Monday, May 28, 2012

Men in Black II Review








Men in Black II


Release Date: 3rd July 2002 - Australia


Production Companies
Amblin Entertainment
Columbia Pictures (presents)
MacDonald/Parkes Productions (in
association with)

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 88 minutes


Budget: $140,000,000

Box Office Gross: $441,818,803 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
It is another day at the
office for Agent J as he is
surveying, licensing and
policing all alien activity
on Earth. One day, he
receives a report of an
unauthorised landing of
an alien spacecraft near
New York. It is a Klyothian
named Serleena, an old
enemy of MIB searching
for a powerful artifact
called The Light of Zartha.
J does some research and
quickly realises he will
need help. Unfortunately,
the other MIB agents are
not so quite effective. So
J decides to take K back.
J has to restore K's
memory as an MIB agent
and stop Serleena before
she succeeds.


Cast
Tommy Lee Jones - Kevin
Brown/Agent K
Will Smith - James Darrell
Edwards III/Agent J
Rip Torn - Chief Zed
Lara Flynn Boyle - Serleena
Johnny Knoxville - Scrad/
Charlie
Rosario Dawson - Laura Vasquez
Tony Shalhoub - Jack Jeebs
Patrick Warburton - Agent T
Jack Kehler - Ben
David Cross - Newton
Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine - Hailey
Peter Spellos - Motorman
Michael Rivkin - Man with Dog
Michael Bailey Smith - Creepy
Lenny Venito - New York Guy
Howard Spiegel - New York Guy
Alpheus Merchant - MIB Guard
Jay Johnston - Agent
Joel McKinnon Miller - Agent
Derek Cecil - Repairman Agent
Rick Baker - MIB Passport Control Agent (Cameo)
Martha Stewart - Herself (Cameo)
Michael Jackson - Agent M (Cameo)
Sid Hillman - Agent Gee
Tom Whitenight - Agent C
Nick Cannon - MIB Autopsy Agent
Jeremy Howard - Bird Guy
Alien/Postal Sorting Alien
Mary Stein - Bird Lady Alien
Martin Klebba - Family Child Alien
Peter Graves - Himself
Tim Blaney - Frank the Pug (Voice)
John Alexander - Jarra/Family Dad Alien
Ernie Grunwald - Young Postal Employee
Chloe Sonnenfeld - Young Girl at Post Office
Doug Jones - Joey
Biz Markie - Rapping Alien
Linda Kim - Ambassador Lauranna
Paige Brooks - 'Mysteries in History' Lauranna
Michael Dahlen - Fresh Balls
Michael Garvey - Corn Face
Kevin Grevioux - Pineal Eye
John Andrew Berton Jr. - Split Alien Guy (Cameo)
Derek Mears - Mosh Tendrils
Sonny Tipton - Dog Poop
Greg Ballora - Sleeble (Voice)
Carl J. Johnson - Gleeble (Voice)
Thom Fountain - Neeble (Voice)
Brad Abrell - Mannix (Voice)
Richard Pearson - Gordy (Voice)
Barry Sonnenfeld - Neuralyzed Father (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Barry Sonnenfeld
Based on the Malibu Comic - Lovell Cunningham
Story/Screenplay - Robert Gordon
Screenplay - Barry Fanaro
Executive Producer - Steven Spielberg
Producers - Laurie MacDonald
and Walter F. Parkes
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager - Graham Place
Production Designer - Bo Welch
Illustrators - James Carson and
Tim Flattery
Art Directors - Alec Hammond,
Sean Haworth and Thomas P. Wilkins
Art Director: New York - Michael Wylie
Assistant Art Directors - François Audouy
and Maya Shimoguchi
Set Decorator - Cheryl Carasik
Property Master - Doug Harlocker
Costume Designer - Mary E. Vogt
Alien Makeup Effects - Rick Baker
Designers/Sculptors: Cinovation - Matt Rose,
Mitch DeVane, Jeff Buccacio, Steve Koch
and Chris Ayers
Director of Photography - Greg Gardiner
Directors of Photography: New York
Second Unit - Kim Marks and Florian Ballhaus
Second Second Assistant Director - Marie Battle-Campbell
Second Unit Director - Artie Malseci
Second Unit Director: New York Second Unit -
Michael Owens
Puppet Master - Tony Urbano
Stunt Coordinator - Charles Croughwell
Animal Trainers - Cristie Miele and
Janine Aines
Special Effects Coordinator - Thomas L. Fisher
Production Supervisor/Shop Foreman (Uncredited):
Cinovation - Bill Sturgeon
Project Supervisors: Cinovation - Kazuhiro Tsuji,
Bart Mixon, Eddie Yang, Chad Waters,
Jim Beinke, Chet Zar, Moto Hata and
Glen Griffin
Animatronics: Cinovation - Kyle Martin,
Bud McGrew, George Bernota, Dave Kindlon
and Nicholas J. Esposito
Visual Effects Supervisor - John Andrew Berton Jr.
Visual Effects Co-Supervisor - Edward Hirsh
Visual Effects Supervisor: Tippett Studio -
Scott Souter
Visual Effects Co-Supervisor: Tippett Studio -
Jim McVay
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI - Ken Ralston
Visual Effects Supervisors: SPI - Jim Berney
and Sheena Duggal
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Bill Westenhofer
Visual Effects Supervisor: Pacific Title Digital -
David Sosalla
Visual Effects Associate Supervisor - Erik Mattson
Visual Effects Producers - Ned Gorman
and Lori J. Nelson
Visual Effects Producer: Air Chase and Post Office
Sequences, ILM - Ginger Theisen
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - David Nakabayashi
Animation Supervisor - Tom Bertino
Computer Graphics Supervisor: ILM - Michael Bauer
CG Supervisors: SPI - Daniel Eaton
and Mark Lambert
Compositing Supervisor: ILM - Thomas Rosseter
Sequence Supervisors: ILM - Will Anielewicz,
Amelia Chenoweth, Russell Earl, John Helms
and Kevin Reuter
Sequence Supervisor: Air Chase and Post Office
Sequences, ILM - Joel Aron
Digital Model Supervisor: ILM - Ken Bryan
Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Catherine Craig
Conceptual Designers: ILM - Christian Alzmann,
Larry Chandler, Brice Cox, Carlos Huante,
Sangjun Lee, Wayne Lo, Aaron McBride,
Brian Pohl, Evan Pontoriero and Daniel Slavin
Digital Matte Artists: ILM - Jonathan Harb,
William Mather, Kent Matheson,
Brett Northcutt and Simon Wicker
Matte Artist: SPI - Robert Stromberg
Editors - Richard Pearson and Steven Weisberg
Associate Editor - JC Bond
Main Title Designer - Pablo Ferro
Supervising Sound Editor - Skip Lievsay
Sound Effects Editors - Eugene Gearty,
Sean Garnhart, Craig Berkey, John P. Fasal
and Paul Hsu
Supervising ADR Editor - Juno J. Ellis
Production Mixer - Peter F. Kurland
Re-Recording Mixers - Kevin O'Connell
and Greg P. Russell
Supervising Foley Editor - Steven Visscher
Foley Artists - Marko A. Costanzo
and Jay Peck
Foley Mixer - George A. Lara
Music - Danny Elfman


Review
MEN IN BLACK II has consistent humour but feels like a rehash of the first instalment (click here). The story was far-fetched and boring in some parts, lacking the originality the first one has. The only things that could save the second movie were the character expansion, like Frank the Pug and the Worm Guys and a cameo by Michael Jackson (MJ).

If MEN IN BLACK II had an engaging plot, it would have brought back the basics and not gotten too carried away with the visual effects, and it could have been more acclaimed than its predecessor. What makes this movie disappointing is it didn't meet or surpass the impact of the original MIB movie. Unfortunately, this is a common weakness of some sequels.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Review









Star Wars: The Clone Wars


Release Date: 14th August 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
Lucasfilm Animation
Lucasfilm Ltd.


Genre: Animation/Family/
Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 98 minutes


Budget: $8,500,000

Box Office Gross: $68,282,844 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
While the galaxy gets ravaged by the Clone Wars, the son of Jabba the Hutt gets kidnapped, and the notorious crime leader has no choice but to turn to the Jedi and Republic in need of assistance. It is up to Anakin Skywalker and his new Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, to get
through this risky task of
rescuing the young Hutt
into the frontlines and from
the clutches of the Separatist
leader Count Dooku and his
assassin Asajj Ventress.


Voice Cast
Matt Lanter - Anakin Skywalker
Ashley Eckstein - Ahsoka Tano
James Arnold Taylor - Obi-
Wan Kenobi/4A-7
Tom Kane - Yoda/Narrator/
Admiral Yularen
Christopher Lee - Count Dooku
Dee Bradley Baker - Captain
Rex/Commander Cody/Clone
Troopers
Samuel L. Jackson - Mace Windu
Nika Futterman - Asajj
Ventress/TC-70
Anthony Daniels - C-3PO
Ian Abercrombie - Supreme
Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious
Catherine Tabor - Padmé
Amidala
Corey Burton - Ziro the Hutt/
Whorm Loathsom/Kronos-327
David Acord - Rotta the Huttlet
Kevin Michael Richardson -
Jabba the Hutt
Matthew Wood - Battle Droids

Crew
Development Artist/Director -
Dave Filoni
Based on Characters &
Universe (Uncredited)/
Executive Producer - George
Lucas
Writers - Henry Gilroy,
Steven Melching and Scott Murphy
Producer - Catherine Winder
Art/Animation Directors - Kevin Jong and Jesse Yeh
Designers - Russel G. Chong and Darren Marshall
Character Designer - Sergio Paez
Character Supervisor - Mark Therrell
Animation Supervisor - Phillip Stamp
Animation Consultant - Rob Coleman
Sequence Directors - Dave Bullock and
George Samilski
Layout Supervisor - Adam Schnitzer
Visual Effects Supervisor - Matthew Gidney
Film Editor - Jason Tucker
Sound Designer/Sound Editor - David Acord
Supervising Sound Editor - Matthew Wood
Dialogue Editor - Cheryl Nardi
Foley Editor & Mixer - Frank Rinella
Foley Artists - Ellen Heuer,
John Roesch, Dennie Thorpe and
Jana Vance
Re-Recording/Sound Mixer - Juan Peralta
Composer: Star Wars Theme - John Williams
Music - Kevin Kiner


Review
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS managed to start the highly-rated animated TV series of the same name that later aired on the Cartoon Network channel. Releasing this extended pilot on the big screen was not a good idea, especially when its plot feels like three episodes are mashed together to create an attempt at a full-length feature. It proved more contentious to fans than the prequel trilogy, mainly due to its tone, writing and animation. I finally understood why critics hated the film so much that they compared it to a Saturday morning cartoon.

While not a bad introduction to the series, the movie still has flaws. The dialogue is occasionally juvenile, which may be cringe-worthy. I'm no fan of Ahsoka Tano, though the female character was good as she got better in the series. I do like the film's artistic animation style and the voice performances of Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker (I think his portrayal is better than Hayden Christensen's). I'm surprised a few actors (apart from Anthony Daniels as C-3PO) from the previous Star Wars movies, including Christopher Lee and Samuel L. Jackson, have returned to do the voices for this one.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS was quite decent, but it would have been good if it aired instead as a TV movie or a three-part episode or went straight to video. However, it's not too late to miss this film when you watch it in the chronological order of the Clone Wars show, whether you're a Star Wars fan or not.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Eragon Review








Eragon



Release Date: 14th December 2006 - Australia


Production Companies
Fox 2000 Pictures
Davis Entertainment
Dune Entertainment
Ingenious Film Partners
Major Studio Partners
Mid Atlantic Films
20th Century Fox Film Corporation

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Fantasy

Rating: M

Runtime: 99 minutes


Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $249,488,115
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Prepare to enter a dazzling
world of myth and magic as
the first thrilling chapter of
the Inheritance Trilogy takes
flight! In a kingdom ravaged
by darkness and tyranny, one
small ray of hope emerges
when Eragon finds a
mysterious blue "stone" that
turns out to be the last
dragon's egg in existence.
From the moment the egg
hatches, the fates of Eragon
and the dragon Saphira are
forever entwined, as they join
forces to battle the evil King
Galbatorix.


Cast
Edward Speleers - Eragon
Jeremy Irons - Brom
Sienna Guillory - Arya
Robert Carlyle - Durza
John Malkovich - Galbatorix
Garrett Hedlund - Murtagh
Alun Armstrong - Garrow
Chris Egan - Roran
Gary Lewis - Hrothgar
Djimon Hounsou - Ajihad
Rachel Weisz - Saphira (Voice)
Richard Rifkin - Horst
Steven Spiers - Sloan
Joss Stone - Angela
Caroline Chikezie - Nasuada

Crew
Director - Stephen Fangmeier
Based on Novel "Eragon" -
Christopher Paolini
Screenplay - Peter Buchman
Executive Producers - Gil Netter & Chris Symes
Producers - John Davis &
Wyck Godfrey
Co-Producer/Film Editor -
Roger Barton
Production Designer - Wolf
Kroeger
Dragon Concept Artist - Patrick Tatopoulos
Character Designer - Derek Thompson
Art Directors - Michael Diner, Jonathan Hely-Hutchinson, Helen Jarvis, Stuart Kearns,
Tibor Lazar & Stuart Rose
Set Decorators - Elli Griff, Sandy Walker
and Simon Wakefield (Uncredited)
Costume Designer - Kym Barrett
Director of Photography - Hugh Johnson
Director of Photography: Additional Photography/
Second Unit - Shaun O'Dell
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Andy Armstrong
Second Unit Director/Unit Director:
Visual Effects Unit - Peter MacDonald
Stunt Coordinators - Steve M. Davison &
Gabor Piroch
Sword Master/Fight Coordinator - C.C. Smiff
Special Effects Supervisor/Coordinator -
Gerd Nefzer
Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit -
Uli Nefzer
Creature Effects Supervisor/Visual Effects
Modeller - Brian Best
Visual Effects Supervisor - Michael J. McAlister
Co-Visual Effects Supervisor - Guy Williams
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Samir Hoon
Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta Digital -
George Murphy
Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite - Matt Johnson
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - John T. Van Vilet
Visual Effects Producers - Denise Davis,
Gretchen Libby & Arthur Windus
Visual Effects Producer: Weta Digital - Eileen Moran
Visual Effects Art Director: Weta Digital - Gus Hunter
Creatures Supervisors - Aaron Ferguson
& Dana Peters
Animation Director - Glen McIntosh
Animation Supervisor: Weta Digital - David Clayton
CG Supervisor: ILM - John Helms
Film Editors - Masahiro Hirakubo &
Chris Lebenzon
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer/
Supervising Sound Editor - Randy Thom
Music - Patrick Doyle


Review
'ERAGON' was not bad for a fantasy movie but I must say it has similarities to 'Star Wars' except that the sci-fi trilogy doesn't include dragons. The film was based on a best-selling book series called 'The Inheritance' which I haven't read. It was unoriginal and inconsistent as the storyline was filled with odd choices and I was fortunate to notice each trace of these. Every bad choice was deemed unacceptable by the fans of the original novel.

The film has good CGI visuals and some solid acting performances except for John Malkovich who should have been omitted for his portrayal of the evil King Galbatorix. He was ultimately miscast and wooden for a menacing role that doesn't suit him at all. I was beginning to like the English actor Jeremy Irons, who did an exceptional portrayal of Brom and I didn't even realise that Garrett Hedlund out of 'Tron: Legacy' was in the feature.

Had the movie been accepted by audiences, the trilogy would have continued in the next instalment called 'Eldest'. Overall, 'ERAGON' was a less than incredible adaptation and the one fantasy adventure that I would like to forget.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Monday, May 21, 2012

Armageddon Review








Armageddon


Release Date: 20th August 1998 - Australia


Production Companies
Touchstone Pictures (presents)
Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Valhalla Motion Pictures (in association
with)

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 151 minutes


Budget: $140,000,000

Box Office Gross: $553,709,788 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When an asteroid threatens to destroy Earth in 18 days, NASA hires a group of oil drillers to head off to outer space to land in the meteor and place a nuclear bomb in its core.


Cast
Bruce Willis - Harry Stamper
Ben Affleck - A. J. Frost
Billy Bob Thornton - Dan Truman
Liv Tyler - Grace Stamper
Will Patton - Charles 'Chick' Chappel
Steve Buscemi - Rockhound
Michael Clarke Duncan - J. Otis 'Bear' Kurleenbear
Peter Stormare - Lev Andropov
William Fichtner - Colonel Willie Sharp
Ken Hudson Campbell - Max Lennert
Keith David - General Kimsey
Owen Wilson - Oscar Choice
Jessica Steen - Jennifer Watts
Jason Isaacs - Dr. Ronald Quincy
Judith Hoag - Denise Chappel
Chris Ellis - NASA Flight Director Clark
Grayson McCouch - Gruber
Clark Heathcliff Brolly - Noonan
Marshall R. Teague - Colonel Davis
Anthony Guidera - Co-Pilot Tucker
Greg Collins - Halsey
J. Patrick McCormack - General Boffer
Ian Quinn - Astronaut Pete Shelby
John Mahon - Karl
Grace Zabriskie - Dottie
K.C. Leomiti - Samoan
Eddie Griffin - Bike Messenger
Stanley Anderson - President
James Harper - Admiral Kelso
Ellen Cleghorne - Helga the Nurse
John Aylward - Dr. Banks
Mark Curry - Stu the Cabbie
Harry Humphries - Chuck Jr. (Cameo)
Dyllan Christopher - Tommy
Judith Hoag - Denise
Sage Allen - Max's Mom
Charlton Heston - Narrator (Voice)
Lawrence Tierney - Eddie 'Grampa' Stamper (Uncredited)
Michael Bay - Scientist (Cameo) (Uncredited)
John Frazier - Priest (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Producer/Director - Michael Bay
Story - Robert Roy Pool and
Jonathan Hensleigh
Adaptation - Tony Gilroy and
Shane Salerno
Screenplay - Jonathan Hensleigh
and J.J. Abrams
Associate Producer/Second Unit Director/
Stunt Coordinator - Kenny Bates
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Barry H. Waldman
Executive Producers - Jonathan Hensleigh,
Chad Oman and Jim Van Myck
Producers - Jerry Bruckheimer
and Gale Anne Hurd
Consultant: NASA - Joseph P. Allen
Technical Advisor - Harry Humphries
Mission Control Advisor - Jerry Bostick
Casting Director - Bonnie Timmermann
Production Designer - Michael White
Vehicle Designer - Harald Belker
Illustrators - Wil Rees, James M. Carson,
Tani Kunitake, James Oxford and
Derek Gogol
Supervising Art Director - Geoff Hubbard
Art Directors - Lawrence A. Hubbs
and Bruton Jones
Assistant Art Directors - Doug J. Meerdink
and Ron Mendell
Set Decorator - Rick Simpson
Property Master - Charles Stewart
Costume Designers - Magali Guidasci
and Michael Kaplan
Director of Photography - John Schwartzman
Director of Photography: Second Unit - Mauro Fiore
Aerial Directors of Photography - David B. Nowell
and Kurt E. Soderling
Aerial Director of Photography: New York -
Larry Blanford
Underwater Photographer - Pete Romano
"A" Camera Operator - Mitchell Amundsen
Second Assistant Camera: Second Unit -
Harry Zimmerman
Production Supervisor - Diane L. Sabatini
First Assistant Director - K.C. Hodenfield
First Assistant Director: Second Unit/Second
Assistant Director - Jeff Okayabashi
Second Second Assistant Director - Nick Satriano
Aerial Coordinator/Helicopter Pilot - Alan D. Purwin
Aerial Coordinator: International Unit -
Frédéric Notth
Special Effects Supervisor - John Frazier
Special Effects Lead: Paris Destruction
Sequence, DQI - John Ziegler
Special Effects Coordinator: Paris Destruction
Sequence, DQI - Richard O. Helmer
Physical Effects Supervisor: Physical Effects -
Richard Stutsman
Visual Effects Supervisors - Richard R. Hoover
and Pat McClung
Visual Effects Supervisor: Buena Vista Imaging -
Mark Dornfeld
Visual Effects Supervisor: Matte World Digital -
Craig Barron
Visual Effects Supervisor: Blue Sky/
VIFX - Richard E. Hollander
Visual Effects Supervisor: Tippett Studio -
Bruce Nicholson
Visual Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Erik Nash
Visual Effects Supervisor: Paris Destruction
Sequence, DQI - Hoyt Yeatman
Visual Effects Creative Supervisor: Digital
Domain - Robert Legato
Visual Effects Producer: Digital Domain -
Cari Thomas
Visual Effects Producer: DQI - Rae Griffith
Visual Effects Producer: Blue Sky/VIFX -
Josh R. Jaggars
Additional Visual Effects - John T. Van Vliet
Digital Effects Supervisor: DQI - Darin Hollings
Digital Effects Supervisor: Paris Destruction
Sequence, DQI - Dan DeLeeuw
Digital Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -
Carlos Arguello
Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Magic -
Bryan Grill
Digital Effects Supervisor: CFC - Rob Hodgson
Digital Supervisor: Blue Sky/VIFX -
Anthony 'Max' Ivins
Digital 3D Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Matthew E. Butler
Animation Supervisor: Tippett Studio - Blair Clark
Directors of Photography: Visual Effects Shoot
Crew - Philip Timme and Tony Cutrono
Matte Painting Supervisor: Cinesite - Charles Darby
Digital Compositing Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Mark O. Forker
Composite Supervisor: Cinesite - Kevin Lingenfelser
Senior Technical Supervisor: DQI - John Murrah
Editors - Mark Goldblatt,
Chris Lebenzon and Glen Scantlebury
Additional Editor - Michael R. Miller
Associate Film Editors - Roger Barton
and Todd E. Miller
Sound Designer - Christopher Boyes
Supervising Sound Editor - George Watters II
Sound Editors - David A. Arnold,
Frank E. Eulner, Scott Guitteau,
Doug Jackson, Suhail Kafity, Jason King,
Adam Kopald, Andy Kopetzky,
F. Hudson Miller, R.J. Palmer,
Bruce Richardson, Christopher Scarabosio,
Ethan Van der Ryn, Gary Wright,
Steve Boeddeker, Ed Callahan, Midge Costin,
David Farmer, Tom Myers, Robert L. Sephton
and Marshall Winn (Uncredited)
Re-Recording Sound Mixers - Kevin O'Connell
and Greg P. Russell
Additional Re-Recording Mixers -
Gregory H. Watkins, Bill W. Benton and
Greg Orloff
Music - Trevor Rabin
Additional Music - Harry Gregson-Williams
Executive in Charge of Music: Walt Disney
Motion Pictures Group/Music Supervisor -
Kathy Nelson
Music Supervisor - Bob Badami
Music Programmers - Don Harper,
Steve Jablonsky, Paul Linford and
John Van Tongeren
Scoring Mixers - Steve Kempster and
Alan Meyerson


Awards

1999 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell
and Keith A. Wester (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - George Watters II (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - Richard Hoover, Pat McClung
and John Frazier (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" -
Diane Warren (Nominated)


Review
A very entertaining disaster movie is ARMAGEDDON. This film delivers the audience laughter and drama that gives them an appreciation for this entire picture. I don't care about scientific errors; even the space goofs some people noticed. I liked Michael Bay's direction with his incredible action and explosions. The acting performances of Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Steve Buscemi were predictably good for a sci-fi/action movie.

ARMAGEDDON was the second-best film by the director. It's also an explosive and enjoyable popcorn smash for those who love a terrific disaster feature and even the ones directed by Bay (like the Transformers series, which includes Bay's best film ever.)

If you want to see this blockbuster, you must find it on DVD, Blu-ray or the Internet. If you prefer a different asteroid flick, try Deep Impact from DreamWorks.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Monday, May 14, 2012

Stealth Review (Updated)









Stealth


Release Date: 8th September 2005 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Original Film
Phoenix Pictures
Laura Ziskin Productions
AFG Talons Productions

Distribution 
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 121 minutes


Budget: $135,000,000

Box Office Gross: $76,932,872
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Marine fighter pilots Ben
Gannon, Henry Purcell and
Kara Wade have the task of
training a state-of-the-art,
fully automated, pilotless,
super-stealth aircraft to
carry out strikes on key
foreign targets. After
the plane gets struck by
lightning and rewired, Ben
lacks faith in artificial
intelligence technology.
But even after it takes on its
own, the Navy is determined
to keep it in the air. With the
plane wreaking havoc
worldwide, the team must
embark on their deadliest
mission to stop it before it
causes World War 3!


Cast
Josh Lucas - Lt. Ben Gannon
Jessica Biel - Lt. Kara Wade
Jamie Foxx - Lt. Henry Purcell
Sam Shepard - Capt. George Cummings
Joe Morton - Capt. Dick Marshfield
Richard Roxburgh - Dr. Keith Orbit
Ian Bliss - Lt. Aaron Shaftsbury
Ebon Moss-Bachrach - Tim
David Andrews - Ray
Wentworth Miller - EDI (Voice)
Alexandra Davies - Ben's Date
Caroline de Souza - Henry's Date
Jaipetch Toonchalong - Henry's Thai Girlfriend
Megan Gale - Dr. Orbit's Secretary
Jason Lee - Colonel Young
Michael McCabe - Commander 3rd Fleet
Robert L. Keane - Aircraft Carrier Chaplain
Nicholas Hammond - Executive Officer
Joel Tobeck - Black Ops Leader
John Waters - Black Ops Doctor
Michael Denkha - Naval Controller
Rocky Helton - Master at Arms
Clayton Adams - USS Abraham Lincoln Soldier
Maurice Morgan - USS Abraham Lincoln Soldier
Woody Naismith - USS Abraham Lincoln Soldier
Charles Ndibe - USS Abraham Lincoln Soldier
Sara Saliba - Korean Girl
Jim Diamond - Rangoon Terrorist
Jaffar Hussain - Rangoon Terrorist
Gary Quiy - Rangoon Terrorist
Jason Lee - Colonel Yune
Rowan Schlosberg - EDI Technician
Jason Chan - EDI Technician
Matthew Wilkinson - EDI Technician
Johann Walraven - EDI Technician
Randall Mettam - Naval Controller
Lucia Mastrantone - Naval Controller
Dorian Nkono - Naval Controller
Miles Paras - Naval Controller
Harli Ames - Naval Controller
Adriano Cappelletta - Naval Controller
Blazey Best - Naval Controller
Paul Pantano - Naval Controller
Ilya Melbokoff - Russian Pilot
Nikolai Nikolaeff - Russian Pilot
Warwick Young - Russian Pilot
Paul Donazzan - Russian Pilot
Vanessa Grimm - Sky News Reporter
Matthew Jorgensen - Barricade Officer
Colby Sanders - Aviation Plane Captain
Diego Corral - Ships Safety Officer

Crew
Director - Rob Cohen
Writer - W.D. Ritcher
Executive Producer - Arnold Messer
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager:
Aircraft Carrier Units - E. Bennett Walsh  
Producers - Mike Medavoy,
Neal H. Moritz and Laura Ziskin
Casting Directors - Sarah Finn,
Randi Hiller and Christine King
Senior Military Advisor - David M. Kennedy
Production Designers - Jonathan Lee and
J. Michael Riva
Supervising Art Director - Richard Hobbs
Model Supervisor - Peter Wyborm
Set Decorator - Suza Maybury
Costume Designer - Lizzy Gardiner
Assistant Costume Designer - Jane Johnston
Key Makeup & Hair Supervisor - Lesley Vanderwalt
Director of Photography - Dean Semler
Director of Photography: Second Unit - Brad Shield
First Assistant "A" Camera: Aircraft
Carrier Units - Clyde E. Bryan
Lear Jet Pilots - Alex Kvassy and Craig Hosking
Unit Production Manager - Catherine Bishop
Production Manager: Second Unit - Libby Sharpe
First Assistant Director - PJ Voeten
First Assistant Director: Aircraft Carrier Units -
Lars P. Winther
Second Assistant Director - Deborah Antoniou
Third Assistant Directors - Scott Lovelock
and Eddie Thorne
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Lance Gilbert
Stunt Coordinator - Guy Norris
Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Glenn Suter
Parachute Stunts - Tim Rigby
Australian Aerial Coordinator - Gary Tocehurst
Special Effects Supervisor - John Frazier
Special Effects Supervisor: Flying Fish/
Human Dynamo - Scott Harens
Special Effects Coordinators - David Young 
and Jim Schwalm
Visual Effects Supervisor - Joel Hynek
Visual Effects Supervisor: Animal Logic -
Chris Godfrey
Visual Effects Supervisor: Pacific Title and
Art Studio - David Sosalla
Visual Effects Producer: Digital Domain -
Julian Levi
Visual Effects Executive Producer: Digital
Domain - Nancy Bernstein
Executive Producer: Animal Logic -
Zareh Nalbandian
Visual Effects Director of Photography:
Digital Domain - Erik Nash
Director of Photography: Flying Fish/Human
Dynamo - Richard Bluck
Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain - Kelly Port
Computer Graphics Supervisors: Digital Domain -
Markus Kurtz and Vernon R. Wilbert Jr.
Compositing Supervisor: Digital Domain - Bryan Grill
Digital Compositing Sequence Leads:
Digital Domain - Brian Begun, Paul Kirwan
and Lou Pecora
Senior Digital Compositors: Digital Domain -
Ted S. Andre, Eric M. Beaver, Alette Boyce,
Paul Lambert, Kevin Lingenfelser,
Michael Maloney, Michael Melchiorre,
Marc Morissette, Robert Nederhorst,
Marc Dominic Rienzo, Jason Selfe and
Deborah Siltman
CG Effects Animation Sequence Leads:
Digital Domain - Robert A.D. Frick,
John Gibson and Garman Heritstad
CG Animation Lead: Digital Domain - Erik Gamache
Film Editor - Stephen E. Rivkin
First Assistant Editor - Andrew S. Eisen
Supervising Sound Editor - Bruce Stambler
Sound Designer - Tim Walston
ADR Supervisor - Becky Sullivan
Supervising Sound Mixers - Jeffrey J. Jaboush,
Bill W. Benton and Rick Kline
Music - BT
Additional Music - Trevor Morris
Music Supervisor - Bob Badami
Orchestra Recordist and Mixer - Alan Meyerson


Review
STEALTH could have been a good film, but unfortunately, it needs to be improved to match some of its contenders, such as Top Gun. Many viewers claim this box office misfire has taken some elements and a few ideas for this unoriginal picture. Yes, the premise is cheesy, but what more could moviegoers want? STEALTH has had its share of criticism for its lack of originality and thin characterisation, which were its shortcomings. The aerial sequences, camerawork and special effects make this film a visual delight and somewhat enjoyable. It even includes intriguing parts, such as in the movie's middle act, where something happens to one of the main characters. The acting is typically good, coming from a few leading actors like Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx. They weren't good enough to save STEALTH from crashing down.

This movie is simply average and probably not Rob Cohen's finest work. It's worth the watch for one time, but there is nothing to rush out and watch in a hurry.

Star rating: (3/5) Average