Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Iron Man Review









Iron Man


Release Date: 1st May 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Marvel Enterprises (presents)
Marvel Studios
Fairview Entertainment (in association with)
Dark Blades Films

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 126 minutes


Budget: $140,000,000

Box Office Gross: $585,796,247 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When wealthy philanthropist Tony Stark ventures into Iraq territory for a weapons demonstration, he gets injured and is captured by Afghan terrorists who take him to their hideout. While imprisoned, Tony invents a weaponised suit of armour and uses it in an escape attempt. He safely returns home and uses his high-tech to perfect the armour, becoming the world's saviour Iron Man.


Cast
Robert Downey Jr. - Tony
Stark/Iron Man
Terence Howard - Lt. Colonel
James "Rhodey" Rhodes
Jeff Bridges - Obadiah Stane
Gwyneth Paltrow - Virginia
"Pepper" Potts
Shaun Toub - Dr. Yinsen
Faran Tahir - Raza
Paul Bettany - JARVIS (Voice)
Jon Favreau - Hogan
Leslie Bibb - Christine Everhart
Clark Gregg - Agent Phil
Coulson
Bill Smitrovich - General Gabriel
Sayed Badreya - Abu Bakaar
Peter Billingsley - William
Ginter Riva
Tim Guinee - Major Allen
Kevin Foster - Jimmy
Garrett Noel - Pratt
Eileen Weisinger - Ramirez
Ahmed Ahmed - Ahmed
Fahim Fazli - Omar
Gerard Sanders - Howard Stark
Nazanin Boniadi - Amira Ahmed
Thomas Craig Plumer - Colonel Craig
Jim Cramer - Himself (Cameo)
Stan Lee - Himself (Cameo)
Samuel L. Jackson - Nick Fury (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Executive Producer/Director - Jon Favreau
Based on the Marvel Comic Book/
Executive Producer - Stan Lee
Based on the Marvel Comic Book -
Don Heck, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby
Screenplay - Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby,
Art Marcum and Mark Holloway
Script Supervisors - Rebecca Robertson
and Cristina Weigmann
Executive Producers - Ari Arad,
Peter Billingsley, Jeremy Latcham
and David Maisel
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Louis D'Esposito
Executive Producer/Executive in Charge of
Production - Ross Fanger
Producers - Avid Arad and Kevin Feige
Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer -
Victoria Alonso
Military Advisor - Harry Humphries
Casting Directors - Sarah Finn
and Randi Hiller
Production Designer - J. Michael Riva
Supervising Art Director - David F. Klassen
Art Directors - Richard F. Mays
and Susan Wexler
Set Decorator - Lauri Gaffin
Property Master - Russell Bobbitt
Costume Designers - Rebecca Gregg
and Laura Jean Shannon
Suit Consultant - Adi Granov
Director of Photography/A-Camera Operator -
Matthew Libatique
Additional Photography - Gabriel Beristain
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Jonathan Taylor
Aerial Director of Photography - David B. Nowell
Aerial Camera Operator - Craig O'Brien
Helicopter Pilot - Kevin LaRosa
First Assistant Camera: "B" Camera - Taylor Matheson
Production Supervisor - David J. Grant
First Assistant Director - Eric Heffron
Second Assistant Director - Michael J. Moore
Second Assistant Director: Second Unit -
Chris Castaldi
Additional Second Second Assistant Director -
Marvin Williams
Second Unit Director - Phil Neilson
Location Managers - Molly Allen
and Liz Matthews
Stunt Coordinator - Thomas Robinson Harper
Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Keith Woulard
Aerial Stunt Coordinator - Tim Rigby
Special Effects Coordinator - Daniel Sudick
Special Effects - Stan Winston (Uncredited)
Suit Model Department Key Coordinator:
Stan Winston Studio - David Merritt
Second Unit Co-Coordinator: Stan Winston
Studio - Christopher Swift
Studio Co-Adminstrator: Stan Winston Studio -
John Rosengrant
Visual Effects Supervisor - John Nelson
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Ben Snow
Visual Effects Supervisor: The Orphanage -
Jonathan Rothbart
Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola Visual Effects -
Edson Williams
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Wesley Sewell
Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Wayne Billheimer
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Aaron McBride
Physical Suit Effects Supervisor - Shane Mahan
Visualisation/HUD Effects Supervisor - Kent Seki
Animation Supervisor: ILM - Hal T. Hickel
Associate Animation Supervisor: ILM - Marc Chu
Digital Production Supervisor: ILM - Douglas Smythe
Compositing Supervisor: ILM - Jeff Sutherland
CG Supervisor: ILM - Philippe Rebours
Digital Model Supervisor: ILM - Bruce Holcomb
Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Ron Woodall
Creature Supervisor: ILM - James Tooley
Film Editor - Dan Lebental
Additional Editors - Derek Brechin,
Greg Parsons and Michael Tronick
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor
(Uncredited)/Re-Recording Mixer - Christopher Boyes
Sound Designer - Shannon Mills
Supervising Sound Editor - Frank E. Eulner
ADR Supervisor - Michael Silvers
ADR Editor - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Sound Mixer - Mark Ulano
Foley Mixer - Frank Rinella
Foley Artists - Ronni Brown,
Ellen Heuer, Dennie Thorpe and
Lana Vance
Re-Recording Mixer - Lora Hirschberg
Music - Ramin Djawadi
Additional Music Arranger/Composer/
Musician: Drums - Ryeland Allison
Additional Music Arrangers/Composers -
Lorne Balfe, Clay Duncan, Bobby Tahouri
and Atli Orvarsson (Uncredited)
Music Supervisor - Dave Jordan
Executive Music Producer - Hans Zimmer
Score Recordist - Geoff Foster
Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson


Awards

2009 Academy Awards
Best Sound Editing - Frank E. Eulner and
Christopher Boyes (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - John Nelson, Ben Snow,
Daniel Sudick and Shane Mahan (Nominated)


Review
Stunning and completely extraordinary, IRON MAN is possibly Jon Favreau's best movie he ever directed. The feature takes on the gained interest of Marvel's comic book readers. It had splendid action, visuals and remarkable acting performances by Robert Downey Jr., who stars as Iron Man and Jeff Bridges, who plays a villain.

While IRON MAN is an enjoyable superhero feature, I stand corrected that DC Comics reigns supreme over Marvel. I am and always will be loyal to DC.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, April 23, 2012

The Pirates! Band of Misfits Review












The Pirates! Band of Misfits


Release Date: 5th April 2012 - Australia



Production Companies
Aardman Animations
Sony Pictures Animation

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia



Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 88 minutes


Budget: $60,000,000

Box Office Gross: $123,054,041
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The Pirate Captain sets out
on a mission to defeat his
rivals Black Bellamy and
Cutlass Liz for the Pirate
of the Year Award.


Voice Cast
Hugh Grant - The Pirate Captain
Salma Hayek - Cutlass Liz
Jeremy Piven - Black Bellamy
Imelda Staunton - Queen Victoria
David Tennant - Charles Darwin
Martin Freeman - The Pirate
with a Scarf
Lenny Henry - Peg-Leg Hastings
Brendan Gleeson - The
Pirate with Gout
Ashley Jensen - The
Surprisingly Curvaceous
Pirate
Brian Blessed - The Pirate King
Russell Tovey - The Albino Pirate
Mike Cooper - Admiral Collingwood
David Schneider - Scarlett Morgan

Crew
Producer/Director - Peter Lord
Co-Director - Jeff Newitt
Based on Book/Screenplay -
Gideon Defoe
Executive Producer - Carla Shelley
Co-Executive Producer - Sarah Smith
Producers - Julie Lockhart &
David Sproxton
Production Designer - Norman Garwood
Conceptual Illustrator - Marcin Lichowski
Conceptual Artist/Graphic Design Supervisor/
End Title Designer - Gavin Lines
Character Designers - Sylvain Deboissy,
Jonny Duddle & Carlos Grangel
Additional Character Designers - Christophe Lourdelet
& Jeff Newitt
Head of Story - Rejean Bourdages
Head of Props - Jane Kite
Senior Animation Supervisor - Jay Grace
Animation Supervisor - Loyd Price
Director of Photography - Frank Passingham
Head of Camera and Lighting - Tom Barnes
Visual Effects Supervisor - Andrew Morley
CG Supervisors - Chris King,
Edward Chaplin & Ben Toogood
Film Editor - Justin Krish
Music - Theodore Shapiro


Review
Considering for what it really owes to the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie franchise, 'THE PIRATES: BAND OF MISFITS' provides a lot of comedy which includes gags as well as adventure for this plundering stop-motion picture and is very highly-intelligent. The film did have fine vocal talents such as Hugh Grant who plays the charismatic Pirate Captain while other recognizable stars like the former Tenth Doctor, David Tennant as the historical figure Charles Darwin.

Although Aardman did quite a good job on the movie, it was an entertaining claymation film that is definitely a must-see booty in the cinemas.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Friday, April 20, 2012

Battleship Review








Battleship


Release Date: 12th April 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Battleship Delta Productions
Film 44
Hasbro
Ponysound
Stuber Productions

Distribution 
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 131 minutes


Budget: $209,000,000

Box Office Gross: $303,025,485
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Based on the classic Hasbro
naval combat game,
Battleship is the story of an 
international fleet of ships 
who come across an alien 
armada whilst on a Naval 
war games exercise. An 
intense battle ensues over
sea, land and air. What do
they aliens - known as 'The
Regents' want?


Cast
Taylor Kitsch - Lt. Alex Hopper
Alexander Skarsgard - Stone Hopper
Brooklyn Decker - Samantha Shane
Rihanna - Petty Officer 
(GM2) Cora Raikes
Liam Neeson - Vice Admiral Shane
Tadanobu Asano - Captain Nagata
Gregory D. Gadson - Lt. Col
Mick Canales

Crew
Producer/Director - Peter Berg
Writers - Erich & Jon Hoeber
Executive Producers - Braden Aftergood and Jon Mone
Producers - Sarah Aubrey,
Brian Goldner, Duncan
Henderson, Bennett Schneir & Scott Stuber
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager - Todd Arnow
Co-Producer/First Assistant Director - Eric Heffron
Production Designer - Neil Spisak
Lead Conceptual Designer - George Hull
Set Decorator - Larry Dias
Costume Designers - Louise Mingenbach &
Kimberly A. Tillman
Marine Consultant - Daniel F. Malone
Cinematography - Tobias A. Schliessler
Special Effects Supervisor - Burt Dalton
Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM - Grady Cofer
& Pablo Helman
Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -
Nathan McGuinness
Visual Effects Producer - Kevin Elam
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Aaron McBride
Computer Graphics Supervisor - Willi Geiger
Film Editors - Colby Parker Jr,
Billy Rich & Paul Rubell
Music Consultant - Dave Jordan
Music - Steve Jablonsky


Review
'BATTLESHIP' is full of action with thrills, explosions and even pretty cool visuals. I actually thought that the film was quite great, but now instead I think it was actually a disappointment. It was quite similar to the first 'Transformers' movie by Michael Bay which I find to be a case of copycatting. It's actually based on a board game which was the main problem. I believe that this starting point made the picture look ridiculous and adding to it were aliens and direction by Peter Berg. None of these factors are going to help the movie. I'm no huge fan of the singer Rihanna, but her acting debut is alright, but not fantastic. I only praise the other actors who did a good job in the movie such as Taylor Kitsch and Liam Neeson.

For those who have played the Battleship game, I thought I was going to encourage you to see this movie adaptation, but I didn't really know that 'BATTLESHIP' was either good, average or bad. Having seen it now, let me get this straight, I've changed my mind and it did sink. Just stick with the board game.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

Monday, April 16, 2012

The Incredibles Review










The Incredibles


Release Date: 26th December 2004 - Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
Pixar Animation Studios

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family/
Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 115 minutes


Budget: $92,000,000

Box Office Gross: $631,607,053 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Bob Parr and his wife Helen were once Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, the greatest superheroes. But then, ongoing lawsuits have made the supers illegal and forced them into hiding. Fifteen years later, they're in the suburbs with their three kids, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, living their "normal" lives. Yearning to be back in the life of heroism, Bob receives an unknown communication that summons him to an island
where he can become
a hero again. Soon, Mr.
Incredible's life is at stake,
and it's up to the family to
save him and countless innocents who are also in peril.


Voice Cast
Craig T. Nelson - Bob Parr/Mr.
Incredible
Holly Hunter - Helen Parr/
Elastigirl
Spencer Fox - Dashiell Robert 'Dash' Parr
Sarah Vowell - Violet Parr
Eli Fucile - Jack-Jack Parr
Maeve Andrews - Jack-Jack Parr
Jason Lee - Buddy Pine/
Syndrome
Samuel L. Jackson - Lucius
Best/Frozone
Elizabeth Peña - Mirage
Brad Bird - Edna Mode
Bret 'Brook' Parker - Kari
Bud Luckey - Rick Decker
Wallace Shawn - Gilbert Huph
Lou Romano - Bernie Kropp
Wayne Carney - Principal
Michael Bird - Tony Rydinger
Kimberly Adair Clark - Honey
Dominique Louis - Bomb Voyage
John Ratzenberger - The Underminer
Teddy Newton - Newsreel Narrator
John Walker - Reverend (Uncredited)
Frank Thomas - Additional Voices (Cameo)
Ollie Johnston - Additional Voices (Cameo)

Crew
Writer/Director - Brad Bird
Producer - John Walker
Associate Producer - Kori Rae
Executive Producer - John Lasseter
Production Designer - Lou Romano
Art Director - Ralph Eggleston
Art Director: Shading - Bryn Imagire
Character Designer/Supervising Animator -
Tony Fucile
Character Designer/End Titles - Teddy Newton
Additional Character Design/Supervising
Animator - Stephen Clay Hunter
Additional Character Design - Albert Lozano
Animation Character Developers/Animators -
John Kahrs, Angus MacLane, Dave Mullins
and Robert H. Russ
Story Supervisor/Visual Development -
Mark Andrews
Production Manager - Katherine Sarafian
Supervising Animator - Alan Barillaro
Character Supervisor - Bill Wise
Set Sequence Supervisor - Nigel Hardwidge
Hair & Cloth Simulation Supervisor -
Mark Thomas Henne
Directors of Photography - Andrew Jimenez,
Patrick Lin and Janet Lucroy
Lead Lighting Artists - Danielle Feinberg
and John Warren
Supervising Technical Director - Rick Sayre
Effects Supervisor - Sandra Ford Karpman
Film Editor - Stephen Schaffer
Second Film Editor - Robert Grahamjones
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor/
Re-Recording Mixer - Randy Thom
Assistant Sound Designer/Sound Effects
Editor (Uncredited) - Will Files
Supervising Sound Editor - Michael Silvers
Assistant Supervising Sound Editor -
David Acord
Sound Effects Editors - Teresa Eckton
and Krysten Mate
Re-Recording Mixer - Gary A. Rizzo
Foley Artists - Jana Vance,
Dennie Thorpe and Ellen Heuer
Music - Michael Giacchino
Music Production Supervisor - Tom MacDougall


Awards

2005 Academy Awards
Best Sound Editing - Michael Silvers and
Randy Thom (Won)
Best Animated Feature - Brad Bird (Won)
------------------------
Best Writing, Original Screenplay - Brad Bird
(Nominated)
Best Sound Mixing - Randy Thom, Gary Rizzo
and Doc Kane (Nominated)


Review
THE INCREDIBLES is, you know how that says it all. It offers plenty of fun and wit, as well as action scenes. These aspects made this CGI film look outstanding. The animation studio of Pixar and its people, including director Brad Bird, did a tremendous job with the movie. It strongly appeals to young boys who are interested in superheroes. I liked three things about this animated feature: the supporting protagonist, Frozone, voiced by actor Samuel L. Jackson, the humorous scene when the same character asks his wife where his super-suit is, and the jazzy music score by Michael Giacchino.

THE INCREDIBLES may have borrowed the elements from comic books like those made by Marvel. It is the best superhero animated film that everyone who has seen Pixar movies like Toy Story 1, 2, 3, WALL-EFinding Nemo and others will enjoy watching.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Friday, April 13, 2012

Grease Review










Grease


Release Date: 3rd August 1978 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO)
Allan Carr Production

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Musical/Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 110 minutes


Budget: $6,000,000

Box Office Gross: $396,271,103 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Near the end of summer in 1958, greaser Danny Zuko and Aussie girl Sandy Olsson met at the beach and fell in love. As they have parted ways, neither one realise that they will meet again in the same high school they are attending, with Danny being the leader of the gang of black leather jacket-wearing greasers called the T-Birds while Sandy hangs out with an all-girl group called the Pink Ladies. Will their romance be able to rekindle?


Cast

Principal Cast
John Travolta - Danny Zuko
Olivia Newton-John - Sandy
Olsson
Jeff Conaway - Kenickie
Stockard Channing - Betty Rizzo

The T-Birds
Barry Pearl - Doody
Michael Tucci - Sonny LaTierri
Kelly Ward - Putzie

The Pink Ladies
Didi Conn - Frenchy
Jamie Donnelly - Jan
Dinah Manoff - Marty Maraschino

School Staff/Other Characters
Eve Arden - Principal McGee
Frankie Avalon - The Teen Angel
Joan Blondell - Vi
Edd Byrnes - Vince Fontaine
Sid Caesar - Coach Calhoun
Alice Ghostley - Mrs Murdock
Dody Goodman - Blanche Hodel
Susan Buckner - Patty Simcox
Dennis C. Stewart - Leo Balmudo
Annette Charles - Charlene "Cha-Cha"
DiGregorio
Eddie Deezen - Eugene Felsnic
Fannie Flagg - Nurse Wilkins
Lorenzo Lamas - Tom Chisolm
Dick Patterson - Mr. Rudie
Darrell Zwerling - Mr. Lynch
Ellen Travolta - Waitress
Johnny Contardo - Johnny Casino (Uncredited)
Sha Na Na - The Gamblers (Uncredited)


Crew
Director - Randal Kleiser
Based on the Stage Musical/Music and Lyrics -
Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Screenplay - Bronte Woodard
Adaptation/Producer - Allan Carr
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Neil A. Machlis
Producer - Robert Stigwood
Casting Director - Joel Thurm
Production Designer - Phillip M. Jeffries
Set Decorator - James L. Berkey
Costume Designer - Albert Wolsky
Makeup Artists - Edwin Allen and
Daniel C. Striepeke
Dance Consultant - Tommy Smith
Dance & Musical Sequences Staging
and Choreographer - Patricia Birch
Director of Photography - Bill Butler
Location Managers - Alan B. Curtiss
and Marty Eli Schwartz (Uncredited)
Assistant Director - Jerry Grandey
Second Assistant Directors - Paula Marcus
and Lynn M. Morgan
Stunt Coordinator - Wally Crowder
Editor - John F. Burnett
Assistant Film Editor - Robert Pergament
Re-Recording Mixer - Bill Varney
Songs & Lyrics "You're the One That I Want"
& "Hopelessly Devoted to You" - John Farrar
Creative Consultant/Music Adaptor/
Music: "Sandy"/Performer: "Mooning" &
"Rock 'N' Roll Party Queen" - Louis St. Louis
Music - Michael Gibson


Awards

1979 Academy Awards
Best Music, Original Song "Hopelessly Devoted
to You" - John Farrar (Nominated)


Review
GREASE is a fun and extraordinary musical that perfectly captures the spirit and nostalgia of the 1950s in which the film takes place. The makers, such as director Randal Kleiser and the choreographers, did an incredible job of giving this slick movie a vibrant and lively atmosphere of the period through their stunning visuals and cinematography. It does have great acting by the lead actors, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, with the latter delivering a career-defining role. Their on-screen chemistry is simply electrifying, making the movie a true classic.

The energetically choreographed dance numbers like "Summer Nights" and "Grease Lightning" are a visual treat that leaves you tapping your feet. With iconic songs like my favourite, "You're the One That I Want", the film's soundtrack is an absolute delight. I like how these songs are interwoven into the narrative, adding to the film's charm and making it an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Forget its sequel, Grease 2 and the High School Musical movies as they walk in the shadow of the original masterpiece. GREASE will always be the word as my favourite singing and dancing feature of all time and the best. If you're looking for a musical reliving the era of the swinging 50s, here it is.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Happy Gilmore Review










Happy Gilmore


Release Date: 8th August 1996 – Australia


Production Companies
Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
Robert Simonds Productions
Universal Pictures (presents)


Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 92 minutes

 
Budget: $10,000,000

Box Office Gross: $41,205,099 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Rejected many times was an unsuccessful hockey player named Happy Gilmore all his life. Adding insult to injury, his girlfriend leaves him, and his grandmother is evicted from her home when she didn't pay her taxes. He winds up playing golf and enters the pro golf tournament to earn some money to get his grandmother's house back, but he has to compete with Shooter
McGavin, a rival golf
player who is the
favourite of the tour.


Cast
Adam Sandler – Happy Gilmore
Christopher McDonald – Shooter McGavin
Julie Bowen – Virginia Venit
Frances Bay – Grandma Gilmore
Carl Weathers – Chubbs Peterson
Allen Covert – Otto
Kevin Nealon – Gary Potter
Richard Kiel – Mr. Larson
Bob Barker – Himself
Dennis Dugan Doug Thompson
Joe Flaherty Jeering Fan
Lee Trevino Himself (Cameo)
Verne Lundquist – Announcer
Mark Lye – Announcer (Cameo)
Jared Van Snellenberg – Happy's Waterbury Caddy
Will Sasso Mover
Dee Jay Jackson Mover
Helena Yea Chinese Lady
Ken Camroux-Taylor Coach
Rich Elwood Assistant Coach
Donnie MacMillan Young Happy
Louis O'Donoghue Happy's Dad
Lisanne Collett Happy's Mom
Peter Kelamis - Potter's Caddy
Simon Webb Doctor
Betty Linde Elderly Woman
Helen Honeywell Crazy Old Lady
Ben Stiller – Hal (Uncredited)

Crew
Director – Dennis Dugan
Writers – Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler
Executive Producers – Bernie Brillstein,
Brad Grey and Sandy Wernick
Producer – Robert Simonds
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager
Warren Carr
Co-Producer Jack Giarraputo
Golf Consultant – Mark Lye
Alligator Handlers Gina & Jim Brockett
Production Designer – Perry Andelin Blake
Co-Production Designer – William Heslup
Art Director – Richard Harrison
Set Decorator Mark Lane
Costume Designer Tish Monaghan
Director of Photography – Arthur Albert
Camera Operators – David Crone and
Joel Ransom
Location Manager – Greg Jackson
Stunt Coordinator/Stunts Brent Woolsey
Animatronics – Tony Gardner
Special Effects – William H. Orr,
Clay Scheirer and Keith Wardlow
Visual Effects Supervisor: Available Light Ltd. –
John T. Van Vliet
Visual Effects Producer: Available Light Ltd. –
Katherine Kean
Film Editors – Jeff Gourson
and Steve R. Moore
Supervising Sound Editor – Bruce Nyznik
Re-Recording Mixers – Chris David,
Paul Massey and Tom Perry
Foley Artists – John Roesch,
Hilda Hodges and James Moriana
Music – Mark Mothersbaugh
Music Mixer & Producer – Bob Casale


Review
HAPPY GILMORE has a lot of hilarity coming into a hole-in-one, but this is a one-of-a-kind golf comedy film that Adam Sandler has made. This feature began when Sandler's film acting career progressed following the success of Billy Madison. It represents the ways Sandler achieved through his significant style of lowbrow comedy.

I loved everything in the movie, such as the quotable lines, the hilarious and subtle performances of Adam Sandler, Carl Weathers and Christopher McDonald, and Ben Stiller's funny uncredited cameo as the mean orderly. The film includes a scene when Happy fights with Bob Barker. Guess who won?

GILMORE is the best yet funniest of all Sandler features and one of my favourites. It is one of those films for viewers who find it pure comedy gold. Tomorrow, I will publish my review of the 1978 musical Grease, which stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Don't you forget it.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

Monday, April 9, 2012

Dante's Peak Review











Dante's Peak


Release Date: 27th March 1997 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Pacific Western

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Adventure/Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 109 minutes


Budget: $116,000,000

Box Office Gross: $178,127,760 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A volcanologist named Harry Dalton gets sent to the small town of Dante's Peak. It is there he is investigating some unusual activity on a long-dormant volcano. Dalton's theories are proven correct when the volcano is about to erupt, and it will soon destroy the entire town. Can anyone survive the destructive impact of its fiery inferno?


Cast
Pierce Brosnan - Dr. Harry Dalton
Linda Hamilton - Rachel Wando
Charles Hallahan - Dr. Paul
Dreyfus
Elizabeth Hoffman - Grandma Ruth
Jamie Renee Smith - Lauren Wando
Jeremy Foley - Graham Wando
Grant Heslov - Greg
Kirk Trutner - Terry
Arabella Field - Nancy
Tzi Ma - Stan
Brian Reddy - Les Worrell
Lee Garlington - Dr. Jane Fox
Bill Bolender - Sheriff Turner
Carole Androsky - Mary Kelly
Peter Jason - Norman Gates
Jeffrey L. Ward - Jack Collins
Tim Haldeman - Elliott Blair
Walker Brandt - Marianne
Hansford Rowe - Warren Cluster
Susie Spear Purcell - Karen Narlington
David Lipper - Hot Springs Man
Heather Stephens - Hot Springs Woman
Christopher Murray - Pilot
Marilyn Leubner - Babysitter

Crew
Director - Roger Donaldson
Writer - Leslie Bohem
Associate Producer/Second Unit Director -
Geoff Murphy
Executive Producer - Ilona Herzberg
Producers - Gale Anne Hurd
and Joseph Singer
Co-Producer - Marliese Schneider
Volcanology Advisors - David H. Harlow,
John P. Lockwood and Norman MacLeod
Casting Directors - Allison Cowitt
and Mike Fenton
Production Designer/Aerial Unit Director -
J. Dennis Washington
Art Directors - Francis J. Pezza
and Thomas T. Taylor
Set Decorator - Marvin March
Costume Designer - Isis Mussenden
Makeup Department Head - Kenny Myers
Director of Photography - Andrzej Bartkowiak
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Raymond Stella
First Assistant Camera: Second Unit -
Clyde E. Bryan and Larry D. Davis
Unit Production Manager - Marie Cantin
Unit Production Manager: Second Unit -
David Womark
First Assistant Director - David Sardi
Second Second Assistant Directors -
L. David Silva and Christina Stauffer
Location Manager: Second Unit - Mike Fantasia
Aerial Coordinator - Cliff Fleming
Stunt Coordinator - R.A. Rondell
Stunt Coordinators: Second Unit - Troy Brown,
Jeff Imada and Michael Runyard
Assistant Stunt Coordinator - Thomas Robinson Harper
Special Effects Coordinator - Roy Arbogast
Special Effects Supervisors: Digital Domain -
Dean W. Miller and Richard Stutsman
Visual Effects Supervisor - Pat McClung
Visual Effects Producer - Lori J. Nelson
Graphics Supervisor: BFTRE - Van Ling
Directors of Photography: Digital Domain -
Tony Cutrono, Christopher Duddy,
Les Bernstein, Philipp Timme and
David R. Hardberger
Lava Development Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Dennis Blakey
R&D Lava Development: Digital Domain -
Matthew E. Butler and John Michael Courte
Film Editors - Conrad Buff IV,
Tina Hirsch and Howard E. Smith
Sound Designer/Editor (Uncredited) -
Michael Giesler
Sound Designer - Geoffrey G. Rubay
Supervising Sound Editors - Richard L. Anderson
and George Simpson
Sound Effects Editors - Ezra Dweck,
Julia Evershade, Donald Flick, Avram D. Gold,
Charlotte Haupt, Elliott Koretz, Eric Lindenmann,
Marvin Walowitz and David Lewis Yewdall
Sound Mixer - David Macmillan
Additional Sound Mixers - Gary Gegan,
Steve Pederson and Brad Sherman
Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett,
Chris Jenkins and Mark Smith
Composer: Theme Music - James Newton Howard
Music - John Frizzell


Review
DANTE'S PEAK is a mind-blowing spectacle from start to finish. This natural disaster movie is by director Roger Donaldson and is very realistic. Part of the movie's appeal is the suspense, thinking if the main characters would escape danger. It is promoted as being scientifically accurate and is close to how a disaster of this proportion would unfold and affect the lives of hundreds of people. The film had excellent acting performances by Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton and amazing visual effects. It's a shame that it didn't get nominated for an Oscar.

DANTE'S PEAK is for people who have learned about or studied volcanoes, as they will appreciate the realism of this motion picture.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Sunday, April 8, 2012

Hop Review











Hop


Release Date: 7th April 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Relativity Media (in association with)
Illumination Entertainment

Distribution
Universal Studios Australia


Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: G

Runtime: 95 minutes


Budget: $63,000,000

Box Office Gross: $184,367,145 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
E.B. is the son of the Easter Bunny, who wants nothing more than to follow in his father's footsteps and become a drummer instead. He runs away from home and is injured when an unemployed slacker named Fred accidentally runs him over and must take him in as he recovers. But E.B. soon takes advantage of his hospitality and becomes the worst house guest, which is too much for Fred to handle. Both will learn what it takes to grow up.


Live Action Cast
James Marsden - Fred O'Hare
Coleton Ray - Young Fred
Kaley Cuoco - Samantha "Sam" O'Hare
Gary Cole - Henry O'Hare
Elizabeth Perkins - Bonnie O'Hare
Tiffany Espensen - Alex O'Hare
David Hasselhoff - Himself
Chelsea Handler - Mrs. Beck
Russell Brand - Production Assistant (Cameo)

Voice Cast
Russell Brand - E.B.
Django Marsh - Young E.B.
Hugh Laurie - Mr. Bunny
Hank Azaria - Carlos & Phil
Hugh Hefner - Voice at Playboy
Mansion (Cameo)


Crew
Director - Tim Hill
Story/Screenplay - Cinco Paul and
Ken Daurio
Screenplay - Brian Lynch
Executive Producer - John Cohen
Producer - Christopher Meledandri
Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Michele Imperato
Production Designer - Richard Holland
CG Set & Prop Lead Designer- Philip A. Cruden
Illustrators - James Hegedus,
Patrick Von Janice and Carol Police
Art Director - Charlie Daboub
Character Designer - Peter DeSeve
Designer: "Young E.B."/Animation Supervisor -
Chris Bailey
Set Decorator - Don Diers
Property Master - Emily Ferry
Costume Designer - Alexandra Welker
Director of Photography - Peter Lyons Collister
First Assistant Director - Michele Panelli-Venetis
Second Unit Director/Director of
Photography - Thomas E. Ackerman
Stunt Coordinator - John Moio
Special Effects Supervisor - Alan E. Lorimer
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Raymond Chen
Digital Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues - Michael Conelly
Animation Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues -
Ryan O'Donoghue, Kevin Jackson,
Rebecca Ruether, Chad Shattuck, Adam Yaniv
and Matt Shumway
Senior Animation Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Andrew Arnett
Crowd Animation Lead - C.J. Sarachene
Animation Layout Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Colbert Fennelly
Previsualisation & Layout Supervisor -
Pepe Valencia
Sequence Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues -
Harry Brutsche IV, Walt Jones, Perry Kass,
Yogesh Lakhani, Josh Saeta and Jeff Wells
Editors - Peter S. Elliot and Gregory Perler
First Assistant Editor - Matthew Schmidt
Supervising Sound Editor - Richard L. Anderson
Sound Designer - Ann Scibelli
Sound Editors - Mike Chock and John Dunn
Re-Recording Mixers - Tom Johnson
and Gary A. Rizzo
Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and
Catherine Ross
Music - Christopher Lennertz
Music Supervisor - Julianne Jordan
Additional Music & Arrangements/
Choir Conductor - Philip White


Review
Nearly a perfect family movie in the season, HOP did a decent job of bringing the Easter Bunny to the big screen. It manages to have some of the humour sugar-coated if it's entertaining for young adults. While this movie could have been better without the live-action integration, the animation is fantastic. E.B. steals the show, especially when he plays the drums. The voice of E.B. is Russell Brand, who also does a live-action cameo.

Who needs the first Alvin and the Chipmunks movie when the director's latest film, HOP, is way better than the other feature? Young people must watch this Easter film, available on Blu-ray or DVD.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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