By Samuel Pimping
For casual filmgoers and avid critics alike, the silver screen looks quite promising this coming August. So, bust out the popcorn, fries, and carbonated drinks; it’s going to be a well-deserved night in the cinema with family and friends!
Blue Beetle (Action-Adventure)
Step aside for now, Marvel! Blue Beetle is a superhero film from DC Comics that’s sure to hype you up with its superb effects, relatable characters, and action-packed scenes. It’s a classic comic book film that surprisingly stays true to its origin, especially when it comes to the protagonist’s costume—a big plus for fans!
Jaime Reyes (the main character) recently graduates from college, and like any typical teenager, he questions his new purpose in life. However, the answer unexpectedly comes to him in the form of alien biotechnology known as the Scarab.
The Scarab forcibly binds to him in front of his terrified family, acting as an armor with exceptional powers that transforms him into a powerful (yet clueless) superhero known
as Blue Beetle.
DC movies, in contrast to the Marvel cinematic universe, have been known (perhaps notoriously) for their much darker themes and literally grayed-out cinematography. However, Blue Beetle seems to take the opposite direction and plays out on a much lighter, feel-good tone, and this fresh take is quite evident in the official trailer.
Also, Blue Beetle brings back the basics! You don’t need to know anything prior to watching the movie—unlike a few Marvel pictures that demand a load of background knowledge on a multitude of interconnected backstories. It’s plain fun and excitement for anyone of any age whether you’re a fan or not. If you’re into a simple, wholesome action-adventure movie that brings back nostalgic memories of
the comic book days, then you simply must see the film in theaters soon! Blue Beetle premieres in Philippines cinemas on August 16.
Soft & Quiet (Horror)
Warning—this movie can be traumatizing. With a high rating from critics but divided reviews from the audience (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), the film had been polarizing when it was premiered in the US last year. It’s been criticized for being too extreme, though its disturbing guise may exactly be the point it’s trying to get across.
A comment read, “Spoiler art: this movie is neither soft nor quiet.” The violent picture somehow feels innocuous at the beginning. Don’t let it deceive you. The trailer is a perfect glimpse to prepare you for what you will experience.
Emily initiates a meeting with an all-female white supremacist group at a church, all of whom express disdain towards immigrants, minorities, feminists, Jews, diversity quotas, and such. Somewhere along the way, they hold a supposedly harmless prank against two Asian-American women—escalating into a terrifying hate crime that may not be for the faint of heart.
It’s very, very graphic. What makes it even more unsettling (and impressive) is how realistic it’s been designed. Everything is shown in a one-take, real-time fashion. Knowing that what takes place in the film can happen to anyone, anywhere in the seemingly peaceful suburbs is a fact that sends chills down your spine.
A word of caution: you might not have the appetite to finish your popcorn in the middle of the movie, so make sure to finish eating it quickly!
Soft & Quiet premieres in Philippine cinemas on August 02.
The Moon (Drama–Science Fiction)
A Korean space survival drama, The Moon is an exceptional example of the country’s creative writers and talented artists. The prevalence of Korean drama fans among Filipinos is a testament to their knack for turning any outrageous situation into a tearjerker that will leave you holding back sobs!
Astronaut Sun-Woo (portrayed by Do Kyung-soo, or D.O., from the South Korean– Chinese boy group Exo) is left stranded in space due to a catastrophic malfunction. The Naro Space Center counts on Kim Jae-Guk to rescue Sun-Woo from the galactic abyss.
Director Kim Yong-Hwa shares that the film is multilayered in terms of emotional impact. You’re guaranteed to feel a spectrum of sentiments throughout the duration of the film, whether it be sorrow and delight or hope and despair. He reveals that it is a movie about condolence and forgiveness.
Do endured months of rigorous training for shooting the scenes in which he “floats” in space. The editing was also a huge task as the animators had to create it cut by cut, but the incredible visuals are very much worth it as some scenes are sure to keep you at the edge of your seats! Check out the exciting trailer here.
The Moon premieres in Philippine cinemas on August 16.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Animation)
Cowabunga indeed! TMNT returns with its star-studded cast including Jackie Chan as Splinter, Seth Rogen as Bebop, and teenage voice actors as Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Raphael. From kiddos to men and women, it’s going to be an epic time that will be sure to bring back a lot of memories!
The movie is set in New York City, where an unknown crime syndicate is wreaking havoc and mayhem. Together with April O’Neil, they fight against an army of mutants to be more openly accepted by society. However, the team struggles to strike a balance between being full-fledged superheroes and living like rowdy, typical teenagers.
It should be noted that the film is not animated hyper-realistically like the version in 2014, so this might be more appealing to those who prefer the more classic, comic book visuals!
The director and heads focused on preserving the youthfulness of the characters, which is more in line with how it was set in the comics.
The punk animation style, together with excellent voice acting (this time, by actual teenagers), a delightful script, and thrilling scoring, weaves together an exhilarating and refreshing film suitable for all audiences. Are you pumped? Because we definitely are from the looks of its trailer!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres in Philippine cinemas on August 23.
Save the date
Ready to unwind? Mark the dates and set some money aside! You deserve a treat to the some of the promising movies this coming August 2023. Action, horror, drama, or light comedy—there’s sure to be a movie well-suited to your liking.
Sources:
Jeong-Won, L. (July 26, 2023). Korean sci-fi films are going to ‘The Moon’ in upcoming release. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/07/26/entertainment/movies/Korea-TheMoon-Do-Kyungsoo/20230726153533272.html
Ouellette, J. (April 4, 2023). Blue Beetle trailer promises a classic superhero origin story. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/04/blue-beetle-trailer-promises-a-classicsuperhero-origin-story/
