the Darna Checklist: Scantily-clad flying super-heroine? Check. Supervillains trying to take over the world? Check. Handsome love interests? Check. Fantastical special effects? Well...
Darna is a promising new concept on TV: a comic-book like storytelling of the trials of a Superheroine destined to become the savior of mankind against super evil that is desperate to create havoc all over. Angel Locsin, fresh from her stint as bird-girl Alwina on 'Mulawin' starts as Darna, the local version of Wonder Woman. Actors and included in the bill are Eddie Garcia, Sandy Andolong, Christopher de Leon, Alessandra de Rossi, and a whole slew of other great actors.
Even the commercialization of the parent network was outstanding: there is no lack of TV guesting and promotions. In fact, the first few episodes are top-raters.
However, there are a few shortcomings that are not easy to overlook. Firstly, some of the special effects are so bad, its annoying. Obviously, the directors lack of vision, and probably due to the lack of budget alloted for special effects. However, no high budget is needed if the director had the vision... Peter Jackson and George Lucas created their first masterpieces with virtually no budget at all.
Secondly, the characters are one-dimensional: Evil aunt is evil. Hero girl's parents are pitiful. Oh and don't forget a big evil snake ala-anaconda to make things worse.
Thirdly, overacting, overacting everywhere! Hello Sandy Andolong? We can't blame her actually, she hasn't acted for a while. But isn't your 'screaming evil character' just too much? We hope there's development regarding this on future episodes.
n a final note, regardless of all these wee complaints, Darna is still a top-rater among evening audiences. The problem arises when audiences will finally realize that these problems are hard to overlook, Darna might lose the top spot.
