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Posts tagged as “Opinion”

Opinion: Why Madame Web Is Caught in a Web of Bad Reviews

February 20, 2024

Madame Web is the latest “addition” to Sony’s Spider-verse. The Spiderman film franchise has been hugely successful thanks to amazing leads like Toby Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland.

However, it looks like not even Dakota Johnson’s acting skills can wrap the movie up nicely. We know Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steel sold the Fifty shades fantasy well. Her personality bleeds into Anastasia Steele and she sets up the submissive role perfectly.

Additionally, Dakota Johnson’s dry humor is what makes her likable in interviews.

Madame Web Trailer

So why do audiences and film critics not like the latest Spider-verse “addition”?

To start, the trailer revealed a voice over by Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) that wasn’t even in the film. While some audiences may not care about this minor detail, it could have been useful to include it. Especially since the antagonist had a major role to play on how Cassandra came to be.

There were some awkward lines in the movie as well that deserve a meme comparable to Anakin’s in George Lucas’ Star Wars. Anakin’s “I don’t like sand. It’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.” is similar to “Hope the spiders were worth it, Mom.” In fact, the line has become a meme commodity for the internet.

Madame Web Film Poster

So bad dialogue aside, the directing also contributes to the film’s meme-worthiness. S.J. Clarkson did work on some episodes of successful series like Dexter, House, and Heroes. The director also worked on a Game of Thrones prequel entitled Bloodmoon, however, HBO didn’t air it. Most of these series have a tone vastly different from that of a superhero movie, and that’s probably the reason why Madame Webb just didn’t work.

While Madame Web is spinning out of control, one could wonder if the film’s meme status could reclaim it. Although it’s not a main Spiderman arc, Madame Web should be a solid reminder not to approach superhero movies the way Sony did Morbius.

From Marvel.com

For all intents and purposes, the movie is not a main continuity movie. For some film-goers, they eventually might grow to love Madame Web as its stand-alone film. Dakota Fanning does say we’ll love it and we’re going to see it twice.

Sofia Vergara’s Acting Chops in Netflix’s Griselda

January 26, 2024

Sofa Vergara’s new Netflix Series Griselda follows the story of a Colombian woman who comes to the United States as she leads her double life as the Godmother of Cocaine and a mother to three kids.

Sounds cliche? The big twist is that this series is based on a much darker story. Griselda Blanco did exist, and her family still lives

Griselda Blanco’s journey from Colombia wasn’t easy – she grew up in an extremely abusive household. There are accounts of her by an outdated Britannica. The encyclopedia purportedly showed that she helped in a kidnapping when she was just 11 years old. 

Blanco died on September 3, 2012, when she was gunned down by a motorcycle rider – a method she employed herself onto her enemies.

The big screen has featured the infamous Colombian drug leader before. Catherine-Zeta Jones’ portrayal in the movie Cocaine Godmother (2017) received praise amidst a rushed plot and a few factual inconsistencies.

In the exclusive interview with Sofia Vergara by Entertainment Tonight, the actress spoke about snorting fake cocaine, aside from her unrecognizable transformation.

The Blanco family has filed legal action to stop the release of the series, to which the director responded “lightheartedly”.

Reaction – 2 drinks, 3 tables: Bacolod cafe sends away non-paying customers, gets mixed

December 12, 2023

via Philippine Star Life;

A coffee shop in Bacolod received an outpour of support after a group of 10 customers review-bombed it when they were asked to leave as its non-paying members filled other tables. Owners of other cafes, however, have a different take on the issue.

SLO_BAR Cafe took to Instagram to lament how 10 people bought only two drinks but occupied three tables. They were asked to leave to give way to other paying customers.

The staff of the coffee shop is in the right when they asked the people to give way to paying customer, especially if the those group of people are occupying 3 tables and just bought 2 drinks.

For Nikaela Cortez of Sibs Cafe, which has a seating capacity of six, non-paying customers who decide to stay lead to an “opportunity” to market the business and spread awareness.

“Though they may only buy two drinks, and even if ten of them choose to stay, that specific moment can be a chance to attract more customers in the future,” Cortez told L!fe. “They are still customers at the end of the day.”

She, however, said that once a paying customer arrives, that’s the time her cafe would politely ask the non-paying ones to share the table.

“We encourage an environment where our customers get to experience a sense of sharing while enjoying their stay in our cafe,” she added.

This comment is holds a lot of weight, of course if you are a non-paying customer in a cafe, then we have to give way to customer who are actually paying to enjoy their drinks. And yes… customers are not always right… for this case, we need to educate the customers, so next time they will know what is right.

Some thoughts to ponder regarding the harassment of Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal

June 11, 2018

I’ll just post this here.

Rappler release official statement regarding SEC’s revocation of their license

January 16, 2018

via @rapplerdotcom;

Dear Readers and Viewers,

We thought this day would never come, even as we were warned in the first of week of December last year that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would be handing down a ruling against us.

We have acted in good faith and adhered to the best standards in a fast-evolving business environment, we were confident that the country’s key business regulator would put public interest above other interests that were at play in this case.

The SEC’s kill order revoking Rappler’s license to operate is the first of its kind in history – both for the Commission and for Philippine media.

What this means for you, and for us, is that the Commission is ordering us to close shop, to cease telling you stories, to stop speaking truth to power, and to let go of everything that we have built – and created – with you since 2012. All because they focused on one clause in one of our contracts which we submitted to – and was accepted by – the SEC in 2015.

Now the Commission is accusing us of violating the Constitution, a serious charge considering how, as a company imbued with public interest, we have consistently been transparent and above-board in our practices. Every year since we incorporated in 2012, we have dutifully complied with all SEC regulations and submitted all requirements even at the risk of exposing our corporate data to irresponsible hands with an agenda. Transparency, we believe, is the best proof of good faith and good conduct.

All these seem not to matter as far as the SEC is concerned. In a record investigation time of 5 months and after President Duterte himself blasted Rappler in his second SONA in July 2017, the SEC released thisruling against us. This is pure and simple harassment, the seeming coup de grace to the relentless and malicious attacks against us since 2016.

We intend to not only contest this through all legal processes available to us, but also to fight for our freedom to do journalism and for your right to be heard through an independent platform like Rappler.

We’ve been through a lot together, through good and bad – sharing stories, building communities, inspiring hope, uncovering wrongdoing, battling trolls, exposing the fake. We will continue bringing you the news, holding the powerful to account for their actions and decisions, calling attention to government lapses that further disempower the disadvantaged.

We will hold the line.

The support you’ve shown us all this time, and our commitment to tell you stories without fear, give us hope.

You inspire courage.

You have taught us that when you stand and fight for what is right, there is no dead-end, only obstacles that can only make us stronger.

We ask you to stand with us again at this difficult time. #SupportRappler