Grown Ups 2 Review

Grown Ups 2


Release Date: 19th September 2013 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures (presents)
Happy Madison

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 minutes
                94 minutes (DVD)


Budget: $80,000,000

Box Office Gross: $246,984,278 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Three years have passed
since Lenny and his friends
had a great time in their
lives in their summer.

Lenny has moved his
family from the big city
to the small town where
they grew up. Now, on this
last day of school, it's up
to the children to teach
their parents a thing or two.


Cast
Adam Sandler - Lenny Feder
Kevin James - Eric Lamonsoff
Chris Rock - Kurt McKenzie
David Spade - Marcus Higgins
Nick Swardson - Nick Fillard
Salma Hayek - Roxanne Feder
Jake Goldberg - Greg Feder
Cameron Boyce - Kethie Feder
Alexys Nycole Sanchez - Becky Feder
Maria Bello - Sally Lamonsoff
Ada-Nicole Sanger - Donna
Lamonoff
Frank Gingerich - Bean Lamonsoff
Maya Rudolph - Deanne McKenzie
Nadji Jeter - Andre McKenzie
China Anne McClain -
Charlotte McKenzie
Kaleo Elam - Ronnie McKenzie
Alexander Ludwig - Braden

Richie Minervini - Principal Tardio
Jackie Sandler - Jackie Tardio

Sadie Sandler - Sadie Tardio

Sunny Sandler - Sunny Tardio

Tim Meadows - Malcolm Fluzoo
Steve Austin - Dennis "Tommy" Cavanaugh
Shaquille O'Neal - Office Fluzoo
Taylor Lautner - Frat Boy Andy (Uncredited)
Steve Buscemi - Wiley
Oliver Hudson - Kyle
Colin Quinn - Dickie Bailey
Georgia Emge - Mrs. Lamonoff

Jon Lovitz - Squats Fitness Janitor

Allen Covert - Hippie Teacher (Cameo)

Cheri Oteri - Penny

Ellen Cleghorne - Mary Fluzoo

April Rose - Hot Dance Teacher

Dan Patrick - Gym Teacher

Ebony Jo-Ann - Mama Ronzoni

Halston Sage - Nancy Arbuckle

Norm Crosby - K-Mart Employee

Dennis Dugan - Dr. Larry (Cameo)

Jonathan Loughran - Robideaux

Chris Berman - The Great Renaldo

Kris Murrell - Beefcake Kitty

Kevin Grady - Muzby (Cameo)

Aly Michalka - Bikini Girl Savannah

Paulina Gretzky - Bikini Girl Daisy

Kamil McFadden - Bumpty Fluzoo

Alexander Poncio - Duffy

Patrick Schwarzenegger - Frat Boy

David Henrie - Frat Boy

Chris Titone - Frat Boy

Jared Sandler - Frat Boy

Jimmy Sandler - Frat Boy

Jimmy Tatro - Frat Boy

Andy Samberg - Male Cheerleader (Cameo)

Jorma Taccone - Male Cheerleader

Bobby Moynihan - Male Cheerleader

Akiva Schaffer - Male Cheerleader

Taran Killam - Male Cheerleader

Paul Brittain - Male Cheerleader

Will Forte - Male Cheerleader (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Erin Heatherton - Ginger (Head Cheerleader)

Milo Ventimiglia - Milo

Peter Wolf - The Party Band

Seth Justman - The Party Band

Magic Dick - The Party Band

Danny Klein - The Party Band

Duke Levine - The Party Band

Tom Arey - The Party Band

Crew
Director - Dennis Dugan
Based on Characters/Writer - Fred Wolf
Based on Characters/Writer/Producer -

Adam Sandler
Writer - Tim Herlihy

Executive Producers - Barry Bernardi

and Allen Covert

Producer - Jack Giarraputo

Co-Producer/Music Supervisor - Kevin Grady

Casting Director - Roger Mussenden

Production Designer - Aaron Osborne

Art Director - Erin Cochran

Set Decorator - Jennifer M. Gentile

Property Master - Timothy S. Wiles

Costume Designer - Ellen Lutter
Director of Photography - Theo van de Sande

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator: Second

Unit - Scott Rogers

Special Effects Coordinator - Mark R. Byers

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Edwin Rivera

Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Zoic Studios -

Rocco Passionino
Editor - Tom Costain

Supervising Sound Editors - Kami Asgar

and Sean McCormack

Re-Recording Mixers - Tateum Kohut

and Greg Orloff
Music - Rupert Gregson-Williams

Music Supervisors - Michael Dilbeck

and Brooks Arthur


Review
Practically joyless and sometimes offensive comedy is the best way to describe this motion picture. With GROWN UPS 2, I was sceptical that it would ever be able to surpass the standards of its underrated predecessor (click here). Surprisingly, it beat its competitor, the non-comedic movie Pacific Rim, at the box office triumph in the US but not worldwide. The safer and alternative film received better reviews than the sequel. Adam Sandler got back together again with Chris Rock, Kevin James and David Spade as the four members of the cast, leaving Rob Schneider not to reprise his role as the fifth character from the first hit. It makes logical that they appeared to be trying their best, and Sandler ended up having the tiring and derivative humour he wrote.

WWF wrestler Steve Austin appeared in one of the minor roles and treated his part like an extended cameo. Unfortunately, it's not good enough that former Twilight bad boy Taylor Lautner is here to save the movie from its less favourable reputation. Some comedic parts serve the film to make it partially redeemable for an average moviegoer who would have wanted it. Enough is enough for GROWN UPS 2 to get criticised for its factors. It's not the best of its apples, nor the worst movie in history. It's a good thing I never lived in this comedy, and it will not be the all-time horrible. You're wondering why the worst movie I have seen is Batman & Robin.

In recommendation, the film is below average, and next time, I hope Sandler will make a better movie, which I will judge at the next screening. Watch GROWN UPS 1 without wasting your money to try the second part.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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Mission to Mars Review

Mission to Mars

Release Date: 6th April 2000 - Australia

Production Companies

Touchstone Pictures (presents)
Spyglass Entertainment (presents)
The Jacobson Company
Red Horizon Productions

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion 

Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 101 minutes


Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $110,983,407
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The year is 2020, and the 

first manned mission to 

Mars, commanded by 

Luke Graham lands 

safely on the red planet. 

But the Martian landscape 

harbors a bizarre and 

shocking secret that 

leads to a mysterious 

disaster so catastrophic, 

it decimates the crew. 

Haunted by a cryptic last 

message from Graham, 

NASA launches the Mars 

Recovery Mission to 

investigate and bring back 

survivors – if there are any. 

Confronted with nearly 

insurmountable dangers, 

but propelled by deep 

friendship, the team finally 

lands on Mars and makes 

a discovery so amazing, it 

takes your breath away

Cast

Gary Sinise - Jim McConnell

Tim Robbins - Woody Blake

Don Cheadle - Luke Graham
Connie Nielsen - Terri Fisher
Jerry O'Connell - Phil Ohlmyer
Kim Delaney - Maggie McConnell
Peter Outerbridge - Sergei Krov
Kavan Smith - Nicholas Willis
Jill Teed - Renee Cote
Elisa Neal - Debra Graham
Robert Bailey Jr. - Bobby Graham
McCanna Anthony Sinise - Young Jim McConnell
Chantal Conlin - Young Maggie

Crew

Director - Brian DePalma

Story/Screenplay - Jim & John Thomas

Story - Lowell Cannon

Screenplay - Graham Yost
Associate Producers - Ted Tally, Chris Soldo and
Jacqueline Lopez 
Executive Producer - Sam Mercer

Producer - Tom Jacobson
Co-Producers - David S. Goyer,
Justis Greene and Jim Wedaa
Technical Consultants - Joseph P. Allen,
Matthew Golombek and Story Musgrave
Consultants - Dave Scott and Robert Zubrin
Choreographer - Adam Shankman

Production Designer - Ed Verreaux
Conceptual Artist/Vehicle Designer - Syd Mead
Art Directors - Andrew Neskoromny and
Thomas Valentine

Costume Designer - Sanja Milkovic Hays

Director of Photography - Stephen H. Hurum
Second Unit Director - Eric Schwab
Stunt Coordinator - Jeff Habberstad
Stunt Coordinator: Vancouver - Melissa R. Stubbs
Special Effects Supervisor - Garry Elmendorf
Special Effects Coordinator - Randy Shymkiw

Visual Effects Supervisors - John Knoll and
Hoyt Yeatman

Co-Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - George Murphy
Visual Effects Producer: DQI - Rae Griffith
Co-Visual Effects Producer: DQI - Kristina Reed
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alexander Laurant
Digital Effects Supervisor: DQI - Darin Hollings
Character Design Supervisor: Alien, ILM - Jeff Mann
CG Animation Supervisor: ILM - Dennis Turner
Animation Supervisor: DQI - Matthew O'Callaghan
Miniature Effects Supervisor: DQI - Scott Schneider

Film Editor - Paul Hirsch

Music - Ennio Morricone


Review

Before I got to see the overlooked basic sci-fi film 'MISSION TO MARS (M2M)', it was released at the beginning of the 21st century and was paired up with another Mars-related film 'Red Planet' on two different dates. These films are both set on the planet's red scenery, neither of these space-faring exploration films ever outdoes the other nor received any critical praise. Without its few flaws, I believe 'M2M' would have been more popular. Compared to the classic '2001: A Space Odyssey' from what I've heard, 'M2M' shares some of its principles and technical wizardry. While watching 'M2M', I felt it was progressing well as an ordinary flick until it reaches the final half when it seems to be constructed with a few second-rate CGI sequences. Without being as hallucinogenic as '2001' and with the advice from Stanley Kubrick on his deathbed, director Brian DePalma was able to make this the new version. In order to do this, De Palma added emotion, adventure and a faster pace.

However, the film is able to keep up with the cinematography drawn from '2001's same techniques. It's gotten more vivid in these angles to demonstrate a certain skill in creativity. I appreciated the high standard of the acting from some cast members. Gary Sinise and Tim Robbins were not unsuitable and show no signs of their sometimes-expressionless performances.

Say what you will about 'M2M', I'm of the consideration that it is not the best movie of its year. This film is solid but audiences need to be thrilled and captivated which 'M2M' doesn't achieve.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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X-Men: Days of Future Past Review

X-Men: Days of Future Past


Release Date: 16th May 2014 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Marvel Entertainment (in
association with)
TSG Entertainment (in
association with)
Ingenious Media (made in
association with)
Bad Hat Harry Productions
Donners' Company
Genre Films

Down Productions (made in association with)

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 131 minutes


Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $746,045,700 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The year is 2023, in a dystopian future where mutants and the humans who dare to help them are on the verge of extinction, massacred by invincible robots called Sentinels. Now, the remaining survivors have only one option to save the future. To do this, they sent Wolverine back in 1973 to stop the war before it even started.


Cast
Hugh Jackman - Logan/
Wolverine
James McAvoy - Charles Xavier
Patrick Stewart - Professor X
Michael Fassbender - Erik Lensherr
Ian McKellen - Magneto
Jennifer Lawrence - Raven
Darkholme/Mystique
Halle Berry - Ororo Monroe/
Storm
Nicholas Hoult - Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast
Kelsey Grammer - Beast

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Peter Dinklage - Bolivia Trask
Ellen Page - Kitty Pryde
Shawn Ashmore - Bobby
Drake/Iceman
Omar Sy - Bishop
Daniel Cudmore - Peter
Rasputin/Colossus
Evan Peters - Peter
Maximoff/Quicksilver
Fan Bingbing - Blink
Adan Canto - Sunspot
Booboo Stewart - Warpath
Josh Helman - Major William
Stryker
Anna Paquin - Marie/Rogue
(Cameo)

Famke Janssen - Jean Grey (Cameo)

James Marsden - Scott Summers/Cyclops (Cameo)

Lucas Till - Alex Summers/
Havok

Evan Jonigkeit - Toad
Mark Camacho - U.S. President Richard Nixon

Alexander Felici - Young Mutant Scavenger

Jan Gerste - Gwen

Massimo Cannistraro - Ramone

Mike Dopud - Pinstripe Mafioso

Lee Villeneuve - Black Coast Mafioso

Andreas Apergis - Col. Sanders

Robert Montcalm - Vietnam MP Guard

Gregg Lowe - Ink
Jaa Smith-Johnson - Mutant Soldier

Alex Ivanovici - Quarantine Doctor

Alain Dahan - Quarantine Doctor #2

Freddy Bessa - Quarantine Doctor #3

Patricia Tougas - Quarantine Nurse

Michael Lerner - Senator Brickman

Chris Claremont - Congressman Parker (Cameo)

Len Wein - Congressman Davis (Cameo)

François Paquette - Congressman McCarter

Zabryna Guevara - Trask Secretary

Zehra Leverman - Mrs. Maximoff

Angela Galuppo - Pentagon Tour Guide

Milo Chang Sigel - Pentagon Young Boy

Kiana Chang Sigel - Pentagon Young Girl

Victor Cornfoot - Surveillance Guard #1

Brent Skagford - Surveillance Guard #2

Kyle Gatehouse - Penthouse Cook

John-Sebastien Cole - Mustachioed

Kitchen Guard

Stéphane Julien - Kitchen Guard

Taris Tyler - Pentagon Elevator Guard

Darryl Scheelar - Armed Kitchen Guard

Thai-Hoa Le - General Nhuan

Johnny Tran - Vietnamese Captain

Gregory Hlady - General Petrov

Dang Quoc Thinh - Vietnamese Translator

Vladimir Aksenov - Russian Translator

Jimmy Chan - Chinese Translator

Julian Casey - Peace Summit Reporter

Robert Crooks - Nixon Aide

Matt Cooke - Secretary of Defense

Tim Post - US Army General

Jason Deline - Desk Anchor

Karine Vanasse - French Emergency Nurse

Pierre Leblanc - French Reporter

Jude Beny - Female Traveler

Arthur Holden - Blue Suit Traveler

Sean Curley - Airport Backpacker

Susanna Fournier - Flight Attendant

Andrew Peplowski - White House Reporter

John Sanford Moore - White House Lawn

Reporter

Moe Jeudy-Lamour - White House Ticket Man

Harry Standjofski - Groundskeeper

Brianna Bone - Red-Haired Girl

Neil Napier - Secret Service Agent

Jason Koehler - White House Stage Guard

Miya Shelton-Contreras - Peter's Little Sister

Mizinga Mwinga - Potomac River Cop #1

Christian Judah - Potomac River Cop #2

Brendan Pedder - En Sabah Nur (Uncredited)
Bryan Singer - Man with Small Film Camera

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Producer/Director - Bryan Singer

Based on Marvel's "X-Men" Comics

(Uncredited)/Executive Producer - Stan Lee

Based on Marvel's "X-Men" Comics

(Uncredited) - Jack Kirby

Story/Screenplay/Producer - Simon Kinberg
Story - Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn
Associate Producers - Tom Cohen

and Derek Hoffman

Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Kathleen McGill

Executive Producer/Second Unit Director -

Todd Hallowell
Executive Producer/First Assistant Director -

Josh McLaglen

Producers - Hutch Parker and
Lauren Shuler Donner

Co-Producer - Jason Taylor

Casting Directors - Andrea Kenyon,

Roger Mussenden and Randi Wells
Production Designer - John Myhre
Supervising Art Director - Michele Laliberte

Concept Artist - Henry Fong

Set Decorators - Eva Boulonne,

Gordon Sim and Ann Smart

Property Master - Simone Leclerc
Costume Designer - Louise Mingerbach

Costume Supervisors - Bob Morgan

and Blanche-Danielle Boileau
Head Makeup Artist - Norma-Hill Patton

Head SPX Makeup Artist - Adrien Morot

Mystique and Beast SFX Makeup/Prosthetics

and Full Size Sentinel: Legacy Effects -

Brian Sipe

Director of Photography - Newton Thomas Sigel

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Larry Blanford

Aerial Director of Photography - Hans Bjerno

Aerial Coordinator - Frédéric North

Additional First Assistant "B" Camera: First Unit -

Nicolas Marion

Production Managers - Daniel Auclair and

Ashish Kukian

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Andrew M. Robinson
Second Unit Director - Brian Smrz
Stunt Coordinators - Jeff Habberstad,
Michael Scherer and James M. Churchman

Fight Coordinators - Renae Moneymaker and

Daniel Stevens

Special Effects Supervisor - Cameron Waldbauer

Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit -

Steve Hamilton

Legacy Effects Supervisor - John Rosengrant

Visual Effects Supervisor - Richard Stammers

Visual Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Lou Pecora

Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Anders Langlands

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Derek Spears

Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Matt Sloan

Visual Effects Producer - Blondel Aidoo

Visual Effects Producer: Digital Domain -
Daniel Brimer

Visual Effects: Hydraulx - Colin & Greg

Strause, Erik Diles, Bill Kunin, Eric Kohler,

Nicolas Vigneau, Mark Rasmussen,

Hui-Wen Yu, Kishor Joshu, Shane Kag,

Joel Sevilla, David Michaels, Yuji Yagasaki,

Jarrod Avalos and Chris Radcliffe

Visual Effects: Animal Logic -

Sandra Beerenbrock, Tyson Donnelly,

Paul Butterworth, Miles Green and

Julien Leveudle

Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Nikos Kalaitzidis

Senior Animation Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Jan Philip Cramer

CG Supervisors: MPC - Sheldon Stopsack

and James Rustad

Compositing Supervisors: Digital Domain -

Joel Behrens and Michael Maloney

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

Craig Berkey

Sound Designers - Warren Hendriks and

Chuck Michaels

Supervising Sound Editor - John A. Larsen

Assistant Supervising Sound Editor -

Skip Longfellow

Sound Effects Editors - Ai-Ling Lee

and Wayne Lemmer

Sound Effects Recordist - John P. Fasal

Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett

and Doug Hemphill

Additional Re-Recording Mixer - James Bolt

Film Editor/Music - John Ottman

Co-Editor - Michael Louis Hill

Composers: Additional Music - Lior Rosner,

Marcus Trumpp and Edwin Wendler

Review
So, sorry I kept you waiting for this review. I have been busy revisiting my old critiques and correcting their faults. Now I can write my review of DAYS OF FUTURE PAST after seeing it on the big screen. I was overly satisfied with the film, which confounded me at the end. I knew this was just what the director had wanted. Bryan Singer is back to being the director and rewriting history in his series. It is not that the film is a mixture of old and new, but it brings a few characters back. I assure you, they had been quite dead on the previous timeline. This movie has restored the balance of continuity since the other two films of the X-Men series, such as Origins: Wolverine and The Last Stand, weren't well-received.

Some main actors are back to play a few characters with their future and past selves. Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen portray a duelling age comparison as Magneto, while Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy were both Professor X, young and old. Jennifer Lawrence is still the form-changing Mystique, and her character becomes as deadly as she is no longer innocent and heroic. Hugh Jackman secures his lead role as Wolverine again and continues to do a stunning job. He still retains the perfection and the character's macho exterior. I expect that in some years, he will have to retire from the role in the next Wolverine sequel very soon.

My faith in the series finally encouraged me to indulge in this new instalment. This film fulfilled Bryan's chance to restore order in the series. Don't get me started on the lesser two additions, as you know my opinion of these disappointments. DAYS OF FUTURE PAST is something that a fan would love to see. It revives the impact of the film collection.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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What Made The Lion King So Special?

In paying a visit to the 20th anniversary of one of my all-time favourite features, this post I eventually wrote describes the topics of what made the Disney epic THE LION KING so grand, so subtle, and forever changed the colours of animation. Do not detest this movie for ripping off the anime Kimba the White Lion, even though both are similar in almost every way. While partially based on the Shakespearean tale Hamlet, the inspirational source for THE LION KING (TLK) was from the myths and classical hero stories that George Lucas read and used to invent and perfect Star Wars as his groundbreaking sci-fi saga.

Now, whether TLK is Disney's original best-animated feature or not. We are looking back now on what made it so iconic. But still unadulterated in a mixture of entertainment to appease young and old families of parents, children, moviegoers and animation lovers. Find out if you want to explore the world of Simba when you see him in his adventures, having run for his life from the stampede, or hear the philosophy of Hakuna Matata from everybody's favourite duo of meerkat and warthog. Well, mates, this is what I will tell you in my analysis.

#8. The Music

The music is one of the
film's highlights. Such
containment is the blend

of the organic tribal
percussions and rhythms of
the songs by famed pop

super-star Elton John and

the brilliantly done score

by the legendary Hans
Zimmer. Elton did a
fantastic job with the verse

material he wrote with Aladdin lyricist Tim Rice. He patterned many of these catchiest melodies true to their character and meaning, like, for instance, "Circle of Life", the cheerfulness of "Hakuna Matata", and the underrated song for the villain "Be Prepared". One of these songs, in my opinion, stands out the most is "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", which won an Oscar for Best Song and has always been one of my favourites. I'm referring to the end-credits version sung by Elton John, which I liked the best.

A little-known fact: this song wasn't supposed to be used in the movie when Elton insisted Disney include it. It had gone through a songwriting phase when it was going to be sung by Timon and Pumbaa, but Elton hated the comical nature of the concept and opted for a feel that follows "Disney's tradition of great love songs".

I loved Hans Zimmer for his legendary prolific background music in some of the films directed by Christopher Nolan. It's the one movie that shot him to fame and earned him his only Oscar for Best Original Score. He's done each piece of the background score to match the music in a few songs or most of the film's entirety with the fusion of two African forms of choirs in creating a majestic score.

#7. Voice Talent

Voice acting in animation is still as high as the mightiest for people with acting experience. Without actors to record their characters, there would be silence. Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, Rowan Atkinson and young Jonathan Taylor Thomas are all known for celebrity status and are doing well in an all-star cast for THE LION KING. The stand-out roles are Jeremy Irons as Scar and James Earl Jones as the hero's father, Mufasa. Jeremy slithers his English voice to portray Scar as deliciously creepy. And yet, he has to pop in the sarcasm and seething for his feline menace. Jones does a better job of making a proper father figure like Mufasa sound regal and gentler than his Vader impression. Sure, he makes Mufasa look like a good dad with a powerful voice you always would want!

#6. Animation

Some kids' movies won't be

complete with animation.

THE LION KING (TLK) is

done in hand-drawn

animation through a

computer and made in

motion at a full 24

frames per second (fps).

Its innovative computer

animation proved effective

with 2D rendering in creating the impacting wildebeest sequence. The characters and shots are at an angle, structure and curve in a layer of frame envisioned by the animation team. It took a lot of time to add the facial postures and make them more expressive than anything on Bambi. That distinction goes honourably to the animators' flexibility in moving the figures to be true to their designs. In particular, Scar, Mufasa and Simba are the most beautifully hand-drawn characters. They also created the angles and moments to have the feature in scale. It's how they designed two unforgettable sequences, such as the Circle of Life opening and the ferocious stampede. Pure quality to animation filmmaking on Disney's original top feature, indeed.

#5. Maturity and Themes

One of the reasons THE

LION KING (TLK) was

unforgettable was the

meaningful themes

containing the struggle
between good and evil, the

lessons of life and death,
the balance of nature, and
the most pivotal message
that young kids need to hear

responsibility. TLK focuses on the character of Simba and how he comes to terms with witnessing the death of his beloved parent. Facing the guilt that his uncle placed on him to make his trauma far worse, he must learn any of the responsibilities before he can reclaim his kingdom. Not only does TLK accomplish some dramatic subjects, but it has reached a darker path with some intensity and drama, from the hyenas to the stampede to frighten some of the younger kids. It led Disney to make a few more adult-themed animated films with mixed results. TLK is tamer with some edginess that would have landed the film a PG rating if it had come at the right time for children to seek knowledge of its themes.

#4. Characters

THE LION KING has not
only established certain

things of its thematic

storyline and its famed

significance to pop-cultural

history. We remember

another vital component

is its characters. They're

iconic, which few I know

of are so comical, and

the rest are plain and simple. Timon and Pumbaa are the memorable sidekick duo. They were hilarious and whatnot too scrappy that this pair of a wisecracking meerkat and the warthog who makes passing wind saved Simba's life. They eventually raise him and teach the cub a thing or two about their carefree lifestyle. Those two are the best mates on-screen. They are the movie's other main essentials.

Scar is treacherous and deceitful to anyone from his closest kin, like his brother Mufasa and his nephew Simba. He has a dark presence and crosses a line that no other Disney villain has done before. He was one of the villain archetypes that committed both fratricide and regicide. Oh, and he's the precursor of Loki, thus sharing the same goals and exploits. There is no single character that I have in mind. Simba is the reason why this cat is the lead hero. I must admit how brave he was as a young cub when he slashed the hyena Shenzi in the right cheek. As a young adult, Simba puts up a good fight with Nala before she pins right back at him, which leads him to recognise her, and he even battles his no-good uncle Scar in an ultimate fiery confrontation.

#3. The 3D Re-Release

It may have gotten a stage musical
adaptation, a sequel soon to have
two now official, a part prequel/
part side-story, and two television

spin-offs. A craze began in 2009
when 3D was more than a

promotional gimmick to view
movies, and every studio started
to pile up the aspect of re-releasing
their classical hits. The first,
however, was expected to be

Star Wars until THE LION

KING (TLK) bumped the spot and

arrived in late 2011. Generations

of fans were most dazzled to see
TLK back in theatres, and every
young child had gone and seen the

film when they heard about it

since they weren't born yet! What I remembered about the hype in 2011. I witnessed the presentation of Simba on the big screen come to life in two dimensions.

#2. Mufasa's Death

This heart-wrenching scene
that everyone in Generation

Y remembers dearly is

Mufasa's death. This terrible
moment came when we
were born in the 90s or

just as young to watch him

die at Scar's betrayal. I can't

show you what will happen

to the perfect dad, who we all root for and cherish. We've seen how Simba can't wait to be a king like his dad, and now the dream is suddenly put on hold. How heartbreaking is that the cub doesn't know that his sinister uncle Scar murdered him so he can have both of them out of the family picture. And what's worse, Scar guilt-tripped him into believing that he was the cause of his death. He had let him obtain his kingship and the reign of Pride Rock. Please, give the poor cub some therapy and comfort!

#1. Opening Scene

One of the last hugest topics
about THE LION KING is 
the Circle of Life intro. Where
the sun rises over the land
of Africa, and the sky
turns to daytime. You
can hear the Zulu chorus
in the background as the
animals gather around,
and they bow their heads

to their newborn and future
king when Rafiki presents him shortly after his birth. The animation crew made one of the best film openings and used it as a teaser to turn the crowd into hysteria. Combined with layers of music and animation, it made them wait before they could purchase a ticket to see this animated hit. Sure pays it similarly 52 years after the classic opening of Bambi. It rivals the majesty of these wildlife documentaries!

Conclusion

That is how THE LION KING (TLK) succeeds in its epic artistry. It had the hugest earnings it grossed in movie theatres worldwide until Frozen became Disney's highest. You will be surprised it's way better and different than having the Disney feature Frozen. Come to think of it. I won't need to watch the now overly-anticipated similar film. I would rather watch TLK as I will see it again sometime or some month. If you have already watched TLK, re-watch it again. If you have not seen the movie, you will hopefully indulge in its impact. Hakuna Matata to all of you fans!

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The Karate Kid (1984) Review

The Karate Kid

Release Date: 27th September 1984 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 122 minutes

Budget: $8,000,000

Box Office Gross: $91,119,319 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Daniel LaRusso, a mild-

mannered teenager, has

just moved from his

hometown of New Jersey

with his mother to sunny

Los Angeles, California.

However, Danny has

difficulty adjusting to his

new environment and

peers, especially when

he's getting picked on

by a gang of bullies who

have taken lessons at

the Cobra Kai dojo.

Fortunately, Daniel

meets the unassuming

handyman, Mr. Miyagi,

who doubles as a martial

arts master. Miyagi

agrees to teach Daniel

and prepare him for the

upcoming tournament.

However, the wise sensei

teaches Daniel all there

is to know about karate

when it isn't about power

and strength. It's deep

within your soul that

makes you what you are.

Daniel faces the biggest

challenge of his life when

he's squaring off against

the lethal Cobra Kai in

the All Valley Karate

Championship. But can

he win this match? Or

will he lose?

Cast

Ralph Macchio - Daniel LaRusso

Pat Morita - Mr. Miyagi

Elisabeth Shue - Ali Mills

William Zabka - Johnny

Lawrence

Randee Haller - Lucille LaRusso

Martin Kove - John Kreese

Chad McQueen - Dutch

Tony O’Dell - Jerry

Israel Jurabe - Freddy Fernandez

William Bassett - Mr. Mills

Juli Fields - Susan

Dana Andersen - Barbara

Ron Thomas - Bobby Brown

Frank Burt Avalon - Chucky

Jeff Fishman - Billy

Ken Daly - Chris

Tom Fridley - Alan
Rob Garrison - Tommy

Pat E. Johnson - Referee (Cameo)

Crew

Film Editor/Director - John G. Avildsen

Writer - Robert Mark Kamen

Script Supervisor - Alvin Greenman
Associate Producer/Film Editor - Bud S. Smith

Executive Producer - R.J. Louis

Producer - Jenny Weintraub
Casting Directors - Pennie DuPont,
Caro Jones and Bonnie Timmermann

Production Designer - William Cassidy

Set Decorator - John H. Anderson

Costume Designers - Richard Bruno and

Aida Swanson

Director of Photography - James Crabe

First Assistant Director - Clifford C. Coleman

Martial Arts Choreographer - Pat E. Johnson

Special Effects - Frank Toro

Film Editor - Walt Mulconery

Associate Editors - Richard Alderte,

Seth Flaum and M. Scott Smith

Sound Effects Editors - Norval D. &

Samuel C. Crutcher

Re-Recording Mixers - Don Digirolamo,

Robert Glass and Robert Knudson

Music - Bill Conti

Music Supervisors - Brooks Arthur

and Russ Regan

Awards

1985 Academy Awards
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Pat Morita (Nominated)

Review

It's been a long time since I've seen the original KARATE KID, but I couldn't remember which one. In 2012, before revisiting the original KARATE KID, I had only watched the 2010 remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan in the lead roles. The 2010 version doesn't work out as planned because it only shows kung fu, not karate. Life is so much better after having watched the original 1984 film. THE KARATE KID shows much more respect for the martial arts and the story.

The original actors are more well-respected than the new ones. Ralph Macchio is, was and will always be the superior karate kid. He pairs up with veteran Chinese actor Pat Morita, who plays Mister Miyagi, the wise sensei. The rapport between the two characters is an essential part of this movie. But seeing Elisabeth Shue from the last two instalments of Back to the Future as Danny's love interest surprised me.

The original 1984 classic THE KARATE KID suits people who have not experienced 80s movies. It baffles me why they would even consider remaking a masterpiece like this film. Unless you didn't know, a second instalment is in pre-production. Who needs the new movie anyway?

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Godzilla (2014) Review

Godzilla


Release Date: 15th May 2014 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Legendary Pictures (presents)
RatPac-Dune Entertainment (in association with)
Disruption Entertainment
Toho Company

Distribution
Roadshow Distribution


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 123 minutes


Budget: $160,000,000

Box Office Gross: $529,076,069
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The world's famous monster
is pitted against malevolent
creatures who, bolstered by
humanity's scientific 

arrogance, threaten our
very existence.

Cast

Aaron-Taylor Johnson - Lt.
Ford Brody

CJ Adams - Young Ford

Bryan Cranston - Joe Brody

Ken Watanabe - Dr. Ishiro Serizawa
Elizabeth Olsen - Elle Brody
Sally Hawkins - Dr. Vivienne Graham
Juilette Binoche - Sandra Brody
David Strathairn - Rear 

Admiral William Stenz
Richard T. Jones - Captain
Russell Hampton
Victor Rasuk - Sergeant Tre
Morales
Patrick Sabongui - Lt. 

Commander Marcus Waltz
Carson Bolde - Sam Brody

Eric Keenleyside - Boyle

Ken Yamamura - Takashi

Garry Chalk - Stan Walsh

Hiro Kanagawa - Hayato

James D. Dever - Captain Freeman

Brian Markinson - Whelan

Ty Olsson - Jainway

Al Sapienza - Huddleston

Gardiner Millar - Fitzgerald

Jake Cuninan - Akio

Yuki Morita - Akio’s Mother

Warren Takeuchi - Akio’s Father

Andy Serkis - Godzilla (Motion
Capture)

Crew

Director - Gareth Edwards
Based on Character - Ishiro Honda, 

Takeo Murata and Shigeru Kayama
Story - Dave Callaham
Screenplay - Max Borenstein

Additional Writing - Frank Darabont 

and David S. Goyer (Uncredited)

Associate Producer/Unit Production Managers - 

Jim Rowe and Leeann Stonebreaker

Associate Producers - Martin Cohen 

and Shannon Triplett
Executive Producers - Yoshimitsu Banno, 

Alex Garcia, Kenji Okuhira and Patricia Whitcher
Co-Producer/Film Editor - Bob Ducsay
Producers - Jon Jashni, Mary Parent,
Brian Rogers and Thomas Tull

Casting Director - Sarah Finn
Production Designer - Owen Paterson

Set Decorator - Elizabeth Wilcox
Costume Designer - Sharen Davis
Character Designer - Howard Lau

Lead Creature & Concept Designer - Matt Allsopp
Creature Designers - Greg Boardmore, 

Ian Joyner and Simon Webber
Director of Photography - Seamus McGarvey

Second Unit Director - E.J. Foerster

Stunt Coordinators - Jake Mervine and John Stoneham Jr.

Halo Jump Coordinator - J.T. Holmes

Creature Fight Coordinator - Garrett Warren
Special Effects Supervisor - Tommy Frazier 

Special Effects Coordinator - Joel Whist
Visual Effects Supervisors - Jeff Caprogeco, 

Jim Rygiel, Darren Poe, Katherine Rodtsbrooks and Ged Wright

Visual Effects Supervisors: Double Negative - 

Peter Chiang and Ken McGaugh

Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative Singapore - Patric Roos

Head of VFX: MPC - Greg Butler

Additional Visual Effects Designer - John Dykstra

Visual Effects Producers - Devin Fairbairn, Allen Maris, Sean Santiago 

Visual Effects Art Director - Steven Messing

Animation Supervisor: Weta Digital - Aaron Gilman

CG Supervisor: Double Negative - Benjamin Huber

CG Supervisor: Weta Digital - Daniel Macarin

Motion Capture Supervisor - Simon Kay

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor - Erik Aadahl
Music Supervisor - Dave Jordan
Music - Alexandre Desplat

Review

Having seen the cheesiness of 1998's 'Godzilla'. I was pleased to see the 2014 remake of the old Kaiju series. Without the director Roland Emmerich on board or having the film's passable star Matthew Broderick as the lead, indie film director Gareth Edwards was assigned to helm this year's interpretation. This was after he came to prominence in the not-so-good movie 'Monsters'. Unlike the pleasant display of his first feature, this new monster hit 'GODZILLA' was an improvement to his earlier work.

Grittiness and deliberate intensity are strengthening the film which would be anticipated of every Kaiju film. In this interpretation, the titled monster was the hero that beat the other giant monsters. This is a feature shown in most of the Japanese classics. While the 1998 version looked exactly like a giant partially-mutated iguana, unfortunately, the 2014 film that we’re seeing doesn’t show much screen-time of the title character at all. While the film doesn't show much of Godzilla himself, the sheer destruction that he causes makes his presence well and truly felt. Even worse, one of the human characters that was introduced early in the film got killed off too soon.

Aaron-Taylor Johnson is never new to Hollywood when playing leading roles. He was specifically well-known in more recently from his famed role in the two 'Kick-Ass' films. I didn't see him in those two features. I don’t think he’s that interesting. The co-actors Ken Watanabe and Bryan Cranston exceeded in their supporting roles to their full extent. It's literally the director who only selected them and they were better suited to the roles than their predecessors putting Matthew Broderick to shame. Besides the cast and the new-found identity of the character, we have what we want in the film through the monster battle scenes and the fascinating special effects design.

Never will I again deplore the remake of 'GODZILLA' as I did with the 1998 version. The craze of bringing Asian pop-cultural motifs into the western cinema is continuous. It will be very hard to pay your money to see the monstrous mayhem of 2014. 'GODZILLA' is a semi-decent movie and all of you Kaiju fans will have to see it.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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