Movies: “Thor: Ragnarok” Grosses P201.56-M, Biggest October Weekend Ever In PH

MANILA, October 30, 2017 – Like a champion gladiator, Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok conquered the Philippine box-office for the Oct. 25 – 29 period, raking in a thunderous P201.56-M for the No.1 spot and bragging rights as the Biggest October Opening Weekend Ever in PH history.

The latest Thor action-adventure also claimed the 4th Biggest Opening Weekend for 2017 (following Beauty and The Beast, Wonder Woman and Spiderman Homecoming), as well as the Biggest Opening Weekend for a solo Thor title.

In comparison with recent Marvel Studios blockbusters, Ragnarok’s weekend rollout is 35% higher than that of Guardians of the Galaxy Vo. 2, 43% more successful than Doctor Strange, and outplayed Captain America: The Winter Soldier by 30%.

Movies: "Thor: Ragnarok” Thunders With P38.56-M, Marvel's Biggest Opening Day For 2017

MANILA, October 26, 2017 – The God of Thunder’s exciting new adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: Ragnarok opened at No.1 yesterday nationwide, capturing the biggest opening day gross for a Marvel Studios title for 2017.

The Chris Hemsworth-led blockbuster posted an otherworldly P38.56-M opening gross (including Tuesday's sneaks) and now ranks fourth in the year's biggest openers (bested only by Beauty and the Beast, Wonder Woman and Fast & Furious 8).

The top-selling cinemas are (in descending order) SM Mall of Asia (P1.67-M), SM North EDSA (P1.59-M), SM Megamall (P1.25-M), Newport Cinemas (P1.07-M), Glorietta 4 (P886,362), Trinoma (P874,529), Greenbelt 3 (P724,343), Ayala Malls Cebu (P643,876), SM Aura (P600,699) and SM Cebu (P574,834).

Movies: Thor Enters Battle Arena In Official “Thor: Ragnarok” Teaser Trailer

Watch Thor go up against an old friend in the first official teaser trailer for Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok at http://youtu.be/v7MGUNV8MxU.

Directed by Taika Waititi from a script by Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost and Stephany Folsom and Eric Pearson, Thor: Ragnarok picks up after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

In Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).

If that isn’t enough, feast your eyes on the Asgardian god in his gladiatorial garb in a brand new poster below!

The film also stars Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.

Thor: Ragnarok hits Philippine theaters like a hammer on November 3, and is distributed by the Walt Disney Company (Philippines).

Movie Review: Kong: Skull Island

Bringing the "monster movie" genre to a whole new level, Kong: Skull Island allows viewers to see Kong in his natural habitat, the audiences get to see him for the King that he really is. So, nope-no climbing of skyscrapers in this one. 

Set right after the Vietnam war, Skull Island gets a funky 70's upgrade with the music, which I will talk about in length because I am a music geek. I loved how the film integrated a rather sturdy portable record player in the story which allowed for some awesome songs such as Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" and "Run Through The Jungle" by Credence Clearwater Revival, which are just some of my favorites from the soundtrack. I have a portable record player of my own, so seeing that in the movie was a personal treat for me. 

Another aspect of the film which made me happy was seeing the movie through photography with Brie Larson's Mason Weaver, a feisty "anti-war" photojournalist, of all the characters, she had the most 70's vibe about her, which I appreciated, though very subtle. It was nice to see the story told behind the lens which in my opinion added to the human side of the movie.    

While history, music and photography are just added bonus in the film, this is still of course a "Monster Movie" to its core and it was a monster movie of epic proportions, the jump scares were effective and I found myself screaming in my seat (more than once) and watching from behind from my fingers. I can say that it is my favorite monster movie to date. That final battle will leave you at the edge of your seat as Kong ensures his place in his kingdom and claims the title of "King". 

While the story is simple enough -get in uncharted island, find monsters, people run, people die, we need to escape-there are still some talking points in the characters, mostly in Samuel L. Jackson's Preston Packard who after feeling the shame of losing the Vietnam War is desperate to regain some kind of honor, even at the point of putting his men in danger, this desperation turns to an insatiable thirst for revenge in the movie, its funny what war does to a person.  

Speaking of characters, there were pretty thin, save for Jackson and Larson. Tom Hiddleston's saving grace was his tight blue shirt and that hero shot of him running through a cloud of poisonous gas while slashing through monster birds with a Japanese sword. 

John C. Reilly as a marooned survivor with his dry humor was a crowd favorite and the end credits dedicated to him was a nice touch. 

Since we are talking about post credits, make sure to stay after the credits as there is a post credits scene which teases at how the film sets up for the Monster Cinematic Universe. *wink* *wink* (Godzilla). 

8 out of 10. Kong: Skull Island is an enjoyable Monster Movie, one that I will surely see again. I recommend that you see it in cinemas though (IMAX) if possible for the full "monster experience". There are also some beautiful images in the film, such as Kong's silhouette against a raging orange sunset with helicopters flying in to take on the king and seeing that on the big screen is a must! 

MOVIES: MIDNIGHT PREVIEWS FOR “KONG: SKULL ISLAND” 12:01AM THURS MARCH 9 NATIONWIDE

Moviegoers in the Philippines get a rare chance to awaken the king of monsters earlier than anyone else in the world!  Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have scheduled midnight screenings of Kong: Skull Island on Thursday, March 9 at 12:01AM in participating cinemas across the country. 

 

Be the first one to watch the controversial post-credit scene that’s bound to be talked about right after.

 

Tickets to the previews will be at regular admission prices.  The public is advised to check with their favourite cinemas for exact details of screening hours and ticket rates.

MOVIES: TOM HIDDLESTON TAKES ON THE MONSTER KING IN “KONG: SKULL ISLAND”

One of today's most popular actors, Tom Hiddleston (Crimson Peak, Thor) stars in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' new action Kong: Skull Island as British SAS officer, Captain James Conrad.

In the film, a diverse team of explorers is brought together to venture deep into an uncharted island in the Pacific – as beautiful as it is treacherous – unaware that they’re crossing into the domain of the mythic Kong.

James Conrad is sent to Vietnam to teach jungle warfare and survival techniques to American troops, but as the war comes to an end, he becomes something of a lost and disillusioned soul. Recruited as a tracker for supposedly scientic expedition, Conrad’s raw courage, survival skills and understanding of nature could represent the exploration’s best shot at making it off the island alive.

MOVIES: “KONG: SKULL ISLAND” – A THRILLING NEW ADVENTURE ABOUT SCREEN'S GREATEST MONSTER

Larger than life. Last of his kind. King of Skull Island. First unleashed more than eight decades ago, King Kong has thundered off the big screen and into our world with a force that echoes through our collective consciousness still. Now the time has come to restore the crown of the greatest movie monster myth of all, with Warner Bros. Pictures' new action-adventure Kong: Skull Island.

A compelling, original adventure from director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Kong: Skull Island tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong.

Kong: Skull Island stars Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Oscar winner Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly. The international ensemble cast also includes Tian Jing, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, John Ortiz, Thomas Mann, Shea Whigham, Toby Kebbell and Eugene Cordero.

MOVIES: HERE'S THE CHARACTER GUIDE TO “KONG: SKULL ISLAND”

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have just released the official character guide for the epic monster spectacle Kong: Skull Island which reimagines the origin of the mythic Kong in a compelling, original adventure.

In the film, a diverse team of explorers is brought together to venture deep into an uncharted island in the Pacific – as beautiful as it is treacherous – unaware that they’re crossing into the domain of the mythic Kong.

Meet the film's key players below:

CAPTAIN JAMES CONRAD (Tom Hiddleston). A British SAS officer sent to Vietnam to teach jungle warfare and survival techniques to American troops, as the war comes to an end, Conrad becomes something of a lost and disillusioned soul. Recruited as a tracker by Bill Randa, Conrad’s raw courage, survival skills and understanding of nature could represent the expedition’s best shot at making it off the island alive.

LT. COL. PRESTON PACKARD (Samuel L. Jackson). The battle-hardened leader of the Sky Devils helicopter squadron, which is set to be decommissioned in the dark final days of the Vietnam War, Packard is struggling to turn his back on a war he cannot win. When his team is offered an assignment to lead the airborne survey of Skull Island, he seizes the opportunity for one last mission before rotating home with men who have become closer to him than family.

BILL RANDA (John Goodman). As a senior operative of the mysterious government organization Monarch, Randa muscles both his team and a military escort onto a Landsat survey expedition to Skull Island. But the myth he’s chasing and his secret obsession with discovering the truth behind it could endanger the lives of everyone onboard.



MASON WEAVER (Brie Larson). A street-smart investigative photojournalist and self-described “anti-war photographer,” Weaver has seen the monster of humanity at war. Her suspicions sparked, Weaver’s curiosity about the mission’s true purpose drives her to maneuver her way onboard as team photographer. But once they cross over onto Skull Island, she is plunged into the biggest story of her life – one that will confront all her journalistic instincts and ethics.

LT. HANK MARLOW (John C. Reilly). A one-time WWII fighter pilot who crash-landed on Skull Island, Marlow has spent the last 28 years as a castaway in this strange land, surviving with the help of the indigenous Iwi tribe. Though wildly eccentric, the knowledge of its terrain and inhabitants becomes critical to the team’s survival.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present a Legendary Pictures Production, “Kong: Skull Island.” The film will be released in the Philippines in 2D, 3D in select theatres, and IMAX beginning March 9, 2017, from Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Movies: “KONG: SKULL ISLAND” FIRST TRAILER TEASES THE MONSTER KING

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ “Kong: Skull Island” reimagines the origin of the mythic Kong in a compelling, original adventure from director Jordan Vogt-Roberts. Watch the film's first trailer here (unveiled during the recent San Diego Comic-Con) athttps://youtu.be/IvPB0Ycpq7Q.

In the film, a diverse team of explorers is brought together to venture deep into an uncharted island in the Pacific—as beautiful as it is treacherous—unaware that they’re crossing into the domain of the mythic Kong.

“Kong: Skull Island” stars Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Oscar winner Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly. The international ensemble cast also includes Tian Jing, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, John Ortiz, Thomas Mann, Shea Whigham, Toby Kebbell and Eugene Cordero.

Vogt-Roberts directs the film from a screenplay by Max Borenstein, John Gatins, Dan Gilroy and Derek Connolly. “Kong: Skull Island” is produced by Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni with Mary Parent. The executive producers are Eric McLeod and Alex Garcia.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present a Legendary Pictures Production, “Kong: Skull Island.” The film will be released worldwide in 2D, 3D in select theatres, and IMAX March 2017, from Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.