Monday, June 13, 2005

another review of 'Encantadia' which is very much anti-me

Here's a review of MY REVIEW from imdb.com. I'm a wee flattered, actually.

Encantadia: The Copycat?, 10 June 2005
Author: pyrhum from Philippines

Hell no!

Yes, they have admitted that they have LOTR to thank for; because without the said film, they wouldn't know how to create a show in epic proportions.

Yes, this show is the most top-rated show on Philippine Television today. One of the reasons is that they have learned how to create lavish costumes, dreamy settings, and out of this world animatronic characters.But this doesn't mean they copied LOTR! I mean, the story itself is different! LOTR's story involves a nobody carrying the world over his shoulders and ends up saving it in the end. While in Encantadia, it is partly the story of four sisters torn apart by one of the sister's greed; and partly the story of a young fairy princess brought to the mortal realm where she suffers tremendously.

The story of Encantadia merely tells what is happening in our country right now. Not that our country is rich, in contrast, it clearly states how difficult it is to live in this country (or the world for that matter). I know it may seem a bit gloomy, but that's the reality. Life is difficult. But living life, is a job. Especially, if you have no one. All you can do is work hard, and hope for a better tomorrow. This is what Encantadia wants to show us: "perseverance is the key to survival". Yes, i admit that an epic quest has yet to be shown. But there is more to a story than an epic scene! What matters more in a story is the HEART a writer puts in it. Like with LOTR, Tolkien gave his heart out in his novel. Likewise with the writers of Encantadia. Unlike in LOTR where the hero needs to travel away from his homeland in order to create a story, Encantadia has its story right there its lands, that's why there is no need to travel to distant places!

According to one opinion, Encantadia lacks the mythology that LOTR had. But why would Encantadia need a mythology, when Encantadia itself is the beginning of the mythology?! Unlike LOTR, Encantadia doesn't need a mythology to stand up on it's own. It has itself to stand up on. And regarding its viewers being unintelligent. Well, i beg to differ! We may not know what 'The Silmarillion' is. But hey, do you know the world of Encantadia? As what my teacher said, a true genius knows that he knows everything and nothing at the same time. Don't call yourself intelligent when you're not! Encantadia is pure Filipino excellence, that's why Filipinos like me love them. Unlike you.

I will be answering this guy's flattering farts one by one in a short while.

3 comments:

innocentyears said...

I'm flattered, actually. The review was written solely to answer my imdb review. Here are my counterattacks. Feel free to find the humour!

But this doesn't mean they copied LOTR! I mean, the story itself is different!

All epic-fantasy stories from 'the wheel of time' to 'star wars' would have to say a bit of thank you to Tolkien... And these are big-time work! Even I would have to admit that my writings are inspired by him. Anyone who blatantly puts sword and sorecery to his work and not even pay a hair of homage to Tolkien is a moron.

LOTR's story involves a nobody carrying the world over his shoulders and ends up saving it in the end. While in Encantadia, it is partly the story of four sisters torn apart by one of the sister's greed; and partly the story of a young fairy princess brought to the mortal realm where she suffers tremendously.

hmmmm... jennylyn mercado suffers greatly all right. At the hands of her beautiful employer (whom I fancy by the way!), the fairy princess suffers greatly by washing the dishes, mopping the floors, doing the laundry, and other suffering chores. Not to mention Jennylyn's suffering of her hunky male employer's sexual advances, it's a wonder why the fairy princess does not consider suicide.

The story of Encantadia merely tells what is happening in our country right now. Not that our country is rich, in contrast, it clearly states how difficult it is to live in this country (or the world for that matter). I know it may seem a bit gloomy, but that's the reality. Life is difficult. But living life, is a job. Especially, if you have no one. All you can do is work hard, and hope for a better tomorrow. This is what Encantadia wants to show us: "perseverance is the key to survival".

I really have not looked at the 'Encantadia' that way. A reflection of poverty in the country, where people are forced to play domestic in order to get by? If there ever was a message such as perseverance, I couldn't see it.

Yes, i admit that an epic quest has yet to be shown. But there is more to a story than an epic scene!

I agree, there is more to the story than an epic quest. There are a lot of lisenced Dungeons and Dragons novels that have epic quests but lack of storyline.

You see, the purpose of an epic scene is to provide the audience or reader of how great the story really affects the entire world. An epic battle involving thousands of soldiers present exactly that: how is this battle important to the world? How many will live? How many will die? Without it, like in 'Encantadia', the audience will see how useless and stupid the story really is. "Why should I care about these fairies?" There are no answers to this question.

What matters more in a story is the HEART a writer puts in it. Like with LOTR, Tolkien gave his heart out in his novel. Likewise with the writers of Encantadia. Unlike in LOTR where the hero needs to travel away from his homeland in order to create a story, Encantadia has its story right there its lands, that's why there is no need to travel to distant places!

Yes. They don't need to travel to distant lands because everything is happening there. So, the question remains: why should I care about these fairies?

According to one opinion, Encantadia lacks the mythology that LOTR had. But why would Encantadia need a mythology, when Encantadia itself is the beginning of the mythology?!

Ummm... NO!! No, it's not the beginning of the mythology. This is just stupid, because there are no explanations as to how 'Encantadia' came to be. Read my post again... The fantasy world of 'Encantadia' just POPPED UP OUT OF NOWHERE.

Did they explain how Bathala created the world? NO.
Did they explain how the four sisters came to possess the sacred gems? NO.
Did they explain how there came to be two alternate universes of 'Encantadia' and the real world? NO.

Now don't tell me these things are not important to a created world, because they are essential; this is how your 'encantadia' becomes believable. Without it, 'Encantadia' is nothing but a poor man's excuse to show some fancy battle and magic scenes through some childish fantasy story.

Unlike LOTR, Encantadia doesn't need a mythology to stand up on it's own. It has itself to stand up on.

Hmmmm... to you maybe, but to thinking people, It's darn important.

And regarding its viewers being unintelligent. Well, i beg to differ! We may not know what 'The Silmarillion' is. But hey, do you know the world of Encantadia? As what my teacher said, a true genius knows that he knows everything and nothing at the same time. Don't call yourself intelligent when you're not! Encantadia is pure Filipino excellence, that's why Filipinos like me love them. Unlike you.

And this proves the fact that you've written this review simply to answer me. Ooooh I'm flattered! I think I've explained myself pretty well to your advances, and I don't need to answer more. The reason I reviewed 'Encantadia' this way is that because I'm one of those people who are dead tired of networks like GMA and ABS CBN (THE MOST) trying to feed our children commercial crap like this and 'Darna' and 'Kampanerang Kuba' and all the other crapola out there thyat's not very enlightening to our children.

Like I've said over and over, 'Encantadia' is flavour of the season. After this, 'Sugo' and after this, kaput!

And you should try reading a book sometime insterad of watching TV.

Unknown said...

Hi, why did you stopped blogging? Your posts are very interesting to read. More Pinoy Tv please.

Unknown said...

Actually, Encantadia will going to have a remake and this will be Encantadia 2016. This is the new one that the episode will be going to start today. I will watch it first and waiting for it to be available online maybe if not in Tv. Because in Pinoy tambayan of all will gonna love this fantaserye for sure. Some will also going to leave it but lets make things clear. It is totally amazing.