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Reviews
Living Universe (2018)
Optimistic and upbeat - Space nerds will love it.
Brilliant, I look at it from a space nerd who remembers watching the moon landings.
The prologue and credits say it was funded in part by Screen Australia and the NSW government. It certainly also has a lot of heavy hitters - passionate scientists from NASA and the likes of MIT and Harvard. It is upbeat, optimistic and enthusiastic (I particularly like that - ".....I have a dream...."). The most positive contribution to getting public buy-in to the idea of space exploration I have seen in a long time.
Occupation (2018)
Action packed and very good for such a low budget.
I've been following the progress of this movie for a while. I knew it would be low budget, (6 million) with few household names in the cast or production crew, so I was cheering them on, but I didn't have huge expectations.
I was pleasantly surprised. The story line was a bit 'Tomorrow When the War Began' meets 'Independence Day'. However, don't let that put you off. Plenty of action, and some equipment and technical help from the Australian army helps. The character development is quite adequate and the plot moves along well. Its long at over 2 hours, but that time passes quickly.
Recommended for those who like action/sci-fi that is good basic entertainment.
(One criticism I will have is I didn't like the ending scene - bit smarmy IMHO).
The director cast and crew have crafted a good entertaining flick on a small budget, and leave many much more expensive movies in its wake.
Contagion (2011)
Plausible scenario, thought provoking, an important movie.
I note some are saying they are 'underwhelmed' by this movie. What you get out of a movie often depends on what you expect from a movie experience. If you just want entertainment, be that action, romance, whatever, then maybe this movie will disappoint. However, if you want something beyond shallow entertainment, this movie will NOT disappoint. It is a plausible scenario, quite thought provoking, and I believe, an important movie. It is also technically quite good. Acting and camera work excellent, good screenplay and directing. The characters ARE human, with human failings. It doesn't end happily ever after for all, and some of the people in positions of responsibility (eg at the CDC) put their family first. There are allusions to politicians misusing their position. There are scenes where people loot, trample others to get to the head of the queue for medicines, steal food, generally, some/many people behave badly. (And in contrast some behave well). So the movie explores the spectrum of human morality, and shows good men have flaws. This is much closer to reality than the behavior that many movies usually reflect. A somewhat deeper movie than Hollywood has put out for quite some time. Recommended.
Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010)
Excellent movie. Thought provoking too.
I saw 'TWTWB' last night. Great Movie!
Based on the first book of the John Marsden series, it follows a group of teenagers who go camping for a weekend, and return home to find their country has been invaded, and their families put in a concentration camp, some of their community killed. What would you do? They fight back.
Australians inhabit a continent rich in resources and space. Both of which are in short supply in the world today, and that will become increasingly the case as the 21st century progresses. The authoritative 'Jane's Defence...' sees that rich prize as being envied by others, so the scenario is not far-fetched. The politically correct are worried, it seems, that the invaders, are non-specifically, but clearly Asian, and are worried about upsetting them. 'Well Hello' people, that is the most likely source of an attack on Australia, deal with it.
The plot was good, quite faithful to the book (as I recall - it is now almost 20 years since I read it). The dialogue let the script down a little on a couple of occasions, The lead actors were very good, the supporting ones a little less so. The photography and sets truly represent the Australian bush and a typical country town.
In parts, Stuart Beattie does a better job as scriptwriter than John Marsden in the original book. John has no military background, and it shows. He seems to suggest in the books that it would be possible to fight an invader without taking up arms. Whereas Stuart shows it is very necessary to have arms, and know how to use them. (In the 1st Act, Ellie and Homer hunt rabbits, which the group have a collective feast of - so they at least have a useful knowledge of shooting and hunting - sadly, most Australian teens are denied those experiences and skills these days).
Whether it means to or not, it asks some questions worthy of debate in Australia. Are there those who envy Australia and wish to take what we have? Who would it likely be if they did? How would we fight back?
It will inevitably be compared to 'Red Dawn'. but it is different, and that would do this, exceptional story, a great dis-service (though Red Dawn is pretty good too).
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Unrealistic.
I came out of that movie and said; "THAT, got 6 Oscars... You've got to be kidding!" (Daughter, 20, liked it BTW). The main character, Sgt James, just isn't believable. He is reckless, in a job where reckless would get you (and probably those around you) killed. (And the censure of your superiors and colleagues). In short, I see the movie as written, and then made by people who have a perception of the military which is far removed from how things truly are. The acting was good, the camera work good, the story line terrible. If a Vietnam era protester who has never been in uniform, would never do so because their values, experience and theories are far removed from those who would, made a movie based on their perceptions, this would be that movie. (Yes, I'm ex service).
District 9 (2009)
Original, technically excellent, and with message.
The movie uses a Sci-Fi vehicle, in part at least, to make some social commentary on South Africa's Apartheid past (not so subtly - but effective).
The plot centres on how a ship load of alien refugees are treated by humans, using the corollary of how humans treat 'different' humans as the basis.
It is based on a South African short film called 'Alive in Joburg' which in itself was inspired by the clearing/relocation of District 6 in Capetown in 1966.
There is definitely a message about Sth Africa's apartheid past - I just hope Sth Africa's future doesn't emulate Zimbabwe's present.
The film reportedly cost $30 million to make, and took $37 million on it's first weekend. Not bad. Who said art doesn't pay.
The film is very original, well written plot and well acted - that last point particularly impressive as the cast is unknown outside Sth Africa and apparently the lead actor was in his first role.
Though it does appeal to a particular audience - it's recommended viewing.
Australia (2008)
Entertaining, pity about the preaching.
The short way to to put it is that if Baz Luhrmann wanted it to be a blockbuster epic (with a message) that will be a rival to 'Gone with the Wind', it falls short.
The scenery was great, the plot quite good, the actors did a good job (both lead and supporting). Things went bad however, when Luhrmann inserted his 'message', and that message was heavily worked on from beginning to end. The message was his view on what is called the 'Stolen Generations'. I felt like I was being preached at. Since it was part of his storyline, read more about 'the Stolen Generations' on Wikipedia. (Of interest, the same problems that drove that policy, is being addressed in the Northern Territory these days by a set of laws collectively called 'the Intervention'. Which suggests there's more to the problem than Luhrmann lets on?). The treatment of Aboriginal Australians was portrayed in the worst light possible. And that is not the only way the movie goes too far. It's a bit too 'TryHard' in many places - to the point that if you wanted to parody parts of it - you couldn't do any better than it does itself.
Entertaining, pity about the preaching. Worth seeing, but I'd wait until you can get it on DVD at a discount if I were you. Non Australians might find the clichéd Ocker aspect entertaining.