Snakes on a Plane Review

Snakes on a Plane

Release Date: 24th August 2006 - Australia

Production Companies

New Line Cinema (presents)

Mutual Film Company

Meradin Zweite Productions (in association with)

Eyetronics

H2L Media Group

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Action/Thriller

Rating: M (Not Suitable for Young Children)

Runtime: 101 minutes

Budget: $33,000,000

Box Office Gross:

$62,022,014 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

FBI agent Neville Flynn

takes a plane from Hawaii

to Los Angeles to transport

a witness protected by the

government to a trial, in

the hope that the mob boss

will end up behind bars.

However, as soon as the

aircraft reaches an altitude

of 30,000 feet, several

hundred venomous snakes

burst out of the cargo and

attack everyone in sight,

causing violent mayhem.

With the help of a leading

snake expert from L.A.,

Flynn and a group of

terrified passengers and

crew must work together

to deal with the slithering

threat.

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson - Neville Flynn

Julianna Margulies - Claire Miller

Nathan Phillips - Sean Jones

Rachel Blanchard - Mercedes

Flex Alexander - Three G's

Kenan Thompson - Troy

Keith Dallas - Big Leroy

Lin Shaye - Grace

Bruce James - Ken

Sunny Mabrey - Tiffany

Casey Dubois - Curtis

Daniel Hogarth - Tommy

Gerald Plunkett - Paul

Terry Chen - Chen Leong

Elsa Pataky - Maria

Emily Holmes - Ashley

Tygh Runyan - Tyler

Mark Houghton - John Sanders

David Koechner - Rick

Bobby Cannavale - Hank Harris

Todd Louiso - Dr. Steven Price

Tom Butler - Captain Sam McKeon

Kendall Cross - Driver

Kevin McNulty - Emmett Bradley

Samantha McLeod - Kelly

Taylor Kitsch - Kyle

Ann Warn Pegg - Mrs. Bova

Byron Lawson - Eddie Kim

Darren Moore - Kraitler

Scott Nicholson - Daniel Hayes

Candice Macalino - Flower Girl

Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe - Autograph Girl

Agam Darshi - Dell Girl

Lisa Marie Caruk - Ken's Girlfriend

Jack di Blasio - Kid Fan

Darryl Quon - Man In Suit

David Neale - Navy Dad

Mi-Jung Lee - News Anchor

Kyle Alisharan - Airport Worker

Christopher Bachman - Lei Guy

Drew Wicks - Passenger

Crew

Director - David R. Ellis

Story - David Dalessandro

Story/Screenplay - John Heffernan

Screenplay - Sebastian Gutierrez

Associate Producers -

Jeff Katz and Tawny Ellis

Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager - Heather Meehan

Executive Producers - Stokely Chaffin, Toby Emmerich, Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins and George Waud

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Justis Greene 

Producers - Craig Berenson, Don Granger and Gary Levinsohn

Casting Director - Mindy Maren

Canadian Casting Directors - Coreen Mayrs

and Heike Brandstatter

Production Designer - Jaymes Hinkle

Art Director - John Alvarez

Set Decorators - Erin Boyd and Mary-Lou Storey

Costume Designer - Karen L. Matthews

Prosthetic Makeup Effects Designers &

Creators - Anthony Allen Barlow,

Ken Culver, Greg Johnson, Sarah Pickersgill,

Sam Polin, Brad Proctor, Dan Rebert,

Todd Masters and Jamie Salmon

Director of Photography - Adam Greenberg

Aerial Director of Photography - Hans Bjerno

"A" Camera Operator - Michael Ferris 

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Freddie Hice

Stunt Coordinators - Annie Ellis and Scott Nicholson

Snake Handler & Coordinator - Jules Sylvester

Snake Handlers - Brad McDonald,

Marco Solis Chavez and Marissa Schwierjohn

Special Effects Supervisors - Alex Burdett

and Matt Kutcher

Visual Effects Supervisor - Erik Henry

Visual Effects Supervisor: CafeFX - Scott Gordon

Art Director: CafeFX - Peter Lloyd

Digital Effects Supervisor: CafeFX - Jeff Goldman

Lighting TDs: CafeFX - Mike Fischer,

Manuel H. Guizar, Nic Spier, William H. Ball,

Scott Harper, Kirk Cardette and Luis "Chico" Martinez

Modelling Lead: CafeFX - Steve Arguello

Compositing Supervisor: CafeFX - Edwardo Mendez

3D Matchmovers: CafeFX - Paul Hopkins,

Kevin Hoppe and Ondrej Kubrick

Software Development Supervisor: CafeFX - Robert Tesdahl

Editor - Howard E. Smith

Supervising Sound Editors - Tom Bellfort

and Dave McMoyler

Sound Designers - Harry Cohen and

Tim Walston

Re-Recording Mixers - Rick Ash,

Kevin E. Carpenter and Justin Jose

Production Sound Mixer - Michael McGee

Foley Artists - James Moriana and Jeffrey Wilhoit

Music - Trevor Rabin

Review

SNAKES ON A PLANE is about, well, you know, as the title suggests, it lives up to its name. Admittedly, it wasn't a typical mockbuster movie; its plot was original. It came out before The Asylum started producing mockbuster films. Still, the film has the hallmarks of a mockbuster, with its over-the-top story and action sequences.

Before its release, word of SNAKES ON A PLANE spread online, gaining a cult following due to its title and the decision to cast Samuel L. Jackson in the lead role. During production, several changes, including reshoots, bumped the film from a PG-13 rating to R to appease the online fanbase. The film's title was also briefly changed to Pacific Air Flight 121, but Samuel L. Jackson insisted on changing it back, stating the title was the only reason he accepted the role. Although the film underperformed at the box office, it still turned a profit, and many people remember it today.

Director David R. Ellis had experience with outlandish stuff, considering he directed Final Destination 2 and, later, The Final Destination, where several people get killed in horrific, gruesome ways. He did a fantastic job of delivering an action movie that plays like a suspense thriller crossed with a comedy, a thrill ride that's a bit silly and even more fun. I'm sure you're well aware that this film had several issues.

While the premise is affectionately cheesy, it is part of its distinctive "B-movie" charm, along with its self-aware ridiculousness. By design, the film was clearly meant to be silly. Unfortunately, the plot is thin, the characters are stereotypical, and the CGI is laughably bad. Worse, it clearly tries to copy old 1970s disaster movies like Airport and Earthquake.

All is not lost, though, because the acting is terrific. Despite the film's absurdity, nearly all actors and actresses were fully committed to their roles. However, the best actor in this film is certainly Samuel L. Jackson, who plays FBI agent Neville Flynn. Jackson did a terrific job, balancing humour and seriousness. Overall, I enjoyed his performance, especially when he delivers that iconic line to the surviving passengers. Julianna Margulies is fine as Claire, the calm and collected stewardess who tries to keep the passengers safe.

For a "B-movie," SNAKES ON A PLANE is not as bad as it could have been. Clearly, the filmmakers never intended to make a film audiences would take seriously; they just wanted to entertain, and, all things considered, they succeeded. Yes, they could have done a few things better, but it is a ridiculous yet enjoyable film, as long as you don't take it seriously. Trust me, it's not for people terrified of snakes. And certainly not for those who are watching it on a flight.

Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie

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The Magic Pudding Review

The Magic Pudding

Release Date: 14th December 2000 - Australia

Production Companies

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (produced with the assistance of)

Energee Entertainment

Icon Entertainment International

New South Wales Film & Television Office (developed with the assistance of)

Premium Movie Partnership (produced with the assistance of)

RTV Family Entertainment AG (produced with the assistance of)

Genre: Animation/Family/

Adventure/Comedy 

Rating: G

Runtime: 80 minutes

Budget: A$12,000,000 (estimated)

Box Office Gross: A$1,001,000 (Australia)

Plot Summary

Bunyip Bluegum is a

splendid young koala on a

quest to find his missing

parents when he comes

across a magic pudding named Albert and meets a loud sailor, Bill Barnacle, and his penguin mate, Sam Sawnoff. Together, they form the Noble Society of Pudding Owners, as they constantly thwart the attempts of the Pudding Thieves.

Voice Cast

Sam Neill - Sam Sawnoff

Hugo Weaving - Bill Barnacle

Geoffrey Rush - Bunyip Bluegum

John Cleese - Albert the Magic Pudding

Dave Gibson - Uncle Wattleberry/Possum/Additional Voices

John Laws - Rumpus Bumpus

Greg Carroll - Watkin Wombat

Peter Gwynne - Benjamin Brandysnap

Michael Veitch - Bandicoot

Robyn Moore - Henrietta Hedgehog/Additional Voices

Jack Thompson - Buncle

Mary Coustas - Ginger

Sandy Gore - Frog on the Log

Toni Collette - Meg Bluegum

Roy Billing - Tom Bluegum

Martin Vaughan - Parrot

Gerry Connolly - Dobson Dorking

Lee Perry - Additional Voices

Marg Downey - Additional Voices

Crew

Story Development/Director - Karl Zwicky

Based on the Story "The Magic Pudding" - Norman Lindsay

Story Development - Morris Gleitzman

Screenplay - Harry Cripps,

Greg Haddrick and Simon Hopkinson

Executive Producers - Paddy Conroy

and Carmel & John Travers

Executive Producers: Icon - Bruce Davey,

Ralph Kemp and Mel Gibson (Uncredited)

Producer - Gerry Travers

Production Designer/Background

Style Development/Drawn Background

Artist/Digital Background Supervisor/Artist -

Helen Steele

Production Designer/Background Style

Development/Key Color Stylist/Digital

Background Artist - Kelly Wallwork

Character Designer/Storyboard/

Timing Artist/Animation Director -

Robbert Smit

Character Designer/Storyboard Artist/

Key Layout Design - Daniel Foley

Character Designer/Storyboard/Layout Artist -

David Wilkinson

Character Designer/Layout Artist - Jo-Anne Boag

Storyboard/Layout Artists - Stephen Doric

and Joe Wylie

Storyboard/Layout Artist/Mouth Breakdown -

Astrid Nordheim

Layout Director/Animation Supervisor -

Margaret Parkes

Editor - Richard Hindley

Sound/Re-Recording Mixer - Phil Judd

Re-Recording Mixer - Peter Purcell

Music/Original Songs/Keyboards/

Programming - Chris Harriott

Original Songs - Dennis Watkins

Conductor/Orchestrator - Christopher Gordon

Concert Master - Phillip Hartl

Review

As a young kid, I was unfamiliar with the children's classic The Magic Pudding, having never read it but having seen the animated movie only once, a long time ago. I have good memories of it and can't wait to see the film again. While it had decent production values, a tremendous voice cast, and terrific animation, the character designs remained true to the book illustrations. Unfortunately, the plot is unfaithful to the original story Norman Lindsay wrote. It lacks the wit and the surrealistic charm that make it so great. Perhaps the filmmakers got the recipe wrong and substituted their interpretation for the original storyline.

The songs don't advance the plot much and are instantly forgettable. Perhaps they were trying to follow in Disney's footsteps, but by the time the film premiered, they were unaware that the Disney formula had ended with the advent of computer animation, thanks to Toy Story. On the bright side, the racist overtones in Norman Lindsay's story are gone to make it more politically correct.

There are some good things about this film, especially the voices with actors like John Cleese, who is fitting as Albert, the irascible magic pudding, and Geoffrey Rush, who is appropriately sincere as the plucky young koala Bunyip. The rest of the cast, including Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill, and Jack Thompson, is also good, to be honest. I never knew Toni Collette could sing, and she is heard briefly as Bunyip's missing mum.

THE MAGIC PUDDING is an average but watchable film. Young children unfamiliar with the book will likely enjoy this movie. Those who have read the classic Australian book will be disappointed by this film, as its story differs significantly from the original.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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Iron Man Re-Review

Iron Man


Release Date: 1st May 2008 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
Marvel Enterprises (presents)
Marvel Studios
Fairview Entertainment (in association with)
Dark Blades Films

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 126 minutes


Budget: $140,000,000

Box Office Gross: $585,796,247 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

When wealthy philanthropist Tony Stark ventures into Iraqi territory for a weapons demonstration, he gets injured and captured by Afghan terrorists who take him to their hideout. While imprisoned, Tony invents a weaponised suit of armour and uses it in an escape attempt. He safely returns home and uses his high-tech to perfect the armour, becoming the world's saviour, Iron Man.


Cast
Robert Downey Jr. - Tony
Stark/Iron Man
Terence Howard - Lt. Colonel
James "Rhodey" Rhodes
Jeff Bridges - Obadiah Stane
Gwyneth Paltrow - Virginia
"Pepper" Potts
Shaun Toub - Dr. Yinsen
Faran Tahir - Raza
Paul Bettany - JARVIS (Voice)
Jon Favreau - Hogan
Leslie Bibb - Christine Everhart
Clark Gregg - Agent Phil
Coulson
Bill Smitrovich - General Gabriel
Sayed Badreya - Abu Bakaar
Peter Billingsley - William
Ginter Riva
Tim Guinee - Major Allen
Kevin Foster - Jimmy
Garrett Noel - Pratt
Eileen Weisinger - Ramirez
Ahmed Ahmed - Ahmed
Fahim Fazli - Omar
Gerard Sanders - Howard Stark
Nazanin Boniadi - Amira Ahmed
Thomas Craig Plumer - Colonel Craig
Jim Cramer - Himself (Cameo)
Stan Lee - Himself (Cameo)
Samuel L. Jackson - Nick Fury (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Executive Producer/Director - Jon Favreau

Based on the Marvel Comic Book/

Executive Producer - Stan Lee

Based on the Marvel Comic Book -

Don Heck, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby
Screenplay - Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby,

Art Marcum and Mark Holloway

Script Supervisors - Rebecca Robertson

and Cristina Weigmann
Executive Producers - Ari Arad,

Peter Billingsley, Jeremy Latcham

and David Maisel
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Louis D'Esposito
Executive Producer/Executive in Charge of
Production - Ross Fanger
Producers - Avid Arad and Kevin Feige
Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer -
Victoria Alonso

Military Advisor - Harry Humphries
Casting Directors - Sarah Finn
and Randi Hiller

Production Designer - J. Michael Riva
Supervising Art Director - David F. Klassen
Art Directors - Richard F. Mays

and Susan Wexler
Set Decorator - Lauri Gaffin

Property Master - Russell Bobbitt

Costume Designers - Rebecca Gregg
and Laura Jean Shannon

Suit Consultant - Adi Granov

Director of Photography/A-Camera Operator -

Matthew Libatique

Additional Photography - Gabriel Beristain

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Jonathan Taylor

Aerial Director of Photography - David B. Nowell

Aerial Camera Operator - Craig O'Brien

Helicopter Pilot - Kevin LaRosa

First Assistant Camera: "B" Camera - Taylor Matheson

Production Supervisor - David J. Grant

First Assistant Director - Eric Heffron

Second Assistant Director - Michael J. Moore

Second Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Chris Castaldi

Additional Second Second Assistant Director -

Marvin Williams
Second Unit Director - Phil Neilson

Location Managers - Molly Allen

and Liz Matthews
Stunt Coordinator - Thomas Robinson Harper

Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Keith Woulard

Aerial Stunt Coordinator - Tim Rigby

Special Effects Coordinator - Daniel Sudick

Special Effects - Stan Winston (Uncredited)

Suit Model Department Key Coordinator:

Stan Winston Studio - David Merritt

Second Unit Co-Coordinator: Stan Winston

Studio - Christopher Swift

Studio Co-Administrator: Stan Winston Studio -

John Rosengrant

Visual Effects Supervisor - John Nelson

Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Ben Snow

Visual Effects Supervisor: The Orphanage -

Jonathan Rothbart

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola Visual Effects -

Edson Williams

Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Wesley Sewell
Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Wayne Billheimer
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Aaron McBride
Physical Suit Effects Supervisor - Shane Mahan

Visualisation/HUD Effects Supervisor - Kent Seki

Animation Supervisor: ILM - Hal T. Hickel

Associate Animation Supervisor: ILM - Marc Chu

Digital Production Supervisor: ILM - Douglas Smythe

Compositing Supervisor: ILM - Jeff Sutherland

CG Supervisor: ILM - Philippe Rebours

Digital Model Supervisor: ILM - Bruce Holcomb

Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Ron Woodall

Creature Supervisor: ILM - James Tooley

Film Editor - Dan Lebental

Additional Editors - Derek Brechin,

Greg Parsons and Michael Tronick

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor

(Uncredited)/Re-Recording Mixer - Christopher Boyes

Sound Designer - Shannon Mills

Supervising Sound Editor - Frank E. Eulner

ADR Supervisor - Michael Silvers

ADR Editor - Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Sound Mixer - Mark Ulano

Foley Mixer - Frank Rinella

Foley Artists - Ronni Brown,

Ellen Heuer, Dennie Thorpe and

Lana Vance

Re-Recording Mixer - Lora Hirschberg

Music - Ramin Djawadi
Additional Music Arranger/Composer/
Musician: Drums - Ryeland Allison

Additional Music Arrangers/Composers -

Lorne Balfe, Clay Duncan, Bobby Tahouri

and Atli Orvarsson (Uncredited)

Music Supervisor - Dave Jordan

Executive Music Producer - Hans Zimmer

Score Recordist - Geoff Foster

Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Awards

2009 Academy Awards
Best Sound Editing - Frank E. Eulner and
Christopher Boyes (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - John Nelson, Ben Snow,
Daniel Sudick and Shane Mahan (Nominated)


Review

It was a great comic book movie, as IRON MAN was the first to launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in theatres, and the following year, Disney bought Marvel and its rights. Many comic-book fans were sceptical of this movie before it opened and regarded it as the MCU's best feature before The Avengers. The film was beginning to wear off its novelty. However, it is an excellent career choice for director Jon Favreau. He brought action and comedy with gusto before tackling the semi-decent sequel, Iron Man 2, and the partly animated, partly live-action remake of The Jungle Book.

It was a terrific comeback for Robert Downey Jr., proving that he could take on the role of the billionaire playboy Tony Stark, who becomes the wearer of a metal suit with no need for metaphysical powers. He outperformed the character as being himself, a little bit immature, but deadpan and witty. DC's Batman/Bruce Wayne was superior to Marvel's title character, as both were similarly wealthy and technologically advanced, and neither ever revealed their true identities to the public or any foe who might exploit them. Jeff Bridges was still a remarkable actor when portraying a villainous mentor like Obadiah Stane, who was affably evil and yet hid his true colours. He is the version of Lex Luthor that we never saw in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

I sincerely enjoyed the film for its style and visuals. I appreciate that IRON MAN hasn't gone unnoticed as an extraordinary film. It broke new ground for pre-released MCU films that later premiered, such as The Avengers, etc. Those who have seen the movie before will enjoy it with the other films in their order of continuity.

Star rating: (9/10) Excellent Movie

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Zoom Review

Zoom

Release Date: 20th June 2007 - Australia (DVD premiere)

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Revolution Studios (presents)

Team Todd

Boxing Cat Films

Underground

Revolution Leaf Productions (Uncredited)

Distribution

Sony Pictures Releasing Australia

Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 88 minutes

Budget: $75,600,000

Box Office Gross: $12,506,362 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Reluctantly called back to

duty by the military, former

superhero Jack Shepard,

a.k.a. Captain Zoom, must

train an unlikely group of

superpowered children

to become the next

generation of superheroes.

Jack must teach them to

work as a team and harness

their superhuman abilities

to counter a returning threat that has yet to wreak havoc and imminent destruction worldwide.

Cast

Tim Allen - Jack Shepard/

Captain Zoom

Courteney Cox - Marsha Holloway

Chevy Chase - Dr. Grant

Spencer Breslin - Tucker Williams/

Mega-Boy

Kevin Zegers - Connor Shepard/

Concussion

Kate Mara - Summer Jones/Wonder

Michael Cassidy - Dylan West/Houdini

Ryan Whitney - Cindy Collins/Princess

Rip Torn - Larraby

Cornelia Guest - Cindy's Mom

Ashton Moio - Halloween Bully

Hunter Aarniokoski - Prince

Thomas F. Wilson - Dylan's Teacher

Ridge Canipe - Mean Bully

Danny McCarthy - Meaner Bully

Jason Bailey - Mucus Boy

Jesse Bendevis - Spitball Kid

Rashad Richards - Jupiter the Gas Giant

Chantal Cole - Speed Blinker

Steven Torres - Callente

Austin Torres - Muy Frio

David L. Lander - Wendy's Employee

Lauren Sanchez - Reporter

Willie Garson - Dick

Crew

Director - Peter Hewitt

Based on the Book "Zoom's Academy" -

Jason Lethcoe

Screen Story/Screenplay - Adam Rifkin

Screenplay - David Berenbaum

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Neil Machlis

Executive Producers - Nicholas Osborne

and Trevor Engelson

Producers - Suzanne & Jennifer Todd

and Todd Garner

Co-Producer - Julie Ragland

Casting Director - John Papsidera

Production Designer - Barry Chusid

Art Director - Joshu de Cartier

Set Decorator - Clive Thomasson

Costume Designer - Ha Nguyen

Special Makeup Effects Designer -

David LeRoy Anderson

Director of Photography - David Tattersall

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Simon Board

Third Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Adam Bocknek (Uncredited)

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -

James Arnett

Stunt Coordinator - Matt Birman

Action/Fight Coordinator - Tommy Chang

Special Effects Coordinator - Clive Beard

Special Effects Supervisor - Colin Chilvers

Assistant Special Effects Coordinators -

Steve Cullane and Andy Williams

Visual Effects Supervisor - Mark O. Forker

Visual Effects Supervisor: Custom Film Effects -

Mark Dornfeld

Visual Effects Producers: Digital Domain -

Todd Isroelit and David P.I. James

Visual Effects Art Director: Digital Domain -

Claas Henke

Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Serge Sretschinsky

Operators: Mr Pitt - Ron Prott and

Jamie Oxenham (Uncredited)

Previz Artist - Patrick Perez (Uncredited)

Film Editor - Lawrence Jordan

Supervising Sound Editor - Matthew Wood

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Mixer -

Christopher Scarabosio

Assistant Sound Designer - David Acord

Supervising Sound Mixer - Gary Summers

Sound Effects Editors - Erclot,

David C. Hughes and Addison Teague

Dialogue Editors - Cheryl Nardi

and Steve Slanec

Foley Artists - Jana Vance,

Dennie Thorpe and Ellen Heuer

Foley Mixer - Frank Rinella

Music - Christophe Beck

Music Supervisors - John Houlihan and

Darian Pollard

Songs - Smash Mouth

Review

ZOOM came out a year after the similar Disney superhero movie Sky High and was a box-office bomb. It was one of those movies that followed the massive success of The Incredibles. From other reviews, I heard the film was unfaithful to the book it adapted (though I haven't read it) and that most critics were harsh on it. While it had an intriguing premise, the storyline was derivative and inconsistent, with gross-out, unfunny jokes, unlikable characters, poor editing, and a rushed climax. The product placement (like Wendy's) is redundant, the costume design is limited, and some scenes barely make sense. Unfortunately, the film has only one fight scene, and it appears in the last few minutes.

This movie lacks energy and squanders its duration on comedy. Tim Allen's character seemed tired (maybe intentionally). Despite his generic acting and limited emotional depth, his performance was decent. Courteney Cox did not seem like an ideal actress to portray a scientist. Chevy Chase's appearance suggests he's still headlining Community and trying to be funny. Instead, he takes on a disposable role with embarrassing scenes. Even Kevin Zegers has the least-developed role in the feature.

Some comical moments redeem the film, but these weren't enough. The special effects vary from decent to subpar. However, by the time this movie premiered in 2006, some of its CGI had become outdated because it relied on simple techniques. The music score is okay, but it uses songs (some are from Smash Mouth and Five for Fighting).

It's far from being the worst superhero movie. ZOOM didn't hold up to The Incredibles and Sky High. I am sorry, it's not super. However, it is only for a one-time viewing.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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Scooby-Doo Review

Scooby-Doo


Release Date: 20th June 2002 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Mosaic Media Group
Atlas Entertainment (Uncredited)

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: G

Runtime: 86 minutes


Budget: $84,000,000 

Box Office Gross: $275,678,613 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

After two years apart, Scooby and Shaggy reunite with Fred, Velma, and Daphne as the Mystery Inc. gang receives an invitation to Spooky Island, an amusement park/resort. However, strange things are happening at Spooky Island, seemingly affecting young visitors in unusual ways.

Scooby and the gang must work together and set aside their differences to solve the mystery and discover whether this island is being haunted. Or it could be the work of a sinister individual behind it all.


Cast
Matthew Lillard - Shaggy
Neil Fanning - Scooby (Voice)
Freddie Prinze Jr. - Fred
Sarah Michelle Gellar - Daphne
Linda Cardellini - Velma
Rowan Atkinson - Mondavarious
Isla Fisher - Mary Jane
Miguel A. Nunez Jr. - Voodoo Maestro
Steven Grives - N' Goo Tuana
Scott Innes - Scrappy (Voice)
J. P. Manoux - Scrappy Rex
Sam Greco - Zarkos
Charlie Cousins - Velma's Friend
Kristian Schmid - Brad
Nicholas Hope - Old Man Smithers
Jess Harnell - Creatures (Voice)
Frank Welker - Creatures (Voice)
Pamela Anderson - Herself (Cameo)
Sugar Ray - Themselves (Cameos)

Crew
Director - Raja Gosnell
Story - Craig Titley
Story/Screenplay - James Gunn
Based on Characters - Joe Ruby and Ken Spears (Uncredited)

Based on Characters/

Executive Producers - William Hanna and Joseph Barbera

Associate Producer - Sheryl Benko

Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Stephen Jones

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -

Philip A. Patterson
Executive Producers - Robert Engelman,

Andrew Mason and Kelley Smith-Wait
Producers - Charles Roven and

Richard Suckle
Co-Producer - Alan Glazer

Casting - Mary Vernieu
Production Designer - Bill Boes

Art Directors - Bill Booth, Donna Brown,

Helen Gabrielle Gliniak and Christian Wintter

Set Decorators - Jodie Allen,

Suza Maybury, Matthew Putland

and Sandy Wingrove
Costume Designer - Lessa Evans

Hair/Makeup Supervisor - Lesley Vanderwalt
Director of Photography - David Eggby

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -

Guy Norris
Special Effects Supervisor - Brian Cox

"Scooby Doo" Designer/Cyber-Scan Model

Sculptor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop/

Rhythm + Hues - Brian Wade

Visual Effects Supervisor - Peter Crosman

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm + Hues -

Betsy Paterson

Additional Visual Effects Supervisor -

Neil Krepela

Visual Effects Producer - Kurt Williams

Digital Effects Supervisor: Rhythm + Hues -

Todd Shifflet

Director of Photography: New Deal Studios -

Tim Angulo
Animation Supervisor - Richard Baneham
Animation Supervisors: Rhythm + Hues -

Leon Joosen and Bill Kroyer

Animation Sequence Supervisors: Rhythm +

Hues - Erik De Boer, Keith Roberts and

Lyndon Barrois

Animation Leads: Rhythm + Hues -

Bud Myrick and Danny Speck

Editor - Kent Beyda

Supervising Sound Editor - Michael D. Wilhoit

Sound Designer - Scott Sanders

Production Sound Mixer - Paul 'Salty' Brincat

Re-Recording Mixers - David E. Campbell,

John T. Reitz and Gregg Rudloff
Music - David Newman

Music Supervisor - Laura Ziffren

Music Recordist and Mixer - Bruce Botnick


Review
Initially conceived as a risqué, adult-oriented take on the cartoon franchise, the studio that owns the Hanna-Barbera property toned down SCOOBY-DOO into a kids' movie. I grew up with this film and didn't notice how bad it was, though it had a few good aspects. For example, Matthew Lillard was consistent as Shaggy. Later, he would inherit the character in subsequent Scooby productions. Unfortunately, some disappointing elements ruin it. The attempts at humour (except in a few scenes) and outdated CGI characters didn't age well, not to mention the poorly executed storyline (revealing a plot twist involving the real villain that comes out of nowhere), which James Gunn wrote. Yes, that man, James Gunn, who 12 years later would successfully bring Guardians of the Galaxy to the big screen. I didn't even realise that the live-action adaptation was just a rehash of the direct-to-video Scooby-Doo movie Zombie Island.

The acting (save for Matthew Lillard) is far from perfect, including Linda Cardellini, who sounds so bored in her role as Velma. She did a magnificent job with her voice. Freddie Prinze Jr. had no big shoes to fill as Fred. The same goes for Sarah Michelle Gellar when playing Daphne. Rowan Atkinson's character was underused. It should have played a significant part in the movie.

It's "ruh-oh" for Scooby-Doo fans, as the movie adaptation fell short of the series' ongoing mystery. It spawned a sequel, Monsters Unleashed, along with a few others that have shifted to direct-to-video.

I would rather sit through watching the first few direct-to-video animated movies than revisit the lowbrow cinematic interpretation.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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Ocean's Eleven (2001) Review

Ocean's Eleven


Release Date: 10th January 2002 - Australia

Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
NPV Entertainment (in association with)
Section Eight
WV Films II
St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Crime/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 117 minutes


Budget: $85,000,000

Box Office Gross: $450,717,527 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

Danny Ocean, a thief/con artist, has recently been released from prison. To earn his parole, he's assembled a team of eleven accomplices to pull off the biggest, most daring, and most elaborate heist in the century, which involves three casinos in Las Vegas.

Cast
George Clooney - Danny Ocean
Brad Pitt - Rusty Ryan
Matt Damon - Linus Caldwell
Andy Garcia - Terry Benedict
Julia Roberts - Tess Ocean

Bernie Mac - Frank Catton

Don Cheadle - Basher Tarr

Casey Affleck - Virgil Malloy
Scott Caan - Turk Malloy

Elliot Gould - Reuben Tishkoff

Carl Reiner - Saul Bloom
Eddie Jemison - Livingston Dell
Shaobo Qin - Yen
Joe La Due - Billy Tim Denham
Scott L. Schwartz - Bulldog, the Bruiser

Lennox Lewis - Boxing Opponent (Cameo)

Wladimir Klitschko - Boxing Opponent (Cameo)

Jerry Weintraub - High Roller (Cameo)

Henry Silva - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Angie Dickinson - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Wayne Newton - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Siegfried Fischbacher - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Roy Horn - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Larry Merchant - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Holly Marie Combs - Herself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Topher Grace - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Joshua Jackson - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Steven Soderbergh - Vault-Bombing Thief

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Barry Watson - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Shane West - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director of Photography/Director - Steven Soderbergh
1960 Story - George Clayton Johnson and

Jack Golden Russell
1960 Screenplay - Harry Brown and

Charles Lederer
Screenplay - Ted Griffin
Executive Producers - Bruce Berman,

Susan Ekins and John Hardy
Producer - Jerry Weintraub
Co-Producer - R.J. Louis

Casting Director - Debra Zane

Production Designer - Phillip Messina

Art Director - Keith P. Cunningham

Construction Coordinator - Chris Snyder

Set Decorator - Kristen Toscano Messina

Property Master - Steven B. Melton

Costume Designer - Jeffrey Kurland

First Assistant Camera: "A" Camera - Barry Baz Idoine

Unit Production Manager - Frederic W. Borst

First Assistant Director - Gregory Jacobs

Second Second Assistant Director -

Basti Van Der Woude

Special Effects Coordinator - Kevin Hannigan

Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -

Thomas J. Smith

CG Supervisor: Cinesite - Serge Sretchinsky

Film Editor - Stephen Mirrione

Lead Sound Editor - David E. Stone

Re-Recording Mixer/Supervising Sound

Editor - Larry Blake

Foley Artists - Dawn Fintor and

Alicia Stevenson

Music - David Holmes


Review

It all started in 2001 with Steven Soderbergh's remake of OCEAN'S ELEVEN, a fun and sophisticated popcorn flick with a superb storyline and an ensemble cast. I have seen this caper a few times, including at a drive-in, where I watched it for a second time. I never got to see the sequels (except Ocean's Eight) or the original that featured the "Rat Pack" players, such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. This movie doesn't have many surprises. The cinematography is acceptable, the humour is witty, and the pace is good.

The all-star cast is terrific, with George Clooney and Brad Pitt headlining, alongside supporting players like Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Elliott Gould, Carl Reiner, and Casey Affleck. The only problem with the acting is Don Cheadle. He adopted a fake English accent for his role, which is one of the worst I've ever heard.

While it is considered the granddaddy of all cinematic heist movies, OCEAN'S 11 is a no-brainer. It is thoroughly enjoyable to all audiences. If you're looking for a great heist movie, now is the time to watch it.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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50 First Dates Review

50 First Dates

Release Date: 25th March 2004 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Happy Madison
Anonymous Content
Flower Films

Distribution

Sony Pictures Releasing Australia

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime 99 minutes

Budget: $75,000,000

Box Office Gross: $198,520,934 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

When Henry Roth, a marine veterinarian living in Hawaii, avoids commitment, he meets Lucy Whitmore. She seems like the girl of his dreams, but Henry discovers Lucy has short-term memory loss and doesn't remember him from their first meeting. He romances her every day, hoping that she will fall in love with him.

Cast

Adam Sandler - Henry Roth

Drew Barrymore - Lucy Whitmore

Rob Schneider - Ula

Sean Astin - Doug Whitmore

Luisa Strus - Alexa

Dan Aykroyd - Dr. Keats

Amy Hill - Sue

Allen Covert - Ten Second Tom

Blake Clark - Martin Whitmore

Maya Rudolph - Stacy

Pomaika'l Brown - Nick
Missi Pyle - Noreen
Lynn Collins - Linda

Jackie Sandler - Dentist (Cameo)
Kevin James - Factory Worker

Crew

Director - Peter Segal

Writer - George Wing
Associate Producer - Kevin Grady
Executive Producers - Michael Ewing and Jay Roach
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Daniel Lupi
Producers - Jack Giarraputo, Steve Golin and Nancy Juvonen
Co-Producers - Scott Bankston and Larry Kennar
Casting Director - Roger Mussenden

Animal Coordinator - Steve Berens
Production Designer - Alan Au
Art Director - Domenic Silvestri
Set Decorator - Robert Greenfield

Property Master - Timothy S. Wiles
Costume Designer - Ellen Lutter
Director of Photography - Jack N. Green

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Joseph D. Urbanczyk

Camera Operator - Stephen S. Campanelli

First Assistant Director - John Hockridge

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Adam Druxman

Second Assistant Director - Joseph J. Kontra
Second Unit Director/Visual Consultant -

Jim Bissell

Stunt Coordinator - Webster Whinery
Special Effects Coordinator - John C. Hartigan
Visual Effects Supervisor - Sheena Duggal
Visual Effects Producer - Victoria Alonso
Visual Effects Executive Producer - Debbie Denise
Film Editor - Jeff Gourson

Additional Editors - Tom Costain

and Jason Gourson

Supervising Sound Editor - Elmo Weber

Sound Effects Supervisor - Derek Vanderhorst

Supervising Sound Mixers - Jeffrey J. Haboush

and Bill W. Benton
Music - Teddy Castellucci

Music Supervisor - Michael Dilbeck

Review

What seemed like a typical Adam Sandler movie or an average romantic comedy was unlike anything I had ever seen. 50 FIRST DATES is both touching and funny. It has a terrific storyline and a wonderful setting. I know a person who has also suffered from short-term memory loss, but is nothing like the character portrayed by Drew Barrymore. While it is the second film to feature Sandler and Barrymore, and they have been together since The Wedding Singer, their performances are adequate, with easy chemistry. The supporting cast is also good, but they don't usually stand out as much as the lead actors.

I rank 50 FIRST DATES as my new favourite rom-com. It's one of those films I wish I could see again.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Paul Blart: Mall Cop Review

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Release Date: 19th March 2009 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures (presents)

Relativity Media (in association with)

Happy Madison Productions

Hey Eddie

Distribution

Sony Pictures Releasing Australia

Genre: Action/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 91 minutes

Budget: $26,000,000

Box Office Gross: $183,348,429 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
All his life, mild-mannered Paul Blart has dreamed of becoming a state trooper, but instead he works as a security officer at a local mall in New Jersey. When a gang of crooks invades the mall and takes some hostages, it's up to Paul Blart to rescue them and defend the place from intruders, as he must go from being a mall cop to an actual cop!

Cast

Kevin James - Paul Blart

Keri O'Donnell - Veck Simms

Jayma Mays - Amy
Raini Rodriguez - Maya
Shirley Knight - Mom
Stephen Rannazzisi - Stuart
Peter Gerety - Chief Brooks
Bobby Cannavale - Cmdr. James Kent
Adam Ferrara - Sergeant Howard
Jamal Mixon - Leon
Adhir Kalyan - Pahud
Erick Avari - Vijay
Mike Vallely - Rudolph
Jason Ellis - Prancer
Jason Packham - Comet
Rick Thorne - Cupid
Victor Lopez - Donner
Natascha Hopkins - Vixen
Mookie Barker - Mr. Ferguson
Dylan Clark Marshall - Jason
Bernie McInerney - Old Man on Scooter
Gary Valentine - Karaoke Singer

Crew

Director - Steve Carr
Writer - Nick Bakay
Writer/Producer - Kevin James
Executive Producer - Jeff Sussman
Producers - Todd Garner,

Jack Giarraputo and Adam Sandler

Producer/2nd Unit Director - Barry Bernardi
Production Designer - Perry Andelin Blake
Art Director - Alan Au

Set Decorator - Tracey Doyle
Costume Designer - Ellen Lutter
Director of Photography - Russ T. Alsobrook

"A" Camera Operator - Casey Hotchkiss

Location Manager - Charles Harrington

Stunt Coordinator - Chris O'Hara
Special Effects Coordinator - Ray Bivins

Visual Effects Supervisor: Zoic Studios -

Patti Gannon
Editor - Jeff Freeman

1st Assistant Editor - Jason Gourson

Supervising Sound Editors -

Michael J. Benavente and Elmo Weber

Supervising Sound Mixers - Deb Adair

and William Freesh
Music - Waddy Wachtel

Music Supervisor - Michael Dilbeck

Review

While COVID-19 is affecting the world, the pandemic is unfolding. I was disappointed when several new movies were postponed, and the cinemas were temporarily closed. Fear of the pandemic was so widespread that everyone stayed home and began social distancing. Fortunately, it didn't stop me from continuing to review movies. One of the films I watched while self-isolating was PAUL BLART: MALL COP.

I was supposed to review this comedy before 2020, but I started doing it anyway. The film has some great laughs, but the jokes are inconsistent, and the storyline is predictable. It feels like a stale, lighthearted Die Hard parody that misses the fun and gratuitous violence. I liked the moment when Paul got drunk and then made a fool out of himself. Kevin James was not a bad comedian, though he had a knack for playing overweight characters. James's acting was decent. It doesn't save the movie from its shortcomings.

MALL COP is not one of my favourite comedies. And it was an average movie at best. I was surprised that the film had a sequel, since it could never be as good as the original.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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