The picture of Jay Hernandez with this review was the sweetest picture I could find for one heckuva creepy-ass movie. Hernandez (Friday Night Lights) plays Paxton, who is backpacking across Europe with best friend Josh (Derek Richardson, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd) and new friend Oli (newcomer Eythor Gudjonsson). They get a tip that there are lots of hot girls who put out in Slovakia, so they hop on a train to take a side trip. Oh, yes, there are hot girls - but you'll pay a pretty price to sleep with one of them - try losing your life. Tourists are kidnapped and offered as sacrifices to depraved people who pay to kill a tourist in any way they'd like (which basically nvolves a lot of really grotesque torture). The movie is not quite as graphic as it could have been - a lot of it is left to your own imagination, as it happens just off the screen. Definitely a movie to check out if you like scary, creepy flicks.
Official Website: http://www.hostelfilm.com/
Trivia 1: The trailers bill the movie as "inspired by true events". Director Eli Roth (Cabin Fever) says that he found a Thai website that advertised itself as a "murder vacation," offering users the chance to torture and kill someone for the price of $10,000. Roth later showed the site to Quentin Tarantino and the two developed the idea for the film. Tarantino and Roth said later on an Icelandic talk show that they have no idea if the website was real or not.
Trivia 2: Eli Roth wrote the role of Oli for Eythor Gudjonsson after he met him doing press for 2002's Cabin Fever in Iceland. Roth was so taken with Eythor's charisma and charm, he promised he'd make put him in a movie one day. Eythor was surprised when he saw that Roth had followed through with his promise, and happily accepted the role.

After the top-rating show First Time

After the top-rating show First Time, ang paborito nating tween loveteam na sina Jake at Bea return to television via the top-rating fantaserye Ilumina. Text by Ayessa De La Pena. Photo by Mitch Mauricio.

Young stars Jake Vargas and Bea Binene totally compliment each other. Kung tahimik at medyo seryoso si Jake, si Bea, on the other hand, ay super bibo. Kaya naman hindi kataka-takang kabilang na ang tween loveteam na ito sa bagong primetime offering ng GMA na Ilumina.

As a matter of fact, kakalabas lamang ng dalawa nitong linggo, where Jake plays Eli (Eliseo) na anak ni Jean Garcia and Bea plays Tina, na kasambahay naman nina Eli. Kaya naman excited na excited ang fans ng dalawang young actors na mapanood sila dito.

Sa katunayan nga, bago pa man lumabas sina Jake at Bea ay nainip na ang kanilang fans dahil week four pa sila lalabas. Ngunit ano nga ba ang dapat abangan ng mga supporters nila sa kanilang paglabas dito?

“Medyo masungit ako noong una [sa istorya]. Kasi ayoko sa probinsya, kasi taga-Manila kami. Huwag kayong magalit sa akin kasi medyo masungit ako doon kay Bea,” babala ni Jake, “Medyo masungit ako sa kanya, pero sa banding huli, lalambot rin iyon si Eli.”

“Nag-iba [iyong character ko]. Kasi dati tindera ako sa palengke, iba na. So dapat abangan nila! Nakaka-challenge kasi sobrang hinding-hindi ako iyon,” excited na kuwento naman ni Bea.

Dito rin sa Ilumina ay may bagong ka-love triangle sina Jake at Bea. Ito ay si Lexi Fernandez, na anak ng veteran actress na si Maritoni Fernandez. Ayon kay Bea, masayang-masaya siyang makatrabaho dito si Lexi na kaibigan na niya ngayon. “Alam n’yo po iyong babaeng iyon, sobrang bait niya! Kahapon po nag-taping kami tas nandoon siya kasi parang dinaya iyong location. Siya siguro tapos na siyang mga one. Inintay niya akong matapos! Sobrang sweet,” natutuwang sagot ni Bea.

Excited rin namang makatrabaho ni Jake si Lexi. Iyon nga lamang ay wala pa raw silang nai-shoot na eksena kasama si Lexi, “Si Lexi hindi ko pa siya nakakatrabaho [dito sa show]. Hindi ko pa siya nakakasama.”

Bukod sa mga shooting nila. Masayang ibinahagi sa amin ng tween stars ang experience nilang makatrabaho ulit ang isa’t isa after First Time. “Si Bea kasi matagal ko na rin kasing nakakasama sa mga shows dito sa GMA…friendly pa rin [siya],” nakangiting sagot ng binata.

As for Bea naman, masaya siyang nagiging madaldal na si Jake at nahahawa na raw ito sa kanya. “Mas naging close po kami. Kasi dati sa First Time ang tawag ko sa kanya luli – lulubog, lilitaw – kasi lagi siya nasa sasakyan,” natatawang kuwento ni Bea, “Ngayon hindi na! Medyo madaldal na siya, in fairness to him! Nahawa na sa akin!”

Panoorin sina Jake at Bea sa Ilumina, weeknights after Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown!

‘Wag ring kalimutan ang kanilang iGMA Live Chat sa September 9, 2010, 2P.M. to 4P.M. (Philippine Time). Mag-log on na sa iGMA Live Chat for more details on this event.

SMM : Sana Maulit Muli (Gary V.)

Till My Heartaches End: Full Trailer

HAS JOSHUA DIONISIO become a swellhead? Some reports allege that, after he played leads in shows like “First Time” and “Pilyang Kerubin”, success has gotten into his head and he’s now a pasaway on the set of GMA-7’s new toprating Sunday afternoon youth show, “Reel Love Presents Tween Hearts”. “Natatawa lang po ako sa balitang yan kasi di naman totoo,” he says. “When I’m not needed on cam, I just stay in our tent to study the script. At hindi po ako puede maging pasaway as my mom is always with me to call my attention kung magiging magulo ako or unprofessional.”

Is he on package deal with Barbie Forteza? They can’t seem to do a show without each other. “Tween Hearts” is the fifth TV show together and they’re now also in the cast of the filmfest entry “Agimat ni Enteng”. “Siempre we welcome the time na bibigyan kami ng chance to work with other partners. But as of now na gusto pa naman ng tao yung chemistry ng love team namin, okay lang sa’min na lagi kaming magkapareha kasi sanay na kami sa isa’t isa.”

How is it working with the other tween actors of GMA like Kristoffer Martin and Derick Monasterio who are his rivals? “Masaya po kami kasi parang barkada kami sa set, not rivals. May kanya-kanya kaming kuwento at pantay-pantay pong roles namin kaya walang inggitan kahit sa exposure. Sa episode namin this Sunday, lahat kami, dadalhin sa boot camp at magkakaroon kami ng iba’t ibang conflicts and experiences, but these will help us grow to be better persons. Maganda po ang values na tinuturo nito sa kabataan kaya dapat lang panoorin ng teen viewers at marami silang matututuhan.”

REEL LOVE presents TWEEN HEARTS

Solidly banking on their nationwide fan base and star appeal, GMA Network prides itself for discovering an extraordinary group of young stars popularly known as TWEENS.

As each Tween discovers something new on their personal lives like their family crises, their real identities, new flames and the realization that there is more to what they think they are and what others see them to be, it is only fitting to feature them in their own drama series where they can truly shine.

Beginning September 26, the Tween Royalties of GMA headlined by Barbie Forteza and Joshua Dionisio, Bea Binene and Jake Vargas together with Joyce Ching, Kristoffer Martin, Lexi Fernandez, Louise de los Reyes and Derek Monasterio are all set to grab the limelight in the network’s newest youth-oriented drama series every Sunday afternoon, REEL LOVE presents TWEEN HEARTS.

Basking in the success of their flourishing careers, these Tweens are ready to regale televiewers and their legions of fans and supporters in the eight-part episode of Tween Hearts which features an endearing storyline and characterization, intriguing plots, and universal theme for all ages.

After many years of separation, Bambi (Barbie) is finally reunited with her mom Irene (Sylvia Sanchez) and younger sister Belinda (Bea). She lived a simple life with her father Ted (Emilio Garcia) in the province while Belinda experienced a luxurious lifestyle with Irene in the city.

The differences between Bambi and Belinda ignited further tensions which are also triggered by the special attention given by Irene to Bambi to catch up and make up for the lost time they were not together.

Belinda finds comfort in the arms of Jacob, known as one of the school’s outcasts. Jacob offers reassuring words to Belinda which later on develops into a special friendship between the two.

Aside from Bambi’s newfound home, she also transfers to Belinda’s campus where she meets a new batch of friends including Luisa (Louise), Aya (Joyce) and Jacob (Jake). Adding spice to her school life are Leslie (Lexi), Rick (Derek) and Josh (Joshua).

Josh is widely known as the over-achiever in the campus. He spends more time alone and often rejects the rules imposed by his sister Rose (Roxanne Barcelo). Nothing can get in his way except Bambi who softens his heart and strong persona.

Meanwhile, Rick, Belinda and Leslie organize an underground victory party in celebration of the championship won by the varsity team. Even the school’s “outcasts” headed by Bambi, Jacob, Aya and Luisa arrive at the festivity.

In the middle of the party, a commotion erupts which is masterminded by Josh. Everyone is reprimanded and the school authorities order them to attend a recollection as punishment.

The students think it is the usual recollection but they get the shock of their lives when they discover that the affair will be in the form of various activities that will test their strengths, weaknesses, emotions and their way of thinking.

What will happen to these bitter sisters? Will an earnest apology be enough to heal the wounds that rip them apart? Will Bambi become the perfect tool to warm the heart of the bully Josh? Will the music geek Jacob be able to tame the spoiled brat Belinda? Who will win Chris’ heart between Leslie and Aya? Who will end up victorious in the never-ending battle of Luisa and Rick?

In preparation for their roles, the entire cast underwent extensive workshops and trainings facilitated by the episode’s director Gina Alajar. Rounding up the cast are Sylvia Sanchez as Irene, Emilio Garcia as Ted and Roxanne Barcelo as Rose with a team of seasoned scriptwriters headed by Kit Villanueva-Langit together with Roy Iglesias as Senior Creative Consultant and Denoy Navarro-Punio as Creative Consultant.

Don’t miss Part 1 of REEL LOVE presents TWEEN HEARTS this Sunday, September 26 on GMA.