Darna vs. the Planet Women

Darna vs. the Planet Women
Darna vs. the Planet Women
Directed by	Armando Garces
Written by	Armando Garces
Based on	Darna; by Mars Ravelo; Nestor Redondo;
Starring	Vilma Santos; Rosanna Ortiz; Eva Linda; Lita Vasquez; Lieza Zobel; Diana Villa; Zandro Zamora; Bentot Jr.;
Cinematography	Amado "Botong" de Guzman
Edited by	Efren Jarlego
Music by	Carding Cruz
Production; company	Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Production
Release date	December 25, 1975;
Running time	102 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Darna vs. the Planet Women is a 1975 Filipino superhero film based on the Pilipino Komiks character Darna. Written and directed by Armando Garces, it is the third Darna film to star Vilma Santos in the title role,^[2] and the ninth Darna film overall. The film also stars Rosanna Ortiz as the villain Elektra, alongside Zandro Zamora, Bentot Jr., Eva Linda, Lita Vasquez, Lieza Zobel and Diana Villa. The plot concerns Darna's quest to stop the alien Elektra of the planet Arko from leading an invasion of Earth with her female army. Produced by Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Production, Darna vs. the Planet Women was released on December 25, 1975.

Critic Justino Dormiendo of Sagisag panned the film for its patchwork quality comparable to a school play and "laughable" special effects. The Darna series continued with Bira! Darna, Bira! in 1979, with Rio Locsin taking over the lead role, while Santos returned for a final time in 1980's Darna and Ding.

Cast

Vilma Santos as Narda / Darna
Rosanna Ortiz as Elektra
Zandro Zamora as Ramon
Bentot Jr. as Ding
Eva Linda as Orang
Lita Vasquez as Kara
Lieza Zobel
Diana Villa as Noche
Joe Sison
Virginia Montes
Veronica Palileo as Narda's grandmother
Paquito Salcedo
Pons de Guzman
Steve Alcarado
Leon Pajaron
Nestor Rueda
Max Rojo
Kristy Kintanar
Romy Luartes
Joseph Jardinazo
Jimmy Dela Fuente
Luciano Prieto
The Tanay Boys

Television personality Ronnie Henares has an uncredited cameo appearance in the film.^[3]

Release

Darna vs. the Planet Women was released in theaters on December 25, 1975.

Home media

Manila Trigon Video released the film on home video in 1987.^[1]

Critical response

Justino Dormiendo, writing for Sagisag, gave the film an extremely negative review, unfavorably comparing the film's stitched-together quality to a grade school play and stated that "it should not be called a film but instead a bad dream." He further criticized the film's "laughable" ("katawa-tawa") special effects such as Darna's flying scenes and a flying saucer that "looks like a large piece of wood painted white", as well as the supposedly poor family of Narda looking too healthy.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b South and Southeast Asia Video Archive Holdings. University of Wisconsin. 1993. p. 96. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
^ Llanes, Rommel R. (October 3, 2008). "Vilma Santos Urban Legends Part 3: More Urban Legends Debunked". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Dormiendo, Justino M. (February 1976). Lumbera, Bienvenido (ed.). "Anim na Hakbang Paurong" [Six Steps Back]. Sagisag (in Filipino). Research & Analysis Center, Department of Public Information. p. 55. Retrieved June 17, 2024. Magsimula tayo sa pinakamababa, ang Darna vs. The Planet Women, na hindi dapat tawaging pelikula kundi isang masamang panaginip.

External links

Darna vs. the Planet Women at IMDb

[VideoArchive-1] South and Southeast Asia Video Archive Holdings. University of Wisconsin. 1993. p. 96. Retrieved June 17, 2024.

[2] Llanes, Rommel R. (October 3, 2008). "Vilma Santos Urban Legends Part 3: More Urban Legends Debunked". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2024.

[Sagisag-3] Dormiendo, Justino M. (February 1976). Lumbera, Bienvenido (ed.). "Anim na Hakbang Paurong" [Six Steps Back]. Sagisag (in Filipino). Research & Analysis Center, Department of Public Information. p. 55. Retrieved June 17, 2024. Magsimula tayo sa pinakamababa, ang Darna vs. The Planet Women, na hindi dapat tawaging pelikula kundi isang masamang panaginip.

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