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January 2006
Edition

Pages in PDF

Regular
Features

› Son Of A Gun
  with Mick Pacholli

› Fab's Ravings

› Technology
  with Chris Jacobs

› Are You
  Puzzled?
  with
  Narelle Stegehuis

› Boredom in
  Children
  with
  Marilyn Brideson

› Planet Clare

› Lovatts
  Crossword

› Live Theatre
  with Blair Edgar

› Movie Scene
  with
  Charlie Alexander

› Entertainment
  with Gary Turner

› Grazing in the
  Suburbs
  with Mick Pacholli

› Talking Manure
  with Mick Pacholli

› Furry Friends
  with
  Dr Graeme Smith

› Racing
  with Ted Ryan

› Rant & Rave
  with
  Paddles Hackett

› Bowls
  with Mick Pacholli

› Motoring
  with Garry Fabian

› Short Cuts
  Writers
  Competition

Things That Go Bump in The Dark

[by Charlie Alexander]

The Cave

High in the Romanian mountains surrounded by deep forest, scientists discover the ruins of a 13th century Abbey. Startled by the location of the Christian site, they explore the Abbey and find a sealed cavern that leads to extensive underground passageways.

Believing this to be an entrance to one of the longest underwater cave systems, they contact an elite team of underwater cave divers who are currently exploring an underwater cave network in Mexico. Excited and drawn by the prospect of going further and deeper than anyone else has before, they gather new technology that allows them to stay submerged for up to 24 hours at a time.

When the mountains quake and a landslide covers the remains of the monastery sealing the team in the cave, they have no choice but to proceed forward hoping to find a way out before their supplies are exhausted.

When they discover that the cave is home to a previously undiscovered ecosystem, they are at first ecstatic but soon find out that there is something higher on the food chain than man lurking in the dark.
Led by the dynamic brothers Jack (Cole Hauser) and Tyler (Eddie Cibrian), the crack team are composed of ex-elite soldiers and other’s from jobs demanding high adrenalin.

When they are attacked suddenly in the dark the mood changes and the team finds itself challenged. As their leader Jack starts to become sharper and more predatory the team find their numbers dwindling and chances of survival diminishing.

Well paced and inventive, The Cave offers a stab at both something different as well as displaying some of the core features of the horror genre. Director Bruce Hunt has delivered a well paced film that portrays well the claustrophobic feel of both a cramped space and a wide open environment in total darkness. Slightly formulaic but very entertaining The Cave is well worth watching. Coming soon.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

Reaching fourth year at Hogwarts is something the trio of Potter, Weasley and Granger approach with great enthusiasm. They are awed to hear that Hogwarts will be playing host to not just students and teachers from two other wizardry schools but will also be hosting the Triwizard tournament where participants are chosen by The Goblet of Fire and compete through a series of dangerous events for honor and glory, both for themselves and their school.

When the Goblet unexpectedly issues a fourth name, there is at first surprise. When the name is revealed to be Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) this quickly turns to anger. Harry being underage should not be allowed to enter the tournament.

The staff and students feel that Potter has cheated to gain entrance to the tournament for his own ego and start to give Harry a difficult time. Following the recently seen Dark Mark, this heralds a bad omen. As Harry progresses through the tournament challenges, he risks life and limb to win while keeping what he feels is right well within his sights.

Only at the end of the tournament does Harry discover why was entered into the tournament.

Departing from the G rating the previous Harry Potter movies have had, The Goblet of Fire shows a darkness and brutality that draws an M rating. While following Rawlings’ novel well, this will prove a visual challenge to the younger audience with some slight sexual innuendo, torture and death all featured.

Yet, not forgetting its sense of humor, and with particular note the scene where Ron unwraps his formal attire for the Yule Ball, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire is undoubtedly the best Potter film yet.

On general release.

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