Harold Ramis Passes Away at Age 69

Director, writer, and actor Harold Ramis, best known for his role as Egon Spengler in the Ghostbuster movies, has died at the age of 69.  In the landscape of film comedies, Ramis will be remembered as one of the giants.  He was the first head writer on Second City Television (SCTV) and then went on to pen classic films Animal House and Ghostbusters.  He also wrote and directed the equally beloved Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Groundhog Day (in a world where the Oscars make sense, he won an award for Best Original Screenplay for Groundhog Day).  As an actor, he’ll probably be best remembered as the deadpan Dr. Egon Spengler.  But these are just some of the snapshots of a career that touched many lives and inspired some of today’s biggest comedy directors including Judd Apatow, Jay Roach, and Peter Farrelly.  There’s no way to undersell Ramis’ overall importance to the history of mainstream American comedies. [hit the jump to continue]

Fantastic Four Cast Revealed

As many of you already know, the film series reboot for Fox's Marvel Superhero team The FANTASTIC FOUR is currently actively being developed, with Josh Trank (Chronicle) set to direct. Fox is currently finalizing their casting for the main characters of the movie. Up for the role of Mr. Fantastic is Miles Teller (Project X, Rabbit Hole, The Spectacular Now), Invisible Girl will be played by Kate Mara (Brokeback Mountain, Shooter, The Open Road), The Human Torch will be played by Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle, Fruitvale Station), and The Thing will be played by Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, Jumper). Fantastic Four is scheduled for release on June 19, 2015. [hit the jump to continue on to our opinions]

Ilonggo Animated Movie "Pikyaw" to be screened at SM Cinema

The first all-Ilonggo full-length animated movie entitled "Pikyaw" will be shown this February 26 to 28, 2014 at the SM City Iloilo Cinema, 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Tickets are sold at P 99.00 only. Interested buyers may contact Sir Mahnnie: 0930 215 5659, Sir Darryl: 0939 939 0601, and Sir Fritz: 0939 462 4204. They are also available at the College of IT Education, University of Iloilo - PHINMA [hit the jump to continue]

Ilonggo Films Represent Iloilo at the 6th Cinema Rehiyon FIlm Festival

Iloilo gets represented at the 6th Cinema Rehiyon Film Festival which will be held at Cagayan De Oro this February 18 to 22, 2014.  The entries include four short films; "Luna"by Frances Lacuesta, "Kapawa: Mystery of Light"by Noel de Leon, and "The Wish"by Regie Gerianie, and the full-length movie "Salvi: Ang Pagpadayon" by TM Malones. Along with the filmmakers who will be in attendance, Elvert Bañares, who pioneered eKsperim(E)nto, the first independent film festival, and conceptualizer of the successful CineKasimanwa Film Festival will also represent Iloilo. [hit the jump to continue]

Zhang Yimou to helm The Parsifal Mosaic Adaptation

Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou who is known for Chinese epics like Hero and The House of Flying Daggers and the incredible opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympics is in talks to helm an adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s spy novel The Parsifal Mosaic for Universal Pictures.  Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are producing the film, which revolves around a U.S. intelligence agent who, after witnessing the death of his KGB double agent lover, later sees her alive in Rome.  He subsequently sets out to discover the truth behind the conspiracy, which involves a mole named Parsifal.  Ludlum, of course, is the author behind the popular Bourne Identity series of books, and David Self (Road to Perdition) penned the screenplay adaptation.

Roy Alvarez Passes Away

Another great Filipino actor has died. Roy Alvarez (whose real name was Leandro Delantar Alvarez) passed away Tuesday February 11, 2014, his death was caused by cardiac arrest. Alvarez was 63.

Roy Alvarez is one of the Philippines' greatest character actors, having appeared in various movies and television appearances spanning from the 70's till recently. Not only was he a great actor, he was also a director and scriptwriter for film, television and theater in the Philippines. He is also a lecturer and speaker on Consciousness Development, Inner and Outer Ecology, Healing Mother Earth and Zero Waste Management. He is also a supernatural enthusiast.

Alvarez has appeared in many prominent Filipino movies, such as "Rizal in Dapitan", "Cordora", "Working Girls", and the American TV Mini-Series "A Dangerous Life" alongside Gary Busey and Johnny Delgado. 

Salvi's TM Malones and DMC releases teaser poster for next project: "Bulan (The Moon People)"

Dark Media Creations (DMC) and director TM Malones, which gave you last year's post-apocalyptic Ilonggo movie "Salvi: Ang Pagpadayon" has revealed a teaser poster for their next project entitled "Bulan (The Moon People)" No details as of yet have been revealed about what the movie will be about. What we do know is that "Bulan (The Moon People) will be a fantasy/adventure movie. [hit the jump to continue]

Will Smith will NOT be on Independence Day 2

Roland Emmerich is certainly going to have to use the version of the Independence Day 2 script that doesn’t include Will Smith, because the star has reportedly decided not to appear in the Independence Day sequel.  The “Will He? Won’t He?” game has been played for a number of years now, and even though a new report states that Smith has decided against starring in the sequel, nothing has been officially confirmed. Until Now.

Independence Day 2 will indeed continue with or without Smith.  Emmerich and writing partner Dean Devlin turned two versions of their script over to screenwriter James Vanderbilt: one centering on Smith’s hero character Steven Hiller, and one without him entirely.  Apparently Smith hasn’t broken the final news to Emmerich just yet, but we’ll be sure to let you know when we hear more.

[check out our earlier report of the Independence Day sequel plans, CLICK HERE]

Tado Jimenez dies in bus accident

A tragic bus accident has claimed the life of comedian, media personality, social advocate and one of Rock-Ed's most iconic volunteers, Arvin “Tado” Jimenez. Tado was among the 14 people killed when a tourist bus fell into a ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province on Friday, February 7, 2014.

Jimenez previously posted on his Instagram account that he was going on a long trip to Bontoc town in Mountain province. A twitter post said that Tado went to Bontoc for the “40 Mountains Project.”

His nickname "Tado" comes from a Tagalog expletive he frequently blurts out. Tado is primarily known for the offbeat television program Strangebrew and the U92 radio program The BrewRATs!. [hit the jump to continue]

Paul Bettany is the Vision for Avengers 2

Paul Bettany has been cast to play the superhero character named Vision for the upcoming highly anticipated Marvel blockbuster sequel "The Avengers: Age of Ultron". Bettany has already been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since its inception with 2008’s Iron Man. The actor is the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S., Tony Stark’s personalized computer system. This pretty much makes sense because the character of Vision is that he is an android, artificial intelligence. In the comics, he was created by Ultron, and was initially a villain, until he was convinced by the Avengers to turn against Ultron, and then he later eventually became a member of the Avengers. But of course, the movie would not necessarily adapt each and every detail of the comics' origin story.

Many had previously speculated that Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson would fill this role following his death in the first Avengers, but that obviously didn’t come to pass as he’s alive and well on ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. [hit the jump to continue]

Movies Opening This Week [02-05-2014]

It's Wednesday once again; it's change-picture day for the general mainstream theaters; and on the list of opening this week are: The 2014 remake of "Robocop", the stellar-cast "American Hustle", "Haunter", "Geography Club", and "All Is Lost". On extended run is the Tagalog romantic comedy "Bride For Rent", the controversial "Snowpiercer", "The Right Kind Of Wrong" and "The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box". "The Lego Movie" is set to open tomorrow February 6, 2014 Thursday. Meanwhile, "Ano ang Kulay ng Nakalimutang Pangarap" opened at the FDCP Cinematheque yesterday, February 4, 2014 Tuesday, and will this week until Sunday. This looks to be such a week of movies worth checking out...
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Will Philip Seymour Hoffman's death affect The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 2?

As you all know, Philip Seymour Hoffman had tragically passed away.  In addition to leaving behind friends, family, and an astounding body of work, Hoffman was also in the middle of multiple projects.  His half-hour comedy series Happyish had just been ordered to series by Showtime, and he was filming on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.  According to sources close to the production, Hoffman had mostly completed his work as Plutarch Heavensbee on Mockingjay – Part 1, but still had seven days left to film on Mockingjay – Part 2.

We don’t know what scenes he had left to shoot, nor do we know the importance of those scenes to the picture.  In the book, Heavensbee is an important character, but he’s not a major one.  Whatever the case may be, the production has found a way to continue, and Mockingjay – Part 1 and Mockingjay – Part 2 will still meet their original release dates of November 21st and November 20, 2015, respectively.

Syowing this Week: Ano ang Kulay ng Nakalimutang Pangarap

SYOWING this week at the FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo, Jose Javier Reyes' "Ano ang Kulay ng Nakalimutang Pangarap" Screenings sked on TUESDAY - THURSDAY 3:30 and 5:30 PM, FRIDAY 1:30. 3:30 and 5:30 PM, SATURDAY and SUNDAY, 1:30 and 3:30 PM, entrance is 100 pesos only.

Concerned with themes of loyalty, old age, mortality and memories, the film traces the life of Teresa, a nanny who has dedicated sixty years of service to a middle class family at the expense of her own happiness and fulfillment. Though upon the death of the family patriarch, Teresa's fate is now up in the air as the family decides what sort of future is to come.

[check out the trailer after the jump]

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman found dead

Oscar-winning American actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has been found dead in New York. The 46-year-old was found in his Manhattan apartment. The New York police department says that he may have died from a suspected drugs overdose. Hoffman was always a fascinating screen presence.  In particular, the actor was Paul Thomas Anderson‘s greatest collaborator, from Hard Eight to Boogie Nights to Magnolia to Punch-Drunk Love to, most recently, The Master.  Hoffman recently took on a role in the Hunger Games series, which is currently filming the final chapter, Mockingjay – Part 2.  Hoffman was also set to star in the Showtime series Happyish.[hit the jump to continue]

Eisenberg is Lex Luthor, Irons is Alfred Pennyworth, in Untitled Batman vs Superman Movie

Warner Brothers has finally revealed who will play Lex Luthor in the upcoming untitled Batman vs Superman movie. The role goes to Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg. Oscar winner Jeremy Irons has also been added to the cast to play Bruce Wayne's trusted butler and companion Alfred Pennyworth. In addition, the release date for the movie has also been moved from July 2015 to May 2016.
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