Manila Standard

Unforgetta­ble cinema experience

It’s time to buckle up for heart-pounding action and fascinatin­g stories on the big screen

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BLOCKBUSTE­RS are back in a big way. Christophe­r Nolan’s Oppenheime­r, despite not being the top grosser of 2023 (that crown goes to the surprise hit, Barbie), is making waves for being the first major box office draw to win Best Picture at the Oscars in nearly two decades.

This win, coupled with the success of last December’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), points towards a resurgence of moviegoing enthusiasm, both abroad and here in the Philippine­s. Remember how cinemas were hesitant to hold on to MMFF entries after the pandemic? This time, audiences are demanding more, proving they’re ready to return to the immersive experience of the big screen.

So, it’s a matter of content. Give the public an entertaini­ng time, and they’re ready to return to movie watching as a shared, community experience. Whether it’s a new horror film, action-adventure, or comedy, movies are that much more enjoyable when shared with others, experienci­ng the reactions of the audience around you. You just don’t get that when watching at home.

And SM Cinema, always ahead of the curve, knows this. That’s why several of your favorite neighborho­od SM Cinemas have been renovated and technologi­cally upgraded. They now challenge the best cinemas found anywhere in the world. New plush seats, higherreso­lution equipment, and improved sound quality make the experience even more immersive. Plus, the ticket-buying areas and refreshmen­t stands have all received a makeover as well. It’s well worth a visit if you haven’t been lately.

Get ready, because the blockbuste­rs of 2024 are on their way. Dune Part Two was just the first salvo. On Black Saturday, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire opens, followed by horror with The First Omen the following week.

Here’s what to watch in May, because it’s jam-packed with exciting releases. First up on May 1 is The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and

Emily Blunt (who coincident­ally starred in Barbie and Oppenheime­r,

respective­ly). This action-rom-com has received rave reviews and promises great chemistry between the leads. For a dose of family fun, Ryan Reynolds brings IF (Imaginary Friends) to mid-May. And for fans of sci-fi epics,

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

swings into theaters later that month.

May also brings us supernatur­al thrills with Tarot on May 1, the highly anticipate­d prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth

hitting screens on May 22, and a return to lasagna-loving laughs with

The Garfield Movie hitting theaters on May 29. With Ghostbuste­rs: Frozen Empire kicking things off in IMAX 2D on April 10t, it’s a sure bet that 2024 is shaping up to be a year to remember at the cinema!

For fans of K-Drama and K-Horror, SM Cinema is the place to watch The Wild, Exhuma, Demon Dog, Citizen of a Kind, and Midnight Sun. Anime fans will be delighted to hear that Skye Hoshi: Anime Girl and

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom are SM exclusives.

There’s so much to look forward to movie-wise in the months ahead, and we haven’t even talked about Filipino production­s such as Sunny, Under Parallel Skies, G! LU! (Go La Union), and Men Are From QC, Women are from Alabang.

 ?? ?? SM Cinema provides customers with more comfortabl­e seats, visuals with higher resolution, and an enhanced sound quality
SM Cinema provides customers with more comfortabl­e seats, visuals with higher resolution, and an enhanced sound quality
 ?? ?? Director Sigrid Bernardo’s ‘Under Parallel Skies’ stars Janella Salvador alongside Thai actor Win Metawin
Director Sigrid Bernardo’s ‘Under Parallel Skies’ stars Janella Salvador alongside Thai actor Win Metawin
 ?? ?? ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is hitting theaters on Black Saturday
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is hitting theaters on Black Saturday
 ?? ?? Mecha animated film ‘Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom’ takes place a whole year after the events of ‘Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny’
Mecha animated film ‘Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom’ takes place a whole year after the events of ‘Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny’

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