This hilarious film is exactly what I need this busy Valentine week. I said hilarious because saying that it's a "funny" film would be the understatement of the year.

Imagine a wonderful cast of Joross Gamboa, Joey Marquez and Ryan Bang? HILARIOUS! We we're laughing from the start of the film until the end.

But the great thing is, it's not just simply funny. Or trying hard funny. It's the "millennial funny". Yung tipong tawang tawa ka kasi ganyan na ganyan kayo mag usap ng tropa mo.

I swear! Every time Ryan Bang would say, "ang arte arte mo!" everybody at the cinema would laugh hysterically. That tweets that says "Masyadong ginalingan eh." is just too simple but really funny. And of course, Joross' funny and witty lines are on point.

Probably one of my favorite movies. I love RomCom. I could watch them ng paulit ulit. There are RomComs though that are super pilit but this one, grabe! I applaud the writers of this film. Mga bes, masyado nyong ginalingan. Iba kayo!

But of course, it's not just funny. The heart-wrenching scene of Liza made me cry. Okay, sorry but this is a semi-spoiler (you know I don't do spoilers!) but I have to...

There's this confrontational scene between Cali (Liza) and Gio (Enrique). Gio has been trying really hard to say sorry to Cali because of that one mistake he did (he cheated on her) some years back. And Cali can't forgive him. She is so mad that she did several stupid things. So Gio asked her why can't she not forgive that one mistake after his thousand sorrys.

Liza's words really tugged deep in my heart. Alright I don't remember it exactly but she said something like...

Then she went on and explained how that pain affected her and her family. That because of that pain she can't eat or go to school which made her lose her scholarship. And since her father left them for another woman, her mother had to work extra hard to pay for her and her brother's tuition. 

And because they don't have money to pay for rent they have to move in with her Tita. She lost everything. And so forgiving him, will never come easy. Her pain is deep. Her pain is rooted by th efact that her own father left them for another woman. That she sees her mother being hurt by her father. Ang lalim eh. Kaya pwede ba? May karapatan syang umarte, mga bashers kayo!!! Bwahaha!

I swear, you have to watch this. I love love LOVE it so much.

I was in the US when this movie was shown here in Manila so I literally had to ask my friend to wait for me so I could watch with him. We almost didn’t make it because of our crazy schedules buti nalang my kumare (yes! the one who doesn’t like to use her brain cells when watching a film) told me she wanted to watch this award-winning film.

Sa sobrang shock namin, nag book na kami agad ng seats and off we went.

Grabe!

This film is not a love story. That’s for sure. Well, it is a love story but it talks about more than the love story of a guy and girl. It talks about the someone’s love for their passion/dreams.  Emma and her acting. Ryan and her music. It talks about the struggles you had to go through. The shame. The pain. The seemingly endless battle between doing what is expected and doing what you love.

This film is actually very simple. The storyline is basic. But it was shown with too much simplicity that it tugs every person’s heart. Tumagos eh. Tatamaan ka ng matindi because definitely, we were once Emma or Ryan at one point in our lives. This film is very much relatable. And I guess that’s the magic of this movie.

Not to mention the very nice songs and dance production. Ganda. Although this film is very “dreamy” and “filmy”. I don’t know how to explain it but that’s the overall feel. I’m not sure if I like it or if I just find it weird but I guess it’s part of the overall appeal of the film.

Is it worth it? Yes, definitely. This is that kind of movie you’ll never get tired of watching over and over again. And for sure every time, it’ll give a different feels.

You all know that I’m a fan of Filipino movies. I’m also a huuuuuuge supporter of MMFF. Every year, I would watch as much as I could. But this year is different. This year, I’m watching not just because I want to support the Filipino movies but because, for the first time, all of the movies on the line up are very much deserving to be included on a film festival.

It’s a very controversial year for the MMFF because they decided to include indie films, documentaries and award-deserving films. For several years, a lot of movie fanatics are asking for change on the MMFF. It’s a movie festival and not just an income generating festival. They even have an award night. So definitely, movies of high quality shown. And this year, our pleas we’re finally heard. This year, we we’re given a wonderful line up. Sa sobrang bongga ng line up, lahat ng tao sa feeds ko wants to watch all 8 films. Ako din!

My first for this year is Paolo Ballesteros’ award-winning film Die Beautiful.

This time, I’d like to pull a Chico Garcia and list down my 10 thoughts about this film (in a funny way).

For the first time, my daughter asked me to bring her to the cinema to watch Moana.

Yes, this is a first. Usually kasi, ako magdadala sa kanya hoping that she’ll like it. And also, this is the first film that she watched in full. Di natulog. Di naglikot. Di nawala ang attention sa film. She focused on watching the entire time and she was having a great time. My gulay, dalaga na ata talaga anak ko!

She even requested for a popcorn. “We’ll watch a movie Nanay. So where’s my popcorn?”. Antokwang batang to. Ang demanding eh. San ba to nagmana? Nyahahaha!

So how was the movie? Oh well, their official soundtrack is on repeat on my Spotify right now. So I guess you all know that I love it soooo much!

Dear Disney, you are definitely upping your game with your films and I love it. More than anything else, it’s the wonderful lessons that you’ll learn from movies like these that I super love. The very nice portrayal of the Polynesian culture and tribes. The gentle way that they incorporated the fact that because we took the heart of our mother nature, it is now slowly destroying us. I mean! Wow!

But most of all, this movie reminds me that someday, one day my daughter would want something I don’t want her to do because I love her and I want to protect her. But I have to let her do it even if it will kill me because she is her own person. She has to follow her heart and her calling. And she has a mind of her own and I don’t want to imprison her with my love. Sa dami ng lesson sa movie na to, dun ako pinaka natinag. That father-daughter angle. Hanggang ngayon as I type this, I can’t help but shed a tear. Ang hirap hirap nun for a father pero kelangan.

Nakakaloka na how my views about everything has changed. Ibang anggulo na yung importante for me. Iniba na talaga ng motherhood ang buhay ko. Pero masaya ako. Masaya ako na we have films like these that reminds us how to be better parents. Sabi ko nga kay Kakay, “Someday anak, you will have to defy me to follow your heart. I just pray that like Moana, God would guide you and protect you on your journey. So you could go home safe. Back to my arms.”

Ermergerd! Ayoko na. Naiiyak na ko!!!!

Basta watch it. Promise. You won’t regret it.

Being the ultimate Potterhead myself, it is just given that I’m so excited to watch this film. I’ve actually read the book already (what a Potterhead!) and so I’m thrilled to know how they’d lay out the story of Newt Scamander. Also because it’s actually J.K Rowling who did the screenwriting of this film.

So how was it? It was awesome. Well written, well laid out. With a nice balance of adventure and storytelling. I’ve heard that it’ll be a 4-part film. I’m so excited to know how Grindelwald would make things even crazier for Newt. And Johnny Depp is Grindelwald! So yey!

Although I don’t quite like the panning of the camera. I got really dizzy on the first part of the film where they are showing this newpaper write ups. Though I understand that it adds to that “magical” feel but yeah! I got really dizzy. So much movements. So much fluidity.

But aside from that whole panning issue and maybe a bit boring first few minutes (o baka hilo palang talaga ako nun), it’s all awesome. If you are like me who’s really into this wizarding world of JK Rowling, you would love it so much too. It feels really great to be back to the wizarding world. Medyo biased lang ako talaga kasi nga, ultimate Potterhead.

The actors are also awesome. Galing ni Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol. Ang perfect lang nila talaga. Eddie Redmayne really looked like a nerd, weird guy. And Katherine is that equal nerdy girl. Tama nga si Chico when he said that you would really know that there’s something weird with both of them at an instant. Overflowing with weirdness eh. While the no-maj (muggle) Dan Fogler is super cute. He’s the much needed comic relief pero di nakakabwiset at di din naman sya puro comedy lang. And the pink lady Alison Sudol is soooo pretty. Kaso tawang tawa kami ng friend ko kasi may mga stuff na di namin masyado naintindihan. Nakakahilo din pala pag british at american accent ang naririnig mo in one film. Di napa-process ng brain cells ko. Nyahahhaa!

Anyway, another must watch. Wag palampasin. Please. Especially for my fellow Potterheads. I swear, you’d love it.

Here we go again. My usual suspects and I went out for a movie date last night to catch The Unmarried Wife starring Angelica Panganicaban, Dingdong Dantes and Paulo Avelino.

I was a bit hesitant to ask my friends because they are the ones who doesn’t want to use their brain cells when watching the film. Actually, yung isa lang ang ganon. No brain cells dapat pag movie dates. But I can’t let this one go. And buti nalang din, pina-review sa kumare ko tong film na to so gorabels na kami.

I’ve been a fan of Angelica and Dingdong’s movies. Aminin nyo, ang gaganda ng mga plot ng mga films nila. Hindi puchu puchu. Plus it was directed by Maryo J. Delos Reyes. And the hugot lines!!! Heller! Di pwedeng palampasin.

And in fairness with the film, it delivers. The plot is something na hindi usual. Ang ganda ng pagkakalatag ng background story ng bawat characters. Alam mo yung maiintindihan mo bawat isa sa kanila? Yung mararamdaman mo yung hugot ng bawat isa.

And getting Irma Adlawan is just a brilliant idea. We all know how good she is. But her very short stints on this film are pivotal. Naiyak ako dun sa scene where nag clash sila ng nanay ni Dingdong. The way she delivers that “Ayun! Kaya tayo hindi mapatawad ng mundo eh! Kasi hindi natin mapatawad ang sarili natin!” just made me cry. #FrailtiesOfAWoman Tapos natulala nalang yung nanay ni Dingdong kasi minsan na din syang niloko ng asawa nya! Boom panes!

Ang sakit ng movie na to. Ang sakit kasi ang lalim nya. Hindi lang sya about married life in general. It talks about feminism, equality, about being human. Yes, the frailties of human beings.

I swear! This is a must watch film. Ang ganda ganda. Ang tindi din ng mga kaibigan nina Anne (angelica) at Geoff (dingdong) dito. Sila yung mga #TrueFriends talaga eh. Yung mga ang sarap batukan kasi nagsasabi ng totoo.

And if I may add, ang gwapoooooo ni Paulo Avelino!!! Akin ka nalang bes. Char!

Yes. We watched Barcelona, A Love Untold on it’s first screening day. And it was crazy!

As usual, I was with my kumares. Ang mga usual kong kasama pag nanonood ng tagalog chic flick. I love watching with them because laging nagiging comedy ang lahat. Puro tawa lang.

But this one is crazier because we are watching with the rest of the #KathNiel fans and it was so much fun. Sabi ko nga, naka ready na ang 911 sa phone ko kasi feeling ko anytime may hihimatayin na sa kilig.

I am actually a huge #ALDUB and #KathNiel fan. Harhar! Uy ah! Proud ako dun. So I really made sure to watch this film.

How was it?

Sabi nga sa inyo, akala ko talaga may hihimatayin sa kilig eh. Everytime na ifo-focus sa screen si DJ or Kath, tilian. Everytime may sweet moments, tilian. Hahahaha! The chemistry between these two are crazy. I can’t help but feel giddy as well.

Joshua added the much needed humor to the film. Aiko also did a wonderful job of playing DJ’s aunt and confidante.

I love the lines! It was hilarious. It was heartfelt. With lots of #hugot. Mapapahagalpak ka sa tawa, mapapa “aaaaww” ka, at mapapaiyak ka. I think Olivia Lamasan and the writer did a great job here. I was actually expecting a heavy drama movie but I got a perfect balance of drama, comedy and romance. May mga linyang “Sabi ko sayo pigilan mo magpakamatay, hindi ko sinabing iuwi mo at ikaw bumuhay”. Hahahahah! Then, “mag ingat ka dyan sa mga di pa tapos magmahal ng iba..”. Ouch! Then, “ayan mukha ka ng mop!”. Hahahaha!

I also think both DJ and Kath are such greats actors. Grabe! Compare this film to their previous ones (all I’ve watched as well, fan na fan lang!) and you’d really see the difference and the maturity. Nakakaaliw. Nakakaproud.

DJ is really gwapo! Ermergerd. Kilig to the bones ako everytime nasa screen sya. OA sa gwapo si kuya. For sure, if the #FabSkye is with me malamang kinikilig din sya. Crush netong batang to si DJ eh. But more that his charm, I was blown away by his acting prowess. I've known all along that he has what it takes to be a good actor. But here, he gave his all. You could feel the pain just by simply looking in his eyes. Alam mo yung ang sarap yakapin kasi lahat ng sakit nasa mata? Come here DJ, come to mama! Hahaha!

And Kath!!! Oh my gulay. Even my friend says she’s pretty. Eh napakataas ng standard nun sa beauty eh. Her make up is soooo on point! Bare faced pero pak. Her kilay is on point!! Perfect. The eyeshadow, the light blush, the pinkish lips. Ermergerd. I hope Nadine would up her game on her make ups as well. Kita nyo ba kilay nya sa Till I Met You? My gulay!!! Square kung square. Hindi ko keri. Whoever did Kath’s make up in this film is a genius!!!! At oo!! Make up talaga ni Kath ang pinaka napansin ko. Bwahahaha! And her clothes. Wow! Her stylist did a wonderful job. Hindi umay levels sexy and very fashionable.

And I was hooked on Mia's character. At first I was like, sus! Nahuli lang nangopya eh kala mo naman kung ano ng nagawa. But then as the story unfolds, you'd understand where she's coming from and why she's like that. And Kathryn gave Mia's complicated, weird character justice! She was stellar!

I won’t give further details coz heller? Go and watch. But honestly, it’s so much worth it!! I plan to watch again with my brother. Ahihihi! Or probably with my bestfriends!

Go and watch. Promise. Worth it. And they have a kissing scene!!!! The first kiss is soooo soooo kaloka! Nakakakilig!!!



P.S.: I'm reading loads of nega posts about this movie and I honestly don't get it. I guess whatever they do, people will have something bad to say. And some are telling me naman that I appreciate naman daw all films. And I am not a movie critic. Well, well, well! Tama kayo! I am not a movie critic like 97% of the film goers. So this post is from a neophyte mum who simply loves to watch films. This movie was created as a transition film for KathNiel. And they delivered! Not too mushy, not too pa-cutey but not heavy drama as well. Tamang timpla lang ng kilig, drama at comedy. I also watch Oscar-worthy films, btw and I appreciate them as well. Barcelona may NOT be Oscar-worthy but it is definitely is worth every penny. Coz I went to the cinema to watch a romantic film, and they delivered with flying colors. So I am more than happy! Plus, ang ganda talaga ng make up ni Kathryn!!! Ma-perfect ko lang ang no-make up make up nya, masaya na ko. And BOTH of them are good ah. Not just DJ. Kathryn is honestly a great actress. Give credit where credit is due.

I watched this a couple of weeks ago with my official tagalog-no-brainer-movie buddies. I mentioned on this post that one of the #FabSkye’s ninang has a golden rule in watching movies – bawal gamitin ang brain cells.

Honestly, at first I was hesitant with this movie. It’s a Dawn Zulueta film. Baka masyadong mabigat for our Ninang Mariel. Baka may iyakan at madaming brain cells na maubos. Kelangan sa kanya puro tawa lang like the previous movie we watched. Buti nalang this film is actually light and charming and funny too.

Yeps! It’s so refreshing to see Dawn Zulueta do a light film. Hindi yung over mega drama that we’re so used to.

I read on another review that this is a horrible movie and that the director was horrible too. After watching, napatunayan kong bitter yung nag review. Ang ganda kaya!!! And ang galing ng Director. Well, not super galing but honestly, his movie is refreshing too. I love some of his shots. Yung idea ng moving camera on that scene where nalasing si Dawn is just perfect. I love a lot of his framing. Ang ganda nung shots sa bar. I love the lines. It’s very millennial. This is a movie that truly understands millennial. So I really appreciate it.

I also love that the film is not pilit. Well, I still don’t like Coleen Garcia’s acting (ang layooooo kay Dawn at Piolo, promise) but at least her character is not that challenging. At least di pinipilit na mag-emote ang Coleen so okay na din. Di naging masagwa sa mata.

Dawn Zulueta is soooo gorgeous. My gulay! I wanna age as gracefully as she is. I am speechless with her beauty. Timeless. And Piolo is really gwapo. I mean, yeah we all know the rumors and all pero gwapo pa din sya. Laglag panty levels padin.

Overall we had so much fun watching this film. We have another film on our list now. Hihihi.. Can you guess what it is?

Anyway, I had a really crazy experience on that night we watched the film. Well, nanood kami sa Greenbelt. We we're a bit early so we decided to grab some food at the food court of Greenbelt 3 cinema. And so, since kasama ang mga kumare, chicka to the max ang lola mo. I got 2 bags with me. 1 is my handbag and the other is a black shopper's bag where I put my iPad, and a lot of blogger products that was sent to me as a gift and for review. Eh nung pumasok ako isa lang ang bag ko. So, well I guess you know already what happened. Yep!! I left my black bag!!! I went inside the cinema and has been watching for 1.5 hours na ata when I realized that I left it. I hurriedly went out and look for it dun sa area pero wala na. I went back and said, "wala na". Hindi na din ako umasa coz my iPad is there. Just one quick peek and you'll see the iPad Air inside. So hello? Diba? Kahit na I'm sure they won't be able to use it bilang naka icloud sya, I still felt sad. And ayun nga. The blogger items are all there. Anong iba-blog ko?! But my friend told me to check out the lost and found area or asked around. And so I went back and asked the guard where's the lost and found station. Then I proceeded to ask the sales people of Nuts With Candies store. Guess what? The sales people of Nuts With Candies found my bag and returned it to me!! Grabe!! It's so easy to just deny. "I didn't find it. Sorry." And then it's gone diba? But they returned it to me. I can't believe it. I was so thankful talaga. Faith in humanity restored. And so the next day, ang naiwan ko naman eh yung office laptop ko sa tricycle. Buti nalang, naalala ko agad and hinabol ng mga tambay si kuya. Malala na ko. Kelangan ko ng memory enhancer. Any recommendation?

Anyway, if ever the sales people of Nuts with Candies are reading this - thank you!! I know I said thank you profusely already that night but I still wanna thank you! You girls are awesome. And if the owner of the store would somehow read this, sir! You got a nice bunch of staff. Honesty is something so rare these days. Treasure them.