‘Balota’ is a story that packs in hard-hitting action, compelling drama, and witty comedy. While its performances shine, the film needed more breathing room to amplify its larger-than-life message.

‘Kantil’ is a strong debut film by Joshua Caesar Medroso, but so much has to be said in such a limited amount of time.

‘José Rizal’ is a classic that the following generations of Filipinos will revere and remember, now in its remastered form.

Through the newly restored ‘Bona,’ Lino Brocka renders water so sociopolitically volatile and cinematically iconic that even after four decades, its impact is still felt on our skin.

‘Kono Basho’ excels at using quiet moments for reflection, and while it may not turn out as smoothly as I had hoped, there is promise in seeing more stories about healing and hope in Philippine cinema.

‘Tumandok’ and the Ati community’s struggle to reclaim their ancestral lands transcend cinema; this is social justice.

Love Child is a film for everyone. Its bittersweet and quirky nature will surely win people’s hearts over. Its flaws are also worth noting, but they are not too grievous to the point of detesting the film.

‘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.

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 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.

For a prequel, ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ doesn’t have anything enlightening to disclose.

‘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.

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.

Lily Gladstone and Isabel Deroy-Olsen compel with subdued performances in Erica Tremblay’s debut narrative film.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.