Category Archives: Review

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December 28, 2015

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Good Ol' Review, Review

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Good Ol' Review: The Peanuts Movie is an Absolute Triumph

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No spoilers.

Being a lifelong fan, the news of the Peanuts Gang returning to the big screen was both exciting and scary.

Exciting because the timeless characters created by Charles Schulz definitely deserve a big screen adventure. But scary because you can never be too sure how “modern” versions and updates to classic stories and characters will turn out.

Fortunately, the team behind The Peanuts Movie (which includes Charles Schulz’s son and grandson) made it a top priority to remain faithful to ol’ Sparky’s original vision. And they succeeded. Continue reading →

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September 22, 2015

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Filipino TV, Hindsight Review, International TV, Review

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Hindsight Review: TV5's Baker King Proves the Philippines Can Produce Worthy Adaptations

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
LOTS of finale spoilers! For my spoiler-free-ish First Impression Review, click here. For my Check-In Review with spoilers up to Week 6, click here.

There have been plenty of Filipino adaptations of foreign dramas over the last couple of years. And all to varying degrees of success, both commercially and creatively. From a blockbuster like the original Marimar to creative duds/insults like Maria La Del Barrio.

For Baker King, while being on TV5 may have kept it from being as big a ratings draw as the original was for GMA, it certainly was creatively successful. And maybe, TV5’s Baker King is the best local adaptation of a foreign drama series ever. Yes, ever. Continue reading →

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June 15, 2015

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Filipino TV, First Impression, International TV, Review

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First Impression Review: TV5 Carefully Mixes Some Filipino Flavor Into Faithful Baker King Adaptation

TYPE OF REVIEW : FIRST IMPRESSION REVIEW
Very, very minor spoilers. Read my review introduction here. For my final, spoilerific Hindsight Review, click here.

After the first two weeks, TV5’s Baker King is off to a very good start. The series, so far, is a faithful adaptation of the blockbuster Korean original with a careful, just right helping of Filipino flavor mixed in.

I’m coming into Baker King having watched and absolutely Continue reading →

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June 25, 2014

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Good Ol' Review, International TV, Korean Drama, Review

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Good Ol' Review: KBS' Angel's Revenge a Fully Satisfying Cat-and-Mouse Game

Angel's Revenge

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
LOTS OF FINALE SPOILERS!

KBS’ recently concluded Angel’s Revenge (천상 여자) is a fully satisfying drama series. As long as you commit to all 103 episodes.

That may seem daunting and this was a daily drama. But committing yourself to the entire series about a nun-in-training leaving the convent to seek revenge for the murder of her pregnant sister will help ensure that this won’t be a wasted experience. In fact, Angel’s Revenge ends as a completely worthwhile and dramatic cat and mouse game with some sweet romance and fun (and short!) detours. Continue reading →

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June 3, 2014

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Filipino TV, First Impression, International TV, Review

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First Impression Review: TV5's Jasmine an Engaging, Cinematic Experience

TYPE OF REVIEW : FIRST IMPRESSION REVIEW
Basic first episode details.

TV5 continues its efforts to bring fresh concepts to Philippine television with their newest 1-hour weekly drama series Jasmine.

A TV5 co-production with Unitel Productions and Ace Saatchi & Saatchi, Jasmine aims to be a dramatic thriller about Jasmine (played by Jasmine Curtis-Smith) and her mysterious and possibly dangerous overzealous fan.

The first episode opens with the title character at an awards ceremony where she has just lost the Best Actress award to her TV5 rival Selina Pascual (Marvelous Alejo). While Selina is on stage accepting her award, the stage lights come crashing down on her head. Continue reading →

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June 3, 2014

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Check-in Review, Filipino TV, International TV, Review

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Check-in Review: TV5's Beki Boxer Deserves To Be a Hit

TYPE OF REVIEW : CHECK-IN REVIEW
No spoilers. For my First Impression Review, click here and for my Hindsight Review, click here.

TV5’s Beki Boxer should really be the biggest show in the Philippines today. And it is an injustice that it is not.

My first impression of Beki Boxer was that it was a “fun and hilariously charming little series” that had “plenty of heart to go along with the abundant laughs.”

And that certainly has not changed after 43 episodes. If anything, the show has only Continue reading →

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June 3, 2014

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Filipino TV, Hindsight Review, International TV, Review

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Hindsight Review: GMA's Carmela and Rhodora X Dropped the Ball

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
One spoiler, but it doesn’t really matter.

Carmela and Rhodora X premiered at the end of January. While I was lukewarm with Carmela, I saw a lot of potential in Rhodora X.

Color me not surprised that not one, but two Filipino drama series end up having disappointing runs. This is definitely nothing new with Filipino soap operas. But going into new shows, of course, you’re very hopeful. It is unfortunate, but never unexpected that they end up completely dropping their balls multiple times before they bid farewell. Continue reading →