Monday, May 30, 2011

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Review











Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides


Release Date: 19th May 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Walt Disney Pictures 

Distribution 
Walt Disney Studios Motion 
Pictures Australia


Genre: Action/Adventure

Rating: M

Runtime: 147 minutes


Budget: $250,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,045,713,802
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When Jack crosses paths
with a woman from his past,
he's not sure if it's love - or
if she's a ruthless con artist
who's using him to find the
fabled Fountain of Youth.
When she forces him 
aboard the Queen Anne's
Revenge, the ship of
the formidable pirate
Blackbeard, Jack
finds himself on an
unexpected adventure in
which he doesn't know who
to fear more: Blackbeard or
the woman from his past. (Source - Metro Cinemas)


Cast
Johnny Depp - Captain Jack Sparrow
Penelope Cruz - Angelica
Ian McShane - Edward "Blackbeard" Teach
Geoffrey Rush - Captain Hector Barbossa
Kevin McNally - Joshamee Gibbs
Sam Cliffin - Philip Swift
Astrid Berges-Frisbey - Syrena
Stephen Graham - Scrum
Keith Richards - Captain Teague
Richard Griffiths - King George
Greg Ellis - Lt. Commander Theodore Groves
Damian O'Hare - Gillette
Oscar Jaenada - The Spaniard
Sebastian Armesto - King Ferdinand
Anton Lesser - Lord John Carteret
Roger Allam - Prime Minister Henry Pelham
Christopher Fairbank - Ezekiel
Paul Bazely - Salaman
Bronson Webb - Cook
Richard Thomson - Derrick
Yuki Matsuzaki - Garheng
Robbie Kay - Cabin Boy
Gemma Ward - Tamara - First Mermaid 
Ian Mercer - Quartermaster
Deobia Oparei - Gunner
Judi Dench - Society Lady (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Rob Marshall
Based on Novel: On Stranger Tides/Suggestion -
Tim Powers
Screen Story/Based on Characters/Screenplay/
Executive Producers - Terry Rossio &
Ted Elliott
Based on Characters - Stuart Beattie &
Jay Wolpert
Executive Producers - John DeLuca,
Chad Oman & Mike Stenson
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Barry H. Waldman
Producer - Jerry Bruckheimer
Casting Directors - Lucy Bevan,
Kathy Driscoll & Francine Maisler
Production Designer - John Myhre
Senior Art Director: UK - David Allday
Set Decorator - Gordon Sim
Property Master - Ty Teiger 
Costume Designer - Penny Rose
Director of Photography - Dariusz Wolski
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
George Marshall Ruge
Second Unit Director/Visual Effects Supervisor -
Charles Gibson

Sword Master/Fight Coordinator/Stunt Double: 
Geoffrey Rush - Thomas DuPont 
Special Effects Supervisor - John Fraizer
Special Effects Supervisor: UK - Neil Corbould
Special Effects Co-Supervisor: UK - David Watkins
Visual Effects Supervisor - Matt Dessero
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Ben Snow
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Gary Brozenich
Visual Effects Supervisor: Hydraulx - Greg Strause
Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite - Simon Stanley-Clamp
Visual Effects Supervisor: New Deal Studios - 
Ian Hunter 
Visual Effects Art Director - Aaron McBride 
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - John Bell
Animation Supervisor: ILM - Tim Harrington
Animation Supervisor: MPC - Greg Fisher
Creature Supervisor - Kaori Ogino
Digital Supervisor - Mike Sanders
Film Editors - David Brenner & Wyatt Smith
Additional Editing - Michael Kahn
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer -
Christopher Boyes
Music Supervisor - Bob Badami
Music - Hans Zimmer


Review
'PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES' was simple and shorter than the last two films which I didn't get to watch both of them as I would have done it ages ago. The visual effects were advanced and stunning and the 3D aspect of the movie improved the effects of the movie. The direction by Rob Marshall wasn't half as bad as other reviewers have said it. I probably enjoy the acting of Johnny Depp and newcomers Ian McShane and Penelope Cruz. I loved the intense part of the film where it involved killer mermaids. 

'ON STRANGER TIDES' was better than the last two films or so I think it was in my opinion. Most people would disagree about the feature as they preferred its iconic predecessor. In all, Jerry Bruckheimer has done a wonderful job with the film and there's a talk of the fifth coming out and so does the sixth.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Sunday, May 29, 2011

My New Blogsite

Hi, this is Film Guru Lad here! Sorry I didn't post a review last Monday. But just you know, I have started another blog site. This one is about my trip to New Zealand last month. Here's the link to it (http://filmguruladnewzealand.blogspot.com/). I hope you enjoy it!

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Thursday, May 19, 2011

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Review











Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith


Release Date: 19th May 2005 - Australia


Production Companies
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 140 minutes


Budget: $113,000,000

Box Office Gross: $868,390,560 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The Clone Wars have been ongoing for three years as the Jedi Knights lead the clone army in a massive struggle against the Separatists. An ancient plot unfolds, which may threaten to destroy the Jedi Order and turn the Republic into the evil Galactic Empire. The Emperor has turned Anakin Skywalker to the dark side of the Force. He is now his apprentice.

The Jedi were all but extinct. Obi-Wan and Yoda were among the few survivors from the Sith onslaught. All that remains is a spark of hope, which came into the existence of Anakin's two secret children, Luke and Leia.


Cast
Ewan McGregor - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Natalie Portman - Padmé Amidala
Hayden Christensen - Anakin Skywalker
Ian McDiarmid - Supreme
Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious
Samuel L. Jackson - Mace Windu
Jimmy Smits - Senator Bail Organa
Frank Oz - Yoda (Voice)
Anthony Daniels - C-3PO/
Dannl Faytonni
Kenny Baker - R2-D2
Christopher Lee - Count Dooku
Silas Carson - Ki-Adi-Mundi/Nute Gunray
Temuera Morrison - Commander Cody
Peter Mayhew - Chewbacca
Matthew Wood - General Grievous (Voice)
Joel Edgerton - Owen Lars
Bonnie Piesse - Beru Lars
Jay Laga'aia - Captain Typho
Oliver Ford Davies - Sio Bibble
Keisha Castle-Hughes - Queen of Naboo
Rohan Nicol - Captain Raymus Antilles
Bruce Spence - Tion Medon
Wayne Pygram - Grand Moff Tarkin
Rebecca Jackson Mendoza -
Queen of Alderaan
Jett Lucas - Zett Jukassa
(Cameo)
Tux Akindoyeni - Agen Kolar
Matt Rowan - Senator Orn Free Taa
Kenji Oates - Saesee Tin
Amy Allen - Aayla Secura
Graeme Blundell - Ruwee Naberrie
Trisha Noble - Jobal Naberrie
Claudia Karvan - Sola Naberrie
Keira Wingate - Ryoo Naberrie
Hayley Mooy - Pooj Naberrie
Katie Lucas - Chi Eekway (Cameo)
Amanda Lucas - Terr Taneel
Warren Owens - Fang Zar
Genevieve O'Reilly - Mon Mothma
Kee Chan - Male-Dee
Rena Owen - Nee Alavar
Christopher Kirby - Giddean Danu
Kristy Wright - Motee
Coinneach Alexander - Whie
Michael Kingma - Wookie General Tarfful
Olivia McCallum - Bene
David Bowers - Mas Amedda
Jerome St. John Blake - Mas Amedda
(Uncredited)
Ben Cooke - Kit Fisto (Uncredited)
Nina Fallon - Stass Allie (Cameo) (Uncredited)
Nick Jamison - Aito Laff (Uncredited)
Ross Beadman - Sors Bandeam (Uncredited)
James Earl Jones - Darth Vader (Voice)
(Uncredited)
Jeremy Bulloch - Captain Colton (Cameo)
David Acord - GH-7 Medical Droid (Voice)
(Cameo) (Uncredited)
Paul Davies - Meena Tills, Mon Calamari
Senator (Uncredited)
Danny Steele - Tundra Dowmeia (Uncredited)
George Lucas - Baron Papanodia (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Nick Gillard - Cin Drallig (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Pablo Hildago - Janu Godalhi (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Jill Brooks - Opera House Patron (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Rob Coleman - Opera House Patron (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Roger Guyett - Opera House Patron (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Janet Lewin - Opera House Patron (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Denise Ream - Opera House Patron (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
John Knoll - Fire Ship Pilot (Cameo)
(Uncredited)

Crew
Writer/Executive Producer/Director -
George Lucas
Character Creators: Aayla Secura -
John Ostrander and Jan Duursema (Uncredited)
Producer - Rick McCallum
Script Supervisor - Jayne-Ann Tenggren
Casting Director - Christine King
Production Designer - Gavin Bocquet
Concept Design Supervisors - Erik Tiemens
and Ryan Church
Supervising Art Director - Peter Russell
Art Directors - Ian Gracie and Phil Harvey
Art Director: Additional Shooting Crew,
UK - David Lee
Assistant Art Directors - Jacinta Leong,
Damien Drew, Karen Murphy and Clive Memmott
Construction Manager - Greg Hajdu
Set Decorator - Richard Roberts
Assistant Set Decorator - Beverley Dunn
Property Master - Ty Teiger
Costume Designer - Trisha Biggar
Assistant Costume Designer - Michael Mooney
Costume Supervisor - Nicole Young
Costume Administrator - Gillian Libbert
Costume Props Supervisor - Ivo Coveney
Makeup Supervisor - Nikki Gooley
Creatures Supervisor - Dave Elsey
Fabrication Supervisor - Lou Elsey
Director of Photography - David Tattersall
Director of Photography: China Shoot - David Franco
Director of Photography: Sicily and Thailand
Shoot - Ron Fricke
Director of Photography: Additional Shooting Crew,
UK/Switzerland - Giles Nuttgens
High Definition Supervisor - Fred Meyers
Camera Operator - Calum McFarlane
Camera/Steadicam Operator - Simon Harding
Focus Pullers - Matt Toll and Tov Belling
Camera Assistants - Simon Williams
and Lee Mariano
Production Supervisor - Stephen Jones
Production Coordinator - Virginia Whitwell 
Production Coordinators: UK - Helen Gregory
and Siobhan Lyons
First Assistant Director - Colin Fletcher
Second Assistant Director - Deborah Antoniou
Second Second Assistant Director - Paul Sullivan
Third Assistant Director - Samantha Smith McGrady
Sword Master/Stunt Coordinator/
Stunts (Uncredited) - Nick Gillard
Special Effects Supervisor - David Young
Special Effects Coordinator - Rodney Burke
Droid Unit Supervisor/R2-D2 Operator -
Don Bies
Visual Effects Supervisors - John Knoll
and Roger Guyett
Visual Effects Coordinators: ILM - Nina Fallon,
David Gray, Jessica Teach, Leigh Ann Fan,
Kathleen Lynch and William Tlusty
Visual Effects & Animation Producer: ILM -
Janet Lewin
Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Jill Brooks
Visual Effects Executive Producer: ILM -
Denise Ream
Visual Effects Art Directors: ILM - Alex Jaeger
and Aaron McBride
Effects Directors of Photography: ILM -
Carl Miller and Pat Sweeney
Additional Photography: ILM - Kim Marks
and Martin Rosenberg
Creature Supervisor: ILM - Aaron Ferguson
Creature Technical Director - Eric Wong
Animation Director - Rob Coleman
Technical Animation Supervisor: ILM - James Tooley
Lead Animators: ILM - Scott Benza,
Virginie Michel d'Annoville, Tim Harrington,
Paul Kavanagh, Virgil Manning,
Glen McIntosh and Jamy Wheless
Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -
Russell Earl, Craig Hammack, Hilmar Koch,
David Meny, Patrick T. Myers and John Helms
Pre-Production Computer Graphics Supervisor:
ILM - Samir Hoon
Sequence Supervisors and Development Leads:
ILM - Michael Balog, Thomas Fejes,
Erik Krumrey, Khatsho Orfali, Jeff Sutherland,
Stella Bogh, Willi Geiger, Francois Lambert,
Russell Paul, Douglas Sutton, Patrick Brenman,
Neil Herzinger, Marcel Martinez, Bruce Powell,
David Weitzberg, Patrick Conran, Shawn Hiller,
Tory Mercer, Jason Rosson, Ronnie Williams Jr.,
Michael Conte, David Hisanaga, Timothy Naylor,
Anthony Shafer and Dean Yurke
Pre-Visualisation/Effects Supervisor - Daniel D. Gregoire
Digital Modelling Supervisor: ILM - Pamela Choy
Digital Creature Model Supervisors: ILM -
Paul Giacoppo and Li-Hsien Wei
Simulation Supervisor: ILM - Juan-Luis Sanchez
Viewpaint Supervisors: ILM - Ron Woodall
and Elbert Yen
Rotoscope Supervisors: ILM - Beth D'Amato
and Jack Mongovan
Layout Supervisor: ILM - Brian Cantwell
Digital Matte Supervisor: ILM - Jonathan Harb
Digital Compositing Supervisors: ILM -
Eddie Pasquarello and Patrick Tubach
3D Matchmove Supervisor: ILM - Jason H. Snell
Practical Model Supervisor: ILM - Brian Gernand
Lead Model Makers: ILM - Nick D'Abo and
Michael Lynch
Editor/Sound Design/Supervising
Sound Editor - Ben Burtt
Editor - Roger Barton
Additional Editor - Joseph Jett Sally
Assistant Editor - Cheryl Nardi
Location Assistant Editor - Jason Ballantine
Technical Supervisor - Michael Blanchard
Supervising Sound Editor/ADR Supervisor
(Uncredited) - Matthew Wood
Assistant Sound Editor - David Acord
Sound Effects Editor - Teresa Eckton
Sound Recordist - Paul 'Salty' Brincat
Sound Editor/Re-Recording Mixer - Tom Myers
Dialogue Editor/Re-Recording Mixer -
Christopher Scarabosio
Foley Mixer - Frank Rinella
Foley Artists - Ellen Heuer,
Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance
Music - John Williams
Supervising Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg
Scoring Engineer - Shawn Murphy


Awards

2006 Academy Awards
Best Makeup - Dave Elsey and Nikki Gooley (Nominated)


Review
REVENGE OF THE SITH is likely darker than The Empire Strikes BackIt's a tragic movie from the Star Wars prequel trilogy. In REVENGE, however, we finally see Anakin Skywalker turn into Darth Vader and the return of Chewbacca, whom we hadn't seen since the original films. I liked the character of General Grievous and enjoyed the tremendous acting performances of Hayden Christensen (say what you will about him, but his acting has improved since we last saw him in Attack of the Clones), Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and Ian McDiarmid. Who could forget the incredible space battle between the Jedi, the Republic and the Separatist droids? Or the final two lightsaber duels of Obi-Wan vs. Anakin and Yoda vs. Palpatine?

REVENGE is not only better than the other two prequels, but it's a must-see for all, including die-hard fans. It is my third favourite Star Wars film and is underrated.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Monday, May 9, 2011

Raiders of the Lost Ark Review (Updated)










Raiders of the Lost Ark


Release Date: 13th August 1981 – Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action/Adventure

Rating: M

Runtime: 115 minutes


Budget: $18,000,000

Box Office Gross: $389,925,971 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
In 1936, an archeologist/professor Indiana Jones searched for a rare treasure in the South American jungle but narrowly avoided a treacherous booby trap in accomplishing his task. After being told about a religious artifact known as The Ark of the Covenant, he sets off on a new adventure across the globe. Along the way, he must combat a rival archeologist named Rene Belloq and a group of Nazis.


Cast
Harrison Ford – Indiana Jones
Karen Allen – Marion Ravenwood
Paul Freeman – Dr. Rene Belloq
Ronald Lacey – Major Arnold Toht
John Rhys-Davies – Sallah
Denholm Elliot – Dr. Marcus Brody
Wolf Kahler – Colonel Dietrich
Alfred Molina – Satipo
George Harris – Captain Katanga
Anthony Higgins – Major Gobler
Vic Tablian –  Barranca/
Monkey Man
Don Fellows – Colonel Musgrove
William Hootkins – Major Eaton
Fred Sorenson – Jock
Patrick Durkin – Australian
Climber
Pat Roach – Giant Sherpa/
1st Mechanic
Christopher Frederick – Otto
Tutte Lemkov – Imam
Ishaq Bux – Omar
Kiran Shah – Abu
Souad Messaoudi – Fayah
Terry Richards – Arab Swordsman
Eddie Tagoe – Messenger Pirate
Frank Marshall – Pilot (Cameo)
Dennis Muren – Nazi Spy on
the Airplane (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Michael Sheard – U-Boat
Captain (Uncredited)
Frank Welker – Special Vocal Effects (Uncredited)

Crew
Director – Steven Spielberg
Story/Executive Producer – George Lucas
Story – Philip Kaufman
Screenplay – Lawrence Kasdan
Associate Producer/
Production Manager (Uncredited) – Robert Watts
Executive Producer – Howard G. Kazanjian
Producer/Second Unit Director (Uncredited) –
Frank Marshall
Associate to Mr Spielberg – Kathleen Kennedy
Casting Directors – Jane Feinberg,
Mike Fenton and Mary Selway
Production Designer – Norman Reynolds
Production Illustrator – Ed Verreaux
Production Artists – Ron Cobb
and Michael Lloyd
Illustrator: ILM – Ralph McQuarrie
Art Director – Leslie Dilley
Assistant Art Directors – Ken Court,
John Fenner, Fred Hole and Michael Lamont
Set Decorator – Michael Ford
Costume Designer – Deborah Nadoolman
Armorer – Simon Atherton
Special Makeup Effects: ILM – Chris Walas
Director of Photography – Douglas Slocombe
Additional Photography – Paul Beeson
Operating Cameramen: Second Unit –
Wally Byatt, Jerry Dunkley and David Worley
Assistant Cameraman – Robin Vidgeon
Production Supervisor – Douglas Twiddy
Assistant Production Manager – Patricia Carr
First Assistant Director – David Tomblin
Second Assistant Directors – Roy Button
and Patrick Cadell
Second Assistant Director: Peru/Hawaii –
Louis G. Friedman
Second Unit Director – Michael D. Moore
Stunt Coordinator – Glenn Randall Jr.
Stunt Arranger – Peter Diamond
Mechanical Effects Supervisor – Kit West
Visual Effects Supervisor – Richard Edlund
Art Director: Visual Effects, ILM – Joe Johnston
Assistant Art Director: ILM – Nilos Rodis-Jamero
Production Supervisor: ILM – Thomas G. Smith
Effects Cameraman: ILM - Jim Vellieux
Camera Operators: ILM – Don Diew and Bill Neil
Modelshop Foreman: ILM – Lorne Peterson
Pyrotechnics: ILM – Thaine Morris
Visual Effects Editorial Supervisor: ILM –
Conrad Buff IV
Matte Painting Supervisor: ILM – Alan Maley
Matte Artist: ILM – Michael Pangrazio
Matte Photography: ILM – Neil Krepela
Matte Photography Assistant: ILM – Craig Barron
Optical Photography Supervisor: ILM –
Bruce Nicholson
Supervising Stage Technician: ILM – Ted Moehnke
Stage Technicians: ILM – William Beck,
Dick Dova, Bob Finley III, Pat Fitzsimmons,
Edward Hirsh, John McLeod and Peter Stolz
Editor – Michael Kahn
Assistant Film Editor: ILM – Duwayne Dunham
Assistant Film Editors – Bruce Green,
Phil Sanderson and Colin Wilson
Sound Design – Ben Burtt
Supervising Sound Effects Editor/Sound Effects
Recording (Uncredited) – Richard L. Anderson
Sound Effects Editor – Stephen Hunter Flick
Sound Effects Editor/Recording (Uncredited) –
Mark A. Mangini
Supervising Dialogue Editor – Curt Schulkey
Re-Recording – Bill Varney,
Steve Maslow and Gregg Landaker
Foley Editor – John Dunn
Sound Effects Recording – Gary Summers
Music – John Williams
Music Supervisor – Lionel Newman (Uncredited)
Supervising Music Editor – Kenneth Wannberg


Awards

1982 Academy Awards
Best Art Direction – Norman Reynolds,
Leslie Dilley and Michael Ford (Won)
Best Sound – Bill Varney, Steve Maslow,
Gregg Landaker and Roy Charman (Won)
Best Film Editing – Michael Kahn (Won)
Best Visual Effects – Richard Edlund,
Kit West, Bruce Nicholson and Joe Johnston (Won)
Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects
Editing – Ben Burtt and Richard L. Anderson (Won)
--------------------------
Best Picture – Frank Marshall (Nominated)
Best Director – Steven Spielberg (Nominated)
Best Cinematography – Douglas Slocombe (Nominated)
Best Original Score – John Williams (Nominated)


Review
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is a successful collaboration between George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg and is a terrific and enjoyable adventure movie with lots of action and humour. It makes you feel that you are in an underground temple in Cairo full of traps and danger. What made RAIDERS so unique was its inspiration from pulp magazines and old Saturday morning film serials, as most of you were probably too young to remember that stuff. It is due to its pre-World War II setting and the battle against the evil Nazis.

Besides the action sequences, the stunts and visual effects draw you into the adventure as Indy has to stop the Nazis from claiming the Ark. I liked the acting of Harrison Ford, who is terrific for the part of the main hero, Indiana Jones and Miss Karen Allen as the love interest Marion. John Williams' truly breathtaking music score is the other factor in RAIDERS. It evokes the atmosphere heard in the old action/adventure serials of the 1930s and the early 40s, which brings back the classical compositions of Hollywood.

This film contains memorable scenes, such as Indiana getting chased by the boulder in the opening sequence. Indy descends into the snake pit (despite his fear of snakes), and a fight scene between Indy and a bald and burly German mechanic.

RAIDERS was a brilliant start to the franchise and is unforgettable to the series' fans. It's one of my top favourites. I highly recommend watching it before you see the other Indiana Jones films.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Thief and the Cobbler Review












The Thief and the Cobbler


Release Date: 30th June 1994 – Australia (as The Princess and the Cobbler)


Production Companies
Allied Filmmakers
Richard Williams Productions


Genre: Animation/Family/
Fantasy

Rating: PG (Workprint/Re-
                    Cobbled Cut)
              G (Princess)

Runtime: 91 minutes
                 (Workprint)
                 77 minutes
                 (Princess)


Budget: $28,000,000


Plot Summary
The story is about a
nameless thief who
unleashes an ancient
prophecy of destruction and
death by releasing three
magical golden balls on the
top of a minaret that
protects the magnificent
Golden City, causing it to
be in danger of invasion by
an army of one-eyed men.
The only one who could
save the city is a young,
shy and poor shoemaker
named Tack with the help of
Princess Yum-Yum and her
nanny, a band of brigands
and, most unlikely, the Thief
himself. Together, they
must attempt to find the
three golden balls and
prevent the one-eyed army
and the evil grand vizier
Zigzag from conquering
the Golden City.


Voice Cast (All Versions)
Vincent Price – Zigzag the
Grand Vizier
Windsor Davies – Chief
Roofless
Stanley Baxter – Gofer/Slap
Kenneth Williams – Goblet/
Tickle
Clinton Sundberg – Dying Soldier
Frederick Shaw – Goolie
Thick Wilson – Hook
Eddie Byrne – Hoof

Voice Cast (Both Versions)
Donald Pleasence – Phido the Vulture
Joan Sims – Mad and Holy
Old Witch

Voice Cast (Original Version)
Felix Aylmer – Narrator
Sara Crowe – Princess Yum-Yum
Anthony Quayle – King Nod
Joan Sims – Princess
Yum-Yum's Nanny
Chris Greener – Mighty One-Eye

Voice Cast (The Princess and the Cobbler)
Steve Lively – Narrator/
Tack the Cobbler
Bobbi Page – Princess Yum-Yum
Ed E. Carroll – The Thief
Clive Revill – King Nod
Kevin Dorsey – Mighty One-
Eye
Mona Marshall – Princess
Yum-Yum's Nanny/Mad and
Holy Old Witch


Crew
Writer/Producer/Director/
Lead Animator – Richard Williams
Completion Producer/
Director: Los Angeles –
Fred Calvert
Writer – Margaret French
Additional Story and
Dialogue – Parker Bennett, Terry Runte, Tom Towler and Stephen Zito
Additional Story and Dialogue/Completion
Producer: Los Angeles – Bette L. Smith
Executive Producer – Jake Eberts
Producer – Imogen Sutton
Co-Producer: Los Angeles –
Jacobus Rose
Art Director – Roy Naisbitt
Artistic Supervisor: Calvert/Cobbler
Productions – Darrell Rooney
Background Styling – Errol Le Cain
Character Animation Supervisors – Neil Boyle
and Tim Watts
Master Animator – Ken Harris
Lead Animators – Art Babbitt,
Paul Bolger, David Byers Brown, Alan Simpson,
Dietmar Kremer, Denis Deegan, Gary Dunn, 
Sahin Ersoz, Steve Evangelatos, Robert
Malherbe, Mark Naisbitt, Brent Odell,
Philip Pepper, Dean Roberts,
Michael Schlingmann, Andreas-Wessel Therhorn,
Emery Hawkins, Alexander Williams,
Holger Leihe, Margaret Grieve, Jurgen Gross,
Alyson Hamilton, Mike Swindall and
Tahsin Özgür
Lead/Assistant Animator – Venelin Veltchev
Lead Animator/Animator: Calvert/Cobbler
Productions – Roger Vizard
Director of Photography – John Leatherbarrow
Lyricist: Songs – Norman Gimbel
Composer: Songs/Music – Robert Folk
Editor – Peter Bond
Additional Editor: Los Angeles –
Harry Keramidas
Supervising Sound Editor – Mike Le Mare
Sound Designer/Effects Editor –
Robert L. Sephton
Sound Re-Recording Mixers: Los Angeles –
Rick Ash and Dean A. Zupancic


Review
THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER (known as The Princess and the Cobbler in Australia) was an unfinished, bizarre animated film by Richard Williams, who animated Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I liked the film's (M.C. Escher-inspired) backgrounds, optical illusions and animation style. The latter nearly feels like CGI, except it is done in three dimensions by hand. It's a shame that it got taken from its creator after 28 years of production. Subsequently, the film was cheaply finished and edited, with half of the footage cut and turned into an Aladdin rip-off by adding unnecessary songs and dialogue for the originally silent character, Tack, which depleted the film's value.

I praise the film's surviving original content, such as Vincent Price's marvellous and final performance as Zigzag. Keeping the Thief silent and the Witch character in most scenes are effective choices. The best moments include when Tack chases the Thief for stealing Princess Yum-Yum's shoe and most of the War Machine.

Whether or not you have seen THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER, try the Re-Cobbled Cut version instead of the Australian version because this version has no forgettable songs. The Re-Cobbled Cut shows what the original version could have been if finished and is available on YouTube.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Titan A.E. Review










Titan A.E.


Release Date: 4th January 2001 – Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
David Kirschner Productions (in association with)
Fox Animation Studios

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Animation/Family/
Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 94 minutes


Budget: $90,000,000

Box Office Gross: $36,754,634 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Fifteen years after Earth gets destroyed by the Drej, a race of energy beings, Cale Tucker discovers that he has a genetically encoded map in his ring. It leads him to a lost spaceship known as the Titan. This ship's secret gives humanity a chance for a new home. The Drej seek to destroy the Titan, so Cale joins the crew of the Valkyrie. Together, they must find the Titan in time, as the survival of humanity depends on them.


Voice Cast
Matt Damon – Cale Tucker
Bill Pullman – Captain Joseph Korso
John Leguizamo – Gune
Nathan Lane – Preed
Janeane Garofalo – Stith
Drew Barrymore – Akima
Alex D. Linz – Young Cale
Tone Loc – Tek
Jim Breuer – The Cook
Christopher Scarabosio – Queen Drej
Jim Cummings – Chowquin
Charles Rocket – Firrikash/
Slave Trader Guard
Ken Hudson Campbell – Po
Tsai Chin – Old Woman
Crystal Scales – Drifter Girl
David L. Lander – The Mayor
Roger L. Jackson – First Alien

Crew
Producers/Directors – Don Bluth and Gary Goldman
Story/Associate Producer –
Hans Bauer
Story – Randall McCormick
Writer/Creative Consultant –
Ben Edlund
Writers – John August and Joss Whedon
Executive Producer – Paul Gertz
Producer – David Kirschner
Creative Consultant – Mireille Soria
Pre-Production Designer – John Lakey
Production Designer – Phillip A. Cruden
Art Director – Kenneth Valentine Slevin
Conceptual Artists – Oliver
Scholl, Suzanne Lemieux
Wilson, Bruce Zick, Simon
Valdimir Varela, Ron Cobb,
Steve Burg, Stephan Martinière,
Doug Henderson, James Clyne
(Uncredited) and Rob Meyers
(Uncredited)
Conceptual Artist/Digital Artist: Ice Crystals
and Wake Angels Sequences – Barry E. Jackson
Animation Color Styling Supervisor –
Carmen Oliver
Character Designers – Wayne D. Barlowe
and Louise Zingarelli
Costume Designer – Kym Barrett
Layout Supervisor – Anthony Christov
Character Layout – Chris Schouten
and Kris Pearn
Background Supervisor – Rob Nason
Action Consultant: Live-Action Reference –
Glenn Randall Jr.
Director of Animation – Len Simon
Directing Animators – Renato Dos Anjos,
Robert Fox, Edison Gonclaves, John Hill,
Paul Newberry and Troy Saliba
Animation Supervisor – Paul J. Kelly
Special Effects Animation Supervisor –
Peter Matheson
3D Animation Supervisor – Thomas M. Miller
3D Animation Director/Effects Supervisor:
Blue Sky Studios – Jan Carlee
3D Animation Producer: Rhonda Graphics –
Rhonda Sanders-Olson
3D Directing Animators – Chris Kazmier,
Charlie Breakiron, Mary Clarke-Miller and
David Satchwell
3D Lead Animator – David Munier
Visual Effects Supervisor: Ice Crystals and
Wake Angels Sequences – David Dozoretz
Visual Effects Sequence Supervisors: Ice
Crystals and Wake Angels Sequences –
Kevin Baillie and Ryan Tudhope
Picture Editors – Bob Bender and Fiona Trayler
Editor: Ice Crystals and Wake Angel
Sequences – Paul Martin Smith
Supervising Sound Editor – Matthew Wood
Supervising Sound Editor (Uncredited)/
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer 
Christopher Boyes
Assistant Sound Designer 
Christopher Scarabosio
Post-Production Liaison: Skywalker Sound –
Gloria S. Borders
Sound Effects Editor – Andrea Gard
Foley Editors – Sandina Bailo-Lape and
Susan Sanford
Foley Artists – Dennie Thorpe and
Lana Vance
Foley Mixer – Tony Eckert
Re-Recording Mixer – Gary Summers
Music – Graeme Revell
Score Orchestrator and Conductor –
Tim Simonec
Music Supervisor – Glen Ballard
Score Recordist and Mixer – John Kurlander


Review
Despite being a major box office bomb, TITAN A.E. was a good sci-fi movie by Don Bluth that blends traditional 2D and computer-generated 3D animation. It contains references to the first two Star Wars films. The aspects of the movie I liked were the action, the voice acting of Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore and Nathan Lane, and the soundtrack. The scenes that impressed me include the opening sequence when Earth gets destroyed, the Wake Angels and the chase on the Ice Rings of Tigrin.

I always loved TITAN A.E., but Disney's similar movie, Treasure Planet, was way better than the former because it was set in an alternate universe and had a terrific storyline. However, the problem is that no one knew what kind of audience TITAN A.E. was targeting. Due to being an animated film, its obvious demographic would generally be kids. Then again, it has several adult themes and violence. Because of this combination of features, TITAN A.E. is more like a young adult film.

I recommend this film, particularly for science-fiction and animation lovers, especially those who've grown up with Don Bluth's work.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Monday, May 2, 2011

The Benchwarmers Review











The Benchwarmers


Release Date: 16th May 2006 - Australia


Production Companies
Revolution Studios
Happy Madison Productions

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 80 minutes


Budget: $33,000,000

Box Office Gross: $64,962,629 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Three guys who used to get bullied witnessed the bullying of a friend's son and, in retaliation, started a baseball team to enter the Little League state tournament on behalf of all the losers and victims of bullying. These underdogs find themselves in several wacky situations in this goofball comedy.


Cast
Rob Schneider - Gus
David Spade - Richie
Jon Heder - Clark
Jon Lovitz - Mel
Craig Kilborn - Jerry
Molly Sims - Liz
Tim Meadows - Wayne
Nick Swardson - Howie
Erinn Bartlett - Salad Girl/
Sarah
Amaury Nolasco - Carlos
Bill Romanowski - Karl
Sean Salisbury - Brad
Matt Weinberg - Kyle
John Farley - Swimmer Boy
Reggie Jackson - Himself
Joe Gnoffo - Marcus Ellwood
Jackie Sandler - Female Costumer (Cameo)
Ray Nicholson - Kid Catcher #1 Game #2
Jared Sandler - Autograph Kid (Cameo)
Terry Crews - Poker Guy #1 (Cameo)
Rachel Hunter - Hot Mother
Patrick Schwarzenegger - Jock Kid Game #3
Dan Patrick - Poker Guy #2 A.K.A. O'Malley
James Earl Jones - Darth Vader (Voice)
(Cameo)
Max Prado - Nelson
Dennis Dugan - Coach Bellows (Cameo)
Jillian Henry - Gretchen Peterson
Garrett Julian - Mitchell
Alex Warrick - Sammy Sprinkler
Cole Hockenbury - Jarrett
Danny McCarthy - Troy
Mason Knight - Charlie Catcher
Charles Dugan - Marty
Doug Jones - Number 7 Robot
Jonathan Loughran - Brad's Assistant Coach
Judith Drake - Mrs. Johnson
Blake Clark - Umpire (Cameo)
Brooke Langton - Kathy Dobson
Mary Jo Catlett - Mrs. Ellwood
J.J. Darwish - Goth Kid
Elle King - Goth Kid's Girlfriend
William Daniels - K.I.T.T. (Voice) (Cameo)
(Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Dennis Dugan
Writer - Allen Covert
Writer/Co-Producer - Nick Swardson
Executive Producer - Barry Bernardi
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Allegra Clegg
Producers - Jack Giarraputo and Adam Sandler
Co-Producer - Derek Dauchy
Casting - Anne McCarthy and Jay Scully
Production Designer - Perry Andelin Blake
Supervising Art Director - Alan Au
Art Director - Jeffrey Mossa
Set Decorator - Gary Fettis
Property Masters - Timothy S. Wiles
and Max E. Brehme
Costume Designer - Mary Jane Fort
Special Makeup Effects: Marcus -
Bill Corso
Director of Photography - Thomas E. Ackerman
Production Supervisor - Daren Hicks
First Assistant Directors - John Hockridge
and Dennis M. White
Stunt Coordinator - Gary Guercio
Sports Coordinator - Mark Robert Ellis
Special Effects Coordinator - John Hartigan
Animatronic Robot Effects - Stan Winston (Uncredited)
Editors - Peck Prior and Sandy S. Solowitz
Supervising Sound Editor - Mike Wilhoit
Supervising Sound Mixers - Gary C. Bourgeois
and Greg Orloff
Foley Artists - Jeffrey Wilhoit and
James Moriana
Music - Waddy Wachtel
Music Supervisors - Michael Dilbeck
and Bryan Bonwell


Review
Those of you from Australia have never played but appreciated the American sport of baseball. THE BENCHWARMERS has comical hilarity and nerve-racking sports action with many memorable quotes and moments like the Hot Potato scene. I didn't approach this film wanting a meaningful storyline. For those who know me, I'm in it for the laughter.

The three cast members, Jon Heder, David Spade and Ron Schneider, were terrific in their leading roles. I enjoyed the cameo of baseball legend Reggie Jackson. I have not heard of him because I'm not from America. I also appreciated the presence of pop-culture figures K.I.T.T. and Darth Vader. There is an interesting minor character who is afraid to go out into the sun (agoraphobic), played by Nick Swardson. His portrayal is convincing.

As far as sports comedies go, it comes nowhere near Happy Gilmore, despite being produced by the same man (Adam Sandler) who did THE BENCHWARMERS. It is still a good film for providing a cheap laugh.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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