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.

INSTALADO (2017) Trailer Impressions: A Filipino Sci-Fi About Artificial Augmentation and Capitalism

INSTALADO is a science fiction film presented by Universal Harvester Incorporated, Kamaru Productions, Petix Productions, Batang Ina Productions, and Kapampangan Cinema Movement; under the screenplay and direction of Jason Paul Laxamana starring McCoy De Leon, Jun-jun Quintana, and Francis Magundayao slated for a limited screening from July 12 to 18, 2017 in selected cinemas (screening list available below). Let's check out what this Filipino sci-fi indie about artificial augmentation has to offer for the lucky few who will be able to catch it on its limited run.


INSTALADO
Plot / Synopsis

Victor lives in a time when the dominant form of education is through installation, a process wherein bodies of knowledge can be installed directly on people's brains using technology owned by big corporations. However, like many others in the agricultural town of Porac, Victor cannot afford the sky-high cost of installation, which he believes is the key to improve his family's life. To raise money for installation, Victor abandons farming and works as the housekeep of a wealthy childhood friend who has become extremely successful after undergoing a series of installations.

Source: Official Facebook Page

Watch INSTALADO Official trailer here:





INSTALADO Official Trailer Impression
INSTALADO Film Trailer Review


What can be said about INSTALADO (2017) official movie trailer? Well, I am actually quite impressed by this trailer and film as a whole. Let me ask you this first, how many Filipino films have been made under the science fiction genre? Yup, your guess is as good as mine. Not a lot, usually the ones I remember is from the Shake, Rattle, & Roll franchise but that is quite obscure as it still technically belongs to the horror genre; or maybe you know better than I do, so be sure to mention that in the comments section below. So it is quite, fascinating that the filmmakers who dare explore this genre is coming from the independent film industry, which is why I have all the respect for this industry.


The film not only showcase that Filipino filmmakers can tackle sci-fi, but do it in a social and meta commentary kind of a manner; That INSTALADO reflects the ruthlessness of capitalism and how society works vis-a-vis what is observed in the current state of the Philippines or most countries centered on capitalism. The film also feature corruption into the mix; that absolute power corrupts; of depending too much on the status quo; on losing what truly is important - the self; the value of discipline and perseverance. The film isn't free from flaws just like any independent film on a tight budget out there (compared to the unlimited cash flow of the mainstream films that can only spew out Enteng Kabisote cliched variants that has overstayed its welcome). Good thing the focus isn't reliant on the computer generated graphics, but the story... of a bigger science fiction universe about artificial augmentation by large corporations but the narrative focuses only on a selected group of people at the grass-roots level of society which may or may not change the status quo. If it was made in Hollywood, it most probably would focus on the explosives or theatrics of this sci-fi world but of course we are talking about a Filipino sci-fi on a budget. If only bigger Filipino film studios gamble on newer independent scripts and filmmakers who prefer stories than conveyor-belt themes that doesn't even break the status quo.


Catch INSTALADO on the following screening schedule:

July 12 (Wednesday)
11 AM - Robinsons Galleria
4 PM - SM Megamall
6:30 PM - SM Manila
9 PM - Greenbelt 1

July 13 (Thursday)
11 AM - Gateway
1:30 PM - Robinsons Galleria
6:30 PM - SM Megamall
9 PM - SM Manila

July 14 (Friday)
11 AM - Greenbelt 1
1:30 PM - SM Megamall
4 PM - Robinsons Galleria
9 PM - Gateway (GALA NIGHT)

July 15 (Saturday)
1:30 PM - Greenbelt 1
4 PM - SM Megamall
6:30 PM - SM Manila
6:30 PM - Gateway
6:30 PM - Robinsons Galleria

July 16 ( Sunday)
1:30 PM - Robinsons Galleria
6:30 PM - Greenbelt 1
9 PM - SM Megamall
9 PM - Gateway

July 17 (Monday)
6:30 PM - Greenbelt 1
9 PM - Gateway
9 PM - SM Megamall

July 18 (Tuesday)
11 AM - SM Manila
4 PM - Gateway
6:30 PM - SM Megamall
9 PM - Greenbelt 1
9 PM - Robinsons Galleria

How about you guys? What do you think about this Filipino sci-fi film? Will you check it out this week (the writing of this post) to find out if it is as good as what the trailer has shown us? Will sci-fi ever worked here on the Philippines as much as horror and romance have? Share your thoughts and opinion about INSTALADO (2017) official movie trailer in the comments section below and let's discuss about it.

Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 Teaser Trailer Impressions: 2012's SR&R featuring Aliens, Zombies and Mythological Creatures

Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 or Shake, Rattle & Roll XIV, an official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival (38th Metro Manila Film Festival) is an upcoming Regal Films horror anthology film directed by Chito Rono starring an ensemble casts including Lovi Poe, Vhong Navarro, Dennis Trillo, Paulo Avelino, Mart Escudero, Janice De Belen, Herbert Bautista, and Arlene Muhlach. Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 is slated for a December 25, 2012 nationwide theatrical release. Let's check out what Regal Film's Shake, Rattle and Roll title has to offer this 2012.

Shake, Rattle and Roll 14
Plot / Synopsis

Regal Entertainment, Inc. will once again feature three tales of horror with Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 this coming 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival. "Unwanted" stars Vhong Navarro and Lovi Poe in a story about an out of this world story of invasion; "The Lost Command" stars Dennis Trillo, Paulo Avelino, Mart Escudero, JC Tiuseco, Makisig Morales, and Rommel Padilla in a story about a military troupe encountering an undead army; and "Pamana" starring Janice de Belen, Herbert Bautista, Arlene Muhlach, Empress Schuck, and Dennis Padilla in a story about a very mysterious inheritance featuring mythological creatures.

Watch Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 teaser trailer here:


Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 Teaser Trailer Impression
Shake, Rattle & Roll XIV Film Teaser Trailer Review

It is another year for Metro Manila Film Festival and you know what that means right? Regal Films will once again feature another set of horror anthology in their already annual Shake, Rattle, and Roll film series. This time Regal seemingly plays it a bit by incorporating a bit of sci-fi with aliens and zombies.

This is still a teaser trailer for the fourteenth entry in the Shake, Rattle and Roll film franchise, Regal may release an even longer cut of it including official synopsis of it. I am just crossing my fingers that they won't spoil all three titles again with their official PR releases. What can we make up with the three horror episodes in SR&R 14? Well we have ridiculously fast moving zombies or undead in "The Lost Command" which I think is just enough if you pit them against a highly trained military personnel. I just wish the Rgal would try including a genuinely scary or creepy zombie episode without the supernatural mystical element to it. A bit more on the sci-fi side which they went with "Unwanted".

"Unwanted" features a fresh for a sci-fi theme for a Filipino horror film. Well of course, the CG still needs some major improving but the Philippine Cinema is getting there. The episode features Vhong Navarro who throws some witty lines that might put the "roll" in Shake, Rattle, and Roll 14. I just wish they can seamlessly marry in practical effects with CG-visual effects together to create one convincing horrific moments in one episode. The biggest complain I had with past SR&R entries is that they seem to be heavily depend on CGI-effects which may save them a few bucks but at the looks horrendously lame in the big screen. Let's just hope that this shake, Rattle, & Roll XIV alien invasion episode would deliver.

Finally we have a Regal Films horror regulars with Janice De Belen, Herbert Bautista and Arlene Muhlach with a cliched plot with "Pamana". The mere sight of a tiyanak (which resembles more of a duwende) and a very traditional Count Dracula type of vampire is more that enough to give you an impression on what to expect on this episode.

Hopefully Regal would expand or pick up on what episodes people would like on the 2012 MMFF entry of the Shake, Rattle, and Roll film franchise. The limited PR information released along with this teaser trailer about the film claims that all three episodes are directed by Chito Roño who is known for directing mostly good horror Filipino films. The question is will it mean that the stories featured here will have a somewhat superb polish that Roño directed films have been known for? I would be looking forward to the alien invasion episode which is probably the main reason why this SR&R title used it as the main subtitle for their 14th installment.

How about you guys, what do you think of the monsters or creatures featured in the teaser trailer of the Regal Film's 38th Metro Manila Film Festival Entry? What are you looking forward to watch? Share your thoughts about Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 teaser trailer in the comments section below: