Hop Review

Hop


Release Date: 7th April 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Relativity Media (in association with)
Illumination Entertainment

Distribution
Universal Studios Australia


Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: G

Runtime: 95 minutes


Budget: $63,000,000

Box Office Gross: $184,367,665 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
E.B. is the son of the Easter Bunny, who wants nothing more than to follow in his father's footsteps and become a drummer instead. He runs away from home and is injured when an unemployed slacker named Fred accidentally runs him over, and he must take him in as he recovers. But E.B. soon takes advantage of his hospitality and becomes the worst house guest, which is too much for Fred to handle. Both will learn what it takes to grow up.


Live Action Cast
James Marsden - Fred O'Hare
Coleton Ray - Young Fred
Kaley Cuoco - Samantha "Sam" O'Hare
Gary Cole - Henry O'Hare
Elizabeth Perkins - Bonnie O'Hare
Tiffany Espensen - Alex O'Hare
David Hasselhoff - Himself
Chelsea Handler - Mrs. Beck
Russell Brand - Production Assistant (Cameo)

Voice Cast
Russell Brand - E.B.
Django Marsh - Young E.B.
Hugh Laurie - Mr. Bunny
Hank Azaria - Carlos & Phil
Hugh Hefner - Voice at Playboy
Mansion (Cameo)


Crew
Director - Tim Hill
Story/Screenplay - Cinco Paul and

Ken Daurio
Screenplay - Brian Lynch
Executive Producer - John Cohen
Producer - Christopher Meledandri

Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Michele Imperato

Production Designer - Richard Holland

CG Set & Prop Lead Designer- Philip A. Cruden

Illustrators - James Hegedus,

Patrick Von Janice and Carol Police

Art Director - Charlie Daboub
Character Designer - Peter DeSeve

Designer: "Young E.B."/Animation Supervisor -

Chris Bailey

Set Decorator - Don Diers

Property Master - Emily Ferry

Costume Designer - Alexandra Welker
Director of Photography - Peter Lyons Collister

First Assistant Director - Michele Panelli-Venetis

Second Unit Director/Director of

Photography - Thomas E. Ackerman

Stunt Coordinator - John Moio
Special Effects Supervisor - Alan E. Lorimer
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Raymond Chen

Digital Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues - Michael Conelly

Animation Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues -
Ryan O'Donoghue, Kevin Jackson,

Rebecca Ruether, Chad Shattuck, Adam Yaniv
and Matt Shumway

Senior Animation Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Andrew Arnett

Crowd Animation Lead - C.J. Sarachene

Animation Layout Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Colbert Fennelly
Previsualisation & Layout Supervisor -

Pepe Valencia

Sequence Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues -

Harry Brutsche IV, Walt Jones, Perry Kass,

Yogesh Lakhani, Josh Saeta and Jeff Wells

Editors - Peter S. Elliot and Gregory Perler

First Assistant Editor - Matthew Schmidt

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard L. Anderson

Sound Designer - Ann Scibelli

Sound Editors - Mike Chock and John Dunn

Re-Recording Mixers - Tom Johnson

and Gary A. Rizzo

Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and

Catherine Ross

Music - Christopher Lennertz

Music Supervisor - Julianne Jordan

Additional Music & Arrangements/

Choir Conductor - Philip White

Review
Nearly a perfect family movie in the season, HOP did a decent job of bringing the Easter Bunny to the big screen. It manages to have sugar-coated some of the humour, which makes it entertaining for young adults. While this movie could have been better without the live-action integration, the animation is fantastic. E.B. steals the show, especially when he plays the drums. E.B.'s voice is Russell Brand, who also appears in a live-action cameo.

Who needs the first Alvin and the Chipmunks movie when the director's latest film, HOP, is way better than the other feature? Young people must watch this Easter film, available on Blu-ray or DVD.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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The Hunger Games Review

The Hunger Games

Release Date: 22nd March 2012 - Australia

Production Companies
Color Force

Lionsgate

Distribution 

Roadshow Distribution

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 142 minutes

Budget: $78,000,000

Box Office Gross: $694,394,724
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Katniss Everdeen, 16, lives

in what remains of North

America in the future. She

lives in one of 12 districts,

all run by the Capitol. When

her father dies, she struggles

to keep herself, her mother

and her little sister alive. 

Even thought she learns to 

hunt and trap and which 

plants are edible, they're 

always on the point of 

starvation. Annually, one

boy and one girl between
the ages of 12 and 18 are
chosen by lottery from each
district to participate in the
televised Hunger Games, in
which the 24 children try to
kill each other. The last one
left alive is honoured by the

Capitol and his or her family

is rewarded with plenty of

food. When her sister's name

is drawn, Katniss steps up to

take her place in the

competition. (Source - Metro Cinemas)

Cast

Jennifer Lawrence - Katniss Everdeen

Josh Hutcherson - Peeta Mellark

Liam Hemsworth - Gale Hawthorne

Woody Harrelson - Haymitch
Abernathy

Elizabeth Banks - Effie Trinket

Lenny Kravitz - Cinna

Stanley Tucci - Caesar Flickerman

Donald Sutherland - President Coriolanus Snow

Wes Bentley - Seneca Crane

Toby Jones - Claudius Templesmith

Alexander Ludwig - Cato

Isabelle Fuhrman - Clove

Paula Malcomson - Mrs. Everdeen

Willow Shields - Primrose Everdeen

Jacqueline Emerson - Foxface

Dayo Okeniyi - Thresh

Amandla Stenberg - Rue

Jack Quaid - Marvel

Leven Rambin - Glimmer
Paula Malcomson - Katniss' Mother
Sandra Ellis Lafferty - Hob Vendor
Raiko Bowman - Peeta's Mother
Dwayne Boyd - Peacekeeper #1
Anthony Reynolds - Peacekeeper #2
Judd Lormand - Peacekeeper #3
Kimiko Gelman - Venia
Nelson Ascencio - Flavius
Bruce Bundy - Octavia

Crew

Screenplay/Director - Gary Ross

Based on Novel "The Hunger
Games"/Screenplay/

Executive Producer - Suzanne Collins

Screenplay - Billy Ray
Executive Producer - Robin Bissell
Executive Producer/Unit 

Production Manager - Louise Rosner

Producers - Nina Jacobson & Jon Kilik

Co-Producers - Diana Alvarez, Martin Cohen, Louis Phillips, Aldric La'auli and Bryan Unkeless

Casting Director - Debra Zane

Production Designer - Phillip
Messina
Set Decorator - Larry Dias

Costume Designer - Judianna Makovsky

Makeup Department Head/

Designer - Ve Neill

Director of Photography - Tom Stern

Second Unit Director/

Additional Visual Effects
Supervisor - Scott Farrar
Second Unit Directors - Jon Kilik, Peter Rodger, Steven Soderbergh & Chad Stahelski

Stunt/Fight Coordinator - Allan Poppleton

Fight Coordinator - Jon Valera
Special Effects Coordinator - Steve Cremin

Visual Effects Supervisor - Sheena Duggal

Visual Effects Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues Studios - Victor Grant & Betsy Paterson

Visual Effects Producer - Jacquie Barnbrook
Visual Effects Art Director: Rhythm & Hues Studios - Mike Meaker
Animation Director/Supervisor - Dino Athanassiou

Film Editors - Christopher S. Capp,

Stephen Mirrione & Juliette Welfing
Sound Designer/Supervisor - Lon Bender

Music - T-Bone Burnett & James

Newton Howard

Review
The movie 'THE HUNGER GAMES' is a little bit frightening, but manages to bring action, cleverness and drama. To be fair, I never read the first book, but I find its premise of teenagers hunting and killing each other on a televised arena to be a bit interesting and brutal for a post-apocalyptic/dystopian action thriller. The well-acted performance by Jennifer Lawrence does work in the movie, but the only thing that I criticise is the shaky camera-style which I think is in most scenes.

The film adaptation of 'THE HUNGER GAMES' may be a little overrated, it certainly will be appreciated by teens who might be fans of the book series. 

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Thunderbirds Review

Thunderbirds


Release Date: 16th September 2004 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (present)

StudioCanal (present)

Working Title Films
Tracy Films (Uncredited)

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Family/Sci-Fi

Action/Adventure

Rating: PG

Runtime: 95 minutes


Budget: $57,000,000

Box Office Gross: $28,283,637 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Former astronaut/

entrepreneur Jeff Tracy has been leading a top-secret organisation called International Rescue. He and his four older sons form a team of heroes known as Thunderbirds, who pilot five incredible machines. Together, they have been saving people's lives amid ongoing disasters.

However, today their home, Tracy Island, located in the Pacific Ocean, is under siege by a criminal mastermind known as the Hood, who has trapped them in space and intends to use their hi-tech rescue vehicles and technology for his evil plot. Only the youngest son, Alan Tracy, is left on the island to stop the Hood and his plans, but does he have what it takes to save his family and the world?

Cast
Brady Corbet - Alan Tracy
Bill Paxton - Jeff Tracy
Vanessa Hudgens - Tintin
Anthony Edwards - Ray
"Brains" Hackenbacker
Ben Kingsley - The Hood
Sophia Myles - Lady Penelope
Phillip Winchester - Scott Tracy
Lex Shrapnel - John Tracy
Dominic Colenso - Virgil Tracy
Ben Torgersen - Gordon Tracy
Soren Fulton - Fermat Hackenbacker
Rose Keegan - Transom
Ron Cook - Parker
Bhasker Patel - Kyrano
Harvey Virdi - Onaha
Genie Francis - Lisa Lowe
Deobia Oparei - Mullion
Johannes Zadrozny - Panhead
Nicola Walker - Panhead's Mother

Stewart Howson - Engineer

Mark Nelmes - Ice Cream Man

Julian Spencer - Henchman

Andy Smart - Henchman & Oil Rig Worker

Crew
Director - Jonathan Frakes
Based on the TV Series - Gerry &

Sylvia Anderson
Story/Screenplay - William Osborne
Story - Peter Hewitt
Screenplay - Michael McCullers
Executive Producers - Liza Chasin
and Debra Hayward
Producers - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
and Mark Huffam
Co-Producers - Jo Burn and Chris Clark

Casting Directors - Fiona Weir

and Mary Selway

Production Designer - John Beard

Supervising Art Director - Thomas Frankish

Art Directors - David Allday, Ray Chan,

Paul Cross, Matt Gray, Rod McLean,

Stephen Morohan, Stuart Rose and

Mark Harris (Uncredited)

Assistant Art Directors - James Foster,

Paul Inglis and Iain McFadyen

Concept Artists - Dominic Lavery,

Mike Trim and Tony Wright 

Set Decorator - Joanne Woollard

Prop Making and Modelshop Supervisor - James Enright
Costume Designer - Marit Allen

Assistant Costume Designers - Jacqueline Durran

and Jane Petrie

Hair & Makeup Designer - Peter Swords King

Hair and Makeup Artists - Tamsin Dorling Barbosa,

Sarah Pickering, Janine Schneider, Petrona Winton

and Jeremy Woodhead 

Director of Photography - Brendan Galvin

"A" Camera Operator - Des Whelan

"A" Camera Operator: Additional Shooting -

Trevor Coop 

Steadicam Operator - Rupert Power (Uncredited)

Steadicam Operator: Additional Shooting -

Roger Tooley

Unit Production Manager - Angus More Gordon

Unit Manager - James Grant

Location Manager - Emma Pill 

First Assistant Director - Tommy Gormley

Production Manager/First Assistant Director:

Second Unit - Terry Bamber
Second Unit Director/Director of Photography:

Second Unit - Shaun O'Dell

Stunt Coordinator - Paul Jennings
Special Vehicles Supervisor - Graham Kelly

Special Effects Supervisor - Paul Corbould
Special Effects Coordinator - Jess Lewington
Visual Effects Supervisors - Mike McGee
and Mark Nelmes
Model Shop Supervisor - Bill Pearson
CGI Supervisor: Framestore - Craig Lyn

2D Supervisors: Framestore - Jonathan Fawkner

and Matthew Twyford 

Lead Effects Technical Directors: Framestore -

Louis Dunlevy, Ian Frost, Mark Hodgkins,

Nordin Rahhali and Ben Schrijvers
Editor - Martin Walsh

Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -

Glenn Freemantle

Re-Recording Mixers - John Hayward,

Richard Pryke and Andrew Caller (Uncredited)

Foley Artists - Phil Heywood and

Adrian Medhurst

Music - Hans Zimmer

Additional Music - Ramin Djawadi

Additional Arrangements - James Dooley

and Mel Wesson

Music Supervisor - Nick Angel

Executive in Charge of Music: Universal

Studios - Kathy Nelson 

Recording Engineer - Geoff Foster


Review
I watched a few episodes of Gerry Anderson's classic Supermarionation TV series, THUNDERBIRDS, and the first movie. However, the live-action adaptation, directed by Jonathan Frakes, did not meet my expectations. The sound effects were more suited to a cartoon than a live-action film, and the movie came across as similar to Spy Kids. Because it focuses only on the younger characters, such as Alan Tracy, Tin-Tin, and Fermat, rather than all five Tracy brothers. And, worst of all, this film changes the Thunderbirds' nemesis, The Hood, from being a master of disguise to someone with strange powers. The positives include the acting of Bill Paxton, Sophia Myles, Ron Cook, and Ben Kingsley, as well as the emergency teapot. The CGI effects are decent, and the music score is terrific.

THUNDERBIRDS could have been a more faithful live-action film adaptation. The movie is a no-go for fans of the original TV series, but it might appeal to those unfamiliar with the classic show.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Review

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull


Release Date: 22nd May 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution 
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action/Adventure

Rating: M

Runtime: 122 minutes


Budget: $185,000,000

Box Office Gross: $786,636,033 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
It is 1957, the height of
the Cold War. After returning

from his latest expedition,

famed archeologist Indiana Jones is at risk of losing his job at Marshall College. Then Indy meets a teenage rebel, Mutt Williams, who wants Indy's help to find the legendary Skull of Akator, and the two of them set off for Peru. But the Soviets are tailing them in their search, led by the brilliant Irina Spalko, who will stop at nothing to obtain the skull and use its powers to conquer the West.

Cast
Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones
Shia LaBeouf - Mutt Williams
Cate Blanchett - Irina Spalko
Karen Allen - Marion Ravenwood
Ray Winstone - George "Mac"

McHale
John Hurt - Harold "Ox" Oxley
Jim Broadbent - Dean Charles Stanforth
Igor Jijikine - Dovchenko

Dmitri Diatchenko - Russian Suit

Ilia Volok - Russian Suit
Alan Dale - General Ross
Joel Stoffer - Taylor
Neil Flynn - Smith

Chet Hanks - Student in Library

Sasha Spielberg - Slugger

Nito Larioza - Cemetery Warrior

Ernie Reyes Jr. - Cemetery Warrior

Crew
Director - Steven Spielberg
Based on Characters/Story/
Executive Producer - George Lucas
Based on Characters - Philip Kaufman
Story - Jeff Nathanson
Screenplay - David Koepp

Script Supervisor - Ana Maria Quintana

Associate Producer - Kristie Macosko Krieger
Executive Producer - Kathleen Kennedy
Producer - Frank Marshall
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Denis L. Stewart

Casting Director - Debra Zane
Production Designer - Guy Hendrix Dyas

Supervising Art Director - Mark W. Mansbridge

Art Directors - Luke Freeborn,

Lawrence A. Hubbs, Lauren E. Polizzi,

Troy Sizemore and Mario Ventenilla

Illustrators - Rodolfo Damaggio,

Colin Grant, Ed Natividad, Nathan Schroeder

and Miles Teves

Storyboard Artists - Chris Baker

and David Lowery

Set Decorator - Larry Dias

Set Decorators: Connecticut Crew -

Alyssa Winter and Beth Rubino

Property Master - Doug Harlocker
Costume Designers - Mary Zophres

and Jenny Eagan

Costume Designer: Harrison Ford -

Bernie Pollack

Assistant Costume Designer - Ann Foley

Costume Supervisor - Bob Morgan

Makeup Department Head - Felicity Bowring

Makeup Artist - Ken Diaz

Hair Department Head - Kelvin R. Trahan
Director of Photography - Janusz Kaminski

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Flavio Martínez Labiano

Director of Photography: Aerial Unit -

Reed Smoot

Camera Operator - Mitch Dubin

Production Supervisor: Aerial Unit/

Supervising Location Manager - Mike Fantasia

Location Manager: New Mexico Crew -

David Manzanares

First Assistant Director - Adam Somner

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Lisa C. Satriano

First Assistant Director: Aerial Unit -

Michael Salven

Second Unit Director - Dan Bradley

Aerial Unit Director/Visual Effects Supervisor -
Pablo Helman

Stunt Coordinator - Gary Powell

Stunt Fight Coordinator - Ben Cooke

Stunt Rigging Coordinator - Diz Sharpe

Sword Trainer - Thomas DuPont

Whip Trainers - Anthony De Longis

and Doc Duhame

Animal Wrangler - Jules Sylvester

Aerial Coordinator: Aerial Unit - Craig Hosking

Special Effects Coordinator - Daniel Sudick

Special Effects Supervisor: Kerner Optical -

Geoff Heron

Effects Supervisor: Stan Winston Studio -
John Rosengrant
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM -
Marshal Richard Krasser

Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Stephanie Hornish

Executive Producer: ILM - Janet Lewin
Visual Effects Art Director - Christian Alzmann

Concept Artists: ILM - Warren Fu,

David Nakabayashi and David Yee

Digital Production Supervisor: ILM - Jeff White

Associate Production Manager: ILM - Erin D. O'Connor

Lead TD Supervisor: ILM - Craig Hammack

TD Supervisors: ILM - Hayden Landis and

David Meny

Animation Supervisor: ILM - Steve Rawlins

Digital Matte Supervisor: ILM - Richard Bluff

Digital Compositing Supervisors: ILM -

Jay Cooper and Sean MacKenzie

Layout Supervisor: ILM - Jason Snell

Digital Model Supervisors: ILM - Dave Fogler

and Jung-Seung Hong

Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Steve Walton
Creature & Simulations Supervisor: ILM - Eric Wong

Roto & Paint Supervisors: ILM - Patrick Jarvis

and Lance Baetkey

Model Supervisor: Kerner Optical - Brian Gernand

Lead Model Makers: Kerner Optical -

Nicholas D'Abo and Michael Lynch

Director of Photography: Kerner Optical -

Martin Rosenberg

Previsualization Supervisor - Daniel D. Gregoire

Editor - Michael Kahn

Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -

Ben Burtt

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard Hymns

Additional Sound Design/Re-Recording Mixer -

Christopher Scarabosuo

Sound Effects Editors - Shannon Mills,

Tim Nielsen, Krysten Mate and

Addison Teague

Sound Mixer - Ron Judkins

ADR Supervisor - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Re-Recording Mixer - Andy Nelson

Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe,

Jana Vance and Ellen Heuer
Music - John Williams

Music Scoring Mixer - Shawn Murphy


Review
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL may have brought back the archaeologist hero to the big screen. Unfortunately, it feels more like a pulp sci-fi adventure than the pulp adventure fantasy we know from the previous instalments. Even the ending took away the mysticism of the three previous Indiana Jones movies, as it is bizarre. There are several other weak points, such as a convoluted storyline, hokey dialogue, and overused CGI. I find the scene where Indiana hides in a fridge to escape from a nuclear blast quite impossible, yet funny and out of place.

However, the acting was great, especially from Harrison Ford, who still did a splendid job playing the title character, something he'd hadn't done since The Last Crusade. Newcomers to the film, such as Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett, attempt to elevate the movie with their performances, but it falls short compared to the original series. I loved the hilarious scene when he refuses to grab the rattlesnake as he sinks into the dry sand.

Those who have seen the Indiana Jones films will find the latest to be the weakest link in the series. It still has terrific action and a bit of the series' flavour.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Click Review

Click


Release Date: 22nd June 2006 - Australia


Production Companies

Columbia Pictures Corporation
(presents)

Revolution Studios (presents)

Happy Madison Productions

Original Film

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 97 minutes

                100 minutes (extended version)

Budget: $82,500,000

Box Office Gross: $237,681,299

(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The architect Michael Newman

has a typical middle-class
family with his lovely and
gorgeous wife Donna and
their son Ben and daughter
Samantha, and a constant
visit of his parents. However,
Michael is workaholic and
under stress, trying to satisfy

his boss with overwork and
get a partnership in his
company, giving priority to
his work and neglecting the
family issues.

When the tired Michael goes
to a department store to buy
an universal remote control,
he rests on a bed and he
meets the weird salesman
Morty that offers him a
remote control capable of
controlling his own universe.
Michael uses too much and
loses the control of the
device, having his own life
controlled by the remote
control. Then Michael sees

the worthwhile parts of
his personal life he missed
while working, and in the
end of his life he lately
concludes that the family

comes first.


Cast
Adam Sandler - Michael Newman
Kate Beckinsale - Donna Newman
Christopher Walken - Morty

David Hasselhoff - John Ammer

Henry Winkler - Ted Newman

Julie Kavner - Trudy Newman
Sean Astin - Bill

Joseph Castanon - Ben Newman

Tatum McCann - Samantha Newman
Jonah Hill - Teenage Ben
Lorraine Nicholson - Teenage Samantha
Jake Hoffman - Adult Ben

Katie Cassidy - Adult Samantha

Cameron Monaghan - Kevin O'Doyle

Rob Schieder - Prince
Habeeeboo (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
James Earl Jones - Narrator/Himself
(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Frank Coraci
Writers/Producers - Steve Koren &

Mark O'Keefe

Producers - Adam Sandler,
Jack Giarraputo & Neal H. Moritz

Co-Producer - Tania Landau

Production Designer - Perry
Andelin Blake

Special Makeup Effects - Rick Baker

Director of Photography - Dean Semler

Film Editor - Jeff Gourson

Music - Rupert Gregson-Williams


Awards

2007 Academy Awards
Best Make-up - Kazuhiro Tsuji and Bill Corso (Nominated)

Review
'CLICK' can be quite a funny movie from Adam Sandler, but it contains scenes which can bring a tear in your eye. Nothing that I saw couldn't be in the actor's previous comedies and that's the only time some emotion is found in Sandler's lowbrow comedy. The humorous parts of the film I've liked includes Sandler's character mistakenly congratulates the wrong kid instead of his own son. I kind of liked the imagining concept of what would life be like if you had the power of a universal remote to rewind, fast forward, pause, mute and slow-mo time. I also loved the narration cameo by James Earl Jones and in one scene, he upstages Adam Sandler in his ever-seen presence.

Oh my, what fun you could have! 'CLICK' is such a enjoyable movie, one filled with constant laughs and positive energy from all the actors.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Starchaser: The Legend of Orin Review

Starchaser: The Legend of Orin


Release Date: 21st August 1986 - Australia


Production Companies
Young Sung Production Co.


Genre: Animation

Rating: M

Runtime: 107 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $3,360,800 (USA)

 
Plot Summary
Set on the subterranean
Mine-World, a band of
human workers are
treated like slaves under
the power of the evil
overlord Zygon until one,
Orin, unearths the hilt
of a mythical sword that
only he can master.
Escaping the planet, he
runs into the rogue
smuggler Dagg and a
pair of helpful droids
and the princess, who all
team up to return to the
Mine-World with a plan
to defeat Zygon and free
Orin's enslaved people.
(Source - IMDb)


Voice Cast
Joe Colligan - Orin
Carmen Argenziano - Dagg Dibrimi
Anthony De Longis - Zygon/
Nexus
Noelle North - Elan/Aviana
Les Tremayne - Arthur
Ken Sansom - Magreb
John Moschitta Jr. - Z'Gork
Daryl Bartley - Kallie
Herb Vigran - Hopps
Tyke Caravelli - Silica
Tina Romanus - Aunt Bella
Thomas H. Watkins - Boro
Mickey Morton - Minemaster
Mona Marshall - Kallie
Dennis Alwood - Shooter

Crew
Producer/Director - Steven Hahn
Writer - Jeffrey Scott
Executive Producers - Thomas Coleman & 

Michael Rosenblatt
Art Director - Lee Hyun Se
Character Designer - Louise Zingarelli
Animation Directors - Jang Gil Kim &
Mitch Rochon
Background Designer - Tim Callahan
Background Designer/Layout Supervisor -
Roy Allen Smith 
Background Supervisors - Youngku Kim
& Carol Kieffer Police
Camera Supervisor - Charles Flekal
Special Visual Effects/Effects Animator -
Michael Wolf
Computer Animation Graphics - Patricia Capozzi
& Edith Fandrey
Film Editor/Sound Designer - Donald W. Ernst
Electronic/Synthesized Sound Effects - Stan Levine
Music - Andrew Belling


Review
'STARCHASER: THE LEGEND OF ORIN' is surprisingly one of the earliest animated features to use computer animation and the first to be shown in 3D. The first half of the film and the female android character were decent, but I'm pretty disappointed that it rips off the 'Star Wars' movies. This is because 'STARCHASER' has several features seen in Lucas's trilogy such as a dark lord, a smuggler and even a princess. An unlikely hero who has to save the world.

For those who haven't seen the movie, you'd be better off watching 'Star Wars' or other animated sci-fi-efforts such as 'Titan A.E', 'Treasure Planet' and 'WALL-E'. However, if you are a fan of old animations of the 1980s, then go for it.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Waterworld Review

Waterworld


Release Date: 14th September 1995 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Gordon Company
Davis Entertainment

Licht/Mueller Film Corporation

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 135 minutes
                176 minutes
                (extended cut)


Budget: $175,000,000

Box Office Gross: $264,218,220 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
In a post-apocalyptic
future where rising sea

levels have flooded most 

of Earth's surface due to

melting polar ice caps,

the human race struggles

to survive aboard dilapidated

boats and makeshift

floating cities known as

atolls. Legends tell of a

mythical place called

"Dryland," which some

people believe in.

The Mariner is a mysterious
drifter/adventurer and a

loner by nature. He

reluctantly bonds with Helen
and her adoptive daughter,
Enola, as they flee a hostile
artificial island. Soon, they
find themselves pursued
by the sinister Smokers,
led by the evil Deacon, who
believe Enola is the key
to finding the mythical
Dryland.


Cast
Kevin Costner - The Mariner
Dennis Hopper - Deacon
Tina Majorino - Enola
Jeanne Tripplehorn - Helen
Michael Jeter - Old Gregor
Gerard Murphy - The Nord
Rick Aviles - Gatesman #1

R.D. Call - Enforcer

Kim Coates - Drifter #2
Robert Joy - Ledger Guy
John Fleck - Doctor
David Finnegan - Toby
William Preston - Depth Gauge Guy
Sean Whalen - Bone
Robert LaSardo - Smitty
Lee Arenberg - Djeng
Doug Spinuzza - Truan
Jack Black - Pilot (Cameo)

John Toles-Bey - Plane Gunner

Zitto Kazann - Elder #1/Survivor #1

Leonardo Cimino - Elder #2

Robert A. Silverman - Hydroholic

Zakes Mokae - Priam

Sab Shimono - Elder #1

Neil Giuntoli - Hellfire Gunner

Jack Kehler - Banker

Chris Douridas - Atoller #7

Hal Douglas - Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Kevin Reynolds
Writers - Peter Rader and David Twohy

Script Supervisor - Ana Maria Quintana
Executive Producers - Ilona Herzberg,
Andrew Licht and Jeffrey A. Mueller
Producers - Charles & Lawrence Gordon

(Uncredited), John Davis and Kevin Costner

Casting Director - David Rubin

Creative Consultant: Second Unit - Bud S. Smith
Production Designer - Dennis Gassner
Art Director - David F. Klassen

Assistant Art Directors - Steve Burg

and Richard F. Mays

Lead Scenic Artist - Michael Denering (Uncredited)
Set Decorator - Nancy Haigh

Property Master - Michael Milgrom
Costume Designer - John Bloomfield

Armorers - Harry Lu, Dan Sprague

and Syd Stembridge
Director of Photography - Dean Semler

Director of Photography: Second Unit - Gary Capo

Underwater Photographer - Pete Romano

"A" Camera/Steadicam Operator - Mark O'Kane

Camera Operators: Second Unit - Michael Ferris

and Aaron Pazanti

Underwater Assistant Camera - Wayne Baker

and Cynthia Pusheck

Production Manager - John J. Smith

Key Set Production Assistant - David Bernstein

First Assistant Directors - Alan B. Curtiss

and David Sardi

First Assistant Directors: Second Unit -

George Parra and Michael Green

First Assistant Directors: Visual Effects Units -

K.C. Hodenfield and Matthew Rowland

Second Assistant Director - Robert Huberman
Second Unit Directors - David R. Ellis
and Mickey Gilbert
Stunt Coordinator - R.A. Rondell

Stunt Coordinator: Kevin Costner - Norman Howell

Stunt Rigging Coordinator - Gregg Smrz

Aerial Coordinator: Second Unit - Craig Hosking

Special Effects Coordinator - Martin R. Bresin

Physical Effects Designer - Peter Chesney

Special Effects Coordinators: Second Unit -

Archie Ahuna, John Frazier, Chuck Gaspar

and Michael Schorr

Visual Effects Supervisor - Michael J. McAlister

Post Effects Supervisor - Chris Watts

Visual Effects Producer - Kimberly Nelson LoCascio
Visual Effects Directors of Photography -

Mark Vargo and Alex Funke

Visual Effects Camera Operator - Kurt E. Soderling
Digital Effects Supervisor - Theresa Ellis Rygiel

Senior Digital Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -

Brad Kuehn

Digital Effects Supervisor: Cinesite - James E. Price
Digital Effects Supervisor: Boss Film Studios -

Sean Phillips

CG Supervisor: Cinesite - Wendy Rogers

Digital Paint Supervisor: Cinesite - Kevin Lingenfelser
Miniature Supervisors: Stetson Visual Services -
Robert Spurlock and Mark Stetson

Effects Supervisor: Stetson Visual Services -

John K. Stirber

Film Editor - Peter Boyle

Associate Editor - Jonathan Lucas

Sound Editors - Lou Angelo, David A. Arnold,

Simon Coke, Gordon Davidson, Teri E. Dorman,

Michael Haight, Andy Kopetzky, Dave Kulczycki,

Larry Mann, Chuck & Nash Michael,

Harry Miller III, Bob Newlan, Mark Pappas,

Rodger Pardee, Karen Wilson and Gary Wright

Re-Recording Mixers - Steve Maslow

and Gregg Landaker

Additional Re-Recording Mixers - Bill Benton

and Chris Carpenter

Foley Artists - Dan O'Connell, Gary A. Hecker,

John Roesch (Uncredited) and Alicia Stevenson

(Uncredited)

Music - James Newton Howard

Score Recordist and Mixer - Bruce Botnick


Awards

1996 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker
and Keith A. Wester (Nominated)


Review
As you might call it, Mad Max on water, WATERWORLD, had an excellent concept of what would happen if Earth were covered in water. One problem with the movie is that its storyline is illogical, with several unexplained answers and loose ends, including the ending. The sets, action scenes, and James Newton Howard's score are all tremendous, but Kevin Costner's performance as The Mariner was fine. I find the part where Costner's character turns his wee into drinking water very disgusting, and I should have known that Jack Black had a small role in the film.

WATERWORLD is by no means a bad movie. It just could have been better if it weren't so poorly edited. That is why it couldn't become as successful as it could have been, but it was enjoyable. Fans of WATERWORLD will have to wait for some of these answers in the film's extended cut. The uncompressed version is available on DVD and Blu-ray, though not for fans outside North America.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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