El Presidente

Together with my brother, we watched an MMFF-entry movie, El Presidente. This is directed by Mark Meily who brought the 2008 movie Baler and stars E.R. Ejercito playing the Philippine Republic's first president, Emilio Aguinaldo.

Before I go to the cinema, I rushed in line to the ticket counter. As I expected, there is a long queue ahead of me and I have to wait a few minutes to purchase a ticket. When it is finally settled, I waited for a few more minutes for my brother and my parents to come. We are supposed to watch at Ayala Center, however, the movie which we would like to watch in the big screen aren't available in the said mall. So we transferred to the SM. As soon as they came, I give their tickets for the movie they want, Sosy Problems while I held our ticket for El Presidente. We head to Cinema 3, which by the way, is located at the other side of the mall. We passed by on the long queue of movie goers wanting to watch Sisterakas. I heard that some of the movie goers inside the cinema needs to stand while watching the film since there are no seats anymore. So we reached Cinema 3 and go inside the cinema where movie goers going out. The film had already finished. We waited for almost an hour for the movie to start.

Among all the movies  for MMFF this year, I chose El Presidente because first I have affliction to history films. Secondly, I have to break free from watching comedy films. Two consecutive years (Ang Tanging Ina Niyong Lahat and Enteng Ng Ina Mo), I was keen to watch another genre this year. After all, I had grew tired of watching the same faces as much as other people feel about Vic Sotto's yearly Enteng Kabisote movie series that for me, has almost the same villain and stories. I watched the trailer of this film beforehand and I was pretty impress. So why not give it try, right?

Before I post my reviews...if you haven't watched the movie, stop here. If you want to watch the movie, stop here. Spoiling is an immortal sin for movie-goers. What I would say briefly that this movie is interesting that I almost forgot to get the bread that my brother and I had brought into the cinema. Aside that I don't like to spoil, I don't like also to give synopsis. Again, this is about the life of Emilio Aguinaldo and you can read some portions of it in your history book

To begin with, it has story, a substance that it tells to its movie goers. It has direction to where it wants to go by how it narrates the story of Emilio Aguinaldo from the time he had his job as a cabeza de barangay to his death bed. People who are relevant to the revolution and who crosses fate with him are also given life such as Andres Bonifacio and Antonio Luna. There was a scene of an old lady who predicts Emilio's future, I think seems sprays the film with a little fantasy, however, it somehow introduces us with the main story and question that needs to answer for. Fighting scenes and not to mention, sword and gun fighting are good with slow motions along the way. The best scene throughout the film is the one on how Emilio Aguinaldo encounters American troops before his capture at Palanan. Emilio Aguinaldo is portrayed as a protagonist, the hero, who is courageous, witty and demands independence.

There are some low keys in the film. At the first hour of the film, I usually notice that there are a lot of transition from scene to scene. For sometime, I noticed also the voice dubbing of the main actor. Less blood are used throughout the film. Perhaps, because this is rated PG and an entry to MMFF. Though I like how one of the film's principal sponsor, San Miguel Beer, presented in the film, but it seems awkward that there is commercialization.

If I have to rate this film, I would give this one a score of 8.8 over 10. I never heard a movie featuring the life of Emilio Aguinaldo or tackles about the Philippine revolution. If there is a movie for the latter, it merely tells the story of Supremo, Gat Andres Bonifacio. The film is visually appealing by my definition, "the picture is crisp and very clear like I am watching a film made in Hollywood" and acting wise good with star-studded cast leading the way. I placed my bet that this film will bag awards in the festival. The film runs 2 hours and 40 minutes, quite long because of the researches incorporated throughout the film.