JUSTICE LEAGUE : Tuesday 21st November 2017.

'JUSTICE LEAGUE' which I saw earlier this week is here finally after all the hype, the media attention and the speculation surrounding this long awaited and eagerly anticipated fifth film in the DC Extended Universe following hot on the heels of 2013's 'Superman', 2016's 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice', and 'Suicide Squad', and 'Wonder Woman' earlier this year. Zack Snyder Directed 'Man of Steel' which grossed US$668M, and 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' which grossed US$874M, with David Ayer Directing 'Suicide Squad' which grossed US$746M and Patty Jenkins on Director duty for 'Wonder Woman' which grossed US$822M. Once again Zack Snyder is back in the Directors chair for this collective Superhero offering featuring a cast of DC characters thrust together for the first time in a live action instalment, an ensemble cast and a price tag of US$300M to bring to the big screen, making 'Justice League' one of the most expensive films ever made. But, I guess on the strength that the first four films cost a combined US$800M and grossed a collective sum total of US$3.1B, then this fifth film should represent a sure bet for the numerous Production Companies involved. A sequel to this film was scheduled for a mid-2019 release date, which has subsequently been pushed back to make way for a stand alone 'Batman' film. At the time of publishing this Post, 'Justice League' had taken US$308M at the Box Office.

This story then follows on several months after the end of 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' in which Batman/Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) who is now inspired by Superman's selfless act to sacrifice himself for the greater good of all humanity, teams up with new ally Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) to fend off a new threat, with the help of a few others yet to be recruited to the Team.

That threat comes in the form of Steppenwolf (voiced by Ciaran Hinds) - an alien high ranking military officer who is immortal and possesses superhuman strength, speed and stamina from the planet Apokolips, and who has a very specific mission on Earth that could have catastrophic consequences for our humble little green planet. He leads an army of winged flying Parademons who extend into their countless thousands, are fiercely loyal to their leader, have heightened strength and high pain tolerance, carry powerful weapons and resemble giant pesky flies only twice as ugly and much more menacing! Steppenwolf wants to capture three 'Mother Boxes' and combine their energy source into 'The Unity' to remake Earth into the hellish domain he can call home and rule over. Back in the day Steppenwolf and his legions of giant pesky flying armed creatures were thwarted by the combined forces of Olympian Gods, Amazons, Atlantians, Green Lanterns and humans, and the three all powerful Mother Boxes secreted away in various places of hiding around the world to lie dormant for thousands of years . . . . until now!

Following the death of Superman, the Mother Boxes are all triggered back into life which prompts Steppenwolf's return to Earth to retrieve them. The first such box is housed underground in Themyscira, the island home of Diana Prince, which he successfully overruns and escapes with his Parademons in tow. Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) sends a warning to Diana Prince that Steppenwolf is on his way. This prompts Bruce and Diana to try and muster the support of other known metahumans Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) which Bruce goes in search of, and Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) which Diana searches out. They fail to convince both Curry and Stone to join their Team, but Allen is very enthusiastic and enlists immediately, giving the young lad some purpose in his otherwise meandering wasteful life. Stone joins the group after his father Silas (Joe Morton) is kidnapped by Steppenwolf searching out the Box left to the humans. Curry also joins too after Atlantis is attacked and the second Mother Box buried deep within the ocean is retrieved by Steppenwolf.

Commissioner James Gordon (J.K.Simmons) advises that he has learned that the Parademons are underground. Surmising that the only location is a long abandoned facility under Gotham Harbour, he advises Batman, Wonder Woman and The Flash, now joined also by Cyborg and they converge on the facility and engage with Steppenwolf and his Parademons. In the ensuing close quarter fight, the walls of the facility are ruptured allowing torrents of water to flood into the underground chamber.  Aquaman comes to the rescue and holds back the water so allowing the others to escape.

Stone has been in possession of the third remaining Mother Box, as it was the energy from it that allowed his father Silas, to develop the power to rebuild his son into the Cyborg he is today. Batman hatches a plan to resurrect Superman using the same energy from the Mother Box. This would enable them to fight Steppenwolf on another level and overcome this formidable enemy, whilst at the same time restoring some hope in the world that all is not lost.

Reluctantly Prince and Curry agree although are not too happy with the prospect. Stone and Allen exhume Clark Kent's body and take it to the Kryptonian Ship with the Mother Box. Kent is laid in the incubation waters, and with Allen generating enough electricity they are able to bring Clark Kent back from the dead. However, Superman (Henry Cavill) is suffering from some memory loss and makes a sharp exit out of the ship and into a nearby park where he attacks The Flash, Cyborg who inadvertently tried to kill him, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Batman. With Superman as expected gaining the upper hand in any battle, things don't go so well for the group or the gathered Police. Until that is, Batman brings out his secret weapon - Lois Lane (Amy Adams), at which point his memories come flooding back. While the Team are distracted with all this in-fighting and Clark and Lois reconnecting, the third Mother Box is left unguarded and easy pickings for Steppenwolf, which he claims from right under their noses.

Cyborg tracks Steppenwolf and the heightened seismic activity from the three Mother Boxes now drawn together, to a remote Russian Village - the scene of a nuclear disaster some decades earlier and where a small enclave of people still reside. With Steppenwolf commencing The Unity, time is fast running out for the world as we know it. The Team of five make their way via the supersonic Bat Jet arriving with a plan to distract the Parademons while Cyborg sets about separating the three Boxes. The team of the remaining four are no match for Steppenwolf and his hordes of Parademons, who are unable to provide sufficient distraction to allow Cyborg to be effective. Until that is, Superman arrives and beats the crap out of Steppenwolf; saves the lives, with The Flash too, of multiple families trying to flee the conflagration; and helps Cyborg separate the Mother Boxes successfully so stripping Steppenwolf of his power. Seeing their leader overcome with fear, the Parademons descend on Steppenwolf just like flies on a freshly laid turd, and transport him instantly back to the world from whence they came.

In the closing scenes we see Alfred (Jeremy Irons) escorting Bruce and Diana to the burnt out shell of Wayne Manor. They agree to rebuild it as the centre of operations for the new Team, with room for future expansion as more metahumans join. The newly formed Team then all default to what they do best - Curry returns to his home of Atlantis; Stone works with his father on developing his cyborg technology and abilities; Prince take her place in the spotlight as a hero of truth and justice; Kent takes up his former role as Superman; and Allen gets an official job with the Police Department of Central City impressing his imprisoned father Henry Allen (Billy Crudup). Remain seated for the mid-credits sequence which sees The Flash race Superman to the Pacific coast, and the end credits scene in which Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) breaks out of Arkham Asylum with a new and deadly ally.

I enjoyed 'Justice League' perhaps more than most Critics who seem intent on bagging the Hell out of the DCEU in favour of the MCU. Sure this film is not perfect, and the MCU still has the upper hand in the Superhero stakes - both singularly and collectively, but this film is moving the DCEU in the right direction that's for sure. There is more levity in this film from the principal cast members which makes them more grounded, approachable and human; the action sequences are well executed; the storyline whilst a little thin is relatable; and in particular Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa steal the show, whilst Ben Affleck's Batman often looks bewildered and confused by all the going's on. After all he should be centre stage as the corner stone, the originator of the forming Justice League, but is sidelined by his colleagues who do (unlike him) possess real super powers - he's just super 'rich' after all! As an origin story for The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg there is just enough back story to set the scene (remembering that a standalone 'Aquaman' film has just wrapped production, and arrives in our cinemas in December 2018), but Steppenwolf as the big bad villain in the piece is very one dimensional and he just barks orders as his Parademons and beats up anyone or anything that gets in his way, until Superman arrives on the scene. The film is fun and fast paced, and holds promise for future DCEU instalments - I wish it well, and in giving those guys at the MCU a run for their money!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

WONDER WOMAN : Tuesday 6th June 2017.

'WONDER WOMAN' which I saw last week had her beginnings as 'Wonder Woman' first appearing in the October 1941 edition of All Star Comics #8. Her origin story tells us that she was sculpted from clay by her mother Queen Hippolyta and given life by Aphrodite, along with superhuman powers as gifts by the Greek Gods. The character is a founding member of the Justice League, demigoddess, and warrior princess of the Amazonian people. In her homeland, she is Princess Diana of Themyscira, and outside of it, she is known by her civilian identity Diana Prince. And so now 'Wonder Woman' gets her very own feature length stand alone movie, having taken seventy years to first appear in 2016's 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' although by then Diana Prince was a fully formed bona fide Superhero. This stand alone feature Directed by Patty Jenkins takes us back one hundred years or so to the origins of the character at the time of the First World War, albeit she is an immortal warrior thousands of years old. The film cost US$149M to make, has so far grossed US$436M, and is the first Superhero film to be Directed by a woman with a female protagonist. 'Wonder Woman' is the fourth film in the DC Extended Universe after 'Man of Steel', the aforementioned 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' and 'Suicide Squad'.

Our film opens up in present day Paris, at The Louvre's Department of Antiquities which Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) presides over as Curator.  She receives a special package from Wayne Industries and inside is a hand written note from Bruce Wayne saying that he came across this old WWI era photographic plate and that one day, in her own time, she might tell him her story, and this photographic plate sets in the motion the Diana Prince/Wonder Woman back story. Whilst the photograph is one hundred years or so old, it shows a Diana Prince as fresh, young and attractive today, as she was back then.

Diana was born and raised on the secretly shrouded and hidden island of Themyscira, home to the Amazon race of warrior women created by the gods of Mount Olympus to protect humankind against the corruption of Ares, the God of War. Here Diana is an eight year old girl being raised by her mother Queen Hippolyta  (Connie Nielsen). Diana is the only child on the island, and there are no men - for they were forbidden to ever step foot on Themyscira by Aphrodite's Law. In the past Ares turned against his Gods and slew them all, but he was struck down by his mortally wounded father Zeus. Before dying of his sustained injuries Zeus left the Amazons a weapon that was capable of killing Ares - a sword, 'The Godkiller', for fear that one day he might return. Despite the young Diana being a feisty, energetic, and overly enthusiastic child she is forbidden by her mother to attend warrior training school with her Aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright). We then fast forward to Diana as a twelve year old, still feisty, still energetic and still enthusiastic but ever more determined to take up warrior training, for which she shows a keen aptitude. We then fast forward again and Diana is a fully grown woman and by now has enjoyed years of warrior training with her Aunt and with the reluctant blessing of her mother.

One day after contemplating another good day of warrior training, Diana witnesses a plane hurtling through the sky above the island, and sees it ditch in the ocean off shore and begin sinking to the depths below. She rescues the pilot, a Steve Trevor, (Chris Pine), a Captain with the American Expeditionary Forces who was working undercover to infiltrate a German deadly gas programme led by Chief Chemist Isabel Maru aka Doctor Poison (Elena Anaya), under the command of General Erich Ludendorff (Danny Huston). He managed to steal a notebook from the chemist containing formula's, plans and jottings which he needs to deliver to his superiors in London. The island is soon under attack by German forces hot on the tail of Steve Trevor. The Amazons fight back and win the day but not before Antiope is killed by a bullet intended for Diana. 

After the fracas, Steve Trevor is interrogated using the Lasoo of Truth, in which he reveals that he was acting as a spy against the Germans and that a world war is raging beyond the shores of the island in which tens of millions of men, women and child and being slaughtered needlessly across Europe. Diana is outraged by this and wants to act but is forbidden to intervene by her mother. Believing that Ares is behind the war, Diana takes The Godkiller sword, and sails off into the night with Steve Trevor, in an attempt to singlehandedly bring an end to the war time atrocities, death and destruction, and to dispense with Ares once and for all. 

The pair arrive in London, and after some much needed change of clothes and quick cultural lessons of the period, they deliver Maru's notebook to Steve's superiors, including Sir Patrick Morgan (David Thewlis), who is trying to negotiate an armistice with Germany. Diana translates Maru's notes and reveals that the Germans plan to release a new highly deadly gas at the warfront to reverse the German war effort in their favour. The commanding officers forbid Steve Trevor's intervention, but the pair decide to go anyway. Given limited funds to secure their passage and engage some much needed support, they enlist the services of French Moroccan spy Sameer (Said Taghmaoui), Scottish sharpshooter Charlie (Ewen Bremner) and native American smuggler Chief (Eugene Brave Rock).

Reaching the Western Front in Belgium, the team are halted from advancing by relentless enemy machine gun fire. Diana goes over the top anyway, pushing through the enemy lines despite the rapid gun fire and mortar bombs exploding all around her. The team and Allied Forces follow her, seeing that she is making headway, and together they liberate the village of Veld, celebrating with the locals who are now free of German occupation. It is here that the photograph is taken of Diana, Steve, Chief, Charlie and Sameer.

The team learns that a Gala Dinner is to be held at a close by German High Command headquarters. Steve, under disguise as a German Officer gains access to the party with the intention of locating the deadly new gas and destroying it. Diana, against Steve's wishes, also gains access to the party, and believing that Ludendorff is in fact Ares, goes armed with The Godkiller to dispense with the General, but Steve intervenes and halts her from doing so. Ludendorff meanwhile unleashes the deadly gas on Veld, wiping out all of its inhabitants. Diana blames Steve for the massacre at Veld, saying that he should not have stopped her from killing Ludendorff when she had the chance. 

Diana pursues Ludendorff to an air base where the gas is being loaded onto a bomber bound for London. She corners the General in a tower overlooking the airstrip. A fight breaks out and Diana is successful in killing The General with her sword. But the war did not end as its should have done with the death of Ares! How can this be? Diana is shocked and stunned. Sir Patrick emerges and reveals to Diana that he is in fact Ares. Diana retrieves the sword from Ludendorff's lifeless body and attempts to kill Ares with it, but he destroys it, saying the Diana is the real 'Godkiller'. The two do battle, and in the meantime the team destroy Dr. Maru's laboratory. Steve flies off into the moonlight in the bomber containing the consignment of gas, so ensuring that the gas never reached its destination nor had its desired effect. Ultimately good overcomes evil, and Diana overpowers Ares  and destroys him once and for all.

I was pleasantly surprised by 'Wonder Woman' and the origin story that traces Diana's somewhat secluded and naive view of the world as a would be warrior Princess to an intense inspirational Superhero of the modern world. The film moves along at a strong pace, looks good and delivers some messages about feminism and the futility and horrors of war, and is less about blockbuster apocalyptic end of the world annihilation than we have come to expect from other comic book Superhero franchises. Gadot and Pine are on fine form and share a screen presence that carries the film along in a believable and relatable way that is of the era in which the action is set, and Huston and Thewlis also add gravitas to their roles and the plot. Less can be said for Steve's team, who are really surplus to requirement and add little value other than plugging holes and filling time. Patty Jenkins has crafted a fine film, that looks and feels appropriate for WWI war torn Europe, interlaced with an origin story that remains true to the source material underpinned with solid performances from the principle cast, not least Gal Gadot in the title role whose looks and moves do Wonder Woman justice.  The film is Co-Produced by Zack and Deborah Snyder and the story was Co-Written by Zack Snyder. Wonder Woman will also be back in this November's release of 'Justice League'. This film is all upside for the DCEU, and long may it continue!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 1st June 2017

The 70th annual Cannes Film Festival has just wrapped closing twelve days of film extravaganza down on the French Riviera running from 17th until 28th May inclusive. Spanish film Director and Screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar was the President of the Jury for the Festival and Italian Actress Monica Bellucci hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. 'Ismael's Ghosts' by French Director Arnaud Desplechin, was the opening film for the Festival, and 'The Square' by Swedish Director Ruben Ostlund, was the closing film.

This year there were nineteen films in Official Competition all competing for the much prized Palme d'Or. Among those were : 'In the Fade' by Director Faith Akin and starring Diane Kruger; 'The Meyerowitz Stories' Directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson; 'Okja' by Director Bong Joon-ho and starring Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano; 'The Beguiled' by Director Sofia Coppola and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning; 'Wonderstruck' by Director Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams; 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' by Director Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman and Alicia Silverstone; 'You Were Never Really Here' by Director Lynne Ramsay and starring Joaquin Phoenix; 'Good Time' by Ben and Josh Safdie and starring Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Jason Leigh; 'Happy End' by Director Michael Haneke and starring Isabelle Huppert; and competition winner of the Palme d'Or 'The Square' Directed by Ruben Ostlund and starring Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West and Claes Bang.

In official competition the other winners and grinners were : Grand Prix awarded to French drama film '120 Beats Per Minute' by Director Robin Campillo; Best Director awarded to Sofia Coppola for 'The Beguiled'; Best Actress awarded to Diane Kruger for 'In the Fade'; Best Actor awarded to Joaquin Phoenix for 'You Were Never Really Here'; Best Screenplay awarded to Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou for 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' and Lynne Ramsay for 'You Were Never Really Here'. Nicole Kidman was awarded a special 70th Anniversary Prize, had three films in competition this year, and a special 70th anniversary screening of Jane Campion's mystery television drama series 'Top of the Lake : China Girl' being the second season of the acclaimed series which Kidman stars in and which goes to air in September this year. Kidman was also unofficially crowned this years 'Queen of Cannes'.

Coming back down to Earth, this week there are just three new release films coming to your local multiplex or independent theatre. We kick off with this eagerly awaited fourth film in this Extended Universe for one particular female Superhero that we have seen before on the big screen just last year, but here she gets her very own origin story and what a whip cracking yarn it promises to be. We then move to bronzed babes and buffed bodies patrolling the beach, saving lives and catching crims in this big screen feature film based on a popular long running television series of the nineties, before wrapping up this week with a late '70's story of one middle aged Mum bringing up her young teenage lad with the help of her two 'adopted' and much younger mother figure friends.

When you have sat through your film entertainment of choice sometime somewhere in the coming seven days, be reminded to share your thoughts with your like minded cinephiles here at Odeon Online. Simply leave your relevant, concise and pertinent views, opinions and observations of any of the three movies as Previewed below, or those as Reviewed and Previewed between these humble pages previously, in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you as always, and meanwhile, enjoy your filmic experience.

'WONDER WOMAN' (Rated M) - the beginnings of the DC Comics Superhero known as 'Wonder Woman' first appeared in the October 1941 edition of All Star Comics #8 and her origin story tells us that she was sculpted from clay by her mother Queen Hippolyta and given life by Aphrodite, along with superhuman powers as gifts by the Greek Gods. The character is a founding member of the Justice League, demigoddess, and warrior princess of the Amazonian people. In her homeland, she is Princess Diana of Themyscira, and outside of it, she is known by her civilian identity Diana Prince. And so now 'Wonder Woman' gets her very own feature length stand alone movie, having taken seventy years to first appear in 2016's 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' although by then Diana Prince was a fully formed bona fide Superhero. This stand alone feature Directed by Patty Jenkins takes us back one hundred years or so to the origins of the character at the time of the First World War, albeit she is an immortal warrior over five thousand years old. The film cost US$120M to make, is released in the US and China this week too, and is the first Superhero film to be Directed by a woman with a female protagonist. 'Wonder Woman' is the fourth film in the DC Extended Universe after 'Man of Steel', the aforementioned 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' and 'Suicide Squad'.

Set at about the time of the First World War, the Amazon princess Diana (Gal Gadot), who is living on the remote island of Themyscira, meets American military pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) when he washes ashore having crashed his aircraft somewhere offshore. After learning from him about the ongoing events of World War I, and the huge conflict that is erupting around the world, she leaves her home for the first time, venturing to London and the battlefields of Europe to bring an early end to the war, and in so doing becomes 'Wonder Woman' realising her full powers and her full potential. Also starring Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta; Robin Wright as General Antiope, the sister of Hippolyta and Diana's aunt; David Thewlis as Ares, the treacherous son of Zeus and half-brother of Diana; and Danny Huston as General Erich Ludendorff, an ambitious and iron fisted general of the German Army. The film is Co-Prodiced by Zack and Deborah Snyder and the story was Co-Written by Zack Snyder. Wonder Woman will also be back in this November's release of 'Justice League'.

'BAYWATCH' (Rated MA15+) - this film is based on the hugely popular and internationally successful American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson that ran for eleven series over 242 episodes from 1991 through until 2001. The show led to a spin-off, 'Baywatch Nights' from 1995 to 1997 over two seasons, and three direct to video films: 'Baywatch the Movie : Forbidden Paradise' in 1995; its sequel 'Baywatch : White Thunder at Glacier Bay' in 1998; and 2003 reunion film 'Baywatch : Hawaiian Wedding'. Now in 2017 and at a budgeted US$69M 'Baywatch' the big screen feature film is upon us. Directed by Seth Gordon, and starring Dwayne Johnson as Mitch Buchannon (formerly played by Daivid Hasselhoff) the overzealous, keen, athletic leader of an elite group of lifeguards patrolling Emerald Bay in Florida, and Zac Efron as  Matt Brody, a disgraced former Olympic swimmer turned wannabe lifeguard who is seen as a PR lifeline to convince the city not to further cut its funding to the Baywatch squad. At the upcoming try-outs for new lifeguard positions, Matt Brody is one of three hopefuls but he soon clashes with headstrong Mitch Buchannon. However, the pair must soon put there differences aside when drugs, the murder of a city dignitary, and an unscrupulous business woman threaten the local Baywatch community. Also starring Kelly Rohrbach as C.J. Parker (formerly played by Pamela Anderson). The film has so far taken US$29M since its release in the US on 25th May and has received less than positive press so far.
 
'20th CENTURY WOMEN' (Rated M) - Mike Mills wrote and Directed this semi-autobiographical comedy drama film for just US$7M which was released Stateside on 28th December 2016 and has so far recovered US$6M. The film has won ten awards and been nominated for a further 68 including Best Original Screenplay at this years Academy Awards and two Golden Globe nods for Best Motion Picture and Best Actress for Annette Benning. Set in Santa Barbara in Southern California in 1979, this film tells the story of Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) a young teenager and his relationship with his determined single mid-fifty year old mother Dorothea Fields (Annette Benning). She enlists the help and support of household lodger Abbie (Greta Gerwig) a free spirited new wave artist and Julie (Elle Fanning) a street smart and overly confident neighbour to aid in Jamie's upbringing and introduction to the world at a time of cultural change and rebellion. Also starring Billy Crudup, the film has received positive Reviews from Critics.

Three films this week all with women at the core - 'Wonder Woman', '20th Century Women' and 'Baywatch' featuring scantily clad swimsuit wearing lifesaving babes that any self respecting guy would want their life saved by, no doubt! Whatever your chosen realm of movie escapism is this week, be sure to share your thoughts with us here afterwards, and in the meantime, I'll see you somewhere, sometime, in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 24th-30th April 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Gal Gadot does on 30th April - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 31, 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 24th April

• Richard Donner - Born 1930, turns 86 - Director | Producer | Actor  
• Djimon Hounsou - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer  
• Kelly Clarkson - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actress | Singer
• Barbra Streisand - Born 1942, turns 74 - Actress | Producer | Director | Singer
• Shirley MacLaine - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer 

Monday 25th April

• Renee Zellweger - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Talia Shire - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress | Producer | Director  
• Hank Azaria - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Al Pacino - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer  

Tuesday 26th April

• Channing Tatum - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actor | Producer  
• Jet Li - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer  
• Kevin James - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Carol Burnett - Born 1933, turns 83 - Actress | Producer | Singer 

Wednesday 27th April

• Sally Hawkins - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress  
• Kevin McNally - Born 1956, turns 60 - Actor | Writer  

Thursday 28th April

• Paul Guilfoyle - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor
• Mary McDonnell - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actress  
• Bridget Moynahan - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actress
• Penelope Cruz - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Jessica Alba - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actress  

Friday 29th April

• Uma Thurman - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer  
• Michelle Pfeiffer - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actress | Producer | Singer 
• Phillip Noyce - Born 1950, turns 66 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Daniel Day-Lewis - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor  
• Jerry Seinfeld - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Television Personality

Saturday 30th April

• Lars von Trier - Born 1956, turns 60 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Burt Young - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor | Writer 
• Gal Gadot - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actress 
• Kirsten Dunst - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actress
• Jane Campion - Born 1954, turns 62 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Gal Gadot was born and grew up in Rosh HaAyia in Israel to her mother, a teacher, and father, an engineer. Her name Gal, is translated to 'wave' and her surname which was Hebraized by her parents from Greenstein to Gadot, means 'shores' or 'riverbanks'. Raised in what she described as a 'very Jewish, Israeli family environment' she served for two years from age 18 in the Israeli Defence Force serving as a combat instructor. At about this same time, in 2004, Gadot won the 'Miss Israel' competition and subsequently travelled to Ecuador to take part and represent her country in the Miss Universe pageant. After this, and serving in the Army, she attended University to study law - having always intended to become s lawyer. In 2007, she appeared on the cover of the New York Post in a Maxim photo shoot 'Women of the Israeli Army'.

After her first year at University however, she was called to audition for the role in 'Quantum of Solace' - the role that would eventually go to Olga Kurylenko. Whilst unsuccessful, the Casting Director hired her for the role of Gisele Yashar in 'Fast and Furious' in 2009 - the fourth instalment of the hugely successful franchise. She followed up her debut film role in the Steve Carell and Tina Fey film Directed by Shaun Levy 'Date Night' in 2010, with the Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz actioner helmed by James Mangold 'Knight and Day' later that same year. Gadot returned to the 'Fast and Furious' franchise in 2011 and again in 2013 reprising her role as the former Mossad Agent, Gisele Yashar in 'Fast Five' and then 'Fast and Furious 6' where her character is killed off saving the life of her lover. She reappears in 'Furious 7' but in flashback archival footage only.

In the meantime, she starred in the Israeli film 'Kicking Out Shoshana' before this years 'Triple 9' with Casey Afleck, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kate Winslet as Directed by John Hillcoat.

Perhaps her breakout role however, was as 'Wonder Woman' in the recently released Zack Snyder Directed 'Batman v. Superman' in the second DC Extended Universe offering. So far this film has grossed US$835M but had divided audiences worldwide, although Gadot has been largely praised for her performance at Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. She has committed to the two upcoming 'Justice League' films due in November 2017 and in June 2019 also Directed by Snyder, and 'Wonder Woman' a stand alone origin film currently shooting, also due in mid-2017.

In the meantime 'Criminal' is due for imminent release with Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Ryan Reynolds. In post-production is 'Keeping Up With The Joneses' - a comedy caper starring Jon Hamm, Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher.

She also has a successful modelling career promoting brands such as Captain Morgan, Gucci and Jaguar. Gadot has also appeared on the cover of 'Glamour', 'Cosmopolitan', 'FHM' and 'Bride' magazine.

Gadot has twenty Acting credits to her name and has her work cut out for her already for the next three years or so at least playing the superhero type. In 2008 she married Israeli property developer Yaron Versano with whom she has a daughter Alma, born in late 2011. The family live in Tel Aviv.

Gal Gadot - beautiful, statuesque, sultry, mysterious, athletic and a star most definitely on the rise. Although only just starting out, you have already made your mark and have achieved much - Happy Birthday to you, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BATMAN v SUPERMAN : DAWN OF JUSTICE - TUESDAY 22nd March 2016

I was lucky enough to see the Australian Premier of 'BATMAN v SUPERMAN : DAWN OF JUSTICE' at a local Multiplex two days ahead of its official Australian release date on Tuesday last week. This much hyped, long awaited, eagerly anticipated and initially controversial next instalment in the DC Extended Universe is finally here, as Directed by Zack Snyder and made for a cool US$250M. This is the second instalment in the DC Extended Universe following 2013's 'Man of Steel' also Directed by Zack Snyder and which made US$668M off its US$225M production budget, and sees once again Henry Cavill reprising his role as Superman/Clark Kent. This film features some big name acting talent and also unites for the first time on the big screen in a live action movie a number of favoured characters from the DC canon - some of whom will get their own big picture outing in future years. All that said, it seems that this film is already dividing critics the world over with some making a scathing attack on the movie and others rating it well. Ultimately you will have to decide, and while the fate of the world rests in the hands of Batman and Superman, the fate of Batman and Superman rests in yours.

As the film opens we see Superman battling it out above the city skyline with an alien foe assumed to be the tail end of his epic battle with General Zod as seen at the end of 'Man of Steel'. There is mass destruction everywhere and innocent lives lost including those close to Bruce Wayne as he tears through the city streets gazing in disbelief at the sight of crumbling buildings and collateral damage in front of his very eyes, and all at the hands of Superman. All around him the citizens stare in disbelief at the carnage all around, and flee to safety, fearful for their own lives. Fast forward two years or so after these events and many of Metropolis's inhabitants, and indeed the world, are left feeling helpless, angry and fearful that Superman is not everything he is cracked up to be and in fact that he may even be a threat to humanity, especially if he continues to go unchecked. Equally though there are those who consider Superman as God like and their saviour given his superhuman powers. The media is in a frenzy as the debate rages on, and often on the front page of The Daily Planet newspaper where Clark Kent works with the love of his life Lois Lane (Amy Adams) and supervised by Editor Perry White (Laurence Fishburn).

Those who doubt Superman and see him as a threat include billionaire Bruce Wayne aka Batman (Ben Affleck) who takes it upon himself to wage a one man war against Superman to rid the Earth of him, so that its citizens can rest easy once more. This Batman however, is an ageing Superhero whom we learn through trusty and loyal Butler Alfred (Jeremy Irons) is 'too old to die young' and has been battling villains for over twenty years now. We are beyond the Nolan films, the age of Robin here, and Wayne Manor is a derelict abandoned wreck of a building now and a fading memory of what it used to stand for. Wayne is still a rugged handsome man about town and astute businessman loaded with more wealth than you can imagine, but his focus has shifted from capturing villains and locking them up (a reference here to the upcoming 'Suicide Squad' perhaps) to thwarting Superman once and for all. Affleck plays it well, looks the part with his chiseled features and lends a certain gravitas to this ageing Batman knocking on the door of fifty, and still living with his trusted family Butler, who has been seriously up-skilled from his former film appearances to a role much more emotionally advanced and tech. savvy.

In the wings however, watching and waiting is Lex Luthor (Jessie Eisenberg) who also has plans for Superman, and is working on weaponising Kryptonite which he has come to possess from the downed alien spacecraft carrying General Zod some two years earlier. He wants to create an intergalactic warning system that acts as a deterrent to potential invading alien kind, but he needs to get it through the Senate, and Senator Finch (Holly Hunter) ain't gonna let that happen for fear that such a weapon may be used for less noble means than intended. Angry that this is likely to be the case Luthor takes out his revenge on the Senate just as Superman descends to give evidence for the first time in a landmark hearing. It doesn't end well for anyone, and as a result Superman goes into hiding believing he was the root cause for the death of hundreds.

When Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne come together at a charity event hosted by Lex Luthor their initial reception is less than warm, as they both go on the defensive about their alter-egos, whilst not knowing yet who and what those alter-egos are. At this event, Wayne attempt to tap into LexCorp's mainframe and does so successfully only for the drive to be 'stolen' before he can reclaim it by a sultry mystery antiques dealer Diana Prince (Gal Gadot). Later tracked down by Wayne who confronts her, she explains that she has returned the drive to the glove box of his car, but that she believed that Luthor also was in possession of files relating to herself, which she wanted to retrieve. Later that day Wayne decrypts the drive and whilst scouring its contents learns that Diane Prince is some kind of immortal warrior as evidenced by photographs of her taken from the early 20th Century.

Meanwhile Luthor ramps up his activities to bring down Superman and is successful in retrieving a sizable rock of Kryptonite which he brings into Metropolis under cover of night. Batman is watching Luthor's every move and uncovers the impending shipment and so lays in wait to intercept the cargo for his own means to ultimately thwart Superman. Following a well executed action chase sequence through the docks of Gotham in which Batman follows the Kryptonite truck in his Batmobile, the dark knight is halted in his tracks when he comes face to face with Superman, who gives him a warning to cease his one man vigilante activities immediately or face the consequences of his wrath.

Eventually, while Luthor is caught napping, Batman retrieves the Kryptonite and sets about building himself a powerful new exoskeleton Batsuit and waeponises the Kryptonite to use against Superman. Cue the obligatory training montage of a ripped Batman prepping himself for the ultimate standoff. 'Who Will Win' indeed?? In the meantime, Luthor must revert to 'Plan B' and with access granted to General Zod's downed scout ship which rests in Metropolis, he splices his own DNA with that of General Zod in the ships Genesis Chamber. Still intent on destroying Superman, Luthor brings Lane to the helipad on top of LexCorp as a means of luring Superman there with a blackmailed threat that leads him to face off against Batman in an epic battle that sees one rise victorious . . . well almost, and potentially!

Whilst that battle royale is going on, the mutated creature that Luthor has concocted in the Genesis Chamber using his own DNA and that of Zod's together with some alien reproductive technology is coming to life, and larger than it! With the power to outdo Superman, 'Doomsday' as Luthor affectionally has called it, engage in head to head combat that sees whole city blocks destroyed, land laid to waste, and a nuclear war head pound straight into them both far above the Earth's atmosphere from which they both recover quickly only to return to the ground where Batman and now Wonder Woman (aka Diana Prince aka Gal Gadot) join the fight. Needless to say, good overcomes evil, but, at a cost!

As the story draws to an end we see Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince talking about the formation of a 'Justice League' that unites the other metahumans seen by him in Luthor's decrypted files - those being Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg, and now their attention must turn to tracking them down and helping to protect the world from further threats. With Luthor safely locked up in maximum security for all of his criminal activities, he is visited by Batman who says that he will now be forever watching him should he ever step out of line.

As of 27th March, the film has grossed of US$424M setting it at the fourth biggest opening of all time and the biggest Superhero movie opening of all time, with the film needing to take as a minimum US$800M to make it the commercial success needed to recover its US$250M production budget and its US$150M or so marketing & promotion costs. Those 'experts' claim that it is likely to take US$1B given the media frenzy and what its has done so far in its first four days since opening. As far as this Blogger is concerned, I hope it does well. I was pleasantly surprised by the film and think it deserves better than many critics are citing. The lead performances are strong and considered (Affleck, Cavill, Gadot, Eisenberg), the story is solid enough, the action set pieces are well executed, and the film maintains the attention for all of its 151 minutes running time. Chris Nolan was on board as an Executive Producer and he gave it the thumbs up.

This film is not as dark and brooding as any of Nolan's hugely successful trilogy, but we do see Batman and Superman in a different light here and for me that was refreshing, and we are introduced to a new character, and fleetingly, some new ones too in readiness for the next instalment. Despite many of the naysayers, this film is worthy of your attention and it's a must see on the big screen, and it stands up well as a singular offering, and as a follow on from Nolan's films (albeit some years later given that Affleck's Batman is ageing and not afraid to admit it) but without the intensity. I saw it in 3D which is unnecessary in my opinion, but give the film a go and you decide - you could do a lot worse with your $20 spent on the cost of entry.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-