Pen as Weapon, A Classic Filipino Film Worth Everything

Jose Rizal is a movie reflecting the real events that happened in the life of Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. Released on the year of 1998, it is considered as a classic artwork bearing positive impacts and sense of enlightenment to every viewer especially the Filipino citizens. It is a movie mainly focused on freedom and revolution as its theme. Thus, Jose Rizal as the central character of the story is the narrator and the one who elicits the movement of the plot which is concentrated on the discrimination and pure abuse of the Spanish colonizers.

This movie is crowded by experienced and veteran artists of the industry. Ceasar Mantano who played Rizal is accurately engrossed on his role who is Rizal himself leaving every spectator no chance to separate his portrayal towards the factual Jose Rizal in person of his time. Pen Medina as Paciano Mercado, Jaime Fabregas as Luis Taviel de Andrade, Chin Chin Gutierez as Josephine Bracken, Ima Adlawan as Lucia Rizal, Gloria Diaz as Teodora Alonso and Gardo Versoza as Andres Bonifacio to name a few were part of the huge role list of the film. To use Spanish language as part of the script of this project is certainly demanding therefore hats off to every actor who is involved for the requirement. Although technology is unlikely modern to this era compared to the advance tools and methods of today, still the production team made a version that can fulfill anyone’s expectation.

Meanwhile, the very essence of the film revolves around on the truths during the colonial period of the Spaniards to the Philippines. Hence, the story reveals topics and issues that are complex and sensitive if to discuss back in the actual era of the Spaniards. The movie makes a great nostalgic feeling to its viewers. The culture, beliefs, and values diligently followed by everyone back then were seldom obeyed or forgotten by the current young generation. A sentimental person like me would truly be enticed by the naked splendor of this film that describes the former way of life of the people.

Needless to say, above all, one objective of the movie targets to the element that reserve for the awareness of the future youth. How Jose Rizal did started all his hopes for the reform of the government policies. How his simple idea of writing to the people has elevated the courage of the native Filipinos. Why did he yearn for equality and freedom from oppression the most? All of these ambitions were formed for the desire of identity, that Filipinos are never inferior to every mestizo and mestiza.

With regards to the whole conceptualization of the film, it was arranged in a wise scheme. Visualizing all the specifics of the life of Rizal would indeed create a lengthy outcome. However, on this work, all details in Rizal’s life were put into a flashback which is an excellent technique to tell a story. Even the scenes on his novels were inserted and connected to every phase of the movies to show connection on how his life and the characters of his narratives were similar. From his experiences when he was young until he went to Ateneo and Sto. Thomas to his expedition to Europe then the time when he finally published his books and how these records received different kinds of feedbacks were all detailed in the movie. This can’t be felt in a premise of two hours and thirty minutes since the film contains every possible means to make the audiences thoroughly engage.

Subsequently, Jose Rizal the movie serves not only entertainment but also educational functions. Deeper on this movie’s foundation is the verity that Rizal has sacrificed his one and only self for many number of Filipinos on that era who desire for liberty. This is to remind how precious our current sovereignty because of him and the other heroes who bled for independence and identity of their fellows. Hence, as what he has emphasized and has argued, education is the key for improvement and now that it is free it should be cultured by all.

Rizal also highlighted that freedom cannot just only be obtained through forceful and bloody actions. Peace can also be achieved by nonviolent measures. As a proof for that, Rizal used his own talents in words and language to describe and depict the hidden injustices of the colonizers in every details of his story, articles and propaganda. This silent method of regaining the freedom for every Filipinos have led to revolution all over the country, has involved many individuals but also resulted to victory.

Therefore, Jose Rizal movie is truly a worthwhile production. To every late Filipino generation, this is a significant representation of time that has been lost long ago. Jose Rizal as a national figure is known by many for his famous name yet most youth of now are even unaware of the depth of his purpose. Jose Rizal’s wisdom varies and will be always a source of strength in periods of ups and downs. He left a great legacy which is freedom and identity, as a Filipino, we are forever indebted to him and to many other heroes of the motherland.

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Word of Honor: What is Your Pledge?

I’ve never anticipated this drama would lead me to a new fandom (I’m pointing to Gong Jun, he just appeared and entered my life because of this). Otherwise, how could I bear to finish it not in three days but one month. I literally can’t endure the feeling of ending it for I will be nostalgic and will be thinking forever of the characters especially those who have moved my heart. However, there is always a thing that needs conclusion, which would remind an ending for the sake of completion, or whatever goal one wishes to achieve. Thanks I was able to overcome the emotion ruling over this thoughts for if not, I guess I will be taking months or forever to finish this drama.

While writing this, I am listening to “Ask Heaven” which was sung by Liu Yuning and one of the drama’s official sound track. The emotions exist and I feel it guides me with these words of melodrama. Firstly, I would like to talk about the part of the drama that “somewhat” has confused me. After that I will be elaborating the particular aspects which are very surprising to someone with limited knowledge like me. The characters are fairly well-written but my dilemma on the initial parts suddenly appears but luckily it fades knowing I will abandon that kind of state through the next episodes. I’m referring to the presentation of characters. There are a lot of characters and they were mostly introduced on those first episodes giving me a hard time remembering them or it just my memory. I have watched dramas which also involved sects and the martial arts universe but I never get the “puzzled feeling” towards the characters, their names, roles, and the sect they belong. However, this did not affect the overall impact of the drama rather it makes it more notable since each single character in the story plays a significant role on the process of the plot.

The things I value within the drama vary and it does not focus on small elements which most of the professional people engage in an entertainment commentaries would mention. I am a person who sees the big picture instead of the small one, so I will be only mentioning the qualities of Word of Honor that have startled my little experience such as the plot itself, the production, and the entangled actors/actresses.

The plot is quite distinctive. It gives us with the pre-halloween vibes with the ghosts theme mix with the martial arts world affairs. In Chinese ancient times and literature, the stories about phantoms or any magical creature or persona are widely recognized and I’m so glad this concept was applied in the novel and one of the interesting factors of the play. Since it is intertwined with the spooks, I can tell you it is not scary. As a replacement, you will fall in love with their chief who is Wen Kexing (insert the way he speak his name). The whole play is a source of moral lessons as to decide based on your principles. As every episode develops, you will find yourself attached to the story therefore at the very beginning you must stick yourself and never drop it.

The production team is creative and knowledgeable enough to pursue this genre even though it receives many prevailing restrictions. When one looks on its quality, it does not only excel on the visual part, but also on the script (I love how the scriptwriter exerted a lot of effort in order to make the play less straightforward, because if it is, it would lead to some peak of the limitations which is unacceptable to others). Hence, it hides the real meaning and gives us the message which is more meaningful and sometimes can be hilariously clever. I remember a specific scene wherein A’xu told Wen Ke Xing that those with thin lips are not loyal and ungrateful (like where did that sort of perspective came from, it is so sharp but cute). I cried a lot of laughs for that, but I know this is not the only scene out of many that illustrates the surface personality of the two leads. And if you are a kind of a whimsical person, this play may suit your taste with many ancient poems present in their dialogues. I feel like sinking on its beautiful and deep connotations. Moreover, the costumes are made brilliantly. Everything in the drama has its own concealed symbolism and even on clothes, it can be perceived. Although, it is a low-budget adaptation not just like those high scales dramas, it proves that quality stands over quantity. It is well-planned and each individual under the crew has carefully obliged to their job resulting to this masterpiece.

Most actors in this drama are not very popular for it is also a not so high-budgeted creation, then who would recruit a famous and expensive actor, right? Still, thanks because it offered them the chance to prove their self (but it is really a sad reality that some people just can’t accept one’s success and instead ruin their hard earned reputation). I have watched a couple of Zhang Zhehan’s work and it is no doubt that he is such a hardworking man. Therefore, I have a good impression on him. This play is the top among of his works showing a side of him which is reserved but there is a good-tempered and humorous soul covered on the other half of his portrayal. The person that no one anticipated to be so well and to be so super fit for the role is Gong Jun. The director or the production team never made a mistake in picking him as one of the main lead. The seducing personality he gives into a bad-ass valley chief means his flexibility as an actor. Honestly, I don’t really support him before the Word of Honor thinking he is one of those ordinary actors and I was wrong, I am exceedingly incorrect for that idea. Zhou Ye on the other hand transforms into a jovial and loyal character which is truly contradictory from the Better Days. Ma Wenyuan’s shy temperament in the drama makes it more adorable to ship him together with Ye’s role. The other supporting characters also have their stories to tell causing the play to flow in different ways and also conveying us multifarious wisdoms.

For me, it is more than just a BL drama as what its label categorizes. You can feel the love that is worth of life and death sacrifices, the loyalty that is beyond comparison and the friendship that lasts eternally. Even the villains would touch your empathy and at the same time can create a conclusion into your mind that all the bad things you do will not end up in good. The filial piety is also being highlighted. Overall, it is a worthy drama for your time and expenses. At the end, you will realize what does its title, which is “Word of Honor” implies.

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Must Watch Historical Detective Drama of This Year

The Imperial Coroner is a historical detective Chinese drama of this year. With a clever storyline composed of intellectual characters, it is a work completely worth enjoying. It is about the story of a commandery prince (the male lead), and a dreamer of becoming a coroner officially (the female lead) who cross each other’s paths and solved mysteries about crimes happening within the capital (the setting of the story which is set during the Tang dynasty). With regards to its plot, it is very simple but looking through its overall content it reveals how wise it was written.

These are some certain points why this drama deserves a try from my point of perspective.

First, the production. Expecting too much from an apparently identified low budget production may bring disappointment but this one is an exception. It is without doubt that the costumes are not that absolutely pleasing to eyes however this flaw was covered when the cinematography from different angles provides a very distinct view which totally matches the temperament of drama. The editing also hints how much effort was exerted by the people behind it. In a dramaland, most dramas usually focus on the actions of the actors in the scenes or objects which may have an important function to that specific scenario, but this drama flashes a graphic illustration which entails reliable information as the character is investigating thoroughly to the origin of the case. Also, the aspect in which how the drama was arranged is different leaving us, the viewers, without any unsolicited spoilers. I’m referring to the opening and ending of the drama. Almost all of the dramas in cdramaland have opening and ending songs with some cut scenes appearing on it but this drama have the prologue instead explaining a few details of the previous episode/s which will also be the highlight of the characters’ journey on this current episode. Hence, it is drama stuffed with numerous ideas about imagery as its major weapon.

Moreover, a simple drama with interesting characters. I love it how the portrayal of the characters was all concentrated to who they are until the end with no unnecessary dynamism. I’ve seen dramas with characters that changes on the halfway and it did not end well. I mean it is fine if that character was a part of the antagonist side and transforms into a good person but if it is the other way around, I’m already fed up with that concept which only generates nothing but anxiety. All of the actors in the team are new to me yet they are all excellent in delivering their roles. Only that there are minor imperfections in some of the developments such as the “innocent” at first personality of Chu Chu which is played by Su Xiaotong (the female lead) and later it was revealed that she is “smart and crafty”. Thankful I remained until the last episode and witness her capabilities in accomplishing the description of the role. Wang Zi Qi who portrays Xiao JinYu or Prince An (the male lead) has this charm that would easily pull you into observing him and his way of acting. He is an actor with potential talents as what this drama unfolds. Only that, on the last episodes, his depiction of being a keen and sharp judge somewhat has dropped. Well, I quite understand the situation he is experiencing, at those moments, everyone is at stake so he can’t rush and make a decision to capture the principal criminal when the safety must be considered in the beginning (nevertheless, well you need to check the last episode to see what they have planned). On the other hand, the co-starring roles such as Zhao Yao Ke, Yang Ting Dong, and Wang Yan Bin displayed utmost skills to justify their roles forming a companionship which is meaningful and helpful to the two main leads (very plain manifestation of camaraderie yet with deep roots and free of toxicity).

The well-built series of events were made up coherently allowing the story to unfold step by step. Every cases handled by the leads and other characters involved has a clear and expounded explanation. The comprehensibility is also visible. The story does not only put emphasis on the answers needed to solve the case but also the assertions behind those solutions. The concept of the faction of the powerful eunuchs in the court is also an unusual outline. There are Chinese historical dramas in which the eunuchs have some influence on the palace but not extremely comparable to this one wherein the head of the eunuch which is the antagonist of this story was a leader of an army and even higher than some officials. Other notion regarding about it can be discover when you watch the drama and also the particular characters that have significant impacts to the plot. Although the ending is a little bit condensed for me, they could just have added one last episode (for the leads and supporting characters to have more time) but we seldom have a drama in cdramaland with 37 episodes, so yeah I’m still satisfied with that.

Thus, you have to watch this drama or you will be missing it. I’m favorably recommending it to those who are into historical dramas especially the crime detective genre. It is not perfect but you will truly be entertained just like what I have experienced. Also, the osts and bgm too are beautiful for the ears.

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