Reviews

They managed to turn a 1 hour headache into a 2 hour one.
All this could have been done in less than a hour.. all of it. There wasn't even any build-up to justify spacing this out over 2 hours.
The casting was good, I'll give it that and only that.
How do you have a 2 hour movie where the first half and second half don't even match? There was no explanation for anything either.

If it only dealt with twins, why take out those around them? Where's the twin? How's the aunt there? WHY was the aunt there? She was a twin so shouldn't she had been "accepted" by the ox god? Why are they trapped in the cave if they're in the village?
See like none of this shit makes sense to me.

I do know I have a huge ass headache though.

Read More

Inconsistent quality

I found this film okay but I started to lose focus around the halfway point as it wasn’t doing much to keep me gripped. HOWEVER, watching the ending made me wish I’d paid more attention to the rest of the film.

The ending was unexpected (for me at least) but I personally thought it was a good way to end the film. I just wish it had been that good the whole way through!

The acting was quite good, especially at the end, but I can’t particularly remember any of the music - I can’t say it really added anything to the film.

I wouldn’t watch it again unless it was a ghosts last wish, but it was fine for one watch.

Read More

So frickin good

Going in with the expectation of a good thriller, I was absolutely delighted by the film’s execution that soared beyond mere goodness to me. As an admirer of both Talu Wang and Ethan Juan, my anticipation for this film was already high, and it did not disappoint me. The film transcends the typical action genre, offering a fresh narrative style and a unique cast of characters that set it apart. It's not one of those action films that you can neatly categorize who is good and who is bad. The lines between heroes and villains are blurred. It does demands patience, but rest assured, the final third of the movie rewards you with a satisfying clarity. This isn’t just a thriller teeming with awesome action and combat; it’s a cinematic experience that weaves in a tapestry of emotions, resonating deeply with the viewer.

I’m thrilled about the idea of watching this film with those dear to me who have an appreciation for this genre. I’m excited to enjoy and discuss it with them. I don't think they will be disappointed and hoping you won't either. ^^

Read More

"Don't ever bite your own tail again!"

Hard Boiled was John Woo’s death filled cops and gun-runners ode to action films. A completely over the top, unrealistic, thrill a minute bloody carnival ride.

Officer Tequila Yuen is determined to bring down the Triads running guns that caused the death of his partner. A loose cannon who doesn’t play by the rules, he ignores his boss’ warning about staying off the case. It’s not long before he runs into Alan, an origami making Triad assassin. He deduces Alan’s secret and the two reluctantly work together to bring down the deranged Johnny Wong’s gang.

What I liked:
What’s not to like about a Chow Yun Fat and Tony Leung Chiu Wai pairing? The screen could barely hold their bromantic charisma. I could watch these two in about anything. Phillip Kwok (Lizard Venom) as Mad Dog was right up my kung fu movie loving heart. Lo Meng (Toad Venom) made a brief appearance before he like hundreds of others-died. Kwok was also the action choreographer. Stuntmen flew through windows and fell off buildings, and with all of the bullets hitting and grenades exploding they rolled and were flung about the sets continuously. Chow Yun Fat’s signature move of diving through or over something with both barrels blazing was used several times. Bruce Law was the guy often called for car stunts and there were cars and motorcycles flying, flipping, and exploding everywhere. The stakes were high with hundreds of civilians and a nursery full of new born babies to worry about. Will someone please think of the children!

What I didn’t care for:
It was almost like John Woo wondered how many senseless deaths he could get away with. The gruesome deaths of innocents fleeing a hospital were disturbing in particular and also all the friendly fire deaths. One friendly death was caused because Tequila couldn’t stop taunting Alan instead of guarding the person relying on him for survival! I knew some film nerd would count the casualties for me-thank you Collider!: The body count for Hard Boiled was 305. Honestly, after the first 100 deaths it became monotonous watching the bad guys mow people down with automatic weapons or with RPG fire. Some of the fire fight casualties were funny. I understand a bullet can go through two as easy as one, but not when the people are standing side by side! It's apparent that the carnage had gotten out of hand when the bad guy named Mad Dog complained about the overkill.

While many people enjoyed the reckless slaughter of the masses, it didn’t work for me. I would have rated this film much higher if Woo had showed a modicum of restraint instead of characters gleefully gunning down anyone moving. Despite having some cute babies in the film to lighten things up, Hard Boiled was the kind of relentless gun porn that might have the average viewer wanting to take the dream trip to Antarctica that was talked about in the film. A place where there was always light after living with so much darkness. *

20 March 2024

*(Scientific quibble-Antarctica has light for six months out of the year, it’s dark the other six)

Read More

One Percenter (2023): A Knockout Punch for Action Fans

One Percenter throws down the gauntlet to Hollywood's brand of action cinema. This 2023 Japanese film is a love letter to old-school, raw fight choreography and a hilarious takedown of the industry's reliance on CGI and shaky-cam.

Toshiro Takuma, played by the legendary Tak Sakaguchi, is an action star yearning for authenticity. Disillusioned by the current state of action films, he sets out to make his dream project: a movie with bone-crunchingly realistic fight scenes inspired by samurai warriors. But achieving this vision requires him to break free from the industry's constraints.

Enter his devoted apprentice, Akira. Together, they escape to a remote island to film their masterpiece. However, their quest for realism takes an unexpected turn when yakuza thugs crash the set. The line between movie and reality blurs as Toshiro is forced to put his fighting skills to the ultimate test.

One Percenter isn't just about the action, though. It's a witty meta-commentary on the action genre. The film winks at fans with references to classic action tropes and even throws some playful shade at other action stars (think Jackie Chan). This self-awareness adds a layer of humor that keeps the film from becoming overly serious.

The real star of the show, however, is the fight choreography. Director Yudai Yamaguchi brings in the talents of Kensuke Sonomura, resulting in some of the most impressive and brutal fight sequences you'll see on screen. The action is balletic, brutal, and beautifully shot, with camerawork that allows you to appreciate every punch and kick.

One Percenter isn't without its flaws. The villains are a bit one-dimensional, and the ending, with its double twist, might feel a tad convoluted. However, these are minor quibbles in a film that delivers pure, unadulterated action movie fun.

If you're a fan of classic action films with a healthy dose of self-awareness, then One Percenter is a must-watch. Just be prepared to have your jaw drop at the fight choreography.

Read More

I watched this and the series version side-by-side. Apart from a few scenes that were switched around, both versions are identical; the movie feels more like a cohesive whole since it isn't interrupted every few minutes. If you want to watch this, you should choose the movie if you can.

What I liked:
* the beautiful scenery at the ocean
* the simplicity of the story
* Han Gi Chan's acting
* Also, stories that are not set in highschool or college are always welcome.
* The Ex-boyfriend. It was a nice touch, not to know at the beginnning what to expect from him, and to discover in his third scene what he is actually like.
* The story didn't make use of the typical BL tropes, only standard romance tropes. The gender of the two protagonists actually did not matter much, which is always nice, if you want a light romance.

The story though has some qusetionable parts:
* I have so many questions: Where does Tommy come from? What is his motivation in staying with Ba Da? -- Why is Tommy there, right behind the car, at the beginning? Was it an accident, did he get in the way intentionally, did he just lie down there? -- Why does a chef buy at the grocery store?
* The gap year -- Why should two adults not know to try a long-distance relationship? What did Ba Da do while he was not at his small establishment and why did he decide to come back? What was the motivation for Tommy to return, and why at this point of time?

Holland's acting is, unfortunately, not suited for his role. I'm sure he did his best, but it seemed stiff to me, and even after rewatching I'm not always sure how his character feels. Especially since we only get Ba Da's POV, and Tommy doesn't really talk about his life, we have to rely on body language. I didn't, for example, notice that Tommy actually comes on to Ba Da until I watched the story for the third time.

Overall impression:
This is a nice and simple story, that focuses on few characters, sets and a single storyline. It didn't waste time on too many flashbacks or scenic shots, just enough to set the mood. The makers obviously used what they had wisely and tried to make a good story within the short time of an average movie.

I still would have wanted more info, be it explicitely stated or implicitely shown, to understand the motives of both main leads. Things are often too subtle to see them during a casual watching, or did you notice that Ba Da says in minute 33 of the movie "I didn't come here to do this?" and probably means that he notices a certain kind of attraction to Tommy? I didn't, and there are some other points where I'm really not sure if we get the intended message.
That subtlety doesn't mix particulary well with Holland's acting style.

Still, it's a nice movie to spend a lazy afternoon or evening on, even worth a rewatch or two, if yu need to shut off your brain. It's not an outstanding masterpiece but certainly better or at least not worse than some het romances.

Read More

Denounces the harsh reality that Filipino LGBT people live

Despite the numerous North American military bases that curtail national sovereignty and being considered a strategic ally of the United States in the region and a tourist paradise, the Filipino population suffers from hunger and misery.
The cinema of that Asian country has produced films such as 'Soon of Macho Dancer', ('Anak Ng Macho Dancer'), from 2021, by multi-award-winning filmmaker Joel C. Lamangan, as well as 'Macho Dancer', 1988; 'Midnight Dancers' (1994), 'Burlesk king' (1999), 'Twilight Dancers' (2006), all directed by the late Mel Chionglo, and others, interested in exploring the world of dancers who pose in light clothing and even naked, for the homosexual clientele of the Filipino establishments.
The reality is that films like these expose how rentboys confront the sordid realities of poverty in the Philippines. Most of the characters in these films have in common that they are from the provinces and are overwhelmed, defeated by the sad political and socioeconomic reality of the Philippines, which is why they will be forced to travel, generally to Manila, the capital, to exercise their Prostitution as a way of escape from misery.
'AL and ER: Boys in Love' nods to these films and these "sex professionals", but does not present its narrative heroes acting and prostituting themselves in venues and clubs, existing today, as the sex workers of those do. movies, but in their own homes, selling their bodies and their orgasms via social networks, perhaps even through an erotic dance like those.
And the solution cannot be any other for desperate people who have no other way to get through everyday life. It is impossible to evaluate 2020, when 'AL and ER: Boys in Love' was filmed and released, from the perspective of the rights of LGBT+ people without recognizing that Covid-19 created an obstacle and brought a hectic, cruel year, especially for the members of this human collective. The pandemic exposed inequality gaps, leaving some more vulnerable than others when it comes to infections, prognosis and economic impact.
In countries like the Philippines where LGBT people face social stigma, moral opprobrium and legal discrimination, they have fewer economic opportunities and are more likely to be poor, even more so when some members of the community were left out of recovery measures government economics. At the same time that they were fighting against the consequences of Covid-19, LGBT people also had to face the increase in the avalanche of homophobia and transphobia that they generally suffer every day, exercised by governments, politicians and in many cases the public. in general.
Prejudices against the LGBT community were evident in responses to Covid-19 in all regions of the world. While in South Korea, social media users scapegoated LGBT people after some media outlets linked an outbreak to gay bars, and in Hungary, populist leader Viktor Orbán used health emergency powers to pass laws. Discriminatory measures against transgender people, in the Philippines, local officials humiliated LGBT people while enforcing a curfew and a gender-sensitive quarantine.
Thus arose the idea of ​​filming an LGBT-themed short film in the context of the current socio-political situation in the Philippines, which aims to creatively represent the harsh realities faced by Filipino gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people today.
Of friendship, yaoi and romance genre, 'AL and ER: Boys in Love' follows a provincial homosexual couple residing in Manila, made up of Al (Jomari Angeles) and Er (Jerom Canlas), who have lost their respective jobs and their savings and do not know how to survive in the midst of daily shortages and difficulties, to which is added the risk of dying due to contagion with the new coronavirus.
This is how Ar came up with the idea of ​​using technology and social networks to film sexual videos in which the two young people appear in different erotic poses, in order to later place them on the Internet with the purpose of selling the images to potential buyers. . However, Er opposes using this route to overcome economic difficulties for fear of being recognized, and proposes returning to the province, where they come from.
I have given too many spoilers. Not one more. You'll have to watch the short's nearly 11-minute run to find out how it concludes.
In this sense, only add the well-used silence in the concluding and defining moment between the two actors, and even with the closing of the incidental music, as an epilogue to the previous situation created at the moment of tense silence. Right there, when the moment of silence arrives, a much greater tension occurs than if silence did not exist.
Written and directed by Ryan Machado, AR + ER, as it is also known, is Kayumanggi Kolektib's first BL film, in an anthology of other short films to follow.
While Canlas and Angeles achieve excellent acting performances and a necessary control of the body and voice when they interpret emotions, such as insecurity, fear, shame and even anger, disgust and sadness, Issa Encarnacion takes the cake as director of photography.
In the midst of the pause due to the pandemic that led to the cancellation of premieres and filming and the confinement of actors and film production experts to preserve their lives, the Philippines managed to film several audiovisuals, but generally of the romance genre, many of them BL . However, Ar + Er sets the bar higher and denounces the harsh reality experienced by the inhabitants of that country, especially members of the LGBT community.

Read More

"Fame and fortune bring disasters to many"

House of Traps was a Chang Cheh movie featuring most of the Venoms though my favorite, Lo Meng, was missing. Phillip Kwok, Sun Chien, Chiang Sheng, and Lu Feng were all featured in this convoluted tale of rebellion and double crosses. And of course there was a secret list with rebel names on it!

The film opened with the lineage of the current emperor and a tale of how the first one was murdered as well as his son.
Prince Zhao Jue is the son of the prince who was killed and is planning a rebellion. Normally, he might have the moral high ground but in the House of Traps, he’s the villain. A villain with a house of traps where he stores treasures stolen from the Imperial Palace and hides the secret rebel list. Scholar Yan Chun Min is chosen from the imperial side to investigate the prince and stop his rebellion. He’s aided by two unorthodox swordsmen. Not everyone will make it out of the House of Traps alive.

This story was hard to feel invested in as the motivations weren’t particularly clear. For a movie with four of the Venoms, it was also short on action. The fights were faster than kung fu posing but not lightning quick either. Phillip Kwok (Lizard Venom) choreographed numerous movies, including this one. His moves were lively and nimble though he wore what looked like a roadkill scarf on his head with matching boot cuffs-a major fashion “don’t”. Ricky Cheng and Chiang Sheng (Venom apprentice) provided levity as kung fu masters disguised as magician street performers. Lu Feng (Centipede Venom), as he often did, played the bare-chested baddie with killer moves. Sun Chien (Scorpion Venom) played against type as a scholar with no martial arts skills. The house of traps provided several lethal traps that permanently prevented some of the characters from leaving. What it didn’t provide were any female characters, another one of those strange worlds where only men inhabit.

House of Traps would have benefited from a better story, like telling us why we should root against the prince whose birthright was stolen instead of for the usurpers. At best it was an average early kung fu flick. I enjoyed seeing the majority of Venoms together for one of their last collaborations, but didn’t particularly care who walked off into the sunset.


19 March 2024

Read More

I prefer to listen to "A Song for Wowie" by Nuna Esguerra.

"A Song for Wowie" by Nuna Esguerra is heard. The cheerful music takes us to an atmosphere of joy and hope. It is the moment when Vince (Patrick Laano), the young ABM student, meets Paolo (Neo García), the HUMSS student, on an elevated bridge that connects their respective faculties, at the University of Manila, the Philippine capital.
Thus begins 'Hanggang Dulo', the 2019 Filipino short film, directed by Trina Indunan, winner of the Best Film Award at the MILk Film Fest 2019, created as a student thesis defense aimed at breaking down stigmas and prejudices surrounding HIV/AIDS, as well as to confront indifference, and meet all those who strive to make it visible.
In its 10 minutes of footage, we follow these two strangers who will soon be best friends and soon friends will also be lovers. Everything seems to be going well between the two, when, suddenly, Paolo discovers that Vince has hidden his HIV from him.
It is then that somber, sad, hopeless music envelops the viewer, and the chords of "Oppressed" by Yan Abelardo are heard.
I thought for a moment that deception and betrayal would be the essential components of the short, but we soon learn that Vince has acquired the disease through perinatal transmission of HIV, that is, by the transfer of HIV from an HIV-positive mother to her child during the pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
With the purpose of raising awareness, as well as support for people living with the virus, 'Hanggang Dulo' offers us themes related to romance, openness and understanding.
In addition to starring in it, Patrick Laano intervenes as co-director and editor of an audiovisual that has an original script written by Rica Razal and Ross Ramos, whose dramatic basis is made up of the hopelessness, fear and feeling of helplessness that the two young people experience in the face of illness and the fate of their lives.
Instead of walking away for fear of also contracting the disease, of questioning him, of appearing hurt or offended for having been ignorant of what is happening to Vince, Paolo becomes the patient's support. In this way, this film about AIDS is one of the many that have already been made on the subject that could almost be considered something similar to a subgenre.
Vince embodies an apathetic approach to the disease: he does not raise his fists against death and for the will to live, but rather he limits himself to continuing with what he has left or believes he has left of life as if the ominous shadow of his mortality were not It will accompany you everywhere. And she ends up abandoning Paolo to avoid suffering and pain? So as not to be a burden to him? Vince, tired, chooses to give up.
And this is the point where the short film fails. AIDS is not as deadly today as it was decades ago. From the report of the blood test results, we know that Vince goes to the laboratory on June 14, 2017. By then, HIV is no longer considered a fatal disease because survival in patients with HIV is longer by years. It is only fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated in time. This is not the case of the character.
If the person has HIV, they do not have to develop AIDS. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome only occurs when the defenses cannot cope with opportunistic infections and other associated diseases because the defenses are weakened after years of HIV infection.
Despite Vince having developed an opportunistic infection, such as pneumonia diagnosed by his doctor, and having low levels of his defenses, the truth is that there are very good drugs against HIV, so much so that today it is not fatal, but rather a disease. chronicle. In addition to these, he has the prescription with the antibiotics in his hands.
Nothing makes me doubt that the young man does not follow his treatment correctly and take care of his body, so he can live a long and full life with HIV like anyone else.
The ending is open. As the final credits roll, the viewer watches as Vince approaches Paolo and, laughing, hugs him from behind. He is not surprised, and lets him do it. Has he been able to overcome the pneumonia? Is Paolo still waiting for you? Is it just Paolo's imagination? Did Paolo comply with what the doctor ordered, did he have blood tests done and has he also contracted the disease? Have they both died of AIDS and meet again in death to continue their romance?
It all happens on the same elevated bridge where they met, on the way to university, that day of joy and hope, while "A Song for Wowie" by Nuna Esguerra was listening.
There, instead of the wallet, they both stole each other's hearts. This is the final image I would like to take with me.

Read More

If you liked the drama - you're gonna love the movie

I have no idea why this movie is so low rated, it was very in tune with the entire Gokushufudo series. If you liked the drama, you're going to love the movie.

It's an action-packed movie that put a lot more effort into some action/battle scenes, but that only adds on to the best part of the movie - you can actually physically see actors have fun making this. I'm sure that the weapons store scene was chosen because they legit couldn't film it without breaking character. It was funny, comfy and expectedly unexpected in some parts.

Treat yourself and watch this movie :)

Read More

Give this a chance!

Honestly, when this started, it looked like a TV film, had hammy acting, a B-movie script and the shots were so cliché, I wondered if I was watching a spoof.
5 minutes in and I already wanted to turn it off. After 10, I was wondering how the Hell this "crap" got made!

Since I had been recommended this by a mate whose opinion I trust, I pressed pause, made a cup of hot chocolate and tried to continue... As it turned out, this film is incredibly tongue-in-cheek, it knows what it is and neither apologises nor pretends to be anything else, instead, gleefully cheeses its way forward, since all the "play it straight" versions of this kind of story have been told over and over already!

Having recognised this, to my surprise, after 30 minutes, I was really into this film!
Where other tales like this rely on the action or pretty photography to make them excel, The Assassin shies away from all that as it purposely underplays itself, sticking to its corny ethos, making itself a thoroughly enjoyable feature without much fuss.

As I type this review, the film over less than 30 minutes ago, I can 100% say that, not only did I really like it, but I'd definitely watch a sequel!
Seriously: give this one a chance and you might just be as surprised as I was.

Read More

Perfect for what it is -A One Night Stand Turned More

10/10 is my rating. This is a 2016 South Korean romance movie with a run time of 103 minutes.

First I provide a Unique Synopsis then Review

Synopsis

Bae Soo jung (Moon Chae won) and Kim Jae hyun (Yoo Yeon seok) meet each other on a train to Busan. He is a former star basketball player turned talent agent who is trying to recruit a rising talent, Kang Chul to go to the United States and play professionally. Soojung is on a business trip for her advertising agency. Out of the blue, Jaehyun proposes a one night stand. Soojung is in a 10 year relationship but the feelings have run dry and it is not headed to marriage. At first outraged but, as they spend time together on the train, then in pursuit of Kang Chul in Busan (Soojung hopes to have him agree to an advertising deal) decides there isn’t something about him drawing her in. After a night that leaves them both shaken can they really go their separate ways?

Review

I am not typically interested in movies as, with dramas, characters can be fully developed and the plot line can be much more complex. With this one though it works since it is centered around a one night stand. I thought they had great chemistry. It is a nice, short, compelling romance.

#MoonChaeWon

#MoodOfTheDay

#YooYeonSeok

Read More

An underrated, nostalgic movie.

This movie is so underrated that almost no one talks about it. But I'm glad I found this gem. A movie about a movie is something that has been done before, but ‘Once Upon a Star’ still manages to stand out in its own unique way. While this kind of movie (like Singin’ in the Rain or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) mostly focuses on the actor, actress, or director, this movie centers on the little people, which are traveling cinema troupes that roamed rural Thailand, bringing outdoor cinema and dubbed movies in the 1960s and 1970s.

This movie successfully takes the audience back to the 1960s-70s era with detailed settings and props. I like the fact that they took something from history that isn’t given as much attention in most movies, which is 16mm film live-dubbing. It’s something the younger generation might not have any clue about but is worth knowing and learn about. And it also highlighted Thailand’s most famous movie star at the time, Mitr Chaibancha. (Feel free to Google him)

The plots are well-stitched and developed neatly. The movie moves at quite a slow pace by showing them struggle to make a profit, taking any job possible even as far as outskirt area. But despite its slow pace, it doesn't feel too draggy. Thanks to the beauty shots. It also included a triangle love involving Manit, Kao, and Kae, which takes up just a nice portion of this movie in order to create an emotional conflict between the characters. Every character has a distinct personality and a story to tell, all of which blend together in one big narrative, but their characters are somewhat underexplored.

Although the main focus of the movie is the journey of the cinema troupes, it actually gives a glimpse at how Mitr Chaibancha’s popularity played a huge role in Thai culture, as well as Thai cinema and movie growth. His life adds more depth to this movie and makes the whole context of this movie reasonable. When he passed away during the peak of his career, it seemed like the cinema business died with him. His death pretty much brought an end to the 16mm era.

Overall, despite a few flaws, it’s a good movie that recounts a historical tale and have good messages within the storylines. It deserves as much attention as other period movies. In my personal opinion, it is a good and entertaining underrated movie.

Read More

A perfect lockdown confession

One thing is certain, Philippines have nailed it in the department of lockdown BL romance, nobody does it better! This short film must have been one of the first ones and it is practically perfect! So please, can someone tell me why is this so badly rated? It is a wonderful, well written, produced and acted short film. So why you don't like it, people?

When you finally realize that you are actually in love with your best friend, you want to tell him, in person, immediately, right? But with the lockdown, it is difficult so Tristan cries not knowing how to tell Chris about his feelings. To comfort him, Chris takes out a box of shared memories (tickets, toys etc.) giving Tristan courage to confess when he realizes that that box means more than just best friends!

The lockdown seems like a distant memory these days, we have all moved on and seeing this short movie brings back the memories of uncertainty, fear, doubt. The characters here feel all that which makes Tristam, in particular, take stock of his life and dating experiences and finally accept that the most important person in his life, the person he loves the most , is his best friend.

The three short songs are just the right means to convey sincere feelings. The actors are cute with those dimples (sorry, I fall for those every time!). The production values are high, the editing is excellent considering this is basically a static film where they both barely move. It is cute and butterflies inducing, so go watch it! Only 15min long but they managed to tell a story of a lifetime in it! Talent does not lie so I will start digging now and try to find their other works. If there are any. Fingers crossed!

Read More

Declaration of love in times of pandemic

Cinema has always managed to create wonderful worlds, fantastic scenes and perfect dialogues where feelings and words combine in an ideal way to express the very essence of love.
Each couple in their personal history has a movie, a scene or a soundtrack that is part of their memory, moves them or makes them exchange knowing glances because it evokes special and unique memories.
There is nothing more powerful than a good love story brought to film or television, and a script full of witty and emotional phrases that support it. Whether they are spontaneous gestures, proposals for a hand, or cathartic moments that change everything, declarations of love are the best way to consolidate a romance on the big or small screen, and to bring the audience to the brink of tears.
Written and directed by Jose Jeffrey Camañag, the Filipino short film 'Taguan, A Quickie Musical' presents us with a declaration of love between two boys in the midst of the pandemic caused by Covid-19.
Also known as 'Taguan, Secrets Kept' and released on May 30, 2020, the audiovisual, of the Romance, Yaoi, Comedy and Musical genre, shows us the telephone communication between the two best friends Tristan (Jayson Santos) and Chris ( Vince Conrad) who, forced into social isolation or home quarantine, are locked in the confines of their homes.
Between drinks of alcohol and tears, Tristan calls his best friend by video call to confess a secret that he has kept deep in his being for years. This is how the musical narrates that very special online video chat of two teenagers who, during quarantine, realized that they wanted to end their friendship... to be more than just friends.
The protagonists perform three songs in the almost 15 minutes of their magical transition from friendship to something deeper. The songs are "Ganito Pala", "Munting Ala-ala" and the title song of the short film: "Taguan".
With spoken lines and Filipino music in the voices of the two protagonists, 'Taguan, A Quickie Musical' was created through a novel program from the Artist Playground company, called Artist Playground Theatrix, a new form of visual and auditory performance art that uses the latest in technology that combines musical theater and film in its final production.
The team behind the audiovisual is made up of award-winning creatives and entertainment industry experts. The narrative, script and lyrics of the songs were created by José Jeffrey Camañag, filmmaker who won the Live Entertainment Awards and festivals as Best Director.
The music is by multi-award-winning maestro Jesse Lucas, while the editing is by Carl Santos, the artistic direction is by Roeder Camañag and the project director is Paul Jake Paule.
In the midst of such a long pause that led to the cancellation of premieres and filming and the confinement of actors and film production experts to preserve their lives, short films like this came to experience new concepts and executions never before made.
Challenging themselves to do something new, they managed to create and produce virtually so that the cast and crew could stay healthy and safe amid the pandemic. The writer and director never physically met the rest of the creators and artists during the filming process. Camañag managed the talent remotely. The two protagonists not only act, but are also filmed at home.
In this way, the project is one of the highest-profile cases of a filmmaker seeking to adapt production to the demands of the global health crisis. While hundreds, perhaps thousands of films and television shows in the Philippines and around the world saw production halted to protect actors and crew during the pandemic, Camañag produced and gave us 'Taguan, A Quickie Musical', a play simple, but with an intelligent and timely dialogue, marked by the circumstances that humanity was experiencing at that time.
Jayson Santos and Vince Conrad are a revelation, two incredible actors and singers that I hope to see again on other shows.

Read More