Here are our latest reviews of films on DVD.
Pre-2020 Film Reviews
Assassin (1968)
- Excerpt: Despite the in-your-face anticommunist messages presented here, “Assassin” emerges as a rather interesting film to watch, particularly due to its unusual narrative and characters that deem it a rather intriguing movie.
Brutal (1980)
- Excerpt: “Brutal” is an excellent film, one that has definitely stood the test of time, and a testament to both the quality of the Filipino movie industry during the 80s and of the late Marilou Diaz-Abaya as a filmmaker.
Citizen Jake (2018)
- Excerpt: “Citizen Jake” does not reach the rather high levels of filmmaking De Leon reached in the 70s and 80s, particularly because the tension and the rawness of films like “Kisapmata” and “Batch 81” are nowhere to be found. On the other hand, the essentially experimental approach implemented here is quite intriguing while the comments he presents are as accurate and pointed as ever, which are the aspects that deem the movie one that definitely deserves a watch, not to mention thorough analysis.
Heneral Luna (2015)
- Excerpt: “Heneral Luna” has its issues, but as the sum of its individual components, the outcome is definitely positive, particularly due to Arcilla’s performance and overall charisma ,and the visual approach that is befitting of a true epic.
Karnal (1983)
- Excerpt: “Karnal” may be a bit overdramatic on occasion but both the comments and the rather intriguing story are exquisite in their conception and implementation, in another great work by the late Abaya.
A Man Called Hero (1999)
- Excerpt: Even though following the story can be quite difficult at times, “A Man Called Hero” emerges as a worthy successor to the classic wuxia movies of the 70s and 80s, with the action scenes and the cast deeming the movie a true gem, a must-watch for all fans of the genre.
The Platform (2020)
C.H. Newell @ Father Son Holy Gore
- Excerpt: In Gaztelu-Urrutia’s film, capitalist society is envisioned like a contemporary, high-tech vision of Dante’s Inferno, or, rather, capitalist society takes its logical end form as a confusing, inescapable prison governed by the fickle logic of the marketplace.
The Storm Riders (1998)
- Excerpt: “The Storm Riders” is a truly cult movie that benefits the most by the charisma and beauty of its protagonists, as much as from its action sequences. As such, it is a title that all fans of wuxia and cult cinema will definitely enjoy.
Young Adult Matters (2020)
- Excerpt: “Young Adult Matters” is quite messy in its narrative and its polemic occasionally seems not to have a specific target. At the same time, however, it is beautiful, intriguing, well acted and quite entertaining, and definitely deserves a watch on the big screen.
