Category: Watch

HBO Asia horror anthology series FOLKLORE returns for a second season

Six Asian directors take fear to another level in the new season

HBO Asia Original horror anthology series Folklore, which features deeply rooted superstitions and myths across Asia,ramps up the fear factor with the return of a second season. The new six-episode season premieres November 14 at 10pm exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. A new episode will debut every Sunday at the same time.

Folklore Season 2 continues to dive into Asia’s myriad of traditions and beliefs. Set in six different Asian territories – Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore, the series examines the human condition when exposed to supernatural phenomena in a mind-bending race against oneself with each story providing a different take and perspective. Each episode is directed by a local director from that territory.

Directors for this season include Shih-Han Liao from Taiwan, Seiko Matsuda from Japan, Sittisiri Mongkolsiri from Thailand, Erik Matti from the Philippines, Billy Christian from Indonesia and Nicole Midori Woodford from Singapore. Singapore’s award-winning filmmaker Eric Khoo returns as the showrunner.

Highlighting female directors from the region, Japanese pop superstar Seiko Matsuda makes her directorial debut, drawing from personal experience to present an original concept featuring a haunted Japanese idol, while Singaporean director Nicole Midori Woodford’s episode speaks to dealing with family trauma.

Folklore Season 2 also features an ensemble cast from all over Asia. The stellar line-up includes Vivian Sung Yun-Hwa (“Our Times”, “Lost Romance”), Wu Kang-Ren (HBO Asia Original series “The World Between Us”, “A Touch of Green”), Win Morisaki (“Ready Player One”, “Honki No Shirushi” (The Real Thing)), Jennis Oprasert (“Where We Belong”), Dolly de Leon (“Verdict”, “Midnight in a Perfect World”), Lydia Kando (“Boneka dari Indiana” (Doll from Indiana), “Kejarlah Jodoh Kau Kutangkap”) and Mindee Ong (“881”, “The Transcend”) in leading roles in the respective episodes. Produced with the support of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Folklore is HBO Asia’s very first horror anthology original series. Various episodes of Folklore Season 1 were screened at numerous major international film festivals including Toronto International Film Festival (Toronto, Canada), SITGES International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain), Fantastic Fest (Texas, USA), Scream Fest (Singapore), Five Flavours Asian Film Festival (Warsaw, Poland), Asian World Film Fest (California, USA), Geneva International Film Festival (Geneva Switzerland), Trieste Science+Fiction Festival (Trieste, Italy), Philadelphia Asian Film Festival (Philadelphia, USA), San Diego Asian Film Festival (San Diego, USA), CinemAsia International Festival (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Festival Series Mania (Lille, France), Tokyo International Film Festival (Tokyo, Japan), and Ehime International Film Festival (Ehime, Japan).

Episode Guide for Folklore Season 2

The Rope, premieres Sunday, November 14 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO

Directed by: Shih-Han Liao (Taiwan) | Cast: Vivian Sung (Sung Yun-Hwa), Wu Kang-Ren

folklore s2 1

A newly-wed woman is walking home alone after a joyous wedding ceremony when she gets caught in a purification ritual performed for suicide victims. The ritual officers warn her that she will need to follow the ritual, or she will be cursed. However, she runs away despite their warning. Her life is turned upside down with strange phenomena and disturbing hauntings. Fearing that she has been cursed, she seeks aid from the Master of the purification ritual who confirms her worst fears. However, there’s more to the situation than meets the eye and she needs to get to the bottom of the mystery before it destroys her completely.

The Day the Wind Blew, premieres Sunday, November 21 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO 

Directed by: Seiko Matsuda (Japan) | Cast: Win Morisaki, Haori Takahashi

folklore s2 2

Mika is a schoolgirl who meets the man of her dreams – Ken, her favourite singer. As she takes her seat at Ken’s concert, nothing could be more perfect. Not only is she witness to a performance that is everything she’s expected and more, it seems he’s actually taken an interest in her. But something seems amiss. Ever since the day of the concert, a cold wind has stalked the woman’s path as her dream encounter is marred by a bone-chilling presence. What appears to be the beginning of a fairy tale love can only be described as a fable destined for a hellish end.

Broker Of Death, premieres Sunday, November 28 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO

Directed by: Sittisiri Mongkolsiri (Thailand) Cast: Natee Ngamnaewprom (Ton), Jennis Oprasert

folklore s2 3

Manop is a 45-year-old single father who owns an amulet shop. It doesn’t pay him well, especially when he has to pay for his daughter’s exorbitant medical bills. In fact, his main source of income comes from being a “Broker of Death” – someone who trades in corpses. One day, he is told to pick up a dead body. The corpse is to be a part of the ritual so that a wealthy politician can have more power. Manop has to choose between two frightening options – ghost haunting or poverty.

7 Days Of Hell, premieres Sunday, December 5 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO

Directed by: Erik Matti (Philippines) | Cast: Dolly de Leon, Roshson Barman

folklore s2 4

A righteous policewoman and mother races against time to save her son when he falls dangerously ill from an unknown cause. When her son is given only a few weeks to live, she discovers that his illness is of supernatural origin and that a powerful sorcerer has cursed him. The only way for her son to survive is for him to apologise and make amends to the sorcerer. As the clock ticks, she is sent on a desperate quest to save her son.

Grandma’s Kiss, premieres Sunday, December 12 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO

Directed by: Billy Christian (Indonesia) | Cast: Lydia Kandou, Ken Zuraida

folklore s2 5

Marni is a new resident at a nursing home, having been left there by her daughter. She feels abandoned and longs for her old life. She suspects that her roommate Ningsih might be a supernatural being – a Palasik – haunting the home and able to make any wish come true if caught. Will Marni use the Palasik to get what she desires – her old life back?

The Excursion, premieres Sunday, December 19 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO

Directed by: Nicole Midori Woodford (Singapore) | Cast: Mindee Ong, Ethan Ng, Darren Lim

folklore s2 6

A troubled mother is depressed and suffering from insomnia. Her husband is never at home and her son talks to an imaginary friend Under immense stress, she starts to see a ghostly, somehow familiar figure in her house. Her son’s erratic behaviour becomes dangerous and life-threatening. Can she save her son and her family before it’s too late?

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

Details, video and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

HBO releases new trailers of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON and other titles to premiere exclusively on HBO GO

Four new trailers from upcoming series – House Of The Dragon, And Just Like That…, Peacemaker and Succession Season 3, were released by HBO today. All these series will be available exclusively on HBO GO when they premiere.

House Of The Dragon

Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, which is set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” tells the story of House Targaryen. The teaser featured the first official footage from the highly anticipated series, which contained several previously announced cast members in addition to the following newly revealed cast:

  • Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon – Younger brother to Coryls Velaryon and commander in the Velaryon navy
  • John Macmillan as Ser Laenor Velaryon – Son of Corlys Velaryon and  Rhaenys Targaryen
  • Savannah Steyn as Lady Laena Velayron – Daughter of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen.
  • Theo Nate as Ser Laenor Velaryon – Son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen

Catch up on all eight seasons of Game Of Thrones and watch the behind the scenes documentary Game Of Thrones: The Last Watch which chronicles the series on HBO GO before House Of The Dragon premieres.

And Just Like That…

Premiering this December on HBO GO, And Just Like That…, the new chapter of the groundbreaking HBO series “Sex and the City” from executive producer Michael Patrick King, follows “Carrie” (Sarah Jessica Parker), “Miranda” (Cynthia Nixon) and “Charlotte” (Kristin Davis) as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s. The series is currently filming in New York and includes previously announced cast members Sara Ramírez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, Chris Noth, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Willie Garson, and Evan Handler. Binge watch the entire six seasons of Sex And The City series as well as Sex And The City: The Movie on HBO GO before And Just Like That… premieres.

Peacemaker

Peacemaker will explore the origins of the character that John Cena first portrayed in James Gunn’s 2021 film, The Suicide Squad – a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it. Watch John Cena as Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad on HBO GO.

Succession Season 3

The Emmy® award-wining HBO about wealth, power and family in the ruthless world of the uber-rich returns for a third season same time as the U.S on Monday, October 18 at 9am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO, with a same day encore at 10pm on HBO. New episodes will premiere every Monday at the same time. Stream or download the first two seasons on HBO GO.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

Image and details provided by Warner Media in a recent press release.

New HBO Asia Original GENSAN PUNCH premieres and nominated at Busan Int’l Film Festival

A brand-new HBO Asia Original film GENSAN PUNCH will have its world premiere in “A Window on Asian Cinema” section (Competition) at the upcoming 26th edition of Busan International Film Festival, before premiering exclusively on HBO GO and HBO in the next few months. The Filipino-Japanese title in English, Japanese and Tagalog, is also one of seven Asian films nominated for the Kim Jiseok Award in Busan. In addition, the film will screen in the “Gala Selection” (non-Competition) at this year’s 34th Tokyo International Film Festival.

Inspired by the true story of Naozumi Tsuchiyama, GENSAN PUNCH is about a Japanese man with a prosthetic leg who goes to the Philippines to train and pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer. The so-called Gensan Quarter of General Santos City has long been known for producing athletes including presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao. The film tackles the issue of discrimination towards the disabled, especially in competitive sport.

Filmed in both the Philippines and Japan, GENSAN PUNCH is produced and directed by Brillante Ma. Mendoza (Mindanao; Alpha: The Right To Kill;) and stars Shogen (Death Note; Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist), Ronnie Lazaro (Affliction; Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story), Kaho Minami (Dream Street; Hotaru), Beauty Gonzales (The Heiress; Angelito: Batang Ama) and Vince Rillon (3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon!; Ang Probinsyano).

Created and written by Honee Alipio, , GENSAN PUNCH is produced by Takahiro Yamashita and Krisma Maclang Fajardo and executive produced by Brillante Mendoza, Simon Crowe and Fumie Suzuki Lancaster.

The announcement comes shortly after the debut of On the Job, another HBO Asia Original from the Philippines. Now streaming on HBO GO, the series stars John Arcilla who won the Coppa Volti at the Venice Film Festival on September 11. Stream or download GENSAN PUNCH when it premieres on HBO GO in the next few months. Enjoy other martial arts shows such as the six movie Rocky franchise, Tom-Yum-Goong, Ong-Bak, and the HBO series Warrior now on HBO GO.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

New HBO Original Series “On the Job” in competition at Venice Film Festival

The six-part crime thriller is a Philippines HBO Asia Original premiering first on HBO GO

WarnerMedia is giving Filipinos another reason to celebrate as it announced today the premiere of ON THE JOB (#OTJonHBOGO), a new HBO Asia Original series continuing the saga of Erik Matti’s 2013 film carrying the same name.

The engrossing six-part hour-long crime thriller series will premiere globally and exclusively on HBO GO in September. Inspired by true events, select episodes from the series will play in Competition at the prestigious 78th Venice Film Festival as On The Job: The Missing 8 in September. It is the only film from Asia out of the 21 international films in Competition at this year’s Venezia 78.

The series centres around crime syndicates that temporarily release contracted prison inmates to carry out political assassinations for those in power, except that the crime syndicates are run by politicians. The series also puts a spotlight on the real-world predicament concerning fake news and how easily truth can be manufactured and disseminated to the public in today’s age of information.

Conceived and directed by Erik Matti, the series in English and Filipino is filmed in the Philippines and stars Joel Torre, John Arcilla, Piolo Pascual, Dennis Trillo, Gerald Anderson, Joey Marquez, Dante Rivero, Christopher De Leon and Lotlot De Leon.

While the first two episodes of the series were shown as a film as part of the Director’s Fortnight at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where it received a standing ovation, the episodes on HBO GO are remastered and include never-before-seen and exclusive content.

Produced by Reality MM Studios and Globe Studios, ON THE JOB is written by Michiko Yamamoto and Erik Matti and executive produced by Ronald “Dondon” Monteverde, Erik Matti, Joe Caliro and Quark Henares.

Watch Erik Matti’s other HBO Asia Original production, FOOD LORE: ISLAND OF DREAMS on HBO GO. Fans of crime dramas will enjoy other HBO Asia Originals on HBO GO such as TRINITY OF SHADOWS, THE HEAD, THE WORLD BETWEEN US and MISS SHERLOCK. Erik Matti is also directing an episode of the HBO Asia Original series Folklore Season 2 which will premiere later this year.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

Image and details provided by Warner Media in a recent press release.

‘Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union’ debuts Aug 4 only on HBO GO

HBO’s three-part documentary, Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union, debuts same time as the U.S. over three consecutive days from Wednesday, August 4 exclusively on HBO GO. The documentary chronicles the personal and political journey of President Barack Obama, as the United States grapples with its racial history. Weaving together conversations with colleagues, friends and critics, and interspersed with his own speeches and news interviews, the series begins with Obama’s childhood and takes us through his perspective as the son of a white mother from Kansas and an African father, his spiritual formation by a generation of Black leaders, and his hopes for a more inclusive America.

Through the story of one man irrevocably bound to the history of a country, Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union reflects on the country’s past and present national identity.

Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union is directed by Emmy® winner Peter Kunhardt (HBO’s “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight For Equality,” “John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “King in the Wilderness”).
With the clarity of hindsight and perspective of the last four years, Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union forms a cohesive picture of America under its first Black president. Obama’s presidency was unique in America’s history, but what was a historic step forward for the country also exposed the ever-present need to address deeply entrenched challenges around race, racial justice and our history.

The series provides context, insight and critique from a wide range of participants including: author Jelani Cobb; Representative John Lewis; political consultant David Axelrod; Rev. Alvin Love; author Michael Eric Dyson; journalist Laura Washington; Rev. Jeremiah Wright; journalist Michele Norris; New Yorker editor David Remnick; Rev. Al Sharpton; professor Cornel West; politician Jesse Jackson; author Ta-Nehisi Coates; NAACP’s Sherrilyn Ifill; political advisor Valerie Jarrett; professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.; actor Keegan-Michael Key; former government official Shirley Sherrod; journalist David Maraniss; professor Ken Mack; speechwriter Jon Favreau; advisor Broderick Johnson; and Representative Bobby Rush.

Part One of Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union looks back over Obama’s upbringing by a single mother from Kansas and white grandparents, his early schooling in Hawaii and his education at Columbia University and Harvard Law School. Through archival interviews, Obama reflects on the impact of having an estranged African father, growing up bi-racial and his evolving relationship with the African American community in Chicago, where he worked with Black churches as a community organizer.

Part Two takes us from Obama’s presidential bid to his election to the White House in November 2008, exploring the obstacles and successes along the campaign trail. With constant pressure to define his identity along racial lines and frustrated by what he saw as a distraction from other important issues, Obama delivers his “race speech” of March 2008, a determined defense of the U.S. Constitution and a plea to look beyond America’s “racial stalemate” in order to advance prosperity and unity.

Part Three takes us to the White House years and the formidable hurdles that Obama faced trying to pass legislation in a bitterly divided Congress. He ultimately succeeded in passing the Affordable Care Act but the chasm across the aisle in Washington grew ever wider. As the nation faced a period of heightened awareness around police brutality towards African Americans and the fervent partisan battle over gun control, his critics accused him and the administration of not doing enough to lead a conversation about race, and the president moves forward with policies that focus on racial justice and empowerment.

Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union encapsulates the man and the president, illuminating his vision for the nation shaped from his own experiences and identity. Through today’s lens, the documentary reflects on the Obama administration with new understanding about the personal obstacles he faced and the challenging pursuit for equality in America.

HBO Documentary Films’ presents a Kunhardt Films Production, Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union, directed by Peter Kunhardt; produced by George Kunhardt, Teddy Kunhardt, Matthew O. Henderson; edited and produced by Maya Mumma, ACE; executive producers, Peter Kunhardt; Andi Bernstein and Mona Sutphen; Jelani Cobb and Jacqueline Glover. For HBO: senior producer, Sara Rodriguez; executive producers, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

What’s new on HBO GO – July 2021

At the midpoint of the year, HBO Go brings the heavyweights in star power and stories with this month’s exclusive premieres.

No Sudden Moves – premieres on Friday, July 2

Set in 1954 Detroit, this Steven Soderbergh-helmed film centers on a group of small-time criminals who are hired to steal what they think is a simple document. When their plan goes horribly wrong, their search for who hired them – and for what ultimate purpose – weaves them through all echelons of the race-torn, rapidly changing city.

The star-studded film features Don Cheadle (“Avengers: End Game”, “Hotel Rwanda”), Benicio Del Toro (“Sicario”, “The Usual Suspects”), David Harbour (“Suicide Squad”, “Stranger Things”), Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”, “The Town”) , Amy Seimetz (“Upstream Color”, “Sun Don’t Shine”), Brendan Fraser (“The Mummy”, “George of the Jungle”), Kieran Culkin (HBO’s “Succession”, “Igby Goes Down”), Noah Jupe (HBO’s “The Undoing”, “Honey Boy”), Craig muMs Grant (“Dark Water, “Side Effects”), Julia Fox (“Uncut Gems”, “Day by Day”), Frankie Shaw (“SMILF”, “Too Legit”), with Ray Liotta (“Goodfellas”, “Narc”) and Bill Duke (“Predator”, “Commando”).

Gossip Girl – premieres July 8

Developed by showrunner Joshua Safran, a writer and executive producer on the original series, this extension of the pop culture classic takes us back to the Upper East Side finding a new generation of New York private school teens being introduced to social surveillance nine years after the original blogger’s website went dark. The series is based on the bestselling novels by Cecily von Ziegesar and the original show, developed by Josh Schwartz & Stephanie Savage.

Gossip Girl explores just how much social media — and the landscape of New York itself — has changed in the intervening years. The series stars Jordan Alexander, Eli Brown, Thomas Doherty, Tavi Gevinson, Emily Alyn Lind, Evan Mock, Zion Moreno, Whitney Peak and Savannah Lee Smith.

The White Lotus – premieres July 12, 9am

From Mike White (HBO’s “Enlightened”) comes a social satire set at an exclusive Hawaiian resort.

Starring Murray Bartlett (HBO’s “Looking”), Connie Britton (“Nashville”), Jennifer Coolidge (“2 Broke Girls”), Alexandra Daddario (HBO’s “True Detective”), Fred Hechinger (“Eighth Grade”), Jake Lacy (HBO’s “Girls”), Brittany O’Grady (“Little Voice”), Natasha Rothwell (HBO’s “Insecure”), Sydney Sweeney (HBO’s “Euphoria”) and Steve Zahn (HBO’s “Treme”), this six-episode limited series follows the vacations of various hotel guests over the span of a week as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. But with each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travellers, the hotel’s cheerful employees and the idyllic locale itself.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

Friends: The Reunion premieres on May 27 on HBO and HBO GO

Could we BE any more excited?

Friends: The Reunion special will debut same time as the U.S. on Thursday, May 27 at 3.01pm exclusively on HBO GO, with a same-day broadcast on HBO at 9pm. Friends stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer return to the iconic comedy’s original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank for a real-life unscripted celebration of the beloved show.

For the first time in 17 years, the cast of Friends reunites for a special celebration of the smash-hit comedy series. Taped on the original soundstage, Friends: The Reunion finds the cast joined by moderator James Corden and a star-studded roster of special guests as they relive the show’s fan-favourite and unforgettable moments. This once-in-a-lifetime special event honours the iconic series, which continues to permeate the zeitgeist today, with a hilarious and heartfelt night full of laughter and tears.

Friends: The Reunion, an HBO Max Original, will feature a variety of special guests including David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai.

Ben Winston directed the special and executive produced along with “Friends” executive producers Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane. The special hails from Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon, Fulwell 73 Productions and Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions. Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, LeBlanc, Perry, and Schwimmer executive produced the special. Emma Conway, James Longman and Stacey Thomas-Muir co-executive produced.

“Friends” remains one of television’s most beloved series. One of the highest-rated shows on television in its original network run, the series still remains a perennial go-to in syndication and on streaming services, where it continues to be a smash hit worldwide. A favorite among critics and fans alike throughout its 10-season run, “Friends” not only won the Emmy® for Outstanding Comedy series, but also garnered Emmy® Awards for series stars Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow. From Warner Bros. Television, Friends follows the lives and loves of a close-knit group of friends living in New York City: siblings Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), along with friends Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston). “Friends” was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, who executive produced the series with Kevin Bright through Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

3 things you didn’t know about Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Four years ago, the team-up movie of DC Comics’ superheroes premiered in theaters.

But there’s more the story of these super-powered heroes than what was originally shown on-screen.

With the highly anticipated premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC’s four-hour HBO Max Original feature film “Zack Synder’s Justice League” HBO GO on Thursday, March 18, the full story, faithful to the director’s artistic vision, can finally unfold.

Determined to ensure that Superman’s (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf, DeSaad and Darkseid and their dreadful intentions.

With a screenplay by Chris Terrio, story by Chris Terrio & Zack Snyder and Will Beall, “Zack Synder’s Justice League” is based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film’s producers are Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, with executive producers Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Wesley Coller, Jim Rowe, Curtis Kanemoto, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck.

While we wait with baited breath to witness Zack Snyder’s vision come to life, we can tide ourselves over with some little-known tidbits of information from the production notes recently released by HBO.

1. It delves deeper into the superheroes’ backstories.

We get to meet characters integral to the superheroes’ backgrounds such as Victor Stone’s mother, Elinore, and Barry Allen’s potential love interest, Iris West. We also get to see more of Lois Lane’s emotional arc, deepening her connection to Superman and his eventual resurrection while Vulko, the vizier of Atlantis, provides to context to Aquaman’s story.

“Justice League is a story of a group of misfits,” relates Snyder in a recent Q&A. “They’re superheroes but they’re all kind of wayward, and each of them has certain skill sets needed to save the world. It’s the story of the coming together of those lost souls into a family.”

Never-before-seen existing footage featuring Deathstroke (Joe Manganiello), Calvin Swanwick/Martian Manhunter (Harry Lennix), and Ryan Choi (Zheng Kai) will round out the mythology.

2. It entailed an additional shoot… featuring the Clown Prince of Crime.

While Snyder mostly mined existing footage from his original movie, an entirely new scene was shot: a scene between Batman and his old nemesis, Jared Leto’s Joker.

“After I realized there would be no more Zack Snyder DC movies, my biggest regret was that there was no Batman/Joker confrontation scene,” explains the director. “It’s the key relationship for both of them. They both went through a series of films and never ran into each other. It didn’t make sense to me.”

3. It was made and completed in the midst of the pandemic.

You would think that putting a film together while everyone is in quarantine will be near-impossible, but Snyder and his crew were able to pull it off.

For some, it was a much-needed culmination of their artistry. Others, struggling from a lack of work due to the pandemic, could put their available time and resources to good use.

From a technical standpoint, a lot of elements that require in-person collaboration (like shooting the movie) were already finished. Most of the visual effects vendors are international, so they work remotely anyway. Snyder was able to work from his home office via an AVID that his editor could control remotely. And when something absolutely needed to be done in person, all safety precautions were taken.

The movie’s score is probably the only element that had to be completely recreated from scratch. So, Zack called Dutch composer Junkie XL, aka Thomas Holkenborg, who had written the score for the movie’s 2017 iteration — and gave him a blank slate.

“Individually, these characters have one thing in common – a tormented past. A lot of darkness and pain and melancholy and sorrow are speaking through their music and I have to find all these different approaches to establish that with each character,” Junkie says.

With the release of the Snyder cut, we can all breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy a sense of closure that we are able to view the director’s oeuvre the way he wants it to be seen.

“The movie itself is one of those few times I wasn’t making it for anyone, I was just making it,” Snyder shares. “Whether it’s superfans or the uninitiated or whoever watching it. It has nothing to do with it. It’s more like reading someone’s journal than it is reading someone’s novel. I think that’s part of the unique experience of the film. I’ll be honest. It’s kind of the way I work anyway. I’ve always been slightly embattled throughout my career. I think it makes for good rewatching.”

“Zack Synder’s Justice League” will premiere exclusively on HBO GO. This video streaming service is available to SKYcable subscribers for as low as Php 99/month.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

Click here to know more about HBO GO.

Justice League superfans will also get a chance to win movie snackboxes and HBO GO merchandise for five from SKY by joining this promo.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Joss Whedon-helmed Victorian period drama “The Nevers” premieres on HBO and HBO GO this April

If you’re looking for girl power on TV, HBO’s got exactly what you need!

Its newest six-episode series, “The Nevers,” premieres this April on HBO and HBO GO. Renowned creator of ground-breaking TV series such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel” and “Firefly” Joss Whedon served as its writer, director, executive producer and showrunner.

In the last years of Victoria’s reign, London is beset by the “Touched”: people – mostly women – who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities – some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of… well, pretty much all the forces – to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place.

At Comic-Con 2018, Whedon explained the show’s title:

They, themselves are not called that [The Nevers] in the show. It’s a phrase that’s meant to evoke a sort of reaction to their oddity, to what is considered unnatural. The idea that you should never be like this, you should never have existed. Something is not the way it should be, and you don’t have the right to have whatever weird power or ability that you have. And that idea, that some people are not of the natural order, is fascinating to me. I don’t agree with it. But to me, it’s one of those things where you take something negative, and you wear it as a badge of honor, basically. Certain things could never happen – they’re happening. And the people they’re happening to are taking their place in the world.

The ensemble cast also includes Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amy Manson, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Zackary Momoh, Elizabeth Berrington, Kiran Sawar, Anna Devlin, Viola Prettejohn, Ella Smith, Nick Frost and Ben Chaplin.

Curious yet? Check out the episode synopses for what you can expect from this series.

Episode 1: “Pilot”

Monday, 12 April at 9am 

Series premiere. London, 1899. Three years after an inexplicable event suddenly equips them with extraordinary abilities, Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) work to protect their kind from widespread, deepening antipathy. Meanwhile, police inspector Frank Mundi (Ben Chaplin) investigates a string of murders at the hands of a reportedly Touched and highly dangerous serial killer named Maladie (Amy Manson).

Episode 2: “Exposure”

Monday, 19 April at 9am 

With the city reeling from Maladie’s (Amy Manson) opera debut, Mundi (Ben Chaplin) takes a personal stake in tracking her down, while Amalia (Laura Donnelly) launches an investigation of her own. Meanwhile, the charitable Lavinia Bidlow (Olivia Williams) seeks to destigmatize the Touched at a society event, Hugo Swann (James Norton) enlists Lavinia’s younger brother Augie (Tom Riley) to help monetize his illicit enterprise, and a deranged doctor (Denis O’Hare) conducts a series of experiments.

Episode 3: “Ignition”

Monday, 26 April at 9am 

Penance (Ann Skelly) creates an amplifier to spread Mary’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) hope-inspiring song across the city – but first, Mary (Tomlinson) must find her elusive voice. As danger mounts against her group, Amalia (Laura Donnelly) propositions an unlikely ally and sets out to expand the Orphanage’s reach. Swann (James Norton) further entangles Augie (Tom Riley) and Mundi (Ben Chaplin) in his business affairs.

Episode 4: “Undertaking”

Monday, 3 May at 9am

While Mundi (Ben Chaplin) seeks justice, Amalia (Laura Donnelly) and her most trusted advisors make a list of potential enemies. Harriet (Kiran Sonia Sawar), Primrose (Anna Devlin), and the other Orphans attempt to decipher a message. Later, Amalia (Donnelly) exposes an unexpected threat.

Episode 5: “Hanged”

Monday, 10 May at 9am 

As the city buzzes with anticipation over a pending execution, Penance (Ann Skelly) grapples with a moral calling at odds with Amalia’s (Laura Donnelly) plan. With the two women at a crossroads, the Orphans must decide whom to follow.

Episode 6: “True” (Part One Finale)

Monday, 17 May at 9am

After Amalia’s (Laura Donnelly) origin story is revealed, a long-awaited reunion crystallizes the Orphans’ mission.

While the series was created by Whedon, he announced that he was stepping down from the project in November 2020. In his statement after his departure, he wrote:

This year of unprecedented challenges has impacted my life and perspective in ways I could never have imagined, and while developing and producing The Nevers has been a joyful experience, I realize that the level of commitment required moving forward, combined with the physical challenges of making such a huge show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without the work beginning to suffer. I am genuinely exhausted, and am stepping back to martial my energy towards my own life, which is also at the brink of exciting change. I am deeply proud of the work we have done; I’m grateful to all my extraordinary cast and collaborators, and to HBO for the opportunity to shape yet another strange world. The Nevers is a true labor of love, but after two-plus years of labor, love is about all I have to offer. It will never fade.

On January 28, 2021, it was announced that British screenwriter Philippa Goslett, who wrote the Salvador Dali biopic “Little Ashes” will be the series’ new showrunner.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month.

SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada

CLICK HERE

Not yet on SKYcable? Subscribe now. Get your priority pass.

CLICK HERE

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Three reasons why the SKY EVO Box will keep you glued to your TV screen

For many of us, the past year has made our home take center stage in our lives.

Instead of being just the place for rest and respite from our various occupations, it became the central venue for work and learning.

The large screen TV that used to take pride of place in our living rooms as our main source of entertainment may have been relegated to being just another screen by which we consume content.

If you look back with longing to the time when you can sit down in front of your TV to escape the stress and drudgery of daily life, SKY may just have what you need.

With the launch of its latest innovation, SKY Evo, it promises a host of enriching and larger than life viewing experiences that will make you rethink just what your TV is for.

SKY Evo is the newest Digibox, an equipment attached to your TV which decodes SKYcable’s digital signal, allowing you to access the channels in your cable TV plan. With this device, you also have the option to subscribe to additional channels and pay-per-view programs (take your pick from over 190 channels available), enabling you to personalize your cable TV service according to your family’s needs and preferences.

However, SKY Evo is so much more than that.

1. Built-in streaming apps expand your entertainment choices.

Watch the latest trending series on Amazon Prime Video or HBO Go. Learn from a new tutorial video on Youtube or listen to cool tunes on Spotify. You may also watch top local shows, iWantTFC Originals, Filipino blockbusters and classic movies on iWantTFC. Really, you get a wealth of entertainment options every time you turn on your TV.

2. Gaming apps extend the fun capabilities of your TV.

You can share the fun with the fam with over 5,000 apps and games available for download on Google Play.

3. A multitude of Google functionalities at your fingertips.

On top of the jam-packed entertainment offerings of SKY Evo, the device is also equipped with Google Assistant, a virtual assistant that can follow commands and answer questions with just a press of a button and speak through the remote control.

With Chromecast also built-in to SKY Evo, you can wirelessly cast your mobile device’s display onto your big screen TV.

With SKY Evo, getting glued to your TV is becoming a very attractive proposition, wouldn’t you think?

SKY Evo is best experienced with SKY Fiber Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV plans so you can enjoy fast and reliable connection with SKY Fiber and a plethora of content with SKYcable channels.

The SKY Evo with SKY Fiber Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV plans is available for a one-time installation fee of Php2,000. It is also available on SKYcable plans for a one-time installation fee of Php2,500.

Know more about SKY Evo and its bundle offerings here.

Not yet on SKY?

Subscribe to SKY Fiber with HD Cable. Get your priority pass here.

CLICK HERE

Subscribe to SKYcable. Get your priority pass here.

CLICK HERE

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.