An electrifying thrill ride unfolding with propulsive energy, startling twists and breathtaking action, ANNA introduces Sasha Luss in the title role with a star-studded cast including Academy Award Winner Helen Mirren, Cillian Murphy, and Luke Evans.

Anna is in Australian cinemas June 20!
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The film starts promisingly with a very clever introduction to its Galaxy wide leanings with a parade of ever more outlandish alien creatures. It brings to mind the Star Wars cafe scenes with all their variety of beings from outer space. The colour palette is also overwhelming, it’s like walking into a lolly shop with all of its over-saturated colours.

The film’s premise is pretty straight forward but that’s where the comfort of familiarity ends. The film lurches from one misstep to another, all the while engendering absolutely not connection between cast and audience. It fills the screen with amazing and imaginative visuals and you can see where a large chunk of the budget went. It really is a matter of seeing it to believe it (being this much of a mystery of lost potential).

Do you remember that rumour that you could play Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon album over the Wizard Of Oz and they strongly meshed together. Hopefully there is a piece of music or album out there that you could do the same with for this film. Until then, this movie will remain more of a question mark than an answer.

Rob Hudson
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Based on the ground-breaking comic book series, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is the visually spectacular new adventure film from Luc Besson, the legendary director of The Professional, The Fifth Element and Lucy.

In the 28th century, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Under assignment, the two embark on a mission to the breathtaking city of Alpha – an ever-expanding metropolis where species from all over the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence and culture.

But a dark force threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets. Valerian and Laureline must race against time to identify this threat and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.

Directed by Luc Besson and starring Cara Delevingne, Dane DeHaan, Clive Owen, Ethan Hawke and Rihanna, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is in cinemas August 10!
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Competition will be drawn 09 August 2017, winners will be notified by mail.

In the 28th century, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are a team of special operatives charged with maintaining order throughout the human territories.

Under assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two embark on a mission to the astonishing city of Alpha—an ever-expanding metropolis where species from all over the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence and cultures with each other.

There is a mystery at the center of Alpha, a dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.
www.valerianmovie.com

As a screen superstar, Mills (played so far by Liam Neeson) ticks a lot of the requisite boxes: former secret operative (CIA, SAS, you pick the acronym), possessor of superlative hand to hand combat skills and an intellect that is always one step ahead of the baddies. All of this is cinema gold.

What lets the side down with Mills though is the lack of strong story lines and a rather thin overall concept. The first Taken film featured a far from unique storyline but the overall product was appealing with it bold action scenes and a flow of screen deaths that comically strained credibility.

Part two of the franchise was even thinner in regards to storyline and now with edition number three, it’s almost nonexistent. This doesn’t mean the film is without its share of thrills, it’s just so dumbed down as to live in that overcrowded realm where a film’s action is its only real selling point.

Action films based on much loved books have always had an advantage in the market place with an already existing audience and sometimes a wealth of potential storylines (the Bond and Bourne books are a great illustration of this). If the Taken series hopes to have any real future, the screenplay writers are going to have to step up their game. Until then the Taken series will just be empty fun.

Rob Hudson
www.foxmovies.com

The story of a forced upon drug mule, in this case the radiant Scarlett Johansson whose stitched in cargo ruptures and floods her body with an intelligence enhancing drug is only the start of the strain of credibility.

What comes next is an example of one of the most crazed usages of computer enhanced imagery ever seen on the big screen as Besson covers a staggering array of ideas. This even includes another cinematic take on the big bang theory (as if The Tree Of Life’s example was not enough).

The film’s first half is gritty and involving, while the second half is so bat shit crazy and scientifically unfeasible, it drags the whole production down into a rather arduous chore. Having said that, if crazy and completely implausible is your cup of Joe, don’t miss this year’s prime candidate for the least scientific science fiction yarn.

Rob Hudson
www.lucymovie.com.au