Entertainment

Bohemian Rhapsody, Ragnarok Mobile: Now Playing

We’re reliving the past!

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Curious to know what GadgetMatch has been up to besides covering everything lifestyle and tech? Here’s what we’ve been seeing, visiting, and playing this month:

Movies to see

Bohemian Rhapsody
Chay: Bohemian Rhapsody is an epic biopic-musical whose title is derived from the equally epic song. Even if there are a lot of inaccuracies and clichés as pointed out by several critics, it’s a film moviegoers will still enjoy, Queen fan or not. If you’re a true-blue Queen fan, this will either make you miss Freddie Mercury or wish you can see all four members perform again together. Good news is watching Bohemian Rhapsody is the closest thing you’ll get to watching a Queen concert in 2018; it’s like seeing Queen’s greatest hits come alive before your own eyes (and ears).

Batman Ninja
Rodneil: What’s cooler than Batman being transported to the samurai era in Japan? Nothing. This film is all kinds of bonkers and that’s why I love it. Batman Ninja captures the essence of the entire bat family as well as their villains while also throwing in every possible animé trope and/or quirk you can think of. Batman Ninja is a lot of fun. Watch with an open mind and try to not take it too seriously.

Hintayan ng Langit
Dan: Hintayan ng Langit first hit theaters during the 2018 QCinema International Film Festival last month. It’s about Lisang (Gina Pareño) who is stuck in purgatory. She then meets her ex-boyfriend Manolo (Eddie Garcia) who is apparently her new roommate. Lisang is already scheduled for passing to heaven, so Manolo’s presence kind of distracted her. It’s a fun and touching interpretation of death and kindling love. The film is an adaptation of Juan Miguel Severo’s one-act play at The Virgin Labfest in 2015 and 2016, and it’ll be shown in Philippine cinemas starting November 21.

TV shows to binge watch

Car Masters: Rust to Riches
Kevin: For all the car lovers out there, Car Masters: Rust to Riches will make you drool over its custom vehicle creations. It’s about Gotham Garage’s crew and how they buy old cars or car parts and turn them into a masterpiece in order to sell them for a higher value. They repeat this process until they reach a six-figure price in which they call it a day. It’s a good show to sit back to with a bottle of beer, while enjoying the intricate but fun process of turning rust to riches.

Magic for Humans
Kevin: Magic has always been a fascinating form of entertainment but Justin Willman, the host and performer of the show, injects it with life lessons or relates it to everyday life. It’s a reality and magic show with a fresh formula and will have you laughing while scratching your head at the same time trying to figure out how he does his performances. Oh, and its segment Magic for Susans is just one of the things I wait for every episode.

Terrace House: Aloha State
Rodneil: This season ran from 2016 to 2017, but it was only recently when I got around to watching it. Haven’t really had much recreation time so this was one of the two things that kept me sane over the last two weeks or so. It’s a relatively easy watch and there’s just something about Terrace House that gets you hooked. My favorite members are Lauren Tsai and Taishi Tamaki. Lauren is super talented and also easy on the eyes. Taishi’s arc is somewhat like a mini Ted Mosby from the TV series How I Met Your Mother. His goal in the show was to find “Shinuhodo No Koi” or a love worth dying for and his journey could actually become a movie all on its own.

Bodyguard
Dan: If you love action-thrillers, you should check out Bodyguard. It’s a six-part British drama series, so it’s not something you’ll have to binge watch for weeks. I actually finished it in just a few days because I just couldn’t get enough of the action. The series is set around Police Sergeant David Budd, a war veteran who is suffering from PTSD and is now working as a special protection officer. He’s assigned to protect the Home Secretary and the politics involved in the work drives the series wild. It’s currently streaming on Netflix outside the UK and Ireland.

Games to play

Ragnarok M: Eternal Love
Marvin: Ragnarok Online has finally made its way to mobile, and it’s been a major success so far. The Southeast Asian server for Ragnarok M: Eternal opened recently and it’s been loaded to the brim with both new and old players. A lot of the original mechanics are still around, such as the job classes and guild system, along with new tricks to make the game more smartphone-friendly, including auto-attacking and a straightforward user interface. As a returning player, I must say it’s been a smooth ride so far; let’s just hope it stays that way.

Albums/Songs/Podcasts to listen to

Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
MJ: I first heard “Shallow” on A Star Is Born’s trailer, and I fell in love with it. It’s a country rock ballad that tackles things like wondering if you’re contented with who you are, finding confidence through a person, and diving headfirst in love without looking back.

La Vie en Rose by IZ*ONE
Vincenz: This song’s concept is a mix of cutesy and mature concepts with the inclusion of strong vocals plus a vibrant and groovy electro pop beat. Together with its catchy tune and lyrics which present one’s revelation and passion towards a person, the music video’s cinematography, visuals, and choreography are all astounding. The various colors represented by each member and other elements go well with the title of the album itself, COLOR*IZ (read as color-ize).

Yes or Yes by TWICE
Vincenz: If you still don’t know TWICE, better hurry and listen to their 10th title track that shows the diversity of the nine members. The visuals will catch both your eyes and heart but the catchy lyrics, asking one’s love interest to choose between Yes or Yes, make it more addictive. With its popularity, the song went off the charts with the music video itself gaining 31.4 million views in just 24 hours and is currently the seventh-fastest YouTube music video to do so.

Cities/places to visit

Milan, Italy
Isa: I was in Milan for the OPPO RX17 Pro launch and was able to spend some time in the beautiful city. Despite being cold and relatively wet, Milan in autumn is still a great destination. Architecture is breathtaking and simply walking along the cobblestone streets is an experience in itself. The Milan Cathedral in Piazza Del Duomo, which took almost six centuries to complete, is a must-see.


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

May 2024 movie checklist: Back to Black, The Fall Guy, IF, more

Plan your next movie trip

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May 2024 Movies

Summer season has been nothing short of scorching hot so far. One of the best ways to cool down? Sit comfortably inside a cozy cinema and enjoy watching a movie. To help you plan your next movie trip with friends, family, your loved ones, or even just alone, here are May 2024’s upcoming titles.

There are lots of movies to choose from, covering different genres like action thriller, comedy, horror, and drama. from family-friendly comedies to nerve-wracking horrors, from an Amy Winehouse biopic to the latest installment in a popular franchise, May 2024’s lineup has it all.

Feel free to chow down on popcorn and flush it with ice-cold soda if you want to.

The Fall Guy (May 1)

Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Winston Duke, and Stephanie Hsu team up for an action comedy film loosely based on the 1980s TV series of the same name.

Gosling plays protagonist Colt Seavers, a seasoned stuntman who has endured a near career-ending accident. Colt’s ex-girlfriend, Jody Moreno, is played by Blunt. Moreno is working with Taylor-Johnson’s character Tom Ryder for her directorial debut. However, Tom goes missing, and that’s where Colt volunteers to find the actor whom he apparently had also doubled a long time ago.

SEE ALSO: The Fall Guy kicks off Ryan Gosling’s post-Ken life to a great start

Tarot (May 1)

Filipino-American Jacob Batalon returns to the big screen, this time headlining a supernatural horror film. His character is part of a college group of friends, including Avantika, Harriet Slater, and Adain Bradley.

Like how most horror film stories develop, the group commits a reckless mistake when they violate the sacred rule of Tarot readings. Unknowingly, they unleash unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face with fate and end up in a race against death to escape the future foretold in their readings.

IF (May 15)

Real-life couple John Krasinski (writer, director) and Emily Blunt are back, this time exchanging thriller for a family-friendly live-action comedy. They are joined by a star-studded ensemble that includes Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming, Steve Carell, George Cloonney, Matt Damon, Bradley Cooper, and Blake Lively.

IF is about Blunt’s character who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends. She embarks on a magical adventure with that power to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.

Monkey Man (May 15)

Dev Patel, who played Jamal in the revered Slumdog Millionaire film, makes his directorial debut in this action thriller. Monkey Man is about a man’s quest for vengeance against corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and victimize the poor and powerless.

Also the main protagonist Kid, Patel takes on the role of a vengeful monkey mask-wearing grown up who wants to exact revenge on Baba Shakti. As Monkey Man is also co-produced by Patel, it features a predominantly Indian cast in key roles in a story set in the South Asian country.

Back to Black (May 15, Ayala exclusive)

Back to Black is a celebration of the most iconic homegrown star of the 21st century. The film chronicles the life and music of the late Amy Winehouse. Viewers will get to know more about Winehouse’s family background, her path to success, as well as her demons. Marisa Abela stars as Winehouse in the powerful tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (May 22)

The fifth installment of the Mad Max franchise takes viewers back in time with a spin-off and prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road. The film puts focus on a young Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy). She is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Furiosa needs to survive many trials as she plots a way back home through the Wasteland.

The Garfield Movie (May 29)

Lastly, everyone’s favorite Monday-hating, lasagna-loving cat is back for another outdoor adventure. Voiced by Chris Pratt, Garfield has a new journey to undergo in this animated film. This, after an unexpected reunion with his father Vic (Samuel L. Jackson). The fresh new story puts more focus on Garfield, Odie, and Vic, instead of him with Jon and Liz.

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Entertainment

Transformers One trailer: Get to know Optimus Prime, Megatron’s origin stories

In cinemas September 18

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Transformers One

Paramount Pictures has released the trailer for Transformers One, the upcoming latest installment of the Transformers film franchise.

Before fans get excited for the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover, this animated film focuses first on Optimus Prime’s relationship with his adversary, Megatron.

The origin story is set in Cybertron, long before the transformers land on earth in the chronological timeline.

The trailer reveals Optimus Prime’s previous name, Orion Pax. On the other hand, Megatron was previously known by D-16.

Joined by Elita-1 and Bumblebee, the two main protagonists journey to Cybertron’s surface, which hasn’t been explored beforehand due to the dangers it is said to have.

On the surface, the crew realizes that right away, but are bestowed the power to transform. After some figuring, they manage to utilize this ability to defend Cybertron from intruders.

Overall, the three-minute trailer gives a lighter and funnier vibe. That’s in contrast to the previous iterations where the story is more serious from the get-go.

The transformers’ appearance also looks simpler and more toned down, giving an old school feel which is appropriate, considering this movie is set an earlier time when Cybertron was more intact.

Transformers One is showing on Philippine cinemas on September 18. The voice cast includes Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime, Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, and Scarlett Johansson.

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Joker: Folie à Deux 1st trailer finally released

The world is a stage

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Joker Folie a Deux

Warner Bros. Pictures has finally released the first trailer for upcoming musical thriller Joker: Folie à Deux. The two-and-a-half minute trailer debuted at CinemaCon. The Todd Phillips masterpiece will hit the big screens in the Philippines on October 2.

Phillips’ own take on a story loosely based from famed characters from DC, Joker: Folie à Deux was originally intended to be standalone film given that it is a musical. However, it eventually became a sequel to the Academy Award-winning Joker movie from 2019. The short clip shows titular lead actor Joaquin Phoenix and, for the first time, Lady Gaga.

Joker Folie a Deux

The trailer aptly starts with Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck character in solitary confinement inside Arkham. If you can recall, the end of the 2019 movie showed the Joker walking with bloodied footprints. This means he presumably killed the therapist he was trying to tell a joke to.

Inside the asylum, Joker meets Gaga’s character Harley Quinn. This is one of the obvious changes to the iconic DC character’s origin story. The movie depicts Quinn as Joker’s fellow patient, instead of being a psychiatrist in the asylum who eventually falls in love and helps her partner in crime escape. The clip eventually transitions to the two protagonists dancing in the streets. Hal David’s “What the World Needs Now Is Love” plays along.

Joker Folie a Deux

Towards the end, Gaga then dons a red blazer with black-and-white diamond checkered top inside. It’s nowhere near the classic Harley Quinn jester costume that Margot Robbie once put on in the first Suicide Squad installment, but it’s obvious that the getup somehow takes some of those elements.

The trailer concludes with Harley Quinn telling Joker, “I wanna see the real you” as she draws the latter’s signature red lips on a glass divider separating the two. It can definitely mean that Fleck is incarcerated for that particular scene, and it could be the scene that jumpstarts the escape from Arkham. Who knows? We can only wait until October to find out.

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