- 8th September - 'THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS' - Directed by Chris Renaud for Illumination Entertainment for US$75M, this film stars in voice mode Kevin Hart, Steve Coogan and Albert Brooks amongst many others.
- 15th September - 'PETE'S DRAGON' - combining both live action and animation this is a Walt Disney Pictures remake of their 1977 film of the same name, and Directed by David Lowery and starring Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard and Karl Urban. The Dragon in this piece will be CGI animated created by Peter Jackson's Weta Digital.
- 22nd September - 'STORKS' - from Warner Animation Group this is Directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland, and was Produced and Written by Stoller too, with the voices of Kelsey Grammer, Andy Samberg and Keegan-Michael Key.
- 8th December - 'TROLLS' - with a budget of US$120M from DreamWorks Animation and based on the ever popular Troll Dolls, this animated musical comedy is Directed by Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn and stars an ensemble voice cast including Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Anna Kendrick, Russell Brand, John Cleese, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Zooey Deschanel.
- 26th December - 'MOANA' - this 56th animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios is a musical fantasy set in ancient Oceania, somewhere in the South Pacific and is Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker and stars Dwayne Johnson.
- 26th December - 'SING' - this animated animal based musical comedy is the second production this year from Illumination Entertainment and for US$75M is Directed by Garth Jennings and stars Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly and Taron Egerton.
This week then, there are five new filmic offerings to get you out amongst it at your local multiplex or independent theatre. Kicking off another big screen blockbusting comic book adaptation from those talented folk at Marvel that sees many of our much loved Superhero characters go head to head in all out war against each other . . . and how will it all end? Then, slowing down the pace an Adelaide based film of a Real Estate Agent battling his inner demons to come to terms with his life; and then a comedy about mother's leading up to the one day of the year we should all show our Mums some love. Following this there is the big screen adaptation of a much loved and classic 1970's BBC wartime comedy series; and rounding out the week a Japanese foreign language film of pancakes, bean paste, the young and the old, discrimination, acceptance and cherry blossom.
Having seen you movie(s) of choice in the coming week, why not share your cinematic musings, views, opinions and observations with your like minded film buffs here at Odeon Online. You can do so in the Comments Box below this, or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your film.
'CAPTAIN AMERICA : CIVIL WAR' (Rated M) - the next instalment from the crew at Marvel, sees this the thirteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third in the Captain America series following on from 'The First Avenger' in 2011 and 'Winter Soldier' in 2014. This is so far slated to be the final standalone Captain America film, although Chris Evans who plays Steve Rogers/Captain America reappears in the upcoming two-part 'Avengers: Infinity War' due in May 2018 and May 2019, and has stated his willingness to reprise his role further should Marvel be open to this, now that his initial contract has ended. Australia will be among the first to get the theatrical release of this film, with the UK going live in cinemas on 29th April, and North America on May 6th. Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo, we have an all star cast of acting talent and superhero muscle who come together and battle it out head to head and toe to toe one year after the events of 'Age of Ultron'.
Following the last Avengers outing there has been another international event that brings The Avengers under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Involving more collateral damage, governments around the world call for a level of control and accountability for when The Avengers should be called upon, and for them to be overseen by a greater authority so regulating superhuman activity, and the potential fallout from it. Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr.) agrees that regulation is needed and supports such an Act, but Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) is opposed to it. This results in The Avengers splitting into two with their divided loyalties on either side falling into two differing factions heard up in the one corner by Tony Stark and in the other by Steve Rogers. Whilst this 'civil war' between the two factions rages on the world is threatened by a new enemy. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Sebastian Stan, Elizabeth Olson, Paul Bettany and Emily Van Camp in the roles we have seen them in before, with new characters added from the Marvel Cinematic Universe being Black Panther, Spiderman and Helmut Zemo with a few notable others too. You can expect big things from this film, with the first two grossing US$1.09B and such a formidable collection of assembled Superheroes. Watch out for the obligatory Stan Lee cameo, and the possibility of a post-credits sequence!
'A MONTH OF SUNDAYS' (Rated PG) - Directed, written for the screen and Produced by Matthew Saville, this Australian film sees Anthony LaPaglia as Adelaide Real Estate Agent Frank Mollard - a middle aged recently divorced guy going through a mid-life crisis to end all mid-life crises. He can't move on from his former marriage, he can't connect with his teenage son, and as for his job in real estate - he can't seem to sell a house in a housing boom! All of this though he is in denial about, and then one evening he receives a phone call from his mother . . . who died a year ago! Of course it's a case of mistaken identity and a wrong number, but Frank is so taken in with the woman at the other end of the phone - Sarah (Julia Blake), and vice versa that an odd yet quietly comforting relationship begins to unfold between the two. Also starring Justine Clarke as Wendy - Franks ex-wife and John Clarke as Phillip, Frank's boss. Described as a film about parents, children, regrets, mourning, love, work, houses, homes and getting a second chance . . . even as a Real Estate Agent!
'MOTHERS DAY' (Rated M) - released just in time for Mother's Day in Australia this Garry Marshall Directed comedy has an ensemble cast, and has all the touchstones of his earlier romantic comedies around notable diary dates 'New Year's Eve' and 'Valentine's Day'. This film centres around an upcoming Mother's Day and how a bunch of seemingly unconnected individuals intertwine and reconcile the relationships they either have, our don't have, with their mothers. In particular there is a television host Miranda (Julia Roberts) who gave up her only child at birth for adoption, a divorcee Sandy (Jennifer Aniston)and mother of two whose ex-husband has just married a younger woman, and a woman Jesse (Kate Hudson) looking to cement a relationship with her mum after learning that her parents marriage is failing. Also starring Jason Sudeikis, Jon Lovitz, Timothy Olyphant, Britt Robertson and Shay Mitchell.
'DAD'S ARMY' (Rated PG) - I was never a fan of the long running and much-loved BBC television sit-com that ran from 1968-1977 and aired for 80 episodes, so it is unlikely I'll be dashing out to see this latest feature length offering. Set in 1944 with the end of WWII in sight, the Home Guard under Captain Mainwaring's (Toby Jones) watchful eye is suffering from low morale and lack of purpose. Within no time however, to lift their spirits a glamorous journalist arrives in the shape of Rose Winters (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to report on how the small platoon is bearing up and what keeps them busy. In the meantime, the authorities have detected a radio signal from Walmington-on-Sea to Berlin, and our band of aging soldiers at the ready just happen to reside and be stationed in Walmington-on-Sea. Suspecting foul play at the hands of a spy, this gives the Home Guard Dad's purpose and meaning, and the chance to contribute finally to the war effort. Directed by Oliver Parker and starring Bill Nighy, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Ian Lavender (from the original line-up) and a host of other fine English acting talent. See it for nostalgic reasons . . . 'you stupid boy'!
'AN' (Rated M) - aka 'Sweet Bean' is a lesson in restraint where less is definitely more! Based on the story 'An' by Durian Sukegawa this Japanese film is Directed and written for the screen by Naomi Kawase. This slow and simple story surrounds middle aged Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase) who operates a small bakery making dorayaki (a red bean pancake confection) that is a popular spot with locals and school kids. When he places a notice seeking an assistant to help out in his little shop, he is approached by Tokue (Kirin Kiki) an older woman in her seventies, who's states that she had always wanted to work in such a bakery. Because of her age and her slightly deformed hands, Sentaro initially rejects her application, but upon tasting a sample of her own bean paste he has a change of mind - as hers is something far better tasting that the commercially produced bean paste he has been using. As the business takes off and becomes more in demand, so the customers come to realise that Tokue's hands were deformed by a disease, and as a result sales begin to drop off and Sentaro has to let his assistant go. What unfolds after this turn of events is a story of discrimination, forgiveness, acceptance and much more than a humble back street bakery selling street food. A slow burn meandering and at times emotional film that won't be for everyone, but is sure to find an audience.Five new films, and five very different films at complete opposite ends of the spectrum, so there is no excuse not to find something that appeals. Get yourself out to a movie in the week ahead, and then share your thoughts with us here - in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.
-Steve, at Odeon Online-
