Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" To Be a Trilogy

Peter Jackson’s long awaited filmed adaptation of THE HOBBIT is to be a Trilogy. New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures announce third film in THE HOBBIT Trilogy.

Peter Jackson will make a third film in his upcoming adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, it was jointly announced today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group. 

Jackson, the Academy Award®-winning filmmaker behind the blockbuster “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, recently wrapped principal photography on what he originally planned to be a two-film adaptation of The Hobbit, which is set in Middle-earth 60 years before The Lord of the Rings.

Jackson stated, “Upon recently viewing a cut of the first film, and a chunk of the second, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and I were very pleased with the way the story was coming together. We recognized that the richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, gave rise to a simple question: do we tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as filmmakers and fans was an unreserved ‘yes.’ We know the strength of our cast and of the characters they have brought to life. We know creatively how compelling and engaging the story can be and—lastly, and most importantly—we know how much of the tale of Bilbo Baggins, the Dwarves of Erebor, the rise of the Necromancer, and the Battle of Dol Guldur would remain untold if we did not fully realize this complex and wonderful adventure. I’m delighted that New Line, MGM and Warner Bros. are equally enthusiastic about bringing fans this expansive tale across three films.”

Chris Pine stars in People Like Us

DreamWorks Picture’s new drama comedy People Like Us stars Chris Pine, a street-wise salesman who is suddenly confronted by a deep family secret. Also starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Elizabeth Banks, the film will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 & Trinoma) starting Aug. 15.



In “People Like Us,” Sam (Pine) finds his latest deal collapsing on the same day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father’s estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father’s last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside-down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie (Banks) whom he never knew about. As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process.

LIFE OF PI Trailer Debut

Based upon the bestselling book by Yann Martel, LIFE OF PI tells the story of a young man’s incredible survival at sea against impossible odds. A remarkable technological breakthrough in 3D epic adventure, PI is an emotionally captivating experience that will inspire, touch and transport audiences to a place of discovery that they will never forget.

Winner of the pretigious Literary Awards Hugh Maclennan Prize for fiction in 2001 and the Man Booker Prize in 2002, Yann Martel's "Life of Pi" is now a movie adaptation by 20th Century Fox helmed by filmmaker Ang Lee and is starred by newcomer Suraj Sharma as the titular character Pi Patel.



When Pi Patel, a son of a zookeeper turned sixteen, his family emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship due to the prevalence of political unrest. An extraordinary God-loving boy whose passion for stories is unmatched, has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and practices his native Hinduism along with Christianity and Islam. When the ship capsized due to a massive storm, Pi finds himself in the company of a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra and a 450-pound Bengal tiger aboard a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. Finally reaching the shores of the coast of Mexico, the Bengal tiger who goes by the name of Richard Parker flees to the jungle and Pi left on his own is interrogated by the Japanese authorities who refuse to believe his account.

Emma Thompson Plays Queen Elinor in "Brave"

Two-time Oscar-winner Emma Thompson provides the voice of Elinor, the Scottish Queen who has her own plan in mind for her daughter Merida—a plan that’s been predestined since long before either of them was born, in Disney/Pixar's new 3D animated feature, “Brave.”

A vision of grace, wisdom and strength of character, Queen Elinor is fiercely dedicated to the well-being of her family and kingdom. As the measured, diplomatic counterpoint to her more impulsive husband, King Fergus, Elinor carries the weight of the kingdom on her shoulders in order to maintain the fragile peace between the volatile clans. Elinor strives to instill in Merida the knowledge and manner of a royal, expecting complete commitment to Elinor’s standards. But her vision of her daughter’s future is at odds with Merida’s rebellious spirit and desire to forge her own path, which ultimately causes Elinor to face calamitous consequences.

Colin Farrell Uncovers His Real Memories in "Total Recall"

Colin Farrell stars as a factory worker who'd rather have real memories of a super-spy, in Columbia Pictures' new action-adventure “Total Recall.” He turns to Rekall, a futuristic company that can turn your dreams into real memories. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man.
The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.

“It was very important that Quaid is just an ordinary guy,” producer Toby Jaffe says. “Colin just brings a real genius to him as an actor. There’s a likeability onscreen that you just feel he’s a real guy who could be a real factory worker.”

Chinese na Makulit Spotted in the Great Northern Sale!

“Shopping is actually very similar to farming a field. You can't keep buying the same thing, you have to have a bit of variety. Otherwise you get bored and stop enjoying yourself.” ― Sophie Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic

Honestly I’m no shopaholic, but shopping and doing the groceries are my way of de-stressing myself. I find joy in finding a pair of red flats, mustard-colored hand bag, a Sunday dress and a best selling novel in a bargain store. Shopping is a delightful and a terrible experience altogether. I know you understand what I meant buy this *wink* but thank goodness SALE was invented.






Last July 13-15 SM North Edsa gave shoppers a blissful time inside and even outside the mall with THE GREAT NORTHERN SALE! 

Major discounts were given in almost every store, left and right, front and back! Haha! I love it that SM gave us exciting deals from leading brands from apparels to shoes to dining deals, the SM jingle is so true:


Here at SM, we got it all for you! We’re waiting for you.

The Bourne Legacy director Tony Gilroy talks about Manila

During preproduction, of The Bourne Legacy director Tony Gilroy toured Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in Vietnam, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Manila in the Philippines. Ultimately, Manila’s history as a shooting location won over the team. Major Hollywood features, such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July and Brokedown Palace, were shot in the Philippines in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. “They had a 25-, 30-year run of making movies there,” says Gilroy, “and they have this huge infrastructure that was built up from all the films made about Vietnam.”


The filmmaker called upon LOPE V. JUBAN, JR., president of Philippine Film Studios, who has worked on most of the films that have come to the Philippines over the past few decades, to give them a tour of Manila. Not only could Juban—who came on as a line producer—offer locations that Gilroy was looking for, but his contacts with government entities would also be vital for a shoot that involved major stunts on city streets. “Juban said, ‘We can talk to the president about that,’ or ‘We can talk to the minister of transportation and the police department about that.’ They’re all people that he knew,” Crowley explains. “I couldn’t have gotten that in Jakarta or in Ho Chi Minh City.”


In fact, The Bourne Legacy would be the first Hollywood film in which Manila plays Manila. “The Philippines has played almost any country—Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Panama,” says Juban. “It is only now that we are filming Manila as Manila, which is great for us.”
It was important to the locals to show off the progress the country had made and their big new areas of development. The Philippines also offered the advantage of a mainly English-speaking local crew. English, the legacy of the American presence for 50 years before World War II, is widely spoken in the country.

May the Best Loser Win in "The Campaign"

The election process in America can sometimes get so wild, you just have to laugh…especially if you’re Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis or admitted political news junkie Jay Roach, director/producer of Warner Bros.' irreverent new comedy “The Campaign.”

Known for “Meet the Parents” and the Austin Powers send-ups, Roach also successfully addressed the American political system from a more serious perspective in HBO’s acclaimed dramas “Recount” and “Game Change,” and has come to believe that sometimes the best way to confront the subject is head-on, with humor.

“I think comedy is the correct response to politics these days. At least it gives you something to laugh about and makes the reality of it easier to swallow, whereas if you just watch the news it can be pretty scary,” Roach offers. “Looking at some of today’s election campaigns, I don’t know if this is what our founding fathers had in mind.”

Luckily, Roach was able to exorcise his anxieties in a big way in “The Campaign,” with Ferrell and Galifianakis, who also served as producers on the film, and whom he calls “two of the funniest, smartest guys on Earth. Will and Zach go all the way as rival candidates who have the resources to completely destroy each other by pulling out every form of shady campaign strategy you can imagine, every sleazy video and shameless dirty trick. And it quickly degenerates from there.”

Kelly MacDonald Channels Her Inner Teen for "Brave" (Opens Aug 1)

In “Brave,” Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald (TV's “Boardwalk Empire,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2”) gives voice to the passionate, rebellious teen Merida — the first lead female hero to carry a film in Pixar's 26-year history. And by all accounts, she hit the bull's-eye.

"Kelly has a true Scottish spunkiness in her," says Brenda Chapman, one of “Brave's” directors. "And that really comes through. Princess Merida is a girl with a great spirit. And Kelly is able to depict that. There's a sweetness and an appeal in Kelly that she infuses in Merida. Yet there's a strength. Kelly has it in spades."
“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane).

WWF Reverse Run on July 22, 2012

WWF Philippines invites everyone to join and support the WWF Reverse Run on 

July 22, 2012 at the SM Mall of Asia IMAX Grounds. 

 As suggested by the race name, all running participants will run in reverse, they will backpedal for the first 200 meters then will run forward. The race is held to launch the Reverse the Bad Student Program, a year long membership program that aspire students to fully commit to protect the environment.

Ambassador Rovilson and sports enthusiast, Marc Nelson on WWF Reverse Run 2012.

Let’s revers the bad for our living planet. You can also support this activity by just having your profile pic in your social network sites on reverse! Keep it until July 23, 2012 and share the news to your friends and family.


Registration Fees:
3K – PHP 500
6K – PHP 500
12K – PHP 600


- Race kit includes: Race singlet, Race Bib, Safety Pins, Maps
- Participants will only run backwards for 200meters. Running time will only start when the participants will make the 180° turn for the 3K, 6K and 12K distances.
- Finishers will receive a limited edition WWF baller band.
- 10 watches are to be raffled of c/o Soleus.


Gun Start:
3K – 5:50AM
6K – 5:40AM
12K – 5:30AM


Registration Venues: (From June 22 – July 16, 2012)
- Chris Sports Branches (Registration Period: June 22, 2012 – June 18, 2012)
Branches: 1. SM Mall of Asia, 2. SM Manila, 3. Glorietta
- Fitness and Athletics Company (F&A)
9th Avenue corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City
- Skechers Branches
Branches: 1. Festival Mall Alabang, 2. Market Market, 3. Trinoma


PS: Bring your own water bottle to minimize use of disposable water cups!

Cinemalaya at Ayala Cinemas

Ayala Malls Cinemas hosts for the 2nd time the country’s Cinemalaya on its 8th year in developing and promoting Filipino independent films. Cinemalaya’s simultaneous screening at the CCP Theater and at Ayala Cinemas’ Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma will run from July 21 to July 29.

Paying tribute to one of the country’s acclaimed filmmakers, Ayala Cinemas’ Cinemalaya opening ceremony at Trinoma will feature the late Mario O’Hara’s “Babae Sa Breakwater” starring Katherine Luna.

Competing in the category of New Breed Films are “Intoy Syokoy Ng Kalye Marino” directed by Lemuel C. Lorca, “Requeime!” by Loy Arcenas, “Oros” by Paul Sta. Ana, “Ang Katiwala (The Caretaker)” by Aloy Adlawan, “Santa Nina” by Emmanuel Quindo Palo, “Aparisyon” by Vincent Sandoval, “Diablo” by Mes De Guzman, “Mga Dayo (Resident Aliens) by Julius Sotomayor Cena, “The Animals” by Gino M. Santos and “Ang Nawawala (What Isn’t There)” by Marie Jamora.

In Director’s Showcase Films category, entries include “Kamera Obskura” by Raymond Red, “Bwakaw” by Jun Robles Lana, “Posas” (Shackled) by Lawrence Fajardo, “Kalayaan (Wildlife)” by Adolfo B. Alix, Jr. and “Mga Mumunting Lihim (Those Little Secrets)” by Jose Javier Reyes.

Included in Short Feature films are “As He Sleeps” by Sheron Dayoc, “Balintuna (Irony)” by Emmanuel Escalona Jr., “Bohe Sons of the Waves” by Nadjoua Bansil, “Pasahero (Passenger)” by Mario “Max” Celada, “Victor” by Jarell M. Serencio, “Ang Paghihintay Sa Bulong (Waiting to Whisper) by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, “Manenaya (Waiting)” by Richard Legaspi, “Ruweda (Wheel)” by Hannah Espia, “Sarong Adlaw (one Day) by Marianito Dio, Jr. and “Ulian (Senility)” by Chuck Gutierrez.

Check out Ayala Cinemas’ Cinemalaya schedule at WWW.SURESEATS.COM and book your tickets in advance at Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma.

New "Gangster Squad," "Man of Steel" Art Revealed

Warner Bros. has revealed the new banner for “Gangster Squad” and the Comic-Con poster for “Man of Steel.”

Under the direction of Ruben Fleischer, “Gangster Squad” is a colorful retelling of events surrounding the LAPD’s efforts to take back their nascent city from one of the most dangerous mafia bosses of all time. The film stars Oscar® nominees Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling as the LAPD’s Sgt. John O’Mara and Jerry Wooters, and Academy Award® winner Sean Penn as real-life mobster Mickey Cohen. The film also stars Oscar® nominee Nick Nolte as LAPD Chief “Whiskey Bill” Parker, and Emma Stone as Grace Faraday, Cohen’s moll and the object of Wooters’ attention.

Meanwhile, “Man of Steel” stars Henry Cavill as Superman and is directed by Zack Snyder. The film also stars three-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Oscar® nominee Laurence Fishburne as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar® nominee Diane Lane and Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner.


Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Oscar® nominee Michael Shannon and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Julia Ormond, and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe.


“Gangster Squad” opens across the Philippines this September, while “Man of Steel” follows next year.

"Inception" Alumni Reunite for "The Dark Knight Rises" Now Showing!

One good turn deserves another. After starring in Christopher Nolan's thought-provoking 2010 thriller “Inception,” Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt now join the director's highly-anticipated final Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises.”


Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt were both excited to reunite with Nolan on the finale of his Dark Knight trilogy. Gordon-Levitt says, “Amidst all the spectacle, I think the honest human dramas are what distinguish the way Chris approaches these movies. For an actor, that’s inspiring and a lot more fun.”


“I love working with Chris,” adds Cotillard. “He fosters a great feeling of family on the set, even on such a huge movie. And he has the intelligence and imagination to take you on an unbelievable adventure and make it something you believe. It was especially interesting to work with him to create the character of Miranda because she doesn’t exist in the comics.”

Gordon-Levitt stars as policeman John Blake, whose devotion to the job impresses his boss, Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman). Producer Emma Thomas says, “Gordon definitely sees something of himself as a young cop in John Blake. Everyone else seems to have lost focus because things have been so good, but Blake is the first to realize that something’s up, and Gordon recognizes those instincts by promoting him and putting him on his team.”

Bale is Batman for the Last Time in "Dark Knight Rises" - Now Showing!

Oscar® winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman for the third and final time in Warner Bros.' “The Dark Knight Rises,” the concluding chapter in the highly acclaimed and celebrated trilogy, following “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.”








Christian Bale details, “In ‘Batman Begins,’ you see the tragedy and the pain that motivates this angry young man, who feels useless and is searching for a path—who wants to find out who he is and what he can become. Then in ‘The Dark Knight,’ he’s discovered that path. He is useful; he is doing what he imagines is the best thing for him to be doing in his life. Now, we are eight years on and he has lost the one thing that gave him a purpose…until he is forced to deal with a new threat to Gotham City and to himself.”


Fulfilling the promise he made in “Batman Begins,” Bruce Wayne has had Wayne Manor rebuilt, “just as it was.” But now, the mansion has become more of a refuge than a home for its owner, who has retreated behind its stately walls.

Meet the BRAVE Casts!

From a trio of wee mischievous brothers to an elegant—if somewhat uptight—queen, not to mention its lot of quirky lords, Disney/Pixar's new 3D adventure “Brave” features a cast of wildly diverse characters and a host of talented pros who lend them their voices.

MERIDA (Voice of Kelly Macdonald). Passionate and fiery, Merida is a headstrong teenager of royal upbringing who is struggling to take control of her own destiny. She feels most at home in the outdoors honing her impressive athletic skills as an archer and swordfighter, and racing across the magnificent Highland countryside with her faithful horse, Angus. With a spirit as vibrant as her untamed hair, Merida also has a softness of heart, especially when it comes to her wee triplet brothers.

QUEEN ELINOR (Voice of Emma Thompson). A vision of grace, wisdom and strength of character, Queen Elinor is fiercely dedicated to the well being of her family and kingdom. As the measured, diplomatic counterpoint to her more impulsive husband, King Fergus, Elinor carries the weight of the kingdom on her shoulders.

KING FERGUS (Voice of Billy Connolly). Protector of his kingdom and family, King Fergus is a heroic warrior with a majestic bear cape, broad sword and a knobby peg leg – the result of his much-regaled skirmish with the demon bear Mor’du.

"Total Recall" -- A Futuristic Action-Thriller On Reality, Memory

Columbia Pictures assembles a powerhouse cast led by Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, John Cho and Bill Nighy for the big screen re-imagining of “Total Recall.”


Directed by Len Wiseman (“Underworld,” “Live Free and Die Hard”), “Total Recall” is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick.

In the film, Rekall is a futuristic company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Farrell), even though he's got a beautiful wife (Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Nighy) and stop Cohaagen.


The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.
“Total Recall’s” re-imagined journey to the silver screen began in 2008 when producer Toby Jaffe was perusing a bookstore, looking through the sci-fi shelf. “I was looking at all the books I read as a young guy, and I picked up a Philip K. Dick anthology and read the short story ‘We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,’” he recalls. “I remembered it was a great sort of wish-fulfillment fantasy.”

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Trailer

Greg Heffley, the kid who made “wimpy” cool, is looking forward to his summer vacation in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” but when his dad (Steve Zahn) decides they should spend more time together, Greg does everything he can to keep his father from ruining his summer vacation.


Check out the trailer here.

007 "Skyfall" Producers Confirm Ben Whishaw to Play Q

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of SKYFALL™, the 23rd James Bond adventure, confirmed today that the character of Q will be making a welcome return to the Bond franchise and the role will be played by Ben Whishaw.

Whishaw becomes the fourth actor to play Bond’s quartermaster affectionately known as Q. The role began with Peter Burton as Major Boothroyd in Dr. No, followed by Desmond Llewelyn (in 17 Bond films between 1963-1999), and John Cleese (who appeared as Q’s assistant, R, in The World is Not Enough and was later promoted to Q in Die Another Day). Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli commented, “It’s a real thrill to confirm the return of Q in SKYFALL™ played by the enormously talented Ben Whishaw. We are delighted to have this beloved character back in the series.”

Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in SKYFALL™, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In SKYFALL™, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. The film is from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Directed by Sam Mendes. Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan.

More Teenage Misadventures in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: Dog Day's Movie

Greg Heffley, the kid who made “wimpy” cool, is looking forward to his summer vacation in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” but when his dad (Steve Zahn) decides they should spend more time together, Greg does everything he can to keep his father from ruining his summer vacation.

In “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days,” which combines elements of both the third and fourth of the “Wimpy Kid” books, the good news is that school is out for the summer and Greg is looking forward to a vacation spent playing video games, hanging out with his best friend, Rowley, and working his way into the affections of the girl he has a crush on, Holly Hills. The bad news is that Greg Heffley being Greg Heffley, nothing is going to go as planned.

Tom Hardy, Pure Menace as Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises" (Opens July 19)

In Warner Bros.' new action-thriller “The Dark Knight Rises” – the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy – the threat to Batman/Bruce Wayne comes in the form of a merciless, masked villain named Bane, who makes his presence known to the citizens of Gotham with an explosive display of power.

While the Scarecrow was a madman and the Joker an anarchist, “Bane is a terrorist in both his mentality and his actions,” says actor Tom Hardy, who plays Batman’s new arch-nemesis. “He is physically intimidating and he’s also very intelligent, which makes him even more dangerous.”

Nolan relates, “In deciding on who the next villain would be, it was imperative that it was someone completely different from the Joker—that he be a brute force. The physical component of what Bruce Wayne does as Batman is of extraordinary importance, and we had not truly challenged that in the first two films. I really wanted to see Batman meet his match physically, as well as intellectually. Bane is raw strength with a fanatical devotion to duty, and that combination makes him unstoppable.”


“This is the first time it appears highly unlikely that Batman will come out on top in a physical altercation,” allows Christian Bale who plays the superhero. “He has been dormant for years, so he’s in a weakened condition to begin with, and Bane is not only incredibly strong but ruthless in terms of his sheer militancy and the ideology that drives him.”

Scottish Story of "BRAVE" Springs from Reality

The story of Disney/Pixar's new animnated feature “Brave” was very personal for the film’s directors, Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman. They drew from the experiences of their own families, combining that with their Scottish heritage and love of the country. With their strong backgrounds in storytelling and filmmaking, they were able to weave a tale that was original, emotionally stirring and full of thrilling adventure.

“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources—including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, and discover the meaning of true bravery.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN” GROSSES P271.54-M, NO.1 IN PH FOR 2ND WEEK

Comic book hero Peter Parker triumphantly returned to Philippine cinemas, re-igniting the Spider-Man film franchise with a ten-day nationwide gross of a staggering P271.54-million for “The Amazing Spider-Man.” This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of film distributor Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

Topping the local box-office for two weeks in a row, the “Spider-Man” reboot is now the second-highest grossing movie of the year, and on track to become one of the most successful titles of all-time.
In the US, the brand new “Spider-Man” spun itself a $65 million opening weekend and $140 million in its first six days at theaters, July 3 to 8. Overseas, it added $129.1 million, raising its international total to $201.6 million and worldwide haul to $341.2 million since it began rolling out a week earlier in some foreign markets.
Back in the Philippines, “Amazing” opened June 29 with the biggest rollout ever in the industry: 530 cinemas, including 90 Digital 3D and 4 IMAX 3D screens. SM Mall of Asia registered the highest box-office receipts with P21.58-M, followed by SM North EDSA with P16.81-M, and Trinoma at P13.70-M.

EDWARD NORTON is BYER in the BOURNE LEGACY

Edward Norton is Ret. Col. Ric Byer in “The Bourne Legacy,” directed by the same Tony Gilroy who wrote the screenplays for the previous films, “The Bourne Identity,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” and “The Bourne Ultimatum,” all based on the universe created by the writer Robert Ludlum. The actor does not like to call his character a villain, preferring to say that he is, with the agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) and scientist Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz), a piece of the intricate and morally complicated puzzle involving the government, corporations and scientists. In Rio for the Rio +20 environment conference, he talked about the film, his interest in sustainable development, and the miniseries “Undaunted Courage,” based on the book by Stephen Ambrose that he is producing with Brad Pitt for television.

The Great Northern Sale in SM North Edsa on July 13-15

See you there!

ANNE HATHAWAY re-invents CATWOMAN in “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”

Academy Award-nominee Anne Hathaway is the brilliantly skilled thief named Selina Kyle—better known in the Batman canon as Catwoman – in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

Nolan says, “We felt very strongly that we should have Catwoman in this film, but we always look for an organic way of grounding the characters in our world. Selina is a cat burglar, a grifter, a classic movie femme fatale, really. That was my way in, and we drew the iconic figure of Catwoman from that.”

The only member of the main cast who counts this film as her first collaboration with Nolan, Hathaway admits, “It’s hard to reveal anything about Selina Kyle because she is intensely private and very mysterious. She has her own code of ethics, which sometimes involves doing things that other people might consider questionable.” Screenwriter Jonathan Nolan says, “Something about her morally ambiguous philosophy finally gives Batman someone he can relate to. In a weird way, she’s the yin to his yang. The dynamic between them is so fresh—the playful way she kind of pokes fun at him—it sparks a connection between them and takes some of the somberness away from his character.”

GREAT NORTHEN SALE in SM NORTH EDSA on JULY 13,14 and 15, 2012

SALE!

The four letter word I love and hate at the same time. I love because who really doesn’t want discounted items, freebies and buy-one-take-one? Hate, because it makes my wallet so anorexic.

This coming July 13, 14 and 15 – I will officially LOVE the word SALE because the GREAT NORTHEN SALE is back!


Get MAJOR discounts EVERYWHERE you look and love the most exciting deals on all brands, stores, dining places and get as much as 70% discount on selected brands!


When I checked in SM North Edsa in Foursquare awhile ago I got a tip that SM North is the largest mall in the Philippines and world’s third in terms of leasable are.


SHOPPING TIPS:
• Before you battle your way to SM NORTH EDSA on July 13, 14 and 15, visit the stores you want and check out the items you want to buy, and fit the items you want to purchase.
• Make a list of the things you want to buy so you will not waste time in looking for the item you want to buy.
• Start from the left side stores of the mall going to the right side stores so you will not go back and forth the mall.
• Expect a corridor full of people availing discounts, so just bring a sling bag, so you can squeeze your way in the mall full of shoppaholics.
• If you don’t want to hold on too many plastics bring a big katcha bag or buy the SM ECO BAG and you can even help preserve our planet.
• Enjoy and share your shopping finds to your family and friends!


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ICE AGE 4 Returning and New Characters!

In the 4th installment of the hit family movie franchise, Ice Age's Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon their greatest adventure after cataclysm sets an entire continent adrift in “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift.” Separated from the rest of the herd, they use an iceberg as a makeshift ship, which launches them on an epic seafaring quest. Manny and the gang are challenged like never before to become heroes and do the impossible, as they encounter exotic sea creatures, explore a brave new world, and battle ruthless pirates. And Scrat's reunion with his cursed nut catapults him to places no prehistoric squirrel has gone before.

MANNY (Ray Romano)
As the world shifts around him, so does Manny’s family. Manny’s tendency to be overprotective spurs a terrible argument between him and daughter Peaches - just before Scrat splits the world apart, casting him out to sea and separating him from his family and herd. Now he vows to do everything he can to get back to his family and make amends with his daughter.

ELLIE (Queen Latifah)
When Manny, Diego and Sid are separated from the herd, it’s up to Ellie to take her husband’s place as the leader and help everyone find safe ground. She also must temporarily parent Peaches alone. Ellie remembers what it was like to be a teenager and understands her daughter’s first crush. But she must remind Peaches not to try to change to be accepted and be proud of the fact that she’s part possum.

First Look: OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL Teaser Poster

Take your first look at the teaser poster of Walt Disney Pictures' upcoming fantasy adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful” starring James Franco, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis.

Directed byt Sam Raimi, “Oz The Great and Powerful” imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Kunis), Evanora (Weisz) and Glinda (Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” is produced by Joe Roth and written by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Grant Curtis, Philip Steuer and Palak Patel are serving as executive producers.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” opens in Philippine theaters on March 2013.

First Look: “MONSTERS UNIVERSITY” Trailer

Disney/Pixar has just released the teaser trailer of “Monsters University,” the highly anticipated prequel to the 2011 blockbuster, “Monsters, Inc.”

You may view the trailer here.

LIZARD is the Spitting Image of Spiderman

Mother nature appears to have a created replica of comic book superhero Spider-Man.

The Mwanza Flat Headed Agama lizard has distinctive red and blue markings that make it a dead ringer for the web-slinging superhero.

Photographer Cassio Lopes snapped the super creature clinging to a rock in the Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya, in a pose almost identical to spidey’s famous crouch.

The lizards are native to Africa and live in groups with one dominant male — usually the most colourful.
And just like the superhero’s secret alter-ego Peter Parker, this creature is extremely shy, vanishing as soon as the camera had snapped.

Cassio, 38, was looking out for leopards when he spotted the creature basking in the sun and grabbed his chance for a photo.

He said: “I think this lizard was even more shy than Spider-Man himself. It must have brought us luck though because afterwards we managed to see the leopard we were looking for.”

The species’ popularity has rocketed since the comparison was noted, with exotic pet stores reportedly selling out of the lizards.

But Spider-Man's spidey-senses would be on full alert if he saw the amphibian.

In the blockbuster “The Amazing Spider-Man” the hero will be battling against a 9ft lizard, Dr Curt Connors, played by Rhys Ifans.

First Look: “IRON MAN 3” Conceptual Art

Marvel Studios has debuted the first conceptual art from the highly anticipated film “Iron Man 3,” directed by Shane Black and starring Robert Downey Jr.

Rendered by artist Ryan Meinerding, the conceptual photo shows Tony Stark dressed casually except for his left arm and calf which are suited with Iron Man armor parts. Caption of the photo reads, "In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark suffers his most devastating attack, and must rely on his greatest assets, his ingenuity and instincts."


Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, “Iron Man 3” returns Downey as the iconic Super Hero character Tony Stark/Iron Man along with Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes and Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan.


Set for release in the U.S. and the Philippines on May 3, 2013, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” marks the second feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.


“Iron Man 3” continues the epic, big-screen adventures of the world’s favorite billionaire inventor/Super Hero, Tony Stark aka “Iron Man.” Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film. Executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz.

Jennifer Lopez as Shira in “ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTAL DRIFT”

One of the world’s most loved idol, musician and actress Jennifer Lopez joins the fourth outing of the phenomenal hit franchise “Ice Age” headed by its three heroes from different species namely Manny the mammoth, Diego the tiger and Sid the sloth in “Ice Age: Continental Drift”

This time, along with Manny’s family and Sid’s grandma, they face a formidable chilling adventure against a group of pirates in the cold seas. With Scrat in the middle of it all subdividing land masses into what we now know as the seven continents, the group’s all-new adventure takes them on a thrilling ride to the far end of the seas.

Jennifer Lopez plays Shira, a beautiful saber tooth pirate who is also a loyal first mate on their ship of pirates headed by a prehistoric orangutan named Captain Gutt (Peter Drinklage). After Diego and Manny capsized Gutt’s ship, Shira gets separated from the pirates and is shocked to discover that Gutt has no real loyalty to her. When Diego appeals to her join his motley crew, she has to make the decision to stick with Gutt or to join Diego, Manny and the herd. Initially battling Diego and his best friends Manny and Sid, Shira finds herself slowly losing her heart to Diego in the midst of their adventure to find home. But alas! Love Love is never simple, especially for sabre-toothed tigers. Shira is a member of a pirate crew that has taken Diego, Manny and Sid hostage, so Shira and Diego’s initial encounters are as foes who go toe-to-toe – and sabre-to-sabre – against one another. They are equally matched. “Shira is a femme fatale; she’s sharp, fast and intelligent. But they’re more alike one another than either tiger would admit, and from their hostility and attempts at one-upmanship comes a shared point of view and ultimately a relationship,” director Steve Martino shares.

The Legend Ends in "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES"

“Batman is the hero Gotham deserves...but not the one it needs right now.”

Those words, spoken by Commissioner Gordon at the end of 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” set in motion a fateful conspiracy that labeled Batman a murderer and Harvey Dent—who died, unbeknownst to the public, as the vengeful Two-Face—a crime-fighting crusader who paid the ultimate price. Predicated on that lie, Gotham City enacted tough new laws that put criminals behind bars or drove them beyond Gotham’s borders.

Now, Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures brings to the screen “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

Dominic Cooper is a 500 yr old Vampire in “ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER”

On July 4, the secret part of Lincoln’s life and the secret part of the battle he fought will be revealed in cinemas nationwide in the blood-curling, non-stop action thriller “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” starring Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Rufus Sewell.

Every good vampire slayer needs a mentor (even Buffy). For Lincoln, that turns out to be Henry Sturgess, a 500-year-old vampire who has tired of his peers’ bloodlust and attitude towards humanity. For that role, the filmmakers chose Dominic Cooper, who saw his career enjoy a boost with the likes of “Mamma Mia” and and “An Education” and won plenty of acclaim for “The Devil’s Double.” But Cooper wasn’t quite sold on the idea when he was first handed the script. “I said, ‘I'm not reading that. Goodbye!’ It sounded like a bit of a joke. I mentioned to someone else that had read the book and they said the book was brilliant and I thought, ‘this is ridiculous,’ and then… when I started reading it… We never knew about him as a man. In my studies in England, I loved finding out about him, what incredible man he was and what he achieved in his life. Then I read the book and the script at the same time. The book is so rich with ideas and concepts and I was wondering which one they were going to pick for the movie, how they were going to condense it to a film. I thought that the original screenplay picked all the really interesting dynamics of the characters and I immediately wanted to be part of it. Because it didn't take itself too seriously, it wasn't a serious biographical piece, but at the same time you learned a lot from it. And I also thought that Timur has an incredible vision and I love the way he shoots action sequences. He shoots action like no one else. So I get that plus Tim Burton's crazy imagination.”

Pixar's 13th Full Length Feature BRAVE has many Firsts!

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. From Disney and Pixar, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition and challenges destiny to change her fate.

“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources—including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, and discover the meaning of true bravery.