The simplification of the storyline is also reflected in the pace. This new chapter feels more like an action film than anything else. It starts with a set piece that is more John Wick in Outer Space than an exercise in the dynamics of corporate greed. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni’s original story was intended to be season four of the TV show, but the Hollywood writer’s strike changed the studio’s plans. The end result, however, still feels episodic.

The actual look of the proceedings is different as well. Grogu looks ever inch the puppet that he is, as do several other characters that inhabit this world. The computer generated special effects take a back seat to this old-world charm. His emerging power is also ramping up, albeit slowly, which bodes well for future films. Pedro Pascal as The Mandalorian keeps things simple with a minimum of dialogue and a maximum of physical activity. His task of rescuing Jabba The Hut’s son Rotta (voiced by The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White) is really his main aim.

As is true with so many modern films, this feels a reel too long, but during its 132-minute running time, the onslaught of action gives little respite. One hopes this chapter does well at the Box Office and that the studio shows restraint in the future as they try to re-monetise the Star Wars Universe. The world of giant screen entertainment is a much more interesting place with a good Star Wars film to look forward to.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/StarWarsAUNZ/

A stunning new trailer for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” from Oscar®-winning filmmaker James Cameron have arrived. Both are available to download and share. The third film in the phenomenally successful “Avatar” franchise opens exclusively in Australian and New Zealand cinemas in IMAX 3D, Dolby Cinema 3D, RealD 3D, Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX, and premium screens on December 18, 2025. 

In addition, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the Oscar®-winning global box office phenomenon, which was released in 2022 and grossed more than $2.3 billion worldwide, winning an Academy Award® for best achievement in visual effects, will be re-released in 3D exclusively in cinemas for a one-week special engagement on October 2.

With “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” James Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family. The film, which has a screenplay by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, and a story by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno, also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, David Thewlis, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Duane Evans, Jr., and Kate Winslet.
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ/

The third film in the phenomenally successful “Avatar” franchise opens exclusively in cinemas in IMAX 3D, Dolby Cinema 3D, RealD 3D, Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX, and premium screens on December 18, 2025.

With “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” James Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family.

The film, which has a screenplay by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, and a story by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno, also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Trinity Bliss, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass and Kate Winslet.
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ/

With “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the cinematic experience reaches new heights as Cameron transports audiences back to the magnificent world of Pandora in a spectacular and stirring action-packed adventure.

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.

Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the Lightstorm Entertainment Production stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Kate Winslet. Screenplay by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Story by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno. David Valdes and Richard Baneham serve as the film’s executive producers.
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.

Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the Lightstorm Entertainment Production stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Kate Winslet. Screenplay by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Story by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno. David Valdes and Richard Baneham serve as the film’s executive producers.
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

Written and directed by Academy Award® winner James Cameron, “Avatar” stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver.

The film was produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau. Nominated for nine Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Best Director, the film won three Oscars®, for Best Cinematography, Production Design and Visual Effects.

www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.

Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the film stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement and Kate Winslet.

To whet audiences’ appetites, the studio will re-release “Avatar” in cinemas on September 22.

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My Salinger Year will be released in Australian cinemas 14 January 2021!
www.facebook.com/Palacecinemas

The story revolves around a computer sciences geek Deon Wilson (played by Dev Patel, he of Slumdog Millionaire, The Newsroom and Best Exotic Marigold Hotel fame) who creates an Artificial Intelligence program to help his robots achieve a level of human consciousness. His place of employment has already used his technology to build robots that the police use to enforce the law in Johannesburg. Upper management is opposed to this, so he goes rogue to complete the task. This is when the story takes a rather large detour into ridiculousness.

Wilson is kidnapped by a group of hip-hop thugs lead by Ninja (Watkin Tudor Jones, a real life South African rapper, record producer and actor) who terrorizes Wilson but also helps him insert his AI program into a decommissioned robot. Once the program is installed, the robot essentially becomes a child and is taught the ways of life by both Wilson and the thugs. There are some interesting comments on nurture verses nature as the robot become more and more human.

The big finale borrows a bit too liberally from the film Robocop and the final end run takes science to unbelievable places. There are too many moments in the film that illustrate that working more diligently on the logic loop holes in the script would have helped immensely. The film errs on the side of big dumb entertainment, which is a bit of a shame as some of the ideas really showed promise. As it is, it’s entertaining but not much of a mental exercise. With Blomkamp’s stated intension of this being part one of a trilogy, here is hoping they work a little more believability into parts two and three.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/SonyPicturesAUS

Conor is dealing with far more than other boys his age. His mother is ill, he has little in common with his imperious grandmother, and he is the target of bullies at school. Then one night, Conor summons an unlikely ally: a 40-foot-high colossus of a monster who bursts forth from the ancient yew tree in the graveyard behind his house. Guiding Conor through a dark and magical world, the monster brings stories to life. But his tales of noble princes and evil queens reveal unexpected twists; the heroes behave badly; the villains turn out to be innocent; the bad aren’t punished and the good aren’t saved. Why, Conor wonders, is the world so complicated and so unfair?

Based on the award-winning novel by Patrick Ness, visionary director J. A. Bayona brings the fantastic to life in A Monster Calls. With breathtaking special effects, this beautifully crafted film transports us with stories of courage, loss and hope, blending fantasy and reality in a bold and innovative way.

A Monster Calls stars Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, and features the melodic and imposing voice of Liam Neeson. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona – IN CINEMAS JULY 27
www.amonstercallsmovie.com.au

Competition will be drawn 26 July 2017, winners will be notified by Mail.