Movie Review: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

On it's second week, this film still continues to pursue the clear message of embracing life for what it is.

Ben Stiller has been known for his comedies and antics with hits like Zoolander, Tropic Thunder, and The Night at the Museum films. However, his latest movie entry takes a seat back at just pure laughs, and shows us a little insight on what life can be like if we dare to live it out without having to recoil to our wildest fantasies and safety nets.

Based on James Thurber's short story of the same name, Ben Stiller's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" is actually the second time the work has been adapted into film, with the very first treatment starring Danny Kaye and directed by Norman Z. McLeod released way back in 1947. Directed, produced, and starring Stiller himself in the titular role, the 2013 film is a very different narrative from the source material, but shares the very unique message that you can't live out life unless you break away from your shell. Here's the review for this literal "change of pace" movie, and thanks goes to 20th Century Fox PH and Warner Bros. PH for the screening!

Movie Review: Grudge Match

It's a new year and a new set of movies to look forward to in the coming months ahead, and midway into January there's been a lot of films I've caught that are fun and entertaining to watch. One of them happens to be a Sports Comedy film I've anxiously looked forward to since it was announced last year, and it stars two Hollywood legends who have more than set the bar in their respective careers, but have chosen to do this as both a tribute and jab at arguably their best films centered around the main characters they play who are professional boxers.

I'm talking about none other than Peter Segal's "Grudge Match", which came out last Christmas in the US and finally makes its way to international territories like the Philippines this week. Starring Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro, two former boxing rivals come out of retirement after 30 years to finally settle their feud and put past issues and demons behind them... Whether it means tearing each other apart before the actual match takes place! Presented by Warner Bros. PH, this is one film that will definitely entertain fans of "Rocky" and "Raging Bull", so here's the review to this stellar old man fight now out in cinemas!

Movie Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

One year has passed since fans were brought back to Middle-Earth thanks to Peter Jackson and Wingnut Film's adaptation of "The Hobbit" - J.R.R Tolkien's prequel novel to The Lord of The Rings Trilogy that Jackson successfully adapted into three critically acclaimed films from 2001-2003. Made into a prequel trilogy itself, the first chapter entitled "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" was released last year, and saw the titular character Bilbo Baggins brought into service as a "Burglar" by Gandalf The Grey and a company of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. Their quest is to reclaim the lost Dwarven kingdom of Erebor, filled with riches and taken by the mighty dragon Smaug. That journey started down the path as any origin tale would, introducing us to memorable characters as well as bridging the events that would eventually connect to the events depicted in the LOTR movies years earlier.

Now, in the eve of 2013 and as the holiday season officially arrives, we resume the journey with Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves, with the second installment of The Hobbit Trilogy - "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug". Much like its predecessor, the film will be available in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D screenings, as well as the brand new format introduced with "An Unexpected Journey" last year - High Frame Rate or HFR. Much like most High-Definition Television sets, this immerses the audience in an almost real-time setup, with the movie playing as if it were happening live before the audience. Truly rich and luscious to behold, it's a fine option to pick if you want something different, and I personally saw the latter thanks to a special premiere screening at IMAX 3D.

Either way you choose to see this, if you love fantasy and adventure, then look no further and see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The film is here to marvel and dazzle you with tales of good versus evil, and the tried and true heroic quest to reclaim lost lands against evil and fiery beings of legend and lore. If you need more convincing, here's a quick review, and thanks goes to Warner Bros. Philippines and SM Cinema for the screening earlier this week.