Incredibles 2 Review

Incredibles 2

Release Date: 15th June 2018 - Australia 

Production Companies 

Walt Disney Pictures 

Pixar Animation Studios

Distribution 

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia 

Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: PG 

Runtime: 120 minutes 

Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,242,805,359 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Everyone’s favorite family of superheroes is back in “Incredibles 2” – but this time Helen is in the spotlight, leaving Bob at home with Violet and Dash to navigate the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life. It’s a tough transition for everyone, made tougher by the fact that the family is still unaware of baby Jack-Jack’s emerging superpowers. When a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot, the family and Frozone must find a way to work together again—which is easier said than done, even when they’re all Incredible. (Source - Google)

Voice Cast

Craig T. Nelson - Bob Parr/
Mr. Incredible

Holly Hunter - Helen Parr/
Elastigirl

Sarah Vowell - Violet Parr

Huck Milner - Dashielle Parr (Dash)

Samuel L. Jackson - Lucius
Best/Frozone

Brad Bird - Edna Moda (E)

Bob Odenkirk - Winston
Deavor

Catherine Keener - Evelyn
Deavor

Jonathan Banks - Rick Decker

Sophia Bush - Voyd

Michael Bird - Tony Rydinger

Isabella Rossellini -
Ambassador

Phil LaMarr - Krushaer/
Helectrix

John Ratzenberger -
Underminer

Bill Wise - Screenslaver/
Pizza Guy

Crew

Writer/Director - Brad Bird

Executive Producer - John
Lasseter 

Producers - John Walker and
Nicole Paladis Grindle

Story Supervisor - Ted Mathot

Story Consultants - Peter Sohn,
Mark Andrews and Michael Arndt 

Additional Story Artist/Character Designer/
Supervising Animator - Tony Fucile

Production Designer - Ralph Eggleston

Character and Costume Designer - Deanna Marsigliesse

Character Supervisor - Bill Wise
Supervising Animators - Alan Barillaro
and Dave Mullins
Directing Animators - Evan Bonifacio
and Travis Hathaway

Director of Photography: Camera - Mahyar Abousaeedi

Director of Photography: Lightning - Erik Smitt 

Film Editor - Stephen Schaffer

Second Film Editor - Anthony Greenberg

Music - Michael Giacchino

Review

It's been 14 years since Pixar released 'The Incredibles' and the stakes have never been higher. After such a long waiting period, a sequel has been released and it has met all expectations. Brad Bird has revisited his own cinematic creations and is again doing the impossible by putting them into this new installment with twice the fun and action as its predecessor. He even went back to his roots in 3D animation in the wake of the box office fiasco that was his second live-action feature 'Tomorrowland'. My small concern on 'INCREDIBLES 2' is that it doesn’t deliver as much of a original story and some bits were all too vaguely familiar from the original. However, it’s nice to get away from the excitement of the Marvel movies and that it is a rare opportunity to see the whole superhero family fight crime while trying to balance it in living with a normal life. 

One of the reasons that this film had brought me here is the whimsical joy of the humour and some of which has come from the antics of the baby Jack-Jack who has recently discovered his super-powers. Added to the movie was its message that promotes gender equality; probably because Elastigirl was the centre of attention and since Pixar nowadays has shifted lead characters from traditional male-dominated world of  animated movies. 

Now it seems that 'INCREDIBLES 2' won’t be up there with the sequels that Pixar has made for the original 'Toy Story', but I admit, it has been a fun, thrill ride and it would be more exciting if I have to see these two animated movies in a mini-marathon. WARNING!: Viewers with epilepsy are cautioned that due to several of the movie’s sequences containing flashing lights as a risk of seizures.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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The Fifth Element Review

The Fifth Element

Release Date: 15th May 1997 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures (presents)

Gaumont

Distribution

Madman Entertainment

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 126 minutes

Budget: $90,000,000

Box Office Gross: $263,920,180 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

In the 23rd century, life

has become boringly

repetitive for ex-Marine

Korben Dallas, who drives

a flying taxi and eats

takeaway from the same

Chinese restaurant that

delivers directly to his

window. Unbeknownst

to Korben, a tremendous

alien evil has joined forces

with Zorg and threatens

to destroy the Earth.

Combining the four

earthly elements with

an alien 'fifth' element can

only prevent this event.

Before long, Korben finds

himself a key player in

saving the Earth when a

beautiful alien, Leeloo,

falls through the roof of

his cab, revealing herself

to be the elusive fifth

element. Only Korben

and Leeloo hold the key

to humanity's survival in

the ultimate battle between

good and evil. But time is

running out.

Cast

Bruce Willis - Korben Dallas

Gary Oldman - Zorg

Ian Holm - Cornelius

Milla Jovovich - Leeloo

Chris Tucker - Ruby Rhod

Luke Perry - Billy

Brion James - General Munro

Tommy 'Tiny' Lister - President Lindberg

Lee Evans - Fog

Charlie Creed-Miles - David

Tricky - Right Arm

John Neville - General Staedert

John Bluthal - Professor Pacoli

Matthieu Kassovitz - Mugger

Christopher Fairbank - Mactilburgh

Kim Chan - Thai

Richard Leaf - Neighbour

Julie T. Wallace - Major Iceborg

Clifton Lloyd Bryan - Mangalore Aknot/

Mondoshawan/Airport Guard

Aron Paramour - Mangalore Akanit

Alan Ruscoe - Mangalore Kino

Vladimir McCrary - Human

Aknot

Al Matthews - General Tudor

Maïwenn - Diva Plavalaguna

John Bennett - Priest

Ivan Heng - Left Arm

Sonita Henry - President's Aide

Tim McMullan - Scientist's Aide

George Khan - Head Scientist

John Hughes - Head of Military

Roberto Bryce - Omar

Said Talidi - Aziz

Justin Lee Burrows - Mondoshawan

Richard Ashton - Mondoshawan

Jerome St. John Blake - Mondoshawan

Kevin Molloy - Mondoshawan/Ground Crew

Bill Reimbold - Mactilburgh's Assistant

Colin Brooks - Staedert's Captain

Anthony Chinn - Mactilburgh's Technician

Sam Douglas - Chief NY Cop

Derek Ezenagu - NY Cop

David Kennedy - Flying Cop

David Barrass - Flying Cop

Roger Monk - Flying Cop/Military Technician

Mac McDonald - Flying Cop

Mark Seaton - Flying Cop

Jean-Luc Caron - Flying Cop

Riz Meedin - Flying Cop

Jerry Ezekiel - Flying Cop

Indra Ové - VIP Stewardess

Nicole Merry - VIP Stewardess

Stacey McKenzie - VIP Stewardess

Rachel Willis - Stewardess

Genevieve Maylam - Stewardess

Josie Perez - Stewardess

Natasha Brice - Stewardess

Sophia Goth - Check-In Attendant

Martin McDougall - Warship Captain

Pete Dunwell - Diva's Manager

Paul Priestley - Cop

Jason Salkey - Cop

Stewart Harvey-Wilson - Ruby Rhod Assistant

Dave Fishley - Ruby Rhod Assistant

Gin Clarke - Diva's Assistant

Eve Salvail - Tawdry Girl

Kaleem Janjua - Shuttle Pilot

Tyrone Tyrell - Shuttle Co-Pilot

Kevin Brewerton - Shuttle Mechanic

Vincenzo Pellergino - Ground Crew

Ian Beckett - Baby Ray

Sonny Caldinez - Emperor Kodar Japhet

Zeta Graff - Princess Achen

Eddy Elwood - Roy von Bacon

Yui - Fhloston Hostess

Laura De Palma - Fhloston Hostess

Michael Culkin - Hefty Man

Lenny McLean - Police Chief

Robert Oates - Fhloston Commander

John Sharian - Fhloston Captain

Fred Williams - Hotel Manager

Sibyl Buck - Zorg's Secretary

Sarah Carrington - Scientist

Ali Yassine - Scientist

Sean Buckley - Scientist

Dane Messam - Military Technician

Nathan Hamlett - Military Technician

Cecil Cheng - Military Technician

Scott Woods - Lab Guard

Leon Dekker - Lab Guard

David Garvey - Staedert's Technician

Stanley Kowalski - Staedert's Technician

Omar Williams - Staedert's Technician

Robert Clapperton - Robot Barman

Robert Alexander - Warship Technician

Mia Frye - TV Stewardess

Leo Williams - Power Operator

C. Keith Martin - Power Operator

J.D. Dawodu - Zorg's Man

Patrick Nicholls - Zorg's Man

Shaun Davis - Zorg's Man

Roy Garcia - Zorg's Man

Alex Georgijev - Zorg's Man

Marie Guillard - Burger Assistant

Renee Montemayor - Burger Assistant

Stina Richardson - Burger Assistant

Fitz Hall - Young Boy (Uncredited)

Inva Mila - Diva's Singing Voice (Uncredited)

Crew

Story/Screenplay/Director - Luc Besson

Screenplay - Robert Mark Kamen

Associate Producer/Post-Production

Supervisor - John A. Amicarella

Producer - Patrice Ledoux

Co-Producer - Iain Smith

Casting Director - Lucinda Syson

US Casting Director - Francine Maisler

Production Design 'Moebius' Giraud,

Jean-Claude Mézières, Sylvain Despretz,

Patrice Garcia, Sean Hargreaves, Kanel Tazit,

Hélène Giraud, Jacques Rey, Michel Gibrat,

Humbert Chabuel and Pierre-Alain Chartier

Art Directors - Michael Lamont,

Jim Morohan and Kevin Phipps

Assistant Art Directors - Frederic Evard,

Gary Tomkins and Paul Kirby

Draughtsmen - Su Whitaker,

Peter Francis, Jon Billington, Pat Johnson,

David Wood and Stephen Morohan

Construction Coordinator - Ray Barrett

Set Decorators - Maggie Gray and Anna Pinnock

Property Master - Barry Wilkinson

Costume Designer - Jean-Paul Gaultier

Assistant Costume Designer - Graham Churchyard
Armourer - Simon Atherton

Chief Makeup Artist - Lois Burwell

Makeup Artist: Bruce Willis - Amanda Knight

Hairdressers - Lisa Tomblin

and Sarah Love

Director of Photography - Thierry Arbogast

Steadicam Operator - John Ward

Location Managers - Andrew MacDonald Brown

and Kevin de la Noy

Production Managers - Sarah Bradshaw

and Barrie Melrose

First Assistant Director - Chris Carreras

Key Second Assistant Director - Cliff Lanning

Assistant Director: Second Unit - Jamie Christopher

Second Unit Director - Pascal Chaumeil

Stunt Coordinator - Marc Boyle

Special Effects Supervisors - Nick Allder and Neil Corbould

Special Effects Workshop Supervisor - Trevor Wood

Pyrotechnics Supervisor - Thaine Morris

Creature Design Supervisor - Nick Dudman

Key Animatronic Model Designers -

Monique Brown, Chris Barton and

John Coppinger

Senior Animatronic Model Designers -

Malcolm Evans, Joe Scott, Jim Sandys

and Gary Pollard

Special Visual Effects Supervisor - Mark Stetson

Art Directors: Digital Domain - Ira Gilford

and Ron Gress

Supervising Visual Effects Director of

Photography: Digital Domain - Bill Neil 

Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Karen E. Goulekas

Digital Effects Producer: Digital Domain -

Tamara Watts Kent

Lead Digital Compositing Supervisor: Digital

Domain - Jonathan Egstad

Digital Compositing Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Bryan Grill

Sequence Supervisors: Digital Domain -

Remo Balcells, Sean C. Cunningham,

Sean Dever, Joshua I. Kolden, Christine Lo,

Franklin Londin, Rodney J. McFall,

Christopher Roda and Scott Stokdyk
Miniature Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Niels Nielsen

Director of Photography: Camera, Digital

Domain - Paul Gentry

Editor - Sylvie Landra

Sound Designer and Supervisor - Mark A. Mangini

Sound Design - John Popisal and

John P. Fasal

Supervising ADR Editor - Curt Schulkey

Re-Recording Mixers - Chris Jenkins,

Mark Smith and Ron Bartlett

Foley Artists - Ellen Heuer and

James Moriana

Music/Words and Music: "The Little Light

of Love" - Éric Serra


Awards

1998 Academy Awards
Best Sound Effects Editing - Mark A. Mangini (Nominated)

Review

The concept was first conceived decades ago by French filmmaker Luc Besson when he was 16. THE FIFTH ELEMENT is a colourful and entertaining sci-fi movie made after his groundbreaking 1994 masterpiece Leon: The Professional was successful. Some moviegoers claimed it was a dumb and cheesy film, while others thought it was impressive. I believe so myself, and there's nothing wrong with this movie that came out in the same year as the Star Wars special editions and James Cameron's Titanic, except for one defect. It may have prevented THE FIFTH ELEMENT from being accomplished as the best movie of 1997. Immersive visuals, city landscapes and masterful concepts were designed beautifully with regal splendour as Luc Besson interpreted the future for sci-fi-loving audiences. It may have inspired George Lucas to create more of this city scenery for one of the Star Wars prequels, Attack of the Clones.

The cast is no huger than the extraordinary visuals on the left side of a plate. Bruce Willis was a multi-talented actor who ended up in this farce, even though he wasn't my favourite action star. He was convincing as the ex-military turned cab driver who finds himself in a predicament to save the universe, Korben Dallas. Milla Jovovich was pleasant to watch as the actress fits the bill of Korben's love interest and is the key to everything. Gary Oldman enjoys getting villainous roles and doing so without being typecast. Here, he portrays the immorally corrupt businessman Zorg, who speaks with a Southern accent, which differs from Oldman's English accent and is over-the-top rather than serious. All the actors are good. One particular performance I did not like was by Chris Tucker, whose musician Ruby Rhod acts like a prima donna and is very annoying.

Humorous, imaginative and explosive. Those are the three simple words I describe about THE FIFTH ELEMENT. It's been good to re-watch this movie again, but I know it's cheesy. Most moviegoers would agree this is a semi-decent feature.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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The Real Macaw Review

The Real Macaw

Release Date: 26th September 1998 - Australia

Production Companies

Adelaide Motion Picture Company

Becker Entertainment (presents)

Australian Film Finance Corporation Limited

Bellwether Films

The South Australian Film Corporation

New South Wales Film and Television Office

Film Queensland

Genre: Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 92 minutes

Budget: $5,000,000 (estimated)

Box Office Gross: $741,876 (Australia)

Plot Summary

In 1870, a pirate in the
Amazon captured a macaw
parrot and took it aboard
his ship, along with
priceless temple treasures.
The pirate, the bird and
the treasure drift

somewhere in the South
Pacific after a fallen lamp
sets fire to the ship. The
parrot watches the wounded
pirate bury it on a deserted

island, then dies.

The year is 1997 in Sydney,

and the parrot is the same!
Mac lives with his old pal,
the loveable Grandpa, and
is now 149. His 15-year-old
grandson, Sam, also

adores Grandpa. But their

fun-filled world is shattered

when Sam's father

discovers Grandpa is in

heavy debt and organises

the sale of Grandpa's

lifelong home and his move

to a "pet-free" retirement

centre.

The prospect of being

separated from his

grandfather is too much for

Mac to bear, and he reveals

to a stunned Sam that he

can talk. Talk for real! Plus,

he knows where the buried

treasure lies! So Sam and

the eccentric Mac set off

to find the treasure.

Cast

Jamie Croft - Sam Girdis

Daniel Murphy - Mac (Voice)/Pet Store Owner

Jason Robards - Grandpa Girdis

Joe Petruzzi - Rick Girdis

John Waters - Dr. Lance Hogan

Deborra-Lee Furness - Beth Girdis

Gerry Connolly - Lou Rickets

Robert Coleby - Mr. St. John

Petra Yared - Kathy Girdis

Nathan Kotzur - Scarlatta

Kevin Hudes - Businessman on Plane

Penny Everingham - Nurse Gimlet

Murray Shoring - Dr. Thompson

Anna-Maria La Spina - Museum Receptionist

Simon Chan - Phillip

Tango - Mac

Crew

Director - Mario Andreacchio

Based on an Original Story/Screenplay/
Co-Producer - Bruce Hancock

Based on an Original Story/Screenplay -
Matthew Perry

Executive Producer - Richard Becker

Producer - Margot McDonald

Co-Producers - Tim Prescott and
Rocky Bester

Casting Director - Ann Fay

Macaw Trainer - Peter Gregg

Production Designer - Ross Major

Art Director - Michael Rumpf

Set Decorator - Lisa Brennan

Director of Photography - David Foreman

Stunt Coordinator - Danny Baldwin

Editor - Edward McQueen Mason

Supervising Sound Editor - Wayne Pashley

Production Sound Mixer - Paul 'Salty' Brincat

Re-Recording Mixer - Pete Smith

Music - Bill Conti

Review

Greetings, everyone. Here's another review, a family movie this time! When we think about family movies with live animals that take up the spotlight from human actors, Babe is a worthy example of a film that is a rising success both worldwide and in Australia, where most of the filming took place. However, few of its competitors filmed in Australia did not achieve that same recognition, and each was left out financially at the box office. South Australian filmmaker Mario Andreacchio has a tough time because his all-animal kid movie Napoleon wasn't the success he hoped for. He nevertheless got tapped in to direct the feature as another bird-centric film named Paulie is about to make its way in theatres for that same year. THE REAL MACAW didn't do so well with its low box office receipts and got shipped into direct-to-video packaging for American audiences. Nothing in the film got altered and re-edited except for the macaw's voice, which was re-dubbed by John Goodman.

THE REAL MACAW is too predictable for a family movie. It addresses some themes that were all tried and true, especially the inner turmoil of family, which is one of its main issues. Fortunately, the film directs the viewers' attention to its delightful comedy and its feathered star, a wisecracking bird full of personality and spunk and voiced by the ad-libs of the original actor, Daniel Murphy. This actor is much better at giving the parrot its squawk than John Goodman did for the American version.

All the cast was spearheaded by some unrecognisable film talent in Australia, except for Jason Robards, the only American actor in the movie, and, to a lesser extent, Jamie Croft. The late actor is so out of place in this movie that even his role as the grandfather couldn't save him in a forgettable film forcibly marketed to international audiences. Croft provides a solid performance as the young boy desperate to save his grandfather from being sent into a retirement community and having financial problems.

THE REAL MACAW is just too average. It's much harder to find in a bargain bin in a second-hand retail store as if it were a rare bird (no pun intended). All of you will understand this critique that this movie isn't good enough for the entire family audience.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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