Star Trek and A little bit of Mulawin

According to a survey by a UK company Star Trek is the most missed TV series. The results of the survey was reported in a BBC article entitled "Star Trek is 'most missed' series". Here are the results of the survey:


1. Star Trek
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
3. Friends
4. Fawlty Towers
5. Blake's 7
6. The X-Files
7. Babylon 5
8. Stargate
9. Seinfeld
10. The A-Team

Fawlty Towers is considered one of the top UK sitcom starring Jonathan Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs and others. The sitcom was about the mis-adventures of a proprietor of a bed and breakfast (Hotel?) his family, his guests and staff.

I remember watching Star Trek reruns with friends and enjoying. One of the shows I wish they showed more often. The A-Team?

By the way how did Mulawin get an A rating from the Cinema Classification Board? It was a so-so movie. It looked more like a TV special and suffered from a series inherent defects. First, TV sets do not translate well into film sets. Two, the number of people in a battle scene between two forces should be at least a force of people, at least two armies, otherwise the scene becomes weak. The lack of forces, people fighting, is quite apparent in the big screen. Its not a total waste of Kodak film, the kids liked it because it sort of gives closure to the characters they watched in the fantasy soap (but the use of reincarnation seed through out the film was a bit taxing on the imagination)...But it was a so-so film and does not really deserve an A rating. Maybe the film board was grading on the curve?

Jackson's King Kong

My nephews and I trooped down to the Cineplex at Cubao to watch Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong. I first watched King Kong at Coronet Theatre along Aurora Boulevard, Jackson's King Kong is also showing at Coronet but I was not going to watch it there. Amenities and ambiance was a hundred fold better at Gateway Cinemas

The movie is a remake and stays faithful to the original tale of King Kong (1933). So no story to botch-up. Jackson though did a three-hour treatment on it.

The movie did not feel like a three-hour movie. My nephews were able to sit through the whole film. Although the intro and setting-up part of the movie could have been shorter, my nephews looked bored during this part. Still it was bearable, Jackson though was able to enthral people with a kaleidoscope of life in New York during the 1930s. Thing began to pick up once the adventurers reached Skull Island from there it was uphill all the way, except for that minor scene in the park. If the movie could have shorten the first part; they should have cut the park scene and left it to the bugs of Skull Island to feast on.

Andy Serkis, Jack Black, Naomi Watts, Adrian Brody, Jamie Bell, Collin Hanks and the rest of the cast were excellent. Andy Serkis though was amazing playing the ships cook and as Kong. Jackson and company used technology used in creating Gollum and improved upon it; then used it to animate Kong to the level of facial muscles - expressions. Interesting stuff.

In the end though with a known storyline, this is King Kong, older viewers would probably see the film to see how Jackson would re-interpret it. Probably, on another level see if he was going to muck it up. Thankfully, in this case (save for the extended intro and lark in the park scene) he did not and came up with an entertaining film. Its not The Fellowship of the Ring it is King Kong.


King Kong (2005)
Directed by Peter Jackson. Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson. Story by Merian C Cooper and Edgar Wallace. Cast: Andy Serkis, Naomi Watts, Adrian Brody, Jack Black, Colin Hanks, Jamie Bell et al.

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

The movie is about a young gay lad named Maxie. Who lives in one of the least well develop neighbourhoods in Manila. Despite his environment and his family, who earn their daily bread by stealing and being the local goon squad, Maxie lives a peaceful life. In fact he does not seem to have any problem. His family accepts him for what he is and there is genuine bonding between the family members - for all intents and purposes a well-balanced and well-grounded family.

The crisis and agent of change comes in when a new cop is assigned to the neighbourhood.

Teenage puppy love is a volatile environment to stage a story. There are so many paths that can be taken that will lead to disaster. One is the usual road of focusing on the sexual side of things (pandering to flesh shots) and threading the fine line and not glorifying paedophilia.

Happily, the movie does none of this. And presents a believable story, filled with three-dimensional characters, strengthened by witty and credible dialogue, and believable acting. Competent direction and editing brings to fore an entertaining and engaging story of Maxie Oliveros.

It is not surprising then that this film was selected to be one of the official entries to the Sundance Film Festival. And it truly deserves the accolades given to it.

This is the best Filipino film of 2005.

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005)
Directed by Aureaus Solito
Cast: Nathan Lopez, JR Valentin, Soliman Cruz, Neil Ryan Sese, Ping Medina, Bodgie Pascua.
Released by ufo Pictures.Running time: 1 hr 40 m