Features from Nov/Dec 2018

from ONSCREEN Magazine November/December 2018

IT'S A TOWN-EAT-TOWN-WORLD

After the “Sixty Minute War” plunged Earth into chaos, humans were forced into a new way of life, developing technology to enable cities to move across the globe in search of smaller town prey to consume. Cue Municipal Darwinism, survival of the strongest and fastest cities, the chilling backdrop of the 2001 novel Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve. A film adaptation has long been in the pipeline with Peter Jackson - not one to shirk an epic fantasy - as producer.

The story follows lowly London apprentice Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan) and the mysterious scar-faced Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), who are thrown together by fate when expelled from the speeding city of London by explorer “hero” Thaddeus Valentine (Hugo Weaving). Cast into the wilderness, they’re hell-bent on revenge but the stakes are high when they find cyborg bounty hunter Shrike (Stephen Lang) on their trail. They must avoid Shrike and find a way to disrupt London’s power-hungry plan to use a secret weapon that threatens untold destruction.

In a world where the heroes and even the cities are far from immortal, it’s all about survival - and what Tom and Hester must do to achieve it.

WORDS JIM ROBERTS

NO ORDINARY BUG

A teenage girl finds a damaged yellow Volkswagen Beetle but soon discovers her new car is actually Bumblebee, a robot in disguise, broken in a battle that is only just beginning.

It’s been eleven years since Transformers first smashed onto cinema screens. Since then, our world has been the chosen battleground for five cinematic standoffs between the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons. Now the focus falls on fan favourite Bumblebee in this new eighties-set endeavour.

Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), a girl on the edge of eighteen, is struggling to find purpose after a loss. In search of the sense of freedom most teens long for, she finds a car in a scrap yard and starts fixing it up but gets much more than she bargained for in the process. Conflict quickly arrives in the form of John Cena’s Agent Burns, a villainous anti-Autobot military man, as well as the growing danger from the vicious Decepticons who threaten Bumblebee’s very existence on our planet.

Following his successful animation Kubo And The Two Strings, Travis Knight steps up to direct and carves a new route as the global scale mayhem is traded in for an intimate and smaller exploration of the bond between man and machine. Still, with Autobots and Decepticons back trading blows, you better buckle up for a bumpy, thrilling, and emotional ride.

WORDS HARRY FAINT

**Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald**

'WARTS AND ALL

Wands at the ready! The second entry in J.K. Rowling’s Potterverse prequel series Fantastic Beasts is here to explore Gellert Grindelwald's importance in the Wizarding World.

Fantastic Beasts film immediately taken into the hearts of fans in 2016, magical sights are once again set to skyrocket as we’re treated to more Potter magic in this new outing for timid troublemaker Newt Scamander.

Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne returns for the role, alongside fan favourites as well as exciting new additions who find themselves taking sides of a battle started by Gellert Grindelwald - the powerful dark wizard dramatically unveiled Grindelwald might be a new name to those solely familiar with the films, but those with an intimate knowledge of all things Harry Potter will know too well what he’s capable of. Played by Johnny Depp, history tells of a famous battle between this dark wizard and Dumbledore, one gravely significant because of his incredible rise to power. Here we’ll get to witness this rise, as he slowly gathers followers in service of He Who Shall Not Be Named.

A magical new chapter based on an original screenplay written by J.K. Rowling herself, The Crimes Of Grindelwald will feature more fantastic beasts, more feats of wonder, and more mysteries to uncover.

WORDS AARON POTTER

YOU’RE A DESPICABLE ONE, MR GRINCH

Nothing says Christmas like a six-foot green curmudgeon who dislikes people, hates festive cheer, and plans to steal Christmas.

In 1957 when How The Grinch Stole Christmas was first published, no one could have known that sixty years later, the eponymous misanthrope would become a festive mascot.

Brought to the big screen twice before (a 1966 cartoon TV special, and the 2000 live-action movie starring Jim Carrey), this animated iteration is produced by Illumination Entertainment. Best known as the studio behind the Despicable Me and Minions franchises, the same zany, cross-generational humour is set for the Dr Seuss treatment - with a fresh take on the classic tale (and none of the facial creepiness from Carrey’s outing).

Living a solitary life on Mt Crumpet with his loyal dog, Max, the Grinch avoids human contact whenever possible. But each year, his quiet life is disrupted by the Christmas celebrations in the nearby town of Whoville. When he learns of their plans to make the festivities three times bigger this year, The Grinch realises he has only one choice - he must steal Christmas!

Benedict Cumberbatch lends his dulcet tones to the green grumpster, alongside Angela Lansbury, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams, Keenan (of Keenan and Kel) Thompson, and all-new jingles from Tyler, the Creator.

WORDS CHRIS WASEY

LOG-IN TO THE DISNEYVERSE

Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 dials up the action as our heroes venture out into the World Wide Web. Put up your Firewalls people; this could get messy.

It’s high time for an upgrade as Litwak’s Arcade finally goes online. The trouble is, there’s a whole lot of internet out there and if there’s any breaking - nay, wrecking - to be done, it will be at the hands of Wreck-It Ralph.

When the Sugar Rush racing game looks like it’s set for the scrap heap, it’s up to Ralph and Vanellope to avoid pop-ups, clickbait, and an overenthusiastic search box whilst they literally trawl eBay to source a new steering wheel for the console.

With Disney Princesses who have no need for a Prince Charming and Star Wars Stormtroopers in hot pursuit, our heroes get themselves into some fierce free-to-play gaming. But when Vanellope starts looking up to Slaughter House’s daredevil driver Shank, Ralph fears he may lose something more important than the game.

The returning voices of stars John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, and Jane Lynch are joined by Justice League’s Gal Gadot and Frozen’s Kristen Bell, so the chances are you’ll bump into someone you know.

With its concoction of awe-inspiring animated antics and shank-sharp satire, this is guaranteed fun for internetaddicts, technophobes, and everyone in-between.

WORDS ROBB SHEPPARD

OFF WE GO

This Christmas, Mary Poppins makes a welcome return to the silver screen and journeys back to London to help two adults rediscover the joys of their childhood.

After a half-century hiatus, Mary Poppins has returned to cinema screens for a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious sequel and to once again spread magic and joy wherever she touches down.

Taking place twenty years after the original story and starring Emily Blunt in the titular role, Poppins’ mysterious arrival coincides with a moment of great personal loss.

The story takes us back to Cherry Tree Lane to once again visit Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer). The pair are now all grown up and Michael has three children of his own, but after a personal tragedy, they face the threat of losing their home. Poppins’ surprise entrance sparks an unmissable adventure that traverses the most wondrous of worlds to help the Banks family overcome the trials and tribulations of reality.

Rob Marshall, recognised for helming 2002’s Academy Award-winning Chicago, is renowned for crafting captivating choreography - a factor that will undoubtedly come into play in this contemporary take on the classic character.

Disney's Mary Poppins Returns promises to be a moving tale filled with charming characters and a deeply immersive onscreen experience that breathes magical life into Depression-era London. Everything is possible, even the impossible.

WORDS BRODY ROSSITER