Kangaroo Review

Kangaroo

Release Date: 18th September 2025 - Australia

Production Companies

Cultivator Films

Bunya Productions (in association with)

Brindle Films (in association with)

Screen Australia (presents)

StudioCanal (presents)

Screen Territory (in association with)

Screen NSW (in association with)

Distribution

StudioCanal Australia

Genre: Family/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 107 minutes

Box Office Gross: $3,916,306 (Australia)

Plot Summary

Chris Masterman, a former

TV personality, becomes

stranded in a town in the

Australian Outback near

Alice Springs. There,

he meets a 12-year-old

Indigenous girl named

Charlie. An unlikely bond

as they work together to

save and rehabilitate

orphaned joeys in a remote

yet spectacular Outback

settlement. This undertaking

proves life-changing for

both of them.

Cast

Ryan Corr - Chris Masterman

Rachel House - Jesse

Lily Whiteley - Charlie

Brooke Satchwell - Liz

Deborah Mailman - Rosie

Rarriwuy Hick - Brenda

Rick Donald - Trap

Ryan Clark - Lifeguard Jacko

Wayne Blair - Ralph

Trisha Morton-Thomas - Gwennie

Emily Taheny - Dorinda

Ernie Dingo - Dave

Genevieve Lemon - Bernadette

Salvatore Coco - Phil

Shaun Martindale - Joel

Matt Burton - Trap's Mate #1

Warren H Williams - Warren

Catherine Mazur - Studio Assistant

Lucy McLeod - ABC Reporter

Anthony Ritossa - Host

Steve Kidd - Neil the Butcher

Yalyal Hick - Casper

Phoenix Cunningham - Freddy

Lene Clarsen Walters - Ruby 

Luke Follayttar - Silver Gum Kid

Jaimee Morettti - Studio Employee

Charlotte Walters - Grace

Luca Saunders - Lifeguard #1

Zoe Walters - Bowling Lady #2

Sam Follayttar - Silver Gum Kid

Kristina Kidd - Bowling Lady #1

Crew

Director - Kate Woods

Writer - Harry Cripps

Additional Material - Peta-Lee Cole-Mandolis and Danielle Maclean

Additional Writing - Melina Marchetta

Executive Producers - Aaron Ensweiler,

Marcus Gillezeau, Ron Halpern,

Marian Macgowan, Anna Marsh,

Louise Smith and Elizabeth Trotman

Producers - Rachel Clements,

David Jowsey, Angela Littlejohn,

Tristan Morton-Thomas and Greer Simpkin

Casting Director - Anousha Zarkesh

Production Designer - Sam Hobbs

Art Director - Jodie Whetter

Costume Designer - Edie Kurzer

Makeup Supervisor - Helen Magelakis

Hair and Makeup Designer - Sheldon Wade

Director of Photography - Kieran Fowler

First Assistant Director - Danielle Blake

Second Unit Director - Warwick Thornton

Stunt Designer/Coordinator - Dean Gould 

Editor - Chris Plummer

Visual Effects Supervisor - Jonathan Hairman

Supervising Sound Editor - Angus Robertson

Sound Designer and Re-Recording Mixer -

Sam Hayward

Music -  Josie Mann and Matteo Zingales

Review

In 2000, Kate Wood launched her directorial career with the film adaptation of Looking for Alibrandi, which won critical acclaim and box-office receipts. Since then, her work has taken her overseas, directing episodes of television series such as Law & Order, Without a Trace, Person of Interest, and The Lincoln Lawyer. The motion picture that has prompted her return to Australia and the silver screen is KANGAROO, a heartfelt family comedy loosely based on the true story of Chris "Brolga" Barns, a one-time tour guide who established a kangaroo reserve near Alice Springs in 2011.

Although the film's narrative arc is somewhat predictable, it remains captivating. The film navigates its emotional themes with sensitivity, while maintaining the comedic charm and friendly atmosphere of small country towns. Kieran Fowler's cinematography brings KANGAROO to life. His warm, bright approach captures the grandeur of the Northern Territory's spectacular landscapes and conjures up the fictional town of Silver Gum.

Woods has enlisted a talented cast to lend their characters weight. Ryan Corr delivers an outstanding performance as an egotistical weatherman who transforms into a kangaroo conservationist. However, Lily Whiteley, who plays Charlie, stands out. Despite her inexperience, the first-time actress delivers an engaging performance that defies her age. Deborah Mailman brings warmth and sympathy to her role as Rosie, Charlie's grief-stricken and struggling mother.

The other actors also perform well. Wayne Blair, Ernie Dingo, Rachel House, Genevieve Lemon, Trisha Morton-Thomas, and Roy Billings play some of Silver Gum's strange people. While the film features real joeys, many adult marsupials come to life through minimal yet impressive CGI, showing how far we have come since 2003's Kangaroo Jack.

KANGAROO is one of those family-friendly films with cute animals that local audiences tend to love, similar to Babe, Red Dog, and the classic Storm Boy. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see it, especially if you're taking your kids.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good 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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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Release Date: 26th December 2024 - Australia

Production Companies

Paramount Pictures (presents)

Sega Sammy Group (in association with)

Original Film

Blur Studio

Marza Animation Planet

Sega (based on the video game from)

Distribution

Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Action/

Adventure/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 110 minutes

Budget: $122,000,000

Box Office Gross: $492,162,604 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles

face a mysterious new

enemy with powers

beyond anything they

have ever faced: Shadow

the Hedgehog. Outmatched

in every way, the trio must

seek an unlikely alliance

with Dr Robotnik to stop

Shadow and protect the

planet, but the risks

increase when Robotnik

reunites with his long-

lost grandfather, Gerald

Robotnik, who appears

to have his sights on

Shadow.

Cast

Ben Schwartz - Sonic the Hedgehog (Voice)

Jim Carrey - Ivo Robotnik/Gerald Robotnik

Keanu Reeves - Shadow the Hedgehog (Voice)

Idris Elba - Knuckles the

Echidna (Voice)

Colleen O'Shaughnessey -

Miles "Tails" Prower (Voice)

James Marsden - Tom

Wachowski

Tika Sumpter - Maddie Wachowski

Natasha Rothwell - Rachel

Adam Pally - Wade

Shemar Moore - Randall

Lee Majoub - Agent Stone

Krysten Ritter - Director Rockwell

Alyla Browne - Maria

Tom Butler - Commander Walters

Jorma Taccone - Kyle

Lancebottom

Sofia Pernas - Gabriella

Cristo Fernández - Pablo/Juan

James Wolk - Young Walters

Brett Tutor - Prison Guard

Richard Sutton - G.U.N. HQ Security Guard

Will Austin - G.U.N. Heli Pilot

Bola Okun - Military Man

Reggie Banigo - Rockwell's Assistant

Barry Calvert - 70s G.U.N. Soldier

Brendan Murphy - Robotnik

Proxy

Toru Nakahara - Japanese

News Reporter

Crew

Executive Producer/Director - Jeff Fowler

Story/Screenplay - Pat Casey

and Josh Miller

Screenplay - John Whittington

Executive Producers - Tommy Gormley, Tim Miller, Haruki Satomi and Shuji Utsumi

Producers - Neal H. Moritz,

Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara

and Hitoshi Okuno

Co-Producers - Tyson

Hesse, Dmitri M. Johnson,

Andrew Riach, Nicole Monter,

Dan Jevons and Matt Gustafson

Co-Producer/Second Unit Director/Visual Effects Supervisor - Ged Wright

Casting Directors - Sophie Holland, Janelle Scuderi and Tricia Wood

Production Designer - Luke Freeborn

Artistic Consultant - Jim Carrey

Sonic Character Supervisor:

Sega - Takashi Iizuka

Supervising Art Director - Tom Still

Senior Art Directors - Su Whitaker

and Joe Howard

Art Directors - Claire Fleming,

Sarah Ginn and Laura Miller

Construction Manager - Ray Barrett

Set Decorator - Anna-Lynch Robinson

Costume Designer - Eleanor Baker

Costume FX Designer - Pierre Bohanna

Prosthetics Makeup Designer - Mark Coulier

Digital Makeup Designer - Bill Corso

Director of Photography - Brandon Trost

Supervising Location Manager -

Christian McWilliams

Second Unit Director - Peter Lyons Collister

Stunt Coordinator - Eunice Huthart

Fight Choreographer - Mike Lambert

Special Effects Coordinator - Sarah Pearce

Special Effects Supervisor - Hayley J. Williams

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola VFX -

Edson Williams

Visual Effects Producer - Paul V. Molles

Senior Animation Supervisor - Clement Yip

Editor - Al LeVine

Supervising Sound Editors/Sound Designers -

Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn

Sound Designer - Darren Maynard

Production Sound Mixer - Paul Munro

Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett and

Anna Behlmer

Music - Tom Holkenborg

Review

It is the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. What better way to cap off this year than watching the fireworks and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3? Let me tell you, each movie in the franchise gets better, with the speedy blue hedgehog always winning the race. SONIC 3 builds on the success of its predecessors, shedding excess baggage and focusing more on the well-known Sega characters. For example, the human characters (minus two Robotniks) have less screen time, the pacing is much tighter, and the pop-cultural references are minimal. Not to mention, there are no useless subplots like the wedding in Sonic 2.

The film's cast adds Sonic's rival, Shadow, whose dark past propels the plot forward and has already appeared in the mid-credits scene of the second instalment. Introducing this character deepens the film, turning it into an emotional rollercoaster as it explores themes of grief, vengeance, and redemption. Interestingly, the movie's director, Jeff Fowler, had previously worked on the animations for the 2005 platformer Shadow the Hedgehog, so he returns to his connections with Sega's gun-toting villainous hedgehog.

Unlike the earlier Sonic movies, which were family-friendly romps, SONIC 3 takes a darker tone, upping the stakes for Sonic and his friends. Whereas the first two instalments borrowed elements from the classic Mega Drive games, SONIC 3 owes much to Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast. What makes SONIC 3 a more deliberate video game adaptation than its predecessors is the distinct duality it establishes between Sonic and Shadow. The film never ceases to amaze me with its awe-inspiring visuals and dynamic action scenes, culminating in a climax reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z's iconic battles. The humour is well-balanced, with sufficient laughs for children and moments that will make adults laugh. The film even features Easter eggs and references to the games that fans can recognise.

As always, Ben Schwartz shines as Sonic's voice, lending his boundless enthusiasm and charm to the blue hedgehog. Idris Elba and Colleen O'Shaughnessey deliver great performances as Knuckles and Tails. Together, they create the trio's chemistry. Keanu Reeves was an inspired choice to play Shadow. No one expected the legendary action star to play someone as dark and brooding with a tragic backstory and a thirst for revenge (similar to the titular character he portrayed in the John Wick series). That said, Reeves did an incredible job of bringing edginess to the character, perfectly capturing his dark nature.

Remember what I said in my Sonic 2 review that Jim Carrey is considering retirement after he finishes playing Dr Robotnik in the second instalment. He's back for the third time, pulling double duty. Not only does the legendary comedian portray the wacky mad scientist, but Carrey also plays his even more sinister grandfather. While he outdoes himself as two generations of Eggman, he hasn't lost the quirkiness we've come to anticipate from Jim Carrey.

While a significant step up from the first two instalments, SONIC 3 is the best entry in the movie franchise and one of the better video game film adaptations. It features a compelling story, striking performances, and stunning visuals that will appeal to audiences of all ages. If you've watched its predecessors, now is your chance to see the third outing.

The film ends with two post-credit scenes that fans should keep an eye out for. These scenes could hint at the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4, scheduled for release in 2027. I can't wait for the sequel, which will be as good as the third instalment.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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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: $129,364,141 (Worldwide)

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. They were best

friends, as close as brothers.

Ultimately, their

relationship will forever

change Cybertron's future.

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

Forty years have passed since Transformers began as a Hasbro toy line, a comic book, and a cartoon series, and has since evolved into a global franchise. The live-action Michael Bay movies (excluding a few, such as 2007's Transformers and the prequel/reboot Bumblebee) are a mixed bag to audiences and fans, though each entry made more profit at the box office. Unfortunately, the series declined throughout the decades, beginning with 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight and ending with 2023's Rise of the Beasts, the latter of which became its lowest-grossing feature to date.

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 reconnect with its animated roots. The franchise has not had an animated feature for decades, not since the original in 1986. However, TRANSFORMERS ONE boasts a Pixar-like 3D animation style that takes it to the next level, immersing 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. Honestly, I liked it. It's a welcome change from the live-action movies, which lack the core elements that make 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 it focuses on the iconic robots, with no humans in the story, which is part of its back-to-basics approach. The storyline is clever and engaging as the writers become familiar with the Transformers universe 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 shown, as much in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. You can't help but feel choked up by the tragic ending of their relationship in this movie.

I liked all the easter eggs they sprinkled into the film. Other than the main characters, I recognise several Transformers names. Plenty of references will hit older Transformers fans, including a hint of Stan Bush from the original film and a nod to the GoBots in TRANSFORMERS ONE. Director Josh Cooley is no stranger to toys, as his experience with Toy Story 4 at Pixar has taught him everything he knows. He's shown he can do no wrong by treating 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, given that the Australian actor has an unrecognisable voice that doesn't match Cullen's distinctive guttural delivery. Fortunately, Hemsworth pours roguish charm into the younger version of his character, making it his own before he develops into the authoritative baritone people love to hear in Optimus Prime's dialogue. Brian Tyree Henry was terrific as D-16/Megatron. He shines with the fury and rage we come to expect from the evil Decepticon leader. Keegan-Michael Key had a lot of comic energy for 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 to avoid falling into the uncanny valley. Cybertron's surface is familiar, with shimmering formations that change over time and fascinating creatures. The 3D animation is sleek, stunning, and imaginative, courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic, the same visual effects house behind 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, having 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, even though the marketing suggests otherwise, it suits Transformers fans of all ages. The best way to celebrate the Transformers legacy, this film goes beyond what meets the eye. So, roll out to theatres before you miss it. Until then, till all are one.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Wonka Review

Wonka

Release Date: 14th December 2023 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)

Domain Entertainment (in association with)

The Roald Dahl Story Company

Heyday Films

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Fantasy/Musical/

Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 116 minutes

Budget: $125,000,000

Box Office Gross: $634,502,312 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

As a young, poor man

with dreams of opening

a chocolate shop in a

famous city, Willy Wonka

is determined to change

the world, one delectable

bite at a time. However, he

discovers that a cartel of

greedy chocolatiers controls

the industry and will stop at

nothing to eliminate their

competitors.

Cast

Timothée Chalamet - Willy Wonka

Gustave Die - Ship's Engineer

Murray McArthur - Ship's Captain

Paul G. Raymond - Map Seller

Bertie Caplan - Shoeshine Boy

Isy Suttie - Fruit & Veg Vendor

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith -

Officer Affable

Matilda Tucker - Young Mother

Tom Davis - Bleacher

Olivia Colman - Mrs.

Scrubbit

Calah Lane - Noodle

Paterson Joseph - Slugworth

Matt Lucas - Prodnose

Matthew Baynton - Fickelgruber

Freya Parker - Miss Bon Bon

Keegan-Michael Key - Chief of Police

Hugh Grant - Oompa-Loompa

Jim Carter - Abacus Crunch

Rakhee Thakrar - Lottie Bell

Natasha Rothwell - Piper Benz

Rich Fulcher - Larry

Chucklesworth

Colin O'Brien - Young Willy Wonka

Sally Hawkins - Willy's Mother

Rowan Atkinson - Father Julius

Ellie White - Gwennie (Mistress of the Keys)

Rufus Jones - Jenkins

Simon Farmaby - Basil (Zoo Security Guard)

Susie Fairfax - Abacus

Crunch's Wife

Macie Blake - Abacus

Crunch's Granddaughter

(4 Years Old)

Charlotte Ritchie - Barbara

Phil Wang - Colin

Bleu Woodward - Waitress

Robyn Rose - Tram Lady 1

Millie O'Donnell - Tram Lady 2

Ben Howard - Oompa Loompa Guard 1

Muzz Khan - Oompa Loompa Guard 2

Ian Bartholomew - Sceptical Old Man

Sophie Winkleman - The

Countess

Lola Shepelev -

Moustached Little Girl

Michael Abubakar - Orange-

Haired Customer

Justin Edwards - Green-

Skinned Customer

Marina Bye - Green-Bearded Customer

Tim Fitzhigham - Sinister Ship's Captain

Jane Bertish - Bardness Von Schmeichelhammer

Dominic Coleman - Donovan

Tracy Ifeachor - Dorothy Smith

Ellie Blake - Abacus Crunch's Granddaughter (8 Years Old)

Alison Pargeter - Wendy Chucklesworth

Crew

Story/Screenplay/Director - Paul King

Based on Characters - Roald Dahl

Screenplay - David Farnaby

Executive Producers - Cate Adams,

Rosie Alison and Michael Siegel

Executive Producer/Unit Production

Manager - Tim Wellspring

Producers - David Heyman,

Alexandra Derbyshire and Luke Kelly

Co-Producer - Bernie Hall

Casting Director - Nina Gold

Military Technical Advisor - Paul Biddiss

Production Designer - Nathan Crowley

Supervising Art Directors - Toby Britton

and Tom Brown

Set Decorator - Lee Sandales

Property Master - Jamie Wilkinson

Costume Designer - Lindy Hemming

Hair & Makeup Designer - Ivana Primorac

Director of Photography - Chung-hoon Chang

"A" Camera/Steadicam Operator - Peter Robertson

Unit Production Manager: Additional Unit -

Steve Harding

Second Unit Director/Director of Photography -

John Sorapure

Choreographer - Christopher Gattelli

Stunt Coordinator - Paul Lowe

Animal Coordinators - Julie Tottman

and James Weller

Special Effects Supervisor - Hayley J. Williams

Visual Effects Supervisor - Graham Page

Visual Effects Producer - Dominic Sidoli

Editor - Mark Everson

Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -

Glenn Freemantle

Supervising Sound Editor - Ben Barker

Production Sound Mixer - John Casali

Re-Recording Mixers - Niv Adiri

and Paul Massey

Foley Mixer - Glen Gathard

Original Songs - Neil Hannon

Music - Joey Talbot

Music Producer - Charlie Rosen

Music Supervisor/Vocal Producer -

James A. Taylor

Review

It took me a few months to finish this review before I could publish it. Despite the turbulence of 2023, the film industry is still enduring a rough patch, with industrial action and the popularity of streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. However, the former affected many movies that premiered that same year and bombed in theatres due to poor marketing and ridiculously high budgets. There are some exceptions, like Barbie and Oppenheimer. At the end of this year, several films came out during the holiday season. One of which was WONKA. It is the latest incarnation of Roald Dahl's beloved character.

Considered the most popular of all Roald Dahl's stories, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been the subject of several adaptations over the years (the two most famous are the 1971 film by Mel Stuart and the 2005 film by Tim Burton). At first, I was sceptical because this prequel may be a cash cow as it would tarnish the legacy of the original 1971 musical starring Gene Wilder. Thankfully, it wasn't. I'm glad it's nothing like the interpretation Tim Burton produced with Johnny Depp as the titular character. While the previous film adaptations by Mel Stuart and Tim Burton share the same story, this one is a tribute to the former with its confectionery qualities, such as a hint of sweetness and energetically choreographed musical numbers.

Paul King is already familiar with audiences, having directed the first two Paddington movies and is no stranger to children's fiction, having borrowed elements of a literary classic. It lacks the dark undertones that made the classic book and the two previous interpretations intriguing. The set designs and visuals are phenomenal. The songs are catchy, too.

Timothée Chalamet may seem like an odd choice to play Willy Wonka, but he was naturally good in the role and eager to take it on. Interestingly, this version of Wonka is a young optimist, whereas previous incarnations depict him as self-absorbed with little regard for others' thoughts and feelings. I never knew Chalamet could sing and dance, let alone act in an exuberant and colourful motion picture like WONKA. I liked his rendition of "Pure Imagination," which differs from Gene Wilder's version.

The supporting cast consists of comedians who stole the show, while young Calah Lane lends a sincere performance as Noodle. Keegan-Michael Key is terrific as the chief of police. Paterson Joseph distinguishes himself as a full-on pantomime villain, with Matt Lucas and Matthew Baynton making a delightfully evil trio. Hugh Grant has made a terrific comeback in his latest work, but playing an Oompa Loompa named Lofty isn't something I expected from him.

While silly and whimsical, WONKA is a sweet-filled cinematic delight that will arouse audiences and tempt their taste buds. When a movie hits theatres in the holiday season, you know it's WONKA. I recommend this film to those who grew up with Gene Wilder's previous incarnation and Roald Dahl's original story.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) Review

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Broadcast Date: 15th November 1977 - Australia

Production Companies

The Cat in the Hat Productions

MGM Television

MGM Animation/Visual Arts

Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 26 minutes

Budget: $315,000

Plot Summary

It's Christmas Eve in Whoville, and everyone is excited about what tomorrow will bring. Unfortunately, this did not stop the Grinch from hating the holiday, as he couldn't bear the sight of people being eager over it. By stealing all the presents and other goodies, he is determined to ruin Christmas for the people of Whoville.

Voice Cast

Boris Karloff - Narrator/Grinch

June Foray - Cindy Lou Who (Uncredited)

Dal McKennon - Max (Uncredited)

Crew

Producer/Storyboard Artist (Uncredited)/Director - Chuck Jones

Co-Director/Animator - Ben Washam

Based on the Book/

Producer/Songs: Lyrics - Dr. Seuss

Additional Story - Irv Spector

and Bob Ogle

Production Designer -

Maurice Noble

Animators - Ken Harris,

Lloyd Vaughan, Richard

Thompson, Don Towsley,

Tom Ray and Phil Roman

Layouts - Oscar Dufau and Don Morgan

Backgrounds - Philip DeGuard, Bob Inman and Hal Ashmead

Graphics - Don Foster

Production Manager - Earl Jones

Production Executive - Les Goldman

Editors - Lovell Norman and John Young

Songs: Music - Albert Hague

Performer: "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" -

Thurl Ravenscroft (Uncredited)

Additional Music and Orchestra Conductor -

Eugene Poddany

Review

Happy holidays, everyone. During the season, I've been busy making significant edits to my reviews and one analysis (as you may not have noticed). Speaking of which, I watched a Christmas special, which, believe it or not, is the 1966 animation classic HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! It takes me back to my childhood when I first saw it on Cartoon Network. Yes, it's timeless and unforgettable. No one can deny that this rendition is much superior to the live-action adaptation with Jim Carrey or the CG version from Illumination. It was the first time I reviewed a holiday special, but I was still unsure whether this was a movie, given its short running time of 26 minutes. I couldn't care less that it isn't full-length, unlike the other versions that expanded the story. It is, however, one of the few good Dr Seuss adaptations that are at least incredibly loyal to the original book.

This piece of animation is sublime. Fortunately, former Looney Tunes director Chuck Jones brought this to life, with the author, who also wrote the songs. I like how he brings his devilish charm into the character animation, and it's a pity that none of today's generation could measure up to his talent. The late Boris Karloff did an excellent job narrating and also provided the voice of the Grinch. The songs and music are spot-on, particularly "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch", which is the best.

This special holds a special place among the other Christmas movies. I recommend it to Dr Seuss fans, and I look forward to seeing it again next Christmas. But in the meantime, Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Casper Review

Casper

Release Date: 22nd June 1995 - Australia

Production Companies

Universal Pictures (presents)

Amblin Entertainment

The Harvey Entertainment Group (in association with)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 minutes

Budget: $55,000,000

Box Office Gross: $290,277,077 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Carrigan Crittenden is angry that her late father left her his grim-looking mansion instead of his millions. She is about to burn it to the ground when

she discovers a map

showing the treasure

is hidden inside. But

an evil wave of ghosts

frightens her away

when she enters to claim

her right. After trying

everything to get rid of

the apparitions, including

an exorcist and a

professional ghost-catcher,

Carrigan decides the best

way to get rid of them

is to hire ghost therapist

Dr James Harvey to

exorcise them. If the plan

succeeds, she and

her slimy partner, Dibs,

will claim the hidden

fortune. As James and

his daughter, Kat, arrive,

they soon meet Casper,

the ghost of a young boy

who is "the friendliest

ghost you know." But

Casper's uncles, Stretch,

Fatso, and Stinkie, are

not so friendly. They are

determined to drive all 

the "fleshies" away.

Ultimately, James and Kat

decide whether to help

the spirits cross over to 

the other side.

Cast

Christina Ricci - Kathleen

'Kat' Harvey

Bill Pullman - Dr. James Harvey

Malachi Pearson - Casper (Voice)

Cathy Moriarty - Carrigan Crittenden

Eric Idle - Paul 'Dibbs' Plutzker

Joe Alaskey - Stinkie (Voice)

Joe Nipote - Stretch (Voice)

Brad Garrett - Fatso (Voice)

Ben Stein - Mr. Rugg

Amy Brenneman - Amelia Harvey

Jessica Wilson - Amber Whitmire

Chauncey Leopardi - Nicky

Garette Ratliff Henson - Vic DePhillipi

Wesley Thompson - Mr. Curtis

Spencer Vrooman - Andreas

Devon Sawa - Human Casper

Terry Murphy - Herself (Cameo)

Clint Eastwood - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Mel Gibson - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Rodney Dangerfield - Himself (Cameo)

John Kassir - The Crypt Keeper (Voice) (Cameo)

Don Novello - Father Guido Sarducci (Cameo)

Dan Aykroyd - Ray Stentz (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Jess Harnell - Arnold (Voice)

Crew

Director - Brad Silberling

Based on the Character "Casper the Friendly

Ghost"/Book - Joseph Oriolo

Based on the Book - Seymour Reit

Writers - Sherri Stoner and Deanna Oliver

Script Supervisors - Annette Haywood-Carter

and Ana Maria Quintana

Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Paul Deason

Executive Producers - Steven Spielberg,

Gerald R. Molen and Jeffrey Montgomery

Producer - Colin Wilson

Co-Producers - Jeffrey Franklin

and Steve Waterman

Production Designer - Leslie Dilley

Art Directors - Daniel Maltese and

Ed Verreaux

Assistant Art Directors - Greg Papalia

and Brad Ricker

Illustrators - David Lowery,

Sherman Labby, Len Morganti, Peter Ramsey,

Jacques Rey and Dan Sweetman

Set Decorator - Rosemary Brandenberg

Property Master - Russell Bobbitt

Director of Photography - Dean Cundey

"B" Camera Operator - Casey Hotchkiss

First Assistant "A" Camera/VistaVision

Technician - Clyde E. Bryan

Production Supervisor - Steven R. Molen

First Assistant Director - Steve E. Andrews

Second Assistant Director - Michele Panelli-Venetis

Stunt Coordinator - Gary Hymes

Choreographer/Animation Ghost Reference -

Adam Shankman

Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Lantieri

Digital Character Supervisor - Dennis Muren

Digital Character Co-Supervisor - Stefen Fangmeier

Digital Effects Producer - Janet Healy

Animation Directors - Eric Armstrong

and Phil Nibblelink

Supervising Character Animators: ILM -

Mark Anthony Austin, Tom Bertino,

Miguel A. Fuertes, Jeffrey B. Light,

Doug Smith and James Tooley

Supervising Digital Effects Artists: ILM -

Kevin Rafferty, Tom L. Hutchinson,

John Andrew Berton, Jr., Henry LaBounta

and Joe Letteri

Digital Character Modeling Supervisors: ILM -

Kyle Odermatt and Wade Howie

Visual Effects Plate Supervisor: ILM - Scott Farrar

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - TyRuben Ellingson

Editor - Michael Kahn

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard Hymns

Sound Design/Re-Recording Mixer - Gary Rydstrom

Assistant Sound Designer - Christopher Boyes

Sound Effects Editors - Teresa Eckston

and Frank E. Eulner

Re-Recording Mixer - Gary Summers

Re-Recording Mixer/Music Recordist

& Mixer - Shawn Murphy

Dialogue Editors - Sara Bolders

and Michael Silvers

Foley Artists - Tom Barwick

and Dennie Thorpe

Foley Recordist - Tony Eckert

Music - James Horner

Music Editor - Joe E. Rand

Review

Another childhood movie I grew up watching; it's hard to see why everyone forgot about CASPER, a hidden box-office gem. Following the runaway success of The Flintstones, Universal Studios and Steven Spielberg's production company, Amblin Entertainment, took another classic cartoon character to the big screen. This time, it's Casper the Friendly Ghost. Most things have stayed the same since I last saw the film. It's nearly as harmless as it gets for young audiences, though it's surprisingly morbid and raunchy for a children's flick. Still, the movie is a family-friendly version of Beetlejuice and doesn't shy away from the flaws that keep it from being entertaining.

For starters, the narrative has no direction, with numerous plot holes (such as Casper not remembering his previous life before he became a ghost), an unnecessarily dated subplot, occasional coarse language, such as the "B" word, which almost warranted the movie an M rating, and the solemn themes about death often dampen the film's comic appeal. The main drawback is the villain, Carrigan, because she's unthreatening and not very menacing (as one reviewer describes her as "a poor woman's Cruella de Vil") when her greed overpowers her judgment, leading her to plan to get the mansion's supposed treasure, which leads to her defeat.

However, the film certainly has its moments. I won't discuss any as there are spoilers ahead. Most of the visual effects hold up well, especially the CGI ghosts, even for the time of its release. What makes it better is that this version of Casper is the first main character to be computer-animated. Christina Ricci is headed for Hollywood stardom, looking as sharp and adorable as Kat. Bill Pullman delivers a surprisingly decent performance as the father. The surprise cameos of Don Novello, Dan Aykroyd, Clint Eastwood, Rodney Dangerfield, and Mel Gibson are amusing. The sets are dark and Gothic, and James Horner's score is beautiful.

While not a flop per se, CASPER has its fans and gained a bit of a cult following since its successful release. It spawned two direct-to-video prequels, which are unrelated to the original movie. Then again, it's not my favourite film. I would have preferred more focus on Kat's relationship with the titular ghost, and the filmmakers could have cut the needless subplot about the bullies trying to ruin Kat's Halloween party. Overall, this is an okay film, but it is worth a look because it puts in a lot more effort than the other live-action films based on the cartoons.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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