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Once Upon a Studio (2023)
100 Years of Disney Magic
Regardless of your thoughts about the studio today, you cannot deny there's an undeniable magic about Disney.
Celebrating 100 years of Disney magic with cameos from many beloved characters from movies we all know and love, as well as a special cameo from Burny Mattinson, long time Disney animator who passed away in February 2023.
There is a lot to enjoy with this 13-minute short film. From the moment Tinkerbell gives the all clear, the cameos bring a smile to your face. Seeing Donald Duck hold the elevator for Flash the Sloth from Zootopia left us in a fit of hysteria.
There are some tear jerking moments, like when Mickey takes a moment to talk to a portrait of Walt before the big group photo.
A beautiful tribute to a studio that holds many memories for many people the world over. Walt would be proud.
Happy 100 Years of Disney Magic.
Escaping Halloween: QUIZarenaLIVE Special Event (2022)
Escaping Halloween with QUIZarenaLIVE
As the spooky season came to an end, QUIZarenaLIVE delivered a new spooktacular event. Teaming up again with Virtual Escaping, they streamed their attempt to solve the virtual escape room, Artifact Isle.
QUIZarenaLIVE host Richard Lovegrove was joined by the QUIZarenaQUEEN, Rhiannon Elizabeth Irons, as well as QUIZarenaLIVE past guests, Cameron Dunn and Jason Spindlow for the special event. Hilarity always ensues during these specials as the atmosphere is very carefree and relaxed. At one point, Cameron declared himself leader and stated his way of survival was to make a raft of the bodies of Richard, Rhiannon, and Jason to ensure he got off the island. Rhiannon's clapback was "So, we're eating Cameron first?"
Though the escape room is the focus of the special, it really wouldn't be QUIZarenaLIVE without a quiz. Scouring through the entire back catalogue of the show, Rhiannon created the Ultimate QUIZarenaLIVE quiz, featuring memorable moments.
An enjoyable special event that will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter, Escaping Halloween (2022) proves the spooky season doesn't have to be all doom and gloom.
Invasion of the Not Quite Dead (2022)
A Bloody Good Ride
When I first stumbled upon this independent film, I couldn't wait to get involved. I've been a long-time supporter of indie films and filmmakers, especially when it comes to the horror genre. Invasion spoke to me, promising me a rich story within my preferred genre.
The original film has changed dramatically over the course of 15 years in production, but what has been delivered was truly worth the wait. A slow-burn feature that focuses hard on story and character development while giving horror-loving audiences gore and gruesome demises.
The cast and crew are troopers, having filmed this feature over four years. The cinematography and visual effects are exceptional while the music helps build the tense atmosphere.
Overall, Invasion of the Not Quite Dead has been a long time coming, but it was well worth it. A compelling story-driven bloody good ride. Congratulations to all involved.
Submerged (2011)
Forgettable Aussie Horror
Let's get straight to it; Submerged is a bit of a mess. A storyline that bounces all over the place, visual effects that are less than stellar, and questionable acting from the leads.
But there are some good things about this independent feature too. The locations are beautiful, visually stunning. The supporting cast give it their all. And the ability to differentiate a flashback to modern times was easy enough that anyone who was only half watching could still follow the basic plot.
Let's look at the negatives first, starting with the story. The screenplay could have benefited from another going over, preferably by someone with fresh eyes. There are certain scenes that make no sense to the plot and feel like fodder to make the runtime longer. The ending, echoing a lot of other reviews on here, was very lackluster and unsatisfactory. It really did seem like sequel baiting, but no sequel has been made. For it to be a stand alone film, an additional 5-10 minutes needed to be added to explain what exactly was going and to give the audience closure.
The visual effects are basic, but seeing as this is an independent feature, I won't be too hard on it. Just be warned, it hasn't aged well.
The acting from our leading sisters as well as one of the main antagonists was less than desirable. I'm sure all were doing their best with what they were given, but at times the choices made for certain scenes left me perplexed. It may have been a purposefully chosen style, but it is very hit and miss.
Thankfully, some of the supporting cast were able to boost the film. The flashback scenes in which we see a younger version of the main antagonist, Danny Miller, were especially haunting. While no dialogue was uttered, the physicality of the character, and the intense fierceness coming through his eyes were enough to warrant a second look to ensure the locks of my house were indeed locked.
Jake was another character that left a lasting impact. As the story progressed, it was evident we weren't supposed to like him, but he was able to worm his way into our hearts. Possibly done for a "shock" factor reveal, but it was more of a "why" reveal. Again, that comes down to the convoluted plot.
Other characters that were solid were the two victims in the flashback sequences, Danny's mother (another flashback), and Kat's employer.
One thing that still urks me about this film is how during the flashbacks, Danny Miller never speaks. He is a silent killer. But when we cut back to modern times, he's quite the chatterbox. Some consistency with the character would have been nice. It also bugged me that the older version of Danny seemed more of a follower than a plausible threat. The younger version was terrifying by comparison to his older version. In saying that, age may have been a factor. But from where I sat, it felt like I was watching two different characters, not two actors being the same character. Again, consistency was required.
Overall, Submerged had the ability to be something intriguing. The storyline isn't bad - two sisters move to a quiet town where one of them begins having visions of the town's haunting past. It's just poorly executed. But for an independent feature, some of the negatives can be overlooked and put down to inexperience.
Not a great film, but there are some good moments though overall it is quite forgettable.
Under the Covers (2022)
Slide into Bed with QUIZarenaLIVE
Slide into bed with QUIZarenaLIVE host, Richard Lovegrove, and erotic author, Rhiannon Elizabeth Irons, each Thursday night and enjoy a raunchy romp with their in-depth reviews of parody films.
Surrounded by mood lighting, Richard and Rhiannon welcome their audience with an intro that sets the scene for what's to come. Once you're Under The Covers, the discussion turns to insightful, thought-provoking ideals of what constitutes a good parody film. This includes diving into the technical aspects of filmmaking as well as analyzing acting.
Richard and Rhiannon bring a unique sense of charm, humour, and desire to the show, making it appealing to watch.
Film rankings are out of 10 while the 'adult' aspects are ranked on the splash factor scale and are out of 5. The highlight of each night to see what they're going to rate a film.
An entertaining series that leaves little to the imagination. Well worth the monthly price tag.
QUIZarenaLIVE: NYE Special 2021 A Year in Hindsight (2021)
Raise Your Glasses with QUIZarenaLIVE
Raise your glasses and toast to the new year with Richard Lovegrove and Rhiannon Elizabeth Irons of QUIZarenaLIVE.
Ringing in 2022 in style, Richard and Rhiannon kept things casual and light, promising no trivia. It was good to see them outside of the QUIZarena, discussing their hobbies. No wonder they work so well together when their interests seemed to align.
While this particular show is featured as a special event, it felt more like a night with friends. The relaxed atmosphere paved the way for natural conversations which included an array of topics from their mutual love of musicals, acting, Disney, theme parks, Scooby-Doo, and their past two escape room special events. Richard even dived into the history of Sydney as he streamed the firework display over the Sydney Harbour.
It was a great start to 2022. Here's hoping more specials like this are on the horizon.
Xmastravaganza: QUIZarenaLIVE Special Event (2021)
Christmas Joy: Expedition North Pole
After the success of Escaping Halloween, QUIZarenaLIVE returned to celebrate Christmas 2021 with another online escape room.
Just like with the Halloween special, host Richard Lovegrove called upon past guests of the show to join in the fun and frivolity. Also returning from Escaping Halloween was Rhiannon Elizabeth Irons.
They were joined by makeup effects guru Cameron Dunn and actor/writer Michael "Woody's Here" Woodbridge as they packed their bags and headed to the North Pole to track down a missing scientist.
The show followed the same formula of the Halloween special, with the escape room the main focus. It also included a quiz with the trivia being from all past episodes. This had hilarious results.
Xmastravaganza proved to be a success. The team worked well together, bouncing off each other with ideas. Once the escape room had finished, they really let their hair down, showing the fun side of QUIZarenaLIVE audiences had come to know and love.
So, when it gets cold outside, and you've got chestnuts roasting on an open fire, sit down with your loved ones and join in the Xmastravaganza: QUIZarenaLIVE Special Event and see how you fair against the icy conditions of the Expedition North Pole.
QUIZarenaLIVE: The Mortuary Assistant Special Event (2022)
Terror Abound with The Mortuary Assistant
Something sinister is lurking within the mortuary and it really doesn't want you hanging around...
QUIZarenaLIVE host, Richard Lovegrove, joins Rhiannon Elizabeth Irons and Michael Smart, a.k.a Lux Voco, for a playthrough of a chilling demo called The Mortuary Assistant.
Richard and Rhiannon had done a preview of the game earlier, pre-recording their first attempt.
For this playthrough, they streamed it live, which proved to be entertaining. Jump scares aplenty meant hilarious results when they weren't expecting it.
Showcasing two additional horror-inspired games after The Mortuary Assistant demo was complete, this special event opens up the QUIZarena crew to a new audience.
An entertaining viewing experience loaded with the hilarity and hijinks we've come to expect from QUIZarenaLIVE. Highly recommend the watch.
Escaping Halloween: QUIZarenaLIVE Special Event (2021)
Solving the Underground Murder
What happens when you ask five members of the Australian entertainment industry to solve a murder? You get hilarious results.
QUIZarenaLIVE host Richard Lovegrove leads Piotr Wasilewski, Steve Maresca, Robert Woods, and Rhiannon Elizabeth Irons down into the subway to solve the crime, which is in the form of an online escape room.
Code cracking skills were on full display, though slightly hindered by overthinking. Highly entertaining.
With all the fun of a regular night QUIZarenaLIVE without the trivia, Escaping Halloween is the perfect special event for the spooky season.
QUIZarenaLIVE (2021)
Hilarity and Hijinks
A variety live-streamed show filled with fun games, guests from all over the Australian entertainment industry, and movie trivia.
The show centers around host, Richard Lovegrove, who welcomes those watching at home to join in the fun and frivolity by helping out the nights guests in 4 rounds of games, ranging from musical spectacles to mashed-up movie posters.
Each round, the wheel of four tunes (getit?) is spun, revealing a game to played. Guests are awarded points for correct answers, while points are deducted for incorrect answers.
Movie trivia is the forefront of the final tournament, which is 10 multiple choice questions. Ranging through various movie genres and including music and literature, the final tournament is designed for those playing along at home to participate in the interactive game, crowning a winner at the end of the night.
The dynamic between the guests is what gives this show a 10/10 rating. The compatibility of personalities is magic. The fact that we, the audience, also get to learn a few things about upcoming projects the guests are working on, or learning some facts about the arts is an added bonus.
Very entertaining show. Cannot wait to see what happens for them this year.
Rebound (2014)
No Rhyme Nor Reason
This independent feature has no rhyme nor reason for its 3rd act.
A woman is distraught after catching her boyfriend in bed with another woman that she packs up her life in LA and decides to return to Chicago. Along the way, her car breaks down.
The mechanic advises it will be $600 to repair but she can't afford that. She is quite suggestive towards him, despite later denying she was flirting, and he agrees to lower the price to half.
A bit later that night she's at the bar when the mechanic approaches and tries to engage her. When she rebuffs his advances, she's drugged, waking up in his workshop.
From there, it slides into the torture side of horror as he burns her, forces her to stab herself, dips her fingers in acid, cuts her hair.
His motive? To stop her being a doormat and allowing her to start over as someone stronger.
Poor screenplay, sub-par acting by the leading female - crying is a necessity for horror leading ladies - and a forced, over-the-top performance by the psychotic male lead. However, good practical and makeup effects for a low-budget indie film, decent cinematography, and solid work by the sound and music departments.
This is a watch once kind of film. Forgettable.
It (2017)
The IT Factor
I had the pleasure of seeing an advanced screening of IT in Brisbane. The film is absolutely brilliant. Bill Skarsgård has taken Pennywise and made the role his own. Creepy, disturbing, humorous, IT really possess the creep factor, giving audiences a new reason to fear clowns.
The entire casting choices were sensational. All actors really held their own, creating a sense of comradery between the characters.
Like most people, I do hold the miniseries with Tim Curry close to my heart, but after seeing this adaptation, I was beyond pleasantly surprised. So much so that upon IT being released into cinemas, I'll be back in line to see it again.