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Manila Boy

  • 1993
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
21
YOUR RATING
Manila Boy (1993)
ActionComedyCrimeDrama

Diego (Robin Padilla), as Manila Boy, played the bad boy image but tries to deviate from it by being a soft heart species among the throngs of the city. He had an open heart for the needy an... Read allDiego (Robin Padilla), as Manila Boy, played the bad boy image but tries to deviate from it by being a soft heart species among the throngs of the city. He had an open heart for the needy and gay men were easily charmed by his stinky smell, putrid breath, and farcical, down-to-ea... Read allDiego (Robin Padilla), as Manila Boy, played the bad boy image but tries to deviate from it by being a soft heart species among the throngs of the city. He had an open heart for the needy and gay men were easily charmed by his stinky smell, putrid breath, and farcical, down-to-earth attitude.

  • Director
    • Arturo San Agustin
  • Writer
    • Eddie Joson
  • Stars
    • Robin Padilla
    • Aurora Sevilla
    • Tony Ferrer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    21
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Arturo San Agustin
    • Writer
      • Eddie Joson
    • Stars
      • Robin Padilla
      • Aurora Sevilla
      • Tony Ferrer
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos1

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    Top cast62

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    Robin Padilla
    Robin Padilla
    • Diego…
    Aurora Sevilla
    Aurora Sevilla
    • Anita
    Tony Ferrer
    Tony Ferrer
    • Señor Escudero
    Paquito Diaz
    Paquito Diaz
    • Gonzalo
    Romy Diaz
    • Ragoy
    Max Alvarado
    • Turko
    Berting Labra
    • Ting
    Conrad Poe
    • Alvarez
    Val Iglesias
    Val Iglesias
    • Sibuboy
    • (as Val Iglesia)
    Vanessa Escano
    • Vanessa
    • (as Vanessa Escaño)
    Judy Ann Santos
    Judy Ann Santos
    • Neneng
    Norman Lucena
    • Jake
    Flor Cristobal
    • Aling Flora
    • (as Flora Cristobal)
    Jose Romulo
    • Col. Quinzon
    Andy Poe
    Jorge Estregan
    Jorge Estregan
      Jenny Roa
      Bomber Moran
      Bomber Moran
      • Director
        • Arturo San Agustin
      • Writer
        • Eddie Joson
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews1

      7.221
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      Featured reviews

      1Nen_Master357

      Dog sh-t

      Filipino action movies died in 1993 for two reasons: mediocrity and censorship. From this point in time onwards, most tagalog action flicks were content to dish out the same tired concepts and ideas, refusing to embrace darker themes and devolved rather than evolve. Couple this with the censorship drive of the entertainment regulatory arm of the government whose members are faint hearted old women and this unique cinematic art form is finally laid to rest, with this film in particular being the last nail in its coffin. Afterwards, the complacent viewing public continued to patronize these generic productions; a few decent attempts to bring back the style in its former glory such as Toto Natividad's Moises Arcanghel and Melencio Magat as well as Efren Piñon's Seth Corteza were commendable efforts but these projects were marred by the same censorship restrictions.

      "Manila Boy" represents everything that is wrong with the genre with its emphasis on comedy/melodrama and less on actual drama and action. Robin Padilla plays Diego, a neighborhood bum who decides to seek greener pastures in the country's capital and who later ends up working as a hitman. The first act of the movie felt like a corny sitcom or a bad episode of Ober Da Bakod; Padilla also doesn't act like an action star and seems more interested in usurping Vic Sotto's throne. Usually in tagalog action films, a supporting actor handles all the comedy routines by playing the sidekick of the protagonist but here we have the lead star do his own comic impressions. Clearly, this is far from the serious portrayals Padilla essayed before becoming a top headliner. Based on the performance in this film, the actor surely took a big dump on his legacy. Sure, he made a movie before where he also clowned around (Grease Gun Gang) but at least it was tolerable because it had a decent story and a few colorful characters. Not so in this particular film.

      Not only is the movie like a sitcom but it's also built like a "teleserye" (soap opera for those living under a rock) for its touchy feely melodramatic mush. Soap opera star Judy Ann Santos makes a guest appearance as a blind girl whose vision Diego vows to restore when he hits the big time. Of course, people would suck up this crap and are probably going "oh that poor girl".

      The movie tries to be cute by promoting illiteracy in the scene where Diego says "You cannot eyes me anymore". Surely, those behind the film must scoff at education because the script doesn't require a lot of brain cells to be understood.

      It also doesn't help that the movie barely has any blood effects to compensate for the lame script. Note that iconic hard action flicks like A Better Tomorrow 2 had buckets of fake blood because blood signifies realism. It means life at any moment could be taken away. Even the great William Shakespeare knew this and used pig's blood in the theatrical presentations of his written works such as Julius Caesar. In 1993, the censors were dominated by politically correct liberals who feel that realism in films should be erased at all cost.

      To conclude, "Manila Boy" is garbage. It's a waste of film and a waste of one's time and attention.

      Storyline

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      Did you know

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      • Trivia
        The only film to feature the Pioneer Films logo, which is a rip-off of the 1987 Motion Picture Corporation of America logo.
      • Connections
        Featured in Logos de Partout dans le Monde: Philippines (2016)

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      Details

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      • Release date
        • July 15, 1993 (Philippines)
      • Country of origin
        • Philippines
      • Languages
        • Filipino
        • Tagalog
      • Filming locations
        • Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines
      • Production company
        • Pioneer Films
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

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      • Runtime
        1 hour 59 minutes
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.33 : 1

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