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.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 am and is filed under Maramdamin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.