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Post by RayAdillO on Nov 29, 2008 4:41:33 GMT -5
"BALER"
Oh yes, a new movie about the siege at Baler, a Filipino production this time around, comming soon Dec 25, 2008 opening at selected theaters in Manila.
Jericho Rosales as a half Filipino-half Spanish soldier among Cerezo's heroic Spanish garrison?
Anne Curtis as the new "Tala" female lead character?
But what?...... no "Yo Te Dire" song number?...Awww
From the sneak peek, its doesn't look bad at all. Looks like the director has been snooping around Bill Comb's website. The leather webbing looks like the ones we've had reproduced in Manila, etc. The Rayadillo uniforms look like real rayadillos and not just plain light blue cloth. Yes, it seems promising.
They even went so far as to make the small church on set look exactly like the original one during the siege.
Best of all is that the costume designer has enough brains to figure out that the pistol lanyard is not a rosary worn around the neck (like they did in the Tirad Pass movie some dozen years ago). ;D
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Post by VeeVee on Nov 29, 2008 9:26:47 GMT -5
A shirtless or uniformed Jericho Rosales? He's my wife's biggest crush in the whole world! That movie will be played over and over in this house... Looks good. They need to do a Bataan one next
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Post by legionnaire on Nov 29, 2008 16:39:42 GMT -5
"Ngayon, Bukas at kailanman?" music video theme song of the film. Dedicated to the meny fans and to Vic's wife. ;D Balkit wala ang BNK Filipinas' participation or consultation? Bukas? Kailanman we will have a Bataan movie? ;D
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Post by 79thfoot on Dec 19, 2008 14:18:08 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to it. I wonder if BnK will be doing the premiere or something. I've got the Guardia Civil uniform and the 70th Magallanes uniforms if ever.
Some comments I left on the official trailer site on YouTube:
Norrington516 (5 days ago)
Romance isn't too bad but I really wonder why they can't just tell the story straight like in Zulu, A Bridge Too Far or The Alamo, without the romance. I'm worrying that the romance will detract from the film rather than help it. I'm not asking for a historical documentary but there are a good number of films which can tell a story without mush and still be great.
Norrington516 (5 days ago)
I don't think that's necessarily bad as long as its more Titanic than Pearl Harbor. PH is a BAD historical movie because history is just the excuse for the romance. It doesn't teach you crap about what the PH attack was, the history behind it etc. At least Titanic, for all the bad dialogue, clearly situated the romance within the historical context and the history AFFECTED the characters and wasn't just pretty backdrop.
Norrington516 (2 hours ago)
Did you even read what I wrote? I'm not against historical romances - I happen to love more than a few of them: Titanic, English Patient, Casablanca, From Here to Eternity, Dark Blue World, etc. What I don't want to see happen is a movie like Nouvelle France/aka Battle of the Brave or Pearl Harbor which pay lip service to history but are really just generic costumed love stories.
Norrington516 (2 hours ago)
All I'm hoping for is a good story that will entertain while taking into account historical factors - letting the history AFFECT the narrative like Cameron did in Titanic. I don't want some long boring docudrama like Abaya's Rizal (ugh!) which played too much like a badly written grade 6 textbook but something that challenges us to experience history and learn from it while being entertained. Hopefully this film will be the latter
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agmohio
New Member
?Viva Espa?a!
Posts: 37
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Post by agmohio on Dec 20, 2008 22:26:12 GMT -5
WOW!! This looks great! I hope they did get some use out of my website. That's why I built it and keep adding to it. I only hope that when the DVD comes out that they add English subtitles. I can't wait to see this one! ¡Viva España! Bill
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Post by 79thfoot on Dec 21, 2008 1:06:58 GMT -5
They had the premiere last night - sadly Evan and I were dressed up as Von Richthoven and a French pantallons rouge so we couldn't really fit in. And I was so looking forward to doing the premiere of this one too. Did BnK go there I wonder?
Looking forward to seeing it too!
Tom
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Post by VeeVee on Dec 22, 2008 8:58:01 GMT -5
You went to the premiere in cosplay costume? How was the movie?
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Post by 79thfoot on Dec 25, 2008 4:04:43 GMT -5
Ah, sadly no... we were in the wrong uniforms! Off by almost 2 decades hehehe. I'm planning to watch it this week and I shall post a movie review, rest assured.
Knowing me... I'll STILL watch it in costume!
Salutes, Tom
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Post by 79thfoot on Dec 26, 2008 7:43:28 GMT -5
Well, we just got back from the movie: Took a few action shots afterwards since we were still dressed to kill: I came to the movie with relatively few expectations and I can say that I was both pleasantly surprised and, sadly, unhappily and expectedly disappointed. The movie IMHO has both hits and misses though I'm pleased to say that in the history department there are a lot more hits than misses. The narrative stays surprisingly true to the historical events allowing for dramatic license and includes such interesting episodes as the carabao, the night raid where two Cazadores set fire to a house to distract the Filipinos and the newspaper which Cerezo reads that convinces him to surrender. The costumes and wardrobe seem to be spot on though I'm quibbling about the first commanding officer's (Captain Enrique de Las Morenas y Fossí) uniform which seemed ill fitting, with a big arse Spanish cross that looked like double the size of ANY award I've seen, the lack of the cazador bugle horn devices to indicate the Expeditionary Rifle battalions and the stage play quality of the civilian extra's costumes. That being said, this is one play where they actually destressed the costumes to show passage of time, at least for the besieged Cazadores'. Nice touch there. Sadly, the Filipino side's uniform showed no wear and tear. The casting was.... eh... I wish they'd cast actual Spaniards or Hispanics for the Spanish officers, Las Morenas, Zayas and Cerezo. Cerezo's fake beard was laughable as was the delivery of the Spanish lines though the Filipino lines were the usual 'pinoy movie' cadenced delivery that just makes me want to scream with agony - they haven't changed the way they speak from the sixties, I swear! - so I suppose its nice that they actually had the Spaniards at least speaking Spanish. The casting of Leo Martinez as one of the officers was inspired and Ipe, however messed up his personal life may or may not be, is still one of THE greats of Philippine cinema. Joel Torre, a period move staple is thankfully confined to the background as one of the staff officers, Teodoro Luna Novicio - I was glad that he wasn't pulling another Juan Crisostomo Ibarra here. The leads... Echo (Jericho Rosales) is fine as the leading man though Anne Curtis... I would have cast someone more morena in the role. The romance was utterly CRINGEWORTHY and it stretches believability in places - how would a barrio lass whos dad is a leader in the local Katipunan in a small town where everyone is expected to gossip get away with being romanced by a Spanish soldier for a year without dad slitting said Cazador's throat? The dialogue was forgettable and to be expected, reminiscent of a very well done high school social studies play and the usual romantic plot points were all hit - obligatory beach scene, obligatory boat on the river scene, obligatory tasteful lovemaking scene, obligatory beefcake scene, obligatory... (you get my drift). While I didn't care for the dialogue I was pleasantly surprised by the plotting. While the setup for the place, the unit type, and the political situation were sadly lacking - I say this for our friends from abroad, who haven't studied Philippine history - the plot itself, the narrative, and the incorporation of history into the narrative were quite well done, even better than Pearl Harbor in its utilization of history not merely as a backdrop but having history AFFECT the characters. It's on par with Titanic in that respect I think. The twist at the end, which I was kind of expecting because I'd read the history on the Spanam website, was well delivered and quite the tearjerker. I wish there had been more setup for the place and the unit type. Baler was an inaccessible garrison, a virtual prison for Spanish troops deployed there - the only way in or out was by boat or going through thick, insurrecto held jungle. That this was NOT emphasized by the movie was a major flaw as it sets up the desperation of the situation - its like if they hadn't included the info that the Zulus had slaughtered the British forces at Isandhlwana at the start of Zulu. You never get the feeling that these guys are in a desperate backs to the wall situation because you don't realize just how ISOLATED Baler is! Next, the Cazadores... Cazadores/Expeditionary Light Infantry Battalions were crack light infantrymen who were sharpshooters yet the action scenes were about on par with the usual pinoy action thriller type movies and I was never really convinced that these were crack Spanish troops. The casting wasn't the best, there weren't any of the obligatory rifle range scenes - I was REALLY hoping for Ed Zwick to come up and make this a REAL war picture even if he had Cerezo pull a Matthew Broderick/Tom Cruise shooting off his pistol in the ear of Jericho Rosales while Jericho loaded and fired. You just know they're Spanish troops in a somewhat desperate situation. The American intervention was almost comic. Its not well explained that the American sent a gunboat to rescue the beleaguered Spaniards. Its a blink and you'll miss it moment that leaves one utterly confused. The actors facial hair and emaciation is not clear - they fed their cast too well. There's one hilarious moment where this kid, the sacristan, is released from church and he's telling of the conditions inside and he's like, "We don't have anything to eat" but he's looking pretty darn WELL FED to me! He should at least have kept his shirt on instead of attempting to go beefcake. The conditions that the Spanish soldiers had to fight in aren't really well addressed. The social conditions of Spanish soldiers is spoken of - poor soldiers who couldn't bribe a government official were sent to the colonies - but the conditions upon reaching the colonies aren't addressed. Nothing is done really to indicate that the church was stifling, the latrine stank and overflowed, the illnesses that the soldiers had to deal with (which proved more lethal than Filipino bullets) weren't well explained - its like some scenes they were fine, other scenes in between they were dying of disease, and then they were fine again. Watch the siege of Arnhem Bridge in A Bridge Too Far for comparison - thats how to show a progression of a siege with men growing more discheveled, exhausted and sickly as time goes on. Then there's technical aspects, the music and the camera angles. Especially in the romantic parts the non-diegetic music is too invasive, too annoying, screaming INSERT ROMANCE HERE. The camera angles, the constant tracking around and its not very well executed either, being irregularly jerky a lot of times, as well as the overused and unnecessary crane shots are irritating and generally unmotivated. It smacks of a very expensive, very well done, very well researched high school play. That being said, it would have been a splended, A+ grade high school play if I had been the teacher. Salutes all, Tom
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Post by jimmay on Jan 3, 2009 3:42:10 GMT -5
Wish I knew what they were saying in the trailer, sadly I don't know Tagalog. However the trailer didn't seem to bad
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Post by 79thfoot on Jan 8, 2009 11:46:03 GMT -5
Hi Jimmay, I took the liberty of doing a translation for you and our other non-Filipino speaking friends and countrymen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgyci__wM6wOfficial trailer and translation.. line by line... 1. You don't understand what you're saying... because you haven't experienced the abuses of those animals! 2. He's a Spaniard! 3. He is kind (mother/madam - "po" is a generic term of respect) 4. Nunca Te Olvidare - It means 'I won't forget you' 5. Surrender? How will we be treated/accepted by the enemy after we've almost wiped them out? 6. Difficult/Hard... it's very difficult. 7. Endure Feliza... I'm enduring it. 8. Many have already died among them. 9. I hope that doesn't include Celso and Lope. 10. All the Spanish troops are hiding in the church. 11. We may try and attack them from the rear while they are distracted by firing from the front of the church. 12. If our enemy can hold out in the church for a long time, we can guard/watch for them out here for a long time. Hope this helps! Tom
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Post by jimmay on Jan 15, 2009 13:14:48 GMT -5
Hi Tom, thanks for taking the time to translate the preview; now I understand this preview much more ;D
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Post by 79thfoot on Jan 20, 2009 11:36:50 GMT -5
My pleasure Jimmay! Hope this film makes it across the Pacific soon :-)
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Post by insurrectomad on Mar 6, 2009 7:04:27 GMT -5
I saw the posters all over the place for "Baler" But none of my nephews or nieces fancied taking me to the cinema to see it in Angeles Pam. as they would have to translate it all. I Have read up on the siege it in detail & so am familiar with what happened, but was nervous the director would steer it right off course with romantic fantasy & personal distortions. It would seem it is well worth adding to my film library once the DVD is available. Pref. in English. I would like a English dubbed copy of "Tirad Pass" Yes i know it's many faults. the costumes & cannonade of "Goyo's" trenches! All Fil. hist./war films could copied onto DVD's & dubbed or given subtitles as they do on TV. This would give the Phi. Film Industry a World market they could reach surely? I think just as big reeenactment groups such as the US Civil War Ass & Independence 1796 Ass. are now often approached to assist Hollywood & The TV com.s; As groups grow bigger in Phil. Hist. reeactment we will have a greater influence in future productions. The Film "Cromwell" used the combined ECWS ( English Civil War Soc) & The Sealed Knot Soc. ( Cavaliers & Roundheads Soc.) to perform all the battles as extras on the film. The Film company lost no time in drilling or directing them in battle tactics etc or for that matter in supplying much of the uniforms & active firing weapons. Having at the time a company from Sandhurst Military Academy was a bonus also. Prince Andrew join the Sealed Knot with the royalist cavalry (of Course)! Get some film/pop star/ celeb to join your group dose wonders for recruitment! We had a sexy TV starlet join our regt. for one season only as a drummer ( researching a part for a Film). Did we get a lot of interest shown us! I still think a solo TV prog. using combined membership to swell the cast and give impute, is possible on location in the Philippines. Alas World events at this moment suggest money & interest are not thick on the ground! Did They ever make the film " Heneral Ageda Kalabahan "? & can any give a list of good films made of the Phil. Rev. & US-Phil Wars. Thanks David
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Post by VeeVee on Mar 10, 2009 6:39:58 GMT -5
Perry's commentary on Baler was featured in the PMA Alumni's publication, the Cavalier Congratulations Perry. click for bigger
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Post by ibarramedia on Mar 21, 2009 21:26:01 GMT -5
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Post by VeeVee on Mar 23, 2009 22:24:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up, it might be a good Mother's Day gift to my wife
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Post by RayAdillO on Apr 15, 2009 22:11:30 GMT -5
I have just watched this movie and I am generally pleased with the overall cinematic effort. it's no great war movie but I acknowledge that the producers and the director took extra pains to make it more accurate than as usual with other Philippine productions of this genre. Uniformwise, I'm curious as to why they had to make the Spanish senior officer wear what was suposed to look like a patrol jacket... when it is clear from original photos that all ranks including officers wore their summer rayadillo uniforms. Yes and as Tom noticed that big badge that officer was about to wear, I guess it was supposed to be the Grand Cross of the Order of San Herminigildo..... but did they really bother wearing that in combat? There were other minor things, like why does Echo always have to wear his leather accoutrements when he is supposedly off duty during his visits with his girlfriend? He might have looked a little more casual during his furloughs like Perry here in his photo (with lower buttons unbuttoned as was customary among the Spanish Army)..... And also, echo need not have been bare-headed when off duty. That would have been uncouth for any european soldier of the victorian era. He should have been wearing at least his gorro del cuartel....
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 16, 2009 5:32:06 GMT -5
I've only seen the special features of the DVD, yes we have it now but no time to watch it yet. They showed a lot of scenes in the special features for me to agree with you. They also keep playing the shirtless Jericho at the beach over and over making my wife gush.
My one other observaton is the soldiers always seem to be holding their rifles like they were pistol-grip M16's. Of course I didn't live in that era but I believe before the time of assault rifles, they were held for the most part in port-arms way.
It looks like a very good effort for a film and in the actors/director/costume designer/ et al. interviews in the special features, they said all the right things and all the same reasons I myself want to make such a historical film, albeit a Bataan one. Come one so a film about the Spaniards in Baler was made... let's make one about Filipinos in Bataan...
They said the screenplay was written 20 years ago. That it was an expensive film to make compared to the usual modern day comedy/drama with easy costumes and sets. That it was a gamble because usually historically themed movies don't do well in the Philippines. That's sad. I know Filipinos go for the love story type... then again this is a love story.
By the way, Perry sent me a more detailed technical critique of the movie's details but I totally forgot to post it. Will do soon.
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Post by insurrectomad on Apr 17, 2009 22:59:18 GMT -5
A Bataan P.S. Movie is long overdue! The only film i ever saw related to it was with John Wain & Anthony Quin Playing the P.S. (Sagt.?) and the was made 50yrs ago! The Fil. film maker's lack the courage to get out of the formula love and gangster or horror/fantasy movies. All their films seem to be directed at an immature 14 to 18yr old Fil. audience only. the plots too are usually very predictable. As they rarely aim high enough for an overseas/American market, It can't be that they hesitate to offend the Yanks or are they hot-wired never to project their old imperial masters in a poor light? It's not the lack of money but a lazy, sloppy attitude that says correct detail doesn't matter, who knows or cares anyway, and an ignorance/rejection of the manners and lifestyle of the period being portrayed. No Christen man anywhere would be seen with-out his waistcoat, and if in a shirt the with a belt and not with his suspenders showing & a mans head was covere at all times be he a soldier or a civilian!! In US the Actors insist apon being clean shaven, dispite the period of history and often fail to depict the vast class division that existed right up until the 1960's. Still the more we flag up an interest everywhere the greater chance of a Film being made, not so? David
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