Ernest Saves Christmas Review

Ernest Saves Christmas


Release Date: 9th November 1989 - Australia


Production Companies
Touchstone Pictures (presents)
Silver Screen Partners III (in association with)
Emshell Producers (producer)

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: G

Runtime: 95 minutes


Budget: $6,000,000

Box Office Gross: $28,202,109
(USA)


Plot Summary
When Santa Claus decides
to retire, he appoints a

washed-up kiddie show 

host to take his place. 

Along the way, the
real Santa ends up in a
slammer on Christmas Eve,
and it's up to goodish, glad-
handling Ernest P. Worrell
to bust him out. (Source -
iTunes)


Cast
Jim Varney - Ernest P. 

Worrell/Various
Douglas Seale - Santa Claus
Oliver Clark - Joe Carruthers
Noelle Parker - Harmony
Bill Byrge - Bobby
Gailard Sartain - Chuck
Robert Lesser - Marty Brock
Buddy Douglas - Pyramus
Patty Maloney - Thisbe
Billie Bird - Mary Morrissey
George Kaplan - Mr. Dillis

Crew
Director - John R. Cherry III
Story/Screenplay/Associate
Producer - Ed Turner
Screenplay - B. Kline
Executive Producer - Joseph Akerman Jr.
Producers - Doug Claybourne
& Stacy Williams
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager - Justis Greene
Co-Producer/Second Unit Director - Coke Sams
Production Designer/Art Director - Ian D. Thomas
Costume Designer - Peter Mitchell
Director of Photography - Peter Stein
Film Editor - Sharyn L. Ross
Visual Effects Supervisor - Tim McHugh
Music - Mark Snow


Review
As a kid, I used to watch the Ernest flicks on the Disney Channel a long time ago and the late Jim Varney was the best actor to play the funny character. 'ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS' is the first of these movies I had seen and though it was a bit cheesy, it did show a lot of Christmas cheer. Apart from the humour, the acting is quite good especially from Varney himself. Even Douglas Seale who gives an extraordinary performance as the holiday figure Santa except that he's not wearing a traditional red suit and hat. 

'SAVES CHRISTMAS' gives a great generosity of laughs for a holiday film that's anything enjoyable for a fan of the series like myself, know what I mean? 

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Review

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York


Release Date: 10th December 1992 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Hughes Entertainment

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 120 minutes


Budget: $20,000,000

Box Office Gross: $358,994,850 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

Kevin McCallister gets separated from his family when he accidentally takes the plane to New York City instead of going to Florida. He uses his dad's credit card to check into the best hotel and sets on to enjoy himself. Unfortunately, the burglars he foiled before have escaped prison and are now in New York.

Cast

McCallister Family
Macaulay Culkin - Kevin McCallister

Catherine O'Hara - Kate McCallister

John Heard - Peter McCallister

Devin Ratray - Buzz McCallister

Hilary Wolf - Megan McCallister

Maureen Elisabeth Shay -

Linnie McCallister

Michael C. Maronna - Jeff McCallister

Gerry Bamman - Frank McCallister

Terrie Snell - Leslie McCallister

Jedidiah Cohen - Rod McCallister

Senta Moses Mikan - Tracy McCallister

Diana Rein - Sondra McCallister

Kieran Culkin - Fuller McCallister

Anna Slotky - Brooke McCallister

Others
Joe Pesci - Harry Lyme
Daniel Stern - Marvin "Marv" Munchens
Tim Curry - Mr. Hector
Brenda Fricker - Pigeon Lady
Rob Schneider - Cedric
Dana Ivey - Hester Stone
Leigh Zimmerman - Fashion Model
Ralph Foody - Gangster
Clare Hoak - Gangster - 'Dame'
Eddie Bracken - Mr. Duncan
Rip Taylor - Celeb #1 (Cameo)
Jaye P. Morgan - Celeb #2 (Cameo)
Jimmie Walker - Celeb #3 (Cameo)
Ally Sheedy - Ticket Agent (New York)

(Cameo)
Donald Trump - Plaza Hotel Owner

(Cameo)

Eleanor Columbus - Little Girl in Toy

Store

Chris Columbus - Man in Toy Store

(Cameo) (Uncredited)


Crew
Director - Chris Columbus
Based on Characters/Writer/Producer -

John Hughes

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Duncan Henderson

Executive Producers - Mark Radcliffe

and Richard Vane

Casting Directors - Janet Hirshenson

and Jane Jenkins
Production Designer - Sandy Veneziano

Art Director - Gary A. Lee

Art Director: New York - Steven J. Jordan

Set Designers - Stephen Dane,

Karen Fletcher Trujillo and Donald B. Woodruff

Set Decorator - Marvin March
Costume Designer - Jay Hurley
Director of Photography - Julio Macat

"B" Camera Operator - Anastas N. Michos

First Assistant Director - James Giovannetti Jr.

Second Assistant Director - Geoffrey Hansen

First Assistant Director: Second Unit/Location

Manager - Jacolyn Bucksbaum

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Freddie Hice
Special Effects Supervisor - Daniel Sudick
Special Effects Coordinator - Stan Parks
Visual Effects Supervisor: Matte World -
Craig Barron
Matte Painting Supervisor: Matte World -

Michael Pangrazio
Editor - Raja Gosnell

Supervising Sound Effects Editors -

Wylie Stateman and Michael D. Wilhoit

Additional Audio - Lon Bender,

Kim Vaugh and David Young

Foley Artists - James Moirana and

Jeffrey Wilhoit

Re-Recording Mixers - Chris & Kevin E.

Carpenter and Rick Hart

Music - John Williams

Supervising Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg

Scoring Mixer - Shawn Murphy


Review
More slapstick humour and fun than its predecessor (click here), HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK has better tricks by Kevin and more booby traps for the Wet Bandits. Most actors, including Culkin, Pesci and Stern, have returned to this sequel. I know the plot is a rehash of the first film. I quite liked the three things that reside in this second flick, which include Tim Curry's performance as the hotel manager, a minor role by Rob Schnieder and the funniest scene where the two Wet Bandits fell into a trap getting knocked out by a large pipe or should I say it fell on them both.

Unlike many other Home Alone movies, this sequel gets the definition of being more watchable. It is a worthy follow-up to the original. The audience might get interested in its comical value.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Balto Review

Balto


Release Date: 27th June 1996 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (present)
Amblin Entertainment (present)
Amblimation

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 74 minutes


Budget: $31,000,000

Box Office Gross: $11,349,090 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Balto is an outcast shunned by humans and other dogs due to his part-wolf heritage, except for a Russian goose named Boris,

two polar bear cubs, Muk and Luk, and a beautiful husky named Jenna. One day, a severe case of diphtheria struck the children of Nome when it spread fast. All routes of transport that carry the anti-toxin are closed off by a treacherous snowstorm.

Only a team of sled dogs can race about 600 miles through the blinding Arctic blizzard, delivering medicine to all the sick children. But the dogs are lost in the frozen wilderness, and Balto is their only hope in rescuing the team and saving the lives of the children.


Voice Cast
Kevin Bacon - Balto
Bridget Fonda - Jenna
Bob Hoskins - Boris
Phil Collins - Muk & Luk
Jim Cummings - Steele
Juliette Brewer - Young Rosy
Jack Angel - Nikki
Danny Mann - Kaltag
Robbie Rist - Star
Sandra Dickinson - Dixie/
Sylvie/Rosie's Mom
Donald Sinden - Doc
William Roberts - Rosy's Father
Garrick Hagon - Telegraph Operator

Bill Bailey - Butcher

Big Al - Town Dog

Live-Action Cast
Miriam Margoyles - Old Rosy
Lola Bates-Campbell - Rosy's Granddaughter


Crew
Director - Simon Wells
Story/Screenplay - Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser
Screenplay - David Cohen and Roger S.H. Schulman

Associate Producer - Rich Arons
Executive Producers - Kathleen Kennedy, Bonnie Radford and Steven Spielberg
Producer - Steve Hickner

Production Designer - Hans Bacher

Additional Art Director/Background Artist -

Luc Desmarchelier

Additional Art Director/Background Supervisor -

Colin Stimpson

Costume Designer: Live-Action Scenes -

Ellen Lutter

Character Designer/Supervising Animator:
"Muk and Luk" - Nicholas Marlet
Character Designer/Supervising Animator:

"Sylvie", "Dixie" and Principal Humans -

Patrick Mate
Character Designer - Carlos Grangel
Storyboard Supervisor - Daan Jippes
Storyboard Artist/Supervising Animator:

"Balto" - Dick Zondag
Storyboard Artist/Supervising Animator:

"Rosy" - David Bowers
Storyboard Artist/Supervising Animator:

"Steele & Jenna Sequences" - Rodolphe Guenoden
Storyboard Artist/Supervising Animator:

"Nikki", "Kaltag" and "Star" - William Salazar

Background Supervisor/Digital Background

Color Balance - Ray Rankine
Layout Supervisor - Douglas Kirk

Director of Photography/Camera Operator:

Live-Action Scenes - Jan Ritcher-Friis

Production Manager - Jill Hopper

Assistant Production Manager - Mark Swift

Animation Production Supervisor - Colin J. Alexander

Color Production Supervisor - Matthew Teevan

Assistant to the Director - Steve Pegram

Supervising Animator: "Balto" - Jeffrey James Varab
Supervising Animator: "Jenna" - Robert Stevenhagen
Supervising Animator: "Boris" - Kristof Serrand
Supervising Animator: "Steele" - Sahin Ersoz

Animator: "Grizzly Bear" - Daniel Jeannette

Animator: "White Wolf" - Erik Schmidt

Additional Digital Effects Animation/

Digital Scene Design Supervisor - David Morehead

Digital Scene Designers - Robert Edward

Crawford and James C.J. Williams

Supervising Editors - Sim Evan-Jones

and Nick Fletcher

Assistant Editors - Claire Knight and

Marcus Taylor

Supervising Sound Editors - Louis L. Edemann

and Charles L. Campbell

Re-Recording Mixers - Gregg Landaker

and Steve Maslow

Foley Artists - John Roesch and Hilda Hodges

Music - James Horner

Music: Song "Reach for the Light" - Barry Mann

Lyrics: Song "Reach for the Light" - Cynthia Weil
Performer: Song "Reach for the Light" -

Steve Winwood

Music Editor - Jim Henrikson

Assistant Music Editor - Joe E. Rand

Scoring Mixer - Shawn Murphy

Review
Despite the historical differences in the movie, BALTO has its marvellous animation that makes the entire film look exceptionally drawn and ambitious. Unlike the other hand-drawn animated flicks (like those made by Disney), it is not a musical. It doesn't include the characters singing, which is a good thing. There's nothing wrong with this overlooked picture. I found some commendable aspects, such as some laughs, including an E.T. reference and well-known voice-over talents of Kevin Bacon, Jim Cummings, Phil Collins, Bob Hoskins and Bridget Fonda. The film has a brilliant music score by James Horner, who does tremendous work composing this feature.

It's a shame BALTO got beaten out of the box-office competition by Pixar's Toy Story. BALTO is an underrated movie that the dog-lovers and furries might want to rediscover. It's better than Disney's Pocahontas, which is also based on a true-life story and unfortunately fails to bring what BALTO has a happy ending.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Red Dawn (2012) Review

Red Dawn 


Release Date: 29th November 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Film District (presents)
Contrafilm
Metro Goldwyn Mayer (Uncredited)

United Artists
Vincent Newman Entertainment
(Uncredited)

Distribution
Roadshow Distribution


Genre: War

Rating: M

Runtime: 93 minutes


Budget: $65,000,000

Box Office Gross: $48,169,726
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When North Korea invades
the United States, a group
of young men and women
from a small town arm
themselves and flee into the
wilderness. When they return
to the town a few weeks later,
they find themselves behind
enemy lines in "Occupied
America." Most of their family
members were dead. They
launch a resistance movement,
calling themselves Wolverines
after their school mascot. But
every time they attack on the
invaders, the North Korean
soldiers execute civilians in
retaliation. With the help of a
downed United States Air
Force F-15 pilot, the
Wolverines organize raids
on the North Koreans, who
begin to consider them a
serious threat. (Source -
Metro Cinemas)


Cast
Chris Hemsworth - Jed Eckert
Josh Peck - Matt Eckert
Josh Hutcherson - Robert Morris
Adrianne Palicki - Toni Walsh
Isabel Lucas - Erica Martin
Connor Cruise - Daryl Jenkins
Edwin Hodge - Danny
Steve Lenz - Pete
Jeffrey Dean Morgan - Sgt.
Major Andrew Tanner
Brett Cullen - Police 

Sergeant Tom Eckert
Alyssa Diaz - Julie
Julian Alcaraz - Greg
Will Yun Lee - Captain Cho

Fernando Chen - Lt. Pak
Kenneth Smith - Cpl. Smith
Matt Gerald - Sgt. Hodges

Michael A. Knight - Col. Ivanov

Noah Smith - Joe

Michael Beach - Mayor Jenkins

Crew
Director - Dan Bradley
Based on 1984 Screenplay/Story - Kevin Reynolds
Based on 1984 Screenplay - John Milius
Screenplay - Carl Ellsworth & Jeremy Passmore

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - 

Kevin Halloran
Executive Producer - Vincent Newman
Producers - Beau Flynn & Tripp Vinson
Co-Producer - John Swallow
Production Designer - Dominic Watkins
Costume Designer - Catherine George
Director of Photography - Mitchell Amundsen
Special Effects Supervisor - Mark R. Byers
Film Editor - Richard Pearson
Music - Ramin Djawadi


Review
I don't care much for war movies except for science fiction war movies like 'Star Wars' and I haven't seen the old 'RED DAWN' film. The remake of this classic is mildly entertaining which is good enough to maintain itself in spite of its shortcomings. Though there were some people who would say the plot-line of the 2012 reboot is too haphazard instead of being meaningful. I hate to spoil the movie, but it has very neat and clever warfare action as well as bits of comedy and a few top-notch casting choices including Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Isabel Lucas. There's one thing I like to point out which is that one of the stars Josh Peck whom you may know him from the 'Drake & Josh' TV series has done a lot more mature acting which I have never seen him actually do. 

For the moviegoers, this flick wasn't too serious, sure it does deal with contemporary issues such as war and conflict. In terms of a target audience, I think this feature has been aimed towards a teenage audience as it has themes which would relate to teenagers such as teamwork, survival and independence. Having said all of this, I would recommend this as being a good easy-going movie to watch.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Skyfall Review (With Guest Reviewer)

Skyfall


Release Date: 16th November 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Columbia Pictures

Danjaq

Eon Productions (presents)

Anka Film

B23

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 143 minutes


Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,142,471,295 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
James Bond is assumed to be dead after his mission has gone wrong. The identities of every undercover agent from around the world leaked, and MI6 was under attack. Bond gets brought into his latest assignment as he travels through the Chinese border to take down a threat hiding in the shadows. Bond begins questioning his loyalty to M as he learns secrets about her past.

Cast
Daniel Craig - James Bond
Judi Dench - M
Javier Bardem - Raoul Silva
Ralph Fiennes - Gareth Mallory
Naomie Harris - Eve
Berenice Lim Marlohe - Severine
Albert Finney - Kincade
Ben Whishaw - Q
Rory Kinnear - Bill Tanner

Ola Rapace - Patrice

Helen McCrory - Clair Dowar MP

Nicholas Woodson - Doctor Hall

Bill Buckhurst - Ronson

Elize du Toit - Vanessa

Michael G. Wilson - Pallbearer (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Sam Mendes
Based on Characters - Ian Fleming (Uncredited)
Screenplay - Neal Purvis,
Robert Wade and John Logan
Associate Producer - Gregg Wilson
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Callum McDougall
Producers - Michael G. Wilson
and Barbara Broccoli
Co-Producer/Financial Controller - Andrew Noakes
Co-Producer - David Pope
Casting Director - Debbie McWilliams
Production Designer - Dennis Gassner
Supervising Art Director - Chris Lowe

Art Directors - Neal Callow,

Dean Clegg, James Foster, Mark Harris,

Marc Homes, Paul Inglis and Jason Knox-Johnston

Set Decorator - Anna Pinnock

Property Master - Jamie Wilkinson

Supervising Armorer - Joss Skottowe
Costume Designers - Jany Temime
and Timothy Everest (Uncredited)

Makeup Designer - Naomi Donne
Cinematography/Camera Operator: "A" Camera -

Roger Deakins

Director of Photography: Underwater Unit -

Mike Valentine

Camera Operators - Peter Field, Clive &

Tony Jackson, Burak Kanbir, Karl Morgan

and Julian Morson

First Assistant Camera - Rene Adefarasin,

David Cozens, Andy Harris, John Jordan,

Jem Rayner, Dean Thompson and Jon Webb

Unit Production Manager - Jeremy Johns

Location Production Managers - Chris Brock,

Angus More Gordon and Anthony Waye

Production Coordinators - King Aharon,

Stephanie Bamberg, Karl Caffrey, Paige Chaytor,

Hannah Godwin and Denise Hanrahan

First Assistant Director - Michael Lerman

Assistant Director: Second Unit/Second Assistant

Director - Terry Madden

Second Assistant Directors - Ben Dixon,

Stewart Hamilton, Terence Madden and

Tufan Simsekcan

Location Managers - James Grant, Richard Hill,

Matt Jones, Martin Joy and Russell Lodge

Second Unit Director/Director of Photography -
Alexander Witt

Second Unit Director: Underwater Unit/
Stunt Coordinator - Gary Powell

Assistant Stunt Coordinators - Lee Morrison,

Mark Mottram and Peter White
Second Unit Director: Splinter Unit/Special

and Miniature Effects Supervisor - Chris Corbould

Helicopter Pilots - Marc Wolff and Will Samuelson

Aviation Consultants - Ian McEwan

and Mike Woodley

Coordinator: Underwater Unit - Françoise Valentine
Diving Coordinator: Underwater Unit - Dave Shaw

Diving Supervisor: Underwater Unit - Tony French

Fight Choreographer - Nicola Berwick
Fight Trainer - Roger Yaun
Special Effects Coordinator/Buyer - Lynne Corbould

Special Effects Floor Supervisors -

Paul Corbould, Ian Lowe and Peter Notley

Visual Effects and Miniature Supervisor -

Steve Begg

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola Visual Effects -

Edson Williams

Visual Effects Producer - Leslie Lerman

Visual Effects Producer: Double Negative -

Melinka Thompson-Godoy

Computer Graphics Supervisor: Blind Ltd

London - Andrew Booth

CG Supervisor: MPC - Sheldon Stopsack

Main Titles Designer - Daniel Kleinman

Supervising Sound Editors - Karen Baker

Landers and Per Hallberg

Production Sound Mixer - Stuart Wilson

Re-Recording Mixers - Scott Millan,

Greg P. Russell and Andrii Trifinov
Film Editor - Stuart Baird

Film Editor/First Assistant Editor - Kate Baird

Composer: James Bond Theme - Monty Norman

Music - Thomas Newman
Lyrics/Singer: Song "Skyfall" - Adele
Lyrics: Song "Skyfall" - Paul Epworth

Additional Arrangements and Programming -

Simon Franglen

Music Consultant - Randall Poster


Review (FilmGuruLad)
A complex and quintessential Bond picture, SKYFALL downplays the mediocrity of Quantum and focuses on the story, brilliant car chases, imploding action and fun moments. I'm glad they brought Q back after his absence in the last two Bond films, with Ben Whishaw playing the quartermaster and a few gadgets. I am surprised that this movie takes inspiration from The Dark Knight and has a villain similar to the Joker but with a different motive. Javier Bardem did a fantastic job portraying a Bond villain with a complex motivation.

I consider SKYFALL to be the best Bond film with Daniel Craig. It is far better than the last one, which fails to bring something the audience wants. For anyone who enjoys the Bond movies, I recommend this film.

Review (Guest Reviewer)
Hi! I am doing a guest review for Film Guru Lad for SKYFALL. In viewing this film, I was very impressed as a Bond fan. I went into the cinema with high expectations. And I left the movie feeling these expectations had been satisfied. The action and stunt choreography was original and entertaining. The cast selected was suitable for the roles they played. I particularly enjoyed the actor who played Q as I enjoyed the humour and comical nature he brought to the film. Javier Bardem was the perfect villain as he portrayed the characteristics crucial to his menacing character.

This movie was engaging from start to finish, with an intriguing storyline, outstanding acting performances and intense action sequences. It is a must-see for Bond fans.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Quantum of Solace Review

Quantum of Solace


Release Date: 19th November 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Columbia Pictures
EON Productions
B22

Distribution 
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 100 minutes


Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $586,090,727 (Worldwide - figure subject to change)


Plot Summary
On a nonstop quest for
justice that crisscrosses
the globe, Bond meets
the beautiful but feisty
Camille, who leads him
to Dominic Greene, a
ruthless businessman and
major force within the
mysterious Quantum
organisation. When Bond
uncovers a conspiracy to
take control of one of the
world's most important
natural resources, he must
navigate a minefield of
treachery, deception and
murder to neutralize
Quantum before it's too
late!


Cast
Daniel Craig - James Bond
Olga Kurylenko - Camille
Mathieu Amalric - Dominic Greene
Giancarlo Giannini - Rene Mathis
Jeffrey Wright - Felix Leiter
Judi Dench - M
Gemma Arterton - Strawberry Fields
Joaquin Cosio - General Medrano
Anatole Taubman - Elvis
David Harbour - Gregg Beam
Fernando Guillen Cuervo - Colonel of Police
Jesper Christensen - Mr. White
Rory Kinnear - Bill Tanner
Paul Ritter - Guy Haines
Tim Pigott-Smith - Foreign Secretary
Neil Jackson - Mr. Slate
Simon Kassianides - Yusef
Jesus Ochoa - Lt. Orso
Lucrezia Lante della Rovere - Gemma
Glenn Foster - Mitchell
Stana Katic - Corrine
Oona Chaplin - Perla de las Dunas Receptionist

Crew
Director - Marc Forster
Based on Characters - Ian Fleming (Uncredited)
Writers - Paul Haggis, Neal
Purvis & Robert Wade
Assistant Producer - Gregg Wilson
Executive Producers - Callum McDougall &
Anthony Waye
Producers - Michael G. Wilson &
Barbara Broccoli
Casting Director - Debbie McWilliams
Production Designer - Dennis Gassner
Supervising Art Director - Chris Lowe
Art Directors - James Foster, Mark Harris,
Paul Inglis, Marco Rubeo & Mike Stallion
Set Decorator - Anna Pinnock
Costume Designer - Louise Frogley
Director of Photography - Roberto Schaefer
Second Unit Director - Dan Bradley
Second Unit Director: Panama - Simon Crane
Stunt Coordinator - Gary Powell
Special Effects Coordinator - Chris Corbould
Special Effects Workshop Supervisor - Andrew Smith
Visual Effects Supervisor - Huseyin Caner
Visual Effects Designer - Kevin Tod Haug
Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore CFC - Jon Thum
Visual Effects Producers - Jeppe N. Christensen &
Leslie Lerman
Film Editors - Matt Chesse & Richard Pearson
Title Designer - Mk12
Composer: James Bond Theme - Monty Norman
Music - David Arnold
Writer/Performer: Song "Another Way to Die" -
Jack White
Performer: Song "Another Way to Die" -
Alicia Keys


Review
The recent Bond picture 'QUANTUM OF SOLACE' has a lot of the top action, but the film is too complicated and different to the series. What really bothers me is that it's still missing Q and having a Bond villain of an environmentalist is really a bad choice. I still highly praise Daniel Craig for his performance as James Bond.

Not quite the type of a Bond film that was expected, but could have been more. To me, 'QUANTUM' is an unwarranted addition to the Bond family and it is probably for the best.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Pocahontas Review

Pocahontas


Release Date: 24th August 1995 - Australia


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

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 81 minutes


Budget: $55,000,000

Box Office Gross: $346,079,773 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
On the shores of Virginia,
Pocahontas, the free-
spirited daughter of Chief
Powhatan, watches as a
mysterious shipload of
English settlers arrives.
Their leaders are the greedy

Governor Ratcliffe and
the brave Captain John
Smith. Pocahontas meets
the latter and strikes up

a strong relationship.
Pocahontas seeks the
living wisdom of
Grandmother Willow to
guide her in finding a way
for everyone to live

together in peace as
tensions rise between
their two very different
cultures.


Voice Cast
Irene Bedard - Pocahontas
Judy Kuhn - Pocahontas 
(singing voice)
Mel Gibson - John Smith
David Ogden Steirs - Governor 
Ratcliffe/Wiggins
John Kassir - Meeko
Russell Means - Chief Powhatan
Christian Bale - Thomas
Linda Hunt - Grandmother Willow
Danny Mann - Percy
Billy Connolly - Ben
Joe Baker - Lon
Frank Welker - Flit
Michelle St. John - Nakoma
James Apaumut Fall - Kocoum
Gordon Tootoosis - Kekata
Jim Cummings - Chief
Powhatan/Kekata (singing voices)

Crew
Based on an Idea/Visual
Development/Character
Designer/Director - Mike Gabriel
Director - Eric Goldberg
Story/Character Designer/
Visual Development/
Supervising Animator:
"Pocahontas" - Glen Keane
Story/Character Designer/
Visual Development - Joe Grant
Story/Character Designer/
Visual Development/Video
Reference Cast/Supervising
Animator: "Ratcliffe" - Duncan Marjoribanks

Story/Character Designer/
Visual Development/
Supervising Animator: "Percy,

Grandmother Willow & Wiggins" - Chris Buck
Story - Ralph Zondag,

Burny Mattinson, Ed Gombert,

Kaan Kalyon, Francis Glebas, Rob Gibbs,

Bruce Morris and Todd Kurosawa
Additional Story Development -

Andrew Chapman, Randy Cartwright,

Vincent DeFrances, Tom Mazzocco, 

Don Dougherty and Jorgen Klubien
Additional Story/Visual Development - Will Finn
Additional Story Development/Animator: "Percy" -
Broose Johnson
Additional Story Development/Supervising

Animator: "Ben & Lon" - T. Daniel Hofstedt
Additional Story Development/Supervising

Animator: "Flit & Forest Animals" - David Pruiksma
Additional Story Development/Supervising

Animator: "Meeko" - Nik Ranieri
Writers - Carl Binder, Susannah Grant
and Phillip LaZebnik

Associate Producer - Baker Bloodworth
Producer - James Pentecost

Casting Directors - Brian Chavanne and

Ruth Lambert
Artistic Supervisor: Story - Tom Sito
Art Director/Character Designer/

Visual Development - Michael Giaimo

Character Designers/Visual Development -

Guy Deel, Vance Gerry, Jean Gillmore,

Darek Gogol, Ian Gooding, Bruce Zick

and Kathy Zielinski

Artistic Coordinator - Dan Hansen

Artistic Supervisor: Layout - Razoul Azadani

Artistic Supervisor: Background - Cristy Maltese

Artistic Supervisor: Background, Florida Unit -

Robert E. Stanton

Senior Manager: Production - Dana Axelrod

Supervising Animator: "John Smith" - John Pomeroy
Supervising Animator: "Powhatan" - Ruben A. Aquino
Supervising Animator: "Nakoma" - Anthony de Rosa
Supervising Animator: "Thomas" - Ken Duncan

Supervising Animator: "Kocoum" - Michael Cedeno

Additional Animation - Ellen Woodbury

Artistic Supervisor: Cleanup, Florida Unit -

Ruben Procopio

Artist: Pocahontas Animation Discovery

Adventure/Inbetweener: Additional Cleanup

Animation - Saul Blinkoff

Artistic Supervisor: Visual Effects - Don Paul

Artistic Supervisors: Visual Effects, Florida Unit -

Jeff Dutton and Dave Tidgwell

Artistic Supervisor: Computer Graphics Imagery -

Steve Goldberg

Pre-Production Effects Development -

Dave Bossert and Chris Jenkins

Additional CGI Animation - Rob Bekuhrs,

Sandra M. Groeneveld and Kevin Sheedy
Songs: Music/Original Score/Songs and

Score Producer - Alan Menken
Songs: Lyrics/Songs Producer - Stephen Schwartz

Editor - H. Lee Peterson

Animation Editor - James Melton

Associate Editor - Mark Hester

Additional Editors - Ellen Keneshea

and Sandy Nervig

First Assistant Editor - Tim Mertens

Supervising Sound Editors - Larry Kemp

and Lon Bender

Sound Effects Editors - Scott Martin Gershin,

Rick Morris, Alan Rankin, Joseph Phillips,

Peter J. Lehman, Brian McPherson and

Anthony J. Miceli

ADR Supervisor - Curt Schulkey

Re-Recording Mixers - Terry Porter,

Mel Metcalfe and Dean A. Zupancic

Foley Artists - John Roesch and

Hilda Hodges

Songs Conductor/Vocal Arrangements/

Contractor - David Friedman

Executive Music Producer - Chris Montan


Awards

1996 Academy Awards
Best Music, Original Song "Colors of the Wind" -
Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz (Won)
Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score -
Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz (Won)


Review
POCAHONTAS is the best-looking movie from Disney that has ever done, with good animation and vivid art direction. However, it is a problematic film, rife with inconsistencies that hurt it somehow. These include historical inaccuracies, animal characters that don't talk (like Meeko, Flit and Percy), a weak villain and a bittersweet ending. The former and latter are because Disney is willing to overlook the history of the real-life Pocahontas and the events despite the research the filmmakers took but decided to ignore it in favour of a fictionalised story. The things about the film which are worthwhile are the voice acting of Mel Gibson, David Odgen Stiers and Christian Bale and three songs by Alan Menken including "Steady as the Beating Drum", the Oscar-winning "Colors of the Wind" and "Savages".

It's funny how most Disney animators and executives thought POCAHONTAS had the potential to become the ultimate hit for the studio instead of The Lion King. It turns out that it was the opposite, and it is one of those animated movies that tried so hard to be better, but it ends up being average.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Casino Royale Review

Casino Royale


Release Date: 7th December 2006 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures (copyright holder)
Eon Productions (presents)
Casino Royale Productions
Stillking Films
Studio Babelsberg

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Danjaq (copyright holder)

United Artists (copyright holder)

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 144 minutes


Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $616,577,552 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Having earned his 00 status and licence to kill, James Bond goes to Madagascar on his first mission, where he is to spy on a terrorist, Mollaka, but not everything goes as planned, and Bond decides to investigate, independently of MI6, to look for the rest of the terrorist cell. He finds a lead to the Bahamas, where the British spy comes across Dimitrios and his girlfriend, Solange. 007 discovers that

Dimitrios is involved with Le

Chiffre, a private banker who

funds the world's terrorist

organisations.

He learns from the Secret

Service intelligence that

Le Chiffre is setting up a

high-stakes poker game to

recover a large sum of

money he owed his clients,

which he lost in a failed

plot that the British secret

agent took down. MI6

assigns Bond to play

against him, knowing

that their newest "00"

operative will have the

advantage to defeat Le

Chiffre and end his

organisation.


Cast
Daniel Craig - James Bond

Eva Green - Vesper Lynd
Judi Dench - M
Mads Mikkelsen - Le Chiffre
Jeffrey Wright - Felix Leiter
Giancarlo Giannini - Rene Mathis
Simon Abkarian - Alex
Dimitrios
Caterina Marino - Solange
Dimitrios
Jesper Christensen - Mr. White
Isaach De Bankole - Steven
Obanno
Ivana Milicevic - Valenka
Tobias Menzies - Villiers
Claudio Santamaria - Carlos
Sebastien Foucan - Mollaka
Malcolm Sinclair - Dryden
Richard Sammel - Adolph Gettler
Ludger Pistor - Mendel
Joseph Millson - Carter
Darwin Shaw - Fisher
Clemens Schick - Kratt
Emmanuel Avena - Leo

Tom Chadbon - Stockbroker
Ade - Infante
Urbano Barberini - Tomelli
Tsai Chin - Madame Wu
Charlie Levi Leroy - Gallardo
Lazar Ristovski - Kaminofsky
Tom So - Fukutu
Veruschka von Lehndorff - Gräfin von

Wallenstein

Andreas Daniel - Daniel

Carlos Leal - Tournament Director

Christina Cole - Ocean Club Receptionist
Jurgen Tarrach - Schultz

Michael G. Wilson - Chief of Police (Cameo)

Phil Meheux - Treasury Bureaucrat (Cameo)

Richard Branson - Man at Airport Security

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Martin Campbell - Airport Worker (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Martin Campbell
Based on Novel "Casino Royale" - Ian Fleming
Screenplay - Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
and Paul Haggis
Executive Producers - Callum McDougall
and Anthony Waye
Producers - Michael G. Wilson
and Barbara Broccoli
Co-Producer - Charlie Woebcken

Casting Directors - Janet Hirshenson,

Jane Jenkins and Debbie McWilliams

Animal Coordinators - Gary Gero and

Paul 'Sled' Reynolds

Animal Trainers - Tamara Brock,

Jules Sylvester and Julie Tottman
Production Designer - Peter Lamont
Supervising Art Director - Simon Lamont
Art Directors - Peter Francis, James Hambidge,
Michael Lamont, Steven Lawrence and
Dominic Masters

Stand-by Art Director - Neal Callow
Set Decorators - Lee Sandales and

Simon Wakefield

Property Master - Ty Teiger
Costume Designer - Lindy Hemming

Costume Supervisor - Dan Grace

Supervising Armorer - Richard Hooper

Makeup Supervisor - Paul Engelen
Director of Photography - Phil Meheux

Underwater Photographer - Mike Valentine

Production Managers - Sabrina Allaria

and Chris Brock

First Assistant Director - Bruce Moriarty

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Terry Madden
Second Unit Director/Director of Photography:
Second Unit - Alexander Witt
Stunt Coordinator - Gary Powell

Aerial Coordinator/Helicopter Pilot -

Marc Wolff

Aircraft Coordinator: Picture Aircraft -

Mike Woodley

Helicopter Pilot - David Paris
Special & Miniature Effects Supervisor -
Chris Corbould
Special Effects Buyer/Coordinator -

Lynne Corbould
Visual Effects Supervisor - Huseyin Caner
Visual & Miniature Effects Supervisor -

Steven Begg
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Angela Barson

Visual Effects Consultant: Peerless -

Kent Houston

Director of Photography: Visual Effects,

Venice - Peter Field
Film Editor - Stuart Baird

Assistant Editors - Mark Burton,

Jo Dixon and Gregg Wilson
Title Designer - Daniel Kleinman

Sound Designer - Martin Cantwell

Supervising Sound Editor - Eddy Joseph

Sound Effects Editors - Jimmy Boyle,

James Harrison, Oliver Tarney and Jack Whittaker

Sound Mixer - Chris Munro

Re-Recording Mixer - Mark Taylor

Foley Artists - Peter Burgis,

Paul Hanks and Ian Waggott
Composer: James Bond Theme - Monty Norman
Music - David Arnold
Writer/Performer: Song "You Know

My Name" - Chris Cornell

Score Engineer/Mixer - Geoff Foster

Review
Not quite the reboot that I was expecting, CASINO ROYALE is a great James Bond movie, and it took four years after the last Bond film, Die Another Day, to make this adaptation of the character's first story by Ian Fleming. The film takes Bond back to where he should be in his roots and eschews the tropes of the series' previous films. It ditches the silliness of the high-tech gadgetry and visuals that are said to have plagued Die Another Day, although it lacks the character of Q, who is integral to the Bond franchise. It has a superb plot and character focus that are important to the film. Best of all, it showcases some intense action and suspense. Actor Daniel Craig was incredible in his performance as the title character, which is much more aggressive, rough and gritty than the previous interpretations from actors like Sean or Pierce.

While the movie manages to re-invent the Bond franchise, CASINO ROYALE is enjoyable and even brutal in some ways, with style and panache. I can't wait for the new Bond film Skyfall to come out, and yes, it does have Q. I recommend this movie to Bond fans.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Film Guru Lad's Top 3 Star Wars Movies

Now that the Walt Disney Company has bought Lucasfilm and Star Wars. And Disney is planning to make episode VII. Here are the top three films of the science-fiction franchise. These movies feature unforgettable moments like "I Am Your Father" and characters like Luke, Leia, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Yoda, Obi-Wan, Boba Fett and Darth Vader. (Not the awful ones like the clumsy comic relief Jar Jar Binks or the "I hate sand" scene).

#3. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

While the other prequels did not quite live up to the original films, REVENGE OF THE SITH is dark and tragic but brings back the good old storytelling that made the series grand. It still has the right tools, like the visuals, some incredible action scenes, and an ending that helps to link both trilogies together. Not only was it the strongest of the two prequels, but it was also the conclusion of Star Wars.

#2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

A NEW HOPE is a movie that started the whole franchise. It is the first film in the original trilogy. It introduced the elements that brought the series together, such as the characters, visuals, and music by John Williams. It's the most exciting and excellent way to start a film saga like Star Wars, and I suggest you watch the unaltered version instead of the special edition. Yes, it does include the scene, which is the crowning moment, where Han shoots first.

#1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

It may be the absolute fan favourite of all the Star Wars movies. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK has provided aspects, such as a romantic subplot involving Han and Leia and new characters like Yoda and Boba Fett. There are iconic moments, impressive action scenes, and the most shocking plot twist in film history. And who can forget the way it ends on a cliffhanger? I always thought that Return of the Jedi was the series' best. Now I believe in EMPIRE and consider it my ultimate top favourite movie.

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