Film
Best: Le Vourdalak
Le Vourdalak is not even mentioned in any critics’ lists but I loved this film that predated Dracula by years! It’s about a nobleman who gets lost in the forest and finds refuge in a weird family’s home. Gorcha, the patriarch has left to fight the Turks and has left a cryptic warning. If he comes back after 6 days do not let him in. It’s low budget and old school. No fancy CGI, using puppetry instead and it works. It’s like a fairy tale and I couldn’t recommend it enough to everyone I know. What’s more, it’s available for free on tv5! https://www.tv5mondeplus.com/en/cinema/fantastique/le-vourdalak
Special mentions: I also liked Civil war, Blink twice , Wicked, and Anora
Worst: Madam Web is the only one I saw online. I didn’t bother to see Joker: Folie à Deux, or Kraven, and I don’t intend to. People are growing tired of superhero films and these certainly didn’t help. Wolverine and Deadpool seemed more like the exception than the rule.
TV
Best comedy : Fisk
I am again choosing something that has gone under the radar of most lists and crowning this hilarious Australian comedy about a low key lawyer, Helen Fisk, who is surrounded by loony office mates and a kooky family. Thank goodness for Netflix for giving us shows other than the usual US and British shows.
Best Drama: Penguin
I thought it was a gimmick, making Colin Farrell don that ugly prosthetic mask but I admit it, I was wrong , it titally works. It’s like The Godfather set in Gotham City. That story, the actors… wow! From Cristin Millioti ( the mother in HIMYM!) down to the young Oswald , just perfect! And that ending, still lingers even weeks after I saw it.
Special Mentions: Slow horses, Shogun, Abbot Elementary were some of the best out there that made me look forward to every week. And everyone knows I love X-men 97, but for me, the best 90’s cartoon remake would have to be Ranma 1/2! It captures all the feelings we had for the original!
Worst: Rings of power, had a billion dollar budget but it pales in comparison to Peter Jackson’s magical trilogy that holds up even today. Rings just had bad writing that was either boring or cringey. Meanwhile, Abot kamay na pangarap was an afternoon soap that started out so well, but became a victim of its success. It was extended for more than 2 years and got sillier and sillier that my parents, who were once avid fans, just slept through it.
Book
Best: Cabinet of curiosities by Ambeth Ocampo. I didn’t read a lot if books this year but when I looked for a nice book to give to my cousin, I found this compilation of my favorite historian. Every short article usually comes with a photo to help make the stories come alive.
Special Mention: Doobiedoo asks by Bambi and Roland Amago. Like the Paul series by Michel Rabagliati, this is a heartfelt comic book that is based on the authors’ real life. It’s about their struggles of raising their autistic child. It’s an eye opener for me and a must-read for parents and teachers.
Worst: Isang kaibigan by VP Sara Duterte. I have to thank my readers for contributing this. This is a book that cost the taxpayer ₱10 million and will probably be best known for starting the downfall of the Davao dynasty. Not just a waste of money, it’s also full of errors and even accused of using clipart from Canva!
Song
Best: Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter has got to be my favorite song if the year, much as i wanted it avoid it, I just couldn’t stop bopping to it. It was only later I found out she was the blonde girl Olivia Rodrigo was singing about in her song Drivers License.
Special Mentions: Apt by Rosé and Bruno Mars was so entertaining but I must applaud Bini for Pantropiko. They went from one of my most hated girl groups to obe of my faves! Good job girls!
Worst: soredemo by skygarden and jillian ward. I don’t know if it’s because it was so anachronistic on the Pulang Araw show about the Japanese invasion or Skygarden guy’s voice but it totally took me out of the scene. Jillian actually sounded better than the supposed professional singer.
