Sosdanrhuzine's Blog

Toy Story 3 Review

Andrew Busher — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 10:39:01 +0000

After a highly entertaining start, Toy Story 3 continues with the song You’ve Got A Friend In Me, as we take a trip down the familiar path of Andy playing with his toys, a time most of us remember ourselves. Just when things seem perfect in this highly optimistic opening, a brief montage lets us know that Andy has grown up and is now on his way to college with his Mother forcing him to decide whether he should put all his old toys in the attic, send them to the garbage dump or donate them to Sunnyside, a day care center. After a major mix up as to what is happening with the toys, they are all donated to Sunnyside and after having a very warm welcome from Lotso, a strawberry scented bear with a cane, the gang find out that day care is not the place to start a new, and begin hatching an intricate and hilarious plan to escape and return to Andy. As always with a Toy Story film the voice acting is top-notch, with Tom Hanks reprising his role as the much-loved Woody and Tim Allan as the heroic action toy from space, Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack returns as Jessie, the Cowgirl, Don Rickles as Mr Potato Head and all the old favorites come back and sound just as good as the use to. A few new faces have also arrived, Ned Beatty voices Lotso beautifully and Timothy Dalton is excellent as Mr Pricklepants, a thespian hedgehog. Pixar raises the bar again with their animation, and prove to us that even though this is the third film in the series we can still feel for the characters as if it were a live action film, the 3D is nice but doesn’t really add much to the effect of the film and you hardly notice it towards the end. The script is both hilarious and beautiful, at one end of the film you will be in hysterics, the other, tears, the two intersect wonderfully as the laughter is steadily replaced with gasping and sniffs. Toy Story 3 is a compilation of film mastery, hitting all the right buttons at the right times, fans of the first and second will no doubt love this, if not find it superior to its predecessors. Toy Story 3 wraps up the series in a way that can only be described as, Perfect and as you leave the cinema you feel like you have lost a few old friends. Take yourselves, your friends, kids, Grandparents, girlfriends, boyfriends, schoolmates, workmates, anyone you know, for you will all be touched by and adore this excellent animated feature that you wish will never end. 5/5 Stars.

Alice in Wonderland Review

Andrew Busher — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:26:26 +0000

Most of us have seen the original children’s film by the same name. This Alice in Wonderland is far different. Swapping the old technology for the new, Alice can be seen in 3D, along with the Mad Hatter, Chesire Cat, White Rabbit and the Red Queen. In fact the story is quite similar to the original Alice in Wonderland, except it’s not entirely based on the original book by Lewis Carroll, it is also based on another one of Carroll’s books, Through The Looking-Glass, also about Alice and her adventures in Wonderland. The film is Directed by Tim Burton and with Burton comes Johnny Depp, playing the highly entertaining Mad Hatter. The star of Alice in Wonderland is Mia Wasikowska, the Australian grown girl, who started on All Saints. The story tells the tale of Alice (Wasikowska) who, now being much older, has found her self back in Wonderland or Underland as it is really called. Since Alice left Underland all those years ago the Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter, has taken over Underland and everyone is subject to her rule. After Alice has a brief meeting with the Blue Caterpillar, she learns that it is her destiny to kill the Jabberwocky, thus over throwing the Red Queen’s rule. There are so many bad things about this movie, it’s hard to know where to begin. The plot is not only predictable, but you are actually told how the movie will end right at the beginning, the visual effects, while fun and suit the movie in all it’s wackiness, seem childish as if meant for an expensive afternoon cartoon. Mia Wasikowska is absolutely terrible as Alice. Lacking all emotion, range, feeling and expression, Wasikowska is cringeable each time she is on screen. The same however, cannot be said for co-star Johnny Depp. Depp plays the character of the Mad Hatter wonderfully, being quirky, funny, entertaining and down right Mad. Giving the Hatter the aggression of Sweeney Todd, the kindness and care of Edward Scissor Hands, and finally the movements of Jack Sparrow. Johnny Depp is just about the only good thing in this whole film, with the exception of the voice acting from Steven Fry as the Chesire Cat and Alan Rickman as the Blue Caterpillar. Alice in Wonderland is an entertaining film, but brings nothing new or exciting. Mia Wasikowska is possibly the worst thing in the film, and the rest of the cast isn’t much better, save for Bonham Carter and Depp. Director Tim Burton makes another film for his list of weird while Depp adds another memorable character, which is really the only thing worth seeing in this movie. 2.5/5 Stars.

Edge of Darkness Review

Andrew Busher — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:42:22 +0000

Mel Gibson is back, the actor, turned director, has returned to the screen in the latest rogue cop movie, Edge of Darkness. In this modern American take on the 1985 British TV mini-series, by the same name, Gibson plays Thomas Craven, a homicide Detective, whose daughter, Emma Craven (played by actress Bojana Novakovic) has decided, out of nowhere, to come visit him. During her visit, Emma begins to vomit and bleed from the nose, when both Cravens leave to go to the hospital, a mysterious gunman appears and shoots Emma in the chest, killing her. Thomas Craven is distraught, the investigation shows no promising leads and to top it off, Craven begins hallucinating. After much deliberation, Craven decides to conduct his own unofficial investigation which leads to the discovery of a government conspiracy. Mel Gibson performs quite well in his returning film, with a slick accent and a weary face, Gibson is in the zone and plays Thomas Craven beautifully, Novakovic, though not on screen for long, plays the part of Emma Craven, lacking emotion and feeling doing it. The only time her character is believable, is when she is dying in Gibson’s arms. Ray Winstone, who plays Jedburgh, a mysterious agent hired by Emma’s killers to stop Thomas, is powerful, his presence on screen, commanding, even out shinning Gibson at times. While most of the performances are good, the only thing letting down Edge of Darkness is it’s audio. the characters mumble their lines and are difficult to understand at times. That aside, Edge of Darkness is a story about a man who, sums himself up as “The guy with nothing to lose” and his quest for revenge. While slow, Edge of Darkness is an enjoyable, emotional thriller, where by the end you want Emma’s killers to die the worst way possible. 3.5/5 Stars.

AVATAR Review

Andrew Busher — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:52:12 +0000

Leonardo DiCaprio once shouted from the bow of the Titanic “I’m the king of the world”, because of the film’s success, people all over the world gave director James Cameron the title ‘King of The World’ and Cameron makes it obvious he deserves such a title in his latest Science fiction Epic, AVATAR. The film begins with ex-marine Jake Sully, (Sam Worthington), who after traveling for 5 and a half years in space, has arrived on the beautiful jungle planet of Pandora. Jake has taken the place of his recently murdered brother, in the Avatar program. The program is designed to help the humans communicate with the nine foot tall blue natives, know as the Na’vi. Jake is told to learn the ways of the Na’vi and become accepted into their culture. While back at the human settlement, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is planning to wipe out the Na’vi and everything sacred to them. As the months go by Jake starts to question which team he sides with and forms a very close relationship with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) daughter of the Na’vi leader. What James Cameron has done with AVATAR is like nothing any director has ever done before. Cameron has created a world so visually spectacular and enriching it’s hard to believe it was even possible to make. Trees hundreds of meters away sway in the breeze, giant predators known as Banshees fly through the sky, monkey like creatures swing their way around the jungles of Pandora and at night everything organic emits a fluorescent glow. The planet of Pandora is a wonder to behold. For Cameron to create such a world, would be impossible without the three hundred million dollar budget he was given to create his vision, as everything in the film is as realistic as it gets, without any flaws. Sam Worthington plays the part of Jake Sully perfectly, as he is clearly torn between the Na’vi and the human race, Zoe Saldana is equally as good, bringing elegance and fire to Neytiri, while the rest of the cast all play their roles exceptionally well, a special mention must go to Stephen Lang and his performance as the war mongering Quaritch. James Cameron has taken full advantage of the 3D technology by making the film even more breathtaking as leaves, ambers, ash and arrows come within inches of your face. The only thing that lets AVATAR down is it’s predictability, but with so much going on the audience doesn’t have time to care about what will happen, otherwise they may miss something mind blowing. Aside from that, Director James Cameron has made another blockbuster film that will no doubt shatter Titanic’s reign, as the highest grossing movie of all time. Pandora is a magical world that is believable, beautiful and mesmerizing. If there is one movie you should see this summer make it AVATAR, for it is a modern masterpiece. 5/5 Stars.

Once again have no fear.

Andrew Busher — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:29:20 +0000

I say to you once again my tiny audience of loyal readers, DO NOT FEAR, For next week is the release of James Cameron’s AVATAR. If you are like me and have waited for AVATAR for a few years now, then you are as excited as I am. Personally I can wait to see the giant special effects and rampaging monsters. Heres a small clip from the movie.

http://au.rottentomatoes.com/dor/objects/800318/avatar/videos/avatar_trl_thanator_chase.html

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Review

Andrew Busher — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:25:32 +0000

For those who have been living under a rock and have missed all the screams of teenage girls these past few months, Edward is back. Mumbling more than ever in New Moon, the second book by Stephenie Meyer in the Twilight series. The film follows the story of Bella Swan(Kristen Stewart) and how her love for the mysterious bloodsucking vampire Edward Cullen(Robert Pattinson) continues . After Bella has a near death experience, Edward feels responsible so he, and the rest of the Cullen family leave town. Bella is heart broken, and after many months of pain she develops a close relationship with Jacob Black(Taylor Lautner) and the pair start to spend allot more time together, But things are far from perfect as Bella still misses Edward. What follows is a special effects romp that will have fans of the series jumping in their seats and cheering for either Edward or Jacob. Director Chris Weitz does a good job in taking the best selling novel and putting it on the big screen. Pattinson leads this inexperienced cast and he does a pretty good job of it, while Kristen Stewart’s performance is far superior to the rest of the cast and offers a refreshing feel to the constant gnashing of teeth and blurry action sequences that make up the climaxes for the film. The downside to New Moon is its overly depressing feel that over shadows it’s romantic story. If you are a fan of the series than you will adore this screen adaption, even if your not a fan, it is still an entertaining watch. New Moon is a refreshing take on the romance genre, along with the rest of the Twilight series and if you can hear over the screams and giggles of the audience, than you should enjoy this film. GO EDWARD. 3.5/5 Stars.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Review

Andrew Busher — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:12:26 +0000

A thousand years ago, Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) made a deal with the devil (Tom Waits) to have the gift of Immortality. It is now the Modern day and Parnassus has his own traveling Imaginarium, a place where who ever enters it creates a world based on that persons imagination and desires, eventually ending in a choice which will determine whether they belong to the devil or return to the outside world with a new perspective on life. Business however has slowed down for the Imaginarium, and the devil has come to collect his side of the bargain, Parnassus’s Daughter Valentina. With help from the mysterious stranger Tony (Heath Ledger), Parnassus makes another deal with the devil and a race begins to see who can collect five souls first, the winner gets Valentina. Director Terry Gilliam creates a visually beautiful film, with excellent costumes and animation for the worlds of the Imaginarium. Plummer leads an experienced cast that never fumbles, but the credit must go to Heath Ledger who takes over the screen in each appearance with so much grace you will be frustrated when fellow actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Collin Farrell take his place. Nevertheless Depp, Law and Farrell put on excellent performances that do Heath justice but never match him. The film is filled to the brim with sub plots that will leave audience’s heads spinning and dialogue so deep a philosopher would get lost, but entertaining none the less. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a wonderful film that is breathtaking, fun and mesmerizing, a film fitting as Heath Ledger’s final, further proof that he was taken too soon. 4/5 Stars

have No fear

Andrew Busher — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:04:24 +0000

Have no fear my loyal small audience of readers, I shall be seeing The Imaginarium Doctor Parnassuss next Thursday when It is released here in Australia. personally I can’t wait to see the final film of Heath Ledger and from the trailer the film looks fantastic. Stay tuned.

UP Review

Andrew Busher — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:58:28 +0000

UP tells the story of recently widowed Carl Fredricksen a 78-year-old man who lives in the house he built with his wife many years ago on a quiet block of land. Since then the land around the house has been built up, with company executives wanting Carl to move to a retirement facility so they can build on his land. Carl doesn’t want to leave his beloved home, so he hooks up hundreds of helium filled balloons to his house and floats away in search of “Paradise Falls” a place he and his wife had been dreaming to visit since childhood. Along with Wilderness Explorer Russell, the pair encounter a rather comical bird, whom Russell names Kevin and a talking dog which goes by the name of Dug. The movie then becomes a race as Carl and Russell try to save Kevin from the clutches of Carl’s childhood icon, Charles Muntz. From the creative minds at Pixar, UP is an excellent movie for the young and old. The animation is perfect, with the attention to detail mind blowing because thought out the movie Carl’s facial hair grows. The story is beautifully crafted with the dialogue selling the characters the audience will find themselves in fits of laughter and will smile the whole time. UP is the first movie I have seen in 3D and the technology is amazing, Pixar took full advantage of this revolutionary media. UP is the perfect example of an animated movie, it’s funny, smart and has loveable characters. Most of all no matter what age you are you will adore this film. 5/5 Stars.

Surrogates Review

Andrew Busher — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:23:23 +0000

Surrogates stars Bruce Willis, a cop who struggles to choose between a robot free life and a surrogate life. Surrogates are robots which are controlled by their users to do everything. The user is strapped into a chair and controls their Surrogate to live their life free of pain and thankfully STD’s. Such has been the life for humanity for 14 years with 98% of people using Surrogates. Crime has gone down, everyone is happy and beautiful because they chose what their Surrogate should look like. However the 2% of people who think using Surrogates is against God have been given areas to live in which resemble slum like conditions. Life if perfect, until the creator of Surrogates son is killed while using a Surrogate. FBI agent Tom Greer (Willis) is then called in to investigate and find out who is behind it all. Surrogates has an excellent make up crew because they made Willis look at least 20 years younger. Willis give his usual performance, as the guy who gets beaten up though-out the movie and catches the bad guy. While co-stars Radha Mitchell and Rosamund Pike are somewhat lacking in depth. That said, the special effects are good but nothing fantastic, the ending climax is short lived and will make you wonder if they will make a sequel. Heres hoping they don’t. Surrogates is a good Sci-fi film that you should see if there is nothing else on. 3/5 stars.