Lumpia

with a very very low budget and also the fact that it's pretty much a totally innovative idea - "lumpia" came out as a huge success to me. i had the opportunity to see it at a premiere in Fremont California, and was very happy to see all the hard these people put into this project. the collaborative effort was something i applauded, especially being a filmmaker myself. the fact that even after day one, they were still able to pick up after 7 years and tie up all the loose ends. it was funny, and i felt a good sense of where the main character was. it's a good flick to check out if you're second or third generation Filipino - or even from any immigrant household here in the States. rad! i personally have always favored independent films, and also have always entertained the fact that without being under the thumb of some big corporation - directors and screenwriters alike are able to pull through and come up with products that actually hold substance with audiences. who needs to see superstars well lit, running in slow motion across the rooftop of a burning building and glide through the air, missing every bullet and STILL manage to get the girl? it's overdone. and over-hyped. almost mundane. LUmpia was the epitome of what it REALLY feels like to migrate to a new area. viewers can both relate to the gangsta and fob lifestyle the film portrays. did i say 'rad'? well there it is again then.

This is really one of those movies that being Filipino, you can relate to. It is a movie so the thoughts and actions are dramatized but the understanding of what it is like to be a "FOB" is there. It touches a sensitive subject and portraying it as mostly a comedy. It has multiple movie styles also including Martial Arts, karaoke (You have to see it!), love story, drama, and more action and of course, Lumpia!. What amazed me about the movie is the virtually no budget, 1 camera filming of the movie. Patricio is truly a film maker with much to offer. He not only proved that a good movie doesn't need a big budget, but a good movie can just be done for the fun of it with a group of friends. Lumpia is a movie that everyone should watch and enjoy. Great soundtrack too!

The film was professionally shot and edited but on a $1000 budget and with a home video camera. What do you expect, it's an independent film. Considering the budget and sources, the movie was very well put together. It was entertaining overall and gave some good laughs but it's not something I would urge one to see. If you have the $5 to spare and some time to pass, support the struggling indie filmmakers and watch this film. If you like ridiculous humor, like that of "The Naked Gun" and "Monty Python", then LUMPIA is strongly recommended.