Odeon tickets up for grabs

01 December 2009

THE most expensive movie ever filmed in Spain, Planet 51 (U) is a galactic sized animated alien adventure comedy coming to the Odeon this week.

Costing $70 million, the film, with an all-star voice cast including Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, Jessica Biel, Seann William Scott, Gary Oldman and John Cleese, was made by Madrid-based Ilion Animation Studios and HandMade Films.

The story revolves around American astronaut Captain Charles 'Chuck' Baker, who lands on Planet 51 thinking he's the first person to step foot on it.

To his surprise, he finds it is inhabited by little green people who are happily living in a white picket fence world reminiscent of a cheerfully innocent 1950s America, and whose only fear is that it will be overrun by alien invaders like Chuck.

With the help of his robot companion Rover and his new friend Lem, Chuck must navigate his way through the dazzling, but bewildering landscape in order to escape becoming a permanent part of the Planet 51 Alien Invaders Space Museum.Museum.

The film, directed by Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad and Marcos Martinez, was originally called Planet One but re-named Planet 51 because celestial bodies from one to 50 are trademarked.

* A drama about a teenage girl's coming-of-age is also hitting the big screen in Weston this week.

An Education (12A) is the Nick Hornby-scripted adaptation of Lynn Barber's revealing memoir.

Set in 1961 London, Lynn, who is re-named Jenny for the film and played by 22-year-old Carey Mulligan, is an intelligent and attractive 16-year-old who falls for David (Peter Sarsgaard), a suave, witty 30-something who manages to sweet talk her conservative parents into approving of their relationship.

As the Jewish suitor introduces her to a sophisticated world of classical concerts and late-night suppers, her long-held plans to go to Oxford begin to change.

But can the relationship last, and is David all he appears to be?

Directed by Lone Scherfig, the film also stars Rosamund Pike, Alfred Molina and Emma Thompson.

* In stark contrast, screamfest The Descent: Part 2 (18), a sequel to the 2005 hard-hitting horror film directed by Jon Harris, is the third new offering at the Odeon this week.

Written by James Watkins, the story follows Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) who emerges alone from a cave system following an expedition with her five friends in the Appalachian Mountains.

Distraught, injured and covered in the blood of her missing companions, Sarah is incoherent and half-wild with fear.

Sceptical about her account of events and convinced Sarah's psychosis hides far darker secrets, Sheriff Vaines forces her back into the caves to help locate the rest of the group.

Trapped by falling rocks, the rescue party are driven deep into the caverns, and as one by one the fate of the missing girls is revealed, Sarah is forced to confront her deepest fears.

The film also stars Natalie Mendoza, Gavan O'Herlihy, Krysten Cummings, Joshua Dallas, Anna Skellern and Douglas Hodge.

* The Weston and Somerset Mercury has teamed up with the Odeon to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to see a film of their choice, subject to availability.

To enter the competition, simply answer the following question: What is the name of the astronaut who 'discovers' Planet 51?

Usual Archant Rules apply and the editor's decision is final. Please check availability with Weston Odeon box office before arriving with your winning tickets.