What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th December 2018.

As another year draws to a close, it's time to reflect on the past year of achievements and to wish my global readership all the sincerest Best Wishes for a very Merry Christmas. This year I have Reviewed 48 movies and Previewed 222, and while at it provided a synopsis of some of the more notable film festivals from around the cinematic world and awards ceremonies of repute. I have also paid tribute to numerous personalities of the big screen and the small screen who passed away during the last twelve months, but all of whom leave behind a lasting screen legacy. And, for what it's worth, I've also from time to time let my imagination run away with my ramblings on film genre specific views and opinions.

Thanks for your readership over the last twelve months - it is appreciated, and as long as my global audience continues to show an interest in Odeon Online, I'll keep writing with my Reviews, Previews, news and views with what's hot and what's not in the world of the moving picture. On the eve of Christmas therefore, all that remains for me to say is once again, have yourself a very Merry Christmas, may the force be with you, your God by your side, and a movie that sparks your interest to visit your local Odeon for a few hours of escapism. Have fun, stay safe, and see as many films as you can.

This week we have four new films to tease you out to your local Odeon in the week before Christmas, two of which are of a historical costume drama type, one is of a Sci-Fi alternative world and the other is set in the here and now. First up then we launch with an acclaimed Grecian Director who takes us down a path of the English aristocracy in the early 18th Century and various members of the Royal household jockeying to be the favoured one by the fragile ruling Queen of the time. Next up we turn to an historical biographical drama recounting the story of how this acclaimed French writer rose to fame in the late 19th Century by going against the establishment. We then turn to an origin story and a prequel of a hugely successful film and toy franchise that takes us back to the '80's as this yellow VW is a whole lot more than it seems to be, and he's not the only one! We then wrap up with a martial arts telling that is a spin off of a popular three film Chinese franchise so far that sees our failed protagonist face off against a formidable business kingpin to win back his respect and confidence.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'THE FAVOURITE' (Rated MA15+) - Yorgos Lanthimos, the Greek film, video, and theatre Director, Producer and Screenwriter here brings us this historical comedy drama offering that saw its World Premier screening at the Venice Film Festival back in late August where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and the Volpi Cup for Best Actress going to Olivia Coleman. The film went on general release in the US in late November, is released in the UK on 1st January 2019, has so far recovered US$7M of its US$15M production Budget, and has garnered widespread Critical acclaim. Lanthimos has enjoyed success more recently with 'The Lobster' in 2015 and 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' in 2017. The film has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards including Best Motion Picture, plus 21 award wins from around the circuit, and a further 32 nominations.

Set during the early 18th century, England is at war with the French but in spite of this frivolous past times are thriving on both sides of the English Channel. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Coleman) occupies the throne, and her close friend Lady Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz) rules over the country as her surrogate while tending to Anne's ill health and volatile temperament. When a new assistant to the household, Abigail Hill (Emma Stone), arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing, and Abigail foreshadows an ideal opportunity to return to her aristocratic roots having previously fallen upon hard times as a result of her fathers misplaced business dealings. Also starring Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn and Mark Gatiss.

'COLETTE' (Rated M) - this biographical drama film is Directed by Wash Westmoreland, and is based on the life of the French novelist, journalist, actress and mime artist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. She lived from 1873 until 1954 and died at the age of 81, having been nominated for Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948. She was perhaps best known for her 1944 novella 'Gigi' which was made into a French film in 1949, and a Hollywood Production in 1958 starring Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier and Eva Gabor. That film won the Academy Award for Best Picture the following year. This film tells the story of author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley) who after moving to Paris, agrees to ghostwrite a semi-autobiographical novel for her husband Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West). Its success quickly motivates her to stand up for creative ownership and overcome the societal constraints of the early 20th century. The film has its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year, went on general release in the US back in September, goes on release in the UK in early January 2019, has so far taken US$7M and has received generally positive Reviews so far.

'BUMBLEBEE' (Rated M) - it seems like the 'Transformers' movie franchise behemoth just keeps on keepin' on, so much so that this Sci-Fi actioner prequel takes us back to the humble beginnings of when that VW Beetle transformed into a Bumblebee, or was it the other way around? This time Michael Bay takes his place as Producer, having Directed all five of the original live action 'Transformers' films to date and gives way to Travis Knight on his live action Directing debut for this instalment. Set twenty years before the events of the first film and on the run in 1987, Bumblebee the Autobot seeks refuge in a junkyard in a small beach community in California. Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), is about to turn eighteen and endeavouring to find her calling in the world, stumbles across the battle-scarred and broken Bumblebee. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns that this is no ordinary yellow Volkswagen, and further the new pairing soon find themselves being hunted down by a Government Agency known as Sector 7, headed up by one Agent Burns (John Cena). Pretty soon, Charlie comes to the realisation that her Bumblebee is not the only Transformer, and that there are others who may not be quite as friendly. Also starring John Ortiz and the voices of the Decepticons include Angela Bassett, Justin Theroux and Martin Short. The film cost US$102M to bring to the big screen and is released in the US this week too.

'MASTER Z : IP MAN LEGACY' (Rated M) - here this Chinese language martial arts action film is Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, the Hong Kong martial arts Choreographer and film Director, renowned as one of the most successful and influential figures in the world of Hong Kong action cinema. In this spin off from the popular 'Ip Man' film franchise, this film charts the journey of Cheung Tin Chi (Max Zhang) who following a defeat at the hands of Ip Man takes shelter within himself, licks his wounds and becomes a depressed recluse. While Tin Chi tries to stay out of trouble, he gets himself into a fight with a local American business kingpin Owen Davidson (Dave Bautista), the big boss behind a bustling city bar precinct. Tin Chi fights hard using his teachings and his experience in Wing Chun (a martial art concept-based traditional Southern Chinese Kung-fu style and a form of self-defence, which utilises both striking and grappling in close-range combat) and earns back the respect he had lost. Also starring Michelle Yeoh and Tony Jaa.

With four new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-