Technical Assessment • Abhorrent • • Disturbing • • • Acceptable • • • • Wholesome • • • • • Exemplary Moral Assessment + Poor + + Below average + + + Average + + + + Above average + + + + + Excellent CINEMA Rating Guide VA For viewers of all ages V13 For viewers ages 13 and below with parental guidance V14 For viewers 14 and above V18 For mature viewers 18 and above NP Not for public viewing

Title: CARTA ALAS HUWAG KA NANG HUMIRIT!!! Running Time:  105 min Lead Cast: Vergel, Antonette Taus, Wowie de Guzman, Efren Reyes, Jean Saburit, Piel Moreno Director:  Jose N. Carreon Producer:  Eduardo Flamiñiano Screenwriter:  Jose N. Carreon Music: Jaime Fabregas Editor:  Orlando "Totoy" Vinarao Genre: Action/Drama Cinematography:  Romy Vitug Distributor: FLT Films International Location:  Tarlac, Mabalacat, Capas Technical Assessment:  • • ½ Moral Assessment:  + + ½ CINEMA Rating:   For viewers 14 and above   It is the law versus a carnapping syndicate. Police Capt. Ted Cordero (Ace Vergel) heads the team, supported by Chief of Police, Col. Cynthia Moreno (Jean Saburit), the help of informer Melvin (Dick Israel) with the backing of the town police. The leader of the syndicate is Daks Imperial (Efren Reyes), the mayor's attorney. In a major police operation, everyone in the buyers' group is arrested; but no one among the carnappers is caught. In the confusion, the payment for the hot cars, kept in an attaché case, is picked up by Melvin, who decides to keep it. In Imperial's efforts to recover his money, the informer is killed, but no money is found. Cordero is implicated in his associate and "barkada's" death, and Andrea (Antonette Taus), Melvin's "inaanak" also becomes suspect because there is evidence that she has been present at the crime-scene. This complication and the efforts to find the evidence and witnesses to pin Imperial, keep Cordero's hands full. The plot has nothing new. It is simple and brief, fleshed out to some extent by several violent confrontations between the opposing forces. Cordero meets Imperial at every step he takes to eliminate witnesses and evidence, to find his attaché case, or commit more crimes. A light romance is also added to the story, carried on between Ted and Andy's sister, Belinda (Piel Moreno). Not much acting seems to be required for the various roles. It is the fight scenes and running gun-battles that the movie focuses on. The values in Carta Alas are seen in the dedication to duty and the heroic act of a lone law officer confronting a group of carnappers; and the whole police force remaining on the side of the law. But these may not offset the negative elements present. For one, the wiping out, by maiming or killing, all those on the side of crime, in spectacular shoot-outs, may be taken as acceptable, not just for the movies. Life seems so cheap. Human rights do not seem to be respected, as one could maul, maim and kill another, as long as the other is "the bad guy".   (Date reviewed: June 1, 2001)