The Dark Knight Rises Review

The Dark Knight Rises


Release Date: 19th July 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
DC Comics
DC Entertainment
Legendary Pictures
Syncopy

Distribution
Roadshow Distribution


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 165 minutes


Budget: $230,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,084,939,099
(Worldwide - figure subject to change)


Plot Summary
Batman is called upon
again when an evil terrorist
named Bane arrives in
Gotham City, intent on
destroying it.


Cast
Christian Bale - Bruce
Wayne/Batman

Tom Hardy - Bane
Anne Hathaway - Selina 

Kyle/Catwoman
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - John 

Blake
Michael Caine - Alfred 

Pennyworth
Gary Oldman - Commissioner James Gordon

Morgan Freeman - Lucius Fox
Marion Cotillard - Miranda Tate
Cillian Murphy - Dr. Jonathan 

Crane (Cameo)
Liam Neeson - Ra's Al Ghul (Cameo)
Josh Pence - Young Ra's Al Ghul
Nestor Carbonell - Mayor
Anthony Garcia
Juno Temple - Jen
Ben Mendelsohn - John Daggett
Matthew Modine - Peter Foley
Burn Gorman - Philip Stryver
Alon Aboutbul - Leonid Pavel
Daniel Sunjata - Capt. Mark Jones
Chris Ellis - Father Reilly
Tyler Dean Flores - Mark
Brett Cullen - Byron Gilley
Rob Brown - Allen
Josh Stewart - Barsad
Will Estes - Officer Simon Jansen
Uri Gavriel - Blind Prisoner
John Nolan - Fredericks
Joey King - Older Prison Child
India Wadsworth - Warlord's Daughter
Thomas Lennon - Doctor
Patrick Leahy - Board Member #2
Christopher Judge - Mercenary Security #4

Crew
Story/Screenplay/Producer/
Director - Christopher Nolan
Based on Batman Characters - Bob Kane &
Bill Finger (Uncredited)
Character: Alfred Pennyworth - Jerry Robinson 

(Uncredited)
Story - David S. Goyer
Screenplay - Jonathan Nolan
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Kevin De La Noy
Executive Producers - Benjamin Melniker, 

Michael Uslan & Thomas Tull 

Producers - Charles Roven & Emma Thomas
Co-Producer - Jordan Goldberg
Consultant: IMAX - David Keighley 
Casting Directors - John Papsidea &
Toby Whale
Production Designers - Nathan Crowley & 

Kevin Kavanaugh

Supervising Art Directors - James Hambidge & 

Naaman Marshall
Costume Designer - Lindy Hemming
Director of Photography - Wally Pfister
Stunt Coordinators - Paul Jennings,
Sy Hollands & Tom Struthers 
Special Effects Supervisors - Chris Corbould & 

Andrew Smith
Special Effects Coordinators - Scott R. Fisher & 

Jeff Brink
Visual Effects Supervisor - Paul J. Franklin

Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative - Pete Bebb

Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Rob Hodgson

Visual Effects Producer - Mike Chambers
Film Editor - Lee Smith
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -
Richard King
Music - Hans Zimmer
Composers: Additional Music - Lorne Balfe &
Junkie XL


Review
While it still carries some loyalty to the Batman comic series and ingenious writing, 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES' was sophisticated but a little bit shocking and it definitely runs as second best to the last movie 'The Dark Knight' Where do I start with this unbelievable superhero picture, the portrayal of the villain Bane is better than the one in 'Batman & Robin' because he is more menacing and intelligent. Tom Hardy is appropriate for playing the masked brute that we know from the Batman comic issues and cartoons. I praise Anne Hathaway's performance as Catwoman and she does it differently than Michelle Pfeiffer's dark and villainous interpretation and the continued acting by Christian Bale of which is fairly similar to his previous acting in the last two Batman movies.

All I can say is step aside Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan is in the house and I don't know whether to say that 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES' is either the third or final film instalment to this masterpiece trilogy. It must be a conclusion to the shadowy masked hero character.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Review

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm


Release Date: 25th December 1993 - USA


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment (presents)
Warner Bros. Animation


Genre: Animation/Family/

Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 73 minutes


Budget: $6,000,000

Box Office Gross: $5,863,139 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When a mysterious new villain called the Phantasm kills a few of the city's most feared gangsters, Batman gets blamed for these murders. It's up to the Caped Crusader to stop this shadowy figure and clear his name.


Voice Cast
Kevin Conroy - Bruce Wayne/

Batman

Mark Hamill - The Joker
Dana Delany - Andrea Beaumont
Hart Bochner - Arthur Reeves
Stacy Keach - The Phantasm/Carl Beaumont

Abe Vigoda - Salvatore Valestra
Dick Miller - Charles "Chuckie" Sol

John P. Ryan - Buzz Bronski
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. - Alfred
Pennyworth
Bob Hastings - Commissioner James Gordon

Robert Costanzo - Detective
Harvey Bullock

Arleen Sorkin - Ms. Bambi (Uncredited)

Crew
Co-Producer/Digital

Animator/Background Stylist/Director - Eric Radomski

Co-Producer/Character/
Storyboard Designer/

Director - Bruce Timm

Sequence Directors/Storyboard Designers - Kevin Alteri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur and Dan Riba
Batman Creator - Bob Kane

Character: The Joker - Jerry
Robinson (Uncredited)
Story/Screenplay/Co-Producer -

Alan Burnett
Screenplay - Paul Dini, Martin Pasko and Michael Reaves
Executive Producer - Tom Ruegger
Producers - Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan
Casting and Voice Supervision - Andrea Romano

Art Director/Character Designer - Glen Murakami

Character Designers - Chen-Yi Chang,

Michael Diedrich, Craig Kellman and

Dexter Smith

Storyboard Designers - Butch Lukic,

Doug Murphy, Gregg Davidson,

Ronnie Del Carmen, Brad Rader, Joe Denton,

Jeff Snow, Michael Goguen and Mark Wallace

Background Design Supervisor - Ted Blackman

Supervising Timing Director - James T. Walker

Camera Director: Dong Yang Animation -

Sung-Il Choi

Editor - Al Breitenbach

Supervising Sound Editor - Julia Evershade
Phantasm Voice Design/Re-Recording Mixer -
Wayne Artman

Re-Recording/Music Scoring Mixer -

Robert Fernandez

Re-Recording Mixer - Tom E. Dahl

Foley Artists - Kevin Bartnof,

Ellen Heuer and Richard Partlow (Uncredited)

Music - Shirley Walker
Synthesist - Hans Zimmer


Review 

BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM had a compelling plot, gripping mystery and excellent 2D animation. Because it is dark, complex and mature, many critics consider it one of the best animated and comic book movies. I remember watching PHANTASM a few times on VHS as a kid while on a family holiday in Narooma. Having grown up with Batman: The Animated Series, it's no surprise that this movie is a spin-off. I am pleased that this superhero film has worked out so well being released on VHS, given its disastrous release in theatres. In reality, this animated film is an extraordinary masterpiece. What makes the movie all the more worthwhile is that it is remarkably violent and contains some mature themes, which gives it a PG rating.

I praise the voice acting of Kevin Conroy, who does a brilliant job for the Caped Crusader and Mark Hamill as the Joker. A few impressive scenes include the flashback when Bruce Wayne first puts on the mask as Batman, which is something that the live-action movies didn't show.

MASK OF THE PHANTASM is one of my favourites, and I still believe the best Batman movie of all time is The Dark Knight. This incarnation is a must-see for fans of the comic book.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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The Dark Knight Review

The Dark Knight


Release Date: 16th July 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presentation)

Legendary Pictures (in association with)
DC Comics

Syncopy

Distribution

Roadshow Films


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 152 minutes


Budget: $185,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,009,053,678 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Batman now keeps a watchful eye on Gotham City as its defender and sets out to rid the city of its organised crime with the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent. They soon realise they have met their match when they encounter a psychotic criminal with unclear motivations known as The Joker, who pressures Batman into making tough choices.

Cast
Christian Bale - Bruce

Wayne/Batman
Heath Ledger - The Joker
Aaron Eckhart - Harvey Dent/
Two-Face
Michael Caine - Alfred

Pennyworth
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Rachel Dawes

Gary Oldman - James Gordon
Morgan Freeman - Lucius Fox

Eric Roberts - Sal Maroni

Chin Han - Lau

Colin McFarlane - Gillian B. Loeb
Michael Jai White - Gambol
Ritchie Coster - The Chechen
Anthony Michael Hall - Mike Engel

Néstor Carbonell - Mayor Anthony Garcia
Keith Szarabajka - Det. Gerard Stephens

Joshua Harto - Coleman Reese
Monique Gabriela Curnen - Anna Ramirez
Ron Dean - Det. Michael Wuertz

Melinda McGraw - Barbara
Gordon

Nathan Gamble - James Gordon, Jr.

Michael Vieau - Rossi
Michael Stoyanov - Dopey
William Smile - Happy
Danny Goldring - Grumpy
Michael Jai White - Gambol
Matthew O'Neill - Chuckles

William Fichtner - Bank Manager

Beatrice Rosen - Natascha

Nydia Rodriguez Terracina - Judge Surillo
Andy Luther - Brian
Philip Bulcock - Murphy

K. Todd Freeman - Polk
Matt Shallenberger - Berg
Patrick Clear - Judge Freel
Cillian Murphy - Dr. Jonathan
Crane/Scarecrow (Cameo)

Tommy 'Tiny' Lister - Tattooed Prisoner
Patrick Leahy - Gentleman at Party (Cameo)
David Dastmalchian - Joker's Thug

Vincenzo Nicoli - Crime Boss

Paul Birchard - Cop with Fat Thug

William Armstrong - Evans

Hannah Gunn - Gordon's Daughter

Crew
Story/Screenplay/Producer/
Director - Christopher Nolan
Batman Creators - Bob Kane

and Bill Finger (Uncredited)

Characters: Alfred Pennyworth &

The Joker (Uncredited)/Creative Consultant:

DC Comics - Jerry Robinson
Story - David S. Goyer
Screenplay - Jonathan Nolan

Script Supervisor - Steve Gehrke
Associate Producer - Jordan Goldberg
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Kevin De La Noy
Executive Producers - Benjamin Melniker,
Michael Uslan and Thomas Tull
Producers - Lorne Orleans (IMAX Version),
Charles Roven and Emma Thomas
Consultant: IMAX - David Keighley
Casting Director - John Papsidera

Trainers: Birds & Animals - Allan Castillo,

Gwen Griffiths, Mary Johnson,

Thomas L. Gundseron, Philip Hoelcher,

Dennis Posey, Julie Tottman and Tony Suffredini

Production Designer - Nathan Crowley

Supervising Art Directors - Kevin Kavanaugh

and Simon Lamont
Art Directors - Mark Bartholomew,
James Hambidge, Craig Jackson,
Steven Lawrence and Naaman Marshall

Assistant Art Directors - Toby Britton,

Phillis Lehmer and Peter Dorme

Standby Art Directors - Neal Callow

and Ashley Winter

Set Decorator - Peter Lando

Prop Masters - Kris Peck and Jamie Wilkinson

Armourers - Jon Baker, Harry Lu

and Damian Mitchell
Costume Design - Lindy Hemming

Assistant Costume Designers - Guy Speranza

and Emily-Rose Yiaxis

Costume Supervisors - Dan Grace,

Jennifer Jobst and Turgay Gürsoy (Uncredited)

Costume Concept Artist - Rob Bliss

Costume Effects Supervisor - Graham Churchyard
Makeup/Hair Designer - Peter Robb-King
Makeup Artist: Heath Ledger - John Caglione Jr.

Prosthetic Supervisor - Conor O'Sullivan

Director of Photography - Wally Pfister

Aerial Photography - Hans Bjerno

"A" Camera/Steadicam Operator - Bob Gorelick

Camera Technician: IMAX - Wayne Baker

First Assistant Camera: "A" Camera - Bob Hall

Production Supervisors - Geoff Dibben

and Thomas Hayslip

Production Coordinators - Candice D. Campos

and Stephanie Dölker

Assistant Production Coordinators -

Claire Connelly, Matthew Jenkins,

Mark Swenson and Hallam Rice-Edwards

Unit Production Managers - Jan Foster

and Susan Towner

Supervising Location Managers - Robin Higgs

and James R. McAllister

First Assistant Director - Nilo Otero
Stunt Coordinators - Paul Jennings,
Rick Le Fevour and Tom Struthers

Assistant Stunt Coordinator - Sy Hollands

Fight Consultants - Andy Norman

and Justo Dieguez

Aerial Coordinator/Pilot - Craig Hosking

Special Effects Supervisor - Chris Corbould

Special Effects Coordinators - Lynne Corbould

and Don Parsons

Mechanical Effects Supervisors: New Deal

Studios - Scott Beverly and Robert Spurlock

Prep Supervisor - Ian Lowe

Visual Effects Supervisor - Nick Davis
Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore -

Timothy Webber
Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -

Paul J. Franklin

Visual Effects Supervisor: New Deal Studios -
Ian Hunter

Visual Effects Producer: New Deal Studios -

David Sanger

Miniature Effects Supervisor: New Deal Studios -

Forest P. Fischer

Director of Photography: New Deal Studios -

Tim Angulo

CG Supervisors: Double Negative - Pete Bebb,

David Vickery and Philippe LePrince

Compositing Supervisor: Double Negative -

Andrew Lockley

Compositing Supervisor: Framestore -

Jonathan Fawkner

CG Sequence Supervisors: Double Negative -

Stuart Farley, Jordan Kirk, Dan Neal,

Aleksandar Pejic and Trina M. Roy

Lead CG Lighting Artists: Double Negative -

Bruno Baron, Antonie Moulineau, David Basalla,

Maxx Wai In Leong and Pietro Ponti

Compositing Sequence Supervisors: Double

Negative - Robin Beard, Ciaran Crowley,

Bronwyn Edwards, Gruff Owen and George Zwier

Film Editor - Lee Smith

First Assistant Editor - John Lee

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -
Richard King

Production Sound Mixer - Ed Novick

Sound Effects Recording Mixers - John P. Fasal

and Eric Potter

Re-Recording Mixers - Lora Hirschberg

and Gary A. Rizzo

Additional Re-Recording Mixer -

Doug Hemphill

Foley Artists - Alyson Dee Moore

and John Roesch

Music - James Newton Howard
Music/Synthesiser Programmer/

Score Producer (Uncredited) - Hans Zimmer
Composers: Additional Music - Lorne Balfe
and Craig Braginsky (Uncredited)

Music Ambient Designer - Mel Wesson

Synthesiser Programmers - Henry Jackman

and Howard Scarr

Music Editors - Alex Gibson and

Daniel Pender

Supervising Score Coordinator - Steven Kofsky

Score Coordinator - Becky Bentham

Score Recordist - Geoff Foster

Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Awards

2009 Academy Awards
Best Sound Editing - Richard King (Won)
Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger (Won) (Posthumously)
----------------
Best Art Direction - Nathan Crowley
and Peter Lando (Nominated)
Best Cinematography - Wally Pfister (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Lee Smith (Nominated)
Best Makeup - John Caglione Jr. and Conor O'Sullivan (Nominated)
Best Sound Mixing - Lora Hirschberg,

Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - Nick Davis, Chris Corbould,
Timothy Webber and Paul J. Franklin (Nominated)


Review
An ultimate continuation to the last Batman movie by the now notable director Chris Nolan, THE DARK KNIGHT is a perfect picture and a terrific comic book adaptation. It is also influential in its visual style and darker tone. Due to being a more serious drama than its predecessor, Batman Begins, it also has enough tension and action to satisfy popcorn movie lovers.

The acting was brilliant, particularly Aaron Eckhart, who plays the tragic Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, and the late Heath Ledger, who delivered a tremendous job of playing Batman's dark, twisted and psychotic foe, the Joker. Eckhart has performed an authentic interpretation of Two-Face more than Tommy Lee Jones on Batman Forever. Jones's portrayal of the character is due to being hammy and goofy, which doesn't match Two-Face's dual personality. In retrospect, Eckhart's rendition of the villain has a different personality and is much better. It's sad that Heath tragically died just a few months before the film was released. Fans would have loved to see him return to his character in the next instalment if he were still alive.

All I need to say about THE DARK KNIGHT is that I loved it. It's not only the best movie of 2008. But it is also the best Batman movie adaptation of all time. This film has had a massive following from fans and non-fans from all the released Batman interpretations. I highly recommend it.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Ice Age: Continental Drift Review

Ice Age: Continental Drift


Release Date: 28th June 2012 - Australia


Production Companies
Blue Sky Studios

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 92 minutes


Budget: $95,000,000

Box Office Gross: $877,244,782
(Worldwide)



Plot Summary
Manny, Diego, and Sid 
set out on their greatest 
adventure an entire 
continent is set adrift. 
Separated from the rest 
of their pals, they're 
launched on an epic 
seafaring quest, using an 
iceberg as a makeshift ship.
Manny and the gang are 
challenged to become 
heroes and do the 
impossible as they 
encounter exotic sea 
creatures, explore a brave 
new world, and battle 
ruthless pirates. Meanwhile, 
Scrat's reunion with his 
cursed nut launches him to 
places no prehistoric 
squirrel has gone before.

(Source - Metro Cinemas)


Voice Cast
Ray Romano - Manny
John Leguizamo - Sid
Denis Leary - Diego
Queen Latifah - Ellie
Seann William Scott - Crash
Josh Peck - Eddie
Chris Wedge - Scrat
Keke Palmer - Peaches
Jennifer Lopez - Shira
Peter Dinklage - Captain Gutt
Wanda Sykes - Granny
Josh Gad - Louis
Drake - Ethan
Aziz Ansari - Squint
Nicki Minaj - Steffie
Rebel Wilson - Raz
Joy Behar - Eunice
Nick Frost - Flynn
Heather Morris - Katie
Kunal Nayyar - Gupta
Alain Chabat - Silas
Alan Tudyk - Milton/Hunky Siren
Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo - Uncle Fungus
Patrick Stewart - Ariscatle

Crew
Directors - Steve Martino &
Mike Thurmeier
Story/Screenplay - Michael Berg &
Jason Fuchs
Executive Producers - Carlos Sandahla &
Chris Wedge
Producers - John C. Donkin
& Lori Forte
Story Consultant - Mike Reiss
Art Director - Nash Dunnigan
Character Designer - Peter DeSeve
Supervising Animators - Nick Bruno
& James Bresnahan
Cinematography - Renato Falcao
Head of Camera & Staging - Robert Cardone
Film Editors - James Palumbo &
David Ian Salter
Co-Editor - Christopher Campbell
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer/
Supervising Sound Editor - Randy Thom
Music - John Powell


Review
'ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT' still has the witty value of hilarious laughter, particularly the antics of that nut-chasing saber-toothed squirrel Scrat, but it's close of keeping up with the previous 'Ice Age' movies including the first one in my case. The voice acting of the sequel is still good, especially from the old stars like Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo and newcomers like Wanda Sykes who does Sid's granny and Jennifer Lopez for the female saber-toothed tiger Shira.

It is expected 'ICE AGE 4' will be the last of the animated film series, although it looks like there is a possibility of a sequel. But it's still an entertaining and good 'Ice Age' movie that everyone will probably enjoy.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Batman Begins Review

Batman Begins


Release Date: 16th June 2005 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Syncopy
DC Comics
Legendary Pictures (Uncredited)

Palatex III Productions Limited

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 140 minutes


Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $375,404,836 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Having witnessed the murder of his parents as a child, Bruce Wayne seeks to avenge their deaths. In his travels, he learns many combat skills to fight injustice. When Bruce returns to the crime-ridden Gotham with the help of his old butler Alfred, ally Lucius Fox and rising cop Jim Gordon, he puts on the cowl as the masked vigilante Batman, who strikes into the mob's and criminals' hearts and uses strength, intellect and high-tech weaponry to rid the city of crime and corruption.

Cast
Christian Bale - Bruce
Wayne/Batman

Gus Lewis - Young Bruce Wayne

Michael Caine - Alfred

Pennyworth
Liam Neeson - Henri Ducard
Katie Holmes - Rachel Dawes

Emma Lockhart - Young

Rachel Dawes
Gary Oldman - Sgt. James

Gordon
Morgan Freeman - Lucius Fox
Cillian Murphy - Dr. Jonathan
Crane/The Scarecrow
Tom Wilkinson - Carmine Falcone
Rutger Hauer - William Earle

Ken Watanabe - Ra's Al Ghul
Mark Boone Junior - Det. Arnold Flass

Larry Holden - Carl Finch
Colin McFarlane - Gillian B.

Loeb
Linus Roache - Thomas Wayne
Sara Stewart - Martha Wayne
Richard Brake - Joe Chill
Tim Booth - Victor Zsasz
Gerard Murphy - Judge Faden
Rade Serbedzjia - Homeless Man
Jack Gleeson - Little Boy

Alexandro Bastedo - Gotham Society Dame

Matt Miller - Gotham Car Cop #3

John Nolan - Fredericks (Cameo)

Lucy Russell - Female Restaurant Guest (Cameo)

Jeremy Theobald - Younger Gotham

Water Board Technician (Cameo)

Crew

Screenplay/Director - Christopher Nolan

Batman Creators - Bob Kane

and Bill Finger (Uncredited)
Characters: Alfred Pennyworth &

Dr Thomas Wayne - Jerry Robinson (Uncredited)
Story/Screenplay - David S. Goyer
Executive Producers - Benjamin Melniker

and Michael Uslan
Producers - Larry J. Franco, Charles Roven,
Emma Thomas and Lorne Orleans (IMAX Version)
Casting Directors - John Papsidera
and Lucinda Syson

Production Designer - Nathan Crowley

Storyboard Artists - Martin Asbury

and James Cornish

Supervising Art Director - Simon Lamont

Supervising Art Director: Cardington -

Steven Lawrence

Senior Art Director - Alan Tomkins

Art Directors - Peter Francis, Paul Kirby,

Dominic Masters, Su Whitaker and

Shane Valentino (Uncredited)

Art Director: Chicago - Patrick Lumb

Standby Art Director - Stuart Kearns

Assistant Art Directors - Stephen Morohan

and Sloane U'Ren

Set Decorators - Andrew Hodgson,

Paki Smith and Simon Wakefield

Property Master - Ty Teiger
Costume Designer - Lindy Hemming

First Assistant Costume Designer - Guy Speranza

Costume Supervisor - Dan Grace

Prosthetics/Bait Suit Consultant -

Nick Dudman
Makeup & Hair Designer - Peter Robb-King

Director of Photography - Wally Pfister

Aerial Photography - Hans Bjerno

"A" Camera Focus Puller - Clive Mackey

First Assistant Camera: Vista Vision, Chicago -

Wayne Baker

Unit Production Manager - Nigel Gostelow

Production Managers - Suzie Wiesmann

and Sam Breckman

Unit Manager - Steve Harvey

Location Managers - Joanna Beckett,

Robin Higgs, Tom Crooke and Mark Somner

Location Manager - James McAllister

First Assistant Director - Cliff Lanning

Key Second Assistant Director - Matthew Sharp

Stunt Coordinator - Paul Jennings

Assistant Stunt Coordinator - Sy Hollands

Assistant Stunt Coordinator: Chicago Unit -

Rick LeFevour

Fight Arranger - David Forman

Fight Consultants - Andy Norman

and Justo Dieguez

Horse Master - Daniel Naprous

Aerial Coordinator - Craig Hosking

Action Vehicle Coordinator - Darren Litten

Special Effects Coordinator - Chris Corbould

Special Effects Workshop Supervisors -

Kevin Herd, Paul Knowles, Roy Quinn and

Andrew Smith

Visual Effects Supervisors - Dan Glass,

and Janek Sirrs

Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -

Paul J. Franklin

Visual Effects Supervisors: MPC - Rudi Holzappel

and Andrew Morley

Visual Effects Supervisor: BUF - Stephane Ceretti

Visual Effects Supervisor: The Senate VFX -

Sean Farrow

Visual Effects Producers: Double Negative -

Hal Couzens and Ellen Walder

Miniature Unit Supervisor: Model VFX Unit -

Steven Begg

Art Directors: Supervising Models,

Model VFX Unit - James Hambidge and

Michael Lamont

First Assistant Director: Model VFX Unit -

Simon Emmanuel

CG Sequence Supervisors: Double Negative -

Pete Bebb, Graham Jack and Alex Wuttke

Sequence Supervisors - Jody Johnson

and George Zwier

Compositing Sequence Leads: Double Negative -

Chris Burn, Matthew Twyford, Jody Johnson,

Jeremy Hattingh, Victor Wade, Andy Lockley,

Steve McKee and George Zwier

2D Supervisor: Double Negative - Charlie Noble

Film Editor - Lee Smith

First Assistant Editor - John Lee

Sound Effects Design - Jimmy Boyle

and Andy Kennedy

Supervising Sound Editors - David Evans

and Stefan Henrix

Re-Recording Mixers - Lora Hirschberg

and Gary A. Rizzo

Foley Mixer - Ed Colyer

Foley Artists - Andi Derrick and Peter Burgis

Music - James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer

Additional Music - Ramin Djawadi and Mel Wesson

Music Programmer - Lorne Balfe

Score Coordinator - Becky Bentham

Music Recordist - Geoff Foster

Awards

2006 Academy Awards
Best Cinematography - Wally Pfister (Nominated)


Review

Unlike the original Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher series, BATMAN BEGINS has a sense of realism. Director Christopher Nolan's interpretation of the titular character is dark and spine-tingling. It seemed disturbing and brutal, whereas the last two Batman films were comical and suitable for young people. How intriguing that the director uses a dark colour scheme in his sets accompanied by a soundtrack by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer? Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson and Gary Oldman were exceptional actors. Christian Bale's performance as Batman flawlessly suited him. It is made apparent he displays heroism and physical form, which is crucial for the dark knight.

Beloved by many fans, BATMAN BEGINS was a promising start to a film series about the caped crusader. It will be ideal for newer fans as it explains what happened before Bruce Wayne became Batman when experiencing the journey he took, becoming the one we all idolise.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Batman Returns Review

Batman Returns


Release Date: 19th June 1992 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (produced in
association with)


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 126 minutes


Budget: $80,000,000

Box Office Gross: $266,903,053
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Having defeated The Joker, 
Batman now faces The 
Penguin – a warped and 
deformed individual
intent on being accepted 
into Gotham society. The 
plot is further complicated 
by Selina Kyle, a wronged 
secretary who transforms 
into the slinky, mysterious 
Catwoman. (Source - EzyDVD)


Cast
Michael Keaton - Bruce
Wayne/Batman
Danny DeVito - Oswald
Cobblepot/The Penguin
Michelle Pfeiffer - Selina
Kyle/Catwoman
Christopher Walken - Max Shreck
Michael Gough - Alfred Pennyworth
Michael Murphy - The Mayor
Cristi Conaway - The Ice Princess
Andrew Bryniarski - Charles
'Chip' Shreck
Pat Hingle - Commissioner Gordon
Vincent Schiavelli - Organ Grinder
Anna Katarina - Poodle Lady
Paul Ruebens - Penguin's Father (Cameo)
Diane Salinger - Penguin's Mother (Cameo)

Crew
Producer/Director - Tim Burton
Based on Batman
Characters/Project Consultant - Bob Kane
Based on Batman Characters - Bill Finger (Uncredited)
Character: Alfred Pennyworth - Jerry Robinson (Uncredited)
Screenplay - Daniel Walters
Executive Producers - Peter Guber, Jon Peters, Benjamin Melniker & Michael Uslan
Producer - Denise Di Novi
Co-Producer - Larry J. Franco
Casting Director - Marion Dougherty

Head Animal Trainer - Gary Gero
Production Designer - Bo Welch

Supervising Art Director - Tom Duffield 

Art Director - Rick Heinrichs

Set Decorator - Cheryl Carasik
Costume Designers - Bob Ringwood & 

Mary E. Vogt
Special Penguin Make-Up & Effects Producer -
Stan Winston
Director of Photography - Stefan Czapsky

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - 

Max Kleven

Stunt Coordinator - Charles Croughwell 

Special Effects Supervisor - Chuck Gaspar
Visual Effects Supervisor - Michael L. Fink
Visual Effects Supervisor: Boss Film Studios -
John Bruno
Visual Effects Supervisors: Matte World -
Craig Barron & Michael Pangrazio

Visual Effects Supervisor: 4-Ward Productions - 

Robert Skotak

Supervisors: Stetson Visual Services -
Robert Spurlock & Mike Stetson

Digital Effects Supervisor: Boss Film Studios -
Jim Rygiel

Supervising Director of Photography: 4-Ward
Productions - Dennis Skotak

Film Editors - Bob Badami & Chris Lebenzon
Music - Danny Elfman


Awards

1993 Academy Awards
Best Visual Effects - Michael L. Fink, Craig Barron,
John Bruno & Dennis Skotak (Nominated)
Best Makeup - Ve Neill, Ronnie Specter &
Stan Winston (Nominated)


Review
'BATMAN RETURNS' is the first sequel of a Batman movie and is good, yet surprisingly darker than the first film (click here), thanks to the vision of its director Tim Burton and it stays true to the comics for what it is today. In the sequel, the story was clever but well-written and it has good acting from Danny DeVito and Christopher Walken. The movie's real stand-out performer was Michelle Pfeiffer who does a wonderful job of playing Catwoman because she's the kitty who was born for this role.

This is the second and last Batman feature that was ever directed by Burton before he was replaced by Joel Schumacher in the third and is almost the best one that is ever being made.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Black Lightning Review

Black Lightning


Release Date: 21st September 2010 -
Australia (DVD)


Production Companies
Bazelevs Production


Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 100 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000


Plot Summary

A student’s life turns

upside down when he

discovers the battered

old car his father gave

him can fly… After

his entire world falls

apart he makes a choice

and shoots from zero to

hero as a crime fighter

known as “Black

Lightning”. Little does

he know that evil forces

are watching, they want

the incredible car, and

will stop at nothing to

get it, even if it means

killing him and

destroying the city.

Cast

Grigori Dobrigin - Dimitriy
Maykov/Black Lighting

Ekaterina Vilkova - Nastya Svetlova

Viktor Verzhbitsky - Prof. Viktor Kuptsov

Sergei Garmash - Pavel Maykov

Elena Valyushkina - Nastasia Maykov

Katia Starshova - Tania Maykova

Ivan Zhidkov - Maxim

Igor Savochkin - Boria Ivanovich

Valeri Zolotukhin - Pavel Perepelkin

Ekaterina Vasilieva - Olga Romantseva

Crew

Director - Dmitriy Kiselev

Based on Idea/Director/

Creative Producer -

Aleksandr Voytinskiy

Based on Idea/Writer/

Editor - Dmitriy Aleynikov

Based on Idea/Creative
Producer - Mikhail

Vrubel

Writer - Aleksandr Talal

Participation - Rostislav
Kriviskiy & Vladimir Neklyudov

Producers - Timur
Bekmanbetov & Iva
Stromilova

Production Designer - Mariya

Turskaya

Cinematography - Sergey Trofimov

Stunt Driver - Martin Ivanov

Stunt Coordinator - Viktor Ivanov

Visual Effects Supervisors - Pavel Donatov,
Oleksandr Kucherov, Oleksii Moskalenko &
Dmitriy Tokoyakov

Film Editor - Ilya Lebedev

Music - Yuriy Poteenko

Review

As I expected from 'BLACK LIGHTNING', it wasn't a bad superhero movie, in fact, it was similar to the first 'Spider-Man' movie. It was something original that viewers haven't experienced before. I really liked the concept of the flying car and how through the film, the car becomes its own character. I am surprised that the whole film was made in Russia in that this country is not well-known for being as technologically advanced as Hollywood filmmakers. They would have had to be very resourceful and efficient in producing 'BLACK LIGHTNING' with a tiny budget of just 15 million. 

Another underrated rare movie, 'BLACK LIGHTNING' deserves more credit than it was given. I should mention that you have to watch this film in either subtitles or English language on DVD.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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In Memory of Richard D. Zanuck (1934-2012)

Richard D. Zanuck (1934-2012)

Hey, this is Film Guru Lad here. I have some sad news. Richard D. Zanuck, the man responsible for producing "Jaws", "Cocoon", and "Driving Miss Daisy", has died of a heart attack at age 77.

He was born in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of the legendary head of 20th Century Fox, Darryl F. Zanuck and actress Virginia Fox. He had studied at Stanford University and began his career in the movie industry, working in the story department of 20th Century Fox. The first picture that Richard produced in 1959 was "Compulsion". Then, in the 60s, he became president of Fox for one year of his tenure. In 1971, after disastrous failures like the 1967 version of "Doctor Doolittle", Richard got forced out of the studio and later joined Warner Bros. as Executive Vice President. A year later, he formed an independent production company called The Zanuck/Brown Company at Universal Pictures with David Brown. The two men had begun with "The Sting" and produced two of Steven Spielberg's early movies. The latter would be "Jaws". They produced box office hits like "Cocoon" and "Driving Miss Daisy" before ending their partnership in 1988.

In 1990, Richard and David were jointly awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Working with director Tim Burton, from the 2001 remake of "Planet of the Apes" to the latest picture, "Dark Shadows". Surviving Zanuck are his wife, Lili Fini Zanuck and his children from his previous marriages, including Dean and Harrison.

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Spider-Man Review

Spider-Man

Release Date: 6th June 2002 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)
Marvel Enterprises
Laura Ziskin Productions

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 121 minutes


Budget: $140,000,000

Box Office Gross: $825,802,095 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Peter Parker is an ordinary teenager who, on a high school field trip, gets accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider and discovers his superhuman abilities. When his uncle gets killed during a robbery, young Peter learns that "with great power comes great responsibility" and vows to avenge his death by using his powers for good. Becoming the extraordinary vigilante he deems himself "Spider-Man", he begins to rid the crime in all the streets before entering into a conflict with a dangerous supervillain known as the "Green Goblin".

Cast

Tobey Maguire - Peter
Parker/Spider-Man

Willem Dafoe - Norman
Osborn/Green Goblin

Kirsten Dunst - Mary Jane
Watson

James Franco - Harry Osborn
Cliff Robertson - Ben Parker
Rosemary Harris - May Parker
J.K. Simmons - J. Jonah Jameson
Joe Manganiello - Flash Thompson
Gerry Becker - Maximilian Fargus

Bill Nunn - Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson
Jack Betts - Henry Balkan

Michael Papajohn - Carjacker
Elizabeth Banks - Betty Brant
Ron Perkins - Dr. Stromm
Stanley Anderson - General
Slocum

Randy Savage - Bonesaw
McGraw

K.K. Dodds - Simkins
Ted Raimi - Hoffman

John Paxton - Houseman

Tim DeZarn - Phillip Watson

Taylor Gilbert - Madeline Watson
Bruce Campbell - Ring Announcer (Cameo)
Lucy Lawless - Punk Rock Girl (Cameo)
Jim Norton - Surly Truck Driver (Cameo)
Stan Lee - Man in Fair (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Sam Raimi
Based on the Marvel Comic

Book/Executive Producer/
Consultant - Stan Lee
Based on the Marvel Comic Book - Steve Ditko

Screenplay - David Koepp

Associate Producer/Production Manager - Steven P. Saeta
Executive Producer - Avi Arad

Producers - Ian Bryce and Laura Ziskin

Co-Producer - Grant Curtis

Casting Directors - Francine Maisler

and Lynn Kressell

Spider Wrangler - Steven R. Kutcher (Uncredited)

Production Designer - Neil Spisak

Conceptual Artists - James Carson

and Warren Manser

Illustrators - Wil Rees, Harald Belker

and Jim Martin
Supervising Art Director - Steve Arnold
Art Directors - Tony Fanning
and Stella Vaccaro

Art Director: New York Unit - Scott P. Murphy

Assistant Art Directors - François Audouy

and Lori Rowbotham
Set Decorator - Karen O'Hara

Set Decorator: New York Unit - DebraSchutt

Property Master - Robin L. Miller

Costume Designer - James Acheson

Additional Suit and Mask Design - Alec Gillis

and Tom Woodruff Jr.

Director of Photography - Don Burgess

Second Unit Director of Photography -

Christopher Faloona

Production Coordinator - Candice D. Campos

First Assistant Director - Eric Heffron

Second Assistant Director - Michael J. Moore

Second Second Assistant Director - Jeff Shiffman

Second Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Nick Satriano

Second Unit Directors - Doug Lefler
and Jeffrey Lynch
Second Unit Director (Uncredited)/Stunt

Coordinator - Jeff Habberstad

Location Manager: New York Unit - John Fedynich

Special Effects Supervisor - John Fraizer

Project Coordinator: Amalgamated Dynamics,

Inc. - Yuri Everson

Mold Department Supervisor: Amalgamated

Dynamics, Inc. - Steve Frakes

Mechanical Supervisor: Amalgamated Dynamics,

Inc. - David Penikas

Visual Effects Designer - John Dykstra

Visual Effects Supervisor - Scott Stokdyk
Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI - Karen E. Goulekas

Visual Effects Supervisor: Digiscope -

Brad Kuehn

Visual Effects Supervisor: Pixel Magic -

Ray McIntyre Jr.

Senior Visual Effects Producer - Lydia Bottegoni

Visual Effects Executive Producer: SPI -

Jenny Fulle

Visual Effects Editor: SPI - Kevin J. Jolly

Digital Effects Supervisor: Digiscope - Dion Hatch

Digital Effects Producer: SPI - Carey Smith

Digital Production Manager: SPI - Chris Juen

Senior Concept Designer: SPI - Martin A. Kline

Conceptual Artists: SPI - Michael Scheffe

and John Bevelheimer

CG Character Animation Supervisor: SPI -

Anthony LaMolinara

CG Supervisors: SPI - Daniel Eaton,

Kee-Suk 'Ken' Hahn and Peter Nofz

Effects Animation Leads: SPI - Theo Vandernoot

and Daniel Kramer

CG Character Animation Leads: SPI -

Spencer Cook and Bill Diaz

Motion Control Supervisor: SPI - Gregory Nic Nicholson

Editors - Arthur Coburn and Bob Murawski

Assistant Editors - Jody Fedele, Paul Hart

and A. Michelle Page

Sound Design and Supervision - Susan Dudeck

and Stephen Hunter Flick

Sound Designers - Steven Ticknor,

Martin Lopez and Charles Maynes

Re-Recording Mixers - Kevin O'Connell

and Greg P. Russell

Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and

Matthew Dettman

Sound Mixer - Ed Novick

Music - Danny Elfman


Awards

2003 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell
and Ed Novick (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk,
Anthony LaMolinara and John Fraizer (Nominated)

Review

While the 2000 X-Men film was the catalyst for a new wave of comic book movies, Sam Raimi continued the craze with his Spider-Man trilogy. Extremely faithful to the Marvel comic book series, the 2002 adaptation of SPIDER-MAN may seem like a great superhero movie to my standards. It's good but flawed. However, the film appealed to comic book fans and was sometimes heartwarming and funny. It does a great job of balancing between fun action and character growth. While Tobey Maguire was a good pick for Spider-Man, he didn't do a standout performance. Willem Dafoe delivers a terrific performance as the Green Goblin that sends shivers down your spine. The effects were dated, and this is a noticeable disadvantage for a movie that relies heavily on good-quality CGI and special effects. The score by Danny Elfman is spectacular and captures the film's mood.

SPIDER-MAN was an action-packed, entertaining start of a trilogy and is worth adding to your collection. I look forward to seeing the reboot of The Amazing Spider-Man, which I will be reviewing and have high hopes for this film.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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