'Ang Panday' takes early MMFF box office lead

As expected, the big-budget action-fantasy flick “Ang Panday” from GMA Films and Imus Productions has taken the number one slot in the box-office race of the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival. The Bong Revilla starrer grossed P16.8 million nationwide on its opening day last December 25.

Following at second place is “Ang Darling Kong Aswang,” starring Vic Sotto and Cristine Reyes, with P16.8 million. “Shake, Rattle and Roll 11” is coming third with P16.2 million. The star-studded three-episode horror flick is a favorite among MMFF fans.

Landing at fourth spot is the love story “I Love You Goodbye” from Star Cinema with  P11.7 million, followed by “Nobody, Nobody But Juan” at fifth with P8.0 million. Coming at sixth is “Mano Po 6” with P6.9 million, with “Wapakman” bringing up the rear with P750,000.

The box-office standing is expected to further change after the awards night scheduled yesterday night at SMX Convention Center. It has happened in the past that a victory in the MMFF Awards night would somehow prop up the sagging box-office results of some movies, although “Ang Panday,” the MMFF 2009 Best Picture Awardee, is expected to continue with its onslaught at the tills.

“Mano Po 6” and “I Love You Goodbye” were expected to crowd each other for the awards, with the best actress award going to Sharon Cuneta.

It was initially hard to predict who would win the said award although many already put their bets on Sharon, owing to the award-winning tradition of the Mano Po series. But the megastar herself didn't want to entertain the idea of winning. She’d probably be happier if “Mano Po 6” improves its standing at the box-office, with winning the best actress award as a bonus.

Sharon did well in “Mano Po 6” compared to her performance in “Caregiver,” but we felt that Angelica gave the megastar a tough fight for the best actress plum. 

With the ruling that the filmfest top-grosser should be the best picture, it was natural that “Ang Panday” clinched the best picture plum. Bong Revilla, star of "Ang Panday" also won Best Actor, while the supporting honors went to Phillip Salvador, who played Lizardo in "Ang Panday" and Heart Evangelista for her performance as Sharon Cuneta's problematic daughter in "Mano Po 6." Best Child Actor went to Buboy Villar, who was also part of "Ang Panday."

We’ve only watched two movies since the festival opened on Christmas day – “Mano Po 6” and “I Love You Goodbye.” We had the chance to watch “Ang Panday” and “Wapakman” in the press previews. We watched three more movies Sunday – “Ang Darling Kong Aswang,” “Nobody, Nobody But Juan” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll XI.”

Sad to say, Manny Pacquiao’s “Wapakman” failed to knock out the opposition, getting a measly P750,000 as its nationwide gross based on the first day results of the festival. This is really a sad predicament for the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Shouldn’t Pacquiao rethink his priorities instead and quit acting for good? His fans love him whenever he climbs into the ring and knocks out his opponents, but it seems they are not wont to spend their money to watch him in a movie. Of course, most of his bouts are shown for free in gyms, while the more enterprising ones make a killing by charging a fee by showing Pacquiao’s fight in cinemas.

Pacquiao is a boxing hero, an icon, and it seems that his fans would rather see him on the ring, and not on the big screen portraying a superhero who runs away from his opponent before defeating him. Watch it and you’ll know what we mean. We love seeing Pacman inside the ring, but we can’t say the same thing when we see him on the big screen. His first filmfest entry titled “Anak ni Kumander” with Ara Mina also ended up as tail ender in the box-office race of the filmfest.

The same thing is going to happen to “Wapakman” unless something miraculous happens that would entice people to watch “Wapakman.” While Solar Films spent a fortune in the film, the movie fails in comparison with “Ang Panday.”

The issue linking Pacquiao to Krista Ranillo also failed to ignite curiosity to entice the people to watch the film. It only served to drive the people away as the rumor gave the movie negative vibes.

We think that the recent development with regards to his movie career should make Pacquiao think things over. We hope that this sad turnout of “Wapakman” at the box-office would not spell doom for Manny’s political career. Pacman will be trying his luck anew in the political ring as he will run for a congressional seat in Saranggani, his new hometown.