Earlier today, I hauled myself off to the beauty parlor and stayed there for the better part of three hours.

I emerged with golden-bronze nails, as yours truly became her manicurist’s token guinea pig for a brand-new shade of polish that they had just acquired.

Half an inch or thereabout was trimmed off my hair, to clean up the little imperfections that have been haunting the ends of locks for quite a few weeks now. I was so impressed with the way my hair was treated with a teeny bit of serum and blown dry to a shiny, straight finish.

Since I was a good girl and got myself out of the house, I treated myself to an early dinner of baked ziti. The sauce was all-natural tomato. I had Valentine-red raspberry iced tea for my drink.

After eating, it was off to watch Underworld: Evolution.

The movie opened locally last Thursday and I just had to watch it first chance I got. Well, I wasn’t disappointed today!

I have been madly in love with Bill Nighy, who plays the immortal king Viktor, since the first installment of the Underworld saga back in 2003. I was practically squeeing with delight when I saw him in the prologue, in shiny battle armor and full-on warlord mode.

Underworld: Evolution was definitely more exciting than the first film. The action was practically nonstop since the first scene.

It was great to see a buffer, more badass Selene take matters into her hands and kick the bejeezus out of powerful lycans and vampires alike.

Amazon.com has the following movie summary:

Better action, a bit of sex, and gorier R-rated violence make Underworld: Evolution a reasonably satisfying sequel to 2003′s surprise hit Underworld.

Looking stunning as ever in her black leather battle gear, Kate Beckinsale is every goth guy’s fantasy as Selene, the vampire “death dealer” who’s now fighting to stop the release of the original “Lycan” werewolf, William (Brian Steele) from the prison that’s held him for centuries.

As we learn from the film’s action-packed prologue, William and his brother Marcus (Tony Curran) began the bloodline of vampires and werewolves, and after witnessing centuries of warfare between them, their immortal father Corvinus (Derek Jacobi) now seeks Selene and the human vampire/lycan hybrid Michael (Scott Speedman) to put an end to the war perpetuated by Victor (Bill Nighy), the vampire warrior whose betrayal of Selene turns Underworld: Evolution into an epic tale of familial revenge.

Earlier today, I was able to catch Van Helsing in the local cinema.

This monster action movie has Hugh Jackman (Wolverine in the X-Men films) in the title role as Gabriel Van Helsing. Kate Beckinsale (Selene in Underworld) played Transylvanian princess Anna Valerious, while Richard Roxburgh was the hero’s nemesis, Count Dracula.

Van Helsing’s sidekick, the friar Carl, was portrayed by David Wenham, who captivated audiences as Gondor steward Faramir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Van Helsing was quite a pulse-quickening thrill ride, very well complemented by its powerful soundtrack and cutting-edge special effects.

I loved the way classic creatures such as Dracula, Mr. Hyde and the Frankenstein Monster were integrated into the plot with fresh storylines of their own. My favorite of them all is the latter, into whom actor Shuler Hensley breathed fierce, poignant and heartbreakingly beautiful life.

Here is the Amazon.com film summary:

Van Helsing pits legendary vampire hunter Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) against Dracula (the deliciously campy Richard Roxburgh), his deadly blood-sucking brides, and the Wolfman (Will Kemp).

In alliance with a Transylvanian princess (Kate Beckinsale) and the Frankenstein monster (Shuler Hensley), Van Helsing must prevent Dracula from hatching his bat-winged progeny.

Earlier tonight, I was able to buy an original video CD copy of the 2003 action film Underworld.

The movie is topbilled by Kate Beckinsale as the vampire death-dealer Selene and Scott Speedman as immortal-in-the-making Michael Corvin.

My favorite character is, without a doubt, the vampire lord Viktor. He was played by the charismatic, magnificent, scene-stealing Bill Nighy.

This film never fails to entertain me, although I have already seen it a number of times when it was being run in the theaters.

Rumor on the Internet has it that a sequel for Underworld is currently in the works.

Personally, I would like to see just how powerful the new “Corvinus” will turn out to be, as pitted against the last Vampire Elder, Marcus, who was referred to in passing as a “descendant of (the first) Corvinus.”

Here is the Amazon.com film summary for Underworld:

Underneath the city streets, amid the labyrinth of subway tunnels and gothic ruins, the two most notorious creatures of the night are embroiled in an all-out war that has been going on for centuries.

It is the culmination of a blood-thirsty battle between the vampires and their mortal enemies, the werewolves.

In the name of God, impure souls of the living dead shall be banished into eternal Damnation. Amen.

Right now, I am at Netopia in SM Megamall, Ortigas, Metro Manila. The place is so bloody cold. I am also as hungry as hell, so it is all good.

I have been in the big city since Wednesday. Most of my free time I spend here at Megamall, because I just love the place, the activity, and the sheer anonymity that the space affords me.

Anyway, I went to Comic Quest (located at the Lower Ground level same as this Internet cafe) and was able to purchase all 13 episodes of the Hellsing anime series. I am a pleased little vampire.

I am going back to barracks tomorrow afternoon, on the 3:20 PM flight.

As time is of the essence, I might as well get my freezing buns off this light metal chair and get some serious shopping done.

Here is the Amazon.com product description for the Hellsing anime:

The worst enemy of the night is one of its own. A secret war brews in the night – a war where humanity is only a pawn.

The Hellsing Organization deploys in the shadows to protect the mortal world. But now, artificially spawned vampires have appeared, forcing Hellsing to call in their ultimate weapon – the rogue vampire, Alucard!

After he transforms the dying Seras Victoria into a vampire, they join forces to combat the undead army, as well as her own newfound hunger!

I just landed after watching Queen of the Damned since early last night.

It is now morning here. Vampyr Nosferatu henceforth prey on the unsuspecting.

I totally loved the movie. I know most critics said it was kind of trashy, but there were four things in it that I could not help but rave about. In no particular order:

Stuart Townsend as Lestat de Lioncourt
He is beautiful and he looks so good in black. His demeanor reminds me of Brandon Lee‘s Eric Draven character in The Crow. His animal grace and sensuality is a much sexier Lestat compared to Tom Cruise‘s Interview with the Vampire rendition. The faded French slur in his voice is so easy on the ears, and let us not forget how well he fit into the role of a rock demi-god.

Aaliyah as Queen Akasha
She could move, baby, how she could move. Whenever she is onscreen you forget everyone else in it. Her body is like the purest, sweetest yet most poisonous jelly. Her overall expression radiates menace, sex, power and a terrible beauty all at once.

Vincent Perez as Marius de Romanus
The second Crow, but here he is a slightly balding, slightly caustic mentor figure. He is suggestiveness and wisdom personified, so rarely could you see those two attributes together in one person. He looks so at home in the role that I could not envision Marius as anyone else but him.

The Soundtrack
I am besotted. Gorgeous, breathtaking metal. A more hardcore and hoarse side to something akin to the music of The Smashing Pumpkins. Jonathan Davis was a brilliant choice for the singing voice of Lestat: a versatile package of acid, destruction and seduction. My favorite song is Forsaken; it is the first song I will play if ever I get to organize a mosh-pit shindig.

Here is a summary of the movie from Amazon.com:

It’s her time. Her place. The wickedly regal Mother of All Vampires is ready again to rule!

Aaliyah plays the title role in this stylish shocker based on Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles. Stuart Townsend portrays Lestat, the undead antihero previously seen in the movie version of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire.

This time, Lestat finds acceptance in a tattooed and pierced world. He’s a rock star. And his intoxicating Goth-riffed sound rekindles the desires of all-powerful Akasha.