unSAULicited

From visionary filmmakers James Cameron (Avatar) and Robert Rodriguez (Sin City), comes “Alita: Battle Angel,” an epic adventure of hope and empowerment, based upon the Manga graphic novel series by Yukito Kishiro. When Alita (Rosa Salazar) awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate cyberphysician who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg core is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend Hugo (Keean Johnson) offers instead to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city, headed by Vector (Mahershala Ali), come after Ido and Alita that she discovers a clue to her past – she has unique fighting abilities ingrained in her that those in power w...

Bagging the most nominations in major categories in this year’s Academy Awards, “The Favourite” vies for Best Picture, Best Director (Yorgos Lanthimos), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Olivia Colman), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best in Costume Design, Best in Film Editing and Best in Production Design. “The Favourite” stars a pool of strongly talented cast led by Olivia Colman along with Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, Nicholas Hoult and Joe Alwyn that brings us to the much-overlooked period of British monarchy during Queen Anne’s (Colman) reign, the last of the Stuart line of rulers, has perhaps in history has been unfairly dismissed. As Britain wars with France, in the Queen’s court the absurdities of palace life run rife. Gout-ridden and beset by grief over the loss of no fewer than 17 children, Anne relies on her only confidant, Lady Sarah Churchill (Weisz), who keeps the Privy Purse and offers much...

In black and white, “The Green Book” clearly made it as one of the front runners for Best Picture at this year’s (2019) Oscar race clutching more nominations in various categories such as Best Actor in a Leading Role (Viggo Mortensen), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mahershala Ali), Best Original Screenplay and Best in Film Editing. Academy Award® nominee Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic, The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Hidden Figures) star in Participant Media and DreamWorks Pictures’ Green Book. In his powerful foray into dramatic work as a feature director, Peter Farrelly helms the film, inspired by a true friendship that transcended race, class and societal constraints of the early 1960s. When Frank Anthony Vallelonga, aka Tony Lip (Mortensen), a New York City bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in The Bronx, is hired to drive and protect Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour f...

by Gerone Baladhay Science, astrophysics, nebulae, cepheids or comparative-analysis may not be the words you woul d expect as ingredients on the recipe of love nor would it spell appealing for a play. However, it takes one Henrietta Leavi tt and her Harvard peers, to smash first impressions as exhilaratingly portrayed in a story of breaking women stereotypes, pursuing dreams, and learning that love can shine as bright as a star even if you’re not looking through a telescope. Repertory Philippines’s restaging of Lauren Guenderson’s Silent Sky at the Carlos Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati is not just about the science of space, but the science of human emotions that is of earthly experiences which can be easily felt through the word play of a wonderfully written script. No sweat since Director Joy Virata has an adept and accomplished cast to bring the story to life in a humorous, but above all- triumphant way. Silent Sky put to light, Leavitt (played by Cathy ...

by Gerone Baladhay Sacrifice and simplicity are two words and realities being drowned in today’s world that is full of apprehensions in making life choices, which Layeta Bucoy’s Br. Benilde The Musical did not fail to celebrate. With a stirring overture that tackles the innocence and power of dreaming not only for one’s future but on how one’s dream for himself is also a dream for the betterment of others; the musical opens the life story of the venerated La Sallian brother- St. Pierre Romancon a.k.a Bro. Benilde whose colorful youth is tinted gray with the conflicts of following one’s calling in a society plagued by war, poverty and lack of education. Torn between sacrificing his family and following his vocation, along with impediments about his stature, Benilde was able to overcome them all with his passion of prayer that jumpstarted his journey of defeating the big evils of the world such as indifference and ignorance with small acts of compassion and diligence. The musical...

Based on the life of Maria Rosa Luna Henson, Nana Rosa bravely shares the story of the first Filipina who made here story as a comfort woman public. The play covers her childhood up to the events that led her to come out and have her story be known. After more than 70 years, justice has not been given to women such as Rosa Henson. Their fight for unequivocal public apology, accurate historical inclusion, and just compensation continues up to this day. Nana Rosa is a timely reminder that comfort women existed and an apt season ender for UP Playwrights' Theatre's 27th season which urges us to acknowledge, remember, and appreciate. Performances will run for three weeks starting February 20 until March 10, at 7PM with performances at 3PM during weekends. Theater greats Peewee O'Hara and Upeng Galang Fernandez alternate as Rosa Henson. Direction is by Jose Estrella. Witness Nana Rosa for PHP 500. UP students, UP staff, senior citizens, and bulk purchasors may avail disc...

Doing ordinary things extraordinarily well––this is the legacy of St. Benilde Romançon. In whatever you do, even if how small it may seem, treat it with utmost specialty because small things contribute to a bigger means. In celebration of the College’s 30th anniversary, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, along with the Office of the Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life, Office of Culture and Arts, and the Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster, presents the story of St. Benilde Romançon in the a cappella musical, Br. Benilde. The musical, which features the life, works, and principles of St. Benilde Romançon, hopes to encourage each and everyone from its audience to find their own voices and identity in even the simplest of deeds that they make, as such are the foundation of a much bigger picture. Br. Benilde the musical will be staged at the SDA Theater, 5/F School of Design and Arts Campus of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde with 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM shows o...

On the occasion of the 80th year anniversary of the start of World War II and the 70th year of UP Diliman’s transfer from Padre Faura to Diliman, the UP Playwrights’ Theatre is staging Rody Vera’s Nana Rosa under the direction of José Estrella. Nana Rosa opens the 27th Theatre Season of UP Playwright’s Theatre. With its mission to serve as a venue for new Filipino plays, Nana Rosa recounts the life of Maria Rosa Henson, the first Filipino comfort woman to come forward with her story in public -- starting from her early life, to her capture and eventually her becoming a comfort woman, liberation, and finally deciding to tell her story nearly fifty years later. Nana Rosa also advocates remembering the seemingly forgotten historical narrative about the comfort woman. To date, no one has been held accountable and liable regarding the pains and sufferings endured by these unwilling victims. The Japanese government, on the other hand, continues to ignore all legal and other demands of th...

Best known globally for his role in the blockbuster X-Men franchise as the powerful Professor Charles Xavier aka Professor X, Patrick Stewart takes on another mighty role from literature and children’s favorite as the wizard Merlin in the family movie “The Kid Who Would Be King.” Based on one of the most famous myths of all time, “The Kid Who Would Be King” approaches the legend of King Arthur and his knights in a completely new way, bringing it into the modern world and making it relevant for contemporary audiences.  The thrilling family adventure starts when average school kid Alex (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) draws Excalibur, the magical sword of King Arthur, from a building site and go on a magical quest — with pals old and new — to save Britain from the forces of darkness. Arthur’s teacher, the wizard Merlin, is among the most famous characters in literature and the prototype for many characters in popular culture, including Obi-Wan Kenobi as well as Dumbledore and Gandalf. ...

Administration (IA) launched an exhibit which expresses religious symbols and personas of Christian in art at the NCCA Gallery this January. “Sisidlan ng Kabanalan” is a contemplation on the concept of vessels. A sisidlan or vessel and the holiness or values it contains can take many forms and be interpreted on various levels: an urna as an artistic and devotional reliquary; the image of Mary as a signifier of the persona venerated in the Litany of Loreto as the Spiritual Vessel, the Vessel of Honor and the Singular Vessel of Devotion; and the museum an entity, both abstract and concrete, dedicated to the conservation, research and exhibition of cultural heritage. The expressions of religious symbols and personas of Christian faith in art emanates the values that they represent, and these values were, and still are instrumental in shaping Filipino Culture. IA was established in 1979 for the orderly restoration and development of Intramuros as a monument to the Hispanic period of...

Reimagined for the younger movie audience, Deadpool 2’s “Once Upon a Deadpool” is now rated PG by the local censors board (MTRCB) featuring an additional 20 minutes of new footage. Kids below 13 years old can now watch the world’s favorite disreputable superhero on the big screen and enjoy it with the whole gang. Fred Savage joins Ryan Reynolds in “Once Upon a Deadpool” that pays homage to his starring role in the 1987 “The Princess Bride”. “While my participation in this film was anything but voluntary, I am happy to learn that Fudge Cancer will be the beneficiary of this shameless cash grab,” says Savage of the film’s advocacy. “Deadpool” debuted in February 2016 with the biggest R-rated opening of all time and went on to be the highest-grossing R-rated film in history with more than $750-million globally. “Deadpool” was also honored as the first live-action superhero movie to be nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture in the Comedy or Musical category, and Ryan Reynol...

Following three sold-out seasons in the previous years, POTTED POTTER makes a triumphant return to Manila! POTTED POTTER opens in Manila at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center on March 20 for 9 shows only. After a successful stint in 2012, the show returned to Manila in 2013 and 2014 much to the delight of the POTTED POTTER Filipino fanbase. This March, POTTED POTTER is back again by magical demand. Playing to full houses all over the world, POTTED POTTER takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real-life game of Quidditch) into seventy hilarious minutes. This fantastically funny show features all your favourite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon, endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic! “Gloriously goofy. Casts the perfect spell over the audience.” New York Times - Critics’ Picks “Cleverly appeals to both ardent fans and parents...

Reine Productions, in cooperation with Repertory Philippines, brings the critically-acclaimed play “Silent Sky” back to the stage for limited encore performances this February 2019. “I fell in love with the show the first time I saw it,” says executive producer Ria Pangilinan, “I was invited to catch a rehearsal, and I immediately knew it was a story that every woman— well, everyone — needs to hear.” Written by America's most produced playwright, Lauren Gunderson, “Silent Sky”, is a poetic and poignant retelling of the life of Henrietta Leavitt, one of the greatest unsung heroes in the history of science. Leavitt was among the Harvard Computers: women hired by the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900’s to painstakingly analyze and catalogue every observable star in the heavens. She, along with Annie Cannon and Williamina Fleming, were among the first women to blaze a trail for themselves in the heavily male-dominated science of astronomy. Leavitt battled with disability,...