Monday, April 16, 2007

Rounin

Pinoy PopCulture TV Art
TV: Rounin
Genre: Sci-Fi


Official Web Site:

Feel Free to visit the web address below for more informations. Thanks.

http://www.rounin.tv/home.htm#

Rounin

Rounin was an ABS-CBN Philippine drama dubbed as tele-epiko or TV epic. It is a fantasy and martial arts series shown in Philippine TV and is said to be one of the most expensive locally-produced TV series aired in the Philippines. It is also the first Filipino series shot using high-definition video technology. It began airing on April 16, 2007 in ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida block. The series is line produced by Reality Films while Larger Than Life Productions is handling post, visual effects, VFX supervision, mastering and grading. The series is shot using Panasonic’s HDP2 technology. Despite the media hype and promotions, the series only manage to attract attention on its firsts weeks. Rounin did not manage to beat its rival show in the ratings game and therefore was put to a later timeslot to make way to stronger shows. The move contributed to reaching even lower ratings to as low as 10% as its niche audience (predominantly younger viewers) think that the timeslot is very late. It became the lowest rating for a show in Mega Manila primetime slot.







Trailer

Rating: PG
Rounin TV- Video Trailer
Courtesy: You Tube
An Embedded Video Link Fan Share Only! Copyrights remain at source.

The series concluded on July 26, 2007.

[ Sypnosis ]

Rounin is the story of an elite group of warriors who live in a place called Lumeria. It also happens to take place on a totally different planet.

The Rounin(s) are tasked to protect the city and its inhabitants against the threats of Helion, the City of Death. Each Rounin(s) specializes in a martial arts discipline, and is commanded by the master Rounin, the leader of Lumeria.

While battling their enemies, the Rounin strive to adhere to their tenents - one that they cannot fall in love with each other.

The show centers around the quest of a young Rounin warrior, Mythos, as he tries to piece together his past to unlock his true identity


Rating: PG
Rounin TV- Video Trailer
Courtesy: You Tube
An Embedded Video Link Fan Share Only! Copyrights remain at source.
















[ Cast and characters ]

Main Characters

The main cast and characters of the series are enumerated below.

Actor Character Character Description

Diether Ocampo Cadmus Prudence. The master of Rounin & leader of Lumeria. Master of the martial art of Furian (Shado and Katana). Rules with wisdom, not force. He is elevated as the master of the Legendary Rounin Circle that fought and won the Great War that finally gave Lumeria ultimate freedom and peace. He was the only survivor of the 1st Generation of Rounin. His original element was Earth, but later gained the element of Light (the medallion controlling all five elements) after being made the Master of the Rounin, and Ruler of Lumeria.

Luis Manzano Juris Service & Justice. Member of the 2nd Generation of Rounin. The strongest (of the five) Rounin. His aggressiveness matches his mastery of Freega (Muay Thai). Justice is his motivation for combat. His greatest weakness is love. He has a forbidden relationship with a fellow Rounin, Aura. His medallion's element is Fire.

Angelica Panganiban Aura Passion & Love. Member of the 2nd Generation of Rounin. The master of Aria (Wu Shu). Love is her motivation for fighting…for the kingdom, and love for Juris. Unknown to her, she is also the object of affection of
Creon. Her medallion's element is Wind/Air.
In the closing episode of the series, Aura and Juris marry and have a child.

Rafael Rosell IV Creon Pride & Freedom. Member of the 2nd Generation of Rounin. The Master of Armada (Capoeira). He is the son of Xander - 1st Generation Rounin, alongside with Master Cadmus. He feels pressure of being the son of Xander, A legendary Rounin. He was Juris' best friend, but became best friends with Venom later on; he had always resented his being second best to Juris in combat and in Aura’s heart. His medallion's element is Water. He is vanquished by his long lost brother Mythos in battle.

Nikki Gil Leal Patriotism & Loyalty. Member of the 2nd Generation of Rounin. Master of Katana (Kali). A Rounin that truly goes by the book; she is the second strongest (loyal) Rounin. She is Aura's confidant. She is a true friend to her peers and a joyous person that endears to the people around her. She has a complicated past involving her love to Xyrus and her duty as a Rounin. Her deceased father's un-fulfilled wish to become a Rounin was what drove her to become a Rounin herself. Leal dies in the fight against Helion's forces. Her medallion's element is Electricity.
Jhong Hilario Venom Deceit & Discord. Member of the 2nd Generation of Rounin. Master of Shado (Krav Maga). Dark and secretive; always seems to have ulterior motives for his "just" actions. His loyalty is not with the kingdom, but with Creon, because he owes Creon for helping him (Venom) become a Rounin, himself. He is aptly named, as his true character is revealed later on. His medallion's element is Earth.

Rayver Cruz Mythos/Cleo Strength & Bravery. One of two chosen, 3rd Generation recruits, to the current (2nd Generation) members of Rounin, and one of elite students to pass the elimination and reach the top four, at Zephire. Mythos possesses extraordinary fighting skills that, he thinks, might have something to do with the father he never knew. When his mother refuses to talk about his father and about their life, before they arrived in Vesta, he knows that he has to find his father and the truth for himself. Little does he know that he belongs to a family of Rounin - Xander being his father, and Creon being his older brother - and his true name being "Cleo". He later receives the medallion of Water, as one of the two new recruits into the circle of 2nd Generation of Rounin.

In the concluding episodes of the series, it was revealed that Mythos' real father was not the late Xander, but Cadmus himself, which explains why Mythos is the most powerful Rounin of his generation. He eventually inherits the leadership of Lumeria.

Shaina Magdayao Selene Respect. One of the elite students at Zephire, and top four chosen to become one of the two new recruits into the circle of the 2nd Generation of Rounin. She is Aura’s protégé. She has the making of the next Aria (Wu Shu) and Katana (Kali) master. She respects both her enemies and peers. Never bitter with defeat. She is the master apprentice of the Rounin school until Mythos came. She is happy to be reunited with Mythos and eventually falls in love with him. She later discovers that she is half-Helion, and that Vega is her half-sister, making Draco her father. She is later given status as Leader of the Palace Guard, if only for a short amount of time, to test her loyalty.
Selene and Mythos are married by the end of the series, and have twin daughters. However, Selene's Helion heritage continues to hover over her newfound life.

Joross Gamboa Thalon Ambition. One of the elite students at Zephire, and top four chosen to become one of the two new recruits into the circle of the 2nd Generation of Rounin. He is Juris’ nephew and protégé. Student of Furian (Muay Thai). He is Selene’s closest ally, but he is slowly falling in love with her. He will be Mythos’ Rival in combat and in love, much in the same predicament that Juris, Aura, & Creon were in. He later receives the medallion of Fire, as one of the two new recruits into the circle of 2nd Generation of Rounin.

Melissa Ricks Raysian Competitiveness. One of the elite students at Zephire, and top four chosen to become one of the two new recruits into the circle of the 2nd Generation of Rounin. She is classmates with Mythos, Thalon, and Selene. She was also one of Mythos’ rivals, constantly butting heads with Mythos, during Mythos' first arrival to Zephire. During the Final Challenge, Mythos saves her life - carrying her while she was unconcsious; she eventually warms up to Mythos and becomes one of his most trusted allies in battle. She swears on her life, her complete loyalty & allegiance to Mythos, and later develops feelings for him. Soon after, she was given status as Leader/General of the soldiers prepared to attack Helion, traveling alongside the Rounin. She dies in battle trying to save Mythos against a possessed Selene.

Geoff Eigenmann Xyrus Wariness. He was sent to the city-prison, Argos, as punishment for killing a man while trying to protect Leal. He unwillingly worked for Septo while in Argos, but had turned on him after having met, spoken with, and helped, Juris. He becomes instrumental in saving and releasing Juris from being imprisoned in Argos. He is granted amnesty and is allowed to be free once again (more accurately, he was granted residency in Lumeria upon the end of the term of his punishment & imprisonment in Argos, coinciding upon the same time as Juris' extraction from Argos). He comes face to face with Leal, his former love. He ends up being a loyal and strong warrior, alongside the Rounin, helping to protect Lumeria, especially the Palace of Master Cadmus.

Aubrey Miles Vega The daughter of Draco - the king of Helion, and heiress to the throne of Helion, the arch-enemy of Cadmus and the entire kingdom of Lumeria. She resurrects and falls in love with Creon, using her power as a Helion and the power of the Water medallion. She later discovers that Selene is her half-sister, after Selene is captured in an attempt to lure Mythos, so that he would give up his medallion, for Selene's release. She is killed by Aura in a duel.

Agot Isidro Naya Naya would do just about anything for her daughter Selene. She may seem a social climbing and money-hungry woman but in truth she only wants Selene to escape the danger of her own sordid past. Her drive for Selene to become a Rounin is so that the power of a Rounin medallion would suppress or prevent the Helion blood, in Selene, to kick in, and show Selene's true nature - thus putting Selene in danger, and being subject to be sent to Argos.

Ina Raymundo Reema/Deinara A good mother to Mythos(Cleo), who always thinks of her. She doesn’t want Mythos fighting, for fear of learning about the truth of his heritage. Always trying to hide their past, content to live a simple life amd peace. She is Xander's wife, and Creon's mother. At one point during her marital disputes with Xander, she turns to Cadmus for consolation, she being Cadmus' beloved. Mythos was born as a result of this affair.

AJ Dee Braulio He is the right hand of Vega, the Queen of Helion. He is the one who executes attacks and masterminds plots against Lumeria. Secretly, he is in love with Vega and will battle Creon in her name.

Carlos Agassi Septo He is the camp leader of arrested criminals from Vesta, in Argos (a city-prison). He rules with an iron fist over a large piece of land, in Argos, and the criminals that inhabit those lands. He is feared by almost all except those who are from the Helion camp.

Monsour del Rosario Draco A power hungry king (of Helion). His only goal in life is to defeat and conquer Lumeria, as what his elder did before him. He has a special vendetta against Lumeria, after Cadmus survived their false peace treaty-turned-ambush. As Vega’s father, his mission is to mold her as a leader and have her follow in his footsteps.

Aarron Junatas Kirra He is an Enyo, a race of people who look like children but are in fact adults, he is the first person that Mythos befriends inside Lumeria. He has the power to heal injuries except his own. He becomes instrumental to Mythos and Rouninship and the discovery of his own identity.


[ Other Characters ]

Rico Barrera as Amon
TJ Trinidad as Xander
Jeni Hernandez as Armana
Mhyco Aquino as Lore
Paw Diaz as Solana
Janice Hung as Zelian
Emilio Garcia as Pharus
Juddah Paolo as Tyro
Ronnie Lazaro as Mang Elli
Owen Bowen as Young Creon
Jairus Aquino as Young Mythos
Sharlene San Pedro as Young Selene

[ Soundtrack ]

The original soundtrack was released by Star Records which include ten tracks including the theme song entitled "Argos" which was composed and interpreted by the band, Bamboo. Other tracks include the love theme for the series, entitled "Iniibig Kita" sung by Kitchie Nadal and "Tanging Ikaw" performed by Shamrock.

Also in the Rounin OST include 2006 Rockista grand prize grand winner, Bojo who sings “Walang Hangganan," Acel Bisa (former vocalist of Moonstar 88) sings “Sa Ngalan ng Pag-Ibig,” Rock icon Kevin Roy, of Razorback performs “Kailanpaman,” and the superband, Sandwich sings “Humanda Ka” plus up and coming rock bands Bliss, Side Crash and North Groove performing “I Think Of You,” “One Last Time” and “Nasaan Ka Na,” respectively.


Rating: PG
Rounin TV- Video Trailer
Courtesy: You Tube
An Embedded Video Link Fan Share Only! Copyrights remain at source.

Premiere

On April 14, 2007, ABS-CBN aired a TV special entitled "The Making of Rounin: Ang Bagong Mitolohiya", a documentary on how Rounin was made and conceptualized. It was hosted by Luis Manzano and Anne Curtis.

Production

Rounin's story actually began in November 2005, when writer Philip King and creative manager Rondel Lindayag pitched the idea of the heroic "Rounin of Lumeria" to ABS-CBN executives. So unique and impressive was this idea, then known as project Mythos, it took them one and a half years to complete it. Searching for good location took them months until they finally found a 44-hectare abandoned cement factory in Binangonan, Rizal, and took two months to complete the cities of Helion, Lumeria, Vesta, Argos and Icarra. All of the cast went under three months of training martial arts.capoeira, muay thai, judo, kali, arnis and wushu.

[ TV Series Fact: ]

Erik Matti's Rounin

Ang tele-epikong magdadala sa iyo sa hangganan ng imahinasyon
A TV epic that will take you to the ends of imagination.
Format Drama, Romance, Action, Fantasy, Sci Fi
Created by Erik Matti and Philip King
Starring See Cast
Country of origin Philippines
No. of episodes 67 Episodes
Production
Executive producer(s) Joan del Rosario and Joven Tan
Running time 25-30 mins.
Broadcast
Original channel ABS-CBN
Picture format 1080i HDTV
Original run April 16, 2007 –
July 26, 2007

References / Informations:

1> Rounin Web & Fan Site
2> Wikipedia web encyclopedia

A Pinoy PopCulture TV Fan Info. Notes Only!

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Fantastic Man

Pinoy PopCulture TV Art
TV: Fantastic Man
Genre: Superhero

Official Fantastic Man web site:

http://www.igma.tv/shows/fantastic-man

Fantastic Man

Fantastic Man is a television serialization of the box office movie with the same title. The series originally starred by Vic Sotto stars Mark Herras as Fantastic Man with Ryza Cenon as her leading lady-turned sidekick Wena aka Fantastic Girl. The series refurbishes and reintroduces Fantastic Man as a crime-busting superhero. The series is on its second season.

[ Character History ]

Fantastic Man is a fictional superhero character popularized by Vic Sotto. The character debuted on the 2003 movie with the same title produced by OctoArts Films and M-Zet Productions. It was actually part of the Metro Manila Film Festival - and was that year's topgrosser.

The concept of Fantastic Man came about when the movie producers failed to bought the rights of Lastikman from the Ravelos. Lastikman was actually their entry to the 2002 Metro Manila Film Festival and was that years' topgrosser, thus they were forced to do a sequel due to its success. The reason why they failed to buy the rights is because the heirs of Lastikman creator Mars Ravelo demanded 1.8 million pesos (around US$32,727 that time) for the sequel. In the Lastikman (2003 movie) which realunched and brought the character back to limelight, the heirs only demanded 130,000 pesos (US$2,363), they even gave 500,000 pesos (US$9,090). The rights for the movie went to Viva Films. Meanwhile, Michael V. and Chito Francisco came up with a new superhero story bringing birth to Fantastic Man.

The costume of Fantastic Man in the movie was designed and made by the special effects team of T.A.P.E. Productions boss Tony Tuviera. While the costume of Diabolica (the main villain in the movie -- Ara Mina's character who was named after her role/name in the movie Super Ranger Kids in 1997) was the idea of actor Michael V.

Fantastic Man costume's color was Purple/Violet and Gold/Yellow, which represents Holiday season for the Philippines. Violet for puto-bumbong (Filipino native food) and in Christmas wreath violet/purple candle means loyalty to God. While yellow for bibingka or rice cake (Filipino Christmas food). Another interpretation was the color Purple represents justice while Gold/Yellow stands for power according to 1872 Mardi Gras by the King of Carnival, Rex.

[ Powers ]

The powers of Fantastic Man was more defined in the TV series than in the original movie version. As Fantastic Man, he can transform parts of his body (usually the arms) into various objects. They include an oversized drill, hammer, saw, scissors, spoon and fork and even his feet can be some sort of a spring. At the course of the series prior to the second season, his powers seem to have evolved further where he can fly by turning his legs into rockets for propulsion and turn his appendages to more combative aspects, such as a gattling gun

[ Weakness ]

If Captain Barbell weakens by Askobar, Fantastic Man on the same way weakens when in a very low temperature of when exposed in a cold/low temperature object such as ice, etc. This was incorporated in the TV series.

[ Plot ]

Directed by Zoren Legazpi

As a young boy, Fredo lived happily in the province with his parents Danny and Linda, together with his Lola Cedes, until his simple life was shattered when a group of armed bandits abducted his father and killed his mother. Fredo was raised alone by his Lola Cedes, who eventually turned senile and got lost when they moved to the city.

In search of his Lola Cedes in the cruel city, Fredo meets new friends but also has a close brush with death in the hands of a ruthless syndicate. Left almost lifeless from a deadly beating, Fredo is rescued by Prof. Manalo, a scientist who invented the healing machine called the Regenerator. Fredo becomes the first "guinea pig" of the breakthrough healing machine and surprisingly acquires super-human powers. This fateful experience transforms the once helpless Fredo into an invincible crime-buster with extraordinary abilities and power.

[ Cast]

Mark Herras as Fredo/Fantastic Man
Ryza Cenon as Wena/Fantastic Girl
Jackie Rice as Helen
Ariel Rivera as Danny/Tadtad
Beth Tamayo as Linda
Gloria Sevilla as Lola Cedes
Joey Marquez as Professor Manalo
Paolo Contis as Madam Tisay
Benjie Paras as Gobo
Rez Cortez as Boss Elvis
Pen Medina as Singkit
Keempee de Leon as Budol
Patrick Garcia as Lloyd (Season 2)
Nicole Anderson as Ms. K
Ana Lea Javier as Faith
Miguel Tanfelix as Tikboy
Valerie Concepcion as Agent Belle
Kirby de Jesus
Chuck Allie
Alvin Aragon
Jewel Mische as Agent Vicky
Dion Ignacio as Dexter
Cristine Reyes as Kate
Ryan Yllana as Jopet
Arci Munoz as Candy Ice
Rainier Castillo as Arman
Kevin Santos
Mike Tan as Bornok
Mart Escudero
Sherilyn Reyes as Elektrika
Joyce Jimenez
Maureen Larazzabal as Agent Juliet
Jennylyn Mercado & Nadine Samonte as Super Twins
Marco Alcaraz as Ivan
LJ Reyes as Binhi
Luis Alandy as Draxor
Jose Manalo & Wally Bayola as Super Dings
Paulo Avelino
Vivo Ouano
Bugz Daigo

[ Villains]

(in order of appearance in the TV series)

Boss Elvis (played by Rez Cortez) - a trigger-happy syndicate leader
Singkit (played by Pen Medina) an entrepreneur whose Chinese restaurant is a front for his illegal business. He is involved in smuggling and drug trafficking. He uses chopsticks as his deadly weapons. Another special ability of Singkit is he can summon animal spirits.
Budol (played by Kempee de Leon) - a con artist and an illegal dealer of pirated goods who uses hypnosis on his victims
Madam Tisay (played by Paolo Contis) - is a loud club owner who uses witchcraft to get her way. Madam Tisay is involved in prostitution and white slavery, and employs a coven of witches as performers for her club.
Gobo (played Benjie Paras) - a circus freak with an unnatural strength and an impossibly feeble mind. Gobo is the leader of a pack of midget-thieves posing as circus performers. He can crush rocks with the use of his head, bend metal with his bare hands and does other extreme acts.
Kate (played by Cristine Reyes) - A high school cheerleader who was present at the time when almost everyone in her school disappeared after seeing the blinding light right above their campus. She later returned with the ability to let out a powerful screech, as well as being able to generate powerful gales and whirlwinds by doing so
Sylvia (played by Cristine Reyes) - A Woman from a Special Episode, She owns a Resort and is actually a Vampire.
Dexter (played by Dion Ignacio) - A high school basketball player and Kate's boyfriend from the same high school. After the mysterious disappearance, he returned with the power to combust objects by generating flames from his hands and channeling them at targets. With this power, he significantly weakened Fantastic Girl (Wena), forcing her to stay behind and replenish herself while Fantastic Man went after Dexter. Dexter's powers were later stripped away by some guy in a black robe
Jobet (played by Ryan Yllana) - A stuttering and obese high school nerd who was the subject of Dexter's constant bullying at highschool prior to the students' mysterious disappearance. Upon returning, he exhibited the power to rapidly melt metal. His power seems to operate even via broadcast
Candy ICe - she has the ability to manipulate cold and ice and whatsoever
Arman - powers unknown
Ivan -
Elektrika- electricity
Super Dings (played by Jose and Wally]]- A spoof villain of the superheroins, Super Twins

[ Allies]

Super Twins
Fantastic Girl- After inadvertently absorbing a seed of extraterrestrial origin, Wena gained the power to synchronize with flora, allowing her to manipulate plants to her liking, psionically generate them from her mind, and even communicate with them. Her primary weakness appears o be extreme heat and fire, in contrast to Fantastic Man's vulnerability to the cold
Professor Manalo - Fredo's mentor, whose invention accidentally gave Fredo his remarkable abilities
Lloyd Mendez- he has the clairvoyant power to locate others who disappeared and returned with unique abilities, as well as the power to remove and steal powers and can use them. Is it true?

Fantastic Man - Walastik! Fantastik!
Format Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Created by GMA Network
Starring Mark Herras as Fantastic Man
Ryza Cenon
Jackie Rice
Country of origin Philippines
Language(s) Filipino, Tagalog, English
Production
Executive producer(s) Wilma Galvante
Running time 60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel GMA Network
Picture format 480i SDTV
Original airing April 14, 2007
Chronology
Followed by Fantastic Man: Ang Ikalawang Laban

References / Informations:
1> Wikipedia Encyclopedia
2> igma.tv/shows/fantastic-man
3> You Tube Videos Trailers

A Pinoy PopCulture TV Fan Info. Notes Only!

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