Spectacularly bringing the intricate style and all-consuming dedication of the Japanese Kabuki artist to the big screen, Lee Sang-il’s epic new drama KOKUHŌ is a decades-spanning tale charting the ambition, friendship and rivalry of two young trainees.

Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, gifted Kikuo (rising star Ryō Yoshizawa) is taken under the wing of famed Kabuki actor Hanjirō Hanai (played by the iconic Ken Watanabe, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Samurai). Alongside the great performer’s only son, Shunsuke (Ryūsei Yokohama), he dedicates his life to the artform – a centuries-old Japanese theatrical tradition known for its costumes, elaborate makeup and innovative stagecraft.

Over the ensuing decades, against the backdrop of stunning stagings of classic Kabuki tales, the destiny of the two young disciples entwines and twists – from acting school to the most prestigious stages – and their hearts suffer as much yearning, scandal and glory as their on-stage alter-egos. Only one of them will become the master of the art.

Based on the best-selling novel by Shūichi Yoshida, KOKUHŌ (which translates as ‘National Treasure’) stormed the Japanese box office in mid-2025, with demand escalating for months on the back of word of mouth, becoming the highest grossing live action film in Japanese box office history with over 12 million admissions, a true cultural phenomenon.
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Into this ever-expanding category comes Gareth Edwards’ The Creator. His directorial work on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Godzilla shows he has game in this medium and this is his boldest statement yet. He uses cutting-edge effects to full advantage and tackles a topic that is at the forefront of human thinking at the moment.

On the surface, the story tells of a time in the future when AI or artificial intelligence has become a species of its own and is in competition with humans for control of the planet. Sub-texturally it touches on subjects as wide-ranging as American Imperialism, the emergence of Asian culture as the dominant one and the simple love that can exist between a father and his child.

There are big ideas afloat and the concepts are complex ones but they are grounded in a story as old as man himself, where is our place in the cosmos and does the power of love transcend and even bridge the gap between man and machine. The Creator provides an epic journey well worth taking.

Rob Hudson
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Joshua (John David Washington), a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife (Gemma Chan), is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war and mankind itself.

Joshua and his team of elite operatives’ journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory, only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child (Madeleine Yuma Voyles).

The Creator will be released in Aussie cinemas September28!
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Directed by Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One,” “Godzilla”), the film stars John David Washington (“Tenet”), Gemma Chan (“Eternals”), Ken Watanabe (“Inception”), Sturgill Simpson (“Dog”), newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles and Academy Award® winner Allison Janney (“I, Tonya”).

Amidst a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua (Washington), a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife (Chan), is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war… and mankind itself.

Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory… only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child.
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Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory… only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child.

Directed by Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One,” “Godzilla”), the film stars John David Washington (“Tenet”), Gemma Chan (“Eternals”), Ken Watanabe (“Inception”), Sturgill Simpson (“Dog”), newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles and Academy Award® winner Allison Janney (“I, Tonya”). The film’s screenplay is by Gareth Edwards and Chris Weitz, from a story by Edwards. The producers are Gareth Edwards, p.g.a., Kiri Hart, Jim Spencer, p.g.a. and Arnon Milchan. The executive producers are Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, Natalie Lehmann, Nick Meyer and Zev Foreman.

The Creator will be released in Aussie cinemas this September!
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Then add all the other he’s and she’s from the monster kingdom (including but not limited to Mothra, Rodan, and Ghidorah) and you have one hell of a party on your hands. It brings to mind the kind of murky party that plays in your head after you did your best to over-consume and still be in a state of consciousness.

The story as it is revolves around big G coming back around to save the puny earthlings from themselves as well as handling all the unwanted party guest. Scores of gate crashers that have lied dormant underground for eons and none of them wake up happy. You thought it was difficult to get started on Monday morning? Try that after being asleep for thousands of years.

The actual film defies belief on how many wonky moments you can actually endure and still consider it watchable. It absolutely luxuriates on walking that oh so fine line from start to finish.

Rob Hudson
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The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

GODZILLA II: KING OF THE MONSTERS is directed by Michael Dougherty and stars Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Aisha Hinds and Zhang Ziyi.

GODZILLA II: KING OF THE MONSTERS releases in Australian cinemas on May 30, 2019.
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The first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” stars Ryan Reynolds as Detective Pikachu and is based on the beloved Pokémon brand—one of the world’s most popular, multi-generation entertainment properties and one of the most successful media franchises of all time.

Fans everywhere can now experience the iconic Pokémon Pikachu on the big screen as never before, as Detective Pikachu, a Pokémon like no other. The film also showcases a wide array of beloved Pokémon, each with its own unique powers and personality.

The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Pikachu, they join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.

POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU is directed by Rob Letterman and also stars Justice Smith as Tim, and Kathryn Newton as Lucy, a junior reporter following her first big story; as well as Suki Waterhouse, Omar Chaparro, Chris Geere, and Rita Ora, with Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe, and Bill Nighy.

POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU releases in Australia on May 9, 2019.
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When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

Godzilla II: King of Monsters is directed by Michael Dougherty and stars Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Aisha Hinds and Zhang Ziyi.

Godzilla II: King of Monsters releases in Australian cinemas on May 30th, 2019.
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This unmissable majestic production, directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher, first opened on Broadway in 2015 for a critically acclaimed 16 month run at The Lincoln Center Theater, this was followed by an unprecedented record-breaking sold out USA tour.  The show then transferred to the London Palladium in June this year, with the three original Broadway lead actors reprising their starring roles – Tony Award-winner (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for The King and I) Kelli O’Hara, Tony and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe and Tony Award-winner (Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for The King and I) Ruthie Ann Miles.  The London production continues to draw huge critical acclaim, smash box office records – including the biggest grossing week in the London Palladium’s history, taking £1,058,317.50 for an eight performance week, play to packed houses and receive nightly standing ovations.

With the announcement of November’s cinema release, even more theatre lovers across the globe will be able to watch “Broadway musical’s undisputed Queen” (The Sunday Times) Kelli O’Hara take to the stageas Anna, Ken Watanabe in a “powerhouse” (The Times) performance as The King and the “powerfully moving” (New York Magazine) Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang in THE KING AND I: FROM THE PALLADIUM.

Also starring in this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is the multi-award-winning actor, and star of one of Japan’s most popular television series JIN, Takao Osawa as The Kralahome and Dean John-Wilson and Na-Young Jeon as the young lovers, Lun Tha and Tuptim.

Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.

With one of the finest scores ever written including; Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You and Shall We Dance, and featuring a company of over 50 world-class performers, THE KING AND I: FROM THE PALLADIUM is a testament to the lavish heritage of gloriously romantic musical theatre – it is the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals.

Director Bartlett Sher says: “The response from the theatre audiences on Broadway, throughout America on tour and now in London at the Palladium has been phenomenal. They have really taken this show into their hearts. I’m delighted that the worldwide cinema release will now give a greater number of people the opportunity to enjoy this production of which we are all so proud.”
Producer Howard Panter says: “This multi award-winning lavish production of The King and I directed by Bartlett Sher is not to be missed. From the three outstanding leading actors – Kelli, Ken and Ruthie – to the amazing supporting company, the sumptuous set design, the incredible choreography and of course the wonderful score, this really is musical theatre at its very best. It’s a visual spectacular, that everyone should experience and I’m thrilled that via this cinema release the show will get an even wider global audience.”

Trafalgar Releasing’s Marc Allenby says:  “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I is one of the most popular and loved musicals still performed today, resonating with multiple generations of fans. Trafalgar Releasing are excited to bring this breathtaking production starring Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe and Ruthie Ann Miles to cinemas around the world.”

The King and I: From The Palladium
29 November 2018
Book ticket through www.kingandimusicalcinema.com or see your local cinema for details