Mara Clara Revival

Mara Clara was the one of the longest teleserye shown in the Philippines. It started 1992 and ended 1997 which (do a simple math!) means it lasted 5 freaking years! Well that time Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes were still at their teens and TV dramas were supposed to long running and full of emotional roller coaster ride. And the infamous "Black Diary" of Kardo was one of the few things that steal the spotlight in the show. To people who watched this drama, you know what I'm talking about!

Now, ABS CBN wanted to re-introduce Mara Clara to the younger generation. This new version of Mara Clara will star two up coming tween stars Julia Montes as Clara Del Valle and Kathryn Bernardo as Mara Davis. If your familiar with Kapamilya TV shows you can remember them as a member of the Going Bulilit gang just few years back. Yup, you remember correctly, just few years ago these tween stars were just little kids making us laugh but not they are in the midst of being teenage life. OMG! I suddenly felt old!

To be honest I dont know if this generation will be interested in watching a revival of Mara Clara with so many dramas around, aside from the fact that their are many things that this generation are so busy about. I do hope that ABS CBN can find a way to keep the story tight and fresh so younger generation can appreciate the story and drama.

For the meantime, I'm gonna keep my eyes open and will try to watch this with open mind and fresh eyes!

Good luck to Mara Clara!

Imortal: First Impression

First, I would to make it clear that Im not a professional tv or film critic nor an expert in analization and evalution of any dramas or movies. Anything I that I will write is just my opinions and ideas about something that I watched. Now that I cleared that lets go and watch!

I know Imortal has been in primetime for almost 3 weeks now and someone gonna be asking just why now im giving my first impression about it. Well, honestly when they first aired im kinda swamped by k-dramas so got little time to really process what I have seen in Imortal. And then, its better late than never, right?

When I first heard that John LLoyd Cruz and Angel Locsin would team up in a teleserye, I immediately wonder what would be the concept of their project. The idea of them working together pumps up my anticipation because I know it would be a blast putting these two credible actors in one screen.

Well, everybody who knows me, knew that I love John Lloyd Cruz as an actor. He is one of the finest in his generation of actors. He has this sincerity and intensity when he acts that you cant help but be amaze on how he can do that kind of acting! Later on they revealed that the drama would be called Imortal. The Imortal story revolves the world of werewolves and vampires. How their world is related to one another and even though they despise each other. The main plot would be the story of JLC and AL's character being the "choosen one" of their respective nature (JLC-vampires & AL-werewolves) and how their fate will intertwine and how love will complicate their already complicated world. I was excited to see how JLC would fare in fantaserye (fantasy+teleserye) because as many dramas were done under his belt, JLC havent done anything like this before.

Angel Locsin on the other hand have been those actress that surprisses me with its brand of acting and charisma on the screen. Fantaserye has been her forte because she's done quite a few already. In fact her character here in Imortal was the daughter of her old character in her fantaserye called LOBO which were done with Piolo Pascual (papa P! LOL!).

I got to watched the first few episodes. They shown the background story of the vampires which indicated that they were already existented way back since I think before the civilization.

Then during the spanish era in our country, the characters of Jomari Yllana and Jake Roaxs were introduced. JR was a vampire and JY was he's supposed next victim but apparently before JR would take his life JY begged for his life stating that he have a son. JR who decided to spare his life just turned JY into a vampire as well. JR doesnt like to be a vampire but heck he cant do anything about right? It's been done already!

Ok, this was the time when I got so annoyed because I already saw where we were heading to. The time that Im watching this part I almost shut the tv off and pull the plug but I remember that im not the only one watching it so i cant do that because its gonna be rude. Well, just to summarize the scenes that made me so annoyed and disappointed at the same time, please see below.

1. JY doesnt like to kill humans just to satisfy his thirst so he just drink animal blood = Carlisle Cullen

2. JY gathered the vampires who dont like to drink human blood = Cullen coven

3. Lara Quigaman was introduced as a mortal who fell in love with JY which is a vampire = LQ =bella / JY =edward

4. LQ and JY had a baby that will turn out to be JLC as a grown up = JLC =renesmee

5. AL as the werewolf = jacob

Now, does those things ring a bell? twilight anyone?!  Well, as much as i love JLC and i know doing fantaserye was not an easy feat but aish! (thats the sound of frustrated viewer). I know it will sound harsh but the first few episodes were like a unofficial rip off of twilight series (I read the books so I kinda know a thing or two). Few changes has been made to make it different but all in all it seems like it falls back to the same thing. And the impression it left me was not the one im hoping for. After that I didnt have the enthusiasm to watch it again, got to catched few scenes again but I have not yet forgotten the first impression so i felt nothing about it, it doesnt make any connection.

But for these past few days my friend whose still watching Imortal religiously were raving about it and keep on saying that it was getting better everyday and cant see the touch of twilight anymore. She's convincing me to give it a second chance coz its worth it. Well, I said Ok, will watch it again in the name of my love for JLC's talent and will try to watch with an open mind and open heart. I do hope its worth of giving second chance.

So please Imortal, I do really hope its worth the second chance. Im counting on you!

Playful Kiss!

This is Playful Kiss my latest K-drama addiction!

As Playful Kiss wraps up its 16 episodes run, Im trying to convince myself that saying goodbye to this current favorite of mine will be easy but heck I know it will never be! For the past 8 weeks this Korean version of the Itazura na Kiss from the Japanese manga have been my constant companion during wednesday and thursday night. This k-drama have won me over in the 1st episode even though its bit dragging. It instantly became my latest k-drama addiction. And when I say addiction, I really mean it! You wonder how addicted I am? Well even though Im not korean and can barely understand korean language, I do watch it raw just to be updated to the scenes immediately and then re-watch it again when the videos already have the subtitles. I stalked/lurk around in the all possible sites that have or give infos, news and spoilers about PK! Waste my precious sleeping time just to watch for the updates, change cellphone ringtone to the OST of the drama, well the list goes on...

Anyway back to PK! I think this is my way of saying goodbye to them, giving credit to where its due.

Even though it was based on a Japanese manga, which means that they have a plotline/story that they need to follow thru, they managed to infuse their own style and charm to the story that i feel this drama can stand alone as a whole even without the background introduction where it was based on. 



Kim Hyun Joong as Baek Seung Jo and Jung So Min as Oh Ha Ni
They look so adorable, right?



The story of Play Kiss revolves around the love and life story of Oh Ha Ni and Baek Seung Jo. On how would they fall in love despite the fact that they have totally different personality. On how they would they grow as individuals and together as well. Also, in this drama, we dont really have the uber villians, or any life shattering stakes that we usually see in any drama which for me is like a breath of fresh air. 

Im not saying that this drama is perfect, to be honest its far from it but then what makes up for the bad editing (the odd-even scheme of bad editing/directing), the unclear time lapses and other drama glitches is the core of the drama which is its HEART. This drama has a lot of heart aka LOVE, not just for romantic love but all sorts of love like love for family friends,for one's self and many others. And because of its heart the drama evokes all sort of emotions from its viewers. This drama makes us laugh, cry, angry, sad, and all other emotions that a regular person could feel. Aside from the fact that this drama comprises sweet and touching moments. Also it has this slice of life approach which make it relatable and more enjoyable watch.

This drama were so lucky to have a such amazing cast to play its characters.I think if they dont have this wonderful people to the play the parts this drama would be totally different. Every character blended together so well that as a viewer you'll be convince that they are really indeed a family, friends or even classmate in real life.



Few of the cast of Playful Kiss

 To all the cast again, they are all wonderful from seung jo's mom (the coolest mom/mom-in-law ever in kdrama history!!!) to the dads (great dads!), to tennis sunbae(so funny!), to ju ri and minah (lovable girlfriends!), to eun jo (the cutest sourpuss ever!) and all other supporting cast, KUDOS to all of you for the job well done! 

Lee Tae Sung as Bong Joon Gu



Lee Shi Young as Yoon Hae Ra

 To our second leads, Lee Tae Sung won my heart for being the devoted boon joon gu, his portrayal was so convincing that sometimes you wanted to root for him to get the lead girl and have his happy ending. I will look up for more of your other projects because I havent watched you aside here in PK. I think i will enjoy your other performances as well.



Lee shi young in the other hand is the girl you will love to hate because of slightly b*tchy character Yoon Hae Ra.  I love how she played her character, she's the obstacle for our OTP but played with certain adorableness that you cant really seem to hate her esp. when she gracefully accepted defeat from Oh Hani. I'ved seen her other projects and I would say she's just waiting for her turn to the spotlight.



Our OTP (One True Pair)



 Maybe, what also makes me stay with this drama is also because of its leads, Kim Hyun Joong and Jung So Min. At first, I didnt expect them to have that kind of chemistry that you'll believe that they can be together but OMG it was a pleasant surprise when the chemistry was there and you can actually feel it right across your screen. It also doesnt hurt that your leads are such good looking young actor and actress. And together they created such an adorable pair. 

I think i'ved written this a couple of times already in different blogs and sites, but I would like to say it again KIM HYUN JOONG you indeed proved to us that you clearly deserved the role of beak seung jo. You have redeemed yourself for the first not so stellar acting gig of yours in Boys Over Flowers. We already love you as the performer/singer with your 4D personality, flower boy looks and many other musical related talents but taking this role and making it your own makes you more lovable. And created a mass fangirls conversion in your favor.I will look forward to your upcoming projects. But please dont forget to get some well deserve rest 'cause you have worked so hard!

JUNG SO MIN, I liked her performance in Bad guy thats why I'm positive that her take on Oh Hani will be wonderful. And I'm so glad that she nailed her character as Oh Ha Ni. She played the role with such joy and energy that you cant help but to root for her in everything that she does. She embodied the warmth and soul of this drama. She made her Oh hani so relatable that her every happiness, hurts and her other emotions evoked same feelings within ourselves. Im pretty sure that this girl's star will continue to shine brighter! And I'm looking forward to it!

I'ved watched many kinds dramas in my life and I could say that there are only few dramas that have touched me but PK have done more than just touched my heart but it also let me see myself and my world in a different perspective, it makes me appreciate it more. Just what like Oh Hani have done for Baek Seung Jo. Oh Hani showed Baek Seung Jo the alternative life that he could have which is a happier and more meaningful life.

 

Few of the sweet moments of our OTP

All in all, Playful Kiss will be in my top ten of dramas that have touch my life in all aspect. I will surely miss it but as we say goodbye to his drama, I will take with me all the little lessons of life they have imparted to me. I think that is the best appreciation I could give to PLAYFUL KISS.

SARANGHAE PLAYFUL KISS!!






couch potato!

ok, i love watching tv, movies, online dramas and other stuff. ever since i was a kid they said that you can leave me alone in a room and you can leave me there without worrying that i might so off wandering as long as the tv was on. until now, i can just stay home and just watch anything in a whole day without going out (well, as long a have food at home then im good). my family and friends are kept teasing me being such a couch potato but im not offended because basically IM REALLY A COUCH POTATO!

i cant really pinpoint or give concrete answer why i love to watch tv and other stuff but maybe because im fascinated on how they do it, on how they work on the story to bring it to life. on how they end things by doing this and that. on how characters are built and how it develops. on how certain scenes and situations were done. on how certain scenes/dramas/situations/characters can make the watchers feel the emotions they wanted convey. maybe im just really curious how its done that i end up watching more and more to find the anwsers to my questions that in the end i dont worry anymore about the answer but instead i just enjoyed it. but it doesnt mean that all the things i watch is worth it but hey, watching crappy stuff can also help you to appreciate and learn to know the good stuff.

by saying that i just might turn this blog into my personal couch potato journal. just to write my personal thoughts on the things i have watched and will be watching.

so for now, im off to do some watching. ; )

im back and hooked!

wow!
its been a long time since i opened my blog and write about something. been so busy at work and among other things like watching too much kdramas!
yes, i admit im a kdrama addict! i never thought that i would reach at this point where i would ever admit that im a kdrama addict but i am now!

i'ved been watching foriegn dramas (aside from watching teleseryes) ever since i started to understand what tv watching is all about. before its mostly english drama series that i avidly follow(does dawson's creek, 7th heaven, gilmore girls, charmed, buffy, alias, 24, glee,et all rings a bell?).

then meteor garden came along, if i could remember right its during my 4th year high school, that drama started the asian drama phenomena in the phils. as per meteor garden was from taiwan, here comes some dramas from korea. as you see i dont even remember which kdrama was first aired in the phils. coz that time im not really into it. i watched and liked it most of it but not really the kind where i would be so eager to go home and watch it.

until princess hours came along, this drama change my perspective in kdramas. i loved everything about that drama that i would patiently wait for the eposides to come.
then i need to fly out from manila to work overseas, my support for kdramas was stalled but thanks for my colleague whose so interested in the kpop/kdramas business my interest was brought back in full mode. now she even claimed that i know more about kdramas then her.

i dont really know what really pulls me towards kdramas maybe because i see stories in a different light, maybe because the way they tell the story is almost the same as we tell it in our teleseryes. and with so many cuties in their dramas, it brings out the fangirl in me! now i even watched kdramas WITHOUT subtitles just for me to know what happens next in my fave dramas. i even stalk different sites and blogs for latest updates for kdramas. talk about being hooked!

well, i dont know if this "addiction" will come to an end but as of the moment im still hooked by it but dont worry our very own teleseryes im still your fan!

now off to watch!