Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Winners of the 84th Academy Awards


Hey, this is Film Guru Lad here, for those
who missed the 84th Academy Awards,
here are the winners.


Best Picture
The Artist

Best Director
The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius

Best Actor
Jean Dujardin - The Artist

Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer - Beginners

Best Actress
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Best Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer - The Help

Best Animated Film
Rango

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants - Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

Best Original Screenplay
Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen

Art Direction
Hugo - Production Design: Dante Ferretti, Set Decoration:
Francesca Lo Schiavo

Cinematography
Hugo - Robert Richardson

Costume Design
The Artist - Mark Bridges

Best Documentary Feature
Undefeated 

Best Documentary Short
Saving Face 

Best Film Editing
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall

Best Foreign Language Film
A Separation - Iran

Best Makeup
The Iron Lady - Mark Coulier & J. Roy Helland


Best Original Score
The Artist - Ludovic Bource

Best Original Song
"Man or Muppet" - The Muppets, Music & Lyric by Bret McKenzie

Best Animated Short
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore -
William Joyce & Brandon Oldenburg

Best Live Action Short Film
The Shore - Terry George & Oorlagh George

Best Sound Editing
Hugo - Phillip Stockton & Eugene Gearty

Best Sound Mixing
Hugo - Tom Fleischman & John Midgley

Best Visual Effects
Hugo - Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman & Alex Henning

Academy Honorary Award
James Earl Jones
Dick Smith
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
Oprah Winfrey


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Monday, February 27, 2012

Journey to the Center of the Earth Review










Journey to the Center of the Earth


Release Date: 25th September 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
New Line Cinema (presents)
Walden Media (presents)
Journey Films (Uncredited)

Distribution
Roadshow Distribution


Genre: Adventure

Rating: PG

Runtime: 93 minutes


Budget: $60,000,000

Box Office Gross: $241,995,151
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Professor Trevor Anderson
receives his teenage
nephew Sean Anderson.
He will spend ten days
with his uncle while
his mother, Elizabeth,
prepares to move to Canada.
She gives a box to Trevor 
that belonged to his
missing brother, Max,
and Trevor finds a book
with references to the last
journey of his brother. He
decides to follow the steps of
Max with Sean and they 
travel to Iceland, where they 
meet the guide Hannah 
Ásgeirsson. While climbing 
a mountain, there is a 
thunderstorm and they 
protect themselves in a
cave. However, a lightining
collapses the entrance and the
trio is trapped in the cave. They
seek an exit and falls in a hole,
discovering a lost world in the
center of the Earth.


Cast
Brendan Fraser - Trevor Anderson
Josh Hutcherson - Sean Anderson
Anita Briem - Hannah Asgeirsson
Seth Meyers - Professor Alan Kitzens
Jean Michel Pare - Max Anderson
Jane Wheeler - Elizabeth Anderson
Giancarlo Caltabiano - Leonard
Garth Gilker - Sigurbjorn Asgeirsson
Frank Fontaine - Old Man
Kaniethtiio Horn - Gum Chewing Girl

Crew
Director - Eric Brevig
Based on Novel - Jules Verne
Screenplay - Michael D. Weiss,
Jennifer Flackett & Mark Levin
Executive Producers - Toby Emmerich,
Brendan Fraser & Tripp Vinson
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
W. Mark McNair
Producers - Beau Flynn & Charlotte Higgins
Co-Producers - Cale Boyter, Michael Disco,
Douglas Jones, Alex Schwartz,
Mylan Stepanovich & Evan Turner
Production Designer - David Sandefur
Supervising Art Director - Michele Laliberte
Art Directors - Jean Kazemirchuk &
Real Proulx
Costume Designer - Mario Davignon
Cinematography - Chuck Shuman
Second Unit Director - David Dozoretz
Stunt Coordinator - Marc Desourdy
Stunt Coordinator/Double - Patrick Kerton
Special Effects Director/Coordinator - Ryal Cosgrove
Special Effects Supervisor/Coordinator: Motion -
Martin St-Antoine
Visual Effects Supervisor - Christopher Townsend
Visual Effects Supervisors: Hybride - Thierry Delattre,
Mathieu Dupuis & Richard Martin
Animation Supervisor/Lead Character Animator:
Meteor Studios - Aaron Gilman
Film Editors - Steven Rosenblum, Paul
Martin Smith & Dirk Westervelt
Music - Andrew Lockington


Review
Some people may see 'JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH' as a decent adventure movie, but I think it is really an exciting picture worth-watching. Oddly enough, it really has good special effects and the 3D aspect contributes to the visual display of this film. There are even some moments of the movie where the 3D conversion enhanced scenes of certain peril and fun. This then marks the directorial debut of Eric Brevig who previously worked on the vfx for numerous films, he is more than able to direct a live action film that has the feel of a 4D attraction. The acting of Brendan Fraser is typecast, but it suits him in a different movie that isn't part of 'The Mummy' trilogy.

For me and the people who have read Jules Verne, this is considered to be not bad for a modern film adaptation of the novel. If you watched the first movie, you'll have to check out my review of the sequel 'Journey 2' which does not feature either Brendan Fraser and Anita Briem, but it only has Josh Hutcherson and the new actors Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine. Which I might add, the former done a superb job in replacing Brendan, they both brought a continuous humour to the screen which keeps you on the edge of your seat with laughter.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, February 20, 2012

Lawrence of Arabia Review










Lawrence of Arabia


Release Date: 1st November 1963 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures
Horizon Pictures

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Drama

Rating: M

Runtime: 218 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $70,886,730 
(Worldwide - figure subject to change)


Plot Summary
An inordinately complex
man who has been labeled
everything from hero, to
charlatan, to sadist, Thomas
Edward Lawrence blazed
his way to glory in the
Arabian desert, then sought
anonymity as a common
solider under an assumed
name. The story opens with
the death of Lawrence in a
motorcycle accident in
Dorset at the age of 46,
then flashbacks to recount
his adventures: as a young
intelligence officer in Cairo
in 1916, he is given leave to
investigate the progress of
the Arab revolt against the
Turks in World War I. In
the desert, he organizes a
guerrilla army and for two
years he leads the Arabs in
harassing the Turks with
desert raids, train-wrecking
and camel attacks. 
Eventually, he leads his 
army northward and helps 
a British General destroy 
the power of the Ottoman 
Empire.


Cast
Peter O'Toole - T.E. Lawrence
Alec Guinness - Prince Feisal
Anthony Quinn - Auda Abu Tayi
Jack Hawkins - General Allenby
Omar Sharif - Sheriff Ali
Jose Ferrer - Turkish Bey
Anthony Quayle - Colonel Brighton
Claude Rains - Mr. Dryden
Arthur Kennedy - Jackson Bentley
Donald Wolfit - General Murray
I.S. Johar - Gasim
Gamil Ratib - Majid
Michel Ray - Farraj
John Dimech - Daud
Zia Mohyeddin - Tafas

Crew
Producer (Uncredited)/Director - David Lean
Based on Writings - T.E. Lawrence
Screenplay - Robert Bolt & Michael Wilson
Producers - Sam Spiegel, Jim Painten
(1989 Restoration) & Robert A. Harris
(1989 Reconstruction & Restoration)
Production Designer - John Box
Property Master - Eddie Fowlie
Costume Designer - Phyllis Dalton
Director of Photography - Freddie Young
Editor/Editorial Consultant (1989 Restoration) -
Anne V. Coates
Music - Maurice Jarre


Awards

1963 Academy Awards
Best Picture - Sam Spiegel (Won)
Best Director - David Lean (Won)
Best Cinematography, Color - Freddie Young (Won)
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration - John Box,
John Stoll and Dario Simoni (Won)
Best Sound - John Cox
Best Film Editing - Anne V. Coates (Won)
Best Music, Score - Substantially Original -
Maurice Jarre (Won)
-------------------------
Best Actor in a Leading Role - Peter O'Toole
(Nominated)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Omar Sharif
(Nominated)
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material
from Another Medium - Robert Bolt and
Michael Wilson (Nominated)


Review
Despite being the longest movie to win an Oscar for Best Picture, 'LAWRENCE OF ARABIA' is sure to be a historical epic and is all thanks to director David Lean who made a masterpiece out of greatness. I praise the perfectly crafted acting talents of Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif and Alec Guinness, the classy script and even the brilliant music score by Maurice Jarre.

The movie helped to influence film directors such as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to imitate its visual style. 'LAWRENCE' is such an incredible if not a splendid and good movie. This review is a tribute to my grandfather who passed away recently and was a huge fan of this epic masterpiece.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Lady and the Tramp Review (Valentine's Day 2012) (Updated)











Lady and the Tramp


Release Date: 23rd February 1956 - Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Productions

Distribution 
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 75 minutes


Budget: $4,000,000


Box Office Gross: $94,886,686
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
She's a pampered spaniel,
and he's a debonair mutt-
about-town, but Lady and
Tramp discover that they
make a perfect pair. Lady
has always been the special
pet of her household, but
when dog-hating Aunt
Sarah and her scheming
Siamese cats turn against
her, Tramp is there to help.
Lady discovers that the
world of Tramp and his
stray-dog pals, away from
the "leash and collar set"
holds excitement and even
romance. It holds danger
too, from the ever-present
dog catcher. When he
saves the day, the Tramp
discovers that family life
isn't so bad after all, even
for a footloose fellow like
himself.


Voice Cast
Barbara Luddy - Lady
Larry Roberts - The Tramp
Bill Thompson - Jock/Various
Characters
Bill Baucom - Trusty
George Givot - Tony
Peggy Lee - Darling/Various
Characters
Verna Felton - Aunt Sarah
Stan Freberg - The Beaver
Alan Reed - Boris
Thurl Ravenscroft - Al the Alligator
Dallas McKennon - Toughy/Various
Characters
Lee Millar - Jim Dear/Dogcatcher

Crew
Directors - Clyde Geronimi,
Wilfred Jackson & Hamilton Luske
Based on Book "Happy Dan, The
Whistling Dog" - Ward Greene
Story - Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi,
Ralph Wright & Don DaGradi
Writers - Joe Grant, Dick Huemer &
Louis Pollock (Uncredited)
Producer - Walt Disney (Uncredited)
Directing Animators - Les Clark,
Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Hal King,
Eric Larson, John Lounsbery,
Wolfgang Reitherman & Frank Thomas
Film Editor - Donald Halliday
Composer & Lyrics: Songs - Sonny Burke
& Peggy Lee
Music - Oliver Wallace


Review
Terrific and truly great is 'LADY AND THE TRAMP' that tells a story about two dogs who met up with each other, but also fell in love with each other. I praise its famous romantic moment where the two main characters are slurping the spaghetti and kiss each other with it.

'LADY AND THE TRAMP' is surely one of Disney's great love stories that is ever being made and is definitely a heart-warming animated classic. Remember all of you, this review is made for Valentine's Day of 2012.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, February 13, 2012

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D Review











Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D


Release Date: 9th February 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 136 minutes


Budget: $115,000,000

Box Office Gross: $102,739,593 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When the peaceful planet of Naboo gets invaded by the greedy Trade Federation, it's up to Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi to stop its leader, Nute Gunray, from taking control of the planet. After rescuing its Queen from the invasion, they end up stranded in the desert world of Tatooine, where they discover a young boy
named Anakin Skywalker
who has the unique power
of the Force. After winning
the podrace, Anakin joins
the Jedi, Queen Amidala,
with her trusted bodyguard
Captain Panaka and a
banished Gungan, Jar Jar
Binks, to liberate Naboo.
Confront the Trade
Federation as well as a
dangerous enemy named
Darth Maul.

Little did they know that the invasion was the first part of a grander scheme from an evil force shrouded in the darkness known as the Sith.


Cast
Liam Neeson - Qui Gon Jinn
Ewan McGregor - Obi-Wan
Kenobi
Natalie Portman - Queen
Amidala/Padmé
Jake Lloyd - Anakin Skywalker
Ian McDiarmid - Senator
Palpatine/Darth Sidious
Ahmed Best - Jar Jar Binks
Pernilla August - Shmi
Skywalker
Ray Park - Darth Maul
Peter Serafinowicz - Darth Maul/Battle Droid Commander/Gungan Scout (Voices)
Anthony Daniels - C-3PO
Kenny Baker - R2-D2
Silas Carson - Nute Gunray/
Ki-Adi-Mundi/Lott Dod/
Republic Cruiser Pilot
Jerome St. John Blake -
Rune Haako/Orn Free
Taa/Oppo Rancisis/Mas
Amedda/Horox Ryyder/
Graxol Kelvynn/Mik Regrap
Hugh Quarshie - Captain
Panaka
Andy Secombe - Watto (Voice)
Frank Oz - Yoda (Voice)
Samuel L. Jackson - Mace Windu
Terence Stamp - Supreme
Chancellor Finis Valorum
Brian Blessed - Boss Nass (Voice)
Lewis Macleod - Sebulba (Voice)
Sofia Coppola - Saché
Keira Knightley - Sabé
Oliver Ford Davies - Sio Bibble
Warwick Davis - Wald/Pod Race Spectator/
Mos Espa Citizen
Ralph Brown - Ric Olie
Steve Speirs - Captain Tarpals
James Taylor - Rune Haako (Voice)
Greg Proops - Fode (Voice)
Scott Capurro - Beed (Voice)
Dhruv Chanchani - Kitster
John Fensom - TC-14
Lindsay Duncan - TC-14 (Voice)
Alan Ruscoe - Daultay Dofine/Plo Koon/
Bib Fortuna
Margaret Towner - Kira
Chris Sanders - Daultay Dofine (Voice)
Hassani Shapi - Eeth Koth
Gin Clarke - Adi Galla
Khan Bonfis - Saesee Tiin
Michaela Cottrell - Even Piell
Dipka O'Neill Joti - Depa Billaba
Michelle Taylor - Yarael Poof
Phil Eason - Yaddle
Celia Imrie - Fighter Pilot Bravo 5
Amanda Lucas - Tey How (Voice)/
Diva Funquita
Toby Longworth - Lott Dod/Gragra
(Voice)
Matthew Wood - Bib Fortuna/
Ody Mandrell (Voice) (Uncredited)
Sally Hawkins - Villager (Uncredited)
Roman Coppola - Senate Guard
(Uncredited)
Richard Armitage - Naboo Fighter
Pilot (Uncredited)
John Knoll - Lt. Rya Kitsch - Bravo 4/
Flag Bearer (Cameo) Uncredited)
Dominic West - Palace Guard (Uncredited)
Rick McCallum - Naboo Courier (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Ben Burtt - Naboo Courier (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Paul Martin Smith - Naboo Courier (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Dan Madsen - Kaadu Handler (Cameo)
(Uncredited)

Crew
Writer/Executive Producer/Director -
George Lucas
Script Supervisor - Jayne-Ann Tenggren
Producer - Rick McCallum
Casting Director - Robin Gurland
Production Designer - Gavin Bocquet
Design Director/Visual Effects Production
Designer: ILM - Doug Chiang
Concept Artists: USA - Marc Gabbana,
Kurt Kaufman, Iain McCaig, Ed Natividad,
Jay Shuster and Terryl Whitlatch
Supervising Art Director - Peter Russell
Art Directors - Phil Harvey, Fred Hole,
John King and Rod McLean
Art Director: Second Unit - Ricky Eyres
Art Director: Tunisia - Ben Scott
Set Decorator - Peter Walpole
Property Master - Ty Teiger
Live-Action Creature Effects Supervisor -
Nick Dudman
Chief Makeup Artist - Paul Engelen
Costume Designer - Trisha Biggar
Director of Photography - David Tattersall
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Giles Nuttgens
Production Supervisor - David Brown
Production Manager - Jo Burn
Production Manager: Tunisia - Peter Heslop
Unit Manager: Tunisia - Jeremy Johns
First Assistant Director - Christopher Newman
Second Assistant Director - Bernard Bellew
Third Assistant Director - Ben Howarth
Location Managers - Robert Jordan
and Richard Sharkey
Second Unit Director - Roger Christian
Helicopter Pilot - Marc Wolff
Stunt Coordinator/Sword Master - Nick Gillard
Special Effects Supervisor: ILM - Geoff Heron
Animatronic Model Design Supervisor -
Chris Barton
Visual Effects Supervisors - Dennis Muren,
John Knoll and Scott Squires
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM -
Scott Farrar
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM -
Barry Armour
Visual Effects Producers: ILM - Ned Gorman,
Jeff Olson, Heather Snith, Ginger Theisen and
Judith Weaver
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM -
David Nakabayashi
Visual Effects Storyboard/Conceptual Artists:
ILM - Brice Cox Jr., Warren Fu, Jules Mann
and Noel Rubin
Effects Directors of Photography: ILM -
Martin Rosenberg, Pat Turner, Ray Gilberti
and Pat Sweeney
Camera Operators: ILM - Carl Miller and
Vance Piper
Animation Director - Rob Coleman
Animation Supervisor: Ground Battle, ILM -
Tom Bertino
Technical Animation Supervisor: ILM -
James Tooley
Lead Computer Graphics Supervisor: ILM -
Kevin Rafferty
Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM - Jon
& Tim Alexander, Christophe Hery,
Douglas Smythe, Euan K. MacDonald,
Greg Maloney, Patrick T. Myers,
Habib Zargarpour and Tom L. Hutchinson
Pre-Visualisation/Effects Supervisor - David Dozoretz
Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Jean Bolte
Motion Capture Supervisor: ILM - Jeffrey B. Light
Digital Modelling Supervisor: ILM - Geoff Campbell
Model Supervisor: ILM - Steve Gawley
Chief Model Makers: ILM - Charles Bailey,
William Beck, Barbara Affonso, Brian Gernand,
Keith London, Ira Keeler, Giovanni Donovan,
Lorne Peterson and Steve Walton
Chief Model Maker: ILM/Puppeteer: C-3PO
(Uncredited) - Michael Lynch
Model Maker: ILM/Puppeteer: R2-D2
(Uncredited) - Don Bies
Editor/Sound Design/Supervising
Sound Editor - Ben Burtt
Editor - Paul Martin Smith
Supervising Sound Editor - Tom Bellfort
Supervising Sound Editor/ADR Recordist -
Matthew Wood
Sound Recordist - John Midgley
Sound Effects Editors - Teresa Eckton
and Christopher Scarabosio
Foley Editors - Bruce Lacey and Marian Wilde
Foley Mixer - Tony Eckert
Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance
Dialogue/ADR Editors - Sara Bolder
and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Re-Recording Mixers - Tom Johnson
and Gary Rydstrom
Re-Recording Mixer/Scoring Engineer -
Shawn Murphy
Music - John Williams
Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg


Review
In its 3D version, THE PHANTOM MENACE looked good in some parts, but the film still has flaws, like the dopey Jar Jar Binks. Star Wars fans will find the podracing sequence more exciting in 3D. I don't mind the character of Yoda changing from a puppet to CGI. It's the way that Lucas intended.

Those who have seen the 2D version and did not know about the Star Wars franchise will get a chance to watch this 3D experience of a movie that they have finally waited a lifetime. If you prefer the film in 2D, you might have to get it on Blu-ray. So please comment on what you thought of this version.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Thursday, February 9, 2012

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Review











Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom


Release Date: 19th July 1984 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action/Adventure

Rating: M

Runtime: 118 minutes


Budget: $28,200,000

Box Office Gross: $333,107,271 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
In 1935, courageous
archaeologist Indiana Jones
is in China, negotiating with
Chinese gangsters for an
artefact when he narrowly
avoids death. With night-
club singer Wilhelmina
"Willie" Scott and a
twelve-year-old boy, Short
Round, they end up in far-
off India, where they come
across a small village in crisis,
where the people believe that
evil spirits have taken all their
children away after a precious
sacred stone got stolen!

So Indy embarks on a quest with
Willie and Short Round as they
set out to find the missing stone
and children before stumbling
into a terrible discovery
surrounding a booby-trapped
temple called the Temple of
Doom! With the power of all five
Sankara Stones at their possession,
Thuggee is on a quest for world
domination! It is up to Indiana to
retrieve the stone, rescue the
kidnapped children and end the
Thuggee campaign.


Cast
Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones
Kate Capshaw - Wilhelmina "Willie" Scott
Jonathan Ke Quan - Short Round
Amrish Puri - Mola Ram
Roshan Seth - Chattar Lal
Phillip Stone - Captain Phillip Blumburtt
Raj Singh - Zalim Singh
D. R. Nanayakkara - Shaman
Roy Chiao - Lao Che
David Yip - Wu Han
Ric Young - Kao Khan
Chua Kah Joo - Chen
Pat Roach - Chief Guard
Dan Aykroyd - Weber (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Steven Spielberg
Story/Executive Producer - George Lucas
Screenplay - Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz
Associate Producer - Kathleen Kennedy
Executive Producer/Second Assistant Director: London -
Frank Marshall
Producer - Robert Watts
Casting Directors - Jane Feinberg,
Mike Fenton, Marci Liroff and Mary Selway
Production Designer - Elliot Scott
Production Illustrators - Ed Verreaux
and Andrew Probert
Chief Art Director - Alan Cassie
Art Director - Roger Cain
Art Director: California - Joe Johnston
Assistant Art Directors - Peter Russell
and Stephen Scott
Draughtsman - Richard Holland
Set Decorator - Peter Howitt
Property Master - Barry Wilkinson
Costume Designer - Anthony Powell
Assistant Costume Designer - Joanna Johnston
Chief Makeup Artist - Peter Robb-King
Chief Hairdresser - Colin Jamison
Director of Photography - Douglas Slocombe
Director of Photography: California -
Allen Daviau
Additional Photography - Paul Beeson
Steadicam Photography: Sri Lanka - Garrett Brown
Operating Cameramen - Chic Waterson and
David Worley
Operating Cameramen: California - John J. Connor
and John M. Stephens
First Assistant Cameraman: California - Eric Engler
Location Manager: California - Richard Vane
Production Manager: USA - Robert Latham Brown
Production Manager: UK - Patricia Carr
First Assistant Director: USA - Louis Race
Assistant Director: UK - David Tomblin
Second Assistant Directors: UK - Roy Button
and Steve Harding
Second Unit Director - Michael D. Moore
Second Unit Director: California/Stunt Arranger:
Location/Stunts - Glenn Randall Jr.
Stunt Arranger: Studio/Stunts - Vic Armstrong
Choreographer - Danny Daniels
Mechanical Effects Supervisor - George Gibbs
Special Effects Supervisor: California - Kevin Pike
Chief Special Effects Technician - Richard E. Conway
Special Effects Assistants - Peter Davey,
Steve Hamilton, Joss Williams and Michael Dawson
(Uncredited)
Floor Effects Supervisor - David H. Watkins
Visual Effects Supervisor - Dennis Muren
Effects Creative Consultant: ILM - Phil Tippett
Optical Photography Supervisor: ILM - Bruce Nicholson
Additional Photography: ILM - Rick Fichter
Chief Visual Effects Cameraman: ILM - Michael J. McAllister
Visual Effects Cameraman: ILM - Michael Owens
Assistant Cameramen: ILM - Kim Marks,
Pat Sweeney, Randy Jonsson and Joe Fulmer
Modelshop Supervisor: ILM - Lorne Peterson
Chief Model Makers: ILM - Paul Huston,
Barbara Gallucci, Charlie Bailey, Ease Owyeung
and Michael Fulmer
Matte Painting Supervisor: ILM - Michael Pangrazio
Matte Camera Supervisor: ILM - Craig Barron
Matte Photography: ILM - David Fincher
and Deborah Morgan
Stop Motion Animation: ILM - Tom St. Amand
Stage Coordinator: ILM - Edward Hirsh
Editor - Michael Kahn
Assistant Film Editors - Bruce Green,
Steven Kemper and Colin Wilson
Sound Design/Re-Recording Mixer - Ben Burtt
Sound Mixer - Simon Kaye
Sound Effects Editors - John Benson,
Teresa Eckton, Ken Fischer and
Suzanne Fox
Dialogue Editors - Gloria S. Borders
and Richard Hymns
Re-Recording Mixers - Gary Summers
and Randy Thom
Foley Artist - Dennie Thorpe
Music - John Williams
Supervising Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg
Music Recording Consultant - Bruce Botnick
Marketing and Promotion - Sidney Ganis


Awards

1985 Academy Awards
Best Visual Effects - Dennis Muren,
George Gibbs, Lorne Peterson and
Michael J. McAlister (Won)
-----------------------
Best Original Score - John Williams (Nominated)


Review
Technically, a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM is fun yet darker and threatening than its predecessor. This film indicates the personal turmoil that Spielberg and Lucas were experiencing at the time. DOOM includes nightmarish scenes like the evil priest pulling the heart out of a victim while he was still alive. I still liked Harrison Ford's performance in that movie despite pulling through. I find the mine cart chase sequence thrilling and the bridge fight scene impressive. My only complaint would be Jones' love interest, Willie Scott, who is nothing but a whiner and a cause of danger. It doesn't help that Kate Capshaw, the director's future wife, portrayed this character. They should have made her more serious and less of a damsel in distress and would have made the movie a 10 out of 10.

Although THE TEMPLE OF DOOM was not as good as the first and third Indiana Jones films, it's still an enjoyable and semi-decent adventure for fans if they are willing to get past some of its political incorrectness.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, February 6, 2012

Jaws Review










Jaws


Release Date: 27th November 1975 - Australia


Production Companies
Zanuck/Brown Productions
Universal Pictures

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 120 minutes


Budget: $9,000,000

Box Office Gross: $476,512,065 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A great white shark has appeared in the ocean of the seaside town of Amity Island and is terrorising the entire community with its surprise attacks during the height of its beach season. Only the
town's police chief, a marine
biologist and an old shark
hunter will hunt down the
creature before it strikes
again.


Cast
Roy Scheider - Chief Martin Brody
Richard Dreyfus - Matt Hooper
Robert Shaw - Sam Quint
Lorraine Gary - Ellen Brody
Murray Hamilton - Mayor Larry Vaughn
Carl Gottlieb - Meadows
Jeffrey Kramer - Hendricks
Susan Backlinie - Christine
"Chrissie" Watkins
Jonathan Filley - Cassidy
Ted Grossman - Estuary Victim
Chris Rebello - Michael Brody
Jay Mello - Sean Brody
Lee Fierro - Mrs. Kitner
Jeffrey Voorhees - Alex Kitner
Craig Kingsbury - Ben Gardner
Robert Nevin - Medical Examiner
Peter Benchley - Interviewer (Cameo)
Jonathan Searle - Boy Swimmer with Cardboard Fin
Steven Searle - Boy Swimmer with Cardboard Fin
Harry Shearer - Beachgoer (Uncredited)
Steven Spielberg - Amity Point
Lifestation Worker (Voice) (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Steven Spielberg
Based on the Novel/Screenplay - Peter Benchley
Screenplay - Carl Gottlieb
Producers - David Brown and
Richard D. Zanuck
Production Executive - William S. Gilmore
Technical Advisor - Fred Zendar
Production Designer/Second Unit Director
(Uncredited) - Joe Alves
Set Decorator - John M. Dwyer
Director of Photography - Bill Butler
Underwater Photography - Rexford L. Metz
Camera Operator - Michael Chapman
Camera Operators: Live Shark Footage -
Ron & Valerie Taylor
Unit Production Manager - James Fargo
First Assistant Director - Tom Joyner
Second Unit Director (Uncredited)/Film Editor -
Verna Fields
Stunt Coordinator - Ted Grossman (Uncredited)
Special Effects - Robert A. Mattey
Special Mechanical Effects - Roy Arbogast
(Uncredited)
Sound - John R. Carter, Robert L. Hoyt,
Thomas E. Allen (Uncredited), Roger Hernan Jr.
(Uncredited) and Earl Madery (Uncredited)
Music - John Williams


Awards

1976 Academy Awards
Best Sound Effects - Robert L. Hoyt,
Roger Heman Jr, Earl Madery and
John R. Carter (Won)
Best Film Editing - Verna Fields (Won)
Best Original Score - John Williams (Won)
------------------------
Best Picture - Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown
(Nominated)


Review
Story-based on the Amity Island Regatta. WARNING! Due to the intense scenes, this film is unsuitable for young children. JAWS is action-packed and frightening for a feature in the 1970s era and has lots of blood and guts. That's why many people are terrified to enter the water because of this film. This film was truly innovative at its time, with the terrific cast of Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfus, who all gave marvellous performances and the fantastic direction by Steven Spielberg. However, it was an ultimate career-defining move for Spielberg as he went on to do many big hits in Hollywood.

Also, the movie was the first summer blockbuster in history and has inspired other major box office hits, such as Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Dark Knight and more. Oh, did I forget to mention the chilling music score by John Williams? This unmistakable tune leaves your ears ringing and is the best factor of JAWS (a part I loved).

JAWS is one of my favourite Spielberg movies, and I enjoyed it. It's for anyone who wants to see an excellent classic ocean thriller like JAWS. It launched three sequels, Jaws 2, 3 and the infamous Jaws: The Revenge. But none are scarier than the original, nor had Spielberg, who was by no means involved in making any of these films.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Happy Feet Two Review











Happy Feet Two


Release Date: 26th December 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
(presents)
Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
Kennedy Miller Mitchell
Dr. D Studios

Distribution
Roadshow Distribution


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 105 minutes


Budget: $135,000,000

Box Office Gross: $159,196,638 (Worldwide - figure subject to change)


Plot Summary
Mumble, the master of tap,
has a problem because his
tiny son, Erik, is choreo-
phobic. Reluctant to dance,
Erik runs away and
encounters The Mighty Sven
-a penguin who can fly!
Mumble has no hope of
competing with this 
charismatic new role model. 
But things get worse when 
the world is shaken by 
powerful forces. Erik learns
of his father's "guts and grit" 
as Mumble brings together
the penguin nations and 
all manner of fabulous 
creatures-from tiny Krill to 
giant elephant seals-to put 
things right.


Voice Cast
Elijah Wood - Mumble
Robin Williams - Ramon &
Lovelace
Hank Azaria - The Mighty Sven
Ava Acres - Erik
Brad Pitt - Will the Krill
Matt Damon - Bill the Krill
Pink - Gloria
Carlos Alazraqui - Nestor
Lombardo Boyar - Raul
Jeffrey Garcia - Rinaldo
Johnny A. Sanchez - Lombardo
Meibh Campbell - Boadica
Lil P-Nut - Atticus
Sofia Vergara - Carmen
Richard Carter - Bryan the
Beach Master & Trev
Anthony LaPagia - Boss Skua
Hugo Weaving - Noah the Elder
Common - Seymour
Elizabeth Daily - Erik &
Boadica (Singing Voices)

Crew
Writer/Producer/Characters
(Uncredited)/Director - George Miller
Writer/Characters (Uncredited) -
Warren Coleman
Characters - John Collee & Judy Morris
(Uncredited)
Writers - Gary Eck & Paul Livingston
Executive Producers - Bruce Berman,
Graham Burke, Christopher DeFaria
& Philip Hearnshaw
Producers - Bill Mitchell & Doug Mitchell
Co-Producer - Martin Wood
Production Designer/Art Director/
Visual Effects Supervisor - David Nelson
Cinematography: Lighting/Visual Effects Supervisor -
David Dulac
Cinematography - David Peers
Lighting Supervisor - Mathias Lautour
Animation Director - Rob Coleman
Visual Effects Supervisor - Peter MacDonald
Compositing Supervisor - Alex Fry
Choreographer - Dein Perry
Visual Effects Consultant - Chris Cooper
Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer/Supervising
Sound Editor - Wayne Pashley
Film Editor - Christian Gazal
Music - John Powell


Review
'HAPPY FEET TWO' was okay but a mediocre sequel to the first 'Happy Feet' movie. This is because of the subplot that focuses on the two Krill characters that were voiced by Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. This subplot has nothing to do with the film's main story-line. Most of the original movie's voice cast, such as Elijah Wood and Robin Williams, have returned to portray their characters. I praise the work of the singer Pink who did a good job of voicing Gloria after inheriting the role from the late Brittany Murphy. Pink's cover of Queen's classic song "Under Pressure" enhances the film's climax.

For anyone who has seen its predecessor, 'HAPPY FEET TWO' is not as good as the original but would have been better if it had focused more on the main story instead of the Krill subplot.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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