Encantadia

Encantadia is the only local TV show that got me hooked! Since it's airing -- the show earned good reviews. This is the only show i know (as reported by agb and other independent stat agencies) that got the ab and c crowd (the elite and educated pinoy crowd)interested (before enca.. they do NOT watch tagalog movies or TV). No wonder Encantadia is NOW the number show in the Phil! It's understandable. Enca has a good storyline or premise (Not a ripped of LOTR, mind you. jeesh-- where'd u get that?). Great characters(tough, highly principled women/sang'gre's, they show greatlove for their kingdom). It's fast paced storytelling and plot twist are very very unpredictable. Though it's fx needs improvement but who cares?

We watch encantadia because it brings out the child in us (the sense of magic and wonderment)-- and THAT's what FANTASY is all about!

Encantadia is one of the best telefantasyas that I have seen my entire life!!! It is very unique from other Filipino fantasy films like Darna or Panday and kampanerang kuba!!!!!!!!!!!1 The story is very unpredictable and is very very interesting!!! It really go me hooked up and made me want to watch in night after night and made me hate weekends! All the time, i will think of it even in my dreams i see it... It is addicting!!! Unlike Panday and Kampanerang kuba from ABSCBN, though it is very unrealistic, people like me can connect to the story. Well, most of the time it makes me want to be an encantada and live in another world. It really rocks...

I have heard in an interview somewhere that the production people of GMA's new fantasy soap opera 'Encantadia' admittedly watched the special features on the DVD release of the recent Blockbuster movie 'The Lord of the Rings' in order to get a grasp on how to create a full production in a high-fantasy setting.

Of course, their 'research' does not go unnoticed: 'Encantadia' is now the most watched show on Philippine TV. The people behind the show seemed to have caught the spirit of the movie it copied: colorful costumes, CGI settings, even the lovable animatronic characters were caught to a sharp T. There's only one problem though: Hello??? Universal storyline that applies to all humankind? Where are you? The producers caught everything from LOTR except the one thing that made it all special to millions worldwide: The solid themes of fellowship, perseverance, and corruption that leads to imminent danger.

Let me deliver a comparison: in LOTR, a simple, almost nobody-homebody proves that even the smallest person can change the course of the future as he goes through the toughest obstacles in his life to save the world.

in Encantadia: a royal family struggles to keep their power amidst the threats of destabilization from other groups. The story does have attempts at the usual 'universal storyline' themes (fairy princess/infant stolen and forced to live poor life, mortal falls in love with immortal, etc), but these petty events don't add up to the big picture. Wait a minute... What is the big picture anyway?? No epic quest, no test of friendship, no test of resolve or integrity, no character exploration; Just a series of soap operatic events. I guess in the end all we have to expect is that the hero royal family wins.

Storyline aside, the show works well anyway. The costumes and masks seemed believable enough. How about the mythology? What makes stories such as this is how this 'alternate world' came to be. Again, Tolkien turns over in his grave: the world of 'Encantadia' seemed to have popped out of nowhere. Unlike LOTR which originated from the creation story 'Ainulindale' from the unforgettable epic book 'The Silmarillion', 'Encantadia' does not provide a mythology which makes the story (like 'Mulawin' before it) unbelievable and a tad uninteresting.

Cheers to the network for creating a top-rater, and jeers to the shortcomings intelligent viewers cannot overlook.

By the way: who ever said intelligent viewers were the market of 'Encantadia'?

I guess GMA just don't want to stop. From the crap Mulawin, wrentched Darna and now, here's Encantadia. There is obviously no story line in this TV series, the acting was still dumb, lousy special effects and oh, a copy of Casshern and the dumb DEVILMAN. This TV series will only waste your time. There is some good points in this, cause it has Iza Calzado. She manages her emotions, like her award winning performance in The Echo. Still, a big waste of time. Whoever taught that a un-talented Karylle will be one of the leads is out of his mind. Actually,the only makes this series bad is because it has no premise, like it has no storyline. It's really a bad attempt.

Will GMA ever produce great TV series someday?

1/10 stars

Encantadia's story is fueled by the rich folklore of the Filipino people about fairies and deities that lives in the forest. This kind of story has been told for generations to Filipino children by their lolo's (grandfather's) and lola's (grandmother) right before they sleep at night which fueled their imaginations about kingdoms of fairies and demi-gods that according to the old folks,lived long ago..before man set foot to our lands Although one might say that it is a rip-off of LOTR, but in my point of view, in order to make a good "tele fantasia" or a soap, you must benchmark with the best in the field, like LOTR and other movies. GMA really put their best into this because if you watch this soap, you will see the intricate design of their costumes.The design is very Filipino and one might imagine if these were like the costumes and dresses they use (if they are real). Although the CGI is not that good, but it is an improvement, a great improvement from the fantasy movies here in the Philippines before where you can see the lines that hold the actors and stuff like the actors more looked liked they are literally pasted on the background.

No wonder this soap is said to be the no.1 watched soap in the Philippines. because it really captures the imagination of Filipinos, adults or children. It poses the question "what if they are real?" "what if there really are fairies living among us?". It captures the mind of the Filipino viewers who has a great culture and heritage