Heneral Luna

Anchored by a charismatic central performance by John Arcilla ("Metro Manila") and peppered with exciting action sequences, the pic has the all-around energy to overcome the odd moment of bumpy storytelling and prosaic dialogue.

From an American perspective, "Heneral Luna" may not be much of a film, but it's a fascinating artifact.

"Heneral Luna" would never be mistaken for more serious-minded art-house material, but there are certainly less lively ways to be taught a history lesson.

Tarog works around modest resources to create a sense of sweep and dimension. As with Luna himself, the film might go too far at times, but there's much to admire.

Really, when a film works this hard to rouse you, there's no shame in just giving in.

Heneral Luna is a sturdy, stirring if perhaps sometimes simplistic historical epic about bravery and treachery in a country at war.

“Heneral Luna” has its issues, but as the sum of its individual components, the outcome is definitely positive, particularly due to Arcilla's performance and overall charisma ,and the visual approach that is befitting of a true epic. 



What is most fascinating about Tarog's Heneral Luna is that it does not place its intent ahead of its craft. The film is beautiful to gaze at.

A hagiographic, testosterone-driven war film heavy on macho posturing, gunfire and explosions, bodies falling, and a stoic hero at the center of it all.