Thursday, June 30, 2016

Movie Review: "The Trust"


Not your typical heist movie, "The Trust" puts two corrupt cops in the center of a dark comedy where the bad guys wear badges. 

Elijah Wood is Sgt. Dave Waters, who works in Evidence Management, he despises his job and would rather go outside and smoke than process a crime scene properly. He plays with evidence as a suspect attempts to flee injuring one if his colleagues and Dave just laugh it off. 

Nicolas Cage is Lt. Jim Stone, Dave's friend and boss, we see him pitching a process improvement ideas only to be let down due to "lack of budget". The same superior who shuts down Jim's ideas asks him to save a truck for him which is up for auction to gift to his son-in-law. 

Through some clever detective work, the pair discover what could be the vault of a drugs indicate. 

The two corrupt cops work through their various resources (oftentimes illegal) to steal the contents of the vault for their own. 

Technically there are no real "bad guys" in the movie as Dave and Jim deal with their own inner demons and with each other. 

When a heist is made possible through crime and corruption by the very people sworn against it-who can you really trust? 

6.5 out of 10, "The Trust" is the kind of movie that leaves you wondering and thinking in the end; it can be fulfilling but it also be frustrating at the same time. 

Impressive visuals for a heist movie, of course we can only expect incredible acting from Wood and Cage and the deliver. Elijah Wood's huge blue eyes just pull in, his macro expressions on screen are something only he can do. 

The movie also features cameos from veteran comedian Jerry Lewis and model, singer/songwriter Sky Ferreira. 

If you're looking for a movie with a different feel and flavor then you should definitely check out "The Trust" - now showing in cinemas. 

The Trust is a Saban Films/Lionsgate release of a Highland Film Group presentation of a Hassell-Free presentation, showing in Philippine theaters starting June 29,2016, through Octoarts Films International.


Movie News: MARGOT ROBBIE PLAYS A TOUGHER JANE IN “THE LEGEND OF TARZAN”


Australian actress Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Focus”) emerged as a breakout star with her captivating onscreen presence and has quickly become one of the busiest actresses in the industry.

Now, she stars as a feisty Jane to Alexander Skarsgård’s “king of the jungle” in Warner Bros. Pictures' new action-adventure, “The Legend of Tarzan” (opening in Philippine cinemas June 30.)

Robbie appreciated the film’s more contemporary approach to the couple. “It’s set in the 1800s, but it has a very modern feel to it, with universal themes that are applicable no matter what day and age it is,” she says. “There is a fantastic adventure, but with a wonderful romance at its core. I liked that it’s not the origin story of Tarzan and Jane meeting in the jungle. Their relationship is more complex now.”



One crucial quality in the casting of both Skarsgård and Robbie was the chemistry between the two actors. “It was vital to immediately feel the love between John and Jane,” director David Yates affirms, “because they are separated not long after arriving in Africa. Although they are kept apart for a significant amount of time, you have to believe their bond is unbreakable.”

I think their romance is what gives you the emotional investment in the outcome of the story because, at the end of the day, you want them to be reunited,” Robbie relates. “I’m a sucker for a good love story, and the mere notion that Tarzan will go to the ends of the earth to get Jane back can make you a little giddy…especially when it’s Alexander Skarsgård,” she smiles. “He has a great presence and was so committed to his role, but beyond that, he’s just the nicest, nicest guy and a dream to work with.”

The feeling was mutual. “Margot is so lovely and has the most effervescent personality,” Skarsgård says. “It was so much fun working with her. She’s also a pretty tough Australian girl, and definitely tapped into that in creating Jane.”



The director points to Robbie’s innate strength as a reason he wanted her for the role. “Jane has to be feisty and passionate. She’s not a wilting flower waiting to be saved; she can kick some ass. Margot is not only an amazing actress, she has spunk and I love that about her. She made Jane a formidable, contemporary woman.”

Robbie makes it clear she would not have had it any other way, stating, “I’ve never wanted to play the damsel in distress, and Jane is anything but. David and I both agreed that she should be perceived as a very fiery and strong person, so I was excited about that. She is capable of fighting back, which also creates a terrific dynamic with Christoph Waltz’s character, who is the main villain. It’s more like mind games between them, which is interesting because while there are physical battles going on, you also have fighting on an intellectual field.”

Following “The Legend of Tarzan,” Robbie stars as Harley Quinn in the much-anticipated action adventure “Suicide Squad,” marking the first time the fan-favorite comic book villain will be seen on the big screen. Robbie joins an ensemble cast, also including Will Smith, Jared Leto and Joel Kinnaman, in the film, directed by David Ayer and opening on August 4 in the Philippines.




From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures comes the action adventure “The Legend of Tarzan,” starring Alexander Skarsgård as the legendary character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The film also stars Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou, with Oscar winner Jim Broadbent and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz.

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

“The Legend of Tarzan” is distributed in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.







Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Movie News: POTTERMORE UNVEILS NEW WRITING BY J.K. ROWLING ABOUT ILVERMORNY, NORTH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MAGIC


Calling all Potterheads! 

in the second instalment of Magic in North America, setting the stage for the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Pottermore.com users can now be sorted into Ilvermorny houses

28 June, 2016 – ‘Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,’ the second instalment in a collection of new original writing by J.K. Rowling entitled Magic in North America, will be published today exclusively on pottermore.com. ‘Ilvermorny’ (Ill-ver-morn-ee’) provides a vivid and captivating backstory of the great North American school of magic, founded in the 17th century.

The new writing, and the short video that accompanies it (https://youtu.be/4DCHPvGhRZg), provide a rich background for the upcoming Warner Bros. feature film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which will be released 17 November, 2016 (in the Philippines). The film, which marks J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting debut, is an all-new adventure starring Eddie Redmayne as magizoologist Newt Scamander who arrives in New York in 1926.

The work of fiction begins in Ireland where an orphaned young girl who is a descendant of Hogwarts co-founder Salazar Slytherin, escapes her evil aunt and sets sail on the Mayflower. Landing in Massachusetts with little more than the clothes on her back and a stolen wand, she ventures out on her own, wandering in the wilderness until she encounters several mysterious creatures and discovers she is not the only magical person in the New World. But she will also have to overcome great challenges and face new dangers on her way to establishing what will become the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the peak of Mount Greylock in Massachusetts.




In addition to publishing the second instalment of Magic in North America today, Pottermore announced that, for the first time ever, users of the website will be able to be sorted into one of the four houses of Ilvermorny. The Ilvermorny Sorting Ceremony consists of questions and answers written by J.K. Rowling. The answers to the questions determine into which Ilvermorny house users will be sorted. The houses are named after the following creatures, which have been described as follows in the writing:


  • Horned Serpent; a ‘great horned river serpent with a jewel set into its forehead’

  • Pukwudgie; ‘a short, grey-faced, large-eared creature’

  • Thunderbird; a creature that ‘can create storms as it flies’

  • Wampus; ‘a magical, panther-like creature that is fast, strong and almost impossible to kill’


In March, Pottermore published ‘History of Magic in North America,’ the first instalment of Magic in North America. The writing, which was posted over four consecutive days, took readers into the history of North American witches and wizards.


# # #


About Pottermore

Pottermore, the digital publishing, e-commerce, entertainment and news company from J.K. Rowling, is the global digital publisher of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. As the digital heart of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, pottermore.com is dedicated to unlocking the power of imagination. It offers news, features, and articles as well as new and previously unreleased writing by J.K. Rowling.


About J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling is the author of the bestselling Harry Potter series of seven books, published between 1997 and 2007, which have sold over 450 million copies worldwide, are distributed in more than 200 territories and translated into 79 languages, and have been turned into eight blockbuster films. 


She has written three companion volumes in aid of charity: Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in aid of Comic Relief; and The Tales of Beedle the Bard in aid of her children’s charity, Lumos.


In 2012, J.K. Rowling’s digital entertainment and e-commerce company Pottermore was launched, where fans can enjoy her new writing and immerse themselves deeper in the wizarding world.


Her first novel for adult readers, The Casual Vacancy, was published in September 2012 and adapted for TV by the BBC in 2015. Her crime novels, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, were published in 2013 (The Cuckoo’s Calling), 2014 (The Silkworm) and 2015 (Career of Evil), and are to be adapted for a major new television series for BBC One, produced by Brontë Film and Television.


J.K. Rowling’s 2008 Harvard commencement speech was published in 2015 as an illustrated book, Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination, and sold in aid of her charity Lumos and university–wide financial aid at Harvard.


In addition to making her screenwriting debut with the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K. Rowling is currently collaborating on a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, which will open in London’s West End in the summer of 2016. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne, based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany.


About Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an all-new adventure returning us to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) stars in the central role of wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates (the last four Harry Potter features).


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them also stars Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Ron Perlman, Carmen Ejogo, Jenn Murray, Faith Wood-Blagrove, and Colin Farrell.


The film marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, whose script was inspired by the Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by her character Newt Scamander.


The film reunites a number of people from the Harry Potter features, including producers David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram.


Opening November 17 in the Philippines, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.




Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Movie News: “INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE” INVADES BOX-OFFICE WITH P100 MILLION OPENING WEEKEND


Blockbuster filmmaker Roland Emmerich’s latest alien-invasion action epic “Independence Day: Resurgence” won the local (Phils.) box-office war when it opened with a whopping PhP 100 million nationwide on its opening weekend. “Independence Day: Resurgence” surpassed its blockbuster predecessor’s (“Independence Day”) feat by more than 200% for its opening weekend. 

"Independence Day: Resurgence” is currently in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D screens across the nation and has recorded outstanding gross receipts in the following top twenty (20) theaters.  Among the top 20 highest grossing cinemas include: SM MALL OF ASIA (4.4 million),; SM MEGAMALL (3.8M); SM NORTH EDSA (3.3M); TRINOMA (3.3M); GLORIETTA4 (2.3M); POWERPLANT (2.2 M); GATEWAY/ ALI MALL (1.97M);  GREENBELT 3 (1.95M); BONIFACIO HIGH STREET (1.64M); ALABANG TOWN CENTER (1.58M); SM CEBU (1.57M); SM CLARK (1.43M); SM AURA (1.42M); THEATREMALL (1.41M); UPTOWN (1.4M); SHANG CINEPLEX (1.33M); AYALA CEBU (1.32M); EASTWOOD (1.18M); SM SOUTHMALL (1.16M) and NEWPORT (1.13M). This covered the first five day period  June 22 -27.   

 Directed by Roland Emmerich and produced by Dean Devlin, “Independence Day: Resurgence” stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe and Angelababy. The film takes visual spectacle and human-alien war to new heights.  The aliens are back with a vengeance. “Independence Day: Resurgence,” represents director Roland Emmerich’s huge return to the genre that made him famous. The 1996 original shot into the public imagination with its vistas of destruction, its memorable characters and huge impact on both science fiction and disaster movies. With giant alien spaceships unleashing incredibly devastating power upon the world, it took brain, brawn and heroics to figure out a way to fight back.

Now, 20 years later, humanity has united to rebuild the world’s major cities, while salvaged alien technology has been utilized to work on solving many big problems such as climate change. But the lingering threat of the extra-terrestrials’ return still hangs over our heads and the Earth Space Defence programme has formed to be ready for when that day comes. Ominously, it appears that man’s greatest enemy is indeed back.

"Independence Day: Resurgence” is now on its second week in cinemas nationwide. The film is  a 20th Century Fox presentation distributed by Warner Bros. 

Movie News: Comic Book Style Poster for Suicide Squad Revealed!


Something to keep you going through the week! New Suicide Squad Posters! 

Fresh from last week’s epic reveal, Warner Bros. Pictures has unleashed a new batch of character posters for “Suicide Squad" all bearing a comic-book theme.

The wacky character one-sheets feature Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as Joker, Will Smith as Deadshot, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Jay Hernandez as Diablo, Karen Fukuhara as Katana, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, and Adam Beach as Slipknot.



From director David Ayer (“Fury”) comes “Suicide Squad.” It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?

Opening across the Philippines in 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters on August 4, “Suicide Squad” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.www.suicidesquad.net





















Monday, June 27, 2016

Movies + Music: Rihanna Teases "Sledgehammer" Single for Star Trek: Beyond


I loved the first Star Trek: Beyond trailer as it heavily featured The Beastie Boy's "Sabotage", even including it in the dialogue and I love that song. Will be happy to Karaoke to that song anytime! 

Now, my interest has definitely been teased with Rihanna announcing her contribution to the "Beyond" Original Soundtrack with her song "Sledgehammer" which will drop on Monday 8AM EST. That would be 8PM local time. Will definitely check this one out! 

Star Trek: Beyond is directed by Justin Lin (from "The Fast and the Furious" series), blue-eyed hottie Chris Pine, Zachary Quinyo, Zoe Saldana, new baddie Idris Elba, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, new comer Sofia Boutella, John Cho and the late Anton Yelchin. 

"Star Trek: Beyond" hits theaters on July 20 and is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures. 




Movie News: BIG REVEAL OF JESUS MARKS NEW “BEN-HUR” TRAILER


The new trailer of Paramount Pictures' new epic, action-adventure “Ben-Hur” is now online, and proudly showcases its Christ-centric tone. The trailer may be viewed at http://youtu.be/-OE46mqgXqo.

Written by Keith Clarke and John Ridley, “Ben-Hur” stars Jack Huston (HBO's “Boardwalk Empire”), Toby Kebbell (“The Prince of Persia”), Morgan Freeman, and also starring Rodrigo Santoro (“300”) as Jesus, Nazanin Boniadi (TV's “Homeland”), Ayelet Zurer (“Angels and Demons”), and Sofia Black D’Elia (“Project Almanac”).

“Ben-Hur” is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title and separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption



The film is based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ and also stars Rodrigo Santoro, Nazanin Boniadi, Ayelet Zurer, Pilou Asbaek, Sofia Black D’Elia and Morgan Freeman. Produced by Sean Daniel, p.g.a., Joni Levin, p.g.a. and Duncan Henderson, p.g.a.. Screenplay by Keith Clarke and John Ridley. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov.

Opening across the Philippines in August 17, “Ben-Hur” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.




Sunday, June 26, 2016

Movie News: TIM BURTON PRODUCES, JAMES BOBIN DIRECTS “ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS”


James Bobin (“The Muppets”) directs Disney's “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” bringing his own unique vision to the spectacular world Tim Burton created on screen with 2010's “Alice in Wonderland” which became a global blockbuster (to the tune of over $1-billion gross) and cultural sensation.

For years the producers of “Alice in Wonderland” talked of a second film. Explains producer Suzanne Todd, “We had discussions about what would be interesting thematically and what we wanted the story to convey, but we just weren’t there yet.”

Screenwriter Linda Woolverton (“Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King”) had been working on a follow-up to her “Alice in Wonderland” screenplay, and soon delivered a clever script which continued the adventures of Lewis Carroll’s vibrant characters and infused them with imagination and heart. Todd shares, “Linda had written a new story told through the prism of the book about the characters and what had happened since we last saw them, as well as what happened to them in the past, and everyone loved it.”



A long-time fan of Carroll’s work, Johnny Depp was pleased to see how respectful Woolverton was of the material. “Editing Lewis Carroll is close to impossible,” says Depp. “You have to come at it with another angle but still keep it focused on the source, which Linda did brilliantly.”

Tim Burton also returns to “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” this time as a producer. He explains, “As a producer you’re there to support the director in whatever way you can, but you are still just as passionate about the project.”

“I really liked James Bobin from the moment we met,” continues Burton. “He’s smart, enthusiastic and full of energy and he had a clear vision as to where he wanted to go with the story and characters, which was nice, as we needed a director who could keep the film similar in look and tone, but who could also approach the story from a different perspective, and that’s a tough balance to get right.”

Bobin has always been intrigued by the concept of time and changing the past, as well as all the questions it posed, which happened to fit perfectly within the framework of Woolverton’s story. The screenwriter soon turned in a new draft with Time as an actual character. “The passage of time is something Alice has always regarded as a bad thing, because time took her father from her at a very early age,” says Bobin. “What she learns in this story is that time isn’t her enemy but is something that can be appreciated.”



Disney's “Alice Through the Looking Glass” is an all-new spectacular adventure featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories which stars Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Rhys Ifans, with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. In the film, Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter.

Presented in Digital 3D™, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, “Alice Through the Looking Glass” opens across the Philippines on July 06, 2016.

“Alice Through the Looking Glass” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures. Like us on Facebook, WaltDisneyStudiosPH; follow us on Twitter, @disney_phil; follow us on Instagram, @disney.ph and use the hashtag #ThroughTheLookingGlassPH.




Movie News: ALEXANDER SKARSGARD, THE WILD ONE IN “LEGEND OF TARZAN”


Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård maintains a fearless pursuit of challenging roles, evolving with each new project, and is fast becoming one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors for both the big and small screen. He headlines his biggest studio film yet with Warner Bros. Pictures' new action-adventure, “The Legend of Tarzan” (opening in Philippine cinemas on Thursday, June 30.)

Skarsgard plays John Clayton III, fifth Earl of Greystoke, and a member of England's House of Lords. But half a world away, and what seems like a lifetime ago, he had gone by another name…a name that has since become legend. Tarzan.



I was really blown away by the script,” Skarsgård explains. “It has all the thrills you’d want, but it also has three-dimensional characters and relationships that are beautifully drawn. I love movies that are big and fun, but where you’re also invested in the people and care about what happens to them.”

In this all new adventure, Tarzan is confronted with a formidable enemy who threatens to destroy everything—and everyone—he loves. But after spending years among the British gentry, he also faces grave danger from old adversaries who have been awaiting his return to Africa.

As the film opens, director David Yates offers, “John is invited by Belgium’s King Leopold to return to the Congo, ostensibly to see all the good and charitable works the King has undertaken, though this seemingly grand gesture is a ruse and, effectively, a trap. He is, in fact, being lured back by the King’s treacherous envoy, Leon Rom, who intends to capture Tarzan and deliver him to an old enemy in exchange for a fortune in diamonds.”



Skarsgård says, “John grew up among the apes, but he has been away from that world for almost a decade, so he is quite hesitant to go back. He has some enemies back in the Congo; there’s definitely a dark history there. And I think, more interestingly, he’s afraid of the man he was, so going back is quite scary for him.”

Yates says there were several reasons he knew Skarsgård was the right actor for the film’s central role. “He had everything, beginning with the fact that he’s a really gifted actor. Of course, he had the size and could portray Tarzan’s heroic attributes, but he was also able to dig deep to convey his fragility and vulnerability. That combination made him perfect, because our Tarzan is actually quite a layered, complicated human being. Alex could deliver it all.”

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures comes the action adventure “The Legend of Tarzan,” starring Alexander Skarsgård as the legendary character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The film also stars Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou, with Oscar winner Jim Broadbent and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz.


It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

David Yates (the final four “Harry Potter” films, upcoming “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) directed “The Legend of Tarzan” from a screenplay by Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer, story by Brewer and Cozad based on the Tarzan stories created by Burroughs.

Slated for release across the Philippines on Thursday, June 30, “The Legend of Tarzan” is distributed in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.



Saturday, June 25, 2016

Movie News: SM Cinema joins GMovies roster of theater partners



Yehey! SM Cinema is now part of the roster of theater partners of GMovies! I've used GMovies before and I know the convenience of just going through the app to buy your tickets in advance, 

Was also featured as a member of their week way back in 2014! You can read on that here

SM Cinema, the country’s largest chain of movie houses, has joined GMovies roster of theater partners, giving users of the mobile movie booking app a faster and easier way to buy tickets from any of over 300 SM theaters nationwide anytime at their convenience.

For the SM Cinema partnership, Globe Telecom’s mobile money solution GCash will initially be the exclusive payment gateway for GMovies users. GCash will be used in tandem with ePLUS, SM’s integrated e-wallet and loyalty system to give SM Cinema patrons another way to enjoy the movies.


At present, SM Cinema operates over 300 2D and 3D screens, 8 IMAX Theaters and 13 Director’s Club Cinemas for a total market share of over 50 percent.

“We are always looking for ways to provide the best experience for our customers, thus, it is a big win for GMovies to have SM Cinema on board since it gives our users from all over the Philippines more options to choose from.  With SM Cinema as a partner, GMovies now covers 77 percent of movie theaters nationwide,” said Glenn Estrella, Vice President of Globe Digital Ventures which offers GMovies.

“This is just the start of a more dynamic partnership with Globe and its services. Both our companies are committed to providing a more convenient and rewarding access to entertainment. ePLUS with SM Cinema and GMovies with GCash will work together towards building a cashless society,” said Sahara Jean Garnica, Assistant Vice President, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. managing ePLUS.


GMovies is an all-in-one solution for movie tickets on the go. It is the only platform in the Philippines that aggregates movie ticket booking capabilities for multiple cinema chains. The mobile app allows users not only to purchase movie tickets and reserve seats at their favorite cinema whenever they want and wherever they may be but also keeps them updated with the latest and upcoming blockbusters to hit the theaters. It can be downloaded for free from App Store and Google Play.   

To purchase seats from SM Cinema, simply select the movie schedule, branch, and preferred seat/s; select GCash as payment option; and input your GCash account information and confirm transaction. The user will receive an e-ticket via email which will also be saved in their phone gallery. For ease of access, patrons can just go straight to the cinema and tap their e-ticket at the ePLUS reader. This is all made possible through the integration between GCash and ePlus. 

SM Cinema will go live in GMovies website and Android app beginning June 22. The iOS app will follow after two weeks. For more information about GMovies, please visit www.gmovies.ph.

Start enjoying blockbusters at SM Cinema via GMovies!




Friday, June 24, 2016

Movie News: Meet "Fantastic Beast's" Newt Scamander!


For its upcoming adventure “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Warner Bros. Pictures has just shared a new featurette titled “Newt Scamander: A New Hero for a New Era of Magic” which may be viewed at https://youtu.be/d_Z-lr_YUcE.



In this featurette, we learn more about Scamander and his personality. We also learn a bit about how the magical world operates in North America, specifically with regards to interactions between wizards and muggles (or as they’re called in America, “no-maj”).
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is an all-new adventure returning us to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling.
Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne stars in the central role of wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters.


“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident … were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” also stars Katherine Waterston (“Steve Jobs”) as Tina; Tony Award winner Dan Fogler (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”) as Jacob; Alison Sudol (“Transparent”) as Tina’s sister, Queenie; Ezra Miller (“Trainwreck”) as Credence; two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (“In America”) as Mary Lou; Oscar winner Jon Voight (TV’s “Ray Donovan”) as Henry Shaw, Sr.; Ron Perlman (the “Hellboy” films) as Gnarlack; Carmen Ejogo (“Selma”) as Seraphina; Jenn Murray (“Brooklyn”) as Chastity; young newcomer Faith Wood-Blagrove as Modesty; and Colin Farrell (“True Detective”) as Percival Graves.

The film marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, whose beloved “Harry Potter” books were adapted into the top-grossing film franchise of all time. Her script was inspired by the Hogwarts textbook “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” written by her character Newt Scamander.
Warner Bros. Pictures has slated “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” for a Philippine release in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX on November 17, 2016.

Movie News: Nicolas Cage And Elijah Wood Team Up for Action Packed Film "The Trust"

                                 

Academy-Award winner Nicholas Cage returns to the big screen with The Trust movie. He is joined by no less than Screen Actors Guild awardee Elijah Wood, and together, they form an explosive combination in this action-packed flick that tells the story of two disillusioned cops looking to make a heist of a lifetime.

Sgt. David Waters (Wood) and his boss Lt. Jim Stone (Cage) are both finding it hard to make ends meet. They discover hideout where a crime syndicate stashes their drug money, so they hatch a plan to steal the illegally-acquired cash. This results in humorous exchanges, car chases, and tense moments as they drill their way into infamy and fortune. They initially think of it as an easy hit, but complications set in along the way. Aside from a rather-half-baked plan, one of them suffers from a change of heart and this adds even more struggles into the mix of conflicts that the duo has to endure.   Cameos come courtesy of veteran comedian Jerry Lewis and in a pivotal role, model and singer/songwriter Sky Ferreira. 



Wood, who gives that innocent and ethereal vibe audiences enjoyed at the Lord of the Rings trilogy provides the perfectly poignant foil to the hardened realness of Cage, whose manic turn at Ghostrider comes to mind. The finely-written storyline by Ben Brewer and Adam Hirsch plays out with a penchant that stops just before becoming melodramatic, so the action sequences do not take a backseat in this thrilling ride.  

The Trust is a Saban Films/Lionsgate release of a Highland Film Group presentation of a Hassell-Free presentation, showing in Philippine theaters starting June 29,2016, through Octoarts Films International.







Movie News: SAMUEL L. JACKSON PLAYS REAL-LIFE UNSUNG HERO IN “LEGEND OF TARZAN”


Iconic actor Samuel L. Jackson stars in Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Legend of Tarzan” as George Washington Williams, a real-life but relatively unsung hero from 19th-century American history who becomes Tarzan’s unexpected ally in the film.

George Washington Williams was a man of so many talents and such bravery – to be this 14-year-old kid and go off to fight in the war between the States,” Jackson details. “And he went on to run for office, became a preacher, and did so many other things. So it was an opportunity to let people know that there was this man, historically, who actually went to the Congo and wrote a letter to King Leopold II about what he was doing to its population. Hopefully, people will see this movie and dig out their phones – or, as we used to say, ‘go to the library’ – and Google George Washington Williams and find out what actually transpired in the Congo.”



Of course, the real Williams didn’t race through the Congolese jungle with Tarzan, but Jackson says it “makes for a fun relationship” between the mismatched pair, and is part of the story’s subtle nod to the dark period in Africa’s history in which it’s set. “We’re obviously telling a fictional story,” Jackson observes, “but I love the reality of what’s going on inside of it, and [director] David Yates deals with those elements in a very real and positive way.”

Relaxed and easy to laugh, Jackson is clearly having a blast on the project, and admits that his childhood affinity for the Tarzan legend might have something to do with it. “I’d swing on ropes in my neighborhood and everywhere else, pretending and playing Tarzan.”

On his working relationship with Alexander Skarsgård and creating the camaraderie that develops between their characters, Jackson shares, “It’s a fun relationship. Tarzan doesn’t want to like George, but once he realizes his tenacity and his commitment and loyalty, he begins to understand him a bit better. George is considerably older than everybody in the film, and Tarzan, Kwete [played by Osy Ikhile] and the other tribesmen, they run everywhere. So I decided that George would always be trying to keep up, saying, ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m right behind you.’ But by the time I show up, they’ve already made a plan and are getting ready to go somewhere else. I’d be like: [Mimes panting]. And they’d just look at me and take off running again [laughs]. But George keeps his determination up, and every time they think they’ve lost him, he shows up, so that kind of makes them look at him in another way.



But I met Alex as a little kid when I was doing `Deep Blue Sea’ with his dad [Stellan Skarsgård],” continues Jackson. “Alex would always be in Stellan’s dressing room playing on the computer. So when we saw each other again on this film, I was like, ‘Man, you grew up!’ It was kind of fun to see him become what he’s become.”

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures comes the action adventure “The Legend of Tarzan,” starring Alexander Skarsgård as the legendary character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The film also stars Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou, with Oscar winner Jim Broadbent and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz.

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

David Yates (the final four “Harry Potter” films, upcoming “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) directed “The Legend of Tarzan” from a screenplay by Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer, story by Brewer and Cozad based on the Tarzan stories created by Burroughs.

Slated for release across the Philippines on Thursday, June 30, “The Legend of Tarzan” is distributed in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.