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"The Darkest Hour": Globe Trotting Youths in Apocalyptic 3D!

2012-01-26T14:42:00.000+08:00

“The Darkest Hour” 3D traps five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The 3D thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects from the minds of visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted,” “Night Watch”) who produces the film and director Chris Gorak (“Right At Your Door”).

“The 3D helps to create these epic stages for an intimate story. The core is the relationship between people, that’s a dramatic spine of the movie, what makes the movie emotional,” says Bekmambetov. “This is very unique because the 3D makes the experience about being there. I hope this movie will give audience a chance to literally feel what’s happening when a huge disaster happens. It’s the first movie when you see the world destroyed in 3D.”

Shooting in 3D makes the job of the actors even more crucial. “It’s very important to be connected with these characters because in a 3D movie you cannot cut and force the viewer’s attention, you can’t shake him, and you have to let him be there with the characters,” Bekmambetov adds. Apart from the male lead stars Emile Hirsch, Max Minghella, and Joel Kinnaman, the movie also features equally capable lead actresses – Olivia Thirlby, Rachael Taylor, and young Russian actress Veronica Vernadskaya.

Thirlby reveals, “Truthfully my main reason for wanting to do this job is because I really like and respect the director Chris Gorak. This genre isn't usually the thing I find myself drawn to, but it suddenly seemed like a very cool and exciting adventure, something that I could really get behind. The location has so much to do with it, Moscow really is a big part of this movie and scenically it's so different from everything else.”

“I also appreciated the fact that my character Natalie wasn't a very sci-fi movie girl in that she's not scantily clad or unbelievably sexed up. She's not just the eye candy,” comments Thirlby. “She's an educated, born and raised outside Washington D.C., and now lives in New York City. She's an awkward girl, traditional American overachiever, straight ahead, loves her Mom.”

“She and her best friend Anne, who she met in college, wind up in Moscow because of a last minute change of plans,” explains Thirlby. “Their loose back story gives you a glimpse that she’s had a messy breakup with a boyfriend so she just needs to get away. Anne convinces her to come on this photography trip to Nepal, so Natalie uncharacteristically makes an unplanned decision and decides to go along.”

Actress Rachael Taylor plays Anne. “One of the greatest rewards of shooting a movie like this is the relationships that you form off camera. Max, Emile, Joel, Olivia and I have become such good friends. I love these people more than any other group of actors that I’ve ever worked with,” reveals Taylor. “Each person brings something so original and so specific to the movie. It’s been wonderful being in a foreign location with them, shooting a genre picture and a movie of this magnitude with action sequences, stunts, and special effects is certainly a taxing process.”

Taylor also enjoyed her character’s atypical journey. “The thing I like about Anne so much is at the beginning of the film, she’s this very upbeat, open, fun loving young girl. But what is exciting for me as an actor and I hope for an audience, is watching her disintegration throughout the film,” explains Taylor. “When we meet her, she is this incredibly capable young woman and what happens to Anne is not only horrific, but she just doesn’t cope with it. Her inner vulnerabilities really play out.”

The film also features Russian teen actress Veronica Vernadskaya as Vika who survived in the alien attack and eventually became part of the all-American group trying to escape Moscow. “This is one of those moments where you really find something. Veronica is terrific and just lights up the screen. She’s a really beautiful young woman but she also has this uniquely Russian spirit. But she’s also international in the sense that every fifteen year old is the same, no matter whether you're Russian or Greek or American or Italian,” shares producer Jacobson.

“Vika’s important to our movie because she represents hope. We never find out what has happened to her family, but we suspect, because she’s tough already. She’s a survivor. She instantly bonds with these Americans,” adds Jacobson. “All of the cast and crew light up when Veronica’s on the set. We're all incredibly protective of her and that spirit she represents that we hope is present in the movie.”

“The Darkest Hour” 3D is now showing in the Philippines brought to you by 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Related News:

• "The Darkest Hour" Movie Review

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"The Descendants" Wins Major Awards ion Golden Globes 2012

2012-01-26T14:22:00.000+08:00

“The Descendants,” this year’s Golden Globes winner for Best Picture (Drama) and Best Actor (George Clooney) is based on Kaui Hart Hemming’s novel set in Hawaii where outwardly successful businessman Matt King (Clooney) is thrown into crisis when his wife falls into a coma.

As King struggles to be a hands-on parent with his two daughters Scottie (Amara Miller) and Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) and eventually coming to terms with his wife’s deteriorating health, he soon discovers a secret that has given him a new look in life. With his girls in tow, he steps forward to search for unturned stones his wife has left him with. Along the way, in encounters alternately funny, troublesome, and transcendent, he realizes he’s finally on course toward rebuilding his life and family.

The winning motion feature is presented by Fox Searchlight Pictures with Ad Hominem Enterprises production directed by Alexander Payne which is also penned by Payne with Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. The ensemble cast includes George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Nick Krause, Amara Miller, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel, and Patricia Hastie.

“'The Descendants' is a story that could perhaps be told anywhere, but it has a completely unique setting among the landed upper-classes in Hawaii,” says Alexander Payne. “It’s specific to this place, yet it is also universal. Hawaii is very interesting and not just for its obvious visual and vivid beauty; there’s a distinctive social fabric to life there and that intrigued me,”adds Payne.

The movie sees two masters, both Oscar winners, both at the pinnacle of their game. Funny but also reflective and poignant, this is Alexander Payne’s first film since “Sideways” (2004). And in one of the most interesting roles of his brilliant career, George Clooney plays Matt King, a conflicted and flawed man discovering his own humanity and responsibility in the wake of a tragedy.

In the depths of this crisis, King has to come to terms with the fact that he has been largely inadequate as a father as he attempts to repair his relationship with his two daughters. 17 year-old Alexandra is rebellious and has been sent off to boarding school. 10 year-old Scottie, played by first time actress Amara Miller, is precocious and in need of parental supervision. Compounding Matt King’s grief, there is the added revelation that before her accident his wife had been involved with another man. “Matt is kind of lost, befuddled, disappointed—all the normal things people feel in life, realizing they’ve done the wrong things,” says Payne.

“The film is about the awakening of a man who has been in an indifferent marriage that has gone stale,” adds producer Jim Burke. “It is a wonderful father and daughter story and something completely new for George Clooney. We have never seen him in a film about a relationship between a man and his children.”

“The Descendants” will open on February 15 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

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UPCAT Results 2012-2013 | UP College Admission Test Results 2012-2013

2012-01-18T16:36:00.000+08:00

The University of the Philippines (UP) has recently released its UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) Results for the Academic Year (AY) 2012-2013 (UPCAT Results 2012-2013) for the qualified incoming freshmen. The names of 4th year students all over the Philippines who took the test in the said prestigious and most anticipated college admission test in the country are already out and posted and can be found below. Did you pass or not? See the UPCAT Results 2012-2013 below to know if you have passed the examinations. Congratulations to all UPCAT Passers this year!

• UPCAT Results AY 2012-2013

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"City Hunter" on ABS-CBN

2012-01-02T16:20:00.000+08:00

I have been watching Lee Min Ho's 2011 hit Korean drama, "City Hunter" these past few days, and I must say that I really enjoyed watching it. I am very close to the ending of "City Hunter" but I won't be giving any spoilers for you to watch it on ABS-CBN.

"City Hunter" stars South Korea's Min-Min couple namely Park Min Young and Lee Min Ho in the title role. Brought to you by Asia's first and true home of Asianovela, ABS-CBN brings you one of the most expensive Korean drama ever made in the history of Asian drama. It is a story of man who seeks revenge for the death of his father. Below is a short synopsis/plot of "City Hunter":

Lee Yoon Sung is a talented MIT-graduate who works on the international communications team of the Blue House. He was summoned by his stepfather to take revenge on five politicians who caused the death of his biological father and 19 other South Korean military members. These armymen were accused of betraying their country in an incident which took place 28 years ago.

To do his plan, Yoon Sung must remember three rules for his mission: 1) Do not trust anybody; 2) Do not reveal his identity; and 3) Do not fall in love. With these in mind, Yoon Sung flew back to Korea to execute his mission. While in Korea, he met the beautiful young bodyguard lady of Blue House named Kim Na Na. When their lives intertwine, they will discover some secrets that will affect both their lives and mission.

I really must say that "City Hunter" is a must watch online or on TV! The production value is really something to look forward to. The story alone is superb; add some explosive scenes, you'll never get wrong with watching "City Hunter". It is now my first on the list when it comes to action Korean Drama series. Perhaps next to "IRIS" which will be showing on GMA-7, and "Fugitive Plan B" which has yet to be shown on Philippine television.

"City Hunter" gets the Primetime Bida block and will be showing on January 30 on ABS-CBN. Below is the full trailer of "City Hunter" on ABS-CBN! Enjoy!

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Online Shopping: Pros and Cons

2011-12-16T10:01:00.000+08:00

Shopping online are probably the most convenient way of shopping, but not as popular though as going straight to a mall. However, online shopping is somehow getting into hype these days. Just imagine, your items are a just a click away! All you need to do is sit in front of the computer, search for some reliable online shopping websites, and pay through your credit card. Sounds easy right?

Online shopping is easy, but looking for a reliable shopping websites is hard especially if it’s your first time. Buying an item online might be a huge risk for some. The photos of the items on some websites are might not be too reliable at all. The items shipped are sometimes not as good as in the photos. Handling of shipped items are also a problem, especially if these items are fragile.

Image courtesy of http://www.latestdigitals.com/

The authenticity of the product might also become a problem. If you are not an experienced buyer, you can hardly distinguish an authentic item from an imitation. You'll never know if you are paying too much for a lower class item. To be sure of the authenticity of a certain product, look for it on the official website of the brand or brands that you are eyeing for. In buying luxury items, whether brand new or second hand, check the authenticity card or authenticity code of the item

If you don't have a credit card or you don't want to pay through credit card, there are online shopping site owners that meet with their clients. This is another risky thing to do. One doesn't have to be a paranoid to realize how risky transacting with a stranger you just met online. In scheduling meet up with a seller, make sure to meet him or her in a secured place like in malls or in places where you can ask for security assistance when things go wrong.

Buying online might just take you few minutes but waiting for the items you bought can take a long time. So, in buying online, it is better to know the days of delivery and make sure to give the complete address where the item/s will be shipped.

It is also better to remember to seek advice from an expert when it comes to online shopping. Ask recommendations from someone who is really buying items online or who has the experience of buying items online be it a friend or a trusted acquaintance.

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