1st Video Blog!

Hi guys, thanks so much for all your support in our comments section. Due to popular demand, we have now filmed our very first vlog!

Please watch and let us know what you think:

Our member contributions:
Ayush Agrawal: Major appearance in filming, assistance with editing
Brian Park: Appearances in the filming, assistance with writing of script
Jack Miller: Created ending credits, directed shooting of the film, minor appearance in filming
Rafael Paterno: Major assistance in editing and appearance in filming
Rohan Bhojwani: Appearing in video and assistance with filming

American Gangster - 2007

American Gangster - 2007 

Directed by Ridley Scott the crime film American Gangster (based on a true story the movie) 

It takes audience back to the 1968’s Harlem drug trade and the corruption. 

The film features the main character Frank Lucas’s (Denzel Washington) course of becoming one of the Harlem’s biggest mobster from nobody. This movie interests the audience by Frank’s rules on operating his own drug trade empire against Italian mafia by cutting the middlemen in the drug trade and sourcing straight from South East Asia. 

The movie though is entertaining but, again portraits that nobody is above the law. Even though biggest mobster Frank Lucas pay for the consequences for impacting many lives. 

Brian Park 

Reference list 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gangster_(film)

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/american_gangster/

Senna

A documentary on the life of one of the best formula 1 drivers of all times could be something not so interesting to watch, but Senna might prove you wrong.

As his exciting career with lots of overtaking and fights in and out of the tracks will keep your eyes right open throughout the film.

The movie shows Ayrton Senna's personal life and achievements as a racing driver, from four years old when he started on a go kart to his death in Imola in 1994. A very good part of the documentary is about his rivalry with his teammate Allan Prost, a ruthless driver who would go for any gaps in order to win a race, but who off the track would be loved by all his fellow drivers and the supporters. 

Senna is an excellent documentary presenting a beautifully researched work of the life of this magnificent iconic formula one driver and the movie was nominated for a number of international prizes. 

The Good Fellas, recommend this movie. 

-Rafael Paterno

References:

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1424432/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8553429/Senna-film-review-fascinating.html

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/senna/

Kingsmans: The golden circle

"Manners Maketh Man".

King man: The golden circle has hit the cinema with another new global scale mission to save the World! 

English film director Matthew Vaughn and starring Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Taron Egerton, Channing Tatum and Jeff Bridges the team of actors has created an exciting piece.

The movie begins with the encountering Kingsman's past trainee Charlie Hesketh. In the process, the secret organisation Kingsman becomes fully exposed and brought down by criminal organisation the golden circle. Only surviving agent Eggsy(Taron Egerton) and Merlin (Mark Strong) activates doomsday protocol which discovers that there is another organisation in America called Statesman. Also, discovers news on Harry Galahad (Colin Firth)

With the support from Statesman Eggsy and Harry discovers the group Golden Circle is operated by Poppy Adams (Julianne Moore) with the World’s largest drug cartel and her master plans to potentially wipe out all the people through her drug around the Globe... 

The movie The Kingman: Golden Circle explores values of human life, the good and bad villain with plenty of kicking ass! 

This movie is in Australia and it's rated MA15+ 

Brian Park

Reference List:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsman:_The_Golden_Circle

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/kingsman-the-golden-circle#

The Big Short

Adam McKay directs the extremely interesting 2015 picture “The Big Short”. The film tells three separate but parallel stories of the U.S mortgage housing crisis that is said to have played a large part in the demise of the U.S economy eventuating in the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Christian Bale plays Michael Burry, an eccentric ex-physician turned one eyed hedge fund manager. 

Burry believes the US housing market is built upon a bubble that will burst in the near future, and therefore decides to short the market with the banks, something that has never happened in American history. The banks are more than happy to take this deal on, as they believe Burry is foolish. Word gets around of these findings and eventually Jared Vennet (Ryan Gosling), aswell as Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley, 2 small time investors working out of their garage, also decide they will short the market. The sadness in it all is that for these investors to win, the whole economy must fail. 

This true story of a handful of investors shows that people did see the MBS system are structurally flawed and they invested accordingly, profiting big time via a period of economic downturn that is unlikely to be surpassed. 

- Jack Miller 

References:

1. http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1596363/

The Avengers

Another review for all our aspiring superheroes out there! Today we’re going to take a look at the highest grossing Marvel release of all time, Joss Whedon’s 2012 blockbuster “The Avengers”. Hyped up by a slew of superhero movies leading to its build-up, The Avengers delivers as a fun, action-packed and awestriking cinematic experience that delivers the same Marvel quality audiences have grown to expect and love. 

The Avengers brings together an ensemble of Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner. The story begins as Loki, the god of mischief (played by the ever-charismatic Tom Hiddleston) brings together an alien army that threatens all of humanity. Our colourful and diverse superheroes are forced to unite together to face this global threat, and avenge humanity before it is lost for good.

The Good Fellas believe The Avengers has gone down as a superhero classic, and is a must-watch for all audiences, whether a superhero fan or not. The presentation and delivery of the characters is balanced perfectly, and each character gets their time to shine on the big screen, while adding to the story as a whole. The Avengers gets the Good Guys Tick!

- Ayush

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Avengers_(2012_film)

2. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=marvelcomics.htm

3. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848228/

Lion King

Hakuna Matata is a phrase almost every kid used to know. This is a Swahili phrase from Kenya translated “no worries”. 

The phrase certainly sends the message to every individual on struggles and hardship in live journey that everything will be ok. 

Famous Walt Disney’s animation film Lion King focuses on the adventure of Simba’s dynamic journey. The story features the next successor the prince of the wild Simba outcasts by evil uncle Scar’s wicked plans. During the time of his exile Simba discovers his identity and becomes a wise adult. 

Will Simba return to the kingdom once his father Mufasa used to rule and will he be brave to fight for the justice and regain his position? 

The animation version of movie Hamlet but with happy endings. The Movie Lion King certainly has caught audience’s attention.

- Brian Park

References:

1. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/ 

2. https://letterpile.com/books/Similarities-Between-The-Lion-King-and-Hamlet

The Hitman's Bodyguard

Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson are back with an action packed movie but it is not the action that makes this movie worth watching. It is the foul mouthed chemistry between these two, which really adds spice to the movie. Ryan is playing the role of an AAA rated security provider called Michael Bryce. Samuel is playing, Darius Kincaid a hitman. 

Michael and Kincaid are both bitter rivals. Where Michael tries to save his clients no matter how corrupt they are. On the other hand, Kincaid has a very successful career in eliminating former's clients. For Michael to get his AAA rated security license and status back he has to protect Kincaid ( the very same person who has attempted to kill him about 28 times) from the Belarusian mercenaries and safely take him to the court.

- Rohan

Legend

The 2015 film “Legend” is another true story of London’s most notorious gangsters, The Kray Brothers. Reggie and Ronnie are identical twins who rose through the criminal underground with serious violence and intimidation.

Ronnie starts the film locked up in a psychiatric hospital for insanity and paranoid schizophrenia, and an outburst of this inner-psycho comes out whilst flogging several rival gangsters inside a café. Reggie spends majority of the film in a relationship with a local girl Frances Shea, who he eventually marries. Frances tries to encourage Reggie to end his gangster ways, however Ronnie’s unpredictable tendencies make this an incredibly difficult task, often getting the brothers in strife. The film ends with Frances leaving Reggie, and committing suicide as the lifestyle with Reggie clearly became too much for her. The brother’s criminal activities continue and the final scene shows police breaking down Reggie’s door to apprehend him. 

Overall, it is a great film and thoroughly enjoyable. Tom Hardy does an excellent job playing Ron Kray I would recommend to anyone who wants to watch a good British crime action film. 

- Jack Miller

References:

1. http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3569230/

2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_(2015_film)

The Fighter

Based on a true story and winner of two Academy Awards The Fighter tells the story of Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) an American welterweight boxer, who is being managed by his mother Alice Ward (Oscar winner Melissa Leo) and trained by his older brother Dicky Eklund (Oscar winner Christian Bale). Micky is a talented boxer who believes his brother Dicky is working on getting him a good chance at the world championship. However at the same time Dicky is getting paid to film a documentary on drugs for HBO and he thinks it is a movie about his return. 

Dicky is a former boxer who gained popularity after taking Sugar Ray Leonard to the 10th round. 

The Fighter is an outstanding movie of its kind made in 2010 but with a dated sort of picture to emphasize middle 80’s and early 90’s, performance of Christian Bale makes you doubt who is the main character, as his putting on a massive thug accent, faces and he even lost thirty pounds to incorporate the most realistic character. Certainly if you are not convinced of Christian Bale’s acting skills this is a movie to change your mind. 

In general the movie has got strong adult scenes with drug use, sex and domestic violence. It is a realistic movie that has you wanting to know more about the characters and the storyline you feel like you know the people by the end and feel for their situation.

- Rafael Paterno

References:

1. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/trivia?ref_=tt_ql_2

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fighter 

3. http://www.abc.net.au/local/reviews/2011/01/21/3118312.htm

Guardians of the Galaxy

Boasting the place of third highest grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy brings together an unlikely ensemble of characters and cast to popularise the story of the Guardians, a team of protectors of the universe. The story begins in 1988, after a young Peter Quill is abducted by aliens after his mother’s death. He is exposed to a galactic upbringing where he becomes the bandit for hire Star-Lord. After stealing an orb that Star-Lord was meant to take to his criminal organisation, he becomes the subject of a galactic-wide manhunt. Join Star-Lord as he navigated the dangers of the whole universe while making some new friends along the way!

Catering to kids and adults alike, The Good Fellas recommend this movie for all audiences. It provides a perfect balance of comedy, action and drama, while a talented and experienced cast fit into their roles as well-intentioned trouble bringers working together to keep the orb in their possession. Marvel works its magic again by signing a perfectly-suited cast of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper, as they take you on a trip across the galaxy.

- Ayush

References:

1. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2015381/

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_(film)#Reception

The Blind Side

Based on a true story, the John Lee Hancock directed “The Blind Side” tells a story of a poor, homeless, uneducated and traumatized African-American teen, Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron). Michael is a young man, struggling in and out of the school system with no knowledge of any family other than his drug addict mother. The foster child seemingly has no hope prior to being invited over to dinner by Leigh Ann Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and her family. Before long, The Touhy’s became Michael’s legal guardian’s, the new arrangement transforming not only his life but the Tuohy’s life too. Michael’s tremendous size and strength make him an ominous gridiron prospect, eventuating as the first round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft. It is an emotional film that clearly portrays the extreme difference in the lifestyles of the varying classes within the American society. Bullock was praised for her roll as Leigh Anne Touhy, winning the Oscar in 2009 for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

- Jack Miller

References:

1. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blind_Side_(film)

3. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/mar/25/the-blind-side-reviewed 

Logan

Out of the X-men series, Wolverine has been quite a popular character. We all know Hugh Jackman as the Wolverine. Wolverine out of all the x-men team members has been my personal favourite. As it turns out that Logan is the last of Wolverine movies, but it has probably the best ending. The film starts in the year 2029 when mutant kind has disappeared. The few who remain aren't interested in saving the world. Logan has lost his powers; he has grown old. He bleeds and is dying. 

Logan is working as a chauffeur trying to as much money as possible so that he can take professor X out in the sea, where his brain seizures won't hurt anyone but Logan. Even though it has been years since the last mutant was born. Professor Charles comes into contact with a small girl with similar powers as Logan, who is on the run from the bad guys and like always Logan has to come to the rescue. 

-Rohan

Reference: 

1. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3315342/

Once Were Warriors

Lee Tamahori the New Zealand filmmaker known for directing a film ‘Once Were Warriors (1994)’ and James Bond ‘Die Another Day (2002)’. The movie’s main starring by Temuera Morrison (Jake Heke) and Rena Owen (Beth Heke)

The Movie ‘Once Were Warriors’ portraits a Heke family in New Zealand. The film follows period of number of weeks showing the raw view on Jake Heke’s situation and his family life style with Jake’s recurrent eruption of his violent behavior and the effect and the impact caused to the family members. 

- Brian

References:

1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Were_Warriors_(film)#Cast

2 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110729/

Life of Pi

Another cinematographic experience not to be missed is Ang Lee’s 2012 “Life of Pi”. Based on the novel written by Yann Martel, Life of Pi is the story of Piscine (Pi), a boy who survives a disastrous encounter at sea, where through an unexpected turn of events, his only other survivor is a wild` Bengal tiger. The story is craftily brought to life through breathtaking visual effects and a unique look at the world yet to be explored by humanity. Ang Lee interweaves emotionally intense scenes that let audiences connect with a lone Indian boy on his quest for survival.

The story brings a unique, thought-provoking perspective to mainstream Hollywood, which delves into ethics, religion and culture to integrate a world that is misunderstood and known little about by audiences. Life of Pi simultaneously raises an age old ethical debate about the necessity of zoos and this mistreatment of animals, while probing into the notion that humans are no less mammals themselves. If you’re looking for a new movie to watch, that leaves you thinking at the end, this is the next Good Guys recommendation.

Ayush

References:

1. http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/life-of-pi-2012

2. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454876/ 

Casino

If you have got some time and are looking for a movie to watch without the kids. Casino1 is one of the best 90’s option. Around 180 minutes of movie which you will not be able to take your eyes off the screen. Casino is a classic movie directed by Martin Scorsese and stared by Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone also based on the book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas2 . It shows all the glamour of the 60/70/80’s when Sam Rothstein (Robert De Niro) also called Ace is nominated by a MOB to run one the biggest Casinos in Vegas(Tangiers Casino), as any other mafia film there are a bit of violence specially after Nicky (Joe Pesci) is sent to Vegas to ensure money is delivered and Casino is run “honestly”. Ginger Mckenna (Sharon Stone) plays a prostitute and drug addicted who retires after getting married to Ace, married which does not last long and end being a problem Ace and the mob.

The movie is a truly state of art as it resalts all behind scenes of a casino step by step, amazing picture, costume, hair style, sound track everything to bring you back to the 70’s 80’s and early 90’s3. Casino is also in a kind of narrative format no common nowadays, De Niro describes most of the facts as the get appear on the screen it could be a bit annoying for those not used to it. Comparing Casino with Goodfellas, as them both have the same star and are directed by the same person, some people believe Casino is Fredo and Goodfellas is Michael, however for some Casino my be the greatest mafia movie ever.We strongly recommend this old classic. 

- Rafael

Reference:
1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_(film)2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino:_Love_and_Honor_in_Las_Vegas3. https://www.quickflix.com.au/News/PlayItAgain/Casino/9811

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Deadpool

An adult superhero movie? Oh yes! Deadpool is a story about Wade Wilson, a former special forces operative-turned-mercenary. His life changes when he is diagnosed with cancer and to cure himself he submits himself to an off the books experiment. Which gives him re-generative powers with a severe disfigurement. Which is why he wears red full body suit. 

Why red? you might ask, well red helps to hide blood stains. Ryan Reynolds has played the role of Wade Wilson (dead pool)- and who else can pull off this role better than him? Dead pool unlike any other superheroes is talkative and quick-witted. This movie is packed with unlimited laughter, action and romance, which is quite unusual combination. Our verdict?- thumbs up!!! 

- Rohan

Reference:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadpool