Act of Valor (Active-Duty US Navy Seals) in Theatres on July 11, 2012

Act of Valor (2012)

Hazel's
Comment: There were Filipino groups who demanded an apology from Relativity Media and wanted this movie banned because it depicted Filipinos as cold-hearted terrorists. But isn't this movie a work of fiction? Why are some people just so uptight and critical about it?

Audience
Rating: 4/5
Liked the Movie: 77% (n=69,819)

Critics
Rating: 2.3/5
Liked the Movie: 25% (n=126)


Reviews

"When the bullets are flying, Act of Valor is undeniably tense and thrilling." - Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

"Fighting is a learned skill; so is acting. And the SEAL stars are plausible only when on maneuvers - performing as their own stunt doubles." - Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

"The special ops missions are pretty amazing, but the SEALS as dramatic characters are under-developed." - Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

"It's undeniably reverent of the real-life heroes in its cast, but Act of Valor lets them down with a clichéd script, stilted acting, and a jingoistic attitude that ignores the complexities of war." - rottentomatoes.com

"The filmmakers are so intent on shooting the real SEAL deal that they forget this is supposed to be a movie: We need a story." - Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle

"I don't know what to make of Act of Valor. It's like reviewing a recruiting poster." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"I think these real-life action heroes deserve a better movie. So does the audience." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune


Movie Info

An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs in a film like no other in Hollywood's history. A fictionalized account of real life Navy SEAL operations, Act of Valor features a gripping story that takes audiences on an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-their-seat journey. When a mission to recover a kidnapped CIA operative unexpectedly results in the discovery of an imminent, terrifying global threat, an elite team of highly trained Navy SEALs must immediately embark on a heart-stopping secret operation, the outcome of which will determine the fate of us all. Act of Valor combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the-minute battlefield technology, and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure film-showcasing the skills, training and tenacity of the greatest action heroes of them all: real Navy SEALs. -- (C) Relativity

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh

Written By: Kurt Johnstad

Distributed By: Relativity Media

Cast
Roselyn Sanchez (Agent Morales)
Alex Veadov (Christo)
Nestor Serrano (Walter Ross)
Emilio Rivera (Sanchez)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Magic Mike (Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey) in Theatres on July 11, 2012

Magic Mike (2012)

Audience
Rating: 3.7/5
Liked the Movie: 69% (n=48,120)

Critics
Rating: 3.5/5
Liked the Movie: 77% (n=132)


Reviews

"If you're looking for a romance with 100 percent prime beefcake? Get your singles out and ready, ladies. "Magic Mike" is in the house." - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"Soderbergh has created a spicy yet lucid, surgingly high-energy yet smartly modernistic musical." - Richard Brody, New Yorker

"It's one of the year's best surprises, and so is its frequently underrated star." Rafer Guzman, Newsday

"At the very least, it is exceptional and one of the best and most original pictures to come along in 2012." - Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

"A weirdly guilty pleasure." - Stephen Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Magic Mike has a conventional structure, yet a teasing question percolates beneath: If selling yourself is as much fun as this movie makes it look, what could be wrong with it?" - Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

"The dance numbers, choreographed by Allison Faulk, are inventive and athletic, but not really erotic; Soderbergh never lets you forget that, for these men, dancing is above all a job." - Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

"If filmmaker Soderbergh had paid as much attention to relationship dynamics as he does to dance number mechanics, this film would have gotten closer to living up to the magic in its name." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times


Movie Info

Set in the world of male strippers, Magic Mike is directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Channing Tatum in a story inspired by his real life. The film follows Mike (Tatum) as he takes a young dancer called The Kid (Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money. -- (C) Warner Bros.

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Written By: Reid Carolin

Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast
Channing Tatum (Magic Mike)
Alex Pettyfer (Adam, The Kid)
Matt Bomer (Ken)
Joe Manganiello (Big Dick Richie)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas)
Cody Horn (Brooke, Paige)
Olivia Munn (Joanna)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

"Big Miracle" (Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell) in Theaters on July 4, 2012

Big Miracle (2012)

Audience
Rating: 3.4/5
Liked the Movie: 63% (n=29,488)

Critics
Rating: 3.1/5
Liked the Movie: 74% (n=95)


Reviews:

"Big Miracle uses real-life events as the basis for a surprisingly satisfying family drama." - rottentomatoes.com

""Big Miracle" gets off to a shaky start, but once revved up, it becomes an involving work-against-the-clock-and-the-odds action movie." - Rachel Saltz, New York Times

"Cold War-era bonding over whales? It would sound utterly absurd if it weren't based on fact. And that's part of what makes this movie fun for adults." - Stephanie Merry, Washington Post

"It is a whale of a comic tale, if also one overly crowded with characters and incidents." - Peter Howell, Toronto Star

""Big Miracle" might be subtitled, "How Hollywood Turned a Real Story Into Bogus Fiction." - Rafer Guzman, Newsday

"If you think it's absolutely not your kind of thing, you might be surprised." - Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies


Movie Info

Inspired by the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle. -- (C) Universal

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 46 min.

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: Ken Kwapis

Written By: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler

Distributed By: Universal Pictures

Cast
John Krasinski (Adam Carlson)
Drew Barrymore (Rachel Kramer)
Kristen Bell (Jill Jerard)
Dermot Mulroney (Colonel Scott Boyer)
Ted Danson (J. W. McGraw)
Tim Blake Nelson (Pat Lafayette)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

The Amazing Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Sally Field) in Theatres on June 29, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Hazel's
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: Honestly, I didn't like the character of the new Spiderman much - he is playful, rash, irresponsible. To me, not a hero at all but just a typical boy next door. Though I loved the scene where Stan Lee showed up... epic!
Comment: A movie I'm definitely going to watch on the big screen! It's awesome that there are scenes wherein you could feel like you're Spider-Man since it's shot on his perspective. Can't wait when it swings to theatres real soon...

Audience
Like to See the Movie: 91% (n=232,426)

Audience
Rating: 4.2/5
Liked the Movie: 84% (n=291,053)

Critics
Rating: 3.4/5
Liked the Movie: 74% (n=240)


Reviews

"A well-chosen cast and sure-handed direction allow The Amazing Spider-Man to thrill, despite revisiting many of the same plot points from 2002's Spider-Man." - rottentomatoes.com

"The Amazing Spider-Man is at least better than Raimi's Spider-Man 3, which was a mess." - Peter Howell, Toronto Star

"At 28, Garfield's slightly older than Maguire was when he played Peter Parker in 2002, but his combination of fresh-faced innocence, nervous agitation and wry humor is immediately appealing." - Tom Charity, CNN.com

"I don't really see why the Spidey reboot was needed right now, but The Amazing Spider-Man has its virtues. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are stellar and director Marc Webb has crafted a Spider-Man that touches the heart." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"If you've seen half a dozen superhero films, and the box office results suggest you have, then you've also seen what "The Amazing Spider-Man" has to offer." - Laremy Legel, film.com

"How amazing can it be? We all just saw this movie when "Spider-Man" came out a decade ago." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"With great stories come great responsibilities. This one doesn't measure up." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune


Movie Info

The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father's former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors' alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero. -- (C) Sony

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Marc Webb

Written By: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee, James Vanderbilt

Distributed By: Sony Pictures

Cast
Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker / Spider-Man)
Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy)
Rhys Ifans (Dr. Curt Connors)
Sally Field (Aunt May / May Parker)
Denis Leary (Captain Stacy)
Martin Sheen (Ben Parker / Uncle Ben)
Campbell Scott (Richard Parker)
Irfan Khan (Dr. Ratha / Van Adder)
Annie Parisse (Mrs. Van Adder)
Julianne Nicholson (Mary Parker)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Rock of Ages (Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mary J. Blige) in Theatres on June 14, 2012

Rock of Ages (2012)

Hazel's
Rating: 4/5
Review: It was a very enjoyable movie and it was fun singing along to 80s tunes. I'm amazed Tom Cruise could actually sing. Amazing cast! Just like in the play =) The movie had a lot of variations from the play that makes it all the more difficult to compare. Both were great! My rating is similar as well, a 4 out of 5 =)
Comment: There was an episode in this year's season of American Idol wherein the director of "Rock of Ages," Adam Shankman, was their guest. He shared that he wasn't expecting much from the singing talent of Tom Cruise and was totally blown away when Tom brought the house down. Can't wait to watch this on the big screen! Also, already bought tickets to watch the "Rock of Ages" play at RCBC Plaza on July 7 so I get to compare the stage play to the movie. I wonder which one is better...

Audience
Rating: 3.5/5
Liked the Movie: 61% (n=61,017)

Critics
Rating: 2.6/5
Liked the Movie: 41% (n=196)


Reviews

"As a story, Rock of Ages is all over the place, but the performers are clearly having a blast, and their enjoyment is infectious." - Shaun Munro, What Culture

"[T]his is just a madly silly, deeply goofy movie that's meant to pander to GenX 80s nostalgia. It's not trying to be radical or revolutionary... I'm not even sure director Adam Shankman realizes how extraordinary his film is on [a certain] level..." - - MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher

"Shankman succeeds in draining most of the fun from a vehicle that was all about the winking humor of its flagrant cheesiness." - David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

"This lively but decidedly overlong film showers the audience with kitsch at the expense of characters." - Tim Grierson, Screen International

"As the tagline says, Rock of Ages is nothin' but a good time. Sometimes, it's even less." - Charlie Lyne, Ultra Culture


Movie Info

Rock of Ages tells the story of small town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Their rock 'n' roll romance is told through the heart-pounding hits of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake and more. -- (C) Warner Bros

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hr. 3 min.

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

Directed By: Adam Shankman

Written By: Chris D'Arienzo

Distributed By: New Line Cinema

Cast
Julianne Hough (Sherrie)
Diego Boneta (Drew Boley)
Russell Brand (Lonnie)
Paul Giamatti (Paul Gill)
Catherine Zeta-Jones (Patricia Whitmore)
Malin Akerman (Constance)
Mary J. Blige (Justice)
Alec Baldwin (Dennis Dupree)
Tom Cruise (Stacee Jaxx)
Bryan Cranston (Mayor Mike Whitmore)
Will Forte (Mitch Miley)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Free Movie Screenings (Animation) at Instituto Cervantes de Manila on All Saturdays of July 2012

Instituto Cervantes de Manila invites you to their...

Free Movie Screenings

Instituto Cervantes' Salon de Actos
855 T.M. Kalaw St.
1000 Ermita
Manila, Filipinas

All Saturdays of July 2012
2:00 PM


Ciclo de Cine de Animación Español Film Series

The animated films produced in Spain has experienced great development in recent years. In collaboration with the Film Archive of the AECI, the Instituto Cervantes presents a cycle that includes four examples of high quality level Spanish animation . Projection on DVD with English subtitles.


July 7, 2012 (Saturday) - "Chico and Rita" (94 mins)

"Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey - in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero - brings heartache and torment. From Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas, two passionate individuals battle impossible odds to unite in music and love." - Instituto Cervantes de Manila


July 14, 2012 (Saturday) - "De Profundis" (75 minutes)

"Once upon a time there was a house in the middle of the sea where a woman waited while she played a melancholy violoncello… She was waiting for her beloved, a painter who had always wanted to be a sailor so that he could navigate amongst the jellyfish, the sea stars and the thousand coloured fishes that he dreamt of in his paintings… His fascination led him to undertake a trip with the purpose of discovering the exciting beauty and mysteries of the deep sea, but one that meant that neither of them knew if they would ever meet again… A trip to the depths of the sea. A dream come true. A love story. A poem in motion..." - Instituto Cervantes de Manila


July 21, 2012 (Saturday) - "Don Quijote I y II" (26 minutes)

"Cartoon adaptation of the immortal work of Miguel de Cervantes. 39 episodes chronicling the adventures of the knight Don Quixote (voice of Fernando Fernan-Gomez) and his faithful squire Sancho Panza (voice of Antonio Ferrandis)." - Instituto Cervantes de Manila


July 28, 2012 (Saturday) - "Nocturna" (80 minutes)

"In the aging orphanage the days pass very uneventfully, but the nights are something quite different; at least for Tim they are. The light reflected from the stars is the only cure for his fear of the dark. One night this fear leads him to the orphanage rooftop. Where he discovers that his favourite star has disappeared, and unfortunately it’s not going to be the last one. Tim also discovers the Cat Shepherd and his faithful cat Tobermory, that will become Tim's personal guardians. Tim convinces the Shepherd to take him to see Moka, the guardian of the night, and pleads for him to return the stars to the night sky." - Instituto Cervantes de Manila


Admission to all the screenings is FREE on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis.

For more details, please contact:
Tlf: (63-2)526-1482 - 85
Fax: (63-2)526-1449
Email: cenmni@cervantes.es

Or visit their website, this article's Source.

2012 Eiga Sai - The Japanese Film Festival at Shang Cineplex, Mandaluyong from July 6 - 15, 2012

2012 Eiga Sai
The Japanese Film Festival
Shang Cineplex, Shangri-La Plaza, EDSA, Mandaluyong City
July 6 (Friday) - 15 (Sunday), 2012


About the Films:

“Villain,” which opens the 2012 Eiga Sai, is a gritty social critique released in 2010 featuring award-winning actress Eri Fukatsu as she plays sales clerk Mitsuyo, a woman who is on the run with a murderer, Yuichi (Satoshi Tsumabuki). Directed by Lee Sang-il, the 139-minute film won the Best Actress award for Fukatsu in the Montreal World Film Festival.

Peak — The Rescuers follows the story of a mountain rescuer in the Northern Alps after having conquered the world’s famous peaks. Released in 2011, “Peak — The Rescuers” is an adventure film and drama based on the popular comics by Shinichi Ishizuka. It follows the story of Sanpo, who volunteers as a mountain rescuer in the Northern Alps after having conquered the world’s famous peaks.

“Railways” (2010) is a heartwarming family drama which chronicles the turning point of businessman Hajime, who is in line to be the head of a prominent electronics company. After his mother falls ill and his best friend is killed in an accident, Hajime—who has no time for family—returns home and revisits his childhood dream of becoming a train conductor.

Japanese comedy “Happy Flight” (2008) is set onboard Flight No. 1980 bound for Honolulu from Japan, where co-pilot Kazuhiro Suzuki is counting on the flight as his final test for a promotion to captain while the new cabin attendant Saito Etsuko sees it as her debut on an international route. However, the plane is forced to head back to Japan due to technical failures and they encounter yet another difficulty on the way back: landing the aircraft in the face of an approaching typhoon.

“Tomorrow’s Joe” (2011) is an exciting live adaptation of Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba’s eponymous comic, regarded as a brilliant feat in manga history. The story revolves around two boxing rivals—a recruit from the slums and a professional fighter—who engage in a fierce battle that will determine both their fates.

Medical drama “In His Chart” (2011) is based on the debut novel of Sosuke Natsukawa. An eye-opening glimpse into rural Japan’s healthcare issues, the film follows the growth of young doctor Ichito (Sho Sakurai), who encounters terminal cancer patient Azumi and is left questioning the very existence of medicine.

Animated sci-fi and fantasy film “Colorful” (2010) shows what happens to a deceased soul that was transferred into the body of high school boy Kobayashi Makoto, who just committed suicide. With Kobayashi’s body regaining life, the soul inhabits him and journeys deeper into the boy’s story, eventually uncovering the truth behind the suicide.

The film “Abacus and Sword” (2010) is a family drama and a film adaptation of Isoda Michifumi’s book, which chronicles life in the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate from the household accounts of a low-ranking samurai.

Award-winning “Ninja Kids” (2011) is a live action adaptation of Amako Sobei’s well-loved ninja action manga, following the comical slapstick antics of a group of boys who are elite ninjas-in-training. The film focuses on Ninja Academy first grader Rantaro and friends and fellow students Shinbee and Kirimaru as they commit constant blunders in school. Fourth-grader Takamaru, as an assassin, unexpectedly turns up.

Romance drama “Permanent Nobara” (2010) unravels a love story for grown-ups, based on the popular manga series of the same title by Reiko Saibara. The tale unfolds as Naoko returns home with her young daughter, where her mother runs a beauty parlor where local women gather to lament their bad luck with men and laugh over dirty jokes." –KG, GMA News


Screening Schedule:

July 6, 2012 (Friday)
2:00 PM Railways
4:30 PM Permanent Nobara
7:00 PM Peak - The Rescuers

July 7, 2012 (Saturday)
2:00 PM Ninja Kids
4:30 PM Tomorrow's Joe
7:00 PM Happy Flight

July 8, 2012 (Sunday)
2:00 PM Colorful
4:30 PM In His Chart
7:00 PM Abacus and Sword

July 9, 2012 (Monday)
2:00 PM Peak - The Rescuers
4:30 PM Railways
7:00 PM Villain

July 10, 2012 (Tuesday)
2:00 PM Happy Flight
4:30 PM Tomorrow's Joe
7:00 PM Colorful

July 11, 2012 (Wednesday)
2:00 PM Ninja Kids
4:30 PM Permanent Nobara
7:00 PM In His Chart

July 12, 2012 (Thursday)
2:00 PM Abacus and Sword
4:30 PM Railways
7:00 PM Villain

July 13, 2012 (Friday)
2:00 PM Tomorrow's Joe
4:30 PM Happy Flight
7:00 PM Peak - The Rescuers

July 14, 2012 (Saturday)
2:00 PM Permanent Nobara
4:30 PM Ninja Kids
7:00 PM In His Chart

July 15, 2012 (Sunday)
2:00 PM Abacus and Sword
4:30 PM Colorful
7:00 PM Villain


Admission is Free! =)
Tickets are issued 30 minutes before the screening.

Reminders:
1. Seats are on a first-come, first-served basis
2. Schedules are subject to change without prior notice
3. Film ratings may be confirmed at the ticket office


Hazel's
Rating: 3.5/5
Comment: I was able to watch "Abacus and Sword" and pretty much liked it. A movie that would be appreciated by accountants and people who have parents devoid of emotion. The film brings you back in time to 1800s Japan, giving you a glimpse of what was life like during that era. Not only entertaining but also educational =)