Sinners Sinners

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Now Playing: Sinners

An audio-visual treat that will make you think

All photos courtesy of: Warner Bros. Pictures

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Over the last few years, I’ve made it a point to dodge any piece of fiction with a hint of horror in it. So why on earth did I volunteer to watch Sinners? Simple, my YouTube algorithm suggested a Hot Ones video featuring Hailee Steinfeld and Michael B. Jordan. I didn’t care what Sinners was about after that. I just dove straight in. 

Leading up to the screening date I did have my qualms. After checking out one trailer, I saw that there will be vampires and that it’s supposed to be terrifying. Still, I persisted. After all, it’s another Ryan Coogler x Michael B. Jordan collaboration with Hailee Steinfeld to boot. 

Drawing people in with an A-List cast, director, and billing it as a vampire romp. I was all in. Fast forward to the end of the film and I felt like there was a bait and switch. Yes, there were vampires, but the trailers appeared to show one movie when the actual film was something else entirely. And I mean that in the best way possible. 

WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD.

Not just another vampire movie 

Sinners

If you’re in here for the vampires and the vampires alone, you’ll find yourself waiting quite a bit. Sinners takes it sweet time introducing you to every key character first. It was only about a little over an hour into the film before we got any tangible vampire sighting. But that’s because the movie is more than just about the vampires. 

Smoke and Stack – the twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan – return to their hometown after making it big in Chicago. The film primarily focuses on them and their cousin Sammie Moore played by Miles Caton who is an absolute revelation in this film. 

One of the supernatural aspects showcased in the film is how, sometimes, transcendent musicians are able to conjure the music from both the past and present and attract various other supernatural forces due to their inherent talent alone. And Sammie is one hell of a talent. 

It’s his talent that ultimately draws in the vampires. When starts to truly rip it at the juke joint that Smoke and Stack sought to open in the setup stage of the film, the film truly takes-off.

When we meet the rest of the cast, we are also slowly exposed to the film’s setting. The film is set during a time when African American people are still openly oppressed and hunted by the Ku Kux Klan or KKK. It’s a tumultuous time in America.  

The first hour or so serves to establish the characters, the place, and the inciting incident.

It doesn’t take too long to realize that while the vampires are a real threat, the people in the juke joint were also already facing a clear and present danger but not of the supernatural kind. 

Music, lore, and more

Sinners

I am truly out of my depth when it comes to all the music and lore presented in Sinners. But in the context of the film, viewers should easily make the connection between these local folklores, the role of Blues music, and religion. 

Some of it shows that although overpowering humans in nearly every way imaginable, vampires can’t just go wherever they want. They need to be invited in first. It’s this ‘rule’ or ‘mechanic’ that creates the tension as the film ramps up to its climactic confrontation. 

One of the immediate reactions I saw online about the film is how it’s ‘a celebration of African-American culture’ and that absolutely hits the nail on the head. 

Director Ryan Coogler draws from his personal experiences growing up and weaves an inquisitive story. He tugs on the strings of the music and lore of African Americans, how it’s been co-opted by other races, and people’s general attitude toward the culture. 

What does it mean to be free?

Sinners

The film has a mid-credits and post credits scene. I would say the true ending is the mid-credits scene. It is there where the message of the film truly hits. 

We already know that African Americans suffer racism even to this day. It’s in the way that the presence of vampires, the Blues music that Sammie plays, and the choices made throughout the entire film come full circle. 

To me, at least, the film asks what it means to be truly free? What does Freedom entail? 

It’s hard to explain all of these without spoiling the film so I’ll leave it at that. 

An audio-visual treat that will make you think

Sinners is an extremely measured story. Everything from the setting, the music, and the supernatural elements involved feel intentional. They all serve to force us to confront the cultural appropriation still going on today. 

All of these deeply layered themes and invitations for deep self-inquisition are served on a film that’s beautifully scored and shot. 

Sinners is a treat to the ears, eyes, and a challenge to the mind.

Oh and yeah, this:

Entertainment

Street Fighter special look: Blanka vs. Ryu

Jason Momoa, Andrew Koji’s characters face off

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Paramount Pictures has released a new special look for Street Fighter featuring Jason Momoa and Andrew Koji.

The short, minute-long clip shows the actors’ respective characters, Blanka and Ryu, in battle.

It opens with a chained prisoner struck by extreme electrical charges, transforming into the green-skinned, electricity-infused Blanka.

He unleashes a fierce roar. Meanwhile, Ryu drops into a fighting stance, but tells Blanka he does not want to fight him.

Forced to defend himself, Ryu then fires a signature Hadouken fireball towards Blanka, as the teaser cuts to the Street Fighter title card.

Street Fighter debuts in cinemas starting October 14. It is directed by Kitao Sakurai and stars an ensemble cast that includes Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoai as Akuma, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog, among others.

The film is set in 1993 when estranged Street Fighters Ryu and Ken Masters are thrown into combat when Chun-Li recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament.

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Now Playing: Spider-Man: Brand New Day

It’s a must watch for Spidey fans who want to see Peter Parker enter his sad boy era.

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The Holland-led Spider-Man trilogy is one of my favorite franchises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Compared to other series with admittedly disjointed plots, all of Spidey’s storylines have a clear thread leading from one to the next. Since the fourth entries after trilogies are historically lackluster, I had a lot of trepidation heading into Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Thankfully, all those worries were unfounded. Brand New Day follows the same throughline as its predecessors, once again reinforcing Spider-Man as the strongest franchise that Marvel offers fans today.

A brand new day indeed

Coming from No Way Home, Brand New Day still has Peter Parker live a new life as a literal nobody where no one remembers who he is. So begins his existence as just Spider-Man with no friends or family.

When a new and unseen threat ravages through New York City, Spidey starts to wish that he still had friends to help him out, which leads him on an inevitable collision course with Ned and MJ. Ironically, it also leads him to other characters in the city, including the Hulk and the Punisher.

A cacophony of villains

When I first saw the trailer, I was worried about the astounding number of villains from the get-go. After all, one of the biggest problems in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, the most maligned entry in Spider-Man movie history, was the villains. Though far from the movie’s biggest problem, having too many bad guys without a solid plot led to its terrible reception. You can see why Brand New Day’s trailer raises some flags.

If you were thinking the same thing, Brand New Day does indeed have a cohesive plot. Everything flows neatly into one another. Each emotional beat of Peter feeling for his solitude mixes well with the action. In here, fight scenes feel like they have a purpose.

And there is a big bad here. It’s not just a collection of guys that Spidey has to go through. That big bad, who shall not be named at this time, doesn’t feel like just a placeholder for Peter’s internal struggles. They have a character of their own and their own struggles to solve. I wouldn’t say they’re at the level of Loki just yet, but they definitely have a better go at it than most of the MCU’s other villains.

Marvel’s New York City finally debuts

Despite being a prime location since 2012’s Avengers, New York City never really felt like the quintessential city for superheroes in the comics. In the movies, the city was just another city to be ravaged when a new villain comes along.

For the first time, Brand New Day makes the city feel like a lived-in world with a bunch of superheroes living in the neighborhood. And they do pop up.

Does Peter have a scientific problem that only a very specific hero can solve? It’s a good thing Bruce Banner is just around the corner. Does he need some muscle? Well, the Punisher is skulking around somewhere. Plus, there’s even a succinct reason why other superheroes can’t help out.

In this way, Brand New Day presents itself more like a comic book series than a one-off movie. It’s like following the story alone from issue to issue. It’s not the most perfect adaptation of the landmark city, but it goes a long way from just another ravaging of New York.

Peter’s sadness

Everything here hinges on Peter’s loneliness. Despite meeting a trove of characters across the cinematic universe, Peter yearns for time with his loved ones. But they’re gone.

Unlike the past three films where he always had someone to go home to, he has no one here. Tony Stark is dead. Aunt May is gone. Happy has gone to parts unknown. Ned and MJ have no memory of him. Brand New Day has a way of making you feel for his aches, whether the way he still keeps track of MJ or some physiological changes as a result of his predicament.

It also helps that the movie’s big bad has similar motivations. Both serve as perfect mirrors against each other, elevating both their stories effectively. And that’s all I’ll say about that.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a few steps behind from being a perfect Marvel movie, but it’s still an extremely strong part of the Spider-Man mythos. The trilogy, now quadrilogy, remains Marvel’s most consistent franchises to date. It’s an absolute must-watch.

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UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony hits Makati in October

Determination arrives in October.

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For so small of a game, UNDERTALE quickly made it into the gaming world’s hall of fame. Despite being only a decade old, the small title has had a major influence for modern-day gamers because of its unique gameplay, its lo-fi art, and, of course, its catchy soundtrack. If you’re a fan of UNDERTALE’s soundtrack, a unique concert experience is headed your way.

On October 17, Film Concerts PH, in partnership with SOHO Live, is hosting UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.

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.

In the game, you play as a small child stuck in the mysterious Underground filled with interesting characters and monsters. Unlike traditional RPGs, UNDERTALE asks players to choose between building relationships and chasing after wins. It’s a unique experience that’s defined by whether you chose to make friends or fought your way to the top. It teaches players to value different ways to solve problems, all while showering them with its one-of-a-kind humor.

Pre-sales for the concert, exclusively for members of the Film Concerts PH community, start on August 4. Public sales, however, will start on August 11 via Ticketmelon.

SEE ALSO: The hunt begins: The Witcher in Concert hits Manila with surprises in tow

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