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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY April 1 - 15, 2019
By Alan Samuel
Amazing Grace (PG) ***
Soul Sister!
Gospel has long had a following among contemporary artists. Even Elvis took
a liking to this unique music tradition as did members of The Beatles. So it’s
no surprise that the Queen of Soul got her start listening to the good words of
God in her father’s Church. Prepare to have your breath taken away in Amazing
Grace, most likely being shown at the International Village Cinemas
Music is the focal point as Elevation Pictures unleashes a fitting tribute
to Aretha Franklin. Originally supposed to air as a television special Warner
Brothers had the foresight to hire a then young up and coming Director Sydney
Pollack to record a unique recording session. Lucky guests fortunate enough
to attend the two day recording session at an L.A.Church back in 1971 Bore
witness to a one of a kind performer in all her glory. So will you.
With an ace back-up choir from Los Angeles you too will get caught
up in the thrill of hearing this lady from an on so humble upbringing belt out
unforgettable tunes. Upbeat and full of joy the music in Amazing Grace is truly
amazing. You can even see the sweat pour off of a beautiful face in close-ups
as she fully immerses in these religious songs to a delightful audience. Energy
just abounds in the simple church setting as people feel the beat.
Almost two hours flies by in a very different concert presentation that
thrives without all the glitter and glitz rock and music fans are so accustomed
to today. It’s the music silly and when it comes to its presentation, realization
and presentation there is simply no equal to Ms. Aretha Franklin and Amazing
Grace proves this loud and clear.
Sunset (PG) ** Shadows!
Ominous secrets and dark surroundings muted cause chaos
in Sunset. Made possible by Mongrel Media this wayward feature
lasts 140 minutes and is in Hungarian with English subtitles that
don’t distract you, see this pre-World War 1 drama unfold at most
likely the International Village Theatre.
Ethnic rivalries have been with us from the sands of time. For
many years Budapest Hungary has wanted to equal or surpass the
success and glamour of Vienna Austria. Into this storybook setting
wonders the mysterious Ms. Irisz Leiter. Back in her home town
Budapest
actress Juli Jakob sachets around in hope of securing work. Ah,
but there’s more to just landing a job at an upscale hat shop on
this lady’s mind.
Call it a curse but bad feelings surround the return of this girl
and before you know it we’re locked into some ancient intrigue that
sets off a chain of events that go right into the heart of aristocratic
society in the region. Even kinky violence emerge as a very insidious
Web is weaved all somehow connected to a troubled family during
trying times in Eastern Europe.
Despite a rather befuddling ending that I guess tries to tie
things up on the eve of the First World Was and a title that may not
be apparent to what one’s about to see Sunset points to the dangers
of ethnic rivalries and the abusive power some people at the highest
echelons of power like to wield. Director László Nemes succeeds in
creating a haunting atmosphere with tense performances leaving a
few things for Audiences to mull over.
TEST NO. 5: GEOGRAPHY & TRAVEL
1. Who’s the only person who can travel the
entire world without a passport?
a. Queen Elizabeth II
b. Pope Francis
2. Not a single bridge crosses the Amazon
River.
a.
True
b.
False
3.
What is the world’s oldest surviving republic?
a.
England
b.
San Marino
c.
Greece
d.
USA
4.
What small country’s national animals is a trio of cute creatures:
hedgehog, rabbit and wood mouse?
a.
Marshall Islands
b.
Antigua and Barbuda
c.
Liechtenstein
d.
Monaco
5.
Vanuatu’s national anthem “Yumi, Yumi, Yumi” literally means
what in English?
“Fight, Fight, Fight”
a.
b.
“Shine, Shine, Shine”
c.
“Freedom, Freedom, Freedom”
d.
“We, We, We”
6.
What was the last country in the world to welcome the New
Year until 2010, when it shifted forward its time zone by 24 hrs – thus
becoming instead one of the first places to ring in the New Year?
What famed pilgrimage town in Europe has a shrine showcasing
7.
discarded crutches, braces and canes?
What African country and South American capital are anagrams
8.
of each other?
Appropriately, the Great Barrier Reef is in what body of water?
9.
10.
In 2001, American billionaire Dennis Tito spent a reported $20
million in becoming the first tourist to visit what specific destination?
ANSWERS NEXT PAGE
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