Transformers One Review

Transformers One

Release Date: 11th September 2024 - Australia (Sydney)

Production Companies

Paramount Animation (presents)

Hasbro Entertainment (presents)

New Republic Pictures (in association with)

Di Bonaventura Pictures

Tom DeSanto/Don Murphy Production

Bay Films

Distribution

Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: Animation/Family/

Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 104 minutes

Budget: $147,000,000

Box Office Gross: $119,034,862 (Worldwide - figure subject to change)

Plot Summary

In this untold origin story,

long before they were

archenemies, Optimus

Prime and Megatron were

once known as Orion Pax

and D-16, who were best

friends and bonded like

brothers. Ultimately, their

relationship will forever

change the future of

Cybertron.

Voice Cast

Chris Hemsworth - Orion Pax/Optimus Prime

Brian Tyree Henry - D-16/

Megatron

Scarlet Johansson - Elita-1

Keegan-Michael Key - B-127

Steve Buscemi - Starscream

Laurence Fishburne - Alpha Trion

Jon Hamm - Sentinel Prime

Isaac C. Singleton Jr. - Darkwing

Vanessa Liguori - Airachnid

Jason Konopisos-Alvarez - Shockwave/Guard 2

Jon Bailey - Soundwave

Evan Michael Lee - Jazz

James Remar - Zeta Prime

Steve Blum - Announcer Bot/Guard 1

Jinny Chung - Chromia/Arcee

Josh Cooley - Control Room Guys/PA System/Skywarp

Dillon Bryan - Injured Racer

Crew

Director - Josh Cooley

Story/Screenplay - Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari

Screenplay - Eric Pearson

Executive Producers - Olivier Dumont, B.J. Farmer, Bradley J. Fischer, Zev Foreman, Greg Mooradian, Matt Quigg and Steven Spielberg

Producers - Michael Bay,

Mark Vahradian, Don

Murphy, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Aaron Dem and Tom DeSanto

Co-Producer - Cyrus Shaki-Khan

Head of Story - Bobby Rubio

Production Designer - Jason William Scheier

Art Director - Gerald de Jesus

Character Designers - Amy Beth Christenson,

Evan Whitefield and Chris Voy

Head of Cinematography - Christopher Batty

Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM -

Frazier Churchill and Alex Prichard

Visual Effects Producers: ILM - Fiona Chilton,

Corinne Tong, Dan Cortez and Rosalind Stratton

Animation Supervisors: ILM - Stephen King,

Kim Odi, Rob Coleman and Rick O'Connor

Layout Leads: ILM - Joshua Cordes

and Marcus Bain

Creature Supervisors: ILM - Evan Jacobson,

Zehn Yang Lee and Eric Wong

Editor - Lynn Hobson

Sound Design & Supervision - Scott Martin Gershin

Re-Recording Mixers - Juan Peralta

and Michael Semanick

Music/Score Mixer - Brian Tyler

Review

Hello, everyone. Since I returned from Fremantle, WA, I have not written a single critique in the past few months, opting instead to post some obituaries, update my reviews, etc. I haven't spent as much time reviewing as I used to, mainly because I've run out of ideas and couldn't concentrate. Fortunately, I watched the latest release of TRANSFORMERS ONE in cinemas near the end of September and a few others before, so I resumed blogging for this special occasion.

Forty years have passed since the beginning of Transformers, which started as a Hasbro toy line, a comic book and a cartoon series before it morphed into a global franchise. The live-action Michael Bay movies (minus a few, like 2007's Transformers and the prequel/reboot Bumblebee) are a mixed bag among audiences and fans, with each entry making more profit at the box office. Unfortunately, the series rusted throughout the decades, beginning with 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight and ending with 2023's Rise of the Beasts, in which the latter became its lowest-grossing feature.

In the wake of the animated Spider-Man movies and the recent animated TMNT movie, Paramount and Hasbro saw a golden opportunity to reinvigorate the Transformers film franchise and take it to where it all began in its animation roots. The franchise has not had an animated feature for decades, not since the original in 1986. However, TRANSFORMERS ONE has a Pixar-like 3D animation style that takes it to the next level and immerses you back into the world of Cybertron as you've never seen it before. Mind you, it was in the early concept stage back in 2015. Almost a decade later, the movie came out, which was phenomenal and honestly, I liked it. It's a welcome change from the live-action movies, which didn't have the core that makes a good Transformers movie, which is precisely why it needed it in the first place.

What makes TRANSFORMERS ONE so much better than the live-action Transformers movies is that there are no humans in this story, as it focuses on the iconic robots, which is part of its back-to-basics approach. The storyline is clever and engaging as the writers become familiar with the world of Transformers and incorporate it into a character-driven narrative with resonant themes of friendship, trust, loyalty and regret. It explores the origins of what life once was in Cybertron before the war and the early friendship between Optimus Prime and Megatron (known as Orion Pax and D-16 in this movie) before they became lifelong adversaries, which is what the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan should have showed as much in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. You can't help feeling choked up by how this relationship between the pair ends in this movie because it is tragic.

I liked all the easter eggs they sprinkled into the film. Other than the main characters, I recognise several Transformers names. There are plenty of references that older Transformers fans remember, including a hint of Stan Bush from the original film and a little nod to the GoBots in TRANSFORMERS ONE. Director Josh Cooley is no stranger to toys, as his experience of helming Toy Story 4 for Pixar has taught him anything and proved he can do nothing wrong with this animated origin story as he knows how to treat a franchise with respect.

The voice cast is incredible. Chris Hemsworth is a surprisingly good casting choice as a young Optimus Prime. However, many fans were apprehensive about Hemsworth taking over the role from the legendary Peter Cullen, considering that the Australian actor has an unrecognisable voice that doesn't match the distinctive guttural delivery that Cullen has. Fortunately, Hemsworth pours his roguish charm into the younger version of his character and makes it his own before developing into the authoritative baritone that people love to hear in Optimus Prime's dialogue. Brian Tyree Henry was terrific as D-16/Megatron but shines on the fury and rage we come to expect from the evil Decepticon leader. Keegan Michael-Key had a lot of comic energy when playing B-127, a.k.a. Bumblebee. Unlike the previous films where he barely spoke, it's nice to see him given more personality and dialogue. Scarlett Johansson delivers serious spunk in Elita-1, capturing her stern, exasperated mannerisms and driven emotions. Jon Hamm is excellent as Sentinel Prime.

The character designs are a throwback to the original G1 figures, with just enough facial detail added to prevent them from falling into the uncanny valley. Cybertron's surface is familiar, with shimmering formations that change over time and creatures that are fascinating. The 3D animation is sleek, stunning, and imaginative, courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic, the same visual effects house that worked on the Michael Bay live-action movies. The action sequences were exciting and fast-paced, which kept me enthralled. Brian Tyler's score is superb, which is ironic since he is familiar with the franchise as he co-composed the music for the Transformers: Prime animated TV series.

Action-packed, beautifully animated, humorous and heartfelt, TRANSFORMERS ONE reignites the spark that the live-action Transformers movies have been missing and is the best film in the franchise. While it doesn't feel like it's pandering to young kids despite being marketed as such, it's suitable for Transformers fans of all ages. The best way to celebrate the legacy of the Transformers, this film is more than meets the eye. So, roll out in theatres before you miss it, until then, till all are one.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

Back to Home

In Memory of Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024)

Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024)

Kris Kristofferson, the Hollywood actor and legendary country musician, has died. He was 88 years old. His family confirmed his passing.

While his music career began in the late 1960s, Kristofferson turned to acting. Starting in the early 1970s, with films such as "The Last Movie", "Cisco Pike", "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid", and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". However, his significant role in his film career was as a washed-up country musician in the 1976 version of "A Star Is Born". He went on to appear in "Semi-Tough", "Convoy", the box office misfire "Heaven's Gate", the 2001 remake of "Planet of the Apes" and the last two "Blade" films. His final movie role was Edwin Fuller in Ethan Hawke's 2018 biopic "Blaze", which focuses on the life of country musician Blaze Foley.

Back to Home

In Memory of Maggie Smith (1934-2024)

Maggie Smith (1934-2024)

The Oscar-winning British actress Dame Maggie Smith, best known for her roles in the "Harry Potter" film series and "Downton Abbey" has died. She was 89 years old. Her sons, actors Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, announced her passing to the press.

Born on 28th December 1934 as Margaret Natalie Smith in Ilford, Essex, she was the daughter of a pathologist. The family moved to Oxford as war approached, and young Maggie attended the Oxford School for Girls. Smith began her theatrical career as a prompt girl and understudy at the Oxford Repertory. At one point, she suggested that no one in her company ever got sick, so Smith never went on stage during her time there. In 1955, her company relocated to a small theatre in London where she caught the attention of an American producer, Leonard Stillman, who cast her in a revue, New Faces, which opened on Broadway in June 1956. Between 1957 and 1958, Smith held the lead comedian role in the London revue "Share My Lettuce". She soon became a regular at London's Old Vic Theatre.

In 1956, Smith made her first film appearance in an uncredited part in "Child in the House". Two years later, she earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer for the 1958 melodrama "Nowhere to Go", in which she portrayed a girl who hides an escaped convict. In "The VIPs", Smith almost upstaged Richard Burton when sharing a pivotal scene with the Welsh actor. Subsequently, in 1963, she received an offer from actor Laurence Olivier to play Desdemona opposite his titular character in the stage version of Othello at the National Theatre. Two years later, the play became a film adaptation with the original cast, for which Smith received an Academy Award nomination. However, it was in 1969 that she played the role that catapulted her into international fame, that of the unconventional schoolteacher in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie", for which she received an Oscar for Best Actress.

For two more years, the actress continued her association with the National Theatre, including a role as Mrs Sullen in the Restoration comedy "The Beaux' Stratagem" in Los Angeles. She received another Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance as Aunt Augusta in George Cukor's 1972 film "Travels with My Aunt". In 1978, she won a second Oscar, this time for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance in Neil Simon's "California Suite". She appeared in the ensemble murder mystery parody "Murder by Death" and the Agatha Christie adaptation "Death on the Nile", along with the sequel "Evil Under the Sun", both starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot. By the 1980s, she had a string of unforgettable film roles and more accolades, including BAFTAs for "A Private Function" and "A Room With A View", the latter of which earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. She also appeared in "Bed Among The Lentils", one of the episodes of Alan Bennett's "Talking Heads" series for the BBC.

In 1990, Smith became Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen and was known as Dame Maggie Smith. Afterwards, she appeared in Steven Spielberg's "Hook" as the elderly Wendy Darling to the dismissive Mother Superior opposite Whoopi Goldberg in the two "Sister Act" movies. She also appeared in "The Secret Garden", "Richard III", "The First Wives Club", "Washington Square" and "The Last September".

At the turn of the century, she played Betsey Trotwood in the BBC adaptation of "David Copperfield", for which she received a BAFTA and an Emmy nomination. In 2001, she achieved the peak of her worldwide fame when she played in what would become her most well-known role as Professor Minerva McGonagall, the shape-shifting Hogwarts teacher in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". Smith continued to bring her magic to the character in seven more films in the franchise. That same year, she starred in Robert Altman's English country house drama "Gosford Park", which earned her final Oscar nomination. During the shooting of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in 2007, Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer but recovered after two years of treatment.

She again won acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic for her performance as the sharp-tongued Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in Julian Fellows's hit British period drama "Downton Abbey". The show ran for six seasons and won Smith three of her four Emmys and a Golden Globe. It spawned two films, the second of which came out in 2022 and was Smith's last appearance as the beloved character. Over the past several years, she has continued to work, appearing in films like "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", "Quartet" and "The Lady in the Van". Her last film role in 2023 was opposite Kathy Bates and Laura Linney in "The Miracle Club".

Smith was twice married, once to actor Robert Stephens, before divorcing in 1974 and again to playwright Beverley Cross, from 1975 until he died in 1998.

Back to Home

In Memory of James Earl Jones (1931-2024)

James Earl Jones (1931-2024)

Fellow bloggers and Star Wars fans, I have unfortunate news that will devastate you. The legendary actor James Earl Jones, the man behind the iconic voice of Darth Vader, has died. He was 93. His commanding presence has captivated audiences on stage and screen for seven decades. The actor's distinctive, powerful, booming voice left a lasting impression and breathed life into his notable roles, such as Vader in the "Star Wars" movie franchise and Mufasa in "The Lion King". I admired him so much that I often imitated his characters and remembered his lines as I thought about becoming a voice actor. For me, it was sad to lose him.

Jones was born on 17th January 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi and raised by his mother and grandparents. He had a severe stutter as a child, and he said he spent most of his childhood unable to speak because of it. It was not until his teen years that Jones gained his famous voice with the help of a high school teacher after overcoming his stammer. It was at the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1955 after two years in the army, that Jones discovered his love for acting. In 1957, he made his Broadway debut before becoming a Shakespearean actor.

His first screen role was as Slim Pickens' young, trim flight crewman in Stanley Kubrick's black comedy "Dr. Strangelove". In 1968, he played boxing champion Jack Johnson in a stage performance of "The Great White Hope", which won him a Tony Award. Two years later, he would reprise the role in the screen adaptation, which later earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, in which he became the second black actor following Sidney Poitier to be honoured. He also starred in the 1974 romantic comedy-drama "Claudine". However, his career changed forever when he gained international fame as the ominous voice of Darth Vader in "Star Wars". Initially, Jones wasn't the first choice to voice the intimidating Sith Lord, as George Lucas thought of Orson Welles, whom he realised was too recognisable and distracting for the character, as he needed someone with the right sinister voice. This role secured him a position in pop culture and allowed his voice to become one of the most iconic in the world. He continued voicing the character in subsequent Star Wars movies and the animated TV series "Star Wars Rebels".

Bodybuilder Dave Prowse, who portrayed the physical form of Darth Vader and donned the costume, claims he didn't know James Earl Jones dubbed over his voice. However, Jones did not want to receive credit until the third instalment. Jones also appeared in notable films like "Conan the Barbarian" (with Arnold Schwarzenegger), "Matewan", "Coming to America" (with Eddie Murphy), "Field of Dreams" (with Kevin Costner) and "The Sandlot", and has a recurring role as Admiral Greer in "The Hunt for Red October", "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger". In 1994, Jones lent his voice as Mufasa in Disney's animated mega-hit "The Lion King". He would reprise the role 25 years later in the live-action remake, the only actor from the original voice cast to do so.

Jones was also known in television as the older Alex Hailey in the miniseries "Roots: The Next Generation" and won one of his two Emmys for the leading role in the US drama "Gabriel's Fire". He was also one of the earliest guest stars of "Sesame Street" and lent his voice occasionally in a few episodes of "The Simpsons". Jones even lent his comedic chops in a guest role as himself in the sitcom "The Big Bang Theory". His voice also became a trademark of the Cable News Network when he recorded the promo "This is CNN" for the network.

In 2011, he received an Honorary Oscar. His last live-action movie was "Coming 2 America", in which Jones reprised his role as King Jaffe Joffe. By 2022, Jones stepped down as Darth Vader and cut a deal with Lucasfilm that allowed the studio to replicate his voice for the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" miniseries for Disney+. All subsequent roles of Darth Vader will use the Respeecher in this fashion.

Jones, wherever you are, you gave us a memorable voice, and we'll miss you for that. May the force be with you.

Back to Home

In Memory of Bob Newhart (1929-2024)

Bob Newhart (1929-2024)

On 18th July 2024, legendary comedian and actor Bob Newhart has passed away. He was 94 years old. His publicist confirmed through a statement in a news article that Bob died following a battle with a series of short illnesses. He's most famous for shows like "Newhart" and "The Bob Newhart Show", but over the past 50 years, he's appeared in countless projects.

Originally an accountant who took up comedy, Newhart became famous in the 1960s for his dry observational humour and quirky delivery. In 1961, he won two Grammys for Best New Artist and Album of the Year for his breakout album, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart", recorded over several days in Houston before Newhart had any stand-up experience. He quickly moved on to television, becoming a household name with his own NBC variety series, "The Bob Newhart Show", in 1961, and went on to star in his sitcom, also called "The Bob Newhart Show", on CBS from 1972 to 1978. The actor had another popular sitcom, "Newhart", which lasted from 1982 to 1990.

Newhart has appeared in several movies, including "Catch-22", "In And Out", "Legally Blonde 2", "Elf" (in which he played Will Ferrell's diminutive adoptive father) and "Horrible Bosses". Throughout his career, he received a total of nine Emmy nominations. But it wasn't until 2013 that he won a single acting Emmy, in the Outstanding Guest Actor category, for his portrayal of Professor Proton in "The Big Bang Theory". Newhart didn't retire and continued to appear on TV in recent years in "Big Bang" and "Young Sheldon", as well as "Hot in Cleveland" and "The Librarians".

In addition to appearing in films and shows since the '60s, Newhart lends his voice in animated projects, most notably as the voice of Bernard in Disney's "The Rescuers" and its sequel "The Rescuers Down Under", and even a guest spot in an episode of "The Simpsons".

Back to Home

In Memory of Shelley Duvall (1949-2024)

Shelley Davis (1949-2024)

Shelley Davis, the actress most famous for her role with Jack Nicholson in "The Shining", is dead. She was 75 years old.

Duvall attended junior college in her hometown of Houston before being discovered by some of director Robert Altman's crew at a party she was hosting. They brought her to Altman, who chose her to play teen temptress and Astrodome tour guide Suzanne Davis in 1970's "Brewster McCloud". Over the years, the childlike actress has worked with Altman, portraying characters in films like a mail-order bride in "McCabe and Mrs. Miller", a woman who has a fling with Keith Carradine's Mississippi bandit in "Thieves Likes Us", the hot-pants-loving L.A. groupie in "Nashville", Mrs. Francis Cleveland, the wife of President Grover Cleveland, in "Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson", and "3 Women". In 1980, Duvall portrayed the iconic comic strip character Olive Oyl, the strong-willed damsel in distress, in Altman's live-action adaptation of "Popeye" opposite Robin Williams. That same year, she co-starred with Jack Nicholson as Wendy Torrance, the tormented wife and mother in Stanley Kubrick's famous movie adaptation of Stephen King's "The Shining". During the making of the film, Kubrick, a well-known perfectionist, was known for being difficult on the actress, with one harrowing scene reportedly shot in 127 takes.

She also appeared in "Annie Hall", "Time Bandits" and "Roxanne". In the 1990s, her acting roles dwindled, with Jane Campion's "The Portrait of a Lady" picking up the slack, and she fell from the public eye in 2002. While on a hiatus from acting, Duvall appeared in an interview on Dr Phil McGraw's talk show in 2016, where she disclosed that she struggled with mental illness. In 2022, after two decades away from acting, she returned to star in the horror film "The Forest Hills", which turned out to be her last.

Back to Home

In Memory of Donald Sutherland (1935-2024)

Donald Sutherland (1935-2024)

The veteran film and television actor Donald Sutherland, whose career spanned half a decade, from "M*A*S*H" to "The Hunger Games", has died. He was 88 years old. His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, confirmed his death on Thursday.

Born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, on 17th July 1935, Sutherland first worked as a disc jockey at his radio station at age 14. Originally an engineering student at the University of Toronto, Sutherland moved to England, where he started acting in school plays. He graduated in 1956 and studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Sutherland began appearing in West End plays. He then took minor roles in British film and television. Sutherland moved to Los Angeles and continued to drift until a series of war movies changed his trajectory. His first film in America was "The Dirty Dozen", where he played a psychopathic officer impersonator Vernon Pinkley.

In 1970, both "Kelly's Heroes" and "M*A*S*H" came out, the latter being a huge hit and spawned a successful TV series as Sutherland thrust into the spotlight. Sutherland's A-list status peaked in the 1970s as he starred in films by the best directors of the decade - though they didn't always do their best work with him. One of his best performances was that of a detective in Alan Pakula's "Klute". It was then during the shooting of "Klute" that he met his co-star, actress Jane Fonda, with whom he had a relationship that lasted for three years. His next big film was Nicolas Roeg's psychological thriller "Don't Look Now", followed by the international spy comedy "S*P*Y*S" in 1974 and "Day of the Locust" in 1975. As his acting career took off, Sutherland acted in another big-budget war movie, "The Eagle Has Landed" with Michael Caine and Robert Duvall in 1976, and subsequently had a small part in John Landis' 1977 farce "The Kentucky Fried Movie", written by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, who later became directors of "Airplane!"

In 1978, Sutherland starred in three diverse movies, such as"The Great Train Robbery", a heist comedy with Sean Connery and Lesley-Anne Down, the horror-thriller remake "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" with Brooke Adams and Jeff Goldblum and the much-loved early-'60s fraternity comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House", also directed by Landis. In the latter, he had a supporting but crucial part as a stoned professor of English literature. Following his star turn in the 1980 comedy "Nothing Personal" with Suzanne Somers from "Three's Company", Sutherland's next film was to be one of his greatest. In "Ordinary People", a generational drama, which marks actor Robert Redford in his directorial debut that won four Oscars, including Best Picture, he played Calvin Jarrett, a man grieving for one son and coping with another's suicide attempt.

Throughout the 1980s, Sutherland continued to act in films. In 1991, he had a pivotal role in Ron Howard's firefighter drama "Backdraft", where he played an imprisoned pyromaniac who aids investigators by saying that the arsonist they are hunting must also be a firefighter. In the 1990s, Sutherland acted in such movies as "JFK", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Six Degrees of Separation". In 1995, he received an Emmy and a Golden Globe for playing Russian Colonel Mikhail Fetisov in HBO's serial-killer thriller telemovie "Citizen X", co-starring Stephen Rea and Max von Sydow. In the same year, he had a supporting role in Wolfgang Peterson's virus outbreak film "Outbreak" with Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo and Morgan Freeman.

He also scored an Emmy nomination for his lead role in Lifetime's 2006 miniseries "Human Trafficking", in which he co-starred with Mira Sorvino and Robert Carlyle. Sutherland kept appearing in films such as "A Time to Kill", "Shadow Conspiracy", "Fallen", "Instinct", "The Italian Job (2003)", "Cold Mountain", "Fierce People", "Pride and Prejudice (2005)" and "Horrible Bosses". However, his next role would be his best-known. In 2012, Sutherland took on the role of President Coriolanus Snow, the fascist dictator of Panem in "The Hunger Games", which he then reprised in the sequels "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay Parts 1" and "2" as the main antagonist. The films based on the YA novels by Suzanne Collins were international hits. They broke box office records and catapulted its lead actress, Jennifer Lawrence, to stardom. For the rest of his life, Sutherland continued to appear in films, such as "Ad Astra" and "Moonfall", while also making several appearances on the small screen.

Sutherland was married three times and had five children. Three of them, including Kiefer, would follow in their father's footsteps as actors. Though he was never nominated for an Oscar, however, in 2017, he received an Honorary Award.

Back to Home

In Memory of Morgan Spurlock (1970-2024)

Morgan Spurlock (1970-2024)

Morgan Spurlock, the man behind the fast food documentary "Super Size Me", has died after a private battle with cancer. He was 53. Spurlock's career as a director has been varied and erratic. His documentary changed people's minds about fast food and how it affects them. It also prompted many fast food outlets to improve their healthier options.

A native of Parkesburg, West Virginia, the future filmmaker grew up in Beckley, where he attended Woodrow Wilson High School. He completed his studies at New York University in 1993.

In his first movie, "Super Size Me", Spurlock examines obesity and unhealthy food choices in America by experimenting on himself and chronicling the effects of an all-fast food diet. He ate only McDonald's for a month with dozens of Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets and drank gallons of cola. This unhealthy diet gained him 25 pounds of weight, and he claims that it had damaged his liver. McDonald's described Spurlock's eating habits as "unrealistic", but after the controversy surrounding the film, they scrapped their supersized portions. However, the film earned the Best Documentary Feature Oscar nomination and the first Writers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Screenplay.

His success with "Super Size Me" encouraged Spurlock to do several documentaries. Such films include "Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?", "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold", a One Direction concert feature and "Super Size Me 2".

Back to Home

In Memory of Richard M. Sherman (1928-2024)

 

Richard M. Sherman (1928-2024)

Richard M. Sherman, half of the famous Oscar-winning songwriting duo the Sherman Brothers and co-writer of such iconic Disney songs like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" for "Mary Poppins" and the title theme from It's a Small World, has passed away at the age of 95.

Born in New York City on 12th June 1928, Richard and his brother would go on to follow in the footsteps of their Tin Pan Alley songwriter father, Al Sherman. After years of moving around the country, the Sherman family settled in Beverly Hills in 1937. Richard was a student at Beverly Hills High School before his studies in music at Bard College. He joined the United States Army, and from 1953 to 1955, he conducted the Army Band and Glee Club. Their success with early tunes like "Gold Can Buy You Anything But Love" and "Tall Paul" caught the eye of Walt Disney. Walt would recruit the Sherman Brothers as staff songwriters for his studio, and their first assignment was to write a song for the TV movie "The Horsemasters". Shortly after, they would collaborate on such movies as "The Absent-Minded Professor", "The Parent Trap", "Summer Magic", "The Sword in the Stone", "Mary Poppins", "That Darn Cat!", "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree", "The Jungle Book", "The Happiest Millionaire", "The Aristocats" and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks". For some 27 films and 24 television productions, they would eventually write more than 200 songs.

The Sherman Brothers wrote some of the most recognisable and popular songs of all time for the Disney theme park rides, including "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow", "The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room", and "It's a Small World". They also wrote songs for EPCOT and Tokyo Disneyland. In addition to Disney, the Sherman Brothers worked on other movies, including "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "Snoopy Come Home", "Charlotte's Web", "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", "Huckleberry Finn" and "The Skipper and the Rose".

In 1990, both Richard and his brother were named Disney legends. They were honoured with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Medal of the Arts in 2008. When Robert died in 2012, Richard continued to work. He penned new lyrics for the 2016 live-action remake of "The Jungle Book", wrote three new songs for "Christopher Robin", and composed a new song for the animated short film "Mushka" by Disney legend Andreas Deja in 2023.

In 2023, Richard returned to Walt Disney's office to record a new version of "Feed the Birds" from "Mary Poppins" for "Once Upon a Studio", the short film celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. Richard and Robert often played the same song for Walt on Friday afternoons.

Back to Home

In Memory of Dabney Coleman (1932-2024)

Dabney Coleman (1932-2024)

Dabney Coleman, who had a reputation for playing dishonest characters with no redeeming qualities in films like "9 to 5" and "Tootsie", has died. He was 92 years old.

He was born on 3rd January 1932 in Austin, Texas, USA. After attending the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Texas School of Law, Coleman served in the military and then embarked on a career in the entertainment industry. In 1961, Dabney landed his first acting gig in an episode of "Naked City", according to IMDb. He went on to appear in such series as "Ben Casey", "Dr. Kildare", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "The Outer Limits", "Hazel", "I Dream of Jeannie" and "The Fugitive", before recurring as Leon Bessemer, Mario Thomas' neighbour and obstetrician in the first season (1966-1967) of "That Girl". Dabney took the lead role in Norman Lear's soap opera "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" as Merle Jeeter. He continued that role after the programme was re-titled "Forever Fernwood".

In 1980, Coleman achieved his breakthrough role as a rapacious manager who seeks sexual favours from secretaries, with Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin helping to pay the price in the workplace comedy "9 to 5". The following year, Coleman would reunite with Jane Fonda in one of his rare sympathetic roles as her dentist boyfriend in the drama "On Golden Pond". In 1982, he reverted to his boorish performances as a chauvinistic TV director in "Tootsie". Dabney also played a tough computer programmer in "WarGames" and a lisping pornographer in "Dragnet". His other films include "The Trouble with Girls", "Downhill Racer", "The Towering Inferno", "North Dallas Forty", "How to Beat the High Co$t of Living", "Melvin & Howard", "Modern Problems", "Young Doctors in Love", "Cloak & Dagger", "The Muppets Take Manhattan", "Short Time", "Meet the Applegates", "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Amos & Andrew", "You've Got Mail", "Inspector Gadget", "Stuart Little", etc.

On TV, he had a memorable turn as an insensitive talk show host on NBC's "Buffalo Bill", which only ran for 26 episodes in 1983 and 1984. Still, it attracted a devoted following over the years for Coleman's gruff portrayal. However, Coleman gave a somewhat more sanitised and humane performance in "The Slap Maxwell Story", which aired on ABC from 1987 to 1988, while retaining his sharp wit as a fedora-wearing sports journalist. Coleman also provided the voice of Principal Prickley in the Disney animated series "Recess". He even appeared in the HBO drama "Boardwalk Empire" as a former Atlantic City power broker with a liking for young girls.

Back to Home

In Memory of Roger Corman (1926-2024)

Roger Corman (1926-2024)

Roger Corman, the legendary filmmaker and undisputed "king of B-movies", has passed away. He was 98 years old. He was also responsible for launching the careers of several actors and directors, such as Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron, Robert DeNiro and others.

Roger Corman wasn't the type to grow up dreaming of making it big in Hollywood. He was born on 5 April 1926 in Detroit, Michigan. He went to Stanford University and chose to study industrial engineering but discovered it was not his passion. After college, he worked at U.S. Electrical Motors for four days, ending his stint by telling his boss, "I've made a terrible mistake". Faced with an unlimited future, he chose the path of filmmaking because his brother, Gene Corman, was a working agent in the film industry.

His first job was as an errand boy in the 20th Century Fox mailroom, but then he used the GI Bill to study English literature at Oxford University for six months, followed by six months in Paris. He did a brief stint as a script reader and penned "Highway Dragnet", selling the low-budget script to Allied Artists for $4,000. However, he was dissatisfied with the movie and, believing he could do a better job as a producer, raised $12,000 to make "Monster from the Ocean Floor", directed by Wyott Ordung. Corman would also start directing, beginning with 1955's "Swamp Women", and over the next 15 years, he made more than 50 movies, gaining a reputation for working fast, often making two films simultaneously to save money. For example, "The Little Shop of Horrors", which included a brief appearance by Jack Nicholson, took just two days to film on the same set as Corman's previous movie, "Bucket of Blood". It was the basis for a long-running stage musical and a 1986 film musical starring Steve Martin, Bill Murray and John Candy.

Corman made a series of horror movies based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, all but one of which starred Vincent Price. The first of which was "The House of Usher" in 1960, followed by "The Pit and the Pendulum", "Tales of Terror", "The Raven", "The Masque of Red Death" and "The Tomb of Ligeia". One of his films was "The Intruder", which explored the racism of the American Deep South, starring a young William Shatner and winning an award at the Venice Film Festival. However, it was a box office flop and Corman's first money-losing film, causing him to remark that he'd stick to making movies that entertained rather than had a social message. He temporarily embraced the 1960s counterculture, making the biker film "The Wild Angels", starring Peter Fonda and Nancy Sinatra. The film cost $360,000 and grossed more than $25 million. His next film was "The Trip", in which Jack Nicholson was the writer and star. With Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in the cast, it predates "Easy Rider".

In 1970, Corman and his younger brother Gene founded New World Pictures. Together, they produced and distributed over a hundred movies under the banner. In addition to making low-budget films, he began to pick up films by prominent foreign filmmakers, Francois Truffaut, Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa and Federico Fellini, and introduce them to American audiences. At the beginning of the 1980s, Corman sold New World Pictures and embarked on new ventures with Concorde Films and New Horizon Films, under whose banners he continued to produce movies, now alongside his wife Julie. When Corman returned to direct for his 1990 film "Frankenstein Unbound", he failed to deliver the goods, disappointing genre fans.

Several of his former protégés, including Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, Ron Howard and Joe Dante, thanked him for his generosity with cameo appearances in films they directed, such as "The Godfather: Part II", "The Silence of the Lambs", "Philadelphia", "Apollo 13" and "Looney Tunes: Back in Action". Having produced a film of the same name in 1954, he is also somewhat responsible for the mega-franchise known as "The Fast and the Furious". Producer Neal Moritz suggested the name to Corman when he was gearing up to launch the franchise. The two of them agreed to let it happen. In 2009, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Oscar and into his eighties, he continued to produce films such as "Dinoshark" and "Sharktopus" for the SyFy TV channel in 2010.

His ability to find and nurture new talent is almost unparalleled, as is the sheer volume of movies he has worked on. Many of his features have achieved cult status, and few directors have managed to make popular movies on a shoestring budget.

Back to Home

In Memory of Bernard Hill (1944-2024)

Bernard Hill (1944-2024)

It is with sorrow that the renowned British actor Bernard Hill has died at the age of 79, as his family confirmed in a statement. He was best known for his supporting roles in "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings".

In 1982, Hill rose to fame in his homeland with "Boys from the Blackstuff", a gritty drama about unemployed men that became a symbol of the Thatcher era. However, it is in minor roles, bringing a calm authority to some of the most successful films in movie history, that audiences will be most familiar with him.

In 1997, Hill was cast in James Cameron's Oscar-winning "Titanic" as the ship's captain, Edward Smith, a man consumed by his involvement in the tragedy and finally accepting his fate. Later, Hill would subsequently appear in Peter Jackson's epic "The Lord of the Rings" series as Theoden, King of Rohan, first manipulated by his advisor in "The Two Towers" before emerging as a courageous leader in "The Return of the King".

He also starred in "Gandhi", "Shirley Valentine", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "The Scorpion King", "Valkyrie" and "ParaNorman".

Back to Home

Dune: Part Two Review

Dune: Part Two

Release Date: 29th February 2024 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (present)

Villeneuve Films

Legendary Entertainment (present)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 165 minutes

Budget: $190,000,000

Box Office Gross: $714,444,358 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Seeking retribution

against the conspirators

who destroyed his family,

Paul Atreides joins forces

with Chani and the

Fremen. Forced to choose

between the love of his

life and the fate of the

known universe, he must

try to prevent a horrific

future that only he can

foresee.

Cast

Timothée Chalamet -

Paul Atreides

Zendaya - Chani

Rebecca Ferguson - Lady Jessica Atreides

Javier Bardem - Stilgar

Josh Brolin - Gurney Halleck

Austin Butler - Feyd-Rautha

Florence Pugh - Princess Irulan

Dave Bautista - Beast

Rabban Harkonnen

Christopher Walken -

Emperor

Léa Seydoux - Lady

Margot Fenring

Stellan Skarsgård - Baron

Vladimir Harkonnen

Charlotte Rampling -

Reverend Mother Mohiam

Souhelia Yacoub - Shishakil

Roger Yuan - Lanville

Babs Olusanmokun - Jamis

Alison Halstead - Maker

Keeper

Giusi Merli - Reverend

Mother Ramallo

Kait Tenison - Bene

Gesserit Sister

Tara Breathnach - Bene Gesserit Sister

Akiko Hitomi - Bene Gesserit Sister

Imola Gáspár - Watermaster

Alison Adnet - Young Fremen Patrol

Hamza Baissa - Young Fremen Patrol

Hassan Najib - Young Fremen Patrol

Jasper Ryan-Cater - Young

Fremen Patrol

Omar Elbooz - Young

Fremen Patrol

Abdelkarim Hussein Seli

Mohamed Hassanin - Young

Fremen Patrol

Joseph Beddelem - Fedaykin Leader

Xavier Alba Royo - Fedaykin

Rachid Abbad - Fedaykin

Affif Ben Badra - Fedaykin

Botond Bota - Fedaykin

Abdelaziz Boumane - Fedaykin

Abdellah Echahbi - Fedaykin

Zouhair Elakkari - Fedaykin

Noureddine Hajoujou - Fedaykin

Mohamed Mouraoui - Fedaykin

Adil Achraf Sayd - Fedaykin

Hamza Sayd - Fedaykin

Hopi Grace - Fremen Nun

Havin Fathi - Fremen Nun

Kincsö Pethö - Fremen Nun

Cat Simmons - Young Nun

Burt Caesar - Devotee

Remi Fadare - Devotee

Amer El-Erwadi - Huge Fighter

Tedroy Newell - Fremen Onlooker

Oxa Hazel - Fremen Onlooker

Hajiyeva Pakiza - Fremen Onlooker

Leon Herbert - Oldest Elder

Sima Rostami - Female Elder

Yvonne Campbell - Elder

Joseph Charles - Elder

Vic Zander - Elder

Dylan Baldwin - Harkonnen

Translator

Marcia Tucker - Old

Wounded Woman

Nicola Brome - Wounded Fremen

Kathy Owen - Wounded Fremen

How Novelli - Fundamentalist Fighter

Moe Bar-El - Fundamentalist Fighter

Serhat Metin - Fundamentalist Fighter

Amra Mallassi - Fundamentalist Fighter

Adam Phillip Bloom - Fundamentalist Fighter

Luis Alkmim - Sentinel Leader

Jordan Long - Smuggler Driver

Omar A.K. - Wounded Smuggler

Zdenek Dvoracek - Arena

Gladiator

Billy Clements - Arena Gladiator

Anton Valensi - Harkonnen Commander

Lex Daniel - Harkonnen Commander

Dominic McHale - Harkonnen Commander

Paul Boyle - Harkonnen Commander

Niall White - Ornithopter Military Pilot

Tony Cook - Harkonnen Scanner Operator

Gabor Szeman - Harkonnen

Officer

Jonathan Gunning - Game

Supervisor

Will Irvine - Slave Master

Alan Mehdizadeh - Weapon

Master

Rex Adams - Harpy

Molly Mcowan - Harpy

Ana Cilas - Harpy

Kajsa Mohammar - Feyd-Reutha's Attendant

Sara Bacsfalvi - Feyd-Reutha's Attendant

Zsófia Kocsis - Feyd-Reutha's Attendant

Matthew Sim - Spice Steward

Steve Wall - Bashar

Italo Amerighi - Imperial Council

Tim Hilborne - Imperial Council

Cecile Sinclair - Imperial Council

Tracy Coogan - Imperial Servant

Zoe Kata Kaska - Baby Jessica

Jimmy Walker - Baron Proxy

Rand Faris - Female Fremen Fighter

Fouad Humaidan - Male Fremen Fighter

Manaf Irani - Male Fremen Fighter

Dora Kápolnai-Schwab - Baron Servant

Joelle - Baron Servant

Anya Taylor-Joy - Alia Atreides

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Screenplay/Director - Denis Villeneuve

Based on the Novel - Frank Herbert

Screenplay/Executive

Producer - Jon Spaihts

Script Supervisor - Jessica Clothier

Special Consultant - Kevin J. Anderson

Executive Producers - Joshua Grode, John Harrison, Herbert W. Gains, Brian & Kim Herbert, Bryon Merritt, Richard P. Rubinstein and Thomas Tull

Producers - Cale Boyter,

Patrick McCormack and Mary Parent

Producer/Second Unit Director - Tanya Lapointe

Co-Producers - Toby Hefferman

Co-Producer/Visual Effects

Producer - Brice Parker

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Jessica Derhammer

Casting Director - Francine Maisler

Production Designer - Patrice Vermette

Concept/Storyboard Artist - Sam Hudecki

Concept Artists - Kamen Anev,

Paul Chadession, Ed Natividad,

Peter Popken, Kris Turvey and George Hull

Concept Artist/Visual Effects Art Director:

Rodeo FX - Deak Ferrand

Supervising Art Director - Tom Brown

Chief Set Decorator - Shane Vieau

Property Master - Doug Harlocker

Costume Designer - Jacqueline West

Makeup Department Head/Makeup,

Hair & Prosthetics Designer -

Donald Mowat

Director of Photography - Greig Fraser

Unit Production Manager - James Grant

Supervising Location Manager - Duncan Broadfoot

Supervising Stunt Coordinator - Lee Morrison

Co-Stunt Coordinator - Henry Kingi Jr.

Fight/Stunt Coordinator - Roger Yuan

Aerial Coordinator - Cliff Fleming

Special Effects Supervisor - Gerd Nefzer

Visual Effects Supervisor - Paul Lambert

Visual Effects Supervisors: DNEG -

Michael Grobe, Stephen James and

Rhys Salcombe

Visual Effects Producers: DNEG -

Jennifer Fairweather and Jose Maria de la Puente

Visual Effects Producer: Rodeo FX - Wassila Lmouaci

Senior Animation Supervisor: DNEG - Robyn Luckham

Animation Supervisors: DNEG - Nick Symons

and Eric Bates

Visualisation Supervisor: The Third Floor -

Nicholas Markel

Visualisation Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Scott Meadows

Film Editor - Joe Walker

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard King

Sound Designer - Dave Whitehead

Additional Sound Design - Michael Babcock,

Lee Gilmore and Randy Torres

Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett

and Doug Hemphill

Music/Synth Programming - Hans Zimmer

Composers: Additional Music - David Fleming,

Steve Mazzaro, Steven Doar and

Andrew Kawczynski

Music Supervisors - Peter Afterman,

Deric Berberabe and Alison Litton

Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Review

DUNE: PART TWO was the ultimate continuation of the glorious sci-fi epic that Dune fans have clamorously waited for in the last three years. It was supposed to premiere in 2023, but due to a Hollywood strike involving the writers and actors, the studio delayed it and changed its release date to 2024. We haven't seen a cinematic event we witnessed as epic, majestic and impactful since Lord of the Rings!

Many critics hailed PART TWO as a triumph and a landmark science-fiction film that will go down in history as one of the best sequels. Some even compared it to The Empire Strikes Back and The Dark Knight, which were sequels much better than their predecessors and highly regarded by audiences. Even filmmaker Christopher Nolan (who directed the latter) likened this movie to the former, which may be true, considering they're both timeless masterpieces and milestones of the science fiction genre. It's also compared to another highly regarded sequel, The Two Towers, with both movies being large in scale with huge spectacles, character-driven plots and battle scenes.

While Part One was only the beginning, PART TWO continues to strengthen the narrative direction with more full-scale action. Like the previous movie, it is also a visual delight in every sense of the word. It excels in sound and sight, engineering and spectacle. None of this would be possible if it weren't for Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, who saw fit to bring Dune into the big screen when no one else would (unless some of you prefer David Lynch's 1984 film). However, some long-time readers of the book weren't happy with the changes made in the second instalment as it did happen in its predecessor. Then again, a few deviations are necessary to improve the storyline. It re-introduced a few characters, such as Feyd-Rautha, The Emperor, Princess Irulan, etc, who were absent in the first instalment. There was a lot of territory to cover in the sequel, and Villeneuve doesn't shy away from finding the right balance between drama, breathtaking visuals and character development.

Once again, Timothée Chalamet is as excellent in his career-defining role as Paul Atriedes. He gets it right this time by lending his gravitas to the character, making him more determined and aware of what he has to do. He has a natural chemistry with Zendaya, who is just as fabulous as her co-star and also shines in her performance as Chani. I am glad she has more screen time in her role in the sequel than in its predecessor, which relegated her to Paul's visions. Her character is still the same love interest, but her personality is much different than in the books and previous adaptations. The ensemble cast is terrific, with returning players like Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem and new additions like Florence Pugh and Austin Butler. Butler is the highlight as he steals the show as the Baron's hairless, pale-skinned and psychopathic nephew Feyd-Rautha. He possesses a killer instinct and a unique dialect to the role, with the same rock star swagger he brought into Elvis and doesn't wear the same winged codpiece as Sting wore in the 1984 film version of Dune.

On the technical side of things, Greig Fraser's lavish camerawork enhances the vision of the desert world of Arrakis with sweeping shots that are a clear homage to Lawrence of Arabia. Once again, Hans Zimmer proves what he does best in creating an ominous, epic score with a layer of ambience and rich texture. He does this to expand upon the original, which he previously composed in 2021. Some of my favourite moments in the film include Paul's first ride on a sandworm, the monochromatic gladiator fight and the final climactic battle.

If this sequel has taught me anything, PART: TWO is a towering work of art that fulfils the first film's promise while adding expanses of layers and depth. It established the franchise as famous as Lord of the Rings and ushered in Denis Villeneuve as one of the finest directors of our time. Its ending leaves the door open for a third part of the movie, which would be the adaptation of Frank Herbert's sequel to the original novel, Dune Messiah and leaves fans waiting for more. If you're new to Dune, you start with Part One. It will give you the context and understanding you need to know and enjoy the second part. I highly recommend seeing PART TWO in the cinema, preferably in IMAX, once you've seen both movies.

Star rating: (9/10) Excellent Movie

Back to Home

In Memory of Louis Gossett Jr. (1936-2024)

 

Louis Gossett Jr. (1936-2024)

Louis Gossett Jr., the first African-American to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and an Emmy for his performance in the landmark TV miniseries "Roots", recently died on 29th March 2024. He was 87 years old. After a career that spanned over 60 years and hundreds of films, Louis Gossett Jr. has established a legacy as an unwearied actor, a charismatic stage presence, and a trailblazing talent who set a standard for black acting.

Gossett was born on 27th May 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. In honour of his father, he later added Junior to his name. He began acting in school productions and debuted on Broadway debut at age 16 in the play "Take A Giant Step". After attending New York University on a basketball and drama scholarship, the actor befriended Hollywood great James Dean before studying acting with such luminaries as Marilyn Monroe, Martin Landau and Steve McQueen. His Broadway success came with Sammy Davis Jr. and Sidney Poitier (who in 1964 became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor).

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gossett guest-starred in numerous TV shows, but his breakthrough role on the small screen was that of Fiddler in "Roots", the 1977 miniseries about the terrible atrocities of slavery. His performance would later win him an Emmy Award. Gossett would win an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor as Emil Foley, the intimidating drill instructor alongside Richard Gere and Debra Wagner in 1982's "An Officer and a Gentleman". A few years later, after winning the Oscar, Gossett Jr. also acted opposite Dennis Quaid in "Enemy Mine" and in 1986's "Iron Eagle", the latter of which led to three more sequels and established him as the star of a bona fide franchise. His other movies include "The Deep", "Blue Chips", "Daddy's Little Girls", "Firewalker", "Jaws 3D", "The Punisher" and "Toy Soldiers".

In recent years, Gossett has appeared in television shows, such as "Boardwalk Empire", "Extant", "Madam Secretary", "ER", and "Watchmen", and played a stubborn patriarch in a remake of "The Color Purple".

Back to Home