Something different from a formulaic festival
The 36th Metro Manila Film Festival opens this Christmas with new versions of familiar titles. Regal is now on its 12th episode of the horror franchise "Shake, Rattle and Roll." Star Cinema's "Ang Tanging Ina" promises that this year's sequel will be their last. While the consistent rivals at the box-office on the Adventure Fantasy stars Vic Sotto and Bong Revilla are now teaming up with "Si Agimat at Si Enteng Kabisote."
This union of two successful franchises is definitely the expected crowd drawer among the lot. One of the criteria for Best Festival Film is the controversial popularity of a film with regards to box-office sales. Clearly, this film has the biggest potential in winning a perfect score in that area. As a family fare, this film attempts to have all the ingredients to entertain every member of the family. The fantasy genre of course, has always been a guaranteed blockbuster in every MMFF. Regal Films also follows this trend with the fantasy film, "Super Inday and the Golden Bibe," starring Marian Rivera.
Dolphy, who for so many years has been a serious contender, needs to re-strategize or more accurately re-write screenplays in his films in a major way. The gags that Dolphy had been doing, particularly in his entry "Father Jejemon," has been rehashed a gazillion times, making me wonder why the Catholic priests are complaining about a communion gag in the film that has been done before in early Dolphy movies. I remember the same communion gag in the Dolphy film "Ang Kanyon ni Mang Simeon," a film that was a lift from an Anthony Quinn classic "Guns of San Sebastian." I guess so long as it is Dolphy who keeps doing the same jokes with the same stories, die-hard fans will still flock to a film like "Father Jejomon."
Star Cinema has two other offerings this year. Its second entry is "RPG Metanoia." If the title sounds like a video game that's because it is about a video game. The animated film that took four years to finish should be worth watching especially for Filipino animation and gaming enthusiasts. The third entry from the ABS-CBN movie studio is "Dalaw," another horror flick, which stars Kris Aquino and Diether Ocampo.
The most serious entry among the films in competition is "Rosario," considered to be one of this year's most expensive films, it is also the most challenging as it is a period drama that transpires through generations. Manny Pangilinan changes his hat this time as he ventures in to producing features. Interestingly, "Rosario" is the story of Pangilinan's grandmother, Rosario Herrera.
Now that is something different and unexpected.
Disclaimer: The views and observations of the author do not represent the position of Yahoo! Southeast Asia on the issue or topic being discussed.
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