Pinoy Movie Reviews

  • Starting Over Again Review: Moving On and Moving Forward

    As the title suggests, Starting Over Again is a film about a love that has been lost and revisited by the main characters Marco Villanueva (Piolo Pascual) and Ginny Gonzales (Toni Gonzaga).

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    We all know from the trailer that Ginny’s the one that pursued her then History professor, Sir Marco during her college years (2004) as an architecture student. Being Ginny, a bubbly, enthusiastic, hopeless romantic that she is, she eventually wins Marco’s heart. All goes well until Ginny decides to leave Marco for unknown reasons, for an unknown acceptable reason (to quote the movie).

    Fast forward to 2013, Ginny and Marco meet again. Both have changed and are more successful. This creates (false?) hope for Ginny and doubt and confusion for Marco as he already has a new girlfriend in the person of Patty (Iza Calzado). As the former couple goes down memory lane, they are reminded of the feelings they once felt for each other. The love, joy, excitement and of course, the pain.

    Both are searching for closure. Ginny wants to know if there is a reason why destiny has brought them back together and Marco, on the other hand, needs to know why Ginny left him in the first place. Will they get the closure that they need? Or the one that they want?

    WARNING: SPOILERS AFTER THE JUMP

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  • “Bride for Rent” Review: Same Formula Different Equation

    Bride for Rent

    Judging from its past releases, Star Cinema has been slowly becoming more and more radical in its films’ themes and story lines. It is slowly distancing from forgettable romantic comedies titled with love songs and brainless comedies.

    At least for me, the paradigm shift started with My Amnesia Girl. My Amnesia Girl’s trailer has promised a story that is supposed to be familiar and in parallel with the plot of similar films like 50 First Dates or A Moment to Remember (Korean). However, like what is done in Kim Chiu and Xian Lim‘s second film, Star Cinema plays with the viewers’ expectations and shifts them in an at least less predictable perspective. It’s the same formula but just a different equation.

    Bride for Rent introduces Kim Chiu as Raquelita Dela Cruz a.k.a. Rocky, 24 years old from Sampaloc, Manila. She is your typical cinematic breadwinner with a big family, a big heart and an over-the-top bubbly personality. She sidelines as a direct seller of bras and make-up and a commercial model. Xian Lim, however, plays a spoiled Lola‘s boy with commitment issues caused by childhood emotional baggages. Rocco also has a trust fund (yet to be received unless he’s married at the age of 25), which basically is the reason why the two opposite characters will meet.

    WARNING: SPOILERS AFTER THE JUMP

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