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‘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…
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‘Stranded’ review: Silver lining in hopeless situations
Ice Idanan’s ‘Stranded’ shows how a chance encounter can change your life perspective. In Stranded, a go-getter delivery boy Spencer (Arjo Atayde) and a workaholic pretty girl Julia (Jessy Mendiola) find themselves stranded inside an office building due to a heavy typhoon. With no one else to keep them company but themselves, the two soon…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘Maria’ review: Cristine Reyes astounds in a well-executed badass film
Pedring Lopez’ ‘Maria’ almost gives Hollywood action flicks a run for their money. When a former BlackRose cartel assassin, Lily (Cristine Reyes), deliberately betrays her team by refusing to complete a certain mission, the cartel orders her execution. Unbeknownst to them, she fakes her own death and proceeds to create a new life of her…
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‘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,…
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‘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…
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‘Five Feet Apart’ review: Heartwarming teenage romance
A fun-filled, tearjerker love story of sick teens who aren’t allowed to touch comes with an unexpected twist on letting go in Five Feet Apart. Based on a book by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iaconis, Five Feet Apart is about two teens inflicted with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder that mostly affects…
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‘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,…
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‘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…
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‘Homestay’ review: Supernatural drama of second chances
Thai fantasy thriller ‘Homestay’ is a wonderful adaptation made amusing by Parkpoom Wongpoom’s artistic vision. Homestay is a Thai adaptation of Japanese fantasy novel Colourful by Eto Mori which was written in 1999 and translated into Thai in 2003 as “Mua Sawan Hai Rangwan Phom.”. From the trailer, it looks like the typical cross of…
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‘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…
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‘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.…
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‘Ulan’ review: Nadine Lustre’s best performance yet
In a world filled with hopeless romantics, Irene Villamor’s Ulan encapsulates the meaning of ‘finding yourself before finding love.’ Ulan tells the story of Maya (Nadine Lustre) who grew up believing her Lola’s myths of finding true love against all odds, so much that it came to an extent that she shaped her life and…
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‘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…
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‘Captain Marvel’ review [1 of 2]: Marvelous embodiment of 90’s heroine
‘Captain Marvel’ brightens up the future of MCU with its refreshing take on the superhero origin story. The first ever female-led MCU film follows the unconventional and retrospective journey of a Kree-human hybrid Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one of the mightiest heroes in the galaxy. In her past human life, Carol is…
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‘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)…
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‘Escape Room’ review: Puzzling, formidable survival flick
Adam Robitel’s Escape Room is an extremely fun psychological thriller that redesigns the modern escape game. Kicking off with a bloody bang, Escape Room opens with a tense and well-executed death trap sequence gone wrong. From there, we meet a struggling stockboy Ben (Logan Miller), physics student Zoey (Taylor Russell), and young trader Jason (Jay Ellis), each of whom receives a…
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‘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…
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‘The Favourite’ review: Elegant spoof on period piece
‘The Favourite’ director Yorgos Lanthimos beautifully crafted a film that shows three remarkable women twisted in different ways. The Favourite is set in the early 18th century where England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘Hanggang Kailan’ review: Finding love in goodbyes
Bona Fajardo puts the chemistry of Xian Lim and Louise delos Reyes into something unexpected in the feel good film Hanggang Kailan . Hanggang Kailan opens on the first day trip of Donnie (Xian) and Kath (Louise) in Saga, Japan, the two celebrating their second year anniversary while trying to think of a convenient solution…
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‘Alita: Battle Angel’ review: A cyberpunk visual spectacle
James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez create a groundbreaking live-action manga adaptation of a well known heroine. At a scrapyard in a post-apocalyptic Iron City, a compassionate cyber-doctor Ido (Christoph Waltz), finds Alita (Rosa Salazar) in a disembodied “core” status and gives her a new body. Terror dawns on the poor cyborg once she realizes that…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly’ review: Best legendary showdown
Dragonball Super: Broly shines in colorful, action-packed animation with an overall fun theatrical experience. A planet destroyed, a powerful race reduced to nothing. After the devastation of Planet Vegeta, three Saiyans were scattered among the stars, destined for different fates. While two found a home on Earth, the third is raised with a burning desire…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘Bumblebee’ review: Well-made take to an overwhelming franchise
Bumblebee is more a reboot of the franchise with a good mix of character development and emotions, as well as some good action and humor. Bumblebee starts during a civil war on Cybertron, where Autobot resistance leader Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) sends his young lieutenant, Bumblebee (Dylan O’Brien), on a mission to Earth to establish…
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‘One Great Love’ review: Unexpected twist of love and heartbreak
One Great Love propels love-hate feels with an amazing story played out by remarkable performances of Kim Chiu, Dennis Trillo, and JC De Vera. ‘One Great Love’ revolves around the story of Zyra Paez (Kim Chiu), whose relationship with Carl Mauricio (JC de Vera) has failed. She decides to give their relationship one more try but soon finds herself…
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‘The Girl in the Orange Dress’ review: Hide-and-seek made fun and romantic
The Girl in the Orange Dress has all the kilig feels with Jessy Mendiola’s comeback on the big screen via first ever teamup with Jericho Rosales. ‘The Girl in the Orange Dress’ tells the story of Anna Villegas (Jessy), who is captured in a short video as she is being carried into a hotel by…
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‘Mary, Marry Me’ review: Fun-filled with love and rivalry
RC delos Reyes puts up the tandem of Gonzaga sisters in a feel-good family film this MMFF 2018 through Mary, Marry Me. ‘Mary, Marry Me’ is all about family and sisterhood. It tells the story of Mary Jane (Toni Gonzaga), and her younger sister Mary Anne (Alex) who is set to marry the former’s ex-boyfriend,…
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‘Ben is Back’ review: Powerful mother-son drama
Writer-director Peter Hedges tries to make Ben is Back work with his son Lucas and the support of Julia Roberts. Ben is Back is a story about a recovering addict Ben (Lucas Hedges) who leaves a sober-living facility to visit his mother, Holly (Julia Roberts) together with his teen sister and younger half-siblings for Christmas.…
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‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ review: Dazzling take on the webslinger characters
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a heartfelt superhero action with lots of enjoyable characters and humors. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the story of Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), who’s reluctantly enrolled in an elite New York City boarding school but would rather hang out with his Brooklyn friends. After he’s accidentally bitten by…
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‘Widows’ review: Heist thriller done right
Steven McQueen’s Widows captivates with an outstanding cast even when the story stumbles. Director Steven McQueen ensembles a group of women to put on an intelligent heist thriller in this all-new take on a 1980’s mini-series from the 80’s. ‘Widows’ opens violently with a heist gone wrong. After a thrilling car chase the men involved…
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‘Creed II’ review: A solid punch to ‘Rocky’ fans
Creed II maintains the same energy of the first film while pulling the best aspects of the original franchise. Creed II picks up a few years after the first film, as Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is on the verge of both becoming the new world heavyweight boxing champion and taking the next step…
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‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ review: Magically thrilling for Potterheads
J.K. Rowling’s second installment of the Wizarding World’s Fantastic Beasts is packed with magical concepts only fans would comprehend. The Crimes of Gridelwald begins in 1927, at the American Ministry of Magic, where the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) has been held captive for six months since the events at the end of the…
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‘Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it-Ralph 2’ review: Creatively fun online experience
Disney creates a vivid and breathing internet experience filled with poignant charm and humor through Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it-Ralph 2. Ralph Breaks the Internet picks up six years after Wreck-It Ralph and since then, shop owner Mr. Stan Litwak (Ed O’Neill) has upgraded his equipment and ventured into the uncharted, expansive and thrilling world of…
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‘Overlord’ review: Damn entertaining Nazi gore fest thriller
Julius Avery’s Overlord is an aggressively violent thriller that takes you back to the horrors of war and secret Nazi experiments. Overlord starts as a war drama that quickly switches to a full zombie film. The opening sequence is fantastic. It’s a nerve-wracking airdrop sequence that sets the tone as an opener. It’s the night before…
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‘Halloween’ review: A fresh take on the iconic slasher
David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween’ brings dignity to an increasingly disappointing franchise. Coming in 40 years later, Green’s new Halloween movie ignores every single sequel that came after John Carpenter’s 1978 cult classic. This game-changing move serves as a course correction to deliver a well-made and thrilling sequel that brings some form of closure to the…
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‘First Love’ review: Refreshing love team leaves you aching
Paul Soriano’s romantic drama ‘First Love’ touches the viewers’ hearts with a refreshing team-up of Bea Alonzo and Aga Mulach’s refreshing teamup. Like most tales of love, First Love marks an emotional journey between two kindred souls meeting in one fateful day. There’s Ali (Bea Alonzo) as the optimistic, free-spirited photographer and Nick (Aga Muhlach) as the…
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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…
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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:…
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‘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…
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‘A Star is Born’ review [2 of 2]: The musical era is officially back!
Bradley Cooper brings back a contemporary remake of a beloved Hollywood classic in ‘A Star is Born,’ with less glitter and more realistic textures, showcasing the dark pits of dreams and stardom. Led by his raw and poetic direction, Cooper shows the movie from the artist’s perspective — camera angles from the back of the…
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‘Wild and Free’ review: Unexpected and intense love affair
Connie Macatuno’s ‘Wild and Free‘ is not as just skin-deep as its trailer teases. The trailer for Regal’s Wild and Free promises passionate and erotic scenes that would surely awaken your most basic senses – the snippets are steamy and the onscreen chemistry of lead stars Derrick Monasterio and Sanya Lopez sizzles to the brim.…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘Venom’ review [1 of 2]: A parasite that bites the dust
“Ruben Fleischer’s ‘Venom’ crafts a mediocre film without Spider-Man.” For Marvel comic fans, the idea of ‘Venom’ starring in a stand-alone movie is a dream come true. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 may have relegated the character to a third wheel villain, but it nevertheless gave hope for the possibility of having its own spin-off. It is…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘Night School’ review: Potentially squeaks out passing grade
Malcolm D. Lee’s Night School smartly puts the talents of Tiffany Haddish to her reliable co-star Kevin Hart. Kevin Hart playing the lead in Night School will surely elicit a fun time filled with cheeky jokes and great laughs. But setting aside the hilarity, the film subtly focuses on broad important issues in education like…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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.…
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‘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…
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‘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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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 –…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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‘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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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MOVIE REVIEW: Avengers: Infinity War (2018) [2 of 2]
Avengers: Infinity War soars through a galaxy of big stars that the world has fallen in love with over the last 10 years. A decade-long of brewing momentum that spews generosity on its loud visual effects, and unprecedented humor injects, are only but a couple of reasons why Marvel is at the top of their…
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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…
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MOVIE REVIEW: Almost a Love Story (2018)
A chemistry that easily bonds without catalyst, Almost a Love Story is an engaging tale knitted by art and Italy. A romantic story that revolves around Baneng (Barbie Forteza) and Iggy (Derrick Monasterio), two childhood friends who grew up from different sides of the globe. They never meet each other in person and their relationship…
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MOVIE REVIEW: A Quiet Place (2018)
Anchored by exponentially gripping performances, and a direction that navigates the audience to untouched paradigms of horror, A Quiet Place is a cathartic genre-film that welcomes John Krasinski to a lineup of masterful contemporary directors. The film uses its chilling silence to draw the audience in, and it grips you so tightly with its eerie…
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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…
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MOVIE REVIEW: Annihilation
A visceral thriller proving that Ex Machina was not a one hit wonder, Annihilation is a continuation of that commentary to Alex Garland’s universe of unapologetic, contemporary sci-fi machine that kept on spewing unorthodox flares to the world of cinema. Natalie Portman plays Lena, a cellular biologist and former Army soldier whose husband Kane (Oscar…
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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:…
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MOVIE REVIEW: Pacific Rim Uprising (2018)
A killer when it comes to CGI, Pacific Rim Uprising is a new installment that boasts dynamic battles between Jaegers and Kaijus, exceeding the vivid colors and fight scenes of the first movie. The movie plot sets 10 years after Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) canceled the apocalypse. His “unmentioned” son, Jake Pentecost (John Boyega) continues…
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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…
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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…
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MOVIE REVIEW: Unsane (2018)
Loaded with high suspense against a low-fi experimental feature shot on iPhone 7, Steven Soderbergh’s Unsane is a movie for a psychiatric drive. ‘Unsane’ starts in the woods with an unseen man reciting a monologue about how he met a woman which captivated him to the point of not letting go. The film then rolls…
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