GOOD JOB: "Good Game" movie honors gamers

Cast of 'GG (Good Game): The Movie' led by Donny Pangilinan

 Anyone who has a heart will find it hard not to like "GG (Good Game): The Movie."

Starring Donny Pangilinan and directed by Prime Cruz, the movie about a group of gamers who have made the e-sport their universe will get to you; if not by this scene, then surely by the next one until finally you are just so absorbed with the story, their lives. 

Casting was perfect, most especially real-life mother and son Donny and Marixel Laxa-Pangilinan, as well as Baron Geisler, the coach of the Tokwa't Bad Boys team. Donny is obviously a chip off the old block as Maricel shone in "Good Game" especially in key scenes---such a strong comeback for her. Fans of Baron who love to hate him for his kontrabida roles in other projects will be surprised to see the kind of vulnerability he displayed here. The other actors in the movie are Christian Vasquez, Igi Boy Flores, Gold Aceron, Johannes Risler, Kaleb Ong, Boots Anson-Roa, and the late Ronaldo Valdez. Making cameos in the movie are Kuya Kim Atienza, Bigboy Cheng, Ragnarok Legend Jake San Diego, Jake Ejercito, Nicole Borromeo, Anthony Pangilinan, and John Arcilla.

Prime is just magic. "Good Game" is ready for an international audience thanks much to his taste, his predilection that manifest on camera. If not for the Filipino lines, "Good Games' could easily pass as a Thai or Korean movie---that's the truth. And if the newbies in the movie look as if they've been acting their whole lives, well surely that's because of their director's guidance. We could only wish this movie was included in the recent Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) as we highly think it more than deserves a slot.  

 "Being a gamer myself, I immediately said yes to the project. Combining my passions for gaming and filmmaking is a chance of a lifetime," Prime was quoted to have said in a statement.    

Another star of the show is Moira's version of "Your Universe" (originally by Rico Blanco) that when played during the movie, just upped the premium of the moment.   

Being a Gen X'er who was not raised on online games, I came out of the cinema with my heart going out for gamers who are misunderstood or do not get the support they need to succeed. Even today, there are still people who see e-sports as just a hobby, certainly not a path to pursue in life. Hence, many non-gamers erroneously judge them as lazy and losers.

Thanks to movies like "Good Game," breaking some of the biases just takes two hours, max.  

Produced by MediaWorks, Cignal Entertainment, Metasports.gg, and Create Cinema, "Good Game" is now in theaters nationwide.

(Smart, Predator Gaming, Acer, Rudy Project, Volvo, and Chatime Philippines. Star Cinema partners as GG’s marketing and distribution arm. The advocacy partner is Called to Rescue Philippines, a non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to anti-trafficking and anti-abuse efforts for our country’s youth)