Heartstopper season 2, One Piece, Ahsoka, Cinemalaya, and more in one month? Yes please.
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August means a lot of things to different people. For some, it’s the final month of summer, to others, it’s the start of a new semester, Swifties turn it into a month-long holiday, and there are those who see the continuation of the rainy season with cloudy skies and soaked streets.
But regardless how you plan on going about your August, you can’t deny that you can include a couple, or several new movies and shows in your itinerary. And going by the lineup for the month, there’s something for everyone with the flow of new content coming on a daily basis. Here are some of the highlights we picked from August 2023 that we recommend you have on your watchlist.
ZOM 100: BUCKET LIST OF THE DEAD
The zombie series has been done to death (pun intended) by now at this point. But Zom 100 takes an interesting spin on the genre by combining zombies and our collective dislike of work. Akira Tendo (Eiji Akaso) works at an exploitative company where he suffers endless hours and harassment from his boss. He spends his days feeling more dead than alive.
One day, the town is overtaken by zombies and Akira gets excited for he doesn’t need to go to the office anymore rather than facing the fact he has to survive the zombie apocalypse. Akira comes up with a bucket list of 100 things he decided to accomplish before he becomes a zombie and makes his bucket list check everything off while traveling with Shizuka (Mai Shiraishi) and Kencho (Shuntaro Yanagi). The Japanese live-action movie adaptaion hits Netflix on August 3.
CINEMALAYA 2023
A new edition of Cinemalaya is upon us as the famed local indie film festival screens a brand new set of local independent movies for your pleasure. Starting this August 5, cinemas around the country will show a new batch of local films that are worth supporting. Show your love to the local film industry catching a flick or two.
THE KILLING VOTE
The Killing Vote is based on the popular webtoon of the same name, which explores the meaning of justice and features a nationwide death penalty vote against vicious criminals. The story highlights a mysterious figure who carries out the death penalty according to the results of the vote, and the police who are pursuing them. The first two episodes of this 12-part series will land on Prime Video on August 10, with one weekly episode to follow every Thursday.
HEART OF STONE
Another month, another big budget espionage thriller from Netflix. Starring Gal Gadot, the movie follows an intelligence operative for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency who races to stop a hacker from stealing its most valuable—and dangerous—weapon. Catch this on the streaming service beginning August 11.
RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE
This film centers on Alex, the son of the president of the United States, and Henry, the Prince of England. The two do not like each other, but following an incident, the two end up in an international scandal that turns their feud into something special. The movie streams on Prime Video beginning August 11.
BLUE BEETLE
The DCEU is pretty much defunct at this point. But still, that doesn’t mean you should write off this movie. In Blue Beetle, recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab.
When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle. What’s also interesting about the movie is that Inka Magnaye will voice the Scarab in the Philippine release of the movie as she brings her own distinct charm to the role. Some of the character’s lines are even in Tagalog. The film screens in local cinemas beginning August 16.
MOON
Featuring a stacked cast including Sul Kyung-gu, EXO’s DO, and Kim Hee-ae, Moon centers on Korea’s first manned mission to the moon ends in a tragic disaster when an explosion occurs on board. Seven years later, a second human spaceflight is launched successfully but a strong solar wind causes it to malfunction. One astronaut Sun-woo is left stranded in space. Facing another fatal catastrophe, the Naro Space Center turns to its former managing director Dr. Kim to help bring Sun-woo back home safely. The film lands in local cinemas on August 16.
THIRD WORLD ROMANCE
From director Dwein Baltazar comes this love story about two people who just want to make money, mood tbh. The movie, which stars Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon, centers on two people who fall in love all while trying to get by and make a living in the Philippines. The film screens on local cinemas beginning August 16.
MASK GIRL
This K-drama centers on a woman who is an office worker by day, masked Internet personality. One day, her life gets turned upside down when she gets involved in a plot with deadly consequences. Think Hannah Montana meets thriller and you get this interesting series. It streams on Netflix beginning August 18.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM
With a lively art style reminiscent of the Spider-Verse films and a fresh energy behind it, this soft animated reboot of TNMT doesn’t look to disappoint. This origin story for the heroes in a half shell sees our fave ninja turtles take on a new mutant threat in NYC all while earning the trust of the citizens of the Big Apple. The film screens in local cinemas beginning August 23.
AHSOKA
Ahsoka was one of the best new characters to have been added to the Star Wars cannon in the 2010s. And after appearances in the recent Star Wars live-action shows, the former Jedi finally fronts her own live-action series. Set after the fall of the Empire, the series will follow Ahsoka Tano as she investigates a new threat facing the galaxy. If you’ve seen Star Wars: Rebels, then this series is for you as it will continue the plot lines let during the show’s finale, including having the live-action debut of Grand Admiral Thrawn. The series lands on Disney+ beginning August 23.
PAST LIVES
Pinoy cinephiles are eating good this August. Aside from the fact that the FDCP is bringing Aftersun, Close, and Corsage to local cinemas this month, TBA Studios is bringing Celine Song’s Past Lives to theaters this August 30. Highly regarded as one of the best movies of the year, the film follows Nora and Hae Sung, two childhood best friends who were separated when they were young when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Now as adults, the two reunite for one week as they confront notions of love and destiny.
ONE PIECE
Given Netflix’s track record on live-action anime adaptations, we’re gonna get in our prayer circle and hope that One Piece doesn’t follow the fate of others before it. But based on the trailers released so far, the adventures of Luffy and the gang seem promising. Let’s hope it stays that way when it drops on Netflix on August 31.
COMEDY ISLAND: PHILIPPINES
With a stacked cast including Carlo Aquino, Ruffa Mae Quinto, Andrea Brillantes, Awra Briguela, and Justine Luzares, this show explores just how far comedy can get you to survive. Set on Tawa-Tawa Island, it will follow these famous faces as they survive the island by earning votes through their humor with the ultimate goal of escaping. See how all this plays out when the series streams on Prime Video beginning August 31.
NEW SEASONS
While they aren’t technically new shows, they are premiering new seasons that you need to check out. Drag Race Philippines Season 2 (August 2), Heartstopper Season 2 (August 3), Only Murders In The Building Season 3 (August 8).
Continue Reading: You’ll Be Hearing A Familiar Voice In The Philippine Version Of The Blue Beetle Movie
