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Since I am now in headless-chicken mode, trying to prepare for our trip and still finish copy, I'm cutting-and-pasting this blog entry from an email sent to me by Nessa, who now works in Singapore and tries to not feel homesick by watching lots of 80s TV shows.

Dear Budj:

Watching V: The Final Battle was a weekend highlight. It was so much fun to watch because it only makes sense if you remember the context in which it was filmed. So unlike Star Wars, a re-master of this won't help make it palatable to Gen Y. But that's what makes it wonderful. It something that I could claim as my own generation's and no one else's. Hahaha.

FUN STUFF:

1. Since it was shot before NYPD Blue and Saving Private Ryan, no one, not a single member of the cast knows how to hold a gun. The aliens were holding laser guns so holding it ala-Han Solo is fine. But the earthlings were using uzis so that's just inexcusable. The main character, Donovan, was holding his gun like John Wayne with the free hand ready to reload... pero automatic nga yung baril sa the right arm over the left shooting hand is just funny.

2. There was only one kind of strong-woman type. The Bitch. Hindi pa uso yung mala-Meg Ryan or Sandra Bullock na strong pero medyo weird and quirky and sweet and huggable. And of course, the Bitch eventually melts into the arms of the strong, independent good guy with a chip on his shoulder.

3. Killer lines:

Good guys catching an earthling traitor:

Q: "Are going to kill him?"
A: "As many times as I can."

Lead character killing a bunch of Vs:
"What a waste of luggage."

Donovan to his lover:
"Don't ever make me choose between my son and you. You'll lose... EVERY TIME."

Donovan about another male lead named Ham:
"I don't like him, but I trust him."

Donovan about Ham:
"He used to call me `Gooder` it was short for `Do-gooder`. "


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