RED RIDING HOOD poster

Warner Bros. has just released the international poster of the romantic fantasy thriller “Red Riding Hood” from director Catherine Hardwicke (“Twilight”).

The film features an ensemble cast, led by Amanda Seyfried (“Letters to Juliet,” “Mamma Mia!”) in the title role. The film also stars Gary Oldman (“The Dark Knight,” the “Harry Potter” films), Billy Burke (the “Twilight” films), Shiloh Fernandez (“Skateland”), Max Irons (“Dorian Gray”), Oscar® nominee Virgina Madsen (“Sideways”), and Oscar® winner Julie Christie (“Away from Her,” “Darling”).

In “Red Riding Hood,” Seyfried plays Valerie, a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie’s older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village.

For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon’s arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them.

As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. As panic grips the town, Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast—one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect…and bait.

Opening across the Philippines on March 2011, “Red Riding Hood” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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THEY'RE BACK! Disney / Pixar's CARS

Disney/Pixar has just released the images of the returning characters in the upcoming animated adventure “Cars 2,” the highly anticipated sequel to 2006’s blockbuster “Cars.”

Below are the new images and the individual character descriptions. “Cars 2” hits the track on June 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

Lightning McQueen (aka Lightning)

Number 95 Lightning McQueen is still a hotshot racecar, but his rookie days are past him. Now a permanent resident of Radiator Springs, Lightning has become a bona fide worldwide celebrity as winner of four Piston Cups.

After his latest win, Lightning returns home to enjoy life in the slow lane for a while with sweetheart Sally, best friend Mater and the rest of his Radiator Springs family. His off-season is unexpectedly cut short when Mater inadvertently prompts Lightning to enter the World Grand Prix, a high profile, three-part exhibition race that will take him around the globe.

With a fresh custom paint job and real, working headlights, Lightning sets off to Japan, Italy and England with Mater in tow for the adventure of a lifetime. But competing against the fastest cars in the world tests more than his racing skills when Lightning realizes his wide-eyed best friend may not be the pit chief nor ambassador he needs to navigate the unfamiliar international terrain.

Luigi

Radiator Springs resident Luigi is a big-hearted, gregarious and excitable Italian Fiat 500. A tire virtuoso and owner of Luigi’s Casa Della Tires, he and his sidekick Guido join Lightning and Mater as members of Team Lightning McQueen for the World Grand Prix. Luigi is also an aficionado and fanatic for all things Italian, and is particularly enchanted with Ferrari race cars. When the competition takes the team to his hometown of Porto Corsa, Italy, Luigi is over the moon to introduce the Radiator Springs crew to his charming village and the wonderful ways of Italy. His family welcomes the gang from Radiator Springs in a big, passionate Italian way: Amore!

Guido

Guido, the little Italian forklift, is the backbone of Casa Della Tires. He’s Luigi’s assistant and best friend, and together they are the biggest Ferrari racing fans in Carburetor County. A car of few English words other than “pit stop,” Guido is a force to be reckoned with when he’s changing tires in the pits during a race. Joining Team Lightning McQueen for the World Grand Prix, Guido will get to show off his turbo-charged, pedal-to-the-metal pit stops on the global stage…and maybe, just maybe, he’ll see some Ferraris!

Fillmore

Radiator Springs’ resident hippie Fillmore is an easy-going, peace-loving 1960s Volkswagen van. And as his friend and neighbor Sarge likes to say, “once a hippie, always a hippie.” At his popular shop Fillmore’s Organic Fuel, Fillmore brews his own fuel, which he sells with Bohemian accessories like tie-dyed mud flaps. But when he learns that the World Grand Prix will be run exclusively on the alternative fuel Allinol, Fillmore closes up shop and signs on as the fuel expert for Team Lightning McQueen.

Sarge

Green Army Jeep Sarge is a patriotic veteran who runs the Radiator Springs Army surplus store, Sarge’s Surplus Hut. Sarge’s no-nonsense attitude often leads to bickering with his hippie friend, neighbor and polar opposite, Fillmore. Despite their differences, the two are almost inseparable – even throughout their world travels. A security specialist with military connections around the globe, Sarge joins Lightning and Mater at the World Grand Prix as a member of Team Lightning McQueen.

Mack

Mack is Lightning McQueen’s trusted long-haul driver, crisscrossing the country from race to race, always with a smile on his grill. After dropping Lightning off in Radiator Springs with his fourth Piston Cup championship trophy, Mack sets off with the rest of the pit crew for a well-deserved vacation. Who knew that Lightning would end up jetting off to a race around the globe in the World Grand Prix.

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love that sparked a war in Orosman at Zafira

hailed from Francisco Baltazar's epic love story, Bit by Bit Productions brings Dulaang UP's Orosman at Zafira in the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage starting from February 4 to 26.

Orosman at Zafira tells the story of three kingdoms, Marueccos, Tedenst and Duquela. in two individuals who found love, war have sparked between all the kingdoms which resulted to massacre and destruction. this also pictures the strength of a Filipina accompanied by great dances, amazing stunts and emotional lyrics from the writer's sorrowful love story.

a previous production is part of Dulaang UP's 35th anniversary. i saw it's run at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater in UP Diliman with a powerhouse cast including Jay Gonzaga (Orosman), Maita Ponce, Delphine Buencamino, Tao Aves, Roeder Camanag, Red Concepcion, Kevin Concepcion, Acey Aguilar, Jacinta Remulla, Jean Judith Javier, Natasha Cabrera, Neil Tolentino, Nazer Salcedo, Ronnie Martinez and the Dulaang UP Ensemble. it's nice that Bit by Bit Productions enhanced the show in a bigger theater. i wonder how will they interpret it in a more powerful manner.

the show from UP is breath-taking. though it is delivered in a very poetic way, visuals are very amazing. i also like to commend on Tuxqs Rutaquio's stage design for it was very simple and functional. you have to watch the war scene from the three kingdoms because it puts out the anger which you should have imagined reading the poem. this will be directed by Dexter Santos.


this is a perfect February date with your partner in the season of love. you may already get your tickets and have another way of spending Valentines - in a cultural way.

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Planting - Goal in 2011

It's 2011 and I want to start a new hobby. Being eco-friendly would be a great option for a new goal this year. This time, I would like to display ornamental plants in our backyard and propagate the greens. It would provide us fresh air and nice green sight.

It would be best to plant your greens in nice-looking and large commercial planters you will find at EPlanters.com. Finding the perfect planter for the plants would bring out the best appearance of the garden. EPlanters.com also offers a wide variety of outdoor commercial planters for street gardens and parks. They are on sale now up to 20% OFF so you will get great deals this season. And they are willing to ship your planters for FREE.

Contact EPlanters now and choose your helper in decorating your yard. You can find all information at www.eplanters.com

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CHER makes a comeback in BURLESQUE

To give Columbia Pictures' new musical drama “Burlesque” the marquee pizzazz they envisioned, the filmmakers knew that only a megastar would do. It meant that they pursued the legendary Cher tirelessly before the Oscar® winner agreed to end a seven year hiatus and return to the big screen. (They even paid a surprise personal plea to Cher when she was on the Sony lot doing an ADR session for the animated film “The Zookeeper.”)

The filmmakers believed that Cher would respond to the role of Tess because the character is both familiar and contemporary, somebody with a lot to give who’s in danger of having her dream taken away. Director Steven Antin notes: “Tess is one of a zillion people losing their shirt. That’s a very real thing happening right now and I thought it was an interesting thing for this character to be experiencing.”

“Cher said, ‘I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Rich is better.’” Antin continues. “She’s been up and she’s been down and she’s had good times and bad times. I knew that she would relate to this character and this world. She’s the embodiment of female empowerment, you know? And that’s what Burlesque is about: female empowerment.”

“Burlesque” tells the story of Ali (Christina Aguilera), a small-town girl with a big voice, who thinks there had to be somewhere her dreams could be fulfilled, rather than remain an empty goal. Enter the world of burlesque.

Leaving behind hardship and an uncertain future for the entertainment capital Los Angeles, Ali stumbles upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue. Talking herself into a cocktail waitress job from Tess (Cher), the club’s glamorous and forthright proprietor, headliner and starmaker, Ali becomes a wide-eyed sponge to The Burlesque’s captivating acts. The outrageous costumes and bold choreography hold the young ingénue enraptured. That stage is where Ali was meant to be, so she vows to herself she’ll be on it someday.

Cher, through her incomparable voice, her trademark wit, and her charismatic presence, has established herself as a tireless, compelling performer of inestimable talent and unstoppable drive. Her contributions in music, television, stage and film have garnered countless accolades and awards and the admiration of generations of fans.

Cher’s iconic performance as Loretta Castorini in Norman Jewison’s “Moonstruck” won her both an Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award. Her work in Peter Bogdanovich’s “Mask” won her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. For Mike Nichols’ “Silkwood,” co-starring Meryl Streep and Kurt Russell, Cher was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award®. Her additional film credits include a diverse body of roles in “Mermaids,” “The Witches of Eastwick,” “Suspect,” “Stuck on You” and “Tea with Mussolini.”

Opening soon across the Philippines, “Burlesque” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

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new Philippine Bank Notes

below are the dummies for the new Philippine Bank notes. starting next week, the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) will issue the Php 20 bill. these new bank notes features Philippine tourist spots and natural treasures. more security features are made in the bills to prevent counterfeiting.

1000-peso bills

200-peso bills

100-peso bills

50-peso bills20-peso bills

this is also the first time when a political family is featured in a bank note. notice the 500-Peso bill which features husband and wife, former Sen. Ninoy Aquino and late President Corazon Aquino and their son, current President NoyNoy Aquino signs the bank note.

i think i have to save my current bank notes for they might have additional value since they will be part of the collections.

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ROSARIO review

one of the entries in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is a must-watch for all movie enthusiasts. first-timer Cinemabuhay and Studio 5 gives a period-film entitled Rosario starring Jennylyn Mercado in the title role. the film will draw lines in cinema houses starting December 25 and expected to win awards on the night of December 26.

award-winning talents are gathered in this film. powerhouse cast includes Yul Servo (Vicente), Dennis Trillo (Alberto) and Sid Lucero (Carding) as the men who loved Rosario. Albert Martinez, who is an award-winning talent himself, directs the movie.

Rosario is based on a true story about a liberated woman who falls on the traps of love of different men. every relationship is a devastating ending which made Rosario dropped her knees into suffering. her story is narrated by his son, Hesus (Dolphy) who comes to meet one of his nephews played by business-icon Manny V. Pangilinan.

i believe that the following should be won by this movie:

Best Cinematography - the movie is primarily set in the tobacco plantation in Isabela where Rosario met her first love, Vicente. it is staged in the early 1900's when the Philippines is under the American influence and transitioning from the Spanish era. we are drawn into that period and this movie helped us feel the provincial atmosphere. we are also drawn in the early Manila setting in the latter part of the movie. Manila is quite spacious yet and there's minimal informal settlers but poverty has it's place.

Best Actress - no doubt that Jennylyn Mercado is a strong contender in the Film Fest. being the title role, her face matches the era where the movie is set. her beauty is regal and she portrayed the other face of liberated women during that time. emotions from a lady and a mother really flowed out of her which made the movie very effective.

Best Musical Score - reflective music compliments the timing and the emotions of Rosario all throughout.

Best Supporting Actress - Isabel Oli as Carmen is a typical provinciana who envies Rosario. when everything turned upside down for Rosario, Carmen laughed it out making her the contrabida in the movie. but all of it has reasons.

Best Supporting Actor/s - Dolphy, Yul, Dennis and Sid played very vital roles in Rosario's life. they are all part of happiness, despair and vanity of Rosario which made it very colorful and how it made Rosario deal with life.

Best Screenplay - the entirety of the movie is very moving. you will pity Rosario on how she moved on every after relationship when all she had is love.

Best Director - there will be no good movies like this until an award-winner puts his craft. kudos to Albert Martinez.

you can also see special clips of the Rosario Channel in PLDT Watchpad. including behind-the-scenes features, interviews of the stars and latest trailers. this is exclusive to all PLDT Watchpad subscribers only.

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