«The Kingdom» (2024): A World Where the Philippines Never Existed

«The Kingdom» (2024) is set in a world where the Republic of the Philippines was never conquered by Western imperialists. Instead, the archipelago stood united under a central monarchy—the "Kingdom of Kalayaan". ("Kalayaan" means freedom in Filipino.)

It reimagines a version of history many Filipinos have long dreamed of—a world where our islands successfully repelled foreign invaders, preserving the values that once defined us: equality, equity, compassion, and respect for diversity and neurodiversity. A reality without anti-LGBT prejudice, without slavery, and where divorce is part of societal balance. Traditions and systems that Western colonisers erased or rewrote to fit their own narratives.

Now, this is a review, not a spoiler so let's get right into it.

Fight Scenes

Let's be honest: the fight scenes need serious improvement. Watching them felt like watching a slow-motion training reel rather than a life-or-death clash. Movements lacked weight, and the rhythm was too sluggish to sell the intensity of real combat.

The overuse of zoom-in shots did not help either (a common trick to hide the lack of impact by diverting attention to movement instead of connection). This was especially noticeable in the final battle sequence (no spoilers, of course).

That said, there is one exception. The second-to-the-last fight was slow for a reason and it worked. It carried a ceremonial tone, almost like a ritual dance between two warriors. That is where the pacing felt purposeful, not awkward.

If only the same level of attention was given throughout. A bit more budget and choreography refinement could have turned those duels into something memorable.

Spoken Language

Now, this part deserves applause. The dialogues were clean, properly structured, and beautifully delivered. The actors used the right words in the right places, avoiding the exaggerated diction often heard...