Matthew Libatique on Capturing the Nightmare of ‘Don’t Worry Darling’

September 23, 2022September 23, 2022 Mike Manalo

Today, after many weeks of drama, Don’t Worry Darling, the anticipated sophomore film for director Olivia Wilde is finally hitting theaters. And while the film itself is getting something of a mixed reaction, the one thing many can agree on is that the visuals are terrific. And part of that is the vision of Oscar-nominated, Filipino American cinematographer Matthew Libatique.

Movies, Reviews3 Comments

NOC Review: ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ is Not That Bad

September 22, 2022September 22, 2022 Mike Manalo

I need to get something off my chest. We’ve gotten to a point where behind the scenes drama that has absolutely nothing to do with narrative, character, acting, etc. is affecting audience perceptions of movies, without audiences actually bothering to see a movie.

Movies, Reviews1 Comment

NOC Review: The Truth is Disney’s Live-Action ‘Pinocchio’ is a Weird Movie

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 Mike Manalo

Disney remaking its classics has been a completely mixed bag thus far. Sure they make billions. But they’re incredibly hit and miss. And it’s so appropriate that I’m kicking off the review for the latest Disney remake, Pinocchio (2022), with such a statement, because it is a completely mixed bag. And a weird one at that.

Movies, Reviews

Jae-rim Han’s ‘Emergency Declaration’ Sticks the Landing

August 13, 2022August 15, 2022 Laura Sirikul

When a pilot declares an “emergency declaration,” everything is given priority to that plane as it is in the most imminent danger. All other planes are rerouted or grounded as resources are then directed to that plane until it can land safely. It is the first note to be shown in Jae-rim Han’s new film Emergency Declaration to establish the importance of this statement by the pilot.

Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘I Love My Dad’ is Endearingly Funny and Real

August 6, 2022August 10, 2022 Bray Lawrence

Having a falling out with a family member you are close with can be difficult and the same can be said when you fall in love with a person you’ve never met online. Both experiences can leave you with the empty feeling of realizing you don’t really know them as well as you thought. In I Love My Dad, writer-director James Morosini crafts an endearingly funny and real film that displays that feeling honestly and cathartically.

Movies, Reviews

‘Bullet Train’ is Able to Find Hilarity in the Chaos

August 4, 2022August 11, 2022 Laura Sirikul

If there is anything that director David Leitch is good at, it’s that he is brilliant at finding the hilarity in the chaos. In his new film Bullet Train, based on the popular Japanese novel Maria Beetle by Kōtarō Isaka, Brad Pitt plays Ladybug, an “unlucky” assassin who is assigned to steal a briefcase from other assassins while on a speeding bullet train in Japan.

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

NOC Review: Amber Midthunder Hits Her Target Dead On in ‘Prey’

August 3, 2022August 3, 2022 Michael Lee

The Predator film franchise centered on the clash between its race of a highly evolved race of aliens who hunt alphas for sport versus man. While its predecessors were as bloody and violent as the next, Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey goes back to basics with a primal and bloody David vs. Goliath story that not only is worthy of being a part of the iconic franchise but something could stand on its own thanks to Amber Midthunder’s astonishing performance that subverts tropes in a way that finally makes indigenous cultures the heroes of their own story.

Animation, DC Comics, Reviews2 Comments

‘DC League of Super-Pets’ is a Menagerie of Laughs and Heart

July 26, 2022July 26, 2022 Michael Lee

Warner Bros.’ DC League of Super-Pets is a sweet, funny, and heartwarming story about the world from a pet’s point of view. The concept isn’t new. Plenty of films explore the relationships between a pet and its human owners. But director Jared Stern, who co-wrote the script with John Whittington, puts a playful twist on it by making it more about the pets rather than their superhero owners.

Animation, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: If You’re Stuck Seeing ‘Paws of Fury’ It Could Be Worse

July 14, 2022July 14, 2022 Mike Manalo

I’m not going to sit here and pretend Paws of Fury is a good movie, per se. But I will admit that it wasn’t nearly as bad as I assumed it was going to be. And the biggest reason you’ll be able to sit through it without a migraine comes down to one person: the legendary Mel Brooks.

Marvel, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ is Thunderously Entertaining and Full of Heart

July 6, 2022July 9, 2022 Mike Manalo

Yeah. I know. We’re at a point with the MCU where critics and audiences are feeling fatigue, and becoming harder to please. And that’s totally reasonable. We get a Marvel Studios product at least once a month. And maybe some work better than others.

Movies

Why You Should See ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ on the Biggest Screen Possible

May 24, 2022May 24, 2022 Mike Manalo

Yesterday, we were invited to experience Top Gun: Maverick at a Screen X theater in Los Angeles. And let me tell you: it took our breath away!

Animation, Movies, Reviews

‘The Bob’s Burgers Movie’ is a Sweet and Savory Animated Murder Musical Comedy

May 23, 2022 Michael Lee

At some point in time of an animated TV sitcom’s life, fans wonder when their beloved show will make that leap from the small screen to the big screen. But unfortunately, it doesn’t necessarily happen to all of them. Then there’s the worry about justifying the film’s existence or if it’s a sign that the sitcom is jumping the shark. And when all is said and done, it may have taken too long to figure it out.

Horror, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

The Projection of ‘Men’ May Lead to the Projecting of Men

May 20, 2022 Adonis Gonzalez

I don’t doubt that when Alex Garland began work on his latest project, Men, that he suspected it would release at such a relevant time. Civil unrest is at an all-time high for a number of reasons — one of which involves a large percentage of the population daring to ask for basic rights over themselves — really any time since the founding of this great nation could be considered a relevant time. But it’s true, Men was already shaping up to be quite the controversial movie before the general audience got a chance to see it.

Movies, Reviews1 Comment

NOC Review: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is a Fun, Feel-Good Flight

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022 Mike Manalo

Once again, audiences will feel the need! The need for speed! So thank god Tom Cruise exists. There’s no stopping the nearly 60-year old supersonic super star. And even after a generation of iconic roles and box office hits, he still keeps on soaring.

Movies, Reviews

‘Inbetween Girl’ Shows How Maturity Sometimes Means Accepting Your Mess

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022 Elvie Mae Parian

The road to adulthood is messy, imperfect, and unkind. Media depictions of adolescence tend to rule these realities out, or otherwise forgoes depicting representation of this demographic at all. But the truth is, sanitizing the experience does not hide the mistakes and many questions that will inevitably be made along the way.

Movies, Reviews

The Healing Magic of ‘Marvelous and the Black Hole’

May 4, 2022May 4, 2022 Elvie Mae Parian

The “face” of the coming-of-age story has been changing: It is not that teenagers have changed — far from it in fact, when the woes of adolescence remain one of the most universal parts of the human experience — but it is apparent in recent years that the default notions of what a “teenager” should look like has changed to be better reflective of what the viewing world needs today.

Marvel, Movies, Reviews

‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ is Far from Perfect

May 3, 2022May 6, 2022 Laura Sirikul

Ever since audiences were introduced to the multiverse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, storytellers had to figure out a way to incorporate that into future storylines. With Marvel’s Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home, it made sense to include multiple worlds and versions of our favorite characters, while also providing a little bit of fan service along the way.

Fantasy, Movies

The ‘Secrets’ Revealed at the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Press Conference

April 13, 2022April 13, 2022 Mike Manalo

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 10 years since the final Harry Potter movie debuted in theaters. And since then, we’ve seen the Wizarding World expand significantly. With sites like Pottermore, upcoming games like the highly anticipated Hogwarts Legacy, and of course the Fantastic Beasts film franchise, we know (for better or worse) the Hogwarts Express is just going to continue chugging along, as the stories continue.

Fantasy, Movies

Final Trailer Released for ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022 Mike Manalo

This is the week, Wizarding World fans! This Friday, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore hits theaters, and if you haven’t seen it yet, check out our interview with the amazing Jessica Williams. In addition to our interview, you can also check out the latest trailer for the film that WB just dropped today.

Fantasy, Movies1 Comment

Jessica Williams Dishes on Lally Hicks and ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022 Mike Manalo

The latest chapter in the Wizarding World saga hits theaters this Friday! After a long awaited delay, due to the pandemic, Newt Scamander and all of his Fantastic Beasts will be returning to screens, and they’re unveiling The Secrets of Dumbledore. Chief among the ranks of Dumbledore’s first army is Ilvermorny professor, Eulalie “Lally” Hicks, played by franchise newcomer, the incomparable and wonderful Jessica Williams. We had a chance to sit down with Jessica to discuss all of the secrets of Dumbledore, as well as her work bringing to life this welcome addition to the Wizarding World!

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Explores the Multiverse with Chaotic, Emotional Range

April 11, 2022April 20, 2022 Lauren Lola

Reading the synopsis for the Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All At Once, it already hints at a story that starts off simple enough that immediately takes a left turn: An overwhelmed, middle aged woman is trying to file her taxes when she suddenly finds herself in the position of having to save the world, by borrowing skills from her multiple alternative universes.

Fantasy, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

NOC Review: ‘Secrets of Dumbledore’ is Not Bad, Not Quite ‘Fantastic’

April 5, 2022April 5, 2022 Mike Manalo

The Wizarding World is in peril, both from a narrative standpoint, and a real-world one. Indeed, the franchise has had one hell of an uphill battle to conquer. What once stood as the crown jewel of Warner Bros. has been marred with controversy since the previous installment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise debuted in 2018.

Movies, Reviews

‘Moonshot’ Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Enjoyable

March 31, 2022April 1, 2022 Lyra Hale

Moonshot is the kind of rom-com that leaves you well-fed when it comes to cheesy goodness. It’s not perfect. Let’s clear that up, first and foremost. And I don’t expect perfection when it comes to rom-coms or for things to make sense. (The space fan in me was like, “That doesn’t make sense” every five minutes.)