Recently in the City of Las Piñas, an armed man who pretended to be a police officer got arrested after he threatened a jail officer, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A man who pretended to be a police officer and threatened a jail officer was arrested early Thursday morning in Las Piñas, May 30.
Las Piñas police chief Col. Sandro Tafalla reported to the Southern Police District (SPD) the arrest of alias Jerome, 45, at around 1:30 a.m. along P. Diego Cera Avenue, Barangay E. Aldana, Las Piñas
Report showed that the suspect blocked the path of a jail officer and identified himself as a police officer.
The victim reportedly demanded for the identification card of the suspect and when he failed to show any, tried to flee on board his motorcycle.
Tafalla said the victim was able to arrest the suspect and call for police assistance. Members of the Zapote police substation immediately responded.
He said members of the Zapote police substation found in the possession of the suspect one .45 caliber pistol and two magazines with 15 live (ammunition).
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that there could be more troublemakers who will commit the usurpation of authority to threaten or harm others? Does it bother you that some people would go as far as pretending to be police officers and disturb others?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from playing the video game and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back retro gaming fans and readers!
Today, we will go back to the late 1980s to examine one of the most significant console games of the decade…Konami’s Contra. To put things in perspective, Contra started in the arcades in 1987 and went on to become a big hit. Konami went on to make a version of the game for Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the West and the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan that resulted in different looking graphics (both artistically and technically), reworked stages, and different and extended level designs that were done within the consoles’ limitations. In short, the home version of Contra was pretty different from the arcade version but still was made to be fun and exciting on its own.
In my personal experience, my discovery of Contra has always been on the Famicom and some time later on the NES. For this retro review, I replayed Contra (both Famicom and NES versions) via the Contra Anniversary Collection on my Xbox Series X.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Contra, developed and published by Konami for the NES and Famicom in 1988. The NES version was released one week ahead of the Famicom version in February 1988.
The start screen of the NES version of Contra. The commando with dark hair was deliberately made to resemble Sylvester Stallone somewhat.
Game concept
In the far future, an alien army from space – Red Falcon – arrived on Earth inside a meteorite that landed on the Galuga archipelago. There, Red Falcon established an extensive high-tech base for their operations and eventually brainwashed a local human army to do what they want. Red Falcon plots to wipe out human civilization on the planet.
With the information about Red Falcon collected, the Earth Marine Corps send Contra unit members Bill Rizer and Lance Bean to the island to destroy the opposition and find out what Red Falcon has been doing…
Gameplay and quality
Contra is an action-packed 2D side-scrolling game with strong sci-fi and military influences.
To begin with, Contra of 1988 was made to be a nicely-paced, action-packed, side-scrolling adventure game that has some 3D-like levels in between. The game design and levels Konami came up with was done to immerse gamers into actual participation in the military campaign against the aliens and their brainwashed human soldiers. This campaign not only includes battles through the forest of the Galuga archipelago but also through the interiors of Red Falcon’s high-tech facilities, going up an elevated location with waterfalls, the snowy area and further deep into the rest of the enemy’s mechanical base.
For the most part, you play as a commando armed with a rifle with unlimited ammunition. As you shoot enemies and make your way through the 2D side-scrolling level, there will be the occasional flying capsules that you can shoot down to gain new weapons/ammunition (S for Spread Shot, M for Machine Gun, L for Laser) or some power-up (temporary invincibility or the rare ability to eliminate all enemies present on-screen) to help yourself as the wave of opposition from Red Falcon is relentless (which is reason enough to compel you to keep progressing and fighting). There are also times when the mentioned enhancements suddenly pop out after killing an enemy.
To prevent the game from getting too old with side-scrolling, Konami implemented these stages in which players face the front to attack enemies, overcome obstacles and move forward with 3D-like effects going into the next place.
By default, this game is brutally hard. Not only do the enemies keep appearing (with some of their teammates being strategically placed to fire at you), the obstacles will compel you to take your time overcoming them. In this game, one-hit death is the norm and there are many moments in which falling to your death becomes a huge risk. You get hit, you not only lose one life, you will lose whatever powerful weapons you gained.
There are also stage bosses (powerful enemies that await you at the end of a level) that will challenge you so much, you will have to adjust your strategy, pay attention to the movements and timing of the enemy, and then adjust your way fighting.
Only the Famicom version of Contra has this sequence.
I really love the sci-fi elements the game developers came up with for this classic game. There are lots of high-tech stuff to see here and this robotic enemy is just one of them.
Fortunately for us players, the controls are really tight and very responsive. You can move your characters to overcome obstacles, avoid getting hit by enemies and even move down from one platform if the space below is safer. I still remember how precise and responsive the controls were on the NES and Famicom versions, and I can say that all the responsiveness made it on the Xbox controller when I replayed Contra on Xbox Series X with the Contra Anniversary Collection I downloaded. In fact, the high precision of the controls added to the fun of shooting enemies or obstacles with the Spread Shot while moving to the right as it was meant to be.
Considering the intense difficulty of the game, players who do the famous Konami Code (Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, and Start) will be reward with 30 lives when they start playing Contra. For Xbox gamers reading this, there is a slight difference with the Konami Code when playing Contra on Xbox consoles.
Apart from shooting, there are lots of platform gaming elements to experience here. The difficulty is very brutal and the famous Konami Code will grant you 30 lives when you do the code correctly.
This cut-scene is only available in the Famicom version.
With regards to game design, the Konami developers did a really fine job creating the levels, placing the challenges and setting up memorable boss battles for action/adventure-hungry gamers to indulge in. The developers also cleverly implemented the fictional/fantasy concepts into the game design which resulted in me getting immersed in the Contra team’s mission against the Red Falcon at their secret base.
Another highlight with playing Contra is the 2-player option and the above-mentioned Konami Code added to the fun and accessibility of. I still remember the old days of playing in a 2-player session (cooperative play essentially) of Contra at a friend’s house on a Famicom. Since my friends and I were already enthusiasts of 1980s Hollywood action movies, playing Contra was enjoyable even though the difficulty was brutal.
This is one of the touch stage bosses you will encounter in the game.
If there are any notable differences between the two versions of Contra of 1988, it would be the fact that the Japanese (Famicom) version has storytelling emphasized through cutscenes (with Japanese text displayed), a technical overview of the Red Falcon base at Galuga with maps displayed before you start a new level, in-game art, an additional scene that spiced up the ending and, most notably, more background/environmental animation. The additional animation on the Famicom version made the adventuring look and feel more lively and this is most evident in the final stage (lair of the alien).
Conclusion
The Japanese cover art of Contra on Famicom. The Rambo-like character and the alien egg are obvious inspirations from Hollywood action movies of the 1980s.
There is no doubt in my view that after all the decades that passed since I first played it, Contra (1988) is still very engaging and a lot of fun to play whether you choose the Famicom version or the NES version. The developers who made this game succeeding in making something very enjoyable for millions of gamers and it is very clear that the makers were inspired by Hollywood action movies of the decade. In my view, the most obvious military inspirations are Aliens (1986), Commando (1985) and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).
Historically speaking, Contra (1988) was released at a time when militarism inspired many other game designers to come up with enjoyable games in different forms such as Cabal, Jackal, Rush’n Attack, Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt to name some. Considering the overall quality and high fun factor Konami established, it is safe to say that this game is one of the finest among its militaristic gaming counterparts of its decade.
I had a grand time replaying Contra (1988) on my Xbox Series X in preparation for this review. Having played both NES and Famicom versions, I can say that the latter is the more complete and more immersive version to play. That does not necessarily mean the NES version is totally inferior. In fact, the NES version is more straightforward with the pick-up-and-play approach, and the gameplay itself is nearly identical (note: Famicom version is slightly more challenging) and very much fun to experience. If you are the player who really wants to be more immersed into the lore of Contra and absorb the military sci-fi concept Konami prepared, then the Famicom version is the one to play. That being said, now is a good time to purchase and download Contra Anniversary Collection.
Overall, Contra (1988) is highly recommended! It truly is a retro gaming gem!
Recently in the City of Parañaque, elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)’s National Capital Region field unit raided a house in Multinational Village and arrested ten Chinese nationals who allegedly kidnapped seven Filipinos, according to a Philippine Star news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Philippine Star report. Some parts in boldface…
Ten Chinese nationals who allegedly kidnapped seven Filipinos were arrested in Parañaque on Thursday.
The suspects, seven men and three women, were apprehended by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)’s National Capital Region field unit during a raid on a house in Multinational Village, Barangay Moonwalk at around 4:50 a.m.
Col. Jean Fajardo, the chief information officer of the Philippine National Police, said the rescue operation was based on information from one of the victims, a house helper, who alleged that they were held against their will by the suspects for three days.
Acting on the information, CIDG operatives and security guards of the village went into the house and arrested the suspects. Seven Filipinos were rescued in the operation.
Fajardo said the victims were being forced by the foreigners to engage in activities such as love scams and cryptocurrency fraud.
Police seized two firearms and assorted bullets, 17 cell phones, five desktop computers, three laptop computers, passports and identification cards.
The suspects are facing criminal charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, qualified trafficking in persons, illegal gambling, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be a lot of Chinese nationals living in other villages around the city who could be secretly committing crimes of kidnapping, human trafficking and the like? Are there any groups of Chinese nationals who could be living in households in your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers! During the recent IGN x ID@Xbox Digital Showcase, several new games were shown and the one that stood out the most for me was Commandos: Origins which will be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and Game Pass sometime in the near future.
To get yourselves oriented, watch this teaser trailer of Commandos: Origins.
While no firm release date has been announced, there are lots of details about the real-time tactical stealth game developed by Claymore Game Studios under publisher Kalpyso Media. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official game details sourced from the Xbox online store page. Some parts in boldface…
ALARM! You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre. And to the days where Jack O’Hara, the Green Beret, and his five companions met to form the infamous unit sent to complete missions which no others would dare to accept.
In the hushed shadows of history’s most pivotal moments, where heroes are born and legends are forged, a new chapter awaits. Whether it is a daring raid, a covert sabotage, or a courageous rescue mission – the Green Beret, the Sapper, the Sniper, the Driver, the Marine and the Spy will need to combine their skills to meet the most challenging tasks. Your mission can only be achieved through well-thought planning and the smart combination of stealth and destruction that come with the unique skillsets of this elite troop.
A huge and detailed environment that players will have to infiltrate and beat the bad guys.
From the icy plains of the Arctic to the vast deserts of Africa, from the western coastlines of Europe to the Eastern front, it’s up to you to lead your commandos to success in high-risk missions. Guide them in their fight against the growing Nazi occupation which is menacing the free world.
• Challenging Real Time Tactical Stealth Gameplay: Make the best use of your Commandos’ unique abilities, infiltrate enemy facilities and hit them where it hurts most before disappearing into the shadows.
• An extraordinary team: Featuring 6 infamous characters, each with their own storied history, banding together to form an extraordinary fighting force – the Commandos: Take control over Jack O’Hara “the Green Beret”, Thomas “the Sapper” Hancock, Francis T. “the Sniper” Woolridge, Samuel “the Driver” Brooklyn, James “the Marine” Blackwood, and Rene “the Spy” Duchamp and lead them to success.
• Many paths to victory: The detailed, varied and interactive environments offer multiple approaches to reach your goal. Sneak, climb, drive in various vehicles, or hide and creep your way to mission success!
• On your mark: A modern user experience with precise and intuitive controls enables you to control the commandos with expert precision. Coordinate complex actions simultaneously to overcome heavily fortified targets.
An explosive sequence with a tank.
Having seen the trailer of Commandos: Origins, I had these XCOM vibes. Then the game showed that action sequences can be executed with a good amount of detail supposedly to ensure satisfaction for players who love strategy backed with militaristic stuff. While the game design emphasizes 3D space, turn-based gameplay and strategy, Commandos: Origins still managed to remind me of past military games such as Operation Wolf, Cabal, Rush’n Attack and original Metal Gear.
Recently in the City of Parañaque, a police officer was apprehended for shooting dead a motorcycle rider in Barangay San Dionisio, according to a GMA Network news report. The incident happened during Holy Week and the suspect (currently in jail) denied the allegations against him.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
A police officer who is an active member of the mobile unit of the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group was arrested for allegedly shooting a motorcycle rider in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque.
According to Mariz Umali’s Saturday 24 Oras Weekend report, 27-year-old Neil Wong was shot dead at around 6:40 a.m. He was seen by a witness talking to the suspect before the attack.
“Nakita ko nang bumagsak na po yung biktima. Tapos sinisigawan ko na yung suspect, sabi ko ‘Huy!’” said the witness.
(I saw the victim fall. Then, I shouted at the suspect, I said ‘Huy!’)
According to the Parañaque Police, the suspect attempted to steal the victim’s motorcycle but ran after it failed to start and was arrested by a passing police patrol.
Taken from the suspect were his service firearm, bullets, and two of the victim’s mobile phones.
“Ang motibo na nakikita namin dito yung robbery,” said Parañaque Police Investigation Chief Police Captain Melvin Garcia.
(The motive that we’re seeing is robbery.)
The victim may also have been in the area because his motorcycle broke down.
Meanwhile, the suspect denied the allegations.
“Bigla niya kong binato out of nowhere. Kala ko di niya sinasadya. Tapos maya-maya bigla niya ko minura. Kaya ko yun nagawa sa kanya, yung binaril ko siya. Humihingi ako ng tawad sa lahat ng kaanak, sa mga magulang at saka sa mga mahal niya sa buhay,” the suspect said.
(He suddenly threw something at me out of nowhere. I thought he didn’t mean it, but later he suddenly cursed at me. That’s why I did it, shooting him. I’m asking for forgiveness from all his relatives, parents, and his loved ones)
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that motorcycle robberies could happen near your local community? Do you think the suspect is telling the truth?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Parañaque, a pawnshop messenger was shot dead by an unidentified gunman who remains on the loose and the local police are tackling the possibility that the victim was targeted due to his alleged past as an asset of the police, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Probers at the Parañaque City police are looking into the possibility that the killing on Thursday, March 21, of a pawnshop messenger was allegedly due his being a former police asset.
The Southern Police District (SPD) said the victim, identified as alias Juan, 45, of Camp Bagong Diwa, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City and a messenger at Champion Pawnshop located along Lopez Avenue, Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City, was shot dead at around 7:40 a.m.
According to the report of the Parañaque city police, the victim was reportedly opening the sliding accordion metal door of the establishment when he was approached by a male person wearing a black hoody jacket, blue pants, red t-shirt, and white rubber shoes and was shot several times in the body.
The Parañaque City police said that based on the CCTV footage in the area, the suspect arrived with a male companion on board a motorcycle and parked their vehicle at the tricycle terminal.
The police said the gunman alighted from the motorcycle and walked casually to the establishment where alias Jun was working.
A few minutes later, a burst of gunfire was heard and the gunman was seen running going to the direction of his companion.
The police added that the motive of the killing could have been revenge because of his allegedly being a former police asset.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that criminals could be hunting for locals whom they perceive to be assets of the police force?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from watching the film and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, movie buffs, science fiction fans and geeks! When it comes to making remakes or reimagined versions of established movies from previous decades, the 1980s was indeed a special time to watch them. In 1986, The Fly (directed by David Cronenberg) was released and it made a tremendous impact on moviegoers in ways that the original 1958 movie did not.
Remember when The Blob was first released in 1958? That classic film (read my retro review by clicking here) went on to have a forgettable sequel released in the 1970s but got remade big time with a new version in 1988 simply titled The Blob.
The story begins in the town of Arborville where many locals attend an exciting football game. High school player Paul (Donovan Leitch, Jr.) asks cheerleader Meg (Shawnee Smith) to a date. Elsewhere, the troubled guy Briann Flagg (Kevin Dillon) fails with his attempted stunt as a result of his flawed motorcycle which was witnessed by an elderly vagabond. Flagg goes back to town and encounters the local sheriff (Jeffrey DeMunn) who warns him about trouble.
That evening at the outskirts of town, a meteorite crashes within the forest which the elderly vagabond pursues. With strong curiosity in his mind, the old man uses a stick on a sizable body of slime mold substance (the blob itself) that came out of the crashed meteor. Suddenly, the substance moves and sticks to the elderly vagabond’s hand causing him great pain.
A short time later in the forest, Brian Flagg got surprised by the sudden appearance of the vagabond who desperately tries cutting off his own hand. The blob, which Brian saw for the first time ever, attaches itself even more on the old man causing him to run away until he gets hit by a car (with Meg and Paul inside)…
Quality
The blob in this movie looks more menacing as it has a tumor look and the special effect work remains excellent to look at. You should also see the blob move and what it sounds like.
This late-1980s remake of The Blob is not only more engaging and more entertaining than its 1958 predecessor…it is easily on of the best sci-fi horror movies of the 1980s thanks to a very talented creative team led by Chuck Russell.
To begin with, Russell and Darabont (this is the same great director behind The Shawshank Redemption), crafted a very solid screenplay that used key story elements from the 1958 classic while successfully updating everything else with 1980s America (or Ronald Reagan’s America) in mind. For this version, the three leading teenagers played by Shawnee Smith, Kevin Dillon and Donovan Leitch, Jr. were relatable and clearly worth following.
(From left to right) Shawnee Smith, Kevin Dillon and Candy Clark in an early encounter with the blob.
While the 1958 movie emphasized American teenagers being disadvantaged as local adults don’t take them seriously (even though the youth knew the problem and intend to solve it), this remake moved away from the generational gap as it strongly focused more on the crisis of a fast-growing blob that simply won’t stop killing people and destroying things. In other words, this is a crisis-focused monster story that is more violent, more horrific, more action-packed and more graphic than its predecessor.
I should also state that Russell and his team established a solid structure for storytelling and the narrative flowed on a medium-to-fast pace. As this movie has more spectacle in terms of action, monster moments and the like, the creative team carefully balanced the fun stuff with the dramatic and exposition scenes smoothly.
If you see people wearing protective suits arriving in your community and implementing a lockdown, you know a crisis is in effect.
The cast here is solid! Shawnee Smith’s Meg is the sweet, young good-natured high school girl who is willing to not only survive but also take part in solving the crisis situation not for herself but for her family and the entire Arborville community. Meg has some common elements with that of the character Sarah Connor from The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. I also love the fact that there is NO WOKENESS and NO RABID FEMINIST VALUES in Meg. Kevin Dillon’s Brian – the troubled youth – is clearly the 2nd lead and he does a good job dramatizing how his character changes from a guy of uncertainty into an actual doer whose efforts proved to be valuable. There definitely is a non-romantic chemistry between Meg and Brian as the crisis situation really brought out solid transformations from them respectively.
The supporting cast is really good too. Candy Clark’s Fran is the relatable community diner owner/manager who contributed nicely to the plot as well as the early showdown of the blob. Jeffrey DeMunn’s sheriff is the local law enforcer who has to deal with the local situations while tackling the challenges of his leadership post. Paul McCrane here plays a local cop who is tough but not necessarily abusive, and this is the same guy who played a very vicious bad guy in 1987’s RoboCop! Joe Seneca is the government scientist who has charisma and deception carefully blended together which added to the plot. You will even see Erika Eleniak in a very small and yet notable appearance that happens to involve the blob. This film has a really interesting cast and I encourage you to research the names mentioned here.
This remake is loaded with action scenes, stunts and incredible visual effects!
On the technical side of things, I really like the cinematography done by Mark Irwin as the visuals captured looked really detailed and clear even during the dark or night-time scenes. The music by Michael Hoenig was pretty good too and his tunes ranged nicely from creepy to sentimental and energetic which reflected the scenes. As for the design of the blob, Lyle Conway deserves the credit for making it very monstrous. As for the physical environment of the movie, the state of Louisiana turned out to be a great location and the real-life Louisiana town Abbeville added strongly to the small town concept of the story.
As mentioned earlier, this version has a lot more spectacle to enjoy. For one thing, there is a good amount of hard action, gunfire and stunts which really added to the excitement (on top of the suspense and horror scenes already implemented). Rest assured, you will not get bored at all when watching this.
Shawnee Smith is the protagonist in this movie and her performance is very memorable.
The highlight of the spectacle is the very blob itself which looks so much like a tumor (instead of the jello form in the 1958 version) and the credit goes to the visual effects, sound effects and the animation team behind it all. Compared to its counterpart in the 1958 film, the blob here is very monstrous and horrifying to watch and the way it got animated is excellent. Apart from being unrelenting, this blob is deadlier and even intelligent. Not only does the blob devour the living which adds to its tremendous growth of size and mass, it also has the ability to extend tentacles which added more to the danger. Thanks to the sound effects, the blob is believably animalistic.
Through the blob’s on-screen presence, you can see the hard work implemented by the special effects crew when showing the monster entirely move and devour people, when showing its flexibility on adjusting its size (or its parts) when entering new places through tight spots, and most notably, how the blob alters the flesh of the victims it touches which resulted in very horrifying visuals. The special effects team really excelled with the use of practical effects (read: no computer-generated images) on presenting the titular monster. This is indeed a special effects extravaganza that a lot of people are missing out on.
Conclusion
The Blob (1988) looks and sounds better than ever in 4K Blu-ray format. I highly recommend this version as it is so much better than streaming.
There is no doubt in my mind that The Blob (1988) is a great sci-fi horror film that has a more menacing monster complete with sufficient action, great visual effects and a pretty solid cast! This is indeed a great example of a how a remake of an established film from the past should be done and this also includes raising the stakes within the story, modernizing past cinematic elements and ensuring high entertainment value. What director Russell, his team and the cast collectively achieved is indeed a creative success and this is the kind of film that Commie-filled Hollywood (Commiewood) today does not want to make.
As a companion piece to The Blob (1958), this remake has the good stuff that people who love horror, science fiction, action and monsters will enjoy.
Of all the many movies I have seen, The Blob (1988) stands out as one of the best remakes ever made as well as one of the best mixed-genre movies of its decade as well as of all time. That being said, today is a great time to watch this movie with better-than-ever visuals and sounds through its 4K Blu-ray release (pictured above) which is now available (you can order it online now). There is also a lot of features and extra stuff with the 4K Blu-ray. Make no mistake, The Blob (1988) is great to watch and its replay value is pretty high.
Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the Southern Police District (SPD) conducted an entrapment operation at a part of Festival Mall that resulted in the arrest of the leader of a gunrunning group for the alleged illegal sale of firearms and ammunition, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
A suspected leader of a gunrunning group was arrested by the Southern Police District (SPD) at a popular mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa on Jan. 9.
The SPD Special Operation Unit carried out the operation against the illegal sale of firearms and ammunition.
SPD Director Brig. Gen. Mark Pespes identified the arrested suspect as alias Ivan, 51, alleged leader of the Sgt. Ivan Gun Running Group. The driver of the van with the alias Alvin, 41, is being investigated.
A member of the group, alias Daryl, 40, was arrested in another operation in Sampaloc, Manila.
The arrest was made at about 8 a.m. in front of a Korean grill restaurant in Festival Mall in Alabang.
A subsequent operation at 11:15 a.m. on the same day in Sampaloc, Manila led to the arrest of Daryl, the second target of the operation.
The SPD said the operation stemmed from intelligence provided by a confidential informant, allegedly detailing the involvement of the Sgt Ivan Group in gunrunning activities.
The group is allegedly composed of reservists or former uniformed personnel and believed to be operating in the southern part and nearby cities of the National Capital Region (NCR).
SPD said the entrapment operation, jointly conducted with the Station Intelligence Section of the Muntinlupa Police, the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Quezon City District Field Unit and Manila Police District Substation 4.
At Festival Mall, Ivan, the No. 1 target of the operation, sold two ammunition boxes of 5.56mm containing an estimated 2,000 rounds after receiving marked buy-bust money. Subsequently another operation was launched involving three high-caliber firearms.
The transaction started in Muntinlupa City and extended to D. Tuazon, Quezon City. Target No. 2, Daryl, aware of the situation, swiftly changed the location to Bataan Street, Barangay 55, Sampaloc, near the boundary of Quezon City and Manila. Despite attempts to evade arrest, Daryl was swiftly apprehended by the team.
Recovered by the police from Ivan were P1,000 genuine bill marked money, two ammunition boxes containing an estimated 2,000 rounds of green tip 5.56 ammunition, one Intelligence Service Identification Card under the name of suspect alias Ivan.
Meanwhile, recovered from Daryl, the SPD said, were P1,000 genuine bill, one unit of Imbel Brasil .45 caliber pistol, one magazine for .45 caliber pistol, 15 live ammunition for .45 caliber pistol, black inside holster for .45 caliber pistol, one Bentley shotgun, 35 shotgun shells, red sling bag intended as pouch for shotgun ammunition, one US carbine with foldable butt and sling, 82 live ammunition for carbine, black pouch intended for carbine ammunition, brown sling bag. An Armscor .45 caliber pistol recovered from Daryl is under verification.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you surprised that the buy-bust operation and arrest happened within the area of Festival Mall?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late 1980s to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through a tale of the iconic Batman.
After DC Comics published the maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths, the publisher rebooted their entire comic book universe and that meant reintroducing their superheroes, villains and supporting characters with a touch of 1980s modernization. Frank Miller led the reintroduction of Batman as a new crime fighter in the Batman: Year One storyline in 1987. Also that same year, DC Comics went on to publish a sequel storyline through four issues of the Detective Comics series. That sequel was titled Batman: Year Two.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Detective Comics #575, published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written by Mike W. Barr (the same guy who did Mantra for Malibu Comics) and drawn by Alan Davis. This is the first chapter of the Batman: Year Two storyline.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in Gotham City where the newly appointed police commissioner Gordon participates in a TV talk show. The talk show host is aggressive towards Gordon cutting him off verbally and pointing out that Batman – who is working with the police fighting crime – is no better than the Reaper, a costumed vigilante who caused trouble and killed many people on Gotham’s streets twenty years prior. Gordon emphasizes that Batman works with the city police and he operates strictly on his own.
As the TV talk show goes on, a group of armed thugs carrying varied items enter an apartment that is dark. Outside the Bat Signal (coming from the machine Gordon recently got) flashes, and soon Batman himself appears inside the apartment and cleverly took the gang down. He leaves the place going to do other things.
The next day, Rachel Caspian is pleasantly surprised to see her father arrive earlier than expected…
Quality
Batman strikes first in his encounter with the Reaper.
Set during the 2nd year of Batman engaging in crime-fighting in coordination with the Gotham City police force, this comic book dramatically portrays the city having a long-running disease and legacy of crime. The references to Gotham’s embarrassing past of being filled with thugs and wicked activities literally paved the way for the return of a masked vigilante who fights criminals with uncompromising violence (including killings). That vigilante’s legacy affects the way the public perceives Batman and why they have trouble seeing the differences between them. The writing and build-up here are very solid.
When it comes to portrayals, you will get to see a younger Bruce Wayne who is clearly pushing himself hard between engaging in business matters and secretly fighting crooks. This is a Batman who is only gaining more experience in the war against crime and he clearly is not the very tactical and very resourceful hero he would become. In his fight against the Reaper, you will really see Batman struggle hard and make really flawed moves that cost him a lot.
The introduction of the Reaper, who became the definitive vigilante of Gotham City long before Batman even started, is very engaging. This vigilante is also very intimidating to see and he clearly overshadows the Caped Crusader both visually and in action.
Conclusion
Bruce Wayne attending to business on-site.
As the first chapter of the Batman: Year Two storyline, Detective Comics #575 (1987) is a very solid tale to read. The narrative moved at a medium pace and there were these balanced pay-offs to the build-up (that took place in the first half). The Reaper’s reputation as Gotham’s past blood-thirsty vigilante literally dwarfed that of Batman (the modern vigilante). I should also state that Mike W. Barr symbolized the common traits and differences between Batman and the Reaper which alone are worth reading.
Overall, Detective Comics #575 (1987) is recommended.
Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers arrested a Chinese national for illegally possessing two guns and several pieces of ammunition, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The arrest took place in Barangay Don Galo.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A Chinese national was arrested by members of the Parañaque City Police Sto. Nino Substation after he was caught in possession of two .45-caliber pistols on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Police said the suspect, identified as “Jung”, was nabbed at around 12:50 a.m. in front of a hotel on Macapagal Boulevard in Barangay Don Galo, Parañaque City.
A concerned citizen sought help from Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officers after seeing the suspect with a gun while on board a pickup truck. They then asked for assistance from the police to apprehend Jung.
The police said that upon their arrival in the area, the suspect immediately threw his gun into the back of his vehicle.
The suspect was arrested after police recovered from him two .45-caliber pistols with 13 live bullets.
He was immediately brought and detained at the Parañaque Police custodial facility.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more Chinese nationals moving around in your local community illegally carrying guns and bullets? Are you concerned that such foreigners could cause trouble locally?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Author Carlo Carrasco 