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chrisrobin-1
Reviews
Cavite (2005)
Better than average for a Filipino movie
Despite being a low budget independent film, this movie is better than 80% of any commercial film made in the Philippines. Not saying much for the state of movie-making in the Philippines. I tried to watch this film knowing that it was an Indie. The whole picture is shot using hand-held video cameras. The product is a jumpy, nausea-inducing thrill ride. I honestly was sea sick halfway thru the movie. But at the same time I had to finish it because the story was actually pretty good. I thought the locations used in the film were very typical of Anytown, Philippines. Many of the comments left here seem to think that it was the film-maker's fault for having slum areas and open garbage dumps. It's funny how every Filipino hates to see these eyesores yet we do nothing about them. Particularly funny was the typical sign "Bawal Tumae Dito" (by order of mayor). We have all seen this sign one time or another, and somehow this is accepted. We need to be told what common sense should have already made known to us. The film has much more substance and direction than your typical Filipino movie, I would love to see more.
Paano kita iibigin (2007)
Poor Direction, Why do we continue to recycle the same sorry film directors?
Joyce Bernal has made a ton of movies, but in this latest offering I see nothing a new film school grad could not produce given some funding. I see more direction watching a run of the mill TV drama anthology on the Filipino channel, than in this 100 minute picture. Why not give a chance to new directors who may actually contribute to a better film industry. We keep seeing the same sorry product being churned out by the same sorry production companies and same sorry directors. It's a shame because there is a story to be told in movies like Paano Kita Iibigin, but the message gets lost by a fumbling director such as Bernal. I have only seen a handful of Films from the Philippines in the last 10 years, but what's the point when there is no progress, there is no advancement of the art. Because in the end we are talking about a form of art.I wonder if Bernal even remembers what art is about?