GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

hazimmer Metro Manila was, out of the foreign films that I've watched, a solid favorite of mine. The plot is rather interesting, as it follows the story of Oscar, a rice farmer; Mai, his wife; and their two daughters who move from Banaue Province to Metro Manila in search of a better life. However, upon moving, they realize that the city, which is crawling with crime and corruption, is much worse than they thought. Oscar is offered a job, and the family is offered shelter in a low-income apartment building; however, his job is incredibly dangerous and requires him to put his life on the line, and they find out they were swindled as the police evict the family for swatting. This situation and many others contributed to a feeling of always being on the edge of your seat, and normally, I don't really enjoy action movies, but I loved this movie. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

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

brchthethird METRO MANILA is as much a heartbreaking drama of trying to make it in the big city as it is a crime thriller, probably even more so. Sean Ellis, who directed, wrote, produced and did the cinematography has crafted an excellent story that, while a little too familiar in some respects, is still powerfully acted and beautifully shot. In fact, the visual authenticity is what gripped me the most. Having been to the Philippines a couple of times, I felt like these were locations that I had seen before (even though I hadn't been to the ones specifically used for the film). There are dozens of shots capturing all of the various aspects of life in Manila, from the squalor of the slums to the bright lights of the Metro area. Everything is shown, and nothing is held back. The cinematographic choices also lend a degree of realism to the drama of the story.As far as acting is concerned, everyone did a good job as far as I could tell, although some line readings did seem to be a little off. In particular, the actors who played Oscar Ramirez and Douglas Ong stood out. The story the film tells is quite a familiar one, although the execution and setting is what make it seem fresh. Basically, Oscar moves his family from the rice terraces of Banaue to Manila, in hopes that they will be able to make a better living. Oscar gets a job as an armored car driver, while his wife Mai takes a job at a hostess bar (similar to juice bars in South Korea). While there, both are confronted with the harsh realities of city life and are forced to make difficult choices for themselves. Seeing some of the things that they, Mai in particular, have to go through was painful to watch at times, but it helped in making these people easy to sympathize with. Generally, the story doesn't take too many surprising turns, but the way in which it ends was definitely emotionally satisfying.As far as the action is concerned, while the film seems to be billed as a crime thriller, this isn't entirely accurate. Yes, crime is a part of the overall narrative, but at its heart the film is a family drama. This might disappoint people going in hoping for a shoot-em-up, but this film is more thought-provoking than it is riveting in an action-film sense. Trying to escape poverty is one of the film's biggest themes, and the way in which this was portrayed is, in my opinion, what sets it apart from other movies like it. Overall, I thought that the film was well-made, well-acted, well-shot, etc., even if the story wasn't the most original. Fans of foreign and Filipino cinema should definitely check this out, and I would also recommend it to anyone willing to give it a chance.