chrisrobin-1 Despite being a low budget independent film, this movie is better than 80% of any commercial film made in the Philippines. Not saying much for the state of movie-making in the Philippines. I tried to watch this film knowing that it was an Indie. The whole picture is shot using hand-held video cameras. The product is a jumpy, nausea-inducing thrill ride. I honestly was sea sick halfway thru the movie. But at the same time I had to finish it because the story was actually pretty good. I thought the locations used in the film were very typical of Anytown, Philippines. Many of the comments left here seem to think that it was the film-maker's fault for having slum areas and open garbage dumps. It's funny how every Filipino hates to see these eyesores yet we do nothing about them. Particularly funny was the typical sign "Bawal Tumae Dito" (by order of mayor). We have all seen this sign one time or another, and somehow this is accepted. We need to be told what common sense should have already made known to us. The film has much more substance and direction than your typical Filipino movie, I would love to see more.

Pietruck Gripping movie surrounding a world of religious beliefs, generational betrayals, and blackmail….Throughout, the movie chimes a powerful message as voiced by the main character Adam: "how many people have to die for you to make your point?" Follow Adam as he is guided through the darker sides of human nature while he tries to save his family, his unborn child, and his conviction.The writers were outstanding in the backdrop motivations for the characters – even down to a little boy thief. They do a good job of helping the viewer wrap realism around the "why". The "voice" on the phone of the terrorist was mesmerizing as he instructed Adam on his journey through the Philippine squatter camps and towns. It was a good choice to not put a face with the voice of Adam's nemesis. The only real problem with the story is the "girlfriend" back story. The conversation between Adam and the girl about her not wanting a "Muslim" baby made no sense and was out of place considering their first conversation on the phone. It should have been left at that.Over all, it was worth the watch so don't say I didn't tell ya!

for-vicky Cavite, in its simplicity, is a provocative and insightful gem. This movie adeptly presents the complexities of culture and nationalism using parallels and metaphors interwoven in a culture few will encounter. The story's plot is simple enough- an Americanized Filipino American (Adam) whose life is in chaos returns to the Philippines to attend his fathers funeral, but instead, embarks on a horrific rescue mission to get his ransomed mother and sister back from the Abu Sayyaf, an extremist Muslim group. The violent tension in this movie is subtle and below the radar, but keeps the viewer watching. But it is the emotional tension- the play with expectations that breaks from being predictable; the killer who loves love songs, has a reassuring voice; Adam, the victim, is a non-violent Muslim; the grinding poverty and Adam's naivete; the kid who steals for the Abu Sayyaf steals to eat McDonalds. The backdrop of the plot is the forced education of Adam to a culture he has had no connections to. While for many Filipinos, this can be tedious, the depth of the movie begins to beg the question- who are the real hostages, and what will we do to save them.That the movie has a circular plot- it ends where it begins but with a twist- leaves the viewer forced to contemplate the significance, which can be profound, "dangerous" as some have described, but open to interpretation. This can be troubling to some who want to see movies that require no thought.Cinematically, the movie is remarkable, low budget or not. The shots are insightful and capture the reality of everyday life in a town greatly affected by poverty. One can almost smell the diesel fumes, the odors in the market and feel the tension of desperation. Because this is the personal story of Adam, a home-video feel to the footage adds to the credibility that this is his story.Most mainstream thrillers have something in their plot that is implausible, and this one is no exception- the everpresent killer, and that there is a Filipino who doesn't know what balut is.It is unfortunate the cover and sub-title imply Cavite is a Sylvester Stallone no-brainer which makes me wonder whether the brilliance of this movie was a result of the directors' intention. In any case, this movie is worth viewing for its creative display of a complex subject- but with a caveat- this movie presents a picture that is not characteristic of all life in the Philippines- something few viewers will take into account. This isn't the responsibility of the directors, however. It speaks to the fact that there are too few Filipino filmmakers.

Deepfried-Egg Don't be fooled by the stylish DVD cover. You will regret it!!! This movie was annoying to say the least. ZERO action. Breathtaking my eyeball! The lead character was never out of breath except when he ran out of cigarettes. I don't remember him even running a single time. He was never in a hurry to get anywhere. I saw one machine gun the whole movie and it was being carried by a soldier in town. No one fired at the main character. No one even came near him with a gun. So why is the rifle the most prominent image on the DVD cover?!?!!?I got tired of hearing that terrorist on the other end of the phone line after about 10 minutes too. Tell me please how on earth he could see him EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE. If the terrorist on the phone walked everywhere the lead character did, then why on earth didn't the terrorist just do the job? Silly plot line.The only thing this movie is good for is for its National Geographic-like shots of the slum-filled Philippines. I now know that I would never want to waste my money visiting that country. It's an absolute wreck!