3 pilosopo watch Metro Manila by Sean Ellis
– Ganoon lang? Mahina ang ani nila sa Banaue, kaya bigla nilang naisip na lumuwas ng Maynila?
– Sa Maynila agad? Di ba puedeng sa Baguio muna?
– We spoke too soon. Poverty porn is not dead, we just exported it.
– They move to a place where they don’t know anyone? Is that possible?
– Don’t they have families?
– Fine, that happens in the west. In the Philippines, it’s extremely improbable. You can barely walk out the door without running into someone who knows someone who knows you.
– The movie didn’t have to start in Banaue. The family could already be in Manila, already destitute and desperate.
– But then they wouldn’t have that shot of the rice terraces.
– Ang gagaling natin. Ang daming opinyon.
– Ibaba mo ang kilay mo.
– Hindi naman nakataas ang kilay ko, ah.
– Oo, pero alam ko ang iniisip mo.
– Bongga talaga si Althea Vega, tume-Tetchie Agbayani.
– Magaling naman ang akting ni Jake Macapagal, masyadong fino (refined) nga lang ang Tagalog niya.
– Hindi naman yon mapapansin ng mga dayuhan. Sila yata ang primary audience ng Metro Manila.
– Hindi kailangang Metro Manila ang title. Maaaring mangyari yan sa kahit aling siyudad sa Third World.
– Kung bumula ang MMDA, may karapatan sila.
– At eto na naman ang babaeng kailangang maging pokpok para alagaan ang pamilya niya. Zzzzzzz.
– Tawagan si Maning. Paradise na ngayon ang Peninsula.
– (Chorus at “Naririto sa puso mo” line) Yiiiiiiiiii.
– Uy, nabuhay ang pelikula nung dumating si John Arcilla.
– Magaling!
– Naging heist movie siya!
– (Aaaaaaa kailangan mo palang ulitin ang Himpapawid!)
– Yung first act, ayoko. Pero sa kalagitnaan, naging thrilling ang pelikula.
– The heist section is very well-executed. I like how they walk us through the plan so we’re on the edge when things fall apart.
– I did not expect that. Give it to the movie: it’s not predictable.
– Impressive visuals. It usually takes a foreigner to see the real grit and grime of this city.
– There’s a cat in it.
Verdict: After a slow start full of stuff we’ve seen in countless Filipino movies, Metro Manila becomes exciting. Watch.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
October 10th, 2013 at 11:10
I like this movie a lot, except for the title which seems a bit irresponsible. There’s barely anything distinctly Filipino about it except for Banaue and the religious motif.
But the heist part is perfect! The actors, and the ending too.
October 10th, 2013 at 11:12
si althea din, tetchi agbayani at amy austria in one!
October 10th, 2013 at 16:49
Speaking of movies, here’s the link of your (and Marie, Philbert and Pepe) BBC interview about the state of indie films: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24427927
October 11th, 2013 at 17:59
I am now raring to watch it.
October 12th, 2013 at 06:41
I loved it! It was completely unexpected. Now that’s a movie I can get behind.
October 14th, 2013 at 01:02
Just saw the film. Ang weird. Na-share ni Oscar na his plan is better than Alfred’s na founded on his dreams, pero kung iisipin, nakadepende ang buong plano niya sa pagbigay ng gamit nya sa asawa niya. Paano kung hindi nabigay yung gamit nya sa asawa n’ya? Edi nagfail yung plan n’ya kung ganun and he died in vain? Paano s’ya nakasigurado na ibibigay nga ang gamit niya samantalang yung two incidents na hinatid ng partners nila yung gamit nung namatay na guards e dahil namatay sila while performing their duty?
October 14th, 2013 at 01:09
Evan: Magandang point yan. Tanong din ng kaibigan namin: ayaw ni Misis yung plano, pero pagkatapos ay pumayag na rin siya.