BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE : Tuesday 10th September 2024

I saw the M Rated 'BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE' earlier this week, and this American fantasy comedy horror film is Co-Produced and Directed by Tim Burton and is the sequel to Burton's 1988 film 'Beetlejuice' which grossed US$75M off the back of a US$15M production budget and garnered seven award wins (including the Academy Award for Best Make-Up) plus another eleven nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. In the intervening years the film's success gave rise to an animated TV series, video games and a 2018 stage musical. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing as the Opening Night film presentation at the Venice International Film Festival in late August before its worldwide release from last week. It has so far grossed US$173M off the back of a US$100M production budget and has garnered generally positive critical acclaim.

Set thirty-six years after the events of the first film, and in the present day Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) is the host of a supernatural talk show called 'Ghost House', produced by her boyfriend Rory (Justin Theroux). During the taping of a segment, she has a vision of the demon Betelgeuse, who haunted her family thirty-six years previously, in the audience. Taking a sudden break from filming Lydia learns from her stepmother Delia (Catherine O'Hara) about the death of her father Charles who died while travelling back from Brazil when his plane crashed into the sea and he was eaten by a shark. While driving back to Winter River for the funeral service, the surviving Deetz family pick up Lydia's estranged teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), from boarding school. Astrid is a complete non-believer in ghosts, demons and all things afterlife which her mother so sternly propagates, stating that she believes only that which she can see and in science. Following the funeral services, Rory proposes to Lydia in front of the attendees, which she reluctantly agrees to, causing Astrid to flee and meet Jeremy Frazier (Arthur Conti), who invites her over prior to the wedding at midnight on Halloween - two days hence.

Later while in the attic of their former home, Astrid discovers a box of items belonging to her father Richard (Santiago Cabrera), who disappeared two years earlier, and an ad to contact Betelgeuse. She learns that Jeremy is actually a ghost seeking her help to restore his life, at which point Astrid concedes that her mother was right all along. They enter the afterlife after he has Astrid recite an incantation from the 'Handbook for the Recently Deceased'. 

Discovering Jeremy is dead and his past as the murderer of his mother and father who was then killed by breaking his neck while falling from his own treehouse, and thereafter being trapped to within the confines of the house for the last 23 years, Lydia reluctantly calls upon Betelgeuse to help retrieve Astrid. He agrees but demands that Lydia marry him, allowing him to stay in the mortal world and evade Delores (Monica Belluci), his vengeful ex-wife who in life was a mysterious soul-sucking witch who poisoned Betelgeuse several centuries earlier during the Black Plague before he killed her with an axe in retaliation, and chopping her up into multiple pieces. Delores has returned and using a staple gun pieces herself back together. Meanwhile, Delia conducts a ceremony at Charles' grave using two live snakes she believed were no longer venemous, that bite and kill her. 

Lydia agrees to the marriage, and Betelgeuse and she are transported into the afterlife train station in an attempt to stop Astrid from boarding the 'Soul Train', which transports souls into the beyond. By reciting the incantation, Astrid was tricked into swapping places with Jeremy in order for him to regain his life. She recognises one of the station's employees as her father Richard, who rescues her and Lydia while Betelgeuse sends Jeremy down into the depths of Hell.

Hunted by ghost detective and former B-movie action star Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe) for bringing Lydia into the afterlife, Betelgeuse agrees to help Delia find Charles if she helps him find Lydia, who along with Astrid was ushered away and returned to Winter River by Richard. At a church in the mortal world, Lydia and Astrid arrive as Rory waits at the altar, watched on patiently by the reverend Father Damien (Burn Gorman).

Betelgeuse, needless to say, hijacks the wedding, injecting Rory in the neck with a truth serum to reveal his true intentions to marry Lydia for her money. Enraged, she punches Rory, knocking him out. As Betelgeuse prepares to marry Lydia, Delores arrives to confront him, along with Wolf and his team. Using the handbook as a guide, Astrid unleashes a giant sandworm through a portal she painted on the floor into the church that eats Delores and Rory, while Betelgeuse freezes Wolf and his men to the spot where they stand.

Astrid reveals that Betelgeuse violated the rules of the handbook by bringing Lydia into the afterlife, thwarting the wedding and allowing Lydia to return him to the afterlife by blowing him up like a balloon which then explodes with the remnants floating back down to the floor before igniting in a puff of smoke and flame. Afterward, Lydia and Astrid reassure Delia of their love for her as she is escorted to the afterlife by Wolf. She soon reunites with Charles before boarding the Soul Train bound for Heaven. Sometime later, Lydia films the final segment of her last episode of 'Ghost House', opting to spend time with Astrid and travelling the world. Despite this, she continues to have nightmares about Betelgeuse, including one in which Astrid gives birth to his 'mini-me' child. 

It must be said that there is much to like about this trip down memory lane for those of us old enough to have enjoyed the 1988 original, and it's encouraging to see Director Tim Burton back on form and delivering us his trademark zany no holds barred fantastical horror comedy offering that still packs a punch. It's not entirely necessary to be familiar with the 1988 original, as this film stands firmly on its own two feet and ably fills in any backstory as it moves along to bring the viewer up to speed on what has gone before. Keaton slips back into his role of Betelgeuse like he's never been away, as do Ryder and O'Hara for the most part, ably supported by Ortega, but as for the other principle cast members they are left largely under developed and left wallowing in multiple plot twists and turns many of which prove to be dead ends. The film certainly looks the part, but with 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Burton has sacrificed substance in favour of style. 

'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard out of a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th September 2024

The 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year is held from Thursday 5th September through until Sunday 15th September. TIFF is dedicated to presenting the best of international and Canadian cinema and creating transformational experiences for film lovers and creators of all ages and backgrounds. As Canada's premiere home of cinema, TIFF offers screenings, lectures, discussions, festivals, workshops, events, professional development and opportunities to meet, hear and learn from filmmakers from Canada and around the world. TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organisation with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film, so reads the official website. 

This years Opening Film is the comedy drama 'Nutcrackers' Directed by David Gordon Green and starring Ben Stiller, with the Closing Film being the Australian musical film 'The Deb' that is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Co-Starring and Directed by Rebel Wilson and also stars Shane Jacobson.

In the TIFF Tribute Awards this year the recipients include the Canadian Director, Producer, Screenwriter and Actor David Cronenberg as recipient of the Norman Jewison Award, and the American Actress Amy Adams as a recipient of the Performer Award. The Australian Actress and Producer Cate Blanchett has been announced as the recipient of the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award for women who have made a positive difference in the film industry, with the American Actress and Director Angelina Jolie having been announced as the recipient of the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media.

This year there are ten feature films competing for the Platform Award which spotlights films with high artistic merit and strong Directorial vision. All films in the Platform programme are eligible for this award, which will be selected by an international jury, comprising Atom Egoyan, Jane Schoenbrun and Hur Jin-ho. The winning filmmaker will receive a CAD$20K cash prize.

Those films are :-

* 'Daniela Forever' - from Spain and Belgium, this Sci-Fi romantic drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Nacho Vigalondo and stars Henry Golding.

* 'Daughter's Daughter' - from Taiwan and Directed by Huang Xi.

* 'Mr. K' - from Netherlands, Belgium and Norway, this surreal drama film is Written and Directed by Tallulah H. Schwab and stars Crispin Glover.

* 'Paying for It' - from Canada, this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Sook-Yin Lee.

* 'Pedro Paramo' - from Mexico, this magic realism drama film is Directed by Rodrigo Prieto and stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

* 'They Will Be Dust' - from Spain, Italy and Switzerland this musical tragicomedy is Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Carlos Marques-Marcet.

* 'Triumph' - from Bulgaria and Greece, this black comedy film is Co-Written, Co-Prodcued and Directed by Petar Valchanov and Kristina Grozeva and stars Maria Bakalova.

* 'Viktor' - from Ukraine and the USA and Directed by Olivier Sarbil.

* 'Winter in Sokcho' - from France and Directed by Koya Kamura.

* 'The Wolves Always Come at Night' - from Australia, Mongolia and Germany and Directed by Gabrielle Brady.

For the full line up of the other films strands being showcased at this years TIFF, plus the full descriptors of all films and a whole heap of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://www.tiff.net         

Turning the attention back to this weeks all important five new movies coming to an Odeon near you, we kick off with a sequel that has been 36 years in the making that following a family tragedy, three generations of this family return home to Winter River, and still haunted by this ghost, the mother's life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife. Next up we have a comedy drama offering centering on a 93 year old grandmother who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, and so she sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her. This is followed by an Aussie doco about arguably the greatest horse in Australian racing history – in all her equine glory! Then we turn to a French drama thriller in which a brilliant lawyer who lives with her husband and their daughters, gradually engages in a passionate relationship with her husbands son from a previous marriage, putting her career and family life in danger. And closing out the week we have an Indian biographical political drama about the incidents that take place under the leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, one of the most powerful women in Indian history.

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

'BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE' (Rated M) - this American fantasy comedy horror film is Co-Produced and Directed by Tim Burton and is the sequel to Burton's 1988 film 'Beetlejuice' which grossed US$75M off the back of a US$15M production budget and garnered seven award wins (including the Academy Award for Best Make-Up) plus another eleven nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. In the intervening years the film's success gave rise to an animated TV series, video games and a 2018 stage musical. 

Set thirty-six years after the events of the first film, the Deetz family return home to Winter River after Charles Deetz's unexpected death. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder reprising her role) life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened, releasing Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton reprising his role). Also starring Catherine O'Hara (reprising her role as Delia Deetz), Justin Theroux, Monica Belluci, Willem Dafoe and Burn Gorman. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing as the Opening Night film presentation at last weeks Venice International Film Festival before its worldwide release from this week.

'THELMA' (Rated M) - is an American comedy-drama film Written, Directed and Edited by Josh Margolin in his feature filmmaking debut. The film Premiered at this years Sundance Film Festival in mid-January, and was released in the US in late June, having so far grossed US$10M having received generally favourable reviews. Here Thelma Post (June Squibb) is a 93-year-old grandmother who loses US$10K to a con artist over the phone. With help from a friend Ben (Richard Roundtree in his final film following his death in 2023) and his motorised scooter, she soon embarks on a treacherous journey across Los Angeles to reclaim what was taken from her. Also starring Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. 

'A HORSE NAMED WINX' (Rated E) - this Australian sports documentary film is Directed by Janine Hosking whose prior documentary features take in the likes of her 2000 debut with 'My Khmer Heart' followed by 'Ballroom Babies' in 2005, 'Ganja Queen' in 2007, 'I'm Not Dead Yet' in 2011, 'The Eulogy' in 2018, and 'Knowing the Score' in 2023. This film then tells the story of Winx, a remarkable Australian racehorse, that etched her name in history with an extraordinary 33-race winning streak, cementing her status as a modern-day legend akin to the iconic Phar Lap. At the height of her fame, Winx became known as the 'people's horse'—an Australian icon who transcended her sport, joining the realms of fellow legends like Cathy Freeman and Sir Donald Bradman.

'LAST SUMMER' (Rated MA15+) - is a French erotic drama film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Catherine Breillat and is a remake of the 2019 Danish film 'Queen of Hearts'. Anne (Lea Drucker) is a respected lawyer living in Paris with her husband Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin) and their two young daughters. Theo (Samuel Kircher), Pierre's 17-year-old son from a previous marriage, moves in, and Anne eventually begins an affair with him. In doing so, she risks jeopardising her career and losing her family. Theo is a fragile figure, and as time passes, the relationship turns destructive. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered in late May 2023, was released in its native France in mid-September last year, has so far grossed just over US$1M and has generated largely favourable reviews.

'EMERGENCY' (Rated CTC) - this Indian Hindi-language biographical political drama film is Directed and Co-Produced by Kangana Ranaut, based on a story written by Ranaut and also starring Ranaut in the lead role as Former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi. The film centres around The Indian Emergency, which based on true events, was a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a state of emergency across India by citing internal and external threats to the country. The order bestowed upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be cancelled and civil liberties to be suspended. For much of the Emergency, most of Gandhi's political opponents were imprisoned and the press were censored. More than 100,000 political opponents, journalists and dissenters were imprisoned by the Gandhi regime. 

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 28th March 2019.

Perhaps if you are a film aficionado living in the US you may well have heard and even visited The Ann Arbor Film Festival, but if you live outside America you could be forgiven for never having heard of said festival. Well, for the sake of the uninitiated, The Ann Arbor Film Festival, now in its 57th year, is an annual film festival held in Ann Arbor in the U.S. State of Michigan, this year running from 26th March through until 31st March. Established in 1963, it is the fourth oldest film festival in North America and the oldest experimental film festival. It has become one of the premier film festivals for independent and experimental filmmakers to showcase their work. Created as an alternative to commercial cinema, the annual week-long festival remains true to its original mission of promoting film as an art form. The Ann Arbor Film Festival also fosters the growth of emerging and established film and video makers. The festival is open to film and video of all lengths and genres, including experimental, narrative, animation, documentary, and genre hybrids. The festival's mission is to underpin bold, visionary filmmakers, promote the art of film and new media, and provide communities with remarkable cinematic experiences.

The festival features experimental, documentary and animated short films in competition ranging from anywhere from one minute in length up to twenty or so minutes duration, of which there are sixteen separate screening sessions over the span of the festival, with each session containing at least six shorts. In the 'Features in Competition' section there is :
* 'LAST DAYS OF CHINATOWN' Directed by Nicole Macdonald and telling the story of Detroit's Cass Corridor, one of the roughest areas in the city for the past one hundred years, is now experiencing a complete overhaul, as long-awaited development finally sweeps the area. Exploring who and what remains in the Corridor, we see how residents survived, how they sometimes didn't, who fled the area and why, as gentrification now redefines the Corridor, long home to the poor and disenfranchised as well as to the artists and visionaries of the city.
* 'CLOSING TIME' Directed by Nicole Vogele, it is 3:00am along the Zhongzheng Road in Taipei. The traffic of a 24/7 society throbs through the metropolis in constant waves. Mr. Kuo and his wife, Mrs. Lin, cook for the city’s sleepless. They work at night and sleep through the days, trying to keep afloat. Their eatery is a pit stop, a place of refuge, a warm bowl of rice. Described as a kaleidoscopic journey that relies on colours, sensations, animals, typhoons, and a dark lilac sky—the materials of life.
* 'WONDERS WANDER' Directed by Shu Lea Cheang this is a location-based mobi-web serial with four fictional episodes set in Madrid exploring the off-the-mainstream nouveau-queer generation that includes refugees, migrants, functional diversity, transfeminista, transfeminism, open family, subversive motherhoods, sustainable living, and the rise of auto-defense practices for self-empowerment.
* 'CABALLERANGO' Directed by Juan Pablo Gonzalez, a family here reflects on a young man’s disappearance in a Mexican village under the watchful eyes of the horse that saw him last.
* 'TWO A.M.' Directed by Loretta Fahrenholz, here Sanna is pitted against an overbearing family of mind-reading 'Watchers'. As a telepathic Police state manipulates social unrest in a city in flames, Sanna attempts to reconnect with her sister Algin, a blacklisted pop singer. On the run from her unpredictably sinister Watcher cousins, Sanna is soon joined by her lover Franz. But just as the possibility of freedom seems finally within reach, a drug-fueled party takes a turn for the worse.
* '<3' Directed by LNZ Arturo and described as a sixty-minute selfie; a coming-of-age story in a technological communications revolution where love gets uploaded, digitally dislocated, unseen, and lost, bit by bit, into an asynchronous Internet landscape.
* 'NOTHING OR EVERYTHING' Directed by Gyeol Kim and set in both the past and the present, two people walk deep into a mountain forest. For these two women born and raised in the city, there is no place more unfamiliar. Here, two people in the present climb the mountain, following two people from the past. The film unfolds with past and present overlapping in the same space, depicting two heartbroken women.
* 'MY FRIEND THE POLISH GIRL' Directed by Ewa Banaszkiewicz and Mateusz Dymek, here an experimental documentary told through the eyes of Katie—an amateur filmmaker and American rich kid— who is lensing a film about Alicja, an erratic unemployed Polish actress. Set in a post-Brexit London, Katie colonises and disrupts Alicja’s life, mirroring the treatment of migrants in the U.K. at first welcomed, used, and then discarded.
* 'VULTURE' Directed by Philip Hoffman, this film sets its sights on farm animals and their surrounding flora. Static shots and slow-moving zooms follow the grazing animals in their minute interspecies exchanges.
* 'HOW WE LIVE : MESSAGES TO THE FAMILY' Directed by Gustav Deutsch the film undertakes its journey via amateur film recordings, not only producing a community between various people from various places, but also establishing a timeless togetherness, allowing generations of filmmakers to speak to one another and, via the medium of the movie screen, to us.

You can get the whole run down on the Ann Arbor Film Festival at the official website at : https://www.aafilmfest.org/

This week we have five new release movies coming to your local Odeon. We kick off with a live action retelling of a classic Disney animated feature from 78 years ago that tells a modified story but still retains the touchstones of that much loved film about a certain young elephant with an exceptional talent. We then have a change of pace from a second time Director who has already established himself as a master of the genre in this psychological horror thriller about a family invaded by a group of doppelgängers. This is followed by two romantic dramas - the first telling the story of two teenage kids with Cystic Fibrosis who must keep a safe distance for fear of spreading infection to each other, and the second of two teenage kids in WWII Germany who come from very different backgrounds and who fall for each other despite the mortal dangers this puts them both in. We then wrap up the week with a historical retelling of a particular moment of tragedy in English history that ultimately brought about change for good, but at the expense of those who died and were wounded in the process, which ran into hundreds.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the five 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 week ahead.

'DUMBO' (Rated PG) - with this American fantasy adventure film, Walt Disney Studios continues with its live action reimagining of some of its classic animated features that has already taken in 'The Jungle Book' with 'Alladin' and 'The Lion King' coming later this year too. Inspired by the 1941 Disney animated classic of the same name and based on the book by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl, the 1941 film was the fourth animated feature film put out by Disney after 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', 'Pinocchio' and 'Fantasia'. Costing US$950K to make the film grossed US$1.6M at the Box Office making it the most financially successful movie of that decade for the studio. In 2017, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being 'culturally, historically or aesthetically significant'.

And so to this live action treatment as Directed by Tim Burton. Here the owner of a small and struggling circus, Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell), a war veteran and former circus star to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughing stock in the already ailing circus. But when Holt's children discover that Dumbo can fly, persuasive and ruthless entrepreneur V. A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) and a French trapeze artist named Colette Marchant (Eva Green) swoop in to make the peculiar pachyderm a star and exploit its talents. Also starring Alan Arkin, the film is released in the US this week too.

'US' (Rated MA15+) - and so Jordan Peele here brings us this highly anticipated and already critically acclaimed American psychological horror thriller film, which he also Co-Produced with Jason Blum, and wrote. Following hot on the heels of his previous also acclaimed debut feature 'Get Out' in 2017, here Peele Directs Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke as married couple Adelaide Wilson and Gabriel 'Gabe' Wilson together with their son Jason (Alex Wilson) and daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) who plan on spending some quality family time at their beach house. The family plan on spending this time with good friends Kitty and Josh Tyler (Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker respectively) and their twin kids Gwen and Maggie (Cali and Noelle Sheldon), but their peaceful retreat is shattered when tension and chaos erupts with a group of evil strangers, known as 'The Tethered' who look identical to them, arrive to cause all manner of ill will, mayhem and upset most foul. The film was made for US$20M got its World Premier screening at South by South West on 8th March and went on release in the US last week.

'FIVE FEET APART' (Rated M) - this romantic drama film is Directed by Justin Baldoni and centres around seventeen year old Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) who spends most of her time in hospital as a Cystic Fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control. However, all of this is put to the test when she meets Will Newman (Cole Sprouse), an impossibly charming teen who suffers from the same illness. There's an instant attraction, even though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them - five feet no less. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace their relationship. The film cost US$7M to make, has so far recouped US$35M following its release in the US on 15th March and has so far garnered mixed or average Reviews.

'WHERE HANDS TOUCH' (Rated M) - here British Ghanaian Director, Screenwriter and Actress Amma Asante brings us this fictionalised historical WWII romantic coming of age drama film in which 15 year old Leyna (Amandla Stenberg), daughter of a white German mother Kerstin (Abbie Cornish) and a black French-African soldier father stationed in Germany after the end of the First World War, who lives in fear because of the colour of her skin. When she and her mother relocate to Berlin for safety reasons Leyna meets Lutz (George MacKay), the son of a prominent SS officer and a compulsory member of the Hitler Youth, the two fall helplessly in love, ultimately placing both their lives in danger. Seen through the eyes of a bi-racial teen as she witnesses the persecution of Jews and those deemed 'non-pure', the film has received generally poor Reviews to date, saw its Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year, was released in the US in mid-September and has so far taken less than US$70K at the Box Office.

'PETERLOO' (Rated M) - Mike Leigh, that highly acclaimed British Writer and Director of such notable fare over the years as 'Secrets & Lies', 'Topsy-Turvy', 'Vera Drake' and 'Mr. Turner' most recently, here delivers us this British historical drama recounting the Peterloo Massacre of 1819. To put some historical context around the event, on 16th August 1819, a crowd of some 60,000 people from Manchester and the surrounding towns and villages gathered in St Peter’s Fields, Manchester to demand Parliamentary reform and an extension of voting rights. The gathering had been peaceful but in the attempt to arrest a leader of the meeting, the armed government militia panicked and set upon the crowd. As many as fifteen people were killed and up to seven hundred were wounded. The immediate effect of the massacre was a crackdown on reform, as the authorities feared the country was heading towards armed rebellion. The film was screened in competition at the Venice International Film Festival in early September last year, went on release in the UK in early November, gets its US release on 5th April, and has generated largely favourable Reviews. The film stars Rory Kinnear, Tim McInnerny, Patrick Kennedy and Maxine Peake.

With five new release movies 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-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 29th September 2016.

Antoine Fuqua's 'The Magnificent Seven' is released this week, but how many of us are familiar with the how far back the roots of this story goes. Japanese Director, Screenwriter, Producer and Editor Akira Kurosawa is regarded an one of the most influential and important film-makers in the history of cinema. During his career he Directed thirty films over 57 years of his working life, and one the most noted of those is 'The Seven Samurai' from 1954, starring Toshiro Mifune as one of the seven samurai, Kikuchiyo. Kurosawa Directed, Co-Wrote, and Edited the film set in a Japan of 1586 during a time of great political upheaval and unrest and tells the story of seven samurai recruited by a village elder to defend their village from marauding bandits intent on stealing their valuable crops following the years harvest. The villagers are meek and mild and do not have the smarts or the wherewithal to defend themselves and have been ground down after repeated attacks, and the prospect of another. Ultimately the villagers rise to the challenge and aid the seven samurai, who defeat the thieving bandits, but at a cost of four lives out of the seven. The film was highly acclaimed and went on to win five awards and eight nominations including two Academy Award nods, three BAFTA nods and various others from around the festival circuit. The film took a year to shoot on specially constructed authentic village sets, and its unedited running time stretches to 207 minutes. The film has been much copied, referenced, reworked and reimagined over the years and still stands on many 'Greatest' and 'Best' films of all time lists.

'The Seven Samurai' was the inspiration for the John Sturges Old West version of the film released in 1960 as 'The Magnificent Seven' with a setting down Mexico way. Here we see a group of oppressed villagers who suffer periodical rampaging attacks and theft of food and supplies at the hands of local bandit Calvera (Eli Wallach) and his henchmen. Seeking help they encounter Chris Adams (Yul Bryner) - a veteran gunslinger, who reluctantly agrees to help their cause. En route back to the Mexican village Chris recruits six others, consisting of Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter and Horst Buchholz, who with the help of the villagers overcome Calvera and his bandits, but at a cost of four lives out of the seven. The film took out one award win and scored six other nominations including an Academy Award nomination for Best Musical Score by Elmer Bernstein for that iconic theme tune. The film spawned three sequels - 'The Return of the Seven' in 1966, 'Guns of the Magnificent Seven' in 1969, and 'The Magnificent Seven Ride' in 1972, and has influenced many other films too.

And so to the four new movies coming your way this week, kicking off with a gunslinging Western that is a remake of a early '60's classic that was in itself a remake of a mid-'50's classic. Then we have a fantasy adventure offering from the master of the genre about a young lad, a headmistress of a very special school, and a strange set of kids all with peculiar gifts. These are followed up by a female perspective on the inner workings of Wall Street in this financial drama that sees a talented investment banker go head to head in a male dominated world; before wrapping up with a documentary on autism and the power of the movies that saved this one young lad by teaching him valuable lessons in life.

As always, be reminded to share your thoughts and musings when you have seen your film of choice in the coming week, by leaving your Comment below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you and all contributions are welcomed. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN' (Rated M) - in 1954 Akira Kurosawa Directed, Co-Wrote and Edited a Japanese historical drama adventure epic titled 'The Seven Samurai' set in 1586 during the Warring States Period of Japan. Telling the story of seven Ronin hired to defend a village of farmers from rogue bandits intent on stealing their valuable crops following harvest, the film went onto to be critically lauded and has appeared on numerous Greatest Films Lists ever since, and has been highly influential and often remade and reworked. In 1960 John Sturges Directed and Produced 'The Magnificent Seven' based on that Kurosawa story, but set his film in the Old West in Mexico where a band of seven gunslingers are hired to defend a village from a group of marauding bandits. Now fifty-six years later Antoine Fuqua has remade 'The Magnificent Seven' for a whole new audience likely to be unfamiliar with Kurosawa's inspirational film, or the Sturges Americanised version upon which this 2016 offering is based. Made for US$108M the film premiered at TIFF earlier this month, was the closing film at the Venice Film Festival and was released Stateside last week.

The story here has changed little in this Fuqua rendition. This time however, the action takes place not in Mexico but in some remote mining town three days ride from Sacramento, called Rose Creek. Here the simple townsfolk are besieged by a local heavy handed, ruthless and uncaring industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) intent on mining the area for gold and taking over the Rose Creek land by all and any force necessary. In an attack on the townsfolk by Bogue and his henchmen, the husband of Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) is killed and so eventually she enlists the support of Sam Chisholm (Denzel Washington) when he learns that Bogue is at the centre of their plight. Chisholm sets about recruiting a small group of guns for hire to confront and overcome Bogue, assist Cullen and do the right thing by the people of Rose Creek. Those six recruits are Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Martin Sensmeier, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Byung-hun Lee who all have a particular set of skills and are especially adept at wiping out a marauding horde of gun toting bad dudes. You can be sure there'll be a high body count and lots of stylised action and violence, but will it live up to its 1960 inspiration, or its 1954 source?

'MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN' (Rated M) - this dark fantasy adventure film is based on the 2011 book of the same name by Ransom Riggs, is adapted for the screen by Jane Goldman, Directed by Tim Burton and consists of an all star cast that includes Eva Green, Judi Dench, Terence Stamp, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris O'Dowd, Asa Butterfield, and Rupert Everett.  The story surrounds mid-teenage Jacob Portman (Butterfield) who after a tragedy at home is forced to travel to a mysterious island to determine exactly what happened, and here he comes across Miss Peregrine (Green) and her home for peculiar children. Here he learns that the fairytales he was told in his younger days may have more truth in them than he thought, and after a horrifying experience Jacob must make a life changing decision to protect those closest to him and from the no good Mr. Barron (Jackson) - the leader of The Wights - undead human creatures who hunt and kill the peculiar children using disguises and enhanced physical abilities. All of Tim Burton's touchstones contained herein, which is sure to please his followers.

'EQUITY' (Rated M) - it's good to see women getting some movie exposure to the dealings of inner Wall Street in this financial thriller Directed by Meera Menon and out on limited release despite the favourable Reviews it has so far garnered since its general release in the US at the end of July. Here we see senior investment banker Naomi Bishop (Anna Gunn) working in a very male dominated domain and needing to overcome a previous slur on her reputation and restore some credibility amongst the firm she works for and her colleagues. She elects to take on a new Tech IPO but quickly comes up against obstacles from colleagues and her Client that might just unhinge the future of the venture. Amongst this she has to contend with a double-dealing boyfriend, a Federal investment law prosecutor, and a betrayal by a trusted friend that might just unravel everything for her. James Purefoy also stars with Alysia Reiner and Sarah Megan Thomas who also Co-Wrote and Co-Produced.

'LIFE, ANIMATED' (Rated PG) - this documentary has been around the festival circuit and has collected a number of award wins and nominations in that time, based on the book by Ron Suskind about his autistic son Owen, and Directed with a deft touch by Roger Ross Williams. It tells the story of how young Owen at aged just three developed autism. As Owen retreated within himself and stopped communicating his parents became increasingly concerned, almost losing all hope, as to how they could interact with their dear son in a way that had meaning. Ultimately that way manifested itself through animated films, and especially those from Disney which offered Owen a conduit to make sense of the world and at the same time create his own. The film traces Owen's growth from young child to teenager to the cusp of adulthood as he strives for independence learned from key teachings from the likes of 'The Lion King', 'Aladdin' and 'The Little Mermaid' that he was able to adapt to the world around him. An uplifting coming of age story that offers proof positive of the magic of cinema, the power of stories, and how hope can overcome adversity.

Four films this week to tempt you out to your local multiplex or independent picture house for two hours of great entertainment for just $20. You know it makes sense to do so. I'll see you therefore at the Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 26th May 2016.

The 69th annual Cannes Film Festival wrapped up last Sunday 22nd May, having commenced on 11th May amidst all the pomp & ceremony, the film world glitterati and glamourati, the movers & shakers, and the stars from in front of, and behind the camera in what must rank as the film festival to be seen at for anyone who's anyone in the movie business. The festival opened with Woody Allen's 47th film 'Cafe Society' showing out of competition, and Ken Loach's 'I, Daniel Blake' closing the festival and in main competition.

With Australian Director, George Miller acting as President for the Jury for the main competition with 21 films all competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or, and another 18 in the Un Certain Regard category and several other groupings including short films, those made by students at film school, the International Critics Week and the Directors Fortnight, those serving on the various judging panels would have had their work cut out - life's tough, but someone's gotta do it I guess! Listed below are the main winners & grinners of this years awards at Cannes, and therefore those to watch out for when they make it to a screen near you :-

In main competition :

• Palme d'Or : 'I, Daniel Blake' - Directed by Ken Loach
• Grand Prix : 'It's Only the End of the World' - Directed, Produced and Written for the Screen by Xavier Dolan
• Jury Prize : 'American Honey' - Directed and Written by Andrea Arnold
• Best Directors : Olivier Assayas for 'Personal Shopper' tied with Cristian Mungiu for 'Graduation'.

Un Certain Regard :

• Un Certain Regard Award : 'The Happiest Day in the Life of Ollie Maki' - Directed by Juho Kuosmanen
• Jury Prize : 'Harmonium' - Directed and Written by Koji Fukada
• Special Prize : 'The Red Turtle' - Directed and Co-Written by Michael Dudok de Wit
• Best Director : Matt Ross for 'Captain Fantastic', which he also wrote.

Out of competition :

• 'The BFG' - Directed by Steven Spielberg with Mark Rylance, and Ruby Barnhill
• 'Money Monster' - Directed by Jodie Foster with George Clooney and Julia Roberts
• 'The Nice Guys' - Directed by Shane Black with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling (refer below)
• 'Cafe Society' - Directed by Woody Allen with Steve Carell and Kristen Stewart
• 'The Wailing' - Directed by Na Hong-jin with Kwak Do-won and Hwang Jung-min
• 'Blood Father' - Directed by Jean-Francois Richet with Mel Gibson and Erin Moriarty
• 'Gimme Danger' - Directed by Jim Jarmusch with Iggy Pop and 'The Stooges'
• 'Train to Busan' - Directed by Yeon Sang-ho with Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi.

And so coming closer to home what can you expect in the week ahead? Well, actually three films to give you another reason to get amongst it at your local movie theatre.  First up the follow-up to a classic fantasy novel made into several films over the years, but this follow up relates specifically to the most recent 2010 blockbusting version reuniting an all star cast, familiar characters, and all the visual spectacle that this world can muster at the hands of a different Director. Then there is a throw back to the 70's buddy comedy mystery conspiracy thriller movie that brings together two heavy hitters hamming it up to great effect with big hair, wide lapels and flared pants, before winding up with a record breaking New Zealand comedy chase drama that sees the young and the old pitting their wits together as they go on the run cross country to evade the authorities.

As ever, and with heaps of great filmic choice now out on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in this and previous Posts at this humble little Blog, feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and observations after you have sat through your film of choice this week. Leave a Comment in the section below this or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS' (Rated PG) - Tim Burton's 2010 'Alice in Wonderland' from the classic Lewis Carroll works follows a long line of films, television movies, short films, and various derivatives based on the esteemed works that date back all the way to 1903. Burton's works would however, be arguably the most successful to date having won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Art Direction as well as 32 others wins and 62 further nominations, not to mention is US$1.03B Box Office haul ranking it #23 on the highest all time grossing movies list. It was inevitable therefore that the follow up film also based on Carroll's works would eventually transpire. And so it has, but without Tim Burton in the Director's chair, instead electing to take on a Producer role and allow James Bobin to take the helm whilst reuniting the cast from the first film with a budget of US$170M.

And so Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) has spent the last few years sailing the seas and returns to London having to make a decision that may determine her life's destiny. Coming across Absolem, the caterpillar (voiced by Alan Rickman in his last film appearance), she eventually winds up once again in Wonderland where she discovers that all is not well and the Hatter (Johnny Depp) is behaving more madly than ever falling into a depression over the death of his family. Reuniting with her old friends the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas), she decides that she needs to go back in time to save those she knows and loves. She steals a device from Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen) so that she can go back, but while there encounters the younger Hatter and the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and learns what made her friends and enemies who they are today, whilst also potentially confirming her own destiny back home - but, it's a race against the ticking clock. Also starring Rhys Ifans, Timothy Spall, Toby Jones, John Sessions, Barbara Windsor and Paul Whitehouse.

'THE NICE GUYS' (Rated MA15+) - Directed and Co-Written by Shane Black and having received its Premier at the Cannes Film Festival just over a week ago, it's US release last Friday and arriving on our Australian shores this coming week, this buddy comedy mystery film set in late-70's Los Angeles has so far received much critical acclaim, and US$14M from its US$50M outlay. Starring Russell Crowe as Jackson Healy a street smart, hard hitting shoot first ask questions later enforcer for hire teams up unwittingly with Holland March (Ryan Gosling) - a down on his luck worse cop ever private eye. When the two join forces unexpectedly to track down a missing young girl Amelia Kutner (Margaret Qualley), they quickly learn that are equally dangerous unscrupulous individuals hot of her trail too, and that there is much more to this case than simply a missing person. Various persons wind up dead during the course of their investigation and they uncover a criminal conspiracy that goes all the way to the top! Also starring Kim Bassinger and Keith David.

'HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE' (Rated PG) - this New Zealand produced film that cost NZ$3M to make broke Box Office records when it opened in New Zealand on 31st March setting a new record for the highest grossing first week of any New Zealand film ever. The film Premiered in competition at this years Sundance Film Festival back in January and now reaches our shores with close to NZ$10M under its belt. Directed by Taika Waititi who also wrote the Screenplay based on the 'Wild Pork and Watercress' book by Barry Crump this film tells the story of rebellious young Ricky (13 year old Julian Dennison in his third acting role) who is sent away by Child Welfare Services to live in the country with a foster Aunt and Uncle. When the foster Aunt Bella passes away suddenly the child welfare people want to send Ricky into care, but he hot foots it in protest with grumpy opinionated foster Uncle Hec (Sam Neill) in pursuit. Fearing the worst, the child welfare people think that Hec has abducted Ricky in his grief, and so a national manhunt begins which brings the young lad and the old codger together as they pit their wits against authority as they attempt to thwart those that are likely to send them both away to someplace that neither wants to go.

Three new films that offer comedy, drama, fantasy, action and some big name players to tempt you out on a cool near Winter's evening, as well as a a raft of great cinematic content still out there on general release. Do yourself a favour and catch a movie in the week ahead, and, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

CHRISTOPHER LEE - dies aged 93 - R.I.P.

The great screen horror icon of the 20th Century, Christopher Lee, passed away last Sunday 7th June at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London after being admitted for respiratory problems and heart failure. He was 93 years of age. His wife of more than fifty years, and former model, Birgit Kroencke, withheld his passing for four days until his family and the closest friends had been notified.


Born Christopher Frank Carandini Lee in Belgravia, Westminster, London on 27th May 1922. At age six, his parents divorced. Some years later his mother remarried a banker and uncle to Ian Flemming (therefore Lee's step-cousin) - the author of the James Bond books, in which he would play the villain Scaramanga in the 1974 big screen adaptation of 'The Man with the Golden Gun' alongside Roger Moore. At nine, Lee moved to Summer Fields School in Oxford - a feeder school for Eton, but the young Lee missed out in the scholarship exam for Eton by just one point and so went to Wellington College instead. Up until Wellington he had acted in school plays regularly but hardly did so during these school years, and he didn't fare too well in sports either just getting by in racquet sports, fencing, but cricket was better. Nor did he like the school parades and weapons training, and by the summer term of 1939 with a year of study left to go his father was declared bankrupt and so his time at Wellington was cut short by a year.

Forced to seek employment and with little opportunities during the summer of 1939 he decided to go to the French Riviera, and passing through Paris en route, witnessed the last public execution by guillotine  on June 17th 1939. After a brief time in the South of France and with Europe on the verge of war, Lee returned to London where he secured a job as an office clerk for the transatlantic shipping company - United States Lines.

As war broke out he volunteered to join the Finnish Forces in the 1939 Winter War. After this and opon returning to London he joined the Home Guard and then the Royal Air Force where he was subsequently posted to South Africa and then Southern Rhodesia and then onto its capital city, then, Salisbury. Unable to fly because of headaches and blurred vision he joined the RAF Intelligence. This took him to Durban, onto Suez where he was actively involved in the North African Campaign before moving on to Malta and after its capture by the Eighth Army to Sicily. By the winter of 1943 he had moved into Italy, and joining up with Gurkhas saw active duty in the Battle of Monte Cassino - the gateway to Rome. Having been promoted to Flight Lieutenant and being able to speak fluent French and German he was seconded to the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects being tasked with helping to track down Nazi war criminals. He retired from military service in 1946 having also served time with the Special Operations Executive and the Long Range Desert Patrol, the precursor of the SAS but always kept those detailed a secret, as he was sworn to do.

Through some family connections it was suggested that he should consider acting as a career following the war and his military service. He was fortunate enough to be signed up initially by Rank Film Studio's on a seven picture deal making his big screen debut in 1947 in the Gothic Romance 'Corridor of Mirrors'. The 40's closed out with smaller roles and at times uncredited roles in a number of films, including 'Hamlet' with Laurence Olivier and 'Scott of the Antarctic'.

Throughout the 50's Lee starred in 42 films and 16 television series, some for extended episodes, and it was during this decade that saw his first outing with Hammer Studio's in the 1957 'The Curse of Frankenstein' in which he played Frankenstein's monster, with Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein. Lee would go on to star with Peter Cushing in 24 films, and whilst they ofter were rivals and enemies in their film roles they became the closest of friends in life. Lee made the role of Count Dracula his own, starring as the Count in ten films throughout his career mostly for Hammer - 'Dracula : Prince of Darkness', 'Dracula has risen from the Grave', 'Taste the Blood of Dracula', 'Scars of Dracula', 'Dracula A.D. 1972' and 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' in 1973 which was to be his last appearance. Lee worked with Hammer on other projects too that included 'The Mummy', ' The Hound of the Baskervilles', 'Rasputin, the Mad Monk', 'The Devil Rides Out' and 'To the Devil a Daughter'. Whilst many of the roles were questionable, there is no doubt that Hammer and Lee were in each others debt for the fame and fortune that each bought to the partnership.

The 60's closed out with 43 films and three television series including 'The Avengers' and 'The Alfred Hitchcock Hour'. The 70's brought horror fare still but a change in direction also with the likes of 'The Three Musketeers', 'The Four Musketeers', 'The Man with the Golden Gun', 'Airport '77' and '1941' whilst still giving us a fright in 'I, Monster' 'The Creeping Flesh', 'The Wicker Man', 'Horror Express', 'Castle of the Living Dead'. During this decade Lee made the decision to move to the US to shake off his Dracula mantle. With 27 films appearance s during the decade and appearances in several TV series including 'Charlie's Angels', 'The Far Pavilions', and 'Around the World in 80 Days' it was largely a forgettable decade!

The 90's saw a greater concentration on television than filmic fare that included longer schedules on series including 'The Tomorrow People', 'Street Gear', 'Ivanhoe', 'The New Adventures of Robin Hood', and 'Gormenghast', with movie offerings including 'Gremlins 2 : The New Batch' and 'Sleepy Hollow' his first collaboration with Tim Burton.

As 2000 clicked over so Lee seemed to take on a new lease of movie life, with roles in major franchises films - 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy playing Saruman in 'The Fellowship of the Ring', 'The Two Towers' and the extended version of 'Return of the King'. He would reprise the role in Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit' films follow-up 'An Unexpected Journey' and 'The Battle of the Five Armies'. The other significant role was in the Star Wars reboot playing Count Dooku in 'Episode II : Attack of the Clones' and 'Episode III : Revenge of the Sith'. During the decade too in between 'Rings' and 'Star Wars' there was further work with Tim Burton on 'The Corpse Bride' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' as well as 'The Golden Compass', 'Triage' and 'Glorious 39'.

The last five years saw no let up in Lee's output with roles in Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo', 'The Resident' - the first Hammer film in 35 years, 'Dark Shadows' and 'Alice in Wonderland' with Tim Burton once more and 'Burke and Hare' amongst others, with 'Angels in Notting Hill' completed last year and awaiting a release.

A staggering 278 film and television acting credits throughout eight decades of film making with 22 award wins and eight other nominations including the BAFTA Academy Fellowship win in 2011, and the British Film Institute Fellowship Award win in 2013. Additionally, over the years Lee has lent his voice talents to many video game characters that he has played on screen, to animated characters and in narrating television specials and documentaries. Also an accomplished musician with singer/songwriter credits on a number of films and album recordings including a very active interest in heavy metal music resulting in numerous accolades too.

In 1997 he was appointed a Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John; in 2001 Commander of the Order of the British Empire 'for services to Drama' by HRH The Queen; in 2009 was made a Knight Bachelor 'for services to Drama and to Charity' by Prince Charles; and in 2011 was awarded the Bram Stoker Gold Medal (on the 164th anniversary of his birth) by the Trinity College Philosophical Society, of which Stoker was President.

Lee leaves a legacy of film making that is unsurpassed from the golden age of cinema with extraordinary output across many genres, but it will be for his indelible mark left on the horror genre that he will be most fondly remembered, and frequently referenced.

Christopher Lee - R.I.P.
1922 - 2015.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-