UNCHARTED : Tuesday 22nd February 2022.

I saw the M Rated 'UNCHARTED' at my local multiplex earlier this week, and this American action adventure film is Directed by Ruben Fleischer, whose previous film making credits include his big screen debut in 2009 with 'Zombieland', then 2013's 'Gangster Squad', 'Venom' in 2018 and 'Zombieland : Double Tap' in 2019. The film, based on the video game series of the same name, had its Premier in Barcelona, Spain on 7th February, having been originally set for release on December 18, 2020 but was postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was subsequently released in the UK two weeks ago now and both here in Australia and the US last week. It has received mixed reviews from Critics and has so far grossed US$146M off the back of a US$120M production budget. 

The film opens up with young teenage brothers Sam (Rudy Pankow) and Nathan Drake (Tiernan Jones) attempting to steal the priceless first map of the world made after the Magellan Expedition of 1522.  However, mid-heist they are caught red handed by two Security Officers who escort them back to the orphanage where they are living. Because this is Sam's third strike, he is expelled from the orphanage and ordered to vacate immediately. Nate goes up to the room they share together, and sees Sam climbing out of the window, to pursue life on his own rather than be holed up in someplace he doesn't want to be. Before leaving, Sam promises his little brother that he will return for him. Sam leaves him with a ring belonging to their ancestor Sir Francis Drake, with the inscription 'Sic Parvis Magna', which when translated means 'Greatness from small beginnings'.

Fast forward fifteen years, and Nathan (Tom Holland) now works as a bartender in New York City and pickpockets wealthy patrons. Victor 'Sully' Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) observes Nathan stealing a bracelet from a female customers arm, and confronts him with it at closing time. Sully is a fortune hunter who worked with Sam tracking treasure hidden by the Magellan crew, explains to Nathan that Sam vanished two years ago without a trace after helping him steal Juan Sebastian Elcano's (a crew member of that Magellan Expedition) diary. Nathan, whose only contact with his brother over the years has been through a series of postcards sent from exotic places around the world, agrees to help Sully to find his brother. 

Sully and Nathan attend an auction to steal a golden 15th Century cross linked to the Magellan crew. There, the pair encounter Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas), the last descendant of the Moncada family (who funded the original expedition five hundred years ago), and Jo Braddock (Tati Gabrielle), leader of a small group of mercenaries hired by Moncada. Nathan is ambushed by Braddock's men, and the ensuing fight creates a distraction for Sully (disguised as an auction attendant) to steal the cross, which is one of a pair which also double up as keys but for locks which are as yet to be discovered. However, not before Sully is held at knifepoint by Braddock, until she is interrupted by a trio of security guards who catch her off guard allowing Sully to make his getaway with the cross.

The pair fly to Barcelona, where they believe the treasure to be hidden, and rendezvous with Sully's contact Chloe Frazer (Sophia Ali), who has the other cross. Chloe steals the first cross from Nathan and after a foot chase across the roof tops and streets of the city eventually catch-up with her and convince her to work with them. Meanwhile, Moncada confronts his father, Armando (Manuel de Blas), upon learning the family fortune is being donated to charitable causes states that his son is not worthy of inheriting it, and so Moncada orders Braddock to kill him, with his last words to his father as his throat is slit are 'father, please forgive me!' 

Nathan, Chloe, and Sully follow clues in Elcano's diary to the 15th Century church Santa Maria del Pi, finding a secret crypt behind an altar. Nathan and Chloe enter, locating a trap door, but as they open it, the crypt floods with water. Sully, just in time, manages to help them escape before the pair drown, after being ambushed by Braddock. 

Using the two crosses to unlock a secret passage, Nathan and Chloe find a map that indicates the treasure is in the Philippines. Chloe betrays Nathan (having originally been hired by Moncada) by knocking him unconscious and makes off with the map. Sully reunites with Nathan and tells him that after he and Sam recovered Elcano's diary, they were ambushed by Braddock and Sam was shot and Sully narrowly escaped. Sully believes Sam to be dead. Nathan however, believes Sam to be simply lost and not gone, as so agrees to team up with Sully again, and finish what they started. 

Moncada, Chloe, and Braddock's team depart in a cargo plane to find the treasure, but just as Moncada drinks to their success with the map now in his possession, Braddock betrays and kills him by slicing his throat. Nathan and Sully hide out on the plane in the boot of the prized red sports car given to Moncada on his 18th birthday by his father. Nathan confronts Braddock and a gunfight breaks out while Sully parachutes out. Nathan is knocked out the plane with Chloe behind the wheel of Moncada's sports car, who is trying to make her getaway with the map after Moncada's death. The pair land in the sea just off the coast of a Philippines island at the end of a parachute, where they realise the map does not identify the location of the treasure. 

Checking into a resort hotel for the night, the pair come to the conclusion that Sam may have left a clue in his numerous postcards. Nathan determines the treasure's true whereabouts while Chloe sleeps. Unsure over where Chloe's loyalties lie, Nathan leaves her fake coordinates and finds the Magellan ships and the lost gold, reuniting with Sully. 

Braddock meanwhile follows them, forcing Nathan and Sully to hide as her crew airlift the ships using two heavy lift cargo helicopters from their resting place of the last five hundred years. While escaping, Sully climbs up the rigging and commandeers one of the helicopters, causing Braddock to order the other helicopter to approach for a broadside. Nathan is able to fend off her mercenaries and shoot down the other helicopter with one of the ship's centuries old but still working cannons. Braddock drops that ship's anchor while Nathan climbs to the helicopter with the mercenary in hot pursuit. Sully throws a bag of collected gold at Braddock, who falls into the sea some distance below, and is then is crushed to death when the ship breaks free of its bindings and falls directly on top of her. 

As a Philippine naval boat arrives, Nathan and Sully escape with a handful of pieces of pickpocketed gold treasure, while Chloe (who has followed them by boat) is left empty handed. Sully, looking down on the ship which is now sinking below the surface and breaking up says that the gold, worth an estimated US$5B is now the property of the people of the Philippines. 

Judging by the critical reaction to 'Uncharted' I wasn't expecting too much going in, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised coming out of the movie theatre. Sure there are obvious parallels to the 'National Treasure', 'The Mummy' and Indiana Jones franchises, but this film is a serviceable fun and entertaining enough addition to the big screen video-game adaptation genre that knocks the likes of 'Mortal Kombat' and 'Assassin's Creed' into a cocked hat! The action set pieces are well realised and when they arrive they do so thick and fast; the all to often bickering dialogue between Sully and Nathan grates at times but is interspersed with moments of humour and a real sense of chemistry between the two male leads. As for the villain in the piece, Banderas as Moncada is nothing more than a one-dimensional cardboard cut-out character who seems to be there to simply fill in a few plot holes. I have no prior knowledge of the Uncharted video game and so I had no pre-conceived ideas about the casting, the plot, the action or the look and feel of this film, but I can also guess where die hard fans of the game might be put out by some of those elements in this cinematic rendering. Nonetheless, 'Uncharted' is a fun, safe, well paced and effective action adventure adaptation that is sure to find an audience perhaps unfamiliar with those aforementioned franchises, and for whom this movie will offer up something new and fresh. Remain in your seat for two mid-credits sequences, which set up a sequel.  

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th February 2022.

The 72nd Berlin International Film Festival (aka Berlinale) is currently up and running from the 10th through until 20th February. The official website reads 'the Berlinale is a unique place of artistic exploration and entertainment. It is one of the largest public film festivals in the world, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the globe each year. For the film industry and the media, the eleven days in February are also one of the most important events in the annual calendar and an indispensable trading forum. The Berlin International Film Festival was created for the Berlin public in 1951, at the beginning of the Cold War, as a 'showcase of the free world'. Shaped by the turbulent post-war period and the unique situation of a divided city, the Berlinale has developed into a place of intercultural exchange and a platform for the critical cinematic exploration of social issues. To this day it is considered the most political of all the major film festivals. The festival brings the big stars of international cinema to Berlin and discovers new talents. It accompanies filmmakers of all disciplines on their paths into the spotlight and supports careers, projects, dreams and visions'.

'Every year, around 400 films of all genres, lengths and formats are shown in the various sections and special presentations of the Berlinale. Across the spectrum from feature films to documentary forms and artistic experiments, the audience is invited to encounter highly contrasting milieus, ways of life and attitudes, to put their own judgements and prejudices to the test and to reinvigorate their experience of seeing and perceiving in the realm between classic narrative forms and extraordinary aesthetics'.

The international jury, which this year is headed up by acclaimed Director, Screenwriter and Producer M. Night Shyamalan presides over the official competition, which will be announced at 7:00pm local time, on Wednesday 16th February. The following awards are presented :-

* Golden Bear for Best Film (awarded to the film’s Producers)
* Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize
* Silver Bear Jury Prize
* Silver Bear for Best Director
* Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance
* Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance
* Silver Bear for Best Screenplay
* Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution.

Additionally, a whole bunch of other awards are bestowed in the following sections, 'Encounters', 'Berlinale Shorts', 'Generation Kplus' and 'Generation 14plus', 'Best First Feature Award', 'Berlinale Documentary' and the 'Honorary Golden Bear' award which this year is dedicated to French film and stage actor Isabelle Huppert, for lifetime achievement.

Watch out for next weeks Blog post in which I'll detail all the winners, grinners and also rans in main competition at the 72nd Berlinale. In the meantime, you can visit the official website, for all the news, programme information and a whole lot more at : https://www.berlinale.de/

Turning back to this weeks four new release movies coming to an Odeon close to you this week, we kick off with an action adventure offering about a street-smart thief who is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan and lost five hundred years ago by the House of Moncada. This is followed by a drama film about a radio journalist who forges an unexpected bond with his precocious young nephew during a cross country trip. Next up is a Bosnian film about a teacher and translator for the UN in the small town of Srebrenica, and when the Serbian army takes over the town, her family is among the thousands of citizens looking for shelter in the UN camp, before closing out the week with a highly acclaimed Danish animated feature about a successful academic in Denmark who is about to marry his long-time boyfriend, and who is confronted with a secret from his past.

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

'UNCHARTED' (Rated M) - this American action adventure film is Directed by Ruben Fleischer, whose previous film making credits include his big screen debut in 2009 with 'Zombieland', then 2013's 'Gangster Squad', 'Venom' in 2018 and 'Zombieland : Double Tap' in 2019. The film based on the video game series of the same name and had its Premier in Barcelona, Spain on 7th February, and was released in the UK last week and both here in Australia and the US this week. It has received mixed reviews from Critics and cost US$120M to produce. 

Here, street-smart thief Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor 'Sully' Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan some five hundred years ago. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (Antonio Banderas) does, who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world's oldest mysteries, they stand to find US$5B in treasure and perhaps even Nate's long-lost brother Sam (Rudy Pankow) - but only if they can learn to work together.

'C'MON C'MON' (Rated M) - is a black and white drama film Written and Directed by Mike Mills in his fourth feature film outing following his 2005 debut with 'Thumbsucker' then 'Beginners' in 2010, and '20th Century Women' in 2016. The film had its World Premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in early September last year and was released in limited theatres in mid- November in the US. Having garnered widespread critical acclaim, and won twelve awards so far plus another forty-eight nominations, it has so far recovered US$2M fro its US$8.3M production budget. When his sister Viv (Gaby Hoffmann) asks him to look after her son, radio journalist Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) embarks on a cross-country trip with his energetic nephew Jesse (Woody Norman) to show him life away from Los Angeles, while Viv goes to Oakland to care for her estranged husband Paul (Scoot McNairy) struggling with mental illness.

'QUO VADIS, AIDA?' (Rated M) - translated literally means 'Where Are You Going, Aida?' is a Bosnian film Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Jasmila Zbanic. An international co-production of twelve production companies, the film was shown in the main competition section of the Venice International Film Festival in September 2020, and was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2021 Academy Awards and all up has garnered twenty-nine award wins and another thirty-four nominations from around the awards and festival circuit. The film dramatises the events of the Srebrenica massacre, during which Serbian troops sent Bosniak men and boys to death in July 1995 led by Serbian convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic. The film exposes the events through the eyes of a mother named Aida Selmanagic (Jasna Duricic), a schoolteacher who works with the United Nations as a translator. After three and a half years under siege, the town of Srebrenica, close to the northeastern Serbian border, was declared a UN safety zone in 1993 and put under the protection of a Dutch battalion working for the UN. 

'FLEE' (Rated M) - is a Danish animated docudrama film Directed and Co-Written by Jonas Poher Rasmussen whose previous documentary offerings include 'Searching for Bill' in 2012 and 'What He Did' in 2015. The film saw its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in late January 2021 and was released in the US in early December last year. It has received universal unanimous acclaim from film festivals and critics, with much praise bestowed upon it for animation, story, thematic content, subject matter, and LGBT representation; has garnered numerous awards, mainly for animated and documentary categories, all up so far winning sixty-five awards with a further 124 nominations (many of which are still pending an outcome at the time of writing). The film tells the extraordinary true story of Amin Nawabi, who, on the verge of marrying his husband, shares his story for the first time about his hidden past fleeing his home country of Afghanistan to Denmark as a refugee. Riz Ahmed and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau serve as Executive Producers on the film. With a budget of US$3.4M to produce, 'Flee' has so far recouped just US$232K. 

With four 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-

Odeon's closed, productions halted, movies delayed : the impact of the coronavirus - Part 2

Usually on a Wednesday I would report on the latest release new movies coming to an Odeon near you in Australia during the week commencing tomorrow. But as cinemas all around the country and elsewhere are temporarily closed, this week and for the foreseeable future this is not to be. So, as the world remains in lockdown, self isolation is the new de rigueur, and the vast majority of the worlds countries are suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak that has seen large social gatherings forbidden, stores and businesses shut their doors indefinitely, millions of people now working from home or stood down, the global economy on an ever descending downward spiral, borders closed, airlines grounded, and all but essential services and retailers still operating. And, as at the time of writing, there still remains no end in sight! What we do know, as history tells us, that this pandemic will pass, eventually, but who knows when, and who knows what the world will look like on the other side?

And so last week I reported on all the latest big movies that were slated for release over the next six months or so, that have subsequently been pushed back to some future date either later on this year, or next year, or at an as yet undisclosed date. This week I turn attention to all of those movies that were in production at the time the global pandemic was announced and as a consequence have taken a hiatus from their filming schedule until such time as a sense of normality is restored.

So, in case you were wondering what the production status is of the big movies that were filming at the time the outbreak took hold, here is what we know of them so far :-

* KING RICHARD' - is a biographical drama film Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and stars Will Smith as Richard Williams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams, Demi Singleton as Serena Williams with Jon Bernthal, Liev Schreiber, and Dylan McDermott. Filming commenced in Los Angeles in January, but was halted temporarily in March. The film remains slated for a 25th November 2020 release.

* 'THE LAST DUEL' - this historical drama thriller film is Directed by Ridley Scott, and is based on the book 'The Last Duel : A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France' by Eric Jager. The screenplay is Co-Written by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Nicole Holofcener and stars Matt Damon in the lead role supported by Adam Driver, Jodie Comer and Ben Affleck. Filming began in France on 14th February and was due to move to Ireland in March, but production was halted on the 13th March for an unidentified period. The film is due for release 8th January 2021.

* 'SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS' -  is a Superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Shang-Chi. Produced by Marvel Studios it is intended to be the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi (Marvel's first film with an Asian lead Actor). Also starring Tony Leung, Awkwafina and Ronny Chieng. Filming began in Sydney, Australia in February but was halted on 13th March, with a release date now scheduled for 7th May 2021.

* 'THE MATRIX 4' - is a Sci-Fi action film and the fourth instalment in 'The Matrix' franchise beginning with 1999's 'The Matrix' and continuing with two sequels, 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'The Matrix Revolutions' (both in 2003). The film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Lana Wachowski, one of the two Wachowskis who Directed the previous three films. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Lambert Wilson reprise their roles from previous films in the series. Production began in San Francisco on 4th February, but later on in March production was halted. The film is set for a release date of 21st May 2021.

* 'JURASSIC WORLD : DOMINION' -  is a Sci-Fi adventure film Directed, Co-Written for the screen and based on a story by Colin Trevorrow, who also Directed 2015's 'Jurassic World'. This sequel to the 2018's 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom', it is the sixth film in the 'Jurassic Park' franchise and the final film in the 'Jurassic World' trilogy. The film stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Jake Johnson, Omar Sy, Daniella Pineda, Justice Smith, Isabella Sermon, and B.D. Wong who all reprise their roles from previous instalments. Principal photography began on 24th February in British Columbia, then moved to England, and on 13th March production was halted for an indefinite period. The film is due to be released on 11th June 2021.

* 'THE BATMAN' -  this Superhero film is based on the DC Comics character of the same name, who we all know and love. Produced by DC Films it is developed as the tenth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and a reboot of the 'Batman' film franchise. Directed, Co-Written and Co-Produced by Matt Reeves the film stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman with  Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. Filming began in London, England in late January but was halted indefinitely. The film is slated for a 25th June 2021 release.

* MISSION : IMPOSSIBLE 7' - this action spy film is Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Christopher McQuarrie, and starring Tom Cruise, who reprises his role as Ethan Hunt once again. It is the seventh installment of the 'Mission : Impossible' film franchise and the third film to be Directed by McQuarrie after 2015's 'Rogue Nation' and 2018's 'Fallout'. The cast includes Henry Czerny, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Vanessa Kirby, all of whom reprise their roles from the previous films, along with Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, and Nicholas Hoult, who will join the franchise. Filming was due to begin on 20th February in Venice for three weeks before moving to Rome for another six weeks however, due to the coronavirus pandemic becoming more pronounced in Italy, production in the country was suspended. The film is due to be released on 23rd July 2021.

* 'ELVIS' - this Biopic is Directed, Co-Produced and Co-Written for the screen by Baz Luhrmann and charts the life and career of Rock 'n' Roll legend Elvis Presley. Starring Austin Butler as Elvis with Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker and Olivia DeJonge, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rufus Sewell. Filming began in Australia in January, but was subsequently put on hold when Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were both positively diagnosed with Covid-19. The film is scheduled for release on 1st October 2021.

* 'FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM 3' - this third instalment in the fantasy spin-off and prequel series to the 'Harry Potter' franchise is Written by J.K.Rowling and Directed once more by David Yates. Starring Eddie Redmayne as our young wizarding hero Newt Scamander with Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Zoe Kravitz and Jessica Williams reprising their roles from the previous films. Production was due to begin in late March, with much of the schedule being filmed in Brazil. However, photography didn't even get started and has been delayed until an undisclosed date. The release however, is still slated for 12th November 2021.

* 'UNCHARTED' - based on the popular action adventure video game series that launched in 2007, the main series of games follows Nathan Drake, a treasure hunter who travels across the world to uncover various historical mysteries. The film is Directed by Ruben Fleischer and stars Tom Holland as Nathan Drake and Mark Wahlberg as Victor Sullivan with Antonio Banderas. Filming was due to start in Berlin, Germany in mid-March but was halted for a minimum of six weeks when much of Europe closed its borders and countries were forced into lock down. The film is now slated for release on 8th December 2021.

* 'AVATAR 2 and 3' - these epic Sci-Fi films are the first two of four planned sequels to the hugely successful 2009 film 'Avatar' and is once again Directed, Co-Produced, Co-Written, and Co-Edited by James Cameron. Featuring an all star cast many of whom are reprising their roles from the first film, namely Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Lang, with Sigourney Weaver returning in a different role, joined by the likes of  Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, Oona Chaplin, David Thewlis, Vin Diesel, and C. J. Jones. 'Avatar 2' started production and began preliminary shooting in mid-August 2017, with Manhattan Beach, California as the main shooting location, and principal photography started in late September 2017, simultaneously with 'Avatar 3'. On November 14, 2018, Cameron announced filming with the principal performance capture cast had been completed. It was then reported that live-action filming for 'Avatar 2 and 3' would commence in New Zealand in the spring of 2019. Filming for 2019 concluded in late November, and would continue in 2020 in New Zealand. Come mid-March this year and it was announced that the filming of the Avatar sequel films in New Zealand had been postponed indefinitely and that production would remain in Los Angeles. However, virtual production will continue in Manhattan Beach, California while visual effects will continue at Weta Digital in Wellington. 'Avatar 2' is set for a release date of 17th December 2021, and 'Avatar 3' on 22nd December 2023.

* 'NIGHTMARE ALLEY' - is a psychological thriller film Directed, Co-Produced, and Co-Written for the screen by Guillermo del Toro and based on the 1946 book of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham. Featuring an all star cast that takes in Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman, Rooney Mara, David Strathairn, and Holt McCallany, filming began on 21st January and was halted on 13th March indefinitely. No release date for the film has yet been publicised.

* 'RED NOTICE' - is an action comedy thriller film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot filming began in Atlanta, Georgia in January and was then due to move to Italy. When the pandemic became more virulent in Italy it was announced on 14th March that production would be shut down for at least two weeks . . . and counting! Originally scheduled for a June 12th 2020 release, this subsequently got moved to 13th November 2020, the film was then picked up by Netflix who have as yet not revealed a planned release date.

* 'THE LITTLE MERMAID' - this live action remake of Disney's classic animated feature film from 1989 which gave rise to a direct-to-video sequel, a prequel film, a spin-off television series, a musical, several video games, theme park attractions, and other merchandise is Directed by Rob Marshall. Based on the story by Hans Christian Anderson and starring Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Idris Elba, Megan Fox, Alan Cumming, Halle Berry, Lupita Nyong'o amongst others, filming was due to commence in April, but was halted in March, with no planned release date yet announced.

* 'HOME ALONE' - this reboot of the 1990 classic Christmas comedy film of the same name will be the sixth instalment in the franchise which saw the first two, and undoubtedly the most successful in the series, Directed by Chris Columbus and starring Macauley Culkin in the lead role as the eight year old kid left 'home alone' during the Christmas holidays. Filming was due to take place in Montreal between February and April but come mid-March and Disney announced a wholesale halt to its production schedule until further notice. Archie Yates has been cast in the lead role, with allegedly a reprisal of the Kevin McCallister character by Macauley Culkin also making an appearance. No release date has yet been announced.

And so this just about brings you up to date with many of the movie productions whose filming has been temporarily halted for who knows how long that this pesky virus thing continues to hang around for. Stay tuned, keep it here and remain safe . . . indoors!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-