Escapism in Pinoy films

SALVADOR. Fresh and classy.

Lilia De Luna, university professor: “It has been dispiriting to watch movies that reflect the preoccupation of producers to provide entertainment through slapstick comedies and romantic farces. The focus is on actors with huge fan bases at the expense of quality and plot.

“The bottom line of moviemaking these days is profit. The films promote escapism from the boredom and hardships of daily life and create a culture of materialism. It’s a disservice to the Filipino people!”

Other notes:

Gigi Gutierrez, graduate student: “I have been following Piolo Pascual since he started in the biz, and I must say that he’s a good actor. But, his acting lacks vitality and brio. He should let go of himself so that the character he’s portraying surfaces. If he could cross that paporma and ‘cutesy’ demarcation line, he’ll grow as an actor.”

Luchie de Guzman-Joson, housemom: “‘Starting Over Again’ is a beautiful story about moving on and finding closure. Toni Gonzaga’s role is tailor-made for her. I liked Piolo Pascual. Iza Calzado portrayed her character with depth and silent intensity.”

Ling Marapao, televiewer: “On ‘The Legal Wife,’ it’s Maja Salvador’s scenes that I look forward to watching. It helps that her role is highly ‘relatable’ to women whose men aren’t entirely theirs.  Maja’s a natural, and she looks fresh and classy.”

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