Monday, December 31, 2018

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 KnightI 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

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Monday, December 24, 2018

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

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Monday, December 10, 2018

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