Dynamic exception to the desultory ruleMOST OF the current MMFF entries are standard stuff—sequels and/or comedy, horror or action-adventure-fantasy formats.
One of the few exceptions to that desultory rule is “RPG: Metanoia,” a full-length animated feature made by Filipinos, produced by Ambient Media, Thaumatrope Animation and Star Cinema. For that reason, the film should be seen and discussed.
We’ve been encouraging Filipino animators for many years to come up with our own full-length features because we believe in their talent and potential. Having interviewed Fil-Am animators hired by big movie studios in the States, we know that we’ve got what it takes to challenge Japan’s lead in Asia in the field of animation.
Efforts
Most of the time, however, local production houses’ efforts fall short on point of weak or unfocused storytelling, garish or muggy coloration and undynamic editing.
The good news is that, despite some flaws, “Metanoia” is the best full-length animated feature produced in these parts to date. Its color palette is good, its characters are generally finely limned, its action-fantasy scenes are sometimes visually exciting, and its editing is dynamic.
The film focuses on a barkada of adolescents (voiced by Zaijian Jaranilla, et al) who are so addicted to playing computer games that it becomes the dominant “reality” in their young lives. At first, the film’s emphasis on “gaming” makes it difficult for us to follow its main characters as people.
Later, however, the production regains its proper focus and makes insightful and instructive points about some Filipino youths’ current over-absorption with technology, to the detriment of their development as “normal” young people with families, schoolwork and other less “exciting,” but more relevant concerns.
After “Metanoia” gets its bearings, its emphasis on the barkada and its local psychic resonances emerges as the movie’s strongest thematic suit, next to its young characters’ unreal view of “reality” as “lived” through the fantasticating computer-generated “world.”
Computer game
The boys and girls in its unfolding story may bicker and brawl, but when push comes to shove, they can be relied on to rescue each other—even if it’s only from a fantasy computer game’s “terrors.”
Also significant and empathetic is the movie’s occasional focus on young love—or crushes, at least— made even more appealing by the fact that the barkada’s group crush is an accomplished and confident young lady.
In terms of dramatizing its characters’ diverse relationships, the film is at its best when it limns its young protagonist’s family life, which is “so Filipino” because his dad (voiced by Aga Muhlach) works abroad, leaving his mother (Eugene Domingo) to put up and deal with their boy and his many confusing and even contradictory impulses.
In addition, the film has a lot of cogent things to say about Filipino life today, as seen from an adolescent’s occasionally confused and confounded perspective.
All told, therefore, despite its detours and other lapses, “RPG: Metanoia” “works”—making it, in our view, the best film showing at the MMFF. Now, if only its “export” possibilities will live up to their promise of global success, as well!
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20110107-313097/Dynamic-exception-to-the-desultory-rule
