20 Sunday Aug 2017
Tags
1999, ABS-CBN, action, classical films, comedy, drama, Fernando Poe Jr., FPJ, Judy Ann Santos, restoration, star cinema
Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko is worth reliving neither because of its blockbuster success nor its well-loved cast. This film invites the audience to have a peek on a curious moment in the history of Philippine cinema – a moment when the biggest film studio is building the idea of classical films and national cinema while using its own criteria and qualifications.
18 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in Essays
Tags
2001, Cherry Pie Picache, film, film criticism, film review, iflix, Jiro Manio, Kay Abad, Maricel Soriano, Mila, piolo pascual, Princess Punzalan, star cinema
Mila is a timeless piece of art that leaves valuable lessons not only to its audience but to filmmakers alike. Through treating the movie viewers with utmost respect, it shows that the masses can relate and understand social issues and realities. This film is too confident on its viewers that it offers layers of complex themes and discussions in a limited span of time.
19 Thursday May 2016
Posted in Essays
The X-Men franchise has completed yet another trilogy with the release of X-Men: Apocalypse. For someone like me who’s been a fan of the franchise since the circa 1992 cartoon, expectations were definitely high. Apocalypse is one of the most interesting plots of the franchise, after all. Sadly, these expectations weren’t met.
14 Monday Mar 2016
Posted in Essays
Tags
art, Belio Lucero, CCP, chandelier, Cine, cinema, Filipino identity, Filipino-ness, national consciousness, National Identity, Palayan Lamps Corporation, restoration
People tend to rationalize their world. We believe that all things are part of a grand narrative of life and that everything we see is a speck of a larger scheme. We work under this premise and search how history and future can be traced from our cultural artifacts, relics, or even daily objects. This search is continuous. Mapping out this intricate web might take some time to finish.
One idea that puzzles scholars and academics is the definition of being a Filipino (or Filipino identity). We are a nation colonized by three countries each leaving behind diverse traces of their culture. As a result, our values, concept of justice, and definition of development differs largely. Identifying a particular national identity would create unity among Filipinos and it shall create a stronger notion of being a community member. In the 21st century, it is interesting to look at what our treasured cultural materials tell about our identity. Such artifacts can provide us rich insights on how much past do we like to bring in the future.
11 Thursday Feb 2016
Posted in Essays
Tags
2016, action, collosus, comedy, Deadpool, Ed Skrein, film review, hero, marvel, Movie review, mutant, Ryan Reynolds, satire, superhero, X-Men
By: Heinrich Domingo
Spectacle is when you watched your first firework display and gets stupefied by its beauty. It was magical. It was unforgettable. It was life-changing. But when told to watch the same fireworks the following day and the days after that, you begin to wane interest and act as if it’s just a normal scenery. Deadpool works in the same premise. It flaunts a well-written screenplay. It showcases a never-before-seen character. It presents a hopeful subversive intention. But the audience must be warned. This movie when done again will lose its magic. So while it is still a spectacle, while it is still a novelty, and while it is still revolutionary, watch all of its glory until its last spark dies out.
