MANILA, Philippines - There’s something about the New Year that rings in a renewed sense of anticipation. And while you compile your list of things you look forward to, may it be career changes or a gym membership, Young Star took its time to do the same.
We’re kicking off the first Friday of the year by putting our pseudo-prophetic hats on and rounding up an anticipation index of sorts — the 12 reasons why you could love 2012. From The Hunger Games to the Olympics, to Death Cab for Cutie to Mamma Mia, it seems like the future has got a pretty sweet lineup for us. Happy New Year, folks.
1. The stage is set
Honey honey, how they thrill us! The first quarter’s looking good for theatergoers in Manila. And even if you aren’t, count on this to be a sweet-sounding initiation. Broadway headliner turned Hollywood flick Mamma Mia! is coming to CCP come late January, as well as the aptly titled Rivalry, a musical on the rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle. Meanwhile, one of the former’s theater organizations, Blue Repertory, is re-staging 2009’s much buzzed-about production, Bare, this February. Something’s being cooked up on the RCBC stage too, as You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown also premieres on the same month.
2. Grand tourismo
Whoever’s responsible for bringing in foreign acts that aren’t from the ‘80s deserves a standing ovation from us. Recent years have seen the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Beyonce, as well as indie acts like Jens Lekman and The Whitest Boy Alive. We could expect heart-wrenching sets from both Death Cab for Cutie (coming March) and Katy Perry (coming this January), for frontman Ben Gibbard and Katy Perry both just recently separated from their partners. If that isn’t your thing, then there’s always Blue and Hanson to tickle your boy band fancies.
3. Motion picture this
This year’s about to see a lot of continuity in terms of movie franchises — plots unhinging and thickening, all that stuff. The first major superhero crossover flick The Avengers will be released this year, as well as The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spider-Man and the LOTR prequel The Hobbit. There is of course, the last of the Twilight saga, Breaking Dawn Part 2, which marks the end for Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, and the beginning of her taking more proactive female roles again. And no, we don’t mean vampire-human procreation.
4. Let the games begin
A new trilogy also premieres this year, as Suzane Collins’ dystopian bestseller The Hunger Games gets adapted on the big screen. Jennifer Lawrence dips her feet into big budget productions once again post-X Men, this time as the precocious Katniss Everdeen. On her debut role, she played mom to her two siblings as Ree Dolly in the Academy Award-acclaimed Winter’s Bone. She then departed from the maternal and to more teen-friendly territory, as rebound girl slash secretary to Anton Yelchin in Like Crazy. Jennifer Lawrence’s already touching a lot of bases as a new actress, and in The Hunger Games, we’re about to see if she can hit a home run. And if the trailer’s any indication, it’s already sure to be better than Twilight’s.
5. You better watch out
The cold winds are rising this April, for Westeros is back on HBO. The Game of Thrones returns for a new season. Shows like American Idol, The Vampire Diaries, Downtown Abbey and Ryan Murphy’s follow-up to Glee, American Horror Story also makes a comeback on the small screen. Ringing in the New Year with a new show, meanwhile, is ABC with Apartment 23 and HBO with anti-New Girl, Judd Apatow-produced comedy called Girls. NBC’s possible retaliation from their season slump is Smash, starring Katharine McPhee. The trailer culminates to her singing Beautiful as her audition piece for Marilyn the musical, and it comes across as cheesy (and it is). But it’s the good kind. Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? We know we do.
6. A movie script ending
There’s nothing we love more than more outlets being provided for the creative youth. Now, it looks like we don’t have to wait until Cinemalaya to get our fill of emerging film talent. The first Bigshot film festival has sponsored and tapped young directors like Krizzie Syfu, Archie Dimaculangan, Jano de Rivera, Franne Cheska Ramos, Bianca Catbagan and Jose Antonio de Rivera to produce movies to premiere on the last week of January. With the theme being modern heroes, Tahanan, Balang Araw and Suntok sa Buwan will hopefully be the first of many attempts to put a positive dent into the industry. Time to roll out that red carpet.
7. Take another bite of Apple
Siri has converted masses away from BBM and to iPhone 4S late last year. But if Apple’s known for anything, it’s for creating some new shiny thing is going to tease our better judgments. Again. Nothing’s confirmed yet, but rumors of an iPad 3, iPhone 5 and an Apple iTv this year are circulating. Innovation that transcends death, now that’s what you call a legacy. Thank you, Steve Jobs.
8. Don’t pass on the fast fashion
In case you haven’t heard, the mothership of quality basics and thermals is coming to Manila — and we can’t wait. It started with Muji, and now Uniqlo arriving is proof of how the Japanese aesthetic is permeating the Filipino consciousness. Though the chain had its share of designer collaborations (Jil Sander, Vena Cava), it’s the H&M x Marni collab that’s keeping the style denizens on their toes. The collection’s said to be released on March 8 — mark your calendars, ladies.
9. On the record
It may not be unlikely (to some, at least) that the indoctrination to Lana Del Rey began when her song Video Games played as Chuck Bass apologized to Blair Waldorf in a Gossip Girl episode. Still, the 25-year-old has since released punch-me-in-the-gut singles (and videos) like Born to Die, and now her album’s one of the most anticipated ones this year. Nicki Minaj also follows up her album “Pink Friday” with “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” and we can expect another one from Jay-Z, post-“Watch The Throne.” But what we’re really excited about is No Doubt. The untitled album was set to be released last year, but they’re making us wait just a little longer. It’s been more than a decade since their last album, so what’s another couple of months?
10. Oh the glossy, glossy
Judging by the covers we’ve seen so far, it’s going to be an interesting year for the readers. 2011 has seen a constant stream of trending topic-worthy local magazine covers, fashion and non-fashion magazines alike — and it’s only bound to get better this year. Initiative from the publishing industry and enormous response from the readers? Always a win-win.
11. Pass the torch
London’s bridge would have to carry a heavier load than usual come July, as the city hosts the 2012 Summer Olympics. Our own Smart Gilas team already took a leap closer to the Olympics by placing fourth on the FIBA Asia Championship Cup. And while we can’t bet on them just yet, we (along with the rest of the world) could count on our boxers as one of our best contenders.
12. Next year. Enough said.
Rumor has it that the world’s about to end in 2012. We’ve even done more than our fair share of pop culture references to it. From movies that depict the supposed apocalyptic end, to songs that encourage debauchery and partying like it’s the end of the world. And though the Mayan prophecy’s left us in a conundrum and breaking into pop songs, we don’t really want it to be true. See you, 2013.