Doctor Who: Complete Series 7 Blu Ray Review

Doctor Who: Complete Series 7 Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by BBC And Roadshow Home Ent

So, the last full series outing for Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor hits the small screen. And it's also a farewell to Amy Pond and a welcome to Clara.

Taking in 15 episodes, this set is of a varying quality storywise; from the highs of the Name of The Doctor (with its thrilling opening nod to the show's 50 years) to the lows of the Rings of Akhaten, there's one thing this show is never short on - ambition.

Matt Smith is never less than excellent in this - and Karen Gillan and Jenna Coleman certainly give the edge as the companions, but this series doesn't quite match the highs of previous ones, despite everyone's intent and commitment. The farewell to the Ponds is heartbreaking, but the introduction of Clara and subsequent mystery is a little rushed and leaves you feeling the show wasn't sure what it wanted to be this year.

However, the reintroduction of the Ice Warriors and the Great Intelligence showed the creativity is still alive. Extras to the set are also abundant - with 6 prequels (quite short) 15 behind the scenes pieces, 4 commentaries, making of and some documentaries make up for it. And the fact Matt Smith is on the commentary for Hide is a nice touch - but would have loved more of him.

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Ratchet and Clank: Nexus: PS3 Review

Ratchet and Clank: Nexus: PS3 Review

Platform: PS3
Released by Sony Computer Ent

There's just something about the Ratchet and Clank gaming series that I've always been addicted to.

A heady mix of cartoony fun, shoot'em up and nice succinct storytelling, it's been very rare for the game franchise to file a miss - even a lesser Ratchet and Clank game is something to enjoy; Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal is a game I've played through 3 times.

So another release, Ratchet and Clank: Nexus is bound to be something that I'd enjoy. All the elements are there in this final installment in the Future series; smashing boxes to grab bolts, upgrading weapons, great cut scenes...

The story this time around sees R&C out for revenge after two of their pals are killed when the prisoner they're escorting, Vendra Prog, breaks out. The duo are left stranded and have to fight their way back and save the day - once again.

Shorter than the usual R&C games, Ratchet and Clank: Nexus is no less of a R&C game; all the fun elements are there to enjoy once again; from grav portals to weapons, and a shiny HD feel, there's nothing missing in this latest outing. With an array of weapons that include the Nightmare box that unleashes ghosts and ghoulies on the bad guys, the developers have lost none of the inventiveness and zaniness which have been symbolic of the series throughout its years on PS2 and PS3.

You can pick holes as much as you want with this series - but what you're doing is denying the fun that's to be had with it. Sure, this latest is a shorter game (about 6 hours of your life) and you want more, but there's no way you can't deny you've had fun as it plays out; I've come to love the Lombax and his little robot buddy; from battle arenas to weapons, there's much to enjoy in this outing - and isn't that what counts these days?

I dearly hope this isn't the end of the series - as I said, there's never been a bad Ratchet and Clank game and given that I go back to them time and time again, there's something to be said for the everlasting durability of this series which is extremely hard to deny.




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Need For Speed: Rivals: PS3 Review

Need For Speed: Rivals: PS3 Review

Released by EA
Platform: PS3

The Need for Speed series is back - and with a Need For Speed movie with Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul on the way, you could say its profile has never been higher.

The racing open world game has always been a thrill with its last installment, Hot Pursuit, in Redview County keeping me engaged for hours, as I batted back between police and street racers, trying to catch and wreak havoc in alternate measures.

Need For Speed: Rivals is about offering nothing other than car smashing / car racing activity - and boy, is it as compulsive as ever. You can choose whether to be on the side of the law, with upgrades to technology helping you rid Redview of the racing carnage, or can line up as a street racer, bringing utter speeding chaos as the police try and track you down, and bring your illegal speeding career to an impromptu end.

From choosing different cars, the careers mode offers a lot of deep engaging gameplay thanks to simplicity of racing and crisp clear graphics which stand out. This is all about the chase and it's adrenalin pumping as it kicks into gear. The world around the tracks has been beautifully realised and the game soars because of it. The cars themselves look a lot clearer than they have done for a while, and the HD sparkle is clearly evident from beginning to end. And the scenes when the cars are wrecked are as enjoyable as ever as they career all over the place before settling into their final resting place.

However, it's the AllDrive element which is the most fascinating touch to Need For Speed: Rivals. This seamless mix of online multiplayer and normal campaign mode is an intriguing idea - basically, while playing, if connected online, you get thrust into a game with 5 other players, who are all working on their own campaign and aims; but if you want to shake things up and take out other drivers or work with them, you can.

It's a great idea from the developers and brings another world to the game which is progressive and shows the series isn't resting on its admittedly successful laurels. Hot Pursuit was a great entry in to the Need For Speed series, and Rivals is equally as effective, snaring racers, cops and casual gamers in their web. This is arcade racing at its very best; easy to control, simple to play and thrillingly engaging and effective.

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Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song: DVD Review

Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Vendetta Films

Rock operetta meets the trailer park in this latest ambitious retelling of the tale of Juliet and her Romeo.

Set in Verona caravan park, it's the story of Romeo and erm, Juliet and their star crossed love, a story told a million times before and which has been given a spit and polish for this Kiwi version. The music came first this time around as composers/producers Michael O’Neill and Peter van der Fluit set Shakespeare’s text to music, mixing in styles such as rap, ballad and rock.

Constantly surprising, Tim van Dammen's clearly drawn heavily from his music video directing background and the whole piece comes together with such toe-tapping gusto that it's impossible to deny. With the talent miming to other voices, the occasional misfire with the voice matching/ miming drips through, but all in all, it's an extremely enjoyable affair. Christopher Landon and Derya Parlak play the titular lovers with such aplomb that you can't help but be swept along with the story. Plus, given the fact they don't look out of place by the beach (Summer Bay Shakespeare anyone?) doesn't hinder the proceedings at all. 

The music's fabulous and ramps up the style pretty high in this take on Shakespeare's 400 year old story as the glorious re-versioning plays out. Ambitious and exciting, this Romeo and Juliet is something uniquely different; constantly surprising and always inventive, the operetta has an energy which is hard to ignore. A caravan roof doubles for a balcony and a wood just outside of the camping ground provides some truly memorable scenery as the declarations of love are unveiled.

Shakespeare's text may have been remade repeatedly - but this Kiwi view of it shows off a clever twist on the stuffy text - it's a music video rock operetta with a high dose of energy and directing gusto.

Extras: Gallery and trailer

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Brand new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro

Brand new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro

Hey webslingers - it's here - the brand new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro has just dropped.

Featuring Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, it's due to hit screens in April 2014.




The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro synopsis

“We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man,” the release says. “But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

“It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realise that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.”

Welcome To The Punch: Blu Ray Review

Welcome To The Punch: Blu Ray Review

Rating: R16
Released by Vendetta Films

James McAvoy can do no wrong at the moment.

What with the exceptional Trance, the scungy Filth and now this.

MacAvoy and a cast of unbelievably good Brit talent star in Welcome To The Punch. 

Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough, Daniel Mays and David Morrissey are stand out in this crime thriller about a former criminal forced to return to London when his son is injured. But MacAvoy's cop is waiting to grab him, three years after they first met. However, it's not as simple as it seems. 

Stylish, violent, and impressive Welcome To The Punch is a welcome shot in the arm of crime thrillers - and has a thrilling opening which grips.Conspiracy and corruption are the name of the game here - along with sleek slick film-making. It's a great watch and one which really does show the versatility of McAvoy.

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Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan: DVD Review

Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan: DVD Review

Rating: PG
Released by Vendetta Films

To those in the know, Ray Harryhausen is an absolute genius.

You would not have the current wave of special FX that you have now, were it not for this man who pioneered the art of stop motion animation in the early days of film.

This talking heads doco brings together some titans of the industry these days to celebrate the work done by Harryhausen. You'll know his work from the likes of Clash of the Titans and Jason and The Argonauts. And if you don't, you should hang your head in shame.

Big names like James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro and our very own Peter Jackson are on hand to explain the reason why he's such an icon and influence on the industry. Along with clips of his work and his stop motion creatures, there's a real charm in this doco that's hard to deny. An interview with Harryhausen forms the majority of this, but it's nice to see his reaction to the praise from Spielberg, Joe Dante, Terry Gilliam et al as they explain how he shaped their personal futures.

Along with tight budgets, Harryhausen was responsible for bringing to life dinosaurs in his movies, and shaped the way we think of them moving. Expertly put together and spliced with interviews, this is an essential doco for anyone who loves any kind of FX film - and the fact that Jackson's masterminded the digitising of Harryhausen's work for preservation shows why he's so damned important.

A thrilling small screen release, Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan is a testament to the imagination and the magic of the cinema.

Extras: Trailers of his work and extended interviews.

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