Write Your Soul Out

My favorite time of the year.

2013-09-16T11:46:00.000-04:00

Not only is Fall my favorite season of the year because of how amazingly beautiful everything looks, but also because it officially marks the start of the best months when it comes to the movie industry.

Sure, year after year the Summer brings us amazing blockbusters that we love to enjoy because they keep us entertained, (honorable mention to Star Trek: Into Darkness, Despicable Me 2, World War Z, Iron Man 3, Monsters University, Man of Steel and Pacific Rim for bringing in all the big bucks earlier this Summer season!) but there's something about the dramas -and along with those new features, all the Oscar contenders for next year- that captures my attention more than anything else.

If you know me, then you are aware of how much I go to the movies and how much I enjoy watching a film that will leave me feeling chills all over even hours after I walk out of the theater. Hopefully, this Fall/Winter season will bring along many movies that will make me fall in love with cinematography all over again.

Anyways, here's a list of what films you should look forward to and why. Enjoy and hit the comments with your opinion if you feel like talking to a ranting movie nerd!

The Family

Release Date: 9/13 (This one is already out and you should definitely watch it!)

Director: Luc Besson

Cast: Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron, John D'Leo and others.

Summary: The Manzoni family, a notorious mafia clan, is relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program, where fitting in soon becomes challenging as their old habits die hard.

Why: Well, this one's an easy sell. Watching Tommy and Robert act in the big screen is always a delight since they never disappoint (does the fact that they are both Oscar winners rings any bells?). There's also the fact I trust Luc to not disappoint as a director since I'm a huge fan of The Fifth Element and I believe that Leon: The Professional is an absolute masterpiece. And besides that, I'm a huge Dianna Agron fan and I simply can't wait to see her be amazing and play a role so different from what she's used to do. Don't miss it!

Prisoners

Release Date: 9/20

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano and others.

Summary: When Keller Dover's daughter and friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?

Why: The premise of this movie is a weird one, and I'm not really sure how I feel about it yet because I'm not a huge fan of thrillers. But after how amazing he was in Zodiac, I have been expecting Jake to take on a role like this once again. Not to mention how great of an actor Hugh Jackman is and how the cast also includes scene stealers, Viola and Melissa, actresses that never fail to shine no matter the part they have to play.

Rush

Release Date: 9/27

Director: Ron Howard

Cast: Daniel Brühl, Chris Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde, Tom Wlaschiha, Natalie Dormer and others.

Summary: A re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One opponents James Hunt and Niki Lauda.

Why: The 'based in real life' kind of movie is one that I always enjoy. Just like I enjoy Formula One races, Olivia Wilde's everything and Chris and Natalie getting it on.

Don Jon

Release Date: 9/27

Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza and others.

Summary: A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.

Why: Is the fact that this film will be JGL's debut as a director not enough? Well, okay, then having Scarlett acting like one of the cast members of Jersey Shore definitely should.

Gravity

Release Date: 10/4

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Eric Michels and others.

Summary: A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

Why: Just watching the trailer of this movie is enough to make me feel extremely anxious and claustrophobic even though I'm everything but that. And anything that makes me feel like that is definitely worth seeing. Besides, Sandra is a beast and Cuarón and Clooney can do wonders when it comes to the big screen.

12 Years A Slave

Release Date: 10/17

Director: Steve McQueen

Cast: Paul Giamatti, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Quvenzhané Wallis, Brad Pitt, Sarah Paulson and others.

Summary: In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

Why: Not only does this movie counts with a wonderful cast, but also with a director that knows how to tell an amazing story in a very simple way. I loved McQueen's work in Shame and I'm sure he'll blow me away once again.

The Counselor

Release Date: 10/25

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Brad Pitt, Goran Visnjic, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Dormer, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, John Leguizamo and others.

Summary: A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking.

Why: Take a look at the director and the entire cast. Enough said.

Ender's Game

Release Date: 11/1

Director: Gavin Hood

Cast: Abigail Breslin, Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Moises Arias and others.

Summary: 70 years after a horrific alien war, an unusually gifted child is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future invasion.

Why: Well, not only am I a super sci-fi aficionado but I also loved Asa in Hugo and Hailee in True Grit; therefore, I'm really looking forward to seeing these kids work their magic and blow my mind in an adventure very, very far away from reality.

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Release Date: 11/15

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Cristin Milioti, Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler, Jon Favreau and others.

Summary: Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

Why: Once again, Leo and Martin team up to make what will sure be a stunning film. But we all know that the real question is, will DiCaprio finally grab an Oscar for this one? Well, we just have to sit down, watch the movie, and wait.

The Book Thief

Release Date: 11/15

Director: Brian Percival

Cast: Geoffrey Rush, Sophie Nélisse, Emily Watson and others.

Summary: While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stars in her home, a Jewish refuge is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.

Why: I have heard nothing but splendid things about this book, and although I haven't read it yet, I'm have a feeling that this adaptation won't disappoint.

Nebraska

Release Date: 11/22

Director: Alexander Payne

Cast: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, and others.

Summary: An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize.

Why: AP making yet another drama? Well, okay, count me in, I can already smell the nominations in the air anyways.

Frozen

Release Date: 11/27

Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Cast: Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Idina Menzel, Alan Tudyk, Josh Gad and others.

Summary: Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

Why: Here's to a new Disney princess! Do I really need a reason other than that one to watch this beauty? Yeah, well, listening to Idina and Jonathan sing should be more than enough, then.

Out of the Furnace

Release Date: 12/6

Director: Scott Cooper

Cast: Christian Bale, Zoe Saldana, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson and others.

Summary: When Rodney Baze mysteriously disappears and law enforcement fails to follow through, his older brother, Russell, takes matters into his own hands to find justice.

Why: This certainly sounds very familiar, doesn't it? Even still, Bale never fails to put on a great show and it is definitely always delightful to see Zoe in the big screen.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Release Date: 12/20

Director: Joel & Ethan Coen

Cast: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Ethan Phillips and others.

Summary: A week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.

Why: It's about time! The Coen brothers are at it again and I for once cannot wait to see what they have to offer, since I'm pretty certain that it will be epic.

American Hustle

Release Date: 12/25

Director: David O. Russell

Cast: Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Robert De Niro, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K. and others.

Summary: The story of a con artist and his partner in crime, who were forced to work with a federal agent to turn the tables on other cons, mobsters, and politicians - namely, the volatile mayor of impoverished Camden, New Jersey.

Why: I can bet money on the fact that this movie will be amazing. I mean, when you take the best out of The Fighter and put them together with the best out of Silver Linings Playbook, it's only logical that you get yet another winning film, right? Right.

The Monuments Men

Release Date: 12/18

Director: George Clooney

Cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, John Goodman and others.

Summary: In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renowned works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them.

Why: I love everything about this one. I love the cast and the cast, but mostly, I really love the plot and I cannot wait to see it unfold.

Saving Mr. Banks

Release Date: 12/20

Director: John Lee Hancock

Cast: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti and others.

Summary: Author P. L. Travers reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her eponymous novel.

Why: A story about the relationship of the author of one of my favorite Disney movies and Walt Disney himself? Oh, yeah, that's more than enough reason for me to want to watch this.

Release Date: 1/10

Director: Spike Jonze

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Wilde, Rooney Mara, Amy Adams and others.

Summary: A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly-purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need.

Why: On and off screen, Joaquin has always been a very bizarre character. And I say that with the best of intentions. He's the kind of weird that just makes you want to see even more of it. Besides, which such gorgeous women as part of the cast, who wouldn't want to see this movie?

August: Osage County

Release Date: 1/2

Director: John Wells

Cast: Meryl Streep, Benedict Cumberbatch, Abigail Breslin, Ewan McGregor, Julia Roberts and others.

Summary: A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.

Why: I have been no so patiently waiting for a new Meryl Streep movie and now that is here and accompanied with such an amazing cast, I am even more reassured about how delighting this film will turn out to be.

So far, these are the movies I'm really excited about, and I hope I get to watch them all just to see if they can top my expectations. And yes, I left out mentioning franchises such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Thor: The Dark World, Anchorman: The Legend Continues and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug because we already know that everyone's going to watch them because of how amazing they are.

For everyone watching today's awesome match:

2013-06-30T18:59:00.002-04:00

June, 29th.

2013-06-29T15:25:00.000-04:00

Love: the simple word behind a very powerful action.

2013-04-16T17:27:00.001-04:00

Life is hard.

I know you must be tired of hearing people say this, but it is true. Life is also complicated, mean, rude... hell, life is a bitch. But that doesn't mean that life can't be great, either.

People will try really hard to bring you down -sometimes even without a reason- but you can't pay attention to them because, as Dr. Seuss says, those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Don't pay attention to the negative things around you, no matter how much they might haunt you down at night. Instead, focus on your friends, on your family, on your animals. Instead, focus on anything that brings you happiness and anything that makes you smile.

But most importantly, remember that you're loved by many, even when you can't even love yourself.

Today, I received a message that wasn't very nice, and so, my friends made that heart for me hoping that it would make me smile. And yeah, it totally did. He thought that he was being silly, but I'm an artist at heart, and I can't help but let my imagination run wild from the moment I wake up and my brain starts to work.

He gave me an idea, and although it is rather silly, I'm pretty sure I don't lose anything just by trying.

A while back, I got a message from an anon telling me how I had saved their lives because I tweeted that they were unique and loved, and this person has been so incredibly sweet, that every day since that happened, they send me a "Thank you."

Spreading hate is so much easier than spreading love. One hurtful word can undo many, many positive actions; it can make you spiral back into depression or it can even turn you into someone bitter. One message, specially if it goes along the lines of "kill yourself" or "you're not worth it" can end a life quicker that it takes them to type that out.

Please, before you send hate to anyone, anonymously or not, just think of the repercussions it might have. Seriously, think about how much you would dislike having a stranger tell someone that you love to just end their lives because they annoy them. Don't be that person, be better, be great. Send them a hug or a kiss instead. Tell them they are amazing. Share all the love you can possibly feel and help humanity be better.

I know there's not really much that I can do, and I know that is not enough, but I'll keep tweeting random messages of love to complete strangers. And maybe, if everyone would just share a tiny bit of love with a strangers, things would be so much better.

Meanwhile, though, I'll try to leave my mark somewhere else.

A one dollar bill is something that basically every American has in their hands at least once in their lives, therefore, I'm just going to write that specific message whenever I get one and then I'll pass it along. Hopefully, it will reach a couple of people, and hopefully, these people will smile because some stranger cares enough about them to make them feel loved.

Please, know that you're loved, even when life is kicking your ass. Please, know that you'll be incredibly missed, even when you think that nobody cares about you. Please, hold on, be brave, dare to change the world. Please, look for help if you need it and don't give up. Never give up.

You're special. Don't forget that. And if you ever need to talk, about anything, my inbox is always open. Always.

Cheers!

2013-01-15T23:39:00.003-05:00

Change is good, change is necessary and change is also extremely scary... but that doesn't mean that you'll stop welcoming new beginnings with open arms.

Cheers to finishing yet another chapter in the book of life; cheers to hoping that the plot twists in the next one are definitely better; cheers to The Beatles, too, because many decades later their amazing music still lives on and I, for my life, cannot stop singing their songs... and most importantly, cheers to making plans and looking forward to the future!

"The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you."

Because I love movies...

2013-01-08T15:33:00.001-05:00

And because I'm crazy enough to think I'll actually have time to do it, I have decided to face a movie challenge this year.

This is pretty simple, actually. The goal is to watch 365 (new) movies in one year and since I don't have a list of everything I will watch, you are more than welcome to make suggestions!

I promise, I'll watch everything but horror movies.

Anyways, here's the list of the movies I have seen for this challenge (2013) and the ratings I have given them.

PS- I've also written a couple of reviews for some of them :)

Update: Here's the list for 2014 because I have decided to do it this year as well!

Top 25: Upcoming Movies In 2013

2012-12-30T16:18:00.000-05:00

Sooooo... 2013 is almost here and as always, the new year will bring a whole lot of awesome movies with it. Anyone that knows me is aware of my love for the seventh art, therefore, it doesn't come as a surprise when I say that I'm actually really excited about many of them, I mean... I predict a GREAT year for all of us, fellows geeks!

If you're a bookworm, you'll love to know that many famous sequels and book adaptations are hitting the big screen sometime in the next twelve months. Same goes for comic lovers, with at least five renowned and extremely admired superheroes making a comeback for a second/third time... or maybe trying to start all over again. Besides that, we'll also be getting our fair quota of animation; and I think many Sci-fi aficionados will be pleased to know that the USS Enterprise will flying across the galaxy once again.

All of the above doesn't mean, of course, that we won't get to see dramas that will makes us cry or comedies that will also makes us cry, but because of how hard we'll be laughing.

Without further ado, and below the cut, there's a list of the of movies I can't wait to watch in 2013! (Only 25, though, because the list would be endless if it isn't restricted).

In No Particular Order

Zero Dark Thirty

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Jeremy Strong, Reda Kateb and others.

Summary: A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May, 2011.

Thor: The Dark World

Director: Alan Taylor

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Zachary Levi, Kat Dennings, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Idris Elba, Stan Lee and others.

Summary: Thor battles an ancient race of Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith who threatens to plunge the universe back into darkness after the events of The Avengers.

Despicable Me 2

Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Cast (Voices): Steve Carell, Al Pacino, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Russell Brand, Elsie Fisher, Dana Gaier, Moises Arias and others.
Summary: Gru, the girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions and a host of new characters return.

Iron Man 3

Director: Shane Black
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Ben Kingsley, Jon Favreau, Don Cheadle, William Sadler, James Badge Dale, Stan Lee and others.

Summary: Tony Stark uses his ingenuity to fight those who destroyed his private world and soon goes up against his most powerful enemy yet: the Mandarin.

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Director: J.J. Abrams

Cast: Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Alice Eve, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Peter Weller, Simon Pegg, Bruce Greenwood and others.

Summary: After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

The Host

Director: Andrew Niccol

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger, Jake Abel, Max Irons, William Hurt, Chandler Canterbury, Frances Fisher, Boyd Holbrook, Scott Lawrence and others.

Summary: A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, "Wanda" (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans.

Monsters University

Director: Dan Scanlon
Cast (Voices): Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julia Sweeney, Joel Murray and others.
Summary: A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at the University of Fear -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.

The Great Gatsby

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Debicki, Adelaide Clemens and others.

Summary: Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.

Man Of Steel

Director: Zach Snyder
Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Meloni, Richard Schiff and others.
Summary: An alien infant is raised on Earth, and grows up with superhuman abilities. He sets out to use these abilities to guard his adopted world.

The Heat

Director: Paul Feig

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Kaitlin Olson, Taran Killam, Tom Wilson, Demian Bichir, Tony Hale, Andy Buckley, Nathan Corddry and others.

Summary: Uptight FBI special agent Sarah Ashburn is paired with testy Boston cop Shannon Mullins in order to take down a ruthless drug lord. The hitch: neither woman has ever had a partner, or a friend for that matter.

Gangster Squad

Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Holt McCallany, Jack McGee, Mireille Enos, Jeff Wolfe and others.
Summary: A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.

Movie 43

Director: Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne, Peter Farrelly, Patrik Forsberg, James Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Ratner, Jonathan van Tulleken.

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Kristen Bell, Elizabeth Banks, Gerard Butler, Kate Winslet, Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Josh Duhamel, Justin Long, Naomi Watts, Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Halle Berry, Liev Schreiber, Seann William Scott, Chloe Grace Moretz, Johnny Knoxville, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and others.

Summary: An ensemble comedy intertwining different tales.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Director: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman and others.

Summary: The continuing adventures of Katniss Everdeen, which take place in a futuristic dystopian world, as she prepares for the Quarter Quell.

Malavita

Director: Luc Besson

Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, Dianna Agron, Vincent Pastore, Joseph Perrino, Dominic Chianese, John D'Leo, Domenick Lombardozzi and others.

Summary: The Manzoni family, a notorious mafia clan, is relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program, where fitting in soon becomes challenging as their old habits die hard.

The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

Director: Peter Jackson

Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, Aidan Turner, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dean O'Gorman, Graham McTavish, Peter Hambleton and others.

Summary: The Dwarfs, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the misty mountains, but Bilbo has gained the one ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back off the Dragon, Smaug.

Kick Ass 2

Director: Jeff Wadlow

Cast: Aaron Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jim Carrey, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Lyndsy Fonseca, Donald Faison, Clark Duke, Yancy Butler, Morris Chestnut, John Leguizamo, Ella Purnell and others.

Summary: The costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume. Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect everyone Kick-Ass knows.

Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters

Director: Thor Freudenthal

Cast: Logan Lerman, Sean Bean, Nathan Fillion, Alexandra Daddario, Stanley Tucci, Anthony Head, Missi Pyle, Jake Abel, Daniel Cudmore, Leven Rambin, Brandon T. Jackson and others.

Summary: In order to restore their dying safe haven, the son of Poseidon and his friends head into the Sea of Monsters to find the mythical Golden Fleece.

Frozen

Director: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck

Cast (Voices): Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, James Pasierbowicz and others.

Summary: A mountain climber and a young girl named Anna journey through snowy peaks and dangerous cliffs to find the legendary Snow Queen and end the perpetual winter prophecy that has fallen over their kingdom.

The Seventh Son

Director: Sergey Bodrov
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore, Djimon Hounsou, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Olivia Williams, Antje Traue and others.
Summary: A 18th century adventure story centered on young Thomas, who is apprenticed to the local Spook to learn to fight evil spirits. His first great challenge comes when the powerful Mother Malkin escapes her confinement while the Spook is away.

RED 2

Director: Dean Parisot

Cast: Helen Mirren, Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Anthony Hopkins, David Thewlis, Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich, Neal McDonough and others.

Summary: The old gang gets back together one more time.

The Wolverine

Director: James Mangold

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Will Yun Lee, Brian Tee, Rila Fukushima, Tao Okamoto, Hal Yamanouchi and others.

Summary: Wolverine travels to Japan to train with a samurai warrior.

Oblivion

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Cast: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Zoe Bell, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Melissa Leo, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko and others.

Summary: One of the few remaining drone repairmen assigned to Earth, its surface devastated after decades of war with the alien Scavs, discovers a crashed spacecraft with contents that bring into question everything he believed about the war, and may even put the fate of mankind in his hands.

This Is The End

Director: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Cast: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Paul Rudd, Emma Watson, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Jason Segel, Mindy Kaling, Danny McBride, Kevin Hart, Rihanna, Aziz Ansari, Jay Baruchel, David Krumholtz, Martin Starr and others.

Summary: While attending a party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse.

Dorothy of Oz

Director: Dan St. Pierre, Will Finn

Cast (Voices): Patrick Stewart, Lea Michele, Dan Aykroyd, Bernadette Peters, Hugh Dancy, Martin Short, James Belushi, Megan Hilty, Oliver Platt, Kelsey Grammer and others.

Summary: Back in Kansas, Dorothy Gale decides to return to Oz in order to help her friends.

The Fast And The Furious 6

Director: Justin Lin
Cast: Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Ludacris, Gina Carano, Sung Kang, Luke Evans, Gal Gadot, Joe Taslim, Tyrese Gibson and others.

Artist of the Day: Christopher Moloney

2012-12-19T22:23:00.003-05:00

He's a writer for many networks including CNN, A&E and CBS and he loves movies.

Moloney's hobby -to track down the actual locations of famous movie scenes- started back in June. He prints out a picture for each scene and then goes to the actual location, mostly in New York City, superimposing the print where it took place.

I find it incredibly awesome and I'm actually kind of jealous because I would love to do what he does. Anyways, here's a couple of my favorite pics!

2012: The Dark Knight Rises

1977: Annie Hall

1999: Cruel Intentions

2012: Scott Pilgrim vs The World

2005: Little Manhattan

2004: The Day After Tomorrow

2011: Captain America-The First Avenger

1961: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Fell free to follow Christopher Moloney's tumblr or twitter for more updates!

WatchList: Top 10 Movies You Don't Want To Miss This Fall/Winter.

2012-10-09T13:06:00.000-04:00

So, fall is finally here and it comes bringing to us some serious awesome movies this year! Movies that I have been dying to see since the trailers came out and movies that I know will be amazing.

Les Miserables

Release Date: December, 25.
Director: Tom Hooper.
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Carter, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen and others.
Plot Summary: Prisoner 24601, known as Jean Valjean, is released from prison and breaks parole to create a new life for himself while evading the grip of the persistent Inspector Javert. Set in early revolutionary France, the story reaches resolution against the background of the June Rebellion.

Seven Psychopaths

Release Date: October, 12.
Director: Martin McDonagh
Cast: Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Michael Pitt, Abbie Cornish and others.
Plot Summary: The comedy Seven Psychopaths follows a struggling screenwriter ('Colin Farrell' ) who inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends (Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell) kidnap a gangster's (Woody Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu.

Anna Karenina

Release Date: November, 16.
Director: Joe Wright
Cast: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Kelly Macdonald, Aaron Johnson, Michelle Dockery, Matthew Macfadyen, Emily Watson, Domhnall Gleeson, Bill Skarsgard and others.
Plot Summary: Set in late-19th-century Russia high-society, the aristocrat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky.

Wreck-it Ralph

Release Date: November, 2.
Director: Rich Moore
Cast: Sarah Silverman, John C. Reilly, Ed O'Neill, Jane Lynch, Jack McBrayer, Mindy Kaling and others.
Plot Summary: Wreck-It Ralph (voice of Reilly) longs to be as beloved as his game's perfect Good Guy, Fix-It Felix (voice of McBrayer). Problem is, nobody loves a Bad Guy. But they do love heroes... so when a modern, first-person shooter game arrives featuring tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Lynch), Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness. He sneaks into the game with a simple plan -- win a medal -- but soon wrecks everything, and accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens every game in the arcade. Ralph's only hope? Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Silverman), a young troublemaking "glitch" from a candy-coated cart racing game who might just be the one to teach Ralph what it means to be a Good Guy. But will he realize he is good enough to become a hero before it's "Game Over" for the entire arcade?

Cloud Atlas

Release Date: October, 26.
Directors: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski & Tom Tykwer
Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Sturgess, Susan Sarandom, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving and others.
Plot Summary: Everything is connected: an 1849 diary of an ocean voyage across the Pacific; letters from a composer to his friend; a thriller about a murder at a nuclear power plant; a farce about a publisher in a nursing home; a rebellious clone in futuristic Korea; and the tale of a tribe living in post-apocalyptic Hawaii, far in the future.

Skyfall

Release Date: November, 9.

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and others.

Plot Summary: Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Release Date: December, 14.
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Martin Freeman, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Orlando Bloom and others.
Plot Summary: Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities...

Lincoln

Release Date: November, 16.

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sally Field, Lee Pace, Adam Driver, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael Stuhlbarg, Julie White and others.

Plot Summary: As the Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

Silver Linings Playbook

Release Date: November, 21.
Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Julia Stiles, Chris Tucker, Dash Mihok and others.
Plot Summary: Life doesn't always go according to plan. Pat Solatano has lost everything - his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother and father after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat's parents want is for him to get back on his feet - and to share their family's obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he'll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives.

Argo

Release Date: October, 12.
Director: Ben Affleck
Cast: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Clea DuVall, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, Chris Messina, Zeljko Ivanek, Scoot McNairy and others.
Plot Summary: As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.

'Already out' movies that deserve a special mention: Pitch Perfect and The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.

What can I say? I am a big movie junkie and I can't ever get enough of the big screen, so I would say that yes, the Oscars will be great next year!

Bonus movie: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 2

Because yes, I couldn't finish this post without including this movie... I like them, after all!

Artist of the Day: Margherita Fortuna

2012-10-08T14:02:00.001-04:00

Usually, I'm not really into graphic design because it is not something that I understand very well, but I believe that Margherita's creativity and wit made her pieces to me really easy to get.

I also love what she does because I'm kind of obsessed with her typography and the way she expresses her thoughts through her art.

Look below if you want to see more pictures more of her work. Although you can always go to her Twitter or you can check out the rest of her amazing job over here!

And hey, if you know or love an artist and you wish to talk about them but don't know or don't have where to do it, you can always e-mail me and we'll work something out! :)

Someday...

2012-10-05T14:01:00.002-04:00

I would love to visit:

The city that never sleeps.

Seriously.

I have been wanting to go to New York since forever (well, not really forever, because I didn't even know the correct name of that city when I was in Cuba. Then again, living there was like living in a completely different planet, so it was understandable). Anyways, ever since I started to watch TV series, movies and musicals... the magic that the city that never sleeps holds captivated me and made me fall in love, naturally, with everything that it can offer you when you know how to look for them in the right places.

And hopefully, it won't be long before I'm walking down Broadway and taking pictures of the Wicked banner and maybe, if I'm lucky enough, I'll stumble upon a celebrity or two ;)

Meanwhile, though, here's a list of things I want to do once I get there:

I want to do every single thing that a tourist would do on their first visit... like have breakfast at Tiffany's.
Eat a bagel every single morning I'm there.
Spend a whole afternoon lying down (it doesn't really matter if it is in grass, a bench, the floor or a fountain) just watching people walk by while I make up stories about them. It has to be somewhere in Central Park, though.
Watch all the Broadway shows! (but having in mind that I'm not rich, one or two should be just fine.)
Go to as many museums as possible.
Give money to an amazing street performer.
Visit Soho and believe for a second that I live there.
Fall asleep on the subway.
Go ice skating, just to fall on my butt, at the Rockefeller Center.
Try to get some tickets for an SNL show.
Eat in Chinatown and then buy a branded item at a ridiculous low price.
See one of my favorite bands in concert.
And see something (movie or TV show) being filmed on the streets.

For now, that's all I can come up at the top of my head... although I'm sure that much more ideas will come up the day I actually get there. Because no matter how long it takes, I will make it to New York one day.

That's a promise.

For The Ears: Walk The Moon

2012-09-01T15:20:00.003-04:00

One of the reasons why I love last.fm so much is because they are always recommending me awesome artists. And one of those recommendations led me to find this amazing band called Walk The Moon.

The indie rock band based in Ohio started in 2008, and released their first independent album in november of 2010. These guys are upbeat, fun, inspirational and down right awesome... so, I'm going to stop talking now and just let you listen to them.

Their most known song is called "Anna Sun" and although the video is pretty great, I have to admit that this live cover of the song is, by far, one of my favorite things ever. Therefore, instead of getting to see the generic music video, you get to experience the band just having fun while doing what they love: create music.

And finally, my favorite song of them so far. "Next in Line" is absolutely delightful and rich, in my opinion. It's a song about young love and freedom. It's a song about just letting go of everything else and only focusing on enjoying life while we can. And it is definitely a song that always lift my spirits!

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed Walk The Moon at least almost as much and I do. Be sure to check out more of their music in their web-site. Until the next artist/band!

Bonus: Check out this awesome fan art about them that I found and absolutely loved!

WatchList: Pitch Perfect

2012-08-11T13:12:00.000-04:00

Okay, let's be real, if you love Glee as much as I do, your excitement about this upcoming movie should be HUGE!

Based on Mickey Rapkin's original novel Pitch Perfect, Kay Cannon (writer for 30 Rock) wrote the screenplay for the soon-to-be-out movie with the same name.

Directed by Jason Moore (Tony Award as Best Director nominee in 2004 for Avenue Q), Pitch Perfect tells the story of an all-women a cappella group that rebuilds themselves and strives to beat their rivals -an all boys singing group- and win the championship.

Here's the official Pitch Perfect trailer:

Cast includes Anna Kendrick known for Up In The Air, 50/50 and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World; Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids, Struck By Lightning); Brittany Snow (Hairspray); Skylar Astin (Spring Awakening); Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter 6, 7 & 7.2) and Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games).

And here's a sneak peek of the movie!

After seeing the Riff Off, I totally cannot wait to see the rest of the movie because I'm pretty sure it will be super awesome.

I mean, comedy and singing is, after all, the best recipe for perfection!

Let us be badass!

2012-08-09T14:31:00.002-04:00

Embrace your awkward personality, the size of your body, the color of your skin, the positive thoughts in your mind, embrace yourself, the happiness that surrounds you, the selflessness, your mistakes, your achievements, the people that loves you and the tolerance for the people that judges the way you are...

Be a badass, embrace your everything... and life will totally be that much more brighter.

For The Ears: Imagine Dragons

2012-08-03T14:11:00.000-04:00

So, I guess this is me starting a new tag about music.

Ha! This should be fun... Anyways, everyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I don't go a day without listening to music. It is as simple as that, really. So, what I want to do is share with anyone I can all the incredible music that I hear, because every amazing artist out there deserves to be heard of!

First up, it's the very talented band called Imagine Dragons.

"It's Time" is the name of their single, and it is also a song that I have been obsessed with ever since I heard their EP, Continued Silence. Honestly, I believe their beat is incredible, the lyrics are beautiful and overall, I just adore them. My favorite song, though, has to be "On Top Of The World" because it makes my heart happy, and somehow, I always end up smiling when I listen to it.

So, what do you think? Are they amazing or what? I cannot wait for their first CD -it's going to be out in September- because I'm pretty sure it's going to be absolutely awesome!

If you love them as much as I do, please show them some love and support by buying their songs, sending them nice tweets to their account AND voting for the band to win at the MTV's Video Music Awards (they're nominated for Best Rock Video of 2012!!)

Soaking up the sun!

2012-08-02T16:52:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I go to really awesome and stunningly beautiful beaches, and I take pictures of them. Here's a couple of my favorites.

Hilton Hotel- Barbados

Cayo Coco, Ciego de Avila- Cuba

Montones, Isabela- Puerto Rico

Miami Beach, St. Church, Barbados

Flamenco, Culebra- Puerto Rico

Mar Azul, Habana- Cuba

Palominito Island, Fajardo- Puerto Rico

Varadero, Matanzas- Cuba

East Coast, Barbados

Found this frame in the wall of the building of my aunt's apartment, and I love it because I totally agree with it.

Nothing like the caribbean, right? Seriously, you should all visit Cuba, Puerto Rico and Barbados at least once in your life. Those islands are AMAZING, and I guarantee you'll have a great time!

Bonus: Montones, again, because my family actually has an apartment there so I'm always going and it's one of my favorites :)

18 facts about the Olympic Summer Games!

2012-07-30T14:37:00.002-04:00

The early Olympic Games were celebrated as a religious festival from 776 B.C. until 393 A.D., when the games were banned for being a pagan festival (the Olympics celebrated the Greek god, Zeus). In 1894, a French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin, proposed a revival of the ancient tradition and so, the modern-day Olympic Summer Games were born.
China didn't get its first Olympic medal until 1984. (Xu Haifeng won gold in the 50 meter pistol event.)
The youngest (10 years old) Olympian ever was Dimitrios Loundras, a Greek gymnast in the 1896 Athens Olympics. The oldest Olympian ever (72 years old) was Oscar Swahn, a Swedish shooter in the 1920 Antwerp, Belgium, Olympics.
Because of World War I and World War II, there were no Olympic Games in 1916, 1940, or 1944.
The 1908 Olympic Games, in London, took 187 days to last.
The United States has won more medals (2,189) at the Summer Games than any other country.
Larrisa Latynina, a gymnast from the former Soviet Union, finished her Summer Olympic Games career with 18 total medals (9 were gold)—the most in history. But currently, at the London 2012 Olympics, Michael Phelps could break that record since he has 17 medals so far (14 gold).
The five Olympic rings represent the five major regions of the world – Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania, and every national flag in the world includes one of the five colors, which are (from left to right) blue, yellow, black, green, and red.
It wasn't until 1900 that women were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games.
The Olympic Moto is “Swifter, Higher, Stronger” used since 1921.
Three continents – Africa, South America, and Antarctica – have never hosted an Olympics. But this will change in 2016, since Brazil will be the first country in South America to host an Olympic Summer Games.
A black athlete didn't win the marathon until Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia did it in 1960. And he did it barefoot.
The first ever Opening Ceremonies were held at the London Olympic Games in 1908.
The word "gymnasium" comes from the Greek root "gymnos" meaning nude; the literal meaning of "gymnasium" is "school for naked exercise". Athletes in the ancient Olympic Games would participate in the nude.
Cuba has won the most medals overall of any country which has never won a medal at the Winter Olympics. The first gold medal was won in 1900 by Ramon Fonst, fencer.
The 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens holds the record of most participants ever, with 202 countries.
In 1932, 14-year-old Kusuo Kitamura won the 1500m freestyle and became the youngest male to win an individual gold medal in any event.
The Olympic flame first appeared in the Olympics in 1928. The idea of using a flame actually came from the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, where they would light the flame at the beginning of the games and keep it burning until the end of the games.

*Most of these facts actually came from my lovely dad, who used to be a teacher of Sports History*

Drink all the coffee!

2012-07-25T17:15:00.002-04:00

Coffee has been on my life since I was very little.

Back in Cuba, where I grew up, my grandmother had lots and lots of coffee plants on her backyard. I remember that I would usually just sit and watch her go through the whole process of making coffee -which is kind of amazing, by the way- until one day, she told me to join her.

We would get up early, recollect every mature coffee cherrie at our sight, take the seeds out, put them to dry under the sun and once they were ready, roast them on a huge and hand made charcoal oven. Then, we would take the roasted seeds and grind them -using a hand mill- until the only thing left was coffee powder. After that, my gram would make coffee for everyone in the family -I gotta say, her coffee was the absolute best- and sometimes, even our neighbors would stop by and ask for a small cup of the greatest nectar on earth.

Sadly for me, I stopped helping my abuela do the whole coffee thing the moment a frog jumped on me from one of the plants one afternoon. Honestly, I'm so terrified of those animals that I think it was because of that incident that I also stopped drinking coffee for a while. That didn't last long, though, because I couldn't stay away from it and now I drink coffee everyday and in every variation possible.

My absolute favorite is the mocha frappuccino, although the latte is just as amazing. What's your kind of coffee?

The Age of Aquarius!

2012-07-23T18:49:00.001-04:00

Last night, I went to see a local revival of the Broadway musical: Hair.

The program.

And I have to say, the show was pretty amazing! The lights were spot on. The wardrobe was really cool and fun and colorful. The ensemble did a tremendous job. The band -with their long hair and all- was incredibly good. The choreography was complex and delightful (I mean, the kids danced really great). The acting was super amazing, and I laughed my butt off whenever Woof, Hud or Berger had a line. And the songs were just so, so, so good! Especially "Hair", "White Boys" and "Aquarius".

One of the members of the Tribe gave me a flier! And I have to say, the Hare Krishna was dope!

I can genuinely say that Hair was a great experience for me. I haven't really get used to seeing musicals live yet, in fact, I don't think I ever will. I'm always in awe of the talent I see in front of me and I honestly hope that's something that never changes, because I love the feeling of being amazed.

Anyways, my favorite part of the musical was when they sang "Let The Sunshine In", I could feel that song in my bones! Oh, and true to the broadway fashion, the cast invited the audience to sing and dance with them in the stage after the show was done.

That's the band!

Of course, lucky me (even though I'm kind of socially awkward and I don't dance, I am seriously not saying this in a sarcastic way) they pulled me onto the stage. And I say lucky, because I got to take a couple of pics with my favorites of the night!

Woof was definitely my favorite.

And Berger was pretty awesome too!

The peace sign was a must, it seems! No, but really, I had a tremendous time and I hope I get to see them again in another production in the future.

Now, since I couldn't film anything because it wasn't allowed, I shall end this post with a video featuring the original Broadway cast of Hair singing my two favorite songs from the musical "Aquarius" and "Let The Sunshine In"

New words are always good for the soul!

2012-07-19T19:53:00.000-04:00

My favorite one is definitely "petrichor" because I love the smell of rain even more than I love the sun rays warming my skin on a cold day. Seriously.

I didn't know about any of these words... did you? And if not, which one do you like most?

Quotable Arts

2012-07-17T19:10:00.001-04:00

These amazing pieces were made by the talented Evan Robertson, and if you like them so much that you want to buy any or all of them, the prints are available right here!

Live, learn... and have fun!

2012-07-13T18:05:00.001-04:00

I love this picture because those words are a beautiful definition of who I know I am, and of who I want to be for the rest of my life.

I'm happy about:

2012-07-10T21:20:00.004-04:00

These days, (and everyday for the rest of my life) the first thing I always do when I get back home is go straight to my computer, and today was not different. I checked Twitter, emails, Tumblr, Fanfiction, Youtube, Facebook... and by the time I got to Pinterest, this was the first picture I saw.

What I loved the most about this, is that I have done all the things on that list in the past 30 hours. (This is what happens when is summer time and you literally have nothing to do and sleep doesn't visit you as often as it should). Anyways, onto the items of the list...

I drink coffee whenever I can. I love it. I'm obsessed with it. I would make it my God if it weren't for the fact that is actually visible. Coffee is the best drink ever and Starbucks is like paradise, so, with that said... yes, I have had more than enough great coffee for today :)
Last night a cat (I think) made my mom's car alarm go off and when I went out to shut it down, I saw the sky full of stars and I couldn't help but stay, just looking them shine for a couple of minutes. It was pretty awesome, I love stars and I would stargaze every day if I could, but nature had it against me and the night got cloudy, so, I eventually ended up going inside. (The bonus is that the clouds also brought a thunderstorm, which I also happen to love, so it was all good at the end.)
After I got over the emotional mess I ended up being because of Downtown Abby (great TV show, everyone should watch it) I finished reading The Great Gatsby. To say that Scott Fitzgerald is amazing would be the biggest understatement ever. The dude was a genius, period. I was completely in love with every single word pasted on the pages of his novel and now, I'm incredibly excited about the movie... (so much that I might end up doing a post about it if I don't get too lazy)
I didn't run outside, but I did went for a ride in my bicycle, which I think it's pretty much the same, right? Weather wasn't really great, but at least the sun was out and about, which is something that I really appreciate because it has been raining non-stop for the past weeks. Also the tiniest dog in the history of tiny dogs bit my ankle but didn't even left a wound... fun times.
Last night, I caught up with my very first online friend! She found me on Tumblr and we talked for a while (I also almost died twice because of uncontrollably laughter) I gotta say it was really awesome to talk to her again, Amelia is really funny and I'm super glad to know she's going so well, makes my heart warm and fuzzy.
And I did eat half of the strawberries in the refrigerator of my avatar in one of the Apps I'm playing on my phone... that totally counts! (I myself, didn't get the chance to try them, but I did eat some real oranges, for what is worth)

That was it for me. What about you, anything to share with the class?

Flashmobs: Gotta love 'em!

2012-07-06T18:58:00.001-04:00

I never really knew what a flashmob was until I saw one on MTV a few years ago... then I realized, it was something that I did almost everyday, back at my old high school in Cuba, whenever we danced in ruedas de casino. It was pretty cool, I might add. Anyways, here's my top five flashmobs. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

1. Bunch of people at the beach dancing to ABBA? Oh, yeah!

2. For Gleeks from Gleeks. (Props for being hardcore fans and actually using the dance steps from Glee. Also, the awesome marriage proposal is a bonus!)

3. Julie Andrews voice in The Sound Of Music will always be a classic. I think so and they do too.

4. Honestly, everybody dances to Beyonce. That's like, a law!

5. Dancing flashmobs? Yes, those are pretty awesome; but to actually see a flashmob that creates music instead of a super fun dance? Count me in, please! The next as last video is, by far, one of my favorites. I mean, lets get real, nothing gets better than classic music. Ever. Check out this incredible orchestra belting out Ode to Joy in the middle of a park and just see the greatness for yourself.

Oh, that was fun to do! Let me know which one you liked more, or just hit me with your favorite flashmobs, since I would like to see more!

Blindfolded.

2012-07-05T16:43:00.001-04:00

I wouldn't know for sure because I have never felt it myself; but I believe that the act of falling in love is the same as someone trying to walk across a dark room, full of obstacles, with their eyes closed.

When face it with it, some people will simply turn around and search for another room. One with the light on. Safe.

But others will try. They'll be afraid at the start, but with every step towards the right place the fear will slowly fade away to be replaced by pure anxiousness and a bit of excitement at the possibility of reaching what they are aiming for. And, although the risk of getting hurt or lost and never able to find their way back to the right path is always present, they wont stop moving forward. No matter how many bumps they'll find along the way, they won't stop trying to walk ahead because they know that the reward at the other end of the room is good. The bright, new light, will always be worth it.

Falling in love must be an extraordinary experience for many, I'm sure. But to be honest, I don't have that natural -and quite common- faith that people seem to have when it comes to the most amazing feeling in the world. I'm a hopeless romantic, don't get me wrong; but outside of books, shows and movies, life hasn't really given me reasons to believe in that true and unconditionally love that plenty have found so easily.

It might be a matter of time, or maybe I'm just broken. Either way, the question still the same.

Is it really worth the risk: love?

That's an enigma that will never have a definitive answer because love is different for every single one of us. So, I guess the disclosure to that question is something that, with time, we will figure out for ourselves.