The Last of Us Demo Details revealed

The Last of Us Demo Details revealed

God of War: Ascension Players Gain First Access to The Last of Us Demo on PSN 

New Zealand, January 25 2013: Sony Computer Entertainment is giving players who are itching to get their hands on two of the biggest titles for 2013, exclusive first access to The Last of Us demo with the purchase of God of War: Ascension. 

Once purchased, fans will simply have to load their God of War: Ascension disc into their PS3 and find The Last of Us listing on the main menu. There, players will find details on how to access The Last of Us demo, for free, as soon as it becomes available.

More information on exact details of the demo will be released by Naughty Dog at a later date on the PlayStation Blog. 

The Rock has a message for NZ

The Rock has a message for NZ

New GI Joe: Retaliation footage is due to be screened in front of Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters in 3D when it opens on Thursday next week.


Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions, in association with Hasbro, will release a
4-minute preview of the highly anticipated “G.I. JOE: RETALIATION” in IMAX 3D, RealD 3D and
digital 3D theaters in advance of Paramount and MGM’s “HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS.”

This first-look at the film will play across the globe beginning January 24 th and run throughout
“HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS” theatrical engagement.

Based on the best-selling HASBRO characters, this follow-up to the 2009 release of “G.I. JOE:
THE RISE OF COBRA,” which grossed more than $300 million worldwide, is di Bonaventura
production and is presented by Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions, in
association with Hasbro.

In this sequel, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra, they are forced to
contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. The film
stars D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson,
Elodie Yung, Channing Tatum with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Jon M. Chu,
and produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Brian Goldner of Hasbro, from a screenplay by
Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick, based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe® characters.

“G.I. JOE: RETALIATION” is in cinemas everywhere March 28th, 2013.


And as if that wasn't enough, there's a special message from the Rock aka Dwayne Johnson for fans...

Bernie Blu Ray Review

Bernie: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Madman Home Entertainment

Jack Black reteams with Richard Linklater in this latest film, a tale that loudly proclaims "What you're fixing to see is a true story."

Set in small town Texas, Black stars as the slightly effeminate Bernie Tiede, a local mortician and all round good guy - the kind of guy who'll go the extra mile to ensure the widows are all happy after the event by delivering flowers, hugs and the personal touch.

Plus, his dedication to his community sees him delivering everything they need - and more thanks to an over generous personality.

But when Bernie befriends the nastiest  (and latest) widow in town Marjorie (played with relish by Shirley MacLaine), the friendship pushes Bernie over the edge and he commits murder.

Jack Black impresses mightily in this straight role, finally showing some depth of performance which has hitherto evaded his career. His subtle dialled-down performance (as opposed to the usual OTT he brings) means his character feels multi dimensional and real;  MacLaine, by contrast, is monstrous, imbuing her widow with spite and nastiness. McConaughey spins out another lawman, taking on the role of a district attorney with a determination to catch whoever killed Marjorie.

Bernie's an odd film - Linklater uses plenty of talking head interviews from locals in the small town of Carthage to get into the mentality of what actually went on. Plus, the fact it's based on a true story adds a frisson of something deliciously different.

Bernie is charming and memorably warm - a subtly blended mix of small town ideology and dark comedy.

Extras: True story feature, Amazing Grace performance by Jack Black, Featurette on real life people, deleted scenes, trailer.

Rating:

The Last of Us: Special Edition info released

The Last of Us: Special Edition info released

To celebrate the launch of the eagerly anticipated new title from the makers of Uncharted™ 3, Naughty Dog Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will be releasing two Special Edition packages for The Last of Us™. Fans will be able to choose between The Last of Us: Ellie Edition and The Last of Us: Joel Edition, each packaged in a unique canvas wrap, and filled with exclusive physical and downloadable content.

Contents:

·       The Last of Us mini artbook: explore the world of The Last of Us through some of the remarkable artwork that gave shape to the game

·       The Last of Us: American Dreams Issue #1: the first in a series of comics created in partnership with Dark Horse to delve into the backstory of Ellie. The version included features a variant cover found only in these special editions

·       Exclusive game pack: The Ellie Edition showcases the character Ellie on the game pack artwork, while the Joel Edition will feature Joel’s face

·       Collectable poster: an exclusive screen print effect poster of each character can be found in their respective editions

·       DUALSHOCK®3 skin: skin your PS3™ controllers with Joel or Ellie, depending on which edition you decide to order

·       Survival DLC Pack

o   Multiplayer Bonuses:

§  Bonus XP

§  Melee booster

§  In-game currency

§  Customizable character items

o   Bonus Joel and Ellie skins available once the single player game is completed

·       Sights & Sounds DLC Pack

o   Official Game Soundtrack by Academy Award winning musician Gustavo Santaolalla

o   PS3® Dynamic Theme

o   PSN Avatars: Winter Joel & Ellie

·       LittleBigPlanet™ Sackboy Skins: voucher codes for a downloadable Joel skin or a downloadable Ellie skin for your Sackboy character depending on which special edition you choose

The Last of Us launches globally on 7^th May 2013, The Last of Us: Ellie Edition and The Last of Us: Joel Edition are available to pre-order now. New Zealand pricing to be confirmed soon.

The Thick of It: Series 4: DVD Review

The Thick of It: Series 4: DVD Review

Rating: R16
Released by BBC And Roadshow Home Entertainment

Armando Ianucci's brilliantly savage satire returns for a run of 7 episodes, demonstrating why the best things come in small packages and why the BBC can only do the very best in intelligent comedy.

Government embarrassments, U turns, ministerial mess ups, deals and rows - all of these are on the agenda as the latest batch of the the political comedy unwinds. Peter Capaldi's Malcolm Tucker is now in opposition but no less savage and vitriolic.

Ianucci's once again crafted a wonderfully severe documentary style which oozes intelligent, wit and rewards patience and smart investment into the characters and the worlds within. Anyone with a hint of political nous will recognise the machinations, back stabbing and verbal jousting which takes place throughout.

Put simply, if you're a fan of comedy done well and intelligently, then you can't afford not to own The Thick of It: Series 4 on DVD. Simply brilliant, utterly quotable and side splittingly raw and funny, it's a must see.

Extras: Deleted scenes, commentary

Rating:

Latest piece from Jack Tame on NewsTalk ZB

Latest piece from Jack Tame on NewsTalk ZB

Saturday mornings are where you'll find me talking films and DVDs of the week with Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB, who's just this year taken over the show from Sir Paul Holmes.

This week, I was discussing Ryan Gosling and The Imposter.

Take a listen below and don't forget you can hear me on NewsTalk ZB every Saturday morning from 940am for a few minutes. Come for the film reviews, stay for the rest of the show...

Darren Bevan talks film

Auckland's Academy Cinema relaunches

Auckland's Academy Cinema relaunches

There was some good news for fans of independent cinema last night.

Auckland's Academy Cinema which sits on Lorne Street has been subject to a rough couple of years with roadworks massively disrupting the business.

With a heavy heart, the owner John Davies was forced to sell up and many feared it would be the end of independent cinema in the heart of the city.

But a new owner, Andy Miller's come onboard and has set about revitalising the cinema to ensure it lives on.

Tonight saw the relaunch of the Academy Cinema, with specially invited guests brought in to sample some of the changes and see a mystery film.




Which turned out to be Oscar contender, Zero Dark Thirty.

So, if you want to find out more about The Academy Cinema, head along to the cinema itself in Lorne Street and find out more on the Academy Cinema website.