New Fast and Furious 6 Trailer hits the road

New Fast and Furious 6 Trailer hits the road

A brand new Fast and Furious 6 trailer has dropped.

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 & Furious 6 is releasing on 30^th May in NZ

Spring Breakers: Movie Review

Spring Breakers: Movie Review

Cast: Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Rachel Korine, James Franco
Director: Harmony Korine

Babes, boobs, bikinis, bongs and beer.

And then some.

That about sums up the lurid and somewhat trashy Spring Breakers, which is busting out into cinemas and is more of an experience than a fully-formed story. Opening with bright pink titles and a slow-mo, extreme close up of plenty of amply bosomed half-naked nubile young women partying with the boys on a Bacchanal-style beach, Spring Breakers is anything but subtle.

Brit, (Ashley Benson) Candy, (Vanessa Hudgens) Faith (Selena Gomez) and Cotty (Korine) are four college girls who are wanting to head to Florida for the annual American debauch-fest that is spring break. Faith is the only one who's slightly different in their group, coming from a loosely Catholic upbringing and who spends her spare time in college in prayer groups, rather than Brit and Candy who swap crude grafitti notes during lectures.

When Brit, Candy and Cotty rob a local diner with water pistols, the group suddenly has enough to head to Florida - and party down, believing the booze-fest will offer them some kind of escape from their miserable existence.

However, while initially the group has fun in party central, the quartet end up in jail during a bust on a party. But that's when gold-toothed, corn-rowed rapper Alien (Franco in a loopy performance) bails them out in the hope they'll do some dirty work for him....

But fractions form within the group as the excesses of Spring Break and the reality of their lifestyle choices come crashing in.

Spring Breakers is an intriguing film; it's been a while since I've seen it now, but to be honest, I can't quite get it out of my head, which is always an interesting phenomenon for a movie. Like the ladies contained within, there's scant plot, and hardly any real characterisation from the main four girls and James Franco's dealer. I think that's intentional from Harmony Korine, but it makes it somewhat difficult to latch on to any of the emotional plight of the characters.

It's quite an hypnotic experience too as the group chants such mantras as "Pretend like it's a video game" when robbing the diner - (GTA Spring Break, anyone?) and "Pretend like it's a movie" and "Spring Break, spring break forever" are looped like a sampled record.

Is it caricature or is it condemning or celebrating spring break and the lifestyles there? I don't quite know - it's a hollow sleazy experience, yet one which stays with you for good or bad reasons.

Gomez and Hudgens do plenty to dispel their past as the teen Disney queens, but there's very little full on acting for them to do - Hudgens trashes her carefully constructed image with a part in a threesome, and Gomez drinks to excess while others writhe around on the floor, wearing very little; Ashley Benson (from TV's Pretty Little Liars) impresses. A general feeling of everything being unresolved for two of the characters annoys, given that one at least has had some investment in her journey from naive college girl to finding her faith and belief in life tested.

And yet, for Franco, the drug dealer role is one perhaps of a lifetime, a repulsive and repugnant character whose take on life is skewed by perceptions from TV shows and video games; so is Korine condemning us and the younger generation for aspiring to this lifestyle? I'm not sure, but it's a testament to his film making and the final product that I'm still as confused on this film now as I was in the hours after I first viewed it.

The Spring Breakers movie will repulse some, will anger others and will shock - but it should do; it's a film which confounds and defies expectation; a rare feat in today's popcorn world.

Rating:

Idiots of Ants: Comedy Festival Review

Idiots of Ants: Comedy Festival Review

Last year, I missed this comedy troupe due to comedian clashes.  (That's the shows, not some kind of bizarro comedy fight club...)

It was, without doubt, my biggest regret of the Comedy Festival 2012. Thankfully, this year I've managed to rectify that - and after sitting through their one hour show Model Citizens, I'm even more mad that I missed them last year.

Sketch shows can be hit and miss, but this four piece (Andy, Elliott, Benjamin and James) have managed to package up rapid fire skits and sketches into something that transcends humour.

The show began as we were filing in with 2 of them on stage at Rangatira at Q Theatre in a front room of a flat set up, before cleverly breaking through the fourth wall, and insinuating their way into the audience's lives. A series of technical snafus certainly blighted their first night in Auckalnd (as their typo revealed at the end) but it showed no signs of throwing them off their game.

Sketches at gunpoint, war soldiers controlled by other forces, a song about the man who took the audience to dinner, a sex change sketch and an ongoing compunction to use two members in the front row for a series of continuing gags - they all came at us thick and fast. High paced energy, frantic and frenetic The Idiots of Ants are a troupe which are clearly destined for real greatness with their sly and wry look at life.

Like the Goons, the League of Gentlemen, the Pythons, they've clearly got some form of magic trapped in a moment and are using it to their extreme advantage. Despite moments of corpsing on stage (due, no doubt to the fact they're having such a good time) the show was an extremely slick and fun affair which ended all too quickly. They managed an hour of tautly paced, quick fire humour which proved to have an extremely high hit rate and amused greatly.

Idiots of Ants last year won the best International show and I can see why - they are one of the best and brightest groups of intelligently sly comedians at the festival so far - and they left me with two things as I walked out - a) a huge beaming grin over my face and b) a desperate unhappiness that the show was over, and had only lasted an hour. I could easily have seen more.

This is the New Zealand International Comedy Festival's first must see act - do yourself a favour, and don't make the same mistake I did last year.

Watch_Dogs Release date revealed

Watch_Dogs Release date revealed

I cannot wait for this title...

Ubisoft has announced that its highly anticipated title Watch_Dogs will hit store shelves in Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand territories on November 21, 2013 on PlayStation^®3, Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the WiiU™ system from Nintendo and Windows PC, as well as at the launch of PlayStation^®4. The game is also planned for other next generation consoles.

Players will be able to choose from a selection of different editions, offering a variety of digital and physical content allowing for a deeper immersion in the Watch_Dogs universe.

Details of each of the four Watch_Dogs collector’s editions available at launch in EMEA territories:

The Dedsec Edition

This premium edition is ideal for Watch_Dogs fans wishing to immerse themselves in the hacker fantasy. It includes:

Ø  Physical content:

-      A 23cm Aiden Pearce Figurine

-      Steelbook™

-      DedSec Collector box

-      Watch_Dogs Artbook: artworks and illustrations that inspired the game

-      Original soundtrack of the game

-      Watch_Dogs map of Chicago

-      Set of 4 collectible cards: discover Watch_Dogs iconic characters through augmented reality

-      Set of 3 exclusive badges

Ø  Digital content: 3 single player missions with up to almost 60 minutes of additional gameplay:

-      Palace Pack: A police raid is planned on the luxury palace of an Internet mogul. His impressive databanks have intimate details on thousands of people…including Aiden Pearce. Break inside, wipe those hard drives and escape before the raid begins.

Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: investigation bonus allows gamers to unlock more investigative opportunities inside the network databanks, and ATM hack boost which boost the cash rewards when hacking bank accounts.

-      Signature Shot: A biometrics weapon has been smuggled into Chicago for a captain of the Black Viceroys gang. The weapon only works for the first person who holds the gun. Breach a stronghold, steal the package and be the first to hold the weapon.

Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: black viceroys gang colours outfit and biometric assault rifle.

-      Breakthrough Pack: A secret gathering is underway. The Chicago Club is negotiating power with Corporate CEOs. The Club has hired scramblers to block surveillance devices. Drive around the city to find the scramblers and take them out. Retrieve all names from the meeting and upload their images to the world.

Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: vehicle expert perk allowing players to get free vehicles from underground car contact and earn discounts on select cars.

The Vigilante Edition

This edition is for gamers who want to embody a real life hacker vigilante with the iconic mask and cap of Aiden Pierce. It includes all they need to become a modern day hero:

Ø  Physical content:

-      Vigilante Collector box

-      Aiden Pearce’s iconic cap

-      Aiden Pearce’s mask

-      Original soundtrack of the game

Ø  Digital content: 1 single player mission:

-      Palace Pack: A police raid is planned on the luxury palace of an Internet mogul. His impressive databanks have intimate details on thousands of people…including Aiden Pearce. Break inside, wipe those hard drives and escape before the raid begins.

Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: investigation bonus allows gamers to unlock more investigative opportunities inside the network databanks, and ATM hack boost which boost the cash rewards when hacking bank accounts.

The Uplay Exclusive Edition

This exclusive edition available only on Uplay website addresses to gamers who wish to improve their hacking skills through 3 single player missions. It includes:

Ø  Physical content:

-      Exclusive Steelbook™

Ø  Digital content: 3 single player missions with up to almost 60 minutes of additional game play:

-      Palace Pack: A police raid is planned on the luxury palace of an Internet mogul. His impressive databanks have intimate details on thousands of people…including Aiden Pearce. Break inside, wipe those hard drives and escape before the raid begins.

Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: investigation bonus allows gamers to unlock more investigative opportunities inside the network databanks, and ATM hack boost which boost the cash rewards when hacking bank accounts.

-      Signature Shot: A biometrics weapon has been smuggled into Chicago for a captain of the Black Viceroys gang. The weapon only works for the first person who holds the gun. Breach a stronghold, steal the package and be the first to hold the weapon.

Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: black viceroys gang colours outfit and biometric assault rifle.

-      Breakthrough Pack: A secret gathering is underway. The Chicago Club is negotiating power with Corporate CEOs. The Club has hired scramblers to block surveillance devices. Drive around the city to find the scramblers and take them out. Retrieve all names from the meeting and upload their images to the world.

Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: vehicle expert perk allowing players to get free vehicles from underground car contact and earn discounts on select cars.

The ANZ Special Edition

This Special edition features the retail copy of the game and a single player mission for gamers who want to step into the action right away.  In addition to this, ANZ customers will get 2 unlockable bonus packs:

Ø  Digital content: 1 single player mission:

-      Breakthrough Pack: A secret gathering is underway. The Chicago Club is negotiating power with Corporate CEOs. The Club has hired scramblers to block surveillance devices. Drive around the city to find the scramblers and take them out. Retrieve all names from the meeting and upload their images to the world.

Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: vehicle expert perk allowing players to get free vehicles from underground car contact and earn discounts on select cars.

Ø  Single Player unlockable bonus pack:

-          Untouchables Single Player Pack: A nod to Chicago’s infamous 1920s criminal world.
Rewards: Tommy Gun + 1920s Chicago Outfit.

Ø  Multiplayer unlockable bonus pack:

-          Multiplayer Pack: The visual incarnation of 2 multiplayer factions.
Rewards: Skins of these 2 multiplayer factions + Double $$$ rewards for the contracts of these 2 multiplayer factions + 2 faction tags.

The ANZ Special Edition will be included as part of the DedSec, Vigilante and Uplay Editions.

In Watch_Dogs, players will assume the role of Aiden Pearce, a new type of vigilante who, with the help of his smart phone, will use his ability to hack into Chicago’s central operating system (ctOS) and control almost every element of the city. Aiden will be able to tap into the city’s omnipresent security cameras, download personal information to locate a target, control systems such as traffic lights or public transportation to stop a chase, and more. The city of Chicago is now the ultimate weapon.

Stay connected to Watch_Dogs by visiting the official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

Brand new Pacific Rim trailer is here

Brand new Pacific Rim trailer is here

The brand new trailer for Pacific Rim has just landed from Wondercon...



When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes -- a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) -- who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

Star Trek Into Darkness: Movie Review

Star Trek Into Darkness: Movie Review

Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Alice Eve, Anton Yelchin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Weller
Director: JJ Abrams

Set phasers to stunning....

Following on from the success of the 2009 reboot of the Star Trek series, it was inevitable there would be a sequel. And it's a much welcome decision if the meltdown on the internet over the plot and subtleties of this latest is anything to go by.

Chris Pine once again returns as the younger version of Captain Kirk, who, this time around, finds his world is shattered with the arrival of John Harrison (a villainous and cold Benedict Cumberbatch), a terrorist whose actions rock the very core of Star Fleet.

But when Kirk is despatched to bring in the war criminal, the stakes are higher than ever before...

Even if you hadn't been expecting the last Star Trek movie to be thrilling and exciting, this new film never lets those expectations drop - and in fact, it completely exceeds them.

Even with the advent of the internet, there has never been so much rabid fan assessment of every detail, each single trailer, every single nuance of dialogue and story hints. Trust me, it's best to go into this completely cold and unspoiled.

Conversely, director JJ Abrams and his team are to be commended for pulling together a film which totally services the incessant whimperings of the fan base through moments which acknowledge its past without ever sacrificing the broader appeal which the first film carefully traversed and successfully paid homage to.

Kirk and his crew are utterly engaging once again as the action piles up and it's Chris Pine, whose heroic central performance deserves the most commendation. It's a stunning turn once again by an amazing Pine who brings a maturity to his hot headed and brash Enterprise captain.

Not only is there action a-plenty in this latest Star Trek movie, there's just so much of it. The film begins at a breakneck pace with Kirk and McCoy racing through the undergrowth of an alien world, but after two hours, just when you think you can't cope with any more, JJ Abrams throws in a final showdown piece which takes your breath away as the parallels to the contemporary politics of war reach an epic conclusion.

But it's also in the quieter moments that Abrams and co truly deliver in this new Star Trek movie - a menacing and magnificent Benedict Cumberbatch exudes villainy and clever cerebral cunning as John Harrison, whose single minded ruthlessness signals a real threat to StarFleet; humour from Simon Pegg as Scotty and moments of laughter from Karl Urban's brilliant McCoy blend nicely into the mix; and squabbles between Zoe Saldana's Uhura and Zachary Quinto's Spock add layers of humanity to the story as it plays out. Even though Chekov and Sulu are a little sidelined, nods to pivotal moments or characters from the show's run will spark nostalgia with fans and will please, but not at the expense of alienating the newer generation. It's a vulnerable Kirk who's growing up, maturing as he makes the journey and taking some responsibility for the choices he's made, and Chris Pine conveys all of this excellently. As an added bonus, the bromance between Kirk and Spock is warm, welcoming and utterly relatable as well as funny in places. Quinto and Pine have captured the essence of the original characters and made them their own.

There's so much to love with Star Trek Into Darkness. 

From the unfolding mystery and intrigue to the set pieces which soar as the action shows no sign of abating and is cranked up to Warp Factor 11; it's packed full of surprises and twists plus there's an extremely subtle tweaking and subversion of what you might expect. 

The end result is mesmerizing - a perfect blend of blockbuster thrills, spills and excitement as this latest boldly goes into 3D, which adds depth to the Enterprise and vastness to the space scenes - as a bigger, bolder and more exciting piece than its predecessor, it's an utterly, unashamedly enthralling ride.

Easily one of the films of the year without a shadow of a doubt.



Rating:

Details of PlayStation 4 Controller revealed

Details of PlayStation 4 Controller revealed

Some good news for fans of PlayStation 4.

A video's been released giving some details of the key features of the PlayStation 4 DUALSHOCK controller.