News: Archive for July, 2008
Boracay Trip
I should’ve blogged about this last March, but anyway, better late than never.
Last March, Team Pikitchen went to Boracay for four days and three nights, and endured each other from all the food rantings, and the “expensive everything” there. Needless to say, I fell in love with Boracay’s famed white sand beaches. I was like a small boy playing in a big sandbox back then.
Ronaldo Valdez and his Most Versatile Role Ever!
I’m so glad that Ronaldo Valdez’ character, Lolo Greg Abueva, has come out as the pseudo-villain for the series “My Girl”. Pseudo-villain because in the past episodes, he was presented as a fun-loving, jolly, and affectionate grandfather. It’s nice to see him in a new light. For those who still don’t know, Ronaldo Valdez had a career as prime antagonist in some action films. I really really appreciate the new twist in the plot, and am so glad they chose him for the role.
I just hope he gets as much character roles like this sooner. He’s really good in this recent scene of his:
He really scared the hell out of me (Which means “Bravo!” in my vocabulary)! I guess he’ll do a better villain than that of Anika’s role.
I can also see an angle here where Aunt Belle might also turn into a villainess, and soap opera followers would know that Bing Loyzaga (the actress playing Aunt Belle) has also done her share of villain roles in the past. It might be possible if and when Lolo Greg’s character dies in the story. Things are getting more interesting in “My Girl”!
David Cook’s First Show Goes To…
You guessed right! It’s going to be in the Philippines! Hip hip, hoooray!
And here is the so-called proof from Youtube:
If you’re reading my blog (oh I wish!), sir David Cook, I’m a fan of yours, and you rock the hell out of my roommates here in our apartment! If you come here to the Philippines now, you’ll always hear “Always Be My Baby” in radio stations, like every frickin’ day! Interestingly enough, Filipinos don’t get tired of listening to your songs.
Tux-fu vs. The Deadly Blue Screen!
Move over “Kung-Fu Panda” and “Kiwi”.
Meet the bird with the greatest angst in all of Youtube. Meet Tux-fu! (Watch out for the surprise ending!)
Who said geeks can’t make good movies?
The Echo Trailer
From the producers who brought you the international box office hits “The Ring” and “the Grudge”, comes the proudly-Filipino-helmed movie remake of “Sigaw” called “The Echo”. I saw the trailer and it’s super chilling. I really want to share this with you guys.
I even find myself gasping from some scenes in the trailer. I’ve been following “The Echo’s” progress ever since Yam Laranas sent all those vids to international film critics.
I really really am looking forward to watching this one!
100 Days Part 1: Mission Accomplished!
Finally, after three years of completion and thinking things over, I finally finished the first 10 chapters of my very first, multi-chapter novel! Haha! I’m telling the world about it.
I’ll be publishing the first 10 chapters in the internet, but the rest…. hmm… I’m gonna finish it, might not be publishing it in public (emphasis on “might not”), until something really unplanned happens.
In the meantime, I’ll be having it as an attachment here. Also, I will post the new chapters in novels.jofell.com. Hope you all enjoy this.
P.S. It’s in Taglish, you’ve been warned. Also, comments on each chapter is allowed, so please do peer review for me.
Shows that I (Won’t) Watch: I Am Kim Sam Soon
Just to be fair with my first post, I’d review “Ako si Kim Sam Soon”, (I Am Kim Sam Soon in English). Just saw the first episode and here are my evaluations:
1. Technical / Cinematography
First time I saw the teasers, I said to myself, it really looks like the Kim Sam Soon series I watched before in GMA 7, except for the overly-baby-powdered face of Regine Velasquez. Camera shots were continuous, moving, always follows the actors. But when I saw the pilot, camera movement went from dizzying to ridiculous. There’s too much camera movement going on, and it kinda reminded me of this “Oka Tokat” clone series that GMA had (it had Anne Curtis, I guess… please, if you know this series, remind me about the title).
Lighting was OK, and blocking was mediocre. Same old Filipino soap opera angles (other than those 180-degree shots). The bridge scene was near beautiful, it was just over the top, IMO.
2. Score
I guess, it has been the “sickness” of all Pinoy soap operas (My Girl included). It’s too noisy!
3. Story
I actually like the story and how fast-paced, slapsticky it is. At least for the original. Later, I will discuss why it lacks so much in slapstick. It’s just the pilot episode. Maybe I should also watch the other episodes.
Also, the “naming excuse” (Kim Sam Soon is obviously a Korean name, and can never be Filipino) that “Kim Sam Soon” came from Kim-berly, Sam-uel, and Soon-ya (the midwife was Visayan) made me puke like hell because it was soooo lame! They should’ve left her name as Kim Buot.
4. Acting
What got me hooked with Korean soap operas is the very good writing and exceptional acting. Provided the material, the cast should at least try to do it the same level as the original. Problem is, there isn’t enough slapstick in it, especially Regine Velasquez, who seem to lack that “Kim Sam Soon” luster. Her mouthing the other women who brag about their loved ones was total proof that she’s giving the effort, but just shows that the role was forced to her. She’d really do better, IMO, if she did Betty La Fea. Everyone just seems to settle for their old-style acting, including Wendell Ramos, and surpsrisingly, even Mark Anthony Fernandez who have tons of potential of being a better actor than the original Korean leading guy.
Conclusion
No matter how the ratings will say, I daresay Filipinos have lost the ability to ask for more from the old-school soap opera acting, technicals, and storyline. Cinematography was supposed to be good, but too much camera movement would make viewers literally throw up in front of their screens. I have to admit, My Girl has lost its fast-paced narrative from its first three weeks, but people could easily still get hooked with it because of Kim Chiu’s commendable effort to be the Pinoy Kikay that was “Jasmine”. “Ako si Kim Sam Soon” has lost all Korean storytelling flavor, even so the Pinoy slapstick we usually see in Pinoy sitcoms. “Kim Sam Soon” as a character is so demanding, the original actress has to gain weight to live up with the character. Compared to the suckingly-obvious paddings that Regine has, they just made “Ako si Kim Sam Soon” a waste of money, promotion, and ratings bribing (come on, I see a lot of people watching My Girl from Alabang to Valenzela to Makati, Quezon City and Manila. The ratings can’t be a measly 22%!).
With these big disappointments like Mari Mar (sappy, slow-paced, and sappy), Dyesebel (since Marian was there, same as Mari Mar), Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita (With free instructional on how to use a gun! Brilliant! As if kids aren’t watching), and now, “Kim”, I can’t be a proud Kapuso.
In my most honest opinion, only Channel 2 sets the bar higher. GMA just feeds the people all their ratings BULLSHIT, that’s why the other does the setting the bar higher again.
No asterisks.
Just a big period.
