Thursday, March 29, 2012

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Review










Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull


Release Date: 22nd May 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution 
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action/Adventure

Rating: M

Runtime: 122 minutes


Budget: $185,000,000

Box Office Gross: $786,636,033 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
It is 1957, the height of
the Cold War. After returning
from his latest expedition,
famed archeologist Indiana Jones is at risk of losing his job at Marshall College. Then Indy meets a teenage rebel, Mutt Williams, who wants Indy's help to find the legendary Skull of Akator, and the two of them set off for Peru. But the Soviets are tailing them in their search, led by the brilliant Irina Spalko, who will stop at nothing to obtain the skull and use its powers to conquer the West.


Cast
Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones
Shia LaBeouf - Mutt Williams
Cate Blanchett - Irina Spalko
Karen Allen - Marion Ravenwood
Ray Winstone - George "Mac"
McHale
John Hurt - Harold "Ox" Oxley
Jim Broadbent - Dean Charles Stanforth
Igor Jijikine - Dovchenko
Dmitri Diatchenko - Russian Suit
Ilia Volok - Russian Suit
Alan Dale - General Ross
Joel Stoffer - Taylor
Neil Flynn - Smith
Chet Hanks - Student in Library
Sasha Spielberg - Slugger
Nito Larioza - Cemetery Warrior
Ernie Reyes Jr. - Cemetery Warrior

Crew
Director - Steven Spielberg
Based on Characters/Story/
Executive Producer - George Lucas
Based on Characters - Philip Kaufman
Story - Jeff Nathanson
Screenplay - David Koepp
Script Supervisor - Ana Maria Quintana
Associate Producer - Kristie Macosko Krieger
Executive Producer - Kathleen Kennedy
Producer - Frank Marshall
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Denis L. Stewart
Casting Director - Debra Zane
Production Designer - Guy Hendrix Dyas
Supervising Art Director - Mark W. Mansbridge
Art Directors - Luke Freeborn,
Lawrence A. Hubbs, Lauren E. Polizzi,
Troy Sizemore and Mario Ventenilla
Illustrators - Rodolfo Damaggio,
Colin Grant, Ed Natividad, Nathan Schroeder
and Miles Teves
Storyboard Artists - Chris Baker
and David Lowery
Set Decorator - Larry Dias
Set Decorators: Connecituit Crew -
Alyssa Winter and Beth Rubino
Property Master - Doug Harlocker
Costume Designers - Mary Zophres
and Jenny Eagan
Costume Designer: Harrison Ford -
Bernie Pollack
Assistant Costume Designer - Ann Foley
Costume Supervisor - Bob Morgan
Makeup Department Head - Felicity Bowring
Makeup Artist - Ken Diaz
Hair Department Head - Kelvin R. Trahan
Director of Photography - Janusz Kaminski
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Flavio Martínez Labiano
Director of Photography: Aerial Unit -
Reed Smoot
Camera Operator - Mitch Dubin
Production Supervisor: Aerial Unit/
Supervising Location Manager - Mike Fantasia
Location Manager: New Mexico Crew -
David Manzanares
First Assistant Director - Adam Somner
First Assistant Director: Second Unit -
Lisa C. Satriano
First Assistant Director: Aerial Unit -
Michael Salven
Second Unit Director - Dan Bradley
Aerial Unit Director/Visual Effects Supervisor -
Pablo Helman
Stunt Coordinator - Gary Powell
Stunt Fight Coordinator - Ben Cooke
Stunt Rigging Coordinator - Diz Sharpe
Sword Trainer - Thomas DuPont
Whip Trainers - Anthony De Longis
and Doc Duhame
Animal Wrangler - Jules Sylvester
Aerial Coordinator: Aerial Unit - Craig Hosking
Special Effects Coordinator - Daniel Sudick
Special Effects Supervisor: Kerner Optical -
Geoff Heron
Effects Supervisor: Stan Winston Studio -
John Rosengrant
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM -
Marshal Richard Krasser
Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Stephanie Hornish
Executive Producer: ILM - Janet Lewin
Visual Effects Art Director - Christian Alzmann
Concept Artists: ILM - Warren Fu,
David Nakabayashi and David Yee
Digital Production Supervisor: ILM - Jeff White
Associate Production Manager: ILM - Erin D. O'Connor
Lead TD Supervisor: ILM - Craig Hammack
TD Supervisors: ILM - Hayden Landis and
David Meny
Animation Supervisor: ILM - Steve Rawlins
Digital Matte Supervisor: ILM - Richard Bluff
Digital Compositing Supervisors: ILM -
Jay Cooper and Sean MacKenzie
Layout Supervisor: ILM - Jason Snell
Digital Model Supervisors: ILM - Dave Fogler
and Jung-Seung Hong
Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Steve Walton
Creature & Simulations Supervisor: ILM - Eric Wong
Roto & Paint Supervisors: ILM - Patrick Jarvis
and Lance Baetkey
Model Supervisor: Kerner Optical - Brian Gernand
Lead Model Makers: Kerner Optical -
Nicholas D'Abo and Michael Lynch
Director of Photography: Kerner Optical -
Martin Rosenberg
Previsualization Supervisor - Daniel D. Gregoire
Editor - Michael Kahn
Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -
Ben Burtt
Supervising Sound Editor - Richard Hymns
Additional Sound Design/Re-Recording Mixer -
Christopher Scarabosuo
Sound Effects Editors - Shannon Mills,
Tim Nielsen, Krysten Mate and
Addison Teague
Sound Mixer - Ron Judkins
ADR Supervisor - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Re-Recording Mixer - Andy Nelson
Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe,
Jana Vance and Ellen Heuer
Music - John Williams
Music Scoring Mixer - Shawn Murphy


Review
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL may have brought back the archaeologist hero to the big screen. Unfortunately, it feels more like a pulp sci-fi adventure than the pulp adventure fantasy we know in the previous instalments. Even the ending took away the mysticism that the three previous Indiana Jones movies had, as it is bizarre. There are several other weak points, such as a convoluted storyline, hokey dialogue and overused CGI. I find the scene where Indiana hides in a fridge to escape from a nuclear blast quite impossible but funny and out-of-place.

However, the acting was great, especially Harrison Ford, who still did a splendid job playing the title character, something he'd not done since The Last CrusadeNewcomers to the film, such as Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett, try to improve the movie with their performances, but it falls flat compared to the original series. I loved the hilarious scene when he refuses to grab the rattlesnake while sinking in dry sand.

Those who have seen the Indiana Jones films will find the latest to be the weakest link in the series. It still has terrific action and a bit of the series' flavour.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

Back to Home

Monday, March 26, 2012

Click Review












Click


Release Date: 22nd June 2006 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures Corporation
(presents)
Revolution Studios (presents)
Happy Madison Productions
Original Film

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 97 minutes
                100 minutes (extended version)


Budget: $82,500,000

Box Office Gross: $237,681,299
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The architect Michael Newman
has a typical middle-class
family with his lovely and
gorgeous wife Donna and
their son Ben and daughter
Samantha, and a constant
visit of his parents. However,
Michael is workaholic and
under stress, trying to satisfy
his boss with overwork and
get a partnership in his
company, giving priority to
his work and neglecting the
family issues.

When the tired Michael goes
to a department store to buy
an universal remote control,
he rests on a bed and he
meets the weird salesman
Morty that offers him a
remote control capable of
controlling his own universe.
Michael uses too much and
loses the control of the
device, having his own life
controlled by the remote
control. Then Michael sees
the worthwhile parts of
his personal life he missed
while working, and in the
end of his life he lately
concludes that the family
comes first.


Cast
Adam Sandler - Michael Newman
Kate Beckinsale - Donna Newman
Christopher Walken - Morty
David Hasselhoff - John Ammer
Henry Winkler - Ted Newman
Julie Kavner - Trudy Newman
Sean Astin - Bill
Joseph Castanon - Ben Newman
Tatum McCann - Samantha Newman
Jonah Hill - Teenage Ben
Lorraine Nicholson - Teenage Samantha
Jake Hoffman - Adult Ben
Katie Cassidy - Adult Samantha
Cameron Monaghan - Kevin O'Doyle
Rob Schieder - Prince
Habeeeboo (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
James Earl Jones - Narrator/Himself
(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Frank Coraci
Writers/Producers - Steve Koren &
Mark O'Keefe
Producers - Adam Sandler,
Jack Giarraputo & Neal H. Moritz
Co-Producer - Tania Landau
Production Designer - Perry
Andelin Blake
Special Makeup Effects - Rick Baker
Director of Photography - Dean Semler
Film Editor - Jeff Gourson
Music - Rupert Gregson-Williams


Awards

2007 Academy Awards
Best Make-up - Kazuhiro Tsuji and Bill Corso (Nominated)


Review
'CLICK' can be quite a funny movie from Adam Sandler, but it contains scenes which can bring a tear in your eye. Nothing that I saw couldn't be in the actor's previous comedies and that's the only time some emotion is found in Sandler's lowbrow comedy. The humorous parts of the film I've liked includes Sandler's character mistakenly congratulates the wrong kid instead of his own son. I kind of liked the imagining concept of what would life be like if you had the power of a universal remote to rewind, fast forward, pause, mute and slow-mo time. I also loved the narration cameo by James Earl Jones and in one scene, he upstages Adam Sandler in his ever-seen presence.

Oh my, what fun you could have! 'CLICK' is such a enjoyable movie, one filled with constant laughs and positive energy from all the actors.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Back to Home

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Starchaser: The Legend of Orin Review







Starchaser: The Legend of Orin


Release Date: 21st August 1986 - Australia


Production Companies
Young Sung Production Co.


Genre: Animation

Rating: M

Runtime: 107 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $3,360,800 (USA)

 
Plot Summary
Set on the subterranean
Mine-World, a band of
human workers are
treated like slaves under
the power of the evil
overlord Zygon until one,
Orin, unearths the hilt
of a mythical sword that
only he can master.
Escaping the planet, he
runs into the rogue
smuggler Dagg and a
pair of helpful droids
and the princess, who all
team up to return to the
Mine-World with a plan
to defeat Zygon and free
Orin's enslaved people.
(Source - IMDb)


Voice Cast
Joe Colligan - Orin
Carmen Argenziano - Dagg Dibrimi
Anthony De Longis - Zygon/
Nexus
Noelle North - Elan/Aviana
Les Tremayne - Arthur
Ken Sansom - Magreb
John Moschitta Jr. - Z'Gork
Daryl Bartley - Kallie
Herb Vigran - Hopps
Tyke Caravelli - Silica
Tina Romanus - Aunt Bella
Thomas H. Watkins - Boro
Mickey Morton - Minemaster
Mona Marshall - Kallie
Dennis Alwood - Shooter

Crew
Producer/Director - Steven Hahn
Writer - Jeffrey Scott
Executive Producers - Thomas Coleman & 
Michael Rosenblatt
Art Director - Lee Hyun Se
Character Designer - Louise Zingarelli
Animation Directors - Jang Gil Kim &
Mitch Rochon
Background Designer - Tim Callahan
Background Designer/Layout Supervisor -
Roy Allen Smith 
Background Supervisors - Youngku Kim
& Carol Kieffer Police
Camera Supervisor - Charles Flekal
Special Visual Effects/Effects Animator -
Michael Wolf
Computer Animation Graphics - Patricia Capozzi
& Edith Fandrey
Film Editor/Sound Designer - Donald W. Ernst
Electronic/Synthesized Sound Effects - Stan Levine
Music - Andrew Belling


Review
'STARCHASER: THE LEGEND OF ORIN' is surprisingly one of the earliest animated features to use computer animation and the first to be shown in 3D. The first half of the film and the female android character were decent, but I'm pretty disappointed that it rips off the 'Star Wars' movies. This is because 'STARCHASER' has several features seen in Lucas's trilogy such as a dark lord, a smuggler and even a princess. An unlikely hero who has to save the world.

For those who haven't seen the movie, you'd be better off watching 'Star Wars' or other animated sci-fi-efforts such as 'Titan A.E', 'Treasure Planet' and 'WALL-E'. However, if you are a fan of old animations of the 1980s, then go for it.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

Back to Home

Monday, March 19, 2012

Waterworld Review







Waterworld


Release Date: 14th September 1995 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Gordon Company
Davis Entertainment
Licht/Mueller Film Corporation

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 135 minutes
                176 minutes
                (extended cut)


Budget: $175,000,000

Box Office Gross: $264,218,220 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Set in a post-apocalyptic
future where most of Earth
is flooded with water,
thanks to the polar ice caps
melting. The human race
struggles for survival on
dilapidated boats and
makeshift floating cities
called atolls. Legends tell
of a mythical place called
"Dryland," which some
cling to it.

The Mariner is a mysterious
drifter/adventurer and a
loner by nature. He
reluctantly bonds with Helen
and her adoptive daughter,
Enola, as they flee a hostile
artificial island. Soon, they
find themselves pursued
by the sinister Smokers,
led by the evil Deacon, who
believe Enola is the key
to finding the mythical
Dryland.


Cast
Kevin Costner - The Mariner
Dennis Hopper - Deacon
Tina Majorino - Enola
Jeanne Tripplehorn - Helen
Michael Jeter - Old Gregor
Gerard Murphy - The Nord
Rick Aviles - Gatesman #1
R.D. Call - Enforcer
Kim Coates - Drifter #2
Robert Joy - Ledger Guy
John Fleck - Doctor
David Finnegan - Toby
William Preston - Depth Gauge Guy
Sean Whalen - Bone
Robert LaSardo - Smitty
Lee Arenberg - Djeng
Doug Spinuzza - Truan
Jack Black - Pilot (Cameo)
John Toles-Bey - Plane Gunner
Zitto Kazann - Elder #1/Survivor #1
Leonardo Cimino - Elder #2
Robert A. Silverman - Hydroholic
Zakes Mokae - Priam
Sab Shimono - Elder #1
Neil Giuntoli - Hellfire Gunner
Jack Kehler - Banker
Chris Douridas - Atoller #7
Hal Douglas - Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Kevin Reynolds
Writers - Peter Rader and David Twohy
Script Supervisor - Ana Maria Quintana
Executive Producers - Ilona Herzberg,
Andrew Licht and Jeffrey A. Mueller
Producers - Charles & Lawrence Gordon
(Uncredited), John Davis and Kevin Costner
Casting Director - David Rubin
Creative Consultant: Second Unit - Bud S. Smith
Production Designer - Dennis Gassner
Art Director - David F. Klassen
Assistant Art Directors - Steve Burg
and Richard F. Mays
Lead Scenic Artist - Michael Denering (Uncredited)
Set Decorator - Nancy Haigh
Property Master - Michael Milgrom
Costume Designer - John Bloomfield
Armorers - Harry Lu, Dan Sprague
and Syd Stembridge
Director of Photography - Dean Semler
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Gary Capo
Underwater Photographer - Pete Romano
"A" Camera/Steadicam Operator - Mark O'Kane
Camera Operators: Second Unit - Michael Ferris
and Aaron Pazanti
Underwater Assistant Camera - Wayne Baker
and Cynthia Pusheck
Production Manager - John J. Smith
Key Set Production Assistant - David Bernstein
First Assistant Directors - Alan B. Curtiss
and David Sardi
First Assistant Directors: Second Unit -
George Parra and Michael Green
First Assistant Directors: Visual Effects Units -
K.C. Hodenfield and Matthew Rowland
Second Assistant Director - Robert Huberman
Second Unit Directors - David R. Ellis
and Mickey Gilbert
Stunt Coordinator - R.A. Rondell
Stunt Coordinator: Kevin Costner -
Norman Howell
Stunt Rigging Coordinator - Gregg Smrz
Aerial Coordinator: Second Unit - Craig Hosking
Special Effects Coordinator - Martin R. Bresin
Physical Effects Designer - Peter Chesney
Special Effects Coordinators: Second Unit -
Archie Ahuna, John Frazier, Chuck Gaspar
and Michael Schorr
Visual Effects Supervisor - Michael J. McAlister
Post Effects Supervisor - Chris Watts
Visual Effects Producer - Kimberly Nelson LoCascio
Visual Effects Directors of Photography -
Mark Vargo and Alex Funke
Visual Effects Camera Operator - Kurt E. Soderling
Digital Effects Supervisor - Theresa Ellis Rygiel
Senior Digital Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -
Brad Kuehn
Digital Effects Supervisor: Cinesite - James E. Price
Digital Effects Supervisor: Boss Film Studios -
Sean Phillips
CG Supervisor: Cinesite - Wendy Rogers
Digital Paint Supervisor: Cinesite - Kevin Lingenfelser
Miniature Supervisors: Stetson Visual Services -
Robert Spurlock and Mark Stetson
Effects Supervisor: Stetson Visual Services -
John K. Stirber
Film Editor - Peter Boyle
Associate Editor - Jonathan Lucas
Sound Editors - Lou Angelo, David A. Arnold,
Simon Coke, Gordon Davidson, Teri E. Dorman,
Michael Haight, Andy Kopetzky, Dave Kulczycki,
Larry Mann, Chuck & Nash Michael,
Harry Miller III, Bob Newlan, Mark Pappas,
Rodger Pardee, Karen Wilson and Gary Wright
Re-Recording Mixers - Steve Maslow
and Gregg Landaker
Additional Re-Recording Mixers - Bill Benton
and Chris Carpenter
Foley Artists - Dan O'Connell, Gary A. Hecker,
John Roesch (Uncredited) and Alicia Stevenson
(Uncredited)
Music - James Newton Howard
Score Recordist and Mixer - Bruce Botnick


Awards

1996 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker
and Keith A. Wester (Nominated)


Review
As you might call it, Mad Max on water, WATERWORLD had an excellent concept about Earth getting covered in water. One problem in the movie is that the storyline has several unexplained answers and even loose ends, including the ending. The sets, action scenes and music score by James Newton Howard are all tremendous, but Kevin Costner's performance as The Mariner was a fine job. I find the part where Costner's character turns his wee into drinking water very disgusting, and I should have known that Jack Black had a small role in the film.

WATERWORLD is by no means a bad movie, just poorly edited. That is why it couldn't be as successful as it could have been, but it was enjoyable. The fans of WATERWORLD will have to wait for the answered questions in the film's extended cut. The uncompressed version is available on DVD and Blu-ray but is not for fans outside of North America.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Back to Home

Thursday, March 15, 2012

John Carter Review








John Carter


Release Date: 8th March 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures (presents)

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 132 minutes


Budget: $263,700,000

Box Office Gross: $284,139,100
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
John Carter is transported
from 19th century America 
to Mars "Barsoom" to its 
residents where he becomes 
embroiled in a brutal civil 
war.


Cast
Taylor Kitsch - John Carter
Lynn Collins - Dejah Thoris
Samantha Morton - Sola
Willem Dafoe - Tars Tarkas
Thomas Haden Church - Tal Hajus
Mark Strong - Matai Shang
Ciaran Hinds - Tardos Mars
Dominic West - Sab Than
James Purefoy - Kantos Kan
Bryan Cranston - Colonel Powell
Polly Walker - Sarkoja
Daryl Sabara - Edgar Rice Burroughs
Nicholas Woodeson - Dalton
Rupert Frazer - Thompson
Amanda Clayton - Sarah Carter
Figs Jackman - Man in the Bowler
David Schwimmer - Young Thark Warrior (Cameo)
Jon Favreau - Thark Bookie (Cameo)

Crew
Screenplay/Director - Andrew Stanton
Based on Novel "A Princess of
Mars" - Edgar Rice Burroughs
Screenplay/Second Unit
Director - Mark Andrews
Screenplay - Michael Chabon
Producers - Lindsey Collins,
Jim Morris & Colin Wilson
Alien Language Developer -
Paul R. Frommer
Production Designer - Nathan Crowley
Supervising Art Directors - James Hambidge & Naaman Marshall
Senior Art Director - David Allday
Makeup Designer - Bill Corso
Costume Designer - Mayes C. Rubeo
Director of Photography - Daniel Mindel
Second Unit Director - Mark Andrews
Second Unit Director: Additional Photography, Los Angeles/
Special Visual Effects Consultant - Eric Brevig
Stunt Coordinator - Tom Struthers
Swordmaster - Kevin McCurdy
Special Effects Supervisor - Chris Corbould
Special Effects Coordinator - Scott R. Fisher
Visual Effects Supervisors - Peter Chiang & 
Sue Rowe
Visual Effects Supervisors: Double Negative -
Ken McCaugh & Paul Riddle
Visual Effects Supervisors: Cinesite - Simon Stanley-Clamp,
Zave Jackson, Helen Newby & Andy Robinson
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Adam Valdez
Animation Supervisor - Eamonn Butler
Animation Supervisor: Digital Domain - Stephen Aplin
Character Design Supervisor - John Rosengrant
Film Editor - Eric Zumbrunnen
Sound Consultation - Ben Burtt & Ren Kylce
Music - Michael Giacchino


Review
I never knew that 'JOHN CARTER' could be quite the visual spectacle that it was. Now I realise it's a good sci-fi movie with plenty of visual effects. I certainly give thanks to its director Andrew Stanton who finally brought Edgar Rice Burroughs' first novel of the Barsoom series to the big screen. It is something that others failed to do in 81 years. The 'John Carter' books have influenced such filmmakers as George Lucas and James Cameron into making sci-fi features as the 'Star Wars' trilogy and 'Avatar'. The film's 3D aspect is really something, but I would say that the acting performances including Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Mark Strong and others are terrific.

It's pretty bad that 'JOHN CARTER' bombed at the box office, because it is such a misunderstood film. It really deserves a cult following from those who have read the books of Carter and get a chance to see the movie.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Back to Home

Monday, March 12, 2012

Mission: Impossible Review














Mission: Impossible


Release Date: 26th June 1996 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Cruise/Wagner Productions

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 110 minutes


Budget: $80,000,000

Box Office Gross: $457,696,359 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Jim Phelps was on a
mission to Prague to
prevent the theft of
classified material. The
members of Phelps' team
were his wife, Claire and
trusted partner Ethan Hunt.
Unfortunately, the mission
failed when something
went  wrong, leaving Ethan
Hunt as the sole survivor.
After reporting the failed
mission, Kittridge, who heads
the agency, suspects Ethan of
being to blame for the failed
mission. Now on the run,
Hunt enlists brilliant hacker
Luther Stickell and maverick
pilot Franz Krieger to
infiltrate a heavily guarded
CIA building and retrieve a
secret computer file that will
prove he is innocent.


Cast
Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt
Jon Voight - Jim Phelps
Emmanuelle Beart - Claire
Phelps
Henry Czerny - Eugene
Kittridge
Jean Reno - Franz Krieger
Ving Rhames - Luther Stickell
Kristin Scott Thomas - Sarah Davies
Vanessa Redgrave - Max
Ingeborga Dapkunaite - Hannah Williams
Karel Dobry - Matthias
David Shaeffer - Diplomat Rand Housman
Rudolf Pechan - Mayor Brandl
Gaston Å ubert - Jaroslav Reid
Marcel Iures - Alexander Golitsyn
Dale Dye - Frank Barnes
Ion Caramitru - Zozimov
Emilo Estevez - Jack Harnon
(Uncredited)
Rolf Saxon - CIA Analyst William Donloe
Garrick Hagon - CNN Reporter
Laura Brook - Margaret Hunt
Morgan Deare - Donald Hunt

Crew
Director - Brian de Palma
Based on the Television Series - Bruce Geller
Story/Screenplay - David Koepp
Story - Steven Zallian
Screenplay - Robert Towne
Executive Producer - Paul Hitchcock
Producers - Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner
Casting Director - Mali Finn
Production Designer - Norman Reynolds
Conceptual Artists - Tom Southwell
and Dick Lasley
Supervising Art Director - Fred Hole
Assistant Art Director - David Lee
Set Decorator - Peter Howitt
Special Makeup Effects - Rob Bottin
Chief Makeup Designer - Lois Burwell
Key Makeup Artist - Amanda Knight
Chief Hair Stylist - Eithne Fennel
Hair Stylist - Lisa Tomblin
Costume Designers - Penny Rose and
Timothy Everest (Uncredited)
Wardrobe Supervisor - Ken Crouch
Director of Photography - Stephen H. Burum
Second Unit Director of Photography -
Ernest Day
Steadicam Operator - Larry McConkey
Aerial Cameraperson: Second Unit Scotland -
David B. Nowell
Aerial Cameraman: Washington Unit - Michael Kelem
Location Manager: Second Unit Scotland - Robin Higgs
Unit Production Manager - Steve Harding
Unit Manager First Assistant: Second Unit
Scotland - Kevin de la Noy
First Assistant Director - Chris Soldo
Second Assistant Director - Michael Stevenson
Second Unit Director - Eric Schwab
Stunt Coordinator - Greg Powell
Helicopter Coordinator/Pilot: Second Unit Scotland -
David Paris
Helicopter Pilot: Second Unit Scotland -
Marc Woolf
Special Effects Coordinator - Lyn Nicholson
Special Effects Supervisor: All Effects Company -
Eric Allard
Visual Effects Supervisor - Richard Yuricich
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - John Knoll
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Joe Letteri
Visual Effects Producers: CFC - Dennis Michelson
and Alison O'Brien
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - George Hull
Creative Advisor: ILM - Dennis Muren
Visual Effects Director of Photography: ILM, London
Bluescreen Photography Unit - Kim Marks
Visual Effects Director of Photography: ILM,
Helicopter Crash Sequence Unit - Martin Rosenberg
Visual Effects Stage Manager: ILM, Helicopter Crash
Sequence Unit - Edward T. Hirsh
Supervising Model Maker: ILM, Helicopter Crash
Sequence Unit - Steve Gawley
Computer/Video Effects Supervisor - Andrew Eio
Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -
Tom L. Hutchinson and George Murphy
Senior Digital Effects Artists: ILM - Patrick T. Myers
and Andy White
Digital Matte Artist: ILM - Paul Huston
Digital Animatic/Pre-Visualization Artist (Uncredited):
ILM - David Dozoretz
Sabre Compositing/Lead Inferno Artist (Uncredited):
ILM - Sheena Duggal
Editor - Paul Hirsch
Supervising Sound Editor - Tom Bellfort
Sound Designer - Christopher Boyes
Sound Effects Editors - Christopher Scarabosio
and Robert Shoup
Re-Recording Mixer/Score Recordist
and Mixer - Shawn Murphy
Re-Recording Mixers - Gary Rydstrom,
Gary Summers and Anand Pawar (Uncredited)
Additional Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett
and Chris Jenkins
Dialogue Editors - Michael Silvers and
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Foley Artists - Tom Barwick and Dennie Thorpe
Foley Mixer - Tony Eckert
Foley Editors - Marian Wilde,
Matthew Wood and Tammy Fearing (Uncredited)
Music - Danny Elfman
Composer: Theme from Mission: Impossible -
Lalo Schifrin
Performers/Producers: Theme from Mission:
Impossible - Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton


Review
While being the first of the four movies, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (M: I) is an unforgettable spy movie with a clever and deceptive storyline. It is a blend of spy-stylised espionage action mixed with humour and romance and brilliantly directed by Brian de Palma. The things in the movie I praise are the acting of Tom Cruise and Jon Voight, who both delivered their roles with conviction and enthusiasm and the final but fantastic action sequence, which involves a chopper and a train.

M: I1 was a great movie, but not as good as the recent M: I movie Ghost ProtocolThere are talks of a fifth Impossible movie that would star Cruise, and Brad Bird might not be directing it.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Back to Home

Monday, March 5, 2012

Grown Ups Review











Grown Ups


Release Date: 24th June 2010 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures (presents)
Happy Madison Productions
Relativity Media (in association with)

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 102 minutes


Budget: $80,000,000

Box Office Gross: $271,457,301 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Five friends reunite when they drag their families to attend the funeral of their high school basketball coach. And to spend the weekend at the lakehouse where they used to hang out.


Cast
Adam Sandler - Lenny "Hollywood" Feder
Salma Hayek - Roxanne Chase-Feder
Jake Goldberg - Greg Feder
Cameron Boyce - Keithie Feder
Alexys Nycole Sanchez - Becky Feder
Kevin James - Eric Lamonsoff
Maria Bello - Sally Lamonsoff
Ada-Nicole Sanger - Donna Lamonsoff
Frank & Morgan Gingerich -
Bean Lamonsoff
Chris Rock - Kurt McKenzie
Maya Rudolph - Deanne McKenzie
Nadji Jeter - Andre McKenzie
China Anne McClain - Charlotte McKenzie
Ebony Jo-Ann - Mama Ronzoni
Rob Schneider - Rob Hillard
Joyce Van Patten - Gloria Hillard
Madison Riley - Jasmine Hillard
Jamie Chung - Amber Hillard
Ashley Loren - Bridget Hillard
David Spade - Marcus "Higgy" Higgins
Blake Clark - Coach
Colin Quinn - Dickie Bailey
Steve Buscemi - Wiley
Di Quon - Rita
Norm McDonald - Geezer
Jonathan Loughran - Robideaux
Kevin Grady - Muzby (Cameo)
Richie Minervini - Tardio
Jackie Sandler - Tardio's Wife (Cameo)
Sadie Sandler - Tardio's Daughter (Cameo)
Sunny Sandler - Tardio's Daughter (Cameo)
Dennis Dugan - Referee (Cameo)
Lisa M. Francis - Bailey's Wife
Berkeley Holman - Bailey's Son
Michael Cavaleri - Young Lenny Feder
Andrew Bayard - Young Eric Lamonsoff
Jameel McGill - Young Kurt McKenzie
Kyle Brooks - Young Marcus Higgins
Joshua Matz - Young Rob Hillard
J.D. Donaruma - Higgins' Father (Cameo)
Alec Musser - Water Park Stud
Henriette Mantel - Waitress
Hunter Silva - Young Bailey
Christopher Borger - Young Malcolm
Connor Panzner - Young Robideaux
Jeremy Weaver - Young Muzby
Daniel Cohen - Young Tardio
Tim Herlihy - Pastor (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Dennis Dugan
Writer/Producer - Adam Sandler
Writer - Fred Wolf
Executive Producers - Barry Bernardi,
Allen Covert, Tim Herlihy and Steve Koren
Producer - Jack Giarraputo
Co-Producer/Additional Music Supervisor -
Kevin Grady
Casting Directors - Roger Mussenden
and Jeremy Rich
Sports Coordinator - Mark Robert Ellis
Production Designer - Perry Andelin Blake
Art Director - Alan Au
Set Decorator - Claire Kaufman
Property Master - Timothy S. Wiles
Costume Designer - Ellen Luther
Director of Photography - Theo van de Sande
Stunt Coordinator - Scott Rogers
Special Effects Coordinator - Allen Hall
Special Effects Technician - John Ruggieri
Editor - Tom Costain
Supervising Sound Editors - Elmo Weber
and Frank Gaeta
Re-Recording Mixers - Tateum Kohut
and Greg Orloff
Music - Rupert-Gregson Williams
Music Supervisors - Michael Dilbeck
and Brooks Arthur
Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson


Review
GROWN UPS is a fantastic movie packed with some laughs scene after scene. It featured comedic talents from actors like Kevin James, Rob Scheider, Chris Rock, David Spade and Adam Sandler. The famous crew is well-known for their films from Happy Madison, and I heard that most people hated GROWN UPS because the film was conceived as a poor excuse for a buddy comedy by Sandler and his friends when they were on vacation. I assumed it was a comedic version of The Expendables because all the comedy stars got together for this movie.

Sandler and his acting cohorts have decent chemistry in the film. Ironic to a delight, Steve Buscemi is in an extended cameo appearance and is Sandler's other collaborator when appearing in some of his work. The two amusing scenes include the little girl wanting to get chocolate wasted and the muscle man at the water park who speaks in a funny voice.

GROWN UPS may not be like the other Adam Sandler movies or compared to Happy Gilmore, but this has been his work for some time and is my favourite.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

Back to Home