Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kyeme

5/5

Not only is it comedy at its best, Kimmy Dora and The Temple of Kyeme is also what sequels should be!

It’s common knowledge that creating a sequel is one of the greatest challenges in film making let alone create one that even surpass its predecessor in terms of quality and substance but this sequel to Kimmy Dora does just that.

The screenplay is one of the bests I’ve ever watched in Pinoy comedy movie. The plot is simple and almost shallow to its core but it was written very well along with a very funny script that there’s no boring, corny factor in it. The comedy it presented is very fresh and natural that it will really transport you to the world it created negating the out-of-this-world feel we usually get from mainstream cinema. I’ve always been a fan of Chris Martinez. His 100 is still my favorite movie of all-time. I also applaud his Last Order Sa Penguin as well as his other hits like Here Comes The Bride and Ang Babae Sa Septik Tank, and I must say that this movie just made me admire him even more.

The seamless blending of comedy, drama, and horror in this movie is also one for the books. It was perfectly manifested in the entire film. To be honest, the “gulat” factor is more defined in this film than Joyce Bernal’s overrated “Segunda Mano” last December. Lighting and Cinematography are equally amazing. The shots really made me love South Korea. Even the special effects were done excellently and believably. This movie knows its strengths from the script, to the over-all screenplay, to its actors and it instinctively capitalized in all of it creating all-time highs of the movie.

As far as the lead star’s acting is concern, I have nothing to say but WOW to Eugene Domingo. Acting in two different characters is hard enough but to portray two extreme characters at the same time with the perfection she does is just genius! Seriously, thank God for a Eugene Domingo in Philippine cinema! She’s outstanding and remarkably the ONLY one. The most poignant scene of the movie is actually the one where Dora is giving back her engagement ring to a half-awake, comatose Johnson and knowing the character of Dora, there will probably be the slightest part of you who would want to laugh but I swear believe me when I say you will be carried away. The scene lasted for just a minute or two but you can feel the genuinely innocent pain of her Dora character there. That’s how brilliant actress EUGENE DOMINGO is!

In conclusion, Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kyeme is a must watch comedy. In my own honest opinion it’s funnier than the first Kimmy Dora and if you enjoyed it I guarantee that this one will exceed your expectations. I truly hope that more Pinoy comedy movies with substance and wit like this will be produced. Enough of the Wenn Deramas shitty crap comedy that’s so prevalent in mainstream cinema today, please!

Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi!

3/5

A good laugh that’s smart and makes a lot of sense!

This latest Star Cinema offering, Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi! is a story of two cousins who are on different crossroads of their lives but together, they lamented the different facets of love, relationships, marriage, and annulment. Precy (Eugene Domingo) has left her husband and two kids and is filing for annulment to nullify her marriage. Belay (Toni Gonzaga) is a japayuki who returns to Manila to marry her childhood friend, Oca, who proposed to her three years ago before she left for Japan. As their personal lives are on totally opposing sides of the spectrum, the two try to convince each other of their different views about love in a hope to salvage each other from a life of misery.

There is nothing remarkably new in this movie. Same plot, same predictability, but what sets this apart and makes it a must watch movie is the genius of Director Jose Javier Reyes who also wrote the screenplay. Like all his other masterpieces this movie showcased a very witty yet insightful script. This is what I love most about Joey Reyes’ movies, the script alone is a spectacle to behold.There is always an attempt to be real and genuine with the emotions and the choice of words. It’s always good to watch characters on the big screen say things as it is, as any normal human being in a dialogue would do. This treatment on a material that’s already so predictable and a plot that’s nothing but ordinary really makes movies like this entertaining and enjoyable.

Yet, the greatest downside of this movie is the very evident poor editing and almost rushed scenes perhaps to meet a scheduled play date. I understand that it’s mainstream comedy yet everyone who knows me know that I hate endings where all the characters just magically get all their happy endings. So cliche! Up to the last 10 minutes of the movie I really thought it will have a big twist at the end just so the movie won’t be typecast. But too bad, of course producers need their money back so just give the ending that majority of the Filipino viewing public would want. Thankfully, the brilliance of Joey Reyes made it bearable by finishing up every subplots and plotlines neatly concluded.

Much to this movies’ delight, the quick-witted script by Direk Joey Reyes is complemented with superb acting from two of the country’s best female comediennes of today. Eugene Domingo I believe is already a legend when comedy is concerned. She is theatre trained and undeniably an actress in her own right. She knows what she’s doing and she’s always on target, whether it be comedy or drama.You can always see the authenticity of her acting. In terms of spontaneity, Toni Gonzaga is a pro. This is her forte--street wise comedy is what she does best. She is a revelation in this movie. Her brand of comedy is just so natural. Just imagine how real and genuine the dialogues of these two when they share the same scene, it’s so believable. It’s almost not acting at all. Their spontaneous exchanges of dialogues are always a laugh fest spectacular. Zanjoe Marudo gave an equally outstanding performance and is really a good actor who’s just waiting for the biggest break of her career. Zanjoe can really act.

This movie is not something I will say superb in all aspect. Yes, it’s hilarious and makes a lot of good points to ponder on, yet it’s not the kind of story or movie for that matter that you’ll remember or will be a classic as the years pass by. It could have been so much more what with a very rich story backbone but it just didn’t exhaust its potential. What’s really admirable about this movie is that it gives what the audience wants…fun and entertainment but with a sense. Yes, I do recommend this movie if you want to laugh and be entertained because in all fairness this movie delivers and you won’t be disappointed. Its type of comedy is really smart and rightfully works. It also instils in its viewers that at the end of the day, after everything that’s been said and done it all boils down to the question of whether you still love the person you’re with or not anymore. As simple as that. 

Kimmy Dora

4/5 stars

Comedy at its best!

Twins Kimmy and Dora (both played by Eugene Domingo) are heiresses to the multi-billion Go Dong Hae empire. Conflict arises mainly caused by the differences between the twins’ personalities. While Kimmy is all-brains and ruthless, her sister Dora is caring and thoughtful although a little slow, mentally. The twins’ personalities always clashes as Kimmy is very much jealous of the attention and special care Dora is getting from their father, Luisito Go Dong Hae, and from Johnson (Dingdong Dantes), the apple of her eyes. As peculiar events transpired, Kimmy and Dora finds themselves switching places with Kimmy in the hands of kidnappers and Dora now the CEO of the Go Dong Hae empire.

I’d like to say that this movie didn’t disappoint at all. There was enormous hype and promo for the movie and it’s all worth it. This movie stands apart from all the other comedies the Philippine movie industry has been producing these past few years because this particular movie actually offers a different type of Filipino humor, a comedy that has value. It’s not the cliché overly corny comedy we’ve all watched a thousand times before. Kimmy Dora actually tells a story with a perfect blend of stuffed comedy and passable drama.

There was never a dull moment in this movie and I never felt as if scenes were just included to fill-in the time as many mainstream comedy movies in the Philippines now do. I have to point out that though Kimmy Dora falls under the comedy genre and it’s obviously produced just to entertain and make moviegoers laugh, producers made sure that the storyline and the script itself is actually worth watching. And it proves that not because this is comedy, the narrative flow of the movie is already unimportant. I say kudos to its scriptwriter, Chris Martinez. I am so a fan of the works of this man. Editing was also worth mentioning above others because every scene was perfect in the story’s time line and this is a very important aspect many comedy films nowadays take for granted. With a beautiful editing like this, audiences will be drawn deep into the story even though the plot is just very very light. This is the only comedy movie Direk Joyce Bernal directed that I actually enjoyed. I am a big big fan of her romantic-comedies and only now can I say that she’s also good with comedy movies.

EUGENE DOMINGO IS THE BEST! A STAR IS BORN. I am a fan of Uge since time immemorial. If I admire her talent before, I adore it now. I believe everything with regards to this movie is perfect timing. This is the perfect launching material for a talent like Eugene’s. In my opinion, she deserves every title being given to her today because she’s really a one of a kind actress. Her comedy is genuine and spontaneous. And she can affect audience with her drama. With her versatility and innate acting abilities, I dare say, EUGENE DOMINGO IS THE ACTRESS of all our lady comedians nowadays. She is a precious talent and really THE ONE AND ONLY! Hail to the Diamond Comedy Queen and hopefully, the 2009 Box Office Queen!

Kimmy Dora is in every aspect a worth watching movie because aside from the laugh it’ll give you, it’ll also unconsciously touch you in many ways. And hello naman just for Uge’s talent being showcased in this movie it’s already a must watch. I am saying this now, this movie is worth every peso you will pay for it and I believe this comedy movie will be one of the classics Philippine cinema has ever produced. Super congratulations to Spring Films and Ms. Eugene Domingo.

Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat

3/5 stars

It's undeniably the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival's top grosser. It'll be so outdated of you to not watch it among the entries this year. To be perfectly honest, in my own personal opinion, only two films among the entries are worth watching for, this one and Viva Film's Baler.

Together with my mom and sister, I went and watch at Gateway Cineplex a day before New Year's Eve. We opted for the 7pm screening. There was a long line outside Cinema 5 as the theater was still being prepared. While waiting to get in, I thought about how I'm going to review this movie. I felt that it would be unfair if I'm going to be very critical about the movie. After all, its kind of comedy is catered to the lower classes of the society; therefore, one shouldn't expect a humor where thinking is still an utmost importance.

The first Tanging Ina movie in 2003 break a lot of records. This is probably the reason why Director Wenn Deramas and scriptwriter Mel del Rosario stick with the old formula they used in 2003 that made Tanging Ina an all-time box office hit.

This sequel picks up a few years after the first one. Some of her children who can't be in the movie were told to have made lives of their own. Ina and best friend Rowena after being in and out of different jobs took a work at the Malacañang Palace as maids. Events happened and Ina accidentally overhears the assassination plot by the vice-president to kill the president. When the president dies, Ina confided the truth and was challenged by the vice-president to a snap election. Eventually, Ina wins and she's now faced to be the mother not only to her children but also to the entire nation.

The script was a classic Mel del Rosario. Ok but then again a couple of corny, just-to-get-it-over with jokes/lines were all over the film. But since this movie was not an award winning one and was just intended to sell and entertain, flaws in the script were all forgivable.

Direction was again a classic Wenn Deramas. He's not much of a visual storyteller. There were a lot of hurried sequences, thus, the film's narrative was half-baked. Resolution if there really was sucked big time. Balancing the heavy comedy of the film with predictable family drama was a brilliant idea but it wasn't carried out very well. As a matter of fact, a lot of these drama scenes were tedious. The problem I guess was because it undermines the movie's tone that the director already set.

The movie's real gem is its casts. Ai Ai was great in her role as Ina. She showed versatility that she's not only the queen of comedy but also, as powerful as she is in that field, she's also an equally talented drama actress. She can be a caricature to make her audience burst with laughter but she can also pull off a crying scene, showing that how funny she maybe, she also has a heart, able to give unconditional love, accept failure and mistakes.

No questions asked. No second thoughts. EUGENE DOMINGO is the best on what she does. She's not just talented; she really has a gift of humor.

This movie wasn't at all a candidate for 5 or even 4 stars but this is one of the perfect movies to end your year with. It's the kind of movie that will entertain you to the core of your bones. It will make you forget even just for an hour and 50 minutes or so. It will make you just laugh out the year that you just had. I say this movie is still worth every centavo you're going to spend if you just want to sit back and laugh laugh laugh. And also, this movie doesn't pretend. From the title alone, you'll know how this movie was intended for. No unforgettable lines, no remarkable scenes, just wonderful performances from the actors enough for you to enjoy.

Paano Kita Iibigin

5/5

Fans of songbird Regine Velasquez and heartthrob Piolo Pascual had been waiting for this movie for two years now. And as an avid Regine Velasquez fan, my anticipation for this movie was unexplainable. That’s why days before its first day of theatrical showing, I promised myself that I’m going to watch it on its first day, rain or shine!

May 30, after my first class, I rushed to Glorietta 4 to catch the first screening at 12:50 pm. I was not expecting that crowd thinking that it was the first screening and people might be at work since it’s Wednesday, 12:50 pm. But I was wrong because at the time I bought my ticket and made my way inside the movie house, there were a lot of people occupying the seats already and by the time the movie started, the first three rows from the screen were the only one’s not occupied. There were even some that chose to just stand up to be able to get a better view.

After watching the movie, I dare say YOU’LL MISS HALF OF YOUR LIFE IF YOU WON’T WATCH THIS MOVIE!!! And I mean that!

I’ll give you FIVE reasons why you should go and see this movie:

1. It is very rare that we find a local movie that has depth and so much SUBSTANCE in it. This movie if I may say so is oozing with substance. And it’s very, very different in such a way that it gave a typical Filipino romance flick a different perspective. It’s not your ordinary kilig-kilig, pa-cute Tagalog romance, it’s so good! Everything in the movie is FRESH!!! I didn’t notice any cliché at all. The movie in general is very realistic. The acting of everyone in the film was perfect. A totally different Piolo and Regine are in this movie.

2. I have to commend the writers for a well-written story. I love the fact that they did not relied on fantasy and just offered a love story that has so much out of this world element. John Paul Abellera, the script writer, made a job well done in this movie. There was never a “trying-hard” line. Every dialogue was perfect. I really noticed that they made it a point that every dialogue in the script fits the characters, the scenes, the emotion of that particular act and the over all tone of the movie. One thing I also admire about the script was that they did not use cliché, over-acting lines. Especially when the main characters were professing their love for each other, the words they used were carefully chosen and were not baduy!

3. I have seen all of Regine Velasquez’s movie and indeed, I can say that this movie is her best to date. This movie brought out the actress in her. Here, she proved that she’s not only the best singer in Asia, she also established that she’s one of the excellent actresses we have here in the Philippines. Regine Velasquez deserves a Best Actress trophy for this movie. Not only was she admirable in this film but also stunning and exceptional. Regine Velasquez was really great in this movie. Two thumbs up, Songbird!

4. What can I say about Piolo Pascual??? He’s fantastic in this movie. He doesn’t need to speak just by his facial expressions you’ll know what his character’s emotion is. I particularly love the scene where he’s inside the mini airplane and was just crying. I BOW DOWN TO YOU PIOLO!!! You’re the man! And of course, he’s so yummy!!! Gosh!!! I’m so speechless. I’m drooling the entire time I was inside the movie house.

5. This masterpiece was directed by Direk Joyce Bernal and she deserves a standing ovation for this film. It’s like she never runs out of bright ideas for a romance movie. She’s one of the best directors we have and I really love her. There was never a dragginf scene in this movie. Every shot was just perfect and rightfully done. One thing I love about Direk Joyce is that she knows what she wants and if it’s a romance movie by her, expect it, it’s DAMN SO FABULOUS! I admire how she directs love scenes. Very, very good!!! For this particular movie, the love scene and kissing scenes were sensual and very passionate but still it appeared extremely wholesome.

For a person like me who has watched a hundred romance movies, I say this is one of the best I have ever seen. This co-production between Star Cinema and Viva Films is amazing! It’s all worth it and I highly recommend it.

“Paano Kita Iibigin” is a great movie. It offers a great deal of romance and the right amount of drama and humor. Go and WATCH IT!!!

P.S. Eugene Domingo rocks!!!

Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo

5/5

I am not a fan of comedy flicks. This is because I find a lot of comedy movies very very corny especially here in the Philippines where jokes are very cliches, dialogues and plots which are supposed to be funny, aren't really comedic at all. Another thing I hate about the Philippine comedy cinema are the comedians who thinks they are funny when in fact they suck!

A few weeks ago when ABS-CBN started showing the trailer of this movie, I really told myself that I'm going to watch this movie. For one, I have always admired AiAi Delas Alas, as a matter of fact she's my favorite comedy actress. I can still remember how I laughed my lungs out when I watched "Ang Tanging Ina" four years ago. Another reason why I will watch the movie is because of Eugene Domingo and John Lapuz. These two comedians are the best! They're my favorites ever since and they can really make me laugh with their brand new line of comedy everytime. I also love these two commedians because they're very natural, it's as if they're not acting at all. With a powerhouse cast that will surely make me laugh, "Ang Cute ng Ina Mo" must be really great.

Last Easter Sunday, I spent my afternoon watching this movie with my sister and my mom. We watched at Robinsons Galleria and whoa!!! the movie house was so full. If I'm not mistaken even the first row from the big screen was occupied.
The movie didn't disappoint me. It presented comedy at its best. The first three minutes of the movie made me laugh already so imagine having to seat at the movie house for almost an hour and forty-five minutes, I felt like I don't have courage to stand up and walk the aisle of the cinema out because I really laughed so loud. My goodness!
There were fresh jokes and I admire the script writers for that. I love how the director, Wenn Deramas, presented old, cliche comedic scenes in such a way that it appeared as though it was new. The dialogues were just as perfect. The cast were fabulous. AiAi and Eugene's exchange of dialogues brought the movie house down. Their dialogues and comedic confrontation scenes were the most humorous scenes I have ever seen in my entire life.
I highly recommend this movie because it's worth it. It will make your tears roll down because of laughter and it's 100% not corny!

P.S. Two of my favorite scenes was when AiAi was supposed to be leaving for Australia already but she was trapped in a coup d' etat and upon reaching the airport she finds out that she can't leave because her passport was full of gun shots. The second one was when Eugene called AiAi's ex husband and before she can even say a word, AiAi pointed a knife to her neck to prevent her from saying anything (their dialogue and acting in this particular scene made everyone go crazy).