Transformers II: Movie meant for the big screen

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

You can’t enjoy Transformers II at home, even on a 56-inch LCD monitor with matching Dolby Digital-capable home theater system.

I tell you, this one is meant for a huge screen and Imax is it for maximum satisfaction. Even the newest multiplexes in town that offer several screens in one place don’t seem to give justice to the spectacularly special-effects-heavy movie that producers Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay (who also directed the movie as well as the first installment) in terms of scope.

While the movie is a feast for the eyes and ears of the newer generation of movie buffs, this is the kind of movie that can send me off to dreamland.

I don’t know, but action movies these days are just too heavy on action and special effects, but very thin on plot or storyline. Yet, kids are just too smart these days to convince their parents to cough out P180 for a ticket to a movie like Transformers II. Imagine at Greenbelt 3, Shangri-La Cineplex, and I suppose the other plexes in the metro, screened nothing but the Revenge of the Fallen, and people lined up for tickets, many of them even bought tickets in advance.

Transformers II is definitely kid stuff. Spielberg and Bay know their market and exploited it to the hilt. While Shia LaBeouf is showing he might soon leave the franchise… he no longer looked as cute as in the first Transformers… and Josh Duhamel is growing wider hairline and not hair, Bay and Spielberg won’t pass up the chance for a third installment based on this movie’s worldwide gross. (In fact, the local movies that opened last Wednesday got lost in the frenzy for tickets to the Hollywood blockbuster, and no one ever knew there was a Tagalog movie in town!)

So, this installment runs for close to two and a half hours. Will the third be three hours long?

New on TV this week

This week saw the pilot episodes of two new shows… one on Kapuso and another on Kapamilya.

Many anti-Kris Aquino viewers heaved a sigh of relief not to see her onscreen after Tayong Dalawa (I know someone who switches off her set immediately after the Gerald-Kim drama series) and see a new show.

Meanwhile, the Kapuso network has found a reason to mine the emerging popularity of the Aljur Abrenica-Kris Bernal love team that broke ratings records (in Mega Manila) on afternoon TV. The network immediately commissioned them to a new series that is now rolling on a slot before the newscast... facing off with the South Korean version of Meteor Garden titled Boys Over Flowers (the show had GMA-7 up the ante in Hole in the Wall to neutralize the popularity of the South Korean F4).

All My Life (not a remake of the 2004 movie starring Aga Muhlach and Kristine Hermosa) stars Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal as childhood friends separated by a tragedy that happened to one of the families, and Aljur is being blamed for it.

The cast also include Lani Mercado, Gelli de Belen, Zoren Legaspi, Jay Manalo, Manilyn Reynes, LJ Reyes, Paulo Avelino, Gladys Guevara, Jay Aquitania, Jade Lopez, Steff Prescott together with Bryan Temulo, Chris Cayzer, Moymoy Palaboy, Byron Ortile and Martin delos Santos.

Mac Alejandre and Andoy Ranay are alternating as directors.

On the Kapamilya front, Anne Curtis makes a big television comeback in The Wedding co-starring with Derek Ramsay and Zanjoe Marudo. The Wedding goes on the air immediately after Tayong Dalawa, now the primetime show to beat in that time slot.

In The Wedding, Anne plays the role of rich girl Candice, who dreams of having the perfect wedding with her dream guy Warren (Derek Ramsay) who to her disappointment leaves her and heads to the US.

Directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and Mae Czarina Cruz, The Wedding also stars William Martinez, Irma Adlawan, Baron Geisler, Alwyn Uytingco, Hiyasmin Neri, Jaja Gonzales, Mich Dulce, Luanne Dy, Zeppi Borromeo, among others.

Can The Wedding beat Cruel Love in the ratings? The drama series that goes after the low-rating Adik Sa ’Yo, has a compelling story, very patently Korean in structure, performance and atmosphere that we have learned to love.

With all these new developments in the networks’ programming matrices, we will see a stiffer battle for the bigger figures in the ratings.

Bridal planning made easy

The year started with a bang for the brand-new packed-with-information Metro Weddings and it just keeps getting better and better. The current issue gives readers the ultimate Bridal Workbook designed to help brides-to-be plan their perfect wedding.

The special issue workbook contains carefully-drafted sections dedicated to each special aspect of The Wedding, from choosing ther ceremony venue to booking the best photographer to capture all those unforgettable moments. It also contains indispensible details on how to select the perfect dress as well as a special look book of the top designers in the country featuring some of their favorite dresses.

In addition, the Metro Weddings Bridal Workbook also contains registry needs as well as tips on how to quickly and painlessly navigate the tricky world of marriage contracts, church requirements, and do’s and don’ts before walking down the aisle, all beautifully packaged in easy-to-reference sections, hundreds of useful tips, checklists and gorgeous photos.

The workbook has gorgeous photos taken by top wedding photographers in the industry. It also features beautiful bride-to-be Valerie Bariou who shares her thoughts on love, friendship, marriage, and the fun of planning the event.

Star Records and Red Cross for a cause

Star Records and Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) collaborated on one special project with some of the best OPM singers in a single album entitled, I Move, I Give, I Love.

Made for the 150th anniversary of Red Cross, the album shares the key principle of the said organization—to bring assistance without discrimination to people in need.

First on the list is the theme song of Red Cross entitled “Bagong Umaga,” sung by Toni Gonzaga, Erik Santos and Yeng Constantino. Other songs are: “A Hero Has Arrived” (Nyoy Volante), “Hawak Kamay” (Yeng Constantino), “I Believe I Can Fly” (Erik Santos), “Power of The Dream” (Toni Gonzaga), “Kasama” (Aiza Seguerra), “Free” (Rosella Nava with the Bukas Palad), “Today” (Raki Vega), “It Can Only Get Better” (Charice), “Tara-tena” (Kyla and Kaya with V3), “Kaleidoscope World” (Akafellas), “Today I’ll See the Sun” (Karel Marquez) and “What A Wonderful World” (Charlie Green). Two bonus tracks are also included in the album: “Life Power” and “Always First, Always Ready, Always There.”

“Choosing the artists who will be part of this project was a tedious task,” Gwendolyn T. Pang shared, secretary- general of the Philippine National Red Cross. “We really have to consider artists with great sense of compassion.”

Their participation in this project was primarily out of their desire to encourage the listeners of the album to join and become involved in helping. Meaning, the artists offered their voices for gratis and did not expect anything in return.

The endeavor of Red Cross and Star Records to aid doesn’t stop with providing music alone. In fact, it extends up to the sales of the album for the proceeds of I Move, I Give, I Love will go to Red Cross also.

Fernando’s concern on ‘job-skills mismatch’

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando called for joint public-private collaboration to address the country’s job and skill mismatch problem.

Fernando said that job mismatch occurs when the qualifications of jobseekers and the requirements of the available jobs do not fit.

Despite the global crisis, he said, employment opportunities in the Philippines remain high, but jobseekers usually do not possess the skills needed by the private sector.

The education system is failing to produce the skills needed by private industry, he said. The system is not attuned to the realities of the marketplace, he added.

“The government, schools and private business should get together for an exchange of views on dominant and emerging jobs and the skills needed to fill these jobs,” the MMDA chief said.

He suggested human-resource planning to forecast the demand for, and supply of, critical skills. The planning could be done on an industry basis.

Fernando proposed that companies provide the necessary training and retraining, while colleges and universities review their curricula to offer business-friendly courses.

The government should also enhance its free training program, through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), by opening more training centers in rural areas and strengthening its vocational training program.

Current opportunities, Fernando noted, are in the fields of information technology, retail, manufacturing, tourism, hospitality and accounting, adding that the call center industry has an opening for at least 60,000 jobs this year.

Fernando said that the Philippine economy should also continue to grow in order to provide more better-paying jobs that would entice Filipinos to stay in the country.

While migrant Filipino workers are providing billions of dollars in remittances for the Philippine economy, their absence in the country also contributes to the brain/skills drain and to dysfunctional families, he observed.

Local industries have estimated incurring an additional P1 billion for recruiting and training new workers to replace those who have left to work abroad.

Lloydy’s birthday spent with Ruffa

June 24 is a special date for John Lloyd Cruz who this year turned 26. And guess who did he spend his (or part of it) in California, where he is with the Star Magic talents for a show in Ontario and San Francisco?

A classmate back in college who has relocated to California, sent a message on my Facebook account telling me who he and wife saw at Beverly Hills that day.

Using my knowledge of logic, I deduced that my classmate probably saw a Filipino TV personality… but he immediately said he was with someone.

I guessed Ruffa, who is known to keep a Beverly Hills address , and my classmate said,“Yes.” I offered another guess for her companion. “John Lloyd Cruz,” and my friend (we were actually chatting) blurted out… you are a seer!”

According to him, the two tried to look discreetly unobtrusive and seemed like two normal human beings in an environment where everyone seemed pretty preoccupied with themselves and their companions.

I remember John Lloyd saying during his birthday presscon that he might not see Ruffa in Los Angeles. Well, as a person trained in the English grammar, “might” is pretty conditional. So, he saw Ruffa and he didn’t actually tell a lie.

Dantes now a recording star

Popular actor Dingdong Dantes signed a recording contract with Universal Records. He is currently finishing his debut album to be released soon.

Present during the signing of the contract were operations manager Peter Chan, general manager Kathleen Dy-Go, and Dingdong’s business manager Perry Lansingan.

Source: Manila Standard Today

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