“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” 30-minute preview quick take: Intense

BY Joanna Mendoza

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” seems to be better than its predecessor. We’ll see if it really is on April 30! (Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures)

I loved Sam Raimi’s first two Spider-Man movies from way back in the early 2000s. They felt like how superhero movies must be made. On the other hand, I don’t remember much about 2012’s Marc Webb reboot, except that it put me to sleep.

Judging from the 30-minute preview of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 that we saw last night, however, the sequel won’t be anything like its predecessor. If those scenes were any indication, we’re in for an intense, seat-gripping ride. Or, at the very least, the movie won’t put us to sleep. Here are five reasons I’m truly looking forward to watching this sequel.

Award-winning troupe assembled in ‘The Monuments Men’

The unlikely group of war heroes in “The Monuments Men,” in Philippine cinemas Feb. 12. (Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

“The story of the Monuments Men is one that really very few people know,” says George Clooney, who returns to the director’s chair for the story of a small group of artists, art historians, architects, and museum curators who would lead the rescue of 1,000 years of civilization during World War II in his new film, The Monuments Men. “Artists, art dealers, architects–these were men that were far beyond the age that they were going to be drafted into a war or volunteer. But they took on this adventure, because they had this belief that culture can be destroyed. If they’d failed, it could have meant the loss of six million pieces of art. They weren’t going to let that happen–and the truth of the matter is, they pulled it off.”

‘Saving Mr. Banks’: Untold story of ‘Mary Poppins’ Journey from book to screen

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson in “Saving Mr. Banks” (Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

In 1961, Walt Disney invited Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers to his studio in Los Angeles to discuss, in person, his continued interest in obtaining the movie rights to her beloved book and character–a pitch he first made to her in the 1940s. Still hesitant and disinterested after all those years, Travers wanted to tell the Hollywood impresario to go fly a kite but with dwindling sales of her books and a bleak economic future looming, P.L. Travers said yes and embarked on a two-week sojourn in Los Angeles that would ultimately set the wheels of the beloved film in motion.

‘RoboCop’: Meet the characters!

“RoboCop” opens in Philippine cinemas on Feb. 5, 2014.

Columbia Pictures’ new, futuristic thriller RoboCop boasts of a powerhouse cast led by Joel Kinnaman (The Darkest Hour, TV’s The Killing), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Michael Keaton (Tim Burton’s Batman series, Night Shift), and Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers, Pulp Fiction), as well as Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch, Somersault), Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, Little Children), and Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder, Knocked Up).

2014 #savethedate: Local release dates for ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ ‘The Fault in our Stars,’ ‘Gone Girl,’ and more from 20th Century Fox

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” opens in Philippine cinemas on May 22. (Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

We’ve already shared with you the 2014 releases from Warner Bros. and Solar-UIP (Universal, Paramount, Solar). Today, we present to you the 2014 lineup of 20th Century Fox. But first, our top picks (in order of release)!

2014 #savethedate: Local release dates for 47 Ronin, Noah, Transformers 4, and more from Solar-UIP

“47 Ronin” opens in Philippine cinemas Jan. 8, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)

Yesterday, we featured the 2014 movies from Warner Bros. This time, the spotlight is on Solar-UIP (Universal Pictures, Paramount, Solar). And just like with the Warner releases, we have synopses, trailers, and release dates.

But before the complete list, here are our top picks, in order of release date.

2014 #savethedate: Local release dates for ‘The Lego Movie,’ ‘Godzilla,’ ‘Interstellar,’ and more from Warner Bros.

We’re super excited about “The LEGO Movie”! (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.)

It’s only two more weeks until 2014! Will the new year be a big one for movies?

This week, we’re doing a series of 2014 “previews,” featuring movies coming out next year–and so far confirmed for Philippine release–per distributor. Today, it’s all about Warner Bros. We included release dates, synopses, and trailers. Happy previewing!

‘American Hustle’ clip: Batman hits on Lois Lane!

BY Joanna Mendoza

Christian Bale and Amy Adams in “American Hustle” (Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures)

Well, not really. 

But some clever commenters jokingly said this new clip from American Hustle won’t sit well with Superman. In this super (er, Bat?) short video, Christian Bale‘s con man Irving Rosenfeld meets for the first time his would-be partner and lover Sydney Prosser, played by Amy Adams. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, Bale is the most recent Batman, and Adams is the Lois Lane to Henry Cavill‘s latest Man of Steel.

Leonardo DiCaprio shares ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ pics on Facebook

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese team up for their fifth film together, “The Wolf of Wall Street.” (Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

Better late than never! 

I just saw these Wolf of Wall Street pics posted on Leonardo DiCaprio‘s Facebook page about 12 hours ago. I understand it’s a big deal that DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are teaming up again, but what really got me excited about this movie are Matthew McConaughey and Jon Bernthal. Take a look at their pics on DiCaprio’s Facebook page!

 

To whet your appetite, above is a photo of Scorsese directing DiCaprio. Below is a still of DiCaprio and Jonah Hill looking like they’re genuinely having a ball.

Jonah Hill and DiCaprio (Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

Here is the movie’s poster: 

(Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

Watch the trailer here: 

 

Oh, and going back to “better late than never,” a belated happy 39th birthday to one of Hollywood’s current bests!

The Wolf of Wall Street, from Paramount Pictures, will be released in the U.S. on Christmas Day 2013. It has yet to have a Philippine release date.

Angelina Jolie is deliciously wicked in first ‘Maleficent’ trailer!

BY Joanna Mendoza

Angelina Jolie as “Maleficent” (Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

“I know who you are, you’ve been watching over me my whole life,” says Aurora (Elle Fanning)  as she’s walking in the woods. “Don’t be afraid.”

“I am not afraid,” answers a shadow.

“Then come out,” coaxes Aurora.

“Then you’ll be afraid,” counters Maleficent, in a menacing and deliciously evil manner that only Angelina Jolie can pull off. (Okay, maybe not.)