Brand new Gravity trailer drops

Brand new Gravity trailer drops

There's a brand new trailer for Gravity, starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.

Gravity, the movie, has been wowing critics abroad and you'll get your chance to see it from October 3rd in New Zealand cinemas.

Rayman Legends: PS3 Review

Rayman Legends: PS3 Review

Released by UBISOFT
Platform: PS3

Rayman Origins was one of the best 2D platformers of last year. It had lunacy in amongst all the leaping around and was a long term piece of fun.

So, Rayman Legends had a bit to live up to.

However, it more than does so. And in many ways, it improves on one of the best, which is always a good thing.

In this latest, Rayman and his chums have been sleeping for a century. But while they've been snoring it up big time, the Bubble Dreamers nightmares have been growing and are now threatening Rayman's world. So, he's woken up with a credo of having to save the day. Off you go, heading through worlds, battling bosses, negotiating traps and collecting Lums and freeing trapped comrades aka Teensies. Rayman's not alone in this though - Murfy the fairy from the second Rayman appears to help him cut through ropes, avoid traps and -generally works as a co-op secondary character when necessary. But unlike on the PS Vita, where swiping can get him to move for you, this has to be done on a button press.

Rayman Legends, is quite frankly, legendary gaming. It's the perfect mix of in-depth platforming and long term gameplay. Each level is fun, fiendish and rewarding in equal measure as it side scrolls towards the end. But here's the thing with it, every error and death in Rayman Legends is caused by timing. A simple miscalculation means you have to start again and unlike many other games, it's not frustrating in the slightest.

It's fun to drag some friends into playing this too - the co-op offline levelling makes the game accessible and lunatic as you negotiate your way through. Gameplay's benefited from this as opposed to being left wanting. Each time you mess up, you know it's down to you and the replay value of this is tremendous. Plus end of level musical games mashed up with platforming are just endless fun. Jumping and punching creatures in time to the likes of Black Betty and classical tunes adds so much to the joy of the game that it's stupidly infectious.

But it's not just the core game that soars.

By providing a wealth of unlockable content - including daily challenges, leaderboards, a football game which can be played with friends - there's so much more to do with this game. Even the last game Origins is included in a remixed form for you to replay. UBISOFT's really raised the bar, added in the incentives to come back day by day and constantly given you reason to play.

Ultimately, Rayman Legends is by far one of the best platformers of the year - it shows creativity is not dead within the genre and has charm aplenty. Mixing beautiful artwork and madcap lunacy, it's by far and away, heading for a place on the top 10 games of the year list. I can't recommend it enough.

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New Hunger Games: Catching Fire banner unveiled

New Hunger Games: Catching Fire banner unveiled

We're edging ever closer to the release of the Hunger Games: Catching Fire in November, and now a new banner has been unveiled.

It is a new image of the “Victors” taking part in the film’s Quarter Quell games.

Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games Catching Fire.

Stay tuned for more...

Click on the banner to expand it

Fifty Shades of Grey cast unveiled

Fifty Shades of Grey cast unveiled

After much speculation and discussion, the actors to play Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele have been unveiled in the Fifty Shades of Grey film.

They are Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson.

Here are the releases:

Charlie Hunnam will star as Christian Grey, the lead male character in Universal Pictures and Focus Features’ highly anticipated film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” it was announced today.  He joins Dakota Johnson, who will star opposite him as Anastasia Steele.  The film, which will be released by Focus Features on August 1, 2014 in North America, is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E L James, the author of the #1 bestselling book on which the film is based.  The screenplay is by Kelly Marcel.  The announcement about Mr. Hunnam’s casting in Fifty Shades of Grey was made today by Ms. James. 

Mr. Hunnam currently stars as a regular on the critically acclaimed FX series Sons of Anarchy.  His feature film credits include Pacific Rim, Children of Men, Cold Mountain, and Nicholas Nickleby.

Dakota Johnson will star as Anastasia Steele, the lead female character in Universal Pictures and Focus Features’ highly anticipated film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” it was announced today.  The film, which will be released by Focus Features on August 1, 2014 in North America, is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E L James, the author of the #1 bestselling book on which the film is based.  The screenplay is by Kelly Marcel.  The announcement about Ms. Johnson’s casting in Fifty Shades of Grey was made today by Ms. James. 

Ms. Johnson’s first notable screen role was in the multi-Academy Award-winning 2010 feature The Social Network, on which Mr. De Luca and Mr. Brunetti were producers.  Her subsequent movies include the upcoming feature Need for Speed, 21 Jump Street, and Universal Pictures’ The Five-Year Engagement.  She also starred as Kate in the Fox Network comedy series Ben and Kate, which aired during the 2012-2013 season.  Ms. Johnson is currently shooting the feature film Cymbeline.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” has become a global phenomenon and the trilogy has been translated in 50 languages worldwide since its release.  To date, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has sold over 70 million copies worldwide in e-book and print, making it one of the fastest-selling book series ever.

Universal and Focus acquired the rights to the three books in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy in March 2012.  Focus Features will market and distribute the first film in partnership with Universal.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele.  Subsequent novels in the series, “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed,” explore the couple’s deepening relationship.  For more information please see the official Fifty Shades of Grey Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/fiftyshadesofgreymovie. 

Saints Row IV: PS3 Review

Saints Row IV: PS3 Review

Platform: PS3
Released by Volition

The Saints are coming.

Well, they're coming to New Zealand a lot quicker than Australia, where the game was banned and a side mission had to be removed for release, but let's not lord it over our Tassie neighbours, eh?

In this latest outing, you begin on a mission to take down a STAG leader who's gone bonkers; after your success at this (by riding a nuclear missile to Aerosmith's I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing and disarming it), your popularity soars and you get elected US president.

Surging a wave of adoration comes naturally to the Saints as they overtake the Presidency - but despite getting settled in, it all goes a bit wrong when aliens begin invading the White House, spearheaded by leader Zinyak, who captures you, the Boss and imprisons you in a Matrix style 1950s replication of Steelport (from Saints Row The Third), where there's no violence and life is perfect.

However, thanks to the Saints' techno wizard, Kinzie, you get a chance to break out of the simulation and try and save the day - Saints' style.

Saints Row IV is a tremendous, free-wheeling thrill of a game, that leaves you intoxicated, stupefied and dizzy with fun.

It's craziness computerized as it plays out - recalling earlier Grand Theft Auto games, mashing it with Tron and DC Comics superhero style superpowers, it's just a great way to waste time and have a blast.

From soaring above skyscrapers thanks to flying powers, leaping up buildings because of another ability and throwing things through telekenesis, this is not a game that takes itself seriously at all - and due to that, it's totally admirable. Steelport is packed with side missions, from causing utter chaos due to all manner of weapons and abilities, it offers you plenty of escape without sacrificing any of the gameplay.

Sure, there's a story thread running through this as you try to escape Zinyak's simulation - but it's the barest of threads that's woven into a narrative and isn't really what the game is fully about. Granted, some may criticise it for that, but it's a real added bonus that you can freewheel, waste time however you want, and still come back to upgrading your powers and weapons through XP, cache cash in and generally surviving the game.

The open world is well realised, and I guess you can get away with some of the odd glitches in gameplay due to the fact you're in a simulation (but only just) and while the thrill of using the superpowers never gets old, it does detract a little from the world which has been created as you'll use super-speed or super-flying to navigate the city rather than exploring the wondrous world within.

There's anarchy aplenty in this big dumb game, but it never takes itself too seriously, nor loses sight of the fact that it's all about having a good, over-the-top time. Side missions don't take too long to complete, meaning they're not a drag and not a drain by having you complete multiple parts - from hacking control of stores to taking on waves of Terminator style mech robots to save someone, there's variety aplenty and with different levels to achieve, there's plenty of reason to re-play.

Packed in with humour and a tongue firmly in its cheek, Saints Row IV is a hellishly guilty pleasure - its gameplay is great fun and its raison d'etre is to the core of the Saints themselves. We ain't after nothing but a good time - and Saints Row IV serves that up in style and with great cheeky gusto.

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Disney Infinity: PS3 Review

Disney Infinity: PS3 Review

Platform: PS3
Released by Disney

It's a curious thing, the hardware game.

Get it right, and you have a formula for success for a few years - get it wrong, and it's straight to the annals of history for your outdated tech and failed efforts.

Thankfully, Disney Infinity falls into the get it right category, without a shadow of a doubt.

The latest device sees you given an Infinity base with which to place various Disney statuettes and access plenty of content within. Once these statues are placed on this little base, they magically come alive on your screen and give you the chance to play various games, arcade actioners and open world building. Using characters from the Disney catalogue and the wealth within, it's fair to say there's plenty to mess about with - and more than enough to keep the kids very, very content (and the big kids) for hours on end.

There are two modes to the Infinity - a Play Set or a Toy Box. The Play Set is story led and gives you the chance to take on your fave Disney character (in this set it's Sulley, Mr Incredible) and play various games as said character. Sulley's a fun creature to knock about with and the games within are fun, lightweight and yet remarkably playable. Toy Box lets you create the worlds for the characters to dwell in and while it takes a bit of time to master, it's really got the whole Disney imagination ethos behind it, because that's all that's holding you back.

There's a simplicity to plugging this in and getting going - and these days with this kind of hardware, that's really all you need for it to grow and thrive. With masses of extensions and sets on their way in every conceivable franchise, this really does have limitless possibilities for entertainment at all levels.

Disney Infinity is a fun gadget, an invention which allows you to take control and build your own world or simply set it up for the kids to play contentedly on it for hours. It does actually take it to Infinity - and Beyond.

And the DL content's already begun with 5 free sets available for download: The five free toy boxes are:

·         Cave of Wonders Race – Race through the Cave of Wonders and Aladdin’s Agrabah Castle. Compete against Cars characters or other players! (View video here)
·         Super Sidescroll – Trigger the side scrolling camera to start. Then jump and bash through a classic game level. (View video here)
·         ESPN Speedway – Rev those engines! Race friends around the stadium loop, brake for a pit stop and celebrate with a victory lap. (View video here)
·         Hot Lava – Rope bridges are the only thing between players and flowing lava in this treacherous Toy Box. (View video here)
·         Wrestling Arena – Want to become the Disney Infinity combat champ? Battle friends in two tricked out wrestling rings. (View video here)

(Players can download the new Toy Boxes by selecting "Toy Box" from the Disney Infinity Main Menu and then select "Toy Box Share" and "Disney's Toy Boxes." Once there they will see a list of all the featured Toy Boxes and can choose one to download. They will be able to come back every week for new Toy Boxes. Players should also let us know what they want to see because Disney Infinity developers will soon begin creating content based on player suggestions.)

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Blue Jasmine: Movie Review

Blue Jasmine: Movie Review

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay
Director: Woody Allen

Woody Allen returns to the big screen after the recent relative creative disasters of You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger and To Rome With Love.

In this latest, Cate Blanchett plays Jasmine, a former New York socialite forced to live with her working class sister, Ginger (Hawkins) in San Francisco after her husband Hal (Baldwin) is indicted for fraud and takes his own life. But Ginger's not seen Jasmine since she and her now divorced husband Augie (Dice Clay) were caught up in the fraud and lost everything.

But the ghastly Jasmine lives in a daze, and is unaccepting of what has happened and recovering after a nervous breakdown, meaning that her relationship with her sister becomes ever more fractious as time wears on. However, it looks like things may be on the turn for Jasmine after she meets Peter Sarsgaard's suave Dwight, who's her social equal and potential future....

Blue Jasmine is a fine return to form for Woody Allen, whose last couple of outings have been self-indulgent guff filled with trademark self-absorption.

Granted, Cate Blanchett's bankrupt Jasmine is as self-obsessed as they come, but thanks to a multi-faceted and resonant turn from a brilliant Blanchett as she spirals down and a tight script which sparkles rather than flounders, the film is a soar-away success. Wrapped in swathes of designer gear, popping pills, swilling copious martinis and blissfully ignorant ( in the way that someone who's living in denial only can) Blanchett delivers a powerhouse performance that's layered and complex as she spins through life unaware. She's a nasty creature, horrified when her sister visits in her former life and scornful and resentful of the time she steals away from her other more trivial plans. She's ghastly in the extreme and steals every moment the camera gives to her.

But other players sparkle too - specifically Hawkins' turn as the sister, who's initially reticent to help her after she's been burned by Hal is an impressive one, embodying the awkwardness of someone holding back, then embracing her sister's ideals and finally realising that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Alec Baldwin similarly impresses, while Sarsgaard and Louis CK don't quite get enough time on screen.

Allen's also to be commended for throwing together a fully rounded script for the first time in a while (even though it draws on a similar story to Streetcar Named Desire, where one down-at-luck sister moves in with the other. It's one which tackles life post recession and failed finance companies. It's a straight forward piece that doesn't rely on portmanteau or intersecting lives for its twists and turns, and simply uses the narrative as it should be used.

Blue Jasmine is to be frank, Allen's best for a long time. A return perhaps to former form and ideas, this tragedy soars - predominantly thanks to a mightily impressive turn from Blanchett. I'd be surprised if she doesn't receive an Oscar nomination for this.

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