Max’s Restaurant, the iconic Filipino restaurant chain famous for its Sarap-to-the-Bones® Fried Chicken is excited and can’t wait for its upcoming 77th anniversary this October, and that’s why it’s already bringing back the much-anticipated All-You-Can. Diners can enjoy this early celebration surprise on Sept 16-18 and 23-25.
Weekends just got better because each plate comes with the following Max’s favorites to maximize everyone’s dining experience.
Sarap-to-The-Bones Fried Chicken: Two piece Fried Chicken best enjoyed with Max’s Banana Ketchup with a dash of hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
Max’s Sizzling Tofu: Delectable tofu cubes with chopped onions and bell peppers, sauteed in a special sauce, and topped with chili.
Chicken Sisig: A flavorful mix of chopped Max’s Fried Chicken and chicken liver, topped with chili, onions, and celery.
Chicken Lumpiang Shanghai: Tasty ground chicken and select spices rolled in lumpia wrapper and deep-fried to perfection.
Each serving also comes with plain rice to complete the hefty meal. All-You-Can plate will be refilled after first serving is consumed. The offer is valid for dine-in transactions only in all stores nationwide.
For more information, visit the official Facebook page at @MaxsRestaurant and use the hashtags #MaxsAllYouCan and #EveryDayToTheMax
Repertory Philippines (REP) is reopening its theater doors with the reimagining of the Broadway hit Carousel. The musical is set to run from November 26 to December 18,2022 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, making it one of the first shows to run at the Cultural Center of Philippines’ Black Box Theater.
With Music by Richard Rogers and Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Carousel was an instant hit to both critics and audiences alike and proceeded to win the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical. It was also dubbed the greatest musical of the 20th century by Time Magazine, and its revivals won several Tony Awards.
Carousel tells a romantic tale between the carnival barker Billy Bigelow and millworker Julie Jordan. In REP’s Carousel, Billy will be played by Gian Magdangal and Julie will be played by Karylle Tatlonghari. It is directed by Toff De Venecia who brings a bold, brave vision for the new generation of theatergoers.
“Today, we stand on the shoulders of giants and take on the challenge of reimagining this classic musical for contemporary Filipino audiences,” said De Venecia in a statement. “Featuring new artistic voices and talent as well as post-modern perspectives, the team boldly dreams up what ‘the best musical of the 20th century’ might look like today. It’s a radical departure from previous iterations, even from what we set out to do in 2020. We draw inspiration from Filipino creativity and the words of the original choreographer and dancer Agnes de Mille – that is, ‘taking leap after leap in the dark.’ This will be the ultimate 21st century test for a 20th century text.”
REP’s Carousel was originally scheduled for a May 2020 debut, and was set to signal REP’s transition to more progressive, dynamic, and culturally relevant theatrical productions under the leadership of Artistic Director Liesl Batucan-Del Rosario.
“I am ecstatic for Repertory Philippines as we return to the live stage and bring the fulfillment of a promise to our REP audiences and communities. It is doubly exhilarating to be able to present Carousel at the newly unboxed Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez CCP Black Box Theater, through a generous venue grant from the Cultural Center of the Philippines no less. I am beyond excited for Toff’s innovative post-modern contemporary take on Carousel that I know will connect and link this absolutely timeless and deeply relevant material to a new audience,” stated the Artistic Director.
Catch Carousel starting November 26 at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. Tickets will be available through the CCP Box Office, TicketWorld, and SM Tickets. Ticket prices are P3,000 for VIP seats, P2,500 for rows 1 & 3, P2,000 for row 4, P1,500 for row 5, and P1,000 for row 6. For queries, you can message Repertory Philippines on its Facebook and Instagram pages, or email info@repphil.org.
Netflix has released the first trailer for their live-action movie adaptation of the bestselling books series, The School for Good and Evil.
The upcoming fantasy film comes from Bridesmaids and Ghostbusters: Answer the Call director Paul Feig, and will bring the beloved characters of Sophie and Agatha to life. Watch the trailer for The School for Good and Evil below:
Based on the book series of the same name by Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil follows the best friends Sophie and Agatha. While Sophie dreams of becoming a princess, the grim Agatha has the makings of a real witch. One night under a blood-red moon, the two were swept away and brought to the School for Good and Evi– where stories of the great fairy tales begin.
However, the two find themselves in the wrong schools– with Sophie in the School for Evil and Agatha in the School for Good. As they try to correct this mistake and switch schools, a dangerous figure with mysterious ties to Sophie emerges, threatening to destroy the school and the world beyond entirely.
The series stars Sophia Anne Caruso as Sophie and Sofia Wylie as Agatha. Also joining the cast are Kerry Washington, Charlize Theron, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Flatters, Kit Young, Peter Serafinowicz, Rob Delaney, Mark Heap, Patti LuPone, and Rachel Bloom.
The film will start streaming on Netflix on October 19. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
Always make a scene. Watch the new trailer for Paramount Pictures’ Babylon starring Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Diego Calva. In cinemas across the Philippines January 2023.
Trailer courtesy of Paramount Pictures International
To coincide with the trailer launch, Paramount has also revealed the character posters of the principal cast. Check them out below.
Paramount Pictures Presents A Marc Platt / Wild Chickens / Organism Pictures Production A Damien Chazelle Film BABYLON.
Posters courtesy of Paramount Pictures International
From Damien Chazelle, BABYLON is an original epic set in 1920s Los Angeles led by Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Diego Calva, with an ensemble cast including Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li and Jean Smart. A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, produced by Marc Platt, Matthew Plouffe, Olivia Hamilton, executive produced by Michael Beugg, Tobey Maguire, Wyck Godfrey, Helen Estabrook, Adam Siegel
Posters courtesy of Paramount Pictures International
Starring Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li, P.J. Byrne, Lukas Haas, Olivia Hamilton, Tobey Maguire, Max Minghella, Rory Scovel, Katherine Waterston, Flea, Jeff Garlin, Eric Roberts, Ethan Suplee, Samara Weaving, Olivia Wilde
Babylon is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Connect with #BabylonMovie and tag @paramountpicsph
Netflix has unveiled the trailer for their new anime series, Exception. Tagged as a sci-fi horror set in space, the trailer also teases some emotional tidbits from the upcoming series, as it begs the question– what is a human?
Watch the official trailer for Netflix’s Exception below:
Featuring an original story, the series is set in the far future where Earth is forced to move its population to another galaxy. To do this, a scouting team comprised of biologically 3D-printed crew members are sent to space to search for a planet suitable for terraforming. However, a system malfunction creates a “misprint” of the crew member Lewis, and the deformed creature compromises the mission.
The anime series has an all-star staff including writer Hirotaka Adachi aka Otsuichi (Stare, Summer Ghost), character designer Yoshitaka Amano (Vampire Hunter D, Sandman: The Dream Hunters), composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (The Revenant), and director Yuzo Sato (Hunter X Hunter: Phantom Rouge, Akagi).
Exception is coming to Netflix on October 13. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
Marvel Studios is set to release a horror special this Halloween on Disney+! Titled Werewolf By Night, the special’s first teaser trailer gave us a glimpse of its scenes in black and white that emulate the classics, a gimmick akin to what WandaVision pulled off in its first episodes.
What sets it apart though, is that instead of a sitcom, the special will follow the formula of classic horror– from the musical score to the camera framing, and even the practical effects. Check out the teaser trailer for Werewolf By Night below:
A monster feature and superhero story in one, this special revolves around the werewolf Jack Russell, who debuted on 1972’s Marvel Spotlight #2 and soon got his own comic book series, Werewolf By Night. As the teaser has revealed, the new show will also feature the Man-Thing and Elsa Bloodstone.
Check out the official synopsis for the Disney+ special below:
On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader,” the synopsis reads. “In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.
Directed by composer Michael Giacchino, Werewolf By Night stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Laura Donnelly. It is set for release on Disney+ this October 7.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
As it marks its 53rd year this September and emerges from the two-year pandemic, the Cultural Center of the Philippines opened the doors of the new Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box) on September 8 with an inaugural show featuring excerpts of the first performance season.
Slated at the new venue are the CCP Special Concert Series, Tanghalang Pilipino’s Anak Datu, CCP Triple Threats Series, Ang Dakilang Teatro ng Daigdig, Carousel and Ternocon.
Coming 30 years after the last building was erected in the complex, the new state-of-the-art and world-class performing arts space represents CCP’s leap into the future, keeping it relevant with the times.
At the inauguration, the new building was blessed in Christian and Muslim rites; its logo unveiled as well.
The logo, according to B + C, the company that designed it, extracted its shape and colors from Philippine indigenous weaves. “It represents the bold new works that will take place at the venue—progressive, experimental, fluid, contemporary. In effect, ‘out of the box’.”
The new building takes its name from the businessman whose generosity made it possible and from the theater term that refers to a performance space, bound by four walls, but offering both flexibility and versatility, with seats, and painted black.
Businessman Ignacio Gimenez, once a scholar of National Artist for Theater Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero, donated the building to CCP to honor his mentor as his way of giving back to the Filipino people, and to encourage local business community leaders to engage more in Philippine theater. Together with his brother Roberto Olanday, the funding for the construction of the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez was made possible.
The building took three years to finish with the support and administrative assistance of the Leandro V. Locsin Partners. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in January 2016 and construction of the building commenced in 2017.
In 2019, delegates to the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres’ Manila Conference hosted by the CCP went on a Hard Hat tour to get a glimpse of this modern theater then still in the making.
Located on the corner of Jalandoni and Sotto Streets, the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box) is a three-level structure with a flexible theater expanse that can be adjusted to artistic and technical needs of live productions of concerts, recitals, plays, and other live events, such as arts conventions, workshops, and exhibitions.
Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box) boasts of at least four flexible stage and seating configurations, a removable trap door, a portable dance floor, and a high-end sound and light technology system. Its catwalk offers provisions to accommodate lighting, sound, video equipment, and additional drapery. It also has various orchestra and choral risers, as well as aluminum trusses, which can be used for rigging stage sets and designs. The loading dock can accommodate a 20-foot container truck. A carpentry area with a high ceiling can accommodate tall scenic pieces. An acoustically treated door separates the Carpentry Area from the Performance space.
The new building is compliant with the Magna Carta for the Disabled. It is equipped with high-speed data/internet or ethernet connection that can be used to enhance audience experiences.
The inauguration of the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez is a welcome development to the Center as the CCP Main Building will be closed for rehabilitation from 2023-2024.
For more information, visit the CCP (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates.
The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. Some things are worth fighting for…
The Agojie warriors were made up of women with varied backgrounds from villages across the region, who came together to form an unbreakable sisterhood. As director Gina Prince-Bythewood prepared to shoot in South Africa, she sought to mirror that in her cast. “I wanted to build an ensemble that represented the incredible diversity of our Diaspora,” she says. “We have Thuso Mbedu, who is from South Africa; Lashana Lynch, who’s Jamaican; and Sheila Atim, who comes from the UK, but is also Ugandan. We have women from West Africa, and African American women. That was all intentional, to bring us all together to tell the story of us. I love the energy that it brought to set.”
Viola Davis & John Boyega (Courtesy of Columbia Pictures)
Viola Davis is Nanisca, the Agojie general. “Nanisca is the leader, the grizzled warrior, the woman who has quietly risen in the ranks to a level of power. She understands how to play the political game in her world,” explains producer Dana Stevens. “She has the job to train younger warriors to come up under her to protect those young women as well to train them in a way that they can protect themselves on the battlefield.”
Thuso Mbedu is Nawi. In a village outside the walls of the palace is Nawi, a young, orphaned girl who has had to learn self-sufficiency, she has resisted all of her adoptive father’s attempts to have her married off. When he realizes that her fate is to never marry or have children, he delivers her to the palace, where she is handed over to the Agojie.
Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch & Sheila Atim (Courtesy of Columbia Pictures)
Lashana Lynch is Izogie. At the palace, Nawi meets Izogie, an Agojie lieutenant who also had entered the sisterhood under troubled circumstances, and – identifying with Nawi – nurtures and mentors the young girl. “In order for a Black woman to be strong – it comes from something,” says Lynch. “It comes from vulnerability, it comes from pain, it comes from trauma – and I think they did such a great job in balancing this real, strong, fierce, skilled woman, with a woman who has to advocate for herself once she’s empowered by her chosen family.”
Sheila Atim is Amenza. Once Nanisca’s captive servant, Amenza is now the general’s right hand in the Agojie army. As a result of their long-standing friendship, Amenza and Nanisca share a strong bond and a deep secret.
‘The Woman King’ Ensemble (Courtesy of Columbia Pictures)
John Boyega is King Ghezo. Having recently staged a successful coup – with the help of the Agojie warriors – which deposed his brother from his reign, Ghezo is new to the throne. “He is a conflicted young king who is dealing with the variance of decisions,” says Boyega. “This is a very complicated time in his history. After a controversial rise to the throne, he’s at a point where leadership and decision-making is going to mean everything for the future of the Dahomey people.”
The Woman King is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #TheWomanKing
One of the biggest anime series, One Piece, is set to release a new film this week! Aside from bringing us into another large-scale adventure with the Straw Hat Pirates, One Piece Film: Red also teases a closer look into the life of Red-Haired Shanks who, despite having a huge role in Luffy’s life and the world of One Piece in general, has remained mysterious for the most part of the series.
Watch the trailer for One Piece Film: Red below:
Below are some facts about One Piece Film: Red that you might want to know before you see it on the big screen!
1. Shanks has a daughter.
The official trailer and synopsis of the film revealed that the plot will center on Uta, the daughter of Shanks. Uta is the most beloved singer in the world whose identity remained a mystery to the public until it was announced that she’ll be holding her first live concert, which will draw pirates from different parts of the world, including the Straw Hats. The story will also reunite Uta and Luffy, as it is revealed that the two have already met 12 years ago.
Photo: One Piece Film: Red trailer
2. Eiichiro Oda works with Goro Taniguchi and Tsutomu Kuroiwa again.
There have been 14 films before Red, but this is only the second time that the manga creator, Eiichiro Oda, is serving as a producer after One Piece Film: Strong World. Also serving as supervisor for the film, Oda is joined by Goro Taniguchi who directed the film and Tsutomu Kuroiwa who wrote it.
Prior to Red, Taniguchi worked on the One Piece special One Piece:Defeat The Pirate Ganzack while Kuroiwa wrote One Piece Film: Gold and the special One Piece: Heart of Gold.
3. Oda got tired of drawing old men so he made Uta.
In a statement on the film’s website, Eiichiro Oda jokingly wrote: “I’m tired of drawing legendary old men in movies LOL! Let me draw a girl!” Adding that it was how the character of Uta was created. Oda is most likely talking about Shiki, Z, Gild Tesoro, and Douglas Bullet who headlined some of the most recent One Piece films.
Photo: One Piece Film: Red trailer
4. Uta is voiced by a famous singer who also hides her face.
Bringing Uta to life is the voice of Ado, a real-life singer who, like her character in the film, hides her identity from the public. In 2020, the 17-year-old Ado made her debut with the digital single Usseewa which garnered 100 million views on YouTube in less than five months. The new film’s soundtrack album, Uta No Uta, contains Ado’s performances of the seven songs Uta sang in the movie.
5. The film adds another huge milestone for the franchise.
This year marked multiple milestones for One Piece. Aside from celebrating its 25th anniversary, the series has also released its 1000th episode. One Piece Film: Red also adds to these milestones, being the first film from the franchise to surpass 10 billion yen box office and number 1 in ticket sales.
Photo: One Piece Film: Red trailer
— One Piece Film: Redopens in cinemas nationwide this Saturday, September 17.
When Harry Styles had his first musical fame, he could have made a smooth transition into Hollywood leading man roles. But he’s never had any interest in doing things the easy way. Instead, he made his film debut as a character actor, with a supporting role in 2017’s “Dunkirk,” the Oscar-nominated World War II drama from Christopher Nolan.
Styles says of the film, “I think, in general, this is about relationships, and trust, and betrayal, and love, and passion, and sex, and the sun, and… Palm Springs.”
Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
In “Don’t Worry Darling,” Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Styles) are lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. The 1950’s societal optimism espoused by their CEO, Frank (Chris Pine) anchors every aspect of daily life in the tight-knit desert utopia. But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath the attractive façade, Alice can’t help questioning exactly what they’re doing in Victory, and why.
Director Olivia Wilde says, “Casting Jack was really tricky, because we wanted to find someone who would be a worthy scene partner to Florence Pugh. We also wanted someone who wasn’t what we might typically identify as a 1950s traditional man. We wanted their relationship to seem singular. That he wasn’t a stereotypical ‘master of the house,’ that their love seemed genuine, authentic and warm—you’d immediately recognize it to be special within Victory. Jack and Alice are different.”
Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Having seen “Dunkirk” and been impressed with the performance of Harry Styles, Wilde inquired after his availability for the project. “I thought, here was someone who has tremendous presence, intelligence, and honestly, fearlessness.”
After meeting with filmmakers, Styles signed on to play the role, with mutual excitement between Styles and Pugh to inhabit the couple at the center of the movie.
Styles explains, “Jack Chambers is a husband. He loves his wife, and he wants to go to work and then come home and hang out with Alice. In that way, he’s pretty run-of-the-mill. It’s the very traditional stereotype of an old-school, perfect marriage. While he works, she’s at home, cleaning and cooking. But, he loves his wife more than anything in the world. I think they’re obsessed with each other. It’s kind of an ‘us against the world’ relationship.”
Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
For Styles, that world is one of both lulling, seductive beauty and an opportunity cost: “Victory represents the sheltered kind of life that allows you to stay in your ultimate comfort zone. You can ignore all the problems in the world, and some people are okay with that. I think for everyone, it’s a safe, easy, comfortable little bubble. They think everything’s perfect, but the world isn’t like that. It has consequences. People inside those kind of bubbles, they don’t want to know about the consequences. I think that’s what Victory represents—a willingness to be ignorant to the rest of the world.”
A New Line Cinema presentation, “Don’t Worry Darling” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to open in cinemas across the Philippines on September 28. Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #DontWorryDarling
