THE FOUR HORSEMEN UNLEASHED IN THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST BATTLE SPECTACLE “X-MEN: APOCALYPSE”

The critically hailed blockbuster “X-Men: Days of Future Past” was a tough act to follow. Following his acclaimed work, director Bryan Singer takes the franchise to new heights with “X-Men: Apocalypse,” in which the X-Men battle the original and most powerful mutant -- Apocalypse.

 Staged in 1983, the invincible and immortal Apocalypse is set free after being entombed for several millennia. Enraged that his kind are no longer treated as gods, Apocalypse assembles a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to destroy humankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. To end Apocalypse’s path of global destruction, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) and Professor X (James McAvoy) lead a team of young X-Men in an epic showdown with a seemingly unstoppable enemy.

Once again fueled by rage and revenge, Magneto is vulnerable to Apocalypse’s offer to join him as one of his newly-reformed Four Horsemen. Inspired by the biblical vision of Four Horsemen, who unleash a divine apocalypse upon the world, Apocalypse’s Four Horsemen are minion mutants who, says Fassbender, “are living on the margins and have been ostracized or bullied.”

Apocalypse’s Four Horseman, circa 1983, are: Magneto, Psylocke (Olivia Munn), Angel (Ben Hardy) and Storm (Alexandra Shipp). Psylocke is a powerful telepath and trained ninja assassin. Introduced as the bodyguard for Caliban, an underground mutant tracker, Apocalypse senses Psylocke’s power and persuades her to join his cause. “She’s a fascinating character,” says Munn. “Unlike many of her fellow mutants, who kill only when they must, Psylocke has always enjoyed killing, or at least she has no problem doing it.”

Storm (whose given name is Ororo Monroe) is an orphan raised as a thief on the streets of Cairo. Storm possesses the ability to control all aspects of the weather. Storm can also fly, thanks to her ability to control wind currents. While she will become one of the most valued leaders of the X-Men, the Storm we meet in this film is struggling with who she is, before Apocalypse convinces her to join his team. “This Storm is more reckless and emotionally driven than the adult Storm we know from the previous X-Men films, starring Halle Berry,” says Shipp. “She’s confused about who she wants to be, and her lack of opportunity leads her to join Apocalypse as one of his modern Horsemen.”

The Fourth Horseman is Angel, whose mutation gave him large wings and the ability to fly. Angel’s agility, strength and reflexes make him a lethal hand-to-hand combatant. In “X-Men: Apocalypse,” after suffering severe damage to his wings, Angel is like an angry punk rocker. He’s a drunk, disheveled mess, and surviving out of pure instinct. Angel is approached by Apocalypse, who gives him the opportunity to channel his anger and join his Horsemen. In exchange for his allegiance, Apocalypse repairs Angel’s wings by transforming them into a techno-organic metal, which allows him to shoot deadly razor projectiles from his now indestructible wings. Ben Hardy, who takes flight as Angel, knew the character is one of the most anticipated by fans, and worked hard to bring Angel to life. That included a training regimen that was no less demanding than Hugh Jackman’s muscle-pumping workouts for his appearances as Wolverine. Hardy trained six days a week and followed a strict diet, “to look as superhuman as possible,” he says. For flying scenes, Hardy trained for and executed many complicated stunt wire-work, an often dizzying experience. “I mean, to be 30 feet in the air and swoop down was like being on a rollercoaster all day,” says Hardy.

 
The most awaited epic battle begins when “X-Men: Apocalypse” opens May 18 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

NICHOLAS HOULT AND KRISTEN STEWART DARE TO FALL IN LOVE IN “EQUALS”

In the romantic science fiction drama “Equals,” Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult play star-crossed lovers being watched closely by a Big Brother in a future where emotions are disabled to achieve a peaceful society. 

 

Produced by Ridley Scott’s production house, Scott Free and directed by accomplished filmmaker Drake Doremus, “Equals” is an emotionally and visually arresting film from a screenplay by Nathan Parker based on a story idea from Doremus.

“Equals” is a nuanced, slow-burning love story, the film is set in a futuristic utopia where emotions have been genetically suppressed in an effort to protect society from the war and strife that has destroyed previous generations. On occasion, the suppression fails and emotions emerge in individuals – the Collective dubs this illness Switched On Syndrome, or SOS. As society is increasingly threatened by this health crisis, all SOS sufferers are heavily medicated or sent to the Den, a corrective facility from which no one returns.

Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult are Nia and Silas who encounter each other as colleagues at the science journal, Atmos. As Silas begins to experience the onset of SOS and his own awakening emotions, he finds himself inextricably drawn to Nia, who is hiding her own SOS. The longer they attempt to suppress their palpable connection, the more the tension fans the flames of their attraction. But with this newfound pleasure of intimacy, comes the threat of discovery and consignment to the Den. With the support of a group of like-minded SOS patients, they realize escape is their only option.

While Doremus and Parker worked on the story and script night and day, producer Pruss and Scott Free strove to assemble the players necessary to push it into production. With the blessing of Scott Free production chief Michael Schaefer, the project attracted a group of heavyweight backers and the project’s journey to principal photography gathered momentum. Putting the project in front of Ridley Scott played a pivotal role in getting “Equals” made.

Pruss says: “Having Ridley Scott as a producer on the film and as someone who is going to present the film, was not just crucial, but very inspiring for us all. Obviously Ridley is someone who knows a thing or two about science fiction and I think you can really feel his imprint on the film.”

“Equals” also completes Drake Doremus’ trilogy of films about love, also comprised of the Sundance winning “Like Crazy” (2011) and “Breathe In” (2013). Equals began its journey to the screen with a question that Doremus posed to producer, Michael Pruss: “What will love look like in the future… do you think we could potentially evolve away from the thing that makes us most human?”

Doremus and Parker instantly clicked and began brainstorming the question and the myriad of ideas it conjured, before landing on the idea of a society where humans are genetically modified to be absent of feeling for the betterment of society. In developing the story, Parker strove to examine not just the positive aspects of love, but also the pain and agony that accompanies caring deeply for another person. “We wanted these two characters, once they discover love, for it to feel like it was a curse,” Parker says. “They don’t want it, they want to run away from it, but are drawn back together because they can’t resist it.”

 “Equals” opens May 11 in theatres from Pioneer Films. 

Check out the film’s trailer here: https://youtu.be/cDuPxOZUTbg

HYPER-KINETIC ACTION MOVIE “HARDCORE HENRY” SHOT ON GOPRO CAMERAS

Prepare for a mind-blowing immersive cinematic encounter in “Hardcore Henry” as it gives the audience a chance to experience the entire film through the point-of-view of its main character (cyborg) named Henry. 

First time director Ilya Naishuller helms “Hardcore Henry” wherein Henry remembers nothing and his wife Estelle (played by Haley Bennett) has been kidnapped by an extremely powerful warlord with an army of mercenaries. The line between hero and villain in “Hardcore Henry” is tenuous as he tries to follow and uncover the devious plot against him within the city of Moscow. The audience – Henry, essentially – assesses in real time just who is friend and who is foe.

Shot almost entirely on GoPro cameras with custom engineered rigs, “Hardcore Henry” completely abandons, even eviscerates, traditional filmmaking and replaces it with a raw and immediate experience, allowing the audience to become one with the protagonist, so viewers go on a very personal and breathtaking journey with Henry. Wide-angle GoPro cameras, commonly used by sports fans and professionals to film their exploits, were used for the first-person style.

"Action cinema has always thrived when it captured the sensation of participating in dangerous situations that most people would much rather avoid in real life. The goal with ‘Hardcore Henry’ was to push it a step further, to put the audience right into the body of the protagonist, to have them experience the primal, exhilarating feeling that we usually view from a much safer distance," says Naishuller.

Naishuller’s creativity, commitment and talent also impressed Bennett. “Even though this was Ilya’s first film, he knew exactly what he wanted and made me excited about helping him to fulfill his vision. He’s an incredibly dedicated artist,” Bennett says.

To take the concept from a short to a feature film, Naishuller and his team conducted hundreds of stabilization tests with GoPro rigs – there had to be enough balance between the hyper kinetic scenes and the more static (relatively speaking) portions. Achieving that balance required a fair amount of R&D, trial and error and blind faith but the payoff was worth it. "A big part of the pre-production process included the creation of magnetic stabilization rigs which allowed the team to mount the cameras on helmets and keep the picture comfortable for the audience," editor Vlad Kaptur says.

“GoPro gave us access to some proprietary software that allowed for exposure control that they've since incorporated into the latest generation of their cameras. We were also expecting to break quite a few cameras, but during my shooting block we only busted two or three. We had about a dozen GoPro HERO3 Black Editions that GoPro provided us with. During one of the breaks from the shooting, GoPro released the HERO 3+ but we decided to keep using the original HERO3 to keep the picture consistent,” Naishuller adds.

“The camera rig was the most important piece of tech in getting the film to look and feel right. We hired an engineer friend of mine, Vladimir Kotihov, who was oddly enough, an American football player and knew a thing or two about helmets. We spent a long time designing and redesigning the helmet while simultaneously designing the stabilization system. It was magnet based and we went through about five or six prototypes. The first one looked like a medieval torture device before we got it where we needed it – something that provided good stabilization, light enough to not put too much pressure on the wearer and strong enough to withstand hits and general damage during the heavy-duty shoot. The final touch was attaching a Teradek transmitter and a zoom mic on it,” Kaptur recalls.

“Hardcore Henry” coming soon in theaters from Pioneer Films.

The Suprise from Solar Pictures [PG]

SYNOPSIS:

Multimillionaire Jacob is seen with his dying mother, asking him whether he feels any emotion. He doesn't. Later it is revealed he changed into this state at the age of four, when his father disappeared. He sees no future. At his mother's funeral a pushy lawyer wants him to confirm he will sell the estate, which he does. Next, Jacob tries to end it all in various ways but does not succeed. At one of his attempts he picks up the address of a mysterious organization that helps people to end their life. Having decided to pay them for a surprise ending, he meets a sweet and shy girl in the room where the casks are displayed. She say she also wants to end her loveless life. They fall in love, but find out there is no postponing the trip to a better world. After they escape various attempts at their lives, the plot really starts rolling (contrary to the short story by Dutch writer H.J. Schönfeld (Belcampo) the film is based on). A lot of unexpected things happen and masterful plot twists keep you tied to your chair for the next half hour. Superb direction, superb acting by Dutch, Belgian and Indian(!) actors, superb scene settings, superb camera-work, superb scenario.

- Written by Victor de la Vieter

An eccentric multimillionaire signs an agreement to have his life ended. While selecting his coffin he meets a young woman who has signed up for the same arrangement. Trouble ensues when the couple falls in love and wishes to get out of the contract.

Written by N279 Entertainment

The Suprise will be showing on May 11 Released by: Solar Pictures

 

BRUCE WILLIS’ LATEST HEIST MOVIE “PRECIOUS CARGO” DIRECTED BY FORMER ARMY OFFICER MAX ADAMS [R16]

Bruce Willis plays merciless crime boss in the gritty action heist movie “Precious Cargo” also starring Claire Forlani and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. In “Precious Cargo” Eddie (Willis) hunts down the seductive thief Karen (Forlani) who failed him. In order to win back Eddie’s trust, Karen recruits her ex-lover and premier thief Jack (Gosselaar) to steal a cargo of rare precious gems. But when the job goes down, allegiances are betrayed and lines are crossed as Jack, Karen and Eddie face off in a fateful showdown.



At the helm of the movie is writer-director Max Adams who keeps the audience guessing in his feature-length directorial debut. Since his arrival in Hollywood a few short years ago, the former Army officer and battalion commander, who also has a Master’s degree in film production, has risen swiftly through the ranks to become an in-demand action screenwriter known for his humorous, brisk dialogue, cleverly constructed plot twists and ability to write realistic action and fight sequences. But the story for “Precious Cargo” was written long before Adams arrived in Hollywood and while he was a graduate student at Florida State University’s film school.



With his encyclopedic knowledge of cinema, action films and real-life action experiences after serving for six years in the Army, Adams quickly established himself as “the action director” after enrolling in Florida Stat University’s graduate school in 2006. A couple years later when it came time to make a short film for his Master’s Thesis, Adams wrote, directed and edited “Precious Cargo,” a story set in the world of multi-million dollar heists and double-crossing professional thieves. A short time later, while working on HBO’s acclaimed “Boardwalk Empire” the show’s writer-producer Terence Winter and writer-director-executive producer Timothy Van Patten encouraged Adams to write a feature-length version of the short, which he did.



The cast and crew filmed “Precious Cargo” along the picturesque Mississippi Gulf Coast, inlets and waterways around the Gulfport-Biloxi area during an action-packed 17-day shoot—much of it in the sweltering early summer heat of May-June 2015. According to the cast and crew, with thunderstorms, oppressive humidity and temperatures soaring into the hundreds, Adams proved to be every bit the cool, calm focused leader that saw him elevated to a commanding officer in the 3rd Army Infantry in Iraq.



“For his first shot at being a director I can’t imagine a more daunting task,” said Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who plays con man and professional thief Jack. “This was a very ambitious script that he wrote and an ambitious schedule and Max did an amazing job – getting everything together, being a leader on set, making a great film and allowing us to have an amazing onset experience. He’s the guy we followed and will continue to follow.”



“I had the most fun making this film,” said Claire Forlani, who plays femme fatale Karen Colson. “It has been one of the most fun sets I’ve ever been on with such a brilliant level of humor. And when you’re working these hours in this race to get a film made, to have that attitude, it comes from the top. And that’s Max. It’s been a really tight schedule and a lot to do, and he’s not only done it, but he’s done it brilliantly. I adore him. I think he’s really accomplished something admirable and fun with this film.”



“Precious Cargo is a good mix of comedy with an intense blend of action and drama happening behind that,” said Gosselaar. “I like that there’s a light touch to this film, a comedic element throughout. I always like to see an action film that has a comedic element and doesn’t take itself too seriously. This is that kind of movie where you can sit down for 90 minutes, eat popcorn and enjoy the ride.”

 

“Precious Cargo” opens May 11 from OctoArts Films International. 

 

 Click for the film’s trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVqEaWjrmSc

Precious Cargo TRAILER

RUSSIAN FILMMAKER’S IRREVERENT VIRAL VIDEO EXPANDS TO IMMERSIVE VIDEOGAME FILM “HARDORE HENRY”

Ilya Naishuller is a Russian-born filmmaker and front man for the Moscow punk band Biting Elbows. His band’s groundbreaking, irreverent video “Bad Motherfucker” became a viral sensation, catching the attention of fans around the world, attracting over 120 million views. Producer/director Timur Bekmabetov was one of those fans and he encouraged Naishuller to expand his vision into a feature length film and the result was “Hardcore Henry,” an action-packed, immersive experience told completely from the point-of-view of a cyborg named Henry who’s been brought back from the dead by his wife Estelle (Haley Bennett) and soon finds himself surrounded with an army of mercenaries out to kill him and his wife.


Backed and produced by renowned Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, known for his groundbreaking films “Night Watch” and “Day Watch” along with hit Hollywood movies such as “Wanted” that starred Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy and the recent phenomenal “Unfriended” horror for the millennial generation, “Hardcore Henry” is Bekmambetov’s latest foray in pushing the envelope in filmmaking with the use of GoPro cameras for that immersive experience of a first-person’s POV.



Shot almost entirely on GoPro cameras with custom engineered rigs, “Hardcore Henry” completely abandons, even eviscerates, traditional filmmaking and replaces it with a raw and immediate experience, allowing the audience to become one with the protagonist, so viewers go on a very personal and breathtaking journey with Henry.



"Action cinema has always thrived when it captured the sensation of participating in dangerous situations that most people would much rather avoid in real life. The goal with ‘Hardcore Henry’ was to push it a step further, to put the audience right into the body of the protagonist, to have them experience the primal, exhilarating feeling that we usually view from a much safer distance," says Naishuller.



“I couldn’t stop watching ‘Bad Motherf*cker.’ I admired Ilya’s daring, creative spirit,” says Bekmambetov. “There are three major factors that draw me to a project - originality and boldness and an interesting concept. That video was truly unique and unusual. Something that looks like pure insanity turns out to be a well thought out and rational project. Ilya’s process in achieving this effect is one of his most valuable assets,” Bekmambetov says.



“The second night after ‘Bad Motherf*cker’ had become such a hit, I got a message on FB from Timur. He's a huge deal to us in Russia; he’s a cinematic hero. We met over Skype, he said congratulations and asked if I might be interested in expanding it into a feature film? To be honest, I was hesitant at first because I wasn't sure it could be done well enough to transcend the gimmick. But Timur asked, ‘Would you not want to see a great POV action film in a cinema?’ I said yes, and he simply answered 'Well, go make it then,' Naishuller recounts. “The more I thought about it, the more interesting and challenging it seemed. My biggest concern was never the action, but if I could tell a story within this creative cage. I realized that if I could correctly accomplish both, it would make for a mind-blowing cinematic experience. So I flew to Los Angeles to meet Timur, who was amazing, really supportive and a big believer in the project. We talked about the challenges of making this as a full-length feature, hashed out some ideas, and shook hands on it. It was the easiest, most amazing experience. Not only did I just get a chance to work with one of the most respected Russian directors and producers, but that producer promised to allow me to make the film I was envisioning. I went back to Moscow, secured additional financing for the film, and began working on the script. Throughout the process, Timur kept his word, and I got the best of both worlds; a rare producer who was there anytime I needed his help or advice, and who never once pushed me to do anything I felt was wrong for the film. It really was an incredible experience. It also helps immensely that since Timur is an accomplished director as well as a producer, he truly understands the pressure that a director is under.”

“The best way to help promising filmmakers is to give them creative freedom, as well as full responsibility. It gave Ilya a chance to make his own mistakes and then to find ways of making things right in the end,” Bekmambetov explains.

“Hardcore Henry” opens May 4 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

Sinag Maynila 2016: MRS. by Adollfo Borinaga Alix Jr.

70-year-old Virginia shares the old ancestral house with Delia, her ever-loyal maid. Delia is marrying her long-time boyfriend, Rene, and tearfully confides to Virginia that she wants to go home to her parents in the province to start a new family life with him. Haunted by a past that Virginia tries to conquer—her only son Sonny Boy who disappeared years ago, what follows shows a portrait of a woman and a mother trying to juggle the sad realities of life in a cycle of life and death.

Cast
Elizabeth Oropesa, Lotlot de Leon, Anita Linda, Daria Ramirez, Rosanna Roces, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Angeli Bayani, Gigi Locsin, Sebastian Castro, Ross Pesigan, Arvic Tan.

Sinag Maynila 2016: DYAMPER by Mes De Guzman

 

Three friends wait along Dalton Pass every dawn to jump at the back of rice delivery trucks to steal the goods and sell it at the wet market as their means of income. One of them accidentally gets a pack of drugs in one of the trucks they jumped and finds themselves in jeopardy when its owners track them down to retrieve the stash, and gives them a chance to get off the hook by means of taking on a risky mission.

Cast
Alchris Galura, Carlo Aquino, Timothy Mabalot, Kristofer King, Liza Diño-Seguerra, and Debbie Garcia.


SCREENING SCHEDULE:
April 22, Friday:
1:00 PM – SM North Edsa
3:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
5:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
7:00 PM – SM Megamall (Gala Screening)
9:00 PM – SM Manila

April 23, Saturday:
1:00 PM – SM Megamall
1:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
3:00 PM – SM North Edsa
5:00 PM – SM Manila
7:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
April 24, Sunday:
1:00 PM – SM Manila
7:00 PM – SM North Edsa
7:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
9:00 PM – SM Megamall
9:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
April 25, Monday:
12:00 NN – SM Aura Premier
12:00 NN – SM Manila
2:00 PM – SM Megamall
4:00 PM – SM North Edsa
4:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
April 26, Tuesday:
11:00 AM – SM Megamall
2:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
6:00 PM – SM Manila
8:00 PM – SM North Edsa
8:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia

Sinag Maynila 2016 : Lila a film by Gino M. Santos

 

Jess is a young woman running from her past and moves into the house of a warmhearted landlady. She finds a diary in her room that belonged to an old tenant. As days pass, strange occurrences ensue and the diary’s words take an eerie turn when Jess finds herself in the middle of a malevolent turn of events from a dark past not entirely her own.

Cast
Janine Gutierrez, Enchong Dee, Sherry Lara, and Miggs Cuaderno.

SCREENING SCHEDULE:
April 22, Friday:
1:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
3:00 PM – SM Manila
5:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
7:00 PM – SM North Edsa
9:00 PM – SM Megamall (Gala Screening)
April 23, Saturday:
1:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
1:00 PM – SM Manila
3:00 PM – SM Megamall
7:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
9:00 PM – SM North Edsa
April 24, Sunday:
1:00 PM – SM Megamall
1:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
3:00 PM – SM Manila
5:00 PM – SM North Edsa
7:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
April 25, Monday:
12:00 NN – SM North Edsa
2:00 PM – SM Manila
4:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
6:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
8:00 PM – SM Megamall
April 26, Tuesday:
12:00 NN – SM Manila
2:00 PM – SM North Edsa
2:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
5:00 PM – SM Megamall
8:00 PM – SM Aura Premier

Sinag Maynila 2016 : T.P.O. by Jay Altarejos

TPO
Temporary Protection Order
LOG LINE: In the tug-of-war of familial and legal rights the child is the ultimate victim.
SYNOPSIS:
MIGUEL (Oliver Aquino) is an abusive husband to TERESA, a former town-beauty queen (Mara Lopez). They have an eight-year old son, JR (Miko Laurente). Their small family lives with Miguel’s parents (Menggie Cobarrubias and Dexter Doria). The family is shattered by the vicious cycle of domestic abuse.
After a night of beating, Teresa, goaded by a friend (YAYO AGUILA), seeks TPO (Temporary Protection Order) from the court. TPO is a legal remedy that a woman can avail of under Republic Act 9262 (Violence Against Women and Children Law) to protect her and her child against anyone harming them. Teresa is granted the TPO against Miguel. But in this legal tug-of-war of familial rights, their son ,JR, is ignored. Until, he shows aggression in school.But Miguel’s parents coax Miguel to file for Child Custody. Just like our legal system, the film slowly unravels their story.
TPO is a cautionary tale on domestic abuse that examines the lives of a small family victimised by it. The director employs a static-cinema approach in a non-linear narrative. TPO is his second film on his trilogy about domestic abuse.

CAST
Oliver Aquino, Mara Lopez, Miko Laurente, Dexter Doria, Menggie Cobarrubias, Yayo Aguila, Monti Parungao, Lex Bonife, Ray an Dulay, May delos Santos, Annelle Durano, Atty. Cecille Soria



SCREENING SCHEDULE:
April 22, Friday:
1:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
3:00 PM – SM Megamall
3:00 PM – SM North Edsa
5:00 PM – SM Manila
7:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
April 23, Saturday:
5:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
5:00 PM – SM North Edsa
7:00 PM – SM Megamall (Gala Screening)
9:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
9:00 PM – SM Manila
April 24, Sunday:
1:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
3:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
5:00 PM – SM Megamall
7:00 PM – SM Manila
9:00 PM – SM North Edsa
April 25, Monday:
12:00 NN – SM Mall of Asia
4:00 PM – SM Megamall
6:00 PM – SM North Edsa
6:00 PM – SM Manila
8:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
April 26, Tuesday:
12:00 NN – SM North Edsa
1:00 PM – SM Megamall
2:00 PM – SM Manila
6:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
6:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia



Disclaimer: image is from http://sinagmaynilafilmfestival.com 

Sinag Maynila 2016 : EXPRESSWAY by Ato Bautista

 

A syndicate old-timer named Ben needs to do one last assignment before the boss he works for grants him his much delayed retirement. Assigned to be his partner is the neophyte Morris, a trigger-happy, sadist who yearns to impress the syndicate boss. For Ben, this last assignment turns out to be a journey of introspection, self-healing and redemption. With this awakening, he takes it upon himself to pull Morris out of the eventual hell-of-a-life he says he has lived as a hitman.

Cast
Alvin Anson, Aljur Abrenica, Kiko Matos, RK Bagatsing, Inez Bernardo, Jim Libiran, Japo Parcero, Arpee Bautista.

SCREENING SCHEDULE:
April 22, Friday:
1:00 PM – SM Manila
3:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
5:00 PM – SM Megamall
7:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
9:00 PM – SM North Edsa

April 23, Saturday:
1:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
3:00 PM – SM Manila
5:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
7:00 PM – SM North Edsa
9:00 PM – SM Megamall (Gala Screening)
April 24, Sunday:
1:00 PM – SM North Edsa
3:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
5:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
7:00 PM – SM Megamall
9:00 PM – SM Manila
April 25, Monday:
12:00 NN – SM Megamall
2:00 PM – SM North Edsa
4:00 PM – SM Manila
6:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
8:00 PM – SM Mall of Asia
April 26, Tuesday:
12:00 NN – SM Mall of Asia
3:00 PM – SM Megamall
4:00 PM – SM Aura Premier
4:00 PM – SM North Edsa
8:00 PM – SM Manila

Disclaimer: image is from http://sinagmaynilafilmfestival.com

BOX-OFFICE HIT ROMANTIC COMEDY DIRECTOR GARRY MARSHALL BRINGS BIG-HEARTED MOVIE “MOTHER’S DAY”

Garry Marshall, who moved everyone to tears of joy with his classic and endearing romantic comedies such as “Pretty Woman,” “The Princess Diaries,” “Beaches,” “Dear God,” “New Year’s Eve” and “Valentine’s Day” connects the world once again with his latest star-studded movie “Mother’s Day” starring Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Jason Sudeikis in a celebratory and inspiring story of what “Mother’s Day” really means to each of them.

“Mother’s Day” tell the intertwining stories of mothers and a Mr. Mom as the holiday approaches that stars Julia Roberts as Miranda, as a television host, Jennifer Aniston who plays recently-divorced Sandy, Kate Hudson who plays reluctant daughter and Jason Sudeikis, a widower trying to relate to his daughters. The movie also stars Timothy Olyphant, Sarah Chalke, Shay Mitchell, Jon Lovitz and Britt Robertson.

Aniston and Sudeikis, who’ve previously worked together in riotous comedies such as “We’re The Millers” marks their fifth movie as their characters’ lives are intertwined in “Mother’s Day.” “With Jason, we’ve been doing movies together which makes it quite fun and comfortable in all the best ways,” Aniston shares.

Further Aniston talks about working with director Garry Marshall, “It’s as if he likes walk with sunshine wherever he goes, and it just shows in his crew, he’s beloved and adored. I think a lot of people are here just to be with him. He also lets us improv which is fun.”

“I belieie no matter what they say, there’s still in magic inmoies and when you let them ompovise, someyime you get that magic. I knowhen I se it. In this picture, we wait for magical moments.”

“Sandy is basically met with the news that his ex-husband has remarried and she’s got to overcome on sharing her children and sort of rising above it. She’s a little thrown by his ex-husband’s new wife, and she’s thrown by the fact that she’s a much much younger woman because that’s a big deal when another person comes in as a co-parent to your child,” Aniston says of her character.

Veteran director Marshall likewise enthuses on the wondrous things that mothers all over the world had done for their families. “I wanted to explore and celebrate and show how hard and difficult it is today. I think it is the hardest job in the world is a mother raising a teenager these days, it’s just tough, with the internet, to get him to look up is a major thing, but I think it’s about time to really celebrate it. And do something about mothers and how hard it is now they have to put up with everything and they do it.”

On casting Jennifer Aniston, “I love how prepared she was and how ready she was to try. And this shows how open and very brave she is and when you let yourself go. But here she really impressed me and had the best time and made the scenes come alive.”

Marshall, known for his heartfelt movies finally shares that “I think emotions are good, but laugher sometime hou gotta have too. Make them laugh, make them cry, that has always been my motto, and many others. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don’t. But in this films I have actors who do that.”

Celebrate the wonder of life that is our moms, watch “Mother’s Day” starting May 4 in cinemas – from OctoArts Films International.

Check out the films trailer here: https://youtu.be/IfjOhlD6_-U

Captive Cinema : Spy Thriller “Newcomer” explodes cinemas soon!

Alex (James Floyd) is a determined intelligence operative looking for work. His turbulent past means he has trouble finding it, but his gift for observing and analyzing lead him to be employed by a private intelligence company in Serbia. However, on his first mission, something goes terribly wrong and his entire team are killed by a mysterious agent. The blame is put squarely on Alex’s shoulders and, hunted by his employers, he goes on the run with just an audio recording of that fateful night to help him piece together what happened and clear his name. He will get some help in his mission but, with a shadowy private contractor on their tail, the dangers might prove too high for everyone.

“Newcomer” is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA.

Espionage begins June 15, 2016 in cinemas nationwide.

Captive Cinema brings the adventures of ‘Savva: A Warrior’s Tail’ in cinemas!

From Gregory Poirier, the writer of The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and National Treasure: Book of Secrets, A Warrior’s Tail is as heart-warming, thrilling and imaginative as they come and is a family adventure for all ages.


Nine-year old Savva lives with his mum in a small village in a forest once protected by a pack of regal white wolves. When the wolves leave under mysterious circumstances the village is left at constant risk of attack from ruthless hyenas and only a powerful magician can help. Escaping the hyenas in search of the magician, Savva finds himself in a magical world he had only heard stories of, meeting a host of new friends who are also seeking the magician, including the white wolf Angee, the hilarious Puffy and a very odd mosquito; all of whom must evade a treacherous simian army led by the evil Mum JoZee on their path overcoming the forces of evil and reclaiming Savva’s village.

Features vocal talent including Milla Jovovich, Whoopi Goldberg, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci.

“Savva: A Warrior’s Tail” is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA

SHOWING IN CINEMAS ON JUNE 22, NATIONWIDE

‘Born to Dance’ biggest hip-hop dance movie storms in Philippine cinemas! [PG]

 

An ambitious young man from Auckland dreams of being a professional hip-hop dancer.

Born to Dance is a movie about Auckland teenagers with dreams of hip-hop dance stardom, and its shot through with dance sequences that tell the story of their desires in vivid, explosive fashion.

Director Tammy Davis, making his feature debut, says he was drawn to the script of Born to Dance because of the way it showed "young Maori and Pacific Island kids aspiring to be the best they can be". Yet he freely admits that he didn't know how much dance talent was in his home town, ready to take on the world.

Much of this energy comes from a dynamic young dancer-choreographer, Parris Goebel, whose credits include choreography for Janet Jackson, Cirque du Soleil and Nicki Minaj, and the development of her own ferocious dance style that she calls Polyswagg. Her talents are most recently shown in a wonderful video that she created and danced in, alongside female members of her Royal Family crew, for Justin Bieber's Sorry. It has had more than 63 million YouTube views. "When I first met Parris and the kids," Davis says, "they were just amazing, and they blew me off my feet. I had no idea they even existed." Goebel choreographed the film, and also makes an appearance leading a terrific face-off dance sequence in a club.

Born to Dance stars Tia Maipi as Tu, dreaming of a career as a dancer, who hopes that his crew, 2PK, can make its way to the national championships. He's also drawn to the possibilities offered by K-Crew, world champion dancers who are auditioning for new members.

His loyalties are torn. He continues to practice with his friends, yet in secret he's taking part in the long-drawn-out auditions, and he's attracted to Sasha (Kherington Payne) a K-Crew member who's the girlfriend of its overbearing leader, Kane (Jordan Vaha'akolo). With all this and more, going on, something's got to give.

The casting process for Born to Dance involved not only finding the best dancers, Davis says, but also finding people who were a good fit, dramatically, for a range of roles. To play Tu, Davis says, "We needed someone who had self-belief". Yet he didn't want this to be too prominent. "Tia was only 17 turning 18 when he shot the film, he was very shy. And I liked that about him, it was like he hadn't fully realized his potential, which was so similar to the plotline of the film. So I tried to harness that, and not push him too far from what he really is." Working on a movie, Davis says, "I always find my relationship to the script, because that's really important. For me, it was Tu, I've been that kid before, I was Tu and I still am, making this film was a dream of mine."

When Davis was Tu's age, he says, he hadn't found out what he wanted to do. "I had left school and was working on a farm, driving tractors. Then I went up the mountain putting chains on cars and now boarding every day." He'd had contact with the film world, however, through a family connection, his half-brother, Julian Arahanga, who played Nig in Once Were Warriors, and Apoc in The Matrix.

He went to drama school at 19, but still hadn't really thought about acting. "My brother had friends who were gaffers and grips and I thought I'd go that way, but then I started performing on stage and I thought, oh, this is cool too." Davis' film roles include Whale Rider and Black Sheep, and he's been in a host of New Zealand TV series, most notably in the long-running Outrageous Fortune. Right now, he's focusing on working behind the camera. "I've written five one-hour dramas I'm pitching at the moment that I want to make, and then I've got another feature, based on Ebony Society, a short film I made." Ebony Society, which was selected for Sundance and Berlin, is a disarming tale of two boys who find more than they bargained for when they take part in a house break-in over Christmas. There's talk of a second Born to Dance film, he says, but his own projects are his priority right now.

“Born to Dance” is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA.

SHOWING MAY 25, 2016!

Now Showing: BASTILLE DAY fromAxinite Digicinema [R13]

“Bastille Day” opens April 20 in theatres nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.  

Now Showing: THE YOUNG MESSIAH from Pioneer Films [PG]

Opens TODAY in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films

 

Now Showing: High Strung from Pioneer Films [PG]

“High Strung” opens today in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

GAME OF THRONES’ RICHARD MADDEN FIGHTS TERRORISM IN “BASTILLE DAY” [R13]

Richard Madden who has gained mainstream attention with his notable role in the global hit TV series “Game of Thrones” takes action on the big screen in “Bastille Day” starring alongside award-winning Idris Elba. Michael Mason (Madden) is an American pickpocket living in Paris who finds himself hunted by the CIA when he steals a bag that contains more than just a wallet. Sean Briar (Elba), the field agent on the case, soon realizes that Michael is just a pawn in a much bigger game and is also his best asset to uncover a large-scale conspiracy.

“Bastille Day” finds two everyday man and unlikely heroes in present-day scenario when all the world is doing everything at all cost to fight terrorism. They're thrown into a drama and they are forced to team up and navigate their way through a heinous plot aimed to kill thousands of people.

For his part, Madden saw the character of Michael as “a street rat, with not much of a moral compass or sense of responsibility for his actions. He's an American pickpocket in Paris, and he's a bit adrift, but he's got this incredible skill set, he's really wonderful at what he does. But I think he's not sure who he is and who he wants to be and he's slightly lost in the world and has a certain sense of perhaps self-loathing and but he's really ready to embark on a journey and try to find a different side of himself.”

The actors did most of the stunt work, including the fight scenes. Not having to cut between the actors and stuntmen was a way of keeping the film grounded in reality. Stunt coordinator Jimmy O'Dee worked for several weeks with the actors, preparing them for the scene. He would cut the action into manageable parts and then design the choreography of the fight and the actors would train together until they were completely in sync.

Madden was just as thrilled to be involved in the action scenes. He started training with the stunt team about six weeks before filming. “They built these 15-foot high obstacle courses which I'd have to run up and over, jumping over things, throwing myself through windows, tumbling down stairs. It was really tough but it prepared me for the chase sequences where I had to scramble over roofs and hang off the edge of buildings. It was important that it didn't look too professional because Michael isn't a base jumper or anything; he's just an ordinary guy, so the rooftop chase is quite scrappy. I wanted him to slip and fall and really scrambling for his life trying to get away.”

A more interesting aspect of the training for Madden was learning how to pickpocket. Working with a consultant named, appropriately, Keith the Thief, Madden learned sleight of hands tricks and distraction techniques. “We wanted some of the manoeuvres he pulls to be a bit flamboyant so that it reflects Michael's cockiness at his own ability. Director James was very keen to make sure that that the stealing didn't appear to be like magic, but that it seemed realistic. So if anyone watching the film on DVD pauses and watches it in slow-motion to check it's really me doing it, I did actually do it!”

Another of the main set pieces which required a tremendous amount of preparation was the bomb blast. Production designer Paul Kirby, and his team, built a replica Metro stop into the back of a building located right outside of Paris. David Kanter adds “Richard worked really hard. He was pulled on a wire, repeatedly, to dramatize the force of the explosion. Everything had to be timed out right; there's the explosion part which we did in different sizes and is comprised of many different components that convey a truly awful moment.”

“Bastille Day” opens April 20 in theatres nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.