Pain – whether physical or emotional – is unpleasant, and many of us understandably spend our entire lives trying to avoid it. Lynlyn (Julia Barretto) has an ability that makes this easier – when she touches a person, she can determine if that person will have a positive or negative
Category: Theatrical Release
MMFF 2024 Review: Uninvited
There are some people that don’t deserve redemption, their evil so pervasive and unchecked that the normal mechanisms of justice simply don’t work anymore. Dan Villegas’ Uninvited is one of the best of the year, a thrilling, engaging tale of taking matters into your own hands. More than any other horror film
MMFF 2024 Review: Green Bones
Whenever you watch a video of a person getting their just desserts or receiving the karma that they deserve, do you ever wonder what drove them to do the things that they did? Or do you feel that whatever the circumstances may be, they got what’s coming to them? The
MMFF 2024 Review: Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital
There are certain aspects of streaming culture that disturb me. “Content” is a word that properly describes what is created from this activity; a word that implies a soulless, artless product made to be consumed. In the process, many have created their content in ways that are unethical and disrespectful, and
MMFF 2024 Review: And the Breadwinner Is…
Bambi (Vice Ganda) works as an OFW in Taiwan. She’s been working multiple jobs for many years in order to renovate their large family house. After not renewing a work contract, Bambi decides to return home to start a business. Unfortunately, Bambi finds the family house no better than it
Ang Pagsasa-Dokumentaryo Ng Isang Ulat: Rebyu ng “Lost Sabungeros”
Ang “Lost Sabungeros” ay ipinalabas noong Nobyembre sa QCinema International Film Festival 2024. Nitong nakaraang Agosto, naging kontrobersyal ang pag-kansela ng Cinemalaya sa pagpapalabas ng dokumentaryong Lost Sabungeros. “For security reason” ang tanging iniwang dahilan ng nabanggit na film festival kaya hindi natuloy ang screening ng dokyu. Makalipas ang ilang
Gladiator II: Are We Not Entertained (With Nostalgia)?
Why do we have a sequel to Gladiator? Nostalgia. The film industry has been riding the tremendous rise of nostalgia since the start of the post-pandemic world. From reviving the early 2000s fashion trend to electing questionable but charismatic populist leaders, people are now clinging to the ideal picture of
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Review: Filipinos to find charm in sequel of American cinema classic
The story of Betelgeuse and the Deetz family is so foreign to the usual Filipinos, including me. I had never heard of Beetlejuice until I looked for recommended horror films on Google. Upon watching, however, a Filipino viewer would find commonalities and comfort in the American-centric story: afterlife, ghosts, slapstick
A Review of Look Back: Searching for Completeness
I’ve always liked making stuff – drawing, writing, what have you – even though I’m not exactly the best at it. There have been so many times in my life where I wanted to share that process of making things with someone else, as I think sharing one’s art is
‘And So It Begins’ Review: What do we do next?
In one of And So It Begins subplots, historian, columnist, and former president Noynoy Aquino’s official Manolo Quezon III was talking to singer and anti-Marcos activist Leah Navarro about the rise of the Marcoses in a restaurant that looks like it sells Filipino food that costs thrice the price of
Review: Deadpool and Wolverine
When Marvel Comics neared bankruptcy in the late nineties, it sold the movie rights to some of its characters in order to stay afloat. While that would save the company from going under, it would then undergo massive success by establishing a cinematic universe of its own. The problem now
Inside Out 2: Isa Pa, With More Feelings
Contains minor spoilers. “Holy sh*t. Is this really for kids?” I thought while watching Anxiety (Maya Hawke in a captivating voiceover performance) spins out of control, forming a chaotic orange whirlpool while desperately ensuring that Riley (Kensington Tallman) will make a good impression at a crucial game at the hockey
Review: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Whether you’re a huge fan of the Planet of the Apes franchise or a casual moviegoer, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a good, safe choice to watch in the cinema. It ticks all the boxes of a good, escapist American blockbuster film while continuing the excitement and
‘Anak Ka Ng Ina Mo’ (Your Mother’s Son Review): Political Intrigue and Personal Turmoil in Jun Lana’s Erotic Thriller
Jun Lana’s latest sexy, disturbing, and cunning film Anak Ka ng Ina Mo (Your Mother’s Son) is a series of tug of war: son versus visitor, love versus taboo, individualism versus collectivism, and the director’s intention of establishing a subtle yet sharp political commentary versus his tendency to focus on
‘Priscilla’ review: An intimate journey in achieving agency
In almost two hours of Sofia Coppola’s latest film Priscilla, the titular character (Cailee Spaeney) had a visually and emotionally intricate journey in looking and establishing her agency, seeking her identity beyond being the woman placed and living in the shadow of the King of Rock and Roll, husband Elvis
‘Rewind’ review: the Divine twist is a flawed redemption
John (Dingdong Dantes) is a businessman who is always on the go, to the detriment of his relationships with his loving wife Mary (Marian Rivera) and his son Austin (Jordan Lim.) It all comes to a head when several unfortunate events befall John, leading to a car accident that takes
‘Broken Hearts Trip’ review: Taken For a Ride
John Tawasil reviews Lem Lorca’s ‘Broken Hearts Trip’, one of the ten entries in this year’s MMFF 2023 Broken Hearts Trip opens with auditions for the titular reality show, where three “judgers” (Tart Carlos, Jacklyn Jose and Christian Bables) try to weed out contestants based on their sad stories. Many contestants
GomBurZa MMFF 2023 review: Martyrs Among Us
What makes a martyr? Is it what they did in life that turns them into one? Is it what they stand for? Or is it something in between that makes them what they are? This story needs no spoiler warning because even if we don’t know the specific details, we
‘Firefly’ film review: beyond expectations in this hidden gem from MMFF 2023
In this review of the film ‘Firefly’, Princess Kinoc writes about Zig Dulay’s adaptation of Anj Atienza’s short story, of the same name. An entry in this year’s MMFF 2023. Firefly, to me, is undoubtedly one of the best films I have seen so far in this year’s MMFF line-up.
‘Mutt’ review: a raw portrait of transitions and relationships
Mutt is a drama directed by Vuk Lungulov-Klotz that features the journey of Feña as he transitions into a man. Ela Bicera reviews this film that was part of the QCinema International Film Festival 2023. Spoilers are present. While Transitioning is a life-changing experience, it also comes with doubts, fears
‘Foe’ (2023) review: love’s final frontier we’d already seen before
Ela Bicera reviews ‘Foe’, the science fiction thriller starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, directed by Garth Davis. This film premiered at the QCinema International Film Festival 2023. Spoilers are present in this review. “Till death, do us part” is the promise we say to the love of our lives
‘Essential Truths of the Lake’ (Mga Saligan ng Katotohanan ng Lawa), isang pag-susuri | a QCinema review
Sa rebyu’ng ito ni Engelbert Rafferty, kaniya’ng sinuri ang pagka-hango ng pelikula ni Lav Diaz sa ekstra-hudisyal na pagpatay noong pamumuno ng dating presidente na si Rodrigo Duterte, at sa mga naiwang ala-ala ng pamilya ng mga biktima. Umiikot ang mga kamay ng oras sa bawat segundong tumatakbo. Sa loob
‘City of Wind’ Unravels Mongolian Mysticism | QCinema review
Engelbert Rafferty reviews Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir’s debut film ‘City of Wind’. It premiered in this year’s QCinema as part of the ‘New Horizons’ section. Spoilers are present in this review. In the last day of February 2006, renowned Mongolian shamanism figure Sarangerel Odigon passed away at age 43, which we can
Faithful Frames: a review of ‘Divine Factory’ and the spiritual significance of The Sleeping St. Joseph
There is a holy item that was mostly talked about in the entire film, which is called “The Sleeping St. Joseph”. According to the Holy story, Joseph had some doubts of being with Mary when she was pregnant, and the lord came into his dreams while he’s asleep, entrusting the
Solids by the Seashore (2023) review: the tides of liberation
John Tawasil writes about Patiparn Boontarig‘s ‘Solids By The Seashore’. The film is part of the Asian Next Wave competition at the QCinema International Film Festival 2023. Shati (Ilada Pitsuwan) works in an art gallery in a quiet seaside town. We first see her putting on a hijab as part
