Overhyped place. Would rather watch movies at Mall of Asia. People just go to BGC for clout, too…read moremany obnoxious crowds here. There's better alternatives around Manila for family outings.

It's all about the panache.... Awesome spot to go to and visit and just chill and hang out. Shop…read morewith family and watch a movie.

I watched Mad Max at the SM Aura's IMAX theatre and besides the fact that the movie was AWESOME,…read morethe cinema was awesome as well. It was my first time to try this cinema and I was pleasantly surprised at how great it was. I loved how you have a full 180degree view of the movie... both up and down. The thing that surprised me the most about this cinema is that I usually get dizzy when sitting close to the screen (especially when wearing 3D glasses) but for some reason, I didn't feel anything bad at all when I watched here. They must have done something right with their technology to avoid the negative side effects of an IMAX theatre. I really enjoyed watching here and can't wait for another movie worth watching here (because it is on the pricier side but totally worth it if the movie is great).

I particularly like the IMAX theater in SM Aura because of the special services they have and the…read moreattractive interior. I've only watched here once with my best friend. I don't exactly remember what we watched but it was when Maleficent was showing. To our delight, kids at heart that we are, there was a cool Maleficent themed picture taking area where you can pose with the famous Maleficent horns. Of course my best friend and I couldn't resist but take photos along with the little kids on line. Small but fun details aside, the two special services they have are: 1) When you order food from their menu at the ticket counter, they'll bring the food to you inside the cinema before your movie starts or you can also choose to pick your order up all warm and ready to be eaten. 2) Lastly, if the line from the normal ticket area (near the escalator) is long, a tip is you can buy your non-IMAX movie tickets in the IMAX theatre where for sure there will be less people. It's something we learned from chatting with the friendly guard in the cinema. It's so convenient and helpful for customers. If you don't want too many people flocking to buy regular tickets at the IMAX theater, share this secret with a few people or just keep it to yourself, haha. :)

Why do i like Waltermart Cinema? - It is nice and clean, and…read more - It never gets filled Seriously, Waltermart Cinema is criminally underrated, as most moviegoers would rather shoehorn themselves in Greenbelt or Glorietta. But then again, that's their loss, not mine. I love being able to watch a movie without worrying that I will run out of seats. Nice.

Back when I used to live in Makati, Waltermart was the nearest "mall" in my area. So okay it's not…read morereally a "mall-mall", more like a place you head to to get errands done and to buy things at Japan Home, buy pandesal at Pan De Manila and grab a quick, sad dinner all by yourself. But, their cinemas actually aren't that bad at all. I mean, I guess I'm a very easygoing moviegoer, and I am not a fussy one at that. I'm not the sort who will throw a tantrum on social media if I see a cockroach or sprain my ankle at a missed step. For me, my prerequisites for a good movie experience only include the following: good air-conditioning system (not too chilly!), "not-basag" sound system, and clean seats. It helps too if the cinema doesn't smell "like paa". Waltermart cinemas satisfied my criteria, so if ever I decide to stop illegally torrenting films through the internet and decide to watch films in cinemas again, I don't mind watching that next flick here at Waltermart. Tip: They actually have Taters here as well! None of that sad cinema popcorn booths like those in SM.

We watched Skyscraper here and enjoyed ourselves. We opted for the theatre with reclining seats…read morethat included snacks with the ticket price. The reclining seats did not recline as comfortably flat as others we've been to and there is no compartment for a bag or shoes. That's partly the reason for missing one star. The other reason for docking a star was the AC which you could clearly hear during silent periods in the movie. It wasn't even cold considering how loud it was for a theatre. The snack choices included were popcorn and soda from Taters or coffee and cookies from a coffee shop next door. Since we just had dinner somewhere prior to watching, we opted for the coffee with cookies. Not a bad experience but it is nothing to write home about either.

Definitely at par with my favorite movie theater in the metro. This comes closest with Commerce…read moreCenter's screening room in terms of comfort and cleanliness. Century City Mall's cinema also has that personal home theater feel with only a couple of seats available. Decent acoustics in every corner to avoid those irksome "What'd he say?" moments. They accept reservations or ticket purchases online when you register an account on their website.

Napakapangit ng seats, ang liit ng legroom at sira sira ang seats. Napaka init pa ng airconread more

There are a lot of large and modern cinemas in the metro but I prefer this cinema for my movie…read morebinges. For one, it's just a few minutes walk away. No need for me to contend with the infamous metro traffic just to watch a movie. Another thing that makes this a personal favorite is the size of their cinemas. A bit on the smaller side especially if we consider the huge new cinemas that has recently opened in Metro Manila. But being small does have its advantages. The acoustics is good even though this cinema doesn't have new technological marvels of sound systems. And I don't even have to pay extra for that quality of sound. Also, it never really gets crowded unlike others. Maybe because the mall where it is located primarily caters to employees of the office buildings nearby. Even during weekends, you won't find yourself in a standing room only cinema. Most of the time, you can watch a movie with a vacant seat or two between yourself and other patrons. No need to rub elbows with strangers and you get to avoid patrons who sometimes bump your food or drinks because of the proximity in a crowded cinema.

The Philippines is home to dozens of festivals scattered all over the archipelago, each one trying…read moreto one up the other with pomp and parade. You've got Cebu's Sinulog, Iloilo's Dinagyang, Bacolod's Dinagyang, and Aklan's Ati-atihan just to name a few. They've all got their own character and it's sad not being able to see them all. One way you can get a little taste of all those colorful festivals from the provinces is with the annual Aliwan Fiesta. The gist of the whole thing is that Aliwan aims to proudly showcase the different cultural festivals from across the Philippines, whether they are from big or small cities. Held every April or May, Aliwan is a city dweller's chance to see what all the fuss about fiestas is about. Just watching the participating contingents give their heart and soul is really inspiring. Don't forget to bring your camera and make sure your battery's fully charged. With all that color and all that action going on, you're going to be shooting for a while.

Just like their East Asian bros, Koreans also showcase what their films have to offer to us…read moreFilipinos. The Korean Film Festival may be the youngest out of all the international film festivals that happens year-round, but the festival draws audience to participate starting from the last week of September to October at SM Cinemas. It's not just in Megamall that they show their films. They branch out to SM Cinemas in other cities like Baguio, Clark, Cebu and Davao. And I don't know why I didn't even mention this yet but you can watch all movies for FREE! Yes, it's really freeeeeeeeee! It's a culture trip that comes with no fuss at all. The only thing you'd have to spend on are probably food and drinks (plus parking and transportation fees to SM Cinemas). During last year's festival, they showed 7 films most of which are R-13. We know how Korean films are, and just like the Japanese, they do know how to bust us out in tears! The iconic My Sassy Girl comes into mind along with 100 Days With Mr Arrogant and Windstruck. I bawled my eyes out when I had a marathon of those in one day! The range of the films come in animation, drama, romance and thrillers. This year's line up of films have yet to be announced but I know, you, Korean film fanatics, are anticipating this festival already!

Filipinos have a very open and adventurous palate for international cuisines and I've come to…read morerealize that our taste for films is adventurous as well. South Korea has earned a special place in our hearts. It's not just because a lot of Korean tourists go here and study English here but also because they introduced us to awesome, funny and kilig-to-the-bones Koreanovelas and the ever prevalent K-pop music. Lyrics we don't even understand but memorize by heart anyway. XD By the way, "Annyeonghaseyo!" to BoA and Rain who paved the way for Korean music in the Philippines before there was Big Bang, Super Junior and 2EN1. And not to forget the popularity of Korean fashion and hairstyles! Oh and those video dance moves thoughhh. Watching Korean music videos are like watching quality films with great cinematography, costumes and production. With that kind of music videos, imagine how their films are like. Now you'll know (or know more) by attending the Korean Film Festival (free admission) that happens during September/October every year. Don't forget! :)

And you thought Italianni's, pizza, pasta and shoes were the only things Italy can offer Manila,…read morehuh! While we have to rid of this stereotype, here's one of the things we could do to show our appreciation to our Italian brothers and sisters: support their film festival! One of my favourite Italian movies is Le Notti di Cabiria (Nights in Cabiria). To be fair, I only heard about this from Gossip Girl because Dan said Blair cried at the end of this movie. That's when I started immersing myself into learning about Italian films. And no, I haven't dared to watch Salo. I'm not ready yet. Yikes. That was not a smooth segue. The film festival used to be held in November but for some reason, last year, they held it in July for 5 days. There are three categories to choose from in the festival. These are: Italian Showcase, Educational Component and Classic Retrospective. Their lineup is very well-rounded! Some time ago, they even invited actors, actresses and filmmakers for a red carpet event in Greenbelt. They make it really grande, these Italians. ALSO, and I know this makes your eyes beam and have probably wondered how much it is per movie. The festival is completely FREE. Last year's festivities was held in Shangri-la Cineplex. And they release tickets 30 minutes prior to the start of the show. There are a couple of months left, guys! MovieMov 4 will knock our socks off!

Manileños practically love everything Italian - the country, the culture, the people AND the food…read more Thank you, Italy, for pizza and pasta. My life wouldn't be complete without them. And the fact that the Italian culture is pretty similar to the Filipino culture. The people of both countries are friendly, warm, religious, family-oriented and love home-cooked food among other things. I'm sure when presented with an opportunity, this opportunity, Filipinos will love Italian cinema as well. And for the Italian expats, here's a piece of home! The film festival always creates a great lineup of different genre-d films, mostly critically acclaimed ones so it's a sure bet that movie lovers wouldn't be disappointed. Last year, the festival was on June but schedules are subject to change so better to be updated. You can check shangrila-plaza.com. Admission is FREE as well. Viva l'Italia!