King in Manila

Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story (2011) Review

Cinematography by Carlo Mendoza

It's obvious that the main residual problem of watching ER Erjecito's Films is not the other things around the film-making such as acting, action or etc but rather it's the focal point of having a trouble making a precise pacing on editing. Yet this film is the best example of a modern age Filipino big budget action movie that fails to push it's sense but it always highly entertaining and fun. Sadly we rarely see such local movies like this that tries to be different and unconventional among the others. 

Manila Kingpin is one the entries for Metro Manila Film Festival 2011, and surprisingly after pure action films are being absent for years on the said festival, ER Ejercito gather's his all out production power to bring back a filipino movie genre that we once loved during the 20th century. It is a film that you'll appreciated by the means of it's production quality when it comes to an mainstream action movies, because during that time big production company are more focused on producing films that are seemingly locked up with dramas, comedy and horror genres, and sometimes a little bit of Sci-Fi or Fantasy yet they doesn't really put a big risk.

What ER Ejercito did on Manila Kingpin they actually risk money to produced such a movie that biopics one of the most notorious and Iconic Kingpin that lived on the 50's era in Manila, Philippines, and that idea of executing such a film is i think a great decision to do when you're trying to risk a P 70 Million of budget, gathering best actors to be part of the project. I loved to think about this film that it wasn't made just to grab a ton cash but rather it was made as film to enthrall the audience artistically and historically.

The story is about a rising gang leader named "Asiong" (ER Ejercito) who is also a down earth human being who helps others in need. Mostly he was known to be a real life "Filipino Robin Hood". After successfully being a big notorious gang leader he was also compromised by his enemies who wants to bring him. He ended being in Jail where he faces his real enemies and challenges.

One of the enthralling thing that really stands out about this movie is by showcasing the look and feel of Manila in early 50's with slick greasy hairs, creeper shoes and Tommy guns combined it with attitude and black and white scheme, it's undoubtedly one of the most good looking filipino films i have seen, yet it suffers in one of the most crucial aspect of films which is the Pacing. Until now i'm still having a problem personally on the pacing of ER's movies but Manila Kingpin is one of the worst. Every single scenes is never compatible to each transition. It's one of the most important thing in movies, is the aspect so you can tell the story clearly however this film felt like it was confused by it's own means.

Despite of having a bunch of talented veteran actors it unfortunately become one of its own problem to. There is no strong moments to overcome those talents however every time sir ER Ejercito are getting some big acting moments, it feels funny because it's just a very bad acting rather you root some care on his situation as a main character, which i despise by disagreeing the casting choices about ER being Asiong. Also another problem is that the story doesn't felt to be progressive rather it felt like it wanted to put the film into conclusion from the very beginning. I know the movie just wanted to be energetic but the progression was sacrificed that it turns the film into a anticlimactic set of fun, which is never good.

The Color had a great potential of making the movie looks good, and it really helps to send some feeling on the atmosphere of the timeline but it was weaken by some bad editing and unnecessary Camera movements that the film has from many ways and gladly it doesn't lowered the real beauty, i just love the look of this film, it has a really good cinematography. It's a great benefit of risking a ton money to make this movie as possible because at least it feels so luxurious and every frame per seconds. I would also like to put a compliment to the excessive use of light flares which is perfect to some the scenery.

Now one of the most important thing about this movie is the action scenes. Even though it was crime drama film it's a movie that returns the glory of gun exchanging moments, hand to hand combat choreography and one liners which payed homage to the classic filipino movies , it's one of the reason why this movie are so anticipating back on 2011's MMFFF. It's fun to see the gun slinging shoot outs that's going to the screen, it's clean, and realistic except the hand to hand combat which just when you thought it's going to be good and intense it goes down because of bad editing, yet i still love the fact that the movie shows the vulnerability of our hero at those moments.

Overall Manila Kingpin was the most appreciative modern mainstream filipino movie i have seen. With it's great production value and not being afraid of showing a sensible and artistic premise despite of the flaws of having a bad pacing it still manage to stand out among the others who tries to be unique. At the end of the day it's trying and risking, and hopefully many of our mainstream film makers learn from it.

I Give Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story a solid 7.2/10.

Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story was directed by Tikoy Aguiluz, starring Jeorge "ER" Estregan, Carla Abellana, john Regala, Philip Salvador, Ping Medina and Baron Geisler and more...