It's Christmas

Ho, ho, ho, It's Film Guru Lad here. Today's month is December. I will be publishing my review of Arthur Christmas. I'm working on my animated project called Not the Sal and Mason Show. A pitch for a television show about two foolish blokes, Sal and Mason, who are always at the wrong place at the wrong time. Including a series of events that involves the conning of innocent elderly, getting sent to prison where they are bullied by the fearsome Tyson and being fugitives on the run trying regain their freedom. In completing this project, it will be with great honour to present this animated short story.

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Happy Feet Review

Happy Feet


Release Date: 26th December 2006 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)

Kennedy Miller Productions

Animal Logic (in association with)

Kingdom Feature Productions

Distribution
Roadshow Films

Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 106 minutes

Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $384,336,108 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Every Emperor penguin is

born to sing a heart song

that will attract a soul mate.

All except Mumble, but it

so happens that he can

dance - tap dance.

Eventually, such un-

penguin-like behaviour

gets Mumble kicked out

of his home and into the

big, cold world. Far from

home for the first time,

Mumble meets a group

of decidedly un-Emperor-

like penguins - the Adelie

Amigos. The Adelies,

led by Ramon, are

immediately taken with

Mumble's incredible

dance moves and invite

him to join the party.

In the land of Adelie,

Mumble seeks the

advice of Lovelace the

Guru, a crazy-feathered

rockhopper penguin who

will answer all of life's

questions for the price of

a pebble. Together with

Adelie Amigos and

Lovelace, Mumble sets

out on an epic journey,

proving that staying true

to oneself is the only

way to change the world.

Voice Cast

Elijah Wood - Mumble

Brittany Murphy - Gloria

Hugh Jackman - Memphis

Nicole Kidman - Norma Jean

Hugo Weaving - Noah the Elder

Robin Williams - Ramon/Lovelace

Carlos Alazraqui - Nestor

Lombardo Boyar - Raul

Jeffrey Garcia - Rinaldo

Johnny A. Sanchez - Lombardo

Miriam Margoyles - Mrs. Astrakhan

Fat Joe - Seymour

Elizabeth Daily - Baby Mumble

Alyssa Safer - Baby Gloria
Anthony LaPagia - Boss Skua
Magda Szubanski - Miss Viola
Danny Mann - Dino/Zoo Penguin
Mark Klastorin - Vinnie
Michael Cornacchia - Frankie
Steve Irwin - Trev
Nick McKay - Nev
Tiriel Mora - Kev
Richard Carter - Barry
Dee Bradley Baker - Maurice
Roger Rose - Leopard Seal

Crew

Writer/Producer/Director - George Miller

Writers/Co-Producers/Co-Directors -

Warren Coleman and Judy Morris

Writer - John Collee

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director:

Motion Capture - Philip Hearnshaw

Associate Producers - Hael Kobayashi,

Michael Twigg and Matthew Ferro

Executive Producers - Bruce Berman,
Graham Burke, Dana Goldberg and Ed Jones

Line Producer - Martin Wood

Producers - Bill Miller and Doug Mitchell
Production Designer - Mark Sexton

Supervising Art Director/Visual Effects

Supervisor - David Nelson

Art Director - Simon Whiteley

Art Director: Additional Film Unit -

Colin Gibson
Additional Art Direction - David Woodland

Additional Art Direction & VFX Supervision/

Producer: Animal Logic - Zareh Nalbandian

Set Decorator/Surfacing & Digital Matte

Supervisor - Jean-Pascal LeBlanc

Layout & Camera Director - David Peers
Director of Photography: Additional Film Unit -

Andrew Lesnie

Digital Production Manager - Amber Naismith

First Assistant Director - P.J. Voeten

First Assistant Director: Additional Film Unit -

Colin Fletcher

Choreographer & Principal Performer - Kelley Abbey

Dancer/Choreographer: Mumble/Motion Capture

Principal - Savion Glover

Animation Director - Daniel Jeannette

Digital Crowd Director - Greg Van Borssum

Lighting/Additional Effects Supervisor - Ben Gunsberger 

Character Supervisor - Aidan Sarsfield

Supervising Character Technical Director -

Damien Gray

Motion Capture Supervisors - Greg Allen
and Francois Laroche

Lead Character Artist/Animation Supervisor -

Don Ezard

Lead Environmental Artist - Nick Pill

Senior Animation Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Lyndon Barrois

Animation Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues -

Michael Holzl and Matt Logue

Visual Effects Supervisor - Morgane Furio

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -

Todd Shifflett

Visual Effects Supervisor: Giant Killer Robots -

Peter Oberdorfer

Digital/Additional Effects Supervisor - Brett Feeney

Digital Supervisors: Rhythm & Hues - Markus Kurtz

and Mike O'Neal

Associate Digital Supervisor - Olivier Ozoux
Head of R&D/Additional Effects Supervisor -

Chris Bone
Composting Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues - Sean McPherson

Editors - Christian Gazal and
Margaret Sixel

Editor: World Debate - Matt Villa
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor/

Re-Recording Mixer - Wayne Pashley

Re-Recording Mixers - Phil Heywood

and Greg Fitzgerald

Additional Re-Recording Mixers - Phil Judd,

Peter Purcell, Robert Sullivan and

Martin Oswin

Foley Artist - John Simpson

Music - John Powell

Music Supervisor - Christine Woodruff

Score Recordist and Mixer - Shawn Murphy

Awards

2007 Academy Awards
Best Animated Feature - George Miller (Won)

Review
HAPPY FEET was a great family movie. It had excellent cover songs and was charming, funny, and sad for everyone, including penguin lovers. The film had a terrific storyline akin to Footloose, but it also conveys an environmental message about overfishing and its damaging consequences. HAPPY FEET's strengths include the motion-capture animation that brought the tap-dancing penguins to life, George Miller's direction, and the voice cast of Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, the late Brittany Murphy, and Robin Williams. It changed Australian animation's reputation. It's the only movie to feature Steve Irwin's voice (also known as the Aussie icon "The Crocodile Hunter"), who died before the film was released.

If you enjoyed HAPPY FEET, you'll find its sequel is not as good as the original. My advice is simple: go back and rewatch the first movie. If you want to see it, it'll convince you that penguins can dance.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Release Date: 13th July 2011 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures
Heyday Films

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: M

Runtime: 130 minutes

Budget: $250,000,000

Box Office Gross: 
$1,342,945,821 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

In the epic second part,
the battle between good
and evil in the Wizarding
World has escalated into
an all-out war. The stakes

have never been higher,
and no one is unprepared.

Harry Potter may be the
only one called upon to

make the ultimate
sacrifice as he draws

near the climactic
showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.


Cast 
Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter
Rupert Grint - Ron Weasley
Emma Watson - Hermione Granger
Ralph Fiennes - Lord Voldemort
Tom Felton - Draco Malfoy
Alan Rickman - Severus Snape
Helena Bonham Carter - Bellatrix Lestrange
Jim Broadbent - Horace Slughorn
Robbie Coltrane - Rubeus Hagrid
Michael Gambon - Albus Dumbledore
John Hurt - Ollivander
Jason Isaacs - Lucius Malfoy
Helen McCrory - Narcissa Malfoy
Gary Oldman - Sirius Black (Cameo)
Maggie Smith - Minerva McGonagall

David Thewlis - Remus Lupin

Emma Thompson - Sybill Trelawney

Julie Walters - Molly Weasley

Mark Williams - Arthur Weasley
Warwick Davis - Griphook/
Filius Flitwick
Ciarán Hinds - Aberforth Dumbledore

Hebe Beardsall - Ariana Dumbledore

Evanna Lynch - Luna Lovegood
Bonnie Wright - Ginny Weasley
James & Oliver Phelps - Fred
& George Weasley
Matthew Lewis - Neville Longbottom

Devon Murray - Seamus Finnigan

Chris Rankin - Percy Weasley

Joshua Herdman - Gregory Goyle

Louis Cordice - Blaise Zabini

Kelly Macdonald - Helena Ravenclaw

Miriam Margoyles - Professor Pomona Sprout

Gemma Jones - Madam Pomfrey

Jessie Cave - Lavender Brown

Afshan Azad - Padma Patil

Isabella Laughland - Leanne

Anna Shaffer - Romilda Vale

Katie Leung - Cho Chang

Freddie Stroma - Cormac McLaggen

William Melling - Nigel

Scarlett Hefner - Pansy Parkinson

Alfred Enoch - Dean Thomas

Georgina Leonida - Katie Bell

George Harris - Kingsley Shacklebolt

Domhnall Gleeson - Bill Weasley

Sian Grace Phillips - Screaming Girl

Clémence Poésy - Fleur Delacour

Natalie Tena - Nymphadora Tonks

Nick Moran - Scabior

Dave Legeno - Fenrir Greyback

Guy Henry - Pius Thicknesse

Suzanne Toase - Alecto Carrow
Ralph Ineson - Amycus Carrow

Adrian Rawlins - James Potter

Geraldine Somerville - Lily Potter

Toby Papworth - Baby Harry Potter

Ellie Darcey-Alden - Young Lily

Ariella Paradise - Young Petunia

Benedict Clarke - Young Severus Snape

Leslie Phillips - The Sorting Hat (Voice)

Alfie McIlwain - Young James Potter

Rohan Gotobed - Young Sirius Black
Sean Biggerstaff - Oliver Wood (Cameo)
(Uncredited)

Arthur Bowen - Albus Severus Potter -

19 Years Later

Daphne de Beistegui - Lily Potter -

19 Years Later

Will Dunn - James Potter - 19 Years Later

Jade Gordon - Astoria Malfoy - 19 Years Later

Bertie Gilbert - Scorpius Malfoy -

19 Years Later

Helena Barlow - Rose Weasley -

19 Years Later

Ryan Turner - Hugo Weasley - 19 Years Later

Crew 
Based on the Novel "Harry Potter and the

Deathly Hallows"/Producer - J. K. Rowling
Director - David Yates

Screenplay - Steve Kloves

Script Supervisor - Anna Worley
Executive Producer - Lionel Wigram

Executive Producer/Producer - David Heyman
Producers - David Barron and

Debbi Bossi (3D Version)

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Tim Lewis
Co-Producer - John Trehy

Casting Director - Fiona Weir

Chief Animal Trainer - Gary Gero
Production Designer - Stuart Craig

Conceptual Artists - Adam Brockbank,

Paul Catling, Peter McKinstry and

Andrew Williamson

Supervising Art Director - Neil Lamont

Senior Art Director - Andrew Ackland-Snow

Art Directors - Alastair Bullock,

Martin Foley, Kate Grimble, Hattie Story

Christian Huband, Molly Hughes,

Gary Tomkins, Mark Bartholomew,

Nicholas Henderson, Peter Dorme and

Ashley Winter

Construction Manager - Paul J. Hayes

HOD Supervising Modeller - Pierre Bohanna
Set Decorators - Stephenie McMillan

and Rosie Goodwin

Property Master - Barry Wilkinson

Assistant Property Master - Ben Wilkinson

Special Makeup Effects - Nick Dudman

Makeup Designer - Amanda Knight

Hair Designer - Lisa Tomblin

Supervising Prosthetic Makeup Artists -

Mark Coulier, Katy Fray and Paul Spateri
Costume Designer - Jany Temime

Director of Photography - Eduardo Serra

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Mike Brewster

Underwater Director of Photography -

Tim Wooster

"B" Camera Operators - David Morgan

and David Worley

Supervising Location Manager - Sue Quinn

Location Managers - Mark Sooner,

Steve Harvey, Joseph Jayawardena

and Lee Robertson

Production Manager - Simon Emanuel

First Assistant Director - Jamie Christopher

Key Second Assistant Director - Matthew Sharp

Second Unit Director - Stephen Woolfenden

Stunt Coordinator - Greg Powell

Stunt Coordinator: Additional Elements

Unit - Eunice Huthart

Aerial Coordinator - Marc Woolf

Diving Coordinator - Dave Shaw
Special Effects Supervisor - John Richardson

Special Effects Assistant Supervisor - Steve Hamilton

Special Effects Coordinator - Rosie Richardson
Visual Effects Supervisors - Tim Burke

Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Greg Butler

Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -

David Vickery

Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore - Andy Kind

Visual Effects Supervisor: Baseblack -

Matthew Twyford

Visual Effects Supervisor: Tippett Studio - Matt Jacobs 

Visual Effects Producer - Emma Norton

Visual Effects Producer: MPC - Oliver Money

Digital Effects Supervisors: Cinesite - Holger Voss

and Andy Robinson 

VFX Animation Supervisor: MPC - Ferran Domenech

2D Supervisor: Double Negative - Sean Stranks

Film Editor - Mark Day

Sound Designers - Michael Fentum

and Dominic Gibbs

Supervising Sound Editor - James Mather

Sound Effects Editors - Jed Loughran,

Samir Foco and Alistair Hawkins

Production Sound Mixer - Stuart Wilson

ADR Supervisor - Daniel Laurie

Re-Recording Mixers - Mike Dowson,

Stuart Hilliker and Adam Scrivener

Foley Mixers - Glen Gathard

and Luke Brown

Foley Artists - Peter Burgis

and Andie Derrick

Music/Score Producer - Alexandre Desplat

Composer: Themes - John Williams

Composer: "Dumbledore's Farewell" -

Nicholas Hooper

Score Producer/Music Recordist

and Mixer - Peter Cobbin

Review
Picking up where the last movie left off, DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 was exciting, yet it was ultimately the series' final chapter. J. K. Rowling deserves to be proud of this interpretation of her last Harry Potter book, and wow, what a powerful finale! This movie features spellbinding action and heartbreak. It has more than a few surprises and continued performances from actors like Alan Rickman, who appears for the last time as Severus Snape, a character he's played since the first Harry Potter film, The Philosopher's Stone.

PART 2 is the best in the Harry Potter series and my second-favourite movie of 2011. I invite all my viewers, especially Potter fans, to share their thoughts on the film in the comments.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Review

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride


Release Date: 4th November 1998 - Australia
(Direct to Video)

Production Companies

Walt Disney Animation Australia
DisneyToon Studios
Walt Disney Pictures


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 81 minutes

Plot Summary

Meet Kiara, Simba's
headstrong daughter and
heir to the Pride Lands.
While on the prowl for
adventure, she encounters
the mischievous Kovu,
a young member of the
banished Outland Pride
chosen to walk in Scar's
paw prints. As they seek
their proper places in the
"Circle of Life," Kiara
and Kovu find that they
may be the only hope
for healing the rift
between their prides! (Source - Amazon)


Voice Cast
Neve Campbell - Kiara

Liz Callaway - Kiara (singing voice)

Jenna D. A. Ronzzio - Young Kiara

Charity Walthrop - Young Kiara (singing voice)

Jason Marsden - Kovu

Gene Miller - Kovu (singing voice)

Ryan O'Donohue - Young Kovu

Matthew Broderick - Simba

Cam Clarke - Simba (singing voice)

Moira Kelly - Nala

Suzanne Pleshette - Zira

Nathan Lane - Timon

Ernie Sabella - Pumbaa

Robert Guillaume - Rafiki

Andy Dick - Nuka

Jennifer Lien - Vitani

Lacey Chabert - Young Vitani

Crysta Macalush Winton - 

Young Vitani (singing voice)

Edward Hibbert - Zazu

James Earl Jones - Mufasa's Ghost

Jim Cummings - Scar's Ghost

Crew

Director - Darrell Rooney

Co-Director - Rob LaDuca

Based on Characters (Uncredited) - Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts & Linda Woolverton

Screenplay - Flip Kobler & Cindy Marcus

Additional Written Material - Jenny Wingfield, Linda Voorhees, Gregory Poirier, Bill Motz, Bob Roth, Mark McCorkle, Robert Schooley & Jonathan Cuba

Producer - Jeannine Roussel
Voice Casting/Dialogue Director - Jamie Thomason
Art Director - Fred Warter
Character Designers - Dan Haskett & Caroline Hu
Additional Character Designer - Tony Leondis
Storyboard Supervisor - Daan Jippes
Animation Director - Steve Trenbirth
Supervising Animator: "Timon", "Pumbaa",
"Zazu" and "Rafiki" - Bob Baxter
Supervising Animator: "Kovu" - Andrew Collins
Supervising Animator: "Simba", "Nuka" and "Nala" -
Ian Harrowell
Supervising Animator: "Kiara" - Lianne Hughes
Supervising Animator: "Zira" and "Vitani" -
Kevin Peaty
Background Supervisor - Beverley McNamara
Layout Supervisor - Alex Nicholas

Film Editor - Peter Lonsdale

Songs & Lyrics - Tom Snow & Jack Feldman

Music - Nick Glennie-Smith

Review

'THE LION KING II: SIMBA’S PRIDE' was enjoyable, but didn't have the same roar as the first film (click here) had. Like its more worthy predecessor, the film's story was loosely based on Shakespeare, this time it's Romeo and Juliet and most of the original voice actors such as Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane have returned to this movie. The songs are good, but not as unforgettable as the ones in the original. One aspect bothered about this second addition was Simba being an overprotective father to his daughter Kiara. I say this because in the first film was Simba himself was a very determined cub who rebelled against his own father Mufasa. In absence of Scar, the villain of the movie is Zira who is a fanatical follower of the late Scar and is planning revenge against Simba. 

The sequel did not seem to have the passion as the first 'Lion King' installment did. Still, people will watch this movie and see the humour of Timon and Pumbaa whose antics continue to delight.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Review

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Release Date: 16th May 2002 - Australia

Production Companies

Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 142 minutes

Budget: $115,000,000

Box Office Gross: $653,779,970 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
After several assassination attempts have put Padmé Amidala, now the Senator of Naboo, in grave danger, the Jedi assign Anakin Skywalker to protect her at all costs. Anakin develops a romance with Padmé, which the Jedi Code forbids.

Meanwhile, his master, Obi-
Wan Kenobi, is looking for
the assassin Jango Fett and

has found clues leading

to the discovery of a clone

army. A sinister plot by a 

group of Separatists led by

Count Dooku would soon 

escalate into a full-scale

war with the Republic.

Cast

Ewan McGregor - Obi-Wan
Kenobi

Natalie Portman - Padmé

Amidala

Hayden Christensen - Anakin
Skywalker

Ian McDiarmid - Supreme
Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious

Christopher Lee - Count Dooku

Samuel L. Jackson - Mace
Windu

Temuera Morrison - Jango Fett

Frank Oz - Yoda (Voice)

Anthony Daniels - C-3PO/
Dannl Faytonni

Kenny Baker - R2-D2

Daniel Logan - Boba Fett

Leeanna Walsman - Zam
Wessell

Silas Carson - Nute Gunray/
Ki-Adi-Mundi

Ahmed Best - Jar Jar Binks
(Voice)/Achk Med-Beq
Jimmy Smits - Senator Bail
Organa
Pernilla August - Shmi
Skywalker
Jack Thompson - Cliegg Lars
Joel Edgerton - Owen Lars
Bonnie Piesse - Beru
Jay Laga'aia - Captain Typho
Andy Secombe - Watto (Voice)
Oliver Ford Davies - Sio Bibble
Ayesha Dharker - Queen
Jamillia
Anthony Phelan - Lama Su (Voice)
Rena Owen - Taun We (Voice)
Ron Falk - Dexter Jettster (Voice)

Rose Byrne - Dormé
Verónica Segura - Cordé
Alethea McGrath - Madame Jocasta Nu
Matt Doran - Elan Sleazebaggano
Matt Sloan - Plo Koon
Zachariah Jensen - Kit Fisto
Alex Knoll - J.K. Burtola
Phoebe Yiamkiati - Mari Amithest
Matt Rowan - Senator Orn Free Taa
David Bowers - Mas Amedda
Steven Boyle - Senator Ask Aak/

Passel Argente
Matt Sloan - Plo Koon

Marton Csokas - Poggle the Lesser

(Voice) (Uncredited)

Amy Allen - Aayla Secura/Mya Nalle/

Yma Nalle/Lela Mayn (Uncredited)

Orli Shashan - Shaak Ti (Uncredited)

Nalini Krishan - Barris Offee (Uncredited)

Mary Oyaya - Luminara Unduli (Uncredited)

Lily Nyamwasa - Adi Gallas (Uncredited)

Tux Akindoyeni - Agen Kolar (Uncredited)

Susie Porter - Hermione Bagwa/WA-7

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Story/Screenplay/Executive Producer/
Director - George Lucas

Character Creators: Aayla Secura -

John Ostrander and Jan Duursema (Uncredited)

Screenplay - Jonathan Hales

Script Supervisor - Jayne-Ann Tenggren

Producers - Rick McCallum and

Lorne Orleans (IMAX Version)

Casting Director - Robin Gurland

Production Designer - Gavin Bocquet

Concept Design Supervisors - Doug Chiang,
Ryan Church and Erik Tiemens
Supervising Art Director - Peter Russell

Art Directors - Ian Gracie, Phil Harvey,

Fred Hole, Jonathan Lee and Michelle McGahey

Supervising Construction Manager - David Bubb

Construction Manager - Greg Hajdu

Set Decorator - Peter Walpole

Assistant Set Decorator - Beverley Dunn
Property Master - Ty Teiger 

Costume Designer - Trisha Biggar

Costume Supervisor - Nicole Young

Costume Props Supervisor - Ivo Coveney

Makeup Supervisor - Lesley Vanderwalt

Creatures Supervisor - Jason Baird

Director of Photography - David Tattersall

Director of Photography: Additional Shooting

Crew - Giles Nuttgens

High Definition Camera Supervisor - Fred Meyers

Camera/Steadicam Operator - Brad Shield

Camera Operator - Calum McFarlane

Techno Crane Operator - Geoff Brown

Production Supervisor - Stephen Jones

Production Manager: Tunisia - Peter Heslop

Production Coordinators: Additional Shooting

Crew - Helen Gregory and Virginia Whitwell

First Assistant Director - James McTeigue

First Assistant Directors: Additional Shooting

Crew - Richard Hewitt and Richard Whelan

Second Second Assistant Director - Paul Sullivan

Stunt Coordinator/Sword Master - Nick Gillard

Special Effects Supervisor - David Young
Special Effects Supervisor: ILM - Geoff Heron

Special Effects Supervisor: Additional Shooting

Crew - Tom Harris

Creature Effects Supervisor: Additional Shooting

Crew - Nick Dudman

Droid Unit Supervisor/R2-D2 Operator - Don Bies

Visual Effects Supervisors - Pablo Helman,

John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Ben Snow

Visual Effects Producers: ILM - Jill Brooks,

Gretchen Libby and Heather MacDonald

Visual Effects Executive Producer: ILM - Judith Weaver

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alex Jaeger

Visual Effects Conceptual Artists: ILM -

Christian Alzmann, Michael Brunsfield,

Warren Fu, Philip Metschan and Wilson J. Tang

Effects Directors of Photography: ILM -

Martin Rosenberg, Carl Miller and Pat Sweeney

Model Supervisor: ILM - Brian Gernand

Animation Director - Rob Coleman

Animation Supervisors: ILM - Chris Armstrong

and Hal T. Hickel

Technical Animation Supervisor: ILM - James Tooley

Pre-Visualisation/Effects Supervisors -

Daniel D. Gregoire and David Dozoretz

Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -

Kevin Barnhill, Dan B. Goldman, Samir Hoon,

David Meny, Robert Marinic, Curt I. Miyashiro,

Patrick T. Myers and Henry Preston

Motion Capture Supervisor: ILM - Jeffrey B. Light

Digital Modelling Supervisors: ILM -

Geoff Campbell and Russell Paul

3D Matchmove Supervisor: ILM - Jason H. Snell

Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM - Jean Bolte

Digital Matte Sequence Supervisors: ILM -

Jonathan Harb, Paul Huston and Yusei Uesugi

Digital Compositing Supervisors: ILM -

Jeff Doran, Dorne Huebler and

Marshall Richard Krasser

Editor/Sound Designer/Supervising

Sound Editor - Ben Burtt

Assistant Editors - Todd Busch,

Cheryl Nardi and Joseph Jett Sally

Location Assistant Editor - Jason Ballantine

Technical Supervisor - Michael Blanchard

Supervising Sound Editor - Matthew Wood

Apprentice Sound Editor - David Acord

Sound Effects Editors - Teresa Eckton

and Bruce Lacey

Sound Fu - Christopher Scarabosio

Sound Recordist - Paul 'Salty' Brincat

Foley Artists - Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance

Re-Recording Mixers - Rick Kline,

Gary Rydstrom and Michael Semanick

Additional Re-Recording Mixer - Gary A. Rizzo

Music - John Williams

Supervising Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg

Scoring Engineer - Shawn Murphy


Awards

2003 Academy Awards
Best Visual Effects - Rob Coleman,

Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow (Nominated)

Review
Though not up to the standard of the other Star Wars movies, ATTACK OF THE CLONES is a visual spectacle and, in some ways, an improvement on The Phantom Menace. The romantic relationship between Anakin and Padmé is slightly heartwarming yet quite awkward, and Hayden Christensen's performance isn't always consistent, especially when he gets melodramatic. Although he's not giving his best performance due to his shallowness and misdirection, the film has made him a star, but he hasn't fully matured into the role.

I'm glad that Jar Jar Binks gets toned down from his screen time as an annoying comic relief to what is to be a minor role. However, he does play a significant role in one scene, which only makes fans hate the character even more. I praise the decision to render Yoda in CGI rather than relying on old-school puppetry. I love the fantastic lightsaber duel between him and Count Dooku. The film's climax occurs when the clone troopers arrive at the arena to assist the Jedi in their fight against the Separatists, thus paving the way for the Clone Wars.

ATTACK OF THE CLONES is a semi-decent Star Wars movie, but it's not its best. I would disagree with the fans, who were very negative in their response to this prequel. I don't blame them, and I probably re-watch the film in a marathon.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Fast & Furious 5 Review

Fast & Furious 5


Release Date: 20th April 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures (presents)
Original Film
One Race Productions
Dentsu (in association with)

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 130 minutes


Budget: $125,000,000

Box Office Gross: $626,137,675 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The famous street racer Dom Toretto and ex-cop Brian O'Conner are now fugitives hiding in Brazil. While a drug lord, Agent Hobbs, and crooked cops are hot on their heels, the pair recruit several friends and begin pulling off an elaborate heist to steal $100 million.


Cast
Vin Diesel - Dominic Toretto
Paul Walker - Brian O'Conner
Dwayne Johnson - Luke Hobbs
Jordana Brewster - Mia Toretto
Tyrese Gibson - Roman Pearce
Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges - Tej Parker
Matt Schulze - Vince
Sung Kang - Han Seoul-Oh
Gal Gadot - Gisele Yashar

Tego Calderón - Leo Tego

Don Omar - Rico Santos
Joaquim de Almeida - Hernan Reyes
Elsa Pataky - Elena Neves
Michael Irby - Zizi

Fernando Chien - Wilkes

Alimi Ballard - Fusco

Yorgo Constantine - Chato

Geoff Meed - Macroy

Joseph Melendez - Chief of Police Alemeida

Jerimarie Osorio - Rosa

Mark Hicks - Capa

Esteban Cueto - Berto

Corey Michael Eubanks - Lanza

Luis Da Silva Jr. - Diogo

Eva Mendes - Monica Fuentes (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Executive Producer/Director - Justin Lin
Based on Characters - Gary Scott Thompson
Writer - Chris Morgan

Executive Producers - Amanda Lewis and Samantha Vincent
Producers - Vin Diesel and Neal H. Moritz

Producer/Unit Production Manager - Michael Fottrell

Casting Director - Debra Zane
Production Designer - Peter Wenham

Supervising Art Director - Thomas Valentine

Art Director - Andrew Neskoromny

Art Director: Puerto Rico Unit - Beat Frutiger

Set Decorator - Bob Kensinger

Property Master - Guillaume DeLouche

Armorer - David Fencl
Costume Designer - Sanja Milkovic Hays

Makeup Department Head - John Blake

Makeup Artist: Vin Diesel - Christien Tinsley
Director of Photography - Stephen F. Windon

Director of Photography: Second Unit,

Puerto Rico - Igor Meglic

Director of Photography: Second Unit, Arizona

(Uncredited)/Second Unit Director: Train Heist

Unit - Alexander Witt

"B" Camera Operator/Aerial Director of

Photography: Second Unit, Arizona - Ronald Hersey

"A" Camera Operator: Second Unit, Puerto Rico -

Jacques Hatkin

Aerial Director of Photography: Second Unit,

Puerto Rico - Steve Koster

Production Supervisor - Thomas Hayslip

Production Supervisor: Second Unit, Puerto Rico -

Leeann Stonebreaker

First Assistant Director - Vincent Lascoumes

First Assistant Director: Second Unit, Puerto

Rico - James LaRocca

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Spiro Razatos

Supervising Stunt Coordinator - Mike Gunther
Stunt Coordinator - Troy Robinson

Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Jack Gill

Stunt Coordinator: Train Unit - Gary Hymes

Stunt Rigging Coordinator/Additional

Stunt Coordinator (Uncredited) - James M. Churchman

Picture Car Coordinator - Dennis McCarthy

Pilot - Frédéric North

Supervising Special Effects Coordinator -

R. Bruce Steinheimer
Special Effects Coordinator - David Fletcher

Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit,

Puerto Rico - Garry Elmendorf
Special Effects Coordinator: Second Unit,

Arizona - Matt Sweeney

Special Effects Foremen - Barry McQueary,

Michael Clarke, Richard Stutsman

and Thomas Kittle

Special Effects Set Supervisor - Rick Thompson
Visual Effects Supervisor - Mike Wassel
Visual Effects Supervisor: Hammerhead -

Justin Jones

Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Guillaume Rocheron

Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Kelvin McIlwain 

Visual Effects Producer: Look FX -

Melinka Thompson-Godoy

Visual Effects Producer: Pixomondo -

Sophie Leclerc

Animation Supervisor: MPC - Daryl Sawchuk

CG Supervisor: Hammerhead - Dan Smiczek

Compositing Supervisor: Pixomondo -

Theresa Ellis Rygiel

Editors - Kelly Matsumoto, Fred Raskin

and Christian Wagner

First Assistant Editor - Leigh Folsom Boyd

Sound Designer and Supervisor - Peter Brown

Sound Designers - Glynna Grimala,

Ann Scibelli, Stephen P. Robinson and

Peter Staubli

Supervising Dialogue & ADR Editor - Anna MacKenzie

Production Sound Mixer - Whit Norris

Supervising Sound Mixers - Jon Taylor

and Frank A. Montaño

Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and Katie Rose
Music - Brian Tyler


Review
FAST & FURIOUS 5 is an action-packed extravaganza with cars and shotguns. This film embraces a genre shift, trading the series' prominent street-racing focus for a heist plot worthy of films like The Italian Job. I'm surprised that FAST & FURIOUS 5 has received the best reviews from other critics, though it's the first time in the franchise. The action sequences remain, but many driving scenes contain traces of adrenaline.

I mustn't forget to mention the funny toilet scene. I enjoyed the climactic car chase involving the vault safe and the movie's cast, such as Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Diesel and Johnson have shaved heads and buff muscles, but they are similar nonetheless. Dom is tough and aggressive, and Hobbs is a determined cop who will not let himself get beaten.

I've never watched any of The Fast and the Furious movies (except the fourth entry, which I saw by accident). This action film is incredible. It deserves my 5-out-of-5 rating as the best movie ever. I highly recommend it to lovers of Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and action movies.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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