Monday, June 27, 2016

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Review













Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows


Release Date: 9th June 2016 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures
Nickelodeon Movies
Platinum Dunes
Gama Entertainment Partners
Mednick Productions
Smithrowe Entertainment

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 112 minutes


Budget: $135,000,000

Box Office Gross: $245,623,848
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
After supervillain Shredder
escapes custody, he joins
forces with mad scientist
Baxter Stockman and two
dimwitted henchmen,
Bebop and Rocksteady, to
unleash a diabolical plan
to take over the world. As
the turtles prepare to take
on Shredder and his new
crew, they find themselves
facing an even greater evil
with similar intentions:
the notorious Krang. (Source - Metro Cinemas)


Cast
Megan Fox - April O'Neil
Will Arnett - Vern Fenwick
Laura Linney - Chief Vincent
Stephen Amell - Casey Jones
Alan Ritchson - Raphael
Noel Fisher - Michelangelo
Pete Ploszek - Leonardo
Jeremy Howard - Donatello
Peter Donald Baldamenti II - Splinter
Tony Shalhoub - Splinter (Voice)
Brian Tee - Shredder
Stephen Farrelly - Rocksteady
Gary Anthony Williams - Bebop
Brittany Ishibashi - Karai
Tyler Perry - Baxter
Stockman
Brad Garrett - Krang (Voice)
Connor Fox - Trevor
Alessandra Ambrosio - Herself (Cameo)
Jane Wu - Jade
Robert Clohessy - Deputy Warden Hamlett
Carmelo Anthony - Himself (Cameo)
DeAndre Jordan - Himself (Cameo)
Jonathan Redick - Himself (Cameo)
Matt Barnes - Himself (Cameo)
Austin Rivers - Himself (Cameo)
Langston Arnold Galloway - Himself (Cameo)
Shane Larkin - Himself (Cameo)
Lou Amundson - Himself (Cameo)
Andrea Bargnani - Himself (Cameo)
Quincy Acy - Himself (Cameo)
Kevin Eastman - Pizza
Delivery Guy (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Dave Green
Based on Characters  - Kevin
Eastman and Peter Laird
Writer/Executive Producers - Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec
Associate Producer/
Production Manager - Basil Grillo
Executive Producers - Eric J. Crown, Grant Curtis and Denis L. Stewart
Producers - Michael Bay,
Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller,
Scott Mendick and Galen Walker
Production Designer - Martin Laing
Costume Designer - Sarah Edwards
Director of Photography - Lula Carvalho
Second Unit Director - Mike Gunther
Second Unit Director/Visual Effects Supervisor -
Pablo Helman
Stunt Coordinators - Jonathan Eusebio
and Spiro Razatos
Fight Coordinator - Jon Valera
Special Effects Supervisor - J.D. Schwalm
Co-Visual Effects Supervisor - Robert Weaver
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM London - Julian Foddy
Animation Supervisor - Kevin Martel
Associate Animation Supervisor - Shawn Kelly
CG Supervisor - Brian Cantwell
CG Supervisor: ILM - Laurent Hugueniot
Film Editors - Jim May and
Bob Ducsay
Supervising Sound Designers - Erik Aadahl
and Ethan Van der Ryn
Music - Steve Jablonsky


Review
Two years after the success and mixed response of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', a reboot that arguably tries to be like 'Transformers'. It unfortunately wasn't and Michael Bay strikes again as the producer of this latest sequel. He hires a different director who was known for the lacklustre film of 'Earth to Echo' with the vision in mind to have him improve the setbacks. But needless to say, it only worked in a few elements. My impression is drawn back to its classic 80s cartoon roots and incorporated its several elements to the plot adding such characters as Bebop and Rocksteady as well as Krang. This is a good thing and a bad thing, starting with the good it has some sentimental value which will resonate with fans who grow up with the 80s classic. Now moving onto the bad, many considered the film as a slight modification over the original, but some unrealism and poor acting choices dishonored this sequel

It is without surprise that Stephen Amell from the hit TV show 'Arrow' phoned it in as Casey Jones. This character has got spunk, but Amell didn't get enough direction and the way the character is written wasn't as charismatic I hoped. I even thought Tyler Perry and Brad Garrett are miscast in their roles and so is Megan Fox who is still dull and frankly this is the result of poor direction and script.

Turtle power, not really and it's good for a one-time watch at best. 'OUT OF THE SHADOWS' is an another mediocre effort from Michael Bay's producing credit. I think this movie will be more appealing to a younger grouping of people or less experienced movie goers who do not pay as much attention to detail, casting and plotting.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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Thursday, June 23, 2016

In Memory of Anton Yelchin (1989-2016)











Anton Yelchin (1989-2016)

So, sorry to do this. I've been busy trying to perfect my earlier reviews. The talented young actor, Anton Yelchin, was killed in a freak car accident after his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled down a driveway and pinned him against the security fence and brick pillar on June 19th, 2016, at the age of 27. It's such a tragedy that a promising young actor got his own life cut short. It is devastating news. He was best known for playing Chekov in the two "Star Trek" reboots by J.J. Abrams.

He was born in his native homeland of Russia to a pair of figure skaters. When Anton was only an infant, he and his family left to escape the oppression of their country and emigrate to the United States afterwards. He was trained as an actor through classes and was noticed early in his career and given opportunities. At ten years old, he landed a guest appearance on the episode of a medical drama television series "ER" before the following year, where he performed in his early film roles in movies like "Delivering Milo", "Along Came A Spider" and "Hearts in Atlantis". In 2004, Yelchin appeared in a television series called "Huff", which lasted for two seasons. He appeared in a notable crime drama, "Alpha Dog", which happens to be his breakout role with several other films like "Fierce People", "Charlie Bartlett", "Like Crazy", and "Fright Night", etc.

In 2009, the same year he played Kyle Reese in "Terminator Salvation", Yelchin got cast as Chekov opposite Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in a film that redefined the classic sci-fi series of "Star Trek", where no other reboot had gone before. J.J. Abrams's "Star Trekwas a huge smash that brought him international recognition. Its success would soon follow with two instalments, "Into Darknessand "Beyond". The latter will have its official release next month.

News like this is always an unpleasant experience, and being that the actor was such a young man, it is horrific that he passed well before his time. It is fair to say that his fans, friends and family will miss this talented young actor. His memory and presence will be unforgotten, and the movies he left behind will remind us of his talent and good spirit.

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Wednesday, June 22, 2016

X-Men: Days of Future Past: The Rogue Cut Review













X-Men: Days of Future Past: The Rogue Cut


Release Date: 15th July 2015 - Australia (Direct to Video Only)


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Marvel Entertainment (in
association with)
TSG Entertainment (in
association with)
Ingenious Media (made in
association with)
Bad Hat Harry Productions
Donners' Company
Genre Films
Down Productions (made in association with)


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 149 minutes


Budget: $200,000,000


Plot Summary
The year is 2023, in a dystopian future where mutants and the humans who dare to help them are on the verge of extinction, massacred by invincible robots called Sentinels. Now the remaining survivors have only one option to save the future. To do this, they sent Wolverine back in 1973 to stop the war before it even started.


Cast
Hugh Jackman - Logan/
Wolverine
James McAvoy - Charles Xavier
Patrick Stewart - Professor X
Michael Fassbender - Erik Lensherr
Ian McKellen - Magneto
Jennifer Lawrence - Raven
Darkholme/Mystique
Halle Berry - Ororo Monroe/
Storm
Anna Paquin - Marie/Rogue
Nicholas Hoult - Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast
Kelsey Grammer - Beast
(Cameo) (Uncredited)
Peter Dinklage - Bolivia Trask
Ellen Page - Kitty Pryde
Shawn Ashmore - Bobby
Drake/Iceman
Omar Sy - Bishop
Daniel Cudmore - Peter
Rasputin/Colossus
Evan Peters - Peter
Maximoff/Quicksilver
Fan Blingbling - Blink
Adan Canto - Sunspot
Booboo Stewart - Warpath
Josh Helman - Major William
Stryker
Famke Janssen - Jean Grey (Cameo)
James Marsden - Scott Summers/Cyclops (Cameo)
Lucas Till - Alex Summers/
Havok
Evan Jonigkeit - Toad
Mark Camacho - U.S. President Richard Nixon
Alexander Felici - Young Mutant Scavenger
Jan Gerste - Gwen
Massimo Cannistraro - Ramone
Mike Dopud - Pinstripe Mafioso
Lee Villeneuve - Black Coast Mafioso
Andreas Apergis - Col. Sanders
Robert Montcalm - Vietnam MP Guard
Gregg Lowe - Ink
Jaa Smith-Johnson - Mutant Soldier
Alex Ivanovici - Quarantine Doctor
Alain Dahan - Quarantine Doctor #2
Freddy Bessa - Quarantine Doctor #3
Patricia Tougas - Quarantine Nurse
Michael Lerner - Senator Brickman
Chris Claremont - Congressman Parker (Cameo)
Len Wein - Congressman Davis (Cameo)
François Paquette - Congressman McCarter
Zabryna Guevara - Trask Secretary
Zehra Leverman - Mrs. Maximoff
Angela Galuppo - Pentagon Tour Guide
Milo Chang Sigel - Pentagon Young Boy
Kiana Chang Sigel - Pentagon Young Girl
Victor Cornfoot - Surveillance Guard #1
Brent Skagford - Surveillance Guard #2
Kyle Gatehouse - Penthouse Cook
John-Sebastien Cole - Mustachioed
Kitchen Guard
Stéphane Julien - Kitchen Guard
Taris Tyler - Pentagon Elevator Guard
Darryl Scheelar - Armed Kitchen Guard
Thai-Hoa Le - General Nhuan
Johnny Tran - Vietnamese Captain
Gregory Hlady - General Petrov
Dang Quoc Thinh - Vietnamese Translator
Vladimir Aksenov - Russian Translator
Jimmy Chan - Chinese Translator
Julian Casey - Peace Summit Reporter
Robert Crooks - Nixon Aide
Matt Cooke - Secretary of Defense
Tim Post - US Army General
Jason Deline - Desk Anchor
Karine Vanasse - French Emergency Nurse
Pierre Leblanc - French Reporter
Jude Beny - Female Traveler
Arthur Holden - Blue Suit Traveler
Sean Curley - Airport Backpacker
Susanna Fournier - Flight Attendant
Andrew Peplowski - White House Reporter
John Sanford Moore - White House Lawn
Reporter
Moe Jeudy-Lamour - White House Ticket Man
Harry Standjofski - Groundskeeper
Brianna Bone - Red-Haired Girl
Neil Napier - Secret Service Agent
Jason Koehler - White House Stage Guard
Miya Shelton-Contreras - Peter's Little Sister
Mizinga Mwinga - Potomac River Cop #1
Christian Judah - Potomac River Cop #2
Brendan Pedder - En Sabah Nur (Uncredited)
Bryan Singer - Man with Small Film Camera
(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Producer/Director - Bryan Singer
Based on Marvel's "X-Men" Comics
(Uncredited)/Executive Producer - Stan Lee
Based on Marvel's "X-Men" Comics
(Uncredited) - Jack Kirby
Story/Screenplay/Producer - Simon Kinberg
Story - Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn
Associate Producers - Tom Cohen
and Derek Hoffman
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Kathleen McGill
Executive Producer/Second Unit Director -
Todd Hallowell
Executive Producer/First Assistant Director -
Josh McLaglen
Producers - Hutch Parker and
Lauren Shuler Donner
Co-Producer - Jason Taylor
Casting Directors - Andrea Kenyon,
Roger Mussenden and Randi Wells
Production Designer - John Myhre
Supervising Art Director - Michele Laliberte
Concept Artist - Henry Fong
Set Decorators - Eva Boulonne,
Gordon Sim and Ann Smart
Property Master - Simone Leclerc
Costume Designer - Louise Mingerbach
Costume Supervisors - Bob Morgan
and Blanche-Danielle Boileau
Head Makeup Artist - Norma-Hill Patton
Head SPX Makeup Artist - Adrien Morot
Mystique and Beast SFX Makeup/Prosthetics
and Full Size Sentinel: Legacy Effects -
Brian Sipe
Director of Photography - Newton Thomas Sigel
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Larry Blanford
Aerial Director of Photography - Hans Bjerno
Aerial Coordinator - Frédéric North
Additional First Assistant "B" Camera: First Unit -
Nicolas Marion
Production Managers - Daniel Auclair and
Ashish Kukian
First Assistant Director: Second Unit -
Andrew M. Robinson
Second Unit Director - Brian Smrz
Stunt Coordinators - Jeff Habberstad,
Michael Scherer and James M. Churchman
Fight Coordinators - Renae Moneymaker and
Daniel Stevens
Special Effects Supervisor - Cameron Waldbauer
Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit -
Steve Hamilton
Legacy Effects Supervisor - John Rosengrant
Visual Effects Supervisor - Richard Stammers
Visual Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Lou Pecora
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Anders Langlands
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Derek Spears
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Matt Sloan
Visual Effects Producer - Blondel Aidoo
Visual Effects Producer: Digital Domain -
Daniel Brimer
Visual Effects: Hydraulx - Colin & Greg
Strause, Erik Diles, Bill Kunin, Eric Kohler,
Nicolas Vigneau, Mark Rasmussen,
Hui-Wen Yu, Kishor Joshu, Shane Kag,
Joel Sevilla, David Michaels, Yuji Yagasaki,
Jarrod Avalos and Chris Radcliffe
Visual Effects: Animal Logic -
Sandra Beerenbrock, Tyson Donnelly,
Paul Butterworth, Miles Green and
Julien Leveudle
Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Nikos Kalaitzidis
Senior Animation Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Jan Philip Cramer
CG Supervisors: MPC - Sheldon Stopsack
and James Rustad
Compositing Supervisors: Digital Domain -
Joel Behrens and Michael Maloney
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -
Craig Berkey
Sound Designers - Warren Hendriks and
Chuck Michaels
Supervising Sound Editor - John A. Larsen
Assistant Supervising Sound Editor -
Skip Longfellow
Sound Effects Editors - Ai-Ling Lee
and Wayne Lemmer
Sound Effects Recordist - John P. Fasal
Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett
and Doug Hemphill
Additional Re-Recording Mixer -
James Bolt
Film Editor/Music - John Ottman
Co Editor - Michael Louis Hill
Composers: Additional Music - Lior Rosner,
Marcus Trumpp and Edwin Wendler


Review
In 2016, the latest X-Men movie, Apocalypsewas still in session in theatres across Australia. I have watched all the previous hits except for DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, the quintessential fan-favourite. However, I have considered the original theatrical cut better than the extended version availed by Bryan Singer. THE ROGUE CUT bears its namesake from the female character known as Rogue. This version contains scenes featuring the titular heroine deleted from the final cut that got reinserted. Even ones now got extended and reassembled, along with a deleted love scene of Beast and Mystique. While this definitive version is acceptable, it is less straightforward than the original film and adds little to improve its quality.

I still liked DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. I don't care if any other version is bigger and better than the original movie. It's still one of the two films that redefined the mutant saga.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

Monday, June 20, 2016

Alice in Wonderland (2010)/Alice Through the Looking Glass Review











Alice in Wonderland/Alice Through the Looking Glass


Release Date: 4th March 2010 - Australia
                       (Alice in Wonderland)
                       26th May 2016 - Australia
                       (Alice Through the Looking 
                       Glass)


Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
Roth Films
Team Todd  
The Zanuck Company (Alice in Wonderland Only)
Tim Burton Productions (uncredited)

Distribution 
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia


Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 108 minutes 
                (Alice in Wonderland)
               113 minutes (Alice 
               Through the
               Looking Glass)


Budget: $200,000,000 
(Alice in Wonderland)
$170,000,000 (Alice 
Through the Looking Glass)

Box Office Gross: $1,025,467,572 (Worldwide - figure subject to change) (Alice in Wonderland)
$299,457,024 (Worldwide) (Alice Through the Looking Glass)
                               

Plot Summaries

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 
19-year old Alice returns 
to the magical world 
from her childhood 
adventure, where she 
reunites with her old 
friends and learns of her 
true destiny: to end the 
Red Queen's reign of 
terror.

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS 
In this sequel to 2010's
Alice in Wonderland, Alice
returns to the whimsical
world of Underland and
travels back in time to
save Mad Hatter. (Source - Metro Cinemas)


Cast
Mia Wasikowskia - Alice
Johnny Depp - The Mad Hatter
Helena Bonham Carter - The Red Queen
Anne Hathaway - White Queen
Matt Lucas - Tweedledee/
Tweedledum
Michael Sheen - White Rabbit (Voice)
Stephen Fry - Cheshire Cat (Voice)
Alan Rickman - Blue Caterpillar (Voice)
Barbara Windsor - Dormouse (Voice)
Paul Whitehouse - March Hare (Voice)
Timothy Spall - Bayard (Voice)
Lindsay Duncan - Helen Kingsleigh
Geraldine James - Lady Ascot
Leo Bill - Hamish

Alice in Wonderland Only
Crispin Glover - Stayne - Knave of Hearts
Tim Pigott-Smith - Lord Ascot
Marton Csokas - Charles Kingsleigh
Eleanor Gecks - Faith Chattaway
Eleanor Tomlinson - Fiona Chattaway
Frances de la Tour - Aunt Imogene
Jemma Powell - Margaret Kingsleigh
John Hopkins - Lowell
Michael Gough - Dodo Bird (Voice)
Imelda Staunton - Tall Flower Faces (Voice)
Christopher Lee - Jabberwocky (Voice)
Mairi Ella Challen - 6-Year Old Alice
Jim Carter - Executioner (Voice)

Alice Through the Looking Glass Only
Sacha Baron Cohen - Time 
Rhys Ifans - Zanik Hightopp
Andrew Scott - Dr. Addison Bennett
Richard Armitage - King Oleron
Ed Speelers - James Harcourt
Matt Vogel - Wilkins (Voice)
Paul Hunter - Chess King (Voice)
Wally Wingert - Humpty Dumpty (Voice)
Meera Syal - Nobody (Voice)
Hattie Morohan - Queen Elsemere
Louis Ashbourne Serkis - Young Hatter
Joanna Bobin - Alexandra
Amelia Crouch - Young Mirana
Leilah de Meza - Young Iracebeth
Simone Kirby - Tyva Hightopp
Joe Hurst - Bim Hightopp
Siobhan Redmond - Bumalig Hightopp
Oliver Hawkes - Young Bim Hightopp
Frederick Warder - Poomally Hightopp
Eve Hedderwick Turner - Paloo Hightopp
Tom Godwin - Pimlick Hightopp
Siobhan McSweeney - Witzender
Owain Rhys Davies - Delivery Frog (Voice)
Edward Petherbridge -
Gentleman Fish (Voice)


Crew
Producer (**)/Director (*) - Tim
Burton
Director - James Bobin (**)
Based on Books - Lewis Carroll
Screenplay - Linda Woolverton
Associate Producer - Derek
Frey (*)
Executive Producers/Unit Production Managers - Peter M. Tobyansen (*) and John G. Scotti (**)
Executive Producer/Film
Editor - Chris Lebonzon (*)
Producers - Richard D. 
Zanuck (*), Joe Roth and 
Jennifer & Suzanne Todd 
First Assistant Director/
Co-Producer - Katterli 
Frauenfelder (*)
Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer - Tom C. Peitzman (*)
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager - Jeremy Johns (**)
Production Designers - Robert Stromberg (*) and Dan Hennah (**)
Supervising Art Directors - Stefan Denchant (*) and Niall Moroney (**)
Supervising Art Director: UK -
Andy Nicholson (*)
Art Director (*)/Supervising Art
Director (**) - Todd Cherniawsky
Art Directors - Andrew L. Jones (*), Mike Stassi (*), Christina Ann Wilson (*), Alex Cameron (**), Nick Gottschalk (**), Hannah Moseley (**) and Richard Selway (**)
Conceptual Designer - Dermot Power (*)
Set Decorators - Karen O'Hara (*), Anna Lynch Robinson (**) and Ra Vincent (**)
Set Decorator: UK - Peter Young (*)
Costume Designer - Colleen Atwood
Makeup Department Head/Designer - Valli O'Reilly (*)
Makeup Designer: UK (*)/Key Hair Stylist/
Makeup Artist (**) - Paul Gooch
Hair/Makeup Designer - Peter Swords King (**)
Directors of Photography - Dariuz Wolski (*)
and Stuart Dryburgh (**)
Second Unit Director - Shaun O'Dell (**)
Stunt Coordinators - Garrett Warren (*) and
Ben Cooke (**)
Stunt Coordinator: UK - Eunice Huthart (*)
Special Effects Supervisors - Michael Lantieri (*)
and Neil Corbould (**)
Special Effects Supervisor: UK - Michael Dawson (*)
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor - Ken Ralston
Visual Effects Supervisors - Carey Villegas,
Sean Phillips (*), Kenneth Nelson (**), Jay Redd (**) 
and Grant Robinson (Uncredited) (**)
Visual Effects Supervisor: Matte World Digital - 
Craig Barron (*) 
Visual Effects Supervisors: Double Negative - 
Andrew Lockley (**) and Jesper Kjolsrud (**)
Visual Effects Producers - Tom C. Peitzman (*), 
Mike Chambers (**), Pinto Sasikumar (**), 
Eric Scott (**)
Character Designer: SPI - Michael Kutsche (*)
Animation Supervisors - David Schaub (*) and
Troy Saliba (**)
CG Supervisors: SPI - Ke-Suk 'Ken' Hahn,
Theodore Bialek, Francisco De Jesus, Shoban,
Brian Steiner and Bert Van Brande (*)
Film Editor - Andrew Weisblum (**)
Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -
Steve Boeddeker (*)
Music - Danny Elfman


Awards

2011 Academy Awards (Alice in Wonderland)
Best Art Direction - Robert Stromberg and Karen O'Hara (Won)
Best Costume Design - Colleen Atwood (Won)
-------------------------
Best Visual Effects - Ken Ralston, David Schaub,
Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips (Nominated)


Review
To those of you remember the classic stories that Lewis Carroll wrote for young children about a young girl named Alice who ends up in a magical world of Wonderland after following a white rabbit or entering a mirror. These stories were adapted many times to the big screen through countless years and took half the elements from the second chapter while putting them together in only one film. Even the 1951 animated version by Walt Disney is among the notable of these transitions and I grew up with this classic as a small boy. The recent feature interpretations of 'ALICE IN WONDERLAND' and its sequel 'THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS' is known to lack the simple narratives of the books as well as much of its charm. I'll begin to review these so-called iterations as they are both different to the original story. 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 
The first movie is surprisingly similar to 'Hook' and both features were about a titular protagonist who is now grown up and re-experiences a magical land that he or she has no memory about it. It would have been renamed as "Alice Returns to Wonderland" not 'ALICE IN WONDERLAND' as the same title is used nearly in every film version. It refers how this movie is meant to pick it up where the classic stories have left off and re-uses the material from two books. Director Tim Burton is madly driven by his own ego in attempt to bring a dark and gloomy visual style to his own interpretation. Alas, the entire film is shattered by the mere sight of CGI in its overabundance. The epic themes were very unessential to the author's original concept. All of those overtunes were added in the insistence of Burton and Disney resulting a different but epic version. 

The ensemble cast is made-up with such players as Helena Bonham Carter being Burton's favourite actress to portray the tyrannical but childish Red Queen. However, Johnny Depp's portrayal of the Mad Hatter is nowhere near spectacular as people have said to liked it. It felt that his character acts like he was possessed by the ghost of Jack Sparrow. Not like being kooky or insane, Depp is too unfit or maybe was too wrapped with being with Tim Burton again in their long-term partnership. He wasn't even trying to upstage the other actors much more than the actress, who plays Alice is too stiff and insipid to portray the older version. Several actors like the late Alan Rickman, Michael Sheen and Stephen Fry add their obvious voices to this mangled film.

It probably wasn't the picture that many fans and readers want for a modern film adaptation. It's much less surprising that 'ALICE' was a cash-grab for a 3D gimmick that is a new trend after the success of 'Avatar' in 2009. It has much less wonder and lacks the colourfulness and it also drew much ire from the book enthusiasts. Tim Burton should have followed closely to the original material instead of gaining a tip from Steven Spielberg. I'll try to watch the Disney version instead, not like the one that is considered too mundane and bizarre in my expectations.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average



ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
The recent instalment 'ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS' is not seen as a very successful movie. Because of poor marketing and Johnny Depp's faltering career and allegations surrounding his personal life as well as apparent lack of judgement caused the film to flop. It is seen by some cinema-goers as a better film than Tim Burton's 'Alice', due to him not being the director. Instead, he was currently involved as the producer when James Bobin is now currently in the position. The newly-produced sequel does not have a better story than the original. It's very confusing with the actual use of time travel with a few certain issues that doesn't always relate with physics.

I've excluded several actors who were already mentioned in the review of the first 'Alice' movie. Even the late Alan Rickman who is among those that have returned and passes away shortly after recording for his last but brief film role was finished. Sacha Baron Cohen makes an appearance and does well in a goofy, over the top manner as Time. I can't get enough of the actor being in this movie as he puts on a fittingly German accent. I also really enjoyed the time-puns.

Neither good, nor bad for a sequel that nobody asked for. The debate is settled for now as 'THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS' is not quite the improvement that I was looking for. I would give this one a pass.

Star rating: (5/10) Average
 

Monday, June 13, 2016

G-Force Review














G-Force


Release Date: 17th September 2009 - Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
Jerry Bruckheimer Films (presents)
Whahmaphram Productions

Distribution 
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia 


Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 85 minutes


Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $292,817,841
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Just as the G-Force - an
elite team of highly trained
guinea pigs - is about to
save the world, the F.B.I.
shuts the secret unit down.
But these next-generation
action heroes - Darwin,
loyal team leader; Blaster,
weapons expert with
attitude to spare; Juarez,
drop-dead gorgeous
martial arts diva; and
tag-along Hurley - won't
be stopped. Armed with
the latest in high-tech
spy equipment, and with
the F.B.I. on their tails,
the fur flies as they race
against the clock to save
the world. 


Voice Cast
Sam Rockwell - Darwin
Nicolas Cage - Speckles
Jon Favreau - Hurley
Penelope Cruz - Juarez
Steve Buscemi - Bucky
Tracy Morgan - Blaster
Dee Bradley Baker - Mooch
Hoyt Yeatman IV - Mouse #1. 
Max Favreau - Mouse #2. 
 
Cast
Bill Nighy - Saber
Will Arnett - Kip Killian
Zach Galifianakis - Ben
Kelli Garner - Marcie
Tyler Patrick Jones - Connor
Piper Mackenzie Harris - Penny
Gabriel Casseus - Agent Carter
Jack Conley - Agent Trigstad
Niecy Nash - Rosalita
Justin Mentell - Terrell
Loudoun Wainwright - Grandpa Goodan
Chris Ellis Jr. - FBI Director


Crew
Based on a Story/Director - Hoyt Yeatman
Based on a Story/Executive Producer - David P.I. James
Screenplay - Cormac & Marianne Wibberley
Associate Producers - Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and Ed Kashiba
Executive Producers - Mike
Stenson, Chad Oman and Duncan Henderson
Producer - Jerry Bruckheimer
Production Designer - Deborah Evans
Supervising Art Director - Ramsey Avery
Costume Designer - Ellen Mirojnick
Director of Photography - Bojan Bazelli
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Kenny Bates
Second Unit Director - Mark Vargo
Stunt Coordinator - Brian Machleit
Special Effects Coordinator - Stan Parks 
Visual Effects Supervisor - Scott Stokdyk
Visual Effects Supervisors: Asylum - Mitchell S. Drain
and Nathan McGuinness
3D Visual Effects Supervisor - Rob Engle
Senior Visual Effects Producer - Buzz Hays
Digital Effects Supervisor - Seth Maury
Animation Supervisor - Troy Saliba
Computer Graphics Supervisor: SPI - Brian Steiner
Computer Graphics Supervisor: 3D - Layne Friedman
Film Editors - Jason Hellman and
Mark Goldblatt
Music Supervisor - Kathy Nelson
Music - Trevor Rabin


Review
When we say the name of Jerry Bruckheimer, people will most likely think of movies like 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'National Treasure' as these are his most commercially recognised hits, albeit one exception to the rule was a partially animated/live-action crowd pleaser called 'G-FORCE'. The movie is unlike what you ever seen from Bruckheimer and Disney before, I do praise the decision to try something new and target a new audience as sometimes this can be successful as was the case with 'Coyote Ugly' which was very unlike the usual Bruckheimer style, but proves that risks can be taken and can pay generously. Its main target was just for young kids who were far too young to watch most of Bruckheimer's productions. Despite going well at the box office, feedback was mostly negative. However, 'G-FORCE' shamelessly snatches ideas and elements that were made from other blockbuster hits like 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Ttransformers'. Sure this movie is cute, charming and amusing but that this just does not cut it. In this age of film, audience expect more.

I did enjoy with this movie, the use of fresh colorful humour, the integration of CGI with live locations. It is seldom that directors use this technique in other family movies but some classic examples are 'Stuart Little' and 'Alvin and the Chipmunks'. It's nice to hear some familiar voices and live-actors, it's refreshingly featured with movie references, which one ironically to a previous Bruckheimer production 'Top Gun'. I'm referring to the famous line "I feel the need... the need for speed!"

I think this feature is something that will be easily forgotten about as after watching it once. I have no intention to want to revisit it. I would recommend steering clear of this movie, there are definitely many films better than this. 

Star rating: (5/10) Average

Monday, June 6, 2016

X-Men: Apocalypse Review













X-Men: Apocalypse 


Release Date: 19th May 2016 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox
Marvel Entertainment
TSG Entertainment
Bad Hat Harry Productions
Donners' Company
Kinberg Genre

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 144 minutes


Budget: $178,000,000

Box Office Gross: $543,934,787
(Worldwide)



Plot Summary
As the fate of the Earth
hangs in the balance,
Raven with the help
of Professor X, must
lead a team of young
X-Men to stop their
nemesis, the villainous
En Sabah Nur, aka
Apocalypse. (Source - Metro Cinemas)


Cast 
James McAvoy - Charles
Xavier/Professor X
Michael Fassbender - Erik 
Lehnsherr/Magneto
Jennifer Lawrence - Raven
Darkholme/Mystique
Nicholas Hoult - Dr. Hank
McCoy/Beast
Oscar Isaac - En Sabah Ner
Rose Byrne - Moira MacTaggert
Evan Peters - Peter
Maximoff/Quicksilver
Josh Helman - Col. William
Stryker
Sophie Turner - Jean Grey
Tye Sheridan - Scott Summers/Cyclops
Lucas Till - Alex Summers/
Havok
Kodi Smit-McPhee - Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler
Ben Hardy - Angel
Alexandra Shipp - Ororo Monroe/Storm
Lana Condor - Jubilee
Olivia Munn - Psylocke
Hugh Jackman - Logan/
Wolverine (Cameo) (Uncredited)
Carolina Bartczak - Magda
T.J. McGibbon - Nina
Tomas Lemarquis - Caliban
Berdj Garabedian - Old Apocalypse
Zehra Leverman - Mrs. Maximoff
Giant Gustav Claude
Ouimet - Blob
Stan Lee - Himself (Cameo)
Joanie Lee - Herself (Cameo)

Crew
Story/Producer/Director -
Bryan Singer
Based on Characters
(Uncredited)/Executive
Producer - Stan Lee
Based on Characters
(Uncredited) - Jack Kirby
Story/Screenplay/Producer -
Simon Kinberg
Story - Michael Doughtery
and Dan Harris
Executive Producer/Additional
Second Unit Director: Splinter
Unit - Todd Hallowell
Executive Producer/First
Assistant Director - Josh
McLaglen
Producer - Lauren Shulen
Donner
Co-Producer/Film Editor/
Music - John Ottman
Co-Producer/Visual Effects
Producer - Blondel Aidoo
Co-Producer - James Taylor 
Casting Director - Roger
Mussenden
Production Designer - John Myhre
Supervising Art Director - Michele Laliberte
Set Decorators - Eve Boulonne and Anne Kujilan
Costume Designer - Louise Mingerbach
Makeup Department Head - Rita Ciccozzi
Special Effects Makeup Department Head - Adrien Morot
Director of Photography - Newton Thomas Sigel
Second Unit Director - Brian Smrz
Stunt Coordinators - Nick Brandon,
Jeff Habberstad, James M. Churchman and Paul Leonard
Special Effects Supervisor - Steve Hamilton
Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit -
Tom Blacklock
Visual Effects Designer - John Dykstra
Visual Effects Supervisor - Lou Pecora
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rising Sun Pictures -
Tim Crosbie
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Anders Langlands
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Matt Sloan
Visual Effects Producer: Digital Domain - Daniel Brimer
Legacy Effects Supervisor - John Rosengrant
Digital Effects Supervisor - Nikos Kalaitzidis 
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor - Craig Berkey
Sound Designers - Warren Hendriks and
Chuck Michaels
Film Editor - Michael Louis Hill


Review 
After 'Days of Future Past' and 'Deadpool' have revitalised the entire 'X-Men' blockbuster series. Director Bryan Singer has again pushed the envelope even further to continue the growth of mutation in 'X-MEN: APOCALYPSE'. The characters that he introduced back in his first two originals have been given new personalities and development. Especially Cyclops who is no longer a mere presence being overshadowed by Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. The quality, however is starting to drop in comparison to the earlier hits. The film is now saddled with a bit too much over-inflated scale of action and a few mutants like Angel and Psylocke who were added to the story-line in a last-minute decision and are once again underdeveloped and reduced to underlings. Bryan Singer's influence still remains intact on 'X-MEN: APOCALYPSE', but it appears he may be losing his golden touch with the movie franchise. 

I was not convinced by the title antagonist since his evil intentions are less than original and anyone who has seen 'X-Men' films would quiet easily know where his character development was going. It offered no new surprise at all. Despite having the character with cliche motives, Oscar Isaac is surprisingly fitted in a meritorious portrayal of a villain as his newfound fame as Poe Dameron in 'Star Wars' landed him the role as the god-like Apocalypse. Tye Sheridan and Sophie Turner were looking more youthful than James Marsden and Famke Janssen who replaced both of these original actors as Cyclops and Jean Grey. Jennifer Lawrence is still stealing the thunder from the other characters as Mystique. Whilst James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are still continuing to be as Xavier and Magneto, albeit differently to their predecessors. 

This movie is nowhere near the weakest of the film series unlike 'The Last Stand' and 'Origins: Wolverine'. It's worth the time to watch and did very well with some fans who consider it a solid film. 

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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