YOU’VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME? AsNTM SEASON 4 FINALE REACTION

So, Asia’s Next Top Model Season 4 just ended tonight and just like AsNTM signature: they chose the wrong winner again.

First, let’s back track to the past seasons to check how they did with their finales:

Season 1

This is the only season which I agreed to their chosen winner who was Jessica Amornkuldilok from Thailand. But it was unquestionable since the two runner ups, Kate (Taiwan) and Stephanie (Philippines) don’t really have that model potential, and Jessica was the only one who keeps on targeting brief after brief and hands down: Jessica was the one.

Season 2

This is where AsNTModel started to get a little confusing and crazy. The remaining two contestants were Sheena (Malaysia) and Jodilly (Philippines). It was also unquestionable that Jodilly would win (I remember writing a blog post prior to the finale episode congratulating her for the win), but to my surprise it was Sheena’s name who was called. I was totally in disbelief because I couldn’t form any logical explanation on why they chose Sheena. Until I later realized that maybe because Jodilly didn’t have that ‘Asian’ look that’s why she didn’t win even though she keeps on nailing photoshoot after photoshoot, while Sheena only showed that flat and repetitive look. I won’t talk about it any further because my frustrations are slowly coming back, but that was probably the most unjustifiable win ever.

Season 3

Gani from Indonesia and Monika from Philippines came face-to-face in the finale. And although my cent was on Monika since she’s done well in the competition: I thought the judges would call Gani, because just like in season 2, the judges were looking for a winner who had kinky eyes and small and long face that they justify as ‘Asian’ look… it was Gani who won. I rolled my eyes a little bit more…

Season 4

…until Season 4 came and my eyes rolled further back of my head. Listen, most of the models in season 4 aren’t good at all, period. That’s the truth. I even ranted about how untalented (in modeling) these girls are in my previous post but you don’t have to really explore episode per episode: it’s visible in Glenn Tan and Yu Tsai’s face. And I’m tired of this shit. Three girls were left: Sang In – the girl who has THE model potential; Patricia – the girl who was the fast learner; and Tawan – the amateur one-hit-wonder. Come on, guys it was clear that Sang In was the best in the bunch but was dubiously in the second place after Patricia? Let’s admit Sang In doesn’t have the most interesting personality but the contest is not Asia’s Next Top Personality. It is more acceptable for Patricia to win actually.

That last photoshoot was even Sang In’s throne and let’s just say she’s sometimes difficult to direct, let’s give her that: but that’s not the point. The point is who could bring the best picture on the table. And truth is all of them are difficult to direct because, as I’ve said, they’re not good nor experienced.

I’m not doubting Tawan’s capacity to model, she can be good in time… but not today… not in that finale episode.

This is so frustrating. I don’t know how could AsNTM alleviate the contest. It just keeps crashing down, but I guess they should start with the cast.

They also need to bring Joey Mead-King back because that Season 4 model mentor was useless. I hope Cindy Bishop would be back because she’s a very good host and Yu Tsai should also be there in the 5th season since his shouting brings color to the show and he pushes models to their potential.

And I hope next time they wouldn’t choose a winner just because she has a typical ‘Asian’ look or a winner out of pity or a winner out of personality that lacks modelling skills.

Congrats, still to Tawan. Prove us wrong.

ASIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL WINNER PREDICTION

And now we’re down to the Top 3 of the competition. Last week, Tawan and Julian were in the bottom two and (thankfully) Julian fell out of the competition (I thought she was getting another free pass and be part of the Finale).

Patricia, Sang In and Tawan are the girls left that has the chance in becoming the fourth Asia’s Next Top Model winner.

 

PATRICIA

At the start of the competition, Patricia was a nobody to me. She didn’t stand out that much because she was a mediocre model. Although I remember, she won the very first challenge which was runway. And to be honest, she’s the only model who could walk close to perfection.

But then as the competition goes on, and the crowd grew smaller and smaller: she slowly showed off. I started to remember her in the Subaru’s video challenge where she won that round because of her ecstatic personality.

But what surprised me with Patricia was that she’s getting more and more good photos, making me think that she’s the fastest learner in the competition.

I was so awed in their Harper’s Bazaar photoshoot where she won the best photo because of a toned down look that surprised me a lot because as I’ve said, she has an ecstatic personality; and to pull off a calm, collected and a high fashion shoot was incredible.

I think she will be the runner up in this season.

 

TAWAN

Tawan has the best personality in the competition in terms of being cute and cuddly. She’s the only model who can make the panel laugh in a strict and serious toned season.

But is she one of the best in the competition? I don’t think so. She won the Subaru photoshoot and that’s it. I think she’s a one hit wonder who gets the lucky shots. BUT, there’s a model potential in her, and just a little bit push: I know she can be a well-rounded model.

Tuti is even better, to be honest. It was just so unfortunate that her confidence slowly depreciated after the Close-Up challenge. Still, I think she should’ve been part of the Top 3… well, part of Tops 4 and 5, actually because Julian and Angie both didn’t deserve their spots. But anyway, it was one unlucky time for Tuti.

I think Tawan would be the second placer.

 

SANG IN

And now the girl who I think will win Season 4 of AsNTM.

Sang In is good. She’s versatile. She has a cool personality. She’s funny. And she can do high fashion and catalogue.

Although, as I’ve said in my previous post, all the girls in the competition aren’t that great, and Sang In sometimes needs to tone down her seriousness to fit to the photoshoot’s brief: she’s the best model of the bunch.

I will hardly protest if she doesn’t win, like I protested when Jodilly didn’t win in Season 2 because Sang In is the only model who started good and is still good. I think she has what it takes to win.

Let’s just hope that the judges won’t make the wrong decision (again) in choosing the winner, like what happened in seasons 2.

 

So, that’s my Asia’s Next Top Model Season 4 winner prediction! Who’s your winner?

SHEENA is Asia’s Next Top Model Season 2 WINNER

Runner up is JODILLY

2nd is KATARINA

Well, sh*t

 

WE STILL LOVE YOU JODILLY AND KATARINA!!! YUHUUU!

MGA BAKLA, BOYCOT NA YAN!

 

HAHA Just fooling around. Knowing Sheena won Asia’s Next Top Model… it just makes me feel like it’s defeated all the purpose of me watching the whole 20 cycles of America’s Next Top Model. Sorry, Sheena fans… but really.

For me, the two switched judges were the reason why the votes were pulled to Sheena instead of to Jodilly. I mean, have they seen other photos of both of them? They say Sheena is a chameleon and a modern model… All I can see is an amateur model for amateur photo shoots.

My initial reaction would sum up to the meme below.

UPDATE as of the FINALE:ASIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL SEASON 2 FINALE WINNER PREDICTION | ANALYSIS

 

UPDATE as of 10:30 today 4/9/2014: SHEENA IS ASIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL SEASON 2 WINNER..

Asia’s Next Top Model Season/Cycle 2 is a very successful reality-TV show in Asia. I can say; it’s one of the best. And now, since it’s going near the end, and only three girls remaining vying for the price of becoming the second AsNTM winner plus the huge prices; it’s going to be tough.

 

RECAP OF THE LAST EPISODE BEFORE THE FINALE

 

Let’s start with the omitted episode (11) due to the reason of a very sensitive issue about the Malaysian Airlines, which is also one of the main sponsors of the show; they’ve cancelled it and proceeded to the 12^th episode then.

But what’s shocking to me was that Nicole was sent home during the omitted episode; and I believe that was a result to her being weaker than most of the girls.

I actually don’t believe it, not until I see that very episode.

Sheena won, but I couldn’t ponder why (sorry fans of Sheena); really, because I’ll explain AGAIN why after.

Then episode 12 aired and only 4 girls left.

They have this sensual photo-shoot for Harper’s Bazaar Malaysia and they have to give their best since it will be the second to the last episode before the finale.

Katarina won with the hot, hot, hot photo. She’s been stepping up her game ever since I last blogged about AsNTM. Her last photo was an analysis of mine that her girl-next-door beauty could ALWAYS be converted into sexy. And in this photo-shoot; it was conveyed.

Jodilly won the second best; and this was another hot, hot, scorching hot photo. Jodilly is this cute little princess from the Philippines that’s having a dream to become a model, and you totally wouldn’t expect to give out a very, very sexy, satisfying and nonchalantly effective result.

It was Sheena and Marie on the bottom two, and it was heartbreaking to see the latter leave. I mean… wow. I expected her to reach top 3, but well, whatevs.

 

ANALYSIS FOR THE FINAL 3

JODILLY

Jody has always been giving us a hundred and ten percent of her effort just to give us wonderful, wonderful results/photos, and it has always been effective. It’s very impressive to show how she’s been a so-so model from the start to becoming a fierce and versatile one. Every week, she’s bringing out some bag of tricks to give and she’s the one to beat… really.

 

KATARINA

Katarina has always been the unexperienced and underdog which finally came out of the shell for the past weeks and giving out good results. I never expected her to reach final three because I was looking after other models to reach that far (e.g. Nicole and Marie). She’s a good model, though, but I STILL believe she needs lots and lots of practice to come out of that sweet little girl/girl-next-door/catalogue model to a fierce, high fashion one. Although she’s there, but what more could she give (for the show)?

 

SHEENA

Wow, Sheena was another one who I thought would never reach the final three due to the fact that she’s always not giving it 100%, also she’s got a bit of attitude there with her… but she’s there, what can I do? Anyway, it always looks good to see some twists.

 

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION FOR THE WINNER

Here I am again, predicting. And I guess AsNTM creators and judges differ from America’s Next Top Model because I always get right whenever I watch that American TV show.

I predict Jodilly will win.

But let’s first go straight to the facts.

What I’ve noticed was that, there’s a trend that even when a contestant is not that much good; they always reach the top.

I am a Filipino, and I don’t hate my fellowmen; but I’m not biased and I remembered last cycle with Stephanie who was also on the final 3 which was not really that good in taking photos, but Nadya insists that she’s got something in her. She’s really a good ramp model, not that I hate her; I actually love and I was rooting for her, but her grace does not really appear on the photos (I’m wondering where she is right now).

Stephanie of Cycle 1 of AsNTM

And now we have Katarina… although she’s different from Stephanie; Katarina has been nailing shots ever since they went to Indonesia. But has she really gone out of her shell?

Well, as we’ve seen; since the 9^th episode (which was in Indonesia), she went straight to the top. For me it is because her beauty is directly opposite to the jungle theme that’s why it works.

Also on the 10^th episode which she sank half her body in the sea (they named her mermaid for that); it was close to a glamour shot. It is almost the same as the episode where they posed in front of the Petronas Tower where she looked really, really good if not for her body pose.

Then on the 12^th episode, she posed sexy which I explained on the top.

Sheena… I don’t even know why she’s on the top three. Marie, although suffered on the last episode, but let’s face it, her picture is way better than of Sheena’s. Let’s be real, Sheena doesn’t always give the exact shot which is far away from the required brief of the photo-shoot.

Also she’s giving the same facial expressions week after week, after week… what I meant was ‘from the start’. I don’t know… it’s just… phwew. Marie and Nicole were such a waste… *sobs

Then there’s Jodilly who gives every photographer a pleasure in taking photographs. She’s always giving her best just to show to the world how she really wants this and every week she’s not letting down anybody. Instead she grew some fans.

Jodilly has this extrinsic charisma that wows everyone when she’s in front of the camera. Her walk is OK compared to Katarina’s, but we’re searching for a versatile one rather than ‘good’ in one genre and have luck on others.

What I’m most scared about is that I’m wrong about this and Katarina will win; because in the preview of the finale; their photo-shoot brief looks like another glamour shot which Katarina mostly wins above all.

 

Then it hits me.

 

This vies for a cover girl for Harper’s Bazaar Magazine and most of the times, it’s all glamour! And Katarina is one hell of a glamour girl. She’s going to be a very strong contender for her co-Filipina, Jodilly which takes High-Fashion shots.

this goes to Katarina hihi

I’m actually scared for Jodilly.

 

That’s my analysis and prediction for the finale. Who do you think will win Asia’s Next Top Model?

 

Finale is on April 9, 2014.

 

Gravity (2013) Movie Review

A stunning portrayal of a tragic space voyage with astounding cinematography play.

Few months ago, I discovered the trailer of the movie Gravity that made me curious enough to watch it. Then the cinematic trailer came with a bang, and it did give me chills. A space tragedy it is.

I’ve got the chance to watch the film on IMAX 3D which expressed the film two times excitement and 3 times realistic feel. Alfonso Cuarón’s stellar movie about a tragic event happened in space, which stars two Academy Awards hall of famers; Sandra Bullock (Miss Congeniality) and George Clooney (The Descendants) in the attempts to escape the cosmic wilderness caused by an unforeseen chain of satellite misfortunes.

I was blown away by how difficult it was to create because of the accurate/perfected movement from things to the actors themselves. How detailed it was in the creative process. The depth of the movie was out of bounds affecting; which will give you the empathy of what it’s like in space plus a tragedy.

I loved Bullock’s performance! Her magnificent charm to channel fear and hopelessness in the movie was transparent. I root for her in the Academy next year for her stunning performance.

I love how fear and breathlessness came about, and due to that fact: for me, the infinite intergalactic scenery made me feel claustrophobic with limited bodily actions that make it feel heavy yet perfectly portrayed.

I also noticed the amazing cinematography Cuarón did. The angular modifications in perfect rotations especially on the scene where Dr. Ryan (Bullock) entered the shuttle and took off her suit then slept floating with the sun glimmering behind the transparent glass with the CGI tubes making her look like a big fetus. BRAVO to that!

The whole film was a mixture of struggle and art (story and cinematography play). I enjoyed watching every bit of the film, although the film was just a simple here and there; a struggle to survive, but the difficulty, style and portrayal were the winner of it all.

CRITIQUE:

Story                                     –              8

Cinematography              –              10

Musical Score                    –              9

Acting                                   –              10

Direction                             –              10

Visual Effects (YES)           –              10

OVERALL                              –              9.5