Entertainment

Quick Review of Cinemalaya XX Full-Length Films

A very strong lineup.

Published

August 14, 2024

Martynne De Leon

The Cinemalaya Film Festival had just concluded, and it finished boldly with a very strong lineup.

This year’s festival felt different; most of the filmmakers weren’t really aiming for the awards. At least, that’s how it seemed to me. They want to be heard, and invite people to take action. Each film had its own advocacy strong enough to cement the premier independent film festival’s two-decade celebration.

Overall, I watched six out of the 10 full-length entries in this year’s Cinemalaya. Here are my quick takeaways from each film:

Alipato at Muog by JL Burgos review

Alipato at Muog is the only documentary entry to the full-length competition of Cinemalaya XX. I was hesitant to watch it at first, because I tend to get very emotional for stories about real, unsolved cases. I’m glad I gave this a chance. This is a story that deserves to be known by the general public.

As we go on about our daily lives, Alipato and Muog is a reminder that there are big struggles of the Filipino people that we could only imagine. In this case — there are families of victims of enforced disappearances (called desaparecidos) in the Philippines, and they are still grieving up to this day. The saddest part is, the families haven’t received closure decades later.

A very powerful watch — more so that the director and writer is the brother of the desaparecido in the film.

An Errand by Dominic Bekaert review

Initially, I liked the approach of this film. An Errand — a driver (played by Sid Lucero) makes his way to Manila all the way from Baguio City in the wee hours of night. I love long rides myself, and the story has an interesting narration. We get a glimpse of the characters’ backstory through different outtakes.

The cast and crew of An Errand during the Cinemalaya gala and talkback screening

However, I felt like the film was a bit long and dragging. But maybe that is the main message of the film — a metaphor of the long, exhausting hours endured by the working class, only to be exploited by the capitalists over personal (mostly absurd) gains.

Balota by Kip Oebanda review

Six Cinemalayas ago, I cried during the closing remarks of a film at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo in CCP. The film was Liway, based on a true-to-life story about a political detainee during the martial law era. It was directed by Kip Oebanda, son of the said detainee.

Six years later, Oebanda returns with a new film with another compelling theme. This time, it’s about the Philippine elections.

The film’s story centers around election season in a small provincial town, and how a public school teacher (played by Marian Rivera) navigates the “dirty” and messy system. She reminds me of my aunt who is a public school teacher, and growing up, I would watch her brave the gruelling system during the elections as a poll watcher.

The cast and crew of Balota during the Cinemalaya gala and talkback screening

Compared to Liway, the film has a mainstream feel to it (it is co-produced by GMA Pictures). Although, I think it’s a smart move – especially the decision to cast Marian Rivera as lead, and include social media personalities like Sassa Gurl and Esnyr to target the general audience.

Overall, Balota serves as a great voters education film that deserves to be shown in the mainstream cinema.

Gulay Lang, Manong by BC Amaparado review

Out of all the entries this year, Gulay Lang, Manong may have the lightest approach. While it still deals with sensitive and relevant topics like police brutality and social injustice, the film is sprinkled with dark humor and comedic skits. It drew laughs inside the cinema, thanks to its fun cast ensemble. No wonder it got the Audience Choice award.

Gulay Lang, Manong reminded me so much of the 2018 Filipino film, “Pangarap Kong Holdap” which similarly tackles social issues with a satire comedy approach. There were a lot of easter eggs in this film, and towards the end, it leaves you questioning some of your beliefs about certain issues. In my case, it made me read up on research about medicinal benefits of marijuana.

The cast and crew of Gulay Lang, Manong during the Cinemalaya gala screening

I was present during the gala night and I felt the fun energy of the cast and the audience. Farmers from Pampanga were also there in the gala screening, and you can tell from the vibe that the production team had fun in creating this story. The cast even gave out free tupig (Filipino rice cake) outside the cinema, which is a relevant symbol in the film.

Kono Basho by Jaime Pacena II review

Starting with the opening credits, I knew Kono Basho would be a visual feast. Its director, Jaime Pacena is actually a virtual artist, and it is very evident throughout the film.

The story’s main theme is grief, and how people navigate its complexities. The Japanese production style is very evident while watching Kono Basho, but somehow the story is injected with Filipino values.

Overall, Kono Basho is simple and straightforward, and what really made it stood out is the beautiful cinematography (director Dan Villegas really nailed it), plus the great acting of the two lead actresses.

Tumandok by Richard Jeroui Salvadico & Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay review

My personal favorite from the lineup this year, Tumandok is told in such a way that it doesn’t impose its audience on what to feel. It simply tells a story. While the subject matter is heavy, the filmmakers managed to make it hopeful.

Tumandok is very raw and genuine — and the main reason is that the actors are the real indigenous people themselves.

The cast and crew of Tumandok during the Cinemalaya gala screening

This film has touched my heart and opened my mind about the struggles of our indigenous people. There are important issues brought in this film like social class, politics, and capitalism, among others, but the story was narrated in the most genuine and human way.

The film was five years in the making, and I say it is worth the wait.

Entertainment

Hisense L9Q Review: The ultra short throw projector that feels like a TV

A 120″ home cinema

Published

November 21, 2025

Chay Lazaro

Have you ever dreamed of watching a movie at home that actually feels like the cinema? A picture so bright, so detailed, so close — you forget it’s being projected onto your wall?

The Hisense L9Q the kind of device that makes that possible.

The Ultimate Home Theater Upgrade

When you think of a projector, you probably picture a big box at the back of the room, throwing a beam of light you’re not supposed to walk through.

The Hisense L9Q flips that idea completely. It’s an ultra-short-throw projector, which means it sits just inches from the wall. So there are neither shadows nor cables stretching across the floor.

It’s clean, modern, and honestly, it looks like something from the future. It’s Hisense’s most advanced laser projector yet.

Setup only takes minutes: drop it in place, power it on, and auto fit and alignment can take care of the rest, or you can manually adjust it. You don’t need a technician to pull this off.

And the image? 80 inches all the way up to a massive 200 inches. Pair it with an ALR screen — short for ambient light rejection — and it looks even more unreal. The screen bounces the projector’s light straight toward you while blocking out the glare from lamps or windows.

Most people will think it’s a TV. Then you tell them it’s a projector and you can watch their faces light up.

Pure Cinema Standards

At 5,000 lumens, this is one of the brightest projectors in its class. It stays vivid even in daylight. That football match you like to watch with coffee on weekend mornings? It looks spectacular.

The scary movies you pretend to watch under a cozy blanket? Also SPOOK-tacular.

But brightness alone isn’t the star of the show. The secret is L9Q’s Triple Color Laser system. That means separate red, green, and blue lasers, each tuned for pure wavelength precision.

Most projectors use a single white laser or LED that filters through color wheels, which limits how many shades it can actually show. This one doesn’t.

It covers 110% of the BT.2020 color gamut, which is the widest color standard used in 4K production today. So you get richer reds, punchier greens, deeper blues — the kind of color that makes sunsets glow, neon lights shimmer, and movie worlds feel alive.

Just look at the Avatar films: those shimmering blues and layered greens that feel otherworldly. There’s also La La Land’s famous “Lovely Night” scene: those shifting blues and oranges that make it pure magic.

Even in Severance, you might remember that moment when Mr. Milchick gifts the innies their music dance experience. The reds and blues flood the frame without ever bleeding into each other.

Combine that wider color gamut with both Pantone and Pantone Skintone Validation and you get better color over all.

In White Lotus Season 3, for example, even with its warmer color grade, you can still see each cast member’s skin tone naturally. They’re not washed out nor overly orange.

Add 4K Ultra HD resolution and a 5,000 : 1 contrast ratio, and dark scenes pull you in while highlights burst with cinematic clarity, the kind of balance you expect in a real theater.

Just like the best theaters, the L9Q supports every major HDR standard: Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. Visually, it’s stunning.

In Oppenheimer, the shadows stay detailed and lifelike. You’ll see every subtle expression on Cillian Murphy’s face.

In Black Panther, the deep purples and golds of T’Challa’s ceremonial robe gleam against the vibrant landscapes of Wakanda.

Lastly, in Crazy Rich Asians, the wedding scene feels lush and alive — colors bloom, fabrics shimmer, and the lighting feels straight out of the theater.

Then, there’s the sound. The L9Q’s built-in Max 116W Devialet 6.2.2 audio system delivers clear highs, warm mids, and a surprisingly powerful low end.

Soft moments like Kina Grannis’ Can’t Help Falling in Love, sound intimate and emotional. When things get intense, like Kendrick Lamar’s Pray for Me during the Busan chase, the audio swells, crisp and controlled, matching the energy on screen.

Zimmer’s score in Oppenheimer hits just as hard: first silence, then the blast, shaking the room with that cinematic punch.

Of course, if you’re building a full home theater, you’ll probably connect your own surround setup. With the L9Q’s flexible connectivity, you can easily do so. But even on its own, this projector already sounds like it belongs in a cinema.

Visual Excellence

It’s not just for movie nights either. The L9Q handles fast-moving visuals like a champ . It’s got 240 Hz refresh rate that keeps motion fluid and sharp. Whether it’s live sports, chase scenes, or anything that moves fast, you won’t miss a beat.

It’s one of those details you don’t notice until you go back to something slower — then you can’t unsee it.

Whatever you like to watch at home, it’s also just a click away. The L9Q has Google TV built in, so all your favorite apps — Netflix, Disney Plus, YouTube — are ready to go.

No set-top boxes, no cables, just the remote, which, by the way, glows in the dark.

Elegant Centerpiece

The Hisense L9Q is a showpiece in itself. Unlike most TVs that are an eyesore when turned off, it’s designed to be seen, not hidden.

With its imperial copper gilt finish, diamond-cut edges, and micro-prism detailing, it’s already won prestigious design awards like the Red Dot 2024 and IF Design Award 2025.

Just like all Hisense projectors, it’s also built to last. With a 25,000-hour laser lifespan you’ll be enjoying your home theater for a really long time. I did that math and that’s at least 2 movies every day for the next 13 years.

The Future of Home Cinema

At US$5,999, it’s an investment for sure, but it’s the kind that transforms every movie, game, or cozy night in into something worth remembering. No bulky setup. No messy cables. No compromises. Just light, sound, and story — right where you live.

Check out Hisense L9Q Ultra Short Throw Projector on Best Buy or Amazon. It’s currently $500 off for Black Friday.

Entertainment

The Legend of Zelda film gets its first official photos

Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth play Zelda and Link, respectively.

Published

November 18, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

The Legend of Zelda might be one of the hardest video games to adapt. After all, how do you write a script for a protagonist who never talks? But, by God, Nintendo is doing it anyway. Now, the company has released the first official images from the upcoming live action film’s production.

The upcoming Zelda film has had a long production cycle. First announced in 2023, it was only earlier this year when Nintendo put a date to the film’s premiere: March 26, 2027. Even now, we don’t know much about the film.

Over the weekend, unofficial photos showed that product started its filming in New Zealand. Unofficial photos don’t really mean much except for those who hang around the rumor mill, but they can spiral towards those excited for the film’s release. To get ahead of the rumors, Nintendo released official photos, over the Nintendo Today app, which show both Link and Princess Zelda.

Notably, Zelda, the archetypal princess in distress, isn’t wearing her usual princess’s garb. Rather, she’s wearing the blue gear from the Breath of the Wild duology, where the princess had a more active role in saving Hyrule. Bo Bragason, who plays the princess, will likely take on a more front-and-center role.

Link, played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, is wearing his more traditional green clothing from the past games. Though the film looks like it’s adapting the most recent duology, it might be an entirely different story, based on Link’s different clothes.

Entertainment

KPop Demon Hunters 2 is reportedly scheduled for 2029 premiere

That’s a pretty long wait.

Published

November 6, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

“Golden” must be the most popular song this year. Months after the launch of KPop Demon Hunters, the catchy song is still an earworm. Capitalizing on the hit’s success, Netflix is already considering a sequel. Now, KPop Demon Hunters 2 has reportedly been confirmed with a distant release window.

After less than a year, KPop Demon Hunters is already Netflix’s most-watched title ever. The platform was even confident enough to release the film (and a special singalong version) in select theaters. Soon after the success, Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix kept a potential sequel in mind.

Now, according to Deadline, Netflix has greenlit the sequel for production. KPop Demon Hunters 2, or whatever it might be called, will reportedly premiere sometime in 2029.

No, it’s not just you. Four years is a lengthy wait for a sequel. Then again, animated films take much longer to make. For example, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, coincidentally also coming from Sony Pictures Animation, will premiere in 2027, which is also four years after the previous film.

However, if the Spider-Verse trilogy is any indication, the longer production time can easily churn out a film that tops charts. Both Across the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters are easily the top animated contenders of its respective years.