Catwoman DLC: Arkham City: Game Review

Catwoman DLC: Arkham City: Game Review

Platform: PS3
Released by Rocksteady
It's a big year for the Bat and also the Cat.
With the final part of Christopher Nolan's take on the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight Rises, likely to chew up a huge chunk of box office glory, it's fair to say there's a lot of expectation on the Caped Crusaders cowl.
But it's also a big year for Catwoman with Anne Hathaway under pressure to deliver a memorable performance as Selina Kyle.
And she's got some big shoes to follow Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer and the latest digital Catwoman in the downloadable content section of last year's smash hit game, Batman: Arkham City.
The slinky Cat makes some brief appearances during the main storyline of Arkham City but for those willing to splash out (and not wanting to complete the whole game), there's a chance to run riot as the cat suited Kyle, in a series of side adventures set within the same environment and skylines of Arkham.

This consists of four chapters within a sub section of the game as well as the chance to unleash feline hell in the Riddler's challenge sections. Armed with whip, throwing balls and spiked caltrops - plus the chance to upgrade, this Cat's got a lot to play with.
The animators have gone to town on Cats - she's got quite the voluptuous form squeezed into (and occasionally bursting out of) a leather catsuit, whose design is very in keeping with the original look of the costume. But they've also given her one hell of a fluid feel when it comes to running, jumping and leaping through Arkham's skyline; it's thrilling to play and is such a different style to Batman himself that it makes it fun to do.
If you're thinking that Cats won't have as much to do as the Bat, well, you're sort of right but with red Riddler trophies scattered around, four mini episodes which pit her against the likes of Two Face, Poison Ivy and searching for thieves who've made off with her stolen loot, there's certainly enough to distract away from the main game for a while. Plus her smooth flowing combat moves are stunning to watch and completely different from Batman's rougher approach.
Throw in the chance to upgrade Catwoman's suits and weapons as well as Riddler's Revenge challenge maps, it's more than substantial enough content to warrant the download.
Batman: Arkham City continues to offer up hours of gameplay and entertainment, long after the main storyline's done and this download really does mean that it's a game which continues to build its own mythology and offer a lot to those willing to invest the time and a little money.

Rating: 8/10

Catwoman DLC: Arkham City review

Platform: PS3
Released by Rocksteady

It’s a big year for the Bat – and also the Cat.

With the final part of Christopher Nolan’s take on the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight Rises, likely to chew up a huge chunk of box office glory, it’s fair to say there’s a lot of expectation on the Caped Crusader’s cowl.

But it’s also a big year for Catwoman – with Anne Hathaway under pressure to deliver a memorable performance as Selina Kyle.

And she’s got some big shoes to follow – Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer – and the latest digital Catwoman in the downloadable content section of last year’s smash hit game, Batman: Arkham City.

The slinky Cat makes some brief appearances during the main storyline of Arkham City but for those willing to splash out, there’s a chance to run riot as the cat suited Kyle, in a series of side adventures set within the same environment and skylines of Arkham.

This consists of four chapters within a sub section of the game – as well as the chance to unleash feline hell in the Riddler’s challenge sections. Armed with whip, throwing balls and spiked caltrops - plus the chance to upgrade, this Cat's got a lot to play with.

The animators have gone to town on Cats – she’s got quite the voluptuous form squeezed into (and occasionally bursting out of) a leather catsuit, whose design is very in keeping with the original look of the costume. But they’ve also given her one hell of a fluid feel when it comes to running, jumping and leaping through Arkham’s skyline; it’s thrilling to play and is such a different style to Batman himself that it makes it fun to do.

If you’re thinking that Cats won’t have as much to do as the Bat, well, you’re sort of right – but with red Riddler trophies scattered around, four mini episodes which pit her against the likes of Two Face, Poison Ivy and searching for thieves who’ve made off with her stolen loot, there’s certainly enough to distract away from the main game for a while. Plus her combat moves are stunning to watch and completely different from Batman’s rougher approach.

Throw in the chance to upgrade Catwoman’s suits and weapons as well as Riddler’s Revenge challenge maps, it’s more than substantial enough content to warrant the download.

Batman: Arkham City continues to offer up hours of gameplay and entertainment, long after the main storyline’s done – and this download really does mean that it’s a game which continues to build its own mythology and offer a lot to those willing to invest the time – and a little money.

Rating:

New Avengers trailer

When it comes to the geek, at the end of the day, you just can't beat the fact a new Avengers trailer was debuted in the middle of the Superbowl in the USA yesterday.

Launching in May this year, it looks like great fun - and this extended trailer gives a sneakier look at what's ahead for the gang - and a little more Hulk time.

Am too excited to say more - so here's the trailer...

Brand new Hunger Games trailer unveiled

The excitement's mounting for fans of The Hunger Games.

The flick hits NZ cinemas in a month's time - and today, a new trailer for the film's dropped.

Here it is..



So let us know what you think in the comments below....

3D continues to captivate

It looks as if the 3D thrill hasn't quite gone yet.

Both Tintin and Hugo have been NZ Box office successes, with Tintin managing to cross the $5million mark.

Paramount Pictures has sent out a release this arvo:

"The film has also bucked a recent trend of decreasing public interest in 3D films with an impressive 70% of its audience choosing to see it in its 3D format rather than the traditional 2D.

Produced by Sir Peter Jackson, Tintin uses motion capture technology to record the performances of stars Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis and Daniel Craig, which was then brought to life by Wellington’s Weta Digital who overlayed animation onto the original performances.

In addition to winning over the general public, the film has been well received by critics and has garnered significant awards season attention winning a Golden Globe and the Producers Guild of America award for Best Animated Feature, and receiving a BAFTA and Academy Awards nomination.

Another family adventure faring well in 3D cinemas is Martin Scorsese’s Hugo which collected two Golden Globe awards and goes into the Academy Awards ceremony with more nominations than any other film with 11.

Hugo is the first 3D offering from the man considered by many to be a master of cinema, so it is hardly surprising that 80% of film’s New Zealand audience has chosen to see the film in its intended 3D format."

Should be one in the eye for the cynics who claim the fad of 3D is on the way out? And also, a sweetener to Tintin which was robbed of an Oscar nomination.

Chronicle: Movie Review

Chronicle

Cast: Michael B Jordan, Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell

Director: Josh Trank

What would you do if you were a teen boy and were given superhero powers? Would great responsibility come along with great power?

It’s an age old conundrum, explored in this new sci-fi film from first time director Josh Trank.

Andrew (DeHaan) is a classic high school loner; bullied at school, abused by a drunken father at home and with a dying mother, he’s not exactly going to win any popularity contests.

So, disillusioned with his life, he decides to start videotaping everything to put a barrier between himself and the world around him.

His life changes though, when he goes to a party along with his cousin Matt (Russell) and popular wannabe school president Steve (Jordan).

At this party, the trio of high school boys discover a hole in nearby woods which they, perhaps unwisely, decide to investigate. They find something in the ground which is pulsing, throbbing and somehow, grants them powers – albeit after a blast of light and a series of nose bleeds.

Soon, the trio have basic super-powers; they can levitate objects and as time goes on, their powers grow.

But while Steve and Matt are content to keep the powers quiet and not push the boundaries, Andrew’s pressure cooker domestic life and teen emotions mean he embraces the darker side – and soon, all three of them find their lives spiralling out of control.

Chronicle is another of those found footage/ handheld shaky cam flicks which are so common these days – however, it’d be unwise to dismiss it because of that.

It’s actually fresh, dark and a clever approach to what essentially could be a tired genre – we’ve all seen the superheroes having fun with their powers kind of films before; but by giving this one a slightly more disturbed and psychotic take on it (thanks to the performance of DeHaan who manages to juggle the life of an abused and angry teen as a troubled Andrew), it feels a lot more plausible and realistic because of the original take and cliché avoidance. It feels very natural in terms of what the lads choose to do - and it's perfectly understandable why and how they embrace what they've been given rather than continually question it.

The effects (for the most part) are pretty well done too for a debut director– and while the climax feels a little over the top in places, Chronicle represents an intelligent, smartly made new entry into the genre.

Rating:

J Edgar: Movie Review

J Edgar

Cast: Leonardo di Caprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench

Director: Clint Eastwood

Following on from the success of The Iron Lady, here’s the latest contender for biopic glory.

Leonardo di Caprio stars as J Edgar Hoover, the man who, over nearly 50 years in public office and serving somewhere in the region of 8 presidents, helped redefine the criminal system in the USA, set up the FBI - and who had a tendency to spy on a lot of people.

It starts with a looming voiceover intoning that “It’s time this generation heard my side of the story” and cuts to Hoover dictating his memoirs to a series of agents – starting with his first foray into the world of crime investigation in 1919, while at the Department of Justice.

Central to the story is the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh’s son in 1932 aka The Crime of the Century– which not only sent J Edgar’s FBI into the spotlight but horrified the nation at the time.

And at the same time, Eastwood’s picture concentrates on Hoover’s own internal struggle with his sexuality, his attraction and friendship to protégé Clyde Tolson (played by The Social Network’s Armie Hammer), and his relationship with his mother (Judi Dench) and his fiercely loyal secretary, Helen Gandy (Watts).

While the narrative jumps around a lot and flashes back and forth between the investigations and Hoover’s later years, it’s a film which really does belong to Leonardo di Caprio.

His ferocious blistering performance as the man whose puritanical, even evangelical speeches were clearly his defining trait, is one to watch from the moment it begins. It’s a commanding performance which while seeming initially full of bluster, is one which lets some of the hidden truths about Hoover come out through a subtly nuanced performance of inner turmoil.

Scenes with Judi Dench stand out as well – as Hoover tries to reveal to his overbearing mother he doesn’t like women, he’s told she’d rather have a dead son than a “daffodil”.

Di Caprio’s co-star Armie Hammer does well as Tolson in conveying their relationship and mutual love too – even if towards the end, he’s a little weighed down with latex and liver spots. Naomi Watts suffers a little from a lack of limelight as Hoover’s trusted secretary Helen Gandy and you’re never quite 100% sure why she supported Hoover so rigidly.

All in all, J Edgar is an interesting – if occasionally overlong - portrait of the man – and while Clint Eastwood’s direction sometimes errs toward the clunky, it’s a fascinating and compelling central performance from di Caprio which keeps the audience along for the ride.

Rating: