Diary ng Panget
Dir: Andoy Ranay (2014). Philippines. Nadine Lustre, Yassi Pressman, James Reid, Andre Paras.
Hot tip: If you’re looking to re-live your high school kilig moments (or your younger sister has been bugging you to watch this with her) make sure to drop by the nearest cinema and catch Diary ng Panget on it’s second week. This film has so far raked in PHP15 million hits despite an almost unknown cast and a semi-known story that was spawned off Wattpad.
Based on: The Wattpad fiction and chick lit, coming-of-age book series about a not-so-pretty girl who keeps a diary and becomes a personal maid of the school’s crush ng bayan.
Synopsis: Nadine Lustre plays Rhea Rodriguez, a poor, pimply girl who, out of desperation, applies as a personal maid for a young, bad boy named Cross Sanford and finds herself in a love triangle of sorts.
Watch out for: The lead debut for Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition winner James Reid and Kathrine Bernardo look-alike Nadine Lustre. Where did she come from, you ask? Apparently, the young actress has been playing small roles in movies like Petrang Kabayo and Who’s That Girl!
Rio 2
Dir: Carlos Saldanha (2014). USA. Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Bruno Mars. MTRCB G.
Hot tip: Before going to the cinema with your kids (who most likely have already seen Rio), look at the movie poster and let them know that the number of Spix’s Macaws (the blue birds, yes) on the poster is the real-life population of their species in the world. They are a critically endangered species and most of them are in captivity.
Based on: Rio 1.
Synopsis: While home alone at Rio de Janeiro, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), Jewel (Anne Hathaway) and their three kids decide to go on a trip to the Amazon where they reunite with Jewel’s father (Andy Garcia) and the evil suphur-crested Cockatoo Nigel (Jemaine Clement).
Watch out for: Lot’s of familiar voices in this musical adventure movie! Aside from Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am who reprises his role as Red-crested Cardinal rapper Pedro, Bruno Mars also makes his debut as a voice over actor for the Spix’s Macaw singing bird Roberto. You’ll also hear the comforting voice of Brazilian bossa nova singer Bebel Gilberto who plays Eva, a Keel-billed Toucan who’s really bad at singing. RnB singer Janelle Monae also does a cameo as Dr. Monae and Wicked‘s Kristin Chenoweth is also in the movie playing a frog!
Bang Bang Alley
Dir: Ely Buendia, King Palisoc, Yan Yuzon (2014). Philippines. Bella Padilla, Megan Young, Arthur Acuna, Gabe Mercado. MTRCB R-16.
Hot tip: Despite the musical backgrounds of two of its directors (Buendia and Yuzon), the film actually centers on Filipino violence and touches on many other social aspects. The film is made up of three short films rolled into one mind-numbing plot that will make you cringe and think at the same time.
Based on: Rappler reports that Ely and Yan had an idea for a music video for “Pusakal,” a song from Pupil’s Limiters of the Infinity Pool album. This idea did not come into fruition, however, but did give them a starting ground for Bang Bang Alley, a title they got from the old Cubao beerhouse Alibangbang.
Synopsis: “Aso’t Pusa’t Daga” (directed by Yuzon) is the story of a bodyguard who kills a “My Way” singer in a karaoke bar. This gives way to the second film, “Makina” (directed by award-winning director King Palisoc), which features Gabe Mercado as a driver who finds out his wife is cheating on him. The third story features a not-yet-Miss-World Megan Young who plays a coke addict who kills her sister’s boyfriend and flees.
Watch out for: Lots of blood and guns and — well, just watch out for lots of juicy violence.
Haunt
Dir: Mac Carter (2013). USA. Jacki Weaver, Harrison Gilbertson, Liana Liberato. MTRCB R-13.
Hot tip: If you’ve been in the cinemas before to watch the Paranormal Activity series and other haunted-house-related scary movie with lots of CGIs, Fearnet says you’ll like this thriller with its old-school feel. Not much CGI but it will still surely scare the wits out of you!
Based on: Hot haunted houses that people never seem to know is actually haunted until they’re living in it.
Synopsis: A teenage boy named Evan (Harrison Gilbertson) and his family unwittingly movies into a haunted house. He gets help from his girl neighbor Sam (Liana Liberato) and falls in love with her.
Watch out for: Another haunting performance from Kasia Kowalczyk, a Polish-American creature actor, costume designer and producer who was known for her stint as an alien in the 2009 Star Trek movie.
Captain America
Dir: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo (2014). USA. Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan. MTRCB PG.
Hot tip: Just like every other Marvel movie, we suggest you stay for the end credits because just like the first movie (Captain America: The First Avenger), the first Avenger movie (The Avengers) and Iron Man 3, this flick will be followed by a lot of other Marvel projects and will have a teaser in the end. Some of the future projects that the end credits (and the rest of the movie) could be hinting at are: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America 3 (2016), Thor 3 (no giveaway dates so far) and another untitled Marvel movie to be revealed in 2017.
Based on: The Captain America comics featuring the Winter Soldier storyline written by Ed Brubaker.
Synopsis: After saving New York with the Avengers two years ago, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) finds himself struggling to adapt in the modern world. He comes back to S.H.I.E.L.D. along with fellow Avenger Black Widow to uncover a machination scheme and a new enemy called the Winter Soldier.
Watch out for: The rumored-untrue-but-very-much-happening Stan Lee cameo and that mysterious deleted scene from The Avengers.
Son of God
Dir: Christopher Spencer (2014). USA. Diogo Morgado, Greg Hicks, Adrian Schiller, Darwin Shaw. MTRCB PG.
Hot tip: This Lenten season, look back and reflect on the life of Christ through this movie from 20th Century Fox.
Based on: The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. No kidding.
Synopsis: If you haven’t heard about this story yet, you probably should check this really popular book called The Bible. Son of God revolves around the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, his life of mission, his passion at the cross and his resurrection after three days.
Watch out for: American movie-goers say the film was like a “mini-retreat” what with a fresh new take on Jesus’ death on the cross. It’s not “Mel Gibson” hardcore but a very soft but still affective presentation of the life of Christ. Oh and keep your ears out for one of the songs in the soundtrack titled “Mary, Did You Know?” which was actually sung by CeeLo Green!
Sabotage
Dir: David Ayer (2014). USA. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Joe Manganiello, Mireille Enos. MTRCB R-16.
Hot tip: While the film was packaged as an action thriller, like most Schwarzenegger films in the past, director David Ayer apparently wanted the film to be more of a mystery thriller. The original movie was rumored to have been three hours long.
Based on: Arnie’s infinity muscles (the kind that lasts forever, through all eternity, and never changes) and buttkicker swag… Just kidding! It’s based on cartel and the dangers of being a Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
Synopsis: An elite DEA task force led by John Wharton (Schwarzenegger) becomes a target for a huge drug cartel group after raiding a drug safe house.
Watch out for: The super cool chick action moves by the lovely Mireille Enos who plays Lizzy Murray, the only rose in the DEA task force. The role was supposed to be played by Rock of Ages star Malin Akerman but she had to drop out due to her pregnancy.
Photo: Diary ng Panget
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