Jori's Entertainment Journal

First Set of Official Movie Stills from Les Miserables Movie (Musical)

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 29 May 2012 09:33:00 +0000

Thanks to USA Today we will be seeing the first set of movie stills from the much awaited film adaptation of Les Miserables. I know fans are really excited to see this so to see the photos just hit the jump.

L-R: Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean), Russell Crowe (Javert) and Samantha Barks (Eponine)

Hugh jackman as Jean Valjean

Anne Hathaway as Fantine

Amanda Seyfried (Cosette) and Eddie Redmayne (Marius)

So far everything is looking so good. A couple of weeks ago, I got the chance to see a bootleg version of the trailer and it definitely gave me shivers. If comic geeks consider The Avengers as their dream comic book movie, for theater aficionados Les Miserables is the musical movie that we all have been waiting for years... and it is finally happening. Looking forward to see the official copy of trailer which is according to reports will be released very very soon.

Scheduled to be released in US on December 14, 2012, Les Miserables is from Universal Pictures ( to be distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment in Philippines).

New Bourne Legacy Still from the Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 29 May 2012 02:34:00 +0000

New Bourne Legacy still surfaces online featuring Rachel Weisz as Marta and Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross on a scene set most probably in the Philippines. See the photo after the jump.

Just by inspecting the photo, there are a lot of sign that this scene is indeed from the Philippines shoot with that Jeepney in the background. As of the moment there are no complete details about the film so we just need to wait for more in the following weeks or months. Set to premiere on August 3, 2012. The Bourne Legacy is from Universal Pictures, to be distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment.

Rep Fringe 2012 Class presents "Malice"

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 28 May 2012 17:41:00 +0000

For everyone who wants something fresh and a little bit sophisticated, why don't you try Rep Fringe's Malice this week. I've heard a lot of good things about it and looks like something a theater junkie will absolutely like. See the details below:

Rep Fringe is Repertory Philippines' advance acting class students who just finished a course under Anna Abad Santos (Joy Luck Club) and Jenny Jamora (Bare). The course is for individuals who, have chosen acting as a profession. This program offers a rigorous 6 week course of training designed to educate and fuel the most talented, promising young actors, who are selected through auditions. The workshop is heavy on text analysis, the space and breath.

Malice is an adaptation by George de Jesus III of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", set in modern day Philippines. The show will feature actors such as Anne Gauthier, Arya Herrera, Elle Velasco, Issa Litton, Kyla Rivera, Nelsito Gomez, Nicanor Campos, Reb Atadero, Red Concepcion, Rico del Rosario and Therese Carlos. Opens in June 1, 2012, 8pm at the Onstage Theater, Greenbelt 1, Makati. Expect something intense from this one night only show to be directed by Anna Abad Santos. For tickets call 0918-9277-071 or go to this link for more infos.

Snow White and the Huntsman Banners Invite You

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:21:00 +0000

In line Universal Pictures' Snow White and the Huntsman release comes last set of promotional banners inviting everyone to take part to this unique journey to one of the most well loved fairy tale in time. See the epic promotional materials after the jump.

In the alternative world of the Middle Ages, the ruthless Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) has conquered several European kingdoms and plans to take over the Kingdom of England, but she realizes that her stepdaughter, Snow White, with lips red as blood, hair black as night, and skin white as snow (Kristen Stewart), is destined to surpass her not only as the "Fairest of them All," but also as the kingdom's successor. The Queen learns from her Magic Mirror on the wall (Christopher Obi) that the only way to remain in power on the throne is to consume Snow White's heart and achieve immortality. But Snow White manages to escape into the Dark Forest and Queen Ravenna summons the Huntsman Eric (Chris Hemsworth) to kill Snow White. Eric, however, takes pity on the young princess and teaches Snow White unique skills in the art of war. Now, with the aid of eight dwarves, knights from England, and her childhood love Prince William (Sam Claflin), Snow White begins a powerful revolution to kill her wicked witch of a stepmother once and for all.

It is also confirmed that the movie is the first of a trilogy for most of the actors are signed for three picture deal. The second film said to be centered on the Dwarves while the last is a final battle against someone (spoiler) in the Castle. Looks like this film is becoming too Lord of the Rings. Might sound rubbish fo LOTR purists but I'm still giving this film a chance. I'm excited to see Queen Ravenna (Theron) after all, hehe.

Opening in June 1, 2012, in cinemas nationwide from Universal Pictures to be distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.

Another The Dark Knight Rises Banner Released Mimics Iconic Pose

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:01:00 +0000

Here we go. Another Banner is released featuring Batman himself. This time striking an iconic pose that all Batman fans (or even some non fans) will definitely recognize. See the banner after the jump.

New Banner with Batman striking the iconic Batman pose

iconic batman pose

Looks like Warner Bros. is picking up their momentum on releasing these marketing materials and so far they are releasing a bunch of good ones. Though to some they still look boring, but maybe this is due to the fact that The Dark Knight Rises is still being compared to The Avengers. So I just want to appeal to everyone that The Dark Knight is a different film and for me it is definitely unfair to compare it to The Avengers. I hope we can see and judge The Dark Knight on its own.

Opening in July 19 in Philippine cinemas to be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

UPDATE!

Another after publishing, another banner came in featuring Batman and Bane. Not really special me thinks but worth the peek. Here's the banner.

The Dark Knight Rises Releases 4 New Banners and 2 Empire Magazine Covers

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Ok we asked for it and now Warner Bros. is just granting it. More Marketing materials come flowing as 4 new banners comes online and 2 stunning covers for Empire Magazine. Can't really compose myself right now so here are banners in full high resolution just in case you want them to be your new wallpapers or FB covers.

To be honest, I'm not so giddy about the Bats since it is the same suit. I'm actually more excited to see more shots for Catwoman and this new banners and cover are looking good. I think thye Avengers hype is already starting to wear off. Just give it time and we will be on The Dark knight Rises mode.

Opening in July 19 in Philippine cinemas to be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

The Raven Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:39:00 +0000

I'm not a fan of Edgar Allan Poe nor his writings. But what really caught me during all those Humanities and World Literature classes in college is his bizarre death. Ironically but I rather play Sherlock Holmes (which is a Conan Doyle creation) and solve his death. But I never really got a good answer and instead I got a lot and possibly fabricated stories. And this 2012 film The Raven is just one of those stories.

The Raven is a fictionalized account of Edgar Allan Poe's last days. On this film Poe (John Cusack) is a filthy drunkard who already lost his will to write stories that the people use to read on the morning paper. In short, he is close to being a no one. But despite that he still struggles to live his life by writing literary reviews and with a new girlfriend Emily Hamilton (Alice Eve). But as much as all the misfortune is hitting Poe, he still find this predicament of himself ordinary. But not until one day when Baltimore is struck by bizarre killings that mirrors Poe's various literary creations. Now Poe is forced to work with Inspector Fields (Luke Evans) to solve this mystery as he races with time and to save his one and only love.

For a fiction based on real events this movie is just fortunate that this part of Poe's life is almost blank. In other words, everybody can fill it up with anything, either by truth or lies. As compared to all the stories I read, this is the most far fetched but definitely a very entertaining material specially for anybody who likes watching crime mysteries. What is good about this film is, you don't really need to be a fan of Poe's works to enjoy the film because Poe himself is there to tell you the stories. The film is dark, gritty and have enough gore and violence to satisfy audience's taste for blood without being too gruesome. John Cusack once again delivered another excellent job. I'm a big an of his performance in 1408 and considered it as one of my favorites. But now that I saw The Raven, it is definitely my new favorite. But as much as I love how the movie unfolds, the ending is quite very anticlimactic because in contrast to the whole idea of being odd, the ending is too simple and too flat for my taste.

Either way overall I enjoyed the ride. After all, I believe that the journey is more important than the destination. So despite having a weak ending, the story itself is enough for my indulgence. Now showing exclusively in all Ayala cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma), The Raven is from Intrepid Pictures, distributed by Relativity Media.

The Dark Knight Rises 6 New Character Posters Released

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:37:00 +0000

After the abomination of the last poster I posted here in my blog, 6 new character posters are released by Warner Bros. as a rebound set and yes, thise set is way lot better than the one I shared earlier. See the posters after the jump.

INTENATIONAL CHARACTER BANNERS

Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' "The Dark Knight Rises" is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar(R) winner Christian Bale ("The Fighter") again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar(R) winner Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose"), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake. Returning to the main cast, Oscar(R) winner Michael Caine ("The Cider House Rules") plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar(R) winner Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby") reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER POSTERS

At last, The Dark Knight Rises is back on the bandwagon. I believe, it is about time for them to go head to head against The Amazing Spider-man. They don't really need to worry about The Avengers because like I always say, they are not on the same boat. Opening in local cinemas on July 19, 2012, to be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

The Raven Feature: Spotlight on John Cusack

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:51:00 +0000

Acclaimed actor John Cusack portrays Edgar Allan Poe, one of literature's most fascinating authors, in Intrepid Pictures' new stylish, gothic thriller “The Raven.” The film will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma) starting May 23.
When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target.

Cusack talks about “The Raven” in the following interview:

Q: What made you want to be part of this film and play Edgar Allan Poe?

John Cusack: I really liked James McTeigue. He’s a great director and had a really good vision. People have wanted to do a story about Poe for a long time, but biopics are tough. You can only do so many things with time and have to flash forward or backward. His creative life was so vast, that we thought we could put Poe as a character in his own stories.

The conceit of the story was smart and it allowed us to explore more of his works in a piece of fiction. This is Poe’s version of going mad and other themes he had, but it is also true to the source because he was a great master writer, a master of the English language, and a master poet. He also invented the detective genre, he was the godfather of goth, he wrote satire, and he also did burlesque. The movie got to show all of his sides.

Q: What kind of research did you do to prepare for the role? Was it difficult for you to find personal information?

Cusack: There were no telephones back then, so everyone communicated with letters. The great thing about researching him was that there are so many of his letters, which were incredibly revealing. That’s where you can see that there were very human parts of him and also a side that was at war with the world. He had all of these feelings of despair and loneliness, and a lot of passion.

I read many of the biographies and really liked Peter Ackroyd’s short biography Poe: A Life Cut Short. I immersed myself in Poe’s books, reading all of his stories to really get into him. What I respond to most in his works is when he is writing about that twilight space between waking and dreaming, and life and death. He’s always exploring that twilight space, where he’s attracted to these almost godlike female figures in his life. There is this eternal love mixed with death being in the room.

Q: Was there anything you found particularly interesting or surprising while doing your research?

Cusack: I wasn’t aware that he was conscious of his fame, but he was actually very famous when he was alive. I also didn’t know that he went to West Point and held a swimming record. I didn’t know to the extent that he was at war and competitive with other writers. I knew about his melancholy and sorrow, but I didn’t know about his brittleness and spitefulness. He really did feel like the world was his stage and he must conquer it. He said once that he wouldn’t put up with anyone he could put down. It has been said that he didn’t say one good word about another English writer, living or dead.

He really liked women and liked being adored by women. I think he felt competitive and threatened by men, because he didn’t really have many male friends. Many of the women in his life had died. His mother died in his arms of tuberculosis and he sort of found a step mother in a woman that was a friend of his. She died of tuberculosis too and he married his cousin who also died of tuberculosis. So it was really like he was taking his sorrow and turning it into all of these stories and creativity. When you play someone who is like an icon like this, it can get two dimensional after a while. You think of him as the sad Halloween guy, but when you research the life, you see that he’s writing satire and burlesque and science fiction. He had such a wild and crazy imagination. He was out there.

Q: Do you think The Raven will inspire people to give Edgar Allan Poe’s stories a try after watching the movie?

Cusack: I hope so. If it makes people want to read his stories again, that would be pretty cool. If they read his stories, they will be able to see what we were trying to do.

Q: Seeing as you were friends with Hunter S. Thompson, I was wondering if you thought about Hunter when playing this role? It seemed like you kind of channeled his manic energy in this.

Cusack: I knew Hunter really well and I can see Hunter in Poe. If you read the The Imp of the Perverse, you can see how much it influenced Hunter right there. There is the confessional aspect, with the embracing of the abyss and being drawn almost magnetically to it. There is also the courage to confront your demons in some ways.

Q: What was your fascination with Poe and why do you relate to him?

Cusack: It’s an interesting headspace and he’s an interesting character. We’re all sort of attracted to the abyss. Around Halloween, doesn’t everyone get into the supernatural, ghouls, and the underworld? It’s not something I want to stay in, but it’s a fun place to visit once in a while.

There are not many writers who try to think about what their worst nightmare is. Most people want to wake up and get away from it, but some want to go deeper. He just had this interesting mind and wanted to embrace the nightmare. His romance with the abyss makes him courageous, tragic, and sympathetic. We all have a bit of that in us and I thought it was fun to do for a limited time.

First Look: Taken 2 Movie Stills

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:50:00 +0000

20th Century Fox finally revealed first movie stills from the much awaited sequel Taken 2 starring Liam Neeson as CIA agent Bryan Mills. See the photos after the jump.

Neeson reprises the role of Bryan Mills, a father and an estranged husband who would do anything for his family in the movie. Mills’ daughter having been kidnapped the first time. But he faces a different kind of conflict in “Taken 2.” Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills, the retired CIA agent with a particular set of skills who stopped at nothing to save his daughter Kim from Albanian kidnappers. When the father of one of the kidnappers swears revenge, and takes Bryan and his wife hostage during their family vacation in Istanbul, Bryan enlists Kim to help them escape, and uses the same advanced level of special forces tactics to get his family to safety and then systematically take out the kidnappers one by one.

Like some friends say, no one really expects a sequel for this movie. But personally speaking I don't have problem with that as long as the plot is well established. And with this plot mentioned above and first movie stills, I think it is looking good so far. So yes, I'm excited to hear and see more about this film and I will be open to say that I'm looking forward to see the film itself.

Opening on October 5 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

The Dark Knight Rises New Poster Looks Familiar

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:09:00 +0000

Warner Bros. Pictures releases a new poster for the Dark Knight Rises. My only problem is it seems that the poster is so familiar. See the poster and judge it for yourself.

The background poster looks exactly like the first teaser poster released last year. And then on the foreground is what it seems to be a poorly photoshoped Batman photo. Ok before the purists reacts and give me some "The Dark Knight Rises has better story" b******t. Yes I agree that the story and plot is the most important aspect of a film, but a film is a visual media and this is what makes it distinct from books. So far, visually speaking The Dark Knight Rises failed to impress me and then now I will get a crappy poster. I dunno what is happening but I'm still hoping for a grand finale for this franchise. I really hope it won't disappoint.

Opening in local cinemas on July 19, 2012, to be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

The Untold Chapter of Edgar Allan Poe's Life: The Raven

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:14:00 +0000

The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life – and death – in Intrepid Pictures' new stylish, gothic thriller “The Raven” starring John Cusack as the infamous author. The film will be shown soon exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma).

When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target.

Also starring Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Jackson-Cohen, “The Raven” is directed by James McTeigue (“V For Vendetta”) from a screenplay by Hannah Shakespeare and Ben Livingston.

When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper—part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe. But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story.

Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe’s writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author’s help in stopping the attacks. But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer’s next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it’s too late.

James McTeigue immediately gravitated towards “The Raven's” script when it was brought to him by producer Aaron Ryder who previously worked on similar psychological thrillers as “Memento,” “The Prestige” and “Donnie Darko.” “I knew a little about Edgar Allan Poe, but not massive amounts. I really dug the concept, which was a melding of fact and fiction, with Poe in the middle of his own story. The conceit of the movie is what really attracted me to it.”

The director adds, “We've always the desire to humanize Poe. You don’t want an unsympathetic lead character because then no one can get into the film. Having said that, I didn’t want him to be a choirboy either. Part of the reason to cast John Cusack in it, was because he has a great empathy with audiences. I thought we could show the less desirable aspects of Poe, but still not have the audiences turned off. You can’t really make a film about Poe and not show these demons, which ultimately created all of the great work that he did.”

Premiering exclusively on Ayala Cinemas tomorrow, May 23 from Intrepid Pictures and Relativity Media.

Agent 007 Update: Skyfall Teaser Trailer Released

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:15:00 +0000

Here's the teaser trailer for the latest 007 installment, Skyfall. The teaser features Daniel Craig as Bond being interrogated on an unknown facility (presumably inside MI6) about something called Skyfall. Watch the video and see the early footage included on the teaser.

So far the plot is still sounds ordinary. As a matter of fact, this kind of plot where Bond is accused of something is a common device used on all bond movies and even on most spy themed movies. So what this movie need to show is the story itself and how will it be uniquely executed. Looking forward to hear more about this film on the coming weeks or months.

Opening in local cinemas on October 31, to be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Introducing Weyland Corporation's Pride: USCSS Prometehus

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:46:00 +0000

For Arthur Max, the production designer on PROMETHEUS, visualising the world of the film meant not just creating the alien landscape of the planet the crew visit, but also the Prometheus herself, a highly-technical state-of-the-art spacecraft – the pride of the Weyland Corporation's fleet some 70 years into the future - that the film's human crew call home.

Michael Fassbender couldn't believe the work that had gone into creating the ship's sets. “I don’t think I’m ever going to see anything as impressive as this,” he enthuses. “I remember walking onto the ship on one of the first days and it really felt like I was on the ship. No acting required. And I’m pressing all these buttons, and they all work. The bridge is almost like the heartbeat of the ship showing all the vital signs of the ship. Everything has been thought through.”

Agrees Idris Elba, who plays Captain Janek, the man responsible for flying the ship, “I couldn't fly a spaceship to save my life, but because of the detail involved I'm sat there in front of this console that actually works. You press this button and something happens, that button and something else happens... And the thing about Ridley is he knows everything about the ship. He's designed it in his head and he's designed it to work and that's what makes him so special.”

“There's a mass of visual effects going into this, but we're always trying to do as much practically as possible,” reveals Executive Producer Michael Ellenberg. “That way the VFX are informing and evolving what's already there rather than inventing it from thin air. That's the difference between allowing the future experience to feel believable and real and not. The truth is, doing things with VFX might be a little easier, but actually it's not always cheaper. And if you can build something and allow someone to feel that it's practically real – especially when you're trying to scare them – that's all the better.”

Actor Logan Marshall-Green says the design of the ship, and its layout, feeds into the character motivations that divide the Prometheus's crew. “Everybody is kind of there watching everyone else,” he shares. “And there are these really beautiful duos, if you will. You have Noomi’s character and my character, who really hold on to each other because they are surrounded by people who don’t believe in them and want to destroy them. And then you have Rafe [Spall's] and Sean [Harris's] characters, and you have Charlize [Theron's] and Idris [Elba's] characters. Each duo is kind of watching the rest. Yet it’s not a big crew. It’s a big spaceship, but it doesn’t take that many to run it.”

Summarises Michael Fassbender, who plays David: “Some people are there for the pay. Other people are there to get answers. Other people are there to hopefully attain some sort of secret. Others are there in somewhat of a spite journey. You’ve got all these collective relationships, individuals and motivations and that’s what makes quite intriguing even before the shit hits the fan.”

Production Designer Arthur Max describes the approach to the highly-technical look of the Prometheus. “The first ALIEN movie was taking place on what was basically a mining tug; the Nostromo. It was a very rough and ready rust bucket. Whereas what we’re doing now is the flagship of the Weyland Corporation fleet. It’s cutting edge. I’s got all the technology its owner can afford for space exploration. So it's the best of the fleet rather than the worst, even though it’s just a generation before.”

Costume Designer Janty Yates was responsible for building PROMETHEUS's iconic spacesuit, worn by the crew when they step onto the planet's surface. “It started off with a conversation with Arthur, who showed me all of his wealth of fantastic research,” she remembers. “He said there would be some concept design work in spacesuits, and that they'd be uniforms like in ALIEN. And then Ridley arrived!”

Scott threw out all 16 concept designs Yates had come up with, preferring that she concentrate on something much simpler. Says Yates: “Ridley went, 'Oh, no, that’s too foreign; flight suits and camouflage pants.' I had a couple of concepts that he really loved. The whole script just was screaming out for prototyping.”

Yates focussed on building a spacesuit that was both visually and practically technological. “There's an under suit and there are supposed to be the conduits to monitor the blood systems and the oxygen levels and all that running around your body.” In addition, the helmets feature their own lighting elements, as well as myriad LED screens showing telemetry and atmospheric data, built by the film's graphics department.

And many of the additions to the suit were practical considerations for the production too: “There’s a skull cap, which is wired for sound so they can not only speak, they can hear direction,” explains Yates. “Most important, it’s completely wired up for air because Ridley said that on ALIEN, panic would set in after their actors being in the helmets for more than 30 seconds, when the visors clogged with condensation.”

The importance of the film's human component can't be underestimated, thinks screenwriter Damon Lindelof. “The amazing thing that Ridley does, as a director, is ground big ideas in some sort of fundamental reality,” he says. “What’s cool about this movie is that it doesn’t take place on Earth, in any real significant way, so the way that we’re experiencing the future is really away from Earth. It’s more about what people are like now. What have they gone through? What are the things that they’re thinking about? The idea that we’re basically all going to be the same a hundred years from now, but we might be driven by different ideas, is what’s driving the movie.”

The other, and perhaps most impressive, bits of human technology developed for the film are the vehicles, which were built to run. From speedy quad bikes to giant armoured personnel carriers, Prometheus's vehicles are second to none. “We're going to take them to Iceland,” laughs Max from the film's Pinewood portion. The location the production has chosen is remote. “That's going to be a logistical challenge!”

But he summarises the real challenge of the job: “I think audiences and film technology has gotten more sophisticated and there's been a lot of science fiction movies [since Ridley did BLADE RUNNER]. There's a lot of pressure on everybody here to raise the bar, and that's definitely what we've tried to do.”

Opening in Philippine cinemas on June 6, 2012, “Prometheus” is from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. (in Phil. theaters) nationwide.

Official and Exclusive Feature from 20th Century Fox

Forbidden Broadway Enters 2nd Week

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:35:00 +0000

It is Upstart Production's Forbidden Broadway's 2nd week and it is still receiving excellent reviews and raves from people who already watched the show. I know there are still people who are reluctant on giving this show a chance but I will assure everyone that this is the show that you will definitely enjoy watching regardless if you are a Broadway junkie or just somebody who's looking for a good time.

Hilarious and insanely entertaining. This show is definitely a good value for your time and money. No need to go outside the country and spend money on airline companies who only cares about stupid company policies. In just one ticket, you can enjoy at least 10 Broadway shows and meet at least 80 characters played by the magnificent company of Liesl Batucan (Next Fall), Caisa Borromeo (Rivalry), Lorenz Martinez (You're a Good Man Charlie Brown) and OJ Mariano (Rivalry).

From the direction of the talented and passionate artist Joel Trinidad, Forbidden Broadway runs until May 27 every Friday, Saturday and Sundays at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For tickets and schedule inquiries call Upstart Productions at 09175285678 or email upstarttickets@gmail.com or upstartproductionsinc@gmail.com. Tickets are also available through Ticketworld at 891-9999.

Atlantis Productions Releases Full Cast Poster for Nine the Musical Manila

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:11:00 +0000

Straight from Atlantis Productions' facebook page is the latest promotional poster for the upcoming local staging of the Tony Award winning musical Nine. See the whole cast as they strike a pose with the main man Jett Pangan (Jekyll and Hyde) who's playing the show's main protagonist Guido Contini. See the poster after the jump.

Joining Jet Pangan in the cast are Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (God of Carnage), Cherie Gil (Master Class), Eula Valdez (Zsa zsa Zaturnnah), Carla Guevara-Laforteza (You're a Good Man Charlie Brown), Ima Castro (In the Heights), Sitti Navarro (Spring Awakening), Yanah Laurel (Rizal X) and Jay Glorioso (In the Heights). Opening soon on September 2012 to be directed by Bobby Garcia. For more details and inquiries you can call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or visit their official website.

First Look: Agent 007 Skyfall Poster Plus Movie Stills

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:32:00 +0000

It is almost sunshine here in the Philippines and I'm almost feeling very sleepy now. But before I hit the sheets, all of you just need to see this last post I'm submitting for the day. Check out Columbia Pictures as they release the very first set of movie stills from the upcoming Agent 007 movie Skyfall. And as a treat, they are also throwing us a first peek on the movie's poster featuring none other than Daniel Craig as the debonair British secret agent James Bond. See the images after the jump.

In the film, James Bond’s loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Joining Daniel Craig on an all-star cast are Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Ben Whishaw and Bérénice Marlohe. To be directed by the Academy Award winning Director, Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and from the screenplay written by Neal Purvis (Quantum of Solace), Robert Wade (Quantum of Solace) and John Logan (Hugo), Skyfall is set to premiere on October 31 in all cinemas nationwide (Philippines).

I heard that the trailer will premiere next week so watch out because I will definitely release it here. Skyfall is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Philippine Opera Company's "Ang Bagong Harana" Returns on June 6

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:39:00 +0000

Due to insistent public demand, Philippine Opera Company’s “ANG BAGONG HARANA” returns on stage on June 6-10 in time for the Philippine Independence Day Celebration.

Last year, in the midst of so many foreign pop acts and imported musicals, one small theatrical effort made waves. It was a revue featuring traditional and contemporary Filipino songs, sung not by the established legends of Classical singing, but by a troupe of ten young, relatively unknown, but dedicated classical singers. The show was the Philippine Opera Company's “Ang Bagong Harana". And it was a show that had the audience who came to see it for four nights at the RCBC Theater, weeping and applauding with joy.

What was the secret of this small revue's success? "Ang Bagong Harana was envisioned as love song to our country," says Karla Gutierrez, who heads the Philippine Opera Company." We wanted to show audiences that there is so much wealth that modern Filipinos can mine from our traditional and contemporary music. In this age of Globalization, it is all the more crucial for us to know who we are and what we have that we can call Pinoy. A lot of performers may say that we are the best in the world. But we wanted to go a step further and prove it by using our own traditional and contemporary material. And we wanted to showcase young singers who have committed themselves to classical singing and to our traditional material."

The company of ten singers is made up of theater actors and singers Karla Gutierrez, Aizel Prietos, Charley Magalit, Janine Santos, Marian Santiago, Lawrence Jatayna, Jack Salud, Nazer Salcedo, Marvin Gayramon and Al Gatmaitan with the special participation of the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group. Most have appeared in plays and musicals. None of them are what you would call "mainstream". And that is precisely what makes their performances all the more poignant and powerful.

The show, as conceived by Floy Quintos, begins with an evocation of a lost innocence, as expressed through traditional children's songs sung by the company. From there, the love song to country moves through various evocations---a kundiman suite, framed against the backdrop of revolution, a tribal suite based on the indigenous respect for the environment, a suite of folk songs framed against the backdrop of a fiesta, a tribute to Sylvia La Torre that reconnects with our bodabil roots. But more than just mining the past, "Ang Bagong Harana" moves swiftly into the present, using OPM classics like Fredddie Aguilar's "Anak" to make pointed social commentary.

"We kept getting inquiries about a repeat run" says Karla, "which is why we are bringing back the show in it's original form, with most of the original cast. It is a difficult effort to try and do something truly Filipino nowadays. But after the warm response that we got last year, we know that there is an audience that is hungry for this kind of entertainment that reconnects us to our souls. In this age of globalization, it's the one thing we cannot face the future without."

Directed by award-winning director and writer, Floy Quintos. “ANG BAGONG HARANA” will have a re-run on June 6-9 at 8pm with matinees on at 3:30pm on June 9 and 10 at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

For ticket sales please call Philippine Opera Company at 881-7168 or 0917-5272880 or TicketWorld at 891-9999 or Like Philippine Opera Company on Facebook.

official press release from Philippine Opera Company

Warner Bros. Teases us with Rock of Ages Music Video

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:02:00 +0000

Warner Bros. just released a new video straight from New Line Cinema's upcoming musical film Rock of Ages. The Music video features the track "Anyway you want it" as performed by Mary J. Blige and Julianne Hough. Watch the exciting preview to find out how will this musical will feel like.

Directed by “Hairspray’s” Adam Shankman, “Rock of Ages” tells the story of small town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, 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.

The movie musical stars Julianne Hough (“Burlesque”), with actor/singer Diego Boneta in his feature film debut, Russell Brand (“Arthur”), Oscar® nominee Paul Giamatti (“Cinderella Man”), Academy Award® winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (“Chicago”), Malin Akerman (“The Proposal”) and R&B queen Mary J. Blige, with Oscar® nominees Alec Baldwin (“The Cooler”) and Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx.

Shankman directs “Rock of Ages” from a screenplay by Justin Theroux and Chris D’Arienzo and Allan Loeb, based on D’Arienzo’s musical of the same name.

As an added treat, Constantine Maroulis' (Drew Boley in Broadway version) cameo is also confirmed and in fact he is listed on the track recording as one of the performers of the song you just heard. So how's that for the Broadway junkies out there. I just hope the cameo is not that bad. I remember when Ricki Lake did appeared in Hairspray, it is quite a very long cameo appearance and I expect that Shankman will do the same with Maroulis.

Opening across the Philippines in June 14, 2012, “Rock of Ages” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

A Very Underwhelming 4 Minute Preview of The Amazing Spider-man

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:54:00 +0000

Columbia Pictures releases a 4 minute preview of The Amazing Spider-man. Personally I'm kinda disappointed with the preview but maybe that is just me. Watch the trailer, after the jump.

I'm so disappointed of this preview because it doesn't really show new footage. If you are the one who follows the film's regular marketing materials, you will notice that most of the sequence on this preview are already included on the past trailers. The only new thing that this preview have is that scene with the kid which is for me is not really a big deal. I'm expecting more Lizard footage and all we got is Spider-man saving a kid in distress. Well at least now it is not Mary Jane.

But either way, I'm still excited to see the movie when it finally hits the local cinemas on June 29. The Amazing Spider-man is from Marvel Studios to be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International..

Recalling a Classic: Total Recall Remake

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:44:00 +0000

Shame on me that the only Philip K. Dick movie that I saw is the Adjustment Bureau. Well I did saw Total Recall and Minority Report but never really watch it wholeheartedly and maybe I just saw it once or twice. Good thing Columbia Pictures is bringing back a classic and I will be given the chance to enjoy another great material. Watch the trailer after the jump.

Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Farrell), even though he's got a beautiful wife (Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs.

But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Nighy) and stop Cohaagen.

The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.

Now I have a slight faint of recollection of the first Total Recall movie. Other than being advance on special effects, one biggest difference is the strong political theme of this new one. With the bad reputation of remakes, I'm definitely expecting so much for this film and I really don't want to be disappointed. Well at least I have good reasons to see this -- Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale, hehe. Well maybe it is also a good idea to see the original Total Recall and Minority Report just to refresh my memory.

Opening in August 22, 2012 on local cinemas, “Total Recall” is to be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

The Amazing Spider-man Good News: More Lizard and New Release Date

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:58:00 +0000

Just like what we are expecting, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures is on its way to further releasing more marketing materials for the upcoming reboot The Amazing Spider-man. And since we are asking for it, Sony releases more materials showing the Villain, Dr. Curt Connors aka The Lizard. Below is a featurette that premieres the first footage of Connors' transformation to Lizard.

And below is promotional shot of the Lizard. I admit that the face still looks a bit odd for me but like Spidey's new costume, it slowly syncs in to me and I'm getting use to it.

Now let's go to the next good news. To all of my avid readers, you may have marked your calendars on July 4 for the movie's release on local cinemas. But guess what, Columbia Pictures Philippines just announced that The Amazing Spider-man will be bumped 5 days earlier. So instead of July 4, the film will be hitting the cinemas on June 29. The reason is not really stated but I guess it is done to preempt The Dark Knight Rises' release in July. I guess for me that is a good move and Spidey fans are already excited anyway. So why delay. What do you think about the date change? Hit the comments for your insights.

Frank Miller Update: New Poster for Sin City 2 and 300 Prequel Gets Eva Green

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:10:00 +0000

So currently Warner Bros. is enjoying a good return for Tim Burton's Dark Shadows. Though not as much like The Avengers, the dark comedy fantasy flick had gained enough praise (and backlash) for its daring take of classic soap opera. Now one of the star in the film is set to be taking another big shoes next year as she is set to star on the Frank Miller prequel, 300: Battle of Artemisia.

The hot seductress Eva Green is now officially attached to Warner bros. upcoming prequel to the 2007 Frank Miller masterpiece. She will be playing Artemisia, a warrior Queen of Caria that became Xerxes' ally on many battles including the famous Battle of Salamis. According to reports and early press releases, this movie will eventually explain how Xerxes become the God King we all know on the first film and Artemisia will play a big role on this back story.

Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo in 300 and Eve Green as Morgan from Camelot TV series

Like what I said earlier, this is a big shoes since Eve Green will be filling the shoes of Lena Headey who plays a strong female character on the first film as King Leonidas' (Gerard Butler) wife Queen Gorgo. But unlike Queen Gorgo, Artemisia will have a lot of action scenes and we will expect Eva Green to be more buff compared to her usual physique.

Meanwhile on other news, Sin City 2 film releases its first poster. Not really that much, but it is a Frank Miller art so it is really good. Simple and catchy.

Both slated for a 2013 release, 300: Battle of Artemisia is to be distributed by Warner Bros. and Sin City 2 to be distributed by The Weinstein Company.

The Avengers Retrospect: Iron Man's Armory [UPDATED]

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:43:00 +0000

It is the second week of The Avengers in US (3 weeks international) and it is still doing great on the box office. One thing that really appeals to the moviegoers is the familiarity of characters on both geeks and regular audiences. Now if we will be talking about popularity, Tony Stark aka Iron man played by Robert Downey Jr. is probably the most well known on the ensemble of cast. But as much as Tony's character is loved by many, I believe his Armors gets all the attention on the movies.

But did you know that Tony Stark has already collected a lot of version of his armor? In tribute to Tony Stark's armors, we will be having a tour on his armory on both comic book and movie universe.

ARMORY EARTH 616*

Bleeding Edge Armor

ARMORY MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE

MK 7 - The Avengers Movie

Now that Iron Man 3 is on the way, I'm really excited to see what the new armor will look like. I've heard they are doing Extremis so to everybody who don't read the comic, w'eve already saw Tony's armor become a suit case, then a moving wardrobe, and now on The Avengers a *SPOILERS!!!*, Extremis is a little bit on a next level because once in Tony's life it almost drive him insane. I'm really looking forward to that.

Still showing in all cinemas nationwide from Marvel Studios distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures

*Earth 616 - Comic Main Universe

UPDATE!!!

MISCELLANEOUS ARMORS

This update is for a special request by a friend. Personally speaking the Iron Tech Suit of Ultimate universe is the least of my favorite together with the Sapien Deathmatch suit from House of M. I don't like them simply because they don't embody the Iron Man I use to know. Though they are creatively done, aesthetically they are too much for an Iron Man suit. Good thing they are just alternate universe and we will not be seeing them for long. Last time I checked, Ultimate universe already updated Iron Man's armor and make it look more closely to the design of Mk. 3 from Iron Man movie. The other two suit above is the Iron Patriot and Rescue Armor. The only thing that these two have in common is they are not armors used by Tony Stark. Iron Patriot is an armor Norman Osborn created for himself when he took over Stark Industry in Marvel's Dark Reign Saga. The Rescue armor on the other hand is an armor piloted by none other than Pepper Potts when she used it during the Dark Reign Saga as a temporary replacement for the fugitive Tony Stark.

Upstart Productions' Forbidden Broadway Opens May 11

noreply@blogger.com (Joriben Zaballa) — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:46:00 +0000

After the successful run of Breakups and Breakdowns last year and the big partnership with Rivalry the Musical a few months ago, Upstart Productions returns to the stage alive and kicking with another serving of musical goodness.

Written and conceived by Gerard Allesandrini, the off-broadway hit Forbidden Broadway is a musical revue that pokes fun to classical, contemporary and current Broadway hits (Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Wicked, Rent et al.) and popular musical personalities (Julie Andrews, Kristin Chenoweth, Elton John, et al.). Just think about the Scary Movie franchise but with jazz hands. The show premiered off-broadway on January 15, 1982 and has been playing for three decades making raves all over America. Of course through time, the show is constantly updated with new shows being parodied and spoofed. So far, Forbidden Broadway has a total of 18 versions and 11 smash hit recordings.

Believing in Filipinos' natural sense of humor, Joel Trinidad (Upstart's Artistic Director) decides to adapt Forbidden Broadway in Manila. And who are better to play the roles but actors who are already known for their versatility and uncanny comedic timing.

L-R: Lorenz Martinez, Caisa Borromeo, OJ MAriano, Liesl Batucan

Joining the quartet of cast are Liesl Batucan last seen in Repertory Philippines' Seussical and Next Fall, the award winning Caisa Borromeo for her commendable performance in Little Women, The talented and funny Lorenz Martinez who previously morphed into a dog in 9 Works Theatrical's You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and lastly OJ Mariano who's known for his breakthrough performance in Rent and Rivalry the Musical.

Upstart Productions promises that everyone will have a good time. If you are really up to something funny and entertaining grab your phone now and reserve your tickets immediately. Show opens tomorrow, May 11 until May 27 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza Makati.

For tickets, inquiries, and other information, call Upstart Productions at 09175285678 or email upstarttickets@gmail.com or upstartproductionsinc@gmail.com. Tickets are also available through Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.