On Air: Movie Review

On Air: Movie Review

Cast: Karin Viard, Nicolas Duvauchelle
Director: Pierre Pinaud

From writer/ director, this French dramedy takes a look at the world of radio phone ins.

And specifically to the 40 something Melina, a host whose expertise is getting to the heart of her callers' problems but whose real life is perhaps unsurprisingly, a mess. She lives alone in a starched apartment and avoids contact and sustained relationships with anyone outside of her daily life.

But she harbours a secret - a life and family before the success of the radio gig - and she decides to find her family.

There's a subtlety to Pinaud's film and while it's not immediately engaging thanks to a starched lead actress, it takes a while to warm to. Thankfully a romantic spark between her character Melina and Lucas, a would be love interest (Duvauchelle) gives the proceedings a frisson of excitement.

Ambiguously put together and with an at times ambivalent attitude towards the proceedings, On Air is a quirky and engaging little dramedy that's worth watching play out.

Rating:

Downton Abbey: A Journey to the Highlands: DVD Review

Downton Abbey: A Journey to the Highlands: DVD Review

Rating: PG
Released by Universal Home Entertainment

It's off to Scotland they go for the latest Christmas special as the ever so soapy Downton Abbey continues.

Heading there to meet Violet's great niece Rose and her parents, it's clear that tensions exist between both factions as the masters head out of the Abbey for a break. Meanwhile, back at the Abbey the servants are trying to kick back a little, but Carson's not having any of it.

Soon, though a tragedy will send ripples through their existence.

What can you say about the continuing success of Downton Abbey?

There are those who'll revel in every minute of it and there are those who'll start to feel like some of the magic has run out. Sadly, I'm starting to feel in the latter category - with the ending of this latest in particular being one of the reasons it's started to feel a little lazier than Fellowes' best. Mary's fear of going the way of Sybil throughout the ep hints that something bad is on the way and when it comes, it's no surprise.

This latest special is more a saccharine show with not very high stakes whatsoever - it's very well made, but seems to be a little bit Downton by numbers; it's watchable enough fare, but not with any real bite.

Here's hoping the death at the end will give the scripts a bit of a boost next year.

Extras: 12 minute featurette

Rating:

First Fast and Furious 6 trailer launches

First Fast and Furious 6 trailer launches

Hot off the heels of the Fast and Furious 6 Super Bowl spot, the very first full Fast and Furious 6 trailer has arrived.



Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all-stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed races to its next continent in Fast & Furious 6.

Reuniting for their most high-stakes adventure yet, fan favorites Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Elsa Pataky are joined by badass series newcomers Luke Evans and Gina Carano.

Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete.

Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again....

Fast and Furious 6  releases in NZ on 30^th May

The World's End: Exclusive images revealed

The World's End: Exclusive images revealed

Good news for fans of the Simon Pegg / Nick Frost / Edgar Wright team.

Images are starting to trickle out for The World's End, the final part of the Cornetto trilogy.

Take a look at the pictures from IGN and Empire below.

The official synopsis is:

20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hellbent on trying the drinking marathon again. They are convinced to stage an encore by Gary King (Simon Pegg), a 40-year-old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens, who drags his reluctant pals to their hometown and once again attempts to reach the fabled pub – The World’s End. As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realize the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind’s. Reaching The World’s End is the least of their worries.

God of War: Ascension live trailer unleashed

God of War: Ascension live trailer unleashed

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today can reveal a live action 'From Ashes' trailer for upcoming prequel to the acclaimed God of War series, God of War: Ascension for PlayStation®3 (PS3). 

The prequel to the best-selling God of War franchise, God of War: Ascension explores the more human side of Kratos as he struggles with the pain of losing everything he has ever loved.

Sony Computer Entertainment has collaborated with Imaginary Forces, the creative minds behind some of the epic cut-scenes that gamers will see in God of War: Ascension, and the game's developer Santa Monica Studio, to bring Kratos and his family to life, paying careful attention to remain true to the game itself.

The 'From Ashes' live action trailer sets the story for God of War: Ascension which sees Kratos, tricked by the god Ares into killing the only people he ever loved, his wife and child. Swearing to avenge them, Kratos will be tested as he seeks freedom, redemption for his sins and the chance to avenge his family. ‘From Ashes’ features a special arrangement of Ellie Goulding's track 'Hanging On' and marks one of the most ambitious video productions ever undertaken by Sony Computer Entertainment.

God of War: Ascension is due for release across Europe from 13th March 2013. 

Iron Man 3 Superbowl Trailer

Iron Man 3 Superbowl Trailer

Here's the Iron Man 3 Superbowl spot for the upcoming sequel, Iron Man 3, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the titular Avenger, along with co-stars Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Kingsley, and Guy Pearce.



And here is the extended Iron Man 3 Superbowl trailer spot.

Fast and Furious 6 Superbowl trailer

Fast and Furious 6 Superbowl Trailer

A brand new Fast and Furious 6 trailer has dropped as part of the Superbowl.

The summer release Fast and Furious 6 from director Justin Lin stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, and Gina Carano.