this week it's mainstream vs indie: when love begins & ploning
when love begins
(star cinema, viva films, 2008)
direction | jose javier reyes
cast | aga muhlach, anne curtis, christopher de leon
for starters, i say that when love begins is not the kilig movie as i have expected. because if it is intended to be a kilig movie then it fails bigtime. instead, i see the movie as having a more serious approach to the romance genre. and it's not a bad thing. when love begins stimulates more of the brain than the heart. but there's a catch. it comes to the point where it becomes tired and monotonous. but i believe it's exactly what describes the relationship between aga and anne. a relationship that follows the brain or logic or practicality over the cheesiness of falling in love. that in time, it gets tiring because of the lack of commitment and obligation. it is monotonous because one party refuses to put the relationship into the next level. until they both get entangled in a web of conflicts of interest of their jobs. which provides the pivotal moment of their relationship's survival.
i particularly liked the characterization of aga who is the older one but is the one more childlike and dependent. while anne who is younger comes more matured and dominant. another ironic thing is that aga is a lawyer but anne always wins in arguments.
the movie is talky. there are just too many dialogues. however, the punchlines and cliche lines are not well delivered and they aren't memorable.
there's also something wrong with the movie's editing. the support cast is not that brilliant. neither is the main cast. nothing really remarkable in aga and anne's performances.
oh and i dunno but i just have this feeling that the movie would've been better.
favorite scene:
*probably, seeing aj dee and rafael rossell in boardshorts is what comes close to as my favorite scene
heart-o-meter:
5 out of 10
ploning
(panoramanila, 2008)
direction | dante nico garcia
cast | judy anne santos
ploning is visually stunning, emotionally powerful, and outright beautiful.
i strongly suggest that you stop reading this and head towards the cinemas and experience ploning. yes, EXPERIENCE it.
but since you still are reading, let me continue and share a few more things.
i fell in love with the opening sequence. the lamps on the sea. two human bodies supposedly making love. ugh. perfect.
everything was given justice to: story & concept, visuals, acting. the story isn't really complicated but it wasn't brainlessly simple. it starts out very slow and idyllic juxtaposed with cuyo island's serenity. the progression from the middle to the end is overwhelming. the cinematography is breathtaking. simply AAAAAAAAAARGH!!! production design is equally great for a period film. i'm just out of words. i heard that the movie paid hefty for postprod and it shows in the color of the film. actors' performances are so remarkarble. judy ann santos in lead role is awardwinning. the support cast is perfect: eugene domingo, gina pareño, mylene dizon, ronnie lazaro, tessie tomas, tony mabesa. the non-actor kid who portrayed digo is charming. to sum up, direction is strong.
once again, i was walking out of the cinema crying. ploning is touching. moving. endearing.
my only qualm is that there are two scenes which i think lack footage that long shots are used and the dialogues are voiced-over. these happen first between judy ann & mylene dizon in a scene on a rocky cliff and second between tsuy & muo sei in their farewell scene on the beach.
favorite scenes:
*when digo (the kid) innocently asks eugene domingo, "nay kelan ka mamamatay?" and the scene that followed where digo was tied to a tree by his brother as punishment.
*when tony mabesa explains to digo why he is always washing ploning's white dress
*when digo's brother is teaching him how to swim and tells him: "hindi kita hahayaang malunod, kapatid kita eh"
*when the grown up digo does that to the grown up brother (ronnie lazaro) at the end sequence.
*gina pareños "salt" monologue: VERY INTENSE!!!
*when ploning chases digo running away from the esposada: beautifully shot.
*tessie tomas at the cemetery at the end of the film
*the town's fiesta and the vignettes that happen simultaneously
*the last few sequences
darn, i'm forgetting some more scenes... well, it wouldn't hurt at all if i watch it again. and i guess i'll really be watching it again. starting may 7, ploning is no longer exclusive to sm cinemas and will be shown to other theaters.
heart-o-meter:
9 out of 10