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Thought-provoking political satire.
Dirty politics is a harsh reality that exists everywhere, no matter the country. Unlike typical political dramas/films that often depict a clear divide between good politicians and their corrupt rivals, this film shows the darker aspects of electoral processes, where bribery and vote-buying are pivotal to one's success. It doesn’t shy away from revealing the extreme measures some individuals will take to eliminate any threats to their victory. While the whole dirty politics idea is nothing new, what truly makes this film shine, though, is its strong message about integrity and commitment to one’s role.Marian Rivera shines in her role as Emmy, demonstrating her impressive versatility as an actress. She embodies the character of a dedicated teacher who finds herself entangled in a ballot box theft during the election. Through Emmy, we see a powerful portrayal of someone who, despite the temptation of money, remains steadfast in her moral principles, dignity, and honesty, committed to ensuring the safe delivery of the ballot box. And wow, this is the first time I've seen Marian Rivera drop so many ‘putang ina’ in a single show. She's amazing!
Despite its satirical tone and the thought-provoking storylines, the execution is not neat enough to make it a great movie. It has a promising start, but slowly loses its grip. With an overload of plot points, the film lacked the room for any storyline to really stand out. The visual storytelling was compelling, but nothing felt groundbreaking. However, it manages to deliver its intended messages.
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Love goes beyond materialistic desires and possessions.
'Third World Romance' is not the typical romantic movie we’ve seen before. Everything about it is the complete opposite of the usual romance clichés. Through the lens of a romantic story, this film tackles important social issues that are prevalent in our society today. It doesn't shy away from portraying the harsh realities of poverty and the class gap, shedding light on the struggles faced by many individuals in the lower socio-economic group. By weaving these themes into a love story, focusing on the simplicity of nurturing love through small acts of kindness, understanding, and compassion, it also effectively brings attention to these pressing issues in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.Apart from the love story between Bree and Alvin and the struggles they go through, this film also portrayed a healthy non-conformity to the traditional Filipino family. Alvin lives with his chosen family, consisting of his transwoman father and siblings who have diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. Credit to the director for showcasing queer family representation.
The outstanding portrayals by Charlie Dizon and Carlo Aquino maintain the authenticity of their characters' struggles while also conveying a sense of happiness in their love story. The only flaw about them is that, despite being a real-life couple, their chemistry on screen seems lacking. Their companionship feels more platonic than sweet. But Charlie Dizon did an excellent job here. She's remarkable at giving the character so much depth through her expressions. Her character is relatable and human, making the audience empathize with her journey throughout the film.
Overall, this movie is well-crafted and well-acted. It will make us take a moment to ponder and see beyond the love story and appreciate the deeper messages that it conveys. In a world where materialism reigns supreme, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that wealth is the key to happiness and fulfillment. But this film simply shows that love goes beyond materialistic desires and possessions.
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A mediocre gangster movie.
Pattaya Heat is a movie that revolves around Thailand’s criminal underworld with the concept of a cat-and-mouse game. It has all the elements a gangster movie should have - drug lord, corrupt police officer, illegal business, revenge plotting, sex, profanity, betrayal, violence and a lot of blood - but somehow it lacks better storylines to make it captivating. The plots seem to have no proper structure. One moment it seems like a heist movie, then it becomes a revenge movie.Although the theme is nothing new and the story/plot is somewhat messy, the action and acting save this movie from being an absolute disaster. Like Hollywood ensemble movies, those big shots on screen together managed to deliver good acting, but no character really shines out. Most of the characters lack depth to make them interesting or memorable. However, Christine Gulasatree is the one who impressed me the most. Even though this is her debut film, she did a good job of capturing the essence of a cunning seductress.
Overall, it's a crime-action movie with the recipe of Tarantino's or Guy Ritchie’s movies, but the result is not even on par. It's just another mediocre gangster-heist movie we’ve seen before. A bit ambitious, but not quite there yet. Well, it's not bad, but not good either.
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An heartwarming teacher-student drama that’s full of positive messages.
'Khru Ma' is a hidden gem, an underrated drama. The premise of a new, fun, eccentric teacher from the city is not new, but this drama delivers the idea in a way that goes beyond the new teacher storyline. It has several themes, such as education, teacher-student relationships, friendships, and local community life. All these themes are conveyed in well-written plots and characters.Wichai is a strong believer that knowledge is not fixed in textbooks and that education should benefit the students, not the teacher. As quoted by Wichai; “Students scoring higher marks in every subject is more of the teachers’ success measurement than the students.” Although the drama focused on his unconventional teaching style, it also objectively touched on the pros and cons of the common teaching methodology.
The time setting that takes place during the dispute between the Khmer and Vietnamese communist parties makes the conflict in this drama not only focused on the school but also revolves around the town, which is located at the Thai-Cambodian border, where the people are of diverse ethnicities and different backgrounds. It also touched on how the conflict has led to prejudice against other races within the community. However, the issue is skillfully conveyed without displaying bias.
One major thing that I like about this drama is the characters. Each character has its own significance - the teachers, the students, the headmaster, the parents, and even the small roles of the café owner and the librarian. If Wichai is the head of this drama, the students are the limbs. They carry out the plots effortlessly, making every episode enjoyable to watch. Although the issues created by the opposing characters seem repetitive, they’re just enough to create tension.
This drama does come with a few flaws, especially the repetitive displeasure among teachers about Wichai's teaching style, but overall, it does a good job at creating a balance between drama, comedy, romance, tension, family, and friendship without losing its main focus.
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Separation doesn't have to be a bad thing.
I found this drama by chance and decided to watch it, despite the fact that there were hardly any reviews about it online. I wonder if this series was either horrible or just didn't get much attention. If it was the former, I was ready to drop it any second. But surprisingly, it’s a damn good drama. I watched it through to the very end. I like how it’s different from the Filipino dramas I’ve watched.It’s a light drama-comedy that delves into how a married couple fell out of love and how they took a different approach to separation, which is to ‘uncouple’ (but not officially divorce yet). Although they decided to separate as a couple, they remained in the same house for their son. Even though they live under the same roof, they are basically living their own lives separately. The theme of moving on from a failed marriage or long relationship is well executed. It’s not a typical romance drama, as it focuses more on separation and moving on from a relationship without having to lose anything but rather gain something from it. Separation isn’t always a bad thing if there’s a mutual understanding about it and if it’s done for the right reasons.
Despite being only about 20–30 minutes long, this drama has a good pace. It also has a very good story structure where each episode manages to tell the story of the ‘before and after’ of the uncoupling. The comedy is well-placed and blended well with the romance and emotional part of it. This drama has a lot of positive messages and lessons to learn about family, marriage, and divorce.
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A heartfelt bucket list movie.
After finding out the cancer has relapsed, Shane is totally aware of what she has to go through again if she were to get treatment. So, not wanting to face the same trouble, she decided not to get treatment but instead to live her life to the fullest in her final months. Shane, her husband Byran, and their childhood friend Kristoff embark on a journey to Tasmania, Australia, to accomplish the 'Magic List'.The idea of a terminally sick patient crossing things off their bucket list is not new. But despite lacking novelty, there are a few things that make this movie something more than checking off a bucket list. The journey is filled with not only picturesque places, travelogue-ish moments, and activity; it also explores friendship and love in a simple way, focusing on reconnecting with lost relationships. While the main characters are childhood friends of two men and a woman, there’s no love triangle involved. It’s pure friendship. So the conflict isn't very complicated.
When it comes to movies about illnesses, the melancholic and tear-jerking parts are expected. This movie managed to deliver both the tonality of enjoyable trip and the bleak side of reality very well. Although this movie has a good story structure, the pacing seems pretty rushed. It seems like it wants the audience to feel the sentimentality, but there is not enough space to really feel it or drown in the emotions. It's like a knee-jerk reaction. However, the good storylines help in making the whole idea and emotions palpable. With an impactful plot twist and a positive message about life, genuine love, and undying friendship, this movie stands out on its own despite having the all bucket list movie tropes.
Overall, it’s a good movie. but it could've been done better. How sad this movie is may depend on the individual, but it’s a movie to watch if you need an emotional release. Get a box of tissues ready.
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Lacking in some areas, but not a bad remake.
'Flower of Evil’ is one of the best thriller K-dramas ever produced, so when I found out it was going to be adapted, I was a bit skeptical. But I was intrigued by how the adaptation was going to be, so I gave it a try.While the original is weighty with all sorts of emotions shared between each character and has more suspense elements, this Filipino adaptation, on the other hand, is not as heavy. It added more subplots with more interaction between the characters, which gives more space for drama and character growth. Although there are some scenes that, in my opinion, are unnecessary, it’s expected to be a bit draggy considering that the drama is 32 episodes, 45 to 50 minutes long.
FL (Lovi Poe) and ML (Piolo Pascual) play the roles of a married couple more convincingly. The two have more natural skinships, kisses, and tender gestures, making the romance, and conflict even better. I’d say that Iris and Daniel give off a more domestic vibe than Jiwon and Hyun Soo.
My biggest problem with this adaptation is the villains (Jacob, Jacob's father, and the thug leader). They are not evil enough to make me despise them. Jacob is probably the worst of all. Despite being a talented actor, Paulo Avelino failed to portray the psychopath character in a more believable way. He seemed like he was trying so hard to be a violent maniac, he came off as a Joker impostor. Wrong cast, I think.
Overall, this is an okay remake, but not up to par. The drama, the suspense, the pain, the betrayal, the romance, and the happy moments are there, but it didn’t have the same emotional rollercoaster. It’s still a good watch though.
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A typical ‘the rise of the underdog’ sports movie, yet heartwarming and inspiring.
Rebound is based on the true story of Busan’s Jungang High School basketball team, which against all odds, managed to win the national championship with only six players.Like other sports movies, Rebound offers nothing new in terms of concept and storylines. This movie is not far from the idea of capturing the essence of the human spirit and maintaining the storyline about overcoming setbacks. Although people can predict how the story is going to be, it’s worth anticipating and worth watching.
The cinematography effectively conveys the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, and fighting spirit. One strong point of this movie, in my opinion, is the realistic and convincing portrayal of the players. Each character manages to carry the story efficiently, even though some characters don’t have a prominent backstory. The combination of good character development, well-developed plotlines, and a positive message makes this movie a heartwarming and inspiring piece to watch. It’s an uplifting story of hope, dreams, and resilience.
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A slightly flawed remake.
‘The Betrayal’ basically follows the original plot template with a few tweaks, and it manages to give pretty much the same emotional rollercoaster of being betrayed and getting revenge, but the ride isn't crazy enough. I think it’s good that this remake makes them a family of four instead of three. Ploy, the daughter, adds a different feeling to the table. She gives a more vulnerable perspective, that of a little child trying to comprehend the entire betrayal and divorce situation. It hurts to see how it affects her. The good sibling relationship between Patch and Ploy also has a different emotional impact compared to other characters.In this version, I think Jane displays more softness and poise. Her strong instinct helps her steer the emotional and dramatic plot better. Athin is meant to be hated throughout the series. Kate is unlikeable to begin with. Among the supporting characters, I don’t like Tul. I know he means well, but he seems unnaturally nice.
The first half of this series is good, but the second half is downhill. All episodes are over an hour long, and some scenes are unnecessary, making it slowly lose its grip. However, the finale has better characters’ resolution. Overall, it’s a slightly flawed remake. It didn’t exceed my expectations, but it’s still a good watch.
If you have ever watched the original or other version, you can expect how things are going to unfold. So, don’t expect too much. But if you haven’t seen any, you can give this drama a try, and who knows, you might love this version.
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Mediocre movie with beautiful visuals.
If you have ever watched a Hallmark romance movie in your life, this movie follows the same template: a rural location, a farm, a deteriorating family business, a lovely and kind FL with a big dream, and a city-guy ML with an attitude. And this one is not far from predictable plots and conflicts as well.This movie centers around a coffee farm; a remote and beautiful place that becomes the background of a bland love story. It’s basically romanticizing coffee by explaining the plots by the acidity, sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, and sourness of coffee and relating them to life situations. However, while the plots progress nicely, they lack anything outstanding or compelling. ML and FL do have their own backstories, but they aren’t strong enough, making their characters lack depth. Their romance felt rushed and dull as well. Although JC Santos and Barbie Imperial both performed well, their chemistry is just okay.
I felt like I’d been dragged till the end of the movie without any memorable plots other than the breathtaking backdrop of the mountains throughout the movie. Apparently, the beautiful visuals couldn’t save this movie. As a whole, this movie is not bad, but it’s not good either.
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Uplifting. Positive. Honest.
I had no idea how a show about running could be so therapeutic until I found this gem. It’s by far the most heartwarming variety show I’ve ever watched. The concept is pretty simple: five girls go running together, get some healing through running on the beautiful running courses, bond with each other, and reflect on their past lives. I love how this show used running terms like pace, obstacle, recovery, and finish line as metaphors, relating to the ups and downs of life.The scenery and the beauty shots are so calming. The motivational and introspective theme is very impactful. This show subtly highlighted how a good support system can really help someone get through any difficult time and move forward through the concept of running. The girls developed sincere friendships through this program. The deep talk about the struggles they faced elevated their bond above simple acquaintance. Understanding that even with just one person cheering, it manages to uplift someone to keep going on the adventure.
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An okay movie to kill some free time
It's a sport-themed high school GL. Although the film doesn't focus heavily on sports, the developing relationship between two players serves as an important subplot. As they navigate the challenges of sports, school, and personal struggles, their feelings for each other deepen, leading to tender moments and heartfelt confessions. The romance between the two players adds a layer of sweetness and vulnerability to the story.This film addresses the critical issue of sexual harassment within women's sports, a topic that deserves significant attention. While this film manages to highlights the concern, it doesn't quite provide a tidy resolution to the issue. The absence of proper action against it might be a deliberate choice by the director, but it somehow leaves me with a sense of unease, as the characters' struggles with harassment are not fully resolved.
While this movie has good story, the character development is underwhelming. Although the main characters are likable and relatable, their growth throughout the film feels limited. Despite the intriguing premise and the potential for emotional depth, the movie's ending is predictable. Overall, it is a pleasant movie.
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Leveled up Panor, but with loose plots. Still a good watch regardless.
In this sequel, viewers are introduced to an older and fierce Panor. This time, Panor is set to start a new journey as a college student, with big dreams of becoming a teacher. However, fate has other plans, and she must deal with threats coming from all directions.“Let’s see whose black magic is stronger, yours or mine?” This line basically sums up the core conflict of this film. While the idea is strong enough to drive the story, the story structure is somewhat loose and uneven, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the narrative. The battle of black magic somehow lacks intensity. Plus, certain characters are not fully fleshed out either, leaving gaps in their development. And while the plot twist is good, it doesn't quite pack the punch needed for a standout climax. Despite this, the film manages to maintain a sense of intrigue and suspense all the way through.
As this film shows a more mature and ruthless version of Panor, Cherprang's portrayal of Panor has also leveled up, showcasing more polished acting that adds depth and complexity to the role. It's amazing to witness how well she has embodied this infamous role, solidifying her place in the horror genre. Alongside her, Pimma delivers a commendable performance, despite being a relative newcomer to the scene.
The trademark of the "Art of the Devil" films is of course its gruesome and brutal gore scenes. While this sequel certainly delivers on that front with some stomach-churning graphic scenes, I found some of gore to be predictable compared to its predecessors. Fans who are expecting the new level of shock value might find this sequel a bit disappointing. Still, the film is well-made with great direction, improved CGI, and fantastic makeup FX that really bring the world of black magic to life on the screen. Plus, it's simply satisfying to see how the bullies got bullied back.
In conclusion, "Panor 2" is a good sequel that continues to explore the dark and twisted world of its titular character. The upgraded version of Panor, combined with strong performances from the cast, elevates the film. While the loose storyline and toned-down gore may leave some viewers wanting more, the overall execution is still praiseworthy. Despite its flaws, this sequel is still good watch regardless. With a more focused narrative and deeper character development, the future installments could be even more captivating.
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Not a bad series, but a bit underdeveloped and rushed.
When you have 3 couples, some conflicts to solve, and villains to deal with within 18 episodes and 45 min runtime for each episode, the outcome would be either underwhelming or rushed or a mix of both. While this series is not exactly bad, it lands somewhere between underdeveloped and rushed.As Mik and Pinkploy's first full series together, Beauty Reborn shows promise. I’ve been looking forward to seeing them together ever since their brief scene in “Warden of the Sky.” While Mik-Pinkploy have good chemistry, it’s a bit overshadowed by the lack of development in their characters and relationship. Plus, the relationship development for the other couples (Nam-Baicha and Wayo-Sarach) feels a bit rushed, missing the depth and complexity that would really draw you in. If only they explored their dynamic more properly, this series could really shine.
There's also a significant improvement in terms of production quality. Compared to Ch7’s 2022-2023 series, I’d say this series shows a more polished look and quality. But in terms of story, the title seems to imply a transformation theme, but the actual plot seems to stray a bit from that expectation. It focused more on the political issues within the company, which kind of leaves the overall story feeling a bit underwhelming.
Overall, Beauty Reborn is a decent drama with noticeable shortcomings that prevent it from reaching its full potential. Sure, it has its ups and downs, but I found it pretty enjoyable. Honestly, I like this series for its unique approach, especially now that Ch7 is more open to including LGBTQ+ couples/stories. Unlike many Ch7 dramas that rely heavily on intense conflict and over-the-top villains, Beauty Reborn finds a nice middle ground that is neither too intense nor too lackluster. The conflicts are typical but not too much to handle, so you won’t get a headache from all the heavy plots.
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Well-crafted, heavy with emotion and meaning.
First of all, it’s important to understand that abortion is illegal and considered a crime in the Philippines, even if the pregnancy resulted from r*pe. And in many communities, teenage pregnancy is seen as a taboo subject, and young women who find themselves in this situation often face judgment and stigma, which forces many of them to seek out dangerous and unregulated methods to terminate unwanted pregnancies. "Sunshine" does an excellent job of delving into the difficult and emotional topic of teenage pregnancy and abortion, highlighting the risks and consequences faced by those who are forced to resort to such extreme measures and handling those issues with care yet in a powerful way. The film also touches on the financial and healthcare issues of the lower class, pointing out how crucial it is to improve medical services and provide support for those experiencing unplanned pregnancies.Putting 'chasing a dream vs living reality' as a big question, this film is packed with raw emotion and the inner struggle of an aspiring young athlete who found out she was pregnant just months away from a major national level competition. And Maris Racal delivers an outstanding performance, capturing the pain and struggles with genuine authenticity. In my opinion, this is her best performance to date. She even trained gymnastic for a year to prepare for this role. Impressive! 👏
While everything is just so well done—from the script to the production and the performances—this film is not one without a flaw. The only shortcoming is probably that certain characters are not neatly fleshed out, leaving you kind of wondering what their story is. But as the plot unfolds, it starts to come together. Hence, this film is nearly perfect, but not yet. So 9 is the best rate I can give this film.
Overall, the film is truly heartbreaking and eye-opening at the same time. It’s also a testament to the courage and creativity of Filipino filmmakers, who continue to push boundaries and spark important conversations through their work. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in something thought-provoking.
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