princesse_laya

"Just because someone scolds you doesn't mean they don't love you." So how does that gem of advice relate to this supernatural/horror movie? You better watch and find that out for yourself! An aswang, in Philippine folklore, is a vampire that is also a shapeshifter. It particularly relishes babies in the womb or little children, but is not averse to feeding on adults when it's hungry. Alma Moreno plays the beautiful aswang in this movie. A very young Aiza Seguerra plays a rich kid on the run from assassins, and Manilyn Reynes plays her long-suffering yaya, or nanny. The village they happen to hide in also happens to be terrorized by an aswang. So how to kill it? I particularly like the part where the aswang changes from pretty woman to crone to cat and back again, as she strolls in the forest. And watch for the ending, it has a particularly nice twist to it. Just watch it, period.

I caught this movie on the late show one night, and ended up hooked. It's really a simple movie, but I wanted to watch it again (so far I haven't but not for want of searching) because I admit to being hooked on the story and the characters (Dudes, I wish it had a sequel…) especially of course Zero Cool and Acid Burn. There's something about a kid who crashed that many networks in one day, and getting sentenced to never touch a computer again… but what will you do, if the time came that you needed to, in order to save yourself? I guess the movie, deep down, speaks to those of us who want to be acknowledged that we are special, that no matter how badly others may view our accomplishments and talents, the time might come that those talents may be needed, to save the world, if need be.

Also, this movie's a treat for us computer and internet addicts… like that last "Hackers of the world, unite!" thing… although I know some of those in the know would say that some of those things were improbable or impossible and of course some of it's a joke… but hey, dudes… it's a movie, right? I can only agree that it's a worthy favorite. Love it, love it, love it.

When I first saw this film, I went like "We can rank it up there with the foreign films." (Foreign meaning 'not Filipino'.) I love Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars, like any normal person, and those are among the best all-time films, not just fantasy films. This movie was like a change from all those superheroes and heroines, all those lonely champions fighting a single-handed war, all those supernatural horror films that end with the monster being vanquished. It was refreshing. I'm not knocking "Panday" and "Darna" and "Aswang"… like any warmblooded Pinoy worth the name, I love them as they are part of national heritage. But the Philippines has a rich tradition in literature, particularly when it comes to mythology and the supernatural, and we have a pantheon of characters from the over fifty tribes that populate these 7, 100+ islands that could give the creatures and heroes from other places a run for their money. It feels great to be able to see at least a few of those creatures make an appearance in the film, especially the immortal Telang Bayawak (Bayawak means monitor lizard). The ubiquitous Filipino brand of humor also makes itself felt in this movie; (you'll have to watch it to know what I mean) and I especially loved the song "Kalansay Rap".

Three boys (Jubal, as played by Jason Salcedo; Sambag (Tamarind) as played by Junell Hernando; and Omar, as played by Marc Solis) set out on a quest to help save their world and learn some valuable lessons along the way. As a non sequitur, I've noticed that the name Jubal seems to be Igorot, which is a tribe from Luzon, the largest island group; Sambag is a Visayan word, from the Visayan islands, and Omar is a name found among the Moslem tribes of the Mindanao island group, which accounts for the three major island groups that make up the Philippine archipelago.

Anyway, watch it and love it (with English subtitles, of course, since it's in Tagalog). You won't be disappointed.