by Nestor Cuartero
JUST A THOUGHT: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K. Rowling
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MOVIE SPOOFS STILL IN: In his heyday, Dolphy made big box office hits out of movie parodies, or spoofs of both local and foreign films.
One of his last spoofs, Tatay Nic, came close on the heels of the Hollywood monster hit, “Titanic.”
Local producers, directors, and comedians have not retired the formula, tried and tested as it were. It still works apparently to this day, the age of a new set of comics and entertainers.
So, what should stop TAPE from launching a full length feature starring the new comic trio of Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros in a movie whose title and concept reminds of the Korean movie hit, “Train to Busan?”
Comes now “Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs. Zombies,” where the three lolas of “Eat Bulaga” fame chase and give a close fight to a zing of zombies thrown their way during an out of town adventure. Director Mark Reyes, however, explains that’s as far as the resemblance to “Train to Busan” goes.
Their film has an entirely different story, Reyes said.
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DANCERS CAST AS ZOMBIES: In casting actors for zombies, Paolo said that those cast are not just ordinary extras, or those called to fill up crowds in movies.
“We got dancers instead. They know the right moves. They were trained properly and could get really scary.’’
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PAOLO MAS MAGANDA: “Mas maganda si Paolo kaysa akin as Barbi,’’ so said Joey de Leon in summing up the “Die Beautiful” star’s appearance in a sequel to a movie of the same title he made in the 80s.
Joey said he is “retired’’ from movie making, content as a TV host on long running variety show “Eat Bulaga.”
“Look at us, Tito Vic and Joey, di ba lagi na lang kaming nakaupo ngayon?’’
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NOT AS BARBIE BUT AS DYESEBEL: Paolo was asked if he saw himself as Barbie, the American doll while he was growing up as a boy.
No, he said. “I saw myself as Dyesebel, and then also as Wonder Woman,’’ he happily retorted. He did admit that he played with Barbie dolls as a kid.
Paolo said despite the critical and commercial success of his launching film, “Die Beautiful,” he has not fully come to terms with so-called stardom. “It hasn’t sunk in just yet.’’ He won a best actor award at the Tokyo international Film Festival for the role.
