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Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Movie Review: Camp Sawi


Cast : Andi Eigenmann, Bela Padilla, Arci Munoz, Sam Milby, Yassi Pressman, Kim Molina
Director: Irene Villamor
MTRCB Rating: PG
Released By: Viva Entertainment Inc

After watching the movie’s trailer, one might not expect anything new in this movie, or at the very least, something to get excited about. Owing to the bevy of sexy bodies and pretty faces for its stars, one would think that they are just the movie’s come on which will be mixed with a formulaic plot.

But as it is said, the test of the pudding is in the eating. Nothing can be closer to the truth. Unexpectedly, the movie presents a story that is fresh and unique. It  has a winning plot, a very engaging story. Credit to Bela Padilla and her longtime boyfriend Neil Arce who created it. 

CAMP SAWI is a story of five different women who are in great pain from their broken relationships. They find themselves inside a camp – a refuge for the brokenhearted - that will make them heal from their hurtful past. 

The movie’s setting is at the beautiful and charming Bantayan Island in Cebu where the camp is located. There, the five women, detached from their world, are given ways to help them cope as they struggle to recover from their traumatic heartaches. Initially adamant to mingle with their camp mates, the girls soon find strength in each other.  

"Camp Sawi" is a visual feast, if only for its picturesque setting that complements its stars - five of today’s hottest and sexiest young actresses. Matched with a breathtaking cinematography, the treatment of the story is quite commendable. The movie doesn’t scream, it doesn’t struggle to impress, the story just flows naturally.

Director Irene has successfully made each character memorable. Both Brigitte (Bela Padilla) and Gwen (Arci Munoz) who were dumped by their exes complement each other’s quirkiness. There is riot when they are together, notably that drunken scene in the beach that really left a mark and the audience in stitches. 

Arci is undoubtedly a natural comedian, with Yassi and Kim catching up – no dull moment as they slowly recover and give justice to their colorful characters. Clarisse’s (Andi Eigenmann) dramatic story of loving the wrong man lends itself very relatable to viewers. The tragic story of Joan (Kim Molina) with her fiancé leaves her rejecting herself even more, along with Jessica’s (Yassi Pressman) hair-raising anecdote of her boyfriend. All told, the characters’ diverse stories are no different from everybody else’s that anyone can easily identify with. 

The girls’ bonding moments feel like you are just with your girlfriends unabashedly sharing each other’s angst while on a drinking spree – at times serious, other times downright hilarious. Louie (Sam Milby) makes for a cool camp master giving genuine attention and  guidance to the depressed girls in his camp, while carefully polite with their humorous advances. 

"Camp Sawi" definitely entertains, a must watch, especially for the heartbroken and weary souls out there who need to unburden. As it is, moving on may not be the same for everyone, and that a heartache, no matter how crippling, is there for a purpose. 

Don’t miss the movie - now showing in cinemas. 

Also in the cast are AJ Muhlach, Alex Vincent Medina, Bret Jackson, Bubbles Paraiso, Cholo Barreto, Dennis Trillo, Issa Pressman, Janna Roque, Jasmine Hollingworth, Jerald Napoles, RJ Padilla, Sarah Brakensiek, Tonton Gutierrez.

84 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review FP!! 💜 I will definitely watch this movie .

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  2. thinking of watching this tomorrow.

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  3. watched this on its opening day. the movie was unexpectedly good. It was fresh and refreshing. Feeling ko sawi din ako na trying to move on. Ang galing nga portrayals ng mga lead women. must watched, definitely! PLus a very heartwarming soundtrack at the end!

    mema lang ang mga bashers na comment ng comment pero di pa pala napanood. aysows. give the movie a chance!

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  4. Watched the movie on its opening day, and I can say that the audience had a blast. Tama ka, FP, very entertaining at nakakabaliw ang mga eksena. HappyMode

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  5. papanuorin ko to promise....gusto ko pumasok dyan sa camp sawi.

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  6. I want to watch it again! Bitin ako!

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  7. Can't wait to watch it. And I didn't know Bela and Neil are behind it. Is there really an existing camp like it? If not, somebody should start one. Madaming pupunta. LOL.

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  8. Ito yung fit kay Arci pero drama scenes siya nawawaley.

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  9. Wheww sayang at nag flop.

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    Replies
    1. Nung Wednesday lang nag showing flop agad? Bukas weekend check mo sa sinehan

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    2. Ano pa ba inaasahan mong comment mula sa isang SC tard 11:11? Feeling ng mga yan pelikula lang nila ang gustong panoorin ng buong universe.

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    3. 3:28 ikaw ang super tard .. obvious na taga kamuning ka . lols

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    4. 3:28 wala namang kaduda duda na di ka tard. Hahaha

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    5. D porket sinabing flop kamuning agad totoo naman kasi anon 10:03 tanggap din pag may tym

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    6. Paano magiging flop kung 3 days palang.

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    7. 8.00 pm. try mo manood para malaman mo kung flop.

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  10. Sobrang ganda talaga ng movie!

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    Replies
    1. Ano? Sobrang ganda? OA ka naman.

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    2. Jambro, ikaw o.a makareact ka sa kanya eh sa nagandahan sya ng Sobra ano magagawa mo? Hahahaha

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  11. Mapanood nga to bago balik sa abroad..- ofw

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  12. Agree abt Arci's and Bela's characters. Ang husay nilang dalawa. At saka oo nga, itong movie na to malapit sa realidad kasi yung treatment nya, parang natural lang yung flow ng story. It does not scream, sabi nga ni FP. Saka yung dialogue at acting ng girls para lang sila talagang totoong tao - you can see yourself or someone you know sa characters nila. Tho sa acting, I must say ang husay talaga ni Bela. I was surprised na may timing din pala sya sa comedy. Yung drama scenes nya, mahusay talaga. Alam mong driven ng emosyon at hindi acting na iyak.

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    Replies
    1. Yung drunk scene nila Arci and Bella halatang nagtatawanan din sila kaya nakakahawa. Plus yung songs nakadagdag sa ganda ng movie. Light and Natural lang siya. Nuod na kayo guys

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  13. Thank you fp! This is a good movie talaga. Mga bashers na mega kuda ng di pa napapanood, watch muna kayo

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  14. I will watch this movie, kahit wala pa yung review. Thanks, FP!

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  15. uy nandito pla si bret jackson. at yung kapatid ni yassi but tots gonna watch it

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  16. I'll watch this movie. Thanks FP :)

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  17. Ganyan ang tamang movie promotion, movie review. Hindi yung kinakaladkad pa pangalan ng ex sa ngalan ng pagiingay.

    - Not Jake

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    Replies
    1. 5:00 tumbok mo 'teh! mga gumagawa ng ganun walang kwenta ang pelikula kaya dinadaan sa promo using ex's name para pag-usapan!

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    2. Psh. Di na kailangan si Jake para ipromote to.
      Dahil maganda naman ang concept ng movie saka gorgeous yung mga girls noh..

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  18. mababaw ang movie... I expected more

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    Replies
    1. waiting for special effects? want them transform to robots? mutants? super hero?

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    2. It was aimed to be a light story. Mali ata inexpect mo. Natawa ako sayo 12:26

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    3. hahahahah 5.35. katawa kasi si 5.31. maka expect, wagas.

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  19. Wow! What a review, thank you very much, FP!

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  20. Nakakabitin, sa tutoo lang. I will splurge ds weekend and watch it again, because I want to feel happy.

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  21. Thanks, FP! Watching this my amigas then wine wine after!

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  22. Sorry but it's typical pinoy movie. Horrible!

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    Replies
    1. typical pinoy attitude. talangka! pretender!

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    2. I don't think you watched the movie. Better shut it.

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    3. I agree with 5:30. Kung pinanood na ni 11:58 ang movie, di niya masasabi yan. Nakakasurprise yung movie. Ang ganda! Agree ako sa mga sinasabi ng mga classmates ko. Kaya ako nanood dahil sa mga comment ninyo at siyempre dahil na rin sa review ni FP. May asawa na ako at happy naman pero love ko pa rin yung movie.

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  23. I'm excited to watch this. I love Yassi and the other girls too.

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  24. KUDOS to Bela! kaya pala siya yung parang lumalabas na pinakabida, galing pala sa kanya yung story. Ang galing nya dito, and tama si FP, ang ganda nung scene nila ni Arci sa beach. Bravo! Ang sarap ulit panoorin. GV lang guys. (",)

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  25. I'm gonna watch with the yayas! Excited!!

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    Replies
    1. Kailangan with the yayas talaga? Chusera!

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  26. The best talaga yung drunk scene ni arci and bela. sobrang laftrip. And Arci's voice gave me the goosebumps I didnt know na ganun siya kagaling. The scene when Bela talked to Dennis right after she came out of the camp was so genuine and raw. "Kamusta ka? Masaya ka ba? Yun lang naman ang gusto ko eh. yung maging masaya ka." With all sincerity and acceptance. Naiyak ako sayo bela girl. Arci, babae ako pero nainlove ako sayo dito. sobrang natural and lovable ng personality mo.

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    Replies
    1. Awww! You said it all, that's exactly how I felt with those scenes you mentioned. Imagine, outside the camp, they all lead gorgeous lives pala. super really love this movie :))

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  27. Sawi din sa takilya..lol

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    Replies
    1. Hindi lahat na kumikita na movie meaning maganda na, kadalasan nadadaan lang sa hype.

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    2. Aanhin mo ang gross kun pangit ang review? Transformers nga nag 1 billion dollars pero sobrang bagsak yung review

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    3. Maganda naman ang reviews

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    4. Yaan nyo na sila. ganyan kasi talaga pag mejo kulang sa bala ang brains. Puro pera at fame ang umiikot sa ulo. Hindi nila maiapply sa buhay nila ung katotohanang hindi lang kasikatan at pera ang mahalaga sa buhay.

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  28. TLDR. Horrible movie.

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  29. tawang-tawa yung mga tao sa sinehan kanina sa drunk scene nina bela and arci..then nung pinagtulungan nila sa kama si sam XD

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  30. I like it, hindi ko ineexpect na maganda... buti may halong comedy kundi hindi ko mapipigilan umiyak kasi nakakarelate.. I like bela... kaso there are some scenes na parang ginagaya niya si bea sa ibang movie.. hindi ko alam kung sinasadya ba yun o ano..

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    Replies
    1. Hindi siguro. Feeling ko nakikita mo minsan ung resemblance nila. may very very mild resemblance kasi ung face nila minsan depende sa maraming bagay. very natural si bella dito.

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  31. Ultra Mega Flopped 😂 Di na inabot ng 1 week haahahahah

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    Replies
    1. Ano pinagsasabi mo may pa emoji ka pa kaloka

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    2. Napanood mo ba? Maraming nanood where I watched it. Nood ka. Di ka madidisappoint. Ang daming magagandang scenes. Yung lumuluha ka sa katatawa o umiiyak ka dahil nakakarelate ka sa pinagdadaanan ng mga bida. Lalo na yung kay Bela Padilla. Bigla akong naging fan nina Bela at Arci at Andi. Si Yassi, ang sarap sa mata. Pati si Kim, magaling din siya. Akala ko siya yung comic relief ng movie. Di naman pala. Maganda yung treatment sa movie dahil binigyan ng focus lahat ng characters. May moments sila where each one stood out. Galing!!!

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  32. I actually liked it: I love Bella Padilla.
    Medyo nabitin lang ako sa kwento ni Sam Milby. What's his story? What's his pain?

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    Replies
    1. Baka balak nila na may sequel pa

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  33. Ganda ng movie! Nice concept. Sana meron ngang camp sawi, at home for the aged sa mga probinsya para naman meron tayong mapupuntahan kapag sawi at wala na tayong nakakausap. I liked the 5 girls. Kahit yung si chubby girl, ang galing niya sa scene niya sa beach. Sino siya? I like her.

    Yung review ni FP, hindi ako nadisappoint. Ito ang reason kung bakit pinanood ko at ng mga kaibigan ang movie na ito. Congrats Bela and Neil sa magandang kwento.

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  34. I became a fan of bela after i watched an episode of ang probinsyano... she is a very good actress. Effortless and beautiful. I do not think the movie flopped. Gateway cinema 5 atmos was filled with moviegoers when i watched last friday..

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    1. koreeek!!! maganda sya! entertaining :) pati ako affected sa pagkasawi ni bridgette! hehe

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  35. Ang ganda pala nito. Watched it earlier, Ang husay ni Bela Padilla very natural and Arci is really commendable she actually gave some novelty, but Andi Eigenmann is quite impressive. She's underrated! Madadala ka sa mata niya...you will feel her pain. #ClassyActing. But everyone in this movie is really good! Cinematography as well. A little research about the director, she was the creator of Relax It's just Pag-ibig and Everything About Her. Kaya naman pala ang ganda! :) Congrats!!!

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    Replies
    1. Tulog na taga Viva hahah! Ok na sana kumpleto pa ang history ng director hahah

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    2. 4:18 manood ka kc

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  36. After i watch this i followed bella padilla on IG at mega gugel sa mga pics nya!! Havey sa aktingan at natuwa talaga ako ng bongga. Naging interesado ako sa kanya kaya halungkat mode ako. Galing nya at ang gandaaa

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  37. Watched the movie with my hubby who doesn't like Filipino movie. Tawang tawa kami sa scenes at banat. Acting is not OA. Punchlines are delivered very well. It's effortless feel good movie. Very relatable to anyone who loved and got hurt.

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  38. I'll watch this fp! Sana meron talagang ganito pra nirehab ko sarili ko gaya nila nun hahaha

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  39. ang tumataktak sa kin yung story ni Chubby girl.. yung Jowa daw nya chubby din kaya chubbychaser tapos naadik sa gym pumayat lang ng 10 lbs feeling Derek Ramsay na iniwan sya..madaming ganyang lalaki

    saka yung break up song ni Rico Blanco ang adik lang hahah

    naimpress ako when i found out bela wrote this with her BF ..more projects pa for her

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    Replies
    1. i feel you baks!! 100% AGREE!!! anon 10:30

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  40. We watched the movie last night. This is a good movie. I would recommend it.

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  41. I love the movie lalo na ang songs. Anyone has a list of their songs? Been googling it, isa lang ang lumilitaw yung kinanta ni Arci na pak na pak ang outfit nya

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  42. napanuod q xa knina,sobrang laughtrip,lalo n un super lasing mode cla arci at bela,pati un breakup song ng x bf ni arci tlagang masasampal m un guy hahaha,bagay s knilang 5 un characters,at d q napansin un oras dhil mganda

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  43. maganda raw sabi ng iba. sayang di namin napanuod ng barkada ko. kasi after 2 days ng showing nya sa sinehan nawala na.

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