Red Dawn (1984) Review

Red Dawn


Release Date: 13th December 1984 - Australia


Production Companies
United Artists (presents)
Valkyrie Films


Genre: War

Rating: M

Runtime: 110 minutes


Budget: $4,200,000

Box Office Gross: $38,376,497
(USA)


Plot Summary
RED DAWN opens with
one of the most shocking
scenes ever filmed; on a
peaceful morning, through
the windows of a high
school classroom, students
see paratroopers land on
the varsity football field:
the invasion of the United
States has begun! As their
town is overrun by foreign
nationals, eight teenagers
escape to the mountains.
Taking the name of their
high school football team,
the Wolverines, they wage
unremitting guerrilla
warfare in defence of their
parents, their friends and
their country.

Cast 
Patrick Swayze - Jed Eckert
C. Thomas Howell - Robert Morris
Lea Thompson - Erica Mason
Charlie Sheen - Matt Eckert
Darren Dalton - Daryl Bates
Jennifer Grey - Toni Mason
Brad Savage - Danny Bates
Doug Toby - Aardvark Mondragon
Ben Johnson - Mr. Mason
Harry Dean Stanton - Mr. Eckert
Ron O'Neal - Colonel Bella
William Smith - Strlenikov
Vladek Sheybal - Bratchenko
Powers Boothe - Lt. Col. Andy Tanner
Frank McRae - Mr. Teasdale
Roy Jenson - Mr. Morris

Pepe Serna - Mr. Mondragón
Lane Smith - Mayor Bates

Sam Slovick - Yuri

Radames Pera - Stepan Gorsky
Elan Oberon - Alicia

Crew
Screenplay/Director - John Milius
Story/Screenplay - Kevin Reynolds
Executive Producer - Sidney Beckerman
Producers - Buzz Feitshans and
Barry Beckerman

Special Advisor - Fred Rexer

Production Designer - Jackson De Govia

Director of Photography - Ric Maite
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Terry Leonard

Film Editor - Thom Noble
Music - Basil Poledouris


Review

At 20 years of age, I never knew how the unappreciated remake of 'Red Dawn' was influenced by the original 1984 film as until now I had never actually taken the liberty of seeing it. The original and revamped versions are both defined as conventional war movies at the time and both share the same title and plot premise about a group of teenagers defending their homeland against invaders from foreign countries. I would say that time has done justice for the remake as the visuals are much more compelling and convincing. I think people who watch these movies will compare the two and construct their own comparison, the decision of which movie is superior I think will heavily depend on which actor people prefer, whether it be Patrick Swayze or Chris Hemsworth.

Evidently proven on the remake of the film which is rated by other review sites as lower than the original. The classic interpretation of 'RED DAWN' presents to viewers a less light hearted mood and more of a serious and dramatic perspective of the story. The acting was given to a great chunk of unknown, yet soon to be famed actors like Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen whom this was actually his feature film debut in a lead role. 

This film is a one time watch only, but that is not say you should not watch it. It does succeed in creating a remoteness feel and delves into some themes which later are incorporated into the remade version. As most viewers believe the remake falls flat on the original, I like to disagree to those who have seen it and I thought this is not the case.

Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie

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In Memory of James Horner (1953-2015)

James Horner (1953-2015)

To all fans of James Cameron and those who grew up with family movies from Don Bluth and Steven Spielberg, you will be saddened to hear that James Horner, the Oscar-winning composer of films such as "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan", "Cocoon", "An American Tail", "Aliens", "Willow", "Field of Dreams", "Braveheart", "Apollo 13", "Titanic", "The Mask of Zorro", "A Beautiful Mind" and "Avatar" has been killed in a plane crash while aboard on a Short Tucano turboprop plane on June 22nd, 2015 at 61 years of age. I liked Horner's scores, especially in animated films and "Willow". Of his other music, I was never a big fan.

Horner began composing in pictures in the late 1970s after finishing with the American Film Institute, beginning with "The Lady in Red" and some B-movies for Roger Corman. In 1982, Horner got approached by director Nicholas Meyer to score the second film instalment of Star Trek, "The Wrath of Khan", and his career took off with more of his film compositions being in major motion pictures such as "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock", "Krull", "Brainstorm", "Cocoon", "The Land Before Time", "Willow", "Honey I Shrunk the Kids", "The Rocketeer" and others. Major films in his career include "An American Tail", "Aliens", "Field of Dreams", "Braveheart", "Apollo 13", "Titanic", "A Beautiful Mind", "House Of Sand And Fog", and "Avatar". Each of these earned Horner eight Academy Award nominations (save for "Titanic", which finally saw him receive two Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Song, which he shared with Celine Dion).

Horner's music has helped define modern movies with his contemporaries like John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith and Hans Zimmer. He brought magic to the movie experience and will be missed in some ways by anyone who enjoys hearing his scores.

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Take Away Review

Take Away

Release Date: 14th August 2003 - Australia

Production Companies

Australian Film Finance Corporation

(presents)

Macquarie Film Corporation (in

association with)

The Movie Network

(in association with)

Film Victoria (in association with)
Mondayatis Productions

Media World (produced with

the assistance)

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 85 minutes

Box Office Gross: A$927,582 (Australia)

Plot Summary

Tony and Trev were enemies, and the proud owners of their rival fish 'n' chip shops in Melbourne were two doors away and have been in a rivalry ever since. Then, one day, the two decide to bury the hatchet and unite against a big multinational fast-food chain of Burgies who have unveiled their new restaurant in their neighbourhood.

Cast

Vince Colosimo - Tony Stilano

Stephen Curry - Trev Spackneys

Rose Byrne - Sonja Stilano

Nathan Phillips - Dave

Matthew Dyktynski - Burgies Manager
Tom Budge - Tarquin
Brett Swain - Ken
John Howard - Burgies CEO

Nicholas Bell - Squire

Francis Greenslade - Innkeeper

Sally-Anne Upton - Innkeeper's Wife
Dave O'Neil - Mal the Butcher
Alethea McGrath - Mrs. McLeod
Matthew Green - Sean
Peter Rowsthorn - Barry Burgie
Andrew Maj - Freddy Fry
Marita Wilcox - Mrs. Williams

Nikita Plummer - Penny

Ange Galati - Muscle Guy

Lewis Dixon - 8 Year Old Boy

Melanie Dunn - Louisa

Chad Bates - Jeremy

Damian Neate - Gerry

Benjamin Schmideg - Kynan

Mark O'Toole - Waster #1 (Cameo)

Crew
Producer/Director - Marc Gracie
Writers/Associate Producers -
Dave O'Neil and Mark O'Toole

Executive Producer - Bryce Menzies

Co-Executive Producer - John Tatoulis
Producer - David Redman
Production Designer - Penny Southgate

Art Director - Jayne Russell
Costume Designer - Monica O'Brian
Director of Photography - Peter Zakharov

Stunt Coordinator - Zev Eleftheriou

Special Effects Supervisor - Peter Stubbs

Special Effects Coordinator - Tim O'Brien

Visual Effects - Wayne Bryant and

John Francis

Editor - Michael Collins

Sound Design/Supervisor/Dubbing Mixer -

Michael Slater

Sound Design/Effects Editor/Dubbing Mixer -

Scott Finlay
Music - Yuri Worontschak

Review

I may not know the film's history, but I know this. After the satirical Aussie comedy The Castle was a success in Australia, people from the film industry followed suit to the movie of its formula. Thus, it began the rise of obscure pictures that have attempted to copy its success, such as The Nugget and TAKE AWAY. After rewatching the movie TAKE AWAY, it has a poorly executed setup with most flat jokes, is short on laughs and gets redeemed by social commentary and some decent comedy. TAKE AWAY has a fantastic bittersweet ending and two unknown actors in the supporting roles, Rose Byrne and Nathan Phillips. Both went on to have successful careers by appearing in recent Hollywood pictures.

Despite its potential to satisfy the audience as a bite-sized comedy to take away at home, it's certainly not the best movie ever made. If you want to watch this movie, you are not missing out.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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My Eleventh Important Message

My apologies to all of you blog viewers for my inconvenience. I had five reviews off the blog for under maintenance to have the consensuses consistent with its writing. I have recently brought four of these online, except for the critique of Stealth which I set in draft mode in repair. I have also repaired three reviews that weren't in draft mode. Here are four movies that were fixed and re-posted and three that I entirely refurbished.

1. The Hunger Games
2. X-Men
3. Ghost Rider
4. Man of Steel
5. X-Men 2
6. How to Train Your Dragon
7. How to Train Your Dragon 2

There's no more to talk about in this news update. That is all for you viewers to know, and you all wait for the review of the action movie Stealth to have it up again after I finish writing more details and check for any typos.

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Ernest Goes to School Review

Ernest Goes to School



Release Date: 14th December 1994 - USA
(Direct to Video)


Production Companies
Emshell Producers
Pacific Motion Pictures Corporation
Ernest Partners Ltd


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 89 minutes


Plot Summary
School was never this fun!
Ernest goes back to school
in order to obtain a high
school diploma and save
his job. Will he be the
"Class Clown" or the
"Class Brain"? Seems
obvious, but maybe not so.
(Source - Amazon)


Cast
Jim Varney - Ernest P. Worrell

Linda Kash - Gerta
Bill Byrge - Bobby
Jason Michas - Donald
Sarah Chalk - Maisy
Gaber Khouth - Rodney
Corrine Koslo - Miss Flugal
Russell Porter - Brad
Will Sasso - Russell
Duncan Fraser - Coach Decker
French Tickner - Principal Procter
Kevin McNulty - Axwell

David Keith - Squint Westwood

Ron Robinson - Coach Carson

Judith Maxie - Ms. Nichols

Fran Gebhard - Miss Cosgrove 

Betty Lynde - Miss Boyd

Bruce Arntson - Chick Hansen

Crew

Writer/Director - Coke Sams

Writer/Music - Bruce Arntson
Executive Producer - John R. Cherry III

Producer - Stacy Williams

Co-Producer - Tom Rove

Production Designer - Chris August
Art Director - Helen Jarvis

Director of Photography - David Geddes
Stunt Coordinator - Jacob Rupp
Special Effects Coordinator - Gary Paller

Film Editor - Christopher Ellis

Music - Kirby Shelstad


Review
Honestly with some of the goody humour and cartoonish gags resided in another but obscure Ernest instalment of 'ERNEST GOES TO SCHOOL'. This is not what I experienced in growing up with the goofball Southerner who is portrayed and created by the late actor Jim Varney. From what I've heard, it was the first of the direct-to-video releases following the fifth movie 'Ernest Rides Again'. This made a big risk for its studio in distributing itself without the assistance of Disney and ended all hopes for future theatrical releases of Ernest. I recognised how truly pitiful this sixth instalment has become as a result, there were a few scenes which are poorly done. 

However once again, Jim Varney does another sensational performance as Ernest. Unfortunately Varney's acting is not enough to save the movie when his character undergoes a brief transformation into the intelligent version. This however does not make it funny, but it's only temporary. Thankfully returns to his bumbling comic self. This was the first movie for actor Will Sasso in which he plays one of the two bullies who torments Ernest. However Sasso's performance is nothing noteworthy.

I don’t think that 'ERNEST GOES TO SCHOOL' is going to be any better with the added weirdness. For all you hardcore Ernest fans out there, this film is truly the weakest of the series and it really isn't the beginning of the series downfall or so it seems. Know what I mean?

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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In Memory of Christopher Lee (1922-2015)

Christopher Lee (1922-2015)

Dearest movie lovers, it has come to my attention that I regret to inform you that English acting thespian Christopher Lee was now dead at the age of 93 on June 7th, 2015. He was renowned for playing such villainous leads as Count Dracula in the Hammer Horror series, Scaramanga in "The Man With The Golden Gun", Saruman in both trilogies of "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" and Count Dooku in the last two prequels of "Star Wars". Because of his versatility in portraying menacing types such as a vampire, an assassin, a sorcerer and a Sith Lord, Lee displayed these distinctive talents and has a deep baritone to make the villains sound brooding and antagonistic.

Before working in his acting, Lee made his debut in 1948 in minor, supporting and uncredited bit roles such as the spear carrier in Laurence Oliver's version of "Hamlet". Then, in 1952, he came through his breakthrough role in John Huston's movie adaptation of "Moulin Rouge". In 1957, Lee joined the studio Hammer and began playing famous monsters, such as Frankenstein, with Peter Cushing as his co-star in the film, leading Lee to portray the legendary vampire Dracula in the next year and more movies until 1972. This ongoing contract with Hammer Films would last less than a decade until his contract came to its expiration. Aside from several of the roles he has done with the production company, Hammer, Chris has other films outside the studio like the "Fu Manchu" series, "I, Monster", "The Creeping Flesh", and "The Wicker Man" (which he considered the latter to be a personal favourite of his). During the mid-1970s, Lee got cast in what was to be the ninth movie of the James Bond franchise.

He had once been considered for the role of Dr. No in the title movie years ago and is related to the series author Ian Fleming. Lee finally portrays one of Bond's nemeses as the deadly assassin, Francisco Scaramanga, in "The Man With The Golden Gun". His performance and character have the charisma and the skill he rivals with his arch-foe. Lee eventually moved away from England to America in 1977 with his friend Peter Cushing while still in the film acting business before moving back in later years near the end of his life. Christopher Lee was a frequent collaborator with Tim Burton, appearing with Johnny Depp in films such as "Sleepy Hollow", "Corpse Bride", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and "Alice in Wonderland" as well as a small part in "Dark Shadows". In the 2000s, Lee enjoyed a career resurrection as the dark wizard Saruman in the film trilogy of "The Lord of the Rings" and as separatist leader Count Dooku in the final two Star Wars prequels, "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith" before voicing the same character in the pilot animation "The Clone Wars". Lee appeared in "Hugo" as the librarian and reprised his old character Saruman in the first and final movies of "The Hobbit" prequel series.

That is why I miss Christopher Lee and his voice. God may rest your soul as those who will pay tribute to your acting virtuosity;-(

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Escape from Planet Earth Review

Escape from Planet Earth

Release Date: 28th March 2013 - Australia

Production Companies

Blue Yonder Films
GRF Productions
Jon Shestack Productions
Protocol Pictures
Kaleidoscope TWC

Rainmaker Entertainment

Distribution

Roadshow Distribution

Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 89 minutes


Budget: $40,000,000

Box Office Gross: $74,597,643
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A master of daring rescues, 

Scorch pulls off astonishing 

feats with the quiet aid of his 

nerdy, by-the-rules brother, 

Gary, head of mission 
control at BASA. When 
BASA's no-nonsense chief 
Lena informs the brothers 
of an SOS from a 
notoriously dangerous 

planet, Scorch rejects Gary's 

warnings and bounds off for 

yet another exciting mission. 

But when Scorch finds 
himself caught in a fiendish 
trap set by the evil Shanker, 
it's up to scrawny, risk-
adverse Gary to do the 
real rescuing. As the 

interplanetary stales rise to 
new heights, Gary is left to 
save his brother, his planet, 
his beloved wife Kira and 
their adventure-hungry son 
Kip. (Source - iTunes)

Voice Cast

Rob Corddry - Gary Supernova

Brendan Fraser - Scorch Supernova

William Shatner - General Shanker

George Lopez - Thurman

Craig Robinson - Doc

Jane Lynch - Io

Sarah Jessica Parker - Kira 

Supernova

Jonathan Morgan Heit - Kip 

Supernova

Jessica Alba - Lena Thacklemann
Steve Zahn - Hawk
Chris Parnell - Hammer

Ricky Gervais - James Bing
Joshua Rush - Young Shanker
Michael Dobson - Shanker's Father

Crew

Writer/Director - Cal Brunker
Based on a Story/Executive Producer - Tony Leech
Based on a Story - Cory Edwards
Writer - Bob Barlen
Additional Story Material - Stephen Fry
Executive Producers - Radenko Milakovic,
Marvin Peart and Bob & Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producers: Rainmaker Entertainment -
Gregory R. Little and Rick Mischel
Co-Executive Producers - Ivan Bajic,
Phillip Glasser, Jinko Goth and
George Tsvtanski
Producers - Luke Carroll, Brian Inerfield
and Catherine Winder
Creative Consultant - Gerry Swallow
Production Designer - Barry E. Jackson
Art Director - Matthias Lechner
Character Designers - David Krentz and
Sylvain Deboissy
Cinematography - Matthew A. Ward
Animation Director - Adam Wood
Lighting Supervisors - Patrick Beauchamp
and Chris McNish
Visual Effects Supervisor - Keith Kolder
Stereoscopic Supervisor - David E. Franks
Composting Supervisor - Jasper Kidd
Film Editors - Matt Landon and Scott Winlaw
Additional Sound Design - Craig Berkey
and Ben Burtt
Music - Aaron Zigman

Review

I've seen a lot of animated movies over the years and for 'ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH', the CGI sci-fi comedy I thought it was more of a reverse of 'Planet 51' and it felt really quirky and weird. Aesthetics of the computer animation and well-scripted humour are the two elements that I've enjoyed in this film alongside its sci-fi and celebrity references, this film can be best labelled as a funny space oddity. The feature is ridden with dated clichés such as its whole story and I felt something was missing that needed to stop 'ESCAPE' from falling in to the unbalanced endeavours of animation. The sibling relationship/rivalry of the two main brothers should have been explored more, the story writers would have better developed this aspect of the story. Regardless of my critical blows to this disappointing flick, the reality is that it was a major success at the box office therefore there must be audiences out there that disagree with my opinion. What do you think? 

I do however enjoy the voice performances which features actors such as Rob Corddry, George Lopez, Jane Lynch and Jessica Alba. I don't believe that William Shatner is cast in one of the voice talents in one of the lesser animated films which I considered to be a semi-bad movie. Not the first time before, but it's at his best at hammy performance since his Captain Kirk in the 'Star Trek' television series.

It is such an average film that has little to offer the older viewers. 'ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH' is definitely not worth-watching for a second time. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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Daddy Day Care Review

Daddy Day Care

Release Date: 26th June 2003 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures (presents)

Davis Entertainment

Revolution Studios

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Comedy

 

Rating: G

Runtime: 88 minutes


Budget: $60,000,000

Box Office Gross:

$164,433,867 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Two workaholic fathers, Charlie and Phil, are now unemployed when the cereal company shuts down their health division, so they have to stay at home and watch over their kids as they can't afford to keep them in the exclusive but costly Chapman Academy.

When Charlie begins to have an idea, he and Phil decide to start their daycare centre, and thus, Daddy Day Care is born. Unfortunately, they get a LOT more than they bargained for and have to keep the kids under control and deal with the heavy competition from Chapman.

Cast
Eddie Murphy - Charlie Hinton
Jeff Garlin - Phil
Steve Zahn - Marvin
Regina King - Kim Hinton
Anjelica Huston - Miss Harridan
Lacey Chabert - Jenny
Kevin Nealon - Bruce
Jonathan Katz - Mr. Kubitz
Lella Arcieri - Kelli
Khamani Griffin - Ben Hinton
Max Burkholder - Max
Shane Baumel - Crispin
Jimmy Bennett - Flash
Arthur Young - Nicky
Elle Fanning - Jamie
Hailey Johnson - Becca
Felix Achille - Dylan
Siobhan Fallon Hogan - Peggy
Lisa Edelstein - Crispin's Mom
Cheap Trick - Themselves (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Steve Carr
Writer - Geoff Rookey

Executive Producers - Dan

Kolsrud, Joe Roth and Heidi

Santelli
Producers - John Davis,
Matt Berenson and Wyck
Godfrey
Co-Producer - Jack Brodsky
Production Designer/Second

Unit Director (Uncredited) - Garreth Stover

Art Director - Chris Cornwell

Set Decorators - Maggie Martin and Chris L. Spellman

Property Master - Trish Gallaher Glenn
Costume Designer - Ruth E. Carter
Director of Photography - Steven Poster

First Assistant Director - Donald Sparks

Second Assistant Director - Dieter Busch

Stunt Coordinator - Manny Perry

Special Effects Coordinator - Larz Anderson

Visual Effects Supervisor - Mark Dornfeld
Editor - Christopher Greenbury

First Assistant Editors - Matthew Cassel

and Sam Seig
Supervising Sound Editor - John Joseph Thomas

Production Mixer - David MacMillan

Re-Recording Mixers - Jon Taylor

and Gary A. Rizzo
Music - David Newman

Music Supervision - Spring Aspers


Review

Through the years, Eddie Murphy hasn't always been the funniest film comedian as other actors of the 80s began to become inconsistent. He's been over many movies that he's known to be proud of doing, and I'm sorry to say that most of them are travesties like Norbit, The Adventures of Pluto Nash and A Thousand Words. He is yet to make a comeback to reclaim the talent he once had. DADDY DAY CARE is the film you don't want to take too seriously if you want a lighthearted movie with toilet humour. Then this would be a good film. Murphy fits the bill. He gets paired with co-stars Jeff Garlin and Steve Zahn in the cast. Also included is actress Anjelica Huston, who did a fantastic job with her calm and antagonistic portrayal of the headmistress.

Since Steve Zahn's character is a typical fanboy stereotype, I was surprised that the filmmakers made fun of the original Star Trek series in this film. I enjoyed one scene when Eddie opens the door and discovers the bathroom is now in the grot.

It's not one of my favourites, but DADDY DAY CARE is a solid guarantee for families that they should give it a chance and forget the all-atrocious sequel Daddy Day Camp.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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