Citizen Kane Review

Citizen Kane

Release Date: 23rd January 1942 - Australia

Production Companies

RKO Radio Pictures

Mercury Productions

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 119 minutes

Budget: $839,727

Box Office Gross: $1,645,177 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
When famous publishing mogul Charles Foster Kane dies, a reporter must investigate the shocking details of his personal life and the meaning of his final word: "Rosebud".

Cast

Joseph Cotten - Jedediah Leland/Screening Room Reporter

Dorothy Comingore - Susan Alexander Kane

Ray Collins - James W. Gettys

George Coulouris - Walter

Parks Thatcher

Agnes Moorehead - Mary Kane

Ruth Warrick - Emily Monroe Norton Kane

Erskine Sanford - Herbert Carter/Screening Room Reporter

Everett Sloane - Mr. Bernstein

William Alland - Jerry Thompson

Paul Stewart - Raymond

Fortunio Bonanova - Matiste

Philip Van Zandt - Mr. Rawlston

Georgia Backus - Miss Anderson

Harry Shannon - Kane's Father

Sonny Bupp - Kane III

Buddy Swan - Kane - Age Eight

Orson Welles - Charles Foster
Kane

Alan Ladd - Pipe Smoking Reporter (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Original Screenplay/

Production/Director - Orson Welles

Original Screenplay - Herman J. Mankewicz

Contributing Writer/Editorial Supervisor - John Houseman (Uncredited)

Contributing Writers - Roger Q. Denny and Mollie Kent (Uncredited)

Executive Producer - George

Schaefer (Uncredited)

Art Director - Van Nest Polglase

Associate Art Director - Perry
Ferguson

Set Decorator - Darrell Silvera (Uncredited)

Makeup Artist - Maurice Seiderman (Uncredited)

Costumes - Edward Stevenson

Photography - Gregg Toland

Special Effects - Vernon L. Walker

Optical Effects - Linwood G. Dunn (Uncredited)

Recording - Bailey Fesler and James G. Stewart

Sound Supervisor - John Aalberg (Uncredited)

Editor - Robert Wise

Assistant Editor - Mark Robson (Uncredited)

Music - Bernard Herrmann

Awards

1942 Academy Awards

Best Writing, Original Screenplay - Orson Welles

and Herman J. Mankewicz (Won)

————————

Best Picture - Orson Welles (Nominated)

Best Director - Orson Welles (Nominated)

Best Actor - Orson Welles (Nominated)

Best Cinematography - Gregg Toland (Nominated)

Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-

White - Perry Ferguson, Van Nest Polglase,

A. Roland Fields and Darrell Silvera (Nominated)

Best Film Editing - Robert Wise (Nominated)

Best Sound, Recording - John Aalberg (Nominated)

Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture -

Bernard Herrmann (Nominated)

Review

Most film buffs and directors have considered CITIZEN KANE the best film ever. Others believed it was Vertigo that outranked Orson Welles' classic masterpiece. Before I watched the movie, I remember to have seen bits of the picture, such as the twist ending. I never got to watch its entirety when I came across it recently. The history of CITIZEN KANE goes way back to before a new generation of filmmakers and movie buffs like us were even born, as this film first came out in 1941.

Initially, critics loved the film, but it was unrecognised at the box office and pulled from theatres because of the influence of news baron William Randolph Hearst. It's believed that the movie has included unflattering comparisons between him and the main character, Charles Foster Kane. It caused Hearst to detest it and use his connections to get rid of the film before anyone could see it. KANE didn't resurface until the mid-50s after Hearst's death and when television became everyone's favourite pastime. Then, decades later, the movie was vindicated. The rest is history.

There is so much craftsmanship poured into CITIZEN KANE as it was Orson Welles' magnum opus. The way Welles self-financed and even co-wrote, produced, directed and acted in his movie, he was very proud of its accomplishments.

Gregg Toland's cinematography was magnificent, and it paved the way for modern movies to use his camera techniques. Aside from the cinematography, there is little to talk about except for the narrative, another noteworthy aspect. I'm dubious about watching this classic again because it didn't meet my expectations. Even though CITIZEN KANE is not one of my favourite films, it's still iconic due to its classic status. The movie should be on streaming for those who wish to watch it.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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In Memory of Terry Jones (1942-2020)

Terry Jones (1942-2020)

British comedian/writer Terry Jones died on January 21st, 2020, at the age of 77, following the complications of his dementia. He was one of the British comedy troupe Monty Python, which consisted of himself and others like John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Graham Chapman. The group is responsible for its sketch show "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and five of its movies, including "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", "Life of Brian", and "The Meaning of Life", which all have influenced a new generation of comedians.

The group was formed in 1969, as all of the founding members became household names and invented the phrase "Pythonesque" through its absurdist style of humour. Like the rest of his fellow Pythons, Jones performed various characters in several comedies. Such roles include Sir Bedivere the Wise and Prince Herbert in "Holy Grail", Brian's mother in "Life of Brian", who has famously shouted, "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!" and the morbidly obese Mr. Creosote in "The Meaning of Life". In addition to starring in these movies, Terry Jones was known to have co-directed "Holy Grail" in his debut with Terry Gilliam and is the sole director of "Life of Brian" and "The Meaning of Life". Outside of his fame with Monty Python, Terry even wrote the script of "Labyrinth" for Jim Henson. He even directed movies like "Absolutely Anything", which he reunites with the surviving Python members and features Simon Pegg and Robin Williams in his final role.

In 2015, Jones could no longer speak due to being diagnosed with a rare degenerative form of dementia. My thoughts and prayers are to his family and friends, and we will surely miss him.

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Jumanji: The Next Level Review

Jumanji: The Next Level

Release Date: 26th December 2019 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures (presents)

Matt Tolmach Productions

Seven Bucks Productions

The Detective Agency

Radar Pictures

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Adventure/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 123 minutes

Budget: $132,000,000

Box Office Gross: $801,693,929 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

When Spencer returns to the video game Jumanji, it's up to his friends. With the help of his grandfather and Milo, they return to the game and find him. As the players return to Jumanji, they find that the game has changed, and they must travel through the sandy dunes and snowy mountains to finish playing the world's most dangerous game.

Cast

Dwayne Johnson - Bravestone

Kevin Hart - Mouse

Jack Black - Shelly

Karen Gillan - Ruby

Nick Jonas - Seaplane

Awkwafina - Ming

Alex Wolff - Spencer

Ser'Darius Blain - Fridge

Madison Iseman - Bethany

Morgan Turner - Martha

Danny DeVito - Eddie

Danny Glover - Milo

Colin Hanks - Alex

Rhys Darby - Nigel

Rory McCann - Jurgen the Brutal

Dania Ramirez - Lady in Red

Derek Russo - Key Master

Vanessa Cater - Red Headed Marauder

Bebe Neuwirth - Nora Shepherd (Cameo)

Massi Furlan - Switchblade

Javier Villamil - Switchblade's Sidekick

Anthony Neves - Jurgen's Patrolman
Jennifer Patino - Bravestone's Mother
Lamorne Morris - Heater Repair Man
Deobia Oparei - Gromm
Marin Hinkle - Janice

Madison Johnson - Little Bethany Vreeke
Michael Beasley - Coach Davis (Uncredited)

Leslie Simms - Cake Lady
John Ross Bowie - Cavendish

Dorothy Steel - Village Elder

Lucy DeVito - Maiden

Nick Gomez - Oasis Drunk

Morgan Brown - Fortress Guard

Deobia Oparei - Elevator Guard

Crew

Writer/Producer/Director - Jake Kasdan

Based on the Book "Jumanji"/Executive

Producer - Chris Van Allsburg

Writers/Executive Producers - Jeff Pinkner

and Scott Rosenberg

Executive Producers - Ted Field, Melvin Mar,

William Teitler and Mike Weber

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

David B. Householter

Producers - Dany & Hiram Garcia,

Dwayne Johnson and Matt Tolmach

Co-Producer - David Manpearl

Production Designer - Bill Brzeski

Concept Artists - Christian Scheurer,

Simon Murton, Ed Natividad and

Manuel Plank-Jorge

Art Directors - Andrew Max Cahn,

Drew Monahan and Brian Stultz

Set Decorator - Danielle Berman

Costume Designer - Louise Mingenbach

Director of Photography - Gyula Pados

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Wade Eastwood

Fight Coordinator - Wolfgang Stegemann

Picture Car Coordinator: Glamis Unit -

Dennis McCarthy

Special Effects Supervisor - J.D. Schwalm

Special Effects Coordinator - Eric Cook

Visual Effects Supervisor - Mark Breakspear

Visual Effects Supervisors: Weta Digital -

Mark Gee and Ken McGaugh

Animation Supervisor: Weta Digital -

Simeon Ducombe

Editors - Steve Edwards, Mark Helfrich

and Tara Timpone

Supervising Sound Editor - Joel Shryack

Supervising Sound Editor/Re-Recording Mixer -

Julian Slater

Sound Designers - Chuck Michael and

Ken McGill

Production Sound Mixer - John Pritchett

Re-Recording Mixer - Kevin O'Connell

Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and

Adam DeCoster

Music - Henry Jackman

Music Supervisors - Manish Raval

and Tom Wolfe

Score Recordist and Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Review

The game has changed for JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL. It has maintained the same quality as its predecessor in most ways in terms of visual effects, and this movie has elevated the franchise to a new level (no pun intended). While I still haven't revisited the original Jumanji film, I imagined the graphics wouldn't be as good as the new instalments. The humour in the movie is simple but still blends well with the action.

The returning main cast gave quality comedic performances, with Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart as the standouts. The other actors featured added colour to the film, with Danny Devito and Danny Glover's characters (also portrayed by Johnson and Hart, respectively) acting as a running joke. It may look like a difference between THE NEXT LEVEL and Welcome to the Jungle. In other words, the action and antics stayed the same, but the performances changed.

THE NEXT LEVEL was a great sequel and enjoyable for audiences who have watched its predecessor. This film may turn out as a tough act to follow. That depends if the next instalment will turn out less than we thought. Best of luck, movie viewers!

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Pokémon Detective Pikachu Review

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu

Release Date: 9th May 2019 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Legendary Entertainment (presents)

The Pokémon Company

Toho Company (in association with)
Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit
Nintendo (additional copyright holder)
Creatures (additional copyright holder)
GAME FREAK (additional copyright holder)

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Family/Mystery

Rating: PG

Runtime: 104 minutes

Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $433,230,304 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

When an expert detective named Harry Goodman is missing, it's up to his son Tim to find out about his disappearance. Tim teams up with Harry's former Pokémon partner, a Pikachu (only Tim can communicate), who tags along and helps with the investigation. They set out on a mystery in the sprawling metropolis of Ryme City, where humans and Pokémon peacefully co-exist before they unravel a shocking discovery that could destroy the Pokémon universe.

Cast

Ryan Reynolds - Detective Pikachu

Justice Smith - Tim Goodman

Kathryn Love Newton - Lucy Stevens

Bill Nighy - Howard Clifford

Ken Watanabe - Lieutenant Hide Yoshida

Chris Geere - Roger Clifford

Suki Waterhouse - Ms. Norman

Josette Simon - Grams

Rita Ora - Dr. Ann Laurent

Karan Soni - Jack

Max Fincham - Young Tim Goodman

Ikue Ôtani - Pikachu (Voice)
Rina Hoshino - Mewtwo (Voice)
Kotaro Watanabe - Mewtwo (Voice)

Crew

Screenplay/Director - Rob Letterman
Based on "Pokémon" - Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori and Junichi Masuda
Characters - Atsuko Nishida
Original Story - Tomokazu Ohara and Haruka Utsui

Original Creator: "Detective Pikachu" - Hiroyuki Jinnai
Story/Screenplay - Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit
Story - Nicole Perlman
Screenplay - Derek Connolly
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Joseph M. Caraccioli Jr.
Executive Producers - Tsunekazu Ishihara,

Hiro Matsuoka, Ali Mendes, Toshio Miyahara,

Kenji Okubo and Koji Ueda
Producers - Cale Boyter,
Hidenaga Katakimi, Don McGowan
and Mary Parent
Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer -

Greg Baxter

Co-Producer - Lisa Dennis
Co-Producer/First Assistant Director -
Cliff Lanning
Casting Directors - Sarah Finn and
Jina Jay
Production Designer - Nigel Phelps

Production Designer: Additional Photography -

Shepherd Frankel
Supervising Art Directors - Ben Collins

and David Allday
Art Directors - Andrea Borland,
Guy Bradley, Nick Dent, Shira Hockman,
Rhys Ifan and Nic Pallace

Set Decorator - Lisa Chugg
Costume Designer - Suzie Harman

Makeup and Hair Designer - Frances Hannon
Cinematography - John Mathieson

Aerial Director of Photography - Adam Dale

Production Supervisor - Jessica Derhammer

Unit Production Manager - Sam Breckman

Supervising Location Manager - Chris Moore

Location Managers - Susannah Booker,

Jamie Jones, Mandy Sharpe and

Julia Tomlinson (Uncredited)
Second Unit Director - Stephen Wolfenden
Stunt Coordinator - Mark Henson

Picture Vehicles Supervisor - Alex King

Special Effects Supervisor - Steven Warner
Visual Effects Supervisor - Erik Nordby

Visual Effects Supervisors: MPC - Pete Dionne

and Bryan Litson

Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore -

Jonathan Fawkner

Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore -

Carlos Monzon

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rodeo FX - Peter Nofz
Visual Effects Producers: Framestore -

Johannes Bresser and Martina Chakarova
Visual Effects Consultant - Page Buckner

Creature Creative Designer - Kristyan Mallett

Animation Supervisor - Ferran Domenech

Compositing Supervisors: Framestore -

Dominique Fiore and Gavin McKenzie

Assets Supervisor: Image Engine -

Barry Poon

Previz Creative Supervisors: The Third Floor,

Inc. - Vincent Aupetit, Nicolas Markel

and Joshua Wassung

Film Editors - Mark Sanger and
James Thomas

Supervising Sound Editors: E2 - Erik Aadahl

and Ethan Van der Ryan

Sound Designers: E2 - John Marquis and

Brandon Jones

Production Sound Mixer - John Midgley

Re-Recording Mixers - Jon Taylor

and Frank A. Montano

Creative Director: End Titles - Jarik Van Sluijs

Music Supervisors - Peter Afterman

and Margaret Yen
Music - Henry Jackman

Review

I remember getting introduced to Pokémon as a kid, and it seems so long ago that I started playing a few of its games. Then I started watching the anime show on Channel 10 on Cheez TV and Cartoon Network. I was excited to hear that a live-action film of the Pokémon franchise was in the works. Unfortunately, I wasn't expecting that there would be a movie based on a specific spin-off video game of the franchise called DETECTIVE PIKACHU. I was sceptical about the film that focuses on the titular Pokémon character who talks like a human because it seemed weird. In other words, I had low expectations. Particularly when Ryan Reynolds, who many would know as the actor who played Deadpool, gets cast as the voice of Pikachu. My opinion shifted for the better when I read the film's reviews that showered it with praise.

Unlike the other Pokémon features that received mixed reviews, critics were less caustic towards this one. Most video game movie adaptations didn't have a good track record, with some turning out to be disappointments in the critical and box-office reception. Thankfully, DETECTIVE PIKACHU turned things the right way around and is the best video game movie adaptation I have watched. The humour is very witty and offbeat. It makes the film extremely satisfying to watch. Reynolds' talking Pikachu was the reason why the movie was so funny. Another layer to DETECTIVE PIKACHU was the mystery that contains intrigue and twists to keep moviegoers watching.

Reynolds did a fantastic job voicing the titular character with charm and comic timing. Reynolds was a blast for this movie but also had some heartfelt moments in his performance. Justice Smith was not the best actor in Hollywood, but he was okay in his role as Tim. Bill Nighy is still Bill Nighy, and it was unexpected to see him in a movie based on the Pokémon franchise. I felt the CGI visuals were good and made the Pokémon alive for this film.

I have nothing more to say about DETECTIVE PIKACHU, but it is a must-see movie for all Pokémon fans. Some fans may not like it, but it won't stop them from watching and enjoying the anime series and playing the franchise's video games.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Review

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Release Date: 1st December 2005 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Heyday Films

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Fantasy/Family

Rating: M

Runtime: 157 minutes

                166 minutes
                (extended)

Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $897,468,399 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
When Harry Potter's name
suddenly appears in the

Goblet of Fire, he has to
compete in the gruelling
battle for glory among
three wizarding schools -
the Triwizard Tournament.
But if Harry didn't
submit his name for the
Tournament, who did?
Harry has to undergo what

he has to face, including

a deadly dragon, fierce
water demons and an
enchanted maze. Only to
find himself in a cruel
twist of fate when he comes

face-to-face with He Who

Must Not Be Named.

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter

Emma Watson - Hermione
Granger

Rupert Grint - Ron Weasley

Ralph Fiennes - Lord
Voldemort 

Robbie Coltrane - Ruebus
Hagrid

Gary Oldman - Sirius Black

Michael Gambon - Albus
Dumbledore

Maggie Smith - Minerva
McGonnagall

Alan Rickman - Severus
Snape

Brendan Gleeson - Alastor

'Mad Eye' Moody
Tom Felton - Draco Malfoy

Jason Isaacs - Lucius Malfoy

Warwick Davis - Filius Flitwick

David Bradley - Argus Filch

Devon Murray - Seamus
Finnigan

Jamie Waylett - Vincent Crabbe

Joshua Herdman - Gregory

Goyle

Mark Williams - Arthur Weasley

Bonnie Wright - Ginny Weasley

James & Oliver Phelps - Fred
and George Weasley

Robert Hardy - Cornelius Fudge

Roger Lloyd-Pack - Barty

Crouch

Jeff Rowle - Amos Diggory

Robert Pattinson - Cedric
Diggory

Timothy Spall - Wormtail

David Tennant - Barty Crouch Jr.

Shefali Chowdhury - Parvati

Patil

Afshan Azad - Padma Patil

Alfred Enoch - Dean Thomas

William Melling - Nigel

Katie Leung - Cho Chang

Louis Doyle - Ernie MacMillan

Charlotte Skeoch - Hannah

Abbott

Tiana Benjamin - Angelina

Johnson

Henry Lloyd-Hughes - Roger

Davies

Adrian Rawlins - James Potter

Geraldine Somerville - Lily

Potter

Miranda Richardson - Rita

Skeeter
Stainslav Ianevski - Victor Krum

Clémence Poésy - Fleur

Delacour

Angelica Mandy - Gabrielle

Delacour

Eric Sykes - Frank Bryce

Bredrag Bjelac - Igor Karkaroff

Frances de la Tour - Madame Maxime

Shirley Henderson - Moaning Myrtle

Crew

Director - Mike Newell
Based on the Novel "Harry

Potter and the Goblet of Fire" -

J.K. Rowling

Screenplay - Steve Kloves

Associate Producer/First

Assistant Director - Chris Carreras

Executive Producers - David
Barron and Tanya Seghatchian
Producers - David Heyman

and Lorne Orleans (IMAX 

Version)
Co-Producer/Second Unit
Director - Peter MacDonald
Casting Directors - Mary
Selway and Fiona Weir

Animals Supervisor - Gary Gero

Head Animal Trainers - David Sousa and Julie Tottman
Production Designer - Stuart
Craig

Creature Designers - Adam

Brockbank and Paul Catling

Conceptual Artists - Wayne D. Barlowe,

Ben Dennett, Geoffrey Huband, Iain McCaig,

Andrew Williamson and Dermot Power (Uncredited)

Supervising Art Director - Neil Lamont

Senior Art Director - Andrew Ackland-Snow

Art Directors - Mark Bartholomew,
Alastair Bullock, Alan Gilmore,
Gary Tomkins and Alexandra Walker

Standby Art Director - Martin Foley

Construction Manager - Paul J. Hayes

Supervising Modeller - Pierre Bohanna
Set Decorator - Stephenie McMillan

Co-Set Decorator - Lee Sandales

Property Master - Barry Wilkinson

Assistant Property Master - Jamie Wilkinson
Costume Designer - Jany Temime

Costume Supervisors - David Crossman

and Charlotte Finlay

Creature & Makeup Effects Designer -

Nick Dudman
Makeup Designer - Amanda Knight

Key Prosthetic Makeup Artists - Mark Coulier

and Shaune Harrison

Chief Hairdresser & Designer - Eithne Fennel

Director of Photography - Roger Pratt

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Mike Brewster

"B" Camera Operators - Trevor Coop

and Gary Spratling

Location Manager - Sue Quinn

Unit Location Managers - Michael Harm,

Steve Harvey, Joseph Jayawardena and

Mark Somner

Unit Production Manager - Tim Lewis

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Jamie Christopher

Second Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Sallie Hard

Third Assistant Directors - Tom Brewster,

Phillippa Hunt and Michael Michael

Third Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Lyndsay Bullock

Choreographer - Wayne McGregor
Stunt Coordinator - Greg Powell

Aerial Coordinator: Second Unit - Marc Wolff
Diving Coordinator: Second Unit - Dave Shaw

Special Effects Supervisor - John Richardson
Special Effects Coordinator - Rosie Richardson

Supervising Animatronic Designers - Guy Stevens

and Chris Barton

Performance Systems Supervisor - Matthew Denton

Visual Effects Supervisor - Jim Mitchell

Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Tim Alexander
Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore CFC -

Tim Webber
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Ben Shepherd
Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite - Simon Stanley-Clamp

Additional Visual Effects Supervisors - Tim Burke

and Richard Stammers
Visual Effects Producers - Theresa Corrao and
Emma Norton

Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Jill Brooks

Animation Supervisors: Framestore CFC -

Pablo Grillo and Max Solomon
Animation Supervisor: Dragon, Ship and

World Cup, ILM - Steve Rawlins
Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -

Douglas Smythe and Robert Weaver

CG Supervisor: Framestore CFC - David Lomax

CG Supervisor: Cinesite - Ivor Middleton

CGI Modelling Supervisor: ILM - Ken Bryan
Model Unit Supervisor: Cinesite - José Granell

Model Workshop Supervisor: Cinesite -

Nigel Trevessey

Model Director of Photography: ILM -

Pat Sweeney
Supervisors: MPC - Nicolas Aithadi,

Caine Dickinson, Ferran Domenech,

Clwyd Edwards, Charley Henley and

Uel Hormann

CG Sequence Supervisors: Framestore CFC -

Andy Kind, Rob Allman, Justin Martin

and Andrew Rawling
Character Rigging Supervisor: ILM - Eric Wong

Motion Control Supervisor - Chris Shaw

Compositing Supervisor: ILM - Patrick Tubach

Compositing Supervisors: Framestore CFC -

Adrian De Wet, Areito Echevarria,

Christian Manz, Ivan Moran and Pedro Sabrosa

Editor - Mick Audsley

Sound Designer & Supervising Sound Editor -

Randy Thom

Supervising Sound Editor - Dennis Leonard

Sound Effects Editors - Andy Kennedy

and Douglas Murray

Re-Recording Mixers - Tom Johnson

and Mike Prestwood Smith

Foley Artists - Peter Burgis,

Andie Derrick and Nicolas Becker

Music - Patrick Doyle

Composer: "Hedwig's Theme" - John Williams

Awards

2006 Academy Awards

Best Art Direction - Stuart Craig and Stephenie McMillan (Nominated)

Review

The Harry Potter film series continues its magic with THE GOBLET OF FIRE. While The Prisoner of Azkaban was a step up, GOBLET is the darkest movie of the franchise. The series has increased its shift and is only appealing to some ages. The later instalments appealed to younger teens and adults and focused on the characters now facing adult situations. Mike Newell takes Alfonso Cuaron's position as the director, and it's incredible how he pulls off a simple task in this movie. The visuals are significant, and the film has shown no signs of slowing down. But enough said, let's talk about the acting.

I praise Ralph Fiennes for doing an extraordinary job of portraying Lord Voldemort. He knows how to introduce a dark wizard who is already a villain. Brendan Gleeson takes the 'Mad Eye' Moody role by making his character look strange. I came here for this movie because of its supporting actors, David Tennant and Robert Pattinson. Incredibly, Tennant plays a Death Eater rather than a doctor who wanders through time and space in the television series Doctor Who. Also, it is worth mentioning that Pattinson, who plays the ill-fated Cedric Diggory, also plays a vampire in the infamous Twilight movies and Batman in an upcoming titular film. The music by Patrick Doyle is good but has the same notes that John Williams composed in the previous instalments. 

GOBLET OF FIRE remains fresh but is still a gripping chapter of a film series that helps everyone believe in magic. I encourage all fans of J. K. Rowling and the franchise to see it.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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In Memory of Syd Mead (1933-2019)

Syd Mead (1933-2019)

I do apologise for this late obituary. Syd Mead, a conceptual designer and visual futurist responsible for providing the artwork of films like "Blade Runner", "TRON", and "Aliens", passed away on 30th December 2019 at the age of 86 due to complications of lymphoma. Before his death, he announced his retirement in September and was about to receive the Cameron Menzies Award for his designs in the Art Directors Guild.

Starting in 1979, he began his conceptual art career with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". He continued his work on "Blade Runner", where he did futuristic designs, including the vehicles and the city of Los Angeles, seen from his unique perspective. Many years later, it was then that Syd got to work with Ridley Scott again on the sequel "Blade Runner 2049". He was among the three conceptual artists who worked on the Disney film "Tron", where he designed the light cycles, the solar sailer, tanks and Sark's carrier. Syd continued illustrating designs for films like "2010", "Aliens", "Short Circuit", and more recently "Elysium" and "Tomorrowland".

Should you wish to view Syd Mead's designs and artwork, visit his official website (www.sydmead.com).

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