Rock of Ages (M)

7pm    16 June   2012    Cinema  1   Rosebud Cinema

The Story

Rock of Ages tells of the story of small town girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough) and city boy Drew (Diego Boneta) who meet in 1987 while pursuing their dreams of being famous singers. Their romance is told through 80’s rock and roll hits from artists such as Foreigner, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar and many more.  Also starring Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand and Tom Cruise.

The Review

Seeing this movie at the lovely Rosebud Cinema (very clean, very comfy with plenty of leg room!) was quite a bit of fun.  Lots of 80’s songs, big names and comedic moments.  Light hearted entertainment purely for those who love musicals or 80’s music. Not quite Mark’s cup of tea, but I loved it.  Look out for Tom Cruise’s role as old rocker Stacee Jaxx.

Highlight

Alec Baldwin singing with and to his love interest – that was a bit of a surprise….

Quote

“Taxes are just not rock’n’roll”

Rating

3.5 stars Cathryn

2.5 stars Mark

Shorts

Katy Perry – Part of me 3D

HopeSprings(Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell) out August 23

Men in Black 3 (M)

3pm    11 June   2012    Cinema  6     Hoyts    Northland

The Story

Agent J (Will Smith) travels in time to MIB’s early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) and changing history. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him — secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind

The Review

Mark went to this movie with our son Alexander, and his friend Sam, so this review is from Mark.

 We all liked it – Alexander said he would give it a hug (3+1/2), and Sam said 4.  Personally, I was thinking 2+1/2 – 3 on the outside.  It was entertaining, some bits laughable but I think they should have stopped at MIB 2.   Mark.

Highlight

Josh Brolin as the younger Agent K

Low light

Full lights on during the movie previews

Rating

3 stars

Shorts

 The Saphhires  – (It’s 1968, and four young, talented Australian Aboriginal girls learn about love, friendship and war when their all girl group The Sapphires entertain the US troops inVietnam– Release date around August 9)

Snow White and the Huntsman

Dark Knight Rises- in cinemas on July 19

Ice Age 4 – Continental drift

The amazing Spider-man – in cinemas from about June 29

What to expect when you are expecting (M)

6.40pm    31 May   2012    Cinema  4   Village   Airport West

The Story

A look at love and having babies through the eyes of five very loosely interconnected couples experiencing the thrills and spills of having a baby.  Starring Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock and others.

The Review

This week I went to the movies with Lillian and her lovely friend Zoe – to get a dose of chick flick to wash away last week’s testosterone shot (Safe)

I was really looking forward to seeing this movie, as I thought it was going to be a “babies” version of last years hit movie “Bridesmaids”.  But it just wasn’t.    It’s not as funny and is quite soppy in parts (Cameron Diaz and her on-screen partner Matthew J Morrison were the worst) to the point it made me laugh (sorry Lillian).  I also found that all of the five stories weren’t needed for this movie – the Rosie and Marco storyline could have easily been left out, and had much more of the delightful Wendy/Gary and Skylar/Ramsey story.  Also really enjoyed the “dudes group” – more of that too please!

Expect some laughs, some tears and some birthing scenes.

Highlight

A lone male sitting by himself right up the front – wrong cinema dude!

Lowlight

I think it put Zoe off having kids 😦

Rating

Zoe   2 stars

Lillian   3 stars

Cathryn  2.5 stars

Shorts

Magic Mike

Katy Perry – Part of me – 3D

Snow White and the Huntsman

Safe (MA 15+)

12.30pm    27 May   2012    Cinema  16   Hoyts   Highpoint

The Story

Luke Wright, (Jason Statham), is an ex-cop making ends meet as a boxer. When he wins a fight he was supposed to lose, his wife is murdered and his punishment is that anyone who gets close to him will also be killed, forcing him to live as a recluse.
Meanwhile Mei, (Catherine Chan), an 11-year-old Chinese girl with a photographic memory, has been given a complicated set of numbers to remember by senior Triad members.  Mei is kidnapped by the Russian mafia but manages to escape them, and luckily runs into Luke, who becomes her protector.

The Review

I think Mark should be writing this review as it was his choice and his type of movie.  But since he is busy doing some work thing in Sydney, I guess it becomes my job – again!  So here is the review –

This is typical Jason Statham movie.
The end.

Best line

Mayor  – “Luke you have big balls”

Luke  –  “yeah – its hard for me to walk down the street”

Rating

Mark  4 stars

Cathryn  2.5 stars

Shorts

The Bourne Legacy

That’s my Boy

Abraham Lincoln – Vampire Hunter

Get the Gringo

The Woman in Black (M)

7pm    19 May   2012    Cinema  1   Village   Airport West

The Story

In the early 1900’s a young widowed lawyer Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) travels to a remote English village to settle a deceased estate.   He discovers the small  town has many secrets and superstitions of the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman.

The Review

I don’t normally go to scary movies because I get really scared – not by blood and gore (although I don’t love that either) but the “something is hiding behind the door and is going to jump out at any moment” stuff.  So I don’t know why I thought we should see “The Woman in Black” least of all at night, but it’s just a movie – right? Nothing to be scared of?

This is a scary old-fashioned ghost story, with lots of modern-day special effects.  You know what’s going to happen most of the time, but you still scream and jump and hide your face (well I did).  Daniel Radcliffe is excellent as the lead and truly looks terrified most of the time.  Mark said he wasn’t scared at all, but even he did jump a few times.  If you are not easily scared, you will probably think this is a bit lame.  I think this will be last scary movie for a while….

Definitely not a movie for young viewers as it deals with young children committing suicide

Low light

Having 4 young children in the cinema – this is too scary for young viewers

Rating

3.5 stars

Shorts

Three Stooges

Snow White and the Huntsman

Prometheus

MIB 3

Like there’s no tomorrow

The Dictator (MA15+)

8.20pm    18 May   2012    Cinema  3   Village      Airport West

The Story

The story of a North African dictator, General Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) who goes to USA to ensure that democracy will never come to the country he has so lovingly oppressed.  Surviving an assassination plot by his second-in-charge, he finds himself homeless on the streets of New York where he meets Zoe, (Anna Faris), who runs an organic establishment and tries to help new Americans .

The Review

This is Sacha Baron Cohen’s first movie that is fully scripted, although I am sure he ad-libbed some of it, but it doesn’t hold him back.  He still offends everyone – he is crude, racist, rude, anti-feminist and anti-semetic.  There are plenty of jokes, mostly because of Cohen’s complete lack of fear about inciting the anger of the entire world, but we found it didn’t measure up to his earlier movies.  Maybe some of the shock value has worn off.

This movie will make you laugh and cringe, and is definitely not for younger viewers.

Quote

“Democracy has hairy armpits”

Rating

3.5 stars

Shorts

Ted

The Dark Knight Rises

That’s my Boy

Abraham Lincoln – Vampire Hunter    (what the ?)

Dark Shadows (M)

4pm    12 May   2012    Cinema  4    Hoyts   Broadmeadows

The Story

Barnabas (Johnny Depp) is the master of Collinwood Manor, a rich and powerful young man who breaks the heart of Angelique  (Eva Green) an attractive young witch.  She then dooms him to a fate worse than death: a vampire who is buried alive. Two centuries later, he is freed from his tomb and finds himself in the strange world of 1972. He returns to his home to find the grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each believing the family was burdened with bad luck.

The Review

This movie outing was part of my Mother’s Day  – so Mark and I were joined by Lillian, Jordan and Alexander.  This is definitely a movie for Johnny Depp fans as he dominates the screen as the vampire (Warning –  there are some scary scenes as he does kill people for their blood) while Michelle Pfeiffer is excellent as his long-lost relation.  We enjoyed it as the script is quite funny and the storyline was engaging in lots of ways, however there were elements in the ending that were a little disappointing.  With 3 different ratings from the 5 of us, you will have to judge for yourself.

Highlight

Seeing the movie with my lovely children – thanks 🙂

Low light

A hole in the lolly bag

Rating

Mark and Cathryn 3 stars

Alexander 3.5 stars  (‘that witch was hot”)

Lillian and Jordan 2.5 stars

Shorts

MIB 3

The Woman in Black

Snow White and the Huntsman

Prometheus

Rock of Ages  (movie version of the stage show with Tom Cruise playing an ’80’s rocker!)

The Five Year Engagement (MA 15+)

8.20pm    11 May   2012    Cinema  6   Hoyts   Northland

The Story

The Five-Year Engagement begins where most romantic comedies end – the engagement of the lucky couple who then live happily ever after.  However life is not that simple and this movie looks at what happens when the happily engaged couple, Tom and Violet (Jason Segel and Emily Blunt), keep getting tripped up on their very long walk down the aisle.

The Review

I have to declare that I am a huge fan of Jason Segal from “How I met your mother”, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”  and more recently “The Muppets”.  I have been excitedly waiting to see his most recent movie and I wasn’t disappointed.  This is a delightful comedy with plenty of laughs (and a few tears) along the couples long journey to their wedding day.  The many characters are varied providing plenty of side interest along the journey (Violet and Tom’s co-workers are an interesting bunch of people). Jason and Emily were stand outs but it was lovely to see Jackie Weaver in a lead role as Violet’s mother .  This is a feel good movie.

Highlight

The breakfast scene with Tom and his parents – it’s good to know you can always embarrass your kids

Rating

4 stars (Cathryn)  3.5 stars (Mark)

Shorts

That’s my Boy  (Adam Sandler)

What to Expect when you are Expecting

The Dictator  (coming out next Wednesday 16th May)

Prometheus

Ted

Coming Soon to a Cinema near you …..

Talking recently to our niece Emma and her fiance Ryan, we discussed what movies were coming out over winter.  After a bit of a google, I thought I would make a list and share the forthcoming excitement with you.

I am pretty sure that “The Dictator” and  “Ted” are on Emma and Ryan’s must see list, while “The five year engagement” is next on our list.  What’s on your list?

3 May

W.E.

The five year engagement

Act of Valor

Beauty and the Beast 3D

10 May 

Dark Shadows

Iron Sky

16 May  

The Dictator

17 May    

Woman in Black

Safe

24 May   

MIB 3

31 May    

Chernobyl Diaries

Get the Gringo

What to expect when you are expecting

6 June    

Prometheus

7 June     

Friends with Kids

Take this Waltz

14 June   

Rock of Ages

That’s my Boy

21 June    

The 3 Stooges

Snow White and the Huntsman

The Royal Affair

Brave

28 June    

Ice Age – Continental Drift

4 July     

The Amazing Spiderman

12 July     

Hysteria

Ted

The Cabin in the Woods

19 July     

The Dark Knight Rises

26 July     

Magic Mike

Dates may be subject to change – check with the cinema near you closer to the time of release.

Marvel’s The Avengers (M)

8.30pm    27 April   2012    Cinema  4   Hoyts   Broadmeadows

The Story

When an unexpected enemy threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of  S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. The Super Heroes that come together are Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. The fight to save the world starts.

The Review

This is the ultimate comic super hero blockbuster that we have been waiting for.  In the last few years we  have had the back stories of most of the heroes (not sure where Hawkeye comes in….but he seems pretty handy with the bow and arrow) Last year we had the pleasure to watch “Thor” and “Captain America” so we were really looking forward to The Avengers and we weren’t disappointed.  There is a lot of action, gadgets, egos and humour in this tale, and we get to see each hero in his/her prime, as well as their humanity.  This movie will appeal to anyone who loves super heroes, action and alien type movies (eg Transformers) and the humour throughout the movie keeps it light enough for younger viewers.   Stay at the end to see an additional scene prior to the black/white credits.   I sniff a sequel.

Highlight

Thor and Captain America – those muscles 🙂

Best Quote

“His brain is full of cats and I can smell the crazy from here”  – Iron Man

Rating

4.5 stars  (our niece Emma gives it 5 stars)

Shorts

GI Joe – Retaliation   (Bruce Willis as a retired GI Joe called back to duty)

MIB 3

Dark Shadows

Prometheus

Brave