Steinesongo Too many fans seem to be blown away

Tayyab Torres Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Celia A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

japrice-26876 The film Metro Manila was my first ever foreign film. The film was definitely different from the common American movie. Until this film, I had not heard of Manila. The most significant contrast to an American film would have to be the way they ended the movie, because a large percentage of any American drama/thriller always ends with a happy ending for the protagonist.The protagonist is a poor tenant rice farmer, Jake Macapagal, as Oscar Ramirez who has a wife and two girls. The countryside they live in at the beginning of the movie is beautiful but the price of rice is so low that they are forced to leave. With hope and desperation they venture to Manila by a ramshackle bus and while carrying their belongings with them. If I were put in the shoes of Oscar Ramirez (the protagonist) I would not have stayed in Manila for as long as he and his family had stayed. To experience having my rent money stolen, running out of food for himself and his family. Nor would I work all day only to be given sandwiches as payment. Then get hustled out of a place to live. I would have listened to Ong and gone along with his plan to steal the keys. Then I would head to the next best place for my family after I had acquired enough money. The immense impact that the film had on my global perspective is definitely due to the fact that my first time hearing of Manila is in a film showing the worst parts of Manila.The ending has real emotion and the soundtrack is very powerful. Depicts life in the third world convincingly. I would strongly recommend the film Manila to another student or teacher.

tamayo-24294 Even though Metro Manila wouldn't be my first choice for a family movie night, I did find it to be very thoughtful and emotional. Any man will go crazy for his family and will do anything to protect and help. And this was no exception, a happily married farmer in need of money and food is going to move out of his nice peaceful rural home to the capital of the whole country. Talk about night and day, and for what seems like over half of the film, the family does seem out of their element. Oscar Ramirez would soon find himself working for an armored truck company. Not everyone is Manila may not be as they seem, and Ong fit the bill perfectly. Ong did seem to be very nice and took Oscar under his wing, but underneath Ong was the most corrupt workers in the company. Not only did he blackmail Oscar into helping him try to get the key for one of two missing lock boxes, Ong also made you feel the anger and little rage throughout the movie. I thought to myself "Why, Oscar was almost home free, why did you have to do this Ong?" Overall I thought the movie was great and if you are looking for a heartfelt film and I would recommend it to anyone.

sydneyswesternsuburbs Writer, executive producer, cinematographer and director Sean Elis has created a classic in Metro Manila.Starring Jake Macapagal.Also starring John Arcilla.Also starring Althea Vega.I enjoyed the Manila scenery and the touching story of the families day to day survival.It was also good to see a rare film from the Philippines.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic family flicks, Krampus 2015, No Escape 2015, Eliminators 2016, The Mosquito Coast 1986, Killer Joe 2011, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle 1992, My Father Die 2016, What Happened to Monday 2017, Good Time 2017 and Blood Father 2016.

sgali-51589 Metro Manila is a film about a military veteran and his family that move to Manila after failing to eke out a living farming rice in the Banaue province. The move to Manila seems like the best option as they hope to find work to support two children. Manila seems magical at first, the city lights, and so many people. The young daughter asks if one of the beautiful buildings is where people go when they die (heaven). Unfortunately the move is beset with problems, from falling for a rental scam and losing all of their savings to various other problems in finding employment. The young couple soon find themselves living in a slum and realize that the move to Manila may be a big mistake.The character I want to discuss is the Oscar the father and military vet that is eventually hired as an armored truck driver. He is portrayed as a simple and honest man. He is very hard working and dedicated to providing for his family. His veteran status is what gets him in the door for the job interview as an armored truck driver. His coworkers laugh when they find out that he was a farmer (city life vs rural life). Oscar is a desperate man, but hopeful. He is later placed into an even more desperate situation, feeling obligated to his supervisor and friend who drags him into a doomed plot. Oscar is pulled in two directions (yin yang, good/evil). Oscar is a moral man, but his ideals are tested in the desperate situation he is in. Opposite Oscar is the supervisor Ong. At first Ong seems generous and caring. He gives Oscar hints on how to get the job and also feeds and clothes Oscar (advances on his first paycheck). Ong however has ulterior motives. He is not a moral man. He keeps a mistress on the side. He seems professional, but then we find out that he is an opportunist and is grooming Oscar for a criminal plot (manipulation). This film shows the dichotomy in life in Metro Manila as well as that of the Philippines. The city is large, but the individual so small. The city can be beautiful at times and yet also ugly. The provinces can be simple and peaceful, but the family witnesses a kidnapping on the streets of Manila (violence and complications). In the city, there are large malls, filled with nice things to buy, but there are the poor people that can't afford to shop in these stores. There are nice buildings but there are also a lot of people living in nearby slums. The family is from a moral and religious background, but they are forced into immoral situations (robbery plot, sexual exploitation, hostess bar work) in order to feed their family. The examples in the film are endless. From the province to the metropolis, in this film is like going from the frying pan and into the fire. A tragic tale of love, family, and the sacrifices (and risk) people will take in order to provide for their children. These themes are well known in Philippine cinema.Charpentier, M., Ellis, S. (Producers), Ellis, S. (Director). (2013) Metro Manila Motion Picture. Philippines/United Kingdom: Chocolate Frog Films