The underwater worry this time is Bob’s desire to become a big guy so he can ride a roller coaster at a local amusement park. When he grows to the required height and is admitted onto the ride, his bravery leaves him and sends him on a quest to become a swashbuckler. Even though these are well-trodden lanes, it’s still presented with such innocence that the appeal endures.

As the journey progresses, we meet a progression of weird and wonderful characters, even the bad guy, in this case, the Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill), is presented as a somewhat friendly foe. Relying on an impressive colour palette and an outlandish sense of presentation, the journey is never less than fun.

Filled with lysergic laughter and more than a few ribald moments, The SpongeBob world is one of inclusion and the relationships presented are based on acceptance and not being afraid of being yourself. With the current reality being about as bleak as memory serves, trading that for a cartoon land filled with humour, laughs, and love sounds like time well spent.
Rob Hudson
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SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can’t miss cinematic event ever…The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman – a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate – on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.

Starring Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, George Lopez, Isis “Ice Spice” Gaston, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola with Regina Hall and Mark Hamill, SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is coming to Brisbane cinemas this Boxing Day!
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Book now for your exclusive early screening on Friday, 1 August of the critically acclaimed new film THE LIFE OF CHUCK from director Mike Flanagan and starring Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Mark Hamill.

A life-affirming, genre-bending story based on Stephen King’s novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.

“An absolute miracle.” – Awards Radar

“One of the most profoundly beautiful films ever made.” – KTLA

“An unforgettable experience.” – InSession Film

The Life of Chuck – Club Dendy Preview
Friday August 1 2025
Dendy Portside
www.portside.dendy.com.au

SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can’t miss cinematic event ever…The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman – a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate – on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.
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Directed by Seong-ho Jang, with an all-star voice cast including Kenneth Branagh, Mark Hamill, Uma Thurman, and Pierce Brosnan, THE KING OF KINGS offers a heartfelt retelling of this timeless story through the lens of celebrated author Charles Dickens and his son, Walter.

Based on a little-known short story that Dickens read to his family every Christmas, which was only published posthumously in 1934, THE KING OF KINGS follows a unique narrative journey.

The story unfolds as Charles Dickens, voiced by Kenneth Branagh, recounts the life of Jesus to his young son, Walter (voiced by Roman Griffin Davis). Along with their mischievous cat, Willa, the duo are swept into the world of ancient Jerusalem, where they witness the nativity, Jesus’ teachings, and his ultimate crucifixion and resurrection.

What begins as a simple bedtime story transforms into an unforgettable adventure, which invites audiences to explore the eternal themes of love, hope, and faith, all through the eyes of a child.

With breathtaking animation and an unforgettable narrative, this magical film offers both a heart-warming tribute to the Easter story and a wondrous adventure full of inspiration and discovery.
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Her software allows her to learn and eventually understand and communicate with the native fauna. After accidentally destroying a family’s bird nest she becomes the sole protector of Brightbill (Kit Connor) and also befriends an outcast fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal). She remains an outcast herself and this creates a bond between the three.

It speaks to the quality of the writing that these computer-generated characters are imbued with such emotional resonance that it is easy to overlook the simple sentimentality of the storyline. There is an undercurrent of pointing out the harm that humans have done to the planet which is typified by a scene showing the Golden Gate Bridge underwater with whales swimming above it.

Stunningly beautiful and emotionally powerful, The Wild Robot will pierce almost any hardened exterior and make a substantial impact. This is animation elevated into visually fine art and with classic storytelling that is simple and direct. This is one for the entire family.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, The Boy and the Heron is written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film also features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi, and the theme song for the film “Spinning Globe” was written and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu. The Japanese cast is led by Soma Santoki as Mahito Maki and Masaki Suda as The Gray Heron. Additional casting includes Ko Shibaski (Kiriko), AIMYON (Lady Himi), Yoshino Kimura (Natsuko), and Takuya Kimura (Shoichi Maki).

The English language dubbed version of the film will feature the voices of Christian Bale (Ford v Ferrari, Amsterdam, The Pale Blue Eye), Dave Bautista (Dune, Guardians of the Galaxy), Gemma Chan (The Creator, Eternals, Crazy Rich Asians), Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate, The Florida Project), Karen Fukuhara (The Boys, Suicide Squad), Mark Hamill (The Machine, House of Usher), Robert Pattinson (The Batman, Tenet, upcoming Mickey 17), and Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer, Black Widow, Little Women). Luca Padovan joins the cast as Mahito Maki, and Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens are featured as the Parakeets. GKIDS handled casting and produced the English version in close consultation with Studio Ghibli, with ADR direction by Michael Sinterniklaas at NYAV Post, and English script adaptation by Stephanie Sheh. The English language dub was produced in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Foreign Dubbing Agreement.

The Boy and the Heron debuted in Japan on July 14, where it surpassed Spirited Away’s opening four-day box office. The hand-drawn, original story animated feature — director Miyazaki’s first in 10 years — made its international premiere at the Opening Night Gala of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival on September 7. Tickets to all five TIFF screenings sold out in record time, and the film received glowing reviews and placed top three for the TIFF People’s Choice Awards. The film made its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival, its European Premiere as the Opening Night of San Sebastian International Film Festival, and made its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. The film was also presented in IMAX at Los Angeles’s TCL Chinese Theatre on October 18 as Opening Night of the Animation is Film Festival.
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Inspired by comedian Bert Kreischer’s viral story of his booze-soaked misadventures with the Russian mafia, The Machine is coming to cinemas May 25!

Set 23 years after the original story which inspired it, The Machine finds Bert (Bert Kreischer) facing familial crisis and the arrival of his estranged father (Mark Hamill) when the ghost of his booze-soaked past arrives: a murderous mobster (Iva Babić) hellbent on kidnapping Bert back to the motherland to atone for his crimes.

Together, he and his father must retrace the steps of his younger self (Jimmy Tatro) in the midst of a war between a sociopathic crime family while they attempt to find common ground.

Starring Bert Kreischer, Mark Hamill, Jimmy Tatro, Iva Babić, Stephanie Kurtzuba, The Machine will be released in Australian cinemas May 25!
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Competition will be drawn May 24, winners will be notified by mail.

Set 23 years after the original story which inspired it, The Machine finds Bert (Bert Kreischer) facing familial crisis and the arrival of his estranged father (Mark Hamill) when the ghost of his booze-soaked past arrives: a murderous mobster (Iva Babić) hellbent on kidnapping Bert back to the motherland to atone for his crimes.

Together, he and his father must retrace the steps of his younger self (Jimmy Tatro) in the midst of a war between a sociopathic crime family while they attempt to find common ground.

Starring Bert Kreischer, Mark Hamill, Jimmy Tatro, Iva Babić, Stephanie Kurtzuba, The Machine will be released in Australian cinemas May 25!
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Colin Firth as Kingsman agent Harry Hart is flawlessly cast as our introduction to this world of perfect gentlemanly conduct and deadly killing precision. And in stark contrast to the recent proclivity of the Bond franchise to do away with all those cool spy gadgets, this film is littered with deadly hardware that would have made the old Q more than happy.

Underlining the cool technology on display is a story based on character development, honour and paying back impossible depts. Harry becomes a mentor to Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin (played with emerging star power by Taron Egerton) who is the offspring of a fellow agent and friend to Hart that had made the ultimate sacrifice. His mentorship is put to the test as they clash with billionaire baddie Valentine (played by Samuel L. Jackson) who taps into mind control and has the world on the edge of chaos.

The film misses few chances to shock the audience and often times goes into directions that have you shaking your head, Big budget action films don’t usually play with the rules this fast and loose. The end result is a defiance of the norm that will leave you with a smile on your dial and give you the opportunity to recommend this to friends without any hesitations. Few films this year will provide more entertaining escapism.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ