Category: Review
‘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 ...