What's new in Odeon's this week : Sunday 1st January 2023

The movie industry awards season is about to ramp up, having already seen the Gotham Awards presented on 28th November, the British Independent Film Awards on 4th December, the AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) Awards on 5th December, the People's Choice Awards on 6th December and the American Film Institute Top Ten Awards on 9th December amongst others. In the count down to Hollywood's Night of Night's, the Oscar Ceremony on 12th March, below is a list of the more significant upcoming awards presentations that might merit your attention, and scrutiny. 

* 10th January 2023 - The 80th Golden Globe Awards as chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

* 15th January 2023 - The 28th Critics Choice Awards.

* 11th February 2023 - The 27th Satellite Awards presented by the International Press Academy. 

* 18th February 2023 - The 75th Directors Guild of America Awards.

* 19th February 2023 - The 76th BAFTA Awards.

* 24th February 2023 - The 12th AACTA International Awards.

* 25th February 2023 - The 34th Producers Guild of America Awards.

* 25th February 2023 - The 50th Annie Awards presented by the International Animated Film Association - Hollywood.

* 26th February 2023 - The 29th Screen Actors Guild of America Awards.

* 4th March 2023 - The 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards.

* 5th March 2023 - The 75th Writers Guild of America Awards.

* 12th March 2023 - The 95th Academy Awards.

Stay tuned into your future Odeon Online editions for the full list of all the winners, grinners and also-rans of the aforementioned awards ceremonies, and perhaps then some. 

This New Years Day then, there are only two new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, and we begin with an American remake of a Swedish film from 2015 about a sixty-year-old grump who no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife and is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door. And closing out the week we have an Aussie drama film about a young girl, who while learning to dive, befriends a magnificent wild blue groper, beginning her life-long journey to save the world's coral reefs.

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

'A MAN CALLED OTTO' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama film is Directed by Marc Forster and is the second film adaptation of the 2012 novel 'A Man Called Ove' by Swedish author Fredrik Backman, following the 2015 Swedish film of the same name Written and Directed by Hannes Holm. Marc Forster's prior film making credits take in the likes of 'Monster's Ball' in 2001, 'Finding Neverland' in 2004, 'The Kite Runner' in 2007, 'Quantum of Solace' in 2008, 'World War Z' in 2013 and 'Christopher Robin' in 2018. The film saw a limited release in the US from 30th December before a much wider release from 13th January and has so far garnered mixed or average reviews.

The film tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), who after his wife dies and he is forced to retire from his job of nearly forty years, this grumpy sixty-year-old decides to end his own life. He lives his life by a staunch set of principles, strict routines and a short fuse, and gives everyone in his gated neighbourhood community a hard time as he watches over it like a hawk. His only joy comes from criticising and judging his exasperated neighbours. However, his attempts at suicide are thwarted when a lively young family moves in next door, and he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol (Mariana Trevino), leading to an unexpected friendship that will turn his world upside-down. Also starring Rachel Keller and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

'BLUEBACK' (Rated PG) - is an Australian drama film Directed and Co-Produced by Robert Connolly, from a screenplay written by Robert Connolly and Tim Winton, based on Winton's 1997 novel of the same name. Connolly's previous feature film making credits include his debut in 2001 with 'The Bank', then 'Three Dollars' in 2005, 'Balibo' in 2009, 'The Turning' in 2013, 'Paper Planes' in 2015 and 'The Dry' in 2021. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Toronto International Film Festival back in mid-September 2022, and is released here in Australia on New Years Day. The film follows Abby (played by Ariel Donoghue as a child, Ilsa Fogg as a teenager and Mia Wasikowska as an adult), a child who befriends a magnificent wild blue groper while diving. When Abby realises that the fish is under threat, she takes inspiration from her environmental activist Mum, Dora (Radha Mitchell) and takes on poachers to save her friend, and help protect the ocean that she so loves. Also starring Eric Bana and Erik Thomson. 

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN : Tuesday 27th December 2022.

I saw the M Rated 'THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN' this week, and this is a black tragicomedy film Written and Directed by Martin McDonagh, whose prior film making credits take in his debut in 2008 with 'In Bruges' and then 'Seven Psychopaths' in 2012, and the critically acclaimed 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' in 2017. This film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Venice International Film Festival on 5th September, where it received a fifteen minute standing ovation from the audience. Colin Farrell won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and Martin McDonagh won the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay. It was theatrically released in Ireland, the UK, the US at the end of October and was released in Australia this week, having generated widespread critical acclaim and bringing in so far US$20M in Box Office receipts. The film was named one of the best films of 2022 by the National Board of Review, and it has received a leading eight nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Director.

Towards the end of the Irish Civil War in 1923, on the remote Irish island of Inisherin, Padraic Suilleabhain (Colin Farrell) is devastated when his long term friend and drinking buddy Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. Padraic is generally liked well enough by the local islanders, but Colm announces that he finds him dull, and that he now wishes to spend whatever years he has left composing music, writing poetry and doing things for which he will be remembered when his time comes to move on from this mortal coil. 

Padraic is mortified by the sudden loss of one of his closest friends and becomes more and more distressed by the whole situation which he finds tough to reconcile in his own mind. Colm meanwhile becomes more determined to distance himself from his old friend as Padraic attempts to reason with him. One day at J.J.Devine's pub, and at which the pair used to meet at everyday at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon, Colm delivers Padraic an ultimatum. Every time Padraic bothers him or tries to talk with him, Colm will cut off one of his own left fingers with a pair of sheep shears that he has back at his cottage.

Padraic's caring sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and local lad Dominic Kearney (Barry Keoghan) make attempts to defuse the whole sorry situation, but their efforts prove to be in vain. One night after Padraic has had a few too many Irish Whiskey's, he confronts Colm in the pub saying that he is 'nice' and he can't still understand why Colm no longer wants to be his friend. Colm responds saying that in ten years, twenty years ands fifty years from now no one will remember you for being 'nice', but people will remember your music, your poetry, your books, just as they remember Mozart from the 18th Century. The next day Padraic attempts to apologise for what he said, but Colm cuts off one of his fingers and throws the bloody digit at Padraic and Siobhan's front door. Later Padraic sees Colm meeting with a fiddler from the mainland, and laughing and chatting in the pub. Padraic sees the fiddler and offers him a ride on his horse drawn carriage and tricks the fiddler into returning home to the mainland by lying about his father's life threatening injuries after being hit by a milk cart. As the tensions grow increasingly bleak, local elder Mrs. McCormick (Sheila Flitton) warns Padraic that death will come to the island soon. Meanwhile, Siobhan diplomatically rebuffs Dominic's romantic advances towards her, which whilst he accepts leaves him devastated. 

Dominic suggests to Padraic that he should stand up for himself and be more forthright. Padraic tells Dominic what he told the fiddler in order to get him off the island, and Dominic responds by walking away in disgust saying that he thought he was one of the nicest people on the island and the truth is that he's one of the meanest. And so the 'new' Padraic visits Colm to reprimand him for behaving so badly. Colm reveals that he has finished composing his song, which he calls 'The Banshees of Inisherin'. Having seemingly made their peace, and as the church bells ring at 2:00 o'clock Padraic suggests that he should go ahead to the pub and order them a couple of pints. Colm says that would be fine. Upon leaving Padraic turns and says that he might run into the fiddler he had run off the island and that perhaps all three of them could have drinks. Colm cuts off his remaining left fingers and thumb with the shears and throws them one by one at the door of Padraic and Siobhan's cottage. 

Come 4:00 o'clock and there is till no sign of Colm at the pub. Siobhan walks in and asks what he is doing there. She tells Padraic to come home immediately as there is something she needs to discuss with him. He gets up, albeit reluctantly and she tells him that she's leaving, that she's sick of life on the island and that she has landed a job as a librarian on the mainland. Devastated by this turn of events, Padraic waves farewell to his sister from atop the cliffs overlooking the harbour where Siobhan catches the ferry boat to take her away to her new life. Padraic comes home to find his pet donkey Jenny had choked on one of Colm's fingers and consequently died, leaving him doubly distraught. He bury's Jenny in the yard of their cottage. 

Heartbroken, Padraic blames Colm for Jenny's death. He confronts Colm to tell him he will burn his house down the next day at 2:00pm either with him inside or not. Following the Sunday church service and 2:00pm comes round, Padraic sets the house on fire as promised, taking Colm's dog to safety. As Padraic leaves he takes one final look inside through a window and sees Colm sitting inside the now burning building smoking a cigarette. The local Policeman, Dominic's abusive father Peadar (Gary Lydon), goes to Padraic's house to deliver him a beating after saying in the pub that he beats up and fiddles with Dominic. However, Peadar is diverted away by Mrs. McCormick, who silently leads him to a nearby lake where Dominic's corpse is floating face up.

The next morning, Mrs. McCormick finds a chair next to one of the windows in Colm's burnt-out and still smouldering house. She sits there as Padraic, with the dog, finds Colm standing on the beach. Colm apologises for Jenny's death and suggests that by destroying the house this has ended their feud and that they are now even, but Padraic advises his former friend that it only would have ended if he'd have stayed inside the house. As Padraic turns to leave, Colm thanks him for looking after his dog, to which Padraic replies, 'any time' and continues walking.

Given the rave reviews for 'The Banshees of Inisherin' I left the movie theatre feeling a little nonplussed. Make no mistake, the acting here by Farrell, Gleeson and Keoghan is top rate and you would be hard pressed to find more nuanced performances on the big screen this year; the dead-pan black and bleak humour when it lands created some real laugh out loud moments amongst the packed cinema audience I saw this with; the cinematography of this little corner of Ireland is beautiful; and Writer/Director Martin McDonagh has crafted a telling story of two lifelong buddies gone horribly wrong and from which the gravity of their situation escalates to a point of no return and from which they will suffer the consequences for as long as they both shall live. This film won't be for everyone, it's hardly uplifting and for some it will leave you feeling melancholy and depressed, while for others it may deliver a heartfelt message about human frailty and the importance of acceptance. 

'The Banshees of Inisherin' warrants four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Monday 26th December 2022.

As 2022 draws to a close it's a time to reflect on the cinematic year that was, and the hope for generally better times ahead in the new year, as cinema audiences have continued to stay away from movie theatres (particularly for smaller independent offerings) coming off the back of COVID-19 lockdowns, escalating cost of living impacts and the ever increasing competition from streaming services. This year I have Reviewed forty-four movies, Previewed 237 feature films and documentaries and paid my respects to 258 legends of both the small screen and the big screen who have passed away in 2022. All that remains for me to say is the very best to you for a very Happy New Year that is safe, healthy and prosperous, and wherever you are in the world, get out and watch a movie at your local multiplex or local independent movie theatre and support all those working tirelessly in front and behind the camera who like so many other trades and industries around the world, continue to do it tough but do it for the love of moviemaking. Thanks for your support this past twelve months and I look forward to bringing you more of the same content in the coming year.  

This week there are six new movie offerings coming to an Odeon near you, starting with a tale of two lifelong friends living on a remote Irish isle in the early 1920's who find themselves at a stalemate when one abruptly ends their friendship without any warning and with alarming consequences for both of them. Then we turn to a story of a cruise for the super-rich which sinks, leaving survivors, including a fashion model celebrity couple, trapped on an island. Next up, guided by instinct and spectral visions, an ambitious writer and amateur historian defies the academic establishment to unearth Richard III's 500 year long-missing remains buried under a car park. This is followed by a biopic of a singing sensation who rises from obscurity to international fame in the 1980's to become one of the greatest singers of her generation. We then have a live action animated film based on the 1965 children's book about a singing crocodile that lives in New York City; before closing out the week with an animated film that is a sequel to a 2011 film featuring Puss in Boots who discovers that he has burned through eight of his nine lives, so he embarks on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

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

'THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN' (Rated M) - is a black tragicomedy film Written and Directed by Martin McDonagh, whose prior film making credits take in his debut in 2008 with 'In Bruges' and then 'Seven Psychopaths' in 2012, and the critically acclaimed 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' in 2017. This film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Venice International Film Festival on 5th September, where it received a fifteen minute standing ovation from the audience. Colin Farrell won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and Martin McDonagh won the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay. It was theatrically released in Ireland, the UK, the US at the end of October and is released in Australia this week, having generated widespread critical acclaim and bringing in so far US$20M in Box Office receipts.

At the tail end of the Irish Civil War in 1923, on the remote fictional Irish island of Inisherin, Padraic Suilleabhain (Colin Farrell) is devastated when his long term friend and drinking buddy Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. With help from his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and a troubled young islander, Dominic Kearney (Barry Keoghan), Padraic sets out to repair the damaged relationship by any means necessary. However, as Colm's resolve only strengthens, he soon delivers an ultimatum that leads to shocking consequences. The film was named one of the best films of 2022 by the National Board of Review, and it has received a leading eight nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Director.

'TRIANGLE OF SADNESS' (Rated M) - this satirical black comedy film is Written and Directed by Ruben Ostlund in his English language feature debut, and follows his success with his highly acclaimed multi-award winning and nominated 'The Square' in 2017 with Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West. Here then, fashion model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean, in her last film role before her untimely death earlier this year), together with a group of billionaires, are invited on a luxury cruise in exchange for promoting it on social media. When the yacht sinks they become stranded on a desert island with the group and a cleaning lady. In the fight for survival, old hierarchies are turned upside down since the cleaning lady is the only one who knows how to fish and who possesses the necessary survival skills. The film also stars Woody Harrelson, and saw its World Premier screening at this years Cannes Film Festival where it received an eight minute standing ovation and won the Palme d'Or and has so far picked up another seven award wins and nineteen nominations from around the awards and festival circuit. Release in France at the end of September, in the US in early October, in the UK in late October and only now in Australia, the film has so far recouped US$16.5M from its US$15.6M production budget and has garnered generally positive reviews. 

'THE LOST KING' (Rated M) - is a British comedy drama film Directed by Stephen Frears and Co-Written by Steve Coogan (who also stars here), based on the 2013 book 'The King's Grave : The Search for Richard III' by Philippa Langley and Michael Jones. Stephen Frears previous film making credits include 'My Beautiful Laundrette' in 1985, 'Dangerous Liaisons' in 1988, 'The Grifters' in 1990, 'High Fidelity' in 2000, 'The Queen' in 2006, 'Philomena' in 2013, 'Florence Foster Jenkins' in 2016, and 'Victoria and Abdul' in 2017. In this inspiring true story, amateur historian Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) believes she has made the archeological find of the century, the lost burial site of King Richard III, who has remained lost for over five hundred years, underneath a car park in Leicester. She takes on Britain's most eminent historians, forcing them to rethink the legacy of one of the most controversial rulers in English history. Also starring Steve Coogan. The film saw its World Premier at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September this year, and was released in its native UK in early November and has garnered mixed or average reviews. 

'WHITNEY HOUSTON : I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY' (Rated M) - is an American biographical musical film based on the life of American singer Whitney Houston, who died at the age of 48 in February 2012 and is regarded as one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. It is Directed by Kasi Lemmons whose previous film making credits include 1997's 'Eve's Bayou' with Samuel L. Jackson and Jurnee Smollett, 'Talk to Me' in 2007 with Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor, 2013's 'Black Nativity' with Forest Whittaker and Angela Bassett and 'Harriet' in 2019 with Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monae. This film celebrates the life and music of Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie), one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom. Also starring Stanley Tucci as Clive Davis (Houston's record producer), Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown (Houston's husband) and Tamara Tunie as Cissy Houston (Houston's mother). 

'LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE' (Rated PG) - this American musical comedy film is Directed and Co-Produced by Will Speck and Josh Gordon whose pairing brought us their debut feature film with 2007's 'Blades of Glory', then 2010's 'The Switch', 'The Power Inside' in 2013 and 'Office Christmas Party' in 2016. This film is an adaptation of the 1965 children's story of the same name by Bernard Waber. When the Primm family (Constance Wu as Mrs. Primm, Scoot McNairy as Mr. Primm and Winslow Fegley as young Josh Primm) move to New York City, Josh, struggles to adapt to his new school and friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle, an anthropomorphic saltwater singing crocodile (Shawn Mendes) that loves baths, caviar and great music. The two become fast friends, but when evil neighbour Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman) threatens Lyle's existence, the Primms must band together to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places. Also starring Javier Bardem as Hector P. Valenti, Lyle's owner. The film was released Stateside in early October, has so far grossed US$88M from a production budget of US$50M and has garnered mostly positive press. 

'PUSS IN BOOTS : THE LAST WISH' (Rated PG) - is an American computer-animated adventure film that is a direct/stand-alone sequel to the 2011's 'Puss in Boots', which was a spin-off of the 'Shrek' franchise and is the sixth instalment thereof. This film is Directed by Joel Crawford whose two previous Directing efforts are the TV special 'Trolls Holiday' and the 2020 feature film 'The Croods : A New Age'. Here daring outlaw Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas reprising his role from the first film) discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots on his grandest quest yet as he embarks on an epic journey into the Dark Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star and restore his lost lives. But with only one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis, the captivating Kitty Soft Paws (Salma Hayek). In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided, against their better judgment, by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perro (Harvey Guillen). Together, our trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family (Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone and Samson Kayo), 'Big' Jack Horner (John Mulaney) and terrifying bounty hunter, The Big Bad Wolf (Wagner Moura). The film was released in the US last week and has received generally positive critical acclaim. 

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

AVATAR : THE WAY OF WATER - Tuesday 20th December 2022.

I saw the M Rated 'AVATAR : THE WAY OF WATER' earlier this week, and in case you've been hiding under a rock for the last decade or so, this American epic Sci-Fi film is the eagerly anticipated, long awaited, much hyped sequel to that groundbreaking record busting highest grossing film of all time, 'Avatar' from 2009. This film, as with the first instalment, is Directed, Co-Written, Co-Produced and Co-Edited by James Cameron. That first film in what is slated to be a five film series, grossed US$2,923B at the global Box Office off a production budget of US$237M and collected eighty-nine award wins and another 131 nominations from around the awards and festival circuit including three Academy Award wins, two BAFTA wins, ten Saturn Award wins, two Golden Globe wins and six Visual Effects Society Awards, amongst its total haul. 'The Way of Water' was originally muted for a 2014 release, however, the addition of three more sequels (to this one) and the necessity to develop new technology in order to film performance capture scenes underwater, a feat never before achieved, led to significant delays to allow the crew more time to work on the writing, preproduction, and visual effects. The film was released worldwide last week, with the following three sequels to be released, respectively, in the Decembers of 2024, 2026 and 2028, though the latter two would depend on the commercial reception of 'The Way of Water' as 'Avatar 3' has already wrapped filming and was shot simultaneously in Wellington, New Zealand. With a production budget somewhere in the vicinity of US$350-400M it is one of the most expensive films of all time, and needs to recoup in the region of US$2B just to break even, having grossed at the time of writing this US$610M. Cameron's back catalogue of feature films include 'The Terminator', 'Aliens', 'The Abyss', 'Terminator 2 : Judgement Day', 'True Lies' and 'Titanic' so if major box office success is anything to go by, then this film should be a shoe-in. Time will tell.

Here then, set ten years after the events of the first film and in the mid-22nd Century, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) lives with his newfound Na'vi family on the planet of Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. Sully is now the chief of the Omaticaya clan of forest dwellers and he raises a family with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), which includes his sons, Neteyam (James Flatters) and Lo'ak (Britain Dalton), his biological daughter, Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), his adopted daughter, Kiri (born from Grace Augustine's inert Na'vi avatar, both played here by Sigourney Weaver), and a human boy named Spider (Jake Champion), the son of Colonel Miles Quaritch who was born on Pandora and was unable to be transported back to Earth in cryostasis due to him being an infant at the time of Quaritch death in the first film. The opening scenes see Sully and his family living a near prefect existence in the lush rainforests of Pandora. We then fast forward a year and Sully and Neytiri are enjoying a peaceful moment gazing up at the stars one night, when Sully sees a number of bright lights in the sky approaching Pandora, which he surmises can only mean one thing - the return of humans to rape and pillage their planet. And sure enough, the humans return and set about building a new operating base named Bridgehead City to prepare Pandora for human colonisation, as Earth is slowly dying. Among the new arrivals are recombinants, Na'vi avatars with the minds and memories of deceased RDA (Resource Development Administration) marines, with Quaritch's (Stephen Lang) recombinant as their commander.

Their arrival spurs Sully into instigating various guerilla attacks against the RDA supply routes. Quaritch and his recombinants conduct a counterinsurgency mission against Sully, capturing his children. Sully and Neytiri arrive and are able to free most of them, but Spider is taken by Quaritch, who recognises him as his son. After an unsuccessful interrogation attempt by General Frances Ardmore (Edie Falco) Quartich decides to spend time with him in order to gain Spider's trust and confidence and in turn, Spider teaches Quaritch about Na'vi culture and language. 

Aware of the danger Spider's knowledge of his whereabouts poses to their safety, Sully and his family seek exile for themselves from the Omaticaya and retreat to the Metkayina reef people clan located on hundreds of small islands on Pandora's eastern seaboard, where they are given safe haven, even though some tribesmen consider them to have 'demon blood' from their genetic human heritage, and ill equipped physically for a life in the ocean. The family learns the ways of the reef people and 'the way of water'. Kiri develops a spiritual bond with the sea and its creatures, and Lo'ak befriends Tsireya (Bailey Bass), the daughter of clan chief Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) and his wife Ronal (Kate Winslet).

Despite telling his children not to cause any upset amongst the Metkayina people, Lo'ak gets into a fight with Tsireya's brother Aonung (Filip Geljo). When Lo'ak returns to apologise at Sully's insistence, Aonung and his friends entice him to a trip beyond the reef and out into the open ocean to a place called the three brothers - a territory of a dangerous sea predator, and then promptly leave him stranded there with no idea on how to get back to the village. Lo'ak is saved by and befriends Payakan, a tulkun, a highly intelligent whale like species whom the Metkayina consider their spiritual family. Payakan takes Lo'ak back to his village and upon his return, Lo'ak takes the blame on himself, winning Aonung's friendship, but is told that Payakan is an outcast among his species, which Lo'ak vehemently denies. 

On a trip to the Metkayina's Spirit Tree, Kiri links with it to meet her mother Grace Augustine, but then suffers a violent seizure. She is healed by Ronal, but when Sully calls on Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) and Max Patel (Dileep Rao) for help, Quaritch is able to track them to the cluster of islands where the reef people live. Bringing Spider with him, he commandeers a whaling vessel which is hunting tulkuns to harvest their brain enzymes for creating an age halting remedy named amrita, that is worth US$80M for a flask sized vile back on Earth. 

Quaritch begins to brutally question the indigenous tribes about Sully's location, and when his line of questioning fails he torches the villages and orders the whaling crew to wantonly kill the tulkuns in order to draw Sully out from hiding. Lo'ak mentally links with Payakan and learns that he was cast out because he went against the ways of his species and attacked the whalers who killed his mother. 

The Metkayina are alerted of the tulkun killings, and Lo'ak takes off to warn Payakan, followed by his siblings, Tsireya, Aonung, and Rotxo (Duane Evans Jnr.). They find Payakan being chased by the whalers, and Lo'ak, Tsireya, and Tuk are captured by Quaritch and cuffed to a railing of the whaling ship. With their children in danger, Sully, Neytiri, and the Metkayina set out to confront the humans. Quaritch forces Sully to surrender, but seeing his soul brother in danger, Payakan attacks the whalers and their ship, triggering a fight that kills most of the crew and critically damages the vessel, ultimately resulting in it listing and then sinking. Neteyam rescues Lo'ak, Tsireya and Spider, but is fatally shot when diving overboard to make his retreat. Sully confronts Quaritch, who uses Kiri as a hostage holding her with a knife to the neck. When Neytiri does the same with Spider, Quaritch at first denies his relationship with him but relents when Neytiri cuts Spider across the chest. 

Sully, Quaritch, Neytiri, and Tuk end up trapped inside the capsizing vessel with the water levels raising all around them. Sully strangles Quaritch into unconsciousness in an underwater fight and is rescued by Lo'ak and Payakan, and Kiri summons sea creatures to help her save Neytiri and Tuk. Spider finds and rescues Quaritch, but quickly turns against him for his cruelty, and rejoins Sully's family, unaware that Quartich is still alive. After Neteyam's funeral, sully informs Tonowari and Ronal of his decision to leave the Metkayina. Tonowari, however, respectfully identifies him as part of their clan and invites his family to stay. Sully and his family accept and forge a new life at sea, with Sully vowing to continue his fight against the human invaders.

'Avatar : The Way of Water' is truly a visual feast - from the magnificent 3D spectacle that Cameron has created both above and below the waterline, the flora and fauna of the forest and the ocean, the action set pieces, the emotion on both a family and a friendship bonding level and the expansion of Pandora from land to sea. This is a film that must be seen on the biggest screen possible and in 3D to really appreciate what Cameron has achieved and his painstaking attention to the minutest of details that make this an enthralling cinematic experience that is among the years best. My only gripe is not at the three hours and twelve minute run time, which seemed to pass by in half the time, but by some of the drawn out sequences and in particular the scenes with the Sully's upon first arriving at the Metkayina people learn the ways of water and experience their new underwater world for the first time. But then again, I guess this is the Director showcasing all his technical wizardry and based on the budgeted cost of this movie, who can blame him for wanting to get the most bang for his buck! The cast are all on point, although I was a little disappointed to not see more of Giovanni Ribisi (who appears only fleetingly as Parker Selfridge from the first film) and Edie Falco in particular. 

'Avatar : The Way of Water' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 22nd December 2022.

Once again, Christmas is upon us and as such it would be remiss of me not to wish my global readership all the very best wishes for a Merry, Happy and safe Christmas, wherever you are in world, whoever you share it with and whatever it is you do to celebrate the occasion. Thanks for your continued support over the past twelve months - it is your readership that makes my reviews and previews of the latest release new movies all worthwhile, and I look forward to doing more of the same throughout the coming year. Until then, Merry Christmas, best wishes and complements of the season, from Sydney, Australia.

This week then we have just two new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you. Kicking off with an American thriller that sees a world weary detective hired to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet in 1830. And closing out the week we have a Hong Kong film that is based on a shocking case in real life when a young man partnered with his friend to murder and dismember his parents, and the court case that followed.

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

'THE PALE BLUE EYE' (Rated MA15+) - this American thriller film is written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Scott Cooper and is adapted from the 2003 novel of the same name by Louis Bayard. Scott Cooper's previous film making credits include his debut in 2009 with 'Crazy Heart' starring Jeff Bridges in his Academy Award winning role, then 'Out of the Furnace' in 2013 with Christian Bale, 'Black Mass' in 2015 with Johnny Depp, 'Hostiles' in 2017 with Christian Bale again and 'Antlers' in 2021 with Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons. This film is released this week, before streaming on Netflix from 6th January and cost US$72M to produce. 

Here then, Christian Bale (who also serves as Co-Producer) stars as world weary veteran detective Augustus Landor who is tasked with investigating a series of murders at the US Military Academy, West Point, in New York in 1830. But after the body arrives at the morgue, tragedy becomes savagery when it is discovered the next morning that the young man's heart has been skilfully removed. Disheartened by the cadets code of silence, Landor enlists in his investigations one of their own - an eccentric young cadet with a disdain for the rigours of the military and a passion for poetry, Edgar Allen Poe (Harry Melling). Also starring Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, Timothy Spall and Robert Duvall. 

'THE SPARRING PARTNER' (Rated MA15+) - this Hong Kong true life crime drama film is Directed by Cheuk Tin Ho in his feature film making debut. This tense and compelling true-story based on the shocking 2013 trial of a young man, Henry Cheung (Yeung Wai-lun) who brutally murdered, dismembered, and cooked his parents in a microwave oven with the help of a friend Angus Tong (Pui Tung Mak). Pleading not guilty in a trial which dominated local headlines, this searing drama explores the events which unfolded as lawyers clashed and nine jurors grappled with the truth, trying to understand this tragic event which took the media by storm. The film has garnered generally positive Reviews. 

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

VIOLENT NIGHT : Tuesday 13th December 2022.

To get myself into the Christmas spirit, I saw the MA15+ Rated 'VIOLENT NIGHT' this week. This American Christmas fantasy black comedy action film is Directed by Tommy Wirkola whose previous feature film making offerings include 'Dead Snow' in 2009, 'Hansel & Gretel : Witch Hunters' in 2013, 'Dead Snow 2 : Red vs. Dead' in 2014, 'What Happened to Monday' in 2017 with Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close and Willem Dafoe, and 'The Trip' in 2021 with Noomi Rapace again. This film saw its World Premiere at the New York Comic Con on 7th October and was released here in Australia and the US on the 1st and 2nd December respectively. It cost US$20M to produce, has so far grossed US$46M and has generated largely positive reviews.

The films opens up on Christmas Eve in a pub somewhere in Bristol, England, with Santa Claus (David Harbour) sat at the bar lamenting the fact that children have become increasingly materialistic, and increasingly unaware that he actually does exist. He's chatting to the barmaid and another (faux) Santa Claus who has just come of his shift, when he decides to leave saying that he still has much work to do but seriously under the influence of a few too many pints of beer. He goes up to the roof of the bar and there waiting for him is his sleigh and reindeer. As he takes off the barmaid appears on the roof to see Santa circling above, when he vomits over the side of his sleigh right on to the upturned barmaids face. 

In Greenwich, Connecticut, Jason Lightstone (Alex Hassell), his separated wife Linda Matthews (Alexis Louder), and their daughter Trudy (Leah Brady) visit his mother Gertrude's (Beverly D'Angelo) mansion set in its own gated community to celebrate Christmas with his alcoholic sister Alva (Edi Patterson), her new boyfriend and wannabe-action movie star Morgan Steel (Can Gigandet), and Alva's online influencer young teenage son Bertrude (Alexander Elliot). 

Following a somewhat frosty and strained Christmas Eve reception Jason and Linda take Trudy to bed, but Linda berates her estranged husband for not taking their daughter to the Mall this year to see Santa, so how can he know what presents to bring her. Jason asks for five minutes while he goes down to the games room, and rummages through a cupboard containing their old games and toys. He returns minutes later with an old walkie talkie for Trudy to talk directly to Santa, but for her to be mindful that he may be too busy to reply. They bid their daughter goodnight, and listen in at the door as Trudy asks Santa for just one wish - for the family to get back together again.

Continuing his journey to deliver Christmas gifts, a somewhat drunken Santa eventually arrives at the Lightstone estate. Parking his sleigh and reindeer on the roof of the mansion, he descends down the chimney stack and is greeted by a glass of skimmed milk and home baked cookies. He takes one sip of the milk and instantly discards it, helping himself instead to an aged whiskey from the bar in which he finds himself whilst chomping down on the cookies. The caterer's meanwhile, hired to lay on a lavish food and beverage spread for the evening, reveal themselves to be a group of highly trained and motivated mercenaries led by one Mr. Scrooge (John Leguizamo), who set about killing the household staff and taking the family hostage. Santa is discovered by one of the mercenaries, whose rapid gunfire through the ceiling scares away the reindeer. The pair fight until Santa knocks him out of a window to his death. Stranded, Santa decides to save Trudy and her family from Scrooge, who demands the US$300M in cash that is sitting in the mansion's vault. Santa gets into another fight and kills another henchman and takes his radio, coming across Trudy's channel, and finds the mercenaries on his magical naughty scroll. 

Trudy's walkie-talkie is later  discovered, and Jason tells their captors for fear of him being tortured that she is simply playing make-believe and declares that Santa is not real, causing her to run and hide in the attic. Santa reassures Trudy over the radio that he is indeed real, and revealing that he was once Nikamund the Red, a bloodthirsty Viking warrior, and how he now finds solace in his thousand plus years of marriage to Mrs. Claus. One of the henchman, Krampus (Brendan Fletcher), forces the family to hand out their gifts to Gertrude, who is surprised by a card from Jason, and keeps his message to herself choosing not to share his words with Alva. Wounded, Santa is captured by Scrooge, who bears a childhood grudge from when he was ten or eleven, against Christmas. Santa's knowledge of their real identities convinces two other lead mercenaries Gingerbread (Andre Eriksen) and Candy Cane (Mitra Suri) that he is real, and he uses his magic to escape up through the chimney.

Gertrude's private extraction team, also known as her own private 'kill squad', arrive, led by Commander Thorp (Mike Dopud), but they are in cahoots with Scrooge and kill Morgan as he attempted to escape. Opening up the vault, Scrooge and Thorp discover it empty. In turn Scrooge threatens Linda, and Jason confesses that he stole the money and was planning to flee with his wife and daughter, which he explained in his Christmas card to his mother. He reveals the money hidden in a nativity scene outside in the grounds. Gertrude forgives his treason as a family rite of passage. Retreating to a shed, Santa finds a sledgehammer and one by one brutally slaughters the kill squad. Trudy creates booby traps inspired by the 'Home Alone' film which she saw the previous day, which leads to Gingerbread's death, and as Candy Cane prepares to shoot Trudy, she is killed by Santa. Scrooge gives the order to kill the hostages, but Alva, Linda, and Bert manage to kill Krampus instead by beating him to death with fireside tools and stabbing him through the neck with a poker. 

Scrooge and Thorp flee into the woods on snow-mobiles with the bags containing the money and a captive Gertrude, chased down by Santa. Linda kills the last mercenary back at the nativity scene, and Trudy sees her parents reunite with a kiss. Lured by Scrooge, Santa crashes his snow-mobile into a cabin, and Scrooge finds himself on the naughty list and acknowledges Santa is real, but is determined to kill him and put an end to Christmas once and for all. They fight, and Scrooge gains the upper hand, but Santa uses his magic to drag him up the cabin's chimney stack, crushing and eviscerating Scrooge.

Santa is shot several times by Thorp, who is in turn shot through the head by Gertrude. As Santa lies dying in the snow, he remarks that he feels cold for the first time in a very long time. Jason burns a few hundred thousand dollars of the cash to keep him warm much to Alva's disgust, but Santa falls victim to his wounds. Trudy inspires her family to all declare their new found belief in Santa, and he is revived, admitting that he still does not really understand how Christmas magic works. His reindeer return, and Santa bids farewell to Trudy before flying off to finish delivering gifts, his faith in the spirit of Christmas restored.

I have to say that going into this movie my expectations were not particularly high, but I was pleasantly surprised by 'Violent Night' and the lashings of comedy, interwoven with over the top action and violence and bloodthirsty horror that make for a more than satisfying antidote to all the festive fun and frolics. David Harbour as a sledgehammer wielding Santa whose heart is firmly in the right place is perfectly cast, and John Leguizamo as Scrooge is sufficiently over the top as the villain in the piece who ultimately gets his comeuppance in the most gruesome of ways. This film doesn't add anything new to the genre that we haven't already seen in 1990's 'Home Alone' and 'Die Hard 2 : Die Harder' films, but for a bone crunching blood soaked tongue in cheek alternative Christmas offering that is a morality story at heart, you can add this to your Christmas stocking wish list and be entertained. 

'Violent Night' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-