I’ve found a lot of unexpected good laughs recently—and no, I’m not talking about the Senate hearing on those sex videos again, which was such a blatant waste of taxpayers’ money, it’s not even funny. Come to think of it, after catching clips of that hearing, specifically those of Hayden Kho stopping short of giving that lame “I was also abused when I was younger” excuse, I really did need a comical diversion lest I followed baser instincts and headed for the Senate then and there just to scream at them to end the madness.
Viral videos
Enter viral videos. A friend from college posted an embedded video on his Multiply blog and it made me laugh like, well, I was still in college and had no cares in the world. Working on a concept started by one Dusto McNeato on YouTube, user dascottjr posted a “literal video” of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” You eighties babies would remember this as the song with the lines, “Turn around, bright eyes” with the already-literal music video showing kids with flashlights for eyes.
Dascottjr replaced the lyrics with words describing exactly what is happening in the video. Go look for it (you can use the keywords “total eclipse of the heart”) and have a well-deserved laugh. Just to give you a preview, the opening lines are: “Pan the room. Random use of candles, empty bottles and cloth. And can you see me through this fan?”
I’ve searched for other literal videos. There’s a take on James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” and REM’s “Losing my Religion” that are amusing as well, but not as hilarious. Still, interesting, crazy concept, I must say. Let’s see if this reaches Pinoy pop culture, via shows like Bubble Gang.
Satire blogs
I’ve been following The Professional Heckler (http://professionalheckler. wordpress.com), a really funny political satire blog lately. It holds nothing sacred, but doesn’t really go down icky depths in satirizing Philippine current events. The blog’s takes on the recent political issues have been really hilarious. On the face off between Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili, it says, “Before the hearing started, a fuming ex-cop and former Pagsanjan, Laguna mayor-turned tabloid columnist Abner Afuang poured bottled water on Dr. Hayden Kho. Senate committee on youth, women and family relations chair Jamby Madrigal was shocked. In her entire adult life, it marked the first time she saw a man get wet.” And “Members of the senate were surprised by the dousing incident last Thursday. Sen. Panfilo Lacson asked if there was enough security. Sen. Francis Escudero asked if they could hold an executive session. Sen. Lito Lapid asked about the brand of the bottled water.”
Another funny blog is Indolent Indio (www.indolent indio.com), which covers everything Filipino, from the unshakeable faith we put on Biogesic to Internet memes on Mar Roxas’ “Padyak” ad (where random bloggers place their own captions on screen captures of the ad). Its subtitle is, “Yes the Filipino can! But we’d rather not!” My favorite entry so far is that on the “Films that have ruined my life with their lies,” which identified films that, I believe, have somehow given me my blasted naiveté: With Honors and Dead Poets Society.
Old movies
A beautiful, funny, dramatic film, Dan in Real Life (Steve Carrel, Juliette Binoche) is being shown on HBO these days. Catch it while you can! It’s a pity it didn’t become a big hit in the Philippines when it was released in 2007, because it’s really an uplifting watch. Dan, a widower of four years with three daughters, finds another shot at love—by falling in love with his brother’s girlfriend. That’s difficult enough when you’re just considering your brother’s feelings, but everything happens during their tight-knit family’s get-together at their parents’ home, where everyone, including the grandkids, are watching.
How the story plays out is absolutely engaging. How it ends—with Dan concluding, “Plan to be surprised”—makes you dream.
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