CCM Film Productions, Star Cinema and Viva Films made a great move in producing ‘Amg Panday’ with Coco Martin as the lead star and director at the same time.
It is pretty much obvious why filmmakers are too BIG in joining the said yearly festival. It is to exhibit their works and gain more opportunity to rake more money via its captive audiences–the Filipino families are all going out and are willing to spend during Christmas season from December 27 till January 7.
But based on what the film has offered, here are 10 reasons why moviegoers this Christmastime must not let the Coco Martin-starrer be set aside over the other seven official entries of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2017 (MMFF).
Coco Martin’s first time to Direct.
It is quite a thrill to catch the directorial debut of Coco, His cult following is definietly excited to see how he has crossed over from being a mere actor to a producer-director of this reimagined version of Carlo J. Caparas-Steve Gan‘s creation–‘Ang Panday’, which originally began in 1979 and was filmed by the late King of Action Movies in the Philippines—Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) both in 1980 and 1982.
37 years later, Martin ventured into recreating the world of Flavio, the blacksmith who posseses the power of a dagger (balaraw) that when he points it toward the skies–it will transform into a magical sword.
For a first time director–he has great promise of becoming a great director.
He also has taken the King’s route.
Since he took the challenge of following the late FPJ’s footsteps, FPJ’s fans and his fans alike are looking forward to what he can do as he assume the role of Flavio, which is a character apart from the one he is playing as SPO2 Ricardo ‘Cardo’ Dalisay and Police S/Insp. Dominador ‘Ador’ B. de Leonon on a daily basis via the soap–‘Ang Probinsyano’.
Since, he just didn’t portray the three characters–he also donned on the greater task as a director and a producer at the same time.
This is a New Take of Panday.
Over the years, there were a couple of actors who have encarnated the role of Flavio apart from FPJ.
There were a couple of films produced and released on the said story. In 1993, Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. starred as ‘Ang Panday’ via ‘Dugo ng Panday’, then Jinggoy Estrada assumed the character in 1998 as well in a movie ‘Hiwaga ng Panday’. In 2005, Kapamilya actor–Jericho Rosales took on the iconic role via a series on ABS-CBN channel 2’s ‘Ang Panday’. But in 2009 and 2011, Revilla returned on the bid screen as Flavio via ‘Ang Panday’ and ‘Ang Panday 2’, respectively.
In 2016, Richard Gutierrez was chosen to carry on the legacy of ‘Ang Panday’ via another series on TV5. Today, Martin has re-imagined the story and made it ‘very now’.
Reunion of Old Cast Members.
Some of the former actors who appeared in previous installments of ‘Ang Panday’ were allowed to have special appearnaces in this version of Coco’s Panday. Unfortunately, I just can’t name them since–I overheard from the Panday fans that they were in the other Panday movies.
Apart from that, this latest take of the blacksmith hero is bringing to life the character of Tata Temio.
Watching the film is like reminiscing the memorable characters that appeared in the previous films of the Caparas-Gan creation.
Packed with Stunts.
‘Ang Panday’ is known for being an action-fantasy flick, thus it is understandable that stunts are expected in this version.
Coco didn’t fail the fans and the moviegoers who are curious about this.
It’s good that there is not just the usual punch-and-kick stunts; there was still the classic sword fight between Lizardo and Flavio. It was also refreshing to see Lito Lapid doing a cameo as Martin’s swordmaster and it was treated like a Disney-animated film.
Retained Iconic Scenes.
It is good that Coco still decided to retain the iconic scene–the sword fight between Flavio and Lizardo in the middle of a desert that simply represents the latter’s world–a wasteland.
It can remember that Flavio’s sword has the same effect that of Lizardo’s in the previous films. Lizardo back then was portrayed by the late Max Alvarado. And the sword when it strikes it creates a sheathing, reverberating, whistling-type of sound effect.
Apart from that, the film takes pride in its visual effects that made it win in the ‘Gabi ng Parangal’ as Best in Visual Effects.
It’s a Complete Package Film.
Knowing that Christmastime is when Filipino families are able to go out together and it is their time for bonding; thus Martin made it sure to provide all the ingredients in making his film appealing to all ages.
Aside from the actions that would attract the male audience; he also brought onboard the loveteam of McLisse—McCoy de Leon and Elisse Joson. He also has his own love interest in the person of Binibining Pilipinas-International 2017—Mariel de Leon.
For kids, he gathered the familiar faces from the ‘Ang Probinsyano’ series and they are Awra Briguela and Paquito as well as ‘Dear Heart’ series–Heart Ramos and Enzo Pelojero as his adoptive brothers and sister.
Family-Oriented
Despite the action and the fight scenes included in the film; the stress on ‘family’ is still evident in here.
Flavio may have been adopted into a family that is not really related to him by blood; it still suggests the same amoun t of love and genuine care for each other.
The lead character is compelled to fight against the evil forces in order to protect his loved ones; his family. The family-centeredness from his series ‘Ang Panday’ is extended here. The only difference is that the matriarch here is not Susan Roces, but another Queen of Philippine Cinema–Gloria Romero.
Jake Cuenca is a Revelation.
Perhaps, the best thing about this film is picking Jake Cuenca to play the arch-nemesis of Flavio, as the evil Lizardo.
Next to Robert Arevalo and Nonie Buencamino as Edgar Allan Guzman‘s tough competition as Best Supporting Actor was Cuenca. He channeled the Eric Draven character of the film ‘The Crow’ (1994) combined it with persona of Batman‘s main antagonist–Joker which was also portrayed by the late Heath Ledger.
Jake’s Lizardo is reminiscent of Anne Rice‘s fictional character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman turned into a vampire in the 18th century in the ‘Vampire Chronicles’.
It’s Fast-Paced.
Oh well, that should be the case and again, Coco didn’t bore his audience with his fast-paced srtunts and trasitioning of one scene to the next.
There was no dull moment at all.
Watching this latest version of ‘Ang Panday’ is definitely a great treat. Martin made sure that each scene is handled well as to engage his audience and would still be banking on Flavio until the end.
Still running and is predicted to be as one of the Top Five-grosser in MMFF2017. It’s just a battle against ‘Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad’.
