Halfway through the movie, I was actually thinking Star Cinema finally went back to form. After a stellar start of purging movies that tackles fresh story lines (Calvento Files, May Minamahal,Separada, Pare Ko, Batang PX, Ang Lalaki sa buhay ni Selya), the studio somehow shifted direction and ventured into commercial films. Now almost all their films just seems like a string of romantic movies and dramas which always have the same predictable end. I'm not against happy endings but when it's contrived and goes against the storytelling (ie And I Love You So, Love Me Again, When Love Begins, Miss You Like Crazy), it's just painfully annoying and tragic at the same time....
And it's just a shame because somewhere in this movie was a great story --- a story about the sacrifices that we make for the ones we love and how it seems that some people just can't catch a break. The first hour of the movie up until the confrontation scene between the two leads was heartbreaking and was able to reel me in. I thought to myself, this is actually the first movie from the film outfit that I was able to fully enjoy for a very very long time. And I was ready to give it an 8/10!!! Of course, there were room for improvements --- the over-all mood I think should be darker given the subject but I loved the way it was edited. I would have also loved to see more how Cedes was able to cope with everything that she's been through. I wish I could have known from her point of view. I would have also loved to see the film explore the struggle of Emman having seen the girl who crushed his life. To me, that should have been the central plot, instead we were whirled into la-la land where everything looks rosy.
The 2nd half just went downhill. I felt the movie went into hyperdrive to reach its conclusion and resolve loose ends. By this time, my rating went down to 7/10.... and by the end of the movie, I was just so insulted that it dropped to a 6/10. SERIOUSLY!!!! It was a great material and for the first time in years, Aga Muhlach has actually turned in a great delectable performance! And this is the first time that I've actually seen acting chops from Angel Locsin! But all of it went to waste just because of the last (and lousiest) 15 minutes of the movie.... I hope Star Cinema can reflect on the injustice and disservice that it's doing to all the creative minds (the writers and directors) who are making an effort to push cinema forward. By all means, come up with a string of romantic movies catered to the mass market but please, don't kill off creativity in projects like this that could have been one of the most heartbreaking movies in the history of Philippine cinema.
What a waste...
And it's just a shame because somewhere in this movie was a great story --- a story about the sacrifices that we make for the ones we love and how it seems that some people just can't catch a break. The first hour of the movie up until the confrontation scene between the two leads was heartbreaking and was able to reel me in. I thought to myself, this is actually the first movie from the film outfit that I was able to fully enjoy for a very very long time. And I was ready to give it an 8/10!!! Of course, there were room for improvements --- the over-all mood I think should be darker given the subject but I loved the way it was edited. I would have also loved to see more how Cedes was able to cope with everything that she's been through. I wish I could have known from her point of view. I would have also loved to see the film explore the struggle of Emman having seen the girl who crushed his life. To me, that should have been the central plot, instead we were whirled into la-la land where everything looks rosy.
The 2nd half just went downhill. I felt the movie went into hyperdrive to reach its conclusion and resolve loose ends. By this time, my rating went down to 7/10.... and by the end of the movie, I was just so insulted that it dropped to a 6/10. SERIOUSLY!!!! It was a great material and for the first time in years, Aga Muhlach has actually turned in a great delectable performance! And this is the first time that I've actually seen acting chops from Angel Locsin! But all of it went to waste just because of the last (and lousiest) 15 minutes of the movie.... I hope Star Cinema can reflect on the injustice and disservice that it's doing to all the creative minds (the writers and directors) who are making an effort to push cinema forward. By all means, come up with a string of romantic movies catered to the mass market but please, don't kill off creativity in projects like this that could have been one of the most heartbreaking movies in the history of Philippine cinema.
What a waste...
