Also returning are Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the elder Owens, and the youngsters are now played by Joey King and Maisie Williams. The story revolves around the family curse that means any family member who falls in love will see their partner die a horrible and early death. This is such a buzzkill that Sally (Bullock) has gone out of her way to keep the family secret (that they are witches) and the curse from her two daughters. She has also stopped her practice of magic.

The free-spirited sister Gillian (Kidman) has stuck to her guns and kept the practice of magic alive. Her extroverted and playful approach gives the film a lighter, more accessible feel, so when the danger arrives, it is in stark contrast and makes things feel more ominous. When Sally’s daughter Kylie (King) falls in love with Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), it sets off a chain of events that shakes the family to the core. It also leads to some continent-jumping and includes a trip to England.

For a film with magic in its name, the prestidigitations take a mostly back seat to the human activities and the emotions that they create. The main joy in the film is the on-screen camaraderie between the members of its cast, with Bullock and Kidman riffing off each other in a most pleasing way. The female sensibilities make it a work that women of all ages should enjoy, and there is enough of a male presence to satisfy other members of the audience as well. The story does take a bit of a back seat to the drive of the characters, but it’s a pleasing mix.
Rob Hudson
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Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, Practical Magic 2 returns to a world steeped in moonlit mischief and powerful ancestral magic, as the Owens sisters must confront the dark curse that threatens to unravel their family once and for all in a must-see cinematic event of fun, magic and mayhem.

Practical Magic 2 will be released in Aussie cinemas September 10!
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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.
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After being a film reviewer for many years, the surprise quotient unfortunately diminishes, so saying A Big Bold Beautiful Journey was a pleasant discovery is an understatement. This love story turns convention on its head in such an inviting manner that it makes you search your own life for parallel experiences. 

David (Colin Farrell) presents himself as a solitary being, suffering in quiet solitude while going it alone. Through the strangest of circumstances, he finds himself driving solo to a wedding in a rented Saturn automobile (an American brand that only lasted twenty-five years before becoming defunct). At the wedding, he meets Sarah (Margot Robbie), an outwardly bold person with hidden damage of her own.

Through another outlandish circumstance, the two end up travelling together, guided by the most personal of GPS devices. This adventure leads them to a series of doors that, once traversed, reveal moments from their past. The revelations within these worlds recast their thoughts and feelings about key moments in their lives. These moments become epiphanies.

The sign of a well-told story where humanism is at its core are those moments that arise from self-examination. Can I relate to this in a private and or personal manner? Does A Big Bold Beautiful Journey affect one in this way? It certainly did this over-experienced reviewer.
Rob Hudson
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Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present…and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.

Starring Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell with Kevin Kline and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey will be released in Aussie cinemas September 18!
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When a young girl’s sketchbook falls into a strange pond, her drawings come to life – unpredictable, chaotic, and dangerously real.

As her small town unravels, she and her brother must track down the creatures before they leave permanent damage. Meanwhile, their father races to reunite his family and stop the disaster they never meant to unleash.

SKETCH is aimed at audiences 8–12 years and their families. While packed with imaginative adventure, it also explores themes of grief, loss, and the power of light and love over darkness. Think The Spiderwick Chronicles, Coraline, and The Goonies.
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In contrast to most superhero films, this one has multiple storylines that weave together most enjoyably. It also features a villain who is unambiguous in his determination to rid Earth of the Kryptonian. The subtext here is obvious but it is presented in such a way as to be inclusive. It also has a total comic book feel and structure. Oh, and there is also a super dog named Krypto.

Writers Gunn, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster have fashioned a story that brings Superman and his abilities into a modern context without stripping him of his universal appeal. There are moments of doubt and suspicion by the public of his alien powers and the caustic effect that modern social media can have on individuals in the public eye. The inclusion of these elements gives the story added depth and relevance.

As pure escapism, this film is a delight and the underlying theme, while a positive one is never allowed to overwhelm the enjoyment factor by being overly saccarine. This is populist entertainment in the best possible sense and should be enjoyed as such. Leave the troubled world on the outside and settle in for an example of a cast and crew that know exactly what they want to do and have the skills and approach to make that vision truly come to life.
Rob Hudson
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“Superman,” DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this July from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.

DC Studios heads Peter Safran and Gunn are producing the film, which Gunn directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

The film stars David Corenswet (“Twisters,” “Hollywood”) in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (the “X-Men” movies, “Juror #2”) as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi (“For All Mankind”), Anthony Carrigan (“Barry,” “Gotham”), Nathan Fillion (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “The Suicide Squad”), Isabela Merced (“Alien Romulus”), Skyler Gisondo (“Licorice Pizza,” “Booksmart”), Sara Sampaio (“At Midnight”), María Gabriela de Faría (“The Moodys”), Wendell Pierce (“Selma,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”), Alan Tudyk (“Andor”), Pruitt Taylor Vince (“Bird Box”) and Neva Howell (“Greedy People”).

“Superman” is executive produced by Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars Winther. Behind the camera, Gunn is joined by frequent collaborators, including director of photography Henry Braham, production designer Beth Mickle, costume designer Judianna Makovsky and composer John Murphy, along with composer David Fleming (“The Last of Us”) and editors William Hoy (“The Batman”) and Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “Blue Beetle”).

DC Studios Presents a Troll Court Entertainment/The Safran Company Production, A James Gunn Film, “Superman,” releasing in Australian cinemas on July 10, 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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DC Studios heads Peter Safran and Gunn are producing the film, which Gunn directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

The film stars David Corenswet (“Twisters”, “Hollywood”) in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (the “X-Men” movies, “Juror #2”) as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi (“For All Mankind”), Anthony Carrigan (“Barry”, “Gotham”), Nathan Fillion (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “The Suicide Squad”), Isabela Merced (“Alien Romulus”), Skyler Gisondo (“Licorice Pizza”, “Booksmart”), Sara Sampaio (“At Midnight”), María Gabriela de Faría (“The Moodys”), Wendell Pierce (“Selma”, “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”), Alan Tudyk (“Andor”), Pruitt Taylor Vince (“Bird Box”) and Neva Howell (“Greedy People”).

“Superman” is executive produced by Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars Winther. Behind the camera, Gunn is joined by frequent collaborators, including director of photography Henry Braham, production designer Beth Mickle, costume designer Judianna Makovsky and composer John Murphy, along with editors Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2”, “Blue Beetle”), Jason Ballantine (the “IT” films, “The Flash”) and William Hoy (“The Batman”).

“Superman” will be in theaters and IMAX nationwide on July 11, 2025, and internationally beginning 9 July 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

“Superman” will release in Australian cinemas from July 10.
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Most will be familiar with the tie-in with The Wizard Of Oz as it’s set in the Land of Oz before events that take place in the original movie. It tells the life and death story (in two parts) of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, played by Tony Award-winning singer/actor/songwriter Cynthia Erivo. Pop princess Ariana Grande plays her frienemie Glinda in a role that provides most of the film’s comic moments.

Being loosely based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire, the work is a welcome return to the massive productions of yesteryear albeit one mixed with modern-day sensibilities in regards to inclusivity and more natural acting styles. The filmmakers also use modern technology to great effect with some rather scary scenes featuring CGI characters.

While it should be a delight to all members of the family, the very youngest might be a bit frightened by some of the more intense moments, especially if they see monkeys as just playful and happy creatures. Also see it early if you can as the Uber fans will flock to those screenings and their energy and approach to fancy dress is a lot of fun to be around.
Rob Hudson
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