Monday, December 26, 2011

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Review









Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol


Release Date: 15th December 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Skydance Productions (presents)
Bad Robot Productions
TC Productions

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 133 minutes


Budget: $145,000,000

Box Office Gross: $694,713,380 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
After the IMF gets wrongly accused of bombing the Kremlin, the President invokes Ghost Protocol, thus shutting down the organisation. It results in Ethan Hunt and his new team going rogue to clear its name.


Cast
Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt
Jeremy Renner - William Brandt
Simon Pegg - Benji Dunn
Paula Patton - Jane Carter
Michael Nyqvist - Kurt Hendricks
Vladimir Mashkov - Anatoly Sidorov
Samuli Edelmann - Wistrom
Ivan Shvedoff - Leonid Lisenker
Anil Kapoor - Brij Nath
Josh Holloway - Trevor Hanaway
Lea Seydoux - Sabine Moreau
Pavel Kriz - Marek Stefanski
Miraj Grbic - Bogdan
Illa Volok - The Fog
Tom Wilkinson - The IMF
Secretary (Uncredited)
Ving Rhames - Luther Strickell
(Cameo) (Uncredited)
Michelle Monaghan - Julia
Mead (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Brad Bird
Based on the Television Series - Bruce Geller
Based on Characters - Steven Zaillian and David Koepp (Uncredited)
Writers/Co-Producers - Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec
Associate Producer - Ben Rosenblatt
Executive Producers - Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake
Producers - J.J. Abrams,
Bryan Burk and Tom Cruise
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Tommy Harper
Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer -
Tom C. Peitzman
Casting Directors - April Webster
and Alyssa Weinberg
Production Designer - Jim Bissell
Illustrator: Prague - Tim Flattery
Supervising Art Director - Helen Jarvis
Supervising Art Director: Prague -
Christa Munro
Art Directors - Michael Diner and
Grant Van Der Slagt
Art Director: Prague - Martin Vackar
Art Director: Dubai - Michael Turner
Storyboard Artist/Additional Second Unit
Director - Jeffrey Lynch
Set Decorators - Rosemary Brandenberg
and Elizabeth Wilcox
Leadpersons: Prague - Jan Kodera,
and Clovis Chambaret
Property Masters - Kris Peck and
Dean Eillerston
Armourer - Harry Lu
Costume Designer - Michael Kaplan
Costume Supervisor - James W. Tyson
Riyaz Ali Merchant
Makeup Designer and Supervisor - Michele Burke
Makeup Effects Artists - David LeRoy
& Heather Anderson
Director of Photography - Robert Elswit
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Mitchell Amundsen
Director of Photography: India - Larry Blanford
Underwater Director of Photography:
Second Unit - Pete Romano
Aerial Director of Photography: Second Unit,
Dubai - Adam Dale
Camera Operator: Second Unit, Dubai -
Florian Emmerich
First Assistant Photographers - Barry Baz Idoine,
Taylor Matheson and Scott Hoffman
Aerial Coordinator: Second Unit, Dubai -
Marc Wolff
First Assistant Directors - Tommy Gormley
and Geoffrey Hansen
First Assistant Director: Second Unit/India -
Michael Salven 
First Assistant Director: Second Unit, Dubai -
Chris Castaldi
Second Assistant Directors - Misha Bukowski
and Brandon Lamboin
Location Manager - Ann Goobie
Second Unit Director - Dan Bradley
Stunt Coordinator - Gregg Smrz
Stunt Coordinator: Canada - Owen Walstrom
Stunt Coordinators: India - Markos Rounthwaite
and Sham Kausal
Fight Coordinator - Robert Alonzo
Stunt Rigger/Double - Randy Hall (Uncredited)
Picture Car Coordinators - Tim Woods
and Rick Rasmussen
Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Meinardus
Effects Supervisor: Canada - Cameron Waldbauer
Visual Effects Supervisor - John Knoll
Visual Effects Plate Supervisor: ILM - Russell Earl
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM Singapore - Mohen Leo
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM -
Lindy DeQuattro
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alex Jaeger
Digital Model Supervisor: ILM - Russell Paul
Compositing Supervisor: ILM - Todd Vaziri
Editor - Paul Hirsch
Associate Editor - Evan Schiff
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer -
Gary Rydstrom
Supervising Sound Editor - Richard Hymns
Sound Effects Editors: Skywalker Sound -
Dustin Cawood, Teresa Eckton, Will Files
and Ken Fischer
Sound Mixer - Michael McGee
ADR Supervisor - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
ADR Editors: Skywalker Sound - Daniel Laurie
and Brad Semenoff
Dialogue/ADR Editors: Skywalker Sound -
Cheryl Nardi and Marshall Winn
Re-Recording Mixer - Andy Nelson
Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe and Lana Vance
Foley Mixer - Frank Rinella
Music - Michael Giacchino
Composer: Theme Music - Lalo Schifrin


Review
GHOST PROTOCOL has many exhilarating stunts and non-stop action, making this movie look fantastic. Animation veteran Brad Bird has directed this motion picture, making him the first from Pixar to direct a live-action feature. Tom Cruise did a marvellous job continuing his performance as Ethan Hunt. It makes him the best film actor since Arnold Schwarzenegger. I also forgot about Simon Pegg's comic relief as he got promoted from the third film, and you know what, Pegg is extremely good with humour.

GHOST PROTOCOL is a great spy movie, but I would go back to watch and review the other Mission: Impossible films and Tom Cruise favourites like Top Gun and Rain Man. Everyone who loved the TV series and previous Mission: Impossible movies may want to view the latest release.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

The Polar Express Review









The Polar Express


Release Date: 18th November 2004 - Australia


Production Companies
Castle Rock Entertainment (presents)
Shangri-La Entertainment (in association
with)
ImageMovers
Playtone
Golden Mean
Universal CGI
Warner Bros. Pictures


Genre: Animation/Family/
Fantasy

Rating: G

Runtime: 100 minutes


Budget: $170,000,000

Box Office Gross:
$318,226,393 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
On Christmas Eve, a young boy doubts the existence of Santa Claus. He boards a train that takes him on a magical trip to the North Pole. During this ride, he embarks on a soul-searching journey that shows him the true meaning of friendship, bravery and the Christmas spirit.


Cast
Tom Hanks - Hero Boy, The Narrator, The Conductor, The Hobo, Santa Claus & Hero Boy's Father
Josh Hutcherson - Hero Boy
Daryl Sabara - Hero Boy (Voice)
Chantel Valdivieso - Hero Girl
Nona Gaye - Hero Girl (Voice)
Tinase - Hero Girl
Peter Scolari - Billy
Hayden McFarland - Billy
Jimmy Bennett - Billy (Voice)
Eddie Deezen - Know-It-All
Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak - Know-It-All
Michael Jeter - Smokey and Steamer
AndrĂ© Sogliuzzo - Smokey and Steamer (Voice)
Ashly Holloway - Sister Sarah
Isabella Peregrina - Sister Sarah (Voice)
Leslie Zemeckis - Sister Sarah/Mother
Charles Fleischer - Lead Elf
Steven Tyler - Elf Lieutenant/Singer

Crew
Screenplay/Producer/Director - Robert Zemeckis
Based on the Book/Executive Producer -
Chris Van Allsburg
Screenplay - William Broyles Jr.
Script Supervisor - Luca Kouimelis
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager/
First Assistant Director - Josh McLaglen
Executive Producers - Tom Hanks
and Jack Rapke
Producers - Gary Goetzman
and William Teitler
Producer/Second Unit Director - Steve Starkey
Casting Directors - Victoria Burrows
and Scot Boland
Production Designers - Rick Carter
and Doug Chiang
Art Directors - Tony Fanning,
James Hegedus, Alicia Maccarone
and Norman Newberry
Assistant Art Directors - Scott Herbertson,
Andrew L. Jones and Mike Stassi
Set Decorator - Karen O'Hara
Property Master - Robin L. Miller
Costume Designer - Joanna Johnston
Directors of Photography - Don Burgess
and Robert Presley
Choreographer - John Carrafa
Stunt Coordinator - Allen Robinson
Special Effects Coordinator - Michael Lantieri
Senior Visual Effects Supervisors - Jerome Chen
and Ken Ralston
Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI, 3D IMAX -
Jim Berney
Visual Effects Producer - Craig Sost
Visual Effects Art Director - Martin A. Kline
Digital Effects Supervisors - Rob Bredow,
Mark Lambert, Alberto Menache
and Sean Phillips
Digital Effects Supervisor (3D IMAX Version)/
Pipeline Supervisor: SPI - Rob Engle
Digital Producer - Chris Juen
Digital Visual Consultant - Simon Wells
Animation Supervisor - David Schaub
ImageMotion Integration Supervisor - Albert Hastings
Sequence Lighting Supervisors -
Patrick Cohen, Jep Hill, Carlos Vidal,
Adrian Iler, David Parrish, Robert Winter,
MacDuff Knox and R. Stirling Duguid
Pre-Visualisation Leads - Andrew Titcomb
and Harald Kraut
Layout Supervisor - James C.J. Williams
Effects Animation Supervisor - Daniel Kramer
Film Editors - R. Orlando Duenas
and Jeremiah O'Driscoll
Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer -
Randy Thom
Assistant Sound Designer - Will Files
Supervising Sound Editor - Dennis Leonard
Foley Mixer - Frank Rinella
Foley Artists - Ellen Heuer,
Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance
Re-Recording Mixer - Tom Johnson
Re-Recording/Music Scoring Mixer -
Dennis S. Sands
Songs: Music and Lyrics - Glen Ballard
Music - Alan Silvestri
Music Supervisor - Tom MacDougall


Awards

2005 Academy Awards
Best Original Song "Believe" - Glen Ballard
and Alan Silvestri (Nominated)
Best Sound Mixing - William B. Kaplan,
Randy Thom, Tom Johnson and Dennis S. Sands
(Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - Randy Thom
and Dennis Leonard (Nominated)


Review
THE POLAR EXPRESS is a simple, imaginative holiday movie by director Robert Zemeckis. He brought this technological masterpiece to life with motion capture. In self-producing this film, actor Tom Hanks did a great job performing a lot of characters, including the Conductor. The motion-capture animation was never as realistic as the one used in Avatar, but the film does have great visuals. It would be good to see it in 3D.

While it has the Yuletide spirit, THE POLAR EXPRESS lives up to Chris Van Allsburg's story that it was based on and is worth watching for everyone who has and has not read the book.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Jack and Jill Review









Jack and Jill


Release Date: 1st December 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures (presents)
Broken Road Productions
Happy Madison Productions

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 91 minutes


Budget: $79,000,000

Box Office Gross: $149,673,788
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Jack Sadelstein is a successful
advertising executive in Los
Angeles with a beautiful
wife and kids, who dreads
one event each year: the
Thanksgiving visit of his
identical twin sister Jill.

Jill's neediness and passive
aggressiveness is
maddening to Jack, turning
his normally tranquil life
upside down. (Source -
Metro Cinemas)


Cast
Adam Sandler - Jack/Jill
Sadelstein
Al Pacino - Himself
Katie Holmes - Erin
Sadelstein
Elodie Tougne - Sofia
Sadelstein
Rohan Chand - Gary
Sadelstein
Eugenio Derbez - Felipe/
Felipe's Grandma
Tim Meadows - Ted
Nick Swardson - Todd
Allen Covert - Joel Farley/Otto
Geoff Pierson - Carter Simmons
Valerie Mahaffey - Bitsy
Simmons
Gad Elmaleh - Xavier
Jake Pennington - Sadelstein
Cousin
Gary Valentine - Dallas
Kristin Davis - Delilah
David Spade - Damien Farley/
Monica (Cameo)
Johnny Depp - Himself (Cameo)
Dennis Dugan - Henry
Shaquille O'Neal - Himself (Cameo)
Drew Carey - Himself (Cameo)
Jared Fogle - Himself (Cameo)
Dana Carvey - Scrapply Puppeteer
George Gray - Himself (Cameo)
Billy Blanks - Himself (Cameo)
Bruce Jenner - Himself (Cameo)
Lamar Odom - Himself (Cameo)
Vince Offer - Himself (Cameo)
Regis Philbin - Himself (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Dennis Dugan
Story - Ben Zook
Screenplay/Executive Producer - Steve Koren
Screenplay/Producer - Adam Sandler
Executive Producers - Allen Covert, Robert Smigel,
Barry Bernardi, Tim Herlihy & Bettina Sofia Viviano
Producers - Todd Garner & Jack Giarraputo
Co-Producer/Music Supervisor - Kevin Grady
Production Designer - Perry Andelin Blake
Special Makeup Effects Artists - Barney Burman &
Tony Gardner
Costume Designer - Ellen Lutter
Cinematography - Dean Cundey
Film Editor - Tom Costain
Music - Rupert Gregson-Williams &
Waddy Watchtel


Review
'JACK AND JILL' is a movie that tries so hard to be wildly amusing with Adam Sandler playing two roles that are twins, one of which is a woman. This wasn't the first time that Sandler has been in a film which was a huge disappointment, take 'Little Nicky' for example. They are both shameless attempts from the comedian as they would have damaged his career. His performance as the twin sister was too unnerving and obnoxious to portray her and he may look silly and ridiculous for being in drag. Even the product placement and subplot were too redundant and have no trace of any comical value and importance whatsoever. There are some bits of humour that I find funny. Despite having Al Pacino (you know him from most unfriendly movies) who was the best thing about the movie. What really surprised me is not just the cameo appearance of Johnny Depp, it's the naughty cockatoo who steals the show.

To be honest, 'JACK AND JILL' is not a good movie for everyone. Even some people who like Adam Sandler and his movies such as 'Happy Gilmore' and other favourites would willing admit that this feature was terrible.

Star rating: (2/5) Bad Movie

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Home Alone Review











Home Alone


Release Date: 13th December 1990 - Australia


Production Companies
Hughes Entertainment
20th Century Fox Film Corporation (presents)

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 103 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $476,684,675 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister is home alone when his family accidentally leaves him behind for their Christmas vacation. While Kevin is busy decorating his house for the holidays, he has to deal with two burglars
called "The Wet Bandits"
trying to break in, and
Kevin has to set up booby
traps to keep them from
entering.


Cast

McCallister Family
Macaulay Culkin - Kevin McCallister
Catherine O'Hara - Kate McCallister
John Heard - Peter McCallister
Devin Ratray - Buzz McCallister
Hilary Wolf - Megan McCallister
Angela Goethals - Linnie McCallister
Michael C. Maronna - Jeff McCallister
Gerry Bamman - Frank McCallister
Terrie Snell - Leslie McCallister
Jedidiah Cohen - Rod McCallister
Senta Moses Mikan - Tracy McCallister
Diana Rein - Sondra McCallister
Kieran Culkin - Fuller McCallister
Anna Slotky - Brooke McCallister
Kristin Minter - Heather McCallister
Ray Toler - Uncle Rob
Virginia Smith - Georgette McCallister
Matt Doherty - Steffan

Others
Joe Pesci - Harry Lyme
Daniel Stern - Marv Merchants
Jeffrey Wiseman - Mitch Murphy
Roberts Blossom - Old Man Marley
D. Danny Warhol - Pizza Delivery Boy
Ken Hudson Campbell - Santa
Billie Bird - Woman in Airport
Bill Erwin - Man in Airport
Tracy J. Connor - Check-Out Girl
Ralph Foody - Gangster #1
Michael Guido - Gangster #2
John Candy - Gus Polinski
Larry Hankin - Officer Balzam
Quinn Culkin - Girl at Airport (Uncredited)
Raja Gosnell - Murphy's Answering
Machine Voice (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Chris Columbus
Writer/Producer - John Hughes
Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -
Mark Radcliffe
Executive Producers - Tarquin Gotch,
Mark Levinson and Scott M. Rosenfelt
Casting Directors - Janet Hirshenson
and Jane Jenkins
Production Designer - John Muto
Art Director - Dan Webster
Set Decorators - Eve Cauley and
Daniel B. Clancy
Costume Designer - Jay Hurley
Director of Photography - Julio Macat
Unit Production Manager - Mack Bing
Second Assistant Director - James Giovannetti Jr.
Second Second Assistant Director -
Geoffrey Hansen
Location Manager - Jacolyn Bucksbaum
Stunt Coordinator - Freddie Hice
Stunts/Special Effects Coordinator - William Purcell
Editor - Raja Gosnell
Supervising Sound Editors - Wylie Stateman
and Michael D. Wilhout
Foley Mixer - Gary A. Hecker
Foley Artists - Jeffrey Wilhoit and
Alicia Stevenson
Re-Recording Mixers - Chris & Kevin E.
Carpenter, Rick Hart and Ellis Burman III
(Uncredited)
Music - John Williams
Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg


Awards

1991 Academy Awards
Best Music, Original Song "Somewhere in My
Memory" - John Williams and Leslie Bricusse (Nominated)
Best Original Score - John Williams (Nominated)


Review
HOME ALONE is a hilarious and meaningful holiday film. All thanks to director Chris Columbus and the late John Hughes, who terrifically made this movie with warmth and humour. I commend the acting from Macaulay Culkin (in his star-making role), Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, the booby traps, a cameo by John Candy and the magnificent film score by John Williams. I loved the funniest part of the film when Kevin put his brother's pet tarantula on Marv's face, making him scream like a little girl.

HOME ALONE is the best Christmas comedy movie ever made. It brought child star Macaulay worldwide fame and launched three sequels, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and the infamous Home Alone 3 and 4. I would be honoured to hear any feedback on this terrific major motion picture.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Puss in Boots Review







Puss in Boots


Release Date: 8th December 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
DreamWorks Animation

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 90 minutes


Budget: $130,000,000

Box Office Gross: $554,987,477
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The story of Puss in
Boots' adventures and
misadventures before
he met up with friends
with Shrek and Donkey.


Voice Cast
Antonio Banderas - Puss in Boots
Salma Hayek - Kitty Softpaws
Zach Galifianakis - Humpty Alexander Dumpty
Billy Bob Thornton - Jack
Amy Sedaris - Jill
Constance Marie - Imelda
Guillermo del Toro - Comandante
Mike Mitchell - Andy Beanstalk
Conrad Vernon - Raoul/
Solider
Chris Miller - Little Boy Blue/Various

Crew
Based on Character - Charles Perrault
Director - Chris Miller
Story - William Davis & Brian Lynch
Story/Screenplay - Tom Wheeler
Executive Producers - Andrew Adamson,
Michelle Raimo & Guillermo del Toro
Co-Executive Producer - John H. Williams
Producers - Joe M. Aguilar & Latifa Ouaou
Creative Consultant - Peter Ramsey
Head of Story - Bob Persichetti
Production Designer - Guillaume Aretos
Character Designers - Patrick Mate &
Tony Siruno
Costume Designer - Isis Mussenden
Visual Consultant - Roger Deakins
Head of Character Animation - Fabio Lignini
Animation Supervisors - Nicolas A. Chauvelot
& Maren Kochout (Uncredited)
Supervising Animator: "Kitty Softpaws" -
Steven Hornby
Supervising Animators - John Hill,
Sean Sexton & Olivier Staphylas, 
Head of Layout - Gil Zimmerman
Visual Effects Supervisor - Ken Bielenberg
Computer Graphics Supervisor -
Jonathan Harman
Stereoscopic Supervisor - Phil 'Captain 3D' McNally
Film Editor - Eric Dapkewicz
Music - Henry Jackman


Review
Made as a spin-off prequel to the 'Shrek' franchise, 'PUSS IN BOOTS' is a daringly good and entertaining CGI animated movie that has plenty of laughs and action for everyone and it is impressive in 3D. The film's voice acting was terrific such as Antonio Banderas who did a fantastic job of voicing the title character and even Salma Hayek for Puss's female counterpart Kitty.

I have not reviewed any of the Shrek movies such as 'SHREK 2' where Puss is first introduced. This spin-off movie while less than purr-fect is a must see for Shrek fans and cat-lovers.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Super 8 Review










Super 8


Release Date: 9th June 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Amblin Entertainment
Bad Robot

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 112 minutes


Budget: $50,000,000

Box Office Gross $260,095,986 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
While making a zombie movie with an 8mm camera in the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small town in Ohio experiences a catastrophic train crash. It was no accident, they presumed. Shortly after, the people began to disappear, and even a local deputy didn't explain how it happened. They suspected that it was no accident. They began to investigate the inexplicable goings-on that occurred in their hometown. Only to discover something horrifying that is now stalking the unsuspecting citizens in this once peaceful community.


Cast
Joel Courtney - Joseph "Joe" Lamb
Elle Fanning - Alice "Allie" Dainard
Kyle Chandler - Deputy Jack Lamb
Ron Eldard - Louis Dainard
Riley Griffiths - Charles Kaznyk
Ryan Lee - Cary
Zach Mills - Preston
Gabriel Basso - Martin
Noah Emmerich - Colonel Nelec
Glynn Turman - Dr. Woodward
David Gallagher - Donny
Bruce Greenwood - Cooper
Amanda Milchalka - Jen Kaznyk
Caitriona Balfe - Elizabeth Lamb
Jessica Tuck - Mrs. Kaznyk
Joel McKinnon Miller - Mr. Kaznyk
AJ Michalka - Jen Kaznyk
Andrew & Jakob Miller - Kaznyk Twins
Jade Griffiths - Benji Kaznyk
Britt Flatmo - Peg Kaznyk
Richard T. Jones - Overmeyer
Amanda Foreman - Lydia Connors - Ch 14
News Anchor
Brett Rice - Sheriff Pruitt
Dan Castellaneta - Izzy
Michael Giacchino - Deputy Crawford (Cameo)
Beau Knapp - Breen
Dale Dickey - Edie
Ben Gavin - Deputy Milner
Jay Scully - Deputy Skadden
Michael Hitchcock - Deputy Rosko
James Landry Hebert - Deputy Tally
Thomas F. Duffy - Rooney
Teri Clark - Mrs. Babbit
Tom Quinn - Mr. McCandless
Koa Melvin - Baby Joe
Bingo O'Malley - Mr Harkin
Tony Guma - Sergeant Walters
Marco Sanchez - Hernandez
Katie Lowes - Tina

Crew
Writer/Producer/Director - J.J. Abrams
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Udi Nedivi
Associate Producers - Michelle Rejwan
and Ben Rosenblatt
Executive Producer - Guy Riedel
Producers - Bryan Burk and
Steven Spielberg
Co-Producer/First Assistant Director -
Tommy Gormley
Senior Military Advisor - James D. Dever
Casting Directors - Alyssa Weisberg and
April Webster
Production Designer - Martin Whist
Creature Designer - Neville Page
Art Director - David Scott
Set Decorators - Fainche MacCarthy and
Dave Kann (Uncredited)
Costume Designer - Ha Nguyen
Director of Photography - Larry Fong
Stunt Coordinator - John Stoneham Jr.
Special Effects Supervisor - Steve Riley
Special Effects Coordinator - Wayne Eaton
Visual Effects Supervisors - Russell Earl,
Kim Libreri and Dennis Muren
Visual Effects Producer - Chantal Feghali
Animation Supervisor: ILM - Paul Kavanagh
Digital Production Supervisor: ILM -
Brian Cantwell
Creature Animation Supervisor: ILM -
Hal T. Hickel
Compositing Supervisor: ILM - Jay Cooper
CG Supervisors: ILM - Michael Bauer,
Hilmar Koch and David Weitzberg
Creature Supervisor: ILM - James Tooley
Digital Model Supervisor: ILM - Bruce Holcomb
Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Steve Walton
CG Lead Artists: ILM - Ryan Hopkins,
Jason Smith, Lana Lan, Kevin Martel,
Akira Orikasa and Patrick Tubach
Editors - Maryann Brandon and
Mary Jo Markey
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -
Ben Burtt
Supervising Sound Editor - Matthew Wood
Additional Sound Design - Gary Rydstrom
Sound Effects Editors - David Acord,
Dustin Cawood and Adam Kopald
Dialogue Editors - Cheryl Nardi and
Richard Quinn
Additional Sound Editors - Stuart McCowan
and Steve Slanec
ADR Editors - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
and Brad Semenoff
Sound Mixer - Mark Ulano
Re-Recording Mixers - Anna Behlmer,
Andy Nelson and Tom Johnson
Additional Re-Recording Mixers -
Christopher Scarabosio, Juan Peralta and
James Bolt
Foley Mixer - Tony Eckert
Foley Artists - Ronni Brown and Sean England
Music - Michael Giacchino
Music Supervisor - George Drakoulias


Review
SUPER 8 is scary but similar to Steven Spielberg's E.T. and his few other classics, thanks to its director, J.J. Abrams, who takes inspiration from these features. He has brought the suspense of a science-fiction movie to life. This film had a nice feel. It emphasises the value of our friends when we are in our youth. The adventures we embark on, gaining independence and learning what friendship is.

It contained an even blend of drama and mystery that keeps your eyes glued to the screen throughout this entertaining hit. If you enjoy the science-fiction genre, then this movie is for you.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Arthur Christmas Review












Arthur Christmas


Release Date: 24th November 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Aardman Animations
Sony Pictures Animation

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 112 minutes


Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $147,420,536 (Worldwide - figure subject to change)


Plot Summary
This Christmas movie
highlights the technological
advances of operations at
the North Pole, revealing
how Santa and his vast
army of highly trained
elves produce gifts and
distribute them around the
world in one night. However,
every operation has a margin
of error... When one of 600
million children to receive a
gift from Santa on Christmas
Eve is missed, it is deemed
"acceptable" to all but one,
Arthur. Arthur Claus is
Santa's misfit son who
executes an unauthorized
rookie mission to get the
last present half way around
the globe before dawn on
Christmas morning. (Source - Metro Cinemas)


Voice Cast
James McAvoy - Arthur
Hugh Laurie - Steve
Jim Broadbent - Santa
Bill Nighy - Grandsanta
Imelda Staunton - Mrs. Santa
Ashley Jensen - Bryony
Marc Wootton - Peter
Laura Linney - North Pole Computer
Eva Longoria - Chief De Silva
Ramona Marquez - Gwen
Michael Palin - Ernie Clicker
Ryan Patrick Donahue - Pedro
Jerry Lambert - N.O.R.A.D.
Sanjeev Bhaskar - Lead Elf (Cameo)
Robbie Coltrane - Lead Elf (Cameo)
Joan Cusack - Lead Elf (Cameo)
Rhys Darby - Lead Elf (Cameo)
Jane Horrocks - Lead Elf (Cameo)
Iain McKee - Lead Elf (Cameo)
Andy Serkis - Lead Elf (Cameo)
Dominic West - Lead Elf (Cameo)

Crew
Screenplay/Director - Sarah Smith
Screenplay/Co-Executive Producer -
Peter Baynham
Co-Executive Producer - Cheryl Abood
Consulting Producer - Osnat Shurer
Producers - Steve Pegram, Peter Lord,
Carla Shelley & David Sproxton
Production Designer - Evgeni Tomov
Art Director: Environment - Olivier Adam
Art Director: Characters - Tim Watts
Visual Consultant - Alex McDowell
Character Designers - Peter DeSeve,
Buck Lewis, Barry Reynolds, Luis Grane
& Christophe Lourdelet
Costume Designer - Yves Barre
Head of Story - Donnie Long
Cinematic Designer - Jericca Cleland
Senior Supervising Animator - Alan Short
Supervising Animators - Alan Hawkins,
Brian D. Scott, Seamus Malone
Lead Animator - Joshua Beveridge
Layout/Previz Supervisor - Simon Dundson
Layout Supervisor - David Morehead
Visual Effects Supervisor - Doug Ikeler
Computer Graphics Supervisor -
Michael Ford & David Satchwell 
Computer Graphics Supervisor - R. Stirling G
Film Editors - John Carnochan &
James Cooper
Music - Harry Gregson-Williams


Review
'ARTHUR CHRISTMAS' is a splendid and funny animated holiday movie that features a terrific and passionate storyline revealing a huge task lying ahead of Santa and the every increasing pressure that lay on his shoulders to meet the demands of all children. The first half of the movie was a bit of a spin of 'Mission: Impossible' which I’ll think that the fans of the series will quite like. The voice cast of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie and Bill Nighy was good and I feel their relation to their characters was genuine and you get the sense that they really emphasise the emotion and expression that these characters would experience in this situation.

This is the first Aardman movie since 'Flushed Away'. It finishes on a happy note, leaving you feeling rewarded by this overall entertaining holiday hit.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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