Dr Who: Spearhead from Space: Blu Ray Review

Dr Who: Spearhead from Space: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Entertainment

So, here it is.

In the 50th anniversary year, the first ever Blu Ray release for the classic Doctor Who range - and it's a classic serial which brought in a whole new era for the show.

Spearhead from Space sees the introduction of Jon Pertwee's dandy Doctor and also ushered in the colour years - much has been made of the change of pace all round and the Earth bound setting took a little while to find its feet but this serial has promise in spades and introduced the iconic Autons to the canon of Dr Who monsters.

Much has been made of this serial before - a confident start and a great introduction - but in its high definition outing, Spearhead from Space looks incredible; colours that were not there before are abundantly obvious and look fresh (an extra reveals the extent of the clean up of the print), giving the piece a more cinematic feel than it had before.

The extras from the DVD are ported over, and the doco looking back at Jon Pertwee as an actor is a great wee piece, full of charm, character and brilliant history of the man.

All in all, Spearhead from Space represents a step up for the classic range of Doctor Who adventures and we'll have to see where it goes from here.

Rating

New Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug poster

New Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug poster

There's a brand new Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug poster courtesy of Empire magazine.

The poster shows Smaug (or rather his eye) facing down Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hits cinemas in December.

Newstalk ZB Movie Review - We're The Millers and Elysium

Newstalk ZB Movie Review - We're The Millers and Elysium

This week on NewsTalk ZB with Jack Tame, it was all about strippers and spaceships.

Not combined (though that would make an interesting film) - but the latest from Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis in We're The Millers and Matt Damon in Elysium.

Click on the headphones below to take a listen

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/player/ondemand/1909693582-darren-bevan-at-the-movies--august-17

NO: DVD Review

NO: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Vendetta Films

It's to 1988 we go with this official entrant for the 2013 Oscars from Chile.

Bernal plays Rene Saavedra, an ad man brought in to try and help ensure the oppressed people of Chile vote No in a referendum called by Augusto Pinochet. The referendum is urging the people to vote Yes to allowing Pinochet to stay in power, as calls grow outside of Chile to get him out of government and to free the people.

But Saavedra helps concoct an advertising campaign through the 15 minutes the opposition is allowed nightly on the TV during the 27 days campaigning window.

However, as Saavedra and his team, with limited resources, manage to start to get the message of No out there, the net around them grows tighter as intimidation and scare tactics really kick in. But, with an apathetic populace, can Saavedra and his campaign manage to do for Chile what's not been done for years? No is a curious beast of a film.

Shot on a 1983 U-matic video camera, it certainly evokes the era, with its grainy fuzzy visuals and browns and drab colouring. It also takes a little while to get used to such a look but given that it's mixed with action from the 80s, it's a bold directorial choice and one which does stand out.

In among the commercials of the time (some of which are quite comical), there's the real sense of the birth of dirty politics and marketing tactics to sway a populace and it's a fascinating document on that and potentially the start of viral marketing in many ways.

But No is also a slow, long and at times, laborious film which could have lost some of its overall run time. Bernal spends a lot of the time looking a little aloof and it takes a while to warm to his character - not through any acting issues but simply because the film's not really a character piece at all, more an examination of what happened.

A few powerful moments shine through - such as a group of mothers who sing and dance while intoning their sons are among the "disappeared" - and there's a complex but realistic relationship between Saavedra and his politically opposite counterpart who happens to be his co-worker in an ad agency.

All in all, No is worth a watch - but it never quite gets under your skin in the way you'd expect - but as a document of the time, it's a morally interesting debate and a fascinating examination of how governments should never underestimate the power of the people when it comes to politics.

Just say Yes.
Rating:

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

Rating:

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.