National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Review

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Release Date: 30th November 1989 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Hughes Entertainment

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 97 minutes

Budget: $25,000,000

Box Office Gross: $74,382,091 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Clark Griswold yearns to celebrate the perfect family Christmas as the holiday season approaches. He pesters his wife, Ellen, and their two kids to have everything prepared for their seasonal celebration, including the Christmas tree and decorations. However, things don't go as smoothly for the Griswolds, and to make matters worse for Clark, his hick cousin Eddie shows up uninvited and unannounced

with his family and starts

living in their RV on the

Griswold property. Will

Clark keep it together

before the ultimate

Christmas Eve celebration

takes a more disastrous

turn?

Cast

Chevy Chase - Clark Griswold

Beverly D'Angelo - Ellen Griswold

Randy Quaid - Cousin Eddie

Juliette Lewis - Audrey Griswold

Johnny Galecki - Russ Griswold

Diane Ladd - Nora Griswold

John Randolph - Clark Griswold, Sr

E. G. Marshall - Art Smith

Doris Roberts - Frances Smith

Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Margo Chester

Miriam Flynn - Cousin Catherine

Cody Burger - Cousin Rocky

Ellen Hamilton Latzen - Cousin Ruby Sue

William Hickey - Uncle Lewis

Mae Questel - Aunt Bethany

Sam McMurray - Bill

Nicholas Guest - Todd Chester

Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Margo Chester

Nicolette Scorsese - Mary

Keith MacKechnie - Delivery Boy

Brian Doyle-Murray - Frank Shirley

Natalija Nogulich - Helen Shirley

Tony Epper - Bozo #1

Billy Hank Hooker - Bozo #2

Alexander Folk - Swat Officer

Jeremy Roberts - Cop

Woody Weaver - Cop

Michael Kaufman - Young Executive

Doug Llewelyn - Parade Announcer (Voice)

Devin Bailey - Young Clark Griswold

(Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Jeremiah S. Chechik

Writer/Producer - John Hughes

Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -

William S. Beasley

Executive Producers - Matty Simmons
and Daniel Grodnik (Uncredited)

Producer - Tom Jacobson
Casting Directors - Risa Bramon Garcia,
Billy Hopkins and Heidi Levitt

Production Designer - Stephen Marsh
Art Director - Beala Neel

Set Decorator - Lisa Fischer

Costume Designer - Michael Kaplan

Director of Photography - Thomas Ackerman
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Charlie Picerni
Special Effects - Allen Hall and
Gary L. Karas

Special Visual Effects - Justin Klarenbeck

and Dave McCullough
Animator: Main Title - Bill Kroyer (Uncredited)

Editors - Jerry Greenberg and
Michael A. Stevenson

Supervising Sound Editors - Larry Kemp

and Wylie Stateman

Sound Editors - George H. Anderson,

David Baldwin, Neal Burger, Dan Hegeman,

Lou Kleinman, Glenn T. Morgan,

Victoria Rose Sampson and Mark P. Stoeckinger

Re-Recording Mixers - Doug Hemphill,

Chris Jenkins and Mark Smith

Foley Artists - Edward Steidele

and Gary A. Hecker

Music - Angelo Badalamenti

Review

Admittedly, I have never seen any of the Vacation movies, including CHRISTMAS VACATION, which I had the opportunity to view before Christmas Eve. CHRISTMAS VACATION is the last film of the series that John Hughes wrote and produced towards the end of his tenure. It celebrates the holiday spirit while keeping the movie fresh with slapstick comedy and a bit of crudeness to bring on the Yuletide laughter. A few actors from the two previous films return, like Chevy Chase, who once again portrays Clark Griswold - the optimistic father who frequently causes havoc to himself and his family instead of having a good time together. He has co-starred with the not-yet-famous actress Juliette Lewis as his daughter, future Big Bang Theory actor Johnny Galecki and Randy Quaid, who also returns as cousin Eddie.

I could never resist a good laugh when watching this film. CHRISTMAS VACATION is the comedy film of the holiday season, and it'll be good to watch it again by next December. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for those who enjoyed the movie!

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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In Memory of Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016)

Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016)

Debbie Reynolds, the actress who paired with Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain", passed away from a stroke on 28th December 2016. She was 84, just one day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher. Unfortunately, we have lost both actresses as they were mother and daughter of Hollywood royalty. Debbie's career as an actress began when talent scouts at MGM and Warner Brothers discovered her after winning the 1948 Miss Burbank beauty contest. There, she appeared in a few movie musicals, one of which was to be her breakout role in the film "Three Little Words", starring Fred Astaire and Red Skelton. The other had a top hit song, "Aba Daba Honeymoon", entitled "Two Weeks with Love". By the time, she portrayed the up-and-coming actress Kathy Selden in what would become her highest-profile role in a musical satire "Singin' in the Rain". Debbie's career as an actress grew the more films she appeared in, including "Bundle of Joy" with singer Eddie Fisher (whom she later married). She received her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress in 1964 for "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". Two years later, she signed on for a semi-biographical movie, "The Singing Nun", which was the last of her contract at MGM.

Reynolds broadened her career to include television and voice work in films, most notably for 1973's "Charlotte's Web" and two television animations, "Rugrats" and "Kim Possible". She also did stage work on Broadway, including appearing with her daughter in the musical "Irene" and reprising her role in the stage version of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". She was notable for being a singer in film musicals, nightclub acts and recording albums.

Wherever you are, Debbie, you'll always be our lucky star. And to be with Carrie Fisher.

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In Memory of Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)

Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)

It is a time of sorrow with the announcement of the passing of actress Carrie Fisher, who died of a fatal heart attack at 60 years old on December 27, 2016. She was probably best remembered to all Star Wars fans as Princess Leia Organa and was the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds, who had stood beside her on her deathbed.

Born in 1956, Carrie Fisher grew up in showbiz, and when she reached age 15, she appeared on stage with her mother in a musical play on the Broadway stage called "Irene". Her film career began with her debut role in the comedy "Shampoo" with Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, etc. Her big break in 1977 came when she starred opposite Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford (with whom she had a real-life relationship) in an unforgettable epic space adventure from director George Lucas. It would soon become the top-grossing movie franchise entitled "Star Wars" as her iconic role of Princess Leia. Fisher would eventually reprise her role once again in the infamous "Star Wars Holiday Special" as well as two more films, "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi". Thirty-two years later, she would return to the character she portrayed in "The Force Awakens", which came out in 2015. Before her death, she had already finished her work in the upcoming chapter, "Episode VIII", and scheduled its release in December 2017.

Aside from her fame as Leia, Fisher had made other film appearances, mostly cameos and supporting roles. These include "The Blues Brothers", "Hannah and Her Sisters", "The 'Burbs", "When Harry Met Sally...", "Scream 3", "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back", "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle", "Fanboys" and more. She had done work on television outside of film, notably in the animated sitcom "Family Guy" as Peter Griffin's boss and supervisor, Angela. Outside her film and television acting, she has also doctored film scripts. Carrie has even authored semi-autobiography novels and her autobiography.

My condolences go to her family and friends. All I can say is farewell, Carrie Fisher. You gave us a strong female character, and may the force be with you.

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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Review

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Release Date: 15th December 2016 - Australia

Production Companies

Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 134 minutes

Budget: $265,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,058,684,742 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The daughter of an Imperial officer, Jyn Erso, has been on her own and now finds herself recruited by the Rebel Alliance to gather information on the Empire's newly constructed weapon, the Death Star.

Jyn, Cassian Andor, Bodhi Rook and their practical droid K-2SO needed to find one squadron to bring the galaxy peace by stealing the Death Star's technical readout. They joined forces with Baze Malbus, an assassin and spiritual partner, Chirrut Imwe. They also meet Clone Wars veteran Saw Gerrara.

With competition, the military director Orson Krennic will not stop until the Death Star gets completed. All the while, the weapon is under the watchful eye of Darth Vader.

Cast

Felicity Jones - Jyn Erso

Diego Luna - Cassian Andor

Alan Tudyk - K-2SO

Donnie Yen - Chirrut Îmwe

Wen Jiang - Baze Malbus

Ben Mendelsohn - Orson Krennic

Guy Henry - Governor Tarkin

Forest Whitaker - Saw Gerrara

Riz Ahmed - Bodhi Rook

Mads Mikkelsen - Galen Erso

Jimmy Smits - Bail Organa

Alistair Petrie - General Draven

Genevieve O'Reilly - Mon Mothma

Ben Daniels - General Merrick

Paul Kasey - Admiral Raddus

Stephen Standon - Admiral

Raddus (Voice)

Ian McElhenny - General Dodonna

Fares Fares - Senator Vaspar

Jonathan Aris - Senator Jebel

Sharon Duncan-Brewster -

Senator Pamlo

Spencer Wilding - Darth Vader

Daniel Naprous - Darth Vader

James Earl Jones - Darth Vader (Voice)

Ingvild Delia - Princess Leia

Anthony Daniels - C-3PO (Cameo)

Valene Kane - Lyra Erso

Beau Gadsdon - Young Lyn

Dolly Gadsdon - Younger Lyn

Duncan Pow - Sergeant Melshi

Jordan Stephens - Corporal Tenc

Babou Ceesay - Lieutenant Sefia

Aidan Cook - Two Tubes

Daniel Mays - Tivik

Andy de la Tour - General Hurst Romodi

Tony Pitts - Captain Pterro

Martin Gordon - Vaneé

Eric MacLennan - Rebel Tech

Robin Pearce - Rebel Tech

Francis Magee - Grizzly Rebel

Bronson Webb - Rebel MP

Tim Beckmann - Captain Antilles

Geraldine James - Blue Three

Ariyon Bakare - Blue Four
Simon Farnaby - Blue Five

Drewe Henley - Red Leader (Archive Footage)
Angus MacInnes - Gold Leader (Voice)

Gabby Wong - Gold Nine

Richard Glover - Red Twelve

Toby Hefferman - Blue Eight

Richard Cunningham - General

Ramda

Jack Roth - Lieutenant Adema

Michael Gould - Admiral Gorin

Rufus Wright - Lieutenant Casido

Michael Shaeffer - General Corssin

Geoff Bell - 2nd Lieutenant Frobb

James Harkness - Private Basteren

Derek Arnold - Pao

Matt Rippy - Corporal Rostock

Nick Kellington - Bistan

Michael Nardone - Shield Gate Officer

Nathan Plant - Imperial Guard Droid

Christopher Patrick Nolan -

Alderaanian Guard

Michael Smiley - Dr. Evazan

Warwick Davis - Weeteef Cyubee

Dee Tails - L-1

Ruth Bell - Jedha Server

May Bell - Jedha Server

Angus Wright - Hammerhead Captain

Keith Dunphy - Blockade Runner Pilot

Alan Rushton - Engineer

Robert Bendetti-Hall - Engineer

Richard Franklin - Engineer

Weston Gavin - Engineer

Nick Hobbs - Engineer

David Ankrum - Wedge Antilles (Voice)

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Ram Bergman - Death Star Technician #2

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Gareth Edwards - Rebel Soldier (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Tony Gilroy - Rebel Flight Controller

(Voice) (Uncredited)

Rian Johnson - Imperial Technician (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Gareth Edwards

Based on Characters - George Lucas

Story - Gary Whitta

Story/Executive Producer/Visual Effects

Supervisor - John Knoll

Screenplay - Chris Weitz

Screenplay/Director: Reshoots (Uncredited) -

Tony Gilroy

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -

Toby Hefferman

Executive Producer - Jason D. McGatlin

Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Simon Emanuel

Producers - Kathleen Kennedy and

Alison Shearmur

Co-Producers - Kiri Hart and John Swartz

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Susan Towner
Casting Director - Jina Jay
Dialect Coach - Andrew Jack

Production Designers - Doug Chaing and

Neil Lamont

Concept Designer: Lucasfilm - Kevin Jenkins

Lead Concept Artist - Matt Allsopp

Concept Artists - Christian Alzmann,

Chris & Julian Caldow, Kinman Chan,

Ryan Church, Rene Garcia, David Hobbins,

Will Htay, Vincent Jenkins, Dominic Lavery,

Khang Le, Richard Lim, Aaron McBride,

Jon McCoy, John Park, Matt Savage,

Thom Tenery, Erik Tiemens, Jan Urschel

and Andree Wallin
Supervising Art Director - Alastair Bullock
Senior Art Directors - Stuart Rose
and Gary Tomkins

Art Directors - Alex Baily, Robert Cowper,

Jordana Finkel, Lydia Fry, Ashley Lamont,

Steven Lawrence, Oliver Roberts,

Stephen Swain and Helen Xenopoulos

Construction Manager - Paul J. Hayes

Set Decorator - Lee Sandales

Property Master - Jamie Wilkinson

Costume Designers - David Crossman
and Glyn Dillon

Costume Supervisor - Graham Churchyard

Head of Department Modeller - Pierre Bohanna

Makeup Designer - Amanda Knight

Hair Designer - Lisa Tomblin

Director of Photography - Greig Fraser

Director of Photography: Action Unit -

Fraser Taggart

Director of Photography: Second Unit/

Camera Operator - Barry Baz Idoine

Aerial Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Adam Dale

Pilot: Second Unit - Marc Wolff

First Assistant Director - Toby Hefferman

Second Assistant Directors: Second Unit -

Tom Edmondson, David Keadell,

Tom Mulburge and Andrew Young

Supervising Location Manager - Mark Somner

Location Manager: Iceland Unit - Thor Kjartansson

Production Coordinator: Jordan Unit - Nada Atieh

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator:

Reshoots - Simon Crane

Second Unit Director - John Mahaffie
Stunt Coordinator - Rob Inch

Fight Coordinator - C.C. Smiff

Assistant Fight Coordinator - Liang Yang

Creature Movement Choreographer - Paul Kasey

Special Effects Supervisor - Neil Corbould

Special Effects Floor Supervisor - Caimin Bourne

Special Creature Effects - Neal Scanlan

Electronic Design and Development Supervisor -

Matthew Denton

Supervising Animatronic Designers - Gustav Hoegen,

Vanessa Bastyan and Maria Cork

Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM - Nigel Sumner,

Dave Dally and Craig Hammack

Additional Visual Effects: Whiskytree - Joe Ceballos,

Jonathan Harb, Tuan Ho, Paul Hudson,

Michael Kennen, Brian Meanley,

Juan Pablo Monroy, Allison Meyers and

Pierre Nahoum

Additional Visual Effects: Atomic Fiction -

Wayne Brinton, Kevin Couture, Darnie Galloway,

Seth Hill, Woei His Lee, Marc Sadeghi,

Dale Taylor and Ryan Tudhope

Visual Effects Producers - Lucas Tewin

and Erin D. O'Connor

Visual Effects Producers: ILM - TJ Falls,

Sophie Cullen and Ben Lock

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Yanick Dusseault

Art Department: ILM - Jennifer Coronado

and David Nakabayashi

Animation Supervisor: ILM - Hal T. Hickel

Computer Graphics Supervisor: BLIND LTD -

Andrew Booth

Asset and Environment Supervisors: ILM -

Enrico Damm, Paul Giacoppo, Russell Paul

and Steve Walton

Digital Artist Supervisors: ILM - Beth D'Amato,

Ryan Hopkins, Cyrus Jam, John Levin,

Patrik Marek, David Meny and James Tooley

Compositing Supervisors: ILM - Ivan Busquets,

John J. Galloway, Alex Prichard and

Jeff Sutherland

Editors - John Gilroy, Colin Goudie
and Jabez Olssen

Additional Editor - Stuart Baird

Supervising Sound Editor (Uncredited)/

Sound Designer - David Acord

Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer/

Supervising Sound Editor - Christopher Scarabosio

Supervising Sound Editor - Matthew Wood

Foley Supervisor/Artist (Uncredited) -

Frank Rinella

Foley Editors - Ryan J. Frias and

Kimberly Patrick

Foley Artists - Ronni Brown and

Margie O'Malley

Sound Mixer - Stuart Wilson

Re-Recording Mixer - David Parker

Additional Re-Recording Mixers -

Michael Semanick, Luke Dunn-Gielmuda

and Tony Villafor

Original Star Wars Music - John Williams

Music - Michael Giacchino

Supervising Music Editor - John Finklea

Scoring & Mixing Engineers - Peter Cobbin

and Joel Iwataki

Review

A new hope begins for Star Wars with Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm and the spectacular release of 2015's The Force Awakens from J.J. Abrams. It relives the adventure, magic, thrills, and excitement the divisive prequel trilogy lacked. This film regained fans' interest and proved that the series could continue without George Lucas' involvement. ROGUE ONE marks the first of standalone spinoffs yet to be released. However, an extensive amount of reshoots were necessary to finish the film. It is said to have a darker and more melancholy tone similar to The Empire Strikes Back and Revenge of the Sith.

In ROGUE ONE, the characters weren't as strong as those in The Force Awakens, with a few exceptions, like the droid with an alec personality named K-2SO. It's very intriguing for the film to set up the plot for the first Star Wars movie (click here) 39 years ago. It also boasted some impressive action and drama and demonstrated what the Rebels were like before they scored their first victory against the Empire.

Some old characters introduced in A New Hope returned in a cameo or a supporting role. Grand Moff Tarkin is no exception. However, CGI is applied to reconstruct the late Peter Cushing's likeness into the character he portrayed 29 years ago. Also returning is our fan-favourite Sith Lord, Darth Vader, and no longer is he the tragic character of the prequels, but instead shows a brutal side not seen in the originals.

ROGUE ONE is a very organic byproduct of the Star Wars series and the closest thing you'll get from a prequel. It is also a perfect entry for newcomers to the series if a few people are unfamiliar with Star Wars.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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The Santa Clause Review

The Santa Clause

Release Date: 24th November 1994 - Australia

 
Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures (presents)

Hollywood Pictures (in association with)

Outlaw Productions

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Comedy/

Fantasy

Rating: G

Runtime: 97 minutes

Budget: $22,000,000

Box Office Gross: $190,539,357 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Scott Calvin, a divorced

father, is spending the night

on Christmas Eve with his

young son Charlie when

they discover the current

Mr. Claus has fallen off

their roof. Scott

unknowingly triggers The

Santa Clause when he

puts on his Santa suit.

They immediately get

whisked away to the North

Pole to fill the boots of

jolly old St. Nick.

Cast

Tim Allen - Scott Calvin/

Santa Claus

Judge Reinhold - Dr. Neil Miller

Wendy Crewson - Laura Calvin

Miller

Eric Lloyd - Charlie Calvin

David Krumholtz - Bernard the Elf

Larry Brandenburg - Det. Nunzio

Mary Daniels - Miss Gross

Paige Tamara - Judy the Elf

Peter Boyle - Mr. Whittle

Judith Scott - Susan Perry

Jayne Eastwood - Judy the Waitress

Melissa King - Sarah the Little Girl

Joshua Satok - Larry the Elf

Zachary McLemore - Bobby

Joyce Guy - Principal Compton

Steve Vinovich - Dr. Novos

Laura Catalano - Veronica

John Pasquin - Santa #6 (Cameo)

Frank Welker - Reindeer Voices (Voice)

Kerrigan Mahan - Reindeer Voices (Voice)

Crew

Director - John Pasquin

Writers - Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick

Executive Producers - Richard Baker,

Rick Messina and James Miller

Producers - Brian Reilly, Jeffrey Silver

and Robert Newmyer

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Caroline Baron

Co-Producer - William W. Wilson III

Production Designer - Carol Spier

Art Director - James McAteer

Set Decorator - Elinor Rose Galbraith

Costume Designer - Carol Ramsey

Special Makeup and Animatronic Effects -

Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr.

Special Makeup Effects Artists -

Tim Mogg and Sean Sansom

Director of Photography - Walt Lloyd

First Assistant Director - William M. Elvin

Stunt Coordinator - Shane Cardwell

Aerial Supervisor - Robert Harman

Special Effects Coordinator - Bob Hall

Reindeer Puppets Creator: The Character Shop,

Inc. - Rick Lazzarini

Reindeer Mechanical Department/Lead

Puppeteer - Mike Elizalde

Visual Effects Supervisor/Director of

Photography: Buena Vista Visual Effects -

John E. Sullivan

Visual Effects Producer: Buena Vista Visual

Effects - Carolyn Soper

Visual Effects Coordinator: Buena Vista Visual

Effects - Denise Davis

Digital Supervisors: Buena Vista Visual Effects -

Dorne Huebler and Craig Newman

Digital Coordinator: Buena Vista Visual Effects -

Lydia Bottegoni

CG Scenic Ball: Buena Vista Visual Effects -

Wally Schaub

Matte Paintings: Buena Vista Visual Effects -

Paul Lasaine

Editor - Larry Bock

Supervising Sound Editors - Bruce Stubblefield

and Hari Ryatt

Supervising Sound Effects Editor - Gregory King

Sound Editors - Donald Sylvester,

Darren King, John Kwiatkowski, Stewart Nelson,

Peter Carlstedt, Yann Delpeuch,

Solange Schwalbe-Bossieau, Keith Bilderbeck,

Chuck Smith, Noah Blough and Phillip Linson

Sound Mixer - David Lee

Supervising Re-Recording Mixer - Jeffrey Perkins

Re-Recording Mixer - Dave Hudson

Music - Michael Convertino

Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg

Review

THE SANTA CLAUSE was released in 1994 as a star vehicle for comedian Tim Allen after his previous role in the television sitcom Home Improvement. While this isn't the best holiday film, it has some merits, helping to launch Tim Allen's career in the movie business and plenty of fun to attract the family audience while lifting their spirits for Christmas. The movie's storyline is easy to follow and far too predictable. Tim Allen has put the gift wrapping to himself as the average businessman/father who unwittingly becomes the mythological childhood figure of Kris Kringle, a.k.a. Santa Claus.

The film is a Christmas comedy, fun-filled and joyous with cheer and laughter. The sequels are not as good as the original SANTA CLAUSE movie. I recommend this movie to children and their families every Christmas Eve before it has to be over in the morning.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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The Muppet Christmas Carol Review

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Release Date: 11th December 1992 - Australia

Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures (presents)

Jim Henson Productions (from)

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Musical

Rating: G

Runtime: 86 minutes

Budget: $12,000,000

Box Office Gross: $33,273,571 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The Muppets tell their version of Charles Dickens's classic tale of an old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge, who receives an unexpected visit from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Each ghost began to show him secrets from his past and present and predict his future, which would change his life forever.

Cast

Michael Caine - Ebenezer Scrooge

Steven Mackintosh - Fred

Meredith Braun - Belle

Robin Weaver - Clara

Jessica Fox - Ghost of

Christmas Past (Voice)

David Shaw Parker - Old Joe (Voice)

Edward & Theo Sanders - Young Scrooge

Kristopher Milnes - Young Scrooge

Russell Martin - Young Scrooge

Raymond Coulthard - Young Scrooge

Muppet Performers
Steve Whitmire - Kermit the
Frog as Bob Cratchit/Rizzo

the Rat/Beaker/Bean Bunny/

Belinda Cratchit/Beetle/

Lips/Pig Gentleman/

Dave Goelz - The Great
Gonzo as Charles Dickens/
Waldorf as Robert Marley/

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew/

Betina Cratchit/Rat/Zoot

Pig Gentleman/Richmond

the Horse

Jerry Nelson - Robin the

Frog as Tiny Tim Cratchit/

Lew Zealand/Statler as

Jacob Marley/Ma Bear as

Ma Fozziwig/Pops/Mouse/

Droop/Frackle/Ghost of

Christmas Present/Mr.

Applegate/Penguin/Pig

Gentleman/Rat
Frank Oz - Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit/Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig/Sam Eagle/George the Janitor/Animal/Horse and Carriage Driver/Vegetable Salesman

David Rudman - Peter Cratchit/Old Joe/Beggar/

The Swedish Chef/Wander McMooch

Don Austen - Ghost of Christmas

Present/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Robert Tygner - Ghost of Christmas

Present/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come/

Turkey/Additional Muppets

Karen Prell - Daughter Mouse/Ghost of

Christmas Past/Additional Muppet Performer

William Todd-Jones - Ghost of Christmas Past

Mike Quinn - Pig Gentleman/Undertaker

Louise Gold - Mrs. Dilber/Spider/

Additional Muppets

Crew

Producer/Director - Brian Henson

Based on the Novel - Charles Dickens

Screenplay/Co-Producer - Jerry Juhl

Executive Producer - Frank Oz

Producer - Martin G. Baker

Line Producer - David Barron
Casting Directors - Suzanne Crowley,

Mike Fenton and Gilly Poole

Production Designer - Val Strazovec

Supervising Art Director - Alan Cassie

Art Director - Dennis Bosher

Set Decorator - Michael Ford

Production Buyer - Ron Quelch

Costume Designer - Polly Smith

Costume Design Consultant - Ann Hollowood

Chief Makeup Artist - Lois Burwell

Director of Photography - John Fenner

Camera Operator - Mike Brewster

First Assistant Director - Crispin Reece

Second Assistant Directors - Callum McDougall

and Richard Whelan

Assistant Director: Second Unit - Bernard Bellew
Second Unit Director - Nick Willing

Choreographer - Pat Garrett
Special Effects Supervisor - David Harris

Special Effects Technicians - Darren May,

Neil Swan, Roger Nichols and Ron Hone

Puppet Coordinators - Mike Quinn,

Karen Prell and Rob Tygner

Muppet Design Consultant - Michael K. Firth

Creative Supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature

Shop - John Stephenson

Visual Effects Supervisor/Director:

Miniatures Unit - Paul Gentry

Visual Effects Consultant - Thomas G. Smith

Miniatures Supervisor: Miniatures Unit -

David B. Sharp

Director of Photography: Miniatures Unit -

Paul Wilson

Film Editor - Michael Jablow

Supervising Sound Editor - Bobby Mackston

Sound Editor - Doug Kent

Sound Recordist/Mixer (Uncredited) -

Chris Munro

Re-Recording Mixers - Gary Gegan

and Matthew Iadarola

Foley Artists - Dan O'Connell

and Gary A. Hecker

Songs - Paul Williams

Original Score/Songs Arranger -

Miles Goodman

Executive Music Producer - Robert Kraft

Music Editors - Robert Hathaway

and Nancy Fogarty

Review
Charles Dickens's beloved story is the basis for each iteration. A Christmas Carol is one of these examples of great classic literature adapted into a film. Read a million times more than Oliver Twist and Great Expectations and remains one of Dickens's celebrated works and one of his very best. One of the best movie adaptations of the novel I ever saw was THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL. I haven't reviewed any Muppet movies (excluding the 2011 revival). It's time to rediscover my childhood memories through this retelling of a classic story. Jovial and heartfelt, it's how a Christmas movie should be. This modern version of Dickens's classic tale remains unchanged except for the cast and presentation.

Michael Caine's portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge shows that he can instantly perform as a miserly old businessman who discourages Christmas and later learns the meaning of the holiday spirit and becomes a changed man. It was one of his finest hours of acting, and even his interpretation is unsurpassed by Jim Carrey's and all other actors' versions of the character. It's nice to see all the Muppet characters again, even Kermit the Frog, who plays Bob Cratchit with Miss Piggy as his wife and The Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat are the narrators. The set design is flawless, and the songs have a whimsical charm and an atmospheric quality that profoundly measures up to the movie's yuletide magic.

It could have ended the Muppets' future after its creator Jim Henson's unexpected passing. It somehow lives up to many expectations. THE MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL is the best among the Muppet movies and worth dusting off from your collection. It is for viewers familiar with both Dickens and the characters that inhabit the world of the Muppets.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Short Circuit Review

Short Circuit

Release Date: 26th June 1986 - Australia

Production Companies

TriStar Pictures (presents)

Producers Sales Organisation 

Turman-Foster Company

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Sci-Fi/Family/

Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 94 minutes

Budget: $9,000,000

Box Office Gross: $40,697,761 (USA)

Plot Summary

One of the series of experimental military robots called Number 5 gains human-like intelligence and consciousness after being struck by lightning and escapes. He finds a home with a young woman named Stephanie Speck, who believes him to be an alien but later befriends him. Now, its creator, Newton Crosby and his assistant are on the trail of finding him before the military plans to take him apart and permanently scrap the entire project. Can Number 5 evade the army and convince his creator that he is alive?

Cast

Tim Blaney - Number 5 (Voice)

Ally Sheedy - Stephanie Speck

Steve Guttenberg - Newton Crosby

Fisher Stevens - Ben Jabituya

Austin Pendleton - Howard Marner

G.W. Bailey - Skroeder

Brian McNamara - Frank

Marvin J. McIntyre - Duke

John Garber - Otis

Penny Santon - Mrs. Cepeda

Vernon Weddle - General Washburne

Barbara Tarbuck - Senator Mills

Fred Slyter - Norman

Billy Ray Sharkey - Zack

Jack Thompson - Party Guest

John Badham - Cameraman (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - John Badham 

Writers - S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock and Jay Tarses (Uncredited)
Associate Producers - Gary Foster and Dana Satler Hankins

Executive Producers - Mark Damon and John Hyde

Supervising Producer/Second Unit

Director - Gregg Champion

Producers - David Foster and Lawrence Turman 

Co-Producer - Dennis Jones
Casting Directors - Jane Feinberg,
Mike Fenton and Judy Taylor

Animal Handlers - Dennis & William Shane Grisco

Art Director - Dianne Wager

Robots Designer/Consultant (Uncredited) -

Syd Mead

Illustrators - Jack Johnson,

Martin A. Kline, Dick Lasely and

Tom Southwell

Set Decorator - Garrett Lewis

Property Master - Gregg H. Bilson

Costumer: Men - Barry Francis Delaney

Costumer: Women - Mary E. Vogt

Director of Photography - Nick McLean

Camera Operators - Stephen E. Bridge

and Michael D. O'Shea

First Assistant Camera - Michael A. Chavez

and Bill Roe

Location Manager - Mark Indig

Unit Production Manager - Steve Perry

First Assistant Director - Jerry Ziesmer

Stunt Coordinator - Walter Scott

Special Effects Supervisor - Chuck Gaspar

Robots Engineer/Robotic Special Effects

Supervisor - Eric Allard

Animatronic Performance Supervisor/Puppeteer

(Uncredited) - Tony Urbano

Special Visual Effects - Chris Casady,

Dennis Dorney, Michael Ferriter,

Rocco Gioffre, Robert Hall, Nina Salerno,

Keith Shartle and Hoyt Yeatman

Visual Effects Consultant - Michael L. Fink

Video and Graphic Displays - Rhonda C. Gunner,

Richard E. Hollander, Gregory L. McMurry

and John C. Wash

Film Editors - Frank Morriss, Jeff Jones

and Dallas Puett

Assistant Film Editor - Kevin Stitt

Robot Voices Synthesizer - Frank Serafine

Supervising Sound Editors - Milton C. Burrow

and William L. Manger

Sound Mixer - Willie D. Burton

Re-Recording Mixers - Wayne Artman,

Tom Beckert and Tom E. Dahl

Music - David Shire

Review

The SHORT CIRCUIT series was a favourite part of my childhood. Unfortunately, I didn't see the first movie when I watched the sequel instead on pay TV. A few years later, it appeared on the Movie Extra channel. In recent years, the robot Number 5 (aka Johnny 5) has inspired another iconic robot character with mannerisms and looks, and his name was WALL-E. SHORT CIRCUIT is a family comedy that keeps the laughter for adults and young children but also pulls your heartstrings, which leads you to believe you're watching a Disney movie. John Badham was an underrated film director who was benevolently clever at helming this picture than he does to his other films like Saturday Night Fever and WarGames. Somehow, he didn't get the credit he deserved for his contribution to the film industry.

Steve Guttenberg was convincing as the scientist responsible for getting the machine operational. The other cast members were believable in their roles and created a fun and heartfelt atmospheric movie. I would give an honourable mention to Fisher Stevens for his outstanding role as an Indian character. The mechanical effects were not groundbreaking or revolutionary. However, they were convincingly believable and showed how to create robots.

SHORT CIRCUIT is not your typical family feature. It's unique and different from what people usually expect. It was the attraction for this movie, as it created a new style, a light-hearted sci-fi comedy that suggests the possibility of a living robot who gains a spark of humanity. If you've seen this movie, you will know it has a touching and uplifting story, and many following films have replicated its concept. SHORT CIRCUIT still stands out as one of the best and most nostalgic films.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Review

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them


Release Date: 17th November 2016 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Heyday Films

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Fantasy

Rating: M

Runtime: 133 minutes


Budget: $180,000,000

Box Office Gross: $814,044,001 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
In 1926, Newt Scamander returned from a global quest to find and document an extraordinary range of magical creatures. Landing in New York for a short stay, he could have come and gone without incident had it not been for a No-Maj called Jacob, a misplaced magical case and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could mean disaster for both the wizarding and the No-Maj worlds.


Cast
Eddie Redmayne - Newt Scamander
Colin Farrell - Percival Graves
Ezra Miller - Credence Barebone
Ron Perlman - Gnarlack
Katherine Waterston - Tina
Samantha Morton - Mary Lou
Jon Voight - Shaw Senior
Carmen Ejogo - Seraphina Picquery
Dan Fogler - Jacob Kowalski
Faith Wood-Blagrove - Modesty Barebone
Jenn Murray - Chastity Barebone
Kevin Guthrie - Mr. Abernathy
Alison Sudol - Queenie
Johnny Depp - Gellert Grindelwald
Zoe Kravitz - Lestrange
Peter Breitmayer - Mr. Bingley
Ranon Raftery - Langdon

Shaw
Josh Cowdery - Henry Shaw Jr.
Ellie Haddington - Mrs. Esposito
Martin Oelbermenn - Heinrich Eberstadt
Gemma Chan - Madam Ya Zhou
Christian Dixon - Momolou Wotorson
Wunmi Mosaku - Beryl
Sam Redford - Customs Official
Scott Goldman - Customs Official (Voice)
Tim Betnick - Witness
Tristan Tait - Reporter
Tom Hodgkins - Barker
Dominique Tipper - Auror 1
Guy Paul - Auror 2
Akin Gazi - Auror 3
Rich Hardesty - Auror 4
Andreea Paduraru - Auror 9
Walles Hamonde - Auror 10
Elizabeth Moynihan - Executioner 1
Miquel Brown - Executioner 2
Jane Perry - Female Customer in Bakery

Crew
Director - David Yates
Based on the Novel "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"/Writer/Producer - J. K. Rowling

Script Supervisor - Anna Worley

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Tim Lewis
Executive Producers - Neil Blair
and Rick Senat
Producers - David Heyman,
Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager - Michael Sharp

Casting Director - Fiona Weir
Production Designer - Stuart Craig
Associate Production Designer - James Hambridge

Concept Artists - Robert Bliss,

Paul Catling, Peter Popken, Dermot Power

and Tom Wingrove

Art Directors - David Allday,
Leslie Tomkins, Guy Bradley, Toby Britton,

Peter Dorme, Gavin Fitch, Martin Foley,

Kate Grimble, Christian Huband,

Huw Arthur and Hayley Easton-Street

Art Directors: Second Unit - Su Whitaker

and Suzanne Austin

Construction Manager - Paul Hayes

Set Decorator - Anna Pinnock

Property Master - Ben Wilkinson

HOD Prop Modeller - Pierre Bohanna
Costume Designer - Colleen Atwood

Makeup & Hair Designer - Fae Hammond
Director of Photography - Philippe Rousselot

Second Unit Director of Photography -

Jean-Philippe Gossart

"A" Camera Operator - Des Whalen

Supervising Location Manager - Sue Quinn

First Assistant Director - Josh Robertson

Second Assistant Director - Tom Brewster
Second Unit Director - Stephen Woolfenden
Stunt Coordinator - Eunice Huthart

Choreographer - Wayne McGregor
Picture Vehicle Coordinator - Alex King
Special Effects Supervisor - David Watkins
Special Effects Coordinator - Victoria Cadiou

Visual Effects Supervisors - Tim Burke

and Christian Manz

Visual Effects Supervisors: Framestore -

Andy Kind and Stephane Nazé

Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Ferran Domenech

Additional Supervisors: MPC - Daniel Stumpf,

Asregadoo Arundi, Marco Fogila, Tristan Zerafa

and Paul Nelson

Visual Effects Producer - Olly Young

Senior Visual Effects Producers: Framestore -

Nick King and Imke Fehrmann

Visual Effects Consulting Producer - Emma Norton

Animation Supervisors: Framestore -

Kevin Spruce and Laurent Laban

Visual Effects Creature Animation Development/

Senior Animation Supervisor: Framestore -

Pablo Grillo

CG Supervisors: Framestore - Benjamin Loch,

Benjamin Huber, Francois Lord and Matthiey Bertrand
Editor - Mark Day

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

Glenn Freemantle

Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer -

Niv Adiri

Sound Designers - Tom Sayers and

Ben Barker

Production Sound Mixer - Simon Hayes

Re-Recording Mixers - Ian Tapp

and Andy Nelson

Foley Artists - Pete Burgis and

Jason Swanscott

Foley Mixer - Glen Gathard

Music - James Newton Howard
Composer: "Hedwig's Theme" - John Williams

Score Recordist and Mixer - Peter Cobbin

Score Recordist - Shawn Murphy

Score Mixer - Kirsty Whalley


Review

The Harry Potter film series should have concluded when Deathly Hallows: Part 2 opened in July 2011 and put the future movies to rest before FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM got officially announced. The prequel spin-off has attracted a large crowd while earning total income at the box office. FANTASTIC BEASTS should be another beginning of a series that will expand the mythological aspects that glorify the series and make it such a phenomenon. J. K. Rowling is a writer who knows every spell of magic and is every step of writing a fantasy book or story to keep it treasured by all Muggles. David Yates returns to direct this feature, but many actors from the original Harry Potter films are absent.

FANTASTIC BEASTS is a large assemblage of extraordinary visuals, bits of colourful laughter and an ensemble cast of Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterson, Dan Fogler and Ezra Miller. Each of them has a part to play in their characters. Noted English acting thespian Eddie Redmayne gets the standout role of Newt Scamander, a misguided wizard who has to retrieve his magical creatures before they can unleash the dangers into both worlds. Redmayne was a generous actor who had just gone through famous roles as Stephen Hawking and a transgender person. He had the misfortune of being in an antagonist role in Jupiter Ascending, which is unsuited for the character with awkwardness. Johnny Depp is in a surprise guest appearance as the evil wizard Grindelwald. I hoped to see more of his role in the upcoming sequels.

With the announcement of five more films in the series, the first instalment is a great start and worth watching on its own merits. I look forward to seeing the magic again if it benefits the newborn franchise.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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