More Stars Than There are in Heaven

Phillip Phillips wins American Idol Season 11

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:08:00 +0000

Phillip Phillips is the newest American Idol

Phillip Phillips is the champion of American Idol Season 11.

With more than 132.3 million votes, Phillips scooped votes emerged as the winner, against high-pitched Filipino-Mexican singer Jessica Sanchez.

Phillips wooed the judges and audience with his single, Home. Judges quipped his performance was most fitting for his personality, giving him a standing ovation after singing.

Jessica Sanchez sings Change Nothing for AI Finale round 3 despite all odds

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Wed, 23 May 2012 01:07:00 +0000

Jessica Sanchez sang Change Nothing for the third round, a song composed for her. It will be her first single.

Jackson didn’t like the song but praised Jessica for giving her all. He suggests Sanchez should add a little "urban swag" on the single. Jessica sang well, said Lopez, but pop ballad isn’t the genre for Jessica. Lopez suggested Jessica should choose songs that she feels comfortable.

Phillip Philips sang Home, receiving standing ovation from the audience while judges quipped the song was fitting for his personality, giving all-praises for him for his “perfect” performance.

Jessica Sanchez sings The Prayer for Round 2 American Idol Finale

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Wed, 23 May 2012 01:02:00 +0000

Jessica Sanchez sang The Prayer, the song that qualified her for the Top 13 this season. Her rendition of the Celine Dion-Andrea Bocelli was even heart-touching and awe inspiring.

Steven Tyler praised Sanchez saying this round was Jessica's, while Randy Jackson said both she and Phillip Phillips did well. Jennifer Lopez meanwhile threw her praises to Phillip Phillips.

Jessica Sanchez wows crowd in 1st round of 'American Idol' finale

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:42:00 +0000

It’s all applause for Jessica Sanchez as the first round of American Idol finale rounds up. Audience were tearfully moved by her riveting performance.

Idol judge Randy Jackson hailed round 1 as Jessica's moment.

She sang her powerful rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing, while Phillip Philips sang Stand by Me all with bongos and electric guitar.

Disco Queen Donna Summer dies

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Rest in peace, Donna Summer

Donna Summer, who was music industry’s long-reigning Queen of Disco hits, succumbs to cancer, May 17. She was 61. The entire entertainment industry, including music legends Aretha Franklin and Barbara, as well as President Barack Obama, were saddened by the demise of one of most revered figures in the world music.

Donna Summer was perhaps the most memorable figure of the Disco era, with hits that include Love to Love You Baby, I Feel Love, Hot Stuffand Bad Girls, and a record sales that reached more than 20 million albums. She also holds the distinction of being one of the first performers to score three consecutive double-disc albums reach No. 1 on the charts.

She was known for her up-front sexuality and husky voice made her a watershed image among singers who came later, including Madonna, Lady Gaga and Rihanna.

Summer dominated the 1970s with her hits, thus earning her the distinction as Queen of Disco. Nevertheless, Summer showed her discomfort with that moniker, telling New York Times in a 1996 interview: “It’s nice to be the queen of something. They can call me what they want as long as they pay me.”

Summer was trained as a gospel singer. Her incredible range made her a five-time Grammy winner for a variety of genres: rock, rhythm and blues, gospel and dance music, co-writing many of her songs.

Summer “made some of the freshest, most substantial dance records of a period noted for its froth and foolishness,” said Robert Palmer in 1984, New York Time’s pop music critic.

In the 1960s, Summer moved to Europe to launch her career, where she sang in Hair, a rock music production. She would stay abroad for another seven years to performing in a variety of stagings, before hitting initial success by singing The Hostage and Lady of the Night.

She shoot to superstardom 17-minute opus Love to Love You Baby, a rendition of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin’s erotic duet in the 1960s. The song became an instant hit and was a staple in discotheques and underground clubs. She returned to US in 1975, where she shone so bright as one of Disco era’s legends. She retained her popularity way until the end of her life thanks to her legions of fans that included Latins, blacks, and gays. Her lively performance was never paled by time and her many concerts remained sold-out.

But Summer’s life was not without lows. In the 70’s, she fell under depression and attempted suicide. She found renewal in the mid-80s, and since then much of her songs had religious themes.

Born LaDonna Adrienne Gaines on Dec. 31, 1948, Summer was married to Austrian actor Helmut Sommer, later changing her surname to Summer. They were divorced and she then married Bruce Sudano. She was survived by Sudano and her daughter by her first marriage and two daughters from her second.

Jessica Sanchez makes it to American Idol Top 2

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Fri, 18 May 2012 01:12:00 +0000

Jessica Sanchez makes it to Idol Top 2

Filipino-American singer Jessica Sanchez makes it to the top 2 of American Idol. This gives her the passport to the finale of this season’s American Idol.

So, it’s bye-bye for Joshua Ledet and a must-see square off between Philip Philips and Jessica Sanchez on the final’s night.

Not even sore throat could stop Sanchez from giving a rousing performance that once again earned the accolade—and votes—of American audience. She sang Mariah Carey’s My All, chosen by Jennifer Lopez, then made her own picks: I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing, by Aerosmith; and Jackson Five’s I’ll be There.

Derek Ramsey confirms break up with Angelica Panganiban

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:50:00 +0000

It’s official. Derek Ramsey and Angelica Panganiban called it quits. In his Twitter account, Derek Ramsey posted: “Guys we truly appreciate all ur concerns. Even though angel and I are no longer together we still have the utmost respect for one another.”

Derek claims that her relationship with Angelica “was no wasted time. I loved every minute we had together."

Before Derek broke the silence, rumors had it that the couple were having troubles in their relationship, although Angelica remained silent about it.

Happy Birthday, Kris!

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:57:00 +0000

Kris Aquino turns 41.

Kris Aquino celebrates her 41^stbirthday today. And what better gift can I offer to a star whose shows I have grown up watching than to write a little tribute to the life and career of a start that to this day remains unmatched in the industry. She began as a bankable movie actress in the 1990s, eventually parlaying her popularity and wits into becoming a successful talk show and game show host. In the early 2000s, she emerged as a critically acclaimed actress plus earning the monicker Horror Queen of Philippine Cinema. She also enjoys considerable success in the recording and publishing industries, as well as with her line of kitchen collections.

Happy Birthday, Krissy!

Birth, Childhood and Education

Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino was born on Feb. 14, 1972, the youngest daughter of Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Corazon Cojuangco, scions of powerful and landed families in Tarlac. Her father was a former senator and presidential aspirant who was martyred in 1983 at the height of the Marcos Regime. Her mother was the 11^th and first female president of the Republic of the Philippines, while her brother, Benigno Aquino III was elected 15^th president in 2010. Together with her family, she spent her early years in Boston, where her family was exiled during the Martial Law era.

Movie Star

After a bloodless revolution that toppled then-President Ferdinand Marcos and installed her mother as president, teenager Aquino was put to limelight. Her forays in show business began with guest stints in talk shows, television dramas, and comedies. She made her film debut in 1990, where she was cast opposite comedian Rene Requiestas in the colossally successful comedy film, Pido Dida. The film was the highest-grossing movie in the Philippines at the time, breaking existing box-office records that year. In 1991, she was crowned the country's box-office queen. The film spawned two successful sequels, Pido Dida: Kasal Na and Pido Dida: May Kambal Na. She solidified her bankability with a slew of commercially-successful true-to-life massacre films, popular during the early 1990s, such as Vizconde Massacre(1993), The Elsa Castillo Story: Ang Katotohanan, Myrna Diones Story, and Fatima Buen Story (all 1994), the last film earning her a Gawad Urian nomination. However, critics panned her acting as stiff and mechanical. But with her enormous success in this genre, Aquino was hailed by the press as Massacre Queen.

Talk Show Queen

Aquino's undeniable hosting wit landed her a talk show in ABS-CBN. In 1996, Today with Kris Aquino was launched, which went on air weekdays until 2001. The show was the first interactive talk show in Philippine TV and was touted as the country's response to America's The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 1999, she joined the Sunday afternoon celebrity talk show The Buzz, where she co-hosted with Boy Abunda until 2007, when she took maternity leave. She made her come back in 2008 but eventually left the show in 2008 after her brother was elected president.

Aquino was also host to several more talk shows: Morning Girls (2002-2004), Good Morning, Kris (2004), Boy & Kris (2007-2009), and SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (2009-2010). In 2011, Aquino returned to daytime talk show via KrisTV, a spinoff to her 1996 talk show.

Forays in Primetime TV

Kris also appeared in a number of top rating prime time soap operas: Hiram (2004-2005), Sineserye Presents Panayin sa Sindak si Barbara (2008) and Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo (2010).

Award Winning Actress

2002 was a banner year for Aquino's film career. After a long absence (she made her last film that time in 1995), she made a successful comeback via the family drama Mano Po, the first series of the long-running movie franchise. Her role as a submissive and weak-willed scion of a wealthy Chinese family earned her Best Supporting Actress awards in the Metro Manila Film Festival, Pasado Award, PMPC Star Awards for Movies, FAMAS Award, and KAPPT Award. She also appeared in two more Mano Po installments, Mano Po 2: My Home (2003) and Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love (2009).

Horror Queen

In 2004, Kris began starring in a movie genre where she shines the most—horror. In 2004, she was cast in Feng Shui, a film that featured Chinese influences and omen, the country's reply to the wave of Asian horrors that was very popular in the early 2000s. It earned P137 million, making it the highest-grossing Filipino movie in 2004. Her success earned her her second crown as Box-Office Queen. In 2006, she co-starred with Claudine Barretto in Sukob (2006), which depicted the Filipino superstition that one should not marry within a year when an immediate relative dies or gets married. With Sukob, Kris Aquino yet again broke box-office records—the film grossed a whooping P203 million, the first Filipino film to reach the elusive P200-million mark as well as the highest-grossing film that time. In 2007, she shared her third Box-Office Queen crown with Claudine Barretto. Aquino's succeeding horror flicks were big winners at the box-office as well. Dalaw (2010), which grossed P125 million, was the third biggest moneymaker during the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival, while Segunda Mano (2011) was earned P126.6 million, earning the film the second spot during the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Game Show Queen

In 2001, Kris made her prime time debut via her first—and most memorable—game show, Game KNB, where her tagline, “korek,” which she quipped after a contestant made the right answer, became a popular expression among the Filipinos to this day. The game show evolved through the years and many other hosts followed Aquino, although her stint is considered the “golden era” of Game KNB. Aquino also made impact with another game show Kapamilya Deal or No Deal, the country's franchise for the famous American game show. The show's extreme popularity was the main reason why it was extended for several times until it had to be ended prior to Aquino's maternity leave. Aquino also hosted the Philippine version of Wheel of Fortune, Pinoy Bingo Night, and The Price is Right. She also hosted the noontime variety show, Pilipinas Win na Win, but had to left the show after two months per decision of the management.

Celebrity Endorser

Kris is the face of dozens of products. In fact, her endorsements alone rake her tens of millions of pesos. Since 2009, she has held the record of being the country's number one celebrity endorser, lending her name and image to some of the most recognizable products like Pantene, Olay Total Effects, Maggi Magic Sarap, Nido, and Safeguard.

Recording Artist

Kris Aquino's inspirational compilation albums, feature different singers, were also top-selling at the time of their released. Her five albums, Songs of Love and Healing, Love and Inspiration, The Greatest Love, Blessings of Love, and My Heart's Journey, all registered platinum status.

Magazine Editor

In 2007, K Magazine, where Kris is the Executive Editor, was launched. It contained snippets of everything about Kris Aquino, her love, family, passion, and inspiring stories. The magazine remains the biggest selling celebrity magazine.

K Everyday

In 2009, Kris launched K Everyday in partnership with ABS-CBN Licensing. The collection showcased cooking collection, kitchen collection, plastic collection, and stationeries, each hand-picked by her which she thought are helpful in making everyday life comfortable.

As the Queen of All-Media graces her 41^st year, her star remains shimmering as ever and there's no sign of stopping.

Personal Life

Aquino was the domestic partner of actor Philip Salvador. They had a son, Joshua. In 2005 she married basketball player James Yap. In 2007, she gave birth to a son, James “Bimby” Aquino Yap, now a highly in-demand child product endorser. In 2010, she and Yap were separated, their marriage officially annulled just recently.

Valentine's Day Treat Movie Review: The Most Memorable Parts of The Notebook

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:50:00 +0000

The Notebook is hailed one of the best romance flicks of its time. Based on the best-selling novel of the same title by Nicholas Sparks, and directed by Nick Cassavetes, the film stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling as two lovers in the 1940s. Their story told by an elderly man to a fellow nursing home resident.

Enjoy the Best, Most Romantic Clips

Plot

In a modern-day nursing home, an elderly man named Duke (James Garner) begins to read a love story from his notebook to a female fellow patient (Gena Rowlands).

The story begins in 1940. At a carnival in Seabrook Island, South Carolina, local country boy Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) sees seventeen-year-old heiress Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) for the first time and is immediately smitten. She continuously refuses his persistent advances until their well-meaning friends lure them together; they then get to know each other on a midnight walk through empty Seabrook.

Noah and Allie spend an idyllic summer together. One night, a week before Allie is to leave town, she and Noah go up to an abandoned house called The Windsor Plantation. Noah tells her that he hopes to buy the house, and Allie makes him promise that the house will be white, with blue shutters, a walk-around porch, and a room that overlooks the creek so she can paint. They intend to make love for the first time, but are interrupted by Noah's friend Fin (Kevin Connolly) with the news that Allie's parents have the police out looking for her. When Allie returns home, her disapproving parents ban her from seeing Noah again. Allie fights with Noah outside and the two decide to break up. Allie immediately regrets the decision but Noah drives away. The next morning, Allie's mother reveals that they are going home that morning. Allie frantically tries to find Noah, but is forced to leave without saying good-bye. The Hamiltons then send Allie to New York, where she begins attending Sarah Lawrence College.

Noah, devastated by his separation from Allie, writes her one letter a day for a year, only to get no reply as Allie's mother keeps the letters from her. Noah and Allie have no choice but to move on with their lives. Allie continues to attend school, while Noah and Fin enlist to fight in World War II. Fin is killed in battle.

Allie becomes a nurse for wounded soldiers. There, she meets the wealthy Lon Hammond, Jr. (James Marsden), a well-connected young lawyer who is handsome, sophisticated, charming and comes from old Southern money. The two eventually become engaged, to the joy of Allie's parents, although Allie sees Noah's face when Lon asks her to marry him.

When Noah returns home, he discovers his father has sold their home so that Noah can go ahead and buy The Windsor Plantation. While visiting Charleston to file some paper work, Noah witnesses Allie and Lon kissing at a restaurant, causing Noah to go a little crazy, convincing himself that if he fixes up the house, Allie will come back to him.

While trying on her wedding dress in the 1940s, Allie is startled to read about Noah completing the house in the style section of a Raleigh newspaper and faints. She visits Noah in Seabrook and he invites her to dinner, during which Allie tells Noah about her engagement. Noah questions whether Allie's future husband is a good man and she reassures Noah that he is. Later in the evening, Noah invites Allie to come back tomorrow.

In the present, it is made clear that the elderly woman is Allie suffering from dementia, which has stolen her memories, and also that Noah is her husband. Allie does not recognize their grown children and grandchildren, who beg Noah to come home with them. He insists on staying with Allie.

The next morning, Allie and Noah go rowing on a nearby lake and begin to reminisce about their summer together. As a rain storm starts Noah rows to shore, where Allie demands to know why Noah never wrote to her. After the revelation that Noah had indeed written to Allie, they share a passionate kiss, before making love into the night.

The next day, Allies mother appears on Noahs doorstep, telling Allie that Lon has followed her to Seabrook after Allie's father told him about Noah. Her mother takes Allie out for a drive to show her that there had been a time in her life when she could relate to Allie's present situation. On returning to Noah's, she hands her daughter the bundle of 365 letters that Noah had written to her. When alone, Noah asks Allie what she is going to do; Allie is confused and confesses that she doesnt know. Noah asks her to just stay with him, admitting it is going to be really hard, but he is willing to go through anything because he wants to be with her. Confused as ever, Allie drives off.

Allie drives to the hotel and confesses to Lon, who is angry but admits that he still loves her. He tells her that he does not want to convince his fiancée that she should be with him, but Allie tells him he does not have to, because she already knows she should be with him.

The film goes back to the elderly couple, and Duke asks Allie who she chose. She soon realizes the answer herself; young Allie appears at Noah's doorstep, having left Lon at the hotel and chosen Noah. They embrace in reunion.

Elderly Allie suddenly remembers her past before she and Noah/Duke joyfully spend a brief intimate moment together; after originally finding out about her illness, she had herself written their story in the notebook with the instructions for Noah to "Read this to me, and I'll come back to you." But soon Allie relapses, losing her memories of Noah yet again. She panics, and has to be sedated by the attending physician. This proves to be too difficult for Noah to watch and he breaks down. The next morning, Noah is found unconscious in bed and he is rushed to the hospital; he later returns to the nursing home's intensive care ward. He goes to Allie's room later that night, and Allie remembers again. The next morning, a nurse finds them in bed together, having both died peacefully holding each other's hands. The last scene shows a flock of birds flying away.

Cast

The film starred Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, with a stellar supporting cast headed by James Garner, Sam Shepard, Joan Allen, David Thornton, James Marsden, Kevin Connolly and Gena Rowlands.

Critical Response

The film was rated 52 percent, out of 149 voters, in review aggregate Rotten Tomato. Critics agreed that the film is admirable for its its unabashed sentimentality, although it was “too clumsily manipulative to rise above its melodramatic clichés.” MetaCriticrated the film 8.4 out of 10.

Rex Reed of The New York Observer praised: “How rare to see a film that says there is still a value system out there, that being thoughtful and caring is not uncool.”

Ann Hornaday of Washington Post wrote: “This is a movie that isn't ashamed to wring each teardrop by any means necessary,” while Toronto Star's Susan Walker quipped: “Our resistance is broken down, and the hankies are out.”

And although the film was “one hundred percent sap,” in the words of Desson Thomson of Washington Post, still he praised Rachel McAdams for her “persuasive performances.”

“A lovely surprise. Ripe with feeling and lush with physical beauty, it's a love story that swings confidently between age and youth, and, like the young Tiger Woods of old, avoids every trap along the way,” critiqued Joe Morgenstern of Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, wrote completely the opposite saying that he completely felt “allergic reaction to this open faucet of tear-jerking swill as I do to the 1996 Nicholas Sparks novel that inspired it.”

My Cactus Heart, Movie Review and Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:46:00 +0000

My Cactus Heart is the pre-valentine offer of Star Cinema for the young and young-at-heart who want to feel the spirit of love and romance even before Cupid starts shooting arrows.

The film is top billed by real-life sweethearts Maja Salvador and Matteo Guidicelli, introducing Xiam Lim, in his firm moving outing fresh from his My Binondo Girl success. It premiered Jan. 25, 2012.

Synopsis

Push.com reveals that the story's plot “revolves around the life of Sandy, a culinary student whose real passion in life is illustrating. Sandy grew up watching her mother (played by Rosanna Roces) pine after her father (Ricky Davao) who decided to separate from their family when she was still a little girl. Jaded by love, Sandy vowed to never let anyone hurt her heart like that again and she ends up continually turning down every guy who tries to court her, thus earning her the moniker, 'Cactus Heart.' That is until she meets the hardworking Carlo who applies for a job at her mom’s catering business as a waiter. Sparks immediately fly but Sandy tries to continually resist feeling anything for Carlo, who is also a singer in a band trying to make ends meet despite his father’s penchant for betting on horse races. Xian Lim comes into the story as the dashing Bene, Sandy’s boss at the production company she applies for in order to pursue her dream of continuing her passion for illustrating.”

Cast

The film stars Maja Salvador, Matteo Guidicelli, and Xian Lim, who proved there versatility in acting. My Cactus Heart also stars Ricky Davao Bettina Carlos, Ramon Christopher, Joy Viado, Lemuel Pelayo, Pinky Amador, and Rosanna Roces, with cameo performances of Karylle, JM De Guzman and Pinoy Big Brother season 1 alumni Franzen Fajardo. My Cactus Heart is directed by Enrico Santos for Star Cinema and Skylight films.

Enjoy the film's Trailer!

Critical Response

Oggs Cruz of TwitFilm.com wrote, that Maja Salvador (who played the role of an “uninteresting, unconvincing, and unromantic” lady) “attempts to add color to the hopelessly color-less character by giving an authentically earnest performance, which only does so much,” However, he noted that the role was “lazily written,” citing issues with extreme triteness which resulted to “romance too dry to really matter.”

As for the Maja-Matteo tandem, Cruz panned their “unbalanced romantic team,” which called “more awkward than awe-inspiring.” Nevertheless, Starmometer find the couple to portray “their role as if they’re not acting.”

RealAdvice.net praised the movie for two factors that set it apart from the average romantic comedies. First, “the narrative style made the movie more interesting than it should be.” Second, “the pairing of Matteo and Maja just simply works flawlessly.” Matteo himself was noticed for his versatility, as well as for his improved fluency in Tagalog.

Philbert Ortiz Dy of ClicktheCity.com summed: “My Cactus Heart feels like a collection of gimmicks wrapped around a pretty conventional love story. One can easily see the potential there, but the approach is backwards. If the studio is willing to experiment, they might be better served just telling unconventional stories: ones unfettered by the demands of formula. This film tries to project the image of being youthful and edgy, but its core is as stodgy and creaky as it’s ever been. You can put an old man in skinny jeans and a hip t-shirt, and it’ll be funny for a while. It probably isn’t going to cure his arthritis.”

Whitney Houston Drowned in Tub?

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:08:00 +0000

Autopsy regarding Whitney Houston's death is complete although results of the actual cause of her death is not yet released pending toxicology report, according to TMZ.

Whitney Houston, disheveled, in her photo taken during the banquet for Grammy Awards.

Sources revealed that cause of death cannot be determined until the toxicology results, which usually takes 4-6 weeks.

As TMZ first reported, “Although the cause of death is unknown, it is increasingly looking like Whitney may have fallen asleep or lapsed into unconsciousness in the bathtub and drowned.”

Informants for TMZ told that Whitney “had been drinking the night before and authorities believe a combination of Xanax and alcohol could have fatally sedated her,” although it is too unsure to draw any firm conclusions surrounding the singer's death.

Whitney Houston, Dead at 48

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:12:00 +0000

Cause of death still unknown.

Rest in peace, Whitney Houston, whose news of her death was announced by Associated Press, 8:10 PM Eastern Time. Houston was one of the best-selling singers of her time. Guiness World Record named her the Most Awarded Singer in history.

Sources for TMZ.com informed that a member of Whitney's entourage had found her in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel. Hotel security was immediately called, who then dialed 911. When paramedics arrived Houston was found unresponsive. Police arrived to the scene within minutes and fire was already there on an unrelated call. Furthermore, sources reported that paramedics performed CPR but it did not work and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM. There were no obvious signs of foul play, but BH PD detectives have begun a full investigation.

Houston's death came on the eve of music's biggest night — the Grammy Awards. It's a showcase where she once reigned, and her death is sure to case a heavy pall on Sunday's ceremony.

News of her death elicited a flood of reaction from fans and fellow celebrities alike, reports CNN.

Singer Aretha Franklin: "I just can't talk about it now. It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen. My heart goes out to Cissy (Houston's mother), her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby (Brown)."

Dolly Parton, (who wrote I Will Always Love You): "Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.'"

Quincy Jones: "[I was] absolutely heartbroken... She was a true original and a talent beyond compare."

News of her death by Associated Press read:

Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singerBobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown.

News of Houston's death came on the eve of music's biggest night — the Grammy Awards. It's a showcase where she once reigned, and her death was sure to cast a heavy pall on Sunday's ceremony. Houston's longtime mentor Clive Davis was to hold his annual concert and dinner Saturday; it was unclear if it was going to go forward.

At her peak, Houston the golden girl of the music industry. From the middle 1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful and peerless vocals that were rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."

She had the perfect voice and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise.

She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out sounded so much like Houston that many thought it was Houston.

But by the end of her career, Houston became a stunning cautionary tale of the toll of drug use. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanor and bizarre public appearances. She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once pristine voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had during her prime.

"The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy," Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side.

It was a tragic fall for a superstar who was one of the top-selling artists in pop music history, with more than 55 million records sold in the United States alone.

She seemed to be born into greatness. She was the daughter ofgospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin.

Houston first started singing in the church as a child. In her teens, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling. It was around that time when music mogul Clive Davis first heard Houston perform.

"The time that I first saw her singing in her mother's act in a club ... it was such a stunning impact," Davis told "Good Morning America."

"To hear this young girl breathe such fire into this song. I mean, it really sent the proverbial tingles up my spine," he added.

Before long, the rest of the country would feel it, too. Houston made her album debut in 1985 with "Whitney Houston," which sold millions and spawned hit after hit. "Saving All My Love for You" brought her her first Grammy, for best female pop vocal. "How Will I Know," ''You Give Good Love" and "The Greatest Love of All" also became hit singles.

Another multiplatinum album, "Whitney," came out in 1987 and included hits like "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

The New York Times wrote that Houston "possesses one of her generation's most powerful gospel-trained voices, but she eschews many of the churchier mannerisms of her forerunners. She uses ornamental gospel phrasing only sparingly, and instead of projecting an earthy, tearful vulnerability, communicates cool self-assurance and strength, building pop ballads to majestic, sustained peaks of intensity."

Her decision not to follow the more soulful inflections of singers like Franklin drew criticism by some who saw her as playing down her black roots to go pop and reach white audiences. The criticism would become a constant refrain through much of her career. She was even booed during the "Soul Train Awards" in 1989.

"Sometimes it gets down to that, you know?" she told Katie Couric in 1996. "You're not black enough for them. I don't know. You're not R&B enough. You're very pop. The white audience has taken you away from them."

Some saw her 1992 marriage to former New Edition member and soul crooner Bobby Brown as an attempt to refute those critics. It seemed to be an odd union; she was seen as pop's pure princess while he had a bad-boy image, and already had children of his own. (The couple had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in 1993.) Over the years, he would be arrested several times, on charges ranging from DUI to failure to pay child support.

But Houston said their true personalities were not as far apart as people may have believed.

"When you love, you love. I mean, do you stop loving somebody because you have different images? You know, Bobby and I basically come from the same place," she told Rolling Stone in 1993. "You see somebody, and you deal with their image, that's their image. It's part of them, it's not the whole picture. I am not always in a sequined gown. I am nobody's angel. I can get down and dirty. I can get raunchy."

It would take several years, however, for the public to see that side of Houston. Her moving 1991 rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl, amid the first Gulf War, set a new standard and once again reaffirmed her as America's sweetheart.

In 1992, she became a star in the acting world with "The Bodyguard." Despite mixed reviews, the story of a singer (Houston) guarded by a former Secret Service agent (Kevin Costner) was an international success.

It also gave her perhaps her most memorable hit: a searing, stunning rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You," which sat atop the charts for weeks. It was Grammy's record of the year and best female pop vocal, and the "Bodyguard" soundtrack was named album of the year.

She returned to the big screen in 1995-96 with "Waiting to Exhale" and "The Preacher's Wife." Both spawned soundtrack albums, and another hit studio album, "My Love Is Your Love," in 1998, brought her a Grammy for best female R&B vocal for the cut "It's Not Right But It's Okay."

But during these career and personal highs, Houston was using drugs. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2010, she said by the time "The Preacher's Wife" was released, "(doing drugs) was an everyday thing. ... I would do my work, but after I did my work, for a whole year or two, it was every day. ... I wasn't happy by that point in time. I was losing myself."

In the interview, Houston blamed her rocky marriage to Brown, which included a charge of domestic abuse against Brown in 1993. They divorced in 2007.

Houston would go to rehab twice before she would declare herself drug-free to Winfrey in 2010. But in the interim, there were missed concert dates, a stop at an airport due to drugs, and public meltdowns.

She was so startlingly thin during a 2001 Michael Jackson tribute concert that rumors spread she had died the next day. Her crude behavior and jittery appearance on Brown's reality show, "BeingBobby Brown," was an example of her sad decline. Her Sawyer interview, where she declared "crack is whack," was often parodied. She dropped out of the spotlight for a few years.

Houston staged what seemed to be a successful comeback with the 2009 album "I Look To You." The album debuted on the top of the charts, and would eventually go platinum.

Things soon fell apart. A concert to promote the album on "Good Morning America" went awry as Houston's voice sounded ragged and off-key. She blamed an interview with Winfrey for straining her voice.

A world tour launched overseas, however, only confirmed suspicions that Houston had lost her treasured gift, as she failed to hit notes and left many fans unimpressed; some walked out. Canceled concert dates raised speculation that she may have been abusing drugs, but she denied those claims and said she was in great shape, blaming illness for cancellations.

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio - Movie Review and Free SHowing

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:02:00 +0000

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005) stars Julianne Moore as the indefatigable mother of 10 and witty writer Evelyn Ryan.

I got to learn about the Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio (2002) on one of my frequent trips to the second-hand bookstore. I love reading about women who made it through the odds and survived as winners. And Evelyn Ryan was such a compelling character—humorous and practical, tough but smiling, gentle but with a steely determination to keep ends meeting despite the struggles of raising 10 kids, living with an alcoholic husband, and bouts with poverty and despair. Yes, she was a real life wonder woman who met adversities with her pen, notebook, boxes upon boxes of product wrappers, and the gift of crafting humorous and witty lines in “25 words or less.”

Synopsis

Hers was a story of a mother looking for ways to augment her husband's already insufficient income by joining the jingle-writing craze, that hit America after World War II and went through until the early 1960s, when games of luck, or sweepstakes, took the place of this unique competition. What a writer Evelyn was because her winnings, ranging from $1 cash prize she won from poetry writing contests to thousand-dollar cash prize, grocery shopping sprees, and free travel, all did well for her family and came just in time to save them from impending trouble.

Free Film Showing. Enjoy Watching Here!

Movie Review

The film adaptation was equally touching, as was the memoir of Ryan's daughter, Teri. The film stars on of the best actresses of her generation, four-time Oscar nominee Julianne Moore, with a strong supporting characters led by Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern.

Roger Ebert, of the Chicago Sun-Times, said that Moore's role “is like the small-town cousin of Cathy, the Connecticut housewife she played in Far from Heaven (2003). Cathy was trapped in a sterile marriage, and a world where men made all the decisions and women were locked in supporting roles. Judging by the body count around her dinner table in Ohio, Evelyn Ryan's marriage is not sterile, but it is a trap.”

Furthermore, Egbert applauded the film for avoiding “obvious sentiment and predictable emotion and shows this woman somehow holding it together year after year, entering goofy contests that for her family mean life and death.”

Meanwhile, Chris Kaltenbach of Baltimore Sun was not as enthusiastic as Egbert, commenting that “Anderson sees her subject as little more than a game-show contestant. One suspects the real Evelyn Ryan deserved far better.”

Bill Muller of Arizona Republic however was ecstatic when he said that the film showcased both Moore's and Harrelson's acting best, saying, “Rarely do you have a movie in which both lead actors give Oscar-worthy performances, but Defiance, Ohio is one.”

Carrey Rickey of Philadelphia Inquirer noted that one thing that “distinguishes Anderson's work is her obvious empathy with all of her characters, including Kelly Ryan, whom she does not demonize,” while Wesley Morris of Boston Globe critiqued that the film's story has nothing that much, “it the characterization of a family's life is vivid and rich.”

All in all, movie aggregator Rotten Tomato rated The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio with 57% approval rating.

George Clooney's Compelling Performance in The Descendants Honored at 69th Golden Globes

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:55:00 +0000

George Clooney scoops his second Golden Globe Award this year for his role as the Honolulu-based lawyer who is confronted with the challenge of her wife who fell for comatose in the comedy-drama, The Descendants.

Clooney won Best Actor in Drama.

Clooney's performance was praised by critics and the film itself received excellent reviews. Clooney has earlier won Best Supporting Actor for Syriana.

Meryl Streep Wins the Golden Globe for Iron Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:37:00 +0000

For the 26th time, Golden Globe perennial favorite Meryl Streep has scooped the trophy. This year, she was honored for her role as Britain's first and only female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher in the biopic, Iron Lady.

During it's release, critics were all-praises for Streep's compelling performance. Early reviews have praised Streep's portrayal.

Meryl Streep, 69th Golden Globe Awards Best Actress for
Drama, The Iron Lady.

The Times Kevin Maher said: "Streep has found the woman within the caricature." David Gritten at The Telegraph wrote; "Awards should be coming Streep's way; yet her brilliance rather overshadows the film itself." Meanwhile, Xan Brooks of The Guardian praised Streep's performance as "astonishing and all but flawless".Critic Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail wrote: "Only an actress of Streep's stature could possibly capture Thatcher's essence and bring it to the screen. It's a performance of towering proportions that sets a new benchmark for acting," while Richard Corliss of Time wrote that Meryl Streep's performance one of the Top 10 Movie Performances of 2011.

Streep holds the record of being the actor with the most Golden Globe wins.

My House in Umbria (2003) tells us that every person we meet leaves a lasting imprint in our lives.

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:24:00 +0000

Luise Rainer, Biography: Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:55:00 +0000

Luise Rainer was the first actress to win back-to-back Academy Awards.

Luise Rainer, photographed her with her Oscar.
Notice that she wore no make-up, her hair isn't
coiffured, and she was wearing a rather shabby
dress. VERY RAINER!

Luise Rainer made a record-setting win after scooping the Academy Award for Best Actress twice in a row. An article in Internet Movie Database best depicts Rainer's performance as well as her successive wins for two of the best films of the 1930's, The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937).

“As Anna Held, Ziegfeld's common-law wife, Rainer excelled in the musical numbers, but it is for her telephone scene that she is most remembered for. The Great Ziegfeld was a big hit and went on to win the Academy Award as Best Picture of 1936. Rainer received her first of two successive Best Actress Oscars for playing Held.

Luise Rainer as Anna Held in The Great Ziegfeld (1936).

The Great Ziegfeld movie poster.

Anna Held opposite the love of her love, the great Florenz
Ziegfeld (played by William Powell).

The award was highly controversial at the time as she was a relative unknown and it was only her first nomination, but also because her role was so short and relatively minor that it better qualified for a supporting nomination. (While 1936 was the first year that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences honored supporting players, her studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, listed her as a lead player, then got out its block vote for her.) Compounding the controversy was the fact that Rainer beat out such better known and more respected actresses as Carole Lombard (her sole Oscar nomination) in My Man Godfrey (1936), previous Best Actress winner Norma Shearer (her fifth nomination) in Romeo and Juliet (1936), and Irene Dunne (her second of five unsuccessful nominations) in Theodora Goes Wild (1936).

Some of the bitchery was directed towards Louis B. Mayer, whom non-M.G.M. Academy members resented for his ability to manipulate Academy votes. Other critics of her first Oscar win claimed it was the result of voters being unduly impressed with the great budget ($2 million) of "The Great Ziegfeld" rather than great acting.

Most observers agree that Rainer won her Oscar as the result of her moving and poignant performance in just one, single scene in the picture, the famous telephone scene in which the broken-hearted Held congratulates Ziegfeld over the telephone on his upcoming marriage to Billie Burke while trying to retain her composure and her dignity. During the scene, the camera is entirely focused on Rainer, and she delivers a tour-de-force performance. Seventy years later, it remains one of the most famous scenes in movie history. With another actress playing Held, the scene could have been mawkish, but Rainer brought the pathos of the scene out and onto film.

She based her interpretation of the scene on Jean Cocteau's play "La Voix Humaine." "Cocteau's play is just a telephone conversation about a woman who has lost her beloved to another woman," Rainer remembered.

'That is the comparison. As it fit into the Ziegfeld story, that's how I wrote it. It's a daily happening, not just in Cocteau.'”

Luise Rainer as the illiterate Chinese farmer O-Lan in
The Good Earth (1937) another Oscar winning role.

Of her performance, she said in an interview 60 years after the film's release, Rainer was dismissive of performance. “I was never proud of anything," she said. "I just did it like everything else. To do a film - let me explain to you - it's like having a baby. You labor, you labor, you labor, and then you have it. And then it grows up and it grows away from you. But to be proud of giving birth to a baby? Proud? No, every cow can do that."

Come the awards night, Luise Rainer did not attend the ceremony, so once Mayer learned that she had won best actress, he immediately summoned MGM publicist Howard Strickling to fetch her. She made a commotion when she arrived so master of ceremonies George Jessel mistakenly announced her win, which should have been done by Bette Davis.

Of her second Oscar-winning role, Rainer described the performance as something that she worked “inside out.”

“It's not for me, putting on a face, or putting on makeup, or making masquerade. It has to come from inside out. I knew what I wanted to do and he let me do it," she said. The win made Rainer the first two-time Oscar winner in an acting category and the first to win consecutive acting awards.

Rainer summed up her Oscar wins as the “worst” possible thing to happen on her career. In a 1938 interview, Rainer exclaimed that being awarded twice made her "work all the harder now to prove the Academy was right." The critic James Agate admired Rainer's performance in The Good Earth and described it as "an exquisite rendering", however she was criticised in reviews by Picturegoer. Max Breen was among those critics indignant that Greta Garbo's performance in Camille had been overlooked in favor of Rainer.

After 1938, Rainer had totally totally shown no interest for Hollywood. Her 1943 performance in Hostages was her last, until she made a little comeback in 1997.

But despite the short span of her career, Rainer made an imprint in the cinematic history of Hollywood. In the league of Garbo and Deana Durbin, she was one of the very few people to turn its back to an industry that a lot of people turn their whole life to. She was iconic for portraying—and fighting to play—unglamorous but meaty roles, and her achievement as a back-to-back Oscar winner is something not every actress is given the honor to savor.

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) teaches us to embrace every blessing that life may give.

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:49:00 +0000

Luise Rainer, Biography: Hollywood Filmography

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:33:00 +0000

Throughout Rainer's career as a Hollywood leading leading, she only appeared in 9 films, 8 of which she played as a contract star in MGM. In 1997, she made a short-lived comeback via The Gambler.

Petrang Kabayo - Movie Review and Free Movie Watch

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:44:00 +0000

Vice Ganda stars in the box-office remake Petrang Kabayo (2010).

Get ready for another hilarious, wacky ride with Petra, the human cursed to become a horse to learn a lifelong lesson that she will never forget. Vice Ganda, in his first starring role, will never fail to make you laugh and rolling as you enjoy a one unforgettable, laugh ride with this super-comedy flick.

Check out the trailer

Synopsis

Peter (Vice Ganda) leaves their home after his father (John Arcilla) maltreats him because of his homosexuality. A wealthy lady, Dona Biday (Eugene Domingo) finds him unconscious in front of her gate, so she decides to let him in. Later, she adopts him and treats him her own. However, Peter becomes abusive of his new-found wealth, even more after Dona Biday dies. Because of that, he was cursed to turn into a horse every time be becomes angry or says something bad.

Get yourself ready for an unstoppable adventure with Petrang Kabayo.

Enjoy the full movie showing here!

Cast

Vice Ganda as Peter/Pedro/Voice of Petra

Abby Bautista as Pauline

Luis Manzano as Erickson

Gloria Romero as Lola Idang

Sam Pinto as Samantha

Candy Pangilinan as Maita

Eagle Riggs as Diobayo

DJ Durano as Dickson

Joy Viado as Lina

Tom Rodriguez as Chito

John Arcilla as Poldo

Ricky Rivero as Geronino

Atak Arana as Dalvie

Nadine Lustre as Dina

With the Special Participation of:

Anne Curtis as Kalesa Passenger

Eugene Domingo as Doña Biday

Gladys Reyes as Pregnant Kalesa Passenger

John Lapus as Filipino/Chinese Matron

Dennis Padilla as Marjoroi

Makisig Morales as Young Peter

Jason Francisco as Waiter

Movie Review

Vice Ganda's miracle presence is a sure fire guarantee of box-office success. The laughing, cheering, rolling, and giggling is unstoppable the moment the film begins until its end. ReelAdvice.net says, the film was "straight-to-the-point and rhetoric humor works and works brilliantly," with all the one-liner punchlines making up for the bad story--if ever you get to notice it. Nevertheless, the film was all-in-all coherent, believable, and even impresses a lesson to young and adult audiences alike.

As for the post-production, it seems the film was rushed. Cinematography came with differing qualities and there were even scenes that were shot so "badly to the point that scenes were super blurry, kind of like shot using a cellphone."

But all in all, Petrang Kabayo is one comedy film you shouldn't miss watching. It's your unlimited way of getting laughter in 110 minutes, plus the substance that makes the film even better.

Box-Office Performance

The film grossed grossed P115 million, making it the fifth highest grossing Filipino movie in 2010.

Luise Rainer, Biography: She Turns 102 and Still a Sprite, Grand Dame

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:18:00 +0000

Luise Rainer, who turns 102 this Jan. 2, remains the oldest living Oscar winner and one of the last surviving Hollywood greats of the 1930s.

Luise Rainer, Hollywood's one and only Viennese Teardrop.

This coming Jan. 12, Luise Rainer will celebrate her 102nd birthday. She reaches another milestone in her life as the oldest surviving Academy Award winner and one of the last surviving actress from Hollywood's golden age.

In what was considered as the most popular
telephone scene in the world, Rainer delivers
a tour de force performance as stage star Anna
Held, in The Great Ziegfeld (1936), a role that
earned her her first Oscar for best actress.

Although she is mostly unknown today among movie watchers, she will be forever remembered as the first actress ever to win back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Actress. Dubbed as the Viennese Teardrop, Rainer's Hollywood career was short and she only made eight films along the duration. Nevertheless, she left an image of a headstrong woman who refused to kneel on the studio system. She turned her back on a promising career but that very act made her legendary and unforgotten to this day.

When she signed a contract with MGM, she was poised to become the next queen of the lot, at par with the studio's leading ladies, Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer. But that didn't work out well with her. Instead of choosing predictable vehicles that could have cast her on glamorous roles, she picked characters of deeper personality that made impact with the audience.

Solidifying her stature as one of Hollywood's more
critically acclaimed actresses of her era, she played
as the peasant O-Lan in another Oscar-worthy
performance in The Good Earth (1937).

Rainer was not the usual actress of her era. She was in league with Hepburn and Garbo, who both displayed personalities that defied Hollywood convention. While Garbo shunned publicity and Hepburn hated convention, Rainer displayed both, which is one reason why she punctually exited Hollywood even before it got rid of her.

At the start of her career, Rainer made it known that she never liked stardom or facing the press people for interview.

"Stars are not important, only what they do as a part of their work is important. Artists need quiet in which to grow. It seems Hollywood does not like to give them this quiet. Stardom is bad because Hollywood makes too much of it, there is too much 'bowing down' before stars. Stardom is weight pressing down over the head — and one must grow upward or not at all,” she said.

Learn more about Luise Ranier, Hollywood's Viennese Teardrop and The Elisabeth Bergner of Light Comedy, in a biography I wrote for her two years ago.

Or, enjoy her interview with Scotsman in time for her 100th birthday.

A tribute to Ms. Rainer

2011 MMFF Box-Office Results (2 Weeks)

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:24:00 +0000

Enteng ng Ina Mo, run-away hit.

Here is the accumulated gross earnings of MMFF entries from Dec. 25, 2011 until Jan. 7, 2012, with the Vic Sotto-Ai-Ai delas Alas starrer Enteng ng Ina Mo as the run-away winner, passing the elusive P200-million mark at P237.88 million. Kris Aquino's prayer was granted as Segunda Mano grabbed the number 2 spot, with P126.63 million in box-office earnings. The third slot was occupied by Bong Revilla-Marian Rivera starrer Ang Panday 2, P105.6 million.

1. Enteng ng Ina Mo - P237.88 million

2. Segunda Mano - P126.63 million

3. Panday 2 - P105.6 million

4. My Househusband, Ikaw Na! - P62.1 million

5. Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 - P55.48 million

6. Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga - P38.44 million

7. Yesterday Today Tomorrow - P10.68 million

Sukob - Movie Review and Free Showing

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:33:00 +0000

Sukob, the highest-grossing horror movie of the Philippine cinema, stars Horror Queen Kris Aquino and Optimum Star Claudine Barretto.

Sukob is another Kris Aquino vehicle that made her stood out in a genre where she gives her best. Meanwhile, this is Claudine Barretto's first- and so far her only- foray in horror. When both stars met on screen, what came out as a horrific horror movie, considered by many as one of the best horror films to grace the cinema. Add the directing prowess of seasoned and award winning Chito Rono and you'll have a movie that's worth watching again and again.

The film showcases the Filipino belief that no siblings should get married on the same year.

Synopsis

Sandy (Kris Aquino), an overseas worker, comes home to wed Dale (Wendell Ramos). Unexpected things happen prior and after her wedding. Her secondary sponsors, and later on, her friends and relatives disappear one by one. More mysterious things happen when Sandy sees her wedding photos. The people who disappeared were headless on the photos. Joya (Maja Salvador), Sandy's psychic cousin, tells her she is cursed by the Sukob. Sandy is puzzled because no one in the family died or married, until she finds out that she has a half-sister, Diana (Claudine Barretto). They seek the help of a shaman, who tells them that one must sacrifice to put the curse to a stop.

Stay put and get yourself ready for a horror-rific movie adventure with Sukob! Enjoy the free showing!

Movie Review

"Unlike most local pictures of the same genre Sukob succeeds as a horror, suspense thriller," praised the CBCP World. "Right from the beginning, ambience starts to build up with the extensive panning of old abandoned houses.

"Visuals with well chosen details, some flashed quickly on screen, as well as effective sound effects including sudden jolts and booms, keep the viewers on edge. The ingenious interweaving of the stories of two women in similar circumstances keeps the moviegoers' interest. "

Nevertheless, "the sudden switching from one locale to another" at the start of the film was "confusing to the spectator who has not gotten a 'handle' to the story."

The use of symbols and other devices in the film was exquisitely done, while the cast, did their best performances.

"Editing is tight," continued CBCP Words, with all-praises given to "Chito Roño for his creativity as director and writer."

Foreign viewers also lauded sukob.

One vacationer from New York said Sukob interests him a lot because it has "those sudden scary moments that make you jump out of your seat.

"I am not Filipino but that plays no role in being able to like this movie. I watched this with my girlfriend (who is Filipina) and we both loved it. Both Kris Aquino & Claudine Barretto did a nice job. A must see movie for any Horror fan," he continues.

Another foreign viewer noted: "Most of the horror is atmospheric--the director gets a lot of mileage out of a creepy little flower girl and some swirling leaves--and overall the story is more poignant than gory. There's a set of dichotomies at play throughout the movie, which I thought was interesting: it's a palimpsest of urbanity and wealth on top of a humbler, darker existence."

Cast

Kris Aquino as Sandy

Claudine Barretto as Diana

Wendell Ramos as Dale

Boots Anson-Roa as Tessie

Ronaldo Valdez as Fred

Bernard Palanca as Brian

Liza Lorena as Gilda

Maja Salvador as Joya

Raquel Villavicencio as Belen

Jhong Hilario as Erning

Maureen Mauricio as Paula

Glaiza de Castro as Grace

Cris Daluz as Dante

Neil Ryan Sese as Michael

Ku Aquino as Mang Cesar

Box-Office Performance

Sukob grossed a whooping P186 million, making it the highest-grossing Filipino film until the John Lloyd Cruz-Sarah Geronimo-starrer You Changed My Life (2009). It remains the highest-grossing Filipino horror film.

Catch Me I'm In Love - Movie Review and Free Showing

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:20:00 +0000

Catch Me, I'm In Love stars Gerald Anderson and Sarah Geronimo.

Catch me I'm in Love is the first team up of Pop Princess and Box-Office Queen Sarah Geronimo and heartthrob Gerald Anderson. It was the first movie release of Star Cinema for the year 2011. A smash box-office hit, it grossed more than P120 million.

Movie Trailer

Plot

Roan (Sarah Geronimo), a vibrant lady with high hopes for love is tasked to accompany the Erick (Gerald Anderson), the son of the president on an immersion trip to the countryside. Both came from two different worlds, both having two different way of thinking, and both personalities came to fight with one another, only to find attraction and fall in love in the end.

Free Showing Here:

Movie Review

Movie was critically positive for most of the reviews. Philippine Entertainment Portal writer Rica Tomines critiqued that the plot was predictable, fast-paced, and lacks the heavy drama and complicated twists, something unusually for a Tagalog film. But she was all praises for the characters. "Sarah effortlessly conveys the emotions of a girl who falls in love for the first time, and she falls real hard," she said. "Gerald, on the other hand, was convincing as the guy who falls for the girl way out of his league, and stays true to his feelings."

Meanwhile, Relnard Raquedan critiqued: :"Sarah Geronimo has definitely mastered the art of the Filipina romantic. In Catch Me... I'm In Love, she effortlessly pulls off the 'I've never had a boyfriend ever, but I'm willing to wait it out' schtick."

Of the plot and storyline, he said, "There's really nothing in the story that most viewers have not seen before in a rom-com-- except that there's a sever lack of humor in this movie. Also, romantic sparks are thinly spread in the movie that will disappoint a lot of the viewers."

Nevertheless, the cheesy lines are enough to keep you giggling and swooning while enjoying this rom-com offering.

Tyron Perez - Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Christian George F. Acevedo) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:26:00 +0000

Throughout his career, Tyron Perez appeared in three films, mostly indies, where he was cast in bold and daring roles.

Malikmata (2003)

Twilight Dancers (2006)

Pipo: Ang Batang Pro (2009)