Disney Destroying My Childhood!

Breaking news, everyone!

Disney is interested in a remake of its 1994 animated film The Lion King. Director Jon Favreau is to join forces with the house of the mouse and direct the live-action re-imaging of this film after their success with The Jungle Book. What a tragedy!

There is no confirmation that there is a release date for the movie. But what I do know is that Disney is prepping for another live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. The former is due to come out in the following year.

There's a slight chance that some of the original voice actors may reprise their roles as the memorable characters that made the movie great, like Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, etc.

If you are anticipating this movie, it's your funeral. I predict the remake of The Lion King will flop with audiences, especially those who grew up watching the animated film.

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Now You See Me 2 Review

Now You See Me 2


Release Date: 2nd June 2016 - Australia

Production Companies

Summit Entertainment

K/O Paper Products

Lionsgate

TIK Films

Distribution

eOne

Genre: Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 124 minutes

Budget: $90,000,000

Box Office Gross: $334,901,337

(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The Four Horsemen return for a second mind-bending adventure, elevating the limits of stage illusion to new heights in an adventure that takes them around the globe. One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public adulation with their Robin Hood-style Magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry, a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet. Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.

Cast

Jesse Eisenberg - J. Daniel 

Atlas
Daniel Radcliffe - Walter Mabry

Mark Ruffalo - Dylan Rhodes

Woody Harrelson - Merritt/

Chase McKinney

Lizzy Caplan - Lula

Dave Franco - Jack Wilder

Morgan Freeman - 

Thaddeus Bradley

Michael Caine - Arthur Tressler
Jay Chou - Li
Tsai Chin - Bu Bu
Sanaa Lathan - Deputy Dir. 

Natalie Austin
David Warshofsky - Agent Cowan
Henry Lloyd-Hughes - Allen 
Scott-Frank
Brick Patrick - Chase McKinney
Zach Gerard - Hannes Pike
Ben Lamb - Owen Case

Crew

Director - Jon M. Chu

Based on Characters - Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt

Story/Screenplay/Executive Producer - Ed Soloman

Story - Peter Chiarelli

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Kevin De La Noy

Executive Producers - Louis Leterrier and Qiuyin Long

Producers - Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Bobby Cohen
Co-Producer -  David Copperfield
Creative Consultant - Ric Edgell 

Casting Directors - Deborah Aquila and Tricia Wood 

Chief Consultant: Magic and Mentalism - Keith Barry

Production Designer - Sharon Seymour
Supervising Art Director - Stuart Kearns

Art Directors - Stephan Dobric, 
Martin Foley, Dominic Masters, 
Stephen Swain and Remo Tozzi

Costume Designer - Anna B. Shepard
Hair/Makeup/Prosthetics Designer - Frances Hannon

Director of Photography - Peter Deming
Stunt/Fight Coordinator - Mark Mottram
Special Effects Supervisor - Stephen Hutchinson

Visual Effects Supervisor - Matt Johnson

Film Editor - Stan Salfas

Music Supervisor - Randall Poster

Music - Brian Tyler

Review

Magical, thrilling and deceptive are ways to describe 'NOW YOU SEE ME 2' and the original movie (click here). However, the sequel is a bit more confusing and suffers from trying to surpass the surprises of the first film. It was at this moment that 'NOW YOU SEE ME 2' was taking too many risks in adding more complexity and implausibility to the plot with the use of stage magic. Director Jon M. Chu is certainly not taking this too seriously in adding the drums to the sequel of this 'Ocean's Eleven' styled heist adventure thriller that is compared to Louis Leterrier's flashy and theatrical interpretation of its predecessor.

Many actors from the original have returned to be in the top-notch ensemble cast with the exception of Isla Fisher who was absent and never came back for the female lead role. Lizzy Caplan fills in the part left by Fisher to be the female member of the four horsemen only that she brings a lot of sass and energy into her role. If you recall what I said on my critique of the first movie when I stated that Cillian Murphy or Jim Sturgess would have been suited to be one of the four illusionists than Eisenberg. I have now changed my opinion about him being the uninteresting choice. It is because he is extremely witty in both movies when performing this natural born role as the lead magician. Woody Harrelson not only returns to portray one of the four horseman, but plays the character's twin brother in a dual role made especially for him.

In the addition to co-star with the leading actors aside from Caplan, Daniel Radcliffe is no longer the titular hero that we know him as Harry Potter and instead plays a crucial key role as one of the baddies who were out to expose the Horsemen and their activities. His performance is just a maniacal sheer pack of menace and nothing can prevent the actor's future after his success with the 'Harry Potter' series.

I always thought that 'NOW YOU SEE ME 2' was in this case, better than the original in more ways that you could imagine. The plot and execution could have used some work, if it did not involve a certain area of confusion. Overall, 'NOW YOU SEE ME 2' is nowhere near as good as the original and people should see it, if they liked the original.

Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie

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Hellboy Review

Hellboy 

Release Date: 19th August 2004 - Australia

Production Companies 

Revolution Studios (presents)

Lawrence Gordon Productions

Starlite Films

Dark Horse Entertainment (in association with)

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia 

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 117 minutes

Budget: $66,000,000

Box Office Gross: $99,318,987 

(Worldwide)

 
Plot Summary 

Born in the flames of Hell
and brought to Earth as an
infant to perpetrate evil,
Hellboy was rescued from
sinister forces by the
benevolent Dr. Broom, who
raised him to be a hero.

In Dr. Bloom's secret Bureau
of Paranormal Research
and Defence, Hellboy
creates an unlikely family
consisting of the telepathic
"Mer-Man" Abe Sapien and
Liz Sherman, the woman he
loves who can control fire.
Hidden from the very society
that they protect, they stand
as the key line of defence
against an evil madman who
seeks to reclaim Hellboy to
the dark side and use his
powers to destroy mankind.
(Source - EzyDVD)

Cast

Ron Perlman - Hellboy

John Hurt - Trevor "Broom"
Bruttenholm

Selma Blair - Liz Sherman

Rupert Evans - John Myers

Karen Roden - Grigori

Jeffrey Tambor - Tom Manning

Doug Jones - Abe Sapien

David Hyde Pierce - Abe
Sapien (Voice) (Uncredited)

Brian Steele - Sammael

Ladislav Beran - Kroenen

Bridget Hodson - Ilsa

Corey Johnson - Agent Clay

Kevin Trainor - Young "Broom"

Brian Casper - Agent Lime

James Babson - Agent Moss

Stephen Fisher - Agent Quarry

Garth Cooper - Agent Stone

Angus MacInnes - Sgt. Whitman

Jim Howick - Cpl. Matlon
Roy Copus - Kid on Rooftop
Tara Hugo - Doctor Jenkins
Andrea Miltner - Doctor Marsh
Jo Eastwood - Down's Patient
Andrea Stuart - Girl with Kittens

Millie Wilkie - Young Liz
Bob Sherman - Television Host
Guillermo Del Toro - Guy
Dressed as Dragon (Cameo)
(Uncredited)

Crew

Story/Screenplay/Fight
Choreographer/Director - 

Guillermo Del Toro

Story - Peter Briggs

Based on Dark Horse Comic

"Hellboy"/Co-Executive
Producer/Visual Consultant -
Mike Mignola

Executive Producer - Patrick J. Palmer

Producers - Lawrence Gordon,
Mike Richardson and Lloyd Levin

Production Designer - Stephen Scott
Visual Designers - Wayne D. Barlowe, TyRuben Ellingson, Jose Fors and Carlos Haunte
Supervising Art Director - Simon Lamont
Art Directors - Marco Bittner Rosser,
Peter Francis and James Hambidge

Costume Designer - Wendy Partridge
Special Makeup and Creature Effects Supervisor -
Brian Walsh
Makeup Supervisor/Puppeteer - Mike Elizalde
Makeup Consultant: Hellboy/Special Effects Director -
Rick Baker
Makeup Designer and Creator - Matt Rose

Director of Photography - Guillermo Navaro
Stunt Coordinator - Monty Simons

Special Effects Supervisors - Nick Allder,
David Beavis, Jeff Clifford, Kevin Draycott
and Kamil Jaffar
Key Animatronic Designer/Puppeteer - Mark Setrakian

Visual Effects Supervisor/Producer - Edward Irastorza
Visual Effects Supervisor - Jonathan Rothbart
Visual Effects Supervisor: Tippett Studio - Blair Clark
Visual Effects Producer: The Orphanage - Velvy Appleton
Creature Supervisor: The Orphanage - David 'Rudy' Grossman
Animation Supervisor - Domenic DiGiorgio
Animation Supervisor: Tippett Studio - Todd Labonte
Animation Supervisor: The Orphanage - Mauricio Baiocchi
Computer Graphics Supervisor - William Todd Stinson

Film Editor - Peter Amundson
Sound Designer - Steve Poeddeker

Music Supervisors - Peter Afterman
and Margaret Yen

Music - Marco Beltrami

Review

The character 'Hellboy' was first created by Mike Mignola and entered its publication at Dark Horse Comics in 1993. Every avid comic book reader would have an issue or maybe one of the series. In the mid and late 2000s, two movies were adapted from the same source material and they were produced by director Guillermo Del Toro. Prior to his success of later films he directed such as 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'Pacific Rim'. He was known early in 2002 for the last horror themed superhero action movie 'Blade II'. A movie that may have influenced him to direct the two features of 'HELLBOY' and so far introduced him to Hollywood fame. The first installment may have went abroad after the release of 'Spider-Man 2' in the same year, it has action and good wit to keep the fandom and audiences amazed and overjoyed. Even the dark tone of the comics from the creator's vision is enough to excite them all for one film.

Non A-lister Ron Perlman was very fascinating for the performance of the title character that has the gruff persona and a soft spot. John Hurt is well-suited as he plays the fatherly figure to the protagonist. 

'HELLBOY' is much to be behold, but it doesn't captivate audiences like the way other films do. I however considered it a great movie and highly recommend it.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Suicide Squad Review

Suicide Squad

Release Date: 4th August 2016 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures 

DC Comics

RatPac/Dune Entertainment 

Atlas Entertainment 

Distribution 

Roadshow Distribution 

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 123 minutes


Budget: $175,000,000

Box Office Gross: $746,846,894
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

When the White House becomes concerned about the safety of the President of U.S., Intelligence Officer Amanda Waller has a plan. She wants to get a team of super-villains together and have them fight against possible threats to the country. 

In exchange, the villains are promised reduced prison sentences. The group includes master assassin Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang, Katana, El Diablo and Slipknot.

Rick Flagg is put in charge, and he soon finds out that the villains are a handful. (Source - Metro Cinemas)

Cast

Will Smith - Deadshot

Margot Robbie - Harley Quinn

Jared Leto - The Joker

Cara Delevingne - June
Moore/The Enchantress
Viola Davis - Amanda Waller

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agjabe -
Killer Croc 

Jai Courtney - George 
Harkness/Capt. Boomerang 

Karen Fukuhara - Katana

Jay Hernandez - El Diablo

Joel Kinnaman - Rick Flagg

Alain Chanoine - Incubus 

Adam Beach - Slipknot

Ike Barinholtz - Griggs

Scott Eastwood - GQ Edwards

Jim Parrack - Johnny Frost

Common - Monster T
James McGowan - Panda Man 
Jaime FitzSimons - Sergeant 
Ames Bravo 14 
Ike Barinholtz - Griggs
David Harbour - Dexter Tolliver
Robin Atkin Downes - Angelo
Shailyn Pierre-Dixon - Zoe
Matt Baram - Dr. Van Chris
Birgitte Solem - Dr. Van Chris' Wife
Scott Eastwood - Lt. GQ Edwards
Kevin Vance - Kowalski - Seal Team A
Alex Meraz - Gomez - Seal Team A
Ted Whittall - Admiral Olsen
Kenneth Choi - Yakuza Boss
Aidan Devine - Chairman
Alain Chanoine - 
Businessman/Incubus
Corina Calderon - Grace
Daniela Uruena - Diablo's 
Daughter
Nicolas Uruena - Diablo's Son

Ben Affleck - Bruce Wayne/
Batman (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Ezra Miller - The Flash (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Writer/Director - David Ayer
Characters: Deadshot, The Joker and Bruce Wayne/Batman (Uncredited) - Bob Kane
Characters: The Joker and Bruce Wayne/Batman -
Bill Finger (Uncredited)
Character: The Joker - Jerry Robinson (Uncredited)

Character: Harley Quinn - Paul Dini (Uncredited)
Associate Producer/First Assistant Director - Bruce Franklin

Executive Producers - Zack & Deborah Snyder,
Geoff Johns and Steven Mnuchin

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Colin Wilson

Producers - Charles Roven and Richard Suckle

Co-Producers - Alex Ott and Andy Horwitz
Senior Military Advisor - Kevin Vance

Production Designer - Oliver Scholl
Supervising Art Directors - Brandt Gordon and
Brad Ricker
Set Decorator - Shane Vieau
Property Master - Dan Sissons

Makeup and Hair Designer - Alessandro Bertolazzi
Tattoo Designer - Rob Coutts

Costume Designer - Kate Hawley

Director of Photography - Roman Vasyanov
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Guy Norris
Fight/Stunt Coordinator - Richard Norton
Stunt Coordinator/Stunts - Patrick Mark
Stunt Coordinators - Layton Morrison and
Glenn Suter
Stunt Coordinator: Additional Photography -
Sam Hargrave

Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Innanen
Special Effects Coordinator - Scott R. Fisher
Legacy Effects Supervisors - John Rosengrant
Legacy Effects Co-Supervisors - Lindsay MacGowan,
Shane Mahan and Alan Scott

Visual Effects Supervisors - Jerome Chen
and Rohit Prakash Gujar

Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI - Mark Breakspear

Visual Effects Supervisors: MPC - Robert Winter
and Seth Maury
Visual Effects Producers - John Clinton, Mike Duffy
and Ed Ulbrich
Visual Effects Producers: MPC - Doug Oddy
and Rebecca Scott

Animation Supervisor - Steve Nichols
Movement Choreographer - Terry Notary
Film Editor - John Gilroy 
Music - Steven Price

Review

In the pre-release of 'SUICIDE SQUAD', I was skeptical that this movie might be as lacklustre as 'Batman v Superman' due to the backlash from many critics who trashed the film for its meaningless style and approach to try take away Marvel's spotlight in the comic book movie biz. Now after watching the latest entry from the much rather maligned DC extended universe, I found out that it wasn't a bad movie at all, but close to reaching the standards that are yet to be explicitly shown in this cinematic franchise. The movie was a creative vision for its absolute sheer focus on the villainous protagonists and its colourful style different than in other DC movies that each share a darkened tone in the story. I did like the change of tone with this film, however I do feel the story was a little disappointing and disjointed.

Will Smith is a much unexpected casting decision for the part of the assassin Deadshot, but he succeeds to compliment the character with much strength and swagger which is very typical of Will's usual approach to his characters. Margot Robbie wields mischief and mayhem in her spellbinding performance as the insane Harley Quinn. Jared Leto was good but not nearly convincing as the late Heath Ledger for the role of the clown prince of crime, The Joker. I always thought Heath was the best actor to get the part right in 'The Dark Knight', but Leto had a tough act to fill in his footsteps on 'SUICIDE SQUAD'. Even Carl Delevingne wasn't better in her role as the Enchantress.

If 'SUICIDE SQUAD' had not been labeled as a quasi-knockoff to some of the movies from the Marvel cinematic universe, then the film may have been better received and would be considered the turning point for DC's own cinematic universe. This was the most anticipated film in the year 2016 and is highly recommended for the avid comic-book readers of DC and fans alike. 

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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The Secret Life of Pets Review

The Secret Life of Pets

Release Date: 9th August 2016 - Australia

Production Companies

Universal Pictures (presents)

Illumination Entertainment

Dentsu (presented in association with)

Fuji Television Network (presented in association with)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Animation/Family/

Comedy

Rating: G

Runtime: 91 minutes

Budget: $75,000,000

Box Office Gross: $894,328,469 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Max, a Jack Russell terrier, enjoys his life in Manhattan with his owner as his favourite pet in a spacious apartment building where they live together. One day, his human Kate brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke, who turns his life upside down.

However, when they discover that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is assembling an army of abandoned pets to take revenge on all the happy-owned pets and their owners, Max and Duke have to team up to thwart the rabbit's plan.

Voice Cast

Louis C.K. - Max

Eric Stonestreet - Duke

Kevin Hart - Snowball

Ellie Kemper - Katie

Jenny Slate - Gidget

Lake Bell - Chloe

Hannibal Buress - Buddy

Bobby Moynihan - Mel

Albert Brooks - Tiberius

Dana Carvey - Pops

Tara Strong - Sweetpea

Chris Renaud - Norman

Michael Beattie - Tattoo

Steve Coogan - Oozone/

Reginald

Crew

Director - Chris Renaud  
Co-Director - Yarrow Cheney

Writers - Cinco Paul, Ken Duario and Brian Lynch

Additional Characters

Creator - Simon Rich

Producers - Janet Healy and Christopher Meledandri

Production/Character Designer - Eric Guillon

General Designers - Phillipe Tilikete, Robin Joseph and Louis Thomas

Art Director/Additional Character Designer -

Colin Stimpson

Additional Character Designers - Ludovic Gavillet,

Tony Siruno and Juliaon Roels

Story Supervisor - Dave Rosenbaum

Animation Directors - Jonathan DelVal

and Julien Soret

Supervising Animators - Nicolas Baudin,

François-Xavier Bologna, Cécile Brossette,

Brecht Debaene, Jean Hémez, Ludovic Roz

and Emmanuel Vergne

Animation Technical Supervisors -

Laurent De la Chapelle and Steve Alves

Computer Graphics Supervisor - Bruno Chauffard

Computer Graphics Co-Supervisor - David Pellé
Layout Supervisor - Regis Schuller
Lighting Supervisor - Thierry Noblet
Shot Finalising Production Supervisors -
Laētitia Grandjean and Nicolas Nepveu

Editor - Ken Schretzmann

Supervising Sound Editor - Dennis Leonard

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor/

Re-Recording Mixer - David Acord

Dialogue Editors - Cheryl Nardi

and Kimberly Foscato

Re-Recording Mixer - Gary A. Rizzo

Foley Editors - Frank Rinella,

Jim Likowski, Richard Gould and

David Slusser

Foley Artists - Sean England and

Ronni Brown

Music - Alexandre Desplat

Review

The animation company Illumination hasn't slowed down since the success of its beloved Despicable Me franchise. Their latest showcase, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, may seem qualified as a harmless, fluffy and colourful CG movie that panders to young animal-loving moviegoers. The only downside is that it lacks heart and soul due to the plot tracing elements that reflect Toy Story. Though the similarities between the two movies are just a coincidence, the graphics are astonishing. The well-scripted humour is a creative match for the whimsical energy of the animation style.

The talents of the movie's star-studded team players, like Louis C.K., Jenny Slate, Lake Bell and Kevin Hart, were also on display. Hart is the most energetic and surprising actor in the ensemble and voices a rabbit, who may seem cute and cuddly but is an antagonist with an inside grudge against humanity and domesticated.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS may amuse young and old audiences with balanced comedic material and vivid animation. It's been a semi-decent movie that could have been a worthy act to follow the Despicable Me films for its trademark laughter and characters.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb Review

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

Release Date: 12th June 1964 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Hawk Films

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Comedy/War

Rating: PG

Runtime: 90 minutes

Budget: $1,800,000

Box Office Gross: $9,631,984 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A mad general orders a

surprise nuclear air strike

on the USSR, believing

the Reds are polluting

America's "precious

bodily fluids". His aide,

Captain Mandrake, is

furiously trying to find

a recall code to stop the

bombing.

Meanwhile, the POTUS

is on the phone and

trying to convince the

inebriated Soviet Premier

that the impending attack

is a foolish mistake. The

President's advisor,

Dr. Strangelove, confirms

the existence of the

dreaded Doomsday

Machine - a secret Soviet

retaliation device

guaranteed to end the

human race once and for

all!

Cast

Peter Sellers - Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake/President Merkin Muffley/Dr. Strangelove

George C. Scott - Gen. 'Buck' Turgidson

Sterling Hayden - Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper

Keenan Wynn - Colonel 'Bat' Guano

Slim Pickens - Maj. 'King' Kong

Peter Bull - Russian Ambassador Alexi de Sadesky

Tracy Reed - Miss Scott

James Earl Jones - Lt. Lothar Zogg

Jack Creley - Mr. Staines

Frank Berry - Lt. Dietrich

Robert O'Neil - Adm. Randolph

Glenn Beck - Lt. Kivel

Roy Stephens - Frank

Shane Rimmer - Capt. 'Ace' Owens
Paul Tamarin - Lt. Goldberg
Gordon Tanner - Gen. Faceman

Crew

Screenplay/Producer/

Director - Stanley Kubrick

Based on the Book "Red Alert"/Screenplay - Peter George

Screenplay - Terry Southern

Continuity - Pamela Carlton

Associate Producer - Victor Lyndon

Executive Producer - Leon Minoff (Uncredited)

Production Designer - Ken Adam
Art Director - Peter Murton

Wardrobe - Bridget Sellers

Makeup Artist - Stuart Freeborn

Hairdresser - Barbara Ritchie

Director of Photography - Gilbert Taylor

Camera Operator - Kelvin Pike

Assistant Director - Eric Rattray

Special Effects - Wally Weevers

Film Editor - Anthony Harvey

Assistant Editor - Ray Lovejoy

Sound Supervisor - John Cox

Dubbing Mixer - John Aldred

Music - Laurie Johnson

Awards

1965 Academy Awards

Best Picture - Stanley Kubrick (Nominated)

Best Director - Stanley Kubrick (Nominated)

Best Actor - Peter Sellers (Nominated)

Best Adapted Screenplay - Stanley Kubrick,

Peter George and Terry Southern (Nominated)

Review

Director Stanley Kubrick was an accomplished master of the medium when his movie DR. STRANGELOVE premiered in 1964. Many film-buffs lauded it as his greatest triumph next to 2001: A Space Odyssey. It satirises the Cold War set in its time and turmoil. As it turned out, DR. STRANGELOVE isn't the perfectly ingenious comical masterpiece I hoped it to be. Though it's good to see another picture from Kubrick, it's a showcase of laughter that handles serious topics very well. The set design was perfect, and Kubrick's direction shows that he is a man of broad talent and a natural in comedy.

This film addresses the political issues of nuclear war between the Russians and the Americans. It has a plot not taken seriously and does touch on some controversial war themes but exaggeratedly and unbelievably.

Peter Sellers was convincingly hilarious in his three characters in this movie, one of which was the titular character who speaks in an over-the-top German accent. Some of the best scenes in this movie resulted from the improvisation and talents of Sellers. Even George C. Scott had a fun time playing a crazed general and complimented the absurdity and lunacy of this film. It is a debut for James Earl Jones, who was yet to play his most infamous character from Star Wars as the voice of Darth Vader.

Young audiences from the next generation have yet to experience the absurdity and the anti-war message of DR. STRANGELOVE. Still, the movie was not that exceptional, even to me, as I prefer modern comedies, and I can better relate to its humour.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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In Memory of Gene Wilder (1933-2016)

Gene Wilder (1933-2016)

My friends and fellow movie-buffs, the legendary comic actor Gene Wilder, known to younger audiences as the titular character in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and is also known for his collaborations with director Mel Brooks in "The Producers", "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein" has passed away from complications of Alzheimer's at the age of 83 on August 29th, 2016.

Before becoming a well-known actor and changing his name to Gene Wilder, he ventured into the stage in his late 20s and debuted on television in 1962. Wilder's first film appearance was a minor role when he played a hostage in "Bonnie & Clyde". His professional breakthrough came when he was cast opposite Zero Mostel in Mel Brooks' directorial debut, "The Producers", which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. After making "The Producers", Wilder had a dry spell with a string of flops, including "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (which in later years became a cult classic). Wilder was now a highly recognised star in Hollywood. He regained his footing with two successful comedies directed by his old colleague from "The Producers" Mel Brooks, such as "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein". The actor also worked with fellow comic Richard Pryor in films like "Silver Streak", "Stir Crazy", "See No Evil, Hear No Evil", and "Another You". Gene was married three times. Once to comedienne Gilda Radner, whom she met Wilder while filming a movie called "Hanky Panky". Their marriage lasted seven years until Gilda tragically died from ovarian cancer in 1989, leaving Gene a widower.

Gene's final appearances were in three television films, "Murder in a Small Town", "Alice in Wonderland", and "The Lady in Question", and two episodes of the television drama "Will and Grace".

Gene Wilder has had a remarkable career in film with the characters he has portrayed. Gene will forever be remembered for years to come for the tremendous work that he has done. May he rest in peace.

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