely cold despite having been set in the middle of July. To make the long story short, the house was simply “creepy”. The scariest thing that I first read was Amanda seeing the boy with a blond hair running around her house. By the by, she would see more kids inside, and would even receive nightmares about the house. Josh would reveal the same. And at night, the curtains would flutter even though the windows are closed!

But it wasn’t only the house; the town was rather eerie as well. Dark Falls is a four-hour drive from their old home, and is very, very different from what the kids have grown accustomed to. For instance, they didn’t see anyone in the entire neighborhood when they first arrived. Trees also bend over the other houses and the silence was almost deafening. The few kids who showed up were menacing. Two of them had already told Amanda that they used to live in the Benson’s new home.

The first sign to have shown that something was wrong began with Petey – the terrier. Everything with the dog just literally screams “Let’s get out of here!”. The first time the Bensons got to see the inheritance, Petey began yowling and yapping, even growling at the real estate officer. Mr. Dawes however wasn’t the only one who got barked at; everyone Petey saw in the neighborhood was daunting to the dog. And that was very odd because Petey was usually behaved. It even ran off the first day, directing the Bensons to Cemetery Drive. Petey's demise was as sad as it was spine-tingling. And this was no ordinary death either; it's the least I had imagined, actually. This incident would eventually lead to a chain of events that surprised me even more.

I never really thought that I would ever be held in suspense anymore when I decided to read this. But I admit I received a few goosebumps (:D) nonetheless. There actually were sequences that I had not remember, and most of them chilled me to my core. I had problems with the ending though, because it seemed a bit rushed. I mean, a yellow gas from a factory killed all those people? What factory? How random indeed! And why do the inhabitants need fresh blood every year? And at any rate, why the Bensons? Ah well. At least I gave it a try. I think people would still enjoy reading this book. It may be a bit cliché (it’s an old book, for heaven’s sake!), but it still hasn’t lost its spark. Also make an effort of looking at the cover illustration (by the very artistic Tim Jacobus) while you’re at it. I just noticed that there is a man looking out the bay window. Hands-down spine-chilling.

3 out of 5.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe Episode 4

Well do you still believe she's going to make you a king? All the nice things you said about her sound pretty silly now, don't they? Admit it: you'd give anything to be with the others now. Even Peter.

~Jonathan Scott as Edmund

“MRS. BEAVER, WE’RE WASTING SO MUCH TIME!” – best line ever! :) I have to say, it’s the only line I remember from Susan as well. Let's face it, Lesley Nicol playing Mrs. Beaver was undeniably funny (a little irritating, yes). With the motherly creature being so unforgivably slow and all, I was surprised that Maugrim didn’t catch the Beaver in their homely lodge. She already was squandering time, bringing too much food and appliances and whatnot (“Can’t set out on a journey with nothing to eat, can we?”). It also seemed as though she was doing this on function. Peter was already mouthing for Susan to hustle. But no such luck; even Mr. Beaver couldn’t tell his wife off. Even I grew irritated with her! But I've got to hand it to her: she starred in the funniest part, revealing the harsh truth that it's more likely for the Queen to hold them in captive (like Mr. Tumnus) because she has a sledge. Lucy went like, “You mean, we’ve no hope?!” Then she cried. :-bd

Mrs. Beaver (insistent): I suppose the sewing machine’s too heavy to take?
Mr. Beaver (frustrated): Yes it is! You don’t really think you’d be able to use it on the run now, do you?
Mrs. Beaver: Well I can’t abide the thought of that witch fiddling with it, breaking it, or stealing it likely as not.

I noticed many things in this episode, by the way. Like Peter rolling his eyes when Lucy told Father Christmas that she would be “brave enough” if given the chance to take part in combat. Moreover, I'd like to point out that I, again, found Richard Dempsey’s acting skillz rather admirable. Don’t get me wrong, the other kids were decidedly improving as well: as mentioned above, Sophie Wilcox even cried in despondency in this affair (I didn’t see tears, but that was something); Susan Cook already had lines; and Jonathan Scott coming to terms with his fault was rather believing. But Richard Dempsey was most realistic. And believe me: it has nothing to do with him being the oldest among the four.

And then we have the special effects. Well first off, I just wanted to let you know that I did find Maugrim’s transformation kewl and all. I thought he was going to be a man in a wolf costume throughout the whole show. Obviously, I stand corrected. I thought it was remarkable, really. It must have been an actual dog playing the hunter role. Still a very great job by Martin Stone. There was this one part where I had the volume to at least thirty – then he started growling, scaring the bejesus out of me! The surprising/awing/funny/left-me-speechless part is that, he had a companion. One companion! When he growled at someone (or something) before shape-shifting, I knew he was calling allies. I know it would sound hostile and antagonistic (again), but seeing only one dog to have followed him? You and what army? Ha-ha. The Queen must be furious. It also felt surreal seeing literal drawings on screen. Perhaps they ran out of costumes or actors to play the magical creatures. I don't know. But of course, I knew it was coming. That probably was the only unsatisfactory part of the episode.

Other scenes that I noticed include every take the Queen had. There was a part wherein I thought the White Witch was having a hiccup fit. She was in fact gasping. Heh. Even Edmund woke up from this. You have to admit: Barbara Kellerman’s S’s are the best ones you’d ever get to hear. Lots of props to that kitty-like creature who was standing up for his rights, we actually got to see the Witch turn a group of Narnia inhabitants into stone. It also was an amusing sight watching her argue with her Little Man (“Are you my councilor or my SERVANT? THEN WE MUST WALK!”). We also got to witness the weakening of the Queen's powers. And it is mainly because “Aslan is on the move”. The trees have defrosted; the lake is full again; earth came into view. Also, Father Christmas made an appearance! I find it amusing that he counted the Beavers’ blessings with his fingers; he looked like a little schoolboy. And in case you’re wondering, Peter, Susan and Lucy, along with the Beavers did get to see Aslan in the end. We were left hanging. Very nice.

I find pleasure in the direction. The actors are maturing well. As I turned off the player, I thought I actually felt rather good dedicating an hour of my time on this. I haven’t been watching it for at least a week, I think. I love this show. Ha! There. I finally said it.

The Pacific Part Six: Peleliu Airfield

I applaud The Pacific for doing such a tremendous job so far. I cannot imagine having to go through the same turmoil as these guys did. One Marine depicted the war in Peleliu as an experience so frightening that it might have just been a “horror show”. And truly, just watching the episode alone and seeing corpses almost everywhere, I find my propensity towards combat act up again. I felt as though I was stepping into a nightmare myself before being eaten completely alive by the monster at the opposite end. Part Six defined that, most definitely. The Marines not only had to cross the airfield to get to the other side, but they also had to dodge the booby traps situated by the astoundingly clever Japs. And these aren’t just ordinary bullets or bombs and whatnot: the Japanese resistance was exceptionally fierce. The only worse things than Peleliu’s temperature exceeding to a hundred day after day, were lack of water and thirst constantly moving stealthily in.

Water was a very huge issue. Everyone was thinking about it (well that, I can relate to). This matter was exacted by a Marine at the beginning of this episode: you can go on without food for days, but never without water. And the heat was awful. It was a hundred and fifteen, as documented in Eugene Sledge’s record book. In the previous installment, I heard Robert Leckie mention to Runner that he was already thirsty. Well this time, his longing has terribly increased. Heck, his comrades watched as he eagerly searched a dead Marine, hoping he could get some water from his canteen! Don’t get me wrong, Peleliu wasn’t completely desiccated – there was water, yes. The only problem was that the Japs had “poisoned” it. If seeing the lips of every Marine completely white from dehydration was bad enough, just imagine the disappointment when one of the combatants lifted the head of a decapitated goat from a small brook. Some of the pitiful scenes include Sledge and his friends passing around a canteen of water, and Snafu offering Eugene a cigarette butt – and (much to my surprise) Mr. I-Don't-Smoke took it just to quench his thirst.

I also am beginning to notice Sledge and Snafu getting along fine with each other. I never thought that both guys would actually make a good team, or at least be comfortable in the the other's company. The more surprising thing is that Snafu seems to be the more engrossed one, even one time admitting that he practically observed Sledge reading and writing some night since. When they were firing ammo at the Jap territories across the airfield, there was a momentary cut in which they seemed like old buddies who completely understand one another. Another one was Sledge helping Snafu when he plummeted from a nearby explosion. This amity was once more seen when Snafu backed Sledge's remarks regarding Captain Hillbilly Jones's verdict of killing a Marine having an incongruous nightmare. Through this harmony, Sledge would also earn his nickname “Sledgehammer”. Moreover, Rami Malek still plays his downbeat role wonderfully (“no asswipes, no chow, no water”).

Speaking of Eugene Sledge’s friends, Sidney Phillips actually made it safely back home. In the beginning of the episode, he would appear in the Sledge household to have dinner with Eugene’s folks. While he might have convinced Mr. and Mrs. Sledge that their Eugene is a mortar man (hence, is behind the “hot stuff”) and that he’s not worried about his boyhood pal, I thought Sid was rather uneasy and/or uncertain himself.

The most shocking events were depicted as the Marines were crossing the airfield. It was horrific. So many men got killed; casualties gradually increased by the numbers. There was still no word from Hoosier - and Runner already got hit! The scene was heartbreaking because it justified the exclamation point of Leckie’s efforts to empathize for his friends. He went back after successfully crossing the airfield just so he can seek medical attention for Runner. I was, without a doubt, upset and taken aback when he got hit himself. And seeing Leckie snivel in agony at a medical ship with blood jetting from his mouth, I admit that it dismayed me.

Moreover, Ack-Ack’s group was successful in crossing the airfield. But not everyone remained in perfect condition; Oswalt suffered major injuries, giving the group more men to update with. The sound of the planes whizzing past the airfield made the hairs at the back of my neck stand up. Sledge himself admits that until he crossed that turf, he had never been more scared his entire life. I thought Scott Gibson did a great job portraying Captain Ack-Ack. The same goes for Leon Ford as Hillbilly Jones. Ack-Ack’s speech to Sledge really appealed to me, giving me this sudden idea of making this banner that I now have as a KHQ signature. Of course, Hillbilly Jones stabbing one of his deranged men with all the other Marines on witness also came off as a shock. I thought they were just going to hit the guy with something, but… that truly was horrifying. What really startled me was Daniels “counting the Japs” across the airfield when there really weren’t any Jap in sight (in fact there weren't any throughout the entire episode). It was was morose having to wonder how much more sanity had been taken toll on just because of this war.

Gunny Haney of course, never failed to amuse me. I thought it was funny that Sledge was sort of interjecting (“I have dog. His name’s Dickon[?]”) when Gunny was explaing how he never trust the army dog they brought along. And then he uttered “Woof!” afterwards. Ha-ha. Another entertaining part was when the guys found themselves a barrel of pork chop. Dextrose was even mandatory during the night.

The last words uttered by Runner in this episode were rather vague, but the most heartbreaking part must have been the last scene. Perhaps I have just gotten accustomed to seeing Leckie, Chuckler, Hoosier and Runner all sitting and cracking with each other. Leckie and Runner both met at the medical ship. I practically smiled when Leckie was forking through his peaches and someone called out his old nickname. I knew it was gping to be Runner, but I was a bit dismayed that Hoosier and Chuckler weren’t with him. Chuckler probably still is in Peleliu but we’re still left to wonder about his actual fate. Even Leckie thought it would be wonderful to not think about the war for some time; he even asked Runner to take him out on deck so they can have some fresh air. It was a depressing sight seeing the two together, physically broken. Leckie seemed to be distressed himself, and Runner was a little vexed. I doubt I would be seeing any of these guys in the next episode. It wouldn’t be the same if that happens, but at least we will see character development with Sledge and his friends. Also, John Basilone hadn’t shown himself again throughout the whole affair.

It isn’t my favorite episode. It was unsettling and depressing, in fact. But it really got me, and that has to count for something. In Part Seven, the Marines will be moving to Peleliu Hills.

---

Happy Birthday, James Badge Dale. : )

Nabber, I'm Not Bragging But...

:>
It's like watching the Draft itself.

Miss Na Kita

I have looked upon myself in the past week more than I had in a year. Lingering indoors has done nothing to me other than imbrue my clothes and pain my arms. Outdoor exercises as walking and jogging, on the other hand only makes me doubt what I already believe from reading health columns. I have chafed the entire area round my neck, and it has been as red as the darkest shades of crimson. It’s a 30/70 chance of feeling better. I don’t want to believe that I have completely given up. Day by day, I would easily recognize dinner to be breakfast; lunch to be dinner; breakfast to be snack. The cycle is repetitious and as vicious as the busiest breweries out of town. Even when things become completely unexciting, time still runs so quickly. I don’t even know when's the best time watch television anymore, or how to insert the schedule in my day for that matter. I am praying for May to dawn. I see it as a grace that will make me happy.

I actually really meant to write an ode. But I'm afraid my poem-writing ability has stopped working for me a long time since. It has departed. And frankly, I don’t believe I will ever get it back again. It’s a sad thing, yes: to lose something that mattered to you as a decadent child, and to end up coveting that very same thing as a teen. Here you are yearning and desiring for the whole world to see, just so you can have it back. This reminds me of a scene from Step Brothers, in which Dr. Doback revealed his childhood dream of wanting to become a dinosaur. It strikes me funny because that take is relevant to me now. I mean, how much would he have obtained had he not rested from it? In some such way, I have become familiar with that question at the back of my mind.

The heat has come down like a terrible plague. I have been rejecting it more than ever as well. I have actually been in so many escapades already, hoping to take a short walk down the street or up the street; depending on how much I wish to get inspired. I have seen this town grow before me, and it is a slow and steady growth that I get to be a part of. It’s not such a horrible thought, I guess. But it also isn’t very romantic when you think about it. This house feels bare and the entire street has turned a molten gray of cinders and waste. As of late, I have realized that this is a lazy town, and it has reminded me more of my childhood more than I thought it can ever do. As a child, I had often wondered how it would be like to be a little bigger and how great it would be to be my own man. Well I am almost fifteen now – seventeen days, six hours and fifty minutes to be exact. And honestly, reflecting upon those many, many walks I charged myself doesn’t exactly mean a thing anymore. It didn’t mean much after I had come home, it doesn’t mean anything now, and I am more than certain that tomorrow will speak of the same.

In the morning, cars are started; revving and ready. Tricycles blast at full velocity; a commuter would walk away with a solemn face; and garden hoses are opened in frenzy. At noon, the dogs lay asleep; the streets become quiet until the silence turns deafening; the sun leans down even more; workers have their lunch set; carenderias lay full. In the evening, the cars come back from a day’s repose at some random parking lot; tricycles eagerly search for one last passenger; commuters return with a friend or two; water declines and insects gnaw at the garden; cats beg for food; workers hog the karaoke; shops are closed as early as nine. The routine is so predictable; I can probably tell you what one of my neighbors will be doing right after watching the evening news!

I can now feel the summer temperature almost literally in my head, dancing; swaying. It is a sting that I’ve known before, but hadn’t felt for quite some time. Truly, it is an odd feeling being in a condition as such. Lunch feels five inches up my belly and my eyes have become more than lethargic from the incredible heat. These are the moments where I can’t help but feel lonesome and discomfited. No one knows. And the thought of this quietly sinks down uncomfortably, watching people writhe and wither out of defenselessness. Lying at home isn’t such a difficult thing for me to do. I’ve done it for the past fourteen years: every day, every month, every year. Only now, I can’t help but wonder why I feel a little slighted and a little ensnared; trapped. I don’t entirely don’t care. I actually have contemplated about summers past more than anyone I know. I think and I think and I think until I only start to wonder just how blue my heart has become. I have reached a nadir of my existence, yet I'm still here - in between the vital lines of being young and being old. I feel like an ode that is long forgotten. A poem with no more verses. An ability that has long gone. I want to get back, of course but I can’t, nor do I have the slightest idea how to. I doubt anyone would have recalled either way. And once I try, once I feel as though I have already won life's biggest accolades, another day dawns and I realize just how far happiness drives on.

I'm not Compeyson because he’s too stubborn; and I’m not Provis because he’s too batty. I am pissed and scared and and lonely and tired all at the same time. But I still have my senses in tact. In a while, I’d know that I love what I am doing; only I can’t sense that now. Everything will pass so soon. Happiness, though least likely, will come to me when I’m at my best. I know that. I just need a little breather and someone to prove me that. It’s a problem not having an inspiration, isn’t it? Well, it won’t be for so long. Never had I experienced getting sick on summer day up until this moment. Stay put, soldier. Even Pip got sick on his back.

It’s funny how I remember so much from the past and tend to forget the present. I have made this entry a recollection hub. It honestly feels like an arm dealt with great apoplexy. I don’t want to feign to make you see the obvious. But I certainly am not getting any younger. I am growing each day, but I’m afraid I’m learning less.

“You just need to rest.”

The Pacific Part Five: Peleliu Landing

Holymotherofpearl.This episode left me utterly speechless. Even now as I write this, I am still deep in thought, thinking of the most appropriate interjections I can insert within this entry’s paragraphs. Oh gawd. That was only the first of the many combats. And to think that the mêlée lasted for two months! It also was so close to the Philippines - probably the closest call the Marines could get from having the country raided even more by the Japs. It scares me that even to this day RV Burgin himself still sees the battle at Peleliu Landing as a “nightmare”.

In the beginning of this installment, we were taken to the rich(?)-and-famous life of one John Basilone. He still hasn’t dressed up for battle, by the way. Nevertheless, he had it going good! It was amusing seeing him next to Virgina Grey: he’s a lost boy who didn’t seem to know whether he wanted to quit this war bond trade and go back with the NCO’s, or continue the fate Chesty sealed for him. And speaking of Chesty, I also had not seen him since Melbourne. Also… wth? Was it only Jon Seda or did Basilone really have those massive tats? That’s some revelation, I’m telling you! We also got to see John’s kid brother, who I first thought was JP Morgan. It was an intense conversation, with John Basilone ending it with a sole advice (“don’t feel like you’ve got to prove nothing”). It led me to wonder if whether we’d catch a glimpse of George in the next Pacific episodes as well.

We also get a substantial view into the first war struggles of Eugene Sledge. Joseph Mazzello has grown up, that’s for sure. He’s very diverse from the Star Kid pubescent, but in some such way still gave me shades of Radio Flyer. It was short-lived but I was happy when Sledge and Phillips met again after such a long time. If only it wasn’t interrupted by Captain Ack-Ack (putting Eugene in hot water on the first day, Sid?). I was also impressed with Ashton Holmes in this installment. A poignant part was when Sidney explicated how bad the war was. It’s as though he never wanted to talk about Guadalcanal or Gloucester at all, and that one word about the war will spoil the reunion. I felt as though I was Eugene myself and that I have again convened with the best friend I ever knew. But he has become a gloomy, traumatized stranger, who even got in close proximity to burning a beach crab. And it’s sad because I was never really there to see how this change had come to pass. What’s even worse was Phillips shipping out of Peleliu without bidding Sledge goodbye. Well, at least he received the privilege of going back home.

And ho-ho-ho, Leckie got back to his buddies. Not a word about Banika, but he did play the role of Santa Claus (“In the south, Christmas starts in June”). It was a nice gathering that also made me smile. I can never actually imagine an episode without the four of them! The surprising thing was Leckie and Sledge’s meeting at a tent. I knew it was going to happen, but never thought it possible with Phillips out of the picture. It was also very quick, I was flat-out surprised. Leckie then plays a short naivety towards the “other” war across Europe. And seeing that Sidney Phillips was his biggest customer, Leckie’s book collection would also serve as the very element to connect himself with Sledge. Leckie’s brooding about God was also very scary. I remember seeing him climb down the church steps in the first episode. But now as he talks about “the old geezer” to Eugene, there was absolute disbelief and loss of faith from the guy. James Badge Dale, of course still plays Robert Leckie beautifully.

I thought I was going to watch this time and again like I did the last four episodes. But I sort of slacked off for some personal reasons. If I had not, I think I would have recognized everyone even more. I admit that I was a little irritated with so many characters suddenly popping up. So far, I remember Snafu Shelton (played by Rami Malek). Monotonous; deranged; ominous; and somehow finds eerie amusement seeing “new guys sweat”, he is closely becoming one of my favorite personas. The first time I saw him in the cabin (what was he doing with his foot then anyway?), I knew he wasn’t exactly going to be very cordial – not towards newcomers like Sledge, Oswalt and Leyden, most especially. But I definitely – definitely - I received a spasm of tingle at the back of my spine when he abruptly removed a gold tooth from a dead Jap’s mouth. I also enjoyed Gary Sweet's appearance as Gunny Haney. It struck me amusing that I even laughed the first time he got himself in cameo (“Take. That. Jap!”). He must have appeared at least thrice in this episode, and I hadn’t recognized him until I got the chance to watch Part Five for the second time. It was so rigid to get past the guy that even Ack-Ack was bamboozling other Marines, siding with Gunny. Jay De L'Eau also came off funny, for he had this ridiculous knack of spelling his name (capital D, small E, captial L, apostrophe…) amongst introductory conversations.

At the beginning of the episode, it was also revealed that after Gloucester and Pavuvu, the last thing at the back of every Marine’s mind was to get involved in another combat. They really thought, and wished, and prayed that they could all go back home, or at least rest again at Melbourne. But oh boy, the Japs thought otherwise. The place wasn’t exactly pleasant itself: it reeked, everyone tended to be more captivated with their game of cards, and rats and crabs got along together well. But trust me, the war in Peleliu landing has got to be the most brutal one I have ever gotten to watch! And if you thought John Basilone was badass on Guadalcanal, wait until you see the Japs’ artilleries and the damages they have done to the Marines. I never knew that the war would be even more daunting in the morning than it already is at night. I was inclined to react to Sledge’s sudden apoplexy the first time he landed on shore; I honestly thought that it was his heart murmur acting up. Also, I was immensely shocked when I saw Hoosier pass out from getting hit. The sad part actually was Leckie seeing it happen with his own eyes. And while Hoosier may wind up in either a hospital back home or at a morgue, Chuckler has somehow gone missing. The series has indeed left us hanging with regards to both their fates. It still is horrifying to remember. Just think about all those many, many corpses lying out by the beach. As I said, it only was day one – yet, there already was carnage everywhere. I don’t think there are enough words to express how brutal that combat really was. It really left me silenced and thinking even as the credits rolled.

The most amusing scenes were Snafu disgorging his guts just as their amtrack landed on the beach, Leckie referring to Hoosier as Sleeping Beauty, Sledge easily reddened by his packed "babyfood", and the Marines watching a movie off a projector. It’s a great episode not only because of the extremely awe-striking war, but also because it gave me so very diminutive ripples seeing the exposure of a religious, terribly good-natured and inexperienced boy scout to the dangers of artillery. Faith is also questioned, acquaintanceships are left unclear, and change has come even sooner when we least expected it. For the next two episodes, the Marines will still be posted in Peleliu. How I wish this miniseries would extend to a 20-part!

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe Episode 3

I inserted the VCD, and woah! – the hell? Maugrim’s floating head greeted me at the very entrance of Episode 3. To top that off, his impossibly loud echo of a voice still frightens me! And trust me, I’ve seen him at least twice in this episode and I gave the same reaction. But because I found it somehow entertaining, I say Martin Stone did a fantastic job!

There were so many things that surprised me in this episode. It was a jack-in-a-box; silent yet so deadly: artlessly resting upon your dresser, waiting for the passer-by with the weakest heart. And before they know it – bam! – cardiac arrest! :-bd I am honestly torn. I love/hate every scene, and I find the most ridiculous takes amusing. I mean, whoa – BIG BEAVER! Ha-ha. That was “unpredictable”, I’ll give you that. But seriously, it was engaging from the get-go, and I was slightly hooked.

Scene after scene, I’ve come to enjoy this persona that Young Master Scott has concocted. Part Four focused on Edmund more. I like how they showed the “good conscience” and how the evil one wasn’t in any way present (it just proves that Edmund is Malevolence himself!). Edmund had a reason to go to the White Witch: the Beavers were sort of annoying. It’s been at least thirty minutes and they’re still talking about Aslan. And by the way, I heard the latch open in the middle of Mr. Beaver’s tale. And when they realized that Edmund had gone – that was some overreaction (I’m looking at you, Peter). Another funny part was when after "looking" for Edmund (really just positioned themselves in front of the Beavers' house and repeatedly called out, "Edmund! Edmund!"), they all decided to sit down and talk about the little miscreant for another thirty minutes! Sick.

I think there also was a talk about the prophecy. But I was too busy munching on my SkyFlakes to even listen (I’d watch it again tomorrow, don’t worry). Come to think of it, I enjoyed this episode better than the Beavers scene on the Narnia remake of 2005. Sure, the bats in the end suck (the hell was that?), and there was was a weird and cheesy vibe when Mr. Beaver first mentioned Aslan – but in terms of this episode and that scene, I’d gladly choose this as the winner. Just saying.