unSAULicited

Taking on the role of real life heroes, Chris Hemsworth (“Thor,” “The Avengers” films) along with Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road,” “Nocturnal Animals”) stars in “12 Strong” - a powerful action-packed new war drama based on the best-selling book “Horse Soldiers,” from true events that unfolded a world away in the aftermath of 9/11. “12 Strong” is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team, led by their new Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. troops sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. There, in the rugged mountains, they must convince Northern Alliance General Dostum (Negahban) to join forces with them to fight their common adversary: the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies. In addition to overcoming mutual distrust and a vast cultural divide, the Americans—accustomed to state-of-the-art warfare—must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghani horse soldiers. But despite their une...

Following the worldwide success of “Unknown,” “Non-Stop” and “Run All Night,” Liam Neeson known as the man with a particular set of skills stars in the explosive thriller “The Commuter.” The movie is Neeson’s fourth collaboration with director Jaume Collet-Serra about one man‘s frantic quest to prevent disaster on a packed commuter train. The screenplay proved irresistible to both the director and star, not just for the bravura of the action and the thrill of the suspense but for the moral conundrum the protagonist is faced with and the consequences it has on him, the passengers on the train and his family at home. “The Commuter asks the audience, if someone asked you to do something that seems insignificant but you’re not sure of the outcome in exchange for a considerable financial reward, would you do it?” says Jaume Collet-Serra. “That‘s the philosophical choice that our central character - a man of 60 who’s just been fired, has no savings and is mortgaged to the hilt - is f...

The new animated film and Golden Globe nominee for Best Animation and Original Song, “Ferdinand,” tells the charming story of a bull who prefers flowers to fighting. John Cena stars as the voice of the titular character, a peace-loving animal with no desire to fight, like the rest of the herd, which makes him an outsider at the ranch where he is raised. Set in Spain, the story follows Ferdinand as he embarks on a journey to find love and acceptance. Facing danger and making close friends along the way, he always stays true to himself. Also starring Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon as the hilarious voice of Lupe the goat, it’s a delightful, action-packed tale about individuality, friendship and the courage to be who you are. From the award-winning Blue Sky Studios, the film was directed by Carlos Saldanha and is based on the classic 1936 children’s book by author Munro Leaf and illustrator Robert Lawson. From the start, it’s clear that Ferdinand has little in common with the oth...

Instituto Cervantes de Manila , the cultural center of the Embassy of Spain , and Ayala Museum will show four multi-awarded Spanish short films -- Consulta 16, Elena Asins-Génesis, Luchadoras and Pulse -- for free on December 21, the winter solstice and shortest day of the year. The free screening is part of El Día Más Corto /The Shortest Day , a short film festival celebrated simultaneously in more than 300 places worldwide. The Shortest Day is an idea that was first set in motion by the French Short Film Agency in 2011, in which more than two million people from all over the world participated. In 2012 the initiative was emulated by other countries and in 2013 it grew into a truly international event, with the affiliation of a total of 12 European countries, as well as Canada. El Día Más Corto took place in Spain for the first time in 2013. It was organized by the Spanish Association for short films, coordinadoradelcorto.org , with 100 selected short films distrib...

The team of Ang Larawan. First row (seated), L-R: cast members Aicelle Santos, Rachel Alejandro, Paulo Avelino and Cris Villonco. Second row (seated), L-R: executive producer Girlie Rodis, executive producer Celeste Legaspi, and cast members Nanette Inventor, Dulce, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Cara Manglapus. Third row (standing): producer Alemberg Ang, composer Ryan Cayabyab, actor Bernardo Bernardo, director Loy Arcenas and actor Rayver Cruz. “Ang Larawan,” the lone musical entry in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, has gotten a grade of “A” from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB). The musical written by National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio and composed by Ryan Cayabyab is the only film this year wherein all CEB eleven members who previewed gave the highest grade. The CEB summation stated, “It is seldom and rare that the members of the Board give a unanimous A to a film.“ Based on the play A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaqu...

Wrestling superstar John Cena lends voice to the gentlest bull that will soon capture everyone’s hearts on January 8 in “Ferdinand” – a giant bull who prefers flowers to fighting. Today’s generation can enjoy the delightful CG-animated film based on the 1936 book “The Story of Ferdinand” by author Munro Leaf and illustrator Robert Lawson, a warm and charming take on how appearances can be deceptive (or, why you should never judge a bull by its cover…) the book’s message of love and acceptance has resonated for decades. Directed by Academy Award nominee Carlos Saldanha, creator and director of the Rio series and director of many of the Ice Age movies, “Ferdinand” centers on the adventures of a peace-loving bull (voiced by John Cena), who is adopted by a loving farmer and daughter. However, his idyllic life changes after he’s mistaken for a vicious beast and is taken away to the last place on earth he wants to be, a bull training camp. But Ferdinand is determined to get back home. ...

Visionary filmmakers James Cameron (Avatar) and Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) create a groundbreaking new heroine in “Alita: Battle Angel,” an action-packed story of hope, love and empowerment as revealed in its Teaser Trailer: Set several centuries in the future, the abandoned Alita (Maze Runner’s Rosa Salazar) is found in the scrapyard of Iron City by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate cyber-doctor who takes the unconscious cyborg Alita to his clinic. When Alita awakens she has no memory of who she is, nor does she have any recognition of the world she finds herself in. Everything is new to Alita, every experience a first. As she learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield Alita from her mysterious past while her street-smart new friend, Hugo (Keean Johnson), offers instead to help trigger her memories. A growing affection develops between the two until deadly forces come after Alita and threaten her newfound relationshi...

Ladies Who Launch, in cooperation with F6 and the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), is set to stage Sigaw Sa Dilim, a set of three short one-act plays tackling the pressing issue of human rights and extra-judicial killings. Created in order to raise awareness about the injustices of state-sanctioned killings, most commonly known as Extra Judicial Killings (EJKs), Sigaw Sa Dilim emphasizes the value of life as well as the government and the Philippine National Police’s responsibility to secure the safety of every Filipino regardless of socioeconomic status. The three original plays revolve around characters directly or indirectly affected by EJK and Operation Tokhang and their communities. Beshie, directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio and written by Layeta Bucoy, is about a young transgender female who loses her best friend in a Tokhang Operation. Ang Mga Naiwan, under the direction of Issa Lopez and written by Soc Delos Reyes, is about the women left behind by the same seri...

Dalit team with Sine Negrense organizers Belle Kay Loyola‘s short film Dalit (Poison) topped the open category of the inaugural Sine Negrense: Negros Island Film Festival awards night held at SM City Bacolod Cinema 4 last November 29. Dalit filmmaker Belle Kay Loyola receiving her prize Dalit, which tells the story of a man who has healing abilities and how these affect his personal life, won Best Film, Best Director for Loyola, Best Production Design for Noel Armocillo, Jr., Best Actor for John Arceo and Best Supporting Actor for Louie Dormido. Loyola’s thesis film at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Digital Filmmaking Program beat Adobo by Val Vestil, Alibungan by Matthew Piodena, Five Sorrowful Mysteries by Shannan Gonzales, Happy Birthday by Gkie Erebaren, Hawud by Paul Venzi Florendo, Kaasab by Vince Divinagracia and Handuraw by Gilbert Basilio. Vestil and Florendo are from Negros Oriental while Loyola and the other filmmakers are from Negros Occidental. Alibu...

Ballet Philippines (BP), the country’s flagship dance company, presents the timeless Christmas ballet in full Filipino splendor in Edna Vida’s The Nutcracker. Nobuo Fujino (formerly a Senior Artist at the Australian Ballet and Principal Dancer with Hong Kong Ballet) returns to BP as guest artist courtesy of Japan Foundation and Tan Yan Kee Foundation, and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Salonga, plays Tchaikovsky’s iconic music live on select performances. A ballet for the whole family, The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition all over the world, with professional dance companies and schools doing their own version of the beloved full-length ballet. BP sets itself apart by adding its own Filipino flavor to the time and tested ballet. Set in the Philippines in the 1920s, The Nutcracker follows our young heroine Clara on a fantastic journey. At her family’s Noche Buena, Clara receives an enchanted Nutcracker Doll from her godfather, the toymaker Don Alfonso...

Pad Thai The Noodle Studio is the brainchild of Executive Chef Gregorio “Gigo” de Guzman. He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, from where he then pursued a culinary course at Enderun Colleges. He was fortunate enough to be chosen for an internship program at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Jules Verne on the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Beef Brisket Noodle Soup His love for noodles began in his childhood, where his favorite memories of his late father, Moises de Guzman, were of their numerous noodle food trips. Some of his many passions are musical theater (appearing in Ateneo Blue Repertory’s High School Musical, Repertory Philippines' The Producers, and Trumpet’s Bluebird of Happiness), and indoor cycling (working as an instructor at Electric Studio, the Philippines first boutique indoor cycling studio). Laksa Lemak The concept of the Noodle Studio was inspired by a previous restauran...

Ryan Reynolds’ donning of “Deadpool” turned the hero universe into a totally different genre that took the world pleasantly surprised. A Marvel anti-hero known for his unrelenting and acerbic sense of humor, the first "Deadpool" movie that was released in February 2015 became a worldwide smash hit with $783.1 million at the box-office so far. With the latest release of the very unusual red band teaser trailer of the feverishly-anticipated sequel Deadpool is seen wearing a wig and carrying a paint palette, mimicking Bob Ross from the famous decade-long show “The Art of Painting” during the early ‘80s. The red band trailer, suffused with creative expletives only Deadpool can deliver, gives the audience a peek of what to expect in the sequel – extreme action with his friends in the biz fighting villains such as Cable (played by Josh Brolin), Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). “Deadpool 2” is a 20th Century Fox feature film th...

Cebu’s runaway theatrical hit - the original Bisrock jukebox musical, GUGMANG GIATAY will be holding limited shows in Manila on Sunday, November 26, 4 p.m., during BGC Passionfest, and again from Tuesday, November 28 until Thursday, November 30, 8 p.m. All Manila performances will be at the Globe Auditorium of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Taguig. Written by award-winning songwriter Jude Gitamondoc and Internet sensation Rowell “Medyo Maldito” Ucat, GUGMANG GIATAY is your (a)typical romantic comedy, with a good dose of maoy moments, hugot lines, and acerbic Bisaya humor. The musical features landmark Bisaya hit songs, both contemporary and classic, written by such iconic talents as Max Surban, Cattski Espina, Insoy Niñal, Jude Gitamondoc, Medyo Maldito, and Junior Kilat, among others. A small, close-knit neighborhood is #shookt when Inday, a down-to-earth girl, lets slip that all is not well in her relationship with Undo, her long-time musician boyfriend...

Artist Playground, in pursuance of its objectives of creating opportunities that facilitates a collaborative environment for artists from all fields of art and providing a context in which the processes of making art can be explored, is proud to announce its very first arts festival entitled “RATED AP”. It is a festival that celebrates the creativity and talent of young artists. This festival is created to provide a platform for young and budding artists to showcase their talent and artistry. Students of participating colleges and educational institutions are given the opportunity to showcase their works and share their art to legitimate audiences to be subjected for appreciation and appraisal. The festival promises an exciting experience, we believe it is the first of its kind, for it is a brave endeavor that banks on the freshness of the materials to be presented, the rawness of the talent to be showcased and the novelty of the ideas that sets each of the productions directions...

Will Smith is the supremely smooth and confident Lance Sterling, secret agent extraordinaire. Tom Holland is Walter – the somewhat less debonair scientist and inventor who provides Lance with an array of amazing gadgets. Fox Animation, Chernin Entertainment and Blue Sky Studios announced today the voice casting of Will Smith and Tom Holland as the lead characters Lance Sterling and Walter in the animated feature SPIES IN DISGUISE, an action comedy that will be released by Twentieth Century Fox in 2019. SPIES IN DISGUISE is a buddy comedy set in the high octane globe-trotting world of international espionage. Will Smith (Men in Black) voices Lance Sterling, the world’s most awesome spy. Cool, charming and super-skilled, saving the world is his occupation. And nobody does it better. Almost the exact opposite of Lance is Walter, voiced by Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming). Walter is a great mind but perhaps not a great socializer. What he lacks in social skills though, he make...

20th Century Fox has recently released the first look photos of 2018’s most awaited teen movie “Love, Simon”, directed by Greg Berlanti and based on the YA novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. At the heels and feels of the highly successful “The Fault In Our Stars”, the movie that gave the world the most unforgettable teenage love story, “Love, Simon” tells the coming-of-age story of Simon Spier (played by Nick Robinson), who has yet to tell his family and friends that he’s gay and that he’s fallen for an anonymous classmate online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing. “Love, Simon” is a funny and heartfelt story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love. Directed by Greg Berlanti (Riverdale, The Flash), “Love, Simon” also stars Katherine Langford (from 13 Reasons Why), Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg, Miles Heizer, Keiynan Lonsdale, Logan Miller, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Tony Hale. “Ther...

From Academy Award winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, lyricists of La La Land comes the bold and original musical “The Greatest Showman” with a stellar cast that includes Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, Zac Efron as Phillip Carlisle, Michelle Williams as Charity Barnum, Rebecca Ferguson as Jenny Lind, Zendaya as Anne and Keala Settle as Lettie, the movie directed by Michael Gracey. “The Greatest Showman” features powerful original music and songs that celebrates the birth of show business and the sense of wonder we feel when dreams come to life. Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, “The Greatest Showman” tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. A cinematic and immersive experience with a highly-inspirational story, “The Greatest Showman” opens January 31 in Philippine cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Follow 20th Century Fox (Ph) on Facebook, 20thce...