Theatre

What’s On: Experience Awesome – BLUE MAN GROUP

From 10 August – Sydney Lyric Theatre

Tickets on Sale Monday 6 May

The Hon. George Souris, Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts announced that Blue Man Group, the international entertainment phenomenon, will play an Australian premiere season at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney, from August 2013.

Producer Rodney Rigby (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family) said “After years of planning I am thrilled that Blue Man Group is now coming to Australia. This brilliant show has been entertaining audiences for 25 years and has launched one of the most innovative performance groups ever. First time audiences leave the theatre astounded by the excitement of a Blue Man Group show resulting in one of the highest return businesses of any theatrical event. People of all ages just love the Blue Man Group experience – I am sure that same excitement will also be felt by Sydney audiences.”

Blue Man Group is not just a show, it’s a state of mind. Best known for its wildly popular theatrical productions and concerts that combine electrifying music, sensational technology, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment, Blue Man Group creates experiences that defy categorization. Performances feature three bald and blue characters who take the audience on a journey that is funny, intelligent and visually stunning in a blissful party atmosphere. Blue Man Group is accompanied by a live band whose tribal rhythms help drive the show to its unforgettable climax.

Having utterly redefined the term “live entertainment,” Blue Man Group continues to reinvent itself. The wildly popular show now combines signature moments with breathtaking new pieces that simultaneously employ and skewer today’s cutting edge technology. It makes for an explosive evening of entertainment. New sections include Blue Men interacting with “GiPads” (think Gigantic iPads), a funny and perceptive look at contemporary modes of communication; and a pulsating new finale featuring an original Blue Man Group music score that will have guests jumping to their feet.

“Over the years, we have grown as artists and the world around us has transformed. These changes are reflected in the new material we’ve generated and implemented into this show,” said Chris Wink, who co-founded Blue Man Group with Phil Stanton and Matt Goldman. “The heart of our show is, and always has been, the Blue Man, and his inquisitive, wide-eyed take on the world, but we have developed some brand new elements that provide a larger-than-life, rousing, interactive experience that I hope will really speak to all cultures and give some of our most devoted fans a new reason to check us out again. We can’t wait to get this material in front of Australian audiences for the first time!”

Having first performed twenty five years ago, to date over 25 million people across the globe have seen a live Blue Man Group performance. Blue Man Group’s wildly successful rock concert arena tour, Megastar World Tour, visited nearly 300 cities across the United States and performed in over 10 countries and has been experienced by over 2 million people. Blue Man Group’s debut album, Audio, not only went Gold but also garnered a GRAMMY nomination. Today, Blue Man Records is prolific in recording albums, producing DVDs and documentaries and collaborating on the scores of hit television shows and major motion pictures.

Currently, Blue Man Group theatrical shows can be seen in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Berlin, and on tour throughout the U.S.

Blue Man Group will be produced in Australia by Rodney Rigby together with the support of Destination New South Wales, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.

http://www.bluemangroup.com.au

Date From 10 August, 2013 for a strictly limited engagement.

Venue Sydney Lyric Theatre

Times Tuesday at 7pm

Wednesday – Friday at 8pm

Saturday at 4pm and 8pm

Sunday at 3pm and 7pm

Bookings Ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 795 267

VIP & Dining Packages – Showbiz.com.au

Movie Review** THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE REVIEW

I had seen the same trailer for this film a number of times, each time I got more excited to see the final product. I hoped this would be a funny film that reached the same level of comedy as Anchorman or 40 Year Old Virgin. Did it live up to my hopes??

The film is about two lonely young boys who become best friends over a love of magic. Years later they grow up to become Burt Wonderstone, (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton, (Steve Buscemi).

Their shows become bigger and bigger until they finally have centre stage in the grandest casino in Vegas. All is not well as they two start to drift apart over their repetitive boredom of the same tricks each night and Burt’s big headedness. In the meantime there is a new street magician Steve Gray, (Jim Carey), who is performing daring street magic. Soon the friendship breaks and they need to find a way back to the top.

It is obvious that Burt and Anton are taking off Siegfrid & Roy, while Steve Gray is meant to be Chris Angel. There are other nods to magicians like David Blaine. Carell and Buscemi are a great double act even if they don’t look like a great pairing. Carey is back to the Carey we all know, and some may love, with other the top acting, after all that’s what he is best for. He does steal the show with some outrageous over the top tricks, which I wont spoil. The first one will turn a few stomachs. The main characters are back by Olivia Wilde, Burt & Anton’s assistant (Amazing), and Alain Arkin, Burt’s magician mentor. Both characters add a lot of humour outside of the main three.

A lot of the film is predictive but most are in this genre. It is the constant jokes that you would expect from comedians of this calibre that keep the film going. I’ve noticed with a lot of comedy films recently that the jokes start to slow down about half way through as if they are out of steam, not here!!

If anyone is a fan of Steve Carell or Jim Carey, then this is them at their best and you wont be disappointed. No its not an Anchorman or 40 Year Old Virgin, but this is definitely a film I would love to see again for an abundance of funny stand out moments. I haven’t heard a cinema audience laugh out loud for so long.

Sydney Social 101 gives The Incredible Burt Wonderstone 8/10. It was reviewed by Syrus Wynne, Sydney Social’s resident critic!

What’s on: GIANT LETTERS SPELLING OUT ‘CARMEN’ NOW ADORN AN OPERA STAGE THAT APPEARS TO FLOAT ON SYDNEY HARBOUR.

The creative vision for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Carmen has been revealed with the final ‘C’ of six giant letters spelling out ‘CARMEN’ now in place on the harbour-top opera stage. The spectacular Spain-Meets-Hollywood stage will set the scene for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Carmen, which opens Friday 22 March for three weeks only.

The Hollywood-inspired Carmen letters measure a staggering 9 metres high and 25 metres wide. When the production opens next Friday 22 March, they will be spot-lit by lighting towers on and around the main stage during the production. The scaffolding supporting the letters doubles as a structure for the singers and dancers to climb and perform from during the show. The stage itself is 32 metres by 24 metres and resembles a round, blood-stained bullfighting ring. It sits on a platform supported by 16 pylons sunk into Sydney Harbour.

The Carmen letters will cut an imposing silhouette across Sydney Harbour for the duration of the production, 22 March – 12 April. It positively dwarfs Australian icons such as the Big Banana and Big Pineapple in scale!

The letters symbolise the glamorous, seductive facade of Carmen and will be seen in all their glossy glory by visitors looking across the harbour from the Sydney Opera House, by joggers around the Royal Botanic gardens, by commuters driving across the Harbour Bridge and those travelling by ferry (or cruise ship!) on Sydney Harbour. The audience will see the letters in reverse, signifying the seedy underworld in which the gypsies’ underhanded activities take place at the tobacco factory in Seville, Spain.

The Carmen set features other spectacular effects including a life-sized slaughtered bull (post bull-fight) and fireworks. Dancers will whirl about the stage in dazzling flamenco costumes, bringing colour and movement to the blood-red stage.

Some of the world’s best opera talents have converged in Sydney to perform in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Carmen. Hailing from Sydney, Perth and Tasmania in Australia, from New York and Memphis in the USA and even from the Ukraine, this is a truly global cluster of opera stars.

When the show opens, they will have had just over four weeks to bring this brand new outdoor production to perfection, ahead of the opening night on Friday 22 March, when they will perform on Australia’s most unique opera stage atop the water of Sydney Harbour. A nightly audience of 3,000 seated at the edge of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney will enjoy tapas, paella, Spanish BBQ and cocktails in luxury, while they watch the drama of Carmen unfold beneath the stars.
http://www.operaonsydneyharbour.com.au

SOCIAL SPY** Naked Singing Boys

West Australian Ballet ‘lights’ up Sydney with a spectacular program of dance in celebration of its 60th diamond anniversary year.

 Sydney Social 101 went to seeWest Australian Ballet, flying high on a string of artistic and commercial achievements, as they made their debut at the Sydney Theatre in October with a stunning celebratory program – NEON LIGHTS – featuring some of the dance world’s most celebrated choreographers.

 Headlining Neon Lights is Un Ballo from luminary Jiøí Kylián (former Artistic Director of Nederlands Dans Theater). Kylian has been at the forefront of modern dance since the early 1970s, creating more than 100 choreographies.  His works are held in repertoire by most of the world’s major ballet companies.

Un Ballo, ‘a dance’, may be understood in the traditional connotation of a social event. It is not the choreographer’s intention to have the spectator search for deep or symbolical contents; he considers it an exercise in musicality and sensitivity between male and female partners.

“…the seven couples… capture the romanticism of the Maurice Ravel music along with the formalism and flirtation of couples at a ball.” Dance Magazine 2004

“[The dancers’] molten bodyline and precision made [Un Ballo] almost transcendental” The Australian 2011

“West Australian Ballet’s pairings created stunningly beautiful forms” – The Australian 2011

“Masterful and elegant” The West Australian 2011

Australian Dance Theatre Artistic Director, Garry Stewart, returns to Sydney Theatre following his own company’s electrifying Be Your Self in June. He features on the bill with The Centre and its Opposite, created in 2010 for Birmingham Royal Ballet. The work is set to a rhythmically powerful, industrial electric score by Huey Benjamin.

“Very exciting to watch” ballet.co.uk magazine

“This is a work of technical bravura” Dance Europe

Stewart says ‘The reason the piece is called The Centre and its Opposite is because conventionally the centre is the most powerful part of the stage. However, there’s a devolution of power in this piece, an acknowledgement of the power of any place on the stage, and the dancers use their wiles to draw the gaze of the audience towards them… inviting to be seen, wanting to be looked at, attracting the gaze of the audience is something that dancers inherently are conditioned to do. And so this work is an ironic acknowledgement of that.’

Audience favourite, Alejandro Cerrudo’s Lickety Split, has its East Coast premiere in this special program. Taking his inspiration from the music and lyrics of folk musician, Devendra Banhart, Lickety-Split was Spanish choreographer Cerrudo’s first full-length ballet, created for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 2006 and re-staged for West Australian Ballet in 2009.

“It was a pleasure to watch six dancers weave their way whimsically through relationships and moments of ‘being’… sinuous and sometimes quirky” The West Australian 2009

Finally, outgoing Artistic Director Ivan Cavallari presents his stunning choreography Strings 32, set to the exquisite strains of Paganini and Kreisler performed live by guest violinist Madeline Antoine.

“A lone violinist roams the stage, dancers are tethered to elastic strings which zip energetically across the stage…the strings are physical and emotional, as well as musical” The West Australian 2012
“The show-stealer” The West Australian 2012

“… a fluidly executed enactment of the serendipity of human contact” The Australian 2012
Cavallari has presided over West Australian Ballet during a period which has seen the company increase in size to 32 dancers and move to a prestigious new State Ballet Centre. He has choreographed several new ballets for the company, including a critically acclaimed full-length version of The Nutcracker, and a new full-length Pinocchio premiering this September. He has also brought some of the world’s most celebrated repertoire to the company, including works by John Cranko, Uwe Scholz and George Balanchine, and supported many of Australia’s finest and emerging artists.

West Australian Ballet

NEON LIGHTS

Dates:            17 to 21 October 2012

Venue:           Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay

Tickets:         Box Office: 9250 1777

sydneytheatre.org.au

Price:             $30 – $69 (transaction fees apply)

SOCIAL SPY** OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD YOU GUYS… LEGALLY BLONDE OPENING NIGHT

Beeeeennnnnddddddd and snap!

Last week Sydney Social 101 was invited to attend and review the Opening Performance of Sydney’s Legally Blonde The Musical! The international award-winning hit has arrived in Australia, playing now at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.

I am going to begin by saying (just in case you don’t read to the end) that is by far and away one of the most fun, energetic, gripping musicals I’ve ever seen! I would recommend it without hesitation! It’s literally like watching the movie, but with music, and better!

Sydney has welcomed the musical after Legally Blonde ran for three triumphant years in the West End, over two years on Broadway and is currently on a major UK tour. The winner of seven major awards including the coveted Best New Musical 2011(Olivier Awards) this all singing, all dancing romantic comedy is about knowing who you are and showing what you’ve got!

Sydney’s VIPs came out to celebrate the opening night in style! Guests included The Veronicas, Natalie Braithwaite and Australian Idol 2011 winner Reece Mastin to name a few.

All Socials credited to photographer Matt Watson

College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods can handle anything. So when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her for someone serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and heads for Harvard Law School to win him back. With some help from new-found friends Paulette and Emmett plus her Chihuahua, Bruiser, she learns that it’s so much betterto be smart.

Lucy Durack as Elle and female ensemble in LEGALLY BLONDE 3(c) Jeff Busby

Based on the hit movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde the Musical is the award-winning London and Broadway sensation created by a top-of-their-class creative team, led by Tony Award-winning director and Olivier Award-nominated choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray). This funny, feel good musical comedy will be the highlight of your year. Legally Blonde the Musical will take you from the social whirl of California Campus life to Harvard’s Halls of Justice with Australia’s brightest new heroine (and of course, her Chihuahua, Bruiser). The verdict? This much fun shouldn’t be legal!

David Harris as Emmett, Cameron Daddo as Prof Callahan and Lucy Durack as Elle in LEGALLY BLONDE (c) Jeff Busby

The all star Australian cast includes Lucy Durack (Wicked) as Elle Woods, Rob Mills (Young Talent Time) as Warner, David Harris (Miss Saigon) as Emmett, Helen Dallimore (The Wharf Revue) as Paulette, Erika Heynatz (Next Top Model) as Brooke Wyndham and Cameron Daddo (Big River, Packed to the Rafters) as Professor Callahan.

Erika Heynatz as Brooke skipping in LEGALLY BLONDE (c) Jeff Busby

Legally Blondeis produced by Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and John Frost, in association with MGM ON STAGE, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.

Lucy Durack as Elle Woods with ensemble in LEGALLY BLONDE (c) Jeff Busby

Howard Panter, joint Chief Executive and Creative Director of Ambassador Theatre Group said, “Legally Blonde The Musical has been a roaring success on both sides of the Atlantic, critically acclaimed, getting standing ovations night after night, and record repeat business. I have no doubt Australia will take Legally Blondeinto their hearts as well and have an Elle of a party at the theatre. I am thrilled that Legally Blonde The Musical, the success story from Broadway and London has come to Australia, and that I am producing it with John Frost in our first collaboration.”

David Harris as Emmett and Lucy Durack as Elle in LEGALLY BLONDE (c) Jeff Busby

John Frost is excited to be co-producing Legally Blonde. “This show is 100% pure entertainment, and I know Sydney will fall in love with the show as much as I have. I’m delighted to be working with Howard Panter for the first time, and to be presenting my third major musical in 2012 at the beautiful Lyric Theatre.”

Chloe Zuel, Renee Burleigh and Ashlea Pyke in LEGALLY BLONDE (c) Jeff Busby

The Australian Premiere of this award-winning Broadway and West End sensation was secured for Sydney with the assistance of the NSW Government through Destination NSW and the City of Sydney.

Legally Blonde is the funniest and most fabulous musical around. The best show in town, case closed.

(FIVE STARS) “The best legal high in town. A Triumph!” – Time Out

(FIVE STARS) “Perfection. Ridiculously Enjoyable” – The Independent

”Legally Blonde simply blows other musicals out of the water. Sensational” – The Sun

legallyblonde.com.au

facebook.com/legallyblondemusical

@legallyblondeoz

Venue:                                                  Sydney Lyric Theatre, The Star

Season:                                                To January 27, 2013

Performance Times:                           Tues 7pm, Wed–Sat 8pm, Matinees Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 3pm

Price:                                                    $75.90 – $139.90

Bookings:                                            1300 795 267 or ticketmaster.com.au

Groups of 12 or more (02) 8240 2290

SOCIAL SPY** The 2012 Helpmann Awards® at Sydney Opera House – Hugh Jackman attends as a surprise guest presenter

Celebrating excellence and achievement in live performance

42 Awards presented plus the prestigious JC Williamson Award^TM

Wow, where to even begin, what a truly amazing evening surrounded by such talent that you could only sit back and watch in awe! Sydney Social 101 has made no secret about our passion for live entertainment, we’ve even been lucky enough to be invited to watch La Traviata at the open air stage at Sydney’s Botanical Gardens amongst other amazing performances!

Sydney Social 101 is also going to watch Legally Blonde on the stage tomorrow night, the stars of which were also out in force at the Helpmann Awards last night!

Stars of Legally Blonde – Cameron Daddo and Lucy Durack Helpmann Awards Photo James Morgan

The 2012 Helpmann Awards^® were presented last night, Monday 24 September from 8pm at the Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House.  Following the Awards Ceremony guests enjoyed an After Party at Marquee at The Star.

Surprise Guest Presenter: Hugh Jackman 2012 Helpmann Awards 2012 Photo James Morgan

I couldn’t actually believe it when surprise guest presenter, Hugh Jackman arrived to present the final award of the evening for Best Musical. We were also in the company of greatness, in the form of stunning Cate Blanchett!

Winner – Best Female Actress in a play – Cate Blanchett: Gross und Klein (Big and Small). Sydney Theatre Company – Photo James Morgan

The Helpmann Awards^®, established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA), saw the presentation of awards in 42 categories.  In addition Katharine Brisbane AM, and the late Dr Jimmy Little AO were honoured as the recipients of the prestigious JC Williamson Award^TM that recognises their outstanding contribution to the Australian live performance industry. Dr Jimmy Little AO was truly an inspiration and the award was truly fitting as his colleagues and peers recognised his achievements in music and in life.

Bernadette Robinson Helpmann Photo James Morgan

Simon Burke was a great host of the Helpmann Awards, talented, humorous and humble. The evening included performances by the casts of Cirque du Soleil, The South Pacific Company, and The Chorus Line Company; Artistes from The Australian Ballet; from A Long Way to the Top – Marcia Hines, Jon Stevens, Brian Cadd, Doug Parkinson and Ian Moss; and Aston, Dan Sultan with a Tribute to Jimmy Little AO, and Bernadette Robinson. All of which left Sydney Social 101 speechless and in awe!

Lisa McCune Eddie Perfect Kate Ceberano Teddy Tahu Rhodes Photo Lightbox Photography

Award Presenters included Amanda Bishop, Blake Bowden, Bille Brown AM, Bryan Brown AM, Darcey Bussell CBE, Daniel Carter, Kate Ceberano, Gerry Connolly, Li Cunxin, Cameron Daddo, Lucy Durack, Marta Dusseldorp, Amanda Harrison, Verity Hunt-Ballard, Genevieve Lemon, Matt Lee, David McAllister AM, Lisa McCune, Rob Mills, Simon Phillips, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Leo Schofield AM, The Hon. George Souris, Stuart Wagstaff AM, and John Waters.

Amanda Pelman and Brian Cadd Helpmann Awards Photo Credit Lightbox Photography

The Awards Ceremony was Produced by Jon Nicholls and Directed by Stuart Maunder.

President of Live Performance Australia, Andrew Kay, said “We’re delighted to be presenting our 12^th anniversary Helpmann Awards^®, live from the Sydney Opera House this evening.

Bryan Brown and Matilda Brown Photo James Morgan

The Helpmann Awards^® are a celebration of the very best in live performance in Australia.  They also serve as a reminder of the central place live performance takes in the lives of so many Australians, whether it be a child attending a live concert for the very first time, a young Australian attending a concert by their favourite band or comedian, or one of the millions of Australians who attend our major musicals or performances by our extraordinary performing arts companies.

Live performance engages and entertains audiences across the breadth of Australia from the smallest rural community to the largest city.  And the strength of the industry is evidenced in the extraordinary list of outstanding Helpmann nominees we honour tonight.”

NSW Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, congratulated the winners of this year’s Helpmann Awards^®.

“It has been a tremendous year for live entertainment in Australia, particularly NSW  with our dream run of major musical premieres.  The extraordinary talent of our vibrant live performance industry continues to shine both on stage and behind the scenes,” Mr Souris said.

“I am a fan of live performance and greatly admire the artistic brilliance and creativity celebrated through the Helpmann Awards^® held in our global city of Sydney, the live performance capital of Australia.

“The Helpmanns are the premier awards event for the live performance industry, highlighting the significant contribution the sector makes to our State and country.”

The Helpmann Awards^® will be broadcast exclusively live on Tuesday 25 September at 8.30pm on Australia’s arts and entertainment channel STUDIO – channel 132 on Foxtel.

www.helpmannawards.com.au

A Gala Night for the Live Entertainment Industry – The 2012 Helpmann Awards®

Celebrating excellence and achievement in live performance

Monday 24 September, Sydney Opera House at 8pm

Sydney Social 101 is a big fan of live entertainment – whether it be theatre, live contemporary dance, the ballet, the opera or a musical – you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be an enjoyable experience for all involved! This particular event strikes a chord as it recognises those who make the industry what it is today!

The 2012 Helpmann Awards® Ceremony will be held tonight, Monday 24 September at 8pm at Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, whilst the After Party will be held at Marquee at The Star.  Acclaimed performer Simon Burke will Host the Awards Ceremony.

The Ceremony will include performances by the casts of Cirque du Soleil, The South Pacific Company, and The Chorus Line Company; Artistes from The Australian Ballet; from A Long Way to the Top – Marcia Hines, Jon Stevens, Brian Cadd, Doug Parkinson and Ian Moss; and Aston, Dan Sultan with a Tribute to Jimmy Little AO, and Bernadette Robinson.

Presenters and guests at the Ceremony will include Benedict Andrews, Trevor Ashley, Hilary Bell, Amanda Bishop, Blake Bowden, Bille Brown AM, Bryan Brown AM, Darcey Bussell CBE, Mitchell Butel, Francine Cain, Paul Capsis, Daniel Carter, Kate Ceberano, Anita Louise Combe, Gerry Connolly, Li Cunxin, Cameron Daddo, Lucy Durack, Marta Dusseldorp, Stephan Elliott, Michael Gudinski, Andrew Hallsworth, Amanda Harrison, Brent Hill, Bob Hornery, Verity Hunt-Ballard, Akira Isogawa, Debora Krizak, Tim Lawson, Amy Lehpamer, Genevieve Lemon, Matt Lee, Emma Matthews, David McAllister AM, Lisa McCune, Rob Mills, Tara Morice, Robyn Nevin, Simon Phillips, Pamela Rabe, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Leo Schofield AM, The Hon. George Souris, Sam Strong, Lyndon Terracini, Stuart Wagstaff AM, and John Waters.

Katharine Brisbane AM will be presented with the prestigious JC Williamson Award^TM, recognising her outstanding contribution to the Australian live performance industry.

The JC Williamson Award™ for co-recipient Dr Jimmy Little AO will be presented to his Manager, Graham Budstrup and his neice, Esther Cohen.

The Helpmann Awards^®will be broadcast exclusively the following night on Australia’s arts and entertainment channel STUDIO – channel 132 on Foxtel.  See the full ceremony recorded live on Tuesday 25 September at 8.30pm.

Tickets are on sale to the general public and can be purchased from the Sydney Opera House Box Office 02 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com

This will be the 12^th presentation of the Helpmann Awards®, the pinnacle industry event for Australia’s live performance industry, which annually attracts over 17 million people to shows across the nation with revenues of over $A1.3 billion.

www.helpmannawards.com.au

SOCIAL SPY** The Expendables 2 Screening

Sydney Social 101 was invited to attend the preview screening of The Expendables 2 on Monday 27^th August at Event Cinemas at George Street, Sydney CBD. I feel I must highlight before I start this review that I thought that the first Expendables film was shocking (not in a good way!). ‘Why’ I hear you cry… Well let’s just say that the fact that Stallone and Lundgren were trying to kill each other throughout the film, only to ’kiss and make up ‘at the end, as though nothing happened, was truly awful! In my opinion the first film was pure ‘cheese’. Suffice to say that I didn’t go to this particular screening with too many high hopes, however I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

This film is exactly what you expect, ageing macho men with over-the-top violence. Within the opening scene there are more deaths than all the ‘Rambo’, ‘Terminator’ and ‘Die Hard’ movies put together.

To his credit, Sylvester Stallone  managed to get all the original team from the first movie together again including action heroes: Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Randy Couture. Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are also back and I’m happy to report that they both played much bigger parts in this film. There was also some fresh young blood with the addition of Liam Hemsworth and, the only female in the team: Nan Yu.

Do not expect to get a thrilling storyline with twists and turns, this film is pure action – from start to finish. There are plenty of jokes throughout which are usually at Lundgren’s expense. The best cheers and laughs came from the cameo of Chuck Norris, especially when he told one of his ‘facts about Chuck Norris jokes’.

The villain of the film is played by Jean-Claude Van Damme who is still able to pull off those spin kicks like the old days. It was great to see him on the other side for once.

The film has the climax you were always looking for with an all out war and a final battle between two old school action legends.

It is hard to say why I preferred this film so much more than the first one but it just worked this time around. If you are looking for an all out action film with plenty of head splatters and a reason to leave the girlfriend at home, then this is it. With The Expendables 3 cast already coming together and rumours of Nicholas Cage plus possibly Steven Segal joining the team, I’d recommend you skip the first as I feel this will definitely be the film to join the series on.

Written by Sydney Social’s resident ‘bloke’ reporter – Syrus Wynne.  Sydney Social 101 gives ‘The Expendables 2’ a respectable 7/10.

SOCIAL SPY** Red Carpet Exclusive For The Campaign!

It’s been one of the most talked about films of the last few months and now The Campaign has finally hit Down Under!

In the new flick Will Ferrell plays politician Cam Brady who fights to win an election against a new candidate Marty Huggins, played by Zach Galifianakis.

So who better to bring the highly anticipated movie to our shores other than funny man Will himself?

“I had to kiss a lot of babies in the movie and people still bring me their babies to kiss now,” he told the media on the carpet at the Hoyts Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park.

Also joining him at the Sydney premiere were some of Australia’s finest celebs, such as model Laura Dundovic, who glowed on the red carpet.

Also turning heads was the gorgeous TV presenter Zoe Balbi in a white floaty top.

Meanwhile, fellow comedian and radio presenter Tom Ballard also attended the opening night.

The cinema was decked out with flags and banners so Aussie swimmer Lisa Curry decided to get into the swing of things by waving a flag for photographers!

And MTV VJ Kate Peck revealed that she couldn’t wait to see the new film.

“Yeeehaa bring on will Ferrell the campaign movie premier!” she tweeted beforehand.

Meanwhile, heaps of fans waited outside the cinema to catch a glimpse of the legendary comedian.

“We’ve been here since early this morning to get a good spot, as we want to see Will,” one of his followers told Sydney Social 101.

Don’t miss The Campaign when it hits cinemas on August 9 across Australia!

Sydney Social’s 101 reporter Jennifer Fletcher was at the Red Carpet to report and take pictures at the star-studded premiere.

Stay tuned for Sydney Social 101′s review of The Campaign!