courtney_gripling27 Reviews

Ang probinsyano (2015–2022)

Coco Martin's Mortal Kombat

[1/10 · 6 August 2022]

I dunno if this is supposed to be a police procedural or a blood-drenched gorefest that makes the likes of Grand Theft Auto seem family-friendly.

The August 5, 2022 episode for one is unapologetically gruesome particularly when Cardo avenged the death of his grandfather, by tying Armando's arms to a pair of Toyota Mega Cruisers and ripping them off, with Cardo himself personally finishing the poor sap off by running him over. I don't doubt it if the people who watched this show are averse to video game violence yet gush in glee as their un-favourite antagonist gets ripped to shreds.

Harley and the Davidsons (2016)

Not perfect, but not too shabby either.

[7/10 · 8 September 2016]

Watched this as my dad used to own a Harley-Davidson Sportster, and partly as I got into period dramas no thanks to my American Girl collection, but I digress. Aramayo, Huisman and company did deliver something decent to the table, but my biggest beef was that while racing was a part of the company from the get-go, it seems to be given too much of an emphasis, and yet Big Bill Davidson was, in TV Tropes parlance, demoted to an extra even though he is a key founder in his own right.

I do understand that the racing subplots, and the Davidson brothers' alcohol-fueled fists of fury were weaved in for dramatic effect, but maybe the producers could've balanced it even more. Also, the original 1936 OHV wasn't referred to by the founders as the Knucklehead early on; it wasn't until the 60s where bikers referred to the engines by the shape of the valve covers, and the founders wouldn't certainly be up to presenting a Knucklehead prototype in front of outlaw racers.

Mara Clara (2010–2011)

Not redeeming at all, seriously.

[1/10 · 25 May 2011]

I dunno, but I guess this boils down to the fact that Filipino media isn't worth appreciating anymore. We've seen so many clichéd, melodramatic soaps involving a poor damsel in distress and a rich suitor, but remaking it is sure quite ridiculous. Sure, you made some changes here and there, but it's still the same banana as the original, complete with plot holes and stock characters.

Clara's the quintessential brat in the soap, but for one thing, she and her dad Gary is no match to Count Olaf and Esme Squalor in the villainry department. Even I can admit that Olaf's the better baddie compared to most Filipino villains.