Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation Review

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation


Release Date: 30th July 2015 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures
Alibaba Pictures Group (in association with)
Bad Robot
China Movie Channel
Odin
Skydance Productions
TC Productions

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 131 minutes


Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $682,330,139
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary

With the MIF disbanded, 

and Ethan out in the cold, 

the team now faces off 

against a network of highly 

skilled special agents, the 

Syndicate. These highly 

trained operatives are 

hellbent on creating a new 

world through an escalating 

series of terrorist attacks. 

Ethan gather his team and 

joins forces with disavowed 

British agent Ilsa Faust, who 

may or may not be a 

member of this rogue nation, 

as the group faces their
most impossible mission yet. 
(Source - Metro Cinemas)

Cast
Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt
Jeremy Renner - William Brandt
Simon Pegg - Benji Dunn
Rebecca Ferguson - Ilsa Faust
Ving Rhames - Luther Strickell
Sean Harris - Solomon Lane
Alec Baldwin - Alan Hunley
Jens Hulten - Janik Vinter
Simon McBurney - Attlee
Jingchu Zhang - Lauren
America Olivo - Turandot
Rupert Wickham - Austrian 

Chancellor
Tom Hallander - Prime Minister
Hermione Corfield - Record Shop Girl
Nigel Barber - Chairman
Sean Cronin - Masked Syndicate Man
Mingus Johnston - Lead Biker

Crew
Story/Screenplay/Director -
Christopher McQuarrie
Based on Television Series:
Mission Impossible - Bruce Geller
Story - Drew Pearce
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager - Thomas Hayslip
Associate Producer - Maricel Pagulayan
Executive Producer - Jake Myers
Producers - J.J. Abrams, Bryan
Burk, Tom Cruise, David
Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger
Production Designer - Jim Bissell
Supervising Art Director - Paul Inglis
Set Decorators - John Bush, Abdenabi Izlaguen
and Gena Vazquez (Uncredited)
Property Master - Ty Teiger
Costume Designers - Joanna Johnston and
Timothy Everest (Uncredited)
Master Armourer - Simon Atherton
Cinematography - Robert Elswit
Underwater Director of Photography - Pete Romano
Second Unit Director - Gregg Emrz
Stunt Coordinator - Wade Eastwood
Fight Coordinator/Trainer/Utility Stunts - Wolfgang Stegemann
Film Editor - Eddie Hamilton
Special Effects Supervisors - Elia P. Popov
and Dominic Tuohy
Special Effects Coordinator - Jess Lewington
Special Effects Coordinator/Buyer: Morocco
Locations - Jalila Otky
Visual Effects Supervisors - Kee-Suk 'Ken' Hahn,
Aleksandar Vishemirski and David Vickery

Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative - Tim McGovern
On Set Visual Effects Supervisor - Paul J. Franklin
Visual Effects Consultant - Robin Saxen
Writer: Theme from Mission Impossible -
Lalo Schifrin
Music - Joe Kraemer


Review
In 2011, I first got into the 'Mission: Impossible' series when I first saw the fourth movie 'Ghost Protocol' at the cinemas and began reviewing each of its three previous instalments from the ongoing film franchise. Now that I've seen all five of them, there's no denying that I would rewatch 'ROGUE NATION' and revisit the series to see all of its spy-fi action again. Throughout the years, the series at first was controversial among fans and few of the actors from the well-known classic TV show since 1996 with the release of the first movie by Brian DePalma. Now J.J. Abrams created a new vision in the third and then the fourth instalments which helped resurrect the series and career of its leading actor Tom Cruise. 'ROGUE NATION' embedded the deep-seated blockbuster mayhem strings together which continues the series resurgence through its remarkable plotting and action sequencing. Nothing in the movie gets undermined by the plausibility of Christopher McQuarrie's direction.

The continuation of the acting is remarkable to come from Tom Cruise who is a seasonable acting veteran of all time and has been in the series for almost 20 years. While being his devotion, he appeared to have signs of ageing, although I must say for a man in his 50's, he is still looking youthful and healthy. The other actors like Simon Pegg continue to be the comic relief and Rebecca Ferguson is on a great career path as she becomes the film's leading lady. It is Sean Harris who takes a gander in delving the maliciousness into his major villain role similar to how Phillip Seymour Hoffman did it without being hammy in the third instalment (click here). 

'ROGUE NATION' is still in the same vein as the fourth film but whether it's successful or not, it did blend the elements that were originally used in the previous instalments. This is one movie that you may not want to miss and features Tom Cruise in fine form.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Ice Age Review

Ice Age


Release Date: 21st March 2002 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Blue Sky Studios

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 81 minutes


Budget: $59,000,000

Box Office Gross: $383,257,136 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
In the year 20,000 BC, three mammals, including a clumsy sloth named Sid, a gruff woolly mammoth called Manfred and a sabre-toothed tiger Diego, find themselves tasked with bringing a human infant safely to his father. On their way, they must face perils that lay ahead in a treacherous journey set by the beginning of the Ice Age.


Voice Cast
Ray Romano - Manny
John Leguizamo - Sid
Denis Leary - Diego
Goran Visnjic - Soto
Jack Black - Zeke
Cedric the Entertainer - Carl
Stephen Root - Frank/Start
Alan Tudyk - Lenny/Dab
Diedrich Bader - Oscar
Lorri Bagley - Jennifer
Jane Krakowski - Rachel
Chris Wedge - Scrat/Dodo
Tara Strong - Roshan/Start

Peter Ackerman - Dodo/Macrauchenia

P.J. Benjamin - Dodo

Josh Hamilton - Dodo/Aardvark

Denny Dillon - Glyptodon

Mitzi McCall - Glyptodont

Crew

Director - Chris Wedge
Co-Director - Carlos Saldanha
Story/Screenplay - Michael J. Wilson

Additional Story/Lead 

Animators - James Bresnahan

and Mike Thurmeier
Additional Story - Doug Compton,

Jeff Siergey and Xeth Feinberg

Additional Story/Animator - Galen T. Chu

Story Consultants - David Silverman

and Jon Vitti

Screenplay - Michael Berg and Peter Ackerman

Associate Producer - John C. Donkin

Executive Producer - Christopher Meledandri
Producer - Lori Forte

Additional Voice Director - Charlie Adler
Production Designer - Brian McEntee
Character Designer - Peter DeSeve

Visual Development Artist - Buck Lewis

Concept Designer - Michael Peraza Jr.

Background Designer - Phillip A. Cruden

Head of Story - Yvette Kaplan

Story Artist/Lead Layout Artist - William H. Frake III

Modelling Supervisor - Mike Defeo

Character Materials/Effects - Eric Maurer

Additional Character Materials/

Sequence Lighting Lead - Jodi Whitsel

Environmental Materials/Staging Lead -

Michael Eringis

Managing Technical Director - Michael J. Travers

Supervising Technical Director - Dave Walvoord

Lead Technical Animator - Mark Piretti
Lead 3D Layout Artist - Robert Cardone

Master Lighting Lead - David Esnault

Sequence Lighting Lead - Cliff Boam

Sequence Lighting Lead/Effects - Mitch Kopelman

Effects Lead - Robert V. Cavaleri

Editor - John Carnochan

Associate Editor - Tim Nordquist

Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer/

Supervising Sound Editor - Sean Garnhart

Supervising Foley Editor - Steven Visscher

Sound Effects Editors - Craig Berkey,

Lewis Goldstein and Paul Urmson

Foley Mixer - George A. Lara

Re-Recording Mixers - Doug Hemphill,

Sean Garnhart and Paul Massey
Music - David Newman

Music Recordist & Mixer - John Kurlander

Awards

2003 Academy Awards
Best Animated Feature - Chris Wedge (Nominated)


Review

It's been a long time since I last watched an Ice Age movie, and having posted the fourth instalment of Continental Drift, I didn't do any of the first three chapters recently, which I barely have time to watch and do all of them. At the dawn of the millennium, computer animation was coming to its own as features such as Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc. and DreamWorks' Shrek were the big winners, and no young child should ever miss these two or the whole family. ICE AGE came out in that era with a varying degree of success. As the years rolled by, it became a cash cow series soon after the movie became successful. Most people would choose the original over the next three simply because it's not as comical and relies on some heartbreak. It came to me several times that I had watched it right through from when I was ten years old until now. It's the best instalment of the series. However, ICE AGE 1 still retains its spunk and the formula inside. I don't see the big deal why this was substantial enough to start the franchise.

Impressive and terrific is for the voice acting and characterisation conceived for this animated buddy comedy. Ray Romano lends his voice, and so do John Leguizamo and Denis Leary for three of the main characters who were unlikely mismatched to be together as a trio. I realised Jack Black and Alan Tudyk provide additional voice talent for the two supporting antagonists.

Visually, the animation is nothing unique from the first ICE AGE feature. Some of it shows its age compared to modern animated movies. That's why it's good for a laugh and is an exciting film. To all viewers, the sequels are not as good as its predecessor.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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The Thing (1982) Review

The Thing

Release Date: 20th August 1982 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures
Turman-Foster Company

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror

Rating: MA15+ (Not Suitable

for Young Children)

Runtime: 109 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $20,630,135 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

In a research outpost stationed in the Antarctic region, twelve men uncovered an extraterrestrial life form that came out as frozen in 100,000 years. After being thawed out by the researchers, the creature shapeshifts and begins terrorising the station.

Cast

Kurt Russell - R.J. MacReady

Wilford Brimley - Dr. Blair

Keith David - Childs
Donald Moffat - Gary
T. K. Carter - Nauls
Richard Masur - Clark
David Clennon - Palmer
Charles Hallahan - Vance Norris
Richard Dysart - Dr. Cooper
Peter Maloney - George Bennings
Joel Polis - Fuchs
Thomas G. Waites - Windows

Norbert Wessier - Norwegian

Larry Franco - Norwegian Passenger with Rifle (Cameo)

Nate Irwin - Helicopter Pilot

William Zeman - Pilot

Crew

Director - John Carpenter
Based on the Story "Who Goes There?" - John W. Campbell, Jr.

Screenplay - Bill Lancaster
Associate Producer/First Assistant Director - Larry Franco
Executive Producer - Wilbur Stark
Co-Producer - Stuart Cohen

Producers - David Foster and Lawrence Turman

Production Designer - John J. Lloyd

Art Director - Henry Larrecq
Set Decorator - John M. Dwyer
Special Makeup Effects
Creator and Designer - Rob Bottin

Special Makeup Effects Coordinator - Ken Diaz
Additional Makeup Effects - Stan Winston

(Uncredited)

Makeup Artist - Ken Chase
Director of Photography - Dean Cundey

Camera Operator - Raymond Stella

First Assistant Cameraman - Clyde E. Bryan

Production Manager - Robert Latham Brown

Second Assistant Director - Jeffrey Chernov

Stunt Coordinator - Dick Warlock

Animal Trainer - Bob Weatherwax
Special Effects - Roy Arbogast

Special Visual Effects - Albert Whitlock

Matte Photography - Bill Taylor
Visual Effects Designer: Main Title Sequence,

VCE - Peter Kuran
Miniature Supervisor: Main Title Sequence,

VCE - Susan Turner
Dimension Animation Effects Creator: Animation
Effects Sequence - Randall William Cook

Editor - Todd C. Ramsay
Special Sound Effects - Alan Howarth

(Uncredited)

Supervising Sound Editors - Colin C. Mouat

and David Lewis Yewdall

Sound Re-Recordists - Gregg Landaker,

Bill Varney and Steve Maslow

Music - Ennio Morricone

Review

1982 was the best year for movies despite some underperforming at the box office caused by heavy competition from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which won the world over these films. It had happened to two of the other landmark films from the science fiction genre, which opened on the same day. The first movie is Blade Runner, which has since gone on to have a cult following and ended up widely regarded as one of the best films by director Ridley Scott. The other movie is the 1982 interpretation of THE THING, which, at the time, was unsuccessful and only gained recognition in later years. I have heard the name John Carpenter elsewhere, as I've only seen one feature from the director but not seen any others, such as THE THING of its definitive version.

For a science-fiction horror movie, not bad and not great. I can't expect the 1982 version to have its scare factor, so it has to put chills into our spines by reflecting the mood of claustrophobia. Considering that this film remade the 1951 sci-fi classic The Thing From Another World, which presents as a loose adaption of the novel, Carpenter can pull it off with his skills as a first-rate director, having the film shown with splatter and without boredom.

THE THING gets layered with the brilliant makeup imagery that spurted the gruesomeness and frights that were a benchmark for practical effects in its time. The acting is spellbinding as Kurt Russell starkly portrays a good character, revealing a cynical edge. It helped make him a big star, which he continued to be through the 80s and the 90s.

Many people consider the 1982 interpretation of THE THING to be one of the greatest horror movies ever rediscovered. On the other hand, I have a different opinion on this nightmarish classic. I did enjoy it in good taste.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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Chariots of Fire Review

Chariots of Fire

Release Date: 24th September 1981 - Australia

Production Companies

20th Century Fox Film Corporation (present)

Allied Stars Ltd. (present)

Enigma Productions

Goldcrest Films

Distribution 

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 118 minutes


Budget: $5,500,000

Box Office Gross: $59,317,376 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

The quest for glory in the 1924 Olympic Games has begun for England's first athletes, and their success will bring honour to their nation. For the two runners, the stake is personal,

and one from within is

their greatest challenge.

Cast

Ben Cross - Harold Abrahams

Ian Charleson - Eric Liddell

Nicholas Farrell - Aubrey Montague

Nigel Havers - Lord Andrew Lindsay

Ian Holm - Sam Mussabini

John Gielgud - Master of Trinity

Lindsay Anderson - Master of Caius
Cheryl Campbell - Jennie Liddell
Alice Krige - Sybil Gordon
Struan Rodger - Sandy McGrath
Nigel Davenport - Lord Birkenhead
Patrick Magee - Lord Cadogan
Peter Egan - Duke of Sutherland
Daniel Gerroll - Henry Stallard
Dennis Christopher - Charles Paddock
Brad Davis - Jackson Scholz
Yves Beneyton - George Andre
Richard Griffiths - Head Porter - Caius College
John Lloyd - Rev. J.D. Liddell
Benny Young - Rob Liddell
Yvonne Gilan - Mrs. Liddell
Gerry Slevin - Colonel John Keddie
Peter Celler - Head Waiter - Savoy
Stephen Mallatratt - Watson
Colin Bruce - Taylor
Alan Polonsky - Paxton
Edward Wiley - Fitch

Patrick Doyle - Jimmie

David John - Ernest Liddell
Ruby Wax - Bunty

Kenneth Branagh - Cambridge Student -

Society Day Crowd (Uncredited)

Stephen Fry - Singer in 'H.M.S. Pinafore'

(Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Hugh Hudson

Original Screenplay - Colin Welland
Executive Producers - Dodi Fayed
and Jake Eberts (Uncredited)

Producer - David Puttnam
Athletic Consultant - Tom McNab

Supervising Art Director - Roger Hall
Art Directors - Jonathan Amberston,
Len Huntingford, Anna Ridley and
Andrew Sanders
Costume Designer - Milena Canonero

Assistant Costume Designer - Louise Frogley

Wardrobe Supervisor - David Murphy
Director of Photography - David Watkin

Location Managers - Simon Bosanquet,

Caroline Langley and Iain Smith

Production Manager - Joyce Herlihy

Assistant Director - Jonathan Benson
Film Editor - Terry Rawlings

First Assistant Editor - Les Healey

Sound Editor - Jim Shields

Dubbing Mixer - Bill Rowe

Assistant Dubbing Mixer - Ray Merrin

Music - Vangelis

Awards

1982 Academy Awards
Best Picture - David Puttnam (Won)
Best Writing (Original Screenplay) - Colin Welland (Won)
Best Costume Design - Milena Canonero (Won)
Best Music, Original Score - Vangelis (Won)
---------------------------
Best Director - Hugh Hudson (Nominated)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Ian Holm (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Terry Rawlings (Nominated)

Review

As I can recall, I first saw the 1981 historical classic CHARIOTS OF FIRE on its DVD package when I was just a child. I was blown away by the opening scene of its beautiful images, with the runners sprinting through the beachfront near the waves and the majestic piano-led theme tune playing in the entire sequence. Many years on, I still remember this iconic movie and the classic music piece by Vangelis. I didn't realise after watching the feature that it is supposed to be my favourite type of film. It would have been necessary for the filmmakers to add more historical facts relating to the true story of the two characters competing in the Olympics. Parts of their history have been altered in the feature to dramatise each of their perspectives. Those two should've interacted in a few more scenes before and after the racing. It would have suited their upstanding rivalry.

On a positive note, the performances are good from lesser-known British actors Ian Charleson and Ben Cross. Cross, who after this movie has gotten into more movie roles in later years, most are recently known, like Spock's father Sarek in J.J. Abrams' retool of Star Trek. Ian only appeared in some movies and never got the chance to be a known actor after his life was tragically cut short by AIDS at age 40.

Overall, CHARIOTS OF FIRE was partly historically inaccurate. It is a fantastic film with great directing, brilliant acting, scenery and a musical score. It has very little to be critical of its aspects.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Edward Scissorhands Review

Edward Scissorhands

Release Date: 21st March 1991 - Australia

Production Companies 

20th Century Fox (presents)

Distribution 

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Fantasy/Romance/

Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 103 minutes


Budget: $20,000,000

Box Office Gross:

$86,024,005 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

In a castle atop the hill

lives Edward, an artificial

being who is gentle and

quite charming and has

scissors for his hands.

He has lived all by himself

ever since the Inventor

died before he could

finish him. Then, one day,

an Avon lady found him

and took him home to

live with her family. His

adventure in suburbia

begins when he falls in

love.

Cast

Johnny Depp - Edward 

Scissorhands

Winona Ryder - Kim

Dianne West - Peg

Anthony Michael Hall - Jim

Kathy Baker - Joyce

Robert Oliveri - Kevin

Conchata Ferrell - Helen

Caroline Aaron - Margery

O-Lan Jones - Esmeralda

Vincent Price - The Inventor

Alan Arkin - Bill
Susan Blommaert - Tinka
Linda Perri - Cissy
Biff Yeager - George
Marti Greenberg - Suzanne
Bryan Larkin - Max
John McMahon - Denny
Gina Gallagher - Granddaughter

Crew

Story/Producer/Director -

Tim Burton

Story/Screenplay/Associate Producer - Caroline Thompson

Executive Producer - Richard Hashimoto

Producer - Denise Di Novi

Production Designer - Bo Welch

Art Director - Tom Duffield

Set Designers - Rick Heinrichs,

Paul Sonski and Ann Harris
Set Decorator - Cheryl Carasik

Property Master - William A. Petrotta
Costume Designer - Colleen Atwood

Special Makeup Effects and
Scissorhands Producer - Stan Winston
Makeup Department Head - Ve Neill

Makeup Artists - Matthew W. Mungle,

Selena Evans-Miller, Brad Wilder and

Rick Stratton

Hair Designer - Yolanda Toussieng

Director of Photography - Stefan Czapsky

Louma Crane Operator - Brooks P. Guyer

Location Managers - Michael J. Burmeister

and Robert Maharis

Unit Production Manager - Bill Scott

Animal Trainers - David Allsberry,

Boone Narr, Paul 'Sled' Reynolds and

Dawn Barkan (Uncredited)
Stunt Coordinator - Glenn R. Wilder
Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Wood

Art Department Coordinators: Stan Winston

Studio - John Rosengrant and Shane Mahan

Mechanical Department Coordinator:

Stan Winston Studio - Richard J. Landon

On Set Coordinator: Stan Winston Studio -

Andy Schoneberg

Visual Effects: VCE - Peter Kuran

Miniature Effects: Stetson Visual Services, Inc. -

Robert Spurlock and Mark Stetson

Effects Director of Photography - Bill Neil

Stage Crew Chief: Stetson Visual Services, Inc. -

Thomas Valentine

Editors - Richard & Colleen Halsey

Assistant Editor - Jonathan Chibnall

Supervising Sound Editors - Richard L. Anderson

and David E. Stone

Special Sound Effects - John Pospisil

Sound Editors - Michael J. Benavente,

James Christopher and Warren Hamilton Jr.

Sound Effects Recording - Eric Potter

Re-Recording Mixers - Stanley Kastner

and Steve Maslow

Foley - Vanessa Theme Ament

and Heather McPherson

Music - Danny Elfman

Conductor - Shirley Walker

Music Editor - Bob Badami

Music Scoring Mixer - Shawn Murphy


Awards

1991 Academy Awards
Best Makeup - Stan Winston and Ve Neill (Nominated)

Review

I have been waiting to re-watch and review EDWARD SCISSORHANDS for some time now. When I first saw it as a child, I was amazed and stuck in my memories. I thought it was a sinister horror flick about a demented psycho killer. Now, what was I thinking? The film was showcased instead as a dark fantasy romantic drama, and now, it's still a well-told story about this outcast character who is isolated and misunderstood by society. Johnny Depp did a heartfelt and graceful performance as the man who has scissors for his hands and has the innocence of a fragile human being. If Depp couldn't portray this warm, gentle person, then pop singer Michael Jackson could have been a good alternative as the lead actor for this film! It's funny how he was rumoured to be considered for the title role and rejected for not being versatile enough in film acting.

Other actors who provided exceptional performances alongside Johnny include Winona Ryder and Vincent Price. It is one of the latter's swan songs, where he sincerely acts before passing. I was breathless that the suburban areas and cities were colourful in contrast to the Gothic mansion where Edward lives. Danny Elfman's beautiful, breathtaking compositions of his dramatic score enamoured me. It enhances the magic and beauty of this story.

After two hours of re-seeing EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, it ended up as Tim Burton's and Johnny Depp's first and best feature together and paved the way for their close working partnership of films to come as the team of director/lead actor. Time might tell if everyone else may yet experience it, as shown below in its star rating.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Jupiter Ascending Review

Jupiter Ascending

Release Date: 19th February 2015 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures

Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)

Anarchos Productions (in association with)

RatPac Dune Entertainment (in association with)

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 127 minutes


Budget: $176,000,000

Box Office Gross: $183,987,723 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

With signs predicting her future greatness, Jupiter Jones was born under a night sky. Now a grown woman, she dreams of the stars while cleaning other people's homes and endless bad breaks. Only when Caine, a genetically

engineered hunter, shows

up to protect her from

alien assassins does

Jupiter realise her great

destiny: the genetic

makeup of Jupiter makes

her the next heir to an

extraordinary legacy

that could alter the

balance in the universe.

Cast

Mila Kunis - Jupiter Jones

Channing Tatum - Caine Wise

Sean Bean - Stinger Apini

Eddie Redmayne - Balem
Abrasax

Tuppence Middleton - Kalique Abrasax

Douglas Booth - Titus Abrasax

Nikki Amuka-Reid - Diomika Tsing

Christina Cole - Gemma
Chatterjee

Nicholas A. Newman - Nesh

Ramon Tikaram - Phylo Percadium

Ariyon Bakare - Greeghan

Maria Doyle Kennedy - Aleksa

Frog Stone - Aunt Nino

David Ajala - Ibis
Doona Bae - Razo
Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Famulus
Edward Hogg - Chicanery
Night
Tim Pigott-Smith - Malidictes

James D'Arcy - Maximilian
Jones
Jeremy Swift - Vassily
Bolotnikov
Kick Gurry - Vladie
Larrisa Kouznetsova - Irina
Demetri Theodorou - Moltka
Lieve Carchon - Lyudmila
Oleg Nasobin - Zeno
Emily Warren - Mikka
Vanessa Kirby - Katherine Dunlevy
Spencer Wilding - Falque
Andy Ahrens - Dante Rothmere
Charlotte Beaumont - Kiza
Samuel Barnett - Advocate Bob
Terry Gilliam - Seal and Signet Minister
Hazel D'Jan - Shiro Miku

Crew

Writers/Producers/Directors - Andy &
Lana Wachowski

Executive Producers - Bruce Berman and
Steven Mnuchun
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - 
Roberto Malerba
Producer/Unit Production Manager - Grant Hill
Co-Producer/First Assistant Director - Terry Needham

Casting Director - Lora Kennedy

Production Designer - Hugh Bateup
Concept Artists - Julian Caldow,

Damien Canderle, Paul Chandler,

Geoffrey Darrow, Jonas De Ro, Daniel Dociu,

Philippe Gaulier, Dane Hallett, Will Htay,

Jared Krichevsky, George Hull, Jeff Julian,

Maciej Kuciara, Adam Kuczek, Michael Kutsche,

Raphael Lacoste, Dominic Lavery, Marek Okon,

Michael Meyers, Luca Nemolato, Allen Wei Ming,

Stefan Morell, Simon Murton, Virgo Paraiso,

Olivier Pron, Steffen Reichstadt, Tino Rodriguez,

Aaron Sims, Reid Southen, Kurt Van Der Basch,

Nick Ainsworth and Jessica Sinclair

Supervising Art Director - Charlie Revai 

Art Directors - Peter Russell,

David Allday, Su Whitaker, Mark Scruton,

Dominic Hyman and Peter James
Set Decorator - Peter Walpole
Property Master - David Chessman

Costume Designer - Kym Barrett

Costume Concept Artists - Glyn Dillon,

Igor Knezevic, Ed Natividad, Kimberely Pope,

Felipe Sanchez and Sharon Smith

Costume Armorer Designer - Patrick Whitaker
Makeup and Hair Designer - Jeremy Woodhead

Director of Photography - John Toll

Unit Production Managers - Michael Sharp,

Demetra Diamantopoulos and L. Dean Jones Jr.

Second Unit Director - Christopher Blasingame
Stunt Coordinators - David Leitch and
R.A. Rondell
UK Stunt/Fight Coordinator - Ben Cooke

Aerial Coordinator: Chicago Unit - Cliff Fleming

Special Effects Supervisor - Trevor Wood

Special Effects Supervisor: Stunt Wire Unit -

Jason Marsh

Special Effects Supervisor: Chicago Unit -

Don Parsons

Special Effects Coordinator - Jalila Otky
Special Effects Coordinator: Chicago Unit -

Clay Pinney
Creature Effects Supervisor - Mark Rappaport

Visual Effects Supervisors - Dan Glass
and Aleksandar Vishermirski (Uncredited)
Visual Effects Supervisor: Chicago Unit -

Jim Mitchell
Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -

David Vickery

Visual Effects Supervisors: Framestore -

Michael Mulholland and Chris Lawrence

Visual Effects Supervisors: Method Studios -

Stephane Naze, Simon Carr and Matt Dessero

Additional VFX Supervisor - Richard Bain

Visual Effects Producer - Theresa Carrao

Visual Effects Producers: Framestore -

Annette Wullems and Charles Howell

Visual Effects Producers: Method Studios -

Christina Graham and Andy Foster

Visual Effects Design Consultant - John Gaeta
Visual Effects Consultant: Stunt Wire Unit -

Marc Kolbe

Digital Supervisors: Framestore - Rob Duncan,

Andy Walker, Harry Bardak and Andy Hayes
Animation Supervisor: Double Negative -

Stephen Aplin
Animation Supervisor: Framestore - Max Solomon

Previz Animation Supervisor - Scott Benza

Previz Supervisors - Andrew Moffett and

Glenn Burton

CG Supervisors: Method Studios -

Jean Colas Prunier and Douglas Bloom

Compositing Supervisors: Framestore -

Mark Bakowski and Carlos Monzon

Editor - Alexander Berner

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

Dane A. Davis

Sound Effects Designer/Re-Recording Mixer -

Tom Ozanich

Sound Effects Designer - Eric Warren Lindemann

Re-Recording Mixers - Tom Johnson

and Juan Peralta

Foley Artists - John Roesch and

Alyson Dee Moore

Music - Michael Giacchino

Review

Based on what I've heard about JUPITER ASCENDING, it's a colossal space epic like The Phantom Menace. Both movies fell short of expectations due to the overreliance on visuals and plot incoherence. Unlike the Star Wars prequels, which became unexpected hits aside from their deficiencies, JUPITER bombed all of its income at the box office and didn't do well with criticism. Nothing more than this film could continue the directional efforts of The Wachowskis. Strictly speaking, the siblings have made a movie this disappointing since Matrix Revolutions - which was the lacklustre conclusion to the Matrix series. JUPITER is a confusing, over-the-top sci-fi melodrama with most parts not belonging. Some lines of wooden dialogue ruin the whole feature.

The acting from Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum and Eddie Redmayne puts me in no mood to see their bad portrayals. I could never expect an award-winning British actor like Eddie to appear in this unpromising feature. He is an exceptional actor for his Oscar-winning portrayal of Stephen Hawking. But Eddie couldn't even get a villainous character right! He can only do it in a whisper and yell like an overgrown spoiled child when angry. The only best performance I can compliment JUPITER is from Sean Bean, and it's a pity his talents got wasted as the film succumbs to being a big cluster of visual spectacles. 

The Wachowskis could do better work on the script, acting and editing. This movie is just moments away from being the worst science-fiction film, almost as bad as such films as Battlefield Earth. Nevermore will I go through watching JUPITER ASCENDING again. As much as I appreciated its visual design and creative approach, it's more common to a below-average film.

Star rating: (3/10) Disappointing

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Osmosis Jones Review

Osmosis Jones


Release Date: 1st August 2002 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Conundrum Entertainment


Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 95 minutes


Budget: $70,000,000

Box Office Gross: $14,026,418
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Frank, whose body is the
"City of Frank" and host
to its inhabitants, falls
victim a viral infection.
It's up to white blood cell
cop Osmosis Jones, who
patrols the city, to fight
against the biological clock
and stop the invading
virus with the help of a
cold tablet named Drix.


Voice Cast
Chris Rock - Osmosis Jones
David Hyde Pierce - Drix
Laurence Fishburne - Thrax
Brandy Norwood - Leah
William Shatner - Mayor Phlegmming
Ron Howard - Tom Colonic

Kid Rock, Joe C, Uncle
Cracker, Kenny Olson,
Stefanie Eulinberg, 

Jason Krause and Jimmy
Bones - Kidney Rock (Cameos)

Live Action Cast
Bill Murray - Frank Detorre
Elena Franklin - Shane Detorre
Molly Shannon - Mrs. Boyd
Chris Elliott - Bob


Crew
Producers/Directors - Peter & Bobby Farrelly
Animation Directors - Piet
Kroon and Tom Sito
Writer - Marc Hyman
Head of Story/Storyboards - Mark Andrews
Producers - Dennis Edwards,
Zak Penn and Bradley Thomas
Co-Producer - Marc S. Fischer

Production Designer: 
Animation - Steve Pilcher

Production Designer: Live
Action - Sidney Jackson Bartholomew, Jr.

Animation Character Designer - Caroline Hu

Special Makeup Designer: Live
Action Sequences - Tony Gardner

Costume Designer - Pamela Ball Withers

Director of Photography - Mark Irwin
Animation Directors - Piet Kroon and Tom Sito
Supervising Animator: "Drix" - Richard Bazley
Supervising Animator: "Thrax" - Dean Wellins
Supervising Animators - Darlie Brewster,
Richardo Curtis, Tony Fucile and Wendy Perdue
Animation Camera Supervisor - Mark Dinicola

Head of Backgrounds - Dennis Venizelos
Head of Layout - Steve Lumley

Film Editors - Lois Freeman-Fox, 

Stephen R. Schaffer and Sam Seig
Sound Designer - Randy Thom
Music - Randy Edelman


Review
In my response to watching 'Inside Out' which takes place in the human mind on the inside, I decided that my next review of a film to be 'OSMOSIS JONES' which it is overlooked and serves as an inspiration for Pixar's latest animation. This live action/animated comedy was made in 14 years before both Disney and Pixar took the concept in reverse and made it through succession. Instead of the setting being in the subconsciousness, the plot shows the other way around centered on the human body's immune system patterned with clichés seemingly reminiscent of many buddy cop flicks.

I had a history of watching 'OSMOSIS' as a kid and before that I watched the television spin-off 'Ozzy & Drix' on the Cartoon Network as I have never seen the original film before. I give thanks to 'OSMOSIS' for its potential, character design and vivid-like animation but the live action segments were painfully slow in a rapture as these suffer from the hallmarks typical of the lesser film efforts of direction of the Farrelly brothers. I do not like the film of how it is baulked with  juvenile displays of flatulence and toilet humour that puts disgust into it.

Aside the courtesy of bathroom jokes, I have mixed feelings about the casting in this picture. In the live action scenes, the choice of hiring Bill Murray to play the main human is definitely not the suitable type needed for this role. The fact that this character Frank should have been overweight and more appropriately given to a notable large-weight actor. The voice acting for the animation scenery is much better when it has characters that are voiced by Chris Rock, David Hyde Pierce and William Shatner who show lots of enthusiasm and energy. A highlight of the vocal performances is Laurence Fishburne for doing a sinisterly turn as Thrax, what's interesting about this virus character is that he kills others in a gruesome enough manner to provoke the film into having a PG rating. 

I don't hate this movie as I occasionally re-watch it a few times. Why is it that 'OSMOSIS JONES' can't be a self-serving picture when it's not giving us good health? For target audiences, this is for young children as this feature film generally only fits into their appeal.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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Inside Out Review

Inside Out

Release Date: 9th June 2015 - Australia
(Sydney Film Festival)

Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures (presents)

Pixar Animation Studios

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Australia

Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 102 minutes


Budget: $175,000,000

Box Office Gross:

$858,852,998 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Growing up can be

challenging, but this is

no exception for Riley,

who has moved from her

Midwest town to San

Francisco, where her

father begins a new job.

Like all of us, Riley has

her emotions to guide her,

including Joy, Fear, Anger,

Disgust and Sadness.

The emotions live in

Headquarters, the control

centre of Riley's mind.

They help her to navigate

through everyday life.

Headquarters is in turmoil

as Riley and her emotions

try to settle into a new life

in San Francisco. Joy,

Riley's primary and most

important emotion, tries

to keep things positive,

but the other emotions

clash over how best to

navigate a new city, house

and school.

Voice Cast

Amy Poehler - Joy
Phyllis Smith - Sadness

Bill Hader - Fear
Lewis Black - Anger
Mindy Kaling - Disgust
Richard Kind - Bing Bong
Kaitlyn Dyas - Riley
Diane Lane - Riley's Mom
Kyle MacLachlan - Riley's Dad
Paula Poundstone - Forgetter Paul
Bobby Moynihan - Forgetter Bobby
Josh Cooley - Jangles
Dave Goelz - Subconscious

Guard Frank (Cameo)
Frank Oz - Subconscious

Guard Dave (Cameo)
Flea - Mind Worker Cop Jake (Cameo)
John Ratzenberger - Fritz (Cameo)
Rashida Jones - Cool Girl's Emotions
Peter Sagal - Clown's Joy
Paula Pell - Dream Director/

Mom's Anger/Additional Voices

Carlos Alazraqui - Helicopter Pilot/

Additional Voices

Crew

Original Story/Screenplay/
Director - Pete Docter
Original Story/Co-Director - Ronnie Del Carmen
Additional Story Material - Michael Arndt

and Simon Rich
Screenplay - Meg LeFauve and
Josh Cooley
Additional Dialogue - Bob Petersen,

Amy Poehler and Bill Hader

Associate Producer - Mark Nielsen
Executive Producers - Andrew Stanton
and John Lasseter
Producer - Jonas Rivera
Production Designer - Ralph Eggleston

Character Art Director - Albert Lozano

Sets Art Director - Daniel Holland

Shading Art Director - Bert Berry

Art Coordinators - May Losotaluno

and Pauline Chu

Story Supervisor - Josh Cooley

Story Manager - Samantha Wilson

Story/Animation Sketch Artist - Tony Fucile

Character & Sets Supervisor - Robert Moyer
Character Supervisor - Sajan Skaria 

Director of Photography: Camera - Patrick Lin
Director of Photography: Lighting - Kim White

Supervising Technical Director - Michael Fong

Production Manager - Dana Murray

Directing Animator - Jaime Landes Roe
Supervising Animators - Shawn Krause
and Victor Navone

Effects Supervisor - Gary Bruins

Lighting Leads - Sudeep Rangaswamy,

Angelique Reisch and Michael Sparber

Simulation Supervisor - Edwin Chang

Rendering Supervisor - Alexander Kolliopoulos

Global Technology and Second Unit & Crowds

Supervisor - William Reeves

Second Unit & Crowds Animation Supervisor -

Paul Mendoza

Stereoscopic Supervisor - Bob Whitehill
Film Editor - Kevin Nolting

Second Film Editor - Jason Hudak

Additional Editing - John Bryant,

Nicholas C. Smith and Serena Warner

Editorial Managers - Jesus Martinez

and Becky Neiman
Sound Designer/Effects Recording/Supervising

Sound Editor (Uncredited) - Ren Klyce

Supervising Sound Editor - Shannon Mills

First Assistant Sound Editor - Coya Elliott

Re-Recording Mixers - Michael Semanick

and Tom Johnson

Supervising Dialogue Editor - Daniel Laurie

Original Dialogue Mixers - Doc Kane

and Vince Caro

Foley Artists - John Roesch

and Alyson Dee Moore
Music - Michael Giacchino

Music Supervisor - Tom MacDougall

Executive Music Producer - Chris Montan

Review

While Pixar revisits its glory days of churning out one of the latest animations of 2015, I was fortunate enough to experience INSIDE OUT as a newfound piece of storytelling that takes you on a strange journey into the human subconscious. This film sees Pixar return to critical acclaim after losing some of its lustre with its lesser-known movies, like Cars 2. It takes me back to my childhood memory of an earlier feature I have seen of Osmosis Jones, except it has a different plotline and a similar setup with Bill Murray in only the live-action scenes.

The creative team at Pixar made INSIDE OUT with the strong story and themes commonly used in the studio's previous modern classics. I was impressed by the digital animation that creates the look, and it even becomes bizarre where, at one time, the three characters end up in a room where they keep changing into three forms of dimensional art.

The movie delves into the unique cleverness of its subject matter with poignancy in its core of emotions. The voice acting is exceptional, with Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black and Richard Kind giving credit to their characters. The score by Michael Giacchino is so perfect to hear in its vibrancy, and it exceeded my expectations.

INSIDE OUT is as close to the best in animation as you could get. It's terrific and has a plot that will appeal to young audiences and the themes they relate to. I highly recommend it to animation fans, especially those who like Pixar films.

Star rating: (9/10) Excellent Movie

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