NO one doubted “The Dark Knight” was going to be a blockbuster, particularly since it’s the last movie of the late Heath Ledger and buzz has been building around his portrayal of The Joker. But I don’t think anyone really expected it to be this huge, as it posted $158.4 million in its opening weekend to break the previous North American box office opening record.

Fittingly enough, DC’s Batman beat rival Marvel’s franchise comic book character Spider-Man (but I’m still a big Spider-Man fan), as the previous record holder was “Spider-Man 3″ with $151.1 million.

Check out this video report from Access Hollywood.

Yup, Hollywood is definitely benefiting from comic book characters with all the comic book movies that have been coming out in the past few years. By the way, if you loved the graphic novel like I did (and who doesn’t heh), I’m sure you also can’t wait for the “Watchmen” movie. If you haven’t seen the “Watchmen” trailer yet, you can check it out here.

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

IMAGINE running around a multi-level, 350-square-meter arena holding a laser gun called a phaser and tagging supposed enemies you find hiding behind a dark wall.

For 15 minutes, this high-tech game of tag using specially-made laser-fitted guns allows players (a maximum of 24) to relive a favorite childhood game.

“This is not about war. It’s more a tagging game,” said Maureen Scherrie Delantar, marketing and operations manager of Aslag Philippines’ LazerXtreme Arena, noting that children as young as six years old can play the game without risks of getting hurt.

Here’s a photo I took of Delantar showing the special vest and laser-fitted gun.

And here’s INQUIRER.net multimedia specialist Erika Tapalla interviewing Delantar. Video taken by INQUIRER.net community evangelist Alex Villafania.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

AFTER several nostalgic attempts to bring back old actors as the characters that made them superstars (think Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone), here comes Harrison Ford out to reclaim his title as the eponymous Indiana Jones with a new movie, still armed with his trademark bullwhip, revolver and indomitable fedora.

His latest adventure, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” is largely George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s remake of the same good old fashioned 80s-era action-adventure to satisfy the cravings of a nostalgic thirtysomething crowd and see if the same moviemaking formula of the early 80s would work with a new audience.

This review may contain some spoilers, so stop reading if you don’t want the movie spoiled for you.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

CHECK out the latest “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” trailer, courtesy of Solar-UIP Philippines.

A REPLICA of the legendary Mach 5 from the upcoming live-action film “Speed Racer” is on display at the Rockwell Center. The car comes complete with Yokohama tires and a cockpit although the gauges are stickers on the dashboard.

Video taken by INQUIRER.net community evangelist Alex Villafania.