First of all, as you know I didn't have high expectations from Segunda Mano. If you've seen the trailer, you'd think it's the same horror film. And when I say "the same horror film", I mean scary sounds with unexpected surprises. After all that's what Filipino is known for (Thank God we have Yam Laranas now who's challenging that status quo). Anyhow I still went ahead and watched (first MMFF I watched this year).
Synopsis (without giving away spoilers):
The story revolved around Mabel (played by Kris Aquino) who lives with her Mother (played by Helen Gamboa), who owns an antique shop, who has a bestfriend (played by Bangs Garcia) who happens to own a boutique of second hand (segunda mano) bags. It was in this store that Mabel bought her bag to impress her boyfriend Iva (played by Dingdong Dantes). Later did they know that this bag was owned by Mariela, ex-wife of Dingdong Dantes (played by Angelica Panganiban). As the movie continue, secrets start to be revealed, people start dying and Mabel start searching and finding out.
Movie Review:
Story: Surprising twist always does the trick! From the trailer, I thought the movie is purely about the bag and about a dead woman running after people. Surprisingly the movie blew me away with the unexpected twist. You'd end up glued to the movie screen not wanting to miss any scene. I just didn't understand why the sister didn't come back to her family and waited until she's dead. I think that was left unanswered. Aside from that though, it was a mix of love story (c/o BB. Bernal) and Psycho-Horror theme kind of movie.
Historically OFW's life has been a common and usual theme for Filipino movies. Talk about Milan, Dubai, Anak, Caregiver to name a few. And this is expected as these stories always strike a nerve in every Filipino who has a family member or a relative or a friend who needed to go abroad to work and find a living.
"A Mother's Story" is no different. I'm pretty sure it follows the same plot where the mother needs to go abroad to help her family and when she returns, her family hates her. Blah blah blah... But what amazes me though in this film is that they didn't use the usual famous dramatic character like Sharon Cuneta or Vilma Santos. They tapped on the hidden talent who was an OFW as well before she became a comedienne in the person of POKWANG! That make it worth watching. I remember Ai-ai delas Alas when she started doing drama scenes in "Ang Tanging Ina" which made everybody broke down to tears. I bet this is what will happen with Pokwang as well.
"A MOTHER'S STORY" Trailer
"A Mother's Story" gives life to the story of Medy, played by Pokwang, a make-up artist who dares to make a life in the United States as an illegal immigrant in exchange for saving the life of her infant daughter.
The film focuses on the everyday sacrifices that millions of Filipino parents make as they leave their homes to find jobs overseas.
The film will premier at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California on Nov. 6 and will be shown in major cities worldwide including Calgary, London, Madrid, and Milan starting Nov. 11.
Enteng Ng Ina Mo is an amazing "comedy-nation" of the two Top Grossing Films Series in the Philippines: "Okay Ka, Fairy Ko" and "Ang Tanging Ina". Both have been considered TOP GROSSING FILMS in each year's release. Now with the two joining forces, it's predicted that the film would break records even records recently made by "No Other Woman" and "Praybet Benjamin".
However with a lot of movies to watch on the 25th of December, well never know. But one thing's for sure: this one would definitely make a merrier Christmas for you and your whole family!
Starring JudyAnn Santos, Ryan Agoncillo and Eugene Domingo
Directed by: Jose Javier Reyes
"MUST WATCH!"
Imagine Eugene Domingo being "THE" other woman.
While Juday and Ryan have proven not just once but twice that they're comedy and acting as couple is as real, funny and authentic as you want it to be.
That said, expect one funny entertainment ride ahead!
Yam Laranas, the man behind "Sigaw", the first and I think the only Filipino Horror film that had a US remake ("Echo") gave us another Horror-Psycho masterpiece in the film "The Road".
It's about "A twelve year old cold case is reopened when three teens are missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets of the haunted road may finally be revealed."
Even with the trailer you'd know, you're up for one scary ride! Check it out below:
It was a "funny" year indeed for Ai-ai delas Alas and Eugene Domingo after winning Best Actress for "Ang Tanging Ina Mo, Last Na 'to!" and Best Supporting Actress for "Here Comes The Bride" respectively. "Ang Tanging Ina Mo, Last Na ‘To!" went on and won the Best Picture Award.
This might give us a hint who will win this year's MMFF 2011 Best Picture and Best Actress. Oh well, that is just my prediction.
The multi - awarded actor John Lloyd Cruz once again brought home the bacon after winning the Best Actor Award for "Miss You Like Crazy."
Here's the complete list of the 59th FAMAS Award Winners
I'm sure just like me, you too are
so excited for the Golden Globe 2011 nominees. While browsing and trying
to check Who's Who, I bumped into this article from Yahoo!about the Fresh Faces who will POSSIBLY shine in the Golden Globes.
My take though is I'm sure Octavia Spencer of the Help is a shoo in.
PEP.ph, the leader in showbiz news just recently launched MMFF 2011 | 37th Metro Manila Film Festival: The Special Coverage.
Now we'll know first hand any news, intrigues, updates, behind the scenes, press cons, premier nights, parades, floats, awards night and even a trivia on whether Eugene Domingo deserves to have her own float.
After the TOP Grosser and Festival Best Picture of MMFF 2009 "Ang Panday", here comes "Panday 2" as an official entry to Metro Manila Film Festival 2011 expecting same successful turnout.
Bong Revilla, Iza Calzado and Phillip Salvador return in "Panday 2" with a valuable addition in the person of Marian Rivera.
There is much expectation from this movie after the several wins of "Ang Panday". After all it won Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Visual Effects to name a few.
Kris Aquino, the Queen of all Media, the Queen of Talk, the Queen of almost everything is back in the movie scene with Segunda Mano, one of the official entries in the MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) 2011.
Segunda Mano is a horror-suspense film produced by Star Cinema, Agostodos Pictures and Cinemedia starring Kris Aquino, Angelica Panganiban and Dingdong Dantes. Directed by BB. Joyce Bernal.
This was supposed to be the avenue of the Big Comeback for Ms. Nora Aunor but after she was diagnosed with pneumonia, Mother Lily Monteverde decided to pull out "Hototay".
Aside from "Hototay", another movie was pulled out from the list when Robin Padilla voluntarily withdrew "Mr. Wong".
That said, here's the complete and official list of the 7 entries in 2011 MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival):
Segunda Mano
Panday 2
My Househusband
Enteng ng Ina Mo
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Shake Rattle and Roll 13
Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story
I plan to watch 3 or 4 movies this year. How about you?
I know it's been a while. I even tried deleting this blog. But it's keeping back up. Oh well I'm back! And with my come back I've listed some purposes why this blog exists. That way if I feel stopping again, I can just read it and probably help me bounce back.
Here are some reasons why this blog exists: 1. To share your thoughts about a movie you just watched. 2. To be a respected movie critic someday. 3. This gives you the reason why you need to spend much for a movie ticket. 4. To promote Filipino Movies. 5. To fight Piracy! 6. To be famous. 7. To beat Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
That's it for now. I can always come back here to add more.
How about you? What do you want from a movie blog? What do you want to see?