The Most Disappointing Movie Ever

5 - The Most Disappointing Movie Ever

"Write about a disappointment."

     I am a big fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, a cartoon series that aired in Nickelodeon. It was set in a world where some people had the ability to control one of the four elements, namely: earth, water, fire and air. However, there was one who could control all four. He/She would be given the title, "Avatar". And every Avatar would always be destined to do something that would change the world or have a large impact on it. In the series, the Avatar at that time was Aang, the last airbender and the protagonist. He became the last of his kind since the firebenders from the Fire Nation had killed all the remaining airbenders. Hoping to end the cycle of the Avatars and to take over the world. If you want to learn more about the series, then check out the link provided.

     Anyway, to get to the point, the series became a huge hit. It had a lot of fans. Not a surprise since it had such an interesting story. And the characters themselves were just as interesting. I watched every episode from all three seasons when Nickelodeon was showing the Avatar: The Last Airbender marathon to feature their season finale, which was amazing (just saying). After the series ended, they decided to make a live-action movie due to its success. It was called "The Last Airbender" which was directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Naturally, we were all very much excited to see it. I guess you could say that everyone began having high hopes and expectations for it. Unfortunately, we set them up too high. The movie was a complete disappointment for everyone. I mean it. It was just so bad that I felt like I just wasted my money seeing it in the cinema.

     

     First of all, they messed up the story. In fact, they did not summarize it very well. It focused too much on the mission, and the romance between the protagonist and one of the female characters there was not even mentioned. They barely had a romantic moment. And I'm pretty sure that that's what most of the fans were really excited about (like me for instance). I mean, even action movies have some romantic scenes for the protagonist and his leading lady, but not for this guy, apparently. Also, they failed to catch the personalities of the characters. Aang was supposed to be a cheerful and playful kid in the series but they made him a serious person in the movie. This was just really disappointing. And most fans were unhappy with the choice of actors who portrayed the characters. They thought that most didn't even look like them. But I thought that it was all right.

  

     If there was one thing I liked about the movie, it's the effects that they used. It was really amazing how they were able to make it all look very realistic. I'll definitely give them credits for that. However, there were just too many negative comments for the whole movie that a lot of fans would probably overlook that. Again, it's a shame. And if they're still planning to make a part two, they should probably hire a different director this time (just saying).

A Hike To Remember

4 - A Hike To Remember

"Describe an outdoor experience."

     Don't you just love the outdoors? How it's so peaceful, especially when it's far from the city. I love the outdoors. I love how the sun warms up your skin, how the trees give you this sense of adventure and how the environment feels so clean. It's a nice place to be in when you want to get away from the city because, sometimes, it's annoying how, everywhere you look, there will always be trash in inappropriate places. And I also find it unfortunate how I don't see a lot of trees either. That's why I enjoy being outdoors where I can see a lot of them.

 

     During the summer of 2012, I went on a hiking trip with some schoolmates. I believe that it was an outing planned by the members of our school's Social Builder's Club. I wasn't a member but I decided to tag along since I haven't gone hiking before. It was a long drive to the province and we were very cramped in the van. One of the boys had to lie on the coolers since there was no more room for him to sit. And whenever we would go through a toll gate, we had to cover him with a towel or a blanket so that we would not get caught overloading with passengers. When we finally arrived at our destination, we settled down first at this house. It had old-looking furniture and the second floor, which wasn't so big, was practically made out of bamboo. Anyway, after we had lunch, we prepared ourselves for hiking and continued to the mountain. It was a hot and sunny day which made the hike a bit more tiring but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I kept admiring how green and beautiful the scenery was. However, I ran out of water. Luckily, my friend had some with him but he made me carry it in my backpack which was still all right I guess. As long as I could drink from it. When we were near the peak of the mountain, it got steeper and steeper. And I was at the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. But I kept shouting "Adventure Time!" and I guess it gave me some strength to make it to the top. When we did, we stayed there until we regained our stamina. While we rested, we enjoyed watching this wonderful view. I felt like I was on top of the world and satisfied since I could finally check that activity off of my "Things I Must Do Before I Get Old" list. Once we regained our energy, we hiked back down the mountain. But we stopped by a river first, before returning to the house we were staying in, and went for a swim. That was also the first time I have ever swum in a river before. Unlike the ocean, which gradually gets deeper and deeper, it has some shallow parts and, suddenly, some really deep ones. Anyway, after swimming, we continued back to the house where others started preparing dinner while the boys began pitching up their tents. After having dinner, we played hide and seek somewhere not too far from the house. It was dark so the seeker needed a flash light in order to find us. It was so much fun, but we were running out of hiding places. At one point, I just hid behind a small hill by lying on the grass. It wasn't very effective. Anyway, I noticed how the sky there was filled with an unbelievable amount of stars. I never saw it like that in my entire life. It made me wish that it could look just like that back in the city. Too bad that was the only time I would ever be able to see it.

     I always wish that the city could be cleaner. So that there would not be so much pollution that keeps nature from flourishing. So that there would not be smog to keep me from being able to observe the stars in the night sky. I wonder how many people wish the same thing. How many also wish to be able to see the stars at night? Am I the only one who still does? Is there anybody out there who dreams of seeing a cleaner city? Or has everyone given up on that? Have you?

Making New Friends

3 - Making New Friends

"Write about moving to another city."

     Moving to another city is not usually a comfortable idea. Especially since it takes time before we learn to get accommodated to the new environment. Besides getting used to the location of your new home, you wouldn't be able to see familiar faces, so you would have to meet new ones. Now, I don't mean that to be a bad thing. It is good to meet new people. However, it isn't easy for some people to make new friends. Not everyone is gifted with the ability to be able to make friends instantly. There are some who can be very shy.

     When I moved from Mandaluyong to Parañaque city, it didn't take me too long before I got used to living at our new home. However, I had a very difficult time trying to make new friends. I'm a very shy person so I don't normally talk to random people I see walking on the street. But I did like to go around on my bicycle because I wanted to know the area. It was due to this that I was able to make a friend. She was a friendly character, so she was the one who approached me first, really. She also lived on a street not too far from ours, so it wasn't difficult to meet her everyday. However, our friendship only lasted for about a year or so because she had to move away to another city. We didn't keep in touch since we were still children and we weren't into using e-mails or social networking sites like now. Though, it was fun while it lasted. After my friend moved out, I wasn't able to make another friend. Unfortunately, I feel like not all the people here are as friendly as she is and since I have a difficult time approaching other people, I don't make any friends. So, I just stay home.

     Though I haven't any friends here, where I live, I still have the ones at school. So life is still bearable and entertaining. I could always connect with them through the internet when we all return to our homes. But, sometimes, I miss having a friend who would just live down the street. It's nice to be able to visit them whenever you could. Luckily, however, I have some one who I enjoy spending time with, so I don't feel lonely. He may not live as near as I wish he could, but it's near enough. And I'm content with that. So, if there's a message that I could share with you it's that, you may not be able to find a friend nearby, but you can always find friends in other places.

That Feeling You Get On Stage

2 - That Feeling You Get On Stage

"Write about a time you performed in front of an audience."

     Remember that feeling you would get when you know that you are about to go on stage? And it makes you feel like you want to throw up or just quit at the last minute? I'm sure that it's a feeling that everyone has had to face at one point in their lives. In fact, it's what most people fear about when performing in front of an audience. Some would get so scared that they would let it consume them, forcing them to just stand there and feel like a fool. That's called "stage fright". However, there are others who are able to fight that feeling and perform as if it never bothered them. Not a lot of people can be like that but, if one is constantly being exposed to that sort of environment, then he/she will soon learn to get used to having that kind of feeling and treat it as something insignificant.

     I remember the first time that I felt "stage fright". I was in kindergarten, performing a dance on stage with my classmates. I believe that it was the first time that I was exposed to that kind of environment (being on stage in front of an audience) which is why I could not help but stand there, frozen. Honestly, it was a very horrid experience. But, for some reason, it didn't stop me from exposing myself once again to an audience. Over the years, I guess I tried to become used to it. I would still feel nervous, however, I didn't let it consume me. I would always make sure that, no matter how nervous I would get, I would try my best to perform anyway.

     One of the most memorable performances that I have ever made was when I acted in a play on stage. I had just started college when I joined the theatre organization, in Asia Pacific College, called "Teatré Phileo". And I was fortunate enough to have been given the role of Helena Adolfo, a kind school girl who died and had gone to purgatory and was the only one, out of seven others, who was sent to heaven, in the play entitled "VII" which was written by Venece Dingal. It was not easy since it was my first time to actually act as another person in a play, but I did my best nonetheless. And when the day of the play finally arrived, that nervous feeling had returned to haunt me once again. Minutes before the play was about to start, I sat in a corner behind the stage. I kept thinking to myself, saying that I shouldn't let it get to me. No matter what would happen, I must stay in character; the play must go on. And when it finally begun, I just let it all out. At that point, I made myself believe that the audience was not there and focused on my role. And miraculously, it worked! Somehow, I wasn't as nervous as I was before the play started. And after the whole thing was done, I felt so happy because I overcame that feeling. It felt like I was finally able to defeat my nemesis by doing something I never thought that I would be brave enough to do. It was an awesome moment.

     That experience really helped me a lot. I mean, sometimes I still do feel nervous when I perform or talk in front of an audience, but this time, I always remember that time when I overcame it since it reminds me that once you're out there, it will gradually disappear. And when it does, you will be able to own the stage. All you need is to believe in yourself.

The Beach

1 - The Beach

"Describe a day at the beach."

     The beach, a place where every one wishes to be during the busiest times of the year. A place where one can forget about his work and just enjoy basking in the sunlight while hearing the roar of the waves as it crashes unto the shores. A place that one would use to symbolize peace and relaxation. Every hard working man and woman wishes to be there. Even the children who are tired of being in school. How can one resist the temptation of being able to relax and enjoy what Mother Nature has blessed the shores of our beautiful country? Especially since I make it sound like a haven for restless people.

     I find the beach to be a truly relaxing place to be. I mean, being miles and miles away from the city, its smog, its trucks and cars, and its people, is just what I need sometimes. It's probably why we imagine the beach to be such a peaceful place to be in. If I was at the beach, I'd start my day by enjoying the view of the big blue ocean, and enjoy feeling the sand beneath my feet. Then, I'd hurry to the ocean for a swim, which would last almost the whole afternoon. It is such a wonderful place to swim in after all. I just love looking down at the ocean floor, seeing the seaweed sway from side to side, as I try to look for tiny fishes. It gives me this sense of serenity. As if, for that moment, there's nothing to do but to enjoy the beauty of it all. It's one of the things that I love about nature. Afterwards, I would also engage in building sand castles. I find it to be a very enjoyable activity since I can use my creativity. I'm not very good at it however, but it's still fun to do either way. Then, when the sun finally sets, I would sit on the sand and watch it as it slowly descends, because who doesn't enjoy a sunset? Finally, after enjoying some barbecued seafood for dinner, I would lie on the sand and observe the stars, since they aren't very visible when you're in the city.

     I wish I could be at the beach everyday, but I guess, if I did, I wouldn't find it to be as relaxing as it was at first since I would get used to being in that kind of environment. And if that happens, I would soon tire of being there. What a shame that too much of a good thing is a bad thing. However, that's the way life is. Paradise doesn't last forever. Which is why we should appreciate the times that we'll get to spend in these kinds of places. Since, we can't always have them.