Ben Winchell Gives Life To Mattel Toy Action Figure In “MAX STEEL” Movie

The latest teen heartthrob hero rises in the toy-to-movie “Max Steel” based on Mattel’s most popular action figure of the same name.  Starring in the titular role is Ben Winchell, best known for his roles on Disney Channel’s "A.N.T. Farm" and USA’s "Necessary Roughness”.

Director Stewart Hendler and screenwriter Christopher Yost (who also wrote the screenplay of “Thor: The Dark World”) adapt “Max Steel” for the big screen. “Max Steel” is a live action feature-length origin story that combines identifiable characters, familiar terrestrial settings and innovative use of technology to create a realistic re-interpretation of the traditional superhero film. 

REEL DEAL: Lights Out REVIEW

The Scarefest is not yet over this year with the introduction of the Horror-Thiller "Lights Out". This movie stars Theresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, and Maria Bello. Based from the title, it deals with something scary in the dark. And it already getting under our skin.

Lights Out is surprisingly a low-budgeted film but was able to use its resources well. With many of us already fed up with supernatural concepts, it stands out to be unique yet still pay homage with thrills that actually made people in the cinema jump out of their seats screaming.

The supernatural being here is also something new as it lives in the dark. Day or night it can actually attack the people who is linked to "her" past. It is directed by David F. Sandberg and produced by Lawrence Grey, Eric Heisserer, and James Wan (The Conjuring 2).

Child Actor Gabriel Bateman Braves the Dark in "Lights Out"‏

Chid actor Gabriel Bateman stars as Martin who is dealing with the same malevolent force that drove her older sister from home at 16, in New Line Cinema's “Lights Out,” a tale of an unknown terror that lurks in the dark.

Produced by master of horror, James Wan, “Lights Out” opens in Philippine cinemas Thursday, July 21.

When Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie (Maria Bello), has re-emerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.

Ghost Hunters Slaughtered in “HAUNTED”

The James Wan produced horror “Haunted” (also known as “Demonic”) brings a detective (Frank Grillo) and a psychologist (Maria Bello) together to investigate the slaughter of five amateur ghost hunters in a house that is said to be haunted. 

James Wan, considered one of today’ most-sought horror filmmaker, who frightened the movie going public with his works in “The Conjuring,” “Saw” and “Insidious” brings “Haunted” with his unique touch in making horror movies along with director Will Canon who used multiple shooting styles and partly shot via found footage.

REEL DEAL: Academy-Award Winner Adrien Brody Pairs Up With Moran Atias in “THIRD PERSON”

Adrien Brody who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of real-life Holocaust survivor Wladislaw Szpilman in Roman Polanski's “The Pianist” and he is, to date the youngest person to have received the Oscar in that category stars in the latest romantic thriller “Third Person” opposite an impressive cast that includes Liam Neeson, Kim Basinger, Moran Atias, James Franco, Mila Kunis and Olivia Wilde. 

“Third Person” spans three stories of love clothed in mystery where Brody plays Scott, a shady American businessman and reluctant globe- trotter, who is in Italy to steal designs from fashion houses.  At the end of his trip and looking for something American to eat, he goes in search of a decent hamburger and a Budweiser, and finds Bar Americano, where, to his consternation, he finds nothing he is seeking. He is about to leave when in walks Monika (Moran Atias), a breathtakingly beautiful gypsy.  Unable to stop from flirting, Scott discovers that Monika is about to be reunited with her young daughter. When the money she claims to have saved to  pay  her  daughter’s  smuggler  is  stolen,  Scott  feels  responsible  and  is compelled to  help.  Though she  is  skeptical  of  his  intentions, she  reluctantly agrees and quite literally takes him on a ride. While they explore the more dangerous corners of southern Italy, Scott starts to suspect that this girl they have set out to rescue may not even exist. Nothing about their encounter is quite what it seems.

REEL DEAL: Third Person REVIEW

Mainstream cinema would have rarely have a deep cryptic themes as to ensure the enjoyment of the audience first without going beyond into a deeper and intellectual approach. Third Person by Paul Haggis brought heavyweight casting into a film that would bring the audience into a blackhole of words, plots, twists and metaphorical analogies.

As of this writing I am still confused on how, when, where, and who (which I think may need another screening of the film to get some additional comprehension from clues and symbolism hidden with every scene.

From the title itself, it does have a relation of having a third person narrating the story, but not all of it. It's like inception with layers of other worlds yet still connected to each other as way of convening to their common denominator.

The casting is probably the best things about the movie. Leading the cast is Liam Neeson which plays the writer and the central character in which all are linked to. Some may think there is an element of thrill to the execution of the movie, well there is but very subtle. Reactions would also vary from they way you may view things.

REEL DEAL: Mila Kunis VS James Franco For Child Custody In "Third Person"

Award-winning director Paul Haggis’ latest romantic thriller “Third Person” follows the journeys of three sets of couple at three different stages of a relationship set at the backdrop of Paris, Rome and New York.  The movie’s main character Michael, played by Liam Neeson, a novelist who’d been famous for his previous work has holed himself up in a hotel suite in Paris finishing his latest book.  Within the hotel works a maid named Julia, Mila Kunis’ character – an ex-soap opera actress who was once a frequent guest at the hotel. 

Julia is caught in a custody battle for her 6-year old son with her ex-husband Rick played by James Franco, who is a famous New York artist.   With her support cut off and her legal costs ruinous, Julia’s lawyer Theresa (Maria Bello) has secured Julia one final chance to change the court’s mind and be reunited with the child she loves.     Julia’s sole motivation in life is to gain joint custody of her son but her fragile psychological state and the circumstances of her marriage break-up make that a big challenge.