Mars Attacks! Review

Mars Attacks!

Release Date: 20th February 1997 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Tim Burton Productions

Genre: Sci-Fi/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 106 minutes

Budget: $70,000,000

Box Office Gross: $101,381,197 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A Martian fleet encircles the world's major cities as the human race waits to see if the alien visitors have, as they say, "come in peace." The President of the United States, James Dale, is convinced by the science professor, Donald Kessler, that the Martians' mission is friendly. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total obliteration of the U.S. Congress, the military calls for a massive nuclear strike.

Cast

Jack Nicholson - President
James Dale/Art Land

Glenn Close - First Lady Marsha Dale

Annette Bening - Barbara Land

Pierce Brosnan - Prof. Donald Kessler

Danny DeVito - Rude Gambler

Martin Short - Press Secretary
Jerry Ross

Sarah Jessica Parker -

Nathalie Lake

Michael J. Fox - Jason Stone

Rod Steiger - General Decker

Tom Jones - Himself

Lukas Hass - Richie Norris

Natalie Portman - Taffy Dale

Jim Brown - Byron Williams

Lisa Marie - Martian Girl

Sylvia Sidney - Grandma Florence Jenkins

Paul Winfield - General Casey

Pam Grier - Louise Williams

Jack Black - Billy Glenn Norris

Janice Rivera - Cindy, Bryon's Co-Worker

Ray J - Cedric Williams

Brandon Hammond - Neville Williams

Joe Don Baker - Richie's Dad

O-Lan Jones - Sue Ann Norris

Christina Applegate - Sharona

Brian Haley - Mitch, Secret Service Agent

Jerzy Skolimowski - Dr. Zeigler

Timi Prulheire - Tour Guide

Barbet Schroeder - Maurice,
the French President

Chi Hoang Cai - Mr. Lee

Tommy Bush - Hilbilly

Joseph Maher - White House Decorator

Vinny Argiro - Mr. Brian,
Casino Manager

Willie Garson - Corporate Guy

John Roselius - GNN Boss

Michael Reilly Burke - GNN Reporter

Valerie Wildman - GNN Reporter

Rebecca Broussard - Hooker #2

Steve Valentine - TV Director

Enrique Castillo - Hispanic Colonel

John Finnegan - Speaker of the House

Gregg Daniel - Lab Technician

J. Kenneth Campbell - Doctor

Rance Howard - Texas Investor

Frank Welker - Various Martians (Voices)

Crew

Producer/Director - Tim Burton

Based on the Trading Card Series - Len Brown,

Woody Gelman, Wally Wood, Bob Powell

and Norman Saunders

Screen Story/Screenplay - Jonathan Gems

Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Paul Deason

Associate Producer - Mark S. Miller

Producers - Larry J. Franco and

Laurie Parker (Uncredited)

Casting Directors - Victoria Thomas,

Jeanne McCarthy and Matthew Barry

Production Designer - Wynn Thomas

Supervising Art Director - James Hegedus

Art Director - John Dexter

Assistant Art Directors - Jann K. Engel

and Richard Fernandez

Construction Coordinator - Gary A. Krakoff 

Set Decorator - Nancy Haigh

Set Decorator: Washington D.C. - Kathy Lucas

Property Master - Jerry Moss

Assistant Property Masters - Andrew Petrotta,

Maura Moss and Marty Grimes

Costume Designer - Colleen Atwood

Key Makeup Artist - Valli O'Reilly

Makeup Artist: Mr Nicholson - Ve Neill

Hair Stylist: Mr Nicholson - Joy Zapata

Director of Photography - Peter Suschitzky

First Assistant Camera: VistaVision -

Clyde E. Bryan

Stunt Coordinator - Joe Dunne

Aerial Coordinator - Cliff Fleming

Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Lantieri

Design Supervisors: Mackinnon & Saunders

Ltd. - Ian Mackinnon and Peter Saunders

Visual Effects Supervisors - David Andrews,
Michael L. Fink and Jim Mitchell

Associate Effects Supervisor: ILM - Ellen Poon

Senior Visual Effects Coordinator: ILM - Jill Brooks

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Mark Moore

Digital Effects Supervisor: Warner Digital

Studios - Guy Williams

Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -

Roger Guyett and Andy White

Computer Graphics Sequence Supervisors:

ILM - Joel Aron, David Horsley,

Barbara Townsend and Ben Snow

Lead Character Animators: ILM -

Chris Armstrong, Kyle Balda, Linda Bel,

Lou Dellarosa and Jenn Emberley

CGI Lead: Saucers, Warner Digital Studios -

Chris Waegner

Model Supervisor: ILM - Charles Bailey

Model Makers: ILM - Eben Stromquist,

Chuck Wiley and Steve Gawley

Miniature Director of Photography: ILM -

Pat Sweeney

Model Supervisor: Acme Models - Michael Joyce

Editor - Chris Lebenzon

First Assistant Editor - Joel Negron

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard Hymns
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer - Randy Thom

Assistant Sound Designer - Steve Boedekker

Sound Effects Editors - Ken Fischer

and Frank E. Eulner

Supervising Dialogue/ADR Editor - Michael Silvers

Re-Recording Mixer - Gary Summers

Re-Recording Mixer/Music Recordist and

Mixer - Shawn Murphy

Music - Danny Elfman

Music Editors - Bob Badami and

Ellen Segal

Review

MARS ATTACKS! was not Tim Burton's first choice to adapt this trading card game series to the big screen. He was supposed to direct another adaptation of its sister series, Dinosaur Attacks!, until the success of Jurassic Park and its forthcoming instalment, The Lost World, halted these plans. He switched to produce MARS ATTACKS! However, it was not a commercial success for the director when it was released in America that same year, as the over-the-top sci-fi flick Independence Day outgrossed it. The competition was inevitable, and MARS struggled to reach a few million dollars at the box office, though not quite what Tim Burton had hoped to outdo Roland Emmerich's successful feature. It remains one of Burton's few overlooked but underrated features. Some people claimed the Destroy All Humans video game series existed because of its minor influence.

Still, the Martians are coming in a black comedy satire that parodies early alien-invasion films, such as The War of the Worlds. It's noticeable that Burton has been trying to get his comedic touch since Beetlejuice. It isn't the first genre that the director encountered. Elements of classic science fiction, mixed with dark humour, created a very imaginative look reminiscent of 1950s B-movies that deal with these alien apocalypses. These Martians in the movie are undeniably goofy, but they pose a threat to most of the humans who make poor decisions. The humans were at their most selfish and barely redeemed themselves, except for some towards the end of the film. It helps that this came after the director's semi-autobiographical movie, Ed Wood, and that it explains a lot of inspiration and detail. He even drew some scenic inspiration from Dr. Strangelove, particularly in the war conference room.

Jack Nicholson was the most prominent player, playing dual roles in the feature: the President and an immoral casino manager. The most notable of these other featured actors in supporting roles and cameos include Michael J. Fox (in his final live-screen appearance), Pierce Brosnan, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Sarah Jessica Parker, singer Tom Jones, Martin Short, and Glenn Close. Several viewers, including mostly Star Wars fans, may recognise Natalie Portman for her later work, apart from the divisive prequels, and vice versa. They would be surprised to hear that she was among the actors who got the small roles in the film, and so was Jack Black, who played one of the soldiers vaporised by the Martians. The movie's CGI was decent but certainly outdated compared to modern films, and many of its visuals would have benefited from higher quality.

It may not have been the finest hour for Tim Burton and his crew. He can do pictures whenever he wants us to be captivated, which is better than MARS ATTACKS!, even by a long shot. I purposely recommend this semi-decent film to all moviegoers.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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Kingsman: The Secret Service/The Golden Circle Review

Kingsman: The Secret Service/The Golden Circle

Release Date: 5th February 2015 - Australia (Secret Service)

21st September 2017 - Australia (Golden Circle)

Production Companies

20th Century Fox (presents)

Marv Films (in association with)
Cloudy Productions
TSG Entertainment (made in association with)

Distribution

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Action/Comedy

Rating: MA15+ (Not Suitable for Young Children)

Runtime: 129 minutes 

                  (Secret Service)

                141 minutes 

                (Golden Circle)


Budget: $94,000,000 (Secret Service)
$104,000,000 (Golden Circle)

Box Office Gross: $414,351,546 (Worldwide) (Secret Service)
$410,902,662 (Worldwide) (Golden Circle)

Plot Summaries

THE SECRET SERVICE

The son of a late secret agent, Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, is a street kid with potential, living on a housing estate in South London. Eggsy is headed for life in prison until Harry Hart recruits him to join a spy agency called Kingsman. Hart showed Eggsy an alternative path in life to avoid incarceration. Meanwhile, the evil billionaire Richmond Valentine hatches a sinister plot to commit a killing spree to solve climate change.

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE 

Under the tutelage of mentor Harry Hart, Gary "Eggsy" Unwin learns what it takes to be a true Kingsman. He discovers that fancy clothes, flashy cars, and cool weapons help the Kingsman in their noble intention of sacrificing everything for the greater good.

However, when an attack on the Kingsman headquarters destroys it, Eggsy and Merlin must find out who is behind it. Through their research, they uncovered an allied American spy agency called Statesman. The elite secret agents from both ends of the globe unite to take on a formidable foe and save the world in an adventure that will test their strength and wits, as is becoming a

bit of a routine for Eggsy.

Cast

Taron Egerton - Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin

Colin Firth - Harry Hart/

Galahad

Mark Strong - Merlin
Sophie Cookson - Roxy

Edward Holcroft - Charlie
Samantha Womack - Michelle Unwin

Tobi Bakare - Jamal

Hanna Alström - Princess Tilde

THE SECRET SERVICE

Samuel L. Jackson - Richmond Valentine

Sofia Boutella - Gazelle

Michael Caine - Chester King/Arthur

Mark Hamill - Professor Arnold

Jack Davenport - Lancelot

Geoff Bell - Dean

Jordan Long - Poodle

Alex Nikolov - Little Eggsy

Fiona Hampton - Amelia

Jack Cutmore-Scott - Rufus Saville

Bjørn Floberg - Scandinavian Prime Minister

Lily Travers - Lady Sophie

Richard Brake - The Interrogator

Andrew Bridgmont - Kingsman Tailor

Nicholas Banks - Digby

Tom Prior - Hugo

Jonni Davies - Lee

Theo Barklem-Biggs - Ryan

Morgan Watkins - Rottweiler

Nicholas Agnew - Nathaniel

Rowan Polonski - Piers

Corey Johnson - Church Leader

Anne Wittman - Church Blonde Woman

Adrian Quentin - Terrorist

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE 

Julianne Moore - Poppy

Channing Tatum - Tequila 

Pedro Pascal - Whiskey

Jeff Bridges - Champ

Halle Berry - Ginger
Elton John - Himself

Michael Gambon - Arthur

Keith Allen - Charles

Tom Benedict Knight - Angel

Mark Arnold - General McCoy

Bruce Greenwood - The President
Poppy Delevingne - Clara
Emily Watson - Chief of Staff Fox
Björn Granath - The King of Sweden
Lena Endre - The Queen of Sweden
Calvin Demba - Brandon
Thomas Turgoose - Liam
Nicholas Colicos - Very Drunk Redneck

Jordan Misfúd - Patient One

Kaye Brown - Patient Two

Paul Giddings - Patient Three

Iain McKee - Poppy's Antidote Doctor
Shannon Bream - FOX News Anchor
James Carroll Jordan - Harvard Professor
Bill Hemmer - FOX News Anchor

Stacey Swift - Hospital Doctor

Alessandro De Marco - Cable Car Attendant

Antonio Magro - Confused Guard

Stephen Schreiber - Elderly Patient 1

Count Prince Miller - Elderly Patient 2

Jeff Ricketts - Poppy's Attorney
Joe Gallina - Poppy's Security Gate Guard

Ammara Niwaz - Whiskey's Wife
Mingus Johnston - First Burly Guard 

Crew

Screenplay/Producer/

Director - Matthew Vaughn

Based on the Comic Book 

"Secret Service"/Executive 

Producers - Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons

Screenplay/Co-Producer - Jane Goldman

Executive Producers - Pierre Lagrange, Stephen Marks and Claudia Schiffer

Producer/Unit Production Managers - Adam Bohling and David Reid

Production Designers - Paul Kirby (*)
and Darren Gilford (**)

Supervising Art Director - Andy Thomson (*)
Supervising Art Director: Main Unit - Grant Armstrong (**)

Art Directors - Andrew Ackland-Snow (*),

Steve Carter (*), Joe Howard, Keith Pain (*),

Paul Spriggs (*) and Tom Whitehead (*)

Art Directors: Main Unit - Gary Jopling,

James Morrall, Tarnia Nicol and David Scott (**)
Set Decorators - David Morison (*)
and Jennifer Williams (*)

Key Set Decorator: Main Unit - Rosemary Brundenberg (**)
Property Master - David Chessman (*)

Property Master: Main Unit - Ty Teiger (**) 

Supervising Armourers - Damien Mitchell (*)

and Nick Jeffries (**)

Costume Designer - Adrianne Phillips

Hair and Makeup Designer - Christine Blundell (*)

Hair Designer: Main Unit - Lisa Tomblin (**)

Makeup Designer: Main Unit - Amanda Knight (**)

Prosthetics Supervisor - John Schoonraad (*)

and Waldo Mason (**)

Director of Photography - George Richmond

Camera Operator/Action Consultant -

Christopher Clark Cowan (**)
Aerial Director of Photography - Adam Dale

"A" Camera Operators: Second Unit - Peter Field

(*) and John Gamble (**)

"B" Camera Operators - Jonathan 'Chunky'

Richmond (*) and Ossie McLean (**)

Production Manager/Post Production

Supervisor - Iain Mackenzie

First Assistant Director - Jack Ravenscroft (**)

First Assistant Director: Second Unit - Joe Geary
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Bradley James Allan

Car Chase Second Unit Director - Kenny Bates (*)

Second Unit Director (**)/Fight Coordinator -

Guillermo Grispo

Second Unit Director - Moumita Mondal (**)

Animal Trainer - Gill Raddings

Stunt Coordinator - Adam Kirley

Additional Stunt Coordinator - James O'Donnell (*)
Fight Arranger/Stunt Double: Taron Egerton (*)/
Stunt Performer - Damien Walters

Aerial Coordinator - Marc Wolff (**)

Skydiving Supervisor - David Emerson (*)

Diving Coordinator - Dave Shaw

Special Effects Supervisor - Steven Warner

Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit (*)/

Assistant Special Effects Supervisor (**) -

Stephen Hutchinson
Special Effects Coordinator - Anna Krawczyk (*)

Special Effects Consultant - Neil Corbould (*)

Visual Effects Supervisors - Steven Begg (*),
Angus Bickerton (**) and Barrie Hemsley (**)
Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI - Mark Breakspear (**)
Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore -
Chris Lawrence (**)

Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Sheldon Stopsack (**)

Additional Visual Effects Supervisors -
John Paul Docherty (*), John Bruno (*) and

Kevin Tod Haug (*)
Visual Effects Producer - Stephen Elson (*)

Producer: Visual Effects Element Unit,

Magic Camera Company - José Granell (**)
Animation Supervisor: SPI - Max Tyrie (**)
CG Supervisors: SPI - Charles G. Abou (**)

and Jim 'Big Dog' McLean (**)

CG Supervisor: Framestore - Fabio Zangla (**)

Computer Graphics Supervisor: Blind - Andrew Booth

Compositing Supervisor: Framestore - Christian Zeh (**)

Editors - Eddie Hamilton and
John Harris (*)

Sound Supervisor and Sound Design/

Re-Recording Mixer - Matthew Collinge

Sound Supervisor - Danny Sheehan

Sound Design and Effects Editors - Martin Cantwell (*),

Wayne Lemmer (*) and Rob Prynne

Production Sound Mixers - Simon Hayes (*) and

John Hayes

Re-Recording Mixer - Mike Prestwood Smith

Additional Re-Recording Mixers - Chris Burdon

and Doug Cooper (*)

Music - Henry Jackman and
Matthew Margeson

Additional Music - Dominic Lewis (*),

Jason Soudah and Alex Belcher

Score Recordist - Nick Wollage

Review

I apologise for taking another break as I had to finish my long-term animated project. While in Sydney, I recently came across the Hoyts cinema in Penrith. There, I saw the second Kingsman instalment, THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. Before that, I had watched THE SECRET SERVICE. It was the fourth time I'd watched this film.

THE SECRET SERVICE

An overly violent spy-fi movie with stylised action sequences reminiscent of classic 1960s and 1970s spy movies, like James Bond. KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE is a dapper movie with great humour and an action-packed storyline. Matthew Vaughn has never tackled the espionage sub-genre for a film based on an original comic. In a manner consistent with his other comic book adaptations, this movie also features the director's penchant for gruesome violence and vulgarity. It is distinguishable from his superhero flicks, such as Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class. This film features several intense fight scenes and explosions. Speaking of these two, the church scene and the pub fight are two of the best moments, and the part about the exploding heads is one you cannot miss.

Taron Egerton makes a warm welcome in a much-deserved role as Eggsy, a young man who desires to do good in his life. Colin Firth was a suitable and fantastic British actor when he played Harry Hart, who trains Eggsy to become a proper English gentleman spy. Hollywood's living legend, Samuel L. Jackson, has a dazzling opportunity to deliver an over-the-top portrayal of the lisping villainous businessman, Richmond Valentine. Mark Strong, a frequent collaborator of the director, plays Merlin in a supporting role. In her debut role as the deadly henchwoman Gazelle, Sofia Boutella is an ideal choice.

This movie may be horrifying for some with its graphic scenes and crude language, but I don't mind the campiness that hasn't appeared in a recent spy movie. I appreciate the enthusiasm surrounding THE SECRET SERVICE, which is the year's ultimate action-packed blockbuster. If you are old enough to watch it, buy it or rent it elsewhere online or from a retail outlet.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

The wait is over: the first Kingsman movie's helmer, Matthew Vaughn, is back for its newest chapter, revisiting the glamorous yet violent espionage style. Unfortunately, he had forgotten what he had promised us in the sequel, a more genuine class. THE GOLDEN CIRCLE was twice as big as the original film, yet it rehashes everything done in its predecessor. A few glaring plot holes ruined the movie. Nevertheless, the plot includes new characters, such as those from the Statesman agency, while retaining the violence and action sequences. But it remained over-the-top and edgy.

It was unexpected to see Colin Firth return in a jumbled mess alongside the main lead actor, Taron Egerton. Actress Julianne Moore delivers a sterling performance as the intelligent and cunning villainess, driven by a secret motivation that doesn't involve world domination or a doomsday cataclysm. Pop musician Elton John was no actor, but rather than a cameo, he outplays himself as being in a supporting role. Halle Berry was as sweet as the American female counterpart of Merlin. Jeff Bridges was a dandy as the head of the Statesman agency. Channing Tatum was good, but his character, Tequila, could have had more screen time if he had been in the rest of the movie for more action.

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE is decent, but it was an instantly forgettable continuation, as some believed it was contrived in its style. There is still much fun left in this film to keep the Kingsman saga going until the next instalment arrives.

Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie

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Dunkirk Review

Dunkirk


Release Date: 20th July 2017 - Australia


Production Companies
Syncopy
Warner Bros. Pictures
Dombey Street Productions

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: War

Rating: M

Runtime: 106 minutes


Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $549,136,737 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

In 1940, in the French port town of Dunkirk during World War II, four hundred thousand Allied soldiers from Britain, Belgium, and France were trapped on the beach when German forces had them cut off and surrounded. While the enemy closes in, the men must make their way to evacuation before all hope is lost.

Cast
Fionn Whitehead - Tommy
Tom Hardy - Farrier
Mark Rylance - Mr. Dawson
Kenneth Branagh - Commander Bolton
Harry Styles - Alex
James D'Arcy - Colonel Winnant

Tom Glynn-Carney - Peter

Jack Lowden - Collins

Aneurin Barnard - Gibson

Barry Keoghan - George
Cillian Murphy - Shivering
Solider

Matthew Marsh - Rear Admiral
John Nolan - Blind Man (Cameo)
Bill Milner - Lone Private

Will Attenborough - Second Lieutenant

Michael Caine - Fortis Leader (Voice) (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Writer/Producer/Director -
Christopher Nolan

Executive Producer - Jake
Myers

Associate Producer - Andy Thompson

Producer - Emma Thomas
Casting Directors - John
Papsidera and Toby Whale
Historical Consultant - Joshua Levine

Production Designer - Nathan Crowley

Supervising Art Director - Kevin Ishioka
Supervising Art Director: UK
Unit - Toby Britton
Supervising Set Decorator - Gary Fettis

Property Master - Andrew Petrotta

Costume Designer - Jeffrey
Kurland

Director of Photography - Hoyte Van Hoytema

Director of Photography: Aerial Unit -

Hans Bjerno

Supervising Location Manager - Ben Piltz

Location Managers: UK - Mandy Sharpe

and Paul Tomlinson

Unit Production Manager - David Witz

Unit Production Manager: UK - Chris Brock

First Assistant Director - Nilo Otero

Second Assistant Director - Eric Lasko

Third Assistant Director: UK - Toby Spanton

Stunt Coordinator - Tom Struthers

Aerial Coordinator - David Paris

Helicopter/Aerostar/Yak Pilot: Aerial Unit -

Craig Hosking

Marine Coordinator - Neil Andrea

Special Effects Supervisor - Paul Corbould

Special Effects Assistant Supervisor - Ian Corbould

Special Effects Workshop Supervisors: UK -

Tony Edwards and Jason Leinster

Visual Effects Supervisor - Andrew Jackson

Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -

Andrew Lockley

Visual Effects Producer - Mike Chambers

Digital Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -

Tim McGovern

CG Supervisors: Double Negative -

Alexander Seaman, Alison Wortman

and Kedar Khot

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

Richard King

Sound Mixer - Mark Weingarten

Sound Effects Recording Mixers -

Peter Albrechtsen, John P. Fasal,

Eilam Hoffman, Ken J. Johnson,

Max Lachmann, Mats Lundgren, Bernard Löhr

and Eric Potter

Re-Recording Mixers - Gregg Landaker

and Gary A. Rizzo

Foley Artists/Recordists (Uncredited) - 

Shelley Roden and John Roesch

Editor - Lee Smith

Associate Editor - John Lee
Music/Synth Programming - Hans Zimmer
Score Producer - Lorne Balfe

Composers: Additional Music -

Satnam Singh Ramgorta,

Andrew Kawczynski and Andy Page

Score Recordist - Geoff Foster

Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Sequencer Programming - Steve Mazzaro

Supervising Music Editor - Alex Gibson


Review

Director Chris Nolan was on the verge of losing his touch when two of his previous films, The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar, divided audiences. However, these films still had positive responses compared to his earlier successes. Now, Nolan triumphs through the ongoing success of his latest film, DUNKIRK. It's a down-to-earth, suspenseful, and melancholy war drama that accurately portrays the reality of the operation in a small European town during World War II. It's told from a few different perspectives, including civilians and young soldiers who were desperate to survive and be rescued from a war-torn land occupied by the Germans.

Several movies have focused on the same battle. Each film was set in the same-titled location before Nolan filmed this depiction in 2017. Similar to what Steven Spielberg offered in his well-made epic Saving Private Ryan, it deserves to be appreciated by veterans who might tell their grandchildren and great-grandchildren about their experiences in Dunkirk.

Seeing the newcomers, Fionn Whitehead and Harry Styles from One Direction, get together with veterans like Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy. They were at their most splendid under their director's guidance. The well-balanced cinematography was stunning, especially in action, suspense, and heartbreak scenes. Hans Zimmer is again the composer for one of Nolan's compelling achievements, and he certainly hasn't changed the orchestral style for which he is known.

Nolan's signature directing style is unmistakable, and DUNKIRK is no different. His films range from deep psychological thrillers to caped crusaders to magicians, exploring subconsciousness and wormholes. It's now often considered one of Nolan's best movies. For those unfamiliar with its history, I recommend seeing DUNKIRK in theatres before it hits shelves.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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War for the Planet of the Apes Review

War for the Planet of the Apes

Release Date: 27th July 2017 - Australia

Production Companies

20th Century Fox

Chermin Entertainment

TSG Entertainment (in association with)

Distribution

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

 
Runtime: 140 minutes

Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $490,719,763 (Worldwide) 

Plot Summary

Highly intelligent Caesar and his ape colony are engaged in a heated battle with power-hungry humans. At the loss of several apes, Caesar is enraged and vows to avenge his fallen primates. To do so, he knows he'll have to combat the leader of the humans, a merciless Colonel. 

Whichever way the battle goes, the fate of apes and the future of Planet Earth hang in the balance. (Source - Metro Cinemas)

Cast

The Apes

Andy Serkis - Caesar

Steve Zahn - Bad Ape

Karin Konoval - Maurice

Terry Notary - Rocket

Ty Olsson - Red

Michael Adamthwaite - Luca

Max Lloyd-Jones - Blue Eyes

Judy Greer - Cornelia

Toby Kebbell - Kopa 

Sara Canning - Lake

Devyn Dalton - Cornelius

Aleks Paunovic - Winter
Alessandro Juliani - Spear
Timothy Webber - Ape Elder

The Humans

Woody Harrelson - Colonel

Amiah Miller - Nova

Gabriel Chavarria - Preacher
Chad Rook - Boyle
Roger Cross - Captain
Mercedes de la Zerda - Lang
Doug Chapman - Alpha Omega Deserter
Shaun Omaid - Soldier Who Sees Ape
James Pizzinato - Captured Solider
Dean Redman - Commanding Officer

Crew

Writer/Director - Matt Reeves

Based on Novel and Suggested Concept
"La Planete des Singes" - Pierre Boulle (Uncredited)

Based on Characters/

Producers - Rick Jaffa and 

Amanda Silver

Writer/Executive Producer - Mark Bomback

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Mary McLaglen 

Executive Producer - Jenno Topping

Producers - Dylan Clark and Peter Chermin

Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer - Ryan Stafford

Casting Director - Debra Zane

Production Designer - James Chinlund

Costume Designer - Melissa Bruning

Director of Photography - Michael Seresin

Second Unit Director - Bradley Parker
Stunt Coordinator/Movement Choreographer -
Terry Notary
Stunt Coordinator - John Stoneham Jr.
Stunt Coordinator/Horse Stunts - Danny Virtue

Special Effects Supervisors - Dan Cervin and
Joel Whilst

Senior Visual Effects Supervisor - Joe Letteri

Visual Effects Supervisors - Dan Lemmon,
Luke Millar and Erik Winquist

Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta Digital - Mark Gee
Visual Effects Producer - Ryan Stafford
Creative Visual Effects Art Director/Texture Supervisor -
Gino Acevedo

Animation Supervisors - Daniel Barrett,
Sidney Kombo, Dennis Yoo and Emile Ghorayeb
Models Supervisor: Weta Digital - Florian Fernandez

Film Editors - William Hoy and Stan Salfas

Music - Michael Giacchino

Review

The 'Apes' trilogy has come to a screeching halt with its recent third instalment of 'WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES'. Director Matt Reeves is among those crew members that have returned to conclude the extensive chapter of the apes' re-told origins. The story-line of the third instalment was bleaker, heartbreaking and more interesting than the first two. I am surprised how this instalment turned out good with a more brooding atmosphere and less human protagonists (sans one). It's supposed to show us the outcome of the warring conflict between the apes and the humans in their battle for inheritance. It's simply unexpected for the apes to win the fight for domination.

So much has changed for Andy Serkis being his last time in the mo-cap as the ape-leader Caesar, who is now more vengeful than ever and is struggling to face his inner demons. Steve Zahn was funny as the film's comic relief as Bad Ape whom becomes a great help to Caesar and the other apes in their cause. Woody Harrelson was a gentleman actor and was rather outstanding to portray a vicious military colonel who is just as bad as the other humans that were unpleasant, cruel, selfish and misguided. His character was very much an extremist only that he is trying to preserve humanity above ape. The music score by Michael Giacchino was absolutely vivid and breathtaking to listen too. The score hit the right cords to portray emotion in situations of torture and prison confinement.

'WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES' feels like an end to the characters and not the series itself, which could mean there may be a few more 'Apes' films in the future. It could possibly lead to a remake of the 1968 classic which is unlike the drastically altered version by Tim Burton. It's a fantastic movie that could never be forgotten by its fan-base and is a must-see on the big screen.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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The Great Wall Review

The Great Wall

Release Date: 16th February 2017 - Australia


Production Companies

Universal Pictures

Legendary East
Atlas Entertainment
China Film Group Co., Ltd. (in association with)
Kava Productions
Le Vision Pictures (in association with)
Legendary Entertainment

Fuji Television Network

Dentsu

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Fantasy/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 103 minutes

Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $334,933,831 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A mercenary warrior gets imprisoned within the Great Wall. He uncovers the secret behind one of the world's greatest wonders. As the massive structure began to be besieged by wave after wave of marauding beasts, his quest for fortune became a journey of heroism when he joined an enormous army of elite warriors to confront the unimaginable and seemingly indestructible force.

Cast

Matt Damon - William

Tian Jing - Commander Lin Mae

Willem Dafoe - Ballard

Andy Lau - Strategist Wang

Pedro Pascal - Tovar

Hanyu Zhang - General Shao

Lu Han - Peng Yong

Kenny Lin - Commander Chen

Eddie Peng - Commander Wu

Xuan Huang - Commander Teng

Ryan Zheng - Shen

Karry Wang - Emperor

Pilou Asbæk - Bouchard

Numan Acar - Najid

Johnny Cicco - Rizzetti

Vicky Yu - Lt. Xiao Yu

Bing Lu - Lin Mae's 2nd Lt. Li Qing

Crew

Director - Yimou Zhang

Story - Max Brooks, Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz

Screenplay - Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro and Tony Gilroy

Executive Producers - Alex Gartner, La Peikang, Jillian Share, E. Bennett Walsh and Zhao Zhang

Producers - Jon Jashni, Peter Loehr, Charles Roven and Thomas Tull

Co-Producers - Yong Er, Wang Zhang and Alex Hedlund

Co-Producer/Production Manager: Second Unit - Eric Hedayat

Casting Director - John Papsidera

Production Designer - John Myhre

On-Set Supervisor: Weta Workshop - Joe Dunkley

Design & Manufacturing Supervisor:

Weta Workshop - Richard Taylor

Workshop Supervisor: Weta Workshop -

Rob Gillies

Senior Supervising Art Director - Helen Jarvis

Supervising Art Directors - Huang Xinming

and Colin Gibson

Set Decorators - Gordon Sim and Yanbin Sun

Property Master - Simone Leclerc

Costume Designer - Mayes C. Rubeo

Makeup & Hair Designer - Paul Engelen

Directors of Photography - Stuart Dryburgh
and Xiaoding Zhao

Supervising Location Manager - William Doyle

Unit Production Manager - Kwame Parker

First Assistant Director - P.J. Voeten

Second Assistant Director - Scott Lovelock
Action Unit Director - George Marshall Ruge
Supervising Stunt Coordinator - Buster Reeves

Stunt Coordinator - Hua Yan
Stunt Co-Coordinator - Hiro Koda
Fight Coordinator - Vincent Wang
Special Effects Coordinator - Mark Koivu
Special Effects Consultant - Allen Hall

Visual Effects Supervisor - Phil Brennan

Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM - Samir Hoon

and Ben Snow

Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Jeff Capogreco

Visual Effects Executive Producer: ILM - Jill Brooks

Animation Supervisor: ILM - Jance Rubinchik

Additional Supervisors: ILM - Jay Cooper,

Hayden Landis, David Nakabayashi and

David Weitzberg

Editors - Mary Jo Markey and Craig Wood

Supervising Sound Editor - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Sound Designer - Kyrsten Mate

Additional Sound Design - Gary Rydstrom

Re-Recording Mixers - Michael Semanick

and Beau Borders

Foley Artists - Jana Vance, Dennie Thorpe

and Geoff Vaughan

Music - Ramin Djawadi

Music Supervisors - Peter Afterman and

Margaret Yen

Review

An ambitious US-Asian co-production was a failure due to its low popularity and poor box-office performance. At first, THE GREAT WALL seemed to be a pleasant historical fantasy film with great action scenes and a bona fide star like Matt Damon. Unfortunately, the Chinese were too offended by its white-saviour plot in a setting for a famous landmark in China. While not the worst but certainly not the best movie ever made, THE GREAT WALL lacked the distinctive flair of an epic film. Some historical aspects were in THE GREAT WALL. The remainder was fantasy-based, as its storyline was entirely fictional and did not accurately represent Chinese legends. Many characters are flat and one-dimensional due to the writing and direction.

If it weren't for the filmmakers' decision to hire him in the first place, I wouldn't blame Matt Damon for being in this big-budget misfire. Instead, he is the centre of attention and nearly jeopardises his career, only to be killed by the movie. Willem Dafoe also takes a risk in being cast as a European stranded behind the Great Wall for a long time.

Here is another big-screen disappointment you least expected. It's one of those recent movies that fade into obscurity. THE GREAT WALL is powerless against a silly plot and wooden characters. I consider this a mediocre film. It's not something I want to watch again.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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Despicable Me 3 Review

Despicable Me 3


Release Date: 15th June 2017 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures
Illumination Entertainment

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family 

Rating: PG

Runtime: 90 minutes


Budget: $80,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,034,799,409 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The mischevious Minions hope that Gru will return to a life of crime after the new boss of the Anti-Villain League fires him. Instead, Gru decides to remain retired and travel to Freedonia to meet his long-lost twin brother for the first time. The reunited siblings soon find themselves in an uneasy alliance to take down the elusive Balthazar Bratt, a former 1980s child star who seeks revenge against the world. (Source - Google)


Voice Cast
Steve Carrell - Gru/Dru
Trey Parker - Balthazar Bratt
Julie Andrews - Gru's Mom
Kristen Wiig - Lucy Wilde
Miranda Cosgrove - Margo
Dana Gaier - Edith 
Nev Scharrel - Agnes
Pierre Coffin - Minions/
Various
Steve Coogan - Fritz/Silas Ramsbottom
Jenny Slate - Valerie Da Vinci
Andy Nyman - Clyde the Robot
Adrian Ciscato - Niko
Katia Saponenko - Niko's Mother
Chris Renaud - Additional Minions

Crew
Directors - Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda
Co-Director/Character Designer - Eric Guillon
Screenplay - Ken Daurio & Cinco Paul
Executive Producer - Chris Renaud
Producers - Janet Healy & 
Christopher Meledandri
Production Executive & Story Supervisor - 
Dave Rosenbaum 
Art Director - Olivier Adam
Character Designers - Nicolas Bauduin & 
Carter Goodrich
Additional Character Designer - Chris Reccardi 
Animation Directors - Bruno Dequier & 
Julien Soret 
Lighting and Composting Supervisor - Nicolas Brack
Layout Supervisor - Regis Schuller
Film Editors - Claire Dodgson
Score - Heitor Pereira
Original Songs and Themes - Pharrell Williams


Review

So sorry for taking break in getting the review for the third 'Despicable Me' instalment finished, as I was busy with my long-term animated project to also get it going. The series is still appealing to youngsters and are keeping the high amount of box office receipts with its prequel spin-off 'Minions' as the second top-grossing animated feature next to 'Frozen'. However, viewers are sceptical that this latest three-quel will be a minor letdown like the aforementioned feature that turned out to be wearisome as expected. The makers from Illumination have not given up hope on the franchise as the first movie was such a success, the question was what needed to be done to begin a film series. That being said, 'DESPICABLE ME 3' was a slight improvement and reduces the problems that have been mostly addressed from the forgettable spin-off. The minions get less screen-time and were still the primary focus on the film that has its outrageously funnier moments. The animation was brightly sugar-coated and the brand of creativity is still there as much of this was retained from the first two instalments. 

Steve Carell is back to not only voice the main character Gru but also portrays in a dual role as his long-lost twin Dru whom he hasn't seen in ages. Trey Parker of 'South Park' fame lends his voice in a children's movie as Balthazar Bratt, a bitter actor turned super-villain who is stuck in the 80s and is bent on recapturing the glory days through wreaking havoc and mayhem.

'DESPICABLE ME 3' was not much better or greater than the original. The zaniness appeared to be intact and there is not much it can do to live up to the greater charm of the first two. I considered it as always to be the most highly-entertaining animated film that the families can all enjoy. I recommend that you must see it in theatres or if you miss out wait to catch up with this movie on DVD or video streaming.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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