Sunday, November 27, 2011

Happy Feet Review











Happy Feet


Release Date: 26th December 2006 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
Kennedy Miller Productions
Animal Logic (in association with)
Kingdom Feature Productions

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 106 minutes


Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $384,336,108 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Every Emperor penguin is
born to sing a heart song
that will attract a soul mate.
All except Mumble, who
cannot sing but, it so
happens, that he can
dance, tap dance.
Eventually, such un-
penguin-like behaviour
causes Mumble to get
kicked out of his home
and into the big cold world.
Far from home for the first
time, Mumble meets a
group of decidedly un-
Emperor-like penguins -
the Adele Amigos. The
Adelies, led by Ramon,
are immediately taken
with Mumble's cool dance
moves and invite him to
join the party. In the land
of Adelie, Mumble seeks
the advice of Lovelace the
Guru, a crazy-feathered
rockhopper penguin who
will answer all of life's
questions for the price of
a pebble. Together with
Adelie Amigos and
Lovelace, Mumble sets
out on a journey of epic
proportions, proving that
staying true to oneself is
the only way to change
the world.


Voice Cast
Elijah Wood - Mumble
Brittany Murphy - Gloria
Hugh Jackman - Memphis
Nicole Kidman - Norma Jean
Hugo Weaving - Noah the Elder
Robin Williams - Ramon/Lovelace
Carlos Alazraqui - Nestor
Lombardo Boyar - Raul
Jeffrey Garcia - Rinaldo
Johnny A. Sanchez - Lombardo
Miriam Margoyles - Mrs. Astrakhan
Fat Joe - Seymour
Elizabeth Daily - Baby Mumble
Alyssa Safer - Baby Gloria
Anthony LaPagia - Boss Skua
Magda Szubanski - Miss Viola
Danny Mann - Dino/Zoo Penguin
Mark Klastorin - Vinnie
Michael Cornacchia - Frankie
Steve Irwin - Trev
Nick McKay - Nev
Tiriel Mora - Kev
Richard Carter - Barry
Dee Bradley Baker - Maurice
Roger Rose - Leopard Seal

Crew
Writer/Producer/Director - George Miller
Writers/Co-Producers/Co-Directors -
Warren Coleman and Judy Morris
Writer - John Collee
Associate Producer/First Assistant Director:
Motion Capture - Philip Hearnshaw
Associate Producers - Hael Kobayashi,
Michael Twigg and Matthew Ferro
Executive Producers - Bruce Berman,
Graham Burke, Dana Goldberg and Ed Jones
Line Producer - Martin Wood
Producers - Bill Miller and Doug Mitchell
Production Designer - Mark Sexton
Supervising Art Director/Visual Effects
Supervisor - David Nelson
Art Director - Simon Whiteley
Art Director: Additional Film Unit -
Colin Gibson
Additional Art Direction - David Woodland
Additional Art Direction & VFX Supervision/
Producer: Animal Logic - Zareh Nalbandian
Set Decorator/Surfacing & Digital Matte
Supervisor - Jean-Pascal LeBlanc
Layout & Camera Director - David Peers
Director of Photography: Additional Film Unit -
Andrew Lesnie
Digital Production Manager - Amber Naismith
First Assistant Director - P.J. Voeten
First Assistant Director: Additional Film Unit -
Colin Fletcher
Choreographer & Principal Performer - Kelley Abbey
Dancer/Choreographer: Mumble/Motion Capture
Principal - Savion Glover
Animation Director - Daniel Jeannette
Digital Crowd Director - Greg Van Borssum
Lighting/Additional Effects Supervisor - Ben Gunsberger 
Character Supervisor - Aidan Sarsfield
Supervising Character Technical Director -
Damien Gray
Motion Capture Supervisors - Greg Allen
and Francois Laroche
Lead Character Artist/Animation Supervisor -
Don Ezard
Lead Environmental Artist - Nick Pill
Senior Animation Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Lyndon Barrois
Animation Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues -
Michael Holzl and Matt Logue
Visual Effects Supervisor - Morgane Furio
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Todd Shifflett
Visual Effects Supervisor: Giant Killer Robots -
Peter Oberdorfer
Digital/Additional Effects Supervisor - Brett Feeney
Digital Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues - Markus Kurtz
and Mike O'Neal
Associate Digital Supervisor - Olivier Ozoux
Head of R&D/Additional Effects Supervisor -
Chris Bone
Composting Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues - Sean McPherson
Editors - Christian Gazal and
Margaret Sixel
Editor: World Debate - Matt Villa
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor/
Re-Recording Mixer - Wayne Pashley
Re-Recording Mixers - Phil Heywood
and Greg Fitzgerald
Additional Re-Recording Mixers - Phil Judd,
Peter Purcell, Robert Sullivan and
Martin Oswin
Foley Artist - John Simpson
Music - John Powell
Music Supervisor - Christine Woodruff
Score Recordist and Mixer - Shawn Murphy


Awards

2007 Academy Awards
Best Animated Feature - George Miller (Won)


Review
HAPPY FEET was a great family movie. It had excellent cover songs and was charming, funny and sad for everyone, including penguin lovers. The film had a terrific storyline that was a bit like Footloose but sent an environmental message about overfishing and the damage it is causing. HAPPY FEET's factors that I praise include the motion-capture animation that brought the tap-dancing penguins to life, the direction by George Miller and the voice cast of Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, the late Brittany Murphy and Robin Williams. It changed the reputation of animation produced in Australia. It's the only movie to feature the voice of Steve Irwin (you have known him as the Aussie icon "The Crocodile Hunter"), who died before the film was released.

For those of you who have enjoyed and seen HAPPY FEET, you'll find that its sequel, Happy Feet Twois not as good as the original. My advice is simple: go back and rewatch the first movie. To those who want to see HAPPY FEET, it'll convince you that penguins can dance.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Review










Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2


Release Date: 13th July 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Heyday Films

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Fantasy

Rating: M

Runtime: 130 minutes


Budget: $250,000,000

Box Office Gross: 
$1,342,480,797 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
In the epic second part,
the battle between good
and evil in the Wizarding
world has escalated into
an all-out war. The stakes
have never been high,
and no one is unprepared.
It is up to Harry Potter,
who may be the only one
called upon to make the
ultimate sacrifice as he
draws near the climactic
showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.


Cast 
Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter
Rupert Grint - Ron Weasley
Emma Watson - Hermione Granger
Ralph Fiennes - Lord Voldemort
Tom Felton - Draco Malfoy
Alan Rickman - Severus Snape
Helena Bonham Carter - Bellatrix Lestrange
Jim Broadbent - Horace Slughorn
Robbie Coltrane - Rubeus Hagrid
Michael Gambon - Albus Dumbledore
John Hurt - Ollivander
Jason Isaacs - Lucius Malfoy
Helen McCrory - Narcissa Malfoy
Gary Oldman - Sirius Black (Cameo)
Maggie Smith - Minerva McGonagall
David Thewlis - Remus Lupin
Emma Thompson - Sybill Trelawney
Julie Walters - Molly Weasley
Mark Williams - Arthur Weasley
Warwick Davis - Griphook/
Filius Flitwick
Ciarán Hinds - Aberforth Dumbledore
Hebe Beardsall - Ariana Dumbledore
Evanna Lynch - Luna Lovegood
Bonnie Wright - Ginny Weasley
James & Oliver Phelps - Fred
& George Weasley
Matthew Lewis - Neville Longbottom
Devon Murray - Seamus Finnigan
Chris Rankin - Percy Weasley
Joshua Herdman - Gregory Goyle
Louis Cordice - Blaise Zabini
Kelly Macdonald - Helena Ravenclaw
Miriam Margoyles - Professor Pomona Sprout
Gemma Jones - Madam Pomfrey
Jessie Cave - Lavender Brown
Afshan Azad - Padma Patil
Isabella Laughland - Leanne
Anna Shaffer - Romilda Vale
Katie Leung - Cho Chang
Freddie Stroma - Cormac McLaggen
William Melling - Nigel
Scarlett Hefner - Pansy Parkinson
Alfred Enoch - Dean Thomas
Georgina Leonida - Katie Bell
George Harris - Kingsley Shacklebolt
Domnhall Gleeson - Bill Weasley
Sian Grace Phillips - Screaming Girl
Clémence Poésy - Fleur Delacour
Natalie Tena - Nymphadora Tonks
Nick Moran - Scabior
Dave Legeno - Fenrir Greyback
Guy Henry - Pius Thicknesse
Suzanne Toase - Alecto Carrow
Ralph Ineson - Amycus Carrow
Adrian Rawlins - James Potter
Geraldine Somerville - Lily Potter
Toby Papworth - Baby Harry Potter
Ellie Darcey-Alden - Young Lily
Ariella Paradise - Young Petunia
Benedict Clarke - Young Severus Snape
Leslie Phillips - The Sorting Hat (Voice)
Alfie McIlwain - Young James Potter
Rohan Gotobed - Young Sirius Black
Sean Biggerstaff - Oliver Wood (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Arthur Bowen - Albus Severus Potter -
19 Years Later
Daphne de Beistegui - Lily Potter -
19 Years Later
Will Dunn - James Potter - 19 Years Later
Jade Gordon - Astoria Malfoy - 19 Years Later
Bertie Gilbert - Scorpius Malfoy -
19 Years Later
Helena Barlow - Rose Weasley -
19 Years Later
Ryan Turner - Hugo Weasley - 19 Years Later

Crew 
Based on the Novel "Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows"/Producer - J. K. Rowling
Director - David Yates
Screenplay - Steve Kloves
Script Supervisor - Anna Worley
Executive Producer - Lionel Wigram
Executive Producer/Producer - David Heyman
Producers - David Barron and
Debbi Bossi (3D Version)
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Tim Lewis
Co-Producer - John Trehy
Casting Director - Fiona Weir
Chief Animal Trainer - Gary Gero
Production Designer - Stuart Craig
Conceptual Artists - Adam Brockbank,
Paul Catling, Peter McKinstry and
Andrew Williamson
Supervising Art Director - Neil Lamont
Senior Art Director - Andrew Ackland-Snow
Art Directors - Alastair Bullock,
Martin Foley, Kate Grimble, Hattie Story
Christian Huband, Molly Hughes,
Gary Tomkins, Mark Bartholomew,
Nicholas Henderson, Peter Dorme and
Ashley Winter
Construction Manager - Paul J. Hayes
HOD Supervising Modeller - Pierre Bohanna
Set Decorators - Stephenie McMillan
and Rosie Goodwin
Property Master - Barry Wilkinson
Assistant Property Master - Ben Wilkinson
Special Makeup Effects - Nick Dudman
Makeup Designer - Amanda Knight
Hair Designer - Lisa Tomblin
Supervising Prosthetic Makeup Artists -
Mark Coulier, Katy Fray and Paul Spateri
Costume Designer - Jany Temime
Director of Photography - Eduardo Serra
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Mike Brewster
Underwater Director of Photography -
Tim Wooster
"B" Camera Operators - David Morgan
and David Worley
Supervising Location Manager - Sue Quinn
Location Managers - Mark Sooner,
Steve Harvey, Joseph Jayawardena
and Lee Robertson
Production Manager - Simon Emanuel
First Assistant Director - Jamie Christopher
Key Second Assistant Director - Matthew Sharp
Second Unit Director - Stephen Woolfenden
Stunt Coordinator - Greg Powell
Stunt Coordinator: Additional Elements
Unit - Eunice Huthart
Aerial Coordinator - Marc Woolf
Diving Coordinator - Dave Shaw
Special Effects Supervisor - John Richardson
Special Effects Assistant Supervisor - Steve Hamilton
Special Effects Coordinator - Rosie Richardson
Visual Effects Supervisors - Tim Burke,
Chris Shaw and John Moffat
Craig Clarke, Adrian Chan,
and Matt Jacobs
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Greg Butler
Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -
David Vickery
Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore - Andy Kind
Visual Effects Supervisor: Baseblack -
Matthew Twyford
Visual Effects Producer - Emma Norton
Visual Effects Producer: MPC - Oliver Money
Digital Effects Supervisors: Cinesite - Holger Voss
and Andy Robinson 
VFX Animation Supervisor: MPC - Ferran Domenech
2D Supervisor: Double Negative - Sean Stranks
Film Editor - Mark Day
Sound Designers - Michael Fentum
and Dominic Gibbs
Supervising Sound Editor - James Mather
Sound Effects Editors - Jed Loughran,
Samir Foco and Alistair Hawkins
Production Sound Mixer - Stuart Wilson
ADR Supervisor - Daniel Laurie
Re-Recording Mixers - Mike Dowson,
Stuart Hilliker and Adam Scrivener
Foley Mixers - Glen Gathard
and Luke Brown
Foley Artists - Peter Burgis
and Andie Derrick
Music/Score Producer - Alexandre Desplat
Composer: Themes - John Williams
Composer: "Dumbledore's Farewell" -
Nicholas Hooper
Score Producer/Music Recordist
and Mixer - Peter Cobbin


Review
Continuing where the last movie left off, DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 was exciting but ultimately the final chapter of the film series. J. K. Rowling deserves to be proud of this interpretation of her last Harry Potter book, and wow, what a powerful finale! In this movie, there is a lot of spellbinding action and heartbreak. It contains more than a few surprises and continuing acting performances like Alan Rickman, who appears in his last time as Severus Snape, a character he played since the first Harry Potter feature, The Philosopher's Stone.

DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 is the best of the Harry Potter features and my second favourite movie of 2011. I like to invite all my viewers to comment on what they think of the film, especially Potter fans.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Sunday, November 20, 2011

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Review









The Lion King II: Simba's Pride


Release Date: 4th November 1998 - Australia
(Direct to Video)


Production Companies
Walt Disney Animation Australia
DisneyToon Studios
Walt Disney Pictures


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 81 minutes


Plot Summary
Meet Kiara, Simba's
headstrong daughter and
heir to the Pride Lands.
While on the prowl for
adventure, she encounters
the mischievous Kovu,
a young member of the
banished Outland Pride
chosen to walk in Scar's
paw prints. As they seek
their proper places in the
"Circle of Life," Kiara
and Kovu find that they
may be the only hope
for healing the rift
between their prides! (Source - Amazon)


Voice Cast
Neve Campbell - Kiara
Liz Callaway - Kiara (singing voice)
Jenna D. A. Ronzzio - Young Kiara
Charity Walthrop - Young Kiara (singing voice)
Jason Marsden - Kovu
Gene Miller - Kovu (singing voice)
Ryan O'Donohue - Young Kovu
Matthew Broderick - Simba
Cam Clarke - Simba (singing voice)
Moira Kelly - Nala
Suzanne Pleshette - Zira
Nathan Lane - Timon
Ernie Sabella - Pumbaa
Robert Guillaume - Rafiki
Andy Dick - Nuka
Jennifer Lien - Vitani
Lacey Chabert - Young Vitani
Crysta Macalush Winton - 
Young Vitani (singing voice)
Edward Hibbert - Zazu
James Earl Jones - Mufasa's Ghost
Jim Cummings - Scar's Ghost

Crew
Director - Darrell Rooney
Co-Director - Rob LaDuca
Based on Characters (Uncredited) - Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts & Linda Woolverton
Screenplay - Flip Kobler & Cindy Marcus
Additional Written Material - Jenny Wingfield, Linda Voorhees, Gregory Poirier, Bill Motz, Bob Roth, Mark McCorkle, Robert Schooley & Jonathan Cuba
Producer - Jeannine Roussel
Voice Casting/Dialogue Director - Jamie Thomason
Art Director - Fred Warter
Character Designers - Dan Haskett & Caroline Hu
Additional Character Designer - Tony Leondis
Storyboard Supervisor - Daan Jippes
Animation Director - Steve Trenbirth
Supervising Animator: "Timon", "Pumbaa",
"Zazu" and "Rafiki" - Bob Baxter
Supervising Animator: "Kovu" - Andrew Collins
Supervising Animator: "Simba", "Nuka" and "Nala" -
Ian Harrowell
Supervising Animator: "Kiara" - Lianne Hughes
Supervising Animator: "Zira" and "Vitani" -
Kevin Peaty
Background Supervisor - Beverley McNamara
Layout Supervisor - Alex Nicholas
Film Editor - Peter Lonsdale
Songs & Lyrics - Tom Snow & Jack Feldman
Music - Nick Glennie-Smith


Review
'THE LION KING II: SIMBA’S PRIDE' was enjoyable, but didn't have the same roar as the first film (click here) had. Like its more worthy predecessor, the film's story was loosely based on Shakespeare, this time it's Romeo and Juliet and most of the original voice actors such as Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane have returned to this movie. The songs are good, but not as unforgettable as the ones in the original. One aspect bothered about this second addition was Simba being an overprotective father to his daughter Kiara. I say this because in the first film was Simba himself was a very determined cub who rebelled against his own father Mufasa. In absence of Scar, the villain of the movie is Zira who is a fanatical follower of the late Scar and is planning revenge against Simba. 

The sequel did not seem to have the passion as the first 'Lion King' installment did. Still, people will watch this movie and see the humour of Timon and Pumbaa whose antics continue to delight.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Review











Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones


Release Date: 16th May 2002 - Australia


Production Companies
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 142 minutes


Budget: $115,000,000

Box Office Gross: $653,779,970 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
After several assassination attempts have put Padmé Amidala, now the Senator of Naboo, in grave danger, the Jedi assigns Anakin Skywalker to protect her at all costs. Anakin develops a romance with Padmé, which the Jedi Code forbids.

Meanwhile, his master Obi-
Wan Kenobi is looking for
the assassin Jango Fett and
has found some clues that
lead to discovering a clone
army. A sinister plot from 
a group of Separatists with 
Count Dooku as their
leader would soon escalate
into a full-scale war with the Republic.


Cast
Ewan McGregor - Obi-Wan
Kenobi
Natalie Portman - Padmé
Amidala
Hayden Christensen - Anakin
Skywalker
Ian McDiarmid - Supreme
Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious
Christopher Lee - Count Dooku
Samuel L. Jackson - Mace
Windu
Temuera Morrison - Jango Fett
Frank Oz - Yoda (Voice)
Anthony Daniels - C-3PO/
Dannl Faytonni
Kenny Baker - R2-D2
Daniel Logan - Boba Fett
Leeanna Walsman - Zam
Wessell
Silas Carson - Nute Gunray/
Ki-Adi-Mundi
Ahmed Best - Jar Jar Binks
(Voice)/Achk Med-Beq
Jimmy Smits - Senator Bail
Organa
Pernilla August - Shmi
Skywalker
Jack Thompson - Cliegg Lars
Joel Edgerton - Owen Lars
Bonnie Piesse - Beru
Jay Laga'aia - Captain Typho
Andy Secombe - Watto (Voice)
Oliver Ford Davies - Sio Bibble
Ayesha Dharker - Queen
Jamillia
Anthony Phelan - Lama Su (Voice)
Rena Owen - Taun We (Voice)
Ron Falk - Dexter Jettster (Voice)
Rose Byrne - Dormé
Verónica Segura - Cordé
Alethea McGrath - Madame Jocasta Nu
Matt Doran - Elan Sleazebaggano
Matt Sloan - Plo Koon
Zachariah Jensen - Kit Fisto
Alex Knoll - J.K. Burtola
Phoebe Yiamkiati - Mari Amithest
Matt Rowan - Senator Orn Free Taa
David Bowers - Mas Amedda
Steven Boyle - Senator Ask Aak/
Passel Argente
Matt Sloan - Plo Koon
Marton Csokas - Poggle the Lesser
(Voice) (Uncredited)
Amy Allen - Aayla Secura/Mya Nalle/
Yma Nalle/Lela Mayn (Uncredited)
Orli Shashan - Shaak Ti (Uncredited)
Nalini Krishan - Barris Offee (Uncredited)
Mary Oyaya - Luminara Unduli
(Uncredited)
Lily Nyamwasa - Adi Gallas (Uncredited)
Tux Akindoyeni - Agen Kolar (Uncredited)
Susie Porter - Hermione Bagwa/WA-7
(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Story/Screenplay/Executive Producer/
Director - George Lucas
Character Creators: Aayla Secura -
John Ostrander and Jan Duursema (Uncredited)
Screenplay - Jonathan Hales
Script Supervisor - Jayne-Ann Tenggren
Producers - Rick McCallum and
Lorne Orleans (IMAX Version)
Casting Director - Robin Gurland
Production Designer - Gavin Bocquet
Concept Design Supervisors - Doug Chiang,
Ryan Church and Erik Tiemens
Supervising Art Director - Peter Russell
Art Directors - Ian Gracie, Phil Harvey,
Fred Hole, Jonathan Lee and Michelle McGahey
Supervising Construction Manager - David Bubb
Construction Manager - Greg Hajdu
Set Decorator - Peter Walpole
Assistant Set Decorator - Beverley Dunn
Property Master - Ty Teiger 
Costume Designer - Trisha Biggar
Makeup Supervisor - Lesley Vanderwalt
Creatures Supervisor - Jason Baird
Director of Photography - David Tattersall
Director of Photography: Additional Shooting
Crew - Giles Nuttgens
High Definition Camera Supervisor - Fred Meyers
Camera/Steadicam Operator - Brad Shield
Camera Operator - Calum McFarlane
Techno Crane Operator - Geoff Brown
Production Supervisor - Stephen Jones
Production Manager: Tunisia - Peter Heslop
Production Coordinators: Additional Shooting
Crew - Helen Gregory and Virginia Whitwell
First Assistant Director - James McTeigue
First Assistant Directors: Additional Shooting
Crew - Richard Hewitt and Richard Whelan
Second Second Assistant Director - Paul Sullivan
Stunt Coordinator/Sword Master - Nick Gillard
Special Effects Supervisor - David Young
Special Effects Supervisor: ILM - Geoff Heron
Special Effects Supervisor: Additional Shooting
Crew - Tom Harris
Creature Effects Supervisor: Additional Shooting
Crew - Nick Dudman
Droid Unit Supervisor/R2-D2 Operator -
Don Bies
Visual Effects Supervisors - Pablo Helman,
John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Ben Snow
Visual Effects Producers: ILM - Jill Brooks,
Gretchen Libby and Heather MacDonald
Visual Effects Executive Producer: ILM - Judith Weaver
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alex Jaeger
Visual Effects Conceptual Artists: ILM -
Christian Alzmann, Michael Brunsfield,
Warren Fu, Philip Metschan and Wilson J. Tang
Effects Directors of Photography: ILM -
Martin Rosenberg, Carl Miller and Pat Sweeney
Model Supervisor: ILM - Brian Gernand
Animation Director - Rob Coleman
Animation Supervisors: ILM - Chris Armstrong
and Hal T. Hickel
Technical Animation Supervisor: ILM - James Tooley
Pre-Visualisation/Effects Supervisors -
Daniel D. Gregoire and David Dozoretz
Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -
Kevin Barnhill, Dan B. Goldman, Samir Hoon,
David Meny, Robert Marinic, Curt I. Miyashiro,
Patrick T. Myers and Henry Preston
Motion Capture Supervisor: ILM - Jeffrey B. Light
Digital Modelling Supervisors: ILM -
Geoff Campbell and Russell Paul
3D Matchmove Supervisor: ILM - Jason H. Snell
Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Jean Bolte
Digital Matte Sequence Supervisors: ILM -
Jonathan Harb, Paul Huston and Yusei Uesugi
Digital Compositing Supervisors: ILM -
Jeff Doran, Dorne Huebler and
Marshall Richard Krasser
Editor/Sound Designer/Supervising
Sound Editor - Ben Burtt
Assistant Editors - Todd Busch,
Cheryl Nardi and Joseph Jett Sally
Location Assistant Editor - Jason Ballantine
Technical Supervisor - Michael Blanchard
Supervising Sound Editor - Matthew Wood
Apprentice Sound Editor - David Acord
Sound Effects Editors - Teresa Eckton
and Bruce Lacey
Sound Fu - Christopher Scarabosio
Sound Recordist - Paul 'Salty' Brincat
Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance
Re-Recording Mixers - Rick Kline,
Gary Rydstrom and Michael Semanick
Additional Re-Recording Mixer - Gary A. Rizzo
Music - John Williams
Supervising Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg
Scoring Engineer - Shawn Murphy


Awards

2003 Academy Awards
Best Visual Effects - Rob Coleman,
Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow (Nominated)


Review
Though not up to the standard of the other Star Wars movies, ATTACK OF THE CLONES is a visual spectacle and, in some ways, an improvement on The Phantom Menace. The love relationship between Anakin and Padmé was a bit heartwarming but very awkward, and the acting of Hayden Christensen isn't always consistent, especially when being introduced as Anakin Skywalker. Although he's not giving his best performance due to its shallowness and misdirection, the feature has made him a star, but he hasn't fully matured into the role.

I'm glad that Jar Jar Binks gets toned down from his screen time as an annoying comic relief from what is to be a minor role. However, he does play a large part in one scene, contributing to fans hating the character even more. I praise the way Yoda is now in CGI instead of relying on old-school puppetry and the fantastic lightsaber duel between him and Count Dooku. The film's climax is when the clone troopers arrive at the arena to assist the Jedi in their fight against the Separatists leading up to the Clone Wars.

ATTACK OF THE CLONES is a semi-decent Star Wars movie, but it's not its best. I would disagree with the fans, who were very negative in their response to this prequel. I don't blame them, and I probably re-watch the film in a marathon.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Friday, November 11, 2011

Fast & Furious 5 Review










Fast & Furious 5


Release Date: 20th April 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Original Film
One Race Productions
Dentsu (in association with)

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 130 minutes


Budget: $125,000,000

Box Office Gross: $626,137,675 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The famous street racer Dom Toretto and ex-cop Brian O'Conner are now fugitives hiding in Brazil. While they are the main targets of a drug lord, Agent Hobbs and some crooked cops who are hot on their tail, the pair recruit several friends as they begin to pull off an elaborate heist of taking $100 million.


Cast
Vin Diesel - Dominic Toretto
Paul Walker - Brian O'Conner
Dwayne Johnson - Luke Hobbs
Jordana Brewster - Mia Toretto
Tyrese Gibson - Roman Pearce
Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges - Tej Parker
Matt Schulze - Vince
Sung Kang - Han Seoul-Oh
Gal Gadot - Gisele Yashar
Tego Calderón - Leo Tego
Don Omar - Rico Santos
Joaquim de Almeida - Hernan Reyes
Elsa Pataky - Elena Neves
Michael Irby - Zizi
Fernando Chien - Wilkes
Alimi Ballard - Fusco
Yorgo Constantine - Chato
Geoff Meed - Macroy
Joseph Melendez - Chief of Police Alemeida
Jerimarie Osorio - Rosa
Mark Hicks - Capa
Esteban Cueto - Berto
Corey Michael Eubanks - Lanza
Luis Da Silva Jr. - Diogo
Eva Mendes - Monica Fuentes (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Executive Producer/Director - Justin Lin
Based on Characters - Gary Scott Thompson
Writer - Chris Morgan
Executive Producers - Amanda Lewis and Samantha Vincent
Producers - Vin Diesel and Neal H. Moritz
Producer/Unit Production Manager - Michael Fottrell
Casting Director - Debra Zane
Production Designer - Peter Wenham
Supervising Art Director - Thomas Valentine
Art Director - Andrew Neskoromny
Art Director: Puerto Rico Unit - Beat Frutiger
Set Decorator - Bob Kensinger
Property Master - Guillaume DeLouche
Armorer - David Fencl
Costume Designer - Sanja Milkovic Hays
Makeup Department Head - John Blake
Makeup Artist: Vin Diesel - Christien Tinsley
Director of Photography - Stephen F. Windon
Director of Photography: Second Unit,
Puerto Rico - Igor Meglic
Director of Photography: Second Unit, Arizona
(Uncredited)/Second Unit Director: Train Heist
Unit - Alexander Witt
"B" Camera Operator/Aerial Director of
Photography: Second Unit, Arizona - Ronald Hersey
"A" Camera Operator: Second Unit, Puerto Rico -
Jacques Hatkin
Aerial Director of Photography: Second Unit,
Puerto Rico - Steve Koster
Production Supervisor - Thomas Hayslip
Production Supervisor: Second Unit, Puerto Rico -
Leeann Stonebreaker
First Assistant Director - Vincent Lascoumes
First Assistant Director: Second Unit, Puerto
Rico - James LaRocca
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Spiro Razatos
Supervising Stunt Coordinator - Mike Gunther
Stunt Coordinator - Troy Robinson
Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Jack Gill
Stunt Coordinator: Train Unit - Gary Hymes
Stunt Rigging Coordinator/Additional
Stunt Coordinator (Uncredited) - James M. Churchman
Picture Car Coordinator - Dennis McCarthy
Pilot - Frédéric North
Supervising Special Effects Coordinator -
R. Bruce Steinheimer
Special Effects Coordinator - David Fletcher
Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit,
Puerto Rico - Garry Elmendorf
Special Effects Coordinator: Second Unit,
Arizona - Matt Sweeney
Special Effects Foremen - Barry McQueary,
Michael Clarke, Richard Stutsman
and Thomas Kittle
Special Effects Set Supervisor - Rick Thompson
Visual Effects Supervisor - Mike Wassel
Visual Effects Supervisor: Hammerhead -
Justin Jones
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Guillaume Rocheron
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Kelvin McIlwain 
Visual Effects Producer: Look FX -
Melinka Thompson-Godoy
Visual Effects Producer: Pixomondo -
Sophie Leclerc
Animation Supervisor: MPC - Daryl Sawchuk
CG Supervisor: Hammerhead - Dan Smiczek
Compositing Supervisor: Pixomondo -
Theresa Ellis Rygiel
Editors - Kelly Matsumoto, Fred Raskin
and Christian Wagner
First Assistant Editor - Leigh Folsom Boyd
Sound Designer and Supervisor - Peter Brown
Sound Designers - Glynna Grimala,
Ann Scibelli, Stephen P. Robinson and
Peter Staubli
Supervising Dialogue & ADR Editor - Anna MacKenzie
Production Sound Mixer - Whit Norris
Supervising Sound Mixers - Jon Taylor
and Frank A. Montaño
Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and Katie Rose
Music - Brian Tyler


Review
FAST & FURIOUS 5 is an action-packed extravaganza with cars and shotguns. This film elevates a genre shift as it eliminates the series' prominent theme of street racing for a heist plot worthy of features like The Italian Job. I can't believe that FAST & FURIOUS 5 has gotten the best reviews from other critics, and it's the first time in the franchise, however. The action sequences are still there, but many of its driving scenes have traces of adrenaline.

I mustn't forget to mention the funny toilet scene. I enjoyed the climactic car chase with the vault safe and the movie's cast, such as Paul Walker, Vinny Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Both characters have shaved heads and buffed muscles but are similar, with Dom being a tough, aggressive person and Hobbs being a determined cop who will not let himself get beaten.

I never watched The Fast and the Furious movies (excluding Fast & Furious, which I've now seen by accident). This action film is incredible. It is worthy of my 5 out of 5 best movie ever rating. I highly recommend it to lovers of Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and action movies.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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