N.W.A.Movie "Straight Outta Compton" Currently in Production

Something rap and hip-hop fans should look forward to is the upcoming biopic entitled "Straight Outta Compton" which follows the rise and fall of the gangsta rap group N.W.A., whose members include Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. The film has began filming just this August 2014, and is set for theatrical release on August 14, 2015. [hit the jump to continue]

Godzilla 2 set for June 2018 Release

If you didnt know already, yes, there is going to be a Godzilla 2. Now, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. has revealed that this sequel is set for a June 8, 2018 release date. Some of you might think that 2018 seems like a long time for a sequel, one of the reasons for it is that Gareth Edwards is still preoccupied with his Star Wars stand-alone movie due to hit theaters on December 16, 2016. Edwards is going to have his hands quite full for a while now. [click HERE to read MORE about Godzilla 2]
[click HERE to read MORE about Gareth Edwards' Star Wars spin-off]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel entitled "Leatherface" in development

Leatherface is back! this time, Millennium and Lionsgate films are planning for a Texas Chainsaw prequel movie that will be about about Leatherface’s teenage years. Seth M. Sherwood will be writing the film. Sherwood has several horror projects in development and was on the 2012 Blood List (a compendium of some of Hollywood’s most well-liked unproduced horror screenplays). The title of this prequel is going to be simply: "Leatherface" A director and a target release date has yet to be announced.
[check out the trailer of the original after the jump]

Lauren Bacall passes away at 89

Another sad tragedy in the cinema world has hit us this week. US film and stage actress Lauren Bacall has died at the age of 89. According to reports, she died after suffering a major stroke at home in New York last August 12, 2014.

She first emerged as a leading lady in the Humphrey Bogart film To Have and Have Not (1944) and continued on in the film noir genre, with appearances in Bogart movies The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948), as well as comedic roles in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) with Marilyn Monroe and Designing Woman (1957) with Gregory Peck. Bacall worked on Broadway in musicals, earning Tony Awards for Applause in 1970 and Woman of the Year in 1981. Her performance in the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination.
[hit the jump to continue]

Marvel Sets Its Sights to Bring The Inhumans to the Silver Screen

Marvel has dropped a bomb in revealing their new players in the cinematic universe; The Inhumans! Yes, Marvel is setting The Inhumans to be one of the newest Marvel movies set for their Phase 3. The phenomenal success of Guardians of the Galaxy proved that Marvel could branch out into the cosmic sci-fi aspects of their universe and succeed at the box office with flying colors. [hit the jump to continue]

Syowing this Week [August 13 to 19, 2014]

Kamera Obskura
The title “Kamera Obskura” is a Filipino spelling of the latin “Camera Obscura” which simply means “dark room”. The film’s concept adheres to formalist cinema, where the filmmaker’s thesis is to make a semblance of a vintage film seemingly produced sometime in the late 1920s to early 1930s in the Philippines. The thesis is to conjure up a film from a period that did not really exist in Philippine cinema’s historical cultural heritage as we know it, such as a pseudo-expressionist / experimental Filipino cinema of the silent film era. It is a film within a film. The narrative plays with the idea of a retro-futurist world where a prisoner locked away in a dark chamber for over two decades only sees the reality of the world outside through the small hole in his cell, which projects an image of the city on his wall, the phenomenon of the “camera obscura”. He later immerses back into society by slowly climbing up the different social classes represented by the levels of different floors in a mysterious building, were corruption, deceit, and betrayal seem to be at work at every level. The film KAMERA OBSKURA is a tribute to Filipino cinema heritage. Through the re-imagining of an era of cinema in the transition from the lost silent era, the filmmaker hopes to instill in the next generation the recognition of the value of passing on that heritage before it is totally lost.
Snap Impression: This movie definitely has a must-see stamp all over it; we have one of the best filmmakers in the Philippines coupled with such a unique concept. I will be watching this movie this week, and will be urging people to watch it as well.
SCREENING SKEDS:
FDCP Cinematheque = August 12 to 21, 2014
Tuesday to Friday = 3:30 PM & 5:30 PM
Saturday & Sunday = 1:30 PM & 3:30 PM
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Expendables 3
Barney Ross and his team, the Expendables, have an encounter with the ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks, who Ross thought was dead, and was actually a co-founding memeber of the Expendables. In the past, Ross was forced to kill Stonebanks after he became a ruthless arms trader, but Stonebanks survived and has now made it his mission to destroy the Expendables. Ross is going to great lengths to stop Stonebanks, and even employs a new Expendables team, only to realize that he will need the help of his own original Expendables team as well. This third installment of Stallone's action icons ensemble series is the subject of much controversy because copies of it had leaked over the internet and into pirate markets for almost a month now.
Snap Impression: Nevertheless, the Expendables concept is pure fun and simply a visual popcorn spectacle that is best appreciated in the big screen; so yes, for action lovers, this one is worth the peso.
SCREENING SKEDS:
Robinson's Movieworld Cinema 4 = 12:15 PM | 2:15 PM | 4:15 PM | 6:15 PM | 8:15 PM
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
This reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series is based on the comics and animation series of the same title. It is directed by Jonathan Liebesman and stars Megan Fox, Will Arnett, and William Fichtner. The basic premise focuses on four mutant turtles who were trained to be ninja warriors by their master who is also a mutated rat, as they battle crime, evil, and a ruthless evil ninja organization known as the Foot Clan.
Snap Impression: At least Michael Bay is only acting as producer, this movie could possibly be nothing but merely just a mindless fun movie to watch. I have no problem spending for this; but if you have not watched Guardians of the Galaxy, go check that out instead.
SCREENING SKEDS:
Robinson's Movieworld Cinema 1 = 11:55 AM | 2:00 PM | 4:05 PM | 6:10 PM | 8:15 PM
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What If (2013)
Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) who is scarred by his previous relationships meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) who quickly becomes his best friend. As the two get closer, they begin to wonder if the potential love is worth risking their friendship. This movie is originally titled "The F Word" which actually refers to "Friend Zone"
Snap Impression: It's an old love story formula but the movie seems to have a refreshingly smart and charming approach which does not seem too corny or needlesly flashy. If you're the kind who loves romantic films, this one seems like it's pretty much worth the peso.
SCREENING SKEDS:
Robinson's Movieworld Cinema 5 = 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 8:00 PM
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Sex Tape
Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) are a couple who try to reignite their sex life by making a sex tape. After Annie asks Jay to delete the tape, he ends up inadvertently synching the video to several iPads the couple had given away over time. After struggling to get it out of the cloud, they set out to get back all of the gifted iPads, leading to a series of awkward encounters and close calls.
Snap Impression: Although it may be an interesting and funny premise, the movie's is torn apart by the generally negative reviews it got when it was released in the US a month ago. I think this film's gonna be a waste of time.
SCREENING SKEDS:
Robinson's Movieworld Cinema 2 = 12:10 PM | 2:10 PM | 4:10 PM | 6:10 PM | 8:10 PM
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[hit the jump to continue to the movies on extended run, and the FDCP Cinematheque movies]

Legendary Actor Robin Williams died at 63

Legendary American actor Robin Williams, known for his unforgettable roles in movies such as Dead Poets Society, Good Morning Vietnam, Fisher King, Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, numerous many others, had died in an apparent suicide (suicide due to asphyxia). His publicist said he had been "battling severe depression". In the past he had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs. [hit the jump to continue]

"The Search for Weng Weng" Iloilo Screening a Vibrant Success

Last August 7, 2014 Thursday evening 7:00 PM The documentary The Search for Weng Weng from Australian filmmaker Andrew Leavold was shown at the FDCP Cinematheque. And it was one of the most enjoyable and successful screening events that was held at the Iloilo FDCP Cinematheque. [hit the jump to continue]

The Search for Weng Weng: A Tale of Exploits and Exploitation

Andrew Leavold’s documentary “The Search for Weng Weng” is not only this fascinating documentary about the onscreen exploits and off-screen exploitation of the legendary two-foot-nine-inch Filipino action star, but at the undertone of documentary, is an eye-opener that tells us a lot about Philippine cinema. At the surface of it is this fascinating story of an unusual human being named Ernesto De la Cruz who was born with some sort of size abnormality, his existence coated with influences of superstition and religion, and linking him to the likeness of the Santo Niño. And how his family’s poverty led him to be “adopted” and used by a wealthy couple who were film producers. [hit the jump to continue]

Universal Sets Its Sights on Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles

Anne Rice's vampire universe may be making a comeback to the silver screen, as Universal has acquired the rights to Anne Rice’s incredibly popular anthology of novels, The Vampire Chronicles. Imagine’s Brian Grazer will produce alongside Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The deal is for every single book in the series, including the upcoming Prince Lestat and even the ones that have already been made into a movie, such as Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned. [hit the jump to continue]

Syowing this Week [August 6 to 12, 2014]

The Search for Weng Weng
This film is an intriguing documentary from Australian filmmaker Andrew Leavold that chronicles the tale of Weng Weng, the 2'9" action star who graced Philippine cinema in the 70's. A must-see for true film fanatics, this movie will tell us whatever happened to this once great tiny actor. SCREENING SKED: FDCP Cinematheque = 7:00 PM
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Tekken: Kazuya's Revenge
Suffering from amnesia, a young man trying to discover his true identity is kidnapped by an underground crime organization and turned into a ruthless assassin. Reportedly, this movie is a prequel to the Tekken movie which came out 2009. But since its announcement in 2012, sources have both come back and forth on confirming it to be part of the Tekken movie or not (It was once titled as "Tekken: A Man Called X" then later changed to "Agent X"). This movie is set for release in other countries August 21, 2014.
Snap Impression: As B-Movie as the first movie, I wont waste a centavo for this one
SCREENING SKEDS:
Robinsons Movieworld Cinema 6 = 12:05 PM | 2:05 PM | 4:05 PM | 6:05 PM | 8:05 PM
SM Iloilo Cinema 6 = 1:30 PM | 4:00 PM
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Lucy
Lucy is a 25-year-old American woman living and studying in Taipei, Taiwan, who is tricked into working as a drug mule by her new boyfriend and the Korean mob. In a freak accident, a large quantity of a highly valuable synthetic drug was introduced into her system, which as a result unlocks the full potential of her mind. This film written and directed by Luc Besson (Leon: The Professional, The Fifth Element) stars Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman.
Snap Impression: Luc Besson has been one of my heroes, so I really wouldnt mind spending for this one.
SCREENING SKEDS:
Robinsons Movieworld Cinema 4 = 12:15 PM | 2:15 PM | 4:15 PM | 6:15 PM | 8:15 PM
SM Iloilo Cinema 3 = 1:30 PM | 4:00 PM | 6:30 PM | 9:00 PM
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Once A Princess
Erin Almeda came from a rich family who used her geeky classmate Leonard Jamieson and break up with him but she faced the trails when her family went to bankrupt. 7 years later Leonard reunited with Erin who is now married to Damian. Once a Princess stars Enchong Dee, JC de Vera, and Erich Gonzales, and is directed by Laurice Guillen.
Snap Impression: The stars on it are boring, and it's partially produced by Mother Lily, so I should not waste my time on it. But then it is directed by Laurice Guillen, which means, this could be good.
SCREENING SKEDS:
Robinsons Movieworld Cinema 2 = 12:45 PM | 3:10 PM | 5:35 PM | 8:00 PM
SM Iloilo Cinema 7 = 1:00 PM | 3:40 PM | 6:20 PM | 9:00 PM
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Savaged
A deaf woman named Zoe was abducted and brutally raped by several rednecks. Once they're finished they bury her and leave her for dead, only for an elderly Native American man to bring her back through a ritual. However the resurrection ceremony also brought back the ghost of an Apache warrior that was killed by an ancestor of one of the rednecks that raped Zoe and desires nothing more than to seek his own revenge by using Zoe's body to murder her rapists. This 2013 horror movie is quite underrated and was highly praised among horror critics. Since it's an old film, you can probably find a copy of it online.
Snap Impression: I'm sure it's a good movie worth the ticket, but you can get this on DVD and "other internet sources"
SCREENING SKEDS: SM Iloilo Cinema 1 = 6:20 PM | 9:00 PM
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Evil Within The Red House
A young woman who has just inherited a remote house in the woods invites her friends along for a vacation as she checks out the place. But their recreation is soon interrupted by torture, madness and murder. The Red House is written and directed by Gregory Avellone.
SCREENING SKEDS: SM Iloilo Cinema 6 = 6:30 PM | 9:00 PM
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The Bag Man
Jack is a tough guy with chronic bad luck but human touches. Dragna, a legendary crime boss, hires him to complete a simple but unusual task. But his task gets complicated when he crosses paths with a woman named Rivka. The Bag Man is directed by David Grovic and stars John Cusack, Crispin Glover, Dominic Purcell, and Robert De Niro.
Snap Impression: The stellar cast and the crime noir theme interests me, but all the negative reviews and the fact that this movie is already out on DVD makes me wanna just save my centavos and search for this on "other sources" instead.
SCREENING SKEDS: SM Iloilo Cinema 1 = 1:00 PM | 3:40 PM
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[hit the jump to continue to the movies on extended run, and the FDCP Cinematheque movies]

Sony planning a Female-Led Spider-man Spin-Off Movie

With the Sony's Spider-man franchise is in a state of defeat following the disappointing returns of Amazing Spider-man 2, Sony seems to be undergoing plans to improve things. But this week, news has come out that Sony is cooking up a Spider-man spin-off movie featuring a female lead title character. Could it be Black Cat? Silver Sable? or Spider-Girl? Or somebody we might not be familiar with? Hit the jump to continue...

Search for Weng Weng to be Screened in Iloilo August 7

To those who had remembered how it was with Philippine cinema in the 70's and early 80's, there was a 2-feet, 9-inch tall action star named Weng Weng, a fascinating actor that was so one-of-a-kind, that decades later his existence and his involvement with Philippine cinema would be a story that audiences across the globe would pay attention to. "The Search for Weng Weng" is an intriguing documentary from Australian filmmaker Andrew Leavold that chronicles Weng Weng's tale, and it will have a screening this Thursday August 7, 2014 at the FDCP Cinematheque. Director Andrew Leavold and Producer Daniel Palisa will be in attendance, and willl have a Q and A after the screening. [hit the jump to continue]

Guardians of the Galaxy Post-Credits Scene Explained

As a general staple in Marvel movies, there is always a post-credits stinger. And aside from the fact that a whole lot of critics gave the movie high praise, almost all of them agreed about one thing: that the post-credits stinger was disappointing, echoing the sentiment: THAT WAS IT? But let's get on to explain that post credit scene after the jump...

Dead Island up for a Film Adaptation

The video game DEAD ISLAND has long been the subject of a planned project up for a live action film adaptation, now the plans for this adaptation is moving forward. "Dead Island" is a role-playing survival game in which a highly infectious disease turns a resort full of people into zombies after which four immune survivors are tasked with tracking down supplies and finding a way to call for help. It's a hit game that sold over eight million units worldwide. [hit the jump to continue]