What to see this week

7 films to see on the week of September 21-September 28, 2018

The House with a Clock in its Walls

TEN-year-old Lewis discovers that his uncle Jonathan is a warlock when the young boy goes to live with him in an old house with mysterious tick-tock sounds. When he accidentally awakens the dead, Lewis, Uncle Jonathan, and their neighbor Mrs. Zimmerman, unlock the mystery of the hidden clocks hidden by an evil and powerful warlock. Directed by Eli Roth, it stars Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Kyle Maclachlan, and Coleen Camp. The film has a 62% “fresh” rating from the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. “The taboo-flouting director of the torture-porn Hostel movies has tapped into his inner Hufflepuff for what has to be one of the oddest career change-ups in Hollywood memory. Odder still, it kind of works,” writes Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly.
MTRCB Rating: PG

Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

AN immortal girl adopts a mortal baby, and suffers the consequences. Directed by Mari Okada, this animated movie features the voices of Manaka Iwami, Miyu Irino, and Yoko Hikasa. Jessica Kiang of Variety writes: “We don’t even notice how deep Okada has driven her storytelling dagger until she pulls it out in the end, and the tears come, adding, to the bitterness and sweetness of this moving and strange little fable, a hefty dose of salt.”
MTRCB Rating: PG

Reprisal

BANK MANAGER Jacob teams up with his neighbor and ex-cop Caden to capture a violent bank robber. But then the criminal kidnaps Jacob’s wife and daughter. Directed by Brian Miller, the film stars Bruce Willis, Frank Grillo, and Jonathon Schaech. Joe Leydon of Variety writes: “Reprisal is not a very good movie, but it leaves you with tantalizing hints that some people involved with it are capable of doing something much better.”
MTRCB Rating: R-16

Searching

DAVID KIM’s 16-year-old daughter goes missing. But when not one lead comes up in 37 hours, David decides to search his daughter’s laptop and search through her digital footprints. Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, the stars John Cho, Debra Messing, Joseph Lee, Michelle La, and Sara Sohn. Christy Lemire of www.rogerebert.com writes, “Structuring a film this way is impressive as an ambitious screenwriting exercise, if nothing else. It also gives filmmakers the opportunity to embrace technology while simultaneously making a point about the way it transfixes us and turns us into zombies.”
MTRCB Rating: PG

On Your Wedding Day

HIGH SCHOOL student Woo-Yeon falls in love with transfer student Seung-Hee at first sight. Despite Seung-Hee being uninterested in Woo-Yeon, they pretend to date to avoid other students. Just when their relationship develops, Seung-Hee leaves town. They meet a year later at University. However, instead of rekindling their relationship, Woo-Yeon receives an invitation to Seung-Hee’s wedding. Directed by Directed by Lee Seok-Geun, the film stars Park Bo-Young, Kim Young-kwang, and Jae-rim Song.
MTRCB Rating: R-13

Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka

JAZ travels out of town with her best friend in the hope of recovering from a bad breakup. Directed by Fifth Solomon, it stars Alex Gonzaga, Jerald Napoles, and Vin Abrenica.
MTRCB Rating: G

Abay Babes

BEST FRIENDS in high school, Emerald, Ruby, Perla, and Goldie reunite for the latter’s upcoming wedding. The four bridesmaids find it hard to believe that Goldie — the least attractive of them — is the first to get married. Directed by Don Cuaresma, it stars Cristine Reyes, Nathalie Hart, Roxanne Barcelo, Kylie Verzosa, and Meg Imperial.