French Director, Olivier Assayas Retrospective (Free Film Screenings) at the CCP from June 28 - 30, 2012

Irma Vep Invades CCP!
A Retrospective of Films by the acclaimed French Director Olivier Assayas
Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theater)
June 28 - 30, 2012


Film Schedule:

June 28, 2012 (Thursday)
4:00 PM - Cold Water
7:00 PM - Irma Vep

June 29, 2012 (Friday)
4:00 PM - HHH A Portrait of Hou Hsiao-hsien
7:00 PM - Les Destinées sentimentales

June 30, 2012 (Saturday)
1:00 PM - Demonlover
4:00 PM - Clean
7:00 PM - Summer Hours


Download Film Synopses

Free admission!

Seating strictly on a first come-first serve basis.


About the Show:

"The Cultural Center of the Philippines in cooperation with the Ambassade de France aux Philippines presents Irma Vep Invades CCP!, a retrospective of films by the acclaimed French director Olivier Assayas, on June 28 - 30, 2012.

Son of Jacques Rémy, who was a screenwriter for Christian-Jaque and Henri Decoin, Olivier Assayas started out as a critic for Cahiers du cinéma. He was one of the first European cinephiles to cast his eye towards the new wave of Asian cinema – he produced a documentary on the Taiwanese master, Hou Hsiao Hsien. In China he met Maggie Cheung, who he would later marry and cast in Irma Vep, a bold variation on a classic serial by Feuillade, presented at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section in 1996.

Keen to put theory into practice, Olivier Assayas was soon receiving acclaim for his short films (notably Laissé inachevé à Tokyo in 1982) and his work as a screenwriter on Rendez-vous, directed in 1985 by André Techiné, another former writer on Cahiers. The following year he made his first feature film, Disorder, a portrait of turbulent youth in which his passion for rock music is already evident. Praised for his stylish mise en scène, Assayas excels in filming young actresses such as Judith Godrèche (Paris Awakens, 1991) and Virginie Ledoyen (Cold Water, 1994), in stories which blend emotional intrigue and intergenerational conflict. In 1998, the bittersweet Late August, Early September, starring Jeanne Balibar and Mathieu Amalric as the leading couple, seemed to bring a cycle to a close.

Olivier Assayas subsequently strived to broaden the horizons of French cinéma d'auteur in a series of ambitious, eclectic projects. Les destinées sentimentales, an epic starring Emmanuelle Béart and Charles Berling, screened at Cannes in 2000, was followed by high-tech thriller Demonlover, which unsettled the Cannes jury in 2002. He surprised many by venturing into melodrama in Clean in 2004. A moving portrait of a reforming addict who vows to regain custody of her son, it earned Maggie Cheung, now separated from the filmmaker, the Best Actress Award at Cannes. Assayas the experimentalist then set off for Hong Kong to film Asia Argento in a foray into B movies, Boarding Gate, before returning to France to film, as part of a series commissioned by the Musée d'Orsay, Summer Hours, a family saga starring Juliette Binoche (2008)." - CCP


For more information, please call:
CCP Film, Broadcast & New Media (63-2)832-1125, locals 1704 & 1705

Men In Black III (Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin) in Theatres on May 23, 2012

Men in Black 3

Audience
Rating: 3.8/5
Liked the Movie: 74% (n=389,519)

Critics
Rating: 3/5
Liked the Movie: 69% (n=206)


Reviews

"It isn't exactly a persuasive argument for the continuation of the franchise -- but Men in Black III is better than its predecessor and manages to exceed expectations, largely due to Josh Brolin's impressive performance." - rottentomatoes.com

"The movie represents at least a partial return to form--not as inventive as the first, but surely better than the recycled materials that made up the second." - Christopher Orr, The Atlantic

"It's better than the first one." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"It turns out to be reasonably entertaining, though not enough to make me crave Men in Black 4." - Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

"When even the most charismatic actor on the planet can't fake excitement, you know you're in trouble." - Christy Lemire, Associated Press

"This sequel is so lifeless and pointless that it moves beyond "unnecessary" into the realm of "unwanted" and "insulting." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"Look into this device and wait for the flash and forget any talk of sequels, please. Move along. Your work is done." - Linda Barnard, Toronto Star


Movie Info

"In Men in Black 3, Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him -- secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind." -- (C) Sony

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld

Written By: Lowell Cunningham

Distributed By: Sony Pictures

Cast
Will Smith (Agent J, J)
Tommy Lee Jones (Agent K, K)
Josh Brolin (Young Agent K)
Jemaine Clement (Boris the Animal)
Alice Eve (Young Agent O)
Emma Thompson (Agent O)
Nicole Scherzinger (Boris' girlfriend)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer) in Theatres on June 6, 2012

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

Hazel's
Rating: 3/5
Review: I love those penguins! Though after watching the movie, I felt there was something missing. Yes the film entertained me, gave some hearty laughs but it didn't really connect with me, nothing to bring home or think about. I liked Madagascar 2 better; haven't watched 1 though
Recommendation: Can be missed unless you're the type of person who likes brain overload (with so many things happening). 3D would definitely be more overwhelming!

Audience
Rating: 4.1/5
Liked the Movie: 82% (n=80,961)

Critics
Rating: 3.4/5
Liked the Movie: 75% (n=81)


Reviews

"A fun and fast family entertainment." Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"A riot of splashy colors, silly 3-D gimmicks, big, broad kid-friendly gags - and those professionally pesky penguins." - Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

"This is the rare animated property that has consistently improved on its ho-hum origins." - Justin Chang, Variety

"Dazzlingly colorful and frenetic, Madagascar 3 is silly enough for young kids, but boasts enough surprising smarts to engage parents along the way." - rottentomatoes.com

"Your brain goes breathless and giddy struggling to keep up." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"If you typically check the ingredients on the stuff you feed your kids, here is what you'll find in "Madagascar 3": jokes, Katy Perry music and less than 2 percent of character development and emotional warmth." - Rafer Guzman, Newsday

"Despite a script co-written by Noah Baumbach, "Madagascar 3" can't upgrade its own shtick, becoming a craven example of a fast-buck, no-fun family film." - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News


Movie Info

Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent - Madagascar style. -- (C) Dreamworks

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 33 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

Directed By: Eric Darnell

Distributed By: Paramount / Dreamworks

Cast
Ben Stiller (Alex)
Chris Rock (Marty)
David Schwimmer (Melman)
Jada Pinkett Smith (Gloria the Hippo)
Sacha Baron Cohen (King Julien)
Frances McDormand (Captain Chantel DuBois)
Martin Short (Stefano)
Jessica Chastain (Gia)
Cedric the Entertainer (Maurice)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Dark Shadows (Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloe Moretz) in Theatres on May 10, 2012

Dark Shadows (2012)

Hazel's
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: It's the first time I watched a movie with Eva Green (the witch) and I'm impressed with her acting. Of course, being impressed with Johnny Depp is a given. However, I had some questions after watching the movie like a) how come the cops and townspeople left the manor when they know a witch and a vampire are killing each other? and b) when your daughter's a werewolf, wouldn't you have noticed it while she was growing up?
Aside from the incoherent script, I'm boggled if the movie wants to scare you or make you laugh. Ultimately, it brings you nowhere.
Recommendation: You can miss watching the film unless you're a Johnny Depp or Tim Burton fan who wants to check out their 8th collaboration. For me, a movie that belongs in the dark shadows.

Audience
Rating: 3.2/5
Liked the Movie: 48% (n=165,555)

Critics
Rating: 2.7/5
Liked the Movie: 40% (n=209)


Reviews

"How bad is "Dark Shadows"? It makes you long for a "Twilight" movie. That's bad." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"An uncertain combination of elements that unsuccessfully tries to be half-scary, half-funny and all strange..." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"The visuals are top notch but Tim Burton never finds a consistent rhythm, mixing campy jokes and gothic spookiness with less success than other Johnny Depp collaborations." - rottentomatoes.com

"Dark Shadows' only meaningful relationship is between Depp and his audience. He's a persona now, no longer an actor." - Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail

"The film's biggest disappointment is the utter lack of chemistry between Depp and either Green or Heathcote." - Joy Tipping, Dallas Morning News

""Dark Shadows" doesn't add anything new to the genre, but it's a surprisingly high-spirited and genuinely black-humored comedy." - Rafer Guzman

"All dressed up and no place to go." - Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic


Movie Info

Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet-or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy... until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. -- (C) Warner Bros.

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hr. 53 min.

Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense

Directed By: Tim Burton

Written By: Dan Curtis

Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast
Johnny Depp (Barnabas Collins)
Michelle Pfeiffer (Elizabeth Collins Stoddard)
Bella Heathcote (Victoria Winters)
Eva Green (Angelique Bouchard)
Chloe Moretz (Carolyn Stoddard)
Helena Bonham Carter (Dr. Julia Hoffman)
Alice Cooper as Himself

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Marvel's The Avengers (Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson) in Theatres on April 25, 2012

Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Hazel's
Rating: 4/5
Review: Though there were some boring parts (I caught my boyfriend sometimes sleeping beside me), it was a nice movie. When the earth won at the end (we always win anyway, right?), I wanted to stand up and clap. The effects were amazing! Who's my favorite Avenger? The Hulk! Who's yours? ;)
Recommendation: A definite must see on the big screen

Audience
Rating: 4.7/5
Liked the Movie: 96% (n=321,256)

Critics
Rating: 4.1/5
Liked the Movie: 93% (n=270)


Reviews

"Audiences have been eagerly anticipating this first all-hero extravaganza for years. The wait was worth it." - Claudia Puig, USA Today

"With a script that never forgets its heroes' humanity and no shortage of superpowered set pieces, The Avengers lives up to its hype -- and raises the bar for Marvel at the movies." - rottentomatoes.com

"If you are a Marvel fan, then The Avengers will feel like Christmas. Thanks to the merry doings of the director, Joss Whedon, all your favorite characters are here, as shiny and as tempting as presents under the tree." - Anthony Lane, New Yorker

"Whedon, a pop-genre magician best known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is a master of viewer manipulation - because he never gives up his own seat in the crowd." - Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle

"The banter has zip, the effects are fun, the climactic battle is decently spectacular, and if the 3-D is mostly expendable, there are a few scenes where it adds a nice kick." - Bob Mondello, NPR

"A slow start, a single star performance surrounded by indifferent acting and an onslaught of computer effects that range from seen-it-all-in-"Transformers" to a whole sky full of spectacular stuff in the midtown Manhattan climax." - Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

"Really, who cares about another battle? We know how this is going to end." - Karina Longworth, Village Voice


Movie Info

Marvel Studios presents Marvel's The Avengers-the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. -- (C) Marvel

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hr. 22 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Joss Whedon

Written By: Joss Whedon, Zak Penn

Distributed By: Walt Disney Pictures

Cast
Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
Chris Evans (Captain America)
Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner / The Hulk)
Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow)
Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton / Hawkeye)
Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury)
Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts)
Paul Bettany (Jarvis)

Source: rottentomatoes.com