Australia Day 2 - Aussie Films

Hey all,

Welcome back to another Australia day edition. Now, I'm well aware that Australia Day was yesterday. But since we have a 3 day weekend, I'm counting it as 2 Australia Days. Huh? What do you reckon? So in honour of this great accomplishment, and this great country, I would like to present you with some of our more, memorable Aussie films. 

Now, us Aussies pride ourselves on making top quality films. And we certainly have made our mark in the industry, with notable names, such as: Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett, Baz Lurhman, Hugo Weaving, the Hemsworth Family, etc. etc. And with notable and memorable films as well. So, without further delay, let's take a look at some of Australia's most memorable and iconic films, to date.

MURIEL'S WEDDING

'Muriel's Wedding' is a stellar Australian film. Starring the amazingly gifted actress, Toni Collette, it follows the story of the socially awkward titular character, Muriel, as she strives to have a glamorous wedding, and improve her personal life in the process. It's a great Australian film, that set country by storm. Toni Collette's performance of Muriel is absolutely brilliant. Her portrayal of being socially awkward is so finely touched, that it is unbelievable. Needless to say, 'Muriel's Wedding' is certainly an Australian film for the ages.

Casting Toni Collette was pure genius. Very glad to have her as an Aussie actress.

THE CASTLE

'The Castle' is truly a fine piece of Australian film making. With only 11 days of shooting, it could certainly teach films these days a thing or two. Coming straight from the heart, 'The Castle' tells the story of the Kerrigan as they desperately try to save their house from being demolished. While it may not be the most flashiest looking film, 'The Castle' makes up for it in it's amazing story line, character details and humour. Not to mention, home to some of the best catchphrases. Such as: 'This is going straight to the pool room', 'Tell 'em he's dreaming' and 'Can you feel the serenity?'

One of the most down to earth, Australian family you could ever meet. The Kerrigans

CROCODILE DUNDEE

Crocodile Dundee. The Australian movie that truly hit it big in Hollywood. Not to mention set Paul Hogan's stardom into overdrive. I'm not even going to say what the plot is in 'Crocodile Dundee' as I'm sure you have all seen it before. But let's just say, it set off a lot of stereotypes. Anyway, 'Crocodile Dundee' is a ripper of an Aussie film, as it portrays the country life of Australia beautifully at the start, and then turns into an amazing story in the second half. Not to mention, it is also home to a very famous catchphrase that has been used constantly. You know, 'That's not a knife' *pulls out a massive bowie knife* 'Now THAT'S a knife.'

The picture practically says it all. Now that's a knife.

KENNY

Now, 'Kenny' is another Aussie film, that is sometimes left behind. Starring the now famous Shane Jacobson, 'Kenny' follows the life and times of titular character Kenny Smyth, a business owner who specializes in porta-loos. 'Kenny' is a heartfelt, mokumentary comedy film, that truly displays a blue collar, Aussie working spirit. Through thick and thin, Kenny goes through it all. From a porta-loo on fire, to retrieving a lost ring. 'Kenny' shows us what it really means to be a hard working, devoted, Aussie worker.

Casting Shane Jacobson as Kenny is a genius idea. Shane pulls it off amazingly.

AUSTRALIA

The self-titular Australian film, 'Australia' is practically chock full of Aussie goodness. From it's lush, laid out locations. To it's awesome Aussie actors, and even the amazingly gifted Aussie director, Baz Luhrman. 'Australia' is full to the brim with Aussie themes. With Baz Luhrman's directing skills, it can also be classed as an advertising ploy, as he took a leaf from Peter Jackson's book, and added in a number of sprawling, bird's eye view shots that document the beauty of the land. Much like 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. There is one downfall, however that I must point out, and that is the length. I felt it dragged on for way too long, and because of this, it sort of dried up near the end.

Not only is it a film, it's also an advertising ploy. Two birds, one stone.

Well then, there we have it. A small handful of some of Australia's memorable movies. It was rather difficult to select them, as I went off the themes instead of the locations. However, there are some honorable mentions I must make. An honorable mention to the musical romance, 'Moulin Rouge' which was shot in Sydney (believe it or not). To 'Red Dog', a very heartfelt film about a red kelpie (very, VERY heartfelt). The sheep herding pig 'Babe' ('that'll do Pig. That'll do'). And 'Happy Feet', the toe-tapping little penguin. Just another handful Aussie movies that have not only captivated this country. But also, the world.

So, that is the end of the Australia Day themed posts. I hope you have all had a great Australia Day weekend. Stay tuned for more exciting and awesome posts to come. Till then, take care and stay safe.

Davo. Out

Australia Day - Aussie Shows

G'day all,

Happy Australia Day to all Australians. Luckily for us Australians, this year Australia Day happens to fall upon a Sunday. Which means we get Monday off, resulting in a 3 day weekend! To celebrate this awesome occasion, I have decided to post 2 topics on the subject of Australian entertainment. Mainly TV shows and films. These 2 posts will operate in the same way as 'Mega-Countdown Monday' where I will be listing the top TV shows/films. So without further ado, let's begin with the 'Most well-known Aussie Shows'.. 

NEIGHBOURS

Everybody needs good Neighbours. And, man, has this show been around for ages. Since debuting in 1985, 'Neighbours' has continued to become an iconic piece of Australian Television. It is also a great way to kick-start some acting careers, for many famous Australian celebrities came from 'Neighbours'. Most notably Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce. Judging by the fact that it has been around for well over 2 decades, I have a funny feeling that 'Neighbours' will be with us, for a LONG time to come.

Despite the fact that it's been on for over 25 years, and created over 6,000 episodes, I've got to give them credit for their writing skills.

SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH

Ah, 'Summer Heights High'. One of my all time favourite Aussie shows. Taking on a view of public schooling, show creator and main star, Chris Lilley, delivers with absolute hilarity. Playing the role of not 1, not 2, but 3 different characters, Chris portrays each character amazingly. From the over-eccentric and narcissistic drama teacher, Mr. G. To the bratty and bitchy private schoolgirl, Jamie. And even the cocky, arrogant year 8 student Jonah. Chris' ability to play each character differently, and not stuff up is terrific. Taking on the form of a mokumentary, into the life and time of public schooling, 'Summer Heights High' is an absolute cracker to watch. And with it being broadcast worldwide, it certainly has made a name for itself in the Australian TV industry. 

There is one question that is constantly plaguing me. What is Chris Lilley's natural hair colour?

KATH & KIM

'Kath & Kim'. Another iconic Aussie TV show. Home to a very catchy, catchphrase. 'Look at moi'. 'Kath & Kim' is an inside look into the day to day life of a mother and daughter living in a suburb of Melbourne. Basing it all on a mokumentary, 'Kath and Kim' showcases a number of hilarious situations where the titular characters find themselves in. Situations such as: a wedding day gone wrong, pregnancy blues, relationship disagreements (a lot of them). In dealing with these situations, the solutions are often witty, outrageous, and downright hilarious. It has certainly become a true blue Aussie comedy show that pokes fun at the Aussie way of life.

No matter how many times you watch these two 'foxy morons', it will never get old.

UNDERBELLY

Underbelly is a real crime show that definitely sets the stage for future crime shows. Taking on the form of a documentary as well as a drama, 'Underbelly' documents the criminal activities that have been occurring within Australia over the past century.  'Underbelly' certainly does ramp it up when it comes to the crime genre, taking on the role of a third person narrator, and yet still maintaining letting the actors play their role as well. Like 'Neighbours', I have a funny feeling that there is going to be a lot more 'Underbelly' shows to come.

A great crime series. I'm still surprised with the number of episodes it has. Is it really safe in Australia, or not?

THE VARIOUS AMOUNT OF GAME SHOWS/REALITY SHOWS

An amazing music themed game show. Will miss you guys.

Here in Australia, we certainly have a LOT of game shows and reality shows. Some are original ideas ('Thank God You're Here', 'Talkin' about your Generation', 'Spicks and Specks'). Whilst some are various adaptations from overseas ('The X Factor', 'Big Brother', 'Masterchef'). I'm not a huge fan of reality TV shows, but I don't mind Game Shows. Specifically, 'Thank God You're Here', which took a number of Aussie celebrities and threw them into improvisational situations. The results, were hilarious. A very unique and amusing idea. Wish it was still on TV today though. Anyway, while we don't tend to pride ourselves on these types of shows, they are certainly starting to appear in abundance. Which I feel, is starting to appear more and more, daunting.

One of my all-time favourite game shows. Please, please come back.

SPORTS PROGRAMS

Sports. Us Aussies pride ourselves when it comes to the love of sports. Whether it be the Melbourne Cup (the race that stops a nation). The NRL or NFL (frankly, I can't tell the difference between the two). The Australian Tennis Open (which is almost over). Or the good old Australia Football League. We pride ourselves when it comes  to Sports. With it practically running all year long on our Television, it can be impossible to get away from it. Even when there is no match on, we still pride ourselves on the love of it, by broadcasting talk shows about the upcoming matches, and predicting who will win.

A sporting competition that I would rather watch.
At home

An annual battle for the prestigious Ashes Urn.  

Well, there we have it. A list of some of the most well-known Aussie shows. What do you reckon? Do you agree with the list? Or do you think I left something out? Then feel free to leave a comment below.

But that is all I have time for today. Now I am off to enjoy the rest of Australia Day. How are you going to enjoy Australia Day? Watch the tennis or the cricket? Go relax on the beach or in the water? Or just sit around, with a cold beer in your hand, whilst listening to Triple j's Hottest 100? Me? I have no idea what I might do. Probably have a cold beer and listen to Triple J. Anyhow, stay tuned for more exciting and awesome posts in the near future. Till next time, have a great day and take care.

Davo. Out.

Pixar movies - What makes them so memorable?

Hey all,

Well, it's another scorcher of a day, down here in Australia. And I hope that you have all been staying alert when outside. Remember to wear sunscreen and hat, because the last thing you need is sunburn. Take it from me, you do NOT want to be sunburnt. Also, make sure to stay well hydrated on days like these. Dehydration can really creep up on ya. But enough about sun safety, and onto the topic of the day. Pixar movies. I will be talking about, what is it about them, that makes them so memorable.

The Pixar logo and a handful of different characters

Pixar movies. Everyone has a favourite Pixar film. Whether it be 'Toy Story', 'The Incredibles', Monster's Inc.' or even 'Finding Nemo'. Everyone has a favourite Pixar film. Some may deny that they don't, for they may say that Pixar movies are for little kids. But you know what, don't believe what those people say. For deep down, there is that one movie that sticks with them for many years. So what is it that makes them so memorable? The answer is deep inside of us is a little kid. We all have that younger version of us, pushed back into the depths of mind. Some choose to let it out every now and then, whilst some choose to ignore it. Either way, we are all young at heart. And I believe that it is because of this factor that makes Pixar movies so memorable.

Pixar's very first feature film. Coincidentally, this is also the first Pixar film I ever saw

There are a number of Pixar movies out there. And each one is more magical, more beautiful, and more unique from the rest. What I love about Pixar films is the stories. They are each different, and more to the point, unbelievable. For example, 'Monster's Inc.' is about a bunch of monsters who appear out of children's closets at night to scare them and harvest their screams for electricity usage in their world. I love how Pixar came up with this idea. They took a simple scenario that we have all experienced when we were kids ('Monsters' in the closets or underneath the bed) and have somehow managed to expand upon that scenario by introducing an alternate world within these closets, why the monsters are scaring these little kids, and what would happen if a child stumbled upon this alternate world. This idea is pure, genius. Another prime example is the film 'Ratatouille', which is about a little rat in France who aspires to cook. A rat that can cook.      Need I say anymore. Would never have thought of that, huh.

Another great film. Love the graphic details and the voice acting, specifically Dory and her whale talk. Cracks me up everytime.

Each Pixar film is cute, funny, and amazingly detailed in both graphics and story line. It is with these factors that make us enjoy Pixar films, as deep down, we enjoy them. We like to watch them, as it makes us forget about the hardships of life for a while. It sends us back to our childhood. We all love Pixar films. Some just choose to say they don't so that they don't appear childish and appear more mature. But through Pixar's amazing ability to tamper with the little kid inside of all of us, we will never grow too old of Pixar films. Don't you forget it.

Well, I hope you all enjoyed my little talk about Pixar films. What do you reckon? Do you believe that Pixar plays an important role in keeping us young at heart? What's your favourite Pixar film? Mine are already mentioned in the post. If you have anything to contribute to this post, please feel free to leave a comment below in the comment section. Stay tuned for more exciting posts to come in the near future, including another addition to 'Mega-Countdown Monday' and 'Rewind Wednesday'. Till then, have a safe and happy day. Be careful out in the sun Australians, and I'll see you all next time.

Davo. Out. 

Mega-Countdown Monday! - Worst Video Game Films

Hey all,

Welcome to a new addition to my blog, which I like to call, Mega-Countdown Monday! I know how dreary Mondays can be, so I'm going to try and spice it up a notch, by posting up a new countdown every week. These countdowns can range from greatest sporting games, to worst horror films. The list is endless. So let's get this thing running. And what better way to start it off than with a video game, film crossover. Let's countdown the worst video game to film adaptations. Films that had potential. If they followed the same structure from the video games, of course.

5

LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER

While Jolie does have the sex appeal of Lara Croft, it just doesn't make up for the shocking movie.

It's sad for me to put this up here. As a fan of the games, I must say that it was rather disappointing. Sure, Angelina Jolie seemed to look like Lara Croft. But the real question was, can she BE Lara Croft. Short answer: no. As the way of the movie, it was a total lackluster. Not enough action, within the action sequences (ironic, huh?). The plot was confusing and downright unbelievable. Fair to say, the idea for this film had so much potential. If only they took a step back, and had a real, hard look at what direction they were heading in, then MAYBE it could've been saved.

4

RESIDENT EVIL

It's got guns, sex appeal and zombies. How could they possibly stuff it up?!

Another game that had potential. Potential to succeed. Although 'Resident Evil' may be thought of as a fairly easy genre (cliched zombies mixed with horror genre), you would think that it would be good, right? Uh uh. Somehow, it just didn't work. With another confusing plot, and hard to believe acting/story line, 'Resident Evil' just didn't live up to expectations. But of course, that didn't stop them from making more sequels, each worse than the last. What is up with that?

3

DOOM

It just didn't live up to expectations. So much potential, so little patience

I am very disappointed with this game. More along the lines of it's plot direction. Apart from being on the planet Mars, and the short little first person sequence near the end, there is no homage to the game, whatsoever. The story line is shocking, and the acting is none too better either. What could've made this game ever better is if they upped the ante by introducing more action scenes, more monster killings, if it wasn't so dark (lighting wise), and if they changed the plot, and stuck with the game's story line (the monster's were from hell, not a virus outbreak). 

2

STREET FIGHTER

I, just. Don't. Ok. Just, don't do a sequel. Or a remake. Or air it on TV. Just, don't.

Ok, this one is, ridiculous. First of all, when I think of 'Street Fighter', I don't think of it as having a story associated with it. I just think of, insert coins, select your character, FIGHT. How they came up with a story for this is unbelievable. And, just like the rest of the movies on this list, it is terrible. On top of the unbelievable story line is the horrible acting. No amount of Aussie actress, Kylie Minogue, starring as Cammy could save this shock piece.

1

SUPER MARIO BROS.

Why?! Why did you have to do this?! Quickly, avert your eyes.

Words cannot explain the sheer disappointment with this film. As a true Mario fan, I can say, without a doubt that this is, terrible. I cringe everytime it's mentioned. Needless to say, it is shocking, what with the horrible story (the Mario Bros., situated in, Brooklyn?) and the awkward scenarios. Although, it did rather well for best costumes, and the flashy sets, it's just, confusing. Why didn't they just stick with the game's story line, and have it located in the Mushroom Kingdom. And for god's sake, pay a homage to the game by making Bowser, well, Bowser.

Well there we have it. The first Mega-Countdown Monday over and done with. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Do you agree with this list? Is there a film that should be up there? Or is there one that shouldn't? Feel free to voice your opinion by leaving a comment below. Till then, stay tuned for more awesome and exciting posts. In the meantime, have a great day and take care.

Davo. Out.