Beetlejuice Review

Beetlejuice

Release Date: 8th September 1988 - Australia

Production Companies

The Geffen Company (presents)

Genre: Fantasy/Horror/

Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 92 minutes

Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $74,842,866 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

After being killed in a car accident, a married couple, Barbara and Adam Maitland, return as ghosts and find themselves stuck in their country house, unable to leave. The Maitlands try in vain to frighten off the unbearable Deetzes and their teenage daughter, Lydia, after

they buy the house. Their

attempts draw the attention

of a boisterous ghost

named Beetlejuice, whose

"help" quickly proves

dangerous to the Maitlands

and innocent Lydia.

Cast

Michael Keaton - Betelgeuse

Geena Davis - Barbara Maitland

Alec Baldwin - Adam Maitland

Winona Ryder - Lydia Deetz

Jeffrey Jones - Charles Deetz

Catherine O'Hara - Delia Deetz

Glenn Shadix - Otho

Sylvia Sidney - Juno

Maree Cheatham - Sarah Dean

Dick Cavett - Bernard 

Rachel Mittelman - Little Jane

Maurice Page - Ernie

Hugo Stranger - Old Bill

Robert Goulet - Maxie Dean

Susan Kellermann - Grace

Annie McEnroe - Jane Butterfield

Patrice Martinez - Receptionist

Adelle Lutz - Beryl

Cindy Daly - 3-Fingered Typist

Douglas Turner - Char Man

Simmy Bow - Janitor

Carmen Filpi - Messenger

J. Jay Saunders - Moving 

Man #1

Mark Ettinger - Moving Man #2

Gary Jochimsen - Dumb Football Player #1

Bob Pettersen - Dumb Football Player #2

Duane Davis - Very Dumb Football Player

Tony Cox - Preacher

Jack Angel - Preacher (Voice)

Crew

Director - Tim Burton

Story/Screenplay - Michael McDowell

Story - Larry Wilson

Screenplay - Warren Skaaren

Producers - Michael Bender,

Richard Hashimoto and

Larry Wilson

Casting Directors - Janet Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins

Production Designer - Bo Welch

Art Director - Tom Duffield

Set Decorator - Catherine Mann

Lead Person - Cheryl Carasik

Property Master - William A.

Petrotta

Costume Designer - Aggie Guerard Rodgers

Makeup Artists - Steve LaPorte and Ve Neill

Creatures and Makeup Effects - Robert Short

Director of Photography - Thomas E. Ackerman

Camera Operator - Douglas Knapp

First Assistant Director - Bill Scott

Second Assistant Directors - K.C. Colwell and Jerry Fleck

Stunt Coordinator/Stunts - Fred Lerner

Special Effects Supervisor - Chuck Gaspar

Visual Effects Supervisor - Alan Munro

Visual Effects Consultant - Rick Heinrichs

Visual Effects: VCE - Peter Kuran

Visual Effects: Sandworm Sequence -

Doug Beswick

Visual Effects: Barbara/Adam

Transportation - Tim Lawrence

Miniature Production - James Belohovek,

Thomas Conti and Rick Kess

Editor - Jane Kurson

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard L. Anderson

Sound Editors - Mark Pappas and

David E. Stone

Re-Recording Mixers - Gregg Landaker,

Steve Maslow and Kevin O'Connell

Music - Danny Elfman

Music Editors - Bob Badami and Nancy Fogarty

Awards

1989 Academy Awards

Best Makeup - Ve Neill, Steve LaPorte and Robert Short (Won)

Review

I took a trip down memory lane to revisit BEETLEJUICE, which I saw three times, and then said its name. Growing up, I couldn't watch the film because of its scary content and profanity. I had to wait until I was old enough to watch it, which I did years later. It's the movie that put Tim Burton on the map after his feature-length directorial debut, Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Unlike the movie he previously directed, which centred on an existing comic character created by and starring the late Paul Reubens, BEETLEJUICE is an original story. The film suits Burton's unique Gothic visual style and twisted sense of humour, and is nothing like other '80s supernatural comedies, such as Ghostbusters. It's full of ingenious visual gags and outlandish production, costume, and makeup designs. Unfortunately, the story falls short, but its execution makes up for it and adds to the film's appeal.

While Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis deliver fine performances as the sympathetic ghost couple, Michael Keaton steals the show as the titular character. Although his role had only 27 minutes of screen time, he went all out and was a perfect fit for this quirky, zany film. His comedic performance inspired other actors to play supernatural tricksters, such as Robin Williams as the Genie in Aladdin and Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss in The Mask. The rest of the cast was terrific, including Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara as the obnoxious Deetz family, and Winona Ryder as Lydia, the goth teenage daughter.

The visual effects were impressive at the time, but many haven't aged well. Much of it was stop-motion animation. Danny Elfman's circus-like score is integral to the film's identity. It adds darkness and playfulness, contributing to the overall mix. The movie's strongest scenes, such as the Maitlands in the underworld and the possessed dinner party, showcase its brilliance even without Beetlejuice.

While the humour is still funny, BEETLEJUICE is, in hindsight, a fun horror-comedy. It has all the hallmarks of a typical Tim Burton film, from its distinctive visuals to its dark humour. I thoroughly enjoyed watching BEETLEJUICE and would highly recommend it, just not for younger audiences.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Kangaroo Review

Kangaroo

Release Date: 18th September 2025 - Australia

Production Companies

Cultivator Films

Bunya Productions (in association with)

Brindle Films (in association with)

Screen Australia (presents)

StudioCanal (presents)

Screen Territory (in association with)

Screen NSW (in association with)

Distribution

StudioCanal Australia

Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 107 minutes

Box Office Gross: $3,916,306 (Australia)

Plot Summary

Chris Masterman, a former

TV personality, becomes

stranded in a town in the

Australian Outback near

Alice Springs. There,

he meets Charlie, a 12-

year-old Indigenous girl.

An unlikely bond forms

as they work together

to save and rehabilitate

orphaned joeys in a remote

yet spectacular Outback

settlement. This undertaking

proves life-changing for

both of them.

Cast

Ryan Corr - Chris Masterman

Rachel House - Jesse

Lily Whiteley - Charlie

Brooke Satchwell - Liz

Deborah Mailman - Rosie

Rarriwuy Hick - Brenda

Rick Donald - Trap

Ryan Clark - Lifeguard Jacko

Wayne Blair - Ralph

Trisha Morton-Thomas - Gwennie

Emily Taheny - Dorinda

Ernie Dingo - Dave

Genevieve Lemon - Bernadette

Salvatore Coco - Phil

Shaun Martindale - Joel

Matt Burton - Trap's Mate #1

Warren H Williams - Warren

Catherine Mazur - Studio Assistant

Lucy McLeod - ABC Reporter

Anthony Ritossa - Host

Steve Kidd - Neil the Butcher

Yalyal Hick - Casper

Phoenix Cunningham - Freddy

Lene Clarsen Walters - Ruby 

Luke Follayttar - Silver Gum Kid

Jaimee Morettti - Studio Employee

Charlotte Walters - Grace

Luca Saunders - Lifeguard #1

Zoe Walters - Bowling Lady #2

Sam Follayttar - Silver Gum Kid

Kristina Kidd - Bowling Lady #1

Crew

Director - Kate Woods

Writer - Harry Cripps

Additional Material - Peta-Lee Cole-Mandolis and Danielle Maclean

Additional Writing - Melina Marchetta

Executive Producers - Aaron Ensweiler,

Marcus Gillezeau, Ron Halpern,

Marian Macgowan, Anna Marsh,

Louise Smith and Elizabeth Trotman

Producers - Rachel Clements,

David Jowsey, Angela Littlejohn,

Tristan Morton-Thomas and Greer Simpkin

Casting Director - Anousha Zarkesh

Production Designer - Sam Hobbs

Art Director - Jodie Whetter

Costume Designer - Edie Kurzer

Makeup Supervisor - Helen Magelakis

Hair and Makeup Designer - Sheldon Wade

Director of Photography - Kieran Fowler

First Assistant Director - Danielle Blake

Second Unit Director - Warwick Thornton

Stunt Designer/Coordinator - Dean Gould 

Editor - Chris Plummer

Visual Effects Supervisor - Jonathan Hairman

Supervising Sound Editor - Angus Robertson

Sound Designer and Re-Recording Mixer -

Sam Hayward

Music -  Josie Mann and Matteo Zingales

Review

In 2000, Kate Wood launched her directorial career with the film adaptation of Looking for Alibrandi, which earned critical acclaim and a strong box-office return. Since then, she has worked overseas, directing episodes of television series such as Law & Order, Without a Trace, Person of Interest, and The Lincoln Lawyer. The motion picture that has prompted her return to Australia and the silver screen is KANGAROO, a heartfelt family comedy loosely based on the true story of Chris "Brolga" Barns, a one-time tour guide who established a kangaroo reserve near Alice Springs in 2011.

Although the film's narrative arc is somewhat predictable, it remains captivating. The film navigates its emotional themes with sensitivity, while maintaining the comedic charm and friendly atmosphere of small country towns. Kieran Fowler's cinematography brings KANGAROO to life. His warm, bright approach captures the grandeur of the Northern Territory's spectacular landscapes and brings the fictional town of Silver Gum to life.

Woods has enlisted a talented cast to lend their characters weight. Ryan Corr delivers an outstanding performance as an egotistical weatherman who transforms into a kangaroo conservationist. However, Lily Whiteley, who plays Charlie, stands out. Despite her inexperience, the first-time actress delivers an engaging performance that defies her age. Deborah Mailman brings warmth and sympathy to her role as Rosie, Charlie's grief-stricken and struggling mother.

The other actors also perform well. Wayne Blair, Ernie Dingo, Rachel House, Genevieve Lemon, Trisha Morton-Thomas, and Roy Billings play some of Silver Gum's strange people. While the film features real joeys, minimal yet impressive CGI brings many adult marsupials to life, showing how far we have come since 2003's Kangaroo Jack.

KANGAROO is one of those family-friendly films with cute animals that local audiences tend to love, similar to Babe, Red Dog, and the classic Storm Boy. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see it, especially if you're taking your kids.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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The Magic Pudding Review

The Magic Pudding

Release Date: 14th December 2000 - Australia

Production Companies

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (produced with the assistance of)

Energee Entertainment

Icon Entertainment International

New South Wales Film & Television Office (developed with the assistance of)

Premium Movie Partnership (produced with the assistance of)

RTV Family Entertainment AG (produced with the assistance of)

Genre: Animation/Family/

Adventure/Comedy 

Rating: G

Runtime: 80 minutes

Budget: A$12,000,000 (estimated)

Box Office Gross: A$1,001,000 (Australia)

Plot Summary

Bunyip Bluegum is a

splendid young koala on a

quest to find his missing

parents when he comes

across a magic pudding named Albert and meets a loud sailor, Bill Barnacle, and his penguin mate, Sam Sawnoff. Together, they form the Noble Society of Pudding Owners, as they constantly thwart the attempts of the Pudding Thieves.

Voice Cast

Sam Neill - Sam Sawnoff

Hugo Weaving - Bill Barnacle

Geoffrey Rush - Bunyip Bluegum

John Cleese - Albert the Magic Pudding

Dave Gibson - Uncle Wattleberry/Possum/Additional Voices

John Laws - Rumpus Bumpus

Greg Carroll - Watkin Wombat

Peter Gwynne - Benjamin Brandysnap

Michael Veitch - Bandicoot

Robyn Moore - Henrietta Hedgehog/Additional Voices

Jack Thompson - Buncle

Mary Coustas - Ginger

Sandy Gore - Frog on the Log

Toni Collette - Meg Bluegum

Roy Billing - Tom Bluegum

Martin Vaughan - Parrot

Gerry Connolly - Dobson Dorking

Lee Perry - Additional Voices

Marg Downey - Additional Voices

Crew

Story Development/Director - Karl Zwicky

Based on the Story "The Magic Pudding" - Norman Lindsay

Story Development - Morris Gleitzman

Screenplay - Harry Cripps,

Greg Haddrick and Simon Hopkinson

Executive Producers - Paddy Conroy

and Carmel & John Travers

Executive Producers: Icon - Bruce Davey,

Ralph Kemp and Mel Gibson (Uncredited)

Producer - Gerry Travers

Production Designer/Background

Style Development/Drawn Background

Artist/Digital Background Supervisor/Artist -

Helen Steele

Production Designer/Background Style

Development/Key Color Stylist/Digital

Background Artist - Kelly Wallwork

Character Designer/Storyboard/

Timing Artist/Animation Director -

Robbert Smit

Character Designer/Storyboard Artist/

Key Layout Design - Daniel Foley

Character Designer/Storyboard/Layout Artist -

David Wilkinson

Character Designer/Layout Artist - Jo-Anne Boag

Storyboard/Layout Artists - Stephen Doric

and Joe Wylie

Storyboard/Layout Artist/Mouth Breakdown -

Astrid Nordheim

Layout Director/Animation Supervisor -

Margaret Parkes

Editor - Richard Hindley

Sound/Re-Recording Mixer - Phil Judd

Re-Recording Mixer - Peter Purcell

Music/Original Songs/Keyboards/

Programming - Chris Harriott

Original Songs - Dennis Watkins

Conductor/Orchestrator - Christopher Gordon

Concert Master - Phillip Hartl

Review

As a young kid, I was unfamiliar with the children's classic The Magic Pudding, having never read it but having seen the animated movie only once, a long time ago. I have good memories of it and can't wait to see the film again. While it had decent production values, a tremendous voice cast, and terrific animation, the character designs remained true to the book illustrations. Unfortunately, the plot is unfaithful to the original story Norman Lindsay wrote. It lacks the wit and the surrealistic charm that make it so great. Perhaps the filmmakers got the recipe wrong and substituted their interpretation for the original storyline.

The songs don't advance the plot much and are instantly forgettable. Perhaps they were trying to follow in Disney's footsteps, but by the time the film premiered, they were unaware that the Disney formula had ended with the advent of computer animation, thanks to Toy Story. On the bright side, the racist overtones in Norman Lindsay's story are gone to make it more politically correct.

There are some good things about this film, especially the voices with actors like John Cleese, who is fitting as Albert, the irascible magic pudding, and Geoffrey Rush, who is appropriately sincere as the plucky young koala Bunyip. The rest of the cast, including Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill, and Jack Thompson, is also good, to be honest. I never knew Toni Collette could sing, and she is heard briefly as Bunyip's missing mum.

THE MAGIC PUDDING is an average but watchable film. Young children unfamiliar with the book will likely enjoy this movie. Those who have read the classic Australian book will be disappointed by this film, as its story differs significantly from the original.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Release Date: 26th December 2024 - Australia

Production Companies

Paramount Pictures (presents)

Sega Sammy Group (in association with)

Original Film

Blur Studio

Marza Animation Planet

Sega (based on the video game from)

Distribution

Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Action/

Adventure/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 110 minutes

Budget: $122,000,000

Box Office Gross: $492,162,604 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles

face a mysterious new

enemy with powers

beyond anything they

have ever faced: Shadow

the Hedgehog. Outmatched

in every way, the trio must

seek an unlikely alliance

with Dr Robotnik to stop

Shadow and protect the

planet, but the risks

grow when Robotnik

reunites with his long-

lost grandfather, Gerald

Robotnik, who seems

to have his sights set on

Shadow.

Cast

Ben Schwartz - Sonic the Hedgehog (Voice)

Jim Carrey - Ivo Robotnik/Gerald Robotnik

Keanu Reeves - Shadow the Hedgehog (Voice)

Idris Elba - Knuckles the

Echidna (Voice)

Colleen O'Shaughnessey -

Miles "Tails" Prower (Voice)

James Marsden - Tom

Wachowski

Tika Sumpter - Maddie Wachowski

Natasha Rothwell - Rachel

Adam Pally - Wade

Shemar Moore - Randall

Lee Majoub - Agent Stone

Krysten Ritter - Director Rockwell

Alyla Browne - Maria

Tom Butler - Commander Walters

Jorma Taccone - Kyle

Lancebottom

Sofia Pernas - Gabriella

Cristo Fernández - Pablo/Juan

James Wolk - Young Walters

Brett Tutor - Prison Guard

Richard Sutton - G.U.N. HQ Security Guard

Will Austin - G.U.N. Heli Pilot

Bola Okun - Military Man

Reggie Banigo - Rockwell's Assistant

Barry Calvert - 70s G.U.N. Soldier

Brendan Murphy - Robotnik

Proxy

Toru Nakahara - Japanese

News Reporter

Crew

Executive Producer/Director - Jeff Fowler

Story/Screenplay - Pat Casey

and Josh Miller

Screenplay - John Whittington

Executive Producers - Tommy Gormley, Tim Miller, Haruki Satomi and Shuji Utsumi

Producers - Neal H. Moritz,

Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara

and Hitoshi Okuno

Co-Producers - Tyson

Hesse, Dmitri M. Johnson,

Andrew Riach, Nicole Monter,

Dan Jevons and Matt Gustafson

Co-Producer/Second Unit Director/Visual Effects Supervisor - Ged Wright

Casting Directors - Sophie Holland, Janelle Scuderi and Tricia Wood

Production Designer - Luke Freeborn

Artistic Consultant - Jim Carrey

Sonic Character Supervisor:

Sega - Takashi Iizuka

Supervising Art Director - Tom Still

Senior Art Directors - Su Whitaker

and Joe Howard

Art Directors - Claire Fleming,

Sarah Ginn and Laura Miller

Construction Manager - Ray Barrett

Set Decorator - Anna-Lynch Robinson

Costume Designer - Eleanor Baker

Costume FX Designer - Pierre Bohanna

Prosthetics Makeup Designer - Mark Coulier

Digital Makeup Designer - Bill Corso

Director of Photography - Brandon Trost

Supervising Location Manager -

Christian McWilliams

Second Unit Director - Peter Lyons Collister

Stunt Coordinator - Eunice Huthart

Fight Choreographer - Mike Lambert

Special Effects Coordinator - Sarah Pearce

Special Effects Supervisor - Hayley J. Williams

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola VFX -

Edson Williams

Visual Effects Producer - Paul V. Molles

Senior Animation Supervisor - Clement Yip

Editor - Al LeVine

Supervising Sound Editors/Sound Designers -

Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn

Sound Designer - Darren Maynard

Production Sound Mixer - Paul Munro

Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett and

Anna Behlmer

Music - Tom Holkenborg

Review

It is the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. What better way to cap off this year than watching the fireworks and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3? Let me tell you, each movie in the franchise gets better, with the speedy blue hedgehog always winning the race. SONIC 3 builds on the success of its first two predecessors by shedding excess baggage and focusing more on the well-known Sega characters. For example, the human characters (minus two Robotniks) have less screen time, the pacing is much tighter, and the pop-cultural references are minimal. Still, there are no useless subplots like the wedding in Sonic 2.

The film's cast adds Sonic's rival, Shadow, whose dark past propels the plot forward and who already appeared in the second instalment's mid-credits scene. Introducing this character deepens the film, turning it into an emotional rollercoaster as it explores themes of grief, vengeance, and redemption. Interestingly, the movie's director, Jeff Fowler, had previously worked on the animations for the 2005 platformer Shadow the Hedgehog, so he returns to his connections with Sega's gun-toting villainous hedgehog.

Unlike the earlier Sonic movies, which were family-friendly romps, SONIC 3 takes a darker tone and raises the stakes for Sonic and his friends. Whereas the first two instalments borrowed elements from the classic Mega Drive games, SONIC 3 owes much to Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast. What makes SONIC 3 a more deliberate video game adaptation than its predecessors is the distinct duality it establishes between Sonic and Shadow. The film never fails to impress with its awe-inspiring visuals and dynamic action, culminating in a climax reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z's iconic battles. The humour is well-balanced, with plenty of laughs for kids and moments that will make adults laugh. The film even features Easter eggs and references fans can recognise from the games.

As always, Ben Schwartz shines as Sonic's voice, lending his boundless enthusiasm and charm to the blue hedgehog. Idris Elba and Colleen O'Shaughnessey deliver great performances as Knuckles and Tails. Together, they create great chemistry among the trio. Keanu Reeves was an inspired choice to play Shadow. No one expected the legendary action star to play someone as dark and brooding, with a tragic backstory and a thirst for revenge (similar to the titular character he portrayed in the John Wick series). That said, Reeves did an incredible job of bringing edginess to the character, perfectly capturing his dark nature.

Remember what I said in my Sonic 2 review that Jim Carrey is considering retirement after he finishes playing Dr Robotnik in the second instalment. He's back for the third time, pulling double duty. The legendary comedian not only portrays the wacky mad scientist, but also his even more sinister grandfather. While he outdoes himself as two generations of Eggman, he hasn't lost the quirkiness we've come to anticipate from Jim Carrey.

While a significant step up from the first two instalments, SONIC 3 is the best entry in the movie franchise and one of the better video game film adaptations. It features a compelling story, striking performances, and stunning visuals that will appeal to audiences of all ages. If you've watched its predecessors, now is your chance to see the third outing.

The film ends with two post-credit scenes that fans should keep an eye out for. These scenes could hint at the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4, scheduled for release in 2027. I can't wait for the sequel, which will be as good as the third instalment.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Barbie Review

Barbie

Release Date: 20th July 2023 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Heyday Films

LuckyChap Entertainment

NB/GG Pictures

Mattel Films

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Fantasy/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 114 minutes

Budget: $145,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,445,638,421 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Barbie and Ken are

having the time of their

lives in the bright and

seemingly perfect world

of Barbie Land. But they

soon discover the joys

and dangers of living

among humans when they

venture into the real world.

Cast

Margot Robbie - Barbie

Issa Rae - Barbie

Kate McKinnon - Barbie

Alexandra Shipp - Barbie

Emma Mackey - Barbie

Hari Nef - Barbie

Sharon Rooney - Barbie

Ana Cruz Kayne - Barbie

Rita Arya - Barbie

Dua Lipa - Barbie

Nicola Coughlan - Barbie

Emerald Fennell - Midge

Ryan Gosling - Ken

Simu Liu - Ken

Kingsley Ben-Adir - Ken

Ncuti Gatwa - Ken

Scott Evans - Ken

John Cena - Ken

Michael Cera - Allan

America Ferrera - Gloria

Ariana Greenblatt - Sasha

Helen Mirren - Narrator

(Voice)

Rhea Perlman - Ruth

Will Ferrell - Mattel CEO

Connor Swindells - Aaron Dinkins

Jamie Demetriou - Mattel Executive #1

Andrew Leung - Mattel Executive #2

Ray Fearon - Dan at the FBI

Erica Ford - Skipper

Hannah Khalique-Brown -

Growing Up Skipper

Mette Narrative - Barbie

Video Girl

Marisa Abela - Teen Talk Barbie

Lucy Boynton - Proust Barbie

Rob Brydon - Sugar Daddy Ken

Tom Stourton - Earring Magic Ken

Genvieve Toussiant - Young Sasha

Ann Roth - The Woman on the Bench

Annie Mumolo - Anxiety Mom

Lauren Holt - Time Mom

Ryan Piers Williams - El

Esposo De Gloria

Crew

Writer/Executive Producer/

Director - Greta Gerwig

Writer/Executive Producer -

Noah Baumbach

Executive Producers - Cate

Adams, Richard Dickson,

Toby Emmerich, Ynon Kreiz

and Courtenay Valenti

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Michael Sharp

Producers - Tom Ackerley,

Robbie Brenner, David Heyman

and Margot Robbie

Co-Producer - Christine Crais

Casting Directors - Lucy Bevan and Allison Jones

Production Designer - Sarah Greenwood

Supervising Art Director - Dean Clegg

Supervising Art Director: Los Angeles Unit -

Andrew Max Cahn

Set Decorator - Katie Spencer

Costume Designer - Jacqueline Durran

Director of Photography - Rodrigo Prieto

First Assistant Director: Second Unit,

Los Angeles - Tom Brewster

Second Unit Director: Los Angeles Unit -

George Cottle

Stunt Coordinator - Roy Taylor

Special Effects Supervisor - Mark Holt

Visual Effects Supervisor - Glen Pratt

Editor - Nick Houy

Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer/

Supervising Sound Editor - Ai-Ling Lee

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

Dan Kenyon

Sound Designers - Nia Hansen and

Tobias Poppe

Re-Recording Mixer - Kevin O'Connell

Music - Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt

Music Supervisor - George Drakoulias

Conductor/Music Arranger/Orchestrator -

Matt Dunkley

Score Recordist & Mixer - Peter Cobbin

Review

As a kid, I never liked Barbie anyway, and if I remember correctly, my sister used to have that doll when she was young. However, I did see a few direct-to-video animated features and a parodic version in the Toy Story series. Recently, I watched the movie and sat stunned by the ending. At first, I wasn't thrilled about seeing it, but I never thought it'd be completely different. I would have wanted to see Oppenheimer instead of BARBIE. But I chose not to.

BARBIE is a fun, sparkling movie with an original concept and self-aware humour. Surprisingly, it's a comedy for teens and adults, rather than young children, as some might suggest. Writer/director Greta Gerwig understands what was wrong with the Barbie franchise and spoofs the titular brand, turning it into a candy-coated satire full of feminist themes. Although the film can come across as a little preachy in its anti-patriarchy message, it has a witty, heartfelt script that pokes fun at the brand itself for its consumerism, gender stereotypes, and attempts at reinvention. However, BARBIE wouldn't be complete without a star-studded cast.

Margot Robbie is an excellent choice to play the titular doll character. She nails the comedic aspects and emotional beats of her role, humanising and delivering an extraordinary performance. She pairs well with Gosling, who does the same for Ken, and his perpetual confusion is instantly relatable. The extensive supporting cast is well-chosen, with Will Ferrell playing a CEO, similar to his previous role in The Lego Movie, Michael Cera as the forgotten and discontinued Allan, and America Ferrera as a truthful mum, Gloria. The set design and costumes are gorgeous, especially in pastel pink, which creates a unique, colourful look at Barbie Land. The soundtrack is excellent, featuring artists like Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj, and Billie Eilish.

Overall, this film is enjoyable and worth watching. It's packed with hilarity, gives you a good laugh, and makes you wonder if you want to live in a dream house (or, in this case, a dollhouse) with Ken and Barbie. Those familiar with Barbie will enjoy the movie and be "tickled pink" (no pun intended).

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Release Date: 4th May 2023 - Australia

Production Companies

Marvel Studios

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 150 minutes

Budget: $250,000,000

Box Office Gross:

$845,555,777 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Still grieving Gamora's loss, Peter Quill must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. Failing to do so could potentially end the Guardians as we know them.

Cast

Chris Pratt - Peter Quill/
Star-Lord
Zoe Saldana - Gamora
Bradley Cooper - Rocket (Voice)
Dave Bautista - Drax the

Destroyer
Vin Diesel - Groot (Voice)
Pom Klementieff - Mantis

Will Poulter - Adam Warlock
Elizabeth Debicki - Ayesha

Karen Gillan - Nebula
Sean Gunn - Kraglin/On Set Rocket

Chukwudi Iwuji - The High Evolutionary

Krystian Godlewski - On

Set Groot

Maria Bakalova - Cosmo (Voice)
Sylvester Stallone - Stakar

Ogord

Michael Rosenbaum -

Martinex T'Naga

Tara Strong - Mainframe (Voice)

Stephen Blackehart - Steemie Blueliver

Terence Rosemore - Xlomo Smeth

Linda Cardellini - Lylla (Voice)

Asim Chaudry - Teefs (Voice)

Mikaela Hoover - Floor (Voice)

Noa Raskin - Baby Rocket (Voice)

Judy Greer - War Pig (Voice)

Miriam Shor - Recorder Vim

Daniela Melchior - Ura

Jennifer Holland - Administrator Kwol

Nico Santos - Recorder Theel

Kai Zen - Phyla

Sarah Alami - Ssssaralami

Jasmine Munoz - Hoobtoe

Giovannie Cruz - Orloni Peddler

Elan Gale - Beardy Ravager

Molly Quinn - Molly Ravager

Nathan Fillion - Master Karja

Benjamin Byron Davis - Bletelsnort

Tiffany Smith - Frinki-

Clorterborm-Zokko

Darla Delgado - Neelie

Randy Havens - Till

Sarah Anne - Latti

Lloyd Kaufman - Gridlemop (Cameo)

Christopher Fairbank - Broker

Rhett Miller - Bzermikitokolok

Murphy Weed - Murf

Michael Rooker - Yondu

(Cameo)

James Gunn - Lamb-Shank

(Cameo)

Karen Abercrombie - Grandma

Quill

Gregg Henry - Grandpa Quill

Slate - Cosmo

Dee Bradley Baker - Blurp (Voice)

Dane DiLiegro - Unsavory Octopus

Pete Davidson - Phlektik (Cameo)

Seth Green - Howard the Duck (Voice) (Cameo)

Crew

Writer/Director - James Gunn

Star-Lord/Mantis Creator -

Steve Englehart
Star-Lord Creator - Steve Gan
Gamora and Drax Creator -

Jim Starlin

Groot Creators - Stan Lee,

Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby

Rocket Raccoon Creators - Bill Mantlo

and Keith Giffen
Mantis Creator - Don Heck
Howard the Duck Creators - Steve Gerber

and Val Mayerik

Executive Producers - Victoria Alonso,

Louis D'Esposito, Simon Hatt and Sarah Smith

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Nikolas Korda

Producer - Kevin Feige

Co-Producer/First Assistant Director -

Lars P. Winther

Co-Producer - David Grant

Casting Director - Sarah Finn

Production Designer - Beth Mickle

Visual Development Supervisor - Andy Park

Supervising Art Directors - Alan Hook

and David Scott

Set Decorator - Rosemary Brundenberg

Property Master - Russell Bobbitt

Costume Designer - Judianna Makovsky

Makeup Department Head - Alexei Dmitriew

Director of Photography - Henry Braham

Second Unit Director - Guy Norris

Stunt Coordinator - Heidi Moneymaker

Stunt Co-Coordinator - Wayne Dalglish

Aerial Coordinator/Pilot - Frédéric North

Special Effects Supervisor - Daniel Sudick

Supervisors: Legacy Effects -

Lindsay MacGowan, Shane Mahan and

J. Alan Scott

Visual Effects Supervisor - Stephane Ceretti

Visual Effects Supervisors: Framestore -

Alexis Wajsbrot, Stéphane Nazé and Ross McCabe

Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta FX - Guy Williams

Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI - Theo Bialek

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola VFX - Edson Williams

Additional VFX Supervisor - Daryl Sawchuk

Visual Effects Producer - Susan Pickett

Visual Effects Sequence Supervisors: Weta FX -

Jason Galeon and Daniel Maccarin

Executive Producer: Framestore - Annette Wullems

Animation Supervisor: Weta FX - Michael Cozens

Creative Finishing Supervisor - Evan Jacobs

Film Editors - Greg D'Auria, Fred Raskin

and Tatiana S. Regiel

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

David Acord

Supervising Sound Editor - Cheryl Nardi

Additional Sound Designer/Temp

Re-Recording Mixer - Chris Diebold

Production Sound Mixer - Lee Orloff

Re-Recording Mixers - Christopher Boyes

and Gary A. Rizzo

Music - John Murphy

Music Supervisor - Dave Nelson

Review

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania gave Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) a rocky start. I'm concerned that another entry could be as lacklustre (if not catastrophic) to the superhero movie franchise. Fortunately, audiences and fans rejoiced when the third GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY movie came out in theatres recently with better reviews (though some are slightly less negative than others). I've heard that most critics considered it the best MCU movie in years since Avengers: Endgame, which had me pounding with excitement. It is a gratifying send-off for the titular heroes, as James Gunn said it would be his last MCU film before moving to DC to restart its movie universe.

While the familiar humour is still intact, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 is the trilogy's darkest instalment. Even in its darkest moments, it maintains the franchise's status quo and retains the charm of the first two films. It focuses on Rocket Raccoon, who is one of the titular Guardians. His backstory is tragic and devastating, and I wish we had seen more of his origins, like how he first met Groot. The movie throws us straight into action without sacrificing its serious moments, and, incredibly, these sequences stay well coordinated. Throughout the film, there is significant animal cruelty. I know it is crucial to the story, but the film is dark, and the animals have evolved, sometimes drastically.

The movie features a whole bunch of new characters. The High Evolutionary is a terrifying, despicable villain who experimented on Rocket. He intends to create a perfect universe, but his experiments sometimes ended up deformed or not what he expected, so he destroyed them and started over. One of the best character arcs in the saga was Nebula's. Since we first met her, she has grown so much. The friends Rocket made as an experiment were some of the best additions. Heartbreaking but essential to the narrative. Kraglin and Cosmo, seen in the Holiday Special, were also terrific additions to the cast. Adam Warlock didn't do much and seemed unimportant. Still, he was a welcome addition to the team, and I hope we see more of him in the future. As usual, the acting was phenomenal.

While some may think Marvel has lost its way, this film proves it hasn't. In retrospect, the third instalment of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY lived up to its reputation and is the best of all three movies. It was a marvellous way to end an otherwise fantastic saga. It's tearfully bittersweet. It might be the last time we see some of these characters. I highly recommend it to those who have seen the previous two movies.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Release Date: 5th April 2023 - Australia

Production Companies

Universal Pictures (present)

Nintendo (present)

Illumination Entertainment

Dentsu (presented in association with)

Fuji Television Network (presented in association with)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Animation/Family/

Adventure/Comedy 

Rating: PG

Runtime: 92 minutes

Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,360,783,214 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Two plumbers from

Brooklyn, Mario and his

brother Luigi, are

transported down a

mysterious pipe into a

magical new world while

working underground to

repair a water main. When

the two brothers are

separated, Mario sets off

to find him. With help

from Toad, a Mushroom

Kingdom resident, Mario

unleashes his powers

He also trains under

Princess Peach, the

Mushroom Kingdom's

strong-willed ruler.

Voice Cast

Chris Pratt - Mario

Anya-Taylor Joy - Princess Peach

Charlie Day - Luigi

Jack Black - Bowser

Keegan-Michael Key - Toad

Seth Rogen - Donkey Kong

Fred Armisen - King Cranky

Kong

Kevin Michael Richardson - Kamek

Sebastian Maniscalco - Spike

Charles Martinet - Mario's Dad/Giuseppe (Cameo)

Jessica DiCicco - Mario's Mom

Rino Romano - Uncle Tony

John DiMaggio - Uncle Arthur

Khary Peyton - Penguin King

Juliet Jelenic - Lumalee

Scott Menville - Koopa General

Crew

Directors - Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic

Co-Directors - Pierre Leduc and Fabien Polack

Writer - Matthew Fogel

Executive Producers - Brett Hoffman, Bill Ryan and Yusuke Beppu

Producers - Christoper Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto

Co-Producer - Christelle Balcon

Production Designer - Guillaume Aretos

Art Director - Matthieu Gosselin

Additional Art Director - Yoriko Ito

Character Designers - Tohru Patrick Awa,

Daniel Fernandez Casas, Maxime Mary,

Sam Nielson, Nicolas Olivieri, Tony Siruno

and Philippe Tilikete

Head of Story - Ed Skudder

Studio CG Cinematographer - James C.J. Williams

Animation Directors - Christophe Delisle

and Ludovic Roz

Supervising Animators - Adrien Kedochim,

Aymeric Palermo, Basile Heiderscheid,

Benjamin Faure, Benoît Guillaumot,

Ludovic Savonnière, Mathieu &

Nicolas Menard, Bruno Scheerens,

Pierre Avon and Quentin Piq

Editor - Eric E. Osmond

Additional Editors - Tiffany Hillkurtz,

Ken Schretzmann, Julian Smirke and

Andrew Walton

Supervising Sound Editor - Daniel Laurie

Sound Designers - Jamey Scott

and Randy Thom

Re-Recording Mixers - Pete Horner

and Juan Peralta

Foley Artists - Ronni Brown,

Sean England and Jana Vance

Original Nintendo Themes - Koji Kondo

Music - Brian Tyler

Review

Five years in the making, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE has been in the pipeline since 2014, and it seemed like the right option to adapt the franchise into an animated feature. It is also an apology letter to fans who were hugely disappointed by the 1993 live-action adaptation, which didn't capture the games. Illumination is the only animation studio, besides DreamWorks, willing to produce an animated movie based on a popular video game franchise. Its track record is mixed, with successes like the Despicable Me franchise, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing. I'm unsure if they are the right people to handle this sort of film, but thankfully, they proved me wrong.

Audiences loved the movie more than critics, who gave it mixed reviews and are not huge fans of the games. THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE evokes nostalgia for those who have played the games while remaining faithful to their accuracy. However, I am delighted to see it keep its colourful world and menagerie of characters, brought to life by splendid animation. The storyline is average, but that's a minor misstep I won't have to worry about. Bolstered by an ensemble voice cast of highly trained, well-known actors and a killer soundtrack.

Chris Pratt was incredible as Mario (when he took over from Charles Martinet in the video games), despite what many thought about him not being the perfect fit for the role. Pratt nailed that part, even capturing the accent. Jack Black swaps roles, playing Mario's arch-nemesis, Bowser, rather than the heroic characters he's played before, including the shark in Shark Tale and Po in the Kung Fu Panda series. It isn't the first time Black has played a character that bad since The NeverEnding Story III, a film he didn't want to acknowledge existed.

In hindsight, this movie adaptation is much better than its critically maligned, in-name-only live-action interpretation. It's an introduction for youngsters who have never even heard of the Super Mario Bros. games, let alone own a Nintendo Switch. The movie is in general release and recommended to Mario fans who have played the game on every Nintendo console.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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