Paano Kita Iibigin - Regine Velasquez, Piolo Pascual - Philippine Movie (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Regine Velasquez is an incredibly talented artist. Unfortunately there aren't many films with her available in the States, so we get what we can. I think she would be a much better comedienne than a dramatic actress because I found her comedy in this "tear jerker" genuinely funny, but there just wasn't enough. Instead, the story is predictable and run-of-the-mill. Guy loses girlfriend, drinks himself into oblivion, and gets redeemed by a poor, down-on-her-luck, but beautiful single mother with a sick child. The chemistry between Velasquez and Pascual is unnatural and seems forced, like they were two actors paid to make a movie. The constant crying between them towards the end of the film ends up becoming unintentionally hilarious. If it weren't for my appreciation of Ms. Regine, I'd never have given this movie a single thought, but she is, after all - no matter how bad the production values or silly the story - poetry in motion.


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MacArthur (1977) Review

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(More customer reviews)Those that are interested in General Douglas MacArthur, and admire his qualities of courage and fortitude, will find this film fascinating; it is beautifully filmed, with marvelous re-creations of the mid 20th century, and the battle scenes are very well done.
The speeches alone are a glory to listen to, full of passion for "duty, honor, and country", and the words are so exquisitely crafted they are like the finest prose.
The film starts and ends in MacArthur's beloved West Point, on a blustery day, as he speaks to the cadets, and is among the many memorable scenes; others are the landing on Layte, and the signing of Japan's surrender, on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, which is a fabulous re-staging of the historic event.
Gregory Peck gives a monumental portrayal of MacArthur; it is nuanced and brilliant, and from the old film clips I have seen of General MacArthur, subtly captures his posture and movement, with his many different pipes. This film is one of Peck's best, and it's sad it did not have more critical acclaim, as I feel it certainly deserved it.
Other terrific performances come from Marj Dusay as his wife Jean, Sandy Kenyon as General Jonathan Wainwright, and Ed Flanders as President Truman is quite exceptional; tough, gritty, and angered by MacArthur.
An excellent score by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by Mario Tosi complements the well-paced direction by Joseph Sargent. If it has a flaw, I feel the film makes too much of the publicity loving aspect of MacArthur's personality. Yes, he liked to use the media to his advantage, and most people who make history feel the same way no doubt...otherwise it is a fairly balanced depiction of one of the great men of the 20th century.
It is interesting to speculate what would have happened had General MacArthur been able to do what he thought was right, and not the "capitulation" and "immoral compromise with evil" he felt he was forced to accept. Perhaps over time millions of lives would have been saved, but I'm sure many would argue otherwise.
Total running time 130 minutes.
"A soldier above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war".

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