The Star Wars Holiday Special Review

The Star Wars Holiday Special

Broadcast Date: 16th March 1979 - Australia

Production Companies

Smith-Hemion Productions

20th Century Fox Television

(in association with)

Lucasfilm Ltd.

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 98 minutes

Plot Summary

For Life Day, the most

important holiday in the

galaxy, Han Solo and

Chewbacca will have to

outrun the Empire

and reach the Wookie

homeworld, Kashyyk, to

celebrate the holiday

with Chewie's family.

As they await his return,

Chewie's family pass

the time with various

forms of entertainment.

Cast

Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker

Harrison Ford - Han Solo

Carrie Fisher - Princess Leia Organa

Peter Mayhew - Chewbacca

Anthony Daniels - C-3PO

Kenny Baker - R2-D2

James Earl Jones - Darth Vader (Voice)

Bea Arthur - Ackmena

Art Carney - Saun Dunn

Diahann Carroll - Mermeia Holographic Wow

Jefferson Starship - Holographic Band

Harvey Korman - Krelman/

Chef Gormaanda/Amorphian

Instructor

Mickey Morton - Malla

Paul Gale - Itchy

Patty Maloney - Lumpy

Jack Rader - Imperial Guard Officer

Stephanie Stromer - The Great Zorback (Holographic Gymnast)

Michael Potter - Imperial Guard Officer

Wazzan Troupe - Holographic Tumblers

Yûichi Sugiyama - The Ringleader

The Mumm Brothers - The Reeko Brothers

Claude Woolman - Imperial

Officer (Widescreen)

Lev Mailer - Imperial

Guard #1

John McLaughlin - Imperial

Stormtrooper #1

Don Francks - Boba Fett

(Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew

Directors - Steve Binder and David Acomba (Uncredited)

Characters - George Lucas

Writers - Rod Warren, Bruce Vilanch, Pat Proft and Leonard Ripps

Writer/Producer - Mitzie Welch

Executive Producers - Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith

Producers - Joe Layton,

Jeff Starsh and Ken Welch

Consultant: Star Wars - Miki Herman

Art Director - Brian Bartholomew

Illustrator - Ralph McQuarrie

Set Decorator - Garrett Lewis

Costume Designer - Bob Mackie

Costume: "Chewbacca" - Stuart Freeborn

Costumes: "Wookie Family" - Ellis Burman Jr.,

Thomas R. Burman and Stan Winston

Cinematography - John B. Field

Choreographer - David Winters

Animation Director - Clive Smith (Uncredited)

Layout Artist - Frank Nissen (Uncredited)

Editors - Jerry Bixman and Vince Humphrey

Sound Effects - Ben Burtt

Star Wars Themes - John Williams

Music - Ian Fraser

Review

Happy holidays, everyone! Star Wars is a beloved franchise. Millions of fans worldwide have been captivated by it. Sure, it has its ups and downs. The original trilogy was the benchmark for the series, although the prequel trilogy was a mixed bag, to say the least. And as for the sequel trilogy, that's another story. One of the most debated topics within the community is which movie is the least favourite of the series. Some say it was The Phantom Menace. Others believe it was Attack of the Clones, The Rise of Skywalker, or The Last Jedi (but I don't think the latter is that bad). However, many fans agree that THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL is the worst, as it casts the prequels and (to a lesser extent) the sequels in a more favourable light by comparison.

In 1978, a year after the film that changed the world of cinema hit the screens, this holiday special appeared, supposedly born of George Lucas's concern that people would lose interest in the Star Wars franchise. It happened while The Empire Strikes Back was in pre-production. Now, of course, these fears have proven unfounded. But bear in mind that this was when Star Wars was still completely new. Nobody expected this to become a huge success, and despite its ludicrous box-office takings, no one knew how long it would last.

I have never done a full-length holiday special, but I'm excited to give it a try. When I first saw The Star Wars Holiday Special in 2021, it felt like I had unearthed a lost treasure, but looking back, it's clear why it is hated. Seriously, what was George Lucas thinking? The main issue with the entire concept is that, in the 1970s, variety shows were popular, much like Sonny and Cher. Consequently, all of these awful tropes and nonsense from these shows found their way into Star Wars, resulting in this space mess. This gimmick just isn't suited for the franchise, as this example demonstrates.

Even today, no one is exactly sure who came up with this ridiculous idea, but somehow Lucas hooked up with CBS, and the rest is history. While Lucas had minimal involvement in this special, as he was busy working on other projects, I don't blame him. A series of writers and directors have come and gone during this tumultuous production. The outcome is not so much a space fantasy but more like a space farce. Heck, even Lucas wanted it erased. Since its original broadcast in 1978, the show has not been in any form of media, nor has it ever been released on home video. However, part of it appears on Disney+, specifically the animated segment.

At the same time, I admire Star Wars' approach to world-building, as it frequently produces fascinating settings and creatures, even if it sometimes feels commercial, as in the later films and television series. However, this special gets it all wrong. The plot is virtually nonexistent, nonsensical, and more convoluted. The characters created for this special, like Chewbacca's family, are mostly irritating. The skits are overly long and incomprehensible, and the musical numbers are out of place.

The only saving grace of this special is the animated segment, which, surprisingly, is the closest it gets to being a movie or a TV show. While it isn't bad, it would have been better suited to something more in line with the Star Wars name. However, the good thing about this segment is that it introduced fans to a certain bounty hunter named Boba Fett, who would later appear on the big screen in The Empire Strikes Back. While Bea Arthur gives the only sincere and earnest performance in the special, the other celebrity guests, including Art Carney and Harvey Korman, aren't much better, with the latter trying to be funny.

This holiday special is terrible, and fans have a right to accept that. Trust me, there's no point in defending it. I would not recommend this one to anyone unless you want to watch the abridged version, the cartoon, or the reviewed version, because those are far more enjoyable than watching a raw video of nothing happening, if you know what's good for you.

Star rating: (1/10) Worst 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; instead, I've posted obituaries and updated 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 saw the latest release of TRANSFORMERS ONE in cinemas near the end of September, along with a few others before that, 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) have been a mixed bag with audiences and fans, though each entry made more at the box office. Unfortunately, the series declined over the decades, beginning with 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight and ending with 2023's Rise of the Beasts, its lowest-grossing feature to date.

After 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 hasn't had an animated feature in 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 like never before. Mind you, it was in the early concept stage back in 2015. Almost a decade later, the movie came out and 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 its tragic ending.

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 Pixar's Toy Story 4 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 are exciting and fast-paced, keeping 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 the live-action Transformers movies have been missing and is the franchise's best film. 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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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: $714,844,358 (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 he alone 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 clamoured for in the last three years. Originally scheduled to premiere in 2023, but was delayed by a Hollywood writers' and actors' strike until 2024. We haven't seen a cinematic event as epic, majestic, and impactful since The Lord of the Rings!

Many critics hailed PART TWO as a triumph and a landmark science-fiction film destined to 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 that were 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, given that both are timeless masterpieces and milestones of the science fiction genre. It's also compared to another highly regarded sequel, The Two Towers, as both movies are large-scale productions featuring 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 without Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, who saw fit to bring Dune to the big screen when no one else would (unless some of you prefer David Lynch's 1984 film). However, some long-time readers were unhappy with the changes in the second instalment, as this had also happened in its predecessor. Then again, a few deviations are necessary to improve the storyline. It reintroduced a few characters, such as Feyd-Rautha, the Emperor, and Princess Irulan, 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 Atreides. 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 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 the sequel than in its predecessor, which relegated her to Paul's visions. Her character is essentially the same love interest, but her personality differs significantly from that in the books and previous adaptations. The ensemble cast is terrific, featuring returning players such as Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem, as well as newcomers like Florence Pugh and Austin Butler. Butler is the highlight, stealing the show as the Baron's hairless, pale-skinned, and psychopathic nephew, Feyd-Rautha. He possesses a killer instinct and a unique dialect in the role, with the same rock-star swagger he brought to Elvis, and doesn't wear the same winged codpiece as Sting wore in the 1984 film version of Dune.

On the technical side, Greig Fraser's lavish camerawork enhances the vision of Arrakis's desert world with sweeping shots that are a clear homage to Lawrence of Arabia. Once again, Hans Zimmer proves what he does best, creating an ominous, epic score with layers 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 layers and depth. It established the franchise as famous as The Lord of the Rings and ushered in Denis Villeneuve, who was now one of the finest directors of our time. Its ending leaves the door open for a third part of the movie, which would adapt 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 provide 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

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Dune (2021) Review

Dune

Release Date: 2nd December 2021 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (present)

Legendary Entertainment (present)

Villeneuve Films

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 156 minutes

Budget: $165,000,000

Box Office Gross: $410,668,500 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

In the far-off future, an intelligent and gifted young man named Paul Atreides has a great destiny ahead of him by travelling to the scorching desert planet Dune to secure

the fate of his family and

his people. As evil forces

collide over the planet's

exclusive supply of the

most precious resource known to existence, only those who can overcome their fear will survive.

Cast

Timothée Chalamet - Paul Atreides

Rebecca Ferguson - Lady Jessica Atreides

Oscar Issac - Duke Leto Atreides

Jason Momoa - Duncan

Idaho

Stellan Skarsgård - Baron

Vladimir Harkonnen

Stephen McKinley Henderson -

Thufir Hawat

Josh Brolin - Gurney Halleck

Javier Bardem - Stilgar

Sharon Duncan-Brewster - Dr. Liet Kynes

Chang Chen - Dr. Wellington Yueh

Dave Bautista - Beast Rabban Harkonnen

David Dastmalchian - Piter de Vries

Zendaya - Chani

Charlotte Rampling - Reverend

Mother Mohiam

Babs Olusanmokun - Jamis

Benjamin Clémentine - Herald

of the Charge

Souad Faress - Bene Gesserit Sister

Golda Rosheuvel - Shadout Mapes

Roger Yuan - Lieutenant Lanville

Seun Shote - Arrakeen Residency Gardener

Neil Bell - Sardaukar Bashar

Oliver Ryan - Hawat Specialist

Stephen Collins - Harkonnen Trooper

Charlie Rawes - Harkonnen Trooper

Richard Carter - Harkonnen

Trooper

Ben Dilloway - Sardaukar

Assassin

Elmi Rashid Elmi - Shamir

Tachia Newall - Tanat

Gloria Obianyo - Female Fremen

Fehinti Balogun - Male Fremen

Dora Kápolnai-Schvab - Baron Servant

Joelle - Baron Servant (Cameo)

Jimmy Walker - Atreides Lieutenant

Paul Bullion - Sardaukar Soldier

Milena Sidorova - Human Spider Proxy

János Timkó - Harkonnen Guard

Jean Gilpin - Bene Gesserit

Ancestors (Voice)

Marianne Faithfull - Bene 

Gesserit Ancestors (Voice)

Ellen Dubin - Bene Gesserit

Ancestors (Voice)

Crew

Screenplay/Director - Denis Villeneuve

Based on the Novel - Frank Herbert

Screenplay/Executive

Producer - Jon Spaihts

Screenplay - Eric Roth

Script Supervisor - Jessica Clothier

Special Consultant - Kevin J.

Anderson

Executive Producers -

Joshua Grode, John Harrison,

Herbert W. Gains, Brian & Kim

Herbert, Tanya Lapointe, Bryon

Merritt, Richard P. Rubinstein

and Thomas Tull

Producers - Cale Boyter and

Mary Parent

Producer/Unit Production

Manager - Joseph M. Carraciolo Jr.

Co-Producer/First Assistant Director - Chris Carreras

Co-Producer/Production Supervisor - Jessica Derhammer

Casting Directors - Jina Jay and Francine Maisler

Production Designer - Patrice Vermette

Concept Designer/Storyboard

Artist - Sam Hudecki

Props Concept Artist - Ed Natividad

Concept Artists - Kamen Anev, Joseph Cross, Jeremy Hanna, George Hull, Eric Hamel, Carlos Haunte, Yanick Dusseault, Peter Popken and Colie Wertz

Concept Artist/Visual Effects

Art Director: Rodeo FX -

Deak Ferrand

Supervising Art Director - Tom

Brown

Set Decorators - Richard

Roberts and Zsuzsanna Sipos

Property Master - Doug Harlocker

Costume Designers - Bob

Morgan and Jacqueline West

Makeup Department Head/Makeup and Hair Designer - Donald Mowat

Prosthetic Designer: Baron Harkonnen - Love Larson

Director of Photography - Greig Fraser

Directors of Photography:

Additional Photography -

Pierre Gill and Adam Arkapaw

Unit Production Manager - James Grant

Location Manager: California - Leann Emmert

First Assistant Director:

Additional Photography -

Cliff Lanning

Second Unit Director/Stunt

Coordinator - Tom Struthers

Stunt Coordinator - Dave Judge

Fight Coordinator - Roger Yuan

Aerial Coordinator - Cliff Fleming

Special Effects Supervisor - Gerd Nefzer

Visual Effects Supervisor - Paul Lambert

Visual Effects Supervisors: DNEG - Brian Connor

and Tristan Myles

Visual Effects Producers - Maricel Pagulayan

and Brice Parker

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

Sound Designers/Supervising Sound Editors -

Mark A. Mangini and Theo Green

Sound Designer - Dave Whitehead

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

and Alison Litton

Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Awards

2022 Academy Awards

Best Sound - Mac Ruth, Mark A. Mangini,

Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett (Won)

Best Achievement in Visual Effects -

Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor

and Gerd Nefzer (Won)

Best Achievement in Production Design -

Patricia Vermette and Zsuzsanna Sipos (Won)

Best Achievement in Music Written for

Motion Picture (Original Score) - Hans Zimmer (Won)

Best Achievement in Film Editing - Joe Walker (Won)

Best Achievement in Cinematography -

Greig Fraser (Won)

------------------------

Best Motion Picture of the Year - Mary Parent,

Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter (Nominated)

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling -

Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva Von Bahr

(Nominated)

Best Achievement in Costume Design -

Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan (Nominated)

Best Adapted Screenplay - Jon Spaihts,

Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth (Nominated)

Review

Before 2021, many readers and fans had long considered DUNE as one of the unfilmable science fiction novels. Numerous attempts have failed to bring DUNE to the big screen, including one by Alejandro Jodorowsky that never materialised. Even Ridley Scott came dangerously close to adapting the original sci-fi story, only to back out when he opted for Blade Runner instead. However, David Lynch directed the first film adaptation (click here) in 1984, which remained true to its weird nature but failed at the box office and was poorly received by critics. Yet, it became a cult classic in later years. Even the 2000 miniseries version suffered from poor casting and low-quality CGI, despite remaining faithful to the original novel. It finally succeeded when Denis Villeneuve, the man behind Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, fulfilled his lifelong ambition of directing a massive sci-fi epic.

While a remarkable adaptation, this film differs from the original book. It covers the first half, leaving the story incomplete and ending abruptly. The slow pacing is also a detriment to the movie. A few characters from the book are not in this film, as they will appear in the second part. Villeneuve has lived up to the vision and scope that Frank Herbert conceived for DUNE. He wasn't trying to be like David Lean, Stanley Kubrick, or Steven Spielberg. Instead, he was doing his own thing and proved he was the best man to bring DUNE to life, as no other director could handle the responsibility of helming it. There are epic and memorable moments that make DUNE an exciting film.

It boasts a sizable cast with a strong pedigree of actors who have all delivered terrific performances, particularly Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson. Stellan Skarsgård appears to have gained weight (due to the makeup and fat suit) to play the sinister Baron Harkonnen. His performance is better than Kenneth McMillan's in the original film because it is more creepy and less over-the-top. Zendaya could have had more scenes as Chani. She has less screen time than any of the other actors.

The costume design is impressive, and the visual effects are stunning. Even the cinematography by Greig Fraser is awe-inspiring, thanks to the breathtaking imagery that captures the movie's scale. Hans Zimmer retains his crown as one of the greatest movie composers by delivering a powerful, booming score. It helps that he was a fan of the book and has read it ever since, infusing his cinematic score with the rich texture.

This mind-blowing experience has left fans wanting more, but they will have to wait until the second part to find out what happens next. I can't say I loved DUNE, but it's different from the other versions I grew up watching. Overall, it is a great movie. This interpretation is for those who previously experienced the original versions in either Lynch's or the miniseries.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Release Date: 4th May 2023 - Australia

Production Companies

Marvel Studios

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 150 minutes

Budget: $250,000,000

Box Office Gross:

$845,555,777 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Still grieving Gamora's loss, Peter Quill must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. Failing to do so could potentially end the Guardians as we know them.

Cast

Chris Pratt - Peter Quill/
Star-Lord
Zoe Saldana - Gamora
Bradley Cooper - Rocket (Voice)
Dave Bautista - Drax the

Destroyer
Vin Diesel - Groot (Voice)
Pom Klementieff - Mantis

Will Poulter - Adam Warlock
Elizabeth Debicki - Ayesha

Karen Gillan - Nebula
Sean Gunn - Kraglin/On Set Rocket

Chukwudi Iwuji - The High Evolutionary

Krystian Godlewski - On

Set Groot

Maria Bakalova - Cosmo (Voice)
Sylvester Stallone - Stakar

Ogord

Michael Rosenbaum -

Martinex T'Naga

Tara Strong - Mainframe (Voice)

Stephen Blackehart - Steemie Blueliver

Terence Rosemore - Xlomo Smeth

Linda Cardellini - Lylla (Voice)

Asim Chaudry - Teefs (Voice)

Mikaela Hoover - Floor (Voice)

Noa Raskin - Baby Rocket (Voice)

Judy Greer - War Pig (Voice)

Miriam Shor - Recorder Vim

Daniela Melchior - Ura

Jennifer Holland - Administrator Kwol

Nico Santos - Recorder Theel

Kai Zen - Phyla

Sarah Alami - Ssssaralami

Jasmine Munoz - Hoobtoe

Giovannie Cruz - Orloni Peddler

Elan Gale - Beardy Ravager

Molly Quinn - Molly Ravager

Nathan Fillion - Master Karja

Benjamin Byron Davis - Bletelsnort

Tiffany Smith - Frinki-

Clorterborm-Zokko

Darla Delgado - Neelie

Randy Havens - Till

Sarah Anne - Latti

Lloyd Kaufman - Gridlemop (Cameo)

Christopher Fairbank - Broker

Rhett Miller - Bzermikitokolok

Murphy Weed - Murf

Michael Rooker - Yondu

(Cameo)

James Gunn - Lamb-Shank

(Cameo)

Karen Abercrombie - Grandma

Quill

Gregg Henry - Grandpa Quill

Slate - Cosmo

Dee Bradley Baker - Blurp (Voice)

Dane DiLiegro - Unsavory Octopus

Pete Davidson - Phlektik (Cameo)

Seth Green - Howard the Duck (Voice) (Cameo)

Crew

Writer/Director - James Gunn

Star-Lord/Mantis Creator -

Steve Englehart
Star-Lord Creator - Steve Gan
Gamora and Drax Creator -

Jim Starlin

Groot Creators - Stan Lee,

Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby

Rocket Raccoon Creators - Bill Mantlo

and Keith Giffen
Mantis Creator - Don Heck
Howard the Duck Creators - Steve Gerber

and Val Mayerik

Executive Producers - Victoria Alonso,

Louis D'Esposito, Simon Hatt and Sarah Smith

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Nikolas Korda

Producer - Kevin Feige

Co-Producer/First Assistant Director -

Lars P. Winther

Co-Producer - David Grant

Casting Director - Sarah Finn

Production Designer - Beth Mickle

Visual Development Supervisor - Andy Park

Supervising Art Directors - Alan Hook

and David Scott

Set Decorator - Rosemary Brundenberg

Property Master - Russell Bobbitt

Costume Designer - Judianna Makovsky

Makeup Department Head - Alexei Dmitriew

Director of Photography - Henry Braham

Second Unit Director - Guy Norris

Stunt Coordinator - Heidi Moneymaker

Stunt Co-Coordinator - Wayne Dalglish

Aerial Coordinator/Pilot - Frédéric North

Special Effects Supervisor - Daniel Sudick

Supervisors: Legacy Effects -

Lindsay MacGowan, Shane Mahan and

J. Alan Scott

Visual Effects Supervisor - Stephane Ceretti

Visual Effects Supervisors: Framestore -

Alexis Wajsbrot, Stéphane Nazé and Ross McCabe

Visual Effects Supervisor: Weta FX - Guy Williams

Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI - Theo Bialek

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola VFX - Edson Williams

Additional VFX Supervisor - Daryl Sawchuk

Visual Effects Producer - Susan Pickett

Visual Effects Sequence Supervisors: Weta FX -

Jason Galeon and Daniel Maccarin

Executive Producer: Framestore - Annette Wullems

Animation Supervisor: Weta FX - Michael Cozens

Creative Finishing Supervisor - Evan Jacobs

Film Editors - Greg D'Auria, Fred Raskin

and Tatiana S. Regiel

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

David Acord

Supervising Sound Editor - Cheryl Nardi

Additional Sound Designer/Temp

Re-Recording Mixer - Chris Diebold

Production Sound Mixer - Lee Orloff

Re-Recording Mixers - Christopher Boyes

and Gary A. Rizzo

Music - John Murphy

Music Supervisor - Dave Nelson

Review

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania gave Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) a rocky start. I'm concerned that another entry could be as lacklustre (if not catastrophic) to the superhero movie franchise. Fortunately, audiences and fans rejoiced when the third GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY movie came out in theatres recently with better reviews (though some are slightly less negative than others). I've heard that most critics considered it the best MCU movie in years since Avengers: Endgame, which had me pounding with excitement. It is a gratifying send-off for the titular heroes, as James Gunn said it would be his last MCU film before moving to DC to restart its movie universe.

While the familiar humour is still intact, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 is the trilogy's darkest instalment. Even in its darkest moments, it maintains the franchise's status quo and retains the charm of the first two films. It focuses on Rocket Raccoon, who is one of the titular Guardians. His backstory is tragic and devastating, and I wish we had seen more of his origins, like how he first met Groot. The movie throws us straight into action without sacrificing its serious moments, and, incredibly, these sequences stay well coordinated. Throughout the film, there is significant animal cruelty. I know it is crucial to the story, but the film is dark, and the animals have evolved, sometimes drastically.

The movie features a whole bunch of new characters. The High Evolutionary is a terrifying, despicable villain who experimented on Rocket. He intends to create a perfect universe, but his experiments sometimes ended up deformed or not what he expected, so he destroyed them and started over. One of the best character arcs in the saga was Nebula's. Since we first met her, she has grown so much. The friends Rocket made as an experiment were some of the best additions. Heartbreaking but essential to the narrative. Kraglin and Cosmo, seen in the Holiday Special, were also terrific additions to the cast. Adam Warlock didn't do much and seemed unimportant. Still, he was a welcome addition to the team, and I hope we see more of him in the future. As usual, the acting was phenomenal.

While some may think Marvel has lost its way, this film proves it hasn't. In retrospect, the third instalment of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY lived up to its reputation and is the best of all three movies. It was a marvellous way to end an otherwise fantastic saga. It's tearfully bittersweet. It might be the last time we see some of these characters. I highly recommend it to those who have seen the previous two movies.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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