Star Trek Into Darkness ★★★★

BOLDLY GOING WHERE IT’S GONE BEFORE

Opens in Australia: 9^th May 2013; USA 15^th May; UK 9^th May

Other Countries: Release Information  

 

In forty-seven years since the launch of the original three-season series, ‘Star Trek’ has sparked five television series including an animation, eleven motion pictures and a fan base that continues to grow.  

 I grew up a trekkie. As a child of the sixties it was one of my favorite  shows. Then, oh joy, oh bliss, came ‘Star Trek Next Generation’ and all the fabulous follow-on series after and then the series of eighties and nineties movies.  In my previous life the company I owned even sponsored the eleven p.m. Thursday night series of ‘Star Trek Voyager.’  It was pretty cheap to run ads at that time of night.  So, this reboot was always on my must see list. 

The 2009 J.J. Abrams first ‘Star Trek’ reboot film was a hoot and despite my concerns after Abram’s ‘Lost’ series finale letdown, he managed to deliver a great start to the new series.  Also, too, was the fun of watching the new younger versions step into their iconic sixties characters. That guy who plays Doc really looks like the original doesn’t he?  So, I was bouncing in my seat for ‘Into Darkness’. 

In this voyage we are immediately thrown into a mission going wrong when, in order to save Spock, the crew must expose their existence to the primitive inhabitants of a planet; a no, no on the prime directive.  This sets up the exploration of the complex friendship between Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and his First Officer Spock (Zachary Quinto).

Subsequently, Kirk is relieved of his duty and demoted to first officer on another ship and Spock (Zachary Quinto) is also re-assigned.  However, during a Star Fleet headquarters meeting they are attacked by a new super nemesis, mysterious intergalactic terrorist John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch).  Kirk is re-commissioned by Star Fleet Admiral (Peter Weller) to gather his original crew to take off in pursuit of the terrorist who has wreaked havoc and killed some of the nearest and dearest of Star Fleet.  The truth they discover when they find Harrison is not what they are expecting.

Returning to The Enterprise is the crew that brought it so viscerally to life in the original, Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Simon Pegg as Chief Engineer “Scotty” Scott, Zoe Saldana as Communications Officer Uhura, John Cho as Helmsman Hikaru Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov and Bruce Greenwood as Admiral Christopher Pike.

Whilst it is an enjoyable blockbuster, it didn’t beam me up as I’d hoped.  Some of it felt like a bunch of scenes we have seen before mashed together; one I think taken from the 1982 ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’ but with a reversal of characters.

Gene Rodenberry’s (the original creator of Star Trek) vision of the future was one of optimism and hope.  He created Star Trek to explore charged political topics such as racism, greed, and violence and as an exemplar of how much is achieved when we work together for the betterment of all and not just expansion of power. He had an unusual optimism of the future considering the cold-war, nuclear fearful era in which he lived.

I think it is the lack of optimism where the problem lies for me in ‘Into Darkness’.  Whilst there is much to enjoy here and most Trekkies and sci-fi buffs will revel in it, for me it is missing that special ingredient.  However, regardless it’s still a must see because let’s face it any Star Trek is better than no Star Trek. 

 Are you a trekkie and what do you think of the reboot franchise?

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Weekly Review Round Up 11th May 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

This week a smart romance I loved in A PLACE FOR ME, we go disappointingly where we’ve gone before with STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, a laughable thriller in THE CALL and an English family drama that’s almost there in BROKEN

 (My movie Pick of the week)

A PLACE FOR ME (aka STUCK IN LOVE)
★★★★^½
Opens in Australia: 16^th May
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

Sometimes you are watching a film, and it’s a small film (no explosions, CGI) with actors just portraying everyday people enduring everyday struggles like divorce, teenagers, failures in career, and instead of watching, you are drawn into something special. That is this film.

There are moments, especially with the young leads where you hold your breath the performances and script are that good.  You are inside their heads without them saying a word.  My sister and my cousin came with me to this and both loved it too.  It’s funny but not hilarious, moving but not over-sentimental. Choose this one if you want to see master storytellers make magic.

STUDIO BLURB

Three years past his divorce, veteran novelist Bill Borgens (Academy Award (R) nominee Greg Kinnear) can't stop obsessing over, let alone spying on, his ex-wife Erica (Academy Award (R) winner Jennifer Connelly), who ignominiously left him for another man. Even as his neighbor-with-benefits, Tricia (Kristen Bell) tries to push him back into the dating pool, he remains blind to anyone else's charms. Meanwhile, his fiercely independent collegiate daughter Samantha (Lily Collins) is publishing her  first novel while recoiling at the very thought of first love with a diehard romantic (Logan Lerman); and his teen son Rusty (Nat Wolff) is trying to find his voice, both as a fantasy writer and as the unexpected boyfriend of a dream girl with unsettlingly real problems. As each of these situations mounts into a tangled trio of romantic holiday crises, it brings the Borgens to surprising revelations about how endings become beginnings. (c) Millenium

STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS ★★★★

Opens in Australia: 9th May 2013
Other Countries: Release Information  

OUR THOUGHTS

Let me say up from I am a trekkie. One of my fave shows in the sixties was Star Trek and then, oh joy, oh bliss, came Star Trek Next Generation and all the fab follow on series after that and the series of eighties and nineties movies.  In my previous life my company even sponsored the 11pm Thursday night series of Star Trek Voyager.  It was pretty cheap to run ads at that time of night.  So, this reboot was always on my must see list. 

The 2009 J.J. Abrams first Star Trek was such a thrill and despite my concerns after Abrams LOST series finale letdown, he managed to deliver a great start to the new series.  It was such great fun watching the new younger versions step into their iconic sixties characters. That guy who plays Doc really looks like the original doesn't he?

So, I was bouncing in my seat for Into Darkness.  And it was good but it wasn't beaming me up as I’d hoped.  It felt like a bunch of scenes I had seen before mashed together.  I think one of the scenes was even taken from the 1982 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan but with a reversal of the characters.

Gene Rodenberry the original creator of Star Trek’s vision of the future was one of optimism and hope.  He created Star Trek as the perfect example of how much can be achieved when beings come together for the betterment of everyone and not just expansion of power. And I think it is the lack of optimism where the problem lies for me in INTO DARKNESS.  Whilst there is much to enjoy here and I am sure most Trekkies will love it and most Sci-fi buffs will revel, for me it is missing that special ingredient.  I’ve rated it high though because lets face it any Star Trek is better than no Star Trek. 

STUDIO BLURB

  J.J. Abrams delivers an explosive action thriller that takes 'Star Trek Into Darkness.' When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew. (c) Paramount

The Call ★

Opens in Australia: 16th May 2013
Other Countries: Release Information  

OUR THOUGHTS

The first fifteen minutes of this are tense whilst they set up the plot.  You will think I don’t want to sleep alone tonight.  But by the end you will be laughing into your popcorn bucket.   The preview audience was killing themselves laughing and guffawing at the outrageous behaviour of the characters which became progressively ludicrous. The serial killer was insanely overplayed and somehow they managed to make Halle Berry look most unattractive. What on earth were they thinking?

The Director Brad Anderson has actually directed some very good television series episodes of some of my favourite shows (The Killing, Boardwalk Empire, Fringe), so I can only imagine that he directed this via Skype and the actor’s simply misunderstood.

Please hang up on this one.  You will be wasting your dime.

STUDIO BLURB

When veteran 911 operator, Jordan (Halle Berry), takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life. (c) Sony

Broken   ★★★
Opens in Australia: 16^th May
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

A great premise, that one random lie and the reaction to that lie, can begin a domino effect that changes everything for three families living in an English cul-de-sac.  The acting is spot on and the little girl who plays Skunk the main character, Eloise Lawrence, is simply amazing.  The end is shocking when all the threads are brought together, however it just didn’t pack the punch it promised. Still an interesting indie film but maybe a DVD watch, unless you are a massive Tim Roth fan.  He’s always so good isn’t he?

STUDIO BLURB

Skunk is 11, diabetic, and pretty cool. The summer holidays have just begun and her days are full of easy hopes. Then Mr. Oswald, the ugly man who lives opposite, beats up Rick, the sweet, but unstable boy next door and Skunk's innocence begins to be drained away at a speed and in a way she cannot control. Her home, her neighborhood, her school - all become treacherous environments where the happy certainties of childhood give way to a fear-filled doubt, and a complex, broken world fills her future. Skunk seeks solace in the last remaining place where she knows she can find it - the unspoken friendship with sweet, damaged Rick - and falls into a chaos where suddenly, joyfully, she has choice thrust back into her hands. The choice to remain in this place she was never promised, or to leave it entirely - to live or to die

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Weekly Film Review Round-Up 4th May 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

This week the best drama you will see this year, an Aussie surfie flick with great heart, a moral drama that fails to ignite my morals and I get my Ryan Gosling fix.

(My movie Pick of the week)

The Hunt ★★★★★
Opens in Australia: 2^nd May 2013
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

You will watch this film with your hand covering your mouth. This could happen to anyone and that makes it a horror film.  Mads Mikkelsen who gives a thrilling performance in everything (catch him at the moment in the Hannibal TV series) is extraordinary as the innocent teacher accused of paedophilia.  The blurb about this film is correct—it is the best drama you will see this year at the cinema.  The Danes certainly know how to craft their films.  My suggestion is don’t miss it.  It will frighten you forever how easily your life can be stripped from you. 

STUDIO BLURB

        Mads Mikkelsen (NBC's Hannibal, A ROYAL AFFAIR, CASINO ROYALE) won the Best Actor Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival for his penetrating portrayal of Lucas, a former school teacher who has been forced to start over having overcome a tough divorce and the loss of his job. Just as things are starting to go his way, his life is shattered when an untruthful remark throws his small community into a collective state of hysteria. As the lie spreads, Lucas is forced to fight a lonely fight for his life and dignity. (c) Magnolia

DRIFT ★★★^½
Opens in Australia: 2^nd May 2013
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

I wasn’t going to see DRIFT. Surfie Culture was something I dabbled in (I lived near the Gold Coast so it was compulsory) when I was seventeen but I have long moved on from that. But a reviewer friend whispered in my ear that it really was worth getting off my comfy couch to see. And he was right.  It is indeed a film with heart considering it’s a debut for the filmmakers. Very much a quintessential Aussie story, it was good to see big name stars like Sam Worthington grace our humble WA shores to bring this one to the screen.  The surfing shots are quite incredible.  If you love surfing and the culture, then this one is a no-brainer.  If you don’t enjoy sand in your hair but love a good little story with some great acting check it out.  West Australian talent shows the Hollywood studios how to do it.

STUDIO BLURB

Australia. 1970s. The Kelly brothers Andy and Jimmy, both in their twenties, have one great passion: riding big waves. They’ve honed their surfing skills in the sleepy WA town of Seacliffe near Margaret River, which hosts some of the world’s most challenging and dangerous waves. Knowing how to shape the perfect board and encouraged by new friends, the brothers quit their jobs and launch a backyard surf gear business.  They rethink traditional design, craft homemade wetsuits and sell their wares out of the back of their van. But their new found success is threatened when Jimmy gets mixed up with a local biker gang. Set in breathtaking locations and inspired by the true story of Australia’s legendary surfwear companies, Drift inspiringly charts the transformation of surfing’s laidback lifestyle into a global phenomenon. It’s a story told through a personal tale of passion, courage, friendship and fractured loyalties.

Promised Land ★★★

Opens in Australia: 2^nd May 2013
Other Countries: Release Information  
IN Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

A few years ago I saw the documentary, GASLAND (and if you haven’t seen it, do catch it on DVD or pay TV). It made me so angry.  These poor farmers’ livelihoods are destroyed by this crazy mining practice, Fracking.  Fracking has come to Australia too, even to WA. So, I expected to feel the same way with this dramatization of that story.  However, whilst it was a reasonable film, it just didn’t grab me by the jugular and make me want to march in a parade to Parliament House.  The Director Gus Van Sant’s previous work, MILK,did so that made it more of a disappointment.  It’s more of a tele-movie and  a bit of a waste of some of my favourite actors. Whilst watching Frances McDormand on screen I kept wishing I was re-watching the fabulous FARGOinstead.  Didn't deliver on its promise.

STUDIO BLURB

Promised Land is the new contemporary drama directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk). Matt Damon plays Steve Butler, an ace corporate salesman who is sent along with his partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), to close a key rural town in his company's expansion plans. With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company's offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (John Krasinski), as well as the interest of a local woman (Rosemarie DeWitt). Promised Land explores America at the crossroads where big business and the strength of small-town community converge.

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES  ★★★^½ 
Opens in Australia: 9^th May 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

First up let me say that I am partial to the Gosling.  He cannot do anything wrong in my books. I’ll tolerate the worst movie just to watch him because he lifts anything out of the quagmire of average and elevates it to watchable.  And that may be the problem here.  It’s a good movie and it will no doubt haunt viewers long afterwards with the idea that the mistakes of any parent may be visited upon the children.  However, Gosling is so good that he leaves a big gap to fill for Bradley Cooper in the second half of the film, and I don’t think Cooper is quite up to the job.  Still, it’s a solid—if not a little too long—drama.   

STUDIO BLURB

The highly anticipated new drama from director Derek Cianfrance ("Blue Valentine") powerfully explores the consequences of motorcycle rider Luke's (Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling) fateful decision to commit a crime to support his child. The incident renders him targeted by policeman Avery (Golden Globe Award nominee Bradley Cooper), and the two men become locked on a tense collision course which will have a devastating impact on both of their families in the years following. (c) Focus

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MARVEL'S IRON MAN 3 ★★★★½

IRON-CLAD FUN

Australia: 24th April 2013; USA 5th May UK 25th April
Other Countries:  Release Information

“Nothings been the same since New York,” laments Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) referencing the thrilling final fight sequence in 2012 Marvel’s THE AVENGERS.  Iron Man fans could say the same thing.  There have been so few great entertainment movies since then we have become accustomed to settling for ‘not bad’ films as good.

Now with IRON MAN 3 we remember why going to the cinema is worth the effort and the expense.  A year after we thrilled to the adrenaline packed and oh-so-clever super hero love fest that was THE AVENGERS, finally IRON MAN 3 day has arrived and nobody should walk away disappointed. 

Sure you can point out plot-holes and yes, there are a couple of draggy bits but it is still 130 minutes of pure fun for anyone over the age of ten.  It’s got the mix of soul-searching and action just right—not an easy thing to do when you think of DARK KNIGHT RISES’ awkward pace.  The baddies are scary-unstoppable à la the original TERMINATOR and the conclusion has a satisfying emotional finale akin to ALIEN.

This one is a safe bet for the studios after the critically acclaimed “THE AVENGERS” set the all-time domestic three-day weekend box-office record at $207.4 million. The film went on to gross over $1.5 billion worldwide becoming Disney’s highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time.

“The exciting thing about IRON MAN 3 is not only is it the culmination of the first two films but it’s also a follow-up to ‘Marvel’s The Avengers,’” says producer Kevin Feige. “It’s one of the first situations where you have a movie that is the sequel to two different films.”

“Early on in the film you see Tony is wearing the Mark 42 and the last time we saw him he was in the Mark 7 and we quickly learn that Tony has been very busy between the time of THE AVENGERS and IRON MAN 3.”

The terrific fun begins from the opening scenes where we learn all is not well in the Stark world.  In 1999 during Tony’s partying days the mistake he makes in ignoring two brilliant scientists Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) have come back to haunt him, or should we say taunt him, in a dangerous way.

Tony also suffers from super-hero post-traumatic stress and Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) who is doing a darn fine job of running Stark Enterprises and maintaining the devotion of the world’s most popular hero is no longer laughing at his boyish humor.

Whilst Tony is off playing with his suits, the Government assures citizens James Rhodes aka “War Machine” (Don Cheadle) wearing a red, white and blue Iron Man suit offers the country protection without the character flaws.

Enter terrorist Mandarin (Ben Kingsley).  He likes blowing up things and creating chaos.  As he says in his supremely brilliant evil-overlord voice, “You will ‘neverrr’ see me coming” and, believe me, you won’t.

Taking terror to the highest degree, even the President’s plane is attacked creating a spectacular air rescue which involved, in its filming, sixty-two airplane loads and over 500 hidden parachute jumps by the Red Bull Skydiving Team.  After challenging the Mandarin our hero finds his world and all his toys destroyed including his suit.  He crash lands in a backwater town where he hunkers down to locate and identity the Mandarin.

One nuance of Kingsley’s Mandarin that remained a mystery until he arrived on set was the voice of the character. Kingsley came up with the voice in the same way he approaches all of his roles; letting things manifest organically. “The voice just came out of me one day when I was working.  I was upset and just rampaging around my hotel room,” explains Kingsley. “The front desk called my room because of the noise and I just came out with a few Mandarin expletives in response and they stuck.”

The rest of the film incorporates the twists and turns and the trademark off-beat humor franchise fans have come to love. There is a load of new technology and suits and some laugh-out-loud scenes with smart-ass kid Harley (twelve-year-old Ty Simpkins).

Next off the ramp in the Marvel franchises is THOR: DARK WORLD releasing October/November.  Ever since the first IRON MAN nothing has ever been the same on the big screen.  And we thank our lucky ‘Starks’ for that.  These Marvel films are entertainment that always lives up to the hype.

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Film Review Roundup 13th April 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

One for the Sci-Fi fans that is a prelude to the fleet of futuristic films landing soon, a kid's film that even the kids don't like and a real life gripping Norwegian adventure.  

(My movie Pick of the week)

Oblivion ★★★^½

Opens in Australia: 11th April 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

All the trailers for Oblivion appear to give away the plot and that was annoying me in the lead up to this film.  Turns out, they weren't giving much away at all.  It goes in quite a different direction.  The film feels patched together from other films, like 2001 Space Odyssey, Aeon Flux, Moon, the original Planet of the Apes. There’s even a bit of Mad Max in there.  However, if you haven’t been sitting in a darkened cinema regularly like I have since I was six, you probably won’t notice. It’s big and ambitious but suffers from a very slow middle act.  But as I ponder it even now writing this, I’m sure sci-fi fans will enjoy.  The world building is quite stunning. There is a lot to like amidst a couple of gaping plot-holes and the strange pacing.  

And can everybody please stop telling me how much they hate Tom Cruise when I’m seeing one of his films.  I actually like most of the films he’s in.  You can’t judge a film by the actor I say.

STUDIO BLURB

Tom Cruise stars in Oblivion, an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the visionary director of TRON: Legacy and producers of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man's confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind. 2077: Jack Harper (Cruise) serves as a security repairmen stationed on an evacuated Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying alien threat who still scavenges what's left of our planet, Jack's mission is almost complete. In a matter of two weeks, he will join the remaining survivors on a lunar colony far from the war-torn world he has long called home. Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, Jack's soaring existence is brought crashing down after he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Drawn to Jack through a connection that transcends logic, her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he thought he knew. With a reality that is shattered as he discovers shocking truths that connect him to Earth of the past, Jack will be pushed to a heroism he didn't know he contained within. The fate of humanity now rests solely in the hands of a man who believed our world was soon to be lost forever. (c)Universal 

Adventures in Zambezia ★★

Opens in Australia: 11^th April 2013
Other Countries: Release Information   

OUR THOUGHTS

          I am going to let one of my Kidz Review Krew, Bri, review this one.  I agree with her wholeheartedly.  Go see ‘The Croods’ instead. That one is worthy of your $$$.  This one is no adventure.  Over to you Bri

Why I didn’t like ADVENTURES IN ZAMBEZIA by Bri (Aged 10)

I didn’t like ‘Adventures in Zambezia’ because the animation was very poor compared to other movies I’ve seen and it wasn’t based on a very good story. I think that the start of the story was very boring and I almost wanted to leave but then it got a little bit better near the end of the film.  But it still wasn’t good. The ending was better but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I also think that Triggerfish (the production company) maybe could do better with the story and animation because that’s what made it such a poor film.

STUDIO BLURB

Set in a bustling bird city on the edge of the majestic Victoria Falls, Zambezia (or Adventures in Zambezia) is the story of Kai - a naïve, but high-spirited young falcon who travels to the bird city of Zambezia where he discovers the truth about his origins and, in defending the city, learns how to be part of a community. Official Site.

Kon Tiki ★★★^½

Opens in Australia: 11^th April 2013
Other Countries: Release Information   
In Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

Nominated for best Foreign Language Film for the 2012 Academy Awards, it’s a cross between INDIANA JONES and LIFE OF PI and any other against-all-odds films.  My twelve-year-old son and I found it entertaining but the husband was ho-hum on it.  There’s spectacular cinematography and a few really gripping scenes.  The Norwegian lead Pål Sverre Hagen (seriously how do you pronounce that?) gives a wonderful performance. An incredible true story brought to the screen with great style.  You will enjoy for sure.  All you folks who don’t like reading sub-titles, there is a fair bit of English in this.  Trust me you really get used to them and you’ll miss out on some gems if you say ‘No’ to foreign language.

STUDIO BLURB

Max Manus co-directors Espen Sanberg and Joachim Rønning reteam for this sweeping adventure detailing Thor Heyerdahl's daring attempt to prove that early settlers from South America once populated Polynesia by sailing across the Pacific on a simple balsa wood raft. Rejected by every publisher he approaches to print his unusual thesis, Heyerdahl (Pål Sverre Hagen) eventually decides that the only way to prove it is to make the journey himself as the entire world watches. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

What have you seen this week? Did you find our comments helpful or do you disagree? Share your thoughts with us.

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Review Round Up 7th April 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

A zany love story that really works, back from the dead-a classic 3D'd & a dud that will steal your money and your time.  

(My movie Pick of the week)

Warm Bodies★★★★

Opens in Australia: 4th April 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

Hooray, a paranormal love story with a good script and good acting.  Bravo to Jonathan Levine who wrote the screenplay and directed this kooky kind of love story.  I am watching out for more from him. There is humour and some lovely moments.  It’s a simple story of love can cure all, literally.  Hollywood take note you can make a good teenage film when you want to.  One complaint: that title really sounds like a “Fifty Shades of Grey” kind of story.  Loved the zombies at our preview too.  I want a zombie of my own now.

STUDIO BLURB

A funny new twist on a classic love story, WARM BODIES is a poignant tale about the power of human connection. After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human - setting off an exciting, romantic, and often comical chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world. (c) Summit

Jurassic Park 3D ★★★★

Opens in Australia: 4th April 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

You know the story from this classic 1993 film.  So, there are no spoilers when I share that the dinosaurs still eat the people.  Some of these re-releases in 3D really show the wrinkles around their edges.  However, Stephen Spielberg has always been a master and ‘Jurassic Park 3D’ proves it. In 3D IMAX you will marvel at the realism of these creatures created with twenty-year-old CGI technology.  Here’s hoping ‘Jurassic Park IV’ in 2014 will prove a worthy successor.  The story of a seriously ambitious billionaire who clones dinosaurs that end up escaping and eating the visitors is still an action-packed thrill ride. 

STUDIO BLURB

       Steven Spielberg's phenomenally successful sci-fi adventure thriller is graced by state-of-the-art special effects from the team of Stan Winston, Phil Tippett and Michael Lantieri from George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic. The film follows two dinosaur experts -- Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Ellie Sattler Laura Dern) -- as they are invited by eccentric millionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) to preview his new amusement park on an island off Costa Rica. By cloning DNA harvested from pre-historic insects, Hammond has been able to create living dinosaurs for his new Jurassic Park, an immense animal preserve housing real brachiosaurs, dilophosaurs, triceratops, velociraptors, and a Tyrannosaur Rex. Accompanied by cynical scientist Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), who is obsessed with chaos theory, and Hammond's two grandchildren (Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello), they are sent on a tour through Hammond's new resort in computer controlled touring cars. But as a tropical storm hits the island, knocking out the power supply, and an unscrupulous employee (Wayne Knight) sabotages the system so that he can smuggle dinosaur embryos out of the park, the dinosaurs start to rage out of control. Grant then has to bring Hammond's grandchildren back to safety as the group is pursued by the gigantic man-eating beasts. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Identity Thief (★★)

Opens in Australia: 4th April 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS 

This is not a funny movie.  The producers and director Seth Gordon should be labeling themselves ‘Comedy Thieves’ for putting two fabulous comic actors, Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, together and creating this dull, plodding ridiculous film. The film itself needs an identity— it doesn’t know where it wants to sit.  It’s supposedly a black comedy but it’s not—as hard as it tries.  Then it’s a drama, then it’s a road-trip film, then it’s a heist film, and then after all that, we are meant to be moved and have a cry at the end.  I did cry when it kept going for another half hour after the ninety-minute mark. Best line in the film is in the last two minutes.  Whoever wrote that line needed to write the whole script.  Don’t let them steal your movie money.

STUDIO BLURB

         Unlimited funds have allowed Diana (McCarthy) to live it up on the outskirts of Miami, where the queen of retail buys whatever strikes her fancy. There's only one glitch: The ID she's using to finance these sprees reads "Sandy Bigelow Patterson"....and it belongs to an accounts rep (Bateman) who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Bigelow Patterson heads south to confront the woman with an all-access pass to his life. And as he attempts to bribe, coax and wrangle her the 2,000 miles to Denver, one easy target will discover just how tough it is to get your name back. -- (C) Official Site

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Weekly Review Roundup 30th March 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

Fun for all the family from the Madagascar creators, something for the Twihards to fill the 'Twilight' gap, that had the critics in only one mind (save us from Stephenie Meyer) and a film that I can't really work out (I think I liked it but maybe not).

(My movie Pick of the week)

The CROODS ★★★★

Opens in Australia: 28th March 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

I didn't want to see this.  The trailers looked bland and my in-tray is stuffed with animated film preview invites.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  My Kidz Review Krew reviewer and all the kids that came along with me loved it.  It's funny, colourful and the voice talent is perfect.  From the creators of Madagascar and I like this one better.  Parents, cute as it looks, you will dig it and so will the littlies.

STUDIO BLURB

           The Croods tells the story of the world's first family road trip. When their cave is destroyed, the Crood family must embark on a comedy adventure into strange and spectacular territory in search of a new home. As if patriarch Grug (Cage) didn't already have enough to handle, it goes from bad to worse when they encounter an imaginative nomad named Guy (Reynolds.) With Guy's help the Croods conquer their fear of the outside world and discover that they have exactly what it takes to survive - each other.(c) Paramount

The Host (fans of this genre ★★★★ Non-Fans ★★) 

Opens in Australia: 28th March 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

     The critics walked out of this screening shaking their heads.  I think I heard, 'Oh dear'.
 Actually I think that was me.  However, I've read the book and it was always going to be a very difficult book to adapt and please the serious film-goers (we don't tend to like voice-overs or weak scripts). It will please the fans as it stays very true to the book.  If it was a mini-series on the Sci-Fi Channel I think everyone would have been happy.  In fact, it probably wouldn't make a bad series. Remember 1988 Alien Nation? (I think it did quite well for awhile.)  I'm getting increasingly frustrated with Director and screenwriter Andrew Nichol.  Gattaca was such a wonderful noir sci-fi film but after 'The Host' and the woeful 'In Time' (which I disliked more than this), I am not looking forward to his next offering.  Fans of cross species romance will really enjoy this.  Let them go and enjoy this oh harsh film critics.  It is not for us to understand the love.

STUDIO BLURB

      What if everything you love was taken from you in the blink of an eye? "The Host" is the next epic love story from the creator of the "Twilight Saga," worldwide bestselling author, Stephenie Meyer. When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) will risk everything to protect the people she cares most about - Jared (Max Irons), Ian (Jake Abel), her brother Jamie (Chandler Canterbury) and her Uncle Jeb (William Hurt) , proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world.

Trance ★★★^½

Opens in Australia: 4th April 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

         One of my favourite films is 'Shallow Grave' directed by this one's director, Danny Boyle.  Make the comedy as black as you can and I am in.  'Trance' is not a comedy; it's a thriller. And it does keep you guessing even after its over.  Whilst I enjoyed the twists and turns, I didn't really get the ending. Is it all a dream? No, no, that was 'Inception'.  Or is he dead?  No, no, that was 'Lost'.  Is the bad guy really the good guy? No, no, that was 'Bourne Identity'.  Does the guy have a split personality? No, no, that was 'Fight Club'.  Aww, heck I don't know what it was about.  You need to see for yourself.
         Best tweet hashtag on this courtesy of @LucyRGibson fabulous West Australian Film reviewer #OhDannyBoyle

STUDIO BLURB

         Simon (James McAvoy), a fine art auctioneer, teams up with a criminal gang to steal a Goya painting worth millions of dollars, but after suffering a blow to the head during the heist he awakens to discover he has no memory of where he hid the painting. When physical threats and torture fail to produce answers, the gang's leader Frank (Vincent Cassel) hires hypnotherapist Elizabeth Lamb (Rosario Dawson) to delve into the darkest recesses of Simon's psyche. As Elizabeth begins to unravel Simon's broken subconscious, the lines between truth, suggestion, and deceit begin to blur. (c)Fox Searchlight

What have you seen this week? Did you find our comments helpful or do you disagree? Share your thoughts with us.

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