GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3 : Tuesday 9th May 2023.

I saw the M Rated 'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3' at my local Odeon earlier this week. This hotly anticipated American superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, and is the sequel to 2014's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 2017's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' and serves as the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the second film in Marvel's Phase Five and more than likely the final instalment in this particular series. Written and Directed once again by James Gunn who recently jumped ship and now heads up, with Peter Safran, DC Studios as Co-Chairpersons and joint CEO's. Gunn's next Directorial outing is slated to be 'Superman : Legacy' due in July 2025. The film saw its World Premier screening at Disneyland, Paris on 22nd April and was released in the US, China, here in Australia and other territories last week. It has garnered generally positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$366M off the back of a production budget of US$250M. 

At their new home base on Knowhere, the Guardians of the Galaxy (Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel) are attacked by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), a Sovereign warrior created by their High Priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) who seems to answer to the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). After Adam overpowers them and seriously wounds Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), he is stabbed by Nebula (Karen Gillan) and forced to flee the scene. The Guardians are unable to tend to Rocket's wounds due to a kill switch attached to his heart, made by the company Orgocorp. They travel to Orgocorp's headquarters to find the override code, having at best 48 hours before Rocket dies. 

As Rocket lies unconscious, memories of his past life come flooding back. As a baby raccoon, he was experimented on by the High Evolutionary, an alien geneticist who sought to take what he viewed as lower life forms and enhance them into a perfect anthropomorphic species in order to create a Counter-Earth. 

After being modified Rocket befriended the High Evolutionary's other test animals: the otter Lylla, the rabbit Floor and the walrus Teefs. The High Evolutionary perfected the anthropomorphisation process with Rocket's advice but ordered Rocket's brain to be extracted for further research, and his friends incinerated. Rocket was able to free Lylla with an improvised electronic key card, only for the High Evolutionary to kill her, upon walking in and discovering Rocket's ruse. Rocket, enraged, mauled the High Evolutionary face and head and shot his guards, but Teefs and Floor were killed in the exchange of gunfire. Alone, angry and despondent Rocket steals a spaceship and flees. 

Meanwhile, the alternate version of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) who has joined the Ravagers led by the high ranking Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone), helps the Guardians infiltrate Orgocorp, which is owned by the High Evolutionary. 

They retrieve Rocket's file, but discover that the code has been removed. The group speculates that Theel (Nico Santos), one of the High Evolutionary's advisors, has it, so they depart for Counter-Earth. They are followed by Ayesha and Adam, who are ordered by their creator, the High Evolutionary, to capture at all costs Rocket for his brain.

Arriving on Counter-Earth the Guardians are helped by a family of local residents in tracing Theel to the High Evolutionary's ship. Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) remain with Gamora and Rocket as Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), and Nebula (Karen Gillan) travel to the High Evolutionary's ship. Nebula is forced to wait outside by guards as Quill and Groot board. Drax and Mantis chase after Quill's group. 

The High Evolutionary sets off the destruction and planned recreation of Counter-Earth, which ultimately kills all life on the planet, including Ayesha. As his ship enters orbit, Quill and Groot leap off with Theel, landing back on Counter-Earth and retrieving the code from the computer implanted into the side of his head, just as Gamora arrives with their ship. In the meantime, Nebula, Mantis, and Drax board the High Evolutionary's ship in order to rescue Quill and Groot, not knowing that had recently and literally jumped ship. As Quill's group attempts to access the code, Rocket flatlines and has a near-death experience, where he is reunited with Lylla, Teefs, and Floor. Lylla tells him that his time has not yet come and that he still has work to do, as Quill uses the code to disable the kill switch and save Rocket's life. 

On the High Evolutionary's ship, Nebula, Mantis, and Drax come across hundreds of imprisoned humanoid children, before being captured. Quill's group sets out to rescue the three, who are placed in a chamber with monstrous Abilisks. Mantis connects with the Abilisks saying they only eat batteries, and so allowing the group to escape and reunite with Quill's group, together overcoming the High Evolutionary's army. Kraglin (Sean Gunn) and Cosmo the Spacedog (voiced by Maria Bakalova) arrive back on Knowhere, and Cosmo creates a telekinetic bridge connecting Knowhere to the High Evolutionary's ship to free the captured children. Rocket discovers imprisoned animals on the ship before being attacked by the High Evolutionary, but the rest of the Guardians help subdue him, remove his mask revealing the seriously disfigured face of the man and leaving him to die on his ship. The Guardians rescue the animals and lead them aboard Knowhere. Quill nearly dies by freezing in deep space trying to cross over but is saved by Adam, who had a change of heart after being saved by Groot. 

Once the dust has settled, Quill announces that he intends to leave the Guardians, bestowing the captaincy to Rocket before leaving for Earth to reunite with his grandfather Jason. Mantis embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the Abilisks, Gamora reunites with the Ravagers and is welcomed back by Stakar Ogord, and Nebula and Drax remain on Knowhere to raise the saved children. 

There is no doubt that Director James Gunn has wrapped up his final instalment of the 'Guardians' trilogy with a lot of heart, a good dose of emotion, action set pieces aplenty, some witty dialogue, a thumping soundtrack, all the colour and grandeur of the galaxy that you could ever imagine, plus a whole zoo load of animals that would make any self respecting PETA advocate squirm in horror. And for the rag tag bunch of space heroes Gunn sees them all go off in their own directions to seek out new challenges and adventures, and as for some of them if you remain in your seat for a mid-credits sequence and right until the end credits have rolled you'll catch a glimpse of what the future (possibly) holds. My only criticism of this film, and it seems that thirty-two films in now, of the MCU at large, is that the CGI action spectacles are often so beautifully rendered that their screen busyness leaves the viewer wondering where to focus the attention for fear of missing out on something happening on another part of the screen. 

'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 13th April 2017.

With the release of 'The Fate of the Furious' as Previewed below, this mega sixteen year long running franchise that has so far grossed over US$3.9B from combined production budgets for the first seven feature length films of US$759M, I thought it timely to provide a quick summary of the franchise today, in chronological order.
* Film #1 : 'The Fast and the Furious' released in 2001, Directed by Rob Cohen, took US$207M from a US$38M budget.
* Film #2 : 'The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious' released in 2003, Directed by Philip G. Atwell, is a six minute short film connecting the first and second films.
* Film #3 : '2 Fast 2 Furious' released in 2003, Directed by John Singleton, took US$236M from a US$76M budget.
* Film #4 : 'Los Bandoleros' released in 2009, Directed by Vin Diesel, this twenty minute short film provides a back-story for the characters and events leading up to the oil truck heist at the start of the fourth film in the series.
* Film #5 : 'Fast & Furious' released in 2009, Directed by Justin Lin, took US$363M from a US$85M budget.
* Film #6 : 'Fast Five' released in 2011, Directed by Justin Lin, took US$630M from a US$125M budget.
* Film #7 : 'Fast & Furious 6', released in 2013, Directed by Justin Lin, took US$789M from a US$160M budget.
* Film #8 : 'The Fast and Furious : Tokyo Drift' released in 2006, Directed by Justin Lin, took US$158M from a US$85M budget and was released as the third film in the series.
* Film #9 : 'Furious 7' released in 2015, Directed by James Wan, took US$1.52B from a US$190M budget.
* Film 10 : 'The Fate of the Furious' released in 2017, Directed by F. Gary Gray, and made for a reported US$250M.

And so to this week where we have five new movie offerings with which to tempt that cinema dollar out of your pocket. We kick off with the eighth feature length instalment in a franchise that is now sixteen years old and has brought in mega bucks for the studio behind this high octane, all action, pedal to the metal series. This is followed up by a Sci-Fi comedy featuring a hard drinking party girl who discovers she has something in common with a Godzilla like creature running rampant in Korea; and then a psychological thriller about a personal assistant and gofer who thinks she sees dead people, but is only really searching for one! We then go to a historical true telling of a courtroom drama that unfolded in the mid-'90's surrounding the denial that the Nazi Germany Holocaust of WWII actually occurred, and then wrapping up the week with a French and German foreign language tale of the aftermath of WWI as a grieving woman meets up unexpectedly with a former close friend of her recently killed in action fiancé and the bond that is forged between them, despite the challenges of the time, nationalities and other personalities on the periphery.

As usual, you are here cordially reminded that your constructive, relevant and timely views are welcomed when you have sat through your movie of choice in the week ahead. Simply record your opinions and observations of your film experience by leaving your Comment in the box below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and see what you've got to say about any film as Previewed below, or as Reviewed and Previewed between these humble Blog pages previously. Meanwhile, enjoy your cinema experience in the coming week.

'THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS' (Rated M) - also known as 'Fast and Furious 8', 'Fast 8' and 'F8', this mega franchise never seems to stop rolling, and so it is with this latest instalment in a line of Fast & Furious films that had its humble beginnings back in 2001 and has gone on to rake in a staggering US$3.9B from the first seven films, and has spawned two short films, video games, toys and model kits, a theme park ride and possible spin-off movies down the track. Following hot on the heels of 'Furious 7' released in 2015, Directed by James Wan and taking a huge US$1.52B at the worldwide Box Office making it the sixth highest grossing film in history currently, here we have this eighth offering this time Directed by F. Gary Gray, and released in the US this week too following its Worldwide Premier in Berlin last week. All the usual cast that we have come to know and love have returned together with a few new faces to add further gravitas to the already ensemble cast.

This film carries on from where 'Furious 7' left off. We see that Dominic Turetto (Vin Diesel) has settled down to a life of domesticity with his newly wed wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and are enjoying their honeymoon together in some far way secluded paradise no doubt. The Brian and Mia characters from the previous films have retired and are out of the game, and the remaining crew have been pardoned and are spread far and wide doing their respective thing. Just when you think the guys were finally getting their lives back in order, enter a criminal mastermind to throw the proverbial brown sticky smelly stuff at the fan! Her name is Cipher (Charlize Theron) who successfully manages to corrupt Dom against his family, his allies and those he is closest to, by coercing him back into a life of crime, from which there seems to be no means of escaping. The crew reassembles and will be put to the test like never before. Also starring Dwayne Johnson returning as Luke Hobbs, Jason Statham returning as Deckard Shaw, Tyrese Gibson returning as Roman Pearce, Kurt Russell returning as Mr. Nobody/Frank Petty, with Helen Mirren, Scott Eastwood and a bunch of others . . . oh, and not to forget a whole cavalcade of expensive sports cars, souped up vehicles, guns, explosions, car chases, crazy fight sequences, technical gadgetry, a tank and a nuclear submarine. 'F8' is sure to fuel the appetite, drive bums on seats, and accelerate the Box Office spend of any self respecting fifteen year old lad who gets off on high octane senseless action fare.

'COLOSSAL' (Rated M) - this Sci-Fi comedy film is Directed and Written by Spaniard Nacho Vigalondo and it Premiered at TIFF back in September last year before its US release last week. Here, Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is a hard drinking, party hard girl, who can't hold down a job, or a boyfriend either it seems, and after being dumped by her boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens) and kicked out of his Manhattan apartment, she decides its time to return to her home town in a last ditch attempt to regain her life and start afresh. Back on her home turf Gloria reignites her friendship with childhood friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis) who just happens to be the owner of a bar, and where he spends the majority of his time hanging out with his best buddies and locals Garth (Tim Blake Nelson) and Joel (Austin Stowell). Meanwhile, on the other side of the world in downtown Seoul, a giant scaly monster is wreaking havoc in the streets like something akin to Godzilla. As the world watches on in disbelief, Gloria from the comfort of her suburban lounge room, inadvertently makes a connection with said scaly monster. In time she comes to realise that when she makes a move, so the monster thousands of miles away replicates those moves identically. How can this be, what does it mean and what must she do to stop the death and destruction of innocent Koreans?

'PERSONAL SHOPPER' (Rated MA15+) - this psychological thriller is Directed and Written by Frenchman Oilvier Assayas and the film Premiered at Cannes last May in competition for the Palme d'Or where is shared the Best Director Award, before its release in France in December and in the US in early March. Here American Maureen (Kristen Stewart) is a personal shopper for wealthy clients buying clothes, accessories and taking care of lesser tasks mostly in her home city of Paris, but her shopping trips often take her to London too and other European centres. Maureen's twin brother died recently and they both shared a genetic heart condition. Before he passed away they made a pact that whoever would go first, would then reach out from the other side and make a connection somehow with the surviving sibling. They both believed they had the ability to connect with the spirit world, but his powers were stronger than hers. Upon visiting the house where her brother died she starts to sense a presence, which manifests itself moreso with text messages, strange sightings and things that go bump in the night from an unknown source. The film has received positive Reviews, and some are saying it is Stewart's best performance to date.

'DENIAL' (Rated M) - here we have a true story historical drama Directed by Mick Jackson based on American author, Deborah Lipstadt's book 'History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier'. The film dramatises the 1996 Irving v Penguin Books Ltd case, in which Lipstadt, a Holocaust scholar, was sued by Holocaust denier David Irving for libel. In English law the burden of proof rests with the accused, and so Lipstadt and her legal team must fight to prove that the Holocaust did occur. Starring Rachel Weisz at Deborah Lipstadt an American Professor of Holocaust Studies, Timothy Spall as David Irving a Nazi German Scholar and Tom Wilkinson as Richard Rampton the Barrister and Andrew Scott as Solicitor Anthony Julius working for Lipstadt to prove the case for the Holocaust. The film Premiered at TIFF in September last year, was released in the US in late September and in the UK in late January this year, has so far gained generally positive Reviews and has recovered just over half of its US$10M production budget.

'FRANTZ' (Rated PG) - this French and German Co-production is Directed by Frenchman Francois Ozon and is a drama film set in the aftermath of WWI in 1919 and is based on the 1932 American film 'Broken Lullaby' Directed by Ernst Lubitsch which was in turn based on a 1930 play by Maurice Rostand and its 1931 English language adaptation by Reginald Berkeley. The film Premiered in Paris in July last year before its wider release in France in early September and Germany later that same month. It picked up a Venice Film Festival and a Caesar Award win and was nominated in several other categories at these same Awards. Set in the German town of Quedlinburg in 1919 young German woman Anna (Paula Beer) is mourning the death of her fiancé Frantz (Anton von Lucke) who died in combat a year before. One day, Anna is shocked to discover that his grave is visited by Adrian (Pierre Niney), a Frenchman claiming that he and Frantz were friends in Paris before the war. In time the two form a bond as Adrian recounts fond memories of his time spent with Frantz, despite certain ill feeling towards the Frenchman's presence in the town given the scars of the war are still deep and fresh. Nonetheless as their relationship develops Anna follows Adrian back to Paris in the hope of discovering more of his world, understanding him, and determining if her feelings toward him are genuine, or simply a rebound from Frantz. Filmed in black and white with splashes of occasional colour for emphasis.

Five very different cinematic choices this week, and whether you like epic big screen action, courtroom drama, historical foreign language drama, Sci-Fi comedy or psychological thriller fare, there is sure to be something for you to get your cinema ticket clipped in the week ahead. Don't forget too to share your movie going views with us right here, when you have done so. In the meantime, I'll see you somewhere, sometime in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 19th January 2017.

Last week I reported on the recent Golden Globe Awards that were held on 8th January. Two days before that however, on 6th January at the historic Avalon nightclub in Hollywood, the 6th International AACTA Awards (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) were held. These awards, which follow up Decembers Australian only awards, recognise international film achievement regardless of country or origin, in seven distinct categories. Hosted by Australian Actor Daniel MacPherson, and kicking off 2017's awards season, the star studded event played out with the eventual winners and grinners from those nominated a month earlier, being as follows :-

* Best Film : 'LA LA LAND',
* Best Direction : MEL GIBSON for 'Hacksaw Ridge',
* Best Actor : CASEY AFFLECK for 'Manchester By The Sea' (released in Australia on 2nd February).
* Best Actress : EMMA STONE for 'La La Land',
* Best Supporting Actor : DEV PATEL for 'Lion' (released in Australia today, see below),
* Best Supporting Actress : NICOLE KIDMAN for 'Lion' (released in Australia today, see below),
* Best Screenplay : KENNETH LONERGAN for 'Manchester By The Sea' (released in Australia on 2nd February).

Turning attention to this weeks latest release films, we have just two to tease you out on a hot Summer's day or night with some air conditioned relief in a cinema of your choosing. We launch with the third instalment in this high octane extreme adventure franchise that sees a heavily tattooed thrill seeking rogue athletic dude come back to life and save the planet from a potential weapon of worldwide destruction and a few crooked governments along the way. Hold on tight! Then we slow down the pace somewhat about the true story of one man's journey to trace his real family back in India from the comfort, security and love of his adopted Australian home. Take your Kleenex!

As always, your thoughts, opinions and observations are welcomed by your fellow readers here at Odeon Online so feel free to record a relevant, pertinent and unbiased Comment below this or any other Post when you have sat through your film of choice in the week ahead. We look forward to hearing from you, and in the interim, enjoy your movie going experience.

'xXx : THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE' (Rated M) - the 'xXx' franchise of films is hardly going to go down in history as the most successful, most groundbreaking, most acclaimed series of action movies to grace our screens, having grossed just $349M from the first two instalments off the back of a US$157M combined production budget. The 2002 launch film 'xXx' starred Vin Diesel as our thrill seeking extreme sports stuntman and rebel athlete Xander Cage who becomes a reluctant spy for the National Security Agency tasked with hunting down a bunch of bad-ass Ruskies. That film was Directed by Rob Cohen and grossed US$275M from its US$70M budget and received generally favourable reviews. The 2005 follow up however, was another story completely. Directed by Lee Tamahori for US$87M 'xXx : The State of the Union' starred this time around Ice Cube as XXX Agent Darius Stone, as Diesel had a scheduling conflict with another movie he was committed to at the time. That film grossed just US$71M and was received poorly by critics. Now in 2017 Xander Cage is back even though he was killed off to explain his absence from the second film. Going back as far 2006 Diesel stated that he would return as our titular hero with a look and feel more in keeping with his successful first instalment. It's taken eleven years to bring that dream to our cinemas and here we have it, and there is talk already of Diesel reprising his role for a fourth film which could into production as early as mid-year this year.

This time Directed by D.J.Caruso, Co-Produced by Vin Diesel and seeing a return to form as the risen from the dead Xander Cage, our extreme athlete comes out of self imposed exile recruited by the CIA to track down a weapon which can control all of the worlds military satellites. Known as Pandora's Box, in the hands of one Xiang (Donnie Yen), this weapon could have dire consequences on the world as we know it. And so Xander Cage recruits a crack team of like minded thrill seekers all with a particular set of skills to aid him in his quest to bring down Xiang. Conspiracy and corruption will ensue as Cage and his cohorts get wrapped up in it at the highest levels of world governments, including their own. Seeing Samuel L. Jackson return for the third time to the franchise as NSA Agent Augustus Eugene Gibbons, with Toni Collette, Ruby Rose and Tony Jaa amongst others you can be sure of high octane action, mind boggling stunts, explosive set pieces and a thumping sound track, with Cage looking positively 'dope' in the process!

'LION' (Rated PG) - this drama film Directed by first time Garth Davis is based on the autobiographical book 'A Long Way Home' by Saroo Brierley and tell the story of his life as played out by Sunny Pawar as the young Saroo back home in India, and Dev Patel as the older Saroo at home in Australia. Already highly acclaimed by critics the world over, the film was made for just US$12M and has so far grossed US$19M plus twenty award wins and a further 62 nominations including the yet to be announced winners for this years BAFTA's, as well as this years yet to be released Academy Award nominee announcements. The story here centres around five year old Saroo who unwittingly boards a train for Calcutta and gets off 1600 kilometres from home, in a strange land and ends up in an orphanage. Some time later he learns that he had been adopted by Sue and John Brierley (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham respectively) in Tasmania, Australia. Fast track two decades and Saroo moves to Melbourne to study hospitality management, and falls in with a group who persuade him to track down his real family back in India using Google Earth. This is his story. Take a box of tissues for this weepie tale of loss, hope, belonging and identity.

With just two new filmic offerings coming to a big screen near you each giving us something different, together with those still out on general release, you have ample opportunity to catch a movie of choice in the run up to the end of the (Australian) school summer holidays. Then, share your thoughts with us here. In the meantime, I'll see you somewhere, sometime in the week ahead at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK : Thursday 24th November 2016.

'BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK' which I caught on its opening day in Australia is based on the 2012 book of the same name by Ben Fountain, and Directed and Co-Produced by multi-award wining Ang Lee. This Iraq War drama was made for US$40M, was released in the US in early November and in the UK not until mid-February, and has so far recovered US$24M at the Box Office. For this film Lee used an unprecedented shooting and projection rate of 120 frames per second in 3D at 4K High Definition resolution, which is the first feature film in history to use such a high frame rate (24 fps is most commonly used). Lee stated that he wanted the film to be an 'immersive' and 'realistic' experience for the viewer into the emotion and realities of the soldiers journey.

Starring in his feature film debut, English Actor Joe Alwyn is US Army Specialist Billy Lynn, a 19 year old, who is part of an eight man team known as Bravo Squad under the leadership of Sgt. David Dime (Garrett Hedlund). A few brief moments of an intense firefight known as 'the Battle of Al-Ansakar Canal' are captured by a embedded Fox News crew that sees Lynn go to the rescue of a wounded Sergeant, Shroom (Vin Diesel) who ultimately dies in his arms, but not before Lynn kills three insurgents - two with pistol shots and the other in close quarter hand to hand combat using a knife to dispense with his assailant. This footage is quickly beamed around the world and Lynn and his fellow soldiers are hailed as heroes back home and Lynn is awarded the Silver Star. The Squad are invited back home by President George W. Bush for a two week Victory Tour to rally support for the war effort.

On the Tour, the Squad are accompanied by Albert Ratner (Chris Tucker) a fast talking but relatively low level Hollywood Producer who has designs on having their story made into a big Hollywood movie, with a promise of a pay day for each of the Squad of US$100K. After some back story centering on Lynn's arrival back home in rural Texas and over dinner with his family including older sister Kathryn (Kristen Stewart) the crew are collected from their hotel on their final day in a stretched Hummer accompanied by Ratner, and they make there way to the Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Here the tour will culminate at the half-time show of the Dallas Cowboys during the 2004 Thanksgiving Day home game, on stage with 'Destiny's Child' and amidst a fanfare of fireworks, cheerleaders, thumping music, giant screen projection and an audience of millions. At this point the Squad don't know that yet, and we see Lynn recounting memories of his time in Iraq with his fellow buddies, with Sergeants Dime and Shroom, and conversations with sister Kathryn in the last few days about why he should seek medical discharge from the Army to avoid going back to Iraq - a notion that doesn't sit well with Lynn, but he's prepared to consider it to appease his sister.

Upon arrival at the Stadium the Squad are ushered to their seats wearing full dress uniform. They get up, sit down, lark around and occasionally have the cameras trained on them. They go to a Members area for lunch and fill their boots with the lavish spread of foods the like of which they have rarely seen before, whilst strangers sidle up to them wanting to speak with real war heroes, thank them, shake their hands and acknowledge their efforts, although they really have no concept at all of the war zone or the battlefield.

It is here that the Squad are introduced to Norman Oglesby (Steve Martin) the owner of the Dallas Cowboys who can't pour enough respect on the boys and is happy to have them paraded in front of the nation at his Stadium and with his Team. Ratner is also seeking to secure funding for the film from Oglesby as a major investor, and whilst he is interested he reduces Ratner's promised fee of US$100K a head down to a paltry US$5,500 each. Needless to say, both Dime and Lynn tell Oglesby later on exactly where he can stick his US$5,500 despite his best intentions telling him that their story is not for sale at that price.

Before kick-off during a photocall and Q&A session with the gathered press, Lynn spies the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader girls standing along the perimeter of the room, and in particular one pretty young thing named Faison Zorn (Makenzie Leigh), whom he falls instantly for, and she reciprocates. They share an intimate moment or two behind a curtain, before the boys are ushered back to their seats - they exchange phone numbers and keep in contact via text messaging.

Come half-time and the boys are to assemble on the goal line wearing their combat ready gear to be paraded down the length of the field walking behind the Cheerleaders, Destiny's Child and various others. Once at the far end they are to mount a stage and stand on an elevated platform while the all girl band sing their hearts out directly in front of them. Lynn is ordered only to walk down onto the stage and stand dead still directly behind the girls as they belt out 'Soldier'. With a crescendo of fireworks, thumping music, cameras flashing, a live television audience, the heat of the spotlights Lynn zones out and reminisces further about his life so far, conversations about his promising Army future with Dime and Shroom, his Squad colleagues, about friendships, family and decisions made and yet to be made.

Through flashbacks recounting the realities of that intense battle and fierce firefight in which Shroom died we learn that those realities were far different from what the US public were led to believe in the media, and how those perceptions are in stark contrast to the tragic consequences suffered by so many young men in the Iraq War. Those realities are tearing away at Lynn, and whilst over a few hours he has formed an attachment to Faison, and his sister Kathryn pleads with him to stay at home and not return to Iraq, ultimately the US Government has not relieved the Squad from their duties and they are under orders to return to Iraq imminently.

As the Hummer awaits post celebration at the designated collection point within the bowels of the Stadium, both Faison and Kathryn emerge. Both are disappointed when Lynn bids his farewells and returns to his fellow waiting comrades with whom he has more in common and with whom he shares a greater sense of belonging and brotherhood and what it really means to support the war effort on the frontline with bullets flying. This is in stark contrast to the manufactured media circus that they have just been party to. The average Joe Blow in the street back home on safe secure American soil has no idea of what that war effort means to those serving soldiers, the sacrifices made and the lasting impact on their lives. No idea at all! He steps foot inside the waiting Hummer, but for a moment he sees himself in his armoured patrol vehicle with Shroom beside him providing some comforting words of wisdom and encouragement, that just reinforces what he knew already.

I was a little underwhelmed by this film. For all the technological wizardry and cutting edge camera work deployed in making this film, the subject matter labours. This is more a character study of a young nineteen year old lad and the loss of his innocence at war as he grows up very quickly trying to keep the peace in Iraq a long way from his rural Texas home, whilst at the same time killing insurgents and maintaining the comradeship of his Squad. We see very little of Lynn's family other than sister Kathryn, but then I guess his family now is his Bravo Squad, and he feels more of a connection with the heat, dust and emotion of Iraq than he does on his home soil. The scenes that give reason to the Victory Tour are delivered quickly and efficiently and take you to the centre of the action in flashback, but don't expect any extended battle scenes, or slow-mo action, or torn bodies and flailing limbs here. Instead, it's all about the long halftime walk that occurs at the Stadium and the impact this has on the men of Bravo Squad. Lee delivers this with all the pomp & ceremony, sound and light, and overwhelming spectacle that you would expect at such an occasion, and Lee makes it feel as though you are there amongst it. Joe Alwyn as the newcomer to watch, and Garrett Hedlund give the standout performances in this film, whereas Steve Martin as the Team owner is just an OTT archetype, and Vin Diesel channelling his inner wannabe Zen Master fails to convince. The film has garnered mixed Reviews so far, and I can understand why.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 17th - 23rd July 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Vin Diesel does on 18th July - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 49, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 17th July

• F. Gary Gray - Born 1969, turns 47 - Director | Producer | Actor
• Jason Clarke - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actor
• David Hasselhoff - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Donald Sutherland - Born 1935, turns 81 - Actor | Producer | Writer  

Monday 18th July

• James Brolin - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Paul Verhoeven - Born 1938, turns 78 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Vin Diesel - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Kelly Reilly - Born 1977, turns 39 - Actress | Producer
• Elizabeth McGovern - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actress
• Kristen Bell - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actress | Producer | Singer

Tuesday 19th July

• Benedict Cumberbatch - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actor
• Atom Egoyan - Born 1960, turns 56 - Producer | Director | Writer | Editor | Cinematographer
• Abel Ferrara - Born 1951, turns 65 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Songwriter
• Mark Webber - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer
• George Dzundza - Born 1945, turns 71 - Actor

Wednesday 20th July

• Cormac McCarthy - Born 1933, turns 83 - Writer | Producer
• Josh Holloway - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actor | Producer
• Frank Whaley - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Director | Writer
• Diana Rigg - Born 1938, turns 78 - Actress
• Sandra Oh - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actress 

Thursday 21st July

• Juno Temple - Born 1989, turns 27 - Actress
• Charlotte Gainsbourg - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actress
• Norman Jewison - Born 1926, turns 90 - Producer | Director
• John Lovitz - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Michael Caton - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor
• Josh Hartnett - Born 1978, turns 38 - Actor | Producer

Friday 22nd July

• Terence Stamp - Born1938, turns 78 - Actor | Director
• Paul Schrader - Born 1946, turns 70 - Writer | Director
• Danny Glover - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Albert Brooks - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Director | Writer
• Willem Dafoe - Born 1955, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• David Spade - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• John Leguizamo - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer
• Rhys Ifans - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actor
• Franka Potenta - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actress | Singer
• Selena Gomez - Born 1992, turns 24 - Singer | Actress

Saturday 23rd July

• Ronny Cox - Born 1938, turns 78 - Actor
• Woody Harrelson - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Daniel Radcliffe - Born 1989, turns 27 - Actor 

Marc Sinclair was born in Alameda County, California, USA to mother Delora Sherleen Sinclair, an astrologer. He never knew his biological father, and was raised in New York City by his mother and stepfather Irving Vincent, an acting coach and theatre manager. He has a younger brother and sister and a fraternal twin Paul Vincent who works as a film editor. He started his acting career by accident at the age of seven when he and a bunch of mates broke into a local theatre intent on vandalising the property, but were caught before they could by the Artistic Director, who offered the lads roles in an upcoming play, or, call the Police. They opted for the former option. That was in a children's play 'Dinosaur Door' produced at the Greenwich Village Theatre for the New City. His career onstage progressed to a New York Repertory Company run by his stepfather, and from there to Hunter College - a public university and part of the City University of New York where his skills in creative writing led him to an interest in screenwriting. By seventeen with a muscle toned build he was bouncing at several hip & trendy New York night spots, and it was then that he changed his name to Vin Diesel.

After three years majoring in English at Hunter College he dropped out and headed to Hollywood to make his acting fame and fortune - but this was no easy task, and after a year as a struggling actor he returned to New York. His screen debut came in an uncredited role on the Penny Marshall Directed film of 'Awakening' in 1990 with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. At about this time his mother gave him a book 'Feature Films at Used Car Prices' which motivated Diesel to take his destiny into his own hands. From here, in 1994 he Wrote, Produced, Directed and starred in his own semi-autobiographical short film 'Multi-Facial' about an actors struggle with the audition process. It screened at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. Three years later in 1997 Diesel Wrote, Produced, Directed and starred in his first fill length feature film 'Strays' which played in competition at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. The next year, on the strength of 'Multi-Facial' Steven Spielberg cast him in his WWII epic 'Saving Private Ryan'.

In 2000, he secured a major role in the Ben Affleck and Giovanni Ribisi film 'Boiler Room' with his breakout role coming later that same year as Riddick in the Sci-Fi actioner 'Pitch Black'. He would reprise the role in 2004 in 'The Chronicles of Riddick' teaming up again with Director David Twohy. Diesel also Produced the film. Whilst hardly a commercial success at the Box Office barely recovering its US$110M budget, it did well enough on the DVD after sales market, prompting a further sequel in 2013, 'Riddick' which again Diesel Produced and Twohy Directed this time for a more modest US$40M. A further instalment has recently been announced.

2001 saw his action hero status reach new heights in his first outing as Dominic Toretto in 'The Fast and the Furious' Directed by Rob Cohen for US$38M and returning US$207M so guaranteeing a follow-up. Diesel skipped 2003's sequel '2 Fast 2 Furious' and had an uncredited cameo in the 2006 'The Fast and the Furious : Tokyo Drift', but has appeared in all films since - in 2009's 'Fast & Furious'; 2011's 'Fast Five'; 2013 'Fast & Furious 6' and 2015's 'Furious 7'. So far all seven films have been made for a combined US$759M and have grossed worldwide US$3,90B. 'Furious 7' currently stands at the #7 ranking highest grossing films of all time at a haul of US$1,52B. 'Fast 8' is currently filming for a 2017 release, and 'Fast & Furious 9 and 10' have been announced for 2019 and 2021 respectively.

2002's 'xXx' also helped cement Diesel's action star status with his role being reprised in 2017's 'xXx : The Return of Xander Cage'. 2003 brought 'A Man Apart' Directed by F. Gary Gray; 2005 saw the action comedy 'The Pacifier' which returned US$199M from its US$56M outlay, and then 'Find Me Guilty' for Sidney Lumet in 2006 with Diesel playing mobster Giacomo DiNorscio - the subject of the longest Mafia court case in American history. 2008 saw 'Babylon A.D.' - a SciFi action film with Mark Strong, Gerard Depardieu and Michelle Yeoh. In 2009 he wrote, Produced, Directed and starred in the 20 minute short film 'Los Bandeleros' providing a back story for the characters and events leading up to the start of the fourth 'Fast & Furious' film, so bridging the gap between that film and 'Tokyo Drift'.

2014 saw the Marvel Cinematic Universe sleeper hit 'Guardians of the Galaxy' with Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista and Diesel as the voice of 'Groot' - a tree like humanoid. The film made US$774M at the global Box Office, with a sequel now in post-production for a 2017 release.

'The Last Witch Hunter' was released in 2015 with Elijah Wood and Michael Caine which brings us up to date. Next up is Ang Lee's 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' with Kristen Stewart, Garrett Hedlund, Steve Martin and Chris Tucker due in November this year, and a whole bunch of sequels due over the next five years as already mentioned within this Post, including a fourth Riddick instalment with 'Furia' recently announced. All up Diesel has forty Acting credits to his name, 22 as Producer, five as Director and four as Writer. He has seven award wins and a further 26 nominations. He has also lent his voice talents to 'The Iron Giant' in 1999, several video games based on his character Riddick, and as 'Groot' in 'Guardian's of the Galaxy' and its follow up due early next year.

In 1995 he formed 'One Race Films' - a video production company behind many of his films, and with it a subsidiary company 'Tigon Studios' - a video game development business, and another subsidiary 'Racetrack Records' - a record label, music studio and production company. He has been in a long term relationship with Mexican born model Paloma Jimenez since 2007, and together they have three children - Hania Riley (born 2008), Vincent Sinclair (born 2010) and Pauline (born 2015) named after his good friend and 'Fast & Furious' Co-Star Paul Walker who died in November 2013.








Vin Diesel - he of the deep instantly recognisable voice, avid 'Dungeons and Dragons' player for 20+ years now, deeply private in his personal life, a lover and supporter of the Dominican Republic where he filmed 'Los Bandeleros', and the action star of four burgeoning film franchises still going strong after 15+ years and that keep audiences coming back for more - Happy Birthday to you Vin, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 29th October 2015.

Unless you've been sleeping under a rock, this past week has seen the 30th Anniversary since Marty McFly and Doc Brown went 'Back to the Future' and arrived in the Californian town of Hill Valley on 21st October 2015 from back in 1985. Arriving in 2015, Screenwriter Bob Gale and Director Robert Zemeckis imagined a world for us in 2015 that saw 'Jaws 19' playing at the local multiplex, hover boards had replaced the more manual skateboards, self-lacing Nike's were the latest fashion footwear, Princess Di was now Queen and cars could fly. Not quite the reality that was envisioned although there were future things too that have become commonplace from that movie and some that just might be in the next 30 years. That date, 21/10/15 is now history already, and if you haven't seen those movies you can do so in the newly released 30th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray and DVD and the book - 'Back to the Future : The Ultimate Visual History'. Go forward into the past, and check these out!

This week five new movies are coming to an Odeon near you with a raft of talent, a mix of genres, and hailing from near and far. There is a 50's outback revenge drama where the locals are likely to get stitched up, in more ways than one; then an intelligent screwball comedy of a couple of newly acquainted Noo Yawk chicks who paint the two red, live it up, go large, try to launch a restaurant and try to get payment on a debt amongst other things; then an immortal slayer of witches who in the present day needs to save the world from a long time dead revengeful foe. Next up two non-committal folk hook up in a purely platonic relationship to reform each other and in the process fall for each other with romantic comedic consequences . . . maybe; and finally an acclaimed foreign language black comedy of two hapless salesmen reflecting on life, love and our very reason for being.

When you've made your weekly trip to the local cinema, don't forget to share your thoughts afterwards with your own personal critique in the Comments Box directly below this or any other Post. At Odeon Online, we'll be pleased to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

THE DRESSMAKER (Rated M) - This Australian film features drama, revenge and comedy as Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse with the Screenplay written by her too and based on the 2000 released novel of the same name by Rosalie Ham. The film was shot in Melbourne and out & about in country Victoria and is set in the 1950's with influences in the classic Western with Moorhouse describing her film as Clint Eastwood's 'Unforgiven' . . .  with a sewing machine! The film had its world premiere at TIFF on September 14th was screened at the Adelaide Film Festival on 16th October and is released this week. It has an all star cast that reads like a Who's Who of Aussie acting talent.

The story centres around Myrtle 'Tily' Dunnage (Kate Winslet) who after years away returns to her outback home town of Dungatar having worked for a famed seamstress in Paris. He mother Molly (Judy Davis) is sick, hence why Tily has returned home for the fist time since being sent away at age ten by her mother, because of false accusations surrounding a murder.  Now as an expert dressmaker herself Tily delights the locals with her haute couture creations and transforms the townsfolk whilst exacting her revenge on them for their sins of the past. Also starring Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving, Sarah Snook, Rebecca Gibney, Barry Otto, Kerry Fox, Gyton Grantley and Shane Jacobsen.

MISTRESS AMERICA (Rated MA15+) - No, this is not Captain America's bit on the side (although there is a Superhero[ine] angle here) but rather a screwball comedy Directed by Noah Baumbach, Co-Written and Co-Produced by him and Greta Gerwig, and also starring Greta Gerwig too. Here, Tracy (Lola Kirke) is a lonely college freshman in New York's Columbia University struggling to discover the cosmopolitan party lifestyle she imagined, or connect with those who would allow her to experience adventure and the hi-life she envisioned. Soon enough however, she is taken in by Brooke (Greta Gerwig) as her soon to be step-sister and pretty soon the two have hit it off and are getting on like the proverbial house on fire! Greta lives in the heart of NYC in Times Square and is outgoing, adventurous, well networked and hi-spirited and Brooke becomes intoxicated by the life she is now experiencing and which she imagined for herself. Baumbach Directs here with the aplomb that he demonstrated in 'Frances Ha' in 2012, and already Gerwig could be an early Oscar contender here.

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER (Rated M) - With a production budget of US$90M it would be reasonable to assume great things from this epic sword swinging, shotgun shooting witch slaying offering from Director Breck Eisner and starring Vin Diesel in the lead role as 800+ year old Kaulder. Our hero here has been hunting down witches for centuries who walk amongst us, but we just don't know it, and he is the last of kind, so no pressure there to save the known world! He was cursed way back in the 14th Century when he took down the Witch Queen (Julie Engelbrecht) who moments before popping her clogs by his hand cursed him with immortality and an existence out of reach of his loved ones in the afterlife. Accompanied by his friend the 36th Dolan (Michael Caine) who is cursed by an unknown foe, Kaulder must team up with Chloe (Rose Leslie) to help break his curse and to thwart the resurrected Witch Queen who has her own plans for the future of humanity . . . and it ain't good! Elijah Wood also stars as the 37th Dolan . . . whatever that means?

SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE (Rated MA15+) - This RomCom is Directed and Written by Leslye Headland and stars Jason Sudekis as Jake as well mannered good natured ladies man about town who teams up with serial cheater and non-committal Lainey (Alison Brie) who both help each other to reform their no good, failed romantic ways with a purely platonic relationship. Naturally, yes you've guessed it, at the same time they fall for each other, but, can their relationship prosper and survive while they are sleeping with other people? This is a story that there is every chance you have seen a hundred times at least before, and will find predictable to the Nth degree methinks!

A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE (Rated M) - this Swedish black comedy film Directed by Roy Andersson is his third in his 'life trilogy' following his 2000 released 'Songs from the Second Floor' and 2007's 'You, The Living' and was released a year ago in September 2014 at the Venice International Film Festival where it picked up the Best Film Award, and in November 2014 in Sweden. It is also Sweden's entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at next years Oscar Ceremony. The story here surrounds two hapless novelty salesmen Jonathan (Holger Andersson) and Sam (Nils Westblom) as they contemplate the human condition through a series of real and imagined ramblings and wacky episodes that explore what makes us the same and what makes us all so different.

Five very different films once again in the week ahead that are sure to offer something even for the most discerning appetite, except for the younger audience maybe! When you've made you choice, paid your money, finished your popcorn, sat through your film of choice, remember to share your thoughts and tell a friend what you saw at the movies!

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-