Anniversary screenings kick off with a nationwide celebration on Tuesday, 31 March, with the film presented in a newly polished 4K version. A decade after it first stole hearts (and broke box office records), Hunt for the Wilderpeople remains New Zealand’s highest-grossing local film and a defining piece of our cultural DNA.

Waititi, naturally, is having none of this “ten years” talk, “Ten years?! Absolutely not. That’s fake news,” says the director. “That would mean I’m older, and frankly I’ve decided that’s not my brand.”

In true Taika fashion, the filmmaker reflects on the film’s strange, wonderful afterlife — a scrappy Kiwi story about belonging that somehow went global, proving that great stories don’t date, even if the trackpants do.

The film’s cast remains an all-timer roll call of local legends, led by Julian Dennison as the immortal Ricky Baker and Sam Neill as gruff bush uncle Hec, alongside Rachel House, Rhys Darby, Rima Te Wiata, Oscar Kightley, Cohen Holloway, Stan Walker, Mike Minogue and more.

Dennison, reflecting on his breakout role, keeps it pure skux, “woah — 10 years. Ten years of the skuxxiest people, the nummiest treats, and running around the bush,” he says. “We didn’t choose the skux life — the skux life chose us.”

Neill, meanwhile, is ready to grab a seat and soak it all in again.

“That rarity from Aotearoa, a comedy,” he says. “It’s the kind of film that’s even better with an audience. I loved the cast, loved my genius director, loved the whole experience.”

Producer Carthew Neal says the re-release is about reconnecting with cinema as a shared experience.

“Remastering the film reminded us just how extraordinary it is on the big screen, the story, the performances, the sound of our bush and birdlife. This film belongs in cinemas, with whānau.”

Beyond the screenings, the anniversary celebrations stretch well beyond the cinema doors. NZ Post has released a commemorative stamp series featuring Kane Skennar’s photography from the film, while Impressed Recordings is issuing the soundtrack on vinyl for the first time, including a strictly limited Skux Edition signed by Waititi himself.

And yes, there’s beer. Garage Project is brewing a limited-edition Majestical Lager to toast the occasion, available alongside the re-release in cinemas and across the country.

Tickets for the anniversary screenings are on sale now, with cinemas around Aotearoa planning special events to make the night one to remember.

Ten years later, Hunt for the Wilderpeople isn’t just back — it’s proving that the skux life, like true Kiwi cinema, never really leaves the bush.

Image: MadMan Films

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Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Thor attempts to find inner peace, but must return to action and recruit Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster – who has become the Mighty Thor — to stop Gorr the God Butcher from eliminating all gods.

New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi re-vitalised what a Marvel Cinematic Universe film could be with 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, now, five years later, he’s back in the director’s chair and ready to take audiences on a wild ride into the outer cosmos with Thor: Love and Thunder. And this film is pure METAL! Bringing the unique trademark of his classic dry Kiwi wit and ability to conjure the fantastical from pure imagination, Thor: Love and Thunder is a film that is pure Taika, and audiences will fall in love with it all over again. Waititi’s mission with Thor: Love and Thunder is to take everything up a notch, and this film is a cosmos-hopping adventure of one lonely Thunder god who has to find a new purpose in his life, and re-kindle the feeling of what it means to be a hero again. And he absolutely delivers on it.

Packed out with bright colours and breathtaking creativity, Thor: Love and Thunder is poured from Waititi’s imagination with zeal and enthusiasm. Moments of epic planet-sweeping action and laugh-out-loud hysterics collide, with audiences swept up in all of it. It’s bold filmmaking on a new level, and Waititi takes what worked in Thor: Ragnarok and adds to it for an event movie that will resonate with so many people. Waititi has worked to make this film meaningful for everyone, and it’s an inclusive and fun romp that will have you smiling from ear to ear. His inventiveness helps bring to life previous unseen features of the MCU, and his neon palette makes for a vivid experience of visual wonder. Taika gets to play with all his action figures this time around, and it’s one hell of a show.

Aussie star and MCU legend Chris Hemsworth is once again centre screen as Thor Odinson, the ‘space Viking’, and Thor: Love and Thunder marks a new chapter in this character’s journey, and Hemsworth approaches it with zeal. Gone is the ‘Bro bod’ and instead we get the ‘God bod’, with Hemsworth looking every part the superhero in the film, and he has a blast swinging Stormbreaker around. But it’s not just hammer time for Hemsworth’s Thor, instead this Asgardian God undergoes quite a journey, and it’s a dramatic one. We get a greater insight into Thor’s motivations as part of his reinvention, and it’s clear to audiences that Hemsworth’s own life has impacted his performance. Waititi works to give Hemsworth’s Thor a new dimension, and he’s faced with a new challenge that tests him to his core as a hero.

Facing down Thor this time is Christian Bale as Gorr, a humanoid-alien who becomes possessed by the darkness of the Necrosword, and in his transformation, becomes known as ‘The God Butcher’. And his is a horrifically scary performance. Bale’s performance as Gorr could be likened to a combination of classic villains such as Nosferatu and The Child Catcher, and Gorr has a diabolical and bleak sense of humour that he torments his victims with. And Bale’s delivery is sure to make you shudder. Gorr is a truly worthy villain for Thor to face down, and Bale brings him to life in vivid detail, and audiences will be animated as the God and the God Butcher battle it out. Bale’s performance as Gorr ranks up with other top-tier Marvel villains such as Thanos and Eric Killmonger, and he’s sure to haunt the dark reaches of your nightmares.

Making her return to the MCU as Jane Foster is Natalie Portman, one of the MCU originals, and what a return it is! Faced with a life or death battle, Portman’s Foster harnesses the power of a reconstructed Mjolnir and becomes the Mighty Thor…and she wields the lightning with absolute authority. Foster picks up her terrific mix of chemistry and banter with Hemsworth once more, and the two of them get to have so much fun together in this new adventure. Whether they’re battling shadow monsters or falling in love with one another again, Portman and Hemsworth make a great pair on screen together, and their joint control over thunder and lightning makes this return that much more fun to watch.

Audiences should also expect a great mix of supporting performances as well. This time around the Guardians of the Galaxy are also along for the ride, and it’s fantastic to see our favourite characters back for all the fun. And then there’s Academy Award winner Russell Crowe who makes his MCU debut as the King of the Gods himself, Zeus, and he’s utterly enchanting in the role. Best described as a self-absorbed fop, Crowe’s Zeus has a very memorable interaction with Thor, Foster and their team, and Crowe gets plenty of laughs out of his audience. Plus stay around for the end credits for an incredibly important MCU debut that will get you amped for the future.

As a cinematic experience, Thor: Love and Thunder is a full-on heavy metal, superhero rock opera, and this film will have you amped from beginning to end. Packed full of bright colours, heavy riffs, and monster-bashing goodness, Thor: Love and Thunder is a flat-out fun ride, and you’ll be in full headbanger mode with this one. Waititi’s choices as a director are packed full of surprises, and the film’s third act delivers one hell of a roar that rocks the cinema with energy. From his unique incorporation of Norse mythology to his bold, imaginative worldbuilding, Waititi succeeds with Thor: Love and Thunder, and MCU fans will be pleased with this one.

Lightning strikes with Thor: Love and Thunder, and this is a film of pure fun for everyone. Every frame is energetic, animated and crackling with passion and brilliance, and it makes for a fabulous time out at the cinema.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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In the open world video game Free City, Guy (Reynolds) is a non-player character (NPC) working as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed by programmers Millie (Comer) and Keys (Keery) inserted into Free City by the publisher Antwan (Waititi), Guy becomes self-aware of his world being a video game, and takes steps to make himself the hero, creating a race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down.

Taking audiences inside a fully-rendered video game universe come to life is comedy all-star director Shawn Levy and with Ryan Reynolds at his side, these two creative partners craft one of the most enjoyable times at the cinema you’ll have all year. In Free Guy, Levy takes audiences inside the world of Free City, an off-the-wall crazy video game metropolis come to life that is packed out with slick heroes, exploding cars, non-stop gunfire and where the rules of the real world don’t apply. Levy builds a world that is an utter spectacle to witness, and it’s in this crazy environment that he introduces us to Ryan Reynolds’ ever-loveable Guy who is about to level up in a very big way.

Mixing together different genres from action cinema to hair-raising comedy, the heartfelt love story and the blockbuster special effects rollercoaster, Levy crafts what is undoubtedly one of the most original cinematic presentations of the last decade. And it’s so much fun to watch. But what Levy really gets right is the heart and joy of this film, and Free Guy is ultimately the story of an NPC who finds a way to take control of his life and the results are very fun to watch. Mixing together the narratives of both Free City and the real world keeps the narrative of Free Guy very entertaining and Levy and his crew have a lot of fun in taking audiences for a real ride with this one.

Ryan Reynolds might be one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but in Free Guy, he’s just Guy, an everyday, ordinary bank teller, also known as ‘blue-shirt guy’ who is a little too content with his life. That is until one shocking moment spins his world in a loop and soon Guy’s on a mission not just to be the good guy, but the great guy! Leaning into his spot on improvisation skills Reynolds keeps the energy and momentum of Free Guy fun and engaging, and with this evolving character and his knack for comedic timing you never know what he’s going to do next. There’s also a certain meta quality to Reynolds performance in Free Guy and he fully embraces the fun, zaniness and totally out there energy that exists within this narrative.

Finding herself at the centre of Guy’s world as his ultimate dreamgirl is rising star Jodie Comer as Molotov Girl/Milly and things get very complicated for Comer in this film. Existing as both a Free City avatar, alongside living her life in the real world, Milly goes on quite a journey alongside Guy, and the two of them grow and evolve together throughout the film and form a connection that will absolutely resonate with audiences. Comer is utterly impressive in her first major film appearance and completely keeps up with Reynolds, alongside giving the Canadian performer a real run for the money with her own performance in the film. Great on-screen chemistry keeps things interesting and Comer really makes the role her own.

But every story needs a villain and they don’t come more disdastardly than New Zealand’s very own Taika Waititi in the role of kooky tech publisher Antwan. And Taika’s performance is completely off the wall here! As the puppeteer of Free City, Antwan is only concerned with the profit margin and wielding absolute power has turned him into one hell of a troll and he wastes no time in letting his underlings know where they stand. Waititi makes for a hilariously funny bully as Antwan and there’s a terrific Kiwi flavour to his performance as Antwan, and audiences will be in uncontrollable fits of laughter thanks to his performance and the choices he makes in the role.

Did we mention that Free Guy is a wild ride? Yep, it totally is! The laws of physics don’t apply in the crazy landscape of Free City and it’s incredible to watch this multiplayer video game world come to life on the big screen. Director Shawn Levy and his team really crank up the volume with the action of Free Guy, and Reynolds gets to do some utterly crazy things as he sets off to be the great guy. Free Guy really does have everything you could want in an action movie and the results speak for themselves with some crazy set-pieces. And while I do want to stay away from spoilers, I will say that pop culture fanatics will be in for some thoroughly awesome treats with this movie…so keep your eyes open.

Alongside the action of Free Guy is the comedy. And it’s EPIC! Seriously this film is hilariously funny, and when Reynolds, Comer and Waititi start cracking jokes there’s no stopping them. Plus there’s the nuances and general hilarity of the video game world of Free City and the actions of its ‘community’ of Free City that only adds to the laughs. You can also expect a few hilarious surprises along the way as well, and one such surprise single-handedly had me in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. You’ll know it when you see it, and this special guest really brings out the LOLs of Free Guy. Trust me.

I also can’t forget to mention the heart of Free Guy as well, and there’s plenty to love and adore with this film because at its core Free Guy is ultimately a love story. That’s right, romance is in the air and from the moment he hears Molotov Girl humming Mariah Carey’s ‘Fantasy’ he’s completely smitten and these two go on a wondrous journey of first love as they come together to not only save Free City, but also each other. But that’s not where the love ends, and this digital love spills out into the real world and this is where it gets really interesting in Free Guy. The love that exists between Guy and Molotov Girl is sweet, nostalgic and ultimately heartfelt and audiences will be sure to have all the feels with this one.

From beginning to end, Free Guy is a story of love, adventure and explosions, but Levy, Reynolds, Comer, Waititi and the rest of the cast and crew work to tell a very engaging story of what it means to wake up to your life and ultimately make it the best it can possibly be. This is a story of possibility, optimism and hope, and watching Free Guy you can’t help but feel the joy. Are there obstacles and difficulties to overcome? Of course there are, but this is a story that asks its audience to believe in the possible and shows how working together can ultimately lead to some very big wins. You can’t help but feel joyful and positive after watching this movie and it really is so much fun!

Free Guy is far and away one of the most original and creatively enjoyable pieces of cinema that I can remember watching in a long, long time. Every part of this movie is an utter joy to watch and its perfect combination of creative expression, topline performance, bombastic action and heartfelt romance will leave you with a very big smile on your face. It’s not simply a good movie….IT’S A GREAT MOVIE!

Image: 20th Century Studios

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During the Second World War, lonely German boy Jojo “Rabbit” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) has his worldview turned upside down when he discovers that his single mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary friend in the form of an idiotic version of Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi), Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.

With Jojo Rabbit Taika Waititi’s total creativity is on display here in this ‘anti-hate satire’ and the results are incredible. Taking audiences back to Nazi Germany circa late 1944, Waititi builds out a cinematic experience that truly stands on its own within every part of its construction. From direction to the narrative, set dressing and costuming, music and cinematography, and not to mention an incredibly gifted cast who give their all and open up their hearts to this very special project, Jojo Rabbit has it all and then some.

Every time Waititi approaches a new canvas he brings to life something entirely new and fresh to the big screen, and Jojo Rabbit stands out from all of his previous pictures. While on the surface, Jojo Rabbit is an outlandishly zany comedy, the laughter is used as a smoke-screen of sorts by the talented director to help discuss some critical dramatic issues which are of extreme relevance to the film’s setting, along with our own current time period today. It is here through his unique filter that Waititi can discuss issues related to love, acceptance, prejudice, tolerance and freedom, and he does an incredible job doing so.

In watching Jojo Rabbit we are seeing Waititi mature as a filmmaker, and his unique artistic voice is sure to entrance audiences here with its wild style and the deep issues that he focuses in on within the film. You really can’t pick where this film is going to go as it possesses a style all of its own. Gone is the classic three-act narrative structure that audiences have become so familiar with and in its place is a very unique frame by which to watch this film. Waititi and editor Tom Eagles get innovative in the cutting room and combined with the whimsical score of composer Michael Giacchino, all of your emotions are sure to rise to the surface here. Waititi, through his own heritage, is extremely sensitive to the issues present in the film, yet he does not hide away from anything that could be felt to be upsetting. Through his utilization of both satire and realism, Waititi crafts something that affects his audience for the better and he needs to be commended for his actions here.

Waititi is not alone in bringing the specialness of Jojo Rabbit to life and he has an incredible cast on hand to help him. At the forefront of this is young Roman Griffin Davis who takes on the role of Johannes “Jojo” Betzler and he shines in the role. When we first meet Jojo he’s just your typical 10-year old boy who’s living his best Nazi life in a tumultuous Germany filled with day trips to a Hitler Youth camp and time helping to spread the Nazi ideology. In short, Jojo is filled by fanatical fervour and is a zealot to Hitler’s cause….but he’s not all he seems to be. Underneath this radical fanaticism is a sensitive boy who’s actually a good kid and who through the events of the movie learns some true lessons in relation to right and wrong, and who is thoroughly changed by the movie’s completion.

Griffin Davis is fantastic in the role and shoulders the responsibility of this film with incredible ease and skill. He shows a great array of emotions here and as an audience member, you completely buy into the transformative journey that he undertakes via the power of his performance. Griffin Davis is an incredible asset to this film, and its success truly rests with him, and the story and its narrative power is all the more successful because of his involvement.

Matched next to Griffin Davis is Thomasin McKenzie as Elsa Korr, a teenaged Jewish girl who has secretly been hiding in the walls of Jojo’s home and who becomes a foil for him in the very beginning of the film. As the events of the film unfold their relationship grows in a very interesting way and McKenzie’s Elsa is the most interesting character to take to the screen.

And it must be said that Thomasin McKenzie is a complete revelation in the part. The 19-year-old New Zealand actress completely holds the centre of the audience’s attention and strikes a great balance between a tough-minded survivor and a sort of caring elder sister to Griffin Davis’ Jojo. As the events of the film progress and their narrative grows stronger the two of them reach an interesting place narratively and McKenzie’s power as an actress is on full display by the end of the film. This young actress does an incredible job in Jojo Rabbit and with her level of talent, she’s surely ready for plenty of Hollywood glory in the near future.

Lending considerable support to Griffin Davis and McKenzie in this film are established players including Scarlett Johansson as Rosie Betzler, Jojo’s mother and Sam Rockwell as Captain Klenzendorf, a German army officer who runs the Hitler Youth Camp that Jojo attends and who is sort of a mentor to the young kid. In her role, Johansson is the light and possibility of the piece and instils in Jojo a desire for love and life, while also trying to push him away from his Nazi ways out of complete love for her son. Rockwell on the other hand as Captain Klenzendorf or Captain K as he’s called by his camp charges is an oafish, fool-like character who soon turns out to be a far more capable individual and who sees the larger picture at hand. Rockwell always endears himself within every performance he gives and he shines brightly here and audiences will just love the humour and kookiness that he brings to the part.

But it wouldn’t be Jojo Rabbit without us addressing the elephant in the room and yes I’m referring to director Taika Waititi’s performance here as a man called Adolf….and it is brilliant! As Jojo’s imagery best friend, Adolf is a complete buffoon who possess the mind of a 10-year-old and who completely steals every scene he’s in. Completely zany and flying in out of left field, Waititi’s Adolf is a rather idiotic conscience for Jojo and he plays a crucial part in the film’s events as the story unfolds. Waititi goes all out here and Jojo Rabbit is all the more amazing because of his onscreen presence. And for a director who wanted to rip apart everything that Hitler stood for, well, he does one hell of a good job in completing that mission through this portrayal.

Thematically Jojo Rabbit operates on several very different levels and its canvas is far larger than I thought it would have been. This is a piece of deep cinematic thinking, and its messages and use of visual symbology is incredibly affecting to its audience here. This is Waititi’s deepest film to date and you can’t help but be moved by its events. It carries with it a strong message related to love, acceptance, tolerance and the power of freedom and in the tumultuous era that we now live in its narrative statements couldn’t be more powerful.

Jojo Rabbit is an incredibly brave film to make and it’s a piece of cinema that truly speaks to its audience. It is destined to become a cinema classic and in my opinion, stands as the most important film released this year thanks to the power of its craftsmanship and the beauty and sincerity of its message. Those who attend it are certain to be moved by its narrative and it’s an utterly special experience that you won’t soon forget. See it now.

Image: 20th Century Fox

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A wicked new batch of images have been released and showcase plenty of cool character moments from the upcoming film.

Not only do we get a look at an imminent showdown between Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, but we also get a closer look at Karl Urban’s Asgardian bruiser Skurge. Taking centre stage, however, is Jeff Goldblum as The Grandmaster, a character who could very well give Loki a run for his money as a trickster, and who is the overseer of the gladiatorial games on the planet Sakaar.

Thor: Ragnarok is without a doubt one of this year’s coolest upcoming blockbusters and long-time Marvel fans will be in for a treat with this one when it arrives in cinemas on October 26.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Here’s the synopsis:

Held captive on the alien world of Sakaar without his hammer, Thor (Hemsworth), must win a gladiatorial fight against his former ally – The Hulk (Mark Ruffolo) – in order to escape Sakaar and return to Asgard to combat the forces of Hela (Cate Blanchett), as she intends to unleash Ragnarok upon Asgard.

Set to Led Zepplin’s classic rock anthem Immigrant Song, the new teaser promises fans something fresh, fun and less dark than the previous Thor solo outing, which is exactly what we’d expect from director Taika Waititi.

Thor: Ragnarok will arrive in theatres on October 26 in New Zealand and Australia, and on November 3 in the US and UK.

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