JURASSIC WORLD : DOMINION - Tuesday 14th June 2022.

I saw the M Rated 'JURASSIC WORLD : DOMINION' at my local multiplex this week and this American Sci-Fi action film is Directed and Co-Written for the screen and based on a story developed by Colin Tervorrow and based on characters created by Michael Chrichton. It is the sequel to 2018's 'Jurassic World : Fallen Kingdom', the sixth instalment in the 'Jurassic Park' franchise, the final film in the Jurassic World trilogy, and the conclusion to the storyline started in the original 'Jurassic Park' trilogy released in 1993, 1997 and 2001. This film saw its World Premier in Mexico City on 23rd May and went on worldwide release from last week. The film cost US$185M to produce, has so far grossed US$450M and has generated largely negative critical Reviews.

Set some four years after Isla Nublar had been destroyed and the events that subsequently unfolded at the Lockwood Estate, dinosaurs now live, and hunt, alongside humans the world over. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), the former Operations Manager at Jurassic World, works for the Dinosaur Protection Group. She and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) have been living in a remote cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains where they are secretly raising and caring for the now fourteen year old Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon), Benjamin Lockwood's cloned granddaughter. Owen's previously trained Velociraptor, Blue, one day arrives at the cabin with an offspring that was reproduced asexually, and whom Maisie names Beta.

Meanwhile, Biosyn Genetics which have grown to be a globally domineering and highly profitable company conducts medical research on dinosaurs, seeking cures for all manner of human ailments. Unknown to Claire and Owen, Biosyn is very keen on studying Maisie's DNA and have been searching for her for the last four years. When Maisie, frustrated with living in seclusion with no other human interaction other than Claire and Owen, sneaks away to a nearby town, Biosyn operatives, led by Rainn Delacourt (Scott Haze) kidnap her and also Beta. Owen and Claire immediately give chase to rescue them. 

Elsewhere, swarms of formerly extinct giant locusts have inexplicably appeared across huge swathes of the southern United States laying waste to valuable crops and so threatening the world's food supply. Paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) upon examining a captured live specimen discovers they avoid eating crops grown with Biosyn seed, leading her to suspect that Biosyn created them. Believing the locust's DNA dates to the Cretaceous period, Ellie approaches former partner and paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), who is on a dig in Utah, and who agrees to help her infiltrate and investigate Biosyn.

With help from Franklin Webb (Justice Smith), a contact within the CIA and former dinosaur rights activist who has previously worked with Claire, Claire and Owen track Maisie and Beta to Malta where they visit a black market trading in live dinosaur specimens. When undercover agents raid the market led by Barry Sembene (Omar Sy) dinosaurs are unintentionally released, creating havoc with Delacourt subsequently eaten alive together with various others caught in the fracas. Soyona Santos (Dichen Lachman), a Biosyn employee and dinosaur smuggler, having been captured by Sembene, informs Claire and Owen that Maisie and Beta are being transported to Biosyn's headquarters and dinosaur valley in Italy's Dolomites mountain range. They meet Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise), a sympathetic cargo pilot with access to the valley, who agrees to fly Owen and Claire there.

Chaos theorist Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), who now works for Biosyn as a contractor, invites Alan and Ellie to the headquarters to help him uncover Biosyn CEO Lewis Dodgson's (Campbell Scott) illegal activities. Ian's ally, Communications Director and apparent right hand man to Dodgson, Ramsay Cole (Mamoudou Athie) assists. As it turns out geneticist Dr. Henry Wu (B D Wong) genetically engineered the locusts to only consume rival companies' crops so that Biosyn will dominate the global agricultural market. The locust plague has subsequently spread worldwide. Wu meets Maisie and explains she is not a clone. Instead, her mother, Charlotte Lockwood (Elva Trill, seen through archive video footage only), Benjamin Lockwood's daughter and Wu's former colleague, used her own DNA to create Maisie asexually as her child. Charlotte died from a genetic disease shortly after Maisie was born, but she had altered Maisie's DNA so making her immune. Wu believes that Maisie's and Beta's DNA are the keys to creating a pathogen that can halt the escalating locust outbreak. 

Upon reaching Biosyn airspace, a group of giant pterosaurs attack Kayla's cargo plane, ripping a gaping hole in the body of the aircraft and taking out its two engines. Claire ejects while Owen and Kayla survive crash landing on a frozen water reservoir. Following their separate encounters with various dinosaurs, and not of the good kind, the three manage to regroup. Inside the Biosyn facility, Ian and Ramsey allow Ellie and Alan access to a restricted lab where the giant locusts are being bred. They steal a locust DNA sample and come across Maisie, who has escaped and released Beta in the process. After seeing them on security footage some twelve minutes later, Dodgson torches the locust laboratory to destroy all evidence but in the process swarms of burning locusts burst through a ventilation shaft and out into the surrounding woodland, inadvertently starting a forest fire. Dodgson also terminates Ian's employment for exposing his operation. 

Alan, Ellie, and Maisie escape with Ramsay's assistance through a defunct subterranean amber mine, but not before having various close encounters with several dinosaurs  of their own. After finding Ian, they meet up with Owen, Claire, and Kayla. Meanwhile, Dodgson attempts to leave with dinosaur embryos via a hyperloop underground train, but when the power fails, he becomes trapped and subsequently killed by a group of three Dilophosaurus. Electronic devices retrieve the dinosaurs to the Biosyn headquarters to protect them from the fire. Owen, assisted by Maisie and Alan, captures Beta. 

In the meantime Kayla has run off to a helicopter to get the group the hell outta Dodge when a Giganotosaurus terrorises the group until the Therizinosaurus and the Tyrannosaurus rex kill it. The group escapes with Kayla at the controls of the helicopter, taking Wu, who claims to be able to eradicate the locusts, with them. Ellie and Alan renew their romantic relationship prior to joining Ian and Ramsay in testifying against Biosyn. Sometime later Wu releases a locust carrying the pathogen he discovered while studying Maisie and Beta, ultimately destroying the locusts within one season. Owen, Claire, and Maisie return home to their cabin in the Sierra Nevada and reunite Beta with Blue. Around the world, dinosaurs adapt to co-exist with modern bird, sea and wildlife while the United Nations declares Biosyn Valley a dinosaur sanctuary. 

I went in to see 'Jurassic World : Dominion' with fairly low expectations and came out fairly surprised that the Critics had been so harsh on this final instalment of the second trilogy. Sure, it rehashes everything that has gone before including the ultimate destruction of every dino enclosure from Isla Nublar right through to the Lockwood Estate; and when it comes down to it the story has come full circle from harnessing dino DNA from mozzies through to creating dino sized crop busting locusts by manipulating their DNA. The action sequences and the spectacle of dinosaurs living amongst us is impressively handled, but this film is more about combating a plague of locusts than it is about marauding dinosaurs chomping and stomping up the scenery and any mere mortal who dare get in their way. Reuniting Neill, Dern and Goldblum from the original trilogy doesn't really add any weight to the storyline other than to connect the dots back to the 'Jurassic Park' series. And so in these respects 'Jurassic World : Dominion' is predictable and by the numbers, devoid of any emotion, and a storyline that for the most part we have seen before. It is entertaining enough, and at a run time of two and a half hours it moves along at a good enough pace, but I think it's time that this franchise goes the way of the dinosaurs, and is finally declared extinct!

'Jurassic World : Dominion' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 2nd August 2018

In July, the world bid a fond farewell to number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories . . . . Steve Ditko, Tab Hunter and Stan Dragoti.

* Stephen J. Ditko - born 2nd November 1927, died 29th June 2018, although not announced publicly until 6th July 2018, aged 90. Ditko was an American comics artist and writer best known as the co-creator and artist, together with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics superheroes 'Spider-Man' (and his antagonists 'The Green Goblin', 'Sandman', 'The Lizard' and 'Dr. Octopus') and 'Doctor Strange'. He began his career in 1953 working in the same studio as Jack Kirby and Joe Simon and then for Charlton Comics across various genres. During the '50's he also started working for Atlas Comics which would later on evolve into Marvel Comics during which time Spider-Man and Doctor Strange were born. In 1966 however, after an unclear falling out with Stan Lee, Ditko worked for DC Comics, Charlton and smaller independent comics publishers during which time he co-created 'Captain Atom' amongst others. Ditko returned to Marvel in 1979 where he remained until the mid-'90's working on a freelance basis. He retained a writing studio in New York up until his death and was a recluse, turning down interviews, meeting his legions of fans, or attending movie premiers of his highly popular and successful Superhero characters.
* Stanley John Dragoti - born 4th October 1932, died 13th July 2018, aged 85. Stan Dragoti was an American film Director and Writer who started out shooting television commercials and whose feature debut 'Dirty Little Billy' in 1972 starred Nick Nolte in his film debut and Gary Busey too telling the origin story of Billy the Kid. From here he Directed the horror comedy 'Love at First Bite' with George Hamilton and Susan Saint James based on the Count Dracula character in a modern day New York setting. This was followed up by the 1983 comedy 'Mr. Mom' with Michael Keaton, Christoper Lloyd, Jeffrey Tambor and Teri Garr, and then the 1985 comedy 'The Man with One Red Shoe' with Ton Hanks, Dabney Coleman, Jim Belushi, Charles Durning, Carrie Fisher and Lori Singer. 1989 saw 'She's Out of Control' with Tony Danza and Matthew Perry, and his last feature film offering came in 1991 with sport comedy offering 'Necessary Roughness' with Scott Bakula, Robert Loggia, Hector Elizondo, Jason Bateman and Rob Schneider. Dragoti has seven film Directing credits to his name and two as Writer.
* Tab Hunter (born Arthur Andrew Kelm) - born 11th July 1931, died 8th July 2018, aged 86. Hunter was an American Actor, Singer, Writer and Producer who was at the height of his fame during the '50's and '60s', and one of the hottest teen heart throbs of the '50's era. He gained his screen debut in the 1950 feature film 'The Lawless', and thereafter scored secondary roles in Western, Wartime and crime drama films until signing a contract with Warner Bros. in the mid-'50's. His first film with the major studio was 1955's 'The Sea Chase' with John Wayne and Lana Turner and then 'Track of the Cat' with Robert Mitchum that same year. Both were strong hit films which only served to brighten his star all the more. Perhaps his breakout role came in 1955's WWII drama 'Battle Cry' which helped to coalesce Hunter's place as one of Hollywood's romantic leads. In 1956 he starred with Natalie Wood in two films 'The Burning Hills' and 'The Girl He Left Behind' having been elevated to 'star' status by Warner's together with James Dean and the aforementioned Wood. Hunter was Warner's most popular male star from 1955 through to 1959, so much so that for Valentine's Day 1956, he received some 62,000 cards and wishes from adoring fans. Hunter also had a singing career reaching #1 in 1957 with 'Young Love' selling over a million copies, and 'Ninety-Nine Ways' which peaked at #5 in the UK chart. He also starred in his own television sitcom 'The Tab Hunter Show' which was a bigger hit in the UK than the US, and from there he had regular work across the '60's, '70's, '80's and beyond. His last film was 'Dark Horse' in 1992. All up Hunter had 76 Acting credits to his name, four as Producer, one as Writer, and nine Soundtrack acknowledgements. An award-winning 2015 documentary about his life titled 'Tab Hunter Confidential', was Produced by Hunter's life partner for the past three decades Allan Glaser. A feature film is currently in development at Paramount Pictures to be produced by Glaser, J. J. Abrams and Zachary Quinto charting the life and times of this '50's and '60's screen idol.

This week then, coming to an Odeon near you, we have four new cinematic releases to tease you out to your local multiplex or independent theatre. We kick off with the sixth instalment in this hugely successful all action international espionage franchise that sees our titular hero showcasing plenty of derring do and epic stunts, but will he accomplish his impossible mission this time around? We then head to remote France back in the early '50's that sees a former confidence trickster passing himself off as a trained Doctor and offering to cure all comers of their ills - be they real, imagined or completely fictional. Next up is a drama of great man, behind whom stands an even greater woman who has supported him through the ups and downs and trials and tribulations of their forty or so years together as told on the eve of the great man being publicly honoured. And we wrap up this weeks latest releases with a Spanish foreign language film about a young girl, recently orphaned and taken in by her loving Aunt and Uncle in the mountain countryside, but against which she struggles to adapt.

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 coming week.

'MISSION : IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT' (Rated M) - here we have the sixth instalment in the Tom Cruise action franchise based on the popular '60's television series that since 1996 has been dusted off every five years or so with another big budget high octane screen offering. Launching with Brian De Palma's first film adaptation in 1996, John Woo Directed 'Mission : Impossible 2' in 2000; J.J. Abrams took over Directing duties with 'Mission : Impossible III' in 2006, then Brad Bird assumed the mantle in 2011 with 'Mission : Impossible - Ghost Protocol' followed by Christoper McQuarrie in 2015 'Mission : Impossible - Rogue Nation'. These first five films have grossed at the worldwide Box Office a combined US$2.8B from a collective Budget of US$650M. Now in 2018 Christoper McQuarrie returns to the Directors chair for 'Mission : Impossible - Fallout' which he also wrote. Tom Cruise Produces too, as he has all other films in the series to date. The film has received universal acclaim from Critics, with many praising it as the best in the series so far with the cinematography, action set pieces, stunt work, storyline and cast performances as being particularly credit worthy. The film cost US$178M to Produce and has so far raked in US$163M since its release Stateside last week.

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his elite team of IMF agents that include former Head of CIA Operations Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin), tech colleague Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and computer hacker Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) find themselves in a race against time as they must fight to save the planet from 'The Syndicate' and its nefarious leader Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). Having made some questionable decisions in the past, the fallout from both those fateful choices is coming back to haunt Hunt. The Syndicate has amassed a nuclear arsenal and is planning to bring the world to its knees and destroy Hunt in the process. Following Hunt's earlier failure to locate and secure the deadly weapons, the CIA has taken over the mission with new CIA head honcho Erica Sloane (Angela Bassett) beginning to question his motives and loyalties whilst also sending in CIA Assassin August Walker (Henry Cavill) to take out Hunt and his Team once and for all. Also starring Rebecca Fergusson, Michelle Monaghan and Vanessa Kirby.

'DR. KNOCK' (Rated PG) - this French comedy film is Directed and Written by Lorraine Levy and is based on the 1923 satirical play by Jules Romains that has been made into feature films in 1925, 1933, 1951 and now this version which is a remake of that 1951 offering. The film had its initial release in October last year and only now does it arrive in Australian cinemas having grossed just US$4.5M off the back of a US$15M budget outlay. It is the early '50's and here Dr. Knock (Omar Sy) is a former thug and con man who travels to the small village of Saint-Maurice in the French Alps, to masquerade as a trained and qualified medical practitioner and convince the locals that they are sick and only he can cure them using his own unique methodology. Persuading the community that they are perhaps not as healthy as they would like to believe, he will find in each 'patient' an imaginary symptom, or not, and therefore begin to weave his lucrative spell. Just as his plans begin to take off and the village is taken in his past catches up with him, and the emergence of an old acquaintance disrupts his scheme, as does the love of a beautiful farm girl.

'THE WIFE' (Rated M) - Directed by the Swede Bjorn Runge and based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Meg Wolitzer, this film Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival back in September last year and is released Stateside in mid-August, and in early screenings has received generally positive press by Critics. Here Joan Castleman (Glenn Close) and husband Professor Joe Castleman (Jonathan Pryce) have been married for approaching forty years. Joan and Joe have a complimentary relationship where Joe enjoys his very public role as the great American novelist, and Joan provides her considerable intellect, grace, charm and diplomacy into the private role of a great man's wife. As Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for his acclaimed and prolific body of work, Joan starts to think about the shared compromises, secrets, betrayals and mutual love and respect that have marked their lives together since they first met in the late '50's. Also starring Christian Slater, Max Irons and Elizabeth McGovern.

'SUMMER 1993' (Rated PG) - this Catalan language Spanish film is Directed and Written by Carla Simon in her filmmaking debut and had its Premier at the Berlin International Film Festival way back in February 2017, went on general release in Spain in June 2017 and only now does it get a limited release in Australia. In the meantime it has collected 32 award wins and another 49 nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit, and has taken just US$1.2M. The story here surrounds six year old recently orphaned girl Frida (Laia Artigas) who is transplanted from her former family home in Barcelona to move to the Catalan countryside to be raised by her Aunt Marga (Bruna Casi), Uncle Esteve (David Verdaguer) with their three year old daughter Anna (Paula Robles). Although her new family welcome her with open arms showering her with love and affection, Frida finds it hard to forget her mother and adapt to her new home in the mountainous countryside against which she rebels. The film has received favourable Reviews.

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-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 29th June 2017.

At this mid-way point in the year, I thought I'd share with you the films we can all look forward to in the latter half of 2017, with my pick of the best offerings to follow week by week for the remaining year commencing next week. For July, August and September see below, and for October, November and December, tune in to next week's Blog Post.
* 06th July : 'Spider-Man : Homecoming' - Directed by Jon Watts, starring Tom Holland, Michael Keaton and Robert Downey Jnr. in this second reboot of the Marvel franchise.
* 13th July : 'The Beguiled' - Directed by Sofia Coppola, staring Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Colin Farrell about a Union soldier during the War of Independence imprisoned in a Confederate Girls Boarding School. A remake of the Clint Eastwood 1971 film of the same name as Directed back then by Don Siegel.
* 20th July : 'Dunkirk' - Directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance and Kenneth Branagh about the 1940 fierce WWII Battle of Dunkirk.
*  27th July : 'War for the Planet of the Apes' - Directed by Matt Reeves, starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn in this third instalment in this updated 'Planet of the Apes' saga.
 * 3rd August : 'The Wall' - Directed by Doug Liman, starring John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as two US Army soldiers pinned down by an Iraqi enemy sniper.
* 10th August : 'Wind River' - Directed by Taylor Sheridan, starring Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen and Jon Bernthal in this murder investigation thriller set on a Native American reservation.
* 17th August : 'The Dark Tower' - Directed by Nikolaj Arcel, based on Stephen King's series of eight novels, starring Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey and Jackie Earle Haley about a mysterious black gunslinger seeking to preserve his world by reaching the mythical tower in this science fantasy western action horror film.
* 24th August : 'American Made' - Directed by Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson and Jesse Plemmons this bio-pic tells the story of real life pilot Barry Seal who flew contraband for both the CIA and drug cartels in the '80's.
* 31st August : 'The Hitman's Bodyguard' - Directed by Patrick Hughes, starring Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman and Salma Hayek about a bodyguard who needs to get his hitman client to the International Court of Justice on time to testify.
* 7th September : 'It' - Directed by Andres Muschietti, starring Bill Skarsgard and Jaeden Lieberher in this Stephen King supernatural horror novel adaptation of Pennywise the Clown who terrorises seven young kids in rural Maine. An updated version of the 1990 two episode mini-series based on King's 1986 source novel.
* 14th September : 'American Assassin' - Directed by Michael Cuesta, starring Michael Keaton, Dylan O'Brien and Taylor Kitsch about the rise of a young CIA Black Ops recruit under training by a hardened Cold War veteran, who are sent on a mission to prevent a mystery operative from triggering a potential world war in the Middle East.
* 21st September : 'Kingsmen : Golden Circle' - Directed by Matthew Vaughn, starring Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, Colin Firth, Halle Berry and Channing Tatum in this sequel to the hugely successful action spy comedy film of 2014.
* 28th September : 'Battle of the Sexes' - Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, starring Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Alan Cumming, Elisabeth Shue and Andrea Riseborough telling the story of early '70's tennis ace Billy Jean King and her 1973 tennis match with Bobby Riggs that was billed as 'The Battle of the Sexes' and became one of the most watched televised sporting events of all time.

This week there are just three new release films coming to a cinema near you. First up there is a critically acclaimed British period piece based on a Russian novella about adultery, murder, deceit and wrong doings in 1860's northern England; then a comedy about a couple embarking on a covert illegal gambling project with best intentions in mind, but falling foul as a result of their success; before wrapping up with an acclaimed French biographical historical drama about that country's first successful black entertainer.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three new releases 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, be warmly invited 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 meanwhile, enjoy your cinema experience in the coming week.

'LADY MACBETH' (Rated MA15+) - firstly, 'Lady Macbeth' has nothing to do with that literary work of art from one William Shakespeare that has been portrayed on stage and screen more times that you can say 'double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble'! Instead, this British film is based on the 1865 Russian novella by Nikolai Leskov, titled 'Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District'. Among the novella's themes are the subordinate role expected from women in 19th-century European society, adultery, country life and the plotting of murder by a woman, hence the title inspired by the Shakespearean character Lady Macbeth, from his play 'Macbeth'. This film is Directed by William Oldroyd in his feature length debut, and was Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September last year, was released in the UK in late April this year, and now arrives in Australian cinemas this week amidst a fanfare of very positive critical Reviews and universal acclaim.

Here, the scene is set in rural northern England in 1865 (the year the novella was published upon which this film is based), that sees seventeen year old Katherine (Florence Pugh) downtrodden and unhappy in an arranged loveless marriage to a bitter man twice her age, Alexander (Paul Hilton) who happens to be the heir to a colliery small fortune. The newly married couple live with Alexander's father Boris (Christopher Fairbank), in whose house Katherine is ordered to observe strict rules and regulations and not to venture outside the property. One day opportunity comes knocking when both Boris and Alexander have to go away on business, leaving Katherine free to explore the house and grounds at will. This sets in motion an affair with a groundsman, Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis), that results in the murder of father Boris, and leaving Katherine to grow in confidence as she learns to manage the estate in Alexander's prolonged absence, whilst carrying on with Sebastian publicly. Further murders ensue which Katherine and Sebastian cover up, but in the end Katherine's calculating power struggle against the society in which she lives wins the day as her means justify her ends.  

'THE HOUSE' (Rated MA15+) - made for US$40M this American comedy offering is Directed and Co-Written by Andrew Jay Cohen. Here husband and wife team Scott and Kate Johansen (Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler) lose their daughters college fund when the scholarship they were counting on fails to materialise. In their desperation to earn it back they hit upon a hair brained idea, that will enable daughter Alex (Ryan Simpkins) to realise her dream of attending University. Aided and abetted by neighbour Frank (Jason Mantzoukas) the pairing launch a underground illegal casino in the basement of their own home. However, when the cash starts rolling in, good times are being had by all, and there are no inhibitions, Scott, Kate and Frank soon come to realise that they have got in a little too deep over their heads, when things start to go less according to plan. The film is released in the US this week too.

'MONSIEUR CHOCOLAT' (Rated M) - 'Chocolat', so Wikipedia advises, was the stage name of Rafael Padilla, a clown who performed in a Paris circus around the turn of the 20th century. Rafael was of Afro-Cuban origin and was one of the first successful black entertainers in modern France. He was the first black clown to play a lead role in a circus pantomime act, and with his longtime partner George Foottit (a British clown and acrobat) they revolutionised the art of clowning by pairing the sophisticated white clown with the foolish auguste clown. Chocolat was born sometime around the late 1860's (he was probably born a slave, explaining why his birth was never registered) and he died in late 1917. And so we have this biographical film based on the life of the groundbreaking artist, as Directed by French filmmaker, Screenwriter and Actor Roschdy Zem. Here Omar Sy stars as Chocolat with James Thierree as his partner in the circus ring George Foottit, charting the life of the performer from his childhood in slavery to working as a novelty figure in provincial France to eek out a humble living to being catapulted into the spotlight as an overnight sensation in Paris. Whilst the glamour, the riches and the fame take hold, so does the sense of wanting equality and to be recognised for what he truly is. But, this comes at a price as the artist discovers that prejudice, racism, and inequality are rife despite his legions of adoring fans, which ultimately takes its toll on the trailblazing performer leading to his untimely death. The film has received positive Reviews, was released in its native France in early 2016, cost US$19M to make and so far has grossed US$15M.

Three very different films for select audiences only I suggest this week - two of an historical nature and both equally acclaimed, and one of a leave your brain at the door, comedy. Whatever movie floats your boat this week, whether it be any one of these three, or any of those as Reviewed and Previewed between these Blog pages in previous Posts, be sure to register your thoughts here at Odeon Online afterwards. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime, somewhere in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

INFERNO : Tuesday 18th October 2016

'INFERNO' which I saw this week was written by Dan Brown, and he has so far had two other Robert Langdon adaptations committed to the big screen - 'The Da Vinci Code' in 2006 which made US$758M from its US$125M budget outlay, and 'Angels and Demons' in 2009 which returned US$486M from its US$150M budget. 'Inferno' is the third movie outing for Harvard Professor of Symbology, Robert Langdon and the fourth book of the series. 'The Lost Symbol' - the third book in the series was skipped over as it was thought by those all knowing Studio Exec's that 'Inferno' would make a more compelling transition to the cinema screen. The Langdon character is reprised once again by Tom Hanks and with Director Ron Howard at the helm. David Koepp wrote the screenplay. The film was made for US$75M and has so far made US$50M ahead of its US release date on 28th October.

The film opens up with a lone man being chased on foot by three assailants. He disappears up a bell tower and upon reaching the top with no where to turn he steps out on to the ledge overlooking the cobbled streets below of Florence. The three men chasing after him emerge, the man is caught, he turns inwards to face the men, some words are exchanged, and the man leans back and plummets to his death onto the street below. We then cut to a hospital bed where a semi-conscious Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is hooked up to a drip, heart monitors and his head bandaged. He is having visions of Hell, the plague, ravaged bodies, violence and death and rivers of blood but all in a modern day setting. He comes around and is greeted by Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) who advises him that he was admitted muttering the words 'very sorry' over and over again and with a bullet wound to the head that is likely to have caused temporary amnesia. Langdon has no recollection of the events that caused him to end up in the hospital bed, and in Florence of all places which he recognises instantly from his bedroom window.

Whilst Langdon is still in pain from his head wound and experiencing ongoing visions which he is seemingly caught in the middle of, Vayentha (Ana Ularu) an assassin, arrives at the hospital in police uniform and makes for the room where Langdon is in recovery. A hospital orderly is gunned down, and in the melee Brooks acts upon her survival instincts and gets herself and Langdon out of the hospital just in time to evade the rapid gunfire at the hand of the disguised assassin. The pair flee to Brooks' apartment where Langdon sleeps. When he wakes he freshens up but still has little memory of the events that brought him to Florence. Rummaging through his old bloodied clothes he comes across an object that he has never seen before, that requires his thumb print to open the stainless steel tube. Reluctantly the pair agree to open it revealing a 'Faraday Pointer' - a miniature projector - which reveals an image of Botticelli's late 15th Century Map of Hell which is based on Dante's 14th Century epic dark masterpiece 'Inferno'. But within the map on closer inspection are certain adjustments, hidden letters and a clue pointing to Betrand Zorbrist (Ben Foster) - the man who fell to his death at the beginning of the film.

Zorbrist it turns out was a billionaire geneticist who believed that the world is overpopulated and that rigorous measures are necessary to reduce the ever increasing population, which he sees as a modern plague. Through his seminars he has captured the interest of a group of followers around the world, and Langdon deduces that Zorbrist had created a virus capable of reducing the global populace by more than 50% - sustainable levels for a fresh start! By now the pair have been traced by the local authorities and the assassin once again, but again Langdon and Brooks manage to evade capture on foot. With Langdon's intimate knowledge of Dante, and of Florence the two embark on a cat and mouse game across the city's secret passageways, hidden vaults and network of tunnels and chambers all the while unlocking other clues as the clock counts down to the release of the virus in some hidden and secure place.

The pair are pursued at every turn by both Christoph Bouchard (Omar Sy) who claims to be working for the World Health Organisation, and Elizabeth Sinskey (Sidse Babett Knudsen) who heads up the WHO and is well known to Langdon. All the while Langdon's memory is coming back to him in flashback. In the meantime, Harry Sims (Irrfan Khan) heads up 'The Consortium' - a very special and secretive interest group who conduct dirty deeds for vast sums of money for the worlds wealthiest clients, no questions asked and confidentiality guaranteed. Sims is in possession of a video recorded by Zorbrist to be played only after the virus has been released, but since his client is dead, Sims plays the video recording, revealing the magnitude of what his client was planning. Sims approaches Sinskey with the knowledge of Zorbrist's final message, and the pair agree to work together to track down Langdon who is the only one capable of uncovering the puzzle and locating the virus stash before it is released. Bouchard however, gets to Langdon and Brooks first and wins them over with tall tales of Sinskey and how she has her own agenda for the virus.

Sims, using his own very particular set of skills tracks down Langdon who has now been captured by Bouchard, and Brooks has made off, but not before Brooks has revealed to Langdon that she was in fact Zorbrist's lover and his accomplice in the plan to release the virus, but the whereabouts of it were not known even to her. She needed him to reveal the location by following the clues and using his expert knowledge, and has since made off, evading capture by Bouchard, so ensuring the virus will be released as planned. In a run down building Sims quickly dispenses with Bouchard freeing Langdon to continue the chase for the virus. After an explanation of how Sims fits into the equation, Langdon reveals that the virus is in fact in Istanbul in the Hagia Sophia, and so the pair make off with  Sinskey in a private jet. We further learn that Langdon and Sinskey have romantic history and that she in fact asked Langdon with help in deciphering the meanings hidden in the Faraday Pointer. Langdon was kidnapped by The Consortium and given a memory loss drug and the whole hospital episode was a ruse, aimed at keeping Langdon off the scent.

The virus is hanging in a plastic bag dangling in the waters of the 6th Century Basilica Cistern close by to the Hagia Sophia. With a once a year music festival taking place within the Cistern and the gathered orchestra in place and well dressed on lookers filling the Basilica, the WHO Team, Sims, Sinskey and Langdon head down to search out the virus bag. So too do Brooks and two other enlisted foot soldiers intent on detonating two bombs in close proximity to the bag that when ruptured with aerosolize the virus. Needless to say its get pretty hairy in the closing minutes as bodies flay about in the shallow waters of the ancient Cistern and the virus is contained. It doesn't end well for the antagonists or Sims, leaving Langdon and Sinskey to return to the respective lives wondering what might have been if they had their time over again, and leaving the world's population in tact at almost eight billion and counting!

For me, after the novelty of seeing Robert Langdon in 'The Da Vinci Code' and then 'Angels and Demons' which were far better introductory films to the world of symbols, imagery, and iconology, I went in to the theatre with higher expectations and came out underwhelmed! In 'Inferno' we have a pedestrian, predictable, popcorn offering that sees the same old same old regurgitated again for the sake of some historic ancient landmarks whilst making light work of Langdon's particular set of skills to thwart a dead mans evil plot. There are too a number of liberties with the story as written by Dan Brown in his book, which I guess is Hollywood's poetic license at work here, but those that have read his page turning unputdownable novels as I have, are likely to pick up on this too. The story here takes a while to get into gear and then when it does it takes its foot off the peddle and meanders along in a by the numbers offering that make this the least engaging of the three films so far. Disappointing, particularly for another Hanks/Howard collaboration, but maybe for half the budget of its predecessors therein lies your answer? Wait for the DVD or BluRay to watch in the comfort of your own home and save yourself the price of a ticket.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BURNT : Saturday 7th November 2015.

Having worked in Hospitality for most of my career in and around kitchens, chefs, restaurants and food service in various guises, you can imagine how interested I would be in seeing 'BURNT' which I saw over the weekend. It is intriguing to see how Chefs and Cooks are depicted on the big screen. It is after all only really in the last five or so years that we have seen these types featured in the movies since a few of those who have excelled have risen to celebrity status, and with the advent of the plethora of cooking shows on television and the inordinate amount of cook books there are for sale, it is hardly surprising that Hollywood would latch to the heat of the kitchen. All that said, if it helps raise the profile of food, the industry, different cuisines and produce, and the people working in it then this must be a good thing, but is it good for Hollywood? In the case of 'Burnt', not really - because this film is half baked only - golden brown and crisp on the outside but soggy and undercooked on the inside!

What 'Burnt' does for us is take us into the hallowed territory of maybe the top 1% of all restaurants globally. It is here where the two and three star Michelin establishments reside, where the Chef's and Cook's toil away relentlessly but enjoy Rock Star status for the blood, sweat and tears they have to give working 20 hours a day to reach the zenith of perfection in their culinary craft. And it is here too where these famed restaurants as beautiful as they often are, are big holes in the ground into which the owners shovel money every day (and lots of it) with only a very small margin of return, if any!

And so it with this US$20M John Wells Directed culinary caper that sees fallen from grace former two Michelin starred Chef Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) having lived the celebrity chef status in Paris for all its worth with sex, drugs, alcohol and rock 'n' roll crash to the bottom only to rise again  to regain his reputation, his credibility, his self-worth and a third star. We learn through back story dialogue between the characters that three years ago things got badly 'burnt' for him in Paris when he went off the rails, cost his restaurant its two star status, his team lost their jobs and then spread far & wide, and he went AWOL presumed by many contemporaries and critics to be dead. He surfaces in London having served a self imposed penance to shuck one million oysters in some seafood joint that he promptly walks out of when his milestone is reached.

He emerges after some chicanery in the kitchen of Tony (Daniel Bruhl) in London at The Langham Hotel where he delivers a commitment to take it to three star status. Tony's father (the one with all the money) agrees and so the kitchen is remodelled, Jones assembles his brigade of new and previously worked with talent, and the restaurant relaunched. The first night all goes pear shaped when guests no-show, the food is below expectations, and the write up in the press is less than favourable. Jones is the consummate artist, perfectionist and after service what follows is a Head Chef rant at his brigade the likes of which I'm not sure you would see in any kitchen anywhere . . . not even Gordon Ramsay's! These days with industrial relations compliance, human resource guidelines, and fair work requirements Jones would face an instant walk out and be hauled up in front of some IR Commission on the grounds of workplace harassment, bullying and intimidation . . . no matter how good he thinks is he! But I guess this is Hollywood after all, and you gotta give the audience what they want!

As time progresses the kitchen bridge settle into their routine, they begin to work cohesively, and a flame of romance starts to burn between Jones and his recruited Sous Chef and the only female in the kitchen Helene (Sienna Miller). There are other story sidelines here too that surround Jones fierce rivalry with Reece (Mathew Rhys) former colleague in Paris and now the equally fiery, temperamental talented London Chef at the three star 'Reece'. Additionally, there is Michael (Omar Sy) who is recruited as a Chef de Partie by Jones but back in Paris three years before Jones called the Heath Inspectors in and closed down his restaurant - beware the hidden agenda behind Michael's acceptance to join Jones in his kitchen that manifests itself when least expected!

Also there is the former working relationship with Tony, gay, but the best Maitre D' in the country and therefore somewhat forgiving of Jones' kitchen antics. Jones' drug addled past also catches up with him and as two heavies appear from time to time demanding payment on a drug debt which Jones cannot deliver on so he gets roughed up on the most demanding of days. There is also his former love interest and daughter of his recently deceased former employer in Paris, Anne Marie (Alicia Vikander), and then Helene's struggles as a single mother juggling her commitment to her young daughter Lily, and the relentless demands of the kitchen and Jones. Let's also not forget the therapy that Jones has to undergo with Dr. Rosshilde (Emma Thompson) every Friday morning and if he misses a single session all funding to his kitchen and his dream will cease immediately. And, sitting over all of this is the expectation of the eventual visit of the Michelin Men to rate the restaurant for the famed guidebook.

The gloss is here with a beautiful restaurant, an equally beautiful kitchen, the highest standards of culinary expertise and food porn aplenty delivered with an insight into the seemingly never ending hours of experimentation, creativity and long days and nights spent rattling the pans over a hot stove, traipsing through the markets in the early hours, and seeking inspiration from other eateries. But despite all of this it's still a half baked underdone soufflé of a film. I found the Jones character difficult to warm to and relate to, his violent bursts and abuse in the kitchen completely overcooked, the final Michelin visit and judgement just glanced over, and the Hollywood-ised account of the finest of fine dining restaurants and what goes on in and around them a little too hard to swallow, but, there are a few redeeming feature along the way!

You don't need to see this on the big screen and can easily wait for the release of the DVD and Blu-ray or download it when available. I would say that this is a case of medium-rare, rather than well done!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

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-