Demi Moore Starrer "The SUBSTANCE" is Disturbingly Amazing!

Just got out of the Shang cinemas for the advanced screening of "THE SUBSTANCE", a movie starring the iconic Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid. It's a film by Coralie Fargeat and is released by CreaZion Studios in Southeast Asia. This will also be shown in Philippine theaters on September 25, 2024.

This already garnered an award from Cannes Film Festival for Best Screenplay and critics have already paid respects with this film that discusses looks, beauty standards and the miserable world of Hollywood.

This film for the lack of better description, is CRAZY. The shots alone for the scenes are non conventional. From far vantage points to super macro scenes, they apparently had a lot of fun doing that. Demi Moore is not playing games with this role, because it is her toughest, and bravest performance on the silver screen. This movie has a combination of sci-fi, drama, jump scares, shock and awe. This is still an acting piece, one that you wait for to happen every few minutes. You also need to be an adult to understand some of the concepts, and prepare a huge thinking cap from the moment they show Vlad and Gore (see what I did there!).

Margaret Qualley, albeit my first time seeing her, really left an impression. She's likeable, gorgeous, and fits the role. She's also flawless, I could liken her to a ultra fit femme fatale version of Billie Eilish.

Prosthetics are super cool, you would have never seen anything like it. The POV scenes made this a thrilling thing to watch, you'll feel weird, pity, mad and everything in between. I specifically would love to return to the movie house just for the thuds and running moments from the entertainment room to the bathroom. It's a Vlad fest. But it's made super good, especially for mature audiences. You will love how it ends, and its unconditional ways of making you feel different things.

I love weird movies, but this one was MAD GOOD. This made me want to bring back my personal weird emo days. So if you're looking for quality, and fond of horror flicks, or going to the dentist, watch it on theaters nationwide on the 25th! This gets 9/10 milk bottles for me.

(COMPLETE) Winners of the Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival

A few days ago, the awards night for Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival happened at the Cinema 5 of Gateway Mall at Araneta City in Quezon City. I've only been able to watch a few short films, 2 full lenght films, but saw how they all deserve the accolades mounting this all.

The competition is tough with the 6 full length films, 25 student short films, I was so excited to be seated with them during that evening... and even asked my seatmates about their bets. They were right!

Here are your winners!

Congrats VJ Mendoza for doing this song, he mentioned the one who composed it passed. Sad, but worthy to win!

Initially, these were all supposed to be shown at Gateway Cineplex 18 from March 15 to 19, but we got word from Festival Director Chris Cahilig that it will be now until March 26 due to the resounding success of the films and clamor for more cinemas for it. If you haven't watched the entries, go take your friends, your family, and see it til that date. I like "A Lab Story", "Under a Piaya Moon", "Pushcart Tales" and the shorts that were seen in the festival. But you have the power to see whatever you wish in cinemas, go use a whole day for it because it can take a while to finish watching them all.

Congratulations Direk Chris Cahilig, to everyone at Puregold for making this happen. I deem this an excellent platform for unheard actors to shine. I also felt this would be a good place for people to see artistry with the different materials. It's also a time for story tellers to whip out their best work, and the chance to see it on the big screen is priceless. Puregold just did that for you, again, congratulations to the men and women who made this happen!            

Finalists for Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival Bared

After the several successful series shown on The Puregold Channel, here goes one of the country's biggest supermarket chains championing Filipino films once again with the first ever Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival. 

They have scoured the country for the most talented storytellers and picked over 31 finalists which they presented today at the Artson Events Place in Quezon City.

Ms. Ivy says "To everyone who's doing films, a pleasant morning. We are so proud to have you here today. The wonderful stories you sent now have faces with them. The festival is a platform for Puregold to make sure film will be passed on to generations to come. This goes beyond production, but igniting change and making dreams come true. We are your ally, to be part of the development of Filipino cinema. You are the stories of Puregold now and tomorrow."

Introduced to the press were Jenievive B. Adame who did "Smokey Journey" from STI College Cubao, Ma. Rafaela Mae Abucejo who made "Saan Ako Pinaglihi?" from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Alexa Moneii Agaloos who made "Ka Benjie" also from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Kent Michael Cadungog who did "Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366" from the University of the Philippines, John Pistol L. Carmen of "Repeater si Peter" from Bicol University, Chrisha Eseo Cataag who did "Hallway Scholar" representing the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo, Patricia W. Dalluay who made "Lola, Lola, Paano ba 'Yan?" from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Joanah Pearl Demonteverde who made "Kang Pagpuli Ko" from University of the Philippines - Visayas, Joshua Andrey A. Doce who did "I Am Mutya And I Thank You!" from Bicol State College of Applied Science and Technology, Neil M. Espino "Sa Hindi Paghahangad from De La Salle Lipa, Terrence Gale Femandez "Kaibigan ko si Batman from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Daniel Gil who did "Distansya" from Ateneo de Davao University, Alexandra Lapid who did  "Queng Apag" from Mapua University, Reutsche Colle Rigurosa Lima who did "Till ni Lola" from University of San Carlos, Dizelle C. Masilungan who made "Kung Nag-aatubill" from the pontifical University of Santo Tomas, Jose Mikyl Medina who did "Lutong Bahay" from De La Salle University, Ronjay-C Mendiola of "Last Shift" from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Mark Terence Molave who did "Paano po gumawa ng collage college?" also from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Jhunel Ruth A. Monterde who did "Si Mary May Crush Kay Tess" from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Doxford D. Perlas who did "Naduea Eoman Si Brownie (Brownie's Lost Again!)" from University of the Philippines - Visayas, Andrea S. Ponce of PUP - Sta. Mesa who made "Layag sa Pangarap", Edz Haniel Teñido Purificacion who did "Dzai Dzai Dzai Delilah" from Mapúa Malayan Colleges in Laguna, John Wilbert Llever Sucaldito who did "Tambal nga Sabaw" from Far Eastern University, Tyrone Lean J. Taotao who made "Abandoned Lullabies" from Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Sta. Mesa, Marian Jayce R. Tiongzon who made "May Kulay Rosas Ba Sa Bahaghari?" from University of the Philippines - Visayas.

6 full length films are also included like Kurt Soberano's "Under the Piaya Moon", Eugene Torres' "One Day League: Dead Mother, Dead All", Sigrid Bernardo's "Pushcart Tales", Raynier Brizuela's "Boys at the Back", Joel Ferrer's "Road to Happy" and Carlo Obispo's "A Lab Story". Puregold gave them 2.5M pesos each full length film as grants while 100 thousand pesos went to the short film entries.

These were chosen by film directors Jeffrey Jethurian and Victor Villanueva, Puregold Senior Manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Lyle Gonzales of Republic Creative, and Festival Director Chris Cahilig.

If you want to watch the films, the premiere will be done at the Gateway Cinemas from March 15 to 17. There will also be several regional screenings plus short films shown on The Puregold Channel on YT, their social channels FB and TikTok.