ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Cast

Courtesy of Dinno Erece, here is the major cast of the film adaptation of Zaturnnah:

ZsaZsa Zaturnnah: Rufa Mae Quinto
Ada: Ogie Alcasid
Didi: Allan K
Dodong: (no actor yet)

Any suggestions on the Dodong character? Parang nakikita ko si Wendell Ramos... Just judging from the cast, ah. ;-) Pero sympre kung makukuha ko Piolo Pascaul, why not, di ba?! *wink wink*


Related Posts:
More ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Movie Updates
Rufa Mae As ZsaZsa Zaturnnah

FAMAS 2006 Nominees

Best Picture
Nasaan Ka Man (Star Cinema)
Dubai (Star Cinema)
Ako Legal Wife (Regal Films)
Kutob (Canary Films)
Mga Pusang Gala (Erasto Productions)

Best Actor
Ricky Davao (Mga Pusang Gala)
Aga Muhlach (Dubai)
Jericho Rosales (Nasaan Ka Man)
Marvin Agustin (Kutob)
Robin Padilla (La Visa Loca)

Best Actress
Zsa Zsa Padilla (Ako Legal Wife)
Claudine Barretto (Nasaan Ka Man)
Rufa Mae Quinto (Ako Legal Wife)
Irma Adlawan (Mga Pusang Gala)
Rica Peralejo (Kutob)

Best Director
Cholo Laurel (Nasaan Ka Man)
Jose Javier Reyes (Kutob)
Rory Quintos (Dubai)
Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil (Mga Pusang Gala)
Joel Lamangan (Ako Legal Wife)

Best Supporting Actor
Johnny Delgado (La Visa Loca)
John Lloyd Cruz (Dubai)
Christopher King (Masahista)
John Prats (Ako Legal Wife)
Dennis Trillo (Mulawin)

Best Child Actor
Bj "Tolits" Forbes (Exodus)
John Vladimir Manalo (Nasaan Ka Man)
Miguel Tan Felix (Mulawin)
Kurt Perez (La Visa Loca)

Best Child Actress
Ella Guevarra (Birhen ng Manaoag, Ako Legal Wife)
Sam Bumatay (Mulawin, Enteng Kabisote 2)

While some of the nominees this year are eyebrow-raisers (Guess which ones?!) and through the years, FAMAS's reputation had been tarnished by different scandals, a FAMAS nomination or award is still being held in high regards! Ika nga, FAMAS pa rin 'yun! The very first film award-giving body here in the Philippines!

One group, though, that I know truly deserved the nominations is that of Direk Ellen and her Erasto Productions. I salute them for the nominations! I know that Direk Ellen is very proud of her work since this is her baby. From its inception down to the post-theater run selling, pinaghirapan nila ng husto ito. In a way, naging nanny rin ako ng baby na 'to since I took care of it for some time while the production is planning for its "re-introduction" to the masses. I'm hoping that the jurors (in any award-winning body) would give it a fair chance in winning against the films produced by major studios.

Teka, nasaan si Maximo?!

Related Posts:
Mga Pusang Gala Review
Si Ellen At Ang Mga Pusang Gala
ICON Out

Mean Pinays!

One of my fave films is Mean Girls! Call me baduy but I just love that movie! First, because it had Lindsay Lohan in it! I have been an admirer of her since The Parent Trap where she debuted as a film star. (Seeing her on screen is one of my guilty pleasures! :-p) Second, I find the movie sooooo funny!

Anyway, here's the Pinoy adaptation! If you have seen the film, you'll be able to relate with this one. Very nice! Fetch! Oh I mean... Astig! :-)



Video by:
princejer1

Training With Pinoy Jedis!

Video by:
princejer1

More Zsazsa Zaturnnah Movie Updates

O-kay. We've been getting (and reading) mixed information about the Zsazsa Zaturnnah movie lately - from TV, newspapers, etc. However, as of this time, according to Dinno Erece, the shooting has not started yet. In his post here, he added that there is nothing definite yet about the cast. But he promise to give us updates as soon as things become clear.

Dino is writing the screenplay for the film.

Thank you for the post, Dinno! Hope to hear more infos from you about the movie!


Related Post:
Rufa Mae As Zsazsa Zaturnnah

Rufa Mae As Zsazsa Zaturnnah

Contrary to what I have written here a few weeks ago, Rufa Mae Quinto agreed to do the character Zsazsa Zaturnnah in its movie version and not Eula Valdes. In her ETK interview, Eula was asked if she felt bad that she wasn't pick to play the part in the movie. She said, "Care ko! Akin na 'yung play!"

During her Press Conference, she further added, "I’m very thankful that this project came to my life because it is a very impressive project...it doesn’t necessarily mean that if I’m in the musical that I’d be the one who should play Zsa Zsa in the movie."

Rufa Mae and company started with the shooting this April 19. Mark Meily ("Crying Ladies") will direct the film. As to the other actors would be, we'll find out in the next few days/weeks.

As for Rufa Mae, I feel that the character and look of Zsazsa fits her well. I hope, though, that we'd see a different Rufa Mae here minus the "Ibang-level-no-'to" actress that we all know. She already did it in "Ako Legal Wife" (even though we still get a glimpse of her usual acting once in a while) so I hope that it would continue further. It's time to prove that she can better her craft and stay away from the shadows of Booba or Super B. Anyway, congratulations Rufa Mae! We'll be looking forward to the film!

P.S.
Thank you, Sir Vince, for correcting me on this one! Hope to see you this Sunday!


Related Posts/Readings:
Eula Valdez: Not bitter that she’s not considered for Zsazsa Zaturnnah the movie
Rufa Mae Quinto's Celebrity Profile
Kay Eula Na Ang Korona!
Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal Rerun

Good Deeds

Recently, we hear news about the heroic deeds that some of our fellowmen do - taxi drivers surrending left baggages of passengers, police officers giving back lost money to its owners, children going out of their way to return stolen items to their worried owners, etc. Yesterday, Maalaala Mo Kaya reshown the story of Keybird Padilla of Cebu. He chased a snatcher just so he could be imprisoned and the earring he stole could be returned to its owner.

Keybird back then was only 10 years old. He is the child of this new generation who, despite poverty, remained kind and speaks from the heart with intelligence. Because of his act of bravery, he was praised by the government and was granted high school and college scholarships. Not only that, his mother was given a permanent job.

Good deeds are hard to come by these days in a world full of hatred and cynicism. Sometimes, even the smallest courtesies are forgotten like saying thank you whenever another passenger hands out your fare to the driver, giving your seats to old people, handicapped or pregnant women, helping children or old people in crossing the streets, etc. These gestures, simple as they may be, go a long way. Sometimes I wonder, would it be so freaking hard to acknowledge the greeting of a security guard or sales person who greets you whenever you enter their store? You need not greet them back if you don't want to but a simple nod or a smile would do. It would help them in continuing doing their job well and will also make them feel good that their work is being acknowledge.

Just two weeks ago, I received a good deed from a stranger. She saw that I was having trouble in carrying my bag so she helped me carry them till I reached the end of the stairs. While she was doing such, I had doubts in my mind. Was she for real or she wants something back? But then, after I said my thank you, she just went with her own business. It made me feel glad that there are still people like her who would do simple acts of kindness just for the sake of helping people. You see, my worry these days is that people might have the wrong notion of "helping" and "doing what is right". If you have noticed, most heroic deeds done by the people I mentioned above were given compensations particularly money. I hope that people, in general, would realize that those rewards were mere bonuses of what they did. It doesn't necessarily follow that you get rewards instantly whenever you do a good deed. Sometimes, you'd get them when you least expect it or when you badly need it. That's the way karma goes. Helping should be done for the sake of helping one another and not because you want something in return.

Speaking of good deeds, GMA 7 showed one of the greatest deeds in the world done by a Filipino (for the Filipinos) who was Dr. Jose Rizal. He had given his life so that Filipinos would be free from the hands of the Spaniards. His death brought the revolution against the Spaniards led by another hero, Andres Bonifacio. Incidentally, Jose Rizal is also one of the greatest movies Filipino movies ever made! It is well-researched, well-written, well-directed, and well-acted. I only get to appreciate it more when I taught the subject Rizal to my college students. I believe that they, too, enjoyed it under my helm, especially with the bits of infos that I shared with them. Everyone was so keen in listening especially when the topic was about Rizal's love life. Back in college, our teacher didn't talk about him outside the book we were using so it wasn't that interesting to me. It was only when I learned his human side that I get to adore him even more. (I'll post some interesting tidbits about him here soon.)

Because it is one of the greatest Filipino movies ever made, Jose Rizal needs a DVD treatment. It rightfully deserves such! As of the moment, copies of this movie is out of stock. It was only on VHS and VCD. (I had to convert my VHS copy so that I could let my students watch the film.) I hope that in time, we get to see and own it on DVD because it truly deserves to be part of someone's movie collection!

Meanwhile, on Star Movies, The Passion Recut was playing. The death of Christ is the ultimate good deed of all! Jim Caviezel gave one of the most heartfelt performances of Christ and the movie itself veered away from the usual Passion of Christ movies ala The Last Temptation of Christ.

These two movies are fitting indeed for Good Friday.

Amen to God.


Other readings:
Councilors hail Keybird Padilla as a hero
Kindness of strangers rewards boy hero
Boy hero among Cebu honorees at rites today
Boy hero gets citation from city government

Judas The Savior?

Speaking of Judas, last Sunday, I watched National Geographic's The Gospel Of Judas. This ancient text has been found way back in the 70s in Egypt but was only received by capable individuals during the 90s. Like what The Last Temptation of Christ portrayed, The Gospel Of Judas proclaims that Judas was an obedient follower of Christ's wishes rather than a betrayer.

With this new information, there's no doubt that it sparked controversies and opinions from scholars and common people. If proven authentic by the Church (i.e. if), it would totally revolutionized what most people think about Judas.

As for me, whether Judas was asked by Christ to betray Him or not, I already made up my mind about him. He was destined to play the role of the betrayer. For without him, Jesus will not be crucified and the world won't be saved from its sins.

That would lead us to question whether we are here on earth just to be mere players to God's will or we hold our own future. Because if Judas was meant to play the role, then it was already written? So would it mean that our fate as human beings have been also written already and we are just mere followers? So where does free will comes in now? Oh... That would be a different subject to discuss.

Anyway, in line with this, I thought that it'd be unfair to think that Judas went to Hell for betraying Christ. How could he be when he was just doing what he was meant to do? Ah... The answer I got from Mr. Alejo (the boss of the school where I taught before) was that Judas did not go to Hell for what he did. Instead, he went to Hell because he killed himself 'cause he could not forgive himself. But then, isn't it written that Judas will do such thing to himself? Thus, only fulfilling the prophecy? Or it was his free will who did such act? Where do we draw the boundaries now on what is destined and what is not?

Do we ever get the answers to all the questions we have in our mind?

The Last Temptation Of Christ

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Martin Scorsese
Universal Pictures

What if Jesus Christ is like any human being who is a sinner, confused, fearful, and doubtful to God's will? Will we ever be saved? These are the fundamental questions that Nikos Kazantakis (1951) portrayed in his book called The Last Temptation of Christ and adapted for the screen by Martin Scorsese (1988).

(Spoilers ahead)

Without a knowledge of the controversy that surrounded the film, one would easily to realize that this isn't the typical Passion of Christ movies from the beginning of the film. It started with Jesus Christ being tormented with voices in His head. He could not determine whether they are messages from God or from the devil. Then, it showed us that He does His living by making crufixes for the condemmed criminals. He is quite resistant with what He does but it is the only was He knows how to make a living. While in doubt, He continues to struggle with the voices and does what it says. Every now and then, He sees the light and feels sure of what He needs to do. Yet, every so often, as well, He fears that He might not be doing the right thing. On His last day at the cross, He received his last temptation. The devil tricked Him into believing that God wants Him to be saved and live the life He wanted as a man. The devil, disguised as an angel, brought Him down in the cross and marries Him and Mary Magdalene. Magdalene died so he married Mary, the sister of Lazarus, because the angel told Him so. With His new found wife, He had sons and daughters. On His death bed, he was visited by four of His disciples including Judas Iscariot. Judas told Him that He failed to save the world because he gave in to the devil's wishes. When He finally realized that he was wrong, Jesus asked for forgiveness from God. He has given Him his will to die so that He could save the world from all its sins. God took Him back and it was done.

When watching the film, one should be able to separate the fiction from the non-fiction because it a combination of both. Of course, one should have a clear knowledge of Bible history to be able to do so. If one is clueless about it, there lies the danger.

Among other things, what's best about the film is the portrayal of Jesus Christ. For one thing, he was portrayed by Willem Dafoe who wouldn't pass as Christ by any one's standards. He doesn't have the charisma or the kind feature that most Christ players have. In fact, he said that he is usually "perceived as an eccentric actor in dark little films, kind of the boy-next-door type - if you lived next door to a mausoleum." But because of that, he made Christ more human. A man like any other being on earth. When he speaks, he talks with arrogance so other people had a difficulty believing in him. When Lazarus's tomb was opened, he covered his nose the way other did because of the stench of death. These details may be true or not but they certainly made one feel that back then, Christ was one of us. That is why it is hard to blame some of the Jews for not believing in Him.

The sex scene between Christ and Magdalene was the most controversial part of the film. It was thought to be blasphemous by some chruch leaders and followers. But one has to realize that the scene were in a dream-like state. It should not to be taken as something that might have truly happened. It was the devil's last temptation so that Christ would abandon God's will.

Equally controversial was Judas's role. It portrayed Judas as Christ's most-loved and most loyal follower and that he was asked by Christ Himself to betray Him. Because that is the way it was written, according to Him. So unwilling as he is, Judas obeyed.

The book and the film isn't meant to be the truth. It can serve as a food of thought for open-minded people or should be taken for its entertainment value and nothing else.

More "Moments Of Love"

With all the flames, curses, bad words, hatred, and even threats that I received from doing a Moments Of Love review, should I dare to speak about it more? Actually, no more. But what I realized, though, is how one-sided my review turned out to be. I have pointed all the flaws that I saw in it yet failed to see its strenghts. For that, I apologized. However, I do not (and never will) say that I'm an expert in reviewing films. I just feel that I know a thing or two about it because I have been a movie enthusiast since I was a kid. I have a wide array of DVD collections even. The point, though, is that what I wrote were my personal opinion and feelings towards the film. I may be a Kapuso (I need not prove that to anybody but the people who knows me know that) but that doesn't mean that I should like everything they do. It doesn't also necessarily follow that I should hate what the other side is offering.

I wouldn't talk about the said film's strenghts anymore because I wouldn't want to sound as if I am defending myself. Instead, I saw this review from the Inquirer which seems to be close to what I was talking about. Paul Daza was able to balance his review with the strong and weak points of the film. That I wasn't able to do for which, I again, apologized. Anyway, read the edited version below:

GMA FILMS’ NEW LOVE STORY, “MOMENTS OF LOVE,” is a brave effort to inject something new into the typical Pinoy romantic movie. The filmmakers stepped out of the mold. Director Mark Reyes works from a story by Annette Gozon-Abrogar and a screenplay by Gina Tagasa in which the lead characters, played by Dingdong Dantes and Iza Calzado, don’t even meet because they live in different time periods. She’s engaged to a heartless lout (Paolo Contis) in the year 1957; he’s a loveless yuppie in the year 2006. Aided by a thunderstorm and a magic telephone, Calzado and Dantes cross oceans of time to converse from the same provincial house.

The story evokes Hollywood flicks like “Somewhere In Time” and “Frequency.” “Moments” also recalls a wonderful local movie directed by Rowell Santiago starring Judy Ann Santos, Wowie de Guzman, and the late Nida Blanca called “Luv Text,” in which time travel was a pivotal story element.

Technically, “Moments” is a mixed bag. Many shots are beautifully lit and artfully composed, but marred by an annoying flicker that runs throughout the movie. Several close-ups of the leads are unforgivably out of focus. Audio quality is also wildly inconsistent. The actors’ voices are easy to hear in some scenes but inaudible in others. And once again, there is a tendency to play the theme song too loudly during “eureka” moments.

The decades-spanning dialogue sounds right for the most part, but the screenplay is lazy in its approach to Iza Calzado’s wealthy fiancé, played by Paolo Contis. He’s written as a two-dimensional creep with no redeeming traits, cut from the same cloth as Kate Winslet’s wealthy fiancé (played by Billy Zane) in “Titanic.”

And couldn’t the script be more inventive with the device used to prove to Iza that Dingdong is really from 2006? He happens upon a newspaper headline announcing President Ramon Magsaysay’s 49th death anniversary. He tells her that Magsaysay’s plane will go down the following day in her time. (Would any local broadsheet bother to carry that as a banner story)?

This contrived exchange aside, the best parts are those that show Dantes and Calzado on the phone and repeatedly trying to meet under a tree beside a tranquil lake. Dantes has never been more handsome in a movie; Calzado, never more radiantly beautiful. Their performances are so convincing that not only do we accept the unusual premise; we hope that fate will find a way to make the characters meet.

Praise is due Reyes for making this tricky story work for the most part. He overcomes the rough spots with his tangible passion for the plot, manifested in the camera movements and the production design’s disarmingly nostalgic vibe.

What will probably trigger the most discussion among viewers is the ending, which is at once innovative and predictable. Suffice it to say that the always wonderful Gloria Romero is the innovation, while the ending’s predictability involves singer-actress Karylle, Dantes’ real-life girlfriend. It tickles the mind to speculate on how much richer the conclusion might have been if the filmmakers hadn’t given in to that peculiar Tagalog movie convention, the love team. The film’s creators could have been just a little braver in that aspect.

(For the full article, please go here.)

Anyway, if there people who still thinks badly of me, just post away! The comments may be in moderation now but never did I reject any posts. I just wanna read them first before other people do. S'ympre naman, kung mumurahin ako at lalait-laitin, gusto ko ako muna makabasa bago ang iba. But please, don't turn my blog into a Kapuso-Kapamilya war. I had enough of those from different forums.


Related Post:
Moments of Love

A Mistake As Big As Kong!

I didn't realize that I would regret not seeing Peter Jackson's King Kong on the big screen! It wasn't that appealing to me when I saw its trailer. Or maybe, it was because I was never a fan a Kong in the first place. I haven't seen any of the previous movies so I really had no idea what it is all about aside from him being a giant ape. Add to that are the dinosaurs which I had enough of from Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park Series. I thought that PJ couldn't do anything that I haven't seen in SS's park! But I was sooooo darn wrong! For a movie freak like me, it is a mortal sin not to see this movie on the big sreen the way it was supposed to be seen! Shame on me for doubting the magic that a Peter Jackson could do! If he made wonders with LOTR series, he certainly made it happened again here! I don't think that I could ever forgive myself for dismissing this film! With the T-Rex and Kong's battle alone, this is worth the hundred bucks plus the popcorn and drinks! Damn it!

Anyway, on DVD, I was quite hesitant to get it. I wasn't that impressed with the packaging on this one, especially the Region 3 version! Remember, I'm into the overall look of the package! So when I learned that there would be a director's cut treatment, I became excited! "I'm hoping at some point we'll get a chance to actually have a longer version of Kong because there's certainly a lot of very good stuff; there's a lot of dinosaur action, there's more dinosaur sequences, and as you saw, there's the journey across the swamp. There's a couple of sequences between Ann and Kong that we trimmed out. There's actually some nice scenes that, well, that's one of the beauties with DVD is that often you do get a chance with extended cuts to finally complete those scenes and finish them, " PJ said.

The best thing about PJ is that he never comprises his work even if studio execs. asked him to trim the film down. That is, of course, because he believes in what he does. He takes his time to develop the characters and their emotions for the audience to truly understand them. "We tried really hard to make it as short as we could, to tighten it up, and we got to a point where we didn't want to tighten it any more than we did because ultimately you're making a film for a particular reason, you're making it for a particular audience, and we did arrive at a length which we felt was the best way to tell that story." He combines special effects with true human feelings and emotions. For that, I salute him!

A PJ movie is a definite must-watch!


Full Peter Jackson Interview

Kay Eula Na Ang Korona!

As what I have posted earlier on, there are already plans of turning the comic book turned musical Zsazsa Zaturnnah into a movie. It will be under Regal Films at the helm of director Joel Lamangan. Casts are still being considered but as of today at ETK, Eula Valdes announced that she'd be playing the character. When asked as to how she feels being the third choice for the role, she replied, "Care ko?!", in a Zaturnnah tone. "The important thing is akin na siya."

The superheroine movie role was first offered to Rufa Mae Quinto then to Zsazsa Padilla. Even if she didn't get the role, Eula said that she wouldn't mind. She added, "It doesn't necessarily follow that if I did the play, I'd do the movie, as well."

However, for us who have seen the play and loved Eula in it, this is great news! Because she has played the part well, we'd get to see Zsazsa on the big screen being played to a T.

Congratulations, Ms. Eula! You deserve it! Suggestion ko lang, dagdag effects sa boobs! ;-)

(Photo taken from Karenkristie's Blog)

Related Posts:
Ricci As Didi, No More!
Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal Rerun
Zsazsa Zaturnnah Lyrics
Ikaw Ang Superstar Ng Buhay Ko
Post-ZsaZsa Post
A Night With Zazha Za-Ah-Tur-Na-Ha!

Ricci As Didi, No More!

Ricci Chan won't be doing any show dates for Zsazsa Zaturnnah: Ze Muzikal Repeat these last two weeks of April! It would be Joey Paras who would take over his role. Sad to say, there won't even be any alternate dates for him.

He'd be truly missed, that's for sure! He was the life the show during its first run. It'd be a huge disappointment for the second-timers to see the play without him. It'd be like watching Miss Saigon without Ms. Lea.

Anyway, Joey would be a welcome addition to the cast. Id' take Sir Vince's words that he is "equally talented and hilarious" as Ricci's version of Didi! *sigh*

To Ricci, san ka man pumunta, suportahan taka! Thank you for your e-mail replies. :-)

(Picture taken from Ricci's Friendster account)

Moments Of Love

Moments of Love (2006)
GMA Films

"I don't find the movie exciting," were the words of my friend when I asked her to see this movie with us. The truth is, I don't blame her. I have the same feeling when I first saw its poster and then its trailer. To add insult to the injury, I realized that it is somehow an "adaptation" of one of my favorite movies called Il Mare. I'm not a fan of Pinoy "adaptations" because, sad to say, Pinoys don't usually make adaptations but mere copycats of the original. But then, I made the wrong assumption with Say That You Love Me which was able to produced a decent romantic movie out of My Sassy Girl. So I thought that GMA Films might be able to make something different out of this one despite the obvious similarities in the movies that tackle the same theme. It might able to make the theme its "own". Needless to say, I watched it with Biboy.

To my surprise, it was bad! Yeah, I was still surprised because of the numerous praises it got from those who saw its premiere. Imagine, some people have the guts to put the words "Moments of Love" and "world-class" in one sentence?! Some even said that it should be seen internationally! Oh no! It shouldn't go way pass the Philippines shores, parang awa n'yo na!

Like what Jessica Zafra said, Moments of Love is a mere TV-movie blown out of the big screen! With all the close-up shots, sino ba naman ang hindi mag-iisip na pang-TV ang tirada nito? All those in-your-face shots are extremely irritating! As if the cinematographer (or the director himself!) didn't realize that they were making a film and not a teleserye! Those shots just magnified even more the two-dimensional acting that the major (and minor - uh, Isabel Oli! Kairita ka!) actors gave. The actors mostly gave facial expressions and not feelings to what is happening on the screen. I blame it on the badly-written script na mukhang minadali at hindi man lang pinag-isipan ng husto. I blame it on the director who I felt didn't care about how the story was going. I blame it on the fact that GMA Films might have wanted to explore this idea first before the Philippine audience gets to see the Keanu-Sandra version. Pero naman? Bakit pinabayaan nang ganito?!

Moments of Love is a mix-mash of different movies: Frequency, Il Mare, Sky of Love, Somewhere in Time, Titanic. I blame it this time on the Pinoys love for halo-halo! The thing is, I wouldn't care about the mixture only if they were done in good taste. I can imagine how the script was done:

Writer 1: Ay, ilagay natin 'yung lightning churva sa Frequency para may pagka-scientific!
Writer 2: Lumang phone na lang gamitin natin kaysa letters. (Not knowing it was done in Sky of Love/Ditto, I assumed.)
Writer 3: Uy, let's have them meet in the present time kaya lang matanda na si Divina. Magkakatuluyan pa ba sila?
Writer 1: Hindi. Bigyan natin siya ng apo! 'Yun ang makakatuluyan niya! Destiny ito!
Writer 2: Sympre, wag natin kalimutan na magiging Rosa ang pangalan niya after the ship accident! Magkaka-amnesia siya sa dami ng tubig dagat na nainom!
Wardrobe consultant: Dapat 'yung kapitan laging naka-uniform ha? Para ma-emphasize na kapitan siya! Kasehodang hindi fit 'yung uniform niya, wa ako care!
Writer 1: Dapat meron ding character na into paranormal! Siya mag-eexplain ng mga nangyayari! (Kailan ba naman nawala ang mga 'yun sa mga ganito klaseng movies o 'yung mga horror natin?!)
Wardrobe consultant: Meron pala akong chipipay na antique necklace! Pasuot natin kay Karylle!
Writer 3: O, di ba? Winner talaga!

It must have been a blast writing the script! Only if you are doing a SPOOF!

What else is bad? Oh my, the soundtrack that seemed to be out of sync! Tama ba namang tugtugin ang theme song nang unang magkahawakan ang kamay ng mga bida?! In full volume! Ano ba yan?!

I wonder, how could GMA Films compete with Star Cinema if they keep coming up with such smorgasboard films? Kailangan pa ba ng isang Marilou Diaz-Abaya muli para mapatunayang kapuri-puri sila? I hope that they'd realize that film is a very different medium from TV. They may be doing wonders in TV but they make us wonder in film!


Related Post:
Il Mare
To Adapt is Human; To Pay is Divine

Review: Isn't It Romantic?

Isn't It Romantic?
Sony-BMG Philippines, 2006

When Mega announced last year that she would be doing another all-revivals album, I was disappointed. I felt that after Sharon Sings Alcasid, she should venture on an all-new original album. Besides, most artists these days are into doing albums of such concept that you'd wonder when they would stop. Most of them were even mere karaoke versions of certain songs and they were making big money out of rehashing well-loved classics! I was hoping that she wouldn't jump into the bandwagon anymore. Pwede bang tigilan na at ibalik ang tunay na OPM?! Whatever happened to the Sharon Cuneta who spun original hits like Mr. DJ, To Love Again, Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas, Now That You're Gone, One Last Time, etc.?

The Sharon Sings Alcasid CD left a bad taste in my mouth that I couldn't help but fear this next endeavor. Imho, Sharon's vocals were not that good in SSA and the songs were arranged in a way that they all sounded alike. However, upon listening to her old albums, I realized that SSA is just one bad apple in the basket. So being a Sharonian that I am, I got excited this time, especially when I saw its packaging! Aside from the content, I'm the type of person who is into the packaging and over-all look of an album or a video or whatever it is that interests me. When I saw her showing it in her Master Showman guesting, I knew that it is a must-have for any Sharonian! Of course, I was right the moment I took hold of a copy! It was such a beautiful CD! A collectible indeed!

But is this album just all looks? Oh no! It isn't! As soon as you put it in your player, you'd get the instant acoustic feel to it from start to finish! All my fears about the all-revivals concept immediately disappeared. The tracks were perfectly selected and were wonderfully arranged. They were even compiled in a way that they tell a love story - the journey of the blossoming of a love to the heartaches to the hopes of a new love. Unlike SSA, Sharon's vocals were rightfully controlled in this one. Sure, there were 1 or 2 not-so-good tracks but hey, that's what skipping is for! Then again, in an album of 16 tracks which 14 were amazingly done, you'd forget about the bad seeds.

Isn't It Romantic? is very different compared to her Nothing I Want More CD which is of the same genre. For one thing, this album is an acoustic album - an easy-listening one. It has the type of songs that you'd listen to while lounging in a sofa in a dimly-lit room. Walang makalaglag-pusong "belt-out songs". Second, the tracks were carefully selected to come up with a story - from the opening song Isn't It Romantic to its closing song To Love Again, which Sharon excellently sung with a different feel this time. Her earlier rendition seemed so innocent (and naive) then while this new version has the wiser attitude to it. Third, songs from the 70s and 80s were mostly chosen with the exception of Heaven Knows which is from the 90s. The said song seemed out of place in the collection yet nicely done. Fourth, she did all the vocals in this one including the background vocals. Truly, a Sharon first!

Isn't It Romantic? is not just for the Sharonians. It could be well-appreciated by listeners who just want good music. Sharon was able to give justice to the chosen songs. Galing galing! ;-)

Other tracks are It Takes A Man And A Woman (One of my faves in the album! Great rendition!), I'll Have To Say I Love In A Song, Laughter In The Rain, Birthday Song, Terminal, and I Don't Want You To Go (Her first version is included in the P.S. I Love You soundtrack - get it and hear the difference!) among others. According to Mega, there would be a follow-up to this one. My suggestion - an all Sharon songs revival!

It's soooo good to have you back, Mega! :-)


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