Johnny Bravo told me he’s been watching the movies currently comprising the Metro Manila Film Festival entries. He used to be a bit player on TV appearing as the rich boss, or the officemate, or the neighbor on ABS-CBN and GMA drama programs. He didn’t really make it to the big-time mainstream roles, though. The last time I watched a Tagalog drama series was in 2002 with “Pangako sa Puso” (Promise of the Heart) because I wanted to find out if he were any good, I didn’t give a hoot about the story. Before this, I patronized the tear-jerkers Flordeluna-Analiza (well, everybody did in the eighties).
Anyway, he is spewing toxic fumes after watching Shake, Rattle and Roll part 8. “It’s garbage, really. A complete waste of time and money” he belatedly rues. The mere fact that it’s on its 8th installment should have been a clear warning isn’t it? A piece of crap. It’s like the Police Academy franchise in the 80’s, very much like a curse.
The movie starring Senator Lito Lapid and his family is also a clear waste of money. Even the trailers look awful. I distinctly remember one scene Lito Lapid did I think in the 80s where in he intercepted a speeding bullet (traveling at probably the speed of sound) meant for him and cut it in half with a knife or something! Ack!
Which brings me to the current MMFF entries. In other countries, a “film festival” connotes quality. Here, it reeks of blatant commercialism. The purpose of the film festival, which requires all movie theaters to only show Filipino-made films during the festival run, was really to encourage the development of quality movies by giving such huge incentives (monopoly, tax rebates, etc). Unfortunately, local producers simply took advantage of this and used it as a venue to rake in more money.
You want to support Filipino movies. In the end, you slink away and go back to watching Hollywood.
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