Sizing up 2 sequels

Although I would like to support the local film industry (as I have always done) by reviewing Tagalog pictures, there’s not much I can do anymore because there aren’t that many Filipino movies showing in theaters these days.

In the recently-concluded Manila Film Festival, there were only two noteworthy entries: Maryo J. de los Reyes’ Naglalayag and Joel Lamangan’s Sabel – both of which I gave positive reviews in this column.

There is another local film still in exhibition and it’s called Kainan (sa Highway), but I’m not sure if my commitment to local films is enough for me to spend an hour and 40 minutes inside a theater watching a movie with a title like that. (Of course, you’re not supposed to judge a film by its title or as Melanie Marquez would say, "Don’t judge my brother, he is not a book").

With no other local films in sight, I had to watch three foreign pictures in the past week or so: Spider-Man 2 (for a second viewing), Kill Bill Vol. 2 and The Prince and Me.

I know for a fact that I am not the only one who has seen Spider-Man 2 twice (maybe some have seen it thrice). For some people, they had to take in a second viewing of this Hollywood blockbuster because the first time around was uncomfortable for them since the movie opened to SRO crowds. In my case, I had to spend the first 30 minutes of Spider-Man 2 with my nose practically stuck to the screen because the only seats available then were in the front rows when I watched it on opening day.

And then of course, there are other qualities of the film that you appreciate the second time around – like you can savor the story more because the writing is even better in this second Spider-Man installment (there are more conflicts here).

Even the characters are better fleshed out in Part 2. This allows the performances of Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst to transcend comic book acting.

Other scenes you may relish in the second viewing (that is, if you didn’t the first time around) is that one wherein the jaded and cynical New Yorkers displayed their love and affection for their hero, Spider-Man, to the point of putting their lives on the line before the enemy, Dr. Otto Octavius (played by Alfred Molina, who is marvelous as always) and that part where the hard-up Aunt May (Rosemarie Harris) gives Peter Parker $20 because he needs it more than she does.

Aside from these poignant scenes, you may again want to take in those brilliant special effects that are all over the film. Truly a feast for the eyes.

I know that some of the stars who appeared in the Manila Filmfest entries discouraged the public from watching Spider-Man 2 because that would be taking away revenues from Filipino movies. But then, there’s no denying that Spider-Man 2 is far more superior than most of our recent local films (and that is an understatement). Okay, to give everyone a fair chance, give me time to watch Kainan (sa Highway) and I’ll see how it will fare against Spider-Man 2.

While Spider-Man 2 gets better with the second installment, I can’t say the same for Kill Bill Vol. 2, the original version of which was far more exciting than the one currently showing.

This is not say, however, that Kill Bill Vol. 2 is a bad film. Oh, it’s still great viewing, I have to admit. This time around though, there are more dialogues than action scenes. Kill Bill Vol. 2 basically tries to tie the loose ends from Vol. 1.

Surely, Kill Bill Vol. 2 is not as bloody as the first one, which made viewers wince with its gory scenes. However, there are still exciting moments in the second installment. One is this entire sequence where Uma Thurman is put inside a wooden box and buried alive in a cemetery. People suffering from claustrohobia may not be able to take it as our heroine tries to escape. As you watch it, you as a viewer may also run short of breath with the way director Quentin Tarantino executes the entire scene.

As a relief to this sequence that would definitely take your breath away – literally – there are the humorous scenes with the master Pai Mei and the entire thing is a spoof of those cheesy Kung Fu/Shaolin movies of the ‘70s.

But undeniably, the most exciting moment here is the duel between Uma Thurman and Daryl Hannah (as Elle Driver). I won’t tell you what happens in this scene, but it is safe enough to say that this would warrant a Vol. 3 of this film and already I’m excited to see it.

But how come I’m not feeling the same excitement now that I’m readying myself to watch Kainan (sa Highway)?

(On Thursday, my review of The Prince and Me).