New seasons and shows at Netflix this July

Watch out for these great titles that have been trending on the digital screen on Netflix this July. Including Alessandra de Rossi's directorial debut, My Amanda, with Piolo Pascual; the beginning of the Joseon zombie apocalypse in Kingdom: Ashin of the North; and the coming of age story in season 2 of Never Have I Ever, produced by Mindy Kaling. Below are the streaming dates on Netflix. 

My Amanda - July 15

Never Have I Ever - July 15

Kingdom: Ashin of the North - July 23

Click on this album or watch the video below for the list of shows and release dates.

 

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A spectrum of emotions and values in Rainbow's Sunset

Watch a different family movie this Christmas as acclaimed director Joel Lamangan and Heaven's Best Entertainment Productions bring an extraordinary journey and love in Rainbow's Sunset.

In the tradition of reunions and get togethers, a family becomes dysfunctional as the father Ramon Estrella (Eddie Garcia) comes out to an affair with his long time lover, Fredo (Tony Mabesa). Ramon decided to leave his long home and wife (Gloria Romero) to take care of Fredo who is dying of cancer. Disorder and confusion has struck the family whether they would accept and appreciate their father's decision.

Cast of Rainbow's Sunset with Joel Lamangan (director) and Eric Ramos (screenwriter)

In a blog conference with the cast of Rainbow's Sunset, the cast appreciated the values that they have learned filming. For young actors Noel Comia, Zeke Sarmenta, and Adrian Cabido, they have learned and want to impart acceptance, love and the importance of family as the essential things that we could absorb throughout the movie.

Kapuso Star Sunshine Dizon agrees and would like to reiterate that the family is the only group of people most important to us. They are the first line of defense against anything that would get us in trouble and they will love and accept us no matter what we may go through in life.

For director Joel Lamangan, he thinks that the LGBT-themed movies are getting more acceptance but the core of the story is love and acceptance. For a couple of years now, the theme has not left the MMFF and he hopes for good acceptance and understanding from the people who will see Rainbow's Sunset.

Rainbow's Sunset also casts Tirso Cruz III, Aiko Melendez, Max Collins as young Gloria Romero, Jim Pebanco, Tanya Gomez, Sue Prado, Marcus Madrigal, Ross Pesigan, Adrian Cabido, Hero Bautista, Vince Dillon, Nella Marie Dizon, Ace Merfel, Benz Sangalang and Celine Juan. With special participation of Albie Casino.

Cast of Rainbow's Sunset with Joel Lamangan and Eric Ramos

See a glimpse of the film Rainbow's Sunset below. Opening December 25 in theaters, an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

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BLACK MASS movie review

Johnny Depp plays America's Most Wanted James "Whitey" Bulger in the crime-drama BLACK MASS, directed by Scott Cooper under Warner Bros. Pictures.

One that is most significant in this movie is emulating James Bulger himself which has been done to Johnny Depp. The makeup was done very well and we cannot deny Johnny Depp's portrayal is very good. Sometimes I think that he is Mr. Burns. Johnny Depp's stylist pretty did a good job copying Bulger's features.

Johnny Depp and James Bulger

In fact, the character is very petrifying. His acts and how he threatens the people around him, even without words, the angry look from Bulger's eyes guarantees a bullet to your head. A scene is totally gruesome so if you're so sick to look at things, you better cover your eyes and just focus on the story.

The story is very interesting and we just hope that gangsters never existed. It gives absolute danger not just to the people involved but to the community where they belong. But instead of letting these gangsters roam around the community, it is better that we report them to authorities. It is not just lives that they take but hopes for the families of those who were killed, the corrupted minds of the youth that joins them and the resources that were supposed to be utilized for more productive things.

BLACK MASS opens October 21 in theaters and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (Philippines). The ensemble cast also includes Joel Edgerton (“The Great Gatsby,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) as FBI Agent John Connolly; Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”) as Whitey’s brother, powerful State Senator Billy Bulger; Rory Cochrane (“Argo”) as Stephen Flemmi, Whitey’s closest partner in crime; Jesse Plemons (TV’s “Fargo”) as Whitey’s main henchman, Kevin Weeks; and Kevin Bacon (“Crazy, Stupid, Love,” TV’s “The Following”) as FBI Special Agent in Charge Charles McGuire. Rated R16 for some violence and drugs.

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2 Roberts in The Judge

Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall star in a drama where family values and principles clash. Warner Bros. Pictures' The Judge is the first time team up of Oscar nominee RDJ and Oscar winners Robert Duvall on the big screen. The film is set to play in theaters October 22, distributed by Warner Bros Pictures (Philippines).

In The Judge, RDJ plays city lawyer Hank Palmer who will go back to his childhood place and meet his enstranged father and town judge, Robert Duvall, who is suspected of murder. There, Hank will discover truth and will reconnect him to the family he left.

The film also features a stellar supporting cast, including Vincent D’Onofrio (TV’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”), Jeremy Strong (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Lincoln”), Dax Shepard (TV’s “Parenthood”), Leighton Meester (TV’s “Gossip Girl”), Ken Howard (“J. Edgar,” “Michael Clayton”), Emma Tremblay (“Elysium”), Balthazar Getty (TV’s “Brothers & Sisters”), David Krumholtz (“This Is the End”), Sarah Lancaster (TV’s “Chuck”), Grace Zabriskie (TV’s “Big Love”) and Denis O’Hare (TV’s “True Blood”).

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looking back in THE LAST 5 YEARS

what do you see in the last 5 years? i have so many things to look back around that time. i am thappy to say that i had so much fun. i earned friends, solved problems, changed careers and now i am looking forward to a new chapter in the next five years.

one special thing about the last five years is there's a new theater company in town. i am also very glad to say that i've been a part of their 5 years. 9 Works Theatrical has given the Philippine audience with quality musicals that i loved and kept in my heart. these are Songs For A New World, three runs of RENT, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, They're Playing Our Song, The Wedding Singer, Gawad-Buhay award-winner Grease and more.

as their newest offering, they bring another Jason Robert Brown hit, The Last 5 Years which tells the story of two lovers, Jamie Wellerstein and Cathy Hyatt. their story of falling in love, getting married and the sad divorce in a tear-jerking musical.

played by artists Joaquin Valdes as Jamie and Nikki Gil as Cathy, they will deliver a story that many people would relate to. the musical also gave Jason Robert Brown nominations and awards and also dubbed as Time Magazine's "one of the best musicals of 2001." it was funny that director Robbie Guevarra was just joking to do this musical in celebration of 9WT's 5-year existence but Santi Santamaria and company took it seriously and it was made possible. something fresh for the company and for us all.

on August 9-31, i am coming back to Carlos P. Romulo auditorium to witness their incredible love journey. but for now, i have to listen and sob at the music on my Spotify playlist. directed by 9WT artistic director, Robbie Guevarra.

for more information and tickets, you may visit www.facebook.com/9WorksTheatricals and follow 9wtonline on Instagram and Twitter. #L5YManila

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SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD movie review

a heart-striking drama and Steve Carell like you've never seen him before, puts on good emotion and hope for everybody to find his/her true love despite of an impending apocalypse in SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD. opening today in Glorietta and Greenbelt cinemas by Focus Features.

as an asteroid nears to put absolute destruction to the earth, Dodge (Steve Carell) finds himself alone as his wife also left him for an unknown reason. as all panic in the forthcoming destruction, he finds his own purpose on how to spend the remains of his life. finding his high school sweetheart from far away was his neighbor Penny (Keira Knightley) who didn't catch the flight to go back to her family. so together, with the very prompt Dodge and wasted Penny, they didn't think that their differences would compliment each other.

others might resolve on crazy ways like sex and alcohol, on how to spend their pre-apocalyptic life, the two agreed to help each other to get to where they needed to. along the way they meet friends whom they learn some lessons about life, which also brought the two closer.

the sweetest part is that they please each other in order to achieve what they needed in the first place. this is not a comedy movie but the drama makes you think to spend each day special for everyone around you. you might not know that it would be your last time together so make the most out of it.

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SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY movie review

it's a pleasure to see a movie which makes a character. just as Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay awards her persona in this film, it also exposes some things that happen in the society as it was manifested in the industry she belongs.

the whole movie is a journey. and she aims to make herself known as an actress and not just a scary women often playing as a witch in horror films. though it was a given fact and she has accepted it, i think she wanted more recognition and acceptance. and everyone is with her in having the attention she needs. from the development and to the people she would like to thank, people will be engaged in filling up the blanks.

and with her life, there is also ups and downs. she has established her image in her showbiz career as a witch, falling as the only peg of scare and has stayed there for a long time. with her efforts and passion for what she's done and been doing, the current generation of film makers has been thinking too commercialized and not putting up the real professional and great talents. but in spite of her seniority in the craft, she still puts on respect on authority in the movie, her director.

her story would define most of the people who are striving for a pat in the back. and this movie is a sure great tribute for her. kudos to the film makers behind this, not just giving Lilia Cuntapay the spotlight but to address many issues.

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ARGO movie review

imagine you're trapped in a foreign land and there's little chance of escape. the most creative thing to rescue people from a land in dispute with your own country is taken in Warner Brother's ARGO starred and directed by Ben Affleck.

based on true events, ARGO is a rescue mission of 6 Americans who escaped a hostile takeover by the Iranians in a dispute in the late 1970s. in order to save them, CIA Agent Antonio Mendez plots a very ambitious project which raised the eyebrows of security professionals and unimaginably, the show business industry. but who cares? the agent pushed through with the help of filmmaking icons John Chambers (John Goodman) and Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin), to plot a futuristic and fake movie, Argo.

and the exciting part is how will they execute the plan making almost everyone involved. the tedious work from both parties -- and of course, more in favor of the US interest was peacefully and done in big suspense. the tension and the worry of not getting caught was done in smooth timing. hold on to your seats and cheer in their graceful escape.

i agree that this was the best rescue mission ever in history. and how it was done on film, makes adrenalin rise on getting away from danger. Argo is definitely a must-watch for suspense film fans. and Ben Affleck really does know how to choose his movies. congrats to him.

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BONA review

admitting i'm a fan of the one and only Eugene Domingo, it was a great pleasure seeing her comeback to the theater scene in PETA Theater's BONA, where she plays the title role.

BONA is based in the 1980's movie by Lino Brocka, starring Nora Aunor and Phillip Salvador. with the same style of plot while set in contemporary Manila, BONA is about a call center agent who became a fan of a talent search Star of Tomorrow wannabe, Gino Sanchez (Edgar Allan Guzman).

after hearing his story in the show, she has already connected herself to him and devoted all her resources. despite of the hopeless future for the actor, she continues to support him in every way possible until she loses most things she had. and with chosen circumstances, Bona had developed a romantic feeling as Gino found better ways to take advantage of her.

it was long before Bona realized that Gino is taking advantage of her. her exhaustion from efforts and money giving in to the media people to save Gino's career, caused her to get angry to Gino and even herself. she didn't even listen to the people around her about the things happening because she fell in love. now that she had nothing, also a potential lover is not an answer to come to when she needed help.

we saw Eugene's flexibility as an actress and this was a tedious work for her. grateful to PETA for offering her the role as she misses her first stint as an actress. it's good that they capitalized first on Eugene's strength as a comedienne and we were introduced on how she can be a dramatic actress. bravo in every single scene, even her co-actors, Edgar Allan and the rest.

also, the story development draws audiences to the highs and lows. first part is a sitcom where you would obviously have fun. you'll get to know Bona more and what she does. you'll know her friends and family too. i swear, you'll love them all. and as the story progresses, you will wish to save her condition and applaud her as she redeems herself.

another character which maybe unsung from the other reviews is her landlord, (Juliene Mendoza) who gives the striking lines, pick-up lines that is.

Bona is written in such a way where its audiences will easily relate to Bona. her character, her friends, her dreams and it seems that Bona help us realize that we are all like her in many cases. so the lesson here is how we can control ourselves and still love.

PETA's BONA runs from August 24 - September 23, 2012 at the PETA Theater, #5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. tickets are still on sale at Php 1000, Php 800 and Php 600. please support Philippine arts.

photo credits Jory Rivera of BroadwayWorld.com

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EUGENE DOMINGO is BONA

in tribute to renowned and multi-awarded director, Mr. Lino Brocka and only Philippine superstar, Ms. Nora Aunor, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) brings the classic story of fan and idol in the modernized BONA. starring Eugene Domingo as Bona and Edgar Allan Guzman as Gino Sanchez. playing from August 24 to September 23, 2012 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.

in today's rendition of Bona, Bona is a call center agent who finds an eye to Gino Sanchez who comes out from a TV talent search, Star of Tomorrow. she followed Gino's career and eventually invested all of her strength, time and resources taking care of the actor. his father and friends tried to stop her from doing it, but her admiration grows into obsession despite that the actor only has the poor reputation in the industry. on the other hand, this opens the idea for Gino to abuse Bona's efforts and take all her resources. even more, he seduces Bona. what's left is, will Bona stay as Gino's emotional slave or will she regain her normal self as the people around her wishes her to be?

back on the theater scene, Eugene Domingo finds herself grounded again and devoted her time to all duration of the run. she remembers when she starts from theater in UP where she had a very strict training, very different from the PETA crowd where she had a fun time. although, she thanked both theater companies for molding her talent the way we appreciate it today.

one of the major discussions during the press conference is her long kissing scene with Edgar Allan who is relatively young from her. Edgar noted that it was sweet but Eugene stressed that it was minty. she had to prepare very well of the scene as it will be more talked about when more people see it on stage.

BONA starring Eugene Domingo is presented by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) under the direction of Soxie Topacio.

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MUNDO MAN AY MAGUNAW bids farewell to fans

the stars of the hit TV series Mundo Man ay Magunaw looks back to the success and moments making the teleserye at the set. the series makes its closing in two weeks time only at ABS-CBN Kapamilya Network.

the cast of Mundo Man ay Magunaw

present at the press conference are the main cast led by the empress of drama, Empress Schuck, together with Nikki Gil, premiere actresses Eula Valdez, Sylvia Sanchez, Ms. Tessie Tomas Ejay Falcon, Emilio Garcia and Jason Gainza. each actor had bonded with each other and letting go the show is very difficult for them. the exchange of ideas and dialogues has been very memorable. veteran actors applaud the young talents in their professional character and skills and saw greater potential as ABS-CBN will provide them with prime roles that will help them shine.

Empress Schuck, Eula Valdez, Sylvia Sanchez, Ejay Falcon

young stars, on the other hand were very thankful in the experience that they were able to work with Tessie Tomas, Eula Valdez and Sylvia Sanchez. most of them got teary-eyed discussing the precious moments in the set and that all of it will come to an end. Empress Schuck even asked if it's possible to have a book two after almost 2 seasons that Mundo Man ran.

Mundo Man ay Magunaw creator and writer, Salvador Royales, is very impressed with the outcome of this teleserye and how it was embraced by the viewers in its 6 months of running. the impressive skills of the actors were a revelation to him as well.

catch the last two intensifying weeks of Mundo Man ay Magunaw from Monday-Friday at 2:30PM after It's Showtime. for more information, you can visit www.abs-cbn.com or follow @abscbndotcom on Twitter or like the Mundo Man ay Magunaw Facebook page.

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CAREDIVAS back for a limited run

the hit musical CAREDIVAS will be back for a limited run and what's more special is it will be seen in a friendly place like Onstage at Greenbelt 1! surprised? Repertory Philippines welcomes the divas in their home and all will be painted in pink. this is in celebration of both theater companies in their more than 45 years of co-existence and this time, to hail to the Philippine theater scene.

Chelsea (Melvin Lee), Shai (Vincent De Jesus), Kayla (Jerald Napoles, Ricci Chan), Thalia (Dudz Teraña, Jason Barcial) and Jonee (Phil Noble, Buddy Caramat) literally will be far from their home at the PETA Theater but it will be a great privilege for them to share their story to the busy Makati district and teach us how some OFWs thrive to increase their income to upgrade the lives of the families here in the Philippines. we'll these five gays laugh, cry and even fall in love in a place where they slave themselves.

Melvin Lee (Chelsea) and Vince de Jesus (Shai)

Jerald Napoles (Kayla), Jason Barcial (Thalia) and Buddy Caramat (Jonee)

recall all the songs that portray their lives as friends and individuals who struggle each other's lives. here is Good Gurlz which is one of Vince de Jesus' (musical director) compositions for the stage play.

Good Gurlz - The Divas
Repertory's Joy Virata is joining the divas along with Mike Salomon and the rest of the crew of PETA for this special run. directed by Maribel Legarda and written by Liza Magtoto who weaved her researches from personal experiences and interviews into a great musical.

CAREDIVAS by PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) aims to educate the public how OFWs live and risk their lives for a better living. special run starts on April 27 - 28, 2012 with 3PM and 8PM shows at Repertory Philippines' home, Onstage, Greenbelt 1 at Makati City.

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Jaden Smith stars in THE KARATE KID

Jaden Smith, whose turning 12 this year and son of Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith, stars in a new adaptation of the 80's martial arts flick, THE KARATE KID. joined by Asian martial arts superstar, Jackie Chan, he discovers and unravels secrets to discipline, self defense and honor.

Jaden Smith was once seen in heart-thumping Pursuit of Happyness with his father. now, he takes on the spotlight in Karate Kid. in this story, he plays Dre Parker -- a popular kid in his hometown in the US but was taken to China by his mom to do her career. with the new environment and cultural differences, Dre has managed to earn friends and worse, enemies. Chinese classmate bullied him which got the attention of the school maintenance, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). secretly, Mr. Han is a Kung Fu master and then taught Dre the art.

the movie was predominantly shot in China so expect to see majestic Chinese environment like The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Wudang Mountain, Qi Xi Festival and Beijing.

see how Jaden takes on his journey through China and be amazed by his high-flying kicks and punches. THE KARATE KID opens in the Philippines on June 11 2010 distributed by Columbia Pictures International.

photos courtesy of Columbia Pictures

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EVERYBODY'S FINE movie review

due to the advancements in our life today, we sometimes forget some very important but basic things in life. one of them is family. the very people that will listen to us, talk to us and every thing that how one can enjoy life.

i'm so pleased to see EVERYBODY'S FINE. it's about Robert De Niro who plays a father of 4 kids. a very special gathering prepared but all four kids declined to attend. they have provided the best alibis to keep off from their father. all that Robert wants is to see his kids.

the movie discusses tproblem of miscommunication between fathers and kids. most cases we know that children tell more to their mothers and sometimes kids feel that they are pushed too hard for the expectations of their father. for the lesson, children should accept tough love from their father because they also want what's good for them.

if you really miss your family, this is a real tearjerker. you will realize that fathers equally love you when you doubt about it. a lesson that you can say anything to both parents. when i, joriben, flow, ria, earth and iris watched it, we joked that it can be a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode. watch it to know why.

EVERYBODY'S FINE will be shown in Ayala cinemas only starting April 7.

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