THAT AWKWARD MOMENT
Dir: Tom Gormican (2014). USA. Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller. MTRCB R-13.
Hot tip: We reckon this will be an awesome date movie for all couples and even best male buddies: yes, even if it’s a rom-com. So take your boyfriend with you or have a man date with the boys.
Based on: The mechanics of male friendships.
Synopsis: To help their best friend Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) move on from his recent break up, Jason (Zac Efron) and Daniel (Miles Teller) decide to stay single with him but found themselves falling in love and landing on the most awkward moments.
Why see it: This isn’t just another Zac-Efron-Is-There-Therefore-I-Need-To-Watch-It film. Back in 2010, That Awkward Moment, which was initially titled Are We Officially Dating?, was included in the Holywood Black List, a list of screenplays that were said to be very much deserving of some limelight. Both Zac and Michael B. Jordan (yes, a distant relative of THE Michael Jordan) were asked to be a part of the movie in 2012.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE MARKED ONES
Dir: Christopher B. Landon (2014). USA. Andrew Jacobs, Jorge Diaz, Gabrielle Walsh. MTRCB R-13.
Hot tip: If you haven’t already, watch Paranormal Activity 4 before you dash to the cinemas to see this. The end of Paranormal Activity 4 presents an eerie jump-off for this film.
Based on: The Paranormal Activity horror series.
Synopsis: Following the events in Paranormal Activity 4, another footage in Oxnard, California, was found about a teen who was marked by a mysterious cult living just downstairs from Jesse (played by Andrew Jacobs).
Why see it: If you have been loyally following this series, this flick should be a treat for you. It serves as a sequel to almost all of the films though it is a whole different story instead of a continuation of Katie and Kristi Rey’s paranormal experiences.
LABOR DAY
Dir: Jason Reitman (2013). USA. Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith, Tobey Maguire. MTRCB R-13.
Hot tip: Whether or not you’re the weepy kind of viewer, be sure to bring rolls of tissues to blow your nose on because this is a tearjerker movie you’d hate to miss.
Based on: Joyce Maynard’s coming-of-age novel, Labor Day.
Synopsis: Kate Winslet is Adele, a single mom who was forced to keep an ex-convict (played by Josh Brolin) into her home while shopping with her son Henry (Gattlin Griffith).
Why see it: You can never go wrong with a Kate Winslet drama movie. First of all, when she isn’t doing humanitarian work, Winslet busies herself with portraying super hard characters like a Titanic survivor or an adult illiterate prisoner. Various reviews lauded Winslet for succesfully portraying yet another sensitive character: an agoraphobic mother who falls in love with an ex-convict for the said film. Director Jason Reitman even said that he probably would be at a loss if she turned down the role as he had Winslet in mind since the development of the script.
THE ADVENTURER: THE CURSE OF THE MIDAS BOX
Dir: Jonathan Newman (2013). USA. Michael Sheen, Lena Headey, Aneurin Barnard, Ioan Gruffudd. MTRCB PG.
Hot tip: If you’re into adventure franchises like Narnia or The Pirates of the Carribean, this could be a good start to a new addiction. The Curse of the Midas Box (which was initially titled Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box) is said to be followed by an in the works sequel called The Tablets of Destiny.
Based on: GP Taylor’s fantasy novel Mariah Mundi.
Synopsis: When 17-year-old Mariah Mundi (played by Aneurin Barnard) and his family are put to danger, he teams up with Captain Will Charity (Michael Sheen) to get to Prince Regent, a hotel on an unknown island. There Mariah and Charity uncover the secrets behind his family’s disappearance and the power of the Midas Box, a long-lost artifact that promises limitless wealth.
Why see it: Though the film received mixed reviews from movie critics in the US, the Welsh actor Aneurin Barnard did not fail to catch the eye of the international audiences that labeled him a heartthrob-in-the-making.
SA NGALAN NG AMA, NG INA, AT NG MGA ANAK
Dir: Jon Villarin (2014). Philippines. Robin Padilla, Mariel Rodriguez, Daniel Padilla, Bella Padilla. MTRCB R-13.
Hot tip: Keep an eye out for the other Padillas (RJ and Matthew) whose good looks and angas factor would surely make you wanna see them in your TV screens or flicks of their own.
Based on: The vigilante history of the ’80s and ’90s Kuratong Baleleng syndicate.
Synopsis: The story of Ongkoy Parojinog (played by Robin) and his family’s involvement in one of the most well-known organized crime syndicate in the country.
Why see it: If you think there’s not enough Padillas in Philippine showbiz, wait ’til you see them all together in a film. This was supposed to be a part of the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival. It features Kylie, Queenie, Bella and Daniel Padilla who are all appearing in an action genre for the first time.
SNOWPIERCER
Dir: Joon-ho Bong (2013). USA, South Korea, France. Tilda Swinton, Chris Evans, Luke Pasqualino, John Hurt. MTRCB R-16.
Hot tip: Snowpiercer is actually director Joon-ho Bong’s first foreign language film. Watch this in 3D or 2D so you can really experience the Ice Age world that we’re probably starting to feel now!
Based on: Jacques Lob’s graphic novel, Le Transperceneige.
Synopsis: After a failed global warming experiment, the Earth’s temperature drops drastically, ushering in an Ice Age and making it impossible to live in. All the remaining survivors stay in a train called the Snowpiercer where the elites live in the front and the poor people are crammed at the tail end. This causes a revolution headed by Curtis Everett (Chris Evans) where the lower class fight to take over the train engine to change the living conditions.
Why see it: It would be quite weird seeing Chris Evans in a train without his superhero costume on. We’ve known him as Johnny Storm and Steve Rogers for so long that anything remotely fuzzy, bearded and jologs-looking seems too…different. This film is one of those exceptions we’re glad he made though because reviews have been raving about the superb acting and cinematography.
EMPIRE STATE
Dir: Dito Montiel (2013). USA. Liam Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano. MTRCB PG.
Hot tip: This is the first Dito Montiel film without Channing Tatum. We’re quite surprised they didn’t pick him over Liam! Also, the film’s budget is USD11 million. Watch out for the final words at the end of the movie!
Based on: The life of Greek-American Chris Potamitis, who took part in the largest cash robbery in US history.
Synopsis: Chris Potamitis (played by Liam Hemsworth) had dreams of becoming a cop someday. He, however, ended up as a security guard for the Empire State, an armored truck company he was bound to rob along with his best friend Eddie (Michael Angarano). They hatched a plan and successfully took over USD11 million, resulting into the biggest cash theft in US history, but was held back when Detective Ransome (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) counts them both as suspects to the crime.
Why see it: Finally, an action movie with Liam Hemsworth in it. If, like us, you thought his The Expendables stint was too short, this film is just right for you. Though it plays mostly like any other heist flicks, it promises true-to-life scenes and dialogues as most of the script were written while the real Chris Potamitis was in prison.
Photo: A scene from ‘That Awkward Moment’
