All posts by : PinoyMovieGeek

The trend of prioritizing explicit scenes in Vivamax’s productions seems evident in “Kabayo,” the directorial debut of Pinoy-Italian Gianfranco Morciano. The film, catering to the expectations of Vivamax’s audience, is filled with steamy sequences that leave little to the imagination.

The movie kicks off with a bedroom scene featuring Rico Barrera and his partner Julia Victoria, escalating to various adventurous encounters including threesomes. The film features Apple Castro, Angelo Ilagan, and Paolo Rivero in key roles, engaging in these explicit scenes.

The narrative, seemingly a backdrop for the sexual content, revolves around Rico as Conrad and Julia as Laurene, a couple strained by the demands of Laurene’s brother Max, played by Ping Medina. The story also involves Easton, a balikbayan portrayed by Angelo Ilagan, whose girlfriend Mara Flores is Julia’s friend. Their liberated lifestyle leads to a mix of relationships and encounters, including lesbian and a brief homosexual interaction.

The title “Kabayo,” meaning horse, is a dual reference to Rico’s character, who works tirelessly both at his job and in satisfying Julia’s needs, and also hints at his physical attributes.

Performance-wise, the cast, mostly newcomers, are unabashed in front of the camera but lack depth in acting. This calls for more training to enhance their skills. Rico Barrera, despite his years in showbiz since joining via PBB in 2005, struggles with nuanced acting, suggesting a need for further development.

Angelo Ilagan, who made an impactful debut in “Sarong Banggi” in 2005, stands out as the most skilled actor in “Kabayo.” His portrayal of the complex Easton shows promise. With his current association with Vivamax, there’s hope for more substantial roles for him in the future.

Following her role in the revenge-thriller “Bata Pa si Sabel,” Micaella Raz stars in “Boso Dos,” a new action film where she plays a secret agent infiltrating a drug syndicate. The plot thickens as she becomes involved in a dangerous love triangle with a police officer, portrayed by Gold Aceron, and the syndicate boss, played by Vince Rillon, whom she aims to capture.

Discussing her experience, Raz reflects on her previous work with Vince Rillon in “Virgin Forest” and her first-time collaboration with Gold Aceron and director Jon Red. She praises the comfortable and enjoyable working environment created by Red and expresses her enthusiasm for returning to action roles. Following “Boso Dos,” Raz is set to pivot to a drama series.

“Boso Dos,” premiering on Vivamax on February 3, delves into the treacherous world of drug syndicates. This movie is a follow-up to the 2005 film “Boso,” directed by Jon Red, which centered around a voyeur in a boarding house and starred Katya Santos, Epy Quizon, Jaycee Parker, and Gwen Garci. Notably, Epy and Katya reappear in “Boso Dos.”

In “Boso Dos,” also helmed by Jon Red, a team of secret agents surveils an apartment converted into a drug den, targeting suspected drug trafficker Badong (Vince Rillon). Gold Aceron plays Mario, an agent who finds excitement in observing the drug syndicate’s activities, partly due to the sexual fantasies these observations evoke. Mario’s girlfriend, Stephanie (Chloe Jenna), works at a call center.

The arrival of new recruit Ara (Micaella Raz), with her striking looks and bold demeanor, captivates the agents, including Mario. Ara’s mission to get close to Badong is crucial for gathering information and eventually arresting the syndicate members. However, complications arise as both Mario and Badong develop feelings for Ara, leading to a web of manipulation and deceit.

The film, directed by Cannes Film Festival award-winning director Jon Red, features a cast including Gold Aceron, Micaella Raz, Vince Rillon, Amor Lapus, Alvaro Oteyza, and Chloe Jenna, with appearances by seasoned actors like Rico Soliman, Ronnie Lazaro, Katya Santos, and Epy Quizon.

“Boso Dos,” a Viva Films production, warns viewers to stay vigilant and trust no one. The film streams exclusively on Vivamax starting February 3.

Director Bobby Bonifacio returns with his third Vivamax movie, “Salamat Daks,” set to stream from March 10. Following his debut with the psychological thriller “Tahan,” starring Cloe Baretto, and the black comedy “Bula,” with Ayanna Misola, Bonifacio now ventures into sexy comedy.

“Salamat Daks” stars Alma Moreno as Maricar, a woman in her 50s who hasn’t experienced love until she falls for a younger vlogger, Nikko Natividad. Debbie Garcia portrays her friend who persuades her to undergo cosmetic enhancements to match Nikko’s youthful appeal, leading Maricar to invest her savings in these procedures. The film, originally titled “Botox Beauty,” features Ayanna Misola as the younger-looking Maricar post-enhancements. The title playfully references the phrase “Salamat Doc,” hinting at Nikko’s character’s notable physical attribute.

Bonifacio acknowledges the similarity of his movie to transformation stories like “Miss Granny,” but emphasizes that “Salamat Daks” differentiates itself as a sexy comedy centered on cosmetic surgery and its impact.

Casting was a meticulous process. Ayanna Misola was a natural choice following their collaboration in “Bula.” For the lead role, Viva’s Boss Vic suggested Alma Moreno, who resonated with Maricar’s character, especially the aspect of falling for a younger person—a personal experience for Moreno. Bonifacio praises Moreno’s openness and professionalism on set.

Nikko Natividad was selected for his comedic talent, evident in his vlogs. Despite initial hesitation due to the film’s sexy love scenes, Natividad embraced the role, including a daring scene in the film.

Bonifacio views cosmetic enhancements positively if they boost confidence and personality, but he believes inner beauty and kindness are paramount. Looking ahead, he plans to direct two horror films and hopes to release a romcom in theaters.

“LA Querida” intertwines two love stories: the romance of young lovers Joel (Arron Villaflor) and Maria (Angela Morena) in their 20s, and the complex relationship of Leo (Jay Manalo) and Connie (Mercedes Cabral), a couple in their 40s. Initially, the connection between these tales is unclear, but as the movie unfolds, their link is revealed in an unexpected manner, distinct from the dual narrative style of “Bela Luna.”

Resembling “The Notebook” in its exploration of young and mature love, the film opens with Joel and Maria’s chance meeting at the Rizal Monument in Luneta, bonding over Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios.” Their initial encounter, intended as a one-night stand, evolves into a deeper relationship, despite personal issues: Angela with her overbearing father (Rey Abellana) and Arron grappling with maternal conflicts.

The plot thickens when Angela is revealed to be married to Javy (Josef Elizalde), leaving Arron feeling betrayed. Meanwhile, Leo, a married man with a daughter, encounters Connie in church, only to discover she has been stalking him and willingly becomes his mistress.

Scriptwriter Eric Ramos skillfully brings these narratives to a satisfying conclusion, though the acceptance of the story’s resolution heavily relies on the audience’s engagement with the casting choices, akin to “The Notebook’s” transformation of its characters over time.

Performances in “LA Querida” are commendable. Arron and Angela deliver convincingly in both light-hearted and intense scenes, while Jay and Mercedes exhibit a strong dramatic rapport. The supporting cast, including Aurora Sevilla, Irma Adlawan, and Andrew Muhlach, enhances the film’s depth.

Director GB Sampedro’s craftsmanship shines in this Vivamax production. With Carlo Montano’s exceptional cinematography, he skillfully weaves these stories, making “LA Querida” a compelling watch.

Sonya (Angela Morena), Ester (Stephanie Raz), and Lea (Micaella Raz) are three sisters residing in the town of Rosario. Unfortunately, their father, Don Fidel Paraiso (Soliman Cruz), recently passed away, leaving behind land titles entangled in pending legal cases. As a result, the sisters couldn’t immediately access their inheritance. Sonya needed the money to continue her medical studies, while Ester desired to leave their town and seek her fortune in Manila. On the other hand, Lea was content staying in their father’s house.

One fateful night, a wounded stranger named Felipe (Kiko Estrada) appeared at their door, having been shot in the thigh. The compassionate sisters took him into their home and nursed him back to health. While Ester initially showed interest in Felipe, he was drawn to Lea. Meanwhile, Sonya engaged in secret trysts with Mako (Benz Sangalang), a soldier assigned to pursue rebels in their town. Soon, a series of unfortunate incidents occurred in the house, creating conflicts among the sisters.

Vivamax made an intriguing casting choice by featuring real-life sisters Angela Morena, Stephanie Raz, and Micaella Raz as the Paraiso sisters. Angela and Micaella’s gentle facial beauty had already earned them lead roles in previous films, while Stephanie’s strong and stern features suited her role as the assertive sister, Ester, who stood out in this particular film.

Kiko Estrada had a promising debut in Vivamax’s “Sitio Diablo,” but his subsequent films (“Us x Her” and “Laruan”) failed to impress. However, his portrayal of Felipe in this movie offered him a better opportunity to showcase his talent, despite an initial distraction from an unconvincing beard that thankfully disappeared later in the film. Likewise, Benz Sangalang, who delivered an electric performance in “Sitio Diablo,” seemed to struggle in this film with an over-the-top portrayal of the antagonist, Mako, which undermined the seriousness of the character.

The most noteworthy technical aspect of this Iar Arondaing film was its cinematography, thanks to DP Emmanuel Rei Liwanag. The use of a sepia filter, unique camera angles, and thoughtful lighting design contributed to the film’s rich and warm visual style. However, the script by Nigel Santos contained some revelations about Felipe’s character that were not entirely unexpected. More attention to the storytelling in those segments could have made the revelations more surprising and impactful.

Please note that this revised version aims to retain the main elements of the original content while refining the language and expression to enhance clarity and coherence.

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