Showing posts with label Films. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Films. Show all posts

Thursday, October 01, 2015

Hellboy Director Guillermo Del Toro Tweets About The 'Aswang', A Monster In Filipino Folklore

The aswang which is probably the most well-known monster in Filipino folklore was mentioned in a recent tweet by the popular Mexican film director Guillermo Del Toro. The famed director tweeted, "The Aswang (Filipino Vampire) feeds on the unborn via unorthodox methods. Eerily, it clucks like hen." The tweet is one of several he wrote about Vampire Fun Facts. Prior to his tweet about the aswang, Del Toro also tweeted about the shroud-eaters in ancient Europe and the "stake through the heart" method of eliminating vampires.

The aswang myth is especially prevalent in the Visayan region (Capiz, Negros, Aklan, Siquijor, Iloilo, Bohol, and and Antique). In fact, over the years, numerous accounts of aswang sightings in said provinces have been reported on the media. Descriptions of the aswang vary. However, they are usually described as shape-shifters. This means they have the ability to transform from humans into animal creatures like dogs, cats, and birds. The mythical monster has been featured numerous times in Filipino movies, television shows, documentaries, novels, and comic books.

With Del Toro tweeting about the aswang, does this mean we'll be seeing it one of his movies soon? Unlikely but it's good to hear that the famous director has at least noticed one of the most important figures in Filipino folklore and mythology.
It's not surprising at all that Del Toro knows about the aswang. The man has shown an immense passion for all things monstrous and bizarre. He is after all the director behind such films as Cronos, Mimic, The Devil's Backbone, Blade II, Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and the upcoming romantic horror Crimson Peak .

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Matteo Guidicelli Shares Photos From His Upcoming Action Movie "Tupang Ligaw"

Actor Matteo Guidicelli wades into unfamiliar waters as filming starts for an action movie that will have him as the lead. The young Filipino-Italian who made his mark in the Philippine entertainment industry through his appearances as a dramatic actor in television shows will debut as an action hero in Tupang Ligaw, an indie flick that will have him handling guns and taking down enemies with force.

On his account on the social media site Instagram, Guidicelli posted at least two photos of himself taken during movie shooting. In one, he can be seen crouching alone in a cornfield with a handgun in his hand. The actor also posted short video clips of himself going through gun training and shooting drills.

Tupang Ligaw will be directed by Rod Santiago. According to a Star Cinema report, the movie is an advocacy film that is going to support gun ownership while educating the public about the dangers of irresponsible gun ownership.

Guidicelli's co-stars on Tupang Ligaw are Paolo Contis, Rico Barrera, Francis Ryan Lim, and Bangs Garcia. Early reports about the movie say that the main plot will involve a man who is a policeman looking for his missing brother. Guidicelli will play the young man while Paolo Contis will play the villain who carries the name El Diablo (The Devil).

The lead role in Tupang Ligaw was originally offered to Xian Lim but the actor turned down the role as he is also doing a movie alongside Angel Locsin and Vilma Santos Recto.

Source: Matteo Guidicelli via Instagram.
Tupang Ligaw is Guidicelli's sixth major movie appearance. His previous projects are Catch Me I'm In Love, My Cactus Heart, Somebody To Love, Moron 5.2: The Transformation, and Shake Rattle And Roll XV. The actor is currently playing Greg Navarro in the television series Inday Bote.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Official Teaser Trailer For 'Just The Way You Are' Movie Has Enrique Gil And Liza Soberano Lighting Up The Screen

After an eight-month run, the immensely popular television series Forevermore on ABS-CBN has ended. It aired its last episode on May 22, 2015. Needless to say, the show's curtain call has caused a lot of fans heart-broken. Fans wanted more of the tandem of young stars Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano. The station could've extended the show's life considering the fact that it is one of its biggest and most popular offerings.

But as always the case, all good things must come to an end. Forevermore is over. Maybe the show will be resurrected in the future, we don't know. What we do know is that there's a full-length movie coming up that will star Gil and Soberano. A teaser trailer has already been released by Star Cinema and by the looks of it, fans of the tandem will not be disappointed.

The movie is called Just The Way You Are and it was based on a story originally published on Wattpad. It tells the story of Drake Swift and Sophia Taylor, two young people who get themselves entangled in a web of unconventional love.
The teaser trailer which is now making a regular play on ABS-CBN shows doesn't show much except for a few scenes featuring the two leads. The film which was directed by Theodore Boborol will roll into theaters all over the Philippines come June 17.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Sarah Geronimo And Piolo Pascual Star As Musicians In The New Movie 'The Breakup Playlist'

Piolo Pascual and Sarah Geronimo are starring in an upcoming romantic movie carrying the title The Breakup Playlist. It's a title worth describing as appropriate since Pascual and Geronimo will be playing a rock star and an aspiring singer, respectively.

Geronimo will play a budding musician/singer. Pascual, on the other hand, is a famous rock star. The film will be directed by Dan Villegas, the same director behind the hit English Only, Please.

No details have been released yet about what the movie is all about but it will have Pascual's character falling in love with the character played by Geronimo.

Geronimo is a singer herself. In fact, she first made her name in the entertainment industry by winning a singing contest. From there, she branched out to acting both in television and the big screen. Pascual, on the other hand, is more well-known as a television and movie actor. However, he has a lot of experience in the recording industry as well. In fact, he has several songs and albums in his name.

No release date has been announced yet for The Breakup Playlist movie.
A reporter talks with Dan Villegas, Sarah Geronimo and Piolo Pascual during the story conference for The Breakup Playlist.

Mark Dacascos Is In The Philippines Shooting His Upcoming Action Movie 'Showdown In Manila'

For the last couple months or so, actor and director Mark Dacascos has been overseeing the shooting and production in the Philippines of his most recent movie project Showdown In Manila. Since making several appearances on the television series Hawaii Five-O, Dacascos has now turned his sight back on making feature films.

In fact, he is currently associated with at least five projects as of this writing. Aside from acting and directing Showdown In Manila, Dacascos is also working on four other projects. These are To Have And To Hold, Ultimate Justice, Changing Lives, and Garrison 7.

Showdown In Manila features an international cast, including actors tapped from within the Philippines. Leading the cast are Mark Dacascos, Olivier Gruner, Casper Van Dien, Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa, Matthias Hues, Cynthia Rothrock, Natalie Gubina, Tia Carrere, Don Wilson, and Alexander Nevsky. Local actors tapped to appear in the film are Jake Macapagal, Iza Calzado, Mon Confiado, Krista Miller, and Will Devaughn.

A release date hasn't been announced yet but the film is listed on IMDb as releasing this year (2015).
Image credit: Martial Arts Entertainment

Monday, April 06, 2015

Antonio Banderas Is A Trapped Gold Miner In The Survival Drama Film 'The 33' (Movie Trailer)

For one of his most recent movies, Antonio Banderas will play a miner trapped thousands of feet underground. The film carries the title The 33 and it's based on the Copiapo mining accident in Chile in 2010. In said tragedy, 33 miners were trapped underground when a copper-gold mine caved in in Northern Chile.

The miners were trapped underground for 69 days. Fortunately, all of them were able to make it out alive thanks to the efforts of rescuers. The 33 was directed by Patricia Riggen and it also stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Jacob Vargas, Bob Gunton, and Gabriel Byrne. Watch the trailer for the film below.

Saturday, February 07, 2015

Star Cinema Releases Music Video Trailer For Crazy Beautiful You, A Romantic Comedy Starring Kathryn Bernardo And Daniel Padilla

A new trailer for Crazy Beautiful You in the form of a music video was just released by Star Cinema. The romantic comedy starring Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo is scheduled to be released in cinemas all over the Philippines on February 25, 2015. The music video trailer features key scenes from the movie which include scenes filmed from exotic locations like the mouth of Mount Pinatubo in the province of Zambales.

The theme song for Crazy Beautiful You is Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, a song by the 1980's American rock band Starship. In the video, the actor Padilla sang his own cover for the song.

Crazy Beautiful You also stars Lorna Tolentino and Gabby Concepcion. It was directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar.

Kathryn Bernardo as the lead actress in Crazy Beautiful You opposite Daniel Padilla.

Thursday, February 05, 2015

Star Cinema Releases Official Trailer For Crazy Beautiful You, A Romantic Movie Starring Daniel Padilla And Kathryn Bernardo

Young Filipino actors Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo returns to the big screen in a romantic action comedy movie that is scheduled to hit theaters all over the Philippines on February 25. The post-Valentine offering by Star Cinema is titled Crazy Beautiful You and it is the fourth film to feature the two young stars as a big screen tandem.

An official teaser trailer for the film was just released by Star Cinema. In it, the two leads encounter in what looks likes a marketplace in an urban setting. Both were talking on their mobile phones. Out of nowhere, a thief snatched the phone from the character played by Kathryn Bernardo. A chase and scuffle ensues. Also starring in the film are Gabby Concepcion and Lorna Tolentino.

Crazy Beautiful You was directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, the same director behind the flicks Past Tense and Bride for Rent. It's the fourth movie featuring the screen tandem of Padilla and Bernardo. The first three were She's Dating the Gangster, Must Be Love, and Pagpag: Siyam Na Buhay .

Also featured in the trailer for Crazy Beautiful You is the song Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by the band Starship. It could be that the song will be Crazy Beautiful You's official theme song. Watch the teaser trailer below:

Daniel Padilla in a scene from Crazy Beautiful You.
Kathryn Bernardo in a scene from Crazy Beautiful You.
Here's the official music video for Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, the song by Starship that was featured in the Crazy Beautiful You trailer.

Monday, January 05, 2015

Star Cinema Releases First Official Teaser Trailer 'For Halik Sa Hangin' Starring Julia Montes And Gerald Anderson

Star Cinema has released the first official teaser trailer for its first big screen offering for 2015. On Monday, the film production company released online via YouTube the first trailer for Halik Sa Hangin, a romantic horror film that is scheduled to roll into theaters on January 28, 2015.

Playing the main characters in the film are Kapamilya stars Julia Montes and Gerald Anderson as two young lovers whose relationship will be tested when Anderson's character finally reveals who or what he is. Also starring in the film is JC de Veyra. The film was directed by Emmanuel Quindo Palo.

The movie was shot in Baguio City. The theme song for the film is a track of the same name by Ebe Dancel and rapper Abra.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

New Zealand Actor Russell Crowe Makes His Directorial Debut With The Historical Drama "The Water Diviner"

Actor Russell Crowe's current resume contains 40 movies. We've seen him mostly in front of the camera. In his latest project however, he not only starred in the film, he went behind the camera as well. In The Water Diviner which is Crowe's directorial debut, the New Zealand actor plays an Australian farmer who makes the decision to leave and travel to Turkey to look for his three missing sons.

The Water Diviner is a historical drama with the Battle of Gallipoli serving as the backdrop. Also starring in the movie are Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney, Cem Yilmaz, Jacqueline McKenzie, and Yilmaz Erdogan. The film was released in Australia on December 26, 2014. It will have its screening in the United States come April 24, 2015. Watch the trailer for The Water Diviner below:


Since making his screen debut in Prisoners of the Sun in 1990, Crowe quickly transformed himself into a major star with memorable performances in films like L.A. Confidential, The Insider, Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and American Gangster.

Crowe will be next seen in next year's Fathers and Daughters, a drama directed by Gabriele Muccino. Fathers and Daughters also star Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad fame, Diane Kruger, Amanda Seyfried, Jane Fonda, and Octavia Spencer.

Filipino Artist Ronnie Del Carmen Is Co-Directing The Animation Movie "Inside Out"

Ronnie del Carmen, a Philippine-born animation storyboard artist and designer, has been tapped by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios to co-direct the upcoming animated film Inside Out which is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on June 19, 2015. The film's main director is Pete Doctor who also had the original idea behind the film.

Del Carmen has previously worked on major animated films such as Up where he worked as story supervisor and WALL-E where he worked as a story and character designer. Other films in his resume include Ratatouille, Finding Nemo, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and The Prince of Egypt.

Del Carmen is also a prolific writer and illustrator. Among the books he released are And There You Are, Three Trees Make a Forest, and Project Superior. Del Carmen is also the recipient of awards from the Daytime Emmy Award, Annie Award, and the Eisner Award.

Here's the official trailer for Del Carmen and Docter's Inside Out:


Inside Out is about a girl named Riley Anderson trying to live her life through her five emotions namely Joy, Disgust, Sadness, Anger and Fear. Riley is voiced in the movie by Kaitlyn Dias. Her emotions are voiced by Lewis Black, Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, and Phyllis Smith. Playing the kid's mom and dad are Diane Lane and Kyle Maclachlan respectively.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

California Gets Destroyed In Trailer For Disaster Film "San Andreas" Starring Dwayne Johnson And Carla Gugino

Professional wrestler turned action star Dwayne Johnson has two movies coming out in 2015. There's Furious 7 , the seventh installment in the Fast & Furious movie series which will roll into theaters on April 3. And then there's San Andreas, a disaster movie that chronicles what would happen to California if the San Andreas fault which runs through the state moves and causes a series of earthquakes and aftershocks.

The film is scheduled for a May 29 release date. In it, Johnson plays Ray, a rescue-helicopter pilot for the Los Angeles Fire Department. After a strong earthquake devastates California, Ray has to leave Los Angeles with his ex-wife Emma (Carla Gugino) to go to San Francisco and attempt to rescue their daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario).

Watch the first trailer for the movie below.

Alexandra Daddario as Dwayne Johnson's daughter in San Andreas.
Also starring in the movie are Colton Hayes, Art Parkinson, Paul Giamatti, Kylie Minogue, Will Yun Lee, Ioan Gruffudd, Todd Williams, and Archie Panjabi. The movie was directed by Brad Peyton (Incarnate, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore).

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Robin Padilla Plays The Philippine National Hero Andres Bonifacio (Founder Of The Katipunan) In Upcoming Movie Biopic

In his latest movie project, actor Robin Padilla will be playing a character most Filipinos are aware of. That of the Philippine national hero Andres Bonifacio, a man most well-known for establishing the Katipunan (Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan). The biopic is an official entry to the 40th edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival which will run from December 25 to the first week of January 2015.

Titled Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, the historical film brings to light the inspiring life of Bonifacio. Bonifacio is credited for starting the Philippine Revolution which aimed to acquire independence for the Philippines after more than 300 years of colonial rule under Spain.

Joining Padilla in the cast are Vina Morales, Eddie Garcia, RJ Padilla, Jun Quintana, Isabel Oli, Ping Medina, Rommel Padilla, Jericho Rosales, Daniel Padilla, Jasmine Curtis Smith, Cholo Barretto, Joem Bascon, Richard Quan, Isko Moreno, and Dennis Marasigan. The film is directed by Enzo Williams.

The trailer:

Robin Padilla as Andres Bonifacio in Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo.