ANi (2019) Cinemalaya Movie Trailer Impressions: A Filipino Sci-Fi Coming-of-Age Film About a Journey of a Boy and His Robot

ANi is a 2019 a coming-of-age science fiction film and an official Cinemalaya 2019 finalist with a screenplay by Toni Zuñiga, Kim Zuñiga, and Sandro Del Rosario; under the direction of Kim Zuñiga and Sandro Del Rosario starring Ricky Davao, Zyren Dela Cruz, Miguel Valdes, and Anna Luna; and is slated for a limited Philippine theatrical release from August 2-13, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Let's check out what this 2019 Cinemalaya film festival entry about a Filipino sci-fi film about a boy with his malfunctioning robot here at Pinoy Movie Blogger.


ANi (The Harvest)
Plot / Synopsis

When his grandfather falls ill, an orphaned boy and his malfunctioning robot embark on a quest to look for magical grains that he believes will save the old man’s life.

Source: Cinemalaya

Watch the ANi Official trailer here:





ANi (The Harvest) Official Trailer Impression
ANi (The Harvest) Film Trailer Review


What can be said about the ANi (2019) official movie trailer for Cinemalaya 2019? Well, Ani feels fresh to me; not in the context of what we've seen so far in mainstream Filipino films. We just don't get something done seriously and competently. The technology is already there but companies just don't want to invest in something outside horror and romantic films. And even if they do, it isn't a guarantee that the visual effects are going to be visually appealing amidst the many months of preparation and post-production. Well, luckily Ani seems to break this mold. There are some good studios backing up the film, so that helps boost it up a notch. Of course, all will be for naught, if the narrative and performance will fall behind. The ANi trailer is good so far and intriguing at best. ANi isn't categorized as a straight-up horror but more of a coming-of-age science fiction film, but we can sense a looming dread in this film from its trailer; of a dystopian society run by warbots (war robots).





This is the hook of Ani. What are these "warbots" in this dystopian society? And the premise tells that the film will follow a boy and his malfunctioning robot to find a magical grain. How can a magical grain cure the life of his old man? What part do these warbots play in society and why are the ordinary people seem to both be afraid and hostile towards them? This raises more questions that hopefully will be resolved as the film unfolds. While some of the performance from the trailer is questionable (I'm looking at you scene where kids are beating what seems to the main robot or the kid protagonist), hopefully, it won't detract what seems to be an interesting premise. As a big fan of horror, fantasy and sci-fi, Ani is one of my most anticipated film for the Cinemalaya 2019.


How about you guys? What do you think about this 2019 Cinemalaya sci-fi coming-of-age film festival entry about a dystopian future possibly ruled by war robots? What are similar films like this that you have seen and liked in the past (internationally)? How do you like that it uses another local dialect instead of the safe Filipino (Tagalog) language? Will you be seeing this 2019 Cinemalaya official film festival finalist on its limited theatrical run in the Cultural Center of the Philippines from August 2 to 13, 2019? Share your thoughts and opinion about ANi (2019) in the comments section below and let's talk about it.

John Denver Trending (2019) Cinemalaya Movie Trailer Impressions: A Drama About Cyberbullying on Social Media and its Aftermath

John Denver Trending is a 2019 drama film and an official Cinemalaya 2019 finalist written and directed by Arden Rod Condez starring Jansen Magpusao and Meryll Soriano, and is slated for a limited Philippine theatrical release from August 2-13, 2019. Let's check out what this 2019 Cinemalaya film festival entry about social media, cyberbullying, and the outcome of such ordeal to someone of the receiving end of it here at Pinoy Movie Blogger.


John Denver Trending
Plot / Synopsis

In “John Denver Trending,” director Arden Rod Condez bookmarks a period in people’s lives when they allow social media to reshape their mindset. Based on true events and will be shot entirely in Pandan, Antique, it narrates how the life of a 14-year-old farm boy has changed when he was caught on a viral video brutally attacking a classmate.

This is also about you and social media.

Source: Cinemalaya

Watch the John Denver Trending Official trailer here:





John Denver Trending Official Trailer Impression
John Denver Trending Film Trailer Review


What can be said about the John Denver Trending (2019) official movie trailer for Cinemalaya 2019? Well, the trailer is short but meaty. It short teaser establishes what this film is going to be all about; of the possible destructive psychological and emotional damage that cyberbullying can do to an individual. With the film's synopsis and this evocative trailer, it makes you think twice about riding that next big social media bandwagon and to think before hitting that post button.


The synopsis reads that the kid was involved in some physical disagreement. Now, it would be pretty interesting in what direction will the film take this premise. Will it take the safe approach and make the kid into this "pure" victim of circumstances and was simply framed? Or will the film show that the kid is actually not as good as he is portrayed and probably "deserved" what was coming to him and if he did deserve it, does it justify how people react and become the bully themselves to this boy. With these ideas in mind, it makes you curious about what's what? This is what I love with trailers being actual trailers; just enough to tease and make one wonder. Hopefully, it doesn't get too preachy and would make moviegoers reflect on the incredible power (and destructive power) of social media.





How about you guys? What do you think about this 2019 Cinemalaya drama film festival entry about the commentary of the social media, the psychology of mob mentality, cyberbullying and the after-effects? What are similar films like this that you have seen and liked in the past (is there even one)? What do you think about the performance found in this trailer? Will you be seeing this 2019 Cinemalaya official film festival finalist on its limited theatrical run in the Cultural Center of the Philippines from August 2 to 13, 2019? Share your thoughts and opinion about John Denver Trending (2019) in the comments section below and let's talk about it.

Iska (2019) Cinemalaya Movie Trailer Impressions: The Struggles of an Impoverished Grandmother and her Autistic Grandchild

Iska is a 2019 drama film and an official Cinemalaya 2019 finalist written by Mary Rose Colindres and directed by Theodore Boborol starring Ruby Ruiz playing the titular role of Iska is slated for a limited Philippine theatrical release from August 2-13, 2019. Let's check out what this 2019 Cinemalaya film festival entry about a grandmother and her special needs grandchild here at Pinoy Movie Blogger.


Iska
Plot / Synopsis

ISKA is written by Mary Rose Colindres, “Iska” by Theodore Boborol is about a loving but impoverished grandmother of an autistic child who loses everything and turns into someone society reckons her to be.

Source: Cinemalaya

Watch the Iska 2019 Cinemalaya Official trailer here:





ISKA Official Trailer Impression
Iska Film Trailer Review


What can be said about the ISKA (2019) official movie trailer for Cinemalaya 2019? Well, bring on the handkerchief moviegoers, this one is going to be a tearjerker. Well, that is what this 2019 Cinemalaya official film fest entry gives off and I'm sure there is more to it than that as it seems to also tackle how local communities usually tend to misunderstand families with special needs people in their household; this could be a commentary about that as well.





Iska, from its synopsis and the trailers, features a solid performance from its titular character played by Ruby Ruiz and the film's entire cast. It is a film that is a must-watch for everyone and not simply for families who have special needs people in their homes as it could educate people who do not fully understand what having someone with special needs is like and what more if the setting is on a community/society that only looks at it with their limited capacity. The film also uses the University of the Philippines as one of its backdrop, which feels like a commentary all on itself; of impassioned students fighting for their rights and for an impoverished society all the while mingling with someone in the exact same position right under their noses, but they don't seem to know or indifferent towards them. Pretty interesting title card. But that could just be my interpretation and that is what makes films great! This is definitely fresh for me and intrigued by the line "turns into someone society reckons her to be" in its synopsis. This could feel like another tragic ending, but that is what we'll soon see when Iska hits limited theaters in the Philippines and the CCP from August 2-13, 2019.


How about you guys? What do you think about this 2019 Cinemalaya family drama film festival entry about a grandmother dealing with her special needs grandchild and a community that barely understands it? What are similar films like this that you have seen and liked in the past? What do you think about the performance found in this trailer? Will you be seeing this 2019 Cinemalaya official film festival finalist on its limited theatrical run in the Cultural Center of the Philippines from August 2 to 13, 2019 when it hits the theaters? Share your thoughts and opinion about ISKA (2019) in the comments section below and let's talk about it.