CASE #042 | To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Netflix released a newly produced movie this August entitled To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. I was hesitant to watch it at first because I was a little disappointed with Netflix-produced movies. Hindi ko masyadong nagustuhan iyong Kissing Booth and sabi ng best friend ko hindi rin ganun kaganda iyong isa pang movie nila – Set It Up.
I did not expect much from this current release and I end up
watching it because I was bored but here I am. I have already watched the movie
repeatedly like it was on the loop. I am watching it as I write this post.
Ganun ako nabaliw sa movie na ito.
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| Image Source: https://tvtropes.org |
Here are my ten cents about the movie. Spoilers alert!
1. Lara Jean Song Covey
She is the main protagonist and heroine of this film. She is
a sixteen-year-old teenager who goes into a public school and spends most of
her time with her sisters and dad. Her mom died when she was little, and she
was left under the care of her eldest sister and best friend, Margot. Margot
also cares for their youngest sister, Kitty and their Dad, Dr. Dan Covey who is
an OB Gynecologist.
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| Image Source: https://www.indiewire.com |
Lara Jean is half-Asian and half-American is an introvert
yet a smart student. Her only friends in school (aside from Margot) was her
best friend, Chris and Margot’s boyfriend, Josh who also happens to be their
next-door neighbor.
The main plot in the story mainly revolves around her
writing five love letters for her five crushes. The first one was Peter
Kavinsky, her first kiss back in middle school. Next was Lucas James, her date
for freshman homecoming who turned out to be gay. Kenny, a kid from her church
camp and John Ambrose McClaren, a guy he met in Model UN. Lastly, Josh Sanderson, their next-door neighbor and Margot's boyfriend. Conflict
arises when Kitty send out the letters behind Lara Jean’s back.
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Peter was the first guy to confront her about the letter.
Lara Jean fainted in surprise and just as she recovers, she sees Josh walking
towards them carrying his letter. Lara Jean jumps Peter for a kiss to avoid any
confrontation with Josh. They ended up having a deal to pretend to be a couple
to save Lara Jean’s face from Josh and to make Gen, Peter’s ex-girlfriend
jealous. The plan worked but unfortunately, the two started having real
feelings for each other and that’s where it all get messed up.
Lara Jean’s character is so relatable. She is the perfect
epitome of a shy, hopeless romantic girl. She brings back a lot of childhood
memories. Iyong mga moments nung elementary at high school na may crush ka pero
hindi mo masabi at hanggang hopia ka na lang na sana crush ka rin niya. Pinapaalala
niya iyong mga kalokohang pinaggagawa mo para lang mapansin ng crush mo o kaya
naman ay “makasilay” man lang. Iyong kapag nakita mo ang crush mo, buo na ang
araw mo.
At dahil sobrang hindi mo kayang aminin kahit sa best friend
mo kung sino talaga ang crush mo, you end up writing about him or her sa diary
mo. Na tipong parang tao rin ang diary mo kung kausapin mo at mamamatay ka
kapag may nakabasang iba roon.
2. Sister Act
I also loved the bond the sisters have. The chemistry of the
actors who played Margot, Lara Jean, and Kitty are so natural you would really
feel the sisterly love. Margot is the eldest and most responsible. Kitty is the
mischievous one who would always be full of antics to annoy her sisters
especially, Lara Jean.
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| Image Source: https://www.elitedaily.com |
I never really experienced growing up with sisters or any siblings.
Pinsan meron. Pero hindi naman kasing level ng bonding ng tatlong sisters dito
sa movie. I love the way they really support each especially at times when each
of them badly needs it.
3. Lana Condor
Lana Condor really rocked her role as Lara Jean. It was
indeed wonderful to see Asians paving their way in Hollywood and taking the
leads. They normally are stereotyped as geeks, friends, or just to add
diversity. Pero ngayon level up na.
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| Image Source: https://www.popbuzz.com |
I really love Lana’s facial expressions whenever she says
her lines. You would almost think that she wasn’t talking out of a script. She
also looks amazing on screen. She is small and cute. Her face is so simple and
innocent. Yet, she embodies that sassiness in her which turned into sexy during
the hot tub scene.
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| Image Source: https://www.nbcnews.com |
Lana reminded me of Barbie Xu or better known to us as Shan
Cai. That long straight hair tied into a pony tail or sometimes just laid down
casually really sealed the deal. Not to mention I am also fan of Korean and
other Asian dramas. Iniisip ko nga kung saan ko nakita si Lana because she
really looked familiar. Then I realized she was the actress who played Jubilee
in X-Men Apocalypse. It was a bit role with merely any lines. I was glad she
was given this break because she truly deserves it.
4. Noah Centineo
Noah Centineo is hot! He is perfect to be Peter Kavinsky,
the super popular jock that everyone loves. He is like a combination of Finn
Hudson (Cory Monteith) and Noah Puckerman (Mark Salling). Huwag naman sana
siyang mamatay tulad ng dalawang ito. Kamukha rin pala niya si The Hulk. Para
siyang younger version ni Mark Ruffalo.
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| Image Source: https://decider.com |
Noah has this charm that would make you want to watch him.
His voice was raspy and sexy. He is also great in flirting and oozes with sex
appeal. That hot tub scene is really to die for. And that body…oh well…
I heard there were some videos of him that was leaked out in
public where he was talking about some vulgar stuff. Sabi rin nila may mga nude
part din daw. 😉😉😉
5. Color Theme
The whole movie theme is set on teal and some pastels but
mostly teal. It can be annoying at times because it takes out the realistic
vibe of the scenes, but I think that is the point. The scenes and characters
are very relatable, and the cinematography creates a surreal texture to it. It
makes the film feel dreamy and keeps the fantasy part for Lara Jean’s
character.
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| Image Source: https://www.nme.com |
6. Hot Tub Scene
I think I have mentioned the hot tub scene so many times
because it is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. Peter and Lara Jean went
on a school ski trip. Lana is starting to have real feelings for Peter, so she
tried to avoid him the whole trip. She did not sit beside him in the bus on
their way to the ski lodge. She also did not go out to ski and spent time in her
room doing Korean facial mask sessions with Lucas. When Lucas told her that
Peter might actually be waiting for her in the hot tub, Lara Jean wanders alone
and found Peter sitting in the hot tub all by himself.
Lara Jean tried talking to Peter, but he ignores him. Thinking that Peter was mad because she did not go skiing with him, Lara Jean explained that she did not know how to ski, and that Peter should have offered to teach her. Peter gets back at her about not sitting beside him in the bus. Lara Jean went back at him saying he should be thanking her because he was able to sit beside the person he really likes to be with referring to Gen, Pete’s ex-girlfriend.
Lara Jean was taken aback when Peter admits that he really
liked to sit beside her and even prepared snacks for both of them. Peter even
went across town to find the Korean yogurt drink that Lara Jean loves. Lara
Jean tried apologizing which Peter accepts half-heartedly. Lara Jean took up
the courage to get in the hot tub in her night gown and walked closer to Peter.
She let Peter kiss her and she kissed him back finally admitting to herself
that she like Peter and wants to be with him for real.
I like how this scene transcended on screen. The irony of Lara Jean’s innocence and Peter’s sexiness contrasted so well in this scene. Hindi bastos at malaswa pero sexy. Sweet, romantic and yet passionate. Pati iyong tampuhan nila. On point. Mababaw kung iisipin pero tama lang sa edad nila. Iyong mga ganung pettiness lang ang nagiging issue.
7. Confrontation Scene
Another one of my favorite scenes was the confrontation between Lara Jean, Peter, Josh, and Margot. Lara Jean walked out on Peter after the ski trip because she learned that Peter went to Gen’s room and gave Gen her favorite scrunchie. She thought that Peter was only playing her.
Peter went to Lara Jean’s house to talk to her. Lara Jean won’t let him in and they just talked outside their front steps. As Peter was trying to explain, Lara Jean cuts him and refuses to listen saying she was tired of being second best. She asked Peter to leave to which he objects. Josh interrupted them and told Peter to leave. Pissed off, Peter took it on Lara Jean and accused her that she only wanted to break up with him because she was still in love with Josh. Unfortunately, Margot, who is home for the holidays, walked out the front door and heard everything. Hurt and broken, Margot angrily slams the door on Lara Jean’s face. In tears, Lara Jean asked Peter to leave and Peter frustratingly tells her that she was never second best. Josh was also shocked as he did not know that Margot was already back.
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| Image Source: Netflix |
The actors were great in this scene. Tamang-tama iyong mga emosyon. Hindi OA. Ang galing din ng saluhan nila ng lines. Iyong pagbabago ng mga emosyon from angry to hurt to guilty. Even Kitty was good on this scene kahit na bystander lang siya sa confrontation ng mga kapatid niya na kung tutuusin ay siya naman talaga ang puno’t dulo ng lahat. I can feel that she feels a little guilty yet iyong stance niya shows how she is standing up for her sister.
8. High School Life
Memories really started flooding back to me as I watched this film. I know my high school and grade school years were so long ago, but it still feels great to think about those times you were crushing on someone and you do a lot of crazy stuff just to get one smile, one hello, or just merely a glance.
Although, wala naman akong boyfriend nung high school but just like Lara Jean, I had so many crushes. Napagdaanan ko iyong feeling na hindi ka naman gusto ng crush mo at iba ang gusto niya. Iyong feeling na gusto mong iparamdam sa kanya but you just can’t. Iyong feeling na gusto mong subukang maging open pero takot kang masaktan. Nadale ng movie na ito lahat ng iyon!
9. Sweet Dreams
Watching the movie is like reading Sweet Dreams. It was a
pocketbook imprint way back in the 90s. Wala pa ngang internet noon at ang
tanging libangan ng mga kagaya kong hopeless romantic noon ay ang magbasa ng
pocketbook. Sweet Dreams is an American series of high school love stories.
Iyong kilig, iyong story, iyong characters, iyong bawat eksena. Para talaga
akong ibinalik noong panahon na iyon. Sobrang na-miss ko bigla.
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| Image Source: https://alchetron.com |
And like I mentioned earlier, To All the Boys I’ve Loved before was based on a novel.
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| Image Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org |
I stayed up all night to read the book version. To be honest, the movie was very faithful to the book. Medyo pinaghalo lang nila iyong ibang part ng Book 1 (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) and Book 2 (PS, I Still Love You). Pero hindi naman masyadong malayo.
Medyo nakakabitin ang kilig nitong movie kasi cliffhanger iyong ending. Parang you want more. The novel helped me get more servings of Lara Jean and Peter. I hope Netflix releases a sequel for this movie. Trilogy naman ang story eh.
10. Cool Soundtrack
I love the soundtrack as well. Simula kasi ng maging Tita of Manila na ang edad ko, medyo naging pang-Tita na rin ang song choices ko. Medyo hindi ko na ma-appreciate ang mga bagong hits na patok sa mga kabataan ngayon. I find it too noisy, loud and senseless. Pero maganda ang selections ng songs for the movie. I like Good by Erin McCarley, I Like Me Better by Lauv, Lovers by Anna of the North, and Cool Out by Matthew E. White feat. Natalie Prass.
All in all this is a feel good movie. Pampawala ng stress at pampakilig sa mga pusong umaasa.
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| Image Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com |
I really hope Netflix would come out with a sequel because I really can’t get enough of Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky. #CovinskyFTW
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