THE TWO POPES movie review

Habemus Papam! A phrase that keep the Catholic Church rejoicing for centuries and continuing the faith in the Doctne. Fortunately, Netflix made an extraordinary movie that talks about the relationship of the two leaders of the Church in our time. Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce play Popes Benedict XVI and Francis in The Two Popes that will start streaming in Netflix on December 20.

When I saw the trailer, I noticed that they resemble pretty much of the two popes. And what's more interesting is that we had a deeper look into controversial events that involved Ratzinger and Bergoglio.

The Two Popes gives us a peek of the conclave as we've never seen it before. The selection process involved politics and more importantly, the virtues of Christianity has been looked in scrutiny. At least, for me I can say that we have a great pope in Pope Francis right now who ushers in modernization and reform in the Catholic Church with his ideals.

Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Bergoglio in conclave (The Two Popes)

This also reminds us that they are not divine and they've shown their pure human and funny sides. Being a pope has given them so much pressure to preserve the faith of 1 billion Catholics around the world and that we should also continue to pray for them to have the wisdom and faith to lead us to holiness.

Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins as Cardinal Bergoglio and Pope Benedict XVI in the summer residence (The Two Popes)

The exchange of dialogue between the two moves me and it preaches to you to be spread kindness. One line is so powerful, "Mercy is a dynamite that destroys walls." To give you the full context of this statement, you need to watch the whole conversation that is written very beautifully. The Two Popes contains great lines from two great actors about the great relationship of two great persons.

The Two Popes will be streaming exclusively on Netflix starting December 20.

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DOCTOR SLEEP movie review

I actually watched Stanley Kubrick's The Shining first in time to prepare for the next chapter, Stephen King's Doctor Sleep. I must say that this was way more exciting, not really much of a horror movie but a psychological thriller that you can enjoy. I think that it made The Shining a prerequisite for you to understand more about this movie.

Providing that much reference to The Shining, it can stand on its own, less the overused symmetrical shots from the movie but still paid good tribute that you can connect the dots in Doctor Sleep. Here, they call "the shining" as "magic" and this provides new vision of a person's death or spirits.

Ewan McGregor as Danny Torrance

Ewan McGregor, who plays Dan Torrance, started off as a wasted individual, whom you'll suspect that he really had a trauma within almost 40 years after "The Shining." But he takes you on an adventure on how he endures a new phase of his life while still "shining."

Doctor Sleep opens in cinemas in the Philippines starting November 7 from Warner Bros. Pictures. #DoctorSleepMovie

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5 Movies... 1 terrifying week for Sine Sindak 2 at SM Cinemas

5 horror flicks from Crystalsky Multimedia Inc will be playing from October 23 - 29, 2019 as Sine Sindak returns to SM Cinema in time for Halloween. Horror aficionados will experience this limited-time for PHP 120 for a single screening and PHP199 for unlimited pass everyday.

Watch these five movies for your fright fix. A preview of Deadsight was held last night at the Director's Club which I really love their new La-Z Boy chairs. Deadsight is about a partially blind man and a pregnant officer work together to escape their town through swarms of the living dead. In my opinion, this looks like Bird Box, A Quiet Place and Resident Evil rolled into one. This has been more drama than a horror flick.
A holiday romance gone wrong, Evil’s Curse is the story of a young backpacker falls in love with a girl who is possessed by demons.

Doorlock is a creepy story about a woman’s escape and struggle from a stalker.

In The Only Mom, a family moves into a haunted colonial-house and finds their lives turning upside down.

An alienated and awkward high school girl finds her sinister alter-ego in the mirror in Look Away. I am really looking forward to this as the trailer gives a very freaky identity switch.

 
 To amplify your scary cravings, an interactive Horror House in partnership with Asylum Manila from October 19 to November 3. A special promo is also offered via the GrabPay App. Single-movie tickets can be availed through GrabPay for only P99.

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LINGUA FRANCA - more to life of a transwoman

QCinema 2019 offers Lingua Franca, a journey in the life of an undocumented transwoman in the US - featuring Isabel Sandoval as producer, director and the lead actor (as Olivia) for the said movie.

More than just the usual LGBT-themed movies nowadays, Lingua Franca was able to represent not just the LGBT community but also taking us along in her struggles under the political landscape and its effects to undocumented immigrants. Her story mirrors each Filipino's lives and makes us immersed in their emotions and how they wrestle life in search of greener pastures.

Aside from the green card that many immigrants are longing for in the US, Olivia had her share of ups and downs in love and job working as a caregiver to another elder immigrant.
 Lingua Franca is one of the international entries in the QCinema Film Festival 2019 and showing from Oct 13-22 2019 in leading cinemas within Quezon City.

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BABAE AT BARIL

Cignal Entertainment hosts the Rae Red's directorial debut film Babae at Baril featuring Janine Gutierrez in the lead role. The film was an official entry to the 2019 QCinema Festival competing with other full lengths and docus from here and abroad.

Cast and Creative Team with Cignal Entertainment Execs for Babae at Baril

At first I thought that it was as an action-packed film, as we have been missing these kind of movies from the 70s to the early 90s. But instead, Babae at Baril had been more of a mirror of life's situations as experienced by a simple department store saleslady who somehow "acquired" new "powers" by a gun. Janine's take on the role is quite believable -- her innocence and retaliation to those who wronged her made her appear very strong and empowered. She showed that every lady should be able to defend themselves and be very vigilant.

I also liked how the put out a backstory on the gun. How an object could transform a person with just a trigger. This has put very theatrical concepts with a few dialogues that is presented good in the film.

Babae at Baril is an official entry to the QCinema International Film Festival 2019. Playing in major cinemas around QC from October 13-22, 2019. Cast includes Felix Roco, Alan Paule, Elijah Canlas, JC Santos, and Sky Teotico with special participation of Ruby Ruiz and Archie Adamos.

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How to schedule Instagram posts through Facebook Creator Studio?

This is the greatest update yet for Facebook page managers! If you are a digital marketer and manages numerous pages, you can definitely take advantage of this latest feature. Facebook recently rolled out that you can now SCHEDULE INSTAGRAM POST through the Facebook Creator Studio.

First, you have to have a business profile or a Facebook page. You can set it up by logging in to business.facebook.com or creating a page.

Next, go to Creator Studio. Connect your Facebook page or pages. There's a pop-up to the Instagram page via desktop where you have to enter your log in credentials. Your page and Instagram account should be both on BUSINESS PROFILES to be able to activate the Instagram scheduler.

 Then, there's a new pop-up that you can only click OK.

If you've successfully logged in through Instagram, the Creator Studio dashboard will refresh and your IG account will appear in the list.

To post, you can choose from IG feed or IGTV and the Instagram accounts will slide from the right. Choose the account where you'll schedule your next post. The content fields will expand, write your caption, add location, drag down to select the media (photo/video) and a button will turn blue at the right corner of the browser.

Select your date of posting with the date and time you desire and click Schedule. That's it!

To verify, check the Content Library to know the status of the posts if Published or Scheduled.

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Why watch Himala: Isang Musikal again?

Aside from it's one of the greatest stories ever told in cinema, the iconic "Walang himala!" cry of Nora Aunor on screen, Himala: Isang Musikal is a masterpiece that still very relevant and moving. Combining the great achievement by Ricky Lee and music by Vince De Jesus, seeing it for the second time at Power Mac Center Spotlight, I was still in awe of the spectacular story and performance of this exceptional cast.

The mystical plot while you're immersed in the black box theater where you get to experience how Brgy. Cupang turned from "cursed to blessed" is a one-of-a-kind experience. The cast, led by Aicelle Santos as Elsa, (with Neomi Gonzales as Chayong, Kakki Teodoro as Nimia, Sheila Francisco as Nanay Saling, David Ezra as Orly, Floyd Tena as Pari, Vic Robinson III as Pilo) I was more drawn into the emotions and the story than the first time I saw it. Himala is something that makes you appreciate more and more every time you see it.

Sheila Francisco gives great emotions with just a stare of the eye. The depth of her performance is quite felt. Vic Robinson III is a stronger Pilo than of Sandino Martin and I think they have more chemistry than Neomi Gonzales.

 

Collectively, the whole cast did an amazing job reliving this timeless piece and still worth another award and should not be missed. The story needs to be retold again and again, to wake us from blind beliefs and put faith where it's due. And our Filipino artistry deserves your applause.

The Sandbox Collective's Himala: Isang Musikal is playing (September 20 - October 20, 2019) at the Power Mac Center Spotlight. Tickets are sold at 1000, 1300, 1700 and 2300 via ticketworld.com.ph

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