Inspired by true events, APT Entertainment’s ‘Banal’ brings a new take on Philippine horror genre. In Banal (english title: Holy), a group of teenagers out for a summer vacation, finds themselves lost in the dense forest of Mt. Awanggan, a mystical mountain that is said to grant wishes to anyone who reaches its peak. BurdenedContinue reading “‘Banal’ review: New wave of Philippine horror genre”
Category Archives: Review
‘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 characterContinue reading “‘Brightburn: Son of Evil’ review: Intriguing concept, missed opportunity”
‘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. AfterContinue reading “‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ review: Phenomenal titan clash”
‘Finding You’ review: All the feels in Easy Ferrer’s directorial debut
Easy Ferrer’s ‘Finding You’ brings a new energy to romantic films with relatable performances from Jane Oineza, Barbie Imperial, and Jerome Ponce. Finding You is all about Nel (Jerome Ponce), who has hyperthymesia, a rare condition with extraordinary ability to remember personal experiences in detail. He knows everything that happened in his life, until oneContinue reading “‘Finding You’ review: All the feels in Easy Ferrer’s directorial debut”
‘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 withinContinue reading “‘Kuwaresma’ review: Erik Matti’s arthouse horror features delusions of grandeur”
‘Aladdin’ review: Classic tale brings pure nostalgia
Director Guy Ritchie creatively helms an enjoyable retelling of a classic Disney film that takes us to a whole new world of Aladdin. Aladdin is a live-action remake of Disney’s 1992 animated film of the same name. It tells the story of a kindhearted, thieving street urchin, Aladdin (Mena Massoud), who falls in love withContinue reading “‘Aladdin’ review: Classic tale brings pure nostalgia”
‘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 asContinue reading “‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ review: Keanu Reeves shows what fatality means”
‘Between Maybes’ review: Julia Barretto, Gerald Anderson delight in well-written romcom
In Between Maybes, award-winning writer-director Jason Paul Laxamana takes us to a beautiful getaway with Julia Barretto and Gerald Anderson’s amazing act and chemistry. Louie Puyat (Gerald Anderson) has been living a solitary life in Saga, Japan until his silence is broken by the arrival of Hazel Ilagan (Julia Barretto), a washed up actress strugglingContinue reading “‘Between Maybes’ review: Julia Barretto, Gerald Anderson delight in well-written romcom”
‘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 comeContinue reading “‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu’ review: What fanboy dreams are made of”
‘Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon’ review: Exquisite, heart-rending execution
Nestor Abrogena Jr.’s ‘Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon’ picks up five years after its first film yet it still manages to teem with poignant authenticity. Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon follows the story of aspiring filmmaker Sam (Nicco Manalo) and writer Isa (Emmanuelle Vera), five years after their breakup in Ang Kwento NatingContinue reading “‘Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon’ review: Exquisite, heart-rending execution”