Spartacus: Gods of the Arena: Blu Ray review
Spartacus: Gods of The Arena
Rating: R18
Released by Madman Entertainment
The prequel to the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand sees John Hannah and our
very own Lucy Lawless take centre stage in a 6 hour miniseries.
Hannah is Roman Batiatus, an ambitious man who wants his champion Gannicus to
take his rightful place in the arena and earn the house the fame it deserves.
But Batiatus, along with his conniving wife Lucretia (Lawless) will do anything
to get there - and quite frankly, as politics and rivalries stand in the way,
that's a good thing.
It leads to a heady mix of glorified violence, steamy and raunchy sex and a
healthy dose of betrayal, lust and mistrust.
Spartacus Gods of the Arena has been described as a guilty pleasure and
that's pretty much on the mark; the fight scenes are incredibly well
choreographed and simply put, there's never been anything more brutal, more
bloodspattered and more watchable on the small screen.
Hannah impresses as the lead and Lawless, along with Jaime Murray, add a
level of cunning to the overall production.
If there's to be a criticism in this tale of politicking and honour among the
gladiators, the series does recycle its plots a little toward the end of the
run, but it's such a powerful run and a compelling pleasure, that you almost
forget that.
Extras: A raft of special features with some really interesting looks at how
it was all put together and the Blu Ray offers extended episodes (shame you
can't watch the cut down ones as well)
Rating: 8/10
Saturday, 17 September 2011
Black Books: The Definitive Collection: DVD Review
Black Books: The Definitive Collection: DVD Review
Black Books - The Definitive Collection
Rating: M
Released by Shock
Collecting together all three series of this UK sitcom with Dylan Moran is a sensible move.
Packaging it up in a collectors' book box set, is an even better one.
Moran plays Bernard Black, the eccentric bookshop owner who is only interested in being drunk and abusive to customers; Bill Bailey plays his sidekick Manny and Tamsin Greig is a fellow shopkeeper who falls in with their insane ways.
There's so much to love about this comedy from the creators of Father Ted; it's lunatic, funny, bizarre and a little nuts to be honest - but it's eminently watchable and well worth your time.
Extras: A Whole wealth which have previously been available on other collections but with a new doco, this feels like the ultimate collection which fans will adore.
Rating: 7/10
Black Books - The Definitive Collection
Rating: M
Released by Shock
Collecting together all three series of this UK sitcom with Dylan Moran is a sensible move.
Packaging it up in a collectors' book box set, is an even better one.
Moran plays Bernard Black, the eccentric bookshop owner who is only interested in being drunk and abusive to customers; Bill Bailey plays his sidekick Manny and Tamsin Greig is a fellow shopkeeper who falls in with their insane ways.
There's so much to love about this comedy from the creators of Father Ted; it's lunatic, funny, bizarre and a little nuts to be honest - but it's eminently watchable and well worth your time.
Extras: A Whole wealth which have previously been available on other collections but with a new doco, this feels like the ultimate collection which fans will adore.
Rating: 7/10
Friday, 16 September 2011
Game Review - Resistance 3
Game Review - Resistance 3
Resistance 3
Released by Insomniac Games
Platform: PS3
Third time is the charm, right?
In this latest from the prolific and much loved Insomniac Games and the Resistance series, it's four years since the end of Resistance 2.
Sentinel Joseph Capelli has given up fighting the Chimeran menace. Now he's in hiding with other survivors, including his wife and young son.
But when Dr. Fyodor Malikov arrives with the opportunity to deliver a blow to the occupying Chimeran force, Capelli must leave his family and journey the harrowing road from Oklahoma to New York City.
However, the Chimera menace is everywhere to be seen along the way - and Capelli needs to be smart and sensibly armed if he's going to win the day.
A first person sci fi shooter with a 1950s setting, Resistance 3 is playable, terrifying and engrossing to say the least.
But it's not just a case of shooting and running, hoping that tactic will save the day. You actually have to be a little bit smarter than the average gamer and work out how best to use weapons so you don't deplete your ammo while on a killing spree; it's also wise to use your brain to realise when it's best to hide and when it's best to try and avoid the Chimera.
However, that's not always easy - and when some of the Chimera, such as the ones which are essentially suicide chemical blobs target you, sometimes you just can't get away fast enough.
Weaponry such as a Deadeye sniper rifle, a nitrogen freezing ray and various types of grenades all get upgraded with constant use - and so ultimately, Capelli becomes somewhat of a fighting force.
The online components of Resistance 3 are also a boon too - by logging on, you can join others to work together to get rid of the Chimera or try to seize areas in combat simulation games such as steal the flag etc. The player cooperative facilities are a great asset to the game and also give you a chance to feel that the gameplay in Resistance 3 is actually global rather than one man taking on the might of the marauding baddies.
The developers though, have wisely chosen to ground the whole game in a human element as Capelli does whatever he can to protect his wife and young son. It's a nice touch with adds a bit of heart to the cutscenes and a poignant urgency to the campaigns as you immerse yourself in this world.
All in all, Resistance 3 is one of the best FPS games I've played - time to sign up and join to protect the future of the world!
Rating: 8/10
Resistance 3
Released by Insomniac Games
Platform: PS3
Third time is the charm, right?
In this latest from the prolific and much loved Insomniac Games and the Resistance series, it's four years since the end of Resistance 2.
Sentinel Joseph Capelli has given up fighting the Chimeran menace. Now he's in hiding with other survivors, including his wife and young son.
But when Dr. Fyodor Malikov arrives with the opportunity to deliver a blow to the occupying Chimeran force, Capelli must leave his family and journey the harrowing road from Oklahoma to New York City.
However, the Chimera menace is everywhere to be seen along the way - and Capelli needs to be smart and sensibly armed if he's going to win the day.
A first person sci fi shooter with a 1950s setting, Resistance 3 is playable, terrifying and engrossing to say the least.
But it's not just a case of shooting and running, hoping that tactic will save the day. You actually have to be a little bit smarter than the average gamer and work out how best to use weapons so you don't deplete your ammo while on a killing spree; it's also wise to use your brain to realise when it's best to hide and when it's best to try and avoid the Chimera.
However, that's not always easy - and when some of the Chimera, such as the ones which are essentially suicide chemical blobs target you, sometimes you just can't get away fast enough.
Weaponry such as a Deadeye sniper rifle, a nitrogen freezing ray and various types of grenades all get upgraded with constant use - and so ultimately, Capelli becomes somewhat of a fighting force.
The online components of Resistance 3 are also a boon too - by logging on, you can join others to work together to get rid of the Chimera or try to seize areas in combat simulation games such as steal the flag etc. The player cooperative facilities are a great asset to the game and also give you a chance to feel that the gameplay in Resistance 3 is actually global rather than one man taking on the might of the marauding baddies.
The developers though, have wisely chosen to ground the whole game in a human element as Capelli does whatever he can to protect his wife and young son. It's a nice touch with adds a bit of heart to the cutscenes and a poignant urgency to the campaigns as you immerse yourself in this world.
All in all, Resistance 3 is one of the best FPS games I've played - time to sign up and join to protect the future of the world!
Rating: 8/10
Source Code: Blu Ray Review
Source Code: Blu Ray Review
Source Code
Rating: M
Released by Hopscotch and Roadshow
From the director of last year's brilliant Moon, comes a new sci fi thriller which has heart and soul as well as intelligence and action.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Captain Colter Stevens, who finds himself on a train and facing a woman Christina (Bridget Monaghan) he's convinced he's never met before.
To make matters worse, he looks in a mirror and sees the face looking back at him is not his own.
Before he's got time to make head or tail of what's going on, a bomb destroys the Chicago bound train - taking him, and all the passengers with it.
When he wakes up though, he finds himself being questioned by the military (led by Vera Farmiga) and trapped in a capsule.
They explain he's got just eight minutes on the train to find out who is responsible for bombing it and send him back in - and will keep doing so until he's successful.....
Source Code is perhaps one of the best scifi thrillers ever made - but more than that, it's a compelling film which is grounded in humanity rather than just scifi.
Duncan Jones seriously impressed with Moon and he builds even more here with this thrilling and exciting ride. It's a fiendishly intriguing premise which throws you right in at the beginning by giving you few clues and so immediately you empathise with Stevens as he tries to find out what's going on.
Gyllenhaal is mightily watchable as Stevens; as the truth unravels, you understand and really feel his puzzled viewpoint; the thing is, it's all due to Gyllenhaal and his steely determination mixed with vulnerability.
But credit must also go to Monaghan; her Christine becomes the emotional touchstone on the train and the reason Stevens keep coming back - she helps give the story the humanity it needs to keep it from simply being a thriller with a large dollop of sci fi.
The other star is the script - initially complex and layered, it rewards an intelligent audience who are willing to take the ride and embrace the mystery of what's going on on the train as well as what's going on with Stevens.
Source Code is one of the best films of 2011 - it's intelligent, ferociously good film making, and a brilliant experience which rewards with multiple viewings.
Extras: Cast and crew interviews, commentary with Jake Gyllenhaal and writer Ben Ripley
Rating: 8/10
Source Code
Rating: M
Released by Hopscotch and Roadshow
From the director of last year's brilliant Moon, comes a new sci fi thriller which has heart and soul as well as intelligence and action.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Captain Colter Stevens, who finds himself on a train and facing a woman Christina (Bridget Monaghan) he's convinced he's never met before.
To make matters worse, he looks in a mirror and sees the face looking back at him is not his own.
Before he's got time to make head or tail of what's going on, a bomb destroys the Chicago bound train - taking him, and all the passengers with it.
When he wakes up though, he finds himself being questioned by the military (led by Vera Farmiga) and trapped in a capsule.
They explain he's got just eight minutes on the train to find out who is responsible for bombing it and send him back in - and will keep doing so until he's successful.....
Source Code is perhaps one of the best scifi thrillers ever made - but more than that, it's a compelling film which is grounded in humanity rather than just scifi.
Duncan Jones seriously impressed with Moon and he builds even more here with this thrilling and exciting ride. It's a fiendishly intriguing premise which throws you right in at the beginning by giving you few clues and so immediately you empathise with Stevens as he tries to find out what's going on.
Gyllenhaal is mightily watchable as Stevens; as the truth unravels, you understand and really feel his puzzled viewpoint; the thing is, it's all due to Gyllenhaal and his steely determination mixed with vulnerability.
But credit must also go to Monaghan; her Christine becomes the emotional touchstone on the train and the reason Stevens keep coming back - she helps give the story the humanity it needs to keep it from simply being a thriller with a large dollop of sci fi.
The other star is the script - initially complex and layered, it rewards an intelligent audience who are willing to take the ride and embrace the mystery of what's going on on the train as well as what's going on with Stevens.
Source Code is one of the best films of 2011 - it's intelligent, ferociously good film making, and a brilliant experience which rewards with multiple viewings.
Extras: Cast and crew interviews, commentary with Jake Gyllenhaal and writer Ben Ripley
Rating: 8/10
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Friends With Benefits: Movie Review
Friends With Benefits: Movie Review
Friends With Benefits
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson
Director: Will Gluck
Haven't we already done this before with No Strings Attached starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman in the past 12 months?
Well, sort of.
Mila Kunis stars as corporate headhunter Jamie who first meets graphic designer Dylan Harper (Justin Timberlake) when she's trying to get him to relocate from LA to take a job with GQ in New York. Harper's initially reticent to take the post as he's not convinced the move is the right thing for him. But Jamie takes him for a night on the town and that persuades him to up sticks and move to the Big Apple.
But Harper doesn't really know anyone and so he latches onto Jamie and the two become friends.
Who then decide a little casual sex won't necessarily be a bad thing - as long as it doesn't lead to complications....
As romantic comedies go, Friends With Benefits is a bouncy, fun, light, frothy cappuccino of the genre; it's got a pacy opening and some zingy funny dialogue - as well as young things exposing a fair bit (and butt) of flesh.
That in mind, it's actually got a fair bit going for it - in particular, Kunis who cut her comedic chops on TV sitcom, That 70s Show. She outshines Timberlake in comic timing, playful sexiness and great delivery of some punchy oneliners while batting those big seductive eyes. It's not that Timberlake's terrible, just that he's not on the same level as her when it comes to the comedy and ends up more goofy than plausible.
There's a bit of a lull when the film relocates from the fun of NY to Harper's more serious home family situation in LA and despite another brilliant turn from Richard Jenkin, the energy dip nearly becomes critical for the movie.
A good solid ensemble cast, including a cameo from the superb Emma Stone, a hippyish free loving Patricia Clarkson as Jamie's mother and Woody Harrelson as a gay sports editor at GQ makes this something a little less predictable for the rom com genre. Sure, there's a bit of dissecting of the tenets of the rom-com world by the pair as they scoff at the banalities and predictabilities of Hollywood's romantic world view (even former Grey's Anatomy starlet and now romcom stable Katherine Heigl gets dissed), but it's all part of the overall mix.
All in all, despite the blatantly shoe-horned in product placement and repeated flash mobbing, Friends With Benefits will surprise you - it'll make you laugh when you don't expect it and actually leave you with a fluffy glow as you depart the cinema.
Friends With Benefits
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson
Director: Will Gluck
Haven't we already done this before with No Strings Attached starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman in the past 12 months?
Well, sort of.
Mila Kunis stars as corporate headhunter Jamie who first meets graphic designer Dylan Harper (Justin Timberlake) when she's trying to get him to relocate from LA to take a job with GQ in New York. Harper's initially reticent to take the post as he's not convinced the move is the right thing for him. But Jamie takes him for a night on the town and that persuades him to up sticks and move to the Big Apple.
But Harper doesn't really know anyone and so he latches onto Jamie and the two become friends.
Who then decide a little casual sex won't necessarily be a bad thing - as long as it doesn't lead to complications....
As romantic comedies go, Friends With Benefits is a bouncy, fun, light, frothy cappuccino of the genre; it's got a pacy opening and some zingy funny dialogue - as well as young things exposing a fair bit (and butt) of flesh.
That in mind, it's actually got a fair bit going for it - in particular, Kunis who cut her comedic chops on TV sitcom, That 70s Show. She outshines Timberlake in comic timing, playful sexiness and great delivery of some punchy oneliners while batting those big seductive eyes. It's not that Timberlake's terrible, just that he's not on the same level as her when it comes to the comedy and ends up more goofy than plausible.
There's a bit of a lull when the film relocates from the fun of NY to Harper's more serious home family situation in LA and despite another brilliant turn from Richard Jenkin, the energy dip nearly becomes critical for the movie.
A good solid ensemble cast, including a cameo from the superb Emma Stone, a hippyish free loving Patricia Clarkson as Jamie's mother and Woody Harrelson as a gay sports editor at GQ makes this something a little less predictable for the rom com genre. Sure, there's a bit of dissecting of the tenets of the rom-com world by the pair as they scoff at the banalities and predictabilities of Hollywood's romantic world view (even former Grey's Anatomy starlet and now romcom stable Katherine Heigl gets dissed), but it's all part of the overall mix.
All in all, despite the blatantly shoe-horned in product placement and repeated flash mobbing, Friends With Benefits will surprise you - it'll make you laugh when you don't expect it and actually leave you with a fluffy glow as you depart the cinema.
The Help: Movie Review
The Help: Movie Review
The Help
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer
Director: Tate Taylor
Taken from a best selling novel published in 2009 by Kathryn Stockett, The Help stars the very talented Emma Stone as Skeeter Phelan in the time of the Civil Rights movement in 1960s America.
The film follows Skeeter's relationship with Aibileen (Viola Davis), an African American maid who's been raising white children for many years. It also charts her time with fellow maid Minny (Spencer) whose outspoken nature has got her fired from several positions.
Skeeter's just finished university and decides the way into journalism is to try and pitch an article about the maids and their relationships and tales of working with the prejudices and racism of 1960s America.
But as the story unfolds, it appears all kinds of relationships are about to be tested in Jackson, the heartland of the American South.
It's into inspirational and formulaic chick flick territory we go with The Help - a tale that covers all the bases from the time with a solid performance from a good ensemble.
Once again, Emma Stone demonstrates why she's fast becoming Hollywood's go to girl for slightly feisty chicks with a heart; she's very watchable in this as her character trail blazes the fight against racism; Viola Davis is stoic as the long suffering Aibileen who is the victim of prissy bitchy Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) the leader of a snooty pack of women and Octavia Spencer brings a smattering of humour to the maid who takes vengeance on Hilly after years of mistreatment.
That's the thing with The Help; it does exactly what it says on the tin. While it's a little overlong and could have done with a hint of editing, this tale of empowerment and standing up, mixed with a dash of social commentary, is what you'd expect and is the perfect mother and daughter kind of outing - or a good night out for the girls.
Emotional and moving, The Help is a sturdy showcase of talent with some great performances- however, with a slightly more experienced eye behind the camera, it could have transcended from something a little middle of the road to something a little more sensational.
The Help
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer
Director: Tate Taylor
Taken from a best selling novel published in 2009 by Kathryn Stockett, The Help stars the very talented Emma Stone as Skeeter Phelan in the time of the Civil Rights movement in 1960s America.
The film follows Skeeter's relationship with Aibileen (Viola Davis), an African American maid who's been raising white children for many years. It also charts her time with fellow maid Minny (Spencer) whose outspoken nature has got her fired from several positions.
Skeeter's just finished university and decides the way into journalism is to try and pitch an article about the maids and their relationships and tales of working with the prejudices and racism of 1960s America.
But as the story unfolds, it appears all kinds of relationships are about to be tested in Jackson, the heartland of the American South.
It's into inspirational and formulaic chick flick territory we go with The Help - a tale that covers all the bases from the time with a solid performance from a good ensemble.
Once again, Emma Stone demonstrates why she's fast becoming Hollywood's go to girl for slightly feisty chicks with a heart; she's very watchable in this as her character trail blazes the fight against racism; Viola Davis is stoic as the long suffering Aibileen who is the victim of prissy bitchy Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) the leader of a snooty pack of women and Octavia Spencer brings a smattering of humour to the maid who takes vengeance on Hilly after years of mistreatment.
That's the thing with The Help; it does exactly what it says on the tin. While it's a little overlong and could have done with a hint of editing, this tale of empowerment and standing up, mixed with a dash of social commentary, is what you'd expect and is the perfect mother and daughter kind of outing - or a good night out for the girls.
Emotional and moving, The Help is a sturdy showcase of talent with some great performances- however, with a slightly more experienced eye behind the camera, it could have transcended from something a little middle of the road to something a little more sensational.
Upside Down - The Creation Records Story: Movie Review
Upside Down - The Creation Records Story: Movie Review
Upside Down - The Creation Records Story
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Alan McGee, Oasis, Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain
Director: Danny O'Connor
For those in the know, Creation Records will be responsible for many a favourite band and an exceptional tune.
And even for those not in the know, it's likely you'll have heard of the likes of Oasis, Primal Scream to name but two.
This doco focuses on the label's founder, ginger haired Scot Alan McGee, who was instrumental in shaping a lot of the early music scene of the late 80s and early 90s.
Using the standard talking head format of the doco genre, it mixes in a heady cocktail of archive footage of the early days in Scotland, the rock and roll sounds of the suburbs and interviews with the bands involved.
O'Connor's style is to leap about from one thing to the next as he charts the rise of the label and its successes in the UK and abroad.
Thankfully, he's got a charming and rogueish central character, McGee, which keeps you relatively engaged throughout and makes for an intriguing look at the record industry and the times which it helped create (the likes of Britpop and the shoegazing music scene).
It's a very traditional documentary and really offers nothing new on that front, but fans of the music of the time will be drooling at the insights into why the label imploded, why McGee was such a trendsetter and why many bands are so grateful they got the start they needed and wanted.
As a piece of music history, Upside Down - The Creation Records Story is one for fans and perhaps a few non fans alike to relish.
Upside Down - The Creation Records Story
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Alan McGee, Oasis, Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain
Director: Danny O'Connor
For those in the know, Creation Records will be responsible for many a favourite band and an exceptional tune.
And even for those not in the know, it's likely you'll have heard of the likes of Oasis, Primal Scream to name but two.
This doco focuses on the label's founder, ginger haired Scot Alan McGee, who was instrumental in shaping a lot of the early music scene of the late 80s and early 90s.
Using the standard talking head format of the doco genre, it mixes in a heady cocktail of archive footage of the early days in Scotland, the rock and roll sounds of the suburbs and interviews with the bands involved.
O'Connor's style is to leap about from one thing to the next as he charts the rise of the label and its successes in the UK and abroad.
Thankfully, he's got a charming and rogueish central character, McGee, which keeps you relatively engaged throughout and makes for an intriguing look at the record industry and the times which it helped create (the likes of Britpop and the shoegazing music scene).
It's a very traditional documentary and really offers nothing new on that front, but fans of the music of the time will be drooling at the insights into why the label imploded, why McGee was such a trendsetter and why many bands are so grateful they got the start they needed and wanted.
As a piece of music history, Upside Down - The Creation Records Story is one for fans and perhaps a few non fans alike to relish.
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