What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 30th March 2017.

With the release of 'The Lego Batman Movie' this week, it may come as a surprise to some that Lego have in fact been producing films and television series for a good number of years now. Lego officially broke into the movie making business back in 2003 with a series of films based on their 'Bionicle' range at first in conjunction with Miramax for the initial trilogy, and then with Universal for a reboot. After four films in the 'Bionicle' franchise between 2003 and 2009, Lego followed this up with their first feature length CGI animated adventure comedy 'Lego : The Adventures of Clutch Powers' which spawned a mini-sequel and a short film. In 2005 Lego capitalised upon their tie in with the Star Wars franchise with a number of short films and television specials, which has so far yielded ten such stories right up to 2016. Since 2013 there have also been a range of seven Lego Superhero films based on the DC Universe mostly featuring Batman, and the Justice League, with two short 22 minute films featuring our friends from the Marvel Universe too. The Lego Ninjago series has been hugely popular in its television series format running for six years so far over 64 episodes to date with a full length feature offering due later in 2017. In the meantime there has also been 'The Hero Factory' series, 'Lego Scooby-Doo' series and the 'Lego Friends' series and other one offs based on popular films and television series including Monty Python's Holy Grail, Indiana Jones, Jurassic World, Atlantis, and The Simpsons. In collaboration with Warner Animation Group Lego have so far released the hugely successful 'The Lego Movie' in 2014, 'The Lego Batman Movie' this year and as Previewed below, with 'The Lego Ninjago Movie' due in November, and with 'The Lego Movie Sequel' and 'The Billion Brick Race' both in development for 2019.

Turning form CGI driven animated interlocking bricks to the coming week, we have five new cinematic releases that offer a high octane Sci-Fi actioner set in a Japan of the near future and based on a cyber manga franchise now approaching thirty years old. We then have a small interconnecting bricks DC character inspired film about Gotham City's finest Superhero going head to head and brick to brick with his arch nemesis and just about every other arch criminal from popular culture you care to remember; before moving onto two critically acclaimed Foreign Language Film offerings that were both up for the Best Foreign Language Film at the recent Oscar Awards Ceremony - one from Denmark and a true account of young German POW forced to clean up their own mess in a small corner of Denmark immediately following the end of the war, and the second from Sweden about a grumpy old man. We then wrap up with an animated reboot of little blue and white critters who have been going strong for fifty years or so and whose latest adventure takes them on a journey of discovery, secrets and danger.

When you have sat through any one of these films as Previewed below, or those as Reviewed and Previewed amongst these previous Blog pages, be sure to leave your valued, constructive and relevant feedback, by leaving your movie going thoughts and opinions in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and meanwhile, enjoy your film in the coming week.

'GHOST IN THE SHELL' (Rated M) -  is a Japanese media franchise that had it origins way back in 1989, having been published as a series of comics aimed squarely at the youth and more mature male market written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow which is the pen name for manga artist Masanori Ota whose works under this title have subsequently led to two theatrical anime movies, two anime television series, an anime television movie, a theatrical live action movie, and several video games. The original premise told of the fictional counter-cyberterrorist organisation Public Security Section 9 (a special-operations task-force made up of former military officers and police detectives) led by protagonist Major Motoko Kusanagi in mid-21st Century Japan. Here, computer technology has advanced to the point where many members of the public possess cyberbrains, technology that allows them to interface their biological brain with a variety of networks. The level of cyberization varies from basic minimal interfaces to almost complete replacement of the brain with cybernetic components, in cases of severe trauma. This can also be combined with various levels of prostheses, with a fully prosthetic body enabling a person to become a cyborg. Major Motoko Kusanagi, is such a cyborg, having had a terrible accident as a child that ultimately required her to use a full-body prosthesis to house her cyberbrain.

With that lesson over, this live action version finally hits our screens this week after some time of dazzling Previews. Directed by Rupert Sanders in only his second feature film outing after 2012's 'Snow White and the Huntsman', this film adaptation centres around Major (Scarlett Johansson) - the first of a kind cyber-enhanced human who has been perfectly engineered to be the prefect soldier who exists only to stop the world's most dangerous notorious criminals. With technology reaching new heights that allows terrorists to hack into  the minds of the people and ultimately take control of them, the Major is best qualified to stop them. As Major steps up to the plate to vanquish her dastardly foe, she learns that she has been lied to and everything about her life is not as she was led to believe - that she was not saved and made in to what she is today, but rather her life was stolen! She will stop at nothing therefore to recover her past and stop those responsible before others befall the same fate. Also starring Michael Pitt, Juliette Binoche, Takeshi Kitano and Pilou Asbaek.

'THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE' (Rated PG) - featuring an all star voice cast this film is a spin off from the hugely successful 2014 'The Lego Movie' which took a cool US$470M from its US$60M production budget. This instalment is Directed by Chris McKay on a budget of US$80M and has so far grossed US$293M since its US release in early February. Here the story centres around Bruce Wayne (aka Batman, aka the voice of Will Arnett) who is living the reclusive life in his mansion with his Butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes). When he's not fighting crime, his arch nemesis The Joker (Zach Galifianakis) musters up all the super crims he can possibly round up to thwart Gotham City's Batman once and for all. Meanwhile new Police Commissioner Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) suggests to the Batman that he should take on a closer working relationship with the local city law enforcement authorities. Following some sort of misunderstanding Wayne inadvertently adopts orphan Dick Grayson (Michael Cera) and so it boils down to Wayne, Grayson, Alfred and Gordon to save Gotham from the Joker and his army of  super villains. Also starring the voice talents of Eddie Izzard, Seth Green, Zoe Kravitz, Mariah Carey,  Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Adam DeVine and Billy Dee Williams amongst others. 'The Lego Ninjago Movie' is due for release at the back end of 2017, with a sequel to this film already announced for an early 2019 release.

'LAND OF MINE' (Rated MA15+) - this Danish/German Co-production had its Premier at TIFF in September 2015, and was released in its native Denmark in early December 2015. Only now does this highly acclaimed foreign language offering arrive into Australian cinema's off the back of 26 award wins and nineteen further nominations including a Best Foreign Language Film nod at this years recent Academy Awards. Telling the true WWII story of the days immediately after the surrender of Germany in May 1945 when a group of about 2,000 German Prisoners of War were handed over to Danish authorities and sent out to the west coast where they were forced to clear up to two million land mines buried in the sand along the coastal beaches there by the Germans when they occupied the country. Many were teenagers and all were ill equipped to get down on their hands and knees and carry out such dangerous work. One such group under the unscrupulous supervision of Sergeant Carl Leopold Rasmussen (Roland Moller) did it tough with his unrelenting unsympathetic views towards his former occupiers. Many lost their lives in doing so. As the days and weeks pass by, Rasmussen however, grows more and more conflicted in his feelings towards the young lads under his charge - especially, one, the protective and natural leader of the group Sebastian Schumann (Louis Hofmann). A tale of tragedy, tension, compassion and the human spirit as Directed and Written by Martin Zandvliet, this film cost US$5.2M to make and has so far grossed US$2.2M.

'A MAN CALLED OVE' (Rated M) - another Best Foreign Language Film nominee at this years Academy Awards was this Swedish comedy drama film Written and Directed by Hannes Holm and based on the 2012 book of the same name by Fredrik Backman. Released in its native Sweden at Christmas time 2015, this film only now too has a limited release in Australia, but being the recipient of thirteen award wins and another 22 nominations, may be well worth hunting out. Telling the story of Ove (Rolf Lassgard), a grumpy, ill tempered, opinionated and isolated retiree who spends his time  enforcing the rules and regulations around the residential estate where he lives, and visiting the graveyard of his dearly beloved wife. When he finally decides to check out by his own hand, he quickly comes to realise that suicide is not a easy as he thought, and to make matters worse when new neighbours move in next door, an unlikely friendship unfolds that gives the grumpy old man a different perspective on life. The film has so far taken US$26M at the Box Office.

'SMURFS : THE LOST VILLAGE' (Rated G) - the Smurfs date back to the late 1950's in French/Belgian comics, and in the last sixty of so years the Smurfs have evolved to take in animated feature films, television series, video games, music recordings, merchandise, theme park rides, and even 'Smurfs on Ice' (not the illicit type either, although . . . !) As recently as 2011 there have been what was originally said to be a trilogy of films from Sony Pictures Animation launching with the live action/CGI offering 'The Smurfs' which grossed a cool US$564M. In 2013 along came 'The Smurfs 2' which grossed US$348M. Now in 2017, Directed by Kelly Asbury we have this rendition that is not a sequel to the 2013 Smurf outing but a fully animated reboot of the franchise and is unrelated to the earlier two movies. Here we find Smurfette (Demi Lovato) trying to find her place in the village. She comes across a mysterious map in the Forbidden Forest which prompts her, and her friends Brainy (Danny Pudi), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) and Hefty (Joe Manganiello) to locate a lost village where SmurfStorm (Michelle Rodriguez), SmurfLily (Ariel Winter), SmurfWillow (Julia Roberts) and SmurfBlossom (Ellie Kemper), SmurfMelody (Meghan Trainor) and others live, and in so doing discover the biggest secret in all of Smurfdom. Along the way their journey is full of action, adventure, surprise, danger and discovery, but the clock is ticking too, and the evil wizard Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) is on the hunt and on their tails! Also starring the voice talents of Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf and Gordon Ramsay (yes, the Celebrity Chef!) as Baker Smurf and others, of course.

Five new movie offerings this week to drag you out kicking and screaming to your nearby cinema that offers something for the kids, something for the family, something for the Sci-fi action geeks and something for the lovers of foreign language independent fare. Share your movie going thoughts with us here, and in the meantime, I'll see you somewhere, sometime at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 9th June 2016.

As reported last week, started in 1954, this year sees the 62nd Sydney Film Festival launching on 8th June with 'Goldstone' opening the festival at Sydney's State Theatre, and closing with 'Love & Friendship' on 19th June. In the meantime, there are films in competition, special screenings, European Cinema, international documentaries, family films, short films, a retrospective of ten Scorsese films selected by David Stratton, and more. There are twelve films in the Official Competition, which is 'presented in recognition of the most courageous, audacious and cutting-edge new cinematic creations from around the world' and celebrating 'that rare but thrilling kind of film that truly moves the art form forward'. This years chosen dozen up for a stab at a cash prize of AU$60K are :

• 'APPRENTICE' - English/Malaysian, Australian Premier, Directed by Boo Junfeng
• 'AQUARIUS' - Portuguese, Australian Premier, Directed by Kleber Mendonca Filho
• 'CERTAIN WOMEN' - Australian Premier, Directed by Kelly Reichardt, with Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern and Michelle Williams
• 'THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER' - English/French, Australian Premier, Directed by Brady Corbet, with Robert Pattinson, Liam Cunningham and Berenice Bejo
• 'THE ENDLESS RIVER' - Australian Premier, Directed by Oliver Hermanus, with Clayton Everton, Crystal-Donna Robers and Nicolas Duvauchelle
• 'GOLDSTONE' - World Premier, Directed by Ivan Sen, with Aaron Pedersen, Alex Russell and Jackie Weaver
• 'IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD' - French, Australian Premier, Directed by Xavier Dolan, with Vincent Cassel, Marion Cotillard and Gaspar Ulliel
• 'LAND OF MINE' - English/German/Danish, Australian Premier, Directed by Martin Zandvliet, with Joel Basman, Louis Hofmann and Roland Moller
• 'LETTERS FROM WAR' - Portuguese, Australian Premier, Directed by Ivo M. Ferreira
• 'NOTES ON BLINDNESS' - Australian Premier, Directed by Peter Middleton and James Spinney, with Dan Skinner and Simone Kirby
• 'PSYCHO RAMEN' - Hindi, Australian Premier, Directed by Anurag Kashyap
• 'VIVA' - Spanish, Australian Premier, Directed by Paddy Breathnach

In Special Presentations exclusively at Sydney's State Theatre are fifteen films all receiving their Australian Premier, these are 'Blood Father' with Mel Gibson; 'Captain Fantastic' with Viggo Mortensen; 'Demolition' with Jake Gyllenhaal; 'Down Under' getting its World Premier for Director Abe Forsythe; 'Elvis & Nixon' with Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey respectively; Richard Linklater's 'Everybody Want's Some'; the Jim Jarmusch tribute to Iggy Pop and the Stooges 'Gimme Danger'; 'A Journey of a Thousand Miles : Peacekeepers'; 'Julieta' by Pedro Almodovar; 'Maggie's Plan' with Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore and Greta Gerwig; 'Mahana' by Lee Tamahori with Temuera Morrison; 'Saint Amour' with Gerard Depardieu; 'Sing Street' by John Carney with a thumping 80's soundtrack, big hair, wide lapels and fashion faux-pas we'd rather forget; 'Suburra' - an Italian Mafia/political/religious thriller; and 'War on Everyone' by John McDonagh with Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Pena. For more on the 2016 Sydney Film Festival you can go to : www.sff.org.au

This week however, there are just three new films to get you out to your local Odeon kicking off with a sequel to a franchise that has been going strong for thirty or so years featuring your favourite pizza chomping heroes in a half shelf doing their ninja best to save the world . . . again! Then a supernatural horror sequel based on a real haunting in a London suburb back in the 70's as investigated by psychic investigators that its seems the genre and this franchise owe much to. And wrapping up, an English language Spanish dramedy offering featuring badass aid workers, a corpse, a well and a length of rope.

As always, when you have sat through your movie of choice in the week ahead - be it one of these as Previewed below, or any one of those Reviewed or Previewed in previous Posts, share your views and opinions with your like minded cinephiles by leaving a Comment in the space provided below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES : OUT OF THE SHADOWS' (Rated M) - the 'TMNT' or 'Ninja Turtles' go back thirty plus years to 1984 when they first appeared in comic books published by Mirage Studios. In case you didn't know, they are four fictional teenage anthropomorphic turtles who are named after four Renaissance Italian artists - Donatello (Donnie), Michelangelo (Mikey), Leonardo (Leo), and Raphael (Raph). They were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei (Splinter) in the art of ninjutsu. Over the years there have been a long succession of comic books, animated television series, an anime series, live action series, and the first round of feature films in 1990 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' then 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze' in 1991 and 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III' in 1993 with a CGI animated feature 'TMNT' in 2007. Fast forward to 2014 and Michael Bay Produced a reboot at a cost of US$125M which made just shy of US$500M which Jonathan Liebesman Directed, making a sequel almost inevitable. And so two short years later, here it is with Michael Bay once again Producing with the Director credit going this time to Dave Green with a US$135M budget. The film opened in the UK on 30th May, in the US on 3rd June and has so far recovered US74M of its outlay.

So this time around we have our intrepid gang of four pizza loving, scene stealing, vigilante do gooders in the half shell who go head to head with an escaped from custody Shredder (Brian Tee) who then teams up with Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry) an unhinged scientist with god-like tendencies hell bent on world domination. To do their dirty work are two henchmen Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (Stephen Farrelly) who are turned into powerful animal mutants using a mutagenic compound given to Stockman by the evil alien warlord Krang (Brad Garrett), who also has his own agenda for planet Earth that our turtle friends must contend with too. But what these bunch of nasties clearly didn't count on were the four ninja turtles and there own allies in the form of April O'Neil (Megan Fox), Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), Casey Jones (Stephen Amell) and Police Chief Rebecca Vincent (Laura Linney) who together, are gonna save all humanity!

'THE CONJURING 2 : THE ENFIELD POLTERGEIST' (Rated MA15+) - another sequel of the supernatural horror kind is haunting a cinema near you this week and following on from the 2013 hugely successful 'The Conjuring' as Directed back then by James Wan and made for US$20M and grossing a staggering US$318M making it one of the most commercially successful horror films of all time, and critically well received too. That first film was set in 1971 on Rhode Island, and this follow up sees the same couple - paranormal investigators and writers Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively) reprise their roles but travel from a self-imposed sabbatical to Enfield, in London, England in 1977 to help out Peggy Hodgson (Frances O'Connor) an overwhelmed and distraught mother of four who believes that something evil lurks in her Enfield Council house. Based on their own experiences and what they encounter within the house they believe that one of the Hodgson girls is possessed by demonic forces, and as they try to help, so they become the target! Based on a true story as investigated by the real Ed and Lorraine Warren into the alleged poltergeist activity in the Enfield house between 1977 and 1979, this sequel is once again Directed by James Wan who also co-wrote the Screenplay.

'A PERFECT DAY' (Rated M) - this English language Spanish comedy drama film is Written and Directed by Fernando Leon de Aranoa, and was screened in Cannes during the Directors Fortnight a year ago in May 2015, before its Spanish release in late August last year, and now it winds up on Australian shores. This tells the story of a bunch of aid workers based on the book by Spanish physician Paula Farias who worked for 'Doctors without Borders' in The Balkans back in 1995. Here Mambru (Benicio del Toro), B (Tim Robbins) and Sophie (Melanie Thierry) and joined by their interpreter Damir (Fedja Stukan) as they seek to retrieve a corpse dangling down a well somewhere in the former Yugoslavia after the conflicts there have ended and the UN Peacekeeping forces have taken up residence. What seems like a routine 'extraction' proves to be more challenging and complicated than they initially thought. Joined by Mambru's former lover Katya (Olga Kurylenko) and a young local lad Nikola they face obstacles, defy death, overcome the absurdness of war, challenge authority, and traipse through a war torn landscape in search of a length of rope to complete the 'extraction' before the corpse contaminates the valuable water supply at the bottom of the well. A slow burning film underpinned by a strong cast that has received mixed Reviews, one award win and another eighteen nominations from around the circuit.

Three films this week that offer up something for the kids and something for the adults, and with plenty of other choice doing the rounds and still on general release as Reviewed and Previewed on these humble pages, there is no reason at all not to get out to your local multiplex or independent theatre. I'll see you, at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 11th September 2014.

Spring is here, the deluge that has waterlogged Sydney for the last three weeks is fast becoming a fading memory, the days are growing longer, the temperatures are rising, and, there are four new films to tempt, tease and tantalise those tastebuds to ensure you venture out and experience big screen entertainment at its best at your local multiplex, or independent movie theatre. For the week ahead we have another all singing' all dancin' body poppin' foot tappin' so ya think y'can dance competition type offering that is a another sequel to a long list of films bearing the same pre-fix that you may have seen before (if you like this kinda thing!). Then we have the next generation of world saviours that started life 20 years ago as an animated series before finding live action stardom amidst the teen set before fading into obscurity - only to get the big studio treatment once again and spring back into life when you least expect it! Next up is a future Sci-Fi outing featuring some big names and a different world; and to close a tree hugging' greenies outing to prove a point . . . explosively!

When you get our there this week to your local movie theatre and sit there in awe of the silver screen, drop me a line afterwards and share your experience with my other Reader, by adding a comment at the end of this article, and let us know what you thought of this weeks latest release . . . or any of those others still doing the rounds and Previewed/Reviewed in previous weeks. Thanks!

NIGHT MOVES (Rated M) - This is the story of three young radical new-age sensitive environmentalists who up to now have done their bit to save the world by being eco-friendly, going green, and connecting with their inner organic selves by working in agricultural communities, and hugging the occasional tree. All that is about to change when they realise that these efforts ain't gonna change much in the world, and so they need to take the law into their own hands and make a bouncing bold brash statement to make people sit up and take notice! And so our intrepid gang of three comprising Josh (Jesse Eisenberg), Dena (Dakota Fanning) and Harmon (Peter Sarsgard) hatch a plan to blow up a hydro-electric dam. The explosive expertise comes via Harmon who conveniently is an ex-Marine and an explosives guru so they have a motive, they have the nouse, and now all they need to do is secure the explosives and a means of getting to said dam - via a small but nimble little motor cruiser called 'Night Moves'.

The central set-piece sees the dam duly destroyed and you would think therefore that the job was done - mission accomplished! But what follows is the unravelling of the three as they become consumed by guilt, regret, remorse, and the ramifications of their actions upon themselves potentially, and the more far reaching community. Directed by Kelly Reichardt this is touted as suspenseful, gripping and intelligent film-making underpinned by a solid storyline that should resonate with us all for the wider message it contains.

THE GIVER (Rated M) - there is a solid cast in this future dystopian (or is it Utopian?) Sci-Fi story Directed by Philip Noyce and based on the 1993 Lois Lowry book of the same name. It is a future Earth where there is no war, no hunger, no pain and suffering, no racism or conflict and everyone in society has a purpose. And so too Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) at age 12 is selected to be the community 'Receiver of Memories' and undertakes a training programme to do so from 'The Giver' (Jeff Bridges) which involves him learning of all the pain, suffering, hardship, war, sadness that endured on the 'old' Earth and their former 'real' World. In doing so Jonas comes to realise that his World is in fact fake, manufactured and far from ideal with much that has been kept from them in an attempt to create a level of 'sameness' across all lives - this includes the removal of colour, music, and love and with everything controlled by 'The Elders' who are revered and looked upon positively by society. So Jonas is confronted with choices to make about his own life and that of his future, and in doing so will put himself and those others close to him at risk as he searches for freedom and answers. Also starring Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, Taylor Swift and Alexander Skarsgard, this is the first of four books in this series which might just see this potential film franchise going the way of 'Divergent', 'The Hunger Games', 'Twilight' and 'Potter' - wait and see - it's up to you - the movie going, ticket buying audience!

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (Rated M) - once again New York City in under attack - this time from an unsavoury mob called 'The Foot Clan' and the city folk seem powerless or prepared to do anything to stand in their unscrupulous way! The future therefore looks uncertain and bleak, although help is at hand from the least likely of places! Lurking in the sewers beneath the city's streets are four masked saviours who have grown in the past 15 years since being tested on in laboratories and fed mutagens to develop their emotional, physical and mental strength to the point where, just in time, they are ready to save their fair city from all manner of doom and peril. Enter Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael, and Splinter their trusted Master . . . aka, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Discovered by intrepid Reporter April O'Neill (Megan Fox) and committed to remaining silent about their identity, their origin and their hideaway she is ably supported by roving cameraman and love interest Vernon Fenwick (Will Arnett) who with The Turtles must now foil a plan by The Foot Clan and their leader 'The Shredder' to spread a deadly virus across their fair city. Starring also William Fichtner, Whoopi Goldberg and the voice of Johnny Knoxville this is gonna be everything you would expect it to be brought up to date with the latest eye-popping CGI for a whole new audience!

STEP UP : ALL IN (Rated PG) - here we go again - another instalment in this long running well-past-its-use-by-date dance franchise that just regurgitates what has been seen and done already in this franchise, and others handed down through motion picture history dating back to 'Fame', 'Flashdance' and 'Footloose' methinks! This time the dance action takes place in Las Vegas, involves competing crews, a dance-off competition with a big pay-off at the end, and the prospect of a dance career, fame and possible fortune. Along the way their will doubtless be obstacles to be overcome, relationships tested, highly choreographed montages, and mindless dialogue that is expected to move whatever loose plot there is, along!

Four new offerings then that couldn't be more different, which together with all the other solid cinema content out there right now will give you plenty of choice. When you have seen your movie of choice this week (or two or three!) be your own critic and let us know what you thought via this - your favourite online movie Blog! Enjoy the experience!

Movies - see at least one this week!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-