Author: JE CC
The story of Deena (Angelica Panganiban) and Mariel (Bea Alonzo) is one that is familiar. Cinema has already shared countless tales of friendship tested by horrible experiences, terrible decisions, and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. Unbreakable poses no ambition to adopt a new anthem as it actually embraces them to remind the audience of the beautiful moments we often forget when our friendships get confronted with devastating storms. In the new Star Cinema film, Deena and Mariel are the total opposites of each other; the latter as the achiever, the quiet and modest girl with big aspirations, who works hard to make…
There is a persistent strain which tightly keeps the fragments of the new Cathy Garcia-Molina film together. Pain as displayed in numerous movies like Hello, Love, Goodbye is a powerful story motivator, and in this case, that strain comes chiefly from the endeavors of the lead characters, and the wonders created from the hefty load of devastating truths embedded within their haunting narratives. And while romance and light moments still share a sizable chunk of its entirety, the most affecting and most compelling parts are the ones where the plight and heartaches of the characters are given much attention. In…
Netflix’s new series, The Society, talks about power in the vein of several recent dystopian young-adult dramas–CW’s The 100, and FOX’s Wayward Pines, for example. Both these dramas navigated around such themes by utilizing teenagers at the maneuver, exploring the political landscape with both their fragile and irascible curiosity; a manner through which The Society is similarly woven. To a Lord of the Flies addict, this effort is compelling enough to create engagement, but there are flaws that persistently mar the integrity of this Christopher Keyser-written series. In the series, approximately 200 teenagers are stuck in a place they suspect…
A new primetime drama about twins, star-crossed lovers, and supernatural creatures, arrives to GMA Network’s Telebabad with a tall order: to overcome the rival show which already toppled eleven previous Kapuso shows. As the 12th Kapuso program to get pitted against ABS-CBN’s ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,’ it almost seems an absurd move to go head-to-head with the Coco Martin-starrer, which has been the no.1 primetime drama for more than three years now. Prior to its pilot episode’s airing, the show has already been stirring interest and excitement among viewers, and has been making buzz ever since, through funny memes were made…
Antoinette Jadaone’s new film, ‘Alone/Together’, is liberal; its haunting illustration of a highly vulnerable love affair, tried under the curbs of time and personal differences. There is a consummate lens through which the film’s themes are dissected. The idea of people striving to make their romance work amid their individual pursuit of their respective dreams and wants, is treated with a grounded sensibility that gives Alone/Together, a distinctive character, cognizant of its need to be more than the conventions from its mainstream contemporaries that tend to fully embrace. I have to say the film still conforms with the traditional Star Cinema…
Awkward first encounters, cutesy conversation bubbles, corny pick-up lines delivered endearingly, and random discussions about multiple universes over coffee dates – that’s essentially what makes up FindHer sound like a weird mix for a romantic comedy, don’t you think. But it works wonders for Smart Telecommunications first-ever venture into the world of web series. FindHer talks about people trying to find each other across parallel universes. The central plot is already interesting as it is, but there is obviously more in this 7-part web series that can potentially excite audiences. In the series, Aika (Dionne Monsanto) and Lia (Bie Ruaro)…
“Kilala mo na kung sino ka?” The question brings Rhian (Angel Locsin) to tears, and her shivering body find its way around Nang Isabel’s embrace (Maricel Soriano). Such heartbreaking moment conjures a devastating epiphany for Rhian: that her life is a curse, one she wouldn’t dare to come back to from oblivion. READ: “The General’s Daughter” TV Review: Diverting, Compelling, and Politically Significant By the third episode, almost every major character in ABS-CBN’s new primetime drama, “The General’s Daughter,’ is introduced. But nothing is ever more important than the unmasking of Rhian’s true identity. Piece by piece, every revelation is a…
It’s hard to pinpoint where exactly Miko Livelo’s Tol went amiss. It offers quite a sizeable amount of laugh trips, but the storytelling never came out as a razor sharp narrative as it should be – for it to be at its most effective form. One, however, may immediately realize that the film wasn’t entirely intended to demonstrate wittiness, but that the amount of good humor it managed to deliver is hefty enough to inspire relentless chuckles. In ‘Tol, Livelo has three incredible actors to realize these tricks. Dimitri (Joross Gamboa), Lando (Arjo Atayde), and Arthur (Ketchup Eusebio) are childhood friends…
Pinoy Big Brother has always been controversial. Over the past few years, we’ve seen how each edition exploded with interesting personalities (though, some not so) that didn’t only made headlines, but also offered a chance for TV audiences to see their own selves in them; through the relatable stories of Kuya’s housemates. There are a lot of things you can expect every time a new season begins, though most of which are not exactly the ones you would look forward to; which include the boys being asked to cross-dress. Kuya pulls off his usual scare-fest, housemates undergo acting workshops, and…
A woman in a covert rescue mission gets shot, wakes up with no clear memory of who she is, and now battles with the thought that maybe she isn’t the good person people around her, believe she is, in ABS-CBN’s new action drama series. There are a lot in common between the new TV series, The General’s Daughter, and the now 3-year-old primetime leader, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano: both are from the production unit, Dreamscape, and are respectively topbilled (in titular roles) by two of the industry’s biggest stars, and are both delving into the chaotic world of terrorism, patriotic service,…
The first teaser for the new Blacksheep film, has all the feels of a devastating ‘hugot’ movie. Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil star in ‘Alone/Together’, where blockbuster director, Antoinette Jadaone is the one directing it. In the opening scene, Soberano’s character, Cristine, rushes through the stairs of Palma Hall in UP Diliman to ride a jeepney. She is joined byGil’s Raf in the next scene inside an Internet café where the two seemingly celebrate Cristine’s high grades. A conversation between them while sitting in one Sunken’s benches, cuts through the next sequences. Earlier this month, Liza and Enrique teased their…
On January 11, S Maison at Conrad Manila (SM Mall of Asia Complex) allowed members of the press and some important guests to see the conclusion to M. Night Shyamalan’s trilogy of comic book thrillers, before it hits the cinemas nationwide on the 16th. There is a sizable room in which ‘Glass’ is allowed to thrive. Unfortunately, the film suffers from its struggle to keep the three narratives within such room, and make them merge into one potent plot. The result mostly turns out frustrating, but there are brilliant moments that somehow compensate for where the film lacks. And for…
Netflix’s British teen comedy, ‘Sex Education’ is every teenage drama the streaming service has already pulled off — controversial, daring, charming, heartwarming, all at the same time; except, it plays with a weird but oddly satisfying mix of the genre’s known and unknown elements. Hilariously shameless and charming, ‘Sex Education’ is a standout study that goes beyond depths, without sounding too academic to undermine its entertainment value. At the center of this teen sex-comedy created by Laurie Nunn, is socially awkward high school student, Otis Millburn (Asa Butterfield), who struggles to come into terms with puberty. His mother, Jean (Gillian…
Sarah Geronimo took Laguna by storm during her sold-out THIS 15 ME (stylized “this is me”) concert on Friday, November 30, at the Sta. Rosa City Multi-Purpose Complex, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna. It was the first time a local concert show, let alone of such scale, was hosted at the said venue. Fans were treated with energetic and breathtaking performances that featured Sarah’s biggest hits since she first came to the music industry. Coinciding her 15th year in the recording scene, THIS 15 Me is Sarah’s little way of giving back to her fans who have been following her since she won…
In “Cain at Abel’s” first few minutes, it is marked with palpable intensity. There was a commotion among street men who were engaged in a cock fight, but in their midst, a much bigger brawl between two brothers—Elias (Dennis Trillo) and Daniel (Dingdong Dantes), got into the picture. Cut to the next scene—a chaotic chase led both of them to a deadly exchange of fists and bullets. Every shift of the frame displayed sophistication, each action sequences, impressively staged. Hailed as primetime royalties of their home GMA Network, Trillo and Dantes are joined by three veteran directors, Mark Reyes, Don…
The Philippines has the longest holiday season in the world. As early as the first day of September, Christmas tunes start to dominate radio airwaves and malls, and children start rounding up houses and streets doing carolings. Bibingka and puto bungbong become best-sellers, and children selling ampaos roam the sidewalks and streets. Giant Christmas trees and similar christmas-themed parks start get lit up. While these traditions strongly represent holiday symbols, Christmas is never really around the corner until the two giant TV Networks –ABS-CBN and GMA Network, that is– released their Christmas station ID’s. Doing a station ID has never…