TRAVEL TO MOVIES: CREED II

Director: Steven Caple Jr.

Cast: Michael B. Jordan , Sylvester Stallone , Tessa Thompson , Andre Ward , Wood Harris , Dolph Lundgren , Froilan Munteanu , Phylicia Rashad , Russell Hornsby , Sugar Ray Leonard

Plot: In 1985, Russian boxer Ivan Drago killed former U.S. champion Apollo Creed in a tragic match that stunned the world. Against the wishes of trainer Rocky Balboa, Apollo's son Adonis Johnson accepts a challenge from Drago's son dangerous fighter. Under guidance from Rocky, Adonis trains for the showdown of his life date with destiny that soon becomes his obsession. Johnson and Balboa must confront shared legacy as the past comes back to haunt each man:(

Source: https://www.insing.com/movies/creed-2-2018/id-11f00000/

My Movie Review: The movie is solid as rock in build and form yet still make the same impact! Creed II might be more physical than the first one and the story has more spectacle but the take-away is still the same confronting shared legacy and just go with the flow as other sequel! Michael B. Jordan is the king of the ring with more visible physicality boxing has never been interesting even his back has muscles I wish I have that body ripped and tone it's nice to look:0 Sylvester Stallone is fading this time age is showing his a little bit lumpy and his speaking voice getting worse I don't understand some words his saying to deep I don't hear that clearly:( The villains in this sequel outshines the villain from the first one I don't remember the opposing team last time the guy is huge punch felt real is scary and who knew Russians are into boxing?

Critics Consensus: Creed II's adherence to franchise formula adds up to a sequel with few true surprises, but its time-tested generational themes still pack a solid punch. The film simmers before it explodes and it maintains the slow burn for a moment too long in the quieter moments between family members. The fight scenes are decent, Stallone's still appealing, and when Bill Conti's original theme kicks in, it's impossible to resist. But please, no more. But when Caple really lets "Creed II" run wild, it's breathtaking. Hugely enjoyable, with some terrific performances and a keen eye on the continuing evolution of the series, maintaining the heart of the original. If Creed was almost as good as the Rocky, Creed II is almost as good as Creed.

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/creed_ii/

TRAVEL TO PLACES: PHILIPPINES-- YABU: THE HOUSE OF KATSU

My Personal Experience: I went to Yabu: The House Of Katsu this year November 1, 2018, together with my sister. We went there to dine in a sunny afternoon when most are done eating and some are starting to arrive for dinner. I don't know what photos to choose I'll post them all:) Yabu in Vertis North has fresh ambiance and spacious place enough to dine family and friends!

Yabu: The House Of Katsu

Yabu is a homegrown Japanese concept that specializes in all things katsu. Their Kurobuta Pork set is the most popular item on the menu and comes with unlimited rice, cabbage salad and fruits. Recommended Dish is Rosu Original Katsudon served with unlimited Japanese white rice, miso soup, pickles, cabbage with choice of dressing and  bowl of fruit. Appretizer like Korokke Tamago a jumbo potato croquette, stuffed with soft-boiled egg and coated with crispy golden panko. Topped with fried nori and served with an tartar sauce for a creamy finish.

Source: https://ph.phonebooky.com/restaurant/yabu-house-of-katsu-vertis-north

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: ROBIN HOOD

Director: Otto Bathurst

Cast: Taron Egerton , Jamie Foxx , Eve Hewson , Jamie Dornan , Lara Rossi , Tim Minchin , Ben Mendelsohn , Paul Anderson , Scot Greenan , Josh Herdman , Cornelius Booth , Ian Peck

Plot: Robin of Loxley (Taron Egerton) a war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander (Jamie Foxx) mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown commander (Ben Mendelsohn) in a thrilling action-adventure packed with gritty battlefield exploits, mind-blowing fight choreography, and a timeless romance.

Source: https://www.insing.com/movies/robin-hood-origins-2018/id-e2ef0000/

My Movie Review: The movie is young at heart and surprisingly much fun than the old classic! Robin Hood 2018 is far from the serious adaptations so better not compare cause this one is getting to another direction which is light and easy sitting rather than grim and dark storytelling! The critics judged this film harshly without considering the good points like this new take bring young blood to the quest and the story has bit twist but not complicated is easy to understand:) Ben Mendelsohn is tough-looking man that commands hierarchy and respect little bit intimating perfect for his role and the sudden death was unexpected act leaving him hang upon his neck:) At first I was hesitant to watch because of the low ratings and negative reviews in this movie but forget about the critics saying and experience it for yourself I really enjoy such a good time!

Movie News: An action-heavy, retrofitted-for-youth 'Robin Hood' shouldn't work, but it's more honest fun than the Kevin Costner or Russell Crowe versions. If you’re a purist about Robin Hood, then you probably won’t go for “Robin Hood.” It’s a let’s-retrofit-the-legend-for-the-kids movie, and it’s not shy about its fast and furious action-and-attitude makeover tendencies. The battle scenes, fought with bows and arrows, really are battles, in which the arrows land with the force of bullets, destroying on contact. And in case that isn’t enough for you…the movie is an origin story! None of the new “Robin Hood” takes place in Sherwood Forest. It’s set in the castle corridors and teeming streets of Nottingham, a vast medieval village where Robin, an aristocrat who returns after fighting for the British in Arabia, learns that his family estate has been seized by the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn). Robin also loses his squeeze, Marian, who was told by the sheriff that he was killed in battle. (That’s why she’s now with Dornan’s Will.) The movie is about how a broken dude turns himself into a freedom fighter.

Source: https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/robin-hood-review-1203033148/

TRAVEL TO PLACES: PHILIPPINES-- VERTIS NORTH CHRISTMAS

My Personal Experience: I went to Vertis North Mall this year November 1, 2018, together with my sister. We went there to unwind and window shop suddenly we felt the holiday spirit upon entrance from triangular tree and colorful stars to big jack stones and giant spinner. Christmas Vibe is really alive wherever every corner design to make people merry go around:)!

Vertis North Christmas

A few hangout places up north have emerged lately and one of them is the newly opened shopping destination, the Ayala Malls Vertis North. According to the management of the Ayala Malls, this would be their first commercial and leisure hub to cater to the constantly changing hip lifestyle of today’s young generation. As more festive decors light up the road, and more Christmas tunes fill the airwaves, there’s no doubt that the season of giving is almost here now.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/travel-and-tourism/2017/10/23/1751676/5-way

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWARD

Director: David Yates

Cast: Johnny Depp , Jude Law , Eddie Redmayne , Zoe Kravitz , Dan Fogler , Carmen Ejogo , Ezra Miller , Claudia Kim , Alison Sudol , Callum Turner , Kevin Guthrie , Katherine Waterston

Plot: The devious Gellert Grindelwald plans to raise pure-blood wizards so that he can rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided world.

Source: https://www.insing.com/movies/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-2018/

My Movie Review: The movie is over-stuffed with great production value but its hard to follow!! Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelward is much in character build-up it's overwhelming to track and the facing felt shattered with many characters on the spot it lost focus to the story:( Albus Dumbledore is just accessory in this take I didn't felt his presence in the middle when the peak in the tale is about to unravel and I didn't see the magic and power his possessing within! Johnny Depp is the star to watch stealing the spotlight from the start with that wizarding ride in the night and a grand finish gathering his potential ally when one was force to choose his side:) This second take on the wizarding world is still worth it I get to know more some characters from the first one I didn't notice before and after watched I often wonder what will happen next?

Critics Consensus: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has glimmers of the magic familiar to Harry Potter fans, but the story's spell isn't as strong as earlier installments. More workmanlike than magical, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" nevertheless feels like an upgrade from its predecessor, one that adds star power, introduces key characters and lays the foundation for a genuine "Wizarding World" franchise. With too much happening all at once and not enough focus on bulding characters we actually care about, the film fails to leave any sense of an impact, which makes me concerned that future installments will fall victim to the same trend. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald weighs heavily and can be hard to follow, with very little comic relief. Still it's pretty fantastic -- that is, both pretty and a fantasy!!

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fantastic_beasts_the_crimes_of_grindelwald

TRAVEL TO PLACES: PHILIPPINES-- ABS-CBN VERTIS TENT

My Personal Experience: I went to the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent this year November 1, 2018, together with my sister. We went there to sneak side and capture the space into the blue skies! Vertis Tent serve as venue for gatherings and bazaars most special during the holiday season!! Walking in the pedestrian lane around my favorite thing to do here no rush less people it's cool!

ABS-CBN Vertis Tent

ABS-CBN recently launched its own event space located just a few minutes from its main office in Quezon City. The ABS-CBN Vertis Tent has a seating capacity of 1,200 people, and a standing capacity of 2,000 people. The air-conditioned space is located within the Ayala Vertis North complex in Quezon City. It will be the venue for ABS-CBN’s first Christmas bazaar from December 1 to 23. We knew there would be a need for this type of venue for the general public, corporate events. Its here to serve your event needs, whether personal or professional:)

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/11/13/17/abs-cbn-opens-event-space-in-quezon-city

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: OVERLORD

Director: Julius Avery

Cast: Wyatt Russell , Iain De Caestecker , Jovan Adepo , Pilou Asbæk , Bokeem Woodbine , Jacob Anderson , John Magaro , Éva Magyar , Marc Rissmann , Andy Wareham , Michael Epp

Plot: A group of US paratroopers are carrying out a mission critical to the success of the Allied invasion. But then they realise that the Nazi soldiers are not their only problem. The Nazis have also conducted an experiment on the army of the third Reich, creating supernatural forces which are now used to fight against the US paratroopers.

Source: https://www.insing.com/movies/overlord-2018/id-f9ee0000/

My Movie Review: The movie is a good dose of horror-war hybrid a total blast and creepy fun! Overlord is a hard action war film at first until it shows true color when zombies and experiment come hand and hand it's gory exciting suspense thriller that somehow work in so many levels:) Visual effects on monsters are drastically shown they pop and have certain style about it make this movie such a treat and the violence is on high alert you'll scream without making a sound:) The soldier bonding was tight when trying to save a troop in a risky time makes you care for all of them even the villain makes you grounded as half of his face exploded yet still put up a fight! The cast may not as popular as others but leave us with a damn entertaining movie to catch some zombie thrills and a fun day in the cinemas with positive ending of survival and strength:)

Critics Consensus: Part revisionist war drama, part zombie thriller, and part all-out genre gorefest, Overlord offers A-level fun for B-movie fans of multiple persuasions. If anyone ever wished "Saving Private Ryan" were more of a B-movie splatterfest, "Overlord" is the movie for all you. The procedure isn't a complete success, but the movie wins a few battles in terms of its premise, energy and style, if not the entire war. The angles are dynamic and jagged, framing the action for maximum shock value. It's as though the design philosophy for Overlord was to try to get banned in the 1950s, and it works. Here, the predictable does not stop being effective and the pulse of the story makes you experience it as the characters do insanity and I loved it:)

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/overlord_2018/

TRAVEL TO PLACES: PHILIPPINES-- VERTIS NORTH GARDENS

My Personal Experience: I went to Ayala Malls Vertis North Gardens this year November 1, 2018, together with my sister. We went there to spend time together after not seeing in months! All Saint's Day is the day in a year we visit the dead in the graveyard in the province instead of the usual we went to the mall nearby since we're stuck in the city and take snap in the garden:)

Vertis North Gardens

Providing an oasis of green is Vertis North Garden. This corridor of open spaces, landscaped and tree-covered paths will provide a welcome respite to city living. Vertis North is designed to be an energized and sustainable central business and lifestyle district, with the 2-hectare Vertis Park garden at the hub of this ingenious urban concept. The Vertis Gardens gives rise to the Ayala Malls Vertis North, which along with Ayala Malls Trinoma, offers residents and guests a massive entertainment and lifestyle complex for all the conveniences of urban shopping living:)

Source: https://vertis.ph/about-us/

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Director: Bryan Singer

Cast: Rami Malek , Joseph Mazzello , Ben Hardy , Gwilym Lee , Lucy Boynton , Allen Leech , Tom Hollander , Aidan Gillen , Mike Myers , Aaron McCusker , Michelle Duncan , Max Bennett

Plot: Based on the life of British rock legends Queen, the movie chronicles 15 years of the band's life, starting from the band's formation up until their legendary performance at the Live Aid in 1985. The movie also centres on Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the band who faced his untimely death in 1991.

Source: https://www.insing.com/movies/bohemian-rhapsody-2018/id-74ef0000/

My Movie Review: The movie is in-depth look to the greatest hits collection of beloved band Queen where legends live in a bold funky statement in style and experimental choice of music! Bohemian Rhaspsody shows an era of rock and roll peak were iconic songs and revolutionary sounds were born and biopic of one legend who defied stereotypes and shattered conventions! Freedie Mercury is more interesting than his music in this take we got to see his personal side often grasp for love and duel his sexuality that strike controversy in a big press conference act! Rami Malek slays the onstage moves and mannerism of the icon it felt like audiences went to a real concert in his legendary performance it's emotional and intensely thoughtful made me cry:) Radio Ga Ga is my favorite anthem I was surprised when people in the Live Aid Performance sang this incredible iconic song I really felt the presence of the crowd give me a surreal feeling!

Others Opinion: Within the first week of its showing, watched it thrice. The first time was very emotional: I am one of the millions of second-generation Queen fans who are too young to have watched Live Aid, but old enough to remember the day that Freddie died. The second time was with more friends, who still teared up and were overwhelmed at the right places. The third time, an IMAX version. The recording and concert scenes deserve to be experienced in an huge screen and best possible theater surround sound. Rami Malek you rock! Wow. What a truly inspiring film. Made me feel that being eccentric and different is ok as long as you are you! The film brought so many emotions - laughter, sadness, joy - very heart warming. At times forgot I wasn't actually watching the guys from Queen they all looked so like them especially May and Mercury. I thought Rami rocked the role massive respect to this guy! My film of 2018!!

Source: https://www.clickthecity.com/movies/detail/XSL7g7/bohemian-rhapsody

TRAVEL TO PLACES: PHILIPPINES-- RAMEN KURODA THE BLOCK

My Personal Experience: I went to Ramen Kuroda The Block this year September 26, 2018, together with my best friend. We went there to try the new ramen place in our usual food spot:) The time we dine there was a little bit rush cause we're catching the movie schedule after plus waiting list was long I can't believe many people eat here so my photos were not as well taken!

Ramen Kuroda

Make Real Ramen part of your everyday! Ramen has been attracting a huge amount of attention in the worldwide restaurant scene as a representative example of Japanese Cuisine!! Perhaps it's only natural that genuine Ramen is delicious, because it evolved through intense competition into one of the national food of the Japanese People. And in 2015, time has come for us to proudly offer our Ramen to the People of the Philippines. We will provide genuine Ramen to accelerate the exciting everyday of the People creating the future of the Philippines:)

Source: https://www.kuroda.ph/concept

TRAVEL TO MOVIES: THE NUTCRACKER AND FOUR REALMS

Directors: Lasse Hallstrom

Cast: Mackenzie Foy , Keira Knightley , Helen Mirren , Morgan Freeman , Eugenio Derbez , Misty Copeland , Matthew Macfadyen , Miranda Hart , Ellie Bamber , Sergei Polunin , Lil Buck

Plot: Clara receives a Nutcracker doll as a Christmas present from her godfather who entrusts her to take good care of it. When the clock strikes midnight, Clara decides to check on the doll, only to suddenly get thrown into a fantastical world. She realises the strange parallel world is home to Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets, but it is in the ominous Fourth Realm that she finds herself in the middle of a war between gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.

Source: https://www.insing.com/movies/the-nutcracker-and-the-four-realms-2018/id-1ef00000/

My Movie Review: The movie is colorful puts you in a world of wonder and early holiday spirit! The Nutcraker And The Four Realms look great in plain sight with impressive visual effects and production design making us feel the classic fantasy yet emotional connection isn't that strong!! Taking us to the gathering without building few character profile and not sufficient back story to Clara's mother which is a Queen wish we saw somehow she reign this place at the very start:0 Sugar Plum Fairy is a pleasant surprise delight with cheerful presence and sweet voice didn't see that she's the villain in the end stepping up her role taking control on gingerbread soldiers:) This tale overall dazzle in pretty princess quest and a little bit of spooky vibe in the fourth realm Mother Ginger live in creep string tent with huge face you get some circus that houses clowns:)

Critics Consensus: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms' is everything that idealistic viewers will expect it to be. Prepare to enter into a world of whimsy, beauty, and creativity. Lacking a transporting yuletide story or dazzling dance routines, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a hollow holiday confection that's lovely to look at and easy to forget. The tale is enchanting, though the lack of music is conspicuous and the ending is a little underwhelming. Oh, this film is definitely, different, from all the Nutcrackers you know, but that doesn't really make it a good thing. It creates magical, fantastic scenes that should utterly amaze audiences. All-important emotional bonds between the characters feel thin and scripted. Overstuffed yet half-baked while it boasts impressive individual elements, overall result remain far from the magic it seeks!

Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_nutcracker_and_the_four_realms/

TRAVEL TO PLACES: PHILIPPINES-- EDUARDO'S PERI-PERI CHICKEN

My Personal Experience: I went to Eduardo's Peri-Peri Flame Grilled Chicken SM North Edsa this year September 23, 2018, together with my big sister. We went there to have meaty dinner and try this peri-peri for the first time that's a little bit heavy in stomach but satisfy our cravings!! It's delicious yet one of meat cut was thin it could have been better deal considering the price:0

Eduardo's Peri-Peri Chicken

Chicken is everyone's favorite protein. You cook it in any way with or without marinade, and as long as it is cooked all the way through, it will always be delicious. Peri-peri is the name used to describe African bird's-eye chilli, small and extremely spicy variety. When you try Eduardo's Peri-Peri Flame Grilled Chicken, you will enjoy every bite of this exotic spice flavoring the dark meat and white meat that you will not need any condiments. Taste the "All black" Quarter Pounder Angus Beef Burger at P149, Pulled Pork Burger at P99, or Classic Chicken Breast Burger at P129 with 3 branches conveniently located in Mandaluyong, Quezon City, and Rizal:)

Source: https://www.metrodeal.com/deals/Metro_Manila/Eduardos-Peri-Peri-Chicken/