SHAZAM - It's really, really Good ! It's the Best of them all!

First, let me tell you that this has got to be the Best Superhero Film Ever ! It's really, really GOOD ! I never had this much FUN watching a superhero on the giant screen. (And I've seen them all.)

Zachary Levi is perfect as Shazam! Like Ryan Reynolds-as-Deadpool perfect ! He's got the innocence and charisma of a teenage boy. He makes you believe that he's really a 14 year-old inside the massive body of an adult. And there's great chemistry between him and Jack Dylan Grazer who plays Freddy Freeman. Grazer is the standout among the kids, and he kinda reminds me of Fred Savage from The Wonder Years. Asher Angel who plays Billy Batson capably shows the different emotions of his character - tormented, lost, and wanting lots of love. The rest of the foster kids - Mary, Darla, Eugene, & Pedro have their own quirkiness, but still likeable. I actually love them all, including the foster parents.

Mark Strong is a formidable villain as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. He's  scary, powerful, and really evil. Finally he's got a role that would showcase his abilities as a great nemesis. Strong had great potential before as Sinestro in Green Lantern, but we only had a  glimpse of his character as the movie didn't do very well.  

I was laughing so hard at some of the jokes that I had to wipe my tears several times. Tears of joy of course. But it's not just all comedy, it also has drama, action, horror, and lots of heart ! It has moral values, and teaches the importance of family and friends. There were several references to other heroes like Batman, Superman, Aquaman. Also to 80s/90s movies like Big, Gremlins, The Goonies, Mortal Kombat, etc.

Wonder Woman showed us what the first-female led superhero film can do,  while Aquaman gave us the world of Atlantis and beyond. This time, WB/DC is giving us an all-out FUN movie that will touch the hearts of millions ! Definitely another Big Winner from the DCEU ! I'm so excited for the future of the World Of DC ! I really hope everybody goes to see this and make another billion  dollars at the box office !

Written by Henry Gayden  and Directed by David F. Sandberg who previously helmed Lights Out and Annabelle : Creation. Turns out these horror-genre Directors (shoutout to James Wan) are also great in comic-book movies. I would love to see more movies like this from Wan and Sandberg. There's a mid-credit scene and a post-credit scene, but watch out for the cameo right before the end credits. It will blow you away ! Can't wait to watch this again ! It's funny, heart-warming, over-all entertaining ! It will put a smile on your faces ! Bring the whole family when you watch SHAZAM !
(Photos c/o Warner Bros. Pictures)         

Soar high with DUMBO at SM Cinema !

(Media release)
Hold on to your feathers and get ready to soar as SM Cinema presents Dumbo, a live-action remake of the beloved Disney classic.
In this heart-wrenching fantasy, struggling circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) hires former circus star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children to take care of Dumbo, a baby elephant who is mocked for having gigantic ears. However, the sudden discovery that he can fly turns Dumbo from laughingstock to the star of the show, regaining the circus’ former glory and captivating ambitious businessman, V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton). Dumbo’s fame skyrockets as he is pulled into the Vandevere’s newest attraction, Dreamland, until Holt uncovers the dark secrets lurking within its extravagant exterior.

Directed by Tim Burton, Dumbo stars Danny Devito as Max Medici, Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier, Eva Green as Colette Marchant, Michael Keaton as V.A. Vandevere, Nico Parker as Milly Farrier, and Finley Hobbins as Joe Farrier.
Catch Dumbo starting March 27 at SM Cinema branches nationwide. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app.  You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates!

SM Cinema Takes the Captain Marvel Launch to the Sky

SM Cinema is flying high with Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel as the Philippines’ largest film exhibitor kicks off its Captain Marvel campaign!
SM Cinema recently launched the Captain Marvel Fan Experience at the SM City North Edsa – The Block Atrium. Marvel fans got a chance to crash-land to the world of Captain Marvel in an interactive exhibit to celebrate the movie’s release in the Philippines.

SM Cinema put together exciting activities for mall-goers and fans alike! Walk through the asymmetrical entrance archs of the exhibit, featuring larger-than-life displays of Carol Danvers, her famous jetfighter, and her trusty sidekick Goose the cat. A few steps in and fans will be pumped up to see an incredible array of toy displays from Hot Toys and Filbar’s that will ignite the Captain Marvel fan in everyone. Highlighted in the exhibit is Captain Marvel’s personal gallery and the 180° photobooth where everyone got to show the Captain Marvel in them. At the heart of SM Cinema’s exhibit is Captain Marvel’s famous emblem, which fired up everyone’s anticipation for Marvel Studios’ latest superhero origin film. Finally, cap off the Captain Marvel Fan Experience by taking home premium memorabilia from Toy Kingdom and The SM Store.
Fans also got to prepare for complete take off with Captain Marvel as SM Cinema brought the Captain Marvel experience straight from Singapore. The Captain Marvel Fan Event was broadcasted to mall-goers via livestream to jumpstart SM Cinema’s campaign.
Filipino fans got to take part in the fan event’s blow-by-blow coverage from SM Cinema with radio and TV personality Joyce Pring using the hashtag #CaptainMarvelAtSMCinema. Gracing the jampacked Captain Marvel Fan Event in Singapore were Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gemma Chan, and directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.
The festivities are not yet over! Get the full Captain Marvel Fan Experience on March 12 to 27 at SM City San Lazaro.
Catch Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel at SM Cinema, SM Cinema IMAX, and Director’s Club Cinema branches nationwide. Skip the lines and get the best seats in the house by getting your tickets via www.smcinema.com or the SM Cinema App. Don’t miss the latest digital promos and online activities by subscribing to SM Cinema on facebook.com/SMCinema, twitter.com/SM_Cinema, and Instagram.com/SM_Cinema.

CAPTAIN MARVEL - Soaring up above the skies !

The first female-led superhero movie of Marvel Studios is finally here. This is an origin story of how U.S. Air Force pilot Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel. Caught in a battle between two alien races, Danvers was transform from a mere human to the most powerful hero in the MCU.

There's a special tribute to Stan Lee at the beginning of the film, and I couldn't help but clap my hands to the man who created all these super heroes. His cameo would surely bring cheers/sadness to the millions of comic book readers because it's one of his last.

This film brought me back to the 90s. The cars, the clothes, the Blockbuster video shop, etc. The dial-up connection drew some laughs. The CGI on Fury's and Coulson's faces were done very well. 

The supporting cast are very effective in here. Samuel L. Jackson provides the humor as a young Nick Fury who's not as confident and authoritative as we've seen him before. He's not yet the leader of SHIELD, but a low-level agent who meets aliens for the first time. Annette Bening is remarkable as Dr. Wendy Lawson, though I wish she was given more screen time. So is Ben Mendelsohn who's quite charming as the Skrulls' General Talos. Lashana Lynch as Maria Rambou brings heart to the story. And of course, that scene-stealing cat - Goose, who's a . . . surprise ! ! !

The film didn't exactly follow the source material as they made some twists to the characters and events, but I'm not gonna spoil it for you. You'll have to see it for yourselves. 

Many critics are hating the film because of Brie Larson's SJW comments. Some called her boring, wooden, even saying she's miscast as Captain Marvel. But to my surprise, I actually enjoyed it especially on my second viewing. It's not the best MCU movie, but it's not the worst either. I'm actually excited to see Captain Marvel on her next adventure in Avengers : End Game. My advice ? Watch the movie, and make your own opinion. 

I do have some questions though. Since Captain Marvel was given way too much power, is she more powerful than all of the Avengers combined ? How did she learn to control her powers, even tranforming to her Binary form ? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Co-directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Rated PG. From Marvel Studios. 

Earth Hour Philippines 2019

Earth Hour Philippines 2019 shines a light on plastic pollution

Manila, February 28, 2019 – On the second year of the global #Connect2Earth theme of Earth Hour that calls for the urgent need to care for the Earth’s biological diversity, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines continues to focus on the issue of single-use plastics and how addressing it can help reverse the loss of nature.

Now on its 12th year, Earth Hour is considered as the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. What started out as a campaign to engage people and create significant environmental action against climate change has evolved into a platform that aims to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity as a viable resource link that families, communities, nations, and future generations all depend upon.

“The last decade of Earth Hour has contributed so much to the global climate agenda and has paved the way for many conservation wins. Now that we are ushering in the second year of the movement’s new decade, our efforts will still be centered on raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity to counter the worsening impacts of climate change,” says WWF-Philippines Head of Climate and Energy Program and Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director Atty. Gia Ibay.

When #Connect2Earth was launched last year, more than 17,900 landmarks and monuments in over 180 countries and territories switched off their lights to show their commitment to and support for raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity.  Both #Connect2Earth and #EarthHour trended in 33 countries and garnered more than 3.5 billion impressions worldwide.  With these numbers, Earth Hour 2019 is an unmissable opportunity to create an unstoppable movement for nature and WWF-Philippines is anchoring this year’s celebration on single-use plastics, one of the biggest threats to biodiversity.

Leveraging on the momentum of its #AyokoNgPlastik movement, WWF-Philippines hopes to further create awareness on the dangers of single-use plastics, spark conversations, change mindsets and habits of consumers, urge businesses to operate more sustainably, and influence policy. Adopting the WWF network’s “No Plastics in Nature” Initiative, WWF-Philippines believes that Earth Hour 2019 is the best way to send out a clear message to take a stand against plastic pollution towards its ultimate goal of mobilizing public support for legislations on plastic waste management. 

“The Philippines is the 3rd major plastic polluter of oceans in the world and we, Filipinos, must unite and create concrete steps to stop this worsening situation. We have to realize how nature is vitally important in our daily lives and preventing single-use plastics from entering nature is a big step towards a greener, more sustainable planet,” states WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma as he reiterates the importance of working together to achieve a long-term solution to this environmental problem that significantly contributes to nature loss.

The kick-off event of Earth Hour 2019 that was held on February 28, 2019 in the Magellan Function Room of the Discovery Suites in Ortigas saw commitments for nature formalized and renewed as the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) inked a memorandum of agreement with WWF-Philippines and National Ambassadors Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado, as well as National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez, renewed their contracts to reaffirm their declaration of support to conserve natural assets to ensure a living planet for future generations.

The main switch-off event of Earth Hour 2019 is slated on March 30, Saturday, at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati from 5:00 PM to 10:00PM, with the actual switch-off at 8:30 PM. At least 3,000 scouts will be deployed to the public event that will feature booths, activities, and performances that will honor the planet. Meanwhile, everyone from all over the Philippines is also encouraged to switch off non-essential lights from 8:30PM to 9:30PM in solidarity with millions around the world who will do the same.

Using this year’s official hashtags #Connect2Earth, #EarthHourPH2019, and #AyokoNgPlastik, WWF-Philippines is encouraging everyone to harness the power of social media and help share their commitment to start changing the planet for the better by sharing stories and photos of their sustainable living actions, as well as their pledges to say no to single-use plastics, via Earth Hour Philippines’ Facebook event page – http://bit.ly/EarthHourPH2019 that will go live by March 1, 2019.

To engage in conversations on plastics, join facebook.com/groups/ayokongplastik.

Visit www.earthhour.org to know what’s happening in locations around the world and read individuals’ stories about what they are doing for our planet.

To share ideas and tools to push for action and change, log in to connect2earth.org, the platform supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety with funding from the International Climate Initiative.