Mano Po 7: Chinoy Trailer Impressions – Filipino Chinese Heritage and Cultural Family Drama Mano Po Film Franchise Returns this 2016

Mano Po 7: Chinoy is a 2016 family drama film from Regal Entertainment under the direction of Ian Loreños starring Richard Yap, Enchong Dee, Jean Garcia, Janella Salvador, Jake Cuenca, Jessy Mendiola, Kean Cipriano, Marlo Mortel, and Jana Agoncillo slated for a December 14, 2016 theatrical release. Mano Po 7: Chinoy is the seventh installment of the Mano Po film franchise with the last film that being Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love back in 2009. Let's check out what this latest Mano Po family drama film has to offer.


Mano Po 7: Chinoy
Plot / Synopsis

From the multi-awarded and longest running family drama movie comes another story in the tradition of love. Mano Po 7: Chinoy centers around the seemingly perfect upper class Chinese family which seems perfect at a first glance but is flawed as a whole. How will the family overcome its trials and tribulations?

Watch Mano Po 7: Chinoy Official trailer here:





Mano Po 7: Chinoy Official Trailer Impression
Mano Po 7: Chinoy Film Trailer Review


What can be said about Mano Po 7: Chinoy official movie trailer? Well, it is a family drama like many other that comes before it. It introduce us to a seemingly perfect upper class family but at a closer inspection is flawed in terms of love, connection, and lasting relationships. This is probably the main element of every family drama out there as without it there is no progression in story or characters. The earliest I can think of a family drama that garnered critical acclaim were "Tanging Yaman" and "Anak" both from the year 2000; if there are others, then I am (not) sorry as these newer family dramas probably didn't leave a lasting impact in the minds of the film going fans or forgettable at best; that or probably just me as I am not really into dramas nor I automatically subscribe to the notion that "drama = quality film". There is also something about the narration of this trailer wherein mentioning about "this is our story" and a "powerful drama" that somehow feels off, but I guess that is just me nitpicking. A trailer does need to say that it is not just any ordinary drama but a powerful drama! That it is OUR story given that we mostly belong to an upper class Chinese family, but I am digressing.


Revisit a "new" family drama that shifts to a new Filipino -Chinese family and their struggles to love and understand each other and to recognize that money and work is not everything one need to have a happy family. Well, that seems to be the basic summary of most dramas that features a wealthy family. The Mano Po film franchise has somewhat demystify or further clarify what most Filipinos outside their world think of their culture, ethics, and mentality is. Since newer generations are introduced, the lines are starting to blur and what once was absolute in the Chinese culture have started to open up and this is what the Mano Po series have capitalized on in the past with a mix of the usual cliches like mistresses, the family against the relationship because of cultural differences (bloodline "purity"), social class differences, and lack of connection. To much of the people's surprise, Mano Po 7: Chinoy didn't make it on the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival which is really a curiosity. We can understand why Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers and The Super Parental Guardians didn't made it but Mao Po 7: Chinoy joining the other MMFF 2016 rejects is really something. We can all later compare if all the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival entries deserved their spots.


How about you guys? What do you think about this 2016 comeback film from the Mano Po film franchise? Have you seen the earlier Mano Po films? Which ones are your favorite and why? What do you think about Mano Po 7: Chinoy not being in the official entries to the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival? Share your thoughts and opinion about Mano Po 7: Chinoy in the comments section below and let's discuss about it.

The Strangers Trailer Impressions: 2012 MMFF Horror Aswang Movie with Enchong Dee and Julia Montes

The Strangers, an official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival (38th Metro Manila Film Festival) is an upcoming Star Cinema, Quantum Films, and MJM Productions Inc. horror film under the direction of Lawrence Fajardo and written by Joji Alonso starring Julia Montes, Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil, JM De Guzman, Cherry Pie Picache, Janice De Belen, Jaime Fabregas, and Johnny Revilla. Let's check out what this another Aswang-themed horror film has in store for MMFF movie going audience this December 25, 2012.

The Strangers
Plot / Synopsis

A family trip suddenly goes bad when they got lost in somewhere deep within a province. Besides the finding their way back, what they should worry more is how to survive this mystic strange area possibly inhabited by all sorts of monstrous creatures.

Watch The Strangers Official trailer here:


The Strangers Official Trailer Impression
The Strangers Film Trailer Review

The 38th Metro Manila Film Festival will have another horror title with The Strangers. The Strangers includes both newer generation talents with some veteran actors in another aswang-themed horror movie.

There is probably something for everybody here. For the newer generation film fans, more specifically the female (biological and "at heart") audience would definitely be looking forward to see their favorite male idols like Enchong Dee, JM De Guzman, and Enrique Gil in The Strangers. Other more traditional horror film fans could feel right at home with Janice De Belen, Cherry Pie Picache, and an Aswang as its monstrous villain. I believe the trailer is quite effective as it didn't feature what the actual aswang would look like in the film. It gave the trailer and the actual film itself a sense of mystery. Hopefully it won't depend too much on CGI and go on a more practical effects route, but I know that is asking too much. I just don't know what to say about the performance of the younger generation lead actors in the film, not really a big fan of them. As for the plot, it is pretty generic. An unfortunate group of people eventually gets lost on a creepy seemingly isolated province with a shady jungle where bloodbath usually happens. As what we can make of the film through the trailer it looks like they added some mini plot including Enchong's character. Is he a friend or a foe? Is he one of the aswangs, or an unfortunate victim a fellow "stranger" like the family that the film centers on? Will the aswangs theme, fresh faces, and mystery as to what really the monstrosities looks or their origin is be enough to make film fans check this out, or will this same "familiar" (bordering cliche) aswang theme and the rawness of the younger lead be the reason that would make movie goers avoid this film as much as they can this coming 2012 MMFF? We'll know soon enough once The Strangers hits the theaters nationwide this December 25, 2012.

How about you guys, what can you say about another Aswang film this 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival? What can you say about the lead actors in the film? Share your thoughts about The Strangers official trailer in the comments section below:

The Reunion Official Trailer Impressions: Teenybopper Comedy Flick that Pays Tribute to the Eraserheads and Other Popular OPM

The Reunion is a 2012 comedy film directed by Frasco Mortiz under Star Cinema and Viva Films with an August 15, 2012 nationwide theatrical release. The Reunion stars Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil , Kean Cipriano, Xian Lim, Cristine Reyes, Jessy Mendiola, Julia Montes, Megan Young, Alodia Gosiengfiao, and Bangs Garcia. Let's check out what this teenybopper film has to offer.

The Reunion
Plot / Synopsis

The Reunion revolves around four young men who have been friends since high school. Several years later, the group decided to meet once again. They have come to know that each other has a feeling of not moving on with their lives because of something they did wrong way back high school. The group then decides to go on a wild journey to find the true meaning of love and happiness all thanks to this reunion.

Watch The Reunion Official trailer here:



The Reunion Official Trailer Impression
The Reunion Film Trailer Review

A group of relatively good-looking teenage male television icons on a journey of self-discovery. Well besides this "VERY RARE" film plot and the "hottest" male teenage celebrities, the movie does offer something more in the form of entertainment through nostalgia. For those who grew up with the Erasherheads and similarly popular original Filipino music and are obviously young at hearts, then you might consider this.

The Reunion feels very familiar and not because of the nostalgic music it dares to adapt, but because Philippine cinema has gone this route before. This is one of those teen-oriented flick in the leagues of T.G.I.S., Gimik or films that feature all of its "ensemble" cast to bring this unexplained emotions to its young (usually female) viewers. A teenybopper flick for a newer generation. This time the selling point is that the film features (and let me quote ABS-CBN) "most young promising actors of the generation", mainly Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil , Kean Cipriano, and Xian Lim. Well, there are some parts in this trailer that put a grin in my face. Well that has to mean something but generally all I can say that it is not something worth recommending or even spending money.with This is what the teenage (teenage at heart) market wanted/demanded, and Star Cinema and Viva Films are more than willing to obliged. Here is another film JUST FOR THEM.

How about you guys, what can you say about this trailer? Are you a fan of these actors? Share your thoughts about The Reunion official movie trailer in the comments section below: