Shopping: DVD Review

Shopping: DVD Review

Rating: R16
Released by Madman Home Entertainment

From the writers of the award nominated The Six Dollar Fifty Man comes the first foray into feature film making.

It's New Zealand 1981 - a time of racial tensions between the Samoans and New Zealanders. Brothers Willie and Solomon are caught up in the middle of this in their own ways. Solomon, the youngest of the two, is lost in a world of his own and knows only the guiding light of his older brother, Willie. But Willie's on the verge of making his way into the real world, starting with driving lessons from his father Terry. However, when Terry lets Willie down over the lessons, Willie's relationship with his father is strained. Tempted into a world of theft after a chance encounter with charismatic thief and immigrant Bennie (Koman), Willie discovers a family bond, lacking in his own life.

With the possibility of this surrogate father taking him in, Willie's keen to do anything to impress - but his immersion into Bennie's world sets him on a collision course with disaster.

Shopping is an at times, bleak and darkly put together film festival-like tale.

Beautifully shot (on the Kapiti coast) and wonderfully evocative of the era (the attention to period detail is stunning), it's a tale which takes a little while to unfold but when it finally does so, does very well.It helps that the two young leads are gifted natural actors; Paulo, a first time actor, imbues Willie with a nuanced performance that's subtle and restrained. He manages to convey the inner turmoil and the mix of confusion and anger well without any real over-acting. Likewise, the young Dennison helps build a realistic bond with his brother which feels natural and warm.

Inevitably, the film follows the NZ norm and uncovers some nasty home truths of beatings and so on, but rather than over-indulge in that side of it, the story wisely veers away from indulging in the domestic issues (which aren't quite as strong as the other story threads) and concentrates on Willie's inauguration into the thieves' world. Though, it has ventured to the Sundance Festival this year and played there, which is extremely commendable.

A mix of meandering narrative in the early stages and tension set the scene well and when the final explosion comes as Willie's two worlds meet, you are gripped by what unfolds as the misery comes home to roost with a real blow to the senses.

Thankfully, the film wisely ends on the relationship between the two brothers - and it's a good choice to help cinemagoers leave with some form of optimism. Because the main heart of the film is this bond and it's in those moments that it brings something unique and magical to the screen.

Extras: Director interviews, cast members and behind the scenes as well as trailer

Rating:

Ryse: Son OF Rome: XBox One Review

Ryse: Son OF Rome: XBox One Review

Released by Crytek
Platform: XBox One

Forget Sparta, Rome is where the action is.

Ryse: Son Of Rome is the first title on the XBox One that actually looks cinematic - it's epic and has a feel of an old school movie, and the violence, ironically, given my opening statement, of Spartacus, the 2013 version.

You control Roman general Marius Titus, plunged into a battle as barbarians attack and tasked with the job of saving Nero from the marauding forces. Blocking, dodging and attacking, there's plenty of blood and gore on offer as you slash and hack your way through - but you'll need to be a bit smart as you fight your way, because once you're surrounded with barbarians, it takes a fair bit of skill to escape and you can't just simply slash till you're safe.

At its heart, though Ryse Son of Rome is about revenge - Marius is out to avenge murders in his past and that's what gives this game its drive and thrust. Sure, there's a degree of repetition as you bash and kill your way through the bad guys, but the story telling helps propel it along and it's the different way that you can execute your enemies which proves to add a degree of variety.

The executions come after you've bashed a foe around enough for a skull to appear above their head and you get to sap some of their energy to replenish yourself. Using the old quick time events that were so prevalent in God Of War, pressing the right buttons delivers a bloody result. Elsewhere there are multiplayer options which help to extend the game's life, though these are largely confined to the gladiatorial elements which are better to play with friends.

Ryse: Son Of Rome looks incredible though - minor gameplay niggles aside, the game is an awesome visual feast which really showcases the best of the next generation consoles. It's essentially like watching a dramatic recreation of Rome and its battles, with some backstory thrown in. There's a real miniseries look and feel to Ryse: Son of Rome and it's hard to ignore.

All in all, Ryse: Son Of Rome is a great game to get into - it's ferocious and vicious and definitely shows that XBox One has really done a lot to up the visuals of the gaming world. Based on this historical interpretation and game, the future is exceptionally bright.

Rating:
\

Tearaway: PS Vita Review

Tearaway: PS Vita Review

Platform: PS Vita
Released by Media Molecule

There's no denying that LittleBigPlanet is one of my all time favourite games series. I've played and replayed them, wallowing in their cuteness and playability.

So, a new game from those developers, Media Molecule is something to be excited by - and my goodness, is Tearaway an absolute charming blast which has fully embraced the VITA's tech.

But I'm getting ahead of myself a little here - so let's back the reviewing truck up.

In Tearaway, you play either a female or male messenger, made from paper, tasked with getting to the sun to deliver a message. Sort of...You see, the kicker with this one is that the sun is actually you captured via the VITA's camera capabilities - you're like the Teletubbies sun only more realistic. But the You of the game is actually an integral part to what exactly is going on, working in tandem with the messenger, you can use the interactive elements of the game to help throughout.

Tapping the rear touchpad means your fingers come blasting into the messengers' world and can be used to move things around to help your little pal get to where they need to. Or they can be used to help take out the Scraps (little baddies) which infest the game. It's a natural part of the game and never once feels shoehorned in or thrown in just for the sake of it. This organic feel does much to capitalise on the VITA's prowess and does a lot to ensure that you're invested all the way.

But it's not just fingers that do the talking, as it were. Throughout the game, there are characters who need things - be it a squirrel who needs a crown or a plant that's drained of its colour. And this is where the crafting side of Tearaway comes into focus. Using pencil, paper and scissors in the crafting area, you get to create parts of the world and sidebits which are used throughout - deftly done and crisply executed they are little bonuses, littering the game and which have a use later on.

The great thing about Tearaway is just how simple it actually is to play and how engrossingly fun it is to be involved in. Customising your character is done through stickers (does that sound familiar?) and the tech of the VITA has been used so effortlessly throughout, you wonder why it's never been done before. Graphically, the world owes much to a child's papercraft set and is reminiscent of a kindergarten arts and crafts day - but that's where a lot of its charm comes from. Never overtly cute, the game is suffused with more enjoyment than you'd believe possible and offers such feel good fuzzies that it's hard to ignore and fight them.

The best thing about Tearaway is that once again, Media Molecule's shown itself to be a game leader and a game changer. While in theory, the gameplay of Tearaway doesn't exactly rip up and reinvent the template, what it's done for the VITA is to finally bring out a game that fully explores and exploits all of its potential.

Rating:

Dead Rising 3: XBox One: Review

Dead Rising 3: XBox One: Review

Released by CAPCOM
Platform: XBox One

Zombies, eh?

They don't half get around - and in this latest launch title for the XBox One, man,oh man are they everywhere...

In Dead Rising 3, you're playing Nick Ramos, and the aim is to basically survive. It begins in Los Perdidos with details of how the outbreak spread, and then you're plunged right into the middle of it with one single aim - to ensure you get out alive.

Grabbing anything that might be lying around and using that as a makeshift bash weapon is a good start, but you can also get a bit smarter playing as Nick as the game goes on. Plot wise, there's a bit going on but not much that's not been seen before - and quite frankly, it's really all about the survival as you go through the various chapters and levels of the game.

The thing is with Dead Rising 3, the next gen console's really come to life with its rendering of what's going on. Usually, zombie outbreaks are pretty much confined to a large gathering here and there and chance to manoeuvre yourself out of any given situation. Here, the emphasis is on the large - I've never seen so many hungry chomping creatures desperate to get at you as the survival instinct kicks in.

There are several moments where the sheer number of biters really catches you out - and as you make your way from one part of the level to the next, you've really got to plan what you're doing, be it jumping from cars or staying elevated, because there is nothing worse than when the undead surround you and you're somewhat lacking in equipment to see any of them off.

Talking of equipment, throughout the game, there are chances to combine weapons which are scattered around to make deadlier pieces to take out the zombies. Getting to craft these in the actual game rather than at set stations certainly helps, and I've found Nick works better when surrounded by a group defending him - funnily enough, having your limbs torn off tends to put a crimp on creativity....

Survivors need your help - and you can also jump in cars to plough through the hordes - though it gets tricky if the creatures manage to really get a hold on your vehicle, leading to all kinds of problems.

At the end of the day, Dead Rising 3 won't reinvent the wheel when it comes to zombie games - the best thing about it is that it throws so many of the blasted things at you, you realise that hacking and slashing your way to safety isn't always as easy as it's made out to be.

Recommended for a good solid antidote and cure to having to deal with the hordes at the malls in the run up to Christmas, Dead Rising 3 is a blast.

Rating:

The Conjuring: Blu Ray Review

The Conjuring: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Warner Home Video

The latest horror to hit the small screen is a supernatural spooker, which will leave you somewhat unsettled if you watch it late at night and home alone. Even more so, when you realise it's based on a true story.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, who are called in to investigate the increasingly violent and disturbing hauntings at a Rhode Island farm house, recently purchased by the Perron family (Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston).

As they delve deeper into the goings on at the homestead, things take a bizarre turn for the worse and suddenly, the Warrens are fighting for more than the family itself and facing one of their darkest cases ever...

Despite being a mash up of many horror films you've seen before - including The Exorcist and Insidious (which also starred Patrick Wilson) - The Conjuring is effective at bringing the whole haunted house vibe spookily to life, providing a few impressive jolts and some haunted house scares which will have you looking over your shoulder after the lights have gone back off for the night.

Farmiga and Wilson play it mostly straight - until about halfway through the film when Farmiga's growing sense of horror is a little overplayed as the clairvoyant Lorraine starts to be affected by goings on. Cleverly shot set pieces work, a lack of overbearing soundtrack helps brilliantly set the 70s scene and there's a bizarre side story about a doll which never fully reaches its demonic potential (though rumour has it, that's part of a spin-off).

All in all, The Conjuring does creepy and eerie pretty damn well; its unsettling if familiar tone working effectively to give you some solid frights, until the predictable second half kicks in.

Extras: Perron family reflects on the case, the Warrens look back on their lives and the director shows you how the film was made.

Rating:

Newstalk ZB: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Newstalk ZB: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

It's finally here, the second part of the Hobbit trilogy.

Talking to Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB this weekend, I cast my eye over the dragon-tastic film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, also looking at magician film Now You See Me and Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives.

Take a listen below:

http://newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/player/ondemand/1243023534-audio--jack-tame-talks-the-hobbit-with-darren-bevan

Doctor Who - The Doctors Revisited: Volumes 1 -3 DVD Review

Doctor Who - The Doctors Revisited: Volumes 1 -3 DVD Review

Rating: PG - M
Released by BBC And Roadshow Home Ent

In the 50th anniversary of the show, there's plenty to celebrate.

And these sets which take in all of the Doctors since the show's inception in 1963 are no exception. The format's simple - over 3 volumes (Doctors 1-4 in set one, 5-8 in set two and 9-11 in set three) actors and stars of the shows recall why it struck a chord with the public and them.

Each doco runs to about half an hour and comes with an adventure from each of the Doctors - they've all been available before but are presented by Steven Moffat, current showrunner, in either a film version or their original version - it's a great wee set of collections and recollections from all involved.

William Hartnell gets the historical epic The Aztecs, which has moments of slowness within; Patrick Troughton's iconic Tomb of the Cybermen is back - Jon Pertwee's Spearhead from Space gets another release following its Blu ray outing this year - and Tom Baker's The Pyramids of Mars is a Gothic classic no matter what.

On set 2, Peter Davison's Cybermen adventure Earthshock continues to impress; Colin Baker's grim Vengeance on Varos shows the cruellest of the show and Sylvester McCoy gets a Daleks outing with Remembrance of the Daleks. Paul McGann's 8th Doctor movie is thrown in - but the less said about that one the better.

In the final set, Christopher Eccleston's contribution are his last ever 2 episodes; David Tennant gets the Stolen Earth and Journey's End; and Matt Smith's The Impossible Astronaut and the Day of The Moon introduce the Silence, who may have a hand in his demise.

Each of the sets is essential viewing to long term fans of the shows and also, to those who are dipping their toes into the Whoniverse for the first time.

It's a wonderfully nostalgic look at the show and a brilliant testament to its 50 years.

Recommended - with the Doctor's approval.

Rating: