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 all the passengers get killed. 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 Tongoren

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 where it is hero vs. villain as the hero has a certain amount of time to disarm a bomb in a bus, and 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 that existed when it was released.

With the exclusion of the bus jump scene, which is proven theoretically as 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 does qualify as one of the great action hits. It is pleasurable for movie viewers to enjoy it in an action-oriented marathon or just one viewing. This high-octane action-thriller is close to being the best film of the year, which 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 takes over the kingdom from him.

Now fleeing from 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 lifestyle of "Hakuna Matata" and ignore his responsibilities. As Simba matures, much

to his surprise, his friend

Nala returns to convince

him that he must 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. 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, the accidental spy of MI7, has gone into exile in Tibet after a mission gone wrong in Mozambique. 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 comical 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 a hysterical piece of 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 get over their differences and stop Freeze from achieving his goal while, at the same time, they must find a cure for their faithful butler Alfred as he 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 used to be my favourite movie. Unfortunately, as I got older, it was too similar to the 1960s classic TV show. It comes across as campy and childish, making this movie entirely uninventive. The director was seemingly playing safe and not taking 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 has 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 teaming up with Mr. Freeze as they weren't compatible as partners?).

What made the movie worse was changing 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, was out of place because Bruce Wayne should be the character who would 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 the character saying bad one-liners and ice-puns). I didn't want to criticise Arnold in this film because he is my favourite actor. I must withhold my integrity in being unbiased and completely honest about the facts of my observations with the reviews. George Clooney is woefully miscast as Batman but did well as Bruce Wayne. Chris O'Donnell was getting old to play Robin as he was a little over the top, and he pushed it too far. The other actors who weren't getting better in this movie were Uma Thurman and 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 in the form of director Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

Star rating: (1/5) Not Worth Watching

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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Review

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Release Date: 3rd June 1999 – Australia

Production Companies

Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 133 minutes

                136 minutes (DVD)


Budget: $115,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,046,515,409 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

When the peaceful planet of Naboo gets invaded by the greedy Trade Federation, it's up to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi to stop its leader, Nute Gunray, from taking control of the planet. After rescuing its Queen from the invasion, they end up stranded in the desert world of Tatooine, where they discover a young boy

named Anakin Skywalker

who has the unique power

of the Force. After winning

the podrace, Anakin joins

the Jedi, Queen Amidala,

with her trusted bodyguard,

Captain Panaka and a

banished Gungan, Jar

Jar Binks, to liberate

Naboo. Confront the Trade

Federation as well as a dangerous enemy named Darth Maul.

Little did they know that the invasion was the first part of a grander scheme from an evil force shrouded in the darkness known as the Sith.


Cast

Liam Neeson – Qui-Gon Jinn

Ewan McGregor – Obi-Wan
Kenobi

Natalie Portman – Queen
Amidala/Padmé

Jake Lloyd – Anakin Skywalker

Ian McDiarmid – Senator

Palpatine/Darth Sidious

Ahmed Best – Jar Jar Binks

Pernilla August – Shmi Skywalker

Ray Park – Darth Maul

Peter Serafinowicz – Darth
Maul/Battle Droid Commander/

Gungan Scout (Voice)

Anthony Daniels – C-3PO (Voice)

Kenny Baker – R2-D2

Silas Carson – Nute Gunray/
Ki-Adi-Mundi/Lott Dod/

Republic Cruiser Pilot

Jerome St. John Blake – Rune Haako/Mas Amedda/

Oppo Rancisis/Horox Ryyder/

Graxol Kelvynn/Mik Regrap

Hugh Quarshie – Captain

Panaka

Andy Secombe – Watto (Voice)

Frank Oz – Yoda (Voice)

Samuel L. Jackson – Mace

Windu

Terence Stamp – Supreme
Chancellor Finis Valorum

Brian Blessed – Boss Nass
(Voice)
Lewis Macleod – Sebulba (Voice)

Oliver Ford Davies – Sio Bibble
Warwick Davis – Wald/Pod

Racer Spectator/Mos Espa Citizen

Ralph Brown – Ric Olié
Steve Speirs – Captain Tarpals
James Taylor – Rune Haako (Voice)
Greg Proops – Fode (Voice)
Scott Capurro – Beed (Voice)

Dhruv Chanchani – Kitster
John Fensom – TC-14
Lindsay Duncan – TC-14 (Voice)

Alan Ruscoe – Daultay Dofine/Plo Koon/

Bib Fortuna
Margaret Towner – Kira
Chris Sanders – Daultay Dofine (Voice)
Hassani Shapi – Eeth Koth
Gin Clarke – Adi Gallia
Khan Bonfis – Saesee Tiin
Michaela Cottrell – Even Piell
Dipka O'Neill Joti – Depa Billaba

Michelle Taylor – Yarael Poof

Phil Eason – Yaddle

Mark Coulier - Aks Moe

Celia Imrie – Fighter Pilot Bravo 5

Benedict Taylor – Fighter Pilot Bravo 2

Clarence Smith – Fighter Pilot Bravo 3

Dominic West – Palace Guard

Karol Silva – Rabé

Sofia Coppola – Saché
Keira Knightley – Sabé

Bronagh Gallagher – Republic Cruiser Captain

Amanda Lucas – Tey How (Voice)/

Diva Funquita

Toby Longworth – Lott Dod/

Gragra (Voice)

Marc Silk - Aks Moe/Sil Unch (Voice)

Matthew Wood – Bib Fortuna/

Ody Mandrell (Voice) (Uncredited)

Sally Hawkins – Villager (Uncredited)

Roman Coppola – Senate Guard

(Uncredited)

Richard Armitage – Naboo Fighter

Pilot (Uncredited)

John Knoll – Lt. Rya Kirsch – Bravo 4/

Flag Bearer (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Rick McCallum – Naboo Courier (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Ben Burtt – Naboo Courier (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Paul Martin Smith – Naboo Courier (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Dan Madsen – Kaadu Handler (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Crew

Writer/Executive Producer/Director –

George Lucas

Script Supervisor – Jayne-Ann Tenggren

Producer – Rick McCallum

Casting Director – Robin Gurland

Production Designer – Gavin Bocquet

Design Director/Visual Effects

Production Designer: ILM – Doug Chiang

Concept Artists: USA – Marc Gabbana,

Kurt Kaufman, Iain McCaig, Ed Natividad,

Jay Shuster and Terryl Whitlatch

Supervising Art Director – Peter Russell

Art Directors – Phil Harvey, Fred Hole,

John King and Rod McLean

Art Director: Second Unit – Ricky Eyres

Art Director: Tunisia – Ben Scott
Set Decorator – Peter Walpole
Property Master – Ty Teiger

Live-Action Creature Effects Supervisor –

Nick Dudman

Chief Makeup Artist – Paul Engelen

Costume Designer – Trisha Biggar

Director of Photography – David Tattersall

Director of Photography: Second Unit –

Giles Nuttgens

Production Supervisor – David Brown

Production Manager – Jo Burn

Production Manager: Tunisia – Peter Heslop

Unit Manager: Tunisia – Jeremy Johns

First Assistant Director – Christopher Newman

Second Assistant Director – Bernard Bellew

Third Assistant Director – Ben Howarth

Location Managers – Robert Jordan

and Richard Sharkey

Second Unit Director – Roger Christian

Helicopter Pilot – Marc Wolff

Stunt Coordinator/Sword Master – Nick Gillard

Special Effects Supervisor: ILM – Geoff Heron

Animatronic Model Design Supervisor –

Chris Barton

Visual Effects Supervisors – Dennis Muren,
John Knoll and Scott Squires
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM –

Scott Farrar
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM –

Barry Armour

Visual Effects Producers: ILM – Ned Gorman,
Jeff Olson, Heather Smith, Ginger Theisen
and Judith Weaver

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM –

David Nakabayashi

Visual Effects Storyboard/Conceptual Artists:

ILM – Brice Cox Jr., Warren Fu, Jules Mann

and Noel Rubin

Effects Directors of Photography: ILM –

Martin Rosenberg, Pat Turner, Ray Gilberti

and Pat Sweeney

Camera Operators: ILM – Carl Miller and

Vance Piper
Animation Director – Rob Coleman

Animation Supervisor: Ground Battle, ILM –

Tom Bertino

Technical Animation Supervisor: ILM –

James Tooley

Lead Computer Graphics Supervisor: ILM –

Kevin Rafferty

Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM – Jon &

Tim Alexander, Christophe Hery, Greg Maloney,

Patrick T. Myers, Douglas Smythe,

Euan K. MacDonald, Habib Zargarpour
and Tom L. Hutchinson

Pre-Visualisation/Effects Supervisor –

David Dozoretz

Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM – Jean Bolte

Motion Capture Supervisor: ILM – Jeffrey B. Light
Digital Modelling Supervisor: ILM – Geoff Campbell

Model Supervisor: ILM – Steve Gawley

Chief Model Makers: ILM – Charles Bailey,

William Beck, Barbara Affonso, Brian Gernand,

Keith London, Ira Keeler, Giovanni Donovan,

Lorne Peterson and Steve Walton

Chief Model Maker: ILM/Puppeteer: C-3PO

(Uncredited) – Michael Lynch

Model Maker: ILM/Puppeteer: R2-D2

(Uncredited) – Don Bies

Editor/Sound Design/Supervising

Sound Editor – Ben Burtt

Editor – Paul Martin Smith

Supervising Sound Editor – Tom Bellfort

Supervising Sound Editor/ADR Recordist –

Matthew Wood

Sound Recordist – John Midgley

Sound Effects Editors – Teresa Eckton

and Christopher Scarabosio

Foley Editors – Bruce Lacey and

Marian Wilde

Foley Mixer – Tony Eckert

Foley Artists – Dennie Thorpe and

Jana Vance

Dialogue/ADR Editors – Sara Bolder

and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Re-Recording Mixers – Tom Johnson

and Gary Rydstrom

Re-Recording Mixer/Scoring Engineer –

Shawn Murphy

Music – John Williams

Music Editor – Kenneth Wannberg


Awards

2000 Academy Awards
Best Sound – Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson,
Shawn Murphy and John Midgely (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing – Ben Burtt and Tom Bellfort
(Nominated)
Best Visual Effects – John Knoll, Dennis Muren,
Scott Squires and Rob Coleman (Nominated)

Review

In 1999, the most overhyped film was STAR WARS: EPISODE I – THE PHANTOM MENACE. The movie promises to take audiences on a planet-hopping adventure through the Star Wars universe and has good action sequences and groundbreaking visuals (mostly CGI). Unlike the other Star Wars movies, THE PHANTOM MENACE was not as good as many fans would have hoped.

I liked the impressive scenes, such as the podracing sequence and the lightsaber duel between Qui Gon & Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul. The acting of Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman was good. Though, the plot is too convoluted. Not to mention, the film is overloaded with exposition. Jar Jar Binks was a comedian and probably the worst character that has ever happened in the franchise. I hate to criticise Jake Lloyd for his performance as little Anakin Skywalker. He tried so hard but did the best he could.

For the music, John Williams did not disappoint the fans and composed an iconic score that redeems what is not a favourite of mine, consisting of themes like the epic "Duel of the Fates".

The whole feature was a bit disappointing, yet it did a great job of bringing the franchise back to the big screen and launching the prequel trilogy, which leads right up to Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. If you have seen THE PHANTOM MENACE, you must check out my review of the 3D version.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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