I Am a Woman, Watch Me Make a Movie

Eve has definitely come a long way since she was allegedly taken out of Adam's rib. She has long stepped out of his shadow, standing up for herself and speaking her mind. Eve doesn't need many Twitter followers or a thousand of Facebook likes just to prove her worth. She knows she's worth it.

Cinema has given the female species an opportunity to express themselves; and the opportunity isn't wasted. Although filmmaking is mostly a man's world, women have become the captain of their own cinematic ship.

In celebration of being a woman, I listed down some of my favorite films directed by women. (In alphabetical order.)

Fave Movie Posters: Heneral Luna

One of the most hyped movies in the history of Philippine cinema, indie film Heneral Luna tells the story of General Antonio Luna, aka Juan Luna's younger brother, aka the man who led the Philippine Revolution Army during the Philippine-American War.

Despite the film's popularity, I've yet to see the film. (I know, right?) Will definitely do so.

Without further blah blah blah, the other thing that piqued my interest for Heneral Luna, aside from the positive reviews, is this poster:

The Dilemma That is Philippine Cinema

Gone are the days when Brocka et al. reigned Philippine cinema. It would probably take another master filmmaker for our nation's cinema to recover and be given the kind of international recognition it once had.

Himala (Miracle).

That's probably what our cinema needs. A miracle.

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)

Although we often have entries to international film fests like the recently-concluded Cannes Film Festival, Philippine cinema still has a long way to go in terms of identity and originality.

Once our cinema has established a particular trademark, Filipino films will finally be put back on the map of international cinema — alongside cinematic benchmarks like the German cinema, Italian cinema, Japanese cinema, and French cinema.

Cinema should not be a piggy bank

We don't make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.

- Walt Disney

My All-Time Favorite Female Performances

When I was younger, one of my wildest dreams is to become an actress. That's right. And that dream wouldn't be if there weren't no inspiration. Most of the performances that inspired me are by women; I think it's because I can connect more with women than with men. So here they are, the female performances that made me want to be on screen, inhabiting a character and reciting my lines.

Isabelle Huppert, LA PIANISTE

This is Why Pinoy Horror Movies Suck

Before I start with my short critique of Sanib, I would like to post my appeal to (most) Filipino filmmakers:

Dear (most) Pinoy movie directors,

PLEASE stop insulting the audience by making photocopied films. We, the audience, are not stupid. We don't want to see what we've already seen before. Please stop doing what Brocka, Bernal, and De Leon already did. Please stop copying other films, may it be a Hollywood classic, a hit Japanese horror movie, a French indie film, or whatever.

You are not a photocopier operator, you ARE filmmakers. And filmmakers cultivate their own ideas, so please do so.

We're not here to experience deja vu, we're here to see something authentic. Please try harder to make bona fide films. Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,
Your audience


SANIB
Celso Ad. Castillo, 2003

"Serbis" is Out of Service

An obviously photoshopped poster for Serbis.
(Photo belongs to its owner/s. I don't own or claim to own this photo.)

Tagline: Service. It's the family business.

SERBIS
Brillante Mendoza, 2008

The Pineda family runs an old movie theater in Angeles. The movie theater shows bomba films (soft-porn films). It also serves as a shabby home to the Pineda family, and a haven for their perverted customers.

The story looks promising. Serbis definitely has a story to tell, but Brillante Mendoza doesn't know how to tell it properly.

Fave Movie Quotes: Himala

There is no miracle! The miracle is in a person's heart... the miracle is in our heart!

(Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao... ang himala ay nasa puso nating lahat!)

- Elsa

Okay, sige, 'teh. Sabi mo 'yan eh. Charot.

This "Film" Bored the Hell Out of Me

TXT
Michael Tuviera, 2006

Plot: A jealous and angry soul comes back to haunt his girlfriend and her new lover. He haunts her and the people close to her by sending them sick text messages and calling them on their cellphone.

Wow! This one really bored the hell out of me... it absolutely did. "Camp" does not even begin to describe this!