Disappointment in 'Twilight,' 'One True Love'

Author: Bibsy Carballo
Column: Meanderings

I CONFESS to having become a victim of hype lately as I rushed to watch two movies "One True Love" and "Twilight," driven by recommendations through television, press releases, and text messages. "One True Love" was sold on the phenomenal success of the Dingdong Dantes-Marian Rivera love team in the GMA TV series "Marimar" and "Dyesebel. "

But success on television is miles away from success on the big screen. TV is free and asks no commitment from anyone in terms of energy and effort. I never watched "Marimar" and I didn't like "Dyesebel" as I seldom like fantaseryes with their awful prosthetics except for " Mulawin" which I loved.

But because this hunk with the un-international sounding name of Dingdong made it (to #6 or #3?) in a world list of sexy men while my favorite Enrique Iglesias was down in #25, how women were throwing themselves at his feet, how he had ended a storybook romance with Zsa Zsa Padilla's daughter Karylle in favor of co-star Marian who had just ended her own love affair - there was no way I wouldn't watch "One True Love. " The gossip mills had made sure of that.

In the movie, Dingdong had to choose between an old love (Iza Calzado) and a new love (Marian) with the convenient device of amnesia thrown in for good measure. Who would he choose?

"Twilight," on the other hand, came around after the book series developed into worldwide cult proportions. Teenage girls all over the world were rushing into bookstores to buy Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. It is touted that Twilight is America's answer to Harry Potter which, of course, many Potter diehards would dispute. Indeed how can Twilight with its measly 17 million copies sold worldwide be spoken of in the same breath as Potter's half a billion copies? But then again, Potter is old hat. Twilight is infusing the publishing industry with new blood, and what better way than with vampire blood.

The plot is simple enough. A love story between a vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and a mortal Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart). It's a weepy, emo-ridden tale of how the vampire holds back baser instincts (in this case, biting his prey) for love, while the mortal willingly offers herself to immortality in longing for that bite. Suddenly, it seems that teenagers of various nationalities are dreaming of Edward, sleeping with the book under their pillows, and when the movie finally showed, are screaming in theaters every instance he appeared. What was behind this vampire frenzy? Sure, Edward is handsome in a pale malnourished kind of way, but there are many others more manly looking than he.

We are told that love that is forbidden and unattainable is what fuels this teenage delirium. Because sex today is so easily available, what would excite today's youth but a different kind of relationship. Ironically, the attraction of a chaste kind of eternal love with a vampire has become the most titillating love affair imaginable. How will it end? Will Bella become a vampire to live with Edward happily in vampireland?

The two movies had some things in common - both are love stories; both have atrocious make-up; acting of the leads is so-so except for Iza Calzado's which is inspired; I didn't like them both and found the hype misleading. The moral of the story then is don't believe all the hype!

GOOD NEWS SHOWBIZ CUTAWAYS
IT is admirable when celebrities develop other inclinations and become so good at it. I just love the columns of Lucy Torres Gomez and Lea Salonga. Not only are they good writers but in sharing the aspects of their lives and careers as parents and celebrities with their readers, they enrich the lives of others.

We have always heard the best of the trio Tito, Vic and Joey, but in their treatment of friends none can come near. When Richie D' Horsie was released after four years in prison for drug abuse, who would arrange for his release fee but them? And who would offer a return to showbiz through "Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After", Vic Sotto's M Zet Production's official entry to this year's Metro Manila Film Festival instead of the "Enteng Kabisote" series? But why don't I see his name in the movie ads when practically everyone else is there?

Today is the opening of the 4th Mindanao Film Festival (until Dec. 21) with the full-length digital film Concerto: Davao War Diary as opening film. Short films, features from local filmmakers, and a short film from Indonesia are part of the festival. It seems that slowly Mindanao is figuring in festivals abroad like "Huling Balyan ng Buhi" shown in Denmark, "Imburnal" shot in Davao, and "Thank you Girls" which competed in Vancouver. Most welcome news is that a Chabacano-Bisaya digital feature film will be shot in Davao and Zamboanga early 2009. Slowly Mindanao cinema is making its presence felt. Congratulations!

Email me at bibsycarballo@yahoo. com, text 0917-8991835.

Source: People's Journal