Popcornmatch Filipino movie line-up to open 2017
‘Extra Service’
STAR CINEMA and Skylight Films starts the New Year with a bang as Extra Service, brings together three of today’s hottest Kapamilya actresses Arci Muñoz, Jessy Mendiola and Coleen Garcia to cinemas beginning today.
The movie, helmed by Chris Martinez [director of KimmyDoraAndThe KyemengPrequel and writer of the two installments of AngBabaesaSeptic Tank] multiplies the excitement as it presents the beauteous trio in a movie showing girl power defying the odds.
ExtraService, written by the writer history TheSuperParentalGuardians Alpha Habon, is a story about three female ex-convicts Aw (Muñoz), Em (Garcia) and Gee (Mendiola), who due to their criminal records, have a dilemma, the girls have no other choice but to work in a spa as masseuses.
Coleen Garcia, Arci Muñoz and Jessy Mendiola
However, unknown to their clients, theirs is only a day job because at night, they transform as secret agents: Aw is Kapitana, Em is Maldita, and Gie is Henya.
“When you ask for ‘extra service’ you are actually asking for their service as secret agents,” explains Habon about agents, they encounter a mission that will cost them their lives and freedom Ian Veneracion and Iza Calzado (second from left and right respectively) with Xyriel Manabat, Therese Malvar and Harvey Bautista —they must retrieve the three most important pearls of the country that are collectively called Perlas ng Silangan.”
‘Ilawod’
Box- office director Dan Villegas ( EnglishOnly,Please!;#WalangForever;TheBreak-UpPlaylist;Always BeMyMaybe and HowToBeYours) tries his hand at the horror genre via the movie Ilawod due for theatrical release on January 18.
Villegas said he and Palanca-winning writer Yvette Uy Tan bring to the screen a story about “possession,” not in the expected concept of demons or “the force of life and survival.”
In the movie, Dennis (Ian Veneracion), a reporter and Carlo (Epi Quizon), a photographer, work for an online news publication covering both supernatural and bizarre stories. Dennis accidentally brings home the “ilawod” (meaning downstream in Filipino), which then possesses his wife, Kathy (Iza Calzado), daughter Bea (Xyriel Manabat), and the youngest child, Ben (Harvey Bautista).
The ilawod wrecks havoc on Den
An initial post of the film’s trailer on social media immediately earned over a million likes, views and shares, sure to make Ilawod the first scream- fest of 2017.
‘Moonlight Over Baler’
This February, T-Rex Entertainment will bring to the big screen MoonlightOverBaler a timeless love story encompassing two important events in the country—World War 2 in the ‘40s and Edsa Revolution in the ‘80s.
Starring Elizabeth Oropesa, Ellen Adarna and the love team of Vin is written by Eric Ramos and directed by Gil Portes.
With the haunting “‘O Maliwanag na Buwan” as theme song, Moonlight Over Baler is set in the scenic and historical Aurora Province town opening with a Japanese journalist (Abrenica) visiting Baler after covering the 1986 People Power. By coincidence, he turns out to be the spitting image of the great love of a retired spinster teacher (Oropesa) who was killed during the war. Their paths meet, Vin Abrenica and Sophie Albert leading to a special friendship.
The Japanese falls in love with the town’s beauty (Adarna), which the retired teacher approves of, but misfortune breaks them apart when another suitor pounces on him and banishes him from Baler.
The events lead the teacher to reckon with her tragic past, feeling all over again she was to blame for the death of her life’s only love.
The ending is bittersweet yet proves that love conquers all.
‘Across the Crescent Moon’
With a playdate this early 2017 soon to be announced, director Baby Nebrida has announced the release of AcrosstheCrescentMoon , a “meaningful action-drama” tackling problems facing the country, includ in religious beliefs.
Matteo Guidicelli portrays the dedicated and brave Muslim solider who enlightened Christina girl, portrayed by theater actress Alex Godinez in an introductory role. Completing the cast are Christopher de Leon andy Andolong as Guidicelli’s Muslim parents, and Gabby Concepcion and Dina Bonnevie as Godinez’ Catholic father and mother.
AcrosstheCrescentMoon does not pass judgement on either religions but shows unity in diversity.
Bong Tan is executive producer. Matteo Guidicelli