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!

Back to Home

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

Back to Home

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 King. For 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

Back to Home

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

Back to Home