Movie Review: Alice Through The Looking Glass

Disney breathes new life to Lewis Carrol's classic in "Alice Through The Looking Glass", produced by the visionary Tim Burton and Directed by "The Muppets's" James Bobin. 

Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) returns to Underland after some adventures of her own, to find her dear friend the 'Mad Hatter' (Johnny Depp) in need of her help as he succumbs to despair upon discovering the fate of his family. Yes, oddly enough the Mad Hatter hails from a family like you and me.

Alice is tasked to go back in time and save the hatter's family but in order to do so she must first "borrow" the 'chronosphere' from Time himself; played to the tee by Sacha Baron-Cohen. 

What follows is a lot of time traveling, a lot of jokes about Time and a surprisingly a big revelation behind the past of the irritable Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and the kind White Queen (Anne Hathaway). 

 

Book purists may have some issues with the liberties taken with the characters but it does have that theme of "madness" and an anything-goes kind of principle. 

7.5 out of 10. The film is a breath of fresh air with jaw dropping CGI effects that seem to jump right out of your dreams. The ambitious story explores the well loved characters and shows them in a relatable vulnerability. Aside from a time traveling adventure, the film also showcases important lessons, which both kids and adults will do well to remember. 

The film has a catchy song from P!nk herself. Check out "Just Like Fire" on Spotify. 

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.

Movies: Q&A WITH ANNE HATHAWAY FOR “ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS”

Anne Hathaway returns as Mirana, the mild-mannered, kind White Queen, and the beautiful younger sister to the spiteful Red Queen, in Disney's fantasy adventure “Alice Through the Looking Glass” in Philippine cinemas July 6^th.

In the film, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp).

Question: We get to see the backstory of the divide between the sister queens. Was it fun to go back in time and play that younger character with Helena Bonham-Carter (as the Red Queen)?

Anne Hathaway: It was fun to learn that she’s not perfect. I think she’s sort of lovely in the first one but a bit oppressively good so it’s nice to know that, like everyone, she’s got a past and she has regrets and she feels shame, she feels guilt and that you forgive her these things so I actually was really thrilled that we were trying to see what the emotions were about this character who looks so fantastical but then feels so believable.

Q: What kind of relationship did you have with Helena while filming? Did you discuss the scene together?

Anne: I think Helena is one of my favorite people on the planet. I think the world is better because she is on it. She’s so inventive and fresh, literally all the definitions of fresh. She’s got a wonderfully fresh mouth and she’s fearless and vulnerable and open and friendly and I admire her so much so it was really exciting for me to have more scenes with her this time around. Yes, I got to work with an incredible actor but also because I got to talk to her between scenes which I love. I think we had a really nice time crafting a sisterly relationship together and trying to find something that felt true to us and that people would understand.

Q: Can you talk a little bit about the wild costumes in the film?

Anne: I wore no trousers. I loved it, actually. I thought that Colleen Atwood’s costume probably created my character. I had certain ideas about who she was and as soon as I put on the dress, it was like “Oh, she’s there.” I also started to think about the relationship between her and Helena and I thought if you have a family member who has a very large personality, has a lot of emotions, you compensate by taking up less space. I thought here’s somebody who is literally turning herself into almost weightlessness and yet it is still so ornamented so I just thought it was very rich and very airy for my airhead character.

Q: What was your initiation to Lewis Carroll’s books and what do you appreciate more now that you’ve looked closer through these movies?

Anne: I first read “Alice in Wonderland” when I was 19 and in college so I think being nineteen and fairly dramatic I focused so much on how well Lewis Carroll described madness, just the idea that you see the world just a little bit off and I remember feeling very connected to that at that time. And, as you feel when you encounter people who champion that way of living, I felt a kinship and at home and was very pleased with it.

Q: You have been in some family-oriented films like “The Princess Diaries” films. Now that you are a young mom, do you think “This is something that my son can watch”?

Anne: You give me a lot of credit as a mom. When I was seventeen years old, I thought “My kids are gonna watch this someday.” I didn’t think about that when I did `The Princess Diaries' and I got questions about being a role model. It never occurred to me that actors should be role models for a multitude of reasons but, that’s not what I’m interested in so I don’t make films for that reason. If they happen to work out that way sure, I’m thrilled.

I’ve now been in a lot of films where you can have a date night in a theater with your family or you can sit down on the couch in sweat pants and become a human amoeba and just chill out together and feel warm and connected and I’m proud of that in my body of work are stories that allow families to experience them together. I can’t say that I’m going to continue to make them because I have a child now. I just will hopefully continue to make them because I respond to them and seek challenges as an actress.

Presented in Digital 3D™, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, “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 hashtags #AlicePH and #ThroughTheLookingGlassPH.

Movies + Music: WATCH P!NK'S “JUST LIKE FIRE” MUSIC VIDEO FOR “ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

Just like magic, P!nk’s music video for her hit new single “Just Like Fire” from Disney Studios’ “Alice Through The Looking Glass” may be viewed at http://youtu.be/5Nrv5teMc9Y.

You can also stream and/or download the song on Spotify! Just like I did! 

The video was directed by Dave Meyers and features special guest appearances by members of P!nk’s family!

Walt Disney Studios has partnered with three-time GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter P!nk on the studio’s upcoming release “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”

P!nk wrote and recorded “Just Like Fire,” an original song which will appear in the film and on the motion picture soundtrack from Walt Disney Records featuring four-time Academy Award® nominee Danny Elfman’s score. She has also recorded a cover version of the iconic song “White Rabbit” for the film’s marketing campaign.

“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 Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter. Directed by James Bobin, who brings his own unique vision to the spectacular world Tim Burton created on screen with “Alice in Wonderland,” the film is written by Linda Woolverton based on characters created by Lewis Carroll.

Presented in Digital 3D™, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, Disney’s “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. Follow the official social media accounts of Disney in the Philippines, namely, (FB) WaltDisneyStudiosPH, (Twitter) @disneystudiosph and (Instagram) @waltdisneystudiosph.

Movie News: NEW “JASON BOURNE” FEATURETTES HIGHLIGHT BEST FIGHTS, CHASES

Universal Pictures has just revealed two new featurettes showcasing the iconic fights and chases in the Bourne series, in preparation for the highly anticipated sequel, “Jason Bourne” opening across the Philippines July 27.

“Bourne never backs down,” says Matt Damon. “His knowledge of hand-to-hand combat and breathtaking improvisation has given us many iconic fights.”

Describing the car chases, Damon says “They are like no others. Hurtling through Moscow in taxis, tearing through Paris in a mini cooper, they're always pushing the boundaries of realism and spectacle.”

Watch the “The Best of Bourne – Fights” video at https://youtu.be/WJRMcy5M2rk and “The Best of Bourne – Chases” at https://youtu.be/3VDxIQP2VwI.

Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in “Jason Bourne.” Paul Greengrass, the director of “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum,” once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bourne franchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows.

For “Jason Bourne,” Damon is joined by Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel and Tommy Lee Jones, while Julia Stiles reprises her role in the series. Frank Marshall again produces alongside Jeffrey Weiner for Captivate Entertainment, and Greengrass, Damon, Gregory Goodman and Ben Smith also produce. Based on characters created by Robert Ludlum, the film is written by Greengrass and Christopher Rouse.

“Jason Bourne” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Movie News: VISIONARY FILMMAKER TIM BURTON TURNS BESTSELLING BOOK TO FILM – “MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN”

Highly acclaimed director Tim Burton brings Ransom Riggs’ bestselling young adult tome “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” to the big screen with the same title starring an ensemble of talented actors headed by Eva Green, Dame Judi Dench, Terence Stamp, Samuel L. Jackson,  Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell,  Finlay Macmillan and Lauren McCostie. 

With millions of copies sold and translated into 40 languages, “Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children” has spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list and was named one of "100 Young Adult Books to Read in a Lifetime" by Amazon.com. 

 The movie adaptation of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” sees Asa Butterfield, who plays Jake growing up in suburban Florida.  Listening to stories told by his much adored grandfather of his time in a magical home on a Welsh island and of the strange children with remarkable abilities, Jake believed that the stories came straight from his grandpa’s vivid imagination.  But then, a frightening chain of events leads him to believe that the home -– and the “peculiar” children who lived there protected by Miss Peregrine  – might indeed be real and he sets out to find it. 

 When he does, Jake is entranced by the eccentric band of youngsters who live there, trapped in a time loop living one day in 1940 over and over again. He also discovers that – just like his grandfather before him – he has a pivotal role in keeping them safe from the evil ‘hollowgasts’ who are hunting them.

 “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” will open September 28 in cinemas from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

 Trailer link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9uxHydNDEU

Movie News: WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS WELCOMES “WRECK-IT RALPH”BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN FOR A SMASHING SEQUEL

BURBANK, Calif. (June 30, 2016) – Wreck-It Ralph is heading back to the big screen, and this time, he’s wrecking the internet. The Oscar®-nominated Walt Disney Animation Studios team from the original film is reteaming for the follow-up, including director Rich Moore (“Zootopia,” “The Simpsons”) and producer Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Bolt”). Phil Johnston (writer, “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia,” “Cedar Rapids”) joins Moore as director and a writer on the project. John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman return as the bad-guy-turned-good, Ralph, and the girl with the game-winning glitch, Vanellope von Schweetz. The untitled sequel will hit theaters—literally—on March 9, 2018.

The filmmakers and Reilly made the announcement on Facebook Live today.

“From the moment we started working on the first ‘Wreck-It Ralph,’ we knew there were so many possibilities with these characters,” said Moore, who has been developing it since shortly after the release of the first film, and while directing this year’s critically-acclaimed hit “Zootopia” with Byron Howard. “This time, Ralph’s wrecking wreaks havoc on the Web—as only he can do. Characters we loved in the first film are back and we are ecstatic to be working with them—and the actors who voice them—once again.”

“The world of the internet is the perfect place to send Ralph and Vanellope,” said Johnston. “The scope and scale are so vast and the possibilities for comedy are endless.”

“Ralph is a character very near and dear to my heart,” added Reilly. “I'm really looking forward to playing the big lug again. Making the first ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ was one of the most special experiences I've ever had and I'm really looking forward to bringing him back to life. So many kids I've met all over the world are excited to see him again, too. They tell me all the time!”

When “Wreck-It Ralph” opened on Nov. 2, 2012, it turned in the highest opening weekend ever for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film at the time of release. Nominated for an Oscar® and Golden Globe® for best animated feature, “Wreck-It Ralph” won the PGA Award for outstanding producer of an animated theatrical motion picture as well as five Annie Awards, including best animated feature, director, cast and screenplay. The film was named best animated feature by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, earned outstanding achievement in casting for an animated feature by the Casting Society of America, and won the Kids’ Choice Award for favorite animated movie.

DISNEY CROSSY ROAD WRECKED

At 12 p.m. PT today, Disney’s hit mobile game, Disney Crossy Road, will be wrecked by Ralph in celebration of the announcement. As fans play through the 12 different Disney and Pixar worlds of Disney Crossy Road, Ralph may appear and ‘wreck’ part of their gameplay.

“Wreck-It Ralph has been one of the most popular worlds to play in Disney Crossy Road, so it made perfect sense to celebrate Ralph’s return by letting him go outside his world and ‘wreck’ other parts of the game,” said Chris Heatherly, SVP & GM, Disney Apps and Games. “We are big fans of the first film, as are our players, and can’t wait to see how the next chapter unfolds.”

Movie News: Here's What We Know About Ma' Rosa

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You've probably already heard that Ma' Rosa earned the Philippines’ first acting award from the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Ms. Jaclyn Jose plays the titular role of Ma’ Rosa

Here's what we know so far: 

Director: Brillante Ma. Mendoza

Creative Consultant: Armando Lao

Screenwriter: Troy Espiritu

Director of Photography: Odyssey Flores

Musical Director: Maria Teresa Barrozo

Stars: Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz, Andi Eigenmann, Felix Roco, Jomari Angeles, Inna Tuason, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Baron Geisler, Mon Confiado, Neil Ryan Sese, Mark Dionisio, John Paul Duray, Vince Rillon, Mercedes Cabral, AllanPaule, Maria Isabel Lopez, Aaron Rivera, Ruby Ruiz, Kristoffer King, Timothy Mabalot, Luis Ruiz

 

Genre: Drama, Action

Synopsis 1:

ROSA owns a small community convenience store connected to their home in the slums of Metropolitan Manila. Together with her husband, NESTOR, they use their convenient store as cover-up for selling illegal narcotic, Methamphetamines. Their fate changes when their neighbor sets them up for a police raid leading to the couple’s arrest; a ploy for extortion. Backed against the wall, Rosa seeks help from her children, JACKSON, RAQUEL and KERWIN as they do the daunting task to buy their parent’s freedom.

 

Synopsis 2:

ROSA owns a small community convenient store connected to their home in the slums of Metropolitan Manila. Together with her husband, NESTOR, they use their convenient store as cover-up for selling illegal narcotic, Methamphetamines. their fate changes one Saturday night when their neighbor BONG-BONG, who works as a fly-by-night parking attendant, begs her to sell him a small pack of Methamphetamine without knowing that it’s a ploy for a pending buy-bust operation leading to Rosa and Nestor’s warrantless arrest by a police team led by Sergeant CASTOR.

 

The policemen command Rosa to rat-out their source of illegal narcotics as trade-off to their freedom. Hesitant, she has no choice but to call JOMAR, and cooperate with the policemen. But despite latter’s arrest, the policemen inform Rosa and Nestor that they still need to pay 50,000 pesos for their freedom. Backed against the wall, Rosa seeks help from her children, JACKSON, RAQUEL and KERWIN as they do the unthinkable. Jackson sells all their appliances while Raquel painstakingly borrows money from their poor relatives. On the other hand, Kerwin sells his body to his gay benefactor – all of these just to buy the freedom of their parents.

 

Running Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes

 

Released by: Centerstage Productions thru Solar Pictures

 

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marosafilm/

Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/marosa2016

Official Hashtags: #MaRosa

 

Link to view TRAILER on YouTube: http://bit.ly/MaRosaTrailer

The film will be released in local cinemas on July 6!