Loops2112

29 April 2013

Rock and Roll Road Trip

I dug this out of my husband's DVD collection to watch when I was in onmy own one night (he's the AC/DC fan in the house, not me). I wasn'tsure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. I've always quite liked road-trip movies, especially ones with a bit ofcomedy and this one didn't disappoint - there were a few laugh out loadscenes in there. Loved the hairstyles in the beginning and didn'trealise it was Sam Worthington from Avatar fame until I looked up thecast on IMDb afterwards, so that was cool seeing an early film of hiswithout knowing it.There were some good characters in this film, some genuinely funnymoments and some 'lightly' touching moments.I don't think you have to be an AC/DC fan to enjoy this film.

savaandr

28 April 2013

Fabulously Funny Film!

I caught the last half of this movie on TV one day and laughed until mysides hurt. I went straight to the internet and bought the DVD. Thestoryline starts out strong and immediately starts rolling along to theclimatic ending. I didn't find a dull place in this movie. I don'tusually care for 'flashbacks', but these were so funny I didn't mindthem. The group of guys they have work so well together. The messesthey get into are so outrageous, and how they get out of them is evenfunnier. The storyline is excellent, the actors are great, the laughsare hysterical and it has the most awesome music - AC/DC - how can yougo wrong with that combination!

treffor1

23 April 2013

Thunderstuck - An insiders view!

This film has more significants to me than simply watching a 'flick' atthe picture theater and I warn you it may even cause me to be a littlebias although I will try to stay true for the good of the film. Somethree or four years ago a very good friend of mine asked me to read ascript he had written. Being a good friend of course and I said yes. Iwas actually the 5th person to read this script which of course I felthonored.Initially there were some teething problems in the script which Iconveyed to him after reading it. There was a character in the movie,originally Sophie Lee was in mind to play this character, that I feltbrought the movie down... subsequently this character was removed at alater date. The script was tweaked many times over and by the end Ipersonally felt was potentially a block buster movie.However, knowing nothing of the film industry, I read a great scriptand believed the results would be a great movie. Finally the movie wasbeing release and of course excited about watching a film on the bigscreen that I had read, my friend had written and also played a part.That day I learned a lot about the film industry. A script that in parthad me in stitches and literally rolling on the floor had beendestroyed. I'm not a director or expert in any way but somethingdefinitely went wrong during filming. One particular scene in thescript, when LLoyd was in the airport trying to dispose of his drugs,was without a doubt one of the funniest circumstances I had ever read.The film however, compared to the script, seem to skim over what Ithought should have had the audience in stitches. This was reflectedthroughout the duration of the movie.In conclusion despite all I have said above I still loved the movie andwas left laughing hysterically right till the very end. I didn't seethe last gag coming... it was a late edition to the script :)

Sjouke Hoeksema

22 April 2013

I dont know what this movie trying to be?!?

I like comedy movies I really do! So my friends and I went to hire amovie and we saw this one. And yes the tagline is: A hilarious moviewith the music of AC/DC and more... In dutch you know. So we thoughtcool let's hire this one. When we were home we sad back relax andplayed the DVD. I have 1 thing to say: Bummer! Just wasted another 90minutes of my life. The genre of the movie is COMEDY and I don't getit! Because is this movie trying to be a comedy or a drama? Sure thereare some funny parts in it but I think this movie is so boring. WhatDetroit rock city did for the kiss fans, this movie won't do for theAC/DC fans. And what's up with the soundtrack? Almost no songs of AC/DCin it, maybe a few but the most songs are covers:SSo be warned and see for yourself if you want to hire this movie, causeit gave me a bad day!

Scott Weinberg

13 April 2013

A warm and witty little road comedy, full of silly side-trips, colorful characters, and just enough heart to keep the adventure afloat.

penfi2001

13 April 2013

Awesome

I was lucky enough to get preview tix to see Thunderstruck.This is for anyone who has ever HEARD of ACDC and might have had apassing interest in their music. Anyone who has ever SEEN a boganAnyone who has a smidgeon of exposure to the sterotypical Australianlifestyle. Anyone who recalls what the Foodlands logo looks like.Its look at another aspect of Australian lifestyle and musicalinfluences of the 1980's. I kinda wished the mullets got their ownbilling because they were something else!!!Thunderstruck was about good old fashioned Aussie determination andnasty 80's haircuts.It was also nice to see some Perth talent. Onya Werzel!-F-

billy b

16 March 2013

It is a long way to the top...

I found this movie very enjoyable and fun to watch. I expected more AC/DC but got a touching story of friendship instead. When they sing Total Eclipse of the Heart in the van I laughed my balls off. Very funny. And the end with the concert in the graveyard with the bag pipes is very heartfelt and sweet. A good show.

Christopher Null

15 March 2013

Any metalhead or classic rock fanatic will find plenty here to enjoy, even if the on-screen proceedings are rote.

fleur-kelly

27 February 2013

You know what to expect... To be Thunderstruck

Lets face it, this movie was never meant to be "The Godfather: Part 2"or "Lost in Translation". It is totally about how far devoted fans ofbands will go for their Idols and their mates. And you know what youare letting yourself in for before you even step up to the Ticket boothand say "2 for the next screening of Thunderstuck please"Revolving around 4 mates who are keeping a promise to a old friend(Ronnie) who unfortunately was literally struck by thunder when a roguelighting strike hit him on a golf course. Sonny decides to pull thegang back together and take off with the ashes of Ronnie to thecemetery where Bon Scott grave is so they fulfill their promise to him.Of course They are on the east coast and the cemetery they have to getto is on the west coast, and in the middle is one of the roughestdeserts in the world. And of course they have no money for a planeflight over, so what to do?So Let the Mayhem begin with Sonny "Borrowing" his Dad's most belovedVan for the Trip without telling him first of course. Sonny and SamDrugging Ben to drag him away from his straight laced supermarket Job.Trying to keep the Cocaine trafficking Lloyd in line who is on the runfrom the Asian Triad, and being hit on by Petrol station owners. Oh itis never a easy road to keep a promise to your friends cremate asheswhich you happened to steal from his Succubus ex-wife. But a Promise isa Promise.

delaboy

27 February 2013

Why didnt they play thunderstruck at the end?

To understand just where this film goes wrong is too easy. A bashingtogether of all sorts of skits loosely trying to hold together a storyof four guys traveling across the Australian desert. Although overdone,the concept could have fulfilled its potential if actors were givendefinite characters and if the pace was slowed down a bit. It seems tolull about awhile trying to find its feet before magically coming tothe perfect solution in the end. A film that optimizes Australian filmmaking at the present. Whilst films like this are being made- with noreal plot, definite characters or originality - the film industry inAustralia will always lack the thunder and lightning it needs. Greatfun until you realize it isn't.

CapDac

23 February 2013

Awesome Aussie adventure

This film was a really interesting spin. Flicking through the channels,I found it, and the very next day I went out and bought the DVD. If youhaven't seen it, it's well worth it. See it nowIt isn't often that my home country comes out with a movie like this,but it does happen (The Castle, anyone?). It's about five AC/DC fansand their fanaticism, and a promise they make to each other, which theyinsist on keeping to each other years laterFirst off, the acting. The spotlight performance was easily StephenCurry as Ben; he handled being the loser-percussionist-smartass to thefurthest extent, and delivers some of the funniest (albeit cynical)lines of the movie. Ryan Johnson's Lloyd is a bit weird, but hisactions speak louder than his words (seeing as half of them are swears)and he handles that all right. Damon Gameau as Sonnie seemed a bit flatat times, but in some scenes he overshone even Curry. Admittedly, SamWorthington's Ronnie and Callan Mulvey's Sam received a bit lessdevelopment than their friends, but both had their moments. Theconfrontation of the wheelchair group was entertaining to the last.There were a few interesting cameos along the way; Geoff Gallop, theWestern Australia Premier as himself was a bit of a surprise. No onewould be at all surprised to know that AC/DC also played themselves inthis fan-fest, but a real shocker was the appearance of John Doyle (akaRoy, from Roy and HG) in his brief but hilarious appearance.The script and directing were very satisfying. This sort of story hasadmittedly been done before, but the script was full of enough plottwists to keep one interested (who expected Jason Gann and Shaun AngusHall to appear as a pair of obsessive, utterly misguided ACDC fans?)and Darren Ashton proved himself a very competent director. I lookforward to seeing his future workMost of the flashback scenes can bring tears of your laughter to youreyes; particularly those of Sonnie and Sam's past occupations. Theyreally help the story flowing as they gave the characters morebackground, but didn't detract from the story by dwelling too much onthem.The opening scene of the ACDC Tour Concert in '91 was alsointeresting, and set the scene really well. It took me a couple oftimes to watch it before I realised the significance of the hat, butthat sort of thing makes you want to watch it again, to see if youmissed much else.In short, a great watch, and well worth picking up. If you are an ACDCfan, this film is a must. If you aren't, it's a should.8/10

rooprect

22 February 2013

For Those About to Rent... I Salute You

OK, I'll say up front that this movie features only 1 AC/DC song (thetitle track) in the very beginning. At the end there's a good cover of"It's a Long Way to the Top", and somewhere in the middle is a bizarrecountry version of "TNT". Hardcore fans might recognize a song byFraternity, Bon Scott's band before he sang for AC/DC.But this movie isn't really for hardcore AC/DC fans, it's for everyone.Rather than the music of AC/DC, it focuses on the mischief and mayhemcaused by 4 loser friends in their late 20s, twelve years after theirrock'n'roll dreams burned out.It's a road movie, meaning there's not much of a plot other than abunch of guys being on the road most of the time. Strange, almostrandom scenes happen along the way, and that's what the fun is about.My favourite parts were: the creepy gas station guy and his "surprise",the crazed wheelchair rugby team, the Korean mafia (stick around afterthe credits), the argument over what letter should mark the spot (X?),and of course the two terminally stupid "Beavis & Butthead" fans whotake the lyrics of "Jailbreak" too literally.Some might say that this film has deeper themes about loyalty tofriends and youth, and about staying true to dreams despite gettingolder. But nah, I just see it as a wacky road movie."Thunderstruck" is pretty tame, not too much swearing and only onesexual situation. There are some references to drug use and 1 gross-outscene involving drugs and a toilet (and other things that go intoilets). But other than that it's mostly family-friendly.Three years after making "Thunderstruck", director Darren Ashton wouldmake "Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance" which is my all-time faveAussie comedy and one of the funniest comedies I've ever seen. ForAshton fans: these 2 movies are very different. While "Razzle Dazzle"has a cheeky Christopher-Guest-type of humour, "Thunderstruck" is morephysical and in-your-face like maybe "Wedding Crashers".Other similar Aussie comedies I recommend are Alex Proyas's "GarageDays" about a struggling band trying to get their first big break, and"The Wannabees" about a team of foul-mouthed crooks who somehow becomethe nation's most popular children's show. See them all and maybe you'lagree, Aussie comedy rocks.

Fernando

23 January 2013

long live BRIAN JOHNSON

this movie was very slow paced and lead no were ac dc wasent even in the entire movie but yet it was humorous i liked it i liked how they loved bon scott so much but personally i think brian johnson is better

Urban Cinefile Critics

23 January 2013

The music is great, the opening compelling and promising, and moments of fun are great. But Thunderstruck is not as thunderstriking as its elements might suggest.

kraymond-5

24 December 2012

quirky Australian

In terms of genre, this is a cross between a road movie (a drive acrossAustralia by 4 men) and a comedy.But to appreciate this film, you probably need to know a lot aboutAustralia and its culture and a reasonable amount about the rock groupAC/DC, especially their early years. So probably the ideal viewer is amiddle-aged Australian! I suspect other viewers simply may notunderstand the jokes nor recognise the many Australian actors andnon-actors in cameo roles, that make the film such a delight.The pilgrimage to the grave of Bon Scott's grave is a real-lifephenomena, with thousands of people visiting the grave every year, andapparently this film has contributed to even larger numbers of ACDCfans making the trip, so life does imitate art!

24 December 2012

A Fun Romp of a Film

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this film, but it has some appeal that I couldn't ignore. It's just a light comedy that's fun to watch. The story is simple yet entertaining, the characters are interesting enough, and the ending is fulfilling. Overall, it's worth seeing, especially for the final joke at the end of the credits. Even though it's not the best film I've ever seen, it's got enough humor and excitement to keep you watching till the very end. It's certainly a good film to watch with friends.