Jori's Entertainment Journal

The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo: Coming in PH, No Cuts, Rated R-18

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:25:00 +0000

Just in case more people are still asking if The Girl with Dragon Tattoo will be shown here in the Philippines without being butchered by MTRCB well I guess we are getting lucky. Columbia Pictures announced that the film is officially given the rating of R-18 by the MTRCB. Here is the official press release.

Columbia Pictures' critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated thriller “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” has been approved without cuts by the Movies & Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) with an R-18 rating. This means, only audiences 18-years-old and above may be admitted when it opens in selected theaters on Feb. 1.

“Dragon Tattoo” caused a stir when it was released in the US last December, owing to its dark themes and graphic scenes of sexual assault, violence and nudity.

Last Tuesday, the film earned five Academy Award nominations, notably for Best Actress (Rooney Mara), Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.

Director David Fincher (“The Social Network”) uncoils the world of author Stieg Larsson’s global blockbuster thriller on the screen in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”

Within the story’s labyrinth lie murder, corruption, family secrets and the inner demons of the two unexpected partners chasing the truth of a 40-year-old mystery. Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is a financial reporter determined to restore his honor after being convicted of libel. Engaged by one of Sweden’s wealthiest industrialists, Henrik Vanger (Academy Award® nominee Christopher Plummer), to get to the bottom of the long-ago disappearance of his beloved niece, Harriet – murdered, Vanger believes, by a member of his large family – the journalist heads to a remote island on the frozen Swedish coast, unaware of what awaits him.

At the same time, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), an unusual but ingenious investigator with Milton Security, is hired to do a background check on Blomkvist, a job that ultimately leads to her joining Mikael in his investigation of who killed Harriet Vanger. Though Lisbeth shields herself from a world that has repeatedly betrayed her, her hacking skills and single-minded focus become invaluable. While Mikael goes face-to-face with the tight-lipped Vangers, Lisbeth plies the wired shadows. They begin to trace a chain of homicides from the past into the present, forging a fragile strand of trust even as they are pulled into the most savage currents of modern crime.

To those who are still in doubt, I just need to remind everyone that R-18 is the highest restricted rating as compared to the America's MPAA rating R. And people from Columbia give us the assurance that we can enjoy the film whole and unadulterated. Not really a fan of the movie/book and I never been interested to see it but I'm looking forward to give it a try and find out why this film is being talked about.

Opening across the Philippines on Feb. 1, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Dane Dehaan Talks About Teen Angst & Super Powered Tantrums in Chronicle

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:58:00 +0000

Three ordinary teenagers suddenly become super powered after a strange close encounter with an unidentified object in “Chronicle.” The film introduces the audience to Andrew (Dane Dehaan), Matt (Alex Russell) and Steve (Michael B. Jordan), three friends with different personalities each struggling to live their everyday teen life coping with school, peer pressure and social differences.

After being exposed to unknown entity, the friends acquired abilities such as Telekinesis and flight. By their mind alone, they can move or crush anything that goes on their way. At first, everything is just for fun but power hungry teens slowly succumbs to the dark side.

One of these teens could be you or could be amongst those close to us or our acquaintances. Dane DeHaan unleashes a powerful creeping performance as one of the lead stars in “Chronicle” and explains further his character, Andrew.

Q: Can you tell us about your character?

A: Andrew is a poor kid who comes from a rough family background. His mom is really sick and his dad is on disability from being a firefighter so for him, things are really tough. But his circumstances extend to other areas of his life as well. He is, by all means, a loser in school and not just a kid who goes under the radar, but the kind of kid that people really go out of their way to make fun of and bully. In that way he's a victim.

Q: Do you think he struggles with the responsibility of the power?

A: Yes, but it’s not a case of “How responsible am I going to be with this power?” I think he just really enjoys having power, messing around and finally having friends. It does, in the end, overtake him.

Q: Is it more fun to play a character that is conflicted?

A: It's always fun to play a complicated character, definitely. It's not always fun to go to dark places, but it's always fun to play a character who has such an extreme arc, who goes through so much. I don't think I've ever played a character like him.

Q: How was the dynamic with the other actors?

A: It's good. I always try to form some sort of relationship with the people I work with that mimics the relationship I have with them in the movie. I think we did a pretty good job of that. Michael, Alex and I have all become pretty close and friendly; we all have our inside jokes and we can poke fun at each other. We can hang out and have a good time. Doing that in our personal lives away from work has definitely had a positive influence on the movie.

Q: It's a strange mix of a big action movie with the sensibilities of a character piece.

A: Yes, I think the movie does an incredibly good job of taking the concept, somebody getting superpowers, and dealing with that in a very realistic way. If a group of teens in real life actually got superpowers they would mess around with it, see how much fun they could have with it and eventually it would probably all spin out of control because they've been given way too much power. I think the reality of it is what truly drew me in.

Q: What's it been like working with your director, Josh Trank, in his first film?

A: It was my first time working with a first time director. There is definitely an excitement and energy that goes along with that. I think that one of the cool things about the project is that we're all around the same age in real life. All of us are still beginning our careers in many ways. Even though all of the actors have done other movies and TV shows we still have a youthful, “go get 'em,” attitude. Josh matches that. In many ways he's much more of a peer than any other director. He's going through it for the first time, like us. There's definitely an excitement to that.

Q: There’s a really interesting shooting style to the film, with the characters filming all of the scenes – how has that been to work with?

A: It's great. It's another reason why the film is so inventive. It's found a way to do this kind of handheld stuff but used the reality of the circumstances to make it less dizzying and less gritty. It's really interesting how every camera movement in the movie is really motivated and grounded in reality, as much as the plot and the characters and all the other elements.

Opening across the Philippines on February 2, 2012, “Chronicle” is from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Mirror Mirror International Trailer Released

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:46:00 +0000

Last time I didn't like what I saw from the first trailer of Mirror Mirror. But I guess I just expected it to be something that it is not. That time, the trailer of the other Snow White movie is also released so at that moment I forgot that it is not necessary for these two movies to look and feel the same. And it is indeed a good idea so we can see the legend in two different executions. Now I fully appreciate Mirror Mirror's vision with the release of the International Trailer featuring new footage with all the cast. Watch the trailer after the jump.

In Relativity’s Mirror Mirror starring Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts and breakout star Lily Collins (The Blind Side), an evil Queen (Roberts) steals control of a kingdom, and an exiled princess (Collins) enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright in a spirited adventure comedy filled with jealousy, romance, and betrayal that will capture the imagination of audiences the world over. The film also stars Armie Hammer (The Social Network) as the object of their affection, Prince Andrew Alcott, and Nathan Lane (The Birdcage) as the hapless and bungling servant to the Queen.

It is light-hearted and funny. Though to be honest I prefer the dark and gritty approach, I'm still willing to try this movie out. And Lilly Collins is so cute as Snow White as compared to the vampire girl. Looking forward for this film.

Mirror Mirror is set to premiere on cinemas on March 30, 2012, produced and distributed by Relativity Media.

The Dark Knight Rises Statue and Busts Depicts Batman, Bane and Catwoman

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:36:00 +0000

DC comics has been very mysterious lately for releasing limited campaign materials for The Dark Knight Rises. Even the first trailer don't really too much specially Catwoman. Well we saw some unofficial paparazzi shots but since they are not official, most fans refuse to believe that these are Anne Hathaway's final look. But I guess it is indeed the final look. Because merchandise photos leaks online and one merchandise depicts exactly what Catwoman look like on those paparazzi shots. See the photos after the jump.

A lot of fans are still not happy about the direction Chris Nolan is doing with Catwoman's character. But for me and some few loves the idea of using classic design. You will never ever get an Adam West Era inspired Catwoman on this days and I find it more practical specially on Nolan's Batmanverse. I just hope I'm not wrong.

Set to premiere on July 20th, 2012 in IMAX and conventional theaters, The Dark Knight Rises is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

source: Superherohype

Street Fighter X Tekken Announces Sony Exclusives: Mega man and Pacman

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:49:00 +0000

I didn't really saw this coming since I really thought they are sticking with pure Street Fighter and Tekken characters. But I guess Capcom and Namco are willing to think out of the box just to have gimmicks for the product. And speaking of Gimmick, though we all know that Megaman and Pacman are two popular characters from Capcom and Namco respectively, you may not recognize them because they are appearing on a different or should I say weird way. Watch the video to see my point.

Well you can still recognize Pacman here but this time he is not fighting by himself but he will be controlling a Mokujin body. So when you look at him, he looks like a Mokujin with Pacman as the head. Though personally I think Pacman can fight with the other characters even without Mokujin, still he looks kickass on those fighting moves. But I can't say the same to Mega man.

The Mega man that will appear in the game is based on the US bad box art that appears on the classic Mega Man game back in the 80's. And just like what they call the art, this character is not just bad but probably the most ridiculous character ever created for a fighting game. I really hope Capcom has better ideas than this. Norimaru looks more decent than this abomination.

Mark Wahlberg Talks about Being a Smuggler in Contraband

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:08:00 +0000

Mark Walhlberg sat down for an interview to talk about his latest movie offering where he plays Chris Farraday, a professional Smuggler. Read the transcript after the jump.

What drew you to this project?

I saw the original movie and really liked it a lot. These are the kind of movies I like to watch, with the kind of characters I like to play. Now our new thing is to try to find cool European films, obtain the rights and remake them.

Can you describe your character, Chris Farraday?

He is just a good, hard-working guy trying to do the right thing. Unfortunately, his brother-in-law is not the sharpest guy around so Chris has to go back and clean up his mess. This forces him back into the world of smuggling.

What do you like about Chris?

I like the fact that he is more of a thinker, even though he gets pretty violent in certain situations. The way he has to think and react in all those different situations really appeals to me.

He is in a world of criminals.

Yes, but he is nicer than the other guys in the movie and you want to root for him. Chris is definitely respected in that criminal world. He knows how to stick up for himself.

He would do anything to protect his family. Do you identify with him in that respect?

Absolutely. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to try to protect my family and provide for them. It doesn’t take a lot for me to get into that head space.

As a producer, how much input did you give the director on set?

You should always try to give the director the freedom and space he needs to do his thing. There are times when I find myself looking at the big picture, but considering that this is Baltasar’s (director) second go with the story, he knew this movie better than anybody else. I wanted to give him as much freedom as possible. It’s a fine line to walk.

What can you say of Baltasar Kormákur as a director?

He is great with actors. I thought that all of his choices were very smart and instinctive. He is really talented. Being an actor himself, he has a unique understanding of what’s going on in front of and behind the camera. He knows how to communicate with everyone and give encouragement. He’s also very easy to get along with. Baltasar really cares about his work. So, if anybody is not trying he is going to say something.

Would you like to work with him again?

All I can say is that if I could make the rest of the movies in my career with him, I would. I’m actually hoping to do another film with him in spring.

How do you see Baltasar’s future in the industry as a filmmaker?

Hopefully Hollywood, and bigger budgets, won’t spoil him. He is used to making small independent movies without all the bells and whistles.

Do you think his background of making small independent movies helped him on this film?

Batlasar managed to shoot this movie in 37-days. He did it with all the action and for the budget he had to work with. After CONTRABAND, I went and shot a comedy that took almost twice as long, with no action.

How would you describe CONTRABAND?

At the end of the day, it’s an action movie. But I also think it has many strong characters that separate it from similar action films.

How was it working with Ben Foster, who plays your best friend Sebastian, in the movie?

I’ve wanted to work with Ben for some time. He was my first choice for that part. The first time we met, we really hit it off. Just like Giovanni Ribisi, who plays Tim Briggs in the movie, he responded to the material. Ben Foster is an extraordinary actor and an intense guy.

What did you think Kate Beckinsale brought to the role of as your wife, Kate Farraday?

I thought she was great. I was thrilled when she came on board.

What do you think appealed to her about CONTRABAND that made her want to be a part of it?

When you get successful in a certain genre, it’s sometimes difficult to say “no” to those same types of movies. Kate wanted to get back to something real and gritty. She showed up and did a great job.

How did she surprise you?

I didn’t really know her. She comes off as this really sophisticated and elegant woman but she doesn’t mind getting in the mud, which she literally did on her first day of the shoot.

Mexican actor Diego Luna (Gonzalo) has a small but quite relevant part in the film.

Diego is awesome. I was a big fan of his and I was so excited that he was going to come and play this part for us. He is such a sweet and really talented guy.

You have some frantic moments with Diego in CONTRABAND. Do you enjoy shooting action?

I enjoy shooting the action and fight scenes. Especially if I’m hitting and not getting hit back, like in the scenes with Giovanni Ribisi. I have always been a huge fan of Giovanni’s work, too. He has a very strong presence in this movie.

The truth is that you have assembled quite an impressive cast for CONTRABAND.

We have a really great cast. It was one of those things that just came together. As a producer, I’m always fighting for the people I want. When you get an idea of someone for a role, it’s hard to veer off from that.

Most of the film was shot in New Orleans.

I love New Orleans. The restaurants are fantastic and they have great crews. People really work hard there. They are enthusiastic about it and care about the movies they are making. It’s a great town. I’m actually shooting another movie there right now.

You also shot some scenes in Panama. What was that experience like?

It was great because we didn’t have any restrictions. We got into a van and that was it. We ran around the city and shot some great stuff. That energy was awesome for the movie.

Contraband is now showing on all cinemas from Universal Pictures, distributed by United International Pictures Philippines under Solar Entertainment.

The Chaotic Life of a Modern Teenage Super Powered: Chronicle

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:15:00 +0000

What happens when super powers and teen angst comes together? Yep, it is a total chaos. Much like the story of a group of boys who suddenly developed super human abilities after being exposed on a mysterious substance they found in the woods. At first everything is just for fun but things get out of hand. Now the group is on the run as they struggle to cope with their new found abilities and the destruction that it is about to unleash.

A very interesting concept but not so new since the idea is already used on some TV series that are all long gone. So the challenge for this film is to show something new and fresh. And possibly not to repeat the mistakes these TV series have done in the past. I will definitely check this movie when it comes out and I'm expecting more from it.

Coming on February 2 on Philippine cinemas, Chronicle is from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

A Day on a Life of a Smuggler: Contraband Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:32:00 +0000

Ever since, I'm always curious about how smugglers hide items so that they can able to enter territories without being inspected by customs or the police. Our local movies specially those action movies back in the 80's and 90's has great share of characters smuggling guns or drugs to the country and they do always show some techniques how to do it. But I guess those are the old times.

Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does bestrunning contrabandto settle Andys debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), to head to Panama and return with millions in counterfeit bills.

Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and sons become their target.

Of course US feds and customs has a more intensive intelligence with regards these smugglers so I assume that they must have learned all the tricks available. With this movie, it showed how smugglers become more creative on hiding things not to mention disguising so they can live among regular people. These smugglers are different to those we already know. They are subcontractors hired to smuggle goods that did not necessarily belongs to them. It is a very refreshing concept and quite intriguing too.

All the actors did a very good job portraying their respective roles. Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale already proved themselves quite sometime in the past with good movies they've done so I already expected it from them. This time Ben Foster shines the most and delivers a very impressive performance among them all. The last time I saw him is on a very small role in X-Men Last Stand where he played the winged mutant Angel / Warren Worthington III. Now he did showed that he has the potential to be character actor that producers should watch out for.

If you are curious to know what goes on a daily life of a smuggler then watch Contraband. Maybe you can learn a thing or two about smuggling though at least not on a bigger or unlawful scale. Now showing on all cinemas from Universal Pictures, distributed by United International Pictures Philippines under Solar Entertainment.

More Than just A Game: Rivalry (Ateneo - Lasalle) The Musical

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:13:00 +0000

Ever wondered where and when does Ateneo and La Salle's grudge to one another started? Off course to every one who become part of either institutions knows the history but people like us who are outside the fence only knows that they are great rivals on athletics most specifically on NCAA (now UAAP). But behind that is a much deeper story and it will be revealed on The 4th Wall Theater Company's staging of the original Musical: Rivalry.

Started as a Toyota vs. Crispa Musical concept by Champoy legend Noel Trinidad 30 years ago, he presented the concept to his friend Ed Gatchalian who is a celebrated musical genius. But due to them being so occupied by work and not to mention the lack of time and resources, the idea didn't materialize. Not until a year ago.

Gatchalian and Del Mundo working the final touches of the Musical.

“Last year, some three decades later, when I started writing original music with Jaime del Mundo on '100: A Musical Journey in C Major' for the Insular Life Centennial celebration, it rekindled my desire to pursue Noel’s idea. This time, however, instead of Crispa and Toyota, I decided to zero in on the two arch rivals Ateneo and La Salle,” Gatchalian said. And there that moment Rivalry is born.

Above photo shows one of the scenes in the show, showing (l-r) Sheila Francisco, Raymund Concepcion, Juliene Mendoza and Jenny Nuyda-Tatlonghari.

At first, many thinks only alumni of both school's could be the sole market of the show. But Gatchalian strongly believes that it will definitely attract more people regardless what school they are from because of the universality of concept not to mention the outsider's growing curiosity over the intriguing fact why are these schools still arch rivals after all of these years.

Gatchalian also gave us an assurance that what we are about to see in the show are completely accurate and based on real facts. To be sure of that, he consulted friends from the other side (La Salle, gatchalian is from Ateneo) regarding things that an Atenista will never know. “The story has been in my mind for years because I lived those days. So I had a lot of nice memories and I just kept on putting them together. But when I decided to really be serious about this, the first thing I did was I consulted three friends from La Salle --Juan Miguel Llamas, Tony Cervantes and Jimmy Morelos. Based on their input, I did dummy lyrics. Then I started on the music,” he recounted.

Above photo shows the three men behind “Rivalry: Ateneo-La Salle The Musical” (left to right): Joel Trinidad, lyricist; Jaime del Mundo, book and director, and Ed Gatchalian, executive producer, composer and arranger.

Then as the show takes shape, Gatchalian then seek the help of friend Jaime Del Mundo to write the final book and Joel Trinidad to write the music's Lyrics. It is a Powerhouse team that rarely join forces and it did on this one of a kind original musical that we will about to witness tomorrow.

From the Music of Ed Gatchalian, Book of Jaime Del Mundo, Lyrics of Joel Trinidad and Direction by Jaime Del Mundo, Rivalry will open its curtains tomorrow, January 27, 2012 at the Meralco Theater, Pasig City. For tickets login to Ticketworld website or call 8919999.

Cast Reveal: Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Luisa in NINE

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:11:00 +0000

Another cast reveal for Atlantis Productions' NINE. Actually I already know this months ago but since it is still not official, I just keep it to myself. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Luisa Contini...

It seems that Menchu will be so busy this year since she also have God of Carnage on July. Not to mention her duties as Associate Artistic Director of Repertory Philippines. This is why I adore this person, she is a real life wonder woman.

Coming very soon on September 2012, from Atlantis productions.

Statue Depicts Official Look of Iron Man Mark VII from The Avengers Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:43:00 +0000

In line the upcoming release of The Avengers movie comes another collectible that shows off Tony Stark's latest armor model: Mark VII. See the photo set after the jump.

A Kotobukiya Japanese import! After the amazing success and popularity of the Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America films, Marvel is preparing to unleash the greatest superhero team of all time in just a few short months. Gathering together the main characters of the previous films to defend the Earth from certain destruction, the Avengers will debut in May of 2012 with Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as Tony Stark and his heroic alter ego Iron Man. To commemorate the triumphant new appearance of this iconic character, Kotobukiya is proud to announce the all-new Avengers Movie Iron Man Mark VII ARTFX Statue!

After surviving imprisonment by terrorists, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark created the Mark II armor suit. This was followed up soon after by the iconic Mark III suit used to battle Stane and his Iron Monger suit at the culmination of the first film, and the upgraded Mark IV armor in the sequel. Never one to rest on his laurels, Tony has brought his science and technology to a whole new cutting edge with the Mark VII Iron Man, the most advanced high-tech personal armor suit on the planet. Using new 3D sculpting techniques, Kotobukiya has created the finest and most exciting ARTFX statue of any Iron Man, bringing more fine detailing than previous hand-sculpted releases for a more dynamic display. Tony stands in a classic Iron Man pose, legs planted and arms held back as he prepares to unleash a devastating strike. The incredible statue comes equipped with a three-mode LED chest light-up feature: off, continuous on, and triggered by the built-in motion detector! Iron Man’s eyes also feature continuous LED lighting in both modes.

Iron Man Mark VII stands nearly 16 inches tall (1/6th scale) on an incredible shattered concrete base that bears the marks of furious battle. This pre-painted, snap-fit ARTFX Statue is easy to assemble so you can have your Iron Man Mark VII on display in no time. Avengers assemble!

Available June 2012.

As you can see, this armor looks like bigger and more bulkier than the last one. It looks like the armor gains more muscles. It is also noticeable the addition of silver on the color scheme adding more depth on the usual Red-Gold scheme. I really like this design. There is no word if Iron Man will get more than one new armor on the film. But I guess I'll just let the movie surprise me.

Coming in cinemas on May 2012. The Avengers is from Marvel Studio distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

photo source: Kotobukiya Facebook Page

JORITV: Mamma Mia International Tour (Manila) - Dancing Queen

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:45:00 +0000

Another sneak peek video from Mamma Mia International Tour featuring Sara Poyzer as Donna Sheridan, Jennie Dale as Rosie, Kate Graham as Tanya, Chalotte Wakefield as Sophie Sheridan, David Roberts as Sky and the rest of the company performing Dancing Queen. Watch the clip after the jump.

Finally, Manila is ready to watch MAMMA MIA! The international tour of the highly-anticipated musical, supported by the classic songs of ABBA, will be staged at the CCP Main Theater starting 24 January 2012 now been extended til19th of February, for a limited season only!

MAMMA MIA! creative producer, Judy Craymer, first met Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, the song-writing geniuses behind ABBA. She was specially inspired by the song 'The Winner Takes It All,' its lyrics telling a roller-coaster story of love and loss, which became the basis in creating what would become MAMMA MIA!

Craymer did not change the lyrics because if audiences really listened to ABBA's songs, they would notice how they fell into two different generations -- the innocent, playful songs like 'Honey, Honey' and 'Dancing Queen', and the more reflective, emotional songs such as 'The Winner Takes It All' and 'Knowing Me, Knowing You'. From the lyrical prowess of ABBA, the idea of a cross-generational love-story was conceived.

The story of MAMMA MIA! unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of Sophie Sheridan's wedding, she goes on a quest to discover the identity of her father and brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels an enchanting tale of love, laughter, and friendship.

Book your tickets now! Call 891 9999, or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. Weekday rates are priced at P750, P1500, P3000, P4000, P5000, and P6000; including shows on Sundays, 8pm. Weekend matinee rates are P1000, P2000, P3500, P5000, P6000, and P7000. Family Package: buy 4 tickets to get 40% discount on 3rd and 4th tickets. Groups of 20 or more can also get a 10% discount. Senior citizens also enjoy a 20% discount.

Show runs until February 19, call Ticketworld (8919999) to get your tickets.

JORITV: Mamma Mia International Tour (Manila) - Mamma Mia

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:14:00 +0000

Yesterday I finally got the chance to see Mamma Mia! live on stage. It is an open book that I really hate the movie version of this musical despite the fact that it stars Meryl Streep. Don't get me wrong, I like Meryl Streep and I worship her for being one of the most excellent actress alive but still there is something about the movie that makes it so wrong. I'll discuss it in details on my review but for now, here is a teaser video of the show.

Finally, Manila is ready to watch MAMMA MIA! The international tour of the highly-anticipated musical, supported by the classic songs of ABBA, will be staged at the CCP Main Theater starting 24 January 2012 now been extended til19th of February, for a limited season only!

MAMMA MIA! creative producer, Judy Craymer, first met Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, the song-writing geniuses behind ABBA. She was specially inspired by the song 'The Winner Takes It All,' its lyrics telling a roller-coaster story of love and loss, which became the basis in creating what would become MAMMA MIA!

Craymer did not change the lyrics because if audiences really listened to ABBA's songs, they would notice how they fell into two different generations -- the innocent, playful songs like 'Honey, Honey' and 'Dancing Queen', and the more reflective, emotional songs such as 'The Winner Takes It All' and 'Knowing Me, Knowing You'. From the lyrical prowess of ABBA, the idea of a cross-generational love-story was conceived.

The story of MAMMA MIA! unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of Sophie Sheridan's wedding, she goes on a quest to discover the identity of her father and brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels an enchanting tale of love, laughter, and friendship.

Book your tickets now! Call 891 9999, or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. Weekday rates are priced at P750, P1500, P3000, P4000, P5000, and P6000; including shows on Sundays, 8pm. Weekend matinee rates are P1000, P2000, P3500, P5000, P6000, and P7000. Family Package: buy 4 tickets to get 40% discount on 3rd and 4th tickets. Groups of 20 or more can also get a 10% discount. Senior citizens also enjoy a 20% discount.

Want more? Then you should catch the show that will run until February 19. Call Ticketworld at 8919999 and reserve your tickets now.

A Tale of Power and Secrets: J. Edgar

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:05:00 +0000

Oscar® winner Clint Eastwood directs Academy Award® nominee Leonardo DiCaprio in Warner Bros.' critically acclaimed drama “J. Edgar” from a screenplay by Oscar® winner Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”).
During his lifetime, J. Edgar Hoover would rise to be the most powerful man in America. As head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nearly 50 years, he would stop at nothing to protect his country. Through eight presidents and three wars, Hoover waged battle against threats both real and perceived, often bending the rules to keep his countrymen safe. His methods were at once ruthless and heroic, with the admiration of the world his most coveted, if ever elusive, prize.

Hoover was a man who placed great value on secrets—particularly those of others—and was not afraid to use that information to exert authority over the leading figures in the nation. Understanding that knowledge is power and fear poses opportunity, he used both to gain unprecedented influence and to build a reputation that was both formidable and untouchable.

He was as guarded in his private life as he was in his public one, allowing only a small and protective inner circle into his confidence. His closest colleague, Clyde Tolson, was also his constant companion. His secretary, Helen Gandy, who was perhaps most privy to Hoover’s designs, remained loyal to the end…and beyond. Only Hoover’s mother, who served as his inspiration and his conscience, would leave him, her passing truly crushing to the son who forever sought her love and approval.

As seen through the eyes of Hoover himself, “J. Edgar” explores the personal and public life and relationships of a man who could distort the truth as easily as he upheld it during a life devoted to his own idea of justice, often swayed by the darker side of power.

“J. Edgar” also stars Academy Award® nominee Naomi Watts (“21 Grams”) as Helen Gandy, Hoover’s longtime secretary; Armie Hammer (“The Social Network”) as Hoover’s protégé Clyde Tolson; Josh Lucas (“The Lincoln Lawyer”) as the legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh, whose son’s kidnapping changes the public profile of the F.B.I.; and Oscar® winner Judi Dench (“Shakespeare in Love”) as Hoover’s over-protective mother, Annie Hoover.

“J. Edgar” was produced by Eastwood, Oscar® winner Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind,” “Frost/Nixon”) and Oscar® nominee Robert Lorenz (“Letters from Iwo Jima,” “Mystic River”), with Tim Moore and Erica Huggins serving as executive producers.

Behind the scenes, Eastwood reunited with his longtime collaborators, including director of photography Tom Stern, production designer James J. Murakami, editors Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach, and costume designer Deborah Hopper. Eastwood composed the score for the film.

Opening tomorrow, January 25 in the the Philippines, “J. Edgar” was produced under the banners of Imagine Entertainment and Malpaso. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Cast Reveal: Cherie Gil as Liliane Le Fleur in NINE.

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:53:00 +0000

Since I'm in a hurry, I'm just dropping this here. First cast reveal for Atlantis productions' NINE. And she is none other then...

My reaction: Oh My God!!!

Nuff said.

Coming on September 2012.

Avengers Movie Action Figures Revealed

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:42:00 +0000

Marvel, Walt Disney Pictures and Hasbro just released official toyline photos for the upcoming movie event of the year the Avengers. See the official photos after the jump.

These set quite have a good sculpt on them. But personally, I still don't like 3.75" figures so I may skip this and wait for the Diamond select versions. But I'm sure, some of my friends will definitely get this specially that Hulk figure that really looks good. According to the liveblog in Marvel's website, of course the line will also include more characters including past iterations like Thor from the first movie, Iron Man Mark I-VI, World War Captain America and so on.

Set to be released as early as a month before the movie, we will update everyone for exact dates.

Resident Evil Retribution Trailer: A Big Sony Commercial

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:43:00 +0000

Just saw the trailer of Resident Evil Retribution. I just burst into laughter because I really thought I'm watching a big commercial ad of Sony. Watch the trailer to see what I mean.

The Umbrella Corporation's deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race's last and only hope, ALICE (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella's most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.

See? But I believe this is completely intentional. Talking about hitting two birds with one stone. But what I don't really like is how Resident Evil is now going forward to a more futuristic execution. With all those technology, the concept of Zombie apocalypse is becoming more illogical.

In the good side, I'm just happy to hear more characters from the game entering like Leon Kennedy and Ada Wong to be played by Johann Urb and Bingbing Li repectively. Some characters from the past are also coming back like Luther West (Boris Kudjoe), Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), and the long dead Rain Ocampo (Michelle Rodriguez). There is no word if Chris (Wentworth Miller) and Claire (Ali Larter) Redfield will return but I really wish that they do because I don't think they can have any life on a world full of Zombie so I can't see any reason for them not appearing on this sequel.

When I saw Afterlife I already accepted the fact that Resident Evil movie can never be the game. So from that point I already conditioned myself not to compare the movie to the game. And it turns out, Afterlife becomes one of the best film on the franchise. But with the latest development in retribution, I'm kinda having reservation because like what I've mentioned earlier, I don't like the futuristic theme that the movie is trying to achieve.

I really hope I'm wrong. Coming on Philippine cinemas some time on September 2012, from Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Mind Games, Melancholia and the Fall: Sherlock Series 2 Finale Review

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Currently drying my tears after watching Sherlock's Series 2 Finale. I never expected this show to be so emotional. It definitely hits something here in my chest.

This episode is so far the best among the six episodes. I can literally feel the gradual buildup of intensity as truth unfolds and allegiance are revealed. It is also very refreshing to see a completely different Sherlock. I never imagined how will somebody like him can become so normal like most of us. A person so vulnerable and extremely shaken by stress, fear and frustration. In other words, this is the first time I saw Sherlock as a real person, a real human that feels pain. This is the first time that I can actually relate to Sherlock himself instead of just treating him as a numb and emotionless organic super computer.

Last season, I believe that The Blind Banker episode is the most boring episode of the series (at least for me). I strongly believe that without that episode, you can still understand the series. However the episode's writer, Steve Thompson redeems himself by coming up with this brilliant season finale that eventually serves as a huge turning point for the franchise. With this episode, Sherlock proves that a series don't need 20+ episodes to create such brilliant concept that will leave people emotionally attached.

If you haven't seen this series, do yourself a favor and watch it. I promise, you will never regret it.

New Musical TV Series Smash: Episode 1 Early Released Online

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:26:00 +0000

Remember Smash? The new musical TV series that is soon to be hitting Televisions in US. Though it is set to premiere not until February 6, 2012, I just found out that the episode 1 is already released online for free through video selling sites such as iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu etc. And I also read that it is also aired on selected flights of American Airlines.

The show revolves around a group of characters who come together to put on a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. But before that can happen, the people who will try to bring it all together must deal with their own personal acts. The series will feature original music by composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

So to those who are excited to see the series, now is your chance to experience it. And since it is already available online, you know where else you can get the episode other than the sites I mentioned above. Of course they will probably require you to sign up and I know you are too lazy to do that hehe.

Avengers vs. X-men Releases Official Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Making way to Marvel's upcoming comic event this April, they finally revealed the official cover for the issue 1. From the artist of the Miniseries Avengers: The Children's of Crusade, here's Jim Cheung and his awesome face off art of Avengers vs. X-men issue 1.

The biggest comic book event in history begins in Avengers VS X-Men #1, hitting comic shops and the Marvel Comics app April, 2012! The top creators in comics—Brian Bendis, Jason Aaron, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, John Romita Jr, Olivier Coipel and Adam Kubert—join forces for a landmark twelve-issue story sending The Avengers and the X-Men—the two most popular franchises in comics history—to war with each other!

The world’s greatest super heroes—Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Magneto and more—enter an unforgettable battle…and only one side can emerge victorious!

MATCH-UP LIST

AVENGERS	X-MEN
Spider-Woman	Angel
Thor	Storm
Thing	Warpath
Hawkeye	Armor
Iron Fist	Hope
Beast	Iceman
Black Widow	Psylocke
Ms. Marvel	Namor
Luke Cage	Magneto
Spider-man	Rogue
Red Hulk	Colossus
Wolverine	Gambit
Iron Man	Emma Frost
Captain America	Cyclops

I think this cover is awesome. It has this arcade and versus fighting feel much like the vibe of the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise. And though it seems that the event is just like an updated version of Civil War, it looks like Avengers vs. X-men will be more interesting because it is more personal compared to the political nature of the first. I temporarily stopped buying comicbooks after finishing reading Siege but it looks like I will be back just for this event. Can't wait for April.

Marvel Launches New Facebook RPG: Marvel Avengers Alliance

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:41:00 +0000

I've been very lazy lately to post any updates here on my blog because of the fact that after resigning, I'm currently enjoying a lot of things that I hardly enjoy before like catching up on some TV series, movies and playing games that I missed. Not to mention the Holiday parties I'm attending these past few days that majorly eats all my time for the day. Well now I'm currently catching up on my backlogs but thanks to Marvel, I'm procrastinating again.

Marvel The Avengers Alliance is a Facebook game app based on Marvel's top brand which is The Avengers. The game has a turn-based format that enables player to create his own avatar as a SHIELD agent. Then as he progress in the game, he will be given the option to recruit more characters to expand his party.

What is good about this game is it really uses that old school RPG turn based format as oppose to some facebook RPG that are all text based. The game is more exciting and more addictive. The characters that can be recruited are not all necessarily members of The Avengers but there are also characters from some titles most specifically from X-Men.

Off course classic RPG elements is still present like egipments, skills and experience points but like all Facebook apps, the game has a limitation on usage in the form of energy points. If you run out of energy points, you practically lose the will to fight on battles forcing you to stop playing. Unless you will spend real bucks for the energy points which is extremely pricey.

So far I'm loving the app. But for me who is easily bored by repetitive gameplay, I wonder when will I lose all the interest to play it. Only time can tell. To try the game, login on your Facebook account and go here.

If you're a friend, add me as an ally :)

UPDATE:
A fellow Marvel Alliance and FB friend pointed out that sending gifts are unlimited. Possibly a glitch or bug but it is also possible that it is intentional since they are still in Beta Testing. So to those who want to test it, do it now and stock up your avatar with items while the bug is still up.

UPDATE 2:
Been disconnected to the game for almost 4 days after a maintenance. Not really sure what happened why I can't get through the game but I'm glad that I'm back. After several hours of level grinding, I got the chance to follow through with my fellow MAAers pioneers. But something is updated that I didn't like. The price for hero recruitment is revised and it went up several folds. Lucky for some of my FB friends who got the chance to play it while the prices are still down. They got the chance to recruit a lot of heroes. yep, I feel jealous. Oh well, I'll just look on the brighter side of the coin. With lesser ally heroes, I can concentrate more on maintaining them.

UPDATE 3:
Marvel releases an official trailer for the game hinting for the upcoming public launch. Watch the video below.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer Premieres

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:23:00 +0000

The most anticipated trailer had finally reached the interwebs as Warner Bros. proudly presents the premiere of The Tolkien masterpiece that started the saga of Lord of the Rings. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to everyone The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Watch the trailer after the jump.

The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Excited? Definitely. Well we have to be patient for now before it finally hits our shore next year. Starring Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Ian McKellen. To be directed by one and only Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is from Newline Cinema to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

The Return of the Demigod: Wrath of the Titans Trailer and Poster Premieres

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:10:00 +0000

Another upcoming film from Warner bros. Pictures releases its first trailer and poster. But this time it is from the much anticipated sequel for the 2010 remake Clash of the Titans. Though the the first installment looks crappy, it seems that this sequel will be much better. Watch the trailer and judge it for yourself.

Wrath of the Titans picks up A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Worthington) --the demigod son of Zeus (Neeson)--is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity's lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades (Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus' godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramirez), switch loyalties and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans' strength grows stronger as Zeus' remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon's demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Looks like a semi reboot. I said that because of the re-establishment of Perseus and Andromeda's pairing in contrast of what have been established on the first movie where Perseus end up with Io (Gemma Arterton) and Andromeda's recasting itself. But I guess the recasting is indeed necessary for the character. After all it is almost a decade and Andromeda could have aged while Perseus being a demigod will have less change in appearance.

The trailer did have good scenes to show and I'm really expecting for the best. But I'm still worried because this is also what the trailers of the Clash of the Titans showed and it didn't actually live to what it shows on the trailers. Wishing for the very best for this film.

Coming in cinemas on March 30, 2012 from Legendary Pictures to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Cum on Feel The Noize: Rock of Ages Releases First Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:58:00 +0000

Before my only assurance that this movie will gonna be good is that because Adam Shankman is directing it. The guy is so dedicated when it comes to musical films and I already experienced it with Hairspray and some Glee Episodes. Plus, the guys is really a good musical choreographer and I love him for that. But will this musical really work with the general audience? Watch the trailer and find out.

“Rock of Ages” tells the story of small town girl Sherrie (Hough) and city boy Drew (Boneta), who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Their rock ‘n’ roll romance is told through the heart-pounding hits of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake, and more.

Shankman directs “Rock of Ages” from a screenplay by Chris D’Arienzo, based on his musical. The film is being produced by Matt Weaver, Scott Prisand, Carl Levin, Tobey Maguire and Jen Gibgot, with Garrett Grant, Adam Shankman, Janet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver, Toby Emmerich, Michael Disco and Samuel J. Brown serving as executive producers.

I'm not really a Rocker and probably also most of the audience who will be watching the movie. But I'm surprised that the musical's repertoire includes greatest hits and most of them are the few rock songs that I did like listening into like, We Built this City, More Than Words, Can't Fight This Feeling and the ever popular Don't Stop Believing. And that is just the few songs that are really popular and as I was listening to the the tracks, they are indeed good. Coming from a non rocker like me I guess that is already a good sign.

Then we have a promising cast including Alec Baldwin, Russel Brand, Catherine Zeta Jones, Juliane Hough and Tom Cruise just to name a few. Can they sing? Guys, I believe Adam Shankman will not get anyone who can't sing. I trust him that much.

And the fact that Philippines will be having a double treat of this Musical next year because it is not just coming out in Movies but also in live theater. I'm so excited for 2012 already. From New Line Cinema, “Rock of Ages” will be released next year June 1, 2012 to be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Manly Trailer is Manly: The Expendables 2 First Official Trailer and Poster

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:42:00 +0000

So here is the first trailer of The Expendables 2 boasting its wide array of stars making up this explosive action sequel. Well the truth is, this trailer don't need any introduction. Just watch the trailer after the jump and let us know if you are still alive.

The Expendables are back and this time it’s personal! After Tool (Mickey Rourke), the heart and soul of the Expendables, is brutally murdered on a mission, his comrades swear to avenge him. They’re not the only ones who want blood. Tool’s beautiful young and wild daughter Fiona embarks on her own revenge mission, complicating matters when she is captured and ransomed by a ruthless dictator plotting to destroy a resistance movement. Now Barney and the Expendables must risk everything to save her and humanity.

I don't care if people are still trolling over this film. Let's just say, Th Expendables is like videogames. They don't need Academy award winning story as long as they have good gameplay which in The Expendables 2's case is the action. Excited to see this next year.

Starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Liam Hemsworth, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Chuck Norris. Directed by Simon West (The Mechanic, Con Air, Tomb Raider), The Expendables 2 is coming in cinemas on August 17, 2012 from Millenium Films to be Distributed by Lionsgate.