by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 25, 2023 | Video reviews
I had the opportunity to watch The Little Mermaid (2023) on May 24 at Robinson’s Magnolia’s Movie Theater 5 with my family and it was beautiful! It was like watching the animated version that first appeared in 1989 but with some variations in scenes and added songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. If you’ve watched Hamilton, In The Heights, Vivo, you will immediately recognize the songs he wrote as Lin has a very distinctive style. In an interview with Collider, this is what Lin had to say:
“So much of my work on The Little Mermaid was that wish fulfillment. I actually didn’t write any new songs for Sebastian the Crab because I love his songs so much. I was like, “I can’t. Nope, not me. I can’t do it.” I did get to write for some of the other characters in that movie. Every song you love in The Little Mermaid is still in The Little Mermaid, we just found some new moments to musicalize. That’s really tricky.”
The songs we know and love in the original Disney cartoon that was written by Alan Menken are still there, including my favorite song from the movie, Part of Your World, originally sung by Jodi Benson.
Halle Bailey as Ariel
Halle Bailey as Ariel (aka the Little Mermaid) confused me at first because I thought that Halle Berry would be too old to play the role of a teenage mermaid. The similarities in their names are definitely cause for confusion. I’m glad that got cleared up in this article on movieweb.com. I don’t know why there was such a hullabaloo about her playing Ariel, she was fantastic as Ariel. Maybe I’m just color-blind because, to be honest, the fact that Halle is not white was not the first thing I noticed about her in the movie.
It is possible that this was not a great concern for me since I grew up watching stage plays in school and then later in the bigger theaters. I attended an all-girls Catholic school and when the drama club put on a play they didn’t usually match the perceived appearance of the character role. Whoever was the best in playing the character, was the one assigned to play it. In this rendition of The Little Mermaid, the best person happened to be Halle.
Other notable performances
Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric
Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric was a great choice. His acting was on point and he certainly has the singing chops for the role. I also thought it was perfect that his physique was not like romance book male leads. It made him seem more … attainable, perhaps the word I am looking for. He’s fit, just not buff, which I felt was appropriate for the character.
Before watching The Little Mermaid, I had never heard of Jonah Hauer-King. To be fair, I also haven’t been watching a lot of movies lately. This movie certainly put him in the leading man category for this and future films.
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula is surprising but in a good way. I know her best in her comedic roles so seeing her acting villainous and not trying to draw a laugh is refreshing! I’m glad to know she has more than just comedy in her toolbelt.
She looked so much like the cartoon Ursula but better! More glam, way prettier, and somehow more menacing. The way she modulated her voice was so on point, I got chills. By the way, I chose a pic of her as Ursula because I was just really amazed at how she looked in this movie.
A question that is often asked about Ursula is whether she is an octopus or a squid. Based on the dialogue where she referred to King Triton as her “squibling” (wordplay of squid and sibling) I think it is safe to safe she is a squid. However, no matter how many times I count it, she only has 8 tentacles so that should make her an octopus … unless we count her arms in the limb count.
Daveed Diggs as Sebastian
Daveed Diggs plays Sebastian is certainly a far cry from playing LaFayette in Hamilton. Nonetheless, he was able to deliver the role of stodgy majordomo, unwilling babysitter, and later, desperate matchmaker to a tee.
I don’t know what an authentic Jamaican accent sounds like, but he carried one off pretty well to these uneducated ears.
Awkwafina as Scuttle
Awkafina plays Scuttle, the kooky seagull that likes to tell Ariel stories about humans and their gadgets and things. Even though the original voice actor in the animated version was male, I don’t think it was ever really stated that Scuttle had to be a specific gender so it worked. If at all, I think it worked better with her in the role, because she easily gave that busybody vibe I was expecting from Scuttle.
Awkwafina is not a name that is easy to forget. 1) She’s like Madonna or Prince … doesn’t use a last name so that makes her stand out. 2) Her voice is distinctive … raspy and loud and full of character. I think I saw her for the first time in Crazy Rich Asians and after that, it felt like the name Awkafina became synonymous with funny female Asian.
Sebastian and Scuttle have so many scenes together and their dynamic is fun! Not counting Ariel’s solo, I think my favorite songs in the movie are Scuttlebutt and Kiss the Girl, which they sang together.
My thoughts on the movie
Thank you, technology, for making it possible to have underwater scenes without actually being underwater all the time. I loved watching the way their hair moved as if they were underwater. Was a lot of the underwater scenes wirework? Even in the scenes where we see Ariel swimming I had to look closely to see if she was actually in the water or in the air on wires. Movie magic is awesome! However it was done, I applaud it.
I think my favorite action sequence was at the beginning with the shark. That was scary! I’m glad we opted not to watch on 3D. As for musical numbers, it will have to be Kiss the Girl, hands down. The harmonies, the choreography, the special effects … they all worked together to create that masterpiece number.
I think this movie bears repeating. Maybe next time I will watch it in 3D.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 2, 2017 | Health and Wellness
In the medical world. the proper use of words is important because a simple mistake could cause complications that are usually unwanted by both the doctor and the patient. Medical jargon is too technical and complicated and difficult for the general public to understand so putting them in layman’s terms is helpful.
Side effect and main effect
Take for example the phrases “side effect” and “main effect”. These terms are often interchanged in use. Doing so is not just wrong it is also dangerous!
What is the main effect?
The main effect is the actual result expected by the physician when a prescribed drug is taken. For example, you take paracetamol and your headache goes away. And since paracetamol was designed as a pain reliever and fever reducer, then, mission accomplished!
Side effects of paracetamol appear usually when a patient overdoses on it. Symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes. (taken from https://www.drugs.com/paracetamol.html)
What is a side effect?
A side effect of any substance pertains to the result beyond the main or primary action that is intended by the physician giving drug prescription. The doctor, likewise, foresees this extra consequence.
Minoxidil
For instance, the patient might not be conscious of the side effect of unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body while using vasodilator drug called Minoxidil to treat hypertension.
The physician, nevertheless, is very well aware about it, as well as other implications, such as burning or irritation of the eye, itching, and redness or irritation at the treated area. By and large, doctors suggest that patients should ignore the side effects unless serious and often alert the sick persons about their likelihood.
Beneficial side effect
But not all side effects are bad, which is why some drugs which were initially developed for one illness have been repackaged and sold to address something else. Let’s take Minoxidil, for example. It was initially developed to treat high blood pressure but one side effect was hair growth in various parts of the body.
Hair growth products have since been developed containing 2% Minoxidil in a topical solution (since 1988 for men and 1992 for women) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where the known side effects of the drug is controlled.
Adverse side effect
An adverse effect is a downside — it is an outcome wherein the reaction occurs over and beyond the main and wanted action of a medicine. It happens when a prescribed drug is incorrectly used or the dosage is wrong. In many cases, when the adverse effect is too serious, patients need to be hospitalized.
Sildenafil Citrate
Let’s take the case of Sildenafil Citrate (first introduced into the market as Viagra) — a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Its most common adverse reactions (≥ 2%) include a headache, flushing, dyspepsia, abnormal vision, nasal congestion, back pain, myalgia, nausea, dizziness, and rash.
Patients should seek emergency treatment if an erection lasts over four hours. Patients should stop Sildenafil Citrate and seek medical care if a sudden decrease or loss of hearing and also that of vision in one or both eyes.
Since side effects paired with adverse effects can be fatal and need to be reversed or given antidote immediately, a very extra cautious effort not to interchange them with the main effects in the prescription process must be always observed. After all, it’s the lives of patients at stake here.
It is ironic that people who seek treatments for their ailments or to prolong their lives only become sicker because of improper use of the prescribed drug or confusing main and side effects. In many cases, the best treatment is still to go natural.
Natural treatment for hair loss
Hair loss is not a permanent condition. It can be addressed the natural way with products like Novuhair, that provides safe and natural effects.
With 19 natural ingredients—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—it does not only help prevent the hair loss malady but also aid in stimulating the growth of the “crowning glory.” Set aside those chemical-based topical scalp solutions out there. Choose natural, choose NOVUHAIR!
NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page, Novuhair Official, and follow on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural. You may also call NOVUHAIR hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online through lazada.com.ph and regaloservice.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 27, 2006 | Theater Review
8 pm … February 26, 2006 … CCP Studio Theater … my friends (Madz, Alz (Madz’ friend), Nudge, Silverhakai, Dekya, and Maigaray, and I watched that AWESOME musical play ZSAZSA ZATURNNAH (Ze Muzikal). I’m actually having some difficulty writing this review because, so far, everything about it is not just good, it’s great! The set, the costumes, the actors, the lines, the music … everything!
In any case, I will try my best to break it down into coherent components … for the benefit of those who may want to see this play. By the way, as far as I know, the tickets are sold out already and they may not extend the show ’cause of the schedule of the actors. Info taken from Carlo Vergara’s blogsite.
Carlo Vergara‘s Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah is considered by many readers and critics alike as a tour de force among the recent crop of Filipino comic books. Combining irreverent humor, pop culture sensibilities, and nuanced writing, Zsazsa Zaturnnah has been postively received by readers of various age groups and economic backgrounds.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah tells the story of Ada, a cynical resident of a small provincial town, who gains superhuman abilities through a stone that falls from the heavens. With the ability to transform into the voluptuous and powerful Zaturnnah, Ada defends his hometown from dangerous otherworldly threats.
Adding color to this simple tale is the fact that Ada is a homosexual, proprietor of his own quaint beauty salon. Joining him in his extraordinary adventure is his frilly-mouthed assistant Didi and his secret love Dodong. Because of strong language and suggestive imagery, the comic book is strictly for mature readers.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah was first released in December 2002 as a two-part limited series, and since then has been prominently featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Businessworld, Manila Standard, Art Quarterly Manila, Culture Crash, etc. as well as the television show Knowledge Power.
After winning a much-coveted National Book Award, given out by the discriminating Manila Critics Circle, the two part Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah has been compiled into a single trade paperback by Visual Print Enterprises, and should hit the shelves of major bookstores within the first half of 2004.
For more information on the Collected Edition of Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah , please email Visual Print Enterprises through bo**********@******nt.net
The Author
Carlo Vergara — I have a funny feeling he is not only a Trekkie but also a lurker member of Via Astris. Trek references are all over the place! We are Amazonistas (a.k.a Borg).
The Story and The Play
Very funny, very entertaining, and beautifully adapted from a comic book to the stage by Chris Martinez. I don’t normally watch anything in the vernacular, but this is DEFINITELY a show to watch.
The Songs/Original Soundtrack
I LOVE the songs and the arrangements! This is superior work by Vincent de Jesus, folks! I loved the songs so much that I bought the soundtrack.
The Actors
Eula Valdez in the title role as Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Eula Valdez
Eula will always be remembered by me as that lovely girl in Bagets. I was frankly surprised that she sings so well. And she plays gay so well. I knew she could sing, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t know she had those pipes! Excellent acting as ZsaZsa Zaturnnah. If there is any downside, all I can think of is that she doesn’t quite fit the top of the costume so well. ZsaZsa Zaturnnah is supposed to be top-heavy and Eula is supposedly well-endowed also, but I guess the skin suit she was wearing must have suppressed her “endowments”. But that is a minor detail. I’m sure that in succeeding shows they will fix that inconsistency with the character. Overall, fantastic performance!
Tuxqs Rutaquio as Ada, the gay parlorista and secret identity of Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Ricci Chan, Lauren Novero, and Tuxqs Rutaquio
Tuxqs’ (on the right) rendition of Ada is very soulful and moving and at times quite saucy. He was not the greatest singer in the group but he sang very well. He was able to project Ada’s emotions so well that I felt as if I was going through them with him. The pain of rejection, the anxious hope of love, and the fear of disappointment. He was just fantastic! I would love to catch him again. I can imagine that life has not been kind to Ada. He was lucky to have such a class act of a friend like Didi (played by Ricci Chan).
Ricci Chan as the irreverent Didi
Ricci, Ricci, Ricci (on the left in the picture above with Ada). All I can say is … I love you, I adore you. The first time I ever saw you perform was in Rent (by New Voice) as Angel. In my opinion, your star was born on that day. If I could I will watch every play you are in. Ricci as Didi is the SCENE STEALER of the show. In just about every scene he is in, he steals … but you forgive him for it. He is just too adorable. In my opinion, the best singer in the show … and the best actor in the show. At the same time, Ricci’s acting reminded me so much of Miao. It was actually eerie, ’cause Miao was sitting in front of me but I was seeing and hearing him on stage as well. If Miao were to audition for the part he wouldn’t be acting at all … he would be himself.
Arnold Reyes as Dodong, the hunky boy-next-door
Sigh … sigh … sigh ulit. I word to describe him Y-U-M-M-Y! I realize it doesn’t seem like it in the picture (he does not photograph well) but believe me, under those clothes, is your favorite dessert dripping in honey. He isn’t as beefy as the other guy who plays Dodong (see picture above. He is between Ada and Didi), but that is immaterial. What he has is good enough for me! When I saw him by the (fireman’s) pole making sexy poses I was thinking — cheesy but sexy still. And then he takes his shirt off and I almost lunged out of my seat. WHOA! Especially later when his shirt got ripped to pieces right by our (VA peeps) feet. Singing was not stupendous but I can forgive him for it. Pretty good acting. I really loved the part towards the end when he was declaring his intentions to Ada. He looked unsure and nervous — exactly how Dodong would be in that situation. There is speculation in the group if he is straight or not. Truth is … I don’t really care. I just think he is great! It’s not like I have any chance of intimacy with him, right?
Agot Isidro as Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux, the antagonist
Agot is an established singer and I was curious to see how she would fare on the stage. I am happy to say she plays the role of Queen Femina magnificently! She was able to maintain the accent even when she sings. Actually, her acting and singing really reminded me of another actor (and friend of mine) — Lynn Shermann. On a side note: she looked really good in the “battle gown”.
There are only 3 performance days left and from what I hear all shows are sold out. I hope I can watch it again. I’m still trying to score tickets from Vince.
The remaining playdates are:
- March 3 – 8 pm
- March 4 – 3 pm
- March 4 – 8 pm
- March 5 – 3 pm
With 19 natural ingredients—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—it does not only help prevent the hair loss malady but also aid in stimulating the growth of the “crowning glory.” Set aside those chemical-based topical scalp solutions out there. Choose natural, choose NOVUHAIR!
I knew she could sing, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t know she had those pipes! Excellent acting as ZsaZsa Zaturnnah. If there is any downside, all I can think of is that she doesn’t quite fit the top of the costume so well. ZsaZsa Zaturnnah is supposed to be top-heavy and Eula is supposedly well-endowed also, but I guess the skin suit she was wearing must have suppressed her “endowments”. But that is a minor detail. I’m sure that in succeeding shows they will fix that inconsistency with the character. 
Agot is an established singer and I was curious to see how she would fare on the stage. I am happy to say she plays the role of Queen Femina magnificently! She was able to maintain the accent even when she sings. Actually, her acting and singing really reminded me of another actor (and friend of mine) — Lynn Shermann. On a side note: she looked really good in the “battle gown”. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.