ALL FILM REVIEWS
‘Alipato at Muog’ REVIEW: On the Endless Search for Justice
‘Alipato at Muog’ is a documentary that follows the futile search for truth and justice by the families of those missing by “enforced disappearance,” focusing on the case of Jonas Burgos, a farmer-activist who has been missing since 2007.
‘The Gospel of the Beast’ REVIEW: What happens when you cage an innocent puppy
While ‘The Gospel of the Beast’s’ knife doesn’t cut as deep as it should’ve in terms of messaging, the theme and intention of the film are very clear — that economic instability creates beasts that can’t be tamed.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ REVIEW: Marvel brings mutant mayhem in meta sequel
Deadpool & Wolverine is more than just a multiversal affair in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s a “fare thee well” to Marvel characters that came before under the Fox banner, and a focus on redemption and finding one’s purpose.
‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ REVIEW: It’s time to pipe this franchise down
For a prequel, ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ doesn’t have anything enlightening to disclose.
‘Twisters’ REVIEW: Storm chasing for dummies
‘Twisters’ is a thrilling blockbuster event that would make you feel in awe with the visual spectacle of killer tornadoes, enjoyable characters we can root for, and an overall tumultuous time at the movies.
‘I Saw The TV Glow' REVIEW: More Petrifying Than a Burial
Transmuting radical experiences into something so horrific but tenderly empowering, Jane Schoenbrun's second feature asserts why they are one of the most uncompromising and original directors working today.
‘Fancy Dance’ REVIEW: Tenderness Persists in a Journey Interrupted by Tension
Lily Gladstone and Isabel Deroy-Olsen compel with subdued performances in Erica Tremblay’s debut narrative film.
‘Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1’ REVIEW: Interesting and overflowing with ambition
If you’re not into a three-hour epic like 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1,' which may or may not be a nuanced, multicultural (but still White-heavy) look at America then and now, this isn’t for you.
‘Fly Me to the Moon’ REVIEW: Safe and pleasant romance with a side of history
Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum bring A-list swooning to a rom-com set against the backdrop of a historic moon landing. Its visual flair and familiar rhythm guarantee a good time at the movies.
‘My Boo’ REVIEW: It doesn’t get any scarier, funnier, and cheesier than this
Whether it be watching scary movies or going to attractions like Gabi ng Lagim, we love being spooked to death just as much as we love cheesy romcoms. The Thai film ‘My Boo’ is exceptional for the most part, tapping into our twisted fascination with the macabre.
‘The Watchers’ REVIEW: Like father, like daughter: cool premise, subpar execution
There’s a handful of compelling ideas that can make for a good movie in ‘The Watchers’, but with this being the feature-length debut of director Ishana Night Shyamalan, those ideas are squandered.
REVIEW: The Manila Film Festival Featured Directors’ Short Films
The Manila Film Festival showcased four new short films from some of the most talented directors in the industry today: Pepe Diokno (fresh from his Metro Manila Film Festival success with GomBurZa), JP Habac (known for I’m Drunk, I Love You and the recent Love You Long Time), Dwein Baltazar (whose Third World Romance became a streaming and festival favorite), and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (famed for Kita Kita and whose short film Pushcart Tales has been acclaimed by us as one of her best).
Here are their latest offerings, as reviewed by our staff writers.
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ REVIEW: You get your money’s worth
Bad Boys: Ride or Die doesn’t have to be a game-changer, but the film could've been so much more if it didn't confine itself to the traditional formula.
‘Inside Out 2’ REVIEW: Forgetting a Second to Breathe
‘Inside Out 2’s’ onslaught of jokes is more engaging than the story that prescribes the emotion for you, leaving you no room to feel nor breathe.
‘Tarot (2009)’ REVIEW: A horror film that dehumanizes a belief system
‘Tarot (2009)’ combines romance, family, and superstitions, giving us the exact formula to make a stereotypical Filipino mainstream horror film.
‘Fuchsia Libre’ REVIEW: Sometimes, Genres Mix Like Water and Oil
Fuchsia Libre’s pursuit of telling a supposedly simple tale of wrestling and reconciliations wraps up in disparate styles and inconsistent tones, giving birth to a genre-hybrid abomination that is utterly confused on what it intends to accomplish.
‘IF’ REVIEW: Rated G for Give Your Inner Child a Break
IF’s mandate of healing adults’ inner children succeeds in everything except one crucial thing: making cinematic imagination fun for kids.
‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ REVIEW: Planting the Seeds of Hope
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga forges a new path for itself, shedding the relentless pace of Fury Road for a more intimate and soulful symphony of vengeance that elevates the emotional gravity of its predecessor.
‘Monkey Man’ REVIEW: The Rise of a Violent and Explosive Modern Legend
Monkey Man proves itself legendary, showcasing Dev Patel as a vengeful killer who aims to take down a corrupt government on his own.
‘Back to Black’ REVIEW: I loved it (I mean the album)
Marisa Abela’s Amy Winehouse impression and her music make this film’s formulaic womb-to-tomb story go down easier, but its fundamental basicness is tough to sit through. Moreso for Amy’s lifelong fans.