The Road (2011)

Simply Ghastly and Disturbing
The ROAD Review
by Reymundo Salao

THE ROAD is a story about the ghostly hauntings in an abandoned road, and the disturbing killings that occurred there 10 to 20 years ago. This film is directed by one of the very few really good directors working on mainstream Philippine cinema: Yam Laranas. Laranas has been known for “Sigaw” which was later given a Hollywood remake, directed by Laranas himself, entitled “The Echo”.

THE ROAD is top quality, must-watch for those who love horror movies. It’s a solid combination of a well-made storyline and script, refreshingly dynamic concepts, and topnotch direction. As expected from a Yam Laranas movie, you get magnificent cinematography, even for Hollywood standards. This movie has plenty of simply astounding visuals, we can clearly see Laranas’ mastery of Light, Shadow, and Color, as if he could easily capture and manipulate life with a camera. The story and the direction create a movie that can be added in to what may be one of the finest ghost story movies ever made.

Immortals postpone Philippine Invasion to December 7! And What's Showing this Week

D1PUTA! December 7 na NAMAN???!!!

Looks like the IMMORTALS have once again postponed their Philippine invasion YET AGAIN. December 7, 2011 is the new release date of the Tarsem Singh movie about Theseus, the Minotaur, and the War of the Titans. The Philippines was not included in IMMORTALS' original international release date (November 11, 2011), and was pushed to November 30 (READ THE EARLIER REPORT HERE), which was a bad move to do to a country that is one of the biggest Hollywood-patronizing countries in the world, and also the biggest torrent active countries, at the same time. It's easily a calculated guess to assume that the large numbers of potential box office numbers the movie could have gained, if it was released on the film's original international release date, are already lost to those who have already watched it online.
In its place, the Bonifacio Holiday week was greeted with 2 other great movies. 

One is THE ROAD, which is directed by Yam Laranas, one of the every few excellent directors working in Tagalong mainstream cinema. The ROAD is a horror ghost story about a haunted road and the horrifying killings that occurred there years before. Read the full article about The Road and Yam Laranas here.

The other movie opening this week is THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN which is directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Peter Jackson, and written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish. This movie is based upon the classic European comic book series set during a largely realistic 20th century (set around the 1940s), the hero of the series is Tintin, a young Belgian reporter. He is aided in his adventures from the beginning by his faithful fox terrier dog Snowy. The Adventures of Tintin is like a combination of Hardy Boys and Indiana Jones. THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN has had its UK release back in October 2011. It is set to be released in the US on December 21, 2011. And is now showing here in Iloilo and Philippine theaters this week.

The 2011 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival

The Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival 2011 was held last November 12, 2011 at the RCBC Plaza, Makati City. And it was the movie "Ka Oryang" which won the award for Best Picture and Best Director for Sari Lluch Dalena. Ka Oryang is about the suffering and the hardships of a woman who was a victim of torture during the Martial Law Era. It also won Best Cinematography for Neil Daza and Kiri Dalena.

On the other hand, the movie which bagged the most awards (including the Audience Choice Award, Special Jury Prize, Best Screenplay for Antoinette Jadaone) was "Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay". This semi-documentary chronicles the career of Lilia Cuntapay, the veteran actress who has appeared in countless local movies and TV appearances playing the almost same roles of aswang, yaya, or creepy old lady. She also won the award for Best Actress on the festival (shared the Best Actress award with Maricar Reyes for "Anatomiya ng Korupsyon").

DOCTOR WHO to hit the big screen, Harry Potter director to helm it

DOCTOR WHO to regenerate into the silver screen
by Reymundo Salao

Unbeknownst to many, it is actually the longest running sci-fi TV series and the most successful science fiction series of all time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVD and book sales, iTunes traffic, and "illegal downloads". Many of you may probably think that Star Wars and Star Trek hold that title. Well, it's actually being held by a British TV series that many of you may not be too familiar with: DOCTOR WHO.

DOCTOR WHO is about to be made into a movie, and BBC is eyeing director David Yates to helm its adaptation. Yates has directed the last four Harry Potter movies which were well-made enough to make the entire Harry Potter film series arguably become the most successful film saga since Star Wars.

Samurai Jack is what (Immortal's director) Tarsem Singh wants to direct

Tarsem Singh's IMMORTALS (no relation to the Angel Locisn, John Lloyd TV series) has been recently released internationally. And during recent interview, he revealed that he is very interested in creating a live-action version of Genndy Tartakovsky's 'Samurai Jack.' The series, which follows a samurai from feudal Japan thrust into the future by a demon and forced to find a way to return to his own time. Singh admitted that while he's not a big fan of what he calls "comic strip films," he loves the pacing and the animation of 'Samurai Jack.' He's gone so far as to publicly request that Cartoon Network execs give him a call.

Tarsem Singh, with his extremely stylized visual style (he also directed "The Cell" which starred Jennifer Lopez, and "The Fall"), is a perfect director which may be more than capable of recapturing the bizarre and utterly cool universe of Samurai Jack. Oh, how I wish the great actor and voice talent Mako was still alive to do his voice of Aku, or at least the narration of the movie, just like he did in the animated TV series.

A live-action version of Samurai Jack was actually set up at New Line in the early 2000s, with Brett Ratner attached to direct and produce, but THANK GOD, that did not materialize (since 'Jack is such a great concept only to be given to a hack like Ratner) and the rights have since reverted back to Cartoon Network.

Tarsem is currently in post-production on his movie "Mirror, Mirror" which is his take on the Snow White story (which is destined to rival "Snow White and the Huntsman"). "Mirror, Mirror" is set to be released in March 2012, while "Immortals" is set to have its Philippine release this November 2011.

source: THR

The IMMORTALS will not be invading the Philippines this 11-11-11

Kalma lang pre, dali na manlang ang 30!

[NEWS UPDATE: THE RELEASE HAS BEEN RE-SCHEDULED TO DECEMBER 7. read more]I know a lot of people who have been bummed out by the fact that “IMMORTALS” will not be opening this week in Philippine theaters. “Immortals” is an upcoming 2011 3D fantasy adventure film directed by Tarsem Singh and starring Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto, and Mickey Rourke. The film also stars Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, Joseph Morgan, Stephen Dorff, Alan Van Sprang, Isabel Lucas, and John Hurt. Although not marketed widely, the film has attracted and has generated a buzz in the local online scene with its trailer that reminded viewers of a cinematic look very much resembling Zack Snyder’s “300”. It should be taken note that “300” was such a hit here in the Philippines, as it is internationally. The hype surrounding “Immortals” proves that the moviegoing is drooling for a movie that would excite and entertain them the way “300” did.

One source states that the Philippine release date for IMMORTALS is November 30, 2011. The official international release date of the movie is November 11, 2011. And just like any big movie, we are usually included to be among the countries that enjoy simultaneous international release (sometimes, Philippine release dates even come in advance than U.S. and U.K. releases). In the case of IMMORTALS, we were simply not included in its simultaneous international release list. Which seems like a big mistake because the Philippines has been one of the biggest Hollywood-patronizing countries, but at the same time, is one of the countries where piracy and torrent activity is rampant.

James Bond 23's official title, synopsis, and cast revealed

JAMES BOND 23 PRODUCTION BEGINS
EON Productions, MGM and Sony Pictures have officially announced this week the start of production for the 23rd James Bond movie, along with the title of the newest chapter in the James Bond franchise: "SKYFALL" Co-producer Barbara Broccoli said that the title "has some emotional context which will be revealed in the film"

The synopsis for "SKYFALL" has also been released: "Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

Brandt and Haas hired for WANTED 2

Universal Studio has hired Michael Brandt and Derek Haas to write "Wanted 2,"
"We just always loved the 'Wanted' world and loved working with Universal and (director) Timur (Bekmambetov) on the first one, so we're excited," Haas said. He said he doesn't know who will direct. The writer said he'd love to work with Bekmambetov again, "but he's a busy guy."