What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 2nd April 2015.

It's Easter week with a four day weekend looming, school holidays upon us again, and the twilight zone between Summer and Winter (well at least here in Australia!) is now officially here. Following last weeks mega haul of new cinematic releases, so the brakes have been applied somewhat with only a limited offering this week to tempt you out and get you sat firmly in front of a big screen.

For the week ahead then there is a franchise that keeps on rolling, the wheels keep on turning, and the needle keeps redlining as the stunts get more wild, whacky and like, WTF! In addition there is a French foreign language dramedyrom that sees a man potentially deported after a decade of cobbling a meagre existence together, and finally, an animated feature with some big names in front and behind the camera that bring this tale of the dead to life!

Three films all wildly different this week, but still plenty of content out there doing the rounds and on general release still. Whatever you decide to spend your cash seeing, share your views afterwards with our readers at Odeon Online and leave a comment after this or any other Post. Enjoy your film.

FAST & FURIOUS 7 (Rated M) - this franchise started revving its engines back in 2001 and since then is has grown into a hugely successful action franchise attracting big name stars, big marque cars, burning rubber, squealing brakes, twisted metal and more and more obscure plot lines, fast paced action, hot babes and meat heads to keep teenagers buckled in to their seats begging for more. The seven films have so far cost US$819M in budgeted production and marketing costs with this seventh instalment coming in at a hefty US$250M budget. In return however, the franchise, out of the first six films has delivered US$2.38B in Box Office receipts worldwide . . . not so bad really!

And so what does F&F7 hold in store? This time Directed by Aussie/Malaysian James Wan we once again have an all star cast that reunites the principle cast with some new talent - Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa and Ludacris are all there. This time it is Jason Statham as bad guy Deckard Shaw who is out for revenge on Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto) for the death of his brother Owen Shaw in the previous film, and so Toretto must reassemble his crew and ward off various other adversaries and plot twists and turns before the gang can finally hang up their keys and garage the car for a well earned rest. Of course in the meantime , you just know that we are in for a high octane thrill ride that will see vehicles mashed, cars trashed, bodies smashed and villains thrashed in epic scale and huge fast paced action set pieces. Promises to be a lotta fun and is sure to please the fans that have grown up with this franchise.

SAMBA (Rated M) - in 2011, French film-makers Oliver Nakache and Eric Toledano delivered us 'The Intouchables' that touched everyone's hearts and brought Omar Sy into the limelight. Fast forward to the present day and these two Directors have teamed up once more with Sy again for 'Samba' in which the former comedian is the Samba of the title - an illegal immigrant from Senegal who has been working lowly paid dead end jobs in Paris for the last ten years. His meagre earnings he sends back home to his family, and when he applies for French residency to do the right thing and make his existence legal he is turned down and hauled into detention where he is met by Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg) - a volunteering aid worker who is on the rebound having suffered a nervous breakdown. Both characters are drawn together through their fractured lives, frustrations, anxieties and the warmth and friendship, love and understanding that unfolds between them as time progresses. Based on the struggle of illegal immigrants in France, this film has emotion, heart, humour and drama delivered by another strong performance from Sy and astute Direction from Nakache and Toledano.

THE BOOK OF LIFE (Rated PG) - this US$50M CG animated feature stars the voice talents of Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Ice Cube and Diego Luna amongst many others, and has Guillermo del Toro with a Producer credit. Based on the Mexican 'Day of the Dead' this romantic comedy follows three principle characters - Manolo (Diego Luna), and Joaquin (Channing Tatum) who are childhood buddies but who both hold  a flame for Maria (Zoe Saldana) . . . and who can blame them? When Manolo's and Joaquin's rivalry for Maria comes to the notice of Xibalba (Ron Perlman) and La Muerte (Kate del Castillo) the latter two being the rulers of the two worlds of the dead who devise a cunning plan to test each suitor to see who will rise victorious for Maria's affections. With high stakes at risk for our two rulers, and adventures aplenty for the eternal love triangle that will test them physically, mentally and emotionally across different worlds this is a colourful, funny, musical comedy drama romance all rolled into one exuberant package that is sure to please young & not so young viewers alike.

Three totally different offerings this week that all have something to offer its target audience, and are sure to please for varying reasons. With a four day weekend and school holidays there is no reason not to see a movie in the coming week and when you have share your thoughts with your fellow movie geeks at this Blog.

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-