Flick Review: Haunted Mansion

1/10/2016 12:37:46 PM

Photo credit:  moviesinthephilippines.wordpress.com

Regal Entertainment has been known for producing several memorable drama and horror films in the Metro Manila Film Festival. In fact, their Shake, Rattle and Roll was so notable it had like 15 editions.

But the 41st MMFF saw two horror movies (or even three, if you count Nilalang) in Buy Now, Die Later and Haunted Mansion, with the latter doing more serious than the former.

As far as meddling with the spirits is concerned, I only had a problem with this picture: it focused more on the teeny-boppy (and even bitchy) high school romantic affair. Yes, two boys falling in love with a girl who has a third eye and capable to combat the bad ones (that’s why Janella Salvador was on the protagonist role in the first place). As it seems, it just caused the film to lose its balance when it comes on taking the light and dark matters.

It can’t be discounted that for a serious horror flick, it had more gore-riffic images than the others. But perhaps we have seen enough in a lot of their kind. 

While Janice de Belen may be a serious contender for the best supporting actress award, I think some characters fell flat; barely not enough to comprehend her part. Somehow, the twist at the near-end portions gave a very untypical edge among the other same genre stories.

Verdict: 5.9

Author: slickmaster | © 2016 september twenty-eight productions

Tirada Ni SlickMaster: 2015 MMFF Edition (Part 2)

12/28/2015 2:46:44 AM

Disqualified ang Honor Thy Father mula sa Best Picture award sa ika-41 na Metro Manila Film Festival.

Alam ko, nabanggit ko na ito sa previous na Tirada Ni SlickMaster ukol sa 2015 MMFF. Pero mukhang naging masalimuot ang proseso ng pagkakadiskwalipika nito.

Ayon sa mga tropa ko na nagko-cover sa entertainment industry, ang pagkakamali raw ay ang pagpalabas nito sa opening ng Cinema One Originals 2015. At hindi naman raw ito kasali sa naturang contest. At dinisclose pa nga nila ito sa MMFF.

At iyan daw ang naging violation ng Honor Thy Father para hindi makasama sa nasabing patimpalak. 

Ganun? Oo, ganun nga.

Ayon pa nga sa iilan, hindi raw deserving ang ilang mga napiling manalo. Naku, mahirap magsalita dyan. Siguro, mas okay na magbiaw ang mga kritiko talaga ddito na as in lahat ng walong pelikulang kalahok sa MMFF ay napanood nila. At least may ideya sila.

Pero pinabulaanan ito ng execuive producer na si Dondon Monteverde. Aniya, alam ng MMFF ang mga kilos ng Honor Thy Father at bagkus ay late nga silang nadadgdag sa lineup.

Ayos. Ay, mali, ayos sana. Ito ang problema. Hindi lang Honor Thy Father ang kanselado. Pati Nilalang din daw. Napull-out pa nga sila mula sa ilang sinehan. Ang saklap no?

Kaya sa totoo lang, ayokong isipin na nagmukang pakonswelo na lamang ang pagkapaalo ni Erik Matti sa Best Director award sa ginanap na awards night kanina. At isang matinding pasabog na nga lang ang mga binitiwang salita niya bilang pagtanggap sa naturang parangal. Hindi lang ito patama sa ehekutibong kumite ng MMFF, kundi sa pangkalahatan na mula sa mga kapwa filmnaker hanggang sa mga manunood. Hindi naman siguro bago ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng iba’t ibang mga filmmaker na iangat muli ang antas ng kalidad ng mga pelikula.

At sa totoo lang: dapat bang sisihin rin ang mga may ganid na kapitalista dito? Siguro.

Pero ito isa ang problema: una, nagdedeteriorate na ang panlasa ng karamihan sa mga bagay-bagay Siguro dahil sa mga jologs sila, o baduy, o maka-masa. At ang problema, ang saklaw ng masa sa ating bansa ay mayorya ng mga nasa lower class. 

Saka isa pa: ang Pasko ay nagiging panahon na ng komersiyalismo, hindi na ito gaya ng dati na mas naipapakit ang diwa ng bigayan.

Oo, may konek nga ito. Nagbabago ang panahon.

Author: slickmaster | © 2015, 2016 september twenty-eight productions

Flick Review: Beauty and the Bestie

1/5/2016 6:34:00 PM

Photo credits: Manila Bulletin

Okay, another Vice Ganda movie. Obviously, another sure-fire hit in the box office; but moreover, another garbage in the eyes of movie geeks and critics.

However, one thing is for sure: it fared way better than My Bebe Love, another heavyweight shit at the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival. Setting aside the popular comedian’s slapstick styles, the flick seemed to neutralize what has been a serious acting on the action scene by an effective Coco Martin. Seems this guy has been do-it-all from drama to action and now... the comedy. And to think that comic plus heavy action is somewhat a good (if not perfect) equation for a balanced type of movie. 

Though there’s still romantic element, with the twist of those friendzone and same-sex infatuation materials as part of the formula. And somehow, the combination proved too good to be true at all. 

Perhaps, Vice Ganda was just more than a comedian; he has some good acting chops lying somewhere in the movie. But it’s still unrealistic to fare well in the other movies. Okay, I get it: they want to entertain the movie-viewing public, right?

But why create such flick at the supposedly the grandest exhibition of films at the Philippines? It certainly loses the essence of making comedy films on a regular basis. 

Oh, wait, the difference is that they create a superb cast of characters, right? Still ain’t convincing. Looks like horror films are more believable then the storyline of this one.

But as I said before, if you want to be entertained, this one’s a better choice. Yes, much better than the other comical chic-flick entry here in MMFF 2015.

Verdict: 4.2

Author: slickmaster | © 2016 september twenty-eight productions

Flick Review: Buy Now, Die Later

1/5/2016 6:47:14 PM

Photo credit: mymovieworld-coolman0304.blogspot.com

Horror and comedy converged once again as the same prods who brought you Walang Forever came up with their second entry at the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival titled Buy Now, Die Later.

The thing is: four mini-stories mixed up in a formula that seemed a bit different from what Shake, Rattle, and Roll has been offering us ever since. Four tales telling four different people buying four various “needed’ products in one store ran by a devil-inside Santi. That somehow, fills the connect-the-dots issue right there. All of them wanted fame, betterment, but with a painful price: their respective lives.

While I admire Vhong Navarro’s serious (and a bit of comic) role here, so was John Lapus. This comedian may not do serious horror, but his effort in lightening up the movie was somehow good; perhaps shying away from being a half-half type of film. 

TJ Trinidad always looks best when he does antagonistic roles like Santi, though it may not be totally evil (as it lacks that prowess), but give him the effort to be one of the primest supporting actor in his generation.

While I admire the formula and the cats of actors and actresses here, I felt Buy Now, Die Later lacked a but of something. Or maybe it’s because they turned out to be not-so-totally serious horrific tales.

But you know what? This picture still fared up so well with the others. While a serious drama, a thriller, and a rom-dramedy racked up the top three entries in terms of quality, BNDL tells a lesson applicable even if not on a fearable, matter-of-life-and-death situation: You want some greed? There’s a price to pay, and it’s a damn hell-like one.

Verdict: 7.2

Author: slickmaster | © 2016 september twenty-eight productions

Flick Review: All You Need is Pag-Ibig

1/10/2016 12:57:03 PM

Photo credits: starcinema.abs-cbn.com

Seems the Star Cinema-Antonette Jadaone experiment turned out so well for the romcom scene, eh? Perhaps, it was since her project with then-Cinema One Original That Thing Called Tadhana days.

And All You Need is Pag-ibig may sound like too cliche or something with Kris Aquino being on “tackless-and-dealing-with-other’s-lovelife” self; but certainly it fared so well that it focused more on stories about the romances of both young and old. It’s like Aquino played a not-so-minimal role yet remained not-so-dull-yet-not-so-very-significant either. And the same goes with Derek Ramsay.

But you know? That is how you do a love story, Jadanone style. With animations and realizations as part of the formula, All You Ned is Pag-ibig clearly stated two things: first, romance is not just for the teeny-boppy (and sometimes, bitchy) ages. It applies to all. 

And second, love is not all about romance. While we enjoyed those sweet nothings between the roles of Mel and Eric (Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion), it also showcased several tales of family relationships.

Those perhaps, are the lessons we should bear about love.

And if there’s another best supporting actress award, it should be given to Nova Villa. Sure, we may all know her by being Azon, Manay Dita, or Freddie Webb’s wife on Chicks-to-Chiks and Chika Chika Chicks; but apart from doing comedy, the veteran proved that her acing prowess can still stand the test of time as always-romantic Loisa, especially with Ronaldo Valdez as her partner Jaime.

It simply broke away from the stereotypes about love stories done on film without even the need of a clear degree of separation of one account to another and connecting them somewhere along the way.

Again, that is how a romantic comedy should be done. 

Verdict: 6.7

Author: slickmaster | © 2016 september twenty-eight productions

Flick Review: Walang Forever

1/2/2016 10:14:54 AM

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Walang Forever may appear to be another hellish romance movie with comedy and dramatic portions lying somewhere in between. But with the advent of the popular term called #hugot (or angst)in the emotional Filipinos, it’s quite more easy to stereotype Walang Forever; considering a lot of people arguing whether the F word really exists or not, especially at the context of romantic relationships.

Dan Villegas was a successful guy in adding the hugot flavor to English Only, Please. He, along with Anj Pessumal and Antonette Jadaone were the new breed of key players in doing such programs right now. No wonder why emotional angst and intellectual wits were the trending combo factors when it comes to making drama or romcoms right now.

And it's quite impressive too that Fernando Ortigas and EA Rocha invested a quality picture on romcoms, too!

It’s kinda effective to put Jericho Rosales and Jennylyn Mercado in the mix, with the latter obviously being the standout for the Best Actress accolade once again at the awards night of the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival. The two had built a good chemistry on-screen. 

However, I had a problem on how he got a terminal disease along the way? Because it shows no symptoms that’s why all of a sudden, his slowly demise appeared like an RKO outtanowhere? Perhaps, or maybe.

But nevertheless, this movie will make you think about the existence of forever. Perhaps on a deeper aspect, like how winning an improbable task of getting back, or how to deal with the stacking odds.

And in the process, make you believe on it.

I only had another problem: if Honor Thy Father wasn’t disqualified for the Best Picture, either WF will lose or at least give HTF a very good fight.

Verdict: 9

Author: slickmaster | © 2016 september twenty-eight productions

Flick Review: My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore

12/29/2015 11:41:46 PM

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Perhaps of all the movies who made noise for 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival, it was the current most popular fanbase who stood out the most. And who else can forget about Eat Bulaga’s prized kalyeserye duo of AlDub when GMA Films along with M-ZET Productions, APT Entertainment, Octo Arts Films and MEDA Productions teamed up to produce My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore through the direction of Jose Javier Reyes?

Somehow, it turned out to be very unusual as a lot of people bashed the movie for being too superficial and trashy for the country’s premier movie festival.

And one certain blog made a hint about doing a movie review about My Bebe Love: lower your expectations as this film was made solely for entertaining purposes.

Turns out she’s right. Aside from a breakout acting role for Maine Mendoza, it really sucked. Yes, big time (or let’s say 2016 times). The plot was quite ill-planned, perhaps due to time constraints. Here’s a bigger problem: it appeared the picture was made because of the popularity of AlDub. In short, joining the bandwagon that’s more evident on the trending list of Twitter.

I get it: sure the commercial films have a lot of ad placements somewhere in the movie. And the more popular the actor/s, the more endorsement they will be placed. The downside was barely evident when the commercials were seen on almost every scene of the movie.

And perhaps another bad blow when you see the technicality was the scene at the convenient store where Maine and Alden had met. If you noticed, the clip was inverted. And that’s not aesthetically appealing at all.

Well, give Mendoza a credit for doing so good in doing her roe as Anna. Though if you asked me, other actresses deserved the Best Supporting Actress than her. But nevertheless, I think it’s still a good one. She deserved to act more in comedy programs soon.

And in all fairness, Ai-ai delas Alas and Vic Sotto proved they can have he chemistry on-screen. Well, for some of their scenes they aren’t off-tangent.

Overall, My Bebe Love was a feel-good movie though we wish it wasn’t shown at the festivals like MMFF. I get it, it’s all business for the past years, but again MMFF needs to straighten up their priorities in life -- that is to uplift quality movies here. This shouldn’t have been a cartel market in the first place.

If you want to be entertained, go ahead. But if you’re a movie goer who thinks deeper a lot, the better spend your money somewhere else.

Verdict: 3.5

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions

Flick Review: Nilalang

12/29/2015 10:19:10 AM

Photo credits: cityonfire.com

Second stop in doing a review in all movies of the Metro Manila Film Festival is Nilalang, an action-suspense-horror flick starring Cesar Montano, Meg Imperial, Cholo Barretto and Maria Ozawa. 

Perhaps the latter seemed very familiar to the masculine race as the Japanese actress had done a crossover from doing adult films in Japan to a thriller here in the Philippines. All that despite a buzz somewhere before the production stage.

And somewhat, Nilalang delivered that craving for everyone who’s been looking for one; and we’re not just talking about quality alone, but bringing back the glory of doing more action movies, too. From the plot itself to technicalities, they had done it. The first minutes of the program was so impressive you would even think “Hey, is this one foreign?” especially Ozawa is at the picture?

It’s quite interesting Pedring Lopez combined two combustible elements: the contrasting world of fantasy and reality, and the antique Japanese and modern Manila setting--in just a one plot that should have been reserved for most of the superhero movies. To think he’s the writer, director and editor at all. 

It may sound like he belonged to the people whose similar to the work ethics of Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna) but that just shows he knows his craft very well and exerts his very best effort on it. And I mean very best because the quality of the product showed they paid dearly for it.

And it may have at least two major subplot but it’s not even that complicated to comprehend.

Frankly, Nilalang showed that along with other MMFF 2015 movies like Honor Thy Father and Walang Forever, the Philippine movie industry can do a lot better. They can make more movies which aren’t just aesthetically appealing, but also tells more sensible stories.

And mind you: even rocking music.

Verdict: 8.8

Author: slickmaster | © 2015 september twenty-eight productions

Flick Review: Honor Thy Father

12/27/2015 11:30:27 PM

Photo credit: Reality Entertainment

With the sudden rise of biopics at the recent Metro Manila Film Festival editions, some filmmakers are taking a different-but-similar approach: that is to bring back the pictures depicting reality in our lives regardless if it make everyone feel heavy about it.

Enter Honor Thy Father into the picture. A product by the same production that gave you On The Job, the current Reality Entertainment offering stars John Lloyd Cruz in another challenging role. Perhaps, topping the one he did on Star Cinema’s The Trial in 2014.

With the supporting cast such as Meryll Soriano, Lander Vera Perez, William Martinez, and Tirso Cruz III, Cruz portrayed Edgar, a family man who will do drastic decisions and desperate actions for the love of his family. And it doesn’t matter if there will be a divine intervention along the way. ‘Cause it’s quite obvious the firm is building stories which mirrors what has been real to us; and that’s not a bad thing at all. In fact, it’s very compelling. Very convincing that even in our tiniest cell of consciousness, things like that happen a lot. All that despite having several lacking scenes if we talked about continuity.

While I commend Michiko Yamamoto and Erik Matti for a great pull-off on the trick, sadly Honor Thy Father was pulled out from several movie houses after the Christmas Day showing. Rubbing salt to the cut was the MMFF committee decision to pull HTF out of contention for the Best Picture. Ouch. After being part of the Cinema One Originals opening ceremonies, MMFF ruled a DQ finish.

I hope these crappy peeps regret their decision soon. Even if Honor Thy Father couldn’t do what Heneral Luna once did of “demand via word of mouth,” hopefully it could still make an impact to everyone who watched that. Definitely there’s still hope for the Philippines to do more qualitative films.

The verdict: 9.3

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions