Another MMFF entry backs out

Another movie has dropped out of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Star Cinema, the producer of “Be Careful With My Heart,” the movie version of ABS-CBN’s romance soap, has written to Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino saying it won’t be able to finish the movie in time for the December filmfest. The movie would have starred Richard Yap and Jodi Sta. Maria, who also teamed up in the teleserye.

With “Be Careful With My Heart” out, the filmfest is down to six entries. “My Super Kap,” the project of Senator Bong Revilla, had begged off earlier. That leaves “Sampung Libong Oras,” “San Pedro Calung­sod,” “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy,” “Pagpag,” “Kimmy Dora (Prequel),” and “My Little Bossings” to vie for the awards and box-office receipts.

The word is that “Be Careful With My Heart” will be replaced with another movie from the waiting list. One candidate is “Kung Fu Divas” starring Marian Rivera and AiAi delas Alas.

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The Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival All-Masters Edition, the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ showcase of 11 films by the country’s eminent directors, reeled off last week.

Joel Lamangan’s “Lihis” was opening-day top grosser, according to unofficial results, although the exact amount was not released. The film stars Jake Cuenca at Joem Bascon, who portrayed two gay communist rebels who fell in love with each other. (Think “Brokeback Mountain” with NPA guerrillas instead of cowboys.)

Another big grosser was “Sonata,” Peque Gallaga and Lori Reyes’ tale of a faded opera diva who found solace in the friendship of a boy.

Director Chito Rono’s “Badil” didn’t make it on opening day because of technical difficulties, I am told. The movie, which stars Jhong Hilario, Nikki Gil and Dick Israel,was shown several days later. Also missing during opening day was “Bahay ng Lagim,” the last work of Celso Ad Castillo. The famed director died before the film was finished, and his son shot the remaining scenes. The Masters Edition will run until Sept. 17 at all SM theaters.

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TV5 unveiled its blockbuster line-up of new shows over the weekend.

Showbiz Police starts Saturday with Lucy Torres-Gomez, Raymond Gutierrez and Cristy Fermin. The gag show Tropa Mo Ko UNLI follows with Ogie Alcasid, Gelli de Belen, and Wendell Ramos. The show will resurrect the side-splitting Battle of the Brainless.

Unique karaoke challenges will be the main fare in the US game show Killer Karaoke. Edu Manzano will be the suave and sophisticated host of What’s Up, Doods? On Sunday, Aga Muhlach takes us on a spin around the world in Pinoy Explorer. Accompanying him are Sharon Cuneta and Derek Ramsay.Vic Sotto continues as host in the new season of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Vic’s friend, Joey de Leon, is next up with Wow Mali Pa Rin. Capping off Sunday is The Mega and the Songwriter, where Ogie composes a song based on the life of a letter sender, and Megastar Sharon Cuneta sings it.

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Rapper Kanye West has been charged with misdemeanor battery and grand theft for scuffling with a videographer in the Los Angeles airport last July, according to reports. The charge was filed by Daniel Ramos, who said he “sustained injuries to his right hip, as well as accompanying pain and emotional distress” because of the incident.West reportedly shoved Ramos to the ground and yelled at him.

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Elton John writing a song about Justin Bieber and Lindsay Lohan?

Yes, according to Radar Online. Elton was moved by the problems the two young stars were going through, so he wrote “Diving Board.” “I feel sorry for these kids. I worry that they will just get swallowed up,” Radar Online quoted Elton as saying.