Movie Review: Tomb Raider

Reboots can be tricky business depending on how it's executed, and the same applies to films based on popular video game properties. They're a hit or miss thing depending on audiences who have either followed the source material or not - but fortunately for this particular game franchise it's a legend that is well known in both cinematic and gaming history. Lara Croft, better known as the main protagonist of the eponymous "Tomb Raider" series, has returned to the big screen - yet it is no longer the series starring Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie. Instead the new film is a "Reboot" incorporating elements of the brand new video game series which itself is a reboot, and playing the brand new Lara is another Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander - bringing to life brand new legend and origin story that shows us how this particular Croft made her bones in adventuring.

Thanks to Warner Bros. Philippines, I was able to catch the much anticipated reboot adventure last week in IMAX. It's definitely a treat for those who like to watch something simple, practical, semi-realistic, and full of adventure! As a gamer myself (and wearing a Playstation shirt in the local premiere) Here's my review for "Tomb Raider" - now playing in theaters.

Movie Review: Red Sparrow

Imagine a world where your whole life was making it big in ballet and trying to provide for a loved one - completely ripped away by an accident and forcing you to pursue a career elsewhere that involved learning the art of seduction and manipulation using your body and carefully navigating through a world of lies and intrigue to survive. That's pretty much the gist of "Red Sparrow" - a film adaptation of author Jason Matthews' 2013 book of the same name, and starring rising Hollywood actress and Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence in what is possibly her most daring role in any film yet and reuniting her with her "The Hunger Games" movies director Francis Lawrence to boot.

Thanks to 20th Century Fox Philippines, I was able to catch this Spy Thriller on IMAX - a format that's well deserving of a film of this caliber thanks to its location hopping settings in places like Slovakia, Hungary, Vienna, Budapest, and London. If you enjoy other movies of this genre like the Bond, Bourne, and Jack Ryan films, then you'll feel right at home with Dominika Egorova - who follows in the footsteps of other femme fatales yet doesn't exactly start off as a willing participant into the "Sparrow" program. You want something different with Jennifer Lawrence, this is one project that's giving her renewed attention and exposure in a new light. Here's a small review on why I think it's fresh and a must see.

Movie Review: Black Panther

Superhero films have become the norm in the Hollywood film industry this day and age, and that has much to do with the success of Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe - which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year after beginning an ambitious and daring project of uniting several films together under one shared continuity. That began with 2008's "Iron Man", which bore fruit as Robert Downey Jr. took to the skies as the armored alter ego of Tony Stark and helped inspire the events that led to the assembly of the Avengers. Today the MCU is in the middle of "Phase Three", and this year will bring three more films that will add more stories and characters to the growing film dynasty of the Marvel Universe - including the long awaited solo movie of the fictional superhero known as the Black Panther - the identity of the protector and defender of the fictional African nation known as Wakanda.

Thanks to Marvel Philippines and Walt Disney Studios PH, I had the chance to see one of the most anticipated films for this new year a few days early before hitting theaters - which is on Valentine's Day in the Philippines! As a dedicated comic book collector and follower of the MCU, I've been looking forward to T'Challa's solo film for a long time - more so with the recent raving reviews brought about by critics and viewers alike who got to see early premieres and screenings c/o Marvel. Now that the movie is about to debut this week everywhere worldwide, I can honestly say without spoiling that this is a VERY DIFFERENT kind of superhero film - culturally significant for an African based superhero like this and transcending the basic premise of good versus evil as tradition and ideology clash in a battle for a nation and the future.