Stars, filmmakers and special guests came together tonight on the purple carpet in Hollywood for the world premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Film stars attending tonight included Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Alex Livinalli and Mabel Cadena, among others. Joining the stars were filmmakers Ryan Coogler (directed by/screenplay by), Joe Robert Cole (screenplay by), Kevin Feige and Nate Moore (producers), Louis D’Esposito and Victoria Alonso(executive producers), andLudwig Göransson (music by/score produced by/songs produced by). Also in attendance was global icon Rihanna, who returns to the airwaves this Friday with “Lift Me Up,” the lead single from the upcoming “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” original soundtrack.
In Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejíaas Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in Philippine theaters November 9, 2022.
QCinema’s main competition, Asian Next Wave, makes its much-awaited return in the festival’s special 10th edition, after an absence of two years.
Focusing on emerging filmmakers from Southeast Asia and East Asia with less than three features, this year’s competition slate features seven new titles competing for the Pylon Award.
Fresh from its world premiere in Busan last month, Singaporean entry Ajoommais the debut film of Shuming He and which competed in its New Currents section. It has been selected as Singapore’s entry to the Oscar Best International Film category.
The Japanese Oscar entry in the same category is Plan 75 by Chie Hayakawa. The sci-fi drama focuses on how the government lures the elderly to sign up for a mysterious life and death scheme. The first-time director was awarded a Cannes Golden Special Mention Winner.
Another Cannes entry, Return to Seoul, also premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Award. Cambodian director, Davy Chou, who was previously a QCinema juror, sets his second feature in Korea where its main character’s journey to search for her biological parents takes a surprising turn.
From its Locarno world premiere, short filmmaker, Sorayos Prapapan, makes his feature debut with Arnold is a Model Student, which dwells on its titular math student character amidst the background of student protests and authoritarianism in Thai schools.
Autobiography, by first-time Indonesian director Makbul Mubarak, uses a fictitious election campaign as the backdrop for his moody thriller with metaphorical context. It was awarded the Orizzonti FIPRESCI Prize in Venice this year.
Closer to home, two Filipino titles complete the main competition. From its Cinemalaya premiere last August, Anna Isabelle Matutina’s 12 Weeks garnered the NETPAC Award. Headlined by its Best Actress award, Max Eigenmann, the debuting filmmaker’s character-driven story dwells on the harsh choices her pregnant character has to face.
With a world premiere in the Asian Next Wave competition, Elehiya(previously titled Mirador) tells the story of a grieving widow who returns home to her ancestral villa where she is haunted by memories of her failed marriage. Loy Arcenas makes a comeback with QCinema with Elehiya, his third feature. The film showcases the late iconic actress Cherie Gil, in her last screen performance,
This exciting roster of fresh directors from the region makes for a truly intense competition in QCinema, with its special 10th edition festival theme, “in10City”.
Bringing the superhero’s compelling origin story to the big screen for the first time, “Black Adam” is the No. 1 film in nearly every market in 76 territories, including the Philippines, United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and France. “Black Adam” also captured the No. 1 spot in the US with a $67 million debut.
In the Philippines, DC fans carried “Black Adam” to the top of the charts with a first-week gross of a badass P66.2-million, capturing a market share of 91%. The film gave Warner Bros. Philippines its biggest opening this year and in the pandemic era, as well as its highest debut since 2019’s “Joker.”
Ahead of the All-Saints Day long weekend, the epic superhero film is expected to continue dominating the box-office as moviegoers avail of the opportunity to go to the cinemas during the holiday.
“We’re so excited by the fantastic box-office success of `Black Adam,’” says Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. Philippines, the film’s local distributor. “The anticipation has been building with movie fans to finally see this origin story on the big screen and the audience has spoken — `Black Adam’ has exceeded their expectations.”
Indeed, the movie earned an Audience Score of 90% at review-aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with fans citing the mind-blowing action scenes, the incredibly likable Justice Society, the deadpan humor, and compelling story, plus the internet-breaking mid-credits scene that everyone’s talking about.
About “Black Adam”
From New Line Cinema, Dwayne Johnson stars in the action adventure “Black Adam.” The first-ever feature film to explore the story of the DC antihero comes to the big screen under the direction of Jaume Collet-Serra (“Jungle Cruise”).
In ancient Kahndaq, the slave Teth Adam was gifted the almighty powers of the gods. But he used those powers for vengeance and was imprisoned. Now, 5,000 years later, he is freed and once again wields his dark sense of justice onto the world. Refusing to surrender, Teth Adam is challenged by a team of modern day heroes known as the Justice Society— Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Atom Smasher and Cyclone—who seek to return him to eternal captivity.
Johnson stars alongside Aldis Hodge (“City on a Hill,” “One Night in Miami”) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi (“Sex/Life,” “Rush Hour 3”), Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express,” “Aladdin”), Quintessa Swindell (“Voyagers,” “Trinkets”) as Cyclone, Mohammed Amer (“Mo,” “Ramy”), Bodhi Sabongui (“A Million Little Things”), and Pierce Brosnan (the James Bond and “Mamma Mia!” franchises) as Doctor Fate.
Now playing in Philippine cinemas, “Black Adam” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #BlackAdam
Superman is back! British actor Henry Cavill has officially confirmed that he will be returning to the role of Clark Kent, also known as Superman, in the DC Comics’ extended cinematic universe (DCEU).
In a social media post, Cavill announced that he will be donning the iconic suit and cape once more. This comes after Superman was teased in Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s new superhero movie, Black Adam where the Man of Steel appears in a mid-credit scene.
Cavill confirmed that there’s more to come for Superman in the DCEU through social media, saying “the image that you see in this post, and what you saw in Black Adam, is just a very small taste of things to come.”
Henry Cavill last appeared as Superman in 2021’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League, director Snyder’s cut of the 2017 Justice League. Superman was also teased in 2019’s Shazam! movie, although the superhero only appeared from the neck down.
More details about Henry Cavill’s Superman are yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, the DCEU continues to release movies, with Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, and Blue Beetle making up their lineup of upcoming films.
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Warner Bros. Pictures has just released the extended theatrical trailer for Bones And All – starring Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, and Mark Rylance, from director Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me By Your Name”).
Check out the trailer now and see “Bones and All” only in cinemas across the Philippines starting November 23.
In “Bones and All,” first love finds Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee (Timothee Chalamet), an intense and disenfranchised drifter, as they meet and join together for a thousand-mile odyssey that takes them through the back roads, hidden passages, and trap doors of Ronald Reagan’s America. But despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their otherness.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, “Bones and All” stars Taylor Russell (“Escape Room”), Timothée Chalamet (“Dune”) and Mark Rylance (“Dunkirk”). Based on the novel by Camille DeAngelis, screenplay by David Kajganich.
“Bones and All” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company. Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #BonesAndAll
In time for this year’s Halloween, Ayala Malls Cinemas’ latest Thrillfest presents three of horror genre’s all-time greats that are best seen and experienced on the big screen. The horror films at the week-long event exclusively available at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide include “Poltergeist,” South Korea’s “Urban Myths” and “Halloween Ends.”
Poltergeist
The 1982 film “Poltergeist” is back on the big screen at Ayala Malls Cinemas, more terrifying than ever. Celebrating its 40th year since its cinema debut, the film is also considered the #OG of all #supernatural films. Written by Steven Spielberg, the film revolves around a California family who experiences strange and creepy happenings when ghosts manifest at home through the television set. Initially friendly and playful, the spirits turn unexpectedly malevolent and life-threatening.
Experience all these terrifying moments with an all-new heightened thrilling experience in Steven Spielberg’s “Poltergeist” at Ayala Malls 4DX screens at Greenbelt 3 and U.P. Town Center and the A-Giant screens at Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Ayala Malls Vertis North.
“Poltergeist” will be seen like never before as it resurrects after 40 years and now, in 4D. With breakthroughs in cinema technology, 4DX transforms the cinema into a haunted house with its motion seats coupled with surround sound, mist, wind, lighting, and scent effects to complete that paranormal experience. The audience will likewise experience an exhilarating thrilling cinematic experience at the A-Giant screens as it brings to life the iconic horror movie with an incredibly realistic projection and sharp sound features that heightens and complements every moment in the movie on that extra big screen.
Urban Myths
Left alone when night falls, what do you see and hear in the darkness? Fresh from the success of Ayala Malls’ Korean Film Festival and will again unspool horror this Halloween, you may have experienced one of “Urban Myths’” stories, with horror lurking in everyday familiar places. Featuring Korea’s famous actors in 10 horrifying stories – Shownu (MONSTA X), Lee Minhyuk (BTOB), JU Hak-nyeon (THE BOYZ), Seola (WJSN), Exy (WJSN), AleXa (Soompi’s Rising Legends), Kim Do-yoon (Hellbound/Peninsula), Seo Ji-soo (LOVELYZ), Arin (OH MY GIRL), Bong Jae-hyun (GOLDEN CHILD), Lee Soo-min (The Dude in Me), Lee Yul-eum (The King), Jung Won-chang (Midnight), Oh Ryoong (Special Delivery), Lee Ho-won (Reply 1997), and Rie Young-zin (Juror), the movie reminds us of the ghosts in our heads and the strange things we experience all around us.
Ayala Malls Cinemas lets you in on the fear of survival as evil is unmasked and the danger draws closer to home in “Halloween Ends.”. More than four decades after its cinema debut, the highly successful franchise “Halloween” finally meets its terrifying conclusion in “Halloween Ends,” where Jamie Lee Curtis is back in her final face-off with Myers, ultimately determining only one survivor.
Halloween Ends
Filling in your thrills this Halloween season, catch Ayala Malls Cinemas’ Thrillfest from October 26 – November 1 at Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Market!Market!, TriNoma, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Marquee, Harbor Point, Centrio, Fairview Terraces, Bonifacio High Street, Ayala Malls Solenad, Ayala Malls Legazpi, U.P. Town Center, Ayala Malls 30th, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit and Ayala Malls Capitol Central Bacolod.
The first trailer for the upcoming Marvel Studios film, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, is finally here! Aside from the introduction of Cassie Lang into the Ant-Family, the trailer also reveals the next big villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole: Kang The Conqueror.
Watch the trailer for Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania below:
In the trailer, Cassie’s attempt to contact the Quantum Realm goes south, and the group including her father Scott, Hope, Hank, and Janet were sucked into the machine and they find themselves lost in the Quantum Realm. As they find their way out of this perilous place, they are met by Kang, who offers them a way out– a deal that comes with a price.
Jonathan Majors first appeared as Kang in the Marvel series Loki, where he noted that there are variants of him in the multiverse that are more unforgiving, and it seems that Ant-Man is meeting one of them. In July, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige also announced one of the next two Avengers films to be Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, teasing Kang’s bigger role in the MCU.
Peyton Reed returns to direct the third installment of the Ant-Man films. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer are reprising their roles in the film, while Kathryn Newton and Bill Murray are also joining the cast alongside Jonathan Majors.
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is set for release in US theaters on February 17, 2023. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
Columbia Pictures and Escape Artists has commenced filming on The Equalizer 3 – the third Robert McCall action thriller film, written by Richard Wenk, based on the television series created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim.
The Equalizer 3 is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #TheEqualizer3
On its 10th edition, slated from November 17-26, 2022, QCinema International Film Festival celebrates the classics anew. Newly restored versions of unforgettable films by two celebrated directors will be screened in the festival.
Mike de Leon’s classic movies Itim (The Rites of May) (1976), which is also his debut feature, and Kisapmata(In the Wink of an Eye) (1981) will be screened in QCinema’s Digitally Restored Classic Section together with Wong Kar-wai’s romantic drama In The Mood for Love (2000).
The new restoration of Itim premiered recently at Cannes Film Festival at the Cannes Classic section wherein a special selection of best restored prints is shown to encourage people to explore the history of cinema around the world.
The film, which was voted the best film of the decade (1970-1979) by Gawad Urian, stars Charo Santos, her first film project, together with Tommy Abuel, Mario Montenegro, and Mona Lisa.
The 107-minute psychological drama follows the story of a young photographer from Manila who returns to his hometown to visit his paralyzed father. During the visit, he documents the local Holy Week rites, and meets Teresa, a mysterious woman who is haunted by her sister’s death.
Kisapmata, another Mike de Leon gripping masterpiece, is based on the murder-suicide case of the Cabading family in 1961. It was inspired by Nick Joaquin’s crime report “The House on Zapote Street. ” Using his pen name Quijano de Manila, Joaquin’s account was published by the Philippine Free Press magazine. De Leon’s film is labeled as one of the most horrifying films in Philippine cinema history.
The multi-awarded film also stars Charo Santos, with Vic Silayan, Jay Ilagan, and Charito Solis.
Aside from QCinema, the films will also have screenings at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), which is doing a Mike de Leon retrospective entitled “Mike de Leon, Self-Portrait of a Filipino Filmmaker” the entire month of November. MoMA, in its website, revered Mike de Leon as “one of Filipino cinema’s most fiercely political and dramatic storytellers in his own right.”
Completing the QCinema’s Digitally Restored Classics section is the 4K restored version of 2000 romantic drama In The Mood for Love by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, who is best known for the non-linear narratives and unique cinematography in his films.
Considered by many as one of the best romantic movies ever made, the film stars Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, who play two brokenhearted people finding solace in each other’s company. The film is also often listed as one of the greatest films of all time and one of the major works of Asian cinema.
The restored version was first presented in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its release in 2020 and has played to sold-out cinema screenings and festivals around the world.
Discover what can happen when you let life in. See Tom Hanks as Otto in the official trailer of Columbia Pictures’ heartwarming comedy/drama “A Man Called Otto,” in Philippine cinemas 2023.
Trailer Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Based on the comical and moving # 1 New York Times bestseller, A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grumpy widower who is very set in his ways. When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that will turn his world upside-down. Experience a funny, heartwarming story about how some families come from the most unexpected places.
Poster Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland), A Man Called Otto stars Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Cast Away), Mariana Treviño (Club the Cuervos), Rachel Keller (Fargo) and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (TheMagnificent Seven). The screenplay is written by Academy Award® nominee David Magee (Best Adapted Screenplay, Life of Pi, 2012; Best Adapted Screenplay, Finding Neverland, 2004) based upon the best-selling novel “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. The film is also based on the Swedish film written and directed by Hannes Holm. The film is being produced by Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Fredrik Wikström Nicastro.
In Philippine cinemas 2023, A Man Called Otto is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #AManCalledOtto
