Have used that voucher & seen Mao’s Last Dancer, as planned. The dancing of Chi Cao was as good as I expected. Personally though, I am not at all fond of Graeme Murphy’s choreography - too modern. I prefer that of Marius Petipa or Lev Ivanov. (Even though where they are now, they probably no longer choreograph.)
I understand why some have commented that stylistically it’s an “Australian” film. I can’t quite explain how, but I know what they meant!
Felt the PG rating was inaccurate, owing to the adult themes, including sexual references; wasn’t fond of the language of the Americans, either. (Even if Li Cunxin’s bio records them as saying just that.) If I were a parent, I would not be comfortable watching that film with my children - I would have rated it M15+. (Or, specifically, PG13.)
One hysterical clanger to look out for:
At the point where the young dancer Li Cunxin is living with his American wife in [supposedly] Houston, TX, he is standing on the street corner outside their small terrace-style house. He watches his wife drive off; she’s in the LH side of the car as Americans ought to be; the camera follows her a little way down the road as she drives past a small street on the left.
This street is labelled with a small slim, dark-green street sign on a metal pole, with white letters spelling out “Darling St”. Next to the white lettering on the sign, a little white anchor is printed.
Hmm. Dark green sign, white lettering, white anchor icon right next to lettering.. .. ..
If you are a Sydneysider, you’ll know that a lot of CBD (city) streets have that exact same type of sign!
Hah! So much for Houston TX - more like Sydney NSW!!
Don’t you just love the little oops! moments in life.
Just saw “Lord Save Us From Your Followers” . It’s an honest yet light-hearted look at the culture wars in the US and the message Christians communicate.
Very much about religion in the US but plenty of parallels.
It opens with a Yancy quote - somethins like… “no one ever became a Christian by losing an argument.” and his idea is to try and stop shouting and to listen instead.
A good line too from Campollo quoting Augustine “The church is a whore…but she’s my mother.”
check it out at…
After a drought of going to the movies, we saw “The Invention of Lying” in late November - an interesting film - but produced by a seemingly anti-religion stance. ( 6 out of 10 )
After a busy December, we finally got to catch a few films after Christmas :
“Have you heard about the Morgans ? ” is a semi-comedy vehicle for Hugh Grant - relaxed and easy viewing for couples to see - we gave it 7 out of 10.
“Old Dogs” - not a great film - but emits a continual outburst of humour. Maybe a few too many infantile moments - but if you need a good belly laugh, this is it - 7 out of 10.
“Where the wild things are” proved to be very surprising indeed. Definitely not for young children, this film delves into our dark inner emotions. Truly thought provoking - and ‘beautiful’ on so many levels. This film will really impact on you long after you’ve seen it - and you’ll want to get it on DVD later on. 8 out of 10.
Off to see “Sherlock Holmes” now - and still aiming to catch “Avatar” in 3D very soon.
ADDITIONAL : Have just returned from seeing “Sherlock Holmes” - only a few seats were left in the cinema. And no wonder - this version is superb - even more so. Won’t say anything else except that this is a MUST SEE movie if you like dramas with a bit of realistic violence. Not one for the fainthearted, but it fully deserved our rating of 9.5 out of 10 ! We aim to see it again before the season is over.
[ Edited: 03 January 2010 12:03 PM by Kevin Goddard]
Hollywood blockbuster Avatar has surged to a box office haul of more than $US1 billion ($A1.12 billion) globally, faster than any other movie in history, an industry tracker reports.January 4, 2010 - 7:00AM
“It has made $US670 million ($A750.36 million) international, for a total of more than $US1 billion ($A1.12 billion),” box office analyst Chad Hartigan of Exhibitor Relations said.
Since the Fox-distributed film—the most expensive ever made at up to $US500 million ($A559.97 million)—debuted 17 days ago, it has earned $US352 million ($A394.22 million) domestically as of Sunday, according to weekend estimates, assuring its reputation as one of the most impressive box office performers of all time.
“It was the fastest ever to the one-billion-dollar mark,” and “Avatar is now the third biggest grosser ever”, behind Titanic and The Return of the King, the final movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hartigan said.
The film tells the story of a paralysed war veteran, Jake, who is sent on a mission to the planet Pandora, where he falls in love with a blue humanoid named Neytiri of the alien Na’vi race.
Last weekend, earning $US75.6 million ($A84.67 million) from Friday to Sunday, the 3-D science fiction epic helped boost the North American box office to the highest-grossing weekend in movie history.
The Christmas holiday weekend saw moviegoers flock to theaters in droves, sending earnings soaring to nearly $US270 million ($A302.39 million), an all-time record, California-based Exhibitor Relations said.
The figure smashed the previous best weekend mark of $US260.3 million ($A291.52 million) set in July 2008, when Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight opened to huge audiences in Canada and the United States. Avatar is director James Cameron’s first film since the 1997 Oscar-winner Titanic.
SANDRA Bullock has rung in the new year making box office history - beating female stars Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon.
Variety reports that Bullock’s “The Blind Side” became the first film in history driven solely by a top female star to jump the US$200 million mark at the US domestic box office.
No previous films in which Bullock had top solo billing have reached $200 million, nor have any of the solo starring efforts of the likes of Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie or Reese Witherspoon.
Roberts’ “Erin Brockovich” - the film most often compared with “Blind Side” - grossed $125.6 million domestically. Streep’s “The Devil Wears Prada” fashioned $124.7 million at the domestic B.O.
The only female-driven film that jumped $200 million domestically was romantic comedy “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” the 2002 indie hit starring then-unknown Nia Vardalos and “Northern Exposure” star John Corbett, which earned $241.1 million domestically.
Some female-driven films have found more love overseas. Musical “Mamma Mia!”, with a cast led by Streep, grossed $144.1 million domestically and a massive $465.7 million overseas.
“The Blind Side” tells the true story of a Christian couple who take in a homeless black youth - who becomes a top gridiron star. It did mega bucks from the first weekend in the US - and is listed for an Australian season from February 25 .
By Bob Tourtellotte From:Reuters January 07, 2010 4:27PM
SANDRA Bullock has entered Hollywood awards season in strong form, winning two People’s Choice honours. She was named favourite movie actress, and also won for the relationship comedy The Proposal.
The Twilight vampire romance series took home four People’s Choice trophies: favorite movie, favorite franchise, top on-screen team for its actors. One of its stars, Taylor Lautner, landed the award for breakthrough movie actor.
Other key movie winners were Johnny Depp, who was named favorite movie actor, and Hugh Jackman, who claimed the trophy for top action hero for his role in the comic book movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Television honours went to House for best drama and The Big Bang Theory for top comedy.
Music trophies were claimed by Carrie Underwood for favourite country singer and Taylor Swift for top female artist, while Keith Urban was named top male singer, and Mariah Carey named favorite R&B artist.
Bullock had two major hits in theatres in 2009: The Proposal and The Blind Side, in which she plays a woman who helps transform a homeless youngster into an American football star.
Her work already has earned the actress Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award nominations, and she is among the favourites for an Oscar nod for her work in The Blind Side.
She accepted her second People’s Choice award, which are voted upon by fans in an online poll, with tears in her eyes and thanked her family, father, husband and fans.
She said her recent success with critics, awards and at box offices was “unplanned, unexpected and unreal”.
“I’ve had two wonderful experiences this year, and I think most actresses will tell you if you had one in five years you’d be lucky,” she said.
The People’s Choice awards kick off two months of awards in film, television and music, and are voted for by fans.
“The only reason any of us is up here is because of you,” said Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp when accepting his statue. “It has been quite an amazing decade and an incredible ride, and I sincerely thank all of you for bestowing on me all your great treasures.”
Animated Disney film Up was favourite family movie.
“Where the wild things are” proved to be very surprising indeed. Definitely not for young children, this film delves into our dark inner emotions. Truly thought provoking - and ‘beautiful’ on so many levels. This film will really impact on you long after you’ve seen it - and you’ll want to get it on DVD later on. 8 out of 10.
I saw that late last month, in order to use a movie voucher present before it expired.
Very real in several ways - how our children (or inner children) deal with fear & insecurity, often embarrassing or hurting the ones we love the most.
Definitely not the usual brand of cheerful-and-cheesy children’s movie!
..
Arthur Lee - 03 January 2010 02:14 PM
Avatar 3D - 9/10.
Extremely good both in special effects, plot and acting. If you have to see a movie over the ‘holiday period’ then see Avatar 3D!
I was put off the idea of Avatar, for the simple reason that the French news (Le Journal, France 2) raved on about it for three consecutive days!
I was put off the idea of Avatar, for the simple reason that the French news (Le Journal, France 2) raved on about it for three consecutive days!
TZ.
Now now Tia,
Really ? Are you that influenced ( or annoyed ) by froggie opinions ? That’s not really an acceptable reason at all, I would suggest. I thought that only film critics didn’t like what others loved. Apparently, for once, the French are in-step with the rest of the civilized world ;)
Here’s the latest evidence from TODAY’s news thab this film is something SPECIAL :
Avatar is number one movie of all time at the Australian Box Office
January 9, 2010
AVATAR has smashed TITANIC’S long standing record at the Australian box office, to become the number one film of all time. Taking just 22 days to break his own previous 12 year record for TITANIC which grossed A$57.65 million, James Cameron’s AVATAR reached A$58.8 million last night.
Since the film’s release on 17th December 2009, AVATAR has broken numerous records at the Australian box office including: fastest film to reach A$30, A$40 and A$50 million milestones, the biggest Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day (for a film not opening on that day).
AVATAR is also the biggest 3D release in Australia with 78% of its total revenue generated from 3D cinemas.
Globally, AVATAR’s box office performance continues its phenomenal run. Breaking countless records around the world, AVATAR’s global earnings to date are US$1.14 billion, overtaking THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING’s box office milestone of US$1.12 billion, to make AVATAR the 2nd highest grossing film in the world.
In the US, the film has grossed a total of US $374.4 million with Cameron nominated by the Directors Guild Of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film, considered a forerunner for the Academy Awards. He has also been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director, alongside the film’s other nominations for Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Original Score & Best Original Song.
AVATAR takes us to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on an epic adventure, ultimately fighting to save the alien world he has learned to call home. James Cameron, the Oscar®-winning director of “Titanic,” first conceived the film 15 years ago, when the means to realize his vision did not exist yet. Now, after four years of production, AVATAR, a live action film with new special effects, delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience,where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the characters and the sweep of the story.
Can 50 million Frenchmen possibly be wrong ? On this occasion, the answer seems to be “non” ;)
ps I have to confess that due to busyness, we have yet to see this film - but will do so later this week !
( But only after our Monday sojourn to Canberra to catch the “Masterpieces from Paris” ( Post-impressionism from the Musee D’Orsay ) exhibition at the National Gallery - plus a look at the new National Portrait Gallery next door - and a visit to the National Australian Museum. Afterall, some cultural endeavours still take precedence over celluloid ones. )
I saw Avatar. Good effects, engaging action
dreadfully obvious alignment to Amerindians and shallow relationships and really unbelievable evolutionary similarities between them n us.
One watch movie- indeed so was Titanic.
Devil of a job to get a visa and now there’s hell to pay
Joyce Morgan SMH January 14, 2010
THE movie is billed as a Christian courtroom drama that will leave audiences breathless and cheering. But Suing the Devil has left authorities asking just how its big-name star, Malcolm McDowell, got into the country last month to film his role of Satan in Sydney.
They are looking at the devil in the detail of his visa.
The Department of Immigration has confirmed it is trying to establish how McDowell and two US actors arrived in Australia.
The entry of the British star, who made his name as a violent delinquent in A Clockwork Orange, should have raised a red flag and points to a gaping hole in the immigration system, according to the actors union.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has written to the Immigration Minister, Senator Chris Evans, seeking an explanation.
The film’s producer, David Turrell of Mouth Watering Productions in Adelaide, had sought permission to use a US director, Tim Chey, and three overseas actors - McDowell and co-stars Jennifer Skyler and Shannen Fields - for the film.
The union was consulted last year about the applications for entertainer, or subclass 420, visas. Film producers are required to consult the union over the use of foreign actors, as they are in the US, Britain and elsewhere.
No objections were made about the director. But the union raised concerns on the actors’ contracts, funding and other conditions. Negotiations had not been concluded when the union discovered the actors had arrived in Australia and filming had taken place in Sydney last month.
Simon Whipp, the union’s national director, said he was concerned that the arrival of McDowell and his co-stars did not raise alarm bells.
’‘The big flaw in the immigration system is that when they’ve already made an application for a 420 visa for a performer and they show up at the front door at immigration some flag is not raised,’’ Mr Whipp said.
Turrell, who is also a director of Christian Media Australia, said there was no attempt to conceal the company’s activities.
’‘We have tried to be transparent,’’ he said. He declined to comment on what visas the actors had arrived on.
The film, with a $400,000 budget, is the story of a down-and-out law student who sues Satan for $200 trillion.
The film was made with assistance from the Wesley Institute, an evangelical Christian performing arts college in Drummoyne.
The college provided office space and transport and encouraged its students and alumni to work as extras.
An Immigration spokesman said the actors were granted electronic travel authorities, which carried mandatory conditions, including that the holder must not engage in work in Australia.
The matter was being investigated, the spokesman said, but visa holders who breached the conditions risked visa cancellation and could be excluded from re-entry to Australia.
The Vatican also eats popcorn and choc tops .......
Vatican says Avatar is no masterpiece
Unlike much of the world, the Vatican is not awed by the film Avatar.
James Cameron’s big-grossing, 3-D spectacle has earned lukewarm reviews by both the Vatican newspaper and its radio station, which say the movie is simplistic in its plot is superficial in its eco-message, despite groundbreaking visual effects.
The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano says that despite “so much stupefying, enchanting technology” there are “few genuine emotions”.
Vatican Radio called it “rather harmless” but said the movie was no sci-fi masterpiece.
The reviews came out after a red carpet preview held in Rome just a stone’s throw from St Peter’s Square. The movie will be released on Friday in Italy.
Finally got around to seeing Faith Like Potatoes on the ACC the other weekend. Emotive story about a farmer who struggles with drought and tragedy in South Africa.
The filmmakers did very well with the limited budget they had. 7/10.
Bran Nue Dae—A very pleasant and entertaining movie. Good to see Aussies getting it right. A musical comedy in the tradition of Gilbert and Sullivan I suppose. What came before Gilbert and Sullivan? The irreverance of Geffory Rush as Father ? would not be tolerable not that long ago. Times change. Can see some bits of Slumdog Millionaire and Rocky Horror in it, but that’s OK IMO. The aboriginies still steal the show.
Here’s a chance to see movies at GU cinemas for only $7.50 for the next 6 weeks ! Pass it on.
This year as a special thank you to our loyal CINE BUZZ members we are opening up our Friends and Family offer to you. You can pre-purchase tickets for just $7.50 before midnight Friday 5th Feb 2010 and redeem online before March 24 2010 for the movie of your choosing!*
You don’t need to be a Cine Buzz member to take advantage of this offer - but if you’re not already a member, why not sign up anyway - it’s free - and there’s plenty of benefits.
[ Edited: 02 February 2010 02:37 PM by Kevin Goddard]
Law Abiding Citizen - 8/10. Why am I a sucker for these type of violent justice movies? I don’t know, but this was very good with an excellent ending too. People have varying opinions on the ending though.
The Hurt Locker - 7/10. Nominated for 9 Oscars along with Avatar, I thought Hurt Locker was somewhat overrated. It’s about the exploits of the B Company in Iraq, often involving the disarming of explosives.
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