Mulawin: The Movie
Encyclopedia
Mulawin: The Movie is the film
sequel
to the Mulawin
television series that was shown on GMA Network
. The movie was released on December 25, 2005 and is produced by Regal Films and GMA Films
in the Philippines
. It is also an official entry to the 31st Metro Manila Film Festival.
martial arts experts to make the stunts more realistic, the same team hired for fantasy-action TV series Sugo
. Wong choreographed stunts in the highly successful movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
, Kung Fu Hustle
, Rush Hour 2
and Bulletproof Monk
.
It was said that Robbie Tan of Seiko Films
didn't allow his contract stars Diana Zubiri
(Encantadia
's Danaya) and Alfred Vargas
(Encantadia's Aquil) to appear in the movie. Because of this, Valerie Concepcion played Danaya character in Mulawin: The Movie, while Aquil's character didn't appeared. Also, since the movie is a sequel, major characters such as Veronica/Vultra (played by Ara Mina
) and Rasmus (played by Gary Estrada
) who died in the TV series were not included in the movie version. New characters not in the TV series were also introduced in the movie.
But a new period in the Mulawin saga unfolds as "Keeper of the Jewel of Fire", Sang'gre Pirena uses the gintong binhi to bring Ravenum back to life. Ravenum summons the dragon
Buwarka and raises an army of Ravenas to wreak havoc on Avila, which barely survives the initial attack. With the power of Mulawin’s Tree of Life dwindling down and the Mulawin race in peril, the Diwata
s and the Tres Aves (a legendary trio of heroes with special abilities) rush to aid the Mulawin. But ultimately, the fate of Avila and the Mulawin race now hinges on the valor of two of its two greatest champions, Aguiluz and Alwina. The Tres Aves faces the dragon "Buwarka",The Mulawins and the Encantadia's Lireo soldiers led by Ybbarro/Ybrahim faces the Ravenas and Aguiluz and Alwina faces Ravenum. The fight continues as Aguiluz and Alwina goes inside Ravenum's hideout. There they find Dakila and continues their journey. They continue a violent fight with the Ravenas and as they reach Ravenum, Aguiluz's mother (transformed from death) shows up with her husband, Ravenum. Ravenum then forces Aguiluz to transform into a Ravena and complete the family or else he will kill Alwina. Aguiluz agreed, to save the life of Alwina and their child. The Ravenas took away Alwina and Dakila, planning on beheading them. Aguiluz's body was too holy for the darkness because he was blessed and once again turns into a Mulawin. Dakila dies in the hands of the Ravenas and Alwina graviously cries. She returns to Aguiluz but their ugatpak's powers only works for nights. Aguiluz is stabbed by a sword behind. They make a way out of the hideout and at the end, killing Ravenum and comes also the death of Aguiluz. They return to Avila after a victory and a deadly battle. Aguiluz is seen lying in a royal bed in the kingdom of Lireo in Encantadia with Queen Amihan of Lireo putting the gintong binhi to his mouth that can get his life back. Alwina is then seen putting Dakila's ugatpak in the Mulawin's Tree of Life. The last part is Alwina and her son together flying with Aguiluz behind them.
8,522,904 on its opening day (December 25) from over 80 screens around the Philippines. Regarding its overall gross as of December 28, there were conflicting box office reports, one of which stated that the fantasy has grossed P 15.0 million while another report states a higher P 19.5 million. While the figures are decent, Mulawin wasn't be able to recover its P 80 million budget.
At the end of January 7, 2006 the GMA-Regal joint project has an official finish at third place among all Metro Manila Film Festival entries in the box office. Mulawin has grossed a grand total of 57,761,882.
Because it did not gross enough to break even, speculation is rampant that GMA Films and Regal Films will release the film on video market within two months. There are also unconfirmed plans that GMA will sell both the television and movie version of Mulawin to interested networks in Singapore
, Taiwan
, Japan
, Hong Kong
, Thailand
, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia
, United Arab Emirates
and India
.
Mulawin the Movie is one of three fantasy films entered into the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Though with an "A" rating, the movie receives criticisms as follows:
Mulawin The Movie did not win any award in the concluded Metro Manila Film Festival 2005 Awards Night.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the Mulawin
Mulawin
Mulawin is a speculative fiction Television drama series about two races of winged humanoids. The Mulawin must fight the Ravena to protect the mortals from its wrath. It tells the story of Aguiluz portrayed by Richard Gutierrez and Alwina which was portrayed by Angel Locsin.It was originally aired...
television series that was shown on GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
. The movie was released on December 25, 2005 and is produced by Regal Films and GMA Films
GMA Films
GMA Network Films, Inc. is a film production company and a film studio established in 1995 by GMA Network, Inc. in the Philippines....
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It is also an official entry to the 31st Metro Manila Film Festival.
Production
GMA Network hired international action choreographer Wong Wai Fai and other Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
martial arts experts to make the stunts more realistic, the same team hired for fantasy-action TV series Sugo
Sugo
Sugo, The Chosen One in English, is a fantasy Philippine drama that aired on GMA Network from July 2005 to January 2006 starring Richard Gutierrez.-Plot:...
. Wong choreographed stunts in the highly successful movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
, Kung Fu Hustle
Kung Fu Hustle
Kung Fu Hustle is a 2004 action comedy film directed and produced by, and starring Stephen Chow. The other film producers were Chui Po-chu and Jeffrey Lau, while the screenplay was written by Huo Xin, Chan Man-keung, and Tsang Kan-cheung...
, Rush Hour 2
Rush Hour 2
Rush Hour 2 is a 2001 martial arts action comedy film. This is the second installment in the Rush Hour film series. A sequel to the 1998 film Rush Hour, the film stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker who respectively reprise their roles as Inspector Lee and Los Angeles police detective James Carter...
and Bulletproof Monk
Bulletproof Monk
Bulletproof Monk is a 2003 action film starring Chow Yun-fat, Seann William Scott and Jaime King. The film was directed by Paul Hunter. It is loosely based on the comic book by Michael Avon Oeming....
.
Cast
- Angel LocsinAngel LocsinAngel Locsin is a Filipina television and film actress and commercial model. Aside from this, she is also a film producer and fashion designer....
as Alwina - Richard GutierrezRichard GutiérrezRichard Kristian Rama Gutierrez, popularly known as Richard Gutierrez , is a television actor and commercial model who works in Filipino productions.-Biography:Gutierrez is the son of Eduardo P...
as Aguiluz - Bianca KingBianca KingBianca Charlotte King is a Filipina-Canadian actress. She is known in her role as Noemi Manansala in the thriller drama series Sinner or Saint aired on GMA, replacing Nita Negrita. She went to San Beda College Alabang during her grade school and high school years. She proceeded to take up AB...
as Aviona - Michael De MesaMichael de Mesa-Early life:Born Eduardo Mikael De Mesa Eigenmann on 24 May 1960 to acclaimed performer Eddie Mesa and actress Rosemarie Gil, Michael De Mesa and his siblings Mark Gil and Cherie Gil grew up steeped in the arts...
as Ravenum - Dennis TrilloDennis TrilloAbelardo Dennis Florencio Trillo Ho , more widely known as Dennis Trillo, is a Filipino award-winning actor, singer and fashion model. His film debut was in Aishite Imasu 1941. He is currently an artist of GMA Network...
as Gabriel - Iza CalzadoIza CalzadoIza Calzado is a Filipina actress, TV host, performer and model, working as one of GMA-7's contract artists.- Biography :...
as Amihan - KarylleKarylleAna Karylle Padilla Tatlonghari , better known as simply Karylle, has established herself as one of the most talented showbiz personalities in the Philippines. She is a respected singer, actress, TV host, athlete, and a writer/blogger....
as Elena - Valerie ConcepcionValerie ConcepcionValerie Concepcion is a Filipina actress, host and celebrity endorser. A former GMA-7 talent, she is known of her role as Nora Ferrer in the soap opera Sinasamba Kita but later transferred to its rival network ABS-CBN...
as Danaya - Sunshine DizonSunshine DizonSunshine Dizon is a Filipina actress. She started in show business when she was three years old.-Biography:...
as Pirena - Dingdong DantesDingdong DantesJose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III, popularly known as Dingdong Dantes, is a director/actor and model, born on August 2, 1980 in Quezon City, Philippines.- Early years :...
as Ybarro/Ybrahim - Carmina VillaroelCarmina VillaroelMaria Carmina Muñiz Villaroel, also known as Carmina Villaroel is a Filipino actress, television host, and model....
as Salimbay - Eddie GutierrezEddie GutierrezJorge Eduardo "Eddie" Gutierrez is an American soccer player who currently plays for Fresno Fuego in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
as Dakila - Zoren LegaspiZoren LegaspiZoren Legaspi is a Filipino actor and television director.-Biography and Career:Zoren comes from a family of Filipino celebrities. His father, Lito Legaspi, and brothers, Kier and Brandon, are all respectable actors. His spouse, Carmina Villaroel, is also a popular movie and television actress...
as Bagwis - Amy Austria-Ventura as Lourdes
- Miguel TanfelixMiguel TanfelixMiguell Tanfelix is a Philippines actor. He appeared on StarStruck Kids on GMA Network.-Filmography:-References:...
as Pagaspas - Sam Bumatay as Lawiswis
- Nicole AndersonNicole AndersonNicole Gale Anderson is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Macy Misa in the Disney Channel Original Series JONAS L.A., and also known for the role of Kelly Parker on the ABC Family series Make It or Break It...
as Langay - Paolo ContisPaolo ContisPaolo Enrico Contis , better known as Paolo Contis, is a Filipino-Italian actor who first appeared as a child actor in the ABS-CBN show Ang TV. In 2004 he transferred to GMA Network...
as Banoy - Boy2 Quizon as Palong
- Arthur SolinapArthur SolinapArthur Gonzales Solinap, known as Arthur Solinap, is a Filipino actor and model.Solinap's career began as a member of Abztract Dancers together with his cousin Dingdong Dantes. He made his first TV appearance in 2005 portraying Muros in Encantadia...
as Muros - Dion IgnacioDion IgnacioDion Joseph Ignacio is a Filipino actor. Popularly known of his role as Raul Agoncillo in the afternoon soap opera Saan Darating Ang Umaga, a role originally portrayed by former 1980s teen idol Raymond Lauchengco....
as Tayag
It was said that Robbie Tan of Seiko Films
Seiko Films
Seiko Films is a Philippine film company owned and run by Robbie Tan.Nowadays, Seiko Films is known for bold film in the late 1990s.-History:...
didn't allow his contract stars Diana Zubiri
Diana Zubiri
Rosemarie Joy Garcia , better known by her screen name Diana Zubiri, is a Filipina actress.She was discovered by Seiko Films when she was 15 years of age soon after applying for work in Japan. She then started on sexy roles on various films by Seiko...
(Encantadia
Encantadia
Encantadia is a Filipino fantasy television series produced by GMA Network. The pilot episode was aired on May 2, 2005. Its last episode was aired on December 9 of the same year to give way to its second book, Etheria. This series aired its pilot episode on December 12, and its last episode on...
's Danaya) and Alfred Vargas
Alfred Vargas
Alfredo Paolo Dumlao Vargas III is a Filipino actor and model. He was elected councilor in the 2nd District of Quezon City in 2010.-Biography and Career:...
(Encantadia's Aquil) to appear in the movie. Because of this, Valerie Concepcion played Danaya character in Mulawin: The Movie, while Aquil's character didn't appeared. Also, since the movie is a sequel, major characters such as Veronica/Vultra (played by Ara Mina
Ara Mina
Hazel Pascual Reyes , better known by her screen name, Ara Mina, is a Filipina actress, fashion model and singer. She won the Golden Screen Award in 2004 for Best Actress in a drama in the Philippines....
) and Rasmus (played by Gary Estrada
Gary Estrada
Gary Ejercito, better known as Gary Estrada, is a television and movie star in the Philippines. He is renowned for his movies, athletic physique, and cleanly handsome face...
) who died in the TV series were not included in the movie version. New characters not in the TV series were also introduced in the movie.
Synopsis
Aguiluz and Alwina's plan for a peaceful life as mortals unravels when their boat to Tierra Fuego (the realm of man) is caught in a violent storm. They wash up on separate shores, a young man and woman living without memories and living separate lives. Aguiluz is adopted by a humble farmer and Alwina becomes the surrogate daughter of a wealthy family and is engaged to be married to Gabriel.But a new period in the Mulawin saga unfolds as "Keeper of the Jewel of Fire", Sang'gre Pirena uses the gintong binhi to bring Ravenum back to life. Ravenum summons the dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
Buwarka and raises an army of Ravenas to wreak havoc on Avila, which barely survives the initial attack. With the power of Mulawin’s Tree of Life dwindling down and the Mulawin race in peril, the Diwata
Diwata
In Philippine mythology, a Diwata , also known as Encantada, is a mythological figure similar to fairies or nymphs. They are nature spirits and live one with mother earth...
s and the Tres Aves (a legendary trio of heroes with special abilities) rush to aid the Mulawin. But ultimately, the fate of Avila and the Mulawin race now hinges on the valor of two of its two greatest champions, Aguiluz and Alwina. The Tres Aves faces the dragon "Buwarka",The Mulawins and the Encantadia's Lireo soldiers led by Ybbarro/Ybrahim faces the Ravenas and Aguiluz and Alwina faces Ravenum. The fight continues as Aguiluz and Alwina goes inside Ravenum's hideout. There they find Dakila and continues their journey. They continue a violent fight with the Ravenas and as they reach Ravenum, Aguiluz's mother (transformed from death) shows up with her husband, Ravenum. Ravenum then forces Aguiluz to transform into a Ravena and complete the family or else he will kill Alwina. Aguiluz agreed, to save the life of Alwina and their child. The Ravenas took away Alwina and Dakila, planning on beheading them. Aguiluz's body was too holy for the darkness because he was blessed and once again turns into a Mulawin. Dakila dies in the hands of the Ravenas and Alwina graviously cries. She returns to Aguiluz but their ugatpak's powers only works for nights. Aguiluz is stabbed by a sword behind. They make a way out of the hideout and at the end, killing Ravenum and comes also the death of Aguiluz. They return to Avila after a victory and a deadly battle. Aguiluz is seen lying in a royal bed in the kingdom of Lireo in Encantadia with Queen Amihan of Lireo putting the gintong binhi to his mouth that can get his life back. Alwina is then seen putting Dakila's ugatpak in the Mulawin's Tree of Life. The last part is Alwina and her son together flying with Aguiluz behind them.
Reaction
Mulawin The Movie grossed PPhilippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
8,522,904 on its opening day (December 25) from over 80 screens around the Philippines. Regarding its overall gross as of December 28, there were conflicting box office reports, one of which stated that the fantasy has grossed P 15.0 million while another report states a higher P 19.5 million. While the figures are decent, Mulawin wasn't be able to recover its P 80 million budget.
At the end of January 7, 2006 the GMA-Regal joint project has an official finish at third place among all Metro Manila Film Festival entries in the box office. Mulawin has grossed a grand total of 57,761,882.
Because it did not gross enough to break even, speculation is rampant that GMA Films and Regal Films will release the film on video market within two months. There are also unconfirmed plans that GMA will sell both the television and movie version of Mulawin to interested networks in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Criticisms and recognition
The Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines gave the movie the high A Rating, making it the only entry of the MMFF to receive such rating.Mulawin the Movie is one of three fantasy films entered into the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Though with an "A" rating, the movie receives criticisms as follows:
- A storyline that failed to justify events leading to some of the characters' disappearance (i.e. Lourdes, Gabriel and Pirena)
- A predictable storyline.
- Character inconsistencies.
- The transitions and scenes, as a consequence of the time limit, were hurried.
- Substandard special effects.
Mulawin The Movie did not win any award in the concluded Metro Manila Film Festival 2005 Awards Night.
See also
- MulawinMulawinMulawin is a speculative fiction Television drama series about two races of winged humanoids. The Mulawin must fight the Ravena to protect the mortals from its wrath. It tells the story of Aguiluz portrayed by Richard Gutierrez and Alwina which was portrayed by Angel Locsin.It was originally aired...
- Regal Films
- GMA FilmsGMA FilmsGMA Network Films, Inc. is a film production company and a film studio established in 1995 by GMA Network, Inc. in the Philippines....
- GMA NetworkGMA NetworkGMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
- EncantadiaEncantadiaEncantadia is a Filipino fantasy television series produced by GMA Network. The pilot episode was aired on May 2, 2005. Its last episode was aired on December 9 of the same year to give way to its second book, Etheria. This series aired its pilot episode on December 12, and its last episode on...
- EtheriaEtheriaEtheria is a Filipino fantasy television series that was produced by GMA Network. The full title of the series is Etheria: Ang Ikalimang Kaharian ng Encantadia , referring to Encantadia, its predecessor series...