Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Joker: Folie à Deux

The origin story of one of the deadliest criminals in the Batman universe continues in what was known to be the long-awaited sequel to the 2019 blockbuster movie.

Joker: Folie à Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux

Joaquin Phoenix returns to reprise the role of Joker in the next chapter of Joker's origin story, directed by Todd Phillips, who was responsible for the award-winning 2019 movie.

Set moments after the first film, as Arthur "Joker" Fleck, played by Phoenix, is institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes, he makes a fateful encounter with a mysterious woman, played by singer Lady Gaga, who will break his heart and, ultimately, break him out to freedom.

Gaga's performance as the mysterious woman in the sequel sparked speculations that this is the origin story of Harley Quinn, a femme fatale who is Joker's right-hander but it's extremely complicated to answer.

Despite complicating questions and answers overshadowing the sequel, it's still a credible artisan pick. It might be a worthy contender for next year's Oscars because it still delivers powerful emotions like the previous Joker movie. 

This sequel sure knows how to "face the music" spectacularly and this bigger and bolder sequel is one of the must-watch of the autumn movie season.

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Revolver (2024 film)

As one video game villain said, "Touch that wire and the C4 will blow up along with the old man!" 

Well, this movie is one of the most intense action thrillers to hit Korean cinemas during the summer season. The movie is called...REVOLVER and it's loaded with more than six bullets to kill anything that moves. Let's see why this movie is called "Revolver".

Revolver (2024 film)
Revolver (2024 film)

Starring Ji Chang Wook, Lim Ji Yeon, Kim Jun Han, Kim Jong Soo, Jung Man Sik, and Jeon Do Yeon, among others, this intense action suspense thriller centers Do Yeon in the role of a former police officer named Ha Soo Young, who was imprisoned after taking the fall for a crime. When she was freed, she had a new purpose.

I can’t recommend this movie enough. It’s a revolving tale of betrayal and redemption. This movie, like an ocelot, never lets its prey escape and hiding won’t help you. The characters and the storytelling are so much more than a revolver's power and its so-called muzzle velocity.

It's been a long time since the celebrities featured in this suspense thriller had a good fight in their past projects and as the revolver said, "You're pretty good." They were lucky because they really did live up to their legends but they're just getting warmed up.

The twists and turns kept moviegoers on the edge of their seats. This movie definitely lives up to its title, and this is recommended to anyone looking for an exciting night at the movies.

This is exactly why this movie is titled "Revolver".

DRAW!

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Fly Me to the Moon (2024 film)

Is it possible that NASA faked the moon landing? It's the question that's been on everyone's mind for decades. While some people believe it was real, others think it was an elaborate hoax. Now, in a new rom-com pseudo-historic recreation, we get to see what the story behind the story might have been. There's a lot more to the story than you might expect.

Fly Me to the Moon (2024 film)
Fly Me to the Moon (2024 film)

FLY ME TO THE MOON stars Scarlett Johansson as a marketing professional and Channing Tatum as a launch director who has to team up to stage a fake moon landing to save NASA’s historic Apollo 11 mission. It’s a rom-com with a pseudo-historic twist.

There's been a lot of debate about the moon landing. Was it real, or was it a hoax? Fly Me to the Moon doesn't offer any real answers, but it is a fun and lighthearted movie. 

The movie does a good job of showing the challenges and the drama that would have been involved in such an undertaking. There are some funny moments, too. Overall, it's an enjoyable movie that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Civil War (2024 film)

From the visionary mind of Alex Garland comes a thought-provoking master-class movie that paints a darker picture of America.

Civil War (2024 film)

Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Jesse Plemons, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Nick Offerman, Civil War, the magnum opus masterpiece by Alex Garland, who is responsible for movies such as 28 Days Later, EX MACHINA, and Annihilation, is set in a dystopian future America when government and rebel forces clash throughout the entire nation. As the civil war intensifies, a group of journalists are racing against time to reach the capitol.

Although purely fictional, Civil War is a warning sign to American society because of the political tensions the country is facing today. Politics aside, this masterpiece is more than just a "war movie" because its dark and powerful storytelling is peppered with drama and values this movie possesses. Such storytelling earned Civil War the right to be called an "artisan pick" and the whole world got its attention.

A dark portrayal of America amid political turmoil is worth checking out in cinemas as Civil War ultimately proves its point that it might happen when politics in America spiraled out of control.

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Argylle (2024 movie)

They say spy movies are always a good choice and in the mind of Matthew Vaughn, this newest spy thriller has it all; thrills, suspense, drama, and dark comic.

Argylle (2024 movie)

Matthew Vaughn's newest masterpiece, Argylle, is about Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, a spy novel author living her quiet life with her cat Alfie. What she didn't know was that her novels started to echo the operations of a real-world spy ring.

Joining alongside Howard is a powerhouse cast of celebrities such as The Witcher's Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, Kefas Brand, singer Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, WWE legend John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sofia Boutella.

With a sleek blend of action, drama, suspense, and dark comedy, Argylle is a spy movie that can't be hidden in plain sight. It's all about everything unraveling as the opportunity arises and when the tension builds, this movie is far out the juiciest until the very end.

Once you enjoyed watching this spy flick, there's no hiding the truth that this is one of the most interesting movies to watch in the first quarter of 2024. No secret's safe with this one.

Saturday, September 9, 2023

The Voltes V Legacy finale

Voltes V Legacy, the Philippine live-action drama adaptation of the classic Japanese anime series, Voltes V, brought a new perspective to a legendary story of good versus evil. It's about the Armstrong brothers; Steve, Big Bert, and Little John, as well as their human allies Mark Gordon and Jamie Robinson, who join forces as the Voltes team, protecting Earth from the Bozanian invaders while discovering who they really are.

Friday, August 25, 2023

Torchwood: Among Us 3

The final chapter of the Among Us saga of Torchwood has arrived and it finally unmasks the unknown threat lurking around the streets...but with a terrifying twist.

Torchwood: Among Us 3


The third and final chapter of Torchwood: Among Us is an edge-of-your-seat endgame to this intense thriller where the whole Torchwood team ends up being the hunted while uncovering the most terrifying puzzle with the whole world's on the wire.

The season finale features the final four missions to experience at the edge of your seats. From the forgotten social networking site out for revenge, influencers getting killed, a suspicious cryptocurrency used for purchasing black market weaponry, and the thrilling finale where dinnertime is the end of time itself.

Wow, the final missions sure have relevance in reality, huh? Social media and cryptocurrency are the main focus of this season's finale and because this is typical Torchwood suspense and thrills, no safe space is...well, safe from the gripping final moments of Among Us.

What a way to end the recent Torchwood season. Uncovering who is "among us" from start to finish made Among Us the most thrilling Torchwood saga yet and now that the whole collection is complete, expect more to come from the world of Torchwood.

The end is where will start for them.

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Oppenheimer

This is the first rated-R movie by Christopher Nolan. It's a suspense thriller based on real events. It's titled Oppenheimer and it features the untold story of The Manhattan Project, a secret experiment where America gave birth to the nuclear weapon.

Oppenheimer

Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer is a true-to-life untold story of The Manhattan Project and how a man named J. Robert Oppenheimer led America to the birth of the weapon of mass destruction in order to win World War II.

Shot at the combination of IMAX 65mm and 65mm large-format film photography including sections in IMAX black and white analog photography, this new kind of noir style gives the untold story of The Manhattan Project a darker feel as cinemagoers went to see the birth of a nuclear weapon that they won't find anything else in the history books and the effects really paid off to bring this suspense thriller to life. 

Combined with a powerhouse cast, gripping storytelling, and classic Christopher Nolan artisanship, Oppenheimer is another magnum opus Nolan curated since Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, Inception, and The Dark Knight trilogy. Because of its unique cinematography that delivers a noir feel to this thrilling biopic, it's a worthy artisan pick and a worthy contender to the Oscars.

The birth of the weapon that could destroy humanity...this is something you won't find anything else in the history books.

Friday, June 30, 2023

Torchwood: Among Us 2

The first part of the Among Us saga of Torchwood kept listeners guessing who's behind the recent mess that terrified not just Cardiff but also the world. As the answer continues to unfold, the second part of Torchwood: Among Us has arrived, courtesy of Big Finish Productions.

Torchwood: Among Us 2

The second part of Torchwood: Among Us welcomes back Gareth David Lloyd to the latest saga, reprising the fan-favorite role of Ianto Jones. The fan-favorite character making a comeback in this latest chapter of Torchwood is pure delight for fans of the Doctor Who spinoff. Still, something's not right because...it's "Among Us" after all. No one knows who's the faceless threat pulling the strings.

Anyway, the second part welcomes listeners to four new thrilling missions to experience at the edge of their seats. These missions include Orr visiting the conflict-torn Voloshnik, Yvonne Hartman's prison break, vandals crashing inside Torchwood, and the whistleblowers who knew about the Phlobos Scandal.

These four new missions really are the latest pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and they're worth a suspense thriller to experience from start to finish.

Be sure to catch up on Among Us with these two installments available now and brace yourselves for the finale coming soon.

Friday, May 12, 2023

Torchwood: Among Us 1

The Torchwood story continues in the newest saga part of "The Story Continues" collection from Big Finish Productions. After a cataclysmic thriller in the God Among Us saga, Torchwood returns as they're uncover a faceless threat lurking everywhere, even from within.

Torchwood: Among Us 1

The newest saga of Torchwood is titled "Among Us" and in the first chapter of this latest Torchwood adventure, the Torchwood agents are keeping themselves incognito following the events from God Among Us. As they're in the dark, unknown threats and conspiracies are emerging everywhere, even within Torchwood.

The first chapter of Among Us features four brand new missions to listen to. From secret neighbors, the struggles of Colin, Gwen and Rhys' new life in Iceland, to a terrifying headline that deserves a much bigger headline, it's a brave new start to a new Torchwood saga that deserves to be listen over and over again before the next chapter arrives soon.

If you're ready to return to Torchwood, the first chapter of this newest adventure is for you...if you dare.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

The historical ending of Maria Clara at Ibarra

Maria Clara at Ibarra is the story of a young girl named Klay who got sucked into the world of a legendary Jose Rizal masterpiece, Noli Me Tangere. Because her real first name came from one of its characters, which is of course, Maria Clara, she ended up moonlighting with Crisostomo Ibarra until the real Maria Clara arrived and Klay faces consequences during her stay in the world of Noli Me Tangere.

During her adventures, she befriended the story's other protagonists who are fighting against the Spaniards, especially Fidel, until the end of Noli Me Tangere causing Klay to face dire consequences. When El Filibusterismo came, the death of the real Maria Clara, the lamp plot foiled, and the death of Crisostomo Ibarra, Klay witnessed how the story ends and when she returned to her world, she had learned the most valuable lesson during her adventures in both Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

In the finale, years after Klay graduated from college, she's living her life as a medical doctor helping people until she fatefully encountered someone who looks like Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara...but there's no sign of Fidel.

Moments later, fate comes to Klay once more as she encountered a mysterious paper with an ominous message written on it, and then, out of nowhere, someone comes out from the portal. It was Fidel, out from the world of Noli Me Tangere and into Klay's world.


This is the end of Maria Clara at Ibarra, the hit drama that forever changed the history of the Philippines.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Magic Mike's Last Dance

Every ladies' favorite erotic dancer Mike Lane returns for his third (and possibly) final outing as the spotlight's on him, one last time, probably.

Magic Mike's Last Dance
Magic Mike's Last Dance

Starring Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek Pinault, Magic Mike's Last Dance is the third (and possibly) final chapter of the Magic Mike trilogy that will leave ladies salivating over hunks dancing to the last tune, one last time.

Set after XXL, Mike Lane (played by Tatum) is back on stage following a failed business deal that left him broke. Following a fateful encounter with a socialite (played by Salma Hayek Pinault), Mike goes to London for what is known to be his finale with the help of hot new dancers joining him.

True to the franchise, Mike and the dancing hunks deserved no words because they let their dancing do the talking and this latest chapter fits the bill perfectly. The storyline feels more like a downfall for the main character despite his best performance in the previous two movies but as the saying goes; "start at the bottom, rise to the top." The movie starts with Mike dropping from the bottom and dancing his way back to the top of the game. That's progress translated to dance moves.

It's sad that this movie is called "Magic Mike's Last Dance" because it's probably the last chapter of Magic Mike. Ladies had fun watching Tatum and the hunks dance and they don't want to end it. Still, for a movie that saved its last dance for the world, Magic Mike's Last Dance did it right, spectacularly.

Let's dance, one last time. Honest.

Friday, February 10, 2023

The Super Finale of Mars Ravelo's Darna

The 2022 TV series adaptation of Mars Ravelo's comic superheroine Darna showcased Jane De Leon's heroic performance as the legendary superhero Darna. Over the course of this series, Darna fought ferociously against a rogue gallery of supervillains and saves the world.

In the finale, Darna goes all-out to save the world from the wrath of Borgo and the supervillains loyal to the greatest fear of all. As the whole neighborhood and the other supervillains Darna fought in the past team up to defeat Borgo's minions, Darna uses all of her powers to defeat Borgo once and for all.

With the others successfully defeating Borgo's minions, Darna successfully vanquished Borgo but Borgo unleashed his last resort; a doomsday weapon destined to wipe out humanity. Racing against time, Darna does the inevitable; she's using all of her powers to destroy the weapon and save the world. She destroyed it, came back alive, and ultimately saved the world.

Moments after the final battle, the Extras are reverting back to their normal selves thanks to Rolando's experiment. Back home, Claudio atoned for his sins and bid them farewell. After the flight, Ding gave Narda something; a parting gift from Brian.

After Narda received Brian's parting gift from Ding, Narda bids farewell to Luna as she's returning back to the planet of Marte with the high rulers, who later thanked Darna for her heroic efforts and allowed her to keep the stone of Marte when needed.

The series ended with Narda visiting Valentina for some words. As she left, Valentina broke free to unleash havoc some more.


This is the end of the 2022 TV series adaptation of Mars Ravelo's Darna, but Darna's legacy continues...

Saturday, August 13, 2022

The National Ending of FPJ's Ang Probinsyano

For almost seven years, spanning three administrations, over a thousand episodes, and not to mention the endurance this show faced amid the pandemic and the ABS-CBN shutdown, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano became a milestone in the history of Philippine television as it shot down Pinoy TV legends such as Valiente to become the longest-running TV drama in Philippine television.

From the prologue that depicts the tale of a policeman named Ador De Leon, who got killed in the line of duty, to the real beginning of the story that centers on Ricardo Dalisay, a province man who was sent by the government to fulfill his slain brother's duty, only to become a never-ending fight against crime and terrorism that plagued the Philippines, this TV series made the character played by Coco Martin been through several life-or-death situations in the never-ending war on terror.

Policeman, prisoner, fugitive, rebel, vigilante, soldier, hero, patriot. These daring situations made Cardo the patriot he became and in the National Ending of the hit TV series, this is Probinsyano at its dramatic peak.

Following the death of several members of Task Force Agila as well as Renato Hipolito's hitmen, the remaining members of the team, including him, President Oscar Hidalgo, and General Diana Olegario are forced to retreat while swarms of terrorists led by Renato Hipolito are on the offense.

Outnumbered, General Olegario told Cardo to escort the President to safety while she and the other Agila members sealed their fates by the terrorists. As Cardo and the President split, the former single-handedly killed terrorists until he got critically injured by Hipolito and his men. By surprise, the President killed Hipolito and his men while reinforcements arrived to mop up the rest.

After the decisive battle, the President delivered his message to the fallen soldiers while Cardo's in the hospital, alive and well. Being the last member of Task Force Agila to survive the final battle, there's more heartbreak as his relatives appeared to tell him that his grandmother Flora (played by the late Susan Roces) died.

After mourning the loss of Lola Flora, Cardo was summoned by President Hidalgo to receive the medal of honor from him. When the President asked him to reform Task Force Agila, Cardo refused as he told the President that he should be going back to the province for his new beginnings but thanked the President for the help.

As Cardo and his relatives are back in the province for their new beginnings, President Hidalgo and Rowela got married. The series ends with Cardo fatefully reunited with Mara, played by Julia Montes.

Ang Probinsyano ending

Almost seven years of combatting terrorism and avenging his friends and families led to this. The national ending the whole Philippines witnessed and it's about freaking time the longest-running TV drama in Philippine history came to an end.

It's a good thing Filipinos worldwide found some relevance in this show and looks like they're living in a post-Probinsyano life with some showing some stages of post-Probinsyano grief as some would say.

Although the series has ended, the legacy lives on as FPJ's Ang Probinsyano has cemented its mark on the history of Philippine TV. Despite the ongoing pandemic and the ABS-CBN shutdown, it's proof that nothing can stop Ang Probinsyano until the very end. It may be a work of fiction but this show will serve as an inspiration for all Filipinos who want to be just like Cardo Dalisay, the patriot.

Thank you, FPJ's ANG PROBINSYANO!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!


Sunday, July 31, 2022

Gekijouban Aikatsu Planet! no Ongaku!!

The movie adaptation of the hit TV series, Aikatsu Planet!, picks up moments after the series finale. In this movie, Mao Otoha and the gang are staging an Aikatsu Planet festival on the school campus; meaning there will be more fun and games for the girls as they're getting through all sorts of misfits in the name of all things Aikatsu.

Gekijouban Aikatsu Planet! no Ongaku!!

In honor of the movie's release, the original soundtrack from the Aikatsu Planet movie has arrived and it features songs and BGMs as heard from the movie.

In addition to the BGMs heard in the movie, this soundtrack features full-sized versions of new songs as heard in the movie, performed by our favorite STARRY PLANET girls. A fitting closure for those who have witnessed the movie from start to finish.

It's their way of saying thanks for watching the Aikatsu Planet movie.

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Elvis (movie)

Elvis Presley is one of the world's most famous singers and an icon of music and pop culture. Textbook history only tells us who is Elvis Presley but there's something we don't know about The King of Rock & Roll as this biopic explains the untold story of one of the greatest performers of the 20th century.

Elvis (movie)
Elvis (movie)

Starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, Elvis is a powerful and thought-provoking biopic movie curated by Baz Luhrmann. It showcases the untold story of one of the world's greatest entertainers and how he catapulted himself to superstar status against all odds.

This biopic showcased the world the Elvis Presley which can't be found in the entertainment history books and from the start to the end of this film, there's no denying that this true-to-life story delivered a no-nonsense magnum opus that gets almost all of the attention it truly needs. 

If this biopic generated enough heat, it will be Oscar-bound because of its no-nonsense screenplay, drama, music, storytelling, and scriptwriting the producers worked so hard to create the biopic that all generations should watch. Such levels of hard work deserve massive praise and this movie deserves it.

This biopic is one of the must-watch films of the summer season and those who want to learn more about the life and times of Elvis Presley should look no further than this film.

Saturday, December 11, 2021

West Side Story (2021 film)

The legendary musical was reborn under the hands of the legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg as the new take on the famed West Side Story brings the new generation of moviegoers the legendary tale of forbidden love in the middle of a gang war, something to burn in their memories due to its topical themes moviegoers will learn from it.

West Side Story (2021 film)

Featuring an eclectic cast of musical stars Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana De Bose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Josh Andres Rivera, Ana Isabelle, Corey Stoll, Brian d'Arcy James, and Rita Moreno, written by award-winning Tony Kushner, and directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, West Side Story brings moviegoers to 1957 New York City where a gang war between the Jets and the Sharks tore the city apart Amid the gang war, the tale of two lovers is born and their love is the only hope to unite everyone.

This is by no means the perfect masterpiece that is worthy to compete for next year's Academy Awards if this movie got nominated alongside heavyweights such as Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch. This new take on the legendary musical stayed true to its roots while delivering powerful undertones fit for a Steven Spielberg movie. From its storytelling to the soundtrack, the folks behind it have worked tirelessly to perfect this movie that will cater to even the most sophisticated sommeliers traveled worldwide in the search of high-quality movies like this.

With a premium feel of inclusivity, formality, and engagement, West Side Story struck the right chords through the hearts of moviegoers, and because of its potential to compete at the Oscars, it's a must-watch.

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Respect (2021 film)

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) is referred to as the Queen of Soul and one of the most influential female vocalists in the 1960's. You know about her but do you really know about the Queen of Soul? In this powerful biopic, the rise of Aretha Franklin is showcased.

Respect (2021 film)

Respect is a thought-provoking and powerful biopic movie that stars Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson as the self-proclaimed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. 

From her humble beginnings to her rise as one of the most influential female vocalists in the 19060's, everything we get to know about Aretha Franklin is in this movie and it's a definite must-watch if you're a history buff.

There are no such words to describe such a powerful depiction of one of the music legends because Respect truly is powerful and thought-provoking in every way, giving viewers a lasting impression of just how great Aretha Franklin is and such charisma this biopic movie possesses deserves a spot in the next Oscars.


Friday, July 23, 2021

Aikatsu Planet! Original Soundtrack: Aikatsu Planet! no Ongaku!!

Aired on TV Tokyo from January to June 2021, Aikatsu Planet is the fourth installment of Bandai Namco's Aikatsu franchise that breaks apart from the franchise traditions. The newest installment is a mix of live-action J-drama (tokusatsu, if you like to refer) and anime sequences and instead of cards, Aikatsu Planet uses the swing system where avatars use swings to tame mysterious creatures known as Dressias, possessing wonderful outfits to use on-stage battles. This series is about Mao Otoha, also known as Hana in Aikatsu Planet, and her goal is to become Aikatsu Planet's top idol, any way she can.

Aikatsu Planet! Original Soundtrack:
Aikatsu Planet! no Ongaku!!


As a way of saying thank you for watching Aikatsu Planet, the original soundtrack has arrived and it features the songs and scores from the 25-episode hybrid series. It's a two-disc soundtrack that features most of the BGMs heard from the TV series as well as TV-size versions of the theme songs including the STARRY PLANET version of Bloomy*スマイル.

It really is the final piece of the Aikatsu Planet music collection that deserves to be collected in order to complete it and with the Aikatsu Planet well and truly over, for now, what's next in the Aikatsu franchise? Only time will tell...

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Sweet Daytime

As Mao Otoha's Aikatsu Planet story continues, the second featured songs collection has arrived in case you are really catching up with this series.

Sweet Daytime

The second batch of songs as heard in the Aikatsu Planet TV series features two new songs such as またまたまたまたまた明日 (which comes with two different versions) and レディ・レディ・レディ by Shiori and Ann. Of course, like the previous batch, you can expect different versions of the Aikatsu Planet classics such as Mao and Ann's version of the series' anthem, HAPPY∞アイカツ!, and Mao and Ayumi's version of FLYING TIPS.

Enjoy this addition while you are busy catching up with this show!

Aikatsu Planet! airs on TV Tokyo every Sunday morning at 0700 JST.