Maximo the Great

Was able to catch the last screening of Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros last night. It's a heartwarming, funny and memorable tale about a gay kid, Maxi (talented newcomer Nathan Lopez), who develops a huge crush on rookie cop Victor Perez (JR Valentin), an incorruptible and very likeable guy. The problem is, this honest law enforcer's after Maxi's family, a bunch of street thugs. But they love the boy dearly and have protected him from the neighborhood jerks. Can lovestruck Maxi get out of this quandary unscathed?

Watch it with your loved ones. It's showing now at most cineplexes. It's a special, exceptional effort. You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll learn a thing or two about life. "Maxi" also has a blog. Check that out, too. And congrats to the filmmakers, cast and crew for their recent wins here and in foreign filmfests.

Tomorrow, Manila Bulletin writer Yonina Chan texted, will be when the article about Filipino comic books comes out in the broadsheet's "i" section. Was interviewed for that a few weeks back, along with Marco, Arnold, and other comics-making comics junkies. Am excited about that.

Also, was able to complete the Sentinel set of Marvel Legends yesterday. I didn't buy the simple-looking Mystique figure, because she and Omega Red shared the same lower torso part of the Sentinel. Omega Red is a boring, BORING comic book character, but the action figure was WOW! So I got that instead. I like the bendable tendrils and imposing size. Really nice. And the assembled Sentinel looks like the good robot from Grant Morrison's last New X-Men arc, "Rover", the one controlled by the young guy ala the Iron Giant. So the big toy, I'm pretending, is part of the X-Men roster anyway, 'cause they're open to members who come from the future or alternate worlds. Rover rocks!

Okay, that was totally geeky.

DC Direct, please make more affordable figures with more points of articulation like the ones Toy Biz is doing. Please do it soon. You've got over seventy years' worth of characters at your disposal. Start with the post-Zero Hour Legion of Super-Heroes. Fanboys and fangirls the world over will eat 'em up. You'll make lots of money.