my reel thoughts

movie talk from a pinoy perspective

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MOVIE REVIEW: 'Isa Pa With Feelings' (2019)

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Isa Pa With Feelings’ (2019)

Damdamin ang damdamin. It’s a feels trip for Carlo Aquino and Maine Mendoza’s first team-up on the big screen. Here’s my review of Prime Cruz’ ‘Isa Pa With Feelings’

Isa Pa follows Mara (Maine Mendoza) who is Hearing, and Gali (Carlo Aquino) who is Deaf, as they navigate their way through the many differences and obstacles of the complicated set-up of their budding relationship.

Let me start by…

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MOVIE REVIEW: 'I'm Ellenya L.' (2019)

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘I’m Ellenya L.’ (2019)

Maris Racal is Ellenya L, and she’s ready to show us all her sh*t. Here’s my full review of Boy2 Quizon’s ‘I’m Ellenya L.’

The film follows Ellenya Lakampati (Maris Racal), an aspiring vloggerwho dreams of becoming a viral superstar online. In her bizzare attempts to reach this level of fame, an unfortunate incident happens to her which steers her to a wrong direction, and she’s quickly…

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MOVIE REVIEW: 'The Panti Sisters' (2019)

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Panti Sisters’ (2019)

These Pantis will show you what they’re all about. Here’s my review of Jun Robles Lana’s ‘The Panti Sisters’.

The film tells the story of the titular Panti sisters— Gabriel (Paolo Ballesteros), Samuel (Christian Bables), and Daniel (Martin Del Rosario) — as they go through the journey of finding a woman to conceive a child with, which is one of their father’s (John Arcilla) conditions in order…

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CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: F@*#bois (Fuccbois)

Time to get F@*#ED! Here’s my review of Eduardo Roy’s ‘Fuccbois’ (stylized as F@*#bois)

Fuccbois tells the story of Ace and Miko, two male bikini pageant contestants sharing the same dream: to become famous actors in the future. That dream is suddenly upended when they accidentally do something they never thought they would do.

The premise is quite promising. There’s a lot of baggage to unpack…

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CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: 'Tabon' (2019)

CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Tabon’ (2019)

Xian Lim’s directorial debut will make you question a lot of things. Here’s my review of Xian Lim’s ‘Tabon’.

Tabon is about a man whose father has just passed away. As he fixes all the plans for his funeral, he starts to unravel the secrets that his father—and his whole family—has hidden from him his whole life.

One thing that I liked the most about the film is the mystery behind what this…

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CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: 'Pandanggo Sa Hukay' (2019)

CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Pandanggo Sa Hukay’ (2019)

Iza Calzado dances with death in this roller-coaster ride of a movie. Here’s my review of Sheryl Rose Andes’ ‘Pandanggo Sa Hukay’.

The film is about Elena (Iza Calzado), a midwife at a birthing clinic in Cavite. She’s preparing for a job interview abroad, and on the day before her interview, fate brings her to a dangerous circumstance. She is suddenly kidnapped by a notorious robbery gang as…

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CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: 'Edward' (2019)

CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Edward’ (2019)

The public hospital takes centerstage in this bittersweet drama. Here’s my review of Thop Nazareno’s ‘Edward’

The film is about Edward, a young boy who’s suddenly burdened with the responsibility of taking care of his sick father. In their stay in the hospital, he finds new friends, explores new territory, falls in love, and discovers what life is really all about.

The film lets us explore into…

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CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: 'John Denver Trending' (2019)

CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEW: ‘John Denver Trending’ (2019)

See how social media has made humanity so cruel, in this powerful tale of life in the new age. Here’s my review of Arden Rod Condez’s ‘John Denver Trending’

The film follows John Denver Cabungal, a young student from the province of Antique, as he is wrongfully accused of stealing his classmate’s iPad, and is caught on video beating that classmate up. As the video goes viral on social media, we…

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MOVIE REVIEW: 'Hello, Love, Goodbye' (2019)

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ (2019)

Love finds its way to Hong Kong, here in the first-ever team up of Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards. Here’s my review of Cathy Garcia-Molina’s ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’

Hello, Love, Goodbye tells the story of Joy (Kathryn Bernardo), a registered nurse who works as a domestic helper in Hong Kong to provide for her family, and to be able to apply for a visa to Canada, where she can work as a…

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CINEMALAYA 2019 | MOVIE REVIEWS: Shorts A

It’s Cinemalaya season once again! Last year, I forgot to review all the short films as I focused on reviewing the full-length entries. This year is different, I’m as ready as ever to give you guys all the goods. I’m back to reviewing the shorts, starting with Shorts A. Let’s do this.

Gatilyo – 7/10

Dir. Harold Lance Pialda

The film’s title, Gatilyo, is both literal and metaphorical. Gatilyo…

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MOVIE REVIEW: 'Between Maybes' (2019)

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Between Maybes’ (2019)

The first on-screen team up of Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto delivers a refreshing rom-com experience. Here’s my review of Jason Paul Laxamana’s ‘Between Maybes’.

The film tackles the story of Hazel Ilagan (Julia Barretto), a former child star struggling to get roles now that she’s grown older. As she slowly gets fed up with trying to ressurect her showbiz career, she goes on an impromptu…

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MOVIE REVIEW: 'Eerie' (2019)

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Eerie’ (2019)

Does Eerie actually live up to all the hype? Time to find out. Here’s my review of Mikhail Red’s ‘Eerie’

Eerie tackles the story of the tragic deaths of the some of the students of the fictional Sta. Lucia Academy for Girls. Pat (Bea Alonzo)is the school’s guidance counselor who also happens to see hear, and actually communicate with the spirits of those who died in their campus. As she learns…

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MOVIE REVIEW: 'Alone/Together' (2019)

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Alone/Together’ (2019)

It’s a whole new territory for LizQuen, as they take on more mature, realistic roles in a film that’s about the dreamer in all of us. Here’s my review of Antoinette Jadaone’s ‘Alone/Together’

Many would argue that this film about Tin and Raf’s (Enrique Gil & Liza Soberano, respectively) relationship and its shortcomings, but after watching the film, I thought otherwise. There have been many…

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MOVIE REVIEW: "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" (2018)

MOVIE REVIEW: “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” (2018)

This film is not for the indecisive. As 2018 comes to a close, I give you my last review for 2018, here’s my review of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.

WARNING: This review may contain some SPOILERS, though essentially this review should be spoiler-free, as you’ll get tons of different stories and endings anyway.

Ever since I discovered Black Mirrorearly 2017, I instantly became a fan. The pilot…

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CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS 2018 | MOVIE REVIEW: 'Hospicio' (2018)

CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS 2018 | MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Hospicio’ (2018)

A mash-up between The Skeleton Key and Get Out? Doesn’t sound so original, no? Here’s my review of Bobby Bonifacio Jr.’s’ Hospicio’.

The film tells the story of Leslie, an meth-addicted artist who is brought to the Hospicio Nueva Vida, a “wellness center” for those who suffer different kinds of addiction. As she tries to escape the facility, she uncovers the dark, mysterious secret that haunts…

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CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS 2018 | MOVIE REVIEW: 'Double Twisting Double Back' (2018)

CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS 2018 | MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Double Twisting Double Back’ (2018)

What do you get when you mix Fight Club with Black Swan and add a dash of Whiplash? A wildly entertaining, high-tensioned film that’s crazy as f*ck. Here’s my full review of Joseph Abello’s ‘Double Twisting Double Back’.

WARNING: This review has SPOILERS!

If you haven’t watched the film, I suggest reading this right after. For those who have no means or plans of watching this film, or if you…

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MOVIE REVIEW: 'Exes Baggage' (2018)

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Exes Baggage’ (2018)

Black Sheep’s first outing is a film that’s about as real as it can get. Here’s my review of Dan Villegas‘ ‘Exes Baggage‘.

The film is centered around ex-lovers Nix (Carlo Aquino) and Pia (Angelica Panganiban). 2 years after their painful breakup, they unexpectedly meet again at the opening of their friend’s bar. As they catch up with each other’s lives, they start to look back on their failed…

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