Bumblebee Review

Bumblebee


Release Date: 20th December 2018 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Allspark Pictures
Bay Films
Di Bonaventura Pictures
Hasbro (in association with)
Tencent Pictures (in association with)
Tom DeSanto/Don Murphy Production

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: PG 

Runtime: 114 minutes


Budget: $135,000,000

Box Office Gross: $467,989,645 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
California, 1987. Bumblebee
the Autobot is on the run
and finds refuge in a

junkyard in a small beach
town. Charlie, a soon-to-be-
18-year-old girl struggling
to find her place in the

world, discovers Bumblebee,
battle-scarred and broken.
Her attempts at resuscitation
soon reveal that this is no
ordinary yellow VW bug.

Cast

The Humans
Hailee Steinfeld - Charlie 
Jorge Lendeborg Jr. - Memo 
John Cena - Agent Burns
Jason Drucker - Otis
Pamela Adlon - Sally
Stephen Schneider - Ron
Ricardo Hoyos - Tripp
John Ortiz - Dr. Powell
Glynn Turman - General Whalen
Len Cariou - Uncle Hank
Kollin Holtz - Craig
Gracie Dzienny - Tina
Fred Dryer - Sheriff Lock

Isabelle Ellingson - Mean

Girlfriend

Mike Kubo - Mean Girlfriend

Lenny Jacobson - Roy

Megyn Price - Amber 
Nick Pilla - Young Agent Simmons

Sachin Byatt - Pilot Hutton

Tim Martin Gleason - Charlie's Dad

David Waters - Impatient Guy (Cameo)

Antonio D. Charity - Bill the

Mechanic

The Autobots

Dylan O'Brien - Bumblebee (Voice)

Peter Cullen - Optimus Prime (Voice)
Grey Griffin - Arcee (Voice)
Steve Blum - Wheeljack

(Voice)
Andrew Morgado - Cliffjumper (Voice)

Dennis Singletary - Ratchet

(Voice)
Kirk Baily - Brawn (Voice)

The Decepticons
Angela Bassett - Shatter

(Voice)
Justin Theroux - Dropkick

(Voice)
David Sobolov - Blitzwing (Voice)
Jon Bailey - Shockwave/
Soundwave (Voices)
Kirk Baily - Decepticon Soldier (Voice)


Crew
Director - Travis Knight
Story/Writer - Christina Hodson

Associate/Visual Effects Producer - Ron Ames

Executive Producers - Chris Brigham,
Edward Cheng, Brian Goldner and
Steven Spielberg
Producers - Michael Bay, Tom DeSanto,
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy
and Mark Vahradian
Co-Producer/Supervising Location Manager -

Jonathan Hook
Casting Director - Denise Chamian

Military Advisor - Harry Humphries

Animal Wranglers - Jules Sylvester

and Janine Aines
Production Designer - Sean Haworth

Visual Consultant - Jeffrey Beecroft

Supervising Art Director - Maya Shimoguchi

Art Directors - Gustaf Aspergen,

Richard Bloom, Jordan Ferrer,

A. Todd Holland and Sebastian Schoeroder
Set Decorators - Anne Kujian and

Amanda Moss Serino

Property Master - Guillaume DeLouche
Costume Designer - Dayna Pink

Makeup Department Head - Tina Rosier Kerwin

Hair Department Head - Kevin Trahan
Director of Photography - Enrique Chediak

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Peter Lyons Collister

Aerial Director of Photography - David B. Nowell

Underwater Director of Photography - Peter Zuccarini

"C" Camera Operator: Second Unit - Brooks P. Guyer

Unit Production Manager - Leeann Stonebreaker

First Assistant Director - Brian Reylea

Second Assistant Director - David Waters
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Mike Gunther
Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Kyle Woods

Aerial Coordinator/Helicopter Pilot - Frédéric North

Special Effects Coordinator - Scott R. Fisher

Special Effects Coordinator: Second Unit -

Jesse Noel
Visual Effects Supervisor - Jason Smith

Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM - Ivan Busquets

and Samir Hoon

Visual Effects Producers: ILM - Abbigail Keller

and Ryan Wiederkehr

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alex Jaeger

Animation Supervisors: ILM - Scott Benza,
Rick O'Connor and Marchand Jooste
CG Supervisors: ILM - Jeremy Bloch,

Mathias Lautour and Andrew McDonald

Digital Compositing Supervisors: ILM -

Ryan B. Clarke, Sam Bassett and Jeff Sutherland

Digital Artist Supervisors: ILM - Kevin Barnhill,

Gregory Bossert, Jacob Buck, Enrico Damm,

Alison Farmer, Justin Kosnikowski,

Johanes Kurnia, Kelvin Lau, Daniel Letarte,

Sean MacKenzie, David Marsh, Naren Naidoo,

Daniel Pearson, Anthony Rispoli,

James R. Tooley and Michael Van Eps

Editor - Paul Rubell

Additional Editor - Nancy Richardson

Supervising Sound Editors/Designers -

Ethan Van der Ryan and Erik Aadahl

Sound Designer - Tobias Poppe

Sound Re-Recording Mixers - Anna Behlmer

and Mark Paterson

Additional Re-Recording - Terry Porter

Production Sound Mixer - José Antonio García

Foley Artists - Alicia Stevenson

and Dawn Lunsford
Music - Dario Marianelli

Music Editors - Kelvin McKeever and

Mark Willsher


Review

After being very disappointed by the previous movie, The Last Knight, I had misgivings about the prequel/spin-off BUMBLEBEE as this could be the last Transformers movie. Fortunately, after the film's release, I learned it gained a positive critical reception, which could revitalise the movie franchise from exhaustion. It rarely happened in the series. The sequels didn't get the same applause that the first instalment had. BUMBLEBEE did break the mould, and many fans believed it was a soft reboot despite having the same continuity as the earlier films. It has anything to do with Michael Bay letting go of his directorial reins and moving over to a position as the producer with Travis Knight as his replacement director. Having directed the animated movie Kubo and the Two Strings, it's surprising that a fresh, talented face has been given new opportunities in addition to making his big break in the Transformers series.

BUMBLEBEE features a character-driven storyline that the original movies have lacked and a genuine throwback to the 80s. The latter is where the G1 toy line and cartoon originated. Also, the film focuses on one of the main Transformers who shares the same title. Bay's signature style is nowhere to be found as the film contains a fast-cutting action style with its movements and pace. It recaptures the sense of fun and wonder and delivers emotional resonance absent in the sequels. 

Hailee Steinfeld succeeds in acting as a more believable human character than Shia LaBeouf or even Mark Wahlberg had done for the previous Transformers films. John Cena is incredible, and it comes from the sheer menace he provides for the part of the antagonistic Agent Burns. Though the visuals are good, they aren't as flashy and detailed as the films directed by Michael Bay. It's great that the robots are reformatted into their G1 designs and are less cluttered to fit the old style.

I can't believe there is still hope for the film franchise Transformers, but this movie is a step in the right direction. BUMBLEBEE is different from the "Bayformers" interpretation that many people see. It's a fun, heartwarming, action-packed movie and is the best of the Transformers series. I hope there will be a new instalment that goes down the same road.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

Back to Home

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Review

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie


Broadcast Date: 29th November 2002 - USA


Production Companies
National Broadcasting Company
(NBC) (presents)
The Jim Henson Company (presents)
Jim Henson Productions


Genre: Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 100 minutes
                 85 minutes (DVD)



Plot Summary
'Tis the night before
Christmas, and the Muppet
theatre is in danger of being
torn down. And when bad
goes to worse, Kermit begins
to believe the world would be
a better place if he'd never
been born. But don't worry!
With heavenly help and
hilarious send-ups of just
about every holiday movie
ever made. Kermit and the
Muppets discover what

matters most is their 

love for each other.


Cast
David Arquette - Daniel
Joan Cusack - Rachel Bitterman
Matthew Lillard - Luc Fromage
Whoopi Goldberg - Daniel's 'Boss'
William H. Macy - Glenn
Mel Brooks - Joe Snow (Voice)
Chantal Strand - Nancy Nut-
What
Dave 'Squatch' Ward - Sally
Ann Santa Claus

Muppet Performers
Steve Whitmire - Kermit/
Various
Eric Jacobson - Miss Piggy/
Fozzie Bear/Animal/Yoda
Dave Goelz - Gonzo/Various
Bill Barretta - Swedish Chef/
Various
David Rudman - Scooter/
Various
Jerry Nelson - Robin the
Frog/Various
Brian Henson - Scooter/
Various
Kevin Clash - Sam the Eagle
Allan Trautman - Joe Snow/
Eugene the Tuba Player
John Henson - Sweetums
John Kennedy - Dr. Teeth

Cameo Guest Stars
Zach Braff - Dr. John 'J.D.' Dorian
Carson Daly - Himself
Kelly Ripa - Herself
Molly Shannon - Herself
Bill Lawrence - Himself - 'Scrubs' Producer
Judy Reyes - Nurse Carla Espinosa
Neil Flynn - The Janitor
Robert Smigel - Triumph the Comic Insult Dog (Voice)
Sarah Chalke - Dr. Elliot Reid
John C. McGinley - Dr. Perry Cox

Crew
Director - Kirk R. Thatcher
Writers - Tom Martin and Jim Lewis
Executive Producers - Juliet Blake and Brian Henson
Producers - Martin G. Baker and Warren Carr
Co-Producers - Bill Barretta and Ruth Caruso
Production Designer - Michael S. Bolton
Costume Designers - Polly Smith and
Sandra J. Blackie (Uncredited)
Director of Photography - Tony Westman
Choreographer - James Hibbard
Film Editor - Gregg Featherman
Music - Mark Watters


Review
It's Christmas Eve. everyone! It's been a few years since I last reviewed 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' which is the best seasonal offering from The Muppets. While I haven't had the chance to review any of the Muppet movies since, (well I only have done two films) I have waited a long time to review 'IT'S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS MOVIE' which nowadays is overlooked by everyone. It wasn't released in theatres but the movie was actually shown on television after their last cinema outing 'Muppets from Space' failed before coming back with a brief resurgence in 2011.

This feature is a loose parody of 'It's a Wonderful Life' and even though the plot is too predictable, it still has that signature Muppet zaniness. It also came out before the 2011 film (click here) which has similarities to the story-line including the Muppets trying to save their theatre from being torn down by a heartless rich person who wants to replace it with his/her new establishment. Containing a lot of spoofs and pop cultural references to TV shows and films including 'Scrubs', 'The Grinch', 'Moulin Rouge', 'The Crocodile Hunter' and 'Star Wars', it even features a musical number "Everyone Matters" which is a nice song although a bit forgettable.

Joan Cusack plays a truly heinous villain who behaves like a bratty child and it seems Cusack was having fun with her role. In a stroke of casting genius, Whoopi Goldberg plays God but her performance is something less than holy. The celebrity cameos are a blast in typical Muppet fashion, there are actors such as Matthew Lillard, Mel Brooks, Molly Shannon and William H. Macy.

While this movie isn't ingenious enough to be considered the greatest of the Muppets. 'IT'S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS' is definitely worth-seeing.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

Back to Home

Knight and Day Review

Knight and Day

Release Date: 15th July 2010 - Australia

Production Companies

20th Century Fox (present)

Regency Enterprises (present)

Pink Machine

Tree Line Film

Dune Entertainment (made in
association with)

New Regency Pictures (Uncredited)

Wintergreen Productions (Uncredited)

Distribution

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Action/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 109 minutes

                 117 minutes

                 (extended)


Budget: $117,000,000

Box Office Gross: $261,930,436 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A small-town girl called
June encounters a
mysterious stranger and
thinks she has found the
man of her dreams.

However, she soon finds

out that he's a fugitive
super-spy and gets thrust
into a thrilling cat-and-

mouse chase across the

globe. June must decide

whether her knight in

shining armour is a

defector or her one true

love as bullets and sparks

fly.

Cast

Tom Cruise - Roy Miller

Cameron Diaz - June Havens

Peter Sarsgaard - Fitzgerald

Viola Davis - Director George

Jordi Molla - Antonio

Paul Dano - Simon Peck

Falk Hentschel - Bernhard
Marc Blucas - Rodney
Lennie Loftin - Braces
Maggie Grace - April Havens
Rich Mainley - Danny
Dale Dye - Frank Jenkins
Celia Watson - Molly Knight
Gal Gadot - Naomi
Jack O'Connell - Wilmer

Trevor Loomis - Eduardo

Nilaja Sun - Allison

Tommy Nohilly - Randy Mechanic

Taylor Treadwell - Gate Agent

Christian Finnegan - Ticket Agent

Brian Dykstra - TSA Officer

Brian Tarantina - Scrap Yard Man

Natasha Paczkowski - Petra the Tailor

Lee Wesley - Fireman Paul

Matthew Lawler - Passerby Agent

Ronn Surels - Flight Attendant

Eric Robert Bradshaw Bennett - 18

Wheeler Driver

Scott Wahle - Newscaster

Sara Underwood - Newscaster #2

Helen L. Welsh - Neighbor

King Orba - Smuggler

Michael Enright - Train Engineer

Adam Gregor - Train Cook

Mitch E. Bowan - Medivac EMT

Gerry Carbajal - Doctor in Hallway

Crew

Director - James Mangold

Writer - Patrick O'Neill

Associate Producer - Marsha L. Swinton

Executive Producers - Joe Roth and
Arnon Milchan

Executive Producer/Production Manager -

E. Bennett Walsh

Producers - Cathy Konrad,
Steve Pink and Todd Garner

Casting Directors - Lisa Beach,

Donna DeSata and Sarah Katzman

Production Designer - Andrew Menzies

Supervising Art Director - Greg Berry

Art Directors - Jeffrey Wisniewski

and Andrew L. Jones

Art Directors: Austria Unit - Ray Chan

and German Pizzinini

Set Decorator - Jay Hart
Set Decorator: Spain Unit - Barbara Perez-Solero

Property Master - Kris Peck

Costume Designer - Arianne Phillips

Makeup Department Head - Jane Galli

Director of Photography - Phedon Papamichael

Unit Production Manager: Second Unit -

Paul Deason

First Assistant Director - Nicholas Mastandrea

Second Assistant Director - Maria Mantia

Second Unit Director - Brian Smrz

Stunt Coordinators - Charles Croughwell
and Gregg Smrz

Picture Vehicle Supervisor: Spain Unit -

Graham Kelly
Special Effects Coordinator - Michael Meinardus
Visual Effects Supervisors - Eric Durst

and Eric Brueau (Uncredited)

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Greg Steele

Visual Effects Supervisor: Soho VFX -

Allan Magled

Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta Digital -

Charles Tait
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Pat McClung

Digital Producers: Rhythm & Hues - Vanessa Joyce

and Mark Simone

CG Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues - Josh Bryer,

Matt Derksen and David Lauer

Animation Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Chad Shattuck

Film Editors - Michael McCusker and
Quincy Z. Gunderson

First Assistant Editor - Andrew Buckland

Supervising Sound Editor - Donald Sylvester

Production Sound Mixer - Lee Orloff

Sound Mixers - Paul Massey and

David Giammarco

Music - John Powell

Review
Years ago, I had two options to decide which movie I'd see in theatres, and I chose Avatar in its 3D version. The other film I wanted to go and see was KNIGHT AND DAY, a romantic action comedy that manages to keep an unrealistic situation going. There's something predictable about KNIGHT AND DAY, such as the girl meets a mysterious stranger and gets drawn into a predicament (remember True Lies, anyone?) What makes the movie unpredictable is the comedy. And when Cameron Diaz's character is not the swooning damsel in distress that we thought she would be. The film takes us across each continent in evidence of action sequences such as the train fight and the climactic car chase in Spain.

I like Tom Cruise as an actor, but pairing him with an actress like Cameron Diaz makes him even more engaging. Their chemistry was top-notch.

KNIGHT AND DAY's plot is slightly cliched, but the film redeems itself, thanks to Diaz and Cruise's chemistry. Though it may not have been perfect, it is fun to watch.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

Back to Home

I, Robot Review

I, Robot

Release Date: 22nd July 2004 - Australia

Production Companies

20th Century Fox

Mediastream Vierte Film GmbH & Co. Vermarktungs KG (in association with)

Davis Entertainment

Laurence Mark Productions

Overbrook Entertainment

Canlaws Productions

Distribution

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 115 minutes

Budget: $120,000,000

Box Office Gross: $353,133,898 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The year was 2035. The robots are programmed to help humanity and follow the three robotic laws to keep them safe. A technophobe detective named Del Spooner investigates a crime involving the apparent suicide of a leading robotics scientist, whom he believes was murdered by a robot. Spooner uncovers a conspiracy to enslave the human race with the help of a robot expert.

Cast

Will Smith - Del Spooner

Bridget Moynahan - Susan Calvin

Alan Tudyk - Sonny

Bruce Greenwood - Lawrence

Robertson

James Cromwell - Alfred

Lanning

Adrian Ricard - Granny

Chi McBride - Lt. John Bergin

Jerry Wasserman - Baldez

Fiona Hogan - V.I.K.I.

Peter Shinkoda - Chin

Terry Chen - Chin

Sharon Wilkins - Asthmatic Woman

Craig March - Detective

Kyanna Cox - Girl

Darren Moore - Homeless Man

Aaron Douglas - USR Attorney No. 1

Emily Tennant - Young Girl

Angela Moore - Wife

David Haysom - NS4/NS5 Robot

Scott Heindl - NS4/NS5 Robot

Shia LaBeouf - Farber

Crew

Director - Alex Proyas

Suggested by Book - Isaac Asimov

Screen Story/Screenplay - Jeff Vintar

Screenplay - Akiva Goldsman

Script Supervisor - Shelley Crawford

Associate/Visual Effects

Producer - John Kilkenny

Executive Producers - James

Lassiter, Anthony Romano,

Michel Shane and Will Smith

Producers - John Davis,

Topher Dow, Wyck Godfrey

and Laurence Mark

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Steven R. McGlothen

Casting Directors - Juel Bestrop,

Heike Brandstatter, Coreen Mayrs and

Jeanne McCarthy

Trainer: Will Smith - Darrell Foster (Uncredited)

Robot Movement Consultant - Paul Mercurio

Production Designer/Robot Designer:

Sonny (NS5) - Patrick Tatopoulos

Concept Artists - Ed Natividad,

Andy Chung and Stephan Martinere
Picture Vehicles Designers - Jeff Julian

and Paul Ozzimo

Art Directors - Chris August and Helen Jarvis

Picture Vehicle Art Directors - Simon Murton

and John Clair Watts

Set Decorator - Lin MacDonald

Property Master - Dan Sissons

Assistant Property Master - Antonio Germinario

Weapons Coordinator - Ron Blecker

Costume Designer - Liz Keogh

Prosthetics/Puppeteer - Bill Terezakis

Director of Photography - Simon Duggan

Director of Photography: Additional Action

Unit - Brian Pearson

"A" Camera/Steadicam Operator - David Crone

"A" Camera Assistant - George Marjoros

Unit Production Manager - Barbara Kelly

First Assistant Director - John R. Woodward

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Greg Zenon

Second Assistant Director - Paul Barry

Second Unit Director - Kimble Rendall

Additional Second Unit Director: Additional

Action Unit - Andy Armstrong

Stunt Coordinators - Glenn Boswell

and Scott J. Ateah

Special Effects Coordinator - Mike Vézina

Special Effects Workshop Supervisor -

Cameron Waldbauer

Mechanical Special Effects Designer - Paul Noël

Project Supervisor: Patrick Tatopoulos

Designs, Inc. - Guy Himber

Visual Effects Supervisor - John Nelson

Visual Effects Supervisors: Weta Digital -

Joe Letteri and Brian Van't Hul

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rainmaker - Dale Fay

Visual Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Erik Nash

Visual Effects Supervisor: Pixel Magic -

Ray McIntyre Jr.

On-Set Supervisor: Weta Digital - Stephen Rosenbaum

Visual Effects Producers - Karin Joy and

John Kilkenny

Visual Effects Digital Producer: Weta Digital -

Cyndi Ochs

Visual Effects Executive Producer: Digital

Domain - Nancy Bernstein

Visual Effects Executive Producer: Weta

Digital - Eileen Moran

Digital Effects Supervisor - John Andrew Berton Jr.

Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Jonathan Egstad

Previz Supervisor: Pixel Liberation Front -

Colin Green

Animation Supervisor: Weta Digital - Atsushi Soto

Animation Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Andrew R. Jones

Senior Animation Technical Director: Weta

Digital - Shawn Dunn

Animation Lead: Sonny, Digital Domain -

Matthew Hackett

Character Set-Up Lead; Digital Domain -

Steve Preeg

Character Animation Sequence Leads: Digital

Domain - Bernd Angerer and Piotr Karwas

Lead CG Supervisor: Weta Digital - Eric Sainden

CG Supervisors: Weta Digital - Greg Butler,

Dan Lemmon and Guy Williams

Computer Graphics Supervisors: Digital Domain -

Serge Sretschinsky and Vernon R. Wilbert Jr.

CG Robot Lighting Lead: Digital Domain -

Paul George Palop

Digital Modelling Supervisor: Weta Digital -

Matt Aitken

Creature Supervisor: Weta Digital - Dana Peters

Massive Supervisor: Weta Digital - Jon Allitt

Miniature Effects Supervisor - Dave Aisling

Director of Photography: Miniature Unit -

Bill Neil

2D Sequence Supervisors: Weta Digital -

G.G. Heitmann Denners and Mark Tait Lewis

Digital Compositing Leads: Digital Domain -

Joe Farrell, Jessica Harris, Kevin Lingenfelsher,

Brandon McNaughton and Lou Pecora

Compositing Supervisor: Weta Digital -

Erik Winquist

Film Editors - William Hoy, Richard Learoyd
and Armen Minasian

Additional Editors - Jeffrey Ford

and Neil Travis

Associate Editor - Matt Villa

First Assistant Film Editor - Matthew Schmidt

Supervising Sound Editor - John A. Larsen

Sound Designer - Erik Aadahl

Sound Designer/Co-Supervising Sound Editor -

Craig Berkey

Sound Effects Editor - Jay Wilkinson

First Assistant Sound Editors - Skip Longfellow

and Galen Goodpaster

Sound Mixers - Doug Hemphill and

Paul Massey

Foley Artists - Alicia Stevenson

and Dawn Pintor

Music - Marco Beltrami

Score Recordist and Mixer - John Kurlander

Awards

2005 Academy Awards

Best Visual Effects - John Nelson, Erik Nash,

Andrew R. Jones and Joe Letteri (Nominated)

Review
For those who need to know about the late Isaac Asimov and his literary works in the modern science-fiction genre, he was responsible for the three laws in robotics he wrote out. These laws are vital to his stories and even to the future of technology. Alex Proyas has long since developed I, ROBOT based on a suggestion from Asimov's 1950 collection of nine short stories. Rather than being a literal interpretation, the plot of I, ROBOT feels like a different story that falls somewhere along the lines of Blade Runner. It integrated aspects of Asimov's stories, including his three robotic laws on a script by Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman.

Will Smith forgoes his usual gangsta routine to the subdued role of a detective, whose bigotry against robots leads him to investigate a murder that appeared to have been committed by a robot. Nevertheless, he has shown restraint in his performance, and before that, he acted in a few dramatic roles that helped him bring this maturity to Del Spooner. It was coincidental that Shia LaBeouf was in the movie in a small part. Three years later, he would have another robot encounter in Transformers.

If you're a fan of Smith's comedic antics, you find this film too subdued. It demonstrates his flexibility as an actor. If you're someone into these visual experiences, you're in a feast for I, ROBOT, as it showcases Asimov's dream of the future.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

Back to Home

In Memory of Stan Lee (1922-2018)

Stan Lee (1922-2018)

Greetings, everyone. I regret to inform you that Stan Lee, the legendary comic book writer and editor of Marvel Comics, died at age 95 on November 12th, 2018. The man was a real-life superhero known for creating iconic characters such as Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Ant-Man, Silver Surfer, and Black Panther. Each of these transcended into household names of pop culture. Since then, the characters from his comics have made an impression on all readers. They have been adapted countless times to the big screen for moviegoers. Though loved by many comic-book fans, we will not forget his memorable creations, his life's work and his signature phrase, "Excelsior!"

In his early years, Lee had grown up watching Errol Flynn movies and dreamed of writing the "Great American Novel". He entered the comic book business in 1939 with the newly-formed Timely Comics, which later morphed into Atlas Comics in the 1950s and then branded into Marvel Comics in the early 1960s. Lee had started to work with Joe Simon and his future collaborator Jack Kirby to write up a story in their original comic Captain America, which he did. In later years, Lee would team up with Kirby again to shape the character's future. In 1941, with the departures of Simon and Kirby, Stan Lee, at 19 years of age, got promoted to interim editor of Timely Comics after having graduated to some writing work. During World War II, Lee enlisted in military service by joining the Signal Corps. During his war experiences, he wrote manuals and training films with a group that included Oscar-winning Director Frank Capra and future children's author Theodore Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss).

Lee returned to Timely Comics as an editor, which lasted for decades. In the early 1960s, in the wake of DC's success with Justice League, Lee and Kirby began writing their superhero team of Fantastic Four for the newly evolved Marvel Comics. Then, they created Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Silver Surfer, and other characters. He collaborated with comic book artist/writer Steve Ditko in creating the web-crawling Spider-Man and the mystical Doctor Strange and Bill Everett with their blind superhero, Daredevil. In 1972, Stan Lee was named the publisher and surrendered all his editorial reins to promote his company for the time being. He purchased an animation studio in 1980, which he renamed "Marvel Productions", and began to form relationships in Hollywood.

Besides writing, editing and publishing his comics, Stan Lee contributed to the motion picture business as an executive producer. He has had several cameo appearances in numerous films adapted from his comics. Stan also guest-starred in non-Marvel projects, including films like "Mallrats" and "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies". He even appeared in television shows such as "Muppet Babies", "The Simpsons", "Chuck", "The Big Bang Theory", and "Robot Chicken".

Back to Home

Bohemian Rhapsody Review

Bohemian Rhapsody


Release Date: 1st November 2018 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (present)
GK Films
New Regency Productions (present)

TSG Entertainment (made in association with)
Queen Films Ltd. (uncredited)
Tribeca Productions (uncredited)

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Musical/Drama

Rating: M

Runtime: 134 minutes


Budget: $55,000,000

Box Office Gross: $910,809,311 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

Celebrating one of the greatest rock bands in history, their lead singer Freddie Mercury has defied stereotypes and become one of the best-known entertainers in the world.

It all started in 1970s London when Freddie was a poor but talented Indian refugee who became the lead singer of a band that changed its name to Queen. Thus began an incredibly successful career for a band as their revolutionary music style and iconic songs helped shape the world of rock n' roll. However, beneath that colossal fame is the inner turmoils of Freddie as he faces poor decisions and an AIDS diagnosis before reuniting with Queen once more in a Live Aid concert at Wembley that would go down in history as one of the legendary rock performances.

Cast
Rami Malek - Freddie Mercury
Lucy Boynton - Mary Austin
Joseph Mazzello - John Deacon
Mike Myers - Ray Foster
Ben Hardy - Roger Taylor
Aiden Gillen - John Reid
Gwilym Lee - Brian May
Tom Hollander - Jim Beach
Allen Leech - Paul Prenter
Jess Radomska - Cheryl
Aaron McCusker - Jim Hutton
Michelle Duncan - Shelley Stern

Meneka Das - Jer Bulsara

Ace Bhatti - Bomi Bulsara

Priya Blackburn - Kashmira Bulsara

Dermot Murphy - Bob Geldof

Max Bennett - David
Dickie Beau - Kenny Everett

Tim Plester - RT Baker

Jack Roth - Tim Staffell
Max Bennett - David
Neil Fox-Roberts - Mary's

Father
Matt Greenwood - Young Man at Clinic
Rosy Benjamin - Dominique
Leila Crerar - Chrissie
Katherine Newman - Veronica
Adam Rauf - Young Farrokh
Phillip Andrew - Reinhold Mack

John Ottman - Live TV Director (Cameo)
Adam Lambert - Truck Driver (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Executive Producer (Uncredited)/Director -
Bryan Singer
Story/Screenplay - Anthony McCarten
Story - Peter Morgan

Executive Producer/Director: Completion of

Photography and Editing (Uncredited) -

Dexter Fletcher
Executive Producers - Justin Haythe,

Arnon Michlan, Denis O'Sullivan and

Jane Rosenthal
Producers - Jim Beach and Graham King
Co-Producer - Richard Hewitt

Archive Consultant: Queen - Greg Brooks

Movement Coach - Polly Bennett
Production Designer - Aaron Haye
Supervising Art Director - David Hindle
Supervising Art Director: Additional

Photography - Stuart Kearns
Art Director - Alice Sutton

Art Director: Additional Photography -

Marco Anton Restivo

Standby Art Directors - Rachel Aulton

and Claire Shakespeare

Set Decorator - Anna Lynch-Robinson

Set Decorator: Additional Photography -

Sarah Whittle
Costume Designer - Julian Day

Makeup & Hair Designer - Jan Sewell

Prosthetic Makeup Designer - Mark Coulier
Director of Photography - Newton Thomas Sigel

Directors of Photography: Second Unit -

Nanu Segul and Rina Yang

"A" Camera/Steadicam Operator - Peter Robertson

Stunt Coordinator - James O'Donnell

Aviation Coordinator - Mike Woodley (Uncredited)

Special Effects Supervisor - Mark Holt
Special Effects Coordinator - Lucy Myers
Visual Effects Supervisor - Paul Norris

Visual Effects Producer - Tim Field

Visual Effects Production Managers - Ana Grgic

and Louise Simpson
Editor - John Ottman

Supervising Sound and Music Editor - John Warhurst

Supervising Dialogue/ADR Editor - Nina Hartstone

Production Sound Mixer - John Casali

Sound Effects Editors - Alistair Hawkins,

Andy Kennedy and Alastair Sirkett

Re-Recording Mixer - Tim Cavagin

Re-Recording/Music Mixer - Paul Massey

Foley Mixers - Glen Gathard and

Jemma Riley-Tolch

Foley Artists - Peter Burgis

and Zoe Freed

Executive Music Producers - Brian May

and Roger Taylor

Music Supervisor - Becky Bentham

Conductor/Orchestrator/Score Producer -

James Shearman


Review
I've been listening to the band Queen ever since I can remember, with such favourites as "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Will Rock You", "We Are the Champions", and "Don't Stop Me Now". Named after the famous song that spawned the iconic music video and, in the early 80s, led to the launch of MTV. I wasn't sure about BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY after its release due to a range of issues noticed by other critics. These include inconsistent direction, gaps in the plot and several historical inaccuracies. It is not the biopic I was hoping for, but there are a few redeeming moments, such as the recreation of the Live Aid concert performance.

Rami Malek was incredible in the lead role of Freddie Mercury and did a great job of channelling the singer's flamboyance and body language. On a fascinating note, Mike Myers plays a record executive, reminding viewers of his character from Wayne's World. Here, there's no headbanging.

If you're a stickler for history, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY may not be your cup of tea. If you're passionate about Freddie Mercury, Queen, and their music, Bryan Singer's latest production is a fitting tribute to glam rock. The show must go on for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. And in this case, there would be no doubt of that.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

Back to Home

A.I. Artificial Intelligence Review

A.I. Artificial Intelligence


Release Date: 13th September 2001 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
DreamWorks SKG
Amblin Entertainment
Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation (Uncredited)
Stanley Kubrick Productions
The Kennedy/Marshall Company (Uncredited)


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 146 minutes


Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $235,926,552 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
David is the first robot boy programmed to love. A Cybertronics employee and his wife adopted him as a test case. Although he begins to become their child, a series of unexpected events make this life difficult for David. Unacceptable to either man or machine, David sets out on a journey to discover where he truly belongs, discover a world in which the line between robot and human is both broad and profoundly fragile.


Cast
Haley Joel Osment - David
Frances O'Connor - Monica Swinton
Sam Robards - Henry Swinton
Jake Thomas - Martin Swinton
Jude Law - Gigolo Joe
William Hurt - Prof. Hobby
Ken Leung - Syatyoo-Sama
Sabrina Grdevich - Sheila
Theo Greenly - Todd
Ashley Scott - Gigolo Jane
Brendan Gleeson - Lord Johnson-Johnson
R. David Smith - Welder
Jack Angel - Teddy (Voice)
Robin Williams - Dr. Know (Voice)
Ben Kingsley - Specialist (Voice)
Meryl Streep - Blue Mecha (Voice)
Chris Rock - Comedian Robot
(Voice)

Matt Winston - Executive

Eugene Osment - Supernerd

Clark Gregg - Supernerd

Enrico Colantoni - The
Murderer
Paula Malcomson - Patricia in
Murdered Room

Kathryn Morris - Teenage Honey

Adrian Grenier - Teen in Van
Michael Berresse - Stage
Manager
Hunter King - Amanda
John Provsky - Mr.

Williamson, the Bellman
Brian Turk - Backstage Bull
Lily Knight - Voice in the Crowd (Voice)
Michael Shamus Wiles - Cop
Clara Beller - FemMecha Nanny
Eliza Coleman - General Circuita
R. David Smith - Welder
Bobby Harwell - TV Face
Billy Scudder - Mechanic
Michael Mantell - Dr. Fraizer

at Cryogenic Institute
Matt Malloy - Robot Repairman

Crew
Screenplay/Producer/

Director - Steven Spielberg
Based on the Short Story "Supertoys Last All Summer Long" - Brian Aldiss
Concept - Stanley Kubrick (Uncredited)
Based on a Screen Story - Ian Watson

Script Supervisor - Ana Marie Quintana
Executive Producers - Jan Harlan and Walter F. Parkes
Producers - Kathleen Kennedy and Bonnie Curtis

Casting Director - Avy Kaufman
Production Designer - Rick Carter
Conceptual Artist - Chris Baker

Illustrator/Product Designer - James Clyne

Illustrator/Vehicle Designer - Tim Flattery

Illustrators - John Bell, James Carson,

Warren Manser, James J. Martin,

Christopher S. Ross and Oliver Scholl

Art Directors - Richard L. Johnson,
William James Teegarden and Thomas Valentine

Assistant Art Directors - Ramsey Avery,

Jann K. Engel, Elizabeth Lapp, Andrew Menzies,

Harry E. Otto, Patrick M. Sullivan Jr. and

Suzan Wexler
Set Decorator - Nancy Haigh

Property Master - Jerry Moss

Assistant Properry Master - Andrew Petrotta
Costume Designer - Bob Ringwood

Key Makeup Artist - Ve Neill

Makeup Artist - Joel Harlow
Photographer - Janusz Kaminski

Director of Photography: Blue Screen Unit -

David Drzewiecki

Underwater Photography: "Flesh Fair" Crew -

Pete Romano

Unit Production Manager - Patricia Churchill

First Assistant Director - Sergio Mimica-Gezzan

Second Assistant Director - David H. Venghaus Jr.

Stunt Coordinator - Doug Coleman

Choreographer - Francesca Jaynes
Robot Character Design and Animatronics -

Stan Winston
Effects Supervisors: Stan Winston Studio -
Lindsay MacGowan and Alan Scott

Key Concept Artists: Stan Winston Studio -

Mark 'Crash' McCreery, Aaron Sims,

John Eaves and Christopher Swift

Art Department Coordinator: Stan Winston

Studio - Scott Stoddard

Animatronic Designers: "Teddy", Stan Winston

Studio - Matt Heimlich, Richard J. Landon,

Bob Mano and Bud McGrew

Key Animatronic Designers: "Mecha",

Stan Winston Studio - Eric Fiedler,

David Kindlon, Mike Elizalde, Christian Ristow

and Rick Galinson

Model Department Supervisor: "Mecha",

Stan Winston Studio - David Merritt
Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Lantieri
Visual Effects Supervisors - Scott Farrar and

Dennis Muren

Visual Effects Supervisor: PDI - Henry LaBounta

Visual Effects Associate Supervisor: ILM -

Douglas Smythe

Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Ginger Theisen

Associate Visual Effects Producer: PDI - Daniel Brimer

Visual Effects Executive Producer: ILM - Mark S. Miller
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - David Nakabayashi

Visual Effects Directors of Photography: ILM -

Martin Rosenberg and Pat Sweeney
Animation Supervisor - Hal T. Hickel

Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -

Barry Armour and Curt I. Miyashiro

Computer Graphics Sequence Supervisors: ILM -

Christopher Townsend, Tom Martinek and

Joakim Arnesson

Model Supervisor: ILM - Steve Gawley

Senior Model Makers: ILM - Dave Fogler,

Aaron Haye, Grant Imahara, Victoria Lewis,

Ben Nichols, Lorne Peterson and Mark &

Melanie Walas

Digital Matte Artists: ILM - Jonathan Harb

and Yusei Uesugi

Lead Concept Designers: ILM - Warren Fu,

Joshua Rosen and Wilson J. Tang

Concept and Storyboard Artists: ILM -

Christian Alzmann and Aaron McBride

On-Set Visualisation: ILM - Andy Hendrickson,

Seth Rosenthal and Mike Sanders

3D Matchmove Artists: ILM - Duncan Blackman,

Brian Cantwell, Dave Hanks, Steve Sauers

and John Whisnant

Editor - Michael Kahn

First Assistant Editors - Richard Byard

and Patrick Crane

Assistant Editor - Michael Trent
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor/

Re-Recording Mixer - Gary Rydstrom

Assistant Sound Designer - Shannon Mills

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard Hymns

Sound Effects Editors - Kyrsten Mate,

Teresa Eckton and Christopher Scarabosio

ADR Supervisors - Larry Singer and

Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Sound Mixer - Ron Judkins

Re-Recording Mixer - Andy Nelson

Additional Re-Recording Mixer - Gary Summers

Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance

Foley Mixer - Tony Eckert
Music - John Williams

Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg

Music Scoring Mixer - Shawn Murphy


Awards

2002 Academy Awards
Best Original Score - John Williams (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - Dennis Muren, Scott Farrar,
Stan Winston and Michael Lantieri (Nominated)

Review
Shortly before he died in 1999, the legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick was developing a film called A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. The film was in the early stages when he envisioned it as a futuristic take on Pinocchio. Unfortunately, Kubrick had gone through three decades sorting out writer after writer until he felt that he could not get the right team to help him pull off the emotional resonance for A.I. His directorial reins got handed over to his friend Steven Spielberg. Unfortunately, Spielberg had a similar problem of failing to have the right talent to handle the technological advancements for the film's calculated artistry. He returned it to Stanley, who later put A.I. on hold as he was committed to producing Eyes Wide Shut, his last picture. Spielberg took over the famous director's masterwork after his death and did his best to salvage what was supposed to be Kubrick's vision of the future.

During its initial release, A.I. had earned divided responses from critics who complained about the ending as they felt it was strange and uneven. They believed Spielberg intended to create that finale to try and emulate Kubrick's vision when Kubrick himself came up with the idea. I learned that fact recently when coming across tidbits of information in my research about the film's production. Though Spielberg kept A.I. alive and warm in memory of his dear friend, his sentimentality gets in the way of Kubrick's cold bleakness as this feature was a stylized mixture of their creative talents. I compliment the visual eye candy, and it fits the futuristic setting.

Haley Joel Osment was fresh from the success with The Sixth Sense. Here, he plays a childlike android named David, who acts like a robot but has the heart of a child, which is part of his programming. While under the guidance of Spielberg, Haley can portray the character's transition with the robot/human emotions and pulls it off in his extraordinary performance. Jude Law's character, Gigolo Joe, is an android prostitute framed for murder. The actor brings authenticity into the role, and Frances O'Connor is David's primary caregiver, Monica, for whom she provides motherly instincts in her role.

While A.I. is far from the best movie, it combines Kubrick's genius with Spielberg's heartfelt optimism. It is a must-see film if you're into Kubrick's and Spielberg's work.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

Back to Home

Smokey and the Bandit Review

Smokey and the Bandit

Release Date: 25th August 1977 - Australia

Production Companies

Universal Pictures

Rastar Pictures

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Action/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 96 minutes

Budget: $4,300,000

Box Office Gross: $300,000,000 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
Two truck-driving southerners, Bandit and Cledus, are hired by Big Enos to pick up a shipment of beer in Texas that is illegal in the Mississippi River and bring it to Georgia within 28 hours. The Bandit has even picked up a hitchhiker named Carrie, who happens to be a runaway bride. Sheriff Buford T. Justice is out to get her for not marrying his son. Thus, a high-speed chase with the Bandit has just begun.

Cast

Burt Reynolds - Bo "Bandit"

Darville

Sally Field - Carrie

Jerry Reed - Cledus

Mike Henry - Junior

Paul Williams - Little Enos

Pat McCormick - Big Enos
George Reynolds - Branford
Macon McCalman - Mr. B
Linda McClure - Waynette
Susie Ewing - Hot Pants
Laura Lizer Sommers - Little Beaver

Michael Mann - Branford's Deputy

Lamar Jackson - Sugar Bear

Ronnie Gay - Georgia Trooper

Quinnon Sheffield - Alabama Trooper

Jackie Gleason - Sheriff Buford T. Justice of Portague County

Crew

Story/Director - Hal Needham

Story/Executive Producer - Robert L. Levy
Screenplay - James Lee Barrett, Charles Shyer and Alan Mandel
Producers - Mort Engleberg and Jules V. Levy (Uncredited)
Art Director - Mark W. Mansbridge

Set Decorations - Tony Montenaro

Director of Photography - Bobby Bryne

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

George Boulliet and Robert C. Jessup

Second Unit Director - Alan Gibbs
Stunt Coordinator - Stan Barrett

(Uncredited)
Special Effects - Arthur Brewer
Film Editors - Walter Hannemann

and Angelo Ross

Sound Editor - Anthony Magro

Sound - John Speak and Ray West
Music - Bill Justis

Music/Writer/Singer: Songs - Jerry Reed


Awards

1978 Academy Awards
Best Film Editing - Walter Hannemann and Angelo Ross (Nominated)

Review

I watched SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT on Netflix as it was an ongoing tribute to the late actor Burt Reynolds in the wake of his untimely death. Released in 1977 when Star Wars held the #1 spot at the box office, BANDIT is the second highest-grossing film of that year. However, the movie has several classic high-speed car chases and is energetic and hilarious. The plot has no importance whatsoever. The feature's popularity may have inspired the TV show Dukes of Hazzard, which has the old-fashioned car chases that BANDIT has.

The performances are great with actors like Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason. I dare say Burt is wild, more irresistible than ever and has the top billing over the other actors. Gleason is fun to watch when he plays the elderly Sheriff Buford, who wants to catch the Bandit and has no luck getting him. Sally Field is attractive as the runaway bride. Jerry Reed plays the trucker. As a funny ensemble, these legendary actors (except for Jerry Reed) would do much bigger and better things.

SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT may seem like an ordinary, average movie, but its popularity 41 years later shows its value. And people like escapism and the idea of running away from it all, which is captured perfectly in Hal Needham's fun flick.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

Back to Home