reybenipayo

Hello, Love, Again (2024)

The most satisfying sequel I've seen this year!

"Hello Love Again" is a sequel to "Hello Love Goodbye". This sequel is surprisingly good even though it falls to the Star Cinema formula, "Hello Love Again" is still an OFW movie like it's preficessor with a love story as a the background. I have nothing to complain about this movie as it has brilliant acting performance from the whole cast. Great direction and most of all the majestic cinemathograpy. It's nice to see they also tackle mental illness and COVID 19.

As an overall experience, "Hello Love Again"is the most satisfying sequel I've seen this year! This the perfect conclusion to the first movie. A must see!

Uhaw (2024)

One of the best Filipino film of 2024!

"Uhaw" is one of the best Filipino movies I've seen this year. This film is about a journey of a couple after a wife finds out that his comatose husband has a mistress. Full of memorable songs by Ataska and brilliant direction by Director Bobby Bonifacio Jr., this film feels like a musical. I must say, I like all the songs in this movie especially that song, "Sa Iyong Pagising". When it comes to acting both Ataska and Angeli Khang are at best and carry the whole movie. Itan Rosales is problematic when it comes to acting here but it's all forgiving given that this film is great in every aspect.

Overall, "Uhaw" is one of my favorite Filipino movies of 2024. A must see and I deserve a recommendation!

Un/Happy for You (2024)

Generic But Decent Filipino Romance

"Un/Happy for You" is a generic Feel Good Romance that's very predictable and formula driven. This film is a comeback movie of Joshua Garcia and Julia Barreto love team both did justice to their roles. Both is just ok on every level even the dramatic scenes. The theme song,"Paubaya" as sung by Moira is out of place and is far from its theme. The cinematography is just ok. The story and direction feels rushed but you get to enjoy the movie. But the ending is a stand out. I won't spoil it.

Overall, "Un/Happy for You" is just decent and pure escapists for a Filipino film. It feels like a Filipino movie I've seen before. But if you're a fan of JoshLia love team then you might like it as a whole.

Unang tikim (2024)

One of the best Filipino GL movie!

"Unang Tikim" works without sex scenes and it can stand on its own. This film surprisingly the best Vivamax movie this year! The film is simple and just focus on the two woman whose both in love. It's about lost and found love. Robb Guinto and Angeli Khang stands out as the lead. They movie carry this film until the end. Both of them has chemistry and it's magical on screen. Bravo to both of them! You can sympathize them on everything throughout the film. The whole film is elegant thanks to a brilliant cinematography. I was kinda surprised that this the lightest film by the Cult Director, Direk Roman Perez Jr.

Overall, "Unang Tikim" is one of the best Filipino GL movie I've seen this year! I saw the R16 version and I would definitely watch the R18 version whenever it is available and the Vivamax version. A must see Filipino movie!

Lolo and the Kid (2024)

Delivers a great heartbreaking ending.

"Lolo and the Kid " surprisingly not a family oriented movie due to it's theme but the movie is worth the experience. The first and second half of the film is about bonding and scamming of these two characters, Lolo (Joel Torre) and Kid (Euwenn Mikael Aleta). It's funny and you feel the special bond of these characters. The last is heartbreaking. Kid is now grown up (played by JK Labajo). This film may not be for everyone by that last half is great! I love JK Labajo's redition of "Through the Years" it is heartbreaking specially during that scene where he open the box and crying. I think everyone gives brilliant in comes to acting department. Kudos to Director Benedict Mique for giving us another great Filipino movie!

Overall, "Lolo and the Kid" ends with a usual Filipino movie now a days and that's making us crying. This film delivery what we want and that's family, adventure and a memory that's heartfelt.

How to Slay a Nepo Baby (2024)

The best when it comes to Cinematography!

"How to Slay a Nepo Baby" is just weird if you still don't know what's happening. There are twists and turns in the movie that go out of nowhere by the end credits. I won't spoil anything . This movie is beautiful in every frame. This is one of the Best Cinematography of 2024! When it comes to acting department , both Barbie Imperial and Sue Ramirez stands out. Of course, Phil Palmos did his best in his role. The joke in this movie is a hit or missed.

Overall, "How to Slay a Nepo Baby Nepo" some enjoyable moments. I like that catfight on the 3rd act. But as a whole vibes, it feels like a full length movie of the "Shake Rattle and Roll Extreme" episode, "Mukbang" with different themes and settings. But before you see this film, please don't watch the trailer. I'm sure you'll have fun watching this. It's better that you have no idea about this movie.

Isang gabi (2024)

One of the Best Filipino film of 2024

"Isang Gabi" feels like a One Act Play as most of it scenes focused on both main characters , Diego Loyzaga and Coleen Garcia. It is also reminds of Richard Linklater "Before Trilogy". This film isn't boring as it gets more interesting going towards it's ending!

The film is about two strangers who meet in the Bar one night and along the way something happened. I won't spoil the story. I just want to say that this film is a must see! The cast are all intensely brilliant! Both Coleen Garcia and Diego Loyzaga are great in their role. Yayo Aguila is memorable although her role here is short. Kudos to both The Great Ricky Lee who wrote this film and Mac Alejandre who directed film! It really deserves a cinema release!

Overall, "Isang Gabi" is the best adult thriller you can watch this year in cinema! One of the best Filipino films of 2024!

The Heiress (2019)

Rated Big Fat ZERO

THE HEIRESS isn't scary nor it is compelling. It's just plain bad and surprising laughable movie. Don't wasn't your time watching this trash in disguise! One of the worst Filipino movie I've ever seen!

Curacha ang babaeng walang pahinga (1998)

A must see Filipino classic!

Set against backdrop of kudeta during Corazon Aquino's time, CURACHA ANG BABAENG WALANG PAHINGA is a great Filipino movie! Scripted by the legendary Ricky Lee and Directed by Chito Rono, the film is one of the most intelligent bold film to came out of the 90's. What I love about this movie is the style. Throughout the film we in darkness and we are on Cora's point of view. Rosanna Rocess is great throughout the movie. She prefectly gives life to the main character on screen. I also like the ending of the film.

Overall, this movie is a must see!

Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019)

ONE OF THE WORST FILIPINO REMAKE EVER MADE!

I rate this film a big fat 0!!! MIRACLE IN CELL NO.7 is awfully awkward Filipino movie I've ever seen! The whole movie is a big problem and no one from the cast save this film from being ONE OF THE WORST FILIPINO MOVIE REMAKE EVER MADE! The make-up is one of those big issues and that over the top ending so unintentionally funny! Overall, watch the ORIGINAL KOREAN VERSION instead! Please do stay away from this trash!

Anak ng dilim (1997)

The worst Filipino ripoff of Carrie!

ANAK NG DILIM is definitely a Filipino rip-off of CARRIE is so awfully boring movie I've seen from the 90's. I hate this film and I regret watching this! I just wasted my time watching this trash! It's not even fall on a so bad it's good level! The characters is badly written, the production feels like made by a student, the facing is sometimes out of focus and the direction is brilliantly lazy! No saves this film not even Gladys Reyes! It's not even scary or unintentionally funny but just plain borring through out! It also feels rush as a final product.

Overalls, it's one of the lazy worst Filipino rip-off film ever made!

And Ai, Thank You! (2019)

SURPRISINGLY THE GREATEST FILIPINO COMEDY I'VE SEEN SO FAR!

Watched this film expect nothing because of the director, Joven Tan whose past films were the worst of its kind but surprising I ended up loving this film! Yes, I laughed so hard then cried. And Ai Thank You is certainly one of the most underrated Filipino movie of 2019 and of the decade! The cast are brilliant to think they are all comedian that even those dramatic scenes they made me laugh at the same time cry. Ai ai Delas Alas is certainly THE QUEEN OF COMEDY! Here character here tugs me, I won't spoil why? Ruffa Mae Quinto as always , a perfect tandem to Ai Ai Delas Alas. She's perfect as kontrabida here. This a perfect movie to start a year as it will make you realize about life and death. The whole movie still stuck in my mind after watching this great gem! Kudos to Direk Joven Tan for making this unforgettable film! And Ai Thank You deserves to be seen and recommended not just to its super laughable scenes but for its sentimentality.

Fantastica (2018)

One of the worst Filipino movie ever!

THE GOOD:

• none

THE BAD:

• The jokes are corny and plain bad. Some jokes are too adulterated to think that this is a PG movie.
• All of the cast are brilliantly bad when it comes to acting department. No one stands including Vice Ganda.
• The script and story feels lazy.
• The CGI is badly done.

OVERALL: Fantastica is awfully bad that I regret watching this plain movie trash. This is the only Filipino movie I hate after watching. But I have a hope that one day the director and Vice Ganda will make a movie not like this for now, this is "One the worst Filipino film ever made!!!"

Stranded (2019)

One of my favorite movie of 2019

THE GOOD:

• The movie is inspiring.
• A great mix of disaster and romantic comedy genre even though it's a low budget film.
• Great chemistry between the two lead. Both gives a solid acting.
• I love listening to the movie's theme song, Bawat Daan.

THE BAD:

• none

OVERALL: "Stranded" as a Filipino movie feels fresh for adding a disaster genre to the most common genre in Philippine cinema, the romantic genre. I love this movie. This is one of my favorite film of 2019!

Man & Wife (2019)

Much better if Man and Wife is a series or a teleserye

THE GOOD:

• Great acting from the whole cast especially Jodi Santamaria and Gabby Conception.
• As a fan of Gulong ng Palad, it's nice to return to it world. It's good to update what happened to the whole characters after the original ends.

THE BAD:

• Too many subplots and conflicts that sometimes magically resolved just to fit for the movie's running time.

OVERALL: It's good to have a movie like this in 2019. Movies like is are made in the 90's. But ignoring that, this is better to be just a series or a telenovela has it need to justify each conflicts the characters have been. Man and Wife is not bad or the worst film of the year. It's just that it feels like a long series or a teleserye cuts to an hour to make it a movie.

MOMOL Nights (2019)

It's just you're average Filipino Rom-Com

THE GOOD: It has talented cast and silly theme. Kim Molina is sexy and she's at best. And the lines are laughable.

THE BAD: The third act is predictable.

OVERALL: Momol Nights is just ok but it feels like the same romantic comedy movies I've seen before. They just add sex scenes and vulgar languages to make the whole movie looks something new.

UPCAT (2008)

One of Forgotten Gem of Philippine Cinema

THE GOOD: -Great acting from the whole cast.

• One of the best Filipino coming of age film I've ever seen!
• The film balance both light and dark aspect of it's theme.
• It's more of a Filipino underdog movie both inspirational and more of a cautionary tale.
• The ending is emotional and will there's a lesson to be learned here.

-The post credits scenes are surprising and fill up the mysteries of the first act

THE BAD:

• The camera angle is sometimes out of focus.

OVERALL: UPCAT (2008) is a forgotten gem of Philippine cinema. It is sometimes funny and silly. The last 20 minutes of the film seprates it from any underdog movies I've watched. One of my favorite Filipino movie after I watched this film.

Anino (1999)

THE FORGOTTEN GEM OF 90'S PHILIPPINE CINEMA

Long before the female action trend in Philippine cinema, there was a film called, Anino. It's a rated R superhero movie. An unofficial modern remake and riff off of The Mask of Zorror.

Anino is about Celine (previously credited as Sandra Gomez; known today as January Isaac Bodlovic) who wants to avenge the death of her parent in the hands of Victor Valdez (John Regala). Along the way he will meet a stranger (Roi Vinzon) from the past will help to full fill her revenge plan.

The film may have many problems like it's cinematography and direction but it will all be forgiven. After all this film is just silly the whole time. Some of the action scenes are surprisingly good. There are scenes that are unintentionally laughable but as a whole it's just ok. John Regala is brilliant as a villain. He save this film because whenever he's on screen, there's a lot of fun going on.

Overall, Anino may fall on a so-bad-its-good but it's the reason why I like this film. This is a film I want to recommend to my friends just for a good movie time with them.

Kusina Kings (2018)

ONE OF THE WORST FILIPINO FILM OF 2018!

Kusina Kings is a waste of talent for both lead, Zanjoe Marudo and Empoy Marquez considering both of them are talented. The film feels like an hour long painful sitcom filled with unfunny and cornys jokes. It also has any awful scenes that sometimes hard to watch. I'm disappointed about this film because the concept has a potential to be great. It ended up plain bad and trying hard spoofing some Filipino movies and TV shows or sometimes referencing them.

Overall, this film is a total failure for all the cast. A perfect example of Filipino trashy mainstream movie.

Goyo: Ang batang heneral (2018)

An Epic Masterpiece

Goyo: Batang Heneral is a way different tone from Heneral Luna. It is understandable because both heroes has different life story. Goyo is part war drama and part tragic romantic movie. It blends so well in this film. The film is never boring and everything in the film is worth a research after leaving the cinema. The acting is brilliant that all of the cast did their parts believable. The cinematography is majestic that it feels like I am from different time while watching this film. The musical score adds layer to every scenes made this film atmospheric.

Overall, Goyo: Batang Heneral is an instant classic! It belongs to our library of One of the Greatest Filipino Movies Ever Made. For years to come, this film lives and will be studied by every students who wants to know the life of Gregorio del Pillar. I'm proud watching this epic movie.

BuyBust (2018)

Buy Bust is great on action but the political theme is unrealistic.

Buy Bust is about a group of PDEA agents who are trapped on a slum area full citizens and gangsters who who are willing to kill them.

LIKE: The movie is bloody at times brutally violent. It feels like a horror movie as it reminds me of the classic George A. Romero, Night of the Living Dead. The citizens in that slum area looks like a zombie. The cinematography and acting are superb! The action scenes are breathtaking and enjoyable. I like the long take scene in the third act.

DISLIKE: The political theme of the movie is unrealistic and inaccurate that it feels like it is from parallel universe.

OVERALL: The film's saving grace is that action scenes alone the rest of the film just worst!

Amo (2017)

Amo is the the Underrated Filipino TV series

Amo is about a teenager who slowly become involved in the drug industry. The series is set in the Philippines and the themes of the show is very timely as it deals with drugs and corruption. It's timely because this show deals with War on Drugs which is currently going on in this country. Kudos to the whole cast for realistic acting and the great Brilliante Mendoza for realistic portrait of war on drugs. This show sometimes may lack the action of Ang Probinsyano, a show also deals with the same theme but this show is all about cautionary tale about drugs. As a whole, even if you're not a fan of Direk Brilliante Mendoza, you will surely like this show. Amo is one of the underrated TV show of 2017! It's a show we should be proud of for it's originality and daring. Amo is definitely a worth recommended!

My Fairy Tail Love Story (2018)

A Fairytale Love Story is one of the year's underrated Filipino movie

My Fairytale Love Story is about a spoiled teenage girl who become a mermaid after aquiring a curse from an island. The film is surprisingly good and brilliant. I have no problem from the whole cast because they all stand out even the bit players. The direction is great. I love the twist in the end. I love the message the film tries to say. The cinematography is good even the mermaid transformation scene. One thing I notice is that the film maybe inspired by Disney movies. Its a G rated film with themes of mistress, broken family and homosexuality but it's all harmless for kids. As the whole, My Fairytale Love Story is one of my favorite movie of 2018. This film is one of the year's underrated mainstream film!

Kape barako (2011)

Just another pink exploitation movie

Kape Barako is about a coffee shop owner who must pay his mortgage in two weeks or else the bank will close his property. He tries everything including selling his body. One of his employees accidentally made some solutio. A secret ingredient that will save the coffee shop. The film has a nasty concept but it takes time before we get there. Instead, it focus on a corny and at times silly and repeated gags that's nothing to do with the entire film. It also has a lot of loopholes. At times the film is just dull. In the acting department, no one stands in the entire cast. As a whole, Kape Barako is another forgettable pink exploitation film. The only selling point of this film is just sex and nudity.

Angelito (2017)

A not to be missed film especially for fans

Angelito is a short sidequel that bridges between Heneral Luna movie and Goyo. The film is as whole is brilliant even though it is short. This is just a perfect historical short film and fans of Heneral Luna must watch this before they watch Goyo. This makes me get excited about Goyo: Batang Heneral because of its ending