Opening in cinemas across Australia this week we have the latest installment in the Chronicles of Narnia series (this time in 3D), the new supernatural thriller “from the mind of” M. Night Shyamalan and a Christmas themed black comedy, Rare Exports.
Continue reading for film details, trailers and recommendations!
NARNIA: VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER 3D
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: (PG) mild violence and scary scenes
Running Time: 112 min
Director: Michael Apted
Cast: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley
Official Website: Link:
Studio’s Synopsis:
Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.
Worth seeing?
Zero reviews for this yet, meaning it likely hasn’t been screened for critics. Strong word of mouth is particularly important this time around due to some uncertainty for the franchise’s future. I guess if you liked the first two, you might as well see this one and this time it’s it jaw dropping 3D (but isn’t everything these days!) (Rotten Tomatoes Rating)
Box Office Predictions:
The first film in the series was an all out smash, not too far off doing Harry Potter type numbers but the fact that the second installment only managed to gross just over half of the first film, severely delayed production on Dawn Treader. If reviews and word of mouth are better than Prince Caspian this may recapture some of the box office luster. Worldwide the take could sit somewhere upwards of 500 million. Locally, I anticipate around 18 mil in receipts.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrJQDPpIK6I
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Rating: (M) Horror themes and violence
Running Time: 81 min
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Cast: Chris Messina, Logan Marshall-Green, Jenny O’Hara, Bojana Novakovic
Official Website:
Studio’s Synopsis:
A group of people trapped in a elevator realize that the devil is among them.
Worth seeing?
To be blunt probably not. How many chances does M. Night get? The last 3 and a half films he has been involved with have been true stinkers. The only saving grace for this may be that he didn’t direct, though he is on story and producing duties. Reviews have been mostly mixed to negative but they are much stronger than for The Last Airbender, one of the worst reviewed films ever. If you go in with the lowest of expectations this may turn out better than expected. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating)
Box Office Predictions:
Due to its low 10 million budget Devil is already a financial success, hauling in a healthy 33 million at the U.S. box office. Expect around 3 million locally.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYy7igKD21A
RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE
Genre: Thriller / Comedy / Finnish
Rating: (M) Horror themes and violence
Running Time: 83 min
Director: Jalmari Helandar
Cast: Tommi Korpela, Per Christian Ellefsen, Jorma Tomilla
Official Website: Link:
Studio’s Synopsis:
It’s the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an ‘archeological’ dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town. When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari and his father Rauno, a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa’s elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare – a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality. RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE is a re-imagining of the most classic of all childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required perennial holiday viewing
Worth seeing?
Described by some as “Die Hard meets Bad Santa“. It’s kooky black comedy premise could be the best antidote to the usual recycled holiday fare, that’s about as enjoyable as the muzak versions of your favourite xmas carols. Solid reviews so far too. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating)
Box Office Predictions:
Can’t see much box office clout for this anywhere but Finland but if reviews and word of mouth hold, maybe 500k locally.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RQlikX4vvw&feature=player_embedded
