Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Argylle (2024 movie)

They say spy movies are always a good choice and in the mind of Matthew Vaughn, this newest spy thriller has it all; thrills, suspense, drama, and dark comic.

Argylle (2024 movie)

Matthew Vaughn's newest masterpiece, Argylle, is about Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, a spy novel author living her quiet life with her cat Alfie. What she didn't know was that her novels started to echo the operations of a real-world spy ring.

Joining alongside Howard is a powerhouse cast of celebrities such as The Witcher's Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, Kefas Brand, singer Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, WWE legend John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sofia Boutella.

With a sleek blend of action, drama, suspense, and dark comedy, Argylle is a spy movie that can't be hidden in plain sight. It's all about everything unraveling as the opportunity arises and when the tension builds, this movie is far out the juiciest until the very end.

Once you enjoyed watching this spy flick, there's no hiding the truth that this is one of the most interesting movies to watch in the first quarter of 2024. No secret's safe with this one.

Saturday, September 9, 2023

The Voltes V Legacy finale

Voltes V Legacy, the Philippine live-action drama adaptation of the classic Japanese anime series, Voltes V, brought a new perspective to a legendary story of good versus evil. It's about the Armstrong brothers; Steve, Big Bert, and Little John, as well as their human allies Mark Gordon and Jamie Robinson, who join forces as the Voltes team, protecting Earth from the Bozanian invaders while discovering who they really are.

Friday, August 25, 2023

Torchwood: Among Us 3

The final chapter of the Among Us saga of Torchwood has arrived and it finally unmasks the unknown threat lurking around the streets...but with a terrifying twist.

Torchwood: Among Us 3


The third and final chapter of Torchwood: Among Us is an edge-of-your-seat endgame to this intense thriller where the whole Torchwood team ends up being the hunted while uncovering the most terrifying puzzle with the whole world's on the wire.

The season finale features the final four missions to experience at the edge of your seats. From the forgotten social networking site out for revenge, influencers getting killed, a suspicious cryptocurrency used for purchasing black market weaponry, and the thrilling finale where dinnertime is the end of time itself.

Wow, the final missions sure have relevance in reality, huh? Social media and cryptocurrency are the main focus of this season's finale and because this is typical Torchwood suspense and thrills, no safe space is...well, safe from the gripping final moments of Among Us.

What a way to end the recent Torchwood season. Uncovering who is "among us" from start to finish made Among Us the most thrilling Torchwood saga yet and now that the whole collection is complete, expect more to come from the world of Torchwood.

The end is where will start for them.

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Oppenheimer

This is the first rated-R movie by Christopher Nolan. It's a suspense thriller based on real events. It's titled Oppenheimer and it features the untold story of The Manhattan Project, a secret experiment where America gave birth to the nuclear weapon.

Oppenheimer

Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer is a true-to-life untold story of The Manhattan Project and how a man named J. Robert Oppenheimer led America to the birth of the weapon of mass destruction in order to win World War II.

Shot at the combination of IMAX 65mm and 65mm large-format film photography including sections in IMAX black and white analog photography, this new kind of noir style gives the untold story of The Manhattan Project a darker feel as cinemagoers went to see the birth of a nuclear weapon that they won't find anything else in the history books and the effects really paid off to bring this suspense thriller to life. 

Combined with a powerhouse cast, gripping storytelling, and classic Christopher Nolan artisanship, Oppenheimer is another magnum opus Nolan curated since Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, Inception, and The Dark Knight trilogy. Because of its unique cinematography that delivers a noir feel to this thrilling biopic, it's a worthy artisan pick and a worthy contender to the Oscars.

The birth of the weapon that could destroy humanity...this is something you won't find anything else in the history books.

Friday, June 30, 2023

Torchwood: Among Us 2

The first part of the Among Us saga of Torchwood kept listeners guessing who's behind the recent mess that terrified not just Cardiff but also the world. As the answer continues to unfold, the second part of Torchwood: Among Us has arrived, courtesy of Big Finish Productions.

Torchwood: Among Us 2

The second part of Torchwood: Among Us welcomes back Gareth David Lloyd to the latest saga, reprising the fan-favorite role of Ianto Jones. The fan-favorite character making a comeback in this latest chapter of Torchwood is pure delight for fans of the Doctor Who spinoff. Still, something's not right because...it's "Among Us" after all. No one knows who's the faceless threat pulling the strings.

Anyway, the second part welcomes listeners to four new thrilling missions to experience at the edge of their seats. These missions include Orr visiting the conflict-torn Voloshnik, Yvonne Hartman's prison break, vandals crashing inside Torchwood, and the whistleblowers who knew about the Phlobos Scandal.

These four new missions really are the latest pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and they're worth a suspense thriller to experience from start to finish.

Be sure to catch up on Among Us with these two installments available now and brace yourselves for the finale coming soon.

Friday, May 12, 2023

Torchwood: Among Us 1

The Torchwood story continues in the newest saga part of "The Story Continues" collection from Big Finish Productions. After a cataclysmic thriller in the God Among Us saga, Torchwood returns as they're uncover a faceless threat lurking everywhere, even from within.

Torchwood: Among Us 1

The newest saga of Torchwood is titled "Among Us" and in the first chapter of this latest Torchwood adventure, the Torchwood agents are keeping themselves incognito following the events from God Among Us. As they're in the dark, unknown threats and conspiracies are emerging everywhere, even within Torchwood.

The first chapter of Among Us features four brand new missions to listen to. From secret neighbors, the struggles of Colin, Gwen and Rhys' new life in Iceland, to a terrifying headline that deserves a much bigger headline, it's a brave new start to a new Torchwood saga that deserves to be listen over and over again before the next chapter arrives soon.

If you're ready to return to Torchwood, the first chapter of this newest adventure is for you...if you dare.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

The historical ending of Maria Clara at Ibarra

Maria Clara at Ibarra is the story of a young girl named Klay who got sucked into the world of a legendary Jose Rizal masterpiece, Noli Me Tangere. Because her real first name came from one of its characters, which is of course, Maria Clara, she ended up moonlighting with Crisostomo Ibarra until the real Maria Clara arrived and Klay faces consequences during her stay in the world of Noli Me Tangere.

During her adventures, she befriended the story's other protagonists who are fighting against the Spaniards, especially Fidel, until the end of Noli Me Tangere causing Klay to face dire consequences. When El Filibusterismo came, the death of the real Maria Clara, the lamp plot foiled, and the death of Crisostomo Ibarra, Klay witnessed how the story ends and when she returned to her world, she had learned the most valuable lesson during her adventures in both Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

In the finale, years after Klay graduated from college, she's living her life as a medical doctor helping people until she fatefully encountered someone who looks like Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara...but there's no sign of Fidel.

Moments later, fate comes to Klay once more as she encountered a mysterious paper with an ominous message written on it, and then, out of nowhere, someone comes out from the portal. It was Fidel, out from the world of Noli Me Tangere and into Klay's world.


This is the end of Maria Clara at Ibarra, the hit drama that forever changed the history of the Philippines.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Magic Mike's Last Dance

Every ladies' favorite erotic dancer Mike Lane returns for his third (and possibly) final outing as the spotlight's on him, one last time, probably.

Magic Mike's Last Dance
Magic Mike's Last Dance

Starring Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek Pinault, Magic Mike's Last Dance is the third (and possibly) final chapter of the Magic Mike trilogy that will leave ladies salivating over hunks dancing to the last tune, one last time.

Set after XXL, Mike Lane (played by Tatum) is back on stage following a failed business deal that left him broke. Following a fateful encounter with a socialite (played by Salma Hayek Pinault), Mike goes to London for what is known to be his finale with the help of hot new dancers joining him.

True to the franchise, Mike and the dancing hunks deserved no words because they let their dancing do the talking and this latest chapter fits the bill perfectly. The storyline feels more like a downfall for the main character despite his best performance in the previous two movies but as the saying goes; "start at the bottom, rise to the top." The movie starts with Mike dropping from the bottom and dancing his way back to the top of the game. That's progress translated to dance moves.

It's sad that this movie is called "Magic Mike's Last Dance" because it's probably the last chapter of Magic Mike. Ladies had fun watching Tatum and the hunks dance and they don't want to end it. Still, for a movie that saved its last dance for the world, Magic Mike's Last Dance did it right, spectacularly.

Let's dance, one last time. Honest.

Friday, February 10, 2023

The Super Finale of Mars Ravelo's Darna

The 2022 TV series adaptation of Mars Ravelo's comic superheroine Darna showcased Jane De Leon's heroic performance as the legendary superhero Darna. Over the course of this series, Darna fought ferociously against a rogue gallery of supervillains and saves the world.

In the finale, Darna goes all-out to save the world from the wrath of Borgo and the supervillains loyal to the greatest fear of all. As the whole neighborhood and the other supervillains Darna fought in the past team up to defeat Borgo's minions, Darna uses all of her powers to defeat Borgo once and for all.

With the others successfully defeating Borgo's minions, Darna successfully vanquished Borgo but Borgo unleashed his last resort; a doomsday weapon destined to wipe out humanity. Racing against time, Darna does the inevitable; she's using all of her powers to destroy the weapon and save the world. She destroyed it, came back alive, and ultimately saved the world.

Moments after the final battle, the Extras are reverting back to their normal selves thanks to Rolando's experiment. Back home, Claudio atoned for his sins and bid them farewell. After the flight, Ding gave Narda something; a parting gift from Brian.

After Narda received Brian's parting gift from Ding, Narda bids farewell to Luna as she's returning back to the planet of Marte with the high rulers, who later thanked Darna for her heroic efforts and allowed her to keep the stone of Marte when needed.

The series ended with Narda visiting Valentina for some words. As she left, Valentina broke free to unleash havoc some more.


This is the end of the 2022 TV series adaptation of Mars Ravelo's Darna, but Darna's legacy continues...

Saturday, August 13, 2022

The National Ending of FPJ's Ang Probinsyano

For almost seven years, spanning three administrations, over a thousand episodes, and not to mention the endurance this show faced amid the pandemic and the ABS-CBN shutdown, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano became a milestone in the history of Philippine television as it shot down Pinoy TV legends such as Valiente to become the longest-running TV drama in Philippine television.

From the prologue that depicts the tale of a policeman named Ador De Leon, who got killed in the line of duty, to the real beginning of the story that centers on Ricardo Dalisay, a province man who was sent by the government to fulfill his slain brother's duty, only to become a never-ending fight against crime and terrorism that plagued the Philippines, this TV series made the character played by Coco Martin been through several life-or-death situations in the never-ending war on terror.

Policeman, prisoner, fugitive, rebel, vigilante, soldier, hero, patriot. These daring situations made Cardo the patriot he became and in the National Ending of the hit TV series, this is Probinsyano at its dramatic peak.

Following the death of several members of Task Force Agila as well as Renato Hipolito's hitmen, the remaining members of the team, including him, President Oscar Hidalgo, and General Diana Olegario are forced to retreat while swarms of terrorists led by Renato Hipolito are on the offense.

Outnumbered, General Olegario told Cardo to escort the President to safety while she and the other Agila members sealed their fates by the terrorists. As Cardo and the President split, the former single-handedly killed terrorists until he got critically injured by Hipolito and his men. By surprise, the President killed Hipolito and his men while reinforcements arrived to mop up the rest.

After the decisive battle, the President delivered his message to the fallen soldiers while Cardo's in the hospital, alive and well. Being the last member of Task Force Agila to survive the final battle, there's more heartbreak as his relatives appeared to tell him that his grandmother Flora (played by the late Susan Roces) died.

After mourning the loss of Lola Flora, Cardo was summoned by President Hidalgo to receive the medal of honor from him. When the President asked him to reform Task Force Agila, Cardo refused as he told the President that he should be going back to the province for his new beginnings but thanked the President for the help.

As Cardo and his relatives are back in the province for their new beginnings, President Hidalgo and Rowela got married. The series ends with Cardo fatefully reunited with Mara, played by Julia Montes.

Ang Probinsyano ending

Almost seven years of combatting terrorism and avenging his friends and families led to this. The national ending the whole Philippines witnessed and it's about freaking time the longest-running TV drama in Philippine history came to an end.

It's a good thing Filipinos worldwide found some relevance in this show and looks like they're living in a post-Probinsyano life with some showing some stages of post-Probinsyano grief as some would say.

Although the series has ended, the legacy lives on as FPJ's Ang Probinsyano has cemented its mark on the history of Philippine TV. Despite the ongoing pandemic and the ABS-CBN shutdown, it's proof that nothing can stop Ang Probinsyano until the very end. It may be a work of fiction but this show will serve as an inspiration for all Filipinos who want to be just like Cardo Dalisay, the patriot.

Thank you, FPJ's ANG PROBINSYANO!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!


Sunday, July 31, 2022

Gekijouban Aikatsu Planet! no Ongaku!!

The movie adaptation of the hit TV series, Aikatsu Planet!, picks up moments after the series finale. In this movie, Mao Otoha and the gang are staging an Aikatsu Planet festival on the school campus; meaning there will be more fun and games for the girls as they're getting through all sorts of misfits in the name of all things Aikatsu.

Gekijouban Aikatsu Planet! no Ongaku!!

In honor of the movie's release, the original soundtrack from the Aikatsu Planet movie has arrived and it features songs and BGMs as heard from the movie.

In addition to the BGMs heard in the movie, this soundtrack features full-sized versions of new songs as heard in the movie, performed by our favorite STARRY PLANET girls. A fitting closure for those who have witnessed the movie from start to finish.

It's their way of saying thanks for watching the Aikatsu Planet movie.

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Elvis (movie)

Elvis Presley is one of the world's most famous singers and an icon of music and pop culture. Textbook history only tells us who is Elvis Presley but there's something we don't know about The King of Rock & Roll as this biopic explains the untold story of one of the greatest performers of the 20th century.

Elvis (movie)
Elvis (movie)

Starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, Elvis is a powerful and thought-provoking biopic movie curated by Baz Luhrmann. It showcases the untold story of one of the world's greatest entertainers and how he catapulted himself to superstar status against all odds.

This biopic showcased the world the Elvis Presley which can't be found in the entertainment history books and from the start to the end of this film, there's no denying that this true-to-life story delivered a no-nonsense magnum opus that gets almost all of the attention it truly needs. 

If this biopic generated enough heat, it will be Oscar-bound because of its no-nonsense screenplay, drama, music, storytelling, and scriptwriting the producers worked so hard to create the biopic that all generations should watch. Such levels of hard work deserve massive praise and this movie deserves it.

This biopic is one of the must-watch films of the summer season and those who want to learn more about the life and times of Elvis Presley should look no further than this film.

Saturday, December 11, 2021

West Side Story (2021 film)

The legendary musical was reborn under the hands of the legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg as the new take on the famed West Side Story brings the new generation of moviegoers the legendary tale of forbidden love in the middle of a gang war, something to burn in their memories due to its topical themes moviegoers will learn from it.

West Side Story (2021 film)

Featuring an eclectic cast of musical stars Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana De Bose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Josh Andres Rivera, Ana Isabelle, Corey Stoll, Brian d'Arcy James, and Rita Moreno, written by award-winning Tony Kushner, and directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, West Side Story brings moviegoers to 1957 New York City where a gang war between the Jets and the Sharks tore the city apart Amid the gang war, the tale of two lovers is born and their love is the only hope to unite everyone.

This is by no means the perfect masterpiece that is worthy to compete for next year's Academy Awards if this movie got nominated alongside heavyweights such as Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch. This new take on the legendary musical stayed true to its roots while delivering powerful undertones fit for a Steven Spielberg movie. From its storytelling to the soundtrack, the folks behind it have worked tirelessly to perfect this movie that will cater to even the most sophisticated sommeliers traveled worldwide in the search of high-quality movies like this.

With a premium feel of inclusivity, formality, and engagement, West Side Story struck the right chords through the hearts of moviegoers, and because of its potential to compete at the Oscars, it's a must-watch.

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Respect (2021 film)

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) is referred to as the Queen of Soul and one of the most influential female vocalists in the 1960's. You know about her but do you really know about the Queen of Soul? In this powerful biopic, the rise of Aretha Franklin is showcased.

Respect (2021 film)

Respect is a thought-provoking and powerful biopic movie that stars Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson as the self-proclaimed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. 

From her humble beginnings to her rise as one of the most influential female vocalists in the 19060's, everything we get to know about Aretha Franklin is in this movie and it's a definite must-watch if you're a history buff.

There are no such words to describe such a powerful depiction of one of the music legends because Respect truly is powerful and thought-provoking in every way, giving viewers a lasting impression of just how great Aretha Franklin is and such charisma this biopic movie possesses deserves a spot in the next Oscars.


Friday, July 23, 2021

Aikatsu Planet! Original Soundtrack: Aikatsu Planet! no Ongaku!!

Aired on TV Tokyo from January to June 2021, Aikatsu Planet is the fourth installment of Bandai Namco's Aikatsu franchise that breaks apart from the franchise traditions. The newest installment is a mix of live-action J-drama (tokusatsu, if you like to refer) and anime sequences and instead of cards, Aikatsu Planet uses the swing system where avatars use swings to tame mysterious creatures known as Dressias, possessing wonderful outfits to use on-stage battles. This series is about Mao Otoha, also known as Hana in Aikatsu Planet, and her goal is to become Aikatsu Planet's top idol, any way she can.

Aikatsu Planet! Original Soundtrack:
Aikatsu Planet! no Ongaku!!


As a way of saying thank you for watching Aikatsu Planet, the original soundtrack has arrived and it features the songs and scores from the 25-episode hybrid series. It's a two-disc soundtrack that features most of the BGMs heard from the TV series as well as TV-size versions of the theme songs including the STARRY PLANET version of Bloomy*スマイル.

It really is the final piece of the Aikatsu Planet music collection that deserves to be collected in order to complete it and with the Aikatsu Planet well and truly over, for now, what's next in the Aikatsu franchise? Only time will tell...

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Sweet Daytime

As Mao Otoha's Aikatsu Planet story continues, the second featured songs collection has arrived in case you are really catching up with this series.

Sweet Daytime

The second batch of songs as heard in the Aikatsu Planet TV series features two new songs such as またまたまたまたまた明日 (which comes with two different versions) and レディ・レディ・レディ by Shiori and Ann. Of course, like the previous batch, you can expect different versions of the Aikatsu Planet classics such as Mao and Ann's version of the series' anthem, HAPPY∞アイカツ!, and Mao and Ayumi's version of FLYING TIPS.

Enjoy this addition while you are busy catching up with this show!

Aikatsu Planet! airs on TV Tokyo every Sunday morning at 0700 JST.

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Shiny Morning

When Aikatsu Planet began last January, viewers are enjoying the life and times of Mao Otoha, known as Hana in Aikatsu Planet, in her quest to become the top idol. Her humble beginnings wasn't that easy though because throughout the start of her Aikatsu Planet journey, she met with a handful of personalities such as Ruli Tamaki (Ruli), Q-Pit, Kyoko Umekoji (Beat), and Shiori Motoya (Shiori).

Shiny Morning

As Hana's Aikatsu Planet journey continues, here comes the first batch of songs as heard in the TV series and the DATA CARDDASS arcade. It features four tracks with the latter two are the big focus of this single. 

In addition to Mao and Kyoko's version of the show's closing theme song, Kirari☆Party♪Time, and Ayumi's version of the series' anthem, HAPPY∞アイカツ!, this single features two new songs as heard in the show and game such as FLYING TIPS by Ruli and Ayumi and lastly, Magical Door by Ruli and Shiori.

Aikatsu Planet! airs on TV Tokyo every Sunday mornings at 0700 JST.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Bloomy*Smile/Kirari☆Party♪Time

Aired on TV Tokyo since early January 2021, Aikatsu Planet is the newest installment of Bandai Namco's Aikatsu franchise that breaks apart from the franchise traditions. The newest installment is a mix of live-action J-drama (tokusatsu, if you like to refer) and anime sequences and instead of cards, Aikatsu Planet uses the swing system where avatars use swings to tame mysterious creatures known as Dressias, possessing wonderful outfits to use on stage battles. This series is about Mao Otoha, also known as Hana in Aikatsu Planet, and her goal is to become Aikatsu Planet's top idol, any way she can.

Bloomy*Smile/Kirari☆Party♪Time
AIKATSU PLANET ver.

Bloomy*Smile/Kirari☆Party♪Time
STARRY PLANET ver.

Having enjoyed the latest installment that some called a sacrilege while others called it unique in an Aikatsu kind of way, the opening and closing theme songs from the newest Aikatsu TV series has arrived and you can enjoy the full versions of the said theme songs any time and in addition, there's the insert song as heard in the TV series, titled HAPPY∞アイカツ!, as well in different vocal variations.

Aikatsu Planet! airs on TV Tokyo every Sunday mornings at 0700 JST.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Ford v Ferrari

Ever since Ferrari rejected Ford's offer to purchase the company, the Blue Oval vowed revenge to build a race car that would eat dirt on the Prancing Horse's face and they did. The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans saw Ford emerged a 1-2-3 finish, marking America's first Le Mans win. This true-to-life drama movie features the untold side of Ford's ambitious Le Mans goal at the eyes of the American motorsport hero Carroll Shelby and former WWII soldier turned sports car driver Ken Miles.

Ford v Ferrari
With Matt Damon and Christian Bale playing the roles of Shelby and Miles, this untold story highlights how the two men involved in Ford's ambitious mission to defeat Ferrari at Le Mans. From their fateful encounter to the epic struggle at the 1966 Le Mans race, this movie uncovers the other side of America's first Le Mans win in a way car enthusiasts never saw it coming.

This is by no means one of the most engaging true-to-life racing drama films since Rush and car enthusiasts who are falling in love with vintage racers are getting hooked to how Ford's Le Mans ambitions unraveled in a way they won't find it on the automotive history books. With a quick mix of thriller, drama, and some sense of humor in store, this real-life story really revs its way to one of the best films of the Autumn season and if by chance, there is hope that it might score an Oscar slot along with many other 2019 greats.

Although we can wait for the verdict, Ford v Ferrari is surely a must watch for every car enthusiasts who can't get enough watching real-life motorsport stories like this.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Joker (movie)

The secret origin of the most maniacal villain that plagued Gotham City forever has been revealed in a more spectacular fashion as Joaquin Phoenix puts on a killer performance as the Joker in the film that will showcase the rise of The Joker and how he became the bad guy we all love to hate.

Joker

Directed by Todd Phillips, this origin story centers on the life and times of Arthur Fleck, the man who became The Joker. In his so-called not-so-humble beginnings, Fleck is just your ordinary clown-for-hire who wants to be a comedian but the joke's on him. Enraged, Arthur Fleck unleashed his brand of fury that forever turned him into one of the most iconic villains in the DC Comics universe.

This film enraptured the masses since it was first screened at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival and because of such powerful performance from Joaquin Phoenix as the man who became The Joker, this origin story really is a magnum opus of the year and by such chance, it could be competing in the Oscars against 2019's greats.

Let's hope the Oscar wish may come true for this powerful, thought-provoking film, but in the meantime, there are so many reasons why the world must watch the origin story of The Joker but there is one very good reason why they should; it's about knowing your enemy's backstory in an extravagant way that will leave you mind-blown to the very end.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.