What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 12th July 2018.

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in July in the spa town of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival is one of the oldest in the world and has become Central and Eastern Europe’s leading film event. Wikipedia reports that the pre-war dream of many enthusiastic filmmakers materialised in 1946 when a non-competition festival of films from seven countries took place in a neighbouring spa town of Marianske Lazne in the Karlovy Vary Region, and Karlovy Vary. Above all it was intended to screen the results of the recently nationalised Czechoslovak film industry. After the first two years the festival moved permanently to Karlovy Vary. The Karlovy Vary IFF first held an international film competition in 1948. Since 1951, an international jury has evaluated the films.

This years event, which marked the 53rd year, ran from 29th June through until 7th July, with the annual awards ceremony taking place on Saturday 7th July. The statistics from this years festival reveal that according to event organisers, the festival was attended by just over thirteen thousand accredited visitors. Of that number almost eleven thousand had Festival Passes, four hundred were filmmakers, nearly twelve hundred were film professionals, and there were 630 journalists. From the industry, close to fourteen hundred were film buyers, sellers, distributors, film festival programmers, representatives of film institutions, and other industry professionals with 550 coming from overseas. Thirty-five films saw their world premiere, while eight had their international premiere and seven their European premiere.

The Grand Prix award which is accompanied by a Crystal Globe statuette and US$25K in prize money went to 'I Do Not Care If We Go Down In History As Barbarians' and is a Co-Production between Romania, the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Bulgaria, and is Directed by Romanian film maker and Screenwriter Radu Jude. The film attempts to comment on this quote spoken in the Council of Ministers during the Summer of 1941 which started the ethnic cleansing on the Eastern Front.

The Special Jury Prize went to 'Sueño Florianópolis' a Argentina, Brazil and French Co-Produced comedy Directed by Ana Katz, for which Mercedes Moran also won the award for Best Actress, and is also picked up the Award of International Film Critics. Other awards went to Barry Levinson for his 1988 film 'Rain Man' as voted under the Pravo Audience Award, and also both Barry Levinson and Tim Robbins were awarded a Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. Robert Pattinson also collected the Festival Presidents Award.

For more information, you can go to the official website at : www.kviff.com

This week we have three new cinematic offerings coming to your local Odeon, kick staring with a high rise action thriller that seems to be a mash up between earlier action disaster flicks aided and abetted by the worlds most bankable action star of the moment. We then move to a duo of Aussie films - the first is a psychological thriller tale of writers block as experienced by a hugely successful first time novelist now struggling with her follow up novel, and how the arrival of long lost friend over a quiet weekend retreat digs up secrets from the past that were perhaps best being kept hidden. And secondly, a Sci-Fi action offering of alien invasion taking occupation of our humble little blue planet, but did them pesky space invader types count on a rag tag bunch of gun totting Aussies to make life difficult for them?

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'SKYSCRAPER' (Rated M) - this just has American action drama written all over it and none other than all conquering hero Dwayne Johnson as the hunk of beef cake set to save the world, or the skyscraper in question at least, from a bunch of gun toting, no good pesky terrorists types. Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Rawson Marshall Thurber whose previous Directing credits include 'DodgeBall : A True Underdog Story', 'We're the Millers', and 'Central Intelligence' also with Dwayne Johnson, the film goes on general release in the US and Australia this week.

The story here surrounds former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader, U.S. war veteran and amputee Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) who now assesses security for skyscrapers for a living. He's on assignment in Hong Kong with his family living in the said skyscraper, known as 'The Pearl'. When he finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly under attack by terrorists and he's the head of security, Sawyer must spring into action, However, the situation is complicated more when he's accused of masterminding the attack and has been framed for it. A wanted man on the run inside a monster building, Sawyer must track down those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family, who are now trapped inside the building, above the line of fire. Sounds like a mash up of the first 'Die Hard' instalment and 'Towering Inferno'. Prepare to suspend all belief. Also starring Neve Campbell and Noah Taylor, the film cost US$125M.

'THE SECOND' (Rated MA15+) - this is the first original feature length film put out by those streaming people at Stan, and is released in cinemas concurrently. This Australian film, shot in Queensland, was shown at the recent Sydney Film Festival and is Directed by first timer Mairie Cameron. Described as a steamy psycho-thriller, the like of which you would ordinarily hardly call your typical Aussie movie, here the film centres on an unnamed Writer and author of a worldwide best selling sexually charged autobiographical first novel (Rachael Blake), but crafting her second novel is far from as straightforward. Now the Writer has everything - fame, fortune and a doting new boyfriend . . . and writers block! Attempting to meet her deadline, the Writer and her publisher boyfriend (Vince Colosimo) take a long weekend retreat to her family's country estate. However, when a beautiful friend from the past arrives on the scene unexpectedly (Susie Porter) a secret history shared between the two presents a challenging predicament with potentially dangerous consequences. Over the weekend, the women straddle from tenderness to hostility and back again, as rivalry, teenage memories and a dark secret from their history all come to bear. Also starring Martin Sacks and Susan Prior.

'OCCUPATION' (Rated M) - this Australian made action Sci-Fi is Written and Directed by Luke Sparke and follows his feature film Directorial debut of 2016, 'Red Billabong', with 'Occupation 2' already in the works and slated for a 2019 release, before even the release of this first instalment in Australia this week and the US next week. Following the annihilation of their small remote Australian community by an overwhelming airborne attack, a rag tag group of civilians evade capture but quickly come to the realisation that they are now among the last remaining survivors of an alien invasion that has taken over the planet. As what is left of humanity falls under global occupation, they form a domestic army to retaliate against a vastly superior enemy foe. On the front lines of the battle for Earth, they may just be our last hope and salvation. Starring Dan Ewing, Temuera Morrison, Jacqueline Mackenzie and Stephanie Jacobsen.

With three new release films out this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

SICARIO : DAY OF THE SOLDADO - Tuesday 3rd July 2018.

'SICARIO : DAY OF THE SOLDADO' which I saw at my local multiplex this week is the follow up film to 2015's Critically acclaimed 'Sicario' as Directed by Denis Villeneuve and Written by Taylor Sheridan. Starring Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin, with Emily Blunt, that film was about a principled FBI agent who is enlisted by a government task force to bring down the leader of a powerful and violent Mexican drug cartel. That film cost US$30M to make and raked in US$85M at the global Box Office and picked up fifteen award wins and a further 153 nominations including three Oscar nods, three BAFTA nods and two AACTA nods. Now three short years later, we have this follow up action crime thriller Directed by Italian film maker Stefano Sollima and once again written by Taylor Sheridan with Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin reprising their roles, but no Emily Blunt this time. The film cost about US$40M to make, has so far recouped US$35M, has garnered generally favourable responses from Critics, and apparently a third film is already in development.

The plot follows the people smuggling exploits at the US and Mexican border as it has elevated to the point where the cartels have also begun smuggling Sicario terrorists, and because this is now more lucrative than the former cocaine market. This forces the US Government under the direction of Secretary of Defence James Riley (Matthew Modine) to enlist the covert expertise of the CIA's Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) to once again team up with ex-hitman and undercover operative Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro) to eliminate the problem. Matters are brought to a head by a suicide bombing in a Kansas City supermarket in which four Muslim terrorists blow themselves to smithereens together with fifteen innocent shoppers, among them two children. The Government suspects that the Mexican drug cartels are transporting Islamic terrorists across the border to carry out their atrocities on American soil.

Graver suggests that the best option to eradicate the problem is to start a war between the major cartel factions, so that they eventually wipe themselves out. Down Mexico City way, Gillick takes out a high profile lawyer of one of the major cartels, by shooting him multiple times at point blank range execution style in broad daylight in the city centre.

Meanwhile, Graver and his elite Team, kidnap Isabela Reyes (Isabela Moner), the teenage daughter of a drug lord, in a covert operation as she is travelling home from school, designed to incite a war between rival cartels. Graver, Gillick, and their team transfer a bound, gagged and blindfolded Isabela across the border by plane to Texas and stage a mock rescue to make her think she was kidnapped by her father's enemies. Gillick forms a staged bond with Isabela, and the team plans to transport her back to Mexico by armoured car with the view to transplant her into territory controlled by her father's rivals so as to further escalate the conflict.

However, once inside Mexican country, the Federal Police escort for their journey by road across barren countryside opens fire on the American vehicles without warning. They also come under siege by short range mortar attack by various cartel members keeping a safe distance. As a result of this sudden ambush Graver and his crew spring on the defensive and take out twenty five or so Mexican Police Officers - of questionable integrity and because they were there at the time!

In the exchange of gunfire and the ensuing chaos, Isabela does a runner and skips the scene somewhat sharpish, fortunately protected with a bullet proof vest. When the bullet ballet has ended, Gillick goes in search of Isabela, leaving Graver and his crew to get the Hell outta Dodge before a major international incident erupts and the authorities descend upon them en masse. Riley via teleconference, advises Graver that the four suicide bombers responsible for the Kansas City killings were not in fact smuggled across the border from Mexico, but were another US based terrorist cell. On this basis, and the fact that the Mexican bloodbath is all over the news, the President has ordered via CIA boss Cynthia Foard (Catherine Keener) that they abandon the mission completely and erase all proof of any American involvement in the incident. Graver is given explicit orders to eliminate Isabela Reyes as part of the cover up . . . and Gillick too. Graver contacts Gillick via satellite phone and orders that he kills Isabela, but he refuses, and so goes rogue to protect her, knowing also that all ties with himself have now been cut, and that his life is at risk too.

Graver is keeping close tabs on Gillick and Isabela from an overhead drone providing real time surveillance straight to his laptop, and via a tracking device that Gillick knowingly implanted in Isabela's shoe in the event that they become separated. Graver, at first wants to see how Gillick's plans play out, but then reluctantly assembles his Team to hunt them down in Mexico.

Gillick and Isabela attempt to gain entry into the US disguised as illegal immigrants. Miguel (Elijah Rodriguez), a Mexican-American teenager who lives just over the border in Texas and has got in with the wrong company thanks to a nefarious cousin, and is a new recruit to the gang transporting the immigrants across the border by the bus load under cover of night. Miguel recognises Gillick from a previous encounter Stateside, some days before. He alerts his boss and Gillick and Isabela are captured, bound, gagged and blindfolded and driven out to a remote part of the desert with several car loads of young goons. Miguel is ordered to execute Gillick as part of his initiation and acceptance into the gang. Meanwhile, all of this is being closely monitored on screen by Graver who is still some way off in a helicopter. 

Miguel shoots Gillick in the head and left bound, gagged and blindfolded presumed dead lying face down in the sand with blood oozing from the close range gun shot. The onlooking goons all cheer, and depart the scene. Isabela was an uncomfortable witness to the shooting fearing that her status as a powerful Cartel linchpin's daughter will mean that she's next. She is carted off unceremoniously with the other goons, who all praise Miguel for his decisive action - which he becomes quickly uncomfortable with and jumps off the truck carrying them all. Graver and his team track the Mexican gang and Isabela with the help of the tracker still in her shoe, and kill all the gang members. The carnage is swiftly delivered and rather than kill the young girl he pities her traumatised and troubled state and loads her into the helicopter and whisks her back to the US for a witness protection programme.

Only one of the great trifecta of talent returns to the Production Team of 'Sicario : Day of the Soldado', and that is Writer Taylor Sheridan. Missing are Director Denis Villeneuve and Cinematographer Roger Deakins, but don't let that fool you. Here Director Stefano Sollima has crafted a worthy follow-up, although not of the same calibre that made the 2015 first instalment so refreshing and gritty. The action rarely seems to let up here; the set pieces are convincingly delivered; the performances are strong, even from the young rebellious Moner; and all this adds up to a dynamic, thrilling, tough and violent story and relevant for the current political climate. The film stands alone in its own right, and the ending keeps the momentum going for the third instalment, but I'm not sure how much more milking can be done from this series that hasn't already been seen. Two's company, three's a crowd may just prove to be the case, but then again . . . .

This film warrants four claps of the clapperboard, from a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th July 2018.

In June, the world bid a fond farewell to number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories Anthony Bourdain, Leslie Grantham and Stanley Anderson.

* Anthony Michael Bourdain - born 25th June 1956, died 8th June 2018, aged 61. An American celebrity Chef, writer, travel documentarian, television personality and regarded as one of the most influential Chef's in the world. Graduating in 1978 from the Culinary Institute of America he went on to become the Executive Chef for many years at the famed Manhattan French eatery Brasserie Les Halles, upon which he based many of his culinary exploits in his first book 'Kitchen Confidential : Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly' in 2000. From there he went on to host his first food and world-travel television show, 'A Cook's Tour' which coincided with the release of his second book of the same name, and ran for 35 episodes on the Food Network in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he began hosting the Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure programs 'Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations' running from 2005 through to 2012 and then 'The Layover' from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, he began a three-season run as a judge on the cooking themed reality TV competition 'The Taste', and that same year hosted the award winning food and travel show 'Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown' for CNN. In the meantime, he also published other non-fiction books including 'The Nasty Bits' in 2006, 'No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach' in 2007, and 'Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook' in 2010. His articles and essays appeared in many national and international magazines, newspapers and periodicals over the years and in 2015 he appeared as himself in the highly acclaimed film 'The Big Shout' in which he used seafood stew as an analogy for a collateralised debt obligation. Also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for his writing and television work over the years, Bourdain was the Keith Richards of the food service industry, outspoken, adventurous, a lovable rogue, and coming from the industry myself, a personal favourite who has read all his books, and watched many a TV show of his with avid interest.

* Leslie Michael Grantham - born 30th April 1947, died 15th June 2018, aged 71. An English Actor of stage and screen Grantham will be forever etched in the subconscious minds of a loyal fan base of that long running British television soap 'EastEnders' as 'Dirty' Dennis Watts, the former landlord of the Queen Victoria Public House. Over the years he appeared in 562 episodes from the series launch in 1985 through to 1989 and then in a comeback running from 2003 to 2005. Aside from his regular turn on 'EastEnders' Grantham had regular work over his career including recurring appearances on television series such as 'Doctor Who', 'Winners and Losers', 'The Paradise Club', 'Cluedo' (based on popular whodunit board game in which he starred as Colonel Mustard), '99-1', 'Woof' and 'The Uninvited', as well as feature films taking in 'Waiting for Godot', 'Shadow Run', 'Crow's Nest', 'Lava', 'Charlie', 'Deadtime', 'The Factory', 'Mob Handed' and the recently completed awaiting release 'The Krays : Dead Man Walking'. All up Grantham had 48 Acting credits.

* Stanley Anderson - born 23rd October 1939, died 24th June 2018, aged 78. An American Actor of both stage and screen and perhaps best known for his role as Drew Carey's Dad in the 'Drew Carey Show'. Anderson's career started in 1967, two years after his return from military service in Korea. For the next 23 years he appeared in over two hundred stage productions at Arena Stage, the American Conservatory Theatre and The Actors Company amongst several others. In 1991 he got his television break through in mini-series 'Son of the Morning Star' as Ulysses S. Grant. From there and over the years he appeared in many notable Hollywood features including 'Deceived', 'RoboCop 3', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Primal Fear', 'The Rock', 'Armageddon', 'Proof of Life', 'Spider-Man', 'S1mOne', 'Red Dragon', and 'Runaway Jury'. In between time, there were also numerous television series appearances on the likes of 'L.A. Law', 'Seinfeld', 'Just Shoot Me!', 'The X Files', 'Ally McBeal', 'Law & Order', 'The Practice', and 'NYPD Blue'. He also lent his voice talents to numerous documentaries, education and lifestyle channels including 'National Geographic', 'The Discovery Channel', 'The History Channel' and 'The Learning Channel'. All up, Anderson had 52 Acting credits.

This week coming to an Odeon near you, we have four new release films. Launching with another MCU Superhero offering that is a sequel to the first instalment from 2015, this time the lead character who can shrink to a tiny insect size or upscale to larger than life, forms a crime fighting dynamic duo with another winged insect with a sting in her tail, all with the aid of Mum & Dad in whose footsteps they follow. Next is a historical biographical drama charting the life, love and one particularly world renowned work of literary art, by the troubled author of the novel 'Frankenstein'. We then turn to a comedy of a talking dog having to buddy up with an FBI Agent to thwart an animal smuggling ring at a world famous dog show event; before wrapping up with three largely estranged siblings returning to their vineyard home in France to ponder over what should become of their late father's winery.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'ANT-MAN AND THE WASP' (Rated PG) - and so the Marvel machine keeps grinding away churning out superhero fare for us to spend our $20 or so on at the local multiplex. And it is too with this sequel to 2015's 'Ant-Man', which off the back of a US$110M Budget grossed US$520M at the global Box Office, was generally well received by Critics and audiences alike, and picked up three award wins and another 33 nominations from around the circuit. This 20th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Directed by Peyton Reed once again, who came on board one month after the release of the first instalment. This film is released in the US this week too, but not in the UK until early August. Paul Rudd, who plays Ant-Man/Scott Lang also takes a Co-Writer credit this time around.

Set two years following the events that unfolded with 'Captain America : Civil War' and prior to the events that unfolded just recently in 'Avengers : Infinity War' and now under house arrest (explaining his absence from 'Avengers : Infinity War') Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) struggles with balancing his choices as both a father to young Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson) and a responsible superhero. Approached by Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and her father - a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, entomologist, and physicist who became the original Ant-Man way back when, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), Lang must once again put on the Ant-Man suit and fight alongside the new Wasp (aka Hope van Dyne). The urgent mission soon leads to secret revelations from the past as the dynamic pairing find themselves in a battle against a powerful new enemy, known as Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). Also starring Walton Goggins, Michael Pena, Bobby Cannavale, Laurence Fishburn and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne (the wife of Pym, mother of Hope, and the original Wasp back in the day), and of course keep an eye out for Stan Lee's obligatory cameo.

'MARY SHELLEY' (Rated PG) - this internationally Produced romantic historical period drama is Directed by Saudi Arabian Haifaa al-Mansour, had its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year, went on release in the US in late May and gets its Australian and UK release this week. The film has received mixed or average Reviews at best, and has so far grossed just US$193K. The story surrounds Mary Wollstonecraft (Elle Fanning) whose family staunchly disapproves when she and poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (Douglas Booth) announce their love for each other. The family is mortified upon discovering that the couple has eloped, together with Mary's half-sister, Claire (Bel Powley). While staying in the home of Lord Byron (Tom Sturridge) at Lake Geneva, the guests are challenged to write a ghost story, which leads Mary to conceive her novel 'Frankenstein'. Also starring Stephen Dillaine, Maisie Williams, Ben Hardy and Joanne Froggatt.

'SHOW DOGS' (Rated PG) - here we have an American buddy-cop family comedy that was mired in controversy after its opening weekend. So research advises, a week after its initial release in the US in mid-May, several movie Critics and parental groups accused the Producers of the film of including a scene that normalised child grooming. Resulting from this outcry, the Studio re-edited the film and re-released it for its second weekend. Directed by Raja Gosnell the film cost a mere US$5.5M to make and has so far grossed US$29M although the film has received largely unfavourable Reviews. The story here takes place in a world where humans co-exist with talking dogs (of course!) and following a thwarted attempt to recover a stolen baby panda, Police dog Max (voiced by Ludacris) reluctantly buddies up with human FBI agent Frank (Will Arnett). A hot lead takes Max and Frank to the Canini Invitational Dog Show in Las Vegas for the world's most exclusive event of its kind. To locate the panda, Max goes under cover as a furry contestant to get the lowdown from his fellow four legged friends, and Max must pose as his trainer. With help from their new pooch buddies, this dynamic crime-fighting duo must now foil another kidnapping plot and rescue other various other furry and valuable animals from a gang of greedy smugglers. Also starring Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, RuPaul and Shaquille O'Neal. You'ld be forgiven for drawing similarities with 'Turner & Hooch' or 'K-9' already!

'BACK TO BURGUNDY' (Rated M) - this French foreign language drama film is Directed and Co-Written by Cedric Klapisch, was released just over a year ago in its native France, and only now does it get a limited showing in Australia. The film costs just over US$9M to make, and it has so far made just a tad over US$9M, garnering mixed or average Reviews along the way. The story here tells of three siblings who are reunited for the first time in a very long time at their family home in the picture perfect environs of Burgundy, France to save the family vineyard. Jean (Pio Marmai), is the black sheep of the family who unexpectedly returns home from a decade abroad in Australia to reconnect with his hospitalised father. He is welcomed by his sister, the tough and uncompromising Juliette (Ana Girardot), who took over the task of managing the vineyard after their father became ill. And then there is Jeremie (Francois Civil), the youngest of the three who has recently married into one of the region’s more prestigious wine families, and is expected, in time, to take the reins there. Their father dies shortly after Jean’s return, leaving them with the estate and a huge inheritance tax bill that they can ill afford. As a year goes by, Jean, Juliette, and Jeremie must learn to reinvent their relationship and build trust and gain confidence in each other as they toil to safeguard the 'terroir' that inextricably binds them together. Eric Caravaca plays the father who we see throughout the film in flashback.

With four new release films out this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

JURASSIC WORLD : FALLEN KINGDOM - Wednesday 27th June 2018.

'JURASSIC WORLD : FALLEN KINGDOM' which I saw this week is another much hyped highly anticipated sequel coming to our big screens in the form of this follow up offering to 2015's hugely successful 'Jurassic World' and the fifth instalment in the 'Jurassic Park' series. This film is intended to be the second in a planned trilogy of films, with the third due for release in June 2021, with Colin Trevorrow set to return to Directing duty. 'Jurassic World' made US$1.67B at the Global Box Office off the back of a US$150M Budget and making it the fifth highest grossing film of all time and the most financially successful in the franchise so far. Colin Trevorrow Co-Wrote and Directed the 2015 film, and this time he returns as Co-Writer and Executive Producer alongside Steven Spielberg, giving away the Directorial duties to J.A. Bayona whose previous Directing credits include 'The Orphanage', 'The Impossible' and 'A Monster Calls'. The principle cast reprise their roles, and the film was released in the US last week too. Off the back of a US$170M Budget, the film has so far grossed US$809M, and has received mixed Critical Reviews although Chris Pratt's performance, the Direction, the visuals and some of the darker moments have been worthy of praise.

Set three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park on Isla Nublar off Central America's Pacific Coast, the escaped dinosaur's have roamed freely, until now when their very existence is threatened by an impending volcanic eruption that is likely within the very near future to destroy their island sanctuary. As the film opens we see an underwater two man submarine manoeuvring in close proximity to the skeletal remains of the Indominus rex resting at the bottom of the former Jurassic World lagoon. They send out an circular saw on the end of an extended mechanical arm and remove a section of bone, and send it instantly to the surface to be retrieved by a helicopter crew, in the obligatory pouring rain.

Meanwhile in Washington, a Senate Committee debates with Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) whether the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar should be saved or allowed to perish in the pending volcanic eruption, which is likely to consume the whole island. Malcolm believes it should be the latter course of action to correct John Hammond's error of judgement in cloning the dinosaurs over twenty years ago. In the intervening period the former Operations Manager of Jurassic World, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) has established the Dinosaur Protection Group in an attempt to save the dinosaurs from extinction. The Senate ultimately decides against the dinosaurs, which prompts John Hammond's former partner Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) to contact Dearing. Shortly afterwards, Dearing meets with Lockwood and his business associate Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) at his upstate Californian country mansion.

Lockwood is an ill man, confined to a wheelchair, has 24/7 aid at home, care of Iris (Geraldine Chaplin), and has entrusted Mills with pushing Lockwood’s fortune into the future and making it survive after he dies. Mills and Lockwood announce to Dearing that they have plans to relocate as many dinosaurs off Isla Nublar to a new island sanctuary where they will be safe, can roam free and where no tourists will be allowed to tread. Mills however, raised a concern about locating 'Blue' the last surviving Velociraptor. However, Dearing knows exactly the man for the job - one Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) the former Velociraptor trainer and handler from Jurassic World, and with whom she shared an emotional bond back then, but which has since cooled off considerably.

The rescue team comprising Dearing, Grady, Dr. Zia Rodriguez (Daniella Pineda) - a paleoveterinarian, and Franklin Webb (Justice Smith) - an IT systems analyst and hacker, arrive on Isla Nublar and are greeted by Ken Wheatly (Ted Levine) a seasoned mercenary who heads up the dinosaur rescue mission on the island (for a significant fee!). Grady, Rodriguez, Wheatly and the merry band of gun totting mercenaries head off in search of Blue, using the parks tracking system which has been rebooted by Webb. Owen, alone, tracks down Blue, and as the two are about to become reacquainted, a mercenary fires and shoots Blue, leading Wheatley to shoot Grady with a tranquilliser dart. Blue is boxed up and Rodriguez is tasked with saving its life. Grady is left on the ground where he fell.

Grady comes around just as molten red glowing lava steadily creeps up on him devouring the forest where he lay. Grady, with half the island dinosaur population, burst out of the forest as the volcano erupts spewing out billowing smoke, ash, lava and molten boulders all around them. He reunites with Dearing and Webb who have narrowly escaped an attack by a Baryonyx, and end up falling over a steep cliff into the ocean below to escape the destructive eruption. The three survive and are washed up on the shoreline, to see helicopters flying over head carrying their precious cargo of captured dinosaurs to be loaded on a waiting freight ship. The three board an abandoned truck and drive it onto the departing ship, to witness behind them the volcano destroy the island in a ball of fire, gas and smoke.

At the Lockwood mansion, his young granddaughter Maisie (Isabella Sermon) overhears a conversation in which Mills is discussing with auctioneer Gunnar Eversol (Toby Jones) his plans to secretly host an auction at the estate to sell off the collected dinosaurs each to the highest bidder, irrespective of what the bidders intentions are. In addition, Mills also raises introducing the Indoraptor, a genetically-engineered new breed of dinosaur created by former geneticist of both Jurassic World and Jurassic Park, Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) by using the DNA of the Indominus rex and a Velociraptor to ultimately weaponise it. Maisie tells Lockwood of Mills' plans, and in turn Lockwood confronts Mills saying that he is none too pleased and that he should call the Police to alert them. At that Mills smothers Lockwood with a cushion and kills him.

The dinosaurs are moved into the mansion, in individual cages in readiness for displaying in the auction room and the gathered multimillionaires from around the world. Rodriguez is back at the mansion, under duress overseeing the recovery of Blue. She is freed by Webb, who also releases Blue from its cage. Grady and Dearing are held in a cage while the auction gets underway. They manage to escape with the help of a head butting dinosaur in the neighbouring cage.

The pair find Maisie who lead them to a window overlooking the auction room, just as bidding on the Indoraptor ramps up to US$28M. With the help of his new head butting dinosaur friend, Grady disrupts the auction proceedings sending it in to chaos with bodies flying asunder. After the fracas has died down Wheatly enters the auction room and fires two tranquillisers into the Indoraptor. He then gingerly enters the cage, with the aim of extracting a trophy tooth to add to his growing collection of dinosaur molars. However, the Indoraptor is no ordinary dinosaur - it has intelligence and wits and comes around from its mock unconscious state and promptly rips off Wheatly's arm, before tearing him to shreds. It then exits thorough the opened cage door having munched on Eversol, and promptly attacks and kills various others.

The Indoraptor goes on the rampage tearing up the inside of the mansion while seeking out Grady, Dearing and youngster Maisie. Maisie runs off trying to divert the Indoraptor's attention, and promptly retreats to the sanctity of her bedroom, and hides under the bed covers, hoping the killer dinosaur won't spot her ruse.

Needless to say she under estimates the intellect of this beast who comes after her. Blue meanwhile, having been released by Rodriguez, tracks down the Indoraptor inside Maisie's bedroom and a fight breaks out, during which time Maisie and Grady escape through the bedroom window out onto a ledge. The duelling dinosaurs crash out onto the roof of the mansion, in the pouring rain once again sending them flailing in opposite directions. The Indoraptor is more sure footed and is hot on the heels of Grady and Maisie who have no where left to run, until Dearing appears followed by Blue. On the glass roof directly above Lockhart's dinosaur museum Blue and the Indoraptor fight it out, until the roof gives way and in falls the Indoraptor, impaling itself on the skeletal remains of a Triceratops skull.

Back inside the mansion when the dust has settled, Rodriguez alerts Grady and Dearing that a hydrogen cyanide tank has been ruptured and is leaking toxic gas, as a result of an earlier explosion when the proverbial brown stuff hit the fan when the Indoraptor was running amok. Furthermore the extraction system was down, meaning that all the caged dinosaurs would soon perish. Dearing has her hand hovering over an emergency override button that will open the huge doors and allow the dinosaurs to escape to freedom, but upon Grady's advice she can't bring herself to press the door release button, for fear of what dinosaurs walking amongst us in America's back yard would do to civilisation as we know it. The alternative is to let all the dinosaurs perish, and return Earth to normalcy without letting it slip back to the Jurassic age.

So instead, not wishing to allow the dinosaurs to become extinct once again, Maisie hits that button, the doors open, and out into the cool night air escape the dinosaurs. Mills does a bolt with the remains of the Indominus rex bone sample and is promptly trampled underfoot by a stampede of dinosaurs and is then ripped in two and devoured by a passing T-Rex and Carnotaurus. Grady and Dearing leave the estate with Maisie, after bidding farewell to Blue, who runs off into the surrounding forest under cover of night time with the other dinosaurs to roam far and wide and turn up in the most unexpected places.

In a further US Senate hearing, Dr. Malcolm advises that humans and dinosaurs now have no alternative but to learn to co-exist. Watch out for the post-credits sequence, which really adds nothing that you hadn't already worked out, but adds a teaser of sorts to the next instalment.

I enjoyed 'Jurassic World : Fallen Kingdom' but not as much as the first instalment in this rebooted series of the franchise. For me, this offering really adds little new to the storyline that we haven't already seen before. Here Isla Nublar is destroyed in hails of fire and brimstone, and in 'Jurassic Park II and III' the action takes place largely on a neighbouring island of Isla Sorna after the annihilation of the original theme park. Also, we've seen T-Rex rampaging through downtown USA in San Diego towards the final set piece of 'Jurassic Park II', and here we are again, with the dino menace let loose in upstate California. That said, this is an enjoyable, fun, fairly mindless yet  well crafted enough follow up that demonstrates Bayona's skill at the visual art, eking enough of a coherent story to captivate the interest for two hours of run time and continuing the story arc even if a tad over zealously. At times suspenseful, at times humorous and even a little Gothic, and occasionally gory, but where else can this go now, other than seeing how dinosaurs interact with their human co-habitors, and I guess we know its going to end badly for one species. Well audiences have chipped in over US$800M so far making this film the third highest grossing film of 2018 to date, so it can't be all bad. Catch this dino creature feature on the big screen while you can.

'Jurassic World : Fallen Kingdom' merits three claps of the clapperboard from a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 28th June 2018.

The 65th Sydney Film Festival may have closed its doors recently on 17th June on another year of showcasing the finest in filmed entertainment from around the world, but one final item of news worthy coverage are the winners of the 'Audience Awards - Features and Documentaries'. As voted by the cinema going public who sat through a film presentation at the SFF and were able to cast their vote electronically immediately afterwards, these awards are perhaps the most noteworthy as they are voted by a real audience who can make or break a film's release with its critical analysis and Box Office receipts.

Congratulations to the winners of the Audience Awards – Features :
* 'THE INSULT' at #1: a Lebanese drama film directed by Ziad Doueiri and Co-Written by him too, and tells the story of a minor incident between a Lebanese Christian and a Palestinian refugee that turns into an explosive trial that ends up dividing the two communities. The film has eight award wins and another fourteen nominations including an Oscar nod as Best Foreign Language Film at this years Academy Awards.
* 'SEARCHING' at #2 : an American psychological mystery thriller Directed by Aneesh Chaganty. The film is shot from the point-of-view of smartphones and computer screens, and tells the story about a father trying to find his missing 16-year-old daughter, and stars John Cho and Debra Messing.
* 'RAFIKI' at #3 : Directed by Kenyan Wanuri Kahlu this story here surrounds two Kenyan girls set to become two Kenyan wives, but Kena and Ziki long for more in their lives. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between their own personal happiness, or playing it safe by falling into a life of domesticity, children and acceptance. This film was Kenya's first entry into the Cannes Film Festival this year, and is banned in its native country.
* 'AN ELEPHANT SITTING STILL' at #4 : Directed by Chinese Hu Bo who took his own life before the film was released. Running at almost four hours, the film takes a deep dive into the lives of four protagonists; each in a terrible situation and each inter-connected in some way. A young man severely injures a school bully after pushing him down a staircase. His classmate, neglected by her mother, is having an unfortunate affair with a school teacher. A man witnesses and is tormented by a suicide, while an elderly man is being forced into a home by his son. These four damaged people set their sights on the city of Manzhouli, in Inner Mongolia, where the eponymous elephant sits still.
* 'LEAVE NO TRACE' at joint 5th: this American drama film is Directed by Debra Granik. A father and thirteen year old daughter (Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie) live a perfect but mysterious existence in Forest Park, a beautiful urban nature reserve near Portland, Oregon. They rarely have any contact with the world, but when a small mistake tips them off to authorities, they are sent on an increasingly erratic journey that will change their lives forever.

* 'AGA' at joint 5th : Directed by Bulgarian Milko Lazarov whose story here centres around an isolated couple living in the snowy Northern Wilderness of the Arctic - one of the coldest places on Earth. Nanook and Sedna live isolated from the rest of humanity and each day for them is a difficult one, as their traditional way of life erodes, the environment becomes more and more unpredictable and they yearn for their estranged daughter Aga, to return home having left to work in a diamond mine.

Congratulations to the winners of the Audience Awards - Documentaries :
* 'BACKTRACK BOYS' at #1 : this Australian Doco by Director, Producer and Cinematographer Catherine Scott was made over a two year period and charts the unfolding story of three young Aussie lads who are on a rocky path towards jail until they meet a rule-breaking rough talking jackaroo named Bernie Shakeshaft who runs a youth training programme from a shed on the outskirts of Armidale, New South Wales. When everyone else has all but given up on troubled kids like Zach, Alfie and Rusty, they head to BackTrack. It’s a place where they can feel safe and continue their education, but most importantly, it’s where they learn to support each other and reach for their dreams, and it's where they join his legendary dog jumping team. This was followed up closely behind by 'TEACH A MAN TO FISH' at #2; 'I USED TO BE NORMAL : A BOYBAND FANGIRL STORY' at #3; 'OYSTER' at #4 and  'JILL BILCOCK : DANCING THE INVISIBLE' at #5. For more details on all the awards given out at the SFF, and a brief synopsis of these films, you can visit the official website at : https://www.sff.org.au/

Turning attention to this week and we have four hot new release movies coming to an Odeon near you. We begin with a sequel to an acclaimed Mexican drug cartel story that was released three years ago, and this film reprises the roles of the two principal cast members who must team up once more to thwart an all out drug war on the US border with Mexico. Prepare for another gritty no holds barred all guns blazing drama. We then to move to the high seas and the tale of survival of two sailors aboard their stricken yacht after the mother of all hurricanes disables their boat. Stranded mid-ocean, injured and without a mast, what is a girl to do? Next up is a French foreign language film about a hard partying A-lister play boy who suddenly has a baby daughter thrust upon him that he never knew he had. What could possible go wrong? We wrap up the week with the third instalment in this animated feature film series that sees a mixed bunch of monsters taking a well earned holiday aboard a cruise ship - what's not to like about that prospect?

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'SICARIO 2 : SOLDADO' (Rated MA15+) - this is the follow up film to 2015's Critically acclaimed 'Sicario' as Directed by Denis Villeneuve and Written by Taylor Sheridan and starring Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin, with Emily Blunt about a principled FBI agent who is enlisted by a government task force to bring down the leader of a powerful and violent Mexican drug cartel. That film cost US$30M to make and raked in US$85M at the global Box Office and picked up fifteen award wins and a further 153 nominations including three Oscar nods, three BAFTA nods and two AACTA nods. Now three short years later, we have this follow up action crime thriller Directed by Italian film maker Stefano Sollima and once again written by Taylor Sheridan with Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin reprising their roles. The film goes on wide release in the US this week too.

The plot follows the drug war at the US and Mexican border as it has elevated to the point where the cartels have begun smuggling Sicario terrorists, forcing the CIA's Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) to once again team up with ex-hitman and undercover operative Alejandro Gallic (Benicio del Toro) to eliminate the problem. The pair kidnap Isabela Reyes (Isabela Moner), the daughter of a drug lord, in a covert operation designed to incite war between rival cartels, but the mission goes south when it is rumbled by the Mexican authorities, prompting Graver to order Reyes' death. When Gillick refuses, he turns rogue to protect her as Graver assembles a new team to hunt them both down. Also starring Jeffrey Donovan, Matthew Modine, Catherine Keener and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

'ADRIFT' (Rated M) - this American romantic drama film is set on the high seas and is Directed and Co-Produced by Icelandic film and theatre Director, Producer and occasional Actor Baltasar Kormakur, whose previous Directorial efforts include 'Contraband', '2 Guns' and 'Everest'. Here he tells the true story based on Tami Oldham's 1998 book 'Red Sky in Mourning : A True Story of Love, Loss and Survival at Sea' in which two experienced sailors Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin) embark on a four thousand mile journey to deliver a 44 foot yacht, The Hazana, from Tahiti to San Diego in 1983. The pair sailed directly into Hurricane Raymond, and whilst the boat survived, in the aftermath of the storm Tami comes round to find Richard badly injured, the boat is without a mast, their radio is down and they are drifting somewhere mid-Pacific Ocean. She has to muster all her wits to find a way to save them both, and get to the nearest port of call, Hawaii. The film cost a budgeted US$35M, has so far recouped US$32M, went on general release in the US on 1st June and has received generally mixed or average Reviews, although Woodley's performance has been praised, as has the Director's visuals.

'TWO IS A FAMILY' (Rated M) - here French Director, Producer, Writer and occasional Actor Hugo Gelin delivers us a remake of an original Mexican film titled 'Instructions Not Included' that was released in 2013. Now five years hence he brings us this European comedy drama version that was first released in its native France way back in December 2016, and only now gets a limited theatrical run in Australia. Starring Omar Sy as Samuel, a hard partying Francophile living the A-list sun drenched dream down Marseille way only to be woken one fine day by his former lover Kristin (Clemence Poesy) carrying a infant baby that she claims is his. She promptly drives off in the opposite direction at a rapid rate of knots leaving Samuel with the wailing baby Gloria in tow. Practically incapable of looking after a baby, Samuel rushes to England in an attempt to return the child to her mother, without any luck needless to say. He stays in London and, after finding work as a television stuntman, the father daughter relationship gradually begins to blossom. When Kristin eventually reappears, Gloria (Gloria Colston) has matured into a bright and bubbly eight year old … and the inseparable father-daughter team find their bond tested.

'HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 : MONSTER VACATION' (Rated PG) - aka 'Hotel Transylvania 3 : Summer Vacation' here sees the third instalment in this animated franchise that for the first two films in this series grossed US$821M off the back of a US$165M budget investment, making a third film almost a no brainer I guess! Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, this film features an all star voice cast and sets off a few months after the events of the previous film. The story here centres around  Dracula (Adam Sandler), Mavis (Selena Gomez), Johnny (Andy Samberg), and the rest of their family, both human and monster, and friends as they take a well earned vacation on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship. Dracula however, becomes attracted to the ship's mysterious captain Ericka (Kathryn Hahn), but what he doesn't know is that Erika is secretly the Great-Granddaughter of Abraham Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan), the infamous monster slayer and Dracula's ancient nemesis. Now it is time for Mavis to step up to the 'Drac Pack' and rally up family, friends and those significant others so they can stop Erika and save Dracula, before it's too late. Also starring the voice talents of Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Fran Drescher, Mel Brooks, and Keegan-Michael Key. The film cost US$65M to bring to the big screen.

With four new release films out this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. Meanwhile, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-