Planning a Filipino movie marathon soon? Switch your channel to Cinema One this July as they are airing a variety of must-watch movies to add to your binge list!
Starring Kathryn Bernardo, Maricar Reyes, Eugene Domingo, Zanjoe Marudo, Sam Concepcion, Edgar Allan Guzman, Louise delos Reyes July 07
Three tales of terror: a malevolent storm drowns the city; a man brings his family to a remote family ranch, and soon encounters the supernatural; a group of witches brings terror to an unsuspecting populace.
Joko is trying to help his family survive while Zoey is trying to prove herself to the world. The two compete when they find out that Sasha is looking for a new personal assistant.
Two moms are drawn into direct conflict when their children announce their intentions to get married. The mothers have to put aside their differences, however, when they are both marooned on a distant island.
Starring Markki Stroem, Archie Alemania, RK Bagatsing, Sef Cadayona July 31
Three gay men throwing a Miss Universe viewing party find themselves in a strange situation when they manage to knock out and restrain an intruder in their home.
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For more Cinema One movies this July and for daily schedules of Cinema One, click Here. Subscribe to Cinema One’s Youtube Channel for free full movies! Click Here: Bit.Ly/Cinemaoneonyoutube
[Note: Channel schedules and movie lineup are subject to change without prior notice]
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 film, ELVIS is set to arrive on all digital music platforms this June 24, 2022 (Friday) via RCA Records/Sony Music.
Aside from the classic Presley cuts originally recorded by the rock superstar, the compilation will also feature previously released tracks by Doja Cat, Eminem, and Måneskin, as well as reimagined versions by Tame Impala, Jazmine Sullivan, Swae Lee & Diplo, Kacey Musgraves, and more.
Austin Butler, the American actor who plays the titular role, contributes four tracks in the soundtrack, including “Trouble,” a remake of Presley’s bluesy 1958 smash.
Other prominent songs highlighted in the OST include Måneskin’s version of Elvis Presley ’s “If I Can Dream,” Eminem and CeeLo Green’s collaborative track “The King and I,” Swae Lee and Diplo’s recently dropped tune “Tupelo Shuffle,” and Doja Cat’s Billboard Hot 100 hit “Vegas,” whose extravagant and colorful visualsearned widespread acclaim from critics and fans.
ELVIS is an epic, big-screen spectacle from visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann that explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).
The soundtrack features Elvis’s extraordinary body of work spanning the 1950s, `60s and `70s, while also celebrating his diverse musical influences and enduring impact on popular artists today.
Complete track list:
1. Suspicious Minds (Vocal Intro) – Elvis Presley
2. Also Sprach Zarathustra/American Trilogy – Elvis Presley
3. Vegas – Doja Cat
4. The King and I – Eminem & CeeLo Green
5. Tupelo Shuffle – Swae Lee & Diplo
6. I Got A Feelin’ In My Body – Elvis Presley and Stuart Price
12. Cotton Candy Land – Stevie Nicks & Chris Isaak
13. Baby, Let’s Play House – Austin Butler
14. I’m Coming Home (Film Mix) – Elvis Presley
15. Hound Dog – Shonka Dukureh
16. Tutti Frutti – Les Greene
17. Strange Things Are Happening Every Day – Yola
18. Hound Dog – Austin Butler
19. Let It All Hang Out – Denzel Curry
20. Trouble – Austin Butler
21. I Got A Feelin’ In My Body – Lenesha Randolph
22. Edge of Reality (Tame Impala Remix) – Elvis Presley & Tame Impala
23. Summer Kisses/In My Body – Elvis Presley
24. ’68 Comeback Special (Medley) – Elvis Presley
25. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child – Jazmine Sullivan
26. If I Can Dream – Elvis Presley
27. Any Day Now – Elvis Presley
28. Power of My Love – Elvis Presley & Jack White
29. Vegas Rehearsal/That’s All Right – Austin Butler & Elvis Presley
30. Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
31. Polk Salad Annie (Film Mix) – Elvis Presley
32. Burning Love (Film Mix) – Elvis Presley
33. It’s Only Love – Elvis Presley
34. Suspicious Minds – Paravi
35. In the Ghetto (World Turns Remix) – Elvis Presley & Nardo Wick
36. Unchained Melody – Elvis Presley
The ELVIS biopic recently opened in Philippine cinemas last June 22, 2022.
To promote Baz Luhrmann’s “ELVIS” movie and the “ELVIS (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” to the Filipino audience, Sony Music Philippines, in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures and Ayala Malls, will be holding a mall show at the Activity Center of Ayala Malls Fairview Terraces on June 26 (Sunday). Dubbed ELVIS: Celebrating His Life Through Music and More, the music event will feature songs from the movie itself, as well as performances from some of the country’s top music acts: EJ De Perio, Jarlo Base, Mars Mango, and Nobody’s Home.
In the third edition of the annual Pride Conversations event, Google powered a live social media discussion on how tech is making a difference in the lives of the LGBTQ+ community by celebrating their inspiring stories, promoting allyship, and building safe spaces.
Tech as a catalyst for cultural change
Among the panelists is Cebuana trans pinay beauty queen and model Maki Gingoyon, co-founder of MyTransgenderDate.com, a dating site for transgender women. According to Maki, creating a safe dating space for trans women is what inspired her to bring the dating site to life.
(L-R, from first row) Google’s Jolly Estaris, First Circle’s Cristina del Rosario, PageUp’s Mark Lacsamana, Ticket2Me’s Darwin Mariano, MyTransgenderDate.com’s Maki Gingoyon, XSplit’s Samantha Rose Cruz, and Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan gather and share inspiring stories for the third installment of Google’s Pride Conversations.
“Trans women venture on online dating sites hoping to find a partner who could accept us for who we are, who could love us for who we are. However, the sad reality of transgender dating sites back then was very, very discouraging–transwomen were presented as merely sexual objects,” she said.
Maki also believes that through this platform, she and her co-founder can stop the stigma on transgender relationships and promote accepting love in all its forms.
In the same light, telling stories with hopeful endings is what Darwin Mariano brings to the table as a producer and founder of ticket solutions platform Ticket2Me. Together with director Jade Castro and writer Danice Mae Sison, they created the popular Boys Love series, Boys Lockdown(2020), a story about two boys who connect while living under strict lockdowns due to the pandemic.
“Many of the LGBTQ+ stories told during my time were dark–they died of AIDS, heartbroken, or abused. That’s why we created Boys Lockdown–we want to make stories where young [LGBTQ+] people can see that they can have their own kilig love stories,” Darwin said.
Darwin also saw how platforms like YouTube are invaluable in telling those stories to the world.
“As producers, we really want to tell these stories but the challenge is monetizing and supporting these content with a business model that keeps you producing. This is where a platform like Google’s YouTube is important–it allows us to extend the life of the content when we upload it to our YouTube channel,” he added.
Building safe spaces in tech
There may be safe spaces in tech but the reality is that it took–and takes–a lot of effort to get there.
For Jolly Estaris, Video and Media Sales Lead at Google Philippines, creating safe spaces within their companies is important to give more visibility to the LGBTQ+ community in tech–this is why in 2018 he set up a group called Pride@Tech that includes Pride members & allies from the local tech community. He is also proud of how Google celebrates LGBTQ+ at the workplace through its long-term programs, policies, and benefits.
“Within Google, there are a number of helpful resources and SOGIE101 training that help educate Googlers about the LGBTQ+ community and allyship,” shared Jolly. “We are also empowered to set our preferred pronouns in our work profiles which is important to foster respect among each other. Small things like that really help in creating a more inclusive work environment.”
Similarly, Samantha Rose Cruz agrees that It’s in simple things like respecting one’s preferred pronouns and gender identity that we can move towards LGBTQ+ equality, and this is something that she is working on as a product designer for live streaming platform XSplit.
“Being part of the community has helped me develop empathy and see my work through other people’s eyes and address the diverse needs of our users and build a product for everyone,” she said.
Some of the ways she is doing that is by designing forms that do away with referring to other gender orientations as “others”. Instead, she consciously puts a text box where people can write their gender identity.
Being people who have often been discriminated against, this has led the community to be more emphatic and understanding not only in addressing the needs of their members but also people from all walks of life.
“For the LGBTQ+ people who are working in tech, we are actually the ones sitting there and understanding what can be dangerous for people because that’s the reality we have to face: which of the things we make can create great things and which ones can cause harm. We’re searchlights, we can see in the dark, that’s our superpower,” Mark Lacsamana, UI Design Lead at PageUp, an enterprise talent management platform.
The same is true for Cristina del Rosario, Head of Design at the fintech company First Circle, who ensures that all of her designs are universal and usable for other communities often overlooked in tech and design.
“How can I design a product that works wonderfully? For everybody, including people who might be colorblind or people with low literacy or people who have never used a smartphone before? And so being part of the LGBTQ+ community, helps me understand other communities and pushes me to design better products,” she explained.
Miss Mela Habijan, the first ever Miss Trans Global 2020 and now a beacon of light for LGBTQ+, also shared how tech has helped find her space and voice when the world once told her that she is “not enough” just because she was born biologically male.
“Sabi ng mundo, kapag LGBTQIA+ ka, wala kang karapatan mangarap. Kaya akala ko, wala akong puwang sa mundo para lumago, maging buo, lalong higit maging ako. Little did I know, I would meet three fairy godmothers along the way: social media, digital world, and tech,” shared Mela.
“Ninang tech became my space of freedom and empowerment, while Ninang digital world was an open-minded platform which did not judge me as different. Instead, Ninang digital world saw my being trans and my being LGBTQIA+ as a leverage of potential. And finally, Ninang social media–she is a democratic arena that allowed me to seize opportunities for me to believe in myself: that I can be my best, that I can be talented.”
To know more about their stories, watch the full live stream of the event on Google Philippines’ YouTube and Facebook pages.
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Areais coming to Netflix this Friday! The new show is the K-drama adaptation of the hit series from Spain, which follows a gang of thieves taking over the Mint of a unified Korean Peninsula.
Watch the trailer for Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area below:
Synopsis
Set in a fictional Korea where the borders between the North and the South have been removed, this series follows the criminal mastermind known as the Professor who gathers a group of professionals to pull off the biggest heist in the mint of the unified peninsula.
Clad in red jumpsuits and traditional Hahoe masks, the group must handle their hostages from inside the mint while the authorities surround them from every corner.
The series is directed by Kim Hong-sun and written by Ryu Yong-jae. It is based on the Spanish TV series Money Heist or La Casa de Papel created by Álex Pina.
Cast & Characters
Yoo Ji-tae (When My Love Blooms) as the Professor
Jung Jong-seo (The Call) as Tokyo
Park Hae-soo (Squid Game) as Berlin
Lee Hyun-woo (The Liar and his Lover) as Rio
Lee Won-jong (My Unfamiliar Family)as Moscow
Kim Ji-hun (Flower of Evil) as Denver
Jang Yoon-ju (Citizen Deok Hee) as Nairobi
Kim Ji-hun (Chimera) as Helsinki
Lee Kyu-ho (The Good Detective) as Oslo
Kim Yunjin (Confession) as Seon Woojin
Lee Joobeen (Doctor Lawyer) as Yun Misun
Park Myung-hoon (Parasite) as Cho Youngmin
Kim Seung-o (Graceful Friends) as Cha Moohyuk
On adapting the Spanish series into a Korean Drama
In a recent press conference for the series, writer Ryu Yong-jae and director Kim Hong-sun shared their first impressions on the original series and how they ended up making a Korean adaptation for it.
“When I watched season 1 and 2 of the original Spanish series, I was very much intrigued, and I became a big, big fan,” shares Ryu. “So I was sure I wanted to make a remake of it. And because it’s a Netflix original series, I can’t just buy the copyright for it, they have to offer me the job. And we knew that we could twist this into a Korean tale, and we pondered a lot. And then, we showed our plan to the original creator and we talked a lot with Netflix, and we were able to make it into a Korean tale.”
Director Kim also adds: “I saw the original for the first time in 2018, and I thought that there were so many characters in the show, but what’s amazing is that all of them have their own personalities and charms, and it was just so fun to watch them all. And I knew that the characters would be very intriguing whenever and wherever they would be placed in. So I thought, if we translate the background and characters into something Korean, I thought we could give birth to something novel. And that’s how we started.”
Photo: Jung Jaegu/Netflix
A unique tale set in a unified Korea
Asked what their comments are on the premise of this Korean adaptation, actress Kim Yunjin says: “Well, the original series is so popular, so I was unsure of whether we should actually make it in the start because I felt a lot of pressure. But unfortunately, Korea is the only divided country left on the world and we were able to create something by compressing all the good essence of the original and writer Ryu actually created a really beautiful script. And reading the script, I thought that I would be able to do this because the script is so good.”
The Professor, Yoo Ji-tae also says: “It is a show with great fandom, I know, but a great story would be told well in any situation, any country, I thought. And Korean content is now beloved by so many people around the world, and that is probably because Korean content creators have really clever ideas and smart approaches. And that was of course done on this show as well. I mean, our own charms and our own sense of humor are all infused in the show.”
The meaning behind the Hahoe mask
Money Heist‘s mask based on the Spanish artist Salvador Dali has become iconic since the rise of the show’s popularity around the world. Now, the Korean version of the Money Heist gang will be wearing the traditional Korean mask of Hahoe.
Berlin actor Park Hae-soo explains the meaning behind the new disguise: “In Spain, the Dali mask was used to send the message of freedom, and in Korea, we used the Hahoe mask from the Andong area, and Hahoe mask has some significance to it. It is embodying the criticism of the powerful, and it has the sense of humor in it as well. And when the mask was first brought to me, I actually felt this sense of overwhelming power when the mask is worn by every member of the cast. It has different angles from the center and from the side as well. I mean, the look that the mask is portraying from different angles may seem quite different, so that is something that intrigued me.”
Lee Hyun-woo who plays Rio also shares how the mask gives him confidence during filming.
“When you put on the Hahoe mask, people can’t see your facial expressions. So somehow, I got a little more confident so I could act a little more boldly when I’m behind the mask. And when we’re in the red jumpsuit altogether and when we’re standing together, that kind of uniformity gives that camaraderie. So I felt backed up and I felt more energetic when I was wearing the red jumpsuit,” said Hyun-woo.
The Professor and Seon Woojin
In the original series, we got to see the complex relationship between the Professor and Spanish Police Inspector Raquel Murillo. In the Korean adaptation, the heist’s mastermind will go against Seon Woojin.
“Seon Woojin is a senior inspector at the Gyeonggi Police Crisis Negotiation Team,” explains actress Kim Yunjin. “As a negotiator in the joint task force team, she is really excellent in her own prowess and she is really calm and cold-hearted. And she is looking into the weakness of the robbers to finish the situation as soon as possible.”
“Woojin and the Professor actually have something in common. They do not want any harm on anybody. So Woojin doesn’t want to go for armed repression. She wants to finish things in peace. With ideas and conversations, she wants to address the situation peacefully. So I think in that sense, Woojin and the Professor have something in common. And Woojin is a single mom on the outside of the joint task force and she is having a custody dispute with her ex-husband. And what makes her heart broken is that her mother is suffering from Alzheimer’s, and she has to deal with the big crisis while taking care of her sick mother as well,” Yunjin adds.
Photo: Jung Jaegu/Netflix
A very different Tokyo joins the team
Jun Jong-seo who starred opposite Park Shin-hye in The Call, will be playing Tokyo in the new series. According to the actress, she really wanted to play the role of Misun, but naturally, she got the role of Tokyo. She also shared that the Korean version of Tokyo will be the most different from the original character.
“She is a Gen Z, she’s in her 20s, and the realistic elements of those in her 20s are reflected on the show,” said Jun Jong-seo. “She is the most pure, I would say, and she is so much into the conviction of the Professor so she doesn’t get distracted, she’s very stable, and she is just focusing on one goal. And she is trying to lead everybody to go to that goal, so she is not a troublemaker.”
Moscow and Denver’s tight-knit relationship
Korean actor Lee Won-jong plays Moscow, the dependable father of Denver, who hopes for a better future for his son. According to Won-jong, he also feels father-and-son relationship between the two characters even from behind the scenes.
“In our shooting process, the most difficult actions were played by my son Denver,” says Won-jong. “And there were so many dangerous scenes. He was rescued from the wall, and in that moment, I was really holding onto him really tightly because I didn’t want him to get hurt. So I kind of felt this fatherly love towards Ji-hun naturally.”
Photo: Jung Jaegu/Netflix
Denver’s actor Kim Ji-hun also agrees, saying “I’ve been in many projects, and I’ve acted as a son many times, but he was a dad that really cared for me like I was his real son. I could really feel that love. So I could open up to him really fast, and he was a dad that really pulled at my heartstrings. It was just natural that we felt this love towards each other. He talked about us hugging after a dangerous scene, I think it was the first scene where there was an explosion of the wall. Moscow comes out from the explosion and he almost died, well I wouldn’t say that, but I could feel that in my ears because the explosion was so loud, it looked so realistic. So I just had to go and hug him.”
Will Money Heist: Korea beat Squid Game?
During the global press conference for Money Heist: Korea, Park Hae-soo who played Cho Sang-woo in the hit Netflix series Squid Game and is now playing Berlin in the new series, was asked if he thinks that Money Heist: Korea will beat Squid Game in popularity.
Hae-soo answers: “I’m not quite sure how it will unfold, but what I want to tell you is that there is a really big strength in Money Heist Korea. That is the great ensemble of the great cast. And the show is set against the backdrop of the divided nation and there are some emotional conflict that is inherently embedded in the storyline. And I think the global audience will be able to find joy in watching the show. And we have great artists and creators in Korea, and Squid Game actually followed the path of these creators and I’m sure Money Heist Korea will follow the same path and create more opportunities for the people who are following. So I really hope to see great progress in that regard going forward, and I’m sure that we’ll see that coming.”
Photo: Jung Jaegu/Netflix
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area starts streaming on Netflix this June 24, 2022.
This year is such a blessing to our cinema-loving hearts as we can now watch movies on the big screen once more, almost like the way we did before in the pre-pandemic world. In fact, many of us excitedly filled up the theaters to see blockbuster titles such as Doctor Stranger in the Multiverse of Madness, The Batman, and Top Gun: Maverick.
Of course, we still have six months to go before 2022 ends, meaning the year still has more exciting films to offer to movie buffs, not only on the big screen but also on streaming platforms. On this list, we’ve rounded up the movies that we’re excited to see in the second half of 2022!
[Note: Movie lineup and release dates are subject to change without prior notice.]
Release date: July 22 (Streaming) Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo Starring: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas
Synopsis: CIA operative Court Gentry, a former agency-sanctioned mercenary, is now being hunted by the psychopathic Lloyd Hansen, who will stop at nothing to take him out.
US Release date: July 22 (Cinemas | PH release date TBA) Directed by: Jordan Peele Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun
Synopsis: Residents of a lonely gulch in California become witnesses to uncanny and chilling occurrences involving a mysterious figure hiding in the clouds.
Release date: July 27 (Cinemas) Directed by: Jared Stern Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Kate McKinnon
Synopsis: When an evil villain captures the Justice League, Krypto the Super Dog must team up with a ragtag group of superpowered animals to save the world.
US Release date: September 23 (Cinemas | PH release date TBA) Directed by: Olivia Wilde Starring: Olivia Wilde, Harry Styles, and Florence Pugh
Synopsis: A couple lives in a seemingly perfect town overseen by a mysterious company. But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, the wife starts to question their true purpose.
US Release date: October 14 (Cinemas | PH release date TBA) Directed by: David Gordon Green Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Kyle Richards, and Andi Matichak
Synopsis: After the events of Halloween Kills, Laurie Strode and Michael Myers will face off once more in a final, bloody battle.
Release date: October 19 (Cinemas) Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, and Aldis Hodge
Synopsis: After getting unleashed from his 5,000-year imprisonment, Black Adam uses the almighty powers of the ancient gods to uphold his unique form of justice in the modern world.
November
Amsterdam
US Release date: November 4 (Cinemas | PH Release Date TBA) Directed by: David O. Russell Starring: Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington
Synopsis: Three friends who become suspects in a murder they just witnessed, find themselves in the middle of one of the most outrageous plots in American history.
US Release date: December 16 (Cinemas | PH release date TBA) Directed by: James Cameron Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Cliff Curtis
Synopsis: Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, The Way of Water follows the Sully family’s fight for survival.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
US Release date: December 21 (Cinemas | PH Release Date TBA) Directed by: Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Florence Pugh
Synopsis: Shrek universe’s daring outlaw is back. After using his eight lives, Puss in Boots go on an epic quest to reclaim his lost lives before his last one burns out.
Release date: December (Streaming) Directed by: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson Starring: David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Finn Wolfhard, and Cate Blanchett,
Synopsis: A stop-motion animated musical, Pinocchio tells the classic tale from Carlo Collodi’s 1883 novel The Adventures ofPinocchio.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)
Release Date: TBA (Streaming) Directed by: Rian Johnson Starring: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, and Janelle Monae
Synopsis: Detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece to solve a mystery involving a new cast of suspects.
Be updated on the latest films in the Philippines by checking back on our Upcoming Movies section. Stay in the loop and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Spotify has launched a site dedicated to all things K-Pop, bringing fans closer to the music they love and the artists who create it.K-Pop ON! Trackwill provide anyone from the K-Pop curious to bonafide K-pop Stans a home base for all of Spotify’s K-Pop news, as well as exclusive artist interviews, happenings within the industry, up-and-coming trends and more.
Curated to complement the streaming experience, K-Pop ON! Track is chock-full of content that will take fans deeper into the K-Pop universe. From breaking down the wide world of Kpop terminology to step-by-step guides on creating a Spotify Blend playlist with BTS, from a series dedicated to who ‘We Stan’ (kicking off with NCT127) to sit-downs with Spotify’s K-pop music experts, the site celebrates the talent behind the tracks and the fans at the forefront of K-Pop.
The launch of K-Pop ON! Track comes as Spotify continues to see momentum of K-Pop streams around the globe. The newly named K-Pop flagship playlist K-Pop ON! (온) has racked up billions of streams for the genre since it first launched in 2014. With K-Pop dominating the charts and touching lives across the world, K-Pop ON! (온) has more than 3.9 million followers as of May 2022, with the USA, Indonesia and the Philippines topping the ranks for countries that stream the playlist most. With K-Pop being more than a music genre, but a cultural hub for fandoms, superstars, fashion moments, and more, K-Pop ON! Track will be a playground for fans to immerse themselves even further in the worldwide phenomenon.
Keeping up with all the trends and innovations in tech can be a challenge. Lucky for you, we’re here to help you stay in the loop. Discover all the nifty gadgets and tech essentials, available on exclusive deals on Shopee’s Gadget Zone!
To give you more reasons to splurge on these gadgets that will make your life easier, Shopee is offering discounts on newly launched products, exclusive deals from the most sought-after electronic brands, and ₱66 promos on select tech accessories. Check out this list of trending gadgets that you should consider scoring:
Be one of the first to buy these newly-launched gadgets from popular brands
Does your mobile device take too long to load? Chances are, you’re due for a phone upgrade. Find a reliable daily device in the all-new infinix Note 12, with its ultra-fast processor and vibrant AMOLED display. If gaming is your top priority, then we recommend the latest Vivo T1x Gaming Phone. It has a 6.58 inch screen and 4GB RAM to enhance gaming performance which will make wiping out enemy teams seamless and lag-free. Looking for the absolute latest smartphone to buy? Mark your calendars on June 23 for the launch of a new flagship phone, the POCO X4 GT.
Elevate your user experience with the right accessories to fit your gadgets and your lifestyle. Grab the modern Tigernu 3-Way Convertible Bag that can store your laptop, phone, and other valuables with its multifunctional, lightweight, and fashionable design that comes in a variety of colors. Say goodbye to long charging time with a UGREEN 20W PD Charger, equipped to fully-charge your gadget in just a few minutes.
Drones have been one of the most talked-about gadgets recently. Now you can own one yourself when you buy the state-of-the-art DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone. Enjoy its 4K HDR camera for perfect video captures and multi-direction sensors to help avoid obstacles when flying in tight spaces.
Level up your living space with these must-haves for the household
Home cleaning has become hassle-free thanks to all the easy-to-operate and high-quality appliances like the Deerma DX810 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner. Clean the nooks and crannies of each room with ease thanks to its handheld design and strong suction power. Invest in something that will help get you glammed up for any occasion such as the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete. Experiment with its multiple features that are suitable for any hair type and style. Beat the heat while you’re doing chores with the Akari Rechargeable Clip Fan. Place this at your desk, nightstand or wherever you are for up to 4 hours of cool air with one full charge.
Stay on top of the trends without breaking the bank
Not all the trending gadgets and accessories need to have a hefty price tag, just like the ODSCN 5-in-1 Cleaning Brush, This nifty gizmo can conveniently clean your keyboard and earphones and easily be stored in your bag for when you’re on-the-go. Buy this Adjustable Phone Stand at a great deal, so you can have the perfect accessory for binge-watching movies and video calls. Capture photos at any angle you want with this affordable Gorilla Pod Mount this at hard to reach places so you can get that perfect pic to post on your social media.
Visit https://shopee.ph/m/gadgetzone to find more trending gadgets and tech essentials that you can score with up to 90% off on June 23.
Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, tells the story of House Targaryen.
House of the Dragon stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans.
Additional cast members include Milly Alcock, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Emily Carey, Harry Collett, Ryan Corr, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jefferson Hall, David Horovitch, Wil Johnson, John Macmillan, Graham McTavish, Ewan Mitchell, Theo Nate, Matthew Needham, Bill Paterson, Phia Saban, Gavin Spokes, Savannah Steyn.
Credits: Co-Creator/Executive Producer, George R.R. Martin; Co-Creator/Co-Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer, Ryan Condal; Co-Showrunner/Executive Producer/Director, Miguel Sapochnik; Executive Producer/Writer, Sara Hess; Executive Producers, Jocelyn Diaz, Vince Gerardis, Ron Schmidt; Directors Clare Kilner, Geeta V. Patel; Director/Co-Executive Producer, Greg Yaitanes. Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.”Stream or download House of the Dragon from August 22 on HBO GO. Revisit all eight seasons of Game of Thrones on HBO GO. Subscribe to HBO GO online at https://www.hbogoasia.ph/ or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store for as low as ₱99.70/month. Or access HBO GO via Cignal, Globe and Skycable. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
There is a nostalgic appeal to Prime Cruz’s latest film ‘Ngayon Kaya’ starring Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez. From its moody cinematography to its soundtrack of familiar OPM songs, from the way the story delves into the past to the vibrancy of pre-pandemic Philippines (the film was shot before the pandemic), ‘Ngayon Kaya’ is a film that is rich in its sentimentality. It reminds me of romantic films from five years ago.
It’s a story of what-ifs and how two friends, Harold and AM (played by Avelino and Gutierrez, respectively), reconnect at a mutual friend’s wedding and the weight of past choices weigh heavily on them. Both have arrived late to the church wedding and it’s the first time they have seen each other since Harold has moved to Canada and so they decide to head to the reception together. The awkwardness triggers memories of the past and the tight bonds of friendship that they once had unfolded before us through these flashbacks.
The story plays out in two timelines – the past and the present – and we see two friends who bond over trivial things like being late to the same class at the start but as they get closer, they become each other’s anchors. They share similar interests, after all, both are into music, but they come from different worlds.
Harold and his family are struggling financially and his goal is to move to Canada to earn a lot of money to help support his mother, his two younger siblings, and their struggling fish pond. AM is an only child of parents, who are both doctors, and while she’s on a pre-med course, her dream is to make music and sing in a band. AM immediately latches on to Harold and brings him with her in her dreams of making it big in the music industry but as the story unfolds, it seems that their priorities and their intentions were not aligned.
Reality kicks in and kicks them hard and we see and understand why the present-day relationship between the two reunited friends is so strained.
But this is also a love story but one that is bogged down by the hesitation of its principal characters.
Screenwriter Jen Chuaunsu infuses Harold’s and AM’s conversations as youths with the realistic unconscious meanderings of that age, of dreams and ideals, and then shifts it to this awkward mess in the present day as the two are unable to connect, their past serving as a wall to rebuild their relationship. This is another way in which the film feels like a throwback, it has the same verbose dialogue as films like ‘Meet Me in St. Gallen’ and ‘Mr. and Mrs. Reyes.’ The first half of this film is centered around these conversations and the contrast between the past and the present.
What’s amazing about these contrasts is that the problem is still present, it persists: Harold and AM talk a lot, but they aren’t saying what it is they really want to say, which is how they feel about each other.
This is the magic of the second half when the slow, languid pace of the film picks up as the present-day Harold and AM find an opportunity to reclaim the energy and vibrancy of their youth and the possibilities open up for these two.
‘Ngayon Kaya’ is a delicate film that is built carefully around the nuances of the characters. While Paulo Avelino takes a completely understated approach to Harold, which diminishes the character’s strength (oftentimes, I want him to do more, give more as he does at the end of the film), it is Janine Gutierrez who really steals the show. Gutierrez’s AM is so un-self-conscious, so naive of her effect on people, and breathes life into the film. It is her dreams and passion that push the story forward and Gutierrez manages to make this film hers.
‘Ngayon Kaya’ is more reserved and withdrawn as a romance film, focusing more on the mood and the nostalgia than it does on the drama of an unrealised relationship. The pace and energy is unlike director Prime Cruz’s other works like ‘Isa Pa With Feelings’ and ‘Can We Still Be Friends.’ He takes his time, sometimes even dwelling on a feeling, which is a brave move for a Filipino romance movie but it feels apt for this film.
I wish that the dialogue was more conversational, instead of the dialogue-pause-dialogue delivery that happens between Avelino and Gutierrez. That staccato works in the present day but didn’t in the flashback scenes. It’s as if the couple can’t seem to fully connect because of the things not said, while the world behind them is so rich and full of life. But everything comes together in the final act, an extended scene set to the music of the band Mayonnaise is the catharsis that the film is pushing towards. I just hope the audience has the patience for it.
My Rating:
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‘Ngayon Kaya‘ is now showing in cinemas nationwide. Buy your tickets here.
One little discovery, one giant adventure! Watch the new trailer for Columbia Pictures’ new musical comedy Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile starring Shawn Mendes, Javier Bardem and Constance Wu. Coming to cinemas in a while, crocodile.
About Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
Based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a live-action / CGI musical comedy that brings this beloved character to a new, global audience.
When the Primm family (Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Winslow Fegley) moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle – a singing crocodile (Shawn Mendes) who loves baths, caviar and great music-living in the attic of his new home. The two become fast friends, but when Lyle’s existence is threatened by evil neighbor Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman), the Primm’s must band together with Lyle’s charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places and there’s nothing wrong with a big singing crocodile with an even bigger personality.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile will feature original songs performed by Shawn Mendes and written by the songwriting team behind The Greatest Showman, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. Joining Pasek and Paul in writing original songs for the film are Ari Afsar, Emily Gardner Xu Hall, Mark Sonnenblick, and Joriah Kwamé. Directed and produced by Will Speck and Josh Gordon, the screenplay is by Will Davies. The film is produced by Hutch Parker and executive produced by Kevin K. Vafi, Dan Wilson, Robert J. Dohrmann, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Tarak Ben Ammar and Andy Mitchell.
In Philippine cinemas October 2022, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #LyleLyleCrocodile
