Shooting star -- Definition: [n] a streak of light in the sky at night that results when a meteoroid hits the earth's atmosphere and air friction causes the meteoroid to melt or vaporize or explode
The Story: An ageless icon people wish upon and an epitome of dreams come true. This aptly-named drama starring Singapore Idols alumni is a tale about five young individuals who are unafraid to dream...Cliched introductions aside, does Shooting Stars the drama series actually deliver the goods? Production-wise, I think the series can do no wrong; the editing and film quality is pretty slick and contemporary, which indubitably is supposed to draw the hip mtv-watching crowd. The sound track is also pretty good... Overall, the look and feel of the show has echoes of the past mediacorp production, Light Years (remember that one?).
-- excerpt from www.shootingstars.com.sg.
Honestly speaking, however, when it comes to storyline and plot, Shooting Stars is way off tangent. The characters-thinking-aloud-to-the-camera premise have been done somewhere else before (such as in the malay comedy-drama EC), and having Taufik and Sylvester breaking out into brief monologues halfway through the show's narrative is quite disruptive, not to mention coming across as rather puerile. The only instances when such a narrative-technique is used effectively are in The Lizzy McGuire show and Ally Mcbeal (remember those??).
Some aspects of the show seem a tad ludicrous -- Why does Sylvester's character, who is supposed to be a drink-stall assistant, look so overdressed all the time? Why does Olinda's character behave like she's got the mental capacity of a six-year old spastic child? How does Taufik's pizza hut character become best friends with a spoiled angmoh brat (that sharing-boxing-as-a-passion explanation is so lame!)?? And why does everyone look as if they've perpetually got too much foundation, lip-gloss, bronzer, hair-gel/wax on, the guys included???
Then there's this scene where Taufik and his best-pal are chasing each other around the car... so sweet! But if you ask me, it was freaking weird!! As far as I know, guys only do such inane stuff when there are pretty-girls to impress around. And is there such a thing as free pizza here in cutthroat Singapore?? Even Pizza Hut, easily the most successful pizza-chain locally, does not make such impossible delivery promises.
Some of you may say, it's only a television show and I need to lighten up but this isn't Phua Chu Kang, Under One Roof or even Moulmein High, for that matter. Why do the scriptwriters throw realism to the four winds just for the sake of entertainment? I'm sick of watching English dramas about ridiculously over-dressed youths; I've enough of that from Light Years, The OC and One Tree Hill. I think the only type of local English productions in Singapore that can garner good viewership ratings are sitcoms and reality-based docu-dramas.
After all my whining and complaining, you'd probably think I have nothing nice to say about Shooting Stars. Actually, there are TWO things which are commendable: the snippets of singing, and the acting. Where the latter is concerned, Taufik, Jeassea and Daphne acquit themselves pretty well although they're only amateur actors. While David Wu as a music phenom takes a little more getting used to, a few of the supporting actors, Alfaharizah Awangit and Masturah Ahmad especially, are naturally engaging. Sadly, Olinda and Sylvester's acting still have vast room for improvement...
On the whole, I see Shooting Stars as a poor substitute for Singapore Idol; I still don't understand why Mediacorp does not want to stage another Idol competition -- Malaysia is already halfway-through theirs, and Indonesia has even completed their second Idol season. I must concede though, that the show has prolonged the star-status of the five Idols involved; their combined influence and fanbase might make it a successful show afterall. Furthermore, only two-episodes have been screened so far and thus there is still hope that the show will improve in quality as it progresses weekly. But then again, I very much doubt it... =p
PS: For Tuesday night tv-viewing, I recommend Full Circle -- it's a much more worthwhile watch!
