The Gathering and other must-see pics

I already had my hopes high for the Filipino movies when the last Metro Manila Film Festival yielded quality entries like Crying Ladies, Mano Po 2, Filipinas, Bridal Shower and Homecoming. I was actually looking forward to a 2004 brimming with good Tagalog pictures. But I was wrong. I was very wrong.

Since the year opened, we haven’t had a major Tagalog movie showing in local theaters. Well, there is a Rosanna Roces picture that opened yesterday, but it is a re-issue – Mel Chionglo’s Mapusok – produced by OctoArts about seven years ago.

At least, there is Regal Film’s Kuya to look forward to and Star Cinema’s Milan early next month. But the turnout is disappointing.

Fans of foreign films, however, had a grand time at the movies. And in fairness to those foreign products released here in Metro Manila theaters, those that I caught this month were really worth my time. Below are some of the films I saw.

The Gathering – Made in the United Kingdom, I don’t think The Gathering was ever shown in the United States. Set in England, the story begins in a place called Glastronbury. Here in this rather rural area is unearthed a mural depiction of the Crucifixion of Christ. It is different from other Crucifixion scenes we’ve seen in most art works: Its perspective is from behind the Holy Cross and from there you see the faces of people who watched Jesus die on the cross and did nothing.

In a shot so far area, an American tourist named Cassie (played by Christina Ricci) meets an accident and while recovering meets the very same people who were just bystanders during the Crucifixion of Christ.

The Gathering is not really a horror movie (although it was advertised as such). There are no jolting scenes and will not give you the scare.

This film, however, gives you more. For one thing, it gives you a material that is definitely not the run-of-the-mill storyline we see in every other movie.

It also allows you to think and look into your own spirituality. I remember it was Chat Silayan who first told me about the dangers of not fully committing ourselves to the Lord. Explained to me later by another good friend, Jun-jun Camcam, this is contained in the Books of Luke and Matthew ("You are either for me or against me.")

Unfortunately, I am not well versed as far as the Bible is concerned, but The Gathering has biblical messages spread out all over the film. The wonderful thing about it is that for all of its strong religious elements, it is never preachy with the way it reaches out to the viewers.

Actually, the lessons imparted in The Gathering may also be used in a political sense – especially now that we are only months away from the Presidential race. From a political point of view, the film tells us that we should do something and not just be fence-sitters.

Perhaps the most important lesson the Pinoy onlookers and bystanders will learn from The Gathering is that it is never a good thing to be an uzi or usisero which, sadly, most of us are.

Kill Bill – If you cannot stand blood and gore and can’t stretch your sense of humor to appreciate some little sick jokes during the entire duration of the screening, then Kill Bill is not for you. A film by Quentin Tarantino, this movie pays homage to the filmmakers’ childhood idols – from Sonny Chiba (a ’70s Japanese action star who made a small dent in Hollywood) to Bruce Lee.

Kill Bill is really a manifestation of Tarantino’s sick humor. But with it comes a wonderful creativity that we rarely see in motion pictures. Where else can you see animé so masterfully blending with western?

Aside from the seamless direction and the beautiful choreography of the action scenes, you also get to see fine performances here in Kill Bill particularly from Uma Thurman and especially Lucy Liu.

The Lord of the Rings (The Return of the King). A must see for everyone – and especially for The Lord of the Rings fans, you get a satisfying ending to this trilogy, so unlike The Matrix conclusion, which left Matrix fans disappointed.

The Lord of the Rings, however, is magnificent – in particular the battle scenes where you see computer wizardy at its finest.

After its triumph in the recent Golden Globe Awards, expect The Lord of the Rings to score big once again in the coming Oscar race. And it’s about time. After all, had it not been bypassed quite unfairly in the first two outings?