CinemaBravo

Author: Mr. Brightside

  • MOVIE REVIEWS: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2019 (Part 1)

    Here’s the first part of our festival report on Cinemalaya 2019, in which we cover Belle Douleur, Edward, John Denver Trending, Malamaya, Tabon and Shorts A. The 15th edition of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival runs from August 7 to 15, 2019 in select Ayala Malls Cinemas and Vista Cinemas nationwide. BELLE DOULEUR (BEAUTIFUL PAIN) The first…

  • ‘Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw’ review: Audacious and ridiculous

    Part-car-chase-action, part-buddy-comedy, and arguably part-superhero film, ‘Hobbs and Shaw’ serviceably assembles the requisites for a popcorn blockbuster. The plot of the Fast & Furious films truly came a long way from illegal street-racing and high speed heists. Its newest spin-off, Hobbs & Shaw, ratchets up the stakes by involving a deadly virus that can wipe…

  • ‘Midsommar’ review: Welcome to the sunny side of hell

    Helmed by Ari Aster’s fearless direction, ‘Midsommar’ effectively elevates the dread and horror – even if there’s no discernible purpose other than shock value. Note: This review contains mild spoilers, though you might have already deduced some of them in the trailer. An unspeakable tragedy occurs in the opening sequence of Midsommar that should warn…

  • ‘Yesterday’ review: A world without The Beatles

    As a charming offbeat romcom that highlights the music of The Beatles, ‘Yesterday’ is easy to let into your heart. As a Beatles fan myself, I’m inclined to say that any film that features their music is automatically worthy of the admission price. The band rightfully deserves their pedestal in rock n’ roll history –…

  • ‘The Lion King’ (2019) review: Photorealistic Disney remake means no worries

    Jon Favreau’s remake of ‘The Lion King’ does not liberate itself from the shackles of the Disney classic but the nostalgia it brings should be enough to make this an easy crowd-pleaser. On a strict technical level, Disney’s 2019 version of The Lion King counts more as a retelling than a reimagination: the story and…

  • ‘Spider-Man: Far from Home’ review: Greater upgrade, greater responsibility

    ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ keeps the comic book lore fresh with its picturesque locations, strong performances and overall light-hearted fun. Note: The following review contains spoilers from Avengers: Endgame. I admire MCU’s Spider-Man films for managing to impart uncle Ben’s infamous words (“With great power, comes great responsibility”) without the need of explicitly mentioning it.…

  • ‘Rocketman’ review: The glamorous and heartbreaking life of Elton John

    With its highly imaginative direction and Taron Egerton’s magnetic performance, ‘Rocketman’ finishes on a high note. It’s impossible not to think of Bohemian Rhapsody while watching Rocketman. Not to mention the fact that Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher himself assumed directing duties after Bryan Singer’s untimely exit while shooting Bohemian Rhapsody, both musical biopics feature flamboyant,…

  • ‘Toy Story 4’ review: Schooling adults on existentialism

    With its weighty themes on existential crisis and self-actualization, Toy Story 4 has strong and valid reasons to bring back our beloved characters for one more adventure. The announcement of Toy Story 4 is met with a lot of apprehension from fans and I totally get what they’re feeling. Toy Story trilogy wrapped up on…

  • ‘Men in Black: International’ review: Enjoy the fun while it lasts

    Like its title suggests, Men In Black: International offers plenty of globe-trotting and standard action set pieces to distract you from its bland and confusing plot. Thanks to Thor: Ragnarok, MIB: International already has one asset under its belt: the charming chemistry of Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. In here, Hemsworth continues to win you…

  • ‘Quezon’s Game’ review: Untold accounts of empathy and nationalism

    Quezon’s Game a.k.a. the Philippines’ version of ‘Schindler’s List’ occasionally strains in execution but it’s definitely profoundly moving when needed. Prior to this film, I humbly confess that I only know two facts about the late president Manuel L. Quezon: 1.) He secured the Philippine Independence law from the United States; and 2.) His face…

  • ‘Brightburn: Son of Evil’ review: Intriguing concept, missed opportunity

    Brightburn’s apparent lack of empathy for its lead character turns its intriguing concept into a gimmick. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s an overpowered, bloodthirsty alien kid! Do note that Brightburn does not belong in the DCEU universe nor is this about the alternate evil version of Superman in the comics. The character…

  • ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ review: Phenomenal titan clash

    Godzilla: King of the Monsters takes VFX terror and awe to a skyrocketing high. Those who are out for blood (and radiation) should see this on the biggest screen possible. Any sensible moviegoer should know that Godzilla is the star of any given Godzilla show. Human characters naturally play second fiddle to the story. After…

  • ‘Kuwaresma’ review: Erik Matti’s arthouse horror features delusions of grandeur

    Kuwaresma has style and powerhouse performances to spare but its plot crumbles under the weight of its ambitions. Erik Matti’s latest avenue for arthouse horror, Kuwaresma, is pure aesthetic all the way through. It has style to spare – from its grim production values to its elegant camerawork, the unsettling atmosphere is already palpable within…

  • ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ review: Keanu Reeves shows what fatality means

    As far as gratuitously violent films go, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum turns every mess into high art. John Wick franchise has a clear shot of what it’s gunning for: to be the best summer action release in 2019. Picking up precisely where Chapter 2 left off, Parabellum finds its eponymous assassin declared as…

  • ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu’ review: What fanboy dreams are made of

    Pokémon Detective Pikachu instantly evokes a sense of wonder and excitement made palpable by its goofy charms and photo-realistic details. It won’t take a while for viewers to get sucked into Ryme City – a utopian metropolis where wild Pokémons and humans peacefully coexist together. For the uninitiated, these Pokémons are huggable pets that come…

  • ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (spoiler-free) review: Marvel’s gratifying finale

    ‘Avengers: Endgame’ brings pride and joy to the fans who have invested in the MCU franchise, 11 years and 21 movies ago. After the “snappening” in Infinity War, audiences, myself included, are left with our jaws on the floor as the Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin) wipes half of the living creatures in the universe.…

  • ‘Hellboy’ (2019) review: Buckets of uninspired gore

    On paper, there’s a lot to like in Neil Marshall’s reboot of ‘Hellboy’ but its haphazard execution makes it feel numbing and exhausting. Neil Marshall’s Hellboy actually does a good job in tempering your expectations as its problems become apparent right from the very start. It kicks off with a clunky prologue of King Arthur,…

  • ‘Greta’ review: Menacing mommy issues

    Neil Jordan’s ‘Greta’ is a campy psychological B-movie thriller elevated by its A-list talents. If you find an unattended handbag on the subway, what will be your first course of action? Do you ignore it? Do you claim it for yourself? Or do you report it to the guards on duty? For the young waitress…

  • ‘Friend Zone’ review: Unabashed crowd-pleasing romcom

    It’s not hard to surrender to the charms of ‘Friend Zone’ despite it being pre-occupied on selling a commercially-calculated romcom. From Friends’ Joey Tribbiani to Game of Thrones’ Jorah Mormont, pop culture has taught us excellently the concept of getting #friendzoned, so much we can actually exhibit self-awareness whenever we find ourselves in that situation…

  • ‘Pet Sematary’ (2019) review: Breathing new life to Stephen King’s horror classic

    Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer’s adaptation of ‘Pet Sematary’ does not shy away from its nihilist subject matter to bring a new level of terror to its audience. Stephen King is one of the most prolific authors in the world who has reached the ‘immortal’ status: for generations, there seems to be no shortage in…

  • ‘Shazam!’ review: Another home run for DCEU

    David F. Sandberg’s ‘Shazam!’ is an ode to all those kids (and kids at heart) who have wild dreams of becoming a superhero. It seems that DC Extended Universe really takes these two constructive criticisms to heart: 1.) Most of their movies are too dark and brooding; and 2.) There are no shortcuts in finding…

  • ‘Eerie’ review: Bea Alonzo tries to save an underwhelming plot

    Mikhail Red’s mystery horror film ‘Eerie’ loses its steam by relying on derivative jumpscares and ultimately, a run-on-the-mill storyline. Back then, I’m so impressed with Mikhail Red’s Birdshot that I saw it twice in the cinemas. His recent Neomanila, despite my reservations on the build-up of its ending, still works just fine. Needless to say,…

  • ‘Dumbo’ review: Tim Burton presents whimsical, safe adaptation

    Tim Burton’s ‘Dumbo’ takes flight with wonder in its midsection, but euphoria runs dry quickly that you’ll hardly be pressed to remain for the encore. It’s only until the last few minutes of the 1941 animated classic, Dumbo, when the eponymous elephant with oversized ears finally discovers his ability to fly. In Tim Burton’s live-action…

  • ‘Triple Frontier’ review: Ben Affleck leads an all-star jungle heist

    ‘Triple Frontier’ adds flare to the masculine genre by incorporating moral and psychological underpinnings on brotherhood vs. greed. In a time where gender inclusivity is a must, it might seem that the testosterone-driven Triple Frontier is a step back for the action genre. But really, who would complain with this macho powerhouse casting? In here,…

  • ‘Us’ review: Terrifying dissection of duality

    Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’ is one of those rare gems that feels like an instant classic right after seeing it. The theme of duality permeates all over Jordan Peele’s sophomore film Us that even its title serves a double purpose – a noun and an abbreviation for United States (you’ll get it once you’ve seen the…

  • ‘Billie & Emma’ review: Earnest throwback to adolescence

    Samantha Lee’s ‘Billie & Emma’ neatly meshes different adolescent struggles into something nuanced yet deeply affecting coming-of-age tale. The beauty of Billie & Emma goes beyond being a mere vehicle for lesbian representation. By having teenagers as its leads, the film’s coming-of-age elements stand out, ultimately making the lesbian relationship a valuable supporting player to…

  • ‘Neomanila’ review: Mikhail Red blurs the lines of innocence and guilt

    If you’re brave enough to be left on a bleak and desolate state, Mikhail Red’s ‘Neomanila’ might just be your form of awakening. I’ve been meaning to see Neomanila since it first debuted in QCinema back in 2017 – the year when President Duterte’s “tokhang”/war on drugs operations are at a peak heat of discussion.…

  • ‘Captain Marvel’ review [2 of 2]: Unconventional, dismantled origins

    Captain Marvel creatively spins an origin story by reversing the wheels of the classic MCU Phase 1 formula. Fresh off from the monumental showdown of Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel carries a ton of expectations for fronting the ‘strongest superhero’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not to mention that this stand-alone/Phase 1-ish material competes with…

  • ‘Captain Marvel’: A spoiler-free character guide

    For casual moviegoers, we can’t blame you if you have little or no idea on what’s going on with Captain Marvel. After all, this first female-led Marvel film initially caught buzz during the post credits scene of Infinity War, where everyone just assumed that the said heroine is the solution to beating Thanos. Anyway, it…

  • ‘Isn’t It Romantic’ review: Half-hearted satirical romcom

    Isn’t It Romantic embraces too much of its satirical elements that it becomes the very thing that it’s trying to avoid. Presented as a satirical take to romcoms, Isn’t It Romantic is supposed to mock the conventions of its genre as meta as it can. In its center is a cynical architect Natalie (Rebel Wilson)…

  • ‘Happy Death Day 2U’ review: A risky genre-bending exercise

    Happy Death Day 2U as a go-for-broke sequel has a bunch of hit or miss ideas under its belt. The following review contains major spoilers from Happy Death Day and minor spoilers from Happy Death Day 2U. One of Blumhouse’s low-budget breakout films in 2017, Happy Death Day, is a high-concept, black-comedy slasher flick that…

  • ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ review: A fulfilling farewell

    Concluding with ‘The Hidden World,’ the ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ franchise goes down in history as one of the best trilogies ever made. How long does it take to train a dragon? For DreamWorks, it takes three films. Its final installment, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, suggests that the last part…

  • ‘Alone/Together’ review: #LizQuen play idealists in an imperfect world

    Despite being built around the confines of a romance story, Antoinette Jadaone’s ‘Alone/Together‘ works best as a tale of self-actualization. I couldn’t blame Black Sheep for choosing to market this film as a romance drama. After all, the so-called formula for box-office success includes having a ‘bankable cast’—and by local industry standards, that often translates…

  • ‘Cold Pursuit’ review: Eccentric examination on revenge cycle

    Taking cues from Fargo series and a Quentin Tarantino-inspired direction, ‘Cold Pursuit‘ might be the strangest action film in Liam Neeson’s repertoire. Debuting ten years ago is the vigilante action flick Taken, arguably the first film to discover Liam Neeson’s ‘particular set of skills’ to be the next badass hero. Since then, the actor has…

  • ‘Green Book’ review: A roadmap to overcoming racial prejudice

    Helmed by a thoughtful direction and supported by masterful performances, ‘Green Book’ is an immensely likable buddy film about self-discovery and enlightenment. It’s quite surprising that one of the high caliber films competing this Oscar season comes from Peter Farelly, a director known for low-brow comedies such as Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About…

  • ‘Instant Family’ review: Foster parenting on training wheels

    ‘Instant Family’ shows an up-close and personal depiction of the American foster care system with big laughs and a humongous heart. This film deserves the credit alone for taking a sensitive subject matter without turning it into something offensive, problematic or excessively sentimental. While most films tend to over-simplify the adoption process, director/co-writer Sean Anders…

  • ‘Born Beautiful’ review: Humor is a weapon

    Scrappy as it may seem, ‘Born Beautiful’ takes a subversive path to laughs and profundity, making it a light contrast to its predecessor ‘Die Beautiful.’ There’s a broad and raunchy type of humor in Born Beautiful that can be enjoyed on two levels. From a slapstick level, those coming in for an outrageous ‘laugh-out-loud’ time…

  • ‘Glass’ review: Bold antithesis to superhero genre

    Glass subverts your expectations enough to make it a bold antithesis to the superhero genre. Nobody foresaw the “Eastrail 177 trilogy” coming into life until the closing credits of the psychological horror thriller Split, which revealed itself to be a standalone sequel to the 2000 superhero-thriller Unbreakable. It’s a brilliant move for M. Night Shyamalan’s…

  • ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ review: A sweet blast from the past

    ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ follows the same beats of its classic predecessor but that shouldn’t hinder different generations from being swept away by its pure joy and exhilaration. There’s something enthralling about Mary Poppins: a charismatic, no-nonsense nanny who has her unique way of managing daily errands through magic and musical numbers. When viewed through a…

  • MOVIE REVIEWS: Cinema One Originals Festival 2018 (Part 2)

    Here’s the second part of our festival report on Cinema One Originals 2018, in which we cover A Short History of a Few Bad Things, Asuang, Bagyong Bheverlynn, and Hospicio. The 14th edition of Cinema One Originals Film Festival runs from October 12 to 21, 2018 in select cinemas in Metro Manila. READ MORE: Part 1 of…

  • MOVIE REVIEWS: Cinema One Originals Festival 2018 (Part 1)

    Here’s the first part of our festival report on Cinema One Originals 2018, in which we cover Double Twisting Double Back, Mamu (and a Mother Too), Never Tear Us Apart, Paglisan, and Pang-MMK. The 14th edition of Cinema One Originals Film Festival runs from October 12 to 21, 2018 in select cinemas in Metro Manila. READ MORE:…

  • ‘Johnny English Strikes Again’ review: An analog spy in a digital world

    Despite going for more absurd gags, David Kerr’s ‘Johnny English Strikes Again’ struggles to justify its existence in the modern world. In one scene in Johnny English Strikes Again, the bumbling titular hero (Rowan Atkinson), donned with full medieval armor, trips on the top of a staircase and crashes all the way down the exit…

  • ‘A Star is Born’ review [1 of 2]: Grit behind the glam

    Bradley Cooper recreates a role of a lifetime for him and Lady Gaga in ‘A Star is Born.’ There’s much more to the fourth reiteration of A Star is Born rather than being Bradley Cooper’s passion project. It operates on many levels – an underdog musical, a titillating romance, an existentialist tale, and most of…

  • ‘Brother of the Year’ review: Sibling rivalry with surprise heartfelt turn

    Witthaya Thongyuyong’s ‘Brother of the Year’ gives you more than what you expect for. Thai production studio GDH’s follow up to the smash hit Bad Genius doesn’t bear a high-concept premise but rather a crowd-pleasing subject that will resonate most to Asian viewers. Heavily marketed as a sibling comedy with a dash of romcom, Brother…

  • ‘Para sa Broken Hearted’ review: Fresh take on ‘hugot’

    If ever you seek validation that you’re not alone with the grief your dealing with, Digo Ricio’s ‘Para sa Broken Hearted’ is there to sob with you. Para sa Broken Hearted (For The Broken Hearted) kicks off with a montage of random people coping with the anguish of heartbreak – in its background, After 5’s…

  • ‘Venom’ review [2 of 2]: Tom Hardy is a fantastic chameleon

    Once you realize that Ruben Fleischer’s ‘Venom‘ functions more as a comedy, then good time is bound to follow. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 first introduced ‘Venom’ as an amorphous symbiote latching on Peter Parker’s suit, which causes him to have a radical change in his personality. And with that, we are served with an infamous…

  • ‘Little Italy’ review: More like cheesecake than pizza

    The clichéd poster of Donald Petrie’s ‘Little Italy’ is already an indication of the cheesy tropes that will be served throughout the film. There’s no secret recipe in Little Italy. It’s one of those whimsical romcoms trying to make a comeback in Hollywood using a classic formula. You can easily compare it to the far…

  • ‘Exes Baggage’ review: Art imitating life

    The chemistry of Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino adds volume to an otherwise lightweight conflict in Dan Villegas’ ‘Exes Baggage.’ Antoinette Jadaone’s That Thing Called Tadhana (2014) is another romcom that reminded us of an Angelica Panganiban character carrying excess baggage from a past relationship. As the first local film to find a sweet spot…

  • ‘Peppermint’ review: Jennifer Garner is one fierce, angry momma

    After a decade of ‘mom roles’, the former Alias star still has it in her bones in Pierre Morel’s action thriller ‘Peppermint.’ Looking at Jennifer Garner’s IMDB page, it’s apparent that the action heroine has been pinned to a decade of nondescript maternal roles since 2007’s The Kingdom. Fans (including me) are itching to see…

  • ‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls’ review: Spooky gateway horror film for children

    Eli Roth’s ‘The House With a Clock in Its Walls’ comes a little late in the game, but it’s a perfect double feature with Jack Black’s other dark fantasy film, ‘Goosebumps.’ The words ‘family-friendly’ and ‘Eli Roth’ feels jarring to be seen together. You see, filmmaker Roth is one of the propagators of the term “torture…

  • ‘Searching’ review: Perfectly-executed digital thriller

    You’ll walk away of Aneesh Chaganty’s ‘Searching’ with a brand new awareness on social media exposure. Searching hooks you right away with its 5-minute opening sequence. Shot from the point of view of a computer screen, the film builds a backstory of the Kim family through video clips, calendar events, photos, email messages, etc. It’s…

  • ‘The Predator (2018)’ review: Gratuitously violent and offensive

    Shane Black’s ‘The Predator’ is a deviation to the horror-action classic and this is not the film’s biggest problem. I understand Shane Black’s decision to take the risk here. The succeeding sequels to the 1987 Predator revamped the franchise by introducing larger predators and moving the story outside Earth. Then there’s the horrendous idea of pitting…

  • ‘The Nun’ review: Fleeting thrills, jump scare galore

    Corin Hardy’s ‘The Nun’ has plenty of shameless jump scares to cure your hiccups and that’s just it. To sum up The Nun viewing experience in one scene, it would be that part where a character walks through a forest in the middle of the night when suddenly – baaam! – a hanging nun corpse…

  • ‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’ review: Deconstruction of a glorified hero

    Jerrold Tarog’s ‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral‘ works better as an ensemble piece than a character study. Still, its a marvelous technical achievement. The 2015 sleeper hit Heneral Luna stupefied us with an image of a burning Philippine flag and General Antonio Luna’s impassioned voice, “Bayan o sarili? Pumili ka!” It’s a rhetoric posed to the modern…

  • ‘The Hows of Us’ review: Fluffy and uneven for a KathNiel movie

    Cathy Garcia-Molina should be asking more ‘hows’ in adding fresh ideas to her romcom releases. In The Hows of Us, two former flames are forced to live together in the same house that they once shared. But before main conflict completely plays out, a flashback montage is first shown. Wide-eyed dreamers Georgina (Kathryn Bernardo), a…

  • ‘The Equalizer 2’ review: Denzel Washington balances the action and the drama

    Antoine Fuqua’s ‘The Equalizer 2’ slow-burn approach muddles with too many subplots but it eventually pays off with a cathartic finale. The Equalizer 2 brings back Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall – a low-key vigilante who now works as an unassuming Lyft driver. Apart from having a neat excuse for brand placement, it’s also the film’s…

  • ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ review: A wonderful, inclusive vacation

    Jon M. Chu’s ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is the ‘Black Panther’ of Asian representation but instead of vibranium, the golds and gems are in full display. The most meaningful scene in Jon M. Chu’s Crazy Rich Asians happens at a dinner table where the incredibly wealthy Singaporean Young family are gathered around to make some dumplings.…

  • ‘Miss Granny’ (2018) review: Sarah Geronimo’s performance makes this Pinoy remake triumphant

    Bb. Joyce Bernal’s adaptation of ‘Miss Granny’ is a testament to Sarah Geronimo’s well-rounded artistry. There’s a broad and classic appeal in films with body/age-swap premises (Big, Freaky Friday, 17 Again, 13 Going on 30) that they’re reincarnated time and again in cinema. Such concept is a perfect device for escapism—what would it feel like…

  • ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation’ review: Visually hyperactive but bland getaway

    Genndy Tartakovsky’s ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation’ falls within the Looney Tunes brand of entertainment – extremely fun, but only for kids ages 12 and below. At this point, it’s hardly a surprise that one of Sony’s biggest cash cows, Hotel Transylvania, breaks into the elite status of animation and earns itself a threequel.…

  • MOVIE REVIEWS: Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 (Part 2)

    Here’s the second part of our report on ‘Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018’ in which we cover The Day After Valentine’s, and We Will Not Die Tonight. The 2nd edition of PPP runs from August 15 to 21 in Philippine cinemas nationwide. READ MORE: Guide to Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018   THE DAY AFTER VALENTINE’S…

  • MOVIE REVIEWS: Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 (Part 1)

    Here’s the first part of our report on ‘Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018’ in which we cover Bakwit Boys, Madilim Ang Gabi, Pinay Beauty, and Unli Life. The 2nd edition of PPP runs from August 15 to 21 in Philippine cinemas nationwide. READ MORE: Guide to Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 BAKWIT BOYS For such a small-scale…

  • MOVIE REVIEWS: Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2018 (Part 2)

    Here’s the second part of our festival report on Cinemalaya 2018 in which we cover Distance, Kuya Wes, Pan De Salawal, School Service, The Lookout and Shorts B. The 14th edition of Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival runs from August 3 to 12 at Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and select cinemas in Metro Manila. READ MORE: Guide…

  • MOVIE REVIEWS: Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2018 (Part 1)

    Here’s the first part of our festival report on Cinemalaya 2018 in which we cover Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon, Mamang, Liway, ML, Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gubat Ng Digma and Shorts A. The 14th edition of Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival runs from August 3 to 12 at Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and select cinemas in Metro…

  • ‘BuyBust’ review: Mind-searing desperation and damnation in the hellish slums of Manila

    Erik Matti’s ‘BuyBust’ could just be the catalyst in the second coming of Philippine action films. Looking at Erik Matti’s acclaimed body of work (2013’s On The Job and 2015’s Honor Thy Father), it’s safe to say that violence has always been a driving force in his brand of filmmaking. Whereas social media can easily…

  • ‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ review: Uneven but wildly fun

    While most of the jokes fall on a sitcom level, Susanna Fogel’s ‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ still makes a serviceable action-buddy cop film, clearly overt with its feminist themes. Coming out a week after the release of Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Susanna Fogel’s The Spy Who Dumped Me, though not the first of its…

  • ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ review: Rare franchise consistently outperforming itself

    With its sharp choreography and tight pacing, Christopher McQuarrie’s ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ solidifies itself as this year’s action movie to beat. Like its ageless franchise, Tom Cruise is simply an indestructible icon. The ‘Tom-Cruise-risks-his-life-for-our-entertainment’ show is back. See the legendary Ethan Hunt run, drive, climb, leap, swing and fight with 110% effort, while showing…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ is what the first film should have been

    Despite using lesser-known Abba songs, Ol Parker’s ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ knocks off the first film by having a focused narrative, offering more room for poignant character introspection. If you have already seen the trailers released for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, you might have noticed the glaring absence of ‘The Dancing…

  • GUIDE: Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2018

    Now on its 14th year, Cinemalaya: The Philippine Independent Film Festival will run from August 3-12 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)  and select Ayala Malls cinemas (Trinoma, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 1, U.P. Town Center, and Ayala Mall Legazpi in Bicol). For the list of full-length films and short films in competition, please…

  • ‘Skyscraper’ review: Physics-defying, vertigo-inducing action flick

    Looking at The Rock’s trajectory in this movie poster, there’s simply no way he could have made it, right? ‘Skyscraper’ screws physics and logic to disprove this. These days, Dwayne Johnson has been churning out blockbuster movies faster than any other action star—like he’s a film studio himself. Not to mention his ongoing HBO show…

  • ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ review: Giant-sized fun from miniscule stakes

    ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’, like its predecessor, remains to be a light-hearted yet unpretentious superhero film that holds together with its heartfelt universal appeal of family and extended families. Temper your anticipation for Avengers 4, Ant-Man and the Wasp won’t answer any of your lingering Infinity War questions. Still, the timing couldn’t have been more…

  • ‘Adrift’ review: The resilience of love against all odds

    The clever use of two juxtaposed timelines in ‘Adrift’ largely succeeds in telling a survival story that is both suspenseful and sweet. Adrift is based on a true story of love and survival. In 1983, two wandering souls, Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp, inadvertently sailed into the eye of Hurricane Raymond thereby stranding themselves in…

  • ‘Incredibles 2’ review: Still incredible after 14 years

    In the sleuth of modern superheroes, Brad Bird’s ‘Incredibles 2’ rises above the noise by confidently kicking it old-school and placing its heart where it needs to be. It seems like yesterday but when Pixar’s The Incredibles came out in 2004, the superhero genre was just starting to gain a foothold in the cinema –…

  • ‘Ocean’s 8’ review: Stylish photocopy of ‘Ocean’s 11’ blueprint, with less swagger

    Gary Ross’ Ocean’s 8 has a paint-by-numbers approach that checks all the boxes it needs for your standard Ocean’s heist, more with style but less with tension and swagger. Diamonds and jewels aside, the biggest heist that Ocean’s 8 pulls off in this gender-bender spin-off is to replicate Ocean’s 11’s blueprint and present it with gloss…

  • ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ review: Hollywood weaponizes dinosaurs

    J.A. Bayona’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom continues to show more interest in its dinosaurs than its human participants. If taken as a ride, this should come out as thrilling. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom picks up three years after the events of Jurassic World where Isla Nublar’s iconic theme park was once again closed when things went…

  • ‘Sid & Aya (Not a Love Story)’ review: Dark truths on the economics of love

    Irene Villamor’s Sid & Aya is a cynical yet refreshing take on romantic relationships where economics becomes the ruling philosophy and money becomes the currency of love. Enough of the 500 Days of Summer gimmick; Sid & Aya (Not a Love Story) is a clear-cut love story. It should be pointed out for future films—that would…

  • ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ Review: Competent prequel, nothing more, nothing less

    For an origin story, ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ doesn’t add much insight to its main character but this long-awaited, fun visualization should be enough to keep fans and casual moviegoers at bay. It’s no secret that most of Solo’s weight hangs on Alden Ehrenreich’s performance. Unlike Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens and…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Deadpool 2 (2018)

    Deadpool 2 revs up more on meta-references, violence and attitude. It simply won’t back down up until the post-credits. If the first Deadpool movie made history by breaking down the fourth-wall in the superhero film genre, this sequel outdoes its predecessor by revving up on everything that fans expect of it: meta-references and gratuitous violence. So…

  • MOVIE REVIEWS: CineFilipino Film Festival 2018 (Part 1)

    Here’s the first part of our festival report on CineFilipino Film Festival 2018 in which we cover Delia & Sammy, Hitboy, Mata Tapang, and Mga Mister ni Rosario. The 3rd CineFilipino runs from May 9 to 15 at select cinemas in Metro Manila. READ MORE: Guide to CineFilipino Film Festival 2018 DELIA & SAMMY Therese…

  • Sacrifice is the undercurrent theme in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (Spoiler Review)

    Marvel’s latest gargantuan, Avengers: Infinity War, has already earned a whopping $1 billion within its first 11 days of release (the fastest film ever to do so), surpassing the biggest opening weekend set by Star Wars: The Force Awakens (for US release) and The Fate of the Furious (for worldwide). Most impressively, Infinity War has…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Love, Simon (2018)

    Love, Simon is a surprisingly, radically-inclusive coming-of-age tale that wins you over with its universal truths. Love, Simon kicks off with its titular character declaring in a voice-over that he’s just a typical teenager (“I’m just like you”) then the film cuts to a montage that highlights his upper-middle class credentials: his beaming family and…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Avengers: Infinity War (2018) [1 of 2]

    After a decade of patronage, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ takes its viewers to high highs and low lows. If you’re an MCU fan, you may find yourself buying another ticket for a repeat viewing. If I were to channel Mantis’ empathic skills to understand Thanos’ plan of saving the universe by wiping half of it, I…

  • RECAP: Everything you need to know before watching ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

    Hey MCU fans (or casual moviegoer who has never seen any Marvel film but wants to join the hype for Infinity War anyway)! We are only a few days away from the premiere of the biggest event in the history of cinema and my guess is that you don’t have enough time to re-watch all…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Rampage (2018)

    “The Rock” battling giant monsters in RAMPAGE. Need I say more? Rampage is loosely based on a 1986 arcade game which allows its player to control a trio of genetically-enhanced monsters—a gorilla, a wolf, and a crocodile—whose goal is to reduce the surface of the earth into smithereens. It is quite bemusing how a game…

  • Survival odds of each hero appearing in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

    The time of reckoning has come. Opening in Philippine cinemas this April 25 is Avengers: Infinity War. The culmination of 10 years and 18 movies leads to this most gigantic and fatal crossover in the history of cinema. And what way to end this event of cosmic significance? With a big bang. Guardians of the…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Never Not Love You (2018)

    Antoinette Jadaone’s ‘Never Not Love You’ is her bravest and most nuanced work to date. It paints a realistic portrait of love – the euphoria, the sorrow and everything in between. For the most part, Never Not Love You keeps its leads, Joanne and Gio, exchanging three magical words that we all know too well:…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Ready Player One (2018)

    Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One is a timeless tribute to escapism, an amalgamation of all geek worlds, an apotheosis of nostalgia. This is the reason why we go to cinema. Atari 2600, Akira, Batman, Chucky, Godzilla, Gundam, Hello Kitty, The Iron Giant, Jurassic Park, King Kong, Looney Tunes, Street Fighter, Star Wars, Willy Wonka, Saturday…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Game Night (2018)

    Much like a board game, Game Night throws a lot of curveballs and fakeouts. Every detour is packed with snappy humor. It’s not the game itself that makes every game night an enjoyable social activity. It’s the people who you’re playing with that makes the evening fun, right? And from this perspective, John Francis Daley…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Tomb Raider (2018)

    Roar Uthaug’s reboot of Tomb Raider is definitely better than the past Angelina Jolie films, but in the slew of action films, this version feels bland. Alicia Vikander, with her immense upper body strength, mightily carries the film, flaws and all. Here’s the thing: If you have high hopes for films based on video games,…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Black Panther (2018)

    Ryan Coogler’s superhero film Black Panther tells a socially-relevant story and breaks barriers at the same time. Black Panther currently sits as the most critically-acclaimed superhero film of all time on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes with 97% (roughly tied with 2004’s The Incredibles) as of writing. Not to mention its current dominion on…

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Meet Me in St. Gallen (2018)

    Stripped down of unnecessary subplots, Irene Villamor’s Meet Me in St. Gallen trusts its audience to fill-in the gaps (sometimes to a fault) and is anchored by natural acting, profound direction and a consistently improving cinematography. Meet Me in St. Gallen is a story of kindred souls meeting at three different points in their lives.…