New character posters for The Hobbit

New character posters for The Hobbit

With the clock ticking towards the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Wellington in just about three weeks time, anticipation is rising.

And to satiate that, 15 new Hobbit character posters have been revealed for the Hobbit.

Take a look at the new character images from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey below

Last Will: DVD Review

Last Will: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Vendetta Films and Rialto

From the crime capital of the publishing world (apparently) comes this latest attempt at launching a Swedish crime franchise (and from a book series of six which pre-dates The Millennium Trilogy by some three years, published as it was in 2002).

The blonde Malin Crepin stars Annika Bengtzon, a crime reporter trying to get a break on tabloid paper Kvaillspressen who's also a mother of two and workaholic.

While Bengtzon is attending the annual Nobel banquet, she witnesses the attempted murder of the latest winner and the death of a high ranking Nobel committee member, Caroline von Behring. Gagged by the police for reporting on the crime as she's a direct witness to what happened, Bengtzon finds herself sidelined by the paper's editors and legal eagles.

However, the journalistic drive is strong in this one - and believing that the police and press are concentrating on the wrong shooting victim, she starts her own investigation...

And unsurprisingly that leads to corruption, intrigue, global mystery and threats.

Plus on top of that, Annika's having trouble with her youngest son, who's being bullied.

Nobel's Last Will is inevitably going to end up being compared with The Millennium Trilogy - and I'm sorry to say, when pitted against that, it will be found wanting.

Let's just say that crime solving has never looked so glamorous and flashy.

Nobel's Last Will opens with a slick and stylish section at the Nobel awards and then hurtles into traditional action film territory - it's a very odd mix and kind of sets out where this film is going.

It's more of a pulpy trash novel than a high faluting, wide reaching conspiracy piece to be honest; it's the Swedish crime sensibilities mixed in with a good looking Hollywood lead (Crepin even looks a little like Maria Bello) and some Hollywood style action rather than slow burning reveals.

Sure, there's plot holes aplenty (wouldn't someone actually notice that a key witness to a crime was investigating a death?) and with mixes of montages and flashbacks as Annika pieces together the clues (along with scenes of her underlining key names) it's not exactly challenging stuff. Granted it is watchable, well made pacy fluff, despite being a challenge to logic and pushing more for ludicrous than serious but whether I'd want to sit through another five adaptations of the Annika Bengtzon cases, I'm not so sure.

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The Hobbit takes to the air

The Hobbit takes to the air

It was only a matter of time really....

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has now got an airline behind it.

National carrier, Air New Zealand's today launched its An Unexpected Briefing: Hobbit safety video, with a cameo appearance from Sir Peter Jackson.
Air NZ partnered with WETA workshop on the brand new Hobbit inspired safety video.

Take a peek below.

Rec 3 - Genesis: Blu Ray Review

Rec 3 - Genesis: Blu Ray Review

Rating: R16
Released by Vendetta Film

You're cordially invited to the wedding of Koldo and Clara in this third outing for the Rec series, a horror franchise where an infection leads to serious zombie action.

In this latest one, which runs parallel to the first film Rec, the action is all largely set at a wedding and begins by being captured on handheld cameras. Just as soon as Koldo and Clara celebrate their union, they find their uncle acting a little strange after being bitten by a dog.

Later on at the reception, things take a turn for the worse when said uncle starts attacking and biting people and pretty soon, the Infected are on the rise and Koldo and Clara are parted. But Koldo's determined to save his new bride (Till death us do part, remember?) and sets out to try and ensure she's alive.

Rec 3: Genesis is a different beast to the other two films, because it's set more in daylight than the darkness of the first outing. It gives it a different feel and needs the director to work scares a little more cautiously rather than relying on the odd jolts and shocks here and there (although there are a fair few of those throughout).

They've gone more for a comedy gore outing this time round - with there being a very large sprinkling of humour dashed throughout - be it a running gag where the children's entertainer is called John Sponge to avoid copyright issues with a certain Mr Squarepants or having the bride seething "This is supposed to be my special day" and revving up a chainsaw, the whole thing has a slightly OTT feel at times.

But that doesn't mean they've skipped on the gore and violence. Not in the slightest - beheadings, death by car jack, death by stick mixer - they're all thrown in for gory as effect - although they're played largely for laughs more than anything. However, there's one truly horrific moment as well - a scene where a busload of guests is overrun by the Infected is nothing short of disturbing.

The two leads are fairly disposable but relatively likeable and the rest of the guests barely get much of a look in for characterisation etc but at the end of the day, they're just meat to be slaughtered as they try to escape the viral outbreak. The film scores extra points for subtly referencing what's going on in the first film - indicating everything's tied.

As ever, there's the defying stupidity of the trapped and the lack of real logic (one sequence sees them trapped in a kitchen and trying to escape to the sewers but dropping a pen knife and being unable to loose the screws from a grill - why not use a knife from the kitchen area?? Whereas another sequence sees the infected stopped by religious readings and demons being reflected in mirrors) but Rec 3 Genesis is an over the top film of extremes; both extreme gore, kills and action, it's a reasonably solid entry to the franchise which will give bloodhungry punters exactly what they want but won't win over any new fans to the series.

Extras: Making of, wedding album and trailer

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Bait 3D: Movie Review

Bait 3D: Movie Review

Cast: Xavier Samuel, Chris Betts, Phoebe Tonkin, Julian McMahon, Sharni Vinson,
Director: Kimble Rendall

What is it about those Aussies and their shark worries?

Well, whatever it is, this latest release will do nothing to quell any fears they may have.

Twilight's Xavier Samuel stars as lifeguard Josh, whose life is turned upside down the day after his engagement party when his surfer colleague and fiancee Tina's brother, Rory, is mauled by a shark. Riddled with guilt, the pair split up.

One year later, Josh is working in a supermarket on the coast of Queensland - and his life is turned upside down once again when a robbery takes place in the mall and he finds Tina is one of the robber's hostages.

But that's nothing compared to when the mall is over-run by a tsunami, trapping Josh, the robbers, Tina and a group of others in a potentially watery grave.

Things get even worse when the trapped group finds they're being hunted by a couple of hungry great white sharks....

And so, the fight for survival begins.

Bait 3D is a veritable cheesefest.

It sets its stall out before the titles have even shown on screen and Josh is channelling his very deepest Anakin Skywalker learning that Padme died howl while on a jetski when his colleague Rory is chomped by a shark.

Pretty soon after that, wooden acting, risible dialogue and utterly ludicrous situations unfold (one victim even wears a shark cage suit made from shopping baskets and cans) and you're laughing at the film perhaps a little more than you should. There's very little tension as the shark circles, to be frank, picking off each victim one by one. And there are plot holes a-plenty - like how is the top part of the supermarket flooded but the underground car park not completely underwater? (Apparently, because of two doors...)

The cast are very earnest in their (at times over) acting as well as scenery chewing and the whole thing is ludicrously silly as you'd expect. Sure, there are bits of splatter gore when the sharks chomp in a frenzy but there's little else in between.

There are your stereotypes - a pair of lovers, separated but destined to be together; a father and daughter, whose relationship is strained but will stand the test of a great white bearing down on them; a comic relief couple who are airheads but provide the laughs and a bad guy, who's not actually all bad but just forced into a bad situation and will ultimately come good.

Swirls of blood are the only real flourish for the 3D - everything else is fish swimming at you, a gun pointing out of the screen and a shark jumping in the air. Not exactly challenging or redefining the technical boundaries.

Bait ticks all the boxes for a cheap night out but it's so appallingly done in places, you can't but help be swept along by the risible dialogue, OTT acting and soon to be cult quoted lines.

In essence, Bait is Sharks in a Supermarket - so if you like that idea, (much like Snakes on a Plane) then you know what you're in for. Just don't be surprised, if you find yourself laughing when you shouldn't and rolling your eyes as the terrible plot plays out.

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Hobbit release date changes

Hobbit release date changes

Not long now, my preciousses.

Soon, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will premiere in Wellington - and we've just got word there's been a change of release date for the first part of Sir Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy.

The release has come in this afternoon and states the following:


NEW ZEALAND SETS OUT ON ‘AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY’ A DAY EARLIER
New Zealanders will be amongst the first audiences in the world to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, when it releases in NZ cinemas a day earlier than originally scheduled.

The new release date for the film is now Wednesday 12 December 2012.

John Davie, General Manager of Roadshow Films NZ, states “Given the unprecedented level of interest in the film on a local level we are delighted to be one of the first markets in the world to screen the film for audiences, a full day earlier than the traditional Thursday release.”

Midnight screenings launch at 12.01am at select cinemas across the country, with pre-sale tickets for all NZ screenings available for purchase from Wednesday 7 November.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first instalment of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit Trilogy, and will be released in Digital 2D and 3D from Kaitaia to Invercargill, with IMAX also available in Auckland.

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities… A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” in “The Hobbit” Trilogy are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The international ensemble cast of the trilogy also includes (in alphabetical order) Manu Bennett, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott and Aidan Turner.

The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

Under Jackson’s direction, “The Hobbit” Trilogy is being shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

Among the creative behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew are director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, composer Howard Shore and make-up and hair designer Peter King. The costumes are designed by Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor and Bob Buck.

Taylor is also overseeing the design and production of weaponry, armour and prosthetics which are once again being made by the award-winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital take on the visual effects for the films, led by the film’s visual effects supervisor, Joe Letteri. Post production will take place at Park Road Post Production in Wellington.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and the second and third films of the trilogy are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing being handled by MGM.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will be released in New Zealand on December 12, 2012, with the second film releasing December 12, 2013, and the third film slated for July 17, 1014.

How to Meet Girls From a Distance: Movie Review

How to Meet Girls From a Distance: Movie Review

Cast: Owen Black, Jonathan Brugh, Scarlet Hemingway and Richard Falkner
Director: Dean Hewison, Richard Falkner

Scripted, edited and shot within a few months and made (on paper and in theory) for $100K, How To Meet Girls From a Distance is a minor NZ cinematic miracle. 

The peeping tom rom-com follows Richard Falkner's Toby, a stalker in Wellington whose luck with the ladies is less than impressive. 

So, while receiving coaching from dodgy date expert Carl (an utterly brilliant and scene stealing Jonathan Brugh), Toby ends up meeting Phoebe (Scarlet Hemingway) and falling for her. 

And of course, he does what any normal person would do - follows his heart, takes illicit pictures of her from a distance and stalks her to get to know her better. 

However, there's a stumbling block - Phoebe's with Owen Black's Brad - but for any decent stalker, that's not a problem. And soon, Toby is ingratiating himself into Phoebe's life and heart... 

How To Meet Girls From a Distance deserves to be admired for its turn around and chutzpah - but it also deserves to be admired for what's actually turned up on the screen, as well as making great use of its Wellington location.

Funny, charming and kooky, this piece of celluloid is a commendably good effort from all those involved. Falkner makes Toby endearingly sweet and innocent rather than borderline psychotic and Jonathan Brugh's Carl deserves a place in the pantheon of Kiwi oddball characters as a psychiatrist who helps Toby to meet women  he gets the lion's share of the best moments and is instantly a cult icon. 

A funny script plies on the laughs while never losing sight of the overall plot. Even though there are a few creaks and cracks here there, it still shows a great deal of likeability. From cringe-worthy dancing to dodgy tracheotomies, How To Meet Girls From a Distance is highly amusing, utterly rewarding and a totally unmissable experience which shows creativity comes from the simplest of ideas and the tightest of deadlines.

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