THE VVITCH : Tuesday 29th March 2016

THE VVITCH - is the Directorial debut from Robert Eggers and is Written by him too, and with the  critical acclaim since its world premier at Sundance in January 2015, and its Special Presentation screening at TIFF in September last year, I was keen to give this film a go, so saw it two weeks or so after its Australian release earlier this week. This film went out in cinema release in the US in February this year and has so far made US$29M off its meagre US$1M or so budget. Hailed as 'A New England Folktale' on the title screen, Eggers was determined to craft a personal film based on his childhood fascination with witches. Based in New England, Eggers was also determined to film in rural New England but for a variety of reasons couldn't find a suitable forest edge location, so ended up well & truly off the map in Kiosk, Ontario, which certainly sets the mood, the tone and the sense of foreboding this film presents.

Set in 1630 New England, this is the story of a relocated family from northern England who as the film opens are in the process of being banished from a Puritan Christian community plantation where they reside with their four children from young twins to early teenage years, because husband and father William (Ralph Ineson) has shown once too often 'prideful conceit'. The family is exiled and so ride off into the sunset on their horse drawn carriage carrying all their worldly belongings and family with them in search of a new place to establish a home. They find that ideal place where there is clearing beside a brook to provide running water and on the edge of a forest. They give thanks to God for bringing them to this place.

After several months the homestead is established, corn is growing in the field and mother Katherine (Kate Dickie) has given birth to the fifth child - a young boy, Samuel. One day when Katherine is attending to household chores, she asks young teenage daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) to look after the young baby. Thomasin does so willingly and ventures to the forest edge to play with Samuel and keep him amused. In so doing, the baby vanishes. Taken by a witch and carted off into the depths of the forest - never to be seen again.

Katherine is distraught by this news and spends several days crying, restless and mourning sorrowfully whilst praying to God. William and son Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw) venture into the forest in search of food when their crop of corn starts to fail, and with winter drawing in, a stockpile of provisions is increasingly becoming a necessity. On the farm the young twins Mercy (Ellie Grainger) and Jonas (Lucas Dawson), play with one of the family goats, Black Phillip, whom they later claim speaks to them.

The next day Caleb awakes early to go into the forest on the family horse to check on the animal traps set the previous day. Thomasin interrupts him and insists that she be allowed to go with him, and so they venture off with the family dog, Fowler, in tow. Along the way, they are distracted by a hare that Caleb and William had seen the previous day, and with Caleb giving chase and leaving Thomasin alone, the horse bolts knocking her to the ground. She regains consciousness later as night draws in. She hears distant voices and is reunited with her father, but there is no sign of Caleb who has ventured off and stumbles across a woodland house, from which emerges a beautiful big busted woman who embraces the young lad with a passionate kiss to the lips, only to reveal a withered gnarly aged witches hand holding him tightly.

With the baby now missing for a week or so, Caleb now mysteriously vanished, the twins claiming that Black Phillip talks to them, the family dog also not returned, and a failing crop, Katherine in her anxiety begins to talk of witchcraft and how God is punishing them for their sins. William meanwhile seeks the mercy of God, asking for his forgiveness and seems to be blaming everyone else but himself for the predicament the family now finds itself in. He seems to take some comfort in chopping wood to build a Winter stockpile during which he can gather his thoughts, repent of his sins, and talk to God.

Later that night Thomasin offers to tend to the goats before turning in, and while outside in the moonlight hears a noise that distracts her - it is Caleb, miraculously returned, but stark naked, bloodied, dazed and in a stupor. He is brought inside and rests, tended to by his mother, but not able to speak. As the remaining family gather around, the twins reveal that they believe their sister Thomasin to be a witch, Thomasin counter claims that it is the twins who are in fact witches because Black Phillip talks to them, and with it Caleb awakens - his body writhing and contorting as if possessed, and indeed it is! He dies soon afterwards but not before praising the Lord and bestowing his body unto Him, and with it the twins also go into a writhing attack, followed by a catatonic state immediately afterwards. Katherine is thrown into a further frenzy claiming witchcraft, and ungodly forces working against them all. William confronts his daughter demanding her to recite prayers and welcome God back into her life. He boards her up in a stable with the two young twins who have since come around and Black Phillip so that they can be rid of any demons and come to their senses overnight through prayer, forgiveness and divine intervention.

Overnight Katherine hallucinates that Caleb and Samuel have returned, and while William sleeps events take a turn in the stable. He wakens early the next morning and in venturing outside is greeted by a destroyed stable, the twins gone, the goats butchered and Thomasin lying nearby with bloodstained hands. For how this plays out you'll just have to watch the movie!

In this film which garnered Director Robert Eggers a Best Director Prize at 2015's Sundance Film Festival, he has weaved an original story recreating a God-fearing 1630's New England where black magic, demonic possession, and witchcraft were very real predating the Salem Witch Trials of the late 17th Century. He has meticulously researched his story to ensure its authenticity right down to the language used of that era, and his production team have faithfully bought his vision to the big screen in every detail. His chosen cast of two lead Actors in Ineson and Dickie is first rate and keep an eye out for emerging talent in Taylor-Joy and Scrimshaw who equally carry this film every step of the way with their adult counterparts. This film is not big on scares, but it re-establishes the genre with a truly original piece that is a slow intense burn, with a solidly crafted, well told and well acted story that will have you gripped from the opening scene right through to the revealing and shocking end. A Director to watch and a film to see - with some truly disturbing scenes that are not there just for effect but add to the context of the film and what the family is experiencing. It will hold your attention throughout, and keep you thinking for a long time afterwards.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st March 2016.

Last week I introduced you to the first six of my Top 12 movies likely to bust a block at our cinema screens for the balance of 2016, and that didn't include 'Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice' released just one week ago and already notching up globally US$469M and rising. Here then are the final six in the movies to watch out for in the latter half of 2016 counting down all the way to Boxing Day, with SciFi, further comic book adaptations from both Marvel and DC, a further outing from a much loved CIA Agent, a video game adaptation that we hope will break the mould of previous dodgy video game adaptations, and a fantastic story from an acclaimed author who already has a pretty good track record on the silver screen with a certain young wizard. Check these out, and mark the date.

• July 21st - 'STAR TREK : BEYOND' - Directed by Justin Lin and co-written by Simon Pegg with J.J.Abrams taking a Producer credit this time around, we have here the third instalment in this rebooted franchise, that sees Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S.Enterprise stranded on a lonely planet and under attack from a powerful and relentless wave of alien foes.
• July 28th - 'JASON BOURNE' - he's back, and once more Directed by Paul Greengrass in the fifth film in this hugely successful franchise and the follow up to 2012's 'The Bourne Legacy' with Matt Damon back as our titular hero with Acting, Producing and Screenwriting credits.
• August 4th - 'SUICIDE SQUAD' - Directed by David Ayer and the second outing of the year in the DC Extended Universe sees a secret government agency hiring incarcerated supervillains  to undertake potentially deadly missions in exchange for a pardon of their past crimes. Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis and Joel Kinnaman star.
• October 27th - 'DOCTOR STRANGE' - the final Marvel Cinematic Universe offering of the year sees us introduced to a new character as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of top neurosurgeon Stephen Strange who after a car accident that brings his brilliant career to an end encounters the magical and mystical Ancient One, who sets the Doctor on a whole new path. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton and Rachel McAdams also star in the Scott Derrickson Directed offering.
• November 17th - 'FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM' - Written by one J.K. Rowling, Directed by David Yates and starring Eddie Redmayne, this 1920's story tells us of a young magic zoologist in New York who needs to recover an array of escaped  fantastical creatures. Intended to be the first in three films this also stars Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight and Ron Perlman.
• December 26th - 'ASSASSINS CREED' - this has all the makings of a successful video game crossover into a mainstream movie with Justin Kurzel Directing Michael Fassbender as Callum Lynch the direct descendant of a 15th Century secret society of Assassins who through revolutionary new technology is unable to unlock his ancestral past to thwart a powerful enemy in the present day. Also starring Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons and Brendan Gleeson.

To this weeks films then and there are just two to tempt you out in the week ahead, and both are very different. Both are however, based on real life events - one dramatised, and the other very dramatic. The first is a German foreign language offering set in the aftermath of WWII and the repercussions of bringing those to justice for their war crimes whilst serving in the concentration camps, and the efforts of one young man to do so. Then there is a dramatic turn of events on the world tallest peak as the intentions behind one film become the realities of another as tragedy strikes.

As always, we would love to hear your views and observations of any movie you have seen in the past week or any as Reviewed and Previewed here at Odeon Online. Feel free to leave a Comment in the box below this or any other Post, and share with your friends and like minded cinephiles. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

LABYRINTH OF LIES (Rated M) - This German film is based on real events and was Written and Directed by Giulio Ricciarelli and screened at TIFF in early September last year ahead of its German premier in early November. It was shortlisted down to the final nine films for the Best Foreign Language Film at this years Academy Awards but failed to make the final cut. Set in 1958, thirteen years after the end of WWII and Germany is booming - rebuilding itself and looking ahead to a bright future where the past can be easily forgotten about. And the horrors for many are becoming a distant memory, not spoken of, kept quiet and almost brushed under the carpet for fear of reprisal. 

Until that is, Thomas Gnielka (Andre Szymanski) recognises a school teacher who was a former Commander at Auschwitz and Johann Radmann (Alexander Fehling) takes up the case as a young Prosecutor to bring the former Commander to justice for his war crimes. Along the way though, those efforts are often thwarted by Government officials who served in those same prison camps during the war and close ranks to protect their own now, even though to do so violates German law. Radmann's further investigations reveal many thousands of former Nazi's were allowed to return to their pre-war lives with no fear of penalty, but with youthful determination and ambition on his side, he perseveres and ultimately brings many to trial. A film that has received critical acclaim and that is as relevant today as it was sixty years ago.

SHERPA (Rated M) - unlike last years 'Everest' movie starring an impressive cast of A-listers facing closing storms and tragedy on the mountain top, this documentary film tells a very different story of that same mountain and the same era i.e. our very recent past, but from the other side of the mountaineering fence. Directed by Australian Jennifer Peedom who intended to make a film in the wake of the 2013 violent confrontations that took place between Sherpa's and adventure seeking tourists - the aptly named 'Everest Brawl' that was beemed around the world's TV channels and made international headlines. Looking to follow the 2014 season from the Sherpa's perspective and how their 'employment rights' are suffering at the hands of wealthy thrill seekers, Peedom and her crew were unexpectedly confronted with tragedy when a massive avalanche at Khumbu Icefall took the lives of sixteen Sherpa's, changing the multi-million Mount Everest Climbing industry forever. Despite this tragedy that unfolded all around them that changed the direction of the originally intended film completely, Peedom has crafted a grounded responsive documentary that has a respect for the often taken for granted Sherpa community, the beautiful yet hostile environment, and the dangers and the realities of the world highest peak all paired together with breathtaking cinematography courtesy of Renan Ozturk and Hugh Miller. A must see for a whole raft of reasons.

Just two films this week to join the great cinema content already out there and doing the rounds still, and as Reviewed and Previewed between these pages. Share your thoughts here at Odeon Online when you have sat through your movie of choice in the week ahead, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-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-

Birthday's to share this week : 27th March - 2nd April 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Nick Frost does on 28th March - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 44, 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 27th March

• Quentin Tarantino - Born 1963, turns 53 - Writer | Producer | Director | Actor 
• Michael York - Born 1942, turns 74 - Actor
• Julian Glover - Born 1935, turns 81 - Actor
• Holiday Grainger - Born 1988, turns 28 - Actress

Monday 28th March

• Julia Stiles - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actress | Writer | Director  
• Dianne Wiest - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actress  
• Vince Vaughn - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Nick Frost - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Brett Ratner - Born 1969, turns 47 - Director | Producer
• Richard Kelly - Born 1975, turns 41 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Mike Newell - Born 1942, turns74 - Director | Producer

Tuesday 29th March

• Ed Skrein - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actor
• Christopher Lambert - Born 1937, turns 59 - Actor | Producer 
• Brendan Gleeson - Born 1955, turns 61 - Actor  
• Eric Idle - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Michael Winterbottom - Born 1961, turns 55 - Writer | Producer | Director | Editor
• Lucy Lawless - Born 1968, turns 48 - Actress  

Wednesday 30th March

• Robbie Coltrane - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actor 
• Warren Beatty - Born 1937, turns 79 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director  
• Paul Reiser - Born 1957, turns 59  - Actor | Producer | Writer

Thursday 31st March

• Ewan McGregor - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director    
• Christopher Walken - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor   
• Richard Chamberlain - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actor
• Paul Mercurio - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor  

Friday 1st April 

• Asa Butterfield - Born 1997, turns 19 - Actor 
• David Oyelowo - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actor | Producer 
• Barry Sonnenfield - Born 1953, turns 63 - Director | Producer | Actor | Cinematographer
• Ali MacGraw - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actress
• Debbie Reynolds - Born 1932, turns 83 - Actress | Singer 

Saturday 2nd April

• Michael Fassbender - Born 1977, turns 39 - Actor | Producer  
• Jesse Plemons - Born 1988, turns 28 - Actor  
• Christopher Meloni - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Director  

Nicholas John Frost was born in Dagenham, East London, England and is the son of office furniture designers. His older sister died at age eighteen, when he was ten, of an asthma attack. Five years later his parents business failed and as a consequence the Frost family had to move out of their home and in with their neighbours, where due to the stress of it all, the 15 year old Nicholas witnessed his mother having a stroke. He attended Beal High School - a co-ed secondary school in Redbridge, Greater London but left early to start work at a shipping company to help support his family. From there he spent almost two years at a kibbutz in Israel, and upon returning worked in a North London Mexican Restaurant where he first met up with Simon Pegg. Following this the two became close friends and flatmates . . . and the rest as they say is history!

In the late 90's after appearing in several corporate training video's, Simon Pegg and Actress/Writer Jessica Hynes wrote a role for Frost in the comedy series 'Spaced' based partly on Pegg's/Frost's slacker lifestyle at the time. The two series ran over seven episodes each in 1999 and 2001. What followed were a number of television series appearances on 'Black Books', Acorn Antiques' and as Host of 'Danger! 50,000 Volts!' and its follow up 'Danger' Incoming Attack'.

2004 brought his break out film debut in the ZomRomCom 'Shaun of the Dead' Written by Simon Pegg and Directed by Edgar Wright. Hailed a critical and commercial success, the film made US$30M from its US$6M production budget. More television shows followed including 'Twisted Tales' 'Look Around You', 'Supernanny' and 'Man Stroke Woman' before his next film appearance in 2005's 'Kinky Boots' with Joel Edgerton and Chiwetel Ejiofor. A bit part followed in the Tarantino and Rodriguez 'Grindhouse' horror double feature, before 'Hot Fuzz' with Simon Pegg again and also Directed by Edgar Wright. This film made US$81M from its US$12M outlay.

'The Boat That Rocked' sailed along in 2009 as Directed by Richard Curtis and also starring Kenneth Branagh, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Chris O'Dowd, Gemma Arterton and Emma Thompson. Seeing out the decade there were other television shows that included 'Green Wing', 'Hyperdrive' and 'Money'.

2011 was a busy year with 'Paul' first off Written by Frost and Pegg and starring them both too in this Sci-Fi comedy road movie also with Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman and Kristen Wiig. Sticking with Sci-Fi comedy of the horror kind came 'Attack The Block' with John Boyega and as Directed by Joe Cornish. Closing out that year and Directed by Steven Spielberg was 'The Adventures of Tintin' in which he plays the mo-capped identical brother to Simon Pegg as Thompson and Thompson.

The year following saw 'Snow White and the Huntsman' in which Frost plays one of the seven dwarves alongside an all star cast from dwarfdom comprising Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Eddie Marsan, and Toby Jones with Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron and Sam Claflin. Frost reprises his role in the imminent follow-up 'The Huntsman : Winter's War' with Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron and Sam Claflin also reprising with Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain joining the cast.

'The World's End' followed in 2013 written again by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, and also again the latter on Directing duty so concluding their 'Three Flavours Cornetto' trilogy. The film also starred Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan, Pierce Brosnan, Bill Nighy and Rosamund Pike. 'Cuban Fury', 'Unfinished Business' and 'Syrenia' bring us up to date. In the meantime too there has been voice talent work on 'Ice Age : Continental Drift' and 'Boxtrolls'. In the last two years there has also been 'Mr. Sloane', 'Doctor Who' and 'Galavant' as further television appearances.

All up Frost has 43 Acting credits to his name, five Writer credits and three as Producer. He has two award wins and two nominations. Frost was raised a Catholic but is now atheist. He was married to half-Swedish wife Christina from 2008 until 2013 with whom he has a son born in mid-2011.

Nick Frost - bestest buddies with long term friend and collaborator Simon Pegg; at his funniest and probably most successful when appearing with him given the chemistry that obviously exists between them; able to play it straight or funny, and across genres and almost always tongue in cheek; and has seen much hardship and triumph to last a lifetime already which you can read about in his recently published memoir 'Truths, Half Truths and Little White Lies' which recounts his first thirty years on this mortal coil. Happy Birthday to you Nick, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th March 2016.

With Easter upon us, and the awards season behind us, I thought now would be a good time to highlight the twelve potentially block busting must see movies for the balance of 2016. These are those that you should be locking into your diaries now to ensure you get the best seat in the house when these movies come your way. I have not included the DC actioner released this week and Previewed below in this list either, and I'll
give you six this week, and the other six to come next week. Stay tuned!

• April 14th - 'THE JUNGLE BOOK' - Directed by Jon Favreau and starring Neel Sethi as young Mowgli in this live action/CGI reimagining of the Rudyard Kipling book and the 1967 Disney classic animated feature of the same name. Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson land their voice talents.
• April 28th - 'CAPTAIN AMERICA : CIVIL WAR' - Joe and Anthony Russo Direct this all star cast that bring The Avengers into bitter conflict, and divides the once tight team one year on from 'Age of Ultron'.
• May 19th - 'X-MAN : APOCALYPSE' - Bryan Singer is back Directing this ninth instalment in the series that has the 'X-Men' battling an ancient all powerful mutant who teams up with Magneto leaving Professor X going head to head in a battle to save the Earth as we know it.
• June 23rd - 'INDEPENDENCE DAY : RESURGENCE' - Directed by the Master of Disaster, Roland Emmerich, this is the follow up to the 1996 blockbuster that sees those aliens return to wipe out all humankind once more - bigger, badder and bolder than before! Starring Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, Bill Pullman and a bunch of bad ass alien types.
• June 30th - 'THE BFG' - Directed by Steven Spielberg, this film is based on the popular children's book of the same name by Roald Dahl, and has Mark Rylance as the Big Friendly Giant and ten year old Ruby Barnhill plucked out of nowhere to play young Sophie.
• July 14th - 'GHOSTBUSTERS' - Paul Feig Directs this reboot of the classic two Ghostbusters paranormal comedy action films of the 80's, but this time will an all female cast of 'Ghostbusters' including Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Kirsten Wiig.

Turning then to the more immediate, this week ahead we have five new cinematic offerings, that kick start in Superhero territory with an eagerly awaited, if not a little controversial, clash of two titans of the genre who go head to head, fist to fist and toe to toe in the second mega budget offering from this extended universe - we expect great things! No pressure there then, as we move into another superhero getting its third CGI animated treatment of the furry, plump, hapless yet lovable kind needing also to thwart an evil foe. Following on from these two potential blockbusters in the making there is a Italian island set thriller surrounding an ageing rock star holidaying peacefully until her world is turned upside down by the arrival of an old flame and his estranged daughter. From here, a tale of modern warfare from a distance and the impact of collateral damage upon three nations involved in one decision, and to wrap things up, another wedding celebration to follow on from that one held in 2002 that proved to be so successful, that they just had to do it all over again!

With more choice coming at you this week, and plenty of good stuff still out on general release as Reviewed and Previewed for you previously on these humble pages, your feedback is always welcomed. As such, feel free to leave your own views and opinions in the Comments section below this or any other Post, and share your movie experience with your friends, here at Odeon Online. Enjoy your movie.

BATMAN v. SUPERMAN : DAWN OF JUSTICE (Rated M) - this much hyped, long awaited 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.

This film takes place two years or so after the events of 'Man of Steel' when Superman's final standoff against General Zod almost wiped out much of Metropolis with many lives lost along the way, city infrastructure ruined and excessive collateral damage. As a result many of Metropolis's inhabitants 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. One such inhabitant is billionaire Bruce Wayne (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. In the wings however, watching and waiting is Lex Luthor (Jessie Eisenberg) who also has plans for Superman, and whilst Batman and Superman battle it out for supremacy. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor is free to unleash his own secret weapon, Doomsday, which has far greater power than either Batman or Superman can muster and which poses an even greater threat to humanity than either had imagined. Also starring Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jeremy Irons at Arthur, Laurence Fishburn as Perry White, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Holly Hunter as Senator Finch and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.

A BIGGER SPLASH (Rated MA15+) - this English language French/Italian co-produced erotic thriller film is Directed by Italian Luca Guadagnino and was released at the Venice Film Festival in early September, before a wider Italian release in November, and is yet to see the light of day Stateside until mid-May. Starring frequent collaborator Tilda Swinton as Marianne Lane, a famous rock star and Matthias Schoenaerts as Paul De Smedt a film-maker and boyfriend who are holidaying on a remote Italian island when their world is disrupted by a surprise visit from an old friend Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter Penelope Lanier (Dakota Johnson). What ensues is a web of jealousy, passion and possible danger for all concerned, set amidst an idyllic island hideaway that ultimately turns into something very different.

EYE IN THE SKY (Rated M) - Directed by Gavin Hood, this film stars the late, great Alan Rickman and is set with the backdrop of modern day drone warfare. Released in the US in early January, here we have Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren) as a military intelligence officer tracking a group of terrorists to a safe house in Nairobi, Kenya where she intends to capture them. Learning however, that the group is hatching a plan for a suicide mission, Powell changes her plan to wipe out the terrorists once & for all and so gives the command to drone pilot 2nd Lieutenant Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) to destroy the safe house.  Before doing so though, Watts observes a young girl entering the house - what to do therefore, and upon whose authority now?  Also starring Jeremy Northam and Iain Glen.

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 (Rated PG) - this is the sequel to the 2002 film that was made for a mere US$5M and returned a staggering US$369M, so on that basis a sequel was almost inevitable, as long as a story could be created around another bigger, fatter Greek wedding. And so it seems it has in this Kirk Jones Directed follow-up! When a family secret unfolds the Portokalos family are brought back together again just as daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris) is getting ready to graduate from High School, and Mum & Dad, Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett), are having marital challenges themselves. When Toula's parents uncover the secret, another big, fat Greek wedding follows that just might be the tonic needed to reunite the family again. Will this generate a big fat Box Office haul that the first film did - only you can make it happen!

KUNG FU PANDA 3 (Rated PG) - the third film in the franchise follows the initial 2008 film that returned US$632M from US$130M, the second in 2011 garnered US$666M from US$150M and this third film that was released in China on 23rd January and then in the US a week later has so far grossed US$399M from its US$145M Budget. Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni this film stars many of those from the earlier two films including Jack Black as Po who is now growing up and has been reunited with his long lost father Li (Bryan Cranston). Po comes to the realisation too that he has still much to learn from his acclaimed master & mentor Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and must also take that next step from being a student to becoming a teacher himself.  To do so he takes on a group of hapless pandas who are largely clueless in the martial arts, but together with his kung-fu fighting brothers must thwart the evil Kai (J.K.Simmons) who possesses supernatural powers and grows stronger with every fight. Also starring the voice talents of Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Kate Hudson, Jean Claude Van Damme, and Pax, Knox, Zahara and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.

A big week then at the movies with a few potential blockbusters in the making giving you another great reason to get amongst it at you local picture house. When you have done so, share your thoughts, and in the meantime, I'll see you in the week ahead, at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

LONDON HAS FALLEN : Wednesday 16th March 2016.

In 2013 two films were released concerning a terrorist attack on the White House - 'Olympus Has Fallen' and 'White House Down' - the former of which 'LONDON HAS FALLEN' is a sequel which I saw on Wednesday evening this week at an advance screening ahead of its Australian release the very next day. That first film was Directed and Produced by Antoine Fuqua for US$70M and it made US$161M in the final analysis. This time around Babak Najafi is on Director duty with several Actors reprising their roles from that first film. Released on March 4th in the US this film cost US$60M to make and has so far grossed US$78M.

Essentially what's going down here is another good excuse to blow shit up in London this time, with many notable landmarks and places of historical significance succumbing to them thar pesky no-good pissed-off terrorist types. This time it's a Pakistani arms dealer and terrorist leader Aamir Barkawi (Alon Moni Aboutboul) who is #6 on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List. He was believed to be dead, following a drone attack on his daughters wedding day two years before which killed outright many of his family, friends and loved ones. He and his son however, resurface in Yemen two years later with his son and right hand henchman Kamran Barkawi (Walid Zuaiter), swearing revenge for that attack.

Meanwhile many of the worlds leaders converge on London for the State Funeral of Prime Minister James Wilson. And so, US President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart reprising), Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs (Angela Basset reprising) travel to the UK with Special Agent in charge of Presidential Protection Mike Banning (Gerard Butler reprising) as do the political leaders of Japan, Canada, France, Italy, Germany and the new British PM. With only a few days notice the funeral is set and so all of London's finest mobilise into action to stage the world's largest single high security alert, in readiness for the worst - all the while suspecting that the Thursday afternoon event will go without a hitch and the dearly departed ex-PM will be laid to rest in peace . . . but of course, we know very different!

It's not long before said political leaders start to get popped off very unceremoniously and London goes into lock down as the place gets the shit blasted out of it en route to capturing the US President alive and executing him publicly in front of a global audience to be repeated forever on YouTube. When London does fall and the action ramps up, the scenes are well enough executed and the tension mounts as one high rise, after a historical monument, after a bridge, after another office tower comes down in volley of CGI explosions which I must say are less than convincing. The body count soon rises in a hail of bullets as the bad guys seem to outnumber the good guys and it becomes difficult to tell who are the bad dudes dressed up as Policemen, and who are the good ones - such is the extent of the terrorist infiltration. A carefully planned attack that would have been years in the making, but how can that be as the PM only passed away in his sleep three days earlier . . . or did he?

Only one man can stand in the way, and riding his white steed down Whitehall is Agent Banning knowing every deadly trick in the book, with all guns blazing, gritted teeth, a sharp wit, and his buddy The Pres. to protect, or die! It's gonna be loud, proud and in yer face as Uncle Sam gets its can of whoop ass out once again and overcomes adversity. What ensues when London turns to rubble, goes into lock down, and bodies line the streets soon becomes formulaic fare. With the German, Canadian, French and Japanese leaders all dead within minutes of each other at different locations around the city only the leader of the free world can escape and must survive. With Banning by his side as the only man in all of London he can now trust they go on the run through the back streets, the underground, and on foot to escape the enemy closing in and hell bent on finding the President.

All the while the New Scotland Yard boys are on the beat headed up by MI5 Intelligence and Head of Metropolitan Police Command who are in close contact with the cadre back at the White House supervised by Vice President Allan Trumball (Morgan Freeman reprising) and various other high ranking officials. They keep watch although the London surveillance system has been compromised and they go blind only adding to the turmoil, and, they suspect a mole on the inside who has helped turn the Police against the Police, and create a smokescreen that has led to todays events.

Of course with Uncle Sam across the pond working to thwart the evil terrorist enemy from afar, the British Bull Dog pulling at the leash, and a die hard terminator on the run with a gun to protect his main man you just know that it will end with more explosions, another extended bullet ballet, close quarter combat, fist fights involving sharp pointy weapons, gratuitous violence, effing & blinding, and the President losing his head . . . well almost. Needless to say it all ends well for Banning & Asher although in a cloud of dust, rubble and a fall from a great height down a lift well - but they get to walk outta there with their sense of humour intact and smiles on their dials. More than can be said for the army of terrorists and their leaders who have been taken out by Banning, a gun totting President, and a team of elite SAS backup. Yippee-Kay-Ay MoFo!

At a running time of 98 minutes you wouldn't want this to go on for much longer. It's predictable, formulaic and by the numbers Hollywood action thrills that never lets up with the cars, the explosions, the guns, the casualties and the wisecracks. This film is exactly what you would expect it to be - nothing less, nothing more leave your brain at the door. It is reasonably entertaining and the dynamic between Banning & Asher is quite good fun, even if OTT.  Also starring Robert Forster (reprising), Radha Mitchell (reprising), Melissa Leo (reprising) and Jack Earle Haley too. You can save yourself the price of a big screen ticket and wait for the BluRay/DVD and watch this in the comfort of your own home on the big screen there - you can then decide if the wheels have fallen off this franchise already!


-Steve, at Odeon Online-