A Movie Review on “El Presidente”

El Presidente Movie Analysis

E. Own Synopsis

The story is informed in flashbacks as Emilio Aguinaldo thanks the US authorities for giving him the chance to attend the complete restoration of Philippine independence on July four, 1946. The film begins along with his seize by Philippine and US forces underneath Frederick Funston’s command in 1901, then flashes back to 1886, when an old girl offers Aguinaldo and childhood good friend Candido Tirona cryptic prophecies. Ten years later, Aguinaldo is inducted into the Katipunan and later assumes leadership of its Cavite chapter while turning into mayor of Cavite El Viejo.

When trouble breaks out in Manila in late August 1896, Aguinaldo tries to assure the Spanish provincial authorities of non-interference and covertly marshals his forces regardless of an absence of weapons. Learning that the Spanish principally put their forces in Manila, Aguinaldo finally mobilizes his troops and take the fight to Spanish troops in Cavite. As the rebels gain floor in Cavite and several provinces, its Magdalo and Magdiwang factions convene to elect a provisional government.

Andres Bonifacio oversees the Tejeros Convention, which elects Aguinaldo as president, Mariano Trias as vice-president, and himself as interior minister. He storms out of the convention when Daniel Tirona objects to his election. Aguinaldo’s brother Crispulo informs him of his accession and convinces him to leave his troops simply as he was looking for to defend towards the Spaniards at Pasong Santol. The rebels are defeated and Crispulo is killed. Meanwhile, an embittered Bonifacio establishes his own revolutionary government and is later arrested. Aguinaldo is anxious about Bonifacio’s actions and wished him exiled, but the War Council advises his execution.

Several months later, Aguinaldo leaves Cavite with most of his forces intact and makes it to Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan, where he signs the Pact of Biak-na-Bato and heads for Hong Kong.

There he meets with US officials who strategy him with offers of support and recognition of a new Philippine Republic amidst the Spanish-American War. Aguinaldo returns to the Philippines and formally declares independence from Spain. As the Malolos Congress convenes, Felipe Agoncillo tries to symbolize the new nation on the Treaty of Paris negotiations, but will get stonewalled at each turn even as US forces progressively arrive in the Philippines. The Philippine-American War breaks out in February 1899 and Antonio Luna is appointed commander of all Filipino troops. He is assassinated three months later and the Filipino troops are progressively routed by the Americans. As a outcome, Aguinaldo’s forces travel throughout northern Luzon to flee the Americans. General Gregorio del Pilar volunteers to steer some troops in holding them off at Tirad Pass and purchase Aguinaldo time to get away.

His loyal courier is later captured by the Americans while getting some drugs for his son. Now conscious of Aguinaldo’s hideout, Funston plans his seize. Having been made to accept US rule over the Philippines, Aguinaldo lives a quiet life, which is marred by Hilaria’s passing in 1921. He meets and marries Felipe Agoncillo’s niece Maria in 1930. Over the next few decades, the couple witness Philippine historical past unfold as soon as extra as he is defeated within the 1935 presidential elections, Japanese occupation and the restoration of full independence. In 1962, an elderly Aguinaldo and his spouse consolation one another over President Diosdado Macapagal’s decree to restore the actual date of the Philippine declaration of independence. In his last hours, the identical girl who gave him his prophecy seems to him one more time.

F. Criticize on the following
I. Story and Theme

El Presidente is a Historical Film whereby the life of Emilio Aguinaldo is portrayed from the Spanish Era, until the Philippine Independence.

II. Screenplay

The screenwriters inserted some Spanish Dialogues, English, and Filipino within the script. And I was discontented with the screenplay itself. I didn’t just like the dialogues particularly when Baron Geisler who portrayed as a Spanish official talked to Emilio Aguinaldo in Spanish saying that he doesn’t understand Filipino, however then unexpectedly he understood it. That is just an instance of the shortage of continuity of the script.

III. Direction

The Director in this movie did a decent job of portraying the lifetime of Emilio Aguinaldo. I said respectable as a result of I was quite disenchanted with the best way the film played out. I expected a lot from this movie, but in every scene, I don’t know if the director missed it, but I actually am discontented with every scenes.

IV. Cinematography

The Cinematography was good in phrases of portraying the right scenes although within the fight scenes, the cinematography was fairly lacking for the actors weren’t proven in many various angles.

V. Editing

The enhancing from the start is quite good however I didn’t just like the modifying on the warfare scenes. I didn’t like the modifying since you can see that a number of the fight scene was either fast-forward or in slow movement. With that in mind, the battle scene was discontented for me as a outcome of the feeling of depth in a fight scene isn’t quite felt by me.

VI. Acting

From the casting, to the performing, to the costume, I didn’t prefer it. Bayani Agbayani and Bearwin Meily are good comedians for me. But here on this film the place it’s type of historical and extra on drama, they didn’t match the roles and in addition there are additionally some cast by which I didn’t like. I additionally didn’t like the costume of some artist, particularly the pretend moustache of a number of the actors. I also didn’t like the performing of Jorge Estregan as Emilio Aguinaldo as a end result of he seems to be lacking in facial expression and in some unspecified time in the future too melodramatic.

VII. Dialogues

The dialogues have been good however they may still improve. The consistency of the dialogues type Spanish to Filipino were lacking just like my statement on the Screenplay.

VIII. Soundtrack

The soundtrack of El Presidente is little question entertaining and good that’s the reason it won a few of the awards by means of theme music.

IX. Visual Effects

We favored the visible effects of the movie as a end result of it’s easy and realistic

X. Costume and make-up

The costume seems to be good for it portrays the historical background of our country.

G. Additional notes to consider

i. Interesting Facts about the making of the film
* Judy Ann Santos was initially supplied to play Hilaria Del Rosario. She refused to accept the movie saying she can’t relate to the character as a end result of she doesn’t know Hilaria personally. * Tikoy Aguiluz backed out of directing this movie after a misunderstanding with Jorge Estregan over Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story.

ii. Budget and box-office performance

Box office: P872,972 (partial Manila)

iii. Awards and honors
* Youth Choice Award: “El Presidente”
* Best Sound: Michael Idioma, “El Presidente”
* Best Musical Score: Jessie Lazatin, “El Presidente” * Best Theme Song: apl.de.ap and Jamir Garcia, “El Presidente”
* Best Make-up: Warren Munar, “El Presidente” by Warren Munar and firm.
* Best Supporting Actor: Cesar Montano, “El Presidente” * 2nd Best Picture: “El Presidente”

iv. Social, political, and/or historical context for the film The film is partly based on Aguinaldo’s Memoirs of the Revolution. Writer-director Mark Meily states that the project had its genesis back in 1998. Over the intervening years, careful analysis was made to find a way to accurately painting Aguinaldo’s life, especially information which were glossed over in history books. These include his conduct over the trial of the Bonifacio brothers and his other actions during the Revolution. Meily himself was introduced into the project as director after Ejercito pledged never to work with authentic director Tikoy Aguiluz because of their rift over editing Manila Kingpin. Shooting took place over 43 days at select areas in Cavite, Laguna, and Bulacan, with the Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar in Bataan substituting for city scenes

v. What others have said in regards to the film

* The Philippines’ Cinema Evaluation Board graded the movie at A. * Phillip Cu-Unjieng of the Philippine Star mentioned it “vividly recaptures” one of the Philippines’ most turbulent intervals in history by exposing the infighting among the many Katipunan’s members and how Aguinaldo needed to resolve them. He famous that the film’s quality makes it virtually stand out as a lot as Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi, Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, and Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator. * Philibert Ortiz-Dy said making the film was difficult, however dragged towards the top.

* The movie garnered most of the awards on the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival, winning the plums for Second Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Cesar Montano), Youth Choice Award, Best Float, Best Sound, Best Musical Score, and Best Make-up. * Columnist and radio show host Jessica Zafra, nonetheless, was crucial of the movie’s remedy. She stated the depiction of Bonifacio’s death raised questions about its authenticity. She added that the movie itself “does Emilio Aguinaldo a disservice by portraying him as a sufferer of circumstance” and even highlighted the “amnesia” prevalent amongst contemporary Filipinos.

H. Values and Relevance

The film was more of a historic appreciation of our previous heroes. The film taught us that our Filipino heroes fought for our freedom subsequently we should cherish it.

I. Over-all analysis

Over-all the movie is sweet for it depicts the life of our national heroes. Though the film appears to be a bias on the part of Emilio Aguinaldo because the death of Andres Bonifacio and Antonio Luna were different on the history books. From the performing to every thing, it is a good film but it could nonetheless improve by a lot.