Milyun-milyong pinasok ni Vice sa MMFF binalewala; madlang pipol umalma

THIS year’s Metro Manila Film Festival selection of its official entry seems to be out borne out of change.

Sabi nga nila, change is coming, ‘di ba? With this in mind, ang mga napili ay out-of-the-box, they’re not mainstream and lacking in box-office appeal.

Marami ang nagulat when Vice Ganda and Coco Martin’s entry did not make it to the list. What’s an MMFF without a Vice Ganda entry? Dry.

Aminin na natin ang katotohanang si Vice ang bumuhay sa nakaraang tatlo o apat yatang MMFF. His movies were the biggest box-office attraction. By estimate, around 2 billion pesos ang hinakot niya sa takilya.

They say it’s quality na raw ang process of selection.

Since when has there been a Vice Ganda starrer which is lacking in SUBSTANCE and FORM? Hindi naman basura ang mga movies niya. The jokes are timely and he delivers it with precision. Hindi naman porke comedy ang ginagawang movie ni Vice ay wala na itong quality.

Vice’s record speaks for itself. May basura bang pelikulang mangunguna sa takilya?

Someone whispered to us that this year’s MMFF box-office target is around P1.5 billion. Sorry to burst your bubbles but we feel that it’s ASKING for the moon and the sun.

You conveniently forgot to consider that inconvenient truth that the Christmas season is for the kids and you’re dreaming of that figure.

You also forgot that with all the kahirapan ng buhay ngayon ay wala ng time ang moviegoers to watch serious films. Most MMFF movies which break records in the box-office are escapist films. They are movies na nagpasaya at nag-entertain sa madlang pipol.

Even in the comment section of a popular website ay nega ang dating ng MMFF entries this year.

“Lets see f di sila mgsisisi, business pa rin yan. Paano kung kunti lang ang kita?”

“Mas madming audience na bata pag Pasko. Tingin mo manonood sila ng indie films? Ang Pasko ay para sa mga bata.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against indie films. In fact, I think indie films are better than mainstream movies. Though, I believe this is a bad move for the committee. Why? We are not sure kung kikita ang films na ‘to. After all, ang film fest ay pera ang habol.

“Di rin tayo sigurado kung manonood pa ang mga tao ng ganito kaartistic na mga pelikula. Nasa henerasyon tayo na hati ang gusto ng mga manonood, yung iba gusto indie films dahil mas malalim at mas may kahulugan, yung iba gusto sumaya, tumawa, ma entertain.”

With that, we feel na this year’s MMFF will only reach the P100 million mark. Marami sa entries ang tiyak na magpi-first day, last day sa mga sinehan.

And if that happens, baka maging MMFFF na ang itawag sa kanila. What’s MMFFF? Metro Manila Flop Film Festival!!!