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Reviews
Encantadia (2005)
I'm telling you the truth with sincere honesty
Okay, I must admit I was furious when I first learned of Encantadia. You see, I'm a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan. I was reluctant to even give the show a chance. After awhile though, it grew on me, I even found myself eager for another episode.
Their production team did a great job. The costumes and sets looked like a hybrid of LOTR and Greek Mythology. Yet by the end, I am back to my frustration.
Why?
Because the costumes and sets looked like a hybrid of LOTR and Greek Mythology!!! Listen, many people will argue with me and tell me that Encantadia was inspired and NOT copied from Lotr. Many people will tell you the Encantadia was based on Phillipine Mythology and founded and inspired by Phillipine culture. I'm here to tell you that Encantadia is a wonderful, but not perfect soap. I'm also here to tell you that those people who say that it's LOTR inspired are blind to the truth...it's LOTR DEPENDANT!!!!
Without LOTR the folks at GMA would be clueless on how to make such a project work. They admitted this themselves. As for their claim that it's based on Pilippino mythology is constantly questioned in my mind every time I look at the costumes and sets. For example, Reyna Amihan's costume, as well as Lira's looks Grecian. Truth be told, there are few examples in their costumes and sets that are Pinoy-inspired, most of them are European inspired. So much for Pinoy originality.
Now we have the prequel, Etheria, the pilot episode made me want to write a letter to GMA, begging them to stop imitating LOTR story lines. The great war of Encantadia is to close to the Last Alliance of Middle-Earth, where various kingdoms unite to defeat a common enemy. Etheria has the Great Gem of Power...LOTR has the Ring of Power. The four fairy sisters must destroy a Golden Clock..."ring" a bell anyone? Then there are the names, four people have "Hera" as a name. I know my mythology, that is the name of the Greek goddess of marriage. I'm frustrated at all the similarities. I know that fantasy stories will be similar to each other, but Encantadia and Etheria are DEPENDANT on other stories.
In my opinion these people don't know the difference between 'inspired' and 'taking things from other people's imagination, re-naming them and twisting into something they then call their own'. It may sound harsh, I may sound like I'm bashing GMA and their efforts. But I applaud them for trying and taking the time to make this 'serye' work. It was fun to watch, but at times the similarities were to much.