G.I. Joe: Retaliation Review

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Release Date: 28th March 2013 - Australia

Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (presents)
Skydance Media (presents)
Hasbro (in association with)
Di Bonaventura Pictures
Saints LA
Spyglass Entertainment

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 110 minutes

                112 minutes

                (extended)

Budget: $93,600,000

Box Office Gross: $375,740,705 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The G.I. Joe team is branded as traitors by their nemesis, Cobra, as they have successfully infiltrated the government. With Zartan masquerading as the president and the Cobra Commander having all the world leaders under his control, they plan to launch advanced nuclear warheads upon innocent countries as part

of their evil scheme. After

escaping a deadly attack, the

remaining Joes have no

recourse but to turn to their

original leader, General

Cotton, to help them uncover

Cobra's plot and save the

world from destruction.

Cast

Dwayne Johnson - Roadblock

Bruce Willis - Gen. Joe Cotton

Ray Park - Snake Eyes
Channing Tatum - Duke
Jonathan Pryce - President
Luke Bracey - Cobra Commander
Elodie Yung - Jinx
Ray Stevenson - Firefly
D.J. Cotrona - Flint
Adrianne Palicki - Jane
Walton Goggins - Warden Nigel James
Arnold Vosloo - Zartan
Joseph Mazzello - Mouse
Byung-hun Lee - Storm Shadow
RZA - Blind Master

Joe Chrest - Chief of Staff

Nathan Takashige - Young Storm Shadow

Jim Palmer - Clutch

Nick Erickson - President Picture Double

Crew
Director - Jon M. Chu
Writers - Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick
Executive Producers - Gary Barber,

Roger Birnbaum, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg,

Erik Howsam, Paul Schwake and

Stephen Sommers

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Herbert W. Gains

Producers - Lorenzo di Bonaventura
and Brian Goldner

Casting Director - Ronna Kress

Military Technical Advisor - Harry Humphries
Production Designer - Andrew Menzies

Supervising Art Director - Tom Reta

Art Directors - Luke Freeborn,
Alan Hook, Scott Plauche and
Sebastian Schroeder

Set Decorator - Cynthia La Jeunesse

Costume Designer - Louise Mingenbach

Special Makeup Effects Artists - Martin Astles,

Bart J. Mixon and Lauren Thomas
Director of Photography - Stephen F. Windon

Aerial Director of Photography: British

Columbia Unit - David B. Nowell

Production Supervisors - Sara Flamm

and Daren Hicks

First Assistant Director - Philip A. Patterson

First Assistant Director: Second Unit - David Sardi

Second Unit Director - George Marshall Ruge

Helicopter Pilots - Frédéric North

and Cliff Fleming
Stunt Coordinator - Steven Ritzi

Fight Coordinator - Thomas DuPont
Special Effects Coordinator - Michael Meinardus

Visual Effects Supervisors - James Madigan

and Gregory L. McMurry

Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Bill George

Visual Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain - Thad Beier

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola Visual Effects -

Edson Williams

Visual Effects Producer - Paul V. Molles

On-Set Visual Effects Producer: Digital Domain -

Jeff Olson

Visual Effects Executive Producer: ILM -

Janet Lewin

Visual Effects Executive Producer: Digital Domain -

Daniel Brimer

Visual Effects Art Director: Digital Domain -

Claas Henke

Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Lou Pecora

Animation Supervisor: ILM - Paul Kavanagh

Animation Supervisor: Luma Pictures -

Raphael A. Pimentel

CG Supervisor: ILM - Craig Hammack

CG Supervisor: ILM Singapore - Patric Roos

CG Supervisors: Digital Domain - Erik Gamache

and Paul George Paloo

Additional Supervisors: Digital Domain -

Simon Carr, Tushar Kewlani, Mark Michaels,

David Mucci and Abhinav Sah

Concept Artist: ILM - John Bell
Editors - Roger Barton and Jim May

Additional Editor - Calvin Wimmer

Supervising Sound Editors/Sound Designers -

Ethan Van Der Ryan, John Marquis and

Erik Aadahl

Re-Recording Mixers - Scott Millan

and Greg P. Russell
Music - Henry Jackman

Additional Music - Dominic Lewis,

Matthew Margeson and Junkie XL

Additional Music Arrangements - Stephen Hilton

and Andrew Kawczynski

Music Recordist and Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Review

After The Rise of Cobra got good earnings at the box office despite the first G.I. Joe film being a lacklustre feature. Director Stephen Sommers leaves the helm because of his rocky start with Cobra. However, the duties got handed to Jon M. Chu, best known for directing pop sensation Justin Bieber in his concert feature, Never Say Never. I'm satisfied that RETALIATION is a mild improvement over its predecessor with its heavy action, incredible visuals and a few known actors like Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis.

The most striking aspect about RETALIATION is that it's supposed to be true to the G.I. Joe mythology, which, fortunately, succeeds only mildly. We finally see Cobra Commander in his full costume, no longer a mere shadow of his former self. I'm disappointed how Channing Tatum's character got killed off at the start. He didn't get to stay alive or develop in the sequel. I'm so surprised that Johnson and Willis consistently gave solid performances to what is almost a lacklustre film.

RETALIATION could have put the series on ice had it not been as successful. However, this sequel came off as flawed, but I enjoyed it more than Cobra.

Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie

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Black Widow Review

Black Widow

Release Date: 8th July 2021 - Australia

Production Companies

Marvel Studios

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 133 minutes

Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $379,751,655 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Former Avenger Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, must face the darker parts of her past when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past emerges. When a deadly force starts to pursue her and plans to take her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy, even the torn relationships left in her wake long before becoming an Avenger.

Cast

Scarlett Johansson - Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow

Florence Pugh - Yelena Belova

David Harbour - Alexei/

Red Guardian

Rachel Weisz - Melina

Ray Winstone - Dreykov

Ever Anderson - Young Natasha

Violet McGraw - Young Yelena

O-T Fangbenle - Mason

William Hurt - Secretary Ross

Ryan Kiera Armstrong - Young Antonia

Liani Samuel - Lerato

Michelle Lee - Oksana

Lewis Young - Scientist Morocco 1

C.C. Smiff - Scientist Morocco 2

Olivier Richters - Ursa

Olga Kurylenko - Antonia/

Taskmaster

Jeremy Renner - Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Voice) (Cameo)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Valentina

Allegra de Fontaine (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Cate Shortland

Story - Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson

Screenplay - Eric Pearson

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director - Jamie Christopher

Executive Producers - Victoria Alonso, Louis D'Esposito, Nigel Gostelow, Scarlett Johansson and Brad Winderbaum

Producer - Kevin Feige

Co-Producers - Mitchell Bell

and Brian Chapek

Casting Director - Sarah Finn

Production Designer - Charles Wood

Visual Development

Supervisor - Andy Park

Visual Development Concept Illustrators - Anthony Francisco, Rodney Fuentebella, Josh Nizzi, Jana Schirmer and Jackson Sze

Supervising Art Director - Thomas Brown

Art Directors: Los Angeles

Unit - Jann Engel and Clint Wallace

Set Decorator - John Bush

Set Decorator: Los Angeles Unit - Lauri Gaffin

Property Master - Barry Gibbs

Costume Designer - Jany Temime

Costume Designer: Los Angeles Unit - Lisa Loovas

Costume Supervisor - Dan Grace

Makeup and Hair Designer - Paul Gooch

Director of Photography - Gabriel Beristain

Camera First Assistants: Los Angeles Unit -

Dan Ming, Chris Toll and Jacqueline Stahl

Production & Development Manager -

Kyana F. Davidson

Unit Production Manager: Los Angeles Unit -

Leeann Stonebreaker

First Assistant Director: 2nd Unit - Marvin Williams

Second Unit Director - Darrin Prescott

Second Unit Director: Descent Unit -

Jeff Habberstad

Stunt Coordinator - Rob Inch

Stunt Coordinator: Wind Tunnel - Allan Hewitt

Fight Coordinator - James Young

Aerial Coordinator - Jeremy Braben

Aviation Advisor - Mike Woodley

Special Effects Supervisor - Paul Corbould

Special Effects Coordinator - Jodie Jackman

Special Effects Coordinator: Los Angeles Unit -

Chris Brenczewski

Special Effects Floor Supervisor: Second Unit -

Chris Corbould

Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta Digital -

Sean Noel Walker

Visual Effects Supervisor - Geoffrey Baumann

Visual Effects Supervisor: Third Unit -

Chris Shaw

Visual Effects Supervisor: LA Unit -

Janelle Croshaw

Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM - Craig Hammack

and Jose Burgos

Visual Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

David Hodgins

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola VFX -

Trent Claus

Additional Visual Effects Supervisor -

Jesse James Chisholm

Visual Effects Producer - Lisa Marra

Compositing Supervisor: Lola VFX -

Edson Williams

Digital Roto and Paint Supervisors: ILM -

Beth D'Amato and Naren Naidoo

Creative Finishing Supervisor - Evan Jacobs

Editors - Leigh Folsom Boyd and

Matthew Schmidt

Supervising Sound Editors - Shannon Mills

and Daniel Laurie

Sound Designer - Nia Hansen

Production Sound Mixer - Chris Munro

Re-Recording Mixers - Juan Peralta

and Lola Hirschberg

Foley Supervisor - Christopher Flick

Foley Artists - Ronni Brown and Jana Vance

Music - Lorne Balfe

Music Supervisor - Dave Jordan

Score Mix Engineers - Peter Cobbin

and Kirsty Whalley

Review

A few times last year, BLACK WIDOW is getting delayed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which also happened to the other forthcoming movies that are supposed to premiere, like Fast & Furious 9. Thankfully, it finally came out in theatres and Premier access on Disney+ in 2021. The film isn't like the typical Marvel movie that you're after that was an action-packed spy thriller packed with espionage and so on. BLACK WIDOW explains everything you need to know about the heroine, making her death in Avengers: Endgame even more tragic. The first half was impressive, especially when you learn about the character whose idyllic life was deprived of her before she became the titular Avenger she is now.

The action sequences are first-rate and explosive, with spectacular performances by Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and David Harbour. It will be the last time Scarlett has ever played a character in eleven years of being in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Whereas Avengers: Endgame was a send-off to Marvel's ensemble team, BLACK WIDOW feels its plot is tying up all the loose ends to the character. Nevertheless, it is still an enjoyable movie for Marvel fans who have waited for a lifetime.

Star rating: (9/10) Excellent Movie

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Fast & Furious 9 Review

Fast & Furious 9

Release Date: 17th June 2021 - Australia

Production Companies

One Race Films

Roth/Kirschenbaum Films

(in association with)

Perfect Storm

Original Film

Universal Pictures

China Film Co. Ltd (in association with)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 145 minutes

Budget: $225,000,000

Box Office Gross: $726,229,501 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Dom Toretto now lives a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son. But when danger strikes, Dom has to confront his past sins to save the people

he loves most. With his

crew by his side, they join

together to foil a world-

shattering plot and face

the most skilled

assassin and high-

performance driver

they've ever confronted:

a man who also happens to

be Dom's forsaken brother, Jakob.

 

Cast

Vin Diesel - Dominic Toretto

Michelle Rodriguez - Leticia "Letty" Ortiz

Jordana Brewster - Mia Toretto

Tyrese Gibson - Roman Pearce

Ludacris - Tej Parker

Nathalie Emmanuel - Ramsey

Charlize Theron - Cipher

John Cena - Jakob Toretto

Sung Kang - Han Seoul-Oh

Anna Sawai - Elle

Helen Mirren - Queenie

Kurt Russell - Mr. Nobody

Lucas Black - Sean Boswell

Shad Moss - Twinkie

Thus Ersted Rasmussen - Otto

Don Omar - Santos

Shea Wingham - Stasiak

Vinnie Bennett - Young Dom

Finn Cole - Young Jakob

JD Pardo - Jack Toretto

Michael Rooker - Buddy

Jim Parrack - Kenny Linder

Siena Agudong - Young Mia

Isaac & Immanuel Holtane - Little Brian

Azia Dinea Hale - Young Letty

Juju Zhang - Young Elle

Karson Kern - Young Vince

Igby Rigney - Young Jesse

Sophia Tatum - Racer Chick

Francis Ngannou - Ferocious Professional

Martyn Ford - Lieutenant Sue

Bad Bunny - Lookout

Jimmy Lin - Lookout

Jason Tobin - Earl

Cardi B - Leysa

Cered - Young Leo

Ozuna - Young Santos

Oqwe Lin - 'Hey' Kid

Bill Simmons - Linder Pit Crew

Vincent Sinclair Diesel - Younger Dom

Luka Hays - Deputy

Jason Statham - Deckard Shaw (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Crew

Story/Screenplay/Producer/Director - Justin Lin

Based on Characters - Gary Scott Thompson

Story - Alfredo Botello

Story/Screenplay - Daniel Casey

Producers - Vin Diesel, Jeff Kirschenbaum,

Neal H. Moritz, Joe Roth and Samantha Vincent

Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Clayton Townsend

Co-Producer - Joshua Henson

Casting Director - Rachel Tanner

Production Designer - Jan Roelfs

Supervising Art Director - Ashley Lamont

Senior Art Director - Andrew Palmer

Set Decorator - Lucy Eyre

Construction Manager - Paul J. Hayes

Costume Designer - Sanja Milkovic Hays

Makeup Designer - Amanda Knight

Hair Designer - Lisa Tomblin
Director of Photography - Stephen F. Windon

Directors of Photography: Second Unit -

Igor Meglic and Callan Green

Aerial Director of Photography: Second Unit -

David B. Nowell

Camera Operators: Second Unit - Nino Pansini,

Peter Field, Picha Srisansanee, Maurice McGuire

and Barney Piercy

Steadicam/Additional Camera Operator -

Jonathan 'Chunky' Richmond

Second Assistants Camera: Second Unit,

Los Angeles - Mike Cahoon, Robert Forrest,

Michael Luntzel, Jordan Pellegrini,

Matt Taylor and Theresa Wong

First Assistant Director - Vincent Lascoumes

Second Unit Director and Stunt Coordinator -

Spiro Razatos

Second Unit Director/Supervising Stunt

Coordinator - J.J. Perry

Stunt Coordinators - Steve Griffin

and Troy Robinson

Stunt Coordinator: Los Angeles Unit/

Rehearsal Stunt Coordinator/Stunt Utility:

Second Unit - Steve Kelso

Stunt Coordinator: 2nd Unit - Andy Gill

Fight/Stunt Coordinator - Justin Yu

Fight Coordinator: Additional Photography -

David Wald

Picture Vehicle Coordinator - Dennis McCarthy

Picture Vehicle Supervisor: UK - Alex King

Special Effects Supervisor - Alistair Williams

Special Effects Supervisor: Los Angeles Unit -

Michael Meinardus

Special Effects Department Coordinator -

Usha Chaman

Visual Effects Supervisor - Peter Chiang

Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Julian Foddy

Visual Effects Supervisor: DNEG - Daniel Rauchweger

Additional Visual Effects Supervisors: DNEG -

Derek Wentworth and Michael Grobe

Visual Effects Producer - Hal Couzens

Visual Effects Producer: Factory VFX -

Eric D. Christensen

Compositing Supervisor: ILM - Jeff Sutherland

Computer Graphics Supervisor: BLIND LTD. -

Andrew Booth

Editors - Greg D'Auria, Dylan Highsmith

and Kelly Matsumoto

Additional Editor - David Kern

Sound Designer and Supervisor - Peter Brown

Sound Designers - Stephen P. Robinson,

Eliot Connors and Ann Scibelli

Production Sound Mixer - John Casali

Re-Recording Mixers - Jon Taylor

and Frank A. Montaño

Music - Brian Tyler

Review

It's been a year since the release of FAST & FURIOUS 9 got delayed because of COVID-19. It has finally made its way into theatres with two more instalments from the series underway. There's no telling how it would end. The movie is not as good as the other instalments like Fast & Furious 5 or 7, but it retains the supercharged thrills of adrenaline and the madcap stunts. Justin Lin returns to helm the ninth chapter after being absent in the director's chair for the last two Fast & Furious movies (barring Hobbs & Shaw). Unfortunately, he has forgotten what made the franchise all special. The action is getting outlandish, and there are some issues with the plot, such as Han being alive, which robs the impact of Furious 7.

It featured new cast members, including John Cena as Dom's estranged younger brother Jakob. The wrestler-turned-actor was terrific in handling that role and did it very well. I'm slightly disappointed that Dwayne Johnson didn't show up for this movie, given what has happened with him not wanting to be in the franchise. That would explain a lot.

While FAST 9 didn't give closure to the series, I'd be surprised it would have, given that the plot has its formulaic nature and the implausibility it undertook. Nonetheless, I consider it a semi-decent film, and it's up to the fans or non-fans to decide if they have to see it in theatres before all the sessions expire or if they will have to wait until it is on DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes and video streaming.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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