Wednesday, 2 August 2017

Atomic Blonde Movie Review: Charlize Theron Delivers A Very Dedicated, Bone-Crunching Performance As An Ass-Kicking Female Spy

 
ACTION FILMS where the lead is an ass-kicking woman include Scarlett Johansson in "Lucy" and "Ghost in the Shell", Jennifer Lawrence in "Hunger Games", Angelina Jolie in "Lara Croft" and "Salt", Zoe Saldana in "Colombiana", Kate Beckinsale in "Underworld" and Milla Jovovich in "Resident Evil". But they now all pale in comparison to Charlize Theron in "Atomic Blonde" who is so totally committed to her role as Lorraine, a very complicated spy in the chaotic world of espionage and skullduggery. The twist is something not even a veteran of many spy thrillers cannot easily predict and will put James Bond to shame.

Based on a comics series called "The Coldest City", this action-thriller is set in Berlin in 1989 just when the Berlin Wall, a symbol of oppression and division, is about to fall. Spies working for the Americans, the Russians and the British are all after a wristwatch that contains the names of all active undercover agents from both the East and West.


A British agent first gets it, but he is killed by a Russian who then offers it to the highest bidder. British intelligence then brings in one of their best agents, Lorraine, to get back the watch and unmask the identity of an elusive double agent called Satchel, whose identity they've been trying to unmask for years. Without the watch, she's then supposed to rescue an East German defector, Spyglass (Eddie Marsan), who has memorized the entire list of Allied spies.

Lorraine is supposed to work with another British agent in Berlin, Percival (James McAvoy), who, unknown to her, has his own ulterior motives. Lorraine is immediately kidnapped upon her arrival in Berlin, starting a series of savage fight scenes. The story is told mostly in flashbacks, while Lorraine is being interviewed in a debriefing, after accomplishing her mission, by her M16 boss who's behind a two-way mirror (James Faulkner) and his deputy (Toby Jones) with a CIA representative (John Goodman.) Don't leave the theater after the interview with Lorraine because there is an epilogue where more surprising revelations come up.

The film is directed by David Leitch, the co-director of "John Wick". The movie's first part is a slow burn with all the talky expositions, but once it kicks in, you can expect high octane and exhilarating action scenes full of frenetic, amped-up energy. The style of "John Wick" showing slambang action scenes is very much in evidence in "Atomic Blonde". You might have also seen it in the Jason Bourne films, but Leitch presents it with darker visuals yet uses 80s songs for the soundtrack, like Nena's "99 Luftballons" and the tunes of George Michael, Depeche Mode and David Bowie, among others. Some things might seem familiar, but expect the unexpected.

Of course, what holds it all together is Charlize's very dedicated, commanding performance as a chilly woman who's on guard at all times. What she started as Furiosa in "Mad Max", she now completes with her astonishing take on Lorraine. She appears in the opening scene totally nude in an ice bath, displaying her very lean statuesque model's body, sexy but lethal while drinking her favorite vodka.

She is also shown in a hot lesbian love scene with a neophyte French spy, Delphine (Sofia Boutella of "The Mummy"), something you can't expect in a male lead, having a same-sex love scene in a big-budgeted action flick like this. In several ultra-violent breathtaking hand-to-hand, expertly choreographed fight scenes, Charlize is seen punching and kicking her opponents, using her stilettos and other utensils as deadly weapons and also shooting it out with an entire army of bad guys. It's obvious she does all her bone-crunching stunts without a double and we're sure she somehow got hurt in performing them. Her Lorraine will now be as memorable as Sigourney Weaver's Ripley and Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor.
Read more @ Showbiz Portal

MEGA Magazine 'Women to Watch': Who's the most stunning of them all? (POLL)

MEGA Magazine has unveiled its list of "Women To Watch", consisting of 17 stunning and promising young stars from either ABS-CBN and GMA (there's actually just one Kapuso star who made it), all gracing the mag's cover this month of August.


Mega Magazine "Women To Watch" August 2017 issue now out in newsstands nationwide

So have a closer look at the 17 "bright, bold and beautiful" ladies who made it to MEGA "Women To Watch" list, and make sure you vote for the 5 most stunning of them all in our fun poll below, after you've seen their pictures. (All photos courtesy of MEGA Magazine and @OMGnewsstand)

Andrea Brillantes


Alexa Ilacad
Elisse Joson
Heaven Peralejo
Loisa Andalio
Kira Balinger
Kisses Delavin


Barbie Imperial


Kelley Day


Mariel De Leon

Maris Racal
Maureen Wroblewitz
Maymay Entrata


Ria Atayde


Sanya Lopez

Sue Ramirez
Ylona Garcia




Read more @ MyKiRu IsYuSeRo

Starstruck Reject Dave Bornea Now Busier Than Those Made It As Finalists In The GMA Talent Search

DAVE BORNEA first tried to join showbiz as a contestant in "Eat Bulaga" when he was 16 but failed to make it. At 18, he joined Starstruck but also didn't make it to the final 14. But now, he's actually busier than those who made it as finalist after GMA Artist Center signed him up as a regular talent.

He became part of the boyband One Up that sings regularly in "Celebrity Bluff" and he was given a big role as Julian, the nephew of the villain, Cherie Gil, in "Alyas Robin Hood, Book 1". After that, he did "Meant to Be" and now, he's in "Alyas Robin Hood, Book 2", reprising his role as Julian and once again paired with Lindsay de Vera as Lizzy, the sister of title-roler Dingdong Dantes.

The eldest of three kids, his family is based in Talisay, Cebu and he's now living alone in a condo in Quezon City. He was taking up Hotel & Restaurant Management in the University of Cebu and was already in 3rd year when he joined showbiz. "I stopped po going to school muna kasi sayang naman ang career opportunities na dumarating sa akin ngayon. As of now, nakakatulong pa akong magpaaral sa dalawang kapatid ko sa Cebu."


 His love team with Lindsay now has its own following. Are they really on even off cam? "Hindi po. We're just close friends. Kasi sa workshops pa lang ng GMA, magkasama na kami, so kilala na namin ang isa't isa. She's only 17 and we're both aware na career muna dapat ang priority namin. Happy kami na kasama uli kami sa Book 2 na 'Alyas Robin Hood' and we've started taping for the show's new season already. Mas ma-action daw ito, according to our director, Dominic Zapata, so I'm hoping mabigyan din ako ng action scenes dito kasi gusto ko ring maging action star."
Read more @ Showbiz Portal

Starstruck Reject Dave Bornea Now Busier Than Those Made It As Finalists In The GMA Talent Search

DAVE BORNEA first tried to join showbiz as a contestant in "Eat Bulaga" when he was 16 but failed to make it. At 18, he joined Starstruck but also didn't make it to the final 14. But now, he's actually busier than those who made it as finalist after GMA Artist Center signed him up as a regular talent.

He became part of the boyband One Up that sings regularly in "Celebrity Bluff" and he was given a big role as Julian, the nephew of the villain, Cherie Gil, in "Alyas Robin Hood, Book 1". After that, he did "Meant to Be" and now, he's in "Alyas Robin Hood, Book 2", reprising his role as Julian and once again paired with Lindsay de Vera as Lizzy, the sister of title-roler Dingdong Dantes.

The eldest of three kids, his family is based in Talisay, Cebu and he's now living alone in a condo in Quezon City. He was taking up Hotel & Restaurant Management in the University of Cebu and was already in 3rd year when he joined showbiz. "I stopped po going to school muna kasi sayang naman ang career opportunities na dumarating sa akin ngayon. As of now, nakakatulong pa akong magpaaral sa dalawang kapatid ko sa Cebu."


 His love team with Lindsay now has its own following. Are they really on even off cam? "Hindi po. We're just close friends. Kasi sa workshops pa lang ng GMA, magkasama na kami, so kilala na namin ang isa't isa. She's only 17 and we're both aware na career muna dapat ang priority namin. Happy kami na kasama uli kami sa Book 2 na 'Alyas Robin Hood' and we've started taping for the show's new season already. Mas ma-action daw ito, according to our director, Dominic Zapata, so I'm hoping mabigyan din ako ng action scenes dito kasi gusto ko ring maging action star."
Read more @ Showbiz Portal

Starstruck Reject Dave Bornea Now Busier Than Those Made It As Finalists In The GMA Talent Search

DAVE BORNEA first tried to join showbiz as a contestant in "Eat Bulaga" when he was 16 but failed to make it. At 18, he joined Starstruck but also didn't make it to the final 14. But now, he's actually busier than those who made it as finalist after GMA Artist Center signed him up as a regular talent.

He became part of the boyband One Up that sings regularly in "Celebrity Bluff" and he was given a big role as Julian, the nephew of the villain, Cherie Gil, in "Alyas Robin Hood, Book 1". After that, he did "Meant to Be" and now, he's in "Alyas Robin Hood, Book 2", reprising his role as Julian and once again paired with Lindsay de Vera as Lizzy, the sister of title-roler Dingdong Dantes.

The eldest of three kids, his family is based in Talisay, Cebu and he's now living alone in a condo in Quezon City. He was taking up Hotel & Restaurant Management in the University of Cebu and was already in 3rd year when he joined showbiz. "I stopped po going to school muna kasi sayang naman ang career opportunities na dumarating sa akin ngayon. As of now, nakakatulong pa akong magpaaral sa dalawang kapatid ko sa Cebu."


 His love team with Lindsay now has its own following. Are they really on even off cam? "Hindi po. We're just close friends. Kasi sa workshops pa lang ng GMA, magkasama na kami, so kilala na namin ang isa't isa. She's only 17 and we're both aware na career muna dapat ang priority namin. Happy kami na kasama uli kami sa Book 2 na 'Alyas Robin Hood' and we've started taping for the show's new season already. Mas ma-action daw ito, according to our director, Dominic Zapata, so I'm hoping mabigyan din ako ng action scenes dito kasi gusto ko ring maging action star."
Read more @ Showbiz Portal

UNA NUEVA OPORTUNIDAD/SECOND CHANCES shortly in Panamericana TV Peru

The third GMA teleserye to be shown in South America after the rousing success early this year of the first,  Cautiva, which raked in the highest ratings ever for an Asian telenovela in that area. Opening next is the second one, No me olvides (Someone To Watch Over Me), followed muy pronto a little bit later by this Jennilyn Mercado starrer.