Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.88 (12 ratings)

Genre: Drama, Historical

Writer/Director: Mark Meily

Cast: E.R. Ejercito, Nora Aunor, Cesar Montano, Christopher de Leon, Cristine Reyes, Baron Geisler, Sid Lucero, Ronnie Lazaro, Allan Paule, Emilio Garcia, Archie Adamos, Jeffrey Quizon, Felix Roco, Gary Estrada, Gerald Ejercito, Gloria Sevilla, Hero Bautista, Ian de Leon, Ian Veneracion, Jerico Ejercito, John Arcilla, John Regala, Joko Diaz, Joonee Gamboa, Lou Veloso, Roi Vinzon, Soliman Cruz, Sunshine Cruz, Tony Mabesa, Alicia Mayer, Troy Montero, Wendell Ramos, Will Devaughn, William Martinez, Yul Servo, Roldan Aquino

Synopsis: The movie takes glimpses at the life of Emilio Aguinaldo (E.R. Ejercito). It begins with him as a child, unaware of the great life ahead of him, receiving a strange prediction from an elderly fortuneteller. The film follows him through the entirety of his life, stopping to examine significant historical events: his joining of the Katipunan, his leadership in Cavite, his conflict with Andres Bonifacio (Cesar Montano), the struggle for recognition of the country’s sovereignty, the tension with Antonio Luna, his flight from the American invaders, his eventual capture, and his life following the downfall of the Katipunan. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: PG-13

Running time: 160 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

5.0         Phillip Cu-Unjieng (The Philippine Star)

“The care, the attention to detail and the commitment to produce a quality film all combine to make this a film we owe ourselves as Filipinos to watch and learn from.” (Read full review)

4.0         Maridol Rañoa-Bismarck (Yahoo Philippines)

“More than its breathtaking cinematography,  well-choreographed fight scenes,  haunting music and brilliant acting, El Presidente is about the triumph of good over evil.” (Read full review)

3.5          Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“The historical drama’s boldly imaginative take on the power struggle between Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio (the award-worthy Cesar Montano) is riveting, but its protracted running time and dark visuals compromise its viewability and commercial appeal.” (Read full review)

3.0         Rianne Hill Soriano (Yahoo Voices)

“El Presidente is not a perfect film. But in the end, it still shines as a passionate attempt to contribute something valuable for Philippine cinema.” (Read full review)

3.0         Emilia Narni J. David (Business World)

“What the movie does well is usher the audience into the history often ignored by students.” (Read full review)

3.o          Ivan6655321 (IMDB User)

“El Presidente, although admittedly a grand, sweeping production, is a very clunky film that offers little to nothing that our history text books have not taught us yet.” (Read full review)

2.5          Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The gumption is admirable, and its interpretation of history is intriguing. But taken as a whole, it ends up feeling bloated and awkward.” (Read full review)

2.5          Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“The technical achievements were mostly good to horribly bad, and the screentime is difficult to sit through.” (Read full review)

2.5          Ivan Thoughts

“El Presidente” never quite connects on the emotional level. Instead, and this is quite saddening, it merely gives out the occasional ‘wow’ factor with its action set pieces, mammoth scope and nothing more.” (Read full review)

2.0          Carljoe Javier (Rappler)

“El Presidente is flawed. Individual scenes and sequences can be gripping, but the overall film suffers from sprawl and lack of a narrative drive.” (Read full review)

2.0          Rina Jimenez-David (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“My biggest beef against El Presidente is its reliance on art direction and CGI images over character and substance. True, it may have gotten its settings and costumes just right (don’t get me started on makeup), but do we come away from the movie with an insight into the character of Aguinaldo, admittedly one of Philippine history’s most neglected, underrated and unfairly judged heroes?” (Read full review)

1.5          Zig Marasigan (Kristn)

“It’s easy to pin the film’s woes on the weaknesses of Meily’s script, but Ejercito’s performance carries just as much blame. There is not a shred of humanity in Ejercito’s portrayal of the former president. His performance is as robotic as it is lifeless, hidden behind a wall of empty eyes and insufferable speeches.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.54 (13 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Director: Ruel S. Bayani

Writers: Anna Karenina Ramos, Kriz Gazmen, Jay Fernando

Cast: Angel Locsin, Dingdong Dantes, Angelica Panganiban, Zanjoe Marudo, Carmina Villaroel, Agot Isidro, Gina Pareño

Synopsis: Years ago, Grace (Locsin) and Edward (Dantes) had a tryst. Due to various circumstances, the two did not pursue a relationship. Unbeknownst to Edward, that night with Grace produced a child. In present day, Edward is married to his longtime girlfriend Jacqueline (Panganiban). Grace’s kid is five years old, and suffering from severe aplastic anemia. He needs a bone marrow transplant to survive, but they haven’t found a match. Grace goes to Edward, revealing the child’s existence, hoping that he’d be a match. When it turns out he isn’t, the two are forced to consider something quite drastic: to have another child together in order to produce a donor. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: R-13

Running time: 100 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.5         Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“I’m not keen about the highly dramatic third act and the predictable ending. It’s just lazy. Giving characters closure does not always have to be happy or peaceful. But for the most part, I was hooked and contented with what I saw.” (Read full review)

3.5         Reel Advice

“While the film had a tendency to resolve conflicts with shouting, cursing and crying, the morality of the character’s actions and the choices they make will make you think hard and think deep.” (Read full review)

3.5         Jen Tuazon (Kristn)

“Great performances by its leads gave One More Try a lot of heart.” (Read full review)

3.0         Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“Ruel Bayani’s provocative One More Try is occasionally hobbled by an overlay of melodrama, but the finely nuanced performances turned in by Angel Locsin and Angelica Panganiban help the movie effectively play out its polarizing conflict and the moral questions it raises.”

2.5         Rianne Hill Soriano (Business World Online)

“For a story that, while unoriginal, could have had so much potential, One More Try falls short of delivering anything remarkable in an effort to please the crowd.” (Read full review)

2.5         Katrina Stuart Santiago (GMA News)

“It is humanity that (Locsin) lends to Grace. Womanhood beyond body and sex, without romance, and it is a worthy contemporary portrayal of Pinay that is a joy to watch.” (Read full review)

2.5         Carljoe Javier (Rappler)

“There are things to like about it for sure: good performances, some good writing, some ideas. I just wish that it had been brave enough to explore darker possibilities, had had the guts to try and be realistic and try and say something true.” (Read full review)

2.5         Ivan Thoughts

“While the establishment of One More Try‘s scenario is quite provocative, the film, as it goes along, transitions from interesting to slightly plausible to idiotically preposterous.” (Read full review)

2.5         Kikko Kalabud (Hot for Movies)

“The second half felt too synthetic. It coerces the impression that it should, at all costs, have a happy ending. And that hurt the storyline.” (Read full review)

2.0         Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The film doesn’t really seem all that interested in the story’s inherent drama, and augments it with the artificial drama of mainstream formula.” (Read full review)

2.0         Jessica Zafra (Jessica Rules the Universe)

“This is how to do an hommage. Ang miningunang ino ay mahura. Muno hampalan, hingawan, iyangan. Charlie Arceo, we miss you at MMFF time.” (Read full review)

2.0         Bum-Spot

“What is distracting is the need for the film to always show the characters at the verge of tears even when there is no need for it.” (Read full review)

1.5         Mario Bautista (Showbiz Portal)

“Loud, overwritten, everything articulated and revealed, complete with much screaming, slapping and a violent catfight.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.43 (14 ratings)

Genre: Comedy

Director: Wenn Deramas

Cast: Vice Ganda, -Ai de las Alas, Kris Aquino, Daniel Matsunaga, Daniel Padilla, DJ Durano, Kathryn Bernardo, Tirso Cruz III, Xyriel Manabat, Wilma Doesnt

Synopsis: Once upon a time, Totoy and Bernadette (Vice Ganda and Ai Ai de Las Alas) were half-siblings living under the same roof. But Totoy and his mother were thrown out of the house once the affair came to light. Years later, Totoy, now known as Bernice, is a successful fashion magnate. Bernadette on the other hand is looking for a job. She applies for the position of Bernice’s assistant, without realizing their connection. Bernice sees this as her chance to get revenge. He hires Bernadette, fully intending to make her life miserable. But his sister turns out to be made of hardy stuff, surviving all the trials. So much so, that Bernice’s rival Roselle (Kris Aquino) starts eyeing Bernadette. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: PG-13

Running time: 110 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.5          Mario Bautista (Showbiz Portal

“This is not a movie made to please film critics or award-giving bodies. It’s made only to cash in on the pulling power of its three top stars and it accomplishes that, exactly. Its makers are now certainly laughing all the way to the bank.” (Read full review)

3.5          Cinerama Etcetera

“What really made the movie work was perhaps the general sense  of abandon among the cast, not thinking of their own celebrity and poking fun at their own lives just to show the audiences a good time.” (Read full review)

3.0          Zig Marasigan (Kristn)

“Sisterakas is a super force of comedy that isn’t much unlike gobbling down a stocking full of Christmas candy. The result is a sugar rush so pure that the ensuing headache is as agonizingly painful as it is satisfyingly worth it.” (Read full review)

3.0          Jessica Zafra (Jessica Rules the Universe)

“We get why Vice Ganda is the biggest box-office star in the country today.”

3.0          Bum-Spot

“With an able cast exuding a visible bond, the film was able to translate into a fun and enjoyable viewing that is at least worthy of the attention that it has been getting in the local box-office.” (Read full review)

2.5          Ivan Thoughts

“Deramas seems to be more interested in making a laughing stock out of Kris rather than creating an adequately comedic character for her.” (Read full review)

2.5          Forg Files

“While the main plot is actually decent it is still nothing but an excuse to set up jokes, parodies and skits. With this kind of set up, the comedy is pretty much a hit and miss.” (Read full review)

2.0         Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“Sisterakas only aims to exist in a very narrow timeframe, its humor derived entirely from references that will be all but forgotten a few months from now.” (Read full review)

2.0         Carljoe Javier (Rappler)

“It plays to a specific kind of humor, and a specific kind of culture. It draws on an in-thing (fashion industry) and builds a workable comedy around it. Plot doesn’t matter. Tension, not much either. Actors are essentially playing versions of themselves.” (Read full review)

2.0         Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“All this enthusiasm is hobbled by mediocre writing, stale situations, and poor production values.” (Read full review)

2.0         Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“It’s typical Deramas fare staring with a childhood story of the protagonist. Then comes a lot of physical comedy and sarcastic humor in between. It will definitely end with a happy ending. Lather, rinse, repeat.” (Read full review)

2.0         Reel Advice

“Sisterakas will make you laugh but that’s the only thing you can get from it. A shallow happiness for almost 2 hours and once the credits end, you will simply forget about it.” (Read full review)

1.5          J.I.E. Teodoro (GMA News Online)

“The greatest disgrace of “Sisterakas” is Kris Aquino. Someone should have told her doing comedy is far more difficult than drama or horror. She could not deliver a punch line and her movements were awkward.” (Read full review)

1.5          Kikko Kalabud (Hot for Movies)

“This 2-hour full-length comedy skit reject failed to capture any legitimate sense of thrust in spite of the supposed melodramatic backstory.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.90 (10 ratings)

Genre: Horror, Suspense

Director: Lawrence Fajardo

Writers: John Bedia, JP Abellera, Enrico Santos

Cast: Enchong Dee, Cherry Pie Picache, JM de Guzman, Enrique Gil, Julia Montes, Janice de Belen, Johnny Revilla, Jaime Fabregas, Art Acuna, Nico Antonio, Spanky Manikan, Tanya Gomez

Synopsis: The film follows a family (parents Johnny Revilla and Cherry Pie Picache, twin kids Enrique Gil and Julia Montes, grandfather Jaime Fabregas, and helper Janice de Belen) as they make a roadtrip to Murcia. After a strange encounter on a bridge, their van breaks down in the middle of nowhere. As night falls, the family is welcomed to a nearby village in the middle of the forest. The villagers warn the family of a lone hunter named Dolfo (Enchong Dee) who they suspect is an aswang. But there is something more going on in the woods, and before the night ends, there will come a reckoning. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: PG-13

Running time: 100 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.5          Carljoe Javier (Rappler)

“We have a twist to the whole aswang in the provinces cliche. It isn’t the most brilliant thing out there, but at least The Strangers is trying to do something different.” (Read full review)

3.5          Jessica Zafra (Jessica Rules the Universe)

“The umpteenth rendition of the family-goes-on-an-excursion-then-their-van-breaks-down-in-the-middle-of-nowhere story proceeds to take the audience somewhere else. Genuinely creepy.”

3.5          Ria Limjap (Spot.ph)

“It might seem a little familiar—because how many aswang movies do we really we have to sit through—but it serves up the traditional tale with an interesting twist.” (Read full review)

3.0           Mark Angelo Ching (PEP)

“Everything hinges on a twist that’s quite clever, but ultimately limits the movie from a better way to tell its story.” (Read full review)

3.0         Phillip Cu-Unjieng (ABS-CBN News)

“There is something repetitive, and numbing, during the last half hour or so, the set-up being far more entertaining when shafts of humor and irony were evident.” (Read full review)

3.0         Cinerama Etcetera

“The Strangers is a slow moving horror, but it managed to tell a whole story and, execution-wise, it was not too shabby.” (Read full review)

2.5          Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“Incredible production values and mostly strong acting do offer much to ease the pain of the twist, all of it adding up to a decidedly mixed experience.” (Read full review)

2.5          Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“Lawrence Fajardo’s The Strangers puts a novel spin on the aswang myth—but, it takes forever to get to its shocking twist.”

2.5          Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“While the twist worked, it’s not enough to leave you breathless since the rest of the story was too weak to pull that one off. But I’d give them props for even trying.” (Read full review)

2.0          Bum-Spot

“The supposed twist was very obvious 3 minutes after Enrique and Julia came on the scene. You can also delete Enchong’s character and plotline in this movie and you won’t notice any difference.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Essential Viewing

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 4.00 (2 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Writer/Director: Lav Diaz

Cast: Hazel Orencio, Kristine Kintana, Noel Sto. Domingo, Willy Fernandez, Joel Ferrer, Dante Perez

Synopsis: In a rural area, a father forces his daughter into prostitution. Somewhere else, two men embark on a quest for a buried treasure.

MTRCB Rating: R-13

Running time: 300 mins

Trailer: None available

Reviews:

5.0         Richard Bolisay (Lilok Pelikula)

“Like other Diaz films, Florentina Hubaldo, CTE contains the nuances and challenges of great literature. It doesn’t beg to be watched in its entirety: its strength is its ability to remain powerful despite the inevitability of missing sequences due to its length.” (Read full review)

3.0         Noli Manaig (Closely Watched Frames)

“All in all, Florentina Hubaldo, CTE is in any other auteur’s filmography a worthy addition, but coming at the heels of all of Diaz’s masterworks in the last 10 years or so, it is something of a letdown.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.70 (10 ratings)

Genre: Horror, Suspense

Director: Chito Roño

Writers: Ricky Lee, Rody Vera, Roy Iglesias

Cast: Carlo Aquino, Dennis Padilla, Dennis Trillo, Dimples Romana, Empress Schuck, Herbert Bautista, Janice de Belen, Lovi Poe, Makisig Morales, Paolo Avelino, Ronnie Lazaro, Snooky Serna, Vhong Navarro, AJ Dee, Albie Casino, Alex Castro, Anna Vicente, Arlene Muhlach, Benz Sangalang, Chokoleit , Chris Pasturan, Dennis Padilla, Ella Cruz, Eri Neeman, Eric Tai, Eula Caballero, Fabio Ide, Gerald Pesigan, Ivan Dorschner, Jairus Aquino, JC Tiuseco, Martin Escudero, Rain Papa, Rommel Padilla

Synopsis: The first segment, Pamana, is set in the 80s, where a group of cousins (Herbert Bautista, Janice de Belen, Arlene Muhlach and Eri Neeman) gather at the house of a forgotten uncle to learn of their inheritance. They are promised 20 million pesos at the end of the month, but until then, they are to care for their uncle’s horror comics. Their lives are all put in danger when the monsters from the comics suddenly come to life.

Lost Command follows a group of soldiers (led by Dennis Trillo) as they trek deep into the jungle to investigate mysterious deaths in the area. They hear tales of aswang, of a battalion of soldiers who are no longer quite human.

Unwanted tells the story of Hank and Kate (Vhong Navarro and Lovi Poe), who we learn early on are pregnant with a child they’re not sure they want to keep. Before they can have much of a discussion about it, a large explosion traps them inside a shopping mall. The two, along with other survivors, try to find a way out, but standing in their way are all manners of strange creatures. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: GP

Running time: 125 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.0        Carljoe Javier (Rappler)

“There are moments where the scripts might fail him, but at the very least everything here is entertaining (or at the very least attention-grabbing).” (Read full review)

3.0        Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The result is as mixed as it’s always been, with only one of the segments really standing out.” (Read full review)

3.0        Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“I like how they connected the first segment with an old horror concept: the power of comics. There’s really something that’s comfortable to watch here that makes the whole episode enjoyable.” (Read full review)

3.0        Mark Angelo Ching (PEP)

“Shake, Rattle & Roll 14 is a mixed bag. But moviegers should still see it for “Pamana,” which is worth the price of the entire ticket.” (Read full review)

2.5         Jessica Zafra (InterAksyon)

“SRR 14: The Invasion is terrible, but it is oddly enjoyable.” (Read full review)

2.5         Jason Domantay (Yahoo Philippines)

“Watching  Shake Rattle and Roll films can be tough. For one, there’s less screen time for every story. Thus the viewer is less emotionally-invested in the characters and even in the supernatural beings.” (Read full review)

2.5         Zig Marasigan (Kristn)

“Shake, Rattle, & Roll 14: The Invasion offers some mild entertainment with very little going for it past the first episode.” (Read full review)

2.5         Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“While these three old tales were compelling to watch, Rono’s new age fables are emotionally distant and uninteresting.” (Read full review)

2.5         Cinerama Etcetera

“SRR Fourteen was not able to sustain its strong beginning because of a deteriorating storyline that left more questions than answers.” (Read full review)

2.5         Kikko Kalabud (Hot for Movies)

“This would have been a great “comeback” for this famous local horror anthology but it turned out to be a little lackluster than expected.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.20 (10 ratings)

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Director: Andoy Ranay

Writers: Des Garbes-Severino, Aloy Adlawan, Marlon Rivera, Annette Gozon-Abrogar

Cast: Bianca King, Heart Evangelista, Rhian Ramos, Solenn Heussaff, Agot Isidro, Aljur Abrenica, Benjamin Alves, Cherie Gil, Maritoni Fernandez, Mikael Daez, Nova Villa, Robert Arevalo, Ruffa Gutierrez

Synopsis: The head of a TV network (Ruffa Gutierrez) tasks a cub reporter (Tim Yap) to shoot a documentary about four high society girls. Danielle (Bianca King) is trying to hide the fact that her family is in dire financial straits. Lizzie (Rhian Ramos) is sent off to the province to atone for her bratty ways. Margaux and Claudia (Solenn Heussaff and Heart Evangelista) are best friends made rivals by their feuding beauty queen mothers. The four friends must work together to keep their beloved Polo Club from being turned into a “yaya mall” by its new nouveau-riche owner. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: PG-13

Running time: 105 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.5        Carljoe Javier (Rappler)

“Despite some parts coming off as politically iffy, this comes off as a sharp, smart film. It understands the milieu in which it is being created. It makes fun of its characters, but also shows an affinity and care for them.” (Read full review)

3.5        Katrina Stuart Santiago (GMA News Online)

“This movie does not make a pitch for naiveté in these girls, nor does it seek to humanize them. Instead it tells us how these sosy girls exist – designer bags, family problems and all – and theirs are lives that can be funny because it is absurd that they exist the way they do at all.” (Read full review)

3.5        Mario Bautista (Showbiz Portal)

“We’re happy to report that Andoy Ranay succeeded in coming up with something that is truly hilarious for his first full length film.” (Read full review)

3.0       Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“Sosy Problems and its lovely cast just want to have fun—and, despite loose ends that need tying up and a seemingly rushed finale, they do, along with their viewers!”

2.5        Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“The film actually stumbles hard as it scrambles into its finish line. Story telling turned reckless and banked on fast resolutions.” (Read full review)

2.0        Abby Mendoza (PEP)

“While Andoy Ranay’s film succeeds in giving clear-cut characters that walk, talk, move, and breathe like the so-called ‘super duper upper class’, Sosy Problems seems to forget that it’s a parody.” (Read full review)

1.0        Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“There is some cleverness to the whole thing, but it would be too much to recommend a movie that is so decidedly unfinished.” (Read full review)

1.0       Don Jaucian (Pelikula Tumblr)

“Sosy Problems turns out like one of the Class AAA bags that its characters abhor. It’s good-looking and promising, but it’s actually a low-grade replica of a wittier film (in print maybe).” (Read full review)

1.0        Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“The writing of the movie is a combination of overused and confused.” (Read full review)

1.0        Mark Angelo Ching (Pisara)

“The main problem with this movie is that the characters are just plain unlikable.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Avoid at All Costs

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 1.33 (3 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Director: Grace Javier-Alfonso

Writer: Baby Nebrida

Cast: Valerie Concepcion, Christopher de Leon, Dina Bonnevie, Jaclyn Jose, Lani Mercado, Megan Young, Ricky Davao, Allen Dizon

Synopsis: The movie follows the lives of several families. Married couple Ben and Rose (Christopher de Leon and Lani Mercado) love each other very much, but struggle to find time to spend with each other. Rose begins to entertain thoughts with reuniting with an old flame. Emily (Dina Bonnevie) is having trouble with her kids. Her son Pax (Mavi Lozano) has become obsessed with a girl, making him act erratically. That girl is Carla (Valerie Concepcion) who has turned to a life of prostitution and casual sex to run away from her toxic home life. Their lives intersect as they each deal with their own demons. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: R-13

Running time: 150 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

2.0        Mark Angelo Ching (Pisara.me)

“Over-long and inconsistent. It makes sense why the mainstream distributor does not seem to want to promote it.” (Read full review)

1.0        Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“Flames of Love isn’t just bad. It is often despicable. Many films suffer from bad stories or clunky dialogue or a lack of technical expertise. This film already has all that, but it ups the ante with its infantile concept of morality and murky gender politics.” (Read full review)

1.0       Manuel Pangaruy (Tagailog Special)

“I almost walked out after 15 minutes, particularly in a scene that involves a gay looking guy and his girlfriend dismissing pre-marital sex. He said that it’s a love triangle between them and God. The rest of the film is like that, saying no to abortion (good) and for a couple of times, preaching that condoms are not effective. That’s in between scenes that show the character praying ardently. The ‘sermon’ is difficult to swallow especially for a script that seems to challenge reality. The OFW mom for instance is shown putting $1,000 in a snail mail and the money reaches the daughter. There’s nothing much from the acting department either considering the presence of the likes of Christopher de Leon and Lani Mercado. Only exception perhaps is Dina Bonnevie who did great.”

Verdict: Avoid at All Costs

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 1.44 (8 ratings)

Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy

Director: Tony Reyes

Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., Vic Sotto, Gwen Zamora, Sam Pinto, Jolo Revilla, Oyo Sotto, John Lapus, Aiza Seguerra, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Mikylla Ramirez, Amy Perez, Ryzza Mae Dizon

Synopsis: Agimat (Bong Revilla), hero of Amuleto, has proposed marriage to his love Samara (Sam Pinto). He invites his friend Enteng Kabisote (Vic Sotto) to the wedding, and asks for his help as he and Samara spend their honeymoon in the human world. The two heroes meet Angelina (Judy Ann Santos), an environmental activist who is secretly the princess of a magical kingdom. A grave alien threat arrives on both Earth and Amuleto, and the three must join forces to protect their worlds. But the heroes’ respective wives don’t take very well to Angelina, threatening the alliance. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: GP

Running time: 105 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

2.5      Rommel Llanes (PEP)

“Expecting too much from the movie or taking its flaws seriously may just spoil one’s craving to be entertained.” (Read full review)

2.0      Reel Advice

“The plot, while useless at best, takes the backseat from all the prolific advertisements mid-movie.” (Read full review)

1.5        Carljoe Javier (Rappler)

“In all honesty, there was nothing that surprised me about Si Agimat, Si Enteng, at Si Ako, except that it was just extremely politically incorrect.” (Read full review)

1.5        Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“Amidst all this, these questions still remain: Is this really necessary? Would something have changed if the movie was not made? What can it still offer to its readers? And lastly, when will it end?” (Read full review)

1.0        Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“It can only give audiences the same thing they’ve been offering up for the past few years: very tepid fantasy action, with no one to really care about.” (Read full review)

1.0       Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Si Ako is narratively spare and its content artistically destitute.” (Read full review)

1.0        Bum-Spot

“As if their individual movies aren’t bad enough, they even collaborated to make a movie that constantly insults a thinking mind and renders you comatose out of sheer stupidity.” (Read full review)

1.0       Kikko Kalabud (Hot for Movies)

“There’s really no story to tell in the first place. There’s really nothing spectacular to show. All it gives is just a real headache.” (Read full review)

Kalayaan, prolific filmmaker Adolfo Alix Jr.’s brooding tale of soldiers stationed in picturesque Kalayaan islands, tops Pinoy Rebyu’s 2^nd Annual Movie Poll, as voted by 20 film bloggers and journalists, while Nora Aunor’s subtle turn as a barren Badjao midwife in Brillante Mendoza’s Thy Womb is the voters’ overwhelming choice for best lead performance, way ahead of second-placer Eddie Garcia (Bwakaw).

Kalayaan stars Thai actor Ananda Everingham in the role of a Filipino soldier assigned to man a military outpost in the disputed Spratly Archipelago. The film patiently documents the soldier’s daily routine and his eventual descent into madness.

Aside from best film, Kalayaan topped four more categories: best director (tied with Lav Diaz for the six-hour Florentina Hubaldo, CTE), best cinematography (by Albert Banzon), best musical score/soundtrack (by Teresa Barrozo), and best scene (for its controversial opening night scene that features a mermaid doing a soldier a sexual favor). Another Alix film, Mater Dolorosa, was cited best ensemble (tied with Vincent Sandoval’s Aparisyon).

Kalayaan bested Colossal, Juan Manuel Alcazaren’s audacious experimental debut feature (2^nd best film) and Pascalina, Pam Miras’ unconventional aswang film shot with lo-fi cameras (3^rd best film). Colossal and Pascalina also tied for best first feature while Alcazaren’s script for Colossal was voted best screenplay.

Art Acuña’s portrayal of a fearsome police chief in Lawrence Fajardo’s Posas was voted best supporting performance, ahead of Nicholas Varela (Aberya) and Annicka Dolonius (Ang Nawawala).

The moving Paco Larrañaga film Give Up Tomorrow was chosen best documentary, and the director of Pinoy Rebyu’s 2011 best short film, Jon Lazam, repeated the feat as his Nang Gabing Maging Sinlaki ng Puso ang Bato ni Darna topped the best short film category.

Click here for the full tally and individual lists.

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.38 (4 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Director: Joel Lamangan

Writer: Raquel Villavicencio

Cast: Meg Imperial, Ara Mina, Chynna Ortaleza, Jaycee Parker, Wendell Ramos, Almira Muhlach, Anna Luna, Arvic Rivero, Jef Gaitan, Jim Pebangco, Miko Aytona, Pio Valbuena

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Jen (Meg Imperial) doesn’t have a very happy life. Her classmates make fun of her for being raised by lesbians. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she didn’t want to have sex. Her mother is constantly berating her. She seeks comfort in a violent gang of girls led by her cousin, and in the arms of her Filipino teacher Ariel (Wendell Ramos). She develops quite a crush on her teacher as he tries to help her through her issues. But things turn sour between them when he rejects her advances, and soon both are caught in lies that will change their lives forever. (Click the City)

MTRCB Rating: R-13

Running time: 90 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

4.0       Mark Angelo Ching (PEP)

“What makes Menor de Edad admirable is how much grit it dares to show its audience.” (Read full review)

2.0       Rianne Hill Soriano (Business World)

“From its theme and concept, it has the right elements to capture the attention of either the commercial or the independent film market. But with its flawed storytelling, poor characterizations, and mostly shoddy acting, its potential completely fizzles out.” (Read full review)

2.0       Zig Marasigan (Kristn.com)

“For a film that unabashedly imbibes the indie cinema spirit, Menor De Edad falls prey to the obvious conventions of commercial melodrama. Tears flow like aqueducts from the gods, and actors look wistfully off-cam in hopes of conveying emotion. ” (Read full review)

1.5       Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“It is all too much: too much drama, too many subplots, and too many odd stylistic choices. The result is headache-inducing, the movie so loud and unfocused that it draws out a physical reaction.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.67 (3 ratings)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Peque Gallaga

Writer: Aloy Adlawan

Cast: Richard Gutierrez, Sarah Lahbati, Solenn Heussaff, Al Tantay, Jay Manalo, Jon Orlando, Mark Gil, Yayo Aguila

Synopsis: Fireman Ram (Richard Gutierrez) is having trouble saving up the money to pay for his dad’s kidney transplant. While trying to find the money, he meets two very different women. Trina (Sarah Lahbati) is from his neighborhood, and is mostly quiet and reserved. Sophia (Solenn Heussaff), who he rescues from a burning building, is wealthy and outgoing. He rents a room in Trina’s house, and gets a job from Sophia. He becomes drawn to both women, each providing him with something that he needs. But he is soon forced to make a choice between the two of them, and that choice comes with all sorts of consequences. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: R-13

Running time: 105 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.0       Mark Angelo Ching (PEP)

“Seduction showcases a good story and good direction. The talent, however, does not quite back these up.” (Read full review)

2.5       Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“Seduction stumbles on more basic things, with a clunky script and haphazard editing creating a haze of confusion that never really lets up.” (Read full review)

2.5       Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“With a story that doesn’t really convey a sense of exigency, it feels like the narrative has taken the sideline from the scenographic ruse.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Avoid at All Costs

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 1.25 (2 ratings)

Genre: Comedy

Writer/Director: Neal Tan

Cast: Rocco Nacino, Rodjun Cruz, Arnell Ignacio, Julio Diaz, Melissa Mendez, Tita Swarding, Marissa Sanchez, Isadora, Bekimon

Synopsis: Best friends Sam and Carlo (Rocco Nacino and Rodjun Cruz) do everything together. They do have one secret between them, however: Sam is actually gay, and he’s in love with Carlo. The problem is that Carlo is a big time homophobe, so Sam has to put up an act around him all the time. But when Carlo gets into some trouble, Sam sees an opportunity to finally come out to his friend. He tries to solve Carlo’s problems, hoping to use the goodwill to win him over. But something unexpected happens. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: R-16

Running time: 100 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

1.5       Rianne Hill Soriano (Business World)

“The issues it tries to address about gays and how the society treats them are clichéd, and the actors are unable to overcome the narrative’s predictable twists and turns.” (Read full review)

1.0       Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“I Luv U Pare Ko is a confused mess of a comedy that never gets around to being funny.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.31 (4 ratings)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Emmanuel Palo

Cast: Coco Martin, Julia Montes, Cherie Gil, Ella Cruz, Gabby Concepcion, Zsa Zsa Padilla

Synopsis: After seeing her on the train, amateur artist Patrick (Coco Martin) becomes obsessed with Jillian (Julia Montes). He pursues her relentlessly, despite not knowing anything about her. He eventually wins her over, only to learn that she was the driver of the car that ran over his mother years ago. This fact, along with other issues, causes Patrick to push Jillian away, even as she falls in love with him. Patrick eventually learns the error of his ways, but by then, he might be far too late. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: GP

Running time: 105 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.5      Jennifer Dugena (PEP)

“A Moment in Time’s glossy visuals helped soften Manila’s grime and grittiness the same way Coco and Julia’s onscreen presence made this Star Cinema movie about an emotionally abusive relationship, exceptionally entertaining, romantic, aspirational, and even likable.” (Read full review)

3.0      Miguel Dumaual (ABS-CBNews)

“The central conflict, despite the gravity with which it was presented, feels conveniently resolved.” (Read full review)

1.75    Rianne Hill Soriano (Business World)

“When it was time for their inevitable happy ending, the movie ceased being a film and became a music video filler all the way until the credits rolled.” (Read full review)

1.0       Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“It’s just an amalgamation of all the things that have already been in Star Cinema romances: big gestures, public humiliation, montages set to standards, a trip to another country, and a reunion that seems to happen by default.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Proceed with Caution

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 2.17 (3 ratings)

Genre: Action, Drama

Director: Cesar Montano

Writers: Enrique Ramos and Cesar Montano

Cast: Cesar Montano, Alessandra de Rossi, Alvin Anson, Alwyn Uytingco, Ara Mina, Gina Pareño, Gloria Romero, Isabel Granada, Jackie Lou Blanco, Jeffrey Tam, Marc Abaya, Migs Cuaderno, Nonie Buencamino, Raquel Pareno, Richard Quan, Rommel Montano, Spanky Manikan, Tirso Cruz III

Synopsis: The movie largely takes place in the 1960s. Police Major Alfredo Lim (Cesar Montano) has just been commended for being one of Manila’s ten most outstanding officers. But the celebration is cut short when one of his co-honorees is killed while trying to stop a robbery. Lim gets on the trail of this gang of criminals, carrying out a major surveillance operation. But his work takes a personal toll, his devotion to his duty causing friction in his marriage. And his righteousness ruffles the feathers of very powerful people, putting his family’s life in danger. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: R-13

Running time: 110 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.5      Rowena Joy Sanchez (Manila Bulletin)

“Though set decades back, the visuals in The Untold Story are vivid and crisp, thus giving off the feel that we’re not really traveling back in time, but are actually there, witnessing the life of the protagonist unfold.” (Read full review)

1.5      Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The movie isn’t nearly compelling enough to be effective at winning over and hearts and minds. It is instead awfully tedious, the film lacking the focus and the storytelling skill to put together a coherent narrative.” (Read full review)

1.5      Rianne Hill Soriano (Business World)

“What ends up on screen is a forced combination of action, drama and humor spread over two main story arcs: the life of Alfredo Lim as a child left at an orphanage, and his life as an uncompromising policeman.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Value for Money

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 3.12 (4 ratings)

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Director: Dado Lumibao

Writers: Mae Chua, Roumella Nina Mongue

Cast: Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, John Estrada, Liza Soberano, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, Arlene Muhlach, K Brosas, Janus del Prado

Synopsis: Patchot and Ivan (Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla) have been best friends since they were kids. Now, as teens, tomboyish Patchot has a “slow-mo” moment with Ivan, and inadvertently declares her love for him. She passes this off as a goof, and tries hard to just bury the moment. But when her cousin Angel (Liza Soberano) catches the attention of Ivan, she suddenly realizes just how much she wants to be with him. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: GP

Running time: 100 mins

Trailer: 

Reviews:

3.5       Jennifer Dugena (PEP)

“The movie was able to balance aspirational romance with grounded truth and uncontrived humor.” (Read full review)

3.5       Cinerama Etcetera

“The excellent direction of Dado Lomibao and the witty script… made the film seem fresh and fun, entertaining and relateable to the audience.” (Read full review)

3.0       Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“The premise isn’t something you haven’t seen before, but Bernardo and Padilla’s chemistry balances the film between the crowd-drawing allure of its rom-com elements and the themes that substantially raise its game.” (Read full review)

2.5       Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“Behind the mainstream gloss of the pictures lies a surprisingly deep question of identity, mired with a toxic outlook on beauty.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Essential Viewing

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 4.58 (24 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Director: Vincent Sandoval

Writers: Vincent Sandoval and Jerry Gracio

Cast: Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Mylene Dizon, Jodi Sta. Maria, Raquel Villavicencio

Synopsis:  An act of brutal violence shatters a convent’s cloistered tranquility and brings the contrast between a life of sheltered faith and outside reality into sharp relief. As the sisters grapple with the fallout and emotional aftermath, one final secret threatens to unravel the nunnery completely.

Running time: 87 mins

*

Trailer: 

Reviews:

5.0      Tito Genova Valiente (Business Mirror)

“The nuns whose guilt and goodness are, to borrow the words of Wallace Stevens, ‘ambiguous undulations,’ are portrayed by Fides Cuyugan-Asencio, Raquel Villavicencio, Jodi Sta. Maria and Mylene Dizon. They form what I believe to be the finest ensemble ever gathered for a feature film.” (Read full review)

5.0      Tessa Maria Guazon (Young Critics Circle)

“Aparisyon is taut and limber- a film that marries restraint with vibrant energy. While the story is not new it is retold in superbly choreographed suspense.” (Read full review)

5.0      Noli Manaig (Closely Watched Frames)

“Great credit is due the filmmaker for fashioning something that is often thought beyond conflation: a poetic and lyrical allegory that is also profoundly political, profoundly dialectical.” (Read full review)

5.0      Mabie Alagbate (Reading Lines Between Lines)

“Yet, even when the worst was supposedly over, it still felt like the chair i was in never really let me settle back into it fully.” (Read full review)

5.0      Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“The film is patient, quiet, and intense, looking deep into the darkness that stems from passivity.” (Read full review)

5.0      Eric Cabahug (InterAksyon)

“Aparisyon has an immaculate facade — smooth direction, flawless acting, fluid visuals. It’s what’s on its mind that gives it friction and heat. The final scene is brilliantly chilling in its craftiness.” (Read full review)

5.0      Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“Aparisyon boasts of a powerful ensemble (a spectacular cast from Jodi Sta. Maria to Mylene Dizon, from the fantastic Fides Cuyugan Asencio to the empathetic Raquel Villavicencio), richly textured characters, and a stifling sense of paranoia, helplessness and disgruntling gloom.” (Read full review)

5.0      Ria Limjap (Spot.ph)

“Vincent Sandoval’s taut thriller is at the very core a disturbing tale of conspiracy, injustice, and tragedy, swathed in heavenly light and haunted by dark shadows.” (Read full review)

5.0      Scud in Real Life

“The film is a joy to watch. It is quiet and moves at a leisurely pace but never boring.” (Read full review)

5.0      Carl Joseph Papa (Whatever, Carl)

“The movie perfectly captured the atmosphere and the feel of being in a convent. The silence hides everything but they inevitably surface.” (Read full review)

5.0      Mark Angelo Ching (PEP)

“Aparisyon is the must-see movie in this year’s Cinemalaya. It is not only a notable drama and thriller, but a brilliant morality play where the answers are not black-and-white.” (Read full review)

5.0       It’s All About Movies

“Every breaking down moment is heart-wrenching. Every falling tear has a reason. And every tear withheld has a cause.” (Read full review)

5.0       Manuel Pangaruy (Tagailog Special)

“Sana’y gumawa pa tayo ng mga ganitong pelikula upang magpaalala sa atin ng ating pinagdaanan at upang basagin ang hinala na wala tayong sense of time.” (Read full review)

4.5       Oggs Cruz (ABS-CBNews)

“Sandoval’s direction is undeniably sophisticated. He forgoes safety and ease for risks that pay off, creating a film that is also a devastating mood piece, a product of the cross between the immense possibilities of the imagination and experiences dealt by inherited history.” (Read full review)

4.5       Skilty Labastilla (Young Critics Circle)

“It takes great filmmaking skill to show restraint in a film that tackles heavy themes set in a politically charged atmosphere. Sandoval achieves that and more by respecting the audience to do some thinking for themselves, as well as by gathering a top-notch cast and crew to achieve his vision. If Señorita signalled his arrival as a filmmaker to watch, Aparisyon emphatically confirms his place as one of the vanguards of the new Philippine cinema.”

4.5       Zig Marasigan (Lagarista)

“There is an undeniable smallness to the film, but Sandoval manages to expand the scope of his story through the sheer scale of his themes, his characters, and his milieu.” (Read full review)

4.5        Lyndon Maburaot (Table Stretcher)

“A deliberately paced examination of guilt and conscience. The serene pace belies the forceful undercurrents. It has the power to leave you taken and shaken as soon as the last frame is over.”

4.5         Fidel Antonio Medel (Pixelated Popcorn)

“My favorite from the (Cinemalaya) bunch so far. Haunting. Heavy subject matter dealt with utmost care. Best ensemble.”

4.0        Vincenzo Tagle (We Talk About Movies)

“This is a wonderfully presented movie, whose profound themes are steeped in the film’s polished cinematography.” (Read full review)

4.0     Don Jaucian (Philippine Star)

“Powered by arresting performances from Sta. Maria, Dizon, Raquel Villavicencio, and Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Aparisyon speaks so eloquently about the dangers of passivity and the misplacement of virtues that straps us into a chain-linked world.”

4.0        Present Confusion

“This is an intense, brutal film, filled with emotional violence, yet conveyed in silences.” (Read full review)

4.0        Dodo Dayao (Piling Piling Pelikula)

“Very quiet, sometimes intensely so. My precise flavor of obtuse. I love Teresa Barrozo’s eerie score. And I also love how it feels like a different Vince Sandoval directed this. As far away from the pulpy melodrama of Señorita as you can get.”

3.5          Jansen Musico (Pelikula Tumblr)

“The performances of all four women are exceptional, but the most noteworthy is that of Sta. Maria’s. Without making a sound, she reverberates suffering, and when she finally lets out a pained whimper, it’s impossible not to mourn with her.” (Read full review)

3.0          Kara Chung (Katipunan)

“By the middle of the film, the previously excited viewer becomes attuned to the extended periods of calm. Shots that could have been taken in a few seconds are mercilessly stretched out into minutes.” (Read full review)

Verdict: Value for Money

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 3.12 (8 ratings)

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Director: Cathy Garcia-Molina

Writer: Carmi Raymundo

Cast: John Lloyd Cruz, Sarah Geronimo, Isabelle Daza, Irma Adlawan, Al Tantay, Johnny Revilla, Joross Gamboa, Matet de Leon, Rowell Santiago, Gio Alvarez

Synopsis: When we last saw Miggy Montenegro and Laida Magtalas (Cruz and Geronimo), they had resolved to stay together in spite of Laida getting a job in Canada. A year into their long-distance relationship, the two suffer personal crises, and they crack under the pressure. Miggy ends up betraying Laida in a moment of weakness, and the two break up. Now, Laida returns to the Philippines on the behest of Miggy’s brother Art (Rowell Santiago). Art wants Laida to help Miggy land a licensing deal with a major US publisher. The two are forced to work together despite their tumultuous history. (Click the City)

Running time: 120 mins

MTRCB rating: G

Trailer: 

Reviews:

4.0      Jennifer Dugena (PEP)

“(Cruz’ and Geronimo’s) tandem has once again worked as they exude strong onscreen chemistry in It Takes a Man and a Woman. I personally believe no other onscreen partnership has been this charming and endearing.” (Read full review)

4.0     The Pondering Movie Fan

“The chemistry between the two lead stars is undeniable. They always light up the screen every single time they are present and that means more when they’re together in a sequence.” (Read full review)

4.0     Bernard Santos (My Movie World)

“The director’s treatment was so good and effective para pakiligin ang mga tao, as we all know that Cathy Garcia Molina has really mastered the romcom movie and this is one of her best films ever.” (Read full review)

3.5      Nicol Latayan (Tit for Tat)

“It Takes A Man and a Woman is one of those films that highly succeeded in what it wanted to portray, bringing in the smiles, the tears, and the kilig, while also serving the perfect closure to both their love story and the film installment itself.” (Read full review)

3.0      Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“There are plenty of sweet moments to be found in It Takes A Man and A Woman, but there’s a lot of bloat to get through.” (Read full review)

3.0      Ihcahieh

“Everything seems all too contrived, but ironically and rightfully so, maybe because they have earned it. Scenes and lines are reenacted from the first movie just to give you a quick refresher; a tribute of sorts.” (Read full review)

2.0     Ria Limjap (Spot.ph)

“I don’t think I got two hundred pesos worth of kilig and escapism. There was absolutely no suspension of disbelief on my part.” (Read full review)

1.5      Carljoe Javier (Rappler)

“They’ve been broken up for two years… and Laida is still hung up. Granted there isn’t a time frame for recovery on these things, but the kind of pettiness and slights, and the general sort of crazy rom-com behavior seemed a bit much for a supposedly strong woman who has found herself and all that.” (Read full review)

Dear readers,

We have some exciting news as we are embarking on a project that will ask local filmmakers, screenwriters, critics, and academics what they think are the greatest Filipino films of all time. We are excited, of course, to find out which films get the most mentions, but we’re even more excited to know the individual tastes of our invited voters.

Right now, ballots are starting to trickle in, from:

DIRECTORS

Jeffrey Jeturian

Carlitos Siguion-Reyna

Ralston Jover

Wenn Deramas

Mike Sandejas

Vincent Sandoval

Ray Defante Gibraltar

Christopher Gozum

Zurich Chan

JP Carpio

Dado Lumibao

Archie del Mundo

SCREENWRITERS

Jake Tordesillas

Shaira Mella Salvador

John Bedia

Senedy Que

Katski Flores

Enrico Santos

CRITICS / ACADEMICS

Jojo Devera

Nonoy Lauzon

Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez

Gerard Lico

Jag Garcia

Adrian Mendizabal

We are awaiting ballots from about 200 more film experts and practitioners.

We are also interested to find out your favorite Pinoy films. Do hit the comments section to let us know what they are.

Cheers!

Verdict: Do Something Else

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 1.75 (4 ratings)

Genre: Drama

Director: Gil Portes

Writer: Enrique Ramos

Cast: Wendell Ramos, Arnold Reyes, Giselle Tongi, Jackie Lou Blanco, Lloyd Samartino, Raquel Villavicencio

Synopsis: Filemon Almazan (Wendell Ramos) is the mayor of the municipality of Magiliw in Quezon. Artificial contraception is illegal in his town, and he enforces the law personally. He has Dr. Emil Magsino (Arnold Reyes) arrested for prescribing contraception. Attorney Catherine Tiongson (Giselle Toengi), a tax attorney from Manila with roots in Magiliw, takes his case. She draws the mayor’s ire when she decides to adopt an infant left at the doorstep of her parent’s house. It turns out that the child is the mayor’s illegitimate son, and he’ll go to great lengths to keep him. (Click the City)

Running time: 90 mins

MTRCB rating: R-16

Trailer: 

Reviews:

2.0     Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“While the cause is definitely worthy, the movie itself is a little clumsily crafted, the argument coming off as simplistic and patronizing, all of it wrapped in a story that just seems to fizzle out.” (Read full review)

2.0     Mikhail Lecaros (GMA)

“The film is never as slyly comic or, conversely, as uproariously farcical as it could have been..” (Read full review)

2.0     Fred Hawson (Fred Said)

“Sometimes the director was not too sure where the movie was going. The supposedly satiric comedy is limited, and not too funny.” (Read full review)

1.0     Skilty Labastilla (Musings from Three Time Zones)

“It’s ironic that the movie is rated R-16 because its storytelling is so elementary, its characterization so simplistic, and its performances so broad that its seems to be targeted at kids. Quite an embarrassing effort.”