Wasn’t keen on watching this. Mr. Jericho Rosales as half-Spanish and Ms. Anne Curtis as pure indio…really, how can we believe that?!

Oh well, humor Kris.

First 15 minutes of the film, I just wanna leave the theater na — it’s so formula-ic that you already know what will happen the rest of the movie eh. Surely in that one love scene mabubuntis. Nabuntis nga! Surely madi-discover ang sobrang tagong pagbubuntis ni Feliza. Ayun, as if on cue talaga sa tummy, biglang dinugo scene! Surely sa tagal ng tiis and seeming matatapos na pag-hihirap ni Celso, mamamatay yan. Namatay nga — walang saysay na pagkakamatay pa! Hay!

Overall, the movie is like a high school play of the spanish era. The lines and the way they are said are so like in a play din — parang recital, full delivery, may pattern, may kasamang haplos-haplos sa kausap while being said. Also, puro black-out din for scene changes — wala man lang good transitions that can be done on film! Ang daming OA din na parang the required big movements on stage sila — eh since film nga, ayun OA talaga ang dating.

I can imagine Baler on stage — main set is the church; front part is a bahay kubo for the indoor scenes; and the other side is a garden for the ‘tagpuan’ scene. Then, they execute the same actions and lines. Perfect na…and I think way better pa.

Now, as for Ms. Curtis. Yeah, she was good; but due to her looks, she is, for me, a miscast.

WHEREFORE, I don’t endorse/recommend this movie.

photo and synopsis from: http://showbiznest.blogspot.com/2008/12/baler-is-upcoming-official-entry-of.html

Synopsis: Baler is a tale of an overwhelming love of a young Filipina named Feliza Reyes (Anne Curtis) and Celso Resurrecion (Jericho Rosales), a Spanish-Filipino soldier, set in the backdrop of 1898 wartime action between a 57-man Rifle Batallion of the Spanish military and the Filipino forces, more popularly known as the Seige of Baler.

Feliza is the beautiful daughter of Nanding (Phillip Salvador), who’s a member of therebel movement. This is the very reason why she and Celso have to keep their love a secret.

Nanding, whose primary goal is to completely wipe out the Spanish soldiers stationed in the town of Baler, can never accept Celso, a half- Indio, half Spanish soldier who chooses to serve the enemies more than the Filipino insurgents who are struggling and fighting for their independence, their freedom.

Feliza is in love with the man her father despises but who and what could stop the two young people who are madly in love with each other?

While we are drawn to the endearing story of a classic love that knows no time, place and race, we are also glided into the historic past to take a peek on what transpired inside the walls of the church of Baler where the last Spanish contingent (who are not aware that the war had actually ended), heroically defended Baler against the Filipino forces for 337 long and grueling days.

While Baler is a story of conflict, betrayal, suffering, self-preservation, selfishness,obstinacy, and self-interest, it is also a story of heroism, courage, love of freedom, patriotism,endurance, chivalry, humanity and above all, it also tells about a noble story of love in time of war— the story of Feliza and Celso.

The movie also stars Phillip Salvador, Baron Geisler, Bernard Palanca, Carlo Aquino, Niki Bacolod, DJ Durano, Joel Torre, Mark Bautista, Michael de Mesa, and Ryan Eigenmann.