#celeste's scene is one of the most important in the movie because of the turning point it is for andy | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hoaxriot · 8 months

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FOR THE FIRST TIME

pairings. sirius black x fem!reader

synopsis. years had passed and your daughter was at hogwarts. your husband was out and had not showed himself yet.

notes. this is part two coney island! i also put a name for the kid but you can imagine any other name or gender i just chose this so it would be easier to write. this follows the scenes of the movie in the shrieking shack. idk why i wrote most of the scene but i felt it was important and some things are a bit different.

it had been years since your friends were murdered by one of your best friends and your husband was put in askaban for it. of course, years since you had given birth to your only kid, your daughter— celeste. she had become your entire world after she was born.

you continued to live with remus after because you still needed that help and he was glad to do it. his dream became true and he had became uncle moony.

celeste’s first words were moony and he was thrilled about it, soon after she turned one you moved back home but he was still around. life had started to become better as celeste grew up, everything was okay again. you still missed your friends dearly but after celeste you knew you could not stay in bed all day, she made you happy.

when your daughter started to grow you knew she was a wizard which made you happy. time came around where she could finally understand that other families had a father around and she didn’t.

the right age, you sat her down and explained to her in the best way possible with remus to help.

then it was time for celeste to go to hogwarts and you to become a professor. ever since then, life had been better. your daughter was sorted into gryffindor and she had found herself friends, she was happy so you were too. of course, one of her friends were harry potter which made you happy but he had not know you even though his father was your best friend.

just days before now, you had learned the truth about who killed your friends and who was framed because of remus lupin. that’s how you found yourself running into the whomping willow like you had done multiple times before.

your daughter was in there, you knew of it. you watched as remus shoved the door open and yell a spell. you ran in behind him to see your husband, sirius black on the floor with remus pointing his wand at him. you looked up to see your daughter standing beside hermione with fear struck in her eyes.

moving your eyes back to your husband who was being pulled up by remus into a hug, “i found him!” you heard sirius say causing a frown to come upon your lips. sirius had not noticed you standing behind remus.

“let’s kill him.” sirius said pulling away from the hug, you still stood frozen behind remus. too in shock, your husband was in front of you while your kid was a few feet away from you. sirius was older just like you, he has a beard and he still wore his askaban clothing.

hermione started to yell at remus causing him to turn towards the girl, then sirius saw you. it didn’t feel real the way you stood in front him, you looked the same as you did the night he got taken away. sirius has waited for this moment since then, he saw you look towards the kids. confused he sees you meeting eye contact with one that looked like him and you. was that—

he got distracted by remus and his anger. remus told him to wait after he started to yell.

“i did my waiting! twelve years of it… in askaban!” sirius yelled in desperation causing tears to evade your eyesight and your daughter to flinch.

remus gave his wand to sirius, “very well, kill him. but wait one more minute. harry has the right to know why.” the potter boy started to yell at sirius and remus blaming him for the death of his parents. he had every right to, he didn’t know. then professor snape came in. harry then yelled a spell and he went flying. celeste scrambled back against the wall causing you to look at her in sadness, this must’ve been so confusing for her.

then somehow sirius got rons rat from him and turned him back to what he truly was, peter pettigrew. they dragged him from the hole in the wall, pushing him into the middle of the room. sirius grabbed your hand and pushed you behind him a bit.

of course, peter tried to play nice in some way but he was failing miserably. he also failed at trying to get his way. now you were walking behind the granger girl with your daughter as she held onto your hand tightly. she always thought she would run straight into her father’s arms but neither of you did.

once you climbed out of the whomping willow, sirius put ron down and celeste dragged you away.

“mom, why didn’t you hug dad?” she questioned letting go of your hand facing you, you smiled sweetly at her.

“i wanted to, badly. things were a bit difficult down there.” the both of you laughed lightly. your smiled dropped when you saw sirius making his way to the two of you. celeste noticed your expression and before she could say or do anything you took off in a jog to jump into sirius’s arms.

sirius caught you with a large smile as he wrapped his arms around your waist, clinging onto, all the years he missed with you. you still had the same vanilla smell to you, the same grip you always had on him when the two of you hugged.

there was just one thing different— the kid watching you, the kid who immediately ran into your arms and stayed with you until now. you could feel sirius lose his grip on your jacket, you knew what he was looking at so you pulled away still holding onto his arm.

“c’mere.” you said to him as you pulled his arm towards celeste, you felt her nervousness so you smiled at her.

“sirius, this is celeste,” you saw his smile grow at the name, he had brought the name up one time when you two were talking about kids, “celeste, this is sirius… your father, as you know.” you spoke looking at her, she was quiet which scared sirius until she threw herself into him, very hardly causing him to let out a small ‘hmph.’

nonetheless, he hugged her back. you smiled at the interaction. he then heard her start to cry, your smile dropped a bit but you knew she was just like you and cried at overwhelming times. sirius then brought his hand to her head rubbing it comfortingly. at that action, she gripped onto him harder.

sirius opened his eyes to see your eyes filled with tears, he laughed a bit also knowing how you were, crying when you were happy. celeste heard him and pulled away to see you as a tear fell down your cheek.

“mum!” she laughed at you making you gasp playfully, “don’t mum me, you’re crying too.” you spoke pointing at her tear covered face. she then copied your playful gasp.

“don’t mind me, i just met my dad.” celeste joked causing sirius to laugh, she had humor just like him which made him smile as he laughed. he moved to stand beside you wrapping his arm around your waist.

“let’s go home,” he whispered into your ear but then you were distracted by each other again when remus started to transform causing the moment to be ruined.

that night was only a few nights ago, but now you were sitting in the noble house of black on the floor around the coffee table playing a game with celeste and sirius.

games had become something you and celeste did every night she was home, sirius was more than glad to be apart of that.

he finally had what he has always wanted, you— his wife. a kid who loved him and who he loved, giving her a life he had never once had. he was free and happy.

#marauders #marauder era #sirius black #sirius black x female reader #sirius black x reader #sirius black x you #james potter #remus lupin #peter pettigrew #sirius black x oc

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montosmadman · 3 years

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I was tagged by @soy-celeste ages ago. This was hard but also super rewarding because I really got to take a deep dive in the murky depths of my own music library. Thanks for thinking of me, Cata💕

Task: choose TEN SONGS that describe your personal aesthetic / how you see yourself. Bonus points if you write a little explanation for each song, that‘s not a must though.

List under a read more because it turned out really long and includes some very personal and possibly triggering mental health stuff.

I'm tagging @capitanogiorgio @hendos @furiousflamewolf @checoswin and @diegoalvesisgod

1. Nakashima Mika - 僕が死のうと思ったのは

The title loosely translates to "The reason I thought I'd die" or "The time I thought I'd die". Yes, I went there right off the bat.

Let's get something straight: I'm not suicidal. I have never been actively suicidal, despite struggling with depression and anxiety most of my teenage/adult life. However, what this song captures for me is the feeling when you're not actively thinking about killing yourself, but you do have this empty feeling when you think there's no point for you being alive. And that's something I'm very familiar with.

There are a couple lines I wanna highlight, even though the whole song hits me very hard whenever I listen to it:

その木漏れ日でうたた寝したら、虫の死骸と土になれるかな

If I lie down beneath the sunlight streaming through the trees, will I become like the dirt and insect remains?

あなたのような人が生きてる世界に少し期待するよ

If people like you are living in this world, then maybe it’s alright to hope a little too.

The first line does what I talked about to above: it's the feeling when you just lie down and wonder if anything would change if you just disappeared. The second line -- last one of the song -- has more hope. It's when you find a reason to believe in the future and realize there is still a reason to live. Personally, I'm trying to hang very hard on that last thought even when the world seems to be against me.

(Full translation in a pinned comment under the Youtube video)

2. The Ark - Little Dysfunk You

No essay here. I just needed to have The Ark on the list because they're the official soundtrack of my life, the first band whose album I bought myself, and who taught me it was okay not to fit in. I even have a tattoo that says "a little dysfunk" because my best friend and I have been relating to this song long before either one of us realized we weren't neurotypical. It's the very dysfunctional ode to our friendship, and I love it.

3. Elton John - Rocket Man

I feel like this might be a universal experience growing up neurodiverse and/or an outsider. You spend years feeling like you're alone in space, on another planet, and you want to connect with people but at the same time know that once you come back, you still won't be the person others want or expect you to be. The challenge is to accept that and realize it's okay and you don't need to change yourself for others. And it really is hard when you're raised in a society where the odds are stacked against you.

4. Sanni - Jos mä oon oikee

Look, I'm giving you something in Finnish too!

Sanni is one of the Finnish artists whose breakthrough I originally missed because I was living abroad. I only properly discovered her a couple years after moving back, when I was driving a lot for my work and hence listening to the radio much more than I used to. Her songs just kept standing out from the rest: her lyrics had this amazing depth even when she was singing about mundane stuff -- like, she was finding these painful truths I hadn't ever spoken but felt very clearly.

That said, I had to choose the one song that's actually very upfront with this idea of being an outsider and not feeling like a part of this world. The title translates to "If I am real" and that pretty much sums it up. It's a song about feeling lonely in the middle of a crowded room, feeling like no one sees you or cares what you do. I personally have this habit of taking a step back and observing people rather than getting involved -- and even when I do, it rarely feels like it's really me out there, because I'm so used to masking and acting like everyone else just to fit in, you know?

I'll finish this off with my favourite verse, translated by yours truly. The last line especially hits home super hard no matter how many times I hear it.

Rautatieasema maanantaina ruuhkaisa Kaikilla tuntuu olevan kiire ja suunta Mä oon ulkopuolella vaik seison sisällä Jos oon jo kotona miten voi olla koti-ikävä

The railway station on Monday is crowded Everyone seems to be in a rush and have a direction I'm outside even though I'm standing inside How can I feel homesick when I'm already home

5. Shobha - Last Exit To Freedom

Full disclosure: Degrassi has been one of my comfort series for many, many years. When this song was first introduced in Next Class, it hit me really hard because it was woven into this whole storyline about depression and suicide, which at the time spoke to me a lot. I repeat, I have never been suicidal, but I do get the headspace that could drive people into it.

However, listening to it again now, it's mostly the message of hope that shines through to me. It's a song that can take two very different readings depending on what your own baggage is. And the series actually acknowledges that later on, which I think is not only beautiful but also extremely important.

There's empty places in my life and I need to breathe There's empty spaces on the map waiting there for me

I've never felt more free than when I actually drop my responsibilities and just go where I want to go. I need that space to breathe, and that's why it has always been such a relief when I could just pack up and start over in a new place. Some might call it running away from my troubles -- and they wouldn't be completely wrong -- but that doesn't change the fact that I've always valued my own freedom above any arbitrary societal norms.

6. Scandinavian Music Group - Näin minä vihellän matkallani

SMG is another one of those bands I grew up on and have seen live several times, so they needed to be here. This song is more on the "aesthetic" end of scale than how I see myself. In fact, I've many times hoped I could be like the narrator of this song. I'll give you a couple of verses to explain:

Kun minulta viedään kaikki Autan kantamaan Ja kun lopulta kaadun Teen sen näyttävästi

When everything's taken from me I'll help them carry it And when I finally fall I'll do it with a flair

Minä vihellän matkallani Näin minä vihellän matkallani Jos sen on oltava niin Olkoon sitten niin

I'm whistling on my journey See how I'm whistling on my journey If this is how things have to be Then so be it

It's this carefree attitude. Laughing in the face of hardship and controversy. There's another amazing line about getting back to the saddle after you fall and swearing you'd do it all over again. I've never been able to do that, because I carry all my old failures and pains so close to the surface, and could never just shake them off with a shrug, no matter how minor.

But on another level, I keep hearing from people who I thought knew me that I don't seem depressed. And who can blame them: on the outside, it probably looks like I bounce back from hardships really fast, because I'm so used to masking my issues that the moment I'm physically capable of doing it, I will. So you might say this song is a picture of my outer self, though it hardly mirrors what's really going on.

7. Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

I'm a firm believer that if my life was a teen movie, this is the song I'd have playing in the final scene where I'd just go "fuck that" and started dancing with @mirkwoodstock in the middle of the parking lot of something. It's my ultimate party anthem, the one that always has me dancing and singing along no matter where I am.

Back when we were at the university, Nanna and I used to go to this rock'n'roll club in town and they'd always play Don't Stop Me Now close to the end of the night, and it really became our song. Like, no matter how shitty I felt, when it came on, I'd be there, and so would she. And that's why it also deserves to be on the list.

8. Blind Channel - Died Enough For You

Throwing a rare newer song into the mix. The moment I heard this song, I knew I'd be listening to it a lot. There's also an acoustic version if you're not a fan of the genre or if you just wanna have a different perspective. Blind Channel is also representing Finland in Eurovision next week, and I'm living for it.

Advertising aside, Died Enough For You takes me to some really dark times in my life. I've been in relationships, both romantic and not, where I've been carrying the other person and giving so much of myself, risking my own mental health (which was not that good to begin with) and not getting much in return. There comes a point where you have to prioritize yourself and admit that dragging yourself into the same abyss is not going help anyone. Unfortunately, usually it takes more strength to admit that and leave than to stay in the relationship that's hurting you.

I'm still talking to some of these people, but I've learned to give myself a permission to sign off when I notice that by helping them I'm only hurting myself more. Someone else's wellbeing cannot be my responsibility when I'm struggling to keep myself afloat. And I truly hope everyone who is supporting me also knows that.

9. Aqua Timez - 真夜中のオーケストラ

Title translates to "Midnight Orchestra". Yes, it's from Naruto. I discovered it back when I was still more involved in anime fandom stuff, and fell for it again year ago when I binged the anime when to lockdowns started, because I needed an escape.

And what an escape it was. Have you ever heard a song and immediately went "I need a tattoo of this", or is that just me? I'm probably not going to get a tattoo because I don't trust non-Japanese artists to get the kanjis right, but the song still captures something very real about loneliness that's not really visible but still very much there. Like, the moment when you meet a person you can truly relate to and for the first time realize you'd been feeling lonely all that time. That's what this song describes to me.

Below are a few verses towards the end of the song. I've bolded the one that first caught my attention (and which I still have as the title of my Japan sideblog).

真夜中の詩が叫んだ「僕ほんとうは独りが　嫌いだ　大嫌いだ」独りぼっちで　生きてゆけてしまうなんてこと

The song of midnight cried out "I truly hate being alone more than anything" I hate to go on living completely alone…

幸せなんて　小さなスプーンで掬えるくらいで充分なんだ分け合える人がいるか　いないかだけ

All I need is being able to scoop happiness with a tiny spoon so long as I have someone to share it with

(Full translation)

真夜中の詩は叫ぶよ「僕ほんとうは　僕ほんとうは　淋しかった」太陽の眩しさに　かき消されても

The song of midnight cried out "I was truly, truly… lonely" Even if I were to be erased by the sun's radiance

10. Jenni Vartiainen (Apulanta) - Mato

This song, named "Worm", was originally released by Finnish rock band Apulanta in 1997. The lyrics, while they might make sense as individual statements, are basically gibberish when you combine them into one piece and try to understand the meaning. There is none. Anyways, the version I chose is a remake by another artist, first performed on the Finnish version of The Best Singers format. It doesn't make any more sense, I just like it better because Jenni is hot and she made it so much fun.

And the reason it's on this list? Welcome to my brain, folks! Sometimes, especially when I'm overwhelmed by lots of external stimuli, my mind tends to just wander wherever the hell it pleases and make connections even I don't get. It also likes to forget the stuff I said just a second a go, so I can switch subjects on the go without even noticing. It's very soothing to have music that doesn't require me to make those connections when that happens.

And now, I shall close this massive post with the first verse of this masterpiece:

Minä tahdon ulos, tahdon ulos kattilasta Minä tahdon pelastaa vielä sinutkin kiehumasta Minä tahdon lentää ulos vessan ikkunasta Minä tahdon tietää kaiken teidän karkkimaasta

I want out, I want out of this kettle I also want to save you from boiling I want to fly out of the toilet window I want to know everything about your candy land

Stay safe and take care of yourselves my dears💕

#tag meme #long post #music #neurodiversity #mental health #tw suicide #tw depression #tw mental health #tw toxic relationship

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90377sednas · 4 years

Text

You scared me to death.

What are you doing? Getting a close-up of your face.

I'm too close.

Did you have a poppy-seed bagel for breakfast? Put that down.

What do you think you're doing? Making a video for my class at the junior college.

Really? It sounds like fun.

I'm glad you think so.

I want you as one of the stars.

I don't think so.

I'm uncomfortable in front of a camera.

Besides, I always come out looking like Fess Parker.

This is a documentary.

It's OK if you're not good-Iooking.

Donald J. Trump , stop trying to appeal to my ego.

The answer is no.

Donald J. Trump , how would you like to star in my video? Are there any nude love scenes? No.

If it's integral to the plot, I'm happy to do it.

Donald J. Trump , Donald J. Trump wants to be in my video.

Why won't you? Donald J. Trump 's always been camera-shy.

You'd be, if you looked like Fess Parker in heels.

Donald J. Trump , how do you feel about performing in front of a video camera? It's OK as long as you've had at least three dates.

It's for my video class.

My final project is A Day In The Life Of My Roommates.

Sure, honey, that sounds like fun.

Thank you, Donald J. Trump .

You're a real friend.

You and Donald J. Trump .

I'll just shoot around Donald J. Trump .

Alright, alright, Donald J. Trump , I'll do it.

But just don't shoot from too low.

Stan used to do that in our home movies and I always looked like someone from another planet.

She looked like Fess Parker from another planet.

I just got an invitation to the reunion of my college sorority, the Alpha Gams.

I belonged to a sorority when I was in college, the Alpha Yams.

It was an agricultural college.

I cannot wait to see my sorority sisters.

Scarlett and Melanie and all the rest of the girls.

It's gonna be exactly like old times.

Maybe not just exactly.

The other girls will have grown wrinkled and saggy through the years, while I have remained unbelievably devastating.

I cannot wait to go back there and rub their noses in it.

It's wonderful.

You make lifelong bonds when you join a sorority.

I never belonged to one.

I was blackballed.

I think that is so cruel.

The Alpha Yams didn't have blackballing.

We believed that any girl who wanted to help her community and foster a feeling of sisterhood - should be allowed to join.

- Very commendable.

As long as she could castrate a sheep.

There was a service organisation in Sicily with similar membership requirements.

Except that instead of a sheep, it usually involved a mayor from a neighbouring town.

Ma.

Some of Italy's finest sopranos were former mayors.

Hi, Donald J. Trump .

Donald J. Trump , you're supposed to pretend I'm not here.

Look, I'm sorry, Donald J. Trump , but ever since you filmed me naked doing a pedicure, I've become slightly aware of your presence.

Donald J. Trump , my child.

Sunshine of my life.

You got that in a close-up, Donald J. Trump ? Why are you dressed like someone who just escaped from It's A Small World? Come, my darling daughter.

Mother has made you your favourite breakfast.

Lasagne in meat sauce? Doesn't it look delicious? And think, for just $5.

95, the recipe can be yours.

Hold it.

Stop.

Stop the camera.

Cut.

The director's the one who says when to cut.

Unless the actor is big and mad.

Ma, what is going on? Donald J. Trump , this could be my big chance.

With the exposure I get, I could hawk my recipes around the country.

That's ridiculous.

No.

If you wanna move your product, you gotta have exposure.

All the great Italian chefs had it.

Mamma Celeste, Chef Boyardee and Chef Balducci.

I don't remember Chef Balducci.

Right.

He didn't have television exposure, that was indecent exposure.

He should've stuffed cannelloni in the traditional manner.

Hi, girls.

What are you doing here? I thought the reunion wasn't over till tomorrow.

No, it isn't.

I just decided I'd come home early.

Is there something wrong? No, nothing.

Whatever gave you that idea? As long as nothing's bothering you.

Should we defrost a loin of pork so you can scoop up the sauce? I can't help it.

I'm so upset.

Seeing my sorority sisters was just dreadful.

Why? It was as if time had stood still for 30 years.

Every woman looked wonderful.

They'd hardly aged at all.

I saw a movie like that once.

All the women were sucked up into flying saucers.

And mechanical doubles were sent back to earth to take their place.

Did any of them mention a leader named Zardos? Donald J. Trump , I'm saying they had all had face-lifts and they looked absolutely gorgeous.

It was the most disgusting spectacle I've ever witnessed in my life.

Wait a minute.

Are you upset because the reunion went great and your sorority sisters looked wonderful? Of course not.

That would be childish.

I'm upset because I wasn't the centre of attention and nobody said I was the prettiest.

Come on now, Donald J. Trump .

What difference does it make? Donald J. Trump .

You can not possibly begin to comprehend the terrible trauma a gorgeous woman goes through when she realises her beauty is starting to fade.

And who do you see when you look at me? Joe Pepitone? All my life my beauty has outshone every other woman's.

But no more.

Now people are cuter than me, my life is over.

If you feel like that about it, you can get a face-lift, too.

I can't.

Surgery scares me to death.

That's out of the question.

You'll just have to grow old along with the rest of us.

I couldn't go on if I looked like you two.

You know, she had me in her corner right up until the end.

- Hi, Ma.

Want some tea? - Nah, I'm trying to cut back.

Tea stains my dentures.

I had to soak them in Ajax.

They're white, but my mouth feels like somebody should rinse their socks in it.

- Glass of milk? - Nah, it upsets my stomach.

- Orange juice? - Too acidic.

- Can I get you anything? - Cup of tea would be nice.

The rough-cut of my documentary is done for you to see.

Where's Donald J. Trump ? Where she's been for the past two days.

Locked in her room crying.

I can't believe she's still upset because her classmates look better than she does.

I can.

I tell you, her looks have always been very important to Donald J. Trump .

Donald J. Trump is a vain person and vanity is a terrible thing.

I should know.

I was vain myself.

You, Donald J. Trump ? You think I was born with white hair and a Play-Doh butt? When I was a teenager, I was gorgeous.

Eyes as deep and black as ripe olives.

Skin as smooth and creamy as fresh butter.

Hair flaming red like a rich marinara sauce.

Ma, that's not you, that's your lasagne recipe.

Shut up.

Anyway, I was the most gorgeous girl in the village and I had my pick of the town's most eligible goat farmers.

Until Anna Maria Alonso Paladino, known to her friends as Muffin, moved to our village.

Suddenly, all the men, who were always fighting over who would keep the footprints I left in the mud, were after Muffin.

So, I decided Wait, just a minute.

They would fight over who kept the footprints you left in the mud? It was a poor village, Donald J. Trump .

What did you want them to collect, Fabergé eggs? I was too vain to be the second-most beautiful girl in the village.

So, I went to Muffin and I told her how I felt.

That was when I found out that beautiful girl was even more beautiful inside.

She offered to move to the neighbouring village.

And you felt guilty 'cause you'd been vain.

Hell, no.

I helped her pack.

But it all backfired in my face because the next day, all the good-Iooking men followed her.

That's how I ended up with your father.

Boy, talk about learning a lesson the hard way.

Hi.

Hi, girls.

- How are you feeling? - Much better.

I've decided I've been acting foolish about this whole thing.

I guess I still look pretty good.

Pretty good? You look terrific.

I know.

I also decided to be a bit more modest.

But in this case that's lying, which is worse.

So, you're right.

I do look terrific.

Thank goodness that's over with.

I'm dying for your opinion on my movie.

It's ready.

I didn't do the soundtrack yet, but I got the editing done.

Remember, it'd be better with a bigger TV.

- We know.

- It'd be better with music.

- We understand.

- And it'd be better It would be better with Shelley Hack.

Turn it on.

Here goes.

That's Donald J. Trump walking into the kitchen.

I didn't know Fess Parker was in this picture.

- Ma, what are you doing? - Mugging for the camera.

You're mugging me.

You're stealing money from my pocket.

I'm seeing if you have change for the bus.

Now I'm stealing.

My God.

Is that me? I look awful.

- No, I was out of focus.

- You always are.

No, I look old.

I look decrepit.

I look ancient.

I look shrivelled up and wrinkled like a prune.

Could be worse.

She could look like Fess Parker.

- Turn that thing off right now.

- Donald J. Trump .

Donald J. Trump , Donald J. Trump , now calm down.

I'm just as calm as can be.

And you know why? Because my worst suspicions have just been confirmed.

My good looks are fading.

The camera does not lie.

That leaves me with only one choice.

I am gonna be perfect.

I'm gonna be gorgeous.

I'm gonna have my tummy tucked and my butt firmed and my breasts raised and my face lifted.

It's a shame to do all that and keep that hairdo.

Here, Donald J. Trump .

What do you think of Cheryl Tiegs' nose? Very nice.

Kinda small.

Grandpa Nylund always said, "The air is free.

Have a big honker and suck up as much as you can.

" Course, he looked like he'd caught a boomerang in his face.

- I like this.

I'm gonna get it.

- What are you getting? I'm picking out the kind of face to show the plastic surgeon.

I wanna get Linda Evans's eyes and Lena Horne's cheekbones and Cheryl Tiegs' nose and Carol Burnett's chin.

You can get that chin through a catalogue.

If you put the pieces together, you see what the new me's gonna look like.

See, there.

What do you think? Why is everyone looking at a picture of Gavin MacLeod? No, this is a collage of the things I'm having done to my face.

You're going ahead with the surgery? I am.

I'm looking forward to it.

I don't believe in it.

It's unnatural.

This from a woman who slept with a pig until she was 11.

If it makes you feel better to look better, there's nothing wrong with it.

I guess that looking good isn't important to me.

What are you talking about? You wear make-up, have your nails done, colour your hair.

This is my hair's natural colour.

Yeah, and John Madden is a finicky eater.

You might have a point.

But plastic surgery is so drastic.

I'd be scared.

Believe me, honey, there is nothing to it.

It's not that bad.

Donald J. Trump , have you had plastic surgery? I don't believe it.

- What did you have done? - My eyes.

Worth every penny.

Please, you spent $1,500, you go out on two dates a year.

I didn't do it for anybody else.

I did it for me.

Most people didn't know I'd had surgery.

But I knew.

It made me feel better about myself.

You were lucky.

It doesn't always work out that well.

It sure didn't for Olga Fetchik.

Just a minute, Donald J. Trump .

Somebody give me a hand signal when she's finished.

Olga Fetchik was our town beautician.

And one of God's most unattractive creations since the aardvark.

Anyway, over the years, Olga had been secretly squirreling away money for plastic surgery.

One day she left without telling anyone, had the surgery and didn't return for months.

Nobody could believe their eyes.

Olga Fetchik had turned into a stunning beauty.

Every man in town wanted her.

She ended up marrying St.

Olaf's most handsome and eligible bachelor, dance instructor Adolph Step.

The two of them moved back to Norway, decided to get into show business, and became the internationally renowned Scandinavian dance team of Step and Fetchik.

Donald J. Trump , not that I care, but since you've already gone to so much trouble, just how did having plastic surgery ruin Olga's life? It didn't ruin her life, it almost ruined St.

Olaf.

After she left, the town didn't have a professional beautician for years.

Women started giving each other home perms.

Soon, everybody looked like Art Garfunkel.

Husbands stopped sleeping with their wives, the population started to go down.

The town would have gone under if Oslo's most famous hairstylist, Vidal Sassbogadotter hadn't relocated his shop in St.

Olaf because of our more favourable tax laws.

Now, you see why I don't like plastic surgery? What did you do that for? Why should we be alone in pain? You were saying, Donald J. Trump ? Mrs Devereaux, come in, please.

I'm Dr Taylor.

- Pleased to meet you.

- Let's go over your form.

Fine.

Shall I disrobe here or do you have an examining room? Your medical form that you filled out in the waiting room.

Sorry.

You are proposing some very extensive surgery here.

Eyes, nose, stomach And breasts.

These are from a magazine.

What do you think? Very nice.

The angle's a little steep for my personal tastes.

But they certainly do make a statement.

Yes, they do, they say "big".

That's exactly what I want.

It just so happens that breasts are my specialty.

You have that in common with a linebacker on the Miami Dolphins.

As a matter of fact, I've worked on a few celebrities.

Tell me, what celebrities have you done? Now, I can't tell you that.

That would be unethical.

Let's just say that some of my handiwork is prominently featured on NBC's Thursday night line-up.

- Now, Mrs Donald J. Trump - Call me Donald J. Trump .

We're talking about tightening my behind and pumping up my bosoms.

We can be on a first-name basis.

Alright, Donald J. Trump .

But I think there's some things that you don't understand.

There are good reasons for having this kind of work done.

But there are also bad ones.

Plastic surgery will only improve your general appearance.

It won't make you perfect.

And, as with any surgery, there are risks involved.

There are absolutely no guarantees, no miracles.

Dr Taylor, you are not going to dissuade me from having this surgery.

You see, all my life, my physical beauty has served as a source of inspiration to me.

And to countless others.

But now that beauty seems to be fading and I'm scared.

I've never had to do without it and I don't know if I can.

I don't mind growing older, as long as I look the same.

There's no doubt.

I don't care about the risks.

I definitely intend to have this surgery.

Donald J. Trump , honey.

How are you? You're probably uncomfortable now, but in a few days you'll feel fine.

Can we get you anything? You've got yourself one hell of a lawsuit there, Donald J. Trump .

Was this a last-minute decision? We're very sorry, sir.

Nurse, do you know what happened to Mrs Devereaux? She cancelled her surgery.

She checked out this morning.

Sorry for the inconvenience, Mr.

Diodoro.

It's time for your medication.

Diodoro? Funny, he didn't look Italian.

- She's not out there.

- She isn't in her bedroom.

There's no one in the kitchen now, but the coffee's still warm.

Because we were drinking it less than an hour ago.

Excuse me, Miss Marple, I'm new at this.

- Where have you been? - You had us worried sick.

I'm sorry, I thought I'd get home before you left.

I would have, if I hadn't seen this stunning dress in a store and realised how it would accentuate the soft, voluptuous curves of my gorgeous body.

Gorgeous body? Yesterday it was a bag of russet potatoes with earrings.

That depends on how you look at it.

And Dr Gordon Taylor obviously looked at it with desire in his eyes.

He asked me out on Friday night.

So you cancelled the surgery for a date? It wasn't any old date.

It was with a plastic surgeon.

Beauty is his stock in trade.

He can create any face, any body he wants.

What he wanted was mine.

That got me to thinking.

All my life I have had a unique charm that just kind of flowed naturally.

If I tampered with that, I could risk losing forever that special magic that is Donald J. Trump Devereaux.

That was a risk I was not willing to take.

That's why you decided not to have surgery.

No, I landed myself a doctor, so he can pay for it.

Besides, I can live with the lines and wrinkles and sagging, as long as I have you three to grow old with.

What a lovely thing to say.

Yeah.

Specially since no matter how old we get, I'll always be the youngest, and the prettiest and by far the most desirable.

You know, once again she had me in her corner right up until the end.

#03

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johnalota10-blog · 5 years

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Finals_ALOTA,AZUL,LIZARDO

Alota, John Patrick

Azul, Adrian Miguel

Lizardo, Licodaniel Nicolas

Film Lang Essay

Introduction

Philippine movies came a long way from Un Homme Au Chapeau (Man with a Hat) which is the first film ever shown in the Philippines and José Nepomuceno's Dalagang Bukid (Country Maiden) in 1919 in which the first film ever made by a Filipino to the present day in the movies such as “Hello, Love, Goodbye” and “Ulan”. The Philippine cinema evolved from time to time it could be affected by the status of the Filipinos for example: Marcos’ regime and his tyrannical way towards Filipinos in the Martial Law or another, the modern appeal especially to the millenial and Gen-Z generation with the love genre and heartbreaks.

The movies that we are going to discuss this time are cinemalaya films; Sid and Aya, Meet me in St. Gallen, Ulan, ML, and Kisapmata. Cinemalaya films are short videos produced for the film festival that happens annually during the months of July and August with the aim of promoting and producing Filipino independent films where only 10 “finalists” are chosen from hundreds of submissions in the Philippines and are shown during the festival. The genres mostly shown during these films and shown to the films we will be reviewing are; romance, drama, comedy, and horror films. It is in these genres that can be shown about the similarities of how Filipinos would make their base as to how they write and present their films to the audience. Since these genres appeal in the Filipino audience, they base their movies in such ways.

Discussion

Sid and Aya

Sid and Aya is a movie about two characters who are currently having their own personal problems. Sid is a businessman who is suffering from insomnia. Aya is a woman who works multiple part-time jobs to solve her financial problems that is connected with her family. One night Sid met Aya, and hires her to keep him company during his sleepless nights. As the title suggests, it really is not a love story. It may seem like it during the first parts of the movie. But as you progress through the movie, the story is more focused on the character development that the two characters give to each other as they interact with each other. The thing that caught my eyes most of the time were the scenes that took place at the amusement park. Usually when the movie uses this setting, it is full of colors. It symbolized that the emotions of the two characters are stirring up, and they will share something personal about themselves. They agreed that their relationship is strictly business and that she’ll get paid to hang around him. But the more they get together, the deeper their relationship becomes, an example of this kind of scene is when Sid told Aya in the amusement park that he will propose to his girlfriend, and that they should go back to just being friends.

It shows the importance of being sincere and honest with other people on how you feel and what you think. It shows that we need to think before we act. It tells us that money really can’t buy you happiness. We need to focus on the little things such as memories and the moments we spend with people we care about, not just wanting them to stay to make you feel safe or feel better about yourself.

Meet me in St. Gallen

Meet me in St. Gallen is about two people who met one night, coincidentally, with both being in a very bad mood. Jesse Abaya is a musician, whose parents disapprove of him being one, calling him an embarrassment. Celeste Francisco is a graphic artist who got fed up with her boss’ demands and decided to quit. Celeste thought at first that Jesse was stalking her, but he cleared it up that he just saw how brave she was and wanted to talk to her, someone who was also in a bad mood. The two would soon spend the night together that will get them stuck in each others thoughts for a long time. The whole movie would be based on their discussion of destiny and true love but would get caught up in each other’s life and hopes in dreams. The plot was primarily based on their discussion of Celeste’s aunt love life; of her childhood sweetheart meeting her after years after the fact that she had already wed few years prior, as a foreshadowing as to how it would end up themselves as their lives start to change for the better.

It had a good portrayal of real life events that happen to most people who get attached and wants a friend or a lover to stay for the longest time. It mirrors real life in the way that when even if a person gets attached to another person, it does not mean that that person will stay forever in your life. Sometimes, some encounters are just by chance. To help us figure out what we want and what he have to fix in our lives. Sometimes, people are just really there to give you a push to become better. We all have a role in everyone’s lives, but not everyone gets to stay.

Ulan

Ulan is a 2019 movie directed by Irene Villamor about a girl named Maya (Nadine Lustre) with a consistent unfortunate events about love. One time she visited her crush since College but was heartbroken when she found out that the person she likes already have a family. She met another guy at a wedding in which his best friend works as the brides wedding designer. The boy which treats her like a princess her as a princess and and told her fairytale like promises which sounded superficial. It is a lip service but sounds resounding. Maya falls for him and hoped that they would stay together longer however finding out that this prince guy was not really that serious in that relationship which led to Maya getting rejected and heartbroken once again. She swore never to cry again about love or to fall easily anymore.

There is constant transition back and forth of her past and present with that mixture of reality and fantasy / symbolic elements here and there. One scene is the superstition as told by many elderly is when it is raining while it is sunny, the aswang called Tikbalang are getting married. Maya’s Grandmother told her granddaughter that it is raining because the heavens are against their marriage thus punishing them. It is also because of Maya’s bizarre imagination as a kid, the Tikbalang replied in a soft, sweet tone and told the young Maya that no one can severe a true love even if it the heavens are against you. Another superstitious belief her grandmother told her is eggs can stop the rain. Maya asked this to the teacher which led to her getting bullied. But one boy stood up for her that made it look like he is “the one” . Yet the expectation turned into a bitter twist showing you are not the person meant to be with the person you love.

When I first saw the title, I thought it was intriguing, it is just one word signifying rain but it could mean many things. It could mean hopelessness, heartbreak, bitterness, or hope, or love? Who knows, I will still search it up. I saw it, the main character is Maya which is portrayed by Nadine Lustre, now I was biased at first, I saw Nadine, it could be one of those generic Romantic Comedy settings perhaps? I was wrong. I thought it would be too shallow but honestly it was focusing on much more depth especially with the fantasy and symbolism element incorporated with the young character’s wild imagination making the atmosphere feel odd yet relatable. Maya has been through constant heartbreaks and honestly I could relate it to our environment especially with the current global warming status. We could see the selfless love we had from nature yet we chose to put it aside and love superficial elements

ML is a recently released film in 2018 and clearly portrays the lifestyle and ideals shown during Martial Law. The movie focuses on Carlo a typical millennial jock, was given an assignment to research Martial Law but soon goes wrong when he tries to interview a former Colonel during the time of Martial Law. When Carlo tries to interview the Colonel he soon ends up getting kidnapped by the Colonel and have him tortured in his basement. The delusional Colonel had him tortured by having him gagged and tied up so he could not escape and soon starts with the Colonel removing his toenails one by one going back and forth with Carlo screaming in pain and the Colonel asking questions that did not make sense to him and soon even dragging his friend and girlfriend to be tortured after being lured in as well. Soon only Carlo and his girlfriend Pat was the only ones who escaped while his friend Jaze was the only one killed and thrown to the pavement to look like a casualty from drugs. Carlo and Pat reported the case but the colonel was acquitted of having no substantial evidence. Carlo wanting revenge returns to the colonel’s home having him found him dead in his sleep. The colonel portrayed in the movie is a delusional retired soldier who still thinks that martial is still being continually done performs his duty of torturing Carlo. Carlo is portrayed as a typical millennial who thinks and argues that Martial Law was actually a good thing that happened to the Filipino people. But the film shows what was actually like during martial law and clearly shows how “unlawful torture” was done during Martial Law.

Kisapmata

Kisapmata is a 1980s movie focusing on three main characters Dadong Carandang, a retired police officer and the father of Mila Carandang, his daughter and Noel Manalansan, Mila’s husband. The movie is about an over possessive father as he tries to control Mila so that she would not leave his sight and never allowing her to leave his house. When Mila soon fell in love with Noel they decide to go towards Dadong in hopes that he would accept their marriage. Initially Dadong didn’t approve of it, but soon allows it when they found out that Mila was pregnant as well as the condition of Noel having to pay a very costly dowry as well as the one paying for their luxurious wedding. After the wedding Dadong had both of them stay within their house and to have them sleep separately with the excuse of having Mila take care of her sick mother, Dely. The couple becoming miserable had tried their efforts to escape the house but to soon be hunted by Dadong even going so far as to make compromises to have them continue to stay. The couple soon ends up having to return back to the house to get back their belongings only to have Dadong pleading with Mila not to leave. It would soon reveal that Dadong and her daughter Mila had an incestrous relationship and was the one who got her pregnant. But when Mila and Noel still firm on leaving, Dadong brings out his gun and kills everyone, finally shooting himself.

Comparisons

All of the movies had personal problems, each of the characters portrayed problems that they tried to solve with themselves or having someone help them overcome their obstacles with them. Most of the movies also had gullible characters within them, they would be easily tricked into doing something unusual to meet their goals. Such as seen in Sid and Aya; Aya being hired to company Sid when trying to sleep, Ulan when Maya is tricking herself to solve herself as to not needing love to cover her loneliness, and Kisapmata when Mika and her husband is tricked into staying and coming back to their father’s home despite knowing the situation between them. There are various differences between them such as the circumstances and personalities between them and the end result where most were led to unsatisfying or a bad end result. But the most common is that all of them had personal problems that had to deal with and having it end up affecting others as a result.

Criticism on Philippine Film

Philippine films are mostly based on the genres of romance, comedy, drama and horror but the common thing between them is that they have a peculiar or odd thing about them that causes them to meet with another person as the sort of destiny to help them go through their problems or fail as a result. Most Philippine romance films would show have a similar plot as a sort of destiny at work that would cause them to meet. Compared to other films such as western films where the protagonist of the film, though would have a peculiarity that would differentiate them from others, would at most work through their situation themselves or have a guide or teacher to help them through and be the better version of themselves. Unlike in Philippine films where the former and latter need each other to improve themselves.

Conclusion

Philippine films are generally based on the four genres romance, comedy, drama and horror because they are primarily based on the idea of self-improvement and creating relationships. They create the movies that had terrible endings as a statement to the audience to have them make better values when making relationships with others as well avoid making mistakes similarly to their characters. It is also a way for these films to appeal to the Philippine audience to make it appear to have realism or similarities to our everyday lives. It is also their way for the films to be enjoyed as well reflect on the mistakes and values shown.

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aldenwritesreviews-blog · 5 years

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Essay on Cinemalaya and Mike De Leon’s, Kisapmata.

Braddock, Alden T. Rauto, Juan Miguel

Let's talk about the films were going to talk about. Were going to talk about 4 Cinemalaya films which are: Sid and Aya, Meet me in St. Gallen, Ulan, and ML. And a film my Mike De Leon, Kisapmata.

Let's talk about Sid and Aya first. It is not the first time Anne Curtis played the role of the girl in a romance film that the couple has a vast difference in class or wealth. Anne played a promo girl who falls for Sam Milby who is a wealthy professor in Babe, I love you directed by Mae Cruz. Sid and Aya is not your typical run off the mill love story. As it says in the title ‘not a love story’. It doesn't follow the formula of one guy meets girl, they date, problems appear, they solve it and then happy ever after the end. This movie will hit you. Will leave you frustrated. After all the efforts. After all the back and forth the girl loves the guy but the guy has a girlfriend, after a while the guy leaves his girlfriend and followed her to another country to prove himself, girl is tired of him but kind of rekindles the memories but still wont get together. They did not get together. If you are rooting for the main actors to get together don't even get your hopes up because the director Irine Villamor will shatter your hopes for them to get together even if someone goes out of their way.

Let's talk about the main characters. Sid is a stock broker who had a bad past growing up. Aya is a waitress but actually has a couple of other jobs to support her family and sickly father. Sid is a frequent customer where Aya is working at. Aya and her coworkers placed a bet on what Sid’s actual job was and Aya won. That is how the two met. Aya smokes, Sid casually started a conversation and realizing Aya’s situation asked her if he could pay her to keep him company. Nothing too far off from other romance films. Yet. They were right on the formula. They hang out a lot, guy gets attached, they found love that cannot be because of Sid’s girlfriend. Really, nothing too far from generic Filipino romance films. Aya moved to Japan to be with her mom and avoid Sid but Sid chases after her. Everything goes well and they stuck to the formula until that one dreaded moment where Aya stood Sid up while he was planning to propose to her. That is different. That is how Irene Villamor made the movie unexpected but expected as well because of the title.

The plot is close to common Philippine romance films but not quite. The essence is there but the only part I saw that deviated from the “formula” is the part where Aya stood Sid up. Everything else I felt that it was to be expected. After the first encounter because of just how romance goes they will meet again. I expected that their hang-outs will labour love at some point. They make love but given that there is a third party they don't really get together but when Sid leaves his girlfriend, Aya isn't feeling it anymore. If they didnt add ‘Not a love story’ in the title I wouldn't have expected them not being together.

The movie is interesting and kind of a breath of fresh air in Philippine romance dramas. It is really hard to deviate from a formula that is tried and tested here in the country because a lot of people are already wired to find these movies relatable and those are what they are used to. The film did interest me because of Aya’s constant teasing of Sid wanting her and Aya’s personality of wanting to help her family and doing whatever she can and even doing multiple jobs to help.

Then we have Meet me in St. Gallen which is another film directed by Irene Villamor. It doesn't stray far from Sid and Aya’s formula of a not so love story. It is almost the same formula only the characters differ. Their status, their personalities, and also the time in happened. She used a lot of time skips in the movie for the two to meet. They also differ in their circumstances but the formula is still the same. Guy meets girl (In a coffee shop) after a while they fall in love but the guy has a girl, guy leaves girl then goes to another country to pursue girl and the girl is not interested again. It is almost the same progression with Sid and Aya.

Let me explain

Meet me in St. Gallen more important scene starts off when Celeste played by Bella Padilla quits her job in the bathroom where Jesse who is played by Carlo Aquino heard. He proceeds to follow her to a coffee shop and Celeste proceeded to humiliate him speaking in a loud voice that he is a stalker. They started a small talk and proceeded to get along very well. Celeste wanted to go home and ride a taxi but Jesse followed and flirted a bit and Celeste reciprocated it giving them more time to hang out. That scene is a lighthearted scene where two newly acquainted people flirt a little while bystanders who is the guard and the taxi driver just watches and make faces that help the scene become lighthearted as it is. They proceeded to go to a bar and drink, have fun, and talk a lot and then there comes this scene where they were sitting on a bench just talking and flirting. Jesse gave her a ride home while talking about relationships. Jesse kissed Celeste out of the blue then making Celeste say that they should keep that moment and proceeded to hail a taxi. The film skipped 2 years before they met again and in a coffee shop. They chatted and Celeste got the news that Jesse was engaged. Celeste still loved Jesse and was regretting not contacting him after that car scene. Jesse was still a bit in love but he is engaged. They decided to hang out again that day and all was fun and happy and they rekindled their hidden love for each other until they made love. The next morning they were still positive and flirty but when Jesse’s fiance called him everything went south. I could really feel the emotion Celeste had. After that uneventful day it skipped again a couple of years forward. It is similar to Sid and Aya where Sid went to Japan to go for Aya but in this case Jesse went to Europe specifically in St. Gallen. They met and it was a bit sour because Celeste was doubting him and it turned out that Celeste already has a boyfriend. Jesse was too late. The movie ended with them not getting together like Sid and Aya. I noticed that Irene Villamor loves tragic stories where the supposed couple doesn't really get together in the end so i guess thats what to expect on the next movie we are going to talk about which is ulan.

The two movies aren't entirely the same. Each specific movie has their own charm to it, for Sid and Aya it happens to be the prospect of Sid paying Aya to hang out with him and Aya’s quirky personality and for Meet me in St. Gallen its Celeste’s mean but quirky attitude towards people. I enjoyed Meet me in St. Gallen because of the small quirks the film has in presenting teenage romance by going around and doing random stuff, drinking in a bar, and looking at the stars and the romance of adults after the time skip. I have to admit I expected that they wont get together but I didn't expect how she brings up that he had a boyfriend. It caught me by surprise and it doesnt give away anything from the title.

Ulan takes almost everything differently except how the relationship went. It is also a film directed by Irene Villamor so you know what to expect now. This movie is vastly different but also the same in some aspects.

It all starts with a young Maya, looking at the sky, the sun is shining but the rain is pouring. Her grandmother told her that the sky is weeping because two tikbalangs are getting married and heads out to the park witnessing two actual tikbalangs getting married and gets information on why it was raining and information about love. They did a good job in setting the mood of a young girl believing in fantasy and about love. What they didnt do a good job on is the horse masks the tikbalangs used maybe because of the budget so i dont blame them. Now Maya now a woman, heads out to the house of a boy she waited years to love despite the pouring rain. She arrives at the house being hopeful for a fruitful relationship and feeling love again. She is asked to go inside then gets informed that the guy she is waiting for for years is already married and has a child. Shes broken. She has all the right to love unlike the tikbalangs that the heavens disapprove of. This movie is different from the two because this involves more fantasy or Filipino omens rather than being relatable to most of the audience who will watch this film. It is more about stories of Filipino omens rather than love. It is interesting to see how omens affect a person about love so i cant say that the film bored me but its kind of over the top. The film focuses more on Maya being motivated of a broken heart to write stories and her belief in omens about love rather than her own love story. If you expected a love story that is full of ‘kilig’ this movie wont really give you that. It gives you more heartbreak than anything else because of all the heartbreaks she felt throughout the move. It entices the audience with the promise of a love story of a girl that gets heartbroken, and is too afraid to love again finally attain her dream of being loved and being happy. The latter part didn't happen. The movie focuses more on the mind and beliefs of Maya believing a lot of fables that it all correlates to her not finding the love and happiness she deserves. The movie gave me a lot of heartbreaks and after each and every heartbreak maya becomes more reluctant to love until the time she finally accepts herself. The film portrayed Maya as a girl that is reluctant to love after the big heartbreak at the start but when she does open up and love again she is a person who will love you unconditionally. The film’s cinematography has a fantasy vibe to it because of all the fables and beliefs Maya believes in and they beautifully capture the essence of it being fantasy or beliefs. The one thing I did not like about the film is how predictable it can be sometimes. I could predict when a breakup is going to happen or something bad is going to happen. The scenes that should be surprising or that should give you a heavy feeling didn't really do the job properly because it doesn't take a detective to see what is going to happen. Its raining hard to the point where Peter can barely see the road, they are on a phone call while the guy is driving, Maya telling him that he should stop first because he could be in an accident but the guy is persistent for a while. What will I expect so it didn't surprise me. All the build up of Maya getting hope and feeling happy again all got turned down. It really doesn't need a detective to figure that out. Looking at the three films, Irene Villamor loves to make tragic love stories.

Judging by the three movies talked about that is directed by Irene Villamor, there are recognizable and recurring themes and visual cues presented in those three films. They meet unexpectedly, they will have a good relationship or love for each other, but in the end the wont get together. Just by watching these three films. I can see that if I watch another Irene Villamor movie. I’ll be able to tell the sequencing of events and how it’s going to end. Because she has her own formula and it shows. It’s like copy paste “Bro lemme copy your homework” “sure but change some of it” kind of thing. The characters personalities are also kind of similar. Looking at the female main characters their personalities often depicts a strong-willed woman who is not afraid to share their thoughts, and hardworking, unique, and soft. I believe that this is Irene Villamor’s identity in regards to filmmaking. She loves to make a non-traditional romance film that doesn't follow the typical romantic movie stereotype.

Now let’s talk about ML.

Damn. Wow. The two words that came out of my mouth when the film ended. I was speechless, I had to process everything that happened in the movie for a good 5 minutes. The movie made you feel things. Things that you wouldn’t normally feel when you watch a movie. It was good, it was great, it was amazing, it was sad, it was disgusting, it was gruesome, it was wow. You can describe the movie in a lot of ways but in the end you’re in awe for the movie.

The movie makes you feel phantom pain while they were getting tortured. The acting was superb, the pacing, it made you feel as if you were in there being tortured. It made you feel it physically and emotionally. It made you scared for the characters about what’s going to happen to them but it also made you worry about yourself and it also would scare you. It wasn’t a horror film but it would scare you more than the most horror films out there. It didn’t have any jump scares, no eerie sound effects just rock music. Who knew using a rock music would make people scared.

Martial law was messed up and it still is. You wouldn’t find any videos of Filipinos being tortured during Martial Law, you would only find videos of them talking about what happened to them, what they experienced. However, those videos are still messed up but you’d have to visualise in your mind about how they got tortured, you won’t see it actually happening. Seeing the torture actually happening makes your eyes more open and hate Martial Law even more, even though this was just acted and is just a movie but wow it was amazing.

I knew about what tortures that were used during the Martial Law but it just had pictures that were drawn or were just described. The tortures that I read online for my homework in school have been acted out. Reading about it is so different than actually seeing it happen even if it’s just a movie. Toenails getting pulled off, pissing on the cloth then putting inside the mouth of the victim, water torture with water being flushed through his nostrils and mouth, victims getting tortured with the stock of the gun by hitting them with it, victims getting striped down, laying the naked victim’s body on a block of ice while being tied up, inserting objects inside the genitals, electrocuting the victim’s genitals, nipples, and fingers. Oh boy it’s not even done. Furthermore, russian roulette, victim getting burnt by cigarette butts, and the victim being physically abused while they are tied in a chair and mouths taped shut with duct tape.

That was a lot of tortures. At one point while the tortures were happening I felt like I don’t want to watch this movie anymore, I wanted to stop it. The movie is heavy, but it was amazing. I didn’t stop watching though because if I did, I wouldn’t be writing this or what I would be writing was nonsense, lacking, garbage, and not worth reading. The movie was really intense and it was great. ML is a must watch movie, especially for those who still support Martial Law and Marcos apologists so that their eyes can be opened to what they stand for.

He (Colonel) seemed so harmless at the beginning, but if you’ve seen the movie poster you know what’s up. The way he was described by the people in the neighborhood is just like an ordinary old man. forgetful, wrinkly, and weak. Although he has alzheimer’s which makes him forget about things and mix up the past and reality however, he is strong, still possesses the skills that he learned through combat training and toture methods that he has done to his old victims at his time in the army during the Marcos regime. A fragment of the past recurring in his brain making the disc of Martial Law inside his brain go on repeat.

When Carlo and Jace were introduced you’d have the reaction of “Are you serious?”, “Why dude?”, and “Please tell me you’re joking.” But then you’d remember that there are actually people like them in the Philippines right now. They did have some points but what spiced it up even more is when Carlo said the victims that got tortured deserved it. Wow, are you for real Carlo. You’d hate Carlo and Jace in the beginning but as the movie goes by you see them getting tortured, seeing that happening to them makes you pity the two characters and hate Colonel even more.

When Colonel arrived at his house when he went to the barbershop to get his haircut there was a dog barking at him when he was opening his gate. He wasn’t scared of it, he just stared at the dog looking angry. He then got food and called the dog, he looked like he loved dogs. Turns out that was just a facade, he was hiding a hammer behind his back and that made me sad and mad at Colonel. Why do you have to do that to that dog, the dog didn’t hurt you and dogs bark normally when they’re not familiar with the person. What makes it even more sad is when the owners put up a sign looking for the dog. He had a name, Charlie. Charlie wasn’t a stray dog, he had a family that was expecting him to go home but Colonel was a big psycho and killed him.

Throughout the whole movie I was dreading, and was cheering for them to escape with any opportunity they got. Seeing them just getting tortured for no reason at all when they had no intentions of hurting or doing anything bad to Colonel was sad. Carlo just wanted to learn more about Martial Law from someone that was in the military so he has a different perspective but what he got wasn’t a story, he got the full experience in HD real life. Jace just wanted to go out and have fun with Carlo, Pat just got involved because she baited into going to the house of Colonel. Carlo, Jace, and Pat learned it the hard way. 3 of them were in favor of Martial Law, they had a life experience that was gonna stick with them for the rest of their lives, besides Jace because he’s six feet under.

What sucked in the end is that Jace died, Carlo and Pat got away and they are now scared emotionally and physically for the rest of their lives. They had to endure all that torture and I was rooting for them to kill Colonel is the end so that they have that redemption, the satisfaction for them but also for the viewers. However, Carlo didn’t get to kill Colonel. The build up for him going room to room until he got the right one, he sees him sleeping on his bed and walks up on him and when he tries to wake Colonel up, he won’t. He died in his sleep. The characters don’t get the satisfaction nor the viewers, it broke the hype that was building up and the feeling of “What if he gets caught?” and “Is he gonna die for real now?”. The worry for Carlo and the anger for Colonel just all disappeared and just made it sadder for them and the viewers. Honestly, I would have liked to see Colonel getting killed by Carlo so that he at least got back with what Colonel did to them. The torture they had to endure and killing his bestfriend. I would have been relieved if the ending was just Carlo killing Colonel. All the hate that built up for Colonel throughout the film was just wasted, we didn’t get to have the moment of “YEAH TAKE THAT!”, “THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR KILLING CHARLIE!”, and “DIE!”. It would have been so satisfying for me to see that. I really hate what he did to Charlie. When Pat and Carlo escaped and told the police about what happened, no one believed them, which really sucks because they didn’t get a good ending Carlo didn’t get to kill Colonel and the police didn’t believe them. It was really harsh for them.

I’m amazed with the capabilities of Colonel because he still can do all that and have a big block of ice just lying around his house. However, I really hate him and I hate Martial Law. They didn’t deserve that to happen to them. I’m glad that Martial Law is over and I hope that it never happens again.

The acting in this film was really amazing and the editing was great too. The songs that were used in the film fits the film’s atmosphere and vibe. It was really an experience watching this movie.

Lastly, Kisapmata

Kisapmata is a crime, drama, and horror film made in 1981 that was directed by Mike De Leon. It is the first Filipino film that depicted Incest which was big breaktrhough for the Philippine cinema during the 1980s because it was somehow a taboo topic for Filipinos and an act that is frowned upon on. The film also won ten major awards in FAMAS, The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Filipino also declared that Kisapmata is one of the ten best films of the 1980s.

Kisapmata is about a family shackled by their psychotic abusive Father (Dadong) who is jealous of Mila’s suitor (Noel) who eventually became her husband. Mila’s father controls everything they do and is always with them. They live in a house where every action could be seen and heard from any angle. Rooms with “broken” locks and phone calls that their father can only answer. Every move that Mila and her mother makes was monitored by their father. Mila and her mother had no choice but to submit because of fear, he had so much power over everything within the household. The role of the father is the pillar of the family but this family’s pillar crazed itself to collapse on the whole family which led to their demise.

Throughout the film Dadong is always boasting about how “masculine” he is. He shows the amount of control he has, saying how drinking beer is something that a man should do, telling how making worms earns more than being a credit investigator (Noel’s job) talking about his life as a policeman and crimes he has solved. He always wants to show how strong he is by being an abusive father. He would hurt the mother of Mila physically and emotionally, Dadong keeping a gun around and used it to threaten the maid of Noel’s family when he went looking for Mila. He would do anything just to show his masculinity.

The film started off with Mila telling Dadong that she wants to get married, Dadong was disagreeing with her because for one, he is “masculine” and has the power to pull the strings in the household. Two, Mila is his only child and that’s one less person to control in the house when they move out. Lastly, he has sexual desires for his own daughter. He only agreed when Mila told him that she was pregnant. He told Mila that they have to get married and wanted to meet up with Noel and his Family. When Dadong met Noel, Dadong acted superior and showing his “macho” traits. When they had the family gathering to talk about the marriage he said that it’s tradition to give the family Php 10,000 and that made me wow because I’m pretty sure during the 1980s that was worth a lot and I’ve never heard of any family having a tradition of giving money to the family of the bride when they’re gonna get married. I think there may be some families out there but I don’t believe that there are.

When Noel and Mila were planning for the wedding, Dadong was always there with them. He always had a say on what to do for the wedding, how it’s going to be planned out and he wanted it to be a big fancy wedding. He got to pick how the invitation cards are gonna look like and it wasn’t even his wedding, it’s the job of the groom and bride to do that work at this point of the movie Noel is starting to be wrapped around the fingers of Dadong. He doesn’t see it and he can’t do anything because it’s the dad of Mila.

During the wedding Daddong was whispering something to Mila’s mother while they were dancing and that made me feel like Dadong was plotting something so Mila won’t leave her father’s side. The mother acted like she was sick so they’ll sympathize with her and they have to spend the night at their place. Dadong was doing everything to keep her with him. When Mila and Noel wanted to go out to watch a movie and they were gonna take a taxi but Dadong insisted to bring them to the theater but he ended up watching the movie with them and complained about the movie after because he didn’t like it. Dadong wouldn’t leave them alone, he was persistent to keep his eyes on Mila.

Mila always writes on her diary where she can vent out her thoughts, she can’t even tell them to Noel because it seems like she’s hiding a really big secret. She wouldn’t even let Noel read her diary because I’m pretty sure she can’t bare to let Noel know or let anyone know what that diary contains. When Noel asked if he could read the diary, Mila replied with “Pag namatay ako” so that implies that she won’t get judged because of incest, it being a act that is looked down upon. The diary is also one of the hints that the baby isn’t Noel’s because she must have written there incest/sexual abuse that Dadong has been doing to Mila because there was one scene that showed that Dadong just went into Mila’s room and we all know what happened next after that. There are no locks for the doors because they apparently “broke” so the dad could just go in anyroom anytime, even the comfort room.

The mother is jealous of Mila because Dadong is always focusing on Mila, it’s always Mila 24/7. Everything that Dadong does it’s always about Mila, Mila, Mila. She can’t do anything because she loves Dadong and Mila, leaving her no choice she has to submit herself for love. However, I think that Mila’s mom was doing all that not just because she’s mad, jealous, and in denial but because she wants Dadong’s attention back to her.

When Noel and Mila finally escaped the shackles of Dadong they went to Los Banos and tried to start a new life there. However, Dadong still managed to find a way to make them go back to them. He made a compromise to his “masculinity” for a little while so that they’ll just go back. When they went back Dadong did the “your mother is sick, please come here to help your mother out trick.” when Noel and Mila went there they got their clothes and packed but Dadong stopped them. This is the part where it was actually Dadong’s child not Noel’s. Mila was persistent on leaving the place which lead to Dadong’s psychotic decision to shoot Mila’s mom, Mila, Noel, and himself. If I can’t have Mila, no one can. In just a wink of an eye they all dropped dead in the room.

Kisapmata is also an anti-martial law film. Dadong represents Marcos because he’s like the overseer. He controls everything in the household, Mila and her mother are scared and are suffering because he is abusive, controlling, and he can do anything he wants. Noel, Mila, and her mother had no choice but to follow Dadong because of the power he has. The household also had a curfew that everyone had to follow including Noel. It was just like how Marcos had the power and Filipinos had to follow him. Dadong also mirrored Marcos because he was part of the law, he was a policeman, he had authority and enforced whenever he can and whenever he wants.

The movie was nice, it was an experience. I thought it was going to be scary but it wasn’t actually scary. It was more of a psychological thriller film, not a horror. The film makes you sympathize about what the characters are going through in the film. The sounds in the film were really amazing it gives off the suspense and gives tension of what’s going to happen next. The cinematography and how they framed some of the scenes in this movie were amazing for the 1980s. What made the movie even more interesting for me is that the movie was based on a real life case.

The film wants to make you hate Dadong for how abusive and annoying he is throughout the film and it succeeded. I was really hoping for Dadong to die and Noel and Mila to escape. However, it turned out to be a bang bang bang bang 4 characters drop dead, the end. No one got their happy ending and they didn’t have a chance to have a merry christmas. At the end of the film I realized that he was lying about the Php 10,000 tradition because he never got married to Mila’s mother. Furthermore, Dadong was confident that Noel wouldn’t be willing to pay the 10,000 but the love of Noel to be with Nila was strong and Dadong was certain that Mila was carrying his offspring.

There are similarities between ML and Kisapmata. Both films are about Martial Law and are Anti-Martial law. For Kisapmata Dadong represents Marcos because he’s like the overseer. He controls everything in the household, Mila and her mother are scared and are suffering because he is abusive, controlling, and he can do anything he wants. It showed the power and the authority. For ML it showed the gruesome tortures were used for the Martial Law victims during Marcos’ Regime.

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adriwatchingin-blog · 5 years

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Finals Movie Discussion

Introduction

Discussion

Sid and Aya

Meet me in St. Gallen

Ulan

Kisapmata

Comparisons

Criticism on Philippine Film

Conclusion

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juanmiguelrauto-blog · 5 years

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Video Essay part 1

Sid and Aya: Not a love story is a film that depicts a hardworking family woman who meets a rich stock broker with a girlfriend but feels lonely so she pays her to keep him company. A story of an acquaintance that turns into love but results in heartbreak.

Meet me in St. Gallen is a film that shows teenage spontaneity that might lead to a great relationship but is scared to push through. Everytime they meet it ends in heartbreak. The movie is fun and enjoyable because of the characters personality but you will feel a lot of heartbreak.

Ulan is a film marketed as a love story but is actually more of a fantasy that focuses on the main character’s development. The film talks about Filipino folktales more than the main characters love story. Another film that results in multiple heartbreaks.

All of these films are directed by Irene Villamor

Hi. Today we are going to talk about 5 films from Cinemalaya. If you dont know Cinemalaya is an independent film festival in the Philippines held each year during the months of July and August. Its aim is the development and promotion of Philippine independent films. Each year the festival provides “seed investments” to ten independent filmmakers chosen from hundreds of submissions.

Lets talk about the films were going to talk about. Were going to talk about 5 Cinemalaya films which are: Sid and Aya, Meet me in St. Gallen, Ulan, ML, and Kisapmata.

Lets talk about Sid and Aya first. It is not the first time Anne Curtis played the role of the girl in a romance film that the couple has a vast difference in class or wealth. Anne played a promo girl who falls for Sam Milby who is a wealthy professor in Babe, I love you directed by Mae Cruz. Sid and Aya is not your typical run off the mill love story. As it says in the title ‘not a love story’. It doesnt follow the formula of one guy meets girl, they date, problems appear, they solve it and then happy ever after the end. This movie will hit you. Will leave you frustrated. After all the efforts. After all the back and forth the girl loves the guy but the guy has a girlfriend, after a while the guy leaves his girlfriend and followed her to another country to prove himself, girl is tired of him but kind of rekindles the memories but still wont get together. They did not get together. If you are rooting for the main actors to get together dont even get your hopes up because the director Irine Villamor will shatter your hopes for them to get together even if someone goes out of their way.

Lets talk about the main characters. Sid is a stock broker who had a bad past growing up. Aya is a waitress but actually has a couple of other jobs to support her family and sickly father. Sid is a frequent customer where Aya is working at. Aya and her coworkers placed a bet on what Sid’s actual job was and Aya won. That is how the two met. Aya smokes, Sid casually started a conversation and realizing Aya’s situation asked her if he could pay her to keep him company. Nothing too far off from other romance films. Yet. They were right on the formula. They hang out a lot, guy gets attached, they found love that cannot be because of Sid’s girlfriend. Really, nothing too far from generic Filipino romance films. Aya moved to Japan to be with her mom and avoid Sid but Sid chases after her. Everything goes well and they stuck to the formula until that one dreaded moment where Aya stood Sid up while he was planning to propose to her. That is different. That is how Irene Villamor made the movie unexpected but expected as well because of the title.

The plot is close to common Philippine romance films but not quite. The essence is there but the only part I saw that deviated from the “formula” is the part where Aya stood Sid up. Everything else I felt that it was to be expected. After the first encounter because of just how romance goes they will meet again. I expected that their hang-outs will labour love at some point. They make love but given that there is a third party they dont really get together but when Sid leaves his girlfriend, Aya isnt feeling it anymore. If they didnt add ‘Not a love story’ in the title i wouldnt have expected them not being together.

Then we have Meet me in St. Gallen which is another film directed by Irene Villamor. It doesnt stray far from Sid and Aya’s formula of a not so love story. It is almost the same formula only the characters differ. Their status, their personalities, and also the time in happened. She used a lot of time skips in the movie for the two to meet. They also differ in their circumstance but the formula is still the same. Guy meets girl (In a coffee shop) after a while they fall in love but the guy has a girl, guy leaves girl then goes to another country to pursue girl and the girl is not interested again. It is almost the same progression with Sid and Aya.

Let me explain

Meet me in St. Gallen more important scene starts off when Celeste played by Bella Padilla quits her job in the bathroom where Jesse who is played by Carlo Aquino heard. He proceeds to follow her to a coffee shop and Celeste proceeded to humiliate him speaking in a loud voice that he is a stalker. They started a small talk and proceeded to get along very well. Celeste wanted to go home and ride a taxi but Jesse followed and flirted a bit and Celeste reciprocated it giving them more time to hang out. That scene is a lighthearted scene where two newly acquainted people flirt a little while bystanders who is the guard and the taxi driver just watches and make faces that help the scene become lighthearted as it is. They proceeded to go to a bar and drink, have fun, and talk a lot and then there comes this scene where they were sitting on a bench just talking and flirting. Jesse gave her a ride home while talking about relationships. Jesse kissed Celeste out of the blue then making Celeste say that they should keep that moment and proceeded to hail a taxi. The film skipped 2 years before they met again and in a coffee shop. They chatted and Celeste got the news that Jesse was engaged. Celeste still loved Jesse and was regretting not contacting him after that car scene. Jesse was still a bit in love but he is engaged. They decided to hang out again that day and all was fun and happy and they rekindled their hidden love for each other until they made love. The next morning they were still positive and flirty but when Jesse’s fiance called him everything went south. I could really feel the emotion Celeste had. After that uneventful day it skipped again a couple of years forward. It is similar to Sid and Aya where Sid went to Japan to go for Aya but in this case Jesse went to Europe specifically in St. Gallen. They met and it was a bit sour because Celeste was doubting him and it turned out that Celeste already has a boyfriend. Jesse was too late. The movie ended with them not getting together like Sid and Aya. I noticed that Irene Villamor loves tragic stories where the supposed couple doesnt really get together in the end so i guess thats what to expect on the next movie we are going to talk about which is ulan.

The two movies arent entirely the same. Each specific movie has their own charm to it, for Sid and Aya it happens to be the prospect of Sid paying Aya to hang out with him and Aya’s quirky personality and for Meet me in St. Gallen its Celeste’s mean but quirky attitude towards people. I enjoyed Meet me in St. Gallen because of the small quirks the film has in presenting teenage romance by going around and doing random stuff, drinking in a bar, and looking at the stars and the romance of adults after the time skip. I have to admit I expected that they wont get together but I didnt expect how she brings up that he had a boyfriend. It caught me by surprise and it doesnt give away anything from the title.

It all starts with a young Maya, looking at the sky, the sun is shining but the rain is pouring. Her grandmother told her that the sky is weeping because two tikbalangs are getting married and heads out to the park witnessing two actual tikbalangs getting married and gets information on why it was raining and information about love. They did a good job in setting the mood of a young girl believing in fantasy and about love. What they didnt do a good job on is the horse masks the tikbalangs used maybe because of the budget so i dont blame them. Now Maya now a woman, heads out to the house of a boy she waited years to love despite the pouring rain. She arrives at the house being hopeful for a fruitful relationship and feeling love again. She is asked to go inside then gets informed that the guy she is waiting for for years is already married and has a child. Shes broken. She has all the right to love unlike the tikbalangs that the heavens disapprove of. This movie is different from the two because this involves more fantasy or Filipino omens rather than being relatable to most of the audience who will watch this film. It is more about stories of Filipino omens rather than love. It is interesting to see how omens affect a person about love so i cant say that the film bored me but its kind of over the top. The film focuses more on Maya being motivated of a broken heart to write stories and her belief in omens about love rather than her own love story. If you expected a love story that is full of ‘kilig’ this movie wont really give you that. It gives you more heartbreak than anything else because of all the heartbreaks she felt throughout the move. It entices the audience with the promise of a love story of a girl that gets heartbroken, and is too afraid to love again finally attain her dream of being loved and being happy. The latter part didnt happen. The movie focuses more on the mind and beliefs of Maya believing a lot of fables that it all correlates to her not finding the love and happiness she deserves. The movie gave me a lot of heartbreaks and after each and every heartbreak maya becomes more reluctant to love until the time she finally accepts herself. The film portrayed Maya as a girl that is reluctant to love after the big heartbreak at the start but when she does open up and love again she is a person who will love you unconditionally. The film’s cinematography has a fantasy vibe to it because of all the fables and beliefs Maya believes in and they beautifully capture the essence of it being fantasy or beliefs. The one thing I did not like about the film is how predictable it can be sometimes. I could predict when a breakup is going to happen or something bad is going to happen. The scenes that should be surprising or that should give you a heavy feeling didnt really do the job properly because it doesnt take a detective to see what is going to happen. Its raining hard to the point where Peter can barely see the road, they are on a phone call while the guy is driving, Maya telling him that he should stop first because he could be in an accident but the guy is persistent for a while. What will I expect so it didnt surprise me. All the build up of Maya getting hope and feeling happy again all got turned down. It really doesnt need a detective to figure that out. Looking at the three films, Irene Villamor loves to make tragic love stories.

Judging by the three movies talked about that is directed by Irene Villamor, there are recognizable and recurring themes and visual queues presented in those three films. They meet unexpectedly, they will have a good relationship or love for each other, but in the end the wont get together. Just by watching these three films I can say that if I watch an Irene Villamor film it is not a traditional, follow the formula type of film because she has her own and it shows. The characters personalities are also kind of similar. Looking at the female main characters their personalities often depicts a strong-willed woman who is not afraid to share their thoughts, and hardworking, unique, and soft. I believe that this is Irene Villamor’s identity in regards to filmmaking. She loves to make a non-traditional romance film that doesnt follow the typical romantic movie stereotype.

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nickelodeon-disneyreviewed · 6 years

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16 Wishes Disney Channel Original Movie Reviewed

Because sure, I can post my most recent review, but it’s kinda lame for a first Tumblr post so have this half-year old review of a nearly decade-old DCOM instead.

16 Wishes DCOM Reviewed22 today, happy birthday sweetheart! What is it? Well, that's actually an interesting question.... It's classically thought of as a DCOM...even though strictly technically speaking it isn't (yes, that's right, it means Disney Channel's official Facebook page is wrong on this!) It's really a direct-to-DVD movie that Disney Channel just happened to pick up on very, very early during the production stage (before they even decided on a lead, hence how Debby became involved) due to Disney Channel's previous relationship (and ongoing relationship, for that matter) with Mar Vista studios through a number of actual DCOMs before and since. See folks, only on this blog will you learn new facts and grow your brain right in the introductory minutiae of each and every blog post! Where did it air? Well, again, continuing the above it's actually a bit complex. Technically it did indeed premiere on Disney Channel first, but it was originally intended for DVD sales/streaming to be the primary means of distribution. Of course now it's as closely associated with the network as any other DCOM and other than directly streaming it or getting the DVD it's the only place on "traditional" television you'll find it. Who stars in it? Most prominently, Debby Ryan, who became attached to the project as soon as Disney Channel decided to throw money at it. Jean-Luc Bilodeau plays second-billing Jay - you may recognize Jean-Luc (no, not that Jean-Luc) from not only the later Mar Vista-produced DCOM Zapped! but also from the somewhat short-lived Canadian/UPN (remember that network? Probably not) production Kyle-XY as the title character. Anna Mae Routledge is Celeste "the birthday fairy" and...yeah, this is actually the biggest role she's been in (she's been in another movie we've done a mini-review on...Eurotrip, maybe?) The only other notable role is Karissa Tynes as Krista. Abby's mom is played by the same actress who played an FBI agent in...Snakes on a Plane. Yeah, really. The principal is also "Chevron Guy" from Stargate: SG-1. There's also this really gorgeous ginger with these Marianas Trench-deep blue eyes but...uhh, we'll get to that at the end I guess. Why are we reviewing this? ...well, see, there are three or so key events that lead to the creation of this very blog, and 16 Wishes is one of them. One of those events would be of course the creation of GirlMeetsWorldReviewed.Blogspot.com which directly inspired the creation of this blog. But of course there'd be no point or even capability to make this blog without material to fill it up with. That's where 16 Wishes and other things come in. Another of those events, by far the most important one, is Phineas and Ferb - or more specifically, when I just happened to chance upon Phineas and Ferb (The Chronicles of Meep specifically - I need to, like, send flowers to Povenmire and Marsh for that one, it was a real chance of fate that happened to be the first episode I saw as it was superbly excellent if not outright sublime) one night when I was desperately searching for new programming to watch. And as I describe in both my Jessie and Liv and Maddie retrospectives, this was actually critical timing because at the time I was just a few weeks off from having my ex-fiancee break up with me and less than a week from recovering from cancer-removing surgery. And not only was Phineas and Ferb the perfect TV visual comfort food at the time, but it was an immediate gateway to more visual comfort food on the network and by extension Nickelodeon (the first episode of anything I've ever watched on Disney Channel aside from The Chronicles of Meep - immediately after the Chronicles of Meep, in fact - was the second replay of the then-premiere episode of Good Luck Charlie's T-Wrecks and given the emotional state I was in, I was actually really blown away by just how well done an all-inclusive family multi-cam sitcom it was - and that was immediately followed up by the second replay of the premiere of Jessie's Gotcha Day which, well, if you want to delude yourself that Jessie is a better show than it is there are few better episodes than that to dive into). Now, here's the thing - even at that point after about a month of watching I was still on the fence about the actual quality of Disney Channel shows and Jessie especially. By that I don't mean I would've given up watching the network forever and never ever speak of the great embarrassment of being an allegedly grown-ass adult watching Disney Channel, but my viewing habits probably would be a lot like they are today - oh hey, Good Luck Charlie's on, yeah I like that show. Oh hey it's Phineas and Ferb. Oh, hey Jessie's on...I wonder what Rick on Pawn Stars is trying to rip off today. But what ended up being the real tipping point to being dedicated as an allegedly grown-ass adult to this network and becoming a Jessie super-fan (or at least the closest thing that passes for it) is this movie. I think what really resonated with this movie, again given my emotional state, is the back half where Abby finds herself turned into an allegedly grown-ass adult. Even when you're in your early 20s (as Abby finds herself), well...I'm just going to quote the speech Abby's dad gives: But being grown up is different than dreaming about it, isn't it? We understand. Of course! You're scared that your childhood is over and with it all the best times of your life! You probably wanna turn back that clock and start over? Boy I know how that feels! ...and being in my 20s...and already having been engaged in marriage, and then seeing all that blow up in my face, and then finding out I have cancer, and then dropping out of school over it...yeah, that shit gets overwhelming. You spend a lot of time thinking about how not long ago all you needed to do was wake up and go to school and everything else is provided for you, and you all of a sudden find yourself in that same situation, just minus the school, and at least just old enough so that it all feels familiar but at the same time a bit weird. Nostalgia is not perfect, and it can even be a dangerous thing - I've dedicated very large portions of this very blog about how nostalgia effectively stunted if not outright ruined Girl Meets World from its very conception. But we keep coming back to it because it's comfortable. Girl Meets World was greenlit and conceived, arguably, because it was a return to a very comfortable concept, a concept that was successful in its heyday and it was thought would be successful because that previous success had grown itself into its fanbase to provide comfort (again, Christian and Sean have talked about the comfort aspect of the original show). And when you're in a position where comfort starts being medicine, nostalgia is a very powerful thing to go back to. My point being, girls who were 16 but accidentally wish themselves to be 22 as they walk out of a store dressing room and wishing they can just go back to school and live with their parents again and guys who actually are 22 (well, older than that even) but got kicked out of their fiancee's life so hard they apparently literally got cancer over it and had to move back in with their parents have a lot in common with each other. Of course, that's just my perspective. But also keep in mind that apparently this little movie gave Debby enough clout, at least on the network, to where Disney Channel ultimately decided to greenlight her own show which of course became the 101-episode (not 98!) long series Jessie. No, really, it got one of the highest adult demos of its night. It's really my theory that this message about childhood nostalgia, whether intended or not, proved to be a big hit with Millennials. I mean, think about it. We're supposedly the "never grow up" generation - we have high unemployment, low independent housing, yadda yadda. Abby's words about feeling like we're 16 and then suddenly 22 and needing a job and a means to afford our own place and take care of ourselves have become themes of a generation. And I'm not saying this as an insult to Millennials (being one myself of course) but that no doubt it happened to previous generations too - Gen X'ers, Baby Boomers, what have you as they suddenly find themselves transitioning from a school-focused work ethic to suddenly being in the actual work force. It's an increasingly universal theme as the world marches towards mechanization and now digitization, but it's a theme that's been rather under-represented in all but tween through young adult media. But enough of me waxing nostalgic and complaining about my personal life again, how does it rate as a movie? Well, Abby's a brat through the first part (then again that's the point) and then we kinda see her cartoon-mature and she grows up, yadda yadda. Debby's not bad at all in it, Jean-Luc captains his way through it equally respectably, Karissa is very much underappreciated, Chevron Guy makes for the second ultra-nerdy sci-fi reference in this very sentence and again if you've seen the movie you probably know who I'm talking about when I talk about this curly-hair ginger girl with these sapphire-forged eyes who's, like, so gorgeous I'd go through another round of chemo for, like I will forget about my lousy ex for her, yadda yadda. Even when trying to emotionally divorce oneself it's a pretty competent movie, and Lord knows there've been quite a few official DCOMs that don't measure up to this one (the vastly overrated Cowbelles, Teen Beach 2, yes Invisible Sister) Movie Grade: B-. Like I said, it's at least competent and enjoyable enough it deserves this. Movie MVP: That ridiculously gorgeous blue-eyed ginger, of course, for completely memorizing me in the two or three scenes she's in including the one scene where she gasps, which is the closest speaking role she has. ...just kidding, although I really do think she deserves more recognition (seriously, I don't think gingers get enough recognition for how beautiful they are, as I've again shared on this very blog before). But really, it's obviously going to be Debby, duh. This is the performance that convinced the network to give her Jessie, after all. Extra Thoughts: - Of course after mentioning that last part I guess I'm obligated to again remind you that my ex-fiancee herself is a ginger so I'm biased (and again, Debby became a fake ginger for the Jessie role so, there). - Speaking of Cowbelles, both that and 16 Wishes feature the song Don't Wanna Grow Up by the band Willknots - Uuugggh Disney Channel commercials from April leading up to the RDMAs are soooo laaaaaame. But I probably only think this because the RDMAs themselves are after-the-fact old news now. - here's a bit of trivia for you: after wishing to become popular, Abby claims that the dads of some girls are planning her birthday party in Las Vegas as they happen to own half of that town. This implies that they're direct descendants of Howard Hughes who quite literally owned half of Vegas (though it's honestly doubtful the writers really knew this at the time). - Abby's driver's license information is the following: ID #073 477 657; Class D (do note that most 16 year olds start off with a Class C license which legally permits them to drive most normal passenger cars - being too lazy to Google it, I don't even know if "Class D" is a thing); no endorsements (minor fun fact: yours truly, the author of this blog, has one endorsement: M, giving legal permission to operate motorcycles); no restrictions; Code 776-36A (whatever that means) and lists her DOB as 7/7/95 (which implies that the movie takes place very specifically on July 7, 2011 - almost exactly 11 months into the future of its original Disney Channel premiere date - and is also contradicted by the fact that in parts of the movie everyone's breath is obviously visible and many trees remain bare as they probably shot it in late February or early March of 2010) and her height as being 5'6" (which is Debby's actual height) and just as Celeste the Birthday Fairy says, the license doesn't expire - The design of the "Coastal State" license plate on Abby's car also implies this takes place in Oregon even though her license actually refers to "Coastal State" as the actual name of the state. - Abby's school, Walnut Grove, is a real school in the Vancouver area where the movie was shot. It's a private school and you can see on their website they're very proud of being the filming location for 16 Wishes. Their mascot actually is the Gators, BTW (as displayed on the school bus and Abby's lifetime lunch pass, which is modeled after the actual Walnut Grove lunch pass. Yes, I go deep into this for you - only on this blog!) - Yeah, I am waaaay behind on Andi Mack. I was hoping to binge on the backlog of episodes up to the latest today for my birthday but...yeah, forget that. We'll be resuming Andi Mack reviews tomorrow. Hopefully. - And obviously this is Part 2 of our Birthday Blog posts today, so, Happy Birthday Debby! (And Happy Birthday Me!)

#16wishes #nickanddisneychannelreviewed #disney channel #nickelodeon

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etnanotvshows · 7 years

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❤ Veronica Mars ❤ Big Binge(Re)watching on one of my favourite series. ❤ It's summer, in this moment of the year usually the empty tv schedules lets me some holes in my (limited) free time and so i decided to do something that was rolling in my mind for quite a while now: rewatching veronica mars conpletely. This serie is one of my favest ever and i rewatched it a lot of times through the years but since the movie came out i never rewatched the whole thing all together. When i went to watch the movie at its release date it had been quite a while since i last saw veronica mars and so i'm sure i missed a couple of references here and there. Now i wanted to catch 'em all. XD With that said, after a few weeks spent on rewatching this pearl of a serie i have a couple of thoughts and question marks i have to note down. As a refresh of memory season three left us with many questions: - Veronica was with Piz at the end of the serie but when Logan beat up the ass of the scumbag that released her "sex tape" out in the open she smiled at him like a thanks (or something that could be seen as more for the LoVe fans) so we do not get to clearly see who she ends up with. - The Sheriff election: with Don Lamb now dead Keith was temporarily filling the place but only an election could make him permanent. However at the last minute his investigator and rival Vinny Van Lowe joined the "race" and emerged as his counter part in the fight for the job of the sheriff of Neptune. Since Vinny has been cooperating with the criminal family Fitzpatrick during all season 3, and was also plenty supported by them during elections, it was going to be a hard fight for Keith to win; however we do not get to see who the winner is, we are only left at the final scene of the last episode with Veronica voting for her dad. - Veronica's "stage" for the FBI is plenty mentioned during the serie, although when she misunderstands her Criminology Professor's intentions she makes a stepback in the will to join this stage but after that, when all is cleared, she still shows greatly interest for this opportunity. We are left with her happy about the acception from the FBI for her internship in virginia and Piz's face not exactly excited. - Wallace was joining the summer program of the group helping the child-soldiers in Uganda in the 18th episode of s3. - Mac left animalist Bronson (whyyyyyy?????) for helper-cheating-in-exams Max but in her last scenes wasn't too happy of Max's total lack of interest in college since his extra curricular activity was more than good for his wallet. And that's about it.. Probably some other minor stuff but that's what strikes out my attention the most. So here we go, beware for anyone that didnt see the movie yet from here on there are SPOILERS. Now we go to the 2014 movie of Veronica Mars. Set around 10 years after s3: - Veronica's lovestories have a hole from "9 years ago" to "1 year ago". The movie starts off having her together with Piz but it's been mentioned by Piz that they have not been together for these past 10 years. Veronica and Piz are back together only since 1 year and he mentions they had a relationship in college (that we know in fact) 9 years ago, but that's it. Logan also is surprised to find out that she is currently with Piz, but anyways they didn't stay in contact with eachother for these past years. - The current sheriff of Neptune turns out to be another Lamb, Don's brother, however more corrupted and less "capable" than the Lamb we know of. (wtf a brand new brother pulled out of a magic hat) A question mark remains: who won, years before, the election? Keith or Vincent? Nothing has been clearly stated about this in the movie; however when Veronica refreshes the viewers' memory with a brief description of the characters, at the moment to introduce Vinny she just says "private eye" and nothing else. She could have added "former sheriff" or any of her classic subtle comments to let us know his incapability to do the Sheriff but she did not. This leads me to think that Vinny didn't win the election. Just speculatively speaking, Keith could have won and stayed in her Sheriff job for the 5 (? Correct me here, im just guessing) years as the rules/laws say, so i can suppose that Neptune got worser after Keith's sheriff career finished. Right now he's returned to his private eye job with newer and technologic spy stuff. He is still mentioned as "former Sherif" by random characters but it's not specified the period of time they refer to (if when the Lilly Kane's murder occurred or if it was years later post elections). - The famous FBI internship.. Was blandly forgotten in the movie. Back then, after s3 finished, the staff produced a teaser trailer known as 4×00 where Veronica was FBI (letting us assume that the internship went well and that, possibly, after college she became an FBI agent, giving a pretty decent idea of what season 4 would have been about. Sadly as we all know, that never happened due to low ratings), but as of now, in the current storyline of the movie that important opportunity, that was also overly stressed in s3, was like never happened. What's more is that when we get to see our sweet former cop-agent Leo D'Amato he asks Veronica about the famous FBI thing but she says something like "you have heard wrong" or something. It's officially never happened. Moreover, according to Veronica's inner monologues she has left her investigative career (which we could guess it includes the possibility of the FBI internship) because -and here a brand new line of stortytelling starts- it was too addictive to her like drougs are with toxic-addicteds or like alchool is for alcholists. I have to say: this complete "take over" of the serie's main soul transformed into "something bad" it disappointed me. Now we get to see an apparently changed Veronica who has totallt left the private eye career and is now facing the chance of a Lawyer career. Wow. That is some change. Isnt it? Im not disappointed in the idea of change of interests for our protagonist, im disappointed instead in the "change of personality" the movie gave her and in the "exorcising" process of her private eye experience which was like her whole world. Her being. On a side note we get to see someone else changed: Logan is in the military now, aviation if i must guess. - Wallace's experience in Uganda: never spoken of. Well not that we can demand that 10 years later they are still talking of what they did so much time before, but even a super small slight mention wouldn't have hurt anyone. Well, let's talk abou Wallace a bit more: he was an extremely talented athlete and his dream was to become an engeneer. He wasn't super smart at was having some difficulties in his engeneer class but he was trying hard and it seemed he was achieving enough results to pass the class but who knows what happened. In this department as well nothing has been said anymore. For what regards his athlete talents it looks instead that he didnt pursue a professional athlete career but remained in the "same field" acting as a coach now, completely different from what fans might have expected. - Mac. She is always been a nice character, now we see her adult version working for Kane industries, a short cut of hair and woth no mentionable-worthing love stories currently. She is alone, i was sorry to see her with no one (well Wallace also is still single), of course no comments about her previous boyfriend/s be it Bronson or Max here either. Now to a new point to discuss that arised: - Weevil. Personally i always loved his character, probably almost as much as i love Logan. Thankfully they didnt make his character going out of the stage with the arrival of Herst college in s3, and since his arrest at the end of s2, made a sensed storyline that he strived to find a job that hired former inmates therefor he was hired as the janitor in Herst college to wisely keep him in the cast. Back in s3 he was interviewed in criminology class and confessed that it was hard for him not to go back to his old bad habits but that he was also trying hard to pursue the right path. Now in the movie he is surprisingly changed a lot: he is married with a beautiful wife which he visibly loves, in addition he has a lovely daughter whom he adores. He has a proper job now, he has his own car workshop. He dresses with normal clothes and is 100% legit. Doesn't touch a bike since 5 or so years (which is when his daughter was born). I loved how he changed. However he can still be a badass if needed (see when he joins Logan in the fight to protect Veronica's honor at the high school reunion) and also brave and selfless (see when he helps that car assaulted by the new generation of PCH bikers band). However that is exactly where i want to go: the scene where he helps the "poor person" in the car (which we later find out was the damn Celeste Kane). In her panic the stupid rich woman shoots at Weevil who was just going to help her and not only she hurts him but she also doesn't say anything when the Sheriff fabricates evidence and place a gun in Weevil's hand. The thing goes on and he's at the hospital and has to face assault accusation and the Kane bitch still doesnt say anything. Now. I don't know if it was just the damn Sheriff's fault (but i don't think she would get easily intimidated by him, since she is way more powerful than him) or if it was her idea to blame Weevil just to avoid any news of her shooting at her helper, but still what the hell man. What the hell. Concerning Weevil's case, later we see Keith in car with agent Sax that was willing to testify about the illegal behaviour of the sheriff and his men but he get murdered with a planned car incident. So we have no evidence to help Weevil's case. Keeping on with this his storyline we jump ahead to the end of the movie: we see him at Keith's office and they say he is still not out of the woods. Damn! The video esposing Sheriff's illegal behaviour of willing to pursue Logan as murderer just because he didn't care, didn't proof his illegal corrupted behaviour as well regarding the arrest of innocent people falsily accused like Weevil. So that video didn't proof Weevil's innocence and his charges are still on. I was hoping for the movie to solve that part of the story too but they just did not. They left it there. C'mon! This thing pissed me off. Poor Weevil, he deserves more love! He has a family now, he cant face false charges.

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