#Columbia Pictures Philippines

[kygerbearr]

can i get some information?

in hokkaido japan there's these rockets that hang from poles to show you where the road is when it snows over (due to the high elevation there)

also in arizona its illegal for a business to deny any person water because of how hot it is there. they also opted out of daylight savings time and all of america could also do that if they wanted, its just that every other state votes to keep it for some reason.

canada having bagged milk is actually only for the eastern side of canada. the western side of it not as much. also the backs of signs in british columbia are painted green

on google maps coverage of curacao, if you look down at the car there's a sticker on some of the roof rack on the car. this is consistent across curacao's google map coverage

buzz lightyear and woody are actually in the files in the original ps2 version of kingdom hearts 2 and a model for the world on the gummi ship menu is in some screenshots of early kh1 gameplay suggesting they intended on including toy story as a playable world from the very start i stole this image from reddit

polar bears are to my knowledge the only ursidae that actively hunt humans and are also the only carnivorous bears. at least i think. dont fact check it just trust me on this one

in gex 3 deep cover gecko for ps1 and n64, in the 3rd level Tut TV there's a sign on the wall that says "ankh if you're corny" but there's also an unused texture that says horny instead of corny this is the only image i have of it sorry that its small

thomas edison in fate grand order is a furry lion man who is every single president of the united states of america (past, present and future) built into one person. also his super move is proving God doesn't exist and he looks like this

this photo of the sun photoshopped into the background of a place is in the philippines and you can tell because of the color of the sattellite dish as well as the ads for cigarettes

thyis is a grizzly bear you can tell because hes brown. also they only really exist in alaska/canada/montana/wyoming-ish

oh yeah also tsela and yiska from the smoke room vn are names that are words in navajo. not exactly directly translateable as Diné Bizaad, the language of the navajo, essentially operates in "pictures". describing things and such. tsela can be translated to the best of my ability as "like stone"

while yiska essentially carries the message of "the night has passed" (used in both the word for Tomorrow and Saturday)

cynthia's last name, tsosie, essentially means "slender". I cannot provide an excerpt from my navajo-english dictionary since it's not in there, but it's also from 1958 and so its probably a little bit incomplete. the fact that she uses the name cynthia, a non-navajo name, reflects her decision to leave the reservation.

the name Begay is also a real life navajo surname that is an anglicization of biye', which means his/her son. i wish i could speak more on the accuracies within TSR's clifford route regarding navajo culture and history but that would be spoilers. all i will say is that the soap thing was a very real thing that was commonplace

speaking of clifford, his last name Tibbits could be a reference to Howard Clinton Tibbitts, a photographer who was well known for his photographs along the sites of the southern pacific railway which encompassed Arizona and into Apache and Puebloan territories. and yes, even Utah. rather telling

anyways that is an amount of information

[dailynicknews]

via NickALive!

[spiderdangeromo]

Saw and absolutely enjoyed almost every single frame of #AcrossTheSpiderVerse!

No spoilers here, pero the only thing I didn't like is something that happens towards the very end. Message mo ako about this pag napanood mo na!

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse opens in theaters starting TODAY, May 31 in the Philippines c/o Columbia Pictures Philippines!

[librairiemelodieensoussol]

Cassette Vidéo VHS ~ Picasso Trigger Bonjour à tous Collectionneur et passionné de vhs depuis les années 90 j'en ai fait mon métier et vous pouvez me retrouver sous le nom de Librairie Melodie en Sous-Sol  Tous les films ont été testés avant d'être mis en vente et fonctionnent bien ! Pour un envoi vers international merci de me contacter avant svp Ensemble en très bon état général Film testé et ok Edition RCA Columbia Pictures Film culte et rare Import UK en version originale #PicassoTrigger (released in the Philippines as Secret Agent 7) is a 1988 action film starring #SteveBond, Dona Speir, Hope Marie Carlton, Roberta Vasquez, Cynthia Brimhall, and Harold Diamond. It was written and directed by# AndySidaris and it's the third installment in the #TripleB series. #librairiemelodieensoussol  #melodieensoussol #oiseaumortvintage #libraire #librairie #librairiemarseille #librairieparis #librairieindependante #librairieenligne #librairiedoccasion #livresdoccasion #bookstagram #booklover #cassettevideo #vhs #vhstape #vhsavendre #videoclub #videoclubmarseille #vhscollection #vhscollector #vhssurvivor https://www.instagram.com/p/Co9Zup6spV4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thefanboyseo]

Play for Fun, Action, Adventure in the All-New "Jumanji"

Play for Fun, Action, Adventure in the All-New “Jumanji”

The game has changed, but the legend continues in Columbia Pictures’ upcoming action-adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (in Philippine cinemas January 8.) (l to r) Nick Jonas, Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart and Jack Black star in JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE. In the brand new adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, starring an all-star cast – Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin…

[sleepysera]

Jul 4 Headlines

WORLD NEWS

Canada: Military on standby as lightning triggers more wildfires (BBC)

"Emergency services say they are now trying to control more than 170 fires, many triggered by lightning strikes. Meanwhile, at least two people are reported to have died in the village of Lytton that was destroyed by fire. Lytton recorded Canada's highest-ever temperature of 49.6C (121.3F) on Tuesday. 'We saw 12,000 lightning strikes, roughly, yesterday [Friday],' said Cliff Chapman, director of provincial operations for British Columbia Wildfire Service."

Philippines: Dozens killed in military plane crash (BBC)

"Fifty people have died and dozens more have been injured after a military plane crashed in the Philippines. The Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft was carrying 96 people, mostly troops, when it overshot a runway at Jolo airport in Sulu province on Sunday. The dead are mainly military personnel, but three civilians on the ground were also killed, the defence ministry said."

Thailand: Blast at factory shakes Bangkok airport, area evacuated (AP)

"A massive explosion at a factory on the outskirts of Bangkok early Monday shook an airport terminal serving Thailand’s capital and prompted the evacuation of residents from the area. The fire broke out early in the morning at a foam and plastic pallet manufacturing factory in a southeastern area of Bangkok near Suvarnabhumi Airport."

US NEWS

Florida Building Collapse: Explosives set off to bring down rest of collapsed condo (AP)

"Crews were to begin clearing some of the new debris so rescuers could start making their way into parts of the underground garage that is of particular interest. Once there, they were hoping to get a clearer picture of voids that may exist in the rubble and could possibly harbor survivors."

Afghanistan: All foreign troops must leave by deadline, Taliban says (BBC)

"Any foreign troops left in Afghanistan after Nato's September withdrawal deadline will be at risk as occupiers, the Taliban has told the BBC. It comes amid reports that 1,000 mainly US troops could remain on the ground to protect diplomatic missions and Kabul's international airport. But violence in the country continues to rise, with the Taliban taking more territory."

Tyson: Recalls 8.5m pounds chicken products due to possible listeria contamination (CNN)

"Tyson Foods Inc. is recalling nearly 8.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products because they may be contaminated with Listeria, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Saturday. 'The products subject to recall bear establishment number 'EST. P-7089' on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations,' the statement said."

[welcome-to-green-hills]

I think I know what the other guy is talking about. In the Philippines and some parts of Asia, Paramount movies are distributed by Columbia Pictures & Disney, and sonic was one of those titles. So maybe that's what they are thinking of.

I can understand that 100%. I recall that info as well. Good eye, my friend. The query here is where the rumor of script rewrites and such from the ask. I haven’t seen anything on my end on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

I will say this though: Pat Casey is a very friendly person to talk to on Twitter. I’ve asked him questions before concerning the movie and he always answers within 24 hours. My suggestion here would be to ask him or Jeff Fowler if there’s closure that is needed on the matter. Both of them are sure to respond, just remember to use manners. I’ve seen a plethora of individuals demand answers for stuff like this.😊

[catholicartistsnyc]

Meet Vancouver-based Photographer Colleen Umali

COLLEEN UMALI is a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based wedding and portrait photographer.  [website | instagram]

Colleen shared with the Catholic Artist Connection about her work as a wedding photographer and how to thrive spiritually during a pandemic. Read our full interview below! 

Where are you from originally, and what brought you to your current city?

I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines but when I was 7 years old, my parents felt the call to move to Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver is home and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

How do understand your vocation as a Catholic artist? Do you call yourself a Catholic artist? 

In the past, I’ve never thought of myself as a Catholic artist. I just saw myself as another kid on the Internet with a passion for photography while being unashamedly Catholic. I try to be as authentic as I can on social media and sometimes post reflections on God’s goodness.

Photographing weddings has always been my dream. I would do it occasionally for family and friends when they asked, but never seriously considered turning it into a business. But the Lord in His goodness knew these desires of my heart, and in the midst of a global pandemic, He turned this dream into a reality. I began to receive clients out of nowhere. One bride hired me specifically because she saw I had experience in photographing Catholic weddings. This was a huge moment of realization that unintentionally, all the weddings I photographed in the past were all Catholic weddings. 

Today, I do see myself as a Catholic artist. Sure, elopement photos on a mountaintop are beautiful, but I’m not here to show off pretty pictures. My purpose behind launching a wedding photography business (on top of a full time career) is to honor the Lord through the sanctity of marriage. It is so beautiful to witness how He works in people’s lives to bring them together, and I find so much joy in helping couples tell this story. I love getting to know the couples I work with, and there is nothing better than having deep conversations with them about God’s goodness.

Where in Vancouver do you regularly find spiritual fulfillment?

I love my church, St. Matthew’s Parish, because the community is so vibrant and filled with many young people striving to follow the Lord. The youth group’s monthly Adoration nights are always so beautiful. I also serve as a leader for University Christian Outreach (UCO) here in the Vancouver chapter. During the pandemic, we couldn’t meet in person with the university students so we began to hold worship nights over Zoom. At one event, students from other chapters joined us. Despite time differences, we were able to worship with students from Israel, LA, Calgary and Michigan! I also find spiritual fulfillment from regularly meeting up (over Zoom) with like-minded women for book studies, Bible studies and heartfelt, Christ centered conversations. 

What is your daily spiritual practice?

No matter how busy I am, I try to start every day in prayer. I find that when I offer up my day to Jesus, the stresses become a little less stressful. I like to read the daily Mass readings and the reflections from Blessed is She. My women’s group is currently doing the Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible Study so I try to read a few chapters a day. I also like to have a mini praise and worship session alone in my car on my drives to work. I’m currently loving Maverick City Music!

How do you financially support yourself as an artist?

I have a full time job doing kidney research for a large Vancouver biotech. I love my career and the opportunity to make a difference through science. Wedding photography is my passion and I don’t see it as a means of steady income but as a creative outlet. I love meeting people and telling their unique stories. I am still doing my best to put myself and my business out there in a competitive market with wedding photographers on every corner. But in keeping photography as a passion, I’m able to do what I love without the pressure of having to earn enough to make ends meet.

What are your top 3 pieces of advice for Catholic artists post-graduation?

1. Surround yourself with people who support, motivate and push you to become the best version of yourself! I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for my best friend saying “you’re launching your website tonight. No excuses.”

2. Believe in yourself! You are worthy and you are good enough. God gave you these talents for a reason. Use them to glorify Him.

3. Let God do the rest. Whether your art remains a passion or becomes a source of income — follow where He leads. Follow His will for your life and you’ll never be disappointed.

(C) Colleen Umali 

[delaserna-giaallison]

Identity Theft

Since the rise of the mobile internet, it has gained prominence in our lives. We gave up anonymity and began being more open about ourselves on the internet-- especially in social media. We post pictures of ourselves, share our lives, vent or publicize our opinions, and even post about our love life. We treat social media as if it's a diary, where we are free to post about what's happening in our lives to others.

But, is it really okay to broadcast a massive portion of our lives on the internet? Rather... is it safe?

Your information, your identity... is a valuable commodity that may be at risk to identity thieves. Everyone can be a target or victim of identity fraud. Identity theft can range from the creation of dummy social media accounts to stealing your bank account.

Just recently, Jay Domingo, a fourth-year college student, had his identity stolen and used for online scams by his own friend [1]. Four years ago, a teacher named Mark Joseph Lontok became a victim of identity theft after he uploaded a picture of his personal I.D. on Facebook [2].

June 6th of this year, Tug-ani, the official student publication of the University of the Philippines-Cebu, reported the surge of fake duplicate profiles using their students' identities. This issue gave rise and trended the hashtag #HandsOffOurStudents on Twitter to voice their concerns regarding identity theft and possible targetted attacks against UP students.[3][4]

Online activities have become an integral part of our lives. We can no longer separate ourselves from it. That line between reality and online has slowly blurred out throughout the years that's why the importance of ensuring online security is more important today.

To learn more about identity theft, head over to these sites:

Identity Theft, Warning Signs, and How to Deal with them by ACCC Scamwatch

What are the Most Common Ways That Identity Theft or Fraud can happen to you?

ACG-CYBER SECURITY BULLETIN NR 179: How Cyber Criminals Steal your Personal Identifiable Information (PII) to Steal your Money 

PNP ready to help Facebook users vs. fake accounts via Philippine News Agency

Sources:

[1] Online scammer steals friend’s identity

[2] Guro, nabiktima raw ng identity theft dahil umano sa in-upload na I.D. sa Facebook

[3] Facebook investigating reported surge of fake accounts

[4] #HandsOffOurStudents

Reference for the illustration: Scream of Fear, Hammer Film Productions/ Columbia Pictures Corporation, 1961 via Movies and Drinks.

Effects: Glitch effect, Glitched warp

Digital compositions:

Windows Error Message Template

Profile #1, Profile #2, Profile #3

[ukbodyguard]

Close Protection Company || Reasons and Benefits

Due to a growing bias arising from around the globe, the possibility of attacks on VIP individuals and others with properties of financial significance has inspired a rise in demand for the services of a close protection officer or other executive protection services from private security companies.

What separates us from the other close protection companies is our unwavering devotion to delivering security solutions to our vast list of clients that guarantee the customer and their families full peace of mind. In the face of adversity, when you put your wellbeing into the hands of the best close protection services in London, you will never have to put your life on hold again. By selecting UK Bodyguards, we will support you in the face of unwelcome attention to live an unhindered life.

 What are Bodyguards or Security Officers

The cinematic idea of a bodyguard, a large, incredibly muscular man who stands a few steps behind a politician or a star, is known to most of us. They always wear dark glasses in black suits in the nice guy bodyguard video. In movies, the bad guy's bodyguard, the guy who defends the wicked geniuses, still appears to be bearded, toting a machine gun, or lurking behind the throne of the mastermind.

Hollywood has fun experimenting with the bodyguard’s concept. However, bodyguards seldom match the picture created by the films. Men or women may be bodyguards because they are smart, well-trained, athletic people who also have years of experience in the military or police forces. If you want to see a true bodyguard, look for the people watching the audience and not the actors the next time you watch a red carpet event.

To ensure that your everyday security needs are fulfilled efficiently, close protection officers (CPOs) or personal London bodyguards services can act discreetly or as a conspicuous power.

 Reasons to Hire from a Close Protection Company

1. Politics

Some people would dislike you if you are running for some sort of government, including at the local level. Regulation determines how our lives are lived. In individuals, this sparks a fire that can grow out of control if fanned.

You might believe that you will be held protected by your good nature. These haters also do not know the candidate, but they disagree with the values they stand for. Look at recruiting a competent bodyguard before you get into running.

 2. Activism

As an altruistic way to save the world, you might think about activism. People who see activists as time bombs, though, are willing to ruin their way of life to survive.

If you post #save the turtles daily on Instagram, you will not get any pushback. Attending protests and pushing hard for your convictions, though, will make you a priority. Hire a bodyguard in london for your safety. 

 3. High Company Ranking

If you work for a large organization in an executive capacity, so secure yourself. For sabotage, attack, and kidnapping, people can target you.

Know, you do portray more than just yourself in your place. You build a voice for a business that makes big choices that have a major effect on others' lives.

 4. Employment Termination

If you run a big company or a small local business, it will cause a backlash by dismissing an employee. Upon termination, at any rate, dissatisfied workers can seek out the control they believe was stripped from them.

Ask for protection if you fire an individual who:

Makes Threats

Screams

Physically Attacks You

 5. Valuable Transfers

The unwanted focus may be attracted by moving valuables of some sort. If you are in the place of valuables belonging to you or someone else, proceed carefully.

Valuables may include:

Large sums of cash

Expensive jewelry

Pharmaceuticals

Rare collectibles

Sensitive documents

 6. Arrests

When people want vengeance, they don't go for the goal often. They go for those close to the goal instead, to reach home.

If a family member, significant other, or close friend winds up being arrested for some felony that has made a suspect, hiring a bodyguard will keep you safe before anything goes by.

High-profile murders and assassinations can undoubtedly inspire people close to the perpetrator to seek safety. Those that contain secondary casualties, too, may as well.

 7. Overseas Travel

Even places with great instability have special and enjoyable prospects for holidays. Instead of being scared of the rest of the country, recruit a guard to fly safely.

Some famous destinations that pose a traveler's risk include:

Mexico

Peru

Columbia

The Philippines

Jamaica

India

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

 8. High Net-Worth

What is your value? You're, of course, priceless. But what is the meaning that the universe allocates to you?

If you come in with the highest percentage, that makes you a candidate for theft, abduction, and other violent crimes. Secure yourself and your belongings by hiring a private bodyguard to secure your house and to support you regularly.

 9. Abuse

Statistically, perpetrators do not readily let their victims go. Once they run, many appear to injure their victims more.

Take precautions to support yourself if you abandon an abusive relationship. A restraining order only provides deterrence for them, but irrational offenses are not avoided. Protecting yourself with a bodyguard before you move on.

 Why Choose Us

Our close security specialists will help keep you safe, whether you respond to a direct threat to your life, attend a high-profile summit, or simply go on holiday with your family. We hire a select and intimate range of security experts from all over the world, who can give you and your family complete peace of mind with their multifaceted expertise and wealth of experience. As a company, we are fully assured that we can provide and supply our foreign customers with the complete security and reassurance they want with our skills and our collective wealth of market experience spanning half a century. 

You have found the perfect company whether you are in the market for close protection London bodyguards, or specifically our close protection London services, as UK Bodyguards is the best close protection UK company. We offer the best sia close protection course for individuals seeking job preference in the sector.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 2.1

1327 – The teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer. 1411 – The First Peace of Thorn is signed in Thorn (Toruń), Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights (Prussia). 1662 – The Chinese general Koxinga seizes the island of Taiwan after a nine-month siege. 1713 – The Kalabalik or Skirmish at Bender results from the Ottoman sultan's order that his unwelcome guest, King Charles XII of Sweden, be seized. 1793 – French Revolutionary Wars: France declares war on the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. 1796 – The capital of Upper Canada is moved from Newark to York. 1814 – Mayon in the Philippines erupts, killing around 1,200 people, the most devastating eruption of the volcano. 1835 – Slavery is abolished in Mauritius. 1861 – American Civil War: Texas secedes from the United States. 1864 – Second Schleswig War: Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig, starting the war. 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln signs the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. 1884 – The first volume (A to Ant) of the Oxford English Dictionary is published. 1893 – Thomas A. Edison finishes construction of the first motion picture studio, the Black Maria in West Orange, New Jersey. 1895 – Fountains Valley, Pretoria, the oldest nature reserve in Africa, is proclaimed by President Paul Kruger. 1896 – La bohème premieres in Turin at the Teatro Regio (Turin), conducted by the young Arturo Toscanini. 1897 – Shinhan Bank, the oldest bank in South Korea, opens in Seoul. 1908 – Lisbon Regicide: King Carlos I of Portugal and Infante Luis Filipe are shot dead in Lisbon. 1918 – Russia adopts the Gregorian calendar. 1924 – Russia–United Kingdom relations are restored, over six years after the Communist revolution. 1942 – World War II: Josef Terboven, Reichskommissar of German-occupied Norway, appoints Vidkun Quisling the Minister President of the National Government. 1942 – World War II: U.S. Navy conducts Marshalls–Gilberts raids, the first offensive action by the United States against Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater. 1942 – Voice of America, the official external radio and television service of the United States government, begins broadcasting with programs aimed at areas controlled by the Axis powers. 1942 – Mao Zedong makes a speech on "Reform in Learning, the Party and Literature", which puts into motion the Yan'an Rectification Movement. 1946 – Trygve Lie of Norway is picked to be the first United Nations Secretary-General. 1946 – The Parliament of Hungary abolishes the monarchy after nine centuries, and proclaims the Hungarian Republic. 1950 – The first prototype of the MiG-17 makes its maiden flight. 1960 – Four black students stage the first of the Greensboro sit-ins at a lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. 1964 – The Beatles have their first number one hit in the United States with "I Want to Hold Your Hand". 1968 – Vietnam War: The execution of Viet Cong officer Nguyễn Văn Lém by South Vietnamese National Police Chief Nguyễn Ngọc Loan is recorded on motion picture film, as well as in an iconic still photograph taken by Eddie Adams. 1968 – Canada's three military services, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force, are unified into the Canadian Forces. 1968 – The New York Central Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad are merged to form Penn Central Transportation. 1972 – Kuala Lumpur becomes a city by a royal charter granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. 1974 – A fire in the 25-story Joelma Building in São Paulo, Brazil kills 189 and injures 293. 1979 – Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran after nearly 15 years of exile. 1989 – The Western Australian towns of Kalgoorlie and Boulder amalgamate to form the City of Kalgoorlie–Boulder. 1991 – A runway collision between USAir Flight 1493 and SkyWest Flight 5569 at Los Angeles International Airport results in the deaths of 34 people, and injuries to 30 others. 1992 – The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bhopal court declares Warren Anderson, ex-CEO of Union Carbide, a fugitive under Indian law for failing to appear in the Bhopal disaster case. 1996 – The Communications Decency Act is passed by the U.S. Congress. 1998 – Rear Admiral Lillian E. Fishburne becomes the first female African American to be promoted to rear admiral. 2002 – Daniel Pearl, American journalist and South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, kidnapped January 23, 2002, is beheaded and mutilated by his captors. 2003 – Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during the reentry of mission STS-107 into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard. 2004 – Hajj pilgrimage stampede: In a stampede at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, 251 people are trampled to death and 244 injured. 2005 – King Gyanendra of Nepal carries out a coup d'état to capture the democracy, becoming Chairman of the Councils of ministers. 2009 – The first cabinet of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir was formed in Iceland, making her the country's first female prime minister and the world's first openly gay head of government. 2012 – Seventy-four people are killed and over 500 injured as a result of clashes between fans of Egyptian football teams Al Masry and Al Ahly in the city of Port Said. 2013 – The Shard, the sixth-tallest building in Europe, opens its viewing gallery to the public. 2021 – A coup d'état in Myanmar removes Aung San Suu Kyi from power and restores military rule.

[thefanboyseo]

College Girl Makes Every Death Count in HAPPY DEATH DAY (Opens Oct 18)

College Girl Makes Every Death Count in HAPPY DEATH DAY (Opens Oct 18)

She made waves despite a brief but memorable supporting role opposite Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in the Oscar-winning La La Land. Now, star-on-the-rise Jessica Rothe lands the lead role in Universal Pictures’ new suspense-thriller Happy Death Day (in Philippine cinemas Oct. 18). In the film, Rothe plays a college student named Tree Gelbman who relives the day of her murder with both its…

[mariposalass]

Top 3 Favorite and Least Favorite Films

Got tagged by @husband-of-lucoa​ for this one. I have way too many favorite films and least liked films to list this, but I will list down the 3 that stand up and warms my heart & the 3 that makes me wish that I didn’t waste my time and money in hindsight. Not tagging anybody, but feel free to make this list when you have the time.

3 Favorite Films

The Wizard of Oz (MGM, 1939)

This legendary classic is a masterpiece in itself. The story, while simple, is easy to follow and you can’t help but to root for Dorothy as she tries to return back to Kansas and the journey she & her friends have to go through to have a fulfilling end. The characters are memorable and charming (yes, even the Wicked Witch is memorable for being an effective threatening villain), the move to have all but the Kansas portions in color is a great choice (since this was released at the tail end of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl was then a fresh memory for many), and the songs are so amazing to hear (Somewhere Under the Rainbow, anyone?). It’s been since I watched it, but it still has a great place in my heart. Heck, my Film and Literature class in college even watched this for class for a film stylistics discussion.

Beauty and the Beast (Disney, 1991)

And here we have an animated Disney classic: Heck, where else did I got Belle as a favorite Disney character & Disney Princess and a f/o? I admired all the hard work from the cast and the crew to make this quite a thought provoking film which still holds up to this day: from the heartwarming take on finding inner beauty and love without hammering it in to the lovable and likeable characters to the stunning animation to the memorable songs to the fact that Howard Ashman was determined to have the film not getting canned and writing songs while dying from AIDs. The last one made me admiring Ashman even more with his work ethics and tenacity. I’m pretty pissed that Disney tried to sully my memories of the film and Belle with the soulless 2017 remake, but that won’t ever top my love for the animated hit as it did to make me hate its wasted existence.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Disney and Walden Media, 2005)

Whoever thought that a book series that acts as an allegory of Christianity would earn me an underrated classic? As weird as it sounds, I loved the 2005 film (even thought this had to wait until 2006 to be released in my country (the Philippines) because of the Metro Manila Film Festival hogging the Christmas cinema slot as it always do) and it lives up to the spirit of the books (and the first one the most). I enjoy the performances of the actors (including Liam Neeson and Tilda Swinton as Aslan and Jadis the White Witch respectively), the well balanced mix of real-time SFX and CGI effects (which is getting under-appreciated these days), and the good message of good overcoming evil & Edmund’s character arc so much. I did watched Prince Caspian and Dawn Treader, but they didn’t impress me as much as this one. Too bad the film series is in limbo, because I want to see if they can do The Silver Chair, The Magician’s Nephew, The Horse and His Boy, and The Last Battle justice.

3 Least Favorite Films

Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs 2 (Sony Pictures Animation and Columbia Pictures, 2012)

Oh God, what was I thinking when I first watched this disaster? I unironically like the first film because it is so ridiculously weird it can be enjoyable in some areas, but this film is such a miserable mess. Considering this was from pre-Into the Spider-verse SPA, it is such a travesty in many places that even AniMat gave it the Seal of Garbage in his review of it. The animation, while creativite, can be an eye sore for many, there are too much food puns, the characters are now dumb down into mere stereotypes (thought I love Manny the Crazy-Prepared Guatemalan Cameraman, Chicken Brent, Steve the Monkey, and Berry the Strawberry), and the environment message felt like it was thrown in the last moment. Jesus! Luckily, Phil Lord and Chris Miller would move onto do the LEGO Movie and the 21 Jump Street films, although Sony didn’t get the message for a long time until Spider-verse’s success that stuff like this doesn’t guarantee them long-term success and fans alike.

Looney Tunes: Back in Action (Warner Bros., 2003)

Why is that I put a gif of OOC!Shaggy and Scooby harassing Matt Lillard for the live action films here? This film is a total wreck and that scene in the studio restaurant made Shaggy & Scooby look and act like douchebags more than in their series! I hated the fact that it was made by the guy who made Gremlins, the first Howling film, and Little Soldiers and his attempt to make Space Jam (guilty pleasure of mine) look bad has backfired on him big time. The spy theme parody wasn’t done properly and the story was a mess. I know Warner Bros. can do great films (and they still do) speaking as a fan of their work, but this has to be one of their weaker films in their library. Plus, Joe did Scooby and Shaggy dirty in this scene alone, angering the Scooby Doo fan in me. How ironic that Casey Kasem would retire years later in 2007, only for Matt to take his place years after this shitty scene ruined my memory and love from the Scooby Doo franchise.

Chicken Little (Disney, 2005)

Seriously, what was Disney thinking when they were making this!?! I understand that this is their first animated film in entirely CGI, but man, it is like they’re walking into this with blindfolds on! The animation is passable, but the story was a jumbled up mess and felt like The Nut Job in tone with its mostly mean-spirited tone against the protagonist and most of the characters aren’t that great and memorable (except for Abby because I felt I was her in the dodgeball scene when remembering this again). My 12 year old self must be guilty now for giving into wanting to watch it. Luckily, there is a short they made back in the 1940′s, granted, this was like war propaganda for WWII, but it’s much better than this loose basket and much closer to the original fable they are based on. Go search for it on YouTube. Sorry, but this film isn’t my cup of tea.

[popculturedmilk]

To all the boy bands I’ve loved before

I have a letter for you.

Dear boy bands,

How have you been? It’s been a while since I last listened to your songs. Sometimes, I come across one of them on a bus ride. I lowkey wish traffic gets bad so I have more time to revel into the music that made my childhood. I could have done it using Spotify on my phone but I didn’t want to because it just reminds me that I’m getting older and most people my age have already graduated from the boy band phase.

I didn’t want to admit the little part of me that still moons over boys who aren’t afraid to dress silly or sing cheesy love songs like they mean every lyric. Maybe these attributes are part of a marketing ploy to get girls to buy records. Maybe your existence is all business. But one thing’s for sure: We can’t undo the fangirling past that had its cringeworthy yet fun moments.

To the Backstreet Boys, you started it all. There’s something about your chemistry so undeniable to this day. You’re still our fire, the one desire! You brought us bops that turned into drunkeoke anthems and iconic music videos forever etched in pop culture history. We love how you boys goof around like kids even as you age.  

If we’re talking about serious choreography, the spotlight should be on *NSYNC. Hey there, Justin Timberlake and friends. I just want to thank you for the killer moves that said ‘bye, bye, bye’ to other boy band live performances. Also, your well-coordinated outfits and frosted tips are bold fashion moves we cannot unsee.  

While the rest of ‘90s boy bands are considered as twinks, 98 Degrees, you guys owned the twunks category. Matter of fact, you invented the idea of muscly guys harmonizing their way to a girl’s heart. I mean, who didn’t fantasize about walking down the aisle to your cover song “I Do (Cherish You)”?

Things got more mature when you, Blue, entered the picture. As early as grade school, I found out your idea of clubbing wasn’t really the after-school activity appropriate for kids. It didn’t mean joining the girl scouts or the drum and lyre band. Clubbing was partying as evident in your “Fly By II” video. I thought that was as cool as making silver chain necklaces a top class ’00s accessory—which was also your doing.

F4, we go a long way back. Our story began in Meteor Garden. I felt the connection despite the language barrier. You speak Mandarin, I don’t. Yet you still made the effort of flying from Taiwan to the Philippines. You sang lyrics most of us wouldn’t understand and said a few local words like “Mahal ko kayo!” We all fell for it.

Years passed and just when I thought that I was mature enough not to fall under the spell of boy bands anymore, One Direction, you came into my life. My nephew used to sing along repeatedly to “What Makes You Beautiful” when it came out. As expected, it grew on me. I spent my first paycheck on your concert, one that’s memorable because it was also the first show sans Zayn. The news left a void in my heart. Here was another boy band that was growing up and beginning to grow apart. Dramatic, I know. Boy bands come and go then eventually come back to remind us of our youth. Some of the boy bands that came before you did it. I won’t rule out the possibility of seeing you guys complete again, even if I end up as a mom dancer when that reunion comes.

To all the boy bands I’ve loved before, you’ll always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for being part of my formative years. Now let me make that playlist to reminisce.  

Love,

A fangirl

Photos, Videos and GIFs Courtesy of Jive / Zomba (Backstreet Boys), Jive (*NSYNC), Sony Music Taiwan (F4) and Syco / Columbia (One Direction). 

[x5red]

The lost Supergirl

To its detractors the 1984 Helen Slater Supergirl is an underwhelming, disjointed, and self-contradictory attempt to profit from the Superman franchise beyond the Man of Steel. To its supporters the 1984 Supergirl is a much misunderstood blending of super-heroics and fairy-tales, creating a magical story of adventure and courage. But no matter what your take on this movie, no one can deny that it failed to meet box office expectations and did not garner anything like the same reputation as Chris Reeve’s first two iconic Superman outings.

But with the passing of time comicbook fans seem to have slowly mellowed towards Slater’s Supergirl. Sure, it may never be considered a classic, but many fans now acknowledge that Helen Slater’s time in the red cape has a lot of charming qualities, qualities that are sadly lacking in many of DC’s modern offerings.

So, what caused this shift in attitudes?

Well, thanks to the internet, today’s fans have a greater awareness of the intentions of director Jeannot Szwarc, who (we now recognise) was pitching at a younger audience than the Superman movies -- hence the looser fairy-tale quality of the plot. But, more importantly, there’s also a growing awareness that many of the movie’s weaknesses were made far more glaring by the distributor’s brutal editing for US markets.

As more and more of the cutting room floor footage has been seen, so criticism has softened. Although still far from perfect, 2000′s extended 138 minute cut is generally recognised as a more balanced and coherent experience than 1984′s US theatrical version of just 105 minutes. But fans have speculated that yet more footage is still to be found. Rumours circulate on the far flung reaches of the internet concerning a possible 150 minute edit, smoothing over even more of the disjointed elements of the story.

In this article I want to first attempt a fact-packed recap of the editing history of the Supergirl movie, noting when and why its numerous cuts were created; then I want to briefly speculate on what might be in the still-missing 12 minutes (if indeed they exist), by pulling together the various rumours and looking at their evidence.

So, let’s begin...

From silver screen to small screen

Supergirl got its debut in London on Thursday 19th July 1984, as part of a Royal Charity Premiere screening attended by Princess Michael of Kent (whose husband is the current Queen’s first cousin, as I’m sure everyone knows(!)) This UK version was distributed by Columbia-EMI-Warner and ran at 124 minutes. Initial critical reaction was mixed, leaning more towards underwhelmed.

As US fans waited for the Maid of Might to fly onto their cinema screens, the movie began to open around the world. Ireland and Japan got Supergirl just days after the UK, then August saw Supergirl open in the Philippines, Australia, and Spain. In October it was the turn of France and Canada. Meanwhile Kara Zor-El fans in her (adopted) home country had no choice but to wait... and wait... and wait... The delay in the US release was caused by Warner Bros. dropping out of negotiations to promote and distribute the film in US theatres midway through production. As the movie was in post production, and overseas distribution deals were being struck, the Salkind family (the producers) scrambled to find an alternative distributor for their biggest market.

Finally, on Wednesday 21st November 1984, the Maid of Might launched onto US screens thanks to TriStar Pictures, but the switch in distributor had not been without major consequences. American Supergirl fans were treated to an experience that had been cut down to just 105 minutes, removing key exposition scenes from a movie that was already criticised for struggling with plot coherence. Supergirl grossed $5.7m on its opening weekend, and went on bring in $13.6m in the US market. On an estimated production budget of $35m, it was not considered a success.

At the same time as the US theatrical release, a 125 minute LaserDisc version appeared in Japan, marking the first time fans could watch the Girl of Steel in the comfort of their own Fortress of Solitude. The advertised 125 minute running time likely represents a rounding error rather than 1 minute of new material. Although not sold into US markets, some copies apparently did cross the Pacific. The LaserDisc version was likely a pan-and-scan copy (no documentation suggests widescreen), with Supergirl’s wide cinematic 2.35:1 image cropped drastically to fit television’s nearly square 4:3 ratio.

Pan-and-scan would also have been done to the initial VHS release into US markets by U.S.A. Home Video in 1985, which used the 105 minute cut that had appeared in US cinemas the year before. In 1987 a second pan-and-scan edit was created by TriStar for HBO‘s cable tv screenings, which was then used by the ABC Network when it broadcast a brutal 92 minute cut in February 1987. (It was common practice for ad-supported tv to heavily edit movies, making space for commercials without stretching the running time too far.) This super-slimline cut was later thrown together with other Superman movies into a tv syndication package by Viacom. The Internet Movie Database suggests that there was also a VHS cut that ran to just 89 minutes -- this may have been either the Avid Home Video release (1991) catalogued on the same site, or it may refer to an unknown overseas VHS release.

Lurking in the depths of the vaults

By the late 1990s the full 124 minute cut of Supergirl had still never been legitimately made available in the US. The rights to the Supergirl movie had subsequently been snapped up as part of a bundle of films by Canal + Distribution in France, and they allowed Anchor Bay Entertainment to release the two hour so-called International Cut on VHS. Many Supergirl fans now thought that they, at last(!), had copies of the most complete version of the film. But rumours quickly started to circulate that this was far from the case.

Not long after the International Cut’s release, speculation began that Canal + had found something interesting lurking amidst the dusty film cans they’d acquired as part of their rights acquisitions. A previously unknown 138 minute cut of Supergirl featuring a mono soundtrack had been unearthed, which quickly acquired the moniker of the Director’s Cut.

(Note: one citation-free internet comment suggests that the Director’s Cut was actually discovered at Pinewood Studios, in a box marked “do not use”. Although the early Superman / Supergirl movies were filmed at London’s Pinewood soundstages, it seems odd that a finished edit of the film, complete with soundtrack, would be discovered there.)

In mid-2000 Anchor Bay Entertainment released a two disc DVD set featuring both the 124 minute International Cut, and the new 138 minute Director’s Cut, both in widescreen format (2.35:1 letter-boxed to widescreen tv’s 16:9 ratio.)

So, thought fans, surely this is the definitive Helen Slater Supergirl... right..!?

Well, apparently, no..!

The rumours didn’t end with the Director’s Cut. Some evidence suggested that there were still scenes shot at Pinewood that didn’t make it into the 138 minute edit. Speculation was that somewhere in a rusting film can there might lie yet another 12 minutes of unseen footage, bringing the total running time of the film to a whopping 150 minutes -- that’s almost 50% more Supergirl than was seen by the original US theatrical audiences in November 1984.

So, what’s missing..?

First, let us rule out what we can say with certainty is not in any potential missing footage.

The original script for Supergirl, penned by David Odell, made heavy use of Christopher Reeve’s Superman. According to director, Jeannot Szwarc, the main plot device always revolved around the recovery of the Omegahedron, but in early drafts Superman was to encounter Supergirl in space, and the pair were to share a heartwarming scene in which he teaches his cousin how to fly, involving dancing together in mid-air. At a later point in the script Supergirl was to rescue Superman from a prison, where he languished as an old man having lost his immorality.

Regrettably, the producer’s hopes of securing Chris Reeve fell apart not long before shooting began. Without Reeve, Odell’s script (which, Szwarc claims, had already suffered numerous rewrites at the behest of the Salkinds and/or original distributors Warner Bros.) underwent yet another a major overhaul. As such, we can say with absolute certainty that none of the possible missing footage includes Christopher Reeve’s Superman.

So what might it contain?

A draft of the movie’s script, dated Monday 17th January 1983, is available online, and it seems to mention scenes that never appeared in any publicly available cut of the film, including the Director’s Cut. The draft’s date is just a few weeks away from the alleged filming dates: Monday 18th April 1983 to Thursday 11th August 1983. The script does follow the story line of the finished movie, although it is apparent that some action segments have been reworked and some of the dialogue is only vaguely similar to the filmed version.

A second source of information comes from an apparently test audience viewing in the US, with online accounts of this screening at sites like IMDB seeming to bear out the rumours that some of the elements in the draft script may have been filmed and included in this screening.

Speculation suggests that a number of clips featuring Selena are still lost. These include more material with Selena and the Omegahedron, and a clip during Selena’s takeover of Midvale in which the angry townspeople are cowered (except Lucy) by Selena when she uses an ice spell to kill a woman.

There’s also speculation that two short interactions with Linda at school are absent. The first involves Nigel quizzing Linda about her plans for the weekend (this happens immediately before the scene, 50 minutes in, with Linda sitting outside the school as other girls leave with their parents, when Lucy invites Linda to join her later in Midvale.) The second is a chat between Linda and Lucy about clothes and fitting in on Earth.

One interaction that always seemed a bit odd in the movie takes place immediately after the shower sequence (when Kara uses her heat vision to punish the two school bullies.) Entering their shared dorm room, Linda asks Lucy to comment on her new hairdo -- Lucy replies that it looks the same as before. In the script however (and in accounts of the advance screening) there is a segment with Supergirl using heat vision and a bathroom mirror to cut her blonde hair, but she forgets that she has reverted to Linda’s brunette wig when Lucy offers her critique. The second half of this interaction appears in the movie (albeit with different dialogue to the script), so fans have speculated that the laser haircut footage may exist too.

The January 1983 script also does a better job of tidying up the story’s loose ends. For example, rather than have Linda Lee just vanish without explanation, school principal (Fred?) Danvers uncovers Linda’s secret identity after she fights the energy monster, explaining why he won’t be frantically searching for her once Supergirl returns to Argo City. No accounts, rumoured or otherwise, suggest that these segments were filmed, however.

Conclusion

Even at 150 miniutes, Supergirl would still be a flawed movie. But then perhaps, as Jeannot Szwarc has noted, its intentions were never properly understood or promoted. The film isn’t trying to be the Christopher Reeve Superman, but rather a children’s fairy-tale in which the hero uses Kryptonian superpowers instead of magic. One internet commentator noted that Slater’s Supergirl is best enjoyed as a series of unconnected vignettes -- forget that the overall plot doesn’t make sense and just enjoy each scene on its own. I think there might be some truth in that analysis.

Despite its flaws, the 1984 Supergirl movie has amassed a loyal fanbase. The special effects are superb (even Richard Donner apparently admitted that the technique Szwarc used to make his Girl of Steel fly was superior to the zooming-lenses trick pioneered on Superman), the story is unapologetically lighthearted, and Helen Slater’s endearing portrayal as the Maid of Might is still considered by many to be the definitive live-action Supergirl.

Restoring the extra footage won’t overturn the movie’s shortcomings, but it will further soothe some of its inconsistencies, while sprinkling just a little more magic dust onto what its loyal fans already consider to be a charming and bewitching cinematic experience.

The movie’s heroine succeeds in her quest to find the Omegahedron and restore Argo City to its former glory -- we can but hope that one day her fans will find any missing footage, and restore her movie to its fullest length.

Timeline:

124 min (2h 04m) international theatrical release, July 1984.

105 min (1h 45m) US theatrical release, November 1984.

125 min (2h 05m) Japanese LaserDisc, late 1984.

105 min (1h 45m) initial US VHS release, 1985.

92 min (1h 32m) HBO / ABC television cut, 1987.

89 min (1h 29m) VHS release, unknown date (1991 perhaps?)

124 min (1h 04m) Anchor Bay VHS release, 1998.

138 min (2 hrs 18 mins) Director’s Cut DVD release, Summer 2000.

150 min (2 hrs 30 mins) speculated original cut, as yet undiscovered.

Sources:

imdb.com : Supergirl main page.

imdb.com : Supergirl alternative footage.

movie-censorship.com : Supergirl International vs Director’s Cut.

supermancinema.co.uk :  List of VHS and tv cuts.

maidofmight.net : Director Jeannot Szwarc interview.

Thanks to Corrine, aka supergirldiaries, for the initial inspiration.

[botanyshitposts]

mugwomps replied to your photo “the back of my laptop has been updated a lot in the past month”

Are you working on translating the Japanese papers you picked up at the conference?

not yet, i was just stacking all my new books/papers and stuff up. the japanese papers are really cool; again i haven’t translated them yet, but one is mentioning a rare japanese pitcher plant i recognize (might be reporting its discovery, it’s an older paper) and the other is talking about bladderworts judging by the pictures. i’m planning on scanning in all the papers and old stuff i got once i get home, and i’ll probably use google translate or a japanese-specific translation tool and transcribe it into text, unless anyone out there speaks japanese and is willing to help me transcribe the articles!! 

list of all the papers/miscellaneous materials i got: 

-CITES paperwork from the 70s. seems to be primarily from the Malaysian, Indonesian, and german governments. 

-issues of the carnivorous plant newsletter: volume 1, numbers 1-4; volume 3, numbers 2 and 3; and volume 45, number one (newest, from march 2016) 

-photocopies of the carnivorous plant society’s magazine....thing? i’ve never heard of this organization. it’s volume 2 from autumn 1979. i picked it up because it has a couple pages in it about darwin conducting electrical experiments on venus fly traps, which make a lot more sense under 2018 science light; there was a talk at the conference about a group that carefully measured the action potentials of venus fly traps and demonstrated that wounding the plant made the traps close, too. chemical analysis after that proved that the trapping mechanism must have evolved from a defense mechanism against bugs! but anyway lol 

-the japanese papers, newsletters from the Journal of Insectivorous Plant Society, volumes 38 issue 1 and 39 issue 4. 

-a printout of a 2007 paper from the international journal of botany, “Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes) Recorded From Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia” 

-photocopy from a book/journal publication of some kind; the paper that’s photocopied is from 1979. it’s called “Seasonal heterophylly and leaf gland features in Triphyophyllum (Dioncophyllaceae), a new carnivorous plant genus”

-a photocopy of a large article from volume 33, issue 2 of the Philippine Journal of Science, from june, 1927. it’s called “The Philippine Species of Nepenthes” 

-a REALLY hefty book/paper/whatever, i can’t tell, its virtually unlabeled except for the title: “Insectivorous Plants of Khasi and Jaintia Hills Meghalaya, India (A Preliminary Survey” and then a subtitle: “BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA” 

-a photocopy of volume 17, number 1 of the Science in New Guinea journal. the article in question is another sizeable stack of paper, published in 1991, and the title is “An Account of Nepenthes in New Guinea”. has some AWESOME illustrations. 

-a photocopy from volume 124, issue 4 of The American Naturalist. this was the only paper i like....recognized, at all, and it’s Dr. Givnish’s article on what might cause carnivorous plants to be carnivorous, and when being carnivorous becomes a bad thing. the results are pretty primitive, but it’s really notable for being the article that got botanists thinking about why a plant might be carnivorous, and the kind of energy that gets put into all that work of digesting insects- is it even worth it? it’s called “Carnivory in the Bromeliad Brocchinia Reducta, with a Cost/Benefit Model for the General Restriction of Carnivorous Plants to Sunny, Moist, Nutrient-Poor Habitats”, and was published in 1984. Givnish is still doing work with cost/benefit in carnivorous plants, btw. i’ll have to talk here about his latest work sometime soon, when i met him he told me about it. 

as for why these are all printouts/photocopies...i have no idea. again, these came from a couple boxes of paper materials one of the old hands in carnivorous plants at the conference was selling, and he had quite the assortment going on. don’t know if i’ll be able to get away with scanning in and uploading all of them, but some of them- the nepenthes paper from New Guinea, for example- might be really useful to have out there, and is more of a niche text, as it appears. 

other materials i got:

-a magazine i got from a hotel we stayed at on this trip. it’s from the Save the Redwoods League, and is...just a magazine devoted to redwoods. 

-Coast Redwood: Tree of Dreams and Fortune, by GF Beranek

-Revised Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska, by Pojar and Mackinnon

this was waaayyy more information then you asked for clarification on but part of this was me taking inventory on my own stuff so eh.