Bulawan Nga Usa (2023) Movie Trailer Impressions: A Cinemalaya 2023 Film Festival Entry About a Mythical Golden Deer that Grants Wishes

Bulawan Nga Usa, directly translates from Cebuano to Golden Dear, is a drama film under the direction and screenplay of Kenneth De La Cruz; starring Matthews Espinosa, John Niel Paguntalan, CJ Pagayon, Filemon Capanang, Babbeth Fuentes Vargas, Tara Rose Molina, GC Castro, Lolita Madrid, Krystoffer Ays Grabato, and Sharon Idione. Bulawan Nga Usa is an official entry to the 19th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and slated for limited release from August 4 to 13 at the Philippine International Convention Center. Let's check out what this 2023 Cinemalaya film entry in Cebuano about self-discovery has in store for us here at Pinoy Movie Blogger.



Bulawan Nga Usa (Golden Dear)
Plot / Synopsis



After Makoy's dear grandfather passed away, he sets off on a captivating adventure to a magical mountain. His goal is to find the fabled golden deer that can make wishes come true. Along the way, Makoy becomes friends with a lively mountain boy who accompanies him in the pursuit of the legendary creature and finding himself.

Watch Bulawan Nga Usa Official trailer here:


Bulawan Nga Usa Official Trailer Impression
Golden Dear Cinemalaya Film Trailer Review



What can be said about the Bulawan Nga Usa (2023) official movie trailer? I always genuinely find it fresh to see Filipino films featuring other local Filipino dialect (besides Tagalog) gets featured in local and international film festivals to get more eyes on it. Bulawan Nga Usa or Golden Dear is a Cebuano film about self-discovery something that many of us can relate to. Based from the trailer, it shows the close ties of a young boy towards his grandfather that introduce him to the legend or myth of the wish granting golden deer.



It would be quite interesting if the film would take a somewhat supernatural turn. I can only speculate that it won't and it simply would just be one's journey to discover one's purpose in life through recollection and reflection of what his life has been at the film's point; and how his grandfather inspired him. The film also shows a more simple life at the province, having a good loving male figure to look up to, and dealing with grief upon losing that role model. But of course, this is just my personal opinion, and this is what makes the Golden Dear 2023 Cinemalaya entry a curious title. It just teases you to discover the film along with the film's premise. I personally am curious as to how the film will unfold.

How about you guys? What do you think about this 2023 drama film featuring Matthews Espinosa and John Niel Paguntalan? Does this film feel fresh to you or not? Have you seen any recent Filipino film that features our own local/provincial dialect outside Tagalog? Will you be seeing this 19th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival entry during its screening week from August 4 to 13 at the Philippine International Convention Center? Share your thoughts and opinion about Bulawan Nga Usa (2023) in the comments section below and let's talk about it.

Bliss (2017) Trailer Impressions: A Dark Journey Down the Rabbit Hole of a Broken Actress

Bliss is a psychological thriller from Artikulo Uno Productions under the direction and screenplay by Jerrold Tarog starring Iza Calzado, TJ Trinidad, Ian Veneracion, Shamaine Buencamino, Audie Gemora, and Adrienne Vergara with a May 10, 2017 theatrical release. Let's check out what this R-18 psychological thriller from the same makers of Heneral Luna has to offer.


Bliss
Plot / Synopsis

Spoiler Warning: Detailed Plot Synopsis courtesy of Referenced Source Material. Read at your own risk.

Bliss revolves around the character of Jane Ciego (Iza Calzado), an actress on the verge of burnout. This prompts her to produce a film to boost her chances of winning an award but which only results in her literal downfall. That's because Jane figures in an accident in the middle of a 30-hour shoot. The accident has left her paralyzed and she becomes "trapped" inside a house with her husband, Carlo (TJ Trinidad) and a nurse, Lilibeth (Adrienne Vergara).

She wakes up everyday to the same scene, looking up at a smoke detector. Carlo would serve her breakfast, leaving only after asking her to sign a check to buy equipment for a restaurant.

All throughout the film, Jane would hear voices and other noise inside the big house. She would often follow the sound, only to wake up as if she was dreaming.


While Jane is trapped inside the house, the other characters go about their business. There’s Lexter Palao (Audie Gemora), the director of Jane’s film, who hopes that she gets better so she can promote her film. There’s also Jane’s mother (Shamaine Buencamino), who also wishes the same thing so she can go on living the life of a stage mother.

The film also shows the backstory of Rose, a nurse wanted by authorities for sexually molesting her patient. It turns out that Rose was in the same audition as Jane when they were younger, but failed to make it into showbiz. She became a nurse, and a fan of Jane.

At some point in Jane’s repetitive life, she becomes confused whether she is living her life or dreaming of a scene from her movie. Her husband Carlo turns into Joshua (Ian Veneracion), and she becomes Abigail. Jane’s sanity begins to crumble as the horrors pile up in a symphony of blood, tears and madness. What was supposed to be a simple dream for Jane soon becomes an endless nightmare.

Source: ABS-CBN News

Watch Bliss Official trailers here:









Bliss Official Trailer Impression
Bliss Film Trailer Review


What can be said about Bliss (2017) official movie trailer? Well, Bliss official movie trailer has piqued my interest. We really don't have that many Filipino film titles that falls under the psychological thriller genre, so when something like this comes along, it probably is worth taking a closer look. Does it automatically indicate quality? Well, not really but for what Bliss trailer has showcase it seems to be so. Oh, don't take my word for it, take the recognition given to Iza Calzado with the Yakushi Pearl Award in the 2017 Osaka Asian Film Festival as a testament. All seems well, right? Not quite yet as their next big obstacle is the MTRCB and its initial X-Rating classification.


One of the biggest newsmaker and free "unintentional" (?) publicity for this film is when it was initially given by the MTRCB with an X-Rating for scenes featuring prolonged frontal nudity, excessive violence, and masturbation (More info here), but later on got an R-18 rating after submitting their appeal to the ancient conservative prudes at the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Who knows, maybe those initially "controversial" and "alarming" scenes (recognized by an international Film festival) from the film were left on the cutting floor as according to the specifications of the moral and conservative connoisseur of the MTRCB lead by MTRCB chairperson Rachel Arenas and their shining board members. Should I name them, well that is already overkill on the roadkill already. Well, in a land of conservative Catholics filled to the brim with Star Cinema romantic movies, it was probably really so scandalous to include blood and "gratuitous" scene that should never be seen or done by adults... NOT! Hahaha but I digress, we are already making so much commentary on a matter of taste and moral righteousness of the MTRCB that we have forgotten about the film that can only be compared to a "little Hollywood film" called Mulholland Drive from 2001.


I was really invested and was like asking so many questions about the trailer. We have already ruled out the supernatural element as its genre doesn't indicate it as so, all we have left now is a thought-provoking film. Who dunnit, why, and how will it end? Although most of the identity of the characters have been showcased in the Bliss movie trailer. It was really only became clear when you read its synopsis which might be a spoiler in itself and thus why I included a small spoiler warning in the Plot/Synopsis section of this movie trailer impression for 2017's Bliss. Its either an official PR material from the Bliss production team of ABS-CBN (official source of the plot) that overdid it. But I am not complaining that much...call it a minor nitpick. My curiosity was piqued and will be checking Bliss once it hits the theaters on MAy 10 .


How about you guys? What do you think about this seemingly controversial (at first) and internationally recognized film? What are your thoughts about MTRCB ratings and what probably have been cut in the R-18 version of the film? Do you think the adult Filipino movie going audience are not prepared to see such adult themes on the big screen as what the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board is somewhat implying? Share your thoughts and opinion about Bliss (2017) official movie trailer in the comments section below and let's discuss about it.

Binhi Trailer Impressions: A 2015 Haunted House Film with Joem Bascon and Mercedes Cabral

Binhi or The Seed is a Haunted Tower Pictures Inc. and (in association with) Viva Films horror film written and directed by Pedring Lopez starring Joem Bascon, Mercedes Cabral, Roxanne Barcelo, and Cholo Baretto slated for a May 20, 2015 theatrical release. Let's check out this 2015 haunted house horror film simply entitled Binhi or The Seed by Pedring Lopez.


Binhi
Plot / Synopsis

Daniel and Cynthia, a young couple with a child on the way, experience some hard times in Manila. They head back to Baguio, where Daniel is originally from, to start over again. Through the kindness of Alex, Daniel’s well-to-do childhood friend, they get to stay in a large house, rent-free; and he gets a job offer as well.


Everything seems to be falling into place for them – or so they think – until strange things start to happen in their house

Watch Binhi Official trailer here:


Official Binhi Trailer Impression
Binhi (The Seed) Film Trailer Review

From what we can see on the trailer, Binhi looks well shot and seemingly atmospheric. AS for the story though, I guess it will do. A young couple moving to a new house to start over which they found out was eventually haunted is not really something new. The usual hook with these kinds of horror premise is how does it related to the protagonists (and most of the time it really doesn't), but it seems like in Binhi, it does.



Binhi's ghost girl sure likes to whisper quite a lot, huh?
Have thought out a couple of possible scenarios that would connect the haunting to the film's couple. This is not really spoilers but just humor me with this. The female ghost child could either be the husband or wife's child from a different person from the past who could have died or curse them, but begs the question why only occur on this house alone? Or could very well be their first child and the memory of the loss could haunt them. Okay speculation, done! Man, since when did I start doing these speculations? Well, I always like a film that goes the other way and breaks what was initially speculated or expected in a good relevant way. It is quite surprising that Viva didn't get the usual (high-paying) actors to be their protagonist and this is not to devalue the film's chosen actors; on the contrary this is a great move as Mercedes Cabral is one of the more competent actor up there. Binhi seems to go the quality over quantity route. The question is will it deliver the scare as a horror film should be? That is yet to be find out.


How about you guys? What do you think of the casting for "The Seed"? Any idea or speculation behind how the film will develop and unveil the identity of the girl haunting the house? Share your thoughts and opinion about Binhi in the comments section below: