ALL ABOUT DUBAI......THE MOVIE

[mhie]

MANILA BULLETIN
Celebrity World
Crispina Belen

JOHN LLOYD Cruz: The next Aga Muhlach?




It flattered JOHN LLOYD Cruz so much when a movie columnist referred to him as maybe the next Aga Muhlach. But the young actor took the flattery with a grain of salt, and with so much humility as he said, "Aga Muhlach is Aga Muhlach, and no one can replace him. He deserves to be idolized even by his peers."


He will try his best he said to be worthy of such flattering remark but "you don’t know if you can keep up with the expectations of people..."

JOHN LLOYD, who plays Aga’s younger brother in Star Cinema’s latest offering "Dubai," has all praise for Aga, who he learned won’t just open his mouth if he has nothing nice to say about other people, "Wala siyang ere, and to think that he is Aga Muhlach," he said.

In addition, JOHN LLOYD said Aga involved himself in every aspect of production for "Dubai," starting from the script. Did you know that Aga had the script revised 12 times? Yes, he wanted the story and the script to be perfect. And he made a lot of suggestions on how to his mind the movie could be improved. All his input was respected and taken into consideration.

Aga also required that they go back to Dubai (even just for a day) to reshoot the ending of the movie which JOHN LLOYD refused to divulge of course.

"Aga is really very passionate about his craft, and very supportive to everyone of us in the cast," JOHN LLOYD said. He’d met Aga before but "it’s in this movie na kung saan na-break namin pareho ‘yung ice. He was supportive in our scenes. Ganun din si Claudine." He added: "I’m sure maraming ini-expect ang mga kasama ko sa cast like Aga and Claudine. Kailangan ko ng tulong from them kasi gusto ko makadeliver ako. We simply trust one another na swak ang acting naming tatlo. I want to b=e sure to myself na I will always give my best in every scene dito."

"Dubai" is slated to open on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and will have premiere screenings in many key cities of the world like Dubai of course, Milan, San Francisco, London and some others, JOHN LLOYD and the rest of the major cast will attend the world premiere of "Dubai" so he won’t be here when his rumored girlfriend Bea Alonzo celebrates her debut on Oct. 17.

"I told Bea already that I can’t attend her coming out party kasi nga we’ll be abroad for the series of premieres till Oct. 18," JOHN LLOYD lamented.

"Dubai," which was directed by Rory Quintos from the screenplay of Ricky Lee and Shaira Salvador, also stars Claudine Barretto, who’s his crush, and who he described as professional as Aga, the actor said. Asked to describe Claudine’s lips (because they have kissing scenes), he said "they’re very soft." Of course Bea’s lips (they also had kissing scenes in their movies together like "Now That I Have You") were also soft, the actor said, "but my kissing scenes with Claudine were more lingering, kasi Direk Rory wanted a cinematic kiss. But with Bea, with so much care, maingat ako."

"Dubai" will definitely take the 23-year-old actor who’s now dubbed the new "Prince of Teleserye," to new heights of serious acting. This is his first big movie for 2005 and his first time to work with Aga, Claudine and Direk Rory.

[mhie]

FILIPINO EXPRESS
THE HAPPENING
TED REYES

Claudine pampers JOHN LLOYD in Dubai

MANILA --- Claudine Barretto and JOHN LLOYD Cruz are both the youngest in their families. No wonder, they treated each other like siblings when they were shooting scenes for their movie ‘Dubai,’ produced by Star Cinema, in Dubai.

“In JOHN LLOYD, I saw a younger brother whom I would have spoiled so much. Mabait kasing bata si JOHN LLOYD kaya ‘di puwedeng ‘di mo mahalin,” said Claudine.

JOHN LLOYD, for his part, shared: “In Claudine I found a sister na ‘di ako nagkaroon at magkakaroon pa man. I have two elder brothers. Tatatlo lang kaming magkakapatid na pawang mga lalaki.

“I would have loved having a sister, lalo’t katulad ni Claudine na ‘di lang mabait, kung hindi masyadong masilbi pa. Aba, noong nasa Dubai kami ini-spoil niya kami pareho ni Aga (Muhlach). We were assigned the same apartment. Do you know na inasikaso kaming mabuti ni Claudine? She not only served as our cook but also our labandera.

“One thing I noticed about her is that she’s a stickler for cleanliness. Kapag nagkakalat kami ni Aga, kaagad she will call our attention; which we didn’t mind at all. Tama naman kasi siya kaya opo na lang kami ng opo ni Aga.”

JOHN LLOYD considers “Dubai” his first adult movie and a most challenging one at that. After all, he explained, not every young actor is given the chance to pit talents with two award-winning and popular performers like Aga and Claudine.

“I notice that both of them are very generous with their talents,” he related. “When we were rehearsing for a scene, they would give me tips on how to do my part, and I appreciated their help so much.”

He has, likewise, good words for Rory Quintos, their director, who was so patient with him. “May mga pagkakataon kasi, lalo’t noong mga unang araw ng siyuting, when I felt nervous. Direk would always assure me. Alalay talaga siya sa performance ko from beginning to end.

“This early, kahit magkakasama pa nga kami for the promotions of the movie, parang nami-miss ko na sila,” he said further.

[mhie]

SANGA-SANGANDILA
Ni Veronica R. Samio
Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon
09/27/2005


Malaki rin ang gastos ng Star Cinema para sa pelikula nitong Dubai starring the triumvirate of Aga Muhlach, Claudine Barretto and JOHN LLOYD Cruz, mga P33M.

Kung sabagay, nag-location shoot pa ang grupo sa Dubai. Åt hindi pa sila nagkasya sa minsang pagpunta run, bumalik pa sila para kunan ang mga final shots ng movie na nakatakdang ipalabas bukas September 28, di lamang dito kundi maging sa maraming bansa sa labas ng ‘Pinas.

Kwento ni Direk Rory Quintos ay dinugo siya sa paggawa ng pelikula, lalo na dun sa camel scene niya dahil ang mga hayop na ito ay tuwing hapon lamang lumalabas at naglalakad sa kalye.

Ika-apat na pagsasama na ito ni Direk Rory at Aga kaya palagay niya ay gamay na nila ang isa’t isa. Pero sa kabila nito, magkakaro’n man sila ng follow-up, gusto niya after two years pa.

Hangang-hanga si Direk Rory sa Dubai kasi nung una silang pumunta dito ay halos disyerto pa ito pero, ngayon daw ay may itinatayo ritong mga 100 hotel at napakarami nang Pinoy dito. Hindi kataka-taka kung hangarin niyang magsimula dito ng isang industriya sa pelikula, para sa mga kababayan natin na dun nagsisipagtrabaho.

Isang kwento ng pag-ibig ang Dubai, tungkol sa dalawang magkapatid na lalaki at kung paanong ang isang babae ay nagsilbing hamon sa tatag ng kanilang relasyon.

[mhie]

TATTLE
Nel Alejandrino
People's Tonight
Sept. 29, 2005

'Dubai,' timplado ang drama at romansa



WHEN was the last time na umiyak ka dahil sa isang pelikula? Kailan mo taus-pusong naramdaman na wala ka palang 'di gagawin para sa 'yong kapatid, 'di lang dahil siya ang itinuturing mong kapamilya, kundi dahil mahal mo siya at mahal ka niya?

Most of all, nagkaroon na ba ng pagkakataon na nasabi mo sa iyong kapatid na mahal mo siya't labis-labis ang iyong pasasalamat sa pinakamaliit na bagay na nagawa niya para sa iyo?

More than just a story of love between a man and a woman, Dubai is tale of pagmamahalan between siblings at kung ano ang puwede nilang gawin dahil sa labis na pagmamahal sa isa't isa.

At the premiere showing sa Megamall 3 and 4 last Tuesday, Dubai was a run-away winner with the audience not just because it was celebrity-studded, but because it was a beautiful and touching movie (of love and romance) from beginning to end.

Aga Muhlach and JOHN LLOYD Cruz are simply perfect for their roles as siblings. They blended beautifully on screen. Aakalain mo talagang tunay silang magkapatid. At kung acting ang pag-uusapan, maaaring lumamang si Aga sa ilang eksena (after all, sabi nga ng aming katabi sa upuan, Aga is Aga), pero masasabing di nagpahuli si JOHN LLOYD.

Feel mong pinagbigyan ni Aga na maipakita ni JOHN LLOYD ang kanyang sariling talino sa pag-arte. He, too, did his share and how!

Ipinakita sa simula pa lamang ng movie ang closeness between the brothers mula sa kanilang pagkabata. Kung paanong tumayo bilang magulang sa kanyang nakababatang kapatid ang nakatatandang kapatid nang sila'y maulila. At ang paghanga, akin to pag-idolo, at pagpapaubaya ng nakababatang kapatid ng kanyang kapalaran sa kanyang kuya.

Wari mo'y walang problemang mamagitan sa dalawa kahit kailan until Aga (as Raffy) asks JOHN LLOYD (Andrew) to join him in Dubai. That's where the woman (played by Claudine Barretto) who comes between them, enters the picture.

* * *

YOU start to cry for the elder brother nang matuto na ang younger sibling na sagut-sagutin, sumbatan at awayin ang kanyang kuya dahil sa pag-aakalang ang una ang dahilan kung bakit 'di siya lubusang mahalin ng babaing kanyang minamahal.

From then on, naging masalimuot na ang pagsasamang dati'y ideal between the brothers. Until something na di inaasahan ay nangyari na muntik nang maging dahilan ng kanilang paghihiwalay habambuhay.

Ang ganda ng ending ng Dubai. But we choose not to divulge it para lalo n'yong namnamin kung gaano kaganda at relevant ang pelikulang ito.

In some scenes, you get a glimpse of what life is like for an OFW (overseas Filipino worker). Kung anong hirap at kalungkutan ang kanilang nararanasan all because of that sincere desire na bigyan ng pagkakataon na makatikim ng ginhawa ang kanilang pamilya (back home).

I like Dubai. And I will not hesitate na panoorin itong muli for the second, or, even third time.

Star Cinema may have produced a number of magaganda at award-winning movies na pawang blockbusters, but Dubai, for me, is simply the best.

Kumbaga sa pagkain, timplado ang pelikulang ito. Mula sa istorya, direction at acting, kahit ang mga artistang may pinakasimpleng role sa pelikula delivered. Dubai is just the perfect setting for it.

It is a beautiful movie na kahit ito na ang pinakahuling mapanood ko (before the Metro Manila filmfest in December) this year, okay lang.

Congratulations to direk Rory Quintos, story and script writers Shaira Mella-Salvador and Ricky Lee, and stars Aga, JOHN LLOYD and Claudine.

To Star Cinema, especially its managing director Malou Santos, thank you for consistently giving us movies worth our money. May your tribe increase!

[mhie]

BABY TALK
Ni Salve V. Asis
Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon
09/29/2005

First time kong napanood si Aga Muhlach na umiyak sa pelikula. As in iyak to death na hindi mo namamalayan, umiiyak ka na rin pala.

Sa mga previous project kasi ni Aga, although may effort ang acting niya pero hindi serious. Feel good movie kasi, kaya pretty boy pa rin si Aga.

Pero sa Dubai, may deep ang acting ng actor.

Elder brother siya rito ni JOHN LLOYD Cruz na nagsikap na makapunta ng Dubai para mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang kapatid (JOHN LLOYD) na pinapunta niya rin sa Dubai para makapag-trabaho na rin do’n after nitong maka-graduate sa kolehiyo.

Pero magugulo ang buhay nila dahil sa isang babae, si Claudine.

Hindi expected ang twist and ending ng movie. Pero sure ako, magki-click ang pelikula dahil maraming makaka-relate na mga kababayan nating OFW sa kuwento.

One hour and 51 minutes ang running time ng pelikula na nagsimulang ipalabas kahapon.

Graded B ng Cinema Evaluation Board ang Dubai.

[mhie]

ITO ANG L8ST NGAYON!
Ni Eric John Salut
Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon
09/29/2005

Pinatunayan ni Sharon Cuneta na isa siyang tunay na kaibigan. Dumating si Sharon sa premiere night ng Dubai. Nangako si Sharon sa kaibigang Aga Muhlach na manonood siya. Dumating si Sharon kasama si Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

Sa Pasto (sa El Pueblo) pa lang, magkasama na sina Sharon at Aga. Doon kasi nag-assemble ang cast ng movie. Kumpleto ang cast at direktor ng movie. Tsikahan-to-death sina Aga at Sharon. Habang pinapalabas ang movie, naluha si Sharon.

Star-studded talaga ang Dubai preem. Um-attend din sina Raymart Santiago, Bayani Agbayani, Bea Alonzo, Donita Rose, Charlene Gonzales, Nikki Valdez, Jenny Miller, Inno Sotto, Girlie Rodis, Maribeth Bichara, Socorro and Virgie Ramos at marami pang iba.

Gustung-gusto ko ang eksena sa movie nina Aga at JOHN LLOYD Cruz. Kukurutin talaga ang puso mo. At ang eksena ni Claudine Barretto sa Luneta. Isa lang ang sasabihin ko, kapag pinanood ninyo ang Dubai, siguraduhing magdala ng panyo o tissue. Tiyak na iiyak kayo pero may ngiti sa inyong mga labi.

At habang tinatapos kong sulatin ang column na ito, nakatanggap na ako ng tawag mula sa Star Cinema na pinipilahan ang movie. Isang blockbuster movie ng Star Cinema.

[anajasdel]

[anajasdel]

[ELEAU]

Grabe ... ang ganda naman ng sinulat ni Cristy ... thanks Ana for posting it ...

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