Ara Mina’s latest flick stirs CBCP

The movie "Two Timer," which revolves around a married nymphomaniac and her illicit sexual encounters, is "morally abhorrent," according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Catholic Initiative for Enlightened Movie Appreciation (Cinema).

"The movie does not serve any purpose other than as a vehicle for Ara Mina’s new and sexy body," Cinema said.

While many movies have tackled the issue of infidelity, "Two Timer" focuses on a woman’s infidelity to her husband, something that is "not easily accepted" by a society which has double standards.

"If ‘Two Timer’ wants to fight (the double standard), it failed because the movie did not generate sympathy, but disgust" for a woman who is unfaithful to her husband for no clear reason except her "thirst" for sex, Cinema said.

They instead recommended that if the movie focuses on a woman’s nymphomania, it should also show how this condition develops and how to deal with it.

"However, the movie does not show this - there is no true repentance shown on the part of the woman," Cinema said. "With the many problems plaguing the country today, what the movie offers is not a solution to the crisis, but short-term pleasures in order to cover up and forget the real troubles in society."

"Two Timer," which stars Ara Mina, Wendell Ramos and Albert Martinez, was also deemed by Cinema as "technically average." The actors’ performance was generally good, except for Mina’s "bland" acting. The movie was directed by Mel Chionglo and produced by Lily Monteverde for Regal Entertainment Inc.

Meanwhile, the foreign film "Trapped" was deemed "morally disturbing" due to its untimely showing of a story on kidnap-for-ransom.

"It will give criminals novel ideas to harm others, if they have not thought of these yet. The violence in the film is not frequently graphic but it is psychologically intense," Cinema said.

It added that while the movie is a reflection of reality, it does not contribute to making the world a better place. "When we go to a movie, we want to be entertained. One wonders about what kind of mind is entertained by ruthlessness and sadism," Cinema said.

In contrast, Cinema rated the movie "Kailangan Kita" – starring Aga Muhlach and Claudine Barretto, as "morally acceptable" and "technically average."

The movie "tackles a story about friendship that would eventually end in a deep relationship involving love," Cinema said.

They noted that the portrayal of the love between the characters played by Muhlach and Barretto was clearly shown in the film.

"As a whole, the movie is good and entertaining," Cinema said, but took issue with the scenes involving "premarital sex; a gay character’s turning his back on priesthood and pursuing his love for a man; and the film’s view of the rebel communist group New People’s Army."

Cinema does not recommend the movie for young viewers.