Monday, June 30, 2014

Grown Ups 2 Review












Grown Ups 2


Release Date:
19th September 2013 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures (presents)
Happy Madison

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 minutes
                94 minutes (DVD)


Budget: $80,000,000

Box Office Gross: $246,984,278 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Three years have passed
since Lenny and his friends
had a great time in their
lives in their summer.
Lenny has moved his
family from the big city
to the small town where
they grew up. Now, on this
last day of school, it's up
to the children to teach
their parents a thing or two.


Cast
Adam Sandler - Lenny Feder
Kevin James - Eric Lamonsoff
Chris Rock - Kurt McKenzie
David Spade - Marcus Higgins
Nick Swardson - Nick Fillard
Salma Hayek - Roxanne Feder
Jake Goldberg - Greg Feder
Cameron Boyce - Kethie Feder
Alexys Nycole Sanchez - Becky Feder
Maria Bello - Sally Lamonsoff
Ada-Nicole Sanger - Donna
Lamonoff
Frank Gingerich - Bean Lamonsoff
Maya Rudolph - Deanne McKenzie
Nadji Jeter - Andre McKenzie
China Anne McClain -
Charlotte McKenzie
Kaleo Elam - Ronnie McKenzie
Alexander Ludwig - Braden
Richie Minervini - Principal Tardio
Jackie Sandler - Jackie Tardio
Sadie Sandler - Sadie Tardio
Sunny Sandler - Sunny Tardio
Tim Meadows - Malcolm Fluzoo
Steve Austin - Dennis "Tommy" Cavanaugh
Shaquille O'Neal - Office Fluzoo
Taylor Lautner - Frat Boy Andy (Uncredited)
Steve Buscemi - Wiley
Oliver Hudson - Kyle
Colin Quinn - Dickie Bailey
Georgia Emge - Mrs. Lamonoff
Jon Lovitz - Squats Fitness Janitor
Allen Covert - Hippie Teacher (Cameo)
Cheri Oteri - Penny
Ellen Cleghorne - Mary Fluzoo
April Rose - Hot Dance Teacher
Dan Patrick - Gym Teacher
Ebony Jo-Ann - Mama Ronzoni
Halston Sage - Nancy Arbuckle
Norm Crosby - K-Mart Employee
Dennis Dugan - Dr. Larry (Cameo)
Jonathan Loughran - Robideaux
Chris Berman - The Great Renaldo
Kris Murrell - Beefcake Kitty
Kevin Grady - Muzby (Cameo)
Aly Michalka - Bikini Girl Savannah
Paulina Gretzky - Bikini Girl Daisy
Kamil McFadden - Bumpty Fluzoo
Alexander Poncio - Duffy
Patrick Schwarzenegger - Frat Boy
David Henrie - Frat Boy
Chris Titone - Frat Boy
Jared Sandler - Frat Boy
Jimmy Sandler - Frat Boy
Jimmy Tatro - Frat Boy
Andy Samberg - Male Cheerleader (Cameo)
Jorma Taccone - Male Cheerleader
Bobby Moynihan - Male Cheerleader
Akiva Schaffer - Male Cheerleader
Taran Killam - Male Cheerleader
Paul Brittain - Male Cheerleader
Will Forte - Male Cheerleader (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Erin Heatherton - Ginger (Head Cheerleader)
Milo Ventimiglia - Milo
Peter Wolf - The Party Band
Seth Justman - The Party Band
Magic Dick - The Party Band
Danny Klein - The Party Band
Duke Levine - The Party Band
Tom Arey - The Party Band

Crew
Director - Dennis Dugan
Based on Characters/Writer - Fred Wolf
Based on Characters/Writer/Producer -
Adam Sandler
Writer - Tim Herlihy
Executive Producers - Barry Bernardi
and Allen Covert
Producer - Jack Giarraputo
Co-Producer/Music Supervisor - Kevin Grady
Casting Director - Roger Mussenden
Production Designer - Aaron Osborne
Art Director - Erin Cochran
Set Decorator - Jennifer M. Gentile
Property Master - Timothy S. Wiles
Costume Designer - Ellen Lutter
Director of Photography - Theo van de Sande
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator: Second
Unit - Scott Rogers
Special Effects Coordinator - Mark R. Byers
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Edwin Rivera
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Zoic Studios -
Rocco Passionino
Editor - Tom Costain
Supervising Sound Editors - Kami Asgar
and Sean McCormack
Re-Recording Mixers - Tateum Kohut
and Greg Orloff
Music - Rupert Gregson-Williams
Music Supervisors - Michael Dilbeck
and Brooks Arthur


Review
Practically joyless and sometimes offensive comedy is the best way to describe this motion picture. With GROWN UPS 2, I was sceptical that it would ever be able to surpass the standards of its underrated predecessor (click here). Surprisingly, it beat its competitor, the non-comedic movie Pacific Rim, at the box office triumph in the US but not worldwide. The safer and alternative film received better reviews than the sequel. Adam Sandler got back together again with Chris Rock, Kevin James and David Spade as the four members of the cast, leaving Rob Schneider not to reprise his role as the fifth character from the first hit. It makes logical that they appeared to be trying their best, and Sandler ended up having the tiring and derivative humour he wrote.

WWF wrestler Steve Austin appeared in one of the minor roles and treated his part like an extended cameo. Unfortunately, it's not good enough that former Twilight bad boy Taylor Lautner is here to save the movie from its less favourable reputation. Some comedic parts serve the film to make it partially redeemable for an average moviegoer who would have wanted it. Enough is enough for GROWN UPS 2 to get criticised for its factors. It's not the best of its apples, nor the worst movie in history. It's a good thing I never lived in this comedy, and it will not be the all-time horrible. You're wondering why the worst movie I have seen is Batman & Robin.

In recommendation, the film is below average, and next time, I hope Sandler will make a better movie, which I will judge at the next screening. Watch GROWN UPS 1 without wasting your money to try the second part.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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Monday, June 23, 2014

Mission to Mars Review











Mission to Mars


Release Date: 6th April 2000 - Australia


Production Companies
Touchstone Pictures (presents)
Spyglass Entertainment (presents)
The Jacobson Company
Red Horizon Productions

Distribution
Walt Disney Studios Motion 
Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 101 minutes


Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $110,983,407
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The year is 2020, and the 
first manned mission to 
Mars, commanded by 
Luke Graham lands 
safely on the red planet. 

But the Martian landscape 
harbors a bizarre and 
shocking secret that 
leads to a mysterious 
disaster so catastrophic, 
it decimates the crew. 
Haunted by a cryptic last 
message from Graham, 
NASA launches the Mars 
Recovery Mission to 
investigate and bring back 
survivors – if there are any. 
Confronted with nearly 
insurmountable dangers, 
but propelled by deep 
friendship, the team finally 
lands on Mars and makes 
a discovery so amazing, it 
takes your breath away


Cast
Gary Sinise - Jim McConnell
Tim Robbins - Woody Blake
Don Cheadle - Luke Graham
Connie Nielsen - Terri Fisher
Jerry O'Connell - Phil Ohlmyer
Kim Delaney - Maggie McConnell
Peter Outerbridge - Sergei Krov
Kavan Smith - Nicholas Willis
Jill Teed - Renee Cote
Elisa Neal - Debra Graham
Robert Bailey Jr. - Bobby Graham
McCanna Anthony Sinise - Young Jim McConnell
Chantal Conlin - Young Maggie

Crew
Director - Brian DePalma
Story/Screenplay - Jim & John Thomas
Story - Lowell Cannon
Screenplay - Graham Yost
Associate Producers - Ted Tally, Chris Soldo and
Jacqueline Lopez 
Executive Producer - Sam Mercer
Producer - Tom Jacobson
Co-Producers - David S. Goyer,
Justis Greene and Jim Wedaa
Technical Consultants - Joseph P. Allen,
Matthew Golombek and Story Musgrave
Consultants - Dave Scott and Robert Zubrin
Choreographer - Adam Shankman
Production Designer - Ed Verreaux
Conceptual Artist/Vehicle Designer - Syd Mead
Art Directors - Andrew Neskoromny and
Thomas Valentine
Costume Designer - Sanja Milkovic Hays
Director of Photography - Stephen H. Hurum
Second Unit Director - Eric Schwab
Stunt Coordinator - Jeff Habberstad
Stunt Coordinator: Vancouver - Melissa R. Stubbs
Special Effects Supervisor - Garry Elmendorf
Special Effects Coordinator - Randy Shymkiw
Visual Effects Supervisors - John Knoll and
Hoyt Yeatman
Co-Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - George Murphy
Visual Effects Producer: DQI - Rae Griffith
Co-Visual Effects Producer: DQI - Kristina Reed
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alexander Laurant
Digital Effects Supervisor: DQI - Darin Hollings
Character Design Supervisor: Alien, ILM - Jeff Mann
CG Animation Supervisor: ILM - Dennis Turner
Animation Supervisor: DQI - Matthew O'Callaghan
Miniature Effects Supervisor: DQI - Scott Schneider
Film Editor - Paul Hirsch
Music - Ennio Morricone


Review
Before I got to see the overlooked basic sci-fi film 'MISSION TO MARS (M2M)', it was released at the beginning of the 21st century and was paired up with another Mars-related film 'Red Planet' on two different dates. These films are both set on the planet's red scenery, neither of these space-faring exploration films ever outdoes the other nor received any critical praise. Without its few flaws, I believe 'M2M' would have been more popular. Compared to the classic '2001: A Space Odyssey' from what I've heard, 'M2M' shares some of its principles and technical wizardry. While watching 'M2M', I felt it was progressing well as an ordinary flick until it reaches the final half when it seems to be constructed with a few second-rate CGI sequences. Without being as hallucinogenic as '2001' and with the advice from Stanley Kubrick on his deathbed, director Brian DePalma was able to make this the new version. In order to do this, De Palma added emotion, adventure and a faster pace.

However, the film is able to keep up with the cinematography drawn from '2001's same techniques. It's gotten more vivid in these angles to demonstrate a certain skill in creativity. I appreciated the high standard of the acting from some cast members. Gary Sinise and Tim Robbins were not unsuitable and show no signs of their sometimes-expressionless performances.

Say what you will about 'M2M', I'm of the consideration that it is not the best movie of its year. This film is solid but audiences need to be thrilled and captivated which 'M2M' doesn't achieve.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

X-Men: Days of Future Past Review













X-Men: Days of Future Past


Release Date: 16th May 2014 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Marvel Entertainment (in
association with)
TSG Entertainment (in
association with)
Ingenious Media (made in
association with)
Bad Hat Harry Productions
Donners' Company
Genre Films
Down Productions (made in association with)

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 131 minutes


Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $746,045,700 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The year is 2023, in a dystopian future where mutants and the humans who dare to help them are on the verge of extinction, massacred by invincible robots called Sentinels. Now, the remaining survivors have only one option to save the future. To do this, they sent Wolverine back in 1973 to stop the war before it even started.


Cast
Hugh Jackman - Logan/
Wolverine
James McAvoy - Charles Xavier
Patrick Stewart - Professor X
Michael Fassbender - Erik Lensherr
Ian McKellen - Magneto
Jennifer Lawrence - Raven
Darkholme/Mystique
Halle Berry - Ororo Monroe/
Storm
Nicholas Hoult - Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast
Kelsey Grammer - Beast
(Cameo) (Uncredited)
Peter Dinklage - Bolivia Trask
Ellen Page - Kitty Pryde
Shawn Ashmore - Bobby
Drake/Iceman
Omar Sy - Bishop
Daniel Cudmore - Peter
Rasputin/Colossus
Evan Peters - Peter
Maximoff/Quicksilver
Fan Bingbing - Blink
Adan Canto - Sunspot
Booboo Stewart - Warpath
Josh Helman - Major William
Stryker
Anna Paquin - Marie/Rogue
(Cameo)
Famke Janssen - Jean Grey (Cameo)
James Marsden - Scott Summers/Cyclops (Cameo)
Lucas Till - Alex Summers/
Havok
Evan Jonigkeit - Toad
Mark Camacho - U.S. President Richard Nixon
Alexander Felici - Young Mutant Scavenger
Jan Gerste - Gwen
Massimo Cannistraro - Ramone
Mike Dopud - Pinstripe Mafioso
Lee Villeneuve - Black Coast Mafioso
Andreas Apergis - Col. Sanders
Robert Montcalm - Vietnam MP Guard
Gregg Lowe - Ink
Jaa Smith-Johnson - Mutant Soldier
Alex Ivanovici - Quarantine Doctor
Alain Dahan - Quarantine Doctor #2
Freddy Bessa - Quarantine Doctor #3
Patricia Tougas - Quarantine Nurse
Michael Lerner - Senator Brickman
Chris Claremont - Congressman Parker (Cameo)
Len Wein - Congressman Davis (Cameo)
François Paquette - Congressman McCarter
Zabryna Guevara - Trask Secretary
Zehra Leverman - Mrs. Maximoff
Angela Galuppo - Pentagon Tour Guide
Milo Chang Sigel - Pentagon Young Boy
Kiana Chang Sigel - Pentagon Young Girl
Victor Cornfoot - Surveillance Guard #1
Brent Skagford - Surveillance Guard #2
Kyle Gatehouse - Penthouse Cook
John-Sebastien Cole - Mustachioed
Kitchen Guard
Stéphane Julien - Kitchen Guard
Taris Tyler - Pentagon Elevator Guard
Darryl Scheelar - Armed Kitchen Guard
Thai-Hoa Le - General Nhuan
Johnny Tran - Vietnamese Captain
Gregory Hlady - General Petrov
Dang Quoc Thinh - Vietnamese Translator
Vladimir Aksenov - Russian Translator
Jimmy Chan - Chinese Translator
Julian Casey - Peace Summit Reporter
Robert Crooks - Nixon Aide
Matt Cooke - Secretary of Defense
Tim Post - US Army General
Jason Deline - Desk Anchor
Karine Vanasse - French Emergency Nurse
Pierre Leblanc - French Reporter
Jude Beny - Female Traveler
Arthur Holden - Blue Suit Traveler
Sean Curley - Airport Backpacker
Susanna Fournier - Flight Attendant
Andrew Peplowski - White House Reporter
John Sanford Moore - White House Lawn
Reporter
Moe Jeudy-Lamour - White House Ticket Man
Harry Standjofski - Groundskeeper
Brianna Bone - Red-Haired Girl
Neil Napier - Secret Service Agent
Jason Koehler - White House Stage Guard
Miya Shelton-Contreras - Peter's Little Sister
Mizinga Mwinga - Potomac River Cop #1
Christian Judah - Potomac River Cop #2
Brendan Pedder - En Sabah Nur (Uncredited)
Bryan Singer - Man with Small Film Camera
(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Producer/Director - Bryan Singer
Based on Marvel's "X-Men" Comics
(Uncredited)/Executive Producer - Stan Lee
Based on Marvel's "X-Men" Comics
(Uncredited) - Jack Kirby
Story/Screenplay/Producer - Simon Kinberg
Story - Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn
Associate Producers - Tom Cohen
and Derek Hoffman
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Kathleen McGill
Executive Producer/Second Unit Director -
Todd Hallowell
Executive Producer/First Assistant Director -
Josh McLaglen
Producers - Hutch Parker and
Lauren Shuler Donner
Co-Producer - Jason Taylor
Casting Directors - Andrea Kenyon,
Roger Mussenden and Randi Wells
Production Designer - John Myhre
Supervising Art Director - Michele Laliberte
Concept Artist - Henry Fong
Set Decorators - Eva Boulonne,
Gordon Sim and Ann Smart
Property Master - Simone Leclerc
Costume Designer - Louise Mingerbach
Costume Supervisors - Bob Morgan
and Blanche-Danielle Boileau
Head Makeup Artist - Norma-Hill Patton
Head SPX Makeup Artist - Adrien Morot
Mystique and Beast SFX Makeup/Prosthetics
and Full Size Sentinel: Legacy Effects -
Brian Sipe
Director of Photography - Newton Thomas Sigel
Director of Photography: Second Unit -
Larry Blanford
Aerial Director of Photography - Hans Bjerno
Aerial Coordinator - Frédéric North
Additional First Assistant "B" Camera: First Unit -
Nicolas Marion
Production Managers - Daniel Auclair and
Ashish Kukian
First Assistant Director: Second Unit -
Andrew M. Robinson
Second Unit Director - Brian Smrz
Stunt Coordinators - Jeff Habberstad,
Michael Scherer and James M. Churchman
Fight Coordinators - Renae Moneymaker and
Daniel Stevens
Special Effects Supervisor - Cameron Waldbauer
Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit -
Steve Hamilton
Legacy Effects Supervisor - John Rosengrant
Visual Effects Supervisor - Richard Stammers
Visual Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Lou Pecora
Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Anders Langlands
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Derek Spears
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - Matt Sloan
Visual Effects Producer - Blondel Aidoo
Visual Effects Producer: Digital Domain -
Daniel Brimer
Visual Effects: Hydraulx - Colin & Greg
Strause, Erik Diles, Bill Kunin, Eric Kohler,
Nicolas Vigneau, Mark Rasmussen,
Hui-Wen Yu, Kishor Joshu, Shane Kag,
Joel Sevilla, David Michaels, Yuji Yagasaki,
Jarrod Avalos and Chris Radcliffe
Visual Effects: Animal Logic -
Sandra Beerenbrock, Tyson Donnelly,
Paul Butterworth, Miles Green and
Julien Leveudle
Digital Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Nikos Kalaitzidis
Senior Animation Supervisor: Digital Domain -
Jan Philip Cramer
CG Supervisors: MPC - Sheldon Stopsack
and James Rustad
Compositing Supervisors: Digital Domain -
Joel Behrens and Michael Maloney
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -
Craig Berkey
Sound Designers - Warren Hendriks and
Chuck Michaels
Supervising Sound Editor - John A. Larsen
Assistant Supervising Sound Editor -
Skip Longfellow
Sound Effects Editors - Ai-Ling Lee
and Wayne Lemmer
Sound Effects Recordist - John P. Fasal
Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett
and Doug Hemphill
Additional Re-Recording Mixer - James Bolt
Film Editor/Music - John Ottman
Co Editor - Michael Louis Hill
Composers: Additional Music - Lior Rosner,
Marcus Trumpp and Edwin Wendler


Review
So, sorry I kept you waiting for this review. I have been busy revisiting my old critiques and correcting their faults. Now I can write my review of DAYS OF FUTURE PAST after seeing it on the big screen. I was overly satisfied with the film, which confounded me at the end. I knew this was just what the director had wanted. Bryan Singer is back to being the director and rewriting history in his series. Not that the film is a mixture of old and new, but it brought a few characters back. I assure you, they had been quite dead on the previous timeline. This movie has restored the balance of continuity since the other two films of the X-Men series, such as Origins: Wolverine and The Last Stand, weren't well-received.

Some main actors are back to play a few characters with their future and past selves. Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen portray a duelling age comparison as Magneto, while Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy were both Professor X, young and old. Jennifer Lawrence is still the form-changing Mystique, and her character becomes as deadly as she is no longer innocent and heroic. Hugh Jackman secures his lead role as Wolverine again and continues to do a stunning job. He still retains the perfection and the character's macho exterior. I expect that in some years, he will have to retire from the role in the next Wolverine sequel very soon.

My faith in the series finally encouraged me to indulge in this new instalment. This film fulfilled Bryan's chance to restore order in the series. Don't get me started on the lesser two additions, as you know my opinion of these disappointments. DAYS OF FUTURE PAST is something that a fan would love to see. It revives the impact of the film collection.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Monday, June 16, 2014

What Made The Lion King So Special?

In paying a visit to the 20th anniversary of one of my all-time favourite features, this post I eventually wrote describes the topics of what made the Disney epic THE LION KING so grand, so subtle, and forever changed the colours of animation. Do not detest this movie for ripping off the anime Kimba the White Lion, even though both are similar in almost every way. While partially based on the Shakespearean tale Hamlet, the inspirational source for THE LION KING (TLK) was from the myths and classical hero stories that George Lucas read and used to invent and perfect Star Wars as his groundbreaking sci-fi saga.

Now, whether TLK is Disney's original best-animated feature or not. We are looking back now on what made it so iconic. But still unadulterated in a mixture of entertainment to appease young and old families of parents, children, moviegoers and animation lovers. Find out if you want to explore the world of Simba when you see him in his adventures, having run for his life from the stampede, or hear the philosophy of Hakuna Matata from everybody's favourite duo of meerkat and warthog. Well, mates, this is what I will tell you in my analysis.



#8. The Music

The music is one of the
film's highlights. Such
containment is the blend
of the organic tribal
percussions and rhythms of
the songs by famed pop
super-star Elton John and
the brilliantly done score
by the legendary Hans
Zimmer. Elton did a
fantastic job with the verse
material he wrote with Aladdin lyricist Tim Rice. He patterned many of these catchiest melodies true to their character and meaning, like, for instance, "Circle of Life", the cheerfulness of "Hakuna Matata", and the underrated song for the villain "Be Prepared". One of these songs, in my opinion, stands out the most is "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", which won an Oscar for Best Song and has always been one of my favourites. I'm referring to the end-credits version sung by Elton John, which I liked the best.

A little-known fact: this song wasn't supposed to be used in the movie when Elton insisted Disney include it. It had gone through a songwriting phase when it was going to be sung by Timon and Pumbaa, but Elton hated the comical nature of the concept and opted for a feel that follows "Disney's tradition of great love songs".

I loved Hans Zimmer for his legendary prolific background music in some of the films directed by Christopher Nolan. It's the one movie that shot him to fame and earned him his only Oscar for Best Original Score. He's done each piece of the background score to match the music in a few songs or most of the film's entirety with the fusion of two African forms of choirs in creating a majestic score.



#7. Voice Talent

Voice acting in animation is still as high as the mightiest for people with acting experience. Without actors to record their characters, there would be silenceMatthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, Rowan Atkinson and young Jonathan Taylor Thomas are all known for celebrity status and are doing well in an all-star cast for THE LION KING. The stand-out roles are Jeremy Irons as Scar and James Earl Jones as the hero's father, Mufasa. Jeremy slithers his English voice to portray Scar as deliciously creepy. And yet, he has to pop in the sarcasm and seething for his feline menace. Jones does a better job of making a proper father figure like Mufasa sound regal and gentler than his Vader impression. Sure, he makes Mufasa look like a good dad with a powerful voice you always would want!



#6. Animation

Some kids' movies won't be
complete with animation.
THE LION KING (TLK) is
done in hand-drawn
animation through a
computer and made in
motion at its full use of
24 fps (frames per second).
Its innovative computer
animation proved effective
with 2D rendering in creating the impacting wildebeest sequence. The characters and shots are in an angle, structure and curve in a layer of frame envisioned by the animation team. It took a lot of time to add the facial postures and make them more expressive than anything on BambiThat distinction goes honourably to the animators' flexibility to move the figures to be true to their designs. In particular, Scar, Mufasa and Simba are the most beautifully hand-drawn characters. They also created the angles and moments to have the feature in scale. It's how they designed two unforgettable sequences, such as the Circle of Life opening and the ferocious stampede. Pure quality to animation filmmaking on Disney's original top feature, indeed.



#5. Maturity and Themes

One of the reasons THE
LION KING (TLK) was
unforgettable was the
meaningful themes
containing the struggle
between good and evil, the
lessons of life and death,
the balance of nature, and
the most pivotal message
that young kids need to hear
responsibility. TLK focuses on the character of Simba and how he comes to terms with witnessing the death of his beloved parent. Facing the guilt that his uncle placed on him to make his trauma far worse, he must learn any of the responsibilities before he can reclaim his kingdom. Not only does TLK accomplish some dramatic subjects, but it has reached a darker path with some intensity and drama, from the hyenas to the stampede to frighten some of the younger kids. It led Disney to make a few more adult-themed animated films with mixed results. TLK is tamer with some edginess that would have landed the film a PG rating if it comes to the right time for children to seek knowledge of its themes.



#4. Characters

THE LION KING had not
only established certain
things of its thematic
storyline and its famed
significance to pop-cultural
history. We remember
another vital component
is its characters. They're
iconic, which few I know
of are so comical, and
the rest are plain and simple. Timon and Pumbaa are the memorable sidekick duo. They were hilarious and whatnot too scrappy that this pair of a wisecracking meerkat and the warthog who makes passing wind saved Simba's life. They eventually raise him and teach the cub a thing or two about their carefree lifestyle. Those two are the best mates on-screen. They are the movie's other main essentials.

Scar, is treacherous and deceitful to anyone from his closest kin, like his brother Mufasa and his nephew Simba. He has a dark presence and crosses a line that no other Disney villain has done before. He was one of the villain archetypes that committed both fratricide and regicide. Oh, and he's the precursor of Loki, thus sharing the same goals and exploits. There is not a single character that I have in mind. Simba is the reason why this cat is the lead hero. I must admit how brave he was as a young cub when he slashed the hyena Shenzi in the right cheek. As a young adult, Simba puts up a good fight with Nala before she pins right back at him, which leads him to recognise her, and he even battles his no-good uncle Scar in an ultimate fiery confrontation.



#3. The 3D Re-Release

It may have gotten a stage musical
adaptation, a sequel soon to have
two now official, a part prequel/
part side-story, and two television
spin-offs. A craze began in 2009
when 3D was more than a
promotional gimmick to view
movies, and every studio started
to pile up the aspect of re-releasing
their classical hits. The first,
however, was expected to be
Star Wars until THE LION
KING (TLK) bumped the spot and
arrived in late 2011. Generations
of fans were most dazzled to see
TLK back in theatres, and every
young child had gone and seen the
film when they heard about it
since they weren't born yet! What I remembered about the hype in 2011. I witnessed the presentation of Simba on the big screen come to life in two dimensions.



#2. Mufasa's Death

This heart-wrenching scene
that everyone in Generation
Y remembers dearly is
Mufasa's death. This terrible
moment came when we
were born in the 90s or
just as young to watch him
die at Scar's betrayal. I can't
show you what will happen
to the perfect dad, who we all root for and cherish. We've seen how Simba can't wait to be a king like his dad, and now the dream is suddenly put on hold. How heartbreaking is that the cub doesn't know that his sinister uncle Scar murdered him so he can have both of them out of the family picture. And what's worse, Scar guilt-tripped him into believing that he was the cause of his death. He had let him obtain his kingship and the reign of Pride Rock. Please, give the poor cub some therapy and comfort!



#1. Opening Scene

One of the last hugest topics
about THE LION KING is 
the Circle of Life intro. Where
the sun is rising onto the
land of Africa and the sky
is turning daytime. You
can hear the Zulu chorus
in the background as the
animals gather around,
and they bow their heads
to their newborn and future
king when Rafiki presents him shortly after his birth. The animation crew made one of the best film openings and used it as a teaser to turn the crowd into hysteria. Combined with layers of music and animation, it made them wait before they could purchase a ticket to see this animated hit. Sure pays it similarly 52 years after the classic opening of Bambi. It rivals the majesty of these wildlife documentaries!



Conclusion

That is how THE LION KING (TLK) succeeds in its epic artistry. It had the hugest earnings it grossed in movie theatres worldwide until Frozen became Disney's highest. You will be surprised it's way better and different than having the Disney feature Frozen. Come to think of it. I won't need to watch the now overly-anticipated similar film. I would rather watch TLK as I will see it again sometime or some month. If you have already watched TLK, re-watch it again. If you have not seen the movie, you will hopefully indulge in its impact. Hakuna Matata to all of you fans!

Monday, June 9, 2014

The Karate Kid (1984) Review








The Karate Kid


Release Date: 27th September 1984 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Family/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 122 minutes


Budget: $8,000,000

Box Office Gross: $91,119,319 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Daniel LaRusso, a mild-
mannered teenager, has
just moved from his
hometown of New Jersey
with his mother to sunny
Los Angeles, California.
However, Danny has
difficulty adjusting to his
new environment and
peers, especially when
he's getting picked on
by a gang of bullies who
have taken lessons at
the Cobra Kai dojo.
Fortunately, Daniel
meets the unassuming
handyman, Mr. Miyagi,
who is also a master
of martial arts. Miyagi
agrees to teach Daniel
and prepare him for the
upcoming tournament.
However, the wise sensei
teaches Daniel all there
is to know about karate
when it isn't about power
and strength. It's deep
within your soul that
makes you what you are.
Daniel is in the biggest
challenge of his life when
he's squaring off against
the lethal Cobra Kai in
the All Valley Karate
Championship. But can
he win this match? Or
will he lose?


Cast
Ralph Macchio - Daniel LaRusso
Pat Morita - Mr. Miyagi
Elisabeth Shue - Ali Mills
William Zabka - Johnny
Lawrence
Randee Haller - Lucille LaRusso
Martin Kove - John Kreese
Chad McQueen - Dutch
Tony O’Dell - Jerry
Israel Jurabe - Freddy Fernandez
William Bassett - Mr. Mills
Juli Fields - Susan
Dana Andersen - Barbara
Ron Thomas - Bobby Brown
Frank Burt Avalon - Chucky
Jeff Fishman - Billy
Ken Daly - Chris
Tom Fridley - Alan
Rob Garrison - Tommy
Pat E. Johnson - Referee (Cameo)

Crew
Film Editor/Director - John G. Avildsen
Writer - Robert Mark Kamen
Script Supervisor - Alvin Greenman
Associate Producer/Film Editor - Bud S. Smith
Executive Producer - R.J. Louis
Producer - Jenny Weintraub
Casting Directors - Pennie DuPont,
Caro Jones and Bonnie Timmermann
Production Designer - William Cassidy
Set Decorator - John H. Anderson
Costume Designers - Richard Bruno and
Aida Swanson
Director of Photography - James Crabe
First Assistant Director - Clifford C. Coleman
Martial Arts Choreographer - Pat E. Johnson
Special Effects - Frank Toro
Film Editor - Walt Mulconery
Associate Editors - Richard Alderte,
Seth Flaum and M. Scott Smith
Sound Effects Editors - Norval D. &
Samuel C. Crutcher
Re-Recording Mixers - Don Digirolamo,
Robert Glass and Robert Knudson
Music - Bill Conti
Music Supervisors - Brooks Arthur
and Russ Regan


Awards

1985 Academy Awards
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Pat Morita (Nominated)


Review
It's been a long time since I've seen the original KARATE KID, but I couldn't remember which one. In 2012, before revisiting the original KARATE KID, I had only watched the 2010 remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan in the lead roles. The 2010 version doesn't work out as planned because it only shows kung fu, not karate. Life is so much better after having watched the original 1984 film. THE KARATE KID shows much more respect for the martial arts and the story.

The original actors are more well-respected than the new ones. Ralph Macchio is, was and will always be the superior karate kid. He pairs up with veteran Chinese actor Pat Morita, who plays Mister Miyagi, the wise sensei. The rapport between the two characters is an essential part of this movie. But seeing Elisabeth Shue from the last two instalments of Back to the Future as Danny's love interest surprised me.

The original 1984 classic THE KARATE KID suits people who have not experienced 80s movies. It baffles me why they would even consider remaking a masterpiece like this film. Unless you didn't hear, a second instalment is in pre-production. Who needs the new movie anyway?

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Monday, June 2, 2014

Godzilla (2014) Review










Godzilla


Release Date: 15th May 2014 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Legendary Pictures (presents)
RatPac-Dune Entertainment (in association with)
Disruption Entertainment
Toho Company

Distribution
Roadshow Distribution


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 123 minutes


Budget: $160,000,000

Box Office Gross: $529,076,069
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The world's famous monster
is pitted against malevolent
creatures who, bolstered by
humanity's scientific 
arrogance, threaten our
very existence.


Cast
Aaron-Taylor Johnson - Lt.
Ford Brody
CJ Adams - Young Ford
Bryan Cranston - Joe Brody
Ken Watanabe - Dr. Ishiro Serizawa
Elizabeth Olsen - Elle Brody
Sally Hawkins - Dr. Vivienne Graham
Juilette Binoche - Sandra Brody
David Strathairn - Rear 
Admiral William Stenz
Richard T. Jones - Captain
Russell Hampton
Victor Rasuk - Sergeant Tre
Morales
Patrick Sabongui - Lt. 
Commander Marcus Waltz
Carson Bolde - Sam Brody
Eric Keenleyside - Boyle
Ken Yamamura - Takashi
Garry Chalk - Stan Walsh
Hiro Kanagawa - Hayato
James D. Dever - Captain Freeman
Brian Markinson - Whelan
Ty Olsson - Jainway
Al Sapienza - Huddleston
Gardiner Millar - Fitzgerald
Jake Cuninan - Akio
Yuki Morita - Akio’s Mother
Warren Takeuchi - Akio’s Father
Andy Serkis - Godzilla (Motion
Capture)

Crew
Director - Gareth Edwards
Based on Character - Ishiro Honda, 
Takeo Murata and Shigeru Kayama
Story - Dave Callaham
Screenplay - Max Borenstein
Additional Writing - Frank Darabont 
and David S. Goyer (Uncredited)
Associate Producer/Unit Production Managers - 
Jim Rowe and Leeann Stonebreaker
Associate Producers - Martin Cohen 
and Shannon Triplett
Executive Producers - Yoshimitsu Banno, 
Alex Garcia, Kenji Okuhira and Patricia Whitcher
Co-Producer/Film Editor - Bob Ducsay
Producers - Jon Jashni, Mary Parent,
Brian Rogers and Thomas Tull
Casting Director - Sarah Finn
Production Designer - Owen Paterson
Set Decorator - Elizabeth Wilcox
Costume Designer - Sharen Davis
Character Designer - Howard Lau
Lead Creature & Concept Designer - Matt Allsopp
Creature Designers - Greg Boardmore, 
Ian Joyner and Simon Webber
Director of Photography - Seamus McGarvey
Second Unit Director - E.J. Foerster
Stunt Coordinators - Jake Mervine and John Stoneham Jr.
Halo Jump Coordinator - J.T. Holmes
Creature Fight Coordinator - Garrett Warren
Special Effects Supervisor - Tommy Frazier 
Special Effects Coordinator - Joel Whist
Visual Effects Supervisors - Jeff Caprogeco, 
Jim Rygiel, Darren Poe, Katherine Rodtsbrooks and Ged Wright
Visual Effects Supervisors: Double Negative - 
Peter Chiang and Ken McGaugh
Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative Singapore - Patric Roos
Head of VFX: MPC - Greg Butler
Additional Visual Effects Designer - John Dykstra
Visual Effects Producers - Devin Fairbairn, Allen Maris, Sean Santiago 
Visual Effects Art Director - Steven Messing
Animation Supervisor: Weta Digital - Aaron Gilman
CG Supervisor: Double Negative - Benjamin Huber
CG Supervisor: Weta Digital - Daniel Macarin
Motion Capture Supervisor - Simon Kay
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor - Erik Aadahl
Music Supervisor - Dave Jordan
Music - Alexandre Desplat


Review
Having seen the cheesiness of 1998's 'Godzilla'. I was pleased to see the 2014 remake of the old Kaiju series. Without the director Roland Emmerich on board or having the film's passable star Matthew Broderick as the lead, indie film director Gareth Edwards was assigned to helm this year's interpretation. This was after he came to prominence in the not-so-good movie 'Monsters'. Unlike the pleasant display of his first feature, this new monster hit 'GODZILLA' was an improvement to his earlier work.

Grittiness and deliberate intensity are strengthening the film which would be anticipated of every Kaiju film. In this interpretation, the titled monster was the hero that beat the other giant monsters. This is a feature shown in most of the Japanese classics. While the 1998 version looked exactly like a giant partially-mutated iguana, unfortunately, the 2014 film that we’re seeing doesn’t show much screen-time of the title character at all. While the film doesn't show much of Godzilla himself, the sheer destruction that he causes makes his presence well and truly felt. Even worse, one of the human characters that was introduced early in the film got killed off too soon.

Aaron-Taylor Johnson is never new to Hollywood when playing leading roles. He was specifically well-known in more recently from his famed role in the two 'Kick-Ass' films. I didn't see him in those two features. I don’t think he’s that interesting. The co-actors Ken Watanabe and Bryan Cranston exceeded in their supporting roles to their full extent. It's literally the director who only selected them and they were better suited to the roles than their predecessors putting Matthew Broderick to shame. Besides the cast and the new-found identity of the character, we have what we want in the film through the monster battle scenes and the fascinating special effects design.

Never will I again deplore the remake of 'GODZILLA' as I did with the 1998 version. The craze of bringing Asian pop-cultural motifs into the western cinema is continuous. It will be very hard to pay your money to see the monstrous mayhem of 2014. 'GODZILLA' is a semi-decent movie and all of you Kaiju fans will have to see it.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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