Rating: 
Summary: Pilipino Culture Night (PCN) on Film
Review: If you've ever watched a PCN, then you've already seen about 90% of this movie. You have the stereotypical Filipino parents who don't understand their American raised kids, thrown in a Muslim dance suite, a modern dance suite, a few Filipino-American jokes, and you have this film.....just like a PCN. While entertaining, it's a story we've all heard way too many times before.
Rating: 
Summary: it's not boyz in the hood, but....
Review: It's not Boyz in the Hood, but it does have it's share of fine boys, Brothers actually for all you sick pups.If your goal this summer is to see a memorable movie it's definitley in your best interest to go ahead and ask mom and dad, grandma and granpa or uncle Buck for $5.00, $10.00 for California residence, to see this movie. Dante Basco, you know the guy from Ninja Turtles, along with his brothers and other cast members you won't really know until you see this movie, do a terrific job bringing this cutural drama to life. You're actually able to experience what it is like being filipino american in a time when filipino's are up and coming. You will also learn a little bit about filipino customes so go ahead and bring all your friends and make it a learning experience. You definitley don't have to be filipino to be able to gain a fresher knowledge from this film. This is something we all can relate to on one level or another.
Rating: 
Summary: A Must See!
Review: Kudos to a terrific first film for Gene Cajayong, to the writers who captured the essence of Filipino-American life, and to the excellent cast who brought out the sub-textual subtleties of the story line. Although I had to wait nearly two years to finally view "the Debut" (thanks to Hollywood's lack of support), it was certainly well worth the wait. Rarely is a film created, acted, and about Filipino-Americans. So for those uninitiated to the culture and its people, this is a great "primer". For the Filipino-American community, this is a film we should support, and definitely worthy of our pride. This is the first (as far as I know) commercial Fil-Am film released in Chicago, I hope it's not the last!The plot is nothing new, but the message and its delivery are pure "pinoy". The mix of fresh and seasoned talent keeps the energy going throughout the entire film. But what stood out to me the most are the scenes showcasing Filipino food, music, dance, and (I'm almost ashamed to admit) the fresh-off-the-boat (fob) humor. So to the general public, "This film is in English, has mass market appeal (i.e. very entertaining), and it doesn't hurt that it broadens one's horizon." To my fellow Filipino-Americans, "Welcome to our "debut"!" Go out to see it now because if we don't watch it in the theaters, it may never reach your local video store!
Rating:
Summary: Homesick from LA in Detroit
Review: My cousin is from Kayamanan nang lahi and she was awesome in it! I knew so many people that played a part in it (like Devoition, a music group whose songs are features) and my older bro's friend who host the behind the scenes featurette. I do admit, the film isn't like The Godfather, but at least we're making a huge step and raising the bar on Asians being featured as main characters in film today.
Rating: 
Summary: Cliché but nonetheless entertaining
Review: no one will find this review to be helpful because my views are much different than most, but that's cool. As a filipino-american, i found this film to be somewhat disturbing to my own identity. yes, there are the parts where the creators of the story play off of stereotypical aspects of the filipino-american community such as rice for nearly all meals and what not. That's totally cool. the part that i found disturbing is that, as a filipino-american, am i sell out if i don't have any filipino friends and don't really cherish my "heritage"? i understand it makes me unique and it is a part of me. BUT it does NOT define who i am and therefore i do not really have any pride in it. It seems that in the film that he seems to somewhat sell out his more "american" side, which american is up for interpretation since there are so many takes on that, so in a way, he's also not american. It seems that the film cherishes being filipino more than it does being yourself, or an individual. it is a difficult thing to be a hyphenated american, especially nowadays with our loyalty to America being questioned everyday. although i do not think this film is a correct representation of a life as a filipino-american, i think it is a very good one for showing one person's struggle to find his identity. i would not want to show this film to friends thinking that my family is like his because the film plays off of so many stereotypes, in a good way, but not mine nor all. STILL! do watch it because it is only one representation of being filipino-american, not the canon or model for all filipino-americans. also, didn't you love Dante Basco (Ben) in Hook? GO RUFIO! RUFIO!RUFIO!RUFIO!RUFIO!RUFIO!
Rating:
Summary: More of a hodgepodge than a cohesive film
Review: Okay, by now you pretty much know the primary plot: Ben, Filipino-American adolescent, is having problems with his all-too-strict father, who wants his son to become a doctor despite Ben's clear artistic genius. This serves as a starting point for the movie, and it's meant to be driven forward by a debutante ball thrown by the family for Ben's little sister. In the meantime, however, the movie decides to take, oh, about a gazillion detours into random stereotypes. And yes, they're ALL thrown in there: The gangster gun-toting "bad-ass." The guy who's willing to spend all kinds of mad cash on souping up his car. The Filipino-American Black Panther spouting off on The Man's attempts to keep his brown brothers down. The kid who's been in the States for two years and still pronounces his "f"s like "p"s. Oh yes, they're AAAALL in there. Eventually during the course of the film we learn that Ben's dad was quite a talented singer in his youth, but he eventually gave up that "hobby" in favor of providing for his wife and kids. Turns out Dad's insistence that Ben abandon his artistic talent mirrors his own type of sacrifice. And when we see Dad's father (Ben's grandfather) drills Dad a new one for all kinds of things that were beyond Dad's control, you would think Dad would realize what kind of vicious cycle he's perpetuating upon his son. Let's face it, Filipino men are NOT portrayed as great people in this movie. Another little detour the movie takes along the way is Ben's "identity crisis." This subplot is difficult to follow, mostly because Ben doesn't really manifest an innate hatred of the color of his skin. We're led to believe he has a problem because people accuse him of having a problem, but we don't really get to see it for ourselves. Meanwhile, Ben is accused told that he is selling out his Filipino heritage because he seems to have only white friends and he has little interest in his sister's party. This makes him a "coconut"? The rather frightening implication of this accusation is that Filipino-Americans in this country should only be mixing with their own kind, and if you have non Filipino friends, you're selling out. And what teenager, of any race, isn't at some point embarassed by his family? And one quick note about Ben's two non-Filipino friends: While I found them to be cool people, I found them strangely, and somewhat unbelievably, open-minded. How many non-minority teenagers do you know who would delay plans to go to a cool friend's party in order to sit around and watch an "ethnic" dance, or to hear a song sung in a language they don't even understand? The movie obviously resolves itself by the end in the way all movies of this genre will. Despite my review, the movie is still a fun show. And all the young Filipinos and Filipinas are pretty easy on the eyes, too.
Rating:
Summary: More of a hodgepodge than a cohesive film
Review: Okay, by now you pretty much know the primary plot: Ben, Filipino-American adolescent, is having problems with his all-too-strict father, who wants his son to become a doctor despite Ben's clear artistic genius. This serves as a starting point for the movie, and it's meant to be driven forward by a debutante ball thrown by the family for Ben's little sister. In the meantime, however, the movie decides to take, oh, about a gazillion detours into random stereotypes. And yes, they're ALL thrown in there: The gangster gun-toting "bad-ass." The guy who's willing to spend all kinds of mad cash on souping up his car. The Filipino-American Black Panther spouting off on The Man's attempts to keep his brown brothers down. The kid who's been in the States for two years and still pronounces his "f"s like "p"s. Oh yes, they're AAAALL in there. Eventually during the course of the film we learn that Ben's dad was quite a talented singer in his youth, but he eventually gave up that "hobby" in favor of providing for his wife and kids. Turns out Dad's insistence that Ben abandon his artistic talent mirrors his own type of sacrifice. And when we see Dad's father (Ben's grandfather) drills Dad a new one for all kinds of things that were beyond Dad's control, you would think Dad would realize what kind of vicious cycle he's perpetuating upon his son. Let's face it, Filipino men are NOT portrayed as great people in this movie. Another little detour the movie takes along the way is Ben's "identity crisis." This subplot is difficult to follow, mostly because Ben doesn't really manifest an innate hatred of the color of his skin. We're led to believe he has a problem because people accuse him of having a problem, but we don't really get to see it for ourselves. Meanwhile, Ben is accused told that he is selling out his Filipino heritage because he seems to have only white friends and he has little interest in his sister's party. This makes him a "coconut"? The rather frightening implication of this accusation is that Filipino-Americans in this country should only be mixing with their own kind, and if you have non Filipino friends, you're selling out. And what teenager, of any race, isn't at some point embarassed by his family? And one quick note about Ben's two non-Filipino friends: While I found them to be cool people, I found them strangely, and somewhat unbelievably, open-minded. How many non-minority teenagers do you know who would delay plans to go to a cool friend's party in order to sit around and watch an "ethnic" dance, or to hear a song sung in a language they don't even understand? The movie obviously resolves itself by the end in the way all movies of this genre will. Despite my review, the movie is still a fun show. And all the young Filipinos and Filipinas are pretty easy on the eyes, too.
Rating:
Summary: it could have been better
Review: the acting.. well it wasnt great, but it was better than many other filipino movies. the soundtrack, however, was really good. but anyway. so rather than going to medical school, ben, the main character, wants to go to cal arts. his father, on the other hand, does not support him in his choice for a career.. blah blah blah.. basically, the movie just puts all of the stereotypes together in a rather mediocre, and yet again, stereotypical storyline, because in the end, everyone changes. the barrel men, the food, the parties, the small house with 09287354821728743 always there, the big spoon and fork, the AzN pRyDeRs, the difference between the word "oriental" and "asian", the filipina with the american husband, someone making a racist comment (eating dog), etc etc. basically, had the storyline been better--less stereotypes with more focus on what the actualy purpose of the movie was, then it may have been decent.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: The Debut is a great movie for all to see. It depicts Filipino American life in a realistic manner. When I saw the movie I kept thinking to my self, 'that is so my family'. Those who are not Filipino American will also enjoy it. Support this independent film!
Rating: 
Summary: One step foward or three steps back
Review: The Debut snaps a shot of Filipino-American life with strong pace and a rich color palette. The basic plotline isn't really the point here; it's the retelling of a universal story in Filipino American terms. It delivers in broad strokes the sights, sounds, tastes, conflicts, and aspirations of Filipino American life--going far beyond lumpia and the tinikling (bamboo dance). No one film can tell every story, but The Debut is a worthy theatrical pioneer for one of the nation's largest but least understood ethnic groups.
|
