Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Forrest Gump (1994)

Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."  - Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks)
Forrest Gump is about a man which is not so intelligent, but accidentally been present at many historic events. The movie comes so very amazing that at the end makes everyone in silence.

The movie starts when he discusses his level of intelligence with a stranger while waiting for a bus. He tells about his life and being accidentally involving in many American historic events entirely without trying. Forrest teaches Elvis Presley to dance, become a football star, meet with John F. Kennedy, become a war hero in Vietnam, speaks in a anti-war rally defeats the National team of China in Ping Pong, discovers the break-in in Water dance, opens a Shrimping business, become an investor in Apple Company, and the first man who run across the United States of America, but Forrest never forgets his one true love Jenny (Robin Wright), Forrest Gump involve in many historical events in America but the most remarkable in film is the ending, when he became a father.

Forrest Gump - Movie Poster

Forrest Gump is unpredictable, it is not a typical movie about a Zero becoming a Hero, or man struggles to be rich, He is not funny, or romantic. It is not a normal movie about a disabled person figures what is the reason on why he lives.

Critics considered Forrest Gump as one of the best movies of all time, that most of the people seen it agrees. The Film will make you cry, make you laugh, there is moment that stun you into silence and there is events that make you cheer.

Winston Groom wrote the 1896 novel, Forrest Gump, an optimist in the face of strong opposing evidence, despite of being “stupid” he became a character that everyone will love and remembered. It is Robert Zemeckis, the director places Forrest in different historical event, and it is Tom Hanks who brings humour and humanity in the character “Forrest Gump”. Those 3 make the film really amazing. 
Humour, sadness, action, drama and romantic film rolled into one. This is so much than a good film. Forrest is everything we admire in an American Character, and show irony that nobody can stand around him for long.

Forrest Gump won 6 Academy awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director. They have also other 38 wins and 44 nominations in other Major Film Festivals around the world. Have a total gross $670 million dollars all over the world. It also ranked #18 in Top 250 Films of all time. The film is definitely a win-win and as Forrest’s Mama always said you will never know what you can get.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - Review

“Prison is no fairy-tale world. No one said who did it, but we all knew. Things went on like that for awhile - prison life consists of routine, and then more routine.” – Red (Morgan freeman)

The Shawshank Redemption tells us about Friendship, Hope and Loyalty in a place that no one trusts anyone, as we know, Prisons.




Starred by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman as Andy and Red. A friendship develop inside a place that you cannot trust no one. Between Red (Morgan Freeman), who has been inside the walls for a very long Time, and Andy (Tim Robbins), who just made his first step inside the walls blotting all memories in the outside world.

Red (Freeman) doesn’t care much on Andy (Robbins) at all at first, He even bet that Andy is the one who will cry first in the first night in Prison, but over time, they become the best of friends, This is one of the Strengths of the film, Unlike other movies about Lovers, Heroes and Sidekicks, Shawshank Redemption show true and unconditional love between two best friends inside the high walls of the Shawshank Prison.

This is not the Typical “Prison-Drama” movie. It is not about violent, riots and melodrama. The Story is base on the book of Stephen King, but not quite the same of his work which is mostly Horror. The Horror in this film is not the supernatural kind, but about men spends most of their life inside the walls with daily routine waiting for their freedom but will end up in a realization that no one is waiting for them, no one is willing to accept that they exist, that no one really care about them outside the walls. It is emphasize in a scene when one of Andy and Red friend. Brooks (James Whitmore) is freed on parole, but unable to adjust in a world after 50 years in prison without a daily routine, without walls and guards, he hangs himself.

Unlike other people says, Shawshank Redemption is not a depressing movie, there are moments in the film that show life, warmth, humour, and friendship between Andy and his friends. Like when Andy finds a way to get cold beers for his friends doing a roofing job. Those are just simple things for others but inside the wall, it is a feeling or a bit of taste of being a free man.

Shawshank Redemption was nominated for seven Academy Awards and go home with nothing. Most of the awards are goes to Forrest Gump. Shawshank Redemption didn’t go well on its first screening, with only a box office of $28.3 million, in Hollywood this is considered as a failure. One of the reasons is that the word “Shawshank” before is not that Iconic unlike today. Prison Drama will not sell to women and a love between two men best friends is not a win-win film in those years. But it became the most rented film in the year 1995. It ranks #2 in the IMD’s Top 250 Films. Shawshank Redemption just proves that Failure is not a life sentence.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with dailytrend.xyz or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Bag of Beans - Tagaytay City

Coffee had been part of every Filipino dining ever since the Spanish times. We can always see people drink coffee on almost every part of the day: morning, afternoon, or even at nighttime. Somewhat, this Filipino dining tradition that had been part of our everyday lives had sparked an emergence to the existence of coffee shops here in Philippines like Starbucks, Seattle's Best Coffee, and Cafe de Lipa. But in my travelling history, trying such things on a certain area like food is a must for a traveler and in my trip to Tagaytay this past weekend (July 20) I found a coffee shop where their hot beverages, could even compete in the coffee served in Starbucks, named Bag of Beans.

The front door of Bag of Beans
Bag of Beans is already well known in Tagaytay City since 2001 for their fine brewing of "Kapeng Barako" and "Kapeng Alamid" for local and foreign tourists alike. Since then, this coffee shop had been well known by those people who usually went to Tagaytay City for many times already, and these are the reason why this coffee shop could even match the "big name" coffee shops like we usually know:

The interior of the Bag of Beans coffee shop. Photo courtesy of
thepurpledoll.net
The Bag of Beans interior is inspired by a semi-garden like setting. Guests who go to this coffee shop, aside from the coffee and the food, also like to feel the essence and ambiance of the coffee shop which shows a good environment setting. There are also gazebos where guests can enjoy their coffee and dining in a more comfortable and pleasing way. The setting of their coffee shop is worth paying together with the coffee and food if you're a tourist in Tagaytay. And another thing, their coffee is a less expensive than Starbucks, but with the same taste. Bag of Beans' coffee is a lot more tastier for me though.

Bag of Beans' vanilla, mocha, and hazelnut coffee
Aside from the coffee and other hot beverages, Bag of Beans also serve breakfast, merienda, lunch, dinner, and buffet on their menu. Guests, most of them as said by the crew of Bag of Beans, loved the coffee shops' strawberry & blueberry cheesecakes which are scrumptious. Bag of Beans do also sell souvenir items for their guests in form of mugs engraved with their name. These mugs come from small up to large sizes and also, an up-for-grabs for tourists.

A Bag of Beans souvenir mug
Bag of Beans' Sheperds Pie
So if you're up for a coffee break or merienda in Tagaytay or you just want to taste something new regarding coffee, I suggest you try going here and I assure you, you'll love their hot beverages and the food. You can find their coffee shop along Aguinaldo Highway in Mendez Crossing West area.

For more information about Bag of Beans, you can check out their website: https://www.bagofbeans.com.ph/



Monday, August 12, 2019

PLDT Home BRO/Ultera Review

I have been a subscriber of PLDT Home Bro for several months now and thinking to upgrade my plan or change my ISP right after my contract with them end, but before I do that let me have a review for this ISP.

Home BRO was previously known as Smart Bro, it is a wireless canopy-based broadband by PLDT and Smart. For 990/Month with free installation you can have a 2mbps wireless connection at your home.

If you will visit PLDT website today, you will notice that once you click the Home bro link it will just redirect you to their new product, the Ultera. It is because PLDT started killing off its Canopy and expanding its new wireless service using LTE, which is currenltly the most advance wireless technology today.

If you're also a home bro subscribers like me, I guess you too have received some phone calls from their representatives offering you a free upgrade to their Ultera. The first time they call, I said that I will think about it, when I surf the net for reviews about their experience with ultera I haven't read anything positive. Their main complain is the maximum data usage per month, you can have a 30gb per month at their plan 990 and once you reach the maximum usage per day, your speed will drop to 256kbps.

Ultera Plans - Screenshot from PLDT Website


My cousin is been a subscriber of Ultera for quite some time now. He said that the data usage allowance is not only the problem, but also the speed reliability. Ultera is offering 3 plans. 3mbps for 990, 5mbps for 1599 and 10mbps for 1999. Yes, you cannot expect that you can always have the speed you ask and they offered for, but at least the 50 percent of the speed you paid for? My cousin said that speed he experiencing right now is like he's already reach the maximum usage per day.

FUN PLAN  999
And what if he reach the maximum usage per day? His facebook loads like forever, He get always disconnected on Clash of clans and in some online game. Youtube automatically set its video quality to 144p. Ouch.

Base on my research on some reviews, some people also get reliable speed fom their Ultera. For the first 2 months or less and after that the speed drops and some are close or within the LTE coverage in their areas. But I will not risk my 36 months lock-in period because a very few people experience a 'reliable' speed.

So when they called again, I decline for upgrade and said that I'm planning to upgrade for a DSL broadband.

My first month as a Home BRO user was just like hell. websites are just keep loading. Images and links are always broken. But when I called their customer service and fix my canopy everything turn fine. I get an average speed of 0.7 mbps to 1.3 mbps for my plan 990. The only thing I notice that every time the month is about to end my speed always drops at 0.22 Mbps, this is when I found out that they also have a maximum data usage per month. I ask them what is their monthly allowance for canopy user but they told me that they don't have the information regarding the maximum data allowance on Home Bro, I read on some website that it's 30gb to 50gb per month.

Home Bro Speed Test - 2015
Another thing that I hate about PLDT is their customer care, I'm also a subscriber of Globe postpaid and Sky Cable but I don't experience any problem with them. Yes they do respond on my Facebook messages but it will took days for them to respond. When I'm calling their customer hotlines, my average waiting time for just to connect me to one of they're agents is 15 minutes. Unlike with Sky Cable, I even have a long conversation with one of their agents in Facebook about my inquiry about their broadband.

That's it, And my final words are that before you subscribes to any internet plan available in our country research for some reviews first, we cannot trust their advertisements anymore. It is best to ask your neighbor or anyone near your location what is their ISP and their experience with it. Because yes, location matters, even if the Globe is the worst internet provider here in the Philippines, there are still some place experience a reliable speed from them. It's still up to you and your knowledge where you will invest your money.

First Day Tips for College Freshmen

The most excited thing about going to school is the first day, specially if you are a freshmen in college. Meeting new faces, fixing your own schedule, budgeting your money,  and exploring Manila, you can really feel like being independent.

So if you are searching in the web for some tips for your first day in college, be happy because we already compiled it for you.

So here it is, your First Day Tips for College Freshmen.

Image from www.jonesid.com
1. Show up for the first day of Class - Some Professors might change your class schedule due to conflicts and it often happen on the first week or on the first day. It may be a change in time schedule or room number, so to avoid more hassle in your part it is important to attend your first day. Well I think most of you guys will attend your first day of class, not only because you are excited but you don't want to feel "OP" on the second day when everyone in your class have already their own friends or group right?

2.Don't forget to bring the college student's best friend - The yellow paper, trust me you will need it until the last day. for what? writing stuffs. Don't be parasite to your other classmates, showing how irresponsible and incompetent you are will give you a hard time finding group mates in projects and in your thesis. Remember first impression lasts, at least show you are good at something. Being responsible.

3. Don't Buy the Books - until after the first day, Some professors will not require you anymore to buy a book for their subject if they are not the author of that book, and some are so good in lecturing that all you need to do is to listen and to take down notes.

4. Take down notes - even if you have "photographic memory", it's still important to take down all the requirements and lectures of your professor. It is much easier to review your notes than reading the topic on the net or on your textbook.

5. Due tomorrow, Do tomorrow is not cool - Trust me, I've seen this, I've done this, you don't want this. start the work on  the day your project or research gave to you, I'm not saying to rush things up but start early, in that way, you will have more time to analyze and revise your work. and once you finish early you will have more time to relax and enjoy you free time.

And last thing, Enjoy - The most exciting part in the first day for college freshmen is everything. Everything is new, the atmosphere, the people, the place. Be friendly, explore your campus and the city, try new things , enjoy your first day, because trust me you will need it.

Did I forget something? Want to add more? Share it in the comment box below.

Who is Marina and the Diamonds?

Marina Diamandis, also known as Marina and the Diamonds
Everyone we met in our everyday life always have their own passion for music. The popularity of pop music had made the music scene a daily trend and a part of every people's pop culture. Music as well gave the reputation and fame for the singers and bands we idolize almost the whole time.

I, personally admit myself that I am a Katy Perry fan. Some people and mutual fans I know call a Katy Perry fan as a KatyCat. In my years of listening to different kind of English songs, my taste usually falls on the mainstream ones, until one of my fan friends had introduced me to indie music and to a singer that I am sure only few Filipinos know, Marina and the Diamonds.

Now who is Marina and the Diamonds? Is it band (Hence, the name) or some sort of a random musician? Well, if I tell you guys, Marina and the Diamonds is a screen name of the solo Welsh singer Marina Diamandis. If you got curious what is that "Diamonds" thing, she used it to describe her fans hence coming out with a conclusion of "Marina and her fans".
Marina and the Diamond's first album, The Family Jewels
Marina and the Diamonds had started her career in music in 2005 but her fame only rises on the islands of United Kingdom. In this time, she had released her EP's but it was in 2010 that she released her first album entitled "The Family Jewels" that made her name be known to North America, especially in the United States. Since then, Marina's fame is now well known in Europe and North America at this time that her album at this time of 2010 made her kick-off her "The Family Jewels Tour".

Electra Heart, Marina and the Diamond's second album.
In 2012, she and Robyn are the front acts on Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour which had helped Marina and the Diamonds get additional fans and make her fame strong. In this year, she released her second album, "Electra Heart" and the album boosted the hit single "Primadonna" in which Marina's most successful single at this time. In her sophomore album, she had cemented her fame status on North America and Europe and the success of her "Electra Heart" album made her kick-off her second tour "The Lonely Hearts Club Tour" which lasted until May 2013.

How Marina and the Diamonds' music had reached the Filipinos and created a few Filipino Diamonds' is still a big question to me as a music listener. One big factor to this is the Internet itself if I ask anyone. At this point of time, there are only rare people who knows Marina and the Diamonds but I believe, one day, her name will be known by many Filipino music listeners. If you're curious of how she voice like in singing, here's a music video of her hit single "Primadonna".



If you want to know more about Marina and the Diamonds, check out her official website: www.marinaandthediamonds.com/