The Debut

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly enjoyable
Review: The story isn't new, but the ethnic twist made it fresh. Good production, acting and soundtrack. Much better than it could have been, given the budget! Similar to the even lower budget "American Desi", which I also recommend. Equally as impressive was the city-to-city campaign these guys put together. I happened to see the movie twice, thanks to a Pilipina friend, and enjoy it even more thanks to the post movie talk with the director and actors. Well done, guys, I hope the DVD sells tons!

Rating:
Summary: A good reflection of Fil-Am life
Review: This film accurately depicts the Filipino-American community and lifestyle. The stereotypes and ideosyncrasies are portrayed with lots of humor, and with not too much deep drama. Some of the situations are exaggerated, but this doesn't damage the movie at all, just makes it easier for all people (or races if we must) laugh at. I saw this with my daughter, although she was too young to really understand it all, most of it rang true. It was also great the director was there and some of the cast, they really worked hard to get this film on the screen, great T-shirts too! Hopefully this movie will eventually be accepted mainstream and/or will come out on DVD for purchase soon.

Rating:
Summary: Please Wake Up! You are a Filipino!
Review: This is a breakthrough film for among the Filipino viewers, Gene Cajayon did an exceptionally job for directing and producing this film. This film not only tells about a Filipino family's living and lifestyle in the land of the free but also of How one can be proud of the culture he or she was born with. I would like also to emphasize that this film is an eye-opener for those Filipino-American teenagers who's looking themselves as one of the white men...hey come'on, wake up from your senses! You're brown-skin men! Never let your ego be polluted with such concept of who's inferior and who's superior! The movie did good for presenting this kind of situation among Fil-Am teenagers.

On a personal note, Cajayon done a good directing by unravelling the real drama of a Filipino family though somehow focusing on a notable character of Dante Basco as Ben, who somehow not getting a sense of pride for his culture and background not unitl He realizes his true identity in a party of white teenagers. This is the turning point of the story..well, nothing's new about it but a simple realization of how Ben cope up with his identity.

Like what I said, this film is a breakthrough but it could really be more interesting to see and watch, a filipino movie with more heart.

Rating:
Summary: MUST SEE!
Review: This is a great movie even if you are not Filipino. But as a bi-racial Filipino American, I not only enjoyed this movie on a personal level but it also showcased the search for identiy we all go through (especially those of us whose race is NOT regulary seen in the mainstream media). This movie made me proud to be part of an eccentric Filipino family and wish that I had more of my Filipino culture available to share with my very American children!

Rating:
Summary: Not only for Filipinos
Review: This is a must see for everyone to see and understand Filipino culture. Every Filipino kid should see this movie. In addition, I believe that everyone should see this movie even if you are not Filipino. It exposes a lot of the culture that foreigners do not understand about Filipino culture.

Rating:
Summary: Filipino-American Groundbreaking and Feature Rich!!!
Review: This landmark DVD reflects the triumph of over 2 years of self-distribution with over 85 minutes worth of special features backed by the communities that made this Filipino-American film a phenomenom!
More than just a film, "the Debut" is a Filipino-American experience for all to see!!!

Rating:
Summary: NOT BAD.
Review: This movie was ok. I thought Better Luck Tomrrow was a lot better. The soundtrack was hot and so were many of the songs in the movie. Everyone should check out "Fakin The Funk" if their fans of Dante Basco. Despite the fact that the movie was just ok, GO OUT AND SUPPORT! BUY THE DAMN THING!

Rating:
Summary: From a Filipino/Amercian this was good
Review: This movie will appeal to Filipeano Americans more so than anything. It gives insight into the Filipino community in a humorous way. Hopefully some day more brown men/women will have leading roles in Hollywood movies. Dante Basco (most memoriable as Roofio from Robin William's "Hook") is good as a leading actor.

Rating:
Summary: One step foward or three steps back
Review: Unlike many Asian Americans, who support anything that is produced by another Asian, This is such a poor product. Believe me, I want the movie to be "good", but it isn't. Actually it is no better than a Pilipino Cultural Show and a lifetime movie put together.
As an objective avid movie watcher, I can say that the pace of the movie is terrible, the script was better if written in gibberish and the movie was actually painful to watch.
Instead of making a good film, the producers tried to address all the issues in the world that affect Pilipino Americans.

Overall, Watch the film and support Asian American film makers, but Let's not kid ourselves...This was a disastrous film.

Better Luck Tomorrow was heads above The Debut.

Rating:
Summary: more than meets the eye
Review: Whether you like this movie or not, you have to admit that The Debut is a landmark film for the Filipino-American community. The journey that this film has been on just to get to this point is nothing less than remarkable. For that reason alone, a lot of people are very excited to jump on the bandwagon of this movie without knowing a single thing about it. They claim to like this movie, but the only reason they claim to like it is because they see their favorite Filipino food on the screen or their favorite Filipino cultural tidbit and they think that's cool. But this movie is more than just a bunch of cheap pops that make Filipinos feel cool just because they're on the big screen. The Debut does well on its own merits.

The story of this movie is very well played out. Throughout the movie, you can definitely feel the tension between Ben and his father and the clash in their respective cultures and attitudes. You don't need to be Filipino in order to see that. Also, when Lolo Carlos and Augusto are added in, you see Ben trying to be pulled in two different directions, neither of which he wants to go towards. His identity crisis as a Filipino-American at a crossroads in his life is definitely apparent through the supporting cast. Also, the Dad isn't just the strict father that does what he wants and expects whatever he says to be the truth. Through his scenes with Ben and Lolo Carlos, you can definitely see the root of his means. By the end of the movie, you don't get a cornball ending where everyone hugs and laughs off into the sunset. You get a realistic ending that reflects the society we live in as people, not just Filipinos.

Sure, the tidbits of Filipino culture that are thrown in such as the traditional dancing, food, and mannerisms definitely appeal to the Filipino-American community. But The Debut is a movie that can transcend ethnic background. It's more than a cheap appeal to a minority that is struggling to belong. If there's one criticism I have about this movie, it's that the acting at some points is often awkward. But it doesn't take away from the overall impact of the movie.

All in all, I overwhelmingly recommend that you get The Debut no matter what your nationality is. It's a great movie and a great DVD. The special features of the DVD really let you know how much struggle, hardship, and effort went into making this movie a reality for the entire community, not just Filipino-Americans.