The Philippine Movies Thread
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Asian Cinema
plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 02, 2016 10:46 PM)
So after realizing that I usually get cricket replies whenever I post my so-called reviews of Philippine films, and also to have a similar thread as that of the Iranian movies thread (someone bump that thread soon please), and taking from sitenoise's suggestion, I've decided to just start a separate thread to post on the different Philippine movies there are, recommendable or not. I know that the Philippines isn't really a treasure trove when it comes to movies because it has been influenced by Western culture over time, but there still remains a lot of movies to be seen from the country which we can boast of. Or not.
I'll try to be more serious with my posts this time because ehem, this is ANOTHER THREAD which can open (or close) your doors to explore Philippine cinema.
Anyone, particularly clayton who seems to be well-versed with Philippine culture, is free to post on this thread. I would suggest though to put the title of the movie on the subject for easier navigation.
I'll be more than happy to have discussions with everyone.Between Mind and Heart-
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plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 02, 2016 11:12 PM)
Do I recommend this? Yes, definitely.
This isn't an overrated film. It may have only gotten a 7 here on IMDb but people's praises for this film (including the international audience) is well-earned. To some extent. I have just one but substantial complaint over this which I will dwell on later.
Erik Matti, the director, has shown he has potential. Starring the country's most versatile actors (Joel Torre, Michael de Mesa, Michael Flores) with some of the country's most sought-after leading men (Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson, Rayver Cruz), what came out was one of the best Philippine action movies ever released.
The story is based on real events. And if it weren't, I'm very sure it was patterned over the ills of society present in the Philippines today.
The synopsis:
Joel Torre (Tatang) and Gerald Anderson(Daniel) plays two "imprisoned" criminals who still enjoys liberty and earning money as gun-for-hires. Technically they should be behind bars, but you know the power of money, they can buy their liberty. (Yeah, kudos to these jailguards). They work for Thelma (Vivian Velez) who takes orders from an upper echelon who unsurprisingly is a politician. You know what powerful men with so much money do to protect their "business". Piolo Pascual plays Francis, an NBI agent, who happens to have a father-in-law (Michael de Mesa) who's a protector/coddler.
If there's one person that surprised me big time, its Joey Marquez. He's one of the country's comediennes, he has starred in some family sitcoms, just fooling around, etc. and here comes this. I never thought he could pull the drama and the action (despite his huge body built, he can surely run). Even in the crying scenes, he was at par. Piolo Pascual who?
Now let's go to my one but substantial complaint: Plot development is not proportional to runtime. Its got an almost 2 hours runtime, yet it only centered on the main plot which begun the moment the film started. Sure there were some developments but for a 1.53 hour long film, a lot should've happened. With OTJ, there was a lot of drama, character psychology, and of course, action, but the plot was basically just over the place. It could be squeezed down to a 1-hour film if they really wanted to. Not that there's any irrelevant scene, but you know how much have happened visually and you're still on the same place? Another one but just a minor complaint. Why Gerald Anderson to play the criminal role? He just looks so handsome and clean that he doesn't look like a thug really.
Having said that, there's nothing else I can complain of. Especially with the soundtrack. Erik Matti sure knows how to coordinate his music with his scenes. They're jiving.Between Mind and Heart-
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clayton-12 — 9 years ago(August 03, 2016 07:15 AM)
Given that this is the one that has met with most enthusiasm from friends and acquaintances onto whom Ive tried to push some contemporary Filipino films, its probably a good pick with which to kick your thread off.
I completely get where youre coming from with your comment on the runtime - I agree that it could have been a lot tighter but I wouldnt go as far as to say Matti could have got the job done in an hour! I think theres much more than the basic crime drama the core of the movie is really two dual stories running in tandem along the same plot, both involving the relationship that a brash and ambitious young man has with a mentor/surrogate father figure. The title of the film was almost reminiscent of a bring-your-son-to-work day at the office.
As for Gerald Anderson being too clean to play the thug, I never felt that at all, although he was an unknown face to me. Piolo Pascual, on the other hand, seemed to be completely out of place way too much of a pretty boy to be a cop.
At any rate, Mattis next film
Honor Thy Father
(continuing with the paternal theme, I wonder?) is firmly on my most-anticipated list. I note that a Michiko Yamamoto pops up with writing credits again she also got a credit for the story on the sitenoise praised
Norte, the End of History
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clayton-12 — 9 years ago(August 04, 2016 04:58 AM)
Graceland (2012)
plays off two principal characters that are almost at opposite ends of a moral spectrum Menggie Cobarrubios is a corrupt politician whose casual vice is buying, drugging and sexually abusing pubescent girls as young as his own daughter, while Arnold Reyes plays his driver, who silently disdains of his employer's activities, and who devotes himself to prayer, his dying wife and his daughter. When a case of mistaken identity results in the drivers daughter being kidnapped for ransom, the driver knows his lowly status will render his own child worthless and thus doomed, and realises that the only way to save her is to create the impression that the kidnappers also have his bosss daughter and so begins a desperate cat-and-mouse race against time.
Essentially, this is a morality play, as the driver is forced to compromise his values, and the consequences of those compromises reverberate beyond his control. The film clocks in at only 84 minutes, but theres so much going in on there that it really is a deceptively lean affair it is economical storytelling at its finest, and a film that I preferred over two quite highly praised crime dramas of the following year,
On the Job
and
Metro Manila
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plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 17, 2016 05:38 PM)
Hello clayton, just finished watching Graceland and I can say I understand where you're coming from when you said you prefer this over OTJ and Metro Manila. As of now, I'm leaning towards your judgment because I've had some issues with OTJ's runtime but I'm still torn between Graceland and Metro Manila because both have similar elements. Although I have to say Graceland is a very good thriller because I was hooked the whole time.
You summarized the movie well in one paragraph, so I'm not gonna even try summarizing the film with so many words. However, I had one part where I was confused. In your summary, you said "the driver knows his lowly status will render his own child worthless and thus doomed, and realises that the only way to save her is to create the impression that the kidnappers also have his bosss daughter and so begins a desperate cat-and-mouse race against time."
If I got it correctly, it was the kidnapperswith whom he was in
collaboration
with (at first) who made the impression that they got the politician's daughter?????
Shout out to Menggie Cobarrubios. You know I admire people like him. They're the type of people who no one recognizes, yet the movie industry won't be complete without them. He usually plays the good loving dad, or the corrupt politician. And he can pull both off.
This is one of the best Philippine crime/thrillers I've seen. Highly Highly recommended. And the cliffhanger ending was a bang.Between Mind and Heart-
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clayton-12 — 9 years ago(August 04, 2016 08:21 PM)
Seeing as this thread had its genesis in other threads listing peoples Top 10s from different nations, I thought I might post here a list of the films from the Philippines that have tickled my fancy I certainly dont hold it up as a list of the 10 greatest that the Philippines has to offer, but I do like to think that theres at least one gem for everyone in here.
Ekstra (2013)
Crying Ladies (2003)
Foster Child (2007)
Burlesk Queen (1977)
Kinatay (2009)
Maynila: Sa mga kuko ng liwanag (1975)
Graceland (2012)
The Road (2011)
Virgin People (1984)
(because no list of pinoy cinema would be complete without at least one
bomba
film!)
On the Job (2013)
That Thing Called Tadhana (2014)
For those that like things a little less conventional, you could go 16mm with
Perfumed Nightmare
aka
Mababangong bangungot (1977)
, or explore the digital world of
Khavn
.
And in the separate category of Outsiders Looking In, the following films are made by non-Filipinos, but were either made in the Philippines, or deal with the Filipino OFW experience:
Metro Manila (2013)
Pinoy Sunday (2009)
with a Malaysian director and writer, set in Taipei, and almost entirely in Tagalog, this comedy is as international as it is funny.
Ilo Ilo (2013)
Hope yall find a bit of grist for the mill in the above, and Id love to hear your comments on them, and suggestions of what Im missing out on here. -
plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 04, 2016 10:29 PM)
Hello again clayton, I really do appreciate you helping me out on the Philippine thread.
. I've been procrastinating again and I still hadn't come up with my own list. I promised myself I'd start that thread soon and I'll copy your list there but gah, I'm really sorry it took me forever to start it.
Here's mine:
Wait, before I write my own list, I want to say that my list isn't really a favorites list. Because if I put my favorites there, I'd put GIRL BOY BAKLA TOMBOY -
clayton-12 — 9 years ago(August 04, 2016 11:49 PM)
Thanks for your list. The thing I love about it is that there's one film that I absolutely love (
Ekstra
), one film that on my really-want-to-see list (
Noy
), and a whole bunch of films that I've never, or only vaguely, heard of to explore -
plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 04, 2016 11:13 PM)
You've got a solid list there, clayton.
Ekstrait also made it on my list. Cheers!
Crying Ladies I had the feeling it is funny but I don't know why I still didn't watch it.
Foster Child-its also on my to watch list but I've been prioritizing Thy Womb from Brillante's filmography but I really can't find it.
Kinatay-I really didn't like it.
Maynila: Sa mga kuko ng Liwanagsaw this on TV a million years ago so I really forgot all about it.
Metro Manilaloved it!
The Road and Gracelandyou enticed me to it. I'll put these on my watchlist.
Ilo Ilo- another overdue-for-watching to me.
That Thing Called Tadhana-it wasn't for me. I got annoyed at it, not to mention the amount of slang here.
Its such a shame that you, a non-Filipino, probably knows more about Philippine movies more than me.
Well, that's why I made this thread. We can all share our movies here for posterity! Between Mind and Heart-
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clayton-12 — 9 years ago(August 05, 2016 12:13 AM)
Thy Womb
is the film from Brillante Mendoza that I really want to see the most - particularly given that the region and people seem to be so under-represented in Filipino cinema. I was given a subtitled copy with a really murky print, but I've been putting off watching it because I don't think it will do it justice.
As for the two from Mendoza that I put on my list, I suspect that the reason those particular two made the list is that they're the only two I've seen! I don't blame you for not liking
Kinatay
, it's not very "likeable". I felt ill for days afterwards, but I do think it was a very good film.
In a lot of ways,
Foster Child
is a very similar film to
Kinatay
(but please don't let that put you off!). While they have very, very different subject matter, both are set over the course of a single day, utilise long tracking shots, focus constantly on the silent emotional turmoil of a single character, and explore and subvert their genres - whereas in
Kinatay
Mendoza skewers exploitation horror, in
Foster Child
he plays with the structure of a weepy drama. -
plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 05, 2016 12:44 AM)
Don't worry, I'll still watch Thy Womb despite hearing that its similar to Kinatay.
I like the premise of Foster Child, as in most of his movies, but the problem I usually have with Brillante is his execution. I've said before that I have a love-hate relationship with him. I sometimes love him, but most of the time I don't understand him. I usually post comments like, "WTH is going on with his mind??" Yet, his films are still on my to watchlist.
I really love the trailer for Graceland and hearing your review of it, I'll look for it ASAP and post my thoughts on it.
Let's see who watches Thy Womb first and make sure to post that review here!Between Mind and Heart-
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plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 04, 2016 10:59 PM)
Guys, you can just post your votes for your top 10 Philippine movies list here because I was afraid that if I make another thread with that title, people might say, "since when did the Asian Cinema Board" turn into a "Philippine Movies" Board?
Between Mind and Heart-
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elanor-3 — 9 years ago(August 14, 2016 05:32 PM)
you can just post your votes for your top 10 Philippine movies list here - plsletitrain
I have simply no Philippine favourites because I haven't rated any film from the Philippines.
Could you perhaps recommend a Philippine martial arts fantasy or history film on youtube? Historically set or martial arts fantasy films (which are usually set in pseudo-history of the respective culture - and like fairy tales they tell a lot about the respective culture) are my gate into foreign cultures.
each brain develops its own preferences -
plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 14, 2016 08:02 PM)
Hmmm.Philippine martial arts fantasy, can't really think of something at the moment. To be honest, the Philippines is not yet capable of producing fantasy films that it can boast of because probably out of budgetary constraints. There were some attempts in the past to make some animated films but they were not really that good. Fantasy, I can think of some, but I can't recommend them. Martial arts, well, action films there are a lot, but I think you're referring to trademark martial arts like the Hongkong ones? Not really, most are gunfights and short fistfights.
HistoryMy no. 1 film on my list is a history film. But I think I've just thought of something that will really suit you. It has both history and war in it. Heneral Luna (2015). It has been greatly received by critics, although personally I have some question mmarks on the the accuracy of the "history" part because it wasn't taught in our books.
Here is the trailer:
I hope you like it.Between Mind and Heart-
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elanor-3 — 9 years ago(August 15, 2016 03:10 AM)
I think you're referring to trademark martial arts like the Hongkong ones? - plsletitrain
No, I'm thinking of martial arts in the sense of historical fight styles: with swords, lances, bows, cross-bows, horses. Like in (trying to refer to well known Hollywood films about historical legends or novels)
The Three Musketeers (1973)
,
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
, or
300 (2006)
.
My favourites in this genre are (ordered by date):
The Crusades (1935)
Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
Ivan Groznyy (1945)
Ivan Groznyy. Skaz vtoroy: Boyarskiy zagovor (1958)
El Cid (1961)
Kings of the Sun (1963)
Asoka (2001)
Ying xiong (2002)
King Arthur (2004)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Tamnaan somdet phra Naresuan maharat: Phaak prakaat itsaraphaap (2007)
Chi bi (2008)
Lang zai ji (2009)
Hong men yan chuan qi (2011)
Na-neun wang-i-ro-so-i-da (2012)
Rurôni Kenshin: Meiji kenkaku roman tan (2012)
Yang jia jiang (2013)
Hae-jeok: Ba-da-ro gan san-jeok (2014)
each brain develops its own preferences -
elanor-3 — 9 years ago(August 15, 2016 03:22 AM)
I liked
. Looks well made and interesting to me. But it's recent history. It seems to be about the the Philippine-American War, which is part of the world-wide struggle for independence.
I prefer to learn about cultures via their legends, which have a more individual feel and tap more into the culture's subconscious, the mores and the ethics.
each brain develops its own preferences -
plsletitrain — 9 years ago(August 15, 2016 05:45 PM)
Hmmm..tough one. I think I get what you're meaning when you say about the fantasy/legend types, I can think of at least 3 of it. But I don't recommend them.
Elanor, do you dig some comedy? Well, I knew you like comedies but I have this movie in mind, its a comedy but I'm skeptical you won't find it funny but ugh, I'll give this one try maybe, just maybe, you'll find it erm, funny. (But why am I getting the feeling you'll find it funny not in the way that I intended it to be lol)
Here is one of the funniest Philippine movies I've seen with some lol-ish use of supernatural powers.
Pedro Penduko:Return of the Comeback
Pedro Penduko is part of our folklore as a savior.
There's also Darna (like Wonderwoman) but I'm not so sure if I can recommend them.Between Mind and Heart-