MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Topakk - Solid action from start to end

I miss this kind of action where you can feel the pain of every punch, kick, and blow. And the action and tension is evenly distributed throughout the film and they don't feel like a stageplay action but solid performance that should make me feel if it was real or not. Yet I do believe that they worked hard for those scenes.

Topakk is the only 2024 MMFF entry to have two ratings of R-16 and R-18 depending on the cinema, though the one I watched was the R-18 version but if I would rate it, it can pass as R-16 because it was not too gory unlike films of the same action genre. I guess the rating might be about the mental health problems of Miguel (Arjo) which would be his PTSD.

Though the story is anchored on the Drug trade  and the usual stories, they did make an effort to build up Miguel's story now as a security guard and his encounter with the siblings Weng (Julia) and Bogs (Kokoy). The action was chaotic yet good, though a little dark because of the location and time, still works and also add some thrill for those scenes.

In the aftermath of the robot war, the only path forward is into THE ELECTRIC STATE.

Watch the official trailer HERE

Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci and directed by the Russo Brothers, The Electric State launches globally on MARCH 14. Only on Netflix.

About THE ELECTRIC STATE:

The Electric State is a spectacular adventure from the directors of Avengers: Endgame set in an alternate, retro-futuristic version of the 1990s. Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Enola Holmes, Damsel) stars as Michelle, an orphaned teenager navigating life in a society where sentient robots resembling cartoons and mascots, who once served peacefully among humans, now live in exile following a failed uprising. Everything Michelle thinks she knows about the world is upended one night when she’s visited by Cosmo, a sweet, mysterious robot who appears to be controlled by Christopher — Michelle’s genius younger brother whom she thought was dead. Determined to find the beloved sibling she thought she had lost, Michelle sets out across the American southwest with Cosmo, and soon finds herself reluctantly joining forces with Keats (Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World), a low-rent smuggler, and his wisecracking robot sidekick, Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie). As they venture into the Exclusion Zone, a walled-off corner in the desert where robots now exist on their own, Keats and Michelle find a strange, colorful group of new animatronic allies — and begin to learn that the forces behind Christopher’s disappearance are more sinister than they ever expected.

MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Hold Me Close - Romance In Japan

Completing my 10 entries of 2024 MMFF with HOLD ME CLOSE starring Carlo Aquino and Julia Barretto, directed by Jason Paul Laxamana. The film is one of romance entries for this year which promises to bring a different kind of love story from the usual. And it does so, but not really what I expected and felt.

The story is about Woody who traveled around the world searching for the perfect home. His latest move was in Japan, where he met Lynlyn and her siblings who are making a living by selling squid. Lynlyn is revealed to have an ability to know if that person could bring joy or pain just by touching them. This ability would also lead to some trouble but will also bring Woody into their lives. At first, there was no reading if it was positive or negative however it will eventually change, as they get to know more about each other. 

Set in my favorite country of Japan, her story and ability are linked with the culture and supernatural entities of the country. Though it can also be adapted to any place with that situation, yet the Japanese aesthetic just made it better but not the story. The actors are great with the performances however it suffers from the lack of establishing connection and emotion. 

Golden Globes 2025: Watch Hollywood’s Biggest Night Live on Lionsgate Play

Golden Globes will be introducing two new exciting categories this year.

With the new year just around the corner, excitement is building for film lovers everywhere - and for those in the Philippines, it can only mean one thing : The Golden Globe Awards season is here! The star-studded 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards is ready to dazzle, and Lionsgate Play is bringing all the action, drama, and glamour straight to your screen.

On January 6, 2025, at 9 AM PHT, get ready to experience Hollywood’s biggest night live and exclusive, with a single subscription to Lionsgate Play. Don’t miss the glitz and the stars – tune in for the ultimate awards show experience!

The Ultimate Holiday Series Marathon: 6 Binge-Worthy Picks for Your Perfect Break

Holidays are for cozy blankets, warm drinks, and wrapping yourself in stories that transport you to another world. Lucky for you (and us), Lionsgate Play has a handpicked lineup of binge-worthy series that’ll have you glued to the screen faster than you can say, "Where's the remote?"

From nostalgic drama to pulse-pounding action and heartwarming musicals, here's your perfect streaming menu for the unforgettable holiday season. Grab your blanket, settle in, and let the binge-fest begin!

1. Mad Men

Start your binge fest with the moody brilliance of Mad Men. Set in the slick, whiskey-soaked advertising world of the '60s, this series is a masterpiece of drama and questionable life choices. Don Draper (Jon Hamm), with his flawless suits and complicated personal life, will reel you in, but the show's entire cast of characters will keep you hooked. Catch the style, catch the drama—and maybe pour yourself an Old Fashioned while you’re at it.

CONFIRMED: HONOR X9c 5G is Coming on January 10 but Can It Survive a 500FT Drop Test?

Remember HONOR X9b 5G’s 200-ft Drop Test? Its successor HONOR X9c 5G is attempting 500 feet! 

Leading smart devices provider HONOR Philippines just dropped #TheToughestPhone of 2025 as the country celebrated New Year’s Day. Coming on January 10, HONOR X9c 5G will be launched on HONOR’s Facebook page. 

“This is our biggest launch ever and we’re excited to be dropping this the same time we welcome 2025! This smartphone is stronger with its All-Angle Ultra Defense. HONOR X9c 5G is now water, drop, and heat-resistant. Mark your calendars on January 10 and get to know the toughest phone of 2025,” said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng. 

Be part of the magic as the “Wicked” sing-along experience is out in theaters on Jan 8. Tickets available now!

It’s finally here! “Wicked” invites fans and movie-goers to be part of the magic, as special sing-along screenings arrive in the Philippines starting January 8. Sing to the greatest hits of the film such as “Popular,” and “Defying Gravity.”

Watch the sing-along trailer: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ksp9a

Check out the ticketing sites of your local cinemas to reserve seats for “Wicked.”

Follow Universal Pictures PH (FB), UniversalPicturesPH (IG) and UniversalPicsPH (TikTok) for the latest updates on “Wicked.” 

About Wicked movie

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event.

ICYMI: You can still win #MaligayangPaskOPPO gifts via the My OPPO App

Hurry up and take advantage of over Php 500M worth of Christmas freebies up for grabs until January 5

Are you still looking for ways to make your holidays even merrier and happier? Leading global smart device brand OPPO has got you covered with just a few taps on your OPPO device for a chance to win exciting and exclusive rewards this season!

Ayala Malls Cinemas exclusively presents “Multisaurs,” a fully immersive, multi-sensory adventure for the entire family, through the world of dinosaurs!

Get ready to roar with excitement at “Multisaurs,” coming exclusively to select Ayala Malls Cinemas starting January 17

Welcome the New Year with an exciting new cinematic experience. A first for Philippine cinemas, Ayala Malls Cinemas brings a fully immersive, multi-sensory adventure for the whole family with “Multisaurs,” roaring exclusively in Ayala Malls Cinemas from January 17 to April 6. “Multisaurs” is an interactive, multi-sensory show that takes audiences to an immersive prehistoric experience involving dinosaurs. 

With “Multisaurs,” audiences get to journey back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, without leaving their seats! Movie patrons – especially children and dinosaur enthusiasts – can move the story and adventure forward using their lighted bracelets. Kids not only get to learn about the different species of dinosaurs, they also get to experience the joy of working with peers and the fulfillment one gets from finding solutions to problems… all while having fun.

This Holiday Season, GO NATURAL With PascualLab’s PELARGO!

One of the pioneers in herbal medicine unveils its newest natural health product this colds season.

Say goodbye to sniffles and hello to wellness! Pascual Laboratories, one of the Philippines’ top pharmaceutical companies, introduces PELARGO—a natural solution to help ease common cold symptoms and keep you feeling your best this holiday season.  

PascualLab, one of the pioneers in phyto or plant-based medicines in the Philippines​ and home of the no. 1 natural cough remedy Ascof Lagundi,¹ C-Lium Fibre and other natural-based offerings now comes PELARGO, derived from the Pelargonium sidoides DC. Root. 

For centuries, the root of Pelargonium sidoides DC. or South African geranium has been used for the treatment of common colds in South Africa and in Europe.²