"Sonic The Hedgehog" Races to PH Cinemas This February

12:02:00 AM



The global blockbuster videogame franchise from Sega crosses over to the big screen this February 19 with Paramount Pictures’ Sonic the Hedgehog, the live-action adventure comedy that centers on the infamously brash bright blue hedgehog from another world. 

Watch the film’s trailer here.

The film follows the (mis)adventures of Sonic as he navigates the complexities of his new life on Earth with his newfound – and human – best friend Tom (James Marsden).  Sonic and Tom join forces to try and stop the villainous Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) from capturing Sonic and using his immense powers for world domination. The film also stars Tika Sumpteras Tom’s wife Maddie, and Ben Schwartz, as the voice of Sonic.



It seems only right that the cast and filmmakers turning Sega’s landmark and enduring videogame franchise into a motion picture event include: 1) Jim Carrey, a comedy icon known for his rapid-fire onscreen antics; 2) Neal Moritz, the producer of the blockbuster motion picture series The Fast and the Furious; and 3) Jeff Fowler, a fast-rising, Academy Award-nominated director who has been a lifelong fan of Sonic the game.


Moritz notes that he and his team were challenged to include in the film what fans of the game love about Sonic, while ensuring that it be accessible to those unfamiliar with the character.  While developing the project, he learned that the latter audience segment was smaller than he imagined.  “We discovered that more people are aware of Sonic than many other treasured pop culture icons, like Lego,” Moritz points out.  “People enjoy Sonic’s attitude and speed.” 


Moritz continues, “The goal for our movie was to keep all that while adding some unexpected dimensions.  It’s a combination of what we love in movies – incredible action, comedy, and a lot of heart that comes from Sonic’s friendship with the human characters.”


Adds executive producer Tim Miller, who previously helmed a film about another pop culture icon, Deadpool:  “This is the first time Sonic has been placed in a live action world, which brings exciting new possibilities to what he can do and be.”



Fowler’s relationship with Sonic began at age 13, when he was introduced to the game.  “I knew immediately that it and the character would change videogames forever,” he explains.  “Sonic’s attitude was unique and refreshing; I had never before experienced a personality like his.  He broke the fourth wall, which had never been done before in a game, and it provided a window into his personality.  Sonic behaved like a teenager, which was instantly relatable.  He has confidence, a sense of humor, and a mischievous quality.”

Fowler wanted to ensure that he honored the spirit of the game and weave into the film elements that fans would recognize, including the golden rings, which provide a portal for Sonic to escape across space and time; his speed, of course; Sonic’s signature red shoes; and the energy emeralds that give him his abilities.

Moritz notes that the film still delivers everything fans expect – and more.  “There’s a climactic sequence that sees Sonic and Robotnik in a chase that spans Paris, the Great Wall of China, and the Egyptian pyramids, before culminating back in Green Hills – in a matter of minutes,” he teases.  “You’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Netflix Debuts the Final Trailer for TO ALL THE BOYS: PS I STILL LOVE YOU

3:51:00 PM

It’s a new year and Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo) are no longer pretending to be a couple. They ARE a couple. And, as Lara Jean navigates a trove of official firsts with Peter — her first real kiss, her first real date, her first Valentine’s Day — she finds herself leaning more on Kitty and Margot (Anna Cathcart and Janel Parrish), Chris (Madeleine Arthur), and an unexpected new confidant, Stormy (Holland Taylor), to help her manage the complex emotions that come with this new chapter of balancing a relationship and figuring out her authentic self. But when John Ambrose (Jordan Fisher), another recipient of one of Lara Jean’s old love letters, enters her life again she must rely on herself more than ever as she’s confronted with her first real dilemma: Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

Starring Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Jordan Fisher, Anna Cathcart, Janel Parrish, John Corbett, Sarayu Blue, Ross Butler, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac, Trezzo Mahoro and Holland Taylor

Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling YA romance novel, P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han.

View the trailer here.




Harley Quinn and the "Birds of Prey" Team Up for Emancipation

3:43:00 PM



You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho and the mafia princess?  “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it.  When Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her.  Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.

(Watch the film’s latest trailer here.)

Margot Robbie (“Bombshell,” “Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood”) returns as Harley Quinn, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“10 Cloverfield Lane”) as Huntress; Jurnee Smollett-Bell (HBO’s “True Blood”) as Black Canary; Rosie Perez (“Fearless,” “Pitch Perfect 2”) as Renee Montoya; Chris Messina (“Argo,” TV’s “Sharp Objects”) as Victor Zsasz; and Ewan McGregor (“Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep”) as Roman Sionis.  Newcomer Ella Jay Basco also stars as Cassandra “Cass” Cain in her feature film debut.

Directed by Cathy Yan (“Dead Pigs”) from a script by Christina Hodson (“Bumblebee”), the film is based on characters from DC. 

Margot Robbie, who reprises the role as well as produces the film, says, “The most exciting thing for an actor is to have choices with your character, and you can really do anything when you’re playing Harley Quinn.  With some roles, you can react one or two ways; with Harley, it’s more like 20, and every one of them makes sense for the character.  That is really liberating and creatively stimulating.”

For that reason, among others, even while she was still filming her first turn as the fan-favorite anti-heroine in “Suicide Squad,” she recalls, “I knew that I definitely wasn’t ready to stop playing her, that there was still so much yet to be discovered and explored on screen.”



That uncharted territory led Robbie to delve into options for Harley that included surrounding her with a girl gang, namely the popular DC team up Birds of Prey.  “I wanted to see what Harley would be like without someone to take care of her.  And it’s always been a part of my own life to have a group of girlfriends that do everything together.  We’re a very mixed bag of personalities,” she smiles, “but everyone loves each other despite being pretty different.  That’s what drew me to developing a story for Harley with the Birds of Prey, to find a group that’s unique, but who complement each other, especially in their fighting styles.  Together, they make up all the pieces of the puzzle.”

For the origin story that would pair Harley Quinn with a new collection of characters, Robbie and screenwriter Christina Hodson drew inspiration from various comics, such as the New 52 series, when Harley is out on her own and no longer with The Joker.  That circumstance appealed to them as a logical starting off point because, in order to be the lead in her own film, shouldn’t she also be the star of her own life?  For Black Canary, they opted for Dinah Lance, daughter of the original, same-name Super Hero with the killer cry, but who still hesitates to hit that high note.  They liked the version of police detective Renee Montoya who could be a little too tough and sometimes get in her own way, and felt that Huntress, with her tragic backstory, made for an ideal enigmatic loner averse to social interaction.  All of whom made for the most unlikely grouping of wholly reluctant individuals, so who better to match with the infamous criminal girlfriend known for standing by her man…after her man has kicked her to the curb?



Producer Bryan Unkeless offers, “The story takes place in the mean streets of Gotham—not the Manhattan-inspired version, but the outer boroughs where the seedy underbelly thrives.  It’s all about attitude, told through the lens of Harley Quinn and all that entails: her crass perspective, her impolite exuberance, and her madcap, acerbic, subversive energy that is always unpredictable.  Put all of that together with this eclectic group of really powerful women who are pushed to their limits and have to form an alliance—albeit a loose one—not only to do what’s right, but just to survive the day.”

That’s right, it all takes place over about 24 hours.  Just another day in the life of one Harley Quinn.

In Philippine cinemas and IMAX February 6, “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Take a Look at These Cute Starbucks Barista Keychains! Introducing the Green Apron Collection

7:13:00 AM
Starbucks revealed the newest addition to their collectibles - and it's super cute! Introducing the Green Apron Collection - the coffee giant pays homage to the stories of their partners and their barista journey. 

Head to starbucks.ph to view the complete collection. 





Photos courtesy of Starbucks Philippines Facebook Page

Director Sam Mendes Takes You Inside the Making of "1917"

5:06:00 PM


For Sam Mendes making 1917 – the critically acclaimed epic set during the First World War inspired by the stories his own grandfather told him – was, he admits, the most challenging experience of his long, acclaimed career. It was also, he says, very, very special.



Nominated for Best Picture and Best Director for this year’s Academy Awards, Mendes set the bar extremely high for himself and his team – including cinematographer Roger Deakins – by filming 1917 as though it is one continuous shot, following two young British soldiers, Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Schofield (George MacKay) as they embark on a crucial, extremely dangerous mission, deep behind enemy lines.

“The Germans had retreated to the Hindenberg Line and these two soldiers are tasked with crossing this landscape that has suddenly been abandoned by the Germans to deliver a message to a section of the army that has pushed forward” says Mendes.

“The two men have until dawn the next day. If they succeed, then potentially they save 1,600 lives. If they fail, then those lives will be sacrificed. On top of that, one of the soldiers, Blake, has a brother in that particular battalion. So there is a personal element to it as well.”

Their perilous journey, through the trenches, across the bombed out craters of No-Man’s Land and a devastated town, is an intense, visceral experience for the audience. The camera never leaves the men as they relentlessly move forwards, in a heart-stopping race against time.

“It felt almost impossible at times, but somehow we managed to do it,” says Mendes. “We started by asking ourselves, ‘If the camera could move anywhere, where, emotionally, is the right place for it to go?’ And only then we would try to figure out how to do it.”

“Sometimes we wanted it to be very intimate and at other times very epic. We never wanted it to feel repetitive – you don’t want to see the same shot over and over again – so it became a dance between the camera, the characters and the landscape, all three of which were constantly changing and evolving.



“The technical challenges were huge. We shot with a variety of rigs – steadycam, wire, cranes, sometimes the cameras were on a car or a motorbike and sometimes it was old fashioned hand held camera work – yet all of it had to feel like it was one unified style. The movement of the camera had to feel seamless.

“We rehearsed for months. The first thing we had to do was to measure the length of every section, every scene. It’s all very well for us to write ‘this scene takes place in an orchard’ but we had to build the orchard to fit the length of the scene required.

“And this was the case all the way through the movie - for trenches, quarries, woods, farmhouses, roads, towns. So the first thing we needed to do, as a crew, was to walk across empty fields with the script, marking out every step of the journey. Then, when we found the natural rhythm of a scene, we planted flags in the ground.

“And that’s how we did everything. We marked out and planned and built over a mile of trenches, then filled them with hundreds and hundreds of people. Dennis Gassner and his amazing art department created a world. But it all began with the boys, myself and Roger Deakins just walking across a field.”



In Philippine cinemas February 5th, Sam Mendes’ 1917 is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures. 

James Reid, Nadine Lustre Confirm Split-up

8:51:00 AM

It's confirmed.

In a joint statement aired on 'Tonight with Boy Abunda' James Reid and Nadine Lustre confirmed rumors that they indeed broke up.

Statement reads, "It's true that we have split up but not for all the reason that are being spread on the tabloids and social media but because after quiet and mature conversations, we decided to focus on ourselves not only for our careers but more for our personal growth as we are still young and we want to achieve as much as we can.

We agreed that going separate ways was best for both of us. We are in good terms and are still really good friends and will continue to work with each other especially when it comes to music."


Selena Gomez Lends Her Voice to Betsy the Giraffe in "Dolittle"

7:39:00 AM


Famous for providing the voice of Dracula’s daughter, Mavis, in the Hotel Transylvania films, Selena Gomez now literally speaks for Betsy, the talking giraffe in Universal Pictures’ new epic adventure Dolittle, a vivid reimagining of the classic tale of the man who could talk to animals.

Betsy is one of the most selfless of all Doctor Dolittle’s crew as she often volunteers for tasks and responsibilities. She may seem like a kind, chatty giraffe, but she’s also wildly brave and swoops in to save the day. She’s also an outlaw escape artist—she and fox Tutu are wanted in three forests—and Dolittle’s private compound has provided the perfect refuge and hideout for them. Still, Betsy has no issue jumping into the fray to take matters into her own hooves.

When the production team was thinking of who to cast, director Stephen Gaghan’s daughter insisted it had to be Selena Gomez. “My daughter told me, ‘You have to cast her because she’s an amazing human,” Gaghan says. “Selena’s an amazing person.’ My daughter was right. Selena is genuinely a wonderful human.”

Her unorthodox casting is not lost on Gomez who says, “If they would have called me any time in the world, I would have said yes, but luckily the director’s daughter (Betsy Gaghan) was a huge fan of mine and I’m actually named after her, the character. So, it’s really sweet.”

In the film, Dr. John Dolittle (Downey) is a particular and peculiar genius who most people think is insane and  a brilliant curmudgeon—one who has mastered almost all animal languages.



After losing his wife seven years earlier, the famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria’s England, hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of exotic animals for company.

But when the young queen (Jessie Buckley, Wild Rose) falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and discovers wondrous creatures.

The doctor is joined on his quest by a young, self-appointed apprentice (Dunkirk’s Harry Collett) and a raucous coterie of animal friends, including an anxious gorilla (Oscar-winner Rami Malek), an enthusiastic but bird-brained duck (Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer), a bickering duo of a cynical ostrich (The Big Sick’s Kumail Nanjiani) and an upbeat polar bear (John Cena, Bumblebee) and a headstrong parrot (Oscar-winner Emma Thompson), who serves as Dolittle’s most trusted advisor and confidante.


The film also stars Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen and Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent and features additional voice performances from Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Carmen Ejogo, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Tom Holland, and Craig Robinson.

In Philippine cinemas January 29, Dolittle is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Michael B. Jordan's "Just Mercy" Opens Exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas Jan. 22

7:20:00 AM




Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Just Mercy,” the powerful and thought-provoking true story of young lawyer and his history-making battle for justice, will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas starting January 22.


Michael B. Jordan (“Black Panther,” the “Creed” films) leads a powerhouse cast that includes Brie Larson (“Captain Marvel,” “Kong: Skull Island”) and Jamie Foxx (“Baby Driver,” “Django Unchained”).

After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) had his pick of lucrative jobs.  Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson).  One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the main testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie.  In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings, as well as overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them.



Michael B. Jordan, who portrays Bryan and is one of the film’s producers, says, “Throughout the course of the story, we see the ups and downs and trials and tribulations as Bryan fights to get Walter exonerated and freed from death row.  You get to know Walter and see the humanity of the innocent man who’s been wrongly convicted, but you also see Bryan’s courage and passion, and understand why he has dedicated his life to this cause through his non-profit organization, the Equal Justice Initiative.”

“There are many reasons Michael B. was the perfect choice to play Bryan,” says director Destin Daniele Cretton, “beyond the fact that he is an extraordinary actor.  He is an extremely empathetic person who not only cares deeply about the subject matter of this film but also about properly representing Bryan because, like all of us, he holds him in very high regard.”

Stevenson, in turn, has long admired Jordan’s work, going back to his breakout role in HBO’s “The Wire,” and, more recently, “Fruitvale Station,” which he calls “powerful.”  But more importantly, he says, “When we met, he seemed like the kind of person I would feel comfortable with.  He’s thoughtful and compassionate and genuine, and I value those qualities, so I was really excited when he signed on.”


“Just Mercy” opens on January 22 exclusively at selected Ayala Malls Cinemas: Greenbelt 3, Alabang Town Center, Bonifacio High Street, Trinoma, U.P. Town Center, Ayala Malls The 30th,  Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Ayala Malls Capital Central, Ayala Malls Central Bloc and Centrio. Book and buy your tickets at www.SureSeats.com.

Join the conversation and use the hashtag #JustMercy

Vanessa Hudgens, a Fierce Weapons Expert in "Bad Boys for Life" (Opens Jan 22)

6:54:00 AM

Fresh from the success of her Netflix Original film The Knight Before Christmas, Vanessa Hudgens now sees action as weapons specialist Kelly, in Columbia Pictures’ new action adventure Bad Boys for Life (in Philippine cinemas January 22).


In Bad Boys for Life, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return in two of their signature roles, Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett. Everybody’s favorite crime-fighting duo is back on their beat – and they’re as fun, dangerous, and unpredictable as ever.

Aside from their personal struggles, Mike and Marcus must contend with the elite new police unit Advance Miami Metro Operations (AMMO), which has introduced high-tech investigative tactics to the Miami P.D.



The old school versus new school interplay is highlighted in the guys’ dealings with this state of the art, elite squad. “The contrasting approaches to police work is hilarious, because we all think of Mike and Marcus as these young, go get ‘em fighters,” elaborates Hudgens, who plays AMMO weapons specialist Kelly. “They still have that taste for getting the job done, and the AMMO team is fresh, young, and focused, and they do things by the book – which they’re writing.”

Hudgens’ Kelly is an aggressive young cop who’s also a big fan of Mike Lowrey. “She’s the weapons expert who’s tough, fearless – and crazy in awe of Mike,” states Hudgens. That feeling extended to Hudgens’ view of Smith and Lawrence. “Seeing Will and Martin back together again is iconic,” she shares. “Their chemistry is just unreal.”

Bad Boys for Life also stars Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Paola Nunez, Kate Del Castillo, Nicky Jam, and Joe Pantoliano.

In Philippine cinemas January 22, Bad Boys for Life will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Sex Education 2 Premieres January 17 on Netflix

9:25:00 AM



Sex Education is about Otis Milburn, a socially awkward high school student who lives with his sex therapist mother, Jean. In season 1 Otis and his friend Maeve Wiley set-up a sex clinic at school to capitalise on his intuitive talent for sex advice. In season 2, as a late bloomer Otis must master his newly discovered sexual urges in order to progress with his girlfriend Ola whilst also dealing with his now strained relationship with Maeve. Meanwhile, Moordale Secondary is in the throes of a chlamydia outbreak, highlighting the need for better sex education at the school and new kids come to town who will challenge the status quo.



The series is written and created by Laurie Nunn and produced by Eleven. Season 2 is directed by Ben Taylor, Alice Seabright and Sophie Goodhart. Jamie Campbell, Laurie Nunn and Ben Taylor are also Executive Producers on the series.


The series stars Asa Butterfield (Ender’s Game, Hugo), Gillian Anderson (The Crown, The Fall), Emma Mackey (The Winter Lake, Eiffel, Death on the Nile), Ncuti Gatwa (Stonemouth, The Last Letter From My Lover), Connor Swindells (The Vanishing, VS), Aimee-Lou Wood (Louis Wane), Kedar Williams-Stirling (Will, Roots, Wolfblood), Chaneil Kular (Informer), Simone Ashley (Broadchurch), Mimi Keene (Tolkien, Close), Tanya Reynolds (Emma, Delicious), Mikael Persbrandt (Invisible Heroes, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, The Hobbit, King Arthur), Patricia Allison (Les Miserables, Moving On), Jim Howick (Broadchurch), Rakhee Thakrar (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Samantha Spiro (Game of Thrones, Tracey Ullman’s Show, Babs, Doctor Who), James Purefoy (Rome, Altered Carbon) and Alistair Petrie (Deep State, Rogue One, Night Manager).


Sex Education Season 2 launches on Netflix on 17 January 2020.

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