viva films

PENDUKO Sticks And Kicks Into Family Fun-Filled Action In The Official Trailer

The audience at the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival will be the first to bear witness and bring a verdict to director Jason Paul Laxamana’s latest flick, Penduko. Until then, reactions are fair game as of Friday with the official trailer online from Viva Films. Actor Matteo Guidicelli stars in the lead role based on celebrated comic artist Francisco Coching’s hit comic, about a 20 year-old wimp raised in the U.S. who journeys to the Philippines in search of his mother following the death of his father. As the trailer now finally reveals, that trip also includes our would-be hero tapping into some fledgling supernatural and physical abilities that could be the key to taking down evil forces cursing his family’s town. This one gives jubilant family adventure with enticing Escrima action and fantasy thrills to whet the appetite. Check out the trailer and feel free to sign in and […]

JOAQUIN BORDADO: ‘Maria’ Director Inks New Superhero Adaptation At Viva For Live-Action Comic Franchise Launch

Lee B. Golden III

Nilalang and Maria helmer Pedring Lopez will direct a feature-length revival Filipino comic book property, Joaquin Bordado. The film will be the first in a slate of multi-IP titles now added to the wheelhouse for Viva Films for which Lopez now coins as the #CaparasUniverse – a nod to comic book creator/author Carlos J. Caparas. The serial comic book franchise took off in the 1970s and onward, telling of a covert assassin-turned-ex-con whose new lease on life finds him imbued with powers through a transfer of mystical tattoos. Armed with newly-amped fighting prowess, he sets out on a quest for vengeance against his former boss. A live-action feature firstly took off in 1988 prior to a successful GMA Network series run in 2008 starring Robin Padilla. Lopez, who had been in development with the project for close to a year until this week, took to social media to give thanks […]

Meet MARIA In The Official Red-Band Trailer For Pedring Lopez’s New Revenge Thriller!

Lee B. Golden III

Earlier this month saw Viva Films offering a small dose of the action to come in director Pedring Lopez’s new film, Maria. Now slated for a March 27 release, Cristine Reyes fronts her first action role in what looks to be nothing short of a thrilling contender for this year’s rousing feats since Erik Matti’s BuyBust put the Philippines on the map just a little more for genre fans. Cristine Reyes stars as Lily, a former cartel assassin who begins her new life as Maria—a new life suddenly cut short when the cartel learns of her whereabouts. Soon, the hunter becomes the hunted and a new fight wages on with revenge as the ultimate prize. Lopez, who co-penned the new action thriller, also reunites with Sonny Sison (Nilalang, BuyBust) who services the explosive action and fight scene goodies to fawn over, and there’s plenty of it to sample in the […]

BUYBUST: Erik Matti’s Explosive New Action Thriller Storms Online With A First Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

Director Erik Matti’s latest crime thriller, BuyBust, has been nothing short of stirring. Indeed the hype is real for the celebrated helmer of hit crime thriller, On The Job, as well as Honor Thy Father and Kubot, and no less in the wake of pivoting away from screening at the Metro Manila Film Festival this year… Thus, ensuing a slightly longer wait but one that bodes with promise as evidently seen in the first official teaser from Viva Films and Reality Entertainment. Anne Curtis and champion MMA fighter Brandon Vera lead the cast for the story centered two squads cornered amid a drug bust gone deadly with remaining squad members and civilians trapped in enemy sights. With reason to suspect certain film reps might nab this one for international rights (don’t take my word for it just yet), I’m inclined to believe this particular title will hit pretty big on […]

BUYBUST: Erik Matti Hails The Last Days Of Filming With An Explosive And Brutal Featurette

Lee B. Golden III

Filmmaker Erik Matti’s latest thriller, BuyBust, has endured a strenuous near-two year journey from inception to its approaching completion with lead actress Anne Curtis and MMA champion Brandon Vera starring. With an official release date pending and the heralded director of thrillers like On The Job and Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles, took to social media on Thursday to reflect on the production in a lengthy post. It’s a worthy read as well considering what it takes these days to get an ambitious action production in the Philippines off the ground. The greivances are valid, too, often pertaining to financing and politics overall despite the local talent pool that exists and otherwise lives and breathes to partake in a genre that speaks to international audiences at the least. Indeed, further plot and story specifics are scant regarding the film, but Matti’s testimony certainly speak to my own observations on past projects […]