This is Vantage POINT: A monthly moodboard for things that have been on our minds as of late, topics both fresh and familiar. We point you towards what to watch out for and what we think you should be enjoying right now. And if whatever we love becomes whatever you love (at least a little bit), then we’ve done our jobs.
WITH THE semester coming to an end and the holidays rapidly approaching, Vantage brings you recommendations ready for your enjoyment this December. After finals season, reward yourself by checking out these fresh picks!
Movie poster sourced from IMDB
Release: December 10
What’s a better way to end the year than with a star-studded asteroid apocalypse? Don’t Look Up, a comedic satire on the climate crisis, stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet, and many other Hollywood standouts.
As someone who loves funny and outrageous “end of the world” movies, from Chicken Little’s (2005) “The sky is falling!” to the cult classic Zombieland (2009), this latest Netflix blockbuster immediately topped my December watch list. After all, not all holiday movies have to be about Christmas. - Jules
Photo sourced from NCT’s Twitter account
NCT’s Universe album
Release: December 14
When you’ve already got awards and best-sellers under your belt, who says you can't take it even further? One can look to popular Korean boy band NCT, with all their subunits coming together for the release of their third studio album, Universe.
With about 13 songs on the way, this ambitious album looks as futuristic and novel as you’d expect. NCT is well-known for experimenting with a variety of vocal, lyrical, and even conceptual techniques, so it’s always impressive to see them layer these elements together to great effect. Universe seems intent on keeping that up. Combined with the diverse set of genres NCT offers in any given release, you’re bound to find at least one song you'll resonate with. - Rina
Photo sourced from Kep1er’s Official Instagram
Kep1er’s debut mini-album FIRST IMPACT
Release: December 14
With the finale of Mnet’s Girls Planet 999 last October, the reality competition show promises the debut of a new girl group: Kep1er. The nine-piece consists of the Top 9 contestants from the show and is a mix of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese members. As stressful as the entire run of GP 999 was, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely hooked. It’s a little emotional seeing these girls finally get to debut in the K-Pop industry—and if their performances on the show were any indication of the years to come, I’m sure they’ll be nothing short of dazzling. - Ena
Photo sourced from Spotify
Beach House: Once Twice Melody [Part 2]
Release: December 8
If anyone knows how to make soundtrack-worthy music, it’d be Beach House. Space Song was the track that first introduced me to the cinematic duo and since then, I (and my Spotify playlists) have never been the same.
Once Twice Melody, Beach House’s eighth studio record, is being released as a four “chapter” series. The first four songs of the 18-track album were released last November, with the next part dropping this December. The third chapter comes out January of 2022 and the full album in February. If I’m not replying to you during the break, there’s a 99% chance that I’m blasting the same eight songs from this record at full volume and living out my main character moment. - Jules
Movie poster sourced from the film’s official site, theweatherfilm.com
Whether the Weather is Fine (2021)
Release: December 25
It’s been a while since I've last looked at any one of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF)’s entries, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out about Carlo Francisco Manatad’s upcoming directorial debut. Whether the Weather is Fine takes on a Taclobanon narrative that is sure to hit close to home, as it covers a mother and son’s search for their loved ones in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda back in 2013.
The film has already premiered in places like Locarno, Toronto, and Chicago, and so finally viewing it on Filipino screens will definitely be a promising experience. I’m also excited to see how leading actors Daniel Padilla, Charo Santos, and Rans Rifol tackle their roles! For those interested in seeing how vibrantly a film’s story and characters can come to life in such harrowing settings, I’d recommend keeping an eye out for this one. - Rina
Photo sourced from the Murder With My Husband Instagram
Murder With My Husband Podcast
New episodes weekly
I like having something to listen to while I’m doing something that doesn’t require much brain power. Recently, I picked up a paint by numbers kit and was choosing a podcast from my usual list when I passed by a Murder With My Husband snippet on TikTok. The podcast is hosted by wife-husband duo Payton and Garrett Moreland. Payton is a true crime lover at heart, but Garrett—not so much. Their dynamic, his unadulterated reactions, and her victim-focused storytelling make the show one to watch out for. They also post video versions of their podcasts on YouTube, so I highly recommend those if you’re more of a visual consumer! - Ena