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| Once Upon A Time |
Nitong mga nagdaang taon ay hindi maipagkakailang malaki na ang iniunlad ng sineng fanatasi kung ang pag-uusapan ay ang special effects na ginagamit sa pelikula. Ipinakilala sa Once Upon Ang Time si Puga, ang mahiwagang tauhang nabubuhay sa lugar na walang empirikal na batayan at walang pagkakakilanlang panahon. Namumukod-tangi ang pagbibigay-tuon nito sa imahinatibong pagkakatha ng mga mahiwagang tauhan, lugar at pangyayari. Kiling man sa komedi, reyalistikong ipinakita sa pelikula ang pakikipaglaban sa tiyak na lugar at di-tiyak na lugar na maaring nagaganap sa bagong likhang mahiwagang lugar ng imahinasyon. Nakakatawag ng pansin ang pagsasanib ng hiwaga at reyalismo sa Once Upon A Time at kung paanong pinaglaruan ang konsepto ng reyalismo at hiwaga. Mas may kabuluhang makukuha sa pelikula hindi dahil sa pagkakakulong nito sa pormalistikong katangian ng anyo kundi sa diskurso ng paglikha ng hiwaga at pagsasanib ng reyalismo at hiwaga o paglikha ng mito sa lambong ng reyalidad at paglikha ng reyalidad sa lambong ng mito. Sa katunayan, hindi lamang sa pelikula mailalapat ang ganitong pananaw. Ang buong sine, Pilipino man o dayuhan, sa kahit na anong anyo, sa katunayan ay paglikha ng representasyon ng reyalidad at hiwaga. Dito pumapasok ang isyu ng representasyon bilang diskursibong paglikha ng mundo at mga kahulugan ng mundo. Kabilang ang akto ng representasyon sa buong heograpiya at politika ng pagsasamundo ng mundo.
Direksiyon: Peque Gallaga At Lorenzo A. Reyes
Dulang Pampelikula: T.E. Pagaspas At Rosauro de la Cruz
Sinematograpiya: Eduardo F. Jacinto
Musika: Jaime Fabregas
Editing: Jesus M. Navarro
Disenyo: Don Escudero
Produksiyon: Regal Films, Inc.
Release Date: January 3, 1987
Para kay Dolphy Hulyo 25, 1928 - Hulyo 10, 2012
10:25 PM
I saw this film back in 1987 during its first day, first hour run at Gotesco Cinema. Even the trailer is so fantastic to see! Some critics bashed it as just a ripoff from The Never Ending Story.
Dolphy's lovable performance is so evident in this film you gonna root for him whether he's a tikbalang or not. The effects were superb enough to keep you glued from beginning to end. Peque's movies are always filled with memorable musical score, in tune always with the movie. Whether he's doing it for children or to an adult, he always pull me in!
He is at par with Steven Spielberg or even better than him! This was the costliest movie done by Regal back in the mid-80's. The sets outside Metro manila was barred by typhoon, too bad the dvd release was a barebone edition.
More, more Gallaga reviews, please!
4:03 AM
i loved this film so much! it's was truly ahead of it's time in terms of storytelling and special effects. imagine hindi pa uso ang digital effects but his use of stop motion animation was outstanding. as a viewer, it brought me to this magical world of colorful characters and interesting creatures. the films' original title was Tikbalang but Mother Lily changed it to Once Upon A Time for added commercial appeal.
8:00 AM
Outside Manila, the location shooting of this film was shot in our lovely mining site at Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales.
I was one of the extras playing one of the rebels alongside Joel Torre and Richard Gomez.
Dolphy was great in this movie, and he was even greater in person during breaks.
Rest in Peace King of Comedy.
7:50 PM
Thanks for sharing your story Fernz...
Indeed! Dolphy was great in this film. I just wish he had the chance to work with the likes of Maryo J. de los Reyes and Joey Reyes. At least, he was able to make a film with Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.
It's quite ironic how this funny man who made us laugh also made us cry with his passing.
3:12 AM
Thanks for this great review Jojo!
My family saw this in theaters also, I believed in Ali Mall.
You were the one who told me also that it was originally called Tikbalang, which I think is better.
Loved you last thought, Dolphy is now the embodiment of the two faces of Showbusiness.
3:34 AM
You're most welcome Dennis!
The opening scenes were shot at the Ali Mall as well...
Once Upon A Time is one of my favorite Dolphy movies mainly because it was different from anything he's ever done and was his most physically demanding role.
I also preferred if Mother Lily didn't change the title which made it sound more like a Hollywood film.
I didn't even realize the two faces of showbiz until you mentioned it. I just wrote what I was feeling at the time. Pinoy comedy died along with Dolphy...
11:42 AM
Oo nga pala, the skating rink and all hehe...
Talagang kakaiba ang Once Upon sa nagawa niya, hindi ko napansin 'yun dati basta nu'ng bata ako, Dolphy movie, ayos na.
Amen to that!
4:25 PM
Skate Town sa upper level ng Ali Mall di ba? They also shot scenes near Cinemas 3 and 4 ang showing na movie pa nga was Halimaw...
Once Upon was also a movie that didn't rely so much on slapstick and toilet humor which was Dolphy's claim to fame. It showed that there was a part of his comic ability that hasn't been explored which his directors were able to put to good use in this film.
6:36 AM
Oo nga hehe... ang laki ng part ng Ali Mall sa first scenes ng movie. Gusto ko rin 'yung may scene sa sine na pinapakita ang pinapanood ng character like 'yung scene din ni Janice at Tiyanak sa loob ng sine.
Agree with you there!
4:35 PM
Di ba? It's exactly how I remember Ali Mall. Malayung-malayo na sa bagong Ali Mall kung sean nasa upper level nang lahat ang mga sinehan at sa tapat naman ang food Court which used to be in the basement...
9:05 AM
Inaabangan ko ang trailer ng pelikulang ito noon sa isang morning show sa Ch. 7. Akala ko ay 1986 ipinalabas ito. Kasunod ng mga trailers ang morning show ni Kuya Germs na Daigdig ng mga Artista sa Telebisyon,if i remember it right.
11:04 AM
Totoo, Food court were in the basement dati just like in the old SM Cubao na kasama rin ang amusement park.
Ali-Mall and SM Cubao were part of my childhood when we go out as family. Not to mentioned Fiesta Carnival!
4:18 PM
Naalala mo pa ang Daigdig Ng Mga Artista Sa Telebisyon na morning talk show ni Kuya Germs. Halos sa lahat ng channels before, mapapanood ang trailer ng mga Regal movies. Di tulad ngayon, limitado lang sa kung anong network ang nag-produce.
4:19 PM
Hindi ba? Ang laki na kasi ng ipinagbago although ganon pa din naman ang structure ng Ali Mall.
How I miss those days...
11:21 AM
Oo nga, kung ang sakay mo e to Cubao Ali-Mall makikita mo pa rin ang pabilog na structure sa gilid. :-)
Nakakamiss nga Jojo. Those establishments na sa old pinoy movies na lang natin makikita ang dating itsura.
12:16 PM
For some reason eh naaalala ko pa yun morning show ni Kuya Germs. Magkasunod ata ito ng Cafeteria Aroma ni Apeng Daldal. Si Lani Mercado o si Jackie Lou Blanco ata ang co-host ni Kuya Germs o alternate sila. I also remember this show of Inday Badiday called True Confessions ng Mga Bituin sa Ch 7 din ata.
5:38 PM
Yan mismo ang sinasakyan ko dati. Sa Marcos Highway ako sumasasakay ng jeep going to Cubao.
When I went to UP last year to meet Kuya Cesar for Direk Elwood's booklet, wala akong making taxi kaya nag-jeep ako hanggang Katipunan. Then from there sumakay ako ng isa pa papuntang Cubao. Ganon pa rin ang dinadaanan ng jeep just like in the 80's. Medyo naiba nga lang ang paligid. I think that was also the same time na nag-meet tayo sa Gateway...
5:41 PM
Mas unang ipinapalabas ang show ni Kuya Germs, Dexter. Pagkatapos yung Cafeteria Aroma. Di ko lang maalala kung alin ang mas nauna yung Daigdig Ng Mga Artista o Ike's Movie Go-Round dahil si Kuya Germs din ang producer, same time slot at parehong sa Channel 7. Sa 13 ang True Confessions ni Ate Luds which didn't last dahil mahina ang rating.
11:11 AM
Nakakatuwa balikan except the traffic part hehe...
Nice meeting you there from then on.:-)
6:30 PM
Hindi ko gaanong pinansin ang traffic, mas nag-worry ako sa pollution sa Aurora Blvd. ;)
Same here Dennis!