Ploning

Title: Ploning Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Gina Pareño, Mylene Dizon, Eugene Domingo, Tony Mabesa, Meryll Soriano, Ces Quesada, Crispin Medina, Tessie Tomas, Spanky Manikan, Ketchup Eusebio, Boodge Fernandez, Cedric Amit, Ogoy Agustin Director: Dante Nico Garcia Producer: Panoramanila Screenwriters: Dte Nico Garcia, Benjamin Lingan Music: Jesse Lasaten Genre: Drama Distributor: Panoramanila Location: Philippines Running Time: 110 min.

Technical Assessment: 4

Moral Assessment: 4

CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance

Binaybay ni Muo Sei (Boodge Fernandez) ang isla ng Cuyo, Palawan lulan ng isang bangka upang hanapin ang hindi mawari kung tao o bagay na kung tawagin lamang niya ay Ploning. Dahil illegal ang sinasakyang bangka, mayroon lamang siyang isang buong araw upang hanapin ang Ploning sa isla. Sa kanyang paghahanap ay unti-unting lilinaw na ang tinutukoy niyang Ploning ay isang dalaga (Judy Ann Santos) na noon ay kilala sa isla bilang matulungin, masayahin at misteryosa. Si Ploning ay anak ng isang mayamang negosyante (Tony Mabesa). Siya rin ang masugid na tagasuporta ng nagluluksa sa kalungkutan na si Intang (Gina Pareño) na siya ring ina ng kanyang kasintahang matagal ng nawalay buhat ng pumunta ng Maynila, si Tomas. Sa gitna ng pagiging mabuting anak, kaibigan, kasintahan, ay naging ina-inahan din si Ploning ng batang si Digo (Cedric Amit) na anak ng paralisado ng si Juaning (Eugene Domingo). Labis ang kalungkutan ni Digo nang malamang may balak si Ploning ng pumunta ng Maynila upang sundan si Tomas. Nakakuha ng bagong karamay at kakampi si Digo sa katauhan ng bagong saltang nurse sa baryo na si Celeste (Mylene Dizon) na diumano’y may nakilala sa Maynila na Tomas ang pangalan at ito raw ay taga-Cuyo. Si Celeste rin ang magiging susi ng lahat ng misteryo at lihim na itinatago ni Ploning. Sino si Muo Sei sa buhay ni Ploning?

Isang napakagandang pelikula ng Ploning na bihira nang makita sa mga klase ng pelikula natin ngayon. Ipinakita ng Ploning hindi lamang ang magagandang tanawin sa Cuyo, Palawan kundi pati na rin ang mayaman nitong kultura at dialekto. Buong-buo ang kuwento na umiikot sa maraming buhay sa isang isla na tila nilimot na ng panahon. Sa kabila ng maraming karakter ay hindi nawala ang sentro kay Ploning. Pinatingkad ang simpleng produksyon ng napakahusay na pagganap ng mga tauhan lalo na sina Judy Ann Santos, Gina Pareño, Eugene Domingo, Mylene Dizon, Spanky Manikan at maging ang mga baguhang sina Cedric Amit at Boodge Fernandez at Ogoy Agustin. Mahusay ang sinematograpiya at komposisyon na halatang pinagbuhusan ng panahon. Tamang-tama ang daloy ng emosyon at timpla ng bawat eksena. Maging ang mga simbolismo ay naging napakaepektibo sa paglalahad ng kuwento.

Umikot ang Ploning sa mga iba’t-ibang pananaw at konsepto ng pagmamahal depende sa karanasan ng isang tao. Si Ploning bilang matiyagang nagmamahal ay naniniwala na ang nagmamahal ay nagtitiwala at nasasaktan. Si Celeste naman ay hindi naniniwala dito. Para sa kanya, kapag nagmahal ay hindi dapat masaktan. Maaring nag-iiba ang pananaw ngunit isang bagay ang malinaw: ang buhay ng tao ay dapat uminog sa pagmamahal upang magkaroon ito ng kahulugan. Si Ploning ay wagas na nagmamahal hindi lamang sa kanyang kasintahan kundi maging sa kanyang magulang,mga kaibigan, anak-anakan at higit sa lahat, sa Diyos. Ipinakita niya na ang tunay na pagmamahal ay wagas, lubos at hindi naghihintay ng kapalit. Kapag iba ang pinairal, tulad ni Intang, ay kawalang-katahimikan at kapahamakan lamang ang kahihinatnan. Kapuri-puri kung paanong ang mabuting halimbawa ni Ploning ay bumuhay at nagbigay pag-asa sa sanga-sangang relasyon ng mga taong nabubuhay ng payak sa isang isla na tulad ng Cuyo.

Iron Man

Title: Iron Man Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb, Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir, Clark Gregg Director: Jon Favreau Producers: Avi Arad, Kevin Feige Screenwriters: Mark Fergus,Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway Music: Ramin Djawadi, Editor: Dan Lebental Genre: Sci-Fi Action Cinematography: Matthew Libatique Distributor: Paramount Pictures Location: Los Angeles, California Running Time: 126 min.

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 2 ½
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

Iron Man is another Marvel comics superhero adapted for the big screen. It begins with the wealthy 40-something womanizing alcoholic and genius inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), presenting his latest weapon, the Jericho Missiles, to the Afghans. Unfortunately, the terrorists are impressed and kidnap Stark to force him to build another diabolic weapon. Injured during the attack, Stark's life is saved by fellow detainee Yinsen (Shaun Toub). Under captivity, Stark finds time to reflect on his life and decides to build instead an indestructible suit of armor to escape his captors. Back at home, he goes through a morality shift and tries to dismantle his weapon producing company. His receives mixed reactions from his closest friends: loyal assistant and occasional girlfriend, Pepper Pots (Gwyneth Paltrow) is semi-supportive, military buddy Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) thinks he is losing it and business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) is simply furious. Stark discovers a deadly conspiracy that would destabilize the entire world and realizes the destruction and violence he has contributed through his weaponry. He vows to amend his life and fight evil.

Iron Man is one of the few action movies that actually have more soul and substance. Downey attacks his character with much conviction and blends humor and sarcasm with his crime fighting persona. Paltrow and Bridges are gems that provide the necessary sparkle to a sometimes flat and boring screenplay. There are some pacing jolts to some viewers these could be a few too many. It takes a long time to build up the story and the wait is longer for the arrival of the Iron Man suit. The action scenes are solid, but they feel a touch too thin on the ground. Over-all though, the movie is a lot of fun stopping long enough for character development to give it a good blend of spectacle and substance. What makes the Iron Man stand out from other action–hero movies is the hero’s character himself. While Spiderman’s angst and motivation are rooted in adolescent insecurity, Batman’s dilemma and motive come from revenge and Hulk’s drive comes from rage, Iron Man’s reason for transforming into a superhero is morality. He simply wants to fight evil because he wants to do something good. Iron Man/Stark makes a good role model as a superhero because he is a real person with no supernatural ability or gift, who decides to use his intelligence and resources to save the world and rid it of violence and destruction. The movie shows how a person, no matter how steeped in vice and materialism can emerge a hero as long as there is a conscious and firm decision to change. Some themes in Iron Man, though, (like womanizing and alcoholism) and violent action scenes are not suitable for the very young audience.

When Love Begins

Title: When Love Begins
Cast: Aga Muhlach, Anne Curtis, Boots Anson-Roa, Jon Avila, A.J. Dee, Christopher de Leon, Desiree del Valle, Dimples Romana, Ronaldo Valdez
Director: Jose Javier Reyes
Producer: Star Cinema
Screenwriter: Jose Javier Reyes
Music: Jesse Lasaten
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Distributor: Star Cinema Productions
Location: Philippines
Running Time: 105 min.

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 2 ½
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and above

Nagkakilala sina Mitch (Anne Curtis) at Ben (Aga Muhlach) sa Boracay. Dito nabuo ang kanilang pagkakaibigan at pagtitinginan. Ngunit sa huling gabi nilang dalawa sa Boracay ay umalis na lang si Mitch nang hindi nagpapaalam. Walang alam si Ben sa buhay ni Mitch sa Maynila. Wala rin itong iniwang address o contact number. Sa isang hindi sinasadyang pagkakataon ay muling magku-krus ang kanilang landas. Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi na hahayaan ni Ben na mawala pang muli si Mitch. Dito niya lalong nakilala si Mitch na anak pala ng isang mayamang real estate developer (Christopher de Leon). Bata pa lamang si Mitch ng naghiwalay ang kanyang mga magulang kung kaya’t may takot na ito sa pakikipag-relasyon. Maayos naman ang pamilya ni Ben na isang abogado at environment advocate. Sa kabila ng kanilang maraming pagkakaiba at agwat ng edad ay masaya sila sa piling ng bawat isa. Ngunit magiging hadlang pa rin ang marami nilang kaibahan upang maging lubusan silang sumaya. Makakabangga ni Ben ang ama ni Mitch dahil sa isang project nito kung saan maaapektuhan ang kalikasan na siyang pinaglalaban ni Ben. Sino ang mas papanigan at pipiliin ni Mitch, ang kanyang ama o si Ben na kapwa niyang mahal?

Isang ordinaryong kuwento ang When Love Begins. Tinangka nitong maging malalim sa pamamagitan ng pagsentro sa bigat ng karakter at hindi sa mga nangyayaring aksyon ngunit naging pawang mababaw at malamlam pa rin ang kinalabasan. Sa kabila ng mga batikan at naggagalingang mga artista ay hindi nito naisalba ang mababaw at napakasimpleng kwento. Walang bigat ng damdamin, walang nakakatawang karakter o eksena at walang maiiwan sa mga manonood kundi ang kakulangan ng insipirasyon ng pelikula. Bagama’t magandang milieu ang Boracay ay naging isa lamang itong backdrop ng kwento at hindi lubusang nagamit sa pagpapayabong ng istorya. Ang karamihan sa mga pangalawang tauhan ay naging pang-display lamang. Nakapahihinayang ang pelikulang When Love Begins na naging higit pa sanang maganda kung hinaluan ito ng mga bagong elemento at bagong mga pangyayaring hindi karaniwang nakikita sa pelikula o telebisyon.

Sinasabi ng pelikula na hindi biro ang pakikipag-relasyon. Marami na ring mga makabago at nagiiba-ibang pananaw ukol dito depende na rin sa karanasan. Ngunit may mga bagay sa relasyon na hindi dapat magbago. Una ay ang wagas na pagmamahal na kayang tawirin at hamakin ang lahat maging ang prinsipyo alang-alang sa minamahal. Pangalawa ay ang katapatan at paninindigan sa pamamagitan ng commitment. Maraming sinabing dahilan ang pelikula kung bakit takot at ayaw na ng commitment ng karamihan sa mga kabataan ngayon pagdating sa pakikipag-relasyon. Nariyan ang trauma at takot na masaktan dahil na rin sa mga nakitang halimbawa sa kanilang mga magulang. Ngunit hindi ito sapat na dahilan upang ituring na casual ang isang relasyon at pahantungin pa ito sa pagiging sekswal kung wala rin namang katapatan ng pagmamahal pati na ang basbas ng Diyos. Kung ganito nang ganito ang magiging turing sa relasyon ay magiging bihira na nga siguro ang isang maayos na pamilya tulad ng pamilya ni Ben sa pelikula. Kapuri-puri naman ang pagiging magalang sa magulang ng mga tauhan at maging ang mensahe nito sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan ngunit sadyang nakakabahala ang mga eksena ng inuman, paninigarilyo, at pakikipagtalik ng hindi pa kasal.

88 minutes

Title: 88 Minutes

Cast: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, William Forsythe, Deborah Kara Unger, Neal McDonough, Leah Cairns
Director: Jon Avnet
Screenplay: Gary Scott Thompson
Cinematography: Denis Lenoir
Music: Ed Shearmur
Editor: Tim Nordquist
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Running Time: 108 min.

Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 18 and above

An Asian girl is found dead in a Seattle, Washington flat she shares with her twin sister Janie Cates (Tammy Hui): methodically killed, she is hung upside down by a rope, cut by a scalpel and left to bleed to death. Serial killer Jon Forster (Neal McDonough) is convicted on the strength of the testimony of world-renowned forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm (Al Pacino). Insisting on his innocence, Forster swears to take revenge on Gramm, all the while hoping to get pardon. On the eve of Forster’s execution by lethal injection, similar killings occur using Forster’s modus operandi, pointing to the possibility that they have indeed imprisoned the wrong guy. Worse, victims include women whom the womanizing Gramm has bedded. Then Gramm gets a mysterious call warning him he has 88 minutes to live. This sets the gutsy psychiatrist—who is a university professor and carries an FBI ID card, being a consultant for the agency—on a lone hunt aided only by his hunches, his gay assistant Shelly Barnes (Amy Brenneman) and, later on, his female student Kim Cummings (Alicia Witt) who has a huge girlish crush on him. But soon, even his FBI buddy Special Agent Frank Parks (William Forsythe) is ready to arrest him, when Gramm’s “DNA is all over the place,” pointing to him as the killer. They have good reason to believe so, since Gramm could be acting on revenge himself—he lost his 12-year old sister to a serial killer employing the same method as the convicted Forster.

If 88 Minutes was never meant to be a technically impeccable movie, but rather intended to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats, it hits its mark. It captures your attention with enough elements piled one on top of the other, and piques your imagination and curiosity so much that your are left with no time to question the loose ends, the jumpy sequence of events, the implausibility of certain developments, etc. Thanks to the arresting presence of Al Pacino, 88 Minutes turns out to be 108 minutes of gripping suspense. Those who invested in the movie were on target in casting Pacino and banking on his reputation to carry the movie through. Particularly in the Philippines, where the average viewer is more emotional than intellectual and therefore couldn’t care less about the filmography of director Jon Avnet or screenwriter Gary Scott Thompson or its less-than-famous actors, something as engaging as 88 Minutes (with Pacino onscreen almost the whole time) is bound to have longer DVD shelf life than any other mystery-thriller currently showing. No matter what the more erudite First World critics say about Pacino’s “lackluster performance” or stooping to accept B-grade movies at this point in his career, the fact remains that as a 66-year old forensics expert harboring guilt over his sister’s fate, Pacino delivers perfectly well. His is not lackluster performance—rather, it is a soulful portrayal of a lackluster persona. Sometimes, film critics who know too much must learn to separate the actor from the role. We cannot imagine Richard Gere or Tom Hanks giving life to Dr. Jack Gramm as effectively as Pacino with his hangdog looks does. As for the “middle-age mediocrity” that critics claim Pacino is caught in, see for yourself—Pacino is Pacino, he can take on any role he damn well pleases and get away with it; he neither needs nor depends on critics’ judgment to prove his acting caliber.

88 Minutes is not a movie for the queasy. Gore flows freely, and close-ups of the serial killer’s modus operandi would make you want to close your eyes for obvious reasons. However, the subject matter and content—rape and murder, conviction of the innocent, respect for the human body, womanizing, ethics in the teaching profession, etc.—provide rich and thought-provoking topics for discussion particularly with young adults. Despite its technical flaws, overshadowed and trivialized by the lead actor’s convincing depiction of the main character, 88 Minutes in the end gives the guilty what he or she deserves, and ensconces justice in its right place.

Pathology

Title: Pathology
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Weston, Alyssa Milano, Lauren Lee Smith, Johnny Whitworth
Director: Marc Schoelermann
Producers: Gary Gilbert, Gary Lucchesi, Mark Neveldine, Tom Rosenberg, Brian Taylor, Skip Williamson
Screenwriters: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Music: Johannes Kobilke
Editor: Todd E. Miller
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Suspense
Cinematography: Ekkehart Pollack
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 2
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and above

Topnotch medical student Ted Gray (Milo Ventimiglia) has just graduated from medical school and joins one of the most prestigious hospital-schools of Pathology as resident-intern. Equipped with natural wit and intelligence, Ted gets the attention of an elite group of interns. Afraid to be alienated, he makes friends with them and he is welcomed though reluctantly at first. Unknown to him, he has become a pawn in their dangerous, morbid, after-hours extracurricular activities at the morgue. He is then challenged and seduced to join their game of committing the perfect undetectable murder. Once trapped, Ted’s life and love will be jeopardized. Can he still quit the game before he or his loved ones become the next victim?

Pathology may be just another B movie at the onset but the tightness of the story and impeccable acting of the characters make the film pass off as a good crime-suspense-drama. The movie is able to take its audience to the world of pathology, a world least explored by many, without much blood and gore. Such approach allows the audience to imagine and look at the said field of medicine with objectivity. However, the storyline tends to be shallow and thin with the characters’ motivations left unjustified which are perhaps attributed to the plot’s lack of a back story. But then the film, technical wise, is quite able to meet its objective of putting a certain amount of suspense and mystery amidst the soap-operatic plot so it is still a good watch.

It is said in the movie that Pathology is a window to God for doctors see the perversion and corruption of the human flesh, although unnatural and violent, to determine the cause of death. However, when such window is abused by malicious minds, danger follows. The movie works around this premise but the visuals and plotlines leave the audience with disturbing views about the preservation of life. The morality play in the movie has posed more questions than answers. In a dog-eat-dog world, should one always conform to what is popular over what is good? The characters who have committed sin are all punished in the movie but apparently, there is no remorse from seen in them as they commit crimes of both ambition and passion. Thus, the film in its entirety is morally disturbing. There is violence, nudity, gore, desecration of human body, pre-marital sex, lesbianism, incest, drugs and alcohol. Although done in context and good taste, these can still offend sensibilities and may influence the minds of the very young. Such messages are appropriate only for a mature audience.