MOVIE REVIEW - SPACE JAM: A New Legacy

Warning: Contains spoilers

After 25 years, the Tunes are back in the game with now a new human was forcibly taken from the real world in Space Jam: A New Legacy. Bugs, Lola, and the Tunes get to know LeBron James, as he goes on a mission to save his son, Dom (Cedric Joe) from Al G. Rhythm (Don Cheadle) through a game of basketball.

When you already have something to expect from the movie, this was even more exciting because you will have a Warner Bros. geekdom in more than half of the movie. You get to spot a lot of characters from animations, movies, and series which I have already discussed here. We'll get more and you'll be excited and busy looking for them in every scene. The ones we haven't spot in the trailer gave a surprise in the basketball spectacle.

Justice League Easter Egg in Space Jam: A New Legacy

There's also one thing that crossed over from one animated universe. I was amazed to find another Easter Egg with the flying saucer A-113 -- if you're familiar with it, A-113 is always present in Pixar movies. The artists of Space Jam: A New Legacy I think deliberately put in on the scene to give tribute to their classroom while they start in animation at the California Institute of the Arts.

It is good that they somehow were able to connect it with the original Space Jam as the aliens of the Mean Team were also present as spectators of the game. If you're looking for Michael Jordan, you'll get a Michael Jordan as well. 😉 That's only the connection of these two movies and it's well-executed.

The Tunes are also getting an upgrade. Space Jam: A New Legacy combines 2D and 3D animation. Would this pave the way for them to be in 3D in upcoming movies and series? I hope so. Warner Bros. could create a new experience for its loyal and new audience with the new look of the Tunes.

On a serious note, this opens up the avenue for families to bond despite the available technology and discover their potentials. LeBron's acting was okay and not cringy if I'll assess it. I think he did better than Don Cheadle, no offense. 😉 I was also expecting more of Zendaya voicing Lola Bunny but I think she had enough airtime here to balance it with LeBron. But you still did a great job, Z.

Space Jam: A New Legacy is now streaming on HBO Max.

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MOVIE REVIEW - My Amanda

Alessandra de Rossi's directorial debut My Amanda revolves around the strong relationship of Amanda and TJ who are both attached to each other but not romantically. They probably teasing with no sexual attraction but denying their true feelings for each other.

The story goes with TJ's voiceover that seems like his heartfelt story for Amanda while we are being taken to their moments of comforting each other in dealing with their complicated relationships. They experience both ups and downs and they prove to us that friendships are unlabeled commitments. They also have the funniest memories, there also the saddest times, but TJ and Amanda held on to each other up to the last. The surprising twist was a little heartbreaking in the end.

My Amanda can be classified as good and Alessandra deserves an applause for coming up with the story and directing it. She and Piolo showed the journey on how the audience can relate to their characters.

My Amanda is now streaming on Netflix.

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The Kissing Booth 3 arrives this August on Netflix

Netflix announces the release date of the third installment of The Kissing Booth. The romance series will end on this last part that starts streaming this August 11.

In The Kissing Booth 3, Elle faces the hardest decision of her life during the summer before college -- whether to move across the country with her dreamy boyfriend Noah or fulfill her lifelong promise to go to college with her BFF Lee. Whose heart will Elle break?

The film brings back the cast Joey King, Joel Courtney, Jacob Elordi, Taylor Zakhar Perez, together with Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Meganne Young & Molly Ringwald.

Vince Marcello writes and directs with Jay Arnold. The Kissing Booth 3 is produced by Vince Marcello, Michele Weisler, Ed Glauser, Andrew Cole-Bulgin, with executive producers Joey King, Adam Friedlander based on "The Kissing Booth" books by Beth Reekles.

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First look on Netflix's Red Notice featuring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds

Check out the first look of Red Notice shared by Dwayne Johnson on his Instagram post.

With Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot, Dwayne poses inside a gallery of sophisticated weapons. This is for the upcoming movie which will be arriving on Netflix this November. Dwayne plays a top FBI profiler who is in a manhunt for the world's most wanted art thief (Gal Gadot) and the greatest conman  (Ryan Reynolds) the world has ever seen. The three were brought together in a daring heist so we don't know what's gonna happen next.

Red Notice is written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Produced by Beau Flynn for FlynnPictureCo; Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia for Seven Bucks Productions; and Rawson Marshall Thurber. Streaming November 12, 2021.

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Jason Momoa fights for justice in Sweet Girl

Netflix will be releasing an original movie featuring Jason Momoa and this is different from his previous projects. Sweet Girl, also stars Isabela Merced starts streaming this August 20.

In Sweet Girl, Momoa plays Ray Cooper who fights for justice against the pharmaceutical company responsible for pulling a potentially life-saving drug from the market just before his wife (Adria Arjona) dies from cancer. But when his search for the truth leads to a deadly encounter that puts Ray and his daughter Rachel (Isabela Merced) in harm’s way, Ray’s mission turns into a quest for vengeance in order to protect the only family he has left.

Jason Momoa, Adria Arjona and Isabela Merced

Sweet Girl is directed by Brian Andrew Mendoza and stars Justin Bartha, Amy Brenneman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Raza Jaffrey, Lex Scott Davis, and Michael Raymond-James. Watch the trailer below.

 

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Sanofi celebrates International Self Care Day with Power To Love Yourself Completely Online Event

In celebration of International Self Care Day, Sanofi Philippines held an Instagram Live event called Power to Love Yourself Completely to discuss topics related to self care. Sanofi invited MommaNManila founder Michelle Aventajado and She Talks Asia Co-Founder and CEO Lynn Pinugo to talk about self  care, with topics such as how to teach kids about self care, and how working millennials can take care of themselves while working from home.

Janeena Chan, Jill Lim, Group Brand Manager of Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, Mommy Mish of MommaNManila and Lynn Pinugo, Co-Founder of SheTalksAsia

In line with the Global Self-Care Federation’s theme, #SelfCarePromise, the event also invited everyone to share their self care promises online, empowering the viewers to take the step towards taking care of themselves even in the smallest ways.

Promoting a holistic approach to health is a big part of Sanofi’s Panata, and encouraging others to practice self care is a part of this. Jill Ong-Lim, Group Brand Manager of Sanofi Consumer Healthcare shared, “We need to realize that self sare in itself is the goal. Not just for others, but just for yourself. ”

Janeena Chan moderated the discussion, sharing her own experience and tips for practicing self care. “Your reality is shaped within your mind, so as long as you know that you can get back up again, you’ll be okay.”

For Lynn Pinugo, it’s important that we know the difference between self soothing and self care. “Self soothing are those emergency routines that we do when we’re feeling bad, while self care are the things that you do so you build emotional agility. For self care, it’s the things you do so you don’t gas out, it’s more for the long term.”

As a mom, Michelle Aventajado also pointed out that self care can be anything simple. “Self care can be so many things. For me, it’s waking up early enough and having quiet time for myself, reading my bible and drinking coffee. For me, it’s to rest when I’m tired, stop when I’m overwhelmed, pause and reflect. And when my kids see me doing that, I’m setting an example.”

The event was attended by over 100 participants who shared their own self care promises via the comments section.

Sanofi Philippines encourages everyone to make their own self care promises via selfcarepromise.org and share them on Instagram, tagging @sanofi.ph, with the hashtags #SelfCarePromise, #ISCD21, and #HealthierPhilippines.

Watch the video here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRqhk6KHr5c/

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Growing up is a beast in Turning Red

Disney and Pixar won't leave us without a movie this 2021. They'd just released a teaser trailer of a new animated movie that talks about teenage life in Turning Red. But the catch is that "growing up is a beast."

The story is about Meilin Lee, an average Asian student and very human when calm and then transforms as a red panda while being stressed or when she's having a panic attack. Watch the trailer below.

For now, her mother only knows her secret. What would be the consequences when everybody in school and her community finds out? Aside from the battles in life that's already scary, being an animal as an alter ego would be another disaster.

The film is the latest from Domee Shi, who won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2018 with her Pixar-backed “Bao.” Coming to theaters in March 2022.

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SALE ALERT! The SM Store Clearance Sale this July

You’ll love great fashion finds and markdowns at The SM Store’s Big Clearance Sale from July 12 – 25, 2021.

After more than a year of keeping safe and healthy, now is the best time to refresh your wardrobe with new clothes, shoes, accessories and so much more. We otherwise call it, "a wardrobe makeover" and it's making our shopping muscles excited to strut in the halls of shopping heaven.

Candy colored button down shirt from SMYTH - now at P300

SM Accessories Men's Backpack and Duffle Bag now at P500 each

Tough Kids Gareth Sneakers for boys - now at P300 each

Re-visit the SM Store and re-discover how much fun it is to shop for style for your online meetings, small gatherings with family and friends, and running errands.

What’s in-store at SM? Check it out at m.me/SMFashionWomen, m.me/SMFashionMen, m.me/SMFashionBabiesKids and m.me/SMFashionYouth.

Visit The SM Store and check out more items on sale. Also available via SM Call to Deliver #143SM (#14376).

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MOVIE REVIEW - Black Widow

After being delayed by more than a year, Marvel movie highlighting Black Widow did not disappoint, as it served well of much-anticipated solo movie for the strongest woman Avenger.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff Black Widow

Starting by tracing Natasha Romanoff's (Scarlett Johansson) younger years, which I thought she was Alexei (David Harbour) and Melina's (Rachel Weisz) younger child because it looked like a boy, we can already sense or her strong will and strenght to protect anyone who tries to harm her family. We've already seen a part of her past in Age of Ultron but I thought we're going to see more of her growing up in the Red Room. Then after many years of being separated, and her values changed becoming an Avenger, it was not really the happiest family reunion because all of them had become weapons of the group that they serve individually.

Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, Florence Pugh

They also acknowledged the characters that we're missing in the MCU like Captain America, Ant-Man, Iron Man and Clint Barton. Her dark past was also explained further so we're going to feel her sadness despite she being so stiff and focused on her missions. Becoming an Avenger has changed her a lot. At least we also get some humor with Yelena disowning Natasha's landing pose in every fight.

 The action scenes hightened up from the first half of the movie to the second part but I think her sky fight was breathtaking. The punches and kicks are so solid and I almost felt it. I wish it could be seen in IMAX.

Like every other Marvel movies, you have to stay until the post-credits as it may usher another chapter in the MCU. Scarlett Johansson has given her best performance as Black Widow and this exit was a great achievement for her and the MCU. Her character will surely be missed. Kudos!

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Welcome to Casa Madrigal!

We have been missing a lot of family gatherings but Disney gives us a new family film added with a magical twist.

Welcome to Casa Madrigal. A hidden place in Colombia's forests is also the center of this year's Encanto -- an animated musical film that focuses on a family whose members are gifted with a unique ability except for one, Mirabel. The trailer shows us how their family and environment are very special, watch it below.

Casa Madrigal

While Mirabel's siblings have different gifts like super strength, shapeshifting, talking to animals, or nurturing the nature where they live, she considers herself as special as them.

Would Mirabel's family accept her as she is, or will she be able to discover her hidden power? What is her unknown purpose? Let's all discover this November in theaters.

Mirabel Madrigal voiced by Stephanie Beatriz

Encanto also features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, written by Jared Bush, screenplay by Charise Castro Smith. Directed by Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith.

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