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For the past 21 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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* Spoiler alert
THERE are Hollywood flicks that are so visually perfect yet substantially flawed that you can’t help but watch it while loathing it. The film ‘300’ is one of those.
The History
This movie is about the epic battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartan warriors with the help of some 700 thespian volunteers led by spartan king, Leonidas, held the mighty 300 thousand-strong Persian army for three days and gave enough time for the entire Greek alliance to prepare for the eventual attack of the Persians. The battle was forever known at one of history’s most famous last stands.
The initial success of King Leonidas was due to the Spartans’ superior training and mastery of their terrain. Leonidas and his small number of men blocked the narrow mountain pass known as ‘The Hot Gates’, which was the only road that Persian emperor Xerxes I and his legions could use enroute to mainland Greece. In doing so, Leonidas and his force funneled the Persian army to a size equal to their contingent, thus eliminating their great disadvantage in numbers.
Leonidas was victorious for three days until a local Greek trator, Ephialtes, betrayed him by disclosing to the Persians a secret backdoor pass around the ‘Hot Gates’.
Xerxes I then ordered his army to use the pass and had the Spartans surrounded. Leonidas, realizing that his end was near, asked the volunteers to retreat and tell the rest of Greece to prepare for the Persian advance. The king remained with 300 spartan warriors for one last stand, which ultimately resulted in their doom.
Xerxes I sustained tremendous casualties at the battle of Thermopylae, and eventually failed to conquer Greece after succeeding naval loses against a more prepared Greek navy. Xerxes I’s failure to conquer Greece ended the Persian expansion in Europe and saved western civilization as a whole.
The Movie.
The movie is based on Frank Miller’s(Sin City) graphic novel, ‘300’ and was directed by Zak Snyder. Undeniably, the visuals are flawless and breathtaking. It was literally a living graphic novel on the big screen. The cinematography is as smooth as the etched abdominal muscles of the 300 spartans, and the time captured sequences and slow motion effects gave soul to the gore of the spectacular battle scenes.
Unfortunately, the movie sucked. The screenplay is stupid and thoughtless. The writters failed to capitalize on the richness of the story’s history and instead wrote stupid one liners and annoying Spartan battle cries: ‘Ahoo! Ahoo!
Leonidas, for one, should have been given more life and depth rather than merely reducing him to a wise-cracking thug, whose charcter is as under developed as his wardrobe. In this movie, thanks to the screenwritters, the noble king would be remembered more as a shallow leader, whose thirst for blood can only be equalled by his thirst for bedding his queen rather than the principal savior of the western world.
Xerxes I is another one. The writers turned the greek emperor into a metrosexual version of the street figher video game character, Dahlsim. The audience has no clue what the emperor is up to. Why is he trying to conquer the world? Why does he think he’s God? Instead, the writers and Snyder turned the Persian army into hideous monsters to make it clear that Xerxes I is just plain evil. No explainations.
It is sad that great, historic stories like the Battle of Thermopylae could suffer tremendously when given to the wrong hands. And that is what happened to the movie ‘300’. Although with its stunning visuals, it did suck beautifully.
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Aubrey Miles corrected BF Troy Montero’s earlier declaration that they’re living in. “He goes to my house, I go to his, but we’re not living in,” she clarifies. “I’m with my mom and siblings, nakakahiya naman kung sa amin makikitira si Troy permanently. If ever we’d live together, I want us to have our own place.”
But Troy even said she often cooks for him. “Ay, ewan ko roon. I don’t cook. It’s our maid who cooks when he’s with us.”
It seems like she has a problem with Troy now. “No, wala kaming problema. We do love each other. But it’s also not true na plano na naming magpakasal. Hindi namin minamadali ‘yan.
Basta maligaya kami ngayon sa relasyon namin at okay na muna ang ganun. If ever maging mag-asawa kami, I think magkakasundo kami as we already know each other’s ugali, kahit nga magkaiba kami kasi outgoing ako, samantalang siya, tahimik lang. Ako rin, workaholic na gusto, trabaho nang trabaho, kaya nga napasok ako dun sa ‘Amazing Race 1’ and it proved to be a nice experience for me. Siya naman ngayon, mainly into modeling lang. If ever we’d marry, dapat mas magsipag siya.”
When someone asked her about her alleged child who she was seen with in the U.S., she laughed.
“Naku, 2007 na, hindi pa ba tapos ‘yan? Baka yung batang sinasabi nila, yung anak ni Geneva Cruz who traveled with us and Troy’s brother, si KC, who’s now married to Geneva. Madalas kasi naming kasama ‘yung bata kapag lumalabas kami while we’re in the States.” (MNS)
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DO you now that, like Claudine Barretto and Kris Aquino, Julia Clarete will also give birth to a baby boy?
Julia, now in her last trimester of pregnancy, used to be a contract star of ABS-CBN, the mother studio of Claudine and Kris. In fact, she was a fellow Star Magic talent of Claudine. Kris has Dondon Monteverde for her manager.
When Julia’s contract with ABS-CBN and Star Magic expired, she transferred to GMA-7. She immediately became a mainstay of “Eat Bulaga.” Last year, she got pregnant. It turned out that she had secretly married businessman Steven Uy.
Claudine is also giving birth to her first baby with husband Raymart Santiago. She and Raymart marked their first wedding anniversary last March 27. They celebrated it by dining out with some close relatives at Florabel’s at the Podium in Ortigas.
Claudine is due to give birth on July 31. She will have a normal delivery. Kris originally was told by her OB that she is due on May 15. She asked her OB to do the caesarean operation a week earlier, May 6. She reasoned that May 14 is Election Day and she didn’t want to grab the limelight from her brother, Noynoy, who is running for Senator.
Kris has decided to deliver her baby on April 22.(MNS)
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MANILA -- Janice de Belen has converted to Iglesia ni Kristo, just like her boyfriend, a law student at the Ateneo University.
Janice is said to be marrying her boyfriend anytime this year. Her marriage to former husband John Estrada, father of her four children (she has an elder son by Aga Muhlach), has been annulled two years ago.
Janice, when she was still married to John, used to live in Parañaque with her children. She reportedly was able to purchase a house in New Manila.
Janice co-hosts “SIS” on GMA-7 with sister Gellie de Belen and Carmina Villaroel.
By the way, John has broken up with girlfriend Vanessa del Bianco, who allegedly was one of the reasons his marriage to Janice didnít work.
Vanessa is based in Canada. She is an only child. Her momís Filipina and her dadís Italian. (MNS)
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JERSEY CITY - Top Filipino-American psychedelic band, The Happy Analogues released their debut album entitled ‘Lilacs and Politics’ last April 3, 2007 via the online store of the premiere resource of everything Fil-Am music - www.poptimesmagazine.com.
The 11-track album will be officially launched on May 5, 2007 at one of New York’s hottest venues, The Rebel NYC. The CD launch party will also see performances from some of the best Fil-Am artists in the scene today: P.I., Bleud, The Kuwagos, triCKBag, Blue Mellon Pop, Qwadra and the Canadian group, Noizytoyz. Tickets are now on sale for $10.
Lilacs and Politics is one of the most highly-anticipated releases this year given that the Analogues’ popularity soared after some high profile gigs and a national TV appearance through ABS CBN. The album was recorded in 4 months time and consists of amazing songs that has become a staple in their live shows.
You can purchase the CD exclusively on the online store of www.poptimesmagazine.com. FThe Happy Analogues are: Ted Reyes, Ronnie Lao, Paul Zurita and Richard ‘Jonze’ Saguirre.
The album is under Soulworks Records.
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HER role as Richard Gutierrez’s assistant in “Lupin” requires Katrina Halili to be in a two-piece bikini most of the time so she had to prepare for it.
“I had to be on a strict diet to make sure I have a presentable figure at di malaki ang tiyan ko,” she says. “Kung minsan nga, naiinis na ako dahil ang sarap kumain, pero diet pa rin ako ng diet. Kaya lang, ayoko namang ma-ging mataba sa screen. They told me I’d play a sexy role, but sa taping ko na lang nalamang lagi akong naka-two piece.
“Noong una, nahihiya talaga ako kasi ang daming tao sa set habang umaarte ka o tumatakbo na naka-bikini. But after a while, I got used to it. I just put on a tapis before and after each take.”
Doesn’t she mind being considered a sex object because of her seductive appearance here? “Okay lang. Dati na naman akong pinagpapantasyahan, kaya nga nag-number one ako sa FHM. Sa ‘kin naman, you can look all you want. Pero hanggang look lang. And here in ‘Lupin’, sexy nga ang role, pero hindi cheap kundi maganda at challenging talaga, kasi may action scenes din kaya astig ang dating.”
It’s her first time to work with Richard in “Lupin.” How is it? “He’s okay.
“Binibiro nga kami ni Ehra (Madrigal, who also appears in a bikini most of the time). He said, ‘Ang se-sexy naman ng mga kasama ko. Ang swerte ko naman.’ Mga ganung biro.”
She once said she has a crush on him. “E, sino ba naman ang hindi magka-crush sa kanya, he’s really guwapo, di ba? Pero magkatrabaho lang kami. Alam naman nating may girlfriend na siya, e.”
She can always try to snatch him away from Georgina Wilson. “Ay, hindi po ako mang-aagaw. Hindi naman ako kasing-pretty niya. Mestiza yun, e. Hayaan na lang natin sila. Kasi ako, kung maaagawan, masasaktan din ako. Ayoko namang makasakit ng iba.”
How is her throat? We saw her once on TV showing the growth on her neck to Joey de Leon in “Startalk.” “Nodules daw ito, parang kulani na lumaki kasi may throat infection ako. Nagagasgas kapag kanta ako ng kanta sa mga raket, also kapag sigaw ka ng sigaw sa eksena. Dahil dito, madalas, matamlay ang pakiramdam ko, pero trabaho pa rin. My doctor told me to rest it pero ang hirap. I’m taking antibiotics now para gumaling na siya nang husto.”
A writer tells her to be more careful of the things she puts into her mouth.
“Huwag kang subo nang subo,” she’s warned.
“Ay, ano ba ‘yan?” she laughs. “Wala po akong boyfriend, loveless po ako. At hindi ko gawang sumubo ng kung anu-ano.” (MNS)
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