FROM TV TO MOVIES

Honestly, I love AND envy America’s film history, not because it’s the largest film industry in the world but because of so much talent and a huge history of film making and T.V series. So much so that a lot of their rested T.V series later became adapted into films; like Charlie’s Angels, Thunderbirds,
Starsky and Hutch ,Miami Vice, Mission Impossible (yes naija folks, it was a T.V series back in the 60’s) and one I’m not familiar with, The Dukes of Hazzard. And not just T.V series too, but their comics; we’ve been treated to SUPERMAN, BATMAN, MASK OF ZORRO, THE FANTASTIC 4, THE X-MEN, SPIDERMAN, SUPERGIRL,CONSTANTINE, GHOST RIDER, DARE-DEVIL , ELEKTRA even THE FLINTSTONES. And now, we’re now treated to the film adaptation of one of the old animated series I loved as a child, SPEED RACER about the driver of the Mack 5, Speed Racer, who was continuously helped by the mysterious Racer X (his banished elder brother, Rex). Maybe there might be a film adaptation of TERRAHAWKS (The original THUNDERBIRDS were puppets weren’t they?), VOLTRON, BATTLE OF THE PLANETS and I really hope, THUNDERSUB. Besides SPEED RACER, we’re also being treated to another Marvel comic adaptation, IRON MAN, starring Robert Downey Jr.as Tony Stark/Iron Man and Terence Stamp as Jim who later became WAR MACHINE. And I heard last week there’ll soon be a film adaptation of THE JUSTICE LEAGUE.
Nollywood’s T.V series still have a long way to go, for one thing, do more biopics where the name are used instead of being ridiculously rearranged and changed, like the film about the Bakassi boys, the film was called ‘Issakaba’. Most of our T.V series today are SO short-lived, yet it seems ‘Family Ties’ and ‘Treasures’ are showing promise of lasting for quite a while. The best one was Checkmate, which had a good run and a reasonable ending as well as a spinoff, Fuji House of Commotion which has been on since 2001, and although Fortunes (renamed Mega fortunes) was cancelled abruptly, it was adapted to a movie named after the bitchy protagonist DANGEROUS GODDESS, the same with the series, FAMILY CIRCLE. In terms of comics adapted to T.V, we have SUPERSTORY, PAPA AJASCO and BINTA& FRIENDS. Just remaining the adaptation of the FUN TIMES; its characters Benbella, Lulu, Alhaja and Bobo Odenson WOULD be a scream on television. It’s not fair the comic was phased out without warning in the first place.

SNIPPET: ISABELLA, GOD DON CATCH YOU!!!

Orlando also finds an address of a photo lab in Isabella’s address book and writes it down. Giacormo still feels Silvia and Lorenzo can be happy in spite of Laura’s pregnancy but Silvia feels it’s impossible since Lorenzo and Laura will be living in the same house for the baby’s sake. Alex angrily tells Conan and Mimi he was moving out. Mimi phones her mother to tell her who asks her to stop him until she got there. At the restaurant, Isabella goes to the ladies’ and Lorenzo receives the photos sent by Orlando, to his greatest amazement. He phones him, filled with fury. Orlando advises him not to do anything crazy; if he quarreled with Isabella now, it could ruin the company since it’s through her connections they were exporting their stuff abroad but Lorenzo doesn’t care, he’s far too angry and upset, now that he knows why Silvia had left him without explanation. Isabella comes back and Lorenzo deliberately begins talking about his love for Silvia and how she’d left him without explanation, which visibly annoys her.
Mimi manages to keep Alex until their mother got back. He angrily confronts her about always interfering in his life, but his mother assures him she’ll tell Silvia the condition is revoked (like she would care, she loves Lorenzo now, why would she go back to a bum like you?), begging him not to leave as she loves him very much. Laura gets to the office and asks where Lorenzo is but he’s not yet back, but Nattie doesn’t allow her to wait in his office since he’s not his wife any more. When Laura arrogantly reminded her she still owned half the company, Nattie replied she didn’t since she was an ‘adulteress’, which makes the stupid woman slap her. Nattie was about to retaliate but Gloria breaks it up and leads Laura to the boardroom instead to wait for Lorenzo. Giacormo tells Mimi there was nothing to investigate after all, that it was an accident. He told her his son was upset about her decision but he personally understood since Tony had been so unkind to her before. Lorenzo deliberately provokes Isabella who curtly asks him to change the subject since it made her feel ‘awkward’. Lorenzo reminds her as his ‘friend’, she should be listening to his problems. Isabella finally tells him that she loved him and had returned from Europe to be with him again and how she hated Laura for stealing him from her (actually that’s true). Lorenzo asked her to lower her voice, but she snappishly said she didn’t care if everyone knew about it, and he shouldn’t pretend he wasn’t aware of it. Lorenzo replied, much as she was in love with him, he was very much in love with Silvia. Isabella loudly reminded him Silvia had left him, why was he still pursuing her…?
Lorenzo angrily interrupted, ‘because you showed her these doctored photos of us!’ and threw them down in front of her. For once, Evil Isabella is speechless, with the most ridiculous cornered look on her over painted face. (Oh, Isabella you first class b***h…what lie will you use now as a ditch???). HA! HA!

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, PEACE OUT and PLEASE, POST YOUR COMMENTS OR LEAVE A MESSAGE IN THE C-BOX, BOTH WOULD BE APPRECIATED VERY MUCH BY YOUR HOST.
YOURS IN BLOGSHIP…HONEY.

SNIPPET: LAURA'S IN TROUBLE NOW!

E.P isn’t pleased no one gave her anything. Laura denies having anything to do with the accident. Giacormo decides not to have her charged with attempted murder, only because of her unborn child but threatened to have her jailed if she had an abortion; Laura insists she’ll never do anything to hurt him , but he doesn’t believe her. Silvia and Nattie come home to find Hercules and Juanito asleep, tired out from their work. Nattie is skeptical about Silvia’s partnership with E.P, since the woman can’t be trusted. Isabella and Lorenzo return from watching a play, but it’s obvious Lorenzo didn’t pay attention to it as his mind is too full of Silvia. He refuses to have dinner, pleading tiredness. Tony tries kissing Mimi but she reminds him they had both agreed to take it slow and makes it clear she doesn’t want them to be a couple just yet, asking for a little more time. Tony goes out and accuses Conan of turning Mimi against him. When Conan wants to go and check on her, Lysette doesn’t allow him. Lorenzo still refuses to go inside for a drink when Isabella tries to insist so she says goodnight instead. The workers resumes to E.P’s factory for the day’s work. E.P tries flirting with Hercules, who ignores her. Tony is furious that Giacormo resumed work so soon. He also told him what Mimi had said but his father is sure she’ll get over her resentment.
Isabella goes to see Laura’s doctor, pretending Laura had recommended him, complaining of dizziness. When he goes to fetch something, she hurriedly goes through Laura’s file. They go for the test.
Orlando places a rose and a card on Nattie’s desk (I know her current is gay but if she goes back to her ex I’ll never watch this telenovela again, he’s a pig), Nattie finds it and suspects Orlando when he teases her about it. Tony is a bit cold towards his father when he speaks over the phone with one of his friends, who is also gay, but insists it no longer bothers him. (right…)

SNIPPET: NOW WHAT?

Giacormo recollects everything now that Laura had been there when he was knocked down, but had denied it when he’d asked her at the hospital. Lorenzo asks Nattie to call Isabella, Orlando and Gloria together for a meeting. Lysette complains to Tony about how Mimi clings to Conan too much; Tony on the other hand is worried Mimi doesn’t pay him enough attention and is distant all the time around him. Empetriz does a little research over the contract she’d earlier signed with Isabella and finds a clause to her satisfaction. Silvia and her reach an agreement; Silvia will be in control and Empetriz will allow her to use her premises, but she must stay far away from Alex (pooh, who wants him again, I like to know?)Which Silvia completely agrees to. Evil Isabella is very rude to Nattie at the office. Giacormo does a little investigation and discovers it was Laura who had called the ambulance.
Empetriz invites Isabella to Mimi’s baby shower. Lysette is sure the baby will be a girl but Tony wants a boy. Silvia informs Nattie that she’ll be moving to Empetriz’ place to do her business (which I still think it’s a dumbass idea) AND about Lorenzo’s visit. Nattie still insists Isabella was the culprit behind the breakup but Silvia stubbornly refuses to discuss it.
Isabella invites a broody Lorenzo for a night of fun ‘as friends of course’, but plans to go to the shower for a few minutes first. Laura’s maid, Antonia insists on Laura eating more. Mimi receives a lot of baby things from her guests. Isabella shows up, much to her displeasure. Isabella apologizes (not sincerely) to E.P for what she’d earlier said to her. Silvia turns up and is introduced as her ‘new associate’. Isabella immediately declares she would never work for ‘this little diva’, and Silvia angrily says the same thing. But E.P tells Isabella that since she didn’t update the contract after returning from Italy, they were no longer valid, she will return her money when she can(in E.P’s language, it’s never). Isabella vows she hadn’t heard the last of her and leaves. Silvia is furious with E.P, asking her never to do such a thing to her again. Hercules and Juanito pack up Silvia’s sewing machines. Tony plays the edited commercial he’d shot to everyone, who all approve of it. Lysette is angry when Mimi hugs Conan too much. Lorenzo and Isabella go for a drive. Antonia welcomes Giacormo back and tells him Laura refuses to eat well. He goes up to her room and confronts her about hiring someone to run him over. She’s speechless…

AT LONG LAST...

Claudio comes in to find Raquel having breakfast alone; he’s told Tonio had gone out. He tries to make Raquel less distant towards him but she leaves the table and gets pounced on by Evil Max, who takes her to the study. There, he demanded to know why she wants to remain in Tonio’s house. If she really wanted the lavish life, he had the means of providing it to her. Raquel wearily said she wanted to leave too but was yet to reach an agreement with Tonio. 

When? Max snarled. 

Soon, she snapped back, when she's able to talk to him about it. 

Max said she keeps saying that but what has she been talking about with Tonio all this time? Raquel tells him it's none of his business. 

Suspicious, Max says she probably hatching  some stupid plan against him in her head; warning her he'll never let her stay with Tonio. Raquel coldly tells him she knows that but that didn't mean she will get back together  with him either. Max stares at her in frustration as she walks away from him. 

 Maura is angry on discovering Tonio only asked her out to bother Raquel, hence  the rest of the  afternoon sucked as a result.

Raquel told her father what happened, adding that if Tonio really loved her, he won’t have gone off with ‘her', meaning Maura.   Daniel advised her to let her heart guide her, instead of doubting Tonio all the time, he's convinced Tonio loved her. 

Victoria is surprised to hear from an angry Raquel that Tonio had gone out with Maura. Chucho, the man who had saved Tonio’s life, arrives at the mansion and is allowed in. Chucho is filled with admiration at the grand estate. 

Max isn't pleased to see Martha with Luis, who had taken her for a boat ride. As soon as she leaves them, Max reminds Luis Martha is Raquel's sister, but Luis is unperturbed. Max tells him they had to think of another plan of action to rid themselves of Tonio. Luis points out staging another accident might cause a lot of suspicion this time. Max replies, they'll just have to find a way of implicating someone else. 

Martha informs Raquel, who is sulking in her room that Tonio was home and asked her if she was coming down to dinner, Raquel said no.

Chucho returns  the Rolex Tonio had allowed him to keep since he wasn’t able to sell it. Tonio promised to give him money the following day and allowed him to spend the night. Martha tells Tonio Raquel hasn’t eaten the whole day, she could get sick. Without a word, Tonio goes upstairs, while Chucho introduces himself to a bewildered but amused Martha. 


Tonio goes upstairs and enters Raquel’s room without knocking; Raquel was just getting ready for bed and not pleased to see him.
He asked her why wasn’t she coming down to eat. 'I'm not hungry.' was her reply. 

'Do you want to get sick?' he probbed.

 

  She coldly asked him, ‘what do you care?’ gets up from her chair and tries to walk away but is grabbed by the arm. Tonio told her  not to say that and she  should get get dressed and come down to dinner.

When she didn’t say a word to him, he asked what did it  matter if he said he did care, she won’t believe him. She gave him a resentful look and sniffled a bit.  Naturally, he  asked he what was wrong.

‘You had a good time, didn’t you?’ she asked in a sulky tone  and he had the grace to look embarrassed.
He said he didn’t, and asked her to pardon him; he had no idea she’d be upset, since last night she’d said she didn’t care about him.  She denied being upset; he could go wherever he liked. But since they were married, what would people think?

Was that the only reason, he asked, or more than that?
 Raquel is too shy to say anything.
He urged her to tell him the truth, didn’t she care about him? Because he cared a lot about her. Good way to sell it, Tonio!

Breaking down (and it was about time!) she hugged him, pressing her cheek against his; he hugged her tight. 'Raquel...' he pulled back to look at her. 'I love you, can't you see that?' 

 They exchanged a very passionate kiss, this time on the  serious make out territory,  (we all cheered again). Breathless,  Raquel then suggested they went down to dinner after all.

But Tonio, with a glint in his eye and that predatory smile on his face, said he didn't want to eat now.

Smiling back at him, she reached out and they kiss again, this time a lot more sensually. 

And that's how this interesting episode ended that night, though we can rightly and vividly assume that two sets of clothes hit the floor in a few minutes before  the serious action was moved to  the bed. 

 So let  me get this straight... Tonio takes his bitchy ex girlfriend out to spite his wife and then much later, he gets lucky... I mean,  gets his wedding night after all. Men!

Ummm Raquel,  so how about the church wedding ceremony ... or it doesn't apply to yummy Antonio then?

ANTONIO DROPS A BOMBSHELL

Raquel indignantly refuses to do what he said and when he insisted, she guessed correctly he must have said something negative about her to Tonio and is furious, wonders what he’ll think of her now. Max drags her to his own room to talk, seen by Ramon, who is shocked but says nothing to Tonio who passed by. Raquel refuses to listen to Max and forcibly pushes him out of her way, much to his frustration. Can't you take a hint asshole, she doesn't LOVE you any more! 

Tonio and Raquel have dinner with Maura and Rodrigo. Luis finds Martha alone in the living room and hits on her but she turns him down disdainfully and goes upstairs.

Back at the club, restaurant (whatever), Tonio focuses a lot of attention on Raquel, putting his arm around her and kissing her hand- while they are watching some live show-  which she warmly responds to. But it annoys Maura very much, giving them both a major stink-eye...which neither of them notice.

Rodrigo dances with Raquel later, Tonio watching in amusement. Maura disses Raquel's dancing but Tonio either didn't care about his lady's footwork or  he's deaf to his ex's negative comments.
 Maura and Rodrigo leave them behind when Raquel said she wanted to stay longer, to Tonio's delight.  At Maura’s house, Rodrigo asked why she made them leave early and she muttered something about the noise bothering her. Smiling at her obvious jealousy,  he comments on Raquel, ‘she’s a special girl’, which annoys her more. Tough break but take a hint, bitch. 

Tonio and Raquel get home very late, in a good mood and holding hands. Tonio leads her upstairs, to his room, which makes her uneasy again, but she enters. Tonio gives her shocking news; since it’s been 30 days and the marriage certificate had not been revoked, it was now valid, they were legally married!

Raquel was very  surprised but asked when they’ll get a divorce. Visibly hurt, Toni said any time she wanted but first he had to tell her; he was in love with her. Finally he says it... yay!!!
Alas- fear made her not believe him- she told him to his face that he was just saying that to get her into bed.

Disappointed, he allowed her to go back to her room and immediately she felt ashamed for hurting him. Way to stomp on the guy's heart, Stupid.  But on the other hand, why did Tonio choose his bedroom as the spot to tell drop two major bombshells, was he hoping that night would be their wedding night, or something?

The next morning, Raquel finds Maura the plump piggy in the living room and got a shock when Tonio came down and informed her he was taking Maura sailing in the yacht for the whole day, and won't be coming home for lunch.

                  Raquel  watched them leave hand in hand… a stunned expression on her face.

WINNER!

Tonio confronts Max with what Raquel had told him, but  Max replies that he won’t be going to jail alone. Ignoring him, Tonio tells Raquel to gather her things and come home with him. Max angrily replies she’ll go with him over his dead body and besides, Tonio was too mindful of a scandal to take any action against him. Tonio picked up the phone and called for the hotel's security, claiming he needed help as his wife's jewellery was missing.  Tonio points a pistol at Max when he tries to move towards Raquel.  Not wanting the sticky situation to escalate even further, Raquel hastily said she'll go back with Tonio. The security arrives but Tonio sends him away, saying the missing item has been found. After he leaves,  Tonio warns Max not to return to Acapulco any time soon. Putting the gun away, he dragged  Raquel out of the room.

Tonio arrives back in the mansion with Raquel and her family; Raquel is very embarrassed and wonders what will happen to her now. Later on, Daniel comes to see Tonio in his study for a serious talk, explaining  why Raquel was forced to continue with the deception, it was because of him. He knew he wasn't an ideal father, being a drunk and an old fool but Raquel  loved him very much. Tonio listened as Daniel told him how Raquel wanted to hire a lawyer and get legal help  once she discovered the truth, even though Max had threatened to frame her for Tonio's 'death'. But she was forced to back down, because of Max's threats towards him, Daniel. He also confessed he and his friend's 'trading' operation with his friend, in an effort to earn money because Raquel was the primary breadwinner.

 Tonio immediately guessed he had been selling stolen goods, hence how Max was able to blackmail him and threaten Raquel. Daniel confirmed it, filled with shame, but wanted to be honest with him. He assured Tonio that they weren't bad people. They just had the bad luck of being chosen by his step brother in his dark plot. 

Tonio tells  him to sit down. If Daniel was willing to be really honest with him; was Raquel still in  love with  Max?

Daniel tells  Tonio that if he knew Raquel, he wouldn't ask that question. She was a decent, honest girl- so was Martha (debatable)!and he's not saying so out of paternal bias. Although he loved his girls equally, he admitted his younger daughter was rather superficial. Tonio still wanted to know why they agreed to leave with Max. Daniel was at a loss, all he could tell him was that Raquel wanted  to leave and since they didn't have money, were forced to accept Max's help. Tonio wasn't satisfied by the reason, as he had promised Raquel he wouldn't turn them in. Daniel feels  Raquel would answer that question if he gently approached her. However, he assures Tonio that the reason wasn't because she was still in love with Max.

 Victoria is certain Tonio has a prosecution complex, having heard about the pistol incident. Raquel angrily denies kissing Max, daring the person who had said so to repeat it in front of her. Tonio is convinced she was telling the truth.

At the pool side, Camilla angrily watches Martha flirting outrageously with some friends, calling her a real ‘scum’. Maura notices Tonio strolling by and runs after him. Claudio and a friend, Rodrigo see Raquel going to visit her father.
 Rodrigo comments ‘she’s really beautiful.’ Claudio agrees but adds, ‘she has no class.’ (you're a fine one to talk, lazy bum)

Carla went  to the bungalow and tried to get Raquel to join them at the pool, but she politely declined. In the house, Maura tries to flatter Tonio into going back to her but he refuses, accusing her of merely trying to bother Raquel. Raquel comes in to find them sitting closely together, disdainfully accepting Maura’s invitation to have dinner at a newly opened restaurant. After she leaves, she and Tonio talk at length, she's not pleased about Maura's forward behaviour with him, while he pointed out her abruptly leaving Acapulco with Max made him look like a fool in front of everyone. They reach a compromise and  an agreement of trusting each other more and they are friends again.

Mummy Victoria gives Tonio a message that Claudio and Camilla want to see him about something. Tonio goes to Camilla's place and scolds her for lying about seeing Max and Raquel kissing, telling her to stop saying nasty things about Raquel and keep her nose out of his personal affairs. Claudio's request is  another loan which he refuses. He advises Claudio to get a job from now on and warns  Camilla again to stop dissing  Raquel to everyone or he’ll throw her and Claudio out to fend for themselves.

Raquel is in her room, reading a book when Mummy Vicky interrupts. When asked, Raquel let her believe  she had asked Max to help her out in leaving Tonio, which displeased Victoria very much.
Evil Max returns to Acapulco (honestly, the guy is crazy) and meets with his ally Luis, with plans to kill Tonio again.

Tonio gets back to the house and finds Raquel on the couch in the living room, joining her there. She noticed he’s gloomy and asked what was wrong... was he angry?

Tonio said he was just tired. She points out that maybe  he shouldn’t have gone back to the office so soon after the helicopter crash.

‘I’m just tired of supporting parasites and good for nothings.’

He meant Camilla and Claudia but Raquel thought he was talking about her, which he quickly denied, ‘No! you’re something else.’
Uneasy again, she asked what he meant. Leaning close, he said, ‘Raquel, I like you, I like you very much.’
‘What about Maura?’ she asked.
Tonio assured her that Maura was in the past, she was the one he cared about her now. But Raquel still didn’t feel he was sincere, especially since he came home one day and found a woman who said she was his wife; who he didn’t know or ever met before. It would make much sense if they’d met in different circumstances.

Tonio agreed the circumstances weren’t normal but after getting to know her and talking with her about her problems, why wouldn’t he feel something for her?

Raquel was about to protest again but then Tonio lurched forward and planted a thorough smooch on her (we all cheered loudly that evening!) and this time she didn’t push him away, she kissed him back. He challenged her, she must feel something now. But Raquel is terrified of Max’s reaction and worried about Tonio's safety.

Max suddenly enters with Luis, fuming to see Tonio’s arms round Raquel.
‘What are you doing here?’ Tonio asked, furious.
‘Well, this is my house!’ Max snapped back, shamelessly.
‘No, it is my house and I thought I gave you enough money to go to hell and I asked you not to come back here.’
Max dared  him to throw him out and  he and Tonio grapple, to Raquel’s horror. Luis immediately separated  them and Victoria intervenes. Tonio walked away in anger and Victoria ordered Raquel to tell Tonio Max was not to blame for their problems.

Raquel found Tonio in the study and begs him to let her leave; assuring him she’ll go somewhere where Max will never find her. But Tonio refused to give his permission, but doesn't give her a valid reason.
Claudio warns Camilla not to piss Tonio off by being nasty to Raquel, but Camilla insists no one could kick her out, her father had made the stipulation that Tonio was to make sure she was provided for (sure, but not to gamble your money away). Claudio however feels they could use Raquel to influence Tonio instead.

Max drops a heavy hint to Tonio about already taking Raquel’s virginity. At home, Tonio cheers up a worried Raquel and asks her to prepare for their outing. As Raquel is about to enter her room, she runs into Max, who tells her to tell Tonio she was pregnant, that way he’ll let her go!