THIS
WEEK'S PREVIEWS
Opens in Australia: 22nd November 2012
Other Countries: Release Information
Opens in Perth Australia: Somerville 8pm 24, 26–30 December,
Joondalup Pines 1–6 January, 8pm
STUDIO BLURB
OUR
THOUGHTS
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Les Miserables ★★
OUR
THOUGHTS
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It is a smorgasbord this week in film. So many films opening this week and in the next two weeks you are spoiled for choice. Perth film-lovers, don't forget there are some fabulous outdoor cinemas open at the moment. I will post another blog with links to all of them shortly.
What should
you spend your precious dollars on when visiting the cinema? What needs popcorn
to enjoy? And what needs waiting until
DVD?
If you have
seen any of these or want to see them and have a comment please feel free to
share. We love hearing from our readers.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ★★★★★
(My movie Pick of the
week)
Opens in Australia: 26th December 2012
Other Countries: Release
Information
OUR
THOUGHTS
This film has
turned a non-Lord of the Rings fan into a fan.
Now I will have to go back and watch the LOTR trilogy as I only watched
the first one and thought not for me.
Somehow in the past decade I’ve gone Hobbit. The mixed reviews are thanks to the first
forty-five minutes of character building which is slow but have faith it is
worth the wait once the adventure gets going.
For my full review CLICK
HERE.
STUDIO BLURB
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
follows title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to
reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the
dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo
finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary
warrior Thorin Oakenshield. Although their goal lies to the East and the
wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels,
where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever... Gollum.
Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming
Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths ofguile and courage that surprise even
him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ...a simple,
gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot
begin to know. -- (C) Warner Bros.
Life of Pi ★★★★
Opens in Australia: 22nd November 2012
Other Countries: Release Information
OUR
THOUGHTS
This is a
beautiful, spell-binding film. I found
it breathtaking and absorbing. Yet, the
hubby found it annoying and couldn’t say why but basically did not enjoy. And
my girlfriend found it boring. So, go
figure. I think most people would enjoy
the mystical, parable presentation on a very popular book. Quite an incredible story.
STUDIO BLURB
Director Ang
Lee creates a groundbreaking movie event about a young man who survives a
disaster at sea and is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery.
While cast away, he forms an amazing and unexpected connection with another
survivor...a fearsome Bengal tiger. -- (C) Official Site
Shadow Dancer ★★★
Opens in Perth Australia: Somerville 8pm 24, 26–30 December,
Joondalup Pines 1–6 January, 8pm
Other Countries: Release Information
OUR
THOUGHTS
I found this
dragged a lot. I’ve always thought that
the IRA and their fight against England was about a passionate people fighting
for what they believed. However, this
film seemed to lack that passion. It has
been described by other reviewers as a nail-biter. So perhaps it is a subjective
nail-biter. The performances were solid
but it has been done better I think.
STUDIO BLURB
During an aborted bomb attempt in London, Collette
falls into the hands of an MI5 officer, Mac, who offers her a deal: turn
informant or go to prison. Fearing for her son's welfare, she returns to
Belfast where betraying family and beliefs she becomes a reluctant mole for
British intelligence. As suspicion of Collette mounts and Mac takes increasing
risks to protect her, both feel the net closing in.
Jack Reacher ★★½
Opens in Australia: 3rd January 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
This seemed
overly clichéd and Tom Cruise is well, Tom Cruise, as usual. For some reason I didn’t buy the whole
thing. Rosumand Pike seemed to phoning
it in as the defense lawyer. It felt
like I’d just seen this before in so many films this year. If you want a crime thriller then you will
enjoy it. However, if you’ve seen all
the episodes of Law and Order, like me, then you will probably guess most of
the twists.
STUDIO BLURB
Six shots. Five dead. One heartland city
thrown into a state of terror. But within hours the cops have it solved: a
slam-dunk case. Except for one thing. The accused man says: You got the wrong
guy. Then he says: Get Reacher for me. And sure enough, ex-military
investigator Jack Reacher is coming. He knows this shooter-a trained military
sniper who never should have missed a shot. Reacher is certain something is not
right-and soon the slam-dunk case explodes. Now Reacher is teamed with a
beautiful young defense lawyer, moving closer to the unseen enemy who is
pulling the strings. Reacher knows that no two opponents are created equal.
This one has come to the heartland from his own kind of hell. And Reacher knows
that the only way to take him down is to match his ruthlessness and cunning-and
then beat him shot for shot. -- (C) Official Site
Wreck it Ralph ★★★★
Opens in Australia: 26th December 2012
Other Countries: Release Information
I just loved
this film. It’s incredibly inventive and
filled with amusing banter and beautiful colour. This is my pick of the kid’s movie for the
Christmas break. Disney just knows how to make a solid animation with a great
story and memorable characters. All
video game addicts, this is your movie.
STUDIO BLURB
Ralph (John
C. Reilly) is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer), the
"good guy" star of their game who always gets to save the day. But
after decades doing the same thing and seeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph
decides he's tired of playing the role of a bad guy. He takes matters into his
own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade
through every generation of video games to prove he's got what it takes to be a
hero. On his quest, he meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch)
from the first-person action game Hero's Duty. But it's the feisty misfit
Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) from the candy-coated cart racing
game, Sugar Rush, whose world is threatened when Ralph accidentally unleashes a
deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade. Will Ralph realize his dream and
save the day before it's too late? -- (C) Disney
Opens in Australia: 26th December 2012
Other Countries: Release Information
I have waited
for months to see this film. And I was
so disappointed. Its two hours and
thirty-seven minutes and I felt every one of them. They sing almost every word and that was a
bore because it extended the time with tuneless words. Russell Crowe just can’t sing and after
awhile I was wondering how I felt about Hugh Jackman’s voice. There were just too many close-ups for entire
songs and not enough variety of movement.
However, again many critics enjoyed it.
I will say I preferred the previous 1998 film with Liam Neeson and
Geoffrey Rush. And I have seen the stage
musical three times, (once in London) and loved it each time. Tom Hooper’s version sadly just left me
miserable and aching to leave.
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Set against
the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story
of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption-a
timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays
ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert
(Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker
Fantine's (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever. In
December 2012, the world's longest-running musical brings its power to the big
screen in Tom Hooper's sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo's
epic tale. -- (C) Universal
Parental Guidance ★★★½
Opens in Australia: 26th December 2012
Other Countries: Release Information
OUR
THOUGHTS
This movie
had our whole family laughing uproariously from the ten-year-old to twelve-year-old, their cousin to my sister-in-law.
However, the critics haven’t been laughing and I am not in agreement
with them. Parental Guidance reminds me
of the comedies we used to be served that have now been replaced by the un-funny
swearing and sex-filled romantic comedies.
Billy Crystal and Bette Midler are simply wonderful and have fabulous chemistry. I love
how the helicopter parents are the bad guys.
I highly recommend this for the whole family. We loved it.
STUDIO BLURB
Old school grandfather Artie (Billy
Crystal), who is accustomed to calling the shots, meets his match when he and
his eager-to-please wife Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three
grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents (Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett
Scott) go away for work. But when 21st century problems collide with Artie and
Diane's old school methods of tough rules, lots of love and old-fashioned
games, it's learning to bend - and not holding your ground - that binds a
family together.
What
have you seen this week? Did you find our comments helpful or do you disagree?
Share your thoughts with us.
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