#Movies Philippines

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

Original title: Gaya sa Pelikula.

[appleflavoredkitkats]

*twirls hair* so there's this priest from manila-centric philippine history

[clambuoyance]

I think I stopped watching them after 2010, pretty sure the mermaid one where she lives in Malibu was the very last one I watched

[sessayyys-corner]

GOMBURZA (2023) - MMFF REVIEW

“Vivan Los Filipinos. Mabuhay ang mga Filipino.”

This film is the story of the three martyr priests. Three Filipinos who were part of the native community who were once under Spanish colonial rule and oppression. If you have been updated, or have been listening in your elementary Philippine history classes, it’s GOMBURZA, not MAJOHA. 

Despite it being produced by Jesuit Communications, the film was able to execute (No pun intended) a factual depiction on a turning point of Philippine history without overused emphasis of religion. It was able to capture how the Catholic faith was used as an instrument of oppression during the Spanish colonial period (This was especially ironic considering how return of the religious orders, including the Jesuits, were the reason for the silencing of the secularization movement). What also impressed me is that almost every single detail in the movie, even in the dialogue, came from actual events in history. It is evident that enough research was made to make this film as accurate as possible.

The film’s cinematography was able to capture life during the period whether it was amongst the Filipino liberals, the Spanish priests, the Governor-Generals, or even the three main characters in our story. With every other scenes of the film shifting from light to dark atmospheres, this symbolized the reality of Spanish colonization — warmth, acceptance, and friendship amongst fellow Filipinos; and ruthlessness, inhumanity, and oppression from the Spaniards (and even traitors). Adding emphasis to GomBurZa’s (2023) cinematography is its sound design. Just by feeling the cinema floor rumbling and the deeply-voiced voiceover in the film’s ending segment, this film can come to a point where it deserves its own IMAX screening.

Dante Rivero and Cedrick Juan showcase over-the-top stellar performances as Padre Mariano Gomez (played by Rivero) and Padre Jose Burgos (played by Juan). Both actors have embodied their roles, not only due to the fact that they, especially Juan, share a slight resemblance with the real life Mariano Gomez and Jose Burgos. It is also because that they were able to portray their emotions from having a friendly conversation, to later condemning their unfair arrest, trial, and death.

Pepe Diokno's time and effort in conducting research and including every important detail in the production is evident in the whole film itself, as it was not only ACTUALLY based on true events, but was able to evoke emotion and outrage, just like how the Filipinos of the 1870s did at the time.

With all of this said, GomBurZa (2023) is not only a history lesson, but also an immersion into the Spanish colonial rule and the lives of the three priests. Being a history nerd and a cinephile who has since learned the names of the three martyr priests as a little girl in elementary, I can definitely say that this was one of the only film experiences where I had witnessed the breaking of the fourth wall. The whole time I was in the cinema, it felt like I was part of their conversation, like I was a witness to their lives and execution.

What also added to this experience was that I watched the film on Rizal Day, and what better way to commemorate our national hero's contribution to Philippine independence than to learn about where it all started? Like what I always preached to my family:

Without GomBurZa, there will be no Jose Rizal. Without Jose Rizal, there would be no Andres Bonifacio. Without all of them, the Philippines and the Filipino would not exist.

GomBurZa (2023) is a cathartic experience that is definitely for the family. This film is a testament to the importance of appreciating and learning our history. Hopefully it serves as a reminder of our collective past, national identity, and the importance of our freedom.

[Metro Manila Film Festival 2023]

(my film review of "GomBurZa" is also available on letterboxd!)

[drsunshaine]

Ang linyang nakakadurugo pa rin ng puso :')

[filmap]

In My Mother's Skin Kenneth Dagatan. 2023

House Hacienda Santa Rosalia, Western Nautical Hwy, Manapla, Negros Occidental, Philippines See in map

See in imdb

[lostinmac]

Cleaners (2019)

Dir. Glenn Barit

[pedroam-bang]

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

[haveyouseenthishorrormovie]

SUMMARY: During a return to his provincial home, a young man gets involved with a woman who is ultimately possessed by her sister's spirit, paving the way to revealing the painful truth about her unsolved disappearance.

[reuels]

What If (2023) dir. Manny Palo

[schlock-luster-video]

On October 28, 1998, Blade debuted in Belgium and the Philippines.

[transannabeth]

not to be Dramatic but i need hollywood to stop having the characters who live in the woods away from society who are seen as having a simpler way of life dancing tinikling in like half a scene

it's only happened twice but it's pissing me off

[thewhizzyhead]

listening to the mean girls musical movie soundtrack atm and for me it's an improvement on some ends and a downgrade on other ends LIKE some songs' instrumentals sound so much cleaner and less overwhelming which is GOOD for a musical movie adaptation but others aka world burn lose the oomph and the dramatics of the og musical counterpart which I understand on a directing aspect but is still quite saddening. that being said I actually quite like the soundtrack-

[arconinternet]

Salamamgkero aka Magic of the Universe (Video, 1986)

You can watch this Filipino fantasy-horror movie here.

You can read articles about it here and here.

@skinslip

[povofjae]

i'll pretend that we are more than friends.

[crispywisp]

i don't think you guys understand how fundamental darkrai was to my childhood development. especially when it comes to my taste in fictional characters.