Monday, March 28, 2011

Kangaroo Jack Review









Kangaroo Jack


Release Date: 10th April 2003 – Australia


Production Companies
Castle Rock Entertainment
Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Warner Bros. Pictures


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 89 minutes


Budget: $60,000,000

Box Office Gross: $88,929,111 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Two friends from Brooklyn have been sent to Australia by a mobster to deliver $50,000. Complications arise when the pair accidentally run over a kangaroo, and one of these two puts his jacket on the wild animal for a joke. The kangaroo runs off, but not before the two realise that the money they were supposed to deliver was in the jacket now being worn by the marsupial, causing them to head out on a wild goose chase across the Outback.


Cast
Jerry O'Connell – Charlie
Carbone
Anthony Anderson – Louis
Booker
Estella Warren – Jessie
Michael Shannon – Frankie
Lombardo
Christopher Walken – Salvatore "Sal" Maggio
Marton Csokas – Mr. Smith
Dyan Cannon – Anna Carbone
Bill Hunter – Blue
David Ngoombujarra –
James "Mr. Jimmy" Inkamala
Marco Sellitto – Blasta
Damien Fotiou – Baby J
Christopher James Baker –
Crumble
Ryan Gibson – Hoon
Denise Roberts – Tansy
Antonio Vitiello – Toot
Mario Di Ienno – Tommy
Tony Nikolakopoulos – Sal's
Capo
Robert Reid – Young Charlie
Shawn Smith – Young Louis
Brian Casey – Young Frankie
Emma Jane Fowler –
Outback Bartender
Helen Thomson – TV Announcer
John McNeill – Customs Officer
Paul Wilson – Interrogation Room Officer
David Walsman – Beach Lifeguard
Lara Cox – Cute Girl on Plane
Terrell Dixon – NY Cop
John Gibson – Sal's Goon #1
Nick Jasprizza – Sal's Goon #2
Adam Garcia – Kangaroo Jack
(Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director – David McNally
Story/Screenplay – Steve Bing
Story – Barry O'Brien
Screenplay – Scott Rosenberg
Script Supervisor – Sophie Fabbri-Jackson
Executive Producers – Chad Oman and Mike Stenson
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager –
Barry H. Waldman
Producers – Andrew Mason and Jerry Bruckheimer
Casting Directors – Ronna Kress
and Shauna Wolifson
Production Designer – George Liddle
Supervising Art Director – Brian Edmonds
Australian Art Director – Richard Hobbs
U.S. Art Director – Guy Hendrix Dyas
Set Decorator: Sydney – Lisa Milgate
Costume Designers – Daniel Orlandi
and George Liddle
Australian Costume Supervisor – Eliza Godman
U.S. Costume Supervisor – Jon Boyden
Director of Photography – Peter Menzies, Jr.
First Assistant Director – Chris Webb
Second Unit Director – Peter Bloomfield
Stunt Coordinator – Glenn Boswell
Sydney Vehicle Supervisor – Darren Loveday
Special Effects Supervisor – Tad Pride
U.S. Special Effects Coordinator - David Fletcher
Creative Supervisor: Animatronic Characters –
Neal Scanlan 
Visual Effects Supervisor – Hoyt Yeatman
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor & Designer:
Asylum – Nathan McGuinness
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor:
The Secret Lab – Darin Hollings
Visual Effects Producer: The Secret Lab –
David P.I. James
Head of Production: The Secret Lab –
Dean Wright
Animation Supervisor: The Secret Lab – Mike Belzer
CG Supervisor: The Secret Lab – Steve Yamamoto
Digital Compositing Supervisor: The
Secret Lab – Brian Leach
Editors – Jim May, John Murray and
William Goldenberg
First Assistant Editor – Jason Hellman
Supervising Sound Editors – R.J. Palmer
and Robert L. Sephton
Sound Mixers - Kevin O'Connell
and Greg P. Russell
Additional Sound Mixers – Gary A. Bourgeois
and Greg Orloff
Special Vocal Effects – Frank Welker
Music – Trevor Rabin
Music Supervisors – Kathy Nelson
and Bob Badami


Review
KANGAROO JACK is not only terrific but a special treat that we Aussies watch and is a hopping kind of a comedy film. Though mistakenly advertised as a talking animal feature for kids in its trailer, KANGAROO JACK is more of an adult comedy film, which explains the mobsters and some rude jokes. I remember seeing this as a youngster when I rented it on DVD. I didn't care if the movie was at least slightly offensive or stereotypical since I am Australian (or Aussie for short).


Jerry O'Connell and Anthony Anderson were a great comical duo, while Christopher Walken maintained an intimidating presence when the same kind of gangster was typical for the actor. I enjoyed the hilarious scene when Charlie and Louis put the jacket on the kangaroo they've mistakenly run over, and then Charlie gets kicked in the face by the marsupial.

I don't care what others think of KANGAROO JACK. Its hysterical humour makes it one of my favourite comedy films. I consider it a guilty pleasure and recommend watching it.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Monday, March 21, 2011

Rango Review













Rango


Release Date: 10th March 2011 – Australia


Production Companies 
Industrial Light & Magic
Blind Wink
GK Films
Nickelodeon Movies

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family/
Western

Rating: PG

Runtime: 107 minutes


Budget: $135,000,000

Box Office Gross: $245,724,603 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A lonesome chameleon named Rango has no clue who he is and searches the desert for answers. He assumes a lawman's role
in a town facing a water
crisis. However, he realises
he is way over his head
when he discovers a
conspiracy that could
endanger it. Can Rango unravel this scheme, learn the meaning of friendship and bring back the town's missing water?


Cast
Johnny Depp – Rango/Lars
Isla Fisher – Beans
Abigail Breslin – Priscilla
Ned Beatty – Mayor
Alfred Molina – Roadkill
Bill Nighy – Rattlesnake Jake
Harry Dean Stanton – Balthazar
Ray Winstone – Bad Bill
Timothy Olyphant – Spirit of the West
Stephen Root – Doc/
Merrimack/Mr. Snuggles
Claudia Black – Angelique
Ian Abercrombie – Ambrose
Gil Birmingham – Wounded Bird
James Ward Byrkit – Waffles/
Gordy/Papa Joad/Cousin Murt/
Curlie/Knife Attacker/Rodent Kid
Blake Clark – Buford
Lew Temple – Furgus
Alex Manugian – Spoons
Joe Nunez – Rockeye
John Cothran Jr. – Elgin
Patrika Darbo – Delilah/Maybelle
George DelHoyo – Senor Flan –
Mariachi Accordion
Maile Flanagan – Lucky
Charles Fleischer – Elbows
Beth Grant – Bonnie
Ryan Grant – Jedidiah
Vincent Kartheiser – Ezekiel/
Lasso Rodent
Hemky Madera – Chorizo
Alex Manugian – Spoons
Mark 'Crash' McCreery – Parsons
Joe Nunez – Rock-Eye
Christopher Lee Parson – Hazel Moats/
Kinski/Stump/Clinker/Lenny/
Boseefus/Dirt Kid
Lew Temple – Furgus/Hitch
Alanna Ubach – Boo/Cletus/Fresca/
Miss Daisy
Gore Verbinski – Sergeant Turley/
Crevice/Slim/Lupe – Mariachi Violin
Kym Whitley – Melonee
Keith Campbell – Sod Buster

Crew
Story/Producer/Director – Gore Verbinski
Story/Screenplay – John Logan
Story/Storyboard Artist/Character Designer –
James Ward Byrkit
Executive Producer – Tim Headington
Consulting Producers – Mark Bakshi
and Nils Peyron
Producers – Graham King and John B. Carls
Co-Producers – Shari Henson
and Adam Cramer
Co-Producer/Character Designer –
David Shannon
Casting Director – Denise Chaiman
Production Designer/Character Designer/
Visual Effects – Mark 'Crash' McCreery
Conceptual Artists – James Carson
and Jim Martin
Concept Artists – Christian Alzmann,
Devon Cutler, John Giang and
Romerick Jeanne
Supervising Art Director – John Bell
Art Director – Aaron McBride
Character Designers – David Shannon
and Eugene Yelchin
Set Decorator: Emotion Capture Unit –
Rosemary Brundenberg
Property Master: Emotion Capture Unit –
Kris Peck
Props: Emotion Capture Unit – Harry Lu
Cinematography Consultant – Roger Deakins
Camera Operator: Emotion Capture Unit –
Martin Schaer
Unit Production Manager/First Assistant
Director: Emotion Capture Unit – Adam Somner
Stunt Coordinator - Keith Campbell
Visual Effects Supervisors – Tim Alexander
and John Knoll
Animation Director – Hal T. Hickel
Associate Animation Supervisor – Kevin Martel
Digital Production Supervisor – Michael Bauer
CG Supervisors – Kevin Sprout,
Raul Essig, Leandro Estebecorena and
Pat Conran
CG Supervisors: ILM – Thomas Fejes,
Gerald Gutschmidt, Polly Ing, David Meny,
Patrick T. Myers and Nigel Sumner
Character CG Supervisor: ILM – Michael Koperwas
Character & Simulations Supervisor – James Tooley
Character Modeling Supervisor – Geoff Campbell
Hard Surface Model Supervisor – Russell Paul
Texture Supervisor – Steve Walton
Environment Supervisor – Andrew Proctor
Compositing Leads: ILM – Tami Carter,
Peter Chesloff, David Gottlieb,
Robert Hoffmeister, Jen Howard,
Dorne Huebler, Francois Lambert, Tory Mercer,
Jerry Sells, Chad Taylor, Todd Vaziri,
Jeff Wozniak and Scott Younkin
Lighting Sequence Supervisors: ILM –
Matthieu Boucher, Steve Braggs,
Amelia Chenoweth, Jay Cooper,
Christian Foucher, Jeff Hatchel, Tom Martinek,
Akira Orikasa and John Walker
Film Editor – Craig Wood
Additional Editors – Tom Barrett and
Wyatt Jones
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor –
Peter Miller
Supervising Sound Editor – Addison Teague
Supervising Dialogue Editor – Michael Silvers
Additional ADR Editor – Richard Hymns
Sound Mixer: Emotion Capture Unit – Lee Orloff
Re-Recording Mixers – Christopher Boyes
and Paul Massey
Foley Artists – Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance
Music – Hans Zimmer
Foley Mixer – Frank Rinella
Music Arrangers – Lorne Balfe,
Tom Gire, Michael A. Levine,
Dominic Lewis, Atli Ōrvarsson, Adam Peters,
John Sponsler and Geoff Zanelli
Music Arranger/Musician: Guitar –
Heitor Pereria
Music Consultant – Bob Badami
Music Recordist and Mixer – Alan Meyerson


Awards

2012 Academy Awards
Best Animated Feature – Gore Verbinski (Won)


Review
RANGO is an animated Blazing Saddles type of comedy that, in a way, has never been conceived before. The visual effects house ILM must have given Pixar, Blue Sky, Disney and DreamWorks a run for their money in producing this rootin'-tootin' animated feature. Though RANGO's plot is nothing new, considering that it's a parody/homage to the classic westerns mixed with a fish-out-of-water concept, it's good that they've had to put a fresh spin on it. Despite how dark this film could get, it's not exactly a family picture. Gore Verbinski has never tackled an animated movie like this. He has only shifted from genre to genre through horror, comedy and adventure as he did in The Ring and the first three Pirates of the Caribbean instalments.

The animation is realistic but comparable to those features from either Disney, Pixar or any other animation studio. I praise Johnny Depp for his voice performance as Rango because he is wonderfully hilarious and stands out among a stellar cast. Bill Nighy is perfect as Rattlesnake Jake. Isla Fisher knows how to pull a Southern accent when cast as Beans. Everyone else, including Ned Beatty, was also terrific in their roles. The action scenes are well done and have perfect timing. Hans Zimmer has again triumphed with a score that never fails.

RANGO is a good movie with intriguing animation and sharp humour. I was pleasantly surprised that RANGO won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. It was a highlight for me this year. If you feel like seeing this film, you'll not regret it.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Monday, March 14, 2011

Avatar Review










Avatar


Release Date: 17th December 2009 – Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Dune Entertainment (in

association with)
Ingenious Film Partners (in

association with)
Lightstorm Entertainment

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 162 minutes

                 171 minutes (re-
                 release)
                 178 minutes
                 (extended)


Budget: $237,000,000
               $9,000,000 (re-release)

Box Office Gross: $2,923,706,026 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Jake Sully is an ex-marine bound in a wheelchair because of his war injuries. Sully gets dispatched to the planet of Pandora, where he intends to take over his recently deceased brother's mission to infiltrate the Pandoran natives of the Na'vi people and convince them to move from their home, which is lucrative mining land. With the new technology and despite being a paraplegic, Jake can inhabit an Avatar body resembling the Na'vi, thus disguising himself in their ranks.

He builds a relationship with
Neytiri, a gorgeous Na'vi
female who teaches him
traditional ways. It results
in him changing his heart
and wanting to help the
Na'vi instead of exploiting
their land. In the ensuing
land war, Jake's loyalty
gets tested.


Cast

The Humans
Sam Worthington – Corporal Jake Sully
Stephen Lang – Colonel Miles Quaritch
Sigourney Weaver – Dr. Grace Augustine
Michelle Rodriguez – Trudy Chacon
Giovanni Ribisi – Parker Selfridge
Joel David Moore – Dr. Norm Spellman
Dileep Rao – Dr. Max Patel

Matt Gerald Corporal Lyle Wainfleet
Sean Anthony Moran Private
Fike

The Na'vi
Zoe Saldana – Neytiri

C.C.H. Pounder – Mo'at
Wes Studi – Eytukan
Laz Alonso – Tsu'tey


Crew
Writer/Producer/Director/

Editor – James Cameron
Script Supervisors – Sarah Hinch and Luca Koulmelis
Executive Producer – Laeta Kalogridis
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager
Colin Wilson
Producer – Jon Landau
Co-Producer – Brooke Benton
Co-Producer/First Assistant Director –
Josh McLaglen
Casting Director – Margery Simkin
Casting: New Zealand – Miranda Rivers
Initial Casting - Mali Finn
Alien Language Creator – Paul R. Frommer
Dialect Coach Carla Meyer
Consultant: Botany Jodie S. Holt
Military Trainer John David Cameron
Production Designers – Rick Carter
and Robert Stromberg
Conceptual Design/Costume and
Specialty Props – Richard Taylor
Concept Illustrators – Dorian Bustamante,
Ryan Church, James Clyne, Barry Howell,
Victor James Martinez, Steven Messing,
Craig Shoji and Daphne Yap
Concept Art Directors  Dylan Cole,
Seth Engstrom and Ben Procter
Designers: Weta Workshop Gus Hunter,
Christian Pearce, Paul Tobin, Greg Broadmore,
Stephen Crowe, Daniel Falconer, Leri Greer
and Nick Keller
Character Design Supervisor: Stan Winston
Studio – John Rosengrant
Key Character Designers Jim Charmatz,
Jason Matthews, Michael Ornelaz,
Joey Orosco, Scott Patton, Joseph C. Pepe
and Christopher Swift
Lead Creature Designer  Neville Page
Initial Creature Concepts – Wayne D. Barlowe
Vehicle Designer – TyRuben Ellingson
Supervising Art Director: Lead/Set Decorator –
Kim Sinclair
Supervising Art Directors – Todd Cherniawsky,
Stefan Dechant and Kevin Ishioka
Supervising Visual Art Director – Yuri Bartoli
Art Directors – Nick Bassett, Robert Bavin,
Simon Bright, Jill Cormack, Sean Haworth,
Andy McLaren and Andrew Menzies
Virtual Environment Supervisor/Animation
Technical Director (Uncredited) Robert C. Powers
Virtual Production Art Directors
Andrew L. Jones and Norman Newberry
Lead Character Sculptor – Jordu Schell
Construction Supervisor Neil Kirkland
Construction Manager Ed Mulholand
On-Set Link Unit Supervisor: Weta Workshop
Rob Gillies
On-Set Props and Weapons Supervisor: Weta
Workshop Joe Dunckley
Props Supervisor/Specialty Weapons: Weta
Workshop John Harvey
Costume Designers – Mayes C. Rubeo
and Deborah Lynn Scott
Costume Designer: New Zealand
John Harding
Costume Supervisors: Los Angeles Live-Action
Unit – Beth Koenigsberg and Lisa Lovaas
Hair/Makeup Supervisor – Rick Findlater
Makeup Department Head: Los Angeles
Live-Action – Mike Smithson
Director of Photography – Mauro Fiore
Director of Photography: Los Angeles
Vince Pace
Camera Operator/Director of Photography:
Second Unit, New Zealand Live-Action Unit
Richard Bluck
Production Manager: New Zealand –
Brigitte Yorke
Second Assistant Director/First Assistant
Director: Additional Unit – Maria Battle-
Campbell
Second Assistant Directors: New Zealand
Live-Action Unit – Richard Matthews
and Stephanie Weststrate
Second Unit Director: New Zealand Live-Action
Unit/Visual Effects Supervisor – Steven Quale
Choreographer: Na'vi Dance – Lula Washington
Movement Coach: Na'vi/Motion Capture
Performer (Uncredited)  Terry Notary
Stunt Coordinator: US – Garrett Warren
Stunt Coordinators: New Zealand Stuart Thorp
and Allan Poppleton
Special Effects – Stan Winston (Uncredited)
Special Effects Coordinator: New Zealand
Live-Action Unit – Steve Ingram
Model Shop Supervisor: Stan Winston Studio
and Legacy Effects – David Merritt
Workshop Supervisor: Weta Workshop –
Gareth McGhie
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor – Joe Letteri
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Prime Focus –
Chris Bond
Visual Effects Supervisors – John Bruno and
Jen Hao Yeh
Visual Effects Supervisors: Weta Digital –
Dan Lemmon, Stephen Rosenbaum,
Eric Saindon, Erik Winquist, Wayne Stables,
R. Christopher White and Guy Williams
Visual Effects Supervisors: Framestore –
Jonathan Fawkner and Tim Webber
Visual Effects Supervisor: Spy Post –
Jonathan Rothbart
Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola Visual Effects –
Edson Williams
Visual Effects Producers – Joyce Cox and
Maricel Pagulayan
Visual Effects Producer: ILM – Jill Brooks
Producer: Weta Digital – Eileen Moran
Digital Effects Supervisor – Nolan Mortha
Digital Production Supervisor: ILM –
Michael Di Como
Creative Supervisor: Pixel Liberation Front –
Stephen Lawes
Pre-Production Manager: Weta Digital –
Mara Bryan
Senior Production Managers: Weta Digital –
Kevin L. Sherwood and Annette Wullems
Previs Production Manager: Weta Digital –
Marion Davey
Motion Capture Supervisor: Weta Digital –
Dejan Momcilovic
Performance Capture Supervisor: Giant
Studios – Matt Madden
Virtual Production Conceiver/Visual Effects
Pipeline Engineer (Uncredited) – Robert Legato
Virtual Production Supervisor – Glenn Derry
Virtual Production Manager – Heide Waldbaum
Animation Supervisors – Richard Baneham
and Andrew R. Jones
Animation Supervisor: ILM – Paul Kavanagh
Animation Supervisor: Weta Digital –
David Clayton
CG/Pre-Visualisation Supervisor
(Uncredited) – Brad Alexander
CG Supervisor – Albert Hastings
CG Supervisors: Weta Digital –
Graeme Demmocks, Shadl Almassizadeh,
Simon Clutterbuck, Dan Cox,
Eric Fernandes, Matthias Menz, Keith Miller,
Sergei Nevshupov, Adrian Fernandes,
Allen Hemberger, Mark Tait, Thrain Shadbolt,
Roger Shortt, Mike Perry and Kevin Andrew Smith
CG Supervisors: ILM – Pat Conran,
Philippe Rebours and David Weitzberg
CG Supervisors: Framestore – Andy Lomas,
Andrew Morley, Michael Mullohand and Ben White
Pre-Production CG Supervisor: Weta Digital –
Matt Aitken
Creatures CG Supervisor: Weta Digital –
Dana Peters
Creature Art Director: Weta Digital – Gino Acevedo
Sequence Supervisors: ILM – Jay Cooper,
Tom Fejes, Jen Howard, Tory Mercer,
Mark Nettleton and Robert Weaver
Digital Model Supervisors: ILM – Dave Fogler
and Bruce Holcomb
Facial Team Lead: Weta Digital – Jeff Unay
Massive Supervisor: Weta Digital – Jon Allitt
Shaders Supervisor: Weta Digital – Martin Hill
Head of Layout/Animation Tech: Weta Digital –
Shawn Dunn
Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM – Ron Woodall
Simulcam Supervisor – Casey Schatz
Creature Simulation Supervisor: Weta Digital –
Andrea Merlo
Lead Creature Technical Directors: Weta
Digital – Julian Butler, Glen Christie,
Matthew Muntean and Eric Tang
Roto and Paint Supervisor: ILM – Beth D'Amato
Digital Matte Supervisor: ILM – Richard Bluff
Special Projects Supervisor: Weta Digital –
Mark Sagar
Compositing Supervisor: ILM – Eddie Pasquarello
Editors – John Refoua and Stephen E. Rivkin
Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer/
Re-Recording Mixer – Christopher Boyes
Supervising Sound Editor/Additional Sound
Design – Addison Teague
Supervising Sound Editor – Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Sound Effects Editors – Ken Fischer,
Shannon Mills, Tim Nielsen and
Christopher Scarabosio
ADR Editors – Richard Hymns,
Stuart McCowan and Steve Slanec
Dialogue Editors – Kim Foscato,
Cheryl Nardi and Marshall Winn
Production Sound Mixers – William B. Kaplan
and James M. Tanenbaum
Production Sound Mixers: New Zealand
Live-Action Unit – Tony Johnson and Davis Lee
Re-Recording Mixers – Gary Summers
and Andy Nelson
Foley Artists – Dennie Thorpe and
Jana Vance
Foley Mixer – Frank Rinella
Music – James Horner
Electronic Music Arranger – Simon Franglen


Awards

2010 Academy Awards
Best Art Direction – Rick Carter,
Robert Stromberg and Kim Sinclair (Won)
Best Cinematography – Mauro Fiore (Won)
Best Visual Effects – Joe Letteri,
Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham
and Andrew R. Jones (Won)
--------------------
Best Director – James Cameron (Nominated)
Best Film Editing – Stephen E. Rivkin,
John Refoua and James Cameron (Nominated)
Best Original Score – James Horner (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing – Christopher Boyes
and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle (Nominated)
Best Sound Mixing – Christopher Boyes,
Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
(Nominated)
Best Picture (Nominated)


Review
AVATAR is an environmental sci-fi movie that premiered towards the end of 2009 and broke all kinds of box office records. Although the plot has borrowed from other films, it
s best feature for me was that it came out in 3D. It is James Cameron's long-awaited return to feature directing after Titanic in 1997. A well-known fact about this movie is that it has been in development since 1994. It was before, in later years, that the visual effects got better with the technological advancements that Cameron required to realise his vision.

The things I praise about the film are its fantasy elements, like the floating islands. The flawless acting by Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Stephen Lang and the Na'vi look realistic due to its groundbreaking motion-capture technology, which blends into this extraordinary alien fantasy world. It even has incredible cinematography and James Horner's brilliant musical score.

It is one of my favourite films but is considered Cameron's best movie since Terminator 2. If you're looking for something enjoyable and breathtaking, you'll be surprised that AVATAR is an unforgettable cinematic experience just for you, even in 3D, when it was this beautiful.

Star rating: 
(5/5) Best Movie Ever

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The Matrix Review












The Matrix


Release Date: 8th April 1999 – Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Village Roadshow Pictures
(in association with)
Groucho II Film Partnership (in association with)
Silver Pictures

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 136 minutes


Budget: $63,000,000

Box Office Gross: $467,222,728 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Neo is a computer hacker living in two separate lives who finds himself contacted by Morpheus, a man marked as a terrorist by the government, but is one of the few people who has known the truth about the Matrix. Believing Neo to be "The One", Morpheus gives Neo a choice to either continue his mundane life in a fake reality or discover the truth that the machines have enslaved humanity. Once Neo embarks on this new journey with the
help of Trinity, he must
relentlessly battle Agent
Smith, a computer program
that can bend reality.


Cast
Keanu Reeves – Thomas A. Anderson/Neo
Laurence Fishburne – Morpheus
Carrie-Anne Moss – Trinity
Hugo Weaving – Agent Smith
Joe Pantoliano – Cypher
Julian Arahanga – Apoc
Anthony Ray Parker – Dozer
Marcus Chong – Tank
Matt Doran – Mouse
Gloria Foster – The Oracle
Belinda McClory – Switch
Paul Goddard – Agent Brown
Robert Taylor – Agent Jones
David Aston – Rhineheart
Ada Nicodemou – Dujour (White Rabbit Girl)
Rowan Witt – Spoon Boy
Fiona Johnson – Woman in Red

Crew
Executive Producers/
Writers/Directors – Andy &
Larry Wachowski
Associate Producer – Richard Mirisch
Executive Producers – Bruce Berman,
Andrew Mason, Barrie M. Osborne
and Erwin Stoff
Producer – Joel Silver
Co-Producer – Dan Cracchiolo
Casting Directors – Mali Finn and
Shauna Wolifson
Production Designer – Owen Paterson
Conceptual Designer – Geoffrey Darrow
Art Directors – Hugh Bateup and
Michelle McGahey
Assistant Art Directors – Jules Cook,
Fiona Scott and Tony Williams
Set Decorators – Lisa Brennan,
Tim Ferrier and Marta McElroy
Costume Designer – Kym Barrett
Makeup Special Effects Designer and
Creator – Bob McCarron
Key Makeup Artist – Nikki Gooley
Director of Photography – Bill Pope
Director of Photography: Second Unit –
Ross Emery
Camera Operator – David Williamson
Camera/Steadicam Operator – Robert Agganis
First Assistant Directors – Colin Fletcher
and James McTiegue
Third Assistant Director – Paul Sullivan
Second Unit Director – Bruce Hunt
Kung Fu Choreographer – Woo-Ping Yuen
Kung Fu Coordinator: Hong Kong – Carol Kim
Stunt Coordinator – Glenn Boswell
Special Effects Supervisors – Steve Courtley
and Brian Cox
Special Effects Coordinator – Robina Osborne
Animatronic Prosthetics – Paul Katte
and Nick Nicolaou
Visual Effects Supervisor – John Gaeta
Visual Effects Supervisor: Animal Logic –
Lynne Cartwright
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor:
Manex Visual Effects – Janek Sirrs
Digital Effects Supervisor: Manex Visual
Effects – Rodney Iwashina
Digital Effects Producer: Manex Visual
Effects – Diana Giorgiutti
Digital Effects Supervisor: DFilm Services –
Jon Thum
Executive Producer: DFilm Services –
Peter Doyle
Conceptual Artist: Manex Visual Effects –
Steve Burg
Matte Painting: Manex Visual Effects –
Charles Darby
Digital Composite Supervisors: DFilm
Services – Tim Crosbie and Mark Nettleton
Editor – Zach Staenberg
Assistant Editors – Tom Costain,
Jenny Hicks, John Lee and Basia Ozerski
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor –
Dane A. Davis
Sound Recordist – David Lee
Re-Recording Mixers – David E. Campbell,
John T. Reitz and Gregg Rudloff
Foley Artists – Hilda Hodges and
John Roesch
Music – Don Davis
Music Supervisor – Jason Bentley


Awards

2000 Academy Awards
Best Film Editing – Zach Staenberg (Won)
Best Sound – John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff,
David E. Campbell and David Lee (Won)
Best Sound Editing – Dane A. Davis (Won)
Best Visual Effects – John Gaeta, Janek Sirrs,
Steve Courtley and Jon Thum (Won)


Review
THE MATRIX is an extraordinary science-fiction action film that takes you beyond your imagination. This movie has a complex, woven storyline with loads of action, groundbreaking visual effects, unique camera angles and amazing stunts. I praise everything in the feature, such as the acting with Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving, and two impressive scenes: the famous lobby action sequence when Neo and Trinity took on the near-invincible Agents and the other when Neo dodges bullets.

THE MATRIX is one of my favourite movies. Neither of the two sequels that followed matched the impact of the first. The original still lives up to the magic I experienced at first viewing. I imagine other viewers would feel the same, as it is a must-see film.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

Monday, March 7, 2011

Transformers Review










Transformers


Release Date: 28th June 2007 – Australia


Production Companies
DreamWorks SKG (presents)
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Hasbro (in association with)
Di Bonaventura Pictures

Amblin Entertainment (uncredited)
SprocketHeads


Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 144 minutes



Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $709,709,780 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The good Autobots and the evil Decepticons have been fighting for a long time, but when the battle moves to Earth, the entire planet is at risk of destruction. Sam Witwicky is a high school student caught in the middle of the action after meeting one of the Autobots, Bumblebee. Soon, the pair became Earth's last hope and saviour as humanity allied with the Autobots and aided in the fight against Megatron.


Cast

Humans
Shia LaBeouf – Sam Witwicky
Megan Fox
Mikaela Banes
Josh Duhamel
Captain
William Lennox
Tyrese Gibson – USAF
Tech Sergeant Robert Epps
John Turturro Agent Reggie
Simmons
Rachael Taylor Maggie Madsen
Anthony Anderson
Glen Whitmann
Kevin Dunn
Ron Witwicky
Julie White
Julie Witwicky
Jon Voight
 Defense Secretary John Keller
Michael O'Neill – Tom Banachek
Bernie Mac – Bobby Bolivia
Amaury Nolasco – ACWO
Jorge "Fig" Figueroa
Zack Ward – First
Sergeant Donnelly
W. Morgan Sheppard –
Captain Witwicky
John Robinson – Miles Lancaster
Travis Van Winkle – Trent DeMarco
Glenn Morshower – Colonel Sharp
Carlos Moreno Jr. – Manny
Peter Jacobson – Mr. Hosney
Chris Ellis – Admiral Brigham
Ravi Patel – Telephone Operator
Samantha Smith – Sarah Lennox
Rick Gomez – Sheriff
Kenny Bates – Agent at Hoover Dam (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Ian Bryce – Agent at Hoover Dam (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Michael Bay – Guy Flicked by
Megatron (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Autobots
Peter Cullen – Optimus Prime (Voice)
Mark Ryan
 Bumblebee (Voice)
Darius McCrary
 Jazz (Voice)
Jess Harnell
Ironhide (Voice)
Robert Foxworth
 Ratchet (Voice)

Decepticons
Hugo Weaving – Megatron (Voice)
Charles Adler
 Starscream (Voice)
Jess Harnell
 Barricade (Voice)
Reno Wilson
 Frenzy (Voice)
Jimmie Wood
 Bonecrusher (Voice)


Crew
Executive Producer/Camera Operator
(Uncredited)/Director Michael Bay
Executive Producers  Steven Spielberg,
Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian
Story John Rogers
Story/Screenplay Roberto Orci
and Alex Kurtzman
Producers Ian Bryce, Tom De Santo,
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Lorne Orleans
(IMAX Version) and Don Murphy
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager 
Allegra Clegg
Co-Producer/Second Unit Director/
Stunt Coordinator  Kenny Bates
Military Advisor Harry Humphries
Casting Directors – Janet Hirshenson,
Jane Jenkins and Michelle Lewitt
Animal Coordinator/Trainer Paul 'Sled' Reynolds
Production Designer  Jeff Mann
Lead Robot Illustrator – Ben Procter
Supervising Art Director – Geoff Hubbard
Art Directors – François Audouy, Beat Frutiger,
Sean Haworth and Kevin Kavanaugh
Assistant Art Director Page Buckner
Set Decorators – Rosemary Brandenburg
and Larry Dias
Property Master Andrew Petrotta
Costume Designer – Deborah Lynn Scott
Show Supervisors: Special Makeup Effects
& Animatronics, K.N.B. EFX Group –
Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero
Department Head Makeup Artist  Edouard F. Henriques
Director of Photography Mitchell Amundsen
Director of Photography: Second Unit
Lukas Ettlin
Aerial Director of Photography David B. Nowell
Russian Arm Operator – Brooks P. Guyer
Second Assistant Camera – Ryan Rayner
and Robert Settlemire
Production Supervisor – Daren Hicks
First Assistant Director – Simon Warnock
First Assistant Director: Second Unit 
Cellin Gluck
Key Location Manager – Ilt Jones
Location Managers – Michael J. Burmeister,
Fermin Davalos, Jonathan Slator and
Emre Sonmez
Assistant Location Managers 
Ronald M. Haynes, Jonathan Hook,
Kathy McCurdy, Perri Pearson,
Kate Chase Pitzarella, Golden Swenson,
Scott Trimble, Pierre Hue, Manny Padilla,
Lisa Patton, Marta Tomkiw, Michael Wesley
and Wade Whitman (Uncredited)
Stunt Coordinator – Troy Robinson
Stunt Co-Coordinator – Frank Torres
Aerial Coordinator/Pilot – Alan D. Purwin
Picture Vehicle Coordinator – Steve Mann
Transportation Coordinator – Randy Peters
Special Effects Supervisor – John Frazier
Special Effects Supervisor: Kerner Optical –
Geoff Heron
Special Effects Coordinator – Jim Schwalm
Special Effects Co-Coordinator – Dan Cangemi
Shop Supervisors: Special Makeup &
AnimatronicsK.N.B. EFX Group –
Wayne Toth and Michael Deak
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Asylum 
Nathan McGuiness
Visual Effects Supervisors  Scott Farrar
and Richard Kidd (Uncredited)
Visual Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain –
David Prescott
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM –
Russell Earl
Visual Effects Producer – Shari Hanson
Visual Effects Producer: Asylum –
Kathy Chasen-Hay
Visual Effects Production Manager: ILM –
Peter Nicolai
Digital Production Supervisor: ILM – Jeff White
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM – Alex Jaeger
Animation Supervisor – Scott Benza
Animation Supervisor: Digital Domain 
Danny Gordon Taylor
Computer Graphics Supervisor: Digital Domain –
David Hodgins
Pre-Visualisation Supervisor – Steve Yamamoto
TD Supervisor: ILM – Hilmar Koch
Model Supervisor: Kerner Optical –
Brian Gernard
Director of Photography: Kerner Optical –
Pat Sweeney
Digital Compositing Supervisor: ILM – Patrick Tubach
Digital Artist Supervisors: ILM – Jon Alexander,
Richard Bluff, Terry Chostner, Michael Conte,
Beth D'Amato, Leandro Estebecorena,
Dave Fogler, Gerald Gutschmidt, David Hisanga,
Erich Ippen, Tom Martinek, Nigel Sumner,
Jeff Sutherland, Doug Sutton, Todd Vaziri,
Ron Woodall and Jeff Wozniak
Sound Designer  Erik Aadahl
Supervising Sound Editor – Ethan Van der Ryan
ADR Supervisor/Supervising Sound Editor –
Mike Hopkins
Sound Editors – Christopher S. Aud,
Michael Babcock, Craig Berkey, Brent Burge,
Warren Hendriks, Jeff Sawyer, Steve Bissinger
Robert Shoup and P.K. Hooker
Sound Mixer – Peter J. Devlin
Re-Recording Mixers – Kevin O’Connell
and Greg P. Russell
Additional Re-Recording Mixer – Beau Borders
Foley Editors – Coya Elliott and
Pascal Garneau
Film Editors  Tom Muldoon, Paul Rubell
and Glen Scantlebury
Additional Editors – John Murray and
Todd E. Miller
Associate Editor – Ken Blackwell
Music Supervisor – Dave Jordan
Music  Steve Jablonsky
Additional Music – Lorne Balfe and
Clay Duncan
Music Recordist and Mixer – Alan Meyerson
Ambient Music Designer – Mel Wesson


Awards

2008 Academy Awards
Best Sound Mixing – Kevin O'Connell,
Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing – Ethan Van der Ryan
and Mike Hopkins (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects – Scott Farrar,
Scott Benza, John Frazier and Russell Earl (Nominated)


Review
The live-action Michael Bay movie adaptation of TRANSFORMERS is fun, spectacular and a must-see for all fansI've seen most of the episodes of the classic 80s Generation One (G1) television cartoon, along with its original film, The Transformers: The Movieas I'm a big fan of the Transformers franchise. I'm also a fan of the toy line and other TV animations. I was 15 when it first came out and was amazed by how the movie turned out after watching it. Years later, I became a film critic and started my blog before re-watching this film.

I am surprised Peter Cullen has returned to voice Optimus Prime since G1. I'm mildly disappointed that Hugo Weaving voiced Megatron in the films instead of his original voice artist, Frank Welker. I praise the Transformers' design, including the heroic Autobots and villainous Decepticons, because they looked advanced in their machinery, thanks to the CGI effects of the VFX studio Industrial Light & Magic. Besides the visual robotic design, the film includes neat acting by Shia LaBeouf and impressive action sequences.

This funny, action-packed blockbuster might appeal to those who have watched the Transformers cartoons and used to play with these action figures as kids. Those who have seen the G1 television cartoon will be amazed by its massive impact. It launched two sequels: Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever
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