The War with Grandpa Review

The War with Grandpa

Release Date: 3rd December 2020 - Australia

Production Companies

Marro Films

Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films

(EPO Films)

TRI G

West Madison Entertainment

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 98 minutes

Budget: $38,000,000

Box Office Gross: $40,800,804 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Peter is upset that his parents have forced him to give up his bedroom to his grandfather. Thus, an all-out war between the two has just begun. But will

the two realise there is more

than taking back one's property?

Cast

Robert DeNiro - Ed

Oakes Fegler - Peter

Uma Thurman - Sally

Rob Riggle - Arthur

Laura Marano - Mia

Poppy Gagnon - Jennifer

Cheech Marin - Danny

Christopher Walken - Jerry

Jane Seymour - Diane

Juliocesar Chavez - Billy

Isaac Kragten - Steve

T.J. McGibbon - Emma

Lydia Styslinger - Lisa

Joe Gelchion - Chuck

Colin Ford - Russell

Faizon Love - Store Manager

Rutanya Alda - Lynn Marino

Veronica Alicino - Nurse Alice

James Martin Kelly - Carl

Crew

Director - Tim Hill

Based on the Book "The War with Grandpa" - Robert Kimmel Smith

Screenplay - Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember

Executive Producers - Craig Chapman, Elizabeth Cree, Randall Emmett, Ted Fox, George Furla, Joe Gelchion,

Wayne Marc Godfrey, Robert Jones,

David Lubotta, Myles Nestel,

Christina Papagjika, Tre Peart,

Jane Rosenthal, Matthew Salloway,

Sonny Schwartz, Jimmy Sommers

and Berry Welsh

Co-Executive Producers - John Kennedy

Fitzgerald and Bryant Pike

Producers - Marvin & Rosa Morris Peart

and Phillip Glasser

Co-Producers - Tom Prince and

Mandy Spencer-Phillips

Co-Producer/Second Assistant Director -

Alan Steinman

Production Designer - John Collins

Art Director - Justin O'Neal Miller

Set Decorator - Lynne Mitchell

Costume Designer - Christopher Hargadon

Director of Photography - Greg Gardiner

Stunt Coordinator - Rudolf Weber

Special Effects Coordinator - John S. Baker

Visual Effects Supervisor: Crafty Apes -

Mark Ledoux

Set Supervisor: Crafty Apes - Nicholas Johnson

Editors - Peter S. Elliot and Craig Herring

Supervising Sound Editor - Michael J. Benavente

Co-Supervising Sound Editor - Paul Carden

Sound Design - Luke Gibleon

Re-Recording Mixers - Marc Fishman

and Gabriel J. Serrano

Music - Christopher Lennertz

Music Supervisor - Laurie Marie Mikus

Review

Hello, this is Rad Dingo. It is the anniversary of my blog FilmGuruLad which turned ten at the end of this year. I celebrated it with a critique of a recent movie. All of you must know that THE WAR WITH GRANDPA is not a sequel to Dirty Grandpa despite having the same actor Robert DeNiro and is a family-oriented comedy. However, due to my low expectations of Dirty Grandpa, it's a miracle that this movie isn't related to the latter. The former is deemed unsuitable for young children under 18. After watching the trailer, I decided to see THE WAR WITH GRANDPA and trust me... this film is a bit better than Dirty Grandpa. The movie is hilarious and endearing, but its message teaches you to respect the elders, even your grandparents! While disrespectful, it showcases several comical scenes that would leave all moviegoers in stitches!

Robert DeNiro has had this role easy, given his age. It's not like what he's been through in his career portraying characters in films that were hard-nosed, crazed and psychotic killers and gangsters. It's not the first time he's played a grandfatherly figure unless you count Dirty Grandpa. His fellow geriatrics like Christopher Walken, Jane Seymour and Cheech Marin are the supporting players. The same goes for Uma Thurman and Rob Riggle, who played the onscreen parents.

THE WAR WITH GRANDPA is a delightful and semi-decent comedy recommended for viewing by all ages and is worth my expectations. You will have to wait until this movie comes out on Blu-ray or DVD or your favourite streaming service, and you'll be able to give a cheer.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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In Memory of Jeremy Bulloch (1945-2020)

Jeremy Bulloch (1945-2020)

Dearest moviegoers and fans, we've lost another pivotal actor from the Star Wars series. Jeremy Bulloch, the British actor who portrayed Boba Fett in the original trilogy, passed away at age 75 on the 17th of December 2020 due to complications with Parkinson's. His death came weeks after the character reappeared in the Disney+ series "The Mandalorian". Which, in recent years, was played by New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison. Boba Fett's role in the movies was relatively minor. He has continued to be one of the most fan-favourite characters of the franchise. He is known to everyone in the Star Wars community, and we will sorely miss him.

He was born in Leicestershire in the English Midlands on the 16th of February 1945. As a child, Jeremy began his acting career in commercials during the late 1950s and at age 17, he starred in a movie, "Summer Holiday", opposite Cliff Richard. He appeared in the original Star Wars films, "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi", becoming the first physical actor to portray the Mandalorian bounty hunter.

While Jeremy was inside the costume of Boba Fett, the late Jason Wingreen voiced the character. Morrison would later dub over Wingreen's voice in the remastered versions to maintain the continuity within the prequels. Aside from playing Fett, Jeremy also had a small role as the Imperial Officer Lt. Sheckil in "The Empire Strikes Back". Years later, he made a cameo as the Alderaan pilot Captain Jeremoch Culton in "Revenge of the Sith". Jeremy even proved his love for the franchise by appearing in fan films for Save the Children. In 2004, he even appeared in a cameo in Mark Hamill's "Comic Book: The Movie". It also featured fellow Star Wars cast members David Prowse and Peter Mayhew. Jeremy also appears in three of the Roger Moore-starred James Bond films, "The Spy Who Loved Me", "For Your Eyes Only", and "Octopussy", as well as several TV shows, including "Doctor Who", "The Bill", "Casualty" and "Robin of Sherwood".

Jeremy, wherever you are, you gave us the character of the bounty hunter we all know and love.

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In Memory of David Prowse (1935-2020)

David Prowse (1935-2020)

To all millions of Star Wars fans, it is with sorrow that the former British bodybuilder/actor David Prowse, the man who embodies the iconic villain Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, passed away on 28th November 2020 after a short illness. He was 85 years old.

While James Earl Jones is known to have provided the voice of Vader, Prowse's imposing six-foot and six-inch physical stature suits him in playing the Sith Lord, formerly known as Anakin Skywalker.

He began as a bodybuilder and competed in the Commonwealth Games in Great Britain in 1962, for which he won the British heavyweight weightlifting championship. After doing competitive weightlifting for several years, Prowse got his first screen role (albeit uncredited) in the 1967 James Bond spoof "Casino Royale", where he played Frankenstein's Monster. David later reprised the role in two Hammer films in the early 1970s, "Horror of Frankenstein" and "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell".

Prowse was the centre of attention for an up-and-coming filmmaker named George Lucas, who has seen him in his small role as a bodyguard in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange". He asked David to audition as either the Wookie Chewbacca or Darth Vader in his original 1977 sci-fi movie "Star Wars". However, Prowse opted for the latter while the former went to Peter Mayhew, not knowing he would play a masked character. The voice for Vader was famously dubbed by the booming voice of American actor James Earl Jones when Prowse's West Country accent was deemed unsuitable.

He returns as Vader in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi". He eventually shared the suit with British Olympic fencer Bob Anderson, who did much of the lightsaber duels when Prowse failed to do it convincingly. Vader got unmasked at the end of "Return of the Jedi" when British actor Sebastian Shaw portrayed the face of Anakin Skywalker. At one point in 1978, Prowse accidentally blurted out that Darth Vader was Luke's father, which, at that time, he claimed was a lucky guess and not yet revealed until "The Empire Strikes Back". It strained his relationship with George Lucas and his production company, Lucasfilm. Prowse was a regular at several fan conventions but got officially barred from many Star Wars conventions due to his earlier controversies until ill health forced him to retire from fan conventions in 2016.

Prowse also starred in movies like "Vampire Circus" and "The People That Time Forgot" and TV shows including "The Saint", "Doctor Who", "Space 1999", and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". He also appeared in two Star Wars-related documentaries, "Elstree 1976" and "I Am Your Father". The latter of which details his relationship with working in Star Wars.

All I can say is, Dave, wherever you are, you created one of the most iconic movie villains in history, and you are now one with the Force.

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In Memory of Sean Connery (1930-2020)

Sean Connery (1930-2020)

It is with sadness that I regret to inform you that Sean Connery. The Scottish-born actor, well-known for his iconic portrayal of James Bond, is dead. He was 90 years old. He had been long-regarded as one of the best actors to have played the famous British secret agent in seven films, instantly skyrocketing him into fame as one of the franchise's most popular and enduring international stars. His son Jason said that he had been unwell for some time. This illness led to his death in an overnight sleep in the Bahamas. There, he is surrounded by those he loves. Sean was widely considered by fans the best Bond seen in the series. It is then forever that in the scene of the first Bond movie, "Dr. No", Sean would utter these distinct words of the character as he introduces himself in his namesake "Bond... James Bond."

Regarding what information I learned about Sean, he was born on August 25th, 1930, in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh. He is the son of a Catholic factory worker and a Protestant domestic cleaner. After age 13, when he left school in poverty, Connery took odd jobs such as a coffin polisher, milkman, and lifeguard before enlisting in the Royal Navy. Three years later, his stomach ulcers got him removed from service. After his time in the Navy, he earned a reputation for being a "hard man" when he defended himself from six gang members, who followed him after they tried to steal from his coat. Sean took up bodybuilding and had a love of football, and at one point, was offered a contract at Manchester United for £25 a week before changing his goal to becoming an actor.

In 1953, Connery competed in the Mr. Universe competition in London. Starting his stage career, he was part of the musical "South Pacific" chorus. A year later, Connery first appeared as an extra in the film "Lilacs in the Spring" and had some minor roles on television. In 1957, Sean got his first leading role in BBC's television remake of "Blood Money", followed by his first lead role in a B crime movie called "No Road Back". The following year, he would star opposite Lana Turner in "Another Time, Another Place".

He continued to act and perfect his skill. Sean got approached by producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, who acquired the rights for Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and began searching for an actor to play 007. Sean got the part without an audition, and the rest is history. Upon its release, "Dr. No" was an instant success and made him an international star. He continued to play the agent in four consecutive films of the series, such as "From Russia with Love", "Goldfinger", "Thunderball", and "You Only Live Twice". In 1967, when "You Only Live Twice" was finished, Connery was tired of Bond and afraid of being typecast. He refused to return in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", with the role later given to Australian actor George Lazenby. In 1971, he returned to play the character in "Diamonds Are Forever" after being convinced by Broccoli and Saltzman for a record of $1.25 million. Though a great deal of money would later tempt him in his last time to portray the character in 1983's "Never Say Never Again".

Outside of portraying 007, Connery had a long distinguished career in films, beginning in the mid-1960s to early-1970s with "Marnie", "The Hill", "A Fine Madness", "Shalako" and "The Molly Maguires". In 1974, the same year, he appeared in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy movie "Zardoz", which was a huge misstep. Sean was to earn a supporting role in a film adaptation of Agatha Christie's mystery novel "Murder in the Orient Express". His career continued to flourish in 1975 with such films as "The Wind and the Lion" and "The Man Who Would Be King" with his friend Michael Caine, and in 1976, he starred opposite Audrey Hepburn, where he played the aging Robin Hood in the film "Robin and Marian". But while the movie was not an instant success, it solidified his reputation as a versatile, serious screen actor. In the late 1970s, there were more setback movies for Sean, like "A Bridge Too Far", "Cuba", and "Meteor", but he did earn another hit movie by Terry Gilliam called "Time Bandits". His box office reputation would improve in films such as "Highlander" (except in the U.S.), "Name of the Rose" and "The Untouchables". The latter of which earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

In 1989, Connery was paired with Harrison Ford when he got cast as Indiana Jones's father (despite being 12 years older) by director Steven Spielberg in "The Last Crusade". Sean went on to star in notable successes like "The Hunt for Red October", "The Russia House", "Dragonheart", "The Rock", "Entrapment", and "Finding Forrester", as well as failures like "First Knight", "The Avengers" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentleman".

Connery retired from live acting in 2005. However, he has done voice work, including as Bond in the video game adaptation of "From Russia with Love". He even voiced the title character in the animated short "Sir Billi the Vet" and later reprised his role in 2010 for "Sir Billi", in which he was also an executive producer. Sean received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2000. He was first married to Australian actress Diane Cilento in 1962, which bore him his only son Jason Connery, and they divorced in 1973.

We'll miss you, Sean, and wherever you are, you will always be my favourite James Bond!

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Scooby-Doo Review

Scooby-Doo


Release Date: 20th June 2002 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Mosaic Media Group
Atlas Entertainment (Uncredited)

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: G

Runtime: 86 minutes


Budget: $84,000,000 

Box Office Gross: $275,678,613 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

After two years of splitting up, Scooby and Shaggy reunite with Fred, Velma and Daphne as the Mystery Inc. gang is brought back together in an invitation to an amusement park/resort, Spooky Island. However, strange things are happening at Spooky Island, seemingly affecting young visitors in unusual ways.

Scooby and the gang will have to work together and resolve their differences to solve this mystery and discover if this is indeed a haunted island. Or it could be the work of a sinister individual behind all these occurrences.


Cast
Matthew Lillard - Shaggy
Neil Fanning - Scooby (Voice)
Freddie Prinze Jr. - Fred
Sarah Michelle Gellar - Daphne
Linda Cardellini - Velma
Rowan Atkinson - Mondavarious
Isla Fisher - Mary Jane
Miguel A. Nunez Jr. - Voodoo Maestro
Steven Grives - N' Goo Tuana
Scott Innes - Scrappy (Voice)
J. P. Manoux - Scrappy Rex
Sam Greco - Zarkos
Charlie Cousins - Velma's Friend
Kristian Schmid - Brad
Nicholas Hope - Old Man Smithers
Jess Harnell - Creatures (Voice)
Frank Welker - Creatures (Voice)
Pamela Anderson - Herself (Cameo)
Sugar Ray - Themselves (Cameos)

Crew
Director - Raja Gosnell
Story - Craig Titley
Story/Screenplay - James Gunn
Based on Characters - Joe Ruby and Ken Spears (Uncredited)

Based on Characters/

Executive Producers - William Hanna and Joseph Barbera

Associate Producer - Sheryl Benko

Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager - Stephen Jones

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -

Philip A. Patterson
Executive Producers - Robert Engelman,

Andrew Mason and Kelley Smith-Wait
Producers - Charles Roven and

Richard Suckle
Co-Producer - Alan Glazer

Casting - Mary Vernieu
Production Designer - Bill Boes

Art Directors - Bill Booth,

Donna Brown, Helen Gabrielle Gliniak

and Christian Wintter

Set Decorators - Jodie Allen,

Suza Maybury, Matthew Putland

and Sandy Wingrove
Costume Designer - Lessa Evans

Hair/Makeup Supervisor - Lesley Vanderwalt
Director of Photography - David Eggby

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -

Guy Norris
Special Effects Supervisor - Brian Cox

"Scooby Doo" Designer/Cyber-Scan Model

Sculptor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop/

Rhythm + Hues - Brian Wade

Visual Effects Supervisor - Peter Crosman

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm + Hues -

Betsy Paterson

Additional Visual Effects Supervisor -

Neil Krepela

Visual Effects Producer - Kurt Williams

Digital Effects Supervisor: Rhythm + Hues -

Todd Shifflet

Director of Photography: New Deal Studios -

Tim Angulo
Animation Supervisor - Richard Baneham
Animation Supervisors: Rhythm + Hues -

Leon Joosen and Bill Kroyer

Animation Sequence Supervisors: Rhythm +

Hues - Erik De Boer, Keith Roberts and

Lyndon Barrois

Animation Leads: Rhythm + Hues -

Bud Myrick and Danny Speck

Editor - Kent Beyda

Supervising Sound Editor - Michael D. Wilhoit

Sound Designer - Scott Sanders

Production Sound Mixer - Paul 'Salty' Brincat

Re-Recording Mixers - David E. Campbell,

John T. Reitz and Gregg Rudloff
Music - David Newman

Music Supervisor - Laura Ziffren

Music Recordist and Mixer - Bruce Botnick


Review
Originally made as a risqué, adult-oriented take on the cartoon franchise, SCOOBY-DOO got toned down to be a kids' movie by the studio that owns the property from Hanna-Barbera. I grew up with this film and didn't care how bad it was when it had a few good aspects. For example, Matthew Lillard was consistent with his role as Shaggy. In future reference, he would inherit the character in later Scooby productions. Unfortunately, there are disappointing parts that ruin it for everybody. The attempts at humour (except in a few scenes) and outdated CGI characters didn't age well. Not to mention that the story is poorly executed (concerning a plot twist involving the real villain that comes out of nowhere), and it happens to be written by James Gunn. Yes, that man, James Gunn, who 12 years later would successfully bring Guardians of the Galaxy to the big screen. I didn't even realise that the live-action adaptation was just a rehash of one of the direct-to-video Scooby-Doo movies called Zombie Island.

The acting (save for Matthew Lillard) is far from perfect, including Linda Cardellini, who sounds so bored in her role as Velma. She did a magnificent job with her voice. Freddie Prinze Jr. had no big shoes to fill as Fred. The same goes for Sarah Michelle Gellar when playing Daphne. Rowan Atkinson's character was underused. It should have played a significant part in the movie.

It's "ruh-oh" for Scooby-Doo fans as the movie adaptation felt short of the ongoing mystery in the series. It spawned a sequel that's considered a slight improvement of the original Monsters Unleashed and a few others that have shifted to direct-to-video.

I would rather sit through watching the first few direct-to-video animated movies than revisit the lowbrow cinematic interpretation.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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Saving Private Ryan Review

Saving Private Ryan

Release Date: 19th November 1998 - Australia

Production Companies

DreamWorks Pictures (presents)

Paramount Pictures (presents)

Amblin Entertainment

Mutual Film Company (in association with)

H2L Media Group

Mark Gordon Productions (uncredited)

Distribution

Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: War

Rating: MA15+ (Not Suitable

for Young Children)

Runtime: 169 minutes

Budget: $70,000,000

Box Office Gross: $482,349,603 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

On June 6th, 1944, the historic D-Day invasion occurred on Normandy Beach during World War II. Captain John Miller and his squad have embarked on a deadly mission to find and retrieve a missing paratrooper named Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have perished in combat. Those men would face impossible odds as all eight would begin to question their orders and risk their lives to bring back only one person behind enemy lines.

Cast

Tom Hanks - Captain Miller

Tom Sizemore - Sergeant

Horvath

Edward Burns - Private Reiben

Barry Pepper - Private Jackson

Adam Goldberg - Private Mellish

Vin Diesel - Private Caparzo

Giovanni Ribisi - T-4 Medic Wade

Jeremy Davies - Corporal Upham

Matt Damon - Private Ryan

Ted Danson - Captain Hamill

Paul Giamatti - Sergeant Hill

Dennis Farina - Lieutenant

Colonel Anderson

Joerg Stadler - Steamboat

Willie

Max Martini - Corporal Henderson

Dylan Bruno - Toynbe

Daniel Cerqueira - Weller

Demetri Goritsas - Parker

Ian Porter - Trask

Gary Sefton - Rice

Julian Spencer - Garrity

Steve Griffin - Wilson

William Marsh - Lyle

Marc Cass - Fallon

Markus Napier - Major Hoess

Ronald Longridge - Coxswain

Adam Shaw - Delancey

Rolf Saxon - Lieutenant Briggs

Corey Johnson - Radioman

Glenn Wrage - Doyle

Raffaello Degruttola - Goldman

John Sharian - Corporal

Nigel Whitmey - Private Boyd

Sam Ellis - Private Hastings

Stephane Cornicord - Jean

Michelle Evans - Jean's Wife

Martin Beaton - Jean's Son

Anna Maguire - Jean's Daughter

Nathan Fillion - Minnesota Ryan

Leland Orser - Lieutenant DeWindt

David Vegh - Paratrooper Oliver

Ryan Hurst - Paratrooper Michaelson

Nick Brooks - Paratrooper Joe

Harve Presnell - General Marshall

Dale Dye - War Department Colonel

Bryan Cranston - War Department Colonel

Amanda Boxer - Mrs. Margaret Ryan

Harrison Young - Ryan as Old Man

Kathleen Bryon - Old Mrs. Ryan

Rob Freeman - Ryan's Son

Thomas Gizbert - Ryan's Grandson

Leo Stransky - German Sniper (Uncredited)

Crew

Producer/Director - Steven Spielberg

Writer - Robert Rodat

Script Supervisor - Ana Maria Quintana

Associate Producer - Kevin de la Noy

Associate Producer/Production Manager -

Mark Huffam

Producers - Ian Bryce, Mark Gordon and

Gary Levinsohn

Co-Producers - Bonnie Curtis and

Allison Lyon Segan

Senior Military Advisor - Dale Dye

Military Advisor - John Barnett

Casting Director - Denise Chaiman

UK Casting Director - Priscilla John

Production Designer - Thomas E. Sanders

Supervising Art Director - Darren T. Dorrance

Art Directors - Tom Brown,

Ricky Eyres, Chris Seagers, Alan Tomkins

and Mark Tanner (Uncredited)

Standby Art Director - Gary Freeman

Assistant Art Director - Kevin Kavanaugh

Construction Coordinator - Terry Apsey

Set Decorator - Lisa Dean

Costume Designer - Joanna Johnston

Armourer - Simon Atherton

Key Makeup Artist - Lois Burwell

Makeup Artist: Mr Hanks - Daniel C. Striepeke

Prosthetics Supervisor - Conor O'Sullivan

Director of Photography - Janusz Kaminski

First Assistant Director - Sergio Mimica-Gezzan

Second Assistant Director - Adam Goodwin

Third Assistant Directors - Martin Krauka

and Andrew Ward

Picture Vehicle Coordinator - Simon Lamonby

Stunt Coordinator - Simon Crane

Special Effects Supervisor - Neil Corbould

Special Effects Coordinator - Carol McAulay

Special Effects Workshop Supervisor - Trevor Wood

Special Corpse and Animal Effects - Neill Gorton

and Steven Painter

Lead Senior Special Effects Technicians -

David Brighton, Kevin Herd, Paul Corbould,

Dave Hunter and John Evans

Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Stefen Fangmeier

Visual Effects Co-Supervisor: ILM - Roger Guyett

Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Kim Bromley

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alexander Laurant

Modelmaking Supervisor - John Schoorand

CG Sequence Supervisor: ILM - Gregor Lakner

Sabre Supervisor: ILM - Pablo Helman

Visual Effects Camera Operator: ILM - Martin Rosenberg

Film Editor - Michael Kahn

Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer - Gary Rydstrom

Assistant Sound Designer - Shannon Mills

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard Hymns

Effects Editors - Teresa Eckton,

Frank E. Eulner, Larry Oatfield,

Ethan Van der Ryan and Karen G. Wilson

Dialogue Editors - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle,

Sara Bolder and Ewa Satompe

Foley Editors - Sandina Bailo-Lape

and Bruce Lacey

Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance

Foley Mixer - Tony Eckert

Sound Mixer - Ron Judkins

Re-Recording Mixers - Andy Nelson

and Gary Summers

Music - John Williams

Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg

Music Recordist and Mixer - Shawn Murphy

Awards

1998 Academy Awards

Best Director - Steven Spielberg (Won)

Best Cinematography - Janusz Kaminski (Won)

Best Sound - Gary Rydstrom, Gary Summers,

Andy Nelson and Ron Judkins (Won)

Best Film Editing - Michael Kahn (Won)

Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing -

Gary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns (Won)

--------------------

Best Picture - Steven Spielberg, Ian Bryce,

Mark Gordon and Gary Levinsohn (Nominated)

Best Actor in a Leading Role - Tom Hanks (Nominated)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly

for the Screen - Robert Rodat (Nominated)

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -

Thomas E. Sanders and Lisa Dean (Nominated)

Best Makeup - Lois Burwell, Conor O'Sullivan

and Daniel C. Striepeke (Nominated)

Best Music, Original Dramatic Score -

John Williams (Nominated)

Review

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is an extraordinary film by Steven Spielberg and is unlike any other movie he has made (except for Schneider's List). It's known for its downbeat tone and realistic approach to war, conveying the harsh realities many soldiers have endured in this turmoil. While the storyline lacks something, Spielberg's direction proves he has the aptitude for pushing certain limits on this picture with attention to detail. Especially when he sinks his teeth in bringing the atmosphere into the hellish war-torn landscapes in which many soldiers lose their lives during this skirmish, Janusz Kaminski's cinematography is a bit shaky. Still, it is groundbreaking, and the battle sequences are stunning. Even the visual representation of the famous battle in Omaha Beach is impressive.

Tom Hanks delivers a terrific performance consisting of depth in his character. He could have won an Oscar had it not been for Roberto Benigni in Life is Beautiful. While Matt Damon is a supporting player, he has a pivotal role as the titular soldier who gets lost on the battlefield. Most people will be surprised that this is one of the early movies Vin Diesel starred in before becoming an action star. John Williams' musical score was haunting and beautiful.

A gritty war drama like SAVING PRIVATE RYAN has redefined the genre and is often admired and appreciated as one of Spielberg's greatest hit films. It is unsuitable for all young ages as SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is considered violent and depressing. It is even hard to watch for some moviegoers.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Mulan (2020) Review

 

 

 

 

Mulan

Release Date: 4th September 2020 - Australia (Disney+)

Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures

Jason T. Reed Productions

Good Fear Content

China Film Group Corporation (CFGC)

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Action/Drama

Rating: M

Runtime: 115 minutes

Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $69,965,374 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

To save her ailing father from the horrors of war, a young Chinese maiden named Mulan masquerades herself as a male soldier named Hau Jun and takes his place in the Imperial Army. After rigorous training, the courageous Mulan sets out her goal of proving herself as a warrior when China is in great danger from the Northern Invaders led by Bori Khan.

Cast

Yifei Lui - Mulan

Donnie Yen - Commander Tung

Gong Li - Xianniang

Jet Li - Emperor

Jason Scott Lee - Bori Khan

Yoson An - Honghui

Tzi Ma - Zhou

Rosalind Chao - Li

Pei-Pei Cheng - Matchmaker

Xana Tang - Xiu

Ron Yuan - Sergeant Qiang

Jun Yu - Cricket

Chen Tang - Yao

Doua Moua - Po

Jimmy Wong - Ling

Crystal Rao - Young Mulan

Elena Askin - Young Xiu

Vincent Feng - Longwei

Ming-Na Wen - Esteemed Guest (Cameo)

Crew

Director - Niki Caro

Screenplay - Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek

Executive Producers - Tim Coddington, Mario Iscovich, William Kong and Barrie M. Osborne

Producers - Chris Bender,

Jason Reed and Jake Weiner

Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer - Diana Giorgiutti

Co-Producer/First Assistant Director - Liz Tan

Casting Director - Debra Zane

Production Designer - Grant Major

Supervising Art Director - Ian Gracie

Art Directors - Damien Drew, Mark Robins

and Jill Cormack

Art Director: US/Supervising Art Director:

Additional Photography - Thomas P. Wilkins

Art Director: US Jason T. Clark

Art Director: China - Calvin Tsoi

Standby Art Director - George Hamilton

Set Decorators - Amber Richards and

Anne Kuljian

Property Master: Additional Photography -

Kris Peck

Creative Supervisor: Weta Workshop -

Richard Taylor

Head of Manufacture: Weta Workshop -

Rob Gillies

Weapons Master - Joe Dunckley

Costume Designer - Bina Daigeler

Hair, Makeup & Prosthetics Designer - Denise Kum

Hair & Makeup Department Supervisor -

Rick Findlater

Director of Photography - Mandy Walker

Second Unit Director - John Mahaffie

Stunt Coordinator - Benjamin Cooke

Stunt Coordinator: Additional Photography -

Scott Rogers

Fight Coordinator - Nuo Sun

Stunt Fight Coordinators: Additional Photography -

Heidi Moneymaker and Shane Yan

Special Effects Supervisor - Steve Ingram

Special Effects Off Set Coordinator - Karl Chisholm

Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta Digital -

Joe Letteri

Visual Effects Supervisor - Sean Andrew Faden

Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta Digital -

Anders Langlands

Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore -

Hubert Maston

Visual Effects Executive Producer: Image

Engine - Shawn Walsh

Previsualisation Supervisor - Rpin Suwannath

Film Editor - David Coulson

Additional Editors - Paul Rubell

and Lisa Lassek

Supervising Sound Editor - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -

Kyrsten Mate

Sound Re-Recording Mixers - Anna Behlmer

and Terry Porter

Foley Artists - John Roesch and

Shelley Roden

Music - Harry Gregson-Williams

Score Recordist & Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Review

The remake of MULAN has been delayed indefinitely many times due to the COVID-19 scare. Thankfully, it made its way into the streaming service of Disney+ and some international theatres that have shown it on the big screen. After watching the film, I wasn't aware of the negative comments about the remake. Chinese moviegoers weren't happy with this film. While I don't mind the songs and the dragon character, Mushu, which were excluded from the new interpretation as it opted for a realistic and darker tone. Although, a phoenix character took over Mushu's stead as Mulan's guardian and didn't do much. Gone is the empowering message, and a few scenes from the original film are nowhere in the remake. What is also missing is Shang, the eponymous heroine's love interest.

The cultural elements of the movie have been poorly handled, especially with the word "chi", which is not a magical power. I was also disappointed by some aspects like its bland characterisation, poorly choreographed action, redundant fantasy elements and overproduced visuals, which lessened its impact. Some acting is wooden, with actors like Yifei Lui not taking their roles seriously. However, there are good performances from a few other actors, like Gong Li and Jet Li. The scenery and landscapes are impressive in the movie. These locations shot in MULAN are partially from New Zealand. It so happens that the film's director, Niko Caro, was born in that country. Unfortunately, these saving graces are not enough to keep MULAN from dishonour.

It isn't the first Disney live-action remake that has tried to disappoint me. I'm glad this isn't a carbon copy of the original movie, which thankfully isn't like The Lion King. At least MULAN manages to retell the same plot. I'd always hoped this film would be like the 2009 version, Rise of a Warrior, in realism and respect for its cultural heritage. I was wrong. It was, at best, a lacklustre remake that failed to impress me or even fans of the original.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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Non-Stop Review

Non-Stop

Release Date: 27th February 2014 - Australia

Production Companies

StudioCanal (presents)

Anton (in association with)

Silver Pictures

TF1 Films Production (in co-production with)

Canal+ (with the participation of)

TF1 (with the participation of)

LOVEFILM International (with the participation of)

Government of Canada (participation)

Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) (participation)

Province of British Columbia

Production Services Tax Credit (participation)

Distribution

StudioCanal Australia

Genre: Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 106 minutes

Budget: $50,000,000

Box Office Gross: $222,809,600 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Ex-cop turned federal air marshal Bill Marks is coping with the death of his daughter through drinking. He is boarding a plane on an on-route flight to London when he receives a series of text messages that he must transfer all $150 million to an offshore account or otherwise, each passenger on this plane will die every 20 minutes. Will he find the terrorist before he can save everyone on this plane?

Cast

Liam Neeson - Bill Marks

Julianne Moore - Jen Summers

Scoot McNairy - Tom Bowen

Michelle Dockery - Nancy

Nate Parker - Zack White

Corey Stoll - Austin Reilly

Lupita Nyong'o - Gwen

Omar Metwally - Dr. Fahim Nasir

Jason Butler Harner - Dr. Rice

Linus Roache - David McMillan

Shea Whigham - Agent Marenick

Anson Mount - Jack Hammond

Quinn McColgan - Becca

Corey Hawkins - Travis Mitchell

Frank Deal - Charles Wheeler

Bar Paly - Iris Marianne

Edoardo Costa - Herve Philbert

Jon Abrahams - David Norton

Amanda Quaid - Emily Norton

Michael Thomas Walker - Michael Tate

Crew

Director - Jaume Collet-Serra

Story/Screenplay - John W. Richardson

and Christopher Roach

Screenplay - Ryan Engle

Executive Producers - Oliver Courson,

Ron Halpern, Steve Richards and Jeff Wadlow

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Herbert W. Gains

Producers - Alex Heineman,

Andrew Rona and Joel Silver

Co-Producers - Adam Kuhn and

Richard Mirsich

Production Designer - Alec Hammond

Costume Designer - Catherine Marie Thomas

Director of Photography - Flavio Martinez Labiano

Director of Photography: Additional Photography

Unit - Jeff Cutter

Camera Operator: Additional Photography -

John S. Moyer

Location Manager - Robert T. Striem

First Assistant Director: Additional

Photography - Julian Wall

Stunt Coordinator - Jery Hewitt

Fight/Stunt Coordinator/Stunt Double:

Liam Neeson - Mark Vanselow

Fight Choreographer - Rafael Kayanan

Special Effects Supervisor - Jeff Brink

Special Effects Coordinator - Shane Gross

Visual Effects Supervisors - Randy Goux,

David Heras, Jim Rider and Richard Yuricich

Film Editor - Jim May

Music - John Ottman

Review

I didn't watch all of NON-STOP before recently watching this aerial thriller on TV. I found it to be riveting. This movie has suspense and edge-of-your-seat thrills with an intriguing premise that will captivate audiences. However, the storyline is far-fetched but engaging in its tense setup. I'm surprised that a few moviegoers have noticed its Taken resemblance. The cinematography is astounding in the film and makes it claustrophobic.

Liam Neeson, whose role in Taken solidified him as a genuine action star, did an outstanding performance. He is a viable asset to this movie. The supporting cast is also good, with a few players like Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy and Corey Stoll doing well in their roles.

At this point, this is a non-stop thriller, as the title speaks for itself. I recommend this film to action-loving moviegoers and fans of Liam Neeson.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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In Memory of Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020)

Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020)

The African-American actor Chadwick Boseman died at age 43 after losing a four-year battle with colon cancer on August 28, 2020. He is best known for portraying iconic figures like like Jackie Robinson and James Brown and the African superhero Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and for his portrayals of iconic figures.

Chadwick debuted in television in 2003 when he appeared in a "Third Watch" episode. He also appeared in episodes of other series like "Law & Order", "CSI: NY", and "ER". In 2008, the same year Boseman had a recurring role in "Lincoln Heights", he made his feature film debut in "The Express: The Ernie Davis Story". In 2010, Chadwick gained a regular role in a mystery serial drama, "Persons Unknown".

In 2013, Boseman transitioned into leading roles, beginning with the indie film "The Kill Hole" and his role as the baseball player and pioneer Jackie Robinson in "43" with Harrison Ford. In 2014, he appeared opposite Kevin Costner in "Draft Day". Later that same year, he would portray famous musician James Brown in "Get on Up".

His big break came in 2016 after portraying the ancient deity from Egyptian mythology of Thoth in "Gods of Egypt". It was followed by playing the character that would instantly propel him to fame as T'Challa and his alter-ego, Black Panther, in "Captain America: Civil War". It was his first film as part of a five-picture deal with Marvel. In 2018, Chadwick would headline "Black Panther" as a standalone film focused on the main character and his country of Wakanda. It was one of America's highest-grossing films of the year when it opened. Expectations were high. He continued playing the character in both "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame", which also grossed even higher at the box office, with "Endgame" being the highest-grossing movie of all time.

His potential brilliant acting career was cut short, but we will remember him for his Black Panther role and what a role model he was for young generations. Everyone will sorely miss him, including colleagues, family and friends.

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Ocean's Eleven (2001) Review

Ocean's Eleven


Release Date: 10th January 2002 - Australia

Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
NPV Entertainment (in association with)
Section Eight
WV Films II
St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Crime/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 117 minutes


Budget: $85,000,000

Box Office Gross: $450,717,150 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

Danny Ocean is a thief/con artist, recently released from prison. In earning his parole, he's assembled a team of eleven accomplices to pull off the biggest, most daring and elaborate heist in the century, which involves three casinos in Las Vegas.

Cast
George Clooney - Danny Ocean
Brad Pitt - Rusty Ryan
Matt Damon - Linus Cadwell
Andy Garcia - Terry Benedict
Julia Roberts - Tess Ocean

Bernie Mac - Frank Catton

Don Cheadle - Basher Tarr

Casey Affleck - Virgil Malloy
Scott Caan - Turk Malloy

Elliot Gould - Reuben Tishkoff

Carl Reiner - Saul Bloom
Eddie Jemison - Livingston Dell
Shaobo Qin - Yen
Joe La Due - Billy Tim Denham
Scott L. Schwartz - Bulldog, the Bruiser

Lennox Lewis - Boxing Opponent (Cameo)

Wladimir Klitschko - Boxing Opponent (Cameo)

Jerry Weintraub - High Roller (Cameo)

Henry Silva - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Angie Dickinson - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Wayne Newton - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Siegfried Fischbacher - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Roy Horn - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Larry Merchant - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Holly Marie Combs - Herself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Topher Grace - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Joshua Jackson - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Steven Soderbergh - Vault-Bombing Thief

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Barry Watson - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Shane West - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Cinematography/Director - Steven Soderbergh
1960 Story - George Clayton Johnson and

Jack Golden Russell
1960 Screenplay - Harry Brown and

Charles Lederer
Screenplay - Ted Griffin
Executive Producers - Bruce Berman,

Susan Ekins and John Hardy
Producer - Jerry Weintraub
Co-Producer - R.J. Louis

Casting Director - Debra Zane

Production Designer - Phillip Messina

Art Director - Keith P. Cunningham

Construction Coordinator - Chris Snyder

Set Decorator - Kristen Toscano Messina

Property Master - Steven B. Melton

Costume Designer - Jeffrey Kurland

First Assistant Camera: "A" Camera - Barry Baz Idoine

Unit Production Manager - Frederic W. Borst

First Assistant Director - Gregory Jacobs

Second Second Assistant Director -

Basti Van Der Woude

Special Effects Coordinator - Kevin Hannigan

Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -

Thomas J. Smith

CG Supervisor: Cinesite - Serge Sretchinsky

Film Editor - Stephen Mirrione

Lead Sound Editor - David E. Stone

Re-Recording Mixer/Supervising Sound

Editor - Larry Blake

Foley Artists - Dawn Fintor and

Alicia Stevenson

Music - David Holmes


Review

It is where it all started in 2001 with Steven Soderbergh's remake of OCEAN'S ELEVEN, a fun and sophisticated popcorn flick with a superb storyline and an ensemble cast. I have seen this caper a few times, including a drive-in where I watched it for the second time. I never got to see the sequels (except for Ocean's Eight) and the original that featured the "Rat Pack" players like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr. There aren't too many surprises in this movie. The cinematography is acceptable, the humour is witty, and the pace is good.

The all-star cast is terrific, with George Clooney and Brad Pitt being the main leads and joined by a group of supporting players like Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Elliott Gould, Carl Reiner and Casey Affleck. The only problem with the acting in this movie is Don Cheadle, who has adopted a fake English accent for his role and is one of the worst I've ever heard.

While it is considered the granddaddy of all cinematic heist movies, OCEAN'S 11 is a no-brainer. It is thoroughly enjoyable to all audiences. To those seeking a great heist movie, now is the time to watch it.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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