RPG: Metanoia Movie Review
Pinoy Movie Blogger Reviews
RPG: Metanoia starts slow and when I say slow, I mean the very beginning of the film featured constant dropping of frame rate which is by the way in "3-D". Though it can affect the viewing experience, it doesn't take too much away from the overall experience. It is still watchable, if not enjoyable. I maybe nitpicking a bit because of the countless excellent Hollywood 3-D films I have seen in the past, but knowing that this is a first in Philippine cinema then I guess it will do. But this should definitely be not an issue next time film studios and distributors! I still managed to oversee such lack of polish and look for other waiting treasures from this seemingly long delayed (to be made) discovered treasure chest.
RPG: Metanoia has good musical scoring and this has been recognized by the Metro Manila Film Festival as it won the Best Sound Recording in the highly acclaimed awards night. Some voice acting may feel a bit unnatural like that of Vhong Navarro's real world character, if only he has maintained that consistency both offline and on. Most of the voice acting grows up on you especially those of Zaijan Jaranilla, Mika Dela Cruz, Aaron Junatas, Basty Alcances, Aga Muhlach, and Eugene Domingo.
The first Filipino animated film presented in 3-D starts out slow. So slow that it seems like there is no exciting plot to follow and just a bunch of kids with wild imaginations. Luckily I was wrong as the film introduces an odd plot which affect not just the characters and their online roleplaying games, but the whole world in general. Pretty clever if I may add, but also very good. Nice character development with some cheesy and over the top dialogue. I just can't seem to relate with kids saying "Astig" everytime they can. The film is very Filipino as you will be in a treat seeing classic Filipino past time games in RPG: Metanoia.
I can't help but to review the RPG: Metanoia as a gamer. There are things that I like and don't like about the animated film. Being an avid RPG or MMORPG fan, there seems to have some headache inducing concepts going around the Metanoia universe like why does a player have a need to save his file in an Online Role-Playing Game? It is already online so it means that every transaction and quest a gamer do should automatically be saved. I think MMORPG gamers would also noticed this mistake in concepts. What I do like about the the role-playing game world of Metanoia on the other hand is the new concepts that has slowly been integrated to various mmorpgs nowadays, highly customizable characters. So customizable that the in-game characters looks exactly like their real world counterparts, or it is just the film playing tricks on us as the world of Metanoia is seen in the eyes of these "Astigin" group of kids... and adults.
I was able to watch most of the scenes without the 3-D glasses. I even favor watching it without them if not for some scenes which really demands the 3-D peripherals. One would often get a clue when to wear the 3-D glasses and that is everytime the animation frame rate drops. RPG: Metanoia is not really 3-D, but rather a pseudo-3D a.k.a. 2.5D. It may still be the first full length CGI Filipino film but not a full length 3-D one. One can really noticed that it is really a first of its kind here in the Philippines because of the constant frame rate drop everytime the animation goes into 3-D.
RPG: Metanoia Official Full Trailer
Movie Related Videos
Nico's (Zaijan Jaranilla) hundrum daily existence simply cannot compete with the fantasy life he leads in the world's most popular MMORPG—METANOIA, as the swashbuckling vagabond Zero, together with his friends: the spiritist Mang Ernie (Jairus Aquino), renegade chi-master K'mao, apprentice weapon-smith Sumpak (Aaron Junatas), folk hero Ahdonis (Basty Alcances) and the beast master Cassandra (Mika Dela Cruz), they explore Metanoia's vast virtual landscape in search of untold on-line fortune and glory!
When a malevolent force surfaces and threatens to consume everything they hold dear, the fate of two worlds fall upon the shoulder of one very unlikely champion. One who must first find way to burst out of his shell and discover the true hero within-before it's too late.
PMB Recommendations for RPG: Metanoia
The Verdict
RPG: Metanoia is a nice and decent animated film for the whole family. Though it lacks the necessary polish, it doesn't greatly deter its shortcomings from the overall viewing experience. An animated film which brings you back to the age of innocence. For a game about online video game, it can be the most anti-video game film one can ever watch. Tow hy was I able to come up with such statements? Well you just have to find it out for yourself by watching the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival entry RPG: Metanoia.
Pinoy Movie Blogger gives RPG: Metanoia (2010) Movie a two point five out of five yoyos:
