Phantom of the Opera Live

Published: April 10, 2019 / Updated: April 10, 2019 miasanjuan Película, Review, Tim, Travel

One of my biggest dreams is to see a live production of Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, and although I have passed by the chance to see Les Mis in 2016, I made sure that I didn’t miss Phantom. I am a lifelong theatre fan, and although Tim doesn’t share my love and interest for most of the arts, he still came along and watched Phantom with me.

Leading up to the show, Tim got curious about the storyline. So, I let him watch the Gerard Butler version, and he liked it — to my relief. I really thought he would find it extremely boring like most of the things I like, but I really appreciate the fact that he takes time to see or experience the stuff that I love and he tries his best to understand it if he does not like it.

On the night of the show, Tim and I arrived at The Theatre at Solaire around three hours early. This gave us ample time to have a look around, especially the casino which Tim used to frequent a couple of years ago.

After looking around, Tim and I sat down at The Coffee Bean for a quick coffee date before the show started. For a few days, up until that night he was asking me all sorts of questions about the production which I gladly answered. Knowing that he’s slightly more interested than I expected made me feel really comfortable about watching Phantom with him. To be honest, I was really worried that the ticket would go to waste if he won’t appreciate it. The last thing I wanted was that he just bought an extra ticket so I wouldn’t watch alone, you know what I mean? I think that’s the worst thing that could happen. Haha, but Tim always surprises me in his own little ways.

He loved the production–genuinely! and during the 20-minute intermission, he flooded me with questions again, but unlike before his interest turned into sincere curiosity and fascination, much to my delight! Haha!

The production, in general, was magnificent! I cried at several parts of it, both in amazement and disbelief that I am actually seeing it live after all these years. It might sound a little too overdramatic, but this particular production always had a special place in my heart since I was little, and finally seeing it live, with the love of my life just made it extra special.

After the show, Tim and I sat at The Coffee Bean once again, but this time in silence and smiles on our faces as we sipped from our coffee cups while we waited for our ride home. Briefly exchanging our views and amazement of the production.

Watching Phantom of the Opera with Tim taught me that you cannot plead anyone to like what you love, but you can always take them with you to experience it themselves and my-god! is it worth it! Tim’s only regret that night was that he should have bought a VIP ticket so I could see the production a lot more closer, since my eyes are pretty bad especially in the dark even with my glasses on. Haha. Regardless though, every waking moment of that experience was–sweet intoxication. Phantom pun intended. LOL

May hangover pa si Tim sa mga kanta sa Phantom of the Opera hahaha Kayo? Anong trip ninyong gawin na hindi trip ng partner ninyo?

Película: Exes Baggage

Published: November 10, 2018 / Updated: November 13, 2018 miasanjuan Película, Review

I’d like to introduce a new blog segment which I’ve decided to call “película” just because I like how it sounds. LOL From the segment title itself, it’s pretty obvious that this new part of the blog will feature my reviews of movies that I’ve watched.

But wait, I’m not an expert in the film industry, what do I know about cinematography and acting? Yeah, yeah, I hear you but I’ve been quite a film enthusiast for as long as I can remember, and I have quite a huge range when it comes to films that I love. Look, I’m not an expert in film or acting and I’m not trying to be but I do give an objective opinion and I enjoy doing so with films as I do with food. Just consider me as the friend you ask before watching a movie to save you a couple of bucks on movie tickets and movie snacks.

So for our first movie review, I’m going to start with Exes Baggage. I saw this movie the same day that Tim and I arrived home from Vigan. I met with my best buds, Jaycee and Tricia at SM City East Ortigas as we have planned to see this movie together for almost two weeks already. 

Official movie poster for Exes Baggage. I don’t own this photo nor do I claim it as mine. Got if off the IMDB page for the movie.

To be honest, I’m not such a huge fan of Tagalog films unless they’re art films or biopics, I barely watch them. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve nothing against our film industry, it’s just that sometimes plots can be quite repetitive. But I gave Exes Baggage a try because of the hype and since my best buds & I badly wanted to see Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino reunite in one film. Yes, I may not be a huge Tagalog movie fan, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t know anything, I’ve been a pre-teen once and I really liked Car-Gel LOL 

The film plays between two timelines and starts out with the present where Nix (Carlo Aquino) and Pia’s (Angelica Panganiban) were invited to their married friend’s party, two years after their breakup. 

The second timeline were a series of flashbacks. It can be seen that the chemistry was strong between them from the very beginning that they instantly hit it off. Their seemingly normal but natural flowing conversation eventually lead them to fall for each other despite their opposing perspectives on love brought on by their last partners. 

They got together, a picture of a perfectly happy relationship typical to a couple in the honeymoon stage until layers starts to peel off their happy pages as they saw Migs (played by Joem Bascon) Pia’s ex-boyfriend whom she told Migs previously about. A man whom she loved but was unknowingly married.

The encounter caused Nix to become jealous and overly focused on the fact that Pia did not introduce him as her boyfriend, to which Pia then compared herself to Nix’s ex-girlfriend, Dwein (played by Coleen Garcia) who was often the source of her insecurities in their relationship. Nix soon apologizes and they made up. 

However, Pia’s insecurities just got a lot bigger when Nix’s conservative and clingy if not restrictive tendencies started to unfold that lead to numerous fights, and with Pia always ending up telling Nix that she isn’t Dwein. 

It got a lot worse when Dwein visited Nix to check on the furniture she ordered from him, which turns out Nix was delaying on purpose. Pia noticed how much Nix changes around Dwein and concluded that he’s still in love with her causing her to break up with Nix.

The film moves on to the present day showing Nix and Pia reunited and talking about their past. Soon they were watching a band play in the party, and what are the chances, the band was playing their song to which they both sang and dance to. However, their moment was abruptly interrupted when Pia’s phone rang revealing she’s with a guy named Anton. She hurriedly left the venue and hopped in her car, still contemplating whether she should stay or leave but before she could decide, a reflection hovered over her, revealing Nix standing outside her car. She rolled down her window and he began talking to her car, which she named Ogie during the start of the film. 

Nix gave a quite lengthy and cliche but compelling monologue about how he should have taken better care of Ogie and Pia, how he should have fought for their relationship and that he should have not let her leave the house without saying a word. Pia’s phone then rang and she bid him goodbye again, but as Nix walked away and her phone rang signaling for a call from Anton, Pia suddenly realized (or the film implied that she did lol) that she still wanted to be with Nix. She hopped out of her car and called his name, rekindling their previous flame. 

Okay, so that was a lengthy summary of the movie, but I did my best to keep it as accurate as I could. But as you have read, Exes Baggage wasn’t as common as we think it is, but as cliche and predictable the ending might have been, to be honest, there were moments in the last 20 minutes that you’d think that ending would not turn out that way. 

The actors in general gave so much life and emotion to the seemingly typical plot which makes the film stand out from similarly themed movies done in the past. Pia and Nix’s characters were portrayed as genuine and natural as the actors could, that you’d feel like you’ve been through the same thing with them.

Angelica and Carlo’s performance were really captivating, sparking a lot of emotions that I didn’t know I could still feel just because I’m happily married.  They really have that effect on you where you would just feel nostalgic all of a sudden, then you’re starting to compare your own experiences with them and eventually, you’ll say that “Yeah, I’ve been there.” My best buds had the same experience, I think Tricia more than Jaycee and I as she had gone through something heartbreaking recently.

If I were to rate this movie, I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5. Given 5 as the highest. I recommend this film most especially to the hopeless romantics like me LOL I think you guys would like it. And hey, even if you’re not a fan of something sappy, I think you’d enjoy this, too. It isn’t sappy enough but it’s relatable enough. 

Have you seen the movie? What do you think of it?