your guide to september’s hottest … guide to september’s hottest releases ... suck and meet...

OVER 40 REVIEWS INSIDE INCLUDING:OVER 40 REVIEWS INSIDE INCLUDING:OVER 40 REVIEWS INSIDE INCLUDING: THE AGE OF ADALINE TOMORROWLAND EX_MACHINA EMPIRE SEASON 1 INFINITELY POLAR BEAR

YOUR GUIDE TO SEPTEMBER’S HOTTEST RELEASES

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Strong horror themes and violence

© 2015 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD 24 SEPTEMBER


AVAILABLE ON DVD 3 SEPTEMBER

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With winter now behind us, the blockbuster season is on its way and we couldn’t have wished for a better start than with the September line-up. As well as the latest installment in Marvel’s marvellous superhero series, Avengers – Age Of Ultron, this month also sees the return of another iconic screen fi gure in Mad Max: Fury Road. And there’s even more thrilling action on offer in the disaster fl ick San Andreas and the science fi ction epic Tomorrowland. Add to that hits such as the fantasy weepie Age Of Adaline, the outrageous time-travelling comedy Hot Tub Time Machine 2 and the superb sci-fi thriller Ex Machina – not to mention hot new television series such as Gotham and Empire – and you really are spoilt for choice this September. We hope this month’s issue will help make those viewing decisions a little easier to make.

THE TEAM

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5-10 NEWSWhat have the bold and the beautiful of fi lm and TV been up to lately? We check out the latest reports from home and beyond

28-29 BACK TRACKFive movies you may have missed last month

30 COMING SOONNew releases to look forward to next month

12 TOMORROWLANDDirector Brad Bird on why he was determined to recapture the optimism of Walt Disney’s vision of the future.

14 AGE OF ADALINEBlake Lively discovers that the prospect of eternal youth is not quite as appealing as it fi rst appears.

Publisher: Tilo Grieco [email protected], Editor: Kit RazerSub Editor: Chelsea Graham, Contributors: Robert Hislop, Accounts: Tracy Kingman [email protected], Production: Al Netherclift, Design: Rebecca Rowlands, Contributor: Scott Hocking

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SEPTEMBER 2015

From the biggest Hollywood blockbusters to unsung gems premiering on DVD and Blu-ray, we cast our eye over the month’s biggest new movie and television releases.

16-17 ACTION

18-19 THRILLER

20-21 FAMILY

22-23 TV

24 DRAMA

26 COMEDY

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A&

JACKSON BUSIER THAN EVER

NEWSREEL YOUR MONTHLY FIX OFENTERTAINMENT NEWS

DOWNTON ABBEY THE MOVIE?With shooting underway on the sixth and fi nal season of Downton Abbey, fans are now keeping their fi ngers crossed that the beloved aristocratic family will make the transition to the big screen.

The producers have made no secret of their wish to make a ‘Downton Abbey – The Movie’ but nothing has been confi rmed yet. Gareth Neame, the show’s executive producer and head of Carnival Films, told US journalists that ending Downton Abbey with a season set in 1925 leaves “a lot of rich territory” to explore if a movie “ever happens”.

“There’s rumor and speculation,” Neame said at a press conference. “I’m not denying anything; I think a Downton movie could be a wonderful thing. But we don’t have a script or plan yet.”

CRAZY KRAYSTom Hardy is back in full gangster mode next month with the big screen release of a new biopic about the infamous London mobsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray.

Hardy, who this month can be seen in the title role in Mad Max: Fury Road and the Russian thriller Child 44, will play the psychopathic East End twins in Legend, which is written and directed by Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confi dential, Mystic River). Aussie star Emily Browning will play

Reggie’s troubled wife, while the all-star supporting cast includes David Thewlis, Christopher Eccleston, Chazz Palminteri, Tara Fitzgerald and Taron Egerton. It’s due in cinemas on October 8.

The Krays were last played on screen by former Spandau Ballet members Ross and Martin Kemp in the 1990 fi lm of the same name.

For more on Hardy’s career, check out Actor’s Focus on page 27.

He may be 67 at the end of the year, but hardworking Samuel L Jackson is showing no signs of slowing down.

This month sees the release of three new fl icks from the iconic star – Avengers: The Age Of Ultron, Big Game and Barely Lethal are reviewed on pages 16 and 17 – and 2016 is already shaping up to be an even bigger year.

As well as reuniting with Spike Lee – the director who gave him his fi rst big break – for the satirical crime epic Chiraq, Jackson will once again team with another regular collaborator Quentin Tarantino for his latest western The Hateful Eight. Other fi lms in the pipeline for 2016 include Cell, an apocalypse chiller co-written by Stephen King, Tim Burton’s latest fantasy Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children and Disney’s live action reboot of Tarzan.

And with more Marvel Avengers fl icks in the works, it doesn’t look as if Jackson will be retiring anytime soon…

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FRESH HORRORS

After trying their hand at an original comedy Best Night Ever – still unreleased in this part of the world as far as we can tell – spoofsters Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer have returned to world of parody.

The duo behind send-ups like Vampires Suck and Meet The Spartans, next month turn their attention to the Fast & Furious franchise with Super Fast Super Furious, in which undercover cop Lucas White (Alex Ashbaugh) infi ltrates the illegal street racing gang of Vin Serentos (Dale Pavinski) to bring down a drugs baron.

And Friedberg and Seltzer have also just begun shooting a spoof of the Taken series, provisionally titled Who the F#@K Took My Daughter? Stay posted for more details…

SUPER SPOOF

Just in time for Halloween, the fourth installment of the hit TV anthology series American Horror Story is due to touch down on DVD and Blu-ray next month.

American Horror Story: Freak Show is set in 1952 in a sleepy Florida town and centres on a troupe of human “curiosities” led

by AHS regular Jessica Lange. Her menagerie of performers includes a two-headed, telepathic twin (another series mainstay Sarah Paulson), a take-charge bearded lady (Kathy Bates), a vulnerable strongman (Michael Chiklis) and his sultry, three-breasted wife (Angela Bassett). It is due out

on October 8, along with a season 1-4 box set.

At press-time, there had been no announcement when season 5 will screen here, but American Horror Story: Hotel is to go to air in the US in early October. No Lange this time but joining regulars like Paulson, Bates and Bassett is pop superstar Lady Gaga!

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Tracers © 2014 Freerunning, LLC.

ON BLU-RAYTM & DVD SEPTEMBER 16

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M Recommended for mature audiences © Copyright 2014 Barely Lethal LLC/Main Street Films, Inc. All rights reserved.

EMBER 16

ON BLU-RAY & DVD SEPTEMBER 2

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SECRETIVE SAUL

JESSE & KRISTEN’S NEW ADVENTURE“I haven’t had this much fun making a movie in years,” enthuses Kristen Stewart about her new comedy thriller American Ultra, which reunites her with Adventureland co-star Jesse Eisenberg.

Due in cinemas on September 3, Stewart plays the bail-bondsman girlfriend of Eisenberg, a slacker stoner, who unbeknownst to even himself, is actually a lethal secret agent.

Stewart admits she jumped at the chance to work with Eisenberg again. “We should make a movie together every fi ve years,” she says. “It’s just so comfortable to work with him. He’s hilarious and intimidatingly intelligent. And this script is so original: imagine that your stoner buddy just turned into an expert CIA assassin and the chaos that ensues. It’s an ultra-violent, in-your-face action movie, as well as a full-on slapstick comedy.”

And she might not have to wait fi ve years for the next reunion: the pair have reportedly been cast in the as yet untitled new fi lm from Woody Allen. In the meantime, Stewart can be seen this month on DVD in a more serious role, the acclaimed drama Clouds Of Sils Maria, which is reviewed on page 24.

The fi rst pictures have been released from the second season of Better Call Saul – although they don’t really offer anything new on what the new series heralds for the Breaking Bad spin-off.

The fi rst season of Better Call Saul is due out on DVD this month and examines how struggling lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) transformed himself into sleazy Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad. All co-creator Vince Gilligan has said so far is: “In season two, as with Breaking Bad and its many seasons, the question is how far do you go, how long is this journey and once Jimmy McGill becomes Saul Goodman, then what happens? We have got a lot of territory to mine: do we play scenes that are concurrent with that timeline or do we jump ahead? The sky is really the limit with this show and that is really exciting for me.”

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In 25 words or less explain who’s your favourite member of the flock and why.

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SUPERHERO vs SUPERHERO: TIME TO TAKE SIDES

SPIELBERG READIES NEW SCI-FI FLICK

A sequel to the raucous comedy A Few Best Men and a Chinese co-production from the director of Bait 3D are among the new productions that have just received the greenlight from Screen Australia.

A Few Less Men will see Xavier Samuel, Kevin Bishop and Kris Marshall reprise their roles from the fi rst movie, this time getting into all sorts of trouble when they set out to escort a mate’s coffi n across Australia. Once again penned by UK writer Dean Craig (Death at a Funeral), the fi lm will be the second feature from Australian director Peter Templeman (Not Suitable for Children).

The Nest, meanwhile, is an action adventure yarn about the discovery of a well-preserved mummifi ed Emperor from 200 BC China - a secret that should have remained buried. A Chinese/Australian co-production, it is due to be directed by Kimble Rendall, whose Bait 3D was a surprise hit in China.

On the TV front, Screen Australia has also given the thumbs up to Wanted, an action adventure mini-series starring Rebecca Gibney.

A FEW NEW FILMS GREENLIT

As the title suggests, the next Marvel blockbuster Captain America: Civil War will see the cracks in the superhero alliance that emerged in Avengers: Age Of Ultron exploding into full scale confl ict.

On one side will be Captain America (Chris Evans), on the other Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr). But whose side will the other Avengers be on?

There has been no offi cial announcement, but the fansite Heroic Heroes reckons Captain America – aka Steve Rogers – will be able to count on Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and his old friend/adversary The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Team Iron Man, meanwhile, will naturally feature Stark’s pals The Vision

(Paul Bettany) and War Machine (Don Cheadle), plus Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) are expected to sit this particular battle out.

As for the two newcomers to the Avengers, Ant Man (Paul Rudd) is tipped to side with Captain America, while Spider-Man (newcomer Tom Holland) will be in Iron Man’s corner.

Captain America: Civil War – which is due in cinemas in May – picks up where Avengers: Age of Ultron left off with Rogers leading his reconfi gured team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. However, when another international incident involving the team results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability.

Steven Spielberg will direct his fi rst sci-fi movie in more than 10 years, signing on for the big screen version of the Young Adult bestseller Ready Player One.

Scheduled for cinema release at Christmas time 2017, the fi lm is based on Ernest Cline’s novel of same name, which is set in the year 2044 where many folk escape their grim existence by jacking into OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia.

It will be Spielberg’s fi rst sci-fi fl ick since 2005’s War Of The Worlds and caps off a renewed burst of activity for the Hollywood hitmaker. His latest fi lm, the cold war drama Bridge Of Spies with Tom Hanks, is due out in cinemas next month, while a live action version of Roald Dahl’s beloved fantasy The BFG is expected in June next year.

No word yet, though, on the status of a fi fth Indiana Jones romp, and it now appears that won’t arrive until at least 2018.

Spielberg on War Of The Worlds set with Tom Cruise.

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© 2015 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Village Roadshow Films North America Inc. and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment LLC.


When Tomorrowland was created in 1955 by Walt Disney as part of

his new Disneyland theme park, most people had an optimistic view of what the future could bring. In subsequent decades, a much more cynical attitude has prevailed, helped in no small part by the bleak approach to the future has been presented on screen in a host of dystopian sci-fi fl icks.

However, with Tomorrowland the Movie, director Brad Bird was determined to recapture to

model city that would be an ongoing experiment in urban development and organization (it was abandoned after Disney’s death).

Bird has also woven into this the idea – popular among some conspiracy theorists – that Disney was actually part of a secretive organisation founded in the late 19th Century by Gustave Eiffel, Thomas Edison, Jules Verne and Nikola Tesla. These great thinkers hatched a plan to build a city of the future, a secret world of technological innovation that would shape the next century and beyond.

So, in the movie, a young teenager (Britt Robertson) stumbles across the existence of the hidden world of Tomorrowland and persuades a jaded former resident (George Clooney) to help her unlock its secrets. “It’s a very untraditional story and the protagonists are atypical,” Bird says. “It’s a chance to work on a grand scale but do something that hopefully will be very surprising. It embodies both aspects of the future –the scary and the wondrous – both of which are somewhat unknowable, so it’s an interesting ride.”

Bird is certainly no stranger to the world of Disney. Bird began his fi rst fi lm, an animated short at the age of 11 and fi nished it nearly three years later. The fi lm brought him to the attention of Walt Disney Studios where, at age 14, he was mentored by Milt Kahl, one of a distinguished group of Disney’s legendary animators known as the “Nine Old Men.”

Pursuing a career in animation, he went

the theme park’s creator’s vision of a future rife with exciting possibilities. “Any time that there is an empty canvas, there are two ways to look at it,” he says. “One is emptiness and the other one is wide open to possibility. And that’s how I like to look at the future – wide open to possibility.”

In the movie, the premise that the futuristic city of Tomorrowland could actually exist pays homage to both Disney’s vision for Tomorrowland and Disney World’s Epcot, the project

12

It embodies both aspects of the future –the scary and the

wondrous – both of which are somewhat unknowable,

so it’s an interesting ride.

RATED: CTC

AVAILABLE: Sept 30

STARS: George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy

DIRECTOR: Brad Bird

DURATION:130 mins

FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

DIRECTOR BRAD BIRD WAS DETERMINED TO RECAPTURE THE OPTIMISM OF WALT DISNEY’S VISION OF THE FUTURE IN

THE EPIC ADVENTURE TOMORROWLAND.THE EPIC ADVENTURE TOMORROWLAND.

DIRECTOR BRAD BIRD WAS DETERMINED TO RECAPTURE THE OPTIMISM OF WALT DISNEY’S VISION OF THE FUTURE IN

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SCREEN THEME PARKS

TOP

WESTERN WORLDAlthough the technology looks a little dated these days, Michael Crichton’s 1973 sci-fi fl ick Westworld remains a cult classic as a group of tourists get more than they bargained for when they play at being cowboys in a theme park called Western World. A dress rehearsal of sorts for Crichton, who went on to pen the biggest theme park movie of all time…

JURASSIC PARKBased on Crichton’s novel of the same name, Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster was set during a preview tour for the eponymous theme park. But this time it’s recreated real dinosaurs rather than malfunctioning robots that end up running amok. The operators clearly didn’t learn their lesson – look out for Jurassic World later this year.

ADVENTURELANDCompared to the aforementioned futuristic destinations, this theme park is decidedly retro – and not just because the setting is 1987. Adventureland (2009) is a warmly quirky coming of age tale about a motley crew – including Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig – who work at the wonderfully low-rent amusement park of the title.

WATER WIZZLike Adventureland, Water Wizz has seen better days, but it would still be a cool place to work at. In The Way Way Back (2013), a shy teen (Liam James) fi nds refuge from a horrible summer vacation with his mother’s overbearing new boyfriend at the local water world, managed by charismatic slacker Sam Rockwell.

different jet packs in this movie, so it’s safe for me to say that one of my favourite props from the movie is one of the jetpacks.”

However, the director hopes that Tomorrowland will also give viewers something to think about later… and maybe even help some to imagine a different kind of future.

“Something has been lost,” Bird believes. “Pessimism has become the only acceptable way to view the future, and I disagree with that. I think there’s something self-fulfi lling about it. When I was a kid, even though there were many negative things going on, as there always is and will be, it was acceptable to view the future in a positive light, that life was going to be better, that racism would cease, inequality would be mitigated, and so on.

“Now there’s this sort of giant cosmic shrug and I hate that. I just don’t think that we’re on the planet to do that. We have the power to be responsible and go in the other direction.”

on to win two Oscars for his work on the Pixar/Disney hits The Incredibles and Ratatoille. And he remains a big fan of the studio founder’s work. “Walt Disney was constantly innovating,” enthuses Bird. “He was never afraid to be the fi rst to do something. When he started working on Disneyland everyone thought he was insane. He had a massive curiosity and Tomorrowland, the World’s Fair, Epcot, they all represent that.

“Was he a perfect guy? No. But when you look at how much he accomplished in his lifetime it’s just staggering. So I view him as an innovator. He had a very proactive and positive view of the future. I like to think that this fi lm is something that he would enjoy.”

And there remains something of a big kid about Bird: for example, helping create the jet packs used in the movie was one of his most memorable experiences of the movie for him. “There’s a 10-year-old-kid that’s still alive in me to this day,” he agrees. “So any chance to make a jet pack was fun, and better yet, we had a few

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Possibly more than anywhere else in the world, Hollywood is obsessed with youth: for actresses, in

particular, it’s not a place that is easy to grow old in. But in the fantastic fantasy The Age Of Adaline, the downside of eternal youth is put in the spotlight as Blake Lively’s titular character discovers the realities of living forever.

The Gossip Girl star says the fi lm is unlike any she’s ever seen in its exploration of the ageing process. “It’s about love and loss and what they mean if you were able to live forever,” she explains. “Is that a gift or is it a curse? I walked away from Adaline’s story thinking that life happens exactly the way it’s supposed to. To live life

surrounded by the people you love, to come and go with them, that feels like the perfect order to me.”

Born near the turn of the 20th century, Adaline Bowman never dreamed she would live to see the beginning of the 21st – until one seemingly magical moment saves her from death and grants her eternal youth. At the age of 29, Adaline stops ageing and experiences life as no human being has before. Carefully concealing her secret

IN THE AGE OF ADALINE, BLAKE LIVELY DISCOVERS THAT THE PROSPECT OF ETERNAL YOUTH IS NOT QUITE

AS APPEALING AS IT FIRST APPEARS.

RATED: M

AVAILABLE: Sept 9

STARS: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn

DIRECTOR: Lee Toland Krieger

DURATION: 112 mins

FORMATS:DVD/Blu-ray

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To live life surrounded by the people you love, to come and

go with them, that feels like the perfect order to me

from everyone but her ageing daughter, Adaline manages momentous changes with grace, until a past relationship collides with a modern-day chance for love and threatens to expose her extraordinary history.

Lively knew she had found an enchanting adventure and timeless love story the fi rst time she read the script. “I couldn’t put it down,” she says. “It read like a beautiful novel. The story is romantic, poetic and unique.”

The actress was also excited to fi nd an original story told from a woman’s point of view. The idea of a woman who experiences so much, so deeply, during one of the most diverse centuries in human history intrigued Lively. “Her life spans a hundred years, it crosses many different eras,” the actress says. “There are also different kinds of love stories within the movie. There’s the modern and apparent male-female story. There’s a more complex love story that rests in Adaline’s

past and is brought to life again in her present. There’s also a deeply

touching story of love between mother and daughter. Adaline’s life of love is such a beautiful journey.”

Lively admits it was a challenging role, but an

extremely rewarding one that allowed

her to delve more deeply into a character than she ever has before. “I had to play so many women within one,” she explains. “Adaline lives through such

Sept 9

Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman,

Lee Toland Krieger

112 mins

DVD/Blu-ray

complex love story that rests in Adaline’s past and is brought to life again in

her present. There’s also a deeply touching story of love between mother and daughter. Adaline’s life of love is such a beautiful journey.”

Lively admits it was a challenging role, but an

extremely rewarding one that allowed

her to delve more

Forever?Live

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SCREEN IMMORTALS

TOP

DRACULAProbably the best known screen immortal, certainly the baddest (usually). You would need a whole page to cover off all the movies inspired by the infamous Transylvanian bloodsucker – the most of recent of which, Dracula Untold, was released earlier this year. However, the late Christopher Lee remains our defi nitive Drac.

HERCULESFrom Disney classics to cult TV series, cheesy swords & sandals cheapies to big budget Hollywood blockbusters, the indestructible Greek hero has also been a regular screen fi xture for decades. Dwayne Johnson was the last to play the mythological warrior; but if you want a good laugh instead, try and locate the cult Aussie comedy Hercules Returns.

WOLVERINETechnically, the X-Men superhero is not immortal; if the injuries were extensive enough, it’s a chance that Logan would die. However, the fact that Hugh Jackman’s character managedto bounce back from the dodgy X-Men Origins spin-off is proof of his mighty powers of recovery.

LEGOLASAll elves are immortal but we’ve gone for Orlando Bloom’s dashing character from Peter Jackson’s epic Tolkien saga, mainly because Leogolas made it into the fi nal two movies in The Hobbit trilogy, even though the character didn’t actually appear in the original novel.

“I schemed my way into the fi lm, I think,” she admits. “For my meeting with [producer Tom Rosenberg] I picked a dress that I thought was very Adaline-like. It reminded me of a dress my mom had; dusty blue with delicate, faded white polka dots. I felt like Adaline when I put it on. Tom told me later, ‘when you walked in, I said, that’s Adaline.’ My scheme worked!”

different time periods, but she can’t be a fractured woman. She is smart enough to evolve and change with the times, yet she is always the same person.”

Even though the story has elements of fantasy, The Age Of Adaline is told in a simple, human fashion - which was another attraction for the actress. “It’s very much a character piece,” Lively says. “It is quite dramatic. We address some pretty heavy ideas and really reach for the heart.”

The juxtaposition of classic and contemporary costumes was another draw for the actress, who is currently the face of Gucci’s fashion house. Adaline’s wardrobe is a way of showing the passage of time, she explains, with the way women’s role in society changes through the 20th century refl ected in her clothing, her hair and her make-up.

In fact, Lively had an image of Adaline’s wardrobe in her head even before she was cast in the fi lm.

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Is it sacrilegious to suggest this might be the best Mad Max movie yet? No disrespect intended to Mel Gibson, who made Max Rockatansky such an iconic screen anti-hero. But armed with a bigger budget, creator George Miller has not only delivered a mighty reboot, but has produced one of the best action movies of recent times. Tom Hardy sensibly doesn’t try to imitate Gibson, but brings his usual fearsome intensity to the role of the enigmatic road warrior, who, when the fi lm opens has been imprisoned in The Citadel, a fortifi ed stronghold ruled over by Immortan Joe. When Amazonian warrior Furiosa (Charlize Theron) escapes with the Immortan’s wives-cum-breeders, the furious ruler gives chase, with Max strapped to the hood of a car belonging to one of his War Boys (Nicholas Hoult). Our hero eventually manages to escape and forms a tentative alliance with Furiosa as they seek sanctuary in a rumoured green paradise. A dazzling, thrill-packed ride from start to fi nish, this is hopefully the fi rst in an exciting new cycle.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

RATED: MA15+

AVAILABLE: September 2

STARS: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne

DIRECTOR: George Miller

DURATION: 120 mins


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RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 16STARS: Hailee Steinfeld, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophie Turner, Jessica Alba DIRECTOR: Kyle Newman DURATION: 96 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

A sort of Spy Kids for teens, Hailee Steinfeld is a highly trained young secret agent who longs to be a normal adolescent. She gets her chance when she is assumed to have died in a mission to capture rogue agent Jessica Alba and duly reinvents herself as a Canadian exchange student. However, as well as struggling to get to grips with high school life, it’s not long before her past life catches up with her.

RATED: CTC AVAIL: Sept 30 STARS: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Ioan Gruffudd DIRECTOR: Brad Peyton DURATION: 114 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Queensland stands in for California in this hugely entertaining disaster fl ick in which monster earthquakes and a tsunami are unleashed on the unfortunate state. San Francisco bears the brunt of most of the damage, as rescue pilot Dwayne Johnson and his estranged wife Carla Cugino search for their daughter Alexandra Daddario. Paul Giamatti provides the science, but the real stars of the show are the fi lm’s SFX wizards.

BIG GAME KILL ME THREE TIMES

RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 16 STARS: Samuel L. Jackson, Onni Tommila, Ray Stevenson, Victor Garber DIRECTOR: Jalmari Helander DURATION: 110 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

In this agreeably bonkers family-friendly action fl ick, Samuel L Jackson plays the US president who is tricked by his bodyguard Ray Stevenson into using Air Force One’s escape pod when the plane comes under attack. Landing in the remote wilds of Finland, Jackson fi nds an unlikely ally in Onni Tommila, a young kid on a rite of passage hunting trip, and together they turn the tables on their pursuers.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 9 STARS: Simon Pegg, Steve Le Marquand, Alice Braga, Teresa Palmer DIRECTOR: Kriv Stenders DURATION: 90 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Director Kriv Stenders’ follow-up to his homegrown blockbuster Red Dog couldn’t be more different. An engaging blend of black comedy and modern fi lm noir, British star Simon Pegg plays a hitman on assignment in a sleepy coastal town who gets mixed up in the multiple murder plots of the greedy locals, who include Teresa Palmer, Sullivan Stapleton, and Bryan Brown. A wickedly funny treat.

16

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FAKE IT‘TIL YOUMAKE IT

ANT BOYIS BACK FOR

ANOTHER BATTLE

AXEL THE BIGGEST LITTLE HERO

ANT BOYIS BACK FOR

ANOTHER BATTLE

THE BIGGEST LITTLE HERO

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Britt Robertson Dylan O’Brien

n e r v o u s i s n o r m a l

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“A POLISHED GEM OF A

ROM COM”– Hollywood and Fine

September 2015.indd 1 30/07/2015 8:41 am

TRACERS

RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 2STARS: Taylor Lautner, Adam Rayner, Rafi Gavron DIRECTOR: Daniel Benmayor DURATION: 94 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

This exciting actioner is just the ticket for those looking for parkour-inspired thrills. Taylor Lautner plays a courier who falls in with a group of parkour enthusiasts and learns that they use their skills to carry out burglaries. Deep in debt to a Chinese loan shark, Lautner willingly signs up for their extra-curricular activities, but eventually begins to suspect that leader Adam Rayner is not all that he seems.

In the increasingly crowded Marvel universe, there is no doubt that The Avengers are the main act and thankfully director Joss Whedon has once again delivered a fi ve-star blockbuster worthy of its A-list superhero ensemble. Although stacked with exhilarating action sequences and quick-fi re wisecracks, it’s the quieter moments that linger longer in the mind, whether it be the tentative signs of romance between Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) and Bruce Bannon (Mark Ruffalo) or the increasing tensions between Captain America (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr). It’s the latter’s creation of a new super robot (voiced with silky menace by James Spader) that forms the spine of the story: the AI machine quickly turns rogue, deciding that the planet would be a better place without the Avengers. Once again, utterly Marvel-lous stuff.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

RATED: CTC


STARS: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson

DIRECTOR: Joss Whedon

DURATION: 141 mins


TOMORROWLAND

RATED: CTC AVAIL: Sept 30 STARS: George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson DIRECTOR: Brad Bird DURATION: 130 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

While it hasn’t had the same level of success as Disney’s other theme park franchise Pirates Of The Caribbean, there is much to enjoy about Brad Bird’s uplifting sci-fi fantasy. Britt Robertson makes for a suitably feisty heroine who discovers the titular secret city in another dimension; George Clooney is her reluctant guide, while Hugh Laurie enjoys himself as the villain of the piece.

ACTION

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It’s great to have Arnie as back as The Terminator but make no mistake: this is the year’s essential cyborg movie. In fact, the devilishly plotted directorial debut of author and screenwriter Alex Garland (The Beach, 28 Days Later) is sure to feature prominently in 2015’s top 10 fi lm lists at the end of the year. Part noir thriller, part sci-fi chiller, Ex Machina is essentially a three hander: Domhall Gleeson plays Caleb, a computer programmer who earns a much coveted invitation to the private home of reclusive billionaire and famed technology guru Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Caleb’s assignment is to run the famous Turing Test – designed to fi nd out if a machine can think like a human – on his boss’s latest creation, a beautiful cyborg called Ava (Alicia Vikander). He become fascinated with his subject, but it gradually becomes apparent that Nathan is keeping secrets from both his young employee and Ava. Both a wonderfully suspenseful thriller and a thought-provoking peep into the future, Ex Machina is a must-see modern classic.

EX_MACHINA

RATED: MA15+


STARS: Domhnall Gleeson, Corey Johnson, Oscar Isaac,Alicia Vikander

DIRECTOR: Alex Garland

DURATION: 108 mins



Moon I Robot Blade Runner

The found footage horror genre has now been done to, err, death but this ingenious new chiller points the way forward. While it’s been assembled from ‘real’ Skype footage and the like, the twist here is that the fi lm plays out entirely on a computer screen. When a group of teen friends chatting in a virtual chatroom learn an unknown stranger has joined their conversation, they are not overly concerned. However, that all changes when they discover that their unwanted friend is using the email address of a schoolmate who recently committed suicide – and seems to hold them responsible. Director Levan Gabriadze’s skill is in turning everyday online activities like YouTube and Facebook into something deeply unsettling. Unfriended is sure to inspire a host of lesser imitators, so get in quick and make the most of it while the concept is still fresh.

UNFRIENDED

RATED: MA15+


STARS: Shelley Hennig, Moses Storm, Renee Olstead, Will Peltz, Jacob Wysocki

DIRECTOR: Levan Gabriadze

DURATION: 83 mins


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7 MINUTES TIGER HOUSE

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 23STARS: Luke Mitchell, Leven Rambin, Kris Kristofferson, Jason Ritter DIRECTOR: Jay Martin DURATION: 84 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Aussie star Luke Mitchell heads the cast of this US indie crime thriller, which manages to wring a few surprises out of the familiar ‘bank-heist-goes-wrong’ formula. Desperately needing money after ending up in debt to a murderous drug dealer, he, his brother and his best pal set out to rob the offi ces of their uncle (Sam Murray), but things start going wrong right from the outset.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 9STARS: Kaya Scodelario, Ed Skrein, Dougray Scott, Brandon Auret DIRECTOR: Thomas Daley DURATION: 81 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Taking a break from The Maze Runner, rising English star Kaya Scodelario gets caught up in a dangerous cat and mouse game with a gang of thieves who have taken over the home of her boyfriend’s father in order to rob a cash depot the latter manages. Fellow Brits Dougray Scott and Ed Skrein also score as the baddies in this involving crime caper set in South Africa.

Dark House7 MinutesTiger HouseGuestExtinctionUnfriendedEx Machina

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Polar Bear_Rental_HPH.indd 1 28/07/15 1:37 PM

THE GUEST EXTINCTION

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 9STARS: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Brendan Meyer, Sheila Kelley DIRECTOR: Adam Wingard DURATION: 96 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

After his superb reinvention of the home invasion fl ick with You’re Next, cult director Adam Wingard comes up trumps again with another cool hybrid thriller. If John Carpenter had directed Rambo: First Blood it might have turned out something like this deliciously dark mash-up in which ultra-polite Iraq veteran Dan Stevens wreaks murderous havoc in a small town. Highly recommended.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 3STARS: Matthew Fox, Jeffrey Donovan, Quinn McColgan, Valeria Vereau DIRECTOR: Miguel Angel Vivas DURATION: 110 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

The wintry settings and the brooding visual style of Spanish director Miguel Ángel Vivas lift this intense zombie fl ick out of the ordinary. Matthew Fox and Jeffrey Donovan play survivors of a zombie apocalypse, who have lived in relative safety for nine years in an isolated snowbound town. Unfortunately, not only are the undead on the rise again, but they have evolved…

Best known for his Jeepers Creepers fl icks, director Victor Salva here adds some clever twists to that old horror staple, the haunted house movie. When his institutionalised mother (Lesley-Anne Down) dies in a fi re, son Luke Kleintank – who is haunted by his ability to see into the future of some people he touches – is surprised to discover that he has inherited an old house that he thought only existed in his imagination. However, when he, his best friend and pregnant wife – together with some sceptical highway workers – fi nally locate the property deep in the middle of nowhere, they fi nd that the mansion is jealously guarded by a sinister group of axemen led by horror icon Tobin Bell (Saw I-VI), who makes it clear that his guests are not welcome. If you like your haunted house movies spiced up with a bit of Satanism, this is the one for you.

DARK HOUSE

RATED: MA15+


STARS: Luke Kleintank, Alex McKenna, Anthony Rey, Zack Ward, Lacey Anzelc

DIRECTOR: Victor Salva

DURATION: 102 mins


TH

RILLER

TKE23_18-19_Thriller.indd 19 14/08/2015 2:09 pm

YELLOWBIRD FROG KINGDOM

Stop-motion specialist Aardman Studios get back to their roots with this truly delightful big screen adventure for one of their best-loved children’s creations. The beauty of Shaun The Sheep is that there is no dialogue, except for grunts and other noises but such is the inventiveness of the bonkers plotting that you hardly ever notice. Jaded by the numbing routine of farm life, the mischievous Shaun decides that the animals need a day off and works out a cunning plan to put the Farmer to sleep in a caravan on the property. Unfortunately, the mobile home works its way loose and ends up crashing in the city, putting their beloved owner in hospital suffering from amnesia. Shaun and the rest of the gang set out to rescue him, but fall foul of a nasty animal control offi cer. Meanwhile, the befuddled farmer’s sheep shearing abilities make him the city’s hottest new hairstylist! The slapstick adventures should entrance young fans of the TV show, but there’s plenty of surreal and deadpan humour to keep grown-ups entertained as well.

SHAUN THE SHEEP

RATED: G


STARS: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili

DIRECTOR: Mark Burton & Richard Starzak

DURATION: 85 mins



RATED: PG AVAIL: Sept 24STARS: Dakota Fanning, Seth Green, Elliott Gould DIRECTOR: Christian De Vita DURATION: 90 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Christian De Vita, whose animation credits include Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, makes his directorial debut with this whimsical feature about the titular bird (voiced by Seth Green) who is charged with leading the fl ock’s migration to Africa. Naturally, things don’t go according to plan. Bright and breezy fun.

RATED: PG AVAIL: Sept 24STARS: Bella Thorne, Cameron Dallas, Drake Bell DIRECTOR: Melanie Simka, Nelson Shin DURATION: 90 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

No amphibian transformations into handsome princes here – this all about the frogs! When the Frog King announces that the winner of the Froglympics will win his daughter’s hand in marriage, Princess Froglegs is determined to thwart his plans with the help of a humble street trader. The voice talents of tween favourites Bella Thorne, Cameron Dallas, Drake Bell and Gregg Sulkin add to its appeal.

Wallace & Gromit’s Big Day Out Chicken Run Barnyard

While franchises like Disney Princesses are gaining ground, Barbie still rules – it’s hard to believe but this is the 30th movie to be inspired by the iconic girls’ doll! And her latest animated adventure cleverly draws on the charms of both the series’ princess heritage and Mattel’s newer modern approach. In Barbie In Rock N Royals, two very different worlds collide when Princess Courtney ends up by mistake at a summer camp for musicians, while famous rock star Erika fi nds herself at a neighbouring holiday spot for royalty. When the girls learn that both camps are in danger of being closed, they realise that both groups will have put aside their differences and work together for the common good. Taking its cues from popular Disney Channel movies like Camp Rock and High School Musical, Barbie In Rock N Royals is sure to go down a treat with young ones.

BARBIE IN ROCK ‘N’ ROYALS

RATED: G


STARS: Kelly Sheridan

DIRECTOR: Karen J Lloyd

DURATION: 84 mins


20

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ILY

TKE23_20-21_Family.indd 20 17/08/2015 11:47 am

ADVENTURE PLANET

HERO OF COLOUR CITY

The hand of producer Guillermo del Toro can certainly be detected in the directorial debut of Jorge Gutierrez, best known for the Nickelodeon series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera. Although the dazzling visuals draw heavily on Mexican folklore, the dark fairytale fl ourishes will also be familiar to fans of the fantasy maestro’s live action movies, making this an animated adventure for all ages. The fi lm opens in a museum, where a group of bored school children are escorted into a secret room by a mysterious guide (voiced by Christina Applegate). She proceeds to tell them the story of Manolo (Diego Luna), a bullfi ghter who sets off on an epic mystical quest in order to reunite with his one true love Maria (Zoe Saldana) and defend his village from a bandit. The starry voice cast also includes Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Hector Elizondo and Danny Trejo, while opera legend Placido Domingo gets to sing Cielito Lindo (the one that goes “Ay, yai, yai, yai...”). Fans of Tim Burton’s Gothic style of animation will fi nd much to like here.

THE BOOK OF LIFE


RATED: PG AVAIL: Sept 23STARS: Jane Lynch, Danny Glover DIRECTOR: Kompin Kemgumnird DURATION: 81 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

This eco-friendly fl ick is the fi rst animated feature to be produced in Thailand, so it’s not surprising that there is a faint anime feel to the action. However, fi rst time director Kompin Kemgumnird worked as an animator on fi lms such as Ice Age and Tarzan, and with a voice cast that includes Jane Lynchand Brook Shields, this sits quite nicely alongside mainstream US fare.

RATED: G AVAIL: Sept 9STARS: Christina Ricci, Rosie Perez, Craig Ferguson DIRECTOR: Frank GladstoneDURATION: 80 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Unbeknownst to Ben, when he falls asleep, his Crayons come to life and travel to a magical world called Colour City. However, when an unfi nished drawing blocks the source of the city’s colour, it’s up to his plucky crayons to save the day. Riffi ng on a similar premise to Toy Story, this wacky kids tale will provide plenty of colourful fun for youngsters.

A Nightmare Before Christmas Corpse Bride Rango

OK, it’s not the latest Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man, but with that fi lm still some way off yet, this family-friendly superhero adventure should help fi ll the void. Based on the characters created by Danish author Kenneth Bøgh Andersen, Antboy 2: Revenge Of The Red Fury reunites most of the cast from the fi rst fi lm and this time around our pint-sized hero (once again played by Oscar Dietz) fi nds himself under attack on a number of fronts. As well as having to cope with the attentions of two bullies under the control of his imprisoned nemesis The Flea, he also unwittingly makes an enemy in the shape of a shy schoolgirl called Maria (Astrid Juncher-Benzon), who transforms herself into a lethal new foe The Red Fury. The mix of schoolyard hijinks and junior crime busting makes for an engaging combination.

ANTBOY: REVENGE OF THE RED FURY

RATED: PG


STARS: Oscar Dietz , Amalie Kruse Jensen, Samuel Ting Graf

DIRECTOR: Ask Hasselbalch

DURATION: 80 mins


RATED: PG


STARS: Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman

DIRECTOR: Jorge Gutierrez

DURATION: 95 mins


21

FAMILY

TKE23_20-21_Family.indd 21 17/08/2015 11:48 am

BETTER CALL SAUL S1 ARROW S3

Imagine Dynasty or Dallas set in the world of urban music and you get an idea where American TV’s hottest new show is coming from. Co-created by Lee Daniels (Precious, The Butler), Empire tells the story of hip hop mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), a former ghetto criminal turned tycoon, who discovers he has an incurable disease on the eve of his biggest ever achievement: the fl oatation of his company on the stock market. However, as well as having to keep his condition secret and grooming one of his sons to take the reins of the company, Lucious also has to deal with his ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), who has just got out prison after taking the fall for his old drug dealing activities and now wants her slice of the cake. Although Empire is a lot classier than those glossy big business soaps of old, the lurid storylines and over-the-top characters – his heirs include an obnoxious young rapper, a bipolar MBA graduate and gay R&B singer who is forced by his dad to keep his sexuality secret – make this a similarly guilty pleasure.

EMPIRE SEASON 1

RATED: M


STARS: Terrence Howard, Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollett, Trai Byers

CREATOR: Lee Daniels, Danny Strong

DURATION: 504 mins

FORMATS: DVD


RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 3STARS: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian DIRECTOR: Colin Bucksey DURATION: 1008 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Don’t go into this Breaking Bad prequel expecting a maelstrom of violence and conspiracy, as there are only a few glimpses of what the future holds for the titular character (Bob Odenkirk); in fact, he is still known here by his real name Jimmy McGill. But be patient: the seeds of Jimmy’s descent into corruption are starting to be sown, setting the scene for a cracking second season.

RATED: CTC AVAIL: Sept 23STARS: Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, Colin Donnell, David Ramsey PRODUCER: Greg Berlanti, Joseph Patrick Finn DURATION: 1069 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Oliver Queen’s Arrow still has his hands full in the latest season of the hit DC Comics series. There is a new wave of evil masterminds to deal with, the most notable of which is the secretive League of Assassins, whose leader Ra’s al Ghul (played by our own Matt Nable) is the chief villain for the series. And his ascendance triggers shifts in loyalties and alliances. More please!

Boss Nashville Dirty Sexy Money

GOOD WIFE S6 WALKING DEAD S5

RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 16STARS: Julianna Margulies, Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Josh Charles PRODUCER: Michelle King, Robert King DURATION: 918 mins FORMATS: DVD

Although the latest season of this legal eagle drama has nothing quite as dramatic as the death of Will Gardner in series 5, The Good Wife remains as compelling as ever, with the main story arc this time focusing on whether Alicia (Julianna Margulies) should stand for election as state attorney. Still one of the best law fi rm shows around.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 2STARS: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan PRODUCER: Frank Darabont DURATION: 704 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

This fab series is still the zombie show all others have to measure up to and the good news is that latest season is one of the best yet, as Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his fellow survivors seek to escape Terminus. It’s also good to see that a number of new faces have been introduced for the fi fth season, most notably Father Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) from the original graphic novel. Terrifi c stuff.

22

TV

TKE23_22-23_TV.indd 22 14/08/2015 2:12 pm

BIG BANG THEORY S8 PERSON OF INTEREST S4

As good as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is, the Marvel series highlighted the diffi culties that can emerge in trying to tie a TV show into a still evolving cinema show. However, DC Comics has cunningly avoided that by creating an alternate prequel universe for one of its most popular characters, Batman. The show opens with the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents, but Gotham’s main focus is on the idealistic James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) who quickly discovers that the police department is riddled with corruption. His on-going battle against crime unfolds alongside his growing friendship with the young Bruce (played by David Mazouz) and a criminal power struggle between mob boss Carmine Falcone (John Doman), Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) and a newcomer called Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor), who loathes his nickname of ‘Penguin’. And spotting future Batman villains is one of the main joys of Gotham: keep an eye out, too, for early incarnations of the likes of Catwoman, Poison Ivy and The Riddler.

GOTHAM SEASON 1

RATED: MA15+


STARS: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Zabryna Guevara

CREATOR: Bruno Heller

DURATION: 967 mins



RATED: CTC AVAIL: Sept 16STARS: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg DIRECTOR: Mark Cendrwski DURATION: 559 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

The prospect of marriage hovers over the latest season of one of American TV’s most consistently funny shows. Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) are now engaged, but will this season see them actually tie the knot? Meanwhile, fans can look forward to some interesting developments in the relationships between Sheldon and Amy and Raj and Emily.

RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 2STARS: Jim Caviezel, Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Chapman, Michael Emerson PRODUCER: J.J. Abrams Bryan Burk DURATION: xx mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

With the team is still reeling from the devastating loss they experienced in season three, Reese (Jim Caviezel), Finch (Michael Emerson) and the rest of the outfi t face an uncertain future in the fourth series of this intriguing crime drama. This time around the POI team also must fi nd a way to outsmart Samaritan, an ever-evolving, powerful artifi cial intelligence that’s growing stronger every day.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Arrow Smallville

VAMPIRE DIARIES S6 SONS OF ANARCHY S7

RATED: CTC AVAIL: Sept 9STARS: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Steven R. McQueen PRODUCER: Kevin Williamson DURATION: 993 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Get ready to sink your teeth into another deliciously juicy slice of soapy supernatural shenanigans at Mystic Falls. After the shocking events of season 5, our favourite characters continue to explore the duality of good versus evil that lurks inside themselves. But be warned: the departure of a major character will leave long-time fans in mourning.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 23STARS: Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Mark Boone Junior, Kim Coates DIRECTOR: Paris Barclay DURATION: 585 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Jax (Charley Hunnam) and the rest of his biker gang bow out in a blaze of glory in the much-anticipated fi nal season. We’re not saying if our troubled anti-hero will fi nd redemption at the end, but you certainly count on some fi nal scores being settled, the deaths of some very big characters and a body count that is off the scale. Sons Of Anarchy has been an unforgettable ride – we’ll miss it.

23

TV

TKE23_22-23_TV.indd 23 14/08/2015 2:12 pm

THE AGE OF ADALINE CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA

RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 9 STARS: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn DIRECTOR: Lee Toland Krieger DURATION: 112 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Tapping into a similar vein of romantic melancholy as The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, this elegant fantasy fi nds Blake Lively trapped in eternal youth after a freak car accident. Over the years, she learns to survive by constantly changing her identity, but when she falls for a handsome millionaire (Michiel Huisman) her old past fi nally catches up with her. Gorgeous to look at – but stock up on tissues.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 16STARS: Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloe Grace Moretz, Lars Eidinger DIRECTOR: Olivier Assayas DURATION: 124 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

The blockbuster success of the Twilight Saga meant that Kristen Stewart’s acting talents have long been unappreciated. This should help change that: in this engrossing psychological drama, Stewart gives one of her best ever performances as a PA to actress Juliette Binoche, who is about to revive a play that made her a star – this time playing the older character.

CHILD 44 ROYAL NIGHT OUTRATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 23STARS: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman DIRECTOR: Daniel Espinosa DURATION: 137 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

During Stalin’s reign of terror, there was no such thing as murder because that only existed in capitalist societies. So when war hero policeman Tom Hardy begins to suspect that a serial killer has been preying on young children for years, his investigation doesn’t go down well with his superiors. Part police procedural, part political thriller, Child 44 is held together by a typically committed performance from Hardy.

RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 16STARS: Jack Reynor, Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Rupert Everett DIRECTOR: Julian Jarrold DURATION: 93 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

This feel-good romp explores the intriguing question: what would young royal princesses Elizabeth (Sara Gadon) and Margaret (Bel Powley) have got up to if they had managed to sneak out of Buckingham Palace to join in the VE Day celebrations at the end of the Second World War? Handsomely mounted and charmingly performed, this is a prime example of the sort of tasteful period piece that the British do so well.

Loosely based on fi rst-time director Maya Forbes’ own childhood, Infi nitely Polar Bear is a gently offbeat family drama anchored by an impressive turn from Mark Ruffalo. Set in the late ‘70s, Ruffalo plays Cameron, the charming black sheep of a wealthy family; unfortunately he also suffers from manic depression. Hospitalised after a breakdown, his wife Maggie (Zoe Saldana) realises that she will have to become the family’s breadwinner, so when she is given the chance to study for an MBA in New York, she persuades Cameron to become a stay-at-home Dad, much to the horror of his young daughters (Imogene Wolodarsky and Ashley Aufderheide, both terrifi c in their fi lm debuts). A sharply observed portrait of the strain that mental illness can place on a family, it’s both funny and heartbreaking in equal measure.

INFINITELY POLAR BEAR

RATED: M


STARS: Zoe Saldana, Mark Ruffalo, Keir Dullea, Wallace Wolodarsky

DIRECTOR: Maya Forbes

DURATION: 88 mins


Ami Canaan Mann’s directorial debut, the dark serial killer thriller Texas Killing Fields, displayed a sympathetic eye for the bleak backwaters of rural America. Her sophomore effort has a similar rural setting, but this is much more upbeat affair, a touching romance soundtracked by some glorious trad folk and country music. Katherine Heigl dials down the glamour as a failed popstar who is looking to rebuild her life in her sleepy hometown, but is embroiled in a nasty divorce with her New York husband. She forms a tentative relationship with Ben Barnes, a talented travelling troubadour who nevertheless seems unwilling to develop his own songwriting. The two leads make for a cute couple, while Americana fans will appreciate a cameo from singer Ryan Bingham, who won an Oscar for his theme song for the country music drama Crazy Heart.

JACKIE & RYAN

RATED: M


STARS: Katherine Heigl, Ben Barnes, Clea DuVall, Sheryl Lee, Emily Alyn Lind

DIRECTOR: Ami Canaan Mann

DURATION: 87 mins


Age Of AdalineChild 44Jackie & RyanInfi nitely Polar BearRoyal Night OutClouds Of Sils Maria

24

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ON BLU-RAY™ & DVDSEPTEMBER I6


However, cutting ties with friends and family prove more diffi cult than he imagined it would be.

JUST BEFORE I GO

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 9STARS: Seann William Scott, Olivia Thirlby, Garret Dillahunt, Kate Walsh DIRECTOR: Courteney Cox DURATION: 92 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Former Friends star Courteney Cox makes her directorial debut with this decidedly quirky comedy about a depressed man (Seann William Scott) who decides to kill himself – but not before returning to his hometown to face the people he blames for his empty life. However, cutting ties with friends and family proves more diffi cult than he imagined. The starry ensemble cast makes this well worth a look.

THE FIRST TIME

RATED: M AVAIL: Sept 23STARS: Britt Robertson, Dylan O’Brien, Victoria Justice, James Frecheville DIRECTOR: Jon Kasdan DURATION: 91 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

A sensitive and warmly funny account of young love that benefi ts from believable performances from its two rising young stars: The Maze Runner’s Dylan O’Brien and Tomorrowland’s Britt Robertson. The pair becomes friends after a chance meeting at a party, even though she has a boyfriend and he has his heart set on a girl who is way out of his league. However, friendship eventually turns to something deeper...

Although prior knowledge of the TV series helps, thanks to a quick CNN recap at the beginning about the career of Vincent Chase and his entourage, you don’t have to have seen it to enjoy this Hollywood insider comedy. The story this time centres mainly around the directorial debut of Vinnie (Adrian Grenier), which is running way over budget, much to the concern of new studio boss Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven). As usual, the latter gets all the best lines, but the rest of the gang (Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara) haven’t been forgotten and fans will appreciate turns from other series regulars like Lloyd (Rex Lee) and Billy (Rhys Coiro). There are plenty of other big name cameos, too, while newcomers include Billy Bob Thornton as a fi lm fi nancier and Haley Joel Osment as his spoilt son. It’s taken some time, but it has been worth the wait.

ENTOURAGE

RATED: CTC


STARS: Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Jeremy Piven

DIRECTOR: Doug Ellin

DURATION: 104 mins


WRONG COPS

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 23STARS: Mark Burnham, Eric Judor, Steve Little, Marilyn Manson DIRECTOR: Quentin Dupieux DURATION: 83 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Quentin Dupieux, the director of the cult hit Rubber, turns his twisted eye on the police force in this cheerful perverse black comedy. Mark Burnham is a drug-dealing beat cop who calls on the help of his detective pal Steve Little (Eastbound & Down) to help him dispose of a dying neighbour whom he shot by accident. Truly bizzare but very funny – in a distubing kind of way.

THE D TRAIN

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Sept 24STARS: Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor DIRECTOR: Andrew Mogel, Jarrad Paul DURATION: 101 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Welcome back Jack Black – it’s been way too long. And like his most recent DVD release Bernie, D Train is comedy with an unsettling edge. Black plays the overly enthusiastic head of his high school reunion committee who just for once wants to be seen as the cool guy. He sets out to persuade a former classmate, LA-based model James Marsden, to attend the reunion, but things don’t turn quite out as he planned.

Strange MagicFirst TimeWrong CopsHot Tub Time Mach2Just Before I GoD Train

Sadly, John Cusack is missing in action for the sequel to the 2010 comedy smash. But the rest of the gang – Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke – are at their lewd and crude best in this new expletive-laden trip back to the future. Whereas the fi rst fi lm found them revisiting the 80s, here the trio travel forward 10 years in time to try and fi nd out who tried to kill Corddrey: his mean-spirited ways means there is no shortage of suspects. Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation) effectively stands in for Cusack, playing his straight-laced son, who is about to marry Gillian Jacobs (Community) but is soon led astray by his new-found friends. The humour is not exactly subtle, but Hot Tub Time Machine 2 still provides plenty of foul-mouthed laughs – and make sure you stick around for the end credits for a glimpse into their other time travelling exploits.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2

RATED: MA15+


STARS: Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Adam Scott, Gillian Jacobs

DIRECTOR: Steve Pink

DURATION: 90 mins


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Film © 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Film © 2014 Universal City Studios Productions LLLP. All Rights Reserved.

Strong themes, violence and coarse language

Strong themes, violence and nudity

Film © 2014 Universal City Studios Productions LLLP. All Rights Reserved.Film © 2014 Universal City Studios Productions LLLP. All Rights Reserved.



EX MACHINAEX MACHINATHERE IS NOTHING MORE HUMAN THAN THE WILL TO SURVIVE

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ALEX GARLAND THE WRITER OF 28 DAYS LATER

TOTAL FILM THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

“A TENSE, THOUGHT- PROVOKING THRILLER”

WIRED

“THE SCARIEST FILM OF 2015”

- NEWS LTD

FROM THE PRODUCER OF THE PURGE AND OUIJA

EX_MACHINA - UNFRIENDED VV FPA 972135.indd 1 6/08/2015 4:12 pmAD TEMPLATE.indd 8 14/08/2015 1:47 pm

FAST & FURIOUS 7

BACKTRACK

FAST & FURIOUS 7Such is the durability of this action franchise that we wouldn’t be surprised if in 40 years time the Fast & Furious gang will once again be swinging into action on turbo-charged mobility scooters. For now, though, just sit back and enjoy another wonderfully ridiculous slice of death-defying vehicular mayhem and mind-blowing action. Sadly, this is the last outing for original star Paul Walker, who died during the shoot and he duly receives a suitably teary send send-off at the end. On the plus side, Jason Statham is an excellent new addition to the franchise and makes for a splendidly nasty villain as he sets out to hunt down Vin Diesel and the rest of the gang to avenge the death of his brother (Luke Evans) in Fast & Furious 6. Add into the mix Game Of Thrones babe screen Nathalie Emmanuel as a hacker and Kurt Russell as a maverick government agent and you have the most thrilling F&F juggernaut yet.

We don’t want you to miss any of the hot titles which, since we reviewed them last month, have been particularly rapid in hooning off the stores’ shelves! Here’s a look at fi ve you might have bypassed – so go on, snatch ‘em up.

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PAUL BLART MALL COP 2

THE GUNMAN Even an actor as committed as Sean Penn needs to let his hair down occasionally and while he still broods a fair bit in this thriller, he also gets to channel his inner Liam Neeson by taking out lots of bad guys in inventive ways. Penn plays a former mercenary haunted by his last African assignment, the assassination of a leading politician, and who is now paying penance by working as an aid worker. However, when a gang of killers turn up at his camp and he discovers that other members of his old team have died recently, Penn realises that someone is busy tying up loose ends. Director Pierre Morel (Taken) stages some stylish action set pieces, while the quality cast – as well as Penn, the supporting players include Ray Winstone, Javier Bardem, Mark Rylance and Idris Elba – add an extra layer of class to the proceedings.

The 2009 original was both a box offi ce and DVD hit, and while this sequel hasn’t achieved quite the same level of success, fans of the Kevin James’s slobbish brand of humour won’t be disappointed with his latest effort. Although Raini Rodriguez returns as his daughter Maya, two of the other leads from the fi rst movie, love interest Jayma Mays (Glee) and mum Shirley Knight, barely make it past the opening credits: a quick recap explains that the latter was hit by a milk truck, while it turns out that Mays walked out on him six days into their marriage. So when he receives an invitation to attend a convention for private security companies in Las Vegas, Paul believes his luck has fi nally taken a turn for the better. Unfortunately, a gang of casino thieves led by Neal McDonough have other ideas…

BOYCHOIRThe elite world of schoolboy choirs provides the backdrop to this pleasing triumph-over-adversity tale. Newcomer Garrett Wareing plays a surly young Texan teen who is forever in trouble at school but is blessed with an extraordinary singing voice. When his mother dies in a car accident, his rich but absent father Josh Lucas (who has never told his new family that he has a love child) secures him a place at the prestigious National Boychoir Academy, but Wareing struggles to adapt to his new privileged surroundings. Grumpy choirmaster Dustin Hoffman, who is determined to land a landmark concert for his choir before he retires, is also reluctant to grant him any special favours, but gradually the boy’s raw but angelic voice wins the school over. A sort of cross between Billy Elliott and Dead Poet’s Society, this uplifting tale is sure to warm the hearts of even the most cynical of viewers.

BLACK SEAAn impressively muscular Jude Law heads the cast of this lean and mean thriller set almost entirely within the claustrophobic confi nes of a submarine. After being let go by his salvage fi rm employers, Law hatches a plan to recover a fortune in Nazi gold bullion which lies undiscovered beneath the Russian naval fl eet in the Black Sea. With the backing of a mystery millionaire, he secures an old submarine and assembles a crew of former colleagues, misfi ts and Russian experts to undertake the mission. However, his shipmates are soon at each other’s throats and it’s not long before the Russians above them are the least of their problems. Director Kevin Macdonald sustains an air of sweaty tension throughout and is well served by an excellent ensemble, which also includes Scott McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn and Michael Smiley.

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2015 is the year of the reboot and hot on the heels of the super-charged resurrection of Mad Max, next month will see the return of another blockbuster franchise. Strictly speaking Jurassic World is a sequel to

Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic, but given that it’s 14 years since Jurassic Park III, this is essentially a reboot. The good news is that Jurassic World successfully recaptures the wonder and spectacle of the fi rst movie. A

successful dino theme park is now open for business on the original site of Jurassic Park, but when the massive Indominus rex stages an escape, all hell breaks loose once again. Available from October 28.

JURASSIC WORLD

Tourette’s sufferer Robert Sheehan joins forces with an OCD patient (Dev Patel) and an anorexic (Zoe Kravitz) for a wild and crazy road trip. Out on October 14.

Insurance rep Jack Davenport is soon out of his depth when he falls in with con men Hugo Weaving and Brian Cox in this gripping crime caper. Due on October 14.

The Kings of Tampa are back! The troupe are ready to retire, but decide to go out in style with one last blow-out performance. Available from October 21.

The tragic rise and fall of soul star Amy Winehouse is recounted in this enthralling documentary from the team behind Senna. Check it out on October 28.

Paul Dano and John Cusack play the younger and older Brian Wilson is this sympathetic biopic about the legendary Beach Boy. See it from October 28.

Jurassic World

A SELECTION OF TITLES THE DVD STORK WILL BE DELIVERING NEXT MONTH

THE ROAD WITHIN THE KEY MAN MAGIC MIKE XXL LOVE & MERCY AMY

EXT

RAS

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your guide to september’s hottest … guide to september’s hottest releases ... suck and meet...

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