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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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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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Spiderman Can’t Spin It Anymore
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IT was supposed to be the movie of the year. The movie that would cement the Spiderman franchise’s legacy as the best superhero series ever. But after a couple of hours watching , it seemed like the movie lacked venom.
“Too much things happening at the same time”, says one of the moviegoers I asked about the movie.
True. For some reason, Sam Raimi, the director, employed too many cooks to work on the broth - of course, the broth was spoiled.
So many plot twists only to be resolved, by force, in the last 20 minutes of the film. Utter crap. Raimi spent more time on Peter Parker’s useless and stupid dance sequence than on character development and resolution.
And the film wasn’t like it desperately needed resolution, because, the conflicts that Raimi have crafted weren’t that clear anyway.
There are three villains in this Spidey flick: Sandman, Venom and the new Goblin.
Errr... we can’t actually call them villains because they appear to be good hearted individuals who just got unlucky breaks in life. . For instance, the Sandman/Flint Marko- is a small-time thug who has a wife and sick daughter, whom he steals money to help get the treatment to cure her. He transforms into the Sandman following an accident, and incurs Peter’s wrath when Peter learns he was his uncle Ben’s true killer. Yet, he didn’t really kill uncle Ben with malice in his heart - it was an accident.
Same with Venom. A photographer at the Daily Bugle who becomes Peter’s rival in getting photos of Spider-Man. He creates a fake image in the process, but an angry Peter exposes his photo as a fake, and he is fired. Having lost his job and his would-be girlfriend to Peter, Eddie leaps at the opportunity to exact his vengeance when he becomes Venom. The guy just needed a decent job.
And we all know the Goblin as the son of Norman Osborn and Peter Parker’s former best friend who believes that Spider-Man murdered his father. After learning Peter Parker is Spider-Man, Harry becomes the New Goblin to battle his former friend directly.
Yet in the end, Harry is just to great a guy to be a villain so he decides to join forces with Spidey and fight the two good natured enemies.
There are also two love interests for Peter Parker: His girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy, who’s impact in the film is greatly diminished by poor screen writing and bad direction. Stacy’s character is grossly underdeveloped. She just springs up on scenes like 1 UP mushrooms in Super Mario Brothers games.
The movie isn’t cohesive. It is incomplete. It is a big budgeted, special effect-laden chaos that didn’t entertain that much either.
Hmmm... summer movies. I heard, Shrek the Third bombed too. But there’ s still Pirates of the Carribean. I am quite positive that Johnny Depp and crew won’t disappoint.
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A FILIPINO-Chinese actor hits the big-time in the Hollywood film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
Sharing scenes with top Hollywood A-list actors Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, and Chow Yun Fat is Reggie Lee. He plays the role of the villainous Tai Huang in the third and final installment of the Pirates movie franchise.
Reggie is no amateur in the Hollywood scene, this talented Filipino actor is a regular in top TV shows, including the popular Fox drama Prison Break (as Special Secret Service Agent Bill Kim) and in, among other movies, The Fast and The Furious (with Vin Diesel).
Born in Quezon City, Reggie is the oldest of three sons. He speaks fluent Tagalog, his native tongue, and Cantonese. Reggie was a kid when the Lees migrated to Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from a Franciscan high school.
In the 1990s, Reggie relocated to Los Angeles and became an actor. He went on a nationwide tour with the musical Heartstrings and, later, with Miss Saigon. Next stop: Broadway where he was cast in the original company of the Tony Award-winning musical Carousel.
In 1997, Reggie received a Dramalogue Critics Award for his performance in F.O.B. at East West Players. He also starred in the Players’ production of Carry the Tiger to the Mountain.
Then came television. In the past decade, Reggie has guest-starred in TV shows like ER, Ellen Again, Strong Medicine, Mad About You, Walker Texas Ranger, Diagnosis Murder, Chicago Hope, Beverly Hills 90210, Babylon 5, Party of Five, Blind Justice, and Night Stalker.
He’s an athlete at heart, a huge sports and fitness fanatic.
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MANILA, Philippines--It will be their first face-to-face meeting since they’ve announced their separation.
After two weeks of extensive media coverage of their break-up without really sitting down and talk, Ruffa Gutierrez and Yilmaz Bektas will finally get the chance on Thursday at an undisclosed location in Los Angeles, California.
Ruffa is currently in LA with children Lorin and Venice, and mom Annabelle Rama.
The actress-TV host confirmed this meeting in a phone interview with GMA-7’s “24 Oras” newscast on Wednesday.
This was seen as a significant step towards their reconciliation since Yilmaz had declared his intention to “save his family.” Yilmaz will also meet his mother-in-law Annabelle Rama for a “heart-to-heart” talk and reportedly seek permission to have his family back in Istanbul.
“I haven’t seen him since February so it’s normal lang naman siguro na nag-uusap kami, siyempre nandiyan si Lorin at Venice. He always asks me about them,” Ruffa told GMA News.
She will also issue a statement about the details of their planned divorce to the Turkish press, which was likewise covering developments in their relationship.
“I’m gonna write a statement and I’m gonna be giving it to the Turkish press kasi napaka-inconsistent din ng mga isinusulat nila. I just wanna make sure that I get the stories straight and hindi sila nadadagdagan ng words na galing sa bibig ko. Kasi ayoko naman din i-upset ‘yong family ni Yilmaz,” Ruffa added.
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JUST like their recent shows in Los Angeles and Alaska , the dynamic tandem of Pops Fernandez and Kuh Ledesma packed the crowds once more during their latest show in Chicago .
“I did a duet with one of the first finalists of American Idol,” Pops shares. “His name is Jordan Segundo, who’s based in Hawaii . We had a full crowd and the show was a great success. Our next stop is Cache Creek in Sacramento this weekend. The two shows we’re doing there have been sold out since two weeks ago.”
One of the highlights of her trip was being able to watch Oprah live, which then featured the lead stars of the movie ‘Hairspray,’ namely John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, and Nikki, the lead character.
“It was a fabulous experience,” Pops recounts. “Oprah is an excellent personality talaga. So simple and yet she has this amazing presence, and she is so in touch with her audience. We all went crazy. The starstruck fan in me came out. I was screaming and literally pulling the arm of the person beside me (who happens to be the promoter of our show in Chicago).”
“John Travolta is so damn charming, cute and still so sexy” she gushes. “I’m in love all over again. From where I was seated, I can see his oh-so-blue eyes. Super grabe! He and Oprah even did a short dance in the show.”
“Michelle looked simple yet elegant in a maroon top and pencil skirt,” Pops adds. “Beautiful woman, undoubtedly. Apparently, that was her very first guesting in Oprah’s show. She must probably be a size –5. Her waistline is so small. Queen Latifah is a tall woman, has a great complexion, carried her clothes well and is also so endearing to her fans. She was shaking hands during commercial break. I love the outfit she wore. ”“We still have another month to go. Of course, I miss all the comforts of home already, especially my kids and close friends,” Pops says in closing.
“We have six more shows, then I guess I’m staying two or three extra days in Sacramento to record. So far, all the shows are selling so well.” (MNS)
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MANILA, -- A tearful and obviously nervous Regine Velasquez confirmed the rumor linking her and fellow singer Ogie Alcasid.
The admission follows the publication of a Yes! Magazine article (June issue) where Ogie was quoted as saying that he loves Regine and is crazy about her, without categorically stating that they have a relationship.
“I’m really happy because finally it’s out, but I’m also very scared of what people will say and (because) I’ll also be judged again,” disclosed Regine yesterday, at the press launch of the “Pinoy Pop Superstar” finalists’ album at the GMA studio.
Years ago, Regine received a lot of flak following her brief relationship with another singer, Ariel Rivera, who was then the boyfriend of actress Gelli de Belen. Gelli went on TV accusing Regine of going after Ariel. Gelli and Ariel have since reconciled, gotten married and are now parents of two boys. Meanwhile, Gelli and Regine have also patched up.
“This is the only relationship I have and the only one I’ll have, hopefully,” said Regine, opening her heart to the press, whom she thanked for not being quick in judging her. “’Di ba ‘pag inaamin, nagi-jinx,” she quipped.
The admission puts to a close the speculations surrounding the evident closeness between the singer and the songwriter. For years, despite denials from both camps, rumors persisted that the thirty-something diva and the very-much married Ogie were singing beautiful music. The two are co-hosts of “SOP,” GMA-7’s Sunday variety show, and business partners, having put up IndiMusic recording company, of which they are co-owners, last year. They have also partnered in several shows here and abroad. Ogie has also written a number of songs which were recorded by Regine.
“Marami pong pinagdaanan si Ogie na masasakit na hindi ko siya nadamayan. I’m so happy umamin na siya. Marami po ang nagtatanong bakit ngayon lang? Ngayon lang po because he was trying to protect a lot of people. He was protecting his family and me.
“Thank you very much. I love Ogie very, very much,” she concluded.
Ogie met and married former Miss Australia Michelle van Eimeren in mid-1990s, following the 1994 “Miss Universe” beauty pageant in the country. They have two daughters, Leila and Sarah, who stay with Michelle in Australia. (MNS)
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HOW sad if it is true that the marriage of Dennis Padilla and Marjorie Barretto is on the brink of breaking up. After all, it is common knowledge that both had to surmount many problems, including giving up a previous relationship for one of them, before they finally became husband and wife.
Dennis and Marjorie have beautiful children, who are all in demand for commercials. So, what gives?
Politics obviously has something to do with it, said a source. It is common knowledge that Marjorie ran for councilor in Caloocan in the last elections. It is a post which Dennis occupied for three years.
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MARIEL Rodriguez almost went on hysterics when she learned from Piolo Pascual no less that she was originally in the cast of “Paano Kita Iibigin,” which pairs Piolo and Regine Velasquez for the first time.
She wailed: “How come I didn’t know about that? My God, I would have loved to work with you and Regine. What a privilege it would have been.”
“Busy ka daw sa ‘Wowowee’,” Piolo explained.
Mariel is, no doubt, one of the busiest ABS-CBN talents. Everyday, except Sunday, Mariel hosts “Wowowee” with Willie Revillame, Janelle Jamer and Roxanne Guinoo. She is also the featured host of “Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Season 2 Update,” which airs midnight from Monday to Friday.
Mariel has, so far, one movie to her name, “Agent X44,” where she played Vhong Navarro’s leading lady. Joyce Bernal, who also directed the Regine-Piolo starrer, “Paano Kita Iibigin,” directed “Agent X-44.”
Piolo and Mariel got the chance to talk at the launch of the movie soundtrack album of “Paano Kita Iibigin,” which also served as its carrier single. An Ogie Alcasid composition, “Paano Kita Iibigin” is featured in three versions in the album: a duet between Regine and Piolo, a solo from Regine and another solo from Piolo.
Regine herself line produced the album, which contains songs featured and inspired by the movie directed by Bb. Joyce.
Also included are the soon-to-be unforgettable tracks, “Muling Magmamahal” (a duet between Regine and Piolo), “Pare Ko” (Regine’s own interpretation of the Eraserheads’ classic), “Angel Eyes,” “Lalala,” “Thesa’s Theme,” “Tahan,” “Manhid” and the duets “My World With You” and “Sana Nga.”
Regine and Piolo will go to different malls all over the country to promote the album and the movie. They’ll be in Cebu on May 18, Market! Market on May 25, Glorietta on May 26, and SM Sta. Rosa on May 27.
In “Paano Kita Iibigin,” which is from the story and screenplay of John Paul Abellera, Regine and Piolo are cast as Martee and Lance, respectively. Their chance encounter snaps the ties that bind them to their past.
Regine is fired from her job and to take stock of things, she decides to go on a vacation with her asthmatic son in Zambales. She decides to rent a small vacation house in a dilapidated resort which turned out to be owned by Piolo, who later hires Regine to be his resort’s manager.
While Martee and her son have been abandoned by Martee’s lover, Lance is burdened with the guilt of having been involved in an accident which killed his girlfriend.
How in the end a romance blossoms between Martee and Lance can be likened to Lance’s decision to have the dilapidated resort rehabilitated. (MNS)
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