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| Rocco, Ang Batang Bato |
Filmmakers since the earliest days have always been fascinated by the genre. To quench their thirst for the unknown, to slake their frustrations over the unseen or the abstract which the senses cannot verify and the mind can only point at, Filipinos are hysterically fond of mythological creatures. This need to verify a mental construct makes the Filipino feel that we can control the unseen and thus not be totally powerless. The problem with Rocco, Ang Batang Bato however, is neither technical nor social, but fundamental. The screenplay is obviously based from Clash Of The Titans (1981) from which the film takes its land of the Gods sequences. Rocco gets the sword and shield from the Gods just like Perseus in the Hollywood film. Rocco has to face all kinds of monsters and search for his mother Cora (Cecille Castillo). The film even names some of its characters, Janus (Liz Alindogan) and Vulcan (Venchito Galvez) from Clash Of The Titans. But why use foreign mythology when Philippine folklore has enough monsters which can be used in fantasy films. There is however a directorial touch I like in J. Erastheo Navoa's films. He tends to do tongue-in-cheek violence. One scene in the film stands out. When Rocco is cornered by the twin monsters, he sees Excalibur embedded in a rock. After all he is a rock, get it? He tells the monsters that their time is up, since he will be King if he draws the sword. Here is a spoof of the Arthurian legend which redeems the triteness of the situation. Needless to say, when Rocco finally draws the sword, the blade is stuck in the rock.
Directed By: J. Erastheo Navoa
Screenplay: Joeben Miraflor
Cinematography: Hermo Santos
Music By: Ernani Cuenco
Film Editor: Joe Mendoza
Produced By: Cinex Films, Inc. And D'Wonder Films, Inc.
Release Date: June 25, 1982
9:17 AM MST
"Ako si Roco ang batang bato munting bayani ninyo. Sa bakbakan ay hindi tumatakbo...."
For some strange reason I can still sing the melody and some of the lyrics of the title song of the movie. I don't know if I mistake this from Zimatar, as having originated as a radio serial from DZRH, that I used to follow when I was a kid.
Thank you for a well-observed review. Also the screencaps perfectly captured the highlights of the movie. I have seen this a long time ago and I have forgotten most about it except for the tune that I wrote above. I agree with you that it would have been even more interesting if they use the indigenous mythology instead of using the Greek's. (or is it Roman's).
I am looking forward to revisiting this childhood movie that I have fond memory of.
9:45 AM MST
They didn't use the title song you mentioned in the movie. I guess the film triggered a pleasant childhood memory...
There are so many scenes to choose from and the act of capturing the images is made more difficult with the new VLC player update making the process a little tedious.
Direk Baby Navoa's tongue-in-cheek humor is on full display here. The special effects in the movie were better executed than in Eddie Romero's Kamakalawa, a disastrous film about Filipino mythology .
9:48 AM MST
Maybe it's in the Tagalog version. I haven't seen Kamakalawa. Is it an adventure/fantasy movie?
10:00 AM MST
Maybe... It's a little annoying watching the English dubbed version although the video transfer is more polished than any local release.
Kamakalawa is a fantasy / adventure movie starring Christopher de Leon, Tetchie Agbayani and Apeng Daldal. It was hyped as the Filipino version of Star Wars before the film's release. The less than average special effects left the viewers expecting more from the big budget spectacle.
10:25 AM MST
I wonder why Mondo Macabro didn't pickup this one. It fits perfectly in their kinds of releases!
10:35 AM MST
I believe Mondo Macabro goes for films containing sex and violence. Rocco Ang Batang Bato can be classified as Filipino Fantastic Cinema along with movies such as Si Baleleng At Ang Gintong Sirena and Valentina...
1:10 PM MST
They released Weng-weng's Bond parody, For Your Heights Only which I think is only PG-13 material.
Baleleng and Valentina from the sound of it are really fantastic cinema!
4:53 PM MST
Apparently, they're also fond of midget assassins...
10:57 PM MST
Hahaha. I know Zimatar is available on dvd in Amazon Germany, though it's dubbed in German and the transfer so so. I read that there was an english dubbed Japanese vhs release also. Tempted to buy the German release since it's readily available.
4:04 AM MST
You mentioned that before... I remember the radio serial which was really exciting. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the movie.
JC Bonnin was becoming a household name after playing the role of Monty in Flor de Luna. His popularity didn't help Zimatar at the box office, the movie was a total disappointment. Thankfully, Bagets saved his career. Although he starred in a number of smorgasboard movies, JC was given another chance to play the lead opposite Lito Lapid in Kamagong.
4:17 AM MST
Interesting insights on Rocco Jojo! A departure of sort to your regular posts.
If I wasn't mistaken the movie's alternate tile was The Boy God for obvious reason. I believe IBC-13 used to air this along with Kamakalawa. I was amazed back then in the latter mainly for its fantasy aspect.
While Rocco used the storyline in Clash of the Titans, Regals' Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang, on the other hand, opted to used the oft-told tale of Sleeping Beauty in the first episode when there's too many stories for Lola Basyang to tell.
I noticed there's no Nino Muhlach films released on dvd. Rights, perhaps?
4:53 AM MST
Thanks so much Dennis!
Boy God is indeed the movie's English title. I do remember Rocco being shown on TV along with Kamakalawa.
I guess the use of foreign fairy tales and mythology in Filipino films cater to our insatiable colonial hunger. We read them in books and seen them in movies when in fact, our culture is very rich in fairytale stories and mythological creatures.
Maybe D'Wonder Films is holding onto their movies just waiting for the perfect time to release them on DVD. Although most of them were available on Betamax and VHS in the 80's.
6:47 AM MST
I know that Niño has another film where he plays a magical dwarf (nuno sa punso). The title escapes me. Is it with Chiquito, or maybe I am mixing movies up again.
8:07 AM MST
Niño played a dwarf in Kuwatog opposite Ricky Belmonte, not Chiquito.
Here's a link to an excerpt from the movie...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kci-yD6_uG0
8:39 PM MST
Agree with you there. I believe we have so many untapped stories to tell in terms of myths and fantasies.
The glorious days of IBC-13 flashed to my mind when they air these kind of movies!
9:15 PM MST
The only filmmaker who used characters from Filipino mythology was Peque Gallaga whose commercially successful movies told stories about the Tiyanak, Aswang and Manananggal.
Channel 13 was the only station that showed these kind of movies constantly. I was glued in front of the TV on Monday nights for Piling-Piling Pelikula. It was where I learned to appreciate tagalog movies...
1:10 PM MST
Just saw the English dubbed version. Obviously something is lost in the dubbed version and at times it's distracting, especially hearing Nino and other well-known comedians in the movie sounding so different from their real/familiar speaking voices.
It's more or less two films, the first one was a countryside tale of a superhero boy encountering vampires and werewolves with a twist of the evil mad scientist. This is very similar to the Darna movies and its derivatives.
In the second half, the movie turned 360 degrees and turned into Clash of a Titans.
I must admit that even though the effect are crude but I think that it fits the visual style of the film. As you said the way the battle with the giant was filmed was very cleverly done.
This movie has cult classic written all over it. I hope that one day Mondo Macabro or a similar DVD outfit releases it in its original Filipino version. Including the original background music, the same way that was done with Silip.
Well, this is another wishful thinking on my part.
1:25 PM MST
You're absolutely right, Ron! A double feature, isn't ithat a treat? The plot is a little tough to follow at times but the movie is really not concerned in telling a straightforward story anyway. What I loved about Rocco is its humor. Listening to familiar comedians delivering their lines in English tends to be annoying since we have seen them in other movies of the sort although the special effects may seem primitive by Hollywood stndards but the way they were executed was more than adequate.
Nino was at an awkward age when he did this movie and to my surprise, he delivered quite an effective performace. It may lack the cuteness that catapulted him to superstardom but his natural talent carried him throughout the movie.
Who knows, maybe one of these days we'll be surprised by a possible DVD release. Here's hoping that there's still an existing print in good condition...
1:37 PM MST
I agree, Nino, dubbed and all, delivered a fine performance. He's just naturally charming & blessed a great comedic timing.
1:41 PM MST
He was blessed not just with talent but also the opportunity to work with the best people in the business. Actors, directors and scriptwriters alike...
10:34 PM MST
I forgot to mention my favorite gag which is when the three oldmaids captured Rocco and tied him on a stick like a pig with an apple in his mouth. So funny and disturbing at the same time. A scene that will not be seen in movies nowadays because of restrictions.
3:14 AM MST
Instead of having three little pigs, the movie reversed its take on the Joseph Jacobs fairy tale with the three spinster sisters as big bad wolves roasting Rocco like a suckling pig...
10:56 AM MST
Among Peque's take on our very own mythological creatures in films, his Tiyanak managed to make it really entertaining, frightening, comedic and even campy. You would really root for the characters of Janice and Lotlot. His episode in the second Shake, Rattle & Roll series starring Manilyn and Ana Roces is gripping. Aswang starring Alma Moreno, on the other hand, had a very promising story until the ending ruined it for me.
Yes, Piling Piling Pelikula was staple in every Pinoy's household!
11:07 AM MST
I also liked the Aswang episode in SRR II. There were many interesting scenes in Tiyanak although the movie was a bit too long.
BBC-2 on the other hand had WXYZ Theater on Friday nights which showed movies like Lipad, Darna, Lipad! and other fantasy films...
11:21 AM MST
Tiyanak was so successful that time that the line "Oh my God, ang baby ni Janice!" has become a catchphrase. It even resulted in a comedy flick using that phrase. I do noticed that, some scenes tend to dragged the movie but thankfully, the ending was worth the wait in my book.
11:51 AM MST
The trailer's catch phrase became a household name. The movie was Ang Anak Ni Janice. I saw it on video na lang dahil wala na ako diyan when it was shown.
Tiyanak would've been a much better film with tighter editing. That was one of my problems with Gallaga's movies, they were longer than usual, although the ending, like what you said was quite satisfying....
8:23 AM MST
I have the regal films released dvd of tiyanak. The transfer is so bad, especially for a movie that's not that old.
3:55 PM MST
I have the DVD as well and transfer leaves much to be desired. I just wished it was similar to their other releases though not great, but they're more watchable than Tiyanak...
11:07 PM MST
I did catch Anak Ni Janice naman in Regal Presents na lang. Very silly movie cashing in on the iconic phrase alone.
Peque Gallaga's films were mostly a bit long nga that usually the pacing suffers.
Was Tiyanak Dvd the same quality from vcd? I did watched the vcd format lent to me years ago.
7:19 AM MST
It really seemed like a silly movie...
Was the VCD released by Regal? If so, it's probably from the same master copy used for the DVD...
7:43 PM MST
Yes Jojo, distributed by Regal Video itself.
9:56 PM MST
So its definitely from the same master copy. Mas maganda ang quality ng ipinapalabas sa Cinema One...