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

are up against a mysterious

new enemy with powers

beyond anything they

have ever faced, known as

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

increase when Robotnik

reunites with his long-

lost grandfather, Gerald

Robotnik, who appears

to have his sights 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 of the franchise improves as the speedy blue hedgehog always wins the race. SONIC 3 builds on the success of its predecessors, reducing the excess baggage and concentrating 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. Not to mention, there are no useless subplots like the wedding in Sonic 2.

Added to the inclusion in the film series is Sonic's rival, Shadow, whose dark past propels the plot forward and has already appeared in the mid-credits scene of the second instalment. The introduction of this character deepens the film, turning it into an emotional rollercoaster as it examines 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, upping 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 the Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure 2. 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 ceases to amaze me with its awe-inspiring visuals and dynamic action scenes, culminating in a climax reminiscent of the battle scenes in Dragon Ball Z. The humour is well-balanced, with sufficient laughs for children and moments for adults. There are even Easter eggs and references to the games in the film that fans can recognise.

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. Individually, they contribute to the trio's chemistry. 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 that perfectly captures 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 as Carrey pulls double duty in a dual role. Not only does the legendary comedian portray the wacky mad scientist, but Carrey also gets to play 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. For those who have watched its predecessors, now is your chance to see the third outing.

Additionally, there are two post-credit scenes at the end of the film 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 to see the impending sequel when it'll 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: 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 by turning it into a candy-coated satire full of feminism. Although the film can come as a little preachy in its anti-patriarchy message, it has a witty script that's heartfelt and pokes fun at the brand itself for its consumerism, gender stereotypes, and attempts at reinvention. But BARBIE wouldn't be complete with a star-studded cast.

Margot Robbie is an excellent choice to play the titular doll character. She nails the comical aspects and emotional beats in 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 and 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 the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill has to gather 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 got Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) off to a rocky start. It leaves me concerned if another entry might potentially 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 stated it would be his last for the MCU, as he stopped directing the movies before moving on to DC to restart its movie universe.

While the familiar humour is still intact, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 is the darkest instalment in the series. Even in its darkest moments, it maintains the franchise's status quo and has the same charm as 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 got to see more of his origins, like how he first met Groot. The movie delves into its action without sacrificing its moments of seriousness, and incredibly, these sequences are well-coordinated. Throughout the film, there is a lot of animal cruelty. I know it is crucial to the story, but the film is dark, and the animals have changed, sometimes drastically.

There are a whole bunch of new characters in the movie. The High Evolutionary is a terrifying and despicable villain responsible for experimenting on Rocket. His goal was to create a perfect universe, but his experiments sometimes ended up being deformed or not what he expected, as he would destroy them and start all over. One of the best character arcs in the saga was for the character Nebula. Since we first met her, she has grown so much. The friends Rocket made during his time 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 a lot and felt underused. 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 that Marvel has lost its way, this film proves they haven'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's the last time we might 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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Super Mario Bros. Review

Super Mario Bros.

Release Date: 10th June 1993 - Australia

Production Companies

Allied Filmmakers (present)

Cinergi Pictures Entertainment (in association with)

Hollywood Pictures (present)

Lightmotive (co-production)

Nintendo (Uncredited)

Touchwood Pacific Partners I (Uncredited)

Distribution

Umbrella Entertainment

Genre: Sci-Fi/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 104 minutes

Budget: $48,000,000

Box Office Gross: $38,912,465 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Two Brooklyn plumbers, Mario and Luigi, are about to have the shocking discovery of their lives when they stumble upon a parallel world populated by the intelligent descendants of dinosaurs. The meteor didn't destroy them millions of years ago. It threw them into another dimension. Now, they have plans to take control of our world. It's up to our

improbable heroes to

battle the evil King Koopa

and his goombas, free the

beautiful Princess Daisy

and save humanity in this

life-changing quest.

Cast

Bob Hoskins - Mario Mario

John Leguizamo - Luigi Marko

Dennis Hopper - King Koopa

Samantha Mathis - Daisy

Fisher Stevens - Iggy

Richard Edson - Spike

Fiona Shaw - Lena

Dana Kaminski - Daniella

Mojo Nixon - Toad

Gianni Russo - Scapelli

Francesca P. Roberts - Bertha

Lance Henriksen - King Bowser

Sylvia Harman - Old Lady

Desiree Marie Velez - Angelica

John Fifer - Goomba Toad

Don Lake - Sergeant Simon

Terry Finn - Hatcheck Girl

Rob Priester - Egon

Preston Lane - James

Robert D. Raidford - TV Announcer

Frank Welker - Creature Voices

(Voice)

Dan Castellaneta - Narrator (Voice)

Crew

Directors - Annabel Jankel

and Rocky Morton

Based on the Concept and

Characters: Creators -

Shigeru Miyamoto and

Takashi Tezuka

Writers - Parker Bennett, Terry Runte and Ed Solomon

Producers - Jake Eberts and Roland Joffé

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Fred C. Caruso

Casting - Don & Mali Finn

Production Designer - David L. Snyder

Conceptual Artist/Creature Designer

and Supervisor - Patrick Tatopoulos

Art Director - Walter P. Martishius

Assistant Art Directors - Sarah Knowles

and Simon Murton

Set Decorator - Beth A. Rubino

Costume Designer - Joseph A. Porro

Prosthetics and Cosmetic Skins Supervisor:

Koopa Creature - Rob Burman

Director of Photography/Second Unit

Director - Dean Semler

First Assistant Director - Louis D'Esposito

Choreographer - Barry Lather

Stunt Coordinator - Gary Jensen

Special Effects Coordinator - Paul J. Lombardi

Mechanical Creature Effects Supervisor -

Russell Shinkle

Visual Effects Designer and Supervisor/

Second Unit Director - Chris F. Woods

Lead Digital Animator/Compositor - Peter Webb

Editors - Mark Goldblatt and Caroline Ross

Supervising Sound Editors - Jerry Ross

and Hamilton Sterling

Sound Mixer: Second Unit - Whit Norris

Re-Recording Mixers - Gregg Landaker

and Steve Maslow

Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and

Dan O'Connell

Music - Alan Silvestri

Music Supervisor - Peter Afterman

Writers and Performers: "Almost Unreal" -

Roxette

Review

Welcome back, viewers. As you all know, I haven't done anything in my blog except grammatically proofread my reviews, news updates, etc. It's been a few months since I last posted a new critique, but with the latest Super Mario Bros. movie in theatres, it's time to refresh my memory on the previous movie adaptation.

As far back as I can remember, SUPER MARIO BROS. is a well-known video game series, with its titular character being the official mascot of Nintendo. Its popularity fell with the advent of Sonic the Hedgehog and modern video games like Halo and Minecraft. Through its iconic status, it spawned three television cartoons and two movies (the latter is a recent animated feature from the studio that brought Despicable Me). There was even a live-action film adaptation that many people would try to forget, but it grew a cult following.

As a young child, I wasn't aware there was a Super Mario Bros. movie until I discovered its packaging on VHS. The film may seem nostalgic as I look back, but it was nothing like the Mario video games I've played. It felt like a wound that never healed, leaving a lasting mark on fans of the series. The failure of this movie may have led Nintendo to prevent any more big-screen adaptations (except for Pokémon). Even the co-creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, felt it tried so hard to replicate the games.

All criticisms have pinpointed the film's poor direction and mishandling of the source material. That's why fans consider it the worst video game movie adaptation. Aside from the film's lack of resemblance to the games, it had a confusing plot and inconsistent tone. However, I appreciate the filmmakers' efforts to try to make this movie different from the games, but they're woefully misguided. I applaud the marvellous set designs (despite being too gritty and industrial for a feature based on the Mario Bros) and the innovative effects that aged beautifully.

I feel bad for the actors who have participated in this film, particularly the late Bob Hoskins, who plays Mario, and John Leguizamo as Luigi, whose experiences in making this movie had soured them. Their performances are good, and they have excellent chemistry. While they did their best to save the adaptation they could, unfortunately, they are mismatched, especially Bob, who is too gruff-looking for the character. The same goes for Dennis Hopper, whose baddie, King Koopa, isn't the character known as Bowser. He is having fun overacting in his role and not taking himself too seriously.

Some people may see SUPER MARIO BROS. as oddly charming in a way that honours the source material, while some don't find the film that bad and find it fun. While disappointing, it certainly has its separate storyline detached from the games and is not the perfect adaptation I would expect. Here's hoping Illumination will do a better job of handling the concept. And Chris Pratt will be a better Mario than Bob Hoskins.

Star rating: (3/10) Disappointing

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Release Date: 31st March 2022 - 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: 122 minutes

Budget: $110,000,000

Box Office Gross: $405,421,518 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

After living in Green Hills, Sonic is determined to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His chance to prove himself comes when the evil Dr. Robotnik returns alongside a new partner named Knuckles the Echidna. Not only that, Robotnik is after a

mystic emerald that has

the power to wipe out

civilisations. Sonic gains a new sidekick, Tails, and the two embark on a globe-trotting quest to find it before Robotnik does to achieve his goals.

Cast

Ben Schwartz - Sonic the Hedgehog (Voice)

Jim Carrey - Dr. Robotnik

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

Tom Butler - Commander Walters

Melody Nosipho Niemann - Jojo

Brad Kalilimoku - Drench

Krista Alvarez - Faucet

Donna Jay Fulks - Longclaw

(Voice)

Scott Patey - Armored Truck Security Guard

Leif Havdale - Bank Robber

Johnson Phan - Bank Robber

Colby Chartrand - Bank Robber

Kevin Fortin - Bank Robber

Jeff Sanca - Armored Truck Driver

Sook Hexamer - Elderly Woman

Maria Ameerali - Shopper

Kyle Riefsnyder - Camper

Parker Rowell-Laferriere - Ice Cream Child

Tammy Nera - Pedestrian

Gerald Paetz - Police Driver

Corry Glass - Police Driver

David Jacox - Police Driver

Mike Mitchell - Police Driver

Heath Stevenson - Police Driver

Douglas Chapman - Police Driver

Rhys Williams - Scavenger

Nilo Ghajar - Scavenger

Don Lew - Scavenger

Elizabeth Bowen - Tatiana

Vladimir Ruzich - Russian Giant Bully

Shay Kuebler - Russian Dancer

Keiran Bohay - Russian Dancer

Kevin Mylrea - Russian Dancer

Jared Khalifa - Russian Dancer

Aiden Cass - Russian Dancer

Andrew Kyrzyk - Russian Dancer

Stanislav Galimkhanov - Russian Dancer

Alex Bogomolov - Tavern Menacing Card Player

Shaun Magee - Tavern Menacing Card Player

Shawn Stewart - Tavern Menacing Card Player

Barry Nerling - Tavern Tattooed Knuckle Cracker

Simon Chin - Tavern Fish Butcher

Vladimir Raiman - Tavern Bartender

Yvetta Fisher - Tavern Knitting Woman

Adrian Hein - Tack

Jess Lundgren - Wisco

Steven Chang - Grommet

Ted Barba - Priest

Brennan Dyson - Randall's Brother

Saida Dyson - Bridesmaid

Katie Wright Pere - Bridesmaid

Ha'a Keaulana - Bridesmaid

Quinn Early - Rachel's Father

Cheryl Lewis - Rachel's Mother

Angela Meryl - Rachel's Aunt

Ashlei Tave - Rachel's Cousin

Mariah Dyson - Rachel's Family

Tavita Woodward - Rachel's Family

Ernie Jackson - G.U.N. Soldier

Rob 'Sluggo' Boyce - G.U.N. Soldier

Robert Zen Humpage - G.U.N. Soldier

Fraser Corbett - G.U.N. Soldier

Marcus Aurelio - G.U.N. Soldier

Sean Kennedy - G.U.N. Soldier

Jason Triplett - G.U.N. Agent

Eli Olson - G.U.N. Agent

Mike Rufino - G.U.N. Agent

Nito Larioza - G.U.N. Agent

Chad Keaulana - G.U.N. Agent

Sarah Surh - G.U.N. Mean Bean Agent

Paul Lazenby - Mean Bean Trucker

Preston Blaine Arsement - Volleyball Player

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Jeff Fowler

Story/Screenplay - Pat Casey and Josh Miller

Screenplay - John Whittington

Executive Producers - Tim Miller,

Haruki Satomi, Yukio Sugino and

Shuji Utsumi

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Nan Morales

Producers - Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher,

Toru Nakahara and Hitoshi Okuno

Co-Producer/Lead Designer: Blur Studio

(Uncredited)/Storyboard Supervisor

(Uncredited) - Tyson Hesse

Co-Producers - Dmitri M. Johnson,

Dan Jevons and Sammy Warshaw

Casting Directors - Janelle Scuderi and

Tricia Wood

Production Designer - Luke Freeborn

Sonic Character Supervisor: Sega -

Takashi Iizuka

Supervising Art Director - Don Macaulay

Set Decorator - Shannon Gottlieb

Set Decorator: Hawaii Unit - Katrin Chong

Costume Designer - Debra McGuire

Director of Photography - Brandon Trost

Aerial Director of Photography/Camera

Operator: Vancouver Aerial Unit - Hans Bjerno

Second Unit Director/Director of Photography -

Peter Lyons Collister

Stunt Coordinator - Marny Eng

Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Guy Bews

Special Effects Coordinator - Joel Whist

Lead Fabricators - Dan Cervin and Rob Falck

Visual Effects Supervisor - Ged Wright

Visual Effects Producer - Lisa Beroud

Additional Visual Effects Supervisors: MPC -

Erik Nash and Nicolas Aithadi

Animation Supervisors: MPC - Eric Guaglione,

Steve Cady and Yves Ruprecht

Animation Supervisors: Animism Studios -

Jeremy Stewart and Eric Petey

Additional Animation Supervisors: MPC -

Michael Langford, Elwaleed Suliman and

Peta Bayley

Editor - Jim May

Supervising Sound Editors/Sound Designers -

Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn

Sound Designers: E2 - John Marquis,

Malte Bielef and Darren Maynard

Production Sound Mixer - Chris Duesterdiek

Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett and

Anna Behlmer

Additional Re-Recording Mixer - Drew Webster

Foley Artists - Dawn Lunsford and Alicia Stevenson

Music - Tom Holkenborg

Review

For two years, I have waited for SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 to get made. Now, here it is. I was looking forward to watching the sequel in theatres after it came out and having it critiqued. Unfortunately, I have to delay it for a few weeks due to being in close contact with someone with COVID-19. Luckily, I started to watch it and found the film (if not slightly) better than the original.

While SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 is a great movie that's mostly a step up from its predecessor, I would've preferred it to be a much better sequel. Unfortunately, a few setbacks prevented it from achieving a perfect 10-star rating. Many critics claim that the film is a bit lengthy and overplotted due to its two-hour runtime and one unneeded subplot, but those are the mistakes that I'm willing to overlook. But enough about that. Let's dig deeper into the positive aspects. For the new additions to the movie, we have Tails and Knuckles, who are in the sequel. The same goes for the mythology, which has expanded upon its predecessor, making it more faithful to the games. The action sequences are top-notch with humour and some pop-cultural references to liven things up.

The original actors are back in their roles and performances, including Ben Schwartz as the titular protagonist and Jim Carrey as the dastardly villain Dr. Robotnik. Though Carrey is considering retiring from acting after SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2, I hope he continues playing his character in the third instalment, or the role might get recast (or otherwise) if he does retire. Idris Elba wasn't as bad as Knuckles. He packed a wallop (pardon the expression) in his performance with a more serious edge than the other characters, yet he still provided some punchy comic timing when needed. Don't get me wrong, Idris was good in the role, but I would have loved the character to have an Aussie accent since echidnas are native to my home country. His Thor co-star, Chris Hemsworth, might be suitable for that role.

Colleen O'Shaughnessy lends her voice to reprise her role as Tails (despite the character already introduced in the mid-credits scene of the first movie) from the video games and Sonic Boom TV show in this sequel with her bubbly and unapologetically cartoonish cadence.

As I said before, I would've loved SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 more if it'd been an even better sequel, like some that did it for their franchises and outclassed their predecessors. Still, it is a fun, enjoyable, action-packed experience for many fans. The youngsters will also love it. For those who have or haven't played the Sonic games before, I recommend watching the first instalment before getting onto the second. I would love to hear your thoughts about the sequel.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles Review

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Release Date: 26th December 1987 - Australia

Production Companies

Paramount Pictures (presents)

Hughes Entertainment

Distribution

Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 92 minutes

Budget: $30,000,000

Box Office Gross: $49,752,241 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

He is advertising executive Neal Page, trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Unfortunately, his flight gets rerouted to Wichita. There, he bumps

into a talkative yet

lovable salesman named

Del Griffith. Together,

they undertake a cross-

country trip that includes

various modes of

transportation, hilarious

disasters, and unforgettable

rental car shenanigans.

Cast

Steve Martin - Neal Page

John Candy - Del Griffith

Lalia Robins - Susan Page

Michael McKean - State Trooper

Kevin Bacon - Taxi Racer

Dylan Baker - Owen

Carol Bruce - Joy

Olivia Burnette - Marti

Diana Douglas - Peg

Martin Ferrero - Second Motel

Clerk

Larry Hankin - Doobie

Richard Herd - Walt

Susan Kellermann - Waitress

Matthew Lawrence - Little Neal

Edie McClurg - Car Rental Agent

George Petrie - Martin

Gary Riley - Motor Thief

Charles Tyner - Gus

Susan Isaacs - Marie

Lulie Newcomb - Owen's Wife

John Randolph Jones - Cab Dispatcher

Nick Wyman - New York Lawyer

Gaetano Lisi - Cab Driver - New York

Diana Castle - Stewardess

Julie H. Morgan - Stewardess

Bill Erwin - Man on Plane

Ruth de Sosa - New York Ticket Agent

Ben Stein - Wichita Airport Representative

Kim Genelle - Receptionist

Grant Forsberg - Brand Manager

David Raiport - Cafe Patron

Andrew J. Hentz - Bus Lover

Karen Meisinger - Bus Loverette

Gary Palmer - Pilot

Diane Nieman - Earring Customer

Sylvia Vitrungs - Earring Customer

Joann Taylor - Earring Customer

Julie A. Herbert - Earring Customer

Jennifer Allswang - Earring Customer

Wendy Lee Avon - Earring Customer

Amy Meyers - Earring Customer

John Moio - Screaming Driver

Victor Vanderkloot - Screaming Driver's Wife

Lyman Ward - John (Uncredited)

William Windom - Mr. Bryant (Uncredited)

Crew

Writer/Producer/Director - John Hughes

Associate Producer/Second Unit Director -

William H. Brown

Executive Producer - Michael Clinich

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Neil Machlis

Casting Directors - Janet Hirshenson

and Jane Jenkins

Production Designer - John W. Corso

Art Director - Harold Michelson

Set Decorators - Jane Bogart and

Linda Spheeris

Costume Designer - April Ferry

Makeup Designer: John Candy - Ben Nye III

Director of Photography - Don Peterman

Location Coordinator: New York -

Lydia Dean Pilcher

First Assistant Director - Mark Radcliffe

Second Assistant Director - Arthur Anderson

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Richard Graves

First Assistant Director: Second Unit,

Chicago - James Giovannetti Jr.

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -

Bernie E. Dobbins

Special Effects - William Aldridge,

Stan Parks and Ken Speed (Uncredited)

Editor - Paul Hirsch

Additional Editors - Adam Bernardi,

Andrew London and Peck Prior

Supervising Sound Editors - Lon Bender

and Wylie Stateman

Re-Recording Mixers - David E. Campbell,

John T. Reitz and Gregg Rudloff

Foley Artists - Dean Drabin, Gary A. Hecker

and Alicia Stevenson

Music - Ira Newborn

Composers: Additional Score - Brian Banks

and Anthony Marinelli

Music Supervisor - Tarquin Gotch

Review

After years of making teen comedies, filmmaker John Hughes breaks out of the sub-genre to make the buddy/road comedy PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES. It was hilarious and groundbreaking, but often dramatic, as the film is about a mismatched pair who wind up getting through the worst of a bad situation in the middle of a holiday. Sure, there are times when the movie has funny moments that make us laugh, such as the iconic "Those Aren't Pillows!" There are heartfelt scenes that occasionally pop up in a comedy like this and give a balance.

Steve Martin and John Candy were terrific and had fantastic chemistry, but they were the best. It's a shame they never got around to working again in another movie that is almost as good, heartfelt, and hilarious as PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES when Candy met his untimely death in 1994. I enjoyed the soundtrack, which is remarkable. It has songs I didn't even know existed.

I appreciate how the late John Hughes was willing to shift from producing movies aimed at teens like Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off to comedies like PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES and Home Alone. It was his best work, and nothing could compare to this film with those made in modern times. I highly recommend it to fans of the filmmaker and even those who liked Steve Martin and the late John Candy.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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A Dog's Purpose Review

A Dog's Purpose

Release Date: 4th May 2017 - Australia

Production Companies

Walden Media

Amblin Entertainment

Reliance Entertainment

Pariah Entertainment Group

Amblin Partners

DreamWorks (Copyright Holder)

Distribution

eOne Australia

Genre: Family/Fantasy/

Comedy/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 99 minutes

Budget: $22,000,000

Box Office Gross: $205,035,819 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
A dog discovers the meaning of life when he is reincarnated several times in different breeds with different owners before reuniting with his true master.

Cast

Josh Gad - Bailey/Ellie/Tino/

Buddy (Voice)

Dennis Quaid - Adult Ethan

Peggy Lipton - Adult Hannah

Bryce Gheisar - Ethan - 8 Years Old

K.J. Apa - Teen Ethan

Juliet Rylance - Ethan's Mom

Luke Kirby - Ethan's Dad

Gabrielle Rose - Grandma Fran

Michael Bofshever - Grandpa Bill

Britt Robertson - Teen Hannah

Logan Miller - Todd

Kirby Howell-Baptiste - Maya

Pooch Hall - Al

John Ortiz - Carlos

Nicole LaPlaca - Wendi

Primo Allan - Victor

Peter Kelamis - Dad's Boss

Caroline Cabe - Boss's Wife

Jane McGregor - Rachel

Michael Patric - Sam

Brooke Warrington - Bree -

7 Years Old

Kenyan Alexander Walcott -

Ty - 5 Years Old

Treyton Augustus Walcott - Richie - 4 Years Old

Alicia Johnston - Hysterical Mother

Chris Webb - Kidnapper

Naomi Frenette - Kidnapped Girl

Crew

Director - Lasse Hallström

Based on the Novel/

Screenplay - W. Bruce Cameron

Screenplay - Cathryn Michon,

Audrey Wells, Maya Forbes and

Wallace Wolodarsky

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Alan C. Blomquist

Executive Producers - Lauren Pfeiffer

and Mark Sourian

Producer - Gavin Polone

Co-Producers - Holly Bario and Kim Todd

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Lesley Oswald

Casting Director - John Papsidera

Animal Trainers - Raymond W. Beal,

Tammy Blackburn, Mathilde Decagny,

Yuka Fukushima, Larry Madrid,

Doree Sitterly, David Sousa and Brian Turi

Production Designer - Michael Carlin

Supervising Art Director - Réjean Labrie

Art Director - Larry Spittle

Set Decorator - Craig Sandells

Costume Designer - Shay Cunliffe

Director of Photography - Terry Stacey

Additional Photography - Robby Baumgartner

Stunt Coordinator - Marny Eng

Special Effects Coordinator - Tim Freestone

Visual Effects Supervisor - Jon Campfens

Editor - Robert Leighton

Supervising Sound Editor - Eliza Paley

Sound Designer - Mariusz Glabinski

Re-Recording Mixers - Skip Lievsay

and Lawrence Zipf

Music - Rachel Portman

Music Supervisor - Liza Richardson

Score Conductor/Orchestrator - Jeff Atmajian

Review

Before watching A DOG'S JOURNEY, I decided to watch A DOG'S PURPOSE before its sequel. Deep, poignant, and thought-provoking, this film will make dog lovers cry, even if it reminds them of the pets they once owned. Frankly, there has not been a movie about a dog I have seen that was so sad since I only watched Red Dog. However, critics were unkind to A DOG'S PURPOSE as allegations of animal abuse spread when a video taken from the set of the movie that supposedly showed it (proven to be misleading) went viral on TMZ, which hurt its reputation before its release.

I liked the movie's concept of a dog going through multiple lives and showing its unique perspective. The film is somewhat comparable to the other dog movies that Lasse Hallström has directed. I have not seen any of them. It will be fun to explore these films that may contain sadness. I am surprised that Josh Gad has done a terrific job voicing the dog's inner thoughts. The casting is impeccable, including Dennis Quaid as the older Ethan, and the seasoned actor has brought conviction to his heartfelt role.

It's a sentimental movie that is doggone wild, tugging at your heartstrings. A DOG'S PURPOSE is a must-see film recommended for all ages.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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