What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 14th August 2014.

Last week we had three new releases to tease you out in front of a big stereo surround sound screen, and so it is again this week - but these films could hardly be any different! For the week ahead we have food, family, friends and fanatics - all in some way doing battle with a foe that wants to see them undone! Our first offering is a tale of food across the miles and just across the street as two eateries do battle for custom, reputation and one-up-man-ship. Then we have a tale of youngsters growing up amidst the turmoil of their surroundings and with each other as they battle against everything that bombards and influences the teenage youth of today. And then the third instalment of a balls-out 80's throw back action adventure of epic gun toting proportions as the friendly fanatics do battle with an arch foe from old!

So if it's one of these new releases that tempts you out in the week ahead, or you are catching one or more of the great offerings still out there on general release, then drop me a line in the comments box of this Blog site, and let my other avid reader know that your paying attention, and having something to say about your movie experience. Happy viewing . . . whatever you see!

THE EXPENDABLES 3 (Rated MA15+) - Stallone, Statham, Schwarzenegger, Snipes, Gibson, Ford, Banderas, Lundgren, Li, Crews, Couture, Grammer and token female Ronda Rousey. Many of the cast and stalwarts from the previous two outings are reunited here with the exception of one Bruce Willis who is absent because he wanted a bigger pay cheque, and was refused, so he walked! With a screenplay co-written by Sylvester Stallone, the Director duties this time go to Australian, Patrick Hughes, in only his second feature film outing - but clearly he was thought up to the job and has the US re-make of 'The Raid' to film next.

Seeing all these old 80's action stars on screen has once again gotta be worth the price of a ticket alone! Joined by some younger talent hired to thwart original friend and co-founder of The Expendables - Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson) who in the intervening years became a rogue arms trader and was subsequently dispensed with by Barney Ross (Stallone)  . . . or so Ross thought, until now! Resurfacing  now after all these years, Stonebanks wants revenge and retribution and an end to The Expendables that he helped form. When Ross rounds up the Team he enlists new younger tech-savvy talent to support the older wiser experienced talent to dispense with Stonebanks once and for all. And so what follows is the most personal battle yet for The Expendables, and along the way you can expect big action set pieces, big guns, big explosions, big egos and big one-liners! Bring it on!

THE HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY (Rated PG) - I read the Richard C. Morais book a couple of years ago, and liked it a lot. Hardly surprising that this should be snapped up and get the big screen treatment given our love of food porn on the silver screen, the compelling story, and this tale of east meets west kitchen rivalry. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Helen Mirren we have here an Indian family forced to flee their homeland only to settle in rural France and open an Indian Restaurant right across the street from a celebrated Michelin starred fine dining eatery much to the disgust and chagrin of acclaimed chef and owner Madam Mallory (Mirren). When the son of the Indian Restauranteur, Hasan Kadan (Manish Dayal), displays some extraordinary culinary talent he is taken under the wing of Madam Mallory to be taught in the ways of the French gastronomic kitchens and so embarks on a journey of life, love and success. Ruby Murray anyone?

PALO ALTO (Rated MA15+) - based on the semi-autobiographical short stories of James Franco and written for the screen and Directed by Gia Coppola (granddaughter of Francis, and niece to Sofia) this is the telling of four teenagers growing up in the Californian city of Palo Alto as they become bored, troubled, confused and drift from party to party in a daze of sex, drugs, alcohol, fast cars and pressure from their peers. The four teens in question are April (Emma Roberts), Teddy (Jack Kilmer), Fred (Nat Wolff) and Emily (Zoe Levin) who all go from turmoil, to confusion and to deeper angst in their search for love and acceptance. James Franco stars as a seedy soccer coach Mr. B hitting on April, and the other three all have their own challenges and demons to navigate past, and watch out for the brief cameo from Val Kilmer (presumably to keep a watchful eye on son Jack's turn as Teddy!) For her Directorial debut this is described as a worthy start backed up by solid performances albeit with a storyline you have doubtless seen before.

So again, three very different films to get you out amongst it and into your local movie theatre. Whatever you chose to see this week, enjoy the experience!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

The Sydney Film Festival 2014 : 4th -15th June.

Once again the Sydney Film Festival is about to launch later this week offering us Sydneysiders and movie going tourists, film enthusiasts and cinema geeks a feast for the senses, and celluloid overload as we seek to cram in as much moving picture entertainment as is humanly possible over a twelve day period.

The Sydney Film Festival again cements its place as the world's longest continuously running film festival now in its 61st year, and judging by this years diverse offering is sure to provide some enticing entertainment for everyone, and will be sure to please. With films from across the globe from Argentina, Australia and Austria to the UK, Ukraine and the USA and just about everywhere in between, there are over 180 screenings over the period from Opening Night on 4th June to Closing Night on 15th June.

There are feature length films, short films, documentaries, retrospectives, classics, animated films, horror films, and many from first time Directors and many being premiered in Australia. There are films in official competition, and of the 180 or so screenings, over 30 are Australian.

You can see this years entries at an number of venues across Sydney, taking in The State Theatre, the George Street Event Cinemas, the Dendy Cinema at Opera Quays, the Cremorne Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, The Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Skyline Drive-in at Blacktown. There will also be talks and discussions at the George Street Apple Store, and a Big Screen showing all things SFF at the Martin Place Amphitheatre, and don't forget to drop into the Sydney Film Festival Hub for lively talks, presentations, food, drink, pop-ups and perspectives - upstairs and downstairs at Sydney Town Hall throughout the Festival.

Some of the highlights this year would have to be 'Locke', 'The Rover', 'Snowpiercer', 'Calvary', 'The Captive', 'Frank', 'The Two Faces of January', 'Joe', 'Palo Alto', 'Love is Strange', 'The Skeleton Twins', 'Cold in July', 'Night Moves', 'Starred Up', and 'Babylon' amongst a plethora of others. You could also catch a Robert Altman retrospective and seat yourself in front of 'Nashville' or 'M*A*S*H' or 'Short Cuts' or five of his others screening also, and if it's a Classic you're looking for then you could go for 'Rebel Without a Cause' or the original 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'.

With so much to choose from you had better get in quick. You can get more information on all films, session times, locations and ticketing etc. by checking out the official website at : SFF.ORG.AU or you can call 1300 733 733, or you can download the app : SFF 2014 APP and carry it all around with you in your pocket. Tickets are what you would expect to pay for any singular screening at $19.50 but there are bulk deals to be had, and you can package your screening up with dinner etc., and as an added bonus many events are free too!

Have a great film festival, and see as many movies as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-