Spirited Away Review (Updated)

Spirited Away


Release Date: 12th December 2002 - Australia


Production Companies
Tokuma Shoten (presents)

Studio Ghibli 

Nippon Television Network (NTV) (presents)

Dentsu (presents)
Buena Vista International (English Dub) (presents)
Tohokushinsha Film Corporation (TFC) (presents)
Mitsubishi (presents)


Genre: Animation/Family/

Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 125 minutes 

Budget: ¥1,900,000,000

Box Office Gross:

$360,795,584 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A ten-year old girl named

Chihiro is about to move

to a new town with her

family when they discover

a seemingly abandoned

amusement park. Despite

the warnings of Chihiro

about the haunted little

village, her parents began

eating strange food,

which turned them into

pigs. She discovers that

the place is full of

supernatural beings under

the rule of an evil sorceress.

However, Chihiro is not

alone, as she must rely on

a mysterious boy named

Haku, who will help her

free herself and her

family from the spell of

this world she has stumbled

upon.

Voice Cast (English Language)
Daveigh Chase - Chihiro Ogino

Suzanne Pleshette - Yubaba/

Zeniba

Jason Marsden - Haku

Susan Egan - Lin
David Ogden Stiers - Kamaji

Lauren Holly - Chihiro's Mother

Michael Chiklis - Chihiro's Father
John Ratzenberger - Assistant Manager
Tara Strong - Boh (Baby)

Bob Bergen - No-Face/Aogaeru

Paul Eiding - Chichiyaku

Crew
Original Story/Screenplay/Director -

Hayao Miyazaki
Director (US Production) - Kirk Wise
English Language Adaptation: US Production -

Cindy Davis Hewitt and Donald H. Hewitt

Chief Executive Producer - Yasuyoshi Tokuma
Executive Producers - Hironori Aihara,

Koji Hoshino, Takeyoshi Matsushita,

Yutaka Nurita, Banjiro Uemura, Seiichiro Ujiie

and John Lasseter (US Production)
Producers - Toshio Suzuki and
Donald W. Ernst (US Production)
Art Director - Yoji Takeshige

Associate Art Director - Noboru Yoshida
Color Design - Michiyo Yasuda
Supervising Animators - Masashi Ando,

Kitaro Kosaka and Megumi Kagawa

Director of Digital Animation - Mitsunori Kataama
Director of Digital Imaging - Atsushi Okui

Editing - Takeshi Seyama

Audio Director - Kazuhiro Hayashi

Recording & Sound Mixing - Shuji Inoue

Re-Recording Mixer: US Production - Terry Porter

Sound Effects - Michihiro Ito and

Toru Noguchi
Music - Joe Hisaishi


Awards

2003 Academy Awards
Best Animated Feature - Hayao Miyazaki (Won)


Review
SPIRITED AWAY is a beautiful and artistically produced anime movie that is brilliant. It's not just the only anime film to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, but also the only 2D-animated film to receive that award. I commend Hayao Miyazaki's direction, which made this film a masterpiece so loved and acclaimed, as was proven by his 2003 Academy Award win. He has created a beautifully weird world with loads of characters, some scary and some less so. The animation is lifelike and beautiful. The attention to detail is impressive, and the way it brings the characters and scenery to life is simply remarkable. Every movement and expression is so smooth and seamless that you almost forget it's unreal. Overall, it's a work of art that truly captures your imagination.

I didn't know that in the English dub, the character Chihiro sounded like Lilo from Lilo & Stitch because both films have the same actress, Daveigh Chase. 

I can't say that I loved SPIRITED AWAY, but it is a great anime film for anyone who wants to experience it. For those who are interested in anime or loved Miyazaki's work, this movie is worth your time. You can watch either the original Japanese version or the English dub.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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84th Academy Awards

84th Academy Awards


Broadcast Date - February 27th 2012 - Australia


Hey, this is Film Guru Lad here. I suppose you
have heard about the Academy Award nominees.

Well, here it is.


Best Picture

The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Best Director

The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants - Alexander Payne
Hugo - Martin Scorsese
Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen
The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick

Best Actor

Demian Bichir - A Better Life
George Clooney - The Descendants
Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt - Moneyball

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Nick Nolte - Warrior
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Actress

Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis - The Help
Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help

Best Animated Film

A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Descendants - Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Hugo - John Logan
The Idles of March - George Clooney, Grant Heslov & Beau Willimon
Moneyball - Screenplay by Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan

Best Original Screenplay

The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids - Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
Margin Call - J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen
A Separation - Asghar Farhadi

Art Direction

The Artist - Production Design: Laurence Bennett, Set Decoration: Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - Production Design: Stuart Craig, Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Hugo - Production Design: Dante Ferretti, Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
Midnight in Paris - Production Design: Anne Seibel, Set Decoration: Helene Dubreuil
War Horse - Production Design: Rick Carter, Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Cinematography

The Artist - Guillaume Schiffman
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Jeff Cronenweth
Hugo - Robert Richardson
The Tree of Life - Emmanuel Lebuzki
War Horse - Janusz Kaminski

Costume Design

Anonymous - Lisy Christl
The Artist - Mark Bridges
Hugo - Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre - Michael O'Connor
W.E. - Arianne Phillips

Best Documentary Feature

Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth
Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated

Best Documentary Short

The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
God Is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Best Film Editing

The Artist - Anne-Sophie Bion & Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants - Kevin Tent
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall
Hugo - Thelma Schoonmaker
Moneyball - Christopher Tellefsen

Best Foreign Language Film

Bullhead - Belgium
Footnote - Israel
In Darkness - Poland
Monsieur Lazhar - Canada
A Separation - Iran

Best Make-up

Albert Nobbs - Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston & Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight & Lisa Tomblin
The Iron Lady - Mark Coulier & J. Roy Helland

Best Original Score

The Adventures of Tintin - John Williams
The Artist - Ludovic Bource
Hugo - Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Alberto Iglesias
War Horse - John Williams

Best Original Song

"Man or Muppet" - The Muppets, Music & Lyric by Bret McKenzie
"Real in Rio" - Rio, Music by Sergio Mendes & Carlinhos Brown & Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Best Animated Short

Dimanche/Sunday - Patrick Doyon
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore - William Joyce & Brandon Oldenburg
La Luna - Enrico Casarosa
A Morning Stroll - Grant Orchard & Sue Goffe
Wild Life - Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby

Best Live Film

Pentecost - Peter McDonald & Eimear O'Kane
Raju - Max Zahle & Stefan Gieren
The Shore - Terry George & Oorlagh George
Time Freak - Andrew Bowler & Gigi Causey
Tuba Atlantic - Hallvar Witzo

Best Sound Editing

Drive - Lon Bender & Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Ren Klyce
Hugo - Phillip Stockton & Eugene Gearty
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Ethan Van der Ryan & Erik Aadahl
War Horse - Richard Hymns & Gary Rydstrom

Best Sound Mixing

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce & Bo Persson
Hugo - Tom Fleischman & John Midgley
Moneyball - Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco & Ed Novick
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush & Peter J. Devlin
War Horse - Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson & Stuart Wilson

Best Visual Effects

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler & John Richardson
Hugo - Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman & Alex Henning
Real Steel - Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor & Swen Gillberg
Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White & Daniel Barrett
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler & John Fraizer

Academy Honorary Award

James Earl Jones
Dick Smith


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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Review

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island


Release Date: 19th January 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
New Line Cinema (presents)

Contrafilm

Walden Media

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/ 

Adventure

Rating: PG

Runtime: 94 minutes

Budget: $79,000,000

Box Office Gross: $335,260,290 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A new adventure begins
for young explorer Sean
Anderson, who decodes a
distress signal from an

island that shouldn't exist.
This mysterious place is

home to strange life forms,

untold riches, active
volcanoes, and many
other secrets. Unable to
stop him from tracking the

signal to its source, Sean's
new stepfather, Hank,
accompanies the teenager

on his journey to the South

Pacific. They travel to the

island, with the help of a
helicopter pilot, Gabato, and
his headstrong daughter,

Kailani, to rescue its sole

inhabitant and escape
before seismic shockwaves
submerge the island and

its treasures forever.

Cast
Dwayne Johnson - Hank Parsons
Josh Hutcherson - Sean Anderson
Vanessa Hudgens - Kailani
Michael Caine - Alexander Anderson
Luis Guzman - Gabato
Kristin Davis - Elizabeth Anderson
Anna Colwell - Jessica

Stephen Caudill - Cop

Branscombe Richmond - Tour Guide

Walker Bankson - Hockey Player

Crew
Director - Brad Peyton
Based on the Novel "The Mysterious Island" -
Jules Verne
Story - Richard Outten
Story/Screenplay - Brian & Mark Gunn
Associate Producer - Hiram Garcia
Executive Producers - Michael Bostick,
Richard Brener, Samuel J. Brown, Michael Disco
and Evan Turner
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Marcus Viscidi
Producers - Beau Flynn, Charlotte Huggins

and Tripp Vinson
Co-Producer - Dwayne Johnson
Casting Directors - Craig & Lisa Mae Fincannon
Production Designer - Bill Boes

Concept Illustrators - Daren Dochterman,

John Eaves, Gregory Hill, Michael Jackson,

Andrew Leung, Miles Teves and Youa Vang

Illustrators - Robin Richesson, Jim Magdaleno,

Vincent Lucido, Regina Conroy and David Lowery

Supervising Art Director - Bruce Hill

Construction Coordinator: Hawaii Unit - Gary Krakoff
Set Decorator: Hawaii Unit - Gary Fettis

Property Master - John Bankston
Costume Designer - Denise Wingate
Director of Photography - David Tattersall

Underwater Director of Photography - Pete Romano

First Assistant Director - John Hockridge

Second Assistant Directors - Joseph J. Kontra

and Cristina de Arce
Second Unit Director: Hawaii Unit/Visual Effects

Supervisor - Boyd Shermis
Stunt Coordinator - Alex Daniels

Special Effects Coordinator - Peter Chesney Jr.
Special Effects Supervisor - Peter Chesney
Visual Effects Supervisor - Nick Pill
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Erik Nordby
Visual Effects Supervisor: Scanline VFX - Bryan Grill

Visual Effects Producer - Randy Starr

3D Stereographer - David Drzewiecki
Editor - David Rennie

Additional Editor - Keith Brachmann
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor - Al Nelson
Sound Designer - Randy Thom

ADR Supervisor - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Re-Recording Mixers - Gregg Landaker and Steve Maslow

Dialogue Editors - Douglas Murray and Marilyn McCoppen

Foley Artists - Jana Vance, Dennie Thorpe,

Sean England and Ronni Brown

Foley Mixer - Frank Rinella
Music - Andrew Lockington

Music Supervisor - Andrea von Foerster


Review
JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND was funny but a bit scary, and it continues where the last movie left off. Like the original, this feature is based on Jules Verne's Mysterious Island and is unrelated to the preceding book. It is a shame that none of the original cast members, including Brendan Fraser and Anita Briem, returned for the sequel. Only Josh Hutcherson from the original cast came back. Instead, we have Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who has proven to be a good substitute for Fraser's character, especially when he sings well. Even the other newly added cast members, like Vanessa Hudgens and Michael Caine, have their moments.

JOURNEY 2 was an exciting movie. The 3D aspect is the icing on the cake. I expect everyone who has read Jules Verne's novels to go and see this movie.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Australia Day

G'day, mates, this is Film Guru Lad here! Today is Australia Day. You might like to check out my reviews made or filmed in Australia, such as Crocodile Dundee, Happy Feet, The Matrix and Kangaroo Jack.

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Battlefield Earth Review

Battlefield Earth

Release Date: 28th September 2000 - Australia


Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Morgan Creek Productions (in association

with)

Franchise Pictures (in association with)

JTP Films

Battlefield Productions

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 117 minutes
                119 minutes (DVD)

Budget: $75,000,000
              (Declared)

             $44,000,000 (Actual)

Box Office Gross:
$29,725,663 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

In the year 3000, Earth is under the rule of a manipulative alien race known as the Psychlos. They have conquered the planet, enslaved humanity, and stripped its precious gold. A human named Tyler gets captured and enslaved after leaving his desolate home high in the Rocky Mountains in search of the truth, and

becomes humanity's last

hope of taking back their

planet.

Cast

Barry Pepper - Jonnie Goodboy Tyler

John Travolta - Terl

Forest Whitaker - Ker

Kim Coates - Carlo

Sabine Karsenti - Chrissy
Michael Byrne - Pastor Staffer

Christian Tessier - Mickey

Sylvain Landry - Sammy

Richard Tyson - Robert the Fox
Michael MacRae - District Manager Zete
Shaun Austin-Olsen - Planetship
Tim Post - Assistant Planetship/Psychlo Guard
Earl Pastko - Bartender

Kelly Preston - Chirk
Jason Cavalier - Floyd
Sean Hewitt - Heywood
Andy Bradshaw - Mason
Jim Meskimen - Blythe
Tait Ruppert - Rodman
Marie-Josee Croze - Mara
Noel Burton - Clinko

Crew

Director - Roger Christian

Based on the Novel "Battlefield Earth" -

L. Ron Hubbard

Screenplay - Corey Mandell

and J.D. Shapiro
Associate Producers - Anson Downes
and Linda Favila
Executive Producers - Ashok Amritraj,
Don Carmody and Andrew Stevens

Producers - Jonathan D. Krane,

Elie Samaha and John Travolta
Co-Producers - James Holt and Tracee Stanley
Casting Director - Lynn Stalmaster

Production/Costume/Creature Designer -

Patrick Tatopoulos

Conceptual Artists: Los Angeles Art

Department - Harald Belker and Kevin Ishoika

Supervising Art Director - Claude Paré

Set Decorators - Louis Dandonneau

and Anna Galéa

Project Supervisor: Patrick Tatopoulos

Design, Inc. - Jake Garber

Special Makeup Effects - C.J. Goldman

Director of Photography - Giles Nuttgens

"A" Camera First Assistant - Nicolas Marion

First Assistant Director - Walter Gaspsrovic
Second Unit Director - Richard Martin
Stunt Coordinator/Stunts: Human - Steve Lucescu
Stunt Co-Coordinator - J.P. Romando
Stunt Co-Coordinator/Stunt Double: Teri/
Stunts: Human - Mark Riccardi
Mechanical Special Effects Supervisor - Louis Craig

Visual Effects Supervisor - Erik Henry

Digital Effects Supervisor: ComputerCafe -

David Ebner

Digital Effects Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues -

Bryan Hirota and Nicholas Titmarsh

Digital Supervisor: Digital Firepower -

Charles Darby

Digital Compositing Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Edwin Rivera

Miniature Supervisor - Bill Pearson

Model Shop Supervisor - Ronny Gosselin
Miniature Special Effects Supervisor -
Joe Viskocil

Motion Control Miniature Supervisor -

Chris Trice

Digital Animation Supervisor/Producer:

Image Savant - Richard 'Dr.' Baily

Matte Painting Supervisor: Digital Backlot -

Robert Stromberg

Film Editor - Robin Russell

Supervising Sound Editor - Christopher S. Aud

Co-Supervising Sound Editor - Bob Redpath

Sound Designers - John P. Fasal,

James Lebrecht and John Nutt

Re-Recording Mixers - David Campbell,

Dan Hiland, Christian P. Melinker,

Ken S. Polk, John T. Reitz and Gregg Rudloff

Music - Elia Cmiral

Review
BATTLEFIELD EARTH did not meet my expectations as a science fiction film. Most of the aspects of the movie were terrible. One example is the dialogue, which includes corny lines like "While you were still learning how to SPELL YOUR NAME! I was being trained to conquer GALAXIES!" and "Rat-brain," and overused words and phrases such as "leverage" and "piece of cake." John Travolta's overacting is worth mentioning, mostly because he had too much fun with his role as the antagonist. This film was also his pet project because he was a devout Scientologist.

One thing that makes BATTLEFIELD EARTH worse is the overuse of Dutch camera angles. The director tilts the camera at about 20 degrees. Either to the left or to the right, creating an innovative yet bizarre look. This technique is ideal for a sci-fi movie like this one. Fewer Dutch camera angles would have helped with my dizziness. BATTLEFIELD EARTH is such a case. I was left feeling nauseous and needing a Panadol.

BATTLEFIELD EARTH is disappointing and the least favourite sci-fi film I have ever reviewed. It could be improved if the cast and crew weren't trying hard to make something extraordinary. Instead, what results is an unintentional sci-fi comedy that fails to excite or engage viewers. I preferred watching Star Wars or The Matrix, which had hardcore action. BATTLEFIELD EARTH is probably not Johnny T's best work.

Star rating: (1/5) Not Worth Watching

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The Muppets Review

The Muppets


Release Date: 12th January 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
Mandeville Films (uncredited)
The Muppets Studio

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Musical

Rating: G

Runtime: 110 minutes

Budget: $45,000,000

Box Office Gross: $171,802,998 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The world's biggest Muppet

fan, Walter, is on a holiday

with his brother Gary and

Gary's girlfriend, Mary.

They learn that greedy Tex

Richman plans to tear

down the Muppet Studios

and drill for oil on the site.

To save the Muppets' old

home, the three friends

team up with Kermit to

bring Miss Piggy, Fozzie,

and the rest of the group

back together for a telethon

to get the $10 million

needed to save the studio.


Cast

Humans
Jason Segel - Gary

Amy Adams - Mary 

Chris Cooper - Tex Richman
Rashida Jones - Veronica Martin
Alan Arkin - Tour Guide
Bill Cobbs - Grandfather
Zach Galifianakis - Hobo Joe
Ken Jeong - 'Punch Teacher' Host
Jim Parsons - Human Walter 

Eddie Pepitone - Postman
Jack Black - Himself (Uncredited)
Kristen Schaal - Moderator

Sarah Silverman - Greeter

Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo - TV

Executive

Raymond Ma - Elderly Asian

Man

Shu Lan Tuan - Elderly Asian Woman

Donald Glover - Junior CDE Executive

Dahlia Waingort - TV Executive

Jonathan Palmer - Reporter One

Don Yanan - Reporter Two

Michael Albala - TV Executive

Julia Marie Franzese - 'Punch Teacher' Kid

Gunnar Smith - Gary Age 6

Connor Gallagher - Gary Age 9

Justin Marco - Gary Age 13

Cameron Kazal - Laughing Kid

Justin Tinucci - Laughing Kid

Alex Long - Laughing Kid

Aria Noelle Curzon - Waitress 

Jerry Nelson - Telethon Announcer (Voice) (Uncredited)

Muppet Performers
Steve Whitmire - Kermit/
Beaker/Statler/Rizzo
Eric Jacobson - Miss Piggy/
Fozzie Bear/Animal/Sam the Eagle/

Marvin Suggs
Dave Goelz - Gonzo/Dr. Bunsen Honeydew/

Zoot/Beauregard/Waldorf/Kermit Moopet
Bill Barretta - Swedish Chef/Rowlf/

Dr. Teeth/Pepe the Prawn/Bobo
David Rudman - Scooter/Janice/Miss Poogy
Matt Vogel - Sgt. Floyd Pepper/Camilla/

Sweetums/80's Robot/Lew Zealand/

Uncle Deadly/Rowlf Moopet/Crazy Harry
Peter Jinz - Walter

Tyler Bunch - Foozie Moopet/Thog/

Additional Muppet Performer

Alice Dinnean - Afghan Hound/Wanda/

Additional Muppet Performer

Cameo Guest Stars
Emily Blunt - Miss Piggy's Receptionist
Whoopi Goldberg - Herself
Selena Gomez - Herself
David Grohl - Animool
Neil Patrick Harris - Himself
Judd Hirsch - Himself
Rico Rodriguez - Himself
Mickey Rooney - Smalltown Resident
Leslie Feist - Smalltown Resident
John Krasinski - Himself
David Bobin - Himself
James Carville - Himself

Crew
Director - James Bobin
Based on Characters - Jim Henson
Writers/Executive Producers - Jason Segel

and Nicholas Stoller
Associate Producer/Puppet Captain - Bill Barretta
Executive Producer - Martin G. Baker

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

John G. Scotti
Producers - David Hoberman and
Todd Lieberman

Casting Directors - Gail Goldberg and Marcia Ross

Production Designer - Steve Saklad

Art Director - Andrew Max Cahn

Assistant Art Directors - John Berger

and Bradley Rubin

Set Decorator - Tracey Doyle 

Costume Designer - Rahel Afiley
Director of Photography - Don Burgess

Director of Photography/Operator: Second Unit -

Michael Burgess

Second Unit Director - Allan Graf
Choreographer - Michael Rooney

Stunt Coordinator - Allan Graf

Special Effects Coordinator - J.D. Schwalm 

On Set Puppet Workshop Supervisor - Jane Gootnick

Legacy Effects Supervisor - J. Alan Scott

Legacy Effects Coordinators - Shane Mahan,

Lindsay MacGowan and John Rosengrant 

Character Concept Designers: Legacy Effects -

Ian Joyner, Darnell Isom, Jim Charmatz

and Polet Harutnian

Model Department Supervisor: Legacy Effects -

Dave Merritt
Visual Effects Supervisor - Danny S. Kim
Visual Effects Producer & Supervisor -
Janet Muswell

Editor - James M. Thomas

Additional Editor - Alan Baumgarten

Supervising Sound Editors - Sean McCormack

and Kami Asgar

Sound Effects Designer - Ben Cook

Sound Mixers - Steve Cantamessa,

Kevin O'Connell and Beau Borders
Songs & Lyrics - Bret McKenzie
Music - Christophe Beck

Songs Mixer/Score Recordist and Mixer -

Casey Stone 

Additional Score Recordist - Steve Kaplan


Awards

2012 Academy Awards
Best Original Song "Man or Muppet" - Bret
McKenzie (Won)


Review
Thanks to director James Bobin and writer/actor/executive producer Jason Segel, THE MUPPETS has brought Jim Henson's most famous creations back to the big screen for the first time since 1999. It was a travesty that The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 came out before THE MUPPETS and beat the film at the box office (but that's coming from someone who is not into lame romances about vampires, but back to THE MUPPETS). I found the songs splendid and the zany, colourful humour that proudly characterises the Muppets quite fitting. Jack Black was their guest star, but I felt sorry for him after what happened during the film's second half. THE MUPPETS is full of cameo appearances from stars including Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Neil Patrick Harris, and other new and old celebrities. The last star among the celebrities, I haven't even recognised him until now. Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory is in one of the film's highlighted musical numbers. I find that an intriguing surprise.

In my opinion, Muppets From Space was my all-time best of the Muppet flicks since it focuses on my favourite muppet, Gonzo. That honour now goes to this recent movie, mainly because it relied on nostalgia. I felt that THE MUPPETS is worth watching, plus it's unforgettable.

For any Muppet fans, it's a bright chance to see all the Muppet characters again, such as Kermit, Gonzo, Animal, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and others. This movie is fantastic, or as I call it, muppet-tastic!

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Finding Nemo Review

Finding Nemo

Release Date: 28th August 2003 - Australia


Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures (presents)

Pixar Animation Studios

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Animation/Family/

Adventure/Comedy

Rating: G

Runtime: 100 minutes

Budget: $94,000,000

Box Office Gross: $940,352,645 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

After his young son Nemo gets snatched by a deep-sea diver and taken to an aquarium in a dentist's office, it's up to his father, a worrisome clownfish named Marlin, to go out on an adventure and find him, accompanied by a forgetful blue tang fish, Dory.

They encounter vegetarian sharks, jellyfish, surfer turtles, and more in the middle of their journey.

Will Marlin be able to find the courage and rescue his son?

Voice Cast
Albert Brooks - Marlin

Ellen DeGeneres - Dory

Alexander Gould - Nemo

Willem Dafoe - Gill

Brad Garrett - Bloat

Allison Janney - Peach

Austin Pendleton - Gurgle

Stephen Root - Bubbles
Vicki Lewis - Deb/Flo

Joe Ranft - Jacques

Geoffrey Rush - Nigel

John Ratzenberger - School of Moonfish

Andrew Stanton - Crush/

Additional Voices
Elizabeth Perkins - Coral
Nicholas Bird - Squirt

Bob Peterson - Mr. Ray/

Additional Voices

Barry Humphries - Bruce

Eric Bana - Anchor

Bruce Spence - Chum

Bill Hunter - Dentist

LuLu Ebeling - Darla
Jordan Ranft - Tad
Erica Beck - Pearl
Erik Per Sullivan - Sheldon

Rove McManus - Additional Voices (Cameo)

Crew

Original Story/Screenplay/

Director - Andrew Stanton

Supervising Editor/Co-Director -
Lee Unkrich

Screenplay - Bob Peterson
and David Reynolds

Associate Producer - Jinko Gotoh

Executive Producer - John Lasseter

Producer - Graham Walters

Production Designer - Ralph Eggleston
Art Director: Characters - Ricky Nierva

Art Director: Shading - Robin Cooper

Art Directors: Environments - Anthony Christov

and Randy Berrett

Character Designer - Dan Lee

Additional Character Designer - Jason Deamer

Story Supervisors - Ronnie Del Carmen,

Dan Jeup and Jason Katz

Production Supervisor - Marcia Jones

Directors of Photography - Sharon Calahan,
Jeremy Lasky and Jerrica Cleland (Uncredited)

Camera Supervisor - Louis Rivera

Production Supervisor - Marcia Gwendolyn Jones

Production Manager - Lindsey Collins
Supervising Animator - Dylan Brown

Directing Animators - Alan Barillaro

and Mark A. Walsh

Supervising Technical Director - Oren Jacob

Technical Development Lead - William Reeves

Computer Graphics Supervisors: Ocean Unit -

Lisa Forssell and Danielle Feinberg

Computer Graphics Supervisor: Reef Unit -

David Eisenmann

Computer Graphics Supervisor: Sharks/

Sydney Unit - Steve May

Film Editor - David Ian Salter

Second Film Editors - Kevin Nolting,

Katherine Ringgold and Stan Webb

First Assistant Editor - Axel Geddes
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor/
Re-Recording Mixer: Skywalker Sound -
Gary Rydstrom

Supervising Sound Editor: Skywalker Sound -

Michael Silvers

Sound Effects Editors: Skywalker Sound -

Teresa Eckton and Shannon Mills

Re-Recording Mixer: Skywalker Sound -

Gary Summers

Foley Editor - Al Nelson

Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance

Music - Thomas Newman

Executive Music Producer - Chris Montan

Music Production Supervisor - Tom MacDougall

Awards

2004 Academy Awards
Best Animated Feature - Andrew Stanton (Won)
-------------------------
Best Writing, Original Screenplay -

Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and

David Reynolds (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - Thomas Newman (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - Gary Rydstrom
and Michael Silvers (Nominated)

Review
Not only does FINDING NEMO have striking humour, but it also has terrific character development and a storyline suited for an underwater family feature. Well-known Australian actors such as Barry Humphries, AKA Dame Edna Everage, Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush, and the late Bill Hunter are providing the voices. Most notably, Ellen DeGeneres gives a hilarious performance as the forgetful blue tang known as Dory.

FINDING NEMO is a near-breathtaking CGI film that is likely Pixar's finest for young children and animation-loving movie-goers.

Did I mention that FINDING NEMO got re-released on 3D? It should be interesting for those who have or have not watched the 2D version of the classic.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Crocodile Dundee Review

Crocodile Dundee


Release Date: 24th April 1986 - Australia


Production Companies
Rimfire Films (presents)


Genre: Action/Adventure/

Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 104 minutes (Australia)


Budget: A$8,800,000 (AUD)

Box Office Gross: $47,707,045 (Australia)


Plot Summary
An American reporter

from New York, Sue,

travels to Australia to meet

and interview a rugged

hunter named Michael J.

"Crocodile" Dundee, who

runs a safari and has just

survived a crocodile attack.

While touring the safari

park in a few days, she

learns more about the

crocodile hunter and gets

saved by Mick from a

crocodile. Sue invites the

bushman to come and visit

New York, as Mick has

never been to a city before.

For the first time in his life,

Mick explores the vast

concrete jungles of

Manhattan and finds its

culture and lifestyle much

different from his life back

home. He soon falls in love

with Sue, and how will she

ever resist his charms?

Cast
Paul Hogan - Michael J.
"Crocodile" Dundee
Linda Kozlowski - Sue Charlton
John Meillon - Walter Reilly
David Gulpilil - Neville Bell
Ritchie Singer - Con
Reginald VelJohnson - Gus
Steve Rackman - Donk
Gerry Skilton - Nugget
Terry Gill - Duffy
Peter Turnbull - Trevor
Christine Totos - Rosita
Graham 'Grace' Walker - Angelo
David Bracks - Burt (Roo Shooter)

Brett Hogan - Peter (Roo Shooter)
Mark Blum - Richard Mason
Michael Lombard - Sam Charlton
Caitlin Clarke - Simone
Irving Metzman - Doorman
Rik Colitti - Danny
John Snyder - Pimp
J.J. Cole - Buzzy
Gwyllum Evans - Wendell Wainwright
Claire Hegue - Dorothy Wainwright

Jan Saint - Wino
Anne Carlisle - Gwendoline
Anne Francine - Fran
Nancy Mette - Karla

Barry Kivel - Coke Snorter
Tony Holmes - Teenage Mugger

Don Lounsbery - Simpson

Crew
Director - Peter Faiman
Original Story/Screenplay/Script Editor:

Australia - Paul Hogan
Screenplay/Script Editor: Australia/
Producer - John Cornell
Screenplay - Ken Shadie
Associate Producer: Australia - Wayne Young

Casting: New York - Paula Herold
Production Designer - Graham 'Grace' Walker

Set Decorator: Australia - Martin O'Neil

Set Decorator: New York - Gretchen Rau
Costume Designer - Norma Moriceau
Director of Photography - Russell Boyd

Camera Operator: Australia - Peter Menzies Jr.

Focus Puller/Panaglide Operator: Australia -

Geoffrey Wharton

Pre-Production Supervisor - Mark Silverman

Production Manager: New York - Kelly Van Horn

Production Manager and Post-Production Supervisor:

Australia - Peter Sjoquist

Location & Unit Manager: Australia -

Phillip A. Patterson

Location Manager: New York - David Pomier

First Assistant Director - Mark Turnbull

Second Assistant Director and Location Scout:

Australia - Craig Bolles

Second Assistant Directors: New York -

Jon Kilik and Richard Schlesinger

Third Assistant Director: Australia -

P.J. Voeten
Stunt Coordinator: Australia - Max Aspin
Stunt Coordinator: New York - Jery Hewitt

Special Effects: Australia - David Hardie

and Chris Murray
Editor - David Stiven

Sound Supervisor: Australia - Roger Savage

Dialogue Editors: Australia - Adrian Carr,

Craig Carter and Karin Whittington

Post Sync Effects Mixer: Australia -

Phil Judd
Original Score - Peter Best


Awards

1987 Academy Awards
Best Writing, Original Screenplay - Paul Hogan,
Ken Shadie and John Cornell (Nominated)


Review
CROCODILE DUNDEE is a great action-adventure comedy film about a crocodile hunter who goes from the Australian outback to the big city of New York. Paul Hogan has done a fabulous job playing the title character, making him look recognisable. Without Hogan, there would be no Crocodile Dundee. The most noteworthy and funniest part of the movie I liked is the scene where Dundee says, "That's not a knife," in response to a mugger threatening him with a switchblade, then pulls out his large knife and finishes his sentence, "That's a knife."

CROCODILE DUNDEE is one of Australia's most beloved comedy features I've ever watched, and a must-see classic for fans of Paul Hogan and Aussie movies.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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