The Debut

Rating:
Summary: An okay movie
Review: While I have supported my other pinoys and bought a copy of the movie, the movie itself is just okay. Since the subject of Fil-Ams is rarely done, it was a nice change of pace. However, at best the movie is a 70s after school movie with a lot of swearing in it and "stereotyping" of Fil-Am teenagers in the mid to late 90s. My real rating is 2.5 stars, nothing really more than that.

Rating:
Summary: Cliché but nonetheless entertaining
Review: You can rate and review this DVD from several angles. I give it five stars just for the monumental effort that was put forth by everyone involved in this movie. They can teach you a thing or two about persistence, hard work and fullfilling a dream. The DVD has loads of extras about making this movie and the herculean determination of Gene and Company to get this movie seen. Ofcourse most of the moviegoers were Filipino-Americans, and rightly so, this is about them, but I think anyone can admire and appreciate this movie. The script was crisp and right on and the acting was surprisingly good. Dante Basco who plays the lead role has actually appeared in a few popular movies like "Hook" and "The Brady Bunch Movie," he was the plain wrap, ethnic car jacker. To see him in an independent low budget movie is admirable and he worked just as hard to get this movie made. To say that this movie represents the typical Filipino-American experience is overreaching, but it did touch on a few familiar themes that immigrants to this country share like, balancing conformity with staying true to your roots. There are also a few inside jokes that main audiences might not get, so bring your filipino friend along to explain, then you'll be laughing too. Overall, I think this movie is cute, and well made. It is almost mean to say anything negative about this movie because it was made with a lot of heart.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for the monumental effort
Review: You can rate and review this DVD from several angles. I give it five stars just for the monumental effort that was put forth by everyone involved in this movie. They can teach you a thing or two about persistence, hard work and fullfilling a dream. The DVD has loads of extras about making this movie and the herculean determination of Gene and Company to get this movie seen. Ofcourse most of the moviegoers were Filipino-Americans, and rightly so, this is about them, but I think anyone can admire and appreciate this movie. The script was crisp and right on and the acting was surprisingly good. Dante Basco who plays the lead role has actually appeared in a few popular movies like "Hook" and "The Brady Bunch Movie," he was the plain wrap, ethnic car jacker. To see him in an independent low budget movie is admirable and he worked just as hard to get this movie made. To say that this movie represents the typical Filipino-American experience is overreaching, but it did touch on a few familiar themes that immigrants to this country share like, balancing conformity with staying true to your roots. There are also a few inside jokes that main audiences might not get, so bring your filipino friend along to explain, then you'll be laughing too. Overall, I think this movie is cute, and well made. It is almost mean to say anything negative about this movie because it was made with a lot of heart.