ALL FILM REVIEWS
'Anino sa Likod ng Buwan' REVIEW: Tragedy in the Valley
The dialogue-heavy, one-take film, ‘Anino Sa Likod Ng Buwan,’ is a marvel of calculated narrative and technical claustrophobia that will leave you gasping for breath with each frame and grab you by the neck with its unexpected twists and turns.
‘Sleepless' REVIEW: Unapologetically beautiful
'Sleepless’ boldly defies the conventional Filipino rom-com formula, offering an intimate look at an enduring love not confined in romance...and opportunistic profit machines.
‘Your Mother’s Son’ REVIEW: Good Ass Bomba
In Jun Lana’s struggle to make sense of past political conditions, Your Mother’s Son becomes his definitive bomba film: mired deeply in sex, and politically dense in its delirious and lustful desires.
‘Road House’ REVIEW: Doesn’t pull many punches
‘Road House’ is too ecstatic to show us the intense high-octane action set pieces that it forgets to let the characters grow.
‘White Bird: A Wonder Story’ REVIEW: A tale of kindness and courage amidst the holocaust
For a more Filipino semblance, White Bird: A Wonder Story captures this grandmother-grandchild dynamic of telling wondrous stories with lessons in the vein of “Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang.” Apart from the film’s setting, there isn’t that much to go further deep into things, as the film exists as an idealistic reminder of kindness conquering all.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ REVIEW: What Is A Man To A God And A King?
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ knows exactly what it wants to be: a maximalist monster affair that puts its biggest stars (literally) front and center of a vibrant and epic kaijū fisticuffs.
‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)’ REVIEW: A concert film for the ages
‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ is a time capsule for Swift about the songs she has written about her life, a testament to her dedication and passion as an artist.
‘Pushcart Tales’ REVIEW: Sigrid’s Best
Pushcart Tales is the type of film that could only be possible in a film festival hosted by a supermarket chain, and it unexpectedly provides the conditions for what is Sigrid Bernardo’s best
‘Exhuma’ REVIEW: Dig up the past and unleash the horror
Though Exhuma digs up the predictable, it unearths something more, with the story’s layered turning points saving the film from being deemed run-of-the-mill.
‘Baghead‘ REVIEW: It was better as a short film
‘Baghead’ is a full-length adaptation of the 2017 short film of the same name that takes on too much to give us a compelling story. It was better as a short film.
'3 Days, 2 Nights in Poblacion' REVIEW: Friendship persistd in a familiar romantic night out
On paper, ‘3 Days, 2 Nights in Poblacion’ is an otherwise nondescript recollection of a memorable time that has interesting leads and better film influences as its ingredients.
‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ REVIEW: A local animated masterpiece arrives on Netflix
Iti Mapukpukaw finds new life on Netflix, breaking through art dimensions and film conventions with its animated exploration of trauma and losing one’s self.
‘A Glimpse of Forever’ REVIEW: Failing in Sensitivity
A Glimpse of Forever is problematic not because it abandons romance to convey a message about men’s mental health, but because of how it approaches its subject matter with so much insensitivity and ignorance.
‘The Zone of Interest’ REVIEW: Unseen but intensely felt, deafening but endlessly resonant
'The Zone of Interest' is an unprecedented triumph that's devoid of gruesome imagery but leaves you deeply scarred enough to internalize evil rather than merely look and listen.
'Dune: Part Two' REVIEW: Unearth this sci-fi spectacle in ambitious cinematic sequel
Dune: Part Two exemplifies what a modern blockbuster should be, adding a monumental addition to the reason why films are best experienced in cinemas.
‘The Holdovers’ REVIEW: A Heartwarming But Mildly Underwhelming Dramedy
While ‘The Holdovers’ may have its shortcomings in the character study of its three lonesome protagonists, it finds strength in its quick-witted, incisive, and endlessly quotable script that strikes the perfect chord between humor and heart.
'Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko' REVIEW: This is a problem
‘Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko’ tells the story of two lovers with a shared love for music but neither does their love for music nor their love for each other feel real. It gives us an unethical romance with an undeniable power imbalance between the couple.
'I Am Not Big Bird' REVIEW: Enrique Gil soars high and mighty with cinematic comeback
I Am Not Big Bird is a comedic throwback to the late 90s and early 2000s aesthetic, with notable remnants such as VHS tapes and digicams, as well as an ode to outlandish action films from decades past, adding fuel to the parody fire.
'Tokyo Story' REVIEW: Formally Masterful, Profoundly Emotional
Yasujiro Ozu invites audiences not to be intimidated by this storied classic, rewarding them with observations on family and the inevitability of time that still resonate today.
'Lisa Frankenstein' REVIEW: No amount of Pinoy pride is enough to celebrate this great performance by Liza Soberano
‘Lisa Frankenstein’ is an engrossing camp that leaves us chuckling for almost 2 hours. It's arguably the best we’ve ever seen from Liza Soberano because she carried the film, exceeding her Hollywood co-stars. Now showing in theaters.