Monday, August 26, 2013

Now You See Me Review









Now You See Me


Release Date: 8th August 2013 - Australia


Production Companies
Summit Entertainment (presents)
K/O Paper Products
SOIXAN7E QUIN5E
See Me Louisiana

Distribution
Hopscotch Films


Genre: Crime/Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 116 minutes


Budget: $75,000,000

Box Office Gross: $351,723,989 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A troupe of illusionists known as The Four Horsemen mesmerises audiences with their dazzling magic shows while pulling off a series of daring heists against corrupt business leaders and
showering the stolen profits
on the audience members.

FBI Special Agent Dylan is determined to make the magicians pay for what they have done and stop them before they carry out an even more daring heist. But he must work with Alma, an Interpol detective of whom he is immediately suspicious. In
desperation, he turns
to Thaddeus, a famous
debunker of magic, who
claims that the bank
robbery involved
disguises and video tricks.
One thing Dylan and
Alma can agree on is that
the Horsemen must have
someone on the outside.
The key to ending the
wizards' crime spree is
to find him (or her). But
who is this outside
person? Is it Thaddeus?
Or Alma? Or is this just
magic?


Cast
Jesse Eisenberg - J. Daniel
Atlas
Mark Ruffalo - Dylan Rhodes
Woody Harrelson - Merritt
McKinney
Isla Fisher - Henley Reeves
Dave Franco - Jack Wilder
Morgan Freeman - Thaddeus Bradley
Michael Caine - Arthur Tressler
Mélanie Laurent - Alma Dray
Michael Kelly - Agent Fuller
Common - Agent Evans
David Warshofsky - Cowan
José Garcia - Etienne Forcier
Jessica Lindsey - Hermia
Caitriona Balfe - Jasmine Tressler
Stephanie Honore - Atlas Groupie
Conan O'Brien - Himself (Cameo)
Diego Mero - Dylan (12 Years Old)
Elias Koteas - Lionel Shrike (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Louis Leterrier
Story/Screenplay/Executive Producer - Boaz Yakon
Story/Screenplay - Edward Ricourt
Screenplay - Ed Solomon
Executive Producer - Michael Schaefer
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Stan Wlodkowski
Producers - Bobby Cohen,
Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci
Magic Inspiration - David Copperfield
Head Magic Consultant - David Kwong
Chief Mentalist and Hypnotism Consultant -
Keith Barry
Production Designer - Peter Wenham
Supervising Art Director - Thomas Valentine
Art Director - Scott Plauche
Art Director: Additional Photography -
Andrew Neskoromny
Set Decorator - Beauchamp Fontaine
Costume Designer - Jenny Egan
Directors of Photography - Mitchell Amundsen
and Larry Fong
Aerial Directors of Photography: Second Unit,
New York - Hans Bjerno and Dylan Goss
Helicopter Pilot: Second Unit, New York -
Frédéric North
Unit Production Manager: Additional
Photography - Udi Nedivi
First Assistant Director - Joe Camp III
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator
(Uncredited) - G.A. Aguilar
Additional Unit Director/Senior Visual Effects
Supervisor - Nicholas Brooks
Stunt Coordinator - Stephen A. Pope
Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Rick Le Fevour
Fight Coordinator - Chuck Jeffreys
Special Effects Coordinator - Guy Clayton
Special Effects Coordinator: New York - Jeff Brink
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Craig Hammack
Visual Effects Supervisor: Image Engine - Andrew Chapman
Visual Effects Producer - Thomas Elder-Groebe
Executive Producer: ILM - Jill Brooks
Visual Effects Executive Producer: Image Engine -
Shawn Walsh
Digital Model Supervisor: ILM - Russell Paul
Editors - Robert Leighton and
Vincent Tabaillon
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer -
Steve Boedekker
Additional Sound Design - Will Files
Supervising Sound Editor - Jonathan Null
Re-Recording Mixer - David Parker
Foley Supervisor - Frank Rinella
Foley Artists - Ronni Brown,
Sean England and Andrea Gard
Music - Brian Tyler


Review
This film was an astonishing surprise, and I never expected it to be a decent film at the start, but then, it dazzled me with its twists and turns. NOW YOU SEE ME is a detailed portrayal of a heist plot mixed with a hybrid of magicians and trickery. The characters conduct themselves deviously in a Robin Hood robbery that complements the stylized nature of their personalities. Director Louis Leterrier creates mystery, suspense, fun and magic in a complex and twisted storyline that compels viewers from the beginning to the end. The film isn't as flawed as critics made it out to be, except for its final twist, which is the one thing I can agree with.

Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo and Morgan Freeman were all professionally committed to their roles and demonstrated the acting money could buy. While the leading role could have gone to Cillian Murphy or Jim Sturgess, Eisenberg was good enough at being the lead.

I have value in this big-budgeted elaborate film with its ingenious aspects. It isn't a sci-fi-themed caper of going into people's dreams like Inceptionjust showcasing elaborate illusions and tricks. If you enjoyed this film, you also watch similar magic-themed non-heist movies, The Prestige and The Illusionist, for obvious comparisons to NOW YOU SEE ME.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

Monday, August 19, 2013

Monsters Review











Monsters


Release Date: 25th November 2010 - Australia


Production Companies
Vertigo Films

Distribution
Madman Entertainment


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 94 minutes


Budget: $500,000

Box Office Gross: $4,242,978
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain "the creatures"...... Our story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border. 


Cast
Scoot McNairy - Andrew Kaulder
Whitney Able - Samantha Wynden

Crew
Writer/Director/Production Designer/
Director of Photography/Visual Effects - Gareth Edwards
Executive Producers - Nick Love,
Rupert Preston and Nigel Williams
Producers - Alain Nilbo and 
James Richardson
Film Editor - Colin Goudie
Music - Jon Hopkins


Review
The 2010 movie of 'MONSTERS' was not quite the indie sci-fi flick that I was expecting as it could have been a lot better if it was a different kind of a monster feature and has horror-blazing action. Then it would have been well-liked by everyone. Instead, all the film focuses is drama and romance between the two characters and there are no scenes that are even remotely scary or intensive. Even the giant squid aliens are barely the film's main focus and they were part of the backdrop. Because of this reason, this film doesn't really live up to its title.

I'm not like the other critics that loved the movie but here’s the truth, 'MONSTERS' is by far a lacklustre movie generally. I would be better off watching 'Independence Day' because this film was a spectacle that I was privileged to watch over Gareth Edwards' boring debut. 'MONSTERS' is undoubtedly not the best representation of an alien invasion, if you want a real movie that dealt these cliches, go for Will Smith's blockbuster.

Star rating: (2/5) Bad Movie

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Monday, August 12, 2013

The Road to El Dorado Review










The Road to El Dorado


Release Date: 7th September 2000 - Australia


Production Companies
DreamWorks Pictures (presents)
DreamWorks Animation

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Animation/Family/
Adventure/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 89 minutes


Budget: $95,000,000

Box Office Gross:
$76,432,727 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
While pulling off a scam, two wanted con men, Tulio and Miguel, get their hands on a map to El Dorado, the legendary Lost City of Gold. After being lost at sea, they wind up on the shores of El Dorado. They find the hidden city and are mistaken as gods by its natives. Obstacles lay ahead for these two rogues as they must save El Dorado and make the right decision!


Voice Cast
Kevin Kline - Tulio
Kenneth Branagh - Miguel
Rosie Pérez - Chel
Armand Assante - Tzekel-Kan
Edward James Olmos -
Chief Tannabok
Jim Cummings - Hernán Cortés
Frank Welker - Altivo
Tobin Bell - Zaragoza
Duncan Marjoribanks - Acolyte
Elijah Chiang - Kid #1
Cyrus Shaki-Khan - Kid #2
Elton John - Narrator

Crew
Directors - Eric "Bibo"
Bergeron and Don Paul
Additional Sequences - Will Finn and David Silverman
Writers - Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio and Phillip LaZebnik
Additional Dialogue - Karey
Kirkpatrick
Executive Producer - Jeffrey Katzenberg
Co-Executive Producer - Bill Damaschke
Producers - Bonne Radford and Brooke Breton
Visual Consultant - John Pohl
Production Designer - Christian Schellewald
Additional Production Designer/Storyboard
Artist - Vicky Jenson
Sequence Designer - Seth Engstrom
Sequence Designer/Layout Artist -
David James
Art Directors - Paul Lasaine,
Wendell Luebbe and Raymond Zibach
Additional Art Director - Sam Michlap
Character Designer/Supervising Animator:
"Armadillo" - Nicolas Marlet
Character Designers - Carlos Grangel
and Tony Siruno
Additional Storyboard Artist/Supervising
Animator: "Chief" - Frans Vischer
Costume Designer - Kelly Kimball
Story Supervisors - Ronnie Del Carmen
and Jeff Snow
Layout Supervisor - Lorenzo Martinez
Background Supervisor - Kevin Turcotte
Background Stylist - Scott Wills
Animation Department Manager - Steve Pegram
Digital Color Production Manager - Matthew Teevan
Scene Planning Supervisors - James C.J.
Williams and David Morehead
Animation Supervisor/Supervising Animator:
"Altivo" and "Cortéz" - Kristof Serrand
Senior Supervising Animator: "Tulio" -
James Baxter
Senior Supervising Animator: "Miguel" -
Darlie Brewster
Supervising Animator: "Tulio" - William Salazar
Supervising Animators: "Miguel" -
Serguei Kouchnerov and Bob Scott
Supervising Animator: "Chel" - Rodolphe Guenoden
Supervising Animator: "Tzekel-Kan" - Kathy Zielinski
Supervising Animator: "Jaguar" - Sylvain Deboissy
Supervising Animator: "Sailors" and
"Ball Players" - Patrick Mate
Animator: "Miguel"/Supervising Animator:
"Miscellaneous" - Erik C. Schmidt
Sequence Leads: "Celebration" Sequence -
Lynette Charters and Jamie Lloyd
Sequence Lead: "Jaguar Hunt" Sequence -
Ed Coffey and Sean McLaughlin
Sequence Lead: "Crashing the Gate" Sequence -
Doug Ikeler
Sequence Supervisor: Stardust Pictures -
Robert Stevenhagen
Digital Supervisor - Dan Philips
3D Effects Supervisor - Bud Myrick
Computer Graphics Supervisor: "Creation"
Sequence - Craig Ring
Songs - Elton John
Lyrics - Tim Rice
Supervising Editors - John Carnochan
and Dan Molina
Film Editor - Vicki Hiatt
Additional Editors - Lynne Southerland
and Jeffrey C. Patch
Sound Design and Supervision - Greg King
Re-Recording Mixers - Andy Nelson
and Anna Behlmer
Music - Hans Zimmer and John Powell
Composers: Additional Music/Technical
Technical Music Advisors - Klaus Badelt,
Justin Burnett, James McKee Smith and
Geoff Zanelli
Score Recordist and Mixer - Alan Meyerson


Review
The full-length animated movie, THE ROAD TO EL DORADO, came out in the year 2000 when I was a kid, and I enjoyed re-watching it all the time and had so much fondness for its two main characters. The story is partial historical revisionism. According to the producers, the comical duo was supposed to be the humorous sidekicks and went to steal the spotlight (like Timon and Pumbaa from Disney's The Lion King). That's how the animation team wanted to make something different by changing these two characters to be the main heroes. The film marries classical and CGI animation into one mixture and includes terrific background songs from the unforgettable pop star Elton John.

While I did enjoy the soundtrack in this feature, there is no comparison to The Lion King, as these songs weren't as memorable (apart from the number "It's Tough To Be a God"). More praise is for the renowned actors Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh for the non-stop vocalisation of Tulio and Miguel and Edward James Olmos as Chief Tannabak.

Bursting out loud with joyful laughter, but nearly shining as the best effort from the animation studio of DreamWorks. EL DORADO is still entertaining. Unfortunately, it could not rule the seven seas of the box office aside from the quality and would have done better if made by Disney, not DreamWorks.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, August 5, 2013

Jumper Review












Jumper


Release Date: 14th February 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Regency Enterprises (presents)
New Regency
Hypnotic

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 84 minutes


Budget: $85,000,000

Box Office Gross: $222,231,186
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
David Rice is a young man who knows no boundaries -- a Jumper, born with the uncanny ability to teleport instantly to any place on Earth. When he discovers others like himself, David is thrust into the midst of an ancient war while being hunted by a bloodthirsty band of zealots sworn to destroy all Jumpers.

Now, David's extra-ordinary gift may be his only hope for survival!


Cast
Hayden Christensen - David Rice
Rachel Bilson - Millie Harris
Samuel L. Jackson - Roland Cox
Jamie Bell - Griffin O'Connor
Diane Lane - Mary Rice
Teddy Dunn - Mark Kobold
Max Thieriot - 15-Year Old David
Ryan Grantham - 5-Year Old David
Annasophia Robb - Young Millie
Jess James - Young Mark
Michael Rooker - William Rice
Kristen Stewart - Sophie
Barbara Garrick - Ellen
Meredith Henderson - Fiona

Crew
Director - Doug Liman
Based on Novel "Jumper" - 
Steven Gould
Screenplay - David S. Goyer 
and Jim Uhls
Screenplay/Producer - Simon Kinberg
Associate Producer/Second Unit Director/
Stunt Coordinator - Simon Crane
Executive Producers - Vince Gerardis,
Stacy Maes and Ralph Vicinanza
Executive Producer/First Assistant Director -
Kim H. Winther
Producers - Arnon Milchan, Lucas Foster and
Jay Sanders
Production Designer - Oliver Scholl
Supervising Art Directors - Elinor Rose Galibrath
and Thomas Valentine
Costume Designer - Magali Guidasci
Director of Photography - Barry Peterson
Stunt Coordinators - Wade Eastwood and
Ladislav & Robert Lahoda
Special Effects Supervisor - Yves De Bono
Special Effects Coordinators - Daniel Acon and
Rob Sanderson
Special Effects Coordinator: New York - Steven Kirshoff
Visual Effects Producer/Supervisor - Kevin Elam
Visual Effects Supervisors - Joel Hynek,
Colin & Greg Strause and Andy Williams
Visual Effects Supervisors: Weta Digital - Dan Lemmon
and Erik Winquist
Visual Effects Supervisor: Hyrdaulx - Rob Hodgson
Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinema Production
Services, Inc. - Michael Joyce
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor/Visual Effects
Supervisor: DIVE - Mark O. Forker
Animation Supervisor: Weta Digital - Eric Reynolds
Creatures Supervisor: Weta Digital - Dana Peters
Film Editors - Saar Klein and Don
& Dean Zinnerman
Music Supervisor - Julliane Jordan 
Music - John Powell 


Review
A lacklustre feature that is missing a spark, I just felt as though it was an effort to watch this disengaging sci-fi concept as revealed in 'JUMPER'. Unsurprisingly, the plot hasn't captured the novel in this film interpretation. This movie has a real Star Wars connection with two of the actors who appeared in the franchise in Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson. Talking about both actors, the underrated one-timer Christensen has yet again failed to make the main character likeable. In the eyes of some, having redeemed himself with a decent performance in 'Revenge of the Sith', I just don't think he is an appropriate actor for this role. L. Jackson and the other star Jamie Bell were significantly better than Hayden and from my perspective were the stand-out performers of this dreadful film.

Overall, 'JUMPER' has failed to please all viewers. Perhaps they were hungry for more awesomeness and power-pack to keep this product large and healthy and maintain the areas of a solid novel-to-movie adaptation from director Doug Liman and his associates.

Star rating: (2/5) Bad Movie

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Ernest Goes to Camp Review










Ernest Goes to Camp


Release Date: 17th September 1987 - Australia


Production Companies
Emshell Producers
Silver Screen Partners III (in association with)
Touchstone Pictures

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 92 minutes


Budget: $3,500,000

Box Office Gross: $23,509,382 (USA)


Plot Summary
Ernest, a handyman at Kamp Kikakee, achieves his greatest ambition of becoming a camp counsellor when assigned to a gang of juvenile delinquents from the Midstate Boys Detention Center! Not only must Ernest wrangle these troublesome youths, but he has to save the camp from being torn down by a giant mining company.


Cast
Jim Varney - Ernest P. Worrell
Victoria Racimo - Nurse St. Cloud
John Vernon - Sherman Krader
Iron Eyes Cody - Old Indian
'Chief St. Cloud'
Lyle Alzado - Bronk Stinson (Foreman)
Gailard Sartain - Jake
Daniel Butler - Eddie
Patrick Day - Bobby Wayne
Scott Menville - Crutchfield
Jacob Vargas - Butch 'Too
Cool' Vargas
Danny Capri - Danny
Todd Lloyd - Chip Ozgood
Hakeem Abdul-Samad - Moustafa "Moose" Hakeem Jones
Andrew Woodworth - Pennington
Richard Speight Jr. - Brooks
Jeffrey Buckner Ford - Attorney Elliott Blatz
Larry Black - Mr. Tipton
Eddy Schumacher - Counselor Stennis
Hugh Sinclair - Counselor Sparks
Johnson West - Counselor Puckett
Jean Wilson - State Supervisor
Ivan Green - Mr. Stewart
Christian Haas - Molly Stewart
Brenda Haynes - Mrs. Stewart

Crew
Screenplay/Director - John R. Cherry III
Screenplay/Creative Consultant/
Second Unit Director - Coke Sams
Additional Dialogue - Steve Leasure and
Glenn Petach
Executive Producers - Martin Erlichman
and Elmo Williams
Producer - Stacy Williams
Art Director/Set Decorator/
Property Master - Kathy Emily Cherry
Directors of Photography - Harry Mathias
and Jim May
First Assistant Director - Patrice Leung
Stunt Coordinator - Keith Tellez
Special Effects Consultant - Jaime Bird
Supervising Sound Editor - William Carruth
Supervising Re-Recording Mixer - Mark Berger
Recording Mixers - Jim Austin and
Todd Boekelheide
Editor - Marshall Harvey
Lyrics: Songs/Music Production Assistant -
Alice Keister
Music/Synclavier Programming - Shane Keister


Review
While it's not the first movie of the Ernest series, Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam is the first. ERNEST GOES TO CAMP undeniably turned Jim Varney into a movie star and introduced his lovable character, Ernest P. Worrell, to the big screen. It has the sentimentality and glitter of accidental laughs. This family comedy is good, especially when seemingly goofy and lighthearted in its story setting. Aside from the comical mischief are the two things, including John Vernon's character portrayal of the villain Sherman Krader and the poignant moment of Ernest singing "Gee I'm Glad It's Raining".

Some of you believe most features of Ernest are corny, but I beg to differ. It's the wackiest and most refreshing movie of 1987 and the best instalment of the comedy series PERIOD!

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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