REEL DEAL: ‘Chloë Grace Moretz’ Hit Girl is back in Kick-Ass 2

Kick-Ass wouldn’t be half the hero he is without Hit Girl, and no sequel would begin production without her in the mix. Imagined by Award winning writer Mark Millar as a tribute to his eldest daughter, Hit Girl has struck a chord with readers since her introduction and grown exponentially in popularity. The young woman who brought her to life, Chloë Grace Moretz, has been working up a storm—earning critical acclaim in such fare as Let Me In, as well as working with the likes of Martin Scorsese in Hugo and Tim Burton in Dark Shadows and soon to be seen starring opposite Julianne Moore as the title character in the remake of Carrie. Like her co-stars, she was thrilled to step back into her Kick-Ass role as Hit Girl, unfazed by the commotion caused by her appearance the first time around.

"The obvious difference is that I'm older now, and the difference between 11 and 15, which is how old I was when we finished, is that you're a different person, obviously," Executive Producer Neal H. Moretz reveals. "You're calculating more ideas, you're experiencing more things in your own life, you're not just living through other people's eyes, you're making your own decisions."

For the 2010 film, the now 16-year-old actress took the world by roundhouse kick with not only her acting abilities, but her phenomenal mastery of weaponry and martial arts. Indeed, Moretz didn’t know she was prescient when she joked at the premiere of the first film that she wanted to ride a purple Ducati: Hit Girl’s bike of choice in Kick-Ass 2. Laughs Moretz:

REEL DEAL: Lena Headey stars as Mary Sandin in Universal’s The Purge.

Considering it’s not quite the path she had envisaged, British actress Lena Headey is quite the action hero, and following on from roles in the likes of 300 and Dredd, she has another chance to show us what she’s made of, in

The Purge features Lena as Mary Sandin, who alongside her husband James (Ethan Hawke) and two kids, find themselves in severe danger in their own home, on a night where any crime can be committed without consequence. Headey tells us what it’s like being an action hero, her own aspirations as a filmmaker and she responds to Hawke’s kind compliments about her talent.

REEL DEAL: Tiger Chen goes from stuntman to leading man in Keanu Reeve's directorial debut in 'Man of Tai-Chi"

Keanu Reeves says that he was motivated to direct his first film "Man of Tai-Chi" because the story was close to his heart and vision.

"The origins of the story date back nearly fifteen years, to when martial artist Tiger Chen Hu met Keanu Reeves while working as part of the stunt team for The Matrix. Their friendship developed over the course of the trilogy of films, with Tiger eventually assuming more prominent stunt roles, impressing Reeves with his work ethic and imagination. “I had to do Kung Fu training with Tiger, and he would tell me stories about his Tai Chi master and his unusual training methods,” Reeves recalls today. “That lead to a lot of deeper conversations about the Tao of life, Chi, martial arts, everything.” It was from these initial conversations that the two eventually decided to collaborate on a screen play that would not just feature Tai Chi as a device or excuse for high-octane fight and action sequences, but actually reflect the martial art’s philosophical values within the story.

REEL DEAL: Filipinos Crazy Over the Minions!

United International Pictures and Solar Entertainment Corporation. “Despicable Me 2” blasted onto Philippine screens simultaneously releasing with the U.S. and kickstarting 2013 with the year’s all-time highest single day box office sales for an animation last Saturday.

'Despicable Me 2’s biggest opening weekend release for an animated movie of all time with over P100M Php120M box office sales and dominated the market on over 190 screens nationwide!

REEL DEAL: Man of Tai Chi SPOTLIGHT

Missing Keanu Reeves? I guess we all do. And we have good news that he is back in the big screen again for a different kind of action somehow reminds of of the Matrix in one way or another with "Man of Tai Chi".

In bustling Beijing, China, ambitious young “Tiger” Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after work, he is a young martial arts star, rising through the ranks representing the Ling Kong Tai Chi tradition. Though most associate Tai Chi with peaceful, yoga-like movements, Tiger has perfected the ancient art and started to make a name for himself in the prestigious Wulin Wang martial arts championship.

REEL DEAL: "World War Z" Scores New Blockbuster Record For Brad Pitt

Beats "Man of Steel" in other countries

The Brad Pitt suspense-thriller World War Z has made a big splash at the box-office as it set the title as the actor’s best ever first weekend opening movie. Debuting in 220 screens nationwide, it opened at #1, grossing over P88.7 M on its first weekend, despite competition from strong second week hold-over Man of Steel which had more screens. Top 10screens were SM Mall of Asia (P3.84M), Trinoma (P3.82M), SM North Edsa (P3.55M), Newport (P3.22M), SM Megamall (P 2.96M), Glorietta 4 (P2.85M), Greenbelt 3 (P2.61M),Alabang Town Center (P2.43M), Powerplant (P2.39M) and Eastwood (P2.16M).

REEL DEAL: World War Z REVIEW

I think we have too many Zombie films that usually deals the same thing over and over, and sometimes we got immune with the concept. But I have to rule out World War Z which is now showing in theaters for showing us a whole new kind of undead experience which can be one for the books.

Based on a novel, World War Z brings to life a global pandemic that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction  With men turning into Zombies and swarming together to infect more, what other option you have left and what can you do to stop the plague. 

Brad Pitt takes everyone on a dangerous mission in search for answers that can be the key to the cure and answers for the gruesome fall of cities and countries. Which happened so fast and  is now threatening mankind's existence.Though I have not read the book, I think it has satisfied it with the details put into the scenes. And again, we love movies that makes you think even after the show. Now I have to set up my zombie fortress soon.

REEL DEAL: World War Z SPOTLIGHT

"Great Panic" begins as the Zombie Pandemic spreads 

by Emy Abuan

Through a series of oral interviews, Brooks, as an agent of the United Nations Postwar Commission, describes the history of 'World War Z'. Although the origin of the zombie pandemic is unknown, the story begins in China where a young boy becomes the pandemic's "patient zero"—(implied not the first victim chronologically), at which the Chinese government attempts to contain the infection and concocts a crisis involving Taiwan to mask their activities. The infection is spread to other countries by the black market organ trade and by refugees, before an outbreak brings the plague to public attention. As the infection spreads, Israel initiates a nationwide quarantine and closes its borders to everyone except uninfected Jews and Palestinians, putting down an ultra-Orthodox uprising. Pakistan and Iran destroy each other in a nuclear war after the Iranian government attempts to stem the flow of refugees fleeing through Pakistan.

Fast the Furious 6 Red Carpet Premiere in Manila

It has been quite some time that Manila has been chosen to be the venue of a Red Carpet premiere of a Hollywood Film, and there has been a number of big stars who have came to Manila to do concerts, grand openings but the biggest event that made buzz here and around Asia is the premiere of Fast and the Furious 6 held at the SM Mall of Asia.

Asian premieres usually happens either in Tokyo, Singapore and Hongkong, this momentous gathering of the cast of Fast 6 made fans excited for the latest installment of the fast-paced action movie with a lot of muscle cars and sexy ladies which makes it the ultimate guy movie.

REEL DEAL: Fast and Furious 6 and Mission Impossible 5!

We are all excited for the upcoming Fast and Furious 6 (Fast 6) that will have their Asian Premiere here in Manila! I am very excited to see them live as its also been ages since Hollywood stars have graced our red carpet for movie premieres. And as they kick off their world tour this May staring in London, fans of the fast and furious franchise here are ready to meet the cast as they would also bring their cars for display. Fast and the Furious 6 will be showing here in the Philippines May 22, 2013

In another news, Tom Cruise tweeted that Ethan Hawk accepted the new mission which means that there will be a new Mission Impossible movie in the works. He is also enjoying the success of his latest film, Oblivion which did well here and in the international market. 

Both film are distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation and United International Pictures.

REEL DEAL: Oblivion REVIEW

Now that the world did not end in 2012, there is still a lot of possibilities in the future that can haunt our imagination and memories. Its gives us a new perception on new sci-fi movies that would have that theme. And one of the those movies would be OBLIVION.

Tom Cruise stars in OBLIVION, an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the director of TRON: Legacy and the producer of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one mans confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind. Based on the Graphic Novel Original Concept by Joseph Kosinsk

Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jacks mission is nearly complete.

Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

REEL DEAL: Oblivion

OBLIVION :  saving a future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition 

by Emy Abuan 

In 2073, a 37 year-old former-Marine Commander Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed at Earth which was nearly destroyed by an alien invasion 60 years ago. As part of a massive operation to extract the planet's remaining vital resources, he lives in an airborne "town" floating thousands of meters above the Earth. 

His mission nearly complete, Jack's soaring existence comes crashing down when he rescues a 22 year-old female stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a series of events that forces Jack to question everything he knows about the war and its aftermath. In addition, after being captured by an insurgency led by 102 year-old Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman), Jack is told that the society in which he lives may in fact be a police state. 

REEL DEAL: Oblivion SPOTLIGHT

OBLIVION : a cinematic event, a journey of redemption and discovery as one man battles to save mankind.

by Emy Abuan

In 2073, a 37 year-old former-Marine Commander Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed at Earth which was nearly destroyed by an alien invasion 60 years ago. As part of a massive operation to extract the planet's remaining vital resources, he lives in an airborne "town" floating thousands of meters above the Earth.

His mission nearly complete, Jack's soaring existence comes crashing down when he rescues a 22 year-old female stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a series of events that forces Jack to question everything he knows about the war and its aftermath. In addition, after being captured by an insurgency led by 102 year-old Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman), Jack is told that the society in which he lives may in fact be a police state.

Duke and Roadblock join forces in G.I. JOE 2

A follow-up to the 2009 worldwide blockbuster G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, which grossed over $300 million worldwide, In GI JOE: RETALIATION, the team is not only fighting their mortal enemy COBRA, but they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. Converting the film into 3D takes the movie to a whole new level and brings the audience even closer to the non-stop action. G.I. JOE RETALIATION hits theaters in RealD 3D & Digital 3D.

The G.I. JOE mythology runs deep and has a pantheon of characters to draw from, each with their own back-story, nuances and characteristics. When approaching the sequel, the filmmakers wanted to build on the best elements and storylines from the first film and carry those through to the second installment while simultaneously creating a new identity and feel. This offered the opportunity to introduce new characters from the mythology to the franchise.

REEL DEAL: G.I. Joe:Retaliation SPOTLIGHT

Retaliation begins in G.I. Joe 2

A follow-up to the 2009 release of G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA, which grossed over $300M worldwide, Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions, in association with HASBRO and di Bonaventura Pictures, commences production on G.I. JOE: RETALIATION. In this sequel, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. Starring D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Ray Park, Adrianne Palicki, Jonathan Pryce, RZA, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson.

Directed by Jon M. Chu. Showing across the Philippines March 2013.

“G.I. Joe 2 : Retaliation” is released and distributed by united International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.

REEL DEAL: Stand Up Guys SPOTLIGHT

Meet the retired gangsters Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin in Stand Up Guys

STAND UP GUYS stars Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin in a tough but touching action comedy as retired gangsters who reunite for one epic last night.

VAL (Al Pacino) is released from prison after serving twenty-eight years for refusing to give up one of his close criminal associates. His best friend DOC (Christopher Walken) is there to pick him up, and the two soon re-team with another old pal, HIRSCH (Alan Arkin). Their bond is as strong as ever, and the three reflect on freedom lost and gained, loyalties ebbed and flowed, and days of glory gone by. And despite their age, their capacity for mayhem is still very much alive and well – bullets fly as they make a hilariously valiant effort to compensate for the decades of crime, drugs and sex they’ve missed. But one of the friends is keeping a dangerous secret- he’s been put in an impossible quandary by a former mob boss, and his time to find an acceptable alternative is running out. As the sun rises on the guys’ legendary reunion, their position becomes more and more desperate and they finally confront their past once and for all.

‘Stand Up Guys’ is released and distributed by Crystalsky Multimedia Hits theaters soon!

REEL DEAL: G.I. Joe:Retaliation - Byung-hun Lee SPOTLIGHT

Korean Superstar sensation Byung-hun Lee is back as Storm Shadow in G.I. JOE 2

Korean superstar Byung-hun Lee, who reprises his role of STORM SHADOW, was excited by the possibility to explore the more internal side of the character. “If I had just a lot of sword fights and kicks in the first movie, this time my character (Storm Shadow) is seen more up close. It has a dramatic aspect that shows his history, inner conflicts. I loved how much of my acting I could show this time around... but I still think I could have been much more competent in a Korean film. “Frankly speaking, it’s hard. Casual speech and delivering lines in English belong to two different dimensions. Because you use a foreign language, you’ve got to be sure you could recite lines without a mistake even if someone woke you up from a nap. “On the set, someone from the crew told me after I read my line that my pronunciation was off for one of the words. Right after my head became completely blank, busy thinking about that one line. Sometimes I felt I was back in the earliest days of my career.”

REEL DEAL: Flight REVIEW

I have never rode a (flying) airplane, but movies showed me how does it feel to fly up in the sky thousands of feet above the ground. I actually feel nervous when things get off the ground, and that's just even with carnival rides, what if something goes haywire while flying in the stratosphere? 


Denzel Washington's movie Flight will bring viewers in a journey up in the heavens and even on the ground which is filled with drama, controversy, conflicts, and even national issues. Flight shares the story of an ill-fated passenger plane which broke down in mid-air and is heading for a free fall. William Whitaker (Denzel) or Whip is the captain of the plane does the unlikely move to invert the plane and made an emergency landing saving a lot of lives. Yet controversy follows after he is accused of drinking alcohol before the flight.

The event leads to a very complicated turn of events and an encounter with unlikely characters which most would be his friends and also his enemies. The movie is made with a lot of human strengths, struggles and weaknesses. Even for non-fliers like me, have felt the nerve wracking feel of falling from the sky and getting in between the pressures of the job and life itself. 

REEL DEAL: Mama REVIEW

In our movies we have seen all kinds of ghosts and monsters that have haunted our imaginations in our lifetime, yet it would be rare to find that ghoul that will can scare us and also touch our hearts at the same time. This is what Guillermo del Toro's Mama shown as a thriller fantasy movie.

Two girls were found in a cabin 5 years after a gruesome tragedy. They now live with their uncle and start a new life with them. However, how they survived 5 years without anyone is a mystery to them as well of the one they call "Mama" disturbs the new family they now have. Having a mother figure for a ghost may not scary when you think about it, but this movie will make you think otherwise.

REEL DEAL: Flight SPOTLIGHT

Flight :  Gives Denzel Washington Double Best Actor Nominations

by Emy Abuan

Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) wakes before it's time to take off on a new flight, after an evening of drinking and sex with one of his plane's stewardesses, Katerina Marquez (Nadine Velazquez). Still trying to rouse himself from his hangover, his phone rings, and he answers a call from his ex-wife Deana (Garcelle Beauvais). Deana wants to discuss putting their son through a private school, but Whip doesn't want to discuss it at the moment, claiming he'll talk to her about it when he gets back to Atlanta.