What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th December 2015.

Over the last couple of weeks I have referenced the AACTA Awards held at Sydney's Star Casino, first up on 30th November and then the second ceremony on 9th December recognising all that is best in the Australian film and television scene. Those that picked up Awards on 30th November have been mentioned before and last week Cate Blanchett's success with the Longford Lyell Award. This week I'll wrap things up with the winners & grinners in the principle categories, although of course these don't detract from those recipients previously honoured. Picking up the AACTA Award for Best Film was 'Mad Max : Fury Road' and Best Direction to  George Miller for 'Mad Max : Fury Road'.  Best Lead Actor is Michael Caton in 'Last Cab to Darwin' and Best Lead Actress being Kate Winslet for 'The Dressmaker'. Picking up the Best Supporting Actor Award was Hugo Weaving for 'The Dressmaker' and Best Supporting Actress went to Judy Davis, for 'The Dressmaker'.  Finally, rounding out the Awards was The People's Choice Award which went to . . . surprise, surprise, 'The Dressmaker'. In the final analysis those multiple winners were 'Mad Max : Fury Road' picking up eight Awards, 'The Dressmaker' five, and 'Last Cab to Darwin' two. Well done, and congratulations to all. You can see more at : www.aacta.org

This week, one week outside of Christmas, perhaps the most highly anticipated, eagerly awaited and much hyped film of the year, if not the last three years, is about to hit our cinema screens at an Odeon very near you. You know the one I'm talking about as it hardly needs any introduction and is already well established in our cinematic history, our popular culture, and our movie going psyche. This week it is the only release, which is hardly surpassing as no Studio, no Producer and no Director would want to go head to head on the same release date as this proven epic space opera that has already lasted 38 years so far . . . and counting!

With this in mind, see the extended Preview below, and when at one minute past midnight on 17th December, if you are amongst the world's first to see this latest instalment, drop your mates here at Odeon Online a note in the Comments section below this or any other Post, and share your views and opinions, thoughts and observations about the movie you've seen. Enjoy your film.

'STAR WARS : Episode VII - THE FORCE AWAKENS' (Rated M) - In 1977 a young George Lucas who already had a number of successful films under this belt, created a story that has become ingrained in popular culture, and has spawned an entire industry around successive stories, movies, books, television series, radio broadcasts, merchandise, video games and theme park attractions. That initial film was of course 'Star Wars' which later became 'Star Wars : Episode IV - A New Hope' with the original trilogy taking in successive films in 1980 and 1983. Then in 1999, the franchise was resurrected with an prequel trilogy kicking off with 'Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace' with two further instalments in 2002 and 2005. Those initial six films have grossed US$4.39B including the animated feature in 2008 'The Clone Wars' and  each film has either been nominated for, or won, at The Academy Awards. Then in 2012 The Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm for in excess of US$4B and made it known that there would be a further three films in the franchise commencing with 'The Force Awakens', that opens at an Odeon near you this week.

So, history lesson over, this next instalment is upon us, finally, after a massive media campaign that kicked off as soon as Disney announced its plans for the sequel trilogy and Director J.J.Abrams came on board having jumped ship from that other 'Star' franchise - 'Star Trek' after two outings. With a budget of US$200M this film is expected to be a Box Office sensation, and that would be hardly surprising given the publicity, advertising, promotion, anticipation, expectation and frenzy from the world over since the first teaser trailer was released early this year. 

This film is set about thirty years after the final film in the original franchise - 'Star Wars : Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi' and sees a number of our favoured characters returning from back then including Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, C3PO, R2D2 and Chewbacca. At this time the Rebel Alliance has become the Resistance and the Galactic Empire has become the First Order and follows newly established characters Finn (a redeemed First Order Stormtrooper who is in possession of Luke and Anakin's light sabre), Rey (a planet Jakku scavenger), and Poe (a highly regarded and accomplished Resistance X-Wing fighter pilot) as they meet new friends and fight old enemies. Starring such names as Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow and Simon Pegg, as well of course as Ford, Fisher, Hamill, Daniels and Baker. Can't hardly wait!

With just one new release this week, there is really no contest in terms of what you're going to see, unless of course you have been living under a rock for the last three years, or hail from a galaxy far far away! If you check out this must see film of the year, or another of those currently on general release, be sure to let us know your thoughts of your movie experience this week. 

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-