Movie Info: Sanctum

From Executive Producer James Cameron comes 3D underwater adventure SANCTUM, released in UK cinemas on 4 February 2011. The official artwork has just been released, please find a high res version attached to this email.

The 3D epic underwater adventure Sanctum, from three-time Academy Award®-winning executive producer JAMES CAMERON (Avatar, Titanic), follows a team of underwater cave divers on a treacherous expedition to the largest, most beautiful and least accessible cave system on Earth.  When a tropical storm forces them deep into the caverns, they must fight raging water, deadly terrain and creeping panic as they search for an unknown escape route to the sea.

Master diver Frank McGuire (RICHARD ROXBURGH of Moulin Rouge!, Mission: Impossible II) has explored the South Pacific’s Esa’ala caves for months.  But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank’s key team—including 17-year-old son Josh (RHYS WAKEFIELD of The Black Balloon, Broken Hill) and financier Carl Hurley (IOAN GRUFFUDD of Fantastic Four series, W.)—is forced to radically alter plans.

With dwindling supplies, the crew—including Carl’s girlfriend, Victoria (ALICE PARKINSON of Where the Wild Things Are, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), and Crazy George (DAN WYLLIE of Muriel’s Wedding, Chopper)—must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out.  Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question: Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever?

Shot on location off the Gold Coast in Queensland and in caves in South Australia, as well as at the Village Roadshow Studios, Sanctum employs stunning 3D photography techniques developed to lens Avatar.  Designed to operate in extreme environments, the Cameron/Pace Fusion 3D Camera System used to lens the action-thriller will take audiences on a breathless journey across plunging cliffs and into the farthest reaches of our subterranean world.

Film Review: Midgets Vs Mascots

Midgets Vs Mascots

 

Directed By: Ron Carlson

 

Starring: Gary Coleman, Jordan Prentice, Jason Mewes

 

Synopsis;

In a similar vein to Jackass, Midgets Vs. Mascots follows ten contestants, five of whom are midgets and the other five are mascots, as they take place in a madcap competition for a million dollars in prize money.

 

Review:

This is the sort of movie that will divide people into those that like mad comedies with no regard for political correctness whatsoever, and those that can’t abide anything that might poke fun at sections of the community. I don’t care if the line is pushed a little by comedy. Borat, for instance, could at times, be a step above the balls in your face style of comedy that it had. Borat was genuinely laugh out loud funny. "Midgets..." doesn’t even try to raise itself above the connotations that the title suggests. It’s funny in a crude and lewd sort of way and reminded me of exploitation movies of the past; because this is what it is – an exploitation movie. 

The one person it greatly exploits is the late Gary Coleman. It’s best not to reflect on the fact that this was the last movie Mr Coleman made. Think about it too much and the movie becomes a sad indictment of a person whose career went from boom to bust very quickly. He plays a “little person” that provides comedy by biting his taller associates or jumping up and boffing them on the head.

 

For UK viewers, there are “It’s a Knockout” style competitions that either you’ll find hilarious or downright offensive. It’s easy to laugh at the Mascots, but some of you might feel guilty at laughing at the “midgets”. For a more intelligent comedic look at little people, see the BBC show Psychoville.

 

The funniest thing that Jason Mewes has ever done was wake up halfway through the Chasing Amy commentary and introduce his fellow commentators. To put Mewes in a starring role on this film was dishonest. He has about three lines and is clearly not the guy in the Sherriff mascot costume if you look carefully. So, if you’re a Kevin Smith fan, don’t buy/rent this movie on the fact that he’s billed; you’ll be disappointed. Instead watch it because you want an irreverant movie.

 

Summary

If you like crazy, exploitative, comedies then this is for you. The faux documentary aspect of the film doesn’t work as well as Borat and the stunts aren’t as extreme as those in the Jackass movies but there’s still fun to be had. Given the premise and given the advertising, no-one can really get upset by this film. Don't like? Don't watch. Simple.

It’s not a film that I’d recommend but worth a look if you fancy something different from the usual American comedy.

Score: 4/10 

Midgets Vs Mascots is in cinemas from 10th January 2011 (although who knows where)

It's on DVD/Blu-Ray on 14th February 2011.