REEL DEAL: Beloved Musical “INTO THE WOODS” Journeys Into The Big Screen

Twelve years ago, following the phenomenal success of the big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Chicago” (which won six Academy Awards®, including Best Picture), director Rob Marshall sat down with Stephen Sondheim and expressed an interest in directing a film version of one of the legendary composer’s stage productions. At the top of Sondheim’s list: “Into the Woods,” one of his most acclaimed – and poignant – works, and one which he thought would be a perfect fit for Marshall.

Marshall and his producing partner, John DeLuca, had been fans of Sondheim and James Lapine’s landmark musical since it opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1987. In describing the piece Marshall says, “The story seamlessly intertwines Sondheim’s emotional, funny and brilliant score with Lapine’s intricate and masterful book, which is a modern twist on several beloved fairy tales, and is entertaining, while examining complex themes like the consequences of wishes, the parent/child relationship, greed, ambition, loss, and, perhaps most importantly, unconditional love and the power of the human spirit.”

REEL DEAL: Ben Barnes From “CHRONICLES OF NARNIA” To “SEVENTH SON”

He’s best known for his role as Prince Caspian in the international hit franchise “The Chronicles of Narnia,” based on the books by C.S. Lewis. Now, Ben Barnes stars as the title character Tom Ward in Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures' fantasy adventure “Seventh Son.”

In a time of enchantments when legends and magic collide, the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesized hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Torn from his quiet life as a farmhand, the unlikely young hero embarks on a daring adventure with his battle-hardened mentor to vanquish a dark queen (Julianne Moore) and the army of supernatural assassins she has dispatched against their kingdom.

REEL DEAL: Owen Wilson Miniture Sized Hero In “NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB”

In “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” Ben Stiller returns as security guard Larry Daley, together with a highly impressive group of comic actors. Owen Wilson is back as the irrepressible miniature cowboy Jedediah, along with his equally small buddy, the Roman general, Octavius, (Steve Coogan). Both are embroiled in the latest adventure, directed by Shawn Levy. As always, the legendary artifacts at New York’s Museum of Natural History come to life, but this time, problems arise when they start malfunctioning. The magic that keeps them alive is waning and Larry’s friends are in danger. Saving them involves an urgent trip to the British Museum in London.

While the first two films were set in the U.S., the new adventure takes the team to the United Kingdom. Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan, reprise their roles as the duo of American cowboy Jedediah and Roman Centurion Octavius, both miniatures from historic dioramas. They’re the smallest characters with the biggest friendship. Wilson says, “There has been an arc to our relationship. We started off sort of as adversaries, and now it’s evolved into more of a team. We’re practically a buddy comedy within a funny family movie.”

Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine - A Fairytale Couple In “INTO THE WOODS”

Two of today's most appealing actors – Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine – star as Cinderella and the Prince, respectivelt, in Walt Disney Pictures' new fantasy adventure “Into the Woods.”

In the film, the character of Cinderella, who wishes to go to the King’s Festival, is more modern, complicated and flawed than the iconic character with whom audiences are most familiar. Anna Kendrick, whose credits include “Pitch Perfect” and “Up in the Air” and who was cast as Cinderella, was attracted to the role because she is different from the archetypal portrayal of the fairy tale persona.

REEL DEAL: teen Rom-Com "LOVE, ROSIE" To FInally Open January 8 In Local Cinemas

The wait is almost over, as “Love, Rosie” opens up in cinemas this January 8 in local (Phils.) cinemas where two of today’s most loved young actors Lily Collins and Sam Claflin star as Rosie and Alex who have been best friends since they were five. When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies.  But one awkward turn at 18, one missed opportunity...and life sends them hurling in different directions. Could they be the one true love for each other after all?

Based on Cecelia Ahern’s bestselling novel “Where Rainbows End”, LOVE, ROSIE is a sassy, heart-warming, and utterly modern comedy-of-errors tale posing the ultimate question: Do we really only get one shot at true love?  “How do you adapt a book that’s all texts and emails,” says producer Simon Brooks of one of the project’s biggest challenges – the novel’s epistolary structure, composed around the emails, letters and text messages which Alex and Rosie exchange. “How do you make that into a movie?”

REEL DEAL: Patriotic Film On Most Lethan "SNIPER" In US History

Chris Kyle might have been just one of the million of veterans who have served were it not for a statistic. He emerged from the war in Iraq as the most lethal sniper in the history of the U.S. military, but the filmmakers of Warner Bros. Pictures' “American Sniper” knew it was equally if not more important to explore the man behind the numbers.

Gloc9, 1:43 lead Coco Fest show in SM City San Pablo on Sunday

Iconic Filipino rapper Gloc9 and award-winning boyband 1:43 will perform in a musical show celebrating the annual Coconut Festival of San Pablo City on Sunday (January 4).

Presented by socialized housing development BellaVita Land Corp., the free concert will be held at the mall atrium of SM City San Pablo. The show will start at exactly 3PM.

Good News For The New Year For Directioners!

This new year, one direction fans get a treat as their concert us drawing near!

All single purchase receipts (starting December 25, 2014) of Php3000 at the ‪#‎1DWorldManila‬ (at the 5/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall) will receive a FREE bronze ticket while Php5000 single receipt will receive a FREE silver ticket!

First Blog of 2015!

Another year has arrived! But first let me greet all of you HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015 from the Philippines to the world and to the entire universe! Yes, Manual to Lyf is happy to reach the new year. There has been a lot that have happened in 2014 both bitter and sweet. Also it is another year that I am back in the corporate world after being school. Yet, I still have time to blog and attend events. 

REEL DEAL: Youngest Oscar Best Actress Nominee Plays "ANNIE"

Who's that girl who moves with the rhythm of a busy NYC? Who's the foster kid who sees the good in everybody - even her foster mom, the queen of mean, Miss Hannigan? Who Hearts New York - and finds out that New York Hearts her right back? Just one kid - it's “Annie!”

The youngest person ever nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, Quvenzhané Wallis (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) - advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale) - makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around.