Bad Teacher (Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake) in Theatres on August 31, 2011

Bad Teacher (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3/5
Like the Movie: 41% (n=56,201)

Critics
Rating: 2.7/5
Like the Movie: 45% (n=166)


Reviews

"Hard to root for such a selfish lead, but "Bad Teacher" has just enough politically incorrect humor to warrant a grade of B." - Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

"In spite of a promising concept and a charmingly brazen performance from Cameron Diaz, Bad Teacher is never as funny as it should be." - rottentomatoes.com

"Diaz performs with gusto, but the screenplay doesn't give her many funny things to say." - Eric Snider, film.com

"If you're looking for a funny comedy about a cynical, hard-partying school teacher transformed by his students into a paragon of pedagogical awesomeness, skip Bad Teacher and go rent School of Rock instead." - Dana Stevens, Slate

""Bad Teacher" immediately brings "Bad Santa" to mind and suffers by the comparison." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Everyone loves an anti-hero, but usually there's something redeeming about the character that makes you want to root for them in the end. Not so much in Bad Teacher." - Adam Graham, Detroit News

"Bad Teacher is a promising concept in need of more promising material." - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

"The best lines were harvested for the trailer -- so if you've seen that, you've seen it all." - Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle


Movie Info

Some teachers just don't give an F. For example, there's Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz). She's foul-mouthed, ruthless, and inappropriate. She drinks, she gets high, and she can't wait to marry her meal ticket and get out of her bogus day job. When she's dumped by her fiancé, she sets her plan in motion to win over a rich, handsome substitute (Justin Timberlake) - competing for his affections with an overly energetic colleague, Amy (Lucy Punch). When Elizabeth also finds herself fighting off the advances of a sarcastic, irreverent gym teacher (Jason Segel), the consequences of her wild and outrageous schemes give her students, her coworkers, and even herself an education like no other. -- (C) Sony Pictures

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genre: Comedy

Directed By: Jake Kasdan

Written By: Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg

Distributor: Sony Pictures

Cast
Cameron Diaz (Elizabeth)
Justin Timberlake (Scott Delacorte)
Jason Segel (Russell Gettis)
John Michael Higgins (Principal Wally Snur)
Molly Shannon (Melody)
Lucy Punch (Amy Squirrel)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Cars 2 (Owen Wilson, Larry The Cable Guy) in Theatres on August 24, 2011

Cars 2 (2011)

Hazel's
Rating: 2/5
Review: The worst Pixar movie I have ever watched. I really liked the original 2006 Cars movie and I'm totally disappointed with this sequel. I even slept at some parts!

Audience
Rating: 3.4/5
Like the Movie: 59% (n=71,410)

Critics
Rating: 2.8/5
Like the Movie: 37% (n=187)


Reviews:

"Visuals look spectacular and action sequences take full advantage of the 3D format so you feel like you are burning rubber down winding roads at dizzying speed." - Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

"It is all quite jolly and fast-paced, a feast for the eyes, but there's not much for the mind or the heart." - Derek Malcolm, This is London

"Cars 2 is as visually appealing as any other Pixar production, but all that dazzle can't disguise the rusty storytelling under the hood." - rottentomatoes.com

"Pixar's first bad film relies more on merchandising opportunities than storytelling ones." - Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

"Cars 2 is beautifully animated but it's also frequently dull and painfully unfunny, thanks to an irritating lead character, an overstuffed script, several poorly conceived jokes and a plot that's probably too complicated for its target audience." - Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

"Although it would be unfair to label Cars 2 as unwatchable, it is surprisingly tedious in parts and not as satisfying as one might expect." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"Someone must like Mater, who's already had his own spinoff TV show. Just as someone must like Larry the Cable Guy, who voices him. But that someone isn't me, and if it isn't you, you're in for one very long matinee." - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"Cars 2 demonstrates that not every hit movie merits a sequel." - Carla Puig, USA Today

"One for the scrapheap." - David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]

"Not much engine-power here." - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

"Sweet turbo mother of fuel injections, what is this?" - Nell Frizzell, Little White Lies


Movie Info

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in Cars 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and the stunning spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer). -- (C) Disney

Rated: G

Running Time: 1 hr. 52 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

Directed By: John Lasseter, Brad Lewis

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures / Pixar

Cast
Owen Wilson (Lightning McQueen)
Larry The Cable Guy (Mater)
John Turturro (Francesco Bernoulli)
Eddie Izzard (Miles Axlerod)
Michael Caine (Finn McMissile)
Emily Mortimer (Holly Shiftwell)
Bonnie Hunt (Sally)
Vanessa Redgrave (Mama Topolino)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Free Movie Screenings at Instituto Cervantes de Manila on All Saturdays of August 2011

Instituto Cervantes de Manila invites you to their...

Free Movie Screenings
All Saturdays of August 2011
6:00 PM
Instituto Cervantes' Salon de Actos
855 T.M. Kalaw St.
1000 Ermita
Manila, Filipinas


August 6, 2011 (Saturday) - "Invisibles"

The 'invisibles' are all those we refuse to see - people who seldom garner the attention of the West's media - as well as those who nevertheless refuse to stop caring for them. This film is dedicated to all those whose support makes it possible for the international aid agency "Médecins Sans Fron tières" to work in a wide range of crisis-hit areas and war zones all over the world. This collection of short documentaries was made to commemorate the founding of the Spanish section of "Médecins Sans Frontières" twenty years ago. Five film directors visited the places where the organisation works. In her cinematic "Letter to Nora", Isabel Coixet provides an account of some of the victims of sleeping sickness - a disease which currently affects 18 million people in Latin America. In his contribution, Fernando León de Aranoa portrays the plight of children in Uganda. Mariano Barroso describes two different ways of using the active pharmaceutical ingredient eflornithine - one in Africa, and the other in the world's fashion capital, Paris. In his short film, Javier Corcuera examines the long-term effects of post-war trauma. Wim Wenders travelled to Congo, where he made a film about mass rape during the civil war.


August 13, 2011 (Saturday) - "The Iguazu Effect"

Winner of the Goya for Best Documentary, the film narrates the developments in the conflict of the Sintel workers and the construction of the famous Camp of Hope right in the middle of Madrid. It is a documentary on striking workers who set up Camp of Hope for four months in 2001. Details sketched in via testimony from strikers.


August 20, 2011 (Saturday) - "Night Flowers"

A look at the transformation of the Spanish city, Pozo del Tio Raimundo. From a shantytown of Madrid built vertiginously in the fifties that grew as the night flowers at night time, the “red” priest Father Llanos gave to immigrants his Utopian dream seeking for justice and freedom. Days and years of solidarity passed, of rebelliousness and of forging a new identity, aspiring with a belief that, starting from the shantytown, the world could be changed. How did these people take awareness of their situation and with sheer force and cohesion as a humane group they undertook the transformation?


August 27, 2011 (Saturday) - "The Back of the World"

This documentary looks at "the back of the world": small children working as quarrymen in Peru, Kurdish political refugees from Turkey, and families and inmates awaiting the end on Mississippi's Death Row.


Admission to all the screenings is FREE on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis.

For more details, please contact:
Tlf: (63 2) 526 14 82 - 85
Fax: (63 2) 526 14 49
Email: cenmni@cervantes.es

Or visit their website, this article's SOURCE.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow) in Theatres on August 4, 2011

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Audience
Rating:
Like to See the Movie: 90% (n=22,854)

Critics
Rating: 3.4/5
Like the Movie: 83% (n=6)


Reviews

"Let's hope the movie isn't as bad as the title." - cloudstrife84, rottentomatoes.com

"A dramatic, tense and edgy work which poses a few moral questions and dilemmas" - Andrew Urban, Urban Cinefile

"Despite some flaws, this is the most thrilling and entertaining sepctacle adventure of the summer, boasting a splendid performance from Andy Serkis, this time as the star." - Emanuel Levy, emanuellevy.com

"It's a fantastic reboot of the franchise; warm, thrilling, and exceedingly human." - Paul Verhoeven, The Vine

"This sci-fi fantasy is a dramatic oomphy affair that begins with a small thing: the rescue of a baby chimp, and ends... well, you will need to see the movie ... Director Rupert Wyatt pulls everything together beautifully" - Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile


Movie Info

An origin story in the true sense of the word, Rise of the Apes is set in present day San Francisco. The film is a reality-based cautionary tale -- a science fiction/science-fact blend where mankind's hubris leads to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy. Oscar-winning visual effects house WETA Digital - employing certain of the groundbreaking technologies developed for "Avatar" - will render, for the first time ever in the film series, photo-realistic apes rather than costumed actors. -- (C) Fox

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hr.

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Rupert Wyatt

Written By: Pierre Boulle, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Cast
James Franco (Will Rodman)
Freida Pinto (Caroline)
John Lithgow (Charles Rodman)
Andy Serkis (Caesar)
Brian Cox (John Landon)
Tom Felton (Dodge Landon)
David Oyelowo (Steven Jacobs)
Karin Konoval (Maurice)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

A Special Symhony (Christian Bautista) in Theatres on August 3, 2011

A Special Symphony (2011)


Reviews

"It successfully touched the heartstrings of the viewers with its honest discussion of the plight of kids with special needs and their teachers who have selflessly dedicated their lives to these children. And, it paved the way for the public to see the marked improvement of Christian as an actor." - Aaron del Mundo, The Philippine Star

"Viewers will be able to see similarities and differences in Filipino and Indonesian cultures. The movie shows how life, love and friendship all combine to produce harmonious relationships. More importantly, the movie tackles the needs of special children and how music can change their lives. "A Special Symphony" is endorsed by the Autism Society of the Philippines." - Elli Alipio, pep.ph


Movie Info

Synopsis
A struggling Filipino singer finds his purpose in life when he applies his talents to helping and teaching special needs children.

MTRCB Rating: GP

Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.

Genre: Musical

Director: Awi Suryadi

Released By: Starlink Asia

Cast
Christian Bautista
Ira Wibomo
Ira Maya Sopha
Maribeth

Source: clickthecity.com

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (Eugene Domingo, Cherry Pie Picache) in Theatres on August 3, 2011

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.9/5 (n=10)


Reviews

"A spectacular lead performance and strong direction keep the film thoroughly watchable and generally entertaining, but the total package lacks something vital. " - Philbert Ortiz Dy, clickthecity.com

"Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is definitely one of the wittiest comedies I’ve ever seen. What may otherwise come out as a boring subject has been turned into a laugh out loud masterpiece. They make use of every possible trick in the book to make the audience laugh. There are the snappy lines and funny quips, the hilarious montages of scenes, the utilization of music, quirky actors and over-the-top acting, and just to keep things funny for sure, there’s a bit of slapstick in the end too." - Ariane Astorga, candidheadlines.wordpress.com

"All in all, Babae sa Septic Tank is a likeable movie (hello, they have Eugene Domingo in it, what’s not to like about her?). If you’re one big Indie Film fan, an aspiring film maker,a Kean Cipriano fangirl and a Eugene Domingo fan, this movie is for you! Relate na relate. It’s a smart film, definitely worth your 150P.' - mynosebleed.com


Movie Info

Synopsis: Three would-be filmmakers are trying to produce the film that will send them to festivals abroad. As they deal with the pressures of pre-production, they imagine various versions of their film: from poverty porn, to musical, to mainstream spectacular.

MTRCB Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy

Director: Chris Martinez, Marlon Rivera

Released By: Star Cinema

Cast
Eugene Domingo
Cai Cortez
Cherry Pie Picache
JM de Guzman
Kean Cipriano
Mercedes Cabral

Source: clickthecity.com

Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts) in Theatres on August 3, 2011

Larry Crowne (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.2/5
Like the Movie: 51% (n=23,093)

Critics
Rating: 2.5/5
Like the Movie: 35% (n=176)


Reviews

"Too cute for its own good, Larry Crowne is nonetheless hard to dislike." - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

"As obvious and predictable as this story might be, it still works - in large part because we care about the human beings inhabiting this motion picture." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"This is film as comfort food, and even if it has very little nutritional value, its pleasantly bland texture will help keep you occupied until your next job interview or layoff notice." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"Next semester, the stars should drop Speech 217 and enroll in Chemistry 101 -- they dearly need some." - Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

"Despite the relaxed, easy chemistry of stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, Larry Crowne is surprisingly bland and conventional." - rottentomatoes.com

"It's about as close to real comedy as a cup of milky tea is to a real meal." - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"You wonder who thought any of this was funny." - John Anderson, Wall Street Journal

"Larry Crowne is more than a missed opportunity. It's alarmingly, depressingly out of touch." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"Neither the relationship of the two leads, nor any encounter between any of the film's other humans, seems to proceed according to the emotional or sociological customs of our culture." - Dana Stevens, Slate

"Even if you wander into this congealed mess with nothing more demanding in mind than to spend a little time with two charming favorites, do not expect Forrest Gump or Pretty Woman." - Rex Reed, New York Observer

"Larry Crowne" has Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts and a good premise and a colorful supporting cast, but what it doesn't have is a reason for existing." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Movie stars may be less valued than they used to be, but it's still puzzling to see Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts stuck in a romantic comedy as flat-footed and tone deaf as Larry Crowne." - Justin Chang, Variety


Movie Info

Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. -- (C) Universal Pictures

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hr. 38 min.

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Tom Hanks

Written By: Tom Hanks, Nia Vardalos

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Cast
Tom Hanks (Larry Crowne)
Julia Roberts (Mercedes Tainot)
Bryan Cranston (Dean Tainot)
Cedric the Entertainer (Lamar)
Taraji P. Henson (B'Ella)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Talia)

Source: rottentomatoes.com