.png)
19/02/2026
Why I did not enjoy Dinner in America
I watched this film because it kept popping up in my friends' top picks, especially among my lady friends. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped. However, it sparked a lot of thoughts I want to briefly explore.
I feel like if I had turned off my prefrontal cortex or watched this in 2020, I would probably have enjoyed it. I guess I could say I’ve matured enough not to romanticize whatever toxic romantic dynamics these two have, while Simon appears sincere on the surface, deep down he is an asshole who lacks regard for her autonomy and takes advantage of her. His interactions often reduce Patty to a quirky stereotype rather than a nuanced individual.
Why Some Women Might Like This Movie
Many of my friends, mostly in their early 20s, seem to enjoy this film. I think it’s because Patty represents a type of weird girl that’s rarely seen in the media. When we usually encounter quirky, neurodivergent characters, they tend to be conventionally attractive and cater to the male gaze (e.g., Garden State, Elizabethtown, Eternal Sunshine, 500 Days of Summer), films I personally dislike because the women are portrayed as pretty and weird (only in a palatable and not off-putting way), one-dimensional happy characters who exist only through the eyes of the male protagonist. But what about those who don't fit that mold? They are often made fun of, so seeing Patty have her happily ever after gives them comfort.
18/02/2026
Why Everyone Knows Every Juan is a refresing movie
The first Filipino film I’ve watched since 2018 (Lol. not very patriotic of me). I'm just not a big fan of movies produced in my own country, and there's a reason for that. We primarily churn out romance dramas with predictable plots and dialogues, along with meta-comedies that require you to stay updated on Filipino mainstream media to get the jokes. AND I don't get the jokes!
Anyway, I found the film to be very interesting and funny. It was shot in a single take, the camera kept rolling for about two hours without cuts, and most of the dialogue was improvised. As a viewer, I could feel the tension and immediacy in every scene. The small mistakes, like actors accidentally glancing at the camera or bumping into the cameraman while trying not to laugh or stutter, made it even more entertaining and refreshing. The mistakes weren’t actually that obvious. I was just particularly observant. I missed laughing out loud for nonsensical reasons. It was midnight when I watched this, so I got scolded a little for being too loud while everyone else was asleep. The movie features a solid lineup of veteran actors and beloved comedians.
The storyline was also impressive, accurately capturing a stereotypical dysfunctional Filipino family. Everyone is unserious and problematic, with each person displaying their own kind of 'insanity', not in a likable way tho, but rather disturbing. The cast was like a bingo card of characters almost present in every unhealthy Filipino family. Similar to both the movie and real life, Love languages often consist of shouting, bullying, and petty fights that escalate violently. But when meals are served, everyone suddenly becomes friends, as if the fistfight never happened. A few minutes later, another fight breaks out, and then things seem fine again, only to have another wave of conflict shortly after.
Anyways, the movie is purely satire and intense, unnecessarily dramatic and nonsensical and I just like it.
.png)
19/01/2026
The Amazing Digital Circus is soo Funnn
The series was such a fun experience! It has similar vibes to one of my favorite shows, (DHMIS). Both share a mix of cuteness and surreal horror stuff. I have many thoughts about this series, but instead of writing them all down, I got inspired to update the whole site with Pomni in mind.
I really love Pomni, she feels just like me. She struggles with her sense of self but still finds some happiness in tough times. Poor Pomni! Each episode feels like another adventure that traumatizes her, lol. However, unlike the other human characters, I think Pomni doesn’t exhibit any psychological conditions or mental illnesses. Her reactions to the bizarre situations are quite normal for someone human trapped in a place governed by Ai.
What stood out to me the most was the last episode, particularly the ending... what ending was thaaaat. also the Chinese Room concept, another useless info I learned but it simplified my understanding of how Ai works. The Chinese Room, a thought experiment by philosopher John Searle, describes a person in a locked room who translates Chinese symbols by following rules without understanding their meaning. This shows that Ai can respond cleverly like this person, mimicking intelligence but lacking true comprehension.
I was really rooting for the humans to go home or Cain to be sentient, but it turns out he’s just Ai. It’s kind of sad to realize that he can even control the humans' minds. If Cain could actually manipulate everyone's thoughts, then which parts of the human interactions in the whole series were genuine?