Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a far more entertaining film than the first, but with its lack of world-building in this sequel means we probably have to lower our expectations on the third. Remember when you had to trick your older brother so you could play Sonic the Hedgehog all
Category: Reviews
Fran Kranz’s Mass (2021) and its exploration on grief and longing
Mass is Mae Malaya’s first entry as a film critic for Film Police Reviews. The film is currently streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime The circumstances around the globe today, despite our slow recovery from the pandemic, did not stop other forms of catastrophic loss to flourish. Harassment, war, state-sponsored
Film review: Windfall (2022)
Netflix film “Windfall” gathers a set of characters in this sleepy suspense film, reviewed by Ela Bicera. Windfall as defined by Merriam-Webster, is something (could be leaves or fruits) blown down by the wind. Windfall is considered a blessing, a sudden luck or advantage for whomever receives it. Every character
How “Turning Red” offers a distinct narrative on puberty
Princess Kinoc writes about “Turning Red”, a new Disney animated picture directed by Domee Shi, with voices from Sandra Oh as Ming Lee and Rosalie Chiang as Mei-Mei. It is unusual for a Disney movie to show us how the real things happen in real life. While there is no
Film Review: CODA
CODA is this year’s Oscar-winning film. Guest contributor Roy Narra strings together what a non-CODA (child of deaf adult) audience feels about this film. Ruby Rossi is not a popular girl in high school, a familiar setting in films wherein mean girls rule the hallways and bully the film’s protagonist.
“Death of Nintendo” and the joys of 90s nostalgia
“Death of Nintendo” is Ela Bicera’s first Raya Martin film and her first contribution to FPR as a film critic. Death of Nintendo (2020) is a coming-of-age film that shows 90’s teenage nostalgia. I’m not sure if this is based on Director Raya Martin’s own story or if he’s basing
A bunch of Filipino films in 2021 that weren’t so good you just might read this
Present Confusion’s John Tawasil and his Annual List of Filipino Films is presented in two parts: this first one somewhat reveals what you didn’t reallly miss out on in 2021 and since he’s the only one of us who has seen most feature-length films, we present you his list here.
Gensan Punch offers more than your average boxing movie
Brillante Mendoza is back in ‘Gensan Punch’ and he’s understood the assignment really well. There’s a longing, lingering effect on Brillante Mendoza’s films that will continue to haunt you. It’s probably the social realism, the commentary on poverty and Philippine politics and his use of brutal scenes that complete his
Vivian Hsu returns to PH screens with HBO Asia’s “Who’s By Your Side
“Who’s By Your Side” debuts with two episodes starting this Sunday, October 3. Filipino Fans of Chinese dramas can stream the HBO Asia original series – Who’s By Your Side – exclusively on HBO GO from Sunday, October 3 at 9pm.Simultaneously available on the HBO channel, the Taiwanese series premieres
These Filipino Artists have collaborated with Netflix for La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)’s final heist through Paper Art
The artists have featured some of the notable locations featured on Money Heist (and on the title card) such as the Royal Mint of Spain and more. The end of this heist is coming! To celebrate the final part of La Casa De Papel, Netflix has teamed up with four
MOVIE REVIEW: Dito at Doon (2021)
The anxiety riled in JP Habac’s “Here and There” (Dito at Doon) is more than just the “will-they, won’t-they” aspect between two strangers, but the uncertainty of when the pandemic will be over. We did an episode with the cast and crew of Here and There/ Dito at Doon! Watch
REVIEW: Memories of Forgetting (2021)
In Jay Altarejos’ Memories of Forgetting, a romance is soon rekindled, but a secret must first be discussed. “Our memories fragile, our lifetime is very brief, everything happens so fast that we don’t have time to understand the relationship of events.” – mula sa pelikulang “The House of the Spirits”
I’ve seen #TheSnyderCut and…
I liked it. For a non-comicbook reader like myself, I advise you to watch the following DC films in this exact order: Suicide Squad, Man of Steel, Batman vs Superman, Shazam, and the 2017 cut of Justice League before watching #TheSnyderCut. Mild spoilers and opinions that might bruise you are
Soltero (The Bachelor)
Isa sa mga naging proyekto ng Experimental Cinema of the Philippines noong dekada ’80 ang Soltero (The Bachelor). Tanyag ang ECP noon sa mga dekalidad na pelikulang nilikha nila kahit pa bilang lamang ang mga ito. Kabilang ang Himala, Misteryo sa Tuwa, Soltero at Oro, Plata, Mata. Pinagbibidahan ni Jay
The latest music video from Ben&Ben might just convert us into KathNiel fans
The music video featuring KathNiel for “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay” is giving us some cinematic chills, too! Hi. Princess Kinoc here. Editor-in-chief for Film Police Reviews. I have a confession to make, I’ve never been a fan of KathNiel. But wait! Before you all KathNiel fans throw stones at
“Endless Love” three-episode premiere review: A senseless drama to pass off time
ETCerye launches Endless Love over the weekend but I know I’ve already seen this in local teleseryes before. Strong warning: Spoilers ahead Kara Sevda (whose loose translation in English is Dark Love) is a 2015 turkish drama series that tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers whose fates are tested
Jim Paranal on Present Confusion
Jim Paranal of Jimelikula atbp., shares his thoughts on the 15-year old Present Confusion, as part of our first-ever “Review of a Review” series. Our review of a review series serves to promote other film blogs out there that contribute to the betterment of Film Criticism. Should you want us
The Best of Present Confusion
Our first ever “Review of a Review” focuses the best parts of one of the longest Filipino film blogs, ever. Tuesday, April 5, 2005. At a time when a blog meant that one must own an online journal where thoughts flourished more than a cream-themed IG. If one must own
Cinemalaya 2020: Main Competition Reviews (Part 2)
CINEMALAYA 2020. I wrote the first part here in no particular order. By now you would have learned that Tokwifi wins Best Film and Martika Escobar wins Best Director for Living Things. By now as well (a Tuesday), my access to the festival screening on Vimeo would have expired. This year’s
Cinemalaya 2020: Main Competition reviews (Part 1)
It’s Cinemalaya 2020! You’ve heard from us for a long time since the pandemic began. Despite me and the rest of the guys being busy talking about films through the podcast , we miss writing about reviews too! It is only timely to find one of our favorite film festivals reinvent themselves
Film Review: EMA
Pablo Larraín has been out and about for quite some time now, yet he became a household name in 2016 after the creation of two films–Jackie and Neruda, both of which are biopics that have been deconstructed into audiovisual poetry, made even more introspective by its elements of fiction that
Ip Man 4 review: Where the light meets darkness
Let me be honest about two things: I have only seen a few Kung Fu films in my life, and that I have enjoyed every bit of this cleaned-up version of the legendary Wing Chun master in all three films (I have yet to see the third one completely, but I guess
Film Review: 1917
History repeats itself. Everyone must have been made aware of this idea at least once in their entire lifetime. And it’s true. Historic recurrence is a common ideology that happens in every single part of the world not because we have not learned our lessons in history classes, but because
Film Review: ON VODKA, BEERS, AND REGRETS
“Tara, shot tayo.” “Pre, gusto kong mag-inom.” “Let’s drink till we drop.” Have you ever been asked by your peer, co-worker or even your best friend to join them in drinking alcohol? It doesn’t matter if it’s for a single bottle of San Miguel Pale Pilsen or a couple of Emperador Light brandy bottles,
Film Review: BLOCK Z
At 28, Mikhail Red is at the height of his career. Imagine, he showed off his directing chops to the whole nation when he became a part of the 9th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival at age 21, releasing his debut film under the “New Breed” category called Rekorder — a voyeuristic
