Reel Advice Movie Reviews

Taken 2: Sneak Peek

2012-05-24T15:30:00.007+08:00

If you remember "Taken" from three years ago, it was one of our favorite films that year. In fact, we almost gave it a perfect score. Well lucky us as "Taken 2" has just been confirmed. The film was shot in Istanbul, Turkey and reunites Liam Neeson with hi Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace. In “Taken 2", Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) and his family are having a vacation in Istanbul when the father of one of the kidnappers swears revenge and takes Bryan and his wife hostage. Bryan enlists Kim to help them escape and uses the same advanced level of special forces tactics to get his family to safety and then systematically take out the kidnappers one by one. Looks like the tables have been turned this time around. Catch some of the early stills from "Taken 2" after the break.

“Taken 2” opens October in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

The Dark Knight Rises Releases Its Final Poster, Three Character Banners

2012-05-24T14:48:00.007+08:00

Warner Bros. has just unleashed the final poster and three exclusive character banners for Christopher Nolan's “The Dark Knight Rises”. The banners individually feature Batman, Catwoman and Bane in what the studio calls “Rain” series. Another series dubbed as “Snow” is set to follow soon. The final poster on the other hand features something regarding "Fire". “The Dark Knight Rises” closes the Batman trilogy from Nolan. It is slated for release beginning July 19, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. Catch the banners after the break.

Giveaway: Prometheus Premiere Tickets and an Exclusive Laptop Sleeve

2012-05-22T22:46:00.011+08:00

"Prometheus" is looking to be one of this year's must-watch movies. With Ridley Scott at the helm, an all-star cast to smooth things out and an unofficial prequel to one of the greatest scifi franchises of all time, what's not to love? In "Prometheus", a star map is discovered in the late 21st century where the archaeological imagery of several otherwise unconnected cultures, including Magdalenian, Mesoamerican and Mesopotamian civilizations have the same basic features. The crew of the vessel Prometheus is sent on a scientific expedition, sponsored by the Weyland Corporation, to follow the map to find the origins of mankind. Exploring the advanced civilization of an extraterrestrial race, they soon face a threat to humanity's very existence.

“Prometheus” features an inspired cast ensemble: Charlize Theron as Meredith Vickers, Michael Fassbender as David, Noomi Rapace as Shaw, Logan Marshall-Green as Charlie Holloway and Idris Elba as Janek . While the director, Ridley Scott, has directed huge hits like "Gladiator", "Blade Runner" and "Aliens".

To get you ready for "Prometheus", we’re giving away a pair of "Prometheus" premiere tickets and a "Prometheus" laptop sleeve (for 17" laptops) to one lucky reader.

To win those tickets and laptop sleeve, all you have to do is accomplish at least one of the following (or all of them if you want to maximize your chances):

Write a blog post about "Prometheus" and our giveaway contest (5 raffle entries)

Tweet about "Prometheus" and our giveaway contest with the exact phrase (3 raffle entries):

Our search for our beginning might be our end. Win Prometheus tix and a premium item Join now: http://bit.ly/KImuM5 #Prometheus opens June 6

Jump down to our comments section and tell us why you are excited about "Prometheus" (1 raffle entry)

For the first two options, send us an email at support@reeladvice.net with a screenshot and direct link to your blog post/tweet. For Option 3, leave your email address with your comment.

This contest is open to all Metro Manila residents. The contest will close Friday, June 1st. The winner will be chosen at random, contacted and will be announced on June 2. "Prometheus" in 3D and IMAX 3D starting June 6, 2012.

Argo: Sneak Peek

2012-05-22T11:13:00.004+08:00

Take your first look at the trailer of Ben Affleck's new dramatic thriller “Argo”. Based on true events, “Argo” chronicles covert operation to rescue six Americans which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis — the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. Ben Affleck directs and stars in the film which is also being produced by George Clooney. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

Slated for release in the Philippines in October 2012, “Argo” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Skyfall's Official Poster and Trailer Unveiled

2012-05-22T10:58:00.003+08:00

Columbia Pictures has just released the first ever trailer and poster for the highly anticipated James Bond film, “Skyfall”. This is the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. Daniel Craig once again stars as the British super spy, his third Bond movie in a row coming off “Quantum of Solace” and “Casino Royale”. In “Skyfall”, James Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. Catch the trailer after the break.

“Skyfall” opens October 31 in the Philippines and on November 9 in the United States. “Skyfall” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Men in Black 3: Movie Review

2012-05-21T21:44:00.012+08:00

Let's all be honest now, who really wanted another sequel to the "MiB" franchise? There's a reason why it took a decade to make the third film a reality because we guess no one really wanted to have one from the get-go. But hey, it's here. The impossible has happened and you know what? The third time really is the charm. "Men in Black 3" surprises not with its witty humor and laugh out loud scenarios (those are expected) but what it brings to the table is more with a meaty story that unravels everything in one shocking pivotal scene. The movie talks about miracles and how every little nuanced detail adds up to cook up the perfect storm. And after a decade of hiatus, "Men in Black 3" truly accomplishes something miraculous.

Agent J (Will smith) has seen inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his partner Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). But when Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) escapes from his lunar prison, an alien whose race is known to consume whole planets, Agent K’s life and the planet in particular is suddenly in danger of getting destroyed. Now, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things back in order. Agent J soon discovers that there are secrets to the universe that Agent K never told him - secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin).

In "Men in Black 3" the usual thrills, spills and quirky aliens that the agents encounter take a back seat for a deeper and more involving story. And honestly speaking, we had a little more fun this time around. The story arc, to say the least, was totally unexpected and even though we knew from the get-go that Agent K needs to travel back in time to save a partner and the world, the film had more than its fair share of mind-blowing reveals that completely took us off guard. One pivotal scene in fact caps off everything perfectly. As for the humor, it's same old, same old. If you loved the "who's the famous alien" joke, Will Smith's non-stop banter and Agent K's stoic demeanor to anything or everything then you'll feel right at home. We ourselves had a great time and lost count on how many times we couldn't hole back our laughter. As for the acting, we have to say that Josh Brolin amazed us with his rendition of Agent K - he captured the character's essence from his lines to his idiosyncrasies. The others were the usual suspects but some characters were underdeveloped like Agent O (considering that she has a somewhat important role on the movie's plot). Visually, the movie was great but not amazing. In the end, "Men in Black 3" is simply one amazing sequel for a supposedly futile franchise. With this film, the franchise itself proves that it can still go toe-to-toe with the new guys and this film certainly fast forwards it to the new decade. Expect another sequel, we are now.

Rating: 4 and a half reels

Why you should watch it:
- surprisingly, "Men in Black 3" has a solid story (with a mind-blowing twist) that integrates well with its predecessors
- as expected, be prepared to laugh out loud a lot

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- much can be said about the effects. At times it looked great but at times it looked liked they were made more than a decade ago
- some characters like Agent O were completely left out

Every Breath U Take (Every Breath You Take): Movie Review

2012-05-20T22:57:00.005+08:00

We have to admit, "Every Breath U Take" had an interesting premise with its focus on true love being destined and being accomplished by "signs coming from the heavens". It's actually different to say the least but it is also one of the many things that completely destroys the movie. With its many side plots and side characters that are haphazardly weaved together, the film feels implausible and impossible. If love is achieving the implausible (by any means whatsoever), this is the perfect movie to represent that. Unfortunately, real life does not work that way and at the end of the day, laughter is the only thing you can muster while watching "Every Breath U Take".

Majoy (Angelica Panganiban) has just gotten news from her doctor that her "clock is ticking" in terms of her getting pregnant and having children. In short, she must find her true love as soon as possible if she wants to have a family of her own. Unfortunately, Majoy is superstitious when it comes to love. She believes that four signs must be accomplished (namely, she must receive roses, she must hear bells, she must hear angels singing and it must rain) before she can truly say that she has found the man meant for her. When she meets Leopoldo Gatdula (Piolo Pascual) on a botched Valentine's Day date, all signs occur at the same time. Majoy believes she has found her husband but Leo, a playboy and career-driven, thinks otherwise.

The most shocking thing for "Every Breath U Take" is the lack of chemistry between its two lead actors with Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban. The person at fault is the latter in our opinion while the former doing everything she can to salvage the film from ruins. Piolo just didn't feel natural with his role as Leo and it shows with how the movie turns out eventually. There's no real and deep connection on how Leo eventually folds and falls in love with Majoy. It's as if one day he doesn't think of her much but the next he is madly and desperately in love with her. It could also be a factor that the film has various side stories and characters that only hinder the film's effectiveness - there's Majoy's Korean lover who thinks Leo is an a-hole, there's Leo's arch-enemy at the office Mario and Leo's friend Dianne who's crazy enough that she thinks they are getting married and her brothers trying to have a literal shotgun wedding happen. All of these didn't have proper time to develop on their own - most of them appearing from time to time and disappearing for long stretches. It may add to the hilarious sequences but their "interconnected-ness" at the end only makes this film more implausible. We wished more scenes focused on Leo's and Majoy's relationship but obviously the lacked focus on this integral part. When you feel that there was no relationship or love in a romance-comedy film then what the hell happened? This is what we felt with "Every Breath U Take" - romance takes a break and comedy reigns king the whole time.

Rating: 2 reels

Why you should watch it:
- Angelica Panganiban gives life and character to this film and actually makes it watchable
- the premise feels fresh even though the way it was interpreted on the big screen was limiting to the film's success

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the numerous side plots and characters only muddle the film further
- the lack of chemistry between Piolo and Angelica is shocking
- the movie never establishes the love between Leo and Majoy.

2012 Remake of Total Recall Releases Four New Production Photos

2012-05-16T13:20:00.007+08:00

Columbia Pictures has just unveiled a batch of production stills from its upcoming remake of “Total Recall.” The film stars Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, John Cho and Bill Nighy. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he's got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale), the mind-trip of being a super-spy sounds like the perfect vacation from his normal life. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police, Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop the leader of the free world. The line between fantasy and reality is blurred as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love and his true fate.

Opening across the Philippines in August 2012, “Total Recall” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Prometheus Featurette - PROMETHEUS LANDING: HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO GET WHAT YOU CAME ALL THIS WAY FOR? - Reveals More Production, Conceptual Details

2012-05-16T13:02:00.005+08:00

"Prometheus", one of the hottest movies this summer, has yet again revealed more details regarding the movie. This time around, we get a tour on the film's production details. The 3-minute featurette titled, "PROMETHEUS LANDING: HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO GET WHAT YOU CAME ALL THIS WAY FOR?", shows how much time, effort and vision where put into accomplishing the film. Definitely, this is a must-watch for everyone. Catch it after the break.

"Prometheus" opens June 7, 2012 here in the Philippines

The Raven Exclusively Showing Ayala Malls Cinemas Starting May 23

2012-05-16T12:32:00.004+08:00

The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life in the new gothic thriller “The Raven” starring John Cusack as the infamous author. The film will be shown soon exclusively starting May 23, 2012 at Ayala Malls Cinemas around the metro namely, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma. When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with the author in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target. It sounds like it is a mix of "Murder She Wrote" and "Sherlock Holmes" - intriguing to say the least. Catch the trailer after the break.

The Amazing Spider-Man Moves Up to June 29 Release Date in the Philippines

2012-05-15T18:15:00.004+08:00

You know what's really amazing? Columbia Pictures has just announced that "The Amazing Spider-Man" will now open in the Philippines on June 29, 2012 - five days ahead of the film's original release date in Manila and the US. Again, like what we had with "The Avengers", Filipinos get first dibs on another huge superhero film. Sometimes it is more fun in the Philippines and definitely, this is one of those reasons!

Opening across the Philippines in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular theatres, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

The Mommy Returns: Movie Review

2012-05-12T23:53:00.013+08:00

It's Mother's Day today and obviously, "The Mommy returns" was released to coincide with this event. Unfortunately, if this was made to be a tribute to all of our mothers, then the film is a swindler, one that tricks and gets your money in exchange for literal garbage. To say "The Mommy Returns" is butt-ugly is already praising it because to be blunt, there's nothing good about it. Cinematography, production and story sucks but the acting and comedy even worse. "The Mommy Returns" is one of the worst films we have ever seen and we think it just affected our standards of what a rotten film is. Yep, it's that bad.

Ruby (Pokwang) and William (Gabby Concepcion) are celebrating their 25th anniversary when Ruby tragically dies. Ruby's soul, instead of going to heaven or hell, goes to purgatory. In purgatory, she witnesses her family's suffering and tribulations. Unfortunately for her, she also witnesses William falling in love and getting married to the sexy and beautiful Catherine (Ruffa Gutierrez). Ruby decides that she must do something to sabotage William and his new marriage by going back to the earthly realm and haunting her ex-husband and his new lover.

Amazingly, "The Mommy Returns" achieves one feat in our books. This feat is hard-to-do and rarely seen on the big screen. I think it's the first time we have seen a film do nothing right - from the smallest details like the camera focus being off to the bigger parts like characters and story. It literally shatters the concept of what a bad film is. First off, a lot of scenes are mind-numbing and filler material at best and it does not help that the film dragged on from start to finish. Scenes from the purgatory are probably the best examples. Second, the acting was just that bad. Ruffa Gutierrez never fazes to amaze us on why she is even an called an actress beyond her looks. Gabby Concepcion rubs off as uninspired and even Pokwang and John Lapus came off sour. Did the cast know that this was a bad film to begin with and felt that a trashy film deserved trashy performances? We would like to believe so. Third, the story lacked any compelling characters or development. The film trudges on without any sense. One day, William is crying because he misses his wife, the next day he is happy and giddy and decides he is in love with Catherine. Another example are the kids who hate Catherine to their core but things turn around when she brings the missing costume of one of the children. These things may be minor but they take the viewer off from the film and this haphazard storytelling happens the whole duration off the film.

But the biggest problem for the film is its comedy. Situations and punchlines fail to eke out any laughter or even a whimper. Everything comes out flat and corny. This is the film that never found its comedic groove and you have to see it (if you dare) to believe it. "The Mommy Returns" is a complete bust. There's no reason to watch it and there was no reason to make it. Avoid at all costs.

Rating: 0 reels

Why you should watch it:
- want to get a headache? Then watch this trash of a "tribute" to all of our mothers

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- comedy was non-existent
- the plot development was just plain stupid with endless continuity problems
- acting was subpar even for Pokwang

21 Jump Street: Movie Review

2012-05-09T17:54:00.007+08:00

It's another day and it's another review of a big screen remake of a classic television show from way back. "21 Jump Street" may sound weird on paper and quite frankly, it actually is. But this is weird good wherein its absurd quirkiness, from its unusually-paired lead characters to its story, make this a non-stop laugh fest from start to finish. Simply put, "21 Jump Street" is one awesome film that isn't afraid to be provocative and daring. It's unique and refreshing style makes this one of the best comedies this year.

Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) are former classmates who
meet again years after high school in police academ. Both were complete opposites in high school as Schmidt was a nerd while Jenko was a jock. They end up becoming best friends at the academy as they help with each others' weaknesses. They graduate together as partners but are unfortunately assigned to park patrol. They catch a break when they spot a group of drug dealers and arrest their leader. However, Jenko forgot to read the Miranda rights and the leader is released from custody. The two are reassigned to a specialty division on 21 Jump Street - a division who gets young looking cops to go undercover on high schools and colleges. When a young man overdoses with a new syntethic drug, Jenko and Schmidt are assigned to a local high school to find out who the dealers and supplier of the deadly drug is and they must stop them before the drug spreads across other schools.

To really love "21 Jump Street" you must accept that its best asset is it being unconventional. This is seen not only in its premise or the pair leads but more so in its comedic approach - one that works around on the characters' stupidity, no-holds-barred and profane. The situations that the characters of Jenko and Schmidt are put into are classic and the script was even better - it was simply awesome. But what really makes the movie into something special are the performances of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. Jonah Hill shows his acting chops as he transforms himself into a character with a lot of insecurities as a high school kid and as an adult. Channing Tatum might be the perfect jock but who knew he could be a good comedian too.

Sadly, "21 Jump Street" misses a few points with its story. Some things just feel a little off even for a not so serious film. Things like when the two leads steal marijuana and provide booze to minors or Schmidt's fling with a high school student. In the end though, "21 Jump Street" is a great watch. The comedy is top notch and there are some car chases and gunfights mixed in as well. What's not to love?

Rating: 4 and a half reels

Why you should watch it:
- we are amazingly surprised with the unlikely duo of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. They brought much life and humor to the film with their own unique mix of comedy.

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- some may not like the overtly weird and straight to the point humor.

Dark Shadows: Movie Review

2012-05-08T23:28:00.005+08:00

There are two things that simply makes "Dark Shadows" a palatable watch - it's the unusual, in-your-face humor and the macabre and bizarre character of Barnabas and the actor behind him, Johnny Depp. Without those two, the convoluted mess of a story and the rather uninspired plot development and production would be definitely unforgivable and brutally unwatchable. Honestly speaking, Johnny Depp carries all the weight and the problems of "Dark Shadows" on his back and makes this film much better than it should be.

The year is 1752 and Joshua and Naomi Collins with their son Barnabas set sail from Liverpool, England to America to start a new life. Two decades after, the young Barnabas (Johnny Depp) is now a handsome bachelor with the town of Collinsport at his feet. He is a brash playboy who have swooned over and has hurt a lot of women's heart. Not until he meets his match with a witch named Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). The witch, jealous that Barnabas has found true love with Josette du Pres (Bella Heathcote), curses Barnabas to a fate worse than death by turning him into a vampire and burying him alive. Almost two centuries later, Barnabas is freed from his tomb and emerges to the very different world of 1972. He finds out that the once opulent Collins family are now in deep trouble. He vows to fix the lost glory of the Collins family and to try and find a way to break his curse not until someone from his past tries to stop him.

There are a lot of problems in "Dark Shadows" that really baffled us simply because they showed a lack of commitment. Most of them are actually minor details that ticked off our obsessive-compulsive side like the ability of Barnabas to withstand direct sunlight half the movie or the amateurish make-up of the same character. But some are also major problems like the uninspired plot development - a slow one at that and a convoluted mess to say the least. It seems Tim Burton had a hard time determining which scenes were crucial and which scenes were not as there are a lot of filler scenes versus one that actually move the story. Another thing is that "Dark Shadows" had a knack to completely forget some characters. Characters occasionally disappear for long bouts without any explanation whatsoever.

What saves "Dark Shadows" is Johnny Depp with his performance as the quirky, out-of-sync Barnabas and his script. This is one film that was literally saved by one man and one character. All the flaws will be pushed aside as you find yourself laughing endlessly with Barnabas' antics on the big screen. In our opinion, "Dark Shadows" is good enough a watch because of the humor alone but how we wished it had more inspiration and vision on the other important aspects found in a movie.

Rating: 3 and a half reels

Why you should watch it:
- even with its dark and gloomy feel, the hidden gem is the humor. The punchlines comes swift from anywhere and everywhere.
- Johnny Depp still amazes us on how versatile an actor he is.

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the film feels inconsistent and at times a convoluted mess
- the ending leads to a sequel but we preferred a better one that could have capped off Barnabas' struggles

Make Your Own "It's More Fun in the Philippines" Video and You Might Just Win a Nokia Lumia 610 or a Trip to Boracay

2012-05-04T16:30:00.005+08:00

Hey! We all know that one of the latest craze going around the country is the new tourism slogan of "It's More Fun in the Philippines". Well, good news as Globe Telecom is joining the bandwagon with its own contest. It's simple - make your own video inviting tourists why it's more fun in the Philippines and submit it at Globe Telecom's Facebook page. You get a chance to win a Nokia Lumia 610 weekly while the best video gets a Boracay trip worth P50,000. Even better, the best videos will be compiled into one commercial which will be shown on international channels - just like the recent ad in CNN. Promo mechanics and conditions can be found after the break. Good luck!

Love making your own #itsmorefuninthephilippines memes? Submit it to fb.me/globeph to get a chance to win a Nokia Lumia 610 WEEKLY! Definitely Filipinos!

Upload your own fun video inviting the world to come and visit all 7,107 islands of the Philippines! Make your video exciting and unique by doing something crazy and showing everyone your fun and wacky side!

Weekly prizes (4 Nokia Lumia 610s) and a 3-day family vacation package in Boracay awaits the best submissions and the chance to be included in a global invitation video that will be shown worldwide!

Mechanics:
1. All Filipinos, wherever in the world they are, are free to submit entries.
2. To join, participants must capture themselves in a video or photo, solo or in a group, inviting foreigners in a fun way to visit the Philippines.
Examples:
· Group of dancers inviting Koreans while dancing Tinikling
· A girl climbing a Palo Sebo while inviting Americans
3. Unique pictures and videos will be accepted as long as it shows how fun it is in the Philippines.
4. All submissions must have the DOT tagline "It's more fun in the Philippines" using the Harabara font. It can be placed at any point in the material. It can be shown visually or mentioned verbally.
5. A website portal/application in the Globe Facebook page will be provided by Globe where the videos can be uploaded. Uploader must provide his name, location, and contact details upon submission of entry.
6. Submissions can be made from April 01 to May 31, 2012.
7. The best and most fun submissions will be chosen by Globe and DOT representatives and will be put together in one video invitation for all countries in the world.
8. The commercial will then be released and shown worldwide in various international channels (i.e. TV channels, LED sites abroad, etc.) as the Philippines' invitation to the world.
9. Final products will also be downloadable and share-able from the Globe Facebook page.

Prizes
1. One Nokia Lumia 610 will be given to the best video submitted for the week. Globe will announce one winner on these dates:
a. May 7, 2012
b. May 14, 2012
c. May 21, 2012
d. May 28, 2012

2. One 3-day Boracay family package worth P50,000 will be given away for the best video submitted for the entire campaign.

"The Avengers" Simply Stunning - Smashes Countless Local Box-Office Records Into Oblivion

2012-05-04T16:02:00.005+08:00

Yes, "The Avengers" has done it - it has "Hulk Smash"-ed its way into the local box-office record books. It has literally rewritten everything. It grossed a monumental P281-million opening night making it the biggest debut ever. It has also captured records such as the Highest Opening Weekend ever and Biggest Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday ever. It was also the fastest movie to cross the P100 million (in two days) and P200 million (in 4 days) marks - and all of those records were achieved in its first 5 days. Simply amazing right? If you still haven't watched "The Avengers" please do. You are missing one of the best superhero movies of all time. You can catch the full press release from Warner Bros. Philippines after the break or if you need more convincing, you can catch out review here.

MANILA, April 30, 2012 – It's the superhero team up of a lifetime. Now, it's shaping up to be the highest-grossing film – for all time! “Marvel's The Avengers” rewrote Philippine box-office record books when it grossed a monumental P281-million opening weekend gross nationwide – the biggest debut ever in history, this was revealed by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines.

“It's practically a box office tsunami that has so far drowned, wiped out and rewritten every local record in its first five days of play,” adds Cabrera.

Foremost of the records to fall is the highest opening weekend, previously set by “Spider-Man 3” at P236-million (a benchmark set in 6 days back in 2007). Since it opened last Wednesday, April 25, “Marvel's The Avengers” has surpassed daily records in its path set by various blockbusters:

Biggest Wednesday Ever: P56.6-M, beating “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’s” P55.4-M.
Biggest Thursday Ever: P44.1M, smashing “Spider-man 3’s P28.4-M
Biggest Friday Ever: P45.3-M, outgrossing “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1’s” P44.1-M.
Biggest Saturday Ever: P66.4-M, breaking “Transformers: Dark of the Moon’s” P60.8-M.
Biggest Sunday Ever: P68.5M, outlasting “Transformers: Dark of the Moon’s” P60.8M. Sunday's receipts for “The Avengers” also now holds the distinction of the all-time biggest single-day gross in the country.

Other milestones achieved were fastest time to cross the P100-million mark (in only two days) and P200-million (four days). With another non-working holiday looming tomorrow, May 1, box office sales for “The Avengers” may be set for more records.

Playing in almost 500 screens, “The Avengers” posted the biggest sales in SM North EDSA (P17.85-M), SM Mall of Asia (P15.02-M), SM Megamall (P12.51-M), Trinoma (P10.27-M), SM Cebu (P9.53-M), Glorietta 4 (P7.60-M), SM Southmall (P6.76-M), Newport City (P6.64-M) and SM Fairview (P6.63-M). Rounding out the Top 20 cinemas are Gateway (P6.06-M), Eastwood (P5.58-M), Power Plant (P5.49-M), Greenbelt 3 (P5.13-M), Festival Mall (P5.08-M), Robinsons Ermita (P4.77-M), Robinsons Galleria (P4.73-M), Alabang Town Center (P4.63-M), Market! Market! (P4.50-M), Shang Cineplex (P4.30-M) and Ayala Cinemas Cebu (P4.27-M).

Overseas, the superhero film also bowed in 38 other territories and has brought in a whopping $178.4 million since opening April 25. It opened at No.1 in every single one of those territories while setting opening weekend records in many South and Central American countries. Some of the individual numbers include $24.7 million from the UK, $19.7 million from Australia, $15.9 million from Mexico and $12.9 million from Korea.

Marvel Studios presents “Marvel’s The Avengers”—the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. “Marvel’s The Avengers” is from Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures, produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Joss Whedon from a story by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon with screenplay by Joss Whedon.

Now playing across the Philippines in Digital IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular format, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

American Pie: Reunion (American Reunion) : Movie Review

2012-05-04T10:06:00.008+08:00

You know it's pretty ironic that "American Pie: Reunion" or also known as "American Reunion" has main characters that have supposedly have seriously matured over the years and yet, the plot and the comedic jokes have not. If you are expecting a different "American Pie" this time around then you won't get it. At its core, this is basically the same movie as the previous ones before it - shallow, crass and a heavy dose of the annoying Stifmeister causing a lot of havoc. If you loved the series' comedic approach then you will definitely would enjoy this but for those who have moved on from this kind of dirty and low brass humor, you are better off missing this reunion for sure.

It's been thriteen years since Jim (Jason Biggs), Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Stifler (Sean William Scott) graduated from high school and through the years, each of them have grown apart to live their own separate lives. Jim has just gotten his first child but finds his marriage on the rocks as he and his wife Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) have not "done" it since her childbirth. Oz is now a national TV sportscaster with a supermodel girlfriend that is too adventurous for his taste. Kevin has a wife but finds himself more of the househusband doing all the chores that are associated with a wife. Finch has been MIA but tells that he has been around the globe doing adventurous things. Stifler, even after thirteen years, is still the same as ever. The guys decides to meetup a few days before their reunion to catch up on things while on the side making new friends, enemies and turning old flames back to life.

The biggest problem with "American Pie: Reunion" is that it tries to do so much with an approach that severely lacks any direction. Yes, this is a reunion and it definitely wants every character to have their own time and place during the duration of the film. While this holds true on some end (we do get a bigger picture of what the characters are dealing with), the film fails to capitalize on those problems. A situation might be introduced where in a character still has that "crush" with their old high school sweetheart but after that, good luck with any serious plot development, as the film basically decides to solve this via sex - both real or implied. Worse, these dilemmas are solved in an instant. While the comedic side might tickle your fancy, "American Pie: Reunion" decides to do "mature" characters with high school-like problems. It is this disconnect that will leave audiences confused and basically yawning. We expected more from this reunion but instead what we get is basically a rehash of what was considered funny back then.

Rating: 2 reels

Why you should watch it:
- if you were a fan of "American Pie" and its endless sequels then this movie is perfectly made for you

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- countless times, the movie feels out of place and unfunny
- the story, while featuring older and more "mature" characters, is a basic rehash of the previous films

The Dark Knight Rises Final Trailer May Have Hinted on Batman's Final Fate

2012-05-03T00:27:00.004+08:00

While we Filipinos may have gotten lucky in getting "The Avengers" almost a week ahead of our American brothers, we also missed out on the latest and final trailer of "The Dark Knight Rises". The trailer itself starts off silently and slowly amping the beat up with what's going on-screen. More details on the film's plot are revealed like how Bruce Wayne was captured by Bane and a few lines from Batman himself that may hint on his final fate on this third and final film. Speculations aside, watch the trailer yourself after the break and let us know what you think.

"Inside the Script" eBook Series Gives In-Depth Film Production Coverage at Your Fingertips

2012-05-02T23:58:00.003+08:00

Film buffs and even Average Joes rejoice! Warner Bros. has just announced their "Inside the SCript" eBook series. Said series will feature the whole complete shooting script and pages upon pages on production, release and historical artifacts and documents. The first batch will feature four classic movies namely: "Ben-Hur", "An American in Paris", "Casablanca" and "North by Northwest". Each book will cost $9.99 or approximately P430. Not too shabby a price for what you get. The official press release awaits you after the break.

WARNER BROS. DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION LAUNCHES
"INSIDE THE SCRIPT" DIGITAL PUBLISHING INITIATIVE

MOVIE FANS CAN NOW OWN DIGITAL VERSIONS OF SCRIPTS FROM ICONIC FILMS INCLUDING "CASABLANCA," "BEN-HUR," "AN AMERICAN IN PARIS"AND "NORTH BY NORTHWEST" COMPLETE WITH RARE
NOTES, PUBLICITY STILLS AND OTHER INTERACTIVE ASSETS

FIRST "INSIDE THE SCRIPT" TITLES NOW AVAILABLE ON iBOOKSTORE, KINDLE AND NOOK®

BURBANK, CALIF., April 30, 2012 – Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) today announced the launch of "Inside the Script" – a digital publishing initiative that gives movie fans an innovative new way to go deep inside their favorite films. Available now for iBookstore, Kindle and NOOK by Barnes & Noble, "Inside the Script" is a series of highly illustrated eBooks that contain the film's actual shooting script, rare materials from the Warner Bros. Corporate Archive and much more. The first series of "Inside the Script" titles are based on timeless, cinematic treasures including "Casablanca," "Ben-Hur," "An American in Paris" and "North by Northwest."

"Inside the Script" offers movie fans an all-access pass to go behind-the-scenes of the films they know and love. Every "Inside the Script" title includes the film's complete shooting script in a customizable eBook format; dozens of chapters about the script and the film that detail the movie's development; rare historical documents such as production notes, storyboards and candid photos; and an interactive image gallery of costumes, on-set stills, movie posters, set designs and behind-the-scenes photos.

"People love movies because of the stories they tell," said Thomas Gewecke, President of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. "Now we can give fans rarely seen details of how these stories came together and take their enjoyment of films to a whole new level."

Highlighted elements from "Inside the Script" titles include:

"Casablanca"
- Jack Warner's telegrams and memos
- Producer Hal Wallis' script and production notes
- Production Code Administration letters, notes and seal of approval
- Telegram from producer Hal Wallis refuting his fight with Jack Warner

"Ben-Hur"
- Rare behind-the-scenes materials including makeup and wardrobe tests, production design sketches, sample matte paintings
- A forward and captions written by Charlton Heston's son, Fraser C. Heston
- Excerpts from Charlton Heston's acting and shooting journals during filming
- Details about the development of Panavision and MGM's proprietary widescreen process (MGM Camera 65)

"An American in Paris"
- Full shooting script
- Detailed descriptions from continuity script's musical numbers
- Treatment for the ballet sequence from Vincente Minnelli's papers
- Set design paintings from the MGM production design collection
- Tickets to the film's Hollywood premiere from MGM makeup artist John Truwe

"North by Northwest"
- Director Alfred Hitchcock's editing and main title sequence notes
- Composer Bernard Herrmann's music notes
- Photos and documents from Alfred Hitchcock's papers:
- story department photos
- storyboards and photos of crop duster sequence
- production schedules and daily scene reports
- hair and makeup tests
- costume sketches

"Inside the Script" releases are now available for iBookstore, Kindle and NOOK for $9.99 per title. For more information visit www.facebook.com/insidethescript.

Source: WB Shop
Engadget

Another Prometheus Trailer to Wet Your Appetite Even More

2012-05-02T23:43:00.004+08:00

Every passing day, "Prometheus" is looking like the one and only film to watch this year and the "unofficial" prequel to the "Aliens" franchise (as others may want to believe) has just released a brand-new trailer to wet our appetites even more. June 8, 2012 is not that far off honestly but after watching this latest trailer, another month of waiting is hellish at this point. Catch the latest trailer of "Prometheus" yourself after the break.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey First to Shoot a Movie in 48FPS - Lukewarm Response Received

2012-04-26T18:26:00.007+08:00

A couple of days ago, Warner Bros. Pictures screened approximately 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage from Peter Jackson's upcoming epic “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” which showcased the filmmaking innovation of 48 frames-per-second (fps). If you didn't know, the typical film's frame rate is 24 fps. The footage was part of the studio’s presentation at CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO). The footage was introduced via a taped greeting from Peter Jackson, who gave a bit of history as to how 24 fps became the industry standard and why today’s technology allows for higher frame rates. He also explained that 48 fps is actually closer to the way the human eye views the world. While this is definitely a step ahead for film-making, the actual response was a mixed bag - some even describing the film's feel as a made-for-TV film. Pretty harsh if you ask us. But really, people should calm down. When 3D was re-introduced a few years ago, people whined about it constantly but look at where we are now. 48 fps may have its idiosyncrasies but every technique has and it is in its infancy. Problems and hiccups are to be expected. So let's give this new thing a chance. Let's just hope that ticket prices won't rise up like what 3D is doing now.

The film, slated for worldwide release beginning December 14, 2012 in both 2D and 3D formats. It is the first major motion picture to be made using this state-of-the art high-frame-rate technology.

The Avengers: Movie Review

2012-04-26T01:21:00.004+08:00

"The Avengers" is one phenomenal film in a lot of ways. It be able to accomplish the balancing act of its superhero ensemble is a feat in itself. But in reality, "The Avengers" does way more than that. It is a spectacle to behold full of action, wit, humor and set pieces that are to die for. Simply put, to miss "The Avengers" is to miss half of your life figuratively. This is one of the best superhero film ever made and we are not even exaggerating. The seven year wait and the countless films that were made to lead to "The Avengers" were all worth it.

After the events from the film "Thor", humanity realized that they need more powerful weapons to counter-attack alien invading forces. Coincidentally, they find the tesseract, a cube-like structure with vast power, that they hope they can harness to these weapons. Unfortunately, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) gains possession of the tesseract and has a plan to takeover as king of Earth. Now, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has decided that the only hope that humanity has is to rekindle the now-defunct Avenger Initiative and assemble a group of extraordinary men namely: Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). The group must find Loki and the tesseract before he is able to use its power to gain access to an alien army.

While "The Avengers" might not have a unique superhero plot (aliens invading Earth), it does so many things so well that the film feels fresh and never ever having a dull moment. This is probably because the film takes the approach of actually featuring the differences of each superhero and how it affects there relationships with each other. Scenes like how Iron Man and Captain America are complete opposites (one being humorous while the other being too serious) are just gold. If we could choose one superhero who truly led the whole film then it would be Iron Man with his snobbish sense of humor that never fails to bring out laughter. But honestly, all of the superheroes featured, major or minor, had equal screening time. And this is probably the best asset of "The Avengers" more than anything else. Akin to the actual Avengers team on-screen and as we had said before, Joss Whedon was able to masterfully craft and balance out each nuance that the characters had. Surely it was no simple feat and how Whedon did it was downright perfect. Even at almost 2 and a half hours long, the movie actually felt fast. The downside is that meaty character and plot development takes a slight dip and while watching the previous films is not a prerequisite, it would greatly help first-time viewers understand what's really happening. In reality though, the action-packed set pieces and the no-holds-barred approach will make anyone forget about those minor problems.

"The Avengers" is a visual and aural feast and it's one of the best superhero films we have seen ever and there's really no reason to not watch it.

Rating: 5 reels

Why you should watch it:
- huge action set pieces that feature each character equally and fairly
- one of the best graphics we have seen in a superhero film
- while the story may not be new, the character-based approach is something that caught our attention

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- there's no reason not to watch "The Avengers"

Take a Hike: Short Film Review

2012-04-23T00:49:00.006+08:00

Us Filipinos always had this this fondness in making fun of the precarious mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. But have we ever thought about the other side of things: specifically the dynamic of the son-in-law and father-in-law. The short film "Take a Hike" tackles that issue with some melodrama and some comedic twist. Read our full analysis of "Take a Hike" (you can also catch the full short) after the break.

Adam (Taylor Brandt) is the boyfriend of David's (Todd Terry) daughter, Christie. The two are on a hiking trip due to Christie's insistence. We soon discover that David hates Adam and thinks he does not deserve his daughter. Adam on the other hand tries to prove that even with all his faults, he sincerely loves Christie with all his heart. Will the dynamic duo ever find their way out of the woods and will they ever resolve their issues against each other?

The biggest asset of "Take a Hike" is its premise and its dialogue. The premise may not be original, but the combination of the setting and the other plot elements make a very deep and emotional experience for an 11-minute short. Another positive thing is the scenery which, for a short film, was simply beautiful. Ironically, the short's comedic twist takes a back seat (as this won best comedy in a film fest). While some may think that's weird, we think it just shows how this short is well-balanced in terms of the overall experience.

Rating: 4 and a half reels

21 Jump Street Will Have Special Sneak Previews on April 23 and 24

2012-04-20T15:55:00.004+08:00

The breakout comedy “21 Jump Street” will be finally shown locally starting May 9, 2012. But even better, "21 Jump Street" will have special sneak previews in selected theaters locally for two days on April 23 (Monday) and 24 (Tuesday). So if you want to get a two week head start, check your local theater's schedule for next week as soon as you can.

“21 Jump Street” will be distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

First-ever Magic Mike Trailer Will Probably Make Boys Cringe, Girls Swooned Over

2012-04-20T15:09:00.008+08:00

Do you still remember "Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo", the movie that chronicled the life of male strippers? The film, as we could sum it, was a complete joke as it obviously mocks male strippers and completely makes a very fictitious take on their lives. Fast forward to 2012 and we have "Magic Mike" (yes, it's a film about male strippers too) and the first-ever trailer, simply put, left us speechless. It looks like a pretty good comedy film with a deeper story than the norm (minus the romantic comedy twist that is). "Magic Mike" is set to be released on June 29, 2012 but no word yet if it's scheduled for a local release. Catch the trailer of "Magic Mike" after the jump.