Saturday, September 10, 2011

MOVIE REVIEW: Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si REMINGTON - It's more than just ZOMBIES!

I expected to laugh my heart out and have fun and I did and I really did, but I was surprised that this film has more into it than its very striking title. The film was brave. Tackled a sensitive topic with much sensitivity and depth.

As a young boy, Remington (Mart Escudero) would regularly make fun of gay people, yelling at them on the street, derisively calling them bakla. One day he happens to do this to a gay man (Roderick Paulate) in the cemetery and decides to place a curse on the boy. Years later, much to his horror, the curse starts taking effect. Every night, he has strange dreams of being assaulted by a demon, and he wakes up to find that he’s slowly changing into that which he hates the most. His speech and manner all change, and he’s becoming attracted to his best friend. To make things worse, there appears to be a serial killer in their town targeting gay people.

Actually the film didn't need the zombies to be great and funny. But the thought put into it is very clever. Showing us what other people think about homosexuals that it's unnatural and something to be feared. You would hear a lot of gay lingos once Remington begins his transformation. People are laughing really loud that sometimes I couldn't hear the dialogues but putting subtitles into it is genious.

Aside from the film being really funny, it tackles homosexuality with much sensitivity and depth. The scene where Remington is already willing to be gay and he finds nothing wrong about it while Hannah (Lauren Young) told him that gay people do not give up is something remarkable. Also the scene of John Regala with Remington when he already agreed to be gay for his son.

When they told me that the name of the lead star is Mart Escudero, I said "who?". I don't know him really. But after millions of Filipinos watched this movie, he will not be forgotten. He is really good. He is so convincing as Remington. You would know that he studied the character really well and executed it with so much confidence. His scene in the toilet was really funny, especially his stairway scene with his bestfriend Jigs.  In that scene I heard people screaming with kilig, diri and laughter. It was so funny I must say, He should win best actor, really.=) Watch his audition video here:


                                                              (video from you tube)

Supporting cast was pretty solid. Should I say more about Eugene Domingo and Roderick Paulate. Their roles were short but sweet. Lauren Young is simply not a good actress and I must say her role is also the downside of the movie.  Her character came from Manila but didn't even had a hint that Remington is gay even with the tight shirt and the gay lingo. Don't know Kerbie Zamora until now, but Mart and him have great chemistry. Janice de Belen and her assistant were good too.

Zombadings is a subversive film. I've never seen a Filipino film like this before. I honestly didn't like the scenes with the zombies because I don't think they're needed, but it will not demerit the film to be great. It's brave and well made. It's smart and takes on a revolutionary approach in what Filipinos think of gay people. Some people may not understand, but this film and "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank" took the indie films into another level. A must watch for movie lovers.

Rating: 4.5 stars


Monday, August 22, 2011

LIFE:Angry and bitter posts? Worth the consequences?

by Louie Ross B. Perez


Disclaimer: I'm writing this post not to point out anyone or a specific group of people. This is just a commentary on what's happening to social media in absence of rules and norms.

It has been my habit to check my Facebook everytime I wake up, I eat, I went to a break or taking a ride going home, or even before I sleep. And I wonder why people post things pertaining to a person or a specific group of people with anger and bitterness by their side. They will bash the person's private life, the people around them, their credibility, the educational attainment sometimes even the upbringing. Whatever things they would like to say just to express their disappointment. Sometimes the words are pretty strong to
ignore. 

sodahead.com
So as me being me, I began to think about it. I put myself in a person's situation wherein I am either heartbroken, cheated, backstabbed and all, a sudden rush of emotions will confront me and since social media is so accessible I will find it convenient to express my feelings through my account. I want to share my frustration to people.

But the question is, should the whole world know what we feel? Will all of them care? Can it fight our frustration when we do it? I don't think so. Especially when we're not even sure of what we feel. It will just worsen the situation.

I will be brutally frank about this. When we post not so good and let's say bad comments about other people in Facebook,  I would say it is a sign of us being COWARDS.  Hiding in the protection of the quote "Kung ngreact ka, eh di guilty ka!" ( If you react to my post, then you're guilty of what I'm saying!).  People wanna share their misery to others, as they say, misery loves company. But are we sure that they all care, are we sure that they share the same sentiments with us? Nah, I don't think so. Hundreds of comments on our posts do not assure us of their empathy. True friends who found our quote of anger and bitterness will not like our status, or worst comment on it. They will be the ones to text or call us to ask what we really feel and offer their valuable advise to you. And one of them will be "don't post those things, just talk to me or better yet talk to the person." Here are five facts that I see that will prove that it is not worth it.

5) It will not solve anything. You will just become a part of the problem.
4) It will bounce back, instead of destroying your target's reputation, it will be yours that will be put in trouble.
3) You will have friends. Fake friends.
2) You will destroy relationships.
1) You'll get used it, you'll do it everytime, until no friends will be left for you.

Facebook is a great invention of our generation. It opened a lot of possibilities and opportunities to many people. But it is sad that others abuse it to destroy relationships and the credibility of other people. Guys in the surfing world, let's be responsible of our actions. If we wanna say something, if we want to confirm something, if we want to give feedback or if we are sincere of our relationships...don't post, talk! God gave us eyes to see, the ears to listen, and the mouth to express our feelings. Course it through them, not through our fingers!



Monday, August 15, 2011

EVENTS:Manny Pacquiao on Billboard Top 100???

by Louie Ross B. Perez

Move over Adele, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Bruno Mars, Pound for Pound King, Congressman, now a certified chart topper, my idol, Manny Pacquiao is no. 7 in the Billboard Charts in the Secondary Adult Contemporary Chart! His song? Sometimes When We Touch by Dan Hill!

Who would have thought that this donut vendor from Mindanao will the best boxer  in the world, a politician, now a Billboard Artist! Should I say more? Listen to his latest single. The last note is just classic! We're proud of you PACMAN!

video from you tube