Sunday, December 26, 2004

Movie: Mano Po 3: My Love
Metro Manila Filmfest 2004 Entry

Image hosted by Photobucket.comDistributor:Regal Films
Release:December 25, 2004
Genre:Drama
MTRCB Rating:G
With the first Mano Po movie becoming a commercial hit, Regal Films has made it a point to produce a Mano Po movie to enter into the yearly Metro Manila Film Festival. This is the third. The Mano Po movies are a collection of stories composite of the stories of the Filipino Chinese. The three movies are not related to each other in terms of story or characters.

This Year's Mano Po is the story of people whose lives and relationships changed when Martial Law cracked down on student activists, forcing some Filipino Chinese families to leave the country in order to be safe. It's about people wondering about what ifs, what could have beens, and what should bes. What lends it more flavor is the backdrop of Chinese culture determining what choices are available.

Movie: Enteng Kabisote ...
Okay Ka Fairy Ko the Legend
Metro Manila Filmfest 2004 Entry

Image hosted by Photobucket.comDistributor:Octo Arts Films/M-Zet Films
Release:December 25, 2004
Genre:Comedy, Family, Fantasy
MTRCB Rating:GP
The opening was hip: a group is assaulted, gangster style, by some people whose fashion tastes border on punk - these aren't your ordinary humans either. The war between good and evil is brought to the streets. With this intro, one would expect a fast paced, action fantasy movie. That is not so. The rest of the movie see-saws between cool action and downright corny comedy.

It's been years since the "Okay Ka Fairy Ko" TV series has been cancelled, and this movie still looks like a TV show married to elements of a fantasy movie. But that's okay. The Kabisote family is fun to watch. The family scenes remind you of those evenings when you were still watching the series on TV. You can forgive the corny gags here - because Enteng's character has always been corny. I find it wonderful that G Toengi has managed to channel the spirit of Charito Solis in her portrayal of Reyna Magenta. It makes me chuckle that once more, G is playing a fairy queen - she is Encantadia's Ynang Reyna in the TV show Mulawin.

An Okay Ka Fairy Ko movie is not complete without a visit to the magical realm. This time, Faye is kidnapped by the bad guys and so her husband Enteng, and son Benok, must go to Engkantasya and rescue her. Perhaps the movie does not have the best special effects, but I find their fairy land passable. The quest is ofcourse dangerous; in addition, Benok must learn quickly how to act like the prince of Engkantasya, when all his young life he's been brought up like a normal, mortal, average joe like his father. Being a comedy, the action is also injected with funny scenes. The most ridiculous part of this quest is when the guys meet a gay superhero played by Joey de Leon. Hilarious scene - and the innuendos could have jeopardized the movie's GP rating. Fortunately, I think only the adults were able to catch on to those gags. The children were laughing at the slapstick during the banter.

As expected, Faye is rescued, and there is a celebration in the queen's castle. Benok is introduced to his grandmother's subjects - here is where I was disappointed. What follows is a parade of every extra who's in the TV lunchtime show Eat Bulaga, dressed as some kind of fairy or other mythical creature. The movie could live without that. It was more of a letdown because it happened at the END of the movie - so the bad taste stays with you even after you've left the movie house.

This is a children's movie, but it will be the adults who watched the TV series who will introduce their kids to the fun that is Okay Ka Fairy Ko. This will be another hit - as loads of people, mostly families with children, were lining up outside the theater.

Current Top Five (Movies)