OPENING TODAY:
‘Banal’, ‘Godzilla II: King of the Monsters’ /
Godzilla II: King of the Monsters
Directed by Michael Dougherty; stars Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler
Gigantic monsters vie for supremacy while the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
On acting with special effects-created creatures, Farmiga told Extra TV, “My favorite [is] Mothra, she’s the lady monster ... It’s so funny, negotiating with your mind’s eye, and yet you have narration. So you’re not just sitting there, alone with the air. You have an incredible first AD (assistant director) who’s narrating the scene for you in great detail.”
Banal
Stars Miguel Tanfelix, Bianca Umali, Andrea Brillantes, Kim Michael Last, Taki
Young students go hiking in the wilderness, ignoring warnings of those familiar with the mysterious and terrifying forest.
In a video interview with the cast, Umali recalled filming with her costars: “The value that I like on set was our discipline. We started everything when we really didn’t know each other, and then we saw how we worked. When we’re off-cam, [we’re] makulit, but when we’re being directed on set, we change.”
Brightburn
Directed by David Yarovesky; stars Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn
A superpowered child, found and raised by a human couple, uses his abilities to wreak havoc.
Chicago Sun-Times’ Richard Roeper says, “The premise is intriguing, but this gruesome origin story plays like just another slasher film with idiots for victims.”
Nerdist’s Katie Walsh, however, thinks that “‘Brightburn’ is rich with references and genre expectations.”
Finding You
Directed by Easy Ferrer; stars Jane Oineza, Jerome Ponce, Barbie Imperial
Best friends fall for each other, but realize that they can’t be happy together.
Oineza told the Inquirer recently of her costar’s maturity as an actor, “I saw [Jerome's] drive to learn how to portray his complex role in our movie, a person with hyperthymesia.”
Quezon’s Game
Directed by Matthew E. Rosen, stars Raymond Bagatsing, Rachel Alejandro, David Bianco
The period film centers on former Philippine President Manuel Quezon, who welcomed over a thousand Jews fleeing persecution in Europe.
According to Cebu Daily News, screenwriter Janice Y. Perez described the film as educational and entertaining: “‘Quezon’s Game’ proves that it can stand as a compelling historical film without [epic battle scenes and romantic drama], as long as it has empathic characters and honest emotions.”