What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 4th August 2016.

With the release of the latest DC Extended Universe 'Suicide Squad' this week, that marks the third film in the DCEU canon after 2013's 'Man of Steel' and this years 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice', I did some research to bring you a quick snapshot of DC films down through the years. The first full length feature film appeared in 1951 with 'Superman and the Mole Men' with legendary George Reeves playing Superman. 'Batman' came next in 1966 based on the television series with Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin respectively. 'Superman', 'Superman II', 'Superman III', and 'Superman IV' with Christopher Reeve playing our hero played out in 1978, 1980, 1983 and 1987 with a 'Supergirl' spin off in 1984. 'Swamp Thing' and 'The Return of Swamp Thing' came along in 1982 and 1989, with the Tim Burton Directed 'Batman' bursting on to our screens in 1989 with various sequels 'Batman Returns' in 1992, 'Batman Forever' in 1995 and 'Batman and Robin' in 1997. 'Steel' also appeared in 1997, with 'The Road to Perdition' in 2002, 'Catwoman' in 2004 and 'A History of Violence' in 2005 before Christopher Nolan's trilogy kicked off with 'Batman Begins' also in 2005, with 'The Dark Knight' in 2008 and 'The Dark Knight Rises' in 2012 with Christian Bale in the title role. In between time there was 'Constantine' in 2005, 'V for Vendetta' and 'Superman Returns' in 2006, 'Watchmen' in 2009, 'The Losers', 'Jonah Hex' and 'RED' in 2010, 'Green Lantern' in 2011, and 'RED 2' in 2013. Added to these there have been thirty-three short films since 1941, thirty-seven animated features since 1993, seven LEGO films since 2013 and a raft of television films, serial films, television series and unofficial fan films. Excluding 'Suicide Squad' released this week and Previewed below, there are a further eight live action feature length films slated in the DC Extended Universe for release in the next five years with 'Wonder Woman' and 'Justice League : Part One' due in 2017. How's that for longevity and a prolific track record?

And so to the coming week. There are five new movies coming your way that merit your attention and viewing consideration. Starting off with an eagerly awaited comic book adaptation that assembles a mad, bad bunch of incarcerated career crims to save the world by any means necessary. Then two loveable but hapless PR girls make the transition from successful small screen series to the big screen in this film that sees them dodging the police and debunking off to the south of France to lay low amidst a media frenzy, and getting to like it. Then, taking a hair cut is the fourth instalment in a semi-successful comedy franchise that combines a blow dry and highlights with taking the law into your own hands to protect those around you; followed by a doco of the female form, body image, real inner beauty and how women are perceived outwardly in todays photoshopped world. And then we wrap up with a Swedish foreign language film that is the sequel to a hugely successful and popular film of 2004, that sees a small community brought together by the power of song.

With comedy, documentary, drama and action there is another mixed bag of cinematic content to ponder over this week. When you have done so, and seen your movie of choice, feel free to share your filmic thoughts and observations with your like minded readers here at Odeon Online, by leaving a Comment or two below this or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you. Enjoy your film.

'SUICIDE SQUAD' (Rated M) - after much hype and eager anticipation the long awaited third instalment in the DC Extended Universe is upon us with the assembled mad, bad, disparate 'Suicide Squad' antiheroes bursting on to our screens the world over during the coming week. Made for a cool US$250M, Directed by David Ayer and Co-Produced by Zack Snyder this film stars an ensemble cast of Actors and Supervillains, poised at the ready to wreek havoc and bloody mayhem on an unsuspecting Gotham City. These titular characters first appeared in 1959 published by DC Comics but received a make over and a modern touch in 1987 by John Ostrander, upon which this film is based, and having been written for the screen by David Ayer too. This latest version sees our anti-hero strike force of imprisoned death row supervillains operating covertly under the jurisdiction of the US Government on high-risk black-ops missions in exchange for leniency of their prison sentences . . . assuming they survive their missions of course.

And so here we have a secret government intelligence agency headed up by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) who creates a task force of our deadly, dangerous, despicable super villains, affectionately known as 'The Suicide Squad' for a top secret mission to thwart an unknown but powerful enemy. With nothing to lose, Waller assembles a team of incarcerated criminal low lifes all with a particular set of skills that consist Deadshot/Floyd Lawton (Will Smith) an expert marksman and assassin; The Joker (Jared Leto) who needs no introduction; Harley Quinn/Harleen Quinzel (Margot Robbie) a former psychiatrist who used to treat the inmates at Arkham Asylum until she turned as mad as those she was treating. She is also madly in love with The Joker. Then there is Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) the field leader of The Squad applying the wishes of Waller although not always agreeing with them; Boomerang/Digger Harkness (Jai Courtney) an assassin who uses deadly boomerangs to dispense with his prey; El Diablo/Chato Santana (Jay Hernandez) who can command flame at will; Killer Croc/Waylon Jones (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) with a reptilian skin condition and an animalistic criminal with a tendency to eat his enemies; Enchantress/June Moone (Cara Delevingne) an archeologist possessed by an evil ancient force that transformed here in to a powerful sorceress; Katana/Tatsu Yamashiro (Karen Fukuhara) expert in martial arts and sword play wielding the mystical 'Soultaker' blade; and Slipknot/Christopher Weiss (Adam Beach) an expert with ropes. You can be sure that with these cats on the prowl, there will be death, destruction and diabolical goings on writ large. Watch out too for Ben Affleck starring in a cameo as The Batman - it just had to be of course!

'ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS : THE MOVIE' (Rated M) - based on the much loved BBC Television sitcom series originally devised by Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French the highly acclaimed show ran for five successful seasons and 39 episodes starting off in 1992 for three seasons until 1996 and then a further two seasons from 2001 through to 2004. In between there were several hour long specials, and three marking the 20th anniversary of the series leading up to the 2012 London Olympic Games. Now in 2016, we have the first full length feature film that reunites Edina 'Eddy' Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) with Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) with regular stablemates Saffron 'Saffy' Monsoon (Julia Sawalha) and Mother (June Whitfield). Directed by Mandy Fisher, this film sees our hapless besties clubbing, drinking and shopping their way around all the top spots in London town whilst Eddy's PR Agency is in a state of rapid decline with little interest and little funds to support their lifestyle. Something drastic needs to occur in the form of a miracle! Whilst enjoying an elite party Eddy inadvertently knocks Supermodel Kate Moss off a balcony and into the River Thames where she is presumed dead. Needless to say the paparazzi whirlwind created as a result sees the girls flee to southern France to lie low on the Riveria where they soon get accustomed to the lifestyle there with intentions of remaining permanently. What can possibly go wrong? The film stars a whole host of cameo talent including Rebel Wilson, Barry Humphries, Lulu, Emma Bunton, Joan Collins, Cara Delevingne, Jerry Hall, Sadie Frost, John Hamm, Dawn French, Graham Norton, Stella McCartney, La Roux and Jean Paul Gaultier amongst others. The film has so far grossed US$46M.

'BARBERSHOP : THE NEXT CUT' (Rated M) - I have not seen any of the previous three films in this franchise that kick started in 2002 with 'Barbershop', that returned in 2004 for 'Barbershop 2 : Back in Business' with a spin off in 2005 with 'Beauty Shop'. After an absence of over ten years, Calvin Palmer Jnr. (Ice Cube) who owns the southside Chicago Barbershop in question is back with its regular cutting crew, but on the block and in Da Hood not all is what is once was. For starters the once male dominated Barber Shop now allows the fairer sex in for various hair and beauty treatments much to the chagrin of the male customers. But all the banter between the boys and the girls is all taken in good humour, but out in the community things have become worse as a bunch of gun totting no good gang members roam the streets. It's time for Calvin and his scissor wielding, clipper bearing Posse to bring about some much needed change in Da Hood. Cedric the Entertainer, Common, Nicki Minaj star in this instalment as Directed by Malcolm D. Lee for US$20M, and so far returning US$55M since its release Stateside in mid-April.

'EMBRACE' (Rated MA15+) - Adelaide Director and world renowned body image activist Taryn Brumfitt is the founder of the 'Body Image Movement', which sets out to recognise the importance of body diversity and to redefine beauty ideals. Acknowledging her own struggle with crippling body image issues, the Writer/Director appears naked in the poster for her film 'Embrace'. Furthermore, she is horrified that the Australian Board of Film Classification warrants to give her film an MA15+ rating stating that "From test screenings, the number one piece of feedback we have had is: ‘I want my daughter to see this’" Banning audiences under the age of 15, she believes, is a terrible mistake, especially considering that "seventy per cent of girls are dissatisfied by their own body. Fifty per cent of 5-12-year-old girls want to lose weight". The film features up close and personal images of naked women of all shapes and sizes, but this has to be taken in the context of the film and what Brumfitt is trying to achieve from it. Filmed from her own perspective as she travels the globe armed with a camera and microphone interviewing experts, women in the street and known personalities about the ever increasing rates of body image issues that we are bombarded with everyday at the cinema, on television, in the press, magazines, social media and advertising bill boards, as she seeks to determine answers and find solutions.

'AS IT IS IN HEAVEN 2 : HEAVEN ON EARTH' (Rated M) - the original 2004 Swedish film 'As It Is In Heaven' to which this is the follow-up was highly acclaimed the world over, was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, won two awards and was nominated for another eleven. It was Directed by Kay Pollack and starred Michael Nyqvist and Frida Hallgren. For this sequel, Kay Pollack is once again on Directing duty trying to reignite the success of the first instalment, without Nyqvist but with Hallgren once again playing Lena. Here Lena is expecting Nyqvist's baby and he is recently deceased. Heavily pregnant, her waters break whilst she is singing to a gathered audience and what follows is a comedy of errors that sets the tone for the remaining film as Lena sets about transforming a rag tag bunch of would-be singers into a troupe capable of pulling off Handel's 'Messiah'. Of course along the way there will be added complications, further challenges culminating in a celebration of life, love, music, dance and the power of determination.

Five new films to tease you out Mid-Winter to your local multiplex. Share your views when you have done so here at this Blog, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-