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  • realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Limited Edition Variant to Launch in PH with P2,000 Off on April 25

    realme, the PH’s no. 1 smartphone brand for 2021, is set to bring the limited edition realme 9 Pro+ in collaboration with Free Fire to the Philippines on April 25. Following the launch of the realme 9 Pro Series in March, this edition offers the flagship-level features of the realme 9 Pro+, along with exciting customizations inspired by the battle royale mobile game.

    With the realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Limited Edition, realme elevated its latest Number Series offering with design elements related to the Free Fire universe. In terms of product design, the back panel of the device was customized to reflect the game’s adventurous spirit with details reminiscent of the FF Knife, along with other iconic Free Fire branding elements. 

    realme 9 Pro Free Fire 2

    Aside from an upgraded exterior, each product comes with a customized box packaging that unfolds into a Free Fire universe map. In addition, Free Fire players can look forward to other freebies such as stickers, a Free Fire Magic Cube reward card, and a SIM-ejector pin in the form of the FF Knife.

    Free Fire fans are also in for a treat with the flagship-level gaming features of the realme Pro+. Aside from having the industry-leading Sony IMX 766 OIS camera, the device is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity™ 920 5G processor, bringing a comprehensive and powerful smartphone performance to keep up with any battle.

    The realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Limited Edition is also the ideal gaming companion as it boasts a 90Hz Super AMOLED Display that delivers 1,000 nits peak brightness and 360Hz Touch Sampling rate to ensure maximum responsiveness while playing. For a more immersive overall experience, this is complemented by powerful Dual Stereo Speakers by Dolby Atmos.

    realme 9 Pro Free Fire 3

    In addition, the realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Limited Edition is equipped with a Vapor Chamber Cooling System which significantly reduces temperatures from core heat sources around the phone to keep it at a high-performing state throughout the game.

    To complement these features, the device features a 4,500 mAh battery and 60W SuperDart Charge technology for a longer and hassle-free gaming experience. This realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Limited Edition variant is a testament to the brand’s mission of supporting the gaming industry, and empowering esports enthusiasts and mobile gamers from around the world. As a brand that’s for and by the youth, realme will continue to push the envelope in product design and innovation, keeping in mind the interests of today’s generation.

    The realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Limited Edition (8GB+128GB) will be available at SRP P20,990 starting April 25. As an early-bird offer, it will be available at P2,000 OFF (P18,990) via the realme Official Store on Shopee from April 25 to 26, and via the realme E-Store from April 25 to 30. The realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Limited Edition will also be available via realme stores and partner dealers nationwide. There is more to know about realme’s latest innovations so stay tuned at the realme PH Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines or visit the official realme website at https://www.realme.com/ph/.

  • These Cats & Dogs will be Up for Adoption at the Robinsons Magnolia This April 23

    People would often say that there’s no place like home. But what really makes a home more special? It’s with the loving presence of adorable pets who give you endless, unconditional love.

    furever 2

    This April 23, Robinsons Malls Happy Pets Club in partnership with Animal Kingdom Foundation will be holding its pilot pet adoption activity dubbed as “Home at Last: Pet Activity Day with Animal Kingdom Foundation” at Robinsons Magnolia, Central Garden between 10 AM to 5PM. Prepare to open your hearts – and homes- to fourteen rescue animals who will be up and ready for adoption.

    Get ready to meet the seven beautiful rescue dogs named Rosie, Ana, Caly, Choco, Arthur, Bea and Aquina; three sweet cats named Primo, Calico and Matt; and four fluffy puppies named Alfie, Olive, Edward and Miles. All waiting to be with their future pet parents.

    All interested adopters will just have to follow Robinsons Malls Happy Pets Club’s official FB page and click on this link: https://bit.ly/homeatlast2022 to register. Once your application is approved by Animal Kingdom Foundation, come to Robinsons Magnolia on April 23 to finally meet and take home your newest family member.

    Better yet, join the whole day fun fair at Robinsons Magnolia as pet parents get to participate in fun games; enjoy the pet pawrade; receive free cat and dog treats; learn more from the pet talk on responsible pet ownership; and win cool pet items from the raffle. All these through support from trusted pet brands and mall partners – True Value, Pet Lovers Center, Daiso and Topbreed.

    To know more, visit Animal Kingdom Foundation and Robinsons Malls in  Facebook and Instagram. Checkout announcements and photos of adoptees at Robinsons Magnolia IG and Robinsons Malls Happy Pets Club Facebook page.

  • New Movie This Week: The Lost City

    Plan your week ahead and choose which schedule of this movie opening this April 20, 2022, you’ll see on the big screen.

    The Lost City

    Action, Comedy, Romance | 1hr 51mins

    Directed by the Nee Brothers, it follows a reclusive author who is on tour promoting a new book with her cover model and is then kidnapped by a billionaire in hopes that she can lead him to an ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. It stars Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Brad Pitt.

    BUY TICKETS

  • Warner Asserts Box-Office Dominance with Back-to-Back Hits ‘The Batman,’ ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’

    “The Batman” shattered records in March.  Then, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” scored a magical $193.4-M over the weekend, worldwide.  And just like that, Warner Bros. Pictures is enjoying its best box-office season in years, with no signs of slowing down.

    While receipts for the latest “Fantastic Beasts” movie are still coming in, Warner is celebrating the triumph of “The Batman” which has flown past $750-M at the global box office.  The film has maintained its top spot as the highest-grossing film of the year, both in the U.S. and worldwide.  

    Earning widespread praise from critics and audiences alike, director Matt Reeves’s powerful new vision of the globally iconic DC Super Hero has taken in $365 million in U.S. receipts and $386 million internationally, and is still going strong.

    In the Philippines, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” likewise opened at No.1 for the two-day April 16-17 frame, capturing a market share of 63%. Together with “The Batman” which is still playing in local theaters, Warner is dominating the market with an over-all 68% share for the same period.

    Warner Asserts Box-Office Dominance with Back-to-Back Hits 'The Batman,' 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'

    “We couldn’t have started the year better,” said Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. Philippines. “`The Batman’ and the new `Fantastic Beasts’ are consecutive blockbusters for Warner this early in 2022, and we owe it to the local moviegoers who, despite the challenges, have trooped back to the theaters.”

    For the rest of 2022, Warner is betting on Baz Luhrmann’s epic musical “Elvis,” the animated superhero comedy “DC League of Super-Pets,” the horror-thriller “Salem’s Lot,” the psychological thriller “Don’t Worry, Darling” and the superhero tentpoles “Black Adam” and “Shazam: Fury of the Gods.”

    About “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”

    Warner Asserts Box-Office Dominance with Back-to-Back Hits 'The Batman,' 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'

    Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” is the newest adventure in the Wizarding World™ created by J.K. Rowling.

    Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world.  Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.  But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

    The film features an ensemble cast led by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), two-time Oscar nominee Jude Law (“Cold Mountain,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Katherine Waterston, and Mads Mikkelsen.

    “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” was directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling & Steve Kloves, based upon a screenplay by J.K. Rowling.  The film was produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram and Tim Lewis.  Neil Blair, Danny Cohen, Josh Berger, Courtenay Valenti and Michael Sharp served as executive producers.

    Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films Production, a David Yates film, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” now playing in Philippine theaters.  The film is distributed worldwide in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #SecretsOfDumbledore

  • 10 Shops & Restaurants in Metro Manila That Serve Sumptuous Seafood

    They say there’s plenty of fish in the sea, but for us foodies, the sea offers so much more than just fish to satisfy our palates! Aside from the soft, white flesh of cooked fish, we also can’t say no to the tempting umami of shrimp, scallops, clams, and other sumptuous bounties from the sea.

    If you’re currently craving such delicacy, this list is for you! We’ve listed down shops and restaurants in Metro Manila where you can get your much-needed seafood fix!

    Fish & Co.

    The Bistro Group’s Fish & Co. resto offers an abundant seafood menu that will excite the taste buds of fish and shellfish lovers. From mouthwatering salmon to savory shrimp and other seafood selections, Fish & Co. serves them swimming in soup, grilled, or fried and slathered with sauce.

    Locations: 4th floor, Uptown Mall | Ground floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall | 4th floor, Trinoma Mall

    The Red Crab

    The Red Crab is a haven for folks who just love the lip-smacking goodness of crabs and other crave-worthy fish and crustaceans! The highlight of their menu, the red crab, is offered in a dozen of variants, each infused with an interesting flavor that complements the crab’s umami.

    Order here
    Locations: Shangri-La Plaza | Tomas Morato | Eastwood Mall | Newport Mall | Greenbelt 3

    The Shrimp Bucket

    If you want a bucket full of seafood goodness, then you can never go wrong with The Shrimp Bucket. Stuffed in their buckets are shrimps, mussels, squid, and other delicious delicacies from the deep, with a wide selection of sauces to smother them with. Out of the bucket, you can also enjoy their specialty dishes that will also satisfy your seafood needs!

    Order here
    Locations: Ayala Malls Circuit | Cloverleaf | Feliz | The Fort | Greenhills | Glorietta | Katipunan | Manila Bay |

    The Murang Seafood Platter

    The Murang Seafood Platter offers seafood lovers with platters packed with the best the sea has to offer. Grab the gang or go solo and indulge in their shrimp, mussels, crab, and lobster platters whenever those cravings hit!

    Order here

    Dampa Seafood Grill

    Dampa Seafood Grill’s Dubai branch recently received the Best Local Gem Award at the Dubai Expo 2020, giving you another reason to visit their resto here in Manila! At Dampa Seafood Grill, you can dig into their Seafest bundles and tempting platters that are packed with shrimp, crabs, mussels, squids, as well as meat dishes.

    Order here
    Location: 73 Scout Limbaga, Diliman, Quezon City

    Wantusawa Oyster Bar

    If you can’t get enough of slurping oysters from their shells, then order at the Wantusawa Oyster Bar and slurp away to your heart’s content. Aside from their grilled, baked, fried, and raw oysters, one can also enjoy their Oyster Chowder, Tempura, Ceviche, Okonomiyaki, and other seafood-infused dishes.

    Order here
    Locations: Rockwell | Poblacion, Makati

    Delicasea Food Market

    Delicasea Food Market takes pride in supplying their imported seafood to 5-star hotels in the country. They offer both raw products and cooked dishes featuring mouthwatering ingredients fished out of the sea! Enjoy dishes made with export-grade crabs, lobsters, scallops, and more.

    Order here
    Location: Isla Aquamarine, McDonough Road, Tambo, Parañaque

    Surf n’ Turf Manila

    Surf n’ Turf Manila offers your favorite seafood infused with different flavors from around the world! Some of the eye-popping dishes one could enjoy at Surf n’ Turf Manila are the Seafood Boil Gochujang, Shrimp Boil Thai Chili, Shrimp & Sausage Kabobs, Alaskan King Classic Lemon Butter with Garlic, generous platters, and so much more!

    Order here

    Putien

    The Michelin-starred Putien restaurant offers delicious Fujianese fare that includes indulgent seafood and seafood-infused dishes. Among their must-try dishes are the Seaweed and Mini Shrimps Dressed with Sauce, Black Pepper Crab, Chili Crab, and Crispy Oyster.

    Order here
    Location: 5th floor, The Podium, Mandaluyong

    Putien

    Gen Korean BBQ House

    If you love samgyupsal as much as you love seafood, then Gen Korean BBQ House is definitely worth the visit. Alongside their wide selection of meats is a mouthwatering seafood selection that includes fresh fish, calamari, and shrimp, ready to adopt that smoky, savory flavor straight from the grill!

    Location: SM By the Bay, Seaside Blvd, Mall of Asia Complex

    Stay in the loop and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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    Homestream images from Fish & Co. and Delicasea Food Market.

  • 2 Good 2 Be True’s Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla on How They Maintain Their Kilig Over the Years

    KathNiel fans are surely excited for the TV comeback of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla! Directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, 2 Good 2 Be True is set to air on May 16, 2022 on free TV but, get this, it is the first Pinoy teleserye that will air on the streaming platform Netflix before its local TV release. The real-life couple expresses how grateful and excited they are for this project, truly a too good to be true moment!

    2 Good 2 Be True marks KathNiel’s first project since The House Arrest of Us and their first teleserye aired on free TV in years. It follows Eloy played by Daniel Padilla and Ali played by Kathryn Bernardo who are both broken by the complications of love in their parents’ lives. They find their way into each other but are constantly being pulled back because of the doubts in their hearts until they find out that their lives are more connected than they realize.

    Watch the full trailer of 2 Good 2 Be True:

    In a virtual roundtable interview with friends from the media, we were able to have a quick chat with Director Mae Cruz-Alviar, and real-life couple Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. Kathryn shares what urged them to push through with this project, Daniel talks about how different this is from their other projects, and Director Mae Cruz-Alviar spills what it’s like working with the couple over the years. Read the interview below:

    What excited you the most when you first read the script? 

    Kathryn Bernardo: I got excited when they told us na if ever Tito Ronaldo Valdez will accept this project, siya yung magiging Lolo Hugo. Nung sinabi yun, I wanna do this. Kasi it’s not just a love story, ang maganda sa 2 Good 2 Be True is very relevant rin yung story.

    Maraming mata-tackle na hindi natin alam yung nangyayari sa ibang tao so nung nalaman namin na in-accept na ni Tito Ron, parang sign na samin ng universe na we should do this. Gusto namin rom-com, binigay na rom-com. We wanted Direk Mae, binigay si Direk Mae. And then si Tito Ron, nag-yes siya so walang reason to say no to this. So when they told us about it, sabi na namin na this is the project for us and it’s really worth the wait. 

    2 Good 2 Be True Kathryn Bernardo Daniel Padilla Netflix
    Image: 2 GOOD 2 BE TRUE (ABS-CBN)

    What makes 2 Good 2 Be True different from other rom-coms that you and Kathryn have done?

    Daniel Padilla: Sa dami naming nagawa ni Kathryn, ano nga ba ang bagong ibigay namin. Hindi ba? I think mas marami kaming nagawa na rom-com na films. Yung isa naming nagawa na serye is Got 2 Believe so parang pangalawa pa lang namin ito. Marami pang pwedeng abangan na bago. Siyempre unang una, iba naman yung kwento, iba rin yung characters namin dito, at first time din namin ni Direk Mae magse-serye from simula hanggang dulo. So yeah, marami pa kaming pwedeng ma offer na bago dito. Siyempre kasama rin dun yung casting nitong show — malaking bagay rin yun. 

    How do you maintain the kilig after all these years? 

    Kathryn Bernardo: Yan yung sobrang challenging kasi siyempre, di ko sinasabi na nawawala yung kilig. Of course the love is there and it gets deeper and nagma-mature, pero iba siyempre yung kilig namin 9 or 10 years ago sa nararamdaman namin ngayon. So yan ang challenge every scene especially kay Direk Mae and sa writer. Ano pa yung hindi namin nagawa na kilig na pwede namin ma-offer dito.

    As a real-life couple, nag-iiba lahat but hindi ibig sabihin na nababawasan na yung love. It’s just that ang hirap ihiwalay yung personal kapag makikita mo sa characters namin na on screen. So siguro, dyan pumapasok si Direk Mae kasi siya talaga yung nahihirapan kung pano siya baliin. And pati rin kami ni DJ, kung ano pa yung bago namin na mao-offer. So hopefully, nabigyan naman ng bagong flavor dito since iba naman yung dynamics ng characters namin ni DJ. 

    2 Good 2 Be True Kathryn Bernardo Daniel Padilla Netflix
    Image: 2 GOOD 2 BE TRUE (ABS-CBN)

    Since this isn’t the first time working with KathNiel, can you share what they were like for this project?

    Director Mae Cruz-Alviar: Their usual selves because hindi naman sila nag-bago kung paano sila as people, but there is maturity. Mas independent na sila ngayon kasi siyempre nakita ko sila nung kasama pa si Mama Min, when they were kids. That’s how they are now. It’s still them, alam mong hindi nag-bago, unfazed by the proportions of their popularity now and the prestige of the loveteam. But they are still the same Kath and DJ from before, only more mature and wiser, with more experience as actors. 

    Without spoiling anything, what is the message you hope to impart to fans? 

    Director Mae Cruz-Alviar: It’s important to not be just too good to be true. To be honest, because that’s very important. 

    At what point did you think it was too good to be true? 

    Kathryn Bernardo: Actually, just last month when Tita Cory [Vidanes] talked to us and then sinabi niya na samin na mapapanuod nga ng tao not just on free tv but also on Netflix, yun pa lang, that was a first for us. It’s very special and we are very grateful na nabigyan kami ng ganitong platform para mas marami pang makapanuod with everything that’s happened last year. We’re very grateful to Netflix for giving us this opportunity to share this beautiful project with everyone. 

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    Image: 2 GOOD 2 BE TRUE (ABS-CBN)

    What’s an advice you’d want to give your characters Eloy and Ali?

    Kathryn Bernardo: Siguro my advice to Ali would be, not to be scared to trust people and to give chance. Kasi si Ali, she’s very protective and guarded. With her experience especially with her mom, may tendancy talaga na may trust issues siya sa guys. Maybe if kausap ko siya ngayon, sasabihin ko sakanya na just give chance kasi hindi naman lahat ng tao ay masama. There’s still goodness in this world and you just have to give that chance. 

    Daniel Padilla: Una, siguro wag magpapa apekto sa mga nakaraan. We should learn to move on. And wag mong paghahawakan ang mga grudges mo sa buhay dahil hindi yun maganda para sayo. 

    —

    2 Good 2 Be True will be available on Netflix on May 13, 2022, 72 hours before it airs on free / pay TV.

  • Two HBO Original Series ‘We Own This City’ and ‘Gentleman Jack’ Season Two Premiere April 26 on HBO GO

    Two new HBO Original Series We Own This City and Gentleman Jack Season 2 premiere Tuesday, April 26 on HBO GO. We Own This City also debuts on the same day as the U.S. on April 26, 9am on HBO, with a same-night encore at 10pm.

    We Own This City and Gentleman Jack Season Two Premiere April 26 on HBO GO

    We Own This City

    Gritty and unapologetic, We Own This City is a six-episode HBO limited series that chronicles the rise and fall of Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force’s (GTTF) and the corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city in which the policies of drug prohibition and mass arrest were championed at the expense of actual police work. 

    Jon Bernthal plays Sgt. Wayne Jenkins of the Baltimore Police Department, perhaps the central figure in the sprawling federal corruption case that centred on its Gun Trace Task Force, a plainclothes unit that went completely rogue and began hunting and robbing citizens and drug dealers alike as decades of a relentless drug war and mass incarceration in Baltimore spun wildly out of control.

    We Own This City and Gentleman Jack Season Two Premiere April 26 on HBO GO

    We Own This City also stars main cast Wunmi Mosaku, Jamie Hector, McKinley Belcher III, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Josh Charles, Dagmara Domińczyk, Rob Brown, Don Harvey, David Corenswet, Larry Mitchell, Ian Duff, Delaney Williams, and Lucas Van Engen.

    Guest stars in the series include Treat Williams, Gabrielle Carteris, Tray Chaney, Domenick Lombardozzi, Thaddeus Street, Jermaine Crawford, Nathan E. Corbett, Chris Clanton, Anwan Glover, Bobby Brown, Michael Salconi, Susan Rome, Kim Tuvin, and Maria Broom.

    We Own This City was created and executive produced by George Pelecanos and David Simon; directed and executive produced by Reinaldo Marcus Green; executive produced by Nina K. Noble, Ed Burns, and Kary Antholis. In addition, co-executive producer Bill Zorzi, as well as writers Pelecanos, Simon, Burns, Zorzi, and D. Watkins worked on the series.

    We Own This City and Gentleman Jack Season Two Premiere April 26 on HBO GO
    Programme Name: Gentleman Jack S2 – TX: n/a – Episode: Gentleman Jack – First Look (No. n/a) – Picture Shows: Ann Walker (SOPHIE RUNDLE), Anne Lister (SURANNE JONES) – (C) Lookout Point/HBO – Photographer: Aimee Spinks

    Gentleman Jack Season 2

    HBO Original Series Gentleman Jack Season 2 returns to the British city of Yorkshire in 1834, where all eyes are on two women’s confrontation with the era’s rigid ideas of gender roles.

    Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) and Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle), the unconventional couple who has set up a home together at Shibden Hall, are determined to combine their estates and become a power couple. Anne Lister’s entrepreneurial spirit frightens the locals as much as her unconventional love life and, with Halifax on the brink of revolution, her refusal to keep a low profile becomes provocative and dangerous.

    We Own This City and Gentleman Jack Season Two Premiere April 26 on HBO GO

    The new second season will continue to reflect the real-life diaries of Anne Lister – part of which were written in code – as its source, with every part of Lister’s story based on historical facts and the five million words she wrote in her journals.

    Gentleman Jack Season 2 stars Gemma Jones as Aunt Anne Lister, Timothy West as Jeremy Lister, Jodhi May (Lady Vere Cameron), Katherine Kelly (Elizabeth Sutherland), Derek Riddell (Captain George Sutherland), Stephanie Cole (Aunt Ann Walker), Peter Davison (William Priestley), Amelia Bullmore (Eliza Priestley), Vincent Franklin (Christopher Rawson), Shaun Dooley (Jeremiah Rawson), Rosie Cavaliero (Elizabeth Cordingley), Joe Armstrong (Samuel Washington), Anthony Flanagan (Ben Sowden) and George Costigan (James Holt).

    Executive producers include Sally Wainwright, Suranne Jones, Faith Penhale, Will Johnston, and Ben. Phil Collinson and Stella Merz are the producers, with Edward Hall, Amanda Brotchie, and Fergus O’Brien as producers.

    Pinoys can stream or download We Own This City and Gentleman Jack Season 2 from Tuesday, April 26 on HBO GO. Season 1 of Gentleman Jack is also available on HBO GO. Subscribe to HBO GO. Subscribe to HBO GO online at www.hbogoasia.ph or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store on your device 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.

  • FIRST LOOK: Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Trailer & Poster

    A new trailer and poster are now available for Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder,” offering long-awaited clues to what’s in store for the God of Thunder.

    The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods.

    To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late. Directed by Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok,” “Jojo Rabbit”) and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum.

    Thor Love and Thunder trailer & Poster

    “Thor: Love and Thunder” opens in Philippine cinemas in July 2022.

  • Jollibee’s New Choco Float Joins their Summer Floats Lineup

    And just like that, the warmest summer days are upon us again. While it’s the ideal time to hit the beach and soak in some vitamin sea and sun, we are also constantly on the lookout for ways to stay cool.

    Jollibee introduces its newest craze for this season—the Choco Float! A smooth chocolate drink topped with creamy vanilla soft-serve, the Choco Float will definitely give you your sweet, indulgent fix while keeping you cool throughout these temperature-rising days.

    Jollibee Summer Floats

    As part of its sweet and refreshing Summer Floats line-up, Jollibee also offers two popular soda floats: the Coke Float—Coke topped with the well-loved vanilla soft-serve and chocolate fudge—and Royal Float, Royal topped with vanilla soft-serve.

    “The summer season is meant for creating fun and meaningful memories, but sometimes the scorching heat can drain one’s energy or even dampen one’s mood. Good thing our Summer Floats are here to help perk up our fun-loving individuals who love their sweets as well,” said Joseph Aruta, Jollibee Marketing Director. “Whether they opt for our new Choco Float or soda floats, they will surely be kept cool, refreshed, and ready to make the most of their summer days.”

    Jollibee’s Choco Float retails for P49 (Solo) while the soda floats, Coke and Royal Floats, retail for P40 (Solo). They are now available in all Jollibee stores nationwide so be sure to drop by for a sweet and refreshing treat. Or you can have them safely delivered to you via the Jollibee Delivery App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000, GrabFood, and foodpanda! They are also available via Drive-Thru and Take Out.

    For more info and updates on Jollibee products, like Jollibee on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Philippines on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

  • Heavily plot-driven, ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ is an exclusive cinematic experience made just for fans

    As I sat in my seat in the special screening of ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’, while surrounded by excited fans in their house robes and carrying wands, I came to the realisation that, while it had only been four years since the release of the previous film ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,’ I didn’t have any recollection about the earlier film at all.

    Of course, I remember that Eddie Redmayne played Newt Scamander and that it was a period film in the Harry Potter universe. But none of the plotlines of the previous film had stuck with me except those of Queenie (played by Alison Sudol). Queenie was the only character that had left an imprint on me in the whole series.

    I couldn’t remember what the crimes of Grindelwald were and what all of this had to do with the fantastic beasts. I had hoped that the opening of the film would help me catch up to the events of the last film but instead, it opens in medias res with Albus Dumbledore (played by Jude Law) having tea with Grindelwald (played by Mads Mikkelsen) talking about things I wasn’t sure of and a revelation that we were all aware of (though the audience around me still reacted as if it was new information).

    And then it goes to the opening credits and a rather dark scene (was the scene just unbelievably dark or does the SM Aura Premiere theater need to clean its lens?) of Newt observing another one of the fantastic beasts.

    A lot of plot happens before we shift to Jacob (played by Dan Fogler) and his life without Queenie. We are introduced to a new character, Lally (played by Jessica Hicks), and then we are thrust into the main plot of the film.

    The movie plays out like this throughout its 142-minute runtime. Reintroduces us to old characters (Ezra Miller as Credence, Callum Turner as Theseus) while opening a new plotline involving Grindelwald as some rising name in the wizarding world for his populist views of eradicating the non-magical humans (called muggles) as they pose a threat to the wizarding world.

    There’s an election that’s happening and in the middle of it, Dumbledore sends Newt and his friends to a quest to stop Grindelwald from swaying the public to take his war seriously.

    Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Review

    ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ is a movie that is all plot. Our heroes are sent on a quest and it’s one challenge after the other while Grindelwald gathers his forces and Dumbledore has his own little side adventures to follow. The movie jumps from Newt and Theseus to Jacob, then Grindelwald, and then to Credence, and then to Queenie in such a flurry of story that it doesn’t quite feel cohesive or whole.

    There are lots of magical moments in the film that make you wonder why exactly is Grindelwald so afraid of the muggles? When wizards can do such amazing things with a wave of their wand, what chance do ordinary beings have against them? Never does the film ever take the time to impress upon us the danger of Grindelwald’s philosophy. The stakes are made to feel big – Dumbledore and other characters say it all the time – but never does the film ever show us what exactly those stakes are.

    Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Review

    And this is my biggest issue with this film. While the fans around me were ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the mention of a character’s name or a mystical effect a character does or an antic made by one of the cute fantastic beasts of Newt, the film never feels grounded in anything tangible or concrete. There’s imagery used to compare Grindelwald to any bigoted populist president in contemporary society – a fantastical Hitler, so to speak – but there’s no danger present in the scenes other than the dangerous rhetoric.

    Albus is merely good because he is against Grindelwald, but there’s no real scene that ever shows us his goodness. Newt’s moral center has been established in the earlier films but he undergoes no internal struggle that allows me to invest in his character.

    The only real character whose internal struggle feels developed and whole in the movie is of Queenie but she has to share her screen time with all the other characters and the busyness of the plot.

    Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Review

    From the way the audience was reacting, ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ comes off to me as an exclusive cinematic event that caters only to fans and those invested in the lore. As someone with no real attachments to the franchise, it was incredibly difficult to feel included in this journey. While it had a lot to say about populist statements that lead to bigotry and war, it never makes any of it feel palpable or real. Instead, it is more dead set on highlighting how magical the wizarding world is.

    But they’ve already done that in the Harry Potter series. What else do they have to offer?

    My Rating:

    5 stars - Don't Look Up review




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    ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ is now in cinemas nationwide. Find a cinema near you and book your tickets here.