What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 15th November 2018.

The film awards season has officially kicked off with the 'Hollywood Film Awards' being staged on 4th November at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California. This year marked the 22nd year that this celebration of all things Hollywood has taken place, having been launched for the first time in 1997. According to the official website, the Hollywood Film Awards 'honours some of the most acclaimed films and Actors, as well as previews highly anticipated films and talent for the upcoming year'. This years awards ceremony was Hosted by Awkwafina who toppled James Cordon as the Host with the Most for the previous three years. You can gain further details and all the news from the official website at : https://www.hollywoodawards.com/

Among this years list of twenty-four category Winners and Grinners from the world of cinema, the proud and celebrated recipients were :
* Hollywood Career Achievement Award : Nicole Kidman
* Hollywood Actor Award : Hugh Jackman for 'The Front Runner'
* Hollywood Supporting Actor Award : Timothee Chalamet for 'Beautiful Boy'
* Hollywood Actress Award : Glenn Close for 'The Wife'
* Hollywood Supporting Actress Award : Rachel Weisz for 'The Favourite'
* Hollywood Breakout Actor Award : John David Washington for 'BlacKkKlansman'
* Hollywood Breakout Actress Award : Amandla Stenberg for 'The Hate U Give'
* Hollywood Film Award : 'Black Panther'
* Hollywood Animation Award : 'Incredibles 2'
* Hollywood Director Award : Damien Chazelle for 'First Man'
* Hollywood Cinematography Award : Matthew Libatique for 'A Star Is Born'
* Hollywood Film Composer Award : Justin Hurwitz for 'First Man'
* Hollywood Costume Design Award : Sandy Powell for 'The Favourite'
* Hollywood Production Design Award : Hannah Beachler for 'Black Panther'.

This week we have just three new release movies coming to your local Odeon. We launch with the second instalment in the pre-Potterverse that sees our principle young wizard protagonist face off against a mightily powerful foe with the help of a much younger headmaster from a certain school for gifted wizard types. We then turn to a crime comedy caper concerning a career criminal getting on in life who has recently broken out of jail again and goes on a robbery spree that captures the hearts and minds of the general public and a certain detective on his tail too. We wrap up the week with an acclaimed Japanese story of a poor family living hand to mouth, on the edge of their means and who resort to petty crime to sustain themselves who take in a seemingly abandoned young girl which has repercussions for the whole family.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and 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.

'FANTASTIC BEASTS : THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD' (Rated M) - here we have the second film in the 'Fantastic Beasts' saga and the tenth film in the 'Wizarding World' franchise as created by one J. K. Rowling. This instalment is the sequel to 2016's 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' which grossed globally US$814M off the back of a US$180M Production Budget and picked up fifteen award wins and another 52 nominations around the traps including the first Academy Award of the whole franchise so far for Costume Design. Here David Yates Directs, who is no stranger to the J.K.Rowling world having already Directed 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince', 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2' and 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. This film saw its World Premier screening in New York last week and goes on wide release in the US, UK, Australia and other territories this week.

In the closing moments of the first film, the powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). However, true to his word, Grindelwald escaped custody and has begun mustering followers, most of whom are oblivious of his true agenda - to raise wizards and witches to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's dastardly plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who naturally agrees to lend a hand, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the most loyal friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world. Also starring Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Ezra Miller, Zoe Kravitz, Carmen Ejogo, Alison Sudol, and Callum Turner.

'THE OLD MAN & THE GUN' (Rated M) - this American crime comedy film is said to be Robert Redford's final film as an Actor before he hangs up his hat for good and retires on a career that has spanned six decades both in front and behind the camera. Written for the screen and Directed by David Lowery, this film is based on the life of Forrest Tucker who died in 2004 at the age of 83 and spent his entire life from the age of fifteen in and out of prison and as a career criminal. The script is based on David Grann's 2003 article in The New Yorker titled 'The Old Man and the Gun', which was later collected in Grann's 2010 book 'The Devil and Sherlock Holmes'. Having had its World Premier screening at the Telluride Film Festival in late August this year, the film went of general release in the US in late September and has so far grossed US$10M and has received generally positive Press. At age 70, Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford) makes an audacious escape from San Quentin Prison, conducting an unprecedented string of heists that confound authorities and capture the hearts of the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck), who becomes captivated with Forrest's commitment to his craft, and a woman who loves him, Jewel (Sissy Spacek) in spite of his chosen career path. Also starring Danny Glover, Tom Waits, Elisabeth Moss, John David Washington and Keith Carradine.

'SHOPLIFTERS' (Rated M) - this Japanese drama film is Written, Directed and Edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda, Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival back in May this year where is took out the prestigious Palme d'Or, was released in its native Japan in early June, has so far grossed US$54M and has received widespread critical acclaim. Somewhere in Tokyo, Osamu Shibata (Lily Franky) and his wife Nobuyo (Sakura Ando) live a life on the poverty line. Osamu gains infrequent casual employment and Nobuyo has a low-paying job, and the family has to rely largely on the grandmother's pension . . .  as well as petty crime. As Osamu is shoplifting for groceries with his son, Shota (Kairi Jo), they come across Yuri (Miyu Sasaki), a homeless four year old girl shivering in the cold. Osamu takes her home, where the family observe the symptoms of abuse and neglect. Despite their far from ideal financial circumstances, they informally adopt her, but when a shoplifting exercise goes adrift, hidden secrets begin to emerge exposing the bonds that tie the family together.

With three new release films 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 in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM : Monday 21st November 2016.

'FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM' which I caught earlier this week takes place in the 'Potterverse', albeit some 70 years or so before the advent of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Grainger and their exploits at Hogwarts across eight groundbreaking films taken from the seven source novels by one J.K.Rowling. 'Fantastic Beasts . . . ' was written by J.K.Rowling and published in 2001 under the the pseudonym of the fictitious author Newt Scamander about the magical creatures in the Harry Potter universe. It claims to be Harry Potter's copy of the textbook of the same name as referenced in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' - required reading for first year students to Hogwarts. The Screenplay for the film was written by Rowling in her screenwriting debut, and Co-Produced by her too. This is the first spin-off of the Harry Potter series and said to be the first of five films. Directed by David Yates who also Directed to critical acclaim and huge commercial Box Office receipts 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', '. . .  and the Half Blood Prince' and '. . .  and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2', this film was made for US$180M and went on general worldwide release last week, and has so far grossed US$261M.

Set in 1926 New York and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arrives in The Big Apple nearing the end of his travels around the world to seek out, rescue and document the fantastical and magical creatures that share our world, albeit generally hidden from view. He's in NYC for only a brief time, and while walking the streets getting his bearings he comes across a corner where Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) is up on her soapbox warning the gathered crowd of on-lookers about the dangers of wizards and witches who exist among the general population. Mary Lou is the sinister dark leader of the New Salem Philanthropic Society whose mission in life is to dispense with pesky wizards and witches. She operates under the guise of a shelter and soup kitchen for young street kids. Mary Lou has three children of her own - each troubled in some way - Credence (Ezra Miller) the mysterious and brooding adopted son; Modesty (Faith Wood-Blagrove) the youngest adopted daughter who is not all she seems; and Chastity (Jenn Murray) the oldest of the three.

While listening intently to the ramblings of Barebone, a Niffler (a black furry cross between a beaver and a duck billed platypus) escapes from Newt's deceptively nondescript leather suitcase, and goes on the rampage secretly stealing anything shiny and bright it can line its impossibly deep pouch with. On the search for the speedy little critter, Newt inadvertently bumps into Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) a 'No-Maj' (the American term for a Non-Magical human, aka, a 'Muggler' in Great Britain) carrying a matching suitcase to Newts, loaded with hand crafted pastries and baked goods to show the Bank Manager with whom he has an appointment with to secure a loan on a new bakery store. Whilst attempting to retrieve the Niffler, Newt is being watched by Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) a demoted Auror (an employee of the Ministry of Magic whose purpose is to chase down and apprehend Dark Wizards). Tina promptly arrests an unsuspecting Newt for being an unregistered Wizard and carts him off promptly to MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America) in the hope that this arrest will see her regain her old job. Needless to say it doesn't.

Back in Kowalski's apartment after being rejected by the Bank Manager for a loan, a number of creatures escape from Newt's suitcase, that got switched in the ensuing fracas whilst Newt was chasing the Niffler. This in turns leads Newt on the search for his escaped beasts (large and small) that takes him all over New York City, aided by Kowalski as the unassuming accomplice.

Tina meanwhile is now on the run having raised the suspicions of Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) - the Director of Magical Security at MACUSA. Graves has a hidden agenda however, and is in cahoots with Credence Barebone and offers him a way out of his downtrodden abusive existence at the hands of his adoptive mother Mary Lou, in exchange for him locating the host of the Obscurus (a dark and powerfully destructive force that young magical children sometimes inadvertently manifest to hide their powers). One such Obscurus has been running amok in New York causing widespread destruction as was seen in the opening scene of the film.

With Newt, Kowalski and Tina on the run, the three rest up in Tina's apartment with her free-spirited mind-reading sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) - who instantly falls for Kowalski and vice versa. Newt and Kowalski disappear down into the hidden depths of Newt's suitcase and emerge down below in a cavernous menagerie of wild creatures, fantastic beasts and unusual animals of many differing types and sizes - all of which have been rescued, cared for, nursed back to health or hidden from danger. Here Newt and Kowalski spend some time getting to know each other and the latter gains an insight into the magnitude of the formers work, whilst encountering the myriad of fantastical beasts. They then re-emerge and seek to recapture the Niffler and a Erumpent (a massive Rhino like beast, that will trash anything in its path, and has a deadly liquid in its horn). The pair are successful, and then they stow away again in the suitcase to be taken off to MACUSA by Tina with the view of clearing their names now that all escaped beasts have been successfully recaptured.

That plan doesn't quite pay-off when the three are arrested with Newt being accused of the death of Senator Henry Shaw Jnr. (Josh Cowdery) the son of wealthy Henry Shaw Snr. (John Voight) at the hands of one of the escaped beasts, when in fact it was an Obscurus. As a result Newt's suitcase is ordered to be destroyed containing everything therein, while Newt and Kowalski are locked up in a cell in the bowels of the building, while Tina is interrogated by Graves. Newt is accused of conspiring with Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald (one of the most dangerous Wizards of all time, and second only to Lord Voldemort). Newt and Tina are sentenced to immediate execution, and Kowalski is to have his memory obliviated (a spell used to erase a memory of a certain event). However, Queenie with her mind reading powers hatches a cunning plan to help them escape, and they do.

Meanwhile, Graves is applying more pressure on young Credence to locate the young source of the Obscurus. Snooping around Mary Lou's shelter, Credence comes across a wand under Modesty's bed. Mary Lou intervenes and assumes that the wand belongs to Credence and is about to whip him once again, when Modesty reveals it is hers. When Mary Lou is about to vent her displeasure upon Modesty, the Obscurus is released destroying everything within the shelter and killing Mary Lou in the process. Graves arrives after the fact and chastises Credence as a squib (a child born of magical parents, but who has grown with no magical abilities), and therefore renegs on his commitment to teach the young lad in the ways of magic. At which Credence looses his cool and reveals that he is the host of the Obscurus, and in his anger, unleashes widespread destruction on New York.

The Obscurus comes to rest in a subway tunnel, chased down by Newt and Tina, who knows Credence and attempts to calm him down and restore him to his human form. In doing so, Graves arrives with a delegation from MACUSA including Seraphina (Carmen Ejogo) the President of that esteemed and august organisation. It is decided that Credence must be destroyed to keep the magic hidden from the No-Maj. Graves comes on strong with his views to use the Obscurus to expose the magical community to the No-Maj claiming that MACUSA serves to protect them, rather that itself. Seraphina orders that Graves be apprehended, and as a fight breaks out Newt overpowers him with a spell that binds his arms. He drops to his knees now powerless and Newt uses the power of revelio to reveal Graves hidden identity - to be that of Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).

After Grindelwald is carted off muttering a few words to his captors, setting up the second instalment in this franchise, the MACUSA claim it is now too late, and that too much has happened to keep their secret magical world hidden from the No-Maj. Newt though has one more trick up his sleeve and he summons his Thunderbird to release a potion over the city that will rain down in an almighty storm erasing the memories of these most recent events from the city's No-Maj population. In the meantime, the Wizards will magically go about repairing the city to its former glory before the Obscurus attacked.

In the closing scene, we see Kowalski have his memory obliviated but his bakery dreams come true thanks to a parting gift from Newt. Tina and Newt part company at the dockside with a tear in the eyes before Newt boards his ship bound for England where he is to write his book 'Fantastic Beasts, and where to find them'. He commits to delivering a personal copy to Tina when his work is finished.

I enjoyed 'Fantastic Beasts . . . ' but not as much as I thought I would going in. It has all the touchstones of the Harry Potter world that provide an assurance of familiarity, consistency and continuity, but without the children, making this a more adult oriented offering. It is effects laden as to be expected about a film featuring fantastic beasts, mythical creatures, weird animals and some sort of magic at every turn, and these effects are all very well realised and serve the escapism factor no end, and as such is sure to attract Harry Potter fans the world over. But without these, this film would be pretty one dimensional and over in half the time, with a plot that is pretty simple and relies heavily on the creature features to deliver the films set pieces. For me, the nifty little Niffler steals the show as well as just about everything else it can lay its escaped claws on, with Redmayne playing the goofy, nervous, shy, fish outta water yet highly intelligent Scamander. It is good to see David Yates keeping us grounded in the Potterverse given his success in that space, but at the same time taking us off in a whole new direction with this film, with its more adult themes and underlying messages. For the first of a five film franchise, there is a strong foundation here that hopefully can be built upon for create success moving forward. The second instalment, to be set in Paris is slated for November 2018.

-Steve, at Odeon Online- 

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th November 2016.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Hogwarts, along comes what is said to be the first in a five film franchise spin-off of that hugely successful 'Harry Potter' universe. Created by J.K.Rowling over seven novels and eight films that have seen Rowling go from rags to riches in a relatively short period of time, amassing her a personal fortune, it is reported, somewhere close to £600M from her book sales and film rights for which she retained final script approval and creative license on the 'Deathly Hallows' instalments. Her 'Harry Potter' books have become the best selling book series in history selling a combined 400 million copies, worth in the UK alone close to £240M making her the UK's best selling living author. Now in 2016 we return to the 'Potterverse' with 'Fantastic Beasts and where to find them' written by Rowling under the pseudonym of Newt Scamander and first published in March 2001. Set in a New York City of 1926 where Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is visiting some seventy years before Harry Potter's story first started, but which is referenced in 'Philospsoher's Stone'. It is Scamander who researches, rescues, and documents said fantastic beasts, exotic creatures, and strange animals. Directed by David Yates who helmed the final four 'Harry Potter' films to critical and commercial success, it seems that 'Fantastic Beasts' is in safe and familiar hands, and waiting for you to find them!

This week there are four new films aimed largely at a more mature audience that range from epic blockbuster to small independent fare and across action fantasy, Sci-Fi horror, buddy cop black comedy and social drama. Starting off with the return to all things wizardry that takes us in a familiar yet new direction in this prequel to a much loved critically acclaimed and commercially successful series of books and films, that might just go the same way. Then we have a buddy cop movie of two crooked detectives who get the tables turned on them when they least expect it - delivered by a noted Director who likes his comedy served black and cold. We then move to a Sci-Fi horror offering of a synthetic being running amok and a consultant sent in to decide what to do before it goes all pair shaped for everyone! And then we wrap up, with a social drama with something to say about the state of Britain's welfare and wellbeing system.

Whether you choose to see any of the four films as Previewed below, or those as Previewed in prior weeks or Reviewed here within these humble Blog pages, remember to share your views and opinions of your own movie going experience, with your like minded cinephiles here. Leave your Comment below this or any other Post - you'll always get a response, and of course, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Meanwhile, enjoy your film.

'FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM' (Rated M) - takes place in the 'Potterverse', albeit some 70 years or so before the advent of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Grainger and their exploits at Hogwarts across eight groundbreaking films taken from the seven source novels by one J.K.Rowling. 'Fantastic Beasts . . . ' was written by J.K.Rowling and published in 2001 under the the pseudonym of the fictitious author Newt Scamander about the magical creatures in the Harry Potter universe. It claims to be Harry Potter's copy of the textbook of the same name as referenced in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' - required reading for first year students to Hogwarts. The Screenplay for the film was written by Rowling in her screenwriting debut, and Co-Produced by her too. This is the first spin-off of the Harry Potter series and said to be the first of five films. Directed by David Yates who also Directed to critical acclaim and huge commercial Box Office receipts 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', '. . .  and the Half Blood Prince' and '. . .  and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2', this film was made for US$180M and goes on general worldwide release this week.

Set in 1926 New York and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arrives in The Big Apple nearing the end of his travels around the world to seek out, rescue and document the fantastical and magical creatures that share our world, albeit generally hidden from view. He's in NYC for only a brief time, but his plans are scuppered when he encounters a No-Maj (American for 'Muggle') named Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) who inadvertently lets several of Newt's fantastic beasts escape from his deceptively nondescript leather brief case. This is in breach of the Statute of Secrecy which comes to the attention of Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) a downtrodden and demoted member of the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) who sees this latest development as a chance to regain her former place in that hallowed organisation. Little does she know that Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) who is the Director of Magical Security at MACUSA is suspicious of both Newt and Tina. Joining forces with Newt, Tina and Jacob is Queenie (Alison Sudol), Tina's younger sister. The four fugitives from the law must now track down and recapture the escaped beasts before they come to harm, but little do they also know that their mission puts them on a collision course with the dark forces that could have more far reaching consequences for them all. Also starring John Voight, Ron Perlman, Johnny Depp, Ezra Miller and Samantha Morton amongst other fantastic beasts - if you know where to find them.

'WAR ON EVERYONE' (Rated MA15+) - Written and Directed by John Michael McDonagh, who brought us the excellent 'The Guard' and 'Calvary', has delivered here another black comedy but instead of being set in Ireland as were those two features, here this time the action takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The film was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in February this year, was released in the UK and Ireland in early October, and now arrives in Australian cinemas. Telling the story of two corrupt buddy cops in Albuquerque, Detectives Terry Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bob Bolano (Michael Pena) who set up to frame and blackmail every criminal low life that makes the sorry mistake of crossing their paths. However, things take an unexpected turn for the worse when the two Detectives come across a perpetrator in the form of a British 'Lord', James Mangan (Theo James) who just happens to be more dangerous and more scheming than they are. Also starring Tessa Thompson and Paul Reiser.

'MORGAN' (Rated MA15+) - this Sci-Fi horror offering is helmed by first time Director Luke Scott (son of Sir Ridley, who takes a Producer credit), was released in early September in the US and UK, cost US$8M to make, has so far made US$9M and has received average Reviews only. Telling the story of Morgan (Anya Taylor-Joy), a synthetic bioengineered being, who started walking and talking after just one month in existence, much to the surprise and delight of its creators. When Morgan violently attacks one of its handlers, corporate troubleshooter Lee Weathers (Kate Mara) is sent in to the secluded, remote and ever so secret facility to investigate. Weather's task it to observe and make a determination to keep Morgan alive or not based on calculated risk. When Morgan breaks free and tries to evade capture using her particular set of skills, the facility goes into lockdown and the staff find themselves at the mercy of an unpredictable and dangerous synthetic being. Also starring Toby Jones, Brian Cox, Paul Giamatti, Michelle Yeoh, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rose Leslie. Said to be beautifully shot, with strong performances from the gathered ensemble cast, but we may just have seen this done better in last years 'Ex Machina'.

'I, DANIEL BLAKE' (Rated MA15+) - eighty year old English film and television Director Ken Loach has been making films with social messages at their heart for five decades, and he came out of self-imposed retirement to make this film - his 26th feature film - which won the Palme D'Or at this years Cannes Film Festival and from around the festival circuit has so far picked up five other wins and a nomination. Using non-professional acting talent Loach has crafted a warts and all look at the British welfare system, job prospects and being cast aside before even hitting the ripe old age of sixty. Here stand-up comedian Dave Johns is Daniel Blake a 59 year old carpenter and widower living in England's north-east when he suffers a major heart attack. His cardiologist orders him not to work for fear of him developing an irregular heart beat which could be life threatening. Daniel is an active kind of chap, and in seeking Employment and Support Allowance, but is told be some joker masquerading as a healthcare professional that he is in fact fit for work. Caught between a rock and hard place, Blake takes on the bureaucratic red tape in an attempt claim Jobseekers Allowance. At the same time he befriends single mother Kate (Hayley Squires) who is in a similar situation but with two children in tow. Together the pair go the distance fighting the system, but not without its challenges! Raw, revealing and relevant this is a film of contemporary Britain in all its sad social injustice.

Four very different films to choose from then to keep you entertained in the week ahead. Share your views with us here, when you have sat through your movie of choice, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon sometime in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN : Friday 8th July 2016.

'THE LEGEND OF TARZAN' which I saw on Friday sees a tree swinging, loin cloth wearing, jungle dwelling raised by apes hero who turned 100 years old in 2012 - having first emerged as the subject of a novel 'Tarzan of the Apes' immortalised by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912. The first full length feature film appeared in 1918 with 51 subsequent live action and animated films since then right up to 2005. Perhaps the most memorable and loved Tarzan was played by Johnny Weissmuller - a record breaking swimmer and winner of five Olympic Gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics in Paris and Amsterdam respectively. His first film 'Tarzan the Ape Man' was released in 1932 and all up he made twelve appearances as the jungle hero. Buster Crabbe, another Olympic Swimmer of the 1928 and 1932 Olympics appeared in 1933's 'Tarzan the Fearless' with Lex Barker starring in five films and Gordon Scott in six. By the 1970's Tarzan had largely had his time, albeit John Derrick's 'Tarzan the Ape Man' in 1981 with Miles O'Keefe; 'Greystoke : The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes' in 1984 with Christopher Lambert; 'Tarzan in Manhattan' and 'Tarzan Returns' in 1987 and 1996 both with Joe Lara, and then 'Tarzan and the Lost City' with Casper Van Dien in 1998 saw the last of the live action offerings on the big screen. There have been four animated features since then - three from Disney Studios and as recently as 2005 with Warner Bros. releasing a short-lived television series in 2003 with Travis Fimmel in the title role. Tarzan has a rich and colourful history taking in a multitude of films, television series, radio shows, theatre productions, novels, comic books, video games and action figures. And, there is a San Fernando Valley neighbourhood named 'Tarzana' established around a former ranch previously owned by the characters creator.

With the history lesson over how will this latest live action offering go in an era of Marvel dominated Superheroes, hi-technology, advanced gadgetry and otherworldly enemies when our hero is not super but just a mere mortal dependant upon his brute strength, animal instincts and the laws of the jungle, and, lives in the late 19th Century? Directed by David Yates (he of the last four 'Harry Potter' films and the upcoming 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and made for US$180M the film has so far recovered US$136M, and stars a well known principle cast, with Alexander Skarsgard as our planet of the apes man John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke (aka Tarzan) whom we meet initially in company with the British Prime Minister (Jim Broadbent) at 10, Downing Street. Also in the room are the PM's aides, advisors and members of his Cabinet and a George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson), an American Envoy. The discussion surrounds the recent Berlin Conference, and how the African Congo has been split up between Belgium and the United Kingdom. As a result Lord Greystoke has been invited by King Leopold II of Belgium to visit Boma, and report back on Belgium's development of the country and infrastructure.

Greystoke turns down the invitation, but Williams is insistent and knows that he is the legendary Tarzan and he should return to investigate claims of rumours that the Belgians are enslaving the locals to build rail road tracks, bridges, forts and infrastructure. Having done so King Leopold has gone very heavily into debt, and so he sends his own Envoy out to the Congo, Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz) to pillage the land of all its mineral wealth, but most notably the fabled diamonds of Opar, which when in his possession will make him the worlds wealthiest monarch.

As Rom and his small army approach Opar they are attacked and overcome by Chief Mbonga (Djimon Hounsou), leaving all dead, except for Rom, who strikes up a deal with the Chief in exchange for his life and all the diamonds he can carry. That deal is to bring Tarzan to the Chief, for the Chief wants Tarzan dead for killing his only son years before, although the son killed Tarzan's ape mother. Greystoke doesn't know what he is walking into as he reluctantly agrees to go on a fact finding and observation mission accompanied by Williams and Jane, his wife (Margot Robbie).

And so, we join Greystoke, Jane and Williams on foot traipsing through the wide sweeping lands of the African Congo plains, where they settle with a tribe formally known to Tarzan and Jane and they are greeted with much celebration for their homecoming. However, Rom has tracked them down and early one morning he and his men ambush the village, burning down the huts, killing the tribal Chief and taking Greystoke and Jane prisoner, although their plans are thwarted somewhat by Williams and his deft touch with a hunting rifle. As a consequence, Tarzan escapes but Jane is taken captive by Rom and they disappear after a fierce gun fight down river on a paddle steamer.

And so the search is on now for Jane. With Williams and a few trusted tribesmen in tow, Tarzan makes across the jungle on foot to intercept a train that will get them fast to where the paddle steamer carrying a captive Jane is believed to be travelling to. The train is of Belgian origin carrying a compartment load of soldiers and  two trailer loads of slaves. Dispensing with the soldiers single handedly, Tarzan learns from an engineer of Rom's plan to bring 20,000 mercenaries into the Congo four days from now and currently en route to Boma via a fleet of ships. The slaves have been used to build forts located strategically along a newly constructed railway line, that will accommodate the newly amassed army from which they will rape and pillage the Congo of all its mineral wealth, led by Rom.

Along the way though Tarzan and Williams encounter several challenges as they follow their path to free Jane and thwart Rom's dastardly plan. This includes a fierce battle with Akut - his ape brother whom Tarzan grew up with, but now considers him a deserter and as the leader now of the apes must be fought with. Akut wins the fight but allows Tarzan to live - and having proven his point he retreats back into the jungle with his family, allowing Tarzan and Williams to continue their journey, albeit Tarzan is badly battered and bruised.

Continuing his journey into Opar, Tarzan is greeted by Chief Mbonga and his tribe, and the two fight in hand to hand combat with Tarzan overcoming his adversary, and about to slit his throat when halted from doing so by Williams, who makes Tarzan see sense. Rom by now is in possession of a chest full of diamonds and Jane, having recaptured her after a failed escape plan, and are returning to Boma. Back at Opar, Tarzan's ape family arrive with Akut to keep Mbonga's tribe at bay, so that he and Williams can make haste to Boma, before the fleet of mercenary ships arrives, Rom pays off his country's debts with the diamonds, and rescue Jane.

Tarzan summons the might of a wildebeest herd to stampede through Boma which they do with devastating effect, so creating enough of a distraction that he can rescue Jane. With the fleet approaching the harbour, Rom sets out to greet them on his paddle steamer and hand over the diamonds. With Williams on port side with a conveniently located machine gun and a full magazine, he fires repeatedly at the paddle steamer, eventually sinking it, but not before Tarzan has got to the engines boiler tank and manipulated the pressure valve. With Jane safe on dry land, left behind by Rom, a fight breaks out on the deck of the now rapidly sinking paddle steamer between Tarzan and Rom, with one of them succumbing to a gruesome watery grave . . . no guessing who that might be, before they paddle steamer explodes in a ball of fire.

In the final analysis this is a watchable film and worth seeing on the big screen for all the sweeping vistas, jungle scenery, vine swinging, and CGI animal life (close encounters with apes, elephants, tigers, hippos and wildebeest most notably). Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz and Margot Robbie all perform well and really carry this film, but I felt short changed by Alexander Skarsgard who has the perfectly chiseled physique for a 21st century Actor playing a 19th century loin cloth wearing hero but he lacks any personality, humour, emotion or redeeming features that make you want to like him. When he's swinging through the trees, talking to the animals and strutting his funky Tarzan stuff then all well & good, but outside of these occasions - there ain't much there! That said David Yates has done a reasonably good, if predictable, job at bringing us the first live action Tarzan adventure this millennium, and has done his best to keep Edgar Rice Burroughs 104 year old character alive . . . but is it enough to warrant a sequel? Only you can decide that fate!


-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 7th July 2016.

Last week I reported on the first six months Box Office success stories from 2016 and their ranking in the all time Box Office league table. So this week I thought I'd analyse our local Australian market to see what we as a nation have so far favoured this year, and where we spent our hard earned dollar. Once again, taken from Box Office MoJo, the Top 10 films that Australian audiences flocked to see, with how much we spent, are listed below :-

• #1 - 'Deadpool' - released February - $33,314M
• #2 - 'Captain America : Civil War' - released April - $25,699M
• #3 - 'Finding Dory' - released June and still on general release - $22,916M
• #4 - 'The Jungle Book' - released April, and still showing in limited theatres - $22,534M
• #5 - 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' - released March - $22,517M
• #6 - 'Zootopia' - released March - $21,242M
• #7 - 'The Revenant' - released January - $15,255M
• #8 - 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2' - released March - $11,697M
• #9 - 'X-Men : Apocalypse' - released May, and still showing in limited theatres - $11,392M
• #10 - 'Kung Fu Panda 3' - released March - $9,808M

Those sitting below but still in the Top 50 so far this year, and worthy of note are 'The Conjuring 2' at #13; 'The Angry Birds Movie' at #15; 'Now You See Me 2' at #18; 'Alice Through The Looking Glass' at #19; 'Independence Day : Resurgence' at #20; 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' at #23; 'The Hateful Eight' at #24; 'Warcraft : The Beginning' at #32; 'Spotlight' at #38; 'The BFG' at #48. Many of these are still on general release, and some only very recently so. What this shows once again is that we have an overwhelming appetite for comic book Superheroes, action fantasy, SciFi & CGI; the animated features do well for the kids dragging Mum & Dad along too; and well made drama will always find an audience.

Turning attention to this week then, there are five new movies coming to a cinema near you. Starting off with a hero who has seen plenty of film action over the last one hundred years, this is the first live action feature this century and with an all star cast and an accomplished Director, the jungle drums are beating, the wildlife is circling, and there's familiar yell through the trees that can only mean one man has returned. Then we go to the great Aussie outback that has a search for a missing girl amidst crime, corruption and cover-ups in a small mining community; followed up by a New York love triangle story that seems sure to raise more moral questions than it answers. We then have a true story surrounding the Revolution in Iran of 1979, and the impact on one particular family who went from hero to zero overnight and the lengths they went to in order to secure their safety & security when all about them was in turmoil; and wrapping up with two brothers needing to secure responsible, respectable dates with which to attend a family wedding, but needless to say things don't go quite according to plan.

With action, drama, comedy and romance on this weeks agenda, plus the raft of other great cinematic content still on general release and as Reviewed or Previewed between these pages, there is no excuse not to get out to your local movie theatre. When you have done so, be sure to drop your thoughts and film experience into the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear your views. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'THE LEGEND OF TARZAN' (Rated M) - this tree swinging, loin cloth wearing, ape loving jungle hero turned 100 years old in 2012 - having first emerged as the subject of a novel 'Tarzan of the Apes' immortalised by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912. The first full length feature film appeared in 1918 with 51 subsequent live action and animated films since then right up to 2005. Perhaps the most memorable and loved Tarzan was played by Johnny Weissmuller - a record breaking swimmer and winner of five Olympic Gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics in Paris and Amsterdam respectively. His first film 'Tarzan the Ape Man' was released in 1932 and all up he made twelve appearances as the jungle hero. Buster Crabbe, another Olympic Swimmer of 1928 and 1932 appeared in 1933's 'Tarzan the Fearless' with Lex Barker starring in five films and Gordon Scott in six. By the 1970's Tarzan had largely had his time, albeit John Derrick's 'Tarzan the Ape Man' in 1981 with Miles O'Keefe; 'Greystoke : The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes' in 1984 with Christopher Lambert; 'Tarzan in Manhattan' and 'Tarzan Returns' in 1987 and 1996 both with Joe Lara, and then 'Tarzan and the Lost City' with Casper Van Dien in 1998 saw the last of the live action offerings. There have been four animated features since then - three from Disney Studios and as recently as 2005. Tarzan has a rich and colourful history taking in a multitude of films, television series, radio shows, theatre productions, novels, comic books, video games and action figures. And, there is a San Fernando Valley neighbourhood named 'Tarzana' established around a former ranch owned by the characters creator.

With the history lesson over how will this latest live action offering go in an era of Marvel dominated Superheroes, hi-technology, advanced gadgetry and otherworldly enemies? David Yates Directs an all star cast headed up by Alexander Skarsgard as our planet of the apes man for a cool US$180M that sees John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke (aka Tarzan) return to the African Congo from his home in London to thwart Captain Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz) a corrupt and ruthless Belgian officer sent by his King to search for diamonds and take control of the Region. He teams up with Chief Mbonga (Djimon Hounsou) who controls the diamond trade and the Region but has a vendetta against Tarzan. Meanwhile, Tarzan and his wife Jane Porter (Margot Robbie) travel to the Congo with George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson) to investigate stories of locals being enslaved. When paths cross, and the animal kingdom go on the rampage at the will of Tarzan, it will invariably come down to the survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle, and my money is on the loin cloth clad ape man! Jim Broadbent also stars.

'GOLDSTONE' (Rated M) - this film opened the Sydney Film Festival on 8th June and had its World Premier then, before going on general release in Australia this week. Directed and Written by Ivan Sen who also acted as Cinematographer and wrote the music score, this is the sequel to his highly acclaimed and multi-award winning and nominated 2013 film 'Mystery Road'. This films sees Aaron Pedersen reprising his role as Detective Jay Swan who rolls half-drunk and semi-conscious into the Australian outback town of Goldstone where he is promptly picked up by the only cop in this one horse town, Josh (Alex Russell). The two form an unlikely partnership as they in go in search of a missing girl, whilst coming up against various road blocks put in their way by the town's Mayor (Jacki Weaver) and the local mining company boss (David Wenham) that only add to the web of intrigue and unravel a mass of crime and corruption in this remote community. David Gulpilil also stars.

'MAGGIE'S PLAN' (Rated M) - Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Rebecca Miller this dramadeyrom stars Greta Gerwig as Maggie, a young intellectual New Yorker who decides to have a child without the burden of a man. She inseminates herself with the aid of Guy (Travis Fimmel) a former college friend and then promptly falls for John (Ethan Hawke) - an unhappy author married to Georgette (Julianne Moore)  - a Columbia University Professor. John and Georgette's marriage is however, on the slide. Fast track a few years and John and Maggie are now married, but Maggie is fast falling out of love with her husband, and so she hatches a plan to reunite her husband with his ex-wife. The film Premiered at TIFF in September last year, and was subsequently shown at the New York Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival in February before its official US release in May. It has so far grossed US$2.2M.

'SEPTEMBERS OF SHIRAZ' (Rated M) - based on Dahlia Sofer's 2007 novel 'The Septembers of Shiraz' this is a true story Directed by Wayne Blair set in the lead up to the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Before that time Iran was a prosperous country where there was tolerance of all religions and people could live and flourish. But come the Revolution and life changes for many in an instant, including that of the prosperous Jewish family led by Isaac Amin (Adrien Brody) - a successful jeweller based in Tehran. One morning, for no apparent reason he is arrested, carted off and interrogated leaving his distraught wife Farnez (Selma Hayek) to make sense of it all, secure the release of her husband and get him and their family the hell outta Dodge! A searing insight into how quickly lives can change, and how much pain and anguish can be endured to save those closest to you.

'MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES' (Rated MA15+) - well, here, once again, we have Zac Efron playing . . . well, Zac Efron! Stuck it seems in type cast Hell judging by his more recent fare, here he plays David, surprise surprise half of a delinquent brother duo to Michael (Adam DeVine) who have a reputation for trashing and upsetting family gatherings because of their hi-jinx and dangerous antics. With their sisters wedding on the horizon planned for Hawaii their parents order the boys to secure responsible, respectable wedding dates. After placing an ad. on social media which quickly goes viral, and then the boys appear on the daytime infotainment talk show - 'The Wendy Williams Show' to promote themselves, they catch the eyes and the ears of Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) and Alice (Anna Kendrick) who appear to be everything that Mike and Dave's parents could wish for. However, when the foursome arrive in Hawaii with family and guests in tow, the girls shows their true colours and the boys find themselves outsmarted, out-partied and outdone at every turn by the uncontrollable and unhinged girls. Directed by Jake Szymanski.

Five new filmic offerings for the week ahead, so get on out to your local multiplex and treat yourself to some movie goodness. Remember to share your thoughts with this Blog after your movie of choice, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-