Entertainment

Now Playing: Holiday Edition

Cyberpunk 2077, K-dramas, K-pop, evermore, and more

Published

December 24, 2020

GadgetMatch

Happy Holidays! The GadgetMatch team is taking a break, and these are the forms of entertainment we’ll have while we recuperate before a series of tech events — CES 2021 and Galaxy Unpacked 2021 — rushes in next year.

Play, watch, and listen with us. Here’s what’s Now Playing in GadgetMatch:

Games to play

Hades

Luigi: Hades is one of the best games I’ve played this year. Zagreus, son of Hades, fights his way out of Hell. A roguelite game in essence, Hades features levels, powers, and abilities that change after every attempt to escape. It’s a simple game in concept but has one of the densest, most well-polished systems for its scale.

Watch Dogs 1 and 2

Vincenz: I may be super duper late to the party (and I know this isn’t the latest release) but I prefer playing them over the last two Grand Theft Auto releases. Although the worlds are not as big as Liberty City or Los Santos and the graphics are not as realistic, I love the storyline, overall physics, as well as how you go through missions not totally relying on weapons but also by hacking through CTOS that runs the smart city of Chicago and San Francisco.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Rodneil: In this more condensed Spidey experience, you play rookie Spider-Man Miles Morales protecting New York on his own for the first time with Peter going on a trip with MJ. It follows much of the same coming-of-age, family, and friendship beats as Miles’ animated film debut Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse while still managing to still be its own thing. Gameplay is slightly tighter than the 2018 game but it’s just every bit as fun and fulfilling.

NBA 2K21 Next Gen

Rodneil: I’ve been spending most of my time with the PS5 playing NBA 2K21 and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. The next gen version almost feels like a whole new game. The menu screens are different, the game physics and graphics a little more realistic, and there are things in the game that take advantage of the DualSense controller. Some additions — like Shot Aiming — feel gimmicky and unnecessary but this is still an overall leveled up experience especially for fans of the NBA 2K franchise.

Cyberpunk 2077 PC

Gab: I specifically picked the PC version of this game because, at the very least, I could experience playing it without much mess in the way. Behind relatively bad visual bugs and glitches, the game itself is a joy to play. From stealth-based playthroughs to insane armed combat, Cyberpunk 2077 takes you through a wild ride through Night City — and you’re in full control of everything. On a personal note, I do enjoy starting every encounter with a sniper headshot to the enemies.

Shows to binge-watch

Lovecraft Country

Luigi: Inspired by a racist author’s works, Lovecraft Country (and the novel of the same name) claims the horror genre for the Black community. It’s a horror anthology series weaved together by a common narrative. More than its terrifying plots, Lovecraft Country creates stories about race, equality, and identity.

Start-Up

Vincenz: Regardless if you’re a tech nerd, young programmer, an aspiring entrepreneur, Hallyu fan, or just a regular viewer who’s curious enough to find new titles, Start-Up is a well-versed K-Drama that will show not only an individual’s quarter-life crisis in career and love but also a very informational series that portray what and how start-ups work together (especially in the tech industry) with the help of marketing and modern technology.

ALSO: Tech jargons in Start-Up that you should know

Attack on Titan, Season 4

Rodneil: As of writing, I’ve only seen the first two episodes of the much anticipated final season to an anime series that is slowly regaining the hype it got following its first season. Season 4 begins much like Season 2 in that it pulls the focus from the anime’s main protagonists to build on the story even further. Instead of focusing on Eren, it starts by putting the spotlight on the Titan shifters that have long terrorized their existence.

The Crown, Season 4

Kenrick: The Crown’s latest season could be its best yet. The new season features the tumultuous marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Margaret Thatcher — one of the UK’s most famous yet equally controversial prime ministers — also shares half of the spotlight. Delivering on sheer performance and superb portrayal of real events, season 4 solidifies The Crown as one of the best historical dramas to date. It’s a little unfair though, that viewers are left to wait for a long time before a new season drops as this season ends in one of the pivotal moments on the UK’s storied monarchy.

Fire Force, Season 2

Rodneil: Everything about this anime just speaks to me on a spiritual level. I’ve low-key always wanted to be some type of pyrokinetic and having an anime built around that concept is something I find deeply entertaining. Season 2 dives deeper into the secrets of the Adolla Burst with some astonishing reveals about the religion that rules the world in the show. The Season also saw Company 8 forge more allies as in the Fire Soldier ranks as they take on the Evangelist that are out to cause another great fire to restart the world.

Record of Youth

Apple: We’re so used to dramas and movies about the struggles of the impoverished and the discriminated but with Record of the Youth, we get a glimpse of the hardships of the rich and in the limelight, away from all the glamour and the glitz. This K-Drama mostly tackles the life of Hye-Jun played by Park Bo-gum, a model who thought all he needed was a successful career to be truly happy but when he got to the top, his life took an unexpected turn that he had to painfully accept.

Alice in Borderland

Rodneil: I had zero idea what the show was about coming in. I didn’t even know this was based on a manga but after a few episodes I could immediately tell that it was — the way the characters are portrayed and the progression of the story — these had all the makings of a Shonen title. It’s somewhat Isekai in that the main protagonist is displaced in an alternate world and has to go through it by playing by the rules of that world. In a nutshell this show is bloody, takes interesting twists and turns, and will have you eagerly anticipating what will happen next. Also, for the boys — watch out for Hikari Kuina (Asahina Aya). Very glad this has been green lit for a Season 2 and will be looking forward to when it drops.

Movies to see

Kalel, 15

Vincenz: A well-thought-out masterpiece that depicts the life of a teenager dealing with himself as a PLHIV while trying to go against his family and peers with their stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against the virus and AIDS. It also gives us a real glimpse of the Philippine society (regardless if an adult or a teenager) when it comes to sex, drug and alcohol abuse, dysfunctional families, child neglect, infidelity, and even lapses in religious leaders in power. You can watch it here in Netflix.

The Call

Apple: I’m a big fan of films that have great storylines and really unexpected twists, and this movie was exactly like that. The Call is a thriller film that takes time travel stories into a different and horrifying level. Park Shin-Hye plays the lead role in this story about the repercussions of a person from a vengeful past who becomes resentful of a person in the present. You’ll definitely be on your toes as you wait for the ending to see who’ll survive.

Albums/Songs/Podcasts to listen to

“evermore” by Taylor Swift

MJ: Get in your feelings by listening to Taylor Swift’s surprise ninth album entitled “evermore”. It’s the sister record to “folklore”, Swift’s eight album produced in the middle of quarantine. Both albums speaks in a soulful level, with lyrical themes revolving around love, infidelity, noir, and everything in between relationships — told through an interlacing narrative between songs.

“Miracles in December” EP by EXO

Vincenz: EXO may not be active and complete anymore but we know these songs remained in the hearts, minds, and ears of every EXO-L out there. This isn’t totally a new release as it was released way back in December 2013 (exactly seven years ago), I still get the chills whenever I listen to all the songs in this Extended Play featuring all their vocals. What a perfect time to play them again.

“[12:00]” EP by LOONA

Vincenz: A total opposite of my first suggestion as LOONA’s “[12:00]” gives me a summer vibe especially when listening to their comeback track “Why Not”. Meanwhile, listening to “Universe” and “Voice” reminds me of a cold, breezy night regardless of the season — my fave tracks in this album that suit their soothing and refreshing vocals.

Fun fact: “Star” is the English version of “Voice” which is also included in this EP.

Start-Up OST

Vincenz: As a complement to our craze with the K-Drama Start-Up, this drama’s Original Soundtrack (OST) list is one of the best IMHO. With song variations starting with Red Velvet’s pop track “Future”, ballad-y “One Day” sung by Kim Feel, and even a motivational track by Gaho entitled “Running”, you’ll surely enjoy the drama all-along and even miss it more once you finish all the episodes.

“Warm on a Christmas Night” by HONNE

Martynne: Just when we thought Honne’s songs could be warmer, they release a Christmas version of their “Warm on a Christmas Night.”

“Eyes Wide Open” by TWICE

Rodneil: No. Skip. Album. Coming back with only their second full album, TWICE made sure there’s something you’ll love in every track. There’s a good mix of Color Pop, City Pop, and even some Jazzy tunes here to keep you hooked. My personal favorites are “Hell in Heaven,” “Up No More,” and “Handle It.”

“Cry For Me” by TWICE

Rodneil: The Nation’s Girl Group surprised their fans by making music awards show MAMA 2020 their comeback stage. The group released a single “Cry For Me” that one of their members, Nayeon, said was almost completely scratched. She goes on to say that it’s a gift for ONCEs but fans suspect it’s more than just an out-of-nowhere single release. P.S. The SaChaeng second verse is absolutely eargasmic.

“Polaris” by December Avenue

Rodneil: This fresh release from the OPM pop-rock band has more in common with their early 2010s version than the emotionally charged Filipino “hugot” songs that pushed them towards more fan recognition. As someone who’s followed the band since 2009, Polaris sounds refreshing and a return to their roots.

Now Playing is the GadgetMatch team’s favorite games, movies, TV shows, and more each month. If you’re curious to know what we’re into at the moment, this is what you should check out. So grab your popcorn, get some drinks, and enjoy what’s now playing!

Entertainment

PH to celebrate 1st ever National Cinema Day; movies start at less than $2

Watch a movie on September 12 for a fraction of the cost

Published

September 10, 2026

GadgetMatch

The Philippines will be celebrating its first ever National Cinema Day on September 12. On this day, movie tickets will go for as low as PhP 100 (US$ 1.60) at regular 2D cinemas.

The campaign aims to make moviegoing more accessible to audiences. This includes families, friends, students, and cinephiles in general.

Such initiative has been a staple in other countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and more. The same concept applies, with movie tickets going on sale for a lot less.

What’s great about the celebration is that all movies scheduled for exhibition on September 12, whether local or international, shall get the special admission price.

Advanced tickets sales have already begun. Customers can purchase through participating box offices, official websites, mobile apps, and authorized platforms.

Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to theater capacity. Prices vary for other viewing formats like Director’s Club or IMAX, for instance.

The campaign is organized by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP), along with industry and government partners.

The initiative is supported by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and the Metro Manila Film Festival through the MMDA.

Participating cinemas include Ayala Malls Cinemas, SM Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, CityMall Cinema, Megaworld Cinemas, and more.

Entertainment

Now Playing: The Dog Stars

The supposed post-apocalyptic thriller fails to deliver

Published

August 29, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

All photos c/o 20th Century Studios

It’s easy to mistake The Dog Stars for a canine-centric survival tale if you aren’t familiar with the source material.

Peter Heller’s 2012 novel uses the title as a double meaning — referencing both the star Sirius within the Canis Major constellation (hence, “the Dog Star”) and the very real bond between a man and his dog.

In Ridley Scott’s cinematic adaptation, the premise delivers a grounded, post-pandemic world devastated by a global flu. The narrative is driven by a mysterious radio transmission intercepted by Jacob Elordi’s Hig, a quiet pilot pushed by grief and an irrepressible human curiosity to see what’s left of the world beyond his refuge.

With a stacked cast, a legendary director, and rich thematic material, general moviegoers and book fans alike have plenty of reason to expect a post-apocalyptic thriller.

Sadly, as an adaptation, The Dog Stars underwhelms. What promises to be an edge-of-your-seat survival ride settles into a surprisingly dull story that lacks the punch of a post-apocalyptic thriller.

It isn’t a bad film, but it struggles to balance its atmospheric build-up with a rushed, squandered third act.

⚠️ Warning: Some spoilers ahead! ⚠️

Ridley Scott’s signature touch

For what it’s worth, Scott doesn’t take long to make his visual presence felt. The director fills the screen with sweeping tracking shots of Hig’s Cessna plane gliding over vast mountain ranges.

This is juxtaposed with melancholic, muted sequences of his daily survival routine with Josh Brolin’s Bangley.

There is a sense of desolation; unaddressed grief for Hig’s late wife and the sheer fatigue of scavenging alongside his loyal Belgian Malinois, Jasper.

The quiet routine switches gears dramatically during action sequences. Scott brings dynamic flair to the screen. Notably, when Bangley holds off a horde of Reapers, the cinematography turns into a video game-esque, FPS-style night-vision POV shot.

Ditto with the high-stakes chase at Margaret Qualley’s Cima’s place, and during the final act in the trap that is Grand Junction.

Brolin and Pearce anchor the wasteland

What’s problematic here is that the lead supports, Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce, give the film its most grounded and reliable energy.

Fresh off playing a father searching for answers in Weapons, Brolin again slips effortless into his role of Bangley.

This badass survivalist with ex-Marine credentials complement Hig with a contrasting manner, making defending their abandoned airstrip look routine.

The initial friction between Hig and Bangley also drives the film’s early momentum. Bangley is perfectly content just chilling at the airstrip, while Hig is consumed by a curiosity to see what’s left on the other side of the horizon given the tools he has.

Bangley eventually concedes to Hig’s urge to chase the radio signal, but gets an earned “I told you so” moment near the end. This is fittingly a chef’s kiss to his character’s consistent demeanor.

Yet you don’t mistake Bangley’s isolation for passivity as well. He is practically itching for a reason to unleash a barnyard full of weapons (pun not intended) he’s been hoarding. It’s as if treating the invading Reapers like the ultimate survival battle he’s eagerly been waiting for in the post-pandemic world.

Complementing this heavy-duty presence is Guy Pearce’s Pops. His fiercely overprotective father persona to Cima steals the spotlight given how everyone is cherishing what’s (or who’s) left.

There are sharp one-liners aimed at keeping Hig at arm’s length, as he’s understandably paranoid after surviving the apocalypse.

Together, these are two highly enjoyable flavors of post-apocalyptic fatherhood. Eventually, Bangley warms up as the entire protagonist group relocates to integrate with the Mennonites in the end.

Pacing turbulence, squandered climax

The film’s momentum begins to stall in the second half. Once Hig crash-lands and meets Cima nad Pops, the narrative slows down considerably.

Sure, it’s a way to establish the emotional foundation and romantic spark between the couple for audiences unfamiliar with Heller’s novel. Perhaps, an attempt to balance the quiet character work with the surrounding chaos.

However, the scales still tip heavily toward sluggish pacing, with the film losing much of the earned tension. This turns what should have been a tense journey into a noticeably dull movie experience.

Quite ironically, this is where Elordi and Qualley’s acting shines the most. It doesn’t help that there is an exposition-heavy writing as you just wait for a climactic finale to unfold, yet it never quite materializes.

By the time the story finally moves to Grand Junction, what should have been a defining act feels like a rushed afterthought.

Given the creative independence, Grand Junction could have been executed like a harrowing, inescapable maze. More frustratingly, the film completely drops the ball on its most disturbing revelation.

When the group stumbles upon roomfuls of discarded passports and piles of dead bodies, it should have been a heart-stopping, horror-thriller pivot. It’s the ultimate “we are completely fucked” moment, exposing the radio signal as a trap rather than a beacon of hope.

Had the film leaned into this nightmare, it would have rolled out the red carpet for Scott to flash his brilliance even further, recalling the tight, claustrophobic dread he mastered in Alien.

Instead, the movie glances past it in a split second. The protagonists overpower the opposition far too easily, robbing the climax of any real danger or lingering tension.

Should you watch it?

Undeniably, The Dog Stars movie succeeds in grounding itself on the human side of post-pandemic survival.

This isn’t a high-octane, “suspend-your-disbelief” blockbuster stuffed with outrageous sci-fi gimmicks; it is a thoroughly logical, realistic look at how real people would handle isolation, grief, and the instinct to rebuild community after everything crumbles.

The film’s core ideas are sound, and its emotional logic is intact. Still, it simply lacks the sharp execution and narrative punch needed to elevate it into a masterpiece.

On our Watch Scale, it falls under Wait on streaming. There’s plenty of technical flair and solid performances from grizzled veterans, but the rushed finale and missed horror-thriller pivot leaves you wishing Scott had been allowed to unleash the full extent of his cinematic powers.

Entertainment

UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony gets two more shows

Both shows will be held on the next day.

Published

August 21, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The Philippines has an unquenchable love for game-based concerts (so *wink wink* please bring more of them). Though these concerts do generate a lot of hype, the drawback is that they often sell out way before most fans can grab tickets. If you’re an UNDERTALE fan, that experience might be rocking you right now, as both shows have already sold out. But fear not: UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony has just opened two more shows.

Late last month, Film Concerts PH, in partnership with SOHO Live, announced UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony happening on October 17. As expected, both shows, at 3pm and at 7pm, sold out very quickly after sales opened.

Today, the concert experience is opening two more shows on the next day, October 18. Like the original date, the two shows will happen at 3pm and at 7pm, allowing more fans to experience the concert.

The concert will be performed by the Filharmonika Orchestra and conducted by Thanapol Setabrahmana. Personally curated by creator Toby Fox and developed by Lambert Jackson with Materia Music, the concert experience showcases the game’s most recognizable tunes laid over gameplay footage playing simultaneously. Plus, for the world tour, the experience will have expanded scoring.

Tickets are available through Ticketmelon. Both dates will be held at The Proscenium Theater in Makati.