The State of Filipino Movies

[exhub888]

---

needs rehabilitation.....

[exhub888]

bad kaayo. low budget

[ulrick007]

dli kaayo nice...kulang pa kaayo sa tinood lng....need more improvements...

[rhy]

i think wala nay pag.asa munindot ang phil movies same stories and same happy endings ra jud ang ila nahibaw.an

[CebuTrekker]

I'm in need of some new Filipino horror movies. I've only seen Shake, Rattle, & Roll X, and the acting on those series really irks me. The movies were not really scary. I like the idea of the stories, but it was just presented in a corny way.

Any suggestions of any good, Filipino, horror movies of recent times?

Salamat!

[diem]

Compared to foreign horror films, Filipino horror films are relatively good is just a 'kind' way of stating things. Still there are films that are just bearable enough to watch if one can rationalize enough reasons to do so.

I think the trick is when it comes to watching Filipino horror films is don't think too much on it.

Here are my recommendations (though they're more actually based on my friends' and others' recommendations).

FENG SHUI (2004, Star Cinema)

Fear Factor: 3/5



Most of my friends find it scary though personally I was too distracted by the neon-bright colorful production design to really get into it. Perhaps such bright colors serve a purpose, like a contrast to the dark terror that's coming. Its story premise is a whole lot better than its follow up horror film, Sukob.

Anyway, I'm recommending it for guys as a film to watch with their girlfriends or the girls they want to be their girlfriends.

SIGAW (2004, Regal Entertainment)

Fear Factor: 3/5



I think this film's premise is all right, after all it did get itself remade in Hollywood right?

Though the performance of both leads are wooden, the bonafide performance to watch out for is Iza Calzado's. I'm recommending it because there is one scene in the film that's just as memorable as the last gruesome prom moments of Brian De Palma's Carrie.

Ang Pamana (2006, Digital Sweatshop)

Fear Factor: 3/5



I watched this film because I was curious on how two Filipino filmmakers who grew up and trained mostly in Canada would interpret cinematically the common Filipino superstitions and folklore. Was the result satisfactory? Well, they did present a somewhat fresh perspective, I give 'em a B+ for the effort.

Learn more of the film Ang Pamana - The Inheritance - Homepage

Sa Ilalim ng Cogon (2005, Independent Filmmakers Cooperative)

Fear Factor : 3/5



One reason to watch this film is that it won for Best Foreign Picture in the Buenos Aires Film Festival. So curiosity was the reason for me. The story is multi-layered to the point that it can be confusing and the lead characters are either not fully developed or best portrayed to generate empathy or connection however its plot is one of the most original Filipino horror concepts that's come into mainstream cinema in a long while.

Ouija (2007, GMA and Viva Films)

Fear Factor: 2.5/5



To be honest, I find the story here a bit too contrived like the scripwriters are really crying to come up with something both familiar and original at the same time. I'm recommending this film because it's a beautifully shot film, there are some chilling horror sequences and of course, the above-par performance of Iza Calzado.

Tenement 2, T2 (2009, Star Cinema)



Fear Factor: 2.5/5

I am actually of two minds in recommending this recent film, simply because though it's marketed as a Horror film, I don't find it so. Tenement 2 seems more fitting to be more of a Fantasy film with some thriller elements. The presence and use of CG effects in this 'horror' film is something I found to be quite lame. Other than the stellar acting of Maricel Soriano, another reason I would recommend that this film to be watched because it's just plain popcorn fun~ kinda like Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead and The Evil Dead 2.

[sharkey360]

Does anyone agree with this list of elements defining Pinoy films?

The long dialogue- The villain and the hero finally have a one-on-one encounter. But instead of pulling the trigger, they will have a long dialogue first before they realize that they are there to kill each other not to have an emotional chat.

The last wish- The protagonist or his leading lady will be shot, but before his/her last breath, he/she will still have time to utter his or her last wish.

The car chase- The long car chase along Regalado with the fresh-from-the-junk shop-get away car. The car will do a somersault and end up exploding.

Better late than never- After hundreds of bullets and casualties, the policemen finally will enter the picture, acting like superheroes ready to save the day.

Stupid and funny sidekicks- The big boss villain’s henchmen are always stupid or lousy, while the hero’s sidekick is funny.

The “IT” girl- The love interest of the hero will be held as a hostage or the other way around--the female hostage will eventually be the love interest of the hero.

The Magic Circle- The attackers will circle the hero and wait for their turn to attack him one at a time. Ironic but true. Which makes one wonder why they don't just attack the hero at the same time so that the fight will be over in a matter of seconds.

Magical Guns- Guns that never run out of bullets and gunmen never hitting their targets despite the raining bullets.

Bakit ngayon ka lang? (Why only now?)-The leading man is about to get married when he meets another woman and they fall in love with each other, leaving the poor fiancée behind.

The old warehouse- The ultimate meeting place and hideout for kidnappers. This is also the place where the fighting scene takes place.

Catch me when I fall- The girl goes out of balance and falls from a chair or simply stumbles when she’s just walking. She meets the eye of the boy and one of two things will happen--either they’ll feel uneasy towards each other or they’ll end up kissing.

Poor boy meets rich girl or vice versa- A poor, handsome boy meets a beautiful, rich girl and they fall for each other. It can also be the other way around.

What's my name again?- The lead character has an amnesia through an accident and just one bump in the head is all it takes for his/her memory to get back.

From rags to riches- The poor, underdog heroine who is being maltreated by her mother will soon find out that she's just adopted and really belongs to a filthy rich family.

Runaway Bride- On the day of the wedding itself, the bride will either stood up her groom or won't say "I Do" and will ran away from his groom with her long, flowing wedding gown.

[Vicoy_09]

hahhaa..correct man sad

[emailroy2002]

on a shootout, they always remove the magazine and see if they have enough bullets but when they fire it does not ran out of bullets.

[kinumot]

kana diay sa mga comedy movies, in the middle of the movie mo adto jud na ug outing, either sa beach or sa pool. den naa dayun dance choreo... LOL!