Black Swan: Movie Review
Black Swan
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara
Hershey, Winona Ryder
Director: Darren Aronofsky
It's the film which is generating Oscar buzz for Natalie Portman's portrayal
of a ballet dancer.
Set in New York, this latest from The Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky
follows a ballet company which is about to put on a new version of Swan
Lake.
Portman plays Nina Sayers, a control freak of a dancer who's pushed herself
as far as she can go for her role; with an obsessive desire to be part of the
new production, she's gone right to the physical edge.
In charge of casting, company director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to
replace Winona Ryder's Beth MacIntyre with Sayers for the lead of the Swan
Queen, believing Nina can push herself further than before.
As Sayers starts to work on loosening up and getting in touch with her darker
side, she forms a friendship with fellow dancer Lily (Mila Kunis). But as the
show draws ever closer and she tries to channel the deeper more disturbed Black
Swan, Nina's world starts to fall apart amid jealousy and paranoia.
Black Swan is astounding, confounding, audacious, confusing and compelling
viewing in equal parts.
It's a dizzying head trip of a film at times - and with an awards worthy
performance from Natalie Portman as the dancer on the edge. The swings as the
psycho drama plays out are incredible and the compelling performance delivers in
spades. She captures the fragility and the delicateness of the physicality of
the dancing role as well as the mental tone too.
For example, the girl who breaks down in the toilet after being
selected telling her mother on the phone in an almost babyish voice "He picked
me, mommy" is a stark contrast to the ballerina who takes to the stage at the
end.
Black Swan is one of those films which you'll have to watch multiple times to
pick up on everything - thanks to the masterful web woven by Aronofsky.
Everyone's the star of this film; from a good turn by Winona Ryder as the
princess of the company who's on the way out to the impressive performances of
Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel. Each does more than enough to feed the paranoia
of the ego as well as propel the drama along apace.
But it's the odd moments, the nightmarish windows into Sayer's fragile soul
which catch you unawares and deliver the WTF emotional punches as the horror
moments appear unexpectedly.
Outrageous, insane and yet incredibly mesmerizing and impressive, Black Swan
is an enigma, a riddle wrapped up in a deeply disturbing and tightly woven
multi-layered script.
It's also bound for great things.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Dr Who: The Seeds of Doom: DVD Review
Dr Who: The Seeds of Doom: DVD Review
Dr Who - The Seeds of Doom
Released by BBC and Roadshow
Rating: G
This six parter from 1976 and the Tom Baker era is a firm fan favourite.
In it the 4th Doctor and his companion Sarah Jane (the ever popular Elisabeth Sladen) discover a threat to the Earth (again) with the finding of two seed pods in the arctic waste.
When the alien Krynoid pods find their way into the hands of a deranged botanist, the Doc's got a fight on his hands to ensure life on Earth doesn't end - and the plants don't take over.
Classic, revered and well acted, The Seeds of Doom is Who firing on all cylinders - it's gritty, and a serial which is the very best of Who - thanks in part to the acting of Baker and Sladen.
The pair here deliver a masterclass in Who - and there's a real edginess to this; a feeling that the stakes are higher than ever.
A lively commentary with Baker (but sadly missing Sladen) enriches the affair - and the extras on this two disc set continue the high quality of recent releases. A short doco looking at the birth of the Dr Who Magazine is a welcome addition.
All in all, if you were ever looking for a jumping off point and a reason to watch Dr Who pre its 2005 relaunch, this is it.
Extras: Commentary, Doco on the making of the serial, doco on the comic adventures of Dr Who, Easter eggs - a good bunch.
Rating: 8/10
Dr Who - The Seeds of Doom
Released by BBC and Roadshow
Rating: G
This six parter from 1976 and the Tom Baker era is a firm fan favourite.
In it the 4th Doctor and his companion Sarah Jane (the ever popular Elisabeth Sladen) discover a threat to the Earth (again) with the finding of two seed pods in the arctic waste.
When the alien Krynoid pods find their way into the hands of a deranged botanist, the Doc's got a fight on his hands to ensure life on Earth doesn't end - and the plants don't take over.
Classic, revered and well acted, The Seeds of Doom is Who firing on all cylinders - it's gritty, and a serial which is the very best of Who - thanks in part to the acting of Baker and Sladen.
The pair here deliver a masterclass in Who - and there's a real edginess to this; a feeling that the stakes are higher than ever.
A lively commentary with Baker (but sadly missing Sladen) enriches the affair - and the extras on this two disc set continue the high quality of recent releases. A short doco looking at the birth of the Dr Who Magazine is a welcome addition.
All in all, if you were ever looking for a jumping off point and a reason to watch Dr Who pre its 2005 relaunch, this is it.
Extras: Commentary, Doco on the making of the serial, doco on the comic adventures of Dr Who, Easter eggs - a good bunch.
Rating: 8/10
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Farscape: The Complete Collection: DVD Review
Farscape: The Complete Collection: DVD Review
Farscape - The Complete Collection
Released by Magna Home Ent
Rating: R13
The Aussie/ American scifi Jim Henson TV series finally gets a complete box release which pulls together the four series and the spin off TV movie, The Peacekeeper Wars.
Ben Browder acquired plenty of devoted fans in this series - he's John Crichton, an American astronaut, who ends up in the wrong part of space after traversing a worm hole (always the way).
Picked up by a living spaceship, Crichton finds himself forced to live with the aliens as he tries to get home. But his quest to get back puts him into direct conflict with Scorpius, the leader of the Peacekeepers, a bunch of alien baddies.
Farscape was innovative for its time - and this collection, complete with a range of special features, interviews and docos explains why. With some top of the range animatronic puppetry, the series certainly offered something different to the genre - and thanks to some pretty impressive writing, the stories proffered up something different.
But where the creators succeeded in this was the characters - their humanity (despite the fact they're primarily aliens) gave the show the credence it needed - and because of that, the writing rarely dropped in quality (although as ever with a series like this, there are exceptions). Plus later seasons become a little inpenetrable if you've not been there from the start.
An impressively culled together set,The Farscape Collection offers hours of entertainment and a reminder of why Jim Henson was such the visionary.
Rating: 8/10
Farscape - The Complete Collection
Released by Magna Home Ent
Rating: R13
The Aussie/ American scifi Jim Henson TV series finally gets a complete box release which pulls together the four series and the spin off TV movie, The Peacekeeper Wars.
Ben Browder acquired plenty of devoted fans in this series - he's John Crichton, an American astronaut, who ends up in the wrong part of space after traversing a worm hole (always the way).
Picked up by a living spaceship, Crichton finds himself forced to live with the aliens as he tries to get home. But his quest to get back puts him into direct conflict with Scorpius, the leader of the Peacekeepers, a bunch of alien baddies.
Farscape was innovative for its time - and this collection, complete with a range of special features, interviews and docos explains why. With some top of the range animatronic puppetry, the series certainly offered something different to the genre - and thanks to some pretty impressive writing, the stories proffered up something different.
But where the creators succeeded in this was the characters - their humanity (despite the fact they're primarily aliens) gave the show the credence it needed - and because of that, the writing rarely dropped in quality (although as ever with a series like this, there are exceptions). Plus later seasons become a little inpenetrable if you've not been there from the start.
An impressively culled together set,The Farscape Collection offers hours of entertainment and a reminder of why Jim Henson was such the visionary.
Rating: 8/10
Monday, 24 January 2011
Game review: The Sly Trilogy
Game review: The Sly Trilogy
The Sly Trilogy
Released by Sony for PS3
Nearly a decade after its original release on PlayStation 2, this classic HD remastering of the Sly Trilogy has hit PS3.
The Sly Trilogy collects together the platforming games Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, a trio of extremely playable games.
The hero is Sly Cooper, who's a pastiche of film noir/ comic book - Cooper is a master thief, with a question mark style cane, who vaults through the air, sneaks about and generally does the theft stuff pretty well.
In the first game, Sly's on the hunt for a book which collects together his family's thieving tricks of the trade - which ironically has been stolen. The second sees him tracking down parts of a clock which has super powers - and the final outing sees him trying to break into a family vault.
The Sly Trilogy is immensely playable third person stuff marred only by a minor problem.
Across mini levels within each, the game plays well and zips along with ease - there's occasional frustrations with the viewpoint of the character not always being the easiest to negotiate - but it's a minor niggle. There's also the bonus that this game can be played with PlayStation Move too - adding to the original on many levels.
This version's been ported over from the original trilogy and the HD quality is pretty impressive with cartoon segueways into each adventure - voiceovers and characters add humour and amusement to the proceedings.
It's challenging in parts but with ways to boost your immunity during levels and a bit of memory, you can beat most of the threats and end of level bosses fairly quickly during each heist mini-adventure.
The collection of three games is a brilliant move which allows you to flit between adventures and pick up wherever you want. With extra moves to be learned, and a depth of gaming, plus with mini games within, there's certainly hours and hours of entertainment here.
The Sly Trilogy is a welcome remastering - it's true to the original and expands the fun element to all gamers of any age.
Rating: 8/10
The Sly Trilogy
Released by Sony for PS3
Nearly a decade after its original release on PlayStation 2, this classic HD remastering of the Sly Trilogy has hit PS3.
The Sly Trilogy collects together the platforming games Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, a trio of extremely playable games.
The hero is Sly Cooper, who's a pastiche of film noir/ comic book - Cooper is a master thief, with a question mark style cane, who vaults through the air, sneaks about and generally does the theft stuff pretty well.
In the first game, Sly's on the hunt for a book which collects together his family's thieving tricks of the trade - which ironically has been stolen. The second sees him tracking down parts of a clock which has super powers - and the final outing sees him trying to break into a family vault.
The Sly Trilogy is immensely playable third person stuff marred only by a minor problem.
Across mini levels within each, the game plays well and zips along with ease - there's occasional frustrations with the viewpoint of the character not always being the easiest to negotiate - but it's a minor niggle. There's also the bonus that this game can be played with PlayStation Move too - adding to the original on many levels.
This version's been ported over from the original trilogy and the HD quality is pretty impressive with cartoon segueways into each adventure - voiceovers and characters add humour and amusement to the proceedings.
It's challenging in parts but with ways to boost your immunity during levels and a bit of memory, you can beat most of the threats and end of level bosses fairly quickly during each heist mini-adventure.
The collection of three games is a brilliant move which allows you to flit between adventures and pick up wherever you want. With extra moves to be learned, and a depth of gaming, plus with mini games within, there's certainly hours and hours of entertainment here.
The Sly Trilogy is a welcome remastering - it's true to the original and expands the fun element to all gamers of any age.
Rating: 8/10
Survivors: S2 DVD Review
Survivors: S2 DVD Review
Survivors Series Two
Released by BBC And Roadshow
Rating: M
The second series of the post apocalyptic drama picks up on the cliff hanger of season one and then rapidly moves on during the course of its six episodes.
Based on Terry Nation's original series from the 70s, this drama isn't bad going - and thanks to a cast of talented actors, it's pretty plausible.
But don't get too invested in the second series, which sees the original gang of survivors who made it through the unleashing of a plague, haunted by a mysterious group who are known as the Lab.
They're scientists who avoided the initial infection and will do everything in their power to find a cure.
So with the scavengers doing what they can to get by, and the Lab closing in on them, the scene's set for a showdown.
Gritty and dramatic in places, Survivors is a watchable series - Greg Paterson and Julie Graham are the two main stand outs in the cast - and Max Beesley's edgy criminal adds a frisson to the proceedings.
The second series of the pandemic drama ends maddeningly on a cliffhanger which is unlikely to be resolved thanks to cancellation.
Engrossing drama it may be - but you can see creatively that some of the strains were showing and the ideas running out a little - however, Survivors Series Two will be a necessity to those who've invested in the first; but may be not so much to those who're new to it.
Rating: 6/10
Survivors Series Two
Released by BBC And Roadshow
Rating: M
The second series of the post apocalyptic drama picks up on the cliff hanger of season one and then rapidly moves on during the course of its six episodes.
Based on Terry Nation's original series from the 70s, this drama isn't bad going - and thanks to a cast of talented actors, it's pretty plausible.
But don't get too invested in the second series, which sees the original gang of survivors who made it through the unleashing of a plague, haunted by a mysterious group who are known as the Lab.
They're scientists who avoided the initial infection and will do everything in their power to find a cure.
So with the scavengers doing what they can to get by, and the Lab closing in on them, the scene's set for a showdown.
Gritty and dramatic in places, Survivors is a watchable series - Greg Paterson and Julie Graham are the two main stand outs in the cast - and Max Beesley's edgy criminal adds a frisson to the proceedings.
The second series of the pandemic drama ends maddeningly on a cliffhanger which is unlikely to be resolved thanks to cancellation.
Engrossing drama it may be - but you can see creatively that some of the strains were showing and the ideas running out a little - however, Survivors Series Two will be a necessity to those who've invested in the first; but may be not so much to those who're new to it.
Rating: 6/10
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Beneath Hill 60: Blu Ray Review
Beneath Hill 60: Blu Ray Review
Beneath Hill 60
Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Entertainment
Beneath Hill 60 is the latest recreation of World War I's horrors and is based on the true story of Aussie miner Oliver Woodward (an outstandingly compassionate turn from Brendan Cowell) and his part in the war effort in 1916.
After initially being held back from the war to help mine for munitions supplies, Woodward joins the Western Front and with a successful attempt at removing an Allied threat, he and his team are pushed up the line to try and help them take Hill 60 - by working underground.
But the Germans are also keen to ensure that the famous Hill 60 doesn't fall, thus setting up a game of cat and mouse.
Beneath Hill 60 is a claustrophobic, grimy affair - as you'd expect from a film about mining and the first World War. The recreation of the trenches and the daily horrors only serve to make me appreciate how much was given at the time by those who fought.
Woodward's story at the western front is interspersed with flashbacks to his time in his homeland - When the action (such as it is) cuts back to the trenches, there's plenty of nail-biting moments to be had - from scenes of men getting lost in No Man's Land to German miners getting ever closer to discovering what Woodward and his men are up to. Because of the quiet character moments of this film, when the shocks come, some of them are real surprises.
Gritty, and gripping in equal measures, Beneath Hill 60 is one of the best war films for a long time - even if it does lack a major emotional denouement.
Extras: Commentary, storyboards and Photogallery - very disappointing given that this is based on a true story - why nothing about the actual men involved?
Rating: 8/10
Beneath Hill 60
Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Entertainment
Beneath Hill 60 is the latest recreation of World War I's horrors and is based on the true story of Aussie miner Oliver Woodward (an outstandingly compassionate turn from Brendan Cowell) and his part in the war effort in 1916.
After initially being held back from the war to help mine for munitions supplies, Woodward joins the Western Front and with a successful attempt at removing an Allied threat, he and his team are pushed up the line to try and help them take Hill 60 - by working underground.
But the Germans are also keen to ensure that the famous Hill 60 doesn't fall, thus setting up a game of cat and mouse.
Beneath Hill 60 is a claustrophobic, grimy affair - as you'd expect from a film about mining and the first World War. The recreation of the trenches and the daily horrors only serve to make me appreciate how much was given at the time by those who fought.
Woodward's story at the western front is interspersed with flashbacks to his time in his homeland - When the action (such as it is) cuts back to the trenches, there's plenty of nail-biting moments to be had - from scenes of men getting lost in No Man's Land to German miners getting ever closer to discovering what Woodward and his men are up to. Because of the quiet character moments of this film, when the shocks come, some of them are real surprises.
Gritty, and gripping in equal measures, Beneath Hill 60 is one of the best war films for a long time - even if it does lack a major emotional denouement.
Extras: Commentary, storyboards and Photogallery - very disappointing given that this is based on a true story - why nothing about the actual men involved?
Rating: 8/10
Dr Who: Series 5: DVD Review
Dr Who: Series 5: DVD Review
Doctor Who Series Five
Rating: PG
Released by BBC
So the latest escapades for the Doctor are all bundled up into this fifth annual set since the revival of the show in 2005.
And with a new set, comes a new Doctor - this time, the youngest ever in the form of foppishly haired, manic Matt Smith who quite honestly, has inhabited the role of the Time Lord brilliantly from the moment he stepped into the TARDIS.
It's a new show in many ways this year with new cast, new producers (longtime fan Steven Moffat) and an entirely new ethos at the helm of it all. Yet, it still remains eminently watchable - despite the many ups and downs there were during the fifth season's 13 episode run.
It starts off with aplomb in the Steven Moffat scripted The Eleventh Hour as Matt becomes the Doctor so charismatically and so quickly - but with episodes like the Hungry Earth, Victory of The Daleks and Vincent and The Doctor, the show hits an uneven keel in the writing room.
For every miss, there's a hit - and this is clearly a show now being run by someone who was always a fan first and foremost - never before have so many echoes of the series' 48 year history been so in play; from the flashbacks during the Eleventh Hour to a reel of the Doc's previous female companions in one of the Meanwhile in the TARDIS scripted extras, this is a show which embraces and loves its past.
There are hints of an ongoing arc into the next series - but with a bout of unevenness, I'm hoping better writing next year will match upto the standard of the simply excellent Matt Smith.
Extras: Disappointing this year - although the two 3 minute Meanwhile in the TARDIS scenes link episodes well, there's a lack of anything major to stand out on this set. Monster Files have been brought in from the episodic releases and Behind the scenes series, the Cut down confidentials merely offer a lot of back slapping this time around. Vid cam diaries from the actors add something but I can't help but feel a little short changed all round this year from one of my all time favourite characters and shows.
Rating: 6/10
Doctor Who Series Five
Rating: PG
Released by BBC
So the latest escapades for the Doctor are all bundled up into this fifth annual set since the revival of the show in 2005.
And with a new set, comes a new Doctor - this time, the youngest ever in the form of foppishly haired, manic Matt Smith who quite honestly, has inhabited the role of the Time Lord brilliantly from the moment he stepped into the TARDIS.
It's a new show in many ways this year with new cast, new producers (longtime fan Steven Moffat) and an entirely new ethos at the helm of it all. Yet, it still remains eminently watchable - despite the many ups and downs there were during the fifth season's 13 episode run.
It starts off with aplomb in the Steven Moffat scripted The Eleventh Hour as Matt becomes the Doctor so charismatically and so quickly - but with episodes like the Hungry Earth, Victory of The Daleks and Vincent and The Doctor, the show hits an uneven keel in the writing room.
For every miss, there's a hit - and this is clearly a show now being run by someone who was always a fan first and foremost - never before have so many echoes of the series' 48 year history been so in play; from the flashbacks during the Eleventh Hour to a reel of the Doc's previous female companions in one of the Meanwhile in the TARDIS scripted extras, this is a show which embraces and loves its past.
There are hints of an ongoing arc into the next series - but with a bout of unevenness, I'm hoping better writing next year will match upto the standard of the simply excellent Matt Smith.
Extras: Disappointing this year - although the two 3 minute Meanwhile in the TARDIS scenes link episodes well, there's a lack of anything major to stand out on this set. Monster Files have been brought in from the episodic releases and Behind the scenes series, the Cut down confidentials merely offer a lot of back slapping this time around. Vid cam diaries from the actors add something but I can't help but feel a little short changed all round this year from one of my all time favourite characters and shows.
Rating: 6/10
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