Magnifico

The best movie i have ever seen in my entire life.

The actors, characters, cinematography, storyline are as good as it gets for this particular genre.

Truly inspirational.While most families around the world worries or complain about not having the best of everything, and their lack of appreciation to the simplest, or basic essentials in life, this movie will show how lucky you really are.

I've read some comments that down played the integrity of this movie, and in for obvious reasons, these comments came from people who's never been to the Philippines, who's never experienced poverty, and a complete slave to the "Hollywood" stereotypical way of depicting drama in the movies. The portrayal of the day to day hardships of this Philippine family in this movie is as real as it gets, or worse to some.

If this movie didn't touch you, then look for meetings that can help you.

I can't believe that it took me year before I had the "experience" of watching Magnifico. Never had I seen a Filipino movie which moved me to tears that I almost found it hard to breathe..This is one of those Filipino cinematic gems.. The story is simple yet unforgettable..this movie is unpretentious, subtle and humbling. One scene that really made me cry was when they did a slow motion of Jiro walking out of the house carrying his sister on his back to take her out to the "perya" Lorna, the mother, just crying there silently watching her two children was just one of the many unforgettable scenes in the movie. The movie's happy atmosphere in the beginning will cleverly prepare you to a tragic and yet what I consider "beautiful" ending. This movie is one of those stories that will prove that in this world where people consider Me, Myself and I as most important, there is still what we call selfless love.

A Filipino cinematic gem that went largely unnoticed during its commercial run. Thankfully, it got the acclaim it truly deserves when it won both the grand prix and children's jury prize -- a feat never before achieved -- in the 2004 Berlin Film Festival.

A Palanca-winning story, masterful directing and great acting from just about everyone in the cast, but most specially child actors Jiro Manio, Isabella de Leon and the boy who played Manio's best friend, combine for a viewing experience you will remember long after the credits roll. Poverty and death do not beg for sympathy and tears in this movie, but they are likely to fall just the same.

Could be veteran (though nonetheless underrated) director Maryo J. delos Reyes' most heartwarming, uplifting film.

Well its about time the Philippines made a movie and not stick to the old American formula, of the illness of the week syndrome.

This film did not shock you every few minutes, or give you eccentric characters. It went at a pace where life just goes on. We were shown the life in the village and the people living there.

I would of liked to see the reasons the older brother did not like school, and a bit more of Magnificoes friend, but overall it was a good film. Like Milan, the powers that be are thinking about the story a bit more. In the past Filipino films have been guilty of getting a thin story and stretching it for the film star. For example, do we have a role where Sharon Cuneta can cry? Ther was not a bad performance in the whole film, the father with his Rubic's cube, the mother with her pain, the grandmother who just wants to be a grandmother, and Magnifico who just wants to be a...boy.

Not a few critics have written negative reviews about this film for being too melodramatic. What is so wrong about a film which makes its viewers shed tears because of its sheer beauty? This film about a young boy who has so much love to give certainly won the hearts of its viewers, to hell with the critics. Personally, I think it is one of the best Filipino films ever made, and its two awards from the Berlin Film Festival should serve as proof of its greatness. I'd like to think of this film as the Philippines' humble contribution to world cinema. I believe that viewers around the world should not be deprived of movies such as this, which offer the message of hope and love, as opposed to the depravity prevalent in today's cinema.