Sunday, November 30, 2014

Finally.... The Moment Has Arrived!

Hi, sci-fi fans. I have some exciting news about the new upcoming Star Wars VII film. In doing some research, I discovered that this film is about to be released in December of 2015, so the movie is still in a galaxy far, far away before we can finally enjoy it on the big screen. However, a teaser trailer for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens was released, which you can view below. It has already gone viral.

Please keep checking my reviews for updates on the upcoming Star Wars movie. If you have any information about the film, feel free to share it in the comment tab.

Here it is, the new Star Wars teaser trailer. ENJOY!



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Monday, November 17, 2014

Legend Review











Legend


Release Date: 2nd January 1986 - Australia


Production Companies
Legend Production Company (made by)
Embassy International Pictures

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 95 minutes
               89 minutes (USA)
               115 minutes
               (director's cut)


Budget: $24,500,000

Box Office Gross: $23,506,237 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Set in a magical land
where all creatures live in
peace and unicorns hold
the secret of light, this is
the story of the eternal
struggle between good
and evil. But light is
deadly to the Lord of
Darkness, and with the
mystery stolen from him, a
human named Jack and a
beautiful princess must
face the terrors of his
underground castle to save
the unicorns and defeat the
darkness.


Cast
Tom Cruise - Jack
Mia Sara - Lili
Tim Curry - Darkness
David Bennent - Honeythorn Gump
Alice Playten - Blix/
Honeythorn Gump (Voice) (Uncredited)
Billy Barty - Screwball
Cork Hubbert - Brown Tom
Peter O'Farrell - Pox
Annabelle Lanyon - Oona
Kiran Shah - Blunder
Robert Picardo - Meg Mucklebones
Tina Martin - Nell

Crew
Director - Ridley Scott
Writer - William Hjortsberg
Producer - Arnon Michlan
Co-Producer - Tim Hampton
Casting: London - Noel Davis and Jeremy Zimmermann
Casting: Los Angeles - Jane Feinberg and Mike Fenton
Production Designer - Assheton Gorton
Conceptual Designer - Alan Lee (Uncredited)
Supervising Art Directors - Leslie Dilley
and Norman Dorme
Assistant Art Directors - John Fenner
and Jim Morahan
Construction Managers - Ken Pattenden
and Michael Redding
Set Decorator - Ann Mollo
Costume Designer - Charles Knode
Special Makeup Creator - Rob Bottin
Makeup Supervisor - Peter Robb-King 
Director of Photography - Alex Thomson
Additional Photography - Max Mowdray
and Harry Oakes
Underwater Unit - Jordan Klein Sr.,
John McCloughlin and Gavin McKinney
Camera Operator - Peter MacDonald
Unit Manager - David Barron
Production Supervisor - Hugh Harlow
First Assistant Directors - Garth Thomas
and Bill Westley
Unicorn Master/Stunt Coordinator - Vic Armstrong
Special Effects Supervisor - Nick Allder
Supervising Film Editor - William D. Gordean
Editor - Terry Rawlings
Additional Editor - Pamela Power
Supervising Dialogue Editor - Chris Greenham
Production Sound Mixer - Roy Charman
Chief Dubbing Mixers - Graham V. Hartstone
and Hugh Strain
Music - Jerry Goldsmith and
Tangerine Dream (USA Only)


Awards

1986 Academy Awards
Best Makeup - Rob Bottin and Peter Robb-King (Nominated)


Review
The fantasy movie LEGEND has always been overlooked by several movie-goers of the 80s when it flopped in the same year as the other fantasy but animated spectacle from Disney, The Black Cauldron. This cult movie had a turbulent history and was director Ridley Scott's intention to switch his sci-fi category into the fantasy genre after he went through the controversial changes in Blade Runner. Many years from now, after a long time since having seen LEGEND, it won't be in the same repertoire as many of his great timeless films. It approaches the dark fairytale adventure and manages to capture the spiritual elements of the story. It's a bold, daring move for Ridley but has its visible flaws, which disappoint the overall quality. Ridley had a team enlisted to supervise the designs and make-up to create the world and creatures of such beautiful European folklore.

What fascinates me the most is how Tim Curry does a superb performance as the demonic figure of Satan. You can't escape this monstrous look and deep voice, which manages to frighten the young viewers. Tom Cruise already has the youth and charisma and then adds solid-based acting to further his leading role as the protagonist. Another thing I truly liked about this version of the film is the background instrumentation by Jerry Goldsmith. It's mystical, defining and uplifting in a keen sense of scoring.

If Ridley Scott made the final cut of Blade Runner, then why couldn't he do the same for LEGEND in restoring the balance of the vision he once had? Choose the director's cut if you have the chance. Unfortunately, this version is only available in Region 1. But you can order it on eBay or watch it online.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

Monday, November 10, 2014

Barnyard Review














Barnyard


Release Date: 21st September 2006 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures
Nickelodeon Movies
O Entertainment
Kumar Mobiliengesellschaft mbH & Co. Projekt Nr. 2 KG

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family/
Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 90 minutes


Budget: $51,000,000

Box Office Gross: $116,755,080 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
When the farmer is not around, the animals begin to party as they play, sing and dance in their free time. Eventually, someone has to step in and keep things in order around the farm, and that responsibility falls to a carefree cow named Otis.


Voice Cast
Kevin James - Otis the Cow
David Koechner - Dag the Coyote
Jeff Garcia - Pip the Mouse
Courteney Cox - Daisy the Cow
Wanda Sykes - Bessy the Cow
Sam Elliott - Ben the Cow
Danny Glover - Miles the Mule
Rob Paulsen - Peck the Rooster/
Gopher/Pizza Twin #1
Tino Insana - Pig the Pig
Cam Clarke - Freddy the
Ferret
Dom Irrera - Duke the Dog
Andie MacDowell - Etta the Hen
Madeline Lovejoy - Maddy the Chick
Earthquake - Root the Rooster
S. Scott Bullock - Eddy the Cow
Maurice LaMarche - Igg the Cow
John DiMaggio - Bud the Cow/
Officer O'Hanlen
Maria Bamford - Mrs. Beady
Steve Oedekerk - Snotty
Boy/Mr. Beady/Snotty Boy's Father
Fred Tatasciore - Farmer
Peter Stenstrom - Skunk
Jill Talley - Snotty Boy's Mother
Laraine Newman - Snotty Boy's Friend
Katie Leigh - Snotty Boy's Friend/Additional Voices
North Mississippi Allstars - Barn Boys

Crew
Writer/Producer/Director -
Steve Oedekerk
Associate Producer/Cow Designer -
Mark Beam
Executive Producers - Julia Pistor,
Aaron Parry and A.K. Madhavan
Producers - Pam Marsden
and Paul Marshal
Production Designer/Art Director -
Phillip A. Cruden
Lead Character Designer - Bill Schwab
Character Designers - Dale Hendrickson,
Jim Clark and Jerry Mahoney
Additional Character Designer -
Andre Medina
Head Sequence Director - Jeff Siergey
Sequence Directors - Anthony Bell,
Frank Marino and Jeff McGrath
Lead Animation Supervisor - David Andrews
Animation Supervisors - T.J Sullivan,
Steve Baker and Richard Bazley
Lead Character Modelling/Animation Supervisor -
Todd Grimes
CG Supervisors - Graham D. Clark
and Tom Capizzi
Background Animation Supervisor - Alastair McLeod
Lead Technical Supervisor - Jason Barlow
Layout Supervisor - Steve Kolbe
Visual Effects Supervisor - Martin Lauzon
Film Editors - Billy Weber and
Paul D. Calder
Additional Editor - Bret Marnell
Assistant Editors - Danik Thomas
and Craig Paulsen
Sound Designer - Odin Benitez
Sound Designer/Effects Editor - Yann Depulch
Supervising Sound Editor - Michael Hilkene
Production Sound Mixer - Devon Bowman
Re-Recording Mixers - David E. Fluhr
and Myron Nettinga
Foley Artists - Robin Harlan and
Sarah Monat
Music - John Debney
Executive Music Producer - Karyn Rachtman


Review
BARNYARD is a weird kiddie-loose comedy created by the same makers that did Jimmy Neutron. I found BARNYARD to be a product of shame from the network and a disappointment for the film's creators. Throughout the movie's 90-minute duration, several aspects let this film down. The computer animation is so low-budget and makes you wonder why the creator wanted the male cows to have udders to be funny since it's not in their biology. It has unoriginal storytelling. Some of its themes are cut or taken from Disney's The Lion KingFor example, the overarching theme is to grow up and be more responsible; the main character's (Otis) carefree lifestyle is similar to Simba's. This film was an uninteresting comedy with a most unconvincing set of jokes (save for some, like the part where the cows do "boy tipping").

I almost didn't recognise some of the film's characters, but now I know Kevin James, Danny Glover, and Sam Elliott were among the voice talents. I already knew Wanda Sykes was in the film; this was her third voice role. How unfortunate that it could not have been a more successful animated comedy. 

I recommend you watch this film only once if you have high expectations, as it does not come close. It's full of a younger audience appeal, and you must bury the movie under a haystack. I have not watched the TV show. But after seeing this movie, I saw a few of its episodes.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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Monday, November 3, 2014

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Review











Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone


Release Date: 29th November 2001 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
1492 Pictures
Heyday Films

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Fantasy/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 152 minutes


Budget: $125,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,026,409,257 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Harry Potter is a young boy who often receives mistreatment by his uncle and aunt because of his magical heritage. On his 11th birthday, he is whisked away from his mundane existence by a giant, Hagrid, who tells him that he is a wizard and accepted by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

His journey starts in the
wizarding world as a student
at Hogwarts with new
friends like Ron Weasley
and Hermione Granger. But
not everything is quiet at
Hogwarts when Harry and
his friends learn something
valuable is hidden inside
the school while someone
is planning to steal it.


Cast
Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter
Emma Watson - Hermione
Granger
Rupert Grint - Ron Weasley
Robbie Coltrane - Rubeus
Hagrid
Richard Harris - Albus
Dumbledore
Maggie Smith - Minerva
McGonagall
Alan Rickman - Severus Snape
Ian Hart - Professor Quirrell/
Lord Voldemort (Voice)
Tom Felton - Draco Malfoy
Richard Griffiths - Vernon
Dursley
Fiona Shaw - Petunia Dursley
Harry Melling - Dudley Dursley
John Hurt - Ollivander
Zoe Wanamaker - Madame Hooch
Warwick Davis - Filius Fitwick/Goblin Bank Teller/
Griphook (Voice)
David Bradley - Argus Filch
Matthew Lewis - Neville Longbottom
John Cleese - Nearly Headless
Nick
Terence Bayler - The Bloody
Baron
Simon Fisher-Becker - Fat Friar
Nina Young - The Grey Lady
Leslie Phillips - The Sorting Hat (Voice)
Julie Walters - Molly Weasley
Bonnie Wright - Ginny Weasley
James & Oliver Phelps - Fred
& George Weasley
Richard Bremmer - Lord
Voldemort
Sean Biggerstaff - Oliver Wood
Devon Murray - Seamus Finnigan
Chris Rankin - Percy Weasley
Jamie Waylett - Vincent Crabbe
Joshua Herdman - Gregory Goyle
Adrian Rawlins - James Potter
Geraldine Somerville - Lily Potter
Saunders Triplets - Baby Harry
Potter
Ray Fearon - Firenze (Voice)
Verne Troyer - Griphook
Luke Youngblood - Lee Jordan
Elizabeth Spriggs - Fat Lady
Danelle Tabor - Angelina Johnson
Leilah Sutherland - Alicia Spinnet
Emily Dale - Katie Bell
David Holmes - Adrian Pucey
Will Theakston - Marcus Flint
Scot Fearn - Terence Higgs
Eleanor Columbus - Susan Bones
Derek Deadman - Bartender in
Leaky Cauldron
Ben Borowiecki - Diagon Alley Boy
Harry Taylor - Station Guard
Jean Southern - Dimped Woman on
Train

Crew
Executive Producer/Director - Chris Columbus
Based on the Book "Harry Potter and
the Philosopher's Stone" - J. K. Rowling
Screenplay - Steve Kloves
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Todd Arnow
Executive Producers - Michael Barnathan
and Mark Radcliffe
Executive Producer/Additional First Assistant
Director - Duncan Henderson
Producer - David Heyman
Co-Producer - Tanya Seghatchian
Casting Directors - Karen Lindsay-Stewart,
Susie Figgis, Janet Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins
Head Animal Trainers - Larry Madrid,
David Sousa and Julie Tottman
Animal Coordinator - Gary Gero
Production Designer - Stuart Craig
Creature Designers - Rob Bliss and
Paul Catling
Supervising Art Directors - John King and
Neil Lamont
Art Directors - Andrew Ackland-Snow,
Peter Francis, Michael & Simon Lamont,
Steven Lawrence, Lucinda Thomson and
Cliff Robinson (Uncredited)
Scenic Art Director - Steven Sallybanks
Assistant Art Directors - Dominic Masters,
Stephen Morahan and Gary Tomkins
Set Decorator - Stephenie McMillan
Assistant Set Decorators - Jo Graysmark
and Lee Sandales
Property Master - Barry Wilkinson
Assistant Property Master - Jamie Wilkinson
Supervising Modeller - Pierre Bohanna
Costume Designer - Judianna Makovsky
Costume Supervisor - Graham Churchyard
Assistant Costume Designers -
Rosemary Burrows and Colleen Kelsall
Creature & Special Makeup Effects -
Nick Dudman
Makeup Designer - Amanda Knight
Key Prosthetic Makeup Artist - Mark Coulier
Hair Designer - Eithne Fennel
Director of Photography - John Seale
Camera Pilot - Marc Wolff
Unit Production Manager: Second Unit -
R.J. Mino
First Assistant Director - Chris Carreras
First Assistant Directors: Second Unit -
Jamie Christopher and Josh Robertson
Second Assistant Director - Michael Stevenson
Co-Second Assistant Director - Fiona Richards
Location Manager - Keith Hatcher
Second Unit Director - David R. Ellis
Second Unit Director/Visual Effects Supervisor -
Robert Legato
Stunt Coordinator - Greg Powell
Diving Coordinator - Dave Shaw
Special Effects Supervisor - John Richardson
Project Supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature
Shop - Jamie Courtier
Head of Creatures Design: Jim Henson's
Creature Shop - Sharon Smith
Key Animatronic Model Designers - Paul Spateri,
Chris Barton, Gary Pollard and Astrig Akseralian
Motion Base Supervisor: Jim Henson's
Creature Shop - Verner Gresty
Visual Effects Supervisor - Nick Davis
Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI - Jim Berney
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Roger Guyett
Visual Effects Supervisor: Mill Film - Karl Mooney
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Richard E. Hollander
Head of Production: MPC - Michael Elson
Associate Visual Effects Supervisor - Michael Kanfer
Digital Visual Effects Supervisor: CFC -
Robert Duncan
Visual Effects Producers - Karen M. Murphy
and Cari Thomas
Visual Effects & Animation Producer: ILM -
Denise Ream
Senior Modellers: Motion Control and Model
Unit - Terry Bridle and Brian Smithies
Animation Supervisor: ILM - David Andrews
Animation Supervisor: SPI - Eric Armstrong
Computer Graphics Supervisor: ILM -
Gerald Gutschmidt
CGI Animation Supervisor: MPC - Chas Jarrett
CG Supervisors: SPI - Mark Lambert,
Seth Maury, David Alexander Smith and
Peter G. Travers
CG Supervisor: Mill Film - David Lomax
Creature Supervisor: ILM - Paul Giacoppo
Lead Technical Director: MPC - Peter Muyzers
CG Sequence Supervisor: ILM - Hilmar Koch
3D Motion Control Previs Supervisor: Motion
Control & Model Unit - Chris Shaw
Compositing Supervisor: Mill Film -
Simon Stanley-Clamp
Digital Paint & Roto Lead: ILM - Beth D'Amato
Film Editor - Richard Francis-Bruce
Supervising Sound Editor - Eddy Joseph
Sound Effects Editor - Martin Cantwell
Sound Mixer - John Midgley
Re-Recording Mixers - Adam &
Graham Daniel and Ray Merrin
Music - John Williams
Supervising Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg


Awards

2002 Academy Awards
Best Art Direction - Stuart Craig and
Stephenie McMillan (Nominated)
Best Costume Design - Judianna Makovsky (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - John Williams (Nominated)


Review
I haven't reviewed any Harry Potter films except for the last two. THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE, known to Americans as The Sorcerer's Stone, was great to start the series of all eight films but not one of the best first instalments. I'm sure it's nostalgic, and it has given a lot of good charm and value to a Muggle who hasn't seen the movies, especially the first two. But there's more to say about the film's ingenious aspects, like Chris Columbus' direction, as he brings joy and innocence to his first two features.

Before they reached maturity and adulthood, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson first played Harry, Ron and Hermione when these actors were very young. At their age, they haven't done anything like this before. And that goes to show that Columbus had perfectly turned these children into future superstars. For the grown actors portraying the Hogwarts staff, Alan Rickman captures his moody essence as Snape. And as for Robbie Coltrane, he is good for just being Hagrid and is already the first actor cast in the ensemble. With the accent and gentle nature of the character, he knows how to capture it perfectly. The best actor in this picture would be the late Richard Harris for his original portrayal of the all-wise and powerful Dumbledore. It was tragic when we learned of Richard's passing, and Michael Gambon would later inherit the character from the late actor in the following six chapters.

THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE introduces the world and characters of the books to the big screen. This classic movie is still worth watching, even to the non-readers of the book series.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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