We witnessed the competition here in Manila a few months ago and now, they get to travel to Malaysia for the actual Acer APAC Predator League for 2025.
Since the finals is being hosted in Malaysia, the event will be done at MITEC which usually is a venue for trade expos. This time though there will be 28 teams from different regions in the world. Teams will be battling it out in MMORPG game DOTA 2 and top FPS game Valorant. The winner will be holding up the coveted Predator Shield and a whopping cash prize of 400,000 US Dollars (which will surely change lives no?).
The event will also be a place for different activities because it will be attended by gaming greats, online stars, even cosplay. This is part of their efforts to promote eSports not just in the country but the whole region. The athletes will be donning Acer's Predator gaming rigs, to hopefully showcase how great it is when it comes to response, power and beating your opponents. From Predator Orion X desktop units, to Predator Galea 365 Gaming Headsets, people will surely enjoy every blood rushing game on the Predator XB253Q screens. Folks will also be seeing the "It Lies Within" as performed by different world class artists (perhaps SB19, G22, Dara, Minzy and Sarah Geronimo included!). Hopefully, our boys from ZOL ESports and IVORY would win and make this an even better time for the Philippines! Laban Pilipinas!
Green Bones unfurled a few surprise wins in the recent Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 Gabi ng Parangal (Awards Night) which happened last December 27th hosted by the folks from the Metro Manila Development Authority. They won the festival's coveted BEST PICTURE Award amongst 10 entries including the Best Actor award for Dennis Trillo, Best Supporting Actor for Ruru Madrid, Best Child Performer for Sienna Stevens, Best Screenplay for National Artist Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza, Best Cinematography by Neil Daza and the nod of critics. The night's award ceremony was witnessed by GMA Network's Senior Vice President and GMA Films President Ms. Anette Gozon-Valdes. She describes the win as a great show of their efforts, risks, to ultimately tell the story in hopes of people loving the story, in its wonderful and outstanding depiction.
This is the vision of GMA Picture's Executive Vice President Nessa Valdellon. They wanted to make sure that the movie would become a vessel to showcase the amount of talent their artists have, and no doubt Dennis Trillo, Ruru Madrid gave their all. Critics likewise saw how production took risks, and lauded how Director Zig Dulay made sure it be at par or even better than last year's successful entry "Firefly" which got rave reviews and top awards too. Dennis' portrayal of Dom Zamora had complexity, Ruru on the other hand did Xavier Gonzaga - who's a very colorful character, who wouldn't want to fall or have a change of heart with criminals like Dom in the film. MMFF also took notice of Sienna Stevens, got her the Best Child Performer trophy, and nominations for talented actors Royce Cabrera and our guy Mikoy Morales who had their moments in the film. If you haven't watched it yet, just be warned I've seen fully grown men who had a bout of crying in the cinema, a handy work of Ricky Lee and his excellent screenwriting no doubt. Go watch this touching, but now, well decorated film that's been lauded by movie goers during the festival. You'll be surprised how emotional it will get in the end, and see why Green Bones took accolades this year.
Going inside the Gateway Mall theater this afternoon, I had super high expectations for this particular movie... not just because of the caliber of actresses in it, but how production and distribution has been done internationally with Mentorque Productions, Project 8 Projects and released via Warner Brothers (which you probably don't get on an ordinary day). There must be certain standards met, and from the looks of it, they've done it quite well. The film has excellent cinematography, camera angles, and story line that's very efficient. They didnt' get too comfortable adding unnecessary scenes (which is a plus on my books). Add to that the excellent music score and sound effects too.
UNINVITED has Ms. Vilma Santos, Aga Mulach and our generation's President Nadine Lustre. Obviously I'm a huge fan of their previous work and since they are presenting this in MMFF 2024, I want a different flavor from them because when they discussed this during the Mediacon a few weeks ago, they promised a worthy story (with them in it) that would keep us glued on the screen for a few hours (which they did). For starters, Ms. Vilma actually pitched this whole concept. Aside from directly being involved behind the cam, she's pronounced how this was actually a dream role for her. It was hard not to spoil a few things, but she shared that you could start by imagining all of these happening in one day.
When Nadine
Lustre walked into the picture, she presented herself as a feisty, gutsy daughter of a very evil man. Partly fed up, she's a no holds barred, unapologetic lady, forced to please folks. She also takes comfort and refuge with other people. Aga Mulach which we often see as a goody two shoes guy on screen will join the dark side and make you squirm. Think of all the evil things a person could do and he's probably done it, making you hate him the moment he walks up on stage on his birthday. Ms. Vilma on the other hand plays Eva Candelaria, let's keep it a bit mysterious on what she's doing at the mansion. Slowly, her presence exudes power, purpose, commanding at times, but what danger lurks behind this persona? What caused her to be this way?
I could say right after I watched the film, Vilma Santos might just have tipped the scale for the Best Actress trophy with this
entry. You could feel how vulnerable and deeply caring she is at times, ultimately, being a mother to her only
daughter Lily. But remember, Ms. Vilma mentioned how she's never done something like this before... so if you expect a twist of some sort in the story, please, believe her. This is exactly this movie's biggest selling point, worthy of the amount you'll spend in the movies this Christmas season. This excellently made film certainly had people in the cinema rooting for her, literally screaming for her to go forward at times which I find cute since most of the folks in the front seat were seniors, and they were not holding back, getting involved in UNINVITED's story.
Mentorque Production's very own Bryan Dy went on to greet those who watched the film right after the screening. He didn't want the opportunity to pass to personally thank folks who supported them from day 1.
What do I think about the film? UNINVITED definitely needs to be seen by you, me and everybody else. This is just one of the few projects that Ms. Vilma Santos would make (she seldom does because of her public service work). She's iconic, no question, and did a great job despite the challenges of making this film. This is also a treat to the Vilmanians out there, you'll surely love every bit of it. This has a few flaws, but pretty cosmetic (just some which would have been done differently, creative decisions). If you're a fan of President Nadine Lustre, you would also be glad to see her here. It's not normal to see her do the dialogues she's done in UNINVITED, plus the interaction with the Star for All Seasons was also quite satisfying. Though you'll actually be loving Aga Mulach and his face, you'll hate him because of how you're going to be severely affected by his deeds. I'd give this a great 4/5 cows 🐮🐮🐮🐮.
Make sure you watch UNINVITED on theaters today, and also the other entries that are part of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 as they celebrate their 50th year!
PS. Stay for the credits! This is also R13 which I think is a very lax decision (so go watch it if you can teens!).
Watching TOPAKK on the silver screen was the best decision I've ever made this Metro Manila Film Fest 2024 season.
Why you'd ask? Simple, it wouldn't feel the same if I'd watch this simply on digital or streaming platforms. It gives a different vibe, of almost 2 hours of intense, violent, brutal, savage, rough and aggressive scenes all put together by Director Richard Somes, same guy who brought you OTJ, Ekis, and more eccentric action films in Philippine cinema. You've got that a bit expected yeah, but the topic, intimacy of describing PTSD in a structured military environment and how people suffer all throughout their life is something else to think and talk about... this was a venue to know more about it and they've managed to put that in the story.
Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, Sid Lucero in one film concept wise is quite crazy (and is not the sole reason why this is called TOPAKK). Their stellar performances in different projects alone is something that would inspire an "actors actor". While Arjo carries good looks, this movie gives him major rawness. The closeups filled with his small freckles on screen was noticed, and absolutely lovely to see aesthetically since this is a bit dark, dingy and gloomy especially on the last scenes at the steel warehouse. I would gladly compare his role to John Wick, but again, very raw and local. You could see how he showcases his struggles, which I'd bet be better with a dog (for maybe a sequel). His acting chops are unquestionable, being Best Lead Actor at ContentAsia Awards was evident. He evolves wherever he gets into a role, and you'll admire his tenacity to live, not just for himself but for others.
Julia Montes is an action star. Gone are the crying drama princess roles she's been in the past years, because she is as intense as anybody on that set. Her knack for conversations complemented each and every single time she'd want to take revenge, throw a punch, smash someone's f4ce on the metal platforms just to make sure people felt her intensity to love them dearly. She definitely did not shortchange with the physical requirements that this role entailed or required, and you'll root for her. She's got a cause (that involves Kokoy De Santos) and it makes her hunger for changing her life inevitable. With the help of Arjo's character, their once not so connected lives begin to complement each other. You'll know why when you watch TOPAKK.
Here's what happened at the red carpet premiere!
You'll see some of the roles may have been brief, but don't be mistaken, all of these are essential. Congratulations also to stars Enchong Dee, Kokoy De Santos, and the ensemble cast (especially the bad guys) who performed well. You'll love this so much for the cast, the story line and it's cause.
This has had lots of rave reviews abroad, bringing this home was serendipitous, had a lot of promise, and they'll give you what you asked for. This is super apt for this year's Metro Manila Film Festival, it gives us viewers the OPTIONS we deserve. The R18 rating I think is because of the violence and gore, but the R16 version won't feel like it ain't enough. This also stars Vin Abrenica, Cholo Barretto, Bernard Palanca, Ms. Maureen Mauricio, so there's more to the story.
If you miss action movies, want to see your favorite actors do different things from the usual, you need to see TOPAKK. This and other entries in the MMFF 2024 are so good, but you definitely should have this on your list because you'll have your action thirst be extinguished, you get to feel you're part of it and feel tired because you've been in the middle of the scenes all along. Congratulations to Nathan Studios, Sir Art, Ms. Sylvia, Gela, Ria, and Arjo for such an amazing piece. Here's hoping they get a nod come awards night because from the looks of it, they do deserve it!
Though there might be some flaws in effects and story, forgivable. They still got the message across and sustained it's intensity all throughout the film. For Arjo, Julia Montes, and the sheer brutality this presents, it made me still choose this film to have 4 out of 5 Cows. 🐮🐮🐮🐮
PS. That float you had during the parade was amazing!
