unSAULicited

The critically hailed blockbuster “X-Men: Days of Future Past” was a tough act to follow. Following his acclaimed work, director Bryan Singer takes the franchise to new heights with “X-Men: Apocalypse,” in which the X-Men battle the original and most powerful mutant -- Apocalypse. Staged in 1983, the invincible and immortal Apocalypse is set free after being entombed for several millennia. Enraged that his kind are no longer treated as gods, Apocalypse assembles a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to destroy humankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. To end Apocalypse’s path of global destruction, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) and Professor X (James McAvoy) lead a team of young X-Men in an epic showdown with a seemingly unstoppable enemy. Once again fueled by rage and revenge, Magneto is vulnerable to Apocalypse’s offer to join him as one of his newly-reformed Four Horsemen. Inspired by the biblical vision of...

In the romantic science fiction drama “Equals,” Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult play star-crossed lovers being watched closely by a Big Brother in a future where emotions are disabled to achieve a peaceful society. Produced by Ridley Scott’s production house, Scott Free and directed by accomplished filmmaker Drake Doremus, “Equals” is an emotionally and visually arresting film from a screenplay by Nathan Parker based on a story idea from Doremus. “Equals” is a nuanced, slow-burning love story, the film is set in a futuristic utopia where emotions have been genetically suppressed in an effort to protect society from the war and strife that has destroyed previous generations. On occasion, the suppression fails and emotions emerge in individuals – the Collective dubs this illness Switched On Syndrome, or SOS. As society is increasingly threatened by this health crisis, all SOS sufferers are heavily medicated or sent to the Den, a corrective facility from which no one returns. ...

Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” director Bryan Singer returns with the most awaited “X-Men: Apocalypse” that will open in cinemas (Phils.) on May 18 nationwide from 20th Century Fox. Since the dawn of civilization, Apocalypse was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, played by Oscar Isaac, is the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe who amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction. 10 years after the even...

The Artist Playground, Arte Pintura, and Talent Factory Incorporated proudly present NURSERY OF CURIOSITIES -- A SOLO EXHIBIT BY NASSER LUBAY. A cocktail reception and formal opening ceremonies with distinguished special guests of honor from the seven fields of art will be held on May 15 Sunday- 6 pm at the Arte Pintura Gallery located at the G/F The Address at Wack Wack, Wack Wack Road, Mandaluyong City An equally interesting highlight of the exhibit is the world premiere of “Nursery of Curiosities – The Theme,” an original music written by award-winning composer Jesse Lucas. A specially-printed catalogue of "Nursery of Curiosities" will also be launched to accompany the exhibit. Curated by Philip Almazan Paraan, “Nursery of Curiosities” will run until May 31. EXHIBITION NOTES After making significant strides in the art scene highlighted by winning runner-up honors in an international art competition, Nasser Lubay finds the ripe moment to present a cohesiv...

In a city where only the best succeed, two radically talented people from opposite sides of the tracks need to find harmony to achieve their dreams in the highly-motivating fish-out-of-water film “High Strung” starring award-winner ballerina Keenan Kampa and multi-talented artist Nicholas Galitzine. At the heels of phenomenal dance movies such as “Step Up” and “Street Dance,” “High Strung” brings two different worlds together when Ruby Adams (Kampa), a dancer from the Midwest on scholarshipin New York City eventually crosses paths with Johnnie Blackwell (Galitzine), a British musician, playing for money in the subway tunnels. Ruby’s world is classical and disciplined; Johnnie’s is improvisational and street smart. When a hip-hop battle gone wrong throws these two artists together, they immediately clash but can’t deny it when sparks begin to fly. Their lives quickly get entangled in the pitfalls that come with competing in New York City. With the help of a dynamic dance crew cal...

The Philippine Contemporary A cappella Society beams with pride as it presents AKAPELA, a one-of-its-kind, one-night-only contemporary a capella concert featuring two of this generation’s most talented and in demand vocal acts in the country today namely: PINOPELA and BAIHANA. AKAPELA is set to be held at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium,, RCBC Plaza, Makati on the evening of April 23 Saturday at 7:30PM. PINOPELA is an alumni group of the internationally acclaimed choral group, Saint Louis University Glee Club and was originally formed for the singular purpose of competing in the Akapela Open, but since placing second in 2013 and further after winning the championship in 2014, the group has evolved into a true professional. Pinopela began accepting invitations to perform at various functions after their warm reception at the Akapela Open 2013, and has since then wowed innumerable audiences previously unacquainted to contemporary a capella. The group opened the Myx Mo 2015 anniv...

A hip hop violinist meets a ballerina in the high-energy dance movie “High Strung” where two misfits didn’t belong until they believed in each other and go head to head against the best of the best in the Manhattan Conservatory of Arts Peterson Dance contest. Ruby (Keenan Kampa), a lovely ballet dancer on scholarship who doesn’t seem to fit and Johnnie (Nicolas Galitzine), a British musician playing for money in the subway tunnels finally meet and find harmony to achieve their dreams. Ruby’s world is classical and disciplined; Johnnie’s is improvisational and street smart. When a hip-hop battle gone wrong throws these two artists together, they immediately clash but can’t deny it when sparks begin to fly. Their lives quickly get entangled in the pitfalls that come with competing in New York City. With the help of a dynamic dance crew called The SwitchSteps, Ruby and Johnnie must find a way to save Ruby’s scholarship and keep Johnnie from being deported. In an action-packed extr...

Timely as today’s major concerns on battling terrorism comes the riveting action film “Bastille Day” based on true events starring Idris Elba and Richard Madden out to stop a series of bomb attacks in Paris. In “Bastille Day,” Michael Mason (Richard Madden from ‘Game of Thrones’) is an American pickpocket living in Paris who finds himself hunted by the CIA when he steals a bag that contains more than just a wallet. Sean Briar (Idris Elba from ‘Luther’ and “Prometheus’), the field agent on the case, soon realizes that Michael is just a pawn in a much bigger game and is also his best asset to uncover a large-scale conspiracy. Going against commands, Briar recruits Michael to use his expert pickpocketing skills to help quickly track down the source of the corruption. As a 24hr thrill ride ensues, the unlikely duo discover they are both targets and must rely upon each other in order to take down a common enemy. “Bastille Day” is a story with buried layers - personal, action, and g...

The Philippine Contemporary A cappella Society beams with pride as it presents AKAPELA, a one-of-its-kind, one-night-only contemporary a capella concert featuring two of this generation’s most talented and in demand vocal acts in the country today namely: PINOPELA and BAIHANA. Pinopela is an alumni group of the internationally acclaimed choral group, Saint Louis University Glee Club and was originally formed for the singular purpose of competing in the Akapela Open, but since placing second in 2013 and further after winning the championship in 2014, the group has evolved into a true professional. Pinopela began accepting invitations to perform at various functions after their warm reception at the Akapela Open 2013, and has since then wowed innumerable audiences previously unacquainted to contemporary a capella. The group opened the Myx Mo 2015 anniversary concert at the MOA concert grounds, that became one of the concert highlights, with an all a cappella opm number with some of t...

by  JM Nualla Originally posted on  Style MNL YouTube Cover Picture OPM is love. To argue that too much Western and Asian influence has infiltrated our local music is valid, but we must never discount the beauty of OPM love songs and its power to easily explain our complicated millennial emotions into lyrics. Curiously, this writer immediately binge-watched all the music video entries of this year’s Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs—an ongoing local songwriting and music video competition from ABS-CBN’s Star Music—and one entry that ambitiously interpreted the song gave this writer the feels. Unlike most of the music videos which only showcased glossy shots, popular love team interpreters or breathtaking sceneries, this is perhaps the only entry with a clear and compelling narrative that uniquely reflects the message of its song. “Patay na si Uto,” written by Oliver Narag and interpreted by Nyoy Volante, was brought to life by an action-filled and equally heart wrenchin...

The star-studded and high-octane action film “Criminal” headlines Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Oldman in a fresh, provocative spin on the espionage action-thriller that probes the secret world of memory and identity, as it propels an unwitting death row killer into the consciousness of a dedicated CIA agent in a ferocious race against time. After playing the snarky superhero Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds takes on a more clean-cut character as he plays top CIA agent Bill Pope in “Criminal,” who was on an important mission who holds the key of secrets in the recesses of his mind. In order to extract vital information, his memories, skills, and training were transplanted into hardened criminal Jericho Stewart’s (Kevin Costner) brain. The procedure was performed by a neuroscientist (Tommy Lee Jones) under the orders and close monitoring of the CIA chief (Gary Oldman). What they didn’t count on was that Stewart was also able to absorb the other aspect...

Multi-awarded actor and director Roeder Camanag is set to lead an all-male cast to act as females in Dulaang UP’s “ANG DRESSING ROOM: KUNG SAAN LUBUSANG PANGUNGULILA ANG DULOT NG AGOS NG PANAHON” --- a 1977 post-war Japanese play by Shimizu Kunio, translation adapted by Chiori Miyagawa from an original translation by John Gillespie and its Filipino translation by Palanca award winning playwright Nicolas Pichay under the direction of Alexander Cortez. Together with Roeder are seasoned artists of Philippine theatre, film, and television namely Andoy Ranay, Gwyn Guanzon, and Ian Ignacio. The play within a play tells the stories, frustrations, memoirs and aspirations of four actresses preparing backstage (gakuya, in Japanese) and waiting for their cue to enter onstage. All actresses express their desire to perform the lead role and their obsessive coveting for it ignites a comic yet dramatic narrative about shared memories and their relationship with each other. “Ang Dressing Room: ...