MANILA, Philippines?After Bong Revilla and Edu Manzano, it?s Ronnie Ricketts? turn to head the Optical Media Board, which is charged with the important task of foiling screen pirates? nefarious schemes and upholding producers? rights and welfare. Some people may find Ricketts a surprising choice, but those familiar with the self-effacing star-producer?s principled work believe that he?s the right person for the job.

For our part, we?ve enjoyed Ronnie?s action-drama and action-comedy movies, because of their strong values content and breezy storytelling style. As film director, he has a cool visual eye that connects well with similarly cool young-adult viewers.

True, Ronnie hasn?t been busy making action films of late, but that isn?t his fault? it?s the entire action filmmaking industry that?s been sidelined for some years now. And, with more time on his hands, he can now pay more attention to his new chores at OMB, so everybody wins.

The big question now is, will Ricketts be as feisty, creative and pro-active a pirate-buster as he needs to be? Our bet is that he will more than measure up to the task?but, in his own way, with less of the superficial tough-guy antics that have sometimes been brought to the job in the past. In his own, savvier way, Ricketts should rock.

Joseph?s comeback

After years away from the movie camera, Joseph Estrada is about to make his long-awaited comeback by way of his new costarrer with Ai Ai delas Alas. Having enjoyed Joseph?s performances in many past action-comedy productions, we?re looking forward to seeing how he?s come along as an actor.

With his dour, macho dead-pan put-downs, he could spring a fun-filled surprise on young-adult and teen viewers, who may have missed his earlier zingers?especially his comedic sparring sessions with his best buddy, Fernando Poe Jr.

Yes, FPJ was best known as a super-serious action-drama superstar. Every five years or so, however, he and Joseph would costar in a big action-drama-comedy blockbuster, where they would first play feisty adversaries before finally joining forces to defeat dozens of nasty hoodlums in the end.

Joseph also did hit comedy films with the likes of Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor and Boots Anson-Roa, so Ai Ai should have her work cut out for her keeping up with him in the comedy department, even if she?s no slouch in that field herself.

It isn?t likely that Joseph is going to quit his day job in politics, but if and when he decides to adjust his career focus once again, another trot around the fun park wouldn?t exactly be the worst prospect in the world.

What makes Joseph a spot-on action-comedy star is his light and naughty sense of timing. And, the screen heroes and antiheroes he used to play may have been as tough as all get-out, but they disarmed both foes and viewers with unexpected glints of vulnerability.