10 Monday Aug 2020
Posted in Movie Reviews, Video Essays
Tags
cinemalaya, cinemalaya 2020, film criticism, Jan Andrei Cobey, QCinema, QCinema 2019, Review, short film, The Slums
The Slums is a mockumentary short film that laughs at how the media have the tendency to exploit stories about the poor. It follows a film crew whose goal is to document a recent fire that happened in an urban slum area, but they end up revealing their problematic ways of getting the story.
09 Sunday Aug 2020
Posted in Movie Reviews, Video Essays
Tags
angelina kanapi, cinemalaya, cinemalaya 2020, comedy, criticism, excuse me miss miss miss, mailes kanapi, QCinema, Review, short film, sonny calvento
Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss tells the tale of a sales lady named Vangie whose ultimate goal is to be regularized. Despite her efforts, it seemed impossible to attain her goal. She then discovers a secret that will surely make her dream come true.
04 Saturday Apr 2020
Posted in Movie Reviews, Video Essays
Tags
children's cinema, children's film, film criticism, Film essay, independent film, indie film, meng patalo, patintero, Patintero ang alamat ni meng patalo, philippine cinema, philippines, QCinema
Children’s cinema is a film genre that remains under-valued and undiscussed. In the country, much of the films for children are either imported from Hollywood or from the Metro Manila Film festival run. And this trend in the industry posits several problems and concerns. One, we continue to favor the colonial narrative when it comes to teaching the next generation. Two, the so-called family-oriented, comedy films during the MMFF bring no value to viewers, both adults and children. Often times, they propagate sexism, classism, and ageism to their audience. Meng Patalo, a 2015 film by Mikh Vergara, is a good reminder of the need to create children films in the country. The film teaches us how the use of children’s perspective in telling a story in film incites innovation and creativity. It shows us that tales, when seen and told in the eyes of children can be new and revolutionary.
26 Tuesday Jan 2016
Posted in Movie Reviews
Tags
Ana Abad-Santos, Annicka Dolonius, Apocalypse Child, Apocalypse Now, Ford, Gwen Zamora, Movie review, philippines, QCinema, RK Bagatsing, Sid Lucero
Apocalypse Child is reserved for cinephiles who appreciate the undefined. It is not for all. It is not for those who seek reason in the plot, who search for a moral in the story, who don’t like being left behind by the flow of events. This is a film that will leave you with two options: love it or hate it.
25 Monday Jan 2016
Posted in Movie Reviews
Tags
Anino sa Likod ng Buwan, Anthony Falcon, Barber's Tales, Bwakaw, Jun Lana, LJ Reyes, Luis Alandy, Marcos Era, Martial Law, QCinema, Shadow Behind the Moon
To speak of a film’s greatness is to look if it can move and influence people. With its stunning cinematography, brilliant screenplay, and outstanding directing, Anino sa Likod ng Buwan is one of Philippines’ best. It changes perspective, inspires the audience, and redefines cinema.
