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line 1, column 0: Use of unknown namespace: http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008 [help]
```
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```
line 1, column 0: Unable to validate namespace: http://schemas.google.com/g/2005. See the Google Data specification at https://developers.google.com/gdata/docs/1.0/elements [help]
```
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```

line 1, column 27729: Self reference doesn't match document location [help]

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term="Sharjah"/><category term="Shilin"/><category term="Sindhupalchok"/><category term="Skopje"/><category term="Sliema"/><category term="Songpa-gu"/><category term="Stevenson R.L."/><category term="Sukhbaatar"/><category term="Swarup V."/><category term="Swift J."/><category term="Syjuco M."/><category term="Tacloban"/><category term="Tagbilaran"/><category term="Takeo"/><category term="Talisay"/><category term="Theater Mogul"/><category term="Theatre Group Asia"/><category term="Thua Thien-Hue"/><category term="Topacio-Aplaon R.M."/><category term="Trampe F.E."/><category term="Twain M."/><category term="Umm al-Quwain"/><category term="Uusimaa"/><category term="Valletta"/><category term="Vang Vieng"/><category term="Venice"/><category term="Vienna"/><category term="Vonnegut K."/><category term="Weisberger L."/><category term="Werfen"/><category term="Woolf V."/><category term="Xinyi"/><category term="Xochimilco"/><category term="Xuanwu"/><category term="Xuhui"/><category term="Yamadera"/><category term="Yeongdoungpo-gu"/><category term="Yoder R."/><category term="Yongsan-gu"/><category term="Zafra J."/><category term="Zagreb"/><category term="Zambales"/><category term="Zhongsheng"/><title type='text'>ihcahieh: Depressed | Demented | Deranged</title><subtitle type='html'>How do you vanquish the enemy when the enemy is yourself?</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default?start-index=26&max-results=25'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>2794</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-5783202821298883983</id><published>2025-10-26T22:54:00.021+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-28T15:51:20.358+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Broadway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Theater"/><title type='text'>Stranger Things : The First Shadow (Broadway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things:_The_First_Shadow" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-NScnXqiAH69feps4W5kbkFtOFOYZ_G8rdlfAmtjfaL7XagRPixKgJ8kEr9LFF-oj0SNLL7qeFUCQN9Bz82zUdse6BTYeR85UorlvnU6p3QvSomBBxupE75FQCYNa7WXjdQsR10J-XE4bbqSZ9PFu0yxKvG5yrQmh9o_ghygFjJsseS1KBk8zHXfNPCy/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">1959. Socially awkward weirdo Henry Creel (Louis McCartney) moves in with his family from Nevada to a new house in Hawkins after an incident at his old school. There he is met by a diverse high school population: small town girl with big city dreams Joyce Maldonado (Alison Jaye) and her boyfriend Lonnie Byers (Logan Gould); town sheriff’s son James Hopper Jr (Burke Swanson); sexually hyperactive teens Karen Childress (Dora Dolphin) and boyfriend Ted Wheeler (Jamie Martin Mann); blabbermouth Walter Henderson (Ian Dolley); method actor wannabe Alan Munson (Neil McCaffrey) as well as class radio DJ Bob Newby (Patrick Scott McDermott). However, it is with Bob’s adoptive sister Patty (Ayana Cymone) who is&nbsp; considered as the school outcast that he forms a bond. The problem is that Henry has a unique ability that leans towards violence as well as an eerie connection to a parallel dimension threatening to bleed into theirs.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The good news is that this is a spectacular show approved by the Duffer brothers and can be said to be canon, serving as a legit prequel to the TV show and presented as Henry Creel/One’s origin story. The bad news is that this means we might no longer get a Netflix prequel because Stranger Things: The First Shadow already occupies that spot in the Stranger Things universe. I’m afraid you’re really just going to have to fly to Broadway to get to know Vecna’s villain origin story. Or, who knows, maybe they will incorporate this storyline in the final season coming out soon? We’re going to have to find out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">We can say that Stranger Things: The First Shadow is in the same vein as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as far as these IP’s media-crossover shenanigans are concerned. The experience has an air of exclusivity to it because not every novel or TV series fan will be going out of his way to watch a theater piece, especially when you have to fly to New York or London just to catch it. In any case, this comes before the main storyline while The Cursed Child comes way after the Harry Potter books, which makes both narratives supplementary rather than obligatory. Not seeing either one wouldn’t affect your overall enjoyment with the main material.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Stranger Things: The First Shadow won three Tonys, all in the technical categories as well as a special award for special effects, while McCartney scored a nomination for Best Lead Actor. All of these nominations and wins are well warranted considering the keen attention to detail and meticulousness of the aspects of production. In short, it looks like the show has a big budget and they didn’t hold back in spending it. The combined lighting, sound, production design, and special effects ranging from animatronics to all those spontaneously levitating actors, made it damn sure that this stage play got all the nuances of the TV show, leaving no doubt that they indeed exist within the same universe.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The characters are also written in a way that always reminds you of the characters on the Netflix show. Since this is set a few decades back, the kids do not make an appearance but their parents, as teenagers, do and tend to mimic their children on the TV show. Dustin’s father, for example, is easily associated with him because both are loudmouths, while Eddie’s father is just as extra and as theatrical as he is. Meanwhile, a younger Joyce sports the same hairstyle and fashion sense. The Wheeler’s parents, on the other hand, just can’t get their hands and mouths off each other, clearly hinting at their large brood later on.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for its box office appeal on the Great White Way, I really have no idea as to how The First Shadow is performing and whether it could match the longevity that The Cursed Child seems to be enjoying. The question here is whether they can convert pedestrian theatergoers who are NOT fans of the show to become fans of that universe. In any case, The First Shadow can actually stand on its own. It is a prequel after all. This is where it all begins. Given the audiovisual spectacle waiting for you, I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes another long-running Broadway fixture.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/64zDRZA2N_I" width="320" youtube-src-id="64zDRZA2N_I"></iframe></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/5783202821298883983/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/stranger-things-first-shadow-broadway.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/5783202821298883983'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/5783202821298883983'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/stranger-things-first-shadow-broadway.html' title='Stranger Things : The First Shadow (Broadway)'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-NScnXqiAH69feps4W5kbkFtOFOYZ_G8rdlfAmtjfaL7XagRPixKgJ8kEr9LFF-oj0SNLL7qeFUCQN9Bz82zUdse6BTYeR85UorlvnU6p3QvSomBBxupE75FQCYNa7WXjdQsR10J-XE4bbqSZ9PFu0yxKvG5yrQmh9o_ghygFjJsseS1KBk8zHXfNPCy/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-6557170420113756357</id><published>2025-10-25T08:01:00.018+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-26T14:30:38.298+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Broadway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Theater"/><title type='text'>Operation Mincemeat (Broadway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat_(musical)" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAEWz6wRu3HMVInTfQDZlubP9F1thVxmEKbJItEaCO0AqeHfG0eAmuWoPxscT8_1LY3SmmWgiaucPS-iSWxNt0n6-S7UoJ-r-anMUAX3hRb4o-geYA-OSfelDWdLJ6qo2PX7qzFdecnJWgIgfH1SYGi0Hpm2TD3uF5K2JvgqDQjCjrUBXiRQmGTGZWqW5/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">World War 2 is a complicated chess game and Johnny Bevan (Zöe Roberts) is running out of ideas to outwit Hitler and his forces. He encourages his subordinates at MI6 to pitch ideas but he is down on his luck, until the right mind comes along. Charles Cholmondeley (David Cumming) has a weird but brilliant plan. They will dump a body off the coast of Spain planted with documents of a fake invasion of Sardinia in lieu of Sicily, hoping that the Nazi spies littered around Spain will take the bait. Naval intelligence officer Ewen Montagu (Natasha Hodgson) backs him up and soon they are collaborating with secretary Hester Leggatt (Sam Hartley) and new clerk Jean Leslie (Jessi Kirtley) furnishing a fake life for the dead body that might just win the Allied Forces the war that will end all wars. But is a spy within their ranks going to ruin their brilliant plan?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">To be totally honest, I had no idea what this show was all about. It came about as a substitute for Oh Mary after ticket prices for that show shot up and was no longer within budget. Judging from the poster alone, Operation Mincemeat struck me as one of those irreverent comedies of errors of which there is no shortage on Broadway. You know? The likes of Shucked or The Play That Goes Wrong. That’s why when it was announced before the first act that this was based on a true story, my interest was piqued.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Then I found out that the subject matter was World War II and I almost walked out because I’m just not interested in that. Perhaps this is the reason why it took a while for me to warm up to the show. I wasn’t really sold into the whole premise even after a few song and dance numbers. I guess they only won me over when the plot twists started to emerge out of nowhere, and suddenly I found the idea fascinating along with the thought that this actually happened during the war. Intriguing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">In terms of casting, this is one of those shows with a small ensemble. In the case of Operation Mincemeat, you only have five actors playing a variety or roles. This musical does not really exert an effort to differentiate characters from one another, which I believe is part of its charm. The most you’ll get is a slight costume and accent change. Gender benders are also common and their only way of selling the illusion is through a change in enunciation and intonation. Luckily, it works, and it usually does thanks to the dedication of its cast members.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Dear Bill is supposed to be a funny song in which Hester Leggatt schools her colleagues about the authenticity of writing love letters during the war. You then quickly realize that the letter Hester is writing is a summary of her own love story during the first war. Suddenly, it’s no longer funny. Suddenly, it’s heart wrenching and sincere. And then you also realize that it is being sung, in a genuinely heartfelt way, by a guy playing a woman. I guess this is why Jak Malone swept most of the awards in his category last year. Sam Hartley is just as moving at today’s matinee. This was the highlight of the show for me, which erased all doubts I had when I came in.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">But to single out one character is unfair to the rest of the cast. This is an ensemble effort, no doubt, and all of them deserve their kudos. Mounting a show based on some lesser known historical event, and a musical at that, is difficult, but Operation Mincemeat succeeds in balancing comedy and heart as well as artistic license and facts. What you get in the end is both a history lesson and a good time. As always, when curiosity strikes, I read. I don’t believe that I should know about Operation Mincemeat and the fact that it actually occurred in real life, but it is interesting enough to add to my treasure trove of useless trivia, while the show itself was a fun distraction on a lazy Manhattan afternoon.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FJRhdPsVqsA" width="320" youtube-src-id="FJRhdPsVqsA"></iframe></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/6557170420113756357/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/operation-mincemeat-broadway.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/6557170420113756357'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/6557170420113756357'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/operation-mincemeat-broadway.html' title='Operation Mincemeat (Broadway)'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAEWz6wRu3HMVInTfQDZlubP9F1thVxmEKbJItEaCO0AqeHfG0eAmuWoPxscT8_1LY3SmmWgiaucPS-iSWxNt0n6-S7UoJ-r-anMUAX3hRb4o-geYA-OSfelDWdLJ6qo2PX7qzFdecnJWgIgfH1SYGi0Hpm2TD3uF5K2JvgqDQjCjrUBXiRQmGTGZWqW5/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-2288993007763633143</id><published>2025-10-24T15:17:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-24T15:17:32.782+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Broadway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Theater"/><title type='text'>MJ the Musical (Broadway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MJ_the_Musical" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2AjrTUADZHQIgj_8tmfG7oqVOnIWhnZ3V-8bkNuRVnSXh0JYh2jA-aMqN4uW3B5Vt01L6jtuFraqOnUGKVO1NBsWJVT_k2JJDSwpZBf39GE5sO0M9NcAnX4dCGjZjedBhHVegCsxnamz2u1-1PZPoJA75OzUGiKjQvD5ESS7IApYkFi_RLeLm4Xn0dDN/s1600/1234567890.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">King of Pop Michael Jackson (Brett Grey) is preparing for his concert and making a lot of demands that outstrip their production cost, much to the chagrin of his finance guy Dave (Joey Sorge). Meanwhile, reporter Rachel (Bailey McCall) worms herself into the dance rehearsals, keeping Michael on edge due to his trauma with the press. With a camera rolling most of the time, Michael recalls his childhood starting out in showbiz with his brothers in a band called the Jackson Five. He also reminisces the abuse he suffered from his demanding father Joseph Jackson (Michael Andreaus) as well as the unwavering support of his mother Katherine (Sasha Allen). Motivated both by his love of music and fear of becoming irrelevant in the midst of younger musical acts coming and going, Michael offers his best, but not giving himself some much needed slack might just take a toll on his body and his life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I’d give this over my maximum five star rating if I could. Jukebox musicals are tricky because you are competing with audience expectations based on music they grew up with and, thus, possessive of. The best way to do it is by giving them one hell of a show that will jive with those expectations. MJ the Musical accomplishes that and more, with each musical number concluding with a round of applause you only ever hear at concerts. It is that potent combination of aural trip down memory lane and enthusiastic audience impact that makes this musical worth its rather pricy admission ticket. Michael Jackson’s legacy lives on!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The technical aspects of this show are just top notch. The lighting is maximized by giving us a lot of neon that makes the song and dance numbers, at least the imaginary ones, visually striking, while solid hues are utilized as ambient lighting to evoke certain emotions. The bright lights and all that glitter add to the illusion of living the pop star life. Throw in the set design and you get a truly unforgettable visual experience. The stage, on the other hand, is huge and sells the illusion of a dance studio set quite well because of it. Moving props such as mirrors are ubiquitous and facilitate seamless scene transitions.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Of course, what is a Michael Jackson musical without his music? The thing about jukebox musicals is that the songs often serve the storylines instead of the other way around. They are there to move the plot forward and might not always be presented as you expect them to be. Thriller, for instance, is one of the grand numbers but instead of the dancy MTV version we are used to, it is used here to demonstrate MJ’s internal struggle. The ballads are reserved for more somber scenes while most of his hits like Billy Jean and Beat It are given the whole concert treatment in terms of singing, choreo, and intensity.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">But I guess what really wowed me was the shift in focus on movement and choreography. Most of the time, these aspects end up in the backseat of my appreciation vehicle behind acting and vocals. In MJ the Musical, dance is king. It fits the storyline because the whole story unfolds during Michael’s dance rehearsal for his concert. But even in scenes that are set somewhere else, the actors’ movements are noticeably more flashy and big. It really makes the audience pay attention and your eyes just end up glued to the choreography!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Nevertheless, a Michael Jackson tribute is not complete without the controversies surrounding his life. He mentions over and over again that it should be all about his music. In this regard, both the premise of the musical and the musical itself give Jackson enough leeway by touching a bit on his personal struggles indeed, but still making his music and choreography the main draw. It sparks enough curiosity if you are the rumormongering type, but in the end your memories while leaving the theater will predominantly be the almost three hours of pure energy through song and dance, which is what we really should be celebrating. Looks like Michael will be dominating my Spotify playlists in the next few weeks</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">!</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qJk6sgZPP4c" width="320" youtube-src-id="qJk6sgZPP4c"></iframe></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/2288993007763633143/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/mj-musical-broadway.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/2288993007763633143'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/2288993007763633143'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/mj-musical-broadway.html' title='MJ the Musical (Broadway)'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2AjrTUADZHQIgj_8tmfG7oqVOnIWhnZ3V-8bkNuRVnSXh0JYh2jA-aMqN4uW3B5Vt01L6jtuFraqOnUGKVO1NBsWJVT_k2JJDSwpZBf39GE5sO0M9NcAnX4dCGjZjedBhHVegCsxnamz2u1-1PZPoJA75OzUGiKjQvD5ESS7IApYkFi_RLeLm4Xn0dDN/s72-c/1234567890.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-936072343813496523</id><published>2025-10-19T15:22:00.005+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-21T11:38:09.881+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Budget and Itinerary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Samut Prakan"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Thailand"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Travel"/><title type='text'>[SAMUT PRAKAN] Budget and Itinerary</title><content type='html'><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://wikitravel.org/en/Samut_Prakan" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1994" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXPFdSYfwc9S70EyrNfw96M5GPRnFe7AmdQQFyCm8r-06CMfdtyY1Pgk0yIau-UShlsvkF4jp0sN5wWmMxrBh23ZuD7BPDu98vyaxL0IIeWF2U9RvSVd_zxe7bhebpHRxMGU2P093JrwzmxPBMZUVayp6BgSG0WejUF70C4aMDwCmYG6HoQ6i8RWBnXpA/w400-h113/20251018_175142.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: red;">SATURDAY: October 18, 2025</span></b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: white;">Sukhumvit Line (Saphan Khwai - Chang Erawan) -</span>&nbsp;<span style="color: #fcff01;">62.00</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: white;">Erawan Museum (Fried Rice + Coke) -</span>&nbsp;<span style="color: #fcff01;">100.00</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: white;">Admission Fee (The Ancient City + Erawan Museum</span></span><span style="color: white;">) -</span><span style="color: #fcff01;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #fcff01;">600.00</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: white;">Sukhumvit Line (Chang Erawan - Kheha) -</span>&nbsp;<span style="color: #fcff01;">15.00</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: white;">E-Bike (3 hours</span></span><span style="color: white;">) -</span><span style="color: #fcff01;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #fcff01;">250.00</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: white;">Van (The Ancient City -&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: white;">Kheha</span><span style="color: white;">) -</span><span style="color: #fcff01;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #fcff01;">25.00</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: white;">Sukhumvit Line (Kheha - Phra Khanong) -</span>&nbsp;<span style="color: #fcff01;">31.00</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">THB1,083.00</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Estimate of THB1 = PhP1.80</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: red;">TOTAL</span>&nbsp;<span style="color: white;">-</span>&nbsp;<span style="color: #fcff01;">PhP1,949.40</span></b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span><a name='more'></a></span></b></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Thailand" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1154" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZklh0jPyDbK1rtcuHOzZZ1SndAt8dyVDms9iPMSNBOmTfpkL-62KxTVOe_Czhdpa8mhGa37y1EP3bT3AErLKzzxMtlz0VTBD676izNIMeqShri7LFeHk4jrfyyxLQVtr1Sao0NJ4mcAlI8Mzt8hT_biYEoYWkzuyndwlNMpQDZaHvBoSP6OuME32nnlL/w225-h400/Samut%20Prakhan.png" style="border: medium none;" width="225" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: red;">SATURDAY: October 18, 2025</span></b></div></span></div><div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">12:25 - 13:15</span><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white;">Sukhumvit Line (Saphan Khwai - Chang Erawan)</span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">13:15- 13:45&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white;">Lunch (</span></span><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">Erawan Museum)</span></div></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">13:45- 15:05&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white;">Sightseeing (Erawan Museum)</span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">15:05 - 15:20</span><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white;">Sukhumvit Line (Chang Erawan - Kheha)</span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">15:20- 15:30&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white;">Grab (Kheha - The Ancient City)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">15:30- 18:30&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white;">Sightseeing (The Ancient City)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">18:30- 18:40&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: white;">Van (The Ancient City -&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">Kheha</span><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: white;"><div style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div></span></span></div><span style="color: #fcff01;"></span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">18:40 - 19:15</span><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white;">Sukhumvit Line (Kheha - Phra Khanong)</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1417631543704334&amp;type=3" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="2000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6-T-PexuqvnJ4bAmZuQlXzQpNFS0x0YXQLQZbKkGZ424aYscJJz5H7F0ZvfyukAmJfij1cFo6i2u28xVU5z8uEneeT7WTM3OMYGofjZyjAiCf9VIm4U3Z7LTlfZQ1L7YE7ffURxNdl6-h-RUPPoVpnLCPP902bkaUxZ1nG_xicMpvCxpDgkutI_vpThK/w400-h113/20251018_162347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/samut-prakan-erawan-museum-ancient-city.html" target="_blank">[SAMUT PRAKAN] Erawan Museum + The Ancient City</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>[SAMUT PRAKAN] Budget and Itinerary</b></span></div></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/936072343813496523/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/samut-prakan-budget-and-itinerary.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/936072343813496523'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/936072343813496523'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/samut-prakan-budget-and-itinerary.html' title='[SAMUT PRAKAN] Budget and Itinerary'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXPFdSYfwc9S70EyrNfw96M5GPRnFe7AmdQQFyCm8r-06CMfdtyY1Pgk0yIau-UShlsvkF4jp0sN5wWmMxrBh23ZuD7BPDu98vyaxL0IIeWF2U9RvSVd_zxe7bhebpHRxMGU2P093JrwzmxPBMZUVayp6BgSG0WejUF70C4aMDwCmYG6HoQ6i8RWBnXpA/s72-w400-h113-c/20251018_175142.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-335021093960740333</id><published>2025-10-18T11:28:00.048+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-21T11:44:17.058+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Samut Prakan"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Thailand"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Travel"/><title type='text'>[SAMUT PRAKAN] Erawan Museum + The Ancient City</title><content type='html'><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN_5kOLEfWlGu-vFNYFkY2BqDa4awSpk7XwTfhKR-qxDCPECHoE4aJk1lQV3Oh6F9t-t7ARcGfzXJ2QF52mhkX6Px_n91Tl6isF4cFBBbMqY6Qu8H1l0BjNEZ6LhmCL83Br_kRhYSJt8prgjtXcQZSMFKZq91L3FXpI1F10BWNkrd0P73uHfd7h8EPt2g/w400-h225/20251018_161610.jpg" style="text-align: justify;" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">Technically, you have been to Samut Prakan. If you have landed in or taken off from Suvarnabhumi International airport, that is. Although tagged as Bangkok’s airport, it really is located in neighboring Samut Prakan province. If you want to legit land in Bangkok, you should book a flight to Don Mueang instead. But is the airport all there is to it for tourism in Samut Prakan province? Going back to Bangkok for the nth time just to chill, I decided to check out possible daytrips easily accessible from the capital. Erawan Museum and The Ancient City, both attractions being from the same developer, topped the list.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mMGN66GaP6ojK3T_QWD76nImpITgf1Mw9mf8ZbzU9hKPHMpbNY5h9xFLtPhg1WLAOJYPevulXSJpX2Dm40BU7QRCiVajhv2FbCsKBiFxMDTIqO_M22bUc_NFM6NTtFAR0tkx5_DZoecXJ2KvPAOrZG3O1nn4ntg5SvOWP8E6HAbabXJC_prJ7gfJAuFz/w113-h200/20251018_132736.jpg" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjiNAl-tANJgqarDhO70YosYrI_WwxUmH9HDracweXXDrZY1YCh7Q-ghH_HPoE_fcGgIxZqjc1q2jJJHArDQFBAmZ_3tcHWBtDe_XTDs1wjFOQNzFDeQIXHgvkhiPMKczNF7bLE222-HrQ82zAb_ouh9ozal_dSjnrRfUjEcNNCS8Bnrg8l8FwCodLXwJ/w113-h200/20251018_135926.jpg" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1VZaT7s89IAl0cJxXsZwFJciuWX7EqI9DYe5usOKIGG6zlSispRJOGmj6as-epg1VWVejGl6Q8KRsTHCcrIm9L2RDmVkwext3zJx6ca7IIqqj0uBklk7Ul8o-5rDEWMmEmpvmDOcxKah54uyMZXi77YM-aH9EgU16Fs32hZ6qA8ko6YnxIrR2cpKV35I/w113-h200/20251018_140426.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">The good thing about both of these attractions is that they can be easily accessed from two BTS green line stops. Logical, given how Samut Prakan is almost always included in Bangkok’s urban sprawl. The stops you are looking for are Chang Erawan and Kheha. Kheha happens to be the terminus of the BTS green line to the southeast. From there, you can book a Grab Bike or taxi to take you to The Ancient City, which is less than ten minutes away along the highway. As for Erawan Museum, it has its own stop named Chang Erawan. You can walk around 10 minutes to the site under the sun or book a 5-minute Grab or taxi ride.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H5Bn_fjSMdB1gckbizaS2OhIvuI2dJ73qwbD8uYpzum4JBpucc-lW681JpJYzfWzwNCrZ0lVGnJt66qu4ciK3o477fS2xtiGrHFDKCU6IQC-RaigDHILvFMvqmcPOWV4wl1XaWQN001poxIqNYIbapPGqAlrWoa3jZ2v1xV1aaqhvI-rbXgdZ5Nx1Udy/w400-h225/20251018_132411.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">I decided to check out Erawan Museum first. It is from the same developer as The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, which means you just have a sort of tower structure in the middle. Unlike Pattaya, though, which has a beach as the backdrop, Erawan Museum just has Bangkok’s urban sprawl on offer as well as a garden with statues from Buddhist or Hindu mythology. I imagine it’d be nice to just loiter there on a lazy afternoon. There are gazebos and enough shade even on a really sunny day. However, the main attraction is the elephant tower itself in the middle. To get up there, you remove your shoes and ascend the spiral staircase.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRYh_f-iQFITL5e7lS0cUJUfDYZ5Mc7O7SRaD2oNVrDVTSV9tFrZ7JtxgIIpBbNt_Ma3A_npIyLuRu64jFZWWIir7uZndXLnQDHsghs-zo_QvClYgUFS0noraxFclrtjkjVGSddSvu8L-DQy4w6q3yRSIUzd6OTsOZAJgkjL6u2kqQqLzEADf-qKJLsee/w113-h200/20251018_140802.jpg" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFryLbOYXu_M8ScszFXOU-aOiiY3VtpJk45HDGQcXZNUFXxRf0LtkQw5ZFXnusc0ZD49DfTV5F_F2lhjiYWep2yz_4jNpyUGPNx6BlImRvo_fsYKdXG9v9wNiwjp0KX25OnjBtIjZuTNdbNFZzaRJy0xgZhxPyfuqsZ6FgbOuCu2NN5RKV4Uy4J3oc2c3r/w113-h200/20251018_142425.jpg" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qkcvu8P8ErFT9oUxJ2GCmdLt43CXMlO1DB222WzqBIjzavptebycF_Q4G8aWP8XHo7hzRmxsMDtwAvCKZ1ex86HO9BL0t4M-Ql5F3VHnDL1ABbDx9n7m3wuPUXZIFZ4vK5Th6tx2pbFXHzGwBg5g5uC9kT7Pb41zHv7yY_URNRcaiemLKznm5jXux2Ek/w113-h200/20251018_143037.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">There is an optional elevator if you are not that fit to climb the stairs. The lobby is a collection of pillars with engravings from major world religions. In short, it is kind of similar in concept to the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya. What’s waiting for you up there once you exit the elevator is a small room with weird constellation themed drawings on the ceiling along with what looks like a slim Buddhist statue in the middle, illuminated by Harry Potter-esque mini towers with white lights in the background. This is a good place for rest. Aircon!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuPkFAIUKZIhSo99BGhosL67pTbTMUY-bHlFFIMyZXQerpZnKw6-kMbf8L7ykf8B7LUHzXpvxZ6wnfB0SfLUgLk4sHzM4lh4A4i0r7mQYoqy8ADj4pSd8FIth68aEtCEuO2KuycflkUnRFe3WNjOwjPEqaza_ObhJnwaIEsarZUonozA9wWwqsjwhWfhM/w400-h225/20251018_164508.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">There is a van service back to BTS Chang Erawan for THB20 (~PHP35). From there, get off at Kheha and book a Grab bike or taxi to The Ancient City. The Ancient City is open until 7 PM; last admission, 6 PM. You can explore the place on foot but be reminded that it spans 2 acres. There are golf carts of different sizes for rent as well as bicycles and e-bikes. I settled for the e-bike which costs THB250 (~PHP445) for 3 hours. I arrived at almost 4 PM so I had a solid three hours for sightseeing. The e-bike experience was fun because it gave me some sense of liberty when it comes to itinerary and time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQsJkexExueHO_LtFZygfoh5nDvo2piwfTB_qgRYPI3fV2thJguSTtMr-bhDilysS0fNPp7_qjfNOfvIOF21ItJuKBNWzuDirV__7FBirhm5Ab3qK-UjIuIfewvgrG4cf0Jz9pJtTS5KgHwtnmTvkdWjD-sxlzz50HT9xnGliwKPV9BdeZ7aIfaPfphSH/w400-h225/20251018_180324.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">The Ancient City is basically an it’s-a-small-world kind of attraction where they recreate life size replicas of attractions to be found all over the country. The best description for it would be if you wanted to see most of Thailand but do not have the time, energy, and money to fly all over the place. They have everything from the north’s Chedis to even a reconstruction of Preah Vihear. Of course you can hop off whatever mode of transpo you rented to check out the interiors, but I didn’t, because it feels weird. It’s weird because you know they are all fake, so might as well just admire the intricate facade from the outside.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDs5XSbaZi5eMnomJN5znuwfLPVoWVHYp0kikOtKO6EpgNXZJD1PvH2sA-d8wtWcFB2d0SQLM3YJwvmxx7vIbknc_amnFZ1i6xDlwX2fKBshun3-YhnEmqjGMDK69JED-lvxBYpFERe5ZOVqPHp-jB6BB1ZWwnjDOYEBjBz5Fy3nWckuZ0Z4VflGOBTOn/w400-h225/20251018_155623.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">Some people refer to The Ancient City as a tourist trap and I agree to some extent. However, I believe that the real attraction here is the experience of just driving around for a day and getting lost in all the attractions. It is a good distraction from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and easily accessible to boot. The combined ticket for Erawan Museum and The Ancient City is THB600 (~PHP1,050). You can buy it onsite or online. I bought mine on Klook so I still scored some discounts via vouchers and coupons along the way.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1417631543704334&amp;type=3" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="2000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6-T-PexuqvnJ4bAmZuQlXzQpNFS0x0YXQLQZbKkGZ424aYscJJz5H7F0ZvfyukAmJfij1cFo6i2u28xVU5z8uEneeT7WTM3OMYGofjZyjAiCf9VIm4U3Z7LTlfZQ1L7YE7ffURxNdl6-h-RUPPoVpnLCPP902bkaUxZ1nG_xicMpvCxpDgkutI_vpThK/w400-h113/20251018_162347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>[SAMUT PRAKAN] Erawan Museum + The Ancient City</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/samut-prakan-budget-and-itinerary.html" target="_blank">[SAMUT PRAKAN] Budget and Itinerary</a></span></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/335021093960740333/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/samut-prakan-erawan-museum-ancient-city.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/335021093960740333'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/335021093960740333'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/samut-prakan-erawan-museum-ancient-city.html' title='[SAMUT PRAKAN] Erawan Museum + The Ancient City'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN_5kOLEfWlGu-vFNYFkY2BqDa4awSpk7XwTfhKR-qxDCPECHoE4aJk1lQV3Oh6F9t-t7ARcGfzXJ2QF52mhkX6Px_n91Tl6isF4cFBBbMqY6Qu8H1l0BjNEZ6LhmCL83Br_kRhYSJt8prgjtXcQZSMFKZq91L3FXpI1F10BWNkrd0P73uHfd7h8EPt2g/s72-w400-h225-c/20251018_161610.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-8960288155551007573</id><published>2025-10-16T14:51:00.007+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-16T14:51:44.685+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="British"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Literature"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Rushdie S."/><title type='text'>Midnight's Children</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight%27s_Children" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVGiivLyJeq_PbL0fE5WJ1bWWR2Jqz7swW_V3bcAjxuP5rwr4s-vkIAZ2WQygZKwuznSQRD-0HQ7pCAE90x6vhLWJ0vYN5BN4AFBuKvmpuQCRQLSWl0Vv4B93FB3hDJcPT15dcPFUHnaOkFWH5rqLLHkmfAZdH7MGxwO0pufncTMcrKlDLDhdLOpQRS7N/s1600/1234567890.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">On the 15th of August 1947, at the stroke of midnight, a new country was born. British India was partitioned between the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan, from which the modern day countries of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh would emerge. However, not only nations were born but also 1,001 babies. Referred to as Midnight’s Children, the 1,001 don’t just share their country’s birthdate, but are also given unique abilities that set them apart from the rest. One of 1,001 is Saleem Sinai, born at the exact moment as his country, he receives a letter from the prime minister as well as sufficient media coverage. His telepathic gift allows him to tap into the minds of the other 500+ who are still alive by the time they reach 10 years of age. Decades later, he writes his autobiography about a life whose ups and downs are intricately linked to the country of his birth.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Now I know I should have, indeed, read this before The Satanic Verses. Not that they are in any way connected, but rather because Midnight’s Children is easier to read. Set in the backdrop of a sweeping multigenerational family dramedy, you get to witness the evolution not just of a complicated family and its fortunes, but also that of a country trying to find its place in the world after a century of foreign rule. This is where Rushdie effortlessly weaves his magic realism, in making you, the reader, believe that everything that has happened to Saleem is causally linked to the development of India itself. This novel is whimsical like that.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The baby switcheroo which defines the novel’s premise seemed a bit “soap operatic” to me at first, but I love how Rushdie played around with it in determining the intertwined fates of the two children in question. The reversal of fortune happens several times throughout the novel and it is fun speculating what could’ve been if that switcheroo didn’t happen. In any case, Rushdie writes his novel by having the two characters interact and bring closure to their storylines, but not after you’ve basked in the intriguing family dynamics of Saleem’s clan. I just wish that Saleem and Jamila Singer could’ve had a more concrete reunion in the end, because that ending just came across as too abstract for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Another thing that really caught my interest was the constant movement of the characters, allowing for a change of setting from Kashmir to Bombay to Pakistan and, eventually, Delhi. I felt like I was part of a field trip back in time. There are also enough references not just to various religions but also literature. Reading this just feels as though you were being whisked into a condensed version of the early history and culture of India as a republic, pegged on Saleem’s own colorful family history.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I guess appreciation will still depend on the mindset of whoever is reading. On one side of the pendulum, one might think that Saleem’s life story is BS, self-absorbed, and is the perfect example of main character syndrome. I admit I kind of felt that way in the first two books (this novel is divided into three books) or so, but as I arrived at the third, my suspension of disbelief was totally in place, and that led to a more enjoyable read. It also gave me a glimpse of a new nation’s baby steps towards self-realization. Of course, we can’t dismiss political biases, but the novel at least piques your curiosity. What you read afterwards to get to know the country more is totally up to you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I wish I knew more about India, though, so I must admit that the novels set in the country have me on a chokehold as far as my impression of the country’s politics and society are concerned. Rushdie. Roi. Swarup. Sociopolitical biases aside, I thank them for painting a pretty but complicated picture of India in my head. I just wish that Rushdie would’ve leaned more on the magic realism side of the equation, but I guess there is always a fine line between magical elements as aid for plot development and turning the entire novel into full-on fantasy. Viewed this way, the magic realism aspect did enhance the storytelling. It really draws you in.</span></div></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/8960288155551007573/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/midnights-children.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/8960288155551007573'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/8960288155551007573'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/midnights-children.html' title='Midnight's Children'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVGiivLyJeq_PbL0fE5WJ1bWWR2Jqz7swW_V3bcAjxuP5rwr4s-vkIAZ2WQygZKwuznSQRD-0HQ7pCAE90x6vhLWJ0vYN5BN4AFBuKvmpuQCRQLSWl0Vv4B93FB3hDJcPT15dcPFUHnaOkFWH5rqLLHkmfAZdH7MGxwO0pufncTMcrKlDLDhdLOpQRS7N/s72-c/1234567890.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-2884084410620707737</id><published>2025-10-15T23:23:00.004+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-15T23:43:16.060+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Filipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><title type='text'>Quezon</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quezon_(film)" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1q_qvmLdvbJTy8ZSjDhTa1Pcf567f7pMXcXcaC4qqg-Y8KHr6Lg44Fc_XQQCSdlh6bRezV2h6q9PlPa-0W_2KwUPOns6Q07OkGeRY-DAXnkXOQvookq7gF67bzbymS1vLK_u9ezZm1T_KcO5zoy-U7Z6KxttTLBEMgtlIJD71-LoysvBxwMHKNU-DrAK/s1600/1234567890.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Senate president Manuel L. Quezon (Jericho Rosales) and speaker of the house of representatives Sergio Osmeña Sr. (Romnick Sarmenta) gear up to make a formidable tandem for president and vice-president as the Philippines prepares to hold its first election. The United States of America through the Tydings-McDuffie Act aims to grant independence to its former colony through a ten-year Commonwealth transition period, after which the country will become its own republic. However, the road to presidency is not without challenges as Emilio Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado) mounts an opposition campaign. Outgoing governor general Leonard Wood (Iain Glen) also serves as a tough obstacle as he shrewdly plays along with Quezon’s political games. Meanwhile, journalist Joven Hernando (Cris Villanueva) reflects on his decisions in supporting his friend’s presidential campaign as he gets entangled in his grand web of political deceit, leading to the hostile takeover of his newspaper.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Manuel Quezon is one of those historical figures who you don’t really know but think you do because of his ubiquity. His face was on the twenty peso bill and is still on its now demoted coin counterpart. He has a city AND a province named after him. And then you try to remember, but who is this guy again? I believe the only time we ever heard about him and his friends, who also happen to be on our bills, was back in History class. High school? College? Either way, that was eons ago. This film serves as a good refresher not just for you but also for a country suffering from collective and selective amnesia when it comes to history and politics.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“I prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos to one run like heaven by Americans.” Wish granted. I don’t have the mental energy right now to imagine, though, how the country would’ve ended up had it gone the Guam/Puerto Rico route. Hooray, though. Independence! Despite the disclaimer in the opening frame saying that artistic liberties have been taken to mix fact with fiction, this film still offers a good glimpse at how it all began, the populist setup and personality politics that have defined and continue to define the political landscape of the country, almost a century later. In a way, Quezon himself serves as THE prototype of the charismatic politician who knows how to manipulate image and reputation for political success.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for acting and casting choices, the huge gap between the films makes it hard to recall not just the plot of the first two but also who was who. The Joven Hernando character serves as the glue that holds the trilogy together given how we see everything through his character’s perspective. We get two actors: Arron Villaflor as the younger journalist and Cris Villanueva as his older self. Meanwhile, older Quezon was originally portrayed by TJ Trinidad in the Goyo after-credits teaser, but he has since retired from acting so he is replaced by Rosales, who fully commits to the role. His banter with Sarmenta’s Sergio Osmeña makes this film so enjoyable to watch. The wit! The humor! Brilliant screenplay!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As always, when it comes to historical films, I come in to watch a movie and then leave the cinema with a genuine curiosity that prods me to read as much about the personalities involved as some sort of post-mortem for my viewing experience. I believe this is where this film’s significance really lies, in reminding everyone, especially the younger generation who are far more detached from the country’s history to look back and learn from occurrences of the past. After all, this country is theirs to inherit. The generations before them fvcked everything up. Maybe there’s still hope that they could unfvck what has been fvcked up over and over and over again.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Yes, there is a mid-credits scene, which I find weird because Quezon has been announced as the third and last installment of a trilogy that began way back in 2016. What is it, then? The camera focuses on a radio transistor playing one of the early American pop tunes used in one scene, before being replaced by a familiar election campaign jingle. What jingle? MAMBO MAGSAYSAY. I guess this is just director Jerrold Tarog’s way of leaving enough leeway for potential sequels in the future. Should they follow through, that would be a ten-year jump to the mid-fifties after the events of this movie.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vgr-ABdgy9c" width="320" youtube-src-id="vgr-ABdgy9c"></iframe></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/2884084410620707737/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/quezon.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/2884084410620707737'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/2884084410620707737'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/quezon.html' title='Quezon'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1q_qvmLdvbJTy8ZSjDhTa1Pcf567f7pMXcXcaC4qqg-Y8KHr6Lg44Fc_XQQCSdlh6bRezV2h6q9PlPa-0W_2KwUPOns6Q07OkGeRY-DAXnkXOQvookq7gF67bzbymS1vLK_u9ezZm1T_KcO5zoy-U7Z6KxttTLBEMgtlIJD71-LoysvBxwMHKNU-DrAK/s72-c/1234567890.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-3874011651748938249</id><published>2025-10-10T21:42:00.006+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-10T21:54:22.140+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Filipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><title type='text'>Cinemartyrs</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cinemalaya.org/cinemartyrs/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLH_twV1kdnbwxwI3glBoXSocD2Iu-ytapCFiNBwBmrMiPAifpQbldx9heyFBetkvClxTK54JQdpanDwFsw2ITsLJijOfKC07SobaJW9ljPlsmLNnzANCwK9nxsUd_F4eYOB9vE2MAUj-J-6_JvHuX1OXgNPNx5K5gycPIf2txC0U25wpVLudexMfvYXh/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">A budding Filmmaker (Nour Hooshmand) comes from a line of local cinema pioneers, her Mother (Raquel Villavicencio) being a film researcher herself. Her effort to commit the massacres during the Philippine-American war to film is not well-received by her school’s panel, criticizing her lack of narratives from Mindanao. And so she forms a team to head down south to Jolo so they could include a well-known story passed down through oral tradition that claims an American-led massacre happened there during a local wedding where even women and children were slaughtered as they huddled in their mosque. Entry to the community is difficult due to military presence and reluctance of the local population to allow outsiders to come in. As they finally manage to set up and start filming, the actors as well as the Filmmaker herself start to convulse as they are possessed by the spirits whose stories they dare tell.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The film starts as a movie about making a movie, seemingly one of those snooty films within a film often only appreciated by those who operate within the same industry. And then everyone gets possessed while filming, their bodies convulsing to the beats of a local Mindanaoan dance. Cinemartyrs ends with the Filmmaker, now pregnant, giving birth to a film projector in her dining room. The ending is pregnant with meaning, pun intended. Bright flashes of red and white are emitted from the Filmmaker’s vajayjay, projecting black and white scenes from Philippine movies during the pre-war era on a wall. I think the plot lost me. Send help.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Well, when I said pregnant with meaning, I wasn’t joking, because it seems to me as though the only way to understand what this film is trying to tell us is to explore its metaphors. So why give birth to a film projector? Here’s my take on this. The Filmmaker, after telling her standoffish thesis defense panel that she can make babies AND make movies, got fvcked, literally, by her boytoy assistant (Cedric Juan), and then, metaphorically, by that film shoot down south. That experience impregnated her with the necessary understanding of Philippine cinema that in the end she literally gives birth to it. Philippine cinema is her baby, and she will raise it as she sees fit. It is strange, but poetic, I must admit.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The film does not involve a lot of big names. We do see Angel Aquino, Lav Diaz, and Cedric Juan, but their screentime is relatively short. The real star of the show here is Hooshmand, who is believable as a wannabe director with something to prove. If anything, her story, her journey to becoming a director who doesn’t just create but actually understands film, is the main focus here. The character doesn’t seem to be written to require a lot of heavy scenes or hysterics, except maybe for the possession scene. Throughout the film Hooshmand retains an aloof facade, which I think matches her character’s profile well enough.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for the relevant themes when it comes to Philippine cinema, I wish I could share more but I simply don’t have enough knowledge of the topic. What I appreciate about what Cinemartyrs have to say about the industry in general, though, is that each director’s journey is unique and it seems to me that the journey is not complete unless you defy the norms to carve a name for yourself. In this sense, the Filmmaker’s journey is educational for us who don’t know much about Film as art, about Film as a discipline. Whether some aspects of the character’s storyline are derived from the director’s experiences herself, only she can answer.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for the historical perspective, I do agree that atrocities during that specific part of Philippine history seem hard to find, as if historians just glossed over them or perhaps, as Cinemartyrs suggests, there’s just a conscious effort to erase those from the country’s history altogether. Kudos to this film for bringing that to light. Hopefully, this can spark more interest in the topic. Final verdict? Do watch if you have the time and the money. There is much to learn and the director’s artistic vision is beautiful and full of symbolisms, despite coming across as weird AF.</span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yGTSE6mYPYI" width="320" youtube-src-id="yGTSE6mYPYI"></iframe></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/3874011651748938249/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/cinemartyrs.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3874011651748938249'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3874011651748938249'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/cinemartyrs.html' title='Cinemartyrs'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLH_twV1kdnbwxwI3glBoXSocD2Iu-ytapCFiNBwBmrMiPAifpQbldx9heyFBetkvClxTK54JQdpanDwFsw2ITsLJijOfKC07SobaJW9ljPlsmLNnzANCwK9nxsUd_F4eYOB9vE2MAUj-J-6_JvHuX1OXgNPNx5K5gycPIf2txC0U25wpVLudexMfvYXh/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-1674276246840416627</id><published>2025-10-09T23:36:00.005+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-09T23:36:42.790+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Filipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><title type='text'>Open Endings</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cinemalaya.org/open-endings/#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-SHqPLcPzh-iv71cD59CpRV4IUFTUydtr-RO64Badzq0Cq9B9SXEwlTPaVsS0hn-gItuS4ClXA8MVBS29vlVmsgThyphenhyphenQ4DAVGO7m1SKD4drVN5p_i52jXVxMeWUIOdN5j4MXw2jIHeZTS7U_mKQXqhuDULAW4AJ6ZG5yZtty5M4A5gLkrsIo6uLC1Wqkd/s1600/1234567890.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Charlie (Janella Salvador) is having issues with her current fling, not just because of their snap decisions when it comes to their budding relationship but also because she has a problem with Charlie’s circle of friends. It’s not the four of them per se, but rather their histories with one another, given how all of them have been involved with one another either romantically or sexually through the years. Kit (Klea Pineda) is having an affair with a married woman who happens to be the mother of one of her students. Mihan (Leanne Mamonong), on the other hand, is still in love with Hannah (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) but afraid to commit. When Hannah surprises everyone with the revelation that she is engaged TO A GUY, the other three are shaken to their core and are left wondering about their own paths in life. Old feelings are stirred as a hard deadline is suddenly imposed for pursuing old flames.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Oh hello, lesbians. In this push for more LGBTQIA+ visibility in cinema lately, it seems to me as though lesbian narratives are still not that common. It has always been about the gays and, nowadays, the trans. Bisexuals? Virtually invisible as if they don’t exist. While lesbian stories are not really my cup of tea, I acknowledge that onscreen representation is important, and every movie is an educational experience. That’s why Open Endings has been a pleasant surprise for me not just because I learned a lot, but also because this is a funny and enjoyable film exploring the intricacies of lesbian relationships through humor without shying away from the socially relevant themes it wants to shed light on.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Is it just me or is Jasmine Curtis-Smith slowly evolving into Iza Calzado? Maybe it’s the voice and intonation? The immaculate Mama Mary vibes? It’s rather eerie, but in a very good way. She does most of the heavy lifting here when it comes to drama because it just seems to be the way her character has been written. Janella Salvador, on the contrary, takes care of the comedy. I’ve never really seen her do comedy so I am beyond amused because she has the comic timing for it! Her rapport with Klea Pineda is yet another added bonus. Their playful banters made this film enjoyable to watch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Leanne Mamonong is not really a name that rings a bell, which is probably the reason why her name is accompanied by “introducing”. For a debut acting gig, she holds her own against her three more seasoned co-actors. Let’s see what else she can offer should she decide to pursue more acting projects. She undeniably benefits from the group rapport, though. Each performer just lifts the other up. Watching the four of them onscreen is fun because the friendship they show you looks quite genuine, which often only happens when the actors themselves have developed real-life friendship on set. That kind of chemistry is hard to fake.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for the storyline, it is your time-tested formula of this one liking that one but that one likes that other one and that other one is in love with this other one. You know the drill. The plot doesn’t really linger far away from that formula. True to the title, the ending is open indeed, although audience reaction implied that one of the characters blinked in the last frame. If you pay attention to what was established earlier in the film, then this is an indication that the ending is not that open at all, even though what really happens after that scene is left to the imagination of the audience.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Overall, I enjoyed Open Endings. I was expecting something preachy that would turn off a general movie audience because of that feeling of being lectured, but what we got instead is a genuine story about friendships and relationships. Instead of shoving what “should be” down our throats, we get to see what “is.” As such, the end product doesn’t seem forced, which is the best way to handle such themes. After all, realizations and understanding tend to come through organically when your audience is having a good time. Don’t tell them. Show them.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o6BF-I0Ky1k" width="320" youtube-src-id="o6BF-I0Ky1k"></iframe></div></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/1674276246840416627/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/open-endings.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/1674276246840416627'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/1674276246840416627'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/open-endings.html' title='Open Endings'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-SHqPLcPzh-iv71cD59CpRV4IUFTUydtr-RO64Badzq0Cq9B9SXEwlTPaVsS0hn-gItuS4ClXA8MVBS29vlVmsgThyphenhyphenQ4DAVGO7m1SKD4drVN5p_i52jXVxMeWUIOdN5j4MXw2jIHeZTS7U_mKQXqhuDULAW4AJ6ZG5yZtty5M4A5gLkrsIo6uLC1Wqkd/s72-c/1234567890.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-273959066133805806</id><published>2025-10-08T11:59:00.016+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-12T22:47:27.084+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Filipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><title type='text'>Habang Nilalamon Ng Hydra Ang Kasaysayan</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cinemalaya.org/habang-nilalamon-ng-hydra-ang-kasaysayan/#" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlqBb4ENDOHvjcNriEuo8qvmWmZl3d2-_5H8O2e1C1U7EWfcKRtdDFMeYpuxQPLVEgqCN7J1ZO5JLaxVuDZZ2DpwlW_b84QYLgWg4iTa1P5lcNsYtmCpi9R9mQf1hsfK2gQnOWEvPIFD3vzVROYwZWIwQxMXH_m4pHuqxta1fPgSYCFlC6ATrE9Zm974a/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Political speechwriter David (Zanjoe Marudo) and political strategist Kiko (Jojit Lorenzo) are more than heartbroken after their presidential candidate loses her bid to a traditional politician. Kiko goes back home to his partner Bea (Dolly de Leon), a history professor who has lost all enthusiasm to teach her discipline. After all, Filipinos never learn, do they? Meanwhile, David finds a worthwhile distraction through dating apps, matching with election lawyer Mela (Mylene Dizon) whom he knocks up after their one night stand. As the two discuss the possibility of marriage, inconvenient truths begin to surface, such as Mela being the daughter of a retired Martial Law general who was accused but never found guilty of “disappearing” many an activist during that time, including Bea’s father. As the four meet at dinner after David’s book launch in which he tackles disinformation, an awkward repartee of opinions and political ideologies will be the main course on the menu.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As someone who has limited knowledge of film language, I was impressed by the liberties the director took when it comes to cinematography. There are plenty of scenes that are framed in unconventional ways. We’re talking about uncomfortably extreme close-ups as well as shots where instead of focusing on the characters, we instead get a boiling pot of coffee front and center. And then there is an entire scene where the conversation between two sisters unfolds through their reflections on a glass table. I found this artsy, to be honest. Refreshing, since I am used to the usual mainstream fodder. I just don’t know whether cineastes find all of this too pretentious or in your face, but then again that’d be their problem, not mine.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">And then there is that scene, yet another conversation between sisters which ended with the younger one literally and metaphorically washing her hands, at the sink and from her father’s purported crimes. I was amused and was, like, WELL DAMN they did NOT! This is one aspect of this movie that I really admire. The visual style is not something you get to watch every day. The Greek mythology references are presented in a theatrical way which add a lot of poetic touch to the material. This is why there’s reason to believe that Habang Nilalamon Ng Hydra Ang Kasaysayan might not get a warm welcome in the mainstream. It might come across as too artsy and high-falutin for the common moviegoer who prefers drama over cerebral stimulation? Too niche, perhaps?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">What the ordinary moviegoer will be able to relate to, though, is the bevy of sociopolitical themes being tackled here. The fictional names of the 2022 presidential election candidates do not even make an effort to conceal who are being referred to in real life, despite the disclaimer during the film’s opening scene that all of this is fictitious. The film does make a stand and will resonate strongly with the liberal leaning crowd, but it also strives to humanize all political actors involved from both sides of the fence. In that way, the film chooses a side, yes, but gives every character fair treatment, something that some propaganda films of late would’ve never had the decency to even think of doing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Dizon should win an award. The character allows her to play around a bit and showcase a wide range of emotions, making her the de facto life of the party. Being a Cinemalaya veteran, she gets to show us both rage and restraint, a lot of dimensions that humanize Mela better. De Leon, on the other hand, makes her character’s disillusionment and anger palpable from the other side of the screen. She looks like a ticking time bomb that will explode anytime, which adds to the thrill. However, this is probably the reason why her character appears a bit one-dimensional. Perhaps it has nothing to do with the character herself, but rather the specific set of qualities and frame of mind that the director chose to highlight.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">In any case, that De Leon/Dizon bitch off during the dinner scene was a delight to watch: two high caliber actresses who could’ve chosen to outshine one another but opted to play off each other’s energy instead. The few scenes they get to share are easily the highlights of this film. As for Marudo and Lorenzo, it’s pretty much the same case with Marudo’s David being a blackhole of toxicity while Lorenzo’s Kiko is in the same league as Dizon’s Mela, able to display a wide range of emotions that made his character someone you’d actually root for in real life. And, of course, solid support from Anna Luna and Nanding Josef.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M4-y4RXYAlo" width="320" youtube-src-id="M4-y4RXYAlo"></iframe></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/273959066133805806/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/habang-nilalamon-ng-hydra-ang-kasaysayan.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/273959066133805806'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/273959066133805806'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/habang-nilalamon-ng-hydra-ang-kasaysayan.html' title='Habang Nilalamon Ng Hydra Ang Kasaysayan'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlqBb4ENDOHvjcNriEuo8qvmWmZl3d2-_5H8O2e1C1U7EWfcKRtdDFMeYpuxQPLVEgqCN7J1ZO5JLaxVuDZZ2DpwlW_b84QYLgWg4iTa1P5lcNsYtmCpi9R9mQf1hsfK2gQnOWEvPIFD3vzVROYwZWIwQxMXH_m4pHuqxta1fPgSYCFlC6ATrE9Zm974a/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-2233274657213093589</id><published>2025-10-07T10:22:00.014+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-09T23:40:23.845+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Filipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><title type='text'>Bloom Where You Are Planted</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cinemalaya.org/bloom-where-you-are-planted/#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd47M0qOBfd3zqwhzY8geTSFQYw5PygPuqjIB2bzgLwuasfEbnQA3Am-KxgbXLWYVH4lADOFNk-AvhZtP8dnViYUpAPiDm_qzGIvV-Nj1Vv-JiZyiwckmYq2_HfypGtn_av6qqfL34oyAXfCt4bK8CXW4_52HXgcdZG8WfsMiTjlQm1O6rUK6py6Hm-5Y/s1600/1234567890.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Bloom Where You Are Planted is a documentary focusing on the agrarian realities of the Cagayan valley which has attracted many activists to do research and bring to light the challenges plaguing the farming community there. This documentary focuses on three individuals. The first one is Agnes Mesina, a coordinator of Makabayan who has been redtagged due to her involvement in the community. This documentary explores her vocation as well as the effect of her job on her relationship with her son. The second is UP undergraduate Amanda Echanis who was prominent in the news for a time after she was arrested with her baby in tow. This documentary gives an update on her current life in prison for almost half a decade now while her son is cared for by her elderly mother. The third is Randy Malayao whose murder is recounted by a journalist friend of his, still striving to seek justice for his slain comrade.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I was thinking of just giving Bloom Where You Are Planted three stars. It’s not that there is anything wrong with it, but rather my ratings are usually indicators of how I enjoyed the film. I almost forgot that this one is a documentary. The thing about documentaries is most of them are not meant to be enjoyed. You watch them to learn something from them. Learn a lot, I did indeed. I upped the rating to four because it seems unfair to the film should I give it a lower rating. After all, film is also a medium for exposing societal ills, and this documentary does a great job in doing exactly that.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Of the three subjects tackled in this documentary, I was only familiar with Amanda Echanis. I remember how her arrest made headlines, mainly due to her baby. After the uproar, the issue seemed to just die down and this is the only time I’m hearing about her again. So, apparently, she is still in jail and is, thus, still an undergrad. She also won as a student councilor in UPD, which shows the strong support she has among the student population. I can’t really comment much about her circumstances because I lack the necessary knowledge. All I can wish for is that she gets justice for what has been done to her.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">If anything, what Bloom Where You Are Planted really achieves is it reminds you of how governments can weaponize opinion through the penalization of dissent. This has always been done in human history and there is no indication that it will ever go away. This is perhaps one of the downsides of law, in general, when it is bent to serve the interest of a few and then turned into a weapon to oppress the very people it should be protecting. Of course, journalists and activists are almost always the victims.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Redtagging as a concept is something I only ever heard of in the news. You say something against the government and then they brand you as an insurgent. We’ve already heard about it in the news, especially during COVID, but the news reports somehow lacked a human aspect. This is where Bloom Where You Are Planted comes in, because it provides the essential humanization of the concept. In showing us how it affected the victims as well as their families and the communities they are helping, it helps us understand the concept more.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Bloom Where You Are Planted also sheds light on the issues in the Cagayan Valley. A few times a year we hear environmentalists and activists complaining about mining contracts and the like and how the Cordilleras and the mountain ranges in that region serve as our protector against typhoons and the like. This documentary also touches upon that topic, albeit superficially. I suppose this film is still a good start if you are doing research on those topics or merely interested.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Overall, Bloom Where You Are Planted is an eye-opening feature. My only disclaimer for those who want to watch it for whatever reasons they might have is that it is not like most of the other entries in this year’s Cinemalaya festival. In short, manage your expectations. If you enter the cinema with the intention to learn, then this documentary will satisfy your curiosity. If you want something to enjoy, there are nine other entries to choose from.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yqei1fercck" width="320" youtube-src-id="yqei1fercck"></iframe></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/2233274657213093589/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/bloom-where-youre-planted.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/2233274657213093589'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/2233274657213093589'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/bloom-where-youre-planted.html' title='Bloom Where You Are Planted'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd47M0qOBfd3zqwhzY8geTSFQYw5PygPuqjIB2bzgLwuasfEbnQA3Am-KxgbXLWYVH4lADOFNk-AvhZtP8dnViYUpAPiDm_qzGIvV-Nj1Vv-JiZyiwckmYq2_HfypGtn_av6qqfL34oyAXfCt4bK8CXW4_52HXgcdZG8WfsMiTjlQm1O6rUK6py6Hm-5Y/s72-c/1234567890.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-4744930867611922783</id><published>2025-10-06T00:44:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-08T10:22:38.774+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Filipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><title type='text'>Republika Ng Pipolipinas</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cinemalaya.org/republika-ng-pipolipinas/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NlVU1Q-Y8i7Hvd2mFSVnbN2CLVBNlHD3YlbzlhdMUh9_wS4WeyIMCr0TUHc2Rfmsi9oAUbbYs-d8AooceUqN1UzoLA4A2i0eLIHZmt3uoNkyz2uFUWcao6Eipx9yGy-wWEqbRYbXjiIVQGKWUKWjJd2pVX-nQJiW-qqGH0gPa8sQliQf13yMuMWGAYfd/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">A documentary crew heads over to the town of Pulong Palay where they follow the daily life of Corazon Vitug (Geraldine Villamil), a widowed farmer who renounces her Filipino citizenship and declares herself president of the Republic of Pipolipinas, the plot of her farmland that will become the newest micronation within the country. Despite having a few friends supporting her cause, a lot of people in town are wary and see her as a deranged psycho succumbing to the pressures of her life's tragedies. As her story goes viral on social media, a group of people with their own vested interests approach her and propose to join her newly formed nation, among them film star Alessandra de Rossi (Alessandra de Rossi). As they try to settle their differences to form a new country, they must work together to uncover corruption involving the town’s local government accused of grabbing land to turn into paid dumpsites for imported trash.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The only weird thing about Republika Ng Pipolipinas is how redundant it appears to be. After all, it is a political satire masquerading as a documentary. Considering the current state of affairs in this country when it comes to politics and society, do we really need a political satire to show us the status quo when it’s as clear as day that we are living in a political satire of our own making? The jokes are writing themselves at this point, if you think about it. Perhaps that’s why this film is so effective as deadpan comedy because it serves as a form of revolt. They can steal our taxes alright, but they can’t and will never take away our sense of humor.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Again, the brand of comedy here is that of a mock documentary. If you are a fan of shows like The Office, then you are familiar with such style and you will probably like this movie. There are some hilarious sequences, although I’ve observed that they work effectively through audience impact. The viewing experience might be different if you watch the film alone on streaming elsewhere. Since the subject matter tackled is political discontent as well as corruption in government, it is hard to treat the film solely as comedy, maybe because the socially relevant issues tackled are too fresh but people are no longer that numb as to normalize them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">In terms of acting, Villamil as Cora is the heart of the film. She can be funny without making an effort to be funny but she also delivers in the few emotional scenes that require gravitas to pull off. In her face you witness the simmering rage that each and every Filipino fed up with political fatigue is trying to keep a tight lid on. That potent combo of frustration and helplessness in the face of systematized corruption is palpable and can be felt from the other side of the screen. Yes, Cora Vitug might come across as a cuckoo to many, but that cuckoo is actually most of us. The difference is she actually has the guts to confront injustice.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">De Rossi steals the show from time to time, starring as a parody of herself. Perhaps what makes her role so hilarious is that she became the onscreen surrogate of clout chasers and celebrities running for public office, whose performative antics riding on currently trending issues for personal glory tend to derail the cause instead of helping it. Her character serves as a good foil for Cora who has everything to lose if she actually stopped fighting for her cause, all while the movie star and the influencer can just move on with their lives after new content has been uploaded and feasted upon by their followers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">In the end, they all come together and provide us with some strong imagery, a literal confrontation between the corrupt government and a citizenry demanding for accountability. That drone shot ending just gives you chills and solidifies the film’s David and Goliath concept. Still depressing, nonetheless, because even in film we can’t seem to win against the forces of evil in society making our lives miserable on a daily basis. Even so, films like this are necessary, as necessary as they could ever be, to serve as a punch in the gut, a wake up call for a country that has become so politically desensitized to even react anymore.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a75EUPl7w_w" width="320" youtube-src-id="a75EUPl7w_w"></iframe></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/4744930867611922783/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/republika-ng-pipolipinas.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/4744930867611922783'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/4744930867611922783'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/republika-ng-pipolipinas.html' title='Republika Ng Pipolipinas'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NlVU1Q-Y8i7Hvd2mFSVnbN2CLVBNlHD3YlbzlhdMUh9_wS4WeyIMCr0TUHc2Rfmsi9oAUbbYs-d8AooceUqN1UzoLA4A2i0eLIHZmt3uoNkyz2uFUWcao6Eipx9yGy-wWEqbRYbXjiIVQGKWUKWjJd2pVX-nQJiW-qqGH0gPa8sQliQf13yMuMWGAYfd/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-7974014018506902184</id><published>2025-10-05T20:44:00.016+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-05T20:53:56.704+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Lee R."/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Literature"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Philippine"/><title type='text'>Kalahating Bahaghari</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219302134-kalahating-bahaghari" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWo_45vdluAL0gVqtvihOROoSAJWe9S7bfxeJ7vLGjr1MSmdwPkHtH__2qZROvpdxswPmLE6XJJ2lz10cclzlmB5LeEoxWEmjdsy9M9vFWMDAmQLGS6SiRxbHeKbbIN2sAYz2ZIutbItii_SV1qjj72xZYHYYtxdNtCLUwdoGYaMEhWS1jVA_SYp5cqO-/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Hindi lamang ang mga magulang kundi pati na rin kanyang pandinig ang kukunin kay Jim ng isang hindi inaasahang pangyayari. Siya ay maiiwan sa pangangalaga ng kanyang Kuya Luis na magtataguyod sa kanya upang makapag-aral at makapagtapos. Ang isa sa magiging pangunahing suliranin ng mag-Kuya ay ang pag-iisang dibdib nila Luis at Marina na matindi ang galit sa mga tomboy at bakla. Ito rin ang magiging dahilan kung bakit maaantala ang pagtanggap ni Jim sa sariling katauhan. Matapos maranasan ang hindi kaaya-ayang pakikisama ng hipag ay bubukod ito at matututong mamuhay mag-isa habang tinutuklas ang kanyang pagkatao. Hindi naman makaiiwas si Marina sa mga tomboy at bakla dahil magdaan ang maraming taon ay ang mga anak naman nila ni Luis ang lalantad na hindi ayon sa kanyang paniniwala tungkol sa nararapat na kasarian. Sa makabagong panahon ay ang kanyang apo naman na si Joshua ang sasabak sa mga pangungutya ng lipunang sadyang ayaw umunawa.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">May isang palabas noon sa MMFF na tungkol din sa mga bakla. Mga matatandang bakla. Rainbow Sunset yata ang pamagat. Buong akala ko ay itong Kalahating Bahaghari ni Ricky Lee ang batayan ng palabas na iyon kaya naman nagulat ako na 2024 lang pala nailathala ang akdang ito. Hindi na rin naman iba si Lee sa pagsusulat ng talambuhay ng mga bakla. Naaalala niyo pa ba si Amapola? Ngunit kung paghahambingin ang dalawa, lubos na kinagiliwan ko ang Kalahating Bahaghari dahil tila ba ito isang buod na sumasalamin hindi lamang sa buhay ng mga pangunahing tauhan kundi ng buong LGBTQIA+ at sangkabaklaan na rin sa Pilipinas.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Ang bawat kabanata ng Kalahating Bahaghari ay nakatuon sa isa sa mga tauhan at minsan din ay sa isang mahalagang pangyayari sa kanilang buhay. Nahahati ang aklat sa dalawang bahagi. Ang unang bahagi ay noong Martial Law at ang pangunahing tauhan ay si Jim habang ang ikalawa naman ay sa kasalukuyan kung saan ang apo na ng kapatid ni Jim na si Joshua ang susundan ng mambabasa. Maganda ang pagkakabalangkas ng kanya-kanya nilang talambuhay dahil makikita mo sa kanilang mga pagdaraanan kung ano ba ang magkatulad at ano ba ang nagkaiba sa kanilang pakikipagtuos sa kani-kanilang pagkatao sa kanya-kanya nilang mga panahon.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Ang hindi ko lamang gaanong naibigan sa Kalahating Bahaghari ay ang aking paghahangad na makilala pa sana ng lubos ang mga tauhan gaya na lamang nila Jim at Sam. Sa pagbubukas kasi ng pangalawang bahagi ng akda ay wala na sila. Mainam sana kung napahaba pa ni Lee ang aklat. Sa tingin ko naman ay mabibigyan ito ng pagkakataon kapag naiangkop na ang katha bilang isang palabas. Marahil ay dahil na rin sa pagsusulat ni Lee ng mga Screenplay kung bakit madaling basahin ang mga aklat niya na tila ba nanonood ka lang. Maaari itong isama sa MMFF ngunit kung ako ang tatanungin, sa tingin ko ay maigi na maging Netflix Series ito upang mabigyan ng kaukulang panahon ang bawat tauhan.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Naibigan ko rin ang pagtatapos ng akda kung saan may mga tauhan na nagbago at natubos samantalang mayroon din namang mga nanatiling nakapinid ang pag-iisip hanggang sa huli. Kung tutuusin ay ganyan naman talaga sa tunay na buhay. Hindi lahat ng tao ay kailangang bigyan ng magandang katapusan dahil hindi naman lahat ng tao ay bukas sa pagbabago. Marami rin talaga ang dinadala sa hukay ang mga nakagawian nang masasamang paniniwala at pakikitungo sa kapwa. Sa ganitong paraan ay nabigyan pa rin ng may-akda ng puwang ang mga kagaya nila sa kanyang akda kahit pa ang mga taong ganito ay wala namang puwang sa puso pagdating sa pagpaparaya.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Sa kadulu-duluhan ay maganda ang naging pagkakasulat sa kathang ito at mahusay na naipakita ang dati pati na rin ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng karapatang pang-LGBTQIA+ sa bansa. Marami pang maaaring pagbutihin. Minsan man ay kainis-inis na tayo ay nasa 2025 na ngunit talamak pa rin ang pangungutya at panghuhusga, malayo pa man ay malayo na rin naman ang narating ng pakikibakang ito. Sa bawat Marina ay may Sally. Sa bawat Oscar ay may Dale. Kaya sa lahat ng Jim at Joshua sa Pilipinas, tuloy lang ang laban at laging tandaan na kayo lamang ang may karapatang umukit at bumuo sa inyong mga pagkatao.</span></div></div></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/7974014018506902184/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/kalahating-bahaghari.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/7974014018506902184'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/7974014018506902184'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/kalahating-bahaghari.html' title='Kalahating Bahaghari'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWo_45vdluAL0gVqtvihOROoSAJWe9S7bfxeJ7vLGjr1MSmdwPkHtH__2qZROvpdxswPmLE6XJJ2lz10cclzlmB5LeEoxWEmjdsy9M9vFWMDAmQLGS6SiRxbHeKbbIN2sAYz2ZIutbItii_SV1qjj72xZYHYYtxdNtCLUwdoGYaMEhWS1jVA_SYp5cqO-/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-3572844027110389629</id><published>2025-10-03T22:27:00.007+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-03T22:34:33.516+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="British"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Literature"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Rushdie S."/><title type='text'>The Satanic Verses</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9phfM-zRDA0U_9jJwm_BqjQWQIVx6_-2h0dgO7JcGFXG4FPjYjw-HdKDhUxkusJxhyphenhyphenKuCCci_5zvruetrl8rw4ntp9nLWaUUdr_U5Kw1ZNkfmGNxcEtOVjp95oUrlFfZ9ivTdJA-8NzTCi3wLsjdSnqoGGgh30VETGzjKkDbOWpFITIupfhyphenhyphenBEeDUHIa/s1600/the-satanic-verses-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">A plane en route from India to the United Kingdom explodes in midair over the English Channel after it is hijacked by separatists whose negotiations with authorities have fallen apart. Everyone in the plane is killed by the explosion. Everyone, but two. Gibreel Farishta is a Bollywood superstar who has attained popularity through the portrayal of Hindu gods on film. Saladin Chamcha, on the other hand, is an English speaking emigrant who has severed ties with family back in the subcontinent so he can live an immigrant’s life in London where he garners critical acclaim as a voice over artist who can summon a thousand different voices. Both men are aboard the Bostan flight when it devolves into a ball of fire, but they miraculously survive the explosion as well as the fall. Soon, Gibreel grows a halo behind his head that glows from time to time while Saladin is transformed into a devil with horns.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I can’t really say anything much about the religious content, not because I am prohibited to do so, but rather because I am not really familiar with the religion in question. As such, I wouldn’t really have any idea which is blasphemous and which is not. I suppose anyone reading this who happens to belong in that religion will have more useful insights? If anything, what reading The Satanic Verses has accomplished for me is it piqued my curiosity about the basic tenets of the religion in question. Now I feel like I want to learn more about it out of genuine curiosity as well as to figure out why a lot of people seem so pissed off with this novel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Anyway, my real complaint about The Satanic Verses is that it is hard to read. Literature loving nerds seem to be in consensus that should you want an introduction to Salman Rushdie, you do NOT begin with The Satanic Verses. I bought my copy along with Midnight’s Children. I could have heeded that advice but I chose not to. And so here we are. But why is it hard to read, though? Rushdie employs magical realism and the novel unfolds like a continuous dream being dreamed by the main character. It is also meta at some points and in the end, you just get lost in what comes across as a fervid fever dream.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">It also doesn’t help that the plot is non-linear. There is a lot of going back and forth depending on who is currently narrating. There are several subplots, some more interesting than the rest, but all linked to the two main characters. I also still don’t understand what the entire novel is supposed to be. There are chapters where everything that is happening is designated as film projects involving the main character. But then again there is the religious aspect where he may or may not be an archangel. Or perhaps the entire book is just the musings of an entity our human minds do not comprehend. It’s anybody’s guess, and I’m tired of guessing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">If there is one thing I admire about The Satanic Verses, it’s Rushdie’s eagerness to play around with the English language. I haven’t read any other author aside from Shakespeare who was/is this adventurous when it comes to twisting words to tell stories. There are many attempts at comedy here which immediately brought other novels of the same subgenre like Gaiman’s American Gods and Gaiman/Pratchett’s Good Omens back to mind. Unlike those two, though, which had their own consistent brand of comedy, The Satanic Verses seems to switch tones more often, to the point where I just didn’t know how to tackle it anymore.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">In any case, my favorite chapters were the last two, maybe because the novel was finally ending, HA HA. On a more serious note, the penultimate chapter zeroed in on religious group think and was so visual that it played out like a movie in my head. The last chapter, I liked, because it felt like a redemption story between a father and a son, which I found quite touching. Even then, I still don’t know what this novel is all about after over 500 pages. Either I’m that dumb or Rushdie is just not my cup of tea. I guess we’ll find out when I attack Midnight’s Children in a week or two.</span></div></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/3572844027110389629/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/the-satanic-verses.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3572844027110389629'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3572844027110389629'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/the-satanic-verses.html' title='The Satanic Verses'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9phfM-zRDA0U_9jJwm_BqjQWQIVx6_-2h0dgO7JcGFXG4FPjYjw-HdKDhUxkusJxhyphenhyphenKuCCci_5zvruetrl8rw4ntp9nLWaUUdr_U5Kw1ZNkfmGNxcEtOVjp95oUrlFfZ9ivTdJA-8NzTCi3wLsjdSnqoGGgh30VETGzjKkDbOWpFITIupfhyphenhyphenBEeDUHIa/s72-c/the-satanic-verses-1.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-8926975853254352466</id><published>2025-10-02T23:10:00.006+08:00</published><updated>2025-10-02T23:18:03.320+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Hollywood"/><title type='text'>Good Boy</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Boy_(2025_Leonberg_film)" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ4wcmovJZHmQNBsK8I3eF4D1WEoKlQIZJjmJDhdxBOAp5dEX-x-R6VZA6Tm9c_7vd71k-EAvzhrLnzEwN-paSSvmR0NUxW-hK6TH8Kc4DeWZm5tvRPAchSls4k3GwpkQWpG9gYIHjKqvSYfVvLVFma0T5bvt89ZrsXjTaRARKJYZArMLIwrFIbgPqZn9/s1600/123456789.jfif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Indy (Indy) is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who has served as its human’s best friend since puppyhood. The sad thing is that Todd (Shane Jensen) is terminally ill, often coughing out blood and rejected at new medication trials due to the advanced stage of his illness. His Sister (Arielle Friedman) makes it a point to always check up on him but it is Indy who really serves as his companion. When he decides to move into an old cabin in the woods formerly owned by their Grandfather (Larry Fessenden), it is Indy who immediately senses the presence of something sinister, often manifesting in dark corners of the house and giving the dog nightmares about what really happened to the grandfather and his own dog. As the malevolent entity becomes more and more aggressive, Indy stands by to protect Todd, but what can a dog really do against evil?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I was going to give this just three stars but that decision wouldn’t have made me feel like a good boy. I guess I was just bored because from a storytelling perspective, Good Boy is rather limited by the POV of its main character. I opted for a four star rating to celebrate Indy the dog. How do you direct a dog to act on camera? Neither CGI nor AI was used to manipulate the dog’s facial expressions, which means there was a canine acting coach onset who worked his/her ass off to capture those raw emotions. I suddenly remembered Snoop as Messi in Anatomy of a Fall but if we were to compare canine acting, Indy totally carried this film.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">When I first heard about Good Boy being a haunted house story from the perspective of a dog, I thought it was going to be totally from a canine’s POV, as in black and white and purely first person. Well, that’s not what happens here. There is a mix of first and third person POVs but all from the dog’s perspective. There are human actors present in the scenes but whenever they appear they are either not the focus of the frame or their faces are a bit blurred or hidden by lighting. This simply means that Indy the dog is the lead actor through and through.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Animals leading their own films are rare but most of the time the filmmaker gives them human-like qualities so that the story could flow better and moviegoers could relate to them more. Good Boy is nothing like that. The entire plot unfolds through the dog’s perspective. Perhaps this is what makes the story a bit difficult to digest because dogs are not humans. Dogs react to movement and triggers in the environment, the same way we humans do before we ascribe meaning to whatever it is we are feeling.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The director makes use of typical horror techniques like jumpscares and a combo of make-up and CGI to depict the haunting presence. Since canines do not have the capacity to conjure concepts and ideas like ghosts, it just feels weird how Indy is supposed to be interpreting everything that way. The dog even has dreams that serve as some sort of premonition about what happened before. As for the supernatural entity involved, there is no explanation whatsoever, and maybe there is no need for it after all.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Overall Good Boy bored me but I was in awe all throughout the film because Indy the dog is such a good actor. The movie is short at just around 73 minutes, which is understandable. More than the film, though, I believe a behind the scenes documentary feature would be more interesting to watch just so I can satisfy my curiosity as to how they managed to turn Indy into lead actor material. If all you want is something new and refreshing in the horror genre, then Good Boy is still worth the admission ticket. Just do not expect much in terms of storyline. Go watch it to enjoy the dog’s performance.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4-CRkd_74g" width="320" youtube-src-id="q4-CRkd_74g"></iframe></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/8926975853254352466/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/good-boy.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/8926975853254352466'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/8926975853254352466'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/10/good-boy.html' title='Good Boy'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ4wcmovJZHmQNBsK8I3eF4D1WEoKlQIZJjmJDhdxBOAp5dEX-x-R6VZA6Tm9c_7vd71k-EAvzhrLnzEwN-paSSvmR0NUxW-hK6TH8Kc4DeWZm5tvRPAchSls4k3GwpkQWpG9gYIHjKqvSYfVvLVFma0T5bvt89ZrsXjTaRARKJYZArMLIwrFIbgPqZn9/s72-c/123456789.jfif" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-290093526187405988</id><published>2025-09-30T22:53:00.011+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-30T23:02:00.270+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Asian"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><title type='text'>8番出口 (Exit 8)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_8_(film)" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d7JD6ZFE4xvYFH_0MWeuTfh6ZJjNqWVFSzxjnPgZnt1WOe7suywyNI_B0ZEc4vDJlVt5J1FPaRdPb277cuBrwzzDnM4RXN9TE0xNfjhFC8CnkH78NSd55FtW9MmfZ2AQIbJa2OIct_MvICeYU6lj6DmggxESO5K97fRSwyI07STlATh3MeNKYizYJzC3/s1600/123456789.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">A middle aged Japanese guy referred to as The Lost Man (Kazunari Ninomiya) steps out of the train after witnessing an irate elderly man berate a young mother whose baby won’t stop crying out loud in the car. While heading toward Exit 8, he receives a phone call from his girlfriend who tells him that she is pregnant and is currently at the hospital. Stress causes an asthma attack and he relies heavily on his inhaler as he thinks about whether he is ready to be a father yet. Weak coverage cuts their conversation short and he is challenged by a new dilemma. He has already passed by the same underground walkway twice or thrice but every time he rounds a corner he is brought back to the same area with the same Walking Man (Yamato Kochi) walking the other way as if they were both caught in an Escheresque kind of loop.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">We really shouldn’t be ascribing any greater meaning to Exit 8. Apparently it is based on one of those spot-the-difference styled videogames where the main character, in first person POV, passes through an underground walkway en route to Exit 8 but is caught in a weird loop. The rules are simple: go ahead if you don’t spot an anomaly; turn around if you spot any. Do this successfully eight times and you end up at the exit. Make a mistake and you go back to zero. Again, it’s a game. The thing is, this film version sprinkled the storyline with fatherhood and unwanted pregnancy themes, which trigger a lot of philosophical interpretations.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">One character, a young woman who also seems stuck in the Exit 8 loop, asks the questions you want to ask on your behalf. Is this purgatory? Is this hell? Eventually she comes to the conclusion that this is neither hell nor purgatory. This is just a subway tunnel. She also suggests that the daily grind of hopping on the subway en route to work IS hell. Ok, so is Exit 8 some sort of metaphor for the mundane and routinary lives we live daily that is also on loop? Doing the same things over and over again only for the day to end and start again tomorrow stuck in the same routine ad nauseam? Looks and sounds familiar, no?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Halfway through, The Lost Man finds a boy who also seems trapped and ends up to be some sort of representation for his unborn son. It is because of this that my interpretation kind of zeroed in on the possibility that this whole loop is just a metaphor for The Lost Man’s reluctance to be a father, represented by the looped underground walkway. Finding the exit means running away from responsibility while turning back and hopping on the train again to go visit his girlfriend at the hospital is tantamount to accepting the responsibility. If viewed this way, then my curiosity is suddenly piqued by what The Walking Man’s dilemma might be.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Anyway, Exit 8 is fun because of the speculations you come up with in your head. Escher is referred to in one of the posters The Lost Man sees in the looped tunnel. If you are not familiar, Escher was a graphic artist who became popular through his drawings of staircases that seem to be going up only to make an about face and loop back to its origin, making the start and end points totally ambiguous. An illusion, in short. So that gives us a clue. Another possibility I entertained was that of a glitch in the Matrix, a simulation. This theory was interesting because it brings about questions as to who is operating the system and why, but this doesn’t seem to be the most plausible explanation for all that is happening.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">In the end, The Lost Man finds himself back in the train and back to that opening scene with the elderly guy berating the young mother. Just like the underground walkway loop, the plot itself goes full circle and ends where it starts. The only difference this time is that The Lost Man finally finds the courage to intervene. And so what does this all mean? I have no idea, bro, but if I were to hazard a guess, my main takeaway here is that life has no meaning in general and we all end up stuck in a loop of daily routine. However, it is through that banality of the quotidian that we usually end up finding whatever meaning we want or need to ascribe to life.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/emZZexEJO8c" width="320" youtube-src-id="emZZexEJO8c"></iframe></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/290093526187405988/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/8-exit-8.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/290093526187405988'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/290093526187405988'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/8-exit-8.html' title='8番出口 (Exit 8)'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d7JD6ZFE4xvYFH_0MWeuTfh6ZJjNqWVFSzxjnPgZnt1WOe7suywyNI_B0ZEc4vDJlVt5J1FPaRdPb277cuBrwzzDnM4RXN9TE0xNfjhFC8CnkH78NSd55FtW9MmfZ2AQIbJa2OIct_MvICeYU6lj6DmggxESO5K97fRSwyI07STlATh3MeNKYizYJzC3/s72-c/123456789.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-3603563219996611349</id><published>2025-09-29T15:01:00.003+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-29T15:53:15.833+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="9 Works Theatrical"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Theater"/><title type='text'>The Bodyguard (9 Works Theatrical)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://metro.style/metro-style/people/2025/8/13/list-here-s-the-cast-of-the-bodyguard-the-musical-set-to-open-rockwell-s-proscenium-theater-1154" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cIpMogxlSy-h7oQdkthxw1e1w3FAbRfx3YvB076Ym0CrbhZKqepwpJyv6SWrxwnIW5KM8fLTwjjTK6BmTYGRARhaxWpeDThzXCng4tY7jF-cV-EyY-acAartPOhIniVPSVEKz2niPiZd3EhHrpGXeG5G0OVTGm2ZismxfyqNp2-r7N_-j9KEf_0AN3Yf/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Superstar Rachel Marron (Christine Allado) is in need of a new bodyguard. Her manager Bill Devaney (John Joven-Uy) approaches veteran security guy Frank Farmer (Matt Blaker), who initially refuses before reluctantly accepting the job. He is then introduced to the glitzy world of showbiz where he spots threats not just against Rachel but to her sister Nicki (Sheena Lee Palad) and son Fletcher (Elian Santos) as well. As her publicist Sy Spector (Tim Yap) ramps up her visibility as a much needed push for her Oscar campaign, Rachel also receives threats via letters from a crazed fan who is obsessed with her, getting close without them noticing and even stealing one of her costumes. It doesn’t help that she feels suffocated by the restrictions placed upon her by her new bodyguard. Given the abundance of time they spend together, sparks begin to fly, but can he really be her protector and lover at the same time?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The only time I’ve ever heard about The Bodyguard: the Musical was when I read a news story about the UK tour being constantly disrupted because theatergoers were singing along even when instructed not to do so. Now that I’ve finally seen the show, I understand the dilemma. So I guess kudos to all of us in the audience for exhibiting incredible restraint because, seriously, in a nation of power belters both legit and delusional, how do we NOT sing along to Whitney Houston? Luckily, there is a full I Wanna Dance With Somebody encore after the curtain call where they DO encourage you not just to sing along but to dance as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">What I find strange is that despite having a full run and tours in the UK, this musical hasn’t really crossed over to the other side of the pond yet. Why not, Broadway? There is no shortage of opinions online but the consensus seems to be that this musical is just not viable. I guess we can say this about the storyline and the way the musical has been crafted. The Bodyguard: the Musical doesn’t really seem to know what it wants to be. Is it going to be an onstage musical reimagining of the 1992 film or a full-on Whitney Houston jukebox musical? In a way, it straddles both but commits to neither. Somehow, that confuses the audience a bit.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">In my case, I haven’t really seen the 1992 movie, so there is no point of comparison here. As such, I came over as a Filipino who has been indoctrinated to Tita mo Whitney’s songs since childhood, and hearing her hits come alive onstage was enough for me to have a good time. Even then, I feel like had this musical been created as a full-on Whitney Houston jukebox extravaganza, the presentation of the songs could’ve been grander and more concert-like. Somehow, the adherence to the storyline kind of held that back with most of the setlist monopolized by the Rachel Marron character, which brings us to Christine Allado.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">When 9 Works and Proscenium started posting teasers about the actress cast to play the lead role, many thought it’d be Rachelle Ann Go. After all, she had a career and was already well-known here before crossing over to the West End. When Allado was announced, nobody seemed familiar. Like, sorry we don’t know her. Well, the best way to get to know her is to watch the show. Incredible talent like this should be seen and heard, not read about. I can only imagine how physically and vocally exhausting this role is to any triple threat willing to take on the challenge. Rest assured, Whitney’s songs are safe in Allado’s hands, or vocal cords. Because damn, she carries this show and makes it look so effortless and easy.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Most of Whitney’s hits are here. Of the three power ballads in 1992’s The Bodyguard OST, Run To You has always been my favorite because it just hits differently and effectively encapsulates the storyline, with enough emotional punch through its runs and silent grief via its restrained verses. I was pleasantly surprised that they turned it into a duet. Hearing two voices blend harmoniously elevated the song to new heights. Even then, my favorite for this onstage rendition is One Moment In Time, given the glitzy awards show performance treatment. The only sad thing about that number is you can’t even applaud because it flows directly into the climax. Damn. I just want a cast recording at this point. Are they selling?</span></div></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/3603563219996611349/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/the-bodyguard-9-works-theatrical.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3603563219996611349'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3603563219996611349'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/the-bodyguard-9-works-theatrical.html' title='The Bodyguard (9 Works Theatrical)'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cIpMogxlSy-h7oQdkthxw1e1w3FAbRfx3YvB076Ym0CrbhZKqepwpJyv6SWrxwnIW5KM8fLTwjjTK6BmTYGRARhaxWpeDThzXCng4tY7jF-cV-EyY-acAartPOhIniVPSVEKz2niPiZd3EhHrpGXeG5G0OVTGm2ZismxfyqNp2-r7N_-j9KEf_0AN3Yf/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-3007989946269055005</id><published>2025-09-24T14:19:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-24T14:19:17.566+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="GMG Productions"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Theater"/><title type='text'>Dear Evan Hansen (GMG Productions)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sec.solaireresort.com/offers/entertainment/dear-evan-hansen" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe3pHGdO0vibI-E6xWiTNOe5VADNV-FbCWg-G3GVG5GG-WZ9SPb0AWttOEp8Sg7MjcZYtgJ2nwxK_ZLVs82SsmUNH-8vvmn-ydgfqyFVBA6hyphenhyphenUGjNZuHcft4eE6Dj2lNYdrpH7xN51hLFshvMu1f_g5-KuHqAP54NiveqEHfo332jJDCCav2z3LbK7FQP/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Socially awkward Evan Hansen (Sonny Monaghan) writes a letter to himself as proposed by his shrink, a way to lessen his anxiety so he can function normally at school. His mother Heidi (Rebecca McKinnis) is a single mother whose work shifts and night classes mean less time for her son. When Evan prints one of his letters at the library and problem child Connor Murphy (Rhys Hopkins) finds it, thinking it was written to ridicule him, he takes it home and it is found on him after his body is recovered post-suicide. His parents Larry (Hal Fowler) and Cynthia (Helen Anker) interpret the letter as a suicide note addressed to their son’s only friend. Connor’s sister&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">and Evan’s crush</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Zoe (Zoe Athena) is doubtful, but as the family tries to process their grief over a son and brother they barely knew, Evan is forced to fabricate a web of lies not just to help the family but himself as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">When I launched the first season of Broadway Barrage in 2016, Dear Evan Hansen was a little known musical that I didn’t bother to add to my list. It was only after it won big at the Tonys the following year that it entered my radar, although I didn’t get to watch it until 2019 due to the sudden surge in ticket prices. I’ve seen over 150 theater pieces in the last two decades. Dear Evan Hansen is just the third, after Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah and Miss Saigon, that I decided to go see twice. I guess it just took a while for its soundtrack to really hit me like a big yellow school bus that I knew I had to see the show again, to connect the OST with the visuals once more. Worth it!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">First stop: one difference between the Broadway show and this Manila leg of the Australian tour. Social media plays a big role in Dear Evan Hansen’s storyline and I believe the Broadway show was my first ever experience seeing digital panels being used onstage to depict the social media aspect and interactions as visually stimulating as possible. Solaire’s stage is much smaller and while they do project videos and images on the walls, it didn’t feel as digitally state-of-the-art as that of the Broadway run. The good thing about the smaller stage, though, is that it lent more intimacy to the production, which made it more emotional to some extent.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for the songs, For Forever has always been my default favorite, although Waving Through a Window has been making some headway in snatching that title. In this particular production, there were some songs that stood out for me. Requiem, for example, benefited from the more intimate stage and made the trio highlight the family’s grief even more. I also gained new appreciation for If I Could Tell Her and Good For You. Good For You, damn, McKinnis’ growling in that song just makes you feel the mixed wrath and despair of a mother trying to raise a son in a single household the best way she knows how.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for the acting, the show I watched had Evan Hansen alternate Sonny Monaghan in the lead. My only complaint about him is that he seemed to be holding back in the first few song numbers. I was, like, BELT IT BRO, especially during Waving Through a Window. As the show progressed, though, I found beauty in his choice for vocal restraint. Somehow his choice translated into some sort of verbal representation of the character’s anxiety. For what it’s worth, though, everyone in the cast is just awesome and gave justice to their characters. Special kudos to Tom Dickerson as Jared and Rhys Hopkins as Connor for providing the laughs.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">In the end, Dear Evan Hansen will always be about mental health, anxiety in particular. The storyline is a bit fucked up when you think about it but narratives like this, no matter how controversial they are, are needed to shed light on what society still considers as taboo. Brushing issues like mental wellbeing under the rug doesn’t mean they will cease to exist. If anything we</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">, as a society,</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">&nbsp;are just making it hard for people to ask for help. Anyone who has been a teenager should be able to relate to this musical. For us who are now older, that awkward phase of our lives may now be a laughable distant memory, which means our role now is to make sure that the younger generation could cope with those challenges through our guidance and wisdom.</span></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/3007989946269055005/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/dear-evan-hansen-gmg-productions.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3007989946269055005'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3007989946269055005'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/dear-evan-hansen-gmg-productions.html' title='Dear Evan Hansen (GMG Productions)'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe3pHGdO0vibI-E6xWiTNOe5VADNV-FbCWg-G3GVG5GG-WZ9SPb0AWttOEp8Sg7MjcZYtgJ2nwxK_ZLVs82SsmUNH-8vvmn-ydgfqyFVBA6hyphenhyphenUGjNZuHcft4eE6Dj2lNYdrpH7xN51hLFshvMu1f_g5-KuHqAP54NiveqEHfo332jJDCCav2z3LbK7FQP/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-1393763089967208915</id><published>2025-09-23T20:20:00.011+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-24T20:31:44.258+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Hollywood"/><title type='text'>A Big Bold Beautiful Journey</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Big_Bold_Beautiful_Journey" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rZnuUS0de0y7xFovf3c3N0SoZZOgYeF4XlsbsmM3c4I-s29d0hVm65MUpJJxvgftAm0h2jWF9qhV7JAcCiUevB2RrCKLF4NSbkB54V1fgAhc0tzJgkFDd4KTCqohqVYUeNNugSJDubxPJXpCqEeN7pJNQGql55jruAzngXnxhGaXninfWGlP907jM9Xt/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">David (Colin Farrell) rents a car to drive to an out-of-town wedding. The Mechanic (Kevin Kline) and the Cashier (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) are rather strange, asking him weird questions before giving him the key and the GPS. The car gets him to his destination in one piece where he meets Sarah (Margot Robbie), one of many guests. They flirt with one another but he comes across as standoffish, so she sleeps with somebody else. The next day, his GPS starts barking orders as to where he should go and what he should do instead of the normal road directions. He is instructed to stop at a Burger King where he runs into Sarah once again. He discovers that she has rented a similar car with the same GPS from the same company. Hers has broken down, however, so he gives her a lift. As they go on a roadtrip, they encounter random doors en route which allow them to relive some of their core memories.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The problem with A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is that it’s boring AF. When I saw the trailer I admit I found the premise fascinating and it promised a film that would be whimsical and out of the ordinary. Out of the ordinary, it is, indeed, but the storyline doesn’t make a lot of sense. Watching the movie, you will be able to grasp the grand idea the writer was intending to commit to film, but somehow the finished product doesn’t really live up to the promise. There are just so many dull moments and it feels as though the melodrama dragged everything down. Maybe if they went full fantasy this might have been more enjoyable.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">One of the positive aspects of the film is cinematography. You get to see a lot of drone shots and long shots of sweeping landscapes. The premise is that of a roadtrip, after all. The positioning of the doors in the middle of nowhere is also a worthwhile distraction, eye popping once you consider how out of place they truly are in the environment they find themselves in. I just wish the characters had a more genuine reaction to what they were seeing and experiencing. Unless they were drunk or high, which they weren’t, these occurrences should have been something exciting or scary, yet both characters were just, like, blah.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Most comments you find on Reddit criticize the lack of chemistry between Farrell and Robbie, and somehow I kinda agree. I can’t explain it but there is clearly some lack of rapport there. Maybe they are just not a good match onscreen? Or perhaps the romance angle is just too half baked to be taken seriously? If you are the type who would easily swoon over chance meetings and the concept of destiny, then maybe there is something for you here. Unfortunately, I just didn’t feel the chemistry, or lack thereof, which makes following their love story a bit more obligatory to some extent, just to finish the movie.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for plot development, I don’t know. It feels incoherent. Maybe in narratives like this we want more connections, no matter how indirect, to effectively sell the fate/destiny storyline. Or maybe I just watched this film the wrong way? Maybe it’s not the romance angle but the healing process for each individual, hence the memories and doors? I don’t know. It’s also confusing how in one of the memories David ended up being his father to a younger him. This would’ve been touching and surreal in the hands of another director, but here it was just so random and weird that it didn’t have that much of an emotional punch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Overall, I wouldn’t recommend A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. I should’ve gone with Exit 8 as my paid movie of choice. Now I don’t know whether this might end up to be a sleeper hit on streaming. I see it as one of those films you wouldn’t mind watching on a boring weekend afternoon. I guess we’ll find out. As for box office performance, though, this flopped hard. So yeah, skip, if you have other choices. Movie tickets are expensive these days, you know!</span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xdKP22EaAuU" width="320" youtube-src-id="xdKP22EaAuU"></iframe></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/1393763089967208915/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/a-big-bold-beautiful-journey.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/1393763089967208915'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/1393763089967208915'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/a-big-bold-beautiful-journey.html' title='A Big Bold Beautiful Journey'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rZnuUS0de0y7xFovf3c3N0SoZZOgYeF4XlsbsmM3c4I-s29d0hVm65MUpJJxvgftAm0h2jWF9qhV7JAcCiUevB2RrCKLF4NSbkB54V1fgAhc0tzJgkFDd4KTCqohqVYUeNNugSJDubxPJXpCqEeN7pJNQGql55jruAzngXnxhGaXninfWGlP907jM9Xt/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-8771786461615075111</id><published>2025-09-15T20:00:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-17T21:32:51.547+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="European"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Filipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><title type='text'>Magellan</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(film)" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5C1UX72ZekQqj_gTpKsdpjZKMAKiEsOmGIHWQJ73qhJVaJgh38bqiiaNFXpMsjNY_HlURrve572a40BxzX-TpQZ9Pjgid4sWru-uPFFKuzc2Z1ZpI31RFMR_yyh3qP5GLnN_VnZ6OjOVWHZ681RsITPkx7_Onm0indlPMEJ4YucKer9syqDm9ANXLltC/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Portuguese explorer Fernão de Magalhães (Gael García Bernal) is stuck in Melaka with conquistador Afonso de Albuquerque (Roger Alan Koza) but sets his sights on his dream islands of gold. Before heading back home to Lisbon, he purchases local Enrique de Malaca (Amado Arjay Babon) as slave and interpreter for his return journey to Asia. Back in Lisbon he meets his wife Beatriz (Ângela Azevedo) who eventually bears him a son, neither of whom he will meet again when he finally sets sail. Using his knowledge of the location of the spice islands of Moluccas, he manages to convince the monarch of Castille to fund his trip after he falls out of favor with Manuel I of Portugal. The voyage is not without challenges but they finally dock on the island of Limasawa in the Visayas in 1521. There they befriend the locals and convert them to Christianity, but Rajah Humabon (Ronnie Lazaro) has a different idea.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Have I seen a Lav Diaz film before? I don’t think so. The guy is notorious for making films that are four hours minimum in length. Ain’t nobody got time for that. When Magellan was first announced the rumor was that it’d be an eight hour movie, spawning memes saying that we just want to watch the movie not join Magellan in his journey. Hilarious. This cut is two hours and 45 minutes long and serves as my first foray into the world of slow cinema. I must say that I was impressed, from an artistic perspective. Even then, I believe this is art for art’s sake. Films like this will never be the norm given how cinema nowadays leans more towards profit.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">What I observed is that Diaz, and I suppose other filmmakers of this genre as well, really take their time establishing scenes, letting the camera linger for minutes in a single frame. Unlike typical box office fodder which prioritize rapid plot development, slow cinema really immerses you in the scene. In a way, I feel like the focus is not really on the characters themselves but rather the immediate vicinity they find themselves in, within the camera’s frame. It’s a unique cinematic experience that gives you a lot of stills that look like exquisite paintings. This, I believe, is cinema as an artform.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">What I enjoyed the most about Magellan is the bevy of languages at play. Aside from Magellan’s native Portuguese being the dominant language featured in the film, you also hear what I suppose is Bazaar Malay in the Melaka scenes as well as Castillian and Binisaya later on. My only complaint is that some characters are speaking Portuñol. Magellan in the Limasawa scenes is understandable. After all, he was on a 2-3 year journey halfway across the world with a predominantly Spanish speaking crew. Language mixing would’ve been convenient and unavoidable. And yeah, we know Gael is Mexican anyway. However, the character of Afonso de Albuquerque in scenes in Melaka a decade earlier played by Argentine film critic Roger Alan Koza kept on saying “nuestra” instead of “nossa” in his Portuguese monologue. Like, dude?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for history, Diaz did say early on that he might face some&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">accusations</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">&nbsp;of historical&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">revisionism when this film is released, and not without reason. The main argument here is that there was no Lapu-Lapu. He didn’t exist. He was just an urban legend crafted by Humabon and Enrique to prod the colonizers and have a reason to butcher them. Lapu-Lapu’s place in history might be dodgy and lacking in terms of primary sources that could prove his direct involvement in Magellan’s death, but the guy has earned a mythical reputation in history as a Philippine hero, so this alternate take might not go down well with a Filipino audience.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">If there is a character I find intriguing, though, it wouldn’t be Magellan himself but rather Enrique de Malaca. Perhaps it is just my affinity with languages but historical figures who used their linguistic talents to foster understanding between two cultures have always fascinated me. To add to that, Enrique is rumored to be the first person ever to circumnavigate the globe. The official record holder is Juan Sebastián Elcano, one of the survivors from Magellan’s crew who made it back to Spain. The only thing making the claim that Enrique did circumnavigate first weak is the lack of records proving that he was able to make it back to Melaka from Cebu, which was supposed to be the last leg of his around the world journey. Oh well, no documentation no prize.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-iffCUFhyK8" width="320" youtube-src-id="-iffCUFhyK8"></iframe></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/8771786461615075111/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/magellan.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/8771786461615075111'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/8771786461615075111'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/magellan.html' title='Magellan'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5C1UX72ZekQqj_gTpKsdpjZKMAKiEsOmGIHWQJ73qhJVaJgh38bqiiaNFXpMsjNY_HlURrve572a40BxzX-TpQZ9Pjgid4sWru-uPFFKuzc2Z1ZpI31RFMR_yyh3qP5GLnN_VnZ6OjOVWHZ681RsITPkx7_Onm0indlPMEJ4YucKer9syqDm9ANXLltC/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-6070593879616704971</id><published>2025-09-13T22:27:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-23T12:37:28.595+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="PETA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Theater"/><title type='text'>Walang Aray (PETA)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://petatheater.com/walangaray" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAa8zh37PdaxY7A9mBqqBcQ2zDf0ZNYKkZg_mLdvg6oxm-92xUvRxpENLkkAQTj5tvAWppzWiFTe4HTB6w3b7g74fqt84n3BaEw0fUghc9gJS-wp1eUcIBBBwU6x6kcqC3OCVNMeRDKhs2gV9aRCAxXahhobXKmf2SojhqXf-PDuPm0eXnYGqUfHQb6u2/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Stage superstar Julia (Lance Reblando) uses her powerful voice to tantalize an audience through song, as evidenced by her horde of fans. She is in love with boy-next-door Tenyong (Gio Gahol) but in secret, because her mother Juana (Gold Villar-Lim) has a different plan for her altogether. The widow is eyeing metrosexual ilustrado Miguel (Rendell Sanchez), the most eligible bachelor in their town and son of a wealthy widower, to be her daughter’s husband. When the revolution begins, Tenyong decides to join after his parents are victimized by cruel friar Padre Alfaro (Roi Calilong). While they can’t bear to be apart, the lovers maximize their roles with her serving as his spy as he plans their attack from afar. When push comes to shove and Julia almost falls for the dashing Miguel, she asks for the assistance of her household help Monica (Kiki Baento) and Tenyong’s caretaker Lucas (Carlon Matobato) to find him so he can rescue her from the clutches of arranged marriage.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I’ve heard about this musical a few years back but never really bothered to check it out because PETA is just too far. What? I live in the south. Don’t judge. Finding out that they are doing a rerun with a lot of playdates, I thought, yeah, maybe we can go on a pilgrimage up north. It was worth it. Walang Aray is a modern take on the popular Tagalog zarzuela Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes, imprisoned by American colonial authorities who considered his zarzuela as one of several plays that are too subversive for public consumption. You know something’s up if the authorities are banning something! And so we watch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Walang Aray is a modern retelling heavily tweaked to be palatable to a younger audience who would otherwise not have any vested interest in watching it. Because, honestly, would you watch a zarzuela? Personally, I wouldn’t. This particular genre of musical theater is just too alien for me, pretty much like opera. And then you have the subject matter. Colonialism. In the late 1890’s. It’s been over a century, and Filipinos have really short memories. How do you entice them to be interested? This is where this rendition succeeds, because it was adjusted for a modern audience instead of the other way around which would’ve made it too niche.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">What adjustments are we talking about here? The musical numbers are a diverse mix of genres that offer pop, doo wop, and even semi-rap. The dialogues are peppered with one-liners that poke fun at current events, witty improv which makes the audience go wild from time to time. After all, that’s what zarzuelas are supposed to be, critiques of socially relevant themes veiled through song and dance. There is also some variation in language such as different idiolects used, code switching, etc. I believe the best way to describe Walang Aray’s style of comedy is that of a mix between a musical and live comedy skits. It’s so fun!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">But of course what really sells this show are the musical numbers and the talent of its ensemble cast. Julia and Tenyong get most of the songs. That there are two actors and three actresses alternating in those two roles feels like the rewatch value of this musical is quite high, because each show will be different and each pairing is bound to have a distinct rapport. In my case it was Gahol/Reblando. Gahol, I already know via his earlier&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">theater&nbsp;</span><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">works. The guy is a veteran and reliable, especially in the voice department. In any case, it was Reblando who really blew me away with her vocal chops and impeccable comic timing onstage. I’m a fan!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for production design, we all know how small PETA’s stage is, but they manage to maximize the little space they have. The staircase stage left and its two-floor landing became its own unique stage, albeit secondary. The mini platform stage right was less utilized but added to the unique geography of the play. And then the props are minimal and mostly related to Julia’s showbiz career. The versatile use of lighting really helped set up the mood while gimmicks here and there like the slow-mo scenes in the background while the spotlight is on a certain character really helped in keeping the stage busy and the audience’s attention occupied at all times. No dull moments. This is social satire done right!<br /></span></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/6070593879616704971/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/walang-aray-peta.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/6070593879616704971'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/6070593879616704971'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/walang-aray-peta.html' title='Walang Aray (PETA)'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAa8zh37PdaxY7A9mBqqBcQ2zDf0ZNYKkZg_mLdvg6oxm-92xUvRxpENLkkAQTj5tvAWppzWiFTe4HTB6w3b7g74fqt84n3BaEw0fUghc9gJS-wp1eUcIBBBwU6x6kcqC3OCVNMeRDKhs2gV9aRCAxXahhobXKmf2SojhqXf-PDuPm0eXnYGqUfHQb6u2/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-4830478807979451494</id><published>2025-09-12T14:00:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-23T12:37:35.453+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Tanghalang Pilipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Theater"/><title type='text'>Pingkian: Isang Musikal (Tanghalang Pilipino)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/959171/pingkian-isang-musikal-even-more-relevant-in-today-s-society-actors-say/story/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuru4tza_ezk5-E6Uo23eCBIG0gcNu6LTrgt0gxYmqlkN-A2XsKEfBB6Fj9Iz0JvlV-ahVxZNl4gmd19Citw2We_3cMbCfIWPhPVXudkp2A_P6GZzZUsSDh-fgQx9dOFj_9bkl6Jw6G0aIpZeT25ODKAgICLQNfQembc4_hgYVA2CAeaUV-XGcQA3E9xJ/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Young general Emilio Jacinto (Vic Robinson) is given the nickname Pingkian by his fellow members of the KKK. The term refers to flint or tinder, a type of rock that gives off sparks when rubbed together. The moniker is appropriate considering his role as the brains of the revolution. But battles are not always won. Getting closer to the tailend of their struggle, General Pingkian is shot during an encounter in Majayjay, Laguna. Captured by the authorities, he spends most of his time in captivity engrossed in a fever dream where he meets personalities that hold relevance in his life such as: his mother Josefa (Tex Ordoñez-De Leon); Andres Bonifacio (Paw Castillo); and Dr. Jose Rizal (Kakki Teodoro), among others. He survives execution by pretending to be a KKK member who turned out to be a spy and was executed by them, only for him to die of Malaria a few years later.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I remember being required to watch theater pieces like this back in the day, but I don’t remember any appreciation for them. After all, when you are a teenager and your whole life is ahead of you, why bother about some historical randos that don’t have any relevance in your life at the moment, no? Nowadays, I’m glad to say that appreciation has come. Perhaps being a jaded adult marinating in societal ills and seeing how they all affect you opens your eyes to harsh truths. Since most of us are helpless and can only rant on social media for being used as reluctant pawns in political games, sometimes the best we can do is create an artistic manifestation of that struggle. That frustration. That rage. And then bask in its beauty. And terror.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">What really captivated me is the soundtrack. Most of the songs are accompanied by what I suppose to be electric guitar riffs that just amplifies the ambience of dissent. It really fulfills its role in waking something up within the audience, lending them a temporary energy boost that is simply electrifying. Some songs are downright memorable and the good thing is that I found out they are all on Spotify, which means you can replay the entire musical through your earbuds, sans the acting and visuals. The important thing there, after all, is the message, immortalized through convenient digitalization.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As for visuals, we all know how small the stage of CCP’s Black Box Theater is, especially during the Virgin Labfest. For Pingkian, they reorganized the venue to give the actors ample space via an oblong stage in the middle, with entry/exit points located on four strategic locations. The production design is minimalist. There are layers of cloth embracing the walls behind the audience where text and background are projected upon. As for props, you have a table or two as well as an all-around divan, all wheeled and can be locked in place, that serve as the only objects the characters can use to establish a scene.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Pingkian is really just Emilio Jacinto’s imagined fever dream after getting shot. Delusions as he knocked on death’s door. We cannot confirm whether he really had such visions, although the playwright provides a convincing hallucination, a curious peek into the mental headspace of a revolutionary who finds himself so near yet so far from the goal he worked hard to achieve for most of his life. In this regard, Robinson does a terrific job in embodying the character. There are no doubts regarding his vocal chops, but what truly sells his portrayal of Jacinto is getting into that particular state of mind of the character at that very moment.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">And of course we also give kudos to the entire ensemble. The fun thing about watching a Tanghalang Pilipino play is seeing familiar faces among the actors. Oh look, it’s the dad and the husband from Kisapmata! Isn’t that Mama G’s boylet from the Virgin Labfest? Wow, is that Kakki Teodoro? As Jose Rizal! This is what we love about theater. The artistic license knows no bounds, and yet they manage to make it work, as long as you let your imagination fly and just take a wild ride on the narrative you are watching.</span></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/4830478807979451494/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/pingkian-isang-musikal-tanghalang.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/4830478807979451494'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/4830478807979451494'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/pingkian-isang-musikal-tanghalang.html' title='Pingkian: Isang Musikal (Tanghalang Pilipino)'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuru4tza_ezk5-E6Uo23eCBIG0gcNu6LTrgt0gxYmqlkN-A2XsKEfBB6Fj9Iz0JvlV-ahVxZNl4gmd19Citw2We_3cMbCfIWPhPVXudkp2A_P6GZzZUsSDh-fgQx9dOFj_9bkl6Jw6G0aIpZeT25ODKAgICLQNfQembc4_hgYVA2CAeaUV-XGcQA3E9xJ/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-3595665126412510517</id><published>2025-09-10T21:32:00.014+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-17T21:40:51.838+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="American"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Literature"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Niffenegger A."/><title type='text'>The Time Traveler's Wife</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Traveler%27s_Wife" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2BMTyK0xGItmwO9LWyIwOZM9nMwR76fANPtcjkZZucgWCi7Ee_BDGrfYhjQd0mWMxz7Q4Ge5lmtDH6VKoUuPZ0e8JgKv8BZmezjAZidSvdbHBAYTuhM3I6wzqS37zbm8q1wbm1IZo9GUT4rzAvLx9sbn4HRb01zJBvgLA7GREKHADkQvhqBBTDTL2AGr/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Six-year-old Clare is playing alone at the meadow behind her house when a slight rustling of leaves leads her to 36-year-old Henry who is naked behind the bushes. There and then begins an odd friendship between the two who will end up getting married when he is 28 and she is 20. Sorry, how? Henry has a rare genetic condition that sends him involuntarily traveling through time, appearing in his birthday suit each time because only his body can complete the journey, before vanishing into thin air back to his own time as if he was never there. As Clare turns 20, it has been a long wait for the love of her life. For Henry as a 28-year-old, though, he doesn’t really have any idea who she is since it is his older selves who actually met her. As they eventually get married and decide to start a family, their greatest fear is a child who will have to suffer from the very same condition.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The first time I heard about The Time Traveler’s Wife was when the Hollywood version came out, which I have never watched. And then an HBO series came out, which I haven’t seen either. Even before that, I already began hunting for the book at various Booksale outlets and got lucky when I found a few copies, eventually buying one. And then I decided to finally read it, and I loved it. It’s unputdownable, which is a perk given how the book is over 500 pages long. I find time travel narratives so fascinating because it throws you off the typical linear narrative with the plot as one straight line that we are all used to. It’s fun connecting the dots.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">But how does time travel work in this book? It follows what we call the Bootstrap Paradox where everything is stuck in a casual loop. What this means is that EVERYTHING is PREDETERMINED and nothing can be changed by the characters, even if they tried. This is different from time travel storylines where the timeline branches out with every permutation that results in changing how things happen, messing up their causes and effects. It was clever of the author to stick with the rule of traveling through time with just the body. It eliminates any complications brought about by items accidentally or intentionally brought back or forward to mess things up. In this case, only knowledge can be transmitted, reluctantly most of the time, but it is also predetermined.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">One thing I’ve always thought was weird was the grooming angle, back when I only had a limited notion of what the book is about. There’s a 36-year-old guy appearing to a girl over time starting when she was 6, telling her that he will be her husband in the future and all that. And so the girl romanticizes the idea and waits for him all her life. It is strange. But then again, given the time travel factor, the guy is only doing it because it is predetermined and needs to happen. So in a way, proponents of free will might end up not liking this book that much. The characters feel as though they were mere pawns in a chess game of destiny.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">But yeah, what I liked most was the oddity of the scenario. The linear narratives we are used to unfold like a straight line on a piece of paper headed towards one direction. The Time Traveler’s Wife looks like many dots crisscrossing all over the page. It’s like treating time like a map, as if it were operating like physical space where you can go forward and backward as you wish, revisiting a certain point whenever. It is fun tracing the events and wondering about the headspace the characters find themselves in at that particular time given what they know and yet to know.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">While there is a time travel aspect, though, what this novel really tackles is the theme of loss. I’ve read somewhere that Henry’s time travel condition is like a metaphor for addiction while Clare can be considered as the martyr partner waiting for the other to come home, perhaps to his senses. That is one thing I admire about Clare as a character. The patience she has, wow. Accompanied by the heartache and uncertainty, The Time Traveler’s Wife is really more of a tragedy than a romantic love story. Either way, we have to thank the author for giving us a good read, an enjoyable one, even though when you think about it, it really is just sad.</span></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/3595665126412510517/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/the-time-travelers-wife.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3595665126412510517'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/3595665126412510517'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/the-time-travelers-wife.html' title='The Time Traveler's Wife'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2BMTyK0xGItmwO9LWyIwOZM9nMwR76fANPtcjkZZucgWCi7Ee_BDGrfYhjQd0mWMxz7Q4Ge5lmtDH6VKoUuPZ0e8JgKv8BZmezjAZidSvdbHBAYTuhM3I6wzqS37zbm8q1wbm1IZo9GUT4rzAvLx9sbn4HRb01zJBvgLA7GREKHADkQvhqBBTDTL2AGr/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-682693421421736597</id><published>2025-09-09T21:07:00.004+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-09T21:11:43.269+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="British"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Literature"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Tolkien J.R.R."/><title type='text'>The Hobbit</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DmUsqm-qS_rBj3OxUlXQdUw7LoTRMC7qu6asKDcAKPUBGNvO_YYH7pFW021OvZEODiw1Hj_bmWizBoQb_SAehV4JCnR6Enxmx7Uje2tXmX1QiCew9FKAkYVqk7YIvvS_FZS1lbySeGoNC6kS8ztvYxpyWLn6v6ue90SQe7nLH24rkoOzUup3uvYu3Hdx/s1600/123456789.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Living his life as a typical hobbit, Bilbo Baggins enjoys multiple meals a day residing in a little hole he calls home. However, this life of tranquil existence is turned upside down with the arrival of a wizard named Gandalf who takes 13 dwarves with him to the hobbit’s humble abode. The proposition is an adventure far in the Mirkwood mountains where the old domain of the dwarves is now occupied by a fire-breathing dragon named Smaug, who has taken hostage not just their ancestral home but also their riches. Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of this band of dwarves is determined to reclaim his ancestors’ throne, but not without Bilbo’s help. His contribution? As a burglar extraordinaire, he is expected to find the dragon’s lair in exchange for a 14th of the wealth they’ll discover there. What Bilbo doesn’t expect to find, though, is a ring that makes its wearer invisible, paving the way for a longer journey far ahead for his nephew Frodo.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I’ve heard about The Hobbit and it’s been on my bookshelf since 2008 along with The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Silmarillion. Of these books, I’ve only ever read The Silmarillion. Twice to date. The trilogy I haven’t really bothered to tackle for the longest time because the film adaptation left a really powerful impression that will be hard to surpass. As for The Hobbit trilogy movies, I never really watched them either, but upon reading the book I must admit that it did pique my curiosity because how the hell did they make a trilogy out of this material? For a novel at just a few pages over 300? Should I go watch and find out? Why are Galadriel and Legolas in the trailers when they aren’t even mentioned in this book?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Anyway, the films are its own beast. The Hobbit is your typical adventure narrative where the characters go on a journey and encounter various challenges. This seems to be a common storyline followed by many adventurous lore, and most of the time it works. For The Hobbit, we encounter mostly beasts like giant spiders, wolves, etc. And then there are Elves. Men. Goblins. It’s like a free-for-all, to be honest. Each encounter serves as a stage for a character to achieve something, whether an important object or admiration from his companions. This is what makes The Hobbit a light and fun read.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Even then we must address the elephant in the room. As a standalone novel, The Hobbit is a fun adventure, seemingly harmless and all. Yet as part of a bigger body of literary work, it is quite obvious that The Hobbit’s purpose is to set up the events leading to The Lord of the Rings. That single event? Bilbo gets the ring from Gollum. Ah yes, Gollum. My Precious. Apparently, he makes his debut here. For us who haven’t been that acquainted with the literary side of the LOTR universe, this character serves as an interesting link to the film franchise from a decade ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">And now I wonder how the ring is passed on to Frodo, although it already seems obvious how this happens. Hmm, that makes me want to start reading the trilogy, but let’s hold that thought for a second. What I really didn’t understand here in The Hobbit is who the narrator is? The narration is third person omniscient, so I thought at first that it was Gandalf, but apparently not. I also thought that it was Bilbo himself at first, the book forming part of his memoirs but there are many scenes narrated there that he couldn’t have known.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Anyway, my final verdict is that I enjoyed reading The Hobbit. Since I’ve only ever read The Silmarillion, it serves as the only point of comparison I have with regards to literary style, even though I’ve heard that The Hobbit was not entirely written by Tolkien himself. Anyone who has read The Silmarillion would know how fascinating yet tedious it is to read, which is well within the territory since it serves as a creation story and early history for the entire LOTR literary universe. It IS heavy. The Hobbit, on the other hand, is light, and we are already familiar with the world and some characters, which makes it easier to read.</span></div></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/682693421421736597/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/the-hobbit.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/682693421421736597'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/682693421421736597'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/the-hobbit.html' title='The Hobbit'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DmUsqm-qS_rBj3OxUlXQdUw7LoTRMC7qu6asKDcAKPUBGNvO_YYH7pFW021OvZEODiw1Hj_bmWizBoQb_SAehV4JCnR6Enxmx7Uje2tXmX1QiCew9FKAkYVqk7YIvvS_FZS1lbySeGoNC6kS8ztvYxpyWLn6v6ue90SQe7nLH24rkoOzUup3uvYu3Hdx/s72-c/123456789.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879518290175104767.post-1827565449419228899</id><published>2025-09-08T19:29:00.001+08:00</published><updated>2025-09-10T19:32:36.287+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Film"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Hollywood"/><title type='text'>The Conjuring: Last Rites</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conjuring:_Last_Rites" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eDxJdfENCOt3QppZw7Bg1Tkfb5tyXekLi4lBkiQdBQm_N7SwCco1wD3rAIs7TRRZVEne1fHxo-vCiPPUrvYfCN9N8ivRgy-WK0PhebDYSaYGQPeKoRK5IPAX-e7uDgdORZ5ubacfgS0K8uefwfT5WVRSUV1j6rTGxzSCCchvLpIxSxTRKtT2NfrbGImb/s1600/1234567890.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">1964. Paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) tackle a case involving a demonic mirror. Heavily pregnant, Lorraine is taunted by the supernatural entity and is rushed to the hospital after having contractions. She eventually gives birth to a stillborn baby almost declared dead by the doctor until her prayer serves as a miracle that revives the child. They name her Judy. Two decades later, Judy (Mia Tomlinson) is now a young woman and takes her boyfriend Tony (Ben Hardy) with her to her father’s birthday party, which ends in a wedding proposal. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, the Smurls family are now being terrorized by the same mirror from twenty two years ago. The Warrens try to distance themselves given Ed’s hearth condition but are eventually lured in and discover that the demon’s unfinished business doesn’t really have anything to do with the Smurls, but rather with them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Annabelle, my dear, you’ve already had three movies all to yourself. Should you really shoehorn yourself into this one as well? While I understand that it is the MO of this film’s demon to somehow use that strategy, it just feels like a desperate shot at relevance through name recall, as if they decided to just remind people of the franchise’s peak in lieu of a solid storyline. If they really wanted to conjure supernatural villains of old, then they should’ve just gone ahead and written every one in, like some sort of Dark Avengers kind of team-up so they can all pull one another’s hair onscreen, supernaturally. I don’t know.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The actress who plays Valak does appear in a cameo but as a wedding guest, not as the Nun. I guess this is one of the downsides of having a franchise blow up to this level of fame. When The Conjuring was released in 2013, it revitalized a tired genre by reimagining jumpscares and constructing a cinematic universe with characters that complemented one another. But how long can it keep on running until imagination and creativity are replaced by lazy writing and cash grab ambitions? That’s why I find The Conjuring: Last Rites to be disappointing. It’s supposed to be a sendoff of a successful franchise, not a soulless cash grab.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Another pattern I’ve noticed emerging is how what started off as paranormal eventually segued to some sort of hero narrative. They did this with The Nun II, with the protagonist seemingly becoming some sort of religiously supercharged nun who will save humanity from the evil clutches of demonic Valak. We see the same schtick repeated here with mother and daughter kind of attaining superpowers to defeat the villain, made vague through a flurry of CGI distractions. The appeal of paranormal narratives is that as a human being, you are helpless and only your tenacity can save you. When it becomes a literal battle between good and evil, it just feels corny. If I want a superhero flick, I’ll watch an MCU movie.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Another thing I find dissatisfying is the absence of credible backstory for the demon du jour. Unlike Valak or Annabelle who became popular because they kept adding onto their established lore, this mirror demon is simply forgettable. Does it even have a name? What does it want? What are its motivations? Why prey on Judy? Why was the mirror breakdancing towards the end? Nada. We get nothing. What I despise even more is how in the end, the demon is revealed to actually be targeting the Warrens, as if they were some legit force of nature to deal with, some sort of paranormal superheroes needed to be silenced.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I don’t know, it just feels delusional, especially considering the real-life counterparts the characters are based on and the not so good reputation they have. Paranormal narratives are scary because if you throw logic out the window and just go along for the ride, the premise is that this kind of supernatural torture can happen to anyone. But if the family involved is revealed to just be collateral damage of a battle between evil and the holier-than-thou Warrens, then why the fvck should you, as a moviegoer, care?</span></div></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/feeds/1827565449419228899/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/the-conjuring-last-rites.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/1827565449419228899'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8879518290175104767/posts/default/1827565449419228899'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.ihcahieh.com/2025/09/the-conjuring-last-rites.html' title='The Conjuring: Last Rites'/><author><name>ihcahieh</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03679524174484441585</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nYFbB2KFfGvXBwz4G6YUkdAA1l9U-l1XsQvMgsAtzrJZ7ue-wZdvgwwo2BmqBwbsbFS7SwEqTe9DoTHsj4icAvpbysDxqV2u5burN0D9aCj7eKYkTXaEMxFOZkc0aJU/s151/*'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eDxJdfENCOt3QppZw7Bg1Tkfb5tyXekLi4lBkiQdBQm_N7SwCco1wD3rAIs7TRRZVEne1fHxo-vCiPPUrvYfCN9N8ivRgy-WK0PhebDYSaYGQPeKoRK5IPAX-e7uDgdORZ5ubacfgS0K8uefwfT5WVRSUV1j6rTGxzSCCchvLpIxSxTRKtT2NfrbGImb/s72-c/1234567890.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>

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