A new God Of War is coming...

Details have been released of the next phase of God Of War...

God of War: Ascension™

Get ready to explore the origins of Spartan warrior Kratos in an epic new God of War® adventure. Take a first glimpse at God of War: Ascension™ in this tantalising trailer.

God of War® fans rejoice; infamous Spartan warrior Kratos is preparing to return to PlayStation®3. This exclusive trailer marks the official unveiling to the world of forthcoming title, God of War: Ascension™.

The most ambitious God of War® adventure in the series so far, God of War: Ascension™ takes us right back to where it all began. Discover the origins of Kratos as he takes his first steps on a now legendary quest for freedom.

Visit nz.playstation.com for the latest news on God of War: Ascension™ and details on the multi-million selling God of War® series on PS3™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®2.

Prometheus - new images revealed

After the incredibly impressive Happy Birthday David! video marketing piece this week, it seems Fox's new Ridley Scott film Prometheus can do no wrong.

As I keep telling you, Prometheus the movie hits New Zealand cinemas on June 7th and today, some more shots from the film have been released.

Guessing they are internal shots from in and around the spaceship - but you draw your own conclusions....

We'll keep you apprised of further info as it comes to hand.

Dark Shadows character posters

It's nearly time for a new film from Tim Burton.

And that's always exciting news.

So, if you throw Johnny Depp into the mix, then it's doubly so.

Dark Shadows hits cinemas on May 10th and is a fantasy comedy film based on a show which screened from 1966 to 1971.

Depp reteams with Burton to play 200 year old vampire, Barnabus Collins.

It's one hell of a cast too - alongside Depp, there's Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloë Grace Moretz and Bella Heathcote.

Puss in Boots - Blu Ray Review

Puss in Boots - Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by Universal Home Entertainment

Fresh from his starring role in the Shrek films, Puss in Boots finally gets his own spin off tail (apologies - I mean tale) in this computer animated outing.

Set before Puss met Shrek and Donkey, it tells of how the Ginger haired man Spanish kitty cat came to be an outlaw. Puss is a wanted beast after his part in a robbery with his pal Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) but is determined to clear his name by tracking down the legendary magic beans.

However, they're currently the property of Jack and Jill (Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris) but that doesn't stop the kitty trying to get possession of them. But what Puss hasn't reckoned with is the appearance of a female feline, Kitty Soft Paws, who tries to snatch the beans.

When Puss learns Kitty is allied with Humpty, the trio teams up to steal the beans, make a beanstalk and steal the Golden Goose and live happily ever after...

Puss in Boots is a riot fest. Sure, it's nothing fabulously new or original in terms of groundbreaking animation or story telling but it is good old fashioned fun, with a mix of lunacy thrown in for good measure. Clearly the writers have been on the catnip to get a story like this together.

With lines like "What can I say? I was a bad kitty" as Puss leaves a one night stand behind, it's clear you're going to get some tongue in cheek scripting and a humourous feel to this origin story which explains how the cat got the boots and became the hero.

But once again, Dreamworks has shown why its animation arm is so good - the backgrounds and scenery shots which frame Puss' antics are so gorgeous on the eye (thanks to the real 3D effect as well) and so breathtaking, it's just yet another reason to celebrate a golden age of deft and ambitious animation.
Hayek and Banderas make a neat duo (again) and Galifianakis is a good foil in Humpty; but the winner here is the overall pieces of the puzzle.

Whether it's throwaway lines, visually dazzling moments, gags which are thrown in for amusement (stand by for the return of Puss' wide eyed cuteness - but in a whole new context) or just sheer lunacy, there's much to love in this unfurling of the near purrfect myth of Puss In Boots.

Extras: A wealth of content - interviews,deleted scenes and an all new adventures - the Three Diablos are amongst the best of these

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Machine Gun Preacher - Blu Ray Review

Machine Gun Preacher - Blu Ray Review

Released by Roadshow Home Ent
Rating: M

Everyone's heard of Joseph Kony since the whole StopKony movement through social media.

But this true life film may make you look at another side of the Kony issue.

It begins in southern Sudan in 2003 and with kids being snatched in the middle of the night. Then it heads to the USA where Gerard Butler's Sam Childers is being let out of jail. He's been a badass biker and it's not going to stop for a while even if his other half's found God.

But when Childers hits rock bottom with drug abuse and the horrors of his previous life, he turns to the church and converts to Christianity. Before long, his life's been turned around and Childers wants to head to Uganda to help save the children.

However, Childers doesn't realise that his devotion to his quest is blinding him to his life at home.

Machine Gun Preacher is a gritty film which doesn't shy away from showing the horrors of evil regimes, child soldiers and the reasons for freedom fighters.  The tale of redemption doesn't skimp on the realities and some may find that a little hard to watch in places - it's definitely a film which needs to be told and could be inspirational to some.

That doesn't mean though that it's a little heavy handed at times, cliched and occasionally, when Childers picks up a weapon, it has a tendency to go a little Rambo on the action front. Butler's not bad as the lead - opting for a quieter righteous anger as the preacher turned fighter but I never really found myself fully engrossed in his character portrayal. Michelle Monaghan is as solid as ever and there's no denying there's a strong message here but Machine Gun Preacher could have been a stronger piece if the sum of its parts were a little better put together.

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The People vs George Lucas: DVD Review

The People vs George Lucas: DVD Review

Released by Hopscotch
Rating: M

An unabashed exploration of what makes a Star Wars fan so rabid in their love of the old and hatred of the new.

This mightily impressive and amusing doco looks at the effects George Lucas had on so many when he "unlocked a generation's imagination" when he released the original trilogy back in 1977.

It also follows the hatred which grew with the special edition releases which many fans feel "raped their childhoods." With interviews with fans, archive footage of Lucas explaining why he did what he did and conspiracy theories over the double standards he employed, this joyous doco for fans and fandom itself is brilliant from beginning to end.

It's not just about the fan fervour though - it cleverly looks at how a filmmaker can be trapped by his own dreams and choices - and how he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

What's most impressive about this piece though is how your loyalties swerve sensibly from Lucas to the fans - and you're never quite sure whose side you're on.

It's also well worth watching to see the fan made films throughout which range from the utterly crappy to the utterly brilliant.

Extras: A great solid bunch including extended interviews, fan boy interviews - the perfect accompaniment to this piece of geek nirvana

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Misfits Series Three - DVD Review

Misfits Series Three - DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment

Back for a third outing, TV's best superhero series takes somewhat of a stumble.

At the end of the second series of Misfits, the gang of social rejects with superhero powers had opted to trade their powers and get some new abilities.

But in the meantime, we'd been on tenterhooks waiting to see what had happened - this season takes up with one of the gang gone (Nathan played by Robert Sheehan chose to move on) and for some, that could have been a worry.

Fortunately Joseph Gilgun (This is England) joins the series as Rudy and is a welcome tonic and poignant reminder that everyone is replaceable.

This series sees the group take on Nazis, a conclusion of the time travelling story arc, comic book manipulation and a medium's summoning of everyone's past. There's a chutzpah of writing involved and it's pacy stuff - with some great character performances but you can't help but feel toward the end of the series that it's run its course.

Series three ends in a way that feels like it's resolved - but a fourth is on the way with only two of the original gang remaining - it'll be interesting to see how it goes because on this series, the evidence is pointing towards calling time on this crude but flashes of brilliance series of chavs and superheroics.

Extras: A good bunch of supporting material

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