Camp Fest 2022: Five Years, another Five Films

When does a tradition become a tradition? When you do it out of habit? When you don’t feel its impending arrival burden your heart for a second before it arrives? Or when it becomes such a seamless part of the life you live that you just can’t imagine a world without it?

I guess I’ve reached that point. This entry marks five years since I first started watching five Netflix Christmas films, and writing brief reviews of them for this blog every holiday season. In the months that precede and follow the holidays, I’m as far from writing as I could be. My day job is a living pursuit of a whole other passion. But, I did it. For some reason, even if my life is barely a life where I write regularly, here I am– another Christmas, another blog.

So, here I go again. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

Here’s to another five years, and another five blogs!

Falling for Christmas

A millennial blast from the past comes to life with the acting return of Lindsay Lohan alongside Chord Overstreet, who I only know as that hot blonde guy from Glee who I thought was cute when I was a teenager. Snobby heiress loses her memory after falling from a cliff, and ends up in the arms of a widowed resort owner and his down-on-its-luck ski resort. The plot is cookie cutter Netflix Christmas, but I feel like its a film that will resonate with millennials who grew up on Lindsay Lohan. The best part of the film was her ebullience–you could tell she was so happy to be there, so happy to be acting again, and that adds to the charm of Falling for Christmas. Unfortunately, she plays snobby heiress a bit like Cady Heron, but richer and dressed in couture (read: too nice!). Either way, it’s a respectable return, and a good start. Hoping to see more!

Christmas at the Palace

Ever wonder what it would be like if stock images came to life and ended up as a Netflix movie? Christmas at the Palace is your answer. Skating choreographer ends up working during the holidays when she agrees to produce a Christmastime show for male model/king/widower and his meh princess of a daughter. A mess of a film and a plot with potential wasted terribly thanks to bad acting–flat out bad acting. I hope someone picks up on the theme of skating and Christmas in another movie because that is a plot point that has so much potential if done right, and done beautifully. Lifeless is an understatement to describe the chemistry between the leads. P.S. Someone needs to do a ranked list of Best and Worst Netflix Christmas Movie Daughters. Why do they always have daughters? Why not sons?

Elf

A mainstream film that always seems to appear on quintessential Christmas film lists. I gave it a watch after so long and the appeal is there–unlike Netflix movies, it doesn’t slap you in the face with Christmas, but presents a plot tied to the holiday in a sensible, non convoluted manner. Its themes are also pretty constant when it comes to the holidays, and I think that’s what adds to its charm. What doesn’t add to its charm is the gratuitous spaghetti and chocolate syrup scenes. That was gross.

This Christmas

I consider this a goldmine find– a slice of life movie that centers on dynamics and not the occasion with a talented cast of African American actors that have gone on to bigger things (Idris Elba, Regina King, Loretta Devine, etc.) since 2007. The film centers on the Whitmore family, their first holiday celebration together in four years and the shenanigans that go along with the season. It’s been called cliché, but the film does those tropes good and makes the movie a timeless watch. My favorite part is how the writing unfolds the conflicts that the film presents–beginning with a seemingly wholesome family celebration, and slowly peeling away, onion style, to unearth the not-so savory themes underneath.

It apparently did pretty well at the box office when it came out in 2007, so I’m wondering why people don’t bring this film up when we talk of holiday films. Could it have something to do with Chris Brown being in it? I have no idea.

A California Christmas

I’ve hovered over the previews of this movie while browsing my Netflix homepage for a while, but I’ve been reluctant to watch given my lack of success with non snowy Netflix holiday films.

Newsflash: I’m still UNSUCCESSFUL!

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been reading too much real world accounts of what life is like for farmers in the US taken advantage of by big agriculture companies, but this story just wasn’t it for me. On the one hand, they probably wanted to make it relatable, on the other hand, I… it just made me uncomfortable.

Plot issues aside, it’s not like the film had anything else to offer. The girl is too serious, burdened by the plot with everything from debt to an ailing mother. The guy is an unconvincing playboy, whose spoiled streak disappears after a badly done montage. How did he go from ‘oooh I’m too rich for this farm work shit’ to natural ranch hand so quickly? A little context would’ve helped add some credibility to this, but the film just doesn’t have that.

The end, given the beginning, is predictable. The real question is: how did this shitty movie get a sequel? WHO asked for more? I sure didn’t.

Holland Rising: A Review of “Spiderman: Far From Home”

Just when you thought “Avengers: Endgame” signaled the end of an era, Spiderman: Far From Home reminded moviegoers (myself included) that the Marvel hit factory is far from finished.

Spiderman: Far From Home picks up after the events of Avengers: End Game. Still distraught at the death of Tony Stark, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) heads off to Europe on a school trip with nothing more than MJ (Zendaya) and a vacation on his mind. Unfortunately for our plucky protagonist, his responsibilities (villains and heroes included) follow him everywhere, and Spiderman’s in for a rough holiday.

He may be years away from the charm of Marvel’s first era darling Robert Downey Jr., but Tom Holland is well on his way to becoming the next era’s top face. Talented Fil-Am actor Jacob Batalon plays Ned, Peter’s hilarious best friend.  I’m a big fan of  MJ (Zendaya). She’s apparently not meant to be an adaptation of Mary Jane Watson from the comics, and frankly– that is a great thing. Jake Gyllenhaal is a surprising, but adept addition as an unexpected superhero called Mysterio.

The cast is rounded out by the ageless Marissa Tomei as Peter’s aunt May and MCU staples like Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson),  Agent Maria Hill (Colbie Smulders) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man 1 and 2).

In the past, I’ve never been too fond of the Spiderman films. Previous iterations remind me a lot of the tragic, foreboding feeling of film noir where the protagonist just feels so doomed. Toby Maguire’s portrayal in particular seemed more like Batman than anything else.

This version just feels so fresh to me. Peter Parker here is still the Peter we know, but he seems to exude a natural sense of… curiosity or wonder that makes him trying to figure things out seem more realistic. He’s still learning how to be Spiderman, and we’re along for the ride– from the mistakes, to the triumphs, to the tragedies.

Spiderman: Far From Home is an early chapter of a new era, one that looks to have a bright future. It has yet to hit its stride, but it seems to have collected the right tools, wrought from experience with multiple franchises, to craft continued cinema success. We can only hope that they’re able to keep it up.

 

 

More on “La La Land”

I loved a lot of things about “La La Land”– the acting, the music, the seamless story line. And then there were the moments that just got to me. One such instance is when Emma Stone sings the haunting “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”.a story turned power song that soon becomes her ticket to stardom.

“Here’s to the fools who dream, foolish as it may seem” sings the track, and right they are. La La Land is a love letter to these people– dreamers, those unafraid and gutsy enough to chase the most ridiculous aspirations at the cost of a stable life.

But what about those who don’t? What about those people who accept reality and choose to give up the lightness of free spirit for the sake of stability?

What about people like me?

La La Land brought back a tumult of memories for me..most of which included moments in my life when I used to be a free-spirited, highly inspired ‘writer type’ that saw scripts and short stories as my future. That moment in particular comes almost six years ago, when I had first discovered the Beatles and found myself obsessed with the color and the chaos of 1960s culture.

Needless to say a lot has changed since then. Time, place and circumstance have brought me to a point where I am inhabiting a space that seems more stable than it was six years back. But that spark… that wellspring of inspiration and shear flight, has gone. Ideas just don’t flow like they used to, and I miss that freedom dearly.

But then, perhaps I can find that again. Perhaps La La Land has guided me to reminisce about a not-so distant past that was just incredible for me.

Could I come back? Should I?…

 

 

Because a Say is a Say no matter what you Say

In previous posts preceding the elections, I’ve talked about the need to educate fellow voters and to go out and exercise democratic rights. Well, guess what? that time has finally come. It used to be months away, but elections are now less than a week away. And needless to say, the political landscape is at its messiest.

Social media has become a toxic place filled with accusations of professional news networks showing visible bias toward certain candidates, sloppily made ‘graphics’ about audacious allegations, and endless threads of disappointed individuals voicing out their extreme pessimism about the election race as a whole. People have actually ended friendships and had fights over their beliefs and become more opinionated than they have ever been online.

I’m at that point where I’m nothing but sick of what I see on the internet, as it seems like the elections has turned a lot of people into the worst versions of themselves all in the quest of expressing an extreme level of support for their chosen candidate. Is it really THAT hard to accept dissenting opinions? Must we really resort to belittling those whose thoughts are contrary to ours?

I have to admit that I’ve developed a deeper connection with this particular election because it will be my first one as a registered voter, and needless to say the bullshit has not helped my decision at all. Let this serve as an introductory entry to a series of posts meant to assess and opinionate on how this race has gone so far. From COMELEC hos and woes to candidate centric issue posts, join me (as I have time hahaha) to get talking.

Assessments, Conversations and Conclusions: A Substantial Slice of A Not-So Good Life

Just when I thought I had grown horribly sick of keyboards and computer screens (no thanks to you, thesis)– here I am, typing as feverishly as I can before the past few nights decide to catch up with me.

Why am I writing, you may ask?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned these past few weeks, is that the longer you keep your thoughts to yourself, the greater the chance you might just forget what you want to say. (#random)

Anyways, let’s get to talking!

A. Assessing the APEC

For some, it was a chance to relax– to forget the stress of life for just a few days. For others (like myself), it became an opportunity to catch up on work– and to endure late nights despite the lack of school.

Thankfully the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) went on without a hitch, and this good old country of ours was spared another opportunity for infamy on the world stage (#RememberHongKongHostageTaking). Yet despite this, the occasion had its share of moments that weren’t particularly fabulous.

The Logistics of Hell, aka: Should’ve Been a Holiday

Early road closures that preceded the arrival of economic leaders caused a multitude of traffic problems. This led to commuter walks that soon resembled rallies in themselves. But they weren’t exactly rallies, but a collected group of inconvenienced members of the work force. Quite the unfortunate sight. 😦

Roads may have looked squeaky clean to guests like the Australian PM, but it was what was hidden from our distinguished guest that told the real story.

Verdict: My section header says it all– it should’ve been a holiday. Yes, the VIPs hadn’t arrived yet but considering the number of main roads that had been blocked off in preparation perhaps it would have been better not to inconvenience thousands of weary employees.

On the other hand, it would probably have been much worse for the local economy had businesses just stopped running for a whole week (in ironic commemoration) of an event meant to result in positive economic outcomes for the country.

Coverage Concerns
Verdict: I wasn’t too satisfied with the APEC coverage of local news outlets. It didn’t exude the same vibe of organization that I noticed in the Pope Francis encounter early this year– which was replete with organized schedules, repeated highlights and full event footage.

But then again, the meat of the APEC discussions occur during closed door meetings– which are unfortunately not open to the public. BOOOO!

You know it had to come up…. #APEChottie

Buzzfeed now thinks we’re thirsty (in the non-physiological sense), Mexicans are disappointed in us and the world probably isn’t surprised. The Philippines had its eye on the agenda for the APEC meetings, but Filipinos had their eyes on newly minted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Verdict: I have to admit I was horribly guilty of this (as was a few other people on my feed), but to give these guys the benefit of the doubt, I did my research.

Thanks to a few articles and a very interesting video source from a friend, here are a few things that you might need to know before you keep on gushing:

• Justin Trudeau has been prime minister of Canada for less than a month. He was sworn into office on November 4, 2015.
• This could explain why he didn’t quite have enough things to trumpet during one of his first international diplomatic activities (i.e. the cabinet equality thing has been repeated multiple time).
• In the Philippine context: kudos to veteran reporter Tina Monzon Palma for bringing the Canada trash issue to light in the wake of Trudeumania. If you watch the press briefing wherein Trudeau provides an answer to Palma’s concern– you’ll notice that he gives a  relatively diplomatic answer that is horribly vague.
• To conclude– we’ve yet to see what this young man can do, and, in the spirit of “APEC Cooperation”– let’s hope for the best.
• Enrique Pena Nieto has been in office for three years (having been sworn in in 2012).
• The president’s first wife (with whom he had three children)– died of a supposed epileptic episode in 2007. His second wife, telenovela star Angelica Rivera was criticized by Mexican press for spending an ostentatious amount of money on a house that she had bought.
• Rivera was instrumental in the success of Pena Nieto’s presidential campaign and was even compared by some media outlets to former French first lady Carla Bruni.

 

Points of Planning Related Concern aka the Postscript

• On Kris Aquino and Sunburn: My dear presidential sister– who told you to wear a floor length, backless Filipiniana on a hot afternoon stroll along Intramuros? Perhaps you should be thankful Michelle Obama didn’t make the trip or she could’ve shown you how to dress carefully, yet appropriately. The commuters and motorists of Metro Manila are NOT happy with you.
• Sharing Significance: there seemed to be a lack of hype behind APEC outside the business sector. Perhaps a media campaign that made the everyday Filipino aware of the significance and purpose of the conference could have provided them with a much better understanding of the reasons behind debilitating road closures and week long holidays.
• A personal realization– the economic leaders meeting felt littered with buzzwords like ‘inclusive growth’ and ‘free trade’ that seemed almost idealistic. We heard of partnerships and bilateral meetings between nations– promises and reaffirmations… but what do these even translate to in the long run? Any Econ or Political Science major care to enlighten me on how conferences like the APEC translate into realistic cross- country cooperative efforts?
• To future leaders on future conferences– please, just don’t hold them in Manila. Cebu, perhaps?

B. Paris, Prayer and Peace: Thoughts

I feel like  by this time it’s been said way too much– but what happened in Paris was an obvious tragedy. It’s a horrible thing to inflict on a nation barely in recovery from an attack on a satirical newspaper just ten months earlier. There is only so much I can say about terrorism and how wrong it is to take life that’s not already been said before. Instead, I’d like to share my thoughts on particular subtopics of interest that have emerged in the wake of the Paris tragedy.

On Profile Photos and Prayer: Several people opted to filter their profile photos with the French flag in solidarity with the nation. Hashtags like #PrayforParis littered social media sites– some used holiday photos and fond memories of the city to share their compassion with those in mourning.

There were those who criticized these individuals– and others who didn’t do so, but shared their thoughts behind the lack of concrete action that they saw on social media. To them, profile photos just didn’t really mean much. Others criticized users of the PrayforParis hashtag, bringing to their attention other tragedies like the ones in Beirut and Egypt that didn’t receive as much media attention.

Verdict: First of all, when has prayer ever become quantitative? Just because someone shares the message of praying for one area doesn’t mean that the other areas are not being remembered by other people. It sure doesn’t mean that just because we don’t pray for a certain place, God just forgets about that area altogether and focuses all his time and attention on Paris.

Last  I recall God isn’t CNN or FOX, he’s supposed to be a figure of  eternal love that’s there to offer comfort in  times of dire tragedy. Or has religion just gotten screwed up alongside everything else in the world?

On those profile photos –> I have to agree that there were (and are) people who probably used that filter because they saw other people using it on their profile photos.

Yet bandwagon followers aside, there is something significant in the idea behind the profile photo change. Social media is the most narcissistic place in the world. It’s an environment rife with individuals presenting themselves in a multitude of ways in an effort to stand out. Yet the filter (usage motives aside), projects an image of solidarity, of a certain sameness behind a pool of diversity. It’s a move that symbolizes a shared feeling of empathy with a wounded nation.

Instead of treating the ignorance of some with a defeatist point of view, why not treat it as the first step toward enlightening people? Of making them aware that it is not only France that is wounded by the tragedy of terrorism– and that there are nations who suffer through bombings and shootings on a regular basis and can barely live normal lives?

Make them aware and teach them to empathize  with more individuals– and, if successful, move to the concept of concrete action. Help them find ways to impact the lives of those they read about or see in the news every single day. You never know what might happen.