I love musicals! So it's a no-brainer that I am a Pitch Perfect fan. The first 2 are just epic! Aca-mazing!

And the #FabSkye is also a fan eversince she watched Pitch Perfect 2 on Netflix so we head to the cinema to catch the latest, and probably the last, installment.

Honestly, I was thinking that the next Pitch Perfects are gonna focus on Hailey but it looks like na ah. Still Becca. And there's no passing of the crown that happens at all. I guess, there's no Pitch Perfect w/o Becca at all.

This movie is still very Pitch Perfect. With Fat Amy's crazy antics and comedy. Becca's awesome voice and perfect performances. Though its a bit lacking on the "contest" part. I just wish I heard more from the other bands and some more crazy music wars.

But the actions scenes are great! Fat Amy nailed it!

Another must watch if you really like movies like this. But I guess out of the three, this is gonna be my least favorite.

The minute I read about this film (yes, not even watched the trailer yet) I knew I had to watch it because:

1. It's an adaptation of Nick Joaquin's A Portrait of the Artist as a Filipino. I'm a huge Nick Joaquin fan after reading his book Manila, My Manila way back in High School.

2. It's a musical.

3. Joanna Ampil.

I'm really so excited to watch kaya kahit walang kasama, gora ang lola mo! Yes, I watched it alone and I'm so glad I did!

So here are my thoughts about Ang Larawan and why I think you shouldn't DARE MISS THIS FILM.

1. It's a musical. And not the Glee type of musical but more of an opera kind of musical wherein it's normal that they'd sing out the dialogues. Some might find it annoying or weird but I honestly love it. It just gives so much more feels on the film.

2. Speaking of singing, everytime Joanna Ampil opens her mouth parang gusto ko mag standing ovation. OMG! I've always been a fan since I first watched her on A Sound of Music all those years ago. But even before that I've always known her as that PLM'yer who snagged the Kim of Saigon role. A West End superstar that really makes every Filipino proud. The last time I watched her was in Ballet Manila's Rebel and as usual she's more than superb. Pero always sa stage ko sya napapanood so it's a little bit different for me to see her on the screen pero the talent is just the same! Grabe that girl. Di na ko nagtaka when she bagged the Best Actress award. Sorry, pero that black out scene alone kinabog na nya talaga lahat eh.

3. Paulo Avelino is just bursting with sex appeal. And boy! That guy could act! At first I was skeptical when I saw him on the movie poster. Syempre in my mind I was like, "anong ginagawa ng lolo mo dyan?". But well, I guess the creators of the film definitely know what they are doing. He is more than perfect for the role. Okay fine, his voice is not as great as the others (tumabi ba naman kay Joanna Ampil eh) PERO binuhay nya si Tony Javier. As in I can't imagine anybody else doing that seducing scene with Rachel Alejandro. Ang galing ni kuya. Hands down.

4. The cinematography, the music, the story, the directing - this movie is done with utmost perfection. Di sya tinipid. At ang ganda ng bawat anggulo ng pelikula. My 300++ petot is more than worth it. Super more than worth it. Di ka manghihinayang panoorin ulit. Eto ang mga pelikulang dapat mong makita talaga.

5. The rest of the cast are just excellent. As in lahat, kahit yung cameo ni Mikee Conjuanco at ni Ricky Davao. Walang maliit na artista sa pelikula na to. They have Nonie Buencamino, Menchu Lauchengco, Dulce, Nanette Inventor, Ogie Alcasid! Jusko! This is what you call an all-star cast talaga! Lahat magaling both sa pag arte at pagkanta. There's no small role in this film. Celeste Legaspi and Cara Manglapus shines!

6. Naiyak ako pero di ako makaiyak kasi mag isa ako nanonood. I swear. Gusto kong umiyak na gusto kong matawa habang umiiyak pero hindi ko magawa kasi baka i-judge ako ng katabi ko. So warning besh. Hahaha!

7. That scene with the Senator and the blackout scene would give you chills. Iba sya. Tagos.

8. I hope the teachers thought of requiring their students to watch this tapos mag-submit ng reaction paper kasi heller??!! Ganun ginagawa namin noon! And that's the reason why I learned to appreciate great films talaga. Dear teachers, heller?!! Eto na yun oh! Pang reaction paper talaga to eh.

This is the first MMFF movie I watched because the #FabSkye requested for it. The moment she saw that trailer on TV, she has been saying "Pak! Pak! Ganern! Ganern!" all the time. Hahahaha! Benta because she would really imitate Pia's action. Teehee!

Disclaimer lang mga mumsh ah, I know that this movie is not ka-review-review. First, because the story as usual is common with all the superhero stuff. The graphics, though good, is not plausible. But this film is really not made for film critics. Alam ko po yun. Pero sa totoo lang, benta sya talaga sa kids! This film know their audience.

So anyway, sa totoo lang I liked it! I love that this year, MMFF gave us a balance of great movies and good enough movies for the kids. Because honestly, it's a Christmas tradition to watch an MMFF movie with the kids. And for us, it's this film and Meant To Beh.

Honestly benta sya because of the effects and colorful superheroes. The kids love it. It's also hilarious if you like the Vice Ganda kind of comedy. I specially love those spoof scenes of DJ and Vice.

Though I appreciate that the "green" jokes this time is subtle. Aminin nyo that usually Vice Ganda films have green jokes na talaga mapapa-iling ka nalang. Now, meron padin talaga but of course the kids didn't notice. Mga adults lang na may malisya sa buhay. So kudos to the writers and directors for making an effort to make sure the film is appropriate for kids.

The children went out of the cinema really happy. My daughter specially loved all the superheroes. She loves the effects and the colors. She loves the fact that we are all laughing inside the cinema.

When I attended the Meant To Beh blogcon last month, I really promised myself that I won't dare miss it. Aside from the fact that it really looks promising, I'm excited to see bossing's serious comedy film.

I lugged the entire FamBam with me and I swear my daughter was laughing endlessly. Nakakatuwa marining yung tawa ng 3 year old ko. I swear!

So here are the reasons why I love Meant To Beh:

1. Baste!!! Jusko! The moment Baste was shown, tawang tawa na agad anak ko. When he danced that Basteliciouos dance, bumaba ang bagets and danced also. Plus aside from being super cute and funny, that boy could act ah!!! Ang galing! There are scenes kasi where in he's crying kasi Bossing (his Tatay) left the house, ay kaloka! Nakakaiyak yung bata.

2. Dawn and Bossing tandem. There is a certain chemistry between Dawn and Bossing. Nakakakilig sila. Seryoso yun. I love seeing them on the screen together. Plus I love seeing the lighter side of Dawn and the more serious side of Bossing. Totoo nga! It's not their usual roles. Iba eh.

3. The story. Honestly if there's something na talagang love na love ko sa film na to is the moral story. It talks about family at its core. How the kids are affected pag may issue ang family. How even the nicest set of kids could do nasty things even to nice people pag involved na ang family lalo na if they are trying to fix their parent's issue. How important it is to talk to your husband/wife. It would really make you re-assess your relationship with your partner. Sometimes kasi you thought wala ng love when in fact, the love has always been there pero di mo napapansin kasi you choose to focus on the differences o yung nega instead of the positive. It is also very important to stay on a relation ship because you love each other. Not just because of the kids. Sometimes kasi tayo, we would stay on a relationship and would keep on thinking na "it's for the kids" tapos we would feel really really bad kasi lahat it's for the kids hanggang the negativity and self-pity would eat us up. Grabe ang feels ng movie na to! It just proves that you can create a light film na tatawa ka pero may lesson talaga.

Honestly, I didn't expect much on this film. Kasama kasi sya dun sa list ng films na alam kong no brains involved at tatawa lang ako kasi nga it's a Bossing Vic film. Mali ako besh! Lumabas kasi ako ng movie house appreciating my family more. Perfect for new year kasi parang after that, ililista mo sa NYR mo ang pagkausap sa asawa mo gabi gabi kahit gaano ka kapagod!

Been loving the Philippine Movie scene these days. I know I haven't been posting my reviews on some local films but I've watched a handful. And so far so good. Ang gaganda ng mga movies ngayon no?

And Love You to the Stars and Back is one of my favorites this year. Probably next to Kita Kita.

Oh wow! This film is just wow!

It's a road trip film. And like most road trip films it involves the actual journey and their journey to knowing each other. This film is a nice mix of comedy, romance (JoshLia's chemistry is undeniable!) and drama. DraRomCom talaga to besh!

Mika (Julia Baretto) is a weird girl who can't move on from the death of her mum. By simply looking at her bangs and hearing her talk about aliens and stuff is a dead give away of her weirdness. Some people find it funny, but I find it alarming and sad. Here is a young girl who suffered loss and is definitely lost. She is a well loved girl and you can see it but her loss is something that consumes her. Making her disregard all the love around her.

Julia did great on portraying a character with so much layers. I love her weirdness. Her quirkiness. Her pain. Dama mo talaga.

Caloy (Joshua Garcia) is that fun loving, pilyo guy with cancer. He's someone who appears positive. And when he bumped into Mika while he's on his way to meet his dad, his real journey begins...

Spoiler alert na talaga to mga besh, stop reading if you haven't watched the film yet. But please know that I really really recommend this movie!! GO and watch! Tapos balik kayo dito.

So ayun nga....

Caloy was biking across Batangas to meet his dad. His walang hiyang Tatay according to his mum. But he was there to just let her dad know that he has cancer. Sabi nga nya, "wala naman sigurong masamang Tatay kung malalaman nya na may cancer ang anak nya".

You could sense that beneath the fun-loving guy is a boy who wants his dad. Another reason to live. Another person to love. But then his father didn't even face him.

That first break out scene of Joshua and Julia is just too painful to watch. A young boy who just wants her dad. But was slapped by the truth that his mum has always told him. And a lost girl, who cares for this stranger. Ang galing ni Joshua. The pain in his eyes, damang dama. Julia's subtle, lost acting is superb too. That's also the first time she saw the effects of cancer on Caloy.

After that first break out scene, they both decided to go to Mt. Milagros to get abducted by the aliens. Yes! Both of them.

And Antoinette Jadaone has been very very effective in hiding a deeper, darker meaning to the film which I hope a lot has realized now. Behind the kilig, the comedy lies a story about teen suicide.

That journey to Mt. Milagros that Mika took when she learned about her father's new baby is more than just a road trip. When Caloy decided to not go home to his loving mum and went with Mika to Mt. Milagros after his own dad refused to meet him is an act of letting go. That moment, he decided to stop fighting.

We later learned that Caloy's mum is selling their house, his brother is selling his car just to come up with 4.5M for his operation with 50% survival rate. For him, it's too much. Too much for his loving family.

That painful scene when they both called their families to say good bye before waiting for the aliens to get them is proof of what I have always thought. That these kids, have no plans of coming back.

But then when a helicopter came, which they thought is an actual alien, they both chickened out and decided to do it in the morning instead.

The following morning, Mika saw Caloy in another break out scene. His cancer was taking it's toll on him. And when faced with the painful truth and reality of actually losing him, she realized that life is actually worth living.

It's a wonderful film. A film that made me realize that some pain are too much to bear. That some people looked okay but is actually hurting. That some people, though surrounded with so much love just needs a little bit more or at least an assurance.

I hope the kids who got to watch this would realize that at the end of the day, family is always worth living for.

I love this film. For the way the actors was able to convey the feelings needed for the film. For the way the story was told. And for being brave enough to tackle something as dark as suicide.