During her visit, she asked Antonio about his brother who was jailed for two nights. On a lighter note, it’s nice to see that he takes after his mother when it comes to principles. Pero ang kompromiso, magbubulag-bulagan ba tayo?” – Luna But to describe him as normal, regular or ordinary would be an insult to the great man that he is. He basically has everything a regular man would want. And he had a better life outside the war – his family is well-off, he is educated and skilled, and he is in love. It was made clear more than once that he did not like the war. If that isn’t bravery I don’t know what is. Imagine the scenario, a man on a horse with nothing but a pistol against an enemy line with lots of soldiers armed with machine guns and canons. In one of the battles, upon seeing his soldiers die one by one because they were outnumbered (not to mention how technologically advanced US is), he jumped on a horse and charged solo at the enemy while holding a pistol gun. I wanted to use “matapang” because “brave” or “courageous” cannot quite capture what kind of a man he is. But most importantly, he was brave, had strong convictions and was a true general in every way. He got tired, he got discouraged, he got adorably submissive to his mom, he fell in love. In the movie, Heneral Luna was every bit human, unlike my textbook definition of the genius general who was born on October 29, 1866, graduated from Ateneo de Manila University and led the revolutionaries in countless battles. Nobody knows the real history anyway (ugh, conspiracy theories). Though the production team admitted that they mixed facts and fiction, I’d like to believe that this is a pretty decent depiction of him.
Youtube ducktales theme song movie#
This movie painted a whole new picture of him. I knew facts, albeit incomplete, not how he is as a person or as a leader. I knew General Antonio Luna from my history textbooks. The story wasn’t dragging - I was glued to the screen the whole time (despite the need to go to the loo 30 minutes into the movie, but I waited til end credits). The lines were spot on, they will make you mad, they will make you wince, they will make you SLOL (super laugh out loud), they will make you ugly-cry, they will make you feel whatever it is they want you to feel.
The narrative was so beautifully stitched I found no loopholes (or maybe I just didn’t notice but still). Some of them I like because of good cinematography, some because of the writing, others because of the actors. I have a love-hate relationship with Indie films.
“Asintahin mo ng ayos, sayang ang bala!” (sabay palo sa pwet) – Luna If I know John Arcilla from the roles mentioned above, I know Mon Confiado (now I know your name too good sir!) as the kidnapper, the rapist, the goon, the murderer, the syndicate. Mabuhay ka! Overall, the acting was superb. Arcilla, though I know you as a multi-awarded actor waaay before, my respect for you is now on a whole new level because of your superb portrayal of the general. I know him as Sophie’s Tito Ninong (Oh My G!), as the tatay in his many MMK roles and in his roles in various teleseryes and movies but never as John Arcilla (I’m not good with actor names, sorry). And most of all, I respected Antonio Luna (John Arcilla) so much, both the character and the actor. Paco Roman (Joem Bascon) and Captain Eduardo Rusca (Archie Alemania) that’s why I shared Eduardo’s grief and cried so hard as I saw the lifeless Paco with his face flat on the ground. I loved the general’s two most trusted men Col. I hated Felipe Buencamino (Nonie Buencamino) and Captain Janolino (Ketchup Eusebio). They didn’t just act, they brought the characters to life.
The characters were portrayed not by celebrities but by artists. It’s gory, and I mean really disgusting, but effective, which means gone are the days of blood looking like hot sauce and of wounds like grade school science projects.