Once again, the Metro Manila Film Festival is upon us. It is that time again when local fim producers get to showcase their talents amidst the escalating problems of piracy and bootlegging. Does anybody have anything to be happy about aside from the bravado of our local producers? Again and again we keep hearing the good news of how movies like 'Enteng Kabisote', 'Exodus', and 'Mulawin' are topping the box office; we keep on hearing about how much is spent on production and how much profit the particular movie made.
Now correct me if I am wrong, but was not the currently-showing Hollywood movies were removed from the moviehouses to give way to the Filmfest entries? Shades of genius, but it only proves the fact that local movies are no match to the sheer strength of Hollywood. And I do not blame audiences; who would rather watch the ultra chop-chop movie 'Mulawin' than 'Chronicles of Narnia'? Who would prefer watching the special effects of 'Exodus' rather than that of Peter Jackson's 'King Kong'?
It is a sad fact that anybody would turn to Hollywood for their entertainment rather than turn to local movies for the same. For the price of 100.00 pesos, the viewer gets to choose between a foreign movie and a local movie; a choice between a certified quality foreign film versus a locally produced try-hardest fantasy film with no other pull but star power.
Thinking practically, for a hundred bucks I would rather get my money's worth; cinema is way too expensive nowadays. I am pretty sure many people would do the same, but since they were left with no other options, the local movies would do just fine.
Enough about that, now here are the entires for the 2005 MMFF and my personal first impressions:
1. Ako Legal Wife - Supposedly, this one is the fourth installment of the much abhorred Mano Po sequels, but thankfully Mother Lily decided that the Philippines have had enough of these over-acting Filipino-Chinese and turn this latest one into a comedy instead; much like a parody of her Mano Po movies.
2. Blue Moon - As far as the trailer goes, this movie seems like a mixture of Pearl Harbor, Aishte Imasu, and all other mushy Filipino lovey-dovey movies whose market is obviously the teenyboppers who cannot get enough of the artificial love-team of Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras.
3. Enteng Kabisote 2 - The only logical and honest-made movie that is currently reaping the benefits. The creators of this movie knew they cannot create a serious fantasy movie that can compete with the try-hard fantasy wannabe movies, so they decided to make this one a comedy instead. Like 'Ako Legal Wife', nothing beats a comedy to make one laugh the hard times away.
4. Exodus - Supposedly, this one is a serious fantasy movie, but I have received reports that director Erik Matti chopped up this movie; a great beginning, a muddled middle and a so-so ending. However, I still reserve my comments after I watch it.
5. Kutob - One of the two entries in the MMFF which is in the horror genre. So far, I am not hearing any bad comments about this one, but I am not hearing any good ones either. To be perfectly honest I have not even seen a trailer. So should we care?
6. Lagot Ka sa Kuya Ko - One of two entries in the action genre.
7. Mourning Girls - No news on this.
8. Mulawin - So far everybody's been complaining about how this movie was hacked and slashed by the editors. Watch out for my review on this page.
9. Terrorist Hunters - Dennis Roldan as a bad guy. Reel and Real? Sorry Dennis, but I just had to take a shot.
10. Shake Rattle and Roll 2K5 - As if we have not had enough of the ultra-corny SRR mobvie back in the 80's and early 90's, here it is again; and take note: they changed the title from the cliched SRR part 1, part 2, etc. to SRR 2k5. This means there will be movies for the years 2K6, 2K7, 2K8, and so forth. Oh, the humanity.
Relax and See a Movie? Sure! Right after they bring back 'King Kong' back to the moviehouses.
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