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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ROGER MOORE - dies aged 89 - R.I.P.

Sir Roger George Moore passed away on 23rd May aged 89, following 'a short but brave battle with cancer' it said in an official statement released by his family from Switzerland. Born on 14th October 1927 in Stockwell, London, England he worked in the film and television business for eight decades, securing his first uncredited roles in feature films as early as 1945 and 1946 including 'Vacation from Marriage'  with Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr, to 'Caesar and Cleopatra' with Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh, to 'Piccadilly Incident' with Anna Neagle and Michael Wilding.

Roger was the only child of mother Lillian Pope and father George Alfred Moore, a policeman. He attended Battersea Grammar School, and was evacuated to Holsworthy, Devon during the Second World War, where he attended Launceston College in Cornwall. He was further educated at the boys selective Dr. Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. He initially took up an apprenticeship in an animation studio but that was short-lived, and then by accident he was introduced to Director Brian Desmond Hurst who cast him as an extra in 'Caesar and Cleopatra'. Hurst later agreed to pay Moore's fees so that he could attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he remained for three terms. After the end of the Second World War he was conscripted into two years of compulsory National Service, and in late 1946 was commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps as a Second Lieutenant. In the early '50's before his acting career really took hold, the young Moore was a paid male model, often appearing in knitwear publications of the day.

His first credited screen role came in made for television film 'The Governess' in 1949 and 'The House in the Square' that same year. More bit parts and uncredited roles followed during the early '50's, and the he signed up with MGM for a seven year deal in 1954, but was released from that contract after just two years because of the critical and commercial failures of those MGM Produced films. He then signed with Warner Bros. and appeared in a number of television shows and took the lead actor role in 'The Miracle' in 1959.

From 1958 onwards Moore played in a host of television series - some more notable than others. These included in the title role of Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe in 'Ivanhoe' which aired across 1958 and 1959 and ran for 39 episodes. This was quickly followed up by Western series 'The Alaskans' from 1959 to 1960 across 37 episodes in which he starred as Silky Harris for ABC/Warner Bros. Popular ABC/WB Western series of the same era 1960-1961 'Maverick' with James Garner in the lead role as frontier gambler Brett Maverick with Moore cast as Beau Maverick, an English-accented cousin. This show ran for sixteen episodes for Moore. Following this up in 1962 for 118 episodes was the hugely popular 'The Saint' television series based on the Leslie Charteris series of novels, with Moore playing the title role of Simon Templar.  The worldwide success of the series, particularly in the US made Moore an international star by 1967. He also went on to Direct several episodes. In 1971 media magnate Lew Grade enticed Moore to star in a television series alongside Tony Curtis as two international multi-millionaire playboys who come together reluctantly to right the wrongs that the police or the courts across Europe cannot. 'The Persuaders' was a success in Europe and Australia especially but failed in the US market. Moore was paid an unprecedented GB£1M per series (back in 1971) making him the highest paid television Actor in the world at the time for his portrayal of Lord Brett Sinclair.

In August 1972 Moore was approached by Albert Broccoli to play James Bond after Sean Connery finally stepped down from playing the Ian Flemming created Secret Service Agent 007. Moore accepted and in 1973 his first outing as James Bond hit the screens in 'Live and Let Die'. Moore continued to reprise his role as  Bond in 'The Man with the Golden Gun' (1974); 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977); 'Moonraker' (1979); 'For Your Eyes Only' (1981); 'Octopussy' (1983); and 'A View to a Kill' (1985).

In the intervening period Moore starred in 'Gold' in 1974 with Susannah York; 'Street People' in 1976 with Stacy Keach; 'Shout at the Devil' also in 1976 with Lee Marvin;'The Wild Geese' in 1978 with Richard Burton, Richard Harris and Hardy Kruger; 'Escape to Athena' in 1979 with Telly Savalas, David Niven and Elliott Gould; 'ffolkes' in 1980 with James Mason and Anthony Perkins; 'The Sea Wolves' that same year with Gregory Peck, James Mason and Trevor Howard; 'Cannonball Run' in 1981 with Burt Reynolds, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr. and Farah Fawcett; 'Curse of the Pink Panther' in 1983 with David Niven, Robert Wagner, Herbert Lom and Burt Kwouk and 'The Naked Face' in 1984 with Rod Steiger and Elliott Gould before his final outing as Bond, James Bond in 1985.

The late '80's and '90's provided fewer roles that kicked off the new decade with sporty action comedy 'Fire, Ice & Dynamite'; then Michael Winner's comedy crime caper 'Bullseye' with Michael Caine both in 1990; followed by RomCom 'Bed & Breakfast' in 1991, then fantasy crime drama for Director Bill Condon 'The Man Who Wouldn't Die' with Malcolm McDowell in 1994. 'The Quest' came next in 1996 Written, Directed and Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, and then a cameo as a car radio announcer in Phillip Noyce's 1997 big screen adaptation of 'The Saint' with Val Kilmer portraying the titular Simon Templar. The '90's were seen out with a forgettable turn in 'Spice World'  and then four episodes on the single high fashion action adventure series 'The Dream Team'. 

'The Enemy' opened up the new decade in 2001, then Slovenian comedy in which Roger Moore plays Roger Moore, and then 'Boat Trip' in 2002 with Cuba Gooding Jnr. In between there were singular appearances on television series 'Alias' and 'Tatort' and some voice work as Father Christmas on short film 'The Fly Who Loved Me', 'Here Comes Peter Cottontail : The Movie', 'Foley & McColl : This Way Up', 'Agent Crush', 'Cats & Dogs : The Revenge of Kitty Galore' and short film 'The Lighter'.

Most recently there has been 'A Princess for Christmas' in 2011, 'Incompatibles' in 2013 in which Roger Moore plays Roger Moore, again, and then 'The Carer' in 2016, in which he reprises his role as . . . Roger Moore, and then a turn in Simon West's rebooted 'The Saint' made for television film with Adam Rayner this time playing Simon Templar. In production at the time of Moore's death were animated family adventure film 'Astrid Silverlock' in which Moore narrates, animated 'Troll Hunters' with Moore voicing the role of Leif with both these animated features Written and Directed by Robert Rhodin, and thriller 'Summer Night, Winter Moon' with Stephen Fry in pre-production.

All up Moore had 95 acting credits to his name, thirteen as Producer, two as Director on nine episodes of 'The Saint' and two of 'The Persuaders' and during his lifetime he picked up ten award wins and a further eight nominations. He was married to actress and ice skater Doorn Van Steyn from 1946 to 1953; to Welsh singer Dorothy Squires from 1953 to 1968; to Italian actress Luisa Mattioli form 1969 to 1996 with whom he had three children (Deborah, born 1963, Geoffrey, born 1966 and Christian, born 1973) and to Danish socialite Kristina Tholstrup from 2002.

Moore suffered from ill health throughout much of his life having nearly died at age five from double pneumonia, been a long term sufferer of kidney stones that saw him hospitalised on several occasions, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993, was fitted with a heart pacemaker in 2003, had been treated for skin cancer several times and in 2013 was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. In 1978 he moved to Switzerland for tax purposes it was reported at the time, and over the subsequent years he split his time between homes in Monte Carlo, Switzerland and the south of France. In 1999 Moore was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by HRH Queen Elizabeth II and in 2003 was promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in recognition for his decade long work supporting charitable organisations, most notably UNICEF. Aside from his film and television appearances Moore also published a number of books - his 2008 autobiography 'My Word is My Bond', in 2012 'Bond on Bond : The Ultimate Book on 50 Years of Bond Movies' and in 2014 'Last Man Standing'.

Roger Moore - played a Secret Agent, a Chief Inspector, a Captain, a Lieutenant, a Major, a Lord, a Duke and a Prince in his time and almost always the archetypal English gentleman; most notably known for his seven times role as James Bond; renowned for his eyebrow acrobatics; and following a career spanning eight decades has left an indelible mark on the world of film and television in which his legacy will live on.

Roger Moore - Rest In Peace
1927 - 2017

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 28th May - 3rd June 2017

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Tom Holland does on 1st June - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 21, 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 28th May

• Sondra Locke - Born 1944, turns 73 - Actress | Director | Producer
• Kylie Minogue - Born 1968, turns 49 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Writer | Producer | Actress | Director
• Carey Mulligan - Born 1985, turns 32 - Actress  

Monday 29th May

• Annette Benning - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actress 
• Lorelei Linklater - Born 1994, turns 23 - Actress 
• Danny Elfman - Born 1953, turns 64 - Composer | Songwriter | Musician | Actor 
• Rupert Everett - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer  

Tuesday 30th May

• Harry Enfield - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Duncan Jones - Born 1971, turns 46 - Director | Writer | Producer
• Joachim Ronning - Born 1972, turns 45 - Director | Writer | Producer  

Wednesday 31st May

• Clint Eastwood - Born 1930, turns 87 - Actor | Director | Producer | Composer | Songwriter | Singer
• Tom Berenger - Born 1949, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Colin Farrell - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Brooke Shields - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actress | Producer  

Thursday 1st June

• Heidi Klum - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Sarah Wayne Callies - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actress | 
• Amy Schumer - Born 1981, turns 36 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director  
• Morgan Freeman - Born 1937, turns 80 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Director
• Robert Powell - Born 1944, turns 73 - Actor
• Brian Cox - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actor | Producer
• Jonathan Pryce - Born 1947, turns 70 - Actor | Singer
• Tom Holland - Born 1996, turns 21 - Actor | Director
• Ed Oxenbould - Born 2001, turns 16 - Actor

Friday 2nd June

• Stacy Keach - Born 1941, turns 76 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Lasse Hallstrom - Born 1946, turns 71 - Director | Writer | Producer
• Dennis Haysbert - Born 1954, turns 63 - Actor | Producer  
• Liam Cunningham - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Director | Producer
• Wentworth Miller - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Kevin Feige - Born 1973, turns 44 - Producer 
• Zachary Quinto - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actor | Producer  
• Dominic Cooper - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor
• Justin Long - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director 

Saturday 3rd June

• James Purefoy - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor
• Imogen Poots - Born 1989, turns 28 - Actress

Thomas Stanley Holland was born in Kingston upon Thames, London, England to mother Nicola Elizabeth Frost, a photographer, and father Dominic Holland, a comedian, radio host, television personality, writer and author. Tom has three younger brothers - Sam and Harry, twins three years younger, and Patrick eight years his junior. Tom was educated at Donhead Preparatory School located in Wimbledon, and then Wimbledon College - a Jesuit Roman Catholic Secondary School for boys at Edge Hill, also in Wimbledon. In 2012 he attended the BRIT (British Record Industry Trust) School for Performing Arts and Technology at Selhurst, Croydon, London.

His performance career began with dance at a dance school in Wimbledon. His early potential was spotted by a choreographer visiting his dance school in 2006 as part of that years Richmond Dance Festival. After a series of auditions and two years of training in mid-2008 the young Holland made his West End debut in 'Billy Elliot, the Musical' playing the role of Michael, Billy's best mate, at the Victoria Palace Theatre. By September of that same year Holland was playing the lead character of Billy, to positive Reviews. In March 2010, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the stage musical, the current actors playing Billy in rotation, including Holland, were invited to 10, Downing Street to meet with the then British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. He finished his run in the show in late May that year.

2012 saw the release of his first feature film, but in voice only, and in the English dubbed version of the Studio Ghibli animated fantasy film 'Arrietty' with fellow voice Actors Saoirse Ronan, Olivia Coleman, Mark Strong, Geraldine McEwan and Phyllida Law. That same year he appeared in his first feature film 'The Impossible', Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor telling the story of the devastating tsunami that struck Thailand on Boxing Day 2004. Holland portrayed one of the three sons of the on-screen husband and wife team of Watts & McGregor. The film was critically lauded and picked up 27 award wins and 65 nominations including multiple award wins and nominations for Best Young Actor and Breakthrough Actor for Holland.

The following year Holland lent his voice talents to the role of Eddie in Steven Knight's Written and Directed 'Locke', with Tom Hardy as the only physical presence in the whole film behind the wheel of his car driving down a motorway in England on his way home. That same year saw dramatic romantic thriller 'How I Live Now' with Saoirse Ronan. 2015 brought the highly acclaimed period television drama series 'Wolf Hall' over six hour long episodes with Holland playing Gregory Cromwell to Mark Rylance's Thomas Cromwell, Damien Lewis as Henry VIII and Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn. Later that year came the Ron Howard's action adventure period piece inspired by the classic novel Moby Dick, 'In the Heart of the Sea' with Chris Hemsworth, Cilian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson and Benjamin Walker.

2016 saw what might be regarded as his breakout role, albeit for only a brief but not insignificant, appearance in 'Captain America : Civil War' as the latest incarnation of Spiderman (aka Peter Parker) alongside an all star cast that you'll know already. 2016 also saw drama thriller 'Edge of Winter' with Joel Kinnaman and then the yet to be released in Australia historical action adventure biopic 'The Lost City of Z' as Directed by James Gary and starring also Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson and Sienna Miller.

Due for release later this year is historically set 13th Century Irish drama adventure 'Pilgrimage' with Richard Armitage and Jon Bernthal and 'Spider-Man : Homecoming' due mid year this year also that sees Holland get his own stand alone movie as the web slinging young hero following on directly from the events that unfolded in 'Captain America : Civil War'. 

Currently in Post-Production is historical drama Bio-Pic about Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, 'The Current War' due early 2018 with Benedict Cumberbatch as Edison, Michael Shannon as Westinghouse, Nicholas Hoult as Nikola Tesla and Holland as business magnate Samuel Insull. Currently filming is 'Avengers : Infinity War' in which Holland reprises his role as Spider-Man, and in Pre-Production is the film adaptation of the 'Uncharted' video game series for Director Shawn Levy, and dystopian Sci-Fi adventure 'Chaos Walking' for Director Doug Liman and also starring Daisy Ridley. Recently announced for a 2019 release is a 'Spider-Man : Homecoming' sequel. 

All up Holland has nineteen acting credits to his name  and one as Director on his own three minute short film 'Tweet' featuring his family as the principal cast. So far Holland has garnered eleven award wins including the BAFTA Rising Star Award earlier this year, and another fourteen nominations all for his performances in 'The Impossible', 'Captain America : Civil War' and 'In the Heart of the Sea'.

Tom Holland - just turning 21, but already much achieved in your short film and television career, in demand, clearly on the rise and with the accolades to prove it, and seemingly with Hollywood at your feet. We'll keep watching as your further career and your big screen appearances unfold - we wish you well. Happy Birthday to you Tom, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

JOHN WICK : CHAPTER 2 - Tuesday 23rd May 2017.

'JOHN WICK : CHAPTER 2' which I saw earlier this week tells the ongoing story of the hirsute hitman character of John Wick as played by Keanu Reeves who first burst onto our screens all guns blazing in 2014 and proved to be a critical success, whilst grossing US$89M off its US$20M budget. It was therefore inevitable that a sequel would follow, and now in 2017 our titular forced out of retirement assassin seeking vengeance and dispensing his own kind of justice down the barrel of a gun, is back. Keanu Reeves reprises the role he so successfully made his own from the get-go, and Director Chad Stahelski is back in the chair with this film that saw its initial release in the US in early February and here in Australia only on the 18th of this month. The film has so far made US$167M from its US$40M budget and has received much critical praise.

Set four days following the end of the first film, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has tracked down his prized 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 to a warehouse chop-shop where various criminal underworld activities are ongoing overseen by Russian gangster Abram Tarasov (Peter Stormare) whose brother Viggo and his son Iosef were both killed by John in the first film.

As John fires up the engine to his beloved vehicle, all manner of heavies quickly come out of the woodwork, and a kinetic car chase is on for one and all that culminates back in the warehouse where it all started with John taking out each and every one, before bursting in on Tarasov, who can only shake his head in disbelief. John siddles up to Tarasov, words unspoken, pours them both a neat glass of vodka, toasts peace between them, and walks away, sparing the Russian's life. He gets back into his now heavily trashed Ford Mustang and drives home.

Back home John attempts to settle back down to a quiet life of retirement. But his best laid plans are thwarted when he is visited by Italian gangster Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) who presents John with a 'Gold Marker' which binds him via a never to be broken blood oath to an earlier commitment for a past favour granted. There is clearly some history between the two gentlemen as they have done 'business' together in the past which enabled John to retire to marry Helen (Bridget Moynahan, in flashback only) but now D'Antonio wants his payback. John refuses, saying that those days are behind him, he's retired, and he's not that man anymore. This doesn't sit well with D'Antonio who is holding the Marker with John's bloodied thumb print inside it. The two part company, but before driving away D'Antonio promptly blows John's home to pieces using a grenade launcher - John is blown clear out of the house and his new best friend, the dog with no name escapes unhurt too, but John's luxury home is totalled.

Consulting with Winston (Ian McShane) at New Yorks' Continental Hotel who reminds John that if he does not accept the 'Marker' he will be breaking one of the two cardinal rules of the underworld - the first to not kill or conduct 'business' within the grounds of a Continental Hotel, and the second that all Markers must be honoured. John reluctantly meets again with D'Antonio and accepts the task, which is to travel to Rome to take out his sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini) who sits on the council of high level crime lords, so that he can take her place.  D'Antonio sends his own assassin and mute personal bodyguard, Ares, (Ruby Rose) to keep a watchful eye on John to ensure that he delivers on his commitment and to tie up any loose ends.

In Rome, John's checks into the Continental Hotel there, managed by Julius (Franco Nero) and then sets about suiting up and tooling up, using all the specialist suppliers of custom made bullet proof tailored suits and hitman special weapons that a gold coin or six can buy. He then infiltrates Rome's catacombs to get close to Gianna's celebration party, and confronts her alone, stating that he is there to complete his Mark as ordered by her brother. Rather than die unexpectedly at the hands of another, she chooses to die her own way, committing suicide. After she has passed, John fires a single point blank shot into her head and walks away.

Whilst retreating back through the labyrinth of underground tunnels, John is ambushed by D'Antonio's henchmen and Ares, wanting to tie up those loose ends. Needless to say it will take more than a few dozen heavily armed heavies to dispense with a well prepared bullet proof suit wearing tooled up arse kicking John Wick. Just when he thought he was in the clear, Gianna's personal bodyguard Cassian (Common), having discovered her limp lifeless body, comes out seeking revenge having seen John earlier at the party and asked if was 'working'. They fight on the streets of Rome late at night in a savage close quarter kicking, punching, gouging, knifing and shooting fight eventually crashing through a window into the Reception of the Rome Continental Hotel, which also allows no 'business' to be conducted on its grounds. Under strict compliance of the rules, the pair share a drink in the bar, and John tells Cassian who ordered the hit on Gianna and that he had no choice. Cassian swears revenge for her death, and leaves to fight another day, having paid for the drink 'out of professional courtesy'.

Following her death Santino places a US$7M bounty on the head of John as a smoke screen to avenge her death leading every assassin in New York to come out to kill John and claim the reward. John dispenses with the attacks of several assassins, but Cassian is once again on his tail, and confronts John in the subway. They board a crowded subway train and maintain their distance until the next stop when the passengers disperse leaving them access to each other while the remaining passengers look on in disbelief as their fight breaks out within the confines of the subway carriage. John overpowers Cassian, pushing a knife into his aorta and sitting him down on a seat, stating that if he pulls the knife he will bleed out and quickly, and that 'out of professional courtesy' he let him live.

Injured and running out of options John seeks out an underground crime lord that John had previously taken a hit on, but who he also let live, albeit with a potentially life threatening injury, The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburn, in their first screen pairing since 'The Matrix' trilogy). After exchanging social niceties, The Bowery King reluctantly agrees to help John and leads him to D'Antonio's whereabouts armed with a revolver and a magazine containing seven rounds only.

Here John confronts D'Antonio and his several dozen henchmen with Ares who are all on hand to protect their leader. After more close quarter gun fighting in which heads explode with gushes of the crimson stuff against marble white walls, culminating in a dizzying bevy of fist fights and gun battles in a hall of mirrors, John overcomes Ares who stays behind allowing D'Antonio to flee to The Continental, and safe harbour. John tracks his quarry to the Hotel, where D'Antonio is very self assured that John will abide by the strict rules of the Hotel, and that he can stay indefinitely in very comfortable surroundings. John needless to say has very different ideas.

The next day, Winston sends for John, and explains that the High Table at which Gianna and subsequently Santino sat for a very brief time, has doubled the bounty on John's head and issued it globally. Winston also advises that John is now considered 'excommunicado' from The Continental, and in so being loses all special privileges and access to the resources of the underworld that he has hitherto enjoyed and taken advantage off. He is out on his own in the world, with every assassin in the known universe now hot on his tail. Winston however, gives him a one hour head start before the bounty goes live, and in so doing hands him a Marker for his future use should he ever need it. As John races through the streets of New York on foot with his trustee no name dog bounding beside him, John hears mobile phone messages sounding all around him, as hitmen & women are alerted to John's new status.

'John Wick : Chapter 2' is a frenzied frenetic feast of bullet ballet gun-fu, that raises the body count over a number of very well choreographed action set pieces, whilst providing some clarity surrounding the mythology of the story. This is exactly what you would expect and more from the first instalment, ramping up with a high octane opening car chase in New York somewhere, to an intense and perhaps overly long underground gun battle in the ancient city of Rome, back to the streets and subway of New York, for the final showdown in a city Museum. Director and former stuntman Stahelski, who has worked with Reeves before on 'The Matrix' series, has a keen eye for big screen inventive action and he pulls out all the stops here to deliver a thrill ride that is exciting, at times humorous, well acted by Reeves who carries the whole film on his shoulders, and by McShane and Common especially. John Wick is a man of few words, and he too comes off a little worse for wear, proving that he is not infallible suffering a gun shot wound, a knife stabbing, all manner of kicks and punches but he keeps coming back taking out those that would cross him with a deft touch . . . often at point blank range. Very entertaining, bloody and violent compelling action packed bullet riddled escapism that ticks all the boxes.  Director Chad Stahelski has already stated that a third film in the series in currently in the works, which will lead on from where this instalment ends. Bring it on!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 25th May 2017.

Who would have thought that a theme park ride attraction, which opened at Disneyland in 1967 and was one of the last Disney theme park attractions overseen by Walt Disney would go on in later years to become a media franchise that encompasses numerous theme park attractions, a series of films, and spin-off novels, as well as a number of related video games and other media publications. And so it is with 'Pirates of the Caribbean' which was that original theme park ride that launched fifty years ago that is the forebearer of a multibillion dollar film franchise that began in 2003. Here is quick synopsis of that franchise to date :-
* 'Pirates of the Caribbean : The Curse of the Black Pearl' - released in 2003. Directed by Gore Verbinski, Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Budget outlay US$140M, worldwide gross Box Office US$654M. Starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa, Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, Jonathan Pryce as Weatherby Swann and Jack Davenport as James Norrington. 35 award wins and 101 nominations, including five Oscar nods, four BAFTA nods and one win, and one Golden Globe nod.
* 'Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man's Chest' - released in 2006. Directed by Gore Verbinski, Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Budget outlay US$225M, worldwide gross Box Office US$1,066B. Starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa, Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, Jonathan Pryce as Weatherby Swann, Jack Davenport as James Norrington, Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, Stellan Skarsgard as Bootstrap Bill Turner, Tom Hollander as Cutler Beckett and Naomi Harris as Tia Dalma. 44 award wins and 53 nominations, including three Oscar nods and one win, four BAFTA nods and one win, and one Golden Globe nod.
* 'Pirates of the Caribbean : At World's End' - released in 2007. Directed by Gore Verbinski, Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Budget outlay US$300M, worldwide gross Box Office US$964M. Starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa, Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, Jonathan Pryce as Weatherby Swann, Jack Davenport as James Norrington, Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, Stellan Skarsgard as Bootstrap Bill Turner, Tom Hollander as Cutler Beckett, Naomi Harris as Tia Dalma, Chow Yun-Fat as Sao Feng and Keith Richards as Captain Teague. 20 award wins and 46 nominations, including two Oscar nods and one BAFTA nod. At the time of this films release, it was the most expensive film ever made.
* 'Pirates of the Caribbean : On Stranger Tides' - released in 2011. Directed by Rob Marshall, Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Budget outlay US$379M, worldwide gross Box Office US$1,045B. Starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa, Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Ian McShane as Captain Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach, Sam Claflin as Philip Swift, Penelope Cruz as Angelica and Keith Richards as Captain Teague. Two award wins and 31 nominations. At the time of this films release, it was the most expensive film ever made - a record that still stands to this day.
* 'Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Men Tell No Tales' - released in 2017 and Previewed below. Directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Budget outlay US$230M. Starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa, Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, Brenton Thwaites as Henry Turner, Javier Bardem as Armando Salazar and Kaya Scodelario as Carina Smyth.

This coming week we have five new cinematic offerings to tease you out to your local picture house, kicking off with a big Hollywood blockbuster that sees the fifth film in this highly successful  franchise set on the high seas with a larrikin Captain at the helm of his good ship needing to thwart an undead enemy in order to save his kind the world over. We then get more serious with a film of the meaning of life and divine intervention as one man struggles to overcome a family tragedy; before turning to a New York fixer that gets in way over his head with a foreign Prime Minster and the local community who support him. We then wrap things up with a comedy based on a graphic novel about a grumpy middle aged man who gets a new lease of life after discovering that he has a teenage daughter to the wife that he separated from seventeen years earlier; and a biopic of an acclaimed Chilean poet and politician who goes on the run in the late '40's because of his outspoken beliefs that rattle the authorities but gain the respect and support of the people.

With such a rich choice of films to watch this week as Previewed below, or those still out on general release, and as Reviewed and Previewed between these humble pages previously, what reason do you have, not to catch a movie. When you have done so, remember to share your thoughts, observations and opinions with your like minded cinephiles here at Odeon Online, by leaving your relevant, pertinent and succinct views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your film experience.

'PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN : DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES' (Rated M) - the trailer for the latest in this hugely successful franchise would have us believe, that, allegedly, this is the final voyage for the good ship Black Pearl and her merry band of seafaring pirates as led by the most infamous swashbuckling blaggard of them all Cap'n Jack Sparrow. And so here we have this fifth instalment in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' series Directed by the Norwegian pairing of Espen Sandberg and Joachim Ronning for a cool US$230M budget outlay. This film has been in development since before the release of 'On Stranger Tides' in 2011 and went through extensive re-writes, filming delays and budget issues to ensure that the script and the production were just right to almost guarantee its commercial and critical success. It has been reported that Johnny Depp takes home a pay packet worth US$67M for reprising his role for the fifth time as our titular hero of the seven seas. The film is released in the US and China this week also.

Here this story which draws its inspiration from 'The Curse of the Black Pearl', sees down on his luck Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) pursued by his arch-nemesis Captain Armando Salazar (Javier Bardem) who is a powerful undead pirate who has existed in The Devil's Triangle (aka The Bermuda Triangle) since being betrayed by Sparrow and left to languish there with his Spanish Navy ghost ship, the Silent Mary, and her crew. Able to effect an escape for himself, his crew and his ship he goes in search of the legendary Trident of Poseidon that will give him the power to destroy all the pirates upon the high seas, and wreak his vengeance on Jack Sparrow. Joining his trusty pirate ship mates from the previous films are Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Kevin McNally, Keira Knightley with new recruits Brenton Thwaites as Henry Turner the son of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, Kaya Scodelario as Carina Smyth a head strong academic astronomer who both team up with Cap'n Jack to thwart Salazar. David Wenham also stars, as does a cameo by Paul McCartney. Early indications  point to a critically successful film, and the Directors have indicated that this instalment may not necessarily be the last yet.

'THE SHACK' (Rated M) - based on the 2007 book of the same name by William P. Young, this film is Directed by Stuart Hazeldine, went on release in the US in early March and has so far grossed US$89M from its US$20M budget costs. This film charts the story of Mack Phillips (Sam Worthington) who as child suffered from physical and emotional abuse by his often drunken father, as did his Mother. As a grown man, Mack enjoys a plentiful, happy, contended life with his wife Nan (Radha Mitchell) and their three children Kate, John and Missy. One day however, Mack's life is turned upside down and inside out during a family camping trip when Missy disappears while he is saving his other two children from a canoeing accident. When the Police determine that Missy has been killed at the hands of a serial killer, Mack's life slowly but surely unravels, until the day that he receives a mysterious letter inviting him to an abandoned shack somewhere in the Oregon wilderness.   Reluctantly he ventures to the shack and there is greeted by a trio of strangers led by a woman named Papa (which was Missy's term for God) played by Octavia Spencer. As a result of this meeting, Mack learns important truths that change his understanding of his family's tragedy and ultimately change his life forever.

'NORMAN' (Rated M) - the full theatrical title of this American/Israeli Co-Production is 'Norman : The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer' and is Written and Directed by Joseph Cedar with Richard Gere in the highly praised title role of Norman Oppenheimer. Here Norman is a one man 'consultancy' firm who works out of his briefcase and scams his way through his professional life by connecting people with his seemingly influential network and who gets things done no questions asked. One day an Israeli dignitary visits the city and Norman decides to establish contact by buying Micha Eshel (Lior Ashkenazi) a very expensive pair of shoes. The ruse works and the two become close associates. Three years later Eshel becomes the Prime Minister of Israel, and as a result Norman quickly rises in esteem through New York's Jewish community. But as Norman loses contact with with the now Prime Minister he finds it increasingly difficult to maintain his smoke and mirrors persona as his former fabrications to gain confidence, win respect and build trust come back to haunt him. Also starring Steve Buscemi, Charlotte Gainsborough, Michael Sheen and Hank Azaria.

'WILSON' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Craig Johnson and based on the 2010 published graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, this film Premiered at this years Sundance Film Festival in January and had its US release at the end of March. Made for just US$5M and has so far recouped US$660K. The Wilson here is played by Woody Harrelson a lonely, isolated middle age grumpy guy who decides to track down the wife who left him seventeen years ago - Pippi (Laura Dern). She tells him that he is the father of their daughter Claire (Isabella Amara) - now a teenager, whom he never knew existed up until this point. Shocked, stunned, excited, hopeful and a little anxious, Wilson takes it upon himself to connect with the teenage daughter as he experiences fatherhood for the first time, tries to reconcile with his ex-wife and make a good impression with his new daughter.

'NERUDA' (Rated MA15+) - this biographical drama film is Directed by Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larrain, who last brought us the highly acclaimed 'Jackie' released earlier this year, that scored 38 award wins and 148 nominations from around the circuit. First shown at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, released in Chile in August 2016, the US in December 2016 and in France in January 2017, this small yet not insignificant little independent film finally arrives into Australian cinemas this week having collected nine award wins and another 25 nominations along the way. Popular Chilean poet-diplomat and politician Pablo Neruda (the pen name of Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basalt), played here by Luis Gnecco stands opposed to the administration of Chilean President Gabriel González Videla, and in an address to the National Congress in 1948, speaks out against anti-communist repression. As a result, Neruda and his artist wife Delia (Mercedes Moran) are forced underground and into hiding. However, loved by the general public, Neruda decides that being in hiding is no place for him as he dodges the attempts of overzealous and largely incompetent Police Inspector Oscar Peluchonneau (Gael Garcia Bernal) who is out to make a name for himself by bringing in the country's most infamous fugitive. What ensues is a thrilling game of cat and mouse as Neruda reinvents himself and his work, leaving behind clues for his would be captor by taunting the authorities and hiding in plain sight. Neruda eventually escaped via a mountain pass into Argentina. He died in 1973 aged 69 under suspicious circumstances having been awarded the International Peace Prize, the Lenin Peace Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature amongst others.

Five films to choose from this coming week that offer us big epic Hollywood swashbuckling action fare, and four other smaller films largely concentrating on the exploits, adventures, misadventures and tragedies of individual men - both real and fictitious. When you have sat through your film of choice, remember to share your movie going thoughts with us here at Odeon Online. Meanwhile, I'll see you sometime, somewhere in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ALIEN : COVENANT : Tuesday 16th May 2017.

'ALIEN : COVENANT' which I saw last week is a franchise that was launched 38 years ago by an up & coming Director, Ridley Scott. Here, he is back with his Science Fiction horror touchstone that began with only his second feature film Directorial outing, 'Alien' back in 1979 that has so far seen six films under the 'Alien' banner and two spin offs with the 'Alien vs. Predator' franchise. This highly anticipated prequel to the events leading up to that seminal 1979 film, is the second in the prequel series that Scott relaunched in his 2012 film 'Prometheus', and the third film out of the six that he has Directed. Scott has confirmed already that the Screenplay for the third prequel is written and he hopes to begin shooting what is currently reported as being 'Alien : Awakening' sometime in 2018. The Director has no intention it seems of letting go of the franchise he created having stated that 'Alien : Covenant' would be the first of three more films before linking up with original 'Alien', starting a new trilogy of Sci-Fi films. Made for US$97M the film has so far grossed US$118M, and went on release in the US only a few days ago on 19th May.

The film opens up with a prologue set in the past with Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce) the trillionaire founder and CEO of Weyland Corporation that funded the earlier Prometheus expedition, in discussion with David (Michael Fassbender) the new synthetic prototype android created by Weyland who was a crew member aboard the ill fated Prometheus. They discuss the meaning of existence and creation from an expansive pristine room overlooking mountain terrain in the distance. Weyland tells David that's one day they will explore the Universe together in search of mankind's creator.

We then fast forward to 2104 where the crew of the colony ship 'Covenant' containing terraforming expert Daniels (Katherine Waterston); her husband Jacob Branson (James Franco) the Captain of the ship; Christopher Oram (Billy Crudup) the First Mate; Tennessee Faris (Danny McBride) the Chief Pilot; Sergeant Lope (Damien Bachir) the Head of Security; and Walter (Michael Fassbender) a synthetic android and an identical yet upgraded version of his David android from the previous film, are en route to remote planet Origae-6. The crew are all in stasis sleep, being overseen by Walter, who is also the guardian of two thousand or so sleeping colonists and a thousand embryo's all destined to kick start the population once they reach their Origae-6 destination, still a number of years in travel time away. When a seismic burst from a passing planet hits the ship causing damage to its retractable solar panels and hence its power source, Walter gives the onboard computer the order to wake the crew. In the confusion that ensues the pod containing Captain Jacob Branson malfunctions and he dies, with his wife looking on. As the crew set about repairing the damage and normality is resumed, the crew congregate over a moment of much needed levity as First Mate Oram steps up to take charge following the Captains death.

Whilst repairs are ongoing to the damaged solar panel, a human radio transmission message is intercepted  from a nearby hitherto unknown planet. Oram decides that they need to investigate as their early investigations seem to indicate that the uncharted planet might be capable of sustaining human life and may be a better option than Origae-6. Daniels disagrees, and has a private conversation with her new Captain expressing her reservations about exploring this alternative world, fearing the unknown and despite the first impressions of its attractiveness.

And so an exploratory mission is launched onto the planet from whence the radio signal originated. The Covenant stays in orbit, while the expedition team descend to the surface in a landing vehicle. Biologist Karine Oram (Carmen Ejogo), wife of the newly appointed Captain, and Ledward (Benjamin Rigby) head off to collect ecological samples, while the others go off in search of the suspected crashed Engineer ship which Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and David piloted ten years before following the doomed Prometheus mission.

As the two parties head off in different directions, two security team members in each group become infected by microscopic alien spores. Within no time, Ledward starts convulsing and contorting in pain. Karine Oram senses that something is not quite right and helps him back to the landing vehicle and radios ahead to Maggie Faris (Amy Seimetz) to prepare the medical bay for quarantine. Once inside Ledward's condition worsens, and then a Neomorph erupts from his back, killing him. It grows quickly and attacks Karine, killing her too. Faris meanwhile sends out a distress warning to the others, which is overheard by the crew left on the Covenant who all start to panic about the events unfolding on the landing vehicle. Faris tries to shoot the alien creature, and in her panic hits a number of gas cylinders causing them to explode in a ball of flame which destroys the landing vehicle. As the party returning from tracking the signal approach the carnage, so the second security team member, Hallett (Nathaniel Dean) who was also infected by alien spores has another Neomorph burst from his throat, killing him too.

As the remaining on ground crew attempt to contact the Covenant, they are attacked by two Neomorph's under cover of darkness killing Ankor (Alexander England) another from the security detail. The crew manage to kill one of the Neomorph's and Walter comes to the rescue of Daniel's by punching at an advancing Neomorph but sacrificing his hand in the process. David then emerges out of the darkness and leads the surviving crew members to a place of safety - a deserted alien city full of petrified corpses. David explains this away by stating that the Engineer ship released inadvertently a bioweapon wiping out the native populace, and then crashed killing Elizabeth Shaw. Meanwhile inside their supposed safe haven, the surviving Neomorph kills and decapitates another crew member, Rosenthal (Tess Haubrich).

Captain Oram searching for the missing Rosenthal, comes across David who is attempting to communicate with the Neomorph. Because David is synthetic, he is safe from attack by the alien creature. As Oram has the alien in his laser sights David asks him not to shoot, but Oram does killing the Neomorph. David is outraged, and upon Oram's demands reveals his activities that have been keeping him busy these past ten years. He has been experimenting and creating early Neomorph's that have evolved over time. He leads Oram into a chamber and reveals several eggs that have continued his experimentation process, urging Oram to take a closer look - for the contents therein are harmless enough! At which points a facehugger erupts from the egg and secures itself firmly on Oram's head implanting an embryo inside. Sometime later Oram comes round as a Xenomorph bursts from his chest, so killing him.

Walter then confronts David having discovered the truth behind his experiments. David wiped out the Engineers population by deliberately releasing the bioweapons, and murdered Shaw as a means of advancing his experiments - as evidenced in graphic pencil drawings made by David as a means of his record keeping. A fight breaks out between the two synthetic androids and David overpowers and disables Walter, who then captures Daniels who has also discovered the grisly secrets of David's past ten years. Walter regenerates himself and the two androids fight once more, allowing Daniels to escape to the approaching Covenant rescue vehicle. The Xenomorph that burst from Oram's chest is by now fully grown and goes in pursuit of the escaping Daniels and Lope. As Tennessee arrives in a rescue landing vehicle, so Daniels, Lope and the victorious Walter make it abroad just as the attacking Xenomorph jumps onto the lander as it takes off.  Mayhem ensues as Daniels tethers herself onto the outside of the lander, which by now is in flight, and goes head to head with the alien eventually capturing it and dispensing with it overboard with the aid of a crane.

Lope meanwhile became implanted with an embryo which burst forth after the rescue lander docked with the Covenant, and in growing mature quickly dispenses with Ricks and Upworth (Jussie Smollett and Callie Hernandez respectively). With Tennessee, Daniels and Walter being the only surviving crew members and an unidentified lifeform on board, its up to the two humans to flush out the marauding alien and kill it, or be killed. They successfully do flush it out, corner it and launch it into space impaled on the jaws of mega truck.

Safe from any further alien activity the Covenant returns to complete its original mission. Tennessee is put into cryosleep, leaving Walter to put Daniels into stasis, but in doing so a terrible secret is revealed that Daniels only discovers as her cryosleep pod is closed, and she is put to sleep.

'Alien : Covenant' is a worthy follow up that answers many of the questions left wanting after the end of 'Prometheus', but still leaves plenty of room for manoeuvre in upcoming instalments to keep this prequel franchise alive and fresh . . . hopefully! The film moves along at a good pace once the necessary first introductory scenes are dealt with and we get to the know the characters, their traits, their reason for being and we get down and dirty on the alien planet. That's when the thrills, the tension and the blood and gore come into their own and Scott knows when to turn it on and show some restraint too. The story here too begins to make a lot more sense than its predecessor, which when coupled with our man eating facehugging chestbusting alien crustaceans will please fans of the series. But, for me what the film picked up in Michael Fassbender's dual performances as Walter and David, was let down by the less noteworthy relatable crew members who for the most part are just alien fodder. Even Waterstone as the kick-ass Ripley wannabe, looks the part but just failed to reach her mark as Sigourney Weaver did so well in the first two most noteworthy films. Despite that, and the final action set piece where the alien succumbs to the wrath of Daniels and Tennessee which is a little lame by Scott's and Cameron's earlier climatic endings, the film is a return to form for the franchise and well worth the price of your ticket.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-