Moral Assessment

+

Abhorrent

+ +

Disturbing

+ + +

Acceptable

+ + + +

Wholesome

+ + + + +

Exemplary

Technical Assessment

Poor

• •

Below average

• • •

Average

• • • •

Above average

• • • • •

Excellent

CINEMA Rating Guide

VA

For viewers of all ages

V13

For viewers age 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:

KILABOT AT KEMBOT

Running Time: 

88 min

Lead Cast:

Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr., Assunta de Rossi, Roi Vinzon, Long Mejia

Director: 

Augusto 'Ogie' Salvador

Producer: 

Andrea Bautista

Screenwriter: 

Humilde Roxas

Music:

Jimmy Fabregas

Editor: 

Augusto Salvador

Genre:

Action/Romance

Cinematography: 

George Tutanes

Distributor:

Imus Productions, Inc

Location: 

Metro Manila

Technical Assessment: 

• • •

Moral Assessment: 

+ +

CINEMA Rating:  

For mature viewers 18 and above

 

Leon (Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.), a well-known tattoo artist is actually Kilabot, an undercover agent entrusted by the police with the task of "salvaging" gangsters and criminal elements. Sienna (Assunta de Rossi), the Kembot, is a nightclub dancer who has attracted the eye of Guevarra (Roi Vinzon), tagged by the police as the head of the kidnap for ransom syndicate, Sienna accedes to the arrangement offered by Guevarra: for a large amount of money, she will no longer perform her strip-tease act in public. Instead, she will dance only for him in his private residence. In spite of the fact that he is impotent and Sienna has no other obligations to him, Guevarra thinks Sienna is exclusively his. When Leon meets Sienna, he falls hard for her, though he is a womanizer. Sienna reciprocates his feelings and no longer wishes to dance for Guevarra, who becomes cruel when crossed. The stage is set for the showdown between Kilabot and Guevarra.

To entice all kinds of viewers, the film includes different gimmicks and devices, no matter how incongruous they are to each other. The action flick enthusiast gets to see real fisticuffs, firefights, explosions, other special effects and a car chase showing the lead actress minimally clothed riding a motorcycle. Bong Revilla flaunts his expertise in the martial arts. Assunta bares almost all and not just a pound of flesh. There is humor (though much of it is silly) and lots of hot sex (including that on the billiard table). The plot is simple and predictable; however, the acting of the leads is adequate. The photography of some scenes is noteworthy, especially the shots of the lake.

Though the film shows Leon (Bong Revilla) as a good and true friend, looking after his dead pal's son, his other actuations are open to question. The acts and policies of the peace and order agencies are just as questionable. Acting on the orders of the police, Leon kills ("salvages") the criminals and takes the law into his own hands. These gangsters may be guilty and the scum of the earth, the bane of society, yet they should be given their day in court: The film has other objectionable features like its vulgar language, its predilection for details to arouse baser instincts like the erotic dances, very skimpy costumes, womanizing, and prolonged and suggestive sex scenes. The film also fosters a culture of violence.

 

(Date reviewed: May 31, 2002)

 

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