A Good Day To Die Hard: Blu Ray Review

A Good Day To Die Hard: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Did you know it's nearly 25 years since Bruce Willis first went out as John McClane?

In the fifth outing for the iconic cop, McClane's off to Russia to help his estranged son, Jack (Jai Courtney) after he ends up on the wrong side of the law.

But, the son's not that keen on seeing the dad and when he winds up slap bang in the middle of a clash between the Russian underworld and the corrupt government, John McClane's got only one choice - to grab a gun and do what he does best.

Shoot people and save the day. And deliver some memorable quips and one-liners as he does so.

Except with A Good Day to Die Hard, that's really not on offer this time around. 

In Die Hard 5, Bruce Willis looks unenthusiastic and even tired throughout the flick and the bond with the son (who I don't believe we've ever heard of before in the entire 4 other films) is strained at best. That's despite the best efforts of Spartacus star Jai Courtney, who in turns grimaces and looks angry as he tries to keep up with a) the betrayal plot and b) the enormous number of car chases throughout.

But, where is the fun in Die Hard 2013?

It's a faceless, dour and dare I say it, at times, dull and flat affair which transpires on the screen; formulaic and soulless, it's lacking any of the humour of the previous Die Hard movies. Even the bad guys this time around are from the rent a shop, Euro-baddies (where Taken 2 brought in most of their last outing as bad guys) - they're not memorable at all or even worthy of facing off against the pair. Even shots of Yuliya Snigir flashing the flesh early on aren't enough to inject some life into this flagging, flaccid Die Hard movie. Director John Moore seems to jerk the camera around so much during the car chase sequences or in set up scenes that it loses focus right away - and with leaden dialogue not helping out either, A Good Day to Die Hard is nothing short of a letdown to fans of the John McClane franchise.

Ultimately though, A Good Day to Die Hard is a succession of dumb action sequences (mostly involving cars and trucks before a ludicrous fiery finale in Chernobyl of all places) which hammers home what exactly is missing from the latest one - a sense of humour, some memorable moments and a real sense of triumph when McClane saves the day.

Extras: Over 2 hours of featurettes, deleted scenes - a solid bunch

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The Sweeney: Blu Ray Review

The Sweeney: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Entertainment

Based on the 1970s series which starred John Thaw and Dennis Waterman as Detectives Regan and Carter, the Sweeney is a UK film which centres on a rough group of detectives who take out the even rougher criminals. They work for the Flying Squad (hence, the name, based on the Cockney rhyming slang, Sweeney Todd).

In this update, Ray "Hardman" Winstone is Regan and softspoken Cockney rapper Ben Drew is Carter. When we first meet these tough boys of the law, they're taking down a group of armed robbers, by any means necessary.

And it's because of this "think like a criminal to catch a criminal" approach that Internal Affairs, headed by Stephen Mackintosh's Lewis, begins investigating them. Getting a tip off about a robbery at a jewellers, Regan and the Flying Squad are out to get their men - especially after one of the robbers kills a civilian.

While Regan's convinced one of his former troublemakers is back in town, there's no evidence to back it up - but that won't stop Regan from trying to get his man. Even if it means the Flying Squad's future being jeopardised and it could come at the cost of his own career or illicit lovelife as Internal Affairs tightens their vice....

The 2013 remake of The Sweeney is as hard as nails as you'd expect from the calibre of Ray Winstone being involved.

It's also remarkably restrained and tightly directed by Love, who also wrote the screenplay and who is clearly a fan of the source material, with some of Regan's iconic lines being thrown into the script. But it also offers something a little different from what you would expect of a cops and robbers style film in terms of action. Instead of crowded roads for car chases, The Sweeney offers up alternatives - a car chase down a single country lane and a final face off with the baddies with vehicles hurtling through a caravan park. Throw into that mix, a long action sequence with Regan and two of his squad chasing the baddies across and through iconic London landscapes (ooh, it's Trafalgar Square, ooooh, it's that Art Gallery), it offers something breathtakingly different and is a welcome breath of fresh air in at times tired genre.

Winstone is all swagger, Cockney bloated menace as Regan - though in his scenes with the feisty Hayley Atwell, he brings a real sentiment and softness to the hard bastard of the Flying Squad. Drew also proffers up a toughnut with a loyal side and moral compass as Carter, serving as a much needed foil. Damian Lewis and Stephen Mackintosh deserve some credit too as the suits running the Flying Squad and Internal Affairs (although MacKintosh's storyline simply fizzles out, which is a disappointment).

Overall, The Sweeney has a plot which won't tax you (but somehow manages to get a bit confused) and offers up a couple of storylines which go disappointingly nowhere. However, if you're willing to put your brain in neutral, you may find it keeps you entertained.

Rating:

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag - Defy The Creed at Gamescom

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag - Defy The Creed at Gamescom

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — August 15, 2013 — Ubisoft^® has revealed details about DEFY the Creed, an Assassin’s Creed^® IV Black Flag™ themed Speed Drawing scheduled to take place live from Gamescom on the 23^rd and 24^th of August.

A dedicated speed-drawer will participate in a series of drawing sessions on the Ubisoft booth at Gamescom, which will be filmed and broadcasted live. Assassin’s Creed artworks will be created during these speed drawing sessions over two days, and Gamescom attendees will be able to witness the artist in action on a dedicated stage.

This animation is not restricted to Gamescom visitors: the whole Assassin’s Creed community is invited to DEFY the Creed by joining the discussion on the dedicated web platformwww.assassinscreed.com/defythecreed and provide input on the artwork content while it is being drawn by the artist.

Lead by Assassin’s Creed community developers, each interactive session will allow fans to answer open questions by suggesting additions to the artwork, and vote for the best ideas. The winning suggestions will then be transmitted to the artist and integrated live within the artwork in the making.

For more info, visit: assassinscreed.com and facebook.com/assassinscreed.

Grand Theft Auto Online Revealed

Grand Theft Auto Online Revealed

Watch the new Official Gameplay Video for Grand Theft Auto Online - which shows how we've taken the fundamental GTA concepts of freedom, ambient activity and mission-based gameplay and made them available to multiple players in an incredibly detailed and responsive online world.


In Grand Theft Auto Online, you'll have the freedom to explore alone or with friends, work cooperatively to complete missions, band together to participate in activities and ambient events, or compete in traditional game modes with the entire community, all with the personality and refined mechanics of Grand Theft Auto V.

Access to Grand Theft Auto Online is free with every retail copy of Grand Theft Auto V and launches on October 1st.

Batman™: Arkham Origins ‘Definitive’ Collectors’ Edition Revealed

Batman™: Arkham Origins ‘Definitive’ Collectors’ Edition Revealed

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today unveiled details for the Batman™: Arkham Origins ‘Definitive’ Collectors’ Edition. Similar to the North American Collector’s Edition announced today, the package will be available on October 25, 2013 in limited quantities for the PlayStation®3 system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

The Batman: Arkham Origins ‘Definitive’ Collectors’ Edition will include the following extensive bonus content:

·         Exclusive Arkham Origins highly detailed premium statue featuring LED effects produced by TriForce

·         Height: 9"

·         Depth: 11.5"

·         Width: 13"

·        80-page, full-colour hardcover art book measuring approx. 7.5” x 10.75” x .5”

·         2 key pieces of evidence taken directly from the Gotham City Police Department crime lab

·        Batman Wanted Poster

·        Batwing Prototype Schematic 

·        Anarky logo stencil

·        Glow-In-The-Dark map of Gotham City

·         Wayne Family Photo

·        Assassin’s Intel Dossier, including files on the 8 assassins, as well as Black Mask’s contract

·        1^st Appearance Batman Skin: Look just like Batman did during his first appearance in Detective Comics #27, released in 1939.

·        Deathstroke Challenge Pack – Unlock the ability to play as one of the world's deadliest assassins! Usable throughout all the Arkham Origins Challenge maps.  Also includes two bonus challenge maps and two bonus Deathstroke Skins.

·         The PS3 edition will also include the Knightfall pack as an exclusive piece of content

Developed by WB Games Montréal, Batman: Arkham Origins features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylumand Batman: Arkham City.  Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young and unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight. As the story unfolds, players will meet many important characters for the first time and forge key relationships.  Batman: Arkham Origins will ship with a multiplayer mode developed by Splash Damage that allows players to take the franchise’s award-winning gameplay online to play with friends and foes. 

Batman: Arkham Origins is the next instalment in the blockbuster Batman: Arkham videogame franchise and will be available for the PS3™, Xbox 360®, the Wii U™ system, and Windows PC. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate™, the handheld version developed by Armature Studio, will be available for PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system and the Nintendo 3DS™ handheld system.  The game will release on all platforms worldwide on Oct. 25, 2013. 

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag - Stealth Gameplay Walkthrough

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag - Stealth Gameplay Walkthrough

STEALTH GAMEPLAY WALKTHROUGH for ASSASSIN's CREED IV: BLACK FLAG

Elysium: Movie Review

Elysium: Movie Review

Cast: Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga, William Fichtner
Director: Neill Blomkamp

The director of District 9 returns with yet another sci-fi outing.

In the year 2154. the Earth has become over-populated and over-polluted leading to the rich upping and leaving the planet to inhabit a floating space station called Elysium where everything is perfect - and where those who can afford it can be healed of any condition or problem. But back down on the surface, the have nots are struggling to get by, spilling out of slums and slaving for what little they can find.

Matt Damon is Max, who's always wanted to be among the stars and who's sickened by the class system which has developed on the Earth. He works on a production line in a factory, building the robots who police the world and who, ironically, suspect him of wrong-doing simply because he has a criminal record.

When he's given an overdose of radiation at work, he believes he has nothing left to lose - and sets Elysium in his sights. But, in order to secure a ticket and transport to the space station, run by Defence secretary Delacourt (an icy Jodie Foster, underused, underwritten and with a truly bizarre clipped accent), he finds himself part of a mission which could bring equality to both those up there in space and down on Earth. But there are those who don't want the equilibrium damaged....

District 9 was such an incredible success that it was perhaps inevitable that anything Blomkamp followed it up with would be disappointing.

Not so with Elysium - to a degree.

Once again, his flair for stunning visuals and establishing shots is there right from the beginning; as with District 9 and its spaceship hanging in the sky, Blomkamp brilliantly sets the scene of the ravaged Earth and creates the world within the space of a few minutes.

But despite Elysium being a gritty, dystopian piece of sci-fi, it proffers up a bitterly sweet sentimental ending that seems unnecessary.

Flashbacks back to Max's childhood and friendship with Alice Braga's Frey swoop in and out maybe a few times too often and the end reminiscence certainly is unwarranted. It's Blomkamp overegging the pudding in attempt to ground his protagonists with sentimental motivation.

That said, Damon is pretty good as the man with nothing left to lose and everything to gain as he plies his everyman persona to a slowly dying Max.But it's Copley who once again shines - this time playing bad ass mercenary and rogue agent Kruger, who's sent to deal with Max. There's a cruel streak to him which is uncomfortable to watch in places - I wouldn't be surprised if he gets offered a few more roles as the bad guy now.

FX wise and on the technology front, Blomkamp has created a world which is utterly plausible and totally impressive - he really has grounded the scifi look in a reality which seems just over the horizon and then dirtied it up a little to take the sheen off it. With props created by Weta Workshop and including Weta crew Joe Dunckley and Tim Tozer, we've got something to shout about.

The social message is clear for all to see and while the action scenes are sparse and brutal (aside from a final showdown between Max and Kruger which is all Hollywood bluster as they go head to head in exosuits in something akin to Rock Em Sock Em Robots ) Blomkamp has not lost sight of the thrust of his film despite the bluster and slightly out of place ending.

It was always going to be impossible to reach the heights of District 9 and by over-sentimentalising towards the end as he attempts to humanise the protagonists, Blomkamp's actually detracted from what the film sets out to do. That said, it's still a superior slice of sci-fi and a film which is well worth watching, from a director who's pretty quickly raising the bar for the genre.

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