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 =)

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