The Mistress-tery

Ever since news broke out that John Lloyd and Bea will be starring in a new movie  called The Mistress, avid  fans just went wild and anxious with all the anticipation they had to bear.  Well, I wasn’t really crazy about this new info but after watching the trailer, I admit that I got intrigued.

So I decided that I should really go and watch their comeback movie  just to put my mind at peace. I knew that after I’ve attended a screening, I’ll finally have the answers to my questions:

1. How is The Mistress  different from the box office movie No Other Woman given that they were both about extra marital affairs?

2. Will I ever get tired of the John Lloyd-Bea tandem? Do they still have the chemistry?

3. Will this movie be as good as their previous film One More Chance?

Then  off I went to the movie house.

Star Cinema’s The Mistress

I sat there for two hours and like all other moviegoers, I allowed myself to indulge and be caught in the moment. I laughed and felt sad when the scenes called for them. But even so, I  still think, that a lot of people were disappointed when the ending finally came. They, somehow, expected for a happily ever after.

As most of us have seen in both foreign and local films, love stories often end in a happy note. But this movie is different. The lead characters went their own ways.  I personally believe that The Mistress ended how it was supposed to end in real life, I mean, for  the characters of Sari and Eric (Bea and John Llyoyd). It will be absurd if they ended up together.

Just imagine what will happen to the character of Hilda Koronel whose husband is Mr. Thursday and whose son is Eric. Both men were linked to the mistress whom she loathes so much. She will really go insane had Eric pursued to have a relationship with Sari. If the makers of the movie decided to turn it into a happy ending,  the story wouldn’t have the same impact as it has right now. People saying how they wish Eric and Sari ended up together is a good sign that it has indeed left a strong impression.  Had they opted for the typical      ending, the movie will just become another typical  love story.

Screencaps of the movie The Mistress

What I like about the movie though is that a lot of scenes had underlying meanings and metaphors employed. The last scene where Eric stopped by Sari‘s shop and watched her from his car meant a whole lot more for the movie. It is one metaphor that I can’t simply forget. It gave me the idea that no matter how much the two of them love each other, they can never be together. Eric can only watch from afar and love her from a distance. When he finally asked his driver to go, it dawned on me that like life, he had no choice but to move on.

Now this movie really can make you think a lot. The Mistress may have a female lead character that not everybody can relate to but she has the heart that cares for her family more than anything else. I think this is where everybody can applaud her for.

I believe that this movie is a notch higher than the level of most Filipino romantic films. The success of this movie maybe attributed to so many things but for me it’s because of the very good narration of  the story. The screenplay, itself, was  ingenious already so the staff and cast particularly John Lloyd and Bea were just the extra dazzle sprinkled to it. They were just like the cherries on top of the cream.

Enlightened

After two hours of watching, I finally had the answers to my questions.

#1 No Other Woman centered around the things that women do when they feel threatened in their own relationships. It also showed how far women are willing to go for love or for the man they love. The Mistress, on the other hand, dwelt with how it is like to be the third party. It was the story of an indebted woman who will do anything for her family even to the point of being a mistress. This then has left her with no options to choose from when it comes to love.

#2 The kilig is still there. So I think that so long as they can do their craft very well, I will never really get tired of them. Of course, that is, if their movies have good stories to tell (scoff Miss You like Crazy).

#3 I think that both movies are realistic. The Mistress is at par with One More Chance. But still, I like the latter more than the former.

Realizations

Women will always have their options.  No matter how bad the situation you’re in you can always choose to get out. Allowing yourself to get stuck means that you’ve made your choice and that is not to get out.

A good woman deserves nothing but a good man. No woman would ever want to be a third party more so a mistress. Good people deserve all the good things. Thus, good women deserve good men.

Relationships  do not always have a happy ending. Happily ever after only exists in fairy tales. Most of the time, endings aren’t what most of us expected them to be.

Life goes on. Don’t stop living. No matter what you do or say, the earth will continue to rotate on its axis. So better yet, move forward when you have to.

When Curiosity Gets the Best of You: A Fifty Shades Trilogy Review

While my memories of the books are still somehow and relatively fresh, I might as well give them my own review.

Follow your heart, darling, and please, please – try not to over-think things. Relax and enjoy. You are so young, sweetheart, you have so much to experience, just let it happen. You deserve the best of everything.       (James,  2011)

It was actually just out of curiosity that I allowed myself to indulge in yet another series of novels.  Well, I was on a schedule to read them so I went through the trilogy for over a week. I’m not sure why but I’m glad I did.  I guess,  it was a smart move to continue reading the other two books after I have finished Fifty Shades of Grey.  

FIFTY SHADES TRILOGY

I wouldn’t hide the fact that the first installment fell short of my expectations. Well, I was aware it was an erotica but I never thought that the whole book would be it. The story can be told in a chapter or two but it got dragged on for too long. With regards to the depth, I say it is sort of shallow.  For me, the best part of the novel was the ending. Given the poor exposition and all, it left me curious of how the story  will unravel in the next installment.

Fifty Shades Darker gave me the impression that it will get darker story wise. But truth is, I found it enlightening… a bit. Here, I was able to get to know Christian Grey a little more. In the first book, I was deprived of his background so I was quite happy to have been let in on a few more details. The plot also got  interesting so there’s more story and not just all sexcapades. But given the original nature of the book, you know that there are really lots of them. Moreover, for readers who are waiting to get swooned by the heart and flowers type of Christian Grey, don’t fret and just hang on because there’s a little surprise for all of you.

This is me, Ana. All of me…and I’m all yours. What do I have to do to make you realize that? To make you see that I want you any way I can get you. That I love you.
                                           ―Christian Grey, Fifty Shades Darker

The third novel, Fifty Shades Freed, was the most enjoyable to read. It was really a page turner. There were more gaps filled and secrets spilled;  lots of lovemaking and quarreling. I say that among the three, this was really the best and the longest read. I was quite surprised how the book turned out. Maybe it was good that I stopped expecting after I read the first novel because I was really able to appreciate the next ones. I don’t want to spoil the ending so I leave it all to you to  find out. 🙂

He makes me graceful, that’s his skill. He makes me sexy, because that’s what he is. He makes me feel loved, because in spite of his fifty shades, he has a wealth of love to give.
                                      ― Anastasia Steele, Fifty Shades Freed

The trilogy may not have been as well written as that of J.K Rowling’s or inspiring as Mitch Albom’s or even as romantic as Nicholas Sparks’ but these books of E.L. James like all aforementioned authors aroused the curiosity of millions of readers around the globe. What the story has that made each book a best seller and a phenomenal hit is still a mystery to me. I can only speculate but I can never know. If you ask me if I recommend these trilogy, I say: “yeah, sure, if you can read all. You won’t like it if you just read one and nothing will make sense if you just read the first.”

It may have all started from curiosity but I, nevertheless, still enjoyed reading them especially the last one. Grab a copy if you must, but don’t blame me or other people if you find the plot lackluster or annoying. After all, if your curiosity gets the best of you like it did to me, I know you wouldn’t stop wondering until you get to read them.

Strut your Stuff!

Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another.  -Anonymous                                                                                                                                                                            

For so many years in the past, I’ve danced as I was instructed to. But now, I’ve forgotten how it felt like strutting your stuff.

Attending my brother’s school affair was a good decision. I thought I wouldn’t enjoy but I did. I was even reminded that once, I have  adored strutting my stuff. I used to join a lot of programs and contests as a grade schooler. Only a few people from my high school and college years knew about that . And mind you, I even won some awards with the skill I used to display a lot. If you knew me way back, you’d find out that I was rather slender but not too thin– like the kind of thin young ones are so obsessed right now.  I eventually figured as I grew chubby that the reason I hardly gain weight before is because of the extracurricular activities I used to involve myself including dancing.

My relatives were really supportive of whatever event I would sign-up for. I think they were quite happy of my talent that they even made me, my cousin, and my sister form a group.  And yes, we did a lot of dancing– not only  at school programs but also at family affairs and some barangay fiestas. With this, I got used to all the practices and the learning of the steps.

However, everything changed when I went to high school.

All the confidence I’ve gained from dancing was lost. The adjustment I had to make consumed me. Adapting  to a whole new environment ate up all my confidence and self-esteem. I grew shy and unsure of my talents.  Looking back, I realized that I focused more on making friends than joining clubs to hone my potentials. I did attempt to join the dance club, but I was just too scared to audition. I really feared rejection and scrutiny. I was used to people saying I dance very well so I was quite afraid that they’d find my dancing a bit too ordinary.

On the contrary, there were times that I was able to muster some courage.  When intrams came, during my freshman year, I couldn’t resist myself from joining the pep squad. I still remember that few of my classmates tried out for the squad. They did it as a group while I auditioned as a soloist. They never invited me on their team so I had no choice but to go on my own. I was scared and paranoid of screwing up. I considered myself really lucky then because I made the cut and the succeeding ones. Unfortunately, most of my classmates weren’t picked. Only two of us from my section were privileged enough to get picked.  What’s even fascinating is that both of us auditioned solo. Somehow, I took pride on that.

Now, maybe you’re thinking that I also made it on the squad on my second, third, and fourth year. I’m sorry to made you think that way but I only made it twice. There was actually no pep squad during my second year so that doesn’t count, meaning out of three years left, I was able to join two competitions. One during my freshman year and the other during my junior year.

My pep squad stint as a junior was also a challenge. It was difficult to join the squad. Again, there were auditions and once again, I had to dance in front of a lot of people. As you know by now, I also managed to get in. Thank God for granting my request. I bet that was my lucky day. Well, if you want to know about what happened on my fourth year try out, then I’ll let you in on a secret: it’s because there were a lot better dancers in our section and since I haven’t danced for a long time, my moves kinda sucked. There, I said it. Lol.

All those years I’ve spent in high school, I only realized how I really missed dancing when I saw some of my classmates performing on stage. Yes, I also wanted to be excused from classes like most high school students wanted but truth is, I never really got to showcase what I have or even hone them.

Nothing really changed when I went to college. And sometimes, I regret that I never even gave myself a chance to try out and be a part of any performing org. I was just too scared and was too overpowered by my fear that’s why I hate myself for everything.

When I watched the opening celebration of my former school’s intramurals last month, I thought how foolish I was to let all those years pass without doing anything to the only talent that gives a boost to my ego and confidence. Even if I was only watching from the bleachers, all those memories of practicing came back to me. It was such a pity that I realized all my self confidence came from my dancing. And it was even more frustrating and disappointing  to know how I took my talent for granted all these years.

And now, no matter what I do, I can never go back to fix that. I can only remember and re-live all those happy memories when I still have it and I can still strut my stuff.