Jurassic Park 3D
What’s it about?
An eccentric billionaire (Richard Attenborough) employs a pair of palaeontologists (Sam Neill and Laura Dern), a rock star mathematician (Jeff Goldblum), and his grandchildren (Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello) to earn their seal of approval for his ground-breaking, but woefully understaffed, dinosaur park. All it takes is one rogue technician and a poorly thought out power grid for the aspirant utopia to become a walking, screeching nightmare…
What did we think?
Mitch says: This 3D re-release is a testament to the visual achievement that Jurassic Park really is – here we are, 20 years later, and the animatronic work of Stan Winston and his crew is as captivating and believable as it was 1993, even having gone through the rigours of 3D processing. The film itself as is enjoyable a ride as ever, with the added bonus that now at least you can say you’ve seen a man die on the toilet in 3D.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
What’s it about?
The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their existence.
What did we think?
Anthony says: Putting Channum Tating, the Rock and Bruce Willis together in a movie sounds like a no-brainer. Sadly they must’ve used up all the money on the cast and special effects (which are impressive, it must be said) and none on writers. Or continuity/error checkers. There are a couple of great action scenes but this 110-minute-long action-figure advertisement has more plotholes than…. zzzz. Sorry, what was I writing? I nodded off just thinking about the movie.
Escape From Planet Earth
What’s it about?
An heroic alien being is lured to Earth (aka The Dark Planet) by a false SOS and captured. His smarter but no-so-heroic alien brother sets out to rescue him.
What did we think?
Anthony says: You’ll want to Escape From The Theatre. While the premise of humans being the feared bad guys promises some interest, the fact aliens all seem to act the same way just leaves this film as space junk. William Shatner playing the bad guy is the sole saving grace of a movie that will only appeal to the very young.
Identity Thief
What’s it about?
A regular Joe (Jason Bateman) goes to extreme lengths to track down the person who stole his identity (Melissa McCarthy). He’s got nothing to lose and a bad credit rating to settle!
What did we think?
Elodie says: This flick is very hit and miss and suffers from a few pace problems especially early. A handful of lighter moments peppered with ridiculous humour save Identity Thief from being a lost cause, though. The chemistry between Bateman and McCarthy definitely deserves a mention; McCarthy in particular is a delight to watch on screen.
I Give It A Year
What’s it about?
Finally! A movie that starts where most rom-coms leave off. We begin with a wedding between Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall and look at the pressures of their first year of marriage including exes, jobs and temptations.
What did we think?
Anthony says: British comedies on the whole walk the line between clever and cringing very well which is why this movie is such a let down. With such a wonderful premise, one would have hoped for more wit and less cringe but most of this movie will leave you squirming rather than laughing. It IS funny in its way, features an amazing cast and the final act probably does justify it but it’s a question of whether you would take the time to get to the end really.
Warm Bodies
What’s it about?
In the future, after zombies have waged a successful apocalypse, an unusually empathetic zombie named “R” falls in love with Julie (there’s a theme here. I just can’t …), the daughter of the leader of the surviving humans. Oh but that won’t work out at all! Surely!
What did we think?
Alex says: What may have been intended as “Romeo & Juliet with Zombies” turns out to be more “Zombie Twilight” with an intentional sense of humour. But this zom-rom-com combo leaves you not really caring about the characters or the fate of the human race.
Jonathan Levine at least capably directs likeable leads Nicholas Hoult and our very own Teresa Palmer away from vapid Edward-and-Bella territory. But when it comes to the undead-related laughs, it’s no Shaun of the Dead.
What’s Popular
Wild Tales
What’s it about?
In this Oscar-nominated anthology of six darkly funny short stories, ordinary people carry out violent acts of revenge.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Szifrón has created a compelling feature-length experience out of very different and surprising short films. Each one steadily increases in length and scale, but is also completely self-contained, so the whole film flies by but you’ll be picking your favourites as you leave the theatre. It’s a fun, classy and bloody affair that you should go into knowing as little about as possible.
Mad Max Fury Road
What’s it about?
Max escapes a post-apocalyptic cult and ends up unlikely allies with a group of fellow escapees. Explosions and car chases ensue.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Gloriously insane or insanely glorious? To be honest it’s both. I am gobsmacked. In a quite simplistic plot, Miller has taken some huge risks but they have all paid off. Females who are strong characters in their own right. Over-the-top interpretations of religion and in-movie soundtrack guitars and drums. Very little dialogue. Any and all of these could have gone wrong but it’s all part of an escalation of action and adrenalin that leaves you breathless. It’s brutal, unrelenting and so much fun. Are there some problems? Yes. Do I care? No.
If all movies were like this I would never sleep again.
A Royal Night Out
What’s it about?
On VE night, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret actually managed to escape Buckingham Palace for a night of incognito celebration. A Royal Night Out tells how the evening might have unfolded.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: Too soon. No, really. I’m embarrassingly fond of the Queen, and I hope she lives forever. On the offchance that she doesn’t, though, they should remake this film in about 30 years. Perhaps then they could actually commit to a silly, caricatured romp instead of a confused series of mishaps surrounding a saintly, duty-bound Princess entirely devoid of character flaw. It’s certainly a fun premise, but the painfully respectful depiction of Her Maj just doesn’t gel with the otherwise broad-strokes approach. It’s ridiculously incongruous – Princess Margaret (Bel Powley, an absolute standout) is mistaken for a prostitute and bundled into a wheelbarrow, but when Elizabeth chastely kisses a new friend goodbye the camera discretely pans away as if director Julian Jarrold was afraid of being hung for treason. Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) does her best with what she’s given, but A Royal Night Out would have been miles better for a little affectionate teasing.
Pitch Perfect 2
What’s it about?
Our favourite plucky female a capella group is back! But are they looking to life after college or maintaining their now-established high standards? A suspension following a wardrobe malfunction may acca-lerate their fate…
What did we think?
Generally sequels develop the depth of characterisation but the follow-up to the delightful Pitch Perfect chooses to instead make the characters more two-dimensional. Oddly it works.What do we get? A dumbing down of Beca (the lovely Ana Kendrick) and Chloe (Brittany Snow). More Fat Amy and more Lilly (Hana Mae Lee’s kooky Korean). Political Incorrectness galore. More songs. A bigger (and better) riff-off. Over the top jokes that range from sly to outright sexist and racist. On paper it sounds a bad idea but in the cinema it was toe-tapping and almost non-stop LOLling. And I mean actually laughing out loud even as your mind is scolding you for laughing at the highly inappropriate one liners. With wonderful singing, genuine laughs and a savvy approach to directly appealing to its target demographic, PP2 will be met with acca-citement from the fanbase. As I left the preview screening dozens of teenage girls were already animatedely talking about plans to see it again when it is released later this week (May 7 in Australia).
Editor's Choice
Wild Tales
What’s it about?
In this Oscar-nominated anthology of six darkly funny short stories, ordinary people carry out violent acts of revenge.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Szifrón has created a compelling feature-length experience out of very different and surprising short films. Each one steadily increases in length and scale, but is also completely self-contained, so the whole film flies by but you’ll be picking your favourites as you leave the theatre. It’s a fun, classy and bloody affair that you should go into knowing as little about as possible.
Mad Max Fury Road
What’s it about?
Max escapes a post-apocalyptic cult and ends up unlikely allies with a group of fellow escapees. Explosions and car chases ensue.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Gloriously insane or insanely glorious? To be honest it’s both. I am gobsmacked. In a quite simplistic plot, Miller has taken some huge risks but they have all paid off. Females who are strong characters in their own right. Over-the-top interpretations of religion and in-movie soundtrack guitars and drums. Very little dialogue. Any and all of these could have gone wrong but it’s all part of an escalation of action and adrenalin that leaves you breathless. It’s brutal, unrelenting and so much fun. Are there some problems? Yes. Do I care? No.
If all movies were like this I would never sleep again.
A Royal Night Out
What’s it about?
On VE night, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret actually managed to escape Buckingham Palace for a night of incognito celebration. A Royal Night Out tells how the evening might have unfolded.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: Too soon. No, really. I’m embarrassingly fond of the Queen, and I hope she lives forever. On the offchance that she doesn’t, though, they should remake this film in about 30 years. Perhaps then they could actually commit to a silly, caricatured romp instead of a confused series of mishaps surrounding a saintly, duty-bound Princess entirely devoid of character flaw. It’s certainly a fun premise, but the painfully respectful depiction of Her Maj just doesn’t gel with the otherwise broad-strokes approach. It’s ridiculously incongruous – Princess Margaret (Bel Powley, an absolute standout) is mistaken for a prostitute and bundled into a wheelbarrow, but when Elizabeth chastely kisses a new friend goodbye the camera discretely pans away as if director Julian Jarrold was afraid of being hung for treason. Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) does her best with what she’s given, but A Royal Night Out would have been miles better for a little affectionate teasing.
Pitch Perfect 2
What’s it about?
Our favourite plucky female a capella group is back! But are they looking to life after college or maintaining their now-established high standards? A suspension following a wardrobe malfunction may acca-lerate their fate…
What did we think?
Generally sequels develop the depth of characterisation but the follow-up to the delightful Pitch Perfect chooses to instead make the characters more two-dimensional. Oddly it works.What do we get? A dumbing down of Beca (the lovely Ana Kendrick) and Chloe (Brittany Snow). More Fat Amy and more Lilly (Hana Mae Lee’s kooky Korean). Political Incorrectness galore. More songs. A bigger (and better) riff-off. Over the top jokes that range from sly to outright sexist and racist. On paper it sounds a bad idea but in the cinema it was toe-tapping and almost non-stop LOLling. And I mean actually laughing out loud even as your mind is scolding you for laughing at the highly inappropriate one liners. With wonderful singing, genuine laughs and a savvy approach to directly appealing to its target demographic, PP2 will be met with acca-citement from the fanbase. As I left the preview screening dozens of teenage girls were already animatedely talking about plans to see it again when it is released later this week (May 7 in Australia).