Arlene Reacts: Mulan 2020, the Girl I see

Thursday, January 7, 2021

I am Hua Mulan.

Sort of I was her, I thought I could identify myself with her during those times I was having an identity crisis. I would love to sing the theme song Reflection, though I was completely aware I was out of tune and I did not care. I just wanted to pour my heart out while singing the song within the comforts of our house.

I grew up looking and admiring Mulan's character. She is loyal, brave, and true, such noble values that are definitely hard to live by.

The announcement of a live-action film of Mulan had me grinning from ear to ear. I was expectant since they confirmed the actor to play the title role, and it was none other than Liu Yifei. I thought she looked familiar and I was not wrong I saw her somewhere. The Return of the Condor Heroes, that was where I saw Yifei. I did not like her before since I first saw the animation version of The Return of the Condor Heroes and I detested her acting for the role and for even trying to copy an anime character. And that was me a long time ago, petty and so determined to protect the purity of my beloved anime heroes.

Liu Yifei is an American Chinese actor who played the part of Mulan in the live-action film by Disney. I liked how she portrayed the character of Mulan and thought she was the perfect actor for the role. She emanated the humanity of Mulan in the animated version and stuck with it like she came out from Mulan 1998. I was glad the production team did not force the singing and theatrical effect in the movie. The live-action film stood by for its own originality that it would never leave a bitter taste after watching the movie. Some would say that it was not faithful to the storyline and some of the characters of the animated version, but the changes were delivered with much gusto and careful consideration of the story's cultural background.

It was unfortunate that Mulan live-action film 2020 did not stream in major cinemas all over the world due to the CoViD-19 pandemic and a lot of other issues. Instead, the movie for the most part only streamed online. There were some who were greatly disappointed and on my part, I was not much awaited since I was not fond of going to cinemas. I just thought that maybe they were disappointed because the film did not receive the attention and clamor it deserved.

In conclusion, I was happy with what the movie offered to me. So, you should try seeing the movie too.

I am Manocot, Arlene Cahanap, signing off for now... good night.

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Something went wrong at NBS

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

The lady in a pink t-shirt partnered with her knee-length maong skirt strut her way as she walked across the paralleled department in one of the biggest malls in their town. She cat-walked as if no one was around her in that public place that was always populated with different people on any given day.

While carrying a paper bag full of wooden key chains she bought from a Christian book store, her next stop was the most reputable bookstore chain in the Philippines. She glanced at the sale signboard as she slowly passed by the floor to ceiling window panels. Salivating over those discount sales was an overstatement, but nevertheless, it was a sight to see a bookstore with 50% off signs.

The lady in a pink t-shirt and knee-length maong skirt was feeling giddy as she browsed a few selections of books on sale. Hardbound and softbound. Fiction and non-fiction. Local and international authors and publishers. There were a quite few selections of printed books in an industry that was dying little by little due to the emergence of the digital age in the publishing world.

Spectators said that e-book or electronic books would soon replace the existence of the printed books and people would no longer want and need to buy printed books in a physical book store. But the lady in a pink t-shirt and knee-length maong skirt begged to disagree.

Dropping by to an NBS branch was a routine for her whenever she went to a department store and always looked forward to discounted or bargained books. That day at NBS was like any ordinary day for her, except for health protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After filling out the contact tracing form, she swiftly entered the haven of any book lover. She browsed books like she normally would, reading the title and the author of the book, turning the book and glancing the price at the back, and pondering whether the book worth the price or wishing when it would go on sale. After some time of wishful thinking, she would return the to its original place, properly.

At one corner of the book store where no one seemed to notice that place, the lady in a pink t-shirt and knee-length maong skirt took an interest in surveying the corner. It had books she wanted to buy not so long ago.

to be continued...

Next: SOMETHING WENT RIGHT AT NBS (Part 2)

Arlene Reacts: Aladdin (Disney Live-Action Film 2019)

Sunday, January 3, 2021

I felt nostalgic as I watched the live-action film Aladdin by Disney. I was excited and felt like there was a bubbly feeling inside me. I was giddy and anticipation overwhelmed me. I was a sucker for Disney movies when I was a kid, who wouldn't. And I have this feeling that the kid who fans over Disney movies is still there somewhere inside me. Though as an adult I read articles and watched YouTube videos that criticized Disney's approach in handling the story where they change something to make it acceptable and appropriate to their young audience. The intention is good, they want to sell a feel-good movie inspired by existing stories that have a different representation. One can never go wrong in choosing a family-oriented and heartwarming movie from my Disney favorite films, and one of them is Aladdin.

I could just scream inwardly when I heard that there would be a remake of Aladdin. I was excited, yet I never intended to watch it in cinemas, how ironic, and I was just waiting for it to stream online. I wondered how the whole team of filmmakers could pull off such a grand production presented in its animated counterpart. I was having my doubts about the ability and capability of Disney to realize such an ambitious project, and also if they would find the right actors to give life to such wonderful characters.

In the first few days of the year 2021, my doubts about the movie were proven completely false. The live-action Aladdin by Disney was gorgeous. They had the right actors for Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie. They pulled it off. I loved the song and dance routine like it was a musical theater production in the form of a film. It had also expressed firmly the struggle of Princess Jasmine in becoming the next Sultan of their kingdom. I didn't expect that one. I thought it was all just a romantic fling between a thief and a princess and how they could defeat the villain of the story, but it was more than that.

I think we can all identify ourselves with all the characters from Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Sultan, Jafar, Hakim, Dalia... at some point in our lives. They are us one way or another. I believe that just like Jasmine, we should not stay silent and go speechless when we are required not to be.

Nevertheless, this is a fun and good-feel movie for the rest of the family. You must watch it!

Arlene Reacts: Weathering with You (Tenki no Ko)

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Through this blog, it is my first time reacting to a movie I watched. I thought I should just go for books, but I guessed we could also go get inspiration in movies just like I thought so.

The first film is Weathering With You. I saw posts about this movie for quite some time on one of my social media accounts. I was interested since I heard that the main characters of the animated movie Your Name made a cameo, but my curiosity was not enough to make me want to watch it during those times.

Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated with animated movies and the likes so it is only natural for me to watch this kind of film whenever I find the time to browse the internet and find an interesting film to get myself busy in times of idleness or if I want to have a break from reading books.

Weathering with You or Tenki no Ko is a kind of movie genre that I will definitely get myself into. It is heartwarming, full of drama, and has a sprinkle of romance. I got teary-eyed as I watched an animated film like this. I didn't expect that it was flavored with fantasy I thought it was more like the word 'weather' in the title was something like the struggles that the main characters experienced in their lives as teenagers. In literal meaning, it seems like I was wrong in my assumptions with the title, but in figurative aspects, I guess my assumptions make sense. It's like weathering with you means going through with you or with someone in facing struggles and challenges in life particularly in our society.

I admire how the characters defy the odds in realizing what their hearts desire the most. I had this thought of how I wished I could be brave like them, young as they were, they already determined what they want and what to do. Yet the plot of the story clearly showed the limitations of their desire at its resolution part, and as what the society expects them to behave. They are young and have to answer to the authority which presents the realistic part of the story. There are consequences they have to accept after pursuing their desire while neglecting their safety and without the approval of the people who are in charge of them.

This film burns with passion and warmth despite its rainy and watery season setting almost throughout the movie. Let's keep weathering!