Wreck-It Ralph
Andrew O'Dea
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
"Wreck-It Ralph" brings classic arcade games to life through a wildly fun and exciting premise. It's just a shame the brilliant concept doesn't quite live up to its potential. Although the animation is superb, it eventually runs out of tokens, winding up as a simple 8-bit film that gives preference to visuals over heart. You won't be disappointed by the brilliant animated-short that precedes it, but unfortunately the main event is only mildly entertaining at best. Game over.
ParaNorman
Anthony Macali
A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
"ParaNorman" has an admirable vision; introducing a younger audience to the world of horror. From the outset, the slightly warped aesthetics grab your attention, signalling an animation far from normal. There are plenty of ghouls, but they are a small distraction. At its core, the story is about a kid fighting his fears and the bullies at school. It's a touching experience and one with welcome bouts of humour. Inspiring a generation to battle their demons, this film is alive and well.
Life of Pi
Anthony Macali
A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with a fearsome Bengal tiger.
"Life of Pi" charts an amazing story of survival, feats of courage and countless horizons. There are plenty of opportunities to gaze at majestic visuals, from exotic animals to the colours of the sea, enriched with dream-like sequences that grant the freedom to push the artistic boundaries, 3D and all. The film's biggest struggle is the amount of time spent on a life-boat, reaching a point to drive its audience sea-sick. A far from thrilling, yet nonetheless beautiful adventure.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Andrew O'Dea
Bilbo Baggins sets out on an adventure with a group of Dwarves to reclaim their mountain home.
The greatest delight of this movie is the simple joy in being able to revisit the magic of Middle-Earth once again, captured in all of the director's visionary glory. In this chapter, an aura of whimsy and charm are preferred to the darker nature of the film's predecessors – a light-hearted approach that remains faithful to the literary classic upon which it is grounded. Although it has its share of storytelling detractions, in particular the deliberately slow pacing, there are still enough moments of action and allure to sustain, making "The Hobbit" a journey worth taking.
Dredd 3D
Andrew O'Dea
In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.
"Dredd 3D" is a classic grindhouse shoot 'em up. Bullets rip through faces and bodies splatter from a great height in glorious slow-motion, stylishly drawing out each bloody micro-second. While the 3D effects do nothing but enhance a terrible sense of retro-fitting, gore-addicts will still no-doubt be enthralled by the relentlessly graphic violence; even though it only serves as compensation for the tired and unimaginative 'cops vs bad guys' storyline. Bordering on dreadful.
Frankenweenie
Anthony Macali
A young boy conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog back to life.
"Frankenweenie" is the pet project of its director, brought to life in trademark gothic style and ethereal black and white. The cute story is bound to resonate with any person caring for a creature of their own, but the kids can only make it last so far. Despite all the odd and wonderful characters, and the adorable dog Sparky, you have to wonder who the target audience is in this animation veiled by horror. All of the nods and winks to the many iconic films of its inspiration can't save this beast, eventually waning in interest. Frankly boring.
Hotel Transylvania
Tom Jones
Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teen-aged daughter.
Depicting Dracula, Frankenstein, the big bad wolf and all the other legends as suffering from the same dilemmas and stresses as humans, was obviously designed to offer greater perspective to the intended audience. Unfortunately these characters are likely to keep children awake at night. Despite all their human charm and sense of humour, they are still scary, particularly to look at. Undeniably, this film is entertaining, but parental guidance is necessary. It is the mash, it is the monster mash.
Bait
Anthony Macali
A freak tsunami traps shoppers at a coastal Australian supermarket inside the building - along with a 12-foot Great White Shark.
"Bait" is the story of a very hungry shark, brought beyond the shore with the help of some unremarkable special effects. Once the disaster subsides, the talent emerges from the water and we have the consummate setting for chills and spills. They make it quite clear which fish we want to live, and the chumps to be chewed, not shying from the blood and limbs synonymous with killer sharks, yet still suffers from taking itself a little too seriously. Dead in the water.
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Anthony Macali
Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe join a travelling circus on their back home to New York.
"Madagascar 3" starts like most franchises that run out of ideas... by travelling to Europe. Within the wag of a tail, our favourite animal friends are overseas and roaring along at a frantic pace, opening with a ruckus to satisfy the most attention-seeking of kids. Once the initial excitement dies down, the energy runs out, and the film resorts to the limitless colour and fireworks at its disposal to enthral over the thin circus plot. An uninspiring show.
Storm Surfers 3D
Andrew O'Dea
A 3D adventure into the world of big wave surfing with Aussie tow-surfing legend Ross Clarke-Jones and two-time World Champion Tom Carroll.
"Storm Surfers 3D" is a character-driven documentary that transcends the surfing genre. There's an element of genuine story-telling as we revel in the raw honesty and boyish nature of two mates and their lifelong quest to ride the biggest waves. The proportions of the film are epic, but its brilliance lies within the camerawork and an innovate 3D format that is able to project the enormity and raw power of the ocean never so immensely realised on camera before. Drop-in and see this one.
- Genre » Documentary Adventure 3D
- Release » Limited 16 Aug 2012
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Stefan Bugryn
The prolific American President leads a double life as one of history's greatest vampire-hunters.
"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" is basically an action movie for teenage boys. The bumbling script and rushed back-story means you don't really care for any of the characters or their motives. However, even though it starts off as a no-brains fang-banger, it actually becomes bizarrely interesting watching historical events woven with outrageous fiction. Don't be mistaken, this is mostly a pretty stupid film, but seeing an infamous American president slaying evil spirits against the backdrop of a historically famous era, only just saves it from sucking completely.
The Amazing Spider-Man
Andrew O'Dea
Peter Parker finds a clue that might unlock why his parents disappeared when he was young.
The direction is assured in this fluid film that presents a fresh perspective of the legendary character. The brilliant blend of motion capture and CGI action sequences are used sparingly, giving weight to a storyline with substance enough to match the amazing manoeuvres of 'Spidey' when he's out doing what he does best. There are some awkward moments, but the charming young actors carry their roles with aplomb. Slick and entertaining without being brilliant, this is finally an instalment that crawls up, rather than down, the drainpipe… get bitten by the reboot.
Katy Perry: Part of Me
Wendy Slevison
A documentary that chronicles Katy Perry's life on and off-stage, following her journey from childhood to one of the world's most popular female singers.
"Katy Perry - Part of Me" has lots of music and concert tour footage, which will certainly appeal to fans. Yet there are also many humorous and heart-rending insights into Katy the daughter, granddaughter, sister, friend and wife that add a very personal aspect to the documentary format. When the sudden trajectory of her career takes its toll on her personal life, Katy’s pain and anguish is palpable, and unpretentiously shared with her audience. Katy Perry is only part "Pop Princess".
- Genre » Documentary Music 3D
- Release » Wide 05 Jul 2012
Brave
Anthony Macali
Determined to change her fate, Princess Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to her kingdom.
There's nothing really brave about "Brave". The Scottish highlands setting is small and far from the adventurous, playing home to a patchy story of borrowed ideas and lacking any of the spectacle promised in its title. The only war to be found is between a mother and a daughter, and while it may ring true, the moral outcome is lopsided and won't teach the kids any lessons. As per usual, the visuals are stunning and the voice-casting excellent, but we've come to expect a more from these cartoons, especially when engaging a younger audience. Where is the hero?
Prometheus
Andrew O'Dea
A team of explorers journey to the corner of the universe to uncover the origins of mankind on Earth.
Intelligent in its use of imagination, this grandiose thriller explores the philosophical perils of human-kind and its tireless pursuit for answers. The bulk of "Prometheus" is epic, immersed in a visually stunning world and buoyed by stellar performances from both leads. Unfortunately, it eventually falls victim to its own brilliance, and fails to deliver on the building intensity it so creatively generates. Scenes of gore paying homage to the film's roots will appease some, but cannot mask the anti-climactic nature of its final hour, rendering it just a few DNA strands short of being complete.