Target... Maganto is a 1988 Filipino action film based on the life of Lt. Col. Romeo Maganto of the Western Police District in Manila. Directed by Leonardo L. Garcia, the film stars Ronnie Ricketts as the eponymous police commander, alongside Charlie Davao, Monica Herrera, Paquito Diaz, Romy Diaz, Nick Romano, Renato del Prado, Bing Davao and Aurora Salve. It is the first film to be made about Maganto's life; later films include Leon ng Maynila (1991) and The Legend: Tomagan (2003). Produced by GVM Productions, the film was released on April 8, 1988.
| Target... Maganto | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Leonardo L. Garcia |
| Written by | Erwin T. Lanado[1] |
| Produced by | Greg V. Magliba[1] |
| Starring |
|
| Edited by | Francisco J. Vinarao[1] |
| Music by | Rey Ramos[1] |
Production company | GVM Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 108 minutes[1] |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
Critic Lav Diaz gave Maganto a negative review, criticizing its highly fictionalized depiction of the Sparrow Unit, a communist militant group of the New People's Army.
Plot edit
Lt. Col. Romeo Maganto is a dedicated police commander of the Western Police District. His repeated raids against a syndicate's operations eventually lead to a confrontation between him and the Sparrow Unit led by Archie.[2]
Cast edit
- Ronnie Ricketts as Lt. Col. Romeo S. Maganto
- Charlie Davao
- Monica Herrera as Elaine, Romeo's wife[2]
- Paquito Diaz as Archie[2]
- Romy Diaz
- Nick Romano
- Renato del Prado
- Bing Davao
- Aurora Salve
Release edit
Target... Maganto was graded "C" by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), indicating a "Fair" quality.[3] The film was released in theaters on April 8, 1988.[4][5]
Critical response edit
Lav Diaz, writing for the Manila Standard, gave Maganto a negative review. He criticized the film's highly fictionalized portrayal of the Sparrow Unit, focusing especially on the fictional character of Archie, as he thought that there were enough material written about them in newspapers for the filmmakers to have a more accurate depiction of the group. Diaz was also critical of the actors' performances, singling out in particular Ronnie Ricketts and Monica Herrera's portrayal of a married couple with three children being contradicted by their performances, which are that of lovers just starting to know each other.[2]
See also edit
Other depictions of the Sparrow Unit in film:
- Target: Sparrow Unit (1987), also starring Ronnie Ricketts
- Ambush (1988), also starring Ronnie Ricketts
- Patrolman (1988)
- Alex Boncayao Brigade (1989), also starring Ronnie Ricketts
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Wells, Jack, ed. (June 1993). South and Southeast Asia Video Archive Holdings. p. 108. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Diaz, Lav (April 15, 1988). "Mahika blangka". Manila Standard (in Filipino). Standard Publications, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
HALAW sa totoong buhay ang pelikulang ito pero may bahid ng pantasya.
- ^ "MTRCB Classification and Ratings Guide for films reviewed 24–30 March". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. April 11, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
A film about the heroic deeds of a police officer who is devoted to his profession. Too much violent scenes need parental advice.
- ^ "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. April 8, 1988. p. 11. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
CAPRI........................Maganto
- ^ "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. April 8, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
CAPRI.......................Rebelyon
External links edit
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