Review: The Bourne Legacy

The Bourne Legacy:  It’s More Fun In The Philippines?

By Randy Renier I. Espinoza

Chase scene on the streets of Manila

I am no fan of Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series and I couldn’t care less about the first three installments of the film franchise, that’s why I don’t have a vague idea of what the series is all about. But I had to see the fourth movie, The Bourne Legacy, because it features Manila and El Nido, Palawan, one of the most dazzling beaches in the Philippines. After all, it is only the second Hollywood movie which shot substantial portions of its scenes in the country. Apocalypse Now, a 1979 epic war film starring the great Marlon Brando, was shot in the Philippines, which subbed as Vietnam. It was in the award-winning film that Pagsanjan Falls was showcased as site for some of the movie’s memorable scenes.

Royal ‘Iconoclast’: Prince Harry Snapped Partying In The Nude In Vegas?

  

If Prince William is seen as an iconoclast in a positive sense, who is said to have broken the mold by coming off as a charming royal, the antithesis of the aloofness that has characterized British royalty,  and thereby brought the monarchy closer to the people, Prince Harry has always been considered the wild one. The younger of the two children of Princess Diana has figured in scandals before, but his recent foray into the epicurean lifestyle may yet be the most shocking of all. Just hours ago, photos of the prince in the most unflattering of situations leaked in the Web. Rumor has it that Harry was partying hard with some companions in his Las Vegas hotel suite and some people took nude photos of him.

Film Review: The Healing

"The Healing" Heals, Unheals

by Randy Renier I. Espinoza

The camera pans across the interiors of the antiquated house, taking in close-up shots of santos, herbal meds, and healing paraphernalia, hovering over the wounds and diseases of the people, all clad in white, waiting to get healed by Manang Elsa, herself a haunting presence, and there’s the enchanting landscape view of the mountains that serve as the backdrop for the activity that’s taking place. This is a strong opening scene for the film, a promising setting that transports the viewers to an exotic world, that eerie folk quality that can only be seen and experienced in the rural Philippines. I even heard someone from the audience gasp, “Parang Hollywood ah,” perhaps referring to the quality of the cinematography.