Titanic Review

Titanic


Release Date: 18th December 1997 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (present)
Paramount Pictures (present)
Lightstorm Entertainment

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Romance/Drama

Rating: M (Not Suitable for
Young Children)

Runtime: 194 minutes


Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $2,257,906,828 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A 100-year-old woman named Rose reminisces with a treasure hunter, Brock Lovett, and her granddaughter, Lizzy Calvert, about her youth in 1912. She was a young aristocrat who boarded the luxurious, ill-fated ship called Titanic with her mother and her snobbish, wealthy fiancé, Caledon Hockley.

Among the lower-class passengers is a drifter and artist named Jack Dawson, whom she meets and falls in love with. Their romance blossoms, but their maiden voyage ends

abruptly when the ship

hits an iceberg and starts

to sink into the freezing

ocean. Rose and Jack

must try to stay alive as

they attempt to escape

from Cal and the sinking

ship.

Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio - Jack Dawson
Kate Winslet - Rose DeWitt Bukater/Dawson
Billy Zane - Caledon Nathan "Cal" Hockley
Gloria Stuart - Old Rose
Bill Paxton - Brock Lovett
Suzy Amis - Lizzy Calvert
Danny Nucci - Fabrizio De Rossi
David Warner - Spicer Lovejoy
Jason Barry - Thomas "Tommy" Ryan

Kathy Bates - Margaret "Molly" Brown
Victor Garber - Thomas Andrews
Bernard Hill - Captain Edward John Smith

Jonathan Hyde - Joseph Bruce Ismay

Eric Braeden - Colonel John Jacob Astor IV

Lewis Abernathy - Lewis Bodine

Nicholas Cascone - Bobby Buell

Anatoly M. Sagalevitch - Anatoly Milkailavich

Jason Barry - Tommy Ryan

Ewan Stewart - 1st Officer Murdoch

Ioan Gruffudd - 5th Officer Lowe

Jonny Phillips - 2nd Officer

Lightoller

Mark Lindsay Chapman - Chief Officer Wilde

Richard Graham - Quartermaster Rowe

Paul Brightwell - Quartermaster Hichens

Ron Donachien - Master at

Arms

Charlotte Chatton - Madeline

Astor

Bernard Fox - Col. Archibald

Gracie

Michael Ensign - Benjamin Guggenheim

Fannie Brett - Madame Albert

Camilla Overbye Roos - Helga Dahl

Amy Gaipa - Trudy Bolt

Martin Jarvis - Sir Duff Gordon

Rosalind Ayres - Lady Duff Gordon

Rochelle Rose - Countess of Rothes

Jonathan Evans-Johns - Wallace Hartley

Rocky Taylor - Bert Cartmell

Alexandrea Owens-Sarno - Cora Cartmell

Simon Crane - 4th Officer Boxhall

Edward Fletcher - 6th Officer Moody

Scott Anderson - Frederick Fleet

Martin East - Lookout Lee

Craig Kelly - Harold Bride

Gregory Cooke - Jack Phillips

Liam Tuohy - Chief Baker Joughin

James Lancaster - Father Byles

Elsa Raven - Ida Straus

Lew Palter - Isidor Straus

Reece P. Thompson III - Irish Little Boy

Laramie Landis - Little Irish Girl

Amber & Alison Waddell - Cal's Crying Girl

Mark Rafael Truitt - Yaley

John Walcutt - 1st Class Husband

Terry Forrestal - Chief Engineer Ball

Derek Lea - Leading Stoker Barrett

Richard Ashton - Carpenter John Hutchinson

Oliver Page - Steward Barnes

James Garrett - Titanic Porter

Erik Holland - Olaf Dahl

Jari Kinnunen - Bjorn Gunderson

Anders Falk - Olaus Gunderson (Cameo)

Martin Hub - Slovakian Father

Seth Adkins - Slovakian 3-Year-Old Boy

Van Ling - Chinese Man (Cameo)

Bjørn Olsen - Olaf

Dan Pettersson - Sven

James Cameron - Steerage Dancer (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Steven Lawrence - First Class Steward (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Steven Quale - Engine Worker (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Crew
Writer/Producer/Director of Photography:

Titanic Deep Dive/Special Camera

Equipment Designer/Film Editor/

Director - James Cameron

Script Supervisor - Shelley Crawford

Executive Producer - Rae Sanchini
Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Jon Landau

Co-Producer - Al Giddings

Co-Producers/Unit Production Managers -

Grant Hill and Sharon Mann

Historian: Titanic - Don Lynch

Historian: Titanic Visuals - Ken Marschall

Casting Director - Mali Finn
Production Designer - Peter Lamont

Supervising Art Director - Charles Dwight Lee

Art Director - Martin Laing

Art Director: Escondido Tank Shoot - Bill Rea

Additional Art Directors - Robert W. Laing

and Neil Lamont

Assistant Art Directors - Steven Lawrence

and Héctor Romero

Construction Coordinators - W. Les Collins

and Tony Graysmark

Assistant Construction Coordinators -

Rufus Best, T. Kevin Fisher, Paul J. Hayes

and Mark Petrak

Set Decorator - Michael Ford

Assistant Set Decorators - Richard Roberts

and Rosalind Shingleton

Prop Masters - Barry Wilkinson

and Antonio Mata

Costume Designer - Deborah Lynn Scott

Assistant Costume Designers - David Le Vey

and Lahly Poore

Old Rose Special Effects Makeup -

Greg Cannom
Director of Photography - Russell Carpenter

Directors of Photography: Second Unit -

Roy Unger, Aaron Schneider and

John M. Stephens

Director of Photography: Halifax Contemporary

Shoot - Caleb Deschanel

Director of Photography: Documentary -

Anders Falk

Camera/Steadicam Operator - J. Michael Muro

Aquatic Supervisor/Researcher - Charlie Arneson

Special Deep Ocean Camera System/Technology

Supervisor: Titanic Deep Dive - Michael Cameron

Production Supervisor - Giedra Rackauskas

Production Supervisor: Escondido Tank Shoot -

Dana Belcastro

Unit Manager - Kevin de la Noy

Unit Production Manager - Anna Roth

Production Executive - Louis G. Friedman

First Assistant Director - Josh McLaglen

Second Unit Director - Steven Quale

Etiquette Coach/Choreographer -

Lynne Hockney

Stunt Coordinator - Simon Crane

Technology Coordinator: Titanic Deep Dive -

Ralph B. White

Special Effects - Thomas R. Fisher

Special Effects Co-Coordinator - Scott R. Fisher
Visual Effects Supervisor - Robert Legato
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Dave Carson

Visual Effects Supervisor: 4-Ward Productions -

Robert Skotak

Visual Effects Supervisor: Light Matters - Mat Beck

Supervisor/Director of Photography:

4-Ward Productions - Dennis Skotak

Visual Effects Supervisor: VIFX - Richard E. Hollander

Visual Effects Supervisor: Matte World - Craig Barron

Visual Effects Supervisor: BFTRE - Van Ling

Visual Effects Producer - Camille Cellucci

Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Tom Kennedy

Visual Effects Producer: POP Film - Andrea D'Amico
Visual Effects Consultant - John Bruno

Visual Effects Art Director: Digital Domain -

Kenny Mirman

Visual Effects Director of Photography: Digital

Domain - Erik Nash

Digital Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -

Jerry Pooler

Digital Effects Supervisors: Digital Domain -

Judith Crow and Mark A. Lasoff

Digital Visual Effects Producer: Cinesite - Aaron Dem

Digital Effects Producer: Digital Domain -

Karen M. Murphy

Visual Effects Director of Photography: VIFX -

David Drzewiecki

Model Shoot Producer: VIFX - Lee Berger

Model Supervisor: Digital Domain - Leslie Ekker

Model Crew Chiefs: Digital Domain -

George Stevens and Eugene P. Rizzardi

3D Supervisor: Light Matters - Colin Strause

CG Supervisors: VIFX - Cheryl Budgett

and Edwin Rivera

Character Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Daniel Loeb

Digital Stunt Sequence Supervisors: Digital

Domain - Mark Brown and Andrew R. Jones

Digital Ocean Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Richard Kidd

Digital Data Integration Supervisor: Digital

Domain - Matthew E. Butler

Digital Paraphernalia Supervisor: Digital

Domain - Kelly Port

Digital Effects Compositing Supervisor: ILM -

Jon Alexander

Lead Compositors: Digital Domain - Rick Dunn,

Bryan T. Grill and Simon Haslett

Digital Compositing Supervisors: Digital

Domain - Mark O. Forker and Michael Kanfer

Night Compositing Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Carey Villegas

Compositing Supervisors: Light Matters -

Greg Strause and Edson Williams

Color Timing Supervisor: ILM - Kenneth Smith

Film Editors - Conrad Buff IV and

Richard A. Harris

Associate Editor - Roger Barton

Assistant Editors - David Rennie

and Kevin Greutert (Uncredited)

Supervising Sound Editor - Tom Bellfort

Sound Designer (Uncredited)/Re-Recording

Mixer - Gary Rydstrom
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor

(Uncredited)/Re-Recording Mixer -

Christopher Boyes

Assistant Sound Designer - Shannon Mills

Sound Effects Editors - Ethan Van der Ryan,

Scott Guttieau and Christopher Scarabosio

Sound Mixer - Mark Ulano

ADR (Uncredited)/Dialogue Editor -

Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Re-Recording Mixers - Tom Johnson,

Gary Summers and Lora Hirschberg

Re-Recordists - Ronald C. Famous,

Scott Levy, Al Nelson and Mark Pendergraft

Foley Artists - Robin Harlan and Sarah Monat

Music - James Horner

Music Supervisor - Randy Gerston

Scoring Engineer - Shawn Murphy

Music Editor - Joe E. Rand

Singer: "My Heart Will Go On" - Celine Dion


Awards

1998 Academy Awards
Best Picture - James Cameron and Jon Landau (Won)
Best Director - James Cameron (Won)
Best Cinematography - Russell Carpenter (Won)
Best Art Direction - Peter Lamont

and Michael Ford (Won)
Best Costume Design - Deborah Lynn Scott (Won)
Best Sound - Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson,
Gary Summers and Mark Ulano (Won)
Best Film Editing - Conrad Buff IV,
James Cameron and Richard A. Harris (Won)
Best Sound Editing - Tom Bellfort and
Christopher Boyes (Won)
Best Visual Effects - Robert Legato,

Mark A. Lasoff, Thomas L. Fisher and

Michael Kanfer (Won)
Best Original Song "My Heart Will Go On" -
James Horner and Will Jennings
Best Original Score - James Horner
-------------------------------
Best Actress - Kate Winslet (Nominated)
Best Supporting Actress - Gloria Stuart (Nominated)
Best Makeup - Tina Earnshaw, Greg Cannom
and Simon Thompson (Nominated)


Review
TITANIC is a beautiful, emotional, and heartwarming Oscar-winning movie by James Cameron. Based on the real-life story of the Titanic, the film illustrates how the director took creative license with the tragedy to craft an epic love story. I admired its attention to historical detail, though some people may take offence at the film's melodramatic elements, historical inaccuracies, and length, which doesn't stop it from reaching popularity with audiences.

I enjoyed everything in the film, including the performances of Leonardo DiCaprio, Billy Zane, and Kate Winslet; the romantic chemistry between DiCaprio and Winslet, the stunning visual effects (especially the recreation of the sinking ship), and the marvellous film score by James Horner. As for one actor I didn't mention in the feature, Bill Paxton has a supporting role and has appeared in five of James Cameron's films. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to review these other films (excluding Aliens and his minor role in The Terminator).

TITANIC is one of the greatest romantic drama movies ever made. Coincidentally, it was James Cameron's last film as a director (not counting his two documentaries). That was until Avatar came along 12 years later. I want you to see this film and experience this historical maiden voyage before it crashes into a disaster.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Speed Review

Speed


Release Date: 30th June 1994 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox Film Corporation

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Action/Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 116 minutes


Budget: $30,000,000

Box Office Gross: $350,448,145 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

A revenge-seeking extortionist sets up a bomb on a bus, and Jack Traven, a specialist from L.A.P.D.'s SWAT team, is sent to disarm the explosive before it kills all the passengers. With the aid of a passenger, Annie Porter. They must speed the transport vehicle through the streets of Los Angeles and stop it from slowing down before the bomb detonates.

Cast
Keanu Reeves - Officer Jack
Traven
Dennis Hopper - Howard Payne
Sandra Bullock - Annie Porter
Jeff Daniels - Det. Harold
"Harry" Temple

Joe Morton - Lt. McMahon
Richard Lineback - Sgt. Norwood
Alan Ruck - Doug Stephens
Margaret Medina - Officer
Robin Barnette
Hawthorne James - Sam
Beth Grant - Helen
Carlos Carrasco - Ortiz
Glenn Plummer - Jaguar Owner
David Kriegel - Terry
Natsuko Ohama - Mrs. Kamino
Daniel Villarreal - Ray
Margaret Medina - Robin
Jordan Lund - Bagwell

Robert Mailhouse - Young Executive

Patrick Fischler - Friend of Executive

Patrick John Hurley - CEO

John Capodice - Bob

Thomas Rosales Jr. - Vince

Richard Schiff - Train Driver

Sandy Martin - Bartender

Neisha Folkes-LeMelle - Mrs. McMahon

Crew
Director - Jan de Bont
Writer - Graham Yost

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Ian Bryce
Producer - Mark Gordon
Co-Producer - Allison Lyon Segan

Technical Advisors: Police - Randy Walker

and Ed Arneson

Casting Directors - Risa Bramon Garcia

and Billy Hopkins
Production Designer - Jackson DeGovia

Art Director - John R. Jensen

Set Decorator - K.C. Fox

Property Master - Trish Gallaher Glenn

Costume Designer - Ellen Mirojnick
Director of Photography - Andrzej Bartkowiak

First Assistant Camera - Michael Condro,

Mikael Glattes, Vern Nobles Jr. and Steve Adcock

(Uncredited)

Second Assistant Camera - Christopher Blauvelt

and John J. Ellingwood

First Assistant Director - David Sardi

Second Unit Director - Alexander Witt
Stunt Coordinator - Gary Hymes

Assistant Stunt Coordinator - Brian Smrz

Transportation Coordinator - Randy Peters
Special Effects Coordinator - John Frazier
Visual Effects Supervisor - Boyd Shermis
Supervisor: Grant McCune Design -

Grant McCune

Computer Graphics Supervisor: SPI -

Ron Brinkmann

Director of Photography: Subway Crew -

David Drzewiecki
Film Editor - John Wright

Supervising Sound Editor - Stephen Hunter Flick

Supervisor ADR Editor - Victoria Rose Sampson

Supervising Dialogue Editor - Gary S. Gerlich

Dialogue Editors - Gregory H. Gerlich,

Elliott Koretz, Pieter Hubbard,

Marvin Walowitz and Hal Sanders

Re-Recording Mixers - Bob Beemer,

Gregg Landaker and Steve Maslow

Music - Mark Mancina

Composer: Additional Music - John Van Tongeren

Executive Music Producer - Ralph Sall

Music Recordists and Mixers - Jay Rifkin

and Alan Meyerson


Awards

1995 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Gregg Landaker, Steve Maslow,
Bob Beemer and David MacMillian (Won)
Best Sound Editing - Stephen Hunter Flick (Won)
--------------------------
Best Film Editing - John Wright (Nominated)


Review
From start to finish, SPEED was a full-throttle action sensation. It features the well-talented performances of Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock, with excellent direction by Jan de Bont. It is a thrilling blockbuster movie with a plot that centres on a hero and a villain. The hero has a limited time to disarm a bomb on a bus, while the villain sits back and devises evil plans to cause havoc and destruction. The stunt performances were extraordinary in a limitless spectacle, especially considering the age of this feature and the limited technology of the time.

Excluding the bus jump scene, which, in a theoretical sense, has been proven to have poor physics, the bus clearly could not have cleared a jump of that length, given its weight and size. That explains some of that Hollywood magic.

SPEED qualifies as one of the great action hits. Movie viewers can enjoy it in an action-oriented marathon or as a one-off viewing. This high-octane action thriller is close to being the best film of the year, but that title now goes to The Lion King.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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The Lion King 3D Review

The Lion King 3D


Release Date: 22nd September 2011 – Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
Walt Disney Feature Animation (Uncredited)

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 89 minutes


Budget: $45,000,000

Box Office Gross: $186,042,001 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Now in 3D. A young lion named Simba is born into the Pride Lands and is next in line to succeed his father as king. But when his evil uncle Scar has other plans to assume the throne, he tricks his nephew into believing that he caused his father's death and seizes the kingdom.

Now fleeing his homeland,

Simba is saved from certain

doom by a lovable meerkat

-and warthog-duo named

Timon and Pumbaa, who

teach him to live their

carefree "Hakuna Matata"

lifestyle and ignore his

responsibilities. As Simba

matures, much to his

surprise, his friend Nala

returns to convince him

to return to the Pride

Lands to face Scar and

take his place in the

"Circle of Life."

Voice Cast

Jonathan Taylor Thomas –

Young Simba

Jason Weaver – Young Simba (singing voice)

Matthew Broderick – Adult

Simba

Joseph Williams – Adult Simba (singing voice)

Jeremy Irons – Scar

James Earl Jones – Mufasa

Moira Kelly – Adult Nala
Sally Dworsky – Adult Nala (singing voice)

Niketa Calame – Young Nala
Laura Williams – Young Nala

(singing voice)

Nathan Lane – Timon

Ernie Sabella – Pumbaa

Robert Guillaume – Rafiki

Rowan Atkinson – Zazu

Whoopi Goldberg – Shenzi

Cheech Marin – Banzai

Jim Cummings – Ed/Gopher/
Scar (singing voice) (in last

part of Be Prepared)

(Uncredited)

Madge Sinclair – Sarabi

Zoe Leader – Sarafina

Crew

Directors – Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff

Story – Burny Mattinson, Barry Johnson, Thorn Enriquez, Gary Trousdale, Jim Capobianco, Kevin Harkey, Jorgen

Klubien, Tom Sito, Larry Leker,

Joe Ranft, Rick Maki,

Ed Gombert, Francis Glebas and

Mark Kausler

Story/Art Director – Andy Gaskill

Story/Production Designer – Chris Sanders
Story/Animator: Adult Simba - Lorna Cook

Additional Story Material – J.T. Allen,
George Scribner, Miguel Tejada-Flores,
Jenny Tripp, Bob Tzudiker, Christopher Vogler,
Kirk Wise and Noni White
Screenplay – Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts
and Linda Woolverton

Associate Producer – Alice Dewey Goldstone
Executive Producers – Thomas Schumacher,

Sarah MacArthur and John Lasseter (3D Version Only)

Producers – Don Hahn and
Jennifer Magee-Cook (3D Version Only)
Consultant: Wildlife – Jim Fowler

Live Lion and Animal Models – David J. McMillan

Live Lion and Animal Models: Cougar Hill

Ranch – Nicholas Toth

Artistic Coordinator – Randy Fullmer

Character Designers/Visual Development

Artists – Hans Bacher, Jean Gillmore,

Joe Grant, Mike Hodgson, Lisa Keene,

Sue C. Nichols, Mel Shaw, Bob Smith,

Bruce Zick and Vance Gerry (Uncredited)

Artistic Supervisor: Story – Brenda Chapman

Artistic Supervisor: Layout – Daniel St. Pierre
Artistic Supervisor: Layout, Florida – Robert Walker

Artistic Supervisor: Background – Doug Ball
Artistic Supervisor: Background, Florida –

Robert E. Stanton

Supervising Animator: "Young Simba" – Mark Henn

Supervising Animator: "Adult Simba" –

Ruben A. Aquino
Supervising Animator: "Mufasa" – Tony Fucile
Supervising Animator: "Rafiki" – James Baxter
Supervising Animator: "Scar" – Andreas Deja
Supervising Animator: "Young Nala" – Aaron Blaise

Supervising Animator: "Timon" – Michael Surrey
Supervising Animator: "Pumbaa" – Tony Bancroft
Supervising Animator: "Adult Nala" – Anthony de Rosa

Supervising Animators: "Hyenas" – Dave Burgess

and Alex Kupershmidt
Supervising Animator: "Sarabi" – Russ Edmonds
Supervising Animator: "Zazu" – Ellen Woodbury

Additional Animators – Chris Bailey, Ken Duncan,

Raul Garcia and David Stephan

Artistic Supervisor: Clean-Up/Supervising

Character Lead: Additional: "Young Simba"/

Miscellaneous Characters – Vera Pacheco

Artistic Supervisor: Visual Effects – Scott Santoro

Artistic Supervisor: Visual Effects/Effects

Animator – Dave Bossert

Artistic Supervisor: Visual Effects, Florida –

Jeff Dutton

Artistic Supervisor: Computer Graphics Imagery –

Scott F. Johnston

Additional CGI Animation – Rob Bekuhrs,

Steve Goldberg and James Tooley

Stereoscopic Supervisor: 3D Version Only –

Robert Neumann

Supervising Editors – John Carnochan
and Tom Finan

Film Editor – Ivan Bilancio

Supervising Sound Editors – Richard L. Anderson

and Mark A. Mangini

Special Sound Effects – John Pospisil

Re-Recording Mixers – Terry Porter,

Mel Metcalfe and David J. Hudson

Foley Artists – John Roesch and Hilda Hodges

Songs: Music/Performer: "Can You Feel the

Love Tonight" – Elton John
Songs: Lyrics – Tim Rice

Original Score Composer and Arranger/

Music Supervisor – Hans Zimmer

Additional Vocal Arranger/Composer: Additional

Music (Uncredited) – Mark Mancina
Choral Arranger/Conductor/Vocal Solos:

African Improvisations – Lebo M.
Choral Arranger/Conductor/Composer:
Additional Music (Uncredited) –

Nick Glennie-Smith

Review

Now more realistic in its aspect that keeps you glued to the screen, THE LION KING 3D is still the same film. It's more exciting and appealing to people who have not seen the movie in its stunning form. It is still my favourite and one I will watch repeatedly. I'm glad they removed the "Morning Report" song because nobody liked it, and they changed it back to the pouncing lesson scene. It started the tradition of re-releasing old movies in 3D.

If you have seen it in 2D (click here), check out the 3D version. I'm sure you'll like it. Otherwise, you prefer the movie in its original presentation.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Johnny English Reborn Review

Johnny English Reborn


Release Date: September 15th 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Relativity Media
Studio Canal
Working Title Films

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Action/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 minutes


Budget: $45,000,000

Box Office Gross: $160,078,586 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Johnny English, MI7's accidental spy, has gone into exile in Tibet after a mission in Mozambique went wrong. Now, he is being summoned back to the agency and paired with rookie Agent Tucker in his assignment to stop a league of secret assassins from killing the Chinese premier. Johnny is back in action but soon discovers a traitor amidst MI7.


Cast
Rowan Atkinson - MI7 Agent Johnny English
Gillian Anderson - MI7 Head
Pamela Thornton
Rosamund Pike - Kate Sumner
Dominic West - Simon Ambrose
Daniel Kaluuya - Agent Tucker
Richard Schiff - Titus Fisher
Tim McInnerny - Patch

Quartermain
Mariella Frostrup - Royce (Voice)
Mark Ivanir - Artem Karlenko
Pik Sen Lim - Killer Cleaner
Togo Igawa - Ting Wang
Lobo Chan - Chinese Premier
Stephen Campbell Moore -
British Prime Minister
Williams Belle - Ling
Lobo Chan - Xiang Ping
Benedict Wong - Chi Han Ly
Burn Gorman - Slater
Josephine de La Baume - Madeliene
Eric Carte - Agent One

Roger Barclay - Agent Two
Wale Ojo - President Chambal

Paul Carr - Chinese Man in

Spectacles

Crew
Director - Oliver Parker
Based on Characters - Neal
Purvis and Robert Wade
Story/Executive Producer - William Davies
Screenplay - Hamish McColl
Executive Producers - Liza Chasin and Debra Hayward
Producers - Tim Bevan, Chris
Clark and Eric Fellner
Co-Producer - Ronaldo Vasconcellos
Casting Director - Lucy Bevan
Production Designer - Jim Clay

Art Directors - Paul Laugier and

Mike Stallion

Set Decorator - Caroline Smith
Costume Designer - Beatrix Aruna Pasztor

Hair and Makeup Designer - Graham Johnston
Director of Photography - Danny Cohen

Director of Photography: Second Unit/

Second Unit Director - Martin Kenzie

First Assistant Director - Ben Howarth
Stunt Coordinator - Paul Herbert

Assistant Stunt Coordinator - David Forman

Aerial Coordinator: France (Uncredited)/

Helicopter Pilot: French Alpine Unit - Marc Wolff

Special Effects Supervisor - Mark Holt
Visual Effects Supervisor - Robert Duncan
Editor - Guy Bensley

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

Glenn Freemantle

Re-Recording Mixers - Richard Pryke

and Ian Tapp

Music Supervisor - Nick Angel

Music - Ilan Eshkeri


Review
An impressive sequel to the first movie (click here), REBORN has more fun and action than the original. It has elaborate stunts and elements of a conspiracy thriller, which are more suited to the ongoing trend of spy-fi movies. These include the current interpretation of the James Bond movies and the Bourne series. The film was jam-packed with outrageous humour, which appeals to audiences. I loved the movie's running gag when Johnny pursues an old female assassin and keeps attacking the wrong person.

Rowan Atkinson had easily proved his superiority in comedy movies. He is easily comparable to Jim Carrey, Steve Martin, and Chevy Chase. Although not young, Atkinson handles his comedic routines very well, as his character is born again in this film. Pairing the middle-aged comedian is a solid supporting cast with Gillian Anderson, Dominic West, Daniel Kaluuya, and Rosamund Pike. Each of them has some talent for hysterical entertainment.

JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN is an ingenious parody that gets past its classification. Unlike the other espionage movies I've seen, this film is still a spoof of the genre and is enjoyable. I highly recommend this spy-fi comedy because it is underrated and worth watching!

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Batman & Robin Review

Batman & Robin

Release Date: 26th June 1997 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

(produced in association with)

Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 125 minutes


Budget: $160,000,000

Box Office Gross: $238,259,753 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

When a new icy supervillain named Mr Freeze plans to hold Gotham ransom and freeze the entire city, it's up to Batman and Robin to turn up the heat and stop Freeze before he puts Gotham on ice. However, their partnership is in danger when a beautiful but deadly female adversary, Poison Ivy, charms Robin, which causes friction between the dynamic duo. Will Batman and Robin overcome their differences and stop Freeze from achieving his goal, while simultaneously finding a cure for their faithful butler, Alfred, who is dying from a rare disease?

Cast

George Clooney - Bruce Wayne/Batman

Chris O'Donnell - Dick Grayson/Robin

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Dr.
Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze

Uma Thurman - Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy

Alicia Silverstone - Barbara Wilson/Batgirl
Michael Gough - Alfred Pennyworth

Pat Hingle - Commissioner James Gordon

John Glover - Dr. Jason

Woodrue

Jeep Swenson - Bane

Elle Macpherson - Julie

Madison
Elizabeth Sanders - Gossip

Gerty

Vendela Kirsebom - Nora Fries
Michael Reid McKay - Antonio Diego/Bane
Eric Lloyd - Young Bruce

Wayne
Jon Simmons - Young Alfred
Joe Sabatino - Frosty

Michael Paul Chan - Observatory Scientist

Kimberly Scott - Observatory Associate
Jesse Ventura - Arkham Asylum Guard
Ralf Moeller - Arkham Asylum Guard
Doug Hutchison - Golum
Coolio - Banker
Nicky Katt - Spike

John Ingle - Doctor

Patrick Leahy - Himself (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Joel Schumacher

Based on Characters/Project
Consultant - Bob Kane
Based on Batman Characters - Bill Finger
(Uncredited)
Characters: Alfred Pennyworth & Robin -
Jerry Robinson (Uncredited)

Writer - Akiva Goldsman

Script Supervisor - Sharron Reynolds

Associate Producer/Production Supervisor -

Mitchell E. Dauterive
Executive Producers - Benjamin Melniker
and Michael E. Uslan
Producer - Peter Macgregor-Scott
Co-Producer/First Assistant Director -

William M. Elvin

Casting - Mali Finn

Production Designer - Barbara Ling
Supervising Art Director - Richard Holland
Art Director - Geoff Hubbard

Set Decorator - Dorree Cooper

Property Master - Brad Einhorn

Costume Designers - Ingrid Ferrin
and Robert Turturice

Costume Illustrator - Miles Teves

Lead Sculptor: Costume Props Department -

Jose Fernandez

Specialty Costume Elements - Tony Gardner

Makeup Supervisor - David B. Miller

Makeup Artist: Mr. Freeze - Jeff Dawn

Nora Fries and Principal Copsicles - Rick Baker

Director of Photography - Stephen Goldblatt

First Assistant Camera: 2nd Unit - Taylor Matheson

Production Supervisor - Jacqueline George

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

John H. Radulovic

Unit Production Manager - Barry H. Waldman

Location Manager - Laura Sode-Matteson

Second Unit Director - Peter MacDonald

Second Unit/Second Assistant Director -

Bryan Altham

Supervising Stunt Coordinator -

Ronnie Rondell Jr.

Stunt Coordinator - Pat E. Johnson

Stunt Co-Coordinator/Stunt Double:

George Clooney (Uncredited) - Alex Daniels
Special Effects Coordinator - Matt Sweeney

Animatronic Effects - Tony Gardner
Vehicle Production Supervisors - Charley Zurian

and Allen Pike

Visual Effects Supervisors - Andrew Adamson,

Eric Durst, Wendy Rogers and David Stump

Visual Effects - John Dykstra and

Mark R.R. Farquhar

Visual Effects Supervisor: The Chandler Group -

Don Baker

Visual Effects Supervisor: PDI - Richard Chuang

Visual Effects Producer - Tripp Hudson

Art Director: Visual Effects - James Hegedus

Visual Effects Director of Photography: The

Chandler Group - Tim Angelo

Post Production Visual Effects Supervisor -

Nick Davis

Digital Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -

Carlos Arguellos
Effects Supervisors: Miniature Shop - Ian Hunter

and Robert Spurlock

Production Supervisor: Miniature Shop -

Kurt Williams

Studio Head: Rhythm & Hues - John Hughes

Lighting Supervisor: PDI - Craig Ring

Film Editors - Mark Stevens and Dennis Virkler

Supervising Sound Editors - John Leveque

and Bruce Stambler

Re-Recording Mixers - Kevin E. Carpenter,

Anthony Goldschmidt, Jeffrey J. Haboush,

Donald O. Mitchell and Frank A. Montano

Music - Elliot Goldenthal

Music Supervisor - Danny Bramson

Review

As a kid, BATMAN & ROBIN was my favourite movie. Unfortunately, as I got older, it became too similar to the 1960s TV classic show. It comes across as campy and childish, making this movie entirely unoriginal. It seemed as though the director was playing it safe and taking no creative risks. I cannot believe it killed the Burton/Schumacher film series and nearly killed the superhero movie genre. It had unintentional humour with the suits of Batman and Robin, which featured those embarrassing Bat nipples again. Complete with close-up shots of buttocks that make them look exposed, as if they were glamorous boys instead of heroic tough guys. The plotting feels inconsistent (what's the point of having Poison Ivy team up with Mr Freeze when they weren't compatible as partners?).

What made the movie worse was turning the comic book character of Bane from the main villain to Poison Ivy's henchman. Each moment of the film, such as Clooney's caped avenger showing his partner his Bat credit card, felt out of place because Bruce Wayne should be the one to do this, not Batman.

The acting is mixed. Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance as the villainous Mr Freeze is good (despite being given a poorly written script and a character who delivers bad one-liners and ice puns). I didn't want to criticise Arnold in this film because he is my favourite actor. I must maintain my integrity by being unbiased and completely honest about the facts of my observations in the reviews. George Clooney is woefully miscast as Batman, though he did well as Bruce Wayne. Chris O'Donnell was getting too old to play Robin; he was a little over the top and pushed it too far. The other actor who didn't improve in this movie is Alicia Silverstone.

BATMAN & ROBIN is my least favourite Batman movie. It put a great film series on thin ice (no pun intended) and shocked fans with disastrous results. Thank goodness! The franchise has had a rebirth with director Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

Star rating: (1/5) Not Worth Watching

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