Before we begin - this review will not contain ANY spoilers or revealing details for "The Last of Us Part II".
I enjoy Survival Horror and Action Adventure games, and it's those genres I see next to Fighting Games as my go to preferences whenever I choose a new title to play. When the original Resident Evil (aka Biohazard in Japan) came out for the Playstation in 1996, I was immediately hooked - drawn to the story and the fact the in this kind of game, going in guns a'blazing won't work and you needed to plan things through in order to progress through the game. It coined the term "Survival Horror" and started a genre that would soon see other games follow - including the Silent Hill series, EA's Dead Space Trilogy, and of course Naughty Dog's critically acclaimed Survival Adventure darling - The Last Of Us.
Thanks to Playstation Asia, I was able to get a review copy for "The Last Of Us Part II" - the long awaited sequel and follow-up which, at the time of this write-up, is NOW AVAILABLE exclusively for the Playstation 4. In a time when eyes are set towards the "Future of Gaming" with the Playstation 5, TLOU 2 proves there's plenty more greatness in the PS4 - pushing the envelope even further to deliver one of the most technologically impressive games ever made. It's a work of art and a love letter to fans of the original and video games - but before we dive further we should recap some of the original game (especially for those who haven't played it and YOU SHOULD especially since "The Last Of Us Remastered" is readily available in the PS4).
Resident Evil, better known as "Biohazard" in Japan, is one of my favorite video game franchises of all time. The first game of the series, released in 1996, was the title that convinced me to buy a Sony Playstation - and I was intrigued by its plot because the setting was in an isolated mansion and you had to battle your way through hordes of monstrous zombies and other biological monstrosities created in a secret laboratory underneath the premises.Since then I was hooked, and have been a loyal follower of the mainline series that started the genre of "Survival Horror" - until series director Shinji Mikami took things in a different direction in 2004 with the critically acclaimed "Resident Evil 4". That game was great and gave us a different kind of biological mystery in that universe - but it also started the "Survival Action" era of sequels that would be radically different from past RE games, with Resident Evil 6 serving as the entry that saw the series "completely lose its identity" until 2017's Resident Evil 7 brought things back to Survival Horror.
Fast forward to today's gaming generation, and we get a brand new Resident Evil game in the third installment of the remake trilogy - the "Resident Evil 3 Remake". Last year saw a triumphant return to old school with the "Resident Evil 2 Remake" - a perfect blend of the "Over-The-Shoulder" style action gameplay of RE4, the tension, inventory management, and puzzle-solving of the original RE games, and the power and amazing graphics of the "RE Engine" that was first used in RE7. What we got was a 2019 reimagining of the Raccoon City Outbreak adventure and new versions of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they tried to survive and escape from the zombies and biological experiments that plagued the city. That game exceeded expectations and was a critical comeback for the series - but how does RE3 fair as an entry that follows over a year after this hit? Well depending on your preferences and stance as a gamer and Resident Evil fan, that answer may vary and may very well define your experience with the game.
As a long time fan and having played the original RE3 back in 1999, it was a no brainer for me to pick up the game - and I got it physically and digitally as soon as Pre-Orders opened. Thanks to my digital purchase of the Deluxe Edition, I got the game on Day 1 (April 3) and finished it the next day. It's relatively fast paced and I'll discuss it in detail below. Due to the trying times however, my Collector's Edition of RE3 with the Jill Statue will have to wait until things get back to normal. For now, here's my review... And SPOILERS will obviously be discussed on this review, so be warned and read on if you need some opinions coming from an RE guy.
There's no shortage of superhero movies in this day and age thanks to the advent of technology and a well of ideas to adapt into feature films. Whether it's a hero dressed in a vigilante suit or a regular person lucky enough to be endowed with special powers, there's a plot or twist that's capable of making them into something more than just your average joe... But what if it's some guy who was assassinated only to be brought back through nanotechnology and hungry to exact vengeance? That's exactly the type of hero Vin Diesel plays as he brings to life the Valiant Comics hero called "Bloodshot" - and it's an exact fit for an action star of his caliber.
Thanks to Columbia Pictures Philippines, I got to see the new film that serves as a doorway to a possible Valiant Cinematic Universe, with Diesel's character serving as the progenitor to the potential new series of superhero films. If you've watched movies like "Universal Soldier", "Terminator", and "Robocop", this is in the same league as those classic sci-fi hits and shows us a guy who is neither a boy scout nor a pure soul to begin with. As we follow the character of Ray Garrison and his unwitting conversion into a superhuman killing machine, we also see a man trying to make sense of his past while dealing with a conspiracy that blurs the line between what is real and what is fiction.
BLOODSHOT - International Trailer #2
As someone who barely has a passing knowledge of the character other than seeing issues of Valiant Comics back in the 90's, Diesel gives his typical tough guy demeanor and intensity into playing a walking nanotechnology wonder - who can literally heal from mortal wounds even after being shot point blank in the face with a shotgun. It's as sci-fi and straightforward as it comes, and here's my initial movie reactions expressing that sentiment.
Movie Reactions: Bloodshot (2020)
Directed by David S. F. Wilson and also co-starring the lovely Eiza Gonzalez and talented Guy Pearce, Bloodshot is superhero film material that doesn't go fancy and tries to keep things simple and familiar. Fast and Furious fans will be happy to know Vin Diesel is still his gritty self and delivers just what you'd expect, so if you're looking for that kind of action, this is made for you. While the editing can be messy and all over the place and the plot is fairly predictable, we need to remember it's a popcorn flick that will entertain anyone looking to escape from reality and dive into something brainless and fun.
Bloodshot is NOW SHOWING and is distributed by Columbia Pictures Philippines.
Imagine a world of fantasy, mythical creatures, mgic, and full of adventure... But then technology and life come along and that gets pushed into near extinction. That's the universe Disney and Pixar transport us to in their latest animated film offering "Onward" - which is absolutely fun and a love letter to those who love adventure games and fantasy fiction! It's a treat to see these kinds of films still being made when we're so used to seeing modern day heroes and machinery all but take the spotlight in adventure films, and now we are reminded of the importance of embracing our childhood fantasies and sense of adventure, as well as treasuring the things we have that make us the people who we are today.
Thanks to Disney Philippines, I was able to catch a special advance screening of "Onward" on IMAX a few weekends ago - and it's definitely something you need to take your family and friends to - especially if you love going on a quest and play adventure games like Dungeons & Dragons! This is Pixar's love letter to the latter, and also incorporates the values and lessons we can learn from Disney films - most especially when it comes to family, gaining self-confidence, and realizing what we're looking for is right in front of us in plain sight!
Featuring the voices of Marvelous stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt (and Octavia Spencer as the Manticore!), "Onward" tells the story of two brothers names Ian and Barley Lightfoot - who embark on a quest to restore their Dad after a resurrection spell goes awry and leaves their father literally only half the man he was! As Ian just turned 16, it is a personal mission for him to get to know the father he never met (his Dad passed away before he was born), and Barley (who happens to be an enthusiastic role-playing game fanatic) makes it his goal to help his little brother fulfil that goal while also teaching him the long forgotten history of adventure and how to become a magician. What follows is an adventure set in a world very much like ours that is full of mythical creatures that have adapted to modern society, yet still holds many unique secrets and the potential to bring back the magic and wonder of fantasy that was long thought forgotten.
Disney and Pixar's Onward | Trailer #3
Whether you have played a game like Dungeons & Dragons, watched movies like The Lord of the Rings, or read novels like The Witcher - you will definitely love everything about "Onward" as it plays deep into that fantasy nostalgia while giving us the growing pains and truths of life we embrace and experience everyday. Ian and Barley, as well as the family and friends they interact and encounter in this film, are like the people we meet every day who want to be with the people they love and make something of themselves. It's especially true for Ian - our hero of the story who learns he has the "gift" of being a spellcaster and is determined to meet the father he never knew. Meanwhile Barley is the adventurer who rebels against society's expectations and embraces his interests in magic and fantasy. Although the journey is perilous and full of risks, both brothers get to know each other, and we as the audience experience the emotions and realizations the two siblings have about themselves and one another as they quest to get dear old Dad back together for one day.
Highly recommended and definitely fun to see in a big screen like IMAX, "Onward" starts playing in theaters in the Philippines on March 4! Go see it and be on an adventure with the whole gang!
It's been a testy road to travel for DC Films as far as fan reception and responses to certain film installments have been concerned. Earlier entries in the "DC Extended Universe" like "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Suicide Squad" saw plenty of takes in the box office, but also a lot of mixed opinions with the critics and fan reviews.
Fortunately the tides have shifted with the releases of "Wonder Woman", "Aquaman", and "Shazam", and the superhero franchise has found its footing - telling better stories and blending in the drama, comedy, and character chemistry to positive and wonderful audience reception. That awesome streak I'm proud to say continues with the newly released "Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)" - which technically is "Harley Quinn: The Movie" but instead serves as an extra springboard for the popular DC villainess/ anti-hero to introduce some new gal pals and personalities that all reside in the dank and strange place that is Gotham City.
Once again reprising her role from "Suicide Squad", Margot Robbie returns as the newly emancipated Harley Quinn - fresh from breaking up with The Joker and determined to start fresh and in control of her own life (or whatever counts for an insane Psychiatrist). The beautiful Hollywood star also serves as producer for the film, which is fantastic as it gives the Australian actress all the levity and creativity to take Harley in a bold and trippy direction which is fully realized in this film.
Thanks to Warner Bros. Philippines, I got to see "Birds of Prey" last weekend at its special premiere screening in IMAX - and again I call this movie "Bizarre, Trippy, and AWESOME FUN". It's Harley unleashed and bringing some girl power to the big screen, as we meet new heroes and villains outside of the shadow of the bat and the clown prince of crime - and it succeeds in spades! Here's my review after the jump!
We've seen many films depict world wars and battles that have been recorded in history, but rarely do we engage in one that's set during "The Great War" - also known as World War I and during a time when the world was shocked to wits end and very young men and women were sent into the battlefield without knowing whether they were going to make it out alive and back to their loved ones. Sam Mendes, the director of the James Bond 007 movies "Skyfall" and "Spectre", delivers his tribute and arguably one of his greatest films ever in "1917" - a film depicting two young British soldiers as they are ordered to deliver a handwritten message to a battalion before they engage in an attack that is doomed to fail and will cost many lives.
Tense, dramatic, and full of the horrors that can be seen in a battlefield, Mendes engages audiences in a seemingly "One Take" journey that follows our protagonists, George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, as they wade through No Man's Land and enemy lines - crossing dead bodies, seeing destruction and death at every turn, and most importantly experiencing the shock and trauma that comes with war, as we're left to pray and hope that our two young Lance Corporals Schofield and Blake make it out alive and succeed in their mission.
Thanks to UIP Movies Philippines, I was able to catch "1917" two weeks ago before it makes it theatrical run in theaters in the Philippines, and believe me when I tell you that this is one of the best war films I have ever seen. Sam Mendes, basing his film in part from an account told by his grandfather Alfred Mendes, recreates a world that many of us have learned from historical documentaries and history books, but adds that layer of dread and intimacy that many of us don't experience through two young boys who were tasked with an impossible mission with all the kinds of danger and risk yet they took it anyway because they wanted to serve queen and country and one of them has a personal stake to it - saving his brother who is part of the battalion they are trying to save. MacKay and Chapman give the best performances of their lives in this gritty war flick, and Mendes enhances the experience even further by casting some more A-List actors such as Colin Firth, Richard Madden, Mark Strong, and Benedict Cumberbatch. You have to see the film yourselves to know what their roles are, and that "One Take" styled cinematography only makes you compelled to see things through without blinking or missing a scene.
1917 | Official Trailer #2
Nominated for ten awards at this year's Academy Awards, 1917 will definitely pull you in and make you feel how it was to live in such a delicate and tumultuous era - where nations fought and couldn't understand one another and the war cost many, many lives in the process. History has chronicled these events and inspired films to teach us how things were over a hundred years ago so new generations can learn from them. Sam Mendes just took it up a notch and made this a compelling feature that is worthy of "Best Picture".
"1917" will show in Philippine theaters starting February 5 c/o UIP Movies PH through Columbia Pictures Philippines.
There's plenty of films with grit, resolve, and heart that depict the struggle of people who go about their daily lives and want to make a difference in the world, but rarely do we venture into what the state of affairs are in a rural American community where several convicts and prisoners see time for their crime - proven or otherwise. Lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson shares his story of that and one particular case he worked on for in his book "Just Mercy" - which sees Stevenson tell how he represented and defended Walter McMillian - a pulpwood worker who was wrongfully convicted for murder and getting the death penalty - until sufficient evidence and court hearings through a number of years finally saw a reversal of the decision - freeing McMillian and reuniting him with his family.
Thanks to Warner Bros. Philippines, I got to see director Destin Danielle Creton's film adaptation of "Just Mercy" - featuring a powerful cast that includes Michael B. Jordan ("Creed", "Black Panther"), Jamie Foxx ("Django Unchained", "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"), and Brie Larson ("Captain Marvel", "Room") and representing a dramatization retelling of the events that brought Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) as a young and headstronng Lawyer to Alabama to fight for poor people who can't afford proper legal counsel and representation. He meets McMillian (Foxx), and after some time convincing the disillusioned man that he can set him free - starting a journey between both men that introduces us to Stevenson's team in Equal Justice Initiative and McMillian's family as a case that takes years to solve is unraveled before us in a powerful legal drama story.
Now in its second week in Ayala Cinemas, Just Mercy is a film that proves heroes do exist everyday and fight to do what's right amidst all the discrimination and bias that exists in the world. Walk into this with lessons to draw and learn. It's a powerful movie that shows just how talented these actors are in bringing real-life stories and dramas to life.
"We ride together. We die together. Bad Boys For Life."
As one of the cop buddy franchises I absolutely love, "Bad Boys For Life" - the third installment in the "Bad Boys" film franchise, was a sequel I really didn't think would happen but at long last it did. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunite as Miami P.D. cop partners and best friends Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey - looking like they NEVER AGED since the last sequel, Bad Boys II, hit theaters in 2003. The original film in itself was released in 1995 - making it nearly 25 years since this hilarious, explosive, and high adrenaline film series started and entertained generations of moviewgoers and now reemerging for the millennial viewership we have today.
Thanks to Columbia Pictures Philippines, I got to see the film a few days before it opened in theaters, and I will tell you now if you are a fan of the first two films - MIKE AND MARCUS STILL GOT IT! I was concerned how the plot would carry over following the insanity Michael Bay put us through in the first two films, but this threequel very much entertained me - and it all boils down to chemistry and progression now that these guys are a little past their prime and older... But not necessarily wiser either thanks to their gangsta style shenanigans.
BAD BOYS FOR LIFE - Official Trailer
Set 17 years after the events of the last film, "Bad Boys For Life" sees Mike and Marcus still serving in the Miami P.D - with the former stylin' and profilin' as always while the other contemplates retirement especially after becoming a grandparent. However both best friends are drawn to a new cycle of crime and intrigue, as someone starts systematically targeting people Mike used to work with in an old case. As shots are fired and skeletons begin coming out of closets, both friends must reevaluate each other's own character and come together as "Bad Boys" to solve the problem and save the day once more.
As a longtime fan of these kinds of action films, "Bad Boys For Life" surprised the heck out of me and allowed the franchise to get a breath of freshness to reemerge in a film market that has vastly changed in the decades since the series started. Will Smith and Martin Lawerence are the key to making these movies work, and it helps to have new stories to tell that propel their lives forward, as well as working with familiar faces like Joe Pantoliano returning as Captain Howard and new blood in the form of Vanessa Hudgens, Paaola Nunez, Kate del Castillo, and Jacob Scipio joining the cast. While Michael Bay does not return to direct the threequel, duo directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are more than up to the task and bring on the fun, laughs, and high octane drama and action we've come to expect and a whole lot more. In fact, one old joke from the second film had a pay off in this sequel, and if you're curious about what that is here is a featurette on it:
2020 just started and this is one of my favorite movies of the year already. You know when something's good you shouldn't stop, and a new series of films should be made after this.
Bad Boys For Life is now showing in theaters courtesy of Columbia Pictures Philippines.
Will Smith. Tom Holland. Two big stars in Hollywood, together in one animated spy adventure that's aimed for kids and adults alike and sees the cool secret agent turn into... A pigeon?! With a combination like that, 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios' "Spies In Disguise" is one family adventure not to miss - especially for those looking for the brave, the bold, and the weird mixed into a hilarious cocktail of film that has its share of silliness and good laughs.
Thanks to the folks at 20th Century Fox PH, I got to see this animated adventure for myself before it opened in theaters, and of course I am a fan of the Hollywood stars that have lent their amazing voice talents into this insanely bird flavored flick directed by Troy Quane and Nick Bruno. It's also the first animated movie to see in the big screen this 2020 here in Manila, so if you want to admire CGI and some cool animation from the folks that brought us the Ice Age movies - this one is for you definitely.
SPIES IN DISGUISE | TEAM Trailer
Presented in the same style as famous spy films like the James Bond and Mission: Impossible movies, Spies In Disguise sees Will Smith voicing the role of Lance Sterling - a cocky secret agent who's the best in the business and is good at what he does. All that changes when he underestimates a mysterious villain named Killian - who frames the agent and forces him to go underground. Teaming up with an eccentric yet brilliant scientist named Walter Beckett - Sterling is hilariously transformed into a pigeon after unwittingly ingesting a formula concocted by the young MIT graduate. What follows is an odd pairing that sees both working together to clear their names, catch the bad guy, and change the best agent in the business back to normal before he starts flying away with the birds... Literally.
Outside of playing bad boys and superheroes, Smith and Holland lend some of their best voice acting skills to Spies In Disguise, joined by an ensemble assortment of other talents that includes Rashida Leah Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, and Karen Gillan. Smith in particular is right at home being his confidant and smooth cool cat self - and also acting wacky and hilarious when he becomes a pigeon and banters with the young Holland. It's a weird combination but also something of a refreshing team-up to see, and having some cool eye-catching CG animation by Blue Sky Studios adds to the appeal of this animated flick. Definitely something to see in theaters with your family and loved ones.
Spies In Disguise in now showing in theaters courtesy of 20th Century Fox PH.
Happy New Year and hello 2020! We're starting off the new set of dates fresh and looking forward to a lot of new adventures, films, games, and just about anything I can review and talk about - and what better way to start than with the very first film I caught this January 2020 - Clint Eastwood's newest biographical drama pic "Richard Jewell".
Based on the real life 1996 Olympic Centennial Park Bombing incident that saw the man of the same name saving lives and praised as a hero but quickly denounced as the suspect himself, "Richard Jewell" takes a good and long hard look at society, media, and government as they quickly become wrapped in suspicion, paranoia, and breaking the life of a common man who naively believes in the system but quickly learns the hard truth about it.
Thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures, I got to see the film last week in the brand new Estancia Cinemas wing - and what a tale this was featuring a stellar cast led by Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde, and Paul Walter Hauser as the titular character Richard Jewell. This is the kind of movie that should entertain anyone who likes drama and character study performances - Jewell's life as your common man, average joe redneck who has an idealistic impression about law enforcement quickly turns into a real-life tale of heroism when he discovers a bomb planted during his watch as a security guard in an Olympic Games concert held at Centennial Park. Jewell manages to inform his peers and prevent the bomb from claiming more casualties - but things turn upside down when the FBI and press twist his profile and are convinced "he is the bomber". With nowhere else to turn and his life with his mother turning upside down, Richard enlists the help of an old lawyer friend Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell) - and the fight to clear his name begins.
RICHARD JEWELL - Official Trailer
As the first film I got to see for the new year, Richard Jewell impresses and manages to tell a very relatable and compelling tale of an innocent man's quest to fight back against the system that wrongly judged him. We see in a pre-Social Media setting of 1996 just how gruelling that kind of experience is, and Eastwood has made one of his strongest biographical films yet with strong performances - particularly Sam Rockwell as lawyer Watson Bryant and Kathy Bates as Richard Jewell's mother "Bobi" (for which she has been nominated for an Academy Award). I'd definitely recommend the film to those who enjoy seeing a dramatization of a real life story.
