Couch Camote

The Best Web Hosting

2008-03-30T17:16:00.002+08:00

One of the greatest concerns of bloggers, especially those who own their own domains, is how reliable their web hosting providers are. Because, let's face it, a less than reliable web hosting company could mean trouble for a blogger. Even just a single day that your web host is down could cost any one blogger hundreds, or even thousand of dollars in revenue. I know, because this has already happened to me more than once. Well, not really the losing hundreds and thousands in revenue part, but just a handful of dollars because my web host is down.

So what should we do to find out which of the literally thousands of web hosting companies out there are good ones, which means they should never ever be down, simply because they have backup network capabilities in place. Some guy named Kaushal Sheth provides us some tips, which he apparently got from thorough web research. He recommends Host Monster, Host Gator and Yahoo Host as three of the best web hosting sites out there. Hmm. My web hosting provider unfortunately happens to be none of the above. Maybe I’d check them out.

Online Casino List

2008-03-10T19:09:00.000+08:00

I've found a brand new way to entertain myself during lunch breaks: trying my luck at an online casino.

But as the days go by, more and more online casinos seem to pop up, making it more difficult for us to find which one suits us best. Good thing we've got Online Casino List to help us out in this regard.

The website is a pretty useful one, as it saves online gamblers a lot of time. Instead of sorting the best online casinos by ourselves, the site already does that for us, reviewing casinos that its operators have already experienced playing at. Through their more than a dozen editors, we get to know which ones offer the biggest welcome bonuses, as well us give us a heads up on payout time, how nice the graphics are, how secure a casino is, and a whole lot more.

Now I'm practically hooked, and believe it or not, I've been winning a lot lately, due, in no small measure, to the tips the site's casino reviews offer. Try it yourself and see.

Online Slot Machines

2008-03-10T19:06:00.000+08:00

Personally, I'm not much of a poker player. Never understood baccarat either. When I do find time to gamble, I always play the simplest game there is: slot machines.

And just when you think you can only play a slot machine when you're actually in front of one, think again. With Online Slots City, you can play slot machines, well, online. No need to rush off to Vegas or wherever it is they have slot machines.

And the site has pretty useful info too, listing the best online casino slots, as well as giving us an idea what casino has the best rating, which gives the best payouts, and which slots give away the best bonuses.

Now give it a try and see for yourself how much of a good time you're going to have playing slot machines online.

Playing Blackjack Online

2008-02-03T12:14:00.000+08:00

Blackjack is my favorite card game. Even though I may not be very good at it, I still find it to be a very good way of passing the time. My big problem is that finding people to play blackjack with in person is becoming harder, what with people’s really busy schedules and everything. So I often do the next best thing: play online blackjack.

But you just can’t play online blackjack on any site, at least until you’ve researched first on what online blackjack casino is best for you. This is where Bobgambling Blackjack comes in.

It lists online blackjack casinos with the latest software and gaming features, so you get to choose the ones that are most convenient for you. Best of all, it lists the sites that offer the biggest payout, as well as signup bonuses. In case you were wondering how the people behind the site compiled its list, they did so by checking and trying out every single competitive blackjack casino online. That’s thoroughness for you.

Online Polls and Surveys

2008-02-02T07:48:00.000+08:00

Doing online polls or surveys is one of the many things that could spice up a website or a blog. I haven’t exactly gotten around to doing that myself, but when I do I will definitely go for the services being offered by Easy-poll.com.

The website’s name is self-explanatory: they basically make it easier for webmasters to set up polls or surveys. They take care of everything that an online poll calls for, from the accurate calculation of votes to hosting everything on their own servers, so webmasters don’t have to set up their own databases, or install more software for this purpose.

What’s more, all it would take is two minutes of your time to sign up, and you will have absolutely free access to spot-on polls/surveys and website components. Whether your blog is with Myspace, .Blogger, Xanga, Typepad and other blog hosting services, its surveys work well with them. Now that is one hassle-free way to make our websites more interactive, don’t you think?

Making Money Through Blogging

2008-01-30T21:52:00.000+08:00

One really great thing about blogging, apart from getting to express whatever it is you wanna express, is that you can also earn money. Of course, Internet creatures already know about that, but you wouldn’t believe the number of non-Internet surfing people who haven’t the slightest idea how a blogger could get paid for blogging.

Most of them don’t know that through blog advertising, we bloggers get paid to blog. Heck, there are even countless bloggers out there who are into it just to blog for money. With companies and businesses realizing that the Internet is one hell of a marketing area, they advertise on blogs to get that edge, which means wider exposure for the former, and more money for the latter.

There are dozens of ways for a blogger to make money online doing what he loves doing, but Smorty is one of the best ways. The tasks are easy enough, the opportunities are abundant, and the really great thing about it is that you get paid not quarterly, or monthly, but weekly! Truth to tell, a person could make a decent living just taking up on the offers from this website. Believe you me.

Fast and Easy Cash Advance and Payday Loans

2008-01-30T20:20:00.000+08:00

Life isn’t getting any easier. Prices of commodities are skyrocketing, and salaries aren’t getting any bigger. In fact, some of us should even consider ourselves extremely lucky just even for having salaries to speak of. However, there will always come a time when funds come up short, and the next payday is still eons away. And, more often than not, we resort to the very embarrassing practice of borrowing money from friends and relatives just to see us through the week.

Thankfully, there’s always another option. One is to go online and seek websites that offer cash advances that could really help us out. And finding the right sites becomes easier with Trustsource.org, which has a list of reliable cash advance and payday loans sites. What’s more, they offer reviews and rankings of these sites, all the more making it easier and faster for us to find the fastest way to get safe and secure online cash advance and payday loans.

The really great thing about this site is that it offers practically hassle-free cash advances. No documents need be faxed, and no unsafe checks need be mailed. Once your application is approved, the payday loan amount is electronically deposited directly into your checking or savings account. If that isn’t convenient, then I don’t know what is.

The Best Taps Online

2008-01-23T15:45:00.000+08:00

It’s been five years since I had any construction done in my house. I’ve been meaning to have most of my bathroom fixtures changed, since they have already been wearing out, both in performance and in looks. I want them to look great and at the same time work efficiently, but I just couldn’t find anything at our local stores that I liked.

Good thing a friend told me to check out Taps4Less.com, and all my problems were solved. The site features all sorts of Taps and showers, as well as the best bathroom fixtures that I have seen lately. Check out the site and you’ll see a wide array of bathrooms, showers, taps, bathroom accessories, bathroom suites, bathroom furniture, bathroom cabinets, baths, bath tubs, shower enclosures, shower valve and many other bathroom products to choose from.

And the best thing about this is they’re all within my construction budget. Now my wish for a really great-looking bathroom is just within my reach.

Heath Ledger Dead At 28

2008-01-23T09:44:00.000+08:00

Academy Award-nominated actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday afternoon in a New York City apartment. He was 28.

His body was discovered by a housekeeper and a masseuse, who had an appointment with the actor that afternoon, but found no one answering the actor's door. Responding paramedics performed CPR on Ledger, to no avail. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

An certain amount of pills were found near his body, although the cause of death has not yet been determined.

He leaves behind a daughter, Matilda, with former partner Michelle Williams.

What a waste.

Useful Ratings Guide To Online Casinos

2008-01-14T22:51:00.000+08:00

One really great thing about the Internet is that gamblers like me don’t have to leave our homes just to be able to indulge in our favorite pastime. With the many online casinos now up and running, big bucks are just a click away.

Still, there’s the problem of having to choose which online casino is best for us. Good thing there’s Dexcasinos, which is basically a ratings guide to the web’s best online casinos, gaming sites and poker rooms. And the operators of the site know their business, because they’re pretty experienced at online gambling, having been betting at online casino sites since 2001. They know which sites are reputable, and therefore safe and secure for us to play in. The site has a list of recommended casinos, all the more to give us the best online gambling experience.

While the site focuses on online casinos, I love the fact that it reviews poker rooms as well, because it is my favorite game. Now I don’t have to wait for friends to come over and play poker with me.

Isn’t modern technology just wonderful?

Starting An Online Store

2008-01-12T08:00:00.000+08:00

You’ve been planning to bring your business online for a long time, but you don’t know how. And considering that most programmers and designers out there that charge an arm and a leg just to set up a website for you, you’re afraid you’d spend much more than you have to just bring your business to the Internet.

Never fear, Ashop Commerce is here. Setting up your online store becomes easy as 1-2-3 with their online store building software. Ashop Commerce offers hosted shopping cart software, an affordable ecommerce software that thousands of online businesses have already made use of en route to successful stints online. And since it is web-based, it no longer requires installation, so getting started becomes so much easier.

Furthermore, you can get access to thousands of easy-to-use features, as well as the capability to accept major credit cards for your transactions, if you get the Ashop Commerce shopping cart.

As your first step to setting up your online business, check out the Ashop commerce website and sign up for the free 10-day trial. You’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain when you finally compete with some of the top websites in the world, all for a very low monthly fee.

Choosing the right online gambling spot for you

2008-01-10T18:55:00.000+08:00

There was a time when gambling for me meant having to leave my desk and show up at some casino and play the day away. But with my extremely busy work schedule, gambling will have to take the back seat. Or so I thought.

In this age of IT, gambling online is now a distinct possibility. There are literally thousands of online casinos out there. Now there lies the problem. As there are so many casinos online, how do I know which one is the best for me?

That is where x-casinos.com comes in. The site exists primarily to help out online casino gamblers the world over choose the best online casinos. Starting out is a piece of cake, because the site guides you practically every step of the way. All the popular games are available, and they even provide you with all the rules to help you become more familiar with every single one.
Furthermore, the site also provides unbiased and really useful reviews of the best online casinos, as well as gives an idea which casinos and games offer the biggest bonuses and are more profitable! How’s that for online gambling help?

Now break time for me means playtime, and I find myself having a lot of fun gambling in a casino, without having to fly to Las Vegas.

Pam Anderson Is Knocked Up

2008-01-10T18:35:00.001+08:00

Pamela Anderson is pregnant, courtesy of certified douchebag Rick Solomon. The funny thing is, she's still divorcing Solomon, and she seems hell-bent on doing so even if she's carrying his baby.

Solomon should have deposited his sperm in sex tape partner Paris Hilton instead of Pam, his wife of a few weeks. Now that would infinitely be more interesting.

Fake Hannah Montana Video

2008-01-07T13:21:00.000+08:00

Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana. Don't know her, don't give a rat's a__ about her. All I know is that whoever thought up of replacing her in the middle of a concert with some guy who looks like her simian twin brother and pass her off as Hannah herself is a genius. Seriously.

Watch for the 2:20 mark on the video below and see Disney magic at its best.

Useful Online Casino Reviews

2008-01-06T12:22:00.000+08:00

I love to gamble, but I just couldn't find the time. That's why when I do find that time to gamble, I do it in an online casino. My only problem is, there are literally thousands of them out there, and choosing the right one for me becomes quite the tasking for someone with such a busy schedule.

Fortunately, there's Pro360, an online casino review website that provides me with detailed reviews of thousands of online casinos, so I won't have to sort them out myself. Whether it's poker or craps that you want to play, the website features casinos that have all these games, and more.

Making it a lot more convenient for us is the fact that it provides rankings of online casinos, and these have proven to be quite useful for me. Through these rankings, I get to choose which casino offers bigger bonuses. Try it yourself and you'll see what I mean.

Payday Loans

2008-01-05T08:02:00.000+08:00

Salaries remain just as they are, but the price of oil, and consequently, the price of consumer goods are skyrocketing. Life, indeed is becoming more difficult every single day. Every day we find ourselves getting deeper in debt, and it's often embarrassing because the people we borrow money from are family and friends who aren't exactly swimming in money and also need help themselves.

Good thing there are other alternatives now available to people like us online, such as the payday loans offered by a site called Cash Advance Payday Loans. This site offers the best rates and speedy approvals for unsecured loans of up to $1500. And what makes this service really great is that it is capable of injecting emergency cash directly into our checking accounts, thereby assuring us of a transaction that's really safe and secure.

And there's more: there are also articles within the website that you can check out for tips in managing our finances. There are also tips there on how we can safely get payday loans as well as cash advances free of hassle.

Playing games of chance online

2008-01-03T08:42:00.000+08:00

One of the best ways to while your time away is playing games of chance at an online casino. With the thousands of online casinos out there, you are guaranteed time away from boredom, as well as the chance to win hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on the side.

But therein lies the problem: with a myriad of online casinos out there, it is quite a task to find one that’s really fun, and more importantly, safe for you to play in. There are just too many sites out there that are only in it to take hard-earned money out of your hands, nothing more.

Good thing there’s TopUsaOnlineCasinos.com to help gamblers, especially those based in the US, out. Basically, what the site has to offer is to give you an idea which online gambling destinations are safe, and at the same time fun for you. It gives really helpful and very detailed reviews of casinos, all the more making it easier for you to pick which casino to bet on.

And its top ten list of casinos is nothing less than top-rate information, as it lets you know casino rankings based on such factors as payout rate, deposit options, bonus size, customer support, the number of games available, as well as graphics and ease of use.

Speaking of ease of use, the website itself is user-friendly, with a design that puts all the basic things that you need to get started right there on the front page. No fancy graphics or links that send you to heaven-knows-where, just plain solid information to help send you on your way to gambling heaven. At least that’s where I feel it has been sending me off to every single time I play.

28 Weeks Later Trailer

2007-04-02T22:22:00.000+08:00

While everybody else is excited about the Spidermans, the Fantastic Fours and the Transformers of this movie season, what I'm really looking forward to is the sequel to that brilliant zombie film 28 Days Later.

Yes, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have collaborated once more to make 28 Weeks Later, which focuses on how London rebuilds itself, only to have the Rage virus infection flare up and threaten the country once again.

Judging from its trailer, 28 Weeks Later promises more action, more carnage, and more zombies who can win foot races in any given competition. And I definitely will be first in line when the movie opens on May 11.

Casino Royale Gamble Pays Off

2006-11-17T08:09:00.001+08:00

Say what you want about Daniel Craig. Call him fugly. Call him unworthy. Say casting him as the sixth James Bond was the biggest mistake ever committed by the Broccolis.

And you know what would be the biggest mistake you'll ever make? Not watching Casino Royale for the same flimsy reasons.

I've seen all James Bond movies, including the first Casino Royale movie which is nothing more than a silly parody of everything James Bond long before Austin Powers. And I can say that--at the risk of being burned at the stake--Daniel Craig is the best Bond ever. Yes, Craig is a better Bond than Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and that joke of a James Bond, George Lazenby (George who?).

And here's why: Daniel Craig gives us a James Bond who's brutal, calculating, raw, tough and vulnerable, cold yet at the same time warm. He bleeds. He gets cut and bruised. And he commits lapses. A number of them. In other words, his James Bond is real. More real than any of the previous 007s could ever hope to be.

So real you could feel every body slam, every fall, every whack in the face and in a more intimate part of James' anatomy in a cringe-inducing torture scene, every bullet that hits its mark in its jaw-dropping action sequences. So real that, unlike previous Bonds, this 007 appears in subsequent scenes with scars from previous battles. And this James Bond doesn't care whether his martini is shaken or stirred.

So Q and his gadgets aren't in the movie. Big deal. They make James Bond nothing more than a flesh and blood Wile E. Coyote anyway. And in Casino Royale, they're hardly missed. An excellent script, tremendous acting, deft direction and good 'ol stunt work more than make up for their absence.

And for the first time, here's a Bond that looks like he's actually going to kill you. Try staring into those deep blue eyes of Daniel Craig's while he's holding a knife and say he doesn't scare the bejesus out of you.

But the most fascinating thing about Casino Royale is that amidst its hardcore stunts worthy of Ong-Bak and Banlieue 13, it manages to squeeze in a believable love story between 007 and Treasury agent Vesper Lind, played by Kingdom of Heaven's Eva Green, who seems to be more beautiful without makeup than she is with lipstick and mascara on. James Bond has been in love before, in George Lazenby's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but this one was much better done. The love between the two is much more palpable, making the inevitable tragic end all the more heartbreaking.

Sure, Casino Royale breaks many Bond traditions. Some even argue that this James Bond is not the James Bond that they're used to seeing. I couldn't agree more. Casino Royale is a far cry from the silly, highly implausible 007 films of the past, James Bond movies filled with cartoonish villains who either want to take over the world (Ernst Stavro Blofeld, in many Bond installments) or kill everyone in it (Hugo Drax, Moonraker).

This James Bond is Hardcore, with a capital H.

And for that, I'm eternally grateful.

Here Comes The Twister

2006-11-14T08:50:00.000+08:00

If his appearance in Philippine Idol over the weekend is any indication, the Philippines finally has found its own version of Simon Cowell. Or shock jock Howard Stern, if you listen to his controversial show on FM radio.

Like a breath of fresh air, DJ Mo Twister a.k.a. Mohan Gumatay (now that explains the dire need for a moniker) has been figuratively twisting nipples of celebrities on air, from Lolit Solis to Erik Santos, with his witty and refreshingly acerbic comments on air. And on Philippine Idol last weekend, his no-holds barred approach to critiquing the finalists’ performances gave life to a mostly drab show peppered by boring and shallow and ignorant comments from judges like Pilita Corrales and Francis Magalona.

Simply put, DJ Mo single-handedly injected new life into the listing Philippine Idol. And he surely won fans and enemies alike with the way he drove untalented finalist Ken Dingle’s face into the ground.

Now here’s something to worry about. Filipinos have a healthy sense of humor, but are at the same time among the most humorless people on earth, pikon, in other words, especially when they find themselves at the receiving end of pointed jokes and comments. And our track record shows that people who air frank and straightforward comments about people in public often find themselves at the receiving end of bullets.

Now that might be a bit of a stretch, comparing Mo Twister to crusading radio commentators and reporters, but really, how poles apart do you think are showbiz, politics, and sports in this country? The lines between these fields, in this country, are not just blurred. They’re non-existent.

The Twister should remember that in the Philippines, many people are just too balat-sibuyas or mabababaw ang puwet. In short, humorless in the face of frankness.

The frightening thing is, they’re only all too willing to do something about it. And Mo should be prepared for any consequences ng kapikunan ng Pilipino.

Jiu Jitsu, Anyone?

2006-10-13T12:39:00.000+08:00

In the more than two decades that I've been watching martial arts movies, I have yet to see one that showcases the Japanese martial art of Jiu Jitsu. Sure, many fighters in the UFC have probably attended San Diego Jiu Jitsu classes and are now dominating the league, but I still have to hear of a movie about Jiu Jitsu, which includes ground fighting and grappling as fighting techniques.

A movie about this highly practical and more realistic martial art would be great.

Losing Hair Loss Battle

2006-10-13T12:26:00.000+08:00

Despite all my current woes, financial or otherwise, I still consider myself incredibly lucky: I have a beautiful and wonderful woman for a wife, a nearly stress-free job, and, at 32, a full head of hair. Most of my college buddies aren't so lucky. From the looks of it, they're bound to lose their battle with hair loss.

Hair loss set in as early as their late 20's, and some are even as bald as Sean Connery is now. If only they had access to the New Jersey hair loss treatments being offered by hair doctors there...

Dreaming, I'm Always Dreaming...

2006-10-13T11:58:00.000+08:00

Have you ever had a dream that seemed so real you had difficulty telling whether you're still sleeping or already wide awake? I've had that experience countless times. It may sound like The Matrix, but it's true.

Just like any other guy, me and my friend Neil Crespi are quite interested in the subject of dreams. There's tons of literature about it, and Neil has found quite a list. Try checking any of them out.
Some might just give you answers. I sure did find some.

Stock Market Idiot

2006-10-13T11:49:00.000+08:00

I've always been fascinated by the stock market. The problem is, I have no idea how it works. All I see are images of brokers on CNN or Fox talking on three or more telephones at the same time, and that's pretty much the extent of what I understand about it. I'd probably need people like Monness, Crespi & Hardt to "get it".

But then again, why should I take an interest in something that I couldn't really dabble in?

When Digging Up Hollywood News...

2006-10-13T11:22:00.000+08:00

Whenever I write about celebrity news or updates about goings-on in Hollywood, I always see to it that I drop by the website maintained by my friend Neil Crespi. His site sure has the goods, as well as the dirt, on our favorite and not-so-favorite stars covered.

Celebrity liposuction

2006-09-09T15:27:00.000+08:00

It is a fact that many celebrities are now opting to go for a New Jersey liposuction to at least get the upper hand in the neverending battle of the bulge. Janet Jackson, Cher, Ricki Lake...the list is endless. In fact, I don't seriously believe there's one Hollywood figure out there who hasn't had or had at least considered cosmetic surgery.

Well, maybe not Jessica Alba. She is just naturally hot. But give her a decade or two and we'll see...

Many Hollywood Stars Look Old

2006-09-09T15:22:00.000+08:00

Many Hollywood stars look their best when they appear in public, especially at the red carpet of awards shows. But papparazzi shots of them going about their personal business sans glamorous getup and makeup tend to show how ordinary looking most of these stars are. Some even look downright horrible, especially actresses who look way older than they really are. Just look at the countless papparazzi shots of actresses like Kirsten Dunst and Pamela Anderson and you'll see what I mean.

The funny thing is, they could well afford to go for an injection of Botox Los Angeles plastic surgery practices are offering. It's beyond me why these actresses won't go for improving how they look when their looks are supposedly their meal ticket.

Belly-up

2006-09-09T15:05:00.000+08:00

When John Travolta was still starting out, he was basically a skinny kind of guy. A great dancer, he buffed up for the sequel to Staying Alive, the sequel to his monumental hit of a debut, Saturday Night Fever.

Have you seen John Travolta lately? The formerly slim and trim John has been involved in battles of the bulge for the past twenty years or so. And it looks like he's losing.

Of course, you can't really blame the guy. It's just nature taking its course, John being in his 50's. But his protruding gut isn't really much of a problem. With all his fame and fortune, there's no doubt he can well afford to go for a San Jose tummy tuck, which is probably one of the quickest solutions for big bellies.

Now if only I could afford one...

Stingray ends Steve Irwin’s Crocodile Hunting Days

2006-09-05T08:48:00.000+08:00

After more than a decade of dancing with death as he handled countless dangerous creatures, Steve Irwin, known the world over as The Crocodile Hunter, was killed Monday by a creature statistically less dangerous than the thousands of crocodiles and venomous snakes that have taken a bite at him in the past.

Time.com reports that a stingray killed Irwin while shooting a segment for a special called “Ocean’s Deadliest”. A colleague said Irwin swam too close to a startled stingray which instinctively whipped its tail, which has a poisonous barb, and pierced The Crocodile Hunter’s heart.

Irwin’s death is a great loss. One of the most popular, enthusiastic and hardcore wildlife conservationists of all time, The Crocodile Hunter, his daredevil feats, his think Australian accent and his trademark catchword, Crikey!, will surely be missed. But news of his death surely isn’t a shocking or even a surprising one.

With the way he dealt with the world’s most dangerous animals, it’s even a wonder that Irwin reached the age of 44. As he himself claims, he’s been bitten a thousand times. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that with his line of work, death is no longer a question of how, but when.

Irwin died doing what he loves. It’s a cliché, I know, but nothing best describes what happened to the guy. For all intents and purposes, he died a good death. And I’m pretty sure The Crocodile Hunter won’t have it any other way.

A Fallen Angel

2006-08-29T17:23:00.000+08:00

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the three original Charlie’s Angels give an emotional—and kilometric—tribute to the late super TV producer Aaron Spelling during last night’s Emmy Awards. I remember watching the series as a child, even though I never really understood back then what the show was all about in the first place.

Jaclyn Smith is still damn gorgeous, and Kate Jackson has aged rather gracefully. I only wish the same could be said of the supposed bombshell of the series, Farrah Fawcett. She looked rather old, and practically had little or none of the appeal that made her the inspiration for many a man’s wildest fantasies in the 70’s.

I guess a trip to the friendly neighborhood cosmetic surgeon is in order for the ex-Angel.

Tattoo Blues

2006-08-29T17:22:00.000+08:00

I’ve been wanting to get a tattoo ever since I was a teenager. After all, if supposedly pampered Hollywood types like Johnny Depp could do it, then why can’t I?

But the truth is, Captain Jack Sparrow is much tougher than I am. Honestly, I’m a wimp when it comes to needles. Just even thinking about getting some artist to make my skin his canvas for his beautiful tattoo designs gets chills running down my spine.

Still, it can’t be denied that these tattoo artists indeed deserve to be called artists. Their tattoo designs are unbelievably great, and I could only stare in awe while mustering enough courage to finally get one of my own. Just give me a year or two and I’d probably be brave enough to take those needles like a man.

No “Little Man” For Me…

2006-08-29T17:20:00.000+08:00

After shelling out hard-earned bucks to watch the movie “White Chicks”, I’ve decided right there and then not to watch any more of the crap that the Wayans Brothers foist on the unsuspecting but willfully paying public.

That’s why their latest project called “Little Man” is never gonna fool me anymore. I’ve seen the trailer, I’ve heard from friends who’ve seen the movie and the verdict is clear: This movie sucks.

Personally, I don’t hate the Wayans brothers. My friend does, just like he hints at in his Neil Crespi MySpace profile, but I don’t. In fact, I think the Wayans family is a funny bunch, but the material they use for their films are just total crap that seeing them act it out on screen makes me cringe. If only they could write better…

My friend’s McPheever

2006-08-29T17:17:00.000+08:00

A friend of mine who now works for a San Diego web design firm is a big fan of Katharine McPhee, this year’s American Idol runner-up. Actually, he thought he’s in love with the gorgeous singer—then just recently found out she already has a boyfriend.

But what really got his gall is that McPhee’s boyfriend—a bloke who goes by the name Nick Cokas—is already 41 years old, 19 years older than my friend’s American Idol.

That’s the way it is in Hollywood nowadays, buddy. I mean, check out Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. Cher and whatever 12-year-old kid she’s dating now. May-December affairs seem to be the norm in celebrity circles nowadays.

Anyway, he’s still got the McPheever, middle-aged boyfriend or not, and I don’t blame him.

They’re used to pain on court, but…

2006-08-29T15:21:00.000+08:00

Almost everyone in the NBA nowadays sports a tattoo or tattoos of every color and design imaginable. From Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James, these superstars get these tattoos for reasons that range from intimidation purposes to just plain aesthetics.

But pretty soon, these guys would tend to get tired of their tattoos, in much the same way they get tired of their wives and pick up somebody younger and prettier while on the road. Most tattoo removal methods currently available, however, are quite painful.

These NBA superstars are probably used to pain and inflicting pain on court, but I don’t think they’d want to go through that when having their tattoos removed. Chances are, they’ll want some wrecking balm, a painless and inexpensive way of successfully removing tattoos within a couple of weeks. Check out the link to find out more.

Missing Time

2006-08-29T14:18:00.001+08:00

Nope, I wasn't kidnapped by aliens, although I sometimes wish that were the case so I could easily explain away the fact that it's been quite sometime since this blog got updated. I didn't go on vacation either, although I wish that were the case so my mind would be pregnant with dozens of fresh writing ideas. And I didn't get sick, although that would have been the most convenient but at the same time most physically inconvenient excuse of all for not having written anything here in weeks.

The truth is, the only excuse I have for not having updated this blog for a long time is that I've been busy. Not only at work, but also at home. I'd rather not go into the gory details, but this blog had to take the backseat so I could focus all my energies on my life's affairs.

Now that all of them have been straightened out, expect the Couch Camote to get on with this blog's life, much like the way he has gotten on with his.

Superman Out Of The Closet?

2006-06-03T10:53:00.000+08:00

Just when everybody's getting excited about the big-screen return of Superman from wherever it is he had gone off to, discussions about this particular Superman's sexual orientation have practically exploded all over the Internet.

Yes folks. People are now debating whether Brandon Routh's Superman is gay.

And all that apparently started out with the poster to the left.

It's funny how people manage to see so many things in something as inane as a movie poster. The comments on this blog are quite entertaining. Take special note of the ones referring to the State of Florida, that appendage-shaped thingie just a few inches to the right of Superman's boots.

Superman Returns director Bryan Singer is openly gay, but I don't think he'll turn the Man of Steel into the X-Man of Steel (pardon the pun).

But curiously enough, there really is something about the poster that's a bit, uh, gay. I'm not a homophobe, and in fact count two flaming homosexuals among my closest friends, but the pose, the fingers, the now-female boxer shorts-like external underwear....oh well.

And this classic Superman comic book cover doesn't help one bit.

Before They Were Stars

2006-05-31T07:59:00.000+08:00

It goes without saying that before the biggest names in showbiz were stars, they were doing something else, something more down-to-earth. Rod Stewart, for example, was a gravedigger. Harrison Ford, meanwhile, did odd carpentry jobs. Jon Bon Jovi once worked as a janitor at a recording studio.

And, more often than not, many stars started out in showbiz appearing in commercials, sci-fi films and music videos that are crappy at best. Some have guested and done interviews in different TV shows, as shown in the above video.

Here’s a compilation of other clips showing your favorite stars long before they got their big break. Many of them started out very young, and are just too cute for words, Catherine Zeta-Jones in particular.

Here’s another. And another one for good measure.

Enjoy.

“I Wanna Be A Producer…”

2006-05-30T12:49:00.000+08:00

I’ve heard so much about The Producers, that Broadway musical by comic genius Mel Brooks, which is based on his Oscar-winning (for screenplay) 1968 film of the same name. I know for a fact that the 2001 musical was a veritable juggernaut at the Tony Awards, being the most nominated musical ever, with 15, as well as the winningest, with 12. It also happens to be the biggest hit in Broadway history.

I finally got to watch the 2005 film version of the Broadway musical on DVD over the weekend.

As a film, The Producers is definitely no Chicago. Mel Brooks’ material didn’t get the same level of translation from stage to screen that Rob Marshall achieved for his Oscar-winning film. Suffice it to say that the 2005 film was too stagey, as if you were watching an actual performance on stage that was recorded on film and set to DVD. And what may work well onstage doesn’t necessarily mean it will do the same on film.

The performances were superlative, although many people might get turned off by Nathan Lane’s and Matthew Broderick’s exaggerated portrayals, which, by the way, is actually necessary for stage performers to avoid being “eaten up” by the stage and sets. But Will Ferrell is such a delightful surprise here, putting his Saturday Night Live-honed skills to good use in this movie.

Reviews of the film, however, are generally mean, with some calling it “unfunny” and totally “unnecessary”.

Honestly, I don’t give a rat’s ass. I haven’t seen the 1968 original, nor am I capable of buying a round trip ticket to New York and catch the musical on Broadway at scalper’s prices. The fact remains that the material—doesn’t matter if it’s the 1968 straight-up comedy film, the 2001 Broadway musical or the 2005 movie musical—is so funny that tears literally streamed down my cheeks from laughing so hard. That’s the first time that has ever happened to me, despite having seen some of the funniest films of all time like Airplane! and Monty Python’s Life of Brian (more on this one in future posts)

My only real regret about The Producers is that it took me this long to see something so original and funny.

But if you don’t find the sight and sound of a gaily (hint, hint) singing and dancing Adolf Hitler funny, then go skip this one.

Those Crappy AI Finale Songs

2006-05-25T10:55:00.000+08:00

No surprises in the outcome of American Idol 5.

As boldly predicted by Simon Cowell, Taylor Hicks became only the second male to be crowned as the American Idol.

So I won’t write much about how the finale and results show turned out. Countless sites carry that. What I’m aching to rant about is the standard American Idol practice of making the final two sing songs as schmaltzy and ultimately crappy as the ones they sang last night.

These songs—presumably composed by second-rate songwriters getting minimum wage from the Fox Network—are probably the reason why Bo Bice didn’t win last year. He sang his first “single”—the title of which I don’t care to remember—during the AI 4 finale and delivered what is probably his worst-ever performance that season. Country singer Carrie Underwood, in contrast, was typically at home with her “single”—as country music nowadays is filled with pretty much the same crap—and eventually won.

This year, it was Katharine McPhee’s turn to fall flat on her face. Her “single” made me cringe while she was performing. It apparently had the same effect on her too, as she practically fell apart vocally while singing that song. Luckily for Taylor, he has this natural ability to turn even the crappiest of songs into something remotely engaging, which kinda explains why he is this year’s American Idol.

But if these songs are any indication of Taylor’s eventual and mandatory AI-produced album, I’d say Katharine, Elliott, Chris and all those who bit the dust are the lucky ones.

The Laughable Da Vinci Code Film

2006-05-25T08:28:00.000+08:00

So the verdict on The Da Vinci Code film is out.

It sucks. Big Time.

This point was driven all the way home when a really deep slumber was harshly interrupted by the sound of my cell phone ringing. A friend has called me up in the middle of the night--literally since it was 12 am--and begged me to listen to him. I did, and found myself at the receiving end of a 20-minute barrage of invectives and profanities which apparently are appropriate descriptions of the movie itself.

Honestly, I was kinda looking forward to the movie, because I wanted to see how director Ron Howard would treat the material, which wasn't really much to begin with.

Then I saw news articles about audience reactions to the film on the net. Not film reviews, which could be extremely snobbish, but news stories about audience reactions.

And they were just as nasty nevertheless.

The tone of the news items were similar: at its first screening at the Cannes Film Festival, the film was met, not with the usual walkouts, catcalls or hisses customary for really bad movies, but with laughter.

The last time I checked, The Da Vinci Code is not a comedy. As a matter of fact, there is hardly any humor in both the book and the movie at all. So why the laughter? Because it was not funny; It was laughable.

That was it for me. I didn't watch the movie. Not that they need my sixty pesos anyway. As of this writing, the movie has already grossed over $200 million worldwide.

The Greatest Singer The World Has Never Known

2006-05-20T13:49:00.000+08:00

When Simon Cowell picked “Over The Rainbow” for Katharine McPhee to sing last week on American Idol, I thought, “If she sings Eva Cassidy’s version, that’ll be great.” She didn’t, but she drew praise nevertheless.

Back up a bit, you might say. Eva who?

Eva Cassidy, in my own opinion, is the greatest singer the world has never known.

If not for my friend Django, who brought Eva’s CD “Songbird” back home from the U.S. in 2001, I wouldn’t have heard about this diminutive singer from the D.C. area.

I could sing all her praises here, but I’d probably take up all the space I’ve got in this blog. Besides, there’s no way I could write about Eva’s life and music as beautifully as Richard Harrington of The Washington Post has. The title of this article alone, which was published shortly after her death, gave me goose bumps.

Oh, did I mention she died of cancer in 1996, at the age of 33?

Way To Go, Elliott

2006-05-18T12:36:00.000+08:00

The American Idol underdog is out.

Elliott Yamin, whom I consider to be the best male vocalist to ever appear on the show, was booted off AI Wednesday.

Although I’ve been secretly hoping he’d win the competition, his elimination seems fair, as he did, sadly, deliver sub-par performances last Tuesday night. He hit one too many flats and sharps on all three songs, and his nervousness was so apparent you could practically reach out and touch it. The smashing turns of the luscious Katharine McPhee and the epileptic Taylor Hicks didn’t help his cause either.

Nevertheless, Elliott’s exit doesn’t change the fact that he is one tremendous talent, and a pretty down-to-earth one at that. Armed with a soulful and a really sincere singing voice, he got to where he is despite a number of obstacles that would have prompted lesser men to just roll over and die.

He’s got Type 1 diabetes, the worst sort; Unbelievably for a singer of his caliber, he’s 90% deaf in his right ear; And least important to me but probably the one thing that seems to matter the most to many actual AI voters, he isn’t much to look at.

And yet he got to the top three, not because voters pitied him (as many say rather unfairly) but because he really is a damn good singer. That fact has already been established early in the season, when Elliott, with the help of judge Randy Jackson, weathered one of the hissy and bitchy Brittenum twins and made him look like a flaming idiot.

If only for that, I take my hat off to the “funky white boy” from Richmond, Virginia. Way to go Elliott. We’ll be looking forward to your album.

As for the finale, see who Simon Cowell thinks would be the next American Idol.

Honestly, who likes Chris Tucker?

2006-05-18T06:59:00.000+08:00

New Line Cinema, apparently.

The studio that gave us the Rush Hour films will reportedly pay Chris Tucker $25 million to appear in Rush Hour 3. That makes him the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, along with Hitch star Will Smith.

New Line also offered the other half of the Rush Hour cops, Jackie Chan, $15 million for the third installment.

What's wrong with this picture?

Can anyone honestly say he or she watched the Rush Hour movies because of a shrieking Chris Tucker? Didn’t think so. The series could survive without Chris Tucker, who, incidentally, only has the two Rush Hour films as hits to his credit. Any loudmouth comedian (loads of them in Hollywood) could take his place. But pull Jackie Chan out of that movie and all you’d be left with is another so-so comedy with an annoying African-American comedian (think Chris Rock, and all the crap he’s given us all these years) in the lead.

So why is the legendary Jackie Chan not paid the same, or at least something close to the amount they’re giving the one-dimesional Chris Tucker? Your guess is as good as mine.

So much for the land of equal opportunity…

The World's Most Powerful Woman?

2006-05-15T07:45:00.000+08:00

She's African-American. And no, it's not U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. She's just as much a puppet of the corporate powers-that-be as her clueless boss is. This woman instead has bigwigs of the corporate world kowtow to her on national TV, and forces established authors to publicly admit to falsehoods and exaggerations in their supposed memoirs.

She's none other than the divine Miss Winfrey, Oprah.

L'Oreal Taps Diane Keaton

2006-05-13T08:30:00.000+08:00

This is a case of age not really mattering a whit.

While other beauty product lines fall over each other signing up young and incredibly gorgeous models for their ad campaigns, L'Oreal Paris has appointed 60-year old Diane Keaton as spokesperson.

The Oscar-winning actress has always been an epitome of beauty, advanced age notwithstanding. I first saw her in The Godfather movies, where she played Michael Corleone's long-suffering wife, Kay Adams. She was pretty in a geeky kind of way then.

More than thirty years after the first Godfather, she decided to take her clothes off and get down and dirty with Jack Nicholson, another soon-to-be-geriatric, in Something's Gotta Give. Seeing her in this film made me momentarily forget that she could have easily been my grandmother. Despite the presence of wrinkles and crow's feet (proof that she's all natural), she's got the body and the rack that would make youngsters like Kirsten Dunst green with envy. You wouldn't believe she's already spent six decades walking this planet.

No wonder Keannu Reeves' doctor-character pursues her so persistently throughout the film.

Appropriately enough, the L'Oreal products she'll be endorsing are those targeted towards women her age.

As if she needs any of that stuff.

The X-Men's Last Stand

2006-05-12T14:02:00.000+08:00

With all the hype surrounding the The Da Vinci Code movie, I would have forgotten that there is a third X-Men movie up for release if not for Rebecca Romijn's "I'm freaking out!" appearance on the American Idol results show that saw Chris Daughtry get the boot.

The gorgeous Romijn, who plays shape-shifter Mystique, shamelessly plugged X-Men: The Last Stand, which will premiere on May 26, a full week after the movie based on Dan Brown's bestseller opens.

Clips from the latest and supposedly last installment of the mutant saga are all over the Internet. Here's one. There's also a seven-minute clip at the official website of Dell.

What can I say?Well, I'm pretty much revved-up about this one. The Sentinels, Beast, Angel, Juggernaut and Shadowcat all make their debuts in this film. Plus, the war that the first two X-Men movies keeps on hinting about seems to be finally here. Best of all, mutants of all shapes, sizes and colors make up Magneto's "army", promising a visual effects extravaganza.

Many were disappointed when Bryan Singer left the series to do Superman Returns, and left the directing chores to Rush Hour director Brett Ratner. Many film snobs have already crucified Ratner long before he started work on the movie, and I think that seems a bit unfair. Admittedly, the movies he's known for are not exactly the kind that would stimulate brain cells. In fact, his movies seem to deaden them. But only a cinematic idiot of a director (think Ed Wood), which Ratner is most definitely not, could mess up material as rich as that of the X-Men.

Then again, I fear that Ratner has taken a lot of liberties with the X-Men mythos. But in today's world of multi-media crossovers, it is already expected that some story details considered to be canon are going to be distorted, ommitted, or downright reversed.

Luckily for us in the Philippines, we'll be among the first to see if Ratner delivers. The movie opens here on May 24, two full days ahead of the scheduled U.S. release.

American Idol Shocker…

2006-05-11T14:12:00.000+08:00

..at least that’s how most news reports described Chris Daughtry’s elimination from American Idol Wednesday night. Apparently, it came as a shock to Chris himself too.

I’ve already said in my AI post last week that any of the final five deserve to win the competition. That’s why I hardly consider Chris’s exit shocking. AI, after all, is a popularity contest first, singing competition second. Staying on in the finals hinges not on whether the finalists’ performance was “the bomb” or simply just bombed, but on whether or not AI’s millions of viewers still want you filling up their TV screens in future telecasts. It’s as simple as that. If you honestly believe AI is a talent show in the real sense of the words, then how come Kellie Pickler made it to the Top 6, while Mandisa, who's one hell of singer, got cut rather early?

In fairness to Chris, he did relatively well on Elvis night, while bombshell Katharine McPhee fared a lot worse. He can sing, there’s no doubt about that, but he just sorely lacked the charm that made Bo Bice stand out last season. Plus, there’s just something annoying about a supposedly hard rocker in the Creed or Nickelback mold appearing on something as mainstream as American Idol. For many rockers, Chris was nothing more than a poseur.

Now that it’s down to three, I’d still say the same thing: Taylor, Elliott and Katharine all deserve to become the next American Idol. But they’ll have to do more than deliver smashing performances if they want to be it.

I don’t know about the two guys, but there’s something Katharine can do to sway the votes her way: Show more skin, most especially cleavage. I know it’s a bit crude, but she has done that in the past, and I’m certain it has helped her escape elimination throughout the competition. If she does that next week, she’ll have a lock on the horny male vote, which is probably roughly half of American Idol’s voting population.

If it’s any indication, she was all wrapped up when she sang “All Shook Up” on Elvis night, then found herself in the bottom two with Chris.

The Da Vinci Code Blues

2006-05-11T10:06:00.000+08:00

What’s all this noise about the upcoming The Da Vinci Code movie? Almost every news website I’ve visited in the last few weeks featured something about the latest Tom Hanks vehicle, from calls for boycotts to an outright ban. What’s the big deal?

Oh, the thing about Jesus and Mary Magdalene and the Catholic Church. Right. Now I remember.

I read Dan Brown’s best-selling novel last year in less than two days. I found it to be highly entertaining. In fairness, he does spin a yarn so tight you just couldn’t put it down.

But that’s all there is to Dan Brown and his controversial book. Entertaining? Definitely. Enlightening? You gotta be kidding me.

I’m not Catholic. In fact, I’m not even much of a religious person at all. So I’m bashing Dan Brown not because his prose has deeply offended my religious sensibilities, but because he is a popcorn fiction writer presenting all historical “information” in his fictional book as fact. In short, I’d like to see Dan Brown flogged because he’s one, big, conceited p____k (fill in the blanks however you like).

If Dan Brown is an historian as he apparently claims to be, then I’m a quantum physicist. Criticisms of The Da Vinci Code are coming from just about every direction because the book is mainly replete with inaccuracies and outright mistakes, most of which pointed out by real historians and scholars who have spent their entire lives searching for historical truth.

According to critics, the book’s title itself is a prime showcase of Dan Brown’s pretensions to historical scholarship. Real historians and scholars, critics say, have always referred to the great Italian artist as “Leonardo”, because “Da Vinci” translates to “from Vinci”, which happens to be Leonardo’s father’s hometown. Simply put, “Leonardo Da Vinci” means “Leonardo from Vinci” in English. Unfortunately, this error, which a real historian would probably not make, echoes all throughout the book.

If I had Dan Brown’s historical acumen, I’d probably address my friend Carla, an Iligan native, as “from Iligan” in all my e-mails to her. (“What’s up, from Iligan? How’s married life treating you?)

But then again, if I had Dan Brown’s historical and writing savvy, I’d probably not be asking neighbors to tell creditors who come to collect at my house that I don’t live there anymore. I’d be richer than King Midas, just like Dan Brown is. Selling forty million copies and counting means serious moolah.

Dan Brown’s critics, the Catholic Church mainly, can boycott the book and the movie all they want. They can scream all their anti-Dan Brown sentiments until their collective jugular veins pop. Not that they matter anyway. The author would still walk laughing, stomach clutched with both hands, all the way to the bank.

PS3 Launch in November

2006-05-10T14:10:00.000+08:00

After months of silence, Sony Corporation has announced that its latest video game console, the Playstation 3, will finally be launched in November this year.

The PS3, which will be released in two versions, will be launched in Japan on November 11, while North America, Australia, Asia and Europe will have to wait until November 17.

Sadly for guys like me, the closest I’d probably get to one of those things is through shop display windows. You see, its launch price in the U.S. will be pegged at $499 for the 20-gigabyte version, while the high-end, 60-gigabyte one will cost a hundred dollars more at $599.

At 52 pesos to the almighty dollar, the 20-gig PS3 will set Pinoy buyers back by P25,948, and by P31,148 for the 60-gig version. Enough to pay six months’ rent.

Truth be told, the Sony Playstation 3 is the most expensive video game console ever produced. It is much, much costlier that the current top-of-the-line console, Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

So which is the better choice: PS3 or Xbox 360?

None. I’d take the six-month rent anytime. I’m perfectly happy with my trusty Game & Watch anyway.

Robbery At The PPS Grand Showdown Last Sunday…

2006-05-09T10:46:00.001+08:00

…and it didn’t happen at the Araneta Coliseum’s parking lot. It took place right on stage, in front of a TV audience of millions, when host Regine Velasquez’s announced that Gerald Santos is the winner of Pinoy Pop Superstar Season 2.

What really ticks me off is that he won over Aicelle Santos, who’s probably, from a musical standpoint, one of the most versatile finalists ever in any Pinoy singing contest, past or present.

I’ve heard from friends that they switched their TVs off as soon as the first round ended, believing that Aicelle will win hands down; the other finalists were simply just no competition for her. Imagine their eyes almost popping out of their sockets as soon as I broke the news to them yesterday morning.

During the Final Two showdown, Gerald and Aicelle both sang a Danny Tan composition entitled “Close To Where You Are”. Throughout Gerald’s performance, I kept on wondering how someone who’s so weak vocally ever reached the finals. In a performance that was so devoid of life, you could barely hear him sing over the band. As a matter of fact, I think he flubbed one whole stanza, drowned by all the instruments accompanying his song.

Aicelle’s turn was accompanied by the same decibel level, but her lovely alto just soared above the rather loud band, and made the song sound like an already established hit. Despite being an alto in a country whose general idea of a great singer is someone who can out-scream everybody else (watch all those Sunday variety shows and you’ll see what I mean), Aicelle hit the highest notes of the rather complexly-arranged contest piece with the greatest of ease, without resorting to the screaming and shrieking tactics Regine et.al. are known for.

Yet she lost. Why?

It just boggles the mind that despite Regine’s repetitive declarations that any special awards and rankings Gerald and Aicelle got before the Final Two showdown don’t count, that the decision who wins would be based solely on their rendition of the final song, Gerald still came out ahead, pathetic performance notwithstanding. Going into the finals, Gerald had always been a crowd favorite, simply because he is a likeable, down-to-earth kid, that his singing is as simple as can be, and that he has the benefit of a sob story, just like almost everyone who joins any talent search nowadays.

The judges succumbed to the classic “rooting for the underdog” mentality. That’s what did Aicelle in. Aicelle was clearly a cut apart from the rest, and that has proven to be her undoing. Being extremely talented in this part of the world has become a liability. Lea Salonga would know a thing or two about that, since she had to prove herself in a much bigger stage before she could win any sort of following here.

Gerald’s win just inspired me to audition for the upcoming Philippine Idol on ABC-5. I can carry a tune, just like Gerald. And I’ll have a sob story, just like Gerald. However, that sob story would be of the most pitiable sort, something along the lines of “my father put out his cigarette butts on my butt” or “my uncle made me do the “Body Language” dance while his drinking buddies watched”. With that, becoming the very first “Philippine Idol” would be a cinch. After all, winners will be decided solely by the Pinoy popular vote, the same Pinoy popular vote that put Erap in power and drove GMA to conspire with Garci and steal the presidency from Fernando Poe Jr.

There’s just no justice in the world.

Superman’s Back!!!

2006-05-06T15:19:00.000+08:00

While writing this post, I’m still trying to shake off the goose bumps watching the Superman Returns trailer just gave me.

I’ve always said the choice of Bryan Singer as director was perfect, and that trailer just nailed it.

I don’t care much about Brandon Routh, who’s got really big tights, boots, cape and external underwear (now there’s an oxymoron) to fill. He’s a newbie, and whether or not he does a halfway decent job as heir to the late Christopher Reeve doesn’t really matter. They can always replace him if he stinks.

Nor do I give a hoot about Kate Bosworth’s Lois Lane; Teri Hatcher will always be the one for me. All I care about is how well Singer treats the material. And judging from the trailer, I think he’s done a pretty good job at it, just like he did with the X-Men.

There’s no doubt this latest movie about the Last Son of Krypton is going to be a monster hit. After all, it’s been almost two decades since the last one.

Speaking of the last Superman movie, I watched it on DVD a few months ago and saw how much it sucked, from the rather corny plot to the choice of villain (honestly, who’d take a villain who’s got Willie Aames’ hair seriously?). At least they got someone with Kevin Spacey’s stature to play Mr. Clean aka Lex Luthor. Oh, I’m also looking forward to his performance too.

Come to think of it, after watching all four movies again on DVD, I realized the Christopher Reeve series was just plain silly. There’s no question, however, about its impact on our lives, as many of us were still kids when we first saw Superman in all his red, blue and yellow (gold?) glory. I remember bugging my mom for a Superman costume, and instead getting one with an inverted “S”. I loved it anyway, not realizing I looked more like Bizarro than the Man of Steel.

Hopefully, Singer does for the Superman franchise what Christopher Nolan, another young directing turk of the dark and brooding persuasion, did for The Dark Knight in Batman Begins.

We still have to wait more than a month though…

Paris Out....Finally

2006-05-05T08:50:00.000+08:00

For someone who’s been consistently on the brink of elimination for the past few weeks, it must have been quite a relief for Paris Bennett to be finally booted off American Idol last Wednesday and be done with it.

And it showed.

While previous results shows showed Paris weeping like a child (wait a sec….. she is a child!) for each eliminated contestant, an unbelievably composed 17-year old girl was onstage Wednesday, beaming and singing her heart out moments after Ryan Seacrest told her she got the lowest number of votes.

Must have been the weeks of practice she got from being constantly at the bottom of the standings.

Oh well. I fell in love with Paris right on her first audition, and I still think she’s one of the best vocalists in the competition, and could have become the 5th American Idol. But with this year’s Top 5 seeming like the best Top 5 AI has ever had, Paris’ elimination leaves four equally deserving finalists, and I’ve got no problem with that.

In any case, Paris, with her youth and tremendous talent, will definitely have a singing career ahead of her. For a music industry that gave recording contracts to non-talents such as Ashlee Simpson and countless boy bands, signing up real talents like Paris could serve as a partial atonement for the musical atrocities it has committed against the listening public.

Camote Ka!

2006-05-05T07:41:00.000+08:00

“CAMOTE KA!”, my gramps used to bark at 10-year-old me every time I got caught dodging chores. A pretty odd expression, I know, but I often found myself at the receiving end of these words, especially when he catches me perched on my dad’s couch, staring at our four-legged black and white TV, and immersing myself in the world of Bert and Ernie, Voltes V and Superfriends all day long.

A lot has changed since then. My lolo has passed on, my color TV’s a double amputee just like everyone else’s, and the Wonder Twins’ powers have long been deactivated.

But one thing remains: I am still, and will always be, a couch potato, or in my case, a Couch Camote. Shows like Lost, 24, Smallville, Alias, Desperate Housewives, Pinoy Big Brother, American Idol, make sure that this camote’s butt will always be buried deep within my couch’s not-so-fertile soil.

You can expect Couch Camote to post info on just about anything related to the above shows. However, music, films, books, videogames or anything that compels us to keep our couches warm for a long period of time are also fair game as far as this blog is concerned. Even stories about our favorite actors and actresses, as well as celebrities we’d love to slug will also see the light of day here.

Welcome to the world of the Couch Camote.