The Wolverine Review

The Wolverine


Release Date: 25th July 2013 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox
Marvel Entertainment (in association with)
TSG Entertainment (made in

association with)
Donners' Company
Ingenious Media (made in
association with)
Big Screen Productions
(produced in association with)

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 126 minutes


Budget: $120,000,000

Box Office Gross: $414,828,246 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Enticed into a Japan he
hasn't seen since the Second
World War, Wolverine, a
centuries-old mutant, finds
himself in a shadowy world
of yakuza and samurai.
Driven to the brink of his
physical and emotional

limits, Wolverine goes on
the run with the grand-

daughter of a powerful
industrialist and - for the

first time - faces the thought
of death. He must contend
with powerful enemies and

the ghosts of his dark past

as he struggles to rediscover

the hero within.


Cast
Hugh Jackman - Logan/
Wolverine
Tao Okamoto - Mariko Yashida
Rila Fukushima - Yukio
Hiroyuki Sanada - Shingen Yashida
Will Yun Lee - Kenuichio Harada
Brian Tee - Noburo Mori
Svetlana Khodchenkova - Viper
Hal Yamanouchi - Yashida
Ken Wamamura - Young Yashida

Famke Janssen - Jean Grey

Nobutaka Aoyagi - Security

Seiji Funamoto - Servant

Shinji Ikefuji - Pock-Face

Qyoko Kudo - Aya

Nobuaki Kakuda - Buddhist Priest

Chiharu Mizuno - Old Woman

Takao Kinoshita - Fruit Cart Vendor

Conrad Coelby - Red Beard

Taris Tyler - Bar Man (Red Beard's Friend)

Sarah Naylor-Liddell - Yukon Bar Patron

Joshua Remilton - Yukon

Bar Patron/Man Near Bar

Andy Owens - Yukon Bar Patron

Allan Poppleton - Yukon Bar Patron

Geoff Burke - Bartender

Yasuyo Shiba - Reporter 1

Mai Ishikawa - Reporter 2

Yaeko Kimura - Mieko

Ryuta Kimura - Hitoshi

Briden Starr - Party Girl 1

Maria Lukasheva - Party Girl 2

Tess Haubrich - Cashier

Taki Abe - Japanese Businessman

William Takayanagi-Temm - Tower Guard

Kuni Hashimoto - Lead Officer

Chikashi Higaki-Linzbichler - Senior

Officer at POW Camp

Shingo Usami - Driver

Naoya Ogawa - Yakuza 1

Atsushi Sawada - Yakuza 2

Takashi Matsuyama - Yakuza 3

Masa Yamaguchi - Yakuza 4

Eric Laciste - Yakuza 5

Hideki Sugiguchi - Yakuza 6

Garrett Sato - Dying Yakuza

Kosuke Masano - Army Officer 1

Yoji Tatsuta - Army Officer 2

Yoshinori Fukushige - Train Commuter

Hiroshi Kasuga - Yashida Security Guard

Yumiko Nakamura - Mariko Staff

Kimi - Saki

Keiko Matsumoto - Shizu

Louis Toshio Okada - Pat Down Guy

Ian McKellen - Magneto (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Patrick Stewart - Charles Xavier/
Professor X (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - James Mangold

Screenplay - Mark Bomback
and Scott Frank

Associate Producer - Tom Cohen

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.
Executive Producer - Stan Lee
Producers - Hutch Parker
and Lauren Shuler Donner

Casting Directors - Lisa Beach,

Suzanne Crowley, Priscilla John,

Sarah Katzman, Jessica Kelly

and Yôko Narahashi

Australian Casting Director - Nikki Barrett
Production Designer - François Audouy

Supervising Art Director - Ian Gracie

Set Decorator - Rebecca Cohen

Property Master - Richie Dehne

Props Manufacture Supervisor - Peter Wyborn
Costume Designer - Isis Mussenden

Armourer - John Bowring

Makeup/Hair Supervisor - Jennifer Lamphee

Special Makeup Effects Supervisors - Paul Latte

and Nick Nicolaou

Additional Makeup - Rick Connelly
Director of Photography - Ross Emery

Director of Photography: Second Unit - Brad Shield

"A" Camera Operator - Marc Spicer

Camera Operator: Second Unit - Calum McFarlane

US Production Manager: Japan Unit - Paul Deason

First Assistant Director - K.C. Colwell

First Assistant Director: Second Unit - Drew Bailey

Second Assistant Director - Deborah Antoniou
Second Unit Director - David M. Leitch 
Stunt Coordinator - Allan Poppleton
Stunt Coordinator: Sydney - Kyle Gardiner 
Fight Coordinator - Jonathan Eusebio 
Special Effects Supervisor - Brian Cox
Special Effects Office Coordinator - Leanne Brooks 
Visual Effects Supervisor - Phil Brennan

Visual Effects Supervisors: Rising Sun Pictures -

Tim Crosbie, Jason Madigan, Paul Kirwan,

Dennis Jones and Nick Pill

Visual Effects Supervisor: WETA Digital - Martin Hall

Visual Effects Producer - Jamie Stevenson
Visual Effects Producer: WETA Digital - Annette Wullems 

Animation Supervisor: WETA Digital - Michael Cozens

CG Supervisors: WETA Digital - Phillip Leonhardt,

Luke Millar and Mike Perry

Creature Lead: WETA Digital - Matthew Muntean

Film Editor - Michael McCusker

Additional Editor - Andrew Buckland

Supervising Sound Editors - Donald Sylvester

and John A. Larsen

Sound Designers - Chuck Michael

and Dhor Mohar

Additional Sound Editors - Warren Hendriks,

Paul Apted, Wayne Lemmer and John Morris

Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett

and Doug Hemphill

Additional Re-Recording Mixer - James Bolt
Music - Marco Beltrami

Additional Music - Buck Sanders,

Brandon Roberts and Marcus Trumpp

Score Recordist & Mixer - John Kurlander

Review
I was expecting to see Pacific Rim in theatres in the late morning, and once again..., inconvenient session times stood in the way. I ended up watching the X-Men spin-off, THE WOLVERINE, which has exceeded audiences' expectations and made a lot of money at the box office. It seems less exciting to see another standalone film of the series than watching mechs beating up gigantic monsters, as an anime fanatic would see in their imagination. The movie was great, but the final part of the climax was weak, which lowered the quality of the film. The same goes for one of the villains, Viper, who is similar to Uma Thurman's Poison Ivy. Charlize Theron would have been a better fit for the character than an unknown Russian actress, which would explain her likeness. The mood and the intense action were brilliant. Even better was the profound themes of the movie. Hugh Jackman still plays the titular hero after a whopping thirteen years.

I feel happy and reassured that they finally got Wolverine to succeed in his movie, unlike X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is not as good as its predecessor. However, THE WOLVERINE was good and is likely the only film enjoyable for the character's fans.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Film Guru Lad's Top Spoiled Brats

Film Guru Lad's Top Spoiled Brats

So remember blog-viewers, if any of you people are spoiled or not or is your child the same, you know what greediness can indulge them and waste everyone lives of money and been bankrupt, you know that's the quickest lesson that they deserve better. Not the ones from the films.


#4. Rachel Bitterman (It's a 

Very Merry Muppet Christmas)

Not technically a spoiled child
but more of an evil greedy
person or in this case, a
woman-child Rachel
Bitterman is the owner of
the Bitterman bank was
introduced as a very sweet
person when she is actually
an ungrateful and greedy
woman who wants the Muppets
Christmas to be ruined by 

planning to foreclose the 

Muppet theatre down, demolish it and replace it with a new nightclub called Club Dot. Thankfully, one of the muppets Pepe who was dating her discovers her plans and manages to betray Rachel at the film's end.


#3. Dudley Dursley (Harry Potter)

There's probably the other
reason that Harry never had
a happy family is his spoiled
cousin Dudley. Raised by
his Muggle parents, the
Dursleys to bully his
magical cousin Harry and
too bad they didn't make him
to be a good person and it
seems upsetting that he
didn't get punished for his
actions. First thing that
Dudley did selfishly was
snatching a letter that was meant to be Harry's and the other thing was pushing him off two times. Thankfully, he happened to be a butt joke of misfortune two times like when Harry makes the glass disappear and Dudley to fall off in the snake exhibit before finding out that he has magic within him and has his bum zapped off by Hagrid and added with a curly pigtail. Serves you right, Dudley-do-wrong!


#2. Angelica Pickles (Rugrats Movies)

I never actually watch the 'Rugrats'
because the animated cartoon had
focused on babies and I used to
watch it when I was very little,
but now that I'm older, I find
that this show was extremely
overrated and so does the movies
except for the spin-off, 'All Grown
Up'. Do you know that there is
only one character in the show
that I like, Angelica Pickles,
of course, she is so mean-spirited,
selfish, obnoxious and a bratty
girl who torments the Rugrats
especially her infant cousins
Tommy and Dil of everything
the toddlers can't do and yet, she
is a bully to them and makes their lives a living hell. Sadly, instead of being the main villain in the movies like in the TV series, she plays the anti-hero role and that is why I'm giving her second place, Sorry, Angelica.


#1. Veruca Salt (Willy 

Wonka & The Chocolate Factory)

There is one more
overindulged child that I
want to list about is
Veruca Salt who actually
looked like to one of my
sisters except she has a
different hairstyle and she's
never that spoiled. Veruca is
the daughter of an owner of
the peanut shelling factory
Salt's Peanuts which is
temporarily turned into an
unwrapping factory and
used as an advantage by
her father to find the golden ticket for her girl. Sadly, her unchanged and insolent nature leads to her downfall and when trying to have one of the geese that lay the golden eggs and being told that it's not for sale. Veruca does a musical number that she wants it now and meets her fate down at the garbage chute. Oh yes, she was a bad egg.

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Superman III Review

Superman III


Release Date: 26th December 1983 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Dovemead Films
Cantharus Productions


Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 120 minutes


Budget: $39,000,000

Box Office Gross: $70,656,090
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Wealthy businessman
Ross Webster discovers
the hidden talents of Gus
Gorman, a mischievous
computer genius. Ross
decides to abuse his talents,
in a way to help Webster
with his plans for economic
control. When the man of
steel interferes, something
must be done about Supes.
When Gus' synthetic
Kryptonite fails to kill
Superman, it turns him in
an evil incarnation of his
former self. The tar-laced
Kryptonite pits man against
himself, setting up the
Clark vs. Superman battle.
(Source - IMDb)


Cast
Christopher Reeve - Clark
Kent/Superman
Richard Pyror - Gus Gorman
Annette O'Toole - Lana Lang
Robert Vaughn - Ross Webster
Margot Kidder - Lois Lane
Jackie Cooper - Perry White
Marc McClure - Jimmy Olson
Annie Ross - Vera Webster
Pamela Stephenson - Lorelei
Ambrosia
Gavan O'Herihy - Brad Wilson
Nancy Roberts - Unemployment Clerk
Graham Stark - Blind Man
Gordon Rollings - Man in Cap
Bob Todd - Dignified Gent
Stefan Kalipha - Data School Instructor
Helen Norton - Miss Henderson
Shane Rimmer - State Policeman
Al Matthews - Fire Chief
Barry Dennen - Dr. McClean
Robert Henderson - Mr. Simpson
Paul Kaethler - Ricky
R.J. Bell - Mr. Stokis
Pamela Mandell - Mrs. Stokis
Ronnie Brody - Husband
Sandra Dickinson - Wife
Phillip Gilbert - Newsreader
Pat Starr - White Coated Scientist
Gordon Signer - Mayor
John Bluthal - Pisa Vendor
David Fielder - Olympic Runner
Robert Beatty - Tanker Captain
Christopher Malcolm - 1st Miner
Larry Lamb - 2nd Miner

Crew
Director - Richard Lester
Creators "Superman" - Jerry Siegel and
Joe Shuster
Screenplay - David & Leslie Newman
Executive Producers - Alexander & Ilya Salkind
Producer - Pierre Spengler
Casting Directors - Jane Feinberg,
Mike Fenton & Debbie McWilliams
Production Designer - Peter Murton
Art Directors - Terry & Brian Ackland Snow
and Bert Davey
Set Decorator - Peter Young
Costume Designer - Evangeline Harrison
Director of Photography - Robert Paynter
Flying and Second Unit Director - David Lane
Stunt Coordinator - Paul Weston
Director of Special Effects and Miniatures -
Colin Chilvers
Supervisor of Optical & Visual Effects - Roy Field
Visual Effects Supervisor - Peter Donen
(Uncredited)
Additional Model Effects - Derek Meddings
(Uncredited)
Additional Model Photography - Paul Wilson
(Uncredited)
Front Projection Consultant - Zoran Perisic
Film Editor - John Victor-Smith
Composer: Original Songs - Giorgio Moroder
Original Superman Themes - John Williams
Music - Ken Thorne


Review
After finishing 'Superman II' from the previous director Richard Donner that hit the theatres in 1980, his so-called replacement director Richard Lester was approached by the Salkinds to make another film of the series. For sure 'SUPERMAN III' could have been a flop but luckily proved itself to be an below average film and is too comical. Adding Richard Pyror to co-star with Christopher Reeve only made things worse.

The other actor by the name of Robert Vaughn portrays a villain that's far sillier and more poor than Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. The good points in this movie is the scene where Superman turns bad and his alter-ego Clark Kent has to face him. Some of the more great things include the few funnier parts like Superman ruining the Tower of Pisa.

'SUPERMAN III' nearly convinced everyone what a bad movie this was and it's nearly as bad as 'Superman IV'. There's a lot more to say that this film needs to have a better storyline, better character development as well as a compelling villain. I'm going to delay this review marathon permanently because I'm deeply focused on seeing the new X-Men movie 'The Wolverine'. I'll get to write the review of this feature someday and return to finalise the Superman marathon.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut Review

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut


Release Date: 28th November 2006 - USA


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 115 minutes


Plot Summary
After being inadvertently released from imprisonment in the Phantom Zone, three super-powered criminals from the Planet Krypton begin their conquest of Earth. Meanwhile, Superman shows a more

romantic side to Lois Lane

as she uncovers his true

identity. Determined to destroy Superman, Lex Luthor escapes from prison and joins forces with the three criminals.


Cast
Christopher Reeve - Clark
Kent/Kal El/Superman
Margot Kidder - Lois Lane
Terence Stamp - General Zod
Gene Hackman - Lex Luthor
Marlon Brando - Jor-El
Sarah Douglas - Ursa
Jack O'Halloran - Non
Jackie Cooper - Perry White
Marc McClure - Jimmy Olsen
E.G. Marshall - The President
Valerie Perrine - Eve Teschmacher
Ned Beatty - Otis
Clifton James - Sheriff
John Ratzenberger - Controller #1
Shane Rimmer - Controller #2
John Morton - Nate
Jim Dowdall - Boris
Angus McInnes - Prison Warden
Don Fellows - General
Pepper Martin - Rocky
Tony Sibbald - Presidential Imposter
Tommy Duggan - Diner Owner
Pamela Mandell - Waitress

Richard LeParmentier - Reporter
Hadley Kay - Jason

Richard Donner - Man Walking Past Diner

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Directors - Richard Donner and
Richard Lester (Uncredited)
Superman Creators - Jerry Siegel and
Joe Shuster
Screenplay - Mario Puzo and
David & Leslie Newman

Continuity - Elaine Schreyeck,

Pamela Davis and Doris Martin
Executive Producers - Alexander (Uncredited)

& Ilya Salkind

Producer - Pierre Spengler

Producer/Film Editor - Michael Thau

(2006 Reconstruction)

Co-Producers - Derek Hoffman and

Cece Neber Labao (2006 Reconstruction)

Creative Consultant/Screenplay
(Uncredited) - Tom Mankewicz
Astronautical Consultant - Harry Lange
Casting Director - Lynn Stalmaster

English Casting - Debbie McWilliams
Production Designer - John Barry
Additional Production Design - Peter Murton
Supervising Art Director - Maurice Fowler
Art Directors - Norman Reynolds,
Ernest Archer, Charles Bishop and

Terry Ackland-Snow

Set Decorators - Peter Howitt and
Peter Young
Costume Designers - Yvonne Blake
and Sue Yelland
Supervisor of Makeup & Special Visuals -
Stuart Freeborn
Cinematographer - Geoffrey Unsworth
Additional Photographer - Robert Paytner

Camera Operators - Freddie Cooper,

David Garfath, Ginger Gemmel, John Harris,

Peter MacDonald, John Morgan and

Chic Waterson

Assistant Directors - Dusty Symonds,

Gareth Tandy, Chris Newman, Terry Madden,

Roy Button, Paul Storey and Raoul Girard
Second Unit Directors - David Tomblin
and Robert Lynn
Stunt Coordinators - Vic Armstrong,
Alf Joint and Paul Weston
Visual Effects Supervisor - Anthony 'Max' Irvins
(2006 Reconstruction)
Director of Special Effects - Colin Chilvers

Flying Effects - Robert Harman

Supervisor of Optical & Visual Effects - Roy Field
Supervisor of Mattes & Composites - Les Bowie
Director of Miniature Effects & Additional
Flying Sequences - Derek Meddings
Director of Photography: Miniature Unit -

Paul Wilson
Special Effects Director: Flying Unit -

Zoran Perisic

Director of Photography: Flying Unit -

Denys N. Coop

Optical & Special Effects Editor - Peter Watson

Matte Artist & Illustrator - Ivor Beddoes

Film Editors - Stuart Baird and
John Victor-Smith

Assistant Editors - Peter Holt, Bob Mullen,

Colin Wilson, Russ Woolnough and

Karen Rasch (2006 Reconstruction)

Supervising Sound Editor - Kelly Cabral

(2006 Reconstruction)

Sound Designer - Cameron Frankley

(2006 Reconstruction)

Re-Recording Mixers - Greg Watkins

and Tim LeBlanc (2006 Reconstruction)
Music - John Williams
Additional Music - Ken Thorne

Music Editors - Robert Hathaway

and Jay Duerr (2006 Reconstruction)


Review

As a kid, I watched SUPERMAN II before seeing the first instalment. What I was unaware of was that shooting for both films was taking place simultaneously. Both happened to be directed by Richard Donner. In the middle of its shooting, SUPERMAN II resulted from a troubled production and a turbulent old year, which saw a fight between the director and the producers, the Salkinds. The disagreement stemmed from the question of whose style to choose. Unfortunately, after Superman premiered to great acclaim, Donner left the sequel incomplete and was replaced by Richard Lester, who finished the remainder of SUPERMAN II. He re-filmed much of it but added new scenes such as comedy, which is unnecessary for the movie, which came out two years later. Fortunately, years later, I finally saw Donner's intended version, known as the Richard Donner Cut, that became available for free online. This version contained extra footage, which profoundly improved the second instalment in its quality. Donner's cut is far superior to Lester's attempt because it is what Donner had envisioned.

Donner's vision included lost scenes that featured Marlon Brando as Superman's dad, and it builds up the father/son relationship that we didn't see in the theatrical version.

I didn't know what to conclude about the Donner Cut of SUPERMAN II. Then again, the new ending was never new and a bit desperate. It is the only great director's cut anyone will ever see.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Superman: The Movie Review

Superman: The Movie


Release Date: 21st December 1978 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Dovemead Films

Film Export A.G.
International Film Production


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 143 minutes
                 146 minutes
                 (extended)


Budget: $55,000,000

Box Office Gross: $300,478,449 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The planet Krypton is heading to imminent self-destruction, as predicted by scientist Jor-El when he tries to warn the ruling council of its implosion. To ensure the survival of the Kryptonian species, he takes certain precautions to send his infant son Kal-El on a ship to Earth. And under its yellow sun, he will attain great powers before becoming the hero of truth and justice. After being sent to Earth, Kal-El lands in Smallville, where an elderly farm couple, the Kents, raised him as Clark Kent and instilled their values. Clark would learn of his origins and must use his

powers for good.

When he moves to Metropolis, the adult Clark joins the Daily Planet as a mild-mannered reporter while becoming the caped wonder known as Superman.

Meanwhile, the world's greatest criminal mastermind, Lex Luthor, is hatching an evil plot to trigger an earthquake that will destroy all of California. Can the Man of Steel thwart this diabolical scheme before it is too late?

Cast
Christopher Reeve - Clark
Kent/Superman
Gene Hackman - Lex Luthor
Marlon Brando - Jor-El
Margot Kidder - Lois Lane
Jackie Cooper - Perry White
Marc McClure - Jimmy Olsen
Valerie Perrine - Eve Teschmacher
Ned Beatty - Otis
Glenn Ford - Jonathan Kent
Phyllis Thaxter - Martha Kent
Jeff East - Teenage Clark Kent
Susannah York - Lara
Terence Stamp - General Zod
Jack O'Halloran - Non
Sarah Douglas - Ursa
Maria Schell - Vond-Ah
Trevor Howard - 1st Elder
Harry Andrews - 2nd Elder
John Hollis - 4th Elder
Lee Quigley - Baby Kal-El
Aaron Smolinski - Baby Clark Kent
Diane Sherry Case - Lana Lang
Larry Hagman - Major (Cameo)
Paul Tuerpe - Sgt. Haley
Bo Rucker - Pimp
Rex Everhart - Desk Sergeant
Roy Stevens - Warden
Rex Reed - Himself (Cameo)
John Ratzenberger - 1st Controller
Phil Brown - State Senator

Steve Kahan - 1st Officer

Kirk Alyn - General Sam Lane (Cameo) (Uncredtied)

Noel Neill - Ella Lane (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Shane Rimmer - Naval Transport

Commander (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Richard Donner
Superman Creators - Jerry Siegel and

Joe Shuster

Story/Screenplay - Mario Puzo
Screenplay - David & Leslie Newman

and Robert Benton
Creative Consultant/Screenplay
(Uncredited) - Tom Mankiewicz

Continuity Supervisor - Elaine Schreyeck
Executive Producers - Alexander (Uncredited)

& Ilya Salkind
Producer - Pierre Spengler
Casting Director - Lynn Stalmaster

English Casting Director - Mary Selway

Physical Trainer: Christopher Reeve -

David Prowse (Uncredited)
Production Designer/Second Unit Director -

John Barry

Supervising Art Director: Canada &

New Mexico - Bill Brodie
Supervising Art Director: England &

New York - Maurice Fowler
Art Directors - Norman Reynolds,
Ernest Archer, Leslie Dilley, Stuart Craig,
Norman Dorme and Tony Reading

Art Directors: USA - Phillip Bennet,

Stan Jolley and Gene Rudolf

Model Construction Manager - Michael Redding
Set Decorator - Peter Howitt
Creative Supervisor of Makeup &

Special Visuals - Stuart Freeborn

Makeup Artists - Sylvia Croft, Graham &

Kay Freeborn, Nick Maley, Basil Newall,

Connie Reeve and Phil Rhodes

Costume Designer - Yvonne Blake

Additional Costumes - Ruth Morley
Cinematographer - Geoffrey Unsworth

Additional Photographers - Jack Atcheler

and Alex Thomson

Additional Photographer: New Mexico -

Robert E. Collins

Additional Photographer: Alberta -

Reginald H. Morris

Additional Photographer: New York - Sol Negrin

Camera Operators - Ken Coles, James Devis,

Roy Ford, Ginger Gemmel, Geoff Glover,

John Harris, Gordon Heyman, Jack Lowen,

Peter MacDonald, John Morgan, George Pink

and Ronnie Fox Rogers

Camera Operators: USA - Howard Anderson III,

Lou Barlia, Mike Cheavlier, James A. Contner

and Jack Courtland

Production Supervisor: North America -

Timothy Burrill

Production Supervisor: New Mexico -

Tim Hampton

Production Manager - Dusty Symonds
Assistant/Second Unit Director - David Tomblin

Assistant Directors - Michael Dryhurst,

Allan James, Gareth Tandy and Vincent Winter

Assistant Director/Flying Unit Coordinator -

Dominic Fulford

Second Assistant Directors - Roy Button,

Patrick Caddell, Michael Green, Michael Hook,

Peter Jacobs, Steve Lanning, Keith Lund,

Charles Marriott, Simon Milton, Michael Murray,

Kieron Phipps, Vic Smith and Gerry Gavigan

(Uncredited)

Second Assistant Directors: USA -

Peter L. Bergquist and Candace Suerstedt

Second Unit Director/Visual Coordinator -

David Lane

Second Unit Directors - John Glen, Robert Lynn,

Andre De Toth and Peter Duffell (Uncredited)

Stunt Coordinators - Vic Armstrong and Alf Joint

Helicopter Pilot: New Mexico - Marc Wolff

Creative Supervisor & Director of Special

Effects - Colin Chilvers

Special Effects: Canada & New York -

John Richardson

Flying Effects - Robert Harman

Creative Supervisor of Mattes & Composites -

Les Bowie

Creative Director of Process Photography -

Denys N. Coop

Flying Systems & Process Projection - Wally Veevers

Creative Supervisor of Optical Visual Effects -

Roy Field

Optical Sequences - Peter Parks

Model Effects Director & Creator - Derek Meddings

Additional Model Effects - George Gibbs

and Brian Smithies

Model Photography - Paul Wilson

Special Visual Effects/Main Titles

Designer - Denis Rich

Zoptic Special Effects - Zoran Perisic

Supervising Editor of Optical & Special Effects -

Peter Watson

Editor - Stuart Baird

Film Editor - Michael Ellis

Assistant Editors - George Akers,

David Beesley, Neil Farrell, Tim Jordan,

Christopher Morris, Mike Round, Gary Shepherd

and Colin Wilson

Supervising Sound Editor - Chris Greenham

Sound & Re-Recording Mixer - Gordon K. McCallum

Sound Mixers - Norman Bolland,

Roy Charman and Brian Marshall

Assistant Dubbing Mixers - Graham V. Hartstone

and Nicolas Le Messurier

Music - John Williams

Music Editor - Robert Hathaway


Awards

1979 Academy Awards
Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects -
Les Bowie (Posthumously), Colin Chilvers,

Denys N. Coop, Derek Meddings and

Zoran Perisic (Won)

------------------------
Best Sound - Gordon K. McCallum,
Graham V. Hartstone, Nicolas Le Messurier
and Roy Charman (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Stuart Baird (Nominated)
Best Original Score - John Williams (Nominated)


Review
Film Guru Lad is here and now to continue the Superman marathon. It's time to travel back to the first movie that gave birth to the superhero genre during the late 70s and brought the Man of Steel to a significant era in Hollywood. It has been many years since the first Superman movie was released. It has never met the standards the series of more recent films set. Some of the special effects are now outdated.

Christopher Reeve is well-matched for the lead role of Superman, giving warmth and outspoken traits to the main hero and proving to the audience that he is the best and the original Man of Steel. Margot Kidder was terrific in her role as Lois Lane. I'm biased toward the comical portrayal of Lex Luthor, who is not very threatening and only greedy for his real estate obsession. While Gene Hackman was a talented actor, his performance was too hammy as he is guilty of overacting and not suited to this character. Marlon Brando did an excellent job in his outstanding portrayal of Jor-El.

Also, a big bonus for the crystal landscapes of Krypton and the actor Terence Stamp for another standout role as General Zod, KNEEL BEFORE ZOD! The music score is done again by John Williams, and it's here that he makes another of his best film scores. He is now at the top of his game.

I give SUPERMAN a 4 out of 5 stars, even though it has much cheesiness. It's still a good-natured and fantastic film that people and fanboys will remember as entertaining.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Man of Steel Review

Man of Steel


Release Date: 27th June 2013 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
DC Comics
DC Entertainment
Legendary Pictures (in association with)
Syncopy (production)

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 148 minutes


Budget: $258,000,000

Box Office Gross: $668,045,518 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Clark Kent/Kal-El is a 20-year-old journalist who feels alienated from other people because he has powers that no one else can imagine. Clark was brought to Earth years ago from Krypton, an advanced alien planet, and struggles with the ultimate question - "Why am I here?" Growing up with his adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, Clark inherited their values and soon discovered that having

superpowers meant making

tough decisions. When the

world comes under attack,

must Clark use his powers

for peace or divisive

destruction? Clark has to

become the hero known as

"Superman". To take his place as the world's last beacon of hope, not just to protect his loved ones.


Cast
Henry Cavill - Clark Kent/
Superman
Amy Adams - Lois Lane
Michael Shannon - General Zod
Russell Crowe - Jor-El
Laurence Fishburne - Perry White
Kevin Costner - Jonathan Kent
Diane Lane - Martha Kent
Antje Traue - Faora-Ul
Ayelet Zurer - Lara Lor-Van
Christopher Meloni - Col.
Nathan Hardy
Richard Schiff - Dr. Emil
Hamilton

Harry Lennix - General Swanwick
Cooper Timberline - 9 Year Old Clark Kent
Dylan Sprayberry - 13 Year Old Clark Kent

Carla Gugino - Kelor (Voice)
Michael Kelly - Steve Lombard
Rebecca Buller - Jenny

Christina Wren - Major Carrie Farris

David Lewis - Major Laramore
Tahmoh Penikett - Jed Eubanks
Doug Abrahams - Heraldson
Brad Kelly - Bryne
Richard Cetrone - Tor-An
Mackenzie Gray - Jax-Ur
Julian Richings - Lor-Em
Mary Black - Ro-Zar
Samantha Jo - Car-Vex
Jack Foley - Teenage Pete Ross
Jadin Gould - Lana Lang
Robert Gerdisch - Whitney Fordham
Coburn Goss - Father Leone
Lesley Bevan - Ms. Rampling
Chad Krowchuk - Glen Woodburn
Ian Tracey - Ludlow
Carmen Lavigne - Chrissy - Waitress
Howard Siegel - Weaver
Heidi Kettenring - Helen Ross
Joseph Cranford - Pete Ross

Revard Dufresne - Dev-Em

Apollonia Vanova - Nadira

Chris Palermo - Sergeant Vance

Aaron Smolinski - Communications Officer

(Cameo)

Autumn Snyder - Panicked Citizen (Voice)

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Zack Snyder
Superman Creators - Jerry Siegel and
Joe Shuster
Story/Screenplay - David S. Goyer
Story/Producer - Christopher Nolan

Associate Producers - Curt Kanemoto

and Mark Thomas (Uncredited)
Executive Producers - Jon Peters and

Thomas Tull

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Lloyd Phillips
Producers - Charles Roven,
Deborah Snyder and Emma Thomas

Co-Producer - Wesley Coller

Senior Military Technical Advisor - Stephen Sanders

Military Technical Advisor - James D. Dever

Air Force Advisor - Chris Stagner
Production Designer - Alex McDowell

Weapons Conceptual Designer - Richard Taylor
Supervising Art Director - Kim Sinclair

Supervising Art Director: Vancouver - Helen Jarvis
Set Decorator - Anne Kulijan

Property Master - James H. Chow
Costume Designers - James Acheson and
Michael Wilkinson

Costume Supervisor - Bob Morgan

Specialty Costumes Supervisor - Russell Shinkle
Director of Photography - Amir Mokri

Aerial Director of Photography - David B. Nowell

Aerial Coordinator - David Paris

Director of Photography/Second Unit Director:

Water Tank Unit, Vancouver - Pete Romano

Camera Operator/Director of Photography:

Second Unit - William R. Dalgleish

Supervising Location Manager - William Doyle

Production Supervisor: Illinois - James R. McAllister

Unit Production Managers - Jim Rowe and

Gregor Wilson

First Assistant Director - Bruce Moriarty

First Assistant Director: Visual Effects/Plate Unit,

Illinois - Chris Castaldi

Second Assistant Directors - Misha Bukowski

and Steve Battaglia
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Damon Caro

Stunt Coordinator - Tim Rigby

Fight Choreographer - Ryan Watson

Picture Car Coordinator: Illinois - Dennis McCarthy

Picture Car Coordinator: Vancouver - Rick Rasmussen

Special Effects Supervisor: Illinois - Allen Hall
Special Effects Coordinator: Vancouver - Joel Whist
Visual Effects Supervisor - John 'D.J.' Des Jardin

Visual Effects Supervisors: Weta Digital -
Dan Lemmon, Joe Letteri and Keith Miller

Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Guillaume Rocheron

Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -

Ged Wright

Visual Effects Supervisor: Scanline VFX - Chad Weibe

Visual Effects Producer - Josh R. Jaggars

Visual Effects Producers: MPC - Doug Oddy

and Katherine Smith

Visual Effects Production Supervisors:

Scanline VFX - Danielle Plantec,

Joel Román Mendías, Lisa Spence and

Stephan Trojansky
Digital Effects Supervisor: MPC - Anders Langlands
Animation Supervisor: Weta Digital - Daniel Barrett

Animation Supervisor: MPC - Daryl Sawchuk

Compositing Supervisor: Double Negative -

Thomas Proctor

CG Effects & Environment Supervisors:

Double Negative - Eugénie von Tunzelmann

and Malcolm Humphrey

Compositing/CG Lightning and Effects

Supervisors: Double Negative - Kyle Goodsell,

Keith Herft, Edmund Kolloen, Mike J. Nixon,

Daniel Paulsson, Richard Pickler, Laurence Priest,

Tom Rolfe and Chantelle Williams

Editor - David Brenner

Sound Designers and Supervisors -

Scott Hecker and Eric A. Norris

Sound Designers - David Wentz,

Ai-Ling Lee, Jay Wilkinson and

Christopher S. Aud

Sound Effects Recording Mixers - John P. Fasal

and John Milo Train

Supervising Foley Artist - Gary A. Hecker
Music - Hans Zimmer

Composer: Additional Music - Andrew

Kawczynski, Steve Mazzaro and Atli Orvarsson

Additional Music and Rhythm Design - Junkie XL

Score Wrangler - Bob Badami

Score Recordist and Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Review
I was waiting for MAN OF STEEL and expected the film to be astonishing. Unfortunately, it has gone into dark overtones and was a letdown. I would advise now that MAN OF STEEL is not as good as the other Superman films. I am very displeased with the ending as it shows that Superman was unlike I've ever seen, and he has betrayed all the goodness in the personality of the hero we trust, which fans have come to expect. This film had a poorly executed storyline. The actor Henry Cavill did a marvellous job of playing the Man of Steel with only charisma but lacked the compassion of the late Christopher Reeve and tried to deconstruct the hero. Amy Adams did a solid portrayal of Lois Lane with a sharp eye, and sadly, her character didn't have any development.

I cannot give the same praise to Michael Shannon as General Zod. The character he plays lacks the ferocity that would have strengthened this fearsome foe. I'll have to accept Terence Stamp as the best actor for this character and cement his place in film history with the powerful quote, "KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!" The other actors who have done an excellent job are Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner, the fathers of Superman. I must acknowledge the jaw-dropping environment of Krypton that astounded me and Hans Zimmer's scoring, building the magnificent compositions and never in the same majesty as John Williams' music.

In saying that, MAN OF STEEL should only be in a glimmer of a dramatic view, mostly on how his life begins and challenges his inner battle with the world. The action spectacles will amaze everyone - but the shortcomings and the controversial scene of the film left me with mixed feelings.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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Gladiator Review (Updated)

Gladiator


Release Date: 4th May 2000 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
DreamWorks SKG (presents)
Scott Free Productions (in association
with)

Red Wagon Entertainment (uncredited)

Distribution
Universal Studios Australia


Genre: Action/Drama

Rating: M

Runtime: 155 minutes
                 171 minutes
                 (extended edition)


Budget: $103,000,000

Box Office Gross: $503,162,313 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A beloved Roman general, Maximus is named a successor by the ageing emperor Marcus Aurelius over his corrupt son Commodus. However, his

rival is not happy about this

plan. Out of pure jealousy,

he does unspeakable things

to grab his power by

framing him for his father's

death and having his family

executed. Maximus gets

captured and sent to the gladiatorial arena. There, he has to fight, either for glory or death.

Cast
Russell Crowe - Maximus
Decimus Meridius
Joaquin Phoenix - Commodus
Connie Nielsen - Lucilla
Oliver Reed - Antonius Proximo
Derek Jacobi - Senator
Gracchus
Djimon Hounsou - Juba
David Schofield - Senator Falco
John Shrapnel - Senator Gaius
Ralf Moeller - Hagen
Richard Harris - Marcus
Aurelius
Tomas Arana - General Quintus
Spencer Treat Clark - Lucius
Tommy Flanagan - Cicero
David Hemmings - Cassius
Sven-Ole Thorsen - Tigris

Omid Djalili - Slave Trader

Nicholas McGaughey - Praetorian Officer

Chris Kell - Scribe

Tony Curran - Assassin #1

Mark Lewis - Assassin #2

John Quinn - Valerius

Alun Raglan - Praetorian Guard #1

David Bailie - Engineer

Chick Allan - German Leader

David J. Nicholls - Giant Man

Al Ashton - Rome Trainer #1

Billy Dowd - Narrator

Ray Calleja - Lucius' Attendant

Giannina Facio-Scott - Maximus' Wife
Giorgio Cantarini - Maximus' Son

Allan Corduner - Trainer #1 (Extended Edition)

Michael Mellinger - Trainer #2 (Extended Edition)

Said Amel - Proximo's Man (Extended Edition)

Adam Levy - Officer #1 (Extended Edition)

Gilly Gilchrist - Officer #2 (Extended Edition)

Brian Blessed - Colosseum Spectator

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Executive Producer (Uncredited)/Director -

Ridley Scott
Story/Screenplay/Producer - David Franzoni
Screenplay - John Logan and William Nicholson

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -

Terry Needham
Executive Producers - Walter F. Parkes and

Laurie MacDonald

Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Branko Lustig
Producer - Douglas Wick

Casting Director - Louis Di Giaimo
Rome Technical Advisor: UK Unit - John Eagle
Production Designer - Arthur Max

Supervising Art Director: Malta Unit - John King

Supervising Art Director: UK Unit - David Allday
Supervising Art Director: Morocco Unit -

Benjamin Fernandez

Art Director: Malta Unit - Peter Russell

Art Director: UK Unit - Keith Pain

Set Decorators - Crispian Sallis and
Emilio Ardura (Uncredited)

Set Decorator: Malta Unit - Sonja Klaus

Set Decorator: UK Unit - Jille Azis

Set Decorator: Morocco Unit - Elli Griff

Costume Designer - Janty Yates

Assistant Costume Designer - Sammy Sheldon
Costume Supervisor - Rosemary Burrows
Supervising Armourer - Simon Atherton

Key Makeup Artist - Paul Engelen

Prosthetic Designer - John Schoonraad

Director of Photography - John Mathieson

"B" Camera & Steadicam Operator -

Klemens Becker

Production Supervisors: Second Unit -

Brian W. Cook and Zdravko Madzarevic

Production Managers: Morocco Unit -

Zakaria Alaoui and Peter Heslop

First Assistant Director: Morocco Unit - Ahmed Hatimi

Second Assistant Director - Adam Somner

Location Manager: Malta Unit - Mike Higgins

Location Manager: UK Unit - Terry Blyther

Location Managers: Morocco Unit - Ali Bakkioui,

Mohamed Benhmamane and Jeremy Johns

Assistant Location Managers: UK Unit -

Mark Somner and Nick Waldron

Second Unit Director/Director of Photography -

Alexander Witt

Chief Animal Trainer - Paul 'Sled' Reynolds
Stunt Coordinator - Phil Neilson

Fight Master - Nick Powell
Special Effects & Prosthetic Supervisor -

Neil Corbould

Special Effects Supervisor: Malta Unit - Trevor Wood

Special Effects Supervisor: Morocco Unit -

Terry Glass

Visual Effects Supervisor - John Nelson
Visual Effects Supervisors: Mill Film Ltd. -

Tim Burke and Rob Harvey

Visual Effects Producer: Mill Film Ltd. -

Nikki Penny

Visual Effects Coordinators: Mill Film Ltd. -

Emma Norton and Lorea Hoye

CG Supervisor: Mill Film Ltd. - Laurent Hugueniot

Lead CG Artists: Mill Film Ltd. - Rob Allman,

Andy Kind, Ivor Middleton, Ben Morris

and Tim Zaccheo

Digital Matte Painters: Mill Film Ltd. -

Dave Early, Michele Moen and Simon Wicker

Compositors: Mill Film Ltd. - Hani Alyousif,

Ian Plumb, Simon Stanley-Clamp,

Klaudija Cermak, Mike Connolly, John Hardwick,

Michael Illingworth, Richard Roberts,

Louise Lattimore and Steve Murgatroyd

Software Development Lead: Mill Film Ltd. -

David Lomax

Additional Software Development: Mill Film Ltd. -

Kevin Campbell and John Strauss

Editor - Pietro Scalia

Assistant Editors: UK Unit - Paul Elman and

Christopher Womack

Supervising Sound Editor - Per Hallberg

Additional Audio - Mark Ormandy,

Mark Stoeckinger and Scott Gershin

Re-Recording Mixers - Bob Beemer

and Scott Millan

Additional Re-Recording Mixer - Frank A. Montano

Foley Artists - James Moriana,

Dan O'Connell, John T. Cucci and Jeffrey Wilhoit
Music - Hans Zimmer

Music/Score Vocals - Lisa Gerrard

Score Co-Producer and Additional Music -

Klaus Badelt

Music Mixer/Recordist - Alan Meyerson

Awards

2001 Academy Awards
Best Picture - Douglas Wick, David Franzoni
and Branko Lustig (Won)
Best Actor in a Leading Role - Russell Crowe (Won)
Best Costume Design - Janty Yates (Won)
Best Sound - Scott Millan, Bob Beemer and
Ken Weston (Won)
Best Visual Effects - John Nelson, Neil Corbould,
Tim Burke and Rob Harvey (Won)
-------------------------
Best Actor in a Supporting Role -

Joaquin Phoenix (Nominated)

Best Director - Ridley Scott (Nominated)
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the

Screen - David Franzoni, John Logan and

William Nicholson (Nominated)
Best Cinematography - John Mathieson (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Pietro Scalia (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - Hans Zimmer
(Nominated)
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration - Arthur Max

and Crispian Sallis (Nominated)

Review
I had forgotten how many gladiator films there have been in the past century, as there are only a few I can think of. Ridley Scott's masterpiece GLADIATOR reflects a new age of cinema in this genre with CGI visuals. The film has unique fight coordination with battle sequences that get viciously excessive on the jabs.

Humongous is for a big movie like this, given the computer effects and the action. You can see that they have spared no expense in making this film, particularly the direction by Ridley Scott, the terrific set design and the splendid cinematography. However, the movie also boasts acting from its two extraordinarily talented actors, Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. For example, Russell gives dignity to his character and takes the stage for an unforgettable performance worthy of his Oscar. Phoenix is equally as good as the menacingly cruel Commodus. How about the music by Hans Zimmer? It is a genius that he's doing the cues of an epic score, which would have won him a second Oscar. What talent he has is AMAZING!

GLADIATOR is mildly overrated, as it isn't the movie I expected to have me excited from the first scene, leaving me wanting to give it a round of applause, but it is still good. I would not call it my favourite, but it's a watchable picture of an epic historical drama. GLADIATOR might intrigue some people who have yet to learn about old Roman history.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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The Wiz Review

The Wiz


Release Date: 23rd August 1979 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures
Motown Productions


Genre: Musical

Rating: G

Runtime: 129 minutes


Budget $24,000,000

Box Office Gross: $13,600,000
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Dorothy, a twenty-four-
year-old kindergarten
teacher born, raised, and
still working in Harlem,
is celebrating Thanksgiving
with her extended family,
but she doesn't seem
thankful for much in life.
She lives a self-imposed
sheltered life; she is shy
and unfulfilled. Things

change for her when she
is caught in a snow-
storm while chasing
after her dog Toto.
They are transported
to the mysterious Land of
Oz, where she is informed
that the only possible way
to find her way back home
is through the assistance
of the powerful wizard in
the Emerald City. As she
goes searching for him,
she befriends some 

creatures who are facing
problems in life just like
her. In their quest to find
and get help from the
wizard, they also face
Evilenne, the equally
evil sister of Evermean,
the wicked witch whom
Dorothy inadvertently
killed when she arrived in
Oz, and who may be their
biggest obstacle in achieving
their goals. (Source - IMDb)


Cast
Diana Ross - Dorothy
Michael Jackson - Scarecrow
Nipsey Russell - Tin Man
Ted Ross - Cowardly Lion
Lena Horne - Glinda the Good
Richard Pyror - The Wiz
Theresa Merritt - Aunt Em
Thelma Carpenter - Addaperle/
Miss One, the Good Witch of
the North
Mabel King - Evilene, the
Wicked Witch of the West

Crew
Director - Sidney Lumet
Based on Novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" - L. Frank Baum
Based on Book of Play - William F. Brown
Screenplay - Joel Schumacher
Produced on the New York Stage - Ken Harper
Producer - Rob Cohen
Production/Costume Designer - Tony Walton
Choreographer - Louis Johnson
Special Make-Up Effects - Stan Winston
Director of Photography - Oswald Morris
Special Visual Effects - Albert Whitlock
Music Adapter and Supervisor - Quincy Jones
Music & Lyrics - Charlie Smalls
Film Editor - Dede Allen


Review
Meaningless but a tad joke, it's very a common disgrace that 'THE WIZ' was unexpectedly a cult movie that it doesn't seem like it's underappreciated. It was the second movie to be adapted from 'The Wizard of Oz' and though I disrespect the film's bleak nature as opposed to the fantasy and lighthearted tone of the original. 'THE WIZ' happened to be based on a black musical, with Joel Schumacher writing the screenplay and has an inexperienced movie director like Sidney Lumet. Young kids of all ages will succumb to the film's cheesiness and blatantly suggestive clothing. 

The only reason I wanted to see it was because of the film's only cornerstone part of not Diana Ross, but only the legendary singer Michael Jackson when doing his good performance as The Scarecrow. It's so upsetting that this was his only feature film role (apart from his cameo in 'MiB II' and short films) when portraying as an original character than himself. Hardly anything else that he had a few of roles and films that he turned them down or were evidently cancelled.

Altogether with so many songs that were implausibly forgettable, I cannot deter myself from watching this horrible musical picture and I must simply watch 'The Wizard of Oz' instead than to re-watch the other film of its poor qualities.

Star rating: (2/5) Bad Movie

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