Category Archives: Movies

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles – A Horror/Comedy Film Worth Watching!

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The movie Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles is one ambitious film. For years, the people behind the project were talking about it and you can see in the film output that the hard work paid-off.

Director Erik Matti with Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles lead stars Lovi Poe and Dingdong Dantes

 

Last night, my friend Maire and I made it to the last full screening of Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles in Gateway Cinema. As they say, when real-life horror hunts you, better relax and watch a movie!

I am happy that a lot of moviegoers chose to watch this Filipino over the other foreign films. The cinema is almost full when we sat in our designated seats. When I saw the cast line-up, I already expected that I am about to watch a comedy-horror film… well, more on the comedy part.
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Movie Review: This Guy’s In Love With You, Mare

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Vice Ganda, Luis Manzano and Toni Gonzaga are the three versatile artists of ABS-CBN. The three of them are competitive as host, comedians and product endorsers.

This Guy’s In Love With You Mare lead stars Vice Ganda, Luis Manzano and Toni Gonzaga

 

Put them together in one movie and it will surely be a hit. Just last Wednesday, my friend Maire and I saw the new comedy flick ‘This Guy’s In Love With You Mare‘ under the direction of Wenn V. Deramas.  When I first saw the trailer during the screening of The Mistress, I just knew that I need to watch the film once it is out. I think Toni Gonzaga is our Pinay Cameron Diaz and she is simply the ideal romance-comedy leading lady. I even thought that if My Sassy Girl will have its Philippine version, Toni is the best to play ‘the girl’.

Anyway, Here’s my own review of This Guy’s In Love With You Mare:
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John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo and The Mistress Quotable Quotes

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Last Wednesday, Hannah and I met up in our favorite cinema to catch the new John Lloyd Cruz – Bea Alonzo movie entitled ‘The Mistress‘. Just like in last year’s No Other Woman, the cinema almost reached the SRO level. I bought the tickets at 4PM for the 8PM screening. Half of the seats were already booked. Beat that!

One of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz’ intense scenes in ‘The Mistress’

I am glad that we were able to enter the cinema to catch the trailers of ‘This Guy is in Love with You Mare’ (Vice Ganda-Luis Manzano-Toni Gonzaga film) and Suddenly It’s Magic (Mario Maurer and Erich Gonzales). We were also relieved that finally, Aga and Regine’s reunion rom-com ‘Of All The Things’ is finally set to be shown on the 26th of September. I am hoping it will do good in the box-office.

I first saw the trailer of The Mistress while watching The Reunion. I am quite surprised upon seeing Bea Alonzo’s onscreen kiss with veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez, and was delighted to see Hilda Koronel after years of hiatus in the industry. Olivia Lamasan is really the best when it comes to mainstream mature dramas.

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The Resurrection of the Pridyider

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Shake, Rattle and Roll is the most successful movie franchise of Regal Films. By December, Mother Lily’s movie outfit will be producing their 15th SRR Trilogy! It seems like some kids do really want to spend the Christmas season by laughing and screaming at the movie house while eating popcorn and sipping soda.

I’m too early for Metro Manila Film Festival, huh? The movie I am about to share have nothing to do with the MMFF 2012, but it is one of the trademarks of the Shake, Rattle and Roll series.

Andi Eigenmann aims to scare (or seduce?) in the new version of Pridyider

PRIDYIDER. Do you still remember that episode from the first Shake, Rattle and Roll movie under the direction of Ishmael Bernal? The lead star during that year is Janice de Belen. I can say that aside from her soap opera as a teen star, Janice is known as one of the horror favorites in the 80’s.

After so many years, the PRIDYIDER is back to scare kids of the new generation. I remember how that episode gave me goosebumps as a kid when I saw it on TV (ire-remake din kaya yung Undin part? LOL). The new version is directed by Rico Ilarde, who received a lot of positive reviews for his Cinema One Originals film ‘Altar’.

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Guni-Guni The Movie: Guilt, Fear and Too Much Information

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August is a healthy month from the Filipino films. If last week I wrote about the feel-good Star Cinema film The Reunion, I am about to write about Regal Films’ Guni-Guni, which premiered in cinemas nationwide last Wednesday.

‘Horror Princess’ Lovi Poe in ‘Guni-Guni’

Days before its movie premiere, the people behind Guni-Guni experienced a lot of ‘real-life horrors’ particularly with the poster brouhaha and the so-called ‘rift’ between Mother Lily and Lovi Poe about a certain scene with Benjamin Alvez. I am not sure if this is part of their marketing strategy, but those are not really the reason why I want to watch this movie. Of course, Lovi Poe is the main reason. She is my current favorite actress and she never fails to impress me with her projects. Second, I would like to witness how Tara Illenberger (indie filmmaker/editor) will do as a mainstream director.

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Ang Katiwala ni Aloy Adlawan: Isang Paggunita sa Ama ng Wikang Pambansa

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Ang pelikulang Ang Katiwala’ (The Caretaker) ni Aloy Adlawan ang isa sa mga pelikulang kalahok sa 8th Cinemalaya Film Festival na ginanap noong nakaraang buwan sa Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Greenbelt at Trinoma. Hindi ako nakakuha ng Festival Pass ngayong taon, pero hindi ito naging hudyat para hindi ko mapanood ang ilan sa mga pelikulang kalahok.

Napanood ko ang pelikulang ‘Ang Katiwala’ sa Greenbelt 3, ala-una y medya ng hapon. Pagkatapos kong bumili ng inumin sa paborito kong milk tea store ay dumiretso ako sa sinehan. Akala ko nga huli na ako. Buti na lang opening credits pa lang ang pinapalabas noong ako’y pumasok at umupo sa inireserba kong espasyo.

An ordinary man haunted by an extraordinary legacy

An ordinary man haunted by an extraordinary legacy

Isang araw bago ako nanood ay may kontrobersya na lumabas tungkol sa reaksyon ni Bianca King sa rebyu ng isang film critic sa pelikula ng kanyang jowa. Teka, wala namang kinalaman yung isyu na yun sa aking desisyon na manood pero aaminin ko na isa akong tagahanga ni Dennis Trillo. Isa kasi siya sa kukurampot na leading men sa telebisyon na karapat-dapat na tawaging aktor. Pwede siyang maging mayaman, dukha, ama, anak, teenager, bading, superhero, loverboy, kabit, martyr, kagalang-galang o kahit ano pa man. Hindi siya yung puro pa-kyut lang, pero cute naman talaga siya.

Ang pelikulang ito ay mula sa panulat at direksyon ni Aloy Adlawan. Isa siya sa mga creative consultants ng Kapuso network na kayang gumawa ng pelikula sa mainstream at indie. Kung napanood niyo ang mga pelikulang Quija at The Road, siya ang sumulat nun. Bilib ako sa mga sinulat niyang indie films tulad ng Room Boy at Signos.

Ayon sa isang panayam, ang artikulo tungkol sa dating bahay ni Manuel Luis Quezon ang naging inspirasyon niya para sa kanyang bagong obra. Ito na rin ang magsisilbing ‘tribute’ niya sa tinaguriang ‘Ama ng Wikang Pambansa‘, na tila hindi na kilala ng makabagong henerasyon.

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The Reunion – The Rebirth of Barkada Movies

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Just finished watching the movie ‘The Reunion‘ under Star Cinema. The new barkada movie features four of ABS-CBN’s fast-rising leading men namely Xian Lim, Enrique Gil, Kean Cipriano and Enchong Dee. To spice things up, beautiful ladies Jessy Mendiola, Megan Young, Bangs Garcia and Julia montes are included in the cast. Cristine Reyes also had a short but important appearance in the film.

The Reunion – Are barkada movies finally back for good?

Before Star Cinema became the Rom-Com Hub of Philippine movies, they used to produce a number of barkada films. Even Viva and Regal have some barkada movies under their belt (Thanks to TGIS and GIMIK barkada, I guess LOL). It is nice to know that Star Cinema came up with this film and what made it more special is the fact that they featured a lot of Eraserheads songs in the movie.

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Cinemalaya 2012 Awards Night Photos and Highlights

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The Cinemalaya Film Festival 2012 ended last Sunday with the awards night. I can say that this year’s line-up is just as good as last year (or even better!). When you ask the moviegoers who were able to watch the films, they have different answers on which among the competing films are their top three favorites. I was able to watch only a few films this year.

Cinemalaya Film Festival 2012 Winners

Despite the unstable weather, the Cinemalaya Awards Night pushed through at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. I went straight to CCP from Trinoma with Enrico and as expected, the awards night started late. I’m just happy that in the lobby area, Eddie Garcia was there talking to the fans and entertains everyone who were asking for photo ops and autographs. Iba ka talaga, Manoy! 😀

Eddie Garcia

Eddie Garcia entertains his fans at the CCP Main Lobby. Who wouldn’t love him?

Instead of 6:30, the show started at past 8PM. Ciara Sotto did a short presentation about indie film movie fans.

I will just narrate everything via photostory:

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On Cinemalaya, Gala Night Tech Glitches and REquieme-rloos

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For four straight years, I’ve been supporting the Cinemalaya Film Festival. I’ve read articles about it when I was still based in Pangasinan and hoped that one day, I’d be able to catch the screening at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Being in the province with only limited number of movies to choose from made it hard for me. Yes, there’s a good number of pirated DVDs being sold there, but nothing beats the experience of watching a film in a movie house. These are made for the big screen anyway.

Loy Arcenas introduces the cast and crew of REquieme!

I have to admit that it is a dream of mine that one day, I’d come up the stage and introduce my film to the moviegoers. Present my cast members, my crew and all that. I would also love to attend the awards night and if deserving, be recognized with the hard work I’ve done.

But while that dream of mine is still on-hold, I am happy that Loy Arcenas finally introduced his sophomore film entitled REquieme!. With the realistic screenplay by Rody Vera and good direction of Loy Arcenas, it is already expected that this film will be a riot!

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My Favorite Lovi Poe Characters in Movies

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On March 14, the 28th Star Awards for Movies finally unveiled the list of winners. Mainstream flicks Asiong Salonga and In The Name of Love bagged a lot of awards. I’ve seen both films and I can say that the winners deserve the recognition especially to Aga Muhlach and Angel Locsin, who made me cry during their confrontation scene in the movie ‘In The Name of Love’.

Lovi Poe as Natasha Alcantara in GMA-7's Legacy

I would like to focus on the Best Supporting Actress winner though. She is no other than Lovi Poe! In this awards night alone, she was nominated in two categories: Best Actress for her role in My Neighbor’s Wife and Best Supporting Actress for the movie Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. She is nominated again in a different award-giving body for her role as Serafina in Temptation Island. Whew!

Right now, Lovi Poe is visible in GMA-7’s Primetime show ‘LEGACY’. Based on the write-ups and comments posted in different social networking sites, it seems like her portrayal as Natasha Alcantara is much loved by the viewers. I am hook to this series and I love how she delivers her lines as natural as possible.

We can conclude that 2011 was Lovi Poe’s year in terms of magazine pictorials and in mainstream movies. Mother Lily finally took the risk to shell out some money and launch Lovi as a mainstream movie actress. Last year, she appeared in five Regal-produced films: My Valentine Girls (uhm, that was an obligatory Vday movie for GMA), Temptation Island (where she stole the limelight from the supposedly more popular stars), My Neighbor’s Wife (sexy drama time!), Aswang (time to scare the kids!) and Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (where she bagged her new award). Prior to her current status in the biz, FPJ’s daughter appeared in indie films and I managed to watch majority of them. She is lucky to be given good roles and I will mention my Top 5 Favorite Lovi Poe Characters in Movies. Game? GAME!

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