ALL FILM REVIEWS
‘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.
'Glitter & Doom' REVIEW: Bops Endure Beyond the Film's Split Ambitions
Beyond the charms of Alan Cammish and Alex Diaz, ‘Glitter and Doom’ fails to marry its cinematic ambitions with its surreal universe in this jukebox musical of songs by the Indigo Girls.
‘The Garfield Movie' REVIEW: Technically a movie about Garfield
‘The Garfield Movie’ runs on the same effort as Garfield himself would exert, but you’ll be glad to play it for the kids while you scroll on your phone, do errands, and recognize familiar voices and cute characters.
‘Hit Man’ REVIEW: The many faces of Glen Powell
‘Hit Man’ isn’t a huge hit nor a gigantic miss, but it showcases Powell’s immense skills as an actor and how Linklater has still got it as a director with no signs of stopping.
‘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.
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ REVIEW: A new apes odyssey
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes successfully introduces new characters—both ape and human—who we can get behind, which is the first step in making the audience care enough to see a cinematic adventure.
‘Under Parallel Skies’ REVIEW: 2 Cute 2 Be Compelling
‘Under Parallel Skies’ is an entertaining romcom with a captivating performance by Janella Salvador, but it takes two to tango.
‘The Idea of You’ REVIEW: Fanfiction is just fiction
The Idea of You’ tells us two stories: how more young artists find themselves getting with older people and how the media sets a double standard on women.
'Civil War' REVIEW: Oversimplifying America as a Backdrop for War Photojournalism
Civil War is less about fifty states fighting one another and more about the thrill of capturing chaotic scenes during wartime.