Marley and Me

Adapted from John Grogan's bestselling book about his Labrador retriever, the movie is about an ambitious young reporter, John Grogan, and his wife, Jenny, also a reporter, who move to a Florida, buy a house and adopt a Labrador puppy they name Marley. Marley quickly becomes a rollicking force of nature in their lives.



I actually read the book before this became a movie and I was really looking forward to see this. I remember when I read the book a year ago, I was so hooked on it I was reading it on the bus or the MRT, on the way and back from work. I clearly rememeber crying my eyes out in bed reading the sad parts in the book, sob sob.

As you all know, I am a true-blue dog lover. We have 4 yellow labrador retrievers at home (if I haven't mentioned it before) and I really miss them a lot. Dogs are really "man's best friend" if you ask me. I mean who else will jump at you and lick you in the morning every waking day?! Not even your boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife will do that haha.

Having said that, I'm a bit impartial in reviewing this movie because anything with dogs in it is high up on my list haha. The movie was a bit low-key though, some parts were a bit bland but like I said, if you're a dog lover then you really wouldn't mind. I already knew this movie was going to make me cry a river and that's exactly what happened in the last few parts of the movie.

So if you'd like a feel-good light hearted movie, go ahead and see this. It's also nice to see Jennifer Aniston back on the big screen.

My rating for Marley and Me - 3.5/5

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DAYS 3-6 Philippines Trip, Dec. 19-28, 2008

Saturday early morning, we headed to my parents' house in Caba, La Union - a 4 hour drive north of Manila. We were going to spend 1 night in La Union and 2 nights in Baguio.

By the time we arrived in Caba, it was breakfast time. We got there around 7.30 in the morning.

My parents' beach house

I miss this kind of pinoy breakfast - eggs, "tuyo" (dried fish) and pork longganiza (sausage)

Later that afternoon was my parents' annual charity gift-giving to the less fortunate people of Caba. My mom used to be the President of the Rotary Club in her district and she continues to participate in charitable events.

My stepdad, Bob

Ham Dinner

I made those burrito wraps from scratch!! (with the help of Mom haha)

Booze time!!!

One of the most favorite filipino pasttimes - Karaoke!

(From L-R) Johann, Victor (Brett's friend based in New Zealand), Brett, Mike, Alvin and Q.

Angelo, the spoiled dog

Rusty

Mom and her dogs

Longboarding in Camp John Hay

Figaro with my twin bro, Johann

My aunt's log house in Baguio, super quaint and cute!!!

They rent out this 3 bedroom house for 12k (est S$400) a night, quite reasonable I think.

More booze in Nevada Square

Good Shepherd goodies (near Mines View Park)

Alfajor rules!!!

Gerry's Grill, SM Baguio - spectacular view!

Spicy Sashimi (P200, around S$6.45)

Moldy chopsticks, GROSS!!!

"Tinomok" (P160, around S$ 5.16) - this is like "laing", a filipino dish made of taro leaves & coconut milk, stuffed with pork

"Crispy Pata" (P415, around S$13.39) - Crispy Pork Knuckles, very crispy and yummy! A great way to neglect your diet haha!

Adobo Seafood Rice (P135, around S$4.35) - black paella sauteed in squid ink. This was bland. Not recommended.

Garlic Adobo Shreds (P185, around S$ 5.99) - crispy pork adobo flakes. Very nice!

"Chicharon Bulaklak" (P180, around S$5.81) - deep-fried crispy pork intestines. We returned it because it tasted a little to burnt. Besides, its really bad for you!

Another round of Booze

"Kinilaw Tanguige" (forgot the price) - tanguige fish cooked in onions and vinegar.

"Sizzling Bangus Sisig" (P165, around S$5.32) - milk fish on sizzling plate. Really good and healthy!

View of the mountains. Reminds me of Genting in Malaysia.

Baguio is the summer capital of the Philippines. The city is at an altitude of approximately 1500 meters (5100 ft) in a moist tropical pine forest.

On our way back to Manila, we stopped over for a quick bite at one of the gas stations.

One of the lousiest philly cheese steak sandwiches I have ever eaten. Waste of money and saliva.

This was suprisingly good. It tasted like homemade burger with real beef and wheat bread. Highly recommended!

Read the next entries for more on my Philippines trip...

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10 Promises To My Dog

Akari fell in love with a puppy that had wandered into her house and adopted it. She names it "Socks" because its' paws looked like they had white socks on. Socks was a great comfort to Akari while grieving her mother's death. However, as Akari grows up, she gives less and less attention to Socks. Year by year, their distance grows, which also leads to physical distance as she moves to a far off city, leaving Socks behind to a childhood friend.



[Spoiler alert]

As expected, Socks passes away on her 10th year of living. And this is where you could hear people sniffing and sobbing in the cinema :P

The movie was actually very heartwarming and touching. It's not only about losing a dog but losing your mom or a loved one. Damn it this movie really made me cry. Especially in my case where I left my 2 yellow labrador retrievers in the philippines to find greener pasteurs here in Singapore - "Peaches" and "Bambi". Peaches is 6yrs old this year, that means 4 years to go for her... how truly sad :(

Aileen and Zach were sobbing like crazy hehe.. Aileen, my cousin, was really moved because her Golden Retriever "Sky" just passed away a month ago due to kidney failure. Sky succumbed to her sickness a few days after Aileen went home to Manila, so we all think Sky knew she was coming home and held on to dear life before passing away. We miss you Sky!

Then again I don't want to be carried away by my emotions because there were a few dull moments in the movie :P .. or was it because we caught the midnight showing at Cathay. For dog lovers like me, this movie is a must. It makes you realize there is more to life than the everyday grind and yearning for fame and fortune. You can always find another job but you can't find a replacement for your family.

For this truly heartwarming movie, I give it a 3.5/5

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