Prometheus promo reveals David - and more imagery from Ridley Scott's upcoming film

It's less than two months to the latest movie from Ridley Scott's launch.

We are of course talking about Prometheus - and a whole heap of content's beginning to trickle out onto the internet.

First up, a new video starring Michael Fassbender's David. This latest focuses on Michael Fassbender’s character who is an artificial life form.

Perhaps the most intriguing line is " “I can carry out directives that my human counterparts might find distressing or unethical" - what could that mean for the crew of the Prometheus?


There's also been some new imagery released from the film too.

Prometheus hits NZ cinemas on June 7th.

Starring the likes of Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, this is likely to be one of the biggest sci fi hits of the year - and we get it a few hours before America does too.

Here's the official trailer for Prometheus...

And if you want to see everything which has been released so far - here it is...
There's also been a heap of viral activity for Prometheus - here's them all rounded up into one easy to monitor place...Something called "Our Family is growing" from Weyland industries...



And of course, the Guy Pearce fronted, TED 2023 talk from the Weyland Industries leader...

A Separation: Movie Review

A Separation: Movie Review

Cast: Leila Hatami, Peyman Moaadi, Shahab Hosseini, Sareh Bayat, Sarina Farhadi

Director: Asghar Farhadi

It was the Oscar winner for 2012 for the Best Foreign film, and now it opens in New Zealand cinemas.

It's the tale of Nader and Simin, who have been married for 14 years and who are now at an impasse. The film begins with Simin (Hatami) filing for divorce from her husband as she wants them to leave Iran - but he doesn't want to uproot their 11 year old daughter or leave his elderly father, who's suffering from Alzheimers.

However, the court won't grant those terms of divorce so the pair is forced to live apart. Nader decides to hire some help - a lady called Razieh - to take care of his father but she struggles and the treatment begins to cause rifts all round. To make matters worse, every decision has horrific ramifications and the lies told cause untold ripples in what's to come.

A Separation is a gritty, raw and at times, harrowing film about humanity to watch.

It's wonderfully acted by all involved with the core cast of characters getting ample time to breathe and devlelop but it is a difficult watch all round due to the subject matter. It's not that the story that it chooses to tell is pushed too far rather that what ground it covers is extremely relatable, deeply moving and a poignant look into a world that many of us won't have access to.

Thanks to rounded characters and measured film making, it's easy to see how A Separation won an Oscar - it's a compelling watch which makes you think and stays with you long after the film is over.

Rating:

Carnage: Movie Review

Carnage: Movie Review

Cast: John C Reilly, Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster

Director: Roman Polanski

It's a situation many a parent will recognise.

Parents forced to apologise to other parents for something their kids have done. And that's exactly what happens with Carnage.

Reilly and Foster are Michael and Penelope, whose son has been hit in the mouth by another boy using a stick; that boy's parents Alan and Nancy (Winlset and Waltz) head to their apartment to try and make amends and in a world of political correctness discuss what went wrong.

But what should be a simple meeting and something that results in a brief resolution, ends up being long drawn out and sees several unexpected tensions rise to the fore.

Based on a play, Carnage has a distinctly stagey feel with the one setting and a small troupe of actors.

That's also where some of the constraints of the play comes in - scenes that would end naturally have to be drawn out and extended to serve the medium. So, when Alan and Nancy try to leave the apartment, Michael and Penelope worry they've not been great hosts urging them to return to the apartment for coffee. The result is some of the scenes feel a little strained but it's in keeping with the tone of the film and how the meeting ends up feeling like it's on a knife edge. It's important to remember in crossing over a play like this that there are different dynamics at play from the live environment which don't necessarily translate to the smaller screen - you get a vibe from people on the stage in a live environment and that doesn't always come across in the celluloid version of Carnage.

Thankfully a talented cast turn in some great performances and give you a feeling of reality as they breathe life into this take on class, manners and PC madness.

Sure, it's a comedy of recognition and manners as the civil tone disappears into something a little more vicious and maybe there'll be more of us in each character than we'd happily admit, but Carnage is smartly directed and watchable thanks to a high flying quartet - even if it does occasionally suffer from the constraints of the setting of its source material.

Rating:

Comedy festival highlights

The 20th annual New Zealand International Comedy Festival is about to get underway in Auckland and Wellington.

Hundreds of acts, including national and international comics are to take part in the annual laughathon for May with 120 shows alone happening in Auckland.

Here's just a few shows that could tickle your funny bone - though, bear in mind, it's always hard to single some out of the 120 out there!

The Comedy Gala - The opening show of the festival is always a treat - you get to be part of the audience and mingle with other comics in your row as top acts perform for you. This year's event's hosted by Sex and the City scribe Greg Behrendt (who's also doing one night during the fest) and should be a blast.

The Best of the Billys - There've been 20 winners of the annual yellow towel and this year's show, hosted by Dai Henwood is a collection of some of the best of them. Always a hit and always great to see who blazed the trail for NZ comedy early on.

Last Laughs - The annual closing ceremony is a giggle - not only are the festival awards like the Billy Ts and the Fred Award handed out, you get to be part of the club as they farewell their own for another year. Well worth the time.

Fanfiction Comedy/ Rose Matafeo - It's been Rose and fellow comic Heidi O'Loughlin's show for the past couple of years and it's a very simple idea - fellow comics who've written fan fiction (the likes of Twilight/Harry Potter/ Dr Who crossovers) read it out on stage. It's already been picking up rave reviews in Aussie - and you should also make sure you head to U Live's Rose Matafeo's solo show too.

Irene Pink and Justine Smith - This one looks intriguing; the two dames of NZ comedy are teaming up to pitch their ideas to us, the audience. Promising a multimedia musical sketch show (with rumours of puppets) this could be something a little different for the fest.

The 5 Star Comedy Showcase on the Shore/ A Night At the Rovers/ Big Show on the Shore/ Minifest out West/ Southside Comedy - these shows take themselves out of the centre of Auckland and to other regions with a collection of comics and a gaggle of laughs, it's a great alternative if you don't fancy heading into the main centre.

Stand up for Kids/ Mr Boon's Fairy Tales - You have to admire the comics who perform for the kids; as an audience, they don't take any rubbish and won't hold back if a show sucks. So, these talented comics who've been forming their acts for a younger audience probably have the toughest job. Good job then they're all great talents.

Milton Jones/  Terry Alderton/ Dead Cat Bounce - a great line up of international acts are here and these three are just a trio who're worth your time. Terry's beee here before and always surprises and Dead Cat Bounce with their musical medleys will be a hit. Likewise BBC Radio star Milton Jones will amuse.

Rhys Mathewson - One of the youngest comics to ever win the Billy T, Rhys has always got garrulous laughs and boundless energy which sweeps you along - and despite his age, he's got humour which is universal.

Wilson Dixon/ Jesse Griffin - The cowboy from Cripple Creek has medleys and humour to knock you sideways with mirth and his friend Jesse Griffin is doing a rare solo show. Both will be guaranteed hits.

Fasitua Amosa - The star of TVNZ Ondemand's Auckland Daze leaves behind the slightly inept stand up act from the online smash hit series to ply us with some Info-Crack. Sounds intriguing, but Yes, please Fasi-tua...

Jamie Bowen/ Steve Wrigley - both these acts were given Comedy trust fund money to develop their shows prior to last year's Festival - and since then Jamie's Cabinet of Wonder and Steve's Kevin The Musical have toured, ensuring what you'll see this year is their strongest work.

As we said, there's 120 acts - and plenty for you to see - from the likes of Jan Maree, Brendhan Lovegrove, Ben Hurley, David O'Doherty, Rhys Darby, Urzila Carlson, Anil Desai, Jeremy Elwood to many, many more, the best advice we can give is to try any show when you're out and about. The chances are you'll have a great time and be part of the big 20th anniversary celebrations.

This year's New Zealand International Comedy Festival runs in Auckland and Wellington from 27th April to 20th May before some acts head off around the country in the Comedy Convoy.

The Avengers Movie Review is coming...

Under a bit of an embargo on this one, but check back to Darren's World of Entertainment on Friday April 20th for a full look at the upcoming Avengers movie.

CHECK OUT THE MARVEL AVENGERS MOVIE REVIEW HERE

But for now, another clip (Minor spoiler alert) - and this one sees Loki imprisoned.

Comedy fest hits 20 years

What were you doing some 20 years ago?

Here in good old NZ, Jim Bolger was Prime Minister, Les Mills was Auckland mayor (and no doubt contemplating his takeover of gyms), The Exponents were sweeping the NZ Music awards with that song "Why Does Love Do This To Me" aka the one we all sing drunk, a new soap opera Shortland Street was first broadcast (get all the latest from Shorty's upcoming anniversary here) and somewhere a new nationwide tradition of laughing was being born.

It's 20 years this year since the New Zealand International Comedy Festival first began - and organisers are hoping this latest fest which kicks off in Auckland on April 27th will be bigger than ever.

There's been some famous alumni involved in the festival over the years - in 1996, actor and all round nice guy Simon Pegg was one of the performers; Taiki Waititi took part in the 1999 fest, getting the Billy T Award before scoring an Oscar nomination in 2005 (and his famous feigning falling asleep when his nomination was read out) and Jonathan Creek star Alan Davies even graced the festival with his presence back in 1995.

Over the years as well, there's been no shortage of milestones for the festival.

There've been 20 winners of the prestigious Billy T Awards since its inception in 1997, named of course after the legendary Maori comic, Billy T James. The winner gets a yellow towel, $2500 and instant recognition in the comedy hall of fame. This year's nominees are: Tom Furniss (who was part of last year's top winner at the V48 Hour film festival), Tevita Manukia, U Live's Rose Matafeo, TJ McDonald and Guy Williams. They'll know who's won at the closing ceremony in Auckland on May 20th.

And in 2010, one international comic decided New Zealand was the place to tie the knot - UK comic Carey Marx got married in Devonport on the beach, with a ceremony presided over by celebrant Ewen Gilmour.

This year's New Zealand International Comedy Festival runs in Auckland and Wellington from 27th April to 20th May before some acts head off around the country in the Comedy Convoy.

New Dark Knight Rises pictures unveiled

It's definitely the big film of the year and it's one which has been shrouded in mystery.

But with just months to go, there's a new set of pics from The Dark Knight Rises, featuring Christian Bale as Batman, Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman.

Entertainment Weekly has the full gallery - so head on there to take a look.

The Dark Knight Rises is of course the conclusion to the Batman franchise and hits in a few months time in July.

Hit the comments below and tell us what your expectations are for the upcoming final film from the team!