Category: Review
‘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 ...
‘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 ...
‘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 ...
‘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 ...
‘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 ...