Birthday's to share this week : 2nd-8th October 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jesse Eisenberg does on 5th October - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 33, 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 2nd October

• Sting (aka Gordon Sumner) - Born 1951, turns 65 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Actor | Producer

Monday 3rd October

• Clive Owen  - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer  
• Denis Villeneuve - Born 1967, turns 49 - Director | Writer
• Sean William Scott - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actor | Producer 
• Neve Campbell - Born 1973, turns 43 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Alicia Vikander - Born 1988, turns 28 - Actress | Producer

Tuesday 4th October

• Susan Sarandon - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Alicia Silverstone - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress | Producer 
• Dakota Johnson - Born 1989, turns 27 - Actress
• Armand Assante - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Producer
• Christoph Waltz - Born 1956, turns 60 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Liev Schreiber - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director  

Wednesday 5th October

• Bob Geldof - Born 1951, turns 65 - Singer | Songwriter | Actor | Writer | Humanitarian  
• Guy Pearce - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actor | Singer
• Jesse Eisenberg - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Jacob Tremblay - Born 2006, turns 10 - Actor 
• Karen Allen - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actress
• Kate Winslet - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress 

Thursday 6th October

• Britt Ekland - Born 1942, turns 74 - Actress
• Elisabeth Shue - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actress | Producer
• Ioan Gruffudd - Born 1973, turns 43 - Actor  

Friday 7th October

• Marco Beltrami - Born 1966, turns 50 - Composer | Songwriter | Musician
• Tim Minchin - Born 1975, turns 41 - Singer | Songwriter | Musician | Writer | Actor | Producer | Director  

Saturday 8th October

• Paul Hogan - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Chevy Chase - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Singer
• Edward Zwick - Born 1952, turns 64 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Matt Damon - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Sigourney Weaver - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress | Producer
• Kristanna Loken - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actress | Producer  

Jesse Adam Eisenberg was born in Queens, New York to mother Amy Fishman, a teacher of cultural sensitivity in hospitals and before that a children's party clown, and father Barry Eisenberg, a one time taxi driver before becoming a sociology college professor. He has two sisters - Hallie Kate and Kerry Lea - both of whom have worked in acting. Eisenberg had a secular Jewish upbringing in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey. He attended the East Brunswick Public Schools, then East Brunswick High School, and then moved to the High School of Performing Arts in New York, upon which the 1980 hit film 'Fame' was set. While in his senior year he secured his big screen debut in 2002 in 'Roger Dodger'. He went onto The New School in New York s Greenwich Village where he studied anthropology and contemporary architecture eventually majoring in liberal arts.

He first appeared on stage at age seven in a children's theatre production of 'Oliver', and at twelve he understudied for a 1996 Broadway Production of 'Summer and Smoke', and a year later he played the young Scrooge in a musical version of 'A Christmas Carol' at The Paramount Theatre. His first professional play came in 1999 at age sixteen in 'The Gathering' in an off-Broadway production at Playhouse 91.  His first small screen role came as Kenny Green in all 22 episodes of comedy drama series 'Get Real' from 1999 to 2000, and then made for television movie 'Lightning : Fire from the Sky' in 2001. 'Roger Dodger' came next in 2002 - his big screen debut opposite Campbell Scott, with 'The Emperor's Club' that same year with Kevin Kline, Emile Hirsch, Paul Dano and Patrick Dempsey.

In 2004 Eisenberg secured a small role in M.Night Shyamalan's 'The Village'. He followed this up with the Noah Baumbach Written and Directed 'The Squid and The Whale' in 2005; Wes Craven's horror-comedy 'Cursed'; 'The Education of Charlie Banks' with Jason Ritter; 'The Hunting Party' with Richard Gere; 'Adventureland' with Kristen Stewart, and then probably his breakout role in 'Zombieland' - a horror-comedy with Woody Harrelson, for which a sequel is currently in the works.

The new decade saw four films in 2010 starting with 'Holy Rollers' in  which he starred alongside his sister Hailee, 'Camp Hell', 'Solitary Man' with Michael Douglas, and then as Mark Zuckerberg in David Fincher's highly acclaimed and commercially successful 'The Social Network' for which Eisenberg received Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.



The next year he voiced the lead character of Blu in the animated feature 'Rio' - a voice he would reprise again in 2014 in 'Rio 2', and then '30 Minutes or Less'. 2012 saw 'Why Stop Now', 'Free Samples', Woody Allen's ensemble cast in 'To Rome With Love', 'He's More Famous Than You' and 'Now You See Me' with an all star cast a year later in 2013. He would also reprise his role as one of The Four Horsemen, Danny Atlas in the 2016 sequel 'Now You See Me 2', with a third film already announced.

In between there has been 'Night Moves', 'The Double' with Mia Wasikowska, 'The End of the Tour', 'Louder Than Bombs', 'American Ultra' with Kristen Stewart again, and as Lex Luthor in this years Zack Snyder production of the DC Extended Universe in 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' with Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill back again as Superman. He has also had some guest television appearances on 'Saturday Night Live', 'The Newsroom', 'Modern Family' and 'Top Gear' as well as a number of theatre productions which he has also Written.

Next up is Woody Allen's 'Cafe Society' due for its Australian release later this year with Kristen Stewart once more, and DC's 'Justice League : Part One' currently filming for Zack Snyder with Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Aquaman, with Eisenberg reposing his role as Lex Luthor again. Over the years he has also narrated numerous audiobooks as well as being the author of numerous short stories published in The New Yorker and in McSweeney's. His debut novel 'Bream Gives Me Hiccups' was released one year ago and includes these previously published pieces and more, and is being adapted for a television series with filming currently ongoing with Eisenberg Directing, Producing and Writing.

Eisenberg suffers from several forms of anxiety - obsessive compulsive disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety and depression which he still suffers from but was more pronounced in him during his childhood years. He has found that acting helped him cope. He is a vegetarian, has been involved in animal fostering programmes and has financially supported Middle Way House - a shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence. He also supports 'Keep America Beautiful' and 'The Shoe Revolt' aimed at empowering youth to take up the fight against domestic sex trafficking. He also took part in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Agency video to increase awareness of the global refugee crisis.

All up Eisenberg has 38 Acting credits to his name, and one for Director, Producer and Writer on the upcoming 'Bream Gives Me Hiccups'. All up he has garnered twenty awards wins and a another 56 nominations with many of those being for his work on 'The Social Network'. He dated Anna Strout from 2002 to 2012 - a crew member and assistant on 'The Emperor's Club' when they first got together. They broke off in 2012 when Eisenberg dated his 'The Double' Co-Star Mia Wasikowska until 2015. He has since reunited with Anna Strout.

Jesse Eisenberg - trade mark curly hair, and often plays fast talking introverted shy anti-social neurotic characters. Certainly not one to be typecast having played across all genres and continuing to keep us entertained with his diverse roles - some real and some fictitious and always convincing. Happy Birthday to you Jesse and Best Wishes, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 1st-7th May 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Henry Cavill does on 5th May - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 33, 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 1st May

•  Wes Anderson - Born 1969, turns 47 - Director | Producer | Writer 
•  Jamie Dornan - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actor
•  Joanna Lumley - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress 

Monday 2nd May

• Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | WWF Wrestler
• Stephen Daldry  - Born 1961, turns 55 - Director | Producer
• David Suchet - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor | Producer 

Tuesday 3rd May

• Ben Elton - Born 1959, turns 57 - Writer | Producer | Actor
• Rob Brydon - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Television Personality
• Bobby Cannavale - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor
• Christina Hendricks - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress 

Wednesday 4th May

• Will Arnett - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Richard Jenkins - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor 

Thursday 5th May

• Henry Cavill - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actor  
• Richard E. Grant - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor | Writer | Director 
• John Rhys-Davies - Born 1944, turns 72 - Actor | Producer | Writer 
• Michael Palin - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor | Writer | Songwriter | Television Personality
• Lance Henriksen - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor

Friday 6th May

• George Clooney - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Alan Dale - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor  

Saturday 7th May

• Alexander Ludwig - Born 1992, turns 24 - Actor 

Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill was born on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands to mother Marianne Dalgliesh - a bank secretary, and father Colin Cavill - a stockbroker. Henry is the fourth of five brothers - the others being Niki, Charlie, Piers and Simon. He was educated at St. Michael's Preparatory School in St. Saviour, on Jersey and then in England at the noted independent Stowe School in Buckinghamshire. His interest in acting was sparked at school appearing in various productions - both classic and modern.

At age 17, Henry was discovered by a Casting Director who visited the school looking for a young lad suitable enough to cast as Albert Mondego in the Kevin Reynolds big screen adaptation of 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. He got the role and starred alongside Guy Pearce, Richard Harris and Jim Caviezel. That was in 2002, and that same year there were television appearances on 'Midsomer Murders' and 'The Inspector Lynley Mysteries'.

'I Capture the Castle' came next in 2003 with Bill Nighy, Rose Byrne and Tara Fitzgerald, with the made for television movie 'Goodbye Mr. Chips', before the eighth instalment in the horror franchise with 'Hellraiser : Hellworld' in 2005. The following year came 'Red Riding Hood' and then 'Tristan and Isolde' Directed by Kevin Reynolds once again with James Franco, Rufus Sewell, Mark Strong and Sophia Myles.

In 2007 there was a small role in Matthew Vaughn's romantic fantasy adventure 'Stardust' with an all star cast featuring Peter O'Toole, Mark Strong, Robert De Niro, Rupert Everett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes and Sienna Miller.

That same year, Cavill scored the role of Charles Brandon in 38 episodes of 'The Tudors' to which he attributes much of his subsequent success - having given him the much needed exposure to an American audience. Whilst making 'The Tudors' he also starred in Joel Schumacher's Nazi horror film 'Blood Creek' in 2008 with Michael Fassbender and Dominic Purcell, and followed this up with a minor part in Woody Allen's 'Whatever Works'.

'Immortals' followed in 2011 with this swords and sandals epic in the lead role of Theseus, with 'Cold Light of Day' next in 2012 with Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver.

In 2013 he appeared in Zack Snyder's 'Man of Steel' as Superman/Clark Kent with an all star cast in the first film in the DC Extended Universe series which was followed up earlier this year with Cavill reprising his role as Superman alongside Ben Affleck in 'Batman v. Superman : The Dawn of Justice'. His first outing as Superman grossed US$668M at the Box Office with his most recent instalment this year so far grossing US$855M. In between time there has been the big screen retelling of the much loved classic spy series of the 60's 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' released mid-2015 with Cavill taking on the role of Napoleon Solo, and Armie Hammer the role of Russian Ilya Kuryakin, and as Directed by Guy Ritchie.

Next up is Iraq War drama 'Sand Castle' currently in post-production for a release later this year, and then as Superman once again for Zack Snyder in 'Justice League : Part One' due in November 2017 and then 'Justice League : Part Two' due in June 2019.

Along the way he was touted to play Superman back in 2004 for a film Directed by McG, but when that project was taken over by Bryan Singer Cavill was dropped in favour of Brandon Routh in what became 'Superman Returns'. He was also in contention for the Edward Cullen role in the 'Twilight' series of films that went to Robert Pattinson instead, and, he has expressed interest in the role of James Bond when Daniel Craig sips on his last martini.

Cavill has 21 acting credits to his name, an MTV Movie Award win and five other nominations so far.  He has been voted 'The World's Sexiest Man' and 'One of the World's Sexiest Men' by various publications. He is a spokesman for the 'Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust', is an ambassador for the 'Royal Marines Charitable Trust' and has taken part in numerous charitable events and worthy causes that he believes in, that more often than not have highlighted his physicality. In 2014 with brother Charlie, he co-founded his own production company - 'Promethean Productions'.

Henry Cavill - chiselled features, athletic, heroic, handsome and fits the mould of a Superhero well - we look forward to seeing what else you bring to the big screen as well as further instalments of perhaps the most loved most recognised superhero of them all. Happy Birthday to you Henry, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 24th-30th April 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Gal Gadot does on 30th April - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 31, 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 24th April

• Richard Donner - Born 1930, turns 86 - Director | Producer | Actor  
• Djimon Hounsou - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer  
• Kelly Clarkson - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actress | Singer
• Barbra Streisand - Born 1942, turns 74 - Actress | Producer | Director | Singer
• Shirley MacLaine - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer 

Monday 25th April

• Renee Zellweger - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Talia Shire - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress | Producer | Director  
• Hank Azaria - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Al Pacino - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer  

Tuesday 26th April

• Channing Tatum - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actor | Producer  
• Jet Li - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer  
• Kevin James - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Carol Burnett - Born 1933, turns 83 - Actress | Producer | Singer 

Wednesday 27th April

• Sally Hawkins - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress  
• Kevin McNally - Born 1956, turns 60 - Actor | Writer  

Thursday 28th April

• Paul Guilfoyle - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor
• Mary McDonnell - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actress  
• Bridget Moynahan - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actress
• Penelope Cruz - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Jessica Alba - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actress  

Friday 29th April

• Uma Thurman - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer  
• Michelle Pfeiffer - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actress | Producer | Singer 
• Phillip Noyce - Born 1950, turns 66 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Daniel Day-Lewis - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor  
• Jerry Seinfeld - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Television Personality

Saturday 30th April

• Lars von Trier - Born 1956, turns 60 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Burt Young - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor | Writer 
• Gal Gadot - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actress 
• Kirsten Dunst - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actress
• Jane Campion - Born 1954, turns 62 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Gal Gadot was born and grew up in Rosh HaAyia in Israel to her mother, a teacher, and father, an engineer. Her name Gal, is translated to 'wave' and her surname which was Hebraized by her parents from Greenstein to Gadot, means 'shores' or 'riverbanks'. Raised in what she described as a 'very Jewish, Israeli family environment' she served for two years from age 18 in the Israeli Defence Force serving as a combat instructor. At about this same time, in 2004, Gadot won the 'Miss Israel' competition and subsequently travelled to Ecuador to take part and represent her country in the Miss Universe pageant. After this, and serving in the Army, she attended University to study law - having always intended to become s lawyer. In 2007, she appeared on the cover of the New York Post in a Maxim photo shoot 'Women of the Israeli Army'.

After her first year at University however, she was called to audition for the role in 'Quantum of Solace' - the role that would eventually go to Olga Kurylenko. Whilst unsuccessful, the Casting Director hired her for the role of Gisele Yashar in 'Fast and Furious' in 2009 - the fourth instalment of the hugely successful franchise. She followed up her debut film role in the Steve Carell and Tina Fey film Directed by Shaun Levy 'Date Night' in 2010, with the Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz actioner helmed by James Mangold 'Knight and Day' later that same year. Gadot returned to the 'Fast and Furious' franchise in 2011 and again in 2013 reprising her role as the former Mossad Agent, Gisele Yashar in 'Fast Five' and then 'Fast and Furious 6' where her character is killed off saving the life of her lover. She reappears in 'Furious 7' but in flashback archival footage only.

In the meantime, she starred in the Israeli film 'Kicking Out Shoshana' before this years 'Triple 9' with Casey Afleck, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kate Winslet as Directed by John Hillcoat.

Perhaps her breakout role however, was as 'Wonder Woman' in the recently released Zack Snyder Directed 'Batman v. Superman' in the second DC Extended Universe offering. So far this film has grossed US$835M but had divided audiences worldwide, although Gadot has been largely praised for her performance at Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. She has committed to the two upcoming 'Justice League' films due in November 2017 and in June 2019 also Directed by Snyder, and 'Wonder Woman' a stand alone origin film currently shooting, also due in mid-2017.

In the meantime 'Criminal' is due for imminent release with Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Ryan Reynolds. In post-production is 'Keeping Up With The Joneses' - a comedy caper starring Jon Hamm, Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher.

She also has a successful modelling career promoting brands such as Captain Morgan, Gucci and Jaguar. Gadot has also appeared on the cover of 'Glamour', 'Cosmopolitan', 'FHM' and 'Bride' magazine.

Gadot has twenty Acting credits to her name and has her work cut out for her already for the next three years or so at least playing the superhero type. In 2008 she married Israeli property developer Yaron Versano with whom she has a daughter Alma, born in late 2011. The family live in Tel Aviv.

Gal Gadot - beautiful, statuesque, sultry, mysterious, athletic and a star most definitely on the rise. Although only just starting out, you have already made your mark and have achieved much - Happy Birthday to you, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BATMAN v SUPERMAN : DAWN OF JUSTICE - TUESDAY 22nd March 2016

I was lucky enough to see the Australian Premier of 'BATMAN v SUPERMAN : DAWN OF JUSTICE' at a local Multiplex two days ahead of its official Australian release date on Tuesday last week. This much hyped, long awaited, eagerly anticipated and initially controversial next instalment in the DC Extended Universe is finally here, as Directed by Zack Snyder and made for a cool US$250M. This is the second instalment in the DC Extended Universe following 2013's 'Man of Steel' also Directed by Zack Snyder and which made US$668M off its US$225M production budget, and sees once again Henry Cavill reprising his role as Superman/Clark Kent. This film features some big name acting talent and also unites for the first time on the big screen in a live action movie a number of favoured characters from the DC canon - some of whom will get their own big picture outing in future years. All that said, it seems that this film is already dividing critics the world over with some making a scathing attack on the movie and others rating it well. Ultimately you will have to decide, and while the fate of the world rests in the hands of Batman and Superman, the fate of Batman and Superman rests in yours.

As the film opens we see Superman battling it out above the city skyline with an alien foe assumed to be the tail end of his epic battle with General Zod as seen at the end of 'Man of Steel'. There is mass destruction everywhere and innocent lives lost including those close to Bruce Wayne as he tears through the city streets gazing in disbelief at the sight of crumbling buildings and collateral damage in front of his very eyes, and all at the hands of Superman. All around him the citizens stare in disbelief at the carnage all around, and flee to safety, fearful for their own lives. Fast forward two years or so after these events and many of Metropolis's inhabitants, and indeed the world, are left feeling helpless, angry and fearful that Superman is not everything he is cracked up to be and in fact that he may even be a threat to humanity, especially if he continues to go unchecked. Equally though there are those who consider Superman as God like and their saviour given his superhuman powers. The media is in a frenzy as the debate rages on, and often on the front page of The Daily Planet newspaper where Clark Kent works with the love of his life Lois Lane (Amy Adams) and supervised by Editor Perry White (Laurence Fishburn).

Those who doubt Superman and see him as a threat include billionaire Bruce Wayne aka Batman (Ben Affleck) who takes it upon himself to wage a one man war against Superman to rid the Earth of him, so that its citizens can rest easy once more. This Batman however, is an ageing Superhero whom we learn through trusty and loyal Butler Alfred (Jeremy Irons) is 'too old to die young' and has been battling villains for over twenty years now. We are beyond the Nolan films, the age of Robin here, and Wayne Manor is a derelict abandoned wreck of a building now and a fading memory of what it used to stand for. Wayne is still a rugged handsome man about town and astute businessman loaded with more wealth than you can imagine, but his focus has shifted from capturing villains and locking them up (a reference here to the upcoming 'Suicide Squad' perhaps) to thwarting Superman once and for all. Affleck plays it well, looks the part with his chiseled features and lends a certain gravitas to this ageing Batman knocking on the door of fifty, and still living with his trusted family Butler, who has been seriously up-skilled from his former film appearances to a role much more emotionally advanced and tech. savvy.

In the wings however, watching and waiting is Lex Luthor (Jessie Eisenberg) who also has plans for Superman, and is working on weaponising Kryptonite which he has come to possess from the downed alien spacecraft carrying General Zod some two years earlier. He wants to create an intergalactic warning system that acts as a deterrent to potential invading alien kind, but he needs to get it through the Senate, and Senator Finch (Holly Hunter) ain't gonna let that happen for fear that such a weapon may be used for less noble means than intended. Angry that this is likely to be the case Luthor takes out his revenge on the Senate just as Superman descends to give evidence for the first time in a landmark hearing. It doesn't end well for anyone, and as a result Superman goes into hiding believing he was the root cause for the death of hundreds.

When Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne come together at a charity event hosted by Lex Luthor their initial reception is less than warm, as they both go on the defensive about their alter-egos, whilst not knowing yet who and what those alter-egos are. At this event, Wayne attempt to tap into LexCorp's mainframe and does so successfully only for the drive to be 'stolen' before he can reclaim it by a sultry mystery antiques dealer Diana Prince (Gal Gadot). Later tracked down by Wayne who confronts her, she explains that she has returned the drive to the glove box of his car, but that she believed that Luthor also was in possession of files relating to herself, which she wanted to retrieve. Later that day Wayne decrypts the drive and whilst scouring its contents learns that Diane Prince is some kind of immortal warrior as evidenced by photographs of her taken from the early 20th Century.

Meanwhile Luthor ramps up his activities to bring down Superman and is successful in retrieving a sizable rock of Kryptonite which he brings into Metropolis under cover of night. Batman is watching Luthor's every move and uncovers the impending shipment and so lays in wait to intercept the cargo for his own means to ultimately thwart Superman. Following a well executed action chase sequence through the docks of Gotham in which Batman follows the Kryptonite truck in his Batmobile, the dark knight is halted in his tracks when he comes face to face with Superman, who gives him a warning to cease his one man vigilante activities immediately or face the consequences of his wrath.

Eventually, while Luthor is caught napping, Batman retrieves the Kryptonite and sets about building himself a powerful new exoskeleton Batsuit and waeponises the Kryptonite to use against Superman. Cue the obligatory training montage of a ripped Batman prepping himself for the ultimate standoff. 'Who Will Win' indeed?? In the meantime, Luthor must revert to 'Plan B' and with access granted to General Zod's downed scout ship which rests in Metropolis, he splices his own DNA with that of General Zod in the ships Genesis Chamber. Still intent on destroying Superman, Luthor brings Lane to the helipad on top of LexCorp as a means of luring Superman there with a blackmailed threat that leads him to face off against Batman in an epic battle that sees one rise victorious . . . well almost, and potentially!

Whilst that battle royale is going on, the mutated creature that Luthor has concocted in the Genesis Chamber using his own DNA and that of Zod's together with some alien reproductive technology is coming to life, and larger than it! With the power to outdo Superman, 'Doomsday' as Luthor affectionally has called it, engage in head to head combat that sees whole city blocks destroyed, land laid to waste, and a nuclear war head pound straight into them both far above the Earth's atmosphere from which they both recover quickly only to return to the ground where Batman and now Wonder Woman (aka Diana Prince aka Gal Gadot) join the fight. Needless to say, good overcomes evil, but, at a cost!

As the story draws to an end we see Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince talking about the formation of a 'Justice League' that unites the other metahumans seen by him in Luthor's decrypted files - those being Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg, and now their attention must turn to tracking them down and helping to protect the world from further threats. With Luthor safely locked up in maximum security for all of his criminal activities, he is visited by Batman who says that he will now be forever watching him should he ever step out of line.

As of 27th March, the film has grossed of US$424M setting it at the fourth biggest opening of all time and the biggest Superhero movie opening of all time, with the film needing to take as a minimum US$800M to make it the commercial success needed to recover its US$250M production budget and its US$150M or so marketing & promotion costs. Those 'experts' claim that it is likely to take US$1B given the media frenzy and what its has done so far in its first four days since opening. As far as this Blogger is concerned, I hope it does well. I was pleasantly surprised by the film and think it deserves better than many critics are citing. The lead performances are strong and considered (Affleck, Cavill, Gadot, Eisenberg), the story is solid enough, the action set pieces are well executed, and the film maintains the attention for all of its 151 minutes running time. Chris Nolan was on board as an Executive Producer and he gave it the thumbs up.

This film is not as dark and brooding as any of Nolan's hugely successful trilogy, but we do see Batman and Superman in a different light here and for me that was refreshing, and we are introduced to a new character, and fleetingly, some new ones too in readiness for the next instalment. Despite many of the naysayers, this film is worthy of your attention and it's a must see on the big screen, and it stands up well as a singular offering, and as a follow on from Nolan's films (albeit some years later given that Affleck's Batman is ageing and not afraid to admit it) but without the intensity. I saw it in 3D which is unnecessary in my opinion, but give the film a go and you decide - you could do a lot worse with your $20 spent on the cost of entry.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

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

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

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

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

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

BATMAN v. SUPERMAN : DAWN OF JUSTICE (Rated M) - this much hyped, long awaited and initially controversial next instalment in the DC Extended Universe is finally here, as Directed by Zack Snyder and made for a cool US$250M. This is the second instalment in the DC Extended Universe following 2013's 'Man of Steel' also Directed by Zack Snyder and which made US$668M off its US$225M production budget, and sees once again Henry Cavill reprising his role as Superman/Clark Kent. This film features some big name acting talent and also unites for the first time on the big screen in a live action movie a number of favoured characters from the DC canon - some of whom will get their own big picture outing in future years.

This film takes place two years or so after the events of 'Man of Steel' when Superman's final standoff against General Zod almost wiped out much of Metropolis with many lives lost along the way, city infrastructure ruined and excessive collateral damage. As a result many of Metropolis's inhabitants are left feeling helpless, angry and fearful that Superman is not everything he is cracked up to be and in fact that he may even be a threat to humanity, especially if he continues to go unchecked. One such inhabitant is billionaire Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) who takes it upon himself to wage a one man war against Superman to rid the Earth of him, so that its citizens can rest easy once more. In the wings however, watching and waiting is Lex Luthor (Jessie Eisenberg) who also has plans for Superman, and whilst Batman and Superman battle it out for supremacy. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor is free to unleash his own secret weapon, Doomsday, which has far greater power than either Batman or Superman can muster and which poses an even greater threat to humanity than either had imagined. Also starring Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jeremy Irons at Arthur, Laurence Fishburn as Perry White, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Holly Hunter as Senator Finch and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.

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

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

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

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

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 28th February - 5th March 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Zack Snyder does on 1st March - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 50, 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 February

• John Turturro - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor | Director | Writer
• Mike Figgis - Born 1948, turns 68 - Director | Producer | Writer | Cinematographer | Editor | Composer | Musician

Monday 29th February

• Joss Ackland - Born 1928, turns 88 - Actor

Tuesday 1st March

• Roger Daltry - Born 1944, turns 72 - Singer | Songwriter | Actor | Producer
• Javier Bardem - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actor | Producer
• Ron Howard - Born 1954, turns 62 - Director | Producer | Actor
• Zack Snyder - Born 1966, turns 50 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Dirk Benedict - Born 1945, turns 71 - Actor | Director
• Harry Belafonte - Born 1927, turns 89 - Singer | Songwriter | Actor | Producer
• Lupita Nyong'o - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actress

Wednesday 2nd March

• Bryce Dallas Howard - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Director
• Rebel Wilson - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actress | Writer | Producer
• Daniel Craig - Born 1968, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | 007

Thursday 3rd March

• George Miller - Born 1945, turns 71 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Miranda Richardson - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actress
• Jessica Biel - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actress | Producer

Friday 4th March

• Patsy Kensit - Born 1968, turns 48 - Actress
• Len Wiseman - Born 1973, turns 43 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Paul W. S. Anderson - Born 1965, turns 51 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Adrian Lyne - Born 1941, turns 75 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Scott Hicks - Born 1953, turns 63 - Director | Writer

Saturday 5th March

• Matt Lucas - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Dean Stockwell - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actor
• Samantha Eggar - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actress
• Eva Mendes - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actress

Zachary Edward Snyder was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA to mother Marsha Reeves, a painter and photography teacher at Daycroft School - a co-ed private boarding school which the young Snyder would later attend. His father, Charles Edward Snyder was an executive recruiter. He was raised in Riverside, Connecticut and as a Christian Scientist. His mother inspired him to study painting and after he completed high school he attended the Heatherley School of Fine Art in London, England, after which he attended The Arts Centre College of Design in Pasadena, California where he shared classes with a young Michael Bay.

Snyder started his career shooting music videos for the likes of Morrissey, Soul Asylum and Alexander O'Neal, and then television commercials for Subaru, Nissan, Audi and BMW, as well as Nike, Reebok and Gatorade. He launched his movie career in 2004 with the remake of George A. Romero's classic horror 'Dawn of the Dead' which he did so on a budget of US$26M from which it made US$103M.





In 2007, he followed this up with both Screenwriter and Director credits on the big screen adaptation of Frank Miller's '300' which delivered US$456M from US$65M and largely cemented Snyder's place and that of its star Gerard Butler, on the road to cinema success. Two years later Snyder Directed the previously deemed 'unfilmable' 'Watchmen' based on the limited series DC characters that appeared in the mid-80's. This filmed grossed US$185M off its US$130M budget, and it would be fair to say that it polarised audiences and critics the world over, which would explain why perhaps we have yet to see a sequel or a reboot.

His next offering was released in 2010 and was a change in pace and a change in direction with a CG animated fantasy epic aimed squarely at the family audience. Directed by Snyder, 'Legend of the Guardians : The Owls of Ga'Hoole' cost US$80M and delivered US$140M, and as an US/Australian co-production it starred a whole bunch of Aussie voice talent that read like a Who's Who of the local film industry - Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving, Joel Edgerton, Anthony LaPaglia, David Wenham, Sam Neill, Richard Roxburgh, Barry Humphries, Barry Otto, Ryan Kwanten and Abbie Cornish as well as some imports including Helen Mirren, John Hurt and Jim Sturgess.

The following year , Snyder Wrote, Produced and Directed 'Sucker Punch' which barley recovered its budget bringing in just US$90M and very lacklustre reviews. Starring Abbie Cornish, Emily Browning, Jena Malone with Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm and Scott Glenn, the original concept for the film was all his with a female asylum inmate imagining herself and three other female inmates all teaming up to escape before she undergoes a lobotomy. This female driven multi-levelled fantasy action film clearly failed to strike a chord with audiences the world over despite its high production values, strong cast, unusual storyline and the creative imagination of its originator! You can't win 'em all Sucker!

From here however, he recovered quickly to Direct the Superman reboot with 'Man of Steel' in 2013 with Henry Cavill in the red cape and blue body suit acting out the first instalment of the DC Extended Universe, and off its US$225M budget brought home US$668M in Box Office takings, and paving the way for this years much hyped and eagerly awaited 'Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice'.





In the meantime, Snyder took a Producer and Writer credit on 2014's '300 : Rise of an Empire', and is an Executive Producer on 'Suicide Squad' due in August this year. With the DC Extended Universe ramping up with the very soon to be released 'Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice' we have here Henry Cavill reprising his Superman role from a few years prior and following up from the antics with General Zod (Michael Shannon) at the end of that last film and rejoined by Amy Adams, Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburn with Ben Affleck at Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Mamoa at Aquaman, Jesse Eisenberg at Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons as Alfred all joining the DC Extended Universe anew.

Next up Snyder is Producing 'Wonder Woman' which is filming currently for a 2107 release, 'The Flash' and 'Aquaman' both for 2018, and he is Directing 'The Justice League Pt. 1' for 2017, and 'The Justice League Pt. 2' for 2019. Spearheading the DC Extended Universe on Directing or Producing duties, Snyder is clearly most at home in the superhero and comic book genre.

All up, he has twelve Directing credits to his name, eight as Producer, five as Writer and he has so far picked up three award wins and seven nominations for his work. His Directing efforts have grossed so far over US$1.6B. In 2004 he formed Production Company 'Cruel and Unusual Films' with his wife Deborah Snyder with who he has worked on every film since '300', and whom he married in 2004 and with whom they have a son - Eli - often cast by his father to star in his films. Snyder has six children, four by his former marriage to Denise Weber.

Zack Snyder - packs a punch in the body count stakes, often relies on heavily stylised slo-mo action sequences but also is at home in the fast paced ramped up combat scenes, got it wrapped up with DC and intending to give Marvel Studios a run for their money! Is he the man for the job - Zack's the man who can! Loving' your work and looking forward to more - Happy 50th Birthday Zack, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-