REEL DEAL: “INTO THE WOODS” Gets Bext Picture, Acting Noms From Golden Globes

Walt Disney Pictures' “Into the Woods,” the contemporary retelling of the classic fairy tales, has been nominated for major Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Actress for Emily Blunt who plays the Baker's Wife, and Best Supporting Actress for Meryl Streep for playing the Witch.

Rob Marshall, producer and director of “Into the Woods,” reacted to the nominations thus, "On behalf of my fellow producers, John DeLuca and Marc Platt, I want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for this wonderful honor. I am so proud to have been a part of bringing Stpehen Sondheim and James Lapine’s beloved and profound work to the screen, and equally proud of the extraordinary cast who brought it to life with such passion and heart."

REEL DEAL: Jeff Bridges, Master Demon-Slayer In “SEVENTH SON”

Academy Award-winner Jeff Bridges stars as grizzled demon-slayer Master Gregory in Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures' fantasy adventure “Seventh Son.”

For Master Gregory, explains producer Basil Iwanyk, the filmmakers needed an actor who “could play grumpy and taciturn and irascible, aged but still lively and youthful, charming when he wants to be and has a great physicality.” They felt that Jeff Bridges fit that bill. “He’s always been one of the best American actors, and he’s a true box-office draw, having established those credentials with films like `TRON: Legacy' and `True Grit.' There are a lot of actors who feel very familiar in movies in this genre and we knew Jeff would bring his own spin to this, which he has. He created this incredible character.”
“Master Gregory is somebody who has got a lot of miles on him and is very weary,” elaborates producer Jillian Share. “He has the burden of keeping the forces of evil at bay, yet without the appreciation of those he helps. They want him around when there’s trouble, but they don’t want his friendship. Jeff does an amazing job of capturing that pain, and there’s great character work here.”

Bet Ng Bayan Grand Finals this Sunday on GMA

After months of searching and showcasing Filipino homegrown talents all over the country, it’s going to be the battle of the best this Sunday (December 28) on the Grand Finals Showdown of GMA Network’s widest reality talents search Bet ng Bayan hosted by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and Kapuso prime leading man Alden Richards.

Happening at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, viewers will definitely witness spectacu-lar performances from the contestants representing Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Mega Manila.

SYKES Celebrates a POPTASTIC 2014!

Year End Celebrations are one of the most anticipated events of the year, and for the pioneer in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Philippines, SKYES never fails to make employees feel that their hardwork throughout the year gives them the Christmas/New year treat they desreve. And for years, SYKES has celebrated its Year-End Celebration (YEC) held last December 14 at the SMX Convention Center with theme "POPTASTIC". 

Last year, we were also at the same venue for their SKYES Music festival which featured Up Dharma Down and Parokya Ni Edgar. It was one big party that night, and for this year, they made sure it will par of do better for this year as they also expanded new businesses this year and prepared more prizes and performances that made the event even more bigger. 

Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2 REVIEW

This upcoming MMFF season, I am happy to see that GMA Films and Reality Entertainment has an entry for the Film Festival which gives another flavor among the recurring films which has left it saturated. Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2 is a follow up to TikTik which was shown back in 2012. Starring Dingdong Dantes as Makoy, he ventures first to Pulapandan to get her pregnant girlfriend back which eventually led them into a big fight with the Tiktiks. And the conflict continues with another group of aswangs called the Kubot, aswangs who have very long hair which they use to envelop their prey and eat their insides.

We have always seen aswang in many ways in Philippine Cinema but we have yet to discover the diversity and the various aspects that they add to the Filipino society. And direk Erik Matti's concept of having a trilogy about them would help us know more about our own monsters which is not limited to tyanaks and Mananangals.

Feel the thrill of Star Cinema’s Feng Shui in XD: 4D Cinema

The newest addition to SM Cinema Mall of Asia’s Specialized Theatres – the XD:4D Cinema is a new 4D experience with enormous in-theatre effects including snow, wind, water, scent, fog and strobe/lightings. It also has seat impactors, motion seats, seat vibrators and even a leg ticklerto add a breathtaking fourthdimension experience.

In this year’s upcoming 40thMetro Manila Film Festival, Star Cinema, in partnership with SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. will feature its official entry and Feng Shui, at the XD: 4D Cinema inMall of Asia. Feng Shui, to be shown on December 25, 2014, will be the first Filipino movie rendered in 4D. 

In this highly anticipated second installment of the multi-million Feng Shui film franchise, everything comes in twos with the return of Feng Shui to the big-screen: it’s double the excitement with the awesome tandem of Kris Aquino and Coco Martin; its double the fright with the terrible return of “Lotus Feet;” and it’s double the heart-stopping horror as double luck and double misfortune will befall anyone who will dare to accept anything from the horrific bagua.

Watch the greatest horror movie in the history of Philippine cinema and engage your senses in complete cinematic experience at Mall of Asia’s XD: 4D Cinema!

Banish “unwanted guests” from your home on this season of festive gatherings

Deck your homes with all sorts of festive Yuletide décor as Christmas draws near. For most Filipino families, after all, the holidays are a time for merrymaking with family and kin, old and new friends, and even balikbayan flying in for their much-anticipated reunions.

But how do you welcome holiday guests and banish holiday pests? How do you spruce up your homes for the most cherished season of the year while keeping them 100-percent clean?

2014 Christmas Message of Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC

A Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

This year has not been without its challenges and as I address you this season, I call to mind the many sacrifices we have all had to make to keep our children learning. Whether we are teachers, administrators, school staff, or parents, we have all contributed much by way of our time, dedication, and hard work.

These times have seen direct threats aimed at our students. Violence in schools and the constant possibility of disasters keep us on our toes, firm in our commitment to ensure everyone’s safety within the school community.

This season, rather than recalling what we fear most, I choose to honor the good in all of us.

Christmas is a reminder of the goodness that comes into the world even as it is challenged by the darkness of uncertainty. We have seen examples of this throughout the year in the persons of those within the Department who have given much of themselves so that our work may continue. Our teachers have gone beyond their call to do remarkable things like deflect gunmen and protect their students. Administrators and officials from local offices have been outstanding in shepherding their people, in always being quick to offer a word of care and thanks. Our donors too have been on call, ready to engage us, for what little or big needs we might have. Even our students have been good citizens.

It is very difficult to lose hope in the company of great people.

This Christmas, I wish for all of you to rekindle that goodness inside and magnify it. Remind others, by way of gratefulness, that they too have been beacons of good in your lives.  Find peace knowing that in your own little way, you have contributed a great deal of good in a world bereft of it.

This season, as we celebrate community and oneness in the pursuit of being good, may we all find joy in each other’s company and encourage each other to do good, no matter the cost.

Again, may you all have a Christmas filled with goodness, joy, and love. God bless us all!

REEL DEAL: Game Characters Attack Earth In "PIXELS" Banners

Take your first look at the banners for director Chris Columbus' upcoming adventure feature "Pixels" which boasts arcade game characters everyone will be familiar with including PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Centipede®, Galaga, Frogger, Q*bert, and Space Invaders.

Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Monaghan, Josh Gad, Brian Cox and Kevin James all star in the film.

In “Pixels,” when intergalactic aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games as models for their various assaults.  President Will Cooper (James) has to call on his childhood best friend, ’80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Sandler), now a home theater installer, to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Dinklage and Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet.  Monaghan plays the team's unique weapons specialist.

REEL DEAL: Final "HOBBIT" Film Opens At No. 1 Grosses P72-M In Just 3 Days

The Philippines bade farewell to Middle-earth with a heartfelt send-off as “The Battle of the Five Armies” – the final film in “The Hobbit” trilogy -- hauled a stunning P72-million opening gross at the nationwide box-office in only three days.

This was announced today by Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. Philippines which locally distributed the film.

“Battle” debuted on Friday, Dec. 12 which meant it had only a three-day opening weekend, yet the film managed to overcome this setback and still captured 65 percent of the market for a No.1 bow.

The Peter Jackson-directed saga also established several records, among them the Biggest Opening Day for a Warner Bros. film this year (ahead of “Godzilla”), Biggest Opening Day and Biggest 3-Day-Weekend for a “Hobbit” or “Lord of the Rings” franchise film.