Close To You (2006)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Close To You is about Manuel and Marian,who have always been best friends. They are so close that they know each other's secrets.After all these years, Manuel never had the courage to tell Marian how much he loves her. Then the conflict arises.When Marian's first love, Lance, returns to the Philippines, she is intent on seeing him again. She brings along Manuel on a chase that brings them around the Philippines and abroad. Manuel now has been brought to the crossroads. Will he let his best friend be happy with her Prince Charming, or will he fight for the love that has kept him alive all these years?Close To You is a film that one could barely finish. The story is simply outrageous. Manuel and Marian are the best of friends and they can tell each other's secrets. But can't they not tell how they feel towards one another.Are they in kindergarten or something? They are not.They are adults.That's one inconsistency I could not bear in this film. Aside from that, their feelings for each other was not something that was new.They felt it for each other all through out the years they have known each other.Sad but true. The acting is also below average. Aside from that, the movie practically drag towards that issue for almost half of the film.This was a poor project for both Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz.

You guys better watch out. Sam Milby's celebrity stardom will probably influence him to run for president. He'll probably sing for the majority of his campaign speech. That'll totally win the masses.Can somebody please recommend to me an actual GOOD indigenous Filipino film? I am really itching to watch something authentic and original. Close To You is a rip-off of American teen flicks (in case some of you don't know, these films have been critically bashed by American audiences and film critics). If it were released in North America, it would have went straight to video, gathering dust on the shelves with Jessica Simpson's crappy movies. I don't understand why this film is highly praised by the Filipinos. Maybe because it features that dreamy euro-Asian dude from Filipino Big Brother -- Sam Milby. Yes! That definitely gives a valid reason to love this film. Okay, I was being sarcastic.Why haven't I seen a film that captures the heart of the Philippines? I'm still waiting for a Ang Lee of the Philippines. Why aren't there films that portray social dilemmas of the country? i.e. politics, and socio-economic problems? It really sickens me that my country is trying to obscure their authentic identity by trying to be Westernized. Close To You is a perfect example of the downfall of Filipino Cinema. Please, let a director with half a brain produce something worth my time. I want my money back!!!!

This movie is great and the plot is enthralling, yet I feel uncompensated at the end when palitz and marian kiss. I felt it was more on the kiddish side and did not expose the full power of their relationship. Yet I believe this was a great attempt by the director Cathy Garcia-Molina and a new romance type by star cinema, far better than "Dubai" by ABS-CBN which left many including myself expecting a romance and getting something totally different. What I liked most about the movie though, is that it ventured into the world of the "shy" men. In other words, men who do not express their amorous feelings. In more conventional plots this would be vice-versa. I give the movie 6 out of 10. -Best-: Acting by Young Talents John Lloyd Cruz & Bea Alonzo; Plot; Creativity. -Worst-: Ending Kiss; Sam Milby. ===Overall=== I wouldn't buy or rent this movie just because of the platonic ending, but if it were to show on TV(Star Cinema Channel), I would give it a watch.www.myspace.com/kev4all [email protected]

Brilliant! What an excellent phillipine love story ever! It's one of the philippine's best love films ever to be made on Star Cinema.I'd say about those 3 main characters like John Lloyd, Bea, and Sam - I'd say their act was very outstanding - Seriously! Sam Milby is his first movie ever and his first act on philippine movies was AMAZING, and during this film when he sings, his got a talent there. Also John and Bea, their acting on this film was FANTASTIC, on this film, how drama occur about John's character not telling the girl (as Bea's character) that he loves her, the dramatic scenes:their emotions, feelings and all that - Was so heartwarming that makes some people into tears. They didn't even make a fake cry like putting water in their eyes, its was not fake, it was true. Some other philippine love movies would have fake crying in it but the act is like much more realistic that will make people cry sometimes.Anyway, this film is an excellent love story which people would enjoy watching it. This is the only love story in the Philippines that has better scenes, better acting, and better scripts than any other films that you would watch.There are no problems about this film, not too dramatic, not too painful, its perfect. I'd rate this film a 10 out of 10.Excellent job, very well done.